Left front

Spitfire Mk. VI

Above left front

1953 Corvette

Finished right side

Gulf War Anniversary Box Diorama Set: Part 3 - US M1A1 Abrams

Landing gear

Sea Vampire F.20 with Scale Aircraft Conversions Metal Gear

Bird Dog landing gear and cockpit (Mid immelmann maneuver)

L-19/0-1 "Bird Dog"

Major components

US Diamond T 969A Wrecker

7 o'clock View

USN F/A-18E VFA-143 Pukin Dogs

Tail Gun

B-25J Mitchell 'Glass Nose' - Part 2

Pre-shading and base color

Merkava Mk.3 BAZ with Nochri Dalet Mine Roller

Chassis Left

M16 MGMC Meat Chopper

Previous Next

Welcome to the IPMS/USA Reviews site!

Introduction: The primary organization of the IPMS/USA Review website is by IPMS/USA National Contest Class. Within each Class there are sub-menus by kits, decals, books, etc. The Miscellaneous Class is for items that are not class specific or that cross two or more classes.

IPMS/USA Members: We encourage you to submit reviews, both here and to the Journal. To volunteer for membership in the IPMS/USA "Reviewers Corps" and submit your own reviews, please read the Guidelines For Submitting Product Reviews.

Manufacturers, publishers, and other industry members: IPMS/USA is pleased to offer your company the opportunity for product reviews. All product reviews are performed by IPMS/USA members, and are posted in the publicly-accessible section of our website. With very few exceptions, we perform full build reviews of new kit releases, aftermarket products, and supplies. If you would care to provide product samples for review, please contact John Noack, IPMS/USA 1st VP.

To learn more about IPMS/USA, please see our About Us page.

Decal set package cover

P-47 Best Selections Part 1
Review Author
John Yager
Published on
July 12, 2011
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$19.00

This latest release from Lifelike Decals decal sheet features two different P-47’s one of which is “Tarheel Hal”, the natural metal P-47D bubbletop flown by Lt. Ike Davis of the 366 FS, 358 FG in probably May 1945 at Sandhofen, Germany. The other P-47D, an OD and neutral gray razorback (not reviewed here) is “Lil LO” flown by Major Henry B. Kucheron of the 354 FS, 355 FG in early 1945 at Steeple Morden, England.

Box Art

F84E Thunderjet
Review Author
Ed Kinney
Published on
July 12, 2011
Company
Hobby Boss
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$86.95

NOTE – In box review only…full build article to following in Journal

I don’t know about you folks, but it seems that every time I make the decision to undertake a major/difficult project, only because there are no alternatives available, someone else comes out with a beautiful kit of the subject and this was no exception.

Kitset contents

German Bordkanone 5cm
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
July 12, 2011
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.95

Oh where were you when I did a review of the Dragon Me-262 A-1a/U-4? Master Models has released a four part set to replace the large 5cm canon which was added to the Me-262 U-4 and also was part of the Me410 in one variant.

The set consists of a turned aluminum barrel, a turned aluminum barrel head and two brass parts. The brass parts are the end of the barrel which has a perforated tip and a cap. You place the cap on the end and add the parts together and drill a hole in the kit part and you're done. Couldn't be simpler.

The holes drilled in the business end of the barrel are a work or art. I included several pictures and borrowed one from the Master Models site to show size.

In summary, this has superb detail, a very reasonable price, will make sure you don't have sanding and fit issues with the kit parts and is easy. Most highly recommended. My thanks to Piotr and Iwona Czerkasow of Master Model, and IPMS/USA fo this review sample.

Box Art

Predator MQ-1A
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
July 12, 2011
Company
Platz
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$39.98

[Japanesse] manufacturer Platz has expanded its UAV line to cover several versions of the Predator. This review covers the MQ-1A one, which is the armed one.

The kit is molded in light plastic and two sprues. You get 6 marking options, but there are plenty of extra decals in the sheet, so you can probably find enough markings for almost any predator in service.

Wings are one piece, helping to set the proper dihedral which is critical on an airplane with such a long wingspan relative to the fuselage.

Given that there is no cockpit, assembly is quick and easy. It took me about two hours to prepare the parts and assemble them. I left the landing gear out the kit for ease of painting.

Kitset packaging and contents

IAB-500 Imitation Aerial Bomb with BD3-23N Pylon
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
July 11, 2011
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$10.00

This is one big bomb or imitation bomb. Its construction is typical Soviet design. Molded perfectly in light grey resin the bomb itself is a two piece affair with a nose cone and tail section. Also included in this set is an exquisitely molded bomb rack. The rack is a piece of art with sway brace arms molded in place. How they molded it and got it to cast is beyond me.

Decals are included for the stencils and the instructions show where they belong.

The bomb can be painted either light grey or dark green.

As far as I know this bomb has never before been available in any form. It is used on the Mig-21, Su-7, Su-22 and Su-24.

This bomb, or imitation bomb, will make a very unique addition to your model. It is big and typically Soviet looking.

Highly recommended