Left rear

Hawker Hurricane Mk I

Nose

F-14D Super Tomcat

Close-up forward detail

SSW D.III

Intake

A-4KU (AF-1) Skyhawk 'Brazilian Navy VF-1 15th Anniversary'

Engine Close Up

Norton Commando PR 750cc Motorcycle

Wheel Assembly

Lancaster Mk.1B - Part 2 of 3

Tow Tractor 4

Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II

Finished Model - Right Side - Outdoors

’63 Corvette Sting Ray

Rear Floor

1961 Jaguar E-Type, Part Three

Finished model

Mersu Bf-109G in Finland Dual Combo

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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.

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Book cover

P-47 Thunderbolt "Bubbletop"
Book Author(s)
Robert Peczkowski, Illustrated by Artur Juszczak
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$23.00

Kit Review

The P-47 “Thunderbolt” went through a major design upgrade in 1943, when its canopy and back fuselage was modified to be a “bubbletop”. Based on the information in the book the ‘inspiration’ for this modification was the RAF Hawker Typhoon.

This book covers all the “bubbletop” production variants from P-47D-25 to the final version, the P-47N, including all the related prototypes.

The first section of the book is dedicated to technical details on each prototype and production variants. There are plenty of historical pictures for each variant including foreign operators and post war operators and even a few historical color pictures too.

The second part of the book is a “walk around” of different P-47 preserved in museums. The walk around is neatly organized by “fuselage”, “tails”, “landing gear”, “engine”, etc.

Box Art

Domestic Animals

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Master Box Ltd
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$13.00

The domestic animals set is a welcome addition to the 1/35 scale diorama, adding some more every-day objects (or animals) to the traditionally military-focus aspects of dioramas.

Master Box has released a single sprue of 26 parts containing two cows and one goat. The box shows two goats, but it is just two suggested painting options. The sprue attachment points are medium sized and some part preparation and cleaning is needed. Care is needed when removing parts from the sprue as to avoid damaging detail. Overall detail is good, with clearly detailed faces, eyes and ears. You can even see the ribs in the cow sides. The goat hair might be a bit overdone but that makes painting and washing easier.

Kitset Packaging

F-5 Pitot tubes

Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$3.99

Thanks to David Lajer of Aires, and to IPMS/USA for giving me the opportunity to review this sweet little detail! I recommend it highly.

These pitot tubes are cast in pale tannish gray resin, with three tubes protected by casting sprue on three sides. This arrangement will provide the modeler with enough nose tubes for three planes, or in my case, enough for one plane and two mistakes. The shipping package is reseal-able, so you can keep the extra tubes secured.

There is little to say about these elegant little tubes, after all they are pretty small. But I micrometered them and they are well with scale tolerances. There is a little bit of variability in the length of the real thing anyway, so this is a minor consideration. More importantly, having this small detail greatly enhances a very prominent place on the model.

Publication covers

Windsock Datafile, Caproni CA.3 at War, Volumes One and Two
Book Author(s)
Gregory Alegi
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$17.95

Thanks to Ray Rimmel of Albatros Productions and to IPMS/USA for giving me the opportunity to review these two wonderful volumes!

These wonderful publications by Gregory Alegi address a little known aspect of early WW1 aviation, the development of early heavy bombers. The volumes are actually the 3rd and 4th Caproni volumes authored by Mr. Alegi, but recent access to privately held papers in the Caproni family collection allowed updated and improved description of this unique aircraft.

The Caproni Ca.3 had an impressive (for the time) 22.2 m wingspan, 11m length, an empty weight of 2300 kg, and could stay aloft for 4 hours. The bomber’s ceiling was 4500 m, but it would take 48 minutes to reach that altitude! The aircraft was a twin-boom design with two engines in-line with the tail booms and a third engine in pusher configurations was mounted directly behind the cockpit

Box Art

Bf-109 T-2 Fighter
Review Author
Tracy Palmer
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$35.00

Bottom line

A good kit which will require a knowledge of using and working with resin parts, doing conversions, and a higher level of air brush skills.

History

The Messerschmitt BF-109T was the projected carrier version of the Bf-109E model. About 70 planes of this version were built by Fiesler. Several modifications had to be made to adapt these single seat fighters for use on aircraft carriers: