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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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.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$16.95

This white metal SAC landing gear set is designed for the Wingnut Wings RAF RE.8 (Royal Aircraft Factory Reconnaissance Experimental 8) Model Kit #32012.

The British RE.8 replaced the BE series of two seaters using many of the BE’s components with the main difference being a forward firing machine gun for the pilot and relocating the observer/gunner to the rear. Poorly regarded because of its looks, and the “Harry Tate’s” poor aerobatic characteristics the RE.8 dependably performed its intended tasks as a bomber, reconnaissance and artillery spotting aircraft from 1916 to the end of WWI.

These are nice pieces that will add highly detailed realism to the Wingnut wings kit while providing additional strength and needed support to a large-scale model. This will reduce the concern about the landing gear buckling under the weight of the model and preventing the resulting damage.

Review Author
Paul Dunham
Published on
Company
Italeri
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$55.77

This kit is a cooperative effort between the companies Platz and Italeri. The kit contents are well protected in a sturdy top-opening box. The plastic parts are provided by Italeri and are the same as in many Italeri boxings of the Mig-23. The kit includes four sprues of parts in light gray plastic, a clear sprue of canopy and landing lights parts, decals, a sheet of pre-cut masks, instructions, and four-view painting/decaling guides and decals to build either a Soviet or North Korean option.

Book Author(s)
Wojtek Matusiak Illustrator: Robert Grudzień
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$28.00

MMP was founded in 1996 by Roger Wallsgrove, to publish "Mushroom Model Magazine". This quarterly modelling magazine was developed from "Mushroom Monthly”, a club newsletter which ran from 1985 to 1995, achieving a world-wide reputation for quality articles, fearless and honest reviews, and a great sense of humor. From 1997 the magazine was produced in collaboration with Robert Peczkowski and Artur Juszczak (Stratus), which meant a big leap in print quality and design. MMP expanded into book publication in 1999, and since then we have built up a list of books on aircraft and aviation, naval, military vehicles, and military history.

Book Author(s)
Mike Rinaldi
Review Author
Blaine Singleton
Published on
Company
Rinaldi Studio Press
MSRP
$27.50

SM.02 S-65 City Tractor features a civilian-based project created from the excellent 1/35 Trumpeter Stalinetz S-65 Russian Army tractor kit, with a finish that is designed to explore other realms of possibilities. This model will illustrate how a city owned operation might have utilized this one-time military tractor. The finish was heavily influenced by the many worn-out city tractors seen in the great Pacific Northwest.

6.5" x 7.5", 128-page softcover, perfect bound, uniquely designed uncoated Linen cover stock. Interior pages are the same high-quality paper stock as the TANKART books, which helps to create a stylish and cool presentation with tons of character.

In the Book

If you are interested in building painting and weathering something other than a military vehicle, this book is about a tractor and all the different layers of painting and weathering involved with the process.

Book Author(s)
Andy Evans & Stephen J. Di Nucci
Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Phoenix Scale Publications
MSRP
$32.25

This is the third volume of Phoenix Scale Publications Real to Replica series and focuses on “Wild Weasel” and other air defense suppression and electronic warfare aircraft.

While the suppression of enemy air defenses probably started as soon as ground forces realized they could shoot back at the aircraft that were bombing or harassing them, it did not really come into its own until the Vietnam war. In order to combat the ever increasingly sophisticated and deadly air defenses over North Vietnam, the United States Air Force created the “Wild Weasel” program. The United States Navy also realized that there was a need to address this problem but took a slightly different approach initially.