Sample sprue

HMS Warspite, 1915

Completed Model

Bela Lugosi as Broadways Dracula Deluxe Kit

Right rear

MiG-21F-13 Fishbed

Gaps resulting from clamps 1

British Heavy Assault Tank A-39 Tortoise

Drive Sprockets

Tauchpanzer III Ausf H Smart Kit

Back left view of model

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley MK V

Finished model

Aussie Eight - Spitfire Mk. VIII in Australian Service, Dual Combo

Hasegawa's Evo

Mitsubishi Lancer GSR Evolution IV

Finished model

MiG-25RB/RBT

Finished model

SE.5a Overtree

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.

Cover

DH.82A Tiger Moth with Bombs
Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$90.00

Ukraine’s ICM has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and even now with Russia’s invasion threatening their country’s very existence, ICM are still able to produce and export fine model kits, such as this one. Their first boxing of this kit of the universally-known DH.82A Tiger Moth, released in 2021, features the standard RAF trainer version; this new boxing goes a slightly different direction, showcasing a rare combat version of the type.

Cover

IJMNS Yamato, Part 2
Review Author
Bill Kluge
Published on
Company
Gallery Models
MSRP
$830.00

Initial Construction

Now that I had the kit in hand, I had to once and for all decide into what time frame to build it. Most of the parts you need to build the ship at any point in her career are in the box, but much of the build will be determined by what point in time you choose to place the ship. I finally decided to depict Yamato during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October, 1944. I had good references that showed her differences at various points in her service history, with illustrations highlighting in particular her deck and superstructure arrangement of small and medium caliber weapons.

Package

1/20 – 1/16 Traditional Military Style Crates #2
Review Author
Will Kuhrt
Published on
Company
Value Gear
Scale
1/16
MSRP
$20.00

Value Gear Details, based in Flagstaff, Arizona, produces a wide range of high-quality resin accessories for most common model scales. Many of the accessories and stowage sets are universal, which is a nice advantage. This allows the model builder to customize the look they want by mixing sets or you can use one sets intended for specific subjects, such as the ‘Shermie Bits & Extras’.

The set featured in this review has 11 pieces. Also available is set Crates #1 consisting of 10 pieces. The pieces are molded in a dark-brown resin and the detail is impressive. There are even tiny nails!

Clean-up is minimal. I removed the miniscule amount of flash by running a hobby knife along the bottom edge. Next, I soaked the pieces in a mild detergent solution and left them to air dry. This recommended step ensures that all mold release is removed. I then primed them using Tamiya Fine Surface Primer.

Package

Paasche D3000R Oil-less Air Compressor
Review Author
Will Kuhrt
Published on
Company
Paasche
Scale
NA
MSRP
$229.00

The Paasche Airbrush Company, based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was started in 1904 by Jens Paasche, a self-educated Norwegian immigrant, who through his self-educated inventive genius, became a leader in the air painting industry around the turn of the century. Today, the Paasche Airbrush Company is one of the world’s leaders in airbrush industry and produces a full line of equipment—airbrushes, compressors, spray guns and spray booths, and related equipment for professionals as well as hobbyists.

The D3000R is a 1/5 horsepower piston air compressor. It has a ¾ gallon tank and a maximum operating pressure of approximately 40 PSI with a deliverable range of 1-40 PSI. Upon opening the box, you will see it is very well packaged and contains the compressor, pressure regulator, thread tape, and a 1/8” hose adapter.

Cover

Heydrich - Butcher of Prague
Book Author(s)
Ian Baxter
Review Author
Orlando Reyes
Published on
Company
Pen and Sword Books Ltd
MSRP
$22.95

The book deals with the life of Reinhard Heydrich. The Foreword gives us a small synopsis of the day he joined the Nazi Party in June 1931, until his death at the hands of Czech SOE operatives, as well as the retaliation of the Germans to his death. At the end of the book you will find 11 photos dedicated to both the Czech operatives, the church where the final encounter took place, as well as 5 photos remembering the massacre at Lidice.

The book is divided into nine sections comprising of a Foreword, an Introduction five chapters and two appendices. The Foreword gives us a short synopsis of the live of Heydrich during his stay in Prague. The Introduction spans on Heydrich behavior and "accomplishments" while being the Protector of Bohemia and Morovia. It also introduces us to the SOE operatives who ambushed, wounded and killed him.