4

Chevrolet G7107 WWII Army Truck

Decals

MiG-21bis

AIM-9 Mounts

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

Cockpit

Fiat 806 Grand Prix, Part 1

Interior

Sd.Kfz 251D

Sprue 13

StuG.III Ausf.G May 1943 Production mit Schurzen

Sprue Shot

Building with Garage

Complete

‘67 Corvette Convertible

Rolling Chassis

Nestle Crunch Monster Truck

Finished - Right Rear

Panzerkampfwagen Mk IV, 744(E) (A13) & UE Fuel Tank Trailer

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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.

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 image

Model A Standard Phaeton (1930)
Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$63.00

From my new best friends at Wikipedia

The Ford Model A(also colloquially called the A-Model Ford or the A, and A-bone among hot rodders and customizers) is the Ford Motor Company's second market success, replacing the venerable Model T which had been produced for eighteen years. It was first produced on October 20, 1927, but was not introduced until December 2. This new Model A (a previous model had used the name in 1903–04) was designated a 1928 model and was available in four standard colors.

By February 4, 1929, one million Model As had been sold, and by July 24, two million. The range of body styles ran from the Tudor at US $500 (in gray, green, or black) ($8,872 in 2023 dollars) to the town car with a dual cowl at US $1,200 ($21,293 in 2023 dollars). In March 1930, Model A sales hit three million, and there were nine body styles available. [Authors note: ICM Holding also has an offering of the Model A with soft top (#24050).]

Cover image

Nieuport Ni-11 Bebe "Italian Aces"
Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
Company
KP Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.05

When the Nieuport 11 arrived at the front in 1916, it signaled the end of the Fokker Eindecker’s dominance. This was mainly due to the overwhelming numbers of Ni 11 produced. The Italians built these aircraft under license and a number of Italian pilots became aces in them. This boxing provides decals for three; Francesco Baracca (34 victories), Fulco Ruffo di Calabria (20 victories), and Alvaro Leonardi (8 victories).

The kit is packaged in an end-open box with artwork depicting Leonardi’s Nieuport. A color finishing guide on the back of the box gives paint color references and decal placement. The kit parts are molded in gray plastic with a single sheet instruction guide and a small decal sheet. Surface details are a bit heavy for the scale, especially the fabric effect on the flying surfaces. Two machine gun options are also included.

Cover

Book Review: The North American P-51 "Early Mustang"
Book Author(s)
Richard A. Franks
Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
Company
Valiant Wings Publishing
MSRP
$36.00

I’ve always been a fan of the early Allison powered Mustangs so it’s nice to see publishers filling the gap for historians and modelers alike. This publication goes even farther by including the merlin powered B and C models. This is a second edition of a book first printed in 2013. It is broken down into three sections, Airframe, Miniatures and Appendices.

Cover

Model Dioramas Handbook
Book Author(s)
Mat Irvine
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Crecy Publishing, Ltd.
MSRP
$34.95

This is a good introduction book to the world of dioramas by author Mat Irvine. His English roots are evident throughout this amazing book, and it is great to see his perspective across multiple genres of modelling, and not just fixated on one sub-genre. While some want dioramas for a specific style, this book does a great job of covering dioramas from basic to movie sets and museum displays. I also appreciate the author’s Dedication page to Andrew Yanchus before the table of contents. Andy worked for Aurora, a “colorist” for Marvel Comics, and as an advisor for the newly formed Atlantis Model Company. He was a friend of author Mat Irvine for almost 50 years and was a “highly knowledgeable historian on all matters to do with model-making, and I still often think, when tackling a particular problem: ‘Ah, Andy would have known.’” It is in this vein that the book is written.

Mat Irvine’s introduction starts with,

Package

Cessna O-2 Skymaster Instrument Panel
Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
Company
Yahu Models
Scale
1:48
MSRP
$8.99

As I get older, I’m appreciating things that make model building easier on the eyes. Instrument panels are a real challenge even when they come with a decal or in the case of the ICM O-2 kit, separate decals for each instrument on the panel.

Thankfully, Yahu models offer this set to upgrade a highly visible area of the kit. This set is comprised of two-color photo-etch parts covering the instrument panel/sub-panel and fuse panel for the left fuselage half.

Unlike some color photo-etch panels with dots on a circle, these look like actual instruments. They are built up in layers that allow the instruments to slightly recess and have a semi-gloss sheen for a glass-like finish over the dials.

Installation is easy. Remove any raised details from the kit parts-except the elevator trim wheel on the main panel-first. The panel part is cut into three sections since the lower panels are on a different plane than the top.