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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
David Horn
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$15.40

Brengen produces a wide range of unique resin, photo-etch (PE)accessories and full kits in 1/32, 1/48, 1/72 and 1/144. This conversion set was previously produced by Attack Squadron (Arma Hobby) and that product line was sold to Brungen which now offers the C-130 product line many are familiar with.

Book Author(s)
Andy Evans
Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
SAM Publications
MSRP
$19.39

As noted in the title, this book is a scaled down version of its bigger volume on the Grumman A-6 Intruder family. This volume includes descriptions and photographs of the attack versions of the A-6, as well the tanker (KA-6D) and both electronic warfare versions, the EA-6A and the EA-6B. The book is lavishly illustrated with both color and black and white photographs with informative captions.

Chapter 1 briefly discusses the design and development of the A-6. In late 1950’s the Navy issue a request for the design of an all-weather attack aircraft with two crewmembers to replace the A-1 Skyraider. Grumman’s proposal was selected by the Navy and first flew in April of 1960. Adopted by both the Navy and the Marines, the A-6 Intruder became a mainstay of Navy and Marine Corp combat operations in Vietnam. The chapter includes a brief description of the systems installed in the A-6 to give it it’s all-weather capabilities.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Academy Models
MSRP
$99.00

This is a brand-new model of the New God Phoenix from Tatsunoko Production's TV Anime [Science Ninja Gatchaman II] broadcasted from October 1978. (Also known as Battle of the Planets in North America).

This version includes the optional LED lighting kit.

In the box is:

  • 2 x white sprues
  • 1 red sprue
  • 1 blue sprue
  • 1 pink transparent sprue
  • 1 dark grey sprue
  • 1 black sprue
  • 1 small yellow sprue
  • 8 white parts not on a sprue
  • 1 decal sheet
  • 1 sticker sheet
  • 1 instruction booklet
  • 1 LED kit

The sprues are extremely well molded with no flash and very detailed. The parts are all molded in the correct colors so if the build is done well there is no need to do much painting. The LED kit optional kit is simple and easy to use and fully detailed in the instruction booklet.

Book Author(s)
Vyacheslav Kozitsyn
Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Peko Publishing
MSRP
$27.95

This book is PeKo Publishing’s second in the series of photo albums introducing rare wartime photos from battles, operations, vehicles, or complete photo albums from soldiers who fought in WWII. This volume 1.1 illustrates photos from an unidentified German Sturmartillerist of the Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung (Assault Gun Battalion) 191. The first volume in the series, 1.0, illustrated photos from Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 189.

Abteilung 191 was dispatched in December 1940 from Jüterbog to Romania, and traveled through Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Hungary. The book contains photographs from fighting at the Greek border where the Abteilung supported the German infantry on the Metaxas line. Photographs during marches through the country showing destruction and enemy vehicles, and in Greece after the capitulation are included as well.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Masterpiece Models
MSRP
$10.00

Mottling the paint scheme on a model by hand can be difficult and rather time consuming. Keeping the paint at a consistent density, avoiding a semblance of a “pattern” in the layout of the mottling, and paying attention to panel lines are all issue that need attention when applying a “mottled” finish.

Masterpiece has addressed these issues with an easy-to-use set of templates. The templates are sturdy pieces of a cardboard-type paper. Each template contains a multitude of holes and openings that are of a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Some of the “knock-out” panels that make up the openings in the template are still in place. Removing them will bring about a diverse pattern each time you use the template. Also, reversing which side of the template you use (top or bottom) as the surface in contact with the model, will provide additional diversity.