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
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Brengun
Hauler
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$18.44

Hauler-Brengun is well known as a supplier of high-quality aftermarket detail parts for armor kits, as well as other subjects. As armor builders are aware, there can be many detail parts that are available to be added to the Sherman M4A, and Hauler has provided 60+ photoetch parts to “detail” the Tamiya 48th scale M4A.

The package containing this Hauler product is the standard clear plastic envelope, with a black card stock insert that adds some rigidity to the product while on the shelf. The product instructions are printed, front and back, on a piece of 5.25”x8.25” paper. All of the photoetch parts share the same parts runner.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.95

This SAC product provides parts to replace the kit-supplied landing gear in the Kinetic kit of the M-346. The SAC parts in this review sample are without any noticeable flash or mold seam lines.

Of significance is the fact that the SAC gear strut locating pins are of the same shape and size as the locating pins on the Kinetic kit. This is, of course, important so that proper fit and alignment can be easily achieved when using the SAC gear.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Brengun
Hauler
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$11.16

Hauler-Brengun is well known as a supplier of high-quality aftermarket detail parts for aircraft, as well as other subjects. In this review, we will examine a resin 250kg bomb with rack for a 48th scale Japanese aircraft that was in service in World War II and may have carried such a weapon.

Book Author(s)
Mark Wilkins
Review Author
Bill Kluge
Published on
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$37.95

Nowadays, when we think of cutting-edge aviation technology, things like stealth materials, satellite guidance and pilotless flying come to mind. But what was the cutting edge one hundred years ago, at the dawn of aviation? How about hinged ailerons, or steel tubing, or cantilevered wings? For better or worse, warfare spurs innovation, and by the time of the Great War, the needs of the conflicting Great Powers for the decisive weapon, coupled with the cutthroat nature of industrial competition, spurred aviation innovation at an astounding pace.

Book Author(s)
Mike Mackowski
Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
Space in Miniature
MSRP
$12.00

Mike Mackowski has made something of a name for himself by his relentless pursuit of All Things Real Space in Miniature. This, his ninth publication along these lines, continues the saga as he delves into a number of models both real and speculative regarding the infamous Gemini space program from the 1960’s.