Finished

Saab JA-37 Viggen

Completed Model - Top

Marvel Comics The Amazing Spiderman Volkswagen Beetle

Sprue 1

Batman vs. Superman Dawn of Justice Batmobile

cab complete 3

Monty's Office Caravan

P178 cockpit

Bv P178 Tank Hunter w/ 'fliegerfaust' B Rocket System

Image 5

S.W.A.T Team Figures

Marking guide

Boulton Paul Defiant F1

Tank truck, top view

CMP C60L Water Truck

Right-rear view of aircraft on stand

KC-767J & E-767 AWACS – J.A.S.D.F.

Right rear

ISU-152-2 155mm BL-10 Cannon 2 in 1

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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.

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Front Cover

MMP Books Single #5, MiG-17F/Lim-5
Book Author(s)
Dariusz Karnas, Karolina Holda
Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$11.59

This is the 5th of the MMP Single series. This book is for the modeler who is going to build this aircraft. There’s no real text, other than the photo captions but there’s a bunch of good information to help build and detail a MiG-17F.

The first 5 pages are line drawings in 1/72 and 1/48 scale. Then 4 pages of detail drawings of canopy, landing gear, instrument panel, and aircraft construction detail.

There follows 8 pages of black/white photos of aircraft details and in service. Finally, 3 pages of color photos, and a large 3-view of a Lim-5 in full color which takes up the last 3 pages.

The photos give a very good idea of what the aircraft looked like when in service, and the color photos are wonderful in that they give good color info on the cockpit interior.

Overall Evaluation: Well recommended. If you’re going to build one of these, this is a low-cost option to get the detail and info you need to do a well-detailed model.

Package

F-5 Tiger II "Freedom Fighter" (shark nose versions) - F-5 E, F - Pitot Tube and 20mm gun barrels
Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$3.66

This was done in conjunction with the Platz 1/144 F-5E/N kit which I also reviewed.

This set consists of a brass pitot, two 20mm guns, and a fairing which can replace one of the guns.

The upgrade is pretty simple. You get a .3mm drill. Remove the kit pitot and drill a hole there. The guns require a little more work, as there isn’t a good place to start drilling. I began by using a #1 blade to dig the guns out, then drilled the .3 mm holes. Then I installed the pitot and the guns. I had to use a little filler under the guns to get them looking good.

I painted the guns area with the same gray I used to paint the model, then highlighted the guns. I used Testors “Burnt Metal” for these, as I find gun metal to be too dark. The pitot was painted Neutral Grey along with the nose area. The Master pitot is about 1/3 the thickness of the kit pitot, so it’s more to scale.

And the project was done. Looks good.

Cover

VF-154 Black Knights

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$21.00

All Phantom Fans have heard of the famous VF-154 Black Knights. This decal set from AOA provides an excellent set of four markings for the F-4J during the 1970’s. This sheet covers one Navy fighter squadron - VF-154 Black Knights - when they operated the F-4J Phantom in the 1970's. From the AOA website:

Marking Options Included:

  1. USS Ranger [Vietnam] (1970-71) - standard scheme
  2. USS Ranger [Vietnam] (1972-73) - CAG & standard scheme
  3. NAS Miramar (1977-78) - CAG scheme

AOA states that there are markings for the centerline fuel tank for the 1972+ period. You will notice that the fuel tank is quite visible on the illustrations of the F-4J provided by AOA in the packaging.

Package

Tempest Mk. V Landing Gear
Review Author
Bob LaBouy
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.95

This white metal landing gear set was specifically designed as the replacement for the latest 2019 Eduard model of the Tempest Mk.V. There are now two such kits as single kits and dual kit ‘Royal Class’ boxing affording the modeler to build several of the Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC).

The SAC gear provides the modeler with a replacement while metal landing gear set, including the main gear and the rear tail strut. One great advantage of the SAC metal gear is their ability to be bent where necessary to more accurately sit on the gear.

Product Picture

USAF B-1B 34th BS "Thunderbirds"
Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$44.00

Academy Model Kits is adding to their 1/144th scale bomber fleet with the addition of a Rockwell B-1B Lancer. Academy's previous foray in 1/144th scale aircraft kits was with a B-47 kit. This B-1B is the sixth, depending on how you count them, 1/144th scale B-1. Lindberg, Minicraft, Panda/Dragon, Monogram, and Revell have all had offerings of this aircraft in this scale.

However, Academy's 'Bone' is newly-tooled and molded in multiple colors of plastic so it can be built without the use of paint. The fuselage and other aircraft parts all molded in gray, with the landing gear in white plastic, and the wheels and engine exhaust nozzles in black. (Operational B-1's are overall gunship gray with white wheel wells and ordnance bays.)