Close-up of pilot figure

Kawasaki Ki61-I Tei Type 3 Fighter Hien (Tony) and Type 95 Small Sedan Kurogane 4Wd (Model 3) “244Th Flight Regiment” w/Figure

Canopy & Nose Area

Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II

Finished Underside

P-39L/N US WWII Fighter

Completed left side

Jagdpanzer IV/70(V)Lang

Completed top view

Russian Self-Propelled Gun SU-152 (KV-14)

Crossmember Fix

Studebaker US6-U3

Completed Build

Zil-131 with Trailer

Kit Contents

ZіL-131 AFU with DShKM

Finished

P-51D Mustang "The 5th Air Force"

Finished

Bachem Ba.349 Natter

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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.

Book Cover

Douglas D-558: D-558-1 Skystreak and D-558-2 Skyrocket
Book Author(s)
Peter E. Davies
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$22.00

This is the 12th book in the X Planes Series and covers the Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak plus the D-558-2 Skyrocket.

The book covers the full development of the Skystreak and Skyrocket and the history of the testing and progress they made.

The book chapters are:

  • Chapter 1: Introduction
  • Chapter 2: The Crimson Test Tube
  • Chapter 3: Skyrocket
  • Chapter 4: Air - Launch
  • Chapter 5: Super Skyrockets
  • Chapter 6: Afterthoughts

There are lots of great images in the book which has 80 pages.

The development stages and aircraft variations are very well done. Every detail and stages is covered in great depth. What I found very interesting is the amount of information from the human side and the people involved in the programs is tremendous.

Scale Ruler

Scale Ruler MMR 35
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Masterpiece Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$4.99

Masterpiece Models has provided a useful tool – a 1/35 scale ruler. This is one of a series that also includes 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 scale. These cover all the major model kit scales. They are made from acrylic sheet, 6 inches long, 1/16th thick, and laser engraved.

This is a very useful tool when modelling and can be used for checking part are too scale, for scratch building kit parts, and diorama parts.

The ruler is clear which also makes it easier to use and see what your measuring.

I will now source the other rulers in the series as I can see so many uses for these.

Thanks go to Masterpiece Models for providing this tool for review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it.

Product Picture

SBD Dauntless: Douglas’s US Navy and Marine Corps Dive Bombing in World War II
Book Author(s)
David Doyle
Review Author
Michael Reeves
Published on
Company
David Doyle Books
MSRP
$19.99

I have been interested in the SBD Dauntless for as long as I have been modeling. In these 20+ years, I have collected any book on my favorite aircraft as I could grab up. For as long as I have been modeling, I have also come to appreciate David Doyle’s excellent reference books on all matters of military subjects and they have become a go-to source whenever I wanted to learn more. The fact that his expertise could be married to the Slow but Deadly in the form of a new book on this truly significant dive bomber makes me truly happy. The fact that the book contains so many photos I have never seen makes things even that much better.

Product Picture

Letters from a Lancaster Gunner
Book Author(s)
Helen Thompson
Review Author
Michael Reeves
Published on
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$28.95

This book is not your typical historical account toting statistics, data charts, and emotionally detached accounts of RAF Bomber Command operations. I admit there is nothing wrong with those types of books- they have their place, and I have enjoyed them in the past when researching and educating myself for a build or idea. This is a narrative that is based on letters between a young, hopeful RAF turret gunner named Joseph ‘Mac’ Thompson and his family- mainly letters home to his mum. The book is written by his niece, Helen Thompson.

Product Picture

MiG-21MF Fighter-Bomber Photoetch Set
Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.95

This set is designed to be used on Eduard’s MiG-21MF “Fighter-Bomber” kit that was released by Eduard last fall. The set provides full color replacements for the cockpit walls, consoles, canopy rails, canopy and the instrument panel. It also includes a several pieces for the ejection seat harness, the “Odd Rods” IFF antennas and static dischargers.