Finished

F-35C "Lightning II"

F-18C Finished 04

Academy F/A-18C

Finished Right

Siebel Fh 104

Front

Albion 3 Point Fueller

Image 5

F6F-5D/K Hellcat "Target Drone"

Engine

H-34 US Navy Rescue

Interior

1937 Chevy Coupe Stovebolt

Base

IJN Cruiser Submarine I-16, Pearl Harbor with Detail Set

Feet

Gladiator

4

Douglas A2D-1 Skyshark

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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.

Box Art

E.R. Engels II. LeRhone (with Skis)
Review Author
John Noack
Published on
Company
Omega Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$31.00

Designed and built by Russian engineer E.R. Engels, the Engels II was a parasol-winged monoplane flying boat first flown in 1917. Designed to fly using wing warping rather than ailerons, the aircraft was at one time the fastest flying boat in service. An egg-shaped pod held the fuel tank and structure for the 120 HP LeRhone rotary engine. Armament was a single, fixed 7.62mm machine gun mounted in the nose. The graceful parasol wings incorporated sharply downswept tips that served as floats.

Box Art

TF-104 Starfighter
Review Author
Jarrod Booth
Published on
Company
Italeri
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$152.00

The F-104 Starfighter was a single engine, single seat fighter that was operational from the mid-1950s through 2004. The TF-104 was a two-seat training version and did not carry the fuselage mounted cannon.

Italeri’s 1/32 scale TF-104 follows their nice F-104 from a few years ago. It comes packaged in a very large, sturdy box. All the parts sprues are individually wrapped and only a couple of parts were disconnected from the sprue. The clear parts and photo-etch fret were contained on one side of the box protected by a cardboard divider. Two very large decal sheets, an instruction manual plus a separate painting and decal manual were located at the bottom of the box.

Product Picture

Jeffery Quad Ammunition Truck
Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Lukgraph
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$84.80

Kit Manufacturer

This is a high quality resin kit of the Jeffrey Quad 4 wheel drive truck produced by Lukgraph Models from Krakow, Poland. Lukgraph’s focus is on British and American aviation in the years between WWI and WWII. Lukgraph also produces the Jeffery-Poplavko armored car, and Nash-Quad Artillery truck in 1/35 scale; and the Nash-Quad Truck, and Nash-Quad Ammunition Truck in 1/48 scale. Lukgraph also makes a number of WWI aircraft kits in both 1/48 and 1/32 scales. The kits are available direct from Lukgraph, Victory Models, or KitLinx in the U.S., and several European suppliers.

The review sample was ordered direct from Lukgraph and included a nice personalized photo of a completed kit. The cost of the kit is $84.83 plus $11.31 shipping (85€ total).

Product Picture

French Foreign Légionnaire vs Viet Minh Insurgent
Book Author(s)
Martin Windrow Illustrator:Johnny Shumate
Review Author
Marc K. Blackburn
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$20.00

Like a fireball in the night, the story of the Vietnam War dominates our historical consciousness. This new addition to Osprey’s Combat series, focuses on the French Foreign Legion versus the Viet Minh from 1948 to 1952. The book concentrates on a four year period, marking the height of the French occupation and counter-insurgency against the Viet Minh. Combat is one of the newer series of Osprey Publishing and it follows a formulaic format. Each book is illustrated with original art work, depicting some of the combat scenes described in the book as well as historical photographs contemporary to the conflict. The first part of each book provides context for the combat, focusing on the issues related to the larger war and the composition of the armed forces involved in each battle featured. The heart of the book are short narratives of individual battles that also feature maps that allow you to follow along with the actions described in the text.

Product Picture

Wellington Mk. Ia/c Cockpit Interior
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$26.95

IPMS/USA again thanks the Eduard team for sending us more of their prolific output targeted toward improving already great kits. Thanks to Phil and John for obtaining the sets for the team…

This set is a now-expected high-end upgrade to the 2018 release of the new-mold Airfix 1/72 Wellington 1a/c. Included are color fret elements including the instrument panel, interior control and indicators, and various bits and bobs that make up a British design from the 1930’s.