Hatch open from behind, this picture also shows the engine vent hatch.

VCL Light Amphibious Tank

Finished Front 1

Kawanisi N1K1-Jb Shiden (George) TYPE 11 Otsu 'Rollout'

4

Oliver Hazard Perry Class Frigate

Fw 190A Front view

48 Reichsverteidigung Profipack Dual Combo

Right front view

German SU-76i with Cupola

Cockpit detail

F/A-18E Super Hornet

Right side

British Mk.VI Crusader Mk.III - Cruiser Tank

Left Front

MiG-15UTI Soviet Air Force

767 KC and 767 AWACS

KC-767J & E-767 AWACS – J.A.S.D.F.

Cockpit

Yak-23 "Flora"

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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

U-295 type U-VIIC/41 + "Biber" German Submarine
Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Mirage Hobby
Scale
1/400
MSRP
$19.99

If you are looking for a unique addition to your WWII U-boat collection, let me direct your attention to the kits of Mirage Hobby. In one of their latest releases, the company offers a Type VIIC boat equipped with a pair of Biber mini subs, each carrying a pair of torpedoes. Shying away from the typical 1/700 and 1/350 scales for ships, Mirage Hobby offers this and several other submarines molded in 1/400 scale. Modelers with some experience with small parts will have no issues with the construction of this kit.

Front cover

Consolidated PB4Y-1/1P Liberator
Book Author(s)
Steve Ginter
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Ginter Books
MSRP
$49.95

This book covers the PB4Y-1/1P Liberator in US Naval service. Armed with the success of land based bombers used by the USAAC anti-submarine command in the Atlantic along with RAF Coastal Command on the other side of the Atlantic, the Navy went to the AAC to ask for a share of the B-24 production. This was granted in return for the Navy canceling orders for the Boeing PBB Sea Ranger thus freeing up that production capacity for B-29s.

Ginter books are well known in both the modeling and aviation community for their in-depth photo coverage and history of the title subject. This book on the PB4Y-1 , number 105 in the Naval Fighters series, lives up to the sterling reputation established by all of the previous volumes. It is a great companion volume to the one on the PB4Y-2!

Product packaging

FW-190A-5/8, R-2/8, F-8 Landing Gear
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$13.95

This is a white metal landing gear set is to for the Eduard 1/72 Fw 190A-5/8, R-2/8, F-8 aircraft.

The white metal parts are very good and have more defined details than the original kit parts. They are a very good replacement for the already well-detailed kit parts. The advantage is these white metal parts will provide more strength and last longer than the kit parts.

The parts are well cast; you do need to sand off the few cast seams and metal pour points. The parts were a perfect fit to the existing mount and were easy to assemble. A couple of the parts were a little bent, but very easy to fix.

I recommend these parts are a great addition to an already extremely well-detailed kit.

Thanks go to Scale Aircraft Conversions for providing this set to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.

Cover of book

Panther in Action
Book Author(s)
David Doyle
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
David Doyle Books
MSRP
$19.99

The book is one of the Squadron Signal series “in Action”. It explores the history and development of the Panther tank and its Variants. I have always loved the Panther design and was very happy to have this book to review. The pictures of the Panther in the book are fantastic.

The book has some extremely interesting and diverse photos of the iconic Panther, there are over 180 photographs included. The photos really show the classic lines and design of this wonderful symbol of the World War 2. The book made me want to build a couple of Panther models out of my stash and start building using the book for valuable reference. The last sections of the variants are an extremely interesting addition to the book.

This book should be in every tank lover’s library and I recommend this book to everyone. The great reference photos are ideal for all modeler’s.

Product packaging

He 111H-3/6/16 Landing Gear

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.95

This is a white metal landing gear set is to for the ICM 1/48 HE 111 H3 aircraft.

The white metal parts are very good and have better-defined details than the original kit parts. They are a very good replacement for the already well details kit parts. The advantage is these white metal parts will provide more strength and last longer than the kit parts.

The parts include the rear wheel parts that replace part numbers D1-2, D1-10, and D2-11. With this assembly, you must drill out the location slot in the main strut to accept the part that replaces the D2-11.

The two main gear struts components replace part numbers D2-3, D2-4, C9, and C7 for subassembly 108. D2-5, D2-2, C9, and C7 for subassembly 109. The part number C54 is also replaced with white metal parts. The assembly is a bit difficult but with patience and care makes for a great replacement for the main landing gear legs.