Left side high

Tiran 5 Israeli Tank

Front View

T-28D Trojan

Lower Gap Good

Beechcraft T-34A Mentor

In progress

P-47D & F-86E "Gabreski"

Finished Model

German Main Battle Tank Leopard 2A7V + Detail Gun Barrel

Finished 1

Spitfire Mk. IXe

CN 3

J2M3 Raiden ‘Jack’ (with Concept Notes)

Decals

NASA Space Shuttle "Discovery" w/747-100 SCA

Right side

AFV Valentine Mk.III w/Rotatrailer

Completed - Left

Extra EA-300L (4-blade Propeller)

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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.

Package Front

Bird Houses
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Matho Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$15.70

Thank you to Matho Models for providing a neat diorama accessory for review, produced with innovative technology. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to review these birdhouses! Matho Models has a widening line of 1/35 scale details and bases. Their website has scale search options using larger and smaller scale product lines, but at this time, 1/35 dominates.

Product packaging

PBY Catalina Exhaust
Review Author
Rob Booth
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$3.00

Quickboost has produced replacement exhaust parts for the Academy 1/72 PBY Catalina kits. The resin replacement is a simple drop-in for the kit's plastic parts. There is no modification required to the kit parts to use these resin replacements.

A side by side evaluation (see photos) indicates a replacement of superior detail that will provide a more accurate rendition of the exhaust assemblies. Check your references for the appropriate set to use (some models of the Cat had a straight pipe exhaust). Be sure to wash the parts in soapy water to remove mold release agents and prime prior to using your favorite modeling paints. Also, remember that you must use epoxy or CA glue to attach these parts to styrene plastic.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to the IPMS Reviewer Corps and Quickboost for the opportunity to review this item.

Product packaging

PBY Catalina Fishtail Exhausts
Review Author
Rob Booth
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$4.00

Quickboost has produced replacement “fishtail” exhaust parts for the Academy 1/72 PBY Catalina kits. The resin replacement is a simple drop-in for the kit’s plastic parts. There is no modification required to the kit parts to use these resin replacements.

A side by side evaluation (see photos) indicates a replacement of superior detail that will provide a more accurate rendition of the exhaust assemblies. Check your references for the appropriate set to use (some models of the Cat had a straight pipe exhaust). Be sure to wash the parts in soapy water to remove mold release agents and prime prior to using your favorite modeling paints. Also, remember that you must use epoxy or CA glue to attach these parts to styrene plastic.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to the IPMS Reviewer Corps and Quickboost for the opportunity to review this item.

Box Art

TP-63E King Cobra
Review Author
Blaine Singleton
Published on
Company
Dora Wings
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$39.98

History

An entirely different two-seater was produced by the Bell company for internal use. Two P63E-1s were modified by Bell with a separate observer seat in the rear fuselage, located behind the engine mounted under a separate canopy. A probe was mounted which extended through the spinner, and to make space for the observer the radio equipment had to be moved forward into the armament bay. The aircraft carried the civilian registrations NX41963 and NX41964.

In the Box

Instructions

The instruction booklet was divided into eight pages of clearly marked parts and their construction sequence. Illustrations for the parts and their construction sequence were very clear and crisp. The instructions contained 49 separate steps to complete the model.

Included in the instructions is a drawing for paint and decal applications for either of two aircraft. Both were for the civil aviation models.

Part 1 Cover

USAAF Camouflaged P-51D, Parts 1 & 2
Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
LPS Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$15.00

Decals designed for Tamiya P-51D, but should work for any 1/72nd scale kit.

There are more 'new to me' companies out there than I can shake a stick at. One such company is LPS Hobby from Brazil. This group has been making after-market decals sets for a 1/72nd scale aircraft for some few years now.

[On a side note: Being part of the IPMS/USA review corps affords the opportunity to get your hands on some of these company’s items without added expense or well... any expense. Something to think about.]

The subject of this missive is two sets (Part One and Two) of after-market decals for USAAF camouflaged P-51D's. The subjects are all from the 363rd Fighter squadron, 357th fighter Group stationed at Leistin, England in 1944.

The specific aircraft included in Part One are: