Cockpit

Fokker E.IV

Tamiya tape used to outline panels

Albatros D.Va

Defiant Top Left

U.S.S. Defiant NX-74205

Interior 2

sWS 60cm Infrared Searchlight Carrier "Uhu"

Bridge detail

USS Forrest Sherman

Idler, miscellaneous parts sprue

IJA Type 4 Light Tank “Ke-Nu”

Cowling and prop in place

TBD-1A on Floats

Air Bleed Internals to Represents Engines

F-4B Phantom, Part 1 - Wow!

Port Access Panels

Part 2 - Henschel Hs-129B-2/RIII Wings, Cowlings and Things!

Completed

German Railway Gun K5(E) "Leopold" w/ Figures

Previous Next

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

Hitachi Vibratory Combined Roller ZC50C-5
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$49.99

This is a new tooled kit first issued in 2017. It is an excellent kit in the Hasegawa range and is very easy to build as long as you watch the instruction details carefully.

In the box is:

  • 2 x orange sprues
  • 1 clear sprue
  • 1 light grey sprue
  • 3 x dark grey sprues
  • 1 length of hose
  • 1 decal sheet
  • 4 x poly caps
  • 1 instruction booklet

The sprues are extremely well molded with no flash and great detail. The parts are all molded in the correct colors so if the build is done well there is no need to do much painting.

Box Art

P-51D Mustang
Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Minicraft Model Kits
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$12.99

When Phil Peterson sent out an announcement that there were new items for review, I went to the list with only a certain amount of excitement. There are very few 1/144 scale items available for review, and that’s my scale. I was glad to find a new 1/144 item from Minicraft. A P-51D Mustang. I sent an immediate email begging and pleading for this kit. And I got it. And I’m glad I did.

Cover

The 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich
Book Author(s)
Yves Buffetaut
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$24.95

The book goes into details of the formation, deployment and combat actions of the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich.

Das Reich was the first Waffen SS division created and was a major force where ever it fought.

The unit as formed in September 1939 as the war began and fought on most fronts from Poland, France, Balkans, Russia, back to France and then back to the eastern front at the end of the war.

I found this book fascinating and made me aware of a lot of information I have never read before. Das Reich was a formidable division and prove its worth and bravery on all the fronts it fought. It was used as a firefighting group on many occasions and resisted against the odds on many occasions.

There are a lot of pictures and illustrations that make the book even more interesting.

Cover

Gloster Gauntlet
Book Author(s)
Alex Crawford; Illustrator: Krzysztof Wołowski
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$20.00

This is volume one in the Orange Series from MMP. The Gloster Gauntlet was the last open-cockpit fighter of the RAF entering into service in February 1935. In addition to the RAF, it saw service in the Commonwealth with the South African Air Force, Southern Rhodesian Air Force, and Royal Australian Air Force. Foreign users were Denmark and Finland.

The book is broken down into 10 main segments beginning with an Introduction and Development and Production chapters. The original Gauntlet design with the 450hp Bristol Mercury IIA engine but due to this engine’s unreliability the Gauntlet lost out top Bristol’s own design, the Bulldog. Five years later after steady design improvements and multiple engine installations the Gauntlet now being 40MPH faster than the Bulldog won a production contract.

The Gauntlet served the RAF well for about 3 years before in 1938 being removed from frontline service. 616 Squadron still had Gauntlets at the outbreak of WWII!

Box Art

Baja Bronco
Review Author
Jim Stepanek
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$24.95

Engine

Beautiful Ford 289 is well detailed and fits together just perfectly. I added ignition wiring, throttle linkage, and fuel line.

Interior

Interior is wonderfully engraved just screaming for some detail painting. Rustoleum texture paint was used to simulate a sprayed on durable coating.

Body

The body went together very well. The open grille is an impressive piece. Didn’t have to grind away the back to open it up. Every piece fits very well. I filled the holes for the outrigger spare tire and put it inside. The fender flares were made with strip styrene and Bondo. I needed wider flares to cover the tires. HOK sunrise pearl was used on the body.

Chassis

The frame rails are separate from the chassis pan making for detail painting easier. Front, rear suspension, and exhaust are all separate pieces. Some serious lowering was done to the suspension. Wheels/tires are from the parts box.