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 Author(s)
Derek Davis
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
The Great War Aviation Society
MSRP
$94.65

The non-profit UK based group known as the Great War Aviation Society publishes A new magazine, Contact!, is now available in both print and digital download. The first two issues of Contact! are available for a free digital download on their website. Their journal, Cross & Cockade International, is also published four times a year. Issues are available in English as printed [Softbound, A4 (8.27” x 11.69”), 72 pages [Including Covers] as well as digital copies (or both). The Society also provides a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publish WWI themed books like the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier for IPMS USA. This Journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front. The Great War Aviation Society also hosts a lecture series available through Zoom. If interested, you will need to register early as the call is limited in attendance.

Review Author
Tom Dunford
Published on
Company
RPToolz
Scale
n/a
MSRP
$22.90

The PE Step Roller Tool from RPToolz is 195 mm long and constructed of Eloxed Aluminum (dyed blue) for use in rolling Photoetch (PE) brass, copper, aluminum and other malleable metal sheet, wire, and some shapes. The Eloxed (electrochemically oxidized) process creates a hardened anodized surface to resist scratches and wear.

The steps in the roller tool correspond to diameters of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15 and 20 mm.

I found the tool capable of repeatedly making consistent-sized rings in wire and barrels in sheet.

Review Author
Jarrod Booth
Published on
Company
Syhart Decal
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$9.31

Sylvain Hautier started Syhart Decals in 2005. Syhart Decals being derived from SY (Sylvain) HA (Hautier), ART (design), Decal (Decals.).

Although I had heard of Syhart Decals, this was the first time I had seen these in person, and I was very impressed with the presentation, the instruction sheet/manual and the high quality of the decals themselves.

The are several manufacturers of the 1/72 scale Rafale and represent various versions, whether Air Force, Marine or two-seater. These decal sets do not seem to be specific to any one manufacturer.

The decals were presented on bright blue paper that looked very similar to the paper used by ICM and Kits World Decals. Each decal on the sheet was sharp and in register, with minimal excess clear film. The printed part of each decal had more of a satin finish, while the excess film was glossy.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$9.00

Fresh from the Review Corps gathering at the 2025 IPMS-USA Nationals comes this 1/72 scale wiper blade set for the AH-64 Apache from the folks at Quickboost. The wipers are intended for use with the Academy kit and will replace parts A6 and B51. For this review, I used my Hasegawa kit (product E6, AH-64 Apache Longbow) to show that they can also be used to upgrade a kit without wipers included. These parts are highly recommended for improving the detail on your 1/72 scale AH-64 Apache.

Quickboost has been around for several years producing detail parts and replacement parts for various models. While researching the set for this review, it appeared that at the time of my writing, this set was yet to be released. The price provided is my best guess based on similar products from the company, but this may vary slightly when released.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$3.96

Fresh from the Review Corps gathering at the 2025 IPMS-USA Nationals comes this wheel bay plug set from O-Mask for the Tamiya 1/48 scale Dornier Do-335. I have been using foam earplugs trimmed to size as needed for several years when masking openings during painting, but these precision-cut plugs can simply be used with no additional work required. I highly recommend this set of plugs to any modeler that airbrushes or sprays their models and is building a Do-335.

According to information provided by O-Mask, these laser-cut foam plugs are designed to cover wheel wells, air brake bays, intakes, exhausts, cowlings, or other areas of your model. Made of soft, colored foam, these plugs are relatively chemical-resistant and therefore, reusable.