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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.

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Book Author(s)
Raffaele D’Amato
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$19.00

Dr Raffaele D'Amato is an experienced researcher of the ancient and medieval military worlds. After achieving his first PhD in Romano-Byzantine Law, and having collaborated with the University of Athens, he gained a second doctorate in Roman military archaeology. He currently works in Istanbul at the Fatih University as visiting Professor for the TUBITAK (Turkish Government Research Institution) on a project linked to the arms and armour of Rome and Byzantium. He has authored or co-authored over a dozen books for Osprey.

Born in 1950, Peter Dennis is an accomplished illustrator having contributed hundreds of books, including many Osprey Publishing titles. Peter studied at the Liverpool Art College and has been working as a professional artist and illustrator since 1991. Peter Dennis is also afflicted with the modeling bug and is a keen war-gamer terrorizing other war-gaming aficionados near Snowdonia Nation Park in North Wales.

Review Author
Eric Christianson
Published on
Company
Italeri
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$29.99

The Italeri M32B-1 Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV) Kit # 6547, originally released way back in 1980, was, at the time of release, still standing sentry duty as the only readily available injection-molded set of sprues for this Sherman-based Allied tank recovery vehicle. The model has gone through a number of updates and improvements since, culminating in what you see reviewed here. After all this time, however, Italeri’s offering ‘still has it goin’ on’, sporting a relatively detailed interior and winch/cable assembly; all housed in a decent Sherman chassis. As boxed, this kit is one heck of a value.

Review Author
Eric Christianson
Published on
Company
Tamiya
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$59.00

Summary

Tamiya has enhanced their recently released M4A3E8 Sherman to represent the Korean War variant, including the colorful ‘Devil’ scheme. Several new sprues, new track, decals, and other odds and ends round out the new offering, including a complete, 2-sprue complementary kit of the Russian GAZ67B Field Car equivalent of the Willys Jeep. One thing is for sure – the kit this new version is based on is one of the finest armor models ever produced by Tamiya. And that is saying quite a lot – for just a pure, modeling experience, it just doesn’t get any better.

Review Author
Paul Mahoney
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$33.00

Airfix’s new 1/48 early P-40 models have been very popular with modelers of late. Despite these being very good kits, there is always need for some improvement. Master Model’s recent product address some of those needs.

Master has come out with aftermarket sets that replace Airfix’s gun barrels and pitot tubes, as well as furnishing ring and bead sights that are missing from the original kit. There are separate Master packages for the American and British boxings, with appropriate changes in the pitot tubes and gun barrels.

IPMS and Master were kind enough to allow me to review the ‘US version’ of this set. It is comprised of the following brass pieces: four 0.30 cal gun barrels, two blast tubes for the nose guns, a 2-piece pitot tube (brass + resin), a bead sight, and a photoetch brass fret of ring sights.

Review Author
Tim Hortman
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$79.99

The German Panther is one of the most important and recognizable tanks of WWII. There were many variations and Dragon’s boxing here is a special conversion by heavy tank destroyer battalion s.Pz.Abt.653. I believe this was a one-off conversion in the field. Basically a Panther D hull with a Panzer IV Ausf. H turret added to the top. There is no history of the vehicle on the directions or box top, but there is a little to be found online. I’ve read conflicting things online stating that the gun was operational, or if it was non-functioning. The sources I’ve found did all agree with one thing – the turret was fixed forward. This vehicle saw service in Russia 1944 with s.Pz.Abt.653 – which is the kit’s sole marking option.