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.

Review Author
Jarrod Booth
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$40.00

The Me 262 Schwalbe (Swallow) was the first operational jet fighter. Design and testing of the first German jet engine was well underway even before World War II started. Due to problems encountered with new materials needed, fatigue and German High Command intervention and delays, the aircraft did not see operational flying until April 1944. The Me 262 was highly maneuverable and faster than any other aircraft of the time, but continued to suffer from engine problems. Many aircraft were lost to engine problems or mishandling.

Me 262B-1/U-1 was a two seat trainer converted into a night fighter, with the addition of a FuG 218 Neptune radar. This was an eight-dipole antenna array mounted on the nose of the aircraft.

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$6.50

Hauler has been busy of late with a pile of kits and accessory items. Among the accessory items are some 1/72nd scale engraved plates. The plates come in a variety of types that represent those used by the various combatants of WWII as well as some plates representative of those employed by more modern armies, notable the United States. Among the offerings are:

  • German WWII - Early type
  • German WWII - Late type
  • U.S. - Grill type
  • Modern - Lentil type
  • Modern - A type

Each plate measures 35mm x 65mm and you get one plate per package. As you can tell from the photos the various patterns are reproduced, in scale, and will go a long way toward giving your latest project the proper look.

Here's direct links to each plate reviewed:

Review Author
Dan Brown
Published on
Company
Trumpeter
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$147.99

The M915 is the basis for a series of heavy trucks built for the US Army. In the late 1970s the US army identified a need for a line of commercial trucks. AM General was selected in 1977 and the first vehicles were delivered in 1978. This new release from Trumpeter depicts the M915 Line Haul Tractor. This vehicle is limited to operating on hard surface roads and typically tows the M872 semi-trailer. This combination has a payload capacity of around 30 tons and this new release from Trumpeter contains the M915 tractor, M872 trailer and a 40ft container.

Book Author(s)
Des Brennan
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Guideline Publications
MSRP
$21.00

Des Brennan provides a thorough coverage of the development, deployment, service, and retirement of the Panavia Tornado ADV in this publication. Illustrated by Richard J. Caruana, this book is an excellent resource for the aviation historian as well as the modeler.

The written content is well written, in clear and precise language. The content is presented in chronological sequence, as most publications of this type are, beginning with a thorough description of the role into which a new aircraft was to fit. The author describes, in detail, the requirements that the aircraft was to meet in order to accomplish its purpose in a theatre of operations with rather complex needs.

The text is supported by a large number of excellent color images and stunning 3-view drawings of the aircraft with varied markings. Richard Caruana, the illustrator, certainly captured the aircraft well in these illustrations.

Book Author(s)
Jonathan Ferguson
Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$20.00

Osprey Publishing has previously released books on two iconic side arms: The Colt 1911 Pistol and The Webley Service Revolver. What has been missing from the history of pistols, until now, was one weapon that was developed and deployed in the late 1890's, namely the Feederle Pistol from Mauser. Otherwise known as the 'Broomhandle' Mauser.

While this pistol was manufactured and sold by Mauser and is often attributed to them, the design and development was actually done by brothers Fidel, Friedrich, and Josef Feederle. The Feederle brothers worked for Paul Mauser and, in his defense, it was somewhat standard operating procedure for a company to take credit for any design/development work done by the namesakes employees. [Fun Fact: Paul Mauser once forbade Fidel Feederle from working on a pistol design.]