Finished

F-14D Tomcat, Part 3 - The Finale

Finish

Mirage F1.B

Right rear

1953 Corvette

Left Front

Pz. Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. G "Last Production"

Engine detail as viwed through nacelle access panel

Junkers Ju-88A-10 (A-5 Trop) North Africa Limited

Engine right

Chrysler 300

Sprue 1

Churchill Mk.IV NA 75

Belly with Eduard flaps

Hawker Hurricane Mk I

Top Shot of Cockpit

AD-4 Skyraider

Closeup

Martin-Handasyde 1911

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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.

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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.

Product packaging

SU-34 Landing Gear

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$19.95

Again, a (British term) “Lovely” set of cast metal gear to help your model stand on its own without looking like Bambi on pond ice after a few months.

This set is the usual SAC total replacement of the kit items, with improved assembly and ease of installation. Whereas on this kit you are required to capture a wire between the strut halves for strength (which is still an improvement over total plastic gear), SAC saves you the effort of having to clean up the parts after assembly.

The other benefit I n this case is the axle assemblies are metal versus plastic. No broken off axles after a hard landing (just bend the gear back into place)

Package

SU-17 Landing Gear for Kittyhawk

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.95

SAC once again provides a very nice set of cast metal gear to help your model stand out in public places.

This set is the usual SAC total replacement of the kit items, with improved assembly and ease of installation.

The major benefit In this case is the axle assemblies are metal verses plastic. No broken off axles after a hard landing (just bend the gear back into place)

Consisting of 9 cleanly-cast metal parts replacing the 9 structural parts for the kit, the SAC gear just requires a bit of inspection, a swipe or two with a sanding stick to clean up any mold parting marks, and painting. The detail is fantastic on today’s scale landing gear, and it’s obvious to me SAC have been listening to their customers. The only difficulty for just about ANY gear is the scale size can be a bit fragile, even for metal. Don’t try carrier landings with it… .

Package

SU-27 Landing Gear for Hobbyboss Kit
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.95

SAC once again provides a very nice set of cast metal gear to help your model stand out in public places.

This set is the usual SAC total replacement of the kit items, with improved assembly and ease of installation.

The other benefit I n this case is the axle assemblies are metal verses plastic. No broken off axles after a hard landing (just bend the gear back into place). The debris deflector is strong and in two halves and cleans up well after assembly. I only installed ½ of the deflector on the photographs as the kit is still in the construction phase, and this review is more about the gear and how it works…

Tornado

Tornado IDS 60th Anniversary 311 GV RSV Special Colors
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Italeri
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$39.99

In recent years Italeri has been re-releasing their models with decals for special camouflages or retirement schemes. And I kind of like that. It is a way to get access to kits that otherwise is difficult to get and also to find special decal sheets as part of a regular box.

Italeri’s Tornado has been around for quite some time and the molds hold well. There is no flash anywhere to be found in the review copy and all the surface detail is very sharp and well defined. Panel lines are recessed and well defined. Cockpit detail is raised and will accept dry-brushing really well.

Opening the box you find 3 main sprues, a clear one and a small sprue with a couple of special drop tanks. One of the sprues includes some weapons, which are not applicable to this version of the model, so you get extra parts for the spares box. Total part count is a bit over 100. You also get two full decal sheets, which are glossy and in perfect register.

Tinplate Toy Cars

Tinplate Toy Cars of the 1950's & 1960's from Japan "The Collectors Guide"
Book Author(s)
Andrew Ralston
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Veloce Publishing
MSRP
$30.00

This book is a general collector’s guide to classic Tinplate toy cars from the 50’s and 60’s made in Japan. It covers cars from a classic era of tinplate toy cars and covers all the major companies and countries they were sold in. The book shows the most known and collectables of the time period. The book has great pictures and lots of detailed information. This book brought lots of memories back to me as a kid getting a few of the cars shown in the book as birthday and or Christmas gifts from my family. The book may have a limited audience but I for one loved it!

I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in tinplate cars from Japan and also all those who, like me, was a kid during the 50’s or 60’s.

Thanks to Veloce Publishing for providing this book to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.