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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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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.

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Book Author(s)
Kev Darling
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Guideline Publications
MSRP
$18.75

This book covers the Vought OS2U Kingfisher. Number 111 in the very familiar Warpaint series by Guideline, this book follows their tried and true format. Beginning with the discussion of the prototype the book then moves into production models and service. All variants are covered including the XOS2U-4 and those made by the Naval Aircraft Factory.

Next, comes the extensive overseas service by the Kingfisher. Serving with Australia, throughout Latin America and Russia, brief coverage of the numbers involved and their use is given. This is followed by a detailed description of the aircraft, all its specifications, and fittings.

The largest section covers the use of the aircraft in war time service with the USN shipboard, USMC use and those based on seaplane bases and island use. The book concludes with a list of kits, decals, and aftermarket that are available and some cockpit detail photographs.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.95

The set is designed as drop in replacements for the kit landing gear parts for Hasegawa’s recent 1/72 scale Eurofighter/Typhoon. The set consists of 6 white metal parts, a nose gear strut, two main landing gear struts, the nose gear retraction strut and two retraction struts for the main landing gear legs.

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$82.95

From Dragon Models USA website:

This M752 is understandably 100% newly tooled. Furthermore, it’s the only 1/35th scale full plastic kit of this US-manufactured tracked missile launcher currently available on the market.

The missile can be elevated up or down to represent firing or transport modes, respectively. The missile mount and associated elevation mechanism are sophisticated and strong enough to support an accurately detailed Lance missile.

This new kit captures the somber days of the Cold War, and so this Lance self-propelled missile launcher would make a fine addition to any modern warfare kit collection. The Lance system was used by the US Army, Belgium, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, and UK, meaning that this new kit offers enterprising modelers a lot of versatility.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.95

The Tamiya Heinkel He 219 1/48th scale kit has been around for a long time, and in my opinion remains a great kit. I built one several years and was quite pleased with the fit, detail and ease of assembly. I was fortunate enough to obtain a second kit in our local club raffle and began the search for all the "necessary" aftermarket accessories to meet my personal taste. Up to this time the only resin wheels available were the True Details wheel which I used on my first build. I found that CzechMaster offers a set of wheels, cockpit interior and canopy, which may be more than some modelers may need.
When the opportunity arose to review the Eduard version I quickly volunteered and was rewarded with an email indicating the set was mine.

Review Author
Mike Howard
Published on
Company
Plusmodel
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$24.95

I’ve slowly been working my way back into armor and vignettes and/or dioramas, so when I saw this set list I thought it would be a good exercise in painting, and allow me to have some unique items to add to a scene.

The Plus Model “Old Suitcases” set comes with 9 pieces (actually 7 suitcases of varying sizes, plus a hat box and a steamer trunk) molded in a light gray resin. All of the various luggage items have a casting block attached, either to a back/bottom corner or along the bottom of the item. Making a choice as to whether to use these blocks as handles while painting, or to cut them off prior to paint, will be an individual decision for each modeler. As I have large hands and am often rather clutzy, I chose to leave them on and do some touch up painting afterwards.