In Progress Right Side

Tempest Mk V Series 2

Completed model front view

Spitfire Mk.IXc Early Version

Completed 5

Flakpanzer IV Mobelwagen (w/Flak 43)

Aircraft close up, right rear

Kawanishi E7K1 Type 94 Model 1 Recon Seaplane 'Izumo' w/Catapault

6

Highway 32: 1982 Z/28 Camaro

Countach engine assembly

Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole

Finished

IA-58 Pucara

Italeri Opal Blitz Radio Truck (5)

Opel Blitz Radio Truck

Decal sheet

KC-767J & E-767 AWACS – J.A.S.D.F.

Fuse assembly

OS2U Kingfisher Build

Previous Next

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.

Package

Junkers Ju 88 Landing Gear & Engine Supports
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.95

Thanks to Ross at SAC for sending us improved metal landing gear for the ICM/Special Hobby JU-88, and thanks also to IPMS USA leadership for sending it to me.

Another of SAC’s expansive line of white metal upgrades to the basic kit plastic! The set consists of 11 parts: Two main struts, one tail gear strut/retraction cylinder, wheel/tire assembly, six gear strut supports, and two engine supports for the kit.

The ICM kit contains two complete engine assemblies in addition to the basic kit. I used a set of replacement resin cowing and exhausts for the inaccurate kit cowl intakes, so I was not able to use the engine supports. I did, however, appreciate the strength provided by the metal gear after using the resin parts for the kit. With the thin nature of the gear axles in plastic, this would eventually be a failure point for the completed model. Not with SAC gear.

Product picture

Vietnamese SPADS Part 2 VNAF AD-6/A-1H Skyraiders in the Vietnam War
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$20.00

AOA Decals specializes in top quality, thoroughly researched decal sheets from the Vietnam War era. This is wonderful with all the new kit releases, as there are now more options for markings. Inside the package, there are full color profiles and notes about all eleven sets of markings, and two large colorful decal sheets printed by Cartograf. The sheet covers South Vietnamese Air Force AD-6/A1-H Skyraiders in 1/32 scale, with the recommended kit being Trumpeter or Zoukei-Mura. Detail and notes abound in the set, including notes on each specific plane, its color and markings, and any specifics about the plane. In fact, two of the markings represent Skyraiders that were retrofitted with the Yankee extraction system. The time frame involved is from the early 1960’s to 1970. Minimal stenciling is included also.

The schemes represented cover both four overall gull gray and seven camouflaged planes from the following squadrons:

Product picture

M230 Chain Gun Barrel (30mm) AH-64 Apache
Review Author
David Horn
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$8.99

Packaged in a thin heat sealed pouches and one portion in a reinforced section with parts adhered to low tack tape. There are eight unique machined parts and a small photo etch (PE) fret. The duplicate photo etch parts may come in handy in case you mess up bending parts or you lose them. The PE is extremely thin, maybe twice the thickness of aluminum foil so take care. You will need to pick the parts up with tweezers and I was lucky the small parts did not fly across the hobby room.

Box Art

IDF M3 Half-Track
Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$72.99

I’ve always had a soft spot in my old modeling heart for the early Israeli equipment, back when the IDF had to scrounge for every item. I loved the interesting field modifications and clever use of limited resources, and the Israeli halftracks were a good example. Admittedly, from a modeling standpoint the conversion was always relatively easy, and I had it on my “to do” list for years, but just never got around to it. Dragon has done the job for me with this excellent little kit. I did, however, encounter a few bumps along the road, although nothing that should make any average modeler quail. One basic bit of advice, though -- do NOT try and build this in the sequence in the instructions. They have you build the separate units, such as chassis, truck bed, etc. in their entireties then piece it all together at the end. Due to the fragility of many of the exterior items you will land up trashing your work.

Product packaging

Tales from the Apocalypse - The Heroine / She
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Gecco
Scale
1/16
MSRP
$24.99

“The Heroine / She” is the lead-off figure in Gecco’s first series that is followed by three figures in series two in GeccoDirect’s Tales From the Apocalypse that I believe are sculpted by Shojiro Kasai. This first series creates Scene 1: Day 1, 11:50am on the freeway and goes with two other figures, a truck driver, and a traffic guard. This figure, She, was on her way to pick up her little sister from a relative’s house but was involved in a terrible car accident leaving her unconscious. When she wakes up she is in the middle of a zombie pandemic! Now, her only mission is to track down her little sister and somehow survive the zombie infected apocalypse. The kit includes her shoulder bag and a misplaced zombie head to sit near her feet.