Adjusted ride height

1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Left side high

British Heavy Assault Tank A-39 Tortoise

Finished with Figures

Bf 109F-4 with German Ground Personnel

Completed Model

Luna Tactical Reconnaissance LUM-168 Camel

Right Rear

M1A2 Abrams SEP V2 TUSK II

Yamato

Table Top Navy - Zuikaku and Yamato

Product Package

Ukrainian Soldier with NLAW and AK-74MN

In Progress

P-61 Black Widow and True Details Wheels

Floor as base

The Bride of Frankenstein

Prime mover with limber

Russian AT-S Artillery Prime Mover

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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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Box Art

Kenworth K-100
Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$49.95

This review covers the re-release of the Kenworth K-100 by Revel in 1:25 scale. There are 284 parts molded in White, Chrome, and Clear, with Vinyl tires, and waterslide decals. Fit and finish on this kit is very good for its age. Incidentally, this is the truck style used for Optimus Prime in the original cartoon version of Transformers. The good news: this is a well designed kit. The bad news: I don’t see a current release date so they may be hard to find.

Construction and Detailing

This 2017 re-release #85-2513 has seen several box arts and versions (including the aerodyne’s) over the years. It needs glue and paint, so it would be recommended for advanced modelers due to the high piece count. On the other hand, it doesn’t have the usual poor cab fit issue. In fact, it assembles very well. The build is done in modules and is fairly simple with the full frame being assembled, then the motor and interior.

Product cover

DOGS OF WAR Part 2 US Army/USMC/VNAF O-1 Bird Dogs in the Vietnam War

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$18.00

AOA Decals specializes in Navy and Marine Corps subjects from the Vietnam era. They have branched out slightly with the first sheet for Roden’s lovely O-1 Bird Dog by adding Army/ USAF planes. Part 2 continues and goes back to the USMC and adds markings in for additional Army and VNAF planes also. Let’s take a dive into Part 2.

Part 2 of the 1/32nd Bird Dog coverage includes thirteen marking options for various O-1 A/G/E Bird Dogs from the Vietnam War:

Book Cover

Streamline Dreams - Ten Amazing Unbuilt Automobile Designs, 1916-1939

Book Author(s)
Jared A. Zichek
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Retromechanix
MSRP
$21.99

Illustrator and automotive enthusiast Jarek Zichek has gone digging deeply into the history of automobiles. Instead of ones that actually were built, he focused on concept streamlined automobiles. While not a complete survey of every car made, Mr. Zichek narrowed his focus to pre-WWII and to cars which had at least a fragmentary plan view. The majority of the 3D models generated are based on patent drawings and there are inconsistencies throughout some of the drawings so research and interpretation had to fill in some of the missing gaps.

The main body of the book consists of eight cars with reviews of the drawings that were used to generate the 3D models. Each car has multiple views as well as dimensions of the cars. Different color schemes are included especially if the car was designed for racing. The cars investigated and rendered are the following:

Package

F-4 Seatbelts (grey) STEEL
Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$10.95

This is the second set of steel seat belts and harnesses for the Martin-Baker MK. H-7 ejection seat as installed in the F-4 Phantom II. The set includes four complete sets of seatbelts and harnesses, allowing you to detail four seats, or two kits worth. The other set #73050 provides 4 sets of green belts and harnesses, while this set provides 4 sets of light grey belts and harnesses. As many of the older F-4 kits have a very generic ejection seat that does not even resemble the actual seat, these sets are intended for new kits. I used a seat from a Hasegawa F-4S kit as it has the correct configuration with the upper parachute container that is missing on many earlier kits. I assume that the new Academy kit seats are the correct shape as well, but I have not actually seen them yet. Before you decide which set to purchase, be sure to look at the aircraft that you will be installing the seats in, and check your references to determine which set is appropriate for your model.

Package

F-4 Seatbelts (green) STEEL
Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$10.95

The F-4 Phantom II needs no introduction. With over 5,000 Phantoms built, it is one of the most popular Western fighters since the Korean War. It served with the US Navy, the US Air Force and the US Marines, as well as 14 other air forces across the globe from Japan to Egypt to England. A number of them are still flying today in a variety of roles.