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.

Book Author(s)
Author: Bouko de Groot Illustrator: Gerry Embleton
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$18.00

This is the first of two volumes with the second volume due out later this year that will cover the Cavalry, Artillery, and Engineers. Bouko de Groot was inspired to write these two volumes since there is a notable absence of any English language titles about the 80 years’ war. I counted 37 black and white photographs or illustrations. There are also thirty six color illustrations. Additionally, there is a map depicting the 125 battles during the eighty years’ war.

Military History has always fascinated Bouko de Groot. He earned a BA in Art History and an MA in Egyptology from Leiden University. Bouko de Groot served in the Dutch Army and has authored a number of academic, popular scientific and business journalistic articles. He spent at least eight years working in Shanghai working for IHS Fairplay, publishing daily online maritime news, along with weekly and monthly magazines.

Review Author
Chad Richmond
Published on
Company
MCW Finishes
MSRP
$7.50

This review covers the following MCW Military Paints:

  • MIL-1102 Lichtblau RLM76
  • MIL-1105 Grauviolett RLM75
  • MIL-1010 Graugrun RLM74
  • MIL-5003 40% Flat Clear – Flat

The paints are available at $7.50 per bottle.

Book Author(s)
Adrian M. Balch
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Warpaint Books, Ltd.
MSRP
$26.00

Warpaint’s latest is their standard A4 format softbound publication in 52 pages (including covers) on the Westland Scout and Wasp helicopters. The book is split into two, with the first half dedicated to the Westland Scout and the second to the Westland Wasp. I counted 122 color photographs and 19 black and white pictures, along with 32 of Richard J. Caruana’s color profiles. Richard J. Caruana also contributes the four 1/48 line drawings.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$49.95

Eduard has released a new mold of the Bf-109G-2, with markings for versions including in the kit.

In the box is:

  • 5 x light grey sprues
  • 1 clear sprue
  • 2 x decal sheet
  • 1 mask sheet
  • 1 photoetch detail set
  • 1 instruction booklet

While you get 5 sprues, you also get plenty of unused (spare) parts, like 3 different propellers, different wheels, some weapons, different rudders, air intakes, oil coolers and even extra canopies, so you should be able to get some “extras” for other 109s in your collection.

All the sprues are extremely well molded with very little flash and great detail; the decals allow you to finish the aircraft in 5 different versions.

Construction

First is the construction of the cockpit which is well detailed and the Photo Etch helps a lot to make this a very impressive cockpit when complete.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$12.00

Master Models out of Poland has issued several sets of parts for the many Skyraider kits and in all scales. This set includes replacement pitot tube and multiple option gun barrels without flash hiders for the family of 1/32 Skyraider’s. In this case, I will be giving it a test run on my Zoukei Mura kit.

Inside the package, you will find one excellent pitot tube for the tail and twelve beautiful machined brass parts for the guns which include 4 main barrels and two different sets of muzzles which will allow you to replicate the guns you need. All muzzles have hollow ends to replicate the gun openings.

The pictures below show the increased detail of the pitot tube. It is much finer and stronger that the kit part with no seam. The installation will be simple, just glue in place of the kit part.