2

Bf 109 G14/U4

Cockpit Finished 1

AH-1Z Viper

Image 7

B-18 Bolo ASW Version

Engine Assembly

P.K.H. Nutcracker "Kampfgruppe BALCK"

Nose gear post surgery

F-106A Delta Dart

Body Assembly

Ford GT

HEMTT Cab Masked

MIM-104B Patriot Surface To Air Missile PAC-1

Cockpit close-up

BV P178 Jet Bomber with BT700 Guided Missile Torpedo

RGBenson SSBN-598 sail and missile deck

SSBN-598 USS George Washington

Finished

MTM Barachino with Crew

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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.

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.

Box Art

Luftwaffe Airfield Equipment
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1:48
MSRP
$29.00

If you want to do a diorama it usually requires the purchase of a lot of items. Well, ICM has a solution for you with this boxing. It includes everything you will need except for figures and airplanes. Let’s see what is in the box.

Included in a sturdy carboard box with a cover with a nice photo of the contents. Instructions are included in an eight-page booklet. The last two pages are painting instructions. They are printed on high quality paper with full color painting instructions/decal placement. Two sheets of decals are included, one for the bombs and one for the guard shack. They look and work perfectly. There are NINE sprues of light grey plastic that is flash free. The grey is a little soft. That is a good/bad thing. Good when gluing but a bit of a challenge when cleaning up small and thin pieces. More on that later.

Box Art

US M1240 M-ATV MRAP
Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Trumpeter
Scale
1:72
MSRP
$44.95

MRC has provided the IPMS/USA reviewer corps with Trumpeter’s new 2024 tooled 1/72nd scale US M1240 M-ATV MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected – All Terrain Vehicle).

In the Box

The kit is enclosed in a top open box with a photo of the completed kit on the cover. Inside are several bags of sprues and parts all individually wrapped for protection. Five (5) tires are bagged and made from black vinyl. Also, enclosed is a small decal sheet and die-cut masks for the clear parts. The instructions are well illustrated with 29 steps.

Review Process

Trumpeter has you starting with assembling the chassis. Steps 1-13 covers the entire chassis assembly and because of the independent suspension of each wheel, I ran into some alignment issues at the very end. So, care must be taken to make sure all four (4) axles are installed properly so that all the tires are touching a flat surface in the end.

Cover image

US Air Power 1945-1990, Volume 1 - US Fighters and Fighter-Bombers, 1945-1949
Book Author(s)
David Baker
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

From author David Baker’s Preface,

This is the first in a series of 15 volumes covering the story of US land-based and naval air power during the Cold War between 1945 and 1990. The series is divided into five separate chronological periods, each with three dedicated volumes subjectively aligned with significant developments in the history of American combat aircraft and US air power.

The intention is to provide a broad, spectral analysis of the origin, design, development and evolution of US Air Force combat aircraft as well as the political, industrial, design and manufacturing base from which they, and their variants, were developed. The volumes provided for each period, covering fighters and bombers, together present a story of US military air power.

Box Top

DF-41 ICBM
Review Author
Jason Boggans
Published on
Company
Hobby Boss
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$70.00

The DF-41 (DongFeng 41) ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) is a brand new kit from HobbyBoss released in 2024. The Box art is typical HobbyBoss and is presented in a rigid top opener with well packed materials inside.

Lots of care and attention has been paid to protecting the contents and all items are fit snug into the box. The kit also contains some Color brochures depicting this particular kit and a brochure for the new HB kit U-2S ‘Dragon Lady’ due for release in May of 2024.

The Kit

The kit is comprised of multiple sprues, including around 11 plastic sprues, 1 clear parts, a copper tube for use in the missile elevation riser, a fret of PE, rubber tires and a decal sheet.

Instructions call for 21 steps in construction, step 1 mostly being the construction of the chassis and drivetrain along with the chassis support stiffeners.

Steps 2-7 are sub-assemblies for the wheel hubs, 16 in total are required 8 for each side.