Completed 7

Mig-31 BM/BSM Foxhound (Limited edition)

Wing underside

North American F-51D Mustang Korean War

Fuselage

Yak-23 "Flora"

boom assembly

US Diamond T 969A Wrecker

Mold Marks

Redstone Launcher

Image 4

S.W.A.T Team Figures

4

Chevrolet G7107 WWII Army Truck

Cruisin'

1957 Chevy Belair Convertible

Grill

V3000S/SS M Maultier with 7,62 cm Pak 36(r)

Workshop parts 4

City Building and Workshop

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.

Cover

Model Art Modeling Magazine, #844, May 2012
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$13.00

This is a monthly publication from Japan that covers all manner of modeling subjects, ranging from finished models to kit reviews and model building tips, and includes many advertisements. Finding it on the shelves of bookstore in the US is a bit of a challenge, but it can be found online at a number of sites. It is printed on glossy paper, measures 7 1/8” by 10 1/8”, and contains 172 pages. The photo quality (a mixture of full color and black and white) is excellent. Unfortunately, for those who don’t read Japanese, it serves as a great picture book, because (with the exception of some headings and subheadings) the text is entirely in Japanese.

Cover

Model Art, #843, JGSDF Modeling and Equipment Guide
Review Author
Tracy Palmer
Published on
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$14.50

The JGSDF Modeling and Equipment is a MUST have for anyone wanting a top notch pictorial of current JGSDF equipment. Let’s do the main downside first, it’s in Japanese! OK, so getting over that, there are some very way cool things in this edition.

This magazine is packed with pictures and (if you read Japanese) text on all the latest equipment used by the Japanese army. The first couple of pages cover the disaster relief for the earthquakes that hit Japan. Then into the modeling guide, which covers 90 pages of different models. A list way too long to list here!

Then into the equipment guide. Everything from the current handgun, small arms, and body armor to the AH-64 attack helicopter is covered in color pictures. Just a great reference!

This is a high quality, glossy page magazine with great picture layouts and was very enjoyable. I would recommend this magazine to anyone interested in the Japanese army from about the 1960s to today.

Parts Packaging

MiG-21bis Photo Etch Set
Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$19.95

Eduard has released a PE exterior and interior upgrade for their new 1/144 MiG-21bis. I’ve reviewed the kit separately.

The “Kit”

Inside the envelope, you get a 2 ½ by 3 inch PE fret, cockpit and canopy detail, decals, and the instruction sheet. There are enough parts on the PE to do one of the two MiGs in the kit, and some “extras” which could be used on the second aircraft, such as the two different sets of chocks or the tailpipe interior which doesn’t need to be installed if you’re using the exhaust cover.

Box Art

MiG-21bis
Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$22.95

This is the second of three reviews of the new Eduard 1/144 MiG-21s.
The aircraft here is the MiG-21bis, the last variant of the later MiGs.

The MiG-21 in its various forms has been around for a really long time, entering service in 1959, and it’s still in service. The early versions are considered second generation fighters, but the newer versions, such as the MF, SMT and bis are third generation. That big added hump on the fuselage and upgraded avionics/electronics bring the MiG-21 into the third generation.

The Kit

You get two of every part, with an extra canopy for each one. You also get a pair of Eduard masks for the kit(s). Four different MiGs could be built from the decals included – Finnish, Polish Navy (!), Bulgarian, and Hungarian. I chose the Finnish one, as this one interested me when the Finns bought them.

Cover

Fighting Patton - George S. Patton Jr. Through the Eyes of His Enemies
Book Author(s)
Harry Yiede
Review Author
Don Norton
Published on
Company
Zenith Press
MSRP
$30.00

We think of General George S. Patton Jr. as one of our greatest combat leaders in World War II. Certainly our “fightingest” General, and someone who must have been a constant threat to the enemy. Did the Germans fear this hard-charging tank commander and watch his every move? The answer may surprise you. There have been many books written about General Patton, but the author says “This is the book that hasn’t.” And one would have to agree with him, as Fighting Patton is more about German generals than it is about Patton. Author Harry Yeide has searched German archives for reports from the men who faced Patton on the battlefield to see how they fought him and what they thought of his leadership skills.

German generals such as Hasso von Manteuffel, Paul Hausser, Gerd von Rundstedt, and many more appear in this book. It’s interesting to note that all of Patton’s counterparts had much more combat and leadership experience than Patton did.