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.

Review Author
Mike Hinderliter
Published on
November 14, 2011
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$4.95

Quickboost just keeps adding to their line of resin aircraft accessories. The latest addition is for the Spitfire. This time they have put out the correct antenna for the top of your Spitfire instead of the usual straight stick that comes in so many kits. It is up to their usual standards: molded in grey resin, smooth, seamless, and bubble-free. One thing of note is that they are really easy to remove from the mold block because of a nice perforation, but still be careful because they are very small and delicate.

In addition to the little “nubs” at the top, the antenna has a recessed groove in the side. Having never seen a Spitfire up close, I don’t know if it’s 100% accurate, but it sure looks good!

This set comes with 3 antennas, which is nice because you can add one to the kit you’re working on and update a couple of other Spitfires you’ve built previously.

Review Author
Roger Carrano
Published on
November 13, 2011
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$21.75

Eduard has recently come out with a few new items for the Nashorn by AFV Club. This particular photo etch kit is plainly called “Nashorn” and it incorporates interior and exterior items to enhance the already fine kit which AFV Club released. The stock number for the AFV kit is AF35164.

This PE fret will enhance parts such as the floor, hinges on some of the stowage boxes, handles on the hatches, antenna mounts, small hold-down clamps for accessories and tools which are stowed on the outside of the vehicle, and newly formed boxes for tool storage. These features are all designed and made with the typical Eduard engineering found in all of their products which most definitely adds the finishing touch. All of the items included in this kit add subtle improvements, but when compared to an OOB assembly, the difference can be noticed.

Review Author
Rob Benson
Austin Smith
Published on
November 13, 2011
Company
Revell, Inc.
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$16.95

Looking at the Box

Austin (age 7): I think the kit looks pretty neat and stuff, awesome. I like the pictures on the sides. It was made in 2011 by Revell Snaptite.

Rob (actual age 53, behavioral age debatable) : The box is 9.5 x 6.75 x 4.5 inches and is lavishly illustrated. The Diablo is described as “a wild and fast mid-engine exotic sports car with four-wheel drive.” I wince at the thought of working on a 5.7 liter engine with 48 valves. I guess if you can afford one of these cars, you can afford a mechanic and the insurance.

Review Author
David Wrinkle
Published on
November 13, 2011
Company
Platz
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$16.25

Although not mentioned on the box, the Shiden-Kai was known by the Allies as "GEORGE". The SHIDEN (Violet Lightning) - KAI (Variant or Improvement) was essentially a redesign/conversion to a land-based fighter from the floatplane N1K Kyōfū, codename "REX". The Shiden-Kai entered service in early 1944 and, in the hands of an able pilot, could easily compete with the Corsair or Hellcat. The Shiden-Kai was extremely rugged and carried four 20mm cannon but, to its detriment, was plagued by mechanical problems.

My jumping on this review was primarily for one reason; I had not had a chance to build a 1/144 scale aircraft and this looked like a good model to start with. I can honestly say that in no way, shape, or form was I disappointed with the kit. Building 1/144 scale fighters from this era without a doubt forces the builder to tackle the project with a slightly different mindset than your typically larger scale kit.

Book Author(s)
Mariusz Kalinowski
Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
November 13, 2011
Company
Stratus
MSRP
$25.00

Conceived and born of a Soviet requirement for a dedicated anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter in the mid-1960’s, the Mi-14 was patterned after the American S-3 Sea King helicopter and leveraged components from existing Soviet equipment, such as the Mi-8, to expedite development and delivery into service. In 1976, the Mi-14 entered service with the Soviet Navy. Three variants of the Mi-14 covered a range of missions, including ASW, Search and Rescue, and minesweeping. As with other Soviet aircraft designs, the Mi-14 was exported to Warsaw Pact and other allies, finding its way into Polish service in 1981.