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
Ed Kinney
Published on
November 9, 2011
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72, 1/48, 1/32

Well, it’s November and Ross McMillan and his elves appear to be busy as ever with six new SAC releases. These range in scale from 1/72nd through 1/32nd and, as always, are welcome additions to his ever-growing list of metal replacement gear. This month’s releases are as follows:

  • #32057 – Dewoitine D.520 Landing Gear – replacement for 1/32 Azur - $ 14.95
  • #48152 – Mirage 2000 Landing Gear – replacement for 1/48 Heller, Eduard - $ 16.95
  • #48153 – Yak-38 Landing Gear – replacement for 1/48 Hobby Boss - $ 16.95
  • #48154 – P-61 Black Widow Landing Gear – replacement for 1/48 Great Wall - $ 16.95
  • #38155 – FW 190 Landing Gear – replacement for all 1/48 Hasegawa - $ 16.95
  • #72038 – Ju-52 Landing Gear – replacement for 1/72 Italeri - $ 12.95

Most highly recommended.

Make sure to visit their website to see these and a list of other gear available at quality Hobby Suppliers, or you can order direct.

Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
November 9, 2011
Company
KP Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$62.99

In the latter half of the 1970’s the Sukhoi Design Bureau rolled out the Su-25, NATO codenamed “Frogfoot”, to the Soviet Air Force to fill a requirement for a dedicated close air support aircraft. Similar in role to the US Air Force’s A-10 Warthog, the Su-25 was designed to carry large air-to-ground payloads and internal cannon to defeat a wide variety of ground threats, including armor and personnel, and to have extended on-station time in the combat area to provide maximum support to its ground forces. About a decade after the Su-25’s introduction, Sukhoi began delivery of two-seat trainer variant prototypes and production units. Designated “UB” and “UBK,” these variants offered the capability to provide direct skill assessment of flight cadets and training and operational effectiveness reviews of active combat pilots.

Review Author
Paul Mahoney
Published on
November 8, 2011
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
Scale
1/72 and 1/48
MSRP
$16.00

This is the 2nd “book” in this series. It has an ISBN number (978-83-61421-54-2), but it really is not a book. What you get is a shrink-wrapped folder (made out of glossy, stiff stock) that contains a large set of decals and 4 separate sheets approximately 8 ¼” x 11 3/4” in size (which I understand is “A4” size in Europe). Each of these sheets has glossy, high-quality printing on both sides and is of nice, thick stock.

The first sheet shows all stencil markings on a set of generic Bf109G-10 line drawings (stencils are shown in their respective colors, where appropriate). The verso of this sheet has the requisite “book” publishing information, as well as RLM color chips (printed, not painted chips) with matching FS numbers. Also on this side are 9 line drawings of Bf109 rudder variants.

Review Author
Steve Jahnke
Published on
November 8, 2011
Company
Hobby Design
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$8.95

What’s in the Bag?

Hobby Design is a Chinese manufacturer with an extensive line of resin and metal photo-etch, window masks, and other up detailing add-ons for cars and motorcycles.

This review centers around Hobby Design’s set of PE parts for Revell’s Ferrari California. Included on the two seperately packaged and Mylar protected frets are detail parts for the engine bay, interior, and the car body itself. Some of the more intricate pieces include a 4-piece grill insert that replaces the as-molded center section of the grill. Only the outside portion of the Revell grill is used. Other exterior pieces, of course, include various Ferrari logos and scripts as well as the rear exhaust escutchions. Of note are the 3-piece windshield wiper arms and blade assemblies included in this set.

Review Author
Mark Aldrich
Published on
November 8, 2011
Company
Pro Art Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$78.00

Pro Art Models released this upgrade set after the arrival of the Trumpeter LMTV (01004). With the kit’s overall sparseness in the cabin area, this is just the ticket. The box art shows the tires also but these are not included in the kit. You will need Pro Art’s 35030 (5 wheels) or 35037 (7 wheels).

This set contains approximately 67 cream-colored resin parts, 50 PE parts, and a three page instruction manual. The resin is beautifully cast and bubble-free. The photo-etched parts have nice pre-grooved parts and feels quite strong, not like some of the PE I have used recently.