Vertical fin

Su-33 Flanker D

Rear upper

T-90A wTBS-86 Tank Dozer

Finished model with scale auto

Tales from the Apocalypse - The Biker

Finished - left rear

U-Boat Type IIB 1943

Bridge

IJNS Yamato, Part 4, Final Assembly

Additional nose weight beneath cockpit deck

B-25G “Shark Mouth”

Lancaster Left Side

Lancaster B Mk.1 'No.617 Squadron Special Mission'

Part runner

ICM O-2A (Late Production)

Cab decals being applied

Kenworth K-100

3D CAD rendering of kit

Yak-23 "Flora"

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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

F/A-18A Hornet Blue Angels
Review Author
David P. Lennox
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$39.00

At the end of World War II Admiral Chester Nimitz ordered the formation of the Blue Angels flight demonstration team to showcase Naval Aviation. In June 1946 the Blue Angles flew their first show with the Grumman F6F Hellcat. In 1986 they completed their 40th anniversary season when the team transitioned from the McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk II to the F/A-18 Hornet. The main difference between the Blue Angles F/A-18 and their combat brethren is the removal of the weapons systems and the addition of the smoke generator system. The system consists of a tube on the left engine that injects paraffin based oil into the exhaust. The oil produces a white smoke making it easier for spectators to follow the maneuvers.

Box Art

F-4C/D Phantom
Review Author
Bill Kluge
Published on
Company
Revell, Inc.
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$21.95

I must be one of the few modelers left that hasn’t built at least one of these since this kit was introduced more than thirty years ago. The 1/48th F-4, along with the Century Series and Naval Aviation jet aircraft molded by Revell and Monogram back in the 1970s and 80s are truly classic models: exemplified by outstanding detail throughout (for their day), but particularly in the cockpit and wheel wells; finely raised panel lines, and the sometimes less than stellar fit of some of the component parts. All of this offered at a consistently affordable price.

This particular version of the venerable F-4 has been in and out of production a number of times since 1979. This kit represents the latest incarnation. A quick glance at the inside of the wing or the underside of the tailplane will confirm this kit’s ancient lineage, as well as something new about this particular molding’s place of birth.

Product

Ju 88G-6 Night Fighter Detail Set
Review Author
Dan Mackay
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.95

The Ju 88 is one of my all-time favorite aircraft. I especially like the night fighter variants. I recently picked up the new limited edition Hasegawa Ju 88G-6 "Berlin Radar" version and received this latest Eduard zoom set at the same time. This zoom set features the now standard color photo photoetch with self-adhesive backing for some of the photoetch. The instructions are very clear and easy to follow; Eduard has this down to an art. All the colors are in perfect register and have a glossy sheen.

Box Art

Ilyushin IL 40-01 "Brawny"
Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
Company
AModel
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$36.95

It’s hard to find words to describe this cross between the famous IL-2 Sturmovik and a T-34 tank. Like its WWII cousin, the IL 40 was born as a jet powered heavily armed and armored ground support aircraft. First flown on March 7, 1953, this beast carried 4000 pounds of armor plates protecting the crew and vital airframe components.

Weapons were carried internally and on external hard points. Additional firepower consisted of four 23 mm cannons mounted on the underside and another in a remotely aimed stinger protecting the rear quadrant. This kit represents the refined prototype as the original had air intakes at the wing roots and the cannons in the nose. As many other aircraft designers discovered, cannon gasses don’t mix with jet engines and as a result the guns on the IL 40 were moved back and the intakes moved as far forward as possible.

Box Art

8.8 cm Flak 37 auf Pz.Kpfw IV Ausf. H
Review Author
Mark A. Dice
Published on
Company
Cyber-Hobby
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$60.95

Background

The 8.8 cm Flak gun proved to be a very versatile and potent weapon for the Germans in WWII. The Germans explored many different vehicle-weapon combinations and the subject of this kit is one of them. There were only 3 prototypes of this variant of the Pz.Kpfw IV produced by 1942. While they performed very well in field trials, no more were manufactured because tank production took priority. It was heavy for a self-propelled gun and its size would have made moving it by rail problematic. The project was cancelled by Albert Speer in January 1945.