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
David Horn
Published on
June 29, 2021
Company
Videoaviation
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$9.00

Videoaviation is new to me and once I received the sample for review, I am wondering why I have not seen their fine aftermarket resin sets. Packaged in a sturdy plastic box, resin is protected by bubble wrap. The forward bomb part, fuse and lugs are flash free but the aft section with fins have a very fine mold line that can easily be sanded. Parts are cast in light tan resin. A nice touch is the pour block on the pod is on the underside opposite the side on where it connects to the pylon. This makes it easy to remove that portion and sand contour without damaging features. There are simply four parts to assemble , front & aft sections, fuse and lugs(2). Decals are included with yellow text and clear background

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
July 25, 2016
Company
Advanced Modeling
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$8.95

The B8M1 rocket launcher carries 80mm S-8 unguided rockets that can come in a variety of types. It is still in use by various countries and on various planes. Advanced Modeling has produced a wonderful 1/72nd scale version of this weapon to upgrade current kit parts or add something different.

The resin comes with enough parts for two rocket launchers that each consist of three parts - the main body, the nose cone and the back shroud. Simply cut the parts from the casting blocks and make sure they are square. Glue the parts together and fill any seams (I had almost none as the fit was good).

Review Author
Ben Guenther
Published on
July 25, 2016
Company
Advanced Modeling
Scale
1/72

There is a new player in the Aircraft aftermarket world, and they hail from Russia: Advance Modeling. I had not heard of them till they appeared on the IPMS Reviewer list and I thought I would try out their resin exhaust nozzle set for the new Zvezda MiG-29 (9-13). The resin used is a light gray color, captures very fine details, and is easy to cut using a razor saw or equivalent. The package is simple but effective, with parts in clear bags held within a plastic shell that, when a single staple is removed, is hinged at the other end and opens up like an oyster. The instruction sheet is in English and Russian, and unfolds with easy to understand and follow graphics.

Review Author
Andrew Birkbeck
Published on
July 25, 2016
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$67.95

Background

The M48 tank was the third in a series named for the famous WW2 US general, George Patton. The first two were the M46 and M47 Patton tanks, and the M48, though looking similar to its immediate predecessor, the M47, was in fact a completely new design. It incorporated a 90mm main gun, and had a cast steel hull and turret, which was much more rounded than its predecessors, thus offering superior ballistic properties. Initial variants of the M48 had gasoline powered engines, but these proved to be poor performers, and so the M48A3 introduced a better performing diesel engine. Production of the M48 lasted from 1952 until 1959, with a total of just over 11,700 vehicles manufactured.

Book Author(s)
Simon Schatz
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
July 25, 2016
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$35.00

The Spotlight series of books consist of a large number of color profiles of multiple variants of the covered subject. The first page discusses the RLM colors of the various Stukas shown. This is followed by 42 beautiful color profiles from the early Ju-87A1s to the final Ju-87G2s. The last page shows top views of the Ju-87A-1, B-2 and D-5s.

If you love color profiles and I do, you will like this book. The numerous color profiles are beautifully rendered. The modeler will find many schemes for modeling the Ju-87 in any scale. Those who like WWII history, aviation history, Luftwaffe history and modeling will find this book very useful. I recommend it to all of the above.

Our thanks to Mushroom Model Publications for the review copy and my thanks to IPMS/USA for the review opportunity.