Finished

Blohm & Voss BV-40 Glider Fighter

Finished model

RF-5E Tigereye

Finished Cockpit and Canopy

Grumman F-14A Tomcat

Finished model

US Coast Guard HH-65C Dolphin Helicopter

Completed 7

Pz.Kpfw.VI Ausf.B King Tiger

Left Front Quarter

Hawker Typhoon Mk.IB, Part 3

Closeup of torpedo rudder and propeller

Aichi B7A2 Attack Bomber Ryusei Kai (Grace)

Aircraft painted

DeHavilland DH-82a Tiger Moth

Finished

Panzer IV/70(A)

14

Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame

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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-15C MSIP II "California ANG 144th FW"
Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$33.00

Background

Designed to fulfill the US Air Force’s 1968 requirement for a lightweight air superiority fighter, the F-15 Eagle has arguably been the most successful and dominant air-to-air fighter since its entry into operational service in 1975. Even after over 40 years of exceptional performance and the emergence of the F-22 Raptor, the F-15 is expected to remain in service well into the 21st Century. To keep F-15s current with latest technology to counter anticipated threats, Multi-Stage Improvement Programs (MSIP) have been undertaken between the USAF and the manufacturer to upgrade aircraft during planned depot maintenance intervals. MSIP II is focused on F-15C/D variants, and features upgrades including addition of AIM-120 AMRAAM capabilities, upgrade of its radar system, and select avionics and communications improvements.

Box Art

F-16C USAF Multirole Fighter
Review Author
Camden Koukol
Dave Koukol
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$20.00

Background

Developed in the 1970’s and first fielded in the early 1980’s as the US Air Force’s lightweight multirole fighter-bomber to replace the F-4 Phantom and A-7D Corsair II, the F-16 Fighting Falcon established itself as one of the most capable, reliable, and cost-effective aircraft in US Air Force history. One of the specialized roles the F-16C inherited from the F-4 was that of Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), in Air Force parlance known as “Wild Weasel.” F-16C Block 50 and 52 aircraft equipped as Wild Weasels began production in 1991, and still serve as USAF’s primary SEAD platform.

Cockpit parts

Bf 109G-5 Cockpit
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
July 6, 2016
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$39.95

IPMS USA is grateful to Eduard for kindly providing yet another magnificent example of one of their new items to review, and to the IPMS USA reviewer corps leaders for sending it to me.

This add-on release is designed for the new and vastly improved 1/48 ME-109 series. This set is to be used on the ME-109G-5. The kit parts provide all that is required to add a properly outfitted -5 to your display, but this cockpit upgrade greatly improves the kit item. Read on…

In the box are parts sufficient to upgrade the kit G-5 cockpit set. The fantastic color instrument panel PE set, along with other items, dresses-up the resin side panels and floorboard. Beginning with the floor, you are provided breech cover options for the 20MM or 30MM “through the driveshaft” cannon; also included are detailed brake cylinders, and PE rudder/brake pedals along with foot-retention straps.

Package

Fw-190 Wheels - Early
Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
July 5, 2016
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$7.95

This set in designed as a replacement for the kit wheels and hubs of Eduard’s new 1/72 FW 190A series of kits. The set includes two resin wheels with the hubs integrally cast and a mask set for the wheels.

When the wheels are removed from the casting block, Eduard’s careful planning comes to light as it turns out the attachment point is also a flattened area of the tire, establishing a realistic sit of the aircraft on the ground. While the tires are not bulged like some other replacement sets are, they really should not be in 1/72 scale as the tires are so small.

I painted the tires Tamiya NATO black with flat black hubs to create some contrast between the two shades of black. The enclosed mask set includes masks for the tires, but instead I painted the hubs first and then used the central circle of the mask to mask the hubs, followed by airbrushing the tires. I like this method as I tend to distort or tear the tire masks as they are very narrow.

Box Art

A-4KU (AF-1) Skyhawk 'Brazilian Navy VF-1 15th Anniversary'
Review Author
Jarrod Booth
Published on
July 3, 2016
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$52.99

The Hasegawa A-4 Skyhawk kits have been around for many years, and many models of this remarkable aircraft have been covered at one point or another. The Brazilian Navy is still operating these Skyhawk’s.

As I have built a Hasegawa A-4L before, I was armed with knowledge of certain areas that need a bit of care. As well as those where it is a joy to assemble.

The instruction sheet is the typical fold out sheet. The pictorial information and directions are clear and easy to understand.