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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.

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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.

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Review Author
Timothy Gidcumb
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$3.59

Recently I was given the opportunity by IPMS USA to review Aires Focke Wulf Fw 190F-8 Gun Cover for the 1/32 Revell Focke Wulf Fw 190F-8 kit. One of the first things to notice with this product is the excellent presentation of the packaging with the sealed flap on the back of package to allow for easy access to parts.

Upon removal of the resin gun cover you will notice the great detail that we have come to expect from Aires QB products. The molding on the gun cover is excellent and it comes off of the resin block with little effort along with the help of a razor saw.

Even though there is a separate gun cover in the kit, this cover is an addition to this kit, when looking at the side by side comparison you will notice that the Aires offering has a lot more underside detail and more defined lines and rivet detail on the top surface. If you are going to take the extra time to detail and open up the gun bay for display you will want this cover.

Review Author
Charles Landrum
Published on
Company
Advanced Modeling
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.95

To those who model Soviet era and modern Russian aircraft there has been a welcome proliferation of weapons which have emerged on the market, so we have something to hang on aircraft models other than rocket launchers and dumb bombs. Unlike the west, the Soviet and now Russian military is not known for the use of smart ordnance; rare were the pictures of them fitted. But a wide range of smart weapons exist in the Russian inventory for specialized missions and the pictures coming from Syria show smart weapons being used.

A new manufacturer from Russia has come on the scene to offer perhaps the widest range of munitions than we have seen so far on the market – Advanced Modeling (AM). These are multi-media kits cleanly cast in gray, durable resin; the detail is superb.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Tamiya
MSRP
$9.00

Tamiya has long offered a wide range of acrylic paints and acrylic thinners. Recently I experimented with Tamiya’s Lacquer Thinner, item # 87077. As a rule, I tend to use the paint thinner produced by the same company that produced the paint being used.

I found that the Tamiya lacquer thinner worked very well, indeed, although its use is different than the acrylic thinner I’m used to using. Do not let the fact that it is a Lacquer thinner dissuade you from using it with your standard Tamiya acrylics. It works just fine.

The lacquer thinner is noticeably “stronger” than the acrylic thinner, both in how it interacts with Tamiya acrylics and how it smells. And it should be said here that if you can smell the paint you are airbrushing then you should wear a mask. Also, users are strongly advised not to have an open flame nearby as lacquer is combustible.

Review Author
Timothy Gidcumb
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.95

Recently I was given the opportunity by IPMS USA to review Scale Aircraft Conversions adaption of the Curtiss P-40B landing gear in white metal for the 1/48 Airfix kit. This set consists of two main gear legs, the two retraction strut pieces, which are on a metal sprue, and the tail gear strut. These are direct replacements for the parts from the Airfix kit. When comparing the kit landing gear and the SAC landing gear side by side you will notice they are very similar, other than the difference between plastic and white metal. Ignore the rough texture in the pictures all white metal is like this but will not show once painted. Overall this is highly recommended for stronger landing gear and added detail and is a great addition to the Airfix Curtiss P-40B kit. I would like to thank Scale Aircraft Conversions for another great offering in metal landing gear and IPMS USA for the opportunity to review this item.

Review Author
Charles Landrum
Published on
Company
Advanced Modeling
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.99

To those who model Soviet era and modern Russian aircraft there has been a welcome proliferation of weapons which have emerged on the market, so we have something to hang on aircraft models other than rocket launchers and dumb bombs. Unlike the west, the Soviet and now Russian military is not known for the use of smart ordnance; rare were the pictures of them fitted. But a wide range of smart weapons exist in the Russian inventory for specialized missions and the pictures coming from Syria show smart weapons being used.

A new manufacturer from Russia has come on the scene to offer perhaps the widest range of munitions than we have seen so far on the market – Advanced Modeling (AM). These are multi-media kits cleanly cast in gray, durable resin; the detail is superb.