Pat Villarreal

	Kawasaki Ki-100-I Otsu Type 5 Fighter: Part 1, Kit Inspection Published: July 16, 2026 Company: Zoukei-Mura Zoukei-Mura has graciously provided the IPMS Reviewer Corps with a first look at their brand new 1/32nd scale Kawasaki Ki-100-I Otsu Type 5 Fighter. Full release and distribution will be later in August 2026. Prior to this release, the only way to get a 1/32nd scale Ki-100 was to purchase a Hasegawa Ki-61 and an Alley Cat conversion set. This new kit will fill a void for WWII Japanese fighters. First Impression: It Looks Fabulous! History (from Zoukei-Mura website) The Ki‑100 Type 5 Army Fighter was a Japanese Army aircraft of World War II, developed as a derivative of the Ki‑61 Hien. By installing the Ha‑112 radial air‑cooled engine and modifying the fuselage, the Ki‑100 arose as an emergency conversion aircraft. Despite its improvised origins, it… more
	Mitsubishi F-2A Viper Zero Published: July 7, 2026 Company: DXM Decals A new vendor, DXM Decals from Taiwan, has provided the IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful waterslide decal set commemorating the JASDF 8th Squadron 60th Anniversary Special Painting of an F-2A “Panther Spots” in 2020. The Anniversary markings are for the following aircraft: F-16C Block 50P, No. 13-8558 (SN 1058) – 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tsuiki Air Base, Japan. Contents There is one folded color sheet, printed on both sides (8 X 11.5 inches) that shows decal placement. There are three decal sheets which come with a complete set of stencils and the special camouflage scheme. Painting references are for five colors: FS35109, FS36320, Black, Radome Gray, and a Black+5% White mixture. The decals are made by Cartograf, who are known… more
	Rafale M Published: July 6, 2026 Company: Academy Models Academy/MRC has released a new boxing of the Rafale M in 1/144th scale. From Scalemates.com, the original molds were created by Revell-AG in 1999. In the Box The kit is enclosed in a top-opening box and comes with four gray sprues and one clear. Instructions are well illustrated and easy to follow, and contain 12 steps for assembly. There are four marking options for this kit for the Aeronavale (Naval Air Arm of the French Navy). The markings are as follows: Flottile 12F, Aeronavale, Celebrating 1000 hours of flight Flottile 12F, Aeronavale Flottile 11F, Aeronavale Flottile 17F, Aeronavale. Review Process This is a box-stock build except for the decals (which I will explain later). The only assembly deviation I… more
	Su-27 Landing Gear (48th scale) Published: July 2, 2026 Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a set of 1/48th scale metal landing gear for Great Wall Hobby’s Su-27. These parts are drop-in replacements and provide a more robust landing gear set given its metal properties. In the Package The metal pieces are packaged in a clear blister package with cardboard backing. No instructions are provided. Review Process The metal landing gear set is used as drop-in replacements for the kit parts as noted: Nose Gear: E4, E13, E18, E19, E20, E23, E29, RHS Gear: E44, E54, E55, E60, E66, E68, E69, E77, E81, E79, LHS Gear: E45, E53, E56, E59, E65, E67, E70, E76, E78, E80, The metal used is malleable and has some give to allow for any minor bending if… more
	F-16C 60 Years of Weasels Published: June 20, 2026 Company: Two Bobs Aviation Graphics Two Bobs Aviation Graphics has provided the IPMS/USA Reviewer Corps with a wonderful waterslide decal set commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the very first Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) mission, which was flown during the Vietnam War in 1965. This project was code named “Wild Weasel.” This decal set captures the unique paint scheme applied to F-16C Fighting Falcons of the 20th Fighter Wing out of Shaw AFB in South Carolina. The two F-16C Fighting Falcons markings are for: F-16C Block 50P, SN 92-3920 – 20th FW, 60th Anniversary, Shaw AFB, South Carolina, December 2025 F-16C Block 50, SN 00-0220 – 20th FW, Ops Group Commander, Shaw AFB, South Carolina, December 2025. In the Package There is one… more
	HU-16A Albatross Landing Gear Published: May 23, 2026 Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a set of 1/48^th scale metal landing gear for Trumpeter’s HU-16A Albatross. These parts are drop-in replacements and provide a more robust landing gear set given its metal properties. In the Package The metal pieces are packaged in a clear blister package with cardboard backing. No instructions are provided. Review Process The metal landing gear set is used as drop-in replacements for the kit parts as noted Nose Gear: G12, G19 and G16 (also Metal Nose Strut parts A & B) RHS Gear: J19, J26, and K11 (also Metal Right Strut) LHS Gear: J16, J21, and K27 (also Metal Left Strut) Note: The Trumpeter kit does provide some… more
	AV-8B Harrier II Plus Landing Gear Published: May 20, 2026 Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a set of 1/48^th scale metal landing gear for UMa’s AV-8B Harrier II Plus. These parts are drop-in replacements and provide a more robust landing gear set given its metal properties. In The Package The metal pieces are packaged in a clear blister package with cardboard backing. No instructions are provided. Review The metal landing gear set is used as drop-in replacements for the kit parts as noted: Nose Gear: C1, D20, D21, and D26 Rear Gear: D9 and D17 Wingtip Outrigger Gear: D15, D16, D18, and D19 The metal used is malleable and has some give to allow for any minor bending if needed. Also, seam lines will need to be cleaned up prior… more
	Messerschmitt Bf109G-6 Late Production Published: May 3, 2026 Company: Tamiya The kit is enclosed in a top‑opening box (typical of Tamiya), with excellent artwork adorning the package. In addition to the regular plastic sprues, there are poly caps, metal washers, two magnets to allow the engine cowling to be displayed open or closed, and a printed masking sheet for the clear parts (note: the builder must cut these out). The instructions are well illustrated, easy to follow, and contain 40 steps for assembly. There are also two sheets of painting guides (printed in 1/48 scale) covering five marking options. For painting reference, Tamiya lists their own paint line, but it is easy to cross‑reference other paint brands online. The decals are in perfect registry with vibrant colors. Some builders may consider the clear film to be thick, but this is… more
	Spooks from the Beach (1) - USMC F-4B/F-4J Phantoms in the Vietnam War Published: April 21, 2026 Company: AOA Decals AOA Decals has provided the IPMS/USA Review Corps with a wonderful decal set for Vietnam War-era markings for the US Marine Corps F-4B/F-4J Phantom. This is part one of a two-part set you can purchase from AOA Decals for the Phantom (72-014 & 72-015). This 1/72 decal sheet covers six USMC F-4 Phantom squadrons during the Vietnam War: VMFA – 115 Silver Eagles – Da Nang, South Vietnam, 1970-71, RTAB Nam Phong, Thailand, 1972, and MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, 1971 & 1973-74 VMFA – 212 Lancers – Dan Nang, South Vietnam, 1972, and MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI, 1972 VMFA – 232 Red Devils – Chu Lai, South Vietnam, 1969, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, 1969-70, Da Nang, South Vietnam, 1972, and RTAB Nam Phong, Thailand, 1972-73… more
	Stars in the Sky Published: April 21, 2026 Company: Iliad Design Iliad Design has provided the IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful decal set of Hollywood stars who served in the USAAC (WWII) & USMC (Korean War) and the planes they served in. The following Hollywood stars are: Jimmy Stewart: B-24H Liberator “Male Call”, 703^rd BS, 453^rd BG, . Gene Roddenberry: B-17E Flying Fortress “Yankee Doodle”, 5^th BG, 394^th BS. Selar Shaik Sabu: B-24L Liberator “Janie”, 307^th BG, 424^th BS. Clark Gable: B-17F Flying Fortress “The 8 Ball”, 351^st BG, 350^th BS. Ed McMahon: Cessna L-19 Bird Dog, VMO-6 (USMC, Korean War) In the Package There is one decal sheet and two pages of instructions (printed front… more