International Plastic Modelers' Society / USA

International Plastic Modelers' Society / USA

IPMS/USA

IPMS/USA

Long-time supporter Ross and his team at SAC Supports IPMS/USA yet again with one of his gear sets to use and review!This set provides a sound basis for replacing the more delicate parts of the Spindly (in real life and modeling world) Fairey Gannet...

Landing Page Reviews - 13 hours 49 min ago

Long-time supporter Ross and his team at SAC Supports IPMS/USA yet again with one of his gear sets to use and review!

This set provides a sound basis for replacing the more delicate parts of the Spindly (in real life and modeling world) Fairey Gannet AEW-3 landing gear. Designed for the newly-released SWORD kit, it definitely addresses the question on whether plastic or metal is better for this task. The metal gear, once carefully installed (it is NOT an easy Geometric construction) is definitely “go metal”.

Made up of eleven finely-cast metal parts, these bits are scale in size and flexible enough for initial installation, while work-hardening if required for additional stiffness. The truss angles and installation are a difficult design to address, and the idea the kit plastic would last was first in my mind. It’s a large aircraft, and unique in design and appearance.

Preview: MiniArt has us hooked on their 35th scale G7117 1.5T 4x4 wrecker.

The Modelling News - Thu, 05/28/2026 - 06:37
MiniArt's latest in the Chevy truck range is the G7117 1.5T 4x4 Cargo Truck – but this one has the wrecker gear, a hoist on a rail out the rear & a trailer! We look at them in our preview...Read on... »
Categories: News

Preview: 1/35th scale "The Fall of Berlin, German POWs 1945 Big Set" (& single figures) from Stalingrad Miniatures...

The Modelling News - Tue, 05/26/2026 - 10:47
A new set of German soldiers & civilians, pictured in the ruins of a captured Berlin in May 1945, is Stalingrad Miniatures' latest figure release. We look at them & the photos that inspired them in our preview...Read on... »
Categories: News

Preview: New 1/35th scale U.S. Airborne tank riders from MiniArt

The Modelling News - Mon, 05/25/2026 - 05:43
To add to their US infantrymen tank riders, the Airborne now gets a ride, with this new set from MiniArt out next month. See more in our preview...Read on... »
Categories: News

The non-profit UK based group known as the Great War Aviation Society publishes A new magazine, Contact!, is now available in both print and digital download. The first two issues of Contact! Are available for a free digital download on their website....

Landing Page Reviews - Mon, 05/25/2026 - 00:00

The non-profit UK based group known as the Great War Aviation Society publishes A new magazine, Contact!, is now available in both print and digital download. The first two issues of Contact! Are available for a free digital download on their website. Their journal, Cross & Cockade International, is also published four times a year. Issues are available in English as printed [Softbound, A4 (8.27” x 11.69”), 72 pages [Including Covers] as well as digital copies (or both). The Society also provides a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publish WWI themed books like the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier for IPMS USA. This Journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front. The Great War Aviation Society also hosts a lecture series available through Zoom.

“I Don't Want A Pickle...”by Ben MortonI should explain the title so as not to throw you off from the get go. The more refined and worldly among us may recall the name Arlo Guthrie. A singer-songwriter that had some notoriety for being Woody Guthrie's...

Landing Page Reviews - Mon, 05/25/2026 - 00:00

I Don't Want A Pickle...”

by Ben Morton

I should explain the title so as not to throw you off from the get go. The more refined and worldly among us may recall the name Arlo Guthrie. A singer-songwriter that had some notoriety for being Woody Guthrie's son and a few FM radio hits like the “Alice's Restaurant Massacre” and of course, “The Motorcycle Song”. The opening line of which is: “I don't wanna pickle, I just wanna ride my motorsickle.” Now, on with the show.

The MICV-65 (Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle) was a project conducted by the United States Army seeking an armored personnel carrier vehicle to replace the M113, built by the FMC Corporation (Ford Machinery & Chemical Corporation). FMC was awarded...

Landing Page Reviews - Mon, 05/25/2026 - 00:00

The MICV-65 (Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle) was a project conducted by the United States Army seeking an armored personnel carrier vehicle to replace the M113, built by the FMC Corporation (Ford Machinery & Chemical Corporation). FMC was awarded to design and build the MICV and designated XM734. The XM734 utilized the M113 as basic platform, armed with a turret manned by a single crew firing a 20mm cannon. The newly designed vehicle was re-designated the AIFV (Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle), but the United States showed no interest in the vehicle; however, the Dutch government showed interest and placed orders in 1975. Further modifications were made and the vehicle was redesignated YPR-765 (Pantser Rups Infanterie 765).

Preview: Luftwaffe Gallery #7: "Against England" from Erik Mombeeck

The Modelling News - Sun, 05/24/2026 - 20:43
Erik Mombeeck's latest Luftwaffe Gallery (LuGA) book is with us. Luftwaffe Gallery #7: "Against England" is an expanded special edition. We look at what's inside in our preview...Read on... »
Categories: News

LARRY LESH early GLIDERS in 1/48 !

Forums - Sat, 05/23/2026 - 10:59
HI ! Here another project I have done in the past , they are 1907 / 1910 LARRY LESH early gliders, if you like to view more pics I have done an GOOGLE page for them , just follow this link : https://photos.app.goo.gl/uj5t1hsKhWXRFAdn7 Enjoy ! Jmarc

MGPC 124 - "Spitfires Part 1"

ModelGeek's Podcast - Sat, 05/23/2026 - 08:00

Welcome to Episode 124 of The Modelgeeks Podcast! 

After a small bit of banter, we share what is on our bench and what we have picked up lately.  We then cover Mail Call (keep the cards & letters coming folks!).  Don’t forget Listener Spotlight.  

For our Patreon Giveaway, courtesy of LionHeart Hobby we have the X Scale 1/144 P-3C Orion kit #144007 along with Caracal’s newly minted  sheet #144024.

Our main topic is “Spitfires, Part 1a”.  El Prez opened up his references and leads a modeler’s discussion of the Prototype and Mk I Spitfire.  If you’d like to follow along with his notes you can download them here.

We would like to thank all our listeners out there for the continued support you have given the show. We hope to see you out and about as we hit the show circuit. If you happen to see us at a show come on over and say hello, we may even put you in front of the mic!

If you can't make it to the shows then you can still interact with us through social media, Facebook, Instagram, and of course email at: contact@modelgeekspodcast.com 

Also remember to surf over to the Geeks homepage at https://modelgeekspodcast.com.  Take a look at the Listener Gallery, and if you’d like to see your work there, send us your photos to contact@modelgeekspodcast.com.  File size and quantity is not an issue for us, but may be an issue for your email provider.  Feel free to send us a link to a sharing service if you use one, but please ensure the link expires at least 7 days after you send it.  We need a few days to get them published.  

Make sure you check out our group / community on Facebook:

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Get on there and feel free to share your work! We want to see what’s on your bench.

We also want to thank each of our sponsors for their support. We are very lucky to have them. When you have the time, pay a visit to their web sites, and have a look at their fine products.

Please visit our Sponsors and see what new items they have:

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We are very fortunate to be able to join the scale modeling podcast community and are in the company of several other really GREAT podcasts. Hopefully, someday we’ll earn our wings and be able to keep up with those guys!  Please check them all out at https://modelpodcasts.com.  It’s a consortium website created by Stuart Clark of the Scale Model Podcast.

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Categories: Podcast

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a set of 1/48th 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...

Landing Page Reviews - Sat, 05/23/2026 - 00:00

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a set of 1/48th 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

The iconic Mitsubishi A6M Zero was the Imperial Japanese Navy’s primary carrier-based fighter plane from 1940-1945. Over 10,000 of these ubiquitous fighters were produced, with the A6M5 Type 0 Model 52 being the last and most effective model. Scale...

Landing Page Reviews - Sat, 05/23/2026 - 00:00

The iconic Mitsubishi A6M Zero was the Imperial Japanese Navy’s primary carrier-based fighter plane from 1940-1945. Over 10,000 of these ubiquitous fighters were produced, with the A6M5 Type 0 Model 52 being the last and most effective model. Scale Aircraft Conversion has produced its famous white metal landing gear for the A6M5/5a Zero in 1/48 scale. As aircraft modelers well know, aircraft models displayed on their landing gear are susceptible to damage from the weight of the model, especially on styrene landing gear.

Scale Aircraft Conversion has had the solution since 1990. Their white metal landing gear is designed to bear the weight of the model and complement the detailed non-load bearing plastic parts. Their extensive range covers white metal landing gear from 1/144 to 1/18 scale aircraft.

This is another book in this series, each concerning itself with one particular type or class of ship. This one is about British Anti-/Aircraft Cruisers and includes ships specifically built for this mission or converted to it. As usual for this series...

Landing Page Reviews - Sat, 05/23/2026 - 00:00

This is another book in this series, each concerning itself with one particular type or class of ship. This one is about British Anti-/Aircraft Cruisers and includes ships specifically built for this mission or converted to it. As usual for this series, it is not so much a history of the ships, although brief accounts of their careers are included, as it is a description of the various specific modifications made to them that made them anti-aircraft ships. Included are the “C” class cruisers that were converted for this work, merchant vessels that were requisitioned and converted and the more-or-less purpose build Dido Class ships.

OTB 238: Modellers Without Borders

On the Bench Podcast - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 22:46

G'day benchers! In this episode with catch-up with Tim and Bruce from Modellers Without Borders to chat about where the organisation currently is, what the future plans are and the look back on VMX25. Are there plans for a VMX26???

Emails, Patreon wheel of fortune and much much more!

Categories: Podcast

Built Sideways Podcast Season 6 Ep. 5: The hot topic of AI in our hobby

Built Sideways Podcast - Fri, 05/22/2026 - 02:13

On this episode the boys talk about the hotly debated topic of whether or not its ok to use AI when it comes to scale modelling, why its being used, and will it take over eventually as our overlords?


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Categories: Podcast

The Duke Completes One Armor in May...so far

Forums - Thu, 05/21/2026 - 13:35
This is my most recent completed armor model, Meng's Israeli Merkava IV M with the Trophy System. I tried to have it done last month, but things got a bit hectic so I was able to finish this off recently: My apologies for the pics. My old camera broke, so I got a new one and I'm still trying to figure out how to use it best. Thank you all for looking in, comments are welcome.

The Duke's Shipyards Launch Two Ships in May

Forums - Thu, 05/21/2026 - 13:23
I was hoping for more, but these are the ones I was able to complete. Maybe the rest will be able to launch in June. First is the USS Albany, the original kit was the USS Chicago in 1/500 scale; I got aftermarket decals to make her the Albany: Yes, there are a few pieces missing; it is a Distressed Kit, so that is expected. I do hope to find and/or replace what's missing later, but for now this is done. Next up is Trumpeter's 1/700 scale HMS Queen Elizabeth, their newest fleet carrier, and now my newest fleet carrier: And that's all we have for now. Stay tuned for more ships about to come down the slipways. Thank you to all who stop in to comment, they are always welcome.

Preview: Takom's 35th Type 100 Fighting Vehicle, ZRY-100 Unmanned Combat Ground Vehicle (UCGV) & Robot Wolves.

The Modelling News - Thu, 05/21/2026 - 07:24
The greatest hits from the PLA's recent parade are the newest subjects from Takom. Either the 35th scale Type 100 Fighting Vehicle, the ZRY-100 Unmanned Combat Ground Vehicle (UCGV) & Robot Wolves Unmanned Combat Systems (or both together in one box) are in our preview...Read on... »
Categories: News

We Keep Building Because It Keeps Us Sane

Plastic Model Mojo - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 20:00

A hobby can be the best kind of escape until your workspace fights you, your calendar fills up, and the internet decides a vague press blurb means the sky is falling. We start with what’s been happening at our own benches, including Dave’s push to overhaul a hobby room that has somehow become “anti-modeling,” plus a listener-recommended project tracking app that could genuinely help builders log progress, notes, and next steps.

Then we dig into hobby news with real consequences, including the Dragon Models drama, the sudden appearance of “Drami,” and the clearer picture that emerges once Zimi enters the story. We talk about why it pays to wait for facts, how quickly online speculation spirals, and why Dragon still matters to the modern plastic model kit landscape even after years of fewer truly new releases. Along the way we share a great AMPS find and why better 3D printed tracks and scanning-driven accuracy are changing what’s possible in aftermarket parts.

The second half zooms out to the stuff that keeps this hobby sustainable: why we build models in the first place, how to handle work-life balance without breeding resentment at home, and why contests are evolving into broader “shows” with exhibitions, seminars, and more welcoming formats. We wrap with Shizuoka kit announcements, a quick benchtop reality check, and a warning about AI slop creeping into 3D printed figures and details.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s worth caring about in modeling and what you can safely ignore, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share the show with a modeling friend, and leave a review so more builders can find us.

Brushrage App - As discussed by Kentucky Dave
CRS Tankwerks - As mentioned by Mike
Smokey Mountain ModelCon - Hosted by the Knoxville Scale Model Assoc.

Model Paint Solutions
Your source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes, Mixing supplies, and great advice!

SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968

Model Podcasts
Please check out the other pods in the modelsphere!

KitMasx
Custom Canopy Masks for the Scale Modeler

Bases By Bill
Your source for custom display bases, laser engraved airfield and carrier decks.

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Categories: Podcast

Preview: MiniArt's combo kit - 35th scale Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. D/B with Crew From MiniArt

The Modelling News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 06:08
Miniart has combined their 1/35th scale Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. D/B kit with two tankers to populate it. See what's inside in our preview...Read on... »
Categories: News