Jake 2

IJMNS Yamato, Part 2

Finished 3

“Last Exile” Vanship w/Torpedo

Decals

MV-22B Osprey

whirlwind top view

Westland Whirlwind FB Mk.1

Right Side

M4A3E8 Korean War Sherman

FCM36 08

FCM 36 WWII French Light Tank

9

Battleship USS Missouri BB-63, Part 1

Finished 3

Kawanishi N1K1-JB Shiden (George) Type II Otsu "Genzan Flying Group"

Sprues A, B, C, & F

German Light Tank Pz.Kpfw.35(T)

Misc Image 5

TG-16A USAF Glider

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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 Top

J-Air Embraer 170
Review Author
Clarence Wentzel
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$39.99

Background

Embraer is an aircraft manufacturer located in Brazil. They started building some private and military aircraft but have found their niche by developing a line of smaller regional airliners. They started with a twin turboprop airliner named the Bandeirante and then the Brasilia. This was followed by a couple of twin jet airliners using some of the same airframe components, the ERJ-135 and ERJ-145. The engines on these aircraft were mounted at the rear of the fuselage. Following success with these products, Embraer started their E-jet series which featured larger fuselages and wing mounted twin jet engines. The initial production version is the Embraer 170. Over 1000 E-jets have been delivered as of September of 2013 and the airplane is well received by airlines around the world.

Box Cover

"Q" Ship
Review Author
Ron Bell
Published on
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/390
MSRP
$17.50

The Ship

A lesser-known fact about u-boat attacks is that most came during broad daylight and were conducted with the u-boat's deck gun not at night with a torpedo. The convoy system was yet to be established, so when the u-boats encountered individual unescorted ships rather than waste a torpedo, which they had on board in limited numbers, the u-boat would surface and shell the target with their deck gun. Sometimes the target would surrender, so the u-boat would send over a boarding party to help themselves to whatever they wanted before they told the ship's crew to abandon ship. They then scuttled her using no more valuable ammunition. However, when the target did not surrender or chose to run, the u-boat would just blow them out of the water with the deck gun.

Cover

F6F Hellcat Aces of VF-9
Book Author(s)
Edward M. Young; Illustrator: Jim Laurier
Review Author
Greg Wise
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$22.95

About This Book

A historical account of VF-9 and its pilots that became aces flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat. In the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the US Navy quickly formed Carrier Air Group 9. CAG-9 had four squadrons, VF-9, VB-9, VS-9 and VT-9 they were activated in March 1942. Initially equipped with five Brewster F2A-3 Buffalos that were quickly replaced by Grumman F4F Wildcats. VF-9 first saw action during the Allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942. It was here the squadron successfully engaged Vichy French fighters in combat over Morocco. Upon returning to the United States, VF-9 became one of the first squadrons to receive the Grumman F6F Hellcat. Soon after they deployed on the USS Essex, namesake of its class of fleet carriers that formed the backbone of the US Navy’s Fast Carrier Task Force. VF-9, the Hellcat, and the Essex all entered combat in the fall of 1943, want more? Get this book.

Cover

US Cold War Aircraft Carriers
Book Author(s)
Brad Elward, illustrated by Paul Wright
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$17.95

Thank you very much to the wonderful folks at Osprey Publishing for providing this new publication for review. Thanks are also due to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me the opportunity to explore a wonderful documentation and fascinating historical description of the earliest super carriers.

On opening the book you will find 48 glossy pages filled with text, 30 color photos, 11 black-and-white photos, 2 black-and-white drawings, and 7 color painting and diagrams. The softcover binding is 9.75 x 7.25 inches and a little less than a quarter-inch thick, with a color photo of the U.S.S America off the starboard bow. In 8 chapters, Mr. Elward provides a brief historical introduction explaining the roots of these early super carriers, and focuses on the Forrestal, Kitty Hawk and Enterprise classes. I appreciate the thorough bibliography and index.

Decal sheet

USAF/VNAF A-1E Skyraider
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Caracal Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.99

Caracal Models has released a sheet for the 1/48 Revell (Matchbox) A-1E molds. This sheet includes decals for seven USAF and two VNAF aircraft (for an amazing total of 9 airplanes!).

The options on this decal sheet are:

  • A-1E 132649, (Medal of Honor mission aircraft)
  • A-1E 132619, "Carolyn's Folly"
  • A-1E 135007, "Miss Pussy Galore"
  • A-1E 133919
  • A-1E 135206, "Georgia Ann"
  • A-1E 132528, "War Monger"
  • A-1E 132612
  • A-1E 132628, VNAF
  • A-1E 132503, VNAF

The first three aircraft are overall ADC Gray, while the last six are in SEA camouflage. Stenciling is provided to build one USAF aircraft. The decal sheet was printed by Cartograf in Italy.

Being a Cartograf decal sheet you know you’ll get good quality, thin and opaque decals. They are very glossy on the sheet and they have very little transparent carrier film around them minimizing the chances for silvering.