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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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Book Author(s)
Ryusuke Ishiguro & Tadeusz Januszewski
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$29.00

This book looks at the only enemy aircraft actually to drop bombs on the continental United States, the Kugisho E14Y “Glen”. We are given the history of its development and its technical details, as well as the details of the two bombing missions over the Oregon coast and other operations across the Pacific. It should be noted that the Japanese were the only nation to use submarine-based aircraft in any quantity.

This book begins with a discussion of the first Japanese experiments with submarine-based aircraft, as well as the aircraft preceding the E14Y in service. A nice overview of the E14Y follows, with discussions of its operations for the IJN. One thing of interest is the joint operations of both Japanese and German submarines from the base at Penang (part of modern Malaysia). It even appears that there was a possible exchange between the Axis powers with an E14Y being traded for an Arado Ar-196.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$99.99

History

The Boeing EA-18G Growler is a carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the earlier two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-18G replaces the EA-6B Prowlers in service with the United States Navy. Production for the EA-18G began in 2007 and the aircraft entered operational service in late 2009.

The first Growler for fleet use was accepted by VAQ-129 "Vikings" at NAS Whidbey Island, in June 2008. At the time, the Navy planned to buy approximately 85 aircraft to equip 11 squadrons. The EA-18G completed operational evaluation in late July 2009. In August 2009, EA-18G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129) and Electronic Attack Squadron 132 (VAQ-132) completed their first at-sea carrier-arrested landing aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). The first deployable EA-18G squadron was VAQ-132 "Scorpions," which reached operational status in October 2009.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$8.00

This fine metal pitot tube is from Master Model, based in Poland. For those of you who have never heard of the company, they produce finely machined gun barrels, pitot tubes, and the like for aircraft, and also have a great line of metal gun barrels for ships in all scales.

This particular part is a single milled pitot tube for the nose of the Trumpeter Su-27 or Su-30. Adding it to the kit requires nothing more than gluing it in place. I have included a picture comparing the kit piece to the Master Model piece and the Zactomodels piece. I have also added the Master Models pitot to my kit nose (which is the replacement nose from Chris Wilson and Zactomodels) – the fit is perfect.

Highly recommended! This is a great replacement for the kit part (much less clunky) and is stouter than the resin piece from Zactomodels. My thanks to Master Model and IPMS/USA for the chance to review it.

Review Author
Chad Richmond
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$16.95

Eduard has turned out an excellent 1/48th scale Bf-109E-4 kit for us that has sparked a new interest in one of the most modeled aircraft ever. But, who can ever have enough 109’s? Even though you get markings for five separate aircraft in the Profipack kit, Eduard has produced a decal sheet with another five aircraft for us to choose from. The decals are printed by Eduard in the Czech Republic on a 3.3” by 7.5” sheet and is accompanied by an 8.3” x 11.6”full color foldout depicting the decal placement for each of the aircraft, as well as a general scheme depiction that includes color callouts for Gunze Sanyo paints.

Aircraft included are:

Review Author
Paul Mahoney
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$9.00

This little set is designed as a drop-fit to replace the plastic machine gun barrels on any Italian 1/48 scale aircraft kit that was armed with the Breda 12.7mm machine guns.

Master Model provides a pair of gun barrels, each comprised of 2 pieces: a perforated jacket and the gun barrel itself. The brass is extremely cleanly cast, with full perforations in the jackets and a nice open muzzle on the barrels themselves. No cleanup of these parts will be required. The brief instructions show the barrels are to be inserted into the jackets, then placed onto the model in the appropriate location.