Fuselage bottom - note filler

H-34 Choctaw, U.S. Marines

Finished - Side

1980 Jeep Honcho "Ice Patrol"

Completed model front

M4A1 Sherman Profipack

Image 6

Dog House with Dog

Completed model

Russian Maxim Machine Gun (1910)

Marking Guide

Russian 9P149 Launching Vehicle w/9K114 Shturm-S

Image 8

FJ-2 Fury

Radiator assembly

Johnson Lowe's NASCAR #48 Chevy SS

Left Front

F6F-3 ProfiPack

Ordnance

Sepecat Jaguar Gr.1/Gr.3

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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.

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Book cover

I-400: Japan’s Secret Aircraft Carrying Strike Submarine
Book Author(s)
Henry Sakaida, Gary Nila and Koji Takaki
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
February 7, 2011
Company
Hikoki Publications
MSRP
$19.95

I missed out on this book when it was originally published as a hardback a few years ago. Fortunately it has been re-issued as a softbound book. The book is the definitive volume on this submarine. It was the largest submarine to serve in WWII at over 400 feet long with a crew of almost 200 and weighing over 5200 tons.

The first chapter gives us an overview of the Japanese submarine service in WWII. Chapter two covers the specifics of the I-400 class, with chapter three giving us the details and specifications on the aircraft the sub was designed to carry, the Aichi M6A “Seiran” attack-bomber. This chapter includes detailed drawings and pilot memories.

Box Art

Kawasaki T-4, Blue Impulse
Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
February 7, 2011
Company
Platz
Scale
1/100
MSRP
$12.95

The Aircraft

The Kawasaki T-4 came out in the late 1980s as a replacement for the Lockheed T-33s and Fuji T-1s in the intermediate trainer role. One of the reasons for the T-4 appears to be that it is built in Japan from mostly Japanese sources.

The T-4 is the third aircraft flown by the JASDF’s Blue Impulse demonstration team. The first two were the F-86 and a Mitsubishi T-2.

The Kit

The box contains two sprues of bright white plastic, with a clear sprue which has enough clear parts to do two kits. This makes perfect sense when you remember that Platz 1/144 kits are “twofers”, 2 kits in one box. All parts are cleanly molded with no flash. As I did the assembly, I noted that there are no warps, mold flaws or short shots anywhere. The decals are by Cartograf of Italy.

Set contents

F-86F-30 Big ED Photo Etch sets
Review Author
Greg Wise
Published on
February 6, 2011
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$69.95

Set Contents

  • 1 X 32239 Exteriors
  • 1 X 32643 Interior S.A.
  • 1 X 32501 Remove Before Flight
  • 1 X JX093 Express Mask

History Brief

The North American F-86F-30 Sabre was America’s finest fighter during the Korean conflict. I’ve had the opportunity over the years to talk to a few F-86 pilots who also had a turn with the Mig 15. The Sabre was always their first choice. One pilot said to me comparing the F-86 to her Russian counterpart is like comparing a sports car to a pick up truck. The only problem was no one knew that back then.

Box Art

P-39N Airacobra
Review Author
Greg Perry
Published on
February 6, 2011
Company
Halinski
Scale
1/33
MSRP
$10.50

The P-39 was a marvel of engineering with a mid-mounted engine and a primary gun firing through the propeller hub. Because the US Army Air Corps wanted to save money, the supercharger originally fitted to the prototype was removed. This decision almost doomed the aircraft. The US no longer wanted it for a fighter role and the British summarily dismissed it altogether. Many of the airframes went to the Soviets under a lend-lease agreement where they found their niche as ground attack aircraft and low altitude fighters. This particular kit represents one of those lend-lease aircraft.

For the uninitiated, Halinski paper models are often referred to as the “Tamiya” of paper models. They are that good. Anyone who thinks paper models cannot rival plastic needs to experience one of these before making a conclusion.

Box Art

U-Boat Biber
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
February 6, 2011
Company
Italeri
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$56.00

Most people are aware of the large WWII German U-boats as they appear in movies, video games and on TV very frequently. These are typically the large Type VII and Type IX boats. Many don’t realize the Germany also had a very active midget submarine effort going where one or two man subs attacked and sunk shipping.

While there are several different types, the one we are looking at is a one man sub named Biber (Beaver). There were 324 built towards the end of the war. While not very successful (they sank or damaged 9 ships versus losses of 70 subs), they do hold a spot in the history of the Kriegsmarine.