Reviews of products for scale military vehicle models.

Book Author(s)
Dennis Oliver
Review Author
Orlando Reyes
Published on
January 22, 2023
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$28.95

This is volume 36 from the TankCraft series. The contents consist of an Introduction and nine sections. The introduction is a small history of the Panzer III, as well as the number shipped to North Africa and their unit numbers. The next section introduces us to the initial operations of the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK). We are presented with the Order of Battle of the DAK as of March/April, 1941.The section ends with a map showing the area of operations of the DAK, as well as month by month events starting in January, 1941 and ending in November, 1942. The book follows with 20 profiles of vehicles used by the unit and their camouflage.

Book Author(s)
David Doyle
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
January 22, 2023
Company
David Doyle Books
MSRP
$24.99

David Doyle's book on the M911 and M1070 HET is one of the latest entries in the 'Legends of Warfare' series with entries in Ground, Naval, and Aviation. The Legends of Warfare series has expanded rapidly since its 2017 debut in the market with now over 100 titles released. This hard cover series covers a wide variety of monographs at a good price point.

Book Author(s)
Igor Donchik and Daniele Guglielmi Illustrator: Igor Donchik
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
January 21, 2023
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$34.99

Since their founding in 2013, their mission has been to share the knowledge accumulated by Mig Jimenez, the founder of AMMO by Mig Jimenez, and the experience of AMMO's entire team of modelers, with the modeling community around the world. At AMMO by Mig Jimenez, they have a unique identity as the Weathering brand in the modeling sector, thanks to the fact that they are a company founded entirely by modelers. That passion for the hobby is reflected in all their products which always try to provide the best solutions for modelers. With 90% of their products manufactured in Spain, with high quality control and complying with all European standards, they offer the quality and safety that modelers demand for their projects. Additional books in this series include: Waffen SS Colors; Eastern Front – Russian Vehicles 1935-1945; and Sherman – The American Miracle.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
January 11, 2023
Company
OKB Grigorov
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$16.14

About the Subject (from Wikipedia)

“The Ferdinand was intended to supplant previous light panzerjägers, such as the Marder II and Marder III, in the offensive role. A similar gun was used in the lightly armored Hornisse (later known as Nashorn) tank destroyer, built at the same time.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
January 11, 2023
Company
OKB Grigorov
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$14.50

About the Subject (from Wikipedia)

“A German World War II super-heavy tank completed in late 1944. It is the heaviest fully enclosed armored fighting vehicle ever built. Five were ordered, but only two hulls and one turret were completed, the turret being attached before the testing grounds were captured by advancing Soviet military forces.

he principal problem in the design of the Maus was developing an engine and drivetrain which was powerful enough to adequately propel the tank, yet small enough to fit inside it. The Maus was too heavy to cross bridges. As a result, an alternative system was developed, where the Maus would instead ford the rivers it needed to cross.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
January 9, 2023
Company
OKB Grigorov
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$14.50

About the Subject (from Wikipedia)

“The M3 Stuart/Light Tank M3, was an American light tank of World War II. An improved version of the tank entered service as the M5 in 1942 to be supplied to British and other Commonwealth forces under lend-lease prior to the entry of the U.S. into the war. Afterwards, it was used by U.S. and Allied forces until the end of the war.

Although the main criticism from units using the Stuarts was that it lacked firepower, the improved M5 series kept the same 37 mm gun. The M5 gradually replaced the M3 in production in 1942. Total M5 and M5A1 tank production was 8,884; an additional 1,778 M8 75 mm howitzer motor carriages based on the M5 chassis with an open-top turret were produced”.

URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M3_Stuart

Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
January 9, 2023
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$12.40

A new release from prolific AMMO by Mig Jimenez, is this three-color acrylic paint set labeled for the three tone NATO camouflage. The paint comes in 17ml plastic bottles, complete with a stirring ball, in a clear plastic clamshell box. While the paints can be procured individually, the three major colors are included (and most likely cheaper than buying them individually). The following paints are included:

  • AMMO 0046 Matt Black
  • AMMO 0084 NATO Green
  • AMMO 0085 NATO Brown

I am a fan of AMMO acrylic paints and am very impressed with this paint set. While advanced modelers and painters can mix their own colors, basic modelers like myself prefer the easy off-the-shelf solution provided in this set. With the plethora of NATO vehicles wearing the NATO three tone camouflage since the 1980s, there are numerous vehicles waiting to be painted with this easy-to-use solution. The paints are also odorless and non-toxic.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
January 8, 2023
Company
OKB Grigorov
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$13.59

About the Subject (from Wikipedia)

“The M3 Stuart/Light Tank M3, was an American light tank of World War II. An improved version of the tank entered service as the M5 in 1942 to be supplied to British and other Commonwealth forces under lend-lease prior to the entry of the U.S. into the war. Afterwards, it was used by U.S. and Allied forces until the end of the war.

Although the main criticism from units using the Stuarts was that it lacked firepower, the improved M5 series kept the same 37 mm gun. The M5 gradually replaced the M3 in production in 1942. Total M5 and M5A1 tank production was 8,884; an additional 1,778 M8 75 mm howitzer motor carriages based on the M5 chassis with an open-top turret were produced”.

URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M3_Stuart

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
January 8, 2023
Company
OKB Grigorov
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.74

About the Subject (from Wikipedia)

“The M26 Pershing was a heavy tank/medium tank of the United States Army. It was used in the last months of World War II during the Invasion of Germany and extensively during the Korean War.

The M26 was intended as a replacement of the M4 Sherman but a prolonged development period meant that only a small number saw combat in Europe.

The M26 was the culmination of a series of medium tank prototypes that began with the T20 in 1942, and it was a significant design departure from the previous line of U.S. Army tanks that had ended with the M4 Sherman. Several design features were tested in the prototypes. Some of these were experimental dead-ends, but many become permanent characteristics of subsequent U.S. Army tanks”.

URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M26_Pershing

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
January 6, 2023
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.09

The Subject (Source - Wikipedia)

"The Type 16 maneuver combat vehicle (MCV) equips designated combat units. Due to its light weight and small size, it is designed for easy deployment (by aircraft if needed) allowing rapid movement on narrow roads and in built-up areas in response to various contingencies. Despite its small size and light armor, it can successfully attack much larger armored fighting vehicles as well as personnel, using its large caliber gun.

Main armament: 105 mm L/52 gun (developed by Japan Steel Works)

Secondary armament: 12.7 mm (0.5 in) M2 Browning machine gun, 7.62 mm NATO coaxial Sumitomo Type 74 machine gun (replacing M2 Browning) Type 96 40 mm Automatic grenade launcher or FN Minimi 5.56 mm NATO light machine gun".

URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_16_maneuver_combat_vehicle