The Subject

The M8 light armored car was a 6×6 armored car that saw service from 1943 by US and British forces until the end of World War II.

Designed and built by Ford Motor Company it was intended as a replacement for the M6. Because it had tires instead of treads, it had great speed at 55 mph on open roads and was very good in support roles as a recon vehicle. It wasn’t without its drawbacks however. Crews put sandbags on the ¼” thick floor to protect them from mines. It was also awkward in wooded areas and rough terrain.

Exported widely, it was still in service with some countries in 2006.

The Item

If you want to bring your M8 model kit to the next level, this excellent photoetch/detail set is just the thing for you. This extensive PE sheet has most of the appliqués that can be added to the kit to provide a fully detailed rendering of the M8.

TANKART 4 German Armor is the fourth TA book and second one to cover the always popular subject, WWII German Armor. This 2^nd Edition printing expands on the original edition by 64-pages utilizing additional chapter material to provide greater coverage. Each chapter inside TA4 has been given more pages to help cover on the processes better, including more images of the various steps, ideas, and thoughts behind each project or technique discussed.

Value Gear Details, based in Flagstaff, Arizona, produces a wide range of high-quality resin accessories for most common model scales. Many of the accessories and stowage sets are universal, which is a nice advantage. The set featured in this review has 14 pieces molded in gray resin. There are 10 rolls of different sizes and four crates. Also available in this scale are sets Crates #1 Sci-Fi Style, Crates # 2 Traditional Military Style, Tarp Rolls & Crate Stowage Bits #1, Tarp Rolls & Crate Stowage Bits #3, and Tarp Rolls & Crate Stowage Bits #4.

Clean-up is minimal. I removed the miniscule amount of flash by running a hobby knife along the bottom edge. Next, I soaked the pieces in a mild detergent solution and left them to air dry. This recommended step ensures that all mold release is removed. I then primed them using Tamiya Fine Surface Primer.

TankArt 3 Modern Armor was first released in 2014 (T-62M1 on the cover). Is this book simply a republished book and is it worth buying this edition (AMX-30B on the cover)? If you already have this book, then this second edition is 64 pages longer (from 224 to 288 pages), added a Technique Proficiency chapter, expanded, and updated sections on hair spray chipping, oil paint rendering (OPR), and pigment applications.

TankArt 3 Modern Armor is not only a “how-to”, but it is also a “why” on how to use the highly visual artistic approach to modeling. This book is magical in its sequence from good builds to the painting, to hyper detailing using modern and time-tested techniques. Where this book excels is the progression with each step, letting the modeler peek behind the magician’s cape.

The book is presented logically, composing the following ten chapters:

Value Gear Details, based in Flagstaff, Arizona, produces a wide range of high-quality resin accessories for most common model scales. Many of the accessories and stowage sets are universal, which is a nice advantage. This allows the model builder to customize the look they want by mixing sets or you can use one sets intended for specific subjects, such as the ‘Shermie Bits & Extras’.

The set featured in this review has 11 pieces. Also available is set Crates #1 consisting of 10 pieces. The pieces are molded in a dark-brown resin and the detail is impressive. There are even tiny nails!

Clean-up is minimal. I removed the miniscule amount of flash by running a hobby knife along the bottom edge. Next, I soaked the pieces in a mild detergent solution and left them to air dry. This recommended step ensures that all mold release is removed. I then primed them using Tamiya Fine Surface Primer.