I’ve slowly been working my way back into armor and vignettes and/or dioramas, so when I saw this set list I thought it would be a good exercise in painting, and allow me to have some unique items to add to a scene.

The Plus Model “Old Suitcases” set comes with 9 pieces (actually 7 suitcases of varying sizes, plus a hat box and a steamer trunk) molded in a light gray resin. All of the various luggage items have a casting block attached, either to a back/bottom corner or along the bottom of the item. Making a choice as to whether to use these blocks as handles while painting, or to cut them off prior to paint, will be an individual decision for each modeler. As I have large hands and am often rather clutzy, I chose to leave them on and do some touch up painting afterwards.

Gareth Williams has been a curator at the British Museum since 1996, with responsibility for British and European coinage, about AD 500 to about 1180. Within this area he specializes in Anglo-Saxon and Viking coinage. Much of his work focuses on the use of coinage as evidence within broader historical and archaeological studies. Gareth has authored at least fifteen books and led several projects at the British Museum, with a “Viking Voyages” exhibition that recently finished a run from March 2015 through February 2017. He has been actively involved in historical re-enactments. Check him out at the British Museum.

The book is a general collectors guide to classic Diecast toy cars. It covers cars from a classic era of toy cars and covers all the major companies and countries where they were made. The book shows the most known and collectables of the time period. The book has great pictures and lots of detailed information. This book brought lots of memories back to me as a kid getting many of the cars shown in the book as Birthday and or Christmas gifts from my family. The book may have a limited audience but I for one loved it!

I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in Diecast cars and also all those who, like me, was a kid during the 60’s or 50’s.

Thanks go to Veloce Publishing for providing this book to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them

Even though Kitty Hawk Model released its big and beautiful T-28B-D Trojan back in 2016, I was thrilled to see it come up on the review list recently. No doubt the company is preparing for the release of the new ‘C’ version (with a tail hook), due out any time now. Either way, the big 1/32nd scale T-28 is sure to please.

And pleasing it is – the smart, clean lines of the venerable trainer are beautifully captured in this multi-media kit. Among the options offered are two types of propeller blades, three types of wheels, and a huge variety of underwing stores should you decide to arm your Trojan. In addition, the engine bay can be exposed on one or both sides with cowl flaps that are detailed inside and out.

The thin, three-piece canopy is crystal clear and there are two large weights provided that are inserted just behind the engine firewall to (help) stand this big boy up on its tricycle landing gear.

Most modern model kits, although well detailed, could use some aftermarket parts to give the kit that extra “pop” of reality. Eduard has done such an accessory with their “Big Ed” kit for the 1/48 Great Wall Hobby T-33 kit. The “Big Ed” kit actually contains four items: a painted photoetched T-33 interior and exterior detail kit; painted photoetched steel seatbelts for the ejection seats; a photoetched set of landing flaps; and finally, a die-cut mask for the kit.