Reviews

Book Author(s)
Phillipe Wodka-Gallien
Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.99

In 1954, France took the decision to become an independent nuclear power, both to try to regain some lost international prestige following WWII, but also to challenge the French industrial base after the ruin of WWII. They succeeded in testing their first bomb, codename Gerboise Bleue in 1960, becoming the fourth nuclear power after the US, USSR, and the UK.

This catchily-subtitled tome by the noted authority on French nuclear programmes, Philippe Wodka-Gallien, is a 94-page soft-bound book containing 108 colour & 58 b/w photos, 20 colour profiles, and 3 colour & 1 b/w maps; It is the latest in Helion’s Europe@War series that examines conflict in Europe from the early twentieth century up to the present day beyond the scope of the two world wars, often lesser-known subjects that deserve a wider audience than hitherto given.

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
ICM
MSRP
$25.95

ICM continues expanding its acrylic paint line, this time providing extremely useful colors for World War 2 British vehicles. This set includes:

  • Extra Dark Green
  • Middlestone
  • Green Brown
  • Off-White
  • Camouflage Green
  • Satin Varnish

Basically, you’re provided with three different greenish shades that British vehicles were painted in as well as Middlestone, which was used on many desert machines. A satin varnish permits you to create the exact tone many British vehicles were painted in more realistically. Lastly, Off-White is provided either as winter camouflage or specifically targeting their new mobile chapel model.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$121.00

Brief History

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Junkers Ju 88 is a German World War II Luftwaffe twin-engine multirole combat aircraft. Junkers Aircraft and Motor Works (JFM) designed the plane in the mid-1930s as a so-called Schnellbomber ("fast bomber") that would be too fast for fighters of its era to intercept. It suffered from technical problems during its development and early operational periods but became one of the most versatile combat aircraft of the war. Like a number of other Luftwaffe bombers, it served as a bomber, dive bomber, night fighter, torpedo bomber, reconnaissance aircraft, heavy fighter and at the end of the war, as a flying bomb.

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
Trumpeter
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$74.99

NASAMS – either defined as Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, is a short-to-medium range ground based air defense system originally brought into service in 1997 as a point defense system.It employs the AMRAAM Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air missile in a six-silo set mounted on a fully pivoting ground launcher. Designed in collaboration with both Norwegian and U.S. arms manufacturers as part of an integrated air defense system for sensitive ground targets. It has been used here in the States to protect targets in Washington D.C. and is currently in active service in the Ukraine opposing Russian missiles as well as other aerial targets. Reportedly, so far the system has destroyed over 100 Russian missiles and drones. At least two have been destroyed in combat – the main flaw in the system being its stationary nature – a real handicap in a highly mobile war.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Green Stuff World
Scale
N/A
MSRP
$25.00

Green Stuff World’s Liquid Pigments are described as weathering filters with a powdered finish, no fixer required. The liquid pigments come in .57 fluid ounce bottles with a dripper cap. This rust set of colors included

  • 2286 orange rust
  • 2287 light rust
  • 2288 medium rust
  • 2289 dark rust
  • 2290 verdigris
  • 2291 turquoise oxide

My usual method for working with dry pigments is to apply the pigment by dropping onto the surface or applying with a dry brush. The excess pigment is then blown off, and the remainder worked in with a dry brush. The dry pigment is then left as is, or a liquid pigment fixture is applied in more exposed areas. I will also mix dry pigments with water into a thin, certain slurry that is applied by brush. When dry, the pigments can still be worked in with a dry brush, or a wet brush in more extreme cases.

Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
Kotare Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$109.00

Kotare are a new New Zealand-based modelling company, born from the ashes of the Wingnut Wings concern. Like their ancestor, Kotare are determined to offer high-quality 1/32 aircraft kits, but instead of concentrating solely on WWI subjects, Kotare are focusing on the more popular WWII, starting with a range of early mark Spitfires.

Review Author
Fred Bachofner
Published on
Company
AFV Club
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$58.00

1VP Note: It's my pleasure to welcome Fred Bachnofer, a member of IPMS/Netherlands, to our review team! Fred brings a European perspective to the process and has access to some products that we in the States may not be familiar with. Fred's first review here is of an AFV kit, we hope there are more to come!

Visit Fred's website at https://modelfan.eu if you'd like to see more of his work. Welcome, Fred!


The YPR was developed in the United States in 1965 by FMC Corporation under the name XM765, as one of prototypes for a future armoured infantry fighting vehicle.

Book Author(s)
Michael Claringbould
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Avonmore Books
MSRP
$36.95

The book is a series of books covering all of the Pacific in World War Two used aircraft. It goes into great detail of the types squadrons, service & variants,

I found this book very informative and was full of facts and details of very little-known aircraft.

The articles on the variants that were explored during the development, were especially interesting.

The book is full of extremely interesting photos of the aircraft and markings. The many profile pictures are great when deciding on decals for model builds.

The inclusion of the chapter on Greater Japan Airways is something I did not expect and is great addition.

I was amazed at the amount of information and history found in the pages of this extremely enjoyable book. The profiles alone are worth the cost of the book.

I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in IJN aircraft from WWII.

Book Author(s)
Richard A. Franks
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Valiant Wings Publishing
MSRP
$53.00

Valiant Wings Publishing was founded in 2010 under the guidance of Richard A. Franks and Mark Peacock. Valiant Wings has released several series of primarily airplane monographs [Airframe & Miniature, Airframe Album and Airframe Detail series] with the first Airframe Album dedicated to the Heinkel He 219 ‘Uhu’ released in 2012. This is Valiant Wings largest Airframe Album to date at 192 pages.

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$29.99

Right on the heels of their lovely Mobile Chapel kit, ICM has released a set of figures that can either be used to create a stand-alone vignette or be used together with the aforementioned vehicle.

This set includes five well-sculpted figures, along with a separate sprue containing a portable organ, folding chair and numerous small bits that would be appropriate on an altar or other religious table. As I mentioned in my previous review of the mobile chapel itself, I stated that such a vehicle would rarely (I assume) have seen front-line service, and this set of figures supports that theory, as they appear very much to be rear-echelon types in suitably casual garb.

The set includes a preacher in appropriate ecclesiastic garb, an organ player, two supplicants and an assistant holding out a collection plate. Detail is crisp and the facial features distinctive and well done.