Number 54 in Helion’s Asia @ War Series is the 4th Volume on the Sri Lankan War, from 1995-2002. Also called the Eelam War III, this Volume covers the Northern Theatre of the war to its conclusion. The author is a Swiss military researcher and has published 20 books on military topics. For this larger than normal Volume, he has done a brilliant and evocative job on bringing this civil war to light.

Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) is a large island off the southern tip of India, and has a tumultuous history of internecine warfare. This volume is strictly about the military events, and does not cover the political situations, atrocities or human rights violations in detail - these have been manifested in the first three volumes, by Amnesty International and other NGOs.

One of the newest releases from venerable Tamiya is this wide-wheel version of the Schwimmwagen Type 166, which incorporates parts from their previous release (kit 224) back in 1998. The new release includes new sprues C and V which include the wide-wheel parts, new figures, and new weapons. As with any Tamiya kit, the engineering is perfect, which makes this kit ideal for modelers of nearly any skill level, and it is therefore highly recommended.

Upon opening the box, you will find four sprues molded in Tamiya’s tan plastic, a separate lower body, a mesh screen, clear acetate, and decals. Also included are a ten-page instruction sheet, a Tech Tips sheet, and Background Information. The Background Information includes Development, Design, and Production and Deployment information as well as a line drawing for nomenclature and Painting instructions with color drawings for an all yellow and a yellow, green, and brown vehicle.

In researching the company and these products, I found that the Kaleido ColorWorks primers and matte varnish from Gaahleri, which entered the global hobby market around 2023, represent a modern and user-friendly approach to water-based modeling paints. As part of Gaahleri’s ecosystem—a coordinated line of products designed to work together for consistent results—they are formulated to complement the company’s airbrush systems and simplify the overall painting process. On their website, they offer paints, airbrushes, and a range of airbrush accessories and replacement components. Built around RapidAir Technology, which enhances atomization and leveling so acrylics spray more like lacquers, these products provide smooth application with reduced tip dry.