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Review Author
Chris Durden
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$59.95

Dragon has countered Academy’s recent M7 release with their own excellent release of a mid-production Priest with a combination of the early suspension and additional armor. Coming in the usually sized Dragon box, this kit only clocks in with 260 parts as there are no individual track links or many left-over parts.

Those of you used to many of Dragon’s German subject that fatten the spares box will be disappointed with only about 10 left over parts! An entire sprue utilizes common parts from the previously released 105mm gun. The moldings are crisp and flash free with fine detail. The DS tracks are also well detailed and really pop when painted and weathered. I really won’t have much to say about assembly except that it was straightforward with excellent fit of the parts.

I chose to replace the prominent weld beads with styrene rod to replace the weld details that I lost due to some ham handed sanding.

Review Author
Ben Guenther
Published on
Company
Revell, Inc.
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$22.95

Revell has been kind to auto modelers in re-releasing past Monogram car kits that have been out of production. This time the reissue is of the ’48 Ford Woody with Monogram’s name on the box top and on the instruction sheet. With 127 parts molded in white plastic, clear plastic and a sprue of chromed parts you can only assembly a stock Woody. You’ll use all the parts with none left over, except for a few decals.

Book Author(s)
Pete Fleischmann
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Reid Air Publications
MSRP
$24.95

Different modeling books tend to have a “tools round-up” in their introduction chapter. This book includes which probably is the more important tool: “The modelers’ eye”. What is meant here is that you have to study the subject, look at it several times, noticing details each time you look at the subject in order to take notes and attempt to recreate and model whatever you “see” when you are looking at pictures or the real thing you are planning to model.

The following chapter briefly covers the basic techniques of model weathering and then the book dives into very well photographed and highly detailed construction of 11 models, ranging from 1/32nd to 1/72ndscale. Markings range from USAF, to Chilenean and Israeli Air Forces.

Review Author
Charles Landrum
Published on
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.00

The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is one of the major European operators of the F-16 with 157 on hand and 13 more to deliver. The HAF operates a mix of Falcons including F-16 Cs and Ds, blocks 30, 50, and 52 which means they operate both the GE and P&W engines. I have to say the HAF has one of the coolest camouflage schemes and so I was pleased to see that Two Bobs has released this sheet which covers recent block 50 and 52 F-16 Cs and Ds.

This is not an extravagant sheet since it replicates the spare tactical schemes of the HAF; which means that the flashes of color are predominantly the roundels and tail band. TwoBobs gives you the option to build two complete models of the seven aircraft schemes provided. The stencils include the newer gray markings and the older orange-yellow markings. The decals are printed by Microscale and are crisp and in register. Aircraft covered:

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$59.95

History and Performance

The Panzerkampfwagen III was one of the workhorses of the German army during World War II. The development order was issued in 1935 for a full-tracked vehicle in the 15 ton class. The Ausf. A model was manufactured in 1937 and was armed with a 3.7 cm main gun. Ten of these vehicles were produced but were withdrawn from service in 1940 due to insufficient armor and poor suspension. Several other variants were manufactured in subsequent years with armament increased to include 5.0 cm and ultimately 7.5 cm main guns. There was also a model equipped with a flame thrower. The Panzerkampfwagen III saw service on all fronts during the war, but the improvements in armament and armor never quite matching its opponents.