When HobbyBoss released a 1/72 kit of the German super siege gun known as ‘Dora’ I knew I wanted one. Unfortunately, I still do not have one in my stash (if anyone get me one cheap I am all ears!) so this book will have to do! As with most Osprey titles, they combine well reproduced historical photographs with artist’s renderings. This book is no different. The broad focus of the book are the super siege guns but it is split between those manufactured by Germany and those from foreign manufacturers that were absorbed by the Wehrmacht. The final part of the book concentrates on their operational history.

I would first like to give a HUGE shoutout to Mr. Gary Demory, Tamiya America Customer Service Supervisor without whose help this review may not have been able to be completed. During work on this project, I had a “the dog ate my homework” moment when a series of parts was suddenly missing from my workbench, and the guilty party kept saying, “I didn’t do it.” What to do? In spite of Tamiya’s California office being closed due to the pandemic, Gary went to great lengths to assist me in getting the parts I needed. Thanks for all of your help and outstanding service, Gary!

First Impression

The Marder I was a WWII German tank destroyer with a 75mm PaK-40 anti-tank gun. Most of the Marders were actually constructed on the base of a French artillery tractor (Trachteur Blindè 37L), which Germany had acquired more than 300 of after the fall of France in 1940.

Czech manufacturer Aires released a resin drop-in set for the Kinetic Sea Harrier in 1/48 scale.

Parts are cast in a cream-colored resin, with good surface detail (including rivets and panel lines) and no part lines. The parts are free of any surface defects or bubbles.

Attachment points of the pouring blocks are thin and easy to remove. More importantly, they are located in an area that will be hidden away when fully assembled, making any minor clean up error invisible in the final model.

Parts are designed to be drop-in replacements to their plastic counterparts, so no concern about fit or modification of the receiving plastic.

Please note that while the exhausts nozzles do look very similar, there are two that go in the front and to that go in the back. There are some small ‘ribs’ on top of the exhaust that would help you tell them apart.