This proved to be a fabulous kit with both the tilt front end 1940 Willys Coupe as the subject matter, and the nostalgia provided with arguably the most beloved and popular individual of The Three Stooges, Curly Howard, as the backdrop. I was so impreesed with the car itself. It went together so seamless, without any fitting problems whatsoever. This particular Willys Coupe can only be built the way it is depicted on the box top artwork.

This is a review of the photoetch accessory package associated with Tamiya’s kit of the Panther Auf.D, kit number 35345. This kit includes all six engine grill covers as well as a redundant machine gun targeting ring which will certainly come in handy in other builds.

The photoetch grilles can be placed on the base Panther kit with no modifications to the kit whatsoever. The fit is terrific and they add immensely to the final look of the model.

My thanks to both Tamiya/USA and to IPMS/USA for a chance to add these nice additions to my Panther Auf.D kit.

The Ship

The Kongo class of battlecruisers was Japan’s attempt to acquire or build their first super-dreadnaughts. Designed by the British, the Kongo herself was launched from the Vickers shipyard in 1912, the last major vessel of the Japanese Navy built in a foreign yard. She underwent major reconstructions from 1929-1931 and again from 1935-1938, the last time so much so that she was reclassified as a fast battleship. During the Pacific War, she participated in early South Seas operations off Malaya and the Philippines. Her class’s high speed made them ideal carrier escorts, and Kongo served that function during the IJN’s Indian Ocean carrier sweep, the Midway operation and the action off Santa Cruz.