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Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$9.30

This is an interesting set from Brengun as it allows the modeler to replicate the large internal fuel tank sometimes carried by the Mi-24 Hind. The set has 6 parts, consisting of the tank, what appears to be a spigot or filler connection, and 4 parts that make up the cradle the tank sits on. The parts are all crisply cast. However, I did discover a few pinholes on the underside of the tank and the ends of the cradles that needed to be filled and smoothed out when I put on the first coat of primer.

As with Brengun’s other resin accessory kits, the first step is to remove the parts from the pour stubs. A sharp razor saw makes quick work of this. I next assembled the cradle with superglue and then set it aside to dry and harden. Before the superglue had set completely, I test fit the tank onto the cradle to ensure that everything lined up. Next, I attached the spigot/filler part to the appropriate end of the tank, making sure it was aligned as shown in the instructions.

Book Author(s)
Desmond Brennan
Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
Guideline Publications
MSRP
$25.00

Operation Chastise, the Dambusters Raid, hardly needs an introduction to anyone remotely interested in military aviation history. In this 80th anniversary year, there are several new books about the raid. This slim new volume from Guideline explores different aspects of the operation, its build-up, and aftermath in a general and abbreviated manner.

Author Des Brennan will be familiar to modeling magazine readers, and he approaches the subject with a number of short chapters outlining topics including:

  • The development of the Lancaster
  • Short biography of Barnes Wallis, developer of the ‘bouncing bomb’
  • Bomber Command and Arthur Harris
  • Preparations for the Raid
  • The aftermath
  • And others.

It’s an interesting, if short read. Brennan does a good job distilling the essentials into a cogent narrative.

Review Author
Bill Kluge
Published on
Company
Gallery Models
Scale
1/200
MSRP
$829.99

Now that the major subassemblies are complete, it was time to put the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together. I naively thought that it would all be downhill from here, even if it was a gently sloping downhill. I didn’t quite realize how many lengthy flat spots there would be along the way.

Book Author(s)
Ian Spring and Anthony Tucker-Jones
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Greenhill Books
MSRP
$34.95

Anthony Tucker Jones really doesn’t need an introduction to military history readers with his impressive book pedigree, over 500 articles and his contributions to modelers through Pen & Sword and Casemate. His latest book builds on his impressive reputation, and his ability to tie in well-known history of a pivotal and influential German Field Marshall, along with amazing color photographs from Ian Spring’s digital archive, makes this a highly recommended book.

Rommel's Afrika Korps in Colour - Rare German Photographs from the Second World War, is composed of an introduction, five parts with 14 chapters, and an order of battle:

Book Author(s)
Dick Taylor, Andy Brend
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$55.00

Do modelers really need another book on weathering models? The authors defend their position in the opening paragraph of the book,

“This is a book about weathering and designed with one audience in mind – the military modeler. To be sure, there are many books concerned with weathering military models available, but they all concentrate on weathering techniques – pre-shading, washes, pin-washes, dry-brushing, hairspray, you name it, it has a name and technique. This book is different; it does not tell the modeler how to achieve a particular finish. Rather, it is a reference book showing a range of real military vehicles and their components in real military environments.”