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Review Author
Mike Howard
Published on
Company
Plusmodel
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$24.95

I’ve slowly been working my way back into armor and vignettes and/or dioramas, so when I saw this set list I thought it would be a good exercise in painting, and allow me to have some unique items to add to a scene.

The Plus Model “Old Suitcases” set comes with 9 pieces (actually 7 suitcases of varying sizes, plus a hat box and a steamer trunk) molded in a light gray resin. All of the various luggage items have a casting block attached, either to a back/bottom corner or along the bottom of the item. Making a choice as to whether to use these blocks as handles while painting, or to cut them off prior to paint, will be an individual decision for each modeler. As I have large hands and am often rather clutzy, I chose to leave them on and do some touch up painting afterwards.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$35.00

While many other kits of the F/A-18E have been released in 1/72, Academy’s recent release is a continuation of its recent focus on enticing new people to the hobby. It is not a snap-tight kit with all the negative connotations that often has, nor is it a “normal” model kit. Like several of its other releases last year and this year, this kit is for the most part a push-fit kit, however, it showcases some of the best model engineering I have seen as many joints where the parts fit together are exquisite and most of them vanish once assembled.

Book Author(s)
Gareth Williams
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$20.00

Gareth Williams has been a curator at the British Museum since 1996, with responsibility for British and European coinage, about AD 500 to about 1180. Within this area he specializes in Anglo-Saxon and Viking coinage. Much of his work focuses on the use of coinage as evidence within broader historical and archaeological studies. Gareth has authored at least fifteen books and led several projects at the British Museum, with a “Viking Voyages” exhibition that recently finished a run from March 2015 through February 2017. He has been actively involved in historical re-enactments. Check him out at the British Museum.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Plusmodel
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$20.00

This is another great unusual subject from Plus Models which is a super addition to a diorama of any sort.

This resin kit of the Ruger H-3D Crane (Engine hoist) used in all types of maintenance shops Military or civil. The kit is very easy to build as long as you watch the instruction details carefully.

In the box is:

  • 31 resin parts
  • 1 small photoetch sheet
  • 1 metal chain
  • 1 brass wire
  • 1 instruction sheet

All the parts are all very well detailed with only a few bubble mark defects.

Book Author(s)
Andrew Ralston
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Veloce Publishing
MSRP
$25.75

The book is a general collectors guide to classic Diecast toy cars. It covers cars from a classic era of toy cars and covers all the major companies and countries where they were made. The book shows the most known and collectables of the time period. The book has great pictures and lots of detailed information. This book brought lots of memories back to me as a kid getting many of the cars shown in the book as Birthday and or Christmas gifts from my family. The book may have a limited audience but I for one loved it!

I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in Diecast cars and also all those who, like me, was a kid during the 60’s or 50’s.

Thanks go to Veloce Publishing for providing this book to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them