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Book Author(s)
Antonio Luis Sapienza Fracchia
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$21.90

Volume 1 of Operativo Independencia (Operation Independence) covers the period from 1955 to 1974 in Argentina which was a period of political upheaval and change. This volume considers both the insurgencies and government responses. This is the precursor to the “Dirty War” which will hopefully be covered in Volume 2 or more.

The Table of Contents is small:

  • Abbreviations
  • Acknowledgments
  • Introduction
  1. Subversive Groups in Argentina, 1955-1974
  2. Campora, Lastiri, Peron & Peron, 1955-1974
  3. The Argentine Armed Forces in the mid-1970’s
  4. The ERP and the Montoneros organizations
  • Epilogue
  • Appendices

The book is a history of the rise of Marxist groups from their beginnings in the 1950’s, the influence by Cuba, and their reign of chaos. Also detailed is the response of the well equipped and trained Argentine Armed Forces.

Book Author(s)
Andy Singleton
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$34.95

Andy Singelton has several books out on painting figures and war gaming pieces and this book is the newest. You might recognize him from his studio - Volley Fire Painting Service. He has worked with manufacturers of war game equipment and scenarios and is the co-host of “A Few Brits and the Hobby”.

This book covers exactly as the title says, the latter half of WWII in Military vehicles. The chapters included are:

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Arma Hobby
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$50.00

Arma Hobby continues to expand its Hawker Hurricane line, this time releasing the MkIIb (Hurribomber) with Tropical filter. In the box you get 4 plastic sprues (one clear), canopy masks and a decal sheet with 3 possible camouflages: two on Temperate Land Scheme and one Desert Scheme. The Temperate Land Scheme aircraft were deployed in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and the Soviet Union. The aircraft deployed in the Soviet Union, at some point served with a white distemper on the wings (I’ve found a YouTube video showing period footage of that aircraft in the Mursmank area with the camouflage as shown in the instructions).

Construction starts with the wheel well and continues with the cockpit seat. Then you are guided to “sandwich” the wheel well between the upper and lower wing parts and to assemble the rest of the cockpit (sidewalls, armor plate, etc) sitting on top of the wing.

Review Author
Brett W Scholten
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$5.00

Coming back into the hobby after a decade plus hiatus has been an eye-opener for me. The quality of kits has gone up, and 3D printing has created a large market of aftermarket items. These items can make a kit look more accurate, or enhance the quality of the display.

The Aires USAF/USMC land based wooden wheel chock with nylon rope falls into the enhance the quality of your display category.

You get 6 chocks per set, 4 large chocks (presumably for main gear), and two smaller (nose gear) chocks. A segment of thread (simulating nylon rope) also comes in the package.

The packaging is nice. The chocks are in a clear, re-sealable bag that has an instruction sheet inside.

Preparation and assembly is straight forward, I paint the chocks, drill/clean the hole for the nylon rope (thread); sand a small strip where I will apply glue, and then cut them off the sprue as needed.

Review Author
Jason Boggans
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
NA
MSRP
$8.99

Box Art / Packaging

The ICM Paint set for Ancient Warriors (ITEM 3068) is presented in a stiff glossy cardboard sleeve and contains 6 12ml paint pots. Box art depicts a Roman Centurion on the front with depictions on the rear of a Roman Centurion and a Roman Gladiator with recommendations for use of the colors provided for each.

The Kit / Paints

The provided paints are presented in small 12ml plastic pots with screw tops and each lid also clearly depicting the color and color ID which is useful for storage. In this case we are provided with Paint# 1019 (Rusty Brass), 1020 (Bronze), 1024 (Silver), 1026 (Oily Steel), 1047 (Matt Red) and 1053 (Leather Brown). No ball bearings are added to the paint for easier shaking/mixing, however the paint pots are small and vigorous shaking is sufficient to prepare appropriately.

The Build / Paint Use

To test out these paints, I 3D printed a crude representation of a Roman Soldier as my test subject.