Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
February 4, 2023
Company
Kinetic Model Kits
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$39.99

Kinetic Models is expanding its line of F-104 Starfighters. Having released the late markings already (-G, -J, -S, including some trainers) they are adding to their line the early variants: -A and -C.

The kit arrives in a large sturdy box (where you can comfortably keep the model in between sessions while you are working on it) with a total of 4 sprues -one molded in clear- and a small photoetch fret. There is a brand-new sprue for the fuselage and the wings. Two of the sprues have already been released as part of their latter markings boxings. This means you get extra parts, like ejection seats, a radar set and a few other details for the spare box.

Book Author(s)
Darren Poole
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
February 4, 2023
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

This is the first of a two-book series on the American counterinsurgency against the Viet Cong. Hunting the Viet Cong - The Counterinsurgency Campaign in South Vietnam, 1961-1963, Vol 1-The Strategic Hamlet Programme covers the early American involvement in Vietnam before Americans were officially committed as combat troops, serving as advisors to South Vietnam.

Dr Darren Poole teaches military history at the University of Chester and University Centre, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom. Dr Poole has degrees in Geography, Education, History and Military History with over 20 years of experience. Dr Poole’s dissertation focused on the Vietnamese Strategic Hamlet Programme, and his research is evident with over nine pages of bibliography and nine pages of footnotes. The main point that sticks out is his focus on researching the “’unheard voices’ of conflict. These include, for example, the peasants caught in a cross-fire in South Vietnam and the view of the Viet Cong themselves.”

Book Author(s)
Peter Mujzer
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
February 1, 2023
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$26.95

Casemate Publishers has released a book on the Hungarian Armored Car Csaba 39/40M.

The book is organized as follows.

  • Introduction
  • Straussler and his designs
  • Design and development of the Csaba armored car
  • Production
  • Armored car units, organization
  • Operational History
  • Camouflage and Markings
  • Bibliography

The flow of the book is chronological by the nature of how it was written, starting with the design of the vehicle by Nicholas Straussler (while living in the United Kingdom) and quickly moves on the production, units organization and operational history with the Hungarian Army.

There are some color profiles which highlight the different camouflage schemes used by the Hungarian Army during the early years of World War 2, plus all the different national markings used in the pre-Barbarossa era..

Book Author(s)
Przemyslaw Skulski
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
February 1, 2023
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$11.95

Casemate Publishers is the distributor of MMP Books and they have started a new line on their series “Single”. This new line is focused on vehicles and the first installment of the series cover the self-propelled artillery SU-76M, a mainstay of the Soviet Army during World War 2.

As all the books in the “Single” series, it is devoted to a unique subject. The book has some period pictures of the SU-76M in service during World War 2 and it has an extensive walk-around style section, including detail images of the running gear, gun, hull, fighting compartment, etc.

The book also includes a 3-view line drawing in 1/35 scale and some color profiles as well.

Recommended.

I would like to thank Casemate Publishers and IPMS/USA for the review sample.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
February 1, 2023
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$11.58

Brengun continues to expand its line of accessories this time with a resin set for the air-to-air refueling system known as the “Buddy Tank”. This set represent the “Buddy Tank” used in A-1, A-4, A-6, A-7, and S-3 airplanes. Given that some of those airplanes were exported, this ordinance was also exported to many countries.

This set is cast in grey resin, free of bubbles and surface imperfections. There are a total of 12 parts, some of which are small and delicate.

The cast plugs are of reasonable size and the attachment points are minuscule for all the small parts, only the two larger part (which represent the fuel tank) have medium to large attachment points.