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Cover

AFV Modeller, #57 March/April 2011
Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
AFV Modeller
MSRP
$14.95

Format

The cover for this issue has a stunning image of Jose‘ Dusquesne‘s Pz. Kpfw. 38 (t). The publication is printed on medium-weight glossy paper, with color images on every page. In some article there are several images numbered and keyed to the text. This issue contain 64 pages.

Contents

The first article is by James Bond, and features The ICM kit of the Russian B-35, “Land Battleship”. The author put a great deal of effort into this model, and several in-progress images are included. The Fruil tracks used in this build were 24” long, and when wound about the suspension should be a model over 10” long. A land battleship for sure. Informative building techniques offered to the reader.

Front cover

Desert Prelude "Operation Compass"
Book Author(s)
Hakan Gustavsson and Ludovico Slongo
Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$59.00

Format

This paperback publication contains 196 8.25” x 11.75” pages, and includes more than 120 black and white photos, scale plans, maps and several color profiles. This is the second volume in this series that addresses the war in North Africa from December 9, 1940 - February 7, 1941 before the Germans became involved to save their Italian allies. I personally have always been interested in the North African combat theater, especially the Afrika Korps, but this publications offer some insight into the battles before the DAK became involved.

Contents

There are numerous photographs of aircraft, mostly Italian, and the pilots, again mostly Italian. There are several color profiles of Italian aircraft and two maps of the area at the back of the publication.

Box Art

Messerschmitt BF 109E-4 Weekend Edition

Review Author
John Lyons
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$44.95

Short History

The Bf 109E-4 was an upgrade from the earlier E-1 and the E-3. Units in the Western Europe Theater requested more firepower, so developers added two MG-FF/M cannons in the wings. The new guns were able to fire explosive rounds, along with two large caliber MG 17 machine guns; this gave the aircraft a significantly increased amount of firepower.

The Kit

When I opened the box, each of the 6 spurs totaling 165 parts and 1 transparency with 9 parts were individually wrapped along with 2 decal sheets. This is the basic 1/32 kit, so no mask or PE. But you can find Aftermarket Accessories (PE and resin) for the kit with a little searching on the internet.

Each spur was clean with very little flash. The first thing I noticed was the control surfaces; the simulated fabric areas look nice. The kit has lots of details; the engraved areas are cleanly made. I don’t see any ejection/sink marks that interfere with visible surfaces.

Box Art

Type 63-1 (YW-531A) Armored Personnel Carrier (Early Production)
Review Author
John Lyons
Published on
Company
Bronco Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$39.95

Short History

The YW-531a was the first APC manufactured by Norinco for the PLA. It was designed in the early 1960’s and first appeared in 1964. It can carry a crew of 4 to 10 troops. The YW-531 was first used in the Vietnam War by the North Vietnamese Army (PAVN) and was in action again in the Iran-Iraq War.

APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), or mortars. They are not usually designed to take part in a direct-fire battle, but to carry troops to the battlefield safe from shrapnel and ambush. Amor on APCs is usually composed of simple steel or aluminum, sufficient for protection against small fire arms and most shell fragments. Just about any type of anti-tank weapon can defeat the armor of an APC. Some APCs also come with NBC protection, which would protect its crew from radioactive fallout or the like.

Package covers

Albatros D.V and D.Va Decals
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Wingnut Wings, Ltd
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$19.00

Wingnut Wings is now offering decal sheets for markings that go far beyond those included in their growing line of WW I aircraft kits. The decals are packaged in zip-lock sleeves along with a comprehensive full color 4-page instruction booklet that includes application instructions, aircraft profiles, top and bottom wing plan views, historical information and period photos of each of the aircraft covered by the decal sheets. These sets exhibit the same high level of quality as do all of the kits marketed by Wingnut Wings.

Set 30011 provides markings for five Albatros D.V fighters from Jasta 18. Some of them require upper and under wing lozenge patterns (and rib tape) that Wingnut Wings sells separately.

The markings are for:

A) Albatros D.V 2117/17 flown by Oliver Beaulieu-Marconnay, Jasta 18 in late 1917 (who was credited with 25 victories)

B) Albatros D.V 4594/17 flown by Paul Strähle, Jasta 18 from 1917-1918 (credited with 15 victories)