German Submarine Type 201

Published: March 28, 2020
Company: OKB Grigorov

OKB Grigorov has provided very nice and unusual submarine in this German Type 201. This was the first post war German submarine. They only built three type 201’s U-1, U-2 and U-3 and they first entered service in 1961. The had issues with the Amagnitic steel material which lead to cracks in the structure, so all were scrapped.

Included is:

• Two Photo Etch Sheets
• One resin submarine
• Two small resin parts

The detail quality is great; The parts are very delicate parts that need careful removal from the resin bases.

There was no instruction sheet in the box I received to review, this was not a problem as it was a simple build although there was not much reference materials online due to this being a very short lived program… more

de Havilland (Canada) DHC-1 Chipmunk

Published: March 28, 2020
Book Author(s): Adrian M. Balch
Company: Guideline Publications

This is a thin book with only 48 pages, but they are very high quality pictures. The book is an addition to the Warpaint series of books, this time about the Chipmunk, which is one of the most well-known post-war piston engine basic training aircraft. It was designed to replace the Tiger moth by de Havilland Canada and first flew mid-May 1946, the same year it entered service. The Chipmunk was used mainly by the RCAF and RAF.

The detailed color profiles are great for any modelers reference and the photos cover all types of the aircraft. I found this book fascinating and will be building a couple of the featured aircraft and this will be a fantastic reference for me to use. I recommend this book to everyone who likes and or builds Phantom’s

Thanks go to Guideline… more

Gatchman II New God Phoenix plus LED kit

Published: February 25, 2020
Company: Academy Models

This is a brand-new model of the New God Phoenix from Tatsunoko Production's TV Anime [Science Ninja Gatchaman II] broadcasted from October 1978. (Also known as Battle of the Planets in North America).

This version includes the optional LED lighting kit.

In the box is:

• 2 x white sprues
• 1 red sprue
• 1 blue sprue
• 1 pink transparent sprue
• 1 dark grey sprue
• 1 black sprue
• 1 small yellow sprue
• 8 white parts not on a sprue
• 1 decal sheet
• 1 sticker sheet
• 1 instruction booklet
• 1 LED kit

The sprues are extremely well molded with no flash and very detailed. The parts are all molded in the correct colors so if the build is done well there is no… more

III. Germanic SS Panzer-Korps

Published: January 27, 2020
Book Author(s): Lennart Westberg, Petter Kjellander, Geir Brenden
Company: Casemate Publishers

The book is big and looks great from the moment you hold it. The first of two volumes, the book delves into great detail of the development, service, and full history of the III (Germanic) SS Panzerkorps, from its formation to the Autumn of 1944.

This unit was made up of various nationalities of Germanic volunteers. It was an elite unit that fought in many engagements from Croatia to Leningrad and, as will be told in volume two, it was one of the final defending units of Berlin.

I found this book so informative and full of facts and details I was never aware of.

The book is full of amazing photos of the men, machines and battles of this unit through the history of WWII. These would be great as reference for any modeler or historian.

I was amazed at the… more

RN R Class Submarines

Published: January 26, 2020
Company: OKB Grigorov

OKB Grigorov has provided super little set of 4 submarines which represent all the various produced of this class of British Submarine ordered at the end of WW1. They were the forerunner of the modern Attack submarine. They produced 12 of these small diesel electric submarines. All but 2 were scrapped by 1923. The remaining two until 1929 and 1934.

Included is:

• Four resin parts
• Four Photo Etch Sheets
• Four different resin submarines
• Instruction Sheet

The detail quality is great; The parts are very delicate parts that need careful removal from the resin bases.

The instruction sheet is very basic but enough to get them built. You just must ensure you use the correct Photo Etch sheet with the right resin submarine… more

Sturmgeschutz III on the Battlefield 5

Published: January 25, 2020
Book Author(s): Matyas Panczel
Company: Casemate Publishers, PeKo Publishing

This book is volume 5 in a series of books containing pictures of the Sturmgeschutz in action and specifications for assault tank. Book has both English and Hungarian text.

I found the pictures in this book to be fascinating and show many of the variants of this very versatile AFV.

Many of these pictures have never been published before and I have seen a lot and yet I had no recollection of seeing any of these before.

I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in the Stug and a must for modellers.

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

Scale Model Jig 32-24 Scale

Published: January 24, 2020
Company: Masterpiece Models

Masterpiece Models has provided a useful aircraft building jig for 1/32 to 1/24 scale aircraft.

The Jig is designed for use in assembly of models, Painting and transporting.

There is no instructions included but the assembly of the jig is simple and the photograph on the box is enough to allow you to build it with ease. Peeling the protective paper off the acrylic sheet parts was not very easy. I suggest pulling it off very slowly works best. The black plastic vertical mounting parts need slow cleaning up of flash.

It is made from a clear acrylic sheet and comes with four adjustable supports that can be adjusted vertically and in and out.

This is a very useful tool when modelling aircraft and many science fiction subjects also. Although the jig states… more

Panzerfaust 60

Published: December 29, 2019
Company: Eduard

This is a Brassin resin set to make 8 Panzerfaust 60 anti-tank weapons used by Germany in world war two.

The set contains the following sets:

• 6 x resin Panzerfaust 60 (in unarmed condition)
• 2 x resin Panzerfaust 60 (in armed condition)
• 1 decal sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

The resin parts are very clean and no flash. The resin base part is easy to remove

The parts once painted, and decals added make a very realistic Panzerfaust.

Summary

This is a great set for adding very detailed rifles to any model that needs it.

Thanks go to Eduard for providing this set to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.

Sten Mk.II Submachine Gun

Published: December 29, 2019
Company: Eduard

This is a Brassin resin set to make 8 British Sten Mk.II submachine guns as used by the British during world war 2. This was the most common submachine gun used by the British and this set gives you parts to make two variants (4 of each) plus 4 magazines.

The set contains the following sets:

• 8 x resin Sten guns
• 4 x resin magazines
• 4 straight tube stocks
• 4 formed tube stocks
• 1 colored photoetch sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

The resin parts are very clean and no flash. The resin base part is easy to remove. The photo etch parts form the straps for the Sten guns. There is also a mix of two straps for both versions of the Sten guns.

The parts assemble very easily and give a very realistic Sten guns… more

MiG-21bis Around the World (Limited Edition)

Published: December 24, 2019
Company: Eduard

Eduard has released a limited edition of their great Mig-21 kit. This time the bis version used by other countries with marking for seven different air forces that used the aircraft.

In the box is:

• 8 x light grey sprues
• 1 clear sprue
• 1 large decal sheet
• 1 mask sheet
• 3 x photoetch detail set
• 13 resin parts
• 1 instruction booklet

While you get 8 sprues, you also get plenty of unused (spare) parts. All the sprues are extremely well molded with very little flash and great detail. The decals allow you to finish the aircraft in 7 different versions and are printed by Cartograf.

Construction

First is the construction of the cockpit area starting with the front wheel well as it’s… more