Allan Murrell
Reviews By Author
|
Atlas of the Blitzkrieg 1939-1941Published:
This book impresses from the moment you see it, it’s a beautifully bound and printed on very high quality paper! The book is a series of very well detailed maps of the German Blitzkrieg campaigns of the early part of World War two. The book is split up by each battle front and has detailed maps showing forces locations and make up on all sides. The maps are awesome and the best quality I have seen in a long time. They are not too complicated but give all the information you need to see what the situation was at each point during the campaigns. The descriptions of the campaigns and each chapter provide a great overview. The book chapters are:
|
|
A Detailed History of RAF Manston 1931-40 Arise to ProtectPublished:
The book is part two of a two book history of RAF Manston, which became one of the busiest Airfields in the UK during WWII. The airbase was built-up during the pre-war days to be one, if not the most important airbases to the RAF. The airbase was a very successful technical training center for the RAF during the years leading up to WWII and the details of this are covered extremely well in this book. The book goes into great detail about many of the officers and commanders stationed throughout the station during this period. There was even Air Races held here in the early 1930’s. Even the famous Sir Alan Cobham exhibited his flying skills here. The book covers many of the aircraft that were operated from here, some I was not even aware of and had to look up. The aces… more |
|
UmbrellaPublished:
Hauler has provided another addition to the great Diorama releases. This is two great Umbrellas for use anywhere. The detail quality is great; The parts are very delicate parts that need careful removal and added to the assembly. You have to provide your own wire to make the handle and center post, which I think Hauler could have included. The Assembly is quick and easy. Please be careful cutting the vacuum formed Umbrellas. The final part is painting which is free for you to do as you please. Thanks go to Hauler for providing this kit to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them |
|
Images of War - M36/M36B1 Tank DestroyerPublished:
This book provides great detail drawings of the American M36/M36B1 Tank Destroyer. The US idea when going into WWII was to use tanks to support infantry and use Tank Destroyers against enemy tanks. I found the photos and information in this book to be fascinating and many of the photos are ones not available anywhere else. The photos range from in production shots, in action and knocked out ones. All variations are covered in the photos and you see a lot of in action shots with the tank customized by each crew. Along with the many photos from WWII there are great workarounds pictures full of fantastic details. These are indispensable for any modeler building this tank destroyer. You see so much detail in the walk around pictures which will make adding additional… more |
|
Tempest Mk.V Upgrade SetPublished:
Eduard has released a photoetch upgrade set for its new tooled Tempest Mk.V which in its self is a great kit. This upgrade set is a single large Photo etch sheet. In the box is:
ConstructionThe first area of the upgrade is for is the engine intake, the set provides the mesh for all four surfaces of the Intake and make a big difference with the look once complete. Next are parts for the two main landing gear bays, in four stages. The first stage is simple. On stage to you have to remove the location pins of part E68 and E69 from the original kit to allow then to fit. Also at stage two it refers to part E39 which should actually be part E32. I would also suggest that the parts 19… more |
|
Tempest Mk.V EnginePublished:
Eduard has released a great Brassin Engine set for its new tooled Tempest Mk.V which in its self is a great kit. This Brassin set is full of Resin parts and Photo etch sheet. In the box is:
ConstructionStage A 1 - 4 is the assembly upper part of the engine, the only points to note here are that the location hole in R105 for part R100 is a little too small so needs to be opened out. Also the location hole for Parts 95 and 96 in part R105 is not the same shape so needs work. You will also need some wire to add in at points for various wires, I used very fine soldering wire which is very easy to form to the shapes needed. Stage B 1 - 8 was very… more |
|
Yokosuka MXY7 OHKA Model 22Published:
Brengun has released a few different kits of the Ohka and in several scales. This is the latest which is the Model 22 and in 1/72 scale. This was a purpose built rocket powered Kamikaze attack aircraft. It was used against allied ships towards the end of world war two. In the box is:
The sprue is well molded with very little flash and great detail. The resin parts are to allow you to make the three aircraft wooden stands used to support the aircraft ready for fitting to the carrier aircraft. ConstructionFirst is the construction of the cockpit the one half of the fuselage which is well detailed for the… more |
|
Hawker Typhoon and Tempest - A Formidable PairPublished:
The book goes into great detail of the development, service, variants, and full history of a classic British World War II aircraft, the Typhoon and the Tempest. I found this book so informative and was full of facts and details I was never aware of. The articles on the variants that were explored during the development were especially interesting. The book is full of amazing photos of the aircraft in development, manufacturing, in action etc. These would be great as reference for any modeler. Another nice touch is the inclusion of the Pilots Notes and aircraft production lists. I was amazed at the amount of information and history found in the pages of this extremely enjoyable book. The pictures along are worth the cost of the book. I will find this book… more |
|
Tempest Mk. V cockpitPublished:
Eduard has released a great Brassin Cockpit set for its new tooled Tempest Mk.V which in its self is a great kit. This Brassin set is full of Resin parts, a Photoetch sheet, and Decals. In the box is:
ConstructionFirst is the assembly of the side frames of the cockpit and the detail controls. I did find the removal of the side frames from the pour stub to be a bit hard and the frames are very thin and fragile. Apart from that, no issues were encountered during the stages on page 2 of the instructions. Next is the assembly of the structure that joint the two side frames, now to say this was… more |
|
Fieseler Fi 103 (FZG 76) / V-1Published:
Special Hobby has released this new tooled kit of the V-1 Fieseler 103. The V-1 was known by the British in World War 2 as the Buzz Bomb due to the unique noise of the pulse engine. The subject has been covered a lot but not at this scale. The kit includes the handling trolley and some photo etch. In the box is:
The kit consists of 3 main sprues; the sprues are very typical of Special Hobby product which are made from a soft plastic. The decals allow you to finish the V-1 in two different versions and paints schemes for three V-1. The instruction booklet is very well laid out and easy to follow. ConstructionBefore… more |