The 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich

Published: March 21, 2018
Book Author(s): Yves Buffetaut
Company: Casemate Publishers

The book goes into details of the formation, deployment and combat actions of the 2^nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich.

Das Reich was the first Waffen SS division created and was a major force where ever it fought.

The unit as formed in September 1939 as the war began and fought on most fronts from Poland, France, Balkans, Russia, back to France and then back to the eastern front at the end of the war.

I found this book fascinating and made me aware of a lot of information I have never read before. Das Reich was a formidable division and prove its worth and bravery on all the fronts it fought. It was used as a firefighting group on many occasions and resisted against the odds on many occasions.

There are a lot of pictures and illustrations that… more

B-2A Spirit Landing Gear

Published: March 18, 2018
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

This is a white metal landing gear set is to for the Modelcollect 1/72 B2-2A Spirit aircraft.

The white metal parts are good but I found that the kit parts had a better defined details. They are an acceptable replacement for the already well details kit parts. The advantage is these white metal parts will provide more strength and last longer than the kit parts.

The parts include the main two gear struts which replace part numberA27, Front strut which replaces part number C29 and support strut which replaces part number C32.

The parts are well cast; you do need to sand off the few cast seams and metal pour points. The main struts were a little twisted and needed strengthening to allow the correct installation. The parts were a perfect fit to the existing mount… more

Finland at War – the Winter War 1938-1940

Published: February 3, 2020
Book Author(s): Vesa Nenye, Peter Munter, Toni Wirtannen, Chris Birks
Company: Osprey Publishing

This book I found to be the most complete and detailed account of the David vs Goliath battle between Stalin’s Russian forces and the small Finish Armed forces. This little known war has always fascinated me and I really enjoyed this book.

The book details the history leading up to the war the full war battle by battle and the aftermath. The details are incredible and there is a short biograph for each of the major players on both sides during the campaign. The table of contents shows the detail.

• Preface and Acknowledgements
• Chronology

1. The Rise of Finland
2. The Road to War
3. The Karelian Isthmus, December 1939
4. Ladoga Karelia, December 1939
5. Group Talvela
6. North… more

Nakajima C6N1-S Night Fighter Saiun (Myrt) Limited Edition

Published: February 14, 2018
Company: Hasegawa

Hasegawa has released this aircraft with components to make two Prototypes of the original developed reconnaissance aircraft modified for night fighter duty. One version with twin 20mm cannons and one with a single 30mm Cannon. There was only one of each built in June 1945 and both were used. There was no record of these being successful in service.

In the box is:

• 6 x light grey sprues
• 1 clear sprue
• 1 decal sheet
• 1 poly caps
• Bag of metal parts (20mm Cannons)
• 1 instruction booklet

While you get lots of sprues, you also get plenty of unused parts.

All the sprues are extremely well molded with very little flash and great detail; the decals allow you to finish the aircraft as the two variants… more

RAF WWII Fighter Instrument Panels

Published: February 7, 2018
Book Author(s): Dariusz Karnas
Company: Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books

The book is a part of MMP books “Inside” series and is an illustrated guide to some of the RAF WWII most famous fighters.

The book contains so fantastic illustrations which give any modeler a great reference guide for completing cockpit instruments.

This book is a very good reference guide and idea for all modelers.

I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in the aircraft and modeling them.

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

Morning Star, Midnight Sun

Published: January 15, 2018
Book Author(s): Jeffrey R. Cox
Company: Osprey Publishing

This book is a follow up of his successful book Rising Sun, Falling Skies which I have also read and was a great read!

The book goes into details of the US Naval Campaign from Guadalcanal to the Solomon Islands.

It goes into incredible detail and covers some much of what appears to be a small book! The information is well written and draws you in as its rather Novel like in its narrative.

I learned so much from reading this and look forward to another book as a follow up to this one.

I found this book fascinating and made me aware of a lot of facts I have never heard before. The writing style is very factual a little dry at times, This made the book a little heavy going at times but well worth reading to the end.

I recommend this book to everyone… more

SE.5a Hispano Suiza

Published: December 28, 2017
Company: Eduard

This is a new tooling from Eduard and the detail in the new sprues is great.

In the box is:

• 2 x light grey sprues
• 1 clear sprue
• 1 large decal sheet
• 1 mask sheet
• 2 x photoetch detail set
• 1 instruction booklet

The kit consists of 2 main sprues, the sprues are extremely well molded with no flash and great detail; the decals allow you to finish the aircraft in five different markings to choose from.

Construction

First is the construction of the interior which is well detailed. Photo Etch helps a lot to make this a very impressive cockpit. You have to be very careful assembling the interior side frames (parts B51 and B52. As if they are not correctly line up it will lead to issues when… more

German WWII Clamps

Published: December 24, 2017
Company: Eduard

This is a photoetch interior set to any 1/35 German WWII armored vehicles. They replace the molded in clamps on tools provided.

In the packet is:

• 1 photoetch sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a fantastic set for added some great additional details to German Tanks etc. The set contains parts to make 15 tool clamps and 24 tow cable clamps.

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

Scooby-Doo Bi Plane

Published: November 28, 2017
Company: Revell

This is a brand new tooling of the Bi-Plane flown by Scooby-Doo and Shaggy in the cartoon. It is a snap together kit aimed at the young modeler. With that in mind I had my 7 year old son build it while I looked on.

In the box is;

• 44 parts packed of the sprues
• 1 decal sheet (stickers)
• 1 instruction booklet

All the sprues are extremely well molded and no flash or sprue marks; the instruction booklet is easy to follow and well-illustrated.

Construction

Was very simple and my son had no trouble assembling the kit I about 20 minutes from start to finish. The only little issue he had was attaching the top wing assembly. In fact I did end up gluing this in place for him.

The final stages were the assembly of… more

Astaco Neo Crusher/Cutter

Published: October 31, 2017
Company: Hasegawa

This is a re-issue of a kit first issued in 2015. It is an excellent kit in the Hasegawa range and is very easy to build as long as you watch the instruction details carefully.

In the box is:

• 2 x black rubber sprues
• 2 x orange sprues
• 1 clear sprue
• 2 x light grey sprues
• 3 x dark grey sprue
• 1 length of hose
• 1 decal sheet
• 4 x poly caps
• 1 mesh sheet
• 2 x springs
• 1 instruction booklet
• 1 collector card

The sprues are extremely well molded with no flash and great detail. The parts are all molded in the correct colors so if the build is done well there is no need to do much painting.

Construction

Stage 1 Assembly begins with the… more