"Canadian Corps Soldiers versus Royal Bavarian Soldiers" - Combat 25

Published: June 28, 2017
Book Author(s): Stephen Bull; Illustrator: Adam Hook
Company: Osprey Publishing

This book tells the story of the Canadian Corps during 1917 when it battled against the distinguished Royal Bavarian Army. These battles started at Vimy Ridge through to Passchendaele.

The book is very nicely illustrated with great photos and many illustrations commissioned for the book. The details of the combat action, preparations, and the outcomes are very well written and help you understand the period and hardships of these battles. The book contains many extracts from personal diaries and reports from the time by commanders and foot soldier’s alike. I learned a lot from this book and look forward to more from this series from Osprey.

I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in WWI. It has some wonderful pictures that are great for modeler’s as well for… more

B-17 E/F Exterior Set

Published: June 16, 2017
Company: Eduard

This is a photoetch exterior set to for the Hong Kong Models B-17 E/F. This set consists of one photoetch sheet and adds detail to mainly the wings.

In the packet is

• 1 photoetch sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a nice simple set for adding additional detail to the wings mainly and some to the fuselage. The parts are very easy to install and add details not included in the kit.

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

History of the Panzerwaffe - Volume 2 1942-45

Published: June 16, 2017
Book Author(s): Thomas Anderson
Company: Osprey Publishing

The book goes into fantastic detail on the subject of the Panzerwaffe between 1942 and the end of the war in 1945. The great German military war machine was founded on the Panzer and this book shows in great depth the units, their function and the reports written at the time on the designs and short comings of different panzers. I found the pictures in this book fascinating and I can say these were all new to me! The book kept my attention from beginning to end with the most informative way to tell all the facts and history of the Panzerwaffe. When I was only halfway through, I had already ordered the first book in the series as these are a must have for anyone with a love for tanks!

I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in the Panzerwaffe, and tanks generally.… more

B-17 E/F Waist Section PE Set

Published: June 11, 2017
Company: Eduard

This is a photoetch waist section set to for the Hong Kong Models B-17 E/F Kit number 01E04a. This set with two photoetch sheets one of which is colored. These sheets add a lot of detail to the waist gunner’s area of the fuselage in the B-17. These parts really add some great additional details to a great kit.

In the packet is:

• 1 colored photoetch sheet
• 1 photoetch sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is another wonderful set for a kit that is great to begin with; these parts are an great details.

I did find one minor issue with the set - the parts 40, 8a, 8b, 11 and 66 show them being a symmetrical assembly but in fact there is only one location.

Please note that the gun barrels shown are from… more

B-17 E/F Radio Compartment PE Set

Published: June 9, 2017
Company: Eduard

This is a photoetch radio compartment set to for the Hong Kong Models B-17 E/F Kit number 01E04a. This set with two photoetch sheets one of which is colored. These sheets add a lot of detail to the radio compartment of the B-17. These parts really add some great additional details to a great kit.

In the packet is:

• 1 colored photoetch sheet
• 1 photoetch Sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a fantastic set for a kit that is great to begin with; these parts are an awesome addition.

I did find a few minor issues with the set.

The part 32 handle needs something behind it to make it sit correctly on the door. There is some additional detail removal needed from kit part Aa17 on the top left corner to allow… more

North American X-15

Published: June 6, 2017
Book Author(s): Peter E, Davies
Company: Osprey Publishing

This book goes into great detail of what I consider the best X-Plane of them all, the X-15. This X-plane was the last of the Manned Rocket planes, it went beyond Mach 6, and if the project had continued, would I am sure have passed Mach 7. The X-15 reached the edge of space at 380,000 feet altitude. The project was the first by North American, as they won the contract over Bell and Douglas, who had until this been the main developers of the X-Planes.

There is a lot to the story of the X-15, and this book goes into a lot of detail in an informative and entertaining way. The book draws you in and keeps your attention. I read the book in one sitting and enjoyed it greatly. The book covers all the issues and problems, alongside the great steps forward, the X-15 helped achieve, and… more

BatBoat

Published: May 28, 2017
Company: Round 2 Models

This is a re-issue by Round2 of a kit first released a few years ago by AMT.

This is a kit of the BatBoat from the movie Batman Returns, and featured in the movie climax.

In the box is:

• 1 chrome sprue
• 3 x wing parts
• 1 black sprue
• 1 upper hull section
• 1 lower hull section
• 1 cardboard fold out backdrop (based on scene from the movie)
• 1 instruction booklet

All of the 18 parts are well molded and great detail, the only issue is the large number of ejector pin marks on the rear and side wing parts. The instruction booklet is easy to follow and well-illustrated.

Construction

Stage 1, 2 and 3 is the construction of the Batboat interior and installing it into the lower… more

B-17 E/F Interior Set

Published: May 21, 2017
Company: Eduard

This is a photoetch Interior set to for the Hong Kong Models B-17 E/F. This set with three photoetch sheets, two are colored and adds a lot of needed detail to the cockpit and other areas. They really make the cockpit stand out.

In the packet is:

• 2 x colored photoetch sheet
• 1 photoetch sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a fantastic set for added some great additional details to this massive kit. The cockpit parts really add great additional and replacement details to this kit. I did find some of the small parts were very tricky to add. The set includes lots of additional instrument panels and details. The only advice will give is that there are some additional raised details that need to be removed to allow the… more

B-17E/F Photoetch Set

Published: May 18, 2017
Company: Eduard

This is a photoetch Interior set to for the Hong Kong Models B-17 E/F. This set is colored and adds a lot of additional detail to the cockpit and other areas This set adds some nice touches to the cockpit.

In the packet is:

• 1 colored photoetch sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a really nice set for the set for a kit that needs it. I do find some of the small parts were very tricky to add to the instrument panel and the levers. Also you do need to remove some more raised details of part number 033 which is not highlighted on the instructions.

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

B-17 E/F Front Interior Set

Published: May 9, 2017
Company: Eduard

This is a photoetch Interior set to for the Hong Kong Models B-17 E/F Kit number 01E04a. This set with two photoetch sheets one is colored and adds a lot of needed detail to the Nose compartment of the B-17. These parts really add some great additional details to an great kit.

In the packet is:

• 1 colored photoetch sheet
• 1 photoetch sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a fantastic set for the set for a kit that is great to begin with, these parts are an awesome addition.

I did find a few minor issues with the set and also with the main kit instructions;

The sets instructions have an error in the ammo box part numbers and PE part numbers but this is easily overcome by referring to the main kit… more