Andrew Birkbeck
Reviews By Author
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M60A3 "Patton" Main Battle TankPublished:
BackgroundThe M60 series of tanks replaced the M48 as the main combat tank of frontline US armored combat units, first entering production in 1960. Instead of the 90mm main gun of the M48, the M60 introduced a 105mm gun. This was deemed necessary to defeat the latest Soviet T-54/55 tanks that entered service with Warsaw Pact forces in the mid to late 1950’s. With the introduction of the more powerfully armed Soviet T-62 (an upgrade of the T-55), the M60 received an upgrade to provide it with better ballistic protection, including a newly designed turret: the M60A1. More improvements were made to the M60 after the failure of the joint West Germany/USA MBT-70 main battle tank project. This resulted in the M60A3, including the introduction of a laser rangefinder and a… more |
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T-54B Early Production Soviet Medium TankPublished:
BackgroundThe T-54B variant of the T-54 range of Soviet medium tanks was the last major variant prior to the introduction of the T-55 series. Production occurred from 1957 to 1959, and saw the introduction of a rifled barrel as the main turret armament, together with a two-plane main gun stabilization system which dramatically improved the probability of hitting the target. This is the third T-54 kit from MiniArt that I have had the great pleasure of reviewing for IPMS/USA. The first, MiniArt Kit #37003, was of the T-54-1 Model 1947, the first production variant of this important Soviet Cold War warrior. The second was Kit #37012, the T-54-2 Model 1949. The T-54B under review today, like the T-54-1 Model 1947, is an… more |
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Soviet T-10 Heavy Tank And VariantsxPublished:
During the early 1930’s, the Soviet Union’s military embarked upon a program to produce a massive new tank force capable of defending the vast territories of the Motherland. Tank production was broken down into six “types” of vehicles: amphibious scout tanks (as there was massive amounts of waterways and marshland within the country); light tanks; infantry support tanks; fast (cavalry) tanks; medium tanks; and heavy tanks. The latter were to be produced in smaller numbers (due to their expense and also complexity of production) and utilized for “breakthrough” maneuvers such as engaging large concentrations of enemy tanks, or against hard to dislodge fixed defensive positions unable to be dealt with by lighter armed or armored tank units. During the emergency wartime production… more |
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T-54-2 Model 1949 Soviet Medium TankPublished:
BackgroundAs production ramped up, it was discovered that the T-54-1 Model 1947 had a number of technical issues. This lead to relatively few vehicles being produced, and production ceasing quickly, to be replaced as the problems were sorted out with a modified variant, the Model 1949. This second variant had a different turret configuration than its predecessor, the fender mounted machine guns of the Model 1947 were deleted, and the fender mounted cylindrical fuel tanks (as seen on late model T-34/76 and T-34/85 tanks) were replaced by a rectangular design. This is the second T-54 kit from MiniArt that I have had the great pleasure of reviewing for IPMS/USA. The first, MiniArt Kit #37003, was of the T-54-1 Model 1947, the first production variant of this important… more |
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JGSDF TYPE 10 Tank Photoetch (Tamiya kit)Published:
This photo etched brass and nickel set is designed for Tamiya’s 1/48th scale JGSDF Type 10 modern tank. Tamiya’s line of 1/48th scale military vehicle kits are designed to be easy to assemble, in that they are brilliantly engineered for excellent fit of parts, the parts count is relatively low, and they lack any sort of photo etched parts commonly seen in many recently released armor model kits. Hauler’s PE set for the Tamiya kit is almost diametrically opposed. In many instances, its use requires the modeler to carefully remove various details from the Tamiya kit, and then fold up, often origami style, lots of parts. Often tiny parts. This set is a carpet monster’s delight, and… more |
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British Infantry Tank Mk. III Valentine Mk.II/IVPublished:
BackgroundDuring the 1930’s and the early period of the Second World War, British tank tactics involved having two types of tanks: the faster Cruiser tanks that would act as mechanized cavalry or break out vehicles, and the slower, more heavily armored Infantry tanks that would lumber into battle at a speed commensurate with supporting infantry maneuvers. Of the Infantry tanks produced, the Valentine series was the most numerous, accounting for 30% of the entire British tank production of the Second World War: 7,315. Production took place in Canada as well as the United Kingdom. Nearly 4,650 Valentine tanks were provided to the Soviet Union under the Allied Lend-Lease program. A total of 12 variants of the Valentine were produced, the majority being the Mk.II/IV vehicle… more |
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T-34/85 Running Gear Late TypePublished:
BackgroundFor the past couple of years, MiniArt has been producing some exquisite, super detailed kits of Soviet/Red Army armored vehicles from the Second World War and immediate post-war period. The company has decided to take various components of these kits, and repackage them as “Up Grade” sets for the kits of other model companies. In the case of the set under review, MiniArt has taken the running gear (road wheels, idler and drive wheel, plus tracks) from their T-44 tank kit, and reboxed them as T-34/85 Late Type components. What’s in the MiniArt Box
There is no printed paper instruction sheet for this set included with the parts inside the box. Instead on the back of the kit box is printed a… more |
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T-54-1 Model 1947 Soviet Medium TankPublished:
BackgroundThe T-54/55 series of Soviet tanks are the most important tanks to see operation in the Cold War era, if for no other reason than sheer numbers: some estimates put total production at over 100,000 units. This series of tanks have also been used in almost every conflict of the second half of the 20th century, large and small, beginning with the invasion of Hungary by Soviet forces in 1956, the Arab-Israeli wars of 1967, 1973, 1982, the Vietnam war from 1967-75, the Iran-Iraq wars of 1980-88, the conflicts in Afghanistan, the Yugoslav Civil wars, and conflicts across Africa. This new, super detailed kit from MiniArt represents the initial production variant of the T-54 which started rolling off production lines in 1947, but suffered from a great many… more |
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M40 U.S. Self-Propelled 155mm Gun (with Aftermarket Gun Barrel)Published:
BackgroundThe 155mm Gun Motor Carriage M40, to give it it’s proper name, mated the M1 155mm field gun with the proven chassis of the M4 Sherman with HVSS suspension, widening and lengthening the M4A3 Sherman chassis in the process. Built by the Pressed Steel Car Company, 311 vehicles were built to replace the M12 GMC in US service. One T83 (prototype of the M40) arrived in Europe in 1945 in time to see action in WW2. However, it was during the Korean War of 1950 – 53 that the M40 saw extensive combat operations. The only other user of the M40 was the British Army, which operated it under the name “M40 Cardinal”. The M40 fired a 95 pound shell to a range of 14 miles. It was operated by a crew of 8. Included in this review is an accessory produced by Tamiya for this… more |
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Panther Ausf. D V2 VersuchsseriePublished:
So back in April 2016, I reviewed what was purported to be an accurate scale model of the Panther tank prototype, “Panther Ausf. D V2”, then recently released by Dragon Models as kit 6822 in their 1/35th scale military vehicle range. The original review can be found here. At the time I said that the model appeared accurate based on the scale plans found in the publication Panzer Tracts 5-1. The Panzer Tracts publications have a great reputation for the historical information contained therein, and also for the accuracy of their scale drawings. Yet here we have a NEW “Panzer Ausf. D V2” prototype kit, AGAIN from Dragon Models, and yet this kit contains a number of new parts for the rear end of the vehicle, so what gives??!! So here is… more |