Andy Taylor
Reviews By Author
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A-10C Hoosier HawgsPublished:
Twobobs Aviation Graphics are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year and keep producing outstanding decal sheets for modern military jet aircraft. A-10C Hoosier Hawgs (48-276) celebrates three “Blacksnakes” A-10s of the 163rd Fighter Squadron based at Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station, Indiana. This decal sheet reflects the commemoration of 100 years of aviation in the Indiana Air National Guard. This decal set has the option to build five aircraft – four in the traditional gray camouflage scheme (tail numbers 192, 213, 679, 692), the remaining in the distinctive 100th anniversary black over gray camouflage (244), following the traditional A-10 gray pattern. There is one decal sheet that has enough decals for all five jets in 1/48 scale. The four-page, color… more |
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A-10C Heritage HawgsPublished:
Twobobs Aviation Graphics are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year and keep producing outstanding decal sheets for modern military jet aircraft. A-10C Heritage Hawgs (72-110/32-071) celebrates three A-10s promoting heritage and morale. Twobobs chose A-10s from the active, reserve and National Guard squadrons: 405th Fighter Squadron celebrating the 75th anniversary of their squadron, replete in a P-47 Thunderbolt scheme from Western France in 1944 A-10 Demonstration Team (Davis Monthan AFB) in a SEA (Southeast Asia) F-105 scheme dedicated to Vietnam POW/MIA, flown during the 2021-2022 airshow season 303rd Fighter Squadron (USAFR) painted in D-Day invasion stripes in honor of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion. There are two decal sheets… more |
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The Waffen-SS Ardennes OffensivePublished:
The German Operation Wacht am Rhein (Watch on the Rhine), also called the Ardennenoffensive (Ardennes Offensive) occurred from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945, launched in the same area as the German 1940 attack on France, through the densely forested area between Belgium and Luxembourg. At this late stage in the war, the German military realized the only hope of stemming the Russian assault, which paused only when they outran their supply lines, was to force the Allies to surrender or accept a separate peace. Germany realized that a sudden, swift attack into this lightly held area was the only way they had any chance for success. The goal was the capture of the Belgian port of Antwerp, which would increase Allied supply lines and have the secondary effect of splitting four allied… more |
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Panzerwaffe on the Battlefield 2 – Volume 21Published:
This landscaped, hardback book is written in both English and Hungarian, featuring select German armored vehicles throughout all theaters in World War II from 1939 to 1945. This is an incredible book with many previously unpublished photos of armored vehicles in depots, in the field and after combat. The next page reveals more surprises that the previous. First and foremost, this book is written in Hungarian, and this language is shown first, followed by the English translation (and a great job by the editor, by the way; this is not a case of stereo instructions printed in one language and translated into another that doesn’t have words for stereo equipment). The author sets up the book with the following introductory paragraph, “In the strictest sense of the term, “Panzerwaffe… more |
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Narvik and the Norwegian Campaign 1940Published:
Operation Studie Nord, the German plan for the invasion of Scandinavia was further developed into two separate plans that were to run concurrently – Weserubung (River Exercise) and Weserubung Sud (River Exercise South) for Norway and Denmark, respectively. The plans were drawn up after Germany’s invasion of Poland and during the “Phoney War” (Queen’s English as the book’s author is English). This often-overlooked campaign violated both Denmark and Norway’s neutrality before the German military campaign against France and the Low Countries and took place shortly after the Russian-Finish Winter War of 1939-1940. Besides Denmark and Sweden being neutral, both countries’ monarchs were brothers. The similarities between both countries continued with relatively low numerical military… more |
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Hungarian Arms and Armor in World War TwoPublished:
Hungary found itself on the losing side of World War I and the Treaty of Trianon was similar to the Treaty of Versailles imposed on Germany. As a result, Hungary was partitioned (see map on page 5) and reduced from 282,000 square kilometers to 93,000 square kilometers and its population from 18 million to 9.5 million people, absorbed by foreign countries hostile to Hungary; Hungary’s industrial base was reduced by almost 80%, and its military was limited in size and scope. Hungary’s involvement in World War II was seen through the lens of regaining their lost territories from Slovakia, Romania, Austria, and Yugoslavia. When political methods didn’t work, Hungary’s limited military did what it could, but soon found itself allied with Germany to achieve its aims. This amazingly… more |
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Burma Victory 1944-1945Published:
The book’s title, Burma Victory 1944-1945, is a little misleading as the first, very detailed chapter delves into the Japanese blitzkrieg beginning in December 1941 through 1942. The Japanese victories in China, the Dutch East Indies, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaya and the Philippines set the stage for this book on a long forgotten and neglected theater of World War II. The author does an amazing job describing the harsh, varied terrain, weather and combatants and how the Allies regrouped and learned to fight the previously invincible Japanese military as they made their furthest incursion west. American General Joseph “Vinegar Joe” Stillwell assembled an ad-hoc force of Unit Galahad (Merrill’s Marauders named after their commander Frank Merrill was officially named the 5307th… more |
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Panther Medium Tank German Army and Waffen-SS Eastern Front, Summer 1943Published:
The Panzerkampfwagen V (abbreviated PzKpfw V), also referred as the Sd.Kfz. 171, was better known as the Panther. TankCraft 34, Panther Medium Tank, German Army and Waffen-SS Normandy Campaign, Summer 1943, although the fifth book on the Panther in the TankCraft series, introduces the famed tank with its combat debut in Operation Citadel in July 1943. The Panther tank was developed to counter the Russian T-34 and KV series tanks encountered during the invasion of Russia in 1941. The Table of Contents (see accompanying photo) lays out the book in a logical manner with a truncated introduction of the Panther, then its combat baptism of fire during the Battle of Kursk, Panther units, camouflage and markings, and in a trend in this series, the Model Showcase and Products (pp27-48)… more |
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The Paras in Iraq, Operation Telic 1Published:
As a former paratrooper and combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I was eager to read and review The Paras in Iraq, Operation Telic 1 by Craig Allen. The title of the book is self-explanatory and replete with fantastic photos of first and third battalions of the British Army’s Parachute Regiment in action; first in staging areas in Kuwait, then their move into Basrah and further operations in Baghdad. Knowing a rudimentary history of the British Paras and UK forces in Iraq, I was ready to jump (pun intended) into the book. I was not disappointed. The author, Craig Allen, writes with the no-nonsense prose of a professional who has seen the elephant of combat. Craig’s true strength is his photography, and it shows in the 128 pages of his book, with only three pages not… more |
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Japanese Infantry WWII, Figures Set Acrylic PaintPublished:
A new, welcome release from prolific AMMO by Mig Jimenez, is this four-color acrylic paint set labelled for World War II Japanese Infantry. The paint comes in 17ml plastic bottles, complete with a stirring ball, in a clear plastic clamshell box. Also included is a color two-sided label with a very well painted World War II Japanese soldier with color callouts for the paints provided. While the paints can be procured individually, the four major colors are included (and most likely cheaper than buying them individually). The following paints are included:
Fortunately, I had a World War II Japanese armor crew ready for paint. A… more |