Bart Cusumano

IPMS Number
31882

Reviews By Author

Box Top

Soviet JS-4 Heavy Tank

Published:
Company: Trumpeter

To say that the appearance of this kit was a surprise to me, is an understatement! Lately, it seems that all we ever get on the ‘new’ kit front is another Panther-this or Tiger-that. A JS-4? Wow! I mean, the JS-4 was a pretty obscure piece of Soviet armor. Originally developed in competition with the IS-3, the JS-4 (or IS-4, but we’ll stick to the kit name) referred to as Object 245, was, like the IS-3, an extensive redesign of the IS-2. The hull was lengthened with an extra set of road wheels added and an improved engine. The turret and hull were both up-armored. While other alternatives were considered, the IS-2’s 122mm gun was retained for the JS-4. Technical data derived from the study of German wartime Panther tanks was utilized in the layout of the JS-4’s engine cooling system.… more

Box Top

US M1 57mm & 6 PR 7 CWT(BR) Ammunition Set

Published:
Company: Riich Models

Hot on the heels of their release of the British 6 Pdr Mk. IV Anti-Tank Gun (kit #RV35018) and their soon to be released kit of the U.S. M1 57mm Anti-Tank Gun (kit #RV35020), Riich Models has offered up this nice ammunition set: US M1 57mm & 6 PR 7 CWT (BR) as a companion set for their two artillery kits.

The Box

The kit comes packed in a sturdy 6-3/8” x 10-1/4” x 1-3/8” box of the (unfortunately) end-opening variety. Note to kit manufacturers: I know these end-opening type of boxes are cheaper to produce, but for what we pay for kits these days, how about a box with a lid! OK, I’m done complaining. The box ‘top’ features a nice artist’s rendering of the kit contents, which can serve as a good painting guide as well. The ‘bottom’ of the box features assembly… more

Boxart

City House

Published:
Company: MiniArt

Being fresh off of the review of the 1:72 scale MiniArt “Building w/Garage”, kit #72031, we now have the “City House” kit, #72030. This is a model of a typical European multi-family dwelling. Like the previous kit, this kit represents a complete, undamaged building and not a ruin. It is also all injection molded styrene with none of the vacuum-formed parts found in some of their 1:35 scale releases in the same genre.

The Box

The 13.5’” by 10.5” by 2.25” box is the preferred top and bottom (lid) type. There is a nice artist’s rendition of the building on the box top which can serve as a helpful painting guide, although colors can ultimately be left to the imagination of the individual modeler. However, considering the weight and quantity of the box contents, and like… more

Product Picture

Opel Blitzbus Ludewig “Aero” - WWII Service

Published:
Company: Roden

According to the blurb on the side of the kit box, the Opel Blitzbus Ludewig “Aero” was built during the mid 1930’s. The vehicle was made on the chassis of the Opel Blitz 3-ton truck in the workshop of the Ludewig brothers. The actual vehicle’s swoopy futuristic exterior lines were paired to a luxury interior and was not only used for transportation purposes but as a propaganda tool as well. Not many were produced due to the (even then) high cost of production. This particular kit represents the militarized version used for the transport of high ranking Wehrmacht officers on the Eastern Front during WWII.

The Box

The 6’” by 10” box features the dreaded end flaps, rather than a separate top. The box top features a cool painting of an olive green colored Aero ripping… more

Product Picture

Tarp Rolls and Crates Set #1

Published:
Company: Value Gear

If you’re into small-scale armor like me, then you know that accessories like tarps, boxes and such have been hard to come by. Additionally, you usually had to order from overseas e-shops and pay an arm and a leg for the stuff, the quality of which sometimes was not that great. Well, thanks to our friends at Value Gear, that situation just got a bit better.

Packaging

The “Tarp Rolls & Crates, Set #1”, comes in a clear, zip-lock 3.5” x 5” poly bag which is stapled securely to a printed 3.75” x 7.25” fold-over card backing. The bag contains 37 individual pieces of resin molded tarp rolls and boxes - and individual means that there are no two items alike! There is also a full-color 3” x 4-5/8” tip sheet (or card) on the preparation and finishing of the resin product… more

Box Art

Italian Soldier in North Africa 1941-43

Published:
Book Author(s): Piero Crociani & Pier Paolo Battistelli
Company: Osprey Publishing

The history of the Italian Army in World War 2 is an often misunderstood one, colored by many unflattering rumors, generalizations and misconceptions. This latest issue in Osprey’s Warrior Series, “Italian Soldier in North Africa 1941-43”, tries to set the record straight and in doing so, paints a harrowing and desperate account of the hell experienced by the Italian soldier during the North African campaign. Not only did they battle opposing forces, but also their own incompetent command staff. Severe shortages of food, water, equipment and adequate medical care would plague the Italians for the entire campaign.

Typical of most Osprey publications, this one is done to a high standard and is an interesting and engaging read. Paper stock is of good quality and will hold up well… more

Product Picture

Building with Garage

Published:
Company: MiniArt

MiniArt continues to dazzle and amaze us with another in their series of building and ruin kits. This time, in 1:72 scale, we have “Building w/Garage”, kit #72031. This a typical mid-century European automotive service garage building with the residence located up on the top floor. The kit represents a complete, undamaged building and not a ruin. It is also all injection molded styrene with none of the vacuum-formed parts found in some of their 1:35 scale releases in the same genre.

The Box

The 13.5’” by 10.5” by 2.25” box is the preferred top and bottom (lid) type. There is a nice artist’s rendition of the building on the box top which can serve as a helpful painting guide, although colors can ultimately be left to the imagination of the individual… more

Product Picture

Churchill Mk.IV NA 75

Published:
Company: Dragon Models

The Churchill Mk.IV NA 75 was a variant of the Churchill Mk.IV British tank, its main difference being that it mounted a 75mm main gun from the Sherman family of tanks rather than the Churchill’s six-pounder. Besides the main gun, the Besa coaxial and bow guns were replaced with Browning .30 caliber weapons. Some minor changes to the roof of the ‘standard’ Mk.IV turret were made to accommodate the new main gun.

The Box

The kit comes in the typical 6”X10” box that you get with 1:72 Dragon armor kits: the two-part variety that comes with a lid, rather than the dreaded opening end flaps. There’s a nice painting of an NA75 on the box top with kit information panels adorning the sides.

The Kit

Dragon’s kit is in keeping with much of its 1:72 offerings:… more

Cover

A-4 Skyhawk Walk Around

Published:
Book Author(s): Lou Drendel
Company: Squadron Signal Publications

Squadron Signal’s latest Walk Around title deals with the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. The book is presented in its typical 80-page softcover landscape format. You can also get the book in hardcover format for an additional $10. It is chock full of clear and well presented color and black & white photos which provide not only overall long-shots, but the typical Walk Around up-close detail shots. All photos are accompanied by descriptive captions, although I did find an error to the caption of a photo on page 58 which describes the photo as a Marine loading an Mk-82 Snakeye, when in fact, he is loading ammo for the 20mm gun. Otherwise, all seems in order.

All A-4 variants are covered in the pages, although I was a bit disappointed not to see more detail coverage of the A-4C… more

Box Art

Star Trek – U.S.S. Enterprise – NCC-1701

Published:
Company: Polar Lights

“Space, the final frontier…” The thrill that my friends and I felt that evening in September of 1966 for the premier of Star Trek on NBC (we were all of 11 or 12 years old) is still resonant in my mind. How cool was that new spaceship named Enterprise with its saucer-shaped main hull and cylindrical appendages – like nothing that we had ever seen before. To this day, I am still blown away by all that Star Trek technology and the original series is still tops in my book. So you can imagine my anticipation and delight upon hearing of this new 1:350 kit from Polar Lights of the U.S.S. Enterprise from the original series. Sure, we had the refit in 1:350, and even the NX-01, but c’mon, what’s life without Captain Kirk’s original mount in that same big scale? But enough of all that… more