Bill O'Malley
Reviews By Author
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M4A1 Sherman with U.S. InfantryPublished:
Italeri’s Description of the Sherman“The M4 Sherman medium tank was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. It has been produced in a significant number of units and it formed the backbone of United States Armed Forces during that time. It has been produced in several variants and versions. The first version to be produced on wide scale was the Sherman M4A1, characterized by the rounded edges of the fully cast upper hull. Even the turret had a rounded appearance. The Sherman would enter combat in armored corps of the United States Army in 1942 during the first months of the war. It was armed with the 75mm gun that was replaced in the A1 version with the high-speed 76mm gun. The Sherman was reliable, cheap, and easy to produce in great numbers.” … more |
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Standard B "Liberty" with WWI US InfantryPublished:
This is the third release of ICM’s excellent kit of the Liberty B Truck. This release includes four figures of WWI soldiers that are extremely well sculpted and detailed. Standard B Liberty WW1 US Army TruckICM‘s description of the truck: “The US Army Liberty Trucks produced at the end of the 1st World War were the first attempt in the world to create a standardized range of military vehicles, serially produced by several firms from standardized units. The most famous were cars of Category B Series 1 with a capacity of 3 tons, which from the beginning of 1918 were produced by 15 American companies. They were hood trucks with an open cab equipped with a four-cylinder engine, a cardon drive of the rear axle with worm gear and cast tires. Before the end… more |
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8 Inch Howitzer M1 WWIIPublished:
BackgroundThe 8-inch Gun M1 was a 203 mm towed heavy gun developed in the United States and was also used in small numbers by the British Army. Serious development began in June 1940 of an 8-inch (203 mm) gun that would have the longest range of any US Army field artillery weapon in World War II. The gun used the same projectile as the 8-inch coastal gun and the US Navy's 8-inch cruiser gun. The M1 consists of equilibrator assemblies, elevating and traversing mechanisms, two single-wheel, single-axle heavy limber, and a two-axle bogie with eight tires and two trails. After 1962 it was designated the M115 Howitzer. AFV Club KitOriginally issued in 1997 & reissued in 2000 as the post-1962 M115 Howitzer, this kit release has been modified to the original… more |
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Patina VolkswagensPublished:
About the AuthorAuthor Mark Walker bought his first VW Beetle at age 16 and has since owned more than 100 Volkswagens. Walker was the owner and operator of several VW restoration companies and has carried out sympathetic restoration and high-quality suspension modifications for magazine feature cars. Mark has written for VolksWorld and Camper & Bus magazines since 2012. Patina VolkswagensThis book focuses on 1974 or older Volkswagens with original paint, rust, and patina that have recently become more popular than cars restored to show condition. These rare unspoiled survivors tell a story of an interesting and varied past and have inspired a generation of car fanatics that might not be able to afford complete restorations. The book is packed… more |
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The JeepPublished:
This is one of three books in Pen & Swords Land Craft series. The other books include the M2/M3 Half-Track and Bren Gun Carrier. The Land Craft books are good resources for modelers as they provide background on the design of vehicles, detailed descriptions, photos of variants, and include descriptions of completed models and available kits The contents of The Jeep book are: IntroductionThis section describes the story of the jeep during its early years of 1940-45 as it played a significant role in the 2nd World War and went on to become an icon in the four wheel drive movement. The Jeep became a wartime hero and went on to inspire a brand, sparking today’s off-road and 4-wheel drive enthusiasts. The Jeep became the first four-wheel drive multipurpose… more |
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M2/M3 American Half-Tracks of the Second World WarPublished:
This is one of three books in Pen & Swords Land Craft series. The other books include The Jeep and Bren Gun Carrier. The Land Craft books are good resources for modelers as they provide background on the design of vehicles, detailed descriptions, and description of variants. They also include a gallery of completed models and kits available. M2/M3 Half-Track Book ContentsIntroductionProvides a brief description of the history of half-track vehicles subsequent to World War I, including early French vehicles and the half-track car T1. These early vehicles were tested for use as prime movers. Design and DevelopmentThis section describes the early development of half-tracks based on converted 4 x 4 armored cars. Early Half-tracks in 1938… more |
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Soviet Ball Tank "Sharotank"Published:
The normally super-realistic folks at MiniArt have loosened their imagination and wandered into the hypothetical with the first kit in their new What If...? Series, the Soviet Ball Tank "Sharotank". Possibly based on the Kugelpanzer, that Wikipedia describes as : "The Kugelpanzer (lit. "spherical tank") is a one-man tank built by Germany during World War II. It was captured by the Soviets in Manchuria and is on display in the Kubinka Tank Museum. There is no record of it ever having been used in combat". MiniArt has a video on their website about the Sharotank, and cleverly inserts their kit model into period photos (or are they real?) showing the Sharotank after capture by the Soviets… more |
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Railway Modeling - Painting Realistic TrainsPublished:
This book illustrates how to liven pre-painted toy-like train kits by painting and adding weathering such as dust, dirt, grime, and other dirt effects. The book also shows how to create worn effects like rust, chipping, worn wood, spilled fuel, and burn damage. Various modeling techniques are illustrated with step-by-step photos of paints and other products to apply weathering and wear effects to train cars. Example work of five different modelers are included:
The book has 14 chapters 8 to 14 pages long, each illustrating a different train car or diorama setting and how various weathering effects are achieved:
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Fallschirmjäger: German Paratroopers 1937-1941Published:
This is a pictorial book that uses photos to illustrate the history of the Fallschirmjäger during the pre-war and early war years. Each chapter includes brief text that chronicles the history of the Fallschirmjäger campaigns, but the story is mostly told in photos and their captions. Black & white photos illustrate the exploits of the paratroopers, and the publisher says many of the photos are rare or not previously published. The photos are low contrast and not too sharp, consistent with wartime photos. Illustrations are provided to illustrate events that don’t have photos. German Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers) were considered elite troops and regularly engaged in front line combat during the Second World War. Their campaigns such as the fighting in Scandinavia, the taking… more |
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Lois & Co. Monowheel Mk.IPublished:
Monowheel Background (from the instructions)Lois & Co. was a British industrial combine, a group of businesses manufacturing military and sporting bicycles, motorcycles, iron castings, machine tools, and hard chrome process. It was founded by Spencer Lois, who had a passion for new innovative ideas, in the city of Birmingham. Motor bicycles were added to bicycle products in 1910. The Lois & Co. Monowheel Mk.I was exhibited at the 1913 Olympia Show, London for the 1914 season. In November 1916 Lois & Co. launched their first military monowheel after a big contract with the British Ministry of Armaments. The British Army version was armed with a Lewis machine gun mounted on a side swing arm. The ability of the monowheel to overcome trenches along… more |