ROLLMADE III Set w/ Harden AL Rod Universal Roller

Published: October 14, 2019
Company: UMM-USA

UMM USA (Unique Master Models) produces unique, out-of-the-mainstream tools and supplies, as well as unusual and exciting kits. Each time I go to the IPMS Nationals, the UMM booth is a must-stop venture – there is always something new and interesting, and the busy owner always takes the time to walk you through what he has for sale, and how it works.

This time around we have a photoetch bending set that comes with a graduating roller as well as two bending trays. If you haven’t added this handy and versatile tool to your modeling bench, you might want to give it a try. Some roller sets will have you keep track of a bunch of differently-sized wood or metal rods that you use to press and bend PE in a tray. The beauty of using a tool like this to do the same thing is the… more

Cooper - Silk Wire

Published: October 13, 2019
Company: UMM-USA

UMM USA (Unique Master Models) produces unique, out-of-the-mainstream tools and supplies, as well as unusual and exciting kits. Each time I go to the IPMS Nationals, the UMM booth is a must-stop venture – there is always something new and interesting, and the busy owner always takes the time to walk you through what he has for sale, and how it works.

This time around we have a set of two silk-covered, copper-core wire that can be used for a variety of purposes. Somewhere between solder and thin copper, the wire is covered by wound silk material that takes paint and CA or White glue, and can easily be bent and molded into form.

For the modeler, this product recreates very realistic hoses for a myriad of detailing situations, such as hydraulic hoses on aircraft, water… more

British Avro Lancaster Browning 303 Gun Barrels

Published: October 13, 2019
Company: Master Model

Master Model out of Poland, well-known for producing high-quality, precision after-market products, has recently released a set of .303 CAL Browning machine gun barrels for the recently released 1/32nd scale Avro Lancaster by HK Models. Each barrel comes in three pieces of turned brass; a shaft with hollowed out flash suppressor, a perforated sleeve that slips over the shaft, and a base ring that slips over the other end and into a (slightly drilled out) female receptacle in the plastic gun from the kit.

Assembly

Assembly of the brass barrel is a snap. The cone slips tightly over the shaft and the base ring only requires a dot of super-glue to keep everything together, and cemented into the receptacle of the HKM gun mount, which is just slightly smaller than the new… more

Lancaster Mk.1B - Part 2 of 3

Published: June 22, 2019
Company: HK Models Co.

Welcome back! Last time we had just completed the interior and internal framework, front end and cockpit of the big 1/32nd Scale HKM Lancaster Mk.IB. This second installment will bring the engines, wings, fuselage, bomb bay and wheel-wells together, leaving the final assembly and finish for the last segment of this three-part review.

Work is going along smoothly, with just a few exceptions here and there. While I had a few problems here and there, the overall build is simple and straightforward, and the fit is excellent. Let’s get back to work!

Things to Consider Before You Start

This is a big model. Accordingly, I had to build some jigs to hold components while they were being assembled and finished. Working with ½” Gator Board and HoldTheFoam adhesive, I… more

Lancaster Mk.1B - Part 1 of 3

Published: March 31, 2019
Company: HK Models Co.

[This review is the first installment of a three-part series on building and finishing this impressive kit.]

Since 2012, newcomer Hong Kong Models (HKM) has been rolling out some of the most exciting big-scale aircraft kits to hit the market. Ever since the prolific company first released the B-25J Mitchell, modelers have been anxiously waiting for the next big-kit announcement, perhaps none with more anticipation than the 1/32^nd scale Lancaster Mk.IB.

As the RAF's premier heavy bomber, the Lancaster was to eventually form the backbone of Bomber Command in World War II. Loaded with an increasing variety of bombs and special ordinance, the ‘Lanc’ lorded over the night-time Allied bombing campaigns in Europe, disrupting or completely paralyzing German… more

IDF Sho't Kal Gimel Type II

Published: February 3, 2020
Company: AFV Club

According to ScaleMates.com, AFV Club has released no less than sixteen different kitting’s of the venerable British Centurion, five of which depict the various Israeli Defense Force (IDF) versions. The subject of this review is the Sho’t Kal Gimel Type II, which is identified on the box top as being from the time period of the 1982 Lebanon war (“Operation Peace for Galilee”). ‘Sho’t’ translates to ‘Whip’ and Kal is an abbreviation of where the powerplant was manufactured (Continental). Each new version of the IDF Centurion was given a new afterword which comes from a letter in the Semitic abjad, the alphabet or ‘writing system’ used in the Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Urdu languages. In this case, ‘Gimel’ is the third letter in the abjad.

A decade earlier, during the Yom… more

American Tanks and AFV's of World War II

Published: November 13, 2018
Book Author(s): Michael Green
Company: Osprey Publishing

I’ve been waiting for a book like this for a long time – an inexpensive, comprehensive and readable book on US Armor in WWII. Prolific author Michael Green’s latest release covers just about everything that rolled on track and sported a big white star. While there are images of war in this volume, this book is more informative than sexy – perfectly suitable as a go-to resource for research, as well as an easy read next to the fireplace.

Even though the book is separated into chapters set along functional lines, the author begins with a roughly chronological treatise on the often-conflicting design decisions and questionable Army doctrine that guided the early development of U.S. armor. The discussion then continues, walking the reader up through the hard-learned lessons of… more

Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer

Published: November 7, 2018
Book Author(s): Dennis Oliver
Company: Pen and Sword Books Ltd

Dennis Oliver, in conjunction with Pen and Sword Books, has released another one of his very popular TankCraft series; this one covering the German Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer. Written specifically with the modeler in mind, Mr. Oliver has packed these handy books with enough combat history and technical data to be of interest to the non-modeler as well. Several of these populate my modeling library, although I’ve started to buy the electronic Kindle versions as well, so I can zoom in on various images while the e-Book lays flat on my workbench.

The attractive, slightly oversized softcover book contains a short introduction of this popular German AFV, followed by in interesting 4-page chronological history of the late European War, starting with D-Day and ending with the German… more

Sd. KfZ.6: Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 5t

Published: February 3, 2020
Book Author(s): Alan Ranger
Company: Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books

Prolific military author Alan Ranger introduces his Camera On series with a book on the German 5-ton Sd.Kfz.6 Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen (“Medium Tractor”) utility halftrack. The Camera On series can best be described as photographic compilations, filled mostly with images recently made available from private collections.

The attractive, slightly oversized volume contains a short introduction of this relatively rare German halftrack, and then quickly moves into a chronological expose of the vehicle as it was employed throughout the war by the Wehrmacht. In terms of towing capacity, the Sd.Kfz.6 was sandwiched between the (slightly smaller) Sd.Kfz. 11 and (larger, ubiquitous) Sd.Kfz.7, resulting is very short manufacturing run. The type’s real only claim to fame is that it was the… more

Linked Brass Chain - Medium and Coarse

Published: August 21, 2018
Company: CMK

Czech Master's out of Czechoslovakia continues to add to its list of quality aftermarket and modeling supply products; this time with packages of linked brass chain. Reviewed here are two sizes: 2.8mm (Coarse) and 1.8mm (Medium), suitable for 1/35thscale. The brass chain accepts blackening agent, such as A-West’s ‘Blacken It’, turning the chain from a bright, brass color to a darker color, depending on how long the chain is left in the liquid. Once dry, pigments can be added to flesh out the effect desired. The two sizes are perfect for filling in detail on armor models and/or diorama layouts, and measure 30 cm, or just under 12 inches in length.

I recommend this Czech Master's product for any modeler who wants to add a nice little bit of detail to their work.

I would… more