M-109A2 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (DOHER)

Published: July 24, 2018
Company: AFV Club

AFV Club has released the third version of Israeli’s rework of the venerable American M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH). This time around we meet the ‘Doher’, or ‘Galloper’ - an augmented boxing of their recent ‘Rochev Bet’ release. The M109A2 Doher was fielded in 1993, eventually replacing all of the earlier Rochev models in active service by 1997. After the active service units received their share, the IDF began to replace some of the reserve units' vehicles. Today one can find in the reserve units both the Doher & Rochev models.

All types share the same hull, turret, barrel, engine & transmission. Most of the improvements of the Doher are internal and can't be seen from the outside. That said, external differences include a second turret mounted machine gun, the… more

German Assault Pioneer Team and Goliath

Published: April 5, 2018
Company: Tamiya

Tamiya has recently released their own boxing of the diminutive Goliath tracked mine. The kit comes complete with two mines and control boxes, tethered by steel wire to one of three highly detailed figures. Molded in crisp, yellow plastic, the contents of the box are typical of Tamiya kits, and the three figures are just about as good as it gets in terms of detail and craftsmanship.

History

The Goliath tracked mine – (Leichter Ladungsträger Goliath or Goliath Light Charge Carrier) was a name given to two German unmanned, disposable demolition vehicles used during World War II. These were the electrically powered Sd.Kfz. 302 and the petrol-engine powered Sd.Kfz. 303a and 303b. The -302 is the version represented in the Tamiya kit.… more

M32B1 Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV)

Published: January 22, 2018
Company: Italeri

The Italeri M32B-1 Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV) Kit # 6547, originally released way back in 1980, was, at the time of release, still standing sentry duty as the only readily available injection-molded set of sprues for this Sherman-based Allied tank recovery vehicle. The model has gone through a number of updates and improvements since, culminating in what you see reviewed here. After all this time, however, Italeri’s offering ‘still has it goin’ on’, sporting a relatively detailed interior and winch/cable assembly; all housed in a decent Sherman chassis. As boxed, this kit is one heck of a value.

The M32 ARV was used by the allies during World War II and afterwards during the Korean war. The first prototypes were produced in early 1943 and the M32 entered combat after… more

M4A3E8 Korean War Sherman

Published: January 22, 2018
Company: Tamiya

Summary

Tamiya has enhanced their recently released M4A3E8 Sherman to represent the Korean War variant, including the colorful ‘Devil’ scheme. Several new sprues, new track, decals, and other odds and ends round out the new offering, including a complete, 2-sprue complementary kit of the Russian GAZ67B Field Car equivalent of the Willys Jeep. One thing is for sure – the kit this new version is based on is one of the finest armor models ever produced by Tamiya. And that is saying quite a lot – for just a pure, modeling experience, it just doesn’t get any better.

After World War II, the U.S. kept the M4A3 '"Easy Eight" in service, with either the 76 mm gun or a 105 mm M4 howitzer. The Sherman remained a common U.S. tank in the Korean War, where it fought alongside the… more

Aircraft of the Aces #136 - Allied Jet Killers of World War 2

Published: November 26, 2017
Book Author(s): Stephen Chapis, Andrew Thomas
Company: Osprey Publishing

Osprey Publishing, out of Oxford, UK, is back again with another Aircraft of the Aces series entitled Allied Jet Killers of World War 2, by Stephen Chapis and Andrew Thomas. Jim Laurier was commissioned to illustrate the various allied aircraft via original color artwork. Anyone familiar with aircraft modeling literature and research will recognize this authoritative series, and this latest release won’t disappoint.

Allied Jet Killers follows the format of the previous Aircraft of the Aces volumes, containing beautiful (original) color plates and numerous black and white photos with detailed captions, although much of what is contained in the captions is also reflected in the main text.

The photos are credited, and while I’ve seen… more

Sd.Kfz. 1381 Geschutzwagen 38 H fur s. JG.331

Published: September 27, 2017
Company: Dragon Models

Dragon has recently re-released the diminutive Geschutzwagen 38 H sporting the relatively large sIG 33 field howitzer – a kit that has been improved upon over the twenty-plus years it’s been out. As expected, the molding, fit and engineering found in today’s kit is up to Dragon’s excellent standards. A tremendous amount of detail adorns the open-topped chassis, including a nice engine and transmission, along with MagicTrack and an aluminum barrel. A very impressive offering that builds into a model about the size of my fist!

The Grille ("cricket") was a series of self-propelled artillery vehicles used by Nazi Germany during World War II. The Grille series was based on the Czech Panzer 38(t) tank chassis and used a 15cm sIG 33 infantry gun. The… more

Sd.Kfz.179 Bergepanther Recovery Vehicle

Published: February 3, 2020
Company: Italeri

The Italeri Bergepanther Kit # 285, originally released back in 1995, is still standing sentry duty as the only readily available injection-molded set of sprues for this Panther-based German tank recovery vehicle. The model has gone through a number of updates and improvements since, culminating in what you see reviewed here. After all this time, however, Italeri’s offering ‘still has it goin’ on’, sporting a relatively detailed engine, transmission, and winch/cable assembly, all housed in a decent Panther A chassis. One heck of a value, and still the only game in town.

The Sd.Kfz. 179 Bergepanther Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV) first began its development between 1942 and 1943 to fill a need for a heavy duty tank recovery and engineering vehicle. This need came about with the… more

T-28D Trojan

Published: August 21, 2017
Company: Kitty Hawk

Even though Kitty Hawk Model released its big and beautiful T-28B-D Trojan back in 2016, I was thrilled to see it come up on the review list recently. No doubt the company is preparing for the release of the new ‘C’ version (with a tail hook), due out any time now. Either way, the big 1/32nd scale T-28 is sure to please.

And pleasing it is – the smart, clean lines of the venerable trainer are beautifully captured in this multi-media kit. Among the options offered are two types of propeller blades, three types of wheels, and a huge variety of underwing stores should you decide to arm your Trojan. In addition, the engine bay can be exposed on one or both sides with cowl flaps that are detailed inside and out.

The thin, three-piece canopy is crystal clear and there are two… more

M40 Gun Motor Carriage and M43 Howitzer Motor Carriage in WWII and Korea

Published: August 9, 2017
Book Author(s): David Doyle
Company: Schiffer Publishing

DavidDoyleBooks.com (Schiffer Publishing) out of Memphis TN, has just announced a new offering in the widely held ‘Legends of Ground Warfare’ series, called ‘M40 Gun Motor Carriage and M43 Howitzer Motor Carriage in WWII and Korea’, by popular author David Doyle. Anyone familiar with Mr. Doyle’s previous work will recognize this authoritative combination, and this latest release won’t disappoint.

M40 Gun Motor Carriage comes as a hardcover, 9.5inch square book, following the format of Mr. Doyle’s previous ‘Legends’ volumes, containing high-resolution images printed on heavy, high quality stock paper. Like most of his other works, Mr. Doyle’s M40 is comparatively priced, and a great value.

The book opens with a table of contents and a brief, two-page introduction to the… more

T77 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage

Published: June 23, 2017
Company: Ding-Hao Hobby

Gaining momentum on this side of the pond is a model company out of Taiwan called Ding-Hao Hobby, a sister company to AFV Club, that specializes in subjects not well covered (or not covered at all) in injection molded plastic. Their kits are short-run, multi-media affairs mostly aimed at advanced modelers. I first came across Ding-Hao Hobby from a pilot friend of mine who brought me a German Büssing Nag L4500S truck sporting dual MG151 triple machine gun mounts (DH96003). I have since purchased several more DH kits before deciding to review their U.S. Army T77 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage.

The T77 is based on a modified M-24 Chaffee chassis with a specialized turret studded with no less than six U.S. M2 Browning 50cal machine guns – a frightening prospect for anything that would… more