Gino Dykstra
Reviews By Author
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German Tank Panther Auf. D Metal Gun Barrel SetPublished:
This is a review of the metal gun barrel set accessory package associated with Tamiya’s kit of the Panther Auf.D, kit number 35345. This accessory package comes with both a plastic sprue containing a detailed breech for the 75mm main gun as well as the metal barrel that is a direct replacement for the plastic barrel supplied in the basic package. The breech assembly is made up of 14 detailed parts including the scope and coaxial mg breech as well as parts to create the geared elevation system within the turret. There is also a single leftover piece that implies that this accessory kit may be for more than one make of Panther. The gun barrel is beautifully turned in aluminum and is a direct swap-out with no modifications necessary. If you leave the emergency… more |
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German Tank Panther Auf. D Photo-Etched Grille SetPublished:
This is a review of the photoetch accessory package associated with Tamiya’s kit of the Panther Auf.D, kit number 35345. This kit includes all six engine grill covers as well as a redundant machine gun targeting ring which will certainly come in handy in other builds. The photoetch grilles can be placed on the base Panther kit with no modifications to the kit whatsoever. The fit is terrific and they add immensely to the final look of the model. My thanks to both Tamiya/USA and to IPMS/USA for a chance to add these nice additions to my Panther Auf.D kit. |
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German Tank Panther Auf. D Separate Track Link SetPublished:
Tamiya’s Separate Track Link Set is a direct replacement for the vinyl tracks supplied in their new kit of the Panther Auf. D. Although the kit tracks are really quite nice in terms of detail and are glue-able with standard modeling adhesives, the separate track links feature open teeth and really permit adjusting the sag over the wheels that are such a distinctive feature of the Panther tank. I’ve seen other attempts to replicate the open-toothed track links of the original, most notably by Dragon which attempted to do this with slide technology for vinyl tracks. Although successful, the demands of the molds meant that the resulting tracks were exceedingly soft and rubbery, which meant that they by nature lost some definition and “firmness” around the sprocket and other… more |
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Soviet T-35 Heavy Tank - 1938/1939Published:
The T-35 heavy tank is perhaps the ultimate expression of the land battleship concept originally explored by the British in their Vickers A1E1 “Independent” prototype. Designed to work in conjunction with the T-28, another multi-turreted vehicle, the T-35 was intended to serve as a breakthrough tank, pushing through enemy fortifications while suppressing return fire with its antitank and antipersonnel turrets. Of course, history has proven this concept obsolete at best, and virtually all of the operational versions of this massive vehicle were crippled by their poor transmissions long before encountering any opponents on the battlefield. In total, 61 of these behemoths were manufactured, only the final six in the configuration displayed in this kit. Most of these were lost during the… more |
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F-86 Sabre DogPublished:
Permit me to open this review with a personal story. My childhood home town of Iowa City had a tiny little airport – the kind that sees maybe six Cessna's visiting in a week. However, even this tiny airport managed to have a gate guard, in this case an F-86D Sabre Dog donated from the Iowa Air National Guard, mounted on posts. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in the best of shape. At some point in the past it had lost its canopy, which had been replaced by some artlessly shaped acrylic sheet. Even so, it seemed to a kid like a proud giant, reaching endlessly for a sky it would never touch again. Honestly, I loved that gate guardian. Unfortunately, in my college years an overzealous city beautification committee, led by a councilwoman with no interest whatsoever in… more |
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CatwomanPublished:
Once again I’m diving back into the surreal world of the original Batman television series with this wonderful rendition of Julie Newmar as the classic Catwoman adversary. In actuality, I believe at least three different actresses took a shot at this role, but Julie is the one most remember, both for her statuesque presentation in that vinyl suit as well as her quintessential purr. Even Michelle Pfieffer didn’t come out looking this good. Moebius Models has once again designed this kit with buildability in mind. Anything that needs to be colored differently from the basic black has been separated out, making painting a breeze. In addition, the kit offers some small variations, including two right arms, one holding her whip and another a gun. Considering the outfit, I close the… more |
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M10 GMCPublished:
There’s an apocryphal conversation that supposedly took place in World War 2 between a German captive and his guard: German Prisoner: “Not meaning to insult, but in battle, any German tank is the equal to any ten of your Shermans.” Guard: “Really?” German Prisoner: “Yes, but you always have eleven.” It’s no joke that American tankers fighting in Europe had to contend with a host of powerful German tanks, using a tank design that although noted for its maneuverability, ease of maintenance and automotive reliability, suffered from inadequate armor and even less adequate firepower. Enter the M10, America’s first serious attempt to level the playing field a bit. Designed as a tank hunter, mounting a 3-inch gun in an open-topped turret, the M10 had… more |
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VCL Light Amphibious TankPublished:
Those who know my modeling proclivities are well aware that I’m always fascinated by the small and obscure. This model, the first from this company if the kit number is to be believed, fits both of these categories nicely. The Vickers-Carden-Lloyd amphibious tank was first developed in 1931 in England and the basic design served as the foundation for the successful Russian T-33, T-37, T-38 and T-41. The specific vehicle modeled in this kit, however, fared far less ably and was much less known. Just a few of this particular mark were built for export – about fifty overall with the lion’s share going to China. Its record of military action with the Chinese is also brief, as they were called into action only once in 1938 to attack invading Japanese forces. The armored column was… more |
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1966 BatmanPublished:
Whenever dealing with classic 1966 Batman related materials, there’s always a strong urge to get campy. However, for the sake of clarity here I will avoid the usual “holy this” and “gosh that” phrases that come immediately to mind. Growing up in that era, however, let it be noted that the classic Batman series with Adam West left an indelible impression on my young mind. I will always have an abiding fondness for the series, which now possesses an innocent charm lacking in more recent incarnations. Moebius Models has heard the siren call, and their first new figure kit from the series – Batman himself – is a wonderful beginning to what looks to be a fascinating collection of characters. They have captured Adam West’s appearance to a “T” and expert figure modelers should be able… more |
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Sd.Kfz.251/17 Command Version (2 in 1)Published:
The Sd.Kfz 251/17 was one of Germany’s first attempts to provide air cover for their armored columns in the beginning stages of WW2. Unlike so many of their later AA units, this was not as much of an ad-hoc design, being modified specifically for this role with fold-down sides affording suitable footing for both the gun and the gunners. Germany would not provide another specialty design like this until the advent of the Mobelwagen, Wirbelwind and others much later. I’ve always had a soft spot for these machines, so was delighted to get a chance at this lovely kit. Like the original, Dragon’s model provides parts not only for the AA refit, but also for a command Funkwagen based on the same chassis. As a result, you not only get a lovely 20mm gun on a pedestal, but a host of… more |