Gino Dykstra
Reviews By Author
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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 |
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Panther Ausf. F with 7.5cm KwK42 L/100Published:
Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m a bit of a fan for speculative or hypothetical armor. In this field, Dragon Models has done me well over the decades, and I’ve had the pleasure of assembling everything from their E-100 and Kugelblitz AA tank to a couple of variants on the Panther F. This latest incarnation sits well with my other renditions and then some. As is typical of Dragon, the box comes packed with parts; 17 sprues in all plus clear parts for the periscopes, three separate sheets of photoetch, two types of metal cable for the tow ropes, a metal shroud for the mantlet and rubberized tracks. There’s also a tiny decal sheet that seems to have been tossed in more as an afterthought. Predictably for Dragon, you’ll inevitably find yourself with a host of spare parts… more |
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Sd. Kfz.7 8 Ton Type HL m11 1943 Production Half TrackPublished:
I began building Dragon Model kits when they first became available back in the 1970’s. Even back then they were a breath of fresh air on the modeling scene. They offered fascinating subjects never seen before and although sometimes a bit simplified, I liked them a great and built numerous models from their catalog, enjoying them all. My, how they have evolved over time. This new 8 ton half track kit is a fine demonstration of that evolution. The kit consists of 9 crisply cast sprues as well as finely molded vinyl tires, wire cable, photoetch, decals and even masks for the windshield. All of the track pieces are precut, prepped and bagged, eliminating hours of work. There are also numerous parts which benefit dramatically from the new slide molds including a one piece chassis,… more |
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10.5cm leFH18/40 with Gun CrewPublished:
Later in World War 2, the Germans made an effort to upgrade older guns by mounting them on newer, lighter carriages. Sometimes this was successful, sometimes not. The old 10.5 cm leFH 18/40 light field howitzer was just such a conversion. It was updated by mounting it on the tried and true carriage used for the 75 mm Pak 40. The carriage proved to be too light to support the gun well, and there were constant problems with the combination. Nonetheless, it was used from about 1943 until the end of the war. Dragon’s model of the field howitzer exhibits the same melding of equipment, with the gun carriage clearly coming from their Pak 40 kit. This set also comes with a full five-man gun crew along with a large sprue of their most up-to-date personal equipment, providing a rich… more |
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British Airborne 75mm Pack Howitzer and 1/4 Ton Truck with TrailerPublished:
Over time, I find myself becoming fonder and fonder of Bronco Models and their products. They consistently seem to offer fascinating subjects done with a real flair, and this set is no exception. It consists of a 75mm Pack Howitzer along with a jeep, trailer, four riding paratroopers, and a wealth of personal equipment. The box is packed with good, firm plastic which takes fine detail well, and it also includes three sheets of photo-etch and two decal sheets: one for the equipment and one for the soldiers. As this is a variant of the regular jeep offered by Bronco, you wind up with a host of useful extras, including wheels/tires, windshields, and steering wheels. The instructions are actually a 27-page full-color manual, and they are extremely well laid out and informative. In addition… more |
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Hitching a Ride: US Paratroopers and CiviliansPublished:
Master Box continues to surprise with interesting vignettes, all in one package. This set includes their Type 170 German staff car and five figures – two US Paratroopers and a civilian family. The US officer is consulting with the father in the family to determine where he’s going, and the child has squirmed out of his mother’s arms to get a closer look at the fascinating soldiers. I was attracted to his model from the moment I saw it – anything about the lighter side of warfare appeals to me anyway, and Master Box had come up with something really interesting. The staff car was the first assembly, and I was surprised by the diminutive size. My experience in the past with German staff cars in general is that they tend to be big. This one is scarcely larger than a jeep. The… more |