Gino Dykstra
Reviews By Author
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Laurie "Lightning Bolt" BarnesPublished: December 28, 2021 For some time Master Box has been exploring an up-to-now largely ignored area in the mainstream modeling fraternity - science fiction figures - through their "Spaceport - At the Edge of the Universe - Strange Company’s Adventures" series. Up until now, the action centered mainly around a rogue’s gallery of characters in a sleazy cantina somewhere on the fringes of the law and known space.… more |
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Sd. Kfz. 182 King Tiger (Porsche Turret) Interior SetPublished: October 10, 2018 My, but when it rains it really pours, doesn’t it? After years of comparatively limited (and sometimes pretty iffy) kits of the impressive King Tiger, we now have numerous companies falling all over themselves to provide THE definitive version of this classic monster. Meng, a relative newcomer to the modeling community, has chimed in with their own contribution – one which offers a lovely… more |
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Sd.Kfz.182 King Tiger (Porsche Turret) Zimmerit Decal SheetPublished: October 10, 2018 Meng has done something comparatively new to accompany their outstanding Porsche-turreted King Tiger model in 1/35th scale, offering a separately-available decal sheet for the zimmerit coating found on so many of these monsters at this stage of the Second World War. The decal sheet is certainly comprehensive – providing 3-dimensionally printed decals for literally every… more |
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King Tiger (Porsche Turret)Published: October 10, 2018 My, but when it rains it really pours, doesn’t it? After years of comparatively limited (and sometimes pretty iffy) kits of the impressive King Tiger, we now have numerous companies falling all over themselves to provide THE definitive version of this classic monster. Meng, a relative newcomer to the modeling community, has chimed in with their own contribution – one which offers a lovely… more |
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German 30mm Autocannon Mk 103Published: September 11, 2018 I’m not sure I need to discuss the utility of having a really good rendition of the German Mk 103 cannon available in this scale. It was used on a number of aircraft - slung under the wings of tank-destroying Fw190s and Hs129s, mounted in the Do335 and the Horton Flying Wing, and even used in a fair number of ground mounts. This 30mm weapon was not to be trifled with. It is, however, a… more |
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A6M5c Zero Type 52 Gun BarrelsPublished: September 11, 2018 I love a quick fix. Lord knows there are plenty of labor-intensive so-called “fixes” out there in the modeling market (some photoetch sets spring immediately to mind). Quickboost, at least in this lovely little detail set, does all the heavy lifting for the modeler. If you have the old Hasegawa 1/32nd scale Zero, the limitations of the molding process definitely shortchange… more |
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Instrument of War: The German Army 1914-18Published: June 23, 2018 There’s a sort of strange fascination within modeling circles for World War 1, which is hardly surprising. Taking place a hundred years ago now, it was a transitional period for the world at large on a number of levels – monarchies and ancient empires were crumbling, most of Europe was evolving sluggishly from a agricultural to an industrial base, and militarily, generals were still fighting… more |
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US Airborne Soldier versus German SoldierPublished: June 22, 2018 During the earlier stages of WW2, the German military demonstrated a new approach to warfare never really encountered before – the airborne assault force. In hotly contested battles in places such as Norway, Denmark and Belgium, they proved the effectiveness of a shock force that could appear virtually anywhere at virtually any time. It wasn’t that long before the Allies took note and… more |
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Gebirgsjager versus Soviet Sailor: Arctic Circle 1942-44Published: June 21, 2018 The grim conflicts that occurred along the edge of the Arctic Circle during World War Two are perhaps one of the least-publicized theaters in that sad war. It’s a fact that for someone like me who THINKS he knows history fairly well, virtually everything in this book by Osprey Publishing came as a surprise. Who knew that such struggles were suffered in this treeless, roadless, virtually empty… more |
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Tanks of the USSR 1917-1945Published: May 23, 2018 I’ve always been a major fan of Russian armor, and have built an embarrassing number of Russian armor kits over the years. Don’t ask me why. In any case, information for some of the interesting designs the Soviets have come up with over the years can sometimes be a bit sparse on the ground. Research being the vital aspect of modeling that it is, anything new in the field is always welcome.… more |