Gino Dykstra
Reviews By Author
German Tank Panther Auf. D Metal Gun Barrel SetPublished: September 6, 2015 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… more |
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German Tank Panther Auf. D Photo-Etched Grille SetPublished: September 6, 2015 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… more |
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German Tank Panther Auf. D Separate Track Link SetPublished: September 6, 2015 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… more |
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Soviet T-35 Heavy Tank - 1938/1939Published: August 9, 2015 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… more |
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F-86 Sabre DogPublished: July 27, 2015 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… more |
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CatwomanPublished: June 24, 2015 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… more |
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M10 GMCPublished: February 10, 2020 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… more |
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VCL Light Amphibious TankPublished: May 2, 2015 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,… more |
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1966 BatmanPublished: April 30, 2015 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… more |
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Sd.Kfz.251/17 Command Version (2 in 1)Published: April 15, 2015 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… more |