Howie Belkin
Reviews By Author
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Mitsubishi A6M5 (Zeke) Zero FighterPublished:
Before I dive into this model in detail, let me first state that these 62 grey plastic parts, four clear parts (three if you close the canopy), two poly caps, and decals for three options will produce perhaps the very BEST 1/72 A6M Zero MODEL today’s money can buy, and is possibly today’s very BEST 1/72 WWII fighter kit! Tamiya’s 1/72 A6M5 Zero represents the last major, mass produced, version which entered service in 1943. Previously, Tamiya released “the very best 1/32 scale Zero kits” and others “just as fantastic in 1/48 scale.” This is Tamiya’s first-ever 1/72 Zero release and their first 1/72 aircraft release in five years. I hope they have other 1/72 aircraft models waiting to be released of earlier Zero variants, as well as other popular… more |
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Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. N Deutsches AfrikakorpsPublished:
The Panzer III design was awarded to Daimler-Benz with production beginning in 1937. Several German companies would be engaged for full production. The Ausf N was the last variant, with many converted from previous variants. Armed with the short-barrel 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 cannon and armored with the extra armor on the Ausf J, L, and M variants, the Ausf N performed well in Europe and North Africa, especially as infantry support. The Panzer III chassis lived on as the Sturmgeschütz III assault gun, which became Germany’s most-produced armored vehicle. The Panzer IV took over the role as Germany’s main battle tank. DML’s box art painting depicts a Pz III Ausf. N in desert tan beside several Pz.Kpfw.VI Tiger I tanks. This probably illustrates the Pz III N’s early role with the… more |
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British Tank Riders (NW Europe)Published:
To the best of my knowledge, this is Ukraine’s MiniArt Ltd’s second set of injection molded British Tank Riders, which is two sets more than from any other manufacturer! The first set, #5835071, British Soldiers Tank Riders, provided five men wearing uniforms with shorts, suitable for the Desert War, Tunisia, and other “hot” theaters. This kit contains 71 grey styrene parts that will create five Tank Riders wearing 1940 Pattern battledress appropriate for all other theatres in all but the hottest and coldest climates. I’ll get into a detailed report on the uniforms and insignia in a moment, but first some modeling basics re these figures. MiniArt Ltd’s artist’s (A. Karaschuk) excellent illustrations of each figure tops the side-opening box. The illustrations show helmets with… more |
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WESTWALL, German Armour in the West, 1945Published:
This book is the third in the "Under the Gun" series from Australia’s Firefly Books from the Oliver Publishing Group, which must bring their title list to around a dozen titles by now. This edition has more than 50 black and white photos. “Images are from the US National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) collection, showing captured or disabled vehicles; many of these have never been reproduced – 21 different vehicles are depicted in the color illustrations created by talented Chilean artist Claudio Fernandez.” With only one to three large photos per page, all with excellent captions, the reader can actually see the details the author refers to. How many times have you scratched your head trying to identify details an author points out, that he may have been able to have seen… more |
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Churchill Mk. IVPublished:
FINALLY, a new, state of the art 1/72 Churchill!! The Churchill was the second most produced British tank ever, following the Valentine. This Mk. IV was the most produced version. Designated the A22 Infantry Tank, Vauxhall began delivery to units in June, 1941, after an extraordinarily short development. It served in Dieppe and Tunisia, and then virtually all European theatres of WWII including Russia, and post-war soldiered on in Korea and later with several countries. I believe Airfix had the first small scale Churchill kit in 1/76, released in the early 1960s. ESCI (later Italeri) released a 1/72 Mk. III, with latter releases having link and length tracks (the others mentioned here have single length vinyl tracks of varying quality). Hasegawa released a Mk. I in 1/… more |
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WWII British/Commonwealth AFV Crew SetPublished:
This kit contains 45 tan styrene parts that will create six British or Commonwealth tank or AFV crewmen. Four wear the late 1944 – early 1945 one-piece “Pixie suit” made from water-repellant canvas with khaki lining and hood. This warm equipment had two zippers and could be converted into a sleeping bag. These four men are illustrated both wearing gloves and bare-handed, so it’s how you paint them. The other two figures are wearing the usual khaki battle dress. Everyone wears a black beret molded onto their heads. Only figures A, D and E have headphones (molded on) and, if you use the box top as a guide, you can add wires. There was some talk online, wondering if these were MiniArt or Master Box figures, or other “copies.” Bronco used the same illustrator, A. Karaschuk, who… more |
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Wooden FencePublished:
Ukraine’s prolific MiniArt has released this WOODEN FENCE as a follow up to their METAL FENCE. It is a welcome addition to their large line of 1/35 buildings and building accessories. This kit contains 4 of the same sprue that yield 140 grey styrene parts with wood grain molded in that will create a lattice-style fence for civilian, military and railroad modelers, and architects, much like its real counterpart. I believe this is a style of fence that might be seen throughout the Western world and Eastern block, though I’m no expert on fences! Like the real fence, each lattice section connects to a post on each end, which connects to the next section. Each post is topped off with a square crown. Each section has a top rail. You can add single width gates (for people) or double (for… more |
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French Tank CrewPublished:
To the best of my knowledge, this is the first set of injection molded French Tank Crewmen ever released!! This kit contains 45 grey styrene parts that will create five crewmen. Four appear to be from the Battle of France, while the fifth looks somewhat like a young General Leclerc, aka General Jacques Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque. In truth, he is representative of a standard French Armor Lieutenant. Ukraine’s MiniArt Ltd’s artist, A. Karaschuk, illustrates each figure on top of the side-opening box. They are repeated on the box bottom, where they are keyed for parts placement and colors. Paint numbers are color coded for Vallejo, Testor, Tamiya, Humbrol, Revell and Mr. Color paints. A small black-and-white insert shows the two sprue trees and part numbers. Each figure is nicely… more |
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Allied Forces Figures, WWII North African DesertPublished:
This odd combination of five Allied soldiers meeting up and serving together seems like something dreamed up in Hollywood. Well, it WAS first dreamed up in the 1943 movie Sahara, starring Humphrey Bogart as the American M3 Lee tank commander. A 1995 cable TV remake starred James Belushi in that role. Ukraine’s Master Box Ltd.’s illustrator A. Karaschuk and sculptor A. Gagarin must have seen the Belushi version and “subconsciously” paid homage to the movie. The American figure happens to strongly represent Belushi, and the others certainly suggest others in the movie’s cast. Unfortunately, we didn’t listen to Shakespeare, and our society is drowning in a flood of litigious lawyers and the movie industry has missed out on an opportunity for free publicity as… more |
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German Civilians in 1/35Published:
This kit contains 47 grey styrene parts that will create five “mostly civilian” figures. “Mostly” because two are in uniform. One is a Hitler Jugend (Youth) or HJ, technically a civilian, and the other is an Ordnungspolizei (Orpo) uniformed regular policeman. More on these two later. Though advertised as “German Civilians,” the first three could probably be found in any western country during WWII. You can go online and find photos of Europeans of the 1930-1940s, or watch a period movie like The Pianist to confirm the authenticity of their clothing and hairstyles. I haven’t heard any of them speak since I opened the box so I can’t identify their nationality for certain. That’s a plus for the modeler as that allows you to use them in… more |