John Shimek
Reviews By Author
Attack Aircraft of The U.S. Navy And Marine CorpsPublished:
Attack Aircraft of The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps by Detail and Scale Aviation Publications was published 17 June 2022. This is the fourth publication by Detail & Scale that covers aircraft flown by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the end of WWII through the deployment of the AV-8B Harrier II. The book covers 13 aircraft – Vought AU-1 Corsair, Grumman AF-2 Guardian, Martin AM Mauler, Douglas AD / A1 Skyraider, North American AJ Savage, Douglas A2D Skyshark, DouglasA3D / A-3 Skywarrior, Douglas A4D / A-4 Skyhawk, North American A3J / A-5 / RA-5C Vigilante, Grumman A2F / A-6 Intruder, Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II, Hawker SiddleyAV-8A / AV-8C Harrier and the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II. With 235 pictures and 11 Illustrations this volume is loaded with… more |
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Painting Wargaming Figures: Allied Forces in Northwest Europe 1944-1945Published:
Painting Wargaming Figures – Allied Forces in Northwest Europe 1944-1945 covers British and Commonwealth, United States and Free French uniforms for this period. The book covers 8 chapters to include topics on Tips and Tools, Skin Tones, display Bases, Allied Webbing, Equipment and Weapons for the service(s) combat uniforms cited above. Topics also include glues, fillers, types of paint/primers, brushes and care, painting techniques and weathering with washes. The author also gives historical background reference for colors used for the 1944-1945 time period for various units. With 270 pictures to illustrate the steps suggested for the allied military services described for small scale figure painting it is very easy to follow along with a quite simple process to paint… more |
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Medal of Honor, Volume 2, Interwar Years 1919-1939Published:
Volume 2 of the Medal of Honor series documents the 6 aviators who earned the Medal of Honor during the interwar years 19191939. This book of 80 pages has 215 photos and color profiles of 10 aircraft relating to this period. Only 1 of the 6-aviation related Medal of Honor awarded in this period was for action that involved combat by USMC Lieutenant Christian Frank Schilt in Nicaragua in 1928. 3 of the other 5 men awarded the Medal of Honor were presented for exploration including Admiral Byrd (North Pole flight) and the other 2 awarded were for lifesaving efforts. It is very interesting that Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr received the army designed Medal of Honor for his solo flight across the Atlantic 20-21 May 1927 even though he was no longer on active US Army duty.… more |
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Tiger I Early ProductionPublished:
This Tiger I kit by DML is the command version used by Tiger I ace Michael Whitman and is an early production vehicle. This kit has distinctive early production characteristics including smoke dischargers, cylindrical cupola, pistol port, and are accurately reproduced. Included in the box is a molded complete crew set as though posing for a propaganda photo. There is a small fret of photo etch parts included which most noticeably is the engine deck screens. The kit contains 805 parts including 753 in gray styrene, 27 etched brass, 21 clear styrene, and DS plastic tracks. It is important to note that many of these parts are not used on an early production vehicle. A total of 231 parts on the kit's sprue are not used, and are indicated as such on the instruction sheet. Care must… more |
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Willys Jeep MB "Train"Published:
The Willys Jeep is probably the most recognized vehicle during World War II with production equaling 660,703 from 1940 through 1945. This model by AMC models represents a unique variation in its use during the war. It was used to travel on the railroad system with the addition of modified wheels in Europe by some U.S. Army transportation battalions, and in the India Burma theater by British Commonwealth troops. This model by AMC models is a full resin kit with the addition of a PE windshield screen, grab handles, and clear acetate for the glass. The model comes packaged in a sturdy box with all 31 parts contained in Ziploc bags. There is one decal sheet included of an allied star for mounting on the front hood. Included in the kit is a resin display base of railroad tracks. I… more |
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Bussing-NAG 5 cm KwK 39/IL/60Published:
The Bussing-NAG 5 cm KwK 39/IL/60 four-wheel German armored car is one of two prototypes of this nature built. Historical reference for these vehicles is very hard to come by. However, it is known that they were in fact built but never put into production. It is also accepted that they were in fact field-tested, but it is debated as to which unit actually tested them. Some sources saying it was the 12th SS Panzer division, but again, there is no definitive proof of this as the data does not exist to confirm this information. There were two paint schemes observed in a photo that exists: one dark yellow and one with a yellow and green camo scheme (with a hard-to-discern pattern). The box art depicts a two-tone camo scheme, so I followed that suggestion based on discussions I had on the… more |
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Bussing-NAG 2 cm KwK 38Published:
The Bussing-NAG 2 cm KwK 38, a four-wheeled German armored car, is one of two prototypes of this nature built. Historical reference for these vehicles is very hard to come by. However, it is known that they were in fact built but never put into production. It is also accepted that they were in fact field-tested, but it is debated as to which unit actually tested them. Some sources saying it was the 12th SS Panzer division, but again, there is no definitive proof of this as the data does not exist to confirm this information. This resin model kit comes packaged in a sturdy box with all the parts contained in Ziploc bags. Unfortunately, one of the bags arrived opened, and all the parts strewn inside the box. The kit is totally resin and comes with a 20 mm metal barrel which is a… more |