Marc K. Blackburn
Reviews By Author
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French AUF 1 155mm Self-Propelled HowitzerPublished:
The recent release of the Meng AMX-30 B was quickly followed up by the AUF 1. It uses virtually the same hull as the AMX, so it’s an obvious follow-on to the AMX. In the 1970s, the French Army explored a new self-propelled howitzer to replace the MK F3 155 mm. Development of the AUF 1 was completed in 1972 and production began in 1977 with a run of 440 vehicles. Vehicles were also exported to Saudi Arabia and Iraq. It’s armed with a 155 mm gun with an auto loader and a crew of four. The kit is composed of eleven sprues molded in green and five sprues of track links and pads molded in brown, a small sprue of clear parts, a small fret of photo etch, and a lower hull and turret. There are decals for two vehicles, though the color profiles only feature one. Assembly… more |
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AMX-30B TankPublished:
Meng exploded onto the modeling scene several years ago and has begun to roll out a variety of post-World War Two vehicles. The AMX-30B is one of Meng’s newest releases and it’s a keeper. Of the same generation of the US M-60 series, this was meant as a multi-national tank serving the needs of France and Germany. Germany dropped out of the project. The prototype was ready in 1960 and went into series production in 1966. Over 4000 were manufactured and exported around the world. It saw service in Desert Shield/Storm and continues to serve in other countries. The kit is composed of seven sprues molded in green and five sprues of track links and pads molded in brown, a small sprue of clear parts, a small fret of photoetch, and a lower hull and turret. There are decals for two vehicles.… more |
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Meng Shi 1.5 ton Military Light Utility Vehicle Hardtop Version APublished:
Hobby Boss continues its run of tanks and vehicles from the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). When you look at the cover art for this kit, the vehicle bears a strong resemblance to the iconic HMMWV. Well, this was based on said vehicle. It’s manufactured by the Dongfeng Motor Corporation for the PLA. I don’t know if this means Hobby Boss will also begin producing the HMMWV line, but their catalog indicates several variants of this vehicle in the works. The kit of approximately 170 parts includes six sprues and several body parts, one small sprue of clear parts, a fret of photo etch, four tires, and decals. As with most Hobby Boss kits, it includes two color profiles, one for a UN mission and the other for the PLA. The PLA version has no markings. The parts look great, with a fair amount… more |
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Sd.Kfz.231 Schwerer Panzerspahwagen (8-Rad)Published:
The iconic Sd.Kfz.231 has joined the fleet of Dragon’s 1/72 German vehicles from World War Two. Like its cousin, the 231 served in every theater of action. With dual driving positions, it served the Wehrmacht until 1943 when the production run came to end. The kit has five sprues and the two halves of the vehicle each molded separately, for a total of 93 parts. There is a small decal sheet and color schemes for five vehicles. The quality of the molding is very good. The sprues were loose in the box, though each sprue is individually bagged. Despite being knocked around during shipping, none of the pieces were damaged or separated from the sprue. AssemblyAs with most vehicles, assembly begins with the undercarriage and suspension. The parts are very delicate, so be… more |
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British Forces Land Rover Twin SetPublished:
The KitThis 1/48th scale kit offers two vehicles for the price of one (both are available as single kits, too). Airfix has released several kits of vehicles, troops, and helicopters deployed to Afghanistan. Both vehicles are derived from the Land Rover Defender. The Snatch is a patrol vehicle with supplementary armor, “suitable for armored patrols in potentially hostile environments.” The WMIK serves as a Special Forces vehicle. Unlike its brother, the cab is replaced with a roll bar and is open to the air. The models are shipped in one plastic bag so several of the WMIK parts were damaged during shipping. Most of them could be repaired. It would be nice if Airfix could do a better job protecting parts during shipping. There are four sprues in light blue plastic (two for… more |
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PLA PTL-02 Wheeled Tank DestroyerPublished:
Bronco continues to release interesting subjects from the People’s Liberation Army. From the kit, “The PTL-02 wheeled assault gun system was based on the ZSL-92 wheeled armored vehicle, integrated with matured weapon technologies including the Type 86 100mm towed anti-tank gun and the Type 88 MBT. The vehicle was designed to engage armored vehicles, bunkers, fortifications, and other stationary or moved targets. The PTL-02 has been fielded along with the ZSL-92 IFV and ZSL-92A APC in the PLA rapid reaction wheeled mechanized infantry troops. The PTL-02 is powered by a BF8L413F 4-stroke, 8-cylinder, turbo-charged, air-cooled diesel engine with a standard power of 320hp. The vehicle uses a mechanical gear box, with 9 forward gears and 1 reverse. Power assisted steering, independent… more |
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German Army Simca 5 Staff CarPublished:
In a surprise offering, one of Tamiya’s newest models is the Simca 5 Staff Car (German Army). Henri Theodore Pigozzi, an Italian-born Frenchman, founded a car company that had a close relationship to Fiat. The Simca 5 was the French version of the best seller, the Fiat 500. Production figures (65,000 manufactured from 1936 until the fall of France), indicate that this was a very popular car. Once French industry was absorbed by the German war machine, small scale production continued until 1944. In typical German fashion, given their dearth of staff cars, the Wehrmacht adapted many of these diminutive automobiles as staff cars. The KitThe kit has only three sprues, composing fifty parts. One sprue of clear parts features both open and closed passenger windows. There… more |
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Israeli Merkava Mk. IIIPublished:
The Merkava began development in 1973 and entered service several years later, in 1978. Since it was originally fielded, it has gone through several iterations. Trumpeter has chosen to model the Mk. III which entered service in 1989. This model of the Merkava has several improvements from earlier models, notably the addition of a 120 mm gun produced in Israel, a larger diesel engine, and modular armor, just to name a few. Trumpeter’s kit goes head-to-head with Revell’s Mk. III which is the only other Merkava in Braille scale. The KitThe kit is modeled in light grey plastic and consists of three sprues, including a two-part hull, two assembled track runs, and the lower turret. Decals are for one vehicle. The tracks are interesting. They are not rubber band tracks or… more |
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Boeing 747 Owner’s Workshop ManualPublished:
For the past several years, Zenith Press has been producing “owner’s manuals” of famous planes, tanks, automobiles, and I suppose space ships (there is one on the space shuttle). With the familiar Haynes logo in the upper right-hand corner, they appear to be genuine owner’s manuals. It’s a great marketing technique and I am sure many hobbyists and fans find it appealing. The volume reviewed here is on the Boeing 747, the iconic jumbo jet that has been flying for over forty years. The book is beautifully illustrated with color photographs of the various makes of the 747, though the book mostly concentrates on the 400 series. The book starts with a brief overview of the 747 model from its inception to the latest incarnation, the 747-8 series. From history, the book delves into… more |
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Archibald WavellPublished:
This is my first opportunity to look at the relatively new Osprey series called Command. As the name suggests, this series doesn’t look at hardware or military units, but the commanders. As with most Osprey books, this series provides a broad overview of the commander’s life, command responsibilities, leadership abilities, and legacy. I jumped at the chance to see how the Osprey formula works with personalities. Unlike George C. Patton, Omar Bradley, Erwin Rommel, or Bernard Montgomery, Archibald Wavell is not a person who has the reputation or personality of the men who would dominate the Allied armies later in the war. At a time when British strength was at its nadir, Archibald Wavell was given command of the Middle East and Mediterranean, the only theater where the Allies… more |