M4A3(76)W Sherman

Published: January 16, 2020
Company: Meng Model

2018 seemed to be the year of the Panther from the start and there certainly was no shortage of releases of the variants from many of the big companies. As 2019 rolled around, Jagdpanthers and Bergepanthers seemed to continue the trend. However, about mid-year, there were whispers of the companies releasing their own version on the venerable US Sherman tank. Taska, now Asuka, certainly has set… more

Red Nose P-51D-5 Mustang Aces

Published: February 3, 2020
Company: RB Productions

I must admit, I am normally against ordering aftermarket products unless I am building a specific piece for a commission build or wanting to recreate a specific aircraft belonging to a specific pilot. I am usually content to stick with what’s in the box and adapt as needed. However, when I saw this set was available and was looking up the schemes, I jumped at the chance for something out of… more

Tigers I and II

Published: February 17, 2020
Book Author(s): David Doyle
Company: David Doyle Books

Whether I am reviewing his armor books as now, or his aircraft books, like my previous review on the SBD, I am always finding David Doyle’s books to be tremendous additions to the reference bookshelf. I find myself referring to them numerous times, whether for my own projects or to check on something for friends asking advice. The best advice, of course, is to buy themselves their own copy of… more

Scale Military Modeller International, July 2019

Published: November 19, 2019
Book Author(s): SMMI
Company: SAM Publications

One of my favorite start of the new month activities is to head to Barnes and Noble on a Friday afternoon and peruse the new model magazines. I usually only buy one or two each month, but it is part of my routine. Apparently though, my solitary habits aren’t enough to sustain the space on the shelves as my local shop isn’t stocking much as of late. So I was happy to see this sample of SMMI… more

First Aid Basic Washes

Published: November 18, 2019
Company: AMMO by Mig Jimenez

For a good long while, Mig Jimenez has been designing and producing products that make modelers lives so very much easier. In the case of this set of washes, AMMO has packaged up a “basic” set that includes an assortment of colors that would fit the bill for anyone trying to create a foundation for weathering their model of any sort. This set provides the easiest solution to the novice modeler… more

SBD Dauntless: Douglas’s US Navy and Marine Corps Dive Bombing in World War II

Published: February 3, 2020
Book Author(s): David Doyle
Company: David Doyle Books

I have been interested in the SBD Dauntless for as long as I have been modeling. In these 20+ years, I have collected any book on my favorite aircraft as I could grab up. For as long as I have been modeling, I have also come to appreciate David Doyle’s excellent reference books on all matters of military subjects and they have become a go-to source whenever I wanted to learn more. The fact… more

Letters from a Lancaster Gunner

Published: September 28, 2019
Book Author(s): Helen Thompson
Company: Casemate Publishers

This book is not your typical historical account toting statistics, data charts, and emotionally detached accounts of RAF Bomber Command operations. I admit there is nothing wrong with those types of books- they have their place, and I have enjoyed them in the past when researching and educating myself for a build or idea. This is a narrative that is based on letters between a young, hopeful… more

Clouded Leopard ROC TIFV CM-32/33

Published: August 19, 2019
Company: AFV Club

When I was asked to review this kit, I have to admit to feeling a bit daunted. I have only done a handful of modern armor pieces, and even those were really restricted to IDF tanks and vehicles. There’s not a whole lot of information out there on this specific vehicle either—a cursory Google search brings up primarily pictures of the actual animal known as the Clouded Leopard.

So to… more

Master Box "Irene Leroi"

Published: December 28, 2021
Company: Master Box Ltd

I’ve always been a huge fan of Master Box figures-- using them in vignettes and dioramas whenever I can. So when I got the email offering up one in 1/24 scale, I jumped at the chance not knowing anything about this new line. I figured I could use it with a car or truck like some of their previous lines featured. So while I was waiting for the shipment to arrive, I started doing some research… more

NATO & Modern Armor Paint

Published: April 28, 2019
Company: Tru-Color Paint

Tru-Color Paint was formed in 2008 by Rick Galazzo and Scott Cohen, both of whom come from extensive backgrounds in formulating paint on the commercial scale. They set out on their own to develop this paint line of solvent-based paint by reformulating the old Accupaint formulation to flow better and give a more glossy appearance after drying. They currently offer over 600 colors offered with… more