Patrick Brown
Reviews By Author
![]() |
Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf. A Early/MidPublished: November 2, 2022 Bottom Line Up FrontLet’s face it, interior kits with their massive part-count aren’t everyone’s thing. A model retailer once told me that armor kits without an interior outsell those with one by almost 10 to 1. Cue Das Werk to the rescue with reboxing of Takom’s Panther kits with no interior sprues, a reasonably sized box, manageable part count, and correspondingly manageable price… more |
![]() |
Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. F Sd.Kfz 161Published: February 22, 2021 Bottom Line Up Front: Even though Tamiya’s “new tool” release of the venerable Panzerkampfwagen IV does not disappoint with nice detail, clever engineering, and three figures that are well rendered in unique and interesting poses. Even though this kit uses the hull and suspension from the 1994 Panzer IV releases, the vast majority of the kit is brand new and up to modern standards. This is… more |
![]() |
Etched Parts Set for Tamiya Panther Ausf D.Published: February 22, 2021 Bottom Line Up Front: This set brings Tamiya’s 1/48 Panzer V ausf. D kit to the next level. It’s not for the faint of heart though. Like many 1/48 scale PE sets, it contains several sub-assemblies that will make you squint and reach for the Optivisors and the finest set of tweezers you have. Hauler has one of the most extensive line of aftermarket photo etch for 1/48… more |
![]() |
Russian Medium Tank T-34/85Published: February 4, 2021 Bottom Line Up FrontA surprising swing and a miss for Tamiya on this kit. Technically this kit is very well done, but it’s rather boring and uninspiring. The kit is well engineered with many "modeler-friendly" features that make it a simple, quick build. The kit is molded in dark green plastic with hull weights, link-and-length tracks, poly caps, braided copper wire for the tow… more |
![]() |
Russian Medium Tank T-55Published: January 14, 2022 Bottom Line Up FrontTamiya breaks new ground with the first large production injection T-55 in 1/48 scale. Tamiya already has an impressive line of excellent 1/48 scale armor kits and this will likely prove to be one of their most popular offerings. This kit delivers everything we have come to expect from Tamiya; excellent detail, brilliant engineering and interesting subjects.… more |
![]() |
Japanese Armies 1868-1877: The Boshin War and Satsuma RebellionPublished: July 9, 2020 Bottom Line Up Front: This most recent addition to the Osprey Men-at-Arms Series does its best to make sense of a confusing subject, to the Japanese civil wars of the 1860s and 1870s period. It is well illustrated and provides rudimentary information that is fairly easy to understand. Chapters
|
![]() |
Wehrmacht in the MudPublished: April 5, 2020 Bottom Line Up FrontThe latest in MMP’s “Camera On” series is dedicated to a broad selection of German vehicles and equipment battling mud. This book is useful, not just for diorama ideas, but for terrific reference photos on how mud actually looks; something that is rarely depicted accurately in dioramas and scenic bases. Chapters
|
![]() |
American Privateers in the Revolutionary WarPublished: April 4, 2020 Bottom Line Up FrontThis is a short, easy to read introduction to ships and history of the private warships which played a major part in the American War for Independence. It is profusely illustrated with period artwork and accurate modern-day artwork of actual ships. The artwork by Paul Wright is the standout feature of this book. AuthorAngus Konstam… more |
![]() |
German Military Vehicles in the Spanish Civil War: A Comprehensive Study of the Deployment of German Military Vehicles on the Eve of WW2Published: April 4, 2020 Bottom Line Up FrontThis is the most comprehensive collection of German vehicles in the Spanish Civil War. None of the photos, to the best of my knowledge, have ever been published before. The pages contain photos of tracked AFVs, armored cars, soft-skins and towed ordinance as well as detailed order of battle information. Chapters
|
![]() |
Centurion Mk. 3 Korean WarPublished: February 11, 2020 Bottom Line Up FrontAFV Club continues to rule the Centurion market with its latest offering. This is a very good kit overall. It comes with tasty value-added features like a turned aluminum barrel and photoetch parts. The detail is sharp and the fit is excellent. The kit is marred by some unnecessarily complicated moving parts that make two aftermarket part sets a must if the… more |