Paul Bradley
Reviews By Author
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WWII British Infantry Paint SetPublished:
Another in ICM’s range of paint sets for use with their figures is this set for British WWII Infantry, indicated for use with their figure sets - #35616 ‘You are important to God’; #35617 ‘Montgomery’s Staff (Figures)’; and #35646 ‘British Vickers MG Crew’, although they can of course be used for any British WWII infantry figures. The set contains the following 12ml paint pots; I have listed their intended uses:
The back of the box has a couple of drawings showing where to use each… more |
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Challenger 1 - Britain’s Orphan TankPublished:
The Challenger I was a British main battle tank (MBT) used by the British Army from 1983 to 2001 and was succeeded by the Challenger II. It saw action during the Gulf War and in the former Yugoslavia. Author Richard King is a former British Army tanker and is well versed in the subject. He outlines the rather sketchy and draw-out development process for the tank, its tortured introduction into service and its eventual excellent service and combat record. The vicissitudes of British armed forces procurement are painstakingly detailed, and the average soldier’s distain for bureaucracy, officialdom and rank are evident in his humourous tales. Indeed, the British sense of humour in adversity is oft-displayed and is a memorable part of the story. Keep an eye open for characters such… more |
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Spotlight ON #28: Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IX, Vol.1Published:
The latest in MMP’s Spotlight On series, this, the 28th volume, features the Spitfire IX. Author and artist Robert Grudzien opens the book with a quick summary of the type, then it’s straight into the meat of the book, full colour profiles of 40 examples of the Spitfire IX. These have been created especially for the book and are extremely well executed, exhibiting great detail, and they are split about evenly between port and starboard side views. Examples of the plates include the first Mk.IX, some early service specimens, and some one offs, such as the Spitfire IX floatplane that was developed for use in the Mediterranean, but was (thankfully!) too late for production and service. There are numerous illustrations of Polish-piloted Mk.IXs and other nationalities shown… more |
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A Sword for Peace and Liberty, Volume 1: Force de Frappe - The French Nuclear Strike Force and the First Cold War 1945-1990Published:
In 1954, France took the decision to become an independent nuclear power, both to try to regain some lost international prestige following WWII, but also to challenge the French industrial base after the ruin of WWII. They succeeded in testing their first bomb, codename Gerboise Bleue in 1960, becoming the fourth nuclear power after the US, USSR, and the UK. This catchily-subtitled tome by the noted authority on French nuclear programmes, Philippe Wodka-Gallien, is a 94-page soft-bound book containing 108 colour & 58 b/w photos, 20 colour profiles, and 3 colour & 1 b/w maps; It is the latest in Helion’s Europe@War series that examines conflict in Europe from the early twentieth century up to the present day beyond the scope of the two world wars, often lesser-… more |
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Spitfire Mk.1 (Early)Published:
Kotare are a new New Zealand-based modelling company, born from the ashes of the Wingnut Wings concern. Like their ancestor, Kotare are determined to offer high-quality 1/32 aircraft kits, but instead of concentrating solely on WWI subjects, Kotare are focusing on the more popular WWII, starting with a range of early mark Spitfires. This ‘kitset,’ as the Kiwis call a model kit, comprises 155 plastic parts on six runners, including a clear runner. Each runner is marked with a letter and the parts are laid out logically to aid in finding them. For this kitset boxing, parts specific to the very early Spitfires are included on a separate runner and include a 2-blade propeller, open & closed “ring-pull” cockpit doors, ring & bead sights, pole-type aerial mast, gun flash… more |
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British Aircraft Carriers: Volume 1 - Hermes, Ark Royal and the Illustrious ClassPublished:
The Shipcraft series will be familiar to many, but for those who aren’t, the idea behind the books is to provide concise information about a specific subject, providing heavily illustrated reference material and in-depth modelling information including line drawings and color profiles. This latest 64-page paperback volume in the series features a bevvy of British aircraft carriers from the 20s through the 40s, specifically, HMS Hermes, HMS Ark Royal and the Illustrious Class. These ships were the first British carriers designed as such from the beginning, as opposed to others ships that were converted either on the stocks or post-build. Hermes, indeed, was the first in the World to be so designed, although her completion took so long that she wasn’t the first to actually enter service… more |
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RAF Pilots in Tropical Uniforms (1941-45)Published:
Not to be confused with RAF Pilots in Tropical Uniforms (1941-45) in 1/32, this all-new figure set depicts five RAF servicemen in tropical rig and will be suitable for dioramas and vignettes in North Africa, the Middle East, Italy and the Far East for that time period. The standard ICM white box comes with a colour slip cover with boxart of the figures posed in front of a North Africa-based Beaufort. The box contains a single medium grey plastic runner with 31 well-detailed and well-moulded parts. No decals are included, though it might have been nice to have some RAF wings and rank insignia to add where appropriate. A single full-colour painting guide with part numbers and colour callouts for ICM paints is all that is included (or indeed necessary!) in the box. Belying… more |
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Grumman FM-1 Wildcat/Martlet Mk.VPublished:
Strictly speaking, the name of this kit is incorrect. Grumman didn’t build the FM-1 – Eastern Aircraft did. Additionally the FAA option in this kit features Normandy Invasion special recognition markings for June 1944, by which time the type had become the Wildcat Mk.V, and not the Martlet. Such pedantry aside, this is a nicely packaged re-issue of Tamiya’s well-received F4F-4 Wildcat kit of 1994 – was it really that long ago?! – featuring some new parts and some modified parts. That kit - #61034 – has been reviewed online many times, but the common view is that it is a nicely engineered kit, featuring good detail, and fine recessed panel lines, but with slightly exaggerated raised rivets in places, an incorrect solid cockpit floor, and an incorrect centre fuselage… more |
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The Arab-Israeli War of Attrition, 1967–1973: Volume 3Published:
Given the current situation in the Middle East, this is not an easy review to write; if nothing else, this publication proves that there is nothing new in the World. The long-standing enmity between Arab and Israeli politicians has festered since the foundation of Israel in 1947. Aside from the continuing Arab terrorism during the period between the 1967 and 1973 Wars, there was a less-known ‘low-level’ conflict, known as the War of Attrition, where nation-states on both sides positioned themselves as best they could for the next war. The locations of this conflict ranged from the Israeli borders, with cross-border raids being carried out by both sides; to the skies over disputed territories as the Israeli Air Force hammered the Arab air forces; to the sky and ground… more |
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The Dieppe Raid: The Allies’ Assault Upon Hitler’s Fortress EuropePublished:
During the early months of 1942, there was much pressure on the Western Allies – especially from the Russians - to ‘do something – anything!’ to relieve the unrelenting bad news on all fronts. The British were struggling in North Africa and the Far East, Japan was running roughshod over the US in the Pacific while the Canadian Government was under pressure at home. The result of these pressures was to lead to one of the most ill-conceived operations of WWII – Operation Jubilee, the raid on the northern French port of Dieppe, which had been heavily fortified by the occupying German armed forces. The resulting operation in August 1942 was an unmitigated disaster, costing the lives of thousands of Canadian and British troops, sailors and airmen with very little to show. This… more |