US Navy Ships vs Kamikazes 1944–45

Published: November 20, 2016
Book Author(s): Mark Stille
Company: Osprey Publishing

Note: This book is also available in two other formats, eBook (Pub) and eBook (PDF).

Osprey Publishing in their Duel Series and Mark Stille, along with illustrations by Jim Laurier, have published an excellent book on US Navy Ships vs Kamikazes 1944–45. Mark Stille, a retired US Navy Commander., has a BA in history and a MA from the Ward College.

What you get is a softcover book covering 80 pages with high resolution black and white glossy, detailed historical photos. Cockpit images and illustrated maps in color are also included. The book is divided into11 sections.

• Introduction: Here the author summarizes the advent of the Kamikazes with their desire to die in battle rather than be dishonored in defeat; the use of the Kamikaze pilots in… more

Polikarpov I-16 Type 24

Published: October 23, 2016
Company: Academy Models

The Polikarpov I-16 was the world’s first single-winged fighter plane with retractable landing gears designed by Nikolai Polikarpov and Dmitri Grigorovich while in prison. Service trials of the I-16 began in 1934. Several variants were produced until the Type 24 was brought into service. The Type 24 contained four7.62mm × 54mmR ShKAS machine guns (two located in the wings and two in the fuselage). Landing flaps were added replacing drooping ailerons. Tailwheel added and starboard side cockpit door were also added. The Type 24 was powered by a Shvetsov M-63 radial engine with 1,100 hp at 2,300 rpm for takeoff. The Polikarpov was… more

LAV-25 Piranha

Published: August 28, 2016
Company: Italeri

This kit by Italeri is a new release for 2016. The LAV-25 was developed in the 1980’s in response to the LAV program which was started during the late 1970’s. After several companies submitted their plans, General Motors of Canada was selected as the manufacturer for the Army and the Marine Corp. Later the Army withdrew their plans due to funding issues. The Marine Corp continued and eventually six variants of the LAV-25 were procured. This kit represents one of those variants: The LAV-25 with the 25mm M242 Bushmaster Automatic cannon. The LAV-25 I will be constructing represents the vehicle named “Croaker” from Charlie Company, 2^nd LAI Battalion during Operation Desert Storm as seen in D'Angina, James, and Henry Morshead. LAV-25: The Marine Corps' Light Armored… more

Pz.Kpfw.V Panther Ausf. G Late

Published: July 15, 2016
Company: Italeri

This kit by Italeri is a rebox of their 2012 Pz. Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. G kit # 6493 with the addition of upgraded moulds, photo-etch fret and new gluable rubber tracks as stated on their website. Let me preface my review by stating that as modelers we do not always follow the instructions step by step. We tend to skip around completing steps in advance while letting previous steps dry or bond. For this build and review, I did indeed skip steps, but I will describe what I found in each step, pros or cons, so the builder will be enlightened as to what needs addressed during the build. I also will not review any historical data pertaining to the Panther tank as I assume the builder will review historical data prior to the build. The Panther tank I will be constructing represents Panther #… more

ERA-3B Skywarrior, Part 3

Published: May 27, 2016
Company: Trumpeter

This is the third and final installment, “Full Build,” of Trumpeter’s Douglas ERA-3B 1/48^th scale variant to be released by Trumpeter in 2016. The plane depicts the US Navy, VAQ-33 ‘Firebirds’, ERA-3B, 104/GD BuNo. 146447. The ERA-3B variant was converted from the RA-3B variant as an electronic aggressor aircraft serving with the VAQ-33 and VAQ-34.

This was a full model build straight out of the box with no aftermarket accessories added. The model was based upon the US Navy, VAQ-33 ‘Firebirds’ plane as seen on page 49 in the A-3 Skywarrior in Action Book, Jim Sullivan, Aircraft Number 148, Squadron/Signal Publications. Sullivan’s depiction of the picture states that this plane is sitting on the flight line at NAS Oceana Virginia on 12 May 1977.… more

ERA-3B Skywarrior, Part 2

Published: May 7, 2016
Company: Trumpeter

This is the second installment, “Full Build,” of Trumpeter’s Douglas ERA-3B 1/48^th scale variant to be released by Trumpeter in 2016. This plane represents the US Navy, VAQ-33 ‘Firebirds’, ERA-3B, 104/GD BuNo. 146447. The ERA-3B variant was converted from the RA-3B variant as an electronic aggressor aircraft serving with the VAQ-33 and VAQ-34. This variant follows Trumpeter’s release of the A-3D-2 Skywarrior Strategic Bomber 02868 in 2013 and its EKA-3B Skywarrior 02872 in 2015. The model will be based upon the US Navy, VAQ-33 ‘Firebirds’ plane as seen on page 49 in the “A-3 Skywarrior in action book, Jim Sullivan, Aircraft Number 148, Squadron/Signal Publications”. Jim Sullivan’s depiction of the picture states that this plane is sitting on the flight line at NAS Oceana… more

ERA-3B Skywarrior, Part 1

Published: April 19, 2016
Company: Trumpeter

This is the first installment, “First Look,” of Trumpeter’s Douglas ERA-3B 1/48^th scale variant to be released by Trumpeter in 2016. The plane represents the US Navy, VAQ-33 ‘Firebirds’, ERA-3B, 104/GD BuNo. 146447. The ERA-3B variant was converted from the RA-3B variant as an electronic aggressor aircraft serving with the VAQ-33 and VAQ-34. I won’t bore you with a long lengthy dissertation on the history of the Douglas A3 and this variant so I will just include here a description presented on Trumpeter’s product website which will suffice for most modelers. I’m sure during your build one would do their own further research. “The Douglas A-3“Skywarrior”was a strategic nuclear bomber developed for the US Navy. The aircraft had a largely conventional semi-… more

U.S. Half-tracks Part 2

Published: April 4, 2016
Company: The Ampersand Publishing Group

The Ampersand Group, Inc. and David Doyle in conjunction with Hobbylink Japan have published another book on U.S. Army Half-tracks in the Military Modeling Series. Part 2 is a continuation of their previous book, Part 1, with Part 2 covering half-tracked multiple gun motor carriages and gun motor carriages.

What you get is an 8-1/2" x 11" glossy hardbound book covering 448 pages with high resolution black and white glossy, detailed historical photos covering the different variants of the half-track based vehicle. The book is divided into 8 chapters with Addendums, Appendix and a Bibliography:

• Chapter 1: 81mm Mortar Carriers, pages 1-58, covers the first half-track mounted weapons. This chapter discusses the attempt to standardize the 81mm mortar… more

US Army Green Beret in Afghanistan 2001-02

Published: March 20, 2016
Book Author(s): Leigh Neville
Company: Osprey Publishing

Osprey Publications have given us another excellent book in the Warrior Series. Osprey's "US Army Green Beret in Afghanistan 2001-02" book delves into the making of a Green Beret from recruitment to the daily lives during the Afghanistan conflict. This publication is divided into 11 sections:

• Introduction: History and Tradition
  In this section the reader is given a brief history of the 5th Special Forces Airborne Group and Colonel Aaron Bank's view of how a special team of elite men could operate in hostile countries. Additional brief historical information is given during the conflicts from the group's inception to modern day warfare.

• Recruitment and Selection: Becoming A Modern Green Beret; The Q Course and Robin… more

Valentine Infantry Tank 1938-45

Published: March 14, 2016
Book Author(s): Bruce Newsome
Company: Osprey Publishing

Osprey Publications have given us another excellent book for the military historian or for the model builder wanting a good reference book to include in his library. This publication was written by Bruce Oliver, PhD, a lecturer in International Relations at the University of California Berkeley who has several publications to his name.

The Valentine, Infantry Mk III was a light duty tank built and used by the British in WW II. The book is divided into 8 sections.

Introduction

The introduction section consisting of 2 paragraphs, gives a short synopsis of the Valentine platform and the countries it was exported to during WWII along with the percentage data of the platform usage.

Design and Development

This section covers some of the meetings… more