British Nuffield Assault Tank A.T.2

Published: May 15, 2018
Company: OKB Grigorov

The Vehicle

In order to break into the fortified zones on the European continent, the Allies anticipated needing a new class of vehicles, assault tanks, which placed maximum armor protection at a higher priority than mobility. Nuffield responded with 18 separate designs (AT1 through AT18), each design larger and heavier than the last. The AT 2, the subject of this kit, was never… more

ZZ Top Eliminator

Published: April 3, 2018
Company: Revell, Inc.

The Kit

The Eliminator was built for the rock band ZZ Top and has been featured in many of the band’s videos. It’s a sleek hot rod made from a ’33 Ford Coupe in bright red with the ZZ Top logo on the side. The Revell kit of this car is faithful to the original with decals for the side logos and logos even molded into the valve covers and air cleaner on the engine, which is nicely… more

Frog Penguin Model Kits, 1936-50

Published: February 6, 2018
Book Author(s): Peter van Lune
Company: Peter van Lune

Frog was one of the first manufacturers of all plastic model kits in the world, pre-dating most U.S. companies by almost 20 years. Unlike other manufacturers, they did not start off building toys or other items, but rather their first product was the “Interceptor”, a rubber band powered model aircraft. It was distinguished by two things. One is that when those gliders you knew as a kid were… more

Davinci Leverage Crane

Published: December 30, 2017
Company: Academy Models

The Kit

This is the latest in Academy’s “DaVinci Series”. They are models based on sketches of some of the inventions of this amazing man. All are molded in a vinyl-like soft plastic that facilitates the press fit of the components as no glue nor paint is required. All are ingeniously engineered to go together easily and to function smoothly.

The subject of this review is… more

M4 Sherman Tank

Published: February 3, 2020
Company: Revell, Inc.

The Kit

When I saw that this kit was available for review, I just had to do it. It was the first model I ever built on my own. My grandfather bought it for me and I built it at his kitchen table with a tube of Ambroid glue that got all over everything, but I loved it. The model, not the glue. That tank saw many a battle on my bedroom floor and in the back yard for that matter. Can’t… more

Davinci Rolling Ball Timer

Published: February 3, 2020
Company: Academy Models

The Kit

This is the latest in Academy’s “DaVinci Series”. They are models based on sketches of some of the inventions of this amazing man. All are molded in a vinyl-like soft plastic that facilitates the press fit of the components as no glue nor paint is required. All are ingeniously engineered to go together easily and to function smoothly.

The subject of this review is a… more

Ships of Columbus

Published: May 9, 2017
Company: Round 2 Models

The Kits

These are Round Two’s re-release of the Lindberg company’s re-release of three old Pyro molds that appeared under many guises, such as the Nina was once boxed as a Barbary Pirate and the Santa Maria appeared as the Mayflower. They were part of a series of kits called “Historic Sailing Ships” that included twelve ships, many actually duplicates with different names. When… more

Car Door Typhoon Canopy Masks

Published: January 14, 2017
Company: Hauler

If you’re like me, you hate masking canopies/windows. The advent of the canopy mask has made it possible for me to attempt many kits that I otherwise would never try due to large expanses of glass. But even in the case of kits with relatively limited glass, they certainly make life a lot easier.

Hauler Brengun is a Czechoslovakian model company that produces a whole series of… more

Caravelle French Airliner

Published: December 2, 2016
Company: Round 2 Models

The Kit

The Caravelle was the world's first short/medium-range jet airliner, first flying in 1955, and was produced by the French Sud Aviation firm. The Caravelle was one of the most successful first-generation… more

U.S.S. Springfield

Published: February 10, 2020
Company: Revell, Inc.

The Kit

The kit is of the U.S.S. Springfield, one of 27 Cleveland Class light cruisers built by the United States during the Second World War. Her primary role was to provide anti-aircraft protection, but she also served in a shore bombardment capacity. After the war she was laid up but in the late 50’s she was one of three Clevelands to be converted to a guided missile cruiser of… more