Reviews of products for scale figures and diorama models.

Book Author(s)
Ian Baxter
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
June 8, 2023
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$26.95

Ian Baxter is a prolific author and has an impressive collection of photographs, many previously unpublished. The book follows the familiar Images of War format with brief introductions for each chapter followed by a lot of photographs to tell the story. The German war machine attracted followers from conquered countries. This book focuses on Belgian, Danish, and Dutch volunteers drawn to the Waffen-SS and their respective major formations and battles, including the 1944 Battle of Narva (2 February -10 August 1944) that also earned the nickname “The Battle of the European SS”. These combined units fought to the end in the Kurland Pocket, with only some evacuated by sea, while others fought in the Battle for Berlin in April 1945.

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
May 31, 2023
Company
ICM
Scale
1:35
MSRP
$23.59

Listed as the first in their “Brave Ukraine” series, this is a small diorama set with four figures servicing an indigenous Stugna-P antitank missile system. The Stugna-P is essentially the equivalent of the U.S. TOW missile system and was developed around 2010 and is effective against most forms of armor (including reactive) up to about 160 feet. It can fire two different calibers of missile – 130mm and 152mm, both of which can also be supplied in high explosive or fragmentation format for use against infantry. It’s also effective during night operations, which must make it a major headache for Russian forces, who normally are not well equipped for night combat. The version supplied in the kit appears to be the 130mm version, although I could be mistaken.

Review Author
Will Kuhrt
Published on
February 26, 2023
Company
Value Gear
Scale
1/16
MSRP
$25.00

Value Gear Details, based in Flagstaff, Arizona, produces a wide range of high-quality resin accessories for most common model scales. Many of the accessories and stowage sets are universal, which is a nice advantage. This allows the model builder to customize the look they want by mixing sets or you can use one sets intended for specific subjects, such as the “German Tank Bits” family of accessories.

The set featured in this review has 21 pieces. Also available is set German Tank Bits #1 consisting of 22 pieces, and German Tank Bits #2 with 21 pieces.

The detail of these is stellar. I never cease to be amazed at the level of fine detail Value Gear achieves!

Book Author(s)
Andy Singleton
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
February 24, 2023
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$26.95

The origin of Pen and Sword Books is closely linked with its sister company, the Barnsley Chronicle; one of the UK's oldest provincial newspapers – established in 1858 – and one of the few weeklies still in private ownership. The first books published by the company were in response to public demand following of a series of articles published in the newspaper: Dark Peak Aircraft Wrecks told the story of crash sites in the Dark Peak area of the Peak District National Park, and a further weekly feature on the history of two Kitchener battalions, known as the Barnsley Pals, aroused a thirst for more information. Following on from the success of Dark Peak Wrecks and Barnsley Pals books, a number of local history paperbacks were produced along with a series of battlefield guidebooks. Battleground Europe proved immediately successful, and as more and more titles were produced the company made the decision to launch a book publishing arm of the group.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
February 22, 2023
Company
Hauler
Scale
1:72
MSRP
$19.25

Hauler has provided another addition to the great Diorama releases with this Bedroom Furniture set. The set includes a double Bed, two bedside units, a Wardrobe, two table lamps and two telephones.

The detail quality is great. The parts once removed from the mold base are ready to assembly.

Be careful when removing the side table lamp as they break easily. Also be careful not to drop a telephone on the carpet it will never be seen again as I found out!

The Assembly is quick and easy. The final part is painting them how every you want and looks great as an addition to any diorama.

Thanks go to Hauler for providing this kit to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them

Book Author(s)
Darren Poole
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
February 4, 2023
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

This is the first of a two-book series on the American counterinsurgency against the Viet Cong. Hunting the Viet Cong - The Counterinsurgency Campaign in South Vietnam, 1961-1963, Vol 1-The Strategic Hamlet Programme covers the early American involvement in Vietnam before Americans were officially committed as combat troops, serving as advisors to South Vietnam.

Dr Darren Poole teaches military history at the University of Chester and University Centre, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom. Dr Poole has degrees in Geography, Education, History and Military History with over 20 years of experience. Dr Poole’s dissertation focused on the Vietnamese Strategic Hamlet Programme, and his research is evident with over nine pages of bibliography and nine pages of footnotes. The main point that sticks out is his focus on researching the “’unheard voices’ of conflict. These include, for example, the peasants caught in a cross-fire in South Vietnam and the view of the Viet Cong themselves.”

Review Author
Mr. Paul Dunham
Published on
January 27, 2023
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$6.14

Ammo’s “Quake Crackle Creator Textures” are a line of thick acrylic paints formulated to dry with cracked surfaces in order to simulate terrain such as dried mud or cracked pavement. Quake is available in five colors: Crackle Base (white), Old Blacktop (black), Scorched Sand (tan), Baked Earth (brown), and Dry Season Clay (red-brown). I’ve tried the first three colors in this review. The product comes in 40ml plastic bottles. The screw-caps are nearly as wide as the bottles and have prominent ridges, so if you get paint on the threads, you can still get the bottles open.

Review Author
Mr. Paul Dunham
Published on
January 27, 2023
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$4.00

Ammo’s line of Moss products is intended to help modelers simulate natural textures such as moss and lichen on their miniatures. The Moss products are a very finely shredded material that can be glued to surfaces to add the color and texture of tiny plants. Moss is available in ten colors that include a variety of greens and browns. The Moss comes in 35ml plastic jars. For this review I tried Ochre Moss, Bracken Green, and Sea Moss.

Book Author(s)
Graham Bandy
Review Author
Orlando Reyes
Published on
January 22, 2023
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$49.95

The book covers a detailed account of the cap badges used by the British Armed forces from their creation until the present. The book consists of a Foreword, Introduction, Order of Precedence, and A Short Story of the Badge in the British Army, How to use the Book, 31 Chapters, and where to go next. This last part is divided into Abbreviations used, 10 Appendices and the Bibliography.