This is one of the newer offerings from the Ukraine based company ICM. The Zil-131 has been reboxed many times by ICM. The original tool, however, dates to the 1990s. Considering the age of the tooling, despite some very minor flash, the details are very crisp for a military truck and trailer at this scale. A note on the trailer, I cannot find any information on the trailer, so I do not know if this an older ICM mold or from another manufacturer. The kit comes in a sturdy ICM box. The sprues for the truck and the trailer are packaged in separate cellophane bags. There are two separate instruction sheets in ICM’s typical style with paint callouts in their own brand of acrylic paint. There are decals for two vehicles.

The Stalin tank series was developed in the Soviet Union during WW II to deal with the German Panther and Tiger tanks. It had heavy, well-shaped armor and a powerful 122mm gun that could pierce the frontal armor of nearly any Axis tank at over one thousand yards. Its greatest drawback was that the main gun used two-piece ammunition, which slowed down the re-loading time, thus putting the tank at a disadvantage in a “shoot out” situation.

Every once in a while, a book comes along that you can’t put down. For me, it’s typically a fictional mystery. Hitler’s Miracle Weapons, Volume 2 offers all the suspense of a fiction mystery, except that it’s not. It’s non-fiction, is full of surprising facts, offers clues to mysteries still yet to be solved, and will keep you wanting more.

The use of rockets and rocket-powered flying craft by the Third Reich is not a new discovery, but what were the real intentions in terms of the development and use of these strange and mysterious weapons? Was Wernher von Braun just reaching for the stars? What secrets are still hidden in large underground rocket bunkers in France and Germany? Why are many documents regarding Hitler’s rocket program still classified today? Was there a V-Weapons atomic rocket unit?

If you are curious about any of these questions and many more, this book is an absolute must-read.

Vargas Scale Models has historically occupied a niche specializing in unusual, 3-D printed, limited-run resin armor models, mostly pre- and between World Wars. So far, this has been a winning strategy for this prolific company, fleshing out all those subjects ignored by others. This offering continues in that tradition.

The M1917 was the United States' first mass-produced tank, entering production shortly before the end of World War I. It was a license-built, near-copy of the French Renault FT17, and was intended to arm the American Expeditionary Forces in France. American manufacturers, however, failed to produce any in time to take part in the War. Of the 4,440 ordered, about 950 were eventually completed. These remained in service throughout the 1920s but did not take part in any combat, and were phased out during the 1930s.

The LVT-4, also known as the Landing Vehicle Tracked or “Amtrac”, was a pivotal amphibious vehicle used extensively by the United States Marine Corps and Army during World War II. Developed from earlier LVT models, the LVT-4 distinguished itself with its improved design that featured a rear ramp for faster troop and cargo deployment. This innovation was crucial during pivotal battles in the Pacific Theater, such as the invasions of Saipan, Guam, and Iwo Jima, where the LVT-4's ability to traverse both water and rugged terrain proved indispensable. Its versatility and robust performance cemented its place as an iconic vehicle of the war, playing a significant role in the success of amphibious operations.