Reviews of products for scale military vehicle models.

Book Author(s)
David Doyle
Review Author
Jim Stratton
Published on
June 6, 2012
Company
Squadron Signal Publications
MSRP
$18.95

The Squadron Signal “In Action” series has been around for many years and is well liked by modelers and vehicle historians alike. This newest volume concentrates on the German heavy armored cars used throughout World War II. The title may be a little deceiving as it only addresses the heavies and not the smaller light armored cars. This volume does, however, look at all the heavy armored cars from the early war Sd.Kfz. 231 6-wheeled vehicle to the late war Sd.Kfz. 234 series of 8-wheeled vehicles. There is minimal text, which mostly serves to introduce the different variants. There are no technical drawings in this issue but there is an abundance of “in action” photographs, each of which has a descriptive caption. Several of the images are closeup shots that show plenty of details of the vehicles featured. This volume has 80 pages and over 200 B & W photographs. The only color illustrations are on the front and back covers.

Book Author(s)
Michael Collins and Martin King
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
May 26, 2012
Company
Zenith Press
MSRP
$29.00

Authors Michael Collins and Martin King have written a well researched and historical account of the German attack in the Ardennes in December, 1944. What makes this book special is that it covers the human (but not necessarily humane) aspects of the battle.

The book is a day-by-day narration of the main military actions that occurred during the Battle of the Bulge. Each chapter begins by describing the front situation and what different units were charged to do. So far, that is a ‘regular’ history book. But then the rest of each chapter has first person narratives from the soldiers (from both sides, but mainly American ones) and even support personnel like nurses, on how they managed to do what they were charged with.

Most of the book covers the German thrust up to December 25th. The last chapter of the book covers the Allied counter-attack that lasted from late December, 1944, up to January/February, 1945.

Book Author(s)
Hans-Heiri Stapfer
Review Author
Andrew Birkbeck
Published on
May 24, 2012
Company
Squadron Products
MSRP
$18.95

Yet another in the long established series of military vehicle monographs from Squadron Signal Publications under their “Walk Around” range, this particular title covers the Jagdpanzer 38 Hetzer. The book is in softback (card cover) format, 80 pages in length, with the glossy paper pages measuring 11 x 8 inches. The same title is also available in a hardback format, should you wish to spend the additional money.

Those familiar with this series of books will not be disappointed, as it follows the tried and true Walk Around format: the reader is given a brief written history of the Hetzer range of vehicles, a late war armored, tracked tank destroyer based on the Panzer 38(t) chassis. The Hetzer became the most widely used tank destroyer employed by German forces in WW2.

Review Author
Roger Carrano
Published on
May 20, 2012
Company
Pro Art Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$23.99

Pro Art Models has come up with another idea for filling a simple niche with respect for modelers who build dioramas or need items to use as stowage on military and/or civilian models. This time Pro Art Models have put together 1/35 scale resin backpacks for military and civilian use. The detail is so precise that you almost can’t wait to paint them just to see how real they’re going to look. There are 10 different white resin pieces, of which there are two each (total of twenty pieces), with half being military and the other half being civilian. Even in close inspection, I could not find any apparent bubbles or flaws. Pro Art has positioned them on their resin stubs so as not to cut off any major details which would affect the detail of each piece. The handles, belts, buckles, and zippers can be seen so vividly that it seems to be almost real.

Review Author
Mark Aldrich
Published on
May 17, 2012
Company
Verlinden Productions
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$32.95

Verlinden Productions continues to be on the front line releasing many items for Middle East War model builders. This set is just another offering in their LONG line of items directly designed for the IDF modeler. This set is designed for the newly released Tamiya M-51 kit! Other than a couple issues, you could cover your M51 with period gear plus get a three piece crew set. All the items are well cast and bubble free. The detail on all the parts is quite incredible. The figure faces have some great detail as well. What is included in the set is the following:

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
September 14, 2021
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$20.00

The Panzer

The Panzer III was built by Daimler-Benz, and the A models were first produced in 1937. The first mass production version was the Ausf F, which entered service in 1939, just in time for Poland.

The Panzer III was upgunned and armor added due to the experiences in Russia in 1941 and ‘42. The Ausf J, the model preceding the L, was equipped with the 50mm KWK L39/60 gun, which could penetrate the T-34s front armor at ranges under 500 meters.

The L had the same armament, but the armor was increased to 50mm, with 20mm plates on the front and rear. This made the L pretty safe from the T-34 at longer ranges, but the KV-1 could still put it in the hurt locker. Also, with lighter side armor, even anti-tank rifles could penetrate from closer ranges at the flanks. The Ausf M was often equipped with side skirts for the hull and turret.

Review Author
Mark Aldrich
Published on
April 30, 2012
Company
SabIngaMartin Publications
MSRP
$35.00

Doctor Robert Manasherob just keeps making our day for those of us that are into the Israeli Defense Forces! His many in-depth books covering the armored vehicles of the IDF are nothing short of spectacular! His books often contain personal insights and stories that help bring the books to life. The inclusion of never before seen pictures and color walk arounds of the actual vehicles are a modeler’s dream come true. The only better way to research these topics would be for you to go to the Latrun Museum yourself.

Book Author(s)
Dick Taylor
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
April 20, 2012
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$32.00

Mushroom Model Publications keeps expanding its “Green Line” (dedicated to armored fighting vehicles) and its latest installment covers the Valentine family of tanks, from the design in the late 1930s through its operational use during WWII and other uses in post-war years, up to the 1960s.

The main sections of the book includes the development of the tank, technical description, description of each mark of the family, operational use, painting and markings, overseas use (Canada, New Zealand, India, USSR, among others), variants, and a walk-around.

I found the historical pictures to be very valuable from a modeling point of view, as they provide details on the markings of the tanks plus the environment in which they operated. The picture of the Malta Valentines (with their stone wall camouflage) is very unique.

Review Author
Chuck Bush
Published on
April 18, 2012
Company
Meng Model
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$63.99

The VsKfz 617 Minenraumer is the first entry in Meng’s Stegosaurus series.

The VsKfz 617 never got out of the prototype phase. The first one was completed in 1942, jointly designed by Alkett, Krupp, and Daimler-Benz. Only the vehicle captured by the Russians survives today.

The model comes in a sturdy box with all sprues individually bagged. The hull top and bottom are in a separate compartment, as is the turret. The track parts are in two plastic trays, keeping everything neat.

The instructions comprise a 14 page booklet with a color drawing of a minenraumer on the front. The first page has a discussion of the unclear history of the vehicle. Page 3 through 12 contain the 19 step instructions, all very clearly drawn, with no step being too busy or confusing. Page 13 is a nicely done parts map, and page 14 has 3-color drawings showing possible camouflage schemes.

Review Author
Tom Moon
Published on
April 16, 2012
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$58.00

This is a multimedia kit comprised of 650+ styrene parts on 17 sprues, Magic Tracks, one braided metal wire (which is very stiff even after annealing), one photo etched fret, decals, and the set of instructions that need to be reviewed very carefully before gluing any parts together.

Most Dragon models today are a collection of old sprues with new sprues added to create a new kit variant. In this case, Dragon has mounted the s.IG 33 field gun to the Pz III chassis. In doing so, you will have some sprues with the same letter but are called out by the color or upper or lower case (example: Sprues Blue A, Blue B and Black b). A whole plethora of parts will be unused and relegated to the spare parts box.

Step 1. This step is the assembly of the idler wheel, drive sprockets, road wheels, and return wheels. There are no problems here other than the removal of the mold line which is noticeable on the road wheels.