Reviews of products for scale military vehicle models.

Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
October 31, 2023
Company
ICM
Scale
1:35
MSRP
$49.00

This is the third of four of ICM’s Unimog 404, Kit No, 35137 Military Radio Truck. Other variants in the series include the German Military Truck (Kit No. 35135 is the standard cargo version), the “Koffer” (Kit No. 35136) and Military Ambulance “Krankenwagen” (Kit No.35138). As I previously reviewed the standard, first kit, I was eager to review this third kit as a later version of this ubiquitous Unimog 404.

Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
October 31, 2023
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1:35
MSRP
$49.00

The South Korean K2 Black Panther MBT (Main Battle Tank), produced by Hyundai Rotem, was designed to meet the Republic of Korea’s Army requirement for a three-dimensional, high speed maneuver, based on network-centric warfare. The first tanks were available in 2014. While this at first looks like a shrunken down M1 Abrams, it is a new tank design unto itself. This state-of-the-art tank features an autoloader with a sophisticated 120mm main gun system (to include smart top-attack munitions), Automatic Target Detection and Tracking System (ATDTS), network-centric warfare capabilities and operability, and both active and passive protection systems.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
October 15, 2023
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$68.00

ICM has provided this V3000S German Truck from World War Two. It had a payload of 3t tons and was assembled in the Ford Plant in Cologne from 1941 to 1945. This version “Einheitsfahrerhaus” was produced from 1943 with a cab made from Pressed wood to simplify production and reduce cost due to material shortages. It was used in every German WWII theater of war.

  • Four x Light grey Sprue
  • One x Clear Sprue
  • Smal decal sheet
  • Instructions

The detail quality is excellent, although there is a lot of flash, seam lines and pin marks to remove and improve.

I decided to paint the assemblies as I was building the kit, the paints are good, but you do need to experiment with the thinning mix and thinner you use. I would recommend Water or if you have it the Hataka thinner as these were best with the ICM paints.

Assembly stages 1 to 27 are the main Chassis and engine etc. The only issues to be aware of are as follows.

Book Author(s)
Tom Cockle
Review Author
Peter Bucher
Published on
October 8, 2023
Company
Peko Publishing
MSRP
$30.60

The Book “Sturmgestutz- ABT-226 On the Battlefield World War Two Photobook Series” is a book published by Peko Publishing. The book is written by Ton Cockle and is in both Hungarian and English. The Book is 132 pages and takes you on a photographic journey in World War II with the German Army Sturmgeshutz unit ABT-226. The book is Hard Cover and is in Horizontal format. Much like the Squadron in Action books. The Book has a photograph and caption describing the photograph on almost every page.

Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
October 8, 2023
Company
Value Gear
Scale
1:35
MSRP
$17.00

I jumped at the chance to review the Value Gear USA Modern Gear Set #2 as I am a huge fan of Value Gear, its amazing sets, and its owner (and producer, shipper, sales, customer service, and everything else to make a company work guy), Steve Munsell (also known as one of the nicest guys in our hobby).

To best set the stage for this review, here is Value Gear's Goal from their website:

The Value Gear idea is to give model builders (me included) a more useful spares box! Creating and casting sets of Generic/Universal stowage. No helmets no weapons and nothing to keep you from using it in a wooden cart, a chariot, a truck, or a panther tank. "Any Army Any Era!" is my motto. They won't work on everything but so far, I have seen people use them on so many different trucks and tanks and even some War Hammer tanks and dioramas. Stowage are accents to help give your model some story or a lived-in realistic look. Armies live under canvas.

Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
October 8, 2023
Company
Value Gear
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$17.00

I jumped at the chance to review the Value Gear M10-ACH as I am a huge fan of Value Gear, its amazing sets, and its owner (and producer, shipper, sales, customer service, and everything else to make a company work guy), Steve Munsell (also known as one of the nicest guys in our hobby).

To best set the stage for this review, here is Value Gear's Goal from their website:

The Value Gear idea is to give model builders (me included) a more useful spares box! Creating and casting sets of Generic/Universal stowage. No helmets no weapons and nothing to keep you from using it in a wooden cart, a chariot, a truck, or a panther tank. "Any Army Any Era!" is my motto. They won't work on everything but so far I have seen people use them on so many different trucks and tanks and even some War Hammer tanks and dioramas. Stowage are accents to help give your model some story or a lived in realistic look. Armies live under canvas...

Book Author(s)
Ian Baxter
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
October 8, 2023
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$24.95

The book is another in the great Images of War series. This book covers the history and actions of the German Self-Propelled Artillery at war 1940-1945 in rare photographs.

The book covers all the major battles as shown in the Chapter titles.

  1. 1940-1941.
  2. 1942-1943
  3. The End 1944-1945
    • Appendix I – Vehicle Specifications
    • Appendix II – Camouflage and Zimmerit

The images in the book are excellent and cover all the various Self-Propelled Artillery Vehicles used by the German Army in WWII.

The book is full of amazing photos, many gave me an insight into the conditions I have not considered before. There is a lot of Diorama inspiration in this book.

Thanks go to Pen and Sword / Casemate Publishing for providing this book to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
September 30, 2023
Company
Hauler
Scale
1:48
MSRP
$8.00

Hauler has provided another addition to the great Accessories releases with this WWII German 5 5-litre oil can set. The set includes a 6 oil can.

The detail quality is great. The parts only need to be removed from the mold base, cleaned up are ready to paint.

The only assembly after painting them green is to add the single decal.

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

Book Author(s)
Dennis Oliver
Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
September 30, 2023
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$29.95

From the Website

Experience in the Polish and French campaigns had convinced the German high command of the value of fast-moving, armed reconnaissance vehicles. But it was realised that many of the early designs were too lightly-armed and development of a heavy eight-wheeled prototype resulted in the Sdkfz 234 series of armoured cars, the first of which entered service in late 1943. Built by the firm of Büssing-NAG, these sturdy and reliable vehicles were gradually up-armed and served in the infantry support role and eventually as tank killers, largely as the result of Hitler's desperation to arm as many vehicles as possible with anti-tank weapons.