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.

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.

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.

The Mi-24 Hind is a formidable attack helicopter, but unlike the Western attack helicopters, there is a crew compartment in the back. If you want to show something a little different you can add things in there. This set is designed for just that.

Contained in a blister pack are six resin pieces, perfectly cast in a dark grey resin, along with a small decal sheet. The tank is held in place by two support struts and two supports and has one fuel line. Instructions are on a small sheet of paper printed in black and white. The instructions are easy to understand that there is a photo of the actual tank mounted inside of a real helicopter. With the tank painted yellow it will stick out quite prominently.

This is a great option to add to your Hind that will make it stand out from the rest. The resin parts are perfect and the instructions are easy to understand. Another great set from Brengun.

Highly recommended

I must admit that when I first saw these paints, I did think that they were not really needed in this hobby as we have been dry brushing using normal paint for many years.

But I have been using them now for some time and I confirm they are in fact another useful product.

This set is very good, and I used them on a German North Africa Stug. and with great results.

I have also used this in an airbrush for shading and as a paint on other materials so they can be used in other ways very successfully.

Summary

These are very useful, and I have found it a great addition to my toolbox!

Thanks go to Ammo by Mig Jimenez for providing this set to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.