Reviews of products for scale military vehicle models.

Review Author
Ron Bell
Published on
Company
OKB Grigorov
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$61.50

The Vehicle

In order to break into the fortified zones on the European continent, the Allies anticipated needing a new class of vehicles, assault tanks, which placed maximum armor protection at a higher priority than mobility. Nuffield responded with 18 separate designs (AT1 through AT18), each design larger and heavier than the last. The AT 2, the subject of this kit, was never built, but served as a stepping stone to the eventual development of the AT 16, or Tortoise, two of which were built, but the war ended before they were needed.

Don’t be fooled by what looks like a turret on this vehicle. It’s actually a fixed superstructure such as on a Sturmgeschutze. In the AT 2 version, it mounted a 95mm howitzer.

Book Author(s)
David R. Higgins; Illustrator: Johnny Shumate & Alan Gilliland
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$20.00

David R. Higgins is the author of several military history books, including five previous titles for Osprey's Duel series. These include King Tiger vs IS-2 (Duel 37), Mark IV vs A7V (Duel 49), Jagdpanther vs Su-100 (Duel 58), Panzer II vs 7TP (Duel 66), and M48 Patton vs Centurion (Duel 71). David has also authored books for Osprey in the Raid and Combat series. David authored a hardcover book for Casemate in 2010: The Roer Battles: Germany’s Stand at the Westwall, 1944-45. David has been prolific in periodicals, having written nearly 50 articles for magazines such as Strategy & Tactics, Armchair General, World at War and Modern War, and has appeared on television's ‘Greatest Tank Battles'. David attended the Columbus College of Art & Design and received a BFA from Ohio State University. He currently lives in New Albany, Ohio.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Mirage Hobby
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$12.00

This is a new version of the Renault UE Tankette and is the Scout version. This version has two options you can build one which has two machine gun turrets while the other has one machine gun turret and a load carrier at the rear.

The kit contains

  • 3 x sprues molded in grey styrene
  • 1 color guide sheet
  • 1 decal sheet
  • 1 instruction booklet.

Construction

Firstly you must know the instructions are in Polish which will be a problem for a novice modeler, but many will have no real trouble with the instructions.

Book Author(s)
Daniele Guglielmi, Mario Pieri
Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$28.27

This book, published by AMMO by Mig Jimenez SL, is a guide to the subject of colors and markings of German military vehicles and units. The books stated attempt is to bring order to the complex and partly unknown topics, and to provide clarity to all of the information available on the Internet. The book is divided into chapters that deal with the main themes separately

Chapter 1: The Ballenkreuz

Describes the beginnings, evolution, implementation, and use of the straight-armed cross used on almost all German vehicles. Colored illustrations of variations in the cross and black & white photographs are used to illustrate examples.

Chapter 2: Composition of Military Units

Explains the tactical symbols and hierarchy of military units. A color chart illustrates the Waffenfarbe (arm colors) used to differentiate troops.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$19.95

This is a photoetch Interior set of various German WWII type tie down straps. This set has one colored photoetch sheet with both sides being colored.

In the Packet is:

  • 1 colored photoetch sheet

Summary

This is a fantastic set for adding some great details to any German WWII vehicle to replace molded-on straps or to attach additional aftermarket stowage materials. There are 14 straps/tie downs included of three different colors and 6 different designs. Being steel, that are very easy to form and shape. They can even be flattened again and re-formed without the paint peeling as it does with brass.

I will be buying a few more sets for my many armor builds to come.

Thanks go to Eduard for providing this set to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
MiniArt
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$75.99

Introduction

This is part 1 of the review of MiniArt’s T-55 Mod. 1963 Interior Kit. Part 2 will complete the assembly of the turret, tracks, fenders, and the remainder of the kit.

This kit is the first of MiniArt’s T-55 variants and follows their earlier series of T-44/54 Russian tank kits. Following their previous versions, this kit is first released with full interior detailing. MiniArt has also announced a soon to be released IDF Tiran version of the T-55, and a T-55A Late Mod. 1965.

Review Author
David Dodge
Published on
Company
AFV Club
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$69.99

Intro

AFV Club released this kit in the fall of last year. This is a variant of their M35x series of 2.5-ton trucks of which the M49A2c 1200 Gallon Fuel truck and the venerable M35A2/3 “Deuce and a half” truck were released.

Book Author(s)
Various
Review Author
Tim Wilding
Published on
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$12.95

This is 20th magazine in Ammo’s weathering line. I really like how they take one topic and run about ten articles to explain how to improve your skill on this technique. The magazine is in the larger, A4 European style, since it is published in Spain. There are 75 pages of high gloss color photos broken down into 11 articles. The article’s models range from five armored fighting vehicles, a locomotive, a figure, a submarine and a Sci-Fi Maschinen figure. Each article is six to eight pages long and full of photos detailing the step by step camouflage pattern being used. There is no construction of these kits discussed, it is just all painting and weathering. I noticed that almost all the articles use only Ammo by Mig products. Makes sense since it is their magazine series.