Reviews of products for scale military vehicle models.

Review Author
Mr. Greg Kittinger
Published on
May 31, 2023
Company
Arma Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$29.86

The Fleet Air Arm drew from the backbone of the Royal Air Force to flesh out their ship-born fighter contingent, adding an arrestor hook and catapult spools to the venerable Hawker Hurricane to convert it into a naval fighter.

Arma Hobby are building a reputation for some great kits, especially in the underserved 1/72 scale. They have a growing line of Hurricanes among their recent releases, and the Sea Hurricane is a very welcome addition.

The box and instructions include colored art for 5 different aircraft, accompanied by nicely printed decals that performed well. Care must be taken to determine which aircraft you want to build, and then run through the instructions and mark which parts and markings are to be included on selected version.

The Arma Hobby styrene has a nice feel – not as soft as Airfix, and not hard or brittle. It was a pleasure to handle and responded well to filing and sanding clean-up.

Book Author(s)
Przemystaw Skulski
Review Author
Phillip Cavender
Published on
May 31, 2023
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$11.99

Founded in 1996, MMP Books is a UK-based publishing company with its book publishing division starting in 1999. Specializing in aviation and military history, MMP Books is known worldwide as a source for anything military.

PzKpfw. VI Ausf. E. Tiger I (late) Single Vehicle No. 06 is the sixth book added to the “Single Vehicle” line of books MMP Books in 2022. Others include Single Vehicle No. 01 ( SU-76M) published in 2021 to their latest Single Vehicle No. 08 (Polish Armoured Draisine TK) entered the market in 2023. MMP Books

This A4 format 8-3/4 x 11-3/4 inch 24-page book is printed on satin paper with color pages printed on glossy paper. The front and back covers are both printed on glossy paper. The text is in English.

Book Author(s)
Dennis Oliver
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
May 13, 2023
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$29.95

This is the 40th book in the Tank Craft series which details tanks and also covers model kits and accessories to build the tanks covered in the book. This book covers the German Army Light Tank Panzer III in North Africa El Alamein to Tunis 1942 to 1943. The Panzer III was the mainstay of the German Army’s Panzer Divisions in the early tears of the war made up the bulk of the North Africa Armored forces.

Although it was not as heavily armored as some of the opponents tanks it was very reliable, sturdy and its main gun was as powerful as the enemies armaments.

I found this book a fountain of information and rare pictures of both tanks. The Profile pictures are a particular favorite and awesome source for modeling.

The chapters on the different model builds and kits are of great interest and will provide a good resource when modeling these two tanks.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
May 11, 2023
Company
DEF Model
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$19.95

Base Model Background - From Wikipedia

The Oshkosh M-ATV is a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle developed by the Oshkosh Corporation for the MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) program. Intended to replace M1114 HMMWVs (Humvee), it is designed to provide the same levels of protection as the larger and heavier previous MRAPs, but with improved mobility.

Base Model - Ryefield Models

Normally I prefer to build 1/48th scale aircraft, but will occasionally build 1/35th scale military vehicles. I saw an article on the M1240A1 M-ATV on line and was taken with the detail and the appearance of the vehicle itself. In searching for models I found that Panda and Rye Field Models both offered versions of the vehicle. I especially liked the Rye Field Models RFMRM5032 version as that offered the option for an open hood, revealing the nicely detailed engine compartment, as well as a full interior. I ended up ordering the kit on line.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
May 2, 2023
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$11.51

The Item

If you want to bring your Ural 375 Fuel Tank Truck model kit to the next level, this excellent photoetch detail set is just the thing for you. This extensive PE sheet has most of the appliqués that can be added to the kit to provide a fully detailed rendering of the Ural 375 Fuel Tanker vehicle.

PE parts generally require certain tools to bend/and manipulate the parts for a good fit. You’ll find those at online and local hobby shops. Adhesion can be done in a variety of ways including thin cements, paint, or even floor polish, depending on the part’s requirements. This set comes with instructions and the parts are correspondingly numbered on the fret tree.

All-in-all this set will definitely enhance the appearance of your Ural 375 Fuel Tank Truck.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
May 2, 2023
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$9.52

The Item

If you want to bring your M20 Armored Utility Car model kit to the next level, this excellent photo etch detail set is just the thing for you. This extensive PE sheet has most of the appliqués that can be added to the kit to provide a fully detailed rendering of the M20 vehicle.

PE parts generally require certain tools to bend/and manipulate the parts for a good fit. You’ll find those at online and local hobby shops. Adhesion can be done in a variety of ways including thin cements, paint, or even floor polish, depending on the part’s requirements. This set comes with instructions and the parts are correspondingly numbered on the fret tree.

All-in-all this set will definitely enhance the appearance of your armored car.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
May 2, 2023
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$14.33

The Item

If you want to bring your “Jimmy” truck model kit to the next level, this excellent photoetch detail set is just the thing for you. This extensive PE sheet set has most of the appliqués that can be added to the kit to provide a fully detailed rendering of the GMC CCW/CCKW 353 Truck.

PE parts generally require certain tools to bend/and manipulate the parts for a good fit. You’ll find those at online and local hobby shops. Adhesion can be done in a variety of ways including thin cements, paint, or even floor polish, depending on the part’s requirements. This set comes with instructions and the parts are correspondingly numbered on the fret tree.

All-in-all this set will definitely enhance the appearance of your “Deuce-and-a-Half” truck.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
May 2, 2023
Company
Hauler Brengun
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$8.58

The Item

If you want to bring your Amphibious Assault Vehicle-7A1model kit to the next level, this excellent photo etch detail set is just the thing for you. This extensive PE sheet has most of the appliqués that can be added to the kit to provide a fully detailed rendering of the AAV-7A1 vehicle.

PE parts generally require certain tools to bend/and manipulate the parts for a good fit. You’ll find those at online and local hobby shops. Adhesion can be done in a variety of ways including thin cements, paint, or even floor polish, depending on the part’s requirements. This set comes with instructions and the parts are correspondingly numbered on the fret tree.

All-in-all this set will definitely enhance the appearance of your AAV-7A1 truck.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
April 30, 2023
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.10

The Subject

The Studebaker US6 (G630) was a series of 2+1⁄2-ton 6×6 and 5-ton 6×4 trucks manufactured by the Studebaker Corporation and REO Motor Car Company during World War II. The basic cargo version was designed to transport a 2+1⁄2-short-ton (5,000 lb; 2,300 kg) cargo load over any type of terrain in any weather. Most of these were exported to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease by the USA during World War II, since the competing GMC 6×6 CCKW design proved to be more suitable for Western Front conditions. (Source - Wikipedia)

The Item

If you want to bring your Studebaker US-6 Cargo Truck model kit to the next level, this excellent photoetch detail set is just the thing for you. This extensive PE sheet has most of the appliqués that can be added to the kit to provide a fully detailed rendering of the Studebaker vehicle.

Book Author(s)
Dennis Oliver
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
April 21, 2023
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$29.95

From Dennis Oliver’s Introduction,

"The American-build M4 Medium Tank, christened Sherman by the British, served in every theater of war from North Africa, Sicily and Italy to north-western Europe and finally in the Far East. From late 1942 it was arguably the most important armoured vehicle in Britain’s arsenal, with the possible exception of the Churchill. Field Marshal Montgomery, the overall commander of the British and Commonwealth units fighting in the Mediterranean and later in Normandy, considered the Sherman to be a universal tank, capable of both close infantry support and mobile warfare."