Thanks first to Tamiya USA for the review sample and to IPMS/USA for the chance to review this kit.
I want to start by saying I don’t model much armor, this is only my third armor model completed, but I definitely will be building more.
Eduard has come up with a great kit which uses the Tasca molds for the Sherman tank and made it better with its Profi-pack. The basic kit is molded in olive drab green and comes on 14 parts trees plus a small clear parts tree and four sections of rubber tracks. It also has a nice set of photo etch parts and decals for four different subjects. The instruction booklet is pretty clear and concise and the illustrations are sharp.
Tamiya has recently released a great kit of the Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (Stock 35340). This detail set is designed to enhance an excellent kit.
This whole detail set is meant to improve the gun, and only the gun. It provides an extra sprue to build the gun breech –in plastic, and provides an aluminum turned replacement gun.
The breech/loading mechanism builds together beautifully and without any fuss, as can be seen in the pictures. The metal barrel is flawless and incredibly smooth. So smooth that actually the paint peeled off the first time I painted it. Make sure to use a primer.
If you add this detail set, you are instructed to not install the torsos of the crew or they will interfere with the gun. The kit itself is designed in such a way that you can remove the upper hull after the kit is finished, I guess to be able to see the cannon detail. Or you can keep the hatches open and admire the detail if you have a flashlight.
Later in World War 2, the Germans made an effort to upgrade older guns by mounting them on newer, lighter carriages. Sometimes this was successful, sometimes not. The old 10.5 cm leFH 18/40 light field howitzer was just such a conversion. It was updated by mounting it on the tried and true carriage used for the 75 mm Pak 40. The carriage proved to be too light to support the gun well, and there were constant problems with the combination. Nonetheless, it was used from about 1943 until the end of the war.
I want to start this review with a disclaimer: I am not an “armor guy”. I built mainly airplanes and the occasional soft skin. But armor has been calling me recently and the release of an all new-tooling Tamiya Jagdpanzer was too tempting as to not trying it.
This kit has a total of 252 pieces. It comes with plastic tracks, includes the torso of two figures and it has a small decal sheet with markings for 3 different tank hunters (one Eastern Front, two Western Front examples).
Dragon has expanded their family of Sd.Kfz.10/4 utility halftracks to include a new version towing a standard ammunition trailer. This fully detailed kit sports an engine and gearbox, with an open passenger compartment and pose-able hood panels to expose these beauties. Upgraded road wheels and Magic Tracks have resulted in a spectacular halftrack/trailer combination. The kit comes with an array of new parts, like the loading ramps which can be either assembled for dismounting the gun in the rear or attached to the front of the vehicle.
Over time, I find myself becoming fonder and fonder of Bronco Models and their products. They consistently seem to offer fascinating subjects done with a real flair, and this set is no exception. It consists of a 75mm Pack Howitzer along with a jeep, trailer, four riding paratroopers, and a wealth of personal equipment. The box is packed with good, firm plastic which takes fine detail well, and it also includes three sheets of photo-etch and two decal sheets: one for the equipment and one for the soldiers. As this is a variant of the regular jeep offered by Bronco, you wind up with a host of useful extras, including wheels/tires, windshields, and steering wheels. The instructions are actually a 27-page full-color manual, and they are extremely well laid out and informative. In addition, for the most part, parts are logically laid out on the sprues. This helps in piecing together this complicated set and saves an immense amount of time searching for some elusive bit.
The M3A3 Bradley w/BUSK III CFV is the very latest model fielded by the US Army. The Cavalry Fighting Vehicle’s (CFV) primary duties are reconnaissance and scouting. The CFV Bradleys are normally assigned to Tank Battalions or Cavalry Divisions. The Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) Bradleys are used to transport troops into battle and out.
MENG has followed their kit of the successful M2A3 Bradley (IFV) w/BUSK III with the new M3A3 Bradley (CFV) w/BUSK III. They have separated the main vehicle and the interior into two kits and packaged both separately. This gives modelers the option to build the vehicle kit without the interior at a cost savings.
This review covers MENG’s M3A3 Bradley w/BUSK III Interior Set. The vehicle itself is reviewed separately at: M3A3 Bradley w/BUSK III
In 1980 the US Army formally took delivery of the new M2 Bradley IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) and M3 Bradley CFV (Cavalry Fighting Vehicle). The M3 CFV had a wielded aluminum hull. It was powered by a 500hp Cummins VTA-903 diesel engine with an HMDT-500 automatic transmission at that time. Its two-man turret had positions for the commander and gunner. The turret consisted of a 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun, a 7.62mm M240C coaxial machine gun and a two-tube TOW anti-tank missile launcher. Firing ports and periscopes on each side of the hull, and the two firing ports on the rear ramp were eliminated on the M3 CFV.
The AB was a soft-top variant of the Model AA, and inherited features such as the 3.4-liter inline-6 engine and live axle leaf spring front/rear suspension. It differed from the AA in its folding cloth roof, dedicated windshield design, and front-hinged door layout. To make room for the new folding auxiliary seats, the rear seat bank was moved somewhat further back. Of the 353 produced by 1938, the majority were eventually sent to the military and never made it into the hands of the public as was originally intended.
