Hauler is well known for its detail sets to accompany new releases. The hedgerow cutter for Tamiya’s 1/48 M8 Howitzer Motor Carrier is no exception. This easy, five-piece PE set (the fret measures 1.25”x 1”) adds great detail with minimal effort (great for PE neophytes such as me). That is not to belay the extra detail that this accessory adds to your M8 to break through the Norman bocage.

The bends are easy 90^o angles, one per piece. Assembly is simply cut the piece out, sand, bend, and glue (or solder), and can be complete in a few minutes. One of the best aspects of PE is that it can be “damaged” and/or have manufacturing deficiencies built into it; something that is much harder to do in other mediums.

This is an easy-to-use PE that adds another level of detail to an already impressive kit. It is also highly recommended for those wanting to learn PE skills.

Hauler continues to produce high detail PE sets for mainstream models. The U.S. Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 - Grills and Basket set complements the recent Tamiya 1/48 M8 HMC.

Tamiya kits are known for their ease of building and detail. There are some tradeoffs that come with that philosophy, particularly with engine screens and lightweight metal baskets. This PE set fills that void and takes the Tamiya kit to the next level. This PE set contains four engine screens, the rear turret basket and, not mentioned in the packaging or instructions, 24 tool straps (Part Nos. 6), all in a small 1.5” x 1.5” fret.

The only bends required are simple 90^o angles for the basket (the tool clamps take a bit more effort but have the strap and buckle assembly that really is crisp). An advantage to PE for the screens and basket is the ability to add damage and imperfections to replicate armored vehicles operating in the field.

The 9P149 is a tank destroyer of Soviet origin and in this example, it is a vehicle carrying radio guided anti-tank system designated 9K114 Shturm which uses the 9M114 Kokon (Cocoon) missile. Same missile as used by the Mi-24 helicopter.

The kit comes in standard gray plastic in 15 gray sprues, two clear sprues, decals and 2 photoetch frets. Total is 790 parts many of which are very tiny as the entire vehicle is a about a scale foot long. There is an entire interior which covers the driver compartment, engine and transmission. You will decide how far you want to build the interior if you don’t decide to open the hatches. The interior is really nice but I didn’t find many references no color call outs on the instructions.

Casemate Publishing is distributing a Helion & Company published book on the topic of Italian Soft-Skinned Vehicles of the Second War World. The publication has two volumes. This review covers Volume 2.

The book is broken down in the following sections

• Medium and Heavy Trucks
• Artillery Tractors
• Special Purpose Vehicles
• Trailers

Plus three appendices:

• Camouflage and Markings
• Italian Vehicles Manufacturers
• Vehicles produced in Italy while under German Control (1943-45)

While information on the Italian Navy, Italian Air Force and Italian Armored Units is not that difficult to come by, information on their soft-skinned/support/ancillary vehicles is harder to find. But this publication fills that gap well.

Based on the original 2014 Lastkraftwagen 3,5 t AHN German Army Truck kit, this kit adds a field kitchen and loads of accessories to kit it out. Field kitchens were used to provide hot meals to Wehrmacht soldiers in the field- either directly into the soldiers’ pots or into special large thermoses for delivery to units a bit farther away. They were often pulled by horses or towed behind vehicles- but this particular version was served out of the back of the truck. Soldiers’ humor gave the field kitchens the name ‘Gulaschkanone’ (‘Goulash Cannon’) for what was often served out of them.

The kit comes in ICM’s typical box art cover that slips over the front closing hinged cardboard box. Inside are nine sprues of gray styrene, a clear sprue, seven vinyl tires, and a decal sheet featuring two schemes and labels for the kitchen equipment and supplies.