Reviews of products for scale military vehicle models.

Book Author(s)
Peter Mujzer
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
February 1, 2023
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$26.95

Casemate Publishers has released a book on the Hungarian Armored Car Csaba 39/40M.

The book is organized as follows.

  • Introduction
  • Straussler and his designs
  • Design and development of the Csaba armored car
  • Production
  • Armored car units, organization
  • Operational History
  • Camouflage and Markings
  • Bibliography

The flow of the book is chronological by the nature of how it was written, starting with the design of the vehicle by Nicholas Straussler (while living in the United Kingdom) and quickly moves on the production, units organization and operational history with the Hungarian Army.

There are some color profiles which highlight the different camouflage schemes used by the Hungarian Army during the early years of World War 2, plus all the different national markings used in the pre-Barbarossa era..

Book Author(s)
Przemyslaw Skulski
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
February 1, 2023
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$11.95

Casemate Publishers is the distributor of MMP Books and they have started a new line on their series “Single”. This new line is focused on vehicles and the first installment of the series cover the self-propelled artillery SU-76M, a mainstay of the Soviet Army during World War 2.

As all the books in the “Single” series, it is devoted to a unique subject. The book has some period pictures of the SU-76M in service during World War 2 and it has an extensive walk-around style section, including detail images of the running gear, gun, hull, fighting compartment, etc.

The book also includes a 3-view line drawing in 1/35 scale and some color profiles as well.

Recommended.

I would like to thank Casemate Publishers and IPMS/USA for the review sample.

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
January 31, 2023
Company
ICM
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$18.99

This is a great kit! If you typically model in 1/72nd scale this will make a fine addition to a diorama or vignette involving any mid 1950's to current scenes. Assembly is straight forward with minimal effort, paints up nice and more than looks the part of an airfield mobile electric truck. You may wish to buy several copies....

This release from ICM Holding of an airfield mobile electric truck, the APA-50M, is a welcome addition to their 1/72nd line of soft skinned vehicles. Detail has not been sacrificed but it has been simplified. (No complete engine, for instance.) The engine (lower portion only), air tanks, power take-off, drive shafts, suspension and axles are all individual parts. Which is where assembly begins.

Book Author(s)
Eric Lefevre
Review Author
Orlando Reyes
Published on
January 25, 2023
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$38.95

This is the eighth printing of this book detailing the Battle of Normandy. The book is divided into an introduction, 21 sections, a glossary and a comparative rank section at the end. The first section is dedicated to the table of organization of the regiments that participated in the battle. This is followed by a description of the principal and ancillary vehicles in battle. Next section is dedicated to the units involved, and describes each unit participating in the events. This section is divided in the units of the SS and Heer in combat. A small section talks about the retreat of the German forces in the area after the Battle of the Fallaise Pocket, followed by another section describing what is left of the battle. The book ends with a glossary and a comparative rank table.

Review Author
Eric Christianson
Published on
January 24, 2023
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$13.49

Kiev, Ukraine-based ICM is back with a new offering from its infantry support heavy-weapons line, this time with a WWII German s.Gr.W.34 8cm Mortar. This nice little one-hour build comes with a bunch of extra goodies, and will fit right into a diorama or open halftrack/truck bed. This highly detailed and diminutive subject includes a deployed mortar, three ammunition boxes with lids, four single mortar rounds, two rifles and several other pieces of personal gear.

History

The 8 cm s.Gr.W.34 was an adaptation for use in self-propelled mountings and employed conventional 8 cm 3.5 kg shells (high explosive or smoke) with percussion fuses. Its range could be extended by fitting up to three additional powder charges between the shell tailfins.

Review Author
Eric Christianson
Published on
January 23, 2023
Company
Vargas Scale Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$84.50

Vargas Models, a prolific maker of extraordinary resin, 3-D printed, limited-run armor models is back with another unusual subject; the Fiat 2000 Carro Armata or ‘heavy tank’. The Fiat 2000 was Italy’s first tank ever developed, with the first prototype displayed in mid-1917, and the final production prototype unveiled the following year.

The FIAT 2000 was a substantial vehicle, of comparable dimensions to the British Mark V tanks, and weighing 40 tons as compared to the Mark V's 28 tons, making it ‘technically’ the heaviest tank of World War I, although it never saw combat.

Book Author(s)
Alan Ranger
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
January 22, 2023
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$47.95

Alan Ranger is a former British Royal Engineer, engineer, collector of World War II militaria and original period photographs, and prolific author. Alan started his publishing days with Model Art of Japan and has already authored 25 books in the Camera On series, typically focusing on weapon systems and vehicles.

Camera On Number 27 focuses on the World War II German heavy off-road wheeled passenger soft skinned vehicles – the title is self-explanatory - Schwerer Geländegängiger Personenkraftwagen and Successors, the Horch 108 Type 1, licensed built Ford Type EG, and light truck chassis Steyr 1500 and Mercedes Benz 1500A and S types. The beauty of this book is the photos were taken by German soldiers during their wartime service, not posed and polished propaganda shots.

Book Author(s)
Dennis Oliver
Review Author
Orlando Reyes
Published on
January 22, 2023
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$28.95

This is volume 36 from the TankCraft series. The contents consist of an Introduction and nine sections. The introduction is a small history of the Panzer III, as well as the number shipped to North Africa and their unit numbers. The next section introduces us to the initial operations of the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK). We are presented with the Order of Battle of the DAK as of March/April, 1941.The section ends with a map showing the area of operations of the DAK, as well as month by month events starting in January, 1941 and ending in November, 1942. The book follows with 20 profiles of vehicles used by the unit and their camouflage.

Book Author(s)
David Doyle
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
January 22, 2023
Company
David Doyle Books
MSRP
$24.99

David Doyle's book on the M911 and M1070 HET is one of the latest entries in the 'Legends of Warfare' series with entries in Ground, Naval, and Aviation. The Legends of Warfare series has expanded rapidly since its 2017 debut in the market with now over 100 titles released. This hard cover series covers a wide variety of monographs at a good price point.

Book Author(s)
Igor Donchik and Daniele Guglielmi Illustrator: Igor Donchik
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
January 21, 2023
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$34.99

Since their founding in 2013, their mission has been to share the knowledge accumulated by Mig Jimenez, the founder of AMMO by Mig Jimenez, and the experience of AMMO's entire team of modelers, with the modeling community around the world. At AMMO by Mig Jimenez, they have a unique identity as the Weathering brand in the modeling sector, thanks to the fact that they are a company founded entirely by modelers. That passion for the hobby is reflected in all their products which always try to provide the best solutions for modelers. With 90% of their products manufactured in Spain, with high quality control and complying with all European standards, they offer the quality and safety that modelers demand for their projects. Additional books in this series include: Waffen SS Colors; Eastern Front – Russian Vehicles 1935-1945; and Sherman – The American Miracle.