Reviews of products for scale miscellaneous models.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
December 7, 2022
Company
Squadron Products
Scale
n/a
MSRP
$9.95

Originally founded in 1968, Squadron / Squadron Signal is back in business again after bankruptcy and are now based out of Ellijay, Georgia. Their web page was re-activated in January 2022 for plastic kits. Brandon Lowe re-acquired the Squadron Tools Product Line and are now marketing them once again.

In this case, Brandon Lowe has brought back the Tri-Grit Sanding stick, available again in a non-retail package of five sanding sticks. Featuring fine, extra-fine, and very-fine grits, this is a great tool for progressively polishing plastic whether you are preparing for metal finishes or polishing out clear canopies.

Book Author(s)
Maj John L Plaster USAR (Ret)
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
December 7, 2022
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$49.95

Founded in 2001, Casemate is a major specialist publisher and book distributor in the North American market. Casemate offers print and digital books to the public and to libraries through a variety of channels, platforms, and vendors, as well as traditional and online retailers. Casemate has grown to become the leading publisher in the fields of military history, defense studies, and military science in the USA. Casemate has a burgeoning publishing list covering subjects as diverse as Roman History and today's current conflicts.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
December 7, 2022
Company
UMM-USA
Scale
n/a
MSRP
$9.95

UMM-USA is dedicated to fine scale modeling, encompassing model kits, accessories, and specialized tools. Owned by John Vojtech, a fine scale modeling veteran. UMM-USA is an on-line Store, importing and exporting kits, modeling tools and supplies, and seeks and offers solutions on technical issues. In addition, his services currently include design and production of master parts, casting of original masters, photo-etched masks, decals, and building made-to-order models for customers. You can see a sampling of John Vojtech's finished projects in the Our Gallery section of the Web site.

Book Author(s)
Winston Ramsey
Review Author
Bob LaBouy
Published on
December 4, 2022
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$79.95

Publisher’s Notes:

Since we launched our first edition in August 1973, After the Battle has traveled around the globe and has covered hundreds of battles — over 750 at the last count – and taken thousands of photographs, covering major operations down to individual exploits. Selecting a cross-section of just a few from the stories that we have covered has not been easy, but we hope that you will find some of your favourites within the pages of this volume, covering the Best of After the Battle.”

Book Author(s)
Tom Cooper & Efim Sandler
Review Author
David Horn
Published on
December 1, 2022
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

Helion & Company publishing produces specialized military history books. Part of the “Middle East at War” series, Lebanese Civil War, volume 2 (second of a four part series) book covers the period of 1978 to 1981 known as the “Quiet before the Storm”. The publication is 70 pages of full color, black & white photographs, diagrams as well as artist illustrations.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
November 8, 2022
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$9.77

Contents Description

  • The first two pages are introductory paragraphs.
  • Page 5 covers the MiG acrylic colors and chipping fluids, providing brief how-to paragraphs for each. Each product section includes QR codes for the products page from the Mig website plus how-to videos. The QR code feature is typical for most of the products described.
  • Page 6 Washes.
  • Page 7 Streaking brushers and Oilbrushers.
  • Page 8 Pigments and splashes.
  • Page 9 Heavy mud and engines, fuel and oil.
  • Page 10 Enamel odorless thinner.
  • Page 11 One Shot primers and Titans Hobby Paints.
  • Page 12 Extra thin and medium density cements, and Colle 21-slow dry cyanoacrylate.
  • Page 13 Arming Putty and Ultra Decal Set and Fix. Neither of these products were used in the weathering process covered in this publication.
  • Now for the modeler, such as myself, many of the products listed above are items may be new.
Book Author(s)
Martin Smisek
Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
November 8, 2022
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

The book is volume 39 of Helion & Company’s Middle East @ War series and, as noted in the title, is the first volume of its coverage of Czechoslovak Arms Exports to the Middle East. It examines the re-birth of the Czechoslovakian arms production business in the aftermath of World War II and Czechoslovakia’s first attempts to find a market for its products

Review Author
Will Kuhrt
Published on
November 3, 2022
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$6.35

Thank you Bill & Phil for all you do for the Reviewers!

The set is part of a new line of 3D printed 1/35 scale accessories. The Luftschutz helmet set contains two 3D printed helmets, one decal sheet and photo etch straps.

The helmets are exceedingly well detailed and show no evidence of being 3D printed, i.e., print lines, support fingers, etc. The helmet surface is smooth as glass and requires no sanding.

The decal sheet provides markings for four variations: German Luftschutz, Prague Uprising 1945—two versions, and the Warsaw Uprising 1944.

Assembly was very easy. To begin, I primed the surface with Tamiya Fine Surface Primer. Next, I painted a base coat of Mission Models anthracite paint. When dry, I clear coated the helmets. I painted the interior webbing using light brown/leather paint.

Book Author(s)
Mike Guardia
Review Author
Luke R. Bucci, PhD
Published on
November 3, 2022
Company
Magnum Books
MSRP
$24.95

Danger Forward is the title, but you will read how the book could have been titled Danger 360. The stuff of which good movies should be made. This hard-to-put-down book reads fast and easy with a you-were-there feel that covers key US military efforts from WW2 to the mid 1980s, when General Gorman retired. He is still alive at 94 years in Virginia. The author, Mike Guardia, came out with the first book on Hal Moore, and the resulting movie with Mel Gibson, which catapulted him to the Top 100 authors in the US, and he continues his excellence and making history palpable and more exciting then when the reader lived through it and remembers with the adventures of Paul Gorman.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
October 29, 2022
Company
UMM-USA
MSRP
$8.95

During the IPMS USA Nationals this year, John Vojtech was kind enough to provide several of his tools from Unique Master Models (UMM) to the IPMS Review Corps, and this was the item I was fortunate enough to receive. Consisting of an ergonomic plastic handle with pyramid-shaped reamer tip, with a built-in label identifying the reamer size for quick recognition.

Measuring five inches in length, the reamer is quite comfortable to hold, and the pyramid-shaped tip is made of hardened tool steel. Useful for opening holes in kits used for attaching parts, opening existing holes, or cleaning the ends of tubing, there are many possibilities for using this reamer. The diminutive size will also allow for better control on smaller items.