If you are looking for something a little different for your next build, want to have some fun, and even possibly remember your youth a bit, the folks at Round2 have released the kit for you! This Schwinn Continental 10-Speed is part of the MPC line of kits and follows their previous release of the Schwinn “Classic Krate” bikes. This was a quick build with no construction issues, and I would highly recommend it for modelers of all skill levels.

First released in 1960 for an astonishing $86.95, the Schwinn 10-speed was produced for 22 years and was the American standard for this style of bike for many of those years. While the steel frame is now incredibly heavy when compared to the materials used today, for a generation, these were the gold standard. Available in an assortment of sizes and colors, the bikes remain collectors’ items even today.

Painting

I asked for the opportunity to try this new product from the imaginative modeling studios of Mig Jimenez. As many modelers realize, Mr. Jimenez has a vast collection of modeling paints and primers. However, with these new Dio Drybrush paints, he has unleashed a great new line of special effects into the world of dry brushing. This new line comes in a variety of 27 paint products which will allow most modelers the opportunity to further our dry brushing skills.

Two colors were initially sent to me to preview: Light Grey, A.MIG-0601 and Panzer Grey, A.MIG-0604.

I quickly set up a model with three different base colors to see my initial impressions and what results I could get using DIO DRYBRUSH paints. I should also admit being reasonably new to the world of dry brushing and recognize I have much yet to learn about this art form.

History

While the general course of World War II has been told and retold many times, some of the more obscure parts of the war have been largely ignored by historians, and this volume’s authors have made a great effort to rectify the situation. This book describes the situation in areas threatened and taken over by the Japanese at the beginning of World War II and explains how the Japanese attempted to make use of manpower in the conquered areas to assert control and defend against Allied attempts to retake these areas.

This review covers the following standing sticks from the AMMO line

• Standard sanding stick with grits 180/320/600/2000; MSRP: $1.50
• Large Surfaces sanding stick with grits: 320/600/4000; MSRP: $2.10
• Multipurpose sanding stick with grits 150/240/320/600/1200/2000; MSRP: $2.30

All these sticks have the different grits identified by color coding each surface of half-surface. Their size is large enough to fit well and comfortable in your hand.

They are flexible, so you can use them in any task that requires following curved surfaces. They are padded (in particular the Large Surfaces one), which means your hand does not need to follow a curved path, the padding of the sanding stick will do that for you.

The Multipurpose stick is a workbench workhouse that could be used from shaping parts with its 150/240 grit, all the way to polishing parts with its 2000 grit.

Silly me. When I saw the title of this book, I thought it was simply going to be a compilation of various shield motifs I could use in my figure modeling. Instead, this publication opened a world of fascinating information on the development, manufacture and use of this most Roman of military items – the scutum or shield. Use of the large, rectangular shield had a large part in dictating Roman tactics, as it permitted the Legionnaire to move in tight formations, well-protected by his fellow soldiers and his own shield – something few other ancient armies were capable of.