Reviews of products for scale miscellaneous models.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Grex USA
MSRP
$119.00

GREX’s Genesis.XSi3 ES is a dual action gravity fed airbrush with an external cup that can be installed on either side of the brush. This set included a traditional top button trigger rather than a pistol style trigger.

The Essential Set comes with a 0.3 MM nozzle and a 7 ml side cup with lid, quick-fit magnetic nozzle, and needle. A magnetic cap snaps to the front of the brush to protect the exposed needle and can be removed for cleaning. The magnetic cap can also be stored on the back of the rear handle when not in use. A small wrench is also included.

The quick start guide offers tips for ways to hold the airbrush, how to install the quick fit needle caps, how to install cups and bottles, and how to seat the needle.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Pig Models
Scale
1/1
MSRP
$76.20

Pig Models is a model company based in Taiwan. It was established in 2016 with a commitment to providing interesting model kits. I first became aware of the company with their release of their 1/1 scale German Tiger II 8.8cm Pzgr.39/43 (APCBC-HE) L71 Shell Replica [Kit # 1-002]. They have also released 1/1 scale variants, 8.8cm Pzgr.39 (APCBC) L/56 Shell Replica [Kit # 1-001] and 8.8cm Sprgr. 43 (HE) kwk43 L71 Shell Replica [Kit# 1-004]. Since then, Pig Models has released over a dozen unique and interesting kits.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Pig Models
Scale
NA
MSRP
$112.74

Pig Models, based in Taiwan, was established in 2016 with a commitment to providing interesting model kits. I first became aware of the company with their release of their 1/1 scale German Tiger II 8.8cm Pzgr.39/43 (APCBC-HE) L71 Shell Replica [Kit # 1-002]. They have also released 1/1 scale variants, 8.8cm Pzgr.39 (APCBC) L/56 Shell Replica [Kit # 1-001] and 8.8cm Sprgr. 43 (HE) kwk43 L71 Shell Replica [Kit# 1-004]. Since then, Pig Models have released another dozen unique and interesting kits.

Book Author(s)
Jon Diamond
Review Author
Phillip Cavender
Published on
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$27.95

Jon Diamond, MD, is a U.S.-based kidney specialist enthusiastic about World War II history. An avid collector of historical photographs, he has authored several titles in Pen and Sword's Images of War series, including Stilwell and the Chindits, War in the South Pacific, Invasion of Sicily, Invasion of the Italian Mainland: Salerno to Gustav Line, 1943–1944,Onto Rome 1944: Anzio and Victory at Cassino, and Beyond Rome to the Alps: Across the Arno and Gothic Line, 1944–1945. His works also include Op Plunder: The Rhine River Crossing.

Book Specifics

With over 220 black-and-white images, Normandy Beyond The Beaches is the latest offering from Pen and Sword, published in December 2024. This 209-page book measures 6.75 by 9.5 inches and includes an introduction, six chapters, an epilogue, and a bibliography.

Book Author(s)
Daniel Taylor - Editor
Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$36.95

Following the Allied advance into eastern France and Belgium in August and September 1944, logistical support for the advancing armies was compromised by the need to rely on the Mulberry Harbour built off the Normandy beaches in the days following D-Day. Invasion planners had counted on being able to use one of the larger Normandy ports, such as Cherbourg, to alleviate the supply chain issues, but the Germans had done such a thorough job of demolishing that port that it wasn’t brought into productive use until late 1944 and in any case was even further from the Front. The top Allied commanders therefore put some emphasis on trying to capture ports further east. Their focus fell on Le Havre and Boulogne, two large pre-War ports. However, both were declared to be “Festung” (Fortresses) by Hitler, who demanded they be defended to the last man. Their capture is one of the forgotten stories of the Normandy Campaign.

Book Author(s)
Antonio Luis Sapienza Fracchia
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$21.90

Volume 1 of Operativo Independencia (Operation Independence) covers the period from 1955 to 1974 in Argentina which was a period of political upheaval and change. This volume considers both the insurgencies and government responses. This is the precursor to the “Dirty War” which will hopefully be covered in Volume 2 or more.

The Table of Contents is small:

  • Abbreviations
  • Acknowledgments
  • Introduction
  1. Subversive Groups in Argentina, 1955-1974
  2. Campora, Lastiri, Peron & Peron, 1955-1974
  3. The Argentine Armed Forces in the mid-1970’s
  4. The ERP and the Montoneros organizations
  • Epilogue
  • Appendices

The book is a history of the rise of Marxist groups from their beginnings in the 1950’s, the influence by Cuba, and their reign of chaos. Also detailed is the response of the well equipped and trained Argentine Armed Forces.

Book Author(s)
From an article in issue 123 of After the Battle magazine, the joint authors were Karel Margry and Ron Hogg
Review Author
Bob LaBouy
Published on
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$34.95

Publishers’ Description

From the publisher’s notes, you’ll quickly grasp the basic facts surrounding the siege of Leningrad:

The siege of Leningrad (1941-1944) was the longest and deadliest in modern history, with over one million deaths from cold, disease, starvation, and bombardment.

Book Author(s)
Author: Andrew Long, Illustrators: Pablo Patricio Albornoz (cover), George Anderson (maps), David Boquelet (color profiles), Roland Brandauer (images), Luca Canossa (color profiles), Tom Cooper (color profiles), Renato Dalmaso (illustrations)
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

This is the fourth volume in the Cold War Berlin series. The previous three volumes previously reviewed are here (and are worth it for the reviewers personal ties to Berlin):

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Green Stuff World
MSRP
$6.33

Instant Glue from Green Stuff World is a single component cyanoacrylate glue that is advertised to set in 5–10 seconds. In my use, I found the glue to set almost instantaneously. The glue is best used with dissimilar materials including plastic, photoetch, rubber, metal, wood, and ceramics. When dispensed, the adhesive quickly reacts with the moisture in the air, so drying time is affected by humidity. In drier climates, the glue will take longer to set. The glue sets so quickly that I found it best to hold the parts together in the correct position and then apply the glue. Applying glue to the parts and then placing them does not allow any time for positioning. The CA glue seems strong as I did not have any problems with photoetch parts coming loose after the glue set.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
UMM-USA
Scale
NA
MSRP
$5.16

You can tell when you are holding this tool that you are handling a quality tool. The blade is elliptical in shape and VERY sharp. It is protected by a flexible tip. The whole tool measures 5 inches in length with the blade making up 2mm of that.

The tool comes in a small vinyl pouch which protects the tool and you. The handle is plastic and feels good in the hand. The blade is made up of hardened steel with an elliptical shaped tip. It is good for cutting and scraping. Other possible uses are removing pin marks, making grooved lines, etching a louver into plastic, creating small vents, opening small intakes, etc. For figure modelers, this tool is great for sculpting folds into clothing. I’m sure there are other uses that I didn’t think of.