Reviews of products for scale miscellaneous models.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
December 22, 2022
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.22

Hauler is a Czech Republic company produces high quality photo-etched sets for AFVs, airplanes, cars, railway vehicles, resin accessories for dioramas and resin kits. Their provides are available online or in the US from UMM-USA or from Stevens International through your local hobby shop.

This diorama accessory set includes an interior potbelly-type stove, two exterior barrel stoves, a wood stump chopping block, and two piles of split firewood in different sizes. The parts are all crisply molded but do have some minor flash that will need to be removed. The wood piles come on a thin casting block that may need to be removed depending upon its application. All the other parts are also attached to casting blocks.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
December 22, 2022
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$4.70

AMMO by Mig describes their new acrylic Plasticator as formulated for sealing porous surfaces such as wood, plaster, or ceramic to provide a plastic-like finish. The Plasticator is applied directly from the bottle with a brush. AMMO’s website provides demonstrations of how Plasticator can be used over plaster, wood, and foam to allow finishing with enamels, oil paints and washes. The instructions say to let the product dry for 24 hours before priming and painting, but it seemed to be fairly dry after an hour or so.

Plasticator comes in two consistencies, thin and thick. The thick product is about the same consistency as fresh white glue. The thin Plasticator is more like the consistency of white glue mixed one to one with water. By comparison, Future floor finish is a little thicker than the consistency of water. I used water to clean the brushes after applying the Plasticator.

Review Author
Will Kuhrt
Published on
December 17, 2022
Company
Bases by Bill
Scale
NA
MSRP
$159.00

The Astro Vertical Frameless Display Cases are versatile display cases which come in a range of sizes and which are suitable for many model display applications.

The cases are constructed of a seamless molded acrylic cover minimally framed in Cherry hardwood. The design features built-in handles, a cover which is easily removed with no special tools, the ability to be outfitted with lighting (provided as an accessory) as well as the ability to be hung on a wall or displayed on a shelf or mantle.

The Cherry hardwood grain is beautiful, and the care to the overall finish—the smoothed edges, the gentle curves—gives it an elegant appearance which only compliments any fine model in your collection.

Review Author
Will Kuhrt
Published on
December 17, 2022
Company
Paasche
Scale
NA
MSRP
$229.00

The Paasche Airbrush Company, based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was started in 1904 by Jens Paasche, a self-educated Norwegian immigrant, who through his self-educated inventive genius, became a leader in the air painting industry around the turn of the century. Today, the Paasche Airbrush Company is one of the world’s leaders in airbrush industry and produces a full line of equipment—airbrushes, compressors, spray guns and spray booths, and related equipment for professionals as well as hobbyists.

The D3000R is a 1/5 horsepower piston air compressor. It has a ¾ gallon tank and a maximum operating pressure of approximately 40 PSI with a deliverable range of 1-40 PSI. Upon opening the box, you will see it is very well packaged and contains the compressor, pressure regulator, thread tape, and a 1/8” hose adapter.

Book Author(s)
Ian Baxter
Review Author
Orlando Reyes
Published on
December 15, 2022
Company
Pen and Sword Books Ltd
MSRP
$22.95

The book deals with the life of Reinhard Heydrich. The Foreword gives us a small synopsis of the day he joined the Nazi Party in June 1931, until his death at the hands of Czech SOE operatives, as well as the retaliation of the Germans to his death. At the end of the book you will find 11 photos dedicated to both the Czech operatives, the church where the final encounter took place, as well as 5 photos remembering the massacre at Lidice.

The book is divided into nine sections comprising of a Foreword, an Introduction five chapters and two appendices. The Foreword gives us a short synopsis of the live of Heydrich during his stay in Prague. The Introduction spans on Heydrich behavior and "accomplishments" while being the Protector of Bohemia and Morovia. It also introduces us to the SOE operatives who ambushed, wounded and killed him.

Book Author(s)
Jack Holroyd
Review Author
Orlando Reyes
Published on
December 15, 2022
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$32.95

The book covers from the Battle of Guadalcanal through The battle of The Atlantic. The book is divided into 12 chapters, foreword by the author, bibliography, and Index. The Index consists of 11 pages. The sources of the photos consist of photos from Germany, England, Japan, United States, and Russia, as well as from personal archives. The book is an excellent compilation of war photos describing the events that took place during the fourth year of WWII. Again, like in previous volumes the photos are sharp and of very good quality. A very good detail of equipment, personnel both military and civilian is well represented.

Book Author(s)
Jean Paul Pallud
Review Author
Orlando Reyes
Published on
December 15, 2022
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$89.95

The book covers a detailed account of the battle that took place between May 10 through June 24 in which 6 countries found themselves at war. This battle took place across 6 European nations. These nations were involved in a 45 day chaotic war that ended in one of the most unique military campaigns of modern times. The book is part of The After The Battle Series and is in its fourth printing.

The book is divided into 5 parts each describing a specific time during that war. From: "Peace in Our Time" through the collapse of the French Army the book accounts for the battles that took place. In addition, the book A section accounting for the photo credits; a Glossary and a 27 page Index divided into three areas- General section; localities section and Personnel section. The book is full of information and a wealth of photos for those interested in this battle, or in the history of WWII.

Book Author(s)
Mark Forsdike
Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
December 13, 2022
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$34.95

From 1948 through the 1950s British and Commonwealth forces fought a ruthless communist insurgency on the Malay peninsula. Thanks to sound generalship and the dedication and resilience of the officers and men, the security forces eventually broke the terrorists' resolve.

This book charts the service of one particular unit, the 1st Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment, throughout their tour of duty between 1949 to 1953, the most critical years in The Emergency. The book describes in text and photos how the Battalion – which was mostly made up of National Servicemen conscripts – was able to operate in the oppressive climate and jungle conditions of the Malay Peninsula. Its success was built on good leadership and those most elusive of factors, good morale and camaraderie.

Book Author(s)
Tom Cooper
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
December 13, 2022
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

Author Tom Cooper is an Austrian aerial warfare analyst and historian. What makes him qualified to author a book on a very non-linear and confusing chapter of history is the vast network of contacts he garnered throughout his time in the Middle East and Africa. He has authored/co-authored about 60 books, over 1,000 articles, and is the Helion Series Editor for Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, and Technology at War. When someone with Tom’s credentials writes a book about a topic that you’re interested in reading, you pick up the book and prepare to be educated.

Book Author(s)
Michael Green
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
December 12, 2022
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$34.95

Red Army Weapons of the Second World War is a very well researched and written book that does a deep dive into the history of the Russian military’s ground forces weapons. This book is a departure from the usual Images of War format. Rather than a brief summary of the chapter to come with a dizzying number of great photographs, each of this book’s chapters opens with history, weapon type, development, etc, then follows with black and white photographs that are worth the price of the book alone.

In the forward, US Army Tank-Automotive Command Historian (Retired) Randy Talbot writes,

“During the First World War in an oft-told story, Russian infantrymen were on the line when an aeroplane flew overhead. They quickly fired upon the plane, shooting it down. There was no way it could be a Russian plane because the Russians were not smart enough to build something so complicated.”

He continues with the essence of this book,