Reviews of products for scale miscellaneous models.

Book Author(s)
Michał A. Piegzik
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
December 11, 2022
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

This is the second of a two-series amazingly detailed books authored by a Polish Ph.D. in Law, living in Japan, writing about Japanese advances in the eastern Indian Ocean. As if that isn’t intriguing enough, author Michał A. Piegzik covers a little known (at least to most Americans) subject in a much larger backdrop of Allied defeats in the early Pacific War, focusing on ABDA (American, British, Dutch, Australian) forces as they reeled from Japanese attacks in Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dutch East Indies, the Philippines, Java, and Burma. For more background information on Michał A. Piegzik, please refer to my earlier review on The Darkest Hour, Volume 1.

If you read my book review on Volume 1, then I apologize for repeating myself here; however, as a standalone review, some background is necessary to put the book in context.

Book Author(s)
Peter Baxter
Review Author
Marc K. Blackburn
Published on
December 11, 2022
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

Casemate Publishing continues to release and distribute Helion’s ongoing series on wars in the twentieth century. This particular volume is part of their collection dealing with conflicts in the continent of Africa and covers the United Nation and United States intervention in Somalia from 1992 to 1994. As with other works in this series, they provide text, contemporary photographs that are mostly black and white with a smattering of color photographs. The center of the book has some color profiles of ground equipment and aircraft. Apparently the difference between the first edition and second edition of the book is not the content, but a new cover and color profiles.

Book Author(s)
Sanjay Badri-Maharaj
Review Author
Luke R. Bucci, PhD
Published on
December 9, 2022
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

Thanks to Casemate Publishing & IPMSUSA for the review copy!

If you are of a certain age and remember duck and cover under your school desk for nuclear attack drills, under a poster saying “one nuclear bomb can ruin your whole day,” this book will cause stress – rightly so. India is the setting of this Asia@War Series book, describing the oft-ignored entry and burgeoning status of India as a nuclear nation. It describes how India came to love The Bomb. This book is No. 25 of the Asia@War series, and details the nuclear weapons journey of a reluctant India, from 1960s to now.

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