The Ship

The USS Independence (LCS-2) is the second Littoral Combat Ship commissioned by the U. S. Navy, and the leader of the Independence class. She is an aluminum high speed trimaran capable of speeds in excess of 44 knots (50mph), with a range of over 4300 nautical miles at 18 knots. Commissioned on 16 Jan 2010, she has a length of 418 feet and beam of 104 feet, with a large flight deck and mission bay located beneath the flight deck. Capable of handling many types of aircraft, including the CH-53 and the V-22 Osprey, she can be configured to accomplish many different missions through the use of “mission” modules. Very cool ship!

The Kit

The Orange Box Series from Dragon are basically previously released models that have been repackaged. This particular kit is a combo of the Dragon 6069 Schwerer Plattformwagen Typ SSY railcar flat top and the Dragon Kit # 9018 Pz Bef Wg III Ausf K

The sprues for this kit are an assortment from different kits needed to piece together a Ausf J Pz III

• A Upper Hull
• B x 2 Drive Sprocket and idler wheel
• b Add on armor and upper hull detail
• C Lower Hull
• D x 2 Road Wheels and Return Rollers
• E Turret parts
• F Misc parts
• g Star Antenna
• H x 2 More misc pars
• J Only 5 pieces out of a complete sprue
• K Add on armor and front deck
• L Single Antenna
• M Antenna base
• O Turret
• Stainless Steel Wire for Antenna (see sprue M)

There is nothing provided for tow cables.

Designed for the Italeri Ar-196, these new exhausts are molded in light grey resin and are absolutely beautiful. There are two exhausts that have thinned hollow ends which would be difficult to obtain on your own. Well at least difficult for me. Removal from the pour stub is simple enough and then it is just a matter of painting and installing. The exhausts will add to the look of your model.

While designed for the Italeri kit, I’m sure that with very little work you could use this on the MPM kit as well.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Quickboost for the review copy. You can obtain yours by contacting them at www.quickboost.net. Let them know IPMS/USA sent you.

Every two months, Albatros Productions publishes Windsock Worldwide, a bi-monthly softcover, 8.25” x 11.75", 32 pages full-color publication that provides sustenance for the growing number of modelers interested in WW I aircraft. Each issue includes a featured subject (usually accompanied by accurate 3-view drawings), along with a variety of well-researched information on other aircraft. You'll also find news and reviews of the latest kits, aftermarket details, decals and publications. In the latest issue, Editor Ray Rimell continues to do what he has been doing for more than 26 years…provide WW I modelers with an almost endless wealth of detailed information about the flying machines of the Great War.

This is the first of a 2 volume set detailing the history, tactical development, and use of the various marks of the Sturmgeschutz III, commonly referred to as the StuG III. Volume 1 is predominately text, whereas Volume 2 is mostly photographic in content. This book offers a wealth of data for the modeler as well as those more interested in the technical aspects of this weapons system.

Chapters cover background, technical development, and series production, design variants A thru G, the factories involved in production, and combat records and troop reports. There is a full developmental section, where the evolution of tactics is examined. Due to the requirements of the conflict, a weapon developed to support the infantry with mobile heavy firepower, evolved into a premier tank killer and improvised tank replacement.