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Box art

Sd.Kfz.167 Stug. IV ‘LAST PRODUCTION’
Review Author
Keith Gervasi
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$59.95

History

(From the Dragon web site) The Sturmgeschütz IV (also known as Sd.Kfz.167) was an assault gun produced in similar fashion to the more numerically common StuG.III. However, as its name suggests, it was based on the hull of the Panzer IV tank rather than the Panzer III. This came about because Alkett (a manufacturer of the StuG.III) was bombed in November 1943. Therefore, in an effort to increase assault gun production numbers, Krupp installed slightly modified StuG.III superstructures on the chassis of the Panzer IV. After production was approved on 6 December 1943, Krupp proceeded to build 1,108 StuG.IV vehicles between December 1943 and May 1945. While this number was far less than the StuG.III, Krupp did help ensure continuity of assault gun production. Crewed by four men, the StuG.IV proved an effective tank hunter. It weighed 23 tonnes and was armed with a capable 7.5cm StuK40 L/48 gun.

Product package

Spitfire LF Mk.IX C Cockpit Kit
Review Author
Phil Peterson
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$10.26

When Airfix released its new kit of the Spitfire Mk I the amount of detail in the cockpit was fantastic. When they brought out a new Mk IX everybody wondered, what happened to the interior?

This new set by Brengun will finally give you what you need to update the Airfix kit.

Product package

Fw-190 A8/F8 Cockpit Set
Review Author
Phil Peterson
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$11.27

Photoetch is not really my thing but I have seen some stunning details created by it so guess it is time I broke down and joined the 21st Century.

This set is designed specifically for the new Airfix kit which has pretty good detail to begin with so what is on the fret.

Front Cover

TANKART 3 Modern Armor
Book Author(s)
Michael Rinaldi, with Andy Taylor
Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
Company
Rinaldi Studio Press

If the first two volumes of TANKART didn’t provide enough “eye candy” and inspiration to armor modelers looking to up their game, TANKART 3 provides another potent dose of armor building and finishing “how to” and “why to” for creating true works of scale modeling art – specifically for modern armor subjects.

Consistent with the first two editions, Michael Rinaldi provides an image- and narrative-rich guide for modelers to create jaw-dropping finishes and weathering effects through techniques centered around layering and “artistic scalism.” In TANKART 3, the author shares with the reader his latest learnings in his quest to create fantastic finishes while improving the overall efficiency of the process. Notable examples, and a take-aways for this reviewer, are the reduction or elimination of washes in favor of Oil Paint Rendering (OPR), and improving the execution of the Hairspray (HS) chipping technique.

Box Top

Soviet JS-4 Heavy Tank
Review Author
Bart Cusumano
Published on
Company
Trumpeter
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$24.00

To say that the appearance of this kit was a surprise to me, is an understatement! Lately, it seems that all we ever get on the ‘new’ kit front is another Panther-this or Tiger-that. A JS-4? Wow! I mean, the JS-4 was a pretty obscure piece of Soviet armor. Originally developed in competition with the IS-3, the JS-4 (or IS-4, but we’ll stick to the kit name) referred to as Object 245, was, like the IS-3, an extensive redesign of the IS-2. The hull was lengthened with an extra set of road wheels added and an improved engine. The turret and hull were both up-armored. While other alternatives were considered, the IS-2’s 122mm gun was retained for the JS-4. Technical data derived from the study of German wartime Panther tanks was utilized in the layout of the JS-4’s engine cooling system. Although the tank was approved for mass production in 1948, only 200 were produced due to disappointing speed and mobility. Can you say “obscure’?