Reviews

Book Author(s)
Bartlomiej Belcarz and Granciszek Strzelczyk, illustrated by Karolina Holda
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$11.99

The Single Series from Mushroom Model Publications focuses on a specific airframe, sometimes even down to a specific modification or variant of an airframe. This booklet includes line drawings of the Caudron CR.714 in both 1/72 and 1/48 scale and includes some drawings (probably from a technical manual) of the engine mount, and a very complete walkaround set of pictures in black and white of the real airplane (probably in a museum while being restored). There is a selection of period (WW2-era) photographs, and there are also a handful of computer-generated full-color graphics showing the cockpit as well as a 3-view color profile that is very attractive.

Book Author(s)
Jon Feenstra
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Peko Publishing
MSRP
$41.95

This landscaped, hardback book is the fourth in a new series of books by renowned and prolific photograph collector and author Jon Feenstra, published through PeKo Publishing of Hungary. This volume continues its proven formula of amazing photographs, many previously unpublished, of armored and soft skin vehicles in depots, in the field and post combat. Each page reveals more surprises than the previous. Previous editions of this great series have been reviewed:

The first volume in this series was reviewed here at WW2 Vehicles Through the Lens Vol.1.

Book Author(s)
Ian Baxter
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Casemate Publishers

The Battle for Berlin was the cumulative battle in the European theater in World War II. Three massive Russian Fronts aligned from north to south (Second Belorussian, First Belorussian and First Ukrainian Fronts) had battered two German Army Groups (Vistula and Center) and the three armies (Third and Fourth Panzer Army and Ninth Army) westward from October 1944 to mid-April 1945 to set the stage for the final onslaught and bloody Battle for Berlin.

Author Ian Baxter has once again provided a succinct, well researched and presented book on a complicated and seminal campaign.Using period photographs, illustrated pages, tables and immaculate references, this book provides the reader with the harrowing and horrifying last months and days of the Third Reich.

The Soviet Battle for Berlin, 1945 is composed of eleven chapters:

Book Author(s)
Janos Besenyo
Review Author
Luke R. Bucci, PhD
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

Number 64 in Helion’s Africa @ War Series details the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping efforts for the past 20+ years from the former on-the-ground head of the UN mission. The book illustrates what it is like to oversee trying to keep groups of nomadic tribes that have been warring for centuries over some of the most inhospitable areas on planet Earth from continuing the process. Not pretty or heroic. A treatise on absurdity. This book was painful to read, but a reviewer’s duty and morbid curiosity won out. Tip: the history chapter alone is worth the effort to read this book!

Review Author
Michael Reeves
Published on
Company
Value Gear
Scale
1/16
MSRP
$12.50

Value Gear resin products are well known to most modelers for the excellent quality resin stowage and gear to use on your models and diorama scenes. Owner Steve Munsell is a quality guy who, more often than not, throws in some extra pieces into most of the packages and one package can often inhabit more than a couple builds if used wisely- or you can completely deck out one model if you wish. His 1/16 product lines are growing as more companies release more 1/16 scale kits.

What’s Inside the Box

This set contains a small zip bag with five 75mm ammo crates for whatever 1/16 scale StuG or Panzer is sitting in your stash. A card with preparation and priming instructions are included. The quality is excellent in this scale and one might want to ding them up a bit to add some variety to the five– but the details of the wood grain, nail holes for the cross slats, and strap enclosures are amazing.

Review Author
Robert Head
Published on
Company
Hauler Brengun
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$10.00

Brengun has issued another photoetch/resin accessory set for small scale aircraft modelers. This set is designed for use by Armory Model Group offering the German Bf-109, specifically the Bf-109A/E.

Typically, small scale (1/144th) aircraft kits come with two complete models in the box and Armory Model Group is no exception. Brengun provides detailed bits for two kits. Those bits include the following pieces for the:

  • Main Wheels
  • Tail Wheels
  • Wheel Covers
  • Stabilizer struts
  • Antenna
  • Wing antenna and AOA probes

While this accessory set is designed for use with the Armory Model Group kit, I don’t believe you would have any issues using it on a sweet or other similar kit.

There are a few photoetch bits that you may wish to leave on the fret. I plan on using them on my kit as a test of my eyesight and building ability, so look out for another future review on this set.

Review Author
Robert Head
Published on
Company
Iliad Design
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.00

This 1/48 scale decal set, available from Iliad Design, provides markings options for 5 different BF-110’s. They cover 5 variants from a day, night and desert fighter. Of particular interest is a 110 that was specially painted, designed and equipped as the personal fighter of Rudolf Hess when he flew to Scotland.

The five options are:

Book Author(s)
Dariusz Karnas, Artur Juszczak
Review Author
Robert Head
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$16.00

One of the most revered World War Two fighters, Republic’s P-47 has long been popular with kit manufacturers and modelers alike. If you favor this machine in its P-47C/D ‘Razorback’ format, Mushroom Model Publishing’s first new book in the Colour & Scale series may be only 16 pages but will have huge appeal in terms of reference… and in directing possible streams of thought concerning potential Colour schemes on your builds.

Pages 1-3 are dedicated to side views of all variants along with upper and lower drawings in 1/72nd scale, while pages 4-6 are dedicated to side views of all variants along with upper and lower drawings in 1/48th scale.

Pages 8-15 cover the camo/paint and nose art of 14 pilots who flew the Jugg. After careful research, I can also tell you that there are aftermarket decals available for all the following pilots or Squadrons.

Book Author(s)
Daniel Taylor
Review Author
Robert Head
Published on
Company
Pen and Sword Books Ltd
MSRP
$52.95

The book comes in three distinct sections - the first is an in-depth analysis of the German "Westwall" defense system built between 1936 and 1944. This includes the build phases, the organization of the workforce and the political background.

The second section looks at the Allied campaign to overcome the defenses of the Siegfried Line through the winter of 1944/45, focusing on three major operations by the US, British and Canadian armies.

The third section deals with the perception of the Westwall in the eighty years since the war and then outlines a battlefield tour guide of those elements that still survive.

Review Author
Robert Head
Published on
Company
Arma Hobby
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$50.00

Arma Hobby is a new company to me, so I jumped at the chance to build and review one of their new Hurricanes, the MKIIc. In the box you get 4 plastic sprues (one clear), canopy masks and a decal sheet.

Construction starts with the wheel well and continues with the cockpit seat. Then you are guided to kind of cram the wheel well between the upper and lower wing parts and to assemble the rest of the cockpit. There are little slots for the wheel well to kinda slide the part on top, be sure you get that part aligned just right, or you will have trouble with the cockpit and closing the fuselage halves later.