Reviews

Book Author(s)
Maciej Noszczak
Review Author
Jason Holt
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$24.95

The Heinkel He-111 is one of the most iconic symbols of World War Two, as well as a major feature of the Battle of Britain. The aircraft was developed under the guise of a passenger airliner as most of Germany’s other armaments at the time. During the late 1930’s the aircraft and its German aircrews participated in the Spanish Civil War and the He-111 began its wartime career. During World War Two various modifications were made throughout the aircraft ranging from the cockpit layout, wing shape, engines, offensive and defensive capabilities and many more. The aircraft was the second most produced bomber aircraft of the Luftwaffe behind the Ju-88 and served in the Spanish Air Force until 1958. The are only 4 surviving aircraft remaining in various museums around Europe.

Review Author
Dan Brown
Published on
Company
AFV Club
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$70.00

The M109 is an American made 155mm self propelled howitzer that was first used in the early 1960s. It has been extensively upgraded to remain in front line service and extensively exported to U.S. allies around the world. Israel fielded the M109A2 variant in the Yom Kippur War of 1973 as the Rochev and in the early 1990s the IDF began to modernize this vehicle using the M109A6 as a guide. The designation of the updated M109 Rochev was Doher and the vehicles remain in service today. This new injection molded kit from AFV Club is the next in the line of recent releases of their M109 line.

Review Author
Keith Gervasi
Published on
Company
CMK
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$8.95

History

The Hasegawa 1/72 Ki-61 dates back to the early 1970s and is still a nice kit, but basic. CMK has come out with some detail sets to spice up these old kits.

What You Get

17 crisply molded resin parts and a clear film of instrument faces are provided along with a 9 X 3.5 folded sheet of instructions. Some of these parts are very fragile so please be careful when handling them.

Review Author
Keith Gervasi
Published on
Company
CMK
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$8.95

History

The Hasegawa 1/72 Ki-61 dates back to the early 1970s and is still a nice kit, but basic. CMK has come out with some detail sets to spice up these old kits.

What You Get

11 nicely molded pieces make up this set. You are given two gun bays, ammo chutes, receivers’ and doors for the wing guns. Also included are wing tanks which are much better detailed than the ones provided in the kit. The instructions are on a 9 X 3.5 folded sheet of paper.

Review Author
Ron Bell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.95

One of the bug-a-boos of a lot of aircraft models for me is all that glass that needs to be masked in order to paint. I’ve read several tutorials and tried lots of methods, but it’s all tedious and with my skill level brings about at best mediocre results. Then along comes pre-cut masks and my life is changed.

Review Author
Charles Landrum
Published on
Company
Veteran Models
Scale
1/200
MSRP
$15.00

Veteran Models in Taiwan has been producing finely detailed multi-media aftermarket replacement parts for ship modelers for quite some time. Nicely crafted, their parts are a significant upgrade to model warships. They started in 1/350 Modern USN systems and have since branched into other Navies. Now they are offering modern Soviet/Russian systems.

If you have noticed Soviet and later Russian ships are busy, some would say crowded, with sensors and weapon systems. While functional, none of these are elegant in design, and the number of each provides redundancy to ensure survivability and reliability. Each one is hodge-podge of small detail not easily duplicated in the ejection molding process, no matter how sophisticated the molds. So Veteran Models move into this area is welcome by at least this modeler.

Review Author
David Horn
Published on
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$16.00

Two Bobs Aviation Graphics is one of leaders in aviation decals with an impressive variety in 1/32, 1/48 and 1/72 scale. This latest release covers a highly desired subject of Alaskan aggressor aircraft. This Alaskan part II increases the variety of markings including the current colors which two are single color with one all black and the other all gray which was used for ferry flights to Eielson.

The sheets are printed perfectly with the small markings are very fine and easy to read. All the markings are included from unit markings down to the stencils and walkways. There are three full (front and back) color instructions sheets that clearly show placement of markings for the six subjects. The instructions indicate the correct FS paint colors for each aircraft and easy to distinguish where each color is applied.

Book Author(s)
Alan Ranger
Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$25.00

This photo album is packed with 120 photos and is part of MMP books Camera On series of photo books. Author Alan Ranger uses photos taken by regular German soldiers of vehicles both before and during the WW2. Ranger attempts to show a more personal view of the vehicles through the eyes of the soldiers that lived and worked with the Einheits Diesels. The photos are all in black and white and many have only recently become available. The photographs are in most cases clear, but many are low contrast, typical of personal photos of the time.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$44.95

This is a photoetch set for Tamiya Centurion Mk III 1.35 Model kit.

The set contains the following sets;

  • 2 x photoetch sheet
  • 1 film
  • 1 instruction sheet

This photoetch set replaces a lot of the simple molded on details and improve the kit immensely.

The parts are very easy to attach and form with only a few issues and points to be aware of being encountered during the complete build. The first one was you need to use Kit part A13 to form the photo etch replacement Item 28. I would also suggest that when attaching the item 109 handles that you pre-drill holes for them sit in. I added a pick axe head as one is not included to replace the one you remove during the build. Remember to fill the holes not required, most are indicated in the instructions but a few are missed. I also added a Sledge hammer to replace the one you remove during the build.

Review Author
Charles Landrum
Published on
Company
Veteran Models
Scale
1/350
MSRP
$15.00

Veteran Models in Taiwan has been producing finely detailed multi-media aftermarket replacement parts for ship modelers for quite some time. Nicely crafted, their parts are a significant upgrade to model warships. They started in 1/350 Modern USN systems and have since branched into other Navies. Now they are offering modern Soviet/Russian systems.

If you have noticed Soviet and later Russian ships are busy, some would say crowded, with sensors and weapon systems. While functional, none of these are elegant in design, and the number of each provides redundancy to ensure survivability and reliability. Each one is hodge-podge of small detail not easily duplicated in the ejection molding process, no matter how sophisticated the molds. So Veteran Models move into this area is welcome by at least this modeler.