Having limited exposure to Model Art Magazine except for thumbing through them occasionally in a vendor room, I was more than eager to do a review on this product. Even though the text is in Japanese (except for some English text sprinkled in), the photographs are excellent and really make it easy to follow along. Even though this is a magazine, the print quality and binding is more like a softcover book.

This is a special issue dedicated to airbrushing. It is broken down into four chapters.

The first chapter is further divided into ten stages. In the ten stages you are taken from setting up a compressor through using different diameter airbrush supply hoses and couplings. They also cover setting up an exhaust hood and different types of airbrushes (single action, double action, and a pistol grip type). The last of these stages focuses on getting proper paint-to-thinner ratios and, in conclusion, they cover airbrush cleaning and maintenance.

Osprey Publishing is without a doubt one of the most prolific publishers of military history on the face of the planet. Whether you build models, teach history, or are an armchair historian, Osprey has something for you. This new release is part of their Elite series which tend to focus on particular units or armies. This title has a tight focus – the US Cavalry Groups that fought in the European Theater of Operations during World War Two. The author makes it clear at the beginning of the book that this title provides a focus on the thirteen cavalry groups that fought in the ETO. The coverage does not include the two that served in Italy or Southern France or remained in the states.

From Master Model comes an excellent and quick detail set for the Tamiya or Dragon He-162. Included in the set are two brass barrel ends for the MG151 guns, a replacement pitot tube, and a landing gear indicator.

Master Details sells all different kinds of products which are manufactured in the USA. These guys have just about everything for our hobby. Some of their products are figures, diorama supplies, paints, glue and tools, but this review is about their 1/32 U.S. Army Air Force Fighter Pilot figure from mid- to late-World War Two, dressed in cold weather gear. Master Details has designed the pilot figure for a P-38, P-40, P-47, and U.S. Spitfires which flew with the USAAF service. I feel that this pilot can be used in any aircraft of the U.S. as long as the diorama is not depicted in a hot climate.

A note: I reviewed the Dragon PzKw III Ausf L about 5 months before I got this kit. I covered the history more exhaustively in that review.

The Panzer

The Panzer III was built by Daimler-Benz, and the A models were first produced in 1937. The first mass production version was the Ausf F, which entered service in 1939, just in time for Poland.

The Panzer III was upgunned and armor added due to the experiences in Russia in 1941 and ‘42. The Ausfurungs J through M were equipped with the 50mm KWK L39/60 gun, which could penetrate the T-34’s front armor at ranges under 500 meters.

This model of the M had a modification to the exhaust system where the muffler was mounted near the top of the rear, allowing the tank to ford streams and shallow rivers.