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Book Author(s)
Various
Review Author
Michael Furry
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$20.00

Super Model International, published by Kagero, is a series of modeling magazines that focus on three to five build articles per issue. The magazines feature large high-quality photos, limited advertising and focus on the building, painting and or weathering process.

Issue number three has three build articles:

  • 1/48 Tamiya D.520
  • 1/32 Pacific Coast Models Hurricane Mk.1
  • 1/32 Hobby Boss Spitfire Mk.Vb

There are three authors in this issue and a brief bio of each is presented on the back cover of the magazine.

Book Author(s)
Jose Fernandez and Patrick Laureau
Illustrator: Teodor L. Morosanu, Jose Fernandez, and Dariusz Karnas
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$62.00

One of the latest in Mushroom Model Publications’ White Series, French Bombers of WWII follows up an earlier volume on French aircraft: (2013’s French Flying Boats of WWII). MMP is calling this book part of their "Rainbow Series." I'm guessing that refers to their large format camouflage and markings set of books in their "White" series that have addressed Bulgaria, Finland, Hungarian, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, and Sweden. This series seems to share a commonality of discussing the specific topic of the evolution of a countries' evolution in markings. To that end, this book utilizes many previously un-published pictures and focuses in on individual aircraft to supplement with superb color illustrations.

Book Author(s)
Piotr Olender
Review Author
Luke R. Bucci, PhD
Published on
Company
Stratus
MSRP
$32.00

Casemate Publishers presents Stratus MMP Books Austro-Italian Naval War 1866 by Piotr Olender. Part of the Maritime Series of books, this large, heavy softbound book is really about the Battle of Lissa in 1866 between the newly formed Italian and nearby Austrian fleets, and the sweeping geopolitical fallout. The unification and formation of present Italy, the fractionation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the rise of Prussia/Germany, and French meddling set up future wars, including World Wars I and II.

Review Author
Luke R. Bucci, PhD
Published on
Company
ICM
MSRP
$9.90

Thanks to ICM Holdings for the paint set for review!

ICM has broadened its paint sets into WWII naval colors. Item 3070 is for US Navy WWII, a set of six (6) acrylic matte paints, 12 ml each. The colors are pulled from their extensive line of acrylic paints. Colors are: Black (1002), Wine Red (1048), Dark Blue (1077), Dark Sea Grey (1034), Warm Grey (1031), and Sky Grey (1033). Pricing is around $10 for the set, which is reasonable.

These paints are designed for brush application, but can be thinned 40-60% with water or thinner for airbrushing. The colors can also be mixed with each other to achieve different colors if desired.

They all are matte (flat), and brush on easily to plastic and paper, and are more opaque than other paints, meaning one coat should be sufficient for brushing (see HMS Glorious aircraft carrier photo), even without a primer coat.

Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$25.00

Reference the ICM website,

The SPz Marder 1 is a German infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) developed by Rheinmetall that has served as the main combat vehicle of the armored infantry divisions of the Bundeswehr since the 1970s.

The vehicle underwent several modernizations throughout its service life, with the A3 upgrade program launching in 1988. This modernization included 1600 kilograms of improved armor, reinforced suspension, a new braking system, and a modified turret configuration. The resulting SPz Marder 1A3 has proven to be one of the world’s most battle-tested and reliable IFVs.

Review Author
Phil Peterson
Published on
Company
Atlantis Model Company
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$32.99

Back in the late 60s through the mid 70s Monogram released a bunch of kits designed by Tom Daniels. I built a dozen of them in my youth, but lost all of them during one of our moves when the box didn’t show up at our new base housing. Since then I have managed to collect all but a couple of the ones I had and several I didn’t have but always wanted. Now, thanks to Atlantis Models, some of these kits have been re-released, and I took the opportunity to grab the Pie Wagon.

The kit comes packaged looking like the old Monogram kit, including the classic instructions. The parts are molded in red and clear plastic with chrome and brass-plated parts and rubber tires.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$50.96

The long-awaited Czech variant of the Bf-109 family, the Avia S-199, has finally been released by Eduard. It is the first of the new Hybrid Line of kits. This touts less plastic parts and more resin pieces. One thing that stuck me as funny is there is no photo etch, not because it was needed but considering that Eduard started out as a photo etch company. I found this interesting and shows just how much Eduard has grown since its conception.

Inside the usual Eduard box are three light grey plastic sprues containing 61 parts, some not being used, one clear sprue and 38 resin parts along with masks, decals, and instructions. There are marking options for six aircraft, three Israeli and three Czech. The instruction book is printed on high quality paper as usual with pictures and callouts on there. It is important to determine which subject you are going to model because there are some changes between the variants. The decals are the latest Eduard ‘peelable’ style.

Book Author(s)
Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans. Illustrators: George Anderson, David Bocquelet and Anderson Subtil
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

From the Introduction,

Infantry, and the tactics shaping their use, will play a central role in the any future conflict on the Korean Peninsula, alongside the APC’s and fire-support vehicles detailed in the previous volume. However, it is through overwhelming firepower of its armored formations and artillery, backed by engineering units and mobile air defences, that the KPA is expected to attempt a breakthrough. With most of its inventory of indigenous manufacture, the present book attempts a comprehensive study into the little-explored landscape of the Ground Forces’ armored vehicles.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1:48
MSRP
$54.95

Box Contents

There are four medium grey sprues for the plastic parts.

Clear Parts - The clear parts are very clear and crisply molded. This sprue includes several parts that will not be used in this build. The canopy is made up of three parts, and the canopy may be posed open or closed.

Instructions - There are 20 pages in the instruction booklet. Each step is shown as line diagrams with parts numbered, parts placement shown along with paint colors. As this kit may be built for either the Mitsubishi or Nakajima manufactured aircraft, the different manufacturer parts are noted. There are five different aircraft that can be built from this kit. Start by deciding which version will be built, as there are parts as well as paint color options to be used for the various versions. The instructions show the locations for all markings and stencils.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$54.45

Eduard has provided this beautiful new release from their P-40 range for review, in the form of this 1/48 scale model of the P-40N Warhawk. This is based on the original release from a few months ago. The kit contains six gray sprues, one clear sprue, one Photo Etch fret, one mask set, one decal sheet, and an instruction guide.

Assembly

The quality is excellent in every way with this kit, as crisp and detailed molding has become the norm for Eduard kits. The assembly is quick and easy. You must select which version you are going to build before you start, and I chose Box Art version “A”.