This book covers the PB4Y-1/1P Liberator in US Naval service. Armed with the success of land based bombers used by the USAAC anti-submarine command in the Atlantic along with RAF Coastal Command on the other side of the Atlantic, the Navy went to the AAC to ask for a share of the B-24 production. This was granted in return for the Navy canceling orders for the Boeing PBB Sea Ranger thus freeing up that production capacity for B-29s.

Ginter books are well known in both the modeling and aviation community for their in-depth photo coverage and history of the title subject. This book on the PB4Y-1 , number 105 in the Naval Fighters series, lives up to the sterling reputation established by all of the previous volumes. It is a great companion volume to the one on the PB4Y-2!

The book is one of the Squadron Signal series “in Action”. It explores the history and development of the Panther tank and its Variants. I have always loved the Panther design and was very happy to have this book to review. The pictures of the Panther in the book are fantastic.

The book has some extremely interesting and diverse photos of the iconic Panther, there are over 180 photographs included. The photos really show the classic lines and design of this wonderful symbol of the World War 2. The book made me want to build a couple of Panther models out of my stash and start building using the book for valuable reference. The last sections of the variants are an extremely interesting addition to the book.

This book should be in every tank lover’s library and I recommend this book to everyone. The great reference photos are ideal for all modeler’s.

This is a photoetch template set for use scribing/engraving square type features on any subject plastic model. This set with one sheet with 4 smaller templates within it.

In the packet includes

• 1 photoetch sheet

Summary

This is a fantastic set for added some great additional details features to any kit or replacing engraved squares lost due to sanding and filling. They are easy to use and flexible to form around most shapes and surfaces.

Thanks go to Eduard for providing this set to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.

Background

The most important Soviet tank design of the early post WW2 period was the T-54/T-55 series of tanks, and these tanks were exported in large numbers to Soviet client states including Syria and Egypt. The 1967 and 1973 Arab/Israeli wars were disastrous for the combined Arab armies, and Israeli forces captured hundreds of intact examples of the T-54/55 tanks. Not wishing to look a gift horse in the mouth, the Israeli military developed a procurement program designed to put these captured tanks back into Israeli service. Over the years the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) fielded the Tiran 1, 2, 4 and 5. The Tiran 1 was an unmodified T-54, and the Tiran 2 was an unmodified T-55. The Tiran 4 was a modified T-54 with new jerry can and stowage boxes added to the exterior of the vehicle, as well as a change to the loader’s hatch, and the addition of turret mounted exterior machineguns. The Tiran 5 was the same modification program as the Tiran 4, but for the T-55 tank.

(Again, no preamble this time; only building reports. )

The exterior set contained one item overlooked by many; behind the set of holes on the cheeks of the chin scoop is a set of interior grating; What this is FOR, I have no clue, but it’s there, and the fun part of hogging out plastic on a small rectangular part is, well, not there. But it’s mandatory, and I’ve put it aside for now so I can finish up the rest of the other review items I have lurking in the “to build” pile.

The final item provided in the Big Ed set is a set of canopy masks. Now, mind, I will remind myself to check in the future, because this is not your ordinary set of masks. No. It includes the interior masking! So, after I had dutifully fitted half the INTERIOR mask around the EXTERIOR of the bubble canopy, I realized there were not two sets of masks for the sake of providing them, but were specifically called out as interior and exterior.

I felt pretty dumb.