Hot on the heels of Zoukei-Mura’s new Ki-45 Late comes the Ki-45 Early edition. Giving you two choices of the Early type of heavy fighter the Ki-45 Toryu Kai Ko or Kai Hei. As with all ZM kits this one has a full interior and you have your choice of clear fuselage (to show off all the interior details) or gray plastic fuselage. The box is jammed full of both gray and clear sprues and it comes with a 59-page instruction book.

First up for the build is choosing which variant you want to build. I chose to go with the Ko version, in the instructions this would be option A. I chose this version for two reasons. The alligator type paint scheme and the two machine guns in the nose as apposed to the one cannon.

Having ‘gone digital’ over the last several years, I have severely curtailed my physical magazine subscriptions. As a result, this title was entirely new to me and thus was very keen to review it and have a chance to read through another publication.

Despite the above commentary, Scale Military Modeller International has been around for a while. The quality of the magazine is like many others from the publisher – Nice, glossy stiff covers and equally glossy, but thinner, content pages. Excellent quality photos and detailed articles are consistent throughout this issue.

Contents of Issue #585 include at least 9 build articles (8 military vehicles ranging from WW2 to present-day, and 1 Schnellboot ). Several pages of new product descriptions (covering armor and figures) fill out more of the magazine. Two articles cover historical background of different subjects, accompanied by build articles of the same. There are also some brief pieces on new tools available.

IPMS/USA appreciates the opportunity to review this periodical and report on the content!

OK, I am one of “those guys” who really enjoys reading periodicals/magazines. They provide a method to weed out the potential poorly manufactured models out there (a rare occurrence these days with modern molding techniques) and highlight the benefit of a given kit. A win for me as I therefore know of and don’t buy poorly executed plastic. And if I do, it’s because it saves me a lot of scratch building. Plus, I learn a lot of technique and history from modeling. What is not to like?

OKB offers three very similar products, all in 35^th scale, for use on a Pz.IV . These items are “return rollers” for the Type 2 (product S35007), the Type 3 (product S35008), and the Type 4 (product S35009). This review will focus on the rollers for the Type 3 (product S35008).

The roller parts are contained in a small zip lock baggie. A paper label is stapled to the baggie which serves to identify the “Type” for which these parts are engineered, and to provide a secure closure so that none of the parts go astray.

Overview as found on the website: After the Normandy break-out, the Allies’ headlong dash east came to a halt in the autumn with the ill-fated MARKET GARDEN operation and over-extended supply lines short of the Rhineland. After repulsing the Nazis’ daring Ardennes offensive, Montgomery’s and Bradley’s Army Groups cleared the Reichwald and Rhineland and closed on the Rhine.

With both sides aware of the strategic significance of this physical barrier the stakes could not have been higher. Eisenhower’s plan involved a vast airborne assault by General Ridgway’s XV11 Airborne Corps (codename VARSITY) and the simultaneously coordinated river crossing by Monty’s 21 Army Group codename PLUNDER with Dempsey’s British Second Army and General William H. Simpson’s US Ninth Army.