OKB is based in the EU and has been in the business of offering products of high quality since 2003. The website provides some excellent images of the products being offered and also an email address, which is “ info@okbgrigorov.com “. OKB offers kits featuring 1/72 scale armor, a wide variety of submarines, and 1/72nd weaponry that can be displayed with a 1/72nd scale figure. Note that when selecting the “Figures” option on the menu, one will be directed to those weapon sets and not to actual “figures”.

The Panther (Sd. Kfz.171) is one of the more well-known armored fighting vehicles used by the Germans in WWII. The Panther saw service on both the eastern and western fronts in Europe. OKB offers a number of after-market items to replace kit parts for the Panther, in this case, a set of 1/48th scale tracks for the Panther V (Late).

Hauler has provided an interesting item that can be put to good use in any number of 1/72nd scale dioramas, as well as an item that enhances the display of a non-diorama model. That item is a set of two umbrellas. Imagine a ground crewman or pilot, sitting atop the wing of an aircraft in North Africa. An umbrella would provide some much-appreciated shade. How about an infantryman or member of a tank crew, taking a break and preparing a meal in North Africa? And, of course, if our fellow is in Europe, then the umbrella could provide some protection from rain. And, of course, umbrellas know no nationality, so if based in England, the umbrella would certainly be useful during rainy weather.

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) offers an extensive range of replacement landing gear parts for a wide variety of kits. I have some experience using SAC items to replace kit parts and I’ve found that the SAC items add strength to the model without sacrificing any of the detail found on the original parts.

As mentioned in other reviews, I tend to be a rather heavy-handed modeler and I have a long history of “critical parts” failure with WWI models which is self-made and not a reflection on the quality of the original kit. I’ve snapped wing struts in half, broken off tail skids, and caused catastrophic damage to undercarriage support structures. Knowing that I’ve “got a problem”.

Scale Aircraft Conversions offers a very large number of gear replacement sets for a wide variety of aircraft kits. This gear set is designed to replace the gear, and other parts, on the Wingnut Wings Fe.2b Late. Parts included in the SAC gear set are the axle, axle brackets, tail skid, and two control cable bars.

The SAC parts are packaged in a sturdy clear container with cardboard backing. Each part is made of white metal and matches its WNW counterpart with great precision and attention to detail. Wingnut Wings is known for its superior quality and attention to detail so what would be the reason to seek replacement parts? The answer is simple. The SAC parts, made of white metal, provide a strength and stability that will add to the durability of the model while maintaining the high level of detail of the WNW product. The parts in this review sample are free of flash or mold separation lines and, while they might bend, they will not break.

Bottom Line Up Front

This is a short, easy to read introduction to ships and history of the private warships which played a major part in the American War for Independence. It is profusely illustrated with period artwork and accurate modern-day artwork of actual ships. The artwork by Paul Wright is the standout feature of this book.

Author

Angus Konstam is the author of over 100 history books, most of which have been published by Osprey. A former naval officer and museum professional, he worked as the Curator in both the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, and the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, Florida. He now works as a full-time author and historian, and lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.