One of the latest entries into MiniArt Models line of WWII Military Miniatures is a German Machine Guns set. There is enough styrene in the box to build two MG 34's, two MG 42's and one ZB 53.

The ZB 53 was a Czech design and were from captured stocks after the German Army invaded Czechoslovakia at the beginning of WWII. The Germans later changed the designation to MG 37. All of these weapons utilized 7.92x57 ammunition. Fun Fact: The MG 42, although redesigned and improved, is still in service as the MG 3.

Along with the machine guns there are parts for ammo cans, barrel canisters, and ammunition belts. MiniArt thoughtfully includes photoetch bits for the carrying straps/slings of each gun, handles for the ammo cans, and the cooling vanes/heat shields on the barrel of the ZB 53. All in all, you get 84 pieces of plastic and 38 photoetch bits. I found assembling those slings fiddly but on reflection a better in scale method eludes this author.

When Trumpeter announced they were releasing a 1/48 scale Type VII U-boat, many were amazed and skeptical. The kit would be huge and Trumpeter has had delays in the past. The U-boat has come out and I am pleased to say it is large and well detailed for a plastic kit with a full interior. One part of the kit is its 8.8cm deck gun and it’s nice. Eduard saw an opportunity for a great upgrade and issued a full resin and photoetch deck gun for the massive kit. This set consists of 38 excellent resin parts and a small photoetch fret of 22 small pieces. Casting is top notch- no air bubbles and the resin Eduard uses is tough and a little flexible which is excellent to handle.

David Doyle’s latest book continues to expand on Squadron Signal’s long-standing In Action series that initiated back in 1971. This is a completely updated and expanded edition over Squadron’s earlier Aircraft In Action number 55, a 50-pager on the Blackbird by Lou Drendel that was published in 1982. This 2017 release is essentially a new book, although it retains the identical Don Greer cover as In Action 55 monograph.

I’ve always thought the F-5 Freedom Fighter was a sexy little airplane. And with a neat paint scheme, it is even cooler. Two Bobs has dabbled into these markings with this release.

The adversaries of VFC-111 and VFC-13 sport some of the camouflage schemes that many potential adversaries would fly in.

Typical of all Two Bobs releases this one comes in a ziplock baggie of 6x9 inches. The decals themselves are printed by Microscale so you know they are thin, opaque and in register. This sheet features three aircraft, one from the Sundowners and two Fighting Saints. There are stencils for each aircraft and decals for CATM AIM-9 markings.

Eduard has issued this nice photoetch set for IBG Model’s newly released Scammell Pioneer SV2S Heavy Breakdown Tractor. IBG’s kit has very good detail, and Eduard provides many additional details to improve the quality of the model.

The photoetch is up to Eduard’s high quality standard, but there are many very small parts to deal with. I could assemble all the photoetch using super glue, and did not find soldering to be necessary. The photoetch seems to be very thin, and several pieces broke when I tried to bend them. Experience working with photoetch is highly recommended for this set. The use of a bending device tool is also very helpful for this set.

To add PE to a model, I go through the kit instructions and mark those parts that are modified by the photoetch so it can be incorporated in the normal assembly sequence. The Eduard instructions are quite clear and use different colors to designate replacement PE parts, kit parts, or areas to be removed.