Background

Arguably the most recognizable Allied vehicle of World War II is the timeless and versatile ¼ Ton 4x4 Truck, a.k.a. “Jeep.” While used for a myriad of tasks by Allied ground forces, scouting and reconnaissance were near the top of the list. Some variants of recon Jeeps were outfitted with .50-caliber machine guns, some with armor plate, and some with dual bazookas in lieu of the .50-cal – the latter during the Battle of the Bulge in December, 1944, and serving as the subject of this kit.

The Kit

Dragon’s little armored bazooka-toting ¼-tonner is a compact package of modeling art. The 4 sprues and body of light gray and the single sprue of clear styrene parts are nicely detailed and very crisply molded with virtually no discernible flash. The hefty fret of PE, including the armor plating, straps, and hood and windshield latches, is very crisp and fairly well matched to the kit. A small sheet of decals is also provided.

History

On November 1, 1950, a new jet fighter appeared in the skies over Korea to counter the B-29 bombing raids which, up until then, had gone unopposed. This was the MiG-15’s debut and the beginning of a long and distinguished career for the entire MiG jet-powered series. Although the MiG was effectively countered by the F-86 Sabre, it wasn’t because it was lacking in performance. In fact, it had a better rate of climb, service ceiling, and heavier armament. The difference came down to the training and attitude of the UN forces. A number of Soviet “volunteers” managed to make ace in their MiG-15s. The MiG-15 had some issues with maneuvering at high speed that limited its Mach number. Then entered the MiG-17 which wrapped a redesigned airframe around the same engine. With a redesigned wing platform, the MiG-17 was more than capable of taking on the best America had to offer.

Have you ever struggled over a problem or edited your own writing, only to have someone look at it and see the thing that you couldn’t find or solve in seconds? That’s how I felt reading this book. The Greeks dominated the fourth and fifth century BC battlefields with the Phalanx form of warfare, which combined the use of specially armed and armored soldiers (or Hoplites) in specialized formations. As the title implies, the author has taken a fresh look at old evidence of ancient Greek writers and artists and coupled that with modern research, primarily in the form of re-enactors who put on the Panopy, (or armor) and the weapons – in this case, the thrusting spear of the Greek solders – and tests his theories of methods and tactics. In the process, some interesting and groundbreaking developments emerge that shed new light on just what the ancient writers meant and how much artistic license was used in creating the vase paintings we envision when we think of this period of history.

Hasegawa has released their 1/72 F-15E Strike Eagle kit several time, and this latest release (kit#01569) does sport three new sprues and one sprue from their JDAM weapon set that provides the Lantrin pods. Comparing an earlier release to this one, I did notice that some smaller parts are beginning to show fine flashing, at least on this kit that I have. However, the recessed panel lines are still as sharp and fine as ever. You may ask if with these new parts, does this F-15E finally build into the ultimate F-15E? You'll have to read the review to find out, but I will tell you that the new J sprue provides new CFT's, correct pylons, bulged main gear doors, bulged gun door, and two proper instrument panels; the K sprue provides a new arresting hook; and the new M sprue provides the final two CFT pylons. The existing G sprue (clear parts) has been modified to include the wide HUD found on F-15E's (part G6).

The Nov/Dec 2012 issue of Windsock Worldwide concludes Volume 28 and serves as further proof that Albatross Productions continues to publish the best WW I aircraft modeling magazine available anywhere. This issue of the bi-monthly publication provides a number of exclusives for WW I aircraft model builders and historians. The cover photos provide a look at two of them: Wingnut Wings’ new Fokker D.VII kits, and TVAL’s third full-size replica, an Albatros D.Va.

Inside, the first regular column; the READER’S GALLERY, presents six featured models in 1/48 and 1/32 scale…with one, a Roland D.II cleverly constructed from LEGO pieces. Then, LOGBOOK ENTRIES reviews a new book titled Nachtflugzeug! German N-Types of WW I, and the latest issue of Cross and Cockade International (Vol.43, No.3). Following that, photo coverage is provided of one of the subjects on the cover, TVAL’s replica Albatros D.Va.