The VsKfz 617 Minenraumer is the first entry in Meng’s Stegosaurus series.

The VsKfz 617 never got out of the prototype phase. The first one was completed in 1942, jointly designed by Alkett, Krupp, and Daimler-Benz. Only the vehicle captured by the Russians survives today.

The model comes in a sturdy box with all sprues individually bagged. The hull top and bottom are in a separate compartment, as is the turret. The track parts are in two plastic trays, keeping everything neat.

The instructions comprise a 14 page booklet with a color drawing of a minenraumer on the front. The first page has a discussion of the unclear history of the vehicle. Page 3 through 12 contain the 19 step instructions, all very clearly drawn, with no step being too busy or confusing. Page 13 is a nicely done parts map, and page 14 has 3-color drawings showing possible camouflage schemes.

The Product

Arriving on the heels of their all-new Bf-109E in 1/48 scale, the boys at Eduard have already produced an excellent and comprehensive photo etch upgrade set. Considering the beautiful, highly detailed, all-new tooling Eduard kit, I wondered what else they could add to this superb kit. The answer is easy. Starting in the cockpit, we get a new document box, rudder petals, trim wheels, plus all the extra small items that add the finishing touches where needed. The gun bay and engine also benefit by adding ammo box grab handles. The DB 601 benefits from adding lifting-jack points, intake screen, and a top case plate. New cowling formers for the engine bearers and a cap for the header tank are also included. The radiators also get the treatment with new exit doors that include the proper linkages. We also have new interiors for the main landing gear wells, as well as gear-leg parts that include drag links, brake-plates, and brake-lines.

This is a multimedia kit comprised of 650+ styrene parts on 17 sprues, Magic Tracks, one braided metal wire (which is very stiff even after annealing), one photo etched fret, decals, and the set of instructions that need to be reviewed very carefully before gluing any parts together.

Most Dragon models today are a collection of old sprues with new sprues added to create a new kit variant. In this case, Dragon has mounted the s.IG 33 field gun to the Pz III chassis. In doing so, you will have some sprues with the same letter but are called out by the color or upper or lower case (example: Sprues Blue A, Blue B and Black b). A whole plethora of parts will be unused and relegated to the spare parts box.

Step 1. This step is the assembly of the idler wheel, drive sprockets, road wheels, and return wheels. There are no problems here other than the removal of the mold line which is noticeable on the road wheels.

I have always been a fan of Bob Steinbrunn’s model work over the years, seeing his many works in the pages of FineScale Modeler. Accordingly, I jumped at the chance to review this, his latest book, which involves the construction of a 1/6 scale (that’s right, one-SIXTH) M5A1 Stuart Light Tank, using a 21st Century Toys running model as a starting point. As usual, Bob’s model work does not disappoint.

Although you may not be able to find a similar “start kit” of an M5A1, the book is filled with valuable information on not only building large-scale models in general, but also for the M5A1 Stuart itself. Bob’s research is meticulous and his attention to detail is absolutely astounding – the thing that I found most amazing in this work. I personally plan to use this book as a guide when I build my AFV Club 1:35 M5A1. Coincidentally, I just finished a Mirage 1:72 M3 Stuart and I wish that I had had this book as a reference guide at the start of that project.

Introduction

While it’s primarily remembered for the massive clash of armor on the ground, the battle of Kursk was also the debut a new Soviet fighter that would eventually help wrest control of the sky from the Luftwaffe’s Fw190 and Me109. That was the Lavochkin La-5/7 series of fighters. An offspring of the earlier LaGG-3 fighter, the La-5 was born when the inline engine of its protégée was replaced by a 14-cylinder M-82 radial engine. In spite of early teething problems that resulted in a redesigned cowling and the reduction of armament to 2 x 20 mm ShVAK cannons, the La-5 proved more than a match for the heavier Fw190A-4/5 series. The La-5FN was equipped with a fuel injected M-82FN radial, further improving its performance. Many Soviet aces, including Ivan Kozhedub (62 kills) and the subject of this built, Capt Pyotr Likholetov (30 kills), added to their scores flying the LA-5/7 series fighters.