What's New

Review Author
Unknown Modeller
Published on
Company
RESIN2 Detail
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$10.99

This upgrade provides a 1//32 scale improved Oxygen (O2) tanks for the HK B-17. It comes in two different options, with four each (eight total) O2 Tanks. Four tanks have mounts and brackets, and four are just O2 tanks with no brackets or mounts.

When held next to the kit O2 tanks, the size difference is very noticeable. The HK tanks are all too small; the Detail2Resin tanks are correct. Remove the tanks from their pour stubs, then primer with gray or white , (I used Tamiya White) and then paint gloss yellow(again, I used Tamiya Camel Yellow) . Weather a bit, then paint the mount straps silver or steel; the mount itself was usually interior green.

As this is a basic seat with all parts molded in place, the overall work goes very quickly, with no parts or additions required. The detail really stands out once all the drybrush work has been accomplished. Much easier than making your own mount and straps out of foil In my opinion!

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
RESIN2 Detail
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$9.99

This upgrade provides a 1//32 scale improved seat for the HK B-17. It comes in three different options, with two seats to a package. One is the plain seat, one has basic seat cushions and backpad, and one has seat cushions, backpad, and the lap-belt, as the B-17 was (from my references) rarely equipped with over-the shoulder harnesses until later versions. The lap belt is the ultimate in final detail. As you can see in the side-by side view, the kit seat (in basic gray plastic) is about 3/8” taller than the Resin2detail seats; I believe the Resin 2 detail seats are more accurate.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$79.99

History Brief

The Sturmgeschütz III (StuG.III) Germany’s most widely produced AFV of WWII, with 10,619 eventually manufactured. Based on the chassis of the Panzer III, it was cheaper and faster to build since it did not have a rotating turret.

The Ausf.E, was armed with the short-barreled, low velocity 75mm StuK37 L/24 gun as preceding marks, and 284 vehicles were produced from September 1941 through to March 1942. This variant’s major improvement over its predecessor was a new armored pannier on the right side of the superstructure to accommodate radio equipment. Increased space inside allowed an extra six 75mm rounds for a total of 50 to be carried. An MG34 was stowed internally, and smaller hinges for the inspection hatches were another distinguishing feature of the Ausf.E.

Book Author(s)
Paul Metz
Review Author
Ben Guenther
Published on
Company
Ginter Books
MSRP
$49.95

If you have always liked the Northrup YF-23 design or are just interested in advanced aircraft this book may be of interest to you. It was written by Paul Metz who happened to have been Northrup's Chief Test Pilot for the YF-23 ATF DEM/VAL phase. (Demonstration and Validation) With his knowledge of the aircraft and it's performance he has been able to pull together a great collection of material to give you the reader unique insight into this program. This work comes in the standard size (8.5” x 11.5” x 5/16”) and consist of 153 pages on glossy paper, also 290 color photos as I count them, 20 pieces of aircraft artwork showing various preliminary configurations, 25 charts and 38 technical drawings.

Book Author(s)
Steven J. Zaloga, Illustrators: Alan Gilliland, Johnny Shumate
Review Author
Mike Lamm
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$20.00

Osprey’s Duel series is a well-established line of books covering some of the more famous weapons that have faced each other in combat. The series started just over 9 years ago with the P-51 versus the FW-190, with this installment, Bazooka versus Panzer being one of their latest releases.

The books begins with a history of the U.S. Army’s development of the M1 Rocket Launcher, popularly called the “bazooka” by its developers and soldiers, due to its resemblance to 1930’s comedian Bob Burn’s musical instrument. The author explains how the weapon was rushed through development and testing, and sent them to the troops in North Africa without much explanation, or any training.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$20.00

Background

Denmark was Saab’s first export customer for the Draken, designated 35XD by Saab. The Danes used a slightly different nomenclature with F-35 representing the attack version, RF-35 the reconnaissance version, and TF-35 the training version. Denmark initially ordered 20 F-35, 20 RF-35, and 6 TF-35 Drakens, with another five additional TF-35 Drakens pieced together after the Draken production line had shut down and switched to Viggen production. The Danish Draken had a 40% increase in internal fuel capacity and had its fuselage and wings beefed up to allow a maximum of 10,000 pounds of ordinance to be carried on nine beefed-up pylons. Externally, the Danish Drakens can be spotted by the larger ordinance pylons and an arrester hook. The Draken had always been designed to have an arrester hook installed, but it was never installed on any Draken but the 35XD. The Danish Drakens also carried two 30mm cannons.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/2256
MSRP
$44.95

This is a re-issue of a first released a few years ago by Revell Germany.

This is a kit of a Republic Star Destroyer from the Clone wars era of the Star Wars saga.

In the box is:

  • 4 x light grey sprues
  • 1 Upper Hull Section
  • 1 Lower Hull Section
  • 1 Decal sheet
  • 1 Instruction booklet

All the sprues are extremely well molded and great detail; the instruction booklet is easy to follow and well-illustrated.

Construction

Stage 1, 2 and 3 is the construction of the ships upper super structure and is very detailed. I decided to paint each sub assembly as I built the kit. I used a light grey spray can primer and this was a perfect match for the paint finish I wanted for the ship.

Review Author
Chris Gibson
Published on
Company
Zoukei-Mura
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$185.00

Big Finish

So we are finally to the point of paint, decals and final assembly. I started out with applying the paint masks for the canopies. The paint masks seem to fit very well and are applied easily. I started the painting by covering the entire fuselage with Model Master Metallics non buffing Aluminum. I do this for two reasons, 1) to find any defects in the fuselage and take care of them before final paint, and 2) because I like to have an aluminum base to all my aircraft that once painted when I do weathering I can chip away the final color to reveal the aluminum underneath and it looks more realistic.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Cross & Cockade International
MSRP
$33.00

The latest journal of Cross & Cockade International - Winter 2016, features a tinted photograph of a winter scene with FK3 B9547 and other machines of 15 TS at Spittlegate. The rear cover features color profiles by Arvo@arvoart.com of four 45 Squadron Camels. If you check out the web site link above, you can get additional sample pics of the current issue.

Cross & Cockade International is a non-profit UK based group known as the First World War Aviation Historical Society that publishes their journal four times a year. They also provide a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publish WWI themed books like the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier for IPMS USA. This Journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front.

Book Author(s)
David Doyle
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Squadron Signal Publications
MSRP
$19.95

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 considerable expansion over Squadron’s Armor In Action number 36 that covered US Tank Destroyers (M3, M6, M10, M36, and M18 Hellcat). This edition focuses on the M10 and adds considerably to the material provided in that edition.