Kotare are a new New Zealand-based modelling company, born from the ashes of the Wingnut Wings concern. Like their ancestor, Kotare are determined to offer high-quality 1/32 aircraft kits, but instead of concentrating solely on WWI subjects, Kotare are focusing on the more popular WWII, starting with a range of early mark Spitfires.
1VP Note: It's my pleasure to welcome Fred Bachnofer, a member of IPMS/Netherlands, to our review team! Fred brings a European perspective to the process and has access to some products that we in the States may not be familiar with. Fred's first review here is of an AFV kit, we hope there are more to come!
Visit Fred's website at https://modelfan.eu if you'd like to see more of his work. Welcome, Fred!
The YPR was developed in the United States in 1965 by FMC Corporation under the name XM765, as one of prototypes for a future armoured infantry fighting vehicle.
The book is a series of books covering all of the Pacific in World War Two used aircraft. It goes into great detail of the types squadrons, service & variants,
I found this book very informative and was full of facts and details of very little-known aircraft.
The articles on the variants that were explored during the development, were especially interesting.
The book is full of extremely interesting photos of the aircraft and markings. The many profile pictures are great when deciding on decals for model builds.
The inclusion of the chapter on Greater Japan Airways is something I did not expect and is great addition.
I was amazed at the amount of information and history found in the pages of this extremely enjoyable book. The profiles alone are worth the cost of the book.
I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in IJN aircraft from WWII.
Valiant Wings Publishing was founded in 2010 under the guidance of Richard A. Franks and Mark Peacock. Valiant Wings has released several series of primarily airplane monographs [Airframe & Miniature, Airframe Album and Airframe Detail series] with the first Airframe Album dedicated to the Heinkel He 219 ‘Uhu’ released in 2012. This is Valiant Wings largest Airframe Album to date at 192 pages.
Right on the heels of their lovely Mobile Chapel kit, ICM has released a set of figures that can either be used to create a stand-alone vignette or be used together with the aforementioned vehicle.
This set includes five well-sculpted figures, along with a separate sprue containing a portable organ, folding chair and numerous small bits that would be appropriate on an altar or other religious table. As I mentioned in my previous review of the mobile chapel itself, I stated that such a vehicle would rarely (I assume) have seen front-line service, and this set of figures supports that theory, as they appear very much to be rear-echelon types in suitably casual garb.
The set includes a preacher in appropriate ecclesiastic garb, an organ player, two supplicants and an assistant holding out a collection plate. Detail is crisp and the facial features distinctive and well done.
Pen & Sword Books are not new to the plastic modeling industry. The UK-based publishing company has been around since 1990 while churning out titles covering subjects from the military, aviation, maritime, and other areas of history.
The following is taken from Pen and Sword’s website.
Anthony Tucker-Jones, a former intelligence officer, is an author and commentator who specializes in military history, with more than 50 books to his name. His work has also been published in an array of magazines and online. He regularly appears on television and radio programs commenting on current and historical military matters. His books includeArmoured Warfare in the North African Campaign,The Battle for the Mediterranean,The Desert Air War,The Devil’s Bridge,Hitler’s Winter, andChurchill Master and Commander.
This review covers Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen’s Rear Engine Dragster kit. It’s a 1:24 Scale kit from Atlantis Models #M7529. Rescued from the scrap heap by Atlantis and re-released in 2024 it hasn’t been seen in decades. It’s not for the average builder, but with some forehand knowledge, it’s not that hard to get this nostalgic model on your shelf.
Tom “The Mongoose” McEwan was half of a tag team with partner Don "the Snake" Prudhomme that’s been called The Greatest Rivalry in Drag Racing. Known for his endless promotion, Tom ushered in a new era for motor sports when he got a sponsorship deal with Mattel’s “Hot Wheels” franchise. Aside from being NHRA winners this put the team in the hands, and minds, of nearly every boy in America. It was a stroke of marketing genius - bringing non-automotive sponsors into the sport.
The PZL-104 Wilga is a high-wing cantilever short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) monoplane utility aircraft that features an all-aluminum construction.The Wilga has been widely used in civil aviation. It often performed other duties, such as touring, observation, glider towing, and parachute training. In Poland, where the type was designed and produced, it was a staple airplane in the Aero Clubs tasked with flight training. The aircraft was also used by the Polish military. Over 1000 Wilgas were produced until 2006. Unfortunately, no background information or history of the PZL-104 Wilga 35A is provided in the two publications.
The Soviet War in Afghanistan 1979–1989 is a part of Helion and Company’s Asia@War series, No. 50 (HEL 1820). This is not a typical @War series book and is not easy to read due to the author’s incredible research and presentation of facts. It is not written in a narrative format, nor does he shy away from the reality of war and the atrocities this particular war was known. In a rare departure from the almost 200 books in the @War series, an Editorial Note is included before the Introduction. It is so uncommon that a part of the note is highlighted here to put this book in perspective.
The Martin B-26 Marauder was a twin-engine light bomber which entered U.S. Army Air Forces service in 1941. 5,000 airframes were built, and the aircraft was used in all theaters of operations for the U.S. during World War II. The Martin B-26 was a medium altitude [10,000 to 15,000 feet] bomber with the lowest loss rate of any Allied bomber! Many Allied air forces flew the Marauder including; U.S., British, Free French, Australian, South African and Canadian in combat. At the conclusion of World War II, B-26 crews had flown more than 110,000 operational sorties and had dropped about 150,000 tons of bombs on the enemy. The Martin B-26 was declared obsolete by the United States Air Force in 1948, but few had even been airworthy by this late date. The B-26 designation was transferred to the Douglas A-26 in June 1948 after the Martin bomber was withdrawn from USAF service.
