Round 2 Models has certainly come out with some interesting stuff in the last few years, including AMT, MPC, Polar Lights (Aurora), Hawk and Lindberg kits from yesteryear. As IPMS Historian, I also find it gratifying that the models that have disappeared from the shelves have reappeared for the newer modelers to enjoy.

The Plane

The de Havilland Comet was the first purpose-built jet airliner which first flew in 1949, entering service in 1952. The major overseas airlines of the early fifties were BOAC and Pan Am. BOAC ordered British made Comets, Pan Am bought American made Constellations, DC-4s and then 707s, DC-8s and Convair 880s.

Thanks to Matho Models for this sample.

During the First World War, it was common to see posters to support the effort, buy bonds and accept the sacrifices asked of people on the home front.

This item, packed in a zip lock bag with a hanger and cardstock backing, provides 22 various US posters in 1/35 scale printed on 0.1 mm semi-gloss paper. Under extreme magnification, reading glasses, Optivisor and magnifying lamp, I was able to see some signs of the printing process, however, under normal viewing conditions, these look fine. All but the finest print is readable, colors are sharp but muted enough to not be overwhelming. Each poster will need to be cut from the sheet using a straight edge and sharp X-Acto type blade. A couple will need closer than usual attention to get the light edges cut properly as they tend to blend into the background.

These will add a touch of color to a street scene and some might even work as a name plate on a figure base.

The kit contains a 3 ton truck, apparently an Opel Blitz although it does not say so, a driver figure, and a sprue of fuel drums, jerry cans, bags and rolled up tarps, and decals for two marking options.

There are two duplicate sprues for the wheels and tires, some suspension parts, headlights and other parts that are identical. The ejector pin marks are on inside of truck bed and inside of the doors and easy to hide. Unfortunately, there is no option for canvas cover to be over the bed. There is also no engine in the kit. The grill is molded solid as are the tool clips. The kit does have an option for clear headlight lenses or covered headlights with a horizontal slit across the face of the headlight.

Assembly

Initially the assembly went very well. The parts fit well and are generally designed for easy assembly. The steering column inserts from engine well side of the firewall and is very secure, ensuring proper angle of the steering wheel.

This kit contains four figures (three enlisted and one officer), and two sprues of small arms and equipment. The kit is made by ICM but packaged with the Tamiya name. The small arms and equipment sprues appear to be the same as those in the ICM Anzac Infantry (1915) kit and include a very nice assortment of extras. Each sprue has four Lee-Enfield Mk III rifles and two Ross Mk III 1910 rifles (14 rifles total counting both sprues and the two Lee Enfield rifles from the figure sprue!) along with grenade launchers, grenades and wire cutting attachment. There is also a Webley .45 revolver and Lewis machine gun with bipod. There is also an assortment of personal equipment such as canteens, ammo pouches, etc. and tools including shovels, axes, wire cutters and pick-axes. There are also four helmets, which you will probably need.

Thanks to Mathomodels for this sample.

This is a kit of two average sized wooden pallets used in transporting any number of products by way of some type of fork lift. They would be at home in a base camp, as debris in a modern setting, or in the bed of a truck. With some creative cutting of the parts, they could be displayed as broken or disassembled.

This small resin kit is packed in a zip-lock bag attached to a peg hangar. It includes 8 resin parts to make two compete wooden pallets that scale out to about 32 X 48 inches. Parts are cast in gray resin. At first glance, there appeared to be a very fine wood grain pattern, but this was lost to a coat of primer. There are two upper portions and six bases/legs. There are no instructions, but assembly is completely intuitive. Simply cut the pour plugs and put a tiny drop of superglue to attach the legs at the outer and middle slats.