Dragon Models has released a new boxing of their Hummel self-propelled artillery. This is the Hummel Wespe, with the 10.5 cm gun (instead of the typical 15 cm). The smaller gun meant extra rounds could be carried in the vehicle.

This kit is based on the excellent Dragon Hummel kit, with new sprues for the smaller gun, a modified fighting compartment, and new racks for the extra ammo.

The hull and running gear is based on the Panzer IV, with an excellent level of detail. The road wheels are of the rubber rim style. I was pleasantly surprised to see all the rivets, access panels, and overall surface detail of the hull and front armor pieces. It does look “like the part”. The tracks are of the DS kind and have good detail as well.

Mushroom Model Publications has published another it its “Spotlight On” series, this book featuring German armor color schemes from 1918 to 1944. Written and illustrated by Thierry Vallet this offering traces the evolution of panzer colors and camouflage from pre-war through the end of WWII. Each page features a large profile illustration of a piece of armor, in full color with a “color square” identifying the color, or colors, along with an RAL color number.

The publication will provide a very quick and excellent reference for the colors involved, while the profile illustrations depict the camouflage patterns or painting patterns very nicely.

This is a publication of high quality and is recommended for those interested in German WWII armor. Whether you be an armor newbie or a more experienced builder you’ll find this book helpful and entertaining. Thanks to Mushroom Model Publications for this excellent review sample.

Brengun has produced a detail set of modern US Navy Wheel Chocks. With all the plethora of 1/48 scale kit out there, these make a great display item. The set consists of twelve nicely cast resin pieces. Four of these are the blocks, two are the rails, four are the ends to the block and the last two are two tiny locks for the rails. The tread patterns and lines on the blocks is very well defined. The ends are separate in this scale to allow a good channel for the rails. The rails include the toothed pattern used to lock the chocks in place just like the real item. The lock are very small so caution will be needed.

Delta One Decal is a new European decal manufacturer. At time of writing, the Delta One Decal website is not live, but they have an email address: delta1decal@gmail.com.

These are limited edition decal sheets that cover generic Bort Numbers (Warsaw Pact nose numbers) in both “square corner” and “rounded corner” versions. For several numbers you get more than one style (see images).

Each set comes with red numbers (black and white edges), blue (black edge) and yellow (black edge). In addition you get some generic Red/Russian stars.

Thanks again to a great IPMS supporter, Ross at SAC… and to IPMS leadership for providing it to me for review. Metal gear rule!

This set provides 15 metal parts to replace the main and nose gear for the new Revell 1/48 Panavia Tornado. Besides the three struts, retraction arms, torque links, and associated extension and compression arms, there are also the torsion arms which fit at the top of the main struts which twist the gear as it retracts. Continuing their recent business model, Revell’s kit is a superior, cost-effective alternative to past 1/48 Tornado kits; detail is there, and out of the box you will have a show-stopper. Adding the metal SAC gear is, however, an excellent option.

One thing to note up front: the kit gear has two-sided struts; the SAC gear is one-piece per strut. In this scale, it matters…