With Trumpeter’s release of their M-1078 Light Medium Tactical vehicle (LMTV), it was only a matter of time before the after-market companies stepped up. There are at least one full PE set, two different resin interiors/exterior sets and four different tire sets. This is understandable as many modelers (for one reason or another) do not appreciate or like the rubber/vinyl tire option. The Trumpeter tires look fine to me. However, if you have to have resin, this is a way to go! The only difference between these two sets is the number of tires included. One set (35030) contains five tires, two front, two rear and a spare and the other set (35037) contains two front, four rear and a spare. Set 35037 is being sold for the Trumpeter M-1083 that was announced but has not yet been released. For the difference in cost, I would suggest getting the seven wheel set. That way, regardless of which one you build, you will have all the tires you need or some extras.

Model Art No. 824, July 2011 issue features the tools of modeling – everything needed to finish surfaces of models. Pages 9 - 43 are filled with commercial products from sanding sticks to glue and everything in between (but not paint). Unfortunately, this is where not being able to translate the text into English hurts – we never find out who won.

I don't do dioramas -- it's the lack of the creative and artistic genes. But having seen other reviews of these MiniArt diorama kits, I had to see one for myself.

The very first thing I did is go to the MiniArt website and go through both the Assembly Guide and the Painting Guide. The Assembly Guide is excellent even if you are familiar with vac-form kits as there are some differences from, say, an aircraft vac-form, mostly due to the corners and molding practices. And the Painting Guide pretty much shows even the least artistic of us how to get good effects with paints, primarily oils. You can do the quick tour by just reading the captions and looking at the still pictures, or you can also watch videos accompanying most all steps.

When people discuss World War II armor certain tanks come to mind for the main combatants. For the United States it would be the Sherman tank, for the Soviet Union it would be the T-34 tank and for Germany the Tiger tank would come to symbolize that country’s armor might. The fame of the Tiger tank far exceeded the number produced or fielded. Certainly, for the average GI Joe the Tiger tank invoked a feeling of trepidation, so much that any German tank they met became the dreaded Tiger tank.

Zenith Press has produced a book that is a fine collection of articles written by experts of the Tank Museum at Bovington.

Covering the Tiger tank in general this book also covers in detail the restoration and return to operation of the Tiger tank “131” that resides at the Tank Museum. We have ten chapters of information to process so let’s begin.

Dragon’s 1/72 scale line of Armor Pro models has become the standard by which all 1/72 armor kits are gauged. Dragon’s detail in such a small scale, including photo-etched detail, is what makes modelers flock to the local hobby shops to get the latest in the Armor Pro series.

Dragon’s newest addition to this series is the Sd.Kfz 222 Leichte Panzerspahwagen. Dragon has released this little WWII German Armored scout car in a 1+1 pack, similar to their 1/72 Humvee series. The box contains two complete kits, photo-etched parts, decals, and a single instruction sheet with color paint guides. The molding is clean with crisp detail and Dragon has done their best to hide injector marks and sprue attachment points.