Del Val - Cookie's Armor Reviews of 2005

Cookie Sewell

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Friday, December 9, 2005.
(Originally written on Decebmer 9, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor-Pro Series Kit No. 7269; T-34-85 Model 1944; 98 parts (1+19+60+14, 2 DS plastic tracks in tan, 1 section of twisted steel wire, 1 etched metal grille); price US $11.95

Advantages: clean, nicely done kit nearly the equal of the 1/35 scale DML T-34-85

Disadvantages: cast metal wheels will need the lightening holes either drilled out or deepened

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: For all small-scale Soviet or â€˜34 fans

The T-34-85 was another shock for the Germans when it first entered combat in early 1944, as it could defeat most of the German tanks then on the battlefield. The Soviets note that in the first encounter between the Tiger II and the T-34-85 the T-34s knocked out three with no losses (they did this from ambush, to be sure, but it was still something the Germans were not happy to see.)

DML has now produced a small-scale T-34-85 to go with their earlier Model 1940, Model 1941 and Model 1942 kits. They use the term "Model 1944" for the early production versions with the ZIS-S-53 gun and two-piece commander's hatch, both of which are faithfully reproduced on this model.

The model comes with the cast wheels with 12 lightening holes, molded as is now standard in two-wheel pairs using "slide molding" techniques. However, this also means the lightening holes are solid, and will have to be either drilled out or deepened by the modeler to get the right look to the finished model.

The model comes with the correct cast turret and mantelet, but note there are two identical mantelets provide with two different numbers (B3 and B22). The directions call out for B3 to be used; I have no clue what the difference is between the two, and if what the other mantelet is for (either it is for a turned metal barrel for a later kit or it should have been the one found with later Model 1945/46 tanks, but for the life of me I can't seen any differences.)

As is standard on DML kits, the modeler has an option to use or pass on the etched metal screen for the engine deck. Some early Model 1942 kits suffered from a poor fit with this screen option, but this kit seems to have it dead on and it should work well. (Note the screen cements in with ACC glue from below.)

The transmission access hatch (part A5) is separate, but no interior is provided. Also the driver's and crew hatches are separate and may be positioned open or closed.

Each 90 liter fuel tank consists of three parts, and the ends are "slide molded" with lifting handles in place.

DML provides four marking options, all in 4BO (FS34102) green: 22nd Guards Armored Brigade, Prague 1945; 4th Guards Tank Brigade, Belorussia 1944; 4th Guards Tank Brigade, Belorussia 1944 (different regiment); and an unidentified German unit with a captured tank, Poland, 1945.

Overall this is a match to the earlier T-34 kits, and should be very popular.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Friday, December 9, 2005.
(Originally written on Decebmer 9, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7225; Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf. D; 126 parts (119 in grey styrene, 5 etched brass, 2 in tan DS plastic); retail price $11.98

Advantages: very nice, clean model of this popular vehicle in "small scale"; unique but effective method of assembling running gear

Disadvantages: RP parts (as in right puny!)

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for all German WWII "Small Scale" fans

Following on the heals of their Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf. C kit, and as with their 1/35 scale "big brothers," DML has now released a 1/72 scale D model.

As with the C, the D kit is not an actual pantograph of the larger kits, which would make it a nightmare to try and assemble, but still appears based on the same research and drawings used for the 1/35 scale kits.

The lower hull is a single piece pan, less the rear area, and the axles are molded on the lower hull. The running gear for each side consists of a rear (inside) wheel section, a center wheel section, three outer road wheels, and drivers. Once installed the connectors between the individual wheels on the inside and the center are not visible, so it helps speed up assembly while making it easier to get things aligned. Tracks are the gluable DS plastic, so you can also get them to settle down on top of the road wheels with some care.

The model comes with simplified but plentiful interior fittings but they are quite tiny as noted and will require a good deal of care. Interior bits include the various control levers, rifles, MP submachine guns, and other items. The hinge mechanisms for the doors are single pieces, but are non-operating types. They cement to the lower rear section, as the upper hull has the rear angular parts of the hull attached to it. The four front viewers are separate parts and can be cemented either open or closed as well, as is the hood assembly with two flaps. No engine or interior is provided for the engine bay.

The fenders are two-piece units, but the stowage bins are only offered as closed parts. The front MG 42 shield is offered as either a single piece of styrene or a three-piece etched brass option. Other RP parts include the "Notek" headlight and mount and the drum magazines for the two MG 42 machine guns. The weapons appear to be very close to scale, something I don't recall from other manufacturers in the past!

As with the C model, a plethora of finishing options and a relatively large sheet of decals are provided. Suggested finishing options include one Polish version from the "Starowa" forces, six SS division vehicles, and four Wermacht vehicles. Most are painted in the late war three-color scheme, with one LAH SS vehicle in white.

Overall this matches the earlier effort and only needs figures to really set it off.

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Cookie Sewell
AMPS
AMPS-251_17.jpg

Friday, December 9, 2005.
(Originally written on Decebmer 7, 2005)

Tool/Accessory Review: The Small Shop "Nutter"Punch Set; Full Basic Set.
Price $65.00 british pounds.
Extra 6 x 6 inch foil sheets $3.50 british pounds each.
Advantages: amazing tool to get rivets and nut-and-bolt assemblies to look "right"; very flexible and useful system.
Disadvantages: High price (see text); does not work well with styrene plastic (also see text).
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all modelers who do scratchbuilding or super-detailing involving scale rivets or nuts and bolts

One of the biggest pains in modeling fine details is doing either rivet heads or nuts and bolts, as they are tedious to make and difficult to install the term "herding cats" is a close approximation of what it takes to do it right. Over the years, many modelers I know have used punch-and-die sets, microrod cut "salami style" or pressing in from the back of thin styrene with a sharp object. None of them really is a perfect way to get the domed, rounded shape of a rivet, and while hex nuts are not hard nut-and-bolt combinations were usually limited to two sizes from Grandt Line.

I used to think the term "Nutter" was a British term equivalent to "nut job" or "head case" until Alasdair Johnston of the Small Shop EU sent me word that no, this was going to be their next tool. My review sample arrived yesterday, and always looking for a better and easier way to do detailing, I was quite eager to open it up.

What came in the package sturdily packed inside a freezer-type sandwich keeper was a strip of plastic, a sheet of foil, a small tool with screws, seven plastic knobs, seven machine tool heads, a black machine handle, and two tubes for storage and directions.

Preparation of the tool itself was simple. It comes with seven heads of varying sizes and shapes: 0.5mm, 0.75mm and 1mm (scale 3/4", 1" and 1 1/4" sizes): domed rivet shapers; 0.5mm, 0.75mm and 1 mm nut and bolt set shapers, and one spare small nut-and-bolt head. This is due to the fact that the "bolt threads" are 0.2mm (scale 3/8") in diameter, and as the shapers are all milled out of brass, soft and fragile.

Each shaper (probe) is to be kept in the white plastic knobs (tip protector), and are inserted after being screwed into the handle. This is for protection when stored, but once the shaper is forced into the knob it is not hard to remove and to reinstall.

The long strip of plastic (a soft vinyl-like material) is referred to as the "dome sheet" and it serves to both permit shaping a domed rivet and also capturing them when they pop free of the foil sheet. The foil sheet is two layers of what appears to be aluminum over lead, so you do not have to ever touch lead foil.

The "tool head" or anvil is a tool similar to the 4" size "Hold and Fold from Small Shop but with a soft rubber floor and an E-shaped tool head to clamp down on the work surface.

To use the tool is quite simple. Pick a suitable shaper and screw it into the handle, then remove the protector. Open the two screws on the tool head and insert first the "dome sheet" and then a strip of foil until they are even with the edge of the rubber surface, then tighten the screws down. Next, holding the tool absolutely vertical, punch out the necessary number of rivets or bolts. Use firm, steady pressure, not a quick jab like a nurse giving a flu shot!

Don't worry about the rivets or bolts, as they will be embedded in the "dome sheet" (which is what it is for.) Once done, unclamp the foil and dome sheet and pull them out. Remove the foil and, being careful on your breathing, flex the "dome sheet" to remove the resulting rivets.

The Small Shop recommends that modelers do NOT use ACC glues to attach the rivets, but rather "Johnsons' Kleer" (US read Future) acryllic floor wax and two paint brushes. One brush puts on the Kleer/Future and the other is used - damp to pick up the rivet or bolt and place it on the Kleer/Future while wet. When the wax dries, a second coat is used to seal the rivets in place. As a result, as long as an overcoat or another coat of paint is applied, you can add rivets or bolts to models at any time as they do not require a "clean smooth surface" to adhere to.

There are other options given in the directions, such as how to make flat 0.2mm rivets as well as some nuts. More shapers are to follow next year for fully domed (hemispherical) rivets and square bolts, leaves, etc.

As I had mentioned this tool to other modelers, their first question to me was, "well, does it work on plastic?" The answer: not quite. First off, it will not penetrate plastic as it does with the special foil. Second, it will not produce a clean part which can be removed with a razor blade. And third, the nut and bolt shapers will not work at all with plastic, plus you run the risk of breaking the delicate tips off them.

However, IF CAREFUL it can be used to produce strips of rivets using 0.005" or 0.010" sheet plastic for applique detailing. I tried it with both the rubber portion of the tool head and the "dome sheet" in place and found that you can do this with the "dome sheet" and some care. Note that these will be the embossed variety and will have to be handled gently to avoid pressing them back in!

Overall this appears to be a useful if expensive tool from the Small Shop EU, and one that with care will last a very long while. Due to the size of the rivets produced you can get a LOT out of one sheet of foil, and the shapers if kept with their tip protectors are likely to last a lifetime.

Thanks to Alasdair Johnston of the Small Shop EU for the review sample.

The Small Shop EU, 4 Woodpecker Meadow, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4GB, England; telephone 01747 825 646 or 07752 258946 (24 hour); http://www/smallshopeu.com.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on December 7, 2005)

Kit Review: Model Cellar 1/35 Scale Accessory Kit No.MC 35101; Mark IV Male/Female Individual Track Links.
360 parts in grey stryene.
Price US $32.00 (Spring 2006).
Advantages: Major upgrade to Emhar tank kits, includes underside details.
Disadvantages: slightly too narrow.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all WWI tank modelers wanting to use styrene track.

For years, one of the top 10 choices for new kits among armor modelers was a WWI British tank, anything from Mark I to Mark V being nominated. But other than a few resin kits, nothing appeared on the horizon until about 10 years ago when a small British company named Emhar attempted to step into the breach. But their first two kits, while eagerly anticipated, were not very good.

Ehmar did not have much of a budget and as a result had to use "flat" molds like many of the kits coming out of eastern Europe. They also made a lot of compromises with the kit, and afficionados of WWI kits estimated they wanted to get all of the tanks out of one set of molds. They did a Mark IV Male, Mark IV Female, and Mark IV "Tadpole" kit before changing over to other subjects.

In 2004 they came out with a new kit, a Mark V "Hermaphrodite," that provided all the main parts needed to make either a Mark V Male with twin 6-pdr guns, a Mark V Female with Hotchkiss machine guns, or a Mark V "Hermaphrodite" with one sponson of each type.

But all of the tanks â€“ the Mark IVs and the Mark V â€“ used an odd rubbery track that did not look very good, nor did it fit well. As a result, many modelers took one look at the kits and said "toy" before leaving them alone.

About a year after the first kits came out, Model Cellar, a company from Pennsylvania, came out with a set of injection molded two-piece individual track links specifically for first these kits and later for a "Whippet" kit from Ehmar which used shorter tracks of the same style. Each link consisted of a plate section and a guide section, and had friction fit tabs for temporary assembly and installation.

There have been a good deal of comments on the internet about these tracks, so let me cover what they are and what they are not.

The tracks used by most Mark I to Mark V tanks were 20 & ½ inches in width, or about 14.9 mm wide in 1/35 scale. First off, a number of "expertern" modelers have slammed them for being the wrong size. Measuring carefully, each plate section is correct on pitch but measures only 14.25-14.3 mm in width or roughly 19 5/8"-19 7/10" in width. Given the track runs on the tank appear a bit narrow, and the tracks LOOK "right", I for one can forgive them being less than 7/8" of an inch too narrow.

There are problems in installing them, however, but none of those are Model Cellar's fault. The kit has only solid plate backing to the track runs over the top of them and the rest are either open with narrow side ledges or where the wheels go. Since the tracks are close to scale they are a tad too narrow to sit on the kit's ledges (note that the kit tracks fit on them, but the kit's tracks are also more than a scale inch too wide.) You are up to your own devices to get the tracks to fit here, and I suggest using strip styrene to extend the ledges to get some purchase for the tracks.

One thing on which I disagree with Model Cellar is their direction to leave off the kit's wheels. This leaves the modeler no place to "wrap" the tracks and can spoil fitting them. However, doing some careful measurements and checking the parts, there is a happy solution.

Cut one half of the cylindrical hub off each pair of wheels and cement them together. Using a punch or cutting up the section of hub you removed, place an 0.080" (2mm) spacer on each side of the wheel assembly. Drill out a center hole on each side and install the wheels. You may need to narrow the tread width of the wheels to fit in the grooves on the guide sections, but the result is that you can now use the wheels to "wrap" the tracks and get a better fit.

The "Whippet" set will also be re-released for $26.00. The former "Tadpole" set, however will not be redone.

Right now the track sets are out of production, but Model Cellar has informed me they will be going back into production this spring to meet demand for the Mark V kits. I for one am glad to see it and will probably pick up a couple of more sets â€“ I am working on a Mark V Male from the 304th Tank Battalion (Heavy) and now want to do a Mark V* Female as well!

Track sets will only be available direct from Model Cellar: Model Cellar, PO Box 388, Horsham, PA 19044; phone (215) 672-1432 or e-mail them at modelcel@modelcellar.com. Website (listing availability) is http://www.modelcellar.com. Thanks to Paul from The Model Cellar for the update.

Thanks to Steve Zaloga for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on November 30, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7293; Jagdpanzer IV/70 Late Production.
155 parts (152 in grey styrene, 2 DS plastic tracks in tan, 1 turned aluminum barrel).
Price US $10.95.
Advantages: beautifully rendered kit with optional parts and parts selection; slide molded details very well done.

Disadvantages: tracks are cut too long to allow for sag and thus require attention; a good deal of RP (right puny) parts will require a good deal of care for installation.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German WWII fans.

The Germans got into a bind in regard to tank destroyers, as towed antitank guns quickly showed their limitations on a mobile battlefield. As a result, they were one of the first nations to move a good number of guns to self-propelled mounts using redundant tank chassis. Of all of the early war antitank guns, the most effective were the 5 cm PaK 38 and 7.5 cm PaK 40. But as the war progressed, they needed longer range and greater penetration to deal with Soviet tanks.

As the war went on, their most prolific and flexible chassis was that of the Pkzw. IV. So as a result, it was the standard chassis for mounting many antitank guns as things tended to get worse in the East. The first dedicated antitank vehicle, the Jagdpanzer IV (also called the Sturmgescheutz neuer Art mit 7.5 cm PaL L/48 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen IV or Sd.Kfz. 162) entered production in January 1944. Based on the Sturm IV design but with heavier, angled armor at the bow and on the sides, other than armored protection it offered little over the contemporary Pkzw. IV Ausf. H and J tanks, which still retained the same gun in a revolving turret.

The next stage was the Sd.Kfz. 162/1 variant, also called the Panzer IV/70, which switched from the PaK 40 design to the 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 used in the Panther. This vehicle came in two models: The (V) made by Vomag, which used the standard Sd.Kfz. 162 chassis, and the (A) from Alkett which used a similar casemate mounted on a standard Pzkw. IV tank chassis. The former was ballistically a better design with heavier protection, and it entered production in August 1944. They saw action during the Battle of the Bulge when at least 137 of the 930 built were available for combat. As time progressed, the design was simplified to speed production, and the late models were only fitted with steel road wheels on the first two stations per side and three return rollers.

DML's kit of the late model vehicle is a small gem, with a lot of use made of their water slide molding technique to provide nice touches such as exhaust pipes with interior details. The kit also has a wealth of very tiny (right puny) parts but some relief is offered. The kit has two engine decks â€“ one requiring a lot of detail work and providing separate hatches, tools, etc. and another one-piece section that comes with most detail molded on. There is also a good deal of underside detail to the single-piece fender and engine deck mount molding, but it does have a good number of ejection pin marks. Happily, most of those will be hidden by the tracks.

While no schurtzen skirts are provided, the kit comes with all of the mounts for them. Both plastic and aluminum gun barrels are provided, along with a full selection of wheels. The lower hull is nicely done with the correct three return roller mounts, but there are two holes in the belly which appear to be used for the pre-built versions that come mounted on a small diorama base. These will need filling for the diehard right belly fans.

The road wheels come in the now-standard two-wheel molded units with separate faces, as well as a set of nine solid-steel road wheels. Four are required for a standard late production IV/70, but as some were seen with more DML has provided for â€œmix and matchâ€ replacement.

Other details include periscopic sights and viewers.

Markings and painting instructions are included for five different vehicles: unidentified unit, Hungary 1945; unidentified unit, Germany 1945; Pz.Abt. 655, Germany 1945; and two more unidentified units in Germany, 1945.

Note that some parts require drilling holes in the model and are only called out by an odd little icon showing what looks like a ball writer tip.

Overall this is a nice little kit and one with a tremendous amount of detail for its size.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Thursday, November 17, 2005.
(Originally written on November 9, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale â€˜39-â€˜45 Series Kit No. 6287; 88mm FLAK 37.
566 parts (516 in grey styrene, 28 etched brass, 7 aluminum tubes, 4 etched nickel, 3 turned aluminum, 3 turned brass, 3 pre-decaled clear styrene, 1 brass chain, 1 copper chain).
Estimated retail US $34-40.
Advantages: dedicated kit completes the basic family of 8.8 cm antiaircraft guns; choice of wide variety of finishing and construction options.
Disadvantages: no crew figures provided.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German and "Duck Hunter" fans.
F I R S T   L O O K.

The German 8.8 cm medium antiaircraft guns were undoubtedly the best known of all German WWII artillery, and the majority of them were the shorter 56 caliber barrel models known as the FlaK 18, FlaK 36, and FlaK 37. While the first two were dual-purpose weapons, the FlaK 37 was generally not considered as anything other than an antiaircraft gun, and as such had a different analog data system and display for aiming the weapons. Surprisingly, they also had different shaped shields, but for the most part this was for protection from low-level strafers later in the war rather than bomb or shell fragments.

DML has now modified its excellent FlaK 38 kit to represent the later FlaK 37, and has changed or added some 47 parts to the kit. Among them are eight "slide molded" styrene tires with wrap-around tread pattern and no seams â€“ a first! â€“ which means no worries about splitting rubber tires or having to go out and find resin ones to replace vinyl tires with impossible to remove seams. The kit also includes three different patterns of gun shields with "wings" for added protection.

One thing many modelers will like is the fact that the aiming data readouts (parts K1) are provided as clear parts with either paint or decals already in place, meaning that they do not have to be done by the modeler and are precisely finished BEFORE installation.

The directions are very, very busy, and due to the wealth of options it is recommended that the modeler study them carefully before assembly. They relate to options such as metal or styrene, open or shut, travel or firing positions, and which gun shield (or no gun shield) is used. The kit provides for barrels from either the FlaK 18, Flak 36 or FlaK 38, and turned aluminum 18 and 36/37 barrels are included as well.

Finishing options are provided for four weapons: one each in Ossenbeng, the Eastern Front, and Germany, and one from the Herman Goering Division in Sicily.

Overall this completes the "family" of short-barreled 8.8 cm weapons now available to the modeler in styrene, but this one almost begs for a searchlight or sound ranging device to be situated next to it. With suitable crew figures, this is another impressive model.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on November 9, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7227; Bergepanzer Tiger (P).
229 parts (215 in grey styrene,14 etched brass).
Price estimated at US $11-12.
Advantages: first kit of this vehicle in this scale; options provided for different variants.
Disadvantages: single-link tracks will cause some disappointment among modelers.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German armor fans.

The law defined by Newton that "For every action there is an equal and positive reaction" could be applied to armor as "For every tank of a given size there has to be an equally big and powerful recovery vehicle." The non-Porsche Tigers defied that law, and the result was a good number of them abandoned where they broke down. Even the Panther, with the equal sized Bergepanther, more often than not was found abandoned due to mechanical breakdown as it could not be recovered and repaired.

In the case of the Porsche Tiger-derived self-propelled guns "Elefant" and "Ferdinand" an attempt had been made to provide them with an equal sized recovery vehicle. However, only three Tiger (P) chassis were converted, and all three were assigned to s.Pz.Jg.Abt 653 in Italy, or one per company.

DML has now used parts from its "Elefant" and "Ferdinand" kits to create a model of the Bergetiger (P) that permits building all three of these vehicles. Due to the fact they were based on Tiger (P) chassis and not the self-propelled gun version, there are detail differences in the hulls that are also provided in the kit. These include things like fender braces, engine decks, and defensive armament.

The centerpiece of this kit is the strongback and derrick crane for repairs and maintenance of their charges, and it comes with scale appearance etched metal chain. These fortunately come in one piece sets; unfortunately, the tracks consist of 12 short lengths and 108 single links. Due to the small size of the links â€“ even on big tracks like these! â€“ modelers have complained that they are too "fiddly" and may not be pleased with the lack of a vinyl option in the kit.

As noted three finishing options are provided, one for each of the companies of Jagdabteilung 653.

Overall this is a very "bitty" and busy model, and even though only three were built it is more interesting than many other vehicles due to the amount of add-on details found on the model.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on November 9, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Armor Pro Kit No. 7266; T-34/76 Mod. 1942.
16 parts (102 in grey styrene, 2 DS tracks in tan, 1 etched metal, 1 twisted steel wire).
Price about US $11-12.
Advantages: Even better than Model 1941 kit; large number of optional parts and accessories.
Disadvantages: DS tracks cut long for sag, may need close attention.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all small scale and Soviet WWII modelers.

The T-34 Model 1940 and Model 1941 were a big shock for the Germans, but they had a number of serious problems from the Soviet point of view. They required a lot of scarce materials such as rubber, many assemblies were welded, and the turret was extremely cramped. As a result, the tank underwent some redesign and along with the new 5-speed transmission added during the Model 1941 production run they changed the things which were wrong.

The rubber tire road wheels were replaced with cast steel ones having a small rubber bushing in the center, but these were quickly found to be too hard on both the tank and the crew. While official orders were to use nothing but steel road wheels, most factories quickly created a new cast steel version with a rubber tire. These were used on the first and fifth road wheel stations on both sides, and eventually â€“ as US supplies of synthetic rubber began to make up the difference â€“ the tanks gradually shifted back to rubber tires on all wheels.

Cast turrets were used in both the Model 1940 and Model 1941, but a new, more efficient and larger turret was created for the T-34, and even though there were several variations, all were cast. (The pressed steel turret from Chelyabinsk was a different approach to producing turrets of this design.) The Germans called them "Mickeymaus" turrets as with the hatches open they looked like mouse ears; the Soviets dubbed it the "Gayka" or "hex nut" due to its hexagonal shape.

The new tank, generally referred to as the "Model 1942" by most Russian authors, did not really get an official title but was referred to as the T-34, just like its predecessors. The Germans called it the T-34/76D, a later model with commander's cupola the T-34/76E and the Chelyabinsk tanks the T-34/76F. All were four man tanks; the T-34 did not get a formal fifth crew member until the T-34-85 series tanks came out in late 1943.

DML has followed on the heels of their very nice T-34 Model 1941 with this kit, and it comes with many nice touches. One of the surprising ones is that it comes with nearly all of the accessories found in the Tamiya "Model 1943" 1/35 kit of the same vehicle; handrails, tools, boxes, unditching logs, and rear auxiliary fuel tanks. It also possesses "slide molded" double wheel sets for the running gear with the two wheel pairs made as a single part. It provides the correct four rubber tired and six steel wheel pairs. The gun barrel is molded with a hollow tip, and a basic interior for the turret is provided.

The engine deck comes with a choice of air exhaust grilles â€“ solid or a frame with an etched metal insert. Somehow this is one of the nicer features of the DML kits, as none of the other manufacturers seem to think this far ahead. Not all modelers are fans of etched metal, and giving the modeler the choice in one box is a truly great idea.

The model comes with a great â€“ and for once useful! â€“ decal sheet and a choice of six different finishing options: 264th Tank Brigade, 4th Guards Tank Corps, an unidentified vehicle at Kharkov, two options (summer or winter) from the 30th Guards Tank Brigade, and one captured tank from the SS division "Das Reich".

Overall this is a great kit and should prove very popular.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on November 5, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale â€˜39-â€˜45 Series Gen2 No. 6281; Germania Regiment France 1940.
335 parts (287 in grey styrene, 48 in etched brass).
Price estimated at US $12.
Advantages: Early figures will compliment early model tank kits from DML.
Disadvantages: figures will take far more time to carefully assemble as well as to determine poses and features.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all German fans.

The â€œGermaniaâ€ regiment was one of the first three units formed which would eventually become the Waffen-SS, and as such had a bit different career than other units. Mostly associated with the 2nd SS Panzer Division (â€œDas Reichâ€) the regiment did change hands a few times over the course of its career.

DMLâ€™s new figure set represents the unit as it was in France during the 1940 campaign, and as such is interesting as it shows the first uniforms used by Waffen-SS soldiers. As such the figures are shown without collar tabs; not being a rabid historian on the actions of the SS, I am not sure if this is correct or a bow to many European governments who, while accepting the display of historically important models and uniforms, do not tolerate any display of SS or Nazi memorabilia and thus DML had Ron Volstad â€œpre-censorâ€ the artwork.

Nevertheless, the box contains four of the new â€œGen 2" figures with amazing amounts of detail and choices of options for the modeler. Each figure now consists of 16 basic parts: legs, arms, torso halves, head halves, hands, boots and four-part jacket skirt. The â€œkitâ€ supplied is also as detailed, with separate cup/cover for the canteen, three-part gas mask canister, optional bayonet and entrenching tool types and positions, and various bags and pouches.

The new design common weapons sprues are also provided. Sprue WA provides two Kar 98K rifles with a choice of open or closed bolts and six 5-round â€œstripperâ€ clips for each one. Sprue WB provides common parts for standard MG 34 and MG 42 machine guns, such as drums and boxes, all with separate carrying handles. Sprue WC (the machine gun) is not provided with this set, but Sprue WD provides a Czech Zb.26 light machine gun (which Enfield modified to become the British Bren gun) and an MP 18 submachine gun. Both come with extra magazines, and the MP 18 has a choice of closed or open bolt.

The set also includes the previously released set of etched metal badges and awards -- 48 in all -- but no SS collar tabs or runes are provided; as I mentioned, however, I am not sure if they were used at this time or not.

One of the nice additions in this kit â€“ sure to be popular with many modelers â€“ is a set of French road signs of the period, with two 4 x 4 type poles and a total of 15 sign boards. Legend is provided via a sheet of special decals for the signs

Overall this is the second new Gen 2 set to be released, and it shows that DML is still leading the pack. Now to hope that they â€œGen 2" US and Commonwealth figures!

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Thursday, November 4, 2005.
(Originally written on October 21, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7223; Sd.Kfz. 251 Ausf. C.
135 parts (127 in grey styrene, 5 etched brass, 2 in tan DS plastic, 1 section of metal wire).
Retail price $11.98.
Advantages: very nice, clean model of this popular vehicle in "small scale"; unique but effective method of assembling running gear.
Disadvantages: RP parts (as in right puny!)
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German WWII "Small Scale" fans.
F I R S T    L O O K.

DML has been doing a really bang-up job on many different versions of the popular German 251 series halftracks in 1/35 scale, and has now started releasing a line of 1/72 scale kits of these armored personnel carriers. The first one out is a welded hull Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf. C with a really comprehensive decal sheet providing at least seven different painting and marking options.

The kit is not an actual pantograph of the larger kits, which would make it a nightmare to try and assemble, but still appears based on the same research and drawings used for the 1/35 scale kits. I remember years ago getting an Edori one which was both simplified and apparently made in ABS plastic and trying to turn it into a decent 251 model in 1/76 scale, and now this kit solves the entire problem in one go.

The lower hull is a single piece pan, less the rear area, and the axles are molded on the lower hull. The running gear for each side consists of a rear (inside) wheel section, a center wheel section, three outer road wheels, and drivers. Once installed the connectors between the individual wheels on the inside and the center are not visible, so it helps speed up assembly while making it easier to get things aligned. Tracks are the gluable DS plastic, so you can also get them to settle down on top of the road wheels with some care.

The model comes with simplified (well, compared to the 1/35 version) interior fittings but they are quite tiny as noted and will require a good deal of care. Interior bits include the various control levers, rifles, MP submachine guns, and other items. The hinge mechanisms for the doors are single pieces, but are non-operating types. They cement to the lower rear section, as the upper hull has the rear angular parts of the hull attached to it. The four front viewers are separate parts and can be cemented either open or closed as well, as is the hood assembly with two flaps. No engine or interior is provided for the engine bay.

The fenders are one-piece units, but the stowage bins are only offered as closed parts. The front MG 34 shield is offered as either a single piece of styrene or a three-piece etched brass option. Other RP parts include the "Notek" headlight and mount and the drum magazines for the two MG 34 machine guns. The weapons appear to be very close to scale, something I don't recall from other manufacturers in the past!

Painting and marking options are provided for: "Grossdeutschland", Kursk 1943 (sand with green and brown stripes); "Grossdeutschland" Eastern Front 1942 (grey); 4th Panzer Division, Eastern Front 1943 (sand); "Grossdeutschland", Eastern Front 1943 (sand with grey bands); unknown unit, Eastern Front 1943 (sand); 4th Panzer Division, Eastern Front 1944 (sand with mottled camouflage); Panzer Lehr, Hungary 1944 (sand with green and red-brown bands). A number jungle is provided for the license plates.

Overall this is a nice effort and only needs figures to really set it off.

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on October 14, 2005)

Kit Review: cyber-hobby.com 1/35 Scale Kit 01 (Dragon Models Limited Master Grade Models No. 6286); Sd.Kfz. 181 Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. E Tiger I Initial Production 1. Kompanie s.Pz.Abt. 501 DAK 3-in-1 Kit.
950 parts (494 in grey styrene, 223 etched brass, 180 "Magic Track" links, 18 turned brass, 11 clear styrene, 8 metal pins, 8 metal clevises, 4 bent wire, 1 turned aluminum,1 length twisted steel cable, 1 length of woven nylon sleeve, 1 spring).
Price unknown.
Advantages: targeted production permits building a specific unit's vehicles; limited production kit provides wealth of options for construction means and methods.
Disadvantages: limited production kit may have limited availability.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all Tiger fans.
F I R S T   L O O K

I recently found a web site for Universal Models Limited of Hong Kong. It is quite interesting, as it gives out a great deal of history and explains a great deal. Founded as a hobby shop in Hong Kong in 1974, it moved on to become a wholesaler and exporter (Hobby World Ltd.) and it also opened subsidiary companies in the US and Canada. In 1987, UML took the step of forming its own satellite model production company â€“ Dragon Models Limited. Business boomed, and with the coming handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997 a satellite model production company, Shanghai Dragon, was launched in 1994. Now, in 2005, they are adding cyber-hobby.com to market limited production versions of DML products.

The first of these in 1/35 scale is a Tunisian Tiger I (the same version as the Ordnance Museum's Tiger I here in Aberdeen, as so well covered in the book "Tiger Without a Home" and which is under renovation in the UK right now) with suitable optional parts to make any of three different tanks from sPzABt 501.

Most of the parts are a combination from three previous kits â€“ Tiger I Early No. 6252), Tiger I Late (No. 6253), and Tiger (Porsche) (No. 6210) kits. Some new bits have been added, but overall this is a mix-and-match kit that provides all of the specific bits in one box with a new main set of etched brass (MA fret).

While the kit has many of the same parts from the previous three Tiger kits, there are a number of new details. The sides of the hull are new and a specific plastic cable array (or your choice of styrene heads and steel wire cable) are provided for making the Tiger match a 501st tank. New rear fenders are provided, along with one set of styrene and three etched brass sets for the front fenders. The model also has a new glacis plate and various bins to match the Tigers fielded by the 501st.

Many other original kit parts have also been "tweaked" to match 501st tanks. The "Feifel" air filter system is provided with either styrene tubes or styrene head and tails to use with a woven nylon tube option. Mounts are also provided so that you can model the tank with missing road wheels or â€“ with an after-market purchase â€“ with "shipping" tracks and not its "combat" tracks.

The "combat" tracks are provided as "Magic Track" links, which snap together for assembly and come pre-trimmed.

Details abound. For example, the bow gun consists of seven parts for the gun and mount and another seven for the ball mounting on the upper glacis panel. The driver's viewer operates (slides up and down) and as with the previous "Late" kit there is a rudimentary interior provided in the way of fuel tanks, torsion bars, and engine radiator fans. Where the three tanks covered differ there are callouts on the directions for what details are used or not used or what has to be changed to match.

DML originated the concept of optional parts, and the kit provides for many of them in either styrene or brass (or other materials as appropriate). Two different barrel options are provided (styrene or turned aluminum) as well as various optional parts such as smoke grenade launchers, exhaust shrouds, tow clevises, and the kit also includes 24 rounds of 8.8 cm ammunition, two ammo cases, three Jerry cans, and a bucket. Finally, four locks are included for the stowage bins, consisting of a styrene body and etched brass hasp.

The finishing options are for three tanks: Number 112 (the Aberdeen tank), Number 141 and Number 142. The Aberdeen tank is in what appears to be Afrika Korps Braun (the directions call for "middle stone") and the other two are in Panzergrau.

Overall, this is another lovely kit, and at least by having a subsidiary company create low-rate limited production kits for them DML will not clog up their inventory with what may not be the most widely appealing kits. According to the flyer in the kit, the next four "cyber-model.com" releases are: ch.c 02 (DML No. 6293) - Sd.Kfz. 251/23 Ausf. D with 2 cm turret; ch.c 03 (DML No. 6294) Pzkw. IV Ausf. E - Eastern Front; ch.c 04 (DML No. 6295) T-34/76 STZ; and 05 (DML No. 6296) Sd.Kfz. 234 with 2 cm turret.

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on September 26, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale â€˜39-â€˜45 Series No. 6264; Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. E 3-in-1 Kit.
1,062 parts (541 in grey styrene, 288 "Magic Track" links, 187 etched brass, 23 clear styrene, 10 preformed steel wire, 5 DS plastic, 4 preformed brass 2 turned brass, 1 turned aluminum, 2 twisted steel wire).
Price estimated at US $38-44.
Advantages: absolutely amazing kit of rarely modeled early war Panzer; details both inside and out on most parts, including the fenders, new figure of Guderian a bonus!
Disadvantages: may be overlooked due to being relatively low production early war vehicle.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all early war German and "Afrika Korps" fans.
F I R S T   L O O K

I have to admit, while not being a big fan of German armor (!) that I do have a soft spot for early war German armored vehicles. Tom Jentz frequently comments his favorite German tank was the Pzkw. III, but I have to say I always like the Pzkw. IV series.

Developed in the early 1930s as a close support tank â€“ carrying what was then thought of as the best close support weapon, a 7.5 cm howitzer, the Germans managed to provide everything that the Soviets did in their T-28 medium tank in a much smaller and handier package. Given the cover designator "BW" or "Battalion commander's vehicle" the Pzkw. IV was produced in a number of short run series , each with commensurate improvements, between models.

The Pzkw. IV Ausf. E, which came out in September 1940 and was produced through April 1941, was one of the first models to take combat results into account. It was found early on that the Pzkw. IV was too thin-skinned to stand up to anybody's antitank guns, and with this tank it got an increase to 50mm on the bow plate and 20+30mm on the upper glacis, as well as a new visor for the driver to give him more protection. Hatches were countersunk against ricochet damage, and the turret rear was redesigned to incorporate the redesigned commander's cupola and eliminate potential shot traps or weak spots in the hull rear. Later, more applique armor protection was added to the lower hull sides and suspension units to protect against antitank guns and mines. A total of 206 chassis were built â€“ 200 as battle tanks, 4 as prototype bridge launchers, and two more as experimental chassis.

This tank was followed into service by the improved F model, which became the first major production version of the Pzkw. IV and also the first one to mount a long 7.5 cm gun partway through the production run. The Ausf. E remained in service until early 1944 when the last of them were either worn out or lost in combat.

DML produced most of the Pzkw. III and IV versions in the late 1990s (I reviewed the Ausf. F1 in 1997 and the Ausf. J in 1998), which were good kits at the time if rough in some areas, but this kit marks a return to the IV series with a vengance. All of the molds are new from the ground up, and many of the components are clearly for use with other kits to follow. The model does permit the modeler to make any of three different Ausf. E versions â€“ initial production, late production, or "Afrika Korps" version. Parts are provided for all three, including a first â€“ two different hulls, one with applique armor and one without.

I must warn modelers that this is a VERY complex kit, and comes with a large number of options which are called out in the directions. As with all recent DML kits, many of the parts are redundant and offer the modeler the choice of either styrene parts or etched brass â€“ DML is one of the few, if not the only, company to offer this; others either assume you will buy their sets aftermarket and replace kit parts, or give you no option but to use them from the start. Since a good number of modelers still are a bit leery of etched metal due to tales of vanishing parts or problems in attaching them, it gives the "retention challenged" (e.g. the guy who loses itty bitty parts!) modeler a fighting chance.

The kit also comes pre-section for detail fans who want an interior. All hatches are separate parts and some interior detail is included, including a very complete turret basket and 7.5 cm L/24 gun; this has a choice between a "slide molded" styrene barrel or a turned aluminum one. A very detailed 21 part commander's cupola is also included for the turret. There are other details here that need to be seen and appreciated (MIG fans will be happy!) such as the geared turret race.

The model just abounds with details. Each of the suspension bogies has 18 parts (19 with protective armor cover) with separate tires for painting. Safety chains are provided for the towing shackle mounts as they have separate pins too. Two sets of engine deck doors are provided (early/late model and Africa) along with etched inserts for those who wish them.

This detail takes a good jeweler's loupe to see â€“ there are two DIFFERENT sets of "Magic Track" links, one for the left side and one for the right, as they replicate the different sides that the track pins are inserted from for holding the track together! Alas, DML did not identify which bag is which, so I hope you at least keep them on the correct sides! (Think hard on the types of judges at shows who are going to have to use an "IPMS Death Ray" â€“ penlight â€“ and 10x jeweler's loupe to check on that â€“ payback can be fun!) (DML does tell you that the fastener side goes out and the smooth head goes in, as there is a "knocker" to keep them in place if the fastener fails. They don't identify which bag is which, though, so you have to sort it out.)

The last tidbit they include with this kit is a 23 part "Gen 2" styrene figure of Heinz Guderian. This is a very detailed figure with what appears to be one of the hallmarks of Gen 2, namely a separate face to make painting easier (e.g. paint it on the sprue.)

Markings and finishing directions are included for ten different vehicles: two early models from Panzer Regiment 21, 20th Panzer Division, in Russia (one winter in white, one summer in grey); five late production models with the 1st, 7th, 8th, 11, or 22nd Panzer Divisions in Russia; and three Afrika Korps ones, one from the 5th Light Division and two from the 15th Panzer Division, 1941.

Overall this is another stunner from DML, and having built the old Tamiya Pzkw. IV Ausf. D kit 27 years ago (1978 for those of you who need help adding!) this model is in a completely different league from that one.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Saturday, September 10, 2005.
(Originally written on September 10, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39 -45 Series Kit No. 6273; Desperate Defense: Korsun Pocket 1944 - GEN2.
405 parts (309 in grey styrene, 96 etched brass).
Estimated price US $14-18.
Advantages: DML takes styrene figures to an entirely new level of complexity and sophistication, incredible levels of detail.
Disadvantages: some modelers may not care for level of complexity involved per figure (three times the parts per basic figure).
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German and figure modelers.

The Germans called it the "Korsun Pocket". According to the "Soviet Military Encyclopedia" (Vol. 4, pp. 376-378) the Soviets called it the "Korsun-Shevchenkovskaya Operation" and designated it as the combat operations fought on the "right bank" section of the Ukraine between 24 January and 17 February 1944. During it the 1st and 2nd Ukranian Fronts (commanded by Vatutin and Konev, two of the best Soviet commanders) surrounded the German 1st Panzer Army and 8th Army and in an offensive operation proceeded to surround them and wipe the forces out. The Soviets claimed the Germans lost 73,000 men (18,500 were POWs) and more than 15 divisions, 8 of them Panzers. (They did not give their casualties in this work, but they also suffered heavily from later items.)

The Germans thus fought what would be considered to be a desperate winter defense, and some of their forces did manage to escape (such as General von Manstein, the overall commander of Army Group South in the battle). DML has now released a set of six figures in winter uniforms from this battle, but they have done something quite different.

The new figures are labeled as "Gen2" figures, which is DML's way of indicating a new level of sophistication and complexity from past releases. This is based on DML's "slide molding" techniques, and the new details make me happy I recently got new glasses with a better close prescription!

Each figure is now broken down into more finite parts. Formerly, the basic figures had an average of six main parts: head, torso, legs, and arms, and on occasion two to four lower coat/jacket parts. The new ones consist of 13-17 parts: face, head, collar, torso front and rear, legs, hands, feet, and two to four coat/jacket tails. The face separates at the helmet chin strap line, but it has to be noted that if soft caps are offered in the accessory sprues this will have to be removed. Shoes have sole details and the collars consist of one or two parts to ensure "overlapping" or layered look effects.

The kit uses what apparently is DML's new "building block" production strategy: generic sprues that can be inserted in any kit as needed. The latest vehicle kits came with "TA" and "TB" generic outer vehicle materials (OVM, e.g. tools) that were made using these new molding techniques. This one has "GA" and "GB" generic German equipment (G for "Gear") sprues. GA covers entrenching tools., canteens, mess kits, gas mask canisters, bayonets, and helmets; the mess kits, canteens, and canisters are molded in multiple parts so that they may be displayed in open condition. GB covers bread bags, holsters, ponchos, and ammo pouches. Note that ALL items have details on both sides, e.g. not designed for one side to be cemented to the figure and never be seen again.

The same goes for weapons, which now even have relieved muzzles in 1/35 scale (get a magnifying glass, as you have to see this one to believe it.) WA (German Weapons A) has two Kar 98 rifles, twelve five-shot clips, and two bolt assemblies (open or closed). WB covers the MP40, Gw 43, and MP44, all with the same level of detail. WC is a generic machine set with one subsprue for the machine gun (here an MG42) and the other for its related items, such as ammo boxes, ammo drums, two 50-round belts, and carrier items. With the five-round clips and the 50-round belts, each round is picked out and is detailed down to the level of necking the casing and the link details.

The etched brass parts cover the various uniform accessories, rank badges and awards, to include belt buckles, epaulets, combat badges, close assault badges, tank destruction badges, and four Iron Crosses 1st class and two Knight's crosses.

Overall this is a stunning set and will really give the modeler the chance to elevate figures to a class by themselves. Even though DML clearly had the best styrene figure sets on the market, they have apparently decided to give some of their competitors something to chase after – again.

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on September 7, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7296. HMMWV 1 + 1 Kit (M1045 TOW and M1046 TOW w/ASK).
152 parts (130 in grey styrene, 12 in clear styrene, 8 in grey vinyl, 2 in etched brass).
Price US $11.95.
Advantages: the TOW versions of the Humm-V get the DML twin kit treatment.
Disadvantages: differences between variants hard to see; painting will require care and forethought.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all "Hummer" fans and modern US modelers.

DML continues with its "one plus one" – double – kit of the HMMWV series with the M1045 or M1046 versions, better known as the TOW carriers.

This one consists of the two base vehicles from Kit No. 7294 but with all of the machine gun options removed from the sprues and in their place two new sprue sets, one for the TOW launcher and turret mounting and the other for the missile racks and stowage. The launcher is one of DML's slide molded parts, so it is hollow all the way through. This helps if you want to leave it unloaded, or a missile tube is provided for loading it. Four spare tubes (six are shown on the rack ends, but since only four will be seen, that's all you get) and the ground mount round out the TOW parts.

The kit provides two different versions of the HMMWV, so the modeler must pay close attention as it is difficult to tell them apart. The basic M1025 body is identical to the M1045, e.g. without winch, other than the internal bits for the TOW launcher and missile stowage. It has more slots in the lower rock panel body moldings than the M1046 with winch version fitted with ASK armor, so note that there are two body styles. Each vehicle has a separate set of doors and windshields as well. Most of the rest of the parts are interchangeable less the doors and roofs.

The chassis is well detailed but only takes a few assemblies to complete, and compliments go to DML's engineers for that work. Each vehicle has a shifter and case selector lever as well as a SINCGARS radio and KY-57 crypto box provided for it as well (part A13, one assembly in the front seat area.)

Some things from the earlier kits have been corrected. Originally the tailgate could be positioned opened or closed, but the "turtleback" hatch above was fixed. Now that part is provided separately (D2) so the interior can be displayed. However, the headlights still come as grey styrene even though separate parts; I personally recommend replacing them with MV Lenses or similar parts, but at least DML has been kind enough to have the mounts pre-drilled for you.

The tires are in a grey vinyl type plastic, so they will have to be painted. I do not have much experience with how well this works, but there have been problems with DML vinyl tires on their 1/35 kits when painted that appears to lead to cracking. However, given their recent DS vinyl product, this may no longer be a problem.

Finishing options are provided for two vehicles in Iraq, both in "Euro" tricolor, but the M1046 has sand color ASK upgrade parts. Note that there are two decal sheets with this kit, one for the missiles and one for the vehicle. Both are rather extensive for this scale.

Overall these are nice appealing models that should compliment the other DML kits for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review samples.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Saturday, September 2, 2005.
(Originally written on September 1, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6283. Dragon Expo 05 Special – M4A3E8 Sherman "Major Albin F. Irzyk".
722 parts (680 in grey styrene, 20 etched brass, 18 clear styrene, 2 turned brass, 1 turned aluminum barrel. 1 length of twisted steel wire).
Price estimated at US $31-34.
Advantages: DML has combined its reasonably good HVSS suspension with the new parts from its series of M4A2 and M4A3 late model kits.
Disadvantages: T80 tracks may be incorrect as well as fiddly to assemble.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: to all Shermaholics and American armor fans.

When the terms "tank battalion commander" and "4th Armored Division" are used together, the one name most fans of US military history immediately come up with is Creighton Abrams. Abrams commanded the 37th Armor Battalion in Europe from its landing in the summer of 1944 up until March 1945 when he was bumped up to take over Combat Command B. But the other primary tank battalion of the division, the 8th Armor Battalion, was no less accomplished (the last battalion, the 35th, got less press coverage than the other two, but as with all elements of the 4th , was heavily involved during the course of operations in the ETO.)

For this year's "Dragon Expo" in Atlanta, DML released two special limited release kits to commemorate the even, one German and one US. The US one was the command tank of Major Albin F. Irzyk, commander 8th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, in December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. This compliments their previous release of "Thunderbolt VI", Abrams' command tank at the same time (DML Kit No. 6255.) While not as famous as Abrams. Irzyk was another "straight-shooter" and wound up wounded twice in action, and being awarded the DSC, two Silver Stars, and four Bronze Stars.

The model is a "shake and bake" kit, but with the recent quality of DML moldings that is far from a bad thing. They have basically combined their recent M4A2/A3 kit sprues with the suspension components from their E8 suspension kits and released them as an early production M4A3E8. These tanks were beginning to be issued to the 37th and 8th Tank Battalions just prior to the Battle of the Bulge, and photos show them in service with those battalions.

The kit includes the new hull and turret sprues from the M4A2/A3 kit with the extra engine deck sprue for the A3, as well as the early production A3 exhaust deflector sprue. It comes with the complete fender and skirt arrangement for the A3 with HVSS, but as both the 37th and 8th appeared to have removed them prior to issue, this is just fodder for the parts box. Also new are two turned brass 76mm APCBC rounds, which were (from other sources) one of the great shocks to the Germans at the Bulge, as they found out the hard way that at combat ranges they could – and did – penetrate the glacis of a Panther tank.

I only have one problem with the kit: I cannot find a firm answer to either support or deny the use of the T80 double-pin steel faced chevron track on the model. All of the extant photos show M4A3E8 tanks during the Bulge with T-66 single pin tracks. These were issued with the first production runs of the tank, but due to reliability problems as well as a preference for double-pin "live" track they were short-lived in the field. Since DML is the only one that I know of to make a styrene T66 track, I was quite surprised to find the model fitted with the T80 tracks. While the former are one of the best sets made by DML and are easy to assemble and fit, their T80 tracks are a pain, as the guide teeth are separate (to provide the correct "hollow light bulb" shape) and must be individually attached to the track links, which is a very tedious chore for both cleanup and assembly. Add the fact that each track link has two big ejection pin marks on it and this is about a 15 hour job for the tracks alone.

Decals are provided for the tank as used at the Bulge. While issued with nice big shiny white stars and registration numbers, they were painted out at the same time the skirts were removed to avoid presenting the Germans with aiming points. The model replicas that with the painted out stars and numbers, and provides correct bumper codes – e.g. HQ-1 – for Irzyk's tank.

Overall this is a nice, upgraded kit, but as noted it is a limited production one so any Sherman fan may want to snap it up on sight.

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on September 1, 2005)

Book Review: "Weapons of War" Series; The Kangaroo in Canadian Service by Mark W. Tonner; Service Publications, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 2005.
24 pp. with B&W photos and one painting diagram.
Price CDN $9.95.
ISBN 1-894581-30-X
(http://www.servicepub.com).
Advantages: in-depth coverage of a popular subject among Commonwealth modelers and what amounts to the first operational fully-tracked APC.
Disadvantages: lack of interior views and plans likely to disappoint some modelers.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all Commonwealth and "mech infantry" fans.

Up until the advent of the Kangaroo concept, fully-tracked armored personnel carriers for the infantry had been seen as an unsupportable luxury. The Soviets had a number of prototypes – one of which tried to carry half a platoon of infantry stuffed into a box on a T-26 tank chassis! – but nobody had fielded one.

The only ones in service had been thinly-armored halftracks, or later on the partially armored US AMTRAC vehicles. These had both the dual problem of thin armor and insuficient mobility to keep up with tanks cross country.

Lieutenant-General G. G. Simonds, GOC II (Canadian) Corps, was looking for a good way to ensure that infantry could accompany the tanks into combat. The Soviet – and American, and German – solution up until this point had been to use "tank riders" on the backs of the tanks themselves, but the troops were woefully vulnerable to artillery and enemy small arms fire. Simonds figured that the best way to fight fire was with fire; by using the more heavily armored M7 "Priest" chassis, stripped of its gun and provided with a number of infantry inside the casemate, could move with the tanks while providing better protection to the infantry prior to close combat with the enemy.

Since the Commomwealth was in the process of phasing out the Priest with its 105mm howitzer in favor of the Sexton with the 25-lber, the standard Commonwealth field gun, there were extra Priest chassis with which to experiment. Removing the howitzers and covering the opening with armor plate welded in place, 72 were converted for use by the 2nd Canadian and 51st Highland Divisions during Operation TOTALIZE. The name came from the codename for the conversion workshop, Advanced Workshop Detachment "Kangaroo."

The results were very promising, as the infantry using the ad hoc APCs were able to achieve their objectives with minimal losses. In September the Canadians were told to give the Priests back to the Americans (after reinstalling the 105mm howitzers) so the new standard vehicle of choice was a conversion of the Canadian Ram tank. The Ram, a good idea when created, had become undersized and obsolete for use against German armor, but was perfectly suitable for this purpose as it had relatively heavy armor protection (for an APC), a bow machine gun mount or turret, and most important of all, parts and servicing compatibility with the M4 series of tanks then in general service with both the US and Commonwealth forces.

Early Ram II tanks were permitted to keep their bow machine gun turret, but most of the conversions were based on late-model ones with the hull doors removed and a bow machine gun position instead; all were fitted with UK No. 19 HF radio sets, and carried a crew of two and 10 infantry. Two Kangaroo regiments – one Canadian (1st CACR), one British (49th APCR) – were formed by October 1944, each with 106 Ram Kangaroos; each regiment had two squadrons of 53 each, and four troops of 12 each within the squadrons.

The book continues to cover the history of the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment in detail. A good number of photos of the Kangaroos in action are included, but only one general plan of the vehicle is provided. Happily it is of the "standard" or late-model Ram II chassis based variant.

One major complaint modelers have about the Ram Kangaroo is – what is inside it? Most sources tend to indicate – nothing! Apparently the vehicles were not fitted with benches or stowage racks to any standard pattern, and admittedly cramming ten men into a relatively small area is not helped if there are sharp objects to dodge as well. However, they apparently used every type of M4 track produced – the photos show them with UK pattern steel chevron, T48, T49, and T51 with or without "duckbill" extenders.

Thanks to Clive Law of Service Publications for the review copy.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on September 1, 2005)

Kit Review: Echelon 1/35 scale waterslide decal set No. T35016; US Army's Operation Iraqi Freedom M1A1HA (Heavy Common) Abrams (Part 4); decal subjects for marking up to eight vehicles.
(http:pachome1.pacific.net.sg/~kriegsketten/).
Advantages: captures current vehicles markings in use in Iraq.
Disadvantages: relatively high cost.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for Abrams fans as well as OIF 1/OIF 2 followers.

Echelon is rapidly turning out to be the best armored vehicle waterslide decal manufacturer around, and I am amazed with each succeeding sheet they release. This latest one covers vehicles currently serving in Iraq as part of OIF 2.

The sheet covers vehicles from the 3rd Infantry Division and 1st Armored Division, both in sand and NATO tricolor schemes. Complete markings, down to shipping labels, bar codes and handling/stowage stencils are included for each of the seven primary subjects.

First up are two sand colored vehicles from 3-7 Cavalry which is an armor battalion with the 3rd ID. These vehicles are B-24 and B-44 (BUSHPIG BANDITS) both of which wear a "death's head in a CVC" insignia.

Next are two vehicles from 1-37 Armor of the 1st Armored Division in NATO paint. These vehicles still carry their USAREUR convoy reflectors (yellow/red flashes on the rear of the hull) as well as another "death's head" shield on a diamond. Both are unnamed.

There are two tanks from 2-70 Armor from the 1st Armored, B-32 (BANG BUS) and B-34 (BIG HITCH). They have sand CIP panels to break up the NATO scheme.

Lastly is a tank from 2-69 Armor from the 1st Armored, B-14 (BAGHDAD'S NIGHTMARE). This tank is also in sand.

Specifics are called out (e.g. which tanks have the turret mounted APU and which do not) for markings and differences among the units.

Lastly the sheet provides the name for the Panther II mine clearer as presented in the DML kit – "MY PRECIOUS" – which is dual colored.

Overall, these sheets are the best way for using waterslide transfers to either correct or replace the kit markings (most of the ones I have seen and reviewed come with either training unit markings from the former 194th Armor Brigade at Fort Knox or incorrect/incomplete markings from OIF1.)

Thanks to Lawrence Goh of Echelon for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on September 1, 2005)

Book Review: "Weapons of War" Series; The Centurion in Canadian Service by Don Dingwall; Service Publications, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 2005.
24 pp. with B&W photos and one painting diagram.
Price CDN $9.95.
ISBN 1-894581-20-2
(http://www.servicepub.com).
Advantages: covers the user's history of this popular tank in Canada.
Disadvantages: Alas, still no decent kits of one on the market to use this information in building!
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all "Cent" fans and Canadian armor buffs.

Over the years the Canadian Ministry of Defence found itself stuck quite often between a rock (the US) and a hard place (the UK) when it came to picking weapons systems. While in peacetime it was better to "buy American" for servicing and compatibility, in wartime they found themselves, as part of the Commonwealth, fighting as part of UK formations with different kit. What to do?

In 1952 the Canadian Army began to take delivery of some 274 Centurion Mark 3 tanks, and from that point on began a 38 year attachment with the type. This was initially something of a shock as the tanks had a steep user learning curve, especially the gunner.

Over the years the tanks were upgraded, first to Mark 5 status and later to Mark 5/2 with the L7 105mm gun replacing the 20-lber. Next came the Mark 6 with IR sights and lighting, and finally the Mark 11. Radios were changed from UK pattern to Canadian pattern and finally to US sets in 1968.

Even with the complex gunsights, the Canadian Centurion crews were among the best in NATO, maintaining excellence with the tank up through at least 1975. The highwater mark of the tank in Canadian service was probably 1971 with over 315 gun tanks in service. But by June 1977 the Centurion was on its way out, leaving first-line service in Canada in 1979 in favor of the new Leopard. Tanks were scrapped, quite often as "hard targets" on gunnery ranges. A handful survive as memorials or museum pieces today, such as a Mark 5 at CFB Borden in Worthington Park.

This book is an indispensable aid to anyone wanting to do up a Canadian "Cent" and has a good selection of photos and some general information on unit markings and paint schemes.

Overall this is a handy aid. One thing not mentioned was that, due to the excellence of their gunnery, one of the premier NATO competitive events in Germany was the Canadian Army Trophy Shoot, or CAT. It is probably most fitting to note that the trophy itself was a large-scale sterling silver model of a Centurion Mark 5.

Thanks to Clive Law of Service Publications for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on September 1, 2005)

Book Review: "Weapons of War" Series; 1935 Armoured Car in Canadian Service by Roger V. Lucy; Service Publications, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 2005.
24 pp. with B&W photos and one painting diagram.
Price CDN $9.95.
ISBN 1-894581-28-8
(http://www.servicepub.com).
Advantages: truly obscure subject, but presented in an interesting way and in historical perspective.
Disadvantages: may be too obscure for some modelers or armor history buffs.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all Canadian armour fans and armor fans in general.

Everybody has to start somewhere - that's somewhat fatuous, but a true statement when you consider how technology became inculcated in modern societies. This little book from Canada, part of the continuing and excellent series from Service Publications, covers a truly obscure armored vehicle which appears to have been the seminal armored vehicle produced in Canada.

During the 1930s, the USA, UK, and Germany were dabbling with new armored vehicle designs, the French were determining the direction in which they wanted to move, and only the USSR was plowing away full steam on developing and building armored vehicles. Canada too decided to dip its toe into the waters of modern armored combat, and the option they chose was the creation of a heavy armored car. It must be noted that it was proposed in 1927, but it was 1932 before any action was taken on that proposal. Mechanization had begun in 1929, and the natural place to turn was to Ford (Canada) and GM (Canada) as they had both the expertise in mechanicals and the production capability to carry this out.

Between 1932 and 1935, both companies proceeded to work on candidate vehicles to meet the proposal for a 6 x 4 heavy armored car armed with two .303 machine guns, and in 1935 prototype designs emerged. Based on a 1931 Crossley 6 x 4 Light Armoured Car design, the chassis chosen were the Ford BB 4 x 4 truck chassis and the Chevrolet Maple Leaf 4 x 4, both of which had a 131" wheelbase. Input was received from the War Office in London as to designs of some components, specifically the turrets, but the rest was of Canadian design.

While the Ford prototype had no problems in conversion to the dual rear axle (similar to the Ford Model AAA truck design, but using a Sussex bogie modified to become what was called the Warford axle bogie) GM (Canada) did not have a bogie unit, and had to purchase one from Leyland to meet the specifications. Most of the haggling was over price and not technicalities, and the vehicles were deliveredto Petawawa, Ontario, for testing in May 1935.

Both were similar, but the Ford design wound up being a 10 wheel design whereas the GM one used six large "balloon" tires. Both used stub axles with free rolling mounts located between the front wheels and the first bogie axle. Both underwent two years of mechanical testing before their machine guns showed up in 1937, one mounted in the armored windscreen in front of the co-driver and one in the rotating UK designed turret. Both provided valuable information, but were deemed obsolete by 1939. While kept around for training, once the units they were attached to deployed to the UK for wartime service, they seem to have vanished from Canadian service and appear to have been scrapped after 1941.

The concept is interested to compare with the Soviet BA-3/6/10 series armored cars, which used the similar Ford AAA chassis, stub axles, and rotating turret, but with a 45mm gun and coaxial machine gun. These cars were used until 1942 in the west and later in the east, but it shows that the Canadians weren't that far off the mark in 1935.

Thanks to Clive Law of Service Publications for the review copy.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on August 15, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6285; Sd.Kfz. 186 Jagdtiger Henschel Production Type.
652 parts (346 in grey styrene, 244 "Magic Track" links, 42 etched metal, 8 in clear stryene, 4 cast white metal, 4 turned aluminum pins, 2 turned brass, 1 turned aluminum gun barrel, 1 length of twisted steel wire.
Price estimated at US $34.
Advantages: kit appears to be upgraded and revised with new parts from recent Tiger II kits added in.
Disadvantages: market for this vehicle not as extensive as others.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German armor fans.
F I R S T   L O O K.

It's amazing that for a vehicle that only had a production run of 77 vehicles (67 with Henschel suspension and 10 with Porsche bogie units) this particular tank destroyer remains popular with modelers. Its combat career (at over 70 short tons it was very limited as to where it could go, especially as its length hobbled it in enclosed spaces) was not all that spectacular; it was a vehicle designed to kill Soviet heavy tanks at combat ranges, and instead wound up mostly being used against American forces on the Western front. Still, it did put fear into many American commanders, and the T26E4 Pershing with the hyper-velocity 90mm gun was sent over from the US in case the 3rd Armored Division ran into one.

DML has now released an updated version of its recent Jagdtiger kit with some new sprues added to it. The kit now includes the improved Henschel steel wheels found in the recent Tiger II kits as well as their modeler-friendly "Magic Track" – pre-trimmed snap-together links that only have to be snapped together, installed and then touched with cement to set them.

Also provided are a new turned aluminum gun barrel and a turned brass "projo" and casing for the big 12.8 cm gun. It includes the choice of turned wire cables and white metal tow clevises and pins as well. Tools are replaced with the new "standard German OVM" sprues now provided with each new DML German kit. More clear styrene periscopes also are provided.

I have heard some complaints that the original DML kit was too short, making too much use of their early Tiger II chassis pan and hull. I can't confirm this one is correct – but I measured the upper hull and it came out to right around 203 mm in length (7.1 meters) which matched with the plans I had.

The kit does provide the AA machine gun and mount, which go on the rear deck of the vehicle. There is no "Zimmerit" finish, which is fine, as these vehicles were only provided with that surface treatment for less than two months of their production run (July-September 1944.) Even then, I always recall the Jagdtiger as its application is screwy – it cuts off about halfway up the casemate sides (I guess somebody figured it would take a very tall Soviet to get a sticky bomb or magnetic mine that high!)

Six finishing options are suggested, but the kit comes with a complete "number jungle" sheet to do all of the vehicles in the two battalions it equipped, sPzJgAbt. 512 and sPzJgAbt. 653, as well as one unknown "stray". Specific information is provided for: 1 – "X7" from the 512th; 2 – "115" from 1/653rd; 3 – "301" from 3/653rd; 4 – Unknown (which may be a mistake – these markings are apparently factory production codes and markings, not used on finished vehicles; one photograph that clearly shows these markings is of the production line at Niebelungewerke); 5 – "211"from 2/512th, and 6 – 1/653rd. "X7" is probably the best known as it was captured after it got stuck in a small town.

Overall this is a nice upgrade to a good kit, and one that should still remain popular with modelers. I guess most of them are just fascinated with BIG!

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on August 15, 2005)

Kit Review: Trumpeter 1/35 Scale Kit No. 00312; Russia KV-2 Tank.
327 parts (305 in grey styrene, 18 clear vinyl keepers, 2 vinyl track runs, 2 clear styrene, 1 twisted copper wire).
Price US $24.95.
Advantages: Fully eclipses obsolete Tamiya kit; choice of either styrene or vinyl track will be popular with many modelers; pretty thorough job of research appears obvious with moldings.
Disadvantages: some ejection pin marks on the "hard" plastic tracks will be annoying to remove; odd gun barrel does not match production photos; use of late model hull rear limits options.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all Soviet armor fans.
F I R S T   L O O K

Trumpeter has matched its excellent KV-1 Model 1942 with an equally good stab at the KV-2 heavy tank. It also uses what DML calls "slide molding" or using multipart molds to create such things as hollow molded gun exhausts and inner fender details on the mudguards. It is also priced very reasonably, and as such should be a winner in that area.

Detail-wise, this kit uses most of the major components of the Model 1942 kit. The hull is molded in three basic parts – a central form and two applique sides, which is unique. The central hull shows a dip on the sides at the rear, so one can bet that either an SU-152 or KV-1s will follow later on (a check of the Trumpter sprues identifies them as for kit 00356; since the Model 1942 is kit 00358, at least one more is on the way)

The side applique parts are squared off to replicate the KV-2 hull. But in an odd choice, Trumpeter has only included the late production "humped" upper rear plate that was used from July 1941 onward. Nearly all photos of KV-2 tanks show them with the two-part upper rear plate/engine deck rear, which was the common one in use. (It was only after the factory made a conscious attempt to speed up production that somebody figured out a single rolled plate of approximately 120 degrees of arc could replace both parts, speed up rolling and cut welding time.) This may apply to as few as 30 tanks built out of 191 KV-2 tanks (another 24 were the early model "KV with Big Turret" tanks with the naval-like MT-1 gun mount.)

All of the jounce stops are separate and correct, and the road wheel arms are each made up in two parts (there are two different grease caps, so make sure you do not get them confused.)

The wheels are completely different than the cast metal ones provided with the Model 1942, and consist of four parts each plus the vinyl "keeper." They are the correct early model internally buffered variants, and are very nicely done (including the lightening holes on the back halves of the wheels, a great touch!) The drivers have both interior and exterior bolt details, as well as the correct mud scraper.

The separate track is well done, as it "link and length" with a pre-cast "droop" in the upper runs. As noted, there are two or four injection pin marks on each link, even the long runs, and while cleanup will be tedious it doesn't seem as bad as many other single-link sets. But even the vinyl "one piece" set is not bad, so many modelers will be happy to use them.

Oddly the kit provides interior details for the engine deck air intake grilles but only two sets of plastic parts and no etched grilles or frames for an etched grille (one set appears to be for an SU-152 or KV-1s as noted earlier).

The hull details are all separate, including separate front and rear hull roof sections and fenders. While the fenders come with the track slap deflectors on the bottom (!) note that the actual fenders came in three sections, joined at the second and fourth braces on the sides. A choice of early or late model viewer covers is included (this one takes the earlier models and not the late ones used on the Model 1942).

The turret is very nicely done, with most of the moldings being added to a "slide molded" main body for the turret with separate front, rear and base parts. But the odd thing is that the gun barrel consists of a very bizarre sectional tube that I cannot match to any references on the KV-2. It does show up on some factory blueprints, but all production tanks have a smooth tube with a muzzle protector/reinforcement ring. I suggest replacing it with a Jordi Rubio or similar turned metal tube.

It also comes with a working rear access hatch, which is a true shame: the $64 Question has been for years – what is the configuration INSIDE a KV-2 turret? To date nobody has seen it and only tempting bits of destroyed or burned out ones from German photos. There is ONE KV-2 extant in Moscow, but nobody has seemingly gotten inside and shot photos.

Only one finishing option is provided – an unidentified tank bearing the logo "Za Stalina! (For Stalin) but nearly all combat photos of the KV-2 show it having no markings whatsoever. The sheet does throw in some red stars as well.

Overall like its "little brother" this is a gorgeous kit, and eclipses the ancient Tamiya kit.

Thanks to Jay Laverty for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on August 12, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7292; Sd,Kfz. 164 Nashorn.
191 parts (160 in grey styrene, 17 etched brass, 2 in tan DS 100 plastic).
Price US $10.95.
Advantages: first kit of this vehicle in this scale in styrene; amazing amount of parts for a kit WITHOUT separate track; very nicely done detail work.
Disadvantages: gun is very involved and will take a great deal of care to assemble correctly; brass ammo racks will require care in assembly; tracks are slightly too long and will need cutting.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all small-scale German fans.

This is the later production version of the Sd.Kfz. 164, and as it is virtually identical with the previous early model (Hornisse) kit (#7234) it completes the series of two Hummels and two Nashorns/Hornisses – early and late models.

Since both sets of parts come on the same sprues, and the main difference here is the new travel lock and the special gun barrel that comes with the upper mount attached, most of the comments from the earlier kit and review stand as is. Note that this IS a different kit and unless you want to fool around with the barrels or replace them, you have to purchase each kit to get either a Hornisse or a Nashorn.

To recap. has managed to provide nearly all of the details that come on its larger models in a 1/72 scale kit, and includes etched brass as well.

The kit provides the Gw III/IV chassis and also many of the parts that will go with the other (probably) three partners for this kit – the Nashorn and an early and late Hummel – in two sets of drivers, exhausts, and associated details. Two different travel locks are provided (Hornisse and Nashorn) but while the directions show a separate forward barrel section for the late-model (part F12) and one for the early model (F2), the gates have been reversed it has been gated off and is not present in the kit, so you will have to get #7234 to get the early barrel.

The gun consists of some 12 parts, with the rear half of the breech split horizontally rather than vertically; if neatly assembled and sanded down with a "Flex-i-File" this should cause no problems and does remove the pesky ridge along the top of the barrel.

The wheels come pre-molded in pairs and with a separate center; this idea has been popular, for it permits neat painting of the tires and center sections separately to provide a clean separation line.

Brass parts are included for the fighting compartment floor ammo chest (along with three single 8.8 cm rounds) and also for the side cooling air louvers.

There is an update on the tracks. Originally I noted that I had bad news and good news on the tracks. According to Al Boone (who built one) the bad news is that the tracks are too long and could be cut down. The good news is that according to Freddie Leung of DML, they are done that way so that the modeler may "sag" them between the return rollers, and photos of the factory built test shots show them that way with a bit of sag on the top track run. Since they are made out of DML's DS 100 glueable vinyl plastic, either cutting them down or simply cementing them to the wheels for "sag" when done is not too difficult.

Five different finishing options are provided: s.H.Pz.Jg.Abt. 519, s.H.Pz.Jg.Abt. 525 (two different vehicles), and s.H.Pz.Jg.Abt. 88 (two different vehicles). This kit has a dedicated decal sheet as well, and not just a "generic number jungle" as with some of the others.

Overall, again this an elegant little model and should please many German fans in providing a first-class kit in 1/72 scale.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on August 12, 2005)

Kit Review: Academy 1/72 Scale Kit No. 13404; 1/72 WWI Ground Vehicle Set 5, German Cargo Truck (Early and Late).
94 parts (81 in tan styrene, 13 in clear styrene).
Price US $19.
Advantages: kit provides both cab options for standard production or "Einheits" standardized production.
Disadvantages: still only provides 4 x 2 truck variant; lack of "kit" somewhat disappointing for the price.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all German WWII ground AND air "small scalers".

Building on its German Opel fuel tanker, Academy now adds a 4 x 2 cargo variant to its nice selection of 1/72 WWII Ground Vehicles, primarily designed to complement aircraft models, but which can also be used with 1/72 armor.

This kit continues with the 3 ton cargo variant of the Opel Blitz, but surprisingly limits it pretty much to rear area use as the truck is the 4 x 2 variant; no parts for a 4 x 4 are included in the kit. The fuel tanker has been replaced by an open cargo body with transverse seats for personnel (two broad ones and one narrow one, so it can carry five rows of seated troops or about 20-25 personnel).

The same Blitz standard chassis sprue of 39 parts is provided. But as before, the kit provides a nice engine block and transmission with a separate fan and generator assembly, but then as with the GMC provide no way to see it once assembled. The panels on the sides of the hood will have to be cut off before assembly if the modeler wants to provide a "field service" type of vehicle, especially in a North African setting.

The kit also provides the late war "Einheits" cab for standard military production; this one was used on all three-ton class vehicles regardless of purpose, driveline, or manufacturer to speed up production and also save on steel by using wood for the cab structure itself. Academy has added totally new parts for nearly all of the cab, including new windows and headlights. But again, none of the panels separate, so there is the same glitch with the use of displaying the engine.

Both cabs comes with all basic details and a full set of offset (e.g. flush exterior when installed) clear windows. With some care the doors may be cut out and repositioned in the open position, but the kit does not give a great deal of provision for that other than the separation line for the door from the body on the inside of the parts. Headlight lenses are also separate clear parts, and to their credit, for the fumble-fingered among us they provide three with the kit. (It also immediately permits the installation of MV Lenses of suitable size without drilling, a benefit in this scale.)

The same decal sheet from the tanker is provided, e.g. markings are only for Luftwaffe vehicles, alas, so the modeler is on his own to come up with other branches of service markings.

However, for the money all the modeler gets is a choice of one of two variants of the same vehicle and no "kit" – internal stowage, gas cans, ammo crates, or tool kits – are included with it. This is sort of a shame, as the modeler will have to either purchase separate items or scratchbuild them to get it to have that "lived in" look.

Overall, the vehicle is well done and appealing, so kudos to Academy.

Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on August 4, 2005)

Kit Review: Emhar 1/35 Scale Kit No. 4005; Mk. V "Hermaphrodite" WW I Heavy Battle Tank.
124 parts (116 in dark grey styrene, 8 in black vinyl-like plastic).
Price US $29.95.
Advantages: will build into a model of a Mark V as used by the USA, Russia, and Britain.
Disadvantages: some shape problems, too many parts carried over from Mark IV kits, same poor quality track.
Rating: Recommended with Reservations.
Recommendation: for British, American and Russian WWI fans.

When Dale Wilson's great book "Treat ‘Em Rough" on the history of the creation of the US Tank Corps in WWI came out a number of years ago, I was really excited over the fact that he covered the histories of the 301st and 304th Tank Brigades and their various combat episodes in France. Alas, there were no styrene kits of either the Renault FT or British Mark V at the time. There were resin versions of both tanks, and a white metal FT in 1/32 scale, but the only plastic kits at the time were the two Emhar Mark IV variants. Both were somewhat rough (as many first kits from small companies tend to be) and suffered from the worst set of tracks provided with any recent kit – a black vinyl-like material that would at least accept liquid modeling cement, but had its joints in the wrong places – right in the middle of the large plate-type links.

Several years ago a Russian company released a Mark V kit with interior, which sounded great until you saw it up close. It also sold for a usurious $60 in the US and was no bargain.

Some time ago Emhar released a new kit of the Mark V, the definitive World War I heavy British "lozenge" tank type. Reviews were not very kind to it, and as they are finally readily available in the US I can now understand the disappointment of the other reviews such as Colin Knapp of the UK over this kit.

First off, Emhar (which according to the sole new sprue in the kit is now owned by Pocketbond) pulled a "Tamiya" and simply added a new sprue to an older kit and raised the price. This wouldn't have been too bad if the older kit was of high quality, but the new sprue shows far better skill at mold cutting than the originals. (It's not as bad as putting $800 worth of rims on a 1984 Yugo, but close.)

Second, many of the shapes used by the Mark V were modified based on field experience from the Mark IV, and the kit did not catch them. The Mark V used different "Male" sponsons with a slant inward at the back and different details; the Mark IV (from what references I have) did not and is closer to the kit's sponsons.

Some of the details are also carried over, such as the jacketed machine guns on the "Male" tanks. Most of the photos of Mark Vs I could find showed unjacketed Hotchkiss machine guns and not the heavier ones. The kit provides only three of them, whereas it would need four to fill in all of the basic sites for machine guns on the "Male" (the "Female" ones are from the Mark IV and while much cruder are designed for use in the drum mounts.)

As noted, the new parts are far cleaner and neater moldings than the base Mark IV, and that includes the new upper observation tower and even the signaling semaphore.

Worst feature of all is that the original kit tracks are included, and there has been no improvement in them that I can see. (When the original kits came out, at least one US model company – The Model Cellar from Pennsylvania – came out with a brilliant set of working single-link tracks for the Mark IV, which would also fit perfectly on the Mark V; alas, I have not seen either The Model Cellar or their tracks for at least six years now.) It's too bad that Emhar produce a set of single-link track for this kit, as it would go far to fix its one toylike feature.

Given all that, the kit does permit the modeler to build either a "Female" (two twin machine gun sponsons), a "Male" (two sponsons with one machine gun and one 6-lber gun each), or a "Hermaphrodite" (also called "Composite") type with one of each.

Markings are included for six generic tanks: two British "Males" and one "Female", one from the Kubinka Museum in Moscow painted up as captured German, and two Russian ones (one captured "White" vehicle and one "Red" vehicle from the time of the Russian Civil War.)

Overall, this is a really disappointing kit and one that could have been much better with some more forethought and less attempt to reuse an obsolete kit.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on August 4, 2005)

Kit Review: Trumpeter 1/35 Scale Kit No. 00358; Russia KV-1 model 1942 Simplified Turret Tank.
329 parts (307 in grey styrene, 18 clear vinyl keepers, 2 vinyl track runs, 2 clear styrene, 1 twisted copper wire).
Price US $24.95.
Advantages: best KV-1 kit now on the market; choice of either styrene or vinyl track will be popular with many modelers; thorough job of research appears obvious with moldings.
Disadvantages: some ejection pin marks on the "hard" plastic tracks will be annoying to remove.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all Soviet armor fans.
F I R S T   L O O K

In early May 1942, the commander of the 6th Guards Tank Brigade, Colonel Maksim Skuba, received notice that seven Stalin prize arts laureates were going to present a KV-1 tank to his brigade. The seven (three artists and four writers) named the donated tank "Besposhchadniy" – "Fearless" – and provided it with a poem and artwork. Artist Kukrynskiy painted a cartoon of the tank blowing Hitler into pieces; author Marshak wrote this poem:

"Through the blazing fire we go
In our heavy tank
On to the rear of the enemy
Where we smash him in the flank.
Your tank's crew is fearless
Our eyes never close
As we carry out
Stalin's combat orders!"

According to the Soviet archives, its best combat episode was one where it took on 28 German tanks and knocked out five before withdrawing. But it was later knocked out by the Germans, with the commander Khoroshilov being killed and driver-mechanic Tsarapin being severely wounded.

"Besposhchadniy," while knocked out after only 700 kilometers, was recovered, survived the war, and is preserved at the Museum of Armored Vehicle Technology at Kubinka outside of Moscow.

This tank was a late production Model 1942 KV-1 with all of the basic features of those tanks – "simplified" welded/bolted production turret, cast all-steel wheels, cast return rollers, and a UZTM produced hull with flush fitting glacis applique panels, "flat" engine access door, and "square" hull rear section.

Trumpeter now seems to have set its sights on catching up to DML for quality and accuracy, and this kit is a very aggressive move in that direction. It also makes use of what DML calls "slide molding" or using multipart molds to create such things as hollow molded gun barrels and exhausts. It is also priced very reasonably, and as such should be a winner in that area.

Detail-wise, there are many nice touches to this kit. The hull is molded in three basic parts – a central form and two applique sides, which is unique. The central hull shows a dip on the sides at the rear, so one can bet that either an SU-152 or KV-1s will follow later on; the applique parts are squared off to replicate the KV-1 Model 1942 hull. All of the jounce stops are separate and correct, and the road wheel arms are each made up in two parts (there are two different grease caps, so make sure you do not get them confused.) The wheels have the interior cast reinforcement ribs, and are really well done. The drivers have both interior and exterior bolt details, as well as the correct mud scraper.

The separate track is well done, as it "link and length" with a pre-cast "droop" in the upper runs. As noted, there are two or four injection pin marks on each link, even the long runs, and while cleanup will be tedious it doesn't seem as bad as many other single-link sets.

Oddly the kit provides interior details for the engine deck air intake grilles but only two sets of plastic parts and no etched grilles or frames for an etched grille (one set appears to be for an SU-152 or KV-1s as noted earlier).

The hull details are all separate, including separate front and rear hull roof sections and fenders. While the fenders come with the track slap deflectors on the bottom (!) note that the actual fenders came in three sections, joined at the second and fourth braces on the sides. A choice of early or late model viewer covers is included (this one takes late, whereas the KV-2 kit takes the early model).

The turret does a beautiful job of replicating the screwy "bolted/welded" construction that drove me crazy about a year ago. It consists of bolting the parts together against an angle steel frame, and then filling in the bold heads with weld bead plus welding up the seams. (One reason these tanks took nearly 18 times as long to assemble as a T-34 Model 1942.) While not called out on the box or specifically by name in the directions, optional parts are also included for a KV-8 flamethrower tank (they are shown at the bottom of page 8.)

Only one finishing option is provided – "Besposhchadniy" from the 6th Guards Tank Brigade, May 1942.

Overall this is a gorgeous kit, and eclipses the older (but still accurate if fussy to assemble) Eastern Express kit. From the parts breakdown, more are going to follow.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on July 28, 2005)

Kit Review: Miniarm 1/35 Scale Military Scale Modeling Kit No. B35012; T-64B Turret with Anti-Radiation Cladding (for SKIF Models).
46 parts (44 in tan resin, 2 turned aluminum).
Price US $51.00 (via Chesapeake Model Designs).
Advantages: fixes many of the major flaws with the SKIF kit; very petite details on turret and accessory components; amazing detail on commander's cupola; partial interior for turret included.
Disadvantages: directions are the "stick here" type with little explanation; no material provided for barrel thermal jacket seals.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all Soviet and Russian/Ukranian tank fans.

For years I have been a fan of the T-64 series tanks, which always struck me as the "sports car" of the armor world. Designed over a tortuous 20 years by A. A. Morozov, one of the designers of the famous T-34, the T-64 was not an evolutionary tank but a "revolutionary" one, combining an autoloader, opposed piston flat air-cooled diesel engine, and three man crew in one package. The idea, a Soviet favorite goal, was to get the protection and firepower of a heavy tank on the chassis of a medium, thus creating the "osnovnoy boeyvoy tank" or main battle tank.

Well, the idea didn't quite work out as well as planned, and many of the tanks were, to be blunt, dogs. Out of the first 897 T-64s built 575 suffered catastrophic engine failure in the first three years of the tank's entry into service, and many reports indicate it was freakishly temperamental below 50 degrees F (10 degrees C). The running gear was not reliable, the electronics unreliable, and the three man crew had a lot of problems trying to carry out local (crew) maintenance on the vehicle. While the tank is still reportedly popular in the Ukraine (where it was built) the Russians have parked most of theirs and only seem to use them for training.

But even though this was the seminal vehicle of the late Cold War period (1965-1990) only ONE manufacturer has bothered to kit it; naturally, it was SKIF, who is a Ukranian company. But SKIF tends to be schizophrenic in its kits, and some have good features, some have bad. Most of their T-64 kits (T-64, T-64A, T-64B, T-64BV, T-64AK) have undersized turrets and absolutely the worst set of vinyl tracks put in a model kit in the last 10 years. It's truly a shame, as the hull and running gear of the kit are pretty decent.

Now help is on the way in the form of a new Russian company, Miniarm. They offer an initial release of 23 1/35 scale resin and plastic accessory kits to correct many existing kits on the market, such as those for the BMP, T-72, T-64, MT-LB, 2S1, KV-1, and IS-1/2. Many of their kits are oriented on SKIF kits, which is good for the modeler.

This kit provides a new turret with all accessories for the SKIF T-64 series kits, but it appears that the target is the T-64B or BV kit (as they come with skirts, which this turret has to have with it; "flipper" armor panels are incorrect.) This corrects the biggest single flaw of the SKIF kits, namely their undersized and straight-sided turrets. I compared this one with the SKIF BV turret and it is much, much better shaped and defined. I compared the resin turret with the one in "Osnovnoy Boyevoy Tank T-64" by Sayenko and Chobitok (Exprint, Moscow 2002) and it is pretty much a dead match for the B less reactive armor. The correct model nomenclature would probably be T-64B Model 1984 as the initial B came out in 1981 (also offered by Miniarm as their kit B35008) but without the external radiation cladding. It could also be be used for a T-64B-1 Model 1984 without the 9K112 (AT-8 COBRA) ATGM control box in front of the commander's hatch.

The resin parts are delicate and fragile, and some of the ones on the review sample components were dinged as a result. The worst damage was to the bases for the Type 902B "Tucha" smoke grenade launchers, but can easily be fixed with some thin styrene strip. All of the covers and canvas bits are well done, and are most complete. Resin molding plugs are present, but not bad and large indented lines indicate where to separate the parts.

The directions indicate that the modeler must come up with some 0.7 mm wire for hand grabs and handles (0.030") but the modeler also will need fine wire (0.3 mm or 0.015") for the connector from the electrical feeds to the smoke grenade sets.

The only items I noted as missing were the joints (two flaps with bolts connecting them) on the sections of the barrel where the thermal jacket sections are sealed. These can be made from styrene strip; I think 0.010" x 0.030" (0.2 x 0.7 mm) is about right for the joints, along with some bolt heads. The other item missing is the tank's storage tarpaulin, which goes up on top of the OPVT wading tubes at the rear of the turret.

As noted, the weakest part of these kits are the directions. The class act here is Chesapeake Model Designs, and since they are one of the main agents for Miniarm perhaps they can show them a better way to package their kits.

Overall, this is a really decent kit that fixes one of the major problems with a so-so kit and gives it a real chance to be a gem.

Thanks to Bill Miley of CMD for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

http://www.miniarm.com
http://www.chesapeakemodels.com
AMPS

(Originally written on July 28, 2005)

Kit Review: Miniarm 1/35 Scale Military Scale Modeling Kit No. B35020; T-64 Workable Track Set for SKIF.
168 parts in tan resin.
Price US $32.00 (via Chesapeake Model Designs).
Advantages: fixes another major flaw with SKIF kits; if assembled correctly, tracks DO work.
Disadvantages: no directions; some track links still have either mold or resin in the pin pockets for the joining pins.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all Soviet and Russian/Ukranian tank fans.

In conjunction with the T-64B turret I recently reviewed, I also received a set of working resin track for the T-64 series tank kits by SKIF.

Without a doubt, my personal choice for overall worst set of tracks on a contemporary model are those which came with the SKIF T-64 kits. First off, the designer didn't know the difference between T-64 tracks (double pin with a hole in each plate section of the link) and T-80 track (double pin with a solid plate section on each side of the link.) So, he split the difference, alternating them in the single piece vinyl runs. Secondly, the tracks are so flexible and soft they have no concept of the word "rigid" and are totally useless to install.

SKIF did try and fix it by offering a set of styrene single link tracks which are not too bad. But again, SKIF managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory: based on the geometry of the tracks, it takes 168 links to do up a T-64 series tank, but SKIF only provides 160 in the kit! (For argument's sake, we'll ignore the fact that according to the manual the tank is only supposed to use 78 links per side or 156 total.)

Miniarm provides 168 cleanly cast resin links with two cone-shaped pins on the hinge faces of the narrow section of the hinge. With some care they are easy to simply pop together – I did five as a test last night in less than two minutes. But some of the links either have resin in the hole for the pin or mold element stuck there, so plan on having a Dremel Mini handy with a tiny burr to clean out the receiver for the pins.

Some directions would be good, however, warning how many are needed and also some ideas of the easiest way to snap them together. They are not quite intuitive.

Overall, these are brilliantly done and the price is competitive with Model-Kasten or Fruil track, and they are beautifully finished with all of the subtleties not seen on the SKIF styrene links. This, and one of the turrets, fix about 90% of the problems with the SKIF T-64 kits.

Thanks to Bill Miley of CMD for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

http://www.miniarm.com
http://www.chesapeakemodels.com
AMPS

(Originally written on July 28, 2005)

Kit Review: Archer Fine Transfers 1/35 Scale Dry Transfer Markings.
Set AR35209B; U.S. Gauges and Interior Stencils.
Price US $8.95.

Set AR35209W; U. S. Gauges and Interior Stencils.
Price US $8.95.

Set AR35210S; Generic Placards (black on silver).
Price US $9.95

Set AR35210W; Generic Placards (black on white).
Price US $995

Set AR35210X; Generic Placards (black on brass).
Price US $9.95.

Set AR35211; US Interior Placards.
Price US $7.95

Advantages: all cleanly printed with amazing levels of detail and readable under a jeweler's loupe; perfect finishing touches, especially for softskins.
Disadvantages: May seem expensive, but many models can be done with one sheet.
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all US armor and military vehicle fans.

Woody Vondracek is the best one I know at doing up markings and detailing sheets, and these latest six from him are absolutely gorgeous. While some modelers squawk about the prices (realize each sheet is only about 1" x 2.5") it is the quality of the sheets and their ease of use that makes them a true winner.

The first two (209) provide the dashboard markings found on most US armored and softskin vehicles from about 1940 to the present. The sheets each include dial faces for (left to right on the sheets) oil pressure, tachometer/engine hours gauge/ speedometer/odometer, water temperature, and more oil pressure gauges. The rest of the markings are standard placards painted on in the cab or driver's compartment area – weapons, equipment stowage, and warnings. The white instrument faces appear, from collectors shows, to be correct for tactical vehicles up to about mid 1942 (jeeps, trucks, M3 White Scout Cars, and M2/M3 halftracks in particular) and the black faces from then to the present. I suggest getting one of each, for the white stencils are more often found on OD vehicles and the black ones on white backgrounds such as inside tanks or APCs.

The second three sheets are the standard plates screwed onto the dashboard or other area of a tactical vehicle, such as shift patterns, construction data, winch operation directions, etc. They will do a lot for a jeep (I may have misread it, but while FORD and BANTAM show up well, I could swear the other one reads WILLIS and not WILLYS. But since it's about 2 point type it may just be my eyes.)

The last one covers decals stuck on various parts of the inside of armored vehicles for stowage. There is a large sense of humor at play here which is obvious under the loop as well, but I won't spoil it for anyone who wants to get even with judges!

Overall these are all winners and once again Woody has responded to modelers' needs with really useful items.

Thanks to Woody Vondracek of Archer Fine Transfers for the review samples.

Cookie Sewell

http://www.archertransfers.com
AMPS

(Originally written on July 24, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6253; Pzkw. VI Ausf. E Sd.Kfz. 181 Tiger I Late Production 3-in-1 Kit.
1,134 parts (638 in grey styrene, 251 etched brass, 180 "MagicTrack" plastic track links, 21 in clear styrene, 14 turned brass, 14 pre-formed brass, 8 white metal, 1 turned aluminum barrel, 4 turned metal shackle pins,1 steel spring, 1 pre-bent wire, 1 section of braided steel wire).
Price estimated at around US $40 retail.
Advantages: even better than the Tiger I Early from this manufacturer (January 2005 release); massive amount of options and different parts in this kit; 3-in-1 options are for Late production, Late Command variant, or Final production versions of this tank.
Disadvantages: no Zimmerit finish means the modeler will still have to apply it for most kit options.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German or Tiger fans.
F I R S T   L O O K.

I didn't think after receiving a review sample of DML's Tiger I Early that they could do much to top it other than add a Zimmerit finish to the kit; well, while they disappointed me by not doing that, they did catch me by surprise by adding nearly 450 new parts to the first kit to arrive at a stunning new kit of this popular tank.

Compared to the first release, this kit changed out or added at least eight different sprue groups to change the entire appearance of the model to match the later variants; this alone added 250 styrene parts and many of the etched brass changes to the kit. Some of the parts are now identified by DML as common sprues, e.g. 14 styrene and 26 etched brass parts are common to the 8.8 cm L/56 guns – either those on the Tiger I or the Flak 18/36/37 series dual-purpose guns. Another 26 styrene and 34 etched brass are now identified as "German OVM" common parts. Another 23 parts, 15 styrene and 8 etched brass, provide what appears to be a personality figure of Michael Wittmann – the plastic parts compose the body, and the etched parts medals, decorations and shoulder boards.

The basic vehicle (this is getting to look more and more like an American automobile window sticker everyday, with "option packages" added to the "Base Model!") comes with the requisite parts for the late model Tiger I – steel wheels, cast cupola, and turret rear stowage bin. From there on, the rest of the changes are for detail parts and specific model variants.

The modeler has a choice of the following: two types of drivers; two types of idlers; two different hull stern plates; two types of lifting shackles; etched or styrene exhaust shrouds; turned brass or styrene tubes for the hull rear plate; open or closed driver's viewer; styrene or metal tow cables; styrene or etched brass tool fittings (a special jig is included on one sprue leg for bending and fitting the latter); styrene or etched brass mudguards; styrene or etched brass fenders; three different mantelets; styrene or aluminum gun barrel (the latter has a spring to "work"); two types of muzzle brake; choice of two-section or bent plate turret roof; original or final production cast commander's cupola (made with "slide molding" so all vision port covers are cast in place); two different styles of loader's hatch; separate covers for the rear turret stowage bin; optional position turret rear hatch; special track for the turret with separate guide horns; and, "sag" guides to get the right set of the tracks on the wheels (hard to see on the directions in Step 19, and provided in the kit as parts D23 and D24).

While the AA MG mount base is provided, no AA MG comes with the kit. Also, while all of the accouterments for the engine bay and an interior come with the kit (e.g. radiators, fans, torsion bars) no interior is provided, but the kit is set to take on or at least an engine for the engine bay.

The model comes with a large decal sheet to cover most generic Tiger I markings in detail. Markings are provided for the Late version as sPzAbt 101 along with a company numbering diagram, including Michael Wittmann's company. There is one option offered for a Late Command variant from sPzAbt 101, and three for Final variants from sPzAbt 505. All are in the final three-color scheme of Panzerbraun, red brown, and dark green.

Overall this is an overwhelming kit in its number of options, and other than the previously noted "do it yourself" Zimmerit options, really leaves little for the modeler to have to purchase extra or come up with from the spares box.

Sprue breakdown:
A 26 (Tiger I generic)
B 40 (Tiger I generic)
C 39 (Tiger I Late)
D 30 (Tiger I Late) (turret)
E 35 (Tiger I Late)
F 8 (Tiger I Late)
G 31 x 2 (Tiger I Late)
g 4 (Command antenna
H 54 x 4 (Tiger I Late)
J 38 (Tiger I generic)
K 12 (Tiger I Late) (hull)
L 2 (Command antenna)
L 12 (Tiger I generic)
M 14 (8.8 cm common)
MA 149 Etched brass (Tiger I Late)
MB 34 Etched brass (German OVM)
MC 26 Etched brass (8.8 cm common)
MD 38 Etched brass (Tiger I Late)
ME 1 Aluminum barrel
ME 1 Spring
ME 14 Turned brass
ME 14 Preformed brass
ME 8 White metal
ME 1 Prebent wire
ME 4 etched brass
MF 8 Figure
N 2 (Command antennas)
P 39 (Late)
Q 12 (8.8 cm common)
R 15 (Tiger I Late)
S 9 (Tiger I Late)
U 2 (Tiger I Late)
TA 5 (German OVM)
TB 9 (German OVM)
TC 4 (German OVM)
TD 4 (German OVM)
TE 4 (German OVM)
Y 180 (MagicTrack)
X 1 (Tiger I generic)
Figure 15 (Tiger I Late)

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on July 15, 2005)

Kit Review: MRC/Academy 1/72 Scale Kit No. 13403; WW II Ground Vehicle Set - 4, U.S. Ambulance and Tow Truck;
90 parts (85 in dark green styrene, 5 in clear styrene).
Price US $19.00.
Advantages: Ambulance is a badly needed softskin in this scale; nice choice of vehicles permits use as both armor or aircraft oriented kit; tractor comes with several options, making it quite useful to aircraft modelers.
Disadvantages: expensive for size of the kits.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all 1/72 scale Allied armor and aircraft modelers.

Academy has found a niche and is doing a pretty good job of filling it with kits that play to both the armor and aircraft modeling fraternities, which is a good thing if you can make it work. So far this has been pretty useful, with a good model of a 4 x 2 Opel Blitz tanker and GMC CCKW truck on the market. This is the fourth set to come out, and provides a Dodge WC-54 ambulance and a fairly standard tow tractor.

The Dodge WC-54 was an updated and larger version of the earlier WC-8 ambulance based on the pre-war Dodge half-ton commercial chassis. It provided both built-in 4 x 4 traction with the ability to carry four litter patients or up to eight seated patients.

Previously only the WC-51/52 and M6 antitank gun versions of this series of vehicles were released as 1/72 scale kits (by ESCI, originally as their #8039 US Dodge 3/4 Ton 4 x 4 Truck and #8040 US Dodge M6 37mm Gun Motor Carriage) so the WC-54 is a new kit.

The Dodge here consists of 60 parts including the windows. The kit includes a complete engine and interior for the cab and body, but again Academy has left no provision to display the four-piece engine. It's a nice idea but sooner or later modelers are going to complain about an engine you can't see!

The body is pretty spartan inside, as only the benches are provided and no mounts are included for the litters (stretchers), nor are any stretchers included either. One thing I wish they had not done is use the old Peerless/Max kit of 30 years ago for their reference standard. That was a pretty good kit (it's still the only one of the WC-54 in 1/35 scale) but it had a bad split in the roof behind the driver's compartment for the rear roof and body assembly, and with that kit it made for a nasty seam to fill in. At least the rear doors and fold-down step are separate parts and can be placed as the modeler desires.

I have to admit I just found out that I have no references on the tow truck, and for that I apologize! But comparing it to photos of standard tow vehicles it looks to be pretty close. Note that these were used for many years, and depending upon time and place of operation they could be found painted olive drab, medium grey, Air Force Blue, yellow, white or orange. (Safety stripes in black or even red appear optional with the last three.)

The tow truck comes with several options, including both a closed (O16) or open (O17) tow bar; the latter is not shown in the directions but is pretty obviously a tow bar for aircraft. It also has a utility cart (sort of like an M1 bomb lift trolley but with no mounts or carriers). The boxtop shows it carrying what looks like a 500 lb GP bomb, but it has no mounts to do that.

The WC-54 comes with only one set of markings – an ambulance from the 92nd (Bomb Wing?) 456th (Bomb Squadron?). Alas, a check of USAAF units shows these are bogus, so I do not recommend using the bumper codes (the rest appear close to on the money, however.)

Overall, the kit is very nicely done and provides the basics for a great model. If the doors are left closed, it makes a perfect vehicle for either convoy duty or background use in an aircraft diorama.

Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on July 8, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6271; Advance to the Rhine: U.S. 1st Army at Remagen 1945.
137 parts in grey styrene.
Price about US $10.95.
Advantages: new poses and new configurations for US troops should be well-received by modelers; good, casual poses will set off a model very well in either a single vehicle or diorama setting.

Disadvantages: figures are for late war applications only.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all US WWII or Korea fans.

DML is still the champ of affordable styrene figure sets, and they have not lost that laurel to anyone else yet. This is another one of their all-too-few Allied WWII sets, and this time the choice of subjects should be appreciated by many modelers.

The figure set provides six figures in late war US Army uniforms, which translates as M-1943 field jackets and brown combat boots. One figure is provide with an overcoat, nicely done with a four-piece skirt; all others are in field jacket and field trousers, and three helmets with netting are also provided.

Two figures compose an observation team with an observer with binoculars and a radio operator. The latter carries a very nicely done SCR-300 (predecessor of the AN/PRC-25 and AN/PRC-77) manpack radio set.

Three figures are infantrymen, as noted one in overcoat and two in field jackets. The poses are casual and relaxed, and look to be very good for "sizing" an armored vehicle (e.g. posing next to them to get a sense of scale.)

The last figure is that of a field medic with all of his kit bags, which should prove a nice touch to many model kits (such as the old Peerless Max/Italeri WC-54 ambulance).

The kit provides a wealth of details in various ammo pouches and carriers, and even throws in two cigarettes. These are about the size of scale cigars, but considering some other manufacturers had tried this before and produced what appeared to be caricatures chewing on carrots, this is a nice try.

Since these figures are late war types, they have the additional advantage that they are also suitable for Korea, and can be used in that setting as well. (As a point of fact, the two weapons sprues included with the kit are from Korean War set #6802.)

Overall this is a good choice and will be appreciated by modelers. (But I can hear the Commonwealth fans muttering "when do we get one, too?" under their breath!)

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on July 8, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale "Armor Pro" series kit No. 7259; T-34/76 Model 1941.
98 parts (93 in grey styrene, 2 in tan DS plastic, 2 twisted steel wire, 1 etched metal).
Price US $10.95.
Advantages: improved version of Model 1940 kit with all parts needed for the F-34 gun; again, mimics its 1/35 scale "big brother"; wheels are an amazing accomplishment in injection molding; decal sheet now applies!
Disadvantages: didn't come out when I was building 1/72 armor kits!
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all small scale and Soviet armor fans.

The T-34 Model 1940, and the even better Model 1941, were a major shock to the Germans when they invaded in June 1941. This tank was the work of the legendary designer Mikhail Koshkin, who unfortunately died before he got to see his creation validate itself before the Soviet government and the world.

Companies like DML need to be aware that the Soviets never called these "T-34/76" tanks, as that was a German description and did not come into being until the 85mm tanks appeared in 1944. In point of fact, many Soviet era documents show that the tanks were only differentiated by their number of turrets (as with the T-26) or gun carried (here either L-11 or F-34). The Soviets did dub later tanks T-34-85 to show the differences.

DML has now added the more widely built Model 1941 (T-34 with 76.2mm F-34 gun) to its "Armor Pro" series (a select part of its 1/72 scale series with additional parts, different moldings, and extras included in the kits). The kit retains the welded turret of the early T-34s and does not yet provide a cast turret for the more widely produced late Model 1941 with longitudinal grilles. Like the Model 1940, it follows the design of their 1/35 scale kits, and again DML has managed to shrink the level of details down and at the same time compact the number of parts by some clever molding tricks.

One of the most impressive tricks is the use of what DML calls "slide-molding" in which multi-part molds with moving parts are used vice the older "sandwich-type" two piece molds. As a result, they can do larger pieces without either ejection pin marks or sinkholes, and get depth or undercuts in smaller parts. This shows up in this kit in two areas: first, the fact that even in this scale the gun barrel for the F-34 cannon has a hollow muzzle as molded; and second, the wheels come in 14 ready-to-install assemblies vice 28 separate wheels and perhaps axle caps. The wheels are nicely done, with a nice deep grove in between (unlike another company's 1/72 scale kits with solid road wheels or most HO scale armor) and detailed on both sides. Purists will want to drill out the thin flash in the drivers (parts C2) and idlers (parts C1) though, but that is an easy task if you have a pin vise and small drill bits.

The hull comes with the correct early T-34 (Model 1940/early Model 1941) hull with vertical grille openings in the radiator intakes and a choice between either a solid radiator exhaust grille or one with an etched metal grille instead. This is the same nice touch now offered in the 1/35 scale kits, and DML is to be congratulated for providing it in 1/72 as well.

The turret also mirrors its "big brother in construction, and as many modelers have found, if done carefully no putty is needed to fill the gap between the glacis (part A22) and the turret sides (parts A43 and A44). The turret also includes a partial interior as well. (It should be noted that both the Model 1940 and Model 1941 appear to come off the same set of molds, with "gates" opening or closing to provide the correct section of the sprue for their respective kits.)

Most of the details parts are crisp and well done as well, but the twin jacks for the tank are provided as one part (A63) and are probably the least well done of any component.

The kit provides single-section tracks as before, but DML has now changed over to use their DS plastic vice the original black vinyl. This means that standard plastic cement can be used to assemble them and get them to "sag" on the model. However, some modelers indicate these tracks may be a bit short; unlike the 1/35 scale kits that provide an eccentric idler axle that can be used to adjust tension for shorter tracks, the idler mounts on the 1/72 kit are fixed and thus care is needed in mounting the track on the model.

The kit comes with an absolutely gorgeous sheet of decals with many patriotic sayings and markings, but as the original sheet with the Model 1940 was more suited to the Model 1941, most of them are now quite useful. However, many early production Model 1941s carried no markings (they weren't around long enough to do that) so care must be taken in using the decals.
Three basic tank finishes are shown: one "protective green" with numbers from early 1942; one in winter scheme with the famous "tire tracks" camouflage; and the 130th Tank Brigade from the 21st Tank Corps, with another 12 options shown for use of slogans on turrets. Again, you may want to get photo references as many of these, from what I recall, went on cast turret tanks.

Overall, based on its continued excellence from the Model 1940, this is a real winner.

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on July 8, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor-Pro series Kit No. 7235; Sd.Kfz. 167 StuG IV Early.
218 parts (170 in grey styrene, 46 etched brass; 2 in tan DS plastic).
Price US $10.95.
Advantages: builds on previous "late" kit and adds etched brass and styrene Schuertzen side shields; new sprue of dedicated "early" parts.
Disadvantages: very small parts may be hard to use; tracks have built-in "slop" to provide sag which is not explained in directions.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German armor fans.

Two months after DML released their very nicely done StuG IV "Late model" they have followed it up with the deluxe version – dubbed "Armor Pro" series by DML – StuG IV "Early model" kit which adds etched brass and other new parts.

As I noted in May, the Germans produced 1,108 StuG IV vehicles between December 1943 and March 1945 plus 31 conversions from Pzkw. IV tanks; while the Nibelungenwerke produced the converted Pzkw. IV models , Krupp produced only StuG IV vehicles after January 1944. The "Early" vehicles used Ausf. H chassis until July 1944 and then changed over to the "Late" or Ausf. J chassis. The model now provides parts for one with the H hull and single muffler and exhaust.

DML has done a beautiful job with this kit, and it is another example of the moldmaker's art. The model comes with separate OVM, hatches, engine access hatch, and a rough-out 7.5 cm gun. The kit provides two different gun barrels – a flat top muzzle brake (N13) or the original kit's round one (C21) but both use DML's now traditional pre-bored muzzle brake (done by sliding a pin through the sprue runner when molding.)

For ease of painting tiny wheels, DML has really exceeded themselves. Each wheel set comes molded as one pair with the disk part molded separately; the modeler can thus paint the tire section black and then camouflage the centers, resulting in an easy and clean method of getting the wheels painted. A Plus for that one!

Tracks are the new DS plastic gluable vinyl, one section type, so many modelers will be happy not to wrestle with link-and-length units here. But as I recently found out from Freddie Leung of DML, they are designed with "slop" built into them so that they can be "sagged" to show wear on the vehicle. Translation: they are too long when you get them. The good news is since they are gluable to styrene plastic a few bare spots and cement mean that you can rig the sag into them when you install them on the model, so you must take care and plan for it.

The directions are not for beginners, as many steps appear to be assumed, such as how to assemble the road wheel bogies.

The model now comes with TWO sets of Schuertzen shields – one styrene and one brass. They account for most of the 90 new parts in the kit, so it is now up to the modeler whether to use the styrene or brass shields on his model, or simply leave them off.

Finishing options are provided for six vehicles: 34th Infantry Division, 1945; unknown on the Gothic Line, Italy 1944; unknown, Eastern Front, Poland 1944; 1st Panzer Division, Hungary 1945; unknown unit, Lake Balaton, Hungary 1945; 912th Sturmgescheutz Brigade, Kurland 1945; and unknown unit, Germany, 1945.

Overall this kit is even better than the first one, and should please all StuG fans.

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Friday, July 1, 2005
(Originally written on June 26, 2005)

Book Review: Tankograd American Special No. 3002; Armored/Gun Trucks of the US Army in Iraq by Carl Schulze and Ralph Zwilling; Verlag Jochen Vollert, Erlangen. Germany 2005;
64 pp.
Price 14.95.
Euros (ISBN not present)
Advantages: great reference book on modern US Army operations in Iraq; research appears well done and fairly complete
Disadvantages: modelers may be disappointed at lack of scale drawings
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all modern US fans as well as anybody who ever got shot at in a "softskin" truck!

The invention of armor probably dates to the dawn of man, when one fellow realized he needed protection from the rocks and sticks being thrown at him by another fellow. This continued when man started using conveyances, and it is likely that the first charioteers felt the same way - the higher and thicker the protection, the better things are. But it was not until the creation of "war wagons" in the middle ages people suddenly felt you could fight back from behind protection, too.

Even when motorization took place in the 19th Century, it was not long before protected trains followed in the American Civil War and the invention of the first armored railway cars in South Africa in 1899 for the Boer War. Likewise when gasoline engines replaced steam and tires replaced rails, the same thinking followed. The champion of all time appears to be an armored Guinness delivery truck in Ireland during the "Troubles" but that is still a bit extreme.

During every other war that followed, soldiers figured out fast that mobile warfare meant that "rear area" was a rather conditional term, and that "softskin" – wood, steel, aluminum or later fiberglass bodied – vehicles were sitting ducks to artillery or in a fire fight.

While every major military vehicle since 1950 seems to have had armored kits developed to provide them protection, few of them are usually used for a number of reasons. The two main ones were the limitations on access and visibility that they instill to their "host" vehicle and the increased weight, which reduces payload and mobility. But the thought of getting blown to bits is not one most soldiers hold dear, and thus any measure that can be taken to reduce that chance is acceptable at the troop level.

I can concur wholeheartedly, having found myself in that situation in Vietnam in May 1970. I was driving an unarmored M35A1 truck when I accidently nicked a Vietnamese on a Honda 50 and sent him flying into a puddle (we'll ignore the fact he was passing on the right, I was turning right, and the co-driver warned him off.) The enraged and soggy Vietnamese turned out to be a "cowboy" – one of the local thugs with small pistols and bad attitudes. He immediately went for what appeared to be a .32 revolver and all that was between he and I was eight feet of space and the sheet metal door of the Deuce. About the time I figured this is not what was on my agenda for the day, I heard the sound of three M16 bolts locking up and a rather crude challenge from the cargo area to "just try it." He departed the area in a hurry, soggy bike and all, but it was about as close as I felt like coming to getting shot. (I got shot at twice more later on, but this is a book review, not my adventures in Vietnam.)

The same problems bothered the Soviets in Afghanistan, the various ethnic groups in the former Yugoslavia, and now the American forces in Iraq. And every time local troop units have had to create their own armor protection until factory kits can be provided.

This neat new book from "Tankograd" provides a good, thorough assessment of the efforts over the last two years as well as nearly 150 clear, sharp, color photos of a wide assortment of vehicles fitted with both factory kits and the locally manufactured kind – now referred to by the press as "Hillbilly Armor" protection. All of the vehicles in this book started life as softskins and have now been protected over the occupied areas of the vehicles to protect the crews from ambushes, improvised explosive devices (IEDs – booby traps), and other close combat weaponry.

The vehicles covered include light vehicles (mostly HUMMV types. 2 ½ and 5 ton tactical cargo trucks. HEMTTs of all types, and the so-called rear area types – from M915 "line haul" cargo carriers to the massive M1070 HET tractor. Both the "Hillbilly" versions and the factory kits are shown for most vehicles. Some Marine efforts such as those involving their version of the HEMTT (The Mk 48, which differs in that it articulates in the middle) as well as their heavy artillery tractors.

Also included are a number of "gun trucks" similar to the convoy escorts created and used in Vietnam by the US Army. But from what is shown here, so far none of them have the panache of the Vietnam models such as the legendary "Eve of Destruction" (now in the Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis, Virginia) as they all are pretty drab or rusty. The sole different one in the book is an M923A2 truck with two bumpers welded together one on top of the other and a rather ferocious set of white teeth added.

Overall, this book should answer most questions about how the troops are trying to defeat the enemy's efforts and how the US Army has actually responded to the problem, not the rather uninformed opinions presented in the press.

Thanks to Peter Brown for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Friday, July 1, 2005
(Originally written on June 26, 2005)

Kit Review: SDV Model 1/87 Scale Kit No. 87 020; Limitovana Serie – Stredni Tank T-54A.
54 parts in olive green styrene.
Price about US $13.50.
Advantages: most accurate kit of this vehicle in this scale so far; options permit some modifications as needed; model has separate road wheels.
Disadvantages: molds are rough and the fender assembly is a mess.
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: for all fans of the T-54 and T-55 series tanks.

I was at the Great Scale Train Show in Timonium (Maryland) yesterday when I chanced upon a vendor selling this kit. As I am a latent HO train buff, I picked up the kit to see what it was like.

Apparently SDV is a Czech company who, like many smaller Eastern European companies, has a marketing arrangement in the West with other companies such as Modellbau Tom of Germany, who appears to offer some of their other kits in the West. (Their Tatra 813 and 815 series trucks are probably the best known.) This kit was directly imported from what I understand, as it is not marketed by Modellbau Tom nor carried in the US by Walthers.

The kit shows that the company offers a number of versions, first and foremost being either a standard T-54A medium tank and the second one being a T-55 Model 1958 (no AA MG cupola.) The differences in the direction indicate that there are two parts that change – the turret (part 9) and the engine deck (parts 26 or 27). The former comes with the AA MG cupola for the 54 and without for the 55; the engine decks are either rectangular (54) or trapezoidal (55) air cleaner access hatches.

This kit, however, seems to have been mispacked as it has a T-54A engine deck and T-55A turret. Barring that, the kit actually is not a bad representation of the T-54/55 series tanks, and has some nice things to say about it. The lower hull has no toylike wheel holes or big name stamping (a la early ROCO) and the tracks come with separate outer wheels so that a realistic groove is created between the inner and outer wheel sets. The engine deck, radiator grilles, and turret base are all separate parts, so if you really feel in the mood it is easy to create an interior in the engine bay. All fender kit is separate, to include fuel tanks, oil tank, and ZIP bins. The exhaust has a separate flange fitting (part 18) that replicates the "flapper" mount for underwater river crossing preparation.

Other than getting the wrong turret in this kit, however, it is totally let down by the poor state of the molding for the upper hull/fenders (part 1). This shows that while nicely designed the mold is poor and has "chunked" – parts of the facing have disintegrated, leaving large lumps of plastic on the molding when pulled clear and making cleanup a royal pain in the neck. I suggest if you pick up this kit be prepared for some work. Also it is probably a good idea to clean up the bottom side, cement the lower hull in place (which is lovely, coming with torsion bar wells and hatch detailing) and then cut the upper hull free from its sprue before cutting and filing away the lumps.

Overall, this is a nice kit of sorts and is far better than its competitors – ROCO, Roskopf and Piro ones from 30 years ago or more – and half the price of the resin CMK or white metal Trident ones.

(For further information, either see http://www.sdvmodel.cz
or http://www.leestrains.com for availability and cost.)

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Friday, July 1, 2005
(Originally written on June 26, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7234; Sd,Kfz. 164 Hornisse.
191 parts (172 in grey styrene, 17 etched brass, 2 in tan DS 100 plastic).
Price US $10.95.
Advantages: first kit of this vehicle in this scale in styrene; amazing amount of parts for a kit WITHOUT separate track; very nicely done detail work
Disadvantages: gun is very involved and will take a great deal of care to assemble correctly; brass ammo racks will require care in assembly; tracks are slightly too long and will need cutting.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all small-scale German fans.

When DML blew its first attempt at the Nashorn and Hornisse ten years ago (and this reviewer missed its major boo-boos) many modelers were quite upset and unforgiving of the errors and problems. DML, to their credit, provided some immediate correction to the mistakes and three years ago put out very well done ground-up corrections to those kits. Most modelers were forgiving of the first kit in light of the new one.

Now DML has done the same in 1/72 scale, using the research that produced the two new kits. The first variant offered is the Hornisse (early model Nashorn) and it is an amazing kit for its size. DML has managed to provide nearly all of the details that come on the larger model in a 1/72 scale kit, and includes etched brass as well.

The kit provides the Gw III/IV chassis and also many of the parts that will go with the other (probably) three partners for this kit – the Nashorn and an early and late Hummel – in two sets of drivers, exhausts, and associated details. Two different travel locks are provided but while the directions show a separate forward barrel section for the late-model (part F12) it has been gated off and is not present in the kit, so you will have to get another kit to get the later barrel.

The gun consists of some 12 parts, with the rear half of the breech split horizontally rather than vertically; if neatly assembled and sanded down with a "Flex-i-File" this should cause no problems and does remove the pesky ridge along the top of the barrel.

The wheels come pre-molded in pairs and with a separate center; this idea has been popular, for it permits neat painting of the tires and center sections separately to provide a clean separation line.

Brass parts are included for the fighting compartment floor ammo chest (along with three single 8.8 cm rounds) and also for the side cooling air louvers.

There is bad news and good news on the tracks. According to Al Boone (who is working on one right now) the bad news is that the tracks are too long and must be cut down. The good news is that they are made out of DML's DS 100 glueable vinyl plastic, and so cutting them down is not a problem as it is relatively easy to simply cement them to the wheels when done.

Six different finishing options are provided: s.H.Pz.Jg.Abt. 525 (four variants) and s.H.Pz.Jg.Abt. 560 (two variants).

Overall this an elegant little model and should please many German fans in providing a first-class kit in 1/72 scale.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Friday, July 1, 2005
(Originally written on June 14, 2005)

Kit Review: AFV Club 1/35 scale brass accessories:
Kit No. AF 35086; 8.8 cm L/71 Ammunition.
24 pieces of brass.
Price US $13.98.

Kit No. AF 35087; 8.8 cm L/56 Ammunition.
18 brass pieces, 3 aluminum casings.
Price US $13.98.

Advantages: excellent renditions of German ammunition rounds; turned cases function like originals; variety of ammunition will be appreciated by Tiger fans
Disadvantages: cost prohibitive for anyone wanting to provide a full unit of fire for a model!
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German and artillery fans.

One of the latest "upscale" accessories for armor kits has been the use of turned aluminum or brass ammunition for guns or tanks. AFV Club has been doing it for some time now, and these are their latest products.

The L/71 set is for the later model "long" 8.8 cm guns and will compliment the Flak 43/41, Elefant/Ferdinand, Tiger II, or Hornisse/Nashorn kits. The package provides 12 casings in turned brass and 12 different projectiles – 3 each of four different styles, which apparently include HE-FRAG and AP or APCBC type projectiles.

The L/56 is for the Flak 18 and 36/37 or Tiger I kits. It comes with 9 brass casings and 3 aluminum casings and 9 different rounds – three each of HE-FRAG, APCBC, and HEAT.

The rounds are excellent and only lack the "one upsmanship" feature of DML kits – namely, the etched base with headstamp production data for each round included.

The only drawback is the cost of fully equipping a model with this sort of ammunition – a full up Tiger I would probably add some $142 to the cost of the model!

Overall, it's a nice set and sure to be popular.

Thanks to Miin Herng Tsueng of AFV Club for the review samples.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Friday, July 1, 2005
(Originally written on June 14, 2005)

Kit Review: AFV Club 1/35 Scale Kit No. AF 35088; German 8.8 cm Flak 18 Anti-Aircraft Gun;
388 parts (350 in olive drab styrene, 25 etched brass, 6 tires in black vinyl, 3 brass tubes, 2 sections of brass chain, 1 turned aluminum barrel, 1 roll of clear vinyl tubing).
Price not known but estimated at US $35.98.
Advantages: first kit of this gun in this scale; nicely done job on the Sd.Anh. 201 bogies; operating balancing cylinders on gun mount.
Disadvantages: extremely tiny parts may frustrate some modelers; does not have all of the options of the DML kit, such as optional barrel.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: to all WW II German fans and "Duck Hunters" (ADA fans).

After over 30 years with only one "88" kit on the market, in a matter of weeks two kits have been released to cover the gamut – DML's Flak 36/37 and AFV Club's Flak 18. While the guns were ballistically identical, used the same ammunition, and even had a large number of interchangeable parts, the older Flak 18 always struck me more as the "sports model" of the gun due to the lighter appearance of its Sd. Anh. 201 bogie assemblies.

The Flak 18 was the first version of the new 8.8 cm antiaircraft gun to be produced, and entered production in time to see service in Spain. It was not until later on that the fear of having many antitank guns outmatched by enemy armor protection caused designers to look into armor-piercing rounds for the weapon. (The great advantage that permits an AA gun to be converted to an antitank gun is the fact it needs high muzzle velocity to sling a shell up to a useful altitude to engage aircraft; that is what permits it to fire a relatively heavy AP round at sufficient velocity to defeat armor.)

The Flak 18 received a splinter shield and direct fire sights after Spain, and was used from then on as a dual purpose weapon. Many 18s were rebuilt at some point in their careers with improved Flak 36 components. The gun on display at APG's Ordnance Museum is a Flak 18 that was upgraded in 1942 with a Flak 36 barrel and twin fuse setters, and which was captured in Tunisia in 1943. This gun was highlighted in the captured material manual on the weapon (TM E9-369A dated 29 June 1943).

The kit is a good replica of a slightly upgraded Flak 18 that has been optimized for antiaircraft work as well as antitank work. It has twin fuse setters (the APG one had twin bays but only one setter in its device) and some minor tweaks. The kit only provides the Flak 18 barrel (albeit as an excellent one-piece turned item) so cannot be fully upgraded without a swap. (As an aside, note that APG's Flak 36 was delivered with a Flak 18 barrel. Go figure.)

The kit is about as complex as the DML one so modelers will be happy to learn you don't have to choose one over the other unless you prefer either the 18 or 36; I suspect many will want both. The reason for the difference in parts (388 versus 609) is mostly due to the lack of a crew and a plethora of accessories such as ammo crates and spare rounds.

The kit comes in olive drab, which is an odd choice that AFV Club has selected for some time now to mold their German kits. It's a bit more difficult to cover with paint than the more common DML primer grey styrene or tans as used by Academy and Tamiya, so I have no idea why they choose to use this color for all current kits. Five sprues are new and one is a carryover from the older le FH 18 10.5 cm kit (tools and some sight parts.) All parts are crisply molded in the AFV Club style.

The model offers options, but they are either A or B and no in-betweens. For example, the gun can be either displayed in firing position or march order, but cannot convert from one to the other. Also the shield can be mounted or left off. The gun, however, can be traversed and elevated in firing position, and comes with working elevation balance cylinders (they use a brass sleeve for compensating for the change in length; DML and Tamiya used separate sets for "down" and "up.")

The directions are among the better sets from AFV Club and are actually easy to read, with colors flagged for detail painting vice obscure numbers keyed to the manufacturer's favorite brand of paint. Incidentally, there is a small error in the blurb on the front of the sheet that claims the Flak 18 had no brakes. The Flak 18 did have service and parking brakes, to be sure (the drums for the single wheels are not what one could call subtle!) What it did not have was a lockout for the suspension that would permit it to be fired from march order without a lot of problems.

Marking and painting instructions are included for six different weapons, but are rather generic and somebody wasn't thinking too clearly on reuse. The kit comes with "kill rings" in both black and white, but one set has obvious Eastern Front rings as they note tanks and river barges; this is also listed for one in North Africa! I suggest looking for photos of specific guns.

Overall this is a nice kit and should prove popular, and for once AFV Club did not go head-on-head with DML on a specific weapon.

Thanks to Miin Herng Tsueng of AFV Club for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Friday, July 1, 2005
(Originally written on June 11, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ‘39-‘45 Series No. 6222; Sd.Kfz. 265 kleine Panzerbefehlswagen I 3-in1 kit;
517 parts (445 in grey styrene, 48 etched brass, 24 clear styrene).
Price estimated at US $27.98-33.98.
Advantages: combines two previous kits with new moldings and options, adds 50 parts to previous versions.
Disadvantages: constant releases of slightly varied models may confuse modelers or hurt overall sales.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German modelers.

DML continues to listen to feedback from modelers and reviews and make adjustments to their product line, and one thing which does appear to be popular is the introduction of "Three in One" kits that let the modeler produce one of three different variants of a subject.

This is both good and bad, as in the past DML and other manufacturers have released different variants of a subject as separate kits. It's a good idea when the kits are quite different (e.g. Shermans with 75mm and 76mm guns and turrets) but in some cases can be confusing, where the differences are so minor one wonders why they just didn't put those options all in one kit? The 3-in-1 series does just that.

This kit is based on the previous two Panzer I command tank kits, and upon comparing the kit with my review of Kit No. 6218 I found that DML had added 50 new or different parts to the kit – eight in styrene for the "bedstead" antenna, 23 new etched brass, and the 21 parts that came with the second Panzer I kit (Kit No. 6207, DAK variant) for the clear viewer assemblies. Some sprues have been modified and others replaced.

By and large, however, modelers should be pleased, especially if they have not purchased one of these kits before. The model is excellent, but does come with individual link track that can be tedious to assemble due to its small size. The kit permits building one of three versions: an early command model with the HF "bedstead" frame antenna, a version with light applique armor protection, and a DAK version with extra fuel cans (note: no rack or mounting provisions are provided for these.)

The modeler also has a choice of idler wheels, stern plates, smoke grenades, commander's cupolas, stowage bin, antennas, and external view port covers.

Three finishing options are proferred, one for each variant that can be built from the kit.

Overall this is, as is now common from DML, an excellent if advanced model kit. My personal concern, however, is that with the plethora of variants DML is offering some modelers are now considering waiting for the "ultimate" version of a specific kit or a "3-in-1" variant, and DML may begin hurting their own sales with these variants in profusion.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Friday, July 1, 2005
(Originally written on June 11, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 series Kit No. 6275; Flak Artillery Crew 1943-45;
99 parts (87 in grey styrene, 12 etched brass).
Price between US $8.95-10.95.
Advantages: permits use with any other Flak gun or gun mount; extra arms and heads give figures a "multipose" capability.
Disadvantages: use of winter camouflage smocks and coveralls limits usefulness of figures by season or location.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German Flak artillery fans.

DML has fulfilled my prediction that they would release the gun crew from their new 88 kit separately, and here it is.

In order to make it a bit more useful, DML has included an extra snippet of a sprue with seven extra arms, a pair of seated legs, and two extra heads for modifying the kit's figures to different poses or functions. The directions with artwork by Ron Volstad show how to use them to make loaders, fuse setters, pointers, or other functions from the figures in the set.

The set also includes the styrene ammunition sprues from the 88 kit – four ammo carriers, six loaded and six expended rounds, and the etched brass case base/rim sections with data scribed onto them.

The one drawback to the kit is that the figures are wearing the bulky snow smocks and while the colors may be changed, they limit applicability of the kit to winter months only. Hopefully DML will release a companion summer or tropical set later on, but I suppose in the interim one could use their "Leopold" gun crew to fill in.

Overall the figures are nice and look like, well, Germans. For anyone having the old Tamiya kit this set will immediately give it a boost and correct the one major problem it has had since it came out in 1973 – dwarf-like figures.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Friday, July 1, 2005
(Originally written on June 1, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7249; Leopard 2A4;
118 parts (113 in grey styrene, 2 etched nickel, 2 pre-painted vinyl, 1 section of braided steel wire);
Price about US $10.95.
Advantages: nice, cleanly done kit with plenty of options to match specific user countries' fits; pre-painted tracks (!) something really new.
Disadvantages: no explanation in kit as to which parts go with what variants.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all modern armor fans.

Back in 1987 I read a Russian article that assessed the three main combat threats the Soviets saw in the NATO armies. The Challenger 1 was dismissed out of hand as "quaint" (mind that this was pre-Operation Granby) due to its design, suspension, and two-piece manually loaded rifled gun. The US Abrams was considered a severe threat but not with the 105mm gun. The German Leopard 2, however, scared the daylights out of the Soviets with its 120mm gun and layered armor arrays. (Note that the LeClerc did not even rate a mention!)

The Leo 2 was something else when introduced, and with a 1500 HP diesel engine was the equivalent of the US Abrams in most areas of performance, exceeding it in mileage. Even ADAC, the German auto club, had warnings in its magazine on what to do and what not to do when encountering one on the autobahn. They noted the tank could cruise at 60-70 kph (up to 42 mph) and had brakes sufficient to stop it in less than 75 feet from that speed. They showed a stunt driver tailgating one when it hit its brakes, and the result was a squashed Opel. (They did have a roll cage around the driver!)

Overall, this was a great tank and even in its initial form is a serious battlefield threat. German training films show the gun staying rock steady (with stabilizers engaged) as the tank turns "neutral steer" 360s underneath it. The early models (2A1 to 2A4) were rather chunky vehicles, even with a turret fully as large as a WWII light to medium tank, and most modelers have shown a preference for the later long-barreled 2A5 or uparmored 2A6 with the "wedges" on the front of the turret. However, many NATO countries bought the earlier versions and use them today, including the Poles, Finns, Swedes, Swiss and Dutch.

DML is now offering this version of the tank as part of its "Armor Pro" series kits, which includes new cut molds and more options for a slightly higher pricetag. Among the details are the multitude of "non-skid" plates on the top of the hull for crew safety.

This kit provides two different guns (the shorter original gun and the longer L/55 barrel of the 2A5), two types of engine fans (plus etched brass screens for them), two types of smoke projectors, and training aids such as a Hoffman gunfire simulator and a "whoopie light" on a mast for the rear of the turret. The suspension is a full one with separate road wheel arms, twin wheels (not "siamesed" as with the T-34 kits), and very nicely done skirts.

Many modelers (me in particular) will be very pleasantly surprised that the vinyl tracks come pre-painted – a brownish metallic color with the rubber pads in the Diehl tracks painted black. These look really good and capture the look of tracks with a bit of use (e.g. paint worn off) but not bright rust red.

The model comes with two sets of markings – a very thorough decal sheet and a set of stick-on "exercise" markings for German force-on-force training. These are red Xes and simulate the real thing, which also just stuck on. The kit provides markings for eight German Leo 2A4s to include four in winter camouflage, one Polish, one Swiss, one Finnish, and two Dutch vehicles.

The problem I have is that the directions do not differentiate one tank from another, as I recall they use different smoke projectors and arrangements but all the kit does is indicate "optional" parts and not which vehicles use them. The same goes for the engine deck fan covers (the plastic bases, not the nickel screen). This is a bit of a shame, as the kit is otherwise very nice and complete. (You will need references to check on these details.)

Overall, this is a nice kit and should please a lot of NATO fans.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Friday, July 1, 2005
(Originally written on May 28, 2005)

Kit Review: Trakz Armor Products 1/35 Scale Kit No. TX 0115; Sherman Late Production High Bustle Turret;
Five parts in light creme resin.
Price US $19.98.
Advantages: turret shell nicely done late production 75mm turret with integrated thicker armor
Disadvantages: kit does not provide a loader's hatch; detailing oddly done or applied
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: for all "Shermaholics".

Shermans are not just a modeling subject, they can be a career! Or so it would seem as there are dozens of variants and options for these popular models, and this kit provides a resin shell and detail parts for the last ones produced with integrated applique armor on the front right side of the turret.

The kit provides five parts - locking ring/base to fit on what appears to be a Tamiya M4A3 hull, the shell with many parts cast integrally with it, a separate commander's cupola and hatch, and an M34A1 full width mantelet. As far as these parts go, they are very nicely done and have many of the "bugaboo" parts cast with them such as lifting eyes, the left-hand pistol port, and casting numbers for the cast items. Casting plugs are present but are designed such that removing them is easier than most and cleanup should not damage the castings.

While some reviews complain that the kit should have included a barrel, and other manufacturers do in this price range, that is not as problematic as the fact that this kit provides an open loader's hatch – but no hatch cover. I have tried several hatch covers (as all Sherman fans do I have tried to fit one to it from the spares box, but so far have had no luck from DML, Academy, CMD, Tank Workshop, or MP kit parts.) Also, the commander's hatch is smooth inside and only mimics the Tamiya suggestion of a mount for the commander's viewer.

This is awkward, for one thing most modelers buy "upgrade" or "modification" kits for is a "turn-key" drop fit replacement of the parts in the original kit. When you buy one like this, you expect it to be a replacement for all things which were either poor in the original kit, not provided, or necessary to make the version which the after-market parts purport to change the original kit to the designated model. Trakz provides no directions nor hints as to what to use, nor how to fix the problem. For someone like me with a long history of scratchbuilt or converted projects, this is a minor annoyance, but for many others it makes the conversion kit not worthwhile.

Overall this kit is a nice idea but one that deserves to be a more complete project – and one which should come with some hints or directions to assist less experienced modelers in using it (such as what kit it was designed for, printed right on the box.)

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Friday, July 1, 2005
(Originally written on May 28, 2005)

Kit Review: Academy 1/72 Scale Kit No. 13401; 1/72 WWI Ground Vehicle Set 3, German Fuel Truck & Schwimmwagen;
126 parts (117 in tan styrene, 9 in clear styrene).
Price US $19.
Advantages: another nice "dual purpose" kit from Academy; bomb trolley a handy item; state-of-the-art kit will be appreciated.
Disadvantages: may be viewed as "too aircraft" by armor modelers or "too armor" by aircraft modelers.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all German WWII ground AND air "small scalers".

I recall as a kid reading a book on the RAF that discussed the "sinews of war" or what it took to get things done. Surprisingly it covered little of the support equipment needed to get the job done.

The first inklings of support vehicle equipment showed up in the mid 1960s when Airfix did three nice kits of RAF support equipment – "petrol bowsers," ambulances, cranes, and recovery vehicles, albeit in 1/76 they had to be "fudged" to fit in with 1/72 aircraft. In the early 1970s Hasegawa provided a Hucks starter and fuel tanker for Japanese aircraft in proper 1/72 scale. But other than a few odds and ends, such as the items thrown in with aircraft kits as a "bonus," few dedicated kits were released.

Academy now is continuing with its line of 1/72 WWII Ground Vehicles, primarily designed to complement aircraft models, but which can also be used with 1/72 armor. The first two were a Jeep/Kubelwagen double kit and a very nice US GMC CCKW. This third member of the series, providing a VW Typ 166 Schwimmwagern and an Opel Blitz 4 x 2 3.6 liter configured as a fuel tanker. Also included is a bomb transport and lifting trolley.

The kits are quite detailed, with the Schwimmwagen appearing to be nearly as complex as the original 1/35 scale Tamiya kit from the early 1970s. All of the interior parts are separate, to include a shifter and parking brake handle, and the modeler is given an option on windshields as well – two-piece (clear insert and tan frame) or a one-piece with integral frame (e.g. mask to paint.) It comes with a paddle and eight "jerry" cans as accessories, but the handles on the cans are one piece so the modeler wishing greater detail will have to separate them into three distinct bars (a file or saw and a few minutes each should work.)

The Blitz is a standard chassis, as Academy have already indicated more ground-oriented items will coming such as cargo and troop transport versions. The chassis is, like that of the GMC, quite detailed with all of the springs and the drive shaft as separate parts. The kit also provides a nice engine block and transmission with a separate fan and generator assembly, but then as with the GMC provide no way to see it once assembled. The panels on the sides of the hood will have to be cut off before assembly if the modeler wants to provide a "field service" type of vehicle, especially in a North African setting.

The cab comes with all basic details and a full set of offset (e.g. flush exterior when installed) clear windows. With some care the doors may be cut out and repositioned in the open position, but the kit does not give a great deal of provision for that other than the separation line for the door from the body on the inside of the parts. Headlight lenses are also separate clear parts, and to their credit, for the fumble-fingered among us they provide three with the kit. (It also immediately permits the installation of MV Lenses of suitable size without drilling, a benefit in this scale.)

The tanker body comes with a number of diorama-friendly options, such as separate lids for the service lockers forward and separate rear doors for access to the pump assembly. No hoses or hose material is provided, however.

Decals are provided for only Luftwaffe vehicles, alas, so the modeler is on his own to come up with other branches of service markings. As the tanker is a semi-tactical vehicle (the 4 x 2 types are not as viable off road or in nasty conditions such as Russia) it is probably just as well.

Overall, the vehicles are nicely done and appealing, and Academy may have found a good way to "walk the line" between armor and aircraft modelers.

Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Friday, July 1, 2005
(Originally written on May 28, 2005)

Kit Review: Legend Productions 1/35 Scale Conversion Kit No. LF1101; Sherman M4 Early Conversion Set (Italeri M4A1);
84 parts (83 in cream resin, 1 turned aluminum gun barrel).
Price US $72.95
Advantages: "drop-fit" parts will convert the Italeri M4A1 to a very early production M4 suitable for North Africa
Disadvantages: relatively high cost; somewhat odd finish on hull parts, mediocre directions.
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: To all "Shermaholics".

While most manufacturers of late have fought over the later models of the Sherman tank – the 76mm armed wet stowage models with either VVSS or HVSS suspensions – there are still very few models of the early Shermans around. The only ones which can be found with some regularity are: the Tamiya M4 Early (a standard production dry stowage vehicle, not a really early production one); the DML M4A1 Early (a relatively early M4A1 with 75mm turret without loader's hatch – the so-called "low bustle" model – but later model suspension); and the DML M4A4 kits (as there was no "late model" M4A4, this is pretty much all there was.) The result is that the market is still wide open for the after-market boys to fill in a LOT of gaps.

The result is that there are a lot of kits that have been produced over the last 30 years to use the two most common and accepted Sherman kits as a basis – the 24-year-old Tamiya M4A3 (which is a standard production wet stowage version) and the 31-year-old Italeri M4A1 76mm wet stowage kit.

The latter is a true classic model, as it was the first really good Sherman kit when it came out in 1974. But over the years, most modelers found it to be wanting in a lot of areas: the turret had some shape problems and fit problems, the gun had a bogus "step" in the barrel (caused because the kit's designers mistook an unpainted section of the barrel as a sleeve and not an unpainted section of the barrel), rocking bogies that could not be firmly locked down, relatively inflexible tracks, and truly wimpy tools. But it was pretty accurate in scale, looked better than either the 1956 Revell kit or the Nichimo or Tamiya kits of its day, and has survived to this day.

The upshot was that this kit turned out to be the basis for most of the conversion kits, even after the Tamiya M4A3 kit showed up seven years later. Both companies have made a number of conversions of their own kits, with Italeri offering this kit with different parts as an "M4A2 Jumbo" (actually an early M4A3 76mm), an M4A3 with T34 Calliope, an M32B1 tank recovery vehicle, an M36B1 90mm GMC, and lately an M4A2 USMC version. But under it all are the same basic detail and running gear parts that came out in 1974.

Legend Productions of Korea now offers two conversion kits for creating the very early model M4 tank – "direct vision" viewers in the glacis, flat-back welded hull, three-piece bolted transmission housing, M3 Medium type bogie assemblies, "low-bustle" turret with M34 narrow mantelet gun mount, and a turned aluminum 75mm M3 gun barrel. The first kit, LF1100, is designed to go on the Tamiya M4 Early kit and as such uses many parts from it such as the kit's turret and transmission cover. This kit, LF1101, is a complete kit for converting the Italeri M4A1 to the earliest M4 variant.

The kit provides many of the parts that have to be replaced in the Italeri kit to do just that: new hull with specific details such as hatches and viewers, new transmission cover and bow section, new M2/M3 style bogie units with the return rollers mounted on top, and a complete resin turret assembly with all major components included.

I have seen some comments on the internet that show some reviewers can't read: the directions show two sponson inserts for the LF1100 kit, which is the Tamiya one and as most of us "old hands" know Tamiya rarely includes sponson floors with any kit. Italeri and DML do, and as such the 1101 kit only needs a replacement for the front section once the lower hull is modified to accept the new bow section and rear sections to meet the rectangular hull corners at the rear. On the other hand, at least one reviewer of an LF1100 claimed the kit came without them, so I have no idea if that was a goof or someone at the factory mixed up the 1100 and 1101 kits.

Most of the parts are a good fit, once cleaned up and removed from their casting plugs. The bogies seem a bit soft on detail, which is odd considering resin is usually better at capturing sharp details.

The turret is complete and comes with everything but hand grabs, for which the directions recommend "0.3mm brass wire" (e.g. 0.010-0.015" wire) but which is not provided.

The hull surface has an odd somewhat uneven finish to it as if the master modeler who created the original thought it should be textured. It should be dead smooth, as this hull was welded together from cold rolled steel armor plate and not cast. One suggestion made by Peter Brown and Steve Zaloga, and to which I agree, is that the researchers may have used a museum example with several heavy coats of paint and weathering, which creates the impression of dips or ripples in the surface. They are not there on the original unless it has suffered heavy rusting, such as 50 years in warm salt water. The turret shows a cast surface a bit rougher than what is apparent on most clean examples or from factory photos, so it probably suffered the same fate of multiple paint coats.

One thing I wish Legend had included was a better set of tools for the Sherman as well as some wire and even minor photo etched sheet, as some of the details on the original Italeri kit are poor and need to be replaced with better items. For $73 one would have hoped they had included it, but no such luck.

The directions are where this kit is let down, as they are rather perfunctory and present color photos with a "stick here" type of arrow and number presentation. While they are better than nothing, and at least show where the bits go and have photos of how to recognize them on the casting plugs, for the amount of money charged for this kit they are inexcusable.

There are many other companies that do it better, and Legend should buy some of its competitors' products to see how to do this better. A good case in point is Chesapeake Model Designs, who is probably the best overall at the kits, their presentation, and their directions. Their directions explain what the kit provides and the history of the actual vehicle, suggested kits and parts needed to build an accurate replica, and photos showing how their product goes together. A bit more on the Legend directions and skipping the adverts for two Churchill conversion sets would have been more useful.

As it is, some quick research shows that only a handful of tanks were built to this configuration, and from some comments in the historical texts may have been part of the 2nd Armored Division when it went to North Africa. 20 of them were transferred to the 1st Armored Division, which otherwise seems to have been equipped with either M3 mediums or early model M4A1 tanks. Steve Zaloga in his book on "The M4 Sherman at War" from Concord (#7001) has a photo of two M4 Early Models from F Company, 2nd Battalion 1st Armored Regiment, Combat Command C, 1st Armored Division, matching the version which this kit provides knocked out near Sidi Salem, Tunisia.

To create a model of these tanks you need the Italeri kit, the Legend kit, a set of T51 irreversible rubber block track (such as RHPS) and a set of yellow stars and stripes for marking the vehicles. Steve provides a color broadside of one of these tanks on page 33 of that book, but coming up with the weathered "mud and clay" over olive drab camouflage coloring will be interesting at best!

Overall this is a pretty good and thorough kit, but the manufacturer needs to take into consideration not everyone who buys it has a vast library or is a Sherman fan with a wide variety of parts to pick and choose from to complete the kit.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on April 23, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6255; M4A3 (76) W VVSS Sherman Battle of the Bulge;
1,408 parts (1,368 in grey styrene, 20 etched brass, 15 clear styrene, 2 turned aluminum, 2 turned brass, 1 braided steel wire).
Price estimated at US $32-34.
Advantages: clean kit of standard production M4A3 with tons of optional parts; two complete figure sets thrown in for good measure.
Disadvantages: tracks will give some modelers fits.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all US Armor Fans and "Shermaholics".
F I R S T   L O O K.

Without a doubt one of the top US commanders at brigade and below levels during World War II was Creighton Abrams. As commander of the 37th Tank Battalion of the 4th Armored Division, he established an enviable reputation as a tank battalion commander and also as a "lead by example" tank commander. He was reportedly one of the top-scoring US tankers of WWII if not the top scorer, and the 37th was generally accepted as the top US armor battalion in Europe.

Abrams named all of his tanks "Thunderbolt" and numbered them as he went through the series of tanks issued to him. Of all his tanks probably "Thunderbolt IV," an M4A3 76mm standard production Sherman with VVSS used in the fall of 1944, and "Thunderbolt VII", an M4A3E8 which he used as a combat command commander at the end of the war, are probably the best known. As with many of the 37th's tanks, "Thunderbolts" had a large cartoon cloud with three lightning bolts painted on its sides along with the name and number in the sequence.

In keeping with their recent series of late war tanks, DML has now issued a kit that may be built up as "Thunderbolt IV" during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. It is based on their recent new molding M4A2 Russian Army kit and uses some of the same sprues from that model but with a number of changes and new parts added.

The kit includes the "B" or turret sprue from the M4A2 kit but now adds an "H" sprue that provides the oval hatch for the loader as well as a built-up version of the early M4A3 standard production radiator air deflector that goes above the engine exhausts.

While the number of parts listed may be mind-numbing, most of them relate to the tracks. 684 are the set of tracks provided with the latest version of the M4A4 /Sherman V/VC Firefly kit and come with a set of extended end connectors. Since those tracks have the incorrect (for this version) British-style steel chevron track, the kit also comes with 192 T48 rubber chevron blocks. These are the ones for use with the American tracks used on this model, and the modeler now has a choice of with or without extended end connectors.

DML's three-piece scale US medium tank tracks are not popular with many modelers, and I myself have to state up front that assembling them correctly and neatly can be an 8 to 12 hour chore. If you don't want to use them, but still want single link tracks, I suggest spending the $16-18 for a set of RHPS tracks that can be put together in less than two hours. There are few offerings of vinyl T48 track around, and most of them require buying another kit first so get expensive to use. I do not recommend the Fruil or Model Kasten "working" tracks as they take even longer to assemble.

I put them together as "semi-working" by cementing one end connector to one end fo a link and then inserting a second link in place, and then trapping it by gluing the other end connector in place. I use a small homemade jig for this, making up sets of ten and letting them dry before joining them. If done correctly they do flex and also permit painting and installing them after the model is completed.

The model offers a choice of "mid-production" or "late-production" suspension units, the difference between them being a "straight" return roller mount with pillow blocks to lift the roller or an "upswept" mount as found on late-production VVSS tanks. It also comes with either "spoke" welded road wheels or "cast" road wheels – actually a pressed steel disk welded in place – with detail on both sides.

There are other options too – either the kit styrene gun barrel may be used or a turned aluminum substitute is provided; the kit also provides a "pre-bored" one-piece muzzle brake or a thread saver fitting for the end of the barrel from turned aluminum. Two turned brass rounds, one HE and one AP, are also included.

The kit also comes with the clear styrene components for the lights, vision ports and the commander's cupola; if you use them in that light, paint the internal (bottom) ends with a dark color (black, blue or green, based on preference) and let the normal effects of a prism take affect. Personally I have used the trick of exposed film strips glued to the lens portion since I picked it up from Ben Cliche and Steve Zaloga, as well as MV Lenses for the headlights. Still, it gives the modeler some finishing options.

Some things have not changed, such as the fact that the suspension is still based on the 30+ year old Italeri M4A1 kit, and while much better detailed and more accurate still suffers from "rocking" bogies as it is hard to solidly lock them up. Also, even after comments from myself and Steve Zaloga among others, the weld beads are still recessed, rather than flush with the top of the hull, creating an unrealistic "trench."

Since this is a "Bulge" tank, DML has also thrown in two figure sets – No. 6054, the US Army Europe Tank Crew with five figures, and No. 6163, 101st Airborne at Bastogne 1944. They account for another 156 parts in the box. One of the figures can be made to approximate Abrams, as he wore an M1 helmet shell over the normal tanker helmet, and one figure that comes with that configuration (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B11, B13, B20) which the directions suggest should be a sergeant can get a "battlefield promotion" to lieutenant colonel!

The kit offers six different finishing options: "Thunderbolt IV" from 37th Tank Battalion, December 1944; 4th Tank Battalion, 1st Armored Division, St. Lucia, Italy 1944; 760th Tank Battalion, 5th US Army, Italy 1945; 761st Tank Battalion (The "Black Panthers"), Task Force Rhine, Germany 1945; Pzkw. M4 748(a), Aschafenberg, Germany 1945; and 714th Tank Battalion, 12th Armored Division, Germany 1945. Note that the 761st was a black unit, one of two manned by African-Americans that saw combat duty during WWII (and the subject of a recent book by Kareem Abdul-Jabar dedicated to a good friend of his father's when he was growing up.) Of these tanks, I think only "Thunderbolt IV" was fitted with the extended end connectors for its tracks; the directions do not provide any indication.

Overall, this is a nicely done kit and one with a ton of parts and possibilities. (Note that once you open the box, you can't get all the parts back in it!) Once you get into the rhythm of track assembly, the tracks aren't as much of a bugaboo either, and add to the realistic look of the finished model.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

New info from Steve Zaloga:

One major point: Thunderbolt IV should be Thunderbolt VI. This mistake is based on my 12 year old drawing, but I've got better info since then (and I've illustrated the tank properly for example in the Osprey Warrion "US Tanker"). Abrams tanks in the ETO were:

Thunderbolt V, his M4 in France (a reworked early M4 with DV )

Thunderbolt VI, the M4A3 (76mm) which Brig. Gen. Bruce Clarke forced on Abrams in the refit in Oct 44 after the Lorraine campaign as Clarke knew that if Abrams wouldn't use the new type, nobody else would.

Thunderbolt VII, the M4A3E8 which he got during the refit after the Ardennes campaign in late Jan 45."

Hope that clears up who's who!

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on May 12, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit Number 6260; 88mm Flak 36 w/Flak Artillery Crew.
609 parts (561 in grey styrene, 34 etched brass, 8 turned aluminum, 3 turned brass, 1 length copper chain, 1 length steel chain, 1 length vinyl tubing).
Price not known but estimated at US $34-38.
Advantages: "in your face" kit of this popular weapon; state-of-the-art molding and research; many useful accessories; decent new "full-size" crew (see text)
Disadvantages: very complex kit requires very careful study of parts, especially with the components of the Sd.Ahn. 202 gun carriage bogies
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all WWII German fans as well as all "duck hunters" (Air Defense Artillery)
F I R S T    L O O K

There is arguably no other gun on the planet that is as famous – or infamous – as the German 8.8 cm FlaK 36 antiaircraft gun. Legendary as the "Kraut 88" (which nearly every American soldier in Europe or North Africa claims shot at him) this was one of the handiest and most useful weapons in the German arsenal. Designed as an antiaircraft gun, the power to sling a shell up to nearly 25,000 feet (8,000 meters) also enabled it to propel an antitank projectile through nearly any tank built during the Second World War.

The origins of the 88 stem from German joint projects carried out during the 1920s when Germany was proscribed from building armaments. They instead carried out "scientific" projects which saw the development of the 3.7 cm PaK 36 antitank gun with the Soviets and a 7.5 cm AA gun with Bofors of Sweden. This was a purpose-built weapon from Krupps on a cruciform carriage that used single wheel bogies front and rear in march order, and unfolded two legs to the sides when emplaced. The simple yet effective carriage design permitted 360 traverse and elevation up to 85 degrees, both of which permitted the effective tracking and engagement of aircraft of the day. But in 1930 the gun was rejected by the German War Office as it was not sufficient for the needs they saw in the future.

In 1931 Krupps and Bofors returned to the design of an antiaircraft gun, and essentially scaled up their 7.5 cm effort to 8.8 cm. This threw a projectile 43% heavier to a slightly lower altitude (8000 meters vice 9000 for the 7.5 cm) but was more effective due to the larger fragment pattern of the heavier shell. The carriage was more sophisticated with controls and adjustments to level the carriage before firing, and the gun also had a semi-automatic breech with flip-out loading tray. This gun was adopted as the 8.8 cm FlaK 18 soon after the Nazis came to power in 1933. The FlaK 18 was used in Spain with good effect; later it was joined by its replacement on the production lines, the 8.8 cm FlaK 36 which began production in 1936.

The FlaK 36 did not differ greatly from the FlaK 18, and in point of fact many parts were interchangeable. The barrels from the Flak 18 and FlaK 36 were interchangeable (although the latter was of a superior design with replaceable liner). The carriages were slightly different with the FlaK 18's Sd.Anh. 201 using a single front wheel and dual rear wheels, and the FlaK 36's Sd.Anh. 202 using duals front and rear. This provided it a bit better cross-country mobility. Standard tractor for these guns was the Sd.Kfz. 7 8-ton halftrack, configured to carry the crew and a large number of ready rounds in four-round cases.

While the FlaK 18 and FlaK 36 were dual-purpose weapons – fitted with AA and direct fire sights, and occasionally gun shields for crew protection, the FlaK 37 was a more sophisticated version dedicated strictly to antiaircraft tasks. Overall more than 11,000 88s were built between 1933 and 1945.

The 88 came into sharp prominence during the invasion of Russia in 1941 when the Germans found to their horror it was the only gun capable of stopping the Soviet KV-1 and KV-2 heavy tanks, and not always with reliable penetration. New projectiles were fielded, and by the time of the major battles in North Africa the Germans knew the full capabilities of the gun and what it could do to tanks. The gun's ballistics were also used in the creation of the 8.8 cm KwK 56 gun used in the Tiger I tank.

While later guns such as the FlaK 41 were considered the best of the 88mm weapons, the FlaK 36/37 are the ones most people think about when they think 88.

In 1973 Tamiya released a then-stunning kit of the FlaK 36/37 with a full crew and a BMW motorcycle for good measure. For a then pricey cost of $10.98, this was the 1973 Kit of the Year, hands down. But time has rolled on, and this kit is still 1973 vintage and it shows. Details are soft or too thick (such as the gunshield) and the Sd.Anh. 202 bogies are attached with bolts and nuts. To top it off, the crew that seemed so good then now shows up to be a bunch of stocky 5'2" dwarves.

Happily, DML has now released a brand-new ground up kit of the famous 88 and it is stunning to say the least. DML has lately pioneered the way in providing a variety of options, and this kit is no exception. It comes with a total of four gun barrels – two aluminum, two styrene – to provide the options for either a Flak 18 or Flak 36 barreled weapon. The kit can be built with or without gunshield, and that is only the start.

The box is "packed with vitamins" as they used to say – 20 sprues, a cardboard sheet with the decals, etched brass and highlighted parts, and a small case with the turned aluminum and brass parts. These include either aluminum or styrene balance cylinders, both for travel (zero elevation) or operational (high angle elevation) settings. The loading tray, seats, stakes, jack pads, and other elements all provide a choice between march order and combat order display. This is a much more sophisticated kit than the Tamiya one, and the parts are far more accurate in scale and representation of the original parts (I just shot photos last year of the Ordnance Museum's Flak 18 and Flak 36 for a fellow modeler, so am familiar with all of the "bits" on them.)

The kit does not come with vinyl tires but "hard" styrene ones; as they have a "street" pattern to match the originals, each tire consists of two sidewalls and three inner sections with offsets to create tread depth.

The majority of the assembly steps cover the two Sd.Anh. 202 bogies, and there are just enough differences to make life miserable if you mess up. The directions appear clear but you must take your time and pay attention. Also the bogies are attached more like the actual carriage (look Ma, no bolts) so the modeler will have to be patient.

The crew are new and well done in the now traditional DML standard, but are in the winter "snowsuits" which may cause some problems for modelers who want a more generic crew. (For those of you stuck with the Tamiya "dwarves" DML is going to offer this kit separately as No. 6275, but then you are still stuck with the Tamiya gun at the end of the day.)
No crew weapons are provided, but the stereoscopic rangefinder is a six-piece accessory.

The model comes with three turned brass 88 rounds, as well as six full and six empty styrene ones; end caps are all etched bras with headstamp markings on them. A total of eight ammo cases – four wood crates and four wicker cases – are included with the kit.

Finishing directions are provided for a total of six different pieces, covered on two decal sheets: U/I, North Caucasus 1942; "Herman Goering" Division, Sicily 1943; U/I, Stalingrad 1942; 10th Panzer Division, Tunisia 1943; 18th Luftwaffe Flak Regiment, Lybia 1941; and "Grossdeutschland" Division, Eastern Front 1943. The gun shield for the "Herman Goering" gun is provided with decals in the sheets included with the kit.

Overall this kit is a true state-of-the-art piece and one that will be a star in many dioramas – even out of the box it is an impressive model. Now the question I hear most is – "Is DML going to do a new 8-tonner to match it?" Well, that's not my call!

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on May 11, 2005)

Kit Review: Academy 1/35 Scale Kit No. 13011; U. S. Airborne Tank M551 Sheridan.
331 parts ( 328 in dark green styrene, 2 in steel colored vinyl, 1 section of nylon screen).
Retail price US $38.
Advantages: clean, modern kit of this popular subject; most major flaws in earlier kits corrected; finally a Sheridan that LOOKS like a Sheridan.
Disadvantages: some shortcuts on details; builds only one version of the vehicle in Vietnam service but directions do not indicate that.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: to all US armor fans, especially of Vietnam to Desert Storm interests
F I R S T   L O O K

It doesn't seem to fail that whatever sprang to life during the tenure of Robert S. McNamara as the US Secretary of Defense sounded good on paper but wound up being a lemon without a lot of reworking. The USAF and Navy got the F-111, the Army and Marines got the AR15 cum M16, and the Army alone got the Sheridan.

The US Army, in its search for a new light tank in 1959, wanted something that could be air droppable and also able to swim (e.g. very light weight) but able to defeat any main battle tank on the battlefield. New generation aluminum alloy armor solved the first problem, but the designers turned to a new concept – a six-inch missile launcher firing from a closed breech, whose HEAT warhead would easily penetrate 500-750mm of armor. The prototypes which appeared in 1962 took another three years to mature into what was then called the M551 Airborne Amphibious Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle or AAARV for short. The name given to it was Sheridan, after Union Major General "Little Phil" of Civil War fame.

The tank was not what it seemed. The cast aluminum hull was coated with styrofoam for buoyancy and all of that was sheathed in riveted aluminum sheeting. All around the edge of the hull was a rubber cover that folded back to reveal a folding nylon wading screen little different than that used by the WWII British-designed Duplex Drive tanks. The turret was rolled homogenous steel armor, mounting the 152mm launcher (quickly turned into a gun-launcher by the addition of HE-FRAG and cannister rounds with combustible cases, which later turned out to be one of the Achilles' Heels of the Sheridan) and a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. A 12.7mm M2HB was mounted on the commander's cupola.

It is said that no plan survives first contact, and in 1967 the US Army deployed the Sheridan not to Europe, where it was designed to swim rivers like the Rhein and Elbe and dispatch Soviet T-62 and T-10M tanks, but Vietnam, where it was used as mobile fire support by armored cavalry units. The missile guidance system (the box above the gun) was removed, usually sealed then with bright green "100-mph tape." The tank used mostly the HE-FRAG and cannister rounds, which caused a lot of problems for gunners.

The tank's "gun" was designed as a missile launcher first and a gun second. Ergo, while launching the missile was more akin to firing a six-inch torpedo (the missile was ejected by a gas propellant charge, with the motor igniting several meters in front of the tank.) The resulting kick from firing even a relatively low powered shell caused the vehicle to violently buck, often pulling the first two or even three road wheel sets off the ground. The joke was you could always spot a Sheridan gunner from the scar tissue over his right eye (if he did not prepare himself when he fired, the kick would smack the sight into his head just below the CVC helmet.)

Originally the Sheridan came with a rather wimpy "luggage rack" on the back of the turret, but most units in Vietnam soon modified it to suit themselves. Probably the most useful full-fledged bustle rack design came from the 11th ACR, as all three squadrons had Sheridans and they wanted some measure of standardization. Later, when the 4/73rd Armor with the 82nd Airborne Division was the only US Army unit left with the M551 in service, they also created a design for a standardized turret bustle rack.

As commanders also tended to have a high casualty rate in Vietnam, many started using the armored shields from M113 APC armor sets. Later, a factory-designed "crow's nest" was created to provide armor protection for the commander when using the M2HB gun. This has a folding panel in the back for the commander to sit on during road movements in adminstrative order as well as assist in access to the hatch when loading ammunition.

The M551, later upgraded as an A1 with a laser rangefinder, soldiered on into the 1990s. Today the few remaining Sheridans serve as OPFOR surrogate vehicles at NTC in California, but are rapidly leaving the inventory.

The Sheridan has so far been very ill served as a model. Other than one 1/76 scale kit from Airfix, the only others were a motorized effort from Tamiya in the early 1970s (kit number
3031/MT131) and a clone of that kit from the early days of Academy which appeared in the US around 1990 (#1307). Both were dreadful, as Tamiya basically designed the kit to use 1/35 scale parts around a 1/32 scale hull in order to fit a standard motorization pack to it. The result was totally out of scale to begin with, but to make matters worse, even though the Sheridan had been in production for more than eight years when the kit came out in 1973, it was based on some of the prototype features with a totally inexplicable grating covered hull top.

About nine years ago I attempted to turn one of each into a Vietnam Sheridan and its modern M551A1 82nd Airborne version, but the kits were so bad and the work so extensive I could only manage to get one model out of the two kits (and a LOT of styrene sheet and strip.)

In the meantime Legends of Korea released a full-up resin kit of the Sheridans (one of each) with injection molded wheels and track links. However, while they did offer the running gear separately the kit was extremely expensive for such a relatively small vehicle.

Now Academy has just released a new injection molded kit of the Sheridan and first and foremost I must point out THIS IS NOT A RE-RELEASE OF KIT #1307!!! Academy has totally redone it from the ground up, and the result is an excellent kit.

Academy selected one of the Vietnam standard production Sheridans with production gun with the "smooth" barrel, "crow's nest" armor for the commander, and the 11th ACR bustle rack as their kit subject. In point of fact, the only item missing from the kit is the belly mine-resistant armor which units called for almost immediately after taking the Sheridan out in the "bush." I am not sure of when it was issued but the 11th ACR and others were using it at least by 1970.

The kit provides the basics for a great model, but some items were skimped over in order to make a reasonably produceable kit. One point concerns the road wheels, which have a very annoying lip around the rims (a sure dust and mud magnet) wherease the kit provides them as simple dished wheels. The tracks are a bit thin and light on details (the originals are very close pitch, so in all honesty there isn't much to see) but at least they are detailed inside and out unlike the second-generation kits.

There is a large hole in the belly but it is NOT a motorization hole; this is the vehicle's belly escape hatch (which the belly armor leaves a cutout for, figuring that the center of the hull is not as likely as the bow or sides to suffer mine effects.)

The details are neatly done and the kit provides all of the basic components for the Vietnam version. However, it does not provide the "luggage rack" but only the 11th ACR-built bustle rack. Considering the finishing options, this is unfortunate, for at least two of the vehicles chosen for finishing did not have this rack ("Hard Core 7" and "Canary Cage"; the latter is odd as it was a 2/11 ACR vehicle photographed in 1969).

One nice touch is the provision of buckles and strap tiedowns on the C (suspension) sprues, which will be very handy items for modelers to use. These vehicles were stuffed to the gunnels with kit, so the bustle rack begs to be filled. The model only provides a few ammo cans and two each water (metal) and drinking water (plastic) 5-gallon cans though.

Oddly the AN/VSS-3 searchlight is missing its lens, and therefore the modeler will have to either come up with a lens from clear styrene or acetate sheet or simply "tarp it up" with tissue paper to simulate canvas (most common in the Vietnam era photos.)

Overall this kit IS a Sheridan and I don't doubt that the after-market boys will jump at the chance to provide better marking options (with bumper codes, something chronically missing from Academy kits) and metal details for purists such as the wheel rim lips. But it's a great place to start and should be a popular model. I also hope they plan on an A1 with the wide variety of 82nd Airborne markings (Grenada, Panama and Kuwait all come to mind) or perhaps a VISMOD from NTC.

Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC/Academy for the review sample.

Please note the company producing the resin kit from Korea was Jaguar, not Legends.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on May 7, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Series No. 7260; Sd.Kfz. 167 StuG IV Late.
126 parts (124 in grey styrene, 2 in tan DS plastic).
Price about US $8.95.
Advantages: very clean and "modeler friendly" kit; nice selection of features and options; amazing structure on wheel assembly; separate tools and OVM.
Disadvantages: no brass included, tiny parts not beloved by all modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all late war German fans.

Just the other night I was watching the "Last Days of WWII" series on the History Channel and marveling that somebody recently found color German newsreels of the Wehrmacht digging in to defend the Seelowe Heights from the Soviets. One of the vehicles they had color shots of in a late-war three color scheme was the relatively rare late model StuG IV.

The StuG IV was an odd duck, created in the summer of 1943 to meet German needs after a heavy bombing of the Alkett factory basically ended production of the StuG III. The Germans mounted the casemate of the StuG III on the standard Pzkw. IV chassis to create the vehicle. While some could argue that it didn't make much sense to create a limited traverse vehicle carrying the same weapon as a tank, the Germans used their StuG weapons for different functions and purposes. It also provided them with at least parts compatibility with their primary tank of the period.

1,108 StuG IV vehicles were built new between December 1943 and March 1945 plus 31 conversions from Pzkw. IV tanks; while the Nibelungenwerke produced the converted Pzkw. IV models , Krupp produced only StuG IV vehicles after January 1944. The vehicles used Ausf. H chassis until July 1944 and then changed over to the Ausf. J chassis. The model depicts one of the later models with the J hull and twin exhausts.

DML has done a beautiful job with this kit, and it is another example of the moldmaker's art. The model comes with separate OVM, hatches, engine access hatch, and a rough-out 7.5 cm gun. The gun has DML's now traditional pre-bored muzzle brake (done by sliding a pin through the sprue runner when molding.)

For ease of painting tiny wheels, DML has really exceeded themselves. Each wheel set comes molded as one pair with the disk part molded separately; the modeler can thus paint the tire section black and then camouflage the centers, resulting in an easy and clean method of getting the wheels painted. A Plus for that one!

Tracks are the new DS plastic gluable vinyl, one section type, so many modelers will be happy not to wrestle with link-and-length units here.

The directions are not for beginners, as many steps appear to be assumed, such as how to assemble the road wheel bogies.

The model does not come with any brass parts or Schuertzen shields, so some modelers may be unhappy that they have been left out.

Finishing options are sparse; two vehicles are given with only "Balkenkreuz" markings, one in Yugoslavia Spring 1945 and one in Germany 1945. Based on the one seen on TV, however, they do not appear to have gotten too many fancy markings at that stage of the war.

Overall this kit is a gem, and will please many small-scale fans.

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on May 7, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Series No. 7255; Maus Heavy Tank.
163 parts (155 in grey styrene, 4 in etched brass, 2 in tan DS 100 plastic; 2 in grey vinyl).
Price estimated as between US $11-14.
Advantages: nice state-of-the-art kit of this vehicle; provides both test and production turrets; crew of two included.
Disadvantages: entering a market with at least two other competitors plus resin kits.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For German fans or fans of the Kubinka Museum.

The Maus – one of the most bizarre offshoots of "just because we can" thinking – has been a popular subject with modelers for years due to the over-the-top design placed in the vehicle. Even the name shows that the Germans themselves had a sense of humor about a vehicle so large no reasonable local bridge in Europe could effectively support it, so it had to be designed to ford from the beginning. Weighing in at 188 metric tons (or 207 short tons) it does hold the record as the biggest tank ever built.

DML did a very nice job of a 1/35 version of the Maus some years back, but this kit does not appear to be a pantographed version of that kit. It is a new kit in its own right, and has some nice touches. It comes with DS 100 tan glueable vinyl tracks, so many will be happy they do not have to do single-link tracks on this kit. All of the road wheels are separate as are their bogies.

The model comes with the usual nice DML touches, such as essential brass screens and a vinyl crew of two in casual poses. But it also comes with a choice of the "production turret" as found on the V2 survivor at Kubinka with coaxial 12.8 cm and 7.5 cm guns, both of which come with the now-traditional DML pre-drilled bores, and the option of the V1 test turret weight block used on the prototypes. That is complemented with a VIP access ladder for the side of the vehicle as well, made from a single section of etched brass.

This is open and has no interior, so not sure whether it was like that or this is just a case of DML giving the modeler what it had information on at the time and not making things up as some other companies have done over the years. One of the better known photos of the V1 Maus shows a man walking around inside the weight mockup, so it may have had a temporary deck of some sort installed in there.

The model actually offers three different finishing schemes: one for a Maus about the time of the Seelowe Heights, one for Berlin 1945 with simulated kill marks, and one for the V1 tank at Kummersdorf Testing Grounds in 1945 with hastily applied Soviet stars. The markings are off of a pretty good size sheet with two sets of numbers and many other detail markings for the kit. All are pretty much hypothetical except for the test model. The only confirmed paint color anyone really has for this tank is the Soviet Protective Green ("Khaki No. 2") color the V1 with V2 turret (or according to the Soviet records, this is what they have) is currently painted in at Kubinka.

Overall, this is a good "complete the collection" kit and I am sure many modelers will use one or the other hypothetical schemes. One could do the Kubinka green scheme with a note "for sale, cost US $5 million, inquire within" which is what the Soviets were rumored to have told the German government when they asked if they could get it back!

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on May 7, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale Modern Series No. 3534; M1 Panther II Mine Detection and Clearing Vehicle.
527 parts (299 in grey styrene, 165 "Magic Track" links, 45 etched brass, 12 clear styrene, 2 large steel chain sections, 1 medium copper chain, 2 sections of white styrene sheet, 1 steel twisted cable).
Price estimated at US $34.
Advantages: gorgeous new moldings provide most accurate M1 hull anywhere; very well done mine roller attachment; nice selection of options permit greater detailing.
Disadvantages: somewhat obscure vehicle may not be popular
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all US and modern armor fans.

The Soviets were probably the first ones to figure out that the natural enemy of the tank is the mine, as it comes at it from beneath and is virtually impossible to armor a tank effectively to stop it. Thus, even in the 1930s they were experimenting with mine clearing devices to deal with this threat. They tried rollers, rakes, plows and solid steel wheel "trawls" but in the end the latter proved most useful as it was the hardest to destroy, easiest to repair, and able to clear the most mines for the amount of effort used. It also permitted the tanks to clear the mines at speeds of up to 15-20 kph, and thus escort convoys or lead attacking formations.

The US futzed around with them but did not really come up with a good answer, the closest being the unwieldy "Aunt Jemimah" roller assembly for the M4 Sherman or M31 recovery vehicle. Even after the war, the US concentrated on plows and rakes.

The M1 Abrams tank changed the dynamics of the battlefield, as it was a fast tank with great capabilities. Needless to say, fitting M1s with mine plows and rakes as was done in the Gulf War took away much of that speed, as they could now only clear mines at the slow speeds of years past. The solution, drawn from other countries (such as the Israeli Defense Force and the Soviets) was to go back to heavy cast wheels on rollers.

While many of the proposed family of M1 based combat vehicles – such as the tank recovery version, heavy assault bridge launcher, and the Grizzly engineer obstacle clearing vehicle – were either not accepted or went into obeyance due to the drawdown in heavy forces in favor of lighter armored "units of action" one of the few that did is the Panther II mine clearer. Not truly a "mine detection vehicle" (it finds mines by striking them with the rollers or "tilt fuse" mines with the heavy "dogbone" on a chain between the roller units) it is a good high speed route clearing vehicle. Only a relative handful have been built; from what I understand most are from M1 chassis upgraded to M1A1 or M1A2 standards and fitted with the roller assembly.

Operation is simple. The rollers float free in their operating position, and are very heavy cast structures fitted to a heavy floating cradle firmly attached to the front of the tank chassis. When the rollers go over a magnetic or pressure detonated mine , it detonates, tossing the roller assembly up in the air. Unless the blast is more than the vehicle can stand (e.g a 500 kilogram bomb rigged as a mine) the rollers fly up, stop, and come back down onto the road with minimal damage. Soviet experiences were that each set of rollers is good for anywhere from 5 to 15 mine detonations of antitank mines (antipersonnel don't count) before the assemblies need replacing. For high speed movement, the rollers can be lifted up and locked in "travel" position, held there with either chains or cables.

DML has done a beautiful job on this vehicle as they are using it to introduce a totally retooled M1 hull. This hull is by far the best one going as it is accurate, now includes the non-skid finish on the upper hull, and now has the most accurate hull rear of any kit. Each of the exhaust grilles are now see-through styrene moldings (as they are flat bar grilles, an etched part cannot capture the details of these grilles correctly) and the rear doors are also able to be displayed opened or closed. The same goes for the engine deck.

Details include add-on brass strips and the first correct tail light guards in any M1 kit that I know of. The fuel filler covers can be displayed open or closed, as can the side armor. DML also includes two sections of styrene sheet to form sponson box floors on the underside of the fenders for those who do choose that option, a first on any M1 kit.

Most of the brass parts are designed to go on top of the side shield sections, as that is apparently still not economically feasible for molding, but as it is relatively painless (e.g. no bending required) most modelers will probably not complain.

The kit comes with DML's "Magic Track" replicating the "Big Foot" style pads, but this will be popular as it comes nearly ready to use and simply snaps together. (One section of sprue must be clipped off and the zit remaining filed flush.) There are two ejection pin marks on the inside face, but many modelers will simply ignore that. If you don't, they are at least of the "proud" type and not sunken, so will clean up pretty easily.

Finishing options and details are provided for four different vehicles serving in various places: 54th Engineer Battalion (130th Engineer Brigade), Bamberg, Germany; 54th in Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedon, 2003; 9th Engineer Battalion (1st Infantry Division), Operation Iraqi Freedom II, 2004; and one from KFOR in Kosovo.

Overall this is a very well done kit and one that is not as difficult to put together as others. The main problem for DML now is, will the new hulls be used in their other M1 kits (even as good as those kits are, they just embarrassed them with this one) and will they come up with a new turret to match?

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on April 23, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6223; Sd.Kfz. 251/7 Ausf. D "3 in 1".
1,117 parts (805 in grey styrene, 224 EZ Track links, 33 in grey DS plastic, 22 etched brass, 9 in tan DS plastic, 8 brass grab irons, 8 clear styrene, 5 turned brass, 2 chrome stickers, 1 length of nylon string).
Price estimated at US $34.
Advantages: very full box offers a bewildering variety of options for completing the vehicle; many, many accessories and finishing options.
Disadvantages: Sd.Kfz. 251 family beginning to overwhelm modelers with variety and options, may be self-limiting in the long run due to confusion or too many "niche" variants.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German WWII fans or friends of the "picks and shovels".
F I R S T    L O O K

The Germans were among the first modern armies to realize that combined arms meant just that – all of the branches of the army working in unison for a common goal were more effective than each branch performing its separate mission. (For comparison, the Soviets considered "combined arms" to be tank and motorized rifle units, period.) As they either mechanized or motorized their forces, they created specialized vehicles for the combat support arms to ensure direct support to their combat arms troops in the field.

The specialized engineer version of the Sd.Kfz. 251 halftrack, the Stroke 7 variant, provided their combat engineers (sappers) with a way to move forward in support and carry all of the necessary kit for a given mission with them. This vehicle carried two small footbridges for crossing ditches and trenches, various mines and explosives, hand-held flamethrowers, mine detectors, pioneer tools and other essential items needed to carry out combat missions. Most units quickly added planks to the bridge carrying frames to provide extra stowage for more items outside of the body of the vehicle. Most of the conversions, also called Geraet 907, were made to Ausf. C and D production vehicles.

DML released a C model of this vehicle a few months back, and now the more popular D body style has also been produced as a kit. Here DML has outdone itself, for the new version of this vehicle comes with a total of 132 new parts as well as the complete figure set #6024 of combat engineers, as well as the 10th Anniversary DML upgrade sprue for German figure sets. Many of the parts are in the new DS plastic cross between vinyl and styrene, and cover the mines, fuses, detonators, carry packs, wire and detonating machines, etc. carried by combat engineers. (One could wonder how all of that will fit into the finished model!)

This kit comes with most of the "goodies" that DML has been including with their kits over the past year, such as etched brass, EZ Track (track links off the sprue ready to assembly). DS driver figure, and turned brass details. It also comes with the complete upper carriage of the schwere Panzerbusche 41 – "Gerlich" gun – as an option.

This line of kits has proven to be popular and for the current price tag it is very hard to beat. Modelers need not be intimidated by the huge number of parts, for about half of them are optional or replace other parts as necessary.

The kit comes with four decal sheets (!) consisting of instrument panel dials, a number jungle, a standard sheet with numbers and license plates, and a divisional markings sheet. Finishing instructions are provided for no less than nine Stroke 7 machines in France, Italy and the Russian front. One is in white, two are in Panzerbraun, and the rest sport two and three color camouflage patterns. Care will have to be taken during construction to ensure the right options are used for these variants; note that DML has sorted them into three groups (ergo the "3 in 1" kit moniker on the box top) and provides instructions for general assembly of each group. Six are Group 1(Pioneerpanzerwagen), one is Group 2 (Pioneerpanzerkommandowagen), and three are in Group 3 (Pioneerpanzewagen mit 2.8u cm sPzB 41).

Overall this is another stunner from DML and an amazing kit value for what the model offers. I only hope all of the variants – after 30 years of a very poor C variant and 15 years of either a Stroke 1 with rockets or a Stroke 22 with 7.5 cm Pak 40 – are not confusing the modelers in the shops to the detriment of DML's sales.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on April 23, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7294; HMMWV 1 + 1 Kit (M1025 HMMWV with ASK plus M1025 HMMMV);
174 parts (154 in grey styrene, 10 in clear styrene, 8 in grey vinyl, 2 in etched brass).
Price US $10.95.
Advantages: very nicely done kits and equal of any others in any other scale; clever molding makes getting good fit with windows not a problem.
Disadvantages: differences between variants hard to see; painting will require care and forethought.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all "Hummer" fans and modern US modelers.

When the AM General High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle or HMMWV came out in the mid 1980s, many in the military were not happy at its size. Designed to replace the M151 "jeep", the CUCV series of 1 1/4 ton trucks and personnel carriers, the M561 Gama Goat and any other remaining 3/4 or 1 1/4 ton trucks, it was considered either too big or too small, depending upon whom you asked. But over the last 20 years, the vehicle has acquired a great reputation for reliability and mobility, and has handled every task given to it. Currently it serves in many nations other than the US, where it is the backbone light vehicle for both the US Army and USMC. It comes in a myriad of different versions, with at least two different armor kits to enhance protection to its crew and the ability to carry any crew-served weapon from the 5.56mm Squad Automatic Weapon to the .50 caliber M2HB and TOW missile launcher.

DML now offers a "one plus one" – double – kit of the M1025 or M1026 version of the HMMWV (the nickname "Hummer" is commercial; most military refer to the vehicle as the "Humvee".) This is the basic "hardtop" personnel carrier with seats for four and a hip ring with sling seat mounted on the roof for weapons. (For those curious about other variants, the M1026 is the same vehicle with winch and the M1114 is the "Heavy Hummer" factory armored variant. DML does offer the winch bumpers for the M1026s in the kit.)

The kit provides two different versions of the HMMWV, so the modeler must pay close attention as it is difficult to tell them apart. The basic M1025 body has more slots in the lower rock panel body moldings than the ASK armored version, so note that there are two body styles. Most of the rest of the parts are interchangeable less the doors and roofs.

The chassis is well detailed but only takes a few assemblies to complete, and compliments go to DML's engineers for that work. Each vehicle has a shifter and case selector lever as well as a SINCGARS radio and KY-57 crypto box provided for it as well (part A13, one assembly in the front seat area.)

The kit provides a choice of four weapons for the hip ring: M249 SAW, M60, M2HB or Mark 19 30mm grenade launcher. The weapons are very well done and consist of several parts each (e.g. mount, ammo box, handles, locks, etc.)

There are some odd things however. The tailgate can be positioned opened or closed, but the "turtleback" hatch above it is fixed, which somewhat limits its usefulness. (Most of these versions have racks in the back for various weapons and ammunition, and some come with more than one weapon for mission flexibility.) Also, the headlights come as grey styrene even though separate parts; I personally recommend replacing them with MV Lenses or similar parts, but at least DML has been kind enough to have the mounts pre-drilled for you.

The tires are in a grey vinyl type plastic, so they will have to be painted. I do not have much experience with how well this works, but there have been problems with DML vinyl tires on their 1/35 kits when painted that appears to lead to cracking. However, given their recent DS vinyl product, this may no longer be a problem.

Finishing options are provided for two vehicles in Iraq, one straight sand and one in "Euro" tricolor with sand color ASK upgrade parts. Note that the decal sheet that comes with these kits is quite extensive, and that indicates many more options will be forthcoming from DML with these basic chassis.

Overall these are nice appealing models that should compliment the M1A1 and M2A2 vehicles DML already offers in this scale for Operating Iraqi Freedom.

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review samples.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on April 23, 2005)

Book Review: Tools of the Trade: Equipping the Canadian Army; edited by Doug Knight with additional material by Clive M. Law; Service Publications, PO Box 33071, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2C 3Y9 (http://www.servicepub.com);
128 pp., 2005.
Price CDN $29.95
(ISBN 1-894581-23-7)
Advantages: sums up the entire Canadian military equipment used during WWII in one neat volume; should be a standard for museum guide books.
Disadvantages: photos and drawings of little use to modelers; some errors and goofs in text and photo identification
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all Canadian military fans and WWII buffs.

One of the uglier sides of empire has been the general treatment that the Commonwealth nations, especially Canada and Australia, received at the hands of Britain in regard to the operations of their native contingents during WWI and WWII. Many Canadians and Australians to this day will not forget (and in some cases forgive) Britain for the senseless loss of life among their troops during the First World War in places such as Vimy Ridge and Gallipoli, or the loss of more in the Second World War at Dieppe and Crete.

This book highlights the measures taken during WWII by Britain to provide equipment to its Commonwealth brethren and how poorly they were really served by the "Mother Country." In 1940, Canada, like its US neighbor, began to gear up for full-scale war. Canada at that time enjoyed many of the same advantages as the US, namely being located too far from most enemy or prospective enemy nations to suffer damage to their infrastructure, most importantly industry. Canada had many factories which were either satellites of US companies or affiliated with them, most notably Ford and Chevrolet/GM Canada.

When Canada began to gear up, they also immediately began to mobilize and send troops to England to defend against the Germans. But their first unit, the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, arrived in the UK short of most material and found that the British Army was also woefully short, and did not have anything to share. Many WWI weapons were dug out of mothballs, such as the SMLE Mark III and Ross rifles. Even then it was difficult to get supplies to the troops.

The worst problem appeared to be the arcane method of allocation set up by Britain. Even after the US and UK signed the Lend-Lease agreements, the UK had final say on allocation of weapons and equipment, and picked which units were equipped and in what order. One problem appears to have been a British Purchasing Commission problem that today would be called NIH – "not invented here" as they were iffy as to the ability of the US and Canada to build equipment to British standards.

Things were at times nearly comical in a "Keystone Kops" vein. The Canadian 1st Infantry Division was rushed to France in early June 1940, only to be turned around and sent back to England during Dunkirk but minus all of the heavy weapons and kit they had painfully managed to accumulate. They also found themselves low on the priority list for replacement items; as a point of fact, even though they had been stripped out by Dunkirk and were missing everything larger than small arms. the newly-arrived Canadian 2nd Infantry Division (which supplied the troops used at Dieppe in 1942) got higher priority for supply.

Things were always problematical. One fly in the ointment was the fact that the Canadian CMHQ wanted its troops to be at least partially fitted out with Canadian-produced material, which became difficult with the British setting the allocation priorities for supply. There were literally cases of hundreds of Ford and Chevrolet CMP trucks coming in to the UK – only to go to either British units or the Middle East and the Canadian units being stuck with whatever prewar vehicles they could scrounge up, such as the Beaverette armored reconnaissance car.

In the end the Canadians fielded five full divisions (1st, 2nd and 4th Infantry, 3rd and 5th Armoured) plus corps troops and other separate formations. Their equipment was generally British pattern with a few Canadian touches – mostly the superior Ford and Chevrolet trucks from Canada as well as the best Commonwealth-produced SP gun of the war, the Sexton, which combined the chassis of the Canadian Ram cruiser tank with the 25-pounder.

This book is a handy book of what the Canadians did get to use in the Second World War, and from how and where it was obtained. The text is very readable, and most of the information is quite useful.

Modelers will be disappointed as there is little for them, however, as most items are only covered in passing and there are no plans or colors discussed.

I have heard from other reviewers that there are some errors in the text regarding numbers of items such as Crusader tanks, I do not have good sources to check this out. There is at least one glaring error in photograph identification: on page 33 is a weapon identified as a Vickers "K" type machine gun; it is not, as it is a stripped down American Lewis gun like those used in WWI aircraft mounts without the cooling fins or barrel jacket.

Overall, those are quibbles, as the amount of information presented is large and the coverage is very good. The Canadian War Museum in Ottawa could do worse than to offer this book as a guide to WWII Canadian forces, as it would be hard to beat.

Thanks to Clive Law of Service Publications for the review copy.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on April 17, 2005)

Kit Review: Academy 1/35 Scale Static Model Kit No. 13203; M4A2 Sherman USMC.
542 parts (539 in OD styrene, 2 in metallic vinyl, 1 nylon string section).
Price US $39.
Advantages: upper hull retooled to corrected rear profile; intake trunks appear better than the Italeri M4A2 parts.
Disadvantages: use of common sprues for multiple kits results in some shortcuts; will require the parts box and some mixing and matching to make an accurate model.
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: for all Sherman fans and USMC tankers.

One of the sadder moments in recent modeling was when Academy released their long awaited M4A2 Russian Army variant and unfortunately miscalculated the rear plate angle, thus causing a lot of complaints among the Sherman faithful. To their credit, they went back and redid the back of the mold and now have a corrected M4A2 hull profile that is far more accurate.

Regarding the problems with "rocking" suspensions due to the old Italieri method of assembling the suspension units (e.g. lower unit fixed to a central pin and no firm locking mechanism) they also provide new suspension unit lower arms with what now appears to be a locking hole for a pin on the cast suspension unit carries; oddly enough, there is no pin for it to mate with on the suspension units.

Like Tamiya and DML before them, Academy has now built up a sufficient body of US M3 and M4 based kits to use the "mix and match" system of kit production to meet a specific prototype. Here are the sprues I have noted in the kits and what they contain:

A (Sherman series) – 55 parts from one side of the basic suspension with two types of road wheels, idlers and drivers

B (have not seen this one yet)

C (Sherman series) – 61 parts forming the standard hull components and basic elements of the late model M4 series (e.g. "wet stowage" or 47 degree) hull tanks with the late model cast nose

D (Sherman series) – 49 parts forming the basic OVM and BII items, such as tools, .50 caliber machine gun, .30 caliber machine gun, fuel caps, etc.

E (Sherman series) – 33 parts forming the basic details for the late model turrets with "vision" cupola and viewers and guards for the other stations on the tank

F (Sherman series) – 17 parts forming the hull rear components of the A2 series with diesel engines

G (Sherman series) – 20 parts providing the basic late type 75mm gun turret with oval loader's hatch

H (M10 GMC) – 207 accessory parts to include ammo boxes, spare track, shackles, canteens, racks and many extra bolt heads, rivets, and casting numbers
I (Sherman series) – 33 parts providing the late type 76mm ("T23") turret

J (M4A2 USMC) – 42 dedicated parts for this kit with T48 tracks and extenders, wooden sides, and wading trunks for the M4A2 series tanks

The M12, M10/Achilles and M36 all share the A and D sprues, as well as the H sprue from the M10 with the M10s/M36 kits.

The molding on this kit is crisp and clean, but like DML they still seem to have a problem understanding "flush welded" as an assembly technique and half of the welds on the hull are recessed.

The wading trunks are nicely done and better than the ones on the Italeri "M4A2" (an M4A3 kit that requires a lot of surgery to convert to an A2) but also do not include the screening found on most of the originals.

Based on just a preliminary scan of references (such as "Tank Battles of the Pacific War 1941-1945" by Steve Zaloga) there is only one major goof in this kit. Photos of the Marine tanks in the Pacific, especially the late model M4A2 tanks used at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, show them exclusively using the late war all steel T62 type tracks with extended end connectors. The kit comes with a beautiful set of T48 rubber chevron tracks with extended end connectors. If the modeler has an extensive spares box, the solution is to swap these tracks with the original Tamiya M4A3 kit from 1981 (or its re-releases) as they come with those tracks.

(As an aside, Academy now makes good vinyl tracks for the T48 with extended end connectors, T49 "three-bar" steel tracks, and T51 irreversible smooth rubber pad tracks. Perhaps they will offer them separately as AFV Club has done, as this is a popular option with many modelers who run up against DML three-part single link track for the first time.)

Five finishing options are provided – 1, unknown (actually a 5th Tanks USMC replacement on Iwo Jima – see page 65 in the Zaloga book), 2 - Iwo Jima (actually 4th Tanks, Iwo Jima, per Zaloga). 3 – Unknown unit 1945 (again, 4th Tanks on Iwo Jima); 4 – Tinian 1945, and 5 – Tinian 1945 (both from 2nd Tanks, Tinian July 1944). While the decal sheet and painting instructions are correct, I must admit surprise someone didn't check on the units more thoroughly (and since this book is copyright 1995, it's not like someone produced a "gotcha!" listing after the fact.)

Purists will have fun as many of the 4th and 5th Tank Battalion vehicles used ten-penny nails welded to their hatches to keep the Japanese from attaching magnetic mines and penetrating the hatches. (Sounds like a lot of drilling and sections of .015" brass wire to me!)

Overall this is a good effort and Academy should be complimented for fixing the molds to their previous kit. (Question remains, will new issue M4A2 Russian tanks have the new hull rear end?).

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on April 17, 2005)

Kit Review: Tristar 1/35 Scale Kit No. 012; Russian Tank Crew; 58 parts in medium grey styrene.
Pprice approximately US $5.
Advantanges: nice, crisp figures provide an alternative choice for commander figures; spare heads a plus; great value for the money.
Disadvantages: harder to find than most other brands.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all WWII Russian armor fans.

This is a really nice little set of figures as it provides six tank commanders and one standing female figure for a very reasonable price.

The figures include four figures (three full and one 3/4 figure) in coveralls and two figures (one full and one 3/4) in black leather jackets and black trousers. The female is in undress uniform (e.g. standard shirt and trousers with "pilotka" sidecap) and is not dressed as a traffic regulator.

Helmeted figure heads (six included) come with the now-standard DML convention of separate ear flaps with earphone pockets and the center portion of the helmet molded on the figure's head. Two extra heads with "pilotka" caps are included, and that provides some nice variety to the kit.

Each figure comes with a holster for a TT pistol as his only equipment. One at least has his gloves in his hand to strike a more casual pose.

For the life of me I have no idea why each major manufacture seems to want to include a female figure in many Russian sets. Not only that, most of them are very slim, attractive types that do not seem to have been that plentiful in forward Soviet army units. (I do recall one who was "Playboy" stunning, but as was listed as a sergeant sniper with 93 confirmed kills would have been a "tough date" at best! But I digress.)

Overall this is a very nice kit and a real bargain at this price. Tristar is available from at least Chesapeake Model Designs and RZM in the US.

Thanks to Bill Miley of CMD for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on April 17, 2005)

Kit Review: Chesapeake Model Designs 1/35 Scale Kit Number 43; T-34/76 Model 1941 STZ ; 30 parts (29 in light tan resin and one turned aluminum gun barrel).
Price US $25.
Advantages: much cleaner than the Zvezda kit, and provides suitable modification parts and supplemental instructions to convert either DML T-34 Model 1941 kit to an STZ produced tank.
Disadvantages: requires the modeler to do some work on his own!
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: For all Soviet WWII and "34" fans who want something different.

I have to plead guilty to being an avid T-34 fan (those of snide disposition would probably claim it makes me an STFF or "Slobbering 34 Freak") as I have followed a lot of its career and researched a good deal of its early production difficulties and achievements. One of the more popular subvariants of the early model T-34s (only the Germans used the stroke 76 designator; the Russians never did and only added a dash 85 for the later variants with 85mm guns) for modelers due to its extreme detail changes.

The T-34 began production at the Kharkov Steam Locomotive Factory No. 183 in December 1939. Later, in the summer of 1940, as orders began to grow for the new tank, a new production line opened at the "Krasnoye Sormovo" Factory No. 112. Finally, in 1941 a third line was added at the Stalingrad Tractor Factory (STZ in Russian). Starting by assembling about 100 T-34 Model 1941 tanks with L-11 guns produced from "knock-down" kits supplied by Kharkov, this factory was to change over to mirror the first two and produce an identical version of the Model 1941 tank with F-34 gun.

This quickly fell apart after the Germans invaded in 1941, and the name of the game soon became the production of the T-34 by the fastest possible means. While Factory No. 183 was withdrawn to Nizhniy Tagil in October 1941, the STZ stayed put and soon became the backbone of the defensive effort supporting the Stalingrad Front. Over the course of 1941-1942, the factory managed to produce 3,670 T-34 Model 1941 tanks to support the war effort.

But as the crunch for time began to impact them, STZ began to modify the T-34 design to make it easier – and quicker – to build. Not having the massive and impressive automatic welding jigs for the hull as used in Nizhniy Tagil (which at their peak cut the time required to assemble a T-34 hull to only 20 man-hours) STZ used a unique method of notching the hulls to make it faster and more reliable for hand welding to make the hulls in a hurry. These notches were at the front, rear and top center of the hull sides.

They also changed the turret to make it easier to construct. Indents were used at its lower front for alignment, the rear of the rolled sides were left at a sharp angle with the entire rear plate bolted on, and the recoil mechanism cover was left as a single plate (producing an angular or "chisel" front to it) in order to avoid having to have another step in bending the cover plate and cutting the sides to match a jig.

Due to a shortage of rubber, they also were the first factory to go to an all steel cast wheel with internal rubber buffering. This was quickly found to make the tank an extremely rough rider over any distance and fatiguing to the crew from the noise and vibration; it was soon amended to use a combination of rubber tired and steel wheels with the rubber tires on the first and last road wheel stations.

CMD has done most of the basic work on the kit for the modeler, and all the modeler needs to do other than use the parts in the kit is to make the notched section on the upper hull and fit the notched front and rear plates to the DML hull. This is not beyond the skills of most modelers, and very detailed directions are provided for that.

The kit provides a complete turret shell with choice of early or late hatches (again, by cutting corners on fancy items it speeded up production), new recoil mechanism cover ("chisel nose"), a turned F-34 barrel, and bow and stern plates; it also provides the short-term "applique" armor sections for the front and lower glacis as well as new rounded fenders and the simplified "hammerhead" tow hooks with spring keepers. (For those who used the earlier Model 1940 kit, the CMD kit also provides the later radiator intakes with longitudinal venting.)

The kit does not provide the standard production steel wheels, so the modeler is on his own for those items. I have not tried to see if Tamiya wheels fit on this kit, so cannot comment whether it is easier to use them, Zvezda wheels, or after-market ones.

Overall this is a useful conversion kit, and one that is up to the high standards of CMD.

Thanks to Bill Miley of CMD for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on April 17, 2005)

Kit Review: Preiser HO Scale (1/87) Figure Sets Kit No. 16545; Infantrymen on a tank, USSR 1942.
83 parts in khaki stryene.
Price US$8
Kit No. 16546; Tank crew USSR 1942.
34 parts in khaki styrene
Price US$7
Advantages: best figures in this scale by any company; nice poses and useful choices of options.
Disadvantages: all of the options found on 1/35 scale figures on a 1/87 scale figure make for some very tiny parts.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all Soviet WWII armor fans and also HO railway modelers.

Many model railroaders are familiar with the German company Preiser, headquartered in the notorious tourist trap of Rothenberg am der Tauber. For years they have been the acme of small figure manufacturers, and even today produce figures for their own extensive lines in scales from Z Gauge (1/220) to LGB gauge (1/22.5). In recent years, Preiser has expanded their line of figures to cover more common armor modeling scales, and now makes figures in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/35 as well. Most of this is done by means of pantographing the original figure up or down as they need to meet a product line. (Modelers should note that what makes for a great figure in 1/87 may make for a good figure in 1/48 but one "soft" on details in 1/35, though.)

With the rise of new lines of HO scale armor from eastern Europe, most notably Premo from Russia (marketed in the west by ROCO) as well as other small manufacturers, there has a been a call for new figure sets to go with them. For many years this scale tended to be ignored as it was considered either a "wargamers' scale" or a "toy scale" as most figure sets were made of soft plastic from companies like Airfix, Revell, Italeri, Haet, etc. But with the advent of scale models it called for scale figures and now Preiser is making 1/87 lines of WWII German, American and Soviet figures to go with these new armored vehicles.

Set number 16545 provides a 12 man "tankoviy desant" – tank riders – suitable for the 1942-1944 period of the war. Each figure consists of a one or two piece body with separate arms and weapons, a blanket roll, rations bag, and choice of heads – either with helmet or "pilotka" side cap. The figures are in a number of positions varying from fully seated to crouching and even standing, so they should be able to fit on any HO scale armored vehicle. As noted, what makes a good part in 1/35 may be pretty tiny in 1/87, so prepare for having to deal with flying heads if not careful.

Ste number 16546 provides a series of eight commander figures as well as two drivers. The latter are one-piece figures from the torso up, but come on a sort of "pogo stick" so they will fit into most of the extant tank hulls and sit properly in an open driver's hatch. Three commanders are complete figures, one is a three-quarter (e.g no lower legs) and four are designed to separate at the belt line so they may be used with a "dummy" cupola as the commander figure. Again a variety of headgear is provided, from helmets to tankers' helmets to peaked caps, most with goggles.

The directions are on the inside of the box, so this is not a kit where you can check out the instructions without ruining the box. This is a quirk of many later Preiser kits, but I think they have been trying to maintain reasonable prices and by not including a separate direction sheet it appears to help out.

The box art is helpful, showing a number of sets in use with several Premo T-34 Model 1941 tanks rolling down a road.

Overall, if you can manipulate the parts these are great kits and really dress up small scale armor models.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on April 14, 2005)

Kit Review: Maquette 1/35 Scale Kit No. MQ-35026; T-34 Turret Set Early Version.
48 parts in grey styrene.
Price US$8.95.
>Advantages: allows the builder to convert any early model T-34 kit into a Model 1940, Model 1941 or Model 1941 with ZIS-4 gun.
Disadvantages: "cottage industry" quality of plastic moldings discourages many modelers; putty is a must with this kit.
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: for all T-34 fans.

I haven't quite yet figured out the working relationship among the Russian manufacturers Zvezda and Maquette and Polish companies Mirage and RPM, but quite often they tend to either borrow each other's molds (or just include sprues from the other manufacturers) or add resin parts to get a specific variant of another company's kit. Zvezda, Maquette and Mirage at least seem to have their own kit molds, so think they are ahead of the game.

This is not so much a kit as an "instant conversion" set for any Model 1940 or Model 1941 T-34 kit, which converts it to the pre-October 1941 welded (rolled armor) turret made at Mariupol before the great evacuation of that month. This turret was fitted to both Model 1940 (76.2mm L-11 guns) and Model 1941 (either 76.2mm F-34 guns or the 57mm ZIS-4 antitank guns) production tanks.

Maquette's kit provides three sprues that will produce the original and early production Model 1941 turrets, as they provide details for both the Model 1940's pop-up commander's periscope and the later Model 1941 flat welded plate that covered over that device when it was dropped from service. It also provides the early PT-4 gunner's sight and the loader's sight provided on early Model 1941s.

The kit provides the mantelet and barrel for the three variants – the Model 1940 with the stubby L-11 gun, the standard production welded turret Model 1941 with F-34 gun, and the limited production (sources say from 25 to 50) tank-killing version of the Model 1941 armed with the ZIS-4 gun. This latter weapon was a tank mounting for the legendary ZIS-2 antitank gun, and was for many years only considered to have been a prototype. Photographic evidence and Russian researches now show that it did see service.

The kit's main weakness is that the parts are rough in nature and also show the problems endemic in eastern European "flat" molding with old-fashioned injection molding equipment. Whereas the state-of-the-art DML Model 1940/41 cast turret consists of five main parts – sides, glacis plate, rear plate and roof – the Maquette kit requires seven parts with a completely different breakdown – turret base, lower turret floor, turret top, turret roof, turret backplate, and reinforcing panels on the sides. The result is that this is a much harder assembly to get a good fit on, and from personal experience requires putty and patience to get a good smooth fit of parts. It also will require simulating weld beads along most of the joint lines as well.

The L-11 and F-34 are provided with separate muzzle sections, but the ZIS-4 is not. Maquette does provide separate mantelet and recoil assembly covers, so each does match its prototype.

The kit does give a modeler with a DML or Maquette Model 1940 or 1941 kit another set of options, albeit the Maquette Model 1941 kit came with both the Model 1940 and Model 1941 barrels and mantelets.

Overall, while it's not perfect, it does provide a way to use plastic parts to create a unique model from an existing kit.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Monday, May 23, 2005
(Originally written on April 14, 2005)

Kit Review: RPM 1/35 Scale Kit No. 35044; Czolg Lekki T-60 zdodatkowym opancerzeniem (T-60 Light Tank with Applique Armor).
254 parts (127 in grey styrene, 127 etched brass).
Price US $22.95.
Advantages: best T-60 kit on the market coupled with full set of etched brass is a bargain at this price.
Disadvantages: brass is very thing and dodgey to work with.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: to all light tank and Soviet amour fans.

I noted in a previous review that I have trouble sorting out the relationships among eastern European companies as to who produces and who reboxes their kits. This one is no different, as the Polish RPM company has taken a Polish Techmod T-60 kit and boxed it with a large and complete set of etched brass as their own kit.

The Techmod T-60 is one of their better kits; while not as detailed as their T-50 with applique armor kit that came with etched brass, it is far better than the T-70 kits as it is at least accurate and offers a choice of early (spoke) or late (disk) wheels. I built the basic kit and recall it being a (relative) snap to assemble, and even the link-and-length tracks fit without much hassle.

This kit comes with a large (125 x 150 mm) brass sheet to replace most of the lighter details, such as the engine air intake, radiator exhaust, fenders and braces, and also provide a relatively scale 10mm applique armor package for the turret. The directions are unfortunately only in Polish, but most of the items can be discerned and attached correctly. At least the entire Techmod kit is provided, so the modeler can use all the pieces he wants to without having to use fiddly brass bits where he may not want to use them.

The sample I had came with damaged intake and radiator exhaust screens (brass parts 4 and 20) but someone must have done quality control, as there were replacement parts included with my sample. (Of course, as it was purchased at a "sale" table the original owner may have ordered them to fix the problems with the kit in the first place.)

A total of five finishing options were provided: a plain T-60 with aerial marking, an all white one from Manchuria in winter 1944, and three plain green ones – Stalingrad 1943, and two from different companies of the same unit in 1943 with variations on the same markings.

Overall this is a nice kit made even better by the brass sheet, and the price is reasonable to begin with before you check around. (I picked this one up for $10 as it is an older kit, but one still offered from Squadron and other dealers for around $20.)

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Sunday, March 27, 2005
(Originally written on March 18, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale Imperial Series Kit No. 9059; Jagdpanzer IV A-O;
643 parts (556 in grey styrene, 82 etched brass, 4 clear styrene, 1 turned aluminum barrel).
Price estimated at US $28-34.
Advantages: relook at an older kit with new parts and new techniques; brass schurzen shields.
Disadvantages: wan color schemes may not appeal to all German fans; brass schurzen shields.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: to all late-war German fans.
F I R S T    L O O K

Prior to the Second World War every country building armor soon figured out that light vehicles have to, by default, carry only light guns if they will be carried high and have to rotate in all directions to provide firepower, Heavier weapons would upset the center of gravity, throw off the balance of the weapon, or worst of all, flip the vehicle over if fired. As a result, few vehicles were "overgunned" by design. (Overgunning causes the vehicle to literally leap backwards when fired, causing all sorts of mayhem to the crew and innards of the vehicle; the last bad case of it was the US M551 Sheridan, which would literally pull its first three road wheel sets off the ground if fired with an HE projectile.)

The solution was to mount a big gun low in the vehicle and eliminate the turret, placing the gun in either an open barbette mounting or a casemate. The Germans chose both routes during the war, but as the war progressed decided on the latter for their antitank guns as it provided better protection for the crew.

The Sturmgeschuetz III and IV series were used frequently as antitank weapons, primarily as the later models carried the very effective PaK 40 L/48 antitank gun and could deal with almost all Allied tanks. But the StuG weapons were not heavily armored, and the solution was a dedicated antitank gun with heavier (and ballistically shaped) armor protection on the more flexible Panzer IV chassis.

The result was the Jadgpanzer IV series of antitank guns, and this version, the Jagdpanzer IV O-serie, was the first pre-production series of the vehicle. While the concept was successful and the vehicle was ordered into production (and some 804 being completed) only a handful of the O-series were produced before the design was changed. The main difference was that the O-serie had a rounded casemate section formed by bending, which was both more expensive and not as ballistically resistant. The result was a change to a steeply angled three-part section with a simpler design.

DML has now produced a kit of the A-O model as part of their "Imperial" series, which has been reserved for short-run kits of low-production vehicles over the years. This kit is derived from their older Jagdpanzer IV/70 kits, but has two brand-new sprues and one modified sprue as well as " mix and match" from the DML Panzer III and IV kits. The model uses all of DML's latest "Slide Molding" technique on these sprues, as well as borrow a trick from Academy and include casting numbers molded onto the sprue runners for diehard detail fans. (These have to be removed with a scalpel or single-edged razor blade, as a point of warning.) The kit also includes two MG 42 machine guns with positionable loading gates so that the breeches may be shown in the open position.

In general it follows the normal DML parts breakdown with 240 single-link track shoes and four sprues of road wheels and bogie assemblies. The other parts provide some options (e.g styrene or turned aluminum barrel) or a lot better detailing (I seem to recall when German jacks consisted of one skinny part in a kit; this one has a jack of six parts and looks like it could lift a bogie set.)

While most modelers are learning to live with single-link track (by default) the brass "Schurzen" armor shields on this kit will be either a love'em or hate'em arrangement. Each shield requires the attachment of four mounting straps (brass) and a set of bolt heads (brass) per side. Out of 82 parts the directions show you using 80 (I suppose they provide two extra bolt heads for the heavy-breathers among us...breathe wrong and these suckers will fly off into oblivion before you can mount them.)

Painting schemes and markings are included for two vehicles: an operational vehicle with the Panzer Lehr Division in the wan three-color scheme used in late 1944 (light tan, light green and light brown) and one in overall Panzerbraun at the training school with a title slug to that effect (Schulungsfahrzeug).

Overall this is an interesting vehicle due to the unique shape of its casemate, and one to complete some collections.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Sunday, March 27, 2005
(Originally written on March 15, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale Kit No. 6250; 7.5 cm PaK 40 Late Type w/Fallschirmjaeger Anzio 1944;
305 parts (291 in grey stryene, 5 etched brass, 4 in black vinyl, 4 turned brass, 1 turned aluminum).
Price estimated at $21-24.
Advantages: state-of-the-art kit of this popular AT gun, many build options.
Disadvantages: gun shields not in brass (see text); no crew weapons included; comments about length of trails (see text).
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: to all artillery fans and German WWII fans.
F I R S T   L O O K

Dragon has now released a "late model" version of their fine PaK 40 kit, the main difference being the recommendation to use different parts on the sprues and a completely new crew set of six Fallschirmjaeger figures (two sprues of three identical figures). It retains all of the carded extras from the first kit (optional etched brass detail parts, four turned brass rounds, a turned aluminum or plastic barrel, and four vinyl tires, either new or "chewed up.") The kit provides for options in regard to three different styles of wheels and three different styles of muzzle brakes (each formed of a casting and a face, with the casting being hollow molded.) Also, the modeler has optional positions for shields, trails, suspension arms, breech block, and gun servicing panels. The gun is fixed, however, so traverse must be set during assembly.

The gun shield is interesting, because unlike recent AFV Club efforts the shield is composed of two injection molded styrene sections with a brass gun mask (MA1) between them. The edges are "feathered" to a knife edge, so the modeler winds up with a shield that looks think but is actually quite sturdy and easy to attach.

The kit provides six figures in three poses that are new and unique to this kit, so if nothing else figure fans will want it for that reason. They represent figures with long sleeves and trousers under their well-known paratroop smock and come with plentiful accessories, but again no small arms are provided.

There are a number of additional items, such as four turned brass AP rounds, four styrene HE rounds, two ammo crates and a number of shipping tubes and three expended cases. The decals are primarily for these parts and provide the necessary stencils in both black and white. Since guns rarely bear any markings other than stray "serviced on" decals, there are none included. Finishing options for a total of six weapons are provided, including one that is Panzerbraun with "polka-dot" white snow camouflage that will test the painter's eye.

Right after this kit and its competitor from AFV Club came out, there was a slight flap on many websites that the DML kit's trails were something around 12mm too long. This caused a number of snarls, and then other posts came out that indicated that they were correct and that there had been a change in the design, but DML's plans and measurements were correct. I do not have precise enough (only an old set by Hilary Doyle) but they seem accurate with about 1.5mm to me based on simple measurements (e.g. about 52mm or 2 inches in scale). (I do note that the gates on the molds have been filled in and new gates added, so the originals may have been off and the new ones are corrected.)

Overall this is a beauty of a kit and should prove popular with anyone having an idea for a diorama or put a 3-ton halftrack to good use.

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Sunday, March 27, 2005
(Originally written on March 15, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6226; Bergepanzer Tiger (P).
382 parts (351 in grey styrene, 16 etched nickel, 8 etched brass, 3 lengths of copper chain, 2 track sets from DS-100 plastic, 2 lengths of braided steel wire).
Price estimated at US $34.
Advantages: "in the box" kit of a well-known conversion that DID see service; nicely done and with careful building will be an impressive model.
Disadvantages: "not a gun tank".
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all German and "engineer" equipment fans
F I R S T   L O O K

When armies first created tanks for combat, nobody seems to have thought much about what to when they no longer work. Considering the unreliability of the first vehicles, it would seem to have been something that should automatically have been considered, but it was not. As a result, when the first tanks broke, they stayed where they were. Some were buried, as the discovery last year of a Mark IV in France in the middle of a field would serve to illustrate.

But even when dedicated repair and recovery vehicles were created, many planners seemed to miss one key point: if the retriever isn't as big as or bigger than what it is supposed to recover, the concept is going to be hard to make work. The Soviets found that out in Finland, when the prototype T-100 tank struck a mine and could not be recovered by the T-28 tanks escorting it. (They had to come back the next spring with the SMK and prototype KV tank to pull it out.)

Even the Germans seem to have found it hard to grasp this concept. The idea of recovering a 56-metric-ton Tiger in combat with three 18-ton halftracks does not seem to have undergone a great deal of thought, or somebody figured that the Germans couldn't lose so would not have to worry about pesky things like enemy infantry and artillery in the area as it would be recovered behind German lines.

Someone appears to have been much brighter in regard to the 65-metric-ton "Ferdinand" and "Elefant" 8.8 cm SP antitank guns, as they were not likely to be saved by anything short of a similar vehicle. As a result, three of the vehicles were converted to retrievers – bergepanzer –by removing their casemates, giving them a truncated armored casemate and a collapsible jib crane for repairing their fellows. They were assigned to sPzJgAbt 653 in Russia, where they would be needed and their crews would have surely appreciated the protection and pulling power of the chassis.

DML has now provided the fourth kit on their new series Porsche Tiger chassis, the Bergepanzer Tiger (P). This kit is similar to the others but adds two new sprues of 78 parts with the new casemate and the jib crane, as well as more parts for tow cables and external kit. They also provide a sprue from a StuG III kit, apparently just for the close defense machine gun mount.

This kit also provides some brass and nickel bits, as well as two single-piece tracks made out of the new Dragon "DS-100" glueable plastic. They are in a light tan (the current giveaway for the material) and can be cemented together with normal plastic cements. This solves the problem of getting the tracks to lie down properly on the wheel sets (photos show the tracks should run along the tops of the numbers 3 and 4 road wheels when in adjustment) but the modeler will have to plan ahead. This means keeping sections of the tracks free of paint and also cleaning off the tops of the road wheels with sandpaper or a knife in order to get a good bond. (I do not recommend using ACC cement – "Superglue" – as it is harder to get a good fit and clean up afterwards in this situation. The paint is easier to touch up and leaves no messy "fillet" where it seeped out like ACC does.)

DML claims if done right the chain hoist on the jib crane will operate, and if careful I have no reason to doubt that claim. Modelers will want to dunk the copper chain in a model railroad "blackening" agent first thought as they are very hard to paint when done, and this looks much better. If not, separate parts are provided for the crane in the "stowed" position.

Painting and marking schemes are included for all three vehicles built, with 1st Company, 2nd Company and 3rd Company of sPzJgAbt 653 in mid-1944, as well as one of them in late 1943. The 1944 schemes are more attractive but more complex.

Overall this vehicle should provide a nexus for a lot of dioramas on the Eastern Front, as it gives the modeler a lot of options for it to "not just stand there but do something!"

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Sunday, March 27, 2005
(Originally written on March 15, 2005)

Kit Review: Revell GmbH 1/96 Scale Model Kit No. 05603; Civil War Steam Ship U.S.S. Kearsarge.
741 parts (681 in reddish brown styrene, 40 in white styrene, 10 pre-formed ratlines, 3 paper flags, 2 in black styrene, 2 cards of tan thread, 1 bobbin of black thread, 1 length of steel chain, 1 length of copper chain).
Retail price $121.95.
Advantages: Relatively clean redo of the original kit from 1961, now provides double figure set and two kinds of chain.
Disadvantages: Some modelers will balk at paying 1200% markup over 1961 prices (BUT beats the eBay alternative!); new instructions are awful in regards to painting.
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: to Civil War ship fans and nostalgic "baby boomers" who grew up with Revell.

I can recall the circumstances surrounding getting several very big and very unique Revell kits when I was a kid. I got the CSS Alabama as a reward for spending an entire Sunday cleaning up after a fire in a department store, and got the "coffee can" Space Station for moving from elementary school to junior high in 1960. The USS Kearsarge was one I did not get so lightly, and after finding one at the local department store (where as family we got a 33% discount on toys and models) I decided to earn the money for it.

My grandmother was more or less a "soft touch" and would give us small jobs to do around her house for a few bucks, but my grandfather was Alsatian German and would not put up with anything short of a full day's work. It took me a good six weeks to earn enough to buy the last remaining Kearsarge for a then princely sum of $6.65 so I was thrilled the day I got it. I put it together over the rest of the summer, but alas, the next year I dropped it and could never get it to look quite the same. After stripping off all of the "good bits" it went down in a local pond under a hailstorm of fire from a Daisy Model 111. I still have a few of them even after 42 years.

Needless to say I remember this kit fondly, and was delighted when Revell re-released the Alabama. But shortly thereafter, the word went out on numerous websites that the Kearsarge would not be joining it. Even the unofficial Revell biography ("Remembering Revell Model Kits" by Thomas Graham, Schiffer Publishing 2002) notes that in 1962 the same molds were used. But others indicated that the Kearsarge molds were modified to create the Alabama kit (and the reworking tooling can still be seen if you look closely inside the hull) and thus the Kearsarge was no more. As a result, prices for an unbuilt Kearsarge skyrocketed over the years, with some kits demanding well over $300 on the Internet. Even one half-build and rather gluey mess I saw about a year ago in a hobby shop went on consignment for $95.

Happily, Revell of Germany has now solved the problem and re-released the Kearsarge. I have heard several stories as to how they did this (one being they duplicated and then re-re-cut the Alabama molds, so there is now a set of each one in existence) but the result is the same, and other than some flash on this kit it looks very much the same as the original.

Now there are some differences to this kit, such as the fact that the number of parts and colors of plastic have changed and the hull no longer comes pre-coppered. Whereas the original kit came in four colors – black for the hull and metal work items (e.g. guns, anchors and stacks), white figures and mast details, reddish brown wooden parts, and a yellowish tan color for the decks and boat details, now it comes with only the hull halves in black, the figures in white, and the rest in the reddish brown color styrene. Also, the directions have been redone (were the originals lost?) in the rather insipid "point and stick" style of all other Revellogram kits, one thing I have never found very impressive. (One thing Revell seems to have forgotten is that many of us learned the basics of machines from their directions as all parts were called out by number AND name –makes it easy to remember which is the main, mizzen and foremast, and which yards are which. Very helpful when you're 13 and a lot more when you're 56!)

The parts come oddly bagged, with the hull haves doubled bagged in a separate insert that fits into a diagonal shelf inside the box. (Which is about 15 x 36 x 5, not a small object!) The rest of the parts are below the insert and all but the former yellow tan parts are in one big bag; those parts (e.g. the decks, boat floors, and some upper masts and yards) are in a separate bag inside the big bag. The thread and ratlines, as well as the two types of chain, are inside another separate bag.

I had forgotten how much different from the Alabama this kit was. Alabama's parts breakdown looked like this: 653 parts (2 in black styrene, 20 in creme styrene, 41 in white styrene, 570 in dark grey styrene, 10 vacuformed off-white sails, 6 pre-formed ratlines/shrouds, 1 section coarse brass chain, 1 section fine brass chain, 1 spool black cotton thread, 1 spool tan cotton thread, paper flag sheet. Revelll of Germany have faithfully fixed all of the changes, and the extra boats, foredeck, ladders, four-bladed screw, upper masts and yards, and foredeck gun are all back. Some have some more flash that perhaps they did back in 1961, but the kit is all there and looks good.

But overall the instructions are the kit's weak spot, as they are very hard to read and find the color flags for the various parts of the ship, and that lets it down. The boxtop art appears correct for the Civil War paint job on the ship (and matches the 1961 version of the kit) but the ones in this kit appear to be from a later date. Admittedly, at least one website notes the Kearsarge kit was done from later plans and may be as she was about 1885 and not 1864. The rigging part is about as clear now as it was then, so I am assuming that is unchanged!

Overall, flaws and all, this kit is an old friend and one I am glad to see re-released at what is a much more affordable price than the original versions go for today. (Note that I picked up my kit from D&J Hobby & Crafts out of California for $93 plus $6.95 for domestic US UPS shipping, so it can be found at less than retail. But not for $6.65!)

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Sunday, March 27, 2005
(Originally written on March 13, 2005)

Review: Quartermaster's Depot Commonwealth Unit and Rank Insignia Decal Sets
Product Review: Quartermaster's British Depot Commonwealth Unit and Rank Insignia Decal Sets:
Sheet 35080, British 7th Armoured Division Insigina
Sheet 35084, Canadian 5th Armoured Division Insignia
Quarter Master's Depot, 1071 Ambleside Drive, Suite 1111, Ottawa, Ontario K2B 6V4, Canada. http://www.quartermastersdepot.com).
Price CDN $12.00 each (about US $10.00).
Advantages: Nice, clean and crisp shoulder flashes, stripes and "pips" make finishing 1/35 figures a snap.
Disadvantages: somewhat fuzzy on closeup examination, but most of us are not equipped with microscopic vision!
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all modelers doing 1/35 scale WWII British or Canadian figures.

Alas, the Commonwealth. They tend to be the "Rodney Dangerfield" of 1/35 scale armor as they rarely get any respect, either from the manufacturers or the after-market sector. Several years ago companies like Pre-Size and Archer Fine Transfers began to provide waterslide decals for shoulder patches and other markings for both US and German figures, but the British and Commonwealth troops were more or less ignored.

Quartermaster's Depot has been issuing a number of waterslide sheets to fill this gap, and these are two of their latest efforts. Each sheet provides the shoulder flashes and unit patches for the entire organic structure of the division listed (by unit, not quantity!) as well as specific officer insignia and stripes for enlisted soldiers. Insignia are provided for private, corporal, sergeant and staff sergeant ranks (as well as two specific branch sergeants, engineers and artillery), and commissioned officers from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel.

The 7th Armoured sheet provides patches and flashes for a total of 16 different regiments or branches, and includes helmet flashes. That for the Canadian 5th Armoured provides a total of 17 different unit patches and flashes. The "facings" listing below the picture presentation is an accurate term, but what they mean here is the backing color for the officers' rank "pips" by branch color. This will assist the modeler in getting the right shoulder flash and "pips" together.

Alas, as a layman and US Army type I have little knowledge of where these go and on what uniforms (especially the helmet flashes) so I do wish QD had included a basic drawing and guideline to get them on the right figure and right time frame.

Overall the quality is pretty good – under a jeweler's loupe there is some pixilation of the insignia and they become hard to read (but at still readable). On a model, most of us do not have the level of vision that would make that annoying!

Thanks to Quartermaster's Depot for the review samples.

(Right - 7th Armoured, Left - 5th Canadian Armoured).

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Sunday, March 27, 2005
(Originally written on March 13, 2005)

Review: Quartermaster's Depot 1/35 Scale British Tanks in the Desert Decal Sets
Product Review: Review: Quartermaster's Depot 1/35 Scale British Tanks in the Desert Decal Sets.
Sheet 35092, British Tanks in the Desert Sheet #1(Stuart Mark 1, Matilda Mark II, Crusader Mark I, and Valentine Mark II)
Sheet 35094, British Tanks in the Desert Sheet #3 (Daimler Dingo Mark I (2), Matilda Mark III, Churchill Mark III)
Quarter Master's Depot, 1071 Ambleside Drive, Suite 1111, Ottawa, Ontario K2B 6V4, Canada http://www.quartermastersdepot.com).
Price CDN $12.00 each (about US $10.00).
Advantages: nice, new sheets for older model kits provide a nice change and variety; appear more complete that those provided in kits; four-view placement sheets in color the best presentation for this sort of markings.
Disadvantages: may not indicate if kit is "out of the box" or requires any modifications to match the time and place these markings were in effect.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: to early war Commonwealth armour fans.

Quartermaster's Depot continues its very nice line of decal sheets for Commonwealth subjects, and these two are typical of the current crop. Each one comes with two 11 x 14 pages of instructions, including a very good four-view of the subject in color with the markings in place. This is by far and away the very best way to present decals and markings, and QD should be complimented on it. Aircraft modelers have had this level of detail for many years, and it is about time someone began to provide it to the armor community with waterslide markings.

The directions call for what many of us use as "standard procedure:" coat the model with a gloss coat (e.g. Future in the US), cut the markings apart close to the subjects as the sheets are one big sheet and not separate subjects, apply, use a setting agent, and then top-coat with a flat varnish or coating to hide them and kill the shine.

Overall the subjects appear to be well-chosen and attractive, and the quality is very good. The only thing missing is whether or not the kits need any modifications to match the examples provided, and there are several comments elsewhere on the internet about this. All QD needs to do is provide a sentence or two that would help (e.g. "Leave off sandshields" or "add extra fuel tanks and side racks") the modeler to match the subject at hand.

Thanks to Quartermaster's Depot for the review sheets.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Sunday, March 27, 2005
(Originally written on March 13, 2005)

Product Review - Quartermaster's Depot 1/35 Scale British Tanks in Training Decal Sets:
Sheet 35088, British Tanks Training in the UK #1 (Matilda Mark IIICS, Valentine Mark I (2), Churchill Mark I).
Sheet 35091, British Tanks Training in the UK #2 (Matilda Mark II, Valentine Mark I, Churchill Mark II, Churchill Mark III).
Quarter Master's Depot, 1071 Ambleside Drive, Suite 1111, Ottawa, Ontario K2B 6V4, Canada, <http://www.quartermastersdepot.com).
Price CDN $12.00 each (about US $10.00).
Advantages: Interesting choice of vehicles and time frame; bright choice of schemes and markings offset nominally drab subjects.
Disadvantages: Every subject listed will require modification, conversion or scratchbuilding of existing kits.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: to "Home Front" Commonwealth armor modelers.

After the disastrous withdrawal from France at Dunkirk in June 1940, the British Army proceeded to rebuild itself and conduct vigorous training of its main forces at home in view of their eventual deployment to various theaters of war and the "big push" for the Second Front in western Europe. During that period – most of 1941 and early 1942 – new tanks were built to replace losses as well as field new formations, new concepts were tried, and new tactics adopted.]

That training period is one virtually completely ignored by model companies, as it appears to be dull and of no interest. This is a shame, as some of the more interesting marking schemes were tried out and either adopted or ignored at that time.

Quartermaster's Depot now has started a new series of decal sheets in its very nice waterslide family, and these cover that "home front" training period. Each of the sheets has been researched by Barry Beldam and provides complete markings for four separate vehicles. Each sheet is accompanied by two large 11 x 14 sheets of instructions, explaining how to use the markings and where they go. The directions call for what many of us use as "standard procedure:" coat the model with a gloss coat (e.g. Future in the US), cut the markings apart close to the subjects as the sheets are one big sheet and not separate subjects, apply, use a setting agent, and then top-coat with a flat varnish or coating to hide them and kill the shine.

The decals are excellent and cover the subjects at hand, and any omissions are covered in the directions and reasons cited (e.g markings were not visible due to obstruction). But one thing not given is a color match for the period; all of the vehicles in this sheet series are shown in a khaki drab color (e.g. brownish tint, not green) and I have no idea if that is correct or not. I would assume so given the background Barry has on Commonwealth armor, but have no idea what the match would be. (Barry once noted that the greenish color was a dead match to the old Pactra Artilllery Olive shade.)

Nearly all of the vehicles covered, however, will require either conversion of existing kits or scratchbuilding major components to match. Some are available in resin as well, so at least the modeler will have a made-to-order set of markings for those kits. Also, no comments are provided as to any specific modifications or changes that would be required to match that vehicle at that specific point in time.

Overall, the selection is excellent and Quartermaster's Depot has done a great job on these markings.

Thanks to Quartermaster's Depot for the review sheets.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Sunday, March 27, 2005
(Originally written on March 13, 2005)

Book Review: Quartermaster's Depot - British and Commonwealth Armoured Vehicle Stowage Diagrams Part 1; Canadian and American Built Armour 1939-1945 by Barry Beldam; Quarter Master's Depot, 1071 Ambleside Drive, Suite 1111, Ottawa, Ontario K2B 6V4, Canada, http://www.quartermastersdepot.com). 2005.
84 pp.
ISBN 0-9734277-6-0.
Price CDN $25.00 (about US $21.00).
Advantages: clear, concise diagrams of all of the "kit" locations inside and outside many popular vehicles, as well as coverage of some obscure ones.
Disadvantages: like US diagrams and factory blueprints, some diagrams do not match what was actually built or put into the field (see text).
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all American and Commonwealth armor fans.

Modelers are an inquisitive lot as a whole, and many want to find out how things are mounted and carried on or in vehicles in order to do them up "right." Since shots of vehicles in action or in motor pools rarely show this level of detail (and many combat shots are either fuzzy "in action" ones or of burned out and stripped losses) books like this are handy guides to what goes where and how it installs. Thanks to books like this (and after-market etched brass sets) most modelers, for example, are now fully aware that things do not stick to the outside of a vehicle by "magic" (also defined as model cement) but by a series of straps, lugs, frames, holders, and tiedowns.

Barry Beldam has gone through his collection of Commonwealth manuals and extracted the stowage diagrams from each one, cleaned them up or redone them from scratch, and labeled them in common terms (but not slang!) for easy identification. He has then organized them in a nice, neat easy-to-use spiral-bound modeler's aid that is going to be very popular with most Commonwealth vehicle modelers, as well as most US armor modelers as well.

This book, labeled as part 1, covers these subjects with the following level of detail:
C15-TA Armoured Truck (6 sheets)
Fox Mark I Armoured Car (6 sheets)
Lynx Mark II Scout Car (6 sheets)
Otter Mark I Light Reconnaissance Car (5 sheets)
Ram Kangaroo (3 sheets)
Chaffee Mark I (M24) (7 sheets)
General Grant Mark I (4 sheets)
General Lee Mark I (M3 Medium) (4 sheets)
LVT with Sea Serpent (incomplete) (1 sheet)
Sherman Mark V (M4A4) (7 sheets)
Sherman Mark VC Firefly (7 sheets)
Sherman Mark V DD (7 sheets)
Sherman Mark V Crab Mark II (incomplete) (2 sheets)
Staghound Mark I Armoured Car (M17) (6 sheets)
General Stuart Mark V (M3A3 Light) (6 sheets)
General Stuart Mark VI (M5A1 Light) (6 sheets)

All of the sheets generally provide front and rear quarter views, and the remaining sheets show internal stowage and parts breakdown. Some like those for the Ram Kangaroo may be a bit disappointing, but modelers should keep in mind that when all you do is take out the turret and eliminate ammunition stowage, there's not a lot left to worry about!

Most of the differences in some of the vehicles have to do more with radio sets and stowage (e.g. British No. 19 sets vice US SCR-508 series). As a result, they are very handy to have if doing up an interior on any of the US vehicles cited.

Some are interesting but may not answer the mail. The two sets on the Grant and Lee are apparently the factory ones, for they show the placement of grouser stowage bins that rarely, if ever, showed up on the service version of the tanks. This isn't uncommon, for most of the factory 1/8 scale blueprints for most of the Sherman family show similar disconnects between where the factory thought things should go and where the units did, and the fact that the factories acquiesced to field desires but never changed the general arrangement blueprints.

Given that, Barry has provided probably the best layout of the interior arrangement of both the M3 Lee and the M3 Grant that I have seen anywhere, and considering when one sees the actual vehicle you really can't see much when inside them, this is very useful for modelers or just anyone trying to see why the Soviets called the Lee the "Communal Grave for Seven!"

The last page of the book notes that this is the first of eight volumes: Part 2 will cover Cruiser Tanks, Part 3 Infantry Tanks, Part 4 ACVs and Humbers, Part 5 Daimler, AEC and Coventry Vehicles, Part 6 SPs and Special Purpose Vehicles, Part 7 Carriers and Airborne Tanks, and Part 8 British Post-War Vehicles. All of them are needed and should find an appreciative audience.

Thanks to Quartermaster's Depot for the review copy.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Sunday, March 27, 2005
(Originally written on March 13, 2005)

Book Review: Quartermaster's Depot - M109 SPG in Canadian Service (Series Volume 2): The Serious Modeler's Guide to Canadian M109 Series 155mm Self Propelled Guns by Barry Beldam; Quarter Master's Depot, 1071 Ambleside Drive, Suite 1111, Ottawa, Ontario K2B 6V4, Canada, http://www.quartermastersdepot.com , 2005.
217 pp. plus color foldouts
ISBN 0-9734277-1
Price CDN $45.00 (about US $37.50).
Advantages: clear, cleaned-up sections of manual pages with clear descriptions of details where required; accompanied by clear, modeler-oriented photos of M109A4 guns in service; cheaper and better quality than original manuals.
Disadvantages: while applicable to all M109 guns less Paladin, may discourage orders by its title.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for artillery fans and all modelers working on M109 related projects.

The M109 is the prototype for all modern self-propelled artillery, as it is light, compact and capable of both quick movement and relatively sustained fire with relatively good working conditions for its crew, including armor protection. Having been in service for 42 years, it has gone through a number of variants, most of which still retain the same basic characteristics and components.

This new book by well-known modeler and Canadian military writer Barry Beldam covers most of the major versions of the M109, even though its primary focus is the current Candian M109A4+ variant of the gun. Here is a quick recap to show what I mean:
M109 – original variant, with a 20 caliber long howitzer and unique bore evacuator.
M109A1 – improved variant, with 39 caliber long gun and automotive improvements.
M109A1B – A1 built new (A1s were converted from M109s.)
M109A2 – an improved variant with more changes including an all-weather armored head for the gunner's panoramic sight.
M109A3 – M109A1 brought up to A2 standards.
M109A4 – improved M109A2 and M109A3 guns with improvements to internals, new NBC protection system and other modifications.
M109A5 – M109A4 brought up to near M109A6 standards less its new turret (e.g. GPS and other changes to internal parts.)_
M109A6 – Paladin, with new turret, barrel lock, etc.

As can be seen, there is a lot of commonality among the guns. Barry covers all of the items of interest to modelers, mixing photos with manual illustrations, and as a result provides a very handy "one-stop shopping" document for anyone who wants to do a detailed version of the 109. Note that this book, as it states in its title, only covers the standard versions of the M109 as used by the US, Canada and a few other NATO countries, and not the Israeli or German modifications in other than passing.

With the fact that there are at least three companies marketing M109 interior and detail sets, this book is an invaluable aid to anyone doing one up "right" as it provides the where and how which many resin kit directions seem to invariably lack. Combined with the new book on the history of the M109 by Steve Zaloga (Osprey New Vanguard Number 86; M109 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer 1960-2005) it provides nearly all a modeler may want to know on the 109. (I am a 109 fan, as I did manage to get a license to drive one while on active duty; it reminded me of a 32-ton sports car with eight foot of gun tube sticking out in front which you had to be careful about when near trees!)

Thanks to Quarter Master's Depot for the review copy.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Sunday, March 27, 2005
(Originally written on March 13, 2005)

Book Review: Service Publications - "Weapons of War" Series; The 25-Pounder in Canadian Service by Doug Knight; Service Publications, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 2005.
24 pp. with B&W photos.
Price CDN $9.95.
ISBN 1-894581-26-1, http://www.servicepub.com
Advantages: Good, clearcut description of both the 25-lb gun and its operation as well as how artillery functions; covers all basic Canadian and most Commonwealth applications as well.
Disadvantages: modelers may regret not having more detail information on regiments and markings.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all "gonners" and Commonwealth fans.

If you mention the term "divisional artillery" to anyone from the Second World War who knows artillery, four guns will immediately be mentioned: the German leFH 18 10.5 cm howitzer; the US M1/M2 series 105mm howitzer; the Soviet 76.2mm ZIS-3 gun; and the British 25-pound Field Gun. All four were by far and away the most used weapons of their type by their respective nations, and provided most of the "on-call" artillery fire support for their troops.

The British 25 pounder (so-named for its nominal weight of shell) was a linear outgrowth of the pre-WWI 13-pounder and its much-improved 18-pounder replacement. In point of fact, as Doug points out, the 25-pounder began as a new barrel created from older 18-pounders by boring them out and using "auto-frettage" – prestressing the barrels from the inside out to make them lighter and stronger – to tolerate the larger shells and greater propellant charges. These guns first went into service in 1936, and eventually received a new carriage and cradle assembly.

The standard version, the Ordnance QF 25-lb Mark II on Mark I carriage, was the standard field gun for Commonwealth forces during WWII and long afterwards, until NATO called for standardization on 105mm and 155mm as divisional calibers in the mid 1950s. Like all things from the Commonwealth, Canada again stepped to the plate to produce its share of guns, and using a new ordnance factory built at Sorel, Quebec, just prior to WWII with the help of the French Scheinder company, the 25-lb gun went into production in 1940, with the first guns delivered in July 1941.

Doug covers the entire production history of the weapon as well as a great deal of other information, including regimental organization and function, crew organization and function, and some items on both the well-known No. 27 limber (a leftover from horsedrawn days according to all who used it) and the FAT – field artillery tractor. Produced by both Ford and GM of Canada, these well-known vehicles with either the flat windshield No. 12 cab or more popularly known No. 13 cab with reverse slant windshield were probably better known and more prolific than the Morris tractor that inspired them.

He points out how anachronistic much of the artillery thinking was involving this weapon, as the crews hated the limber. (Point: try backing up with a trailer towing a trailer and that you can't see either one, and you start to get the idea of why this hatred came about.) Also someone noted when the crews deployed for action one man stood alone at the rear of the piece with no apparent function. Someone finally figured out that he was the "horseholder" from the old days and nobody thought to eliminate him from the crew!

The 25-lb gun was not the most powerful or longest ranged weapon on the battlefield, but Doug points out where its strengths were and why it was popular. One point he makes is the gun fired a projectile only slightly smaller than the US 105mm (25 pounds versus 33 pounds) to the same range and with a smaller and more easily handled gun. The 25-lb barrel was also more long-lived. Artillery weapons' life expectancies are based on how many "full charge" (e.g. tabular charges for reaching maximum range as designed without any modifications to the charge or projectile) rounds could be fired: for the 25-lb gun, it was 10,000 effective full charge (EFC) rounds. To put this in perspective, Soviet sources note that their powerful long range 2S5 152mm gun only had a life expectancy of 300 EFC rounds, and that the early T-72 125mm 2A46 gun had a life expectancy of only 200 EFC (e.g. sabot) rounds. Of course, firing reduced charges increases life expectancy and "super-charges" reduce it (e.g. each "super-charge" is rated at 4 EFC for life expectancy computations for the 25-lb gun). He notes that some guns were still fitted with their original barrels when placed out of service in the 1950s.

Overall this is a very handy little book, as it also explains a great deal of artillery operations and functioning. I only noted one minor error – in the description of the weapon on page 24 the length of the gun is given as 25 feet 10 3/4 inches; it's not, as that is the complete length of the gun, No. 27 limber and FAT in march order from tip of the front towing pintel to the end of the muzzle brake on the later production guns. (The Canadian vehicles can be modeled in 1/35 scale using the Tamiya 25-lb gun and limber and the older Peerless Max/Italeri/Zvezda FAT with No. 13 cab, or in resin using various manufacturers in 1/76 scale.)

Thanks to Service Publications for the review copy.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Sunday, March 27, 2005
(Originally written on March 13, 2005)

Book Review: "Weapons of War" Series; Service Publications - The Armoured Train in Canadian Service by Roger V. Lucy; Service Publications, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 2005; 24 pp. with B&W photos;
Price CDN $9.95.
ISBN 1-894581-25-3http://www.servicepub.com
Advantages: Unique book on a really obscure but fascinating subject; provides sufficient information to permit the train to be modeled by railway modelers.
Disadvantages: may be a bit too esoteric for some.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for Canadian and military historians, as well as model railroaders.

If someone had asked me before this little book came out when the last time an armored train ran in North America, I would probably have answered during the US Civil War, which still would have been a bit of a stretch. I know now that this was not the case, and the real answer is 1943 in British Columbia.

When the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor and many other points in the Pacific, including later moves into Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian Islands, the US was not the only country in North America to panic at the thought of Japanese invasion troops striking their west coast. Canada had long had Japanese fishermen plying the coasts and deep river inlets of British Columbia, and the fear was that Japanese troops would use this as a cover to either cripple the major fishing industry located there or set up bases to strike either the US forces in Canada or the aviation industry in Washington state, as well as to create a foothold on the continent.

The most vulnerable spot was chosen to be Prince Rupert, BC, which was the northernmost terminus of the Canadian National Railway. It was also located at the mouth of the Skeena River, which had been a favorite of the Japanese for fishing as it was navigable for some 120 kilometers inland. Happily, the Canadian government noted that there was a branch line paralleling the river to Terrace, which was the limit of deepwater navigability on the river.

Their solution was to order the creation of an armored train to patrol the stretch along the river, and this is the topic of this enjoyable little book by Mr. Lucy. He covers the entire history of the train from its initial inception on 28 March 1942 to its formal termination on 22 August 1944 when all rolling stock was returned to the control of CN.

The train was a "doubled ended" design with four cars, an engine and service car, and four more cars running as a fixed unit. Each set of four cars included an artillery car with an old US 75mm gun on a pedestal mount, an AA car with twin 40mm Bofors guns welded to the floor of a gondola, and two infantry cars, essentially former 50 foot auto transport boxcars lined with thin armor plating and with windows cut into their sides. The service car provided a headquarters section with kitchen and high-power radio set, and the engine – 4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" Number 1426 from CN – was fitted with thin armor plate around the cab.

This latter modification puzzled some, as the most vulnerable part of a steam engine was its boiler, so efforts were undertaken to repower two old CN diesel locomotives with modern US diesels from Electromotive (GM) and fully armor them against at least small arms.

After much wrangling, mostly involving who ran the train as opposed to who controlled it (Canadian National did not want any major timetable disruptions, and the military wanted to be in charge if there was an attack) the train entered service with its first patrol of the Skeena on 29 July 1942.

The Canadians soon found out that the train was more or less a "Toonerville Trolley" better suited to comic opera work than mainline protection, as the branchline was not in the best condition and it soon found out that the train had to slow to only about 10 mph on patrol to avoid derailments. It tended to be a "rough rider" for the most part, but at that speed it was tolerable. However, the Canadians soon found out from combat training that it could not carry out a running gunbattle with anything on the river, for it was too hard to aim the train's two guns and four 40mm pieces when it was moving and bouncing down the tracks.

Nevertheless, the train carried out its patrols of the river until 29 September 1943 when, as the US and Canadian forces had completely reoccupied all lost territory in the Aleutians its services were no longer required and it went to shed. So ended the only armored train to run in Canada, and the only such train to run in North America since 1865.

Thanks to Service Publications for the review copy.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Saturday, February 26, 2005
(Originally written on February 3, 2005)

Kit Review: HO Scale Diecast Armor From China;
Number (unknown); British Chieftain Mk. 5;
Number Z-000028008; US M3 Lee Medium Tank;
Number Z-0000280011; Soviet T-62 Medium Tank;
Number Z-0000280012; Swedish Strv.103 S-Tank;
Prices unknown;
Available from Libreria La Idea, Apartado de Correos, PO Box 341, 46080 Valencia, Spain or e-mail joseluis53@ono.com for more information.
Advantages: Nicely done finished models with markings and camouflage in place; perfect for wargaming;
Disadvantages: diecast metal makes corrections or modifications difficult; some shortcuts taken in production (see text).
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: for wargamers and anyone wanting a "bookshelf" collection of armored vehicles.

As many modelers lose time due to a busy life and schedule, in some cases modeling has become a pastime that may take up too much time for the results. Some argue that may be due to the "instant gratification" society most of us live in today, but in other cases it's just the problem of our desires and our skills do not match up well.

As a result, there is now a growing market for pre-finished models. Both Tamiya in 1/35 scale and DML in 1/72 offer first-class replicas, but the former are abysmally high in price for the average collector. DML's efforts are very close to the cost of their kits, but for anyone wanting to use them for miniatures wargaming they are a bit large. As a result, most wargamers turn to HO scale (1/87, based on the model railroading scale and its wealth of accessories.)

In wargaming this is generally considered to be 20mm scale (e.g. a 6' tall man is 20mm high in this scale) and as such is quite popular. It's easy to put a reasonably sized force of a full company on a tabletop, and still have combat ranges to conduct combat. (A 5' x 9' ping-pong table gives a battlefield of 135 meters by 240 meters before taking foreshortening and compression into effect.)

Jose Luis Castillo of Libreria La Idea (The Idea Bookstore) is now preparing to offer a range of over 50 different HO scale diecast armored vehicles from China, and these are perfect for wargaming. Diecast in this scale results in a more durable model than plastic (ROCO models are now nearly perfect replicas, but a bit light for heavy handling as they would receive in a wargame environment) and unlike most resin models come fully assembled and painted. He sent me four of the offerings for review, and for that I extend him my thanks.

All four models are heavyweights, cast in five or fewer parts, so the running gear is more a case of embossed than freestanding. Still, each model replicates its prototype, and the correct pattern and wheel styles are visible. At wargame distances, all four are very nicely done and quite attractive, but purists will balk at some of the features.

The M3 is a replica of one of the 1st Armored Division tanks with tactical signs, and is finished in olive drab. It is a pretty good likeness of a mid-production M3 with square air cleaners and skirts, but has two errors: the 37mm gun is installed upside down (counterweight on top) and the tracks are T48 rubber chevrons, but installed backwards. Due to its apparent wargame purpose, the turret sits high with a bearing to ease traverse.

The S-Tank is an early model, either an A or B, as it has no spare fuel cans for protection along the sides. It has some annoying conventions, such as all of the viewports being painted sky blue, but that can be easily remedied. This tank is in solid green, and not the "splinter" scheme more recently used on these vehicles.

The Chieftain is a much better effort than the prototype one offered by ROCO and has all of the accouterments of the Mk. 5 in place. Markings are suspect and it is only painted bronze green, but the barrel thermal cover is painted khaki and other bits are picked out on the model. Again, like the M3, the turret is very "stalky" as is has a bearing underneath it to permit it to traverse. The front of the hull is also somewhat crudely fastened together, and a bit of work with a file and some repainting should clean that up.

The T-62 is a Model 1972 with the DShK machine gun but surprisingly comes without the "drop tanks" which were organic to every T-62 tank. Due to the fact this tank has no skirts it was the only one of the four showing "daylight" under the fenders and over the top of the lower hull pan. The turret has a much better shape than the plastic Armourtec/Boley one now on the market, but again suffers from the "stalky" turret syndrome. The hull and fender overhang at the front is a bit too long, but it is clearly a T-62. Markings (as far as I recall) are for a district training center in the Leningrad Military District (three-digit numbers prefaced by L).

All four were nicely packed but showed up with bent barrels and machine guns. Thanks to the fact that they are cast metal, all four were fixed up with some very gentle finger pressure on the errant parts. None of the gun barrels are drilled out, and the T-62 barrel is somewhat thick for the scale.

Overall, however, they can be used to quickly "gen up" a wargame army or simply provide a collection for a shelf. While not perfect, they are solid, durable and more than up to the purpose of most wargamers and more than a few modelers.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Saturday, February 19, 2005
(Originally written on February 3, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6217; Sd,Kkz. 251/21 Ausf. D "Drilling";
1,124 parts (797 parts in grey styrene, 264 "EZ Trak" links, 28 etched brass, 11 "DS" vinyl, 10 aluminum, 8 clear styrene, 2 turned brass, 2 silver paper, 2 grey vinyl);
Retail price around $33.95.
Advantages: first kit of this version of this vehicle in this scale; lots of leftover parts; complete crew of six provided, two in "DS" cementable vinyl.
Disadvantages: huge number of parts and tiny details mind-numbing to some modelers.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all German Armor Modelers and "Duck Hunters" (AAA fans).
F I R S T   L O O K

The Germans, for all their failings, were nothing else if not thorough in their conceptual thinking, and they were among the first to see the value of having all necessary vehicles for an armored formation use the same chassis. They made good use of their ubiquitous 3-ton medium halftrack chassis, using it for not only mechanized infantry units with embedded command and control, but also for engineers, medics, antitank and close support artillery, special purpose vehicles, and antiaircraft guns.

The more compact of the two was the Sd.Kfz. 251/21 which mounted triple MG151/15 15mm revolver cannon on a pedestal in the dismount section of a slightly modified Ausf. D variant of the vehicle. This installation got it the nickname "Drilling" (triple), which was a term generally applied to a very expensive sporting gun with two shotgun barrels and one rifle barrel in one assembly. While the 15mm Mauser cannon was later found to be inefficient (and bumped back up to 20mm, as the two guns used the same action with different barrels and chambers) the concept was very sound. The mount put out up to 2,250 rounds per minute, which was more than capable of downing an Allied aircraft. Even at the end of the war, German tactical AA weaponry was considered very dangerous, and P-47 pilots assigned to low level battlefield air interdiction missions at one point were given a life expectancy of four hours or two missions.

DML has now added this variant to their growing stable of halftrack variants, and as such their now-standard 251 D model components get 166 more parts on four sprues to provide the pedestal mount and triple gun assembly. More than enough parts are provided (you actually get four guns) as well as a three-sided shield which DML proudly notes is the result of their slide molding technique. These are apparently the 20mm version of the MG151, as the turned aluminum rounds (3) and casings (3) are full caliber; the 15mm was a necked cartridge. (Yes, there are INDIVIDUAL rounds and casings included!) The muzzle ends of the guns are also from turned aluminum and are very tiny bits.

The majority of the kit parts follow the tried and true DML "Mix and Match" system: C, D, E, and X sprues from the generic 251 parts; A and B from the specific D model set; F, G and T sprues unique to this kit; and L sprue from the 251/22 SP 7.5 cm antitank gun variant. Note that you are supposed to use the upper hull from the L sprue (251/22) and not the A sprue (251 D model generic.)

A new fret of etched brass is provided to add detail to the lower chassis pan (X ) which has been somewhat spartan in previous kits.

The kit again comes with two sets of tracks - early ones on the sprues and "EZ Trak" with links and pads in two separate bags. The latter are ready to assemble, as well as more accurate for the late-war variants like this one (the "Stroke 21" only came out in 1944.)

Figures include two "Dragon Styrene" cementable vinyl figures and the four figures from kit #6191 ("Achtung, Jabo!" ) as the crew. The "Stroke 22" kit L sprue also provides extra legs and lower torsos for the parts box, but no upper sections.

The kit also includes clear styrene blocks for the viewports, vinyl uniform parts, and optional position tool boxes (I think this is the first 251 kit that option has been provided on, showing DML is still responding to requests by modelers.) Molds have also been cleaned up and improved with more details now on the road wheel sets.

The kit comes with four (!) decal sheets – one set of instruments with black faces, generic white and black tactical number jungles, generic license plate sheet, and a set of divisional or regimental markings.

Finish options are given for two generic vehicles: one with a three-color red-brown/green/"Panzerbraun" mottled scheme and one in overall "Panzerbraun." Neither one has a known unit listed, and only minimal marking information and one set of license plates.

Overall this is a popular conversion of the 251 series, and having a kit of this quality should be well received. Modelers should not be put off by the huge number of parts, for nearly half of them are either optional or excess, and will fill up a parts box nicely.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Sunday, January 30, 2005
(Originally written on January 19, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6252; Pzkw. VI Ausf. E. Sd.Kfz. 181 Tiger I Initial Production sPzAbt 502 Leningrad 1943;
756 parts (395 in grey styrene, 180 "Magic Track" links, 113 etched brass, 22 "DS 100" plastic/vinyl, 14 aluminum, 12 turned brass, 11 clear styrene, 8 white metal, 4 bent wire, 1 spring, 1 turned aluminum barrel);
Retail recommended price $31.95.
Advantages: Most complete kit of this tank in one box on the market, all major multimedia parts included, options abound for all parts and sections of the model.
Disadvantages: "Another Tiger" (see text).
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German Armor and Tiger fans in particular.
F I R S T   L O O K.

The Germans puttered around for several years before the war on a heavy tank design, originally dubbed VK 36 (For 36 metric tons design weight) and later bumped up to 45 metric tons as VK 45 when the prototype Rheimetall 8.8 cm tank gun would not fit on that chassis. Two competing prototypes, VK45.01 (P) from Porsche and VK45.01 (H) from Henschel, competed for the final design. Krupp designed the turret that wound up on both tanks, with Henschel eventually winning the competition. Part of the incentive to get the tank out and into service was the shock of running into the Soviet T-34 medium and KV-1 heavy tanks, which only the 8.8 cm FlaK gun was shown to be able to consistently master.

But the tank was more than a bit over the design weight, coming in at 56 metric tons or around 62 short tons combat ready. Nevertheless it entered production in the summer of 1942 as the Sd. Kfz. 181, Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. E – better known as simply the Tiger. Early production models were sent to Russia in the fall of 1942 and operated with s.Pz.Abt. 502 (heavy tank battalion) near Leningrad. One tank was lost in the fall of 1942 and later, in January 1943, one was captured after a dogged fight by the Soviets.

In that battle the Soviets claim the Germans lost the Tiger, five Pzkw. III tanks, and 200 infantry in an attempt to get it back. When the Soviets got to the Tiger, they found it stuffed with explosives so that it could be destroyed in place (it had broken down). After the Germans were chased out of the area, the Soviets yoked five T-60 light tanks together (!) in order to drag it to a place where heavier vehicles could be engaged to tow it back to their rear area.

This unit was equipped with some of the first 25 Tigers built, which were much less refined than later models – no fender skirts, no stowage bins, no turret escape hatch, dedicated left and right tracks, and a number of other detail variations on "standard" production tanks. Anyone interested in the "blow by blow" is directed to Osprey/New Vanguard #5, Tiger I Heavy Tank, by Tom Jentz, Hilary Doyle, and Peter Sarson to follow the detail evolution of the tank.

Before I proceed any further, let me state up front that I personally hate Tigers. I find them to be a tiresome subject, long espoused on by SGFs as the most wonderful tank ever made, a wonder weapon, best tank of the war, etc. None of that is true, but you cannot get the faithful off message even when their myths are exposed.

However, and ignoring the fanatics, the Tiger I is hands down the most popular single armor modeling subject ever – period. More different kits of this tank have been made in more scales over the years than just about any other subject, with only the Sherman running a close second. Andpersand Publishing even has a complete book dedicated to modeling the Tiger, covering every one of the major kits out at the time of its release. Kits of it exist in scales from 1/700 to 1/4 and in just about any medium you can think of, from plastic to various forms of metal.

Most of us still stick to plastic, and the most popular current scale due to the compromise between size and detail is 1/35. Over the last 15 year a number of companies have released new kits of the Tiger I - Tamiya, Italeri and Academy being the main competitors. Each one tried something different – Tamiya with different crew figure sets and options, Academy with a full interior, and Italieri with optional "zimmerit" paste panels to install on the outside of the hull and turret.

Now – 15 year after their first kits were released, – Dragon is entering the Tiger "fray" with a new series of kits. The first one is the "Initial Production" model as used by the aforementioned s.Pz.Abt. 502 in Russia, and it comes with an absolutely stunning array of parts in one box – grey styrene, clear styrene, vinyl, brass, aluminum, and steel plus a new design of track link set. The kit has "wraparound" box art (bottom, too!) that shows and explains nearly every one of its special features, so the buyer gets a good idea of what awaits inside the box.

The first two major features DML cites on this kit are its use of "Magic Track" and "DS 100" vinyl. The former is something many modelers will like – separate link track with no sprues and ready for assembly. To be sure, there are light ejection pin marks on the inside of each link, but they are ready to go. These snap together to permit assembly and installation, and the directions recommend a touch of liquid cement to each one after they are joined and in position to set them in place. As is correct for this particular version of the Tiger, they are "handed" – set Y is the right side and set Z is the left side – so modelers will have to pay close attention to them when assembling the tracks as the bags are not marked. (They are separate and the directions show which way they go and which way they face, but it will require a bit of concentration to get them on right.)

"DS 100" is the new trade name for a vinyl/styrene plastic DML is marketing that is unique. DS 100 permits DML to mold the figures in the manner of vinyl ("rubber soldiers") figures but takes cement and paint like styrene. The details are much crisper than regular styrene (and DML is about the best in styrene figures) and they also permit a bit of "wiggle room" to install the figures in a vehicle. However, these are "bonus" figures and comprise a propaganda team - one man with still camera, one with a 16mm movie camera. If you want a crew, you will still have to get them separately.

The kit proper comes on 17 different sprues, two bags, a vacuformed box and the now-standard DML card with attached bagged details. It fills the box to the top (the one thing I have problems with for a review is getting out all the bits and then getting them back into the box – DML did it, but most of the time I can't!)

The kit states it will produce three different models. This is basically true. It can faithfully reproduce (based on photos) tank 100 from s.Pz.Abt. 502 with twin lateral turret bins, tank 121 with a Pzkw. III style bustle bin, or a straight early Tiger I with the snorkel erected. Three different style fenders are including in etched brass (and one in styrene) as well as three different mantelets (one with and two without the rain guard over the gunner's binocular sight apertures). Other parts with options include metal or plastic smoke grenade launchers, metal or plastic tow shackles (two styles in white metal with aluminum pins are provided), and two muzzle brakes and three different barrel options are included.

For whatever reason, DML has included the somewhat "Mickey Mouse" feature of a recoiling spring-loaded gun barrel like AFV Club used to provide with its kits. But the gun does come with a breech assembly; there are two basic seats as well, but no other turret interior detail.

The hull comes with some interior elements, but not a complete interior. It includes the torsion bar assemblies, bow gun assembly, hatch details, and radiator bays and trunking at the rear of the hull. The rear engine deck grilles (parsts P11/12 and P16/17) have the curved louvers found on the original, and based on the use of the snorkel may be shown open or closed.

The hull top comes with a set of tools that have etched brass clasps included, as well as a jig for bending the clasps to shape prior to installation.

The turret is quite unique, as it consists of a one-piece asymmetric section with the base, kit locking tabs, race and complete sidewall construction less pistol ports. The commander's cupola can be built up from component parts or a one-piece unit, complete with view slits, is also included.

The snorkel comes in one piece but all of the special covers and blanking plates are also provided to set it up correctly by the manual.

The kit also comes with a plethora of small details: a brass bucket with separate handle and base, 12 turned brass rounds, 12 styrene rounds (24 etched brass bases with headstamps are included for them; there are 4 brass and 6 plastic empty casings and 8 brass and 6 plastic full rounds), three "jerry" cans with etched brass center fold, and two crates for the ammo plus two "DS 100" spare crew jackets.

A decal sheet and painting directions are included for the two s.Pz.Abt. 502 tanks, but the generic one with snorkel is left Panzer Grey.

Overall, this is a stunning model of the one main version of the tank that no one had kitted up to this point. And even though it's a Tiger, I'm impressed!

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on January 19, 2005)

Kit Review: Academy 1/72 Scale Kit No. 13402; WWII Ground Vehicle Set No. 2 – U.S. 2 ½ Ton 6 x 6 Cargo Truck and Accessories;
129 parts (125 in olive drab styrene, 4 in clear styrene);
Retail price $19.00.
Advantages: nice, crisp new kit of useful subject for both armor and aircraft modelers; nicely handled parts breakdown makes assembly relatively easy; inclusion of details and cargo a winner.
Disadvantages: price somewhat high compared to similar kits; some problems with ejection pin marks; does not come with any USAAF markings!
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all WWII and Korean War period US armor and aircraft modelers.

I have always been a fan of 2 ½ ton cargo trucks, probably because I drove one in Vietnam. We had three M35A1 cargo trucks in my unit which we used as "trick trucks" to carry shifts out to the site where we worked signals intelligence operations. Even though none of them was over four years old, they were all in sad shape after four years in Vietnam. We dubbed them "This Piece of #$%&" "That Piece of #$%&", and "The Other Piece of #$%&" but even so we did like the fact they were fairly faithful.

When I got back from Vietnam I compared notes with my father, who agreed they were good trucks even in WWII with the GMC CCKW series. But we did have a bit of a difference, as most of us of the Vietnam era knew them as the "Deuce and a Half" from its cross-country weight classification (5000 lbs cargo) whereas my father swore up and down all they ever called them was the "Six By" (from the 6 x 6 powertrain layout). I hear that mostly from WWII vets, so it would appear that this was the more popular nickname (other than "Jimmy" the common nickname for any GMC product.)

One of the major problems faced by small scale modelers has been the general lack of good models of these trucks in either 1/76 or 1/72. Hasegawa put out several GMC CCKW truck kits 32 years ago, and while these are still re-released every now and again they were awful and toylike when they came out, and they remain so today. Last year Airfix/Heller released one that was nominally in 1/72 (most reviews I have seen said it was more like 1/76, the old Airfix scale) of the soft-cab version of the cargo truck.

Academy has now released the second in its series of "WWII Ground Vehicles" (the first one being a Kuebelwagen, a Jeep and other small details that could be used with either 1/72 armor or aircraft dioramas). This is a straight-up version of the GMC CCKW long-bodied cargo truck, with or without winch, and hardtop cab with or without the M32 ring mount. It also comes with a sprue of detail parts for use with the truck, as cargo, or in dioramas. The price does seem high, however, when most other new-mold 1/72 armor kits are going for around $9-13.

The kit is a new mold and apparently other than its subject shares nothing with the ancient Hasegawa kits, starting with a lack of steel axles. The kit is neatly molded and provides a number of options for the modeler; a working tail gate, a basic engine of three parts and a fixed oil pan in the chassis, and a sealed cab with scored cutout for the M49 mount operator. Based on parts breakdown, a "softcab" version may follow later on. Note that while the engine is provided, there are no scoring marks on either the hood or its side panels, nor are the doors designed to be optionally positioned.

The chassis is quite impressive, and many of the bugaboos of larger scale kits have been removed in this scale. The ENTIRE drive line comes as one part – J36 – and includes all drive shafts, universal joints, differentials, axles, and transfer case in one shot. This should work well with assembly, as all the modeler has to do is trap this assembly between the four spring assemblies and the chassis. The handbrake lever (J20) and the forward differential (J14) are separate parts. The only parts that seemingly are missing from the chassis are the steering linkage and the shock absorbers, but in Academy's defense they are very hard to see once the tires are in place.

The cab is fairly complete as it comes with a shifter (J18) and range/transfer case levers (J19) but no winch controls. The seat is one piece, however. This kit does provide windows for the front, side and rear openings, all of which are nicely done clear parts if a bit thick. One oddity is that the two "jerry cans" for the truck proper (parts K9) are single-handle types, generally only seen in modern plastic cans; yet the ones on the detail sprue have a separate top section with the more common triple handles. (The directions recommend you ignore them, so somebody seems to have been thinking!)

The cargo body is very nicely done, but the folding seat braces have been simplified into two brackets (parts K2). In this scale I doubt most modelers will worry, as they make assembly far easier that way, and if made as a "cargo carrier" it is totally irrelevant. The OVM or "pioneer" tools are molded in one piece, and the shovel appears to be missing as well. Five top bows are provided in the "stowed" position.

The kit comes with the correct M32 ring mount, a fairly good looking .50 cal M2HB, and two heavy brackets for mounting directly to the cargo body. Unlike the later models, this one nearly touches the roof so take care when installing it.

The accessory sprue provides a number of nice little details for this kit: two M1919A4 machine guns, one open and one closed tripod for them, two M2HB machine guns, also with one open and one closed tripod; six small and six large crates; three 55 gallon drums with horizontal ground mounts for them; and three US and three German "jerry" cans.

Markings are provided for a generic "Six By" from the 369th Field Artillery (Service Battery) 98th Infantry Division and for one of the "Red Ball Express" cargo trucks. Both are apparently correct, but the former is an odd choice. The 98th Infantry was a "garritrooper" division in Hawaii that only moved to Japan during the occupation. (At least they are not made up like the infamous Peerless Max markings of 30 years ago!)

Overall, this is a nice kit and will set off either US armored vehicles or aircraft in any WWII or Korean war setting. Hats off to Academy!

Thanks to Bob Lewen of Academy for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

Thursday, January 13, 2005
(Originally written on January 13, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 scale "Armor Pro" series Kit No. 7258;
T-34/76 Mod. 1940 Eastern Front 1941;
89 parts (84 in grey styrene, 2 in black vinyl, 2 twisted steel wire, 1 etched metal);
Price between $8.95-10.95.
Advantages: first kit that I know of that represents this vehicle in this scale; carries over many of the details from its 1/35 scale "big brother"; wheels are an amazing accomplishment in injection molding.
Disadvantages: kit comes with a gorgeous decal sheet which, alas, is basically unusable! (see text).
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all small scale and Soviet armor fans.

The T-34 Model 1940, and the even better Model 1941, were a major shock to the Germans when they invaded in June 1941. This tank was the work of the legendary designer Mikhail Koshkin, who unfortunately died before he got to see his creation validate itself before the Soviet government and the world.

Companies like DML need to be aware that the Soviets never called these "T-34/76" tanks, as that was a German description and did not come into being until the 85mm tanks appeared in 1944. The Soviets did dub the later tanks T-34-85 to show the differences.

DML has now added to its "Armor Pro" series (a select part of its 1/72 scale series with additional parts, different moldings, and extras included in the kits) with a gorgeous Model 1940 T-34 kit. Based to some degree on its amazing 1/35 scale kit, DML has managed to shrink the level of details down and at the same time compact the number of parts by some clever molding tricks.

One of the most impressive tricks is the use of what DML calls "slide-molding" in which multi-part molds with moving parts are used vice the older "sandwich-type" two piece molds. As a result, they can do larger pieces without either ejection pin marks or sinkholes, and get depth or undercuts in smaller parts. This shows up in this kit in two areas: first, the fact that even in this scale the gun barrel for the L-11 cannon has a hollow muzzle as molded; and second, the wheels come in 14 ready-to-install assemblies vice 28 separate wheels and perhaps axle caps. The wheels are nicely done, with a nice deep grove in between (unlike another company's 1/72 scale kits with solid road wheels or most HO scale armor) and detailed on both sides. Purists will want to drill out the thin flash in the drivers (parts C2) and idlers (parts C1) though, but that is an easy task if you have a pin vise and small drill bits.

The hull comes with the correct Model 1940 hull with vertical grille openings in the radiator intakes and a choice between either a solid radiator exhaust grille or one with an etched metal grille instead. This is the same nice touch now offered in the 1/35 scale kits, and DML is to be congratulated for providing it in 1/72 as well.

The turret also mirrors its "big brother in construction, and as many modelers have found, if done carefully no putty is needed to fill the gap between the glacis (part A39) and the turret sides (parts A43 and A44). The turret also includes a partial interior as well.

Most of the details parts are crisp and well done as well, but the twin jacks for the tank are provided as one part (A63) and are probably the least well done of any component.

The kit provides single-section vinyl tracks, and these still require ACC (cyanoacrylic) glue to assemble. Since T-34 tracks are "dead" track, they will also have to be made to lie down on top of the road wheels.

The kit comes with an absolutely gorgeous sheet of decals with many patriotic sayings and markings, but this is essentially unusable. It's not that DML makes poor decals – but the Model 1940s rarely carried any markings, and most of them were destroyed before the fighting spirit of the Red Army prompted the creation of the sayings! Even the painting instructions show only a "protective color" (dark green) tank. Well, it will be handy for other models.

Overall, based on its transcended generation from the great 1/35 kits this is a real winner and the highly probable later T-34s (e.g. the Model 1941) will be another great addition to this scale when they are released as well.

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on January 13, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Armor Series Kit No. 7250;
Sd.Kfz. 186 Jagdtiger Porsche Version;
139 parts (129 in grey styrene, 6 etched brass, 2 screws, 2 in black vinyl);
Price about $8.95.
Advantages: nice, new crisp moldings, no diecast metal parts, many small features included, hollow molded gun barrel muzzle.
Disadvantages: "Idiot-proof" directions may be confusing, and care is required.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all late war German fans.

DML continues to roll along with its aggressive small scale program, and in response to comments from modelers and reviews also continues to adjust its production to meet demands. In the first kit of this series, No. 7231 which was the "Porsche" turreted Tiger II, the hull components were diecast metal. While they were nicely done and gave the model some "heft" they also made it nearly impossible to get a neat, clean assembly job or do any modifications or "super-detailing" to that hull. This kit now comes with a similar – but all-styrene – two-piece hull. It assembles the same way (a screw under the radio operator's hatch and one under the engine insert at the rear of the hull, which appear to be "optional" as the directions no longer call for them to be used.)

The kit is very neatly done and clean, with separate suspension bogies provided for the eight road wheels on each side of the hull. There is an engine deck underlay with separate manifold section and an optional position hatch, and grilles are included for the six deck openings, a feature which now seems to be a DML hallmark in this scale. While the aforementioned radio operator's hatch is separate, most of the rest are not and only a flap is provided for the commander. Someone must have felt tow shackles are a problem as the kit comes with 12 of them!

Most of the rest of the details are straightforward. Using their new sliding molds, DML have once again provided a 12.8 cm barrel with its muzzle already open to a depth of a few millimeters, a very nice touch and one that with some careful use of a "Flexi-File" will obviate te need to replace the barrel.

But there are some oddities that also come in this kit, such as a nicely done 8.8 cm barrel with muzzle brake. Considering all the rest of the parts on that sprue are for a Jagdtiger, the reason for that part escapes me!

The single-section tracks are well done, but as noted still require the use of ACC (cyanoacrylic) glue to assemble.

A "number jungle" decal sheet is included, and painting directions are provided for a vehicle from 3rd Company, sPzJgAbt 653 in Germany 1945 or an unidentified vehicle in the three-color scheme, also Germany 1945.

Overall this is a nice little kit and another notch in DML's accomplishments in this scale.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

(Originally written on January 13, 2005)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6185; T-34/76 German Army;
536 parts (485 in grey styrene, 41 etched brass, 8 clear styrene, 1 section twisted steel wire, 1 turned aluminum barrel);
Price about $33.95.
Advantages: nice, crisp clean kit of the early production Model 1941 with all observed German field modifications.
Disadvantages: odd choice as this was not the most common conversion among German units.
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German Eastern Front fans.

Unlike many other nations who fought in WWII, the Germans and Soviets were not as finicky about the "NIH" syndrome – "Not Invented Here" – and would put each other's military equipment into service at the front lines as a matter of course. They also set up conversion and maintenance programs, which ensured that some of this technology could be reissued and kept combat ready in small lots.

The Soviets got into the swing of this later in the war, and had factories set up to strip out captured Pzkw. III tanks and StuG III SP guns for parts. They converted a number of the former into the Su-76I SP gun (I for "Inostranets" or foreigner) with a Soviet 76.2mm F-34 gun.

The Germans also did the same to both captured and acquired equipment. Their greatest successes were with the assimulated Czech tanks and artillery, but they also used French, Italian, British, American and Soviet equipment. The main problem with the latter was that they tended to fight their equipment out and rarely surrendered, making it hard to find serviceable units to assimilate. Nevertheless, with the thousands of T-34s built the Germans were able to get their hands on enough to make it worthwhile to modify them to German standards and put them into service.

The most common (and the only one which has been heavily photographed and documented) was the T-34 Model 1942, the so-called "T-34/76D" to the Germans, with the larger three-man hexagonal turret. There are a good number of photographs of what the Germans designated the "Sd.Kfz, 747(r) Pzkw. T-34" and according to the Chamberlain/Ellis/Jentz encyclopedia some 50 of these were on hand prior to Kursk; only 17 are noted as being operational.

This kit is the beautiful DML June 1941 production T-34 kit with two new sprues adding all of the external German modifications to it (stowage bins, pioneer tools. "Notek" lights) and also a Pzkw. III style cupola. I am not doubting the fact somebody found record of this for DML, but so far I have been unable to locate such a modification to a Model 1941. The main problem with that tank is that it had a four-man crew, of which the commander also had to serve as the gunner. There was little, if any, room for a commander in that turret, and putting a heavy German cupola on the turret would really limit the ability of the crew to exit the tank in a hurry, thus turning it into a death trap.

The ONLY evidence I can find of this conversion taking place is a painting in a book – on page 13 of the Polish "Militaria" Publishing Book "Tank" Number 38 - T-34/76 is a T-34 Model 1941 of an unidentified unit in Vyborg, July 1944. This shows a plajn green tank, bort number White "154" with only the German Pzkw, III style cupola added, and none of the external kit. No photographs are provided of this conversion. There is not even any comment to whether it was captured or used by the Soviets or Poles. All it shows is the tank.

A photo of this tank IS found on page 50 of Concord book #7011, "Soviet Tanks in Combat 1941-1945" by Steve Zaloga. The tank here is clearly identified as belonging to the 21st Army, Leningrad Front, and the date given is 20 June 1944. It is the same tank, White "154" (also on the glacis of the tank).

This poses a conundrum, for while there is physical evidence that the Model 1941 was captured and refitted by the Germans (as the one preserved at Aberdeen Proving Ground shows) it does not appear to have been fitted with the cupola by the Germans. On the other hand, we have photographic evidence of a Soviet one with the cupola (but no German fittings other than the cupola) and in Soviet service in mid 1944.

Therefore, to be as accurate as possible, I recommend building the kit with the German equipment BUT without the cupola if you want to make a German version. Build it with all of the Soviet fittings AND the cupola if you want to model tank 154. The only other option would be to get a Zvezda T-34 Model 1942 and swap turrets and tracks, as well as find a set of horizontal (longitudinal) vents for the radiator air intakes. Then you can use all of the German parts to make an accurate "Pzkw. T-34" backed up by photo evidence.

That being said, the new parts for the kit are first-rate, with the cupola consisting of 18 parts and giving the modeler the option of having the vision slits open or closed. The kit comes with German outer vehicle materials - pioneer tools, such as a shovel, wire cutters, pry bars, three stowage bins and a stowage rack. They also show (based on the Aberdeen tank as well as photos) that four more track links (two "A" and "B" pairs) are fastened to the rear sides of the tank above the standard Soviet mounts.

Two tank finishing schemes are shown, both winter 1941. I cannot corroborate those schemes with the cupola on this tank, however.

Overall this is a nice kit – it could hardly fail to be using the DML Model 1941 as its base! – but one that does not seem to ever have existed in this format. If anyone has photo evidence of one, please let me know!

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

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