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  1. Polish Tank Crew WWII (35267) 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models Those doyens of figure sets at MiniArt are at it again (where do they find the time each month?), and this time it's a set of Polish Tank Crew from WWII. The set arrives in a standard sized end-opening figure box with a painting of the intended poses on the front, and a combined instruction and painting guide on the rear of the box. Inside are four sprues in mid grey styrene, three still joined to their runner, the last one nipped off to fit in the box. Four crew are included, one driver figure with his hands on the controls, one casually leaning against his tank (presumably) and two which appear to be clutching their copolas. Two of the standing figures have chest mounted respirator pouches but these can be left off. Conclusion With MiniArt we have come to expect excellent sculpting, and this set does not disappoint, with realistic poses, drape of clothing and faces. The whole set is finely sculpted. There is some flash on this set which I have not seen on others, but it should not be a problem to remove. Recommended for you Polish tank / AFV build. Review sample courtesy of
  2. Soviet Tank Crew 1960-70s (37037) 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models Those doyens of figure sets at MiniArt are at it again (where do they find the time each month?), and this time it's a set of Russian Tank Crew from the 1960-70 period, when a tough black uniform was worn along with the more traditional padded helmets, also in black. The set arrives in a standard sized end-opening figure box with a painting of the intended poses on the front, and a combined instruction and painting guide on the rear of the box. Inside are four sprues in mid grey styrene, three still joined to their runner, the last one nipped off to fit in the box. Four crew are included, one driver figure with his hands on the controls, another seated figure that looks like he's itching his armpit, then there are two more standing figures. The commander is stood with one hand on the cupola, the other either holding something or giving the thumbs up, while the second standing figure appears to be out of the tank, and is carrying a folding-stock AK47 derivative and has a set of ammo pouches on his hip. Conclusion With MiniArt we have come to expect excellent sculpting, and this set does not disappoint, with realistic poses, drape of clothing and faces. The whole things is finely sculpted, even down to trigger and guard on the AK. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  3. M1120 HEMTT Load Handling System (LHS) (01053) 1:35 Trumpeter Based upon the almost ubiquitous (in US military circles at least) HEMTT, which has been in service in its original form since the 80s, the M1120 is a reinvigorated take on the design, eschewing the lifting crane and instead installing an MPH165-LHS system for load handling instead. Some were built new at the factory, while many others were remanufactured and zero-houred from existing vehicles, so that all new variants share the same basic chassis, with a cab that can be up-armoured with bolt-on units for operations in more dangerous situations such as the long empty roads in the Middle East where ambushes and IEDs are common. This is why floor armour is consistently fitted throughout the range. With eight wheels on four axles, all of which are powered, it is capable of handling most terrain from metalled roads to dirt tracks and worse, making it a useful tactical tool to provide operational units with supplies of all kinds. The lifting system is based on commercial systems, and excels at handling large ISO standardised palettes known as flatracks, which can be prepared with all manner of payload for fast pick-up, transportation and delivery, with a quick turnaround. Even light vehicles can be palettised and transported in this manner, as can shipping containers as you may have guessed from the box art. The Kit While a kit of the HEMTT isn't news in itself, this is Trumpeter's latest reboxing of their basic HEMTT kit that was originally released in 2015, making it by far the newest kid (and kit) on the block. There have been two other new releases of the same basic tractor unit from Trumpeter this year, one with a trailer and dozer (01055) and the other with a rather quirky-looking AN/TPY-2 X-band radar unit that is used with missile defence systems. The kit arrives in a large black-themed box with a painting of a container being loaded onto the back of the vehicle, and inside the box is divided by a piece of card to protect the more delicate parts from the weight of the sprues in transit. There's a lot of plastic and other parts in the box, so let's have a bullet-pointed list for a change: 20 x sprues in light grey styrene 1 x slide-moulded cab part 1 x sprue in clear styrene 9 x black rubbery plastic tyres 1 x Photo-Etch (PE) brass fret 4 x metal tubes (axles) in two different lengths 1 x decal sheet 1 x mask sheet There is also the instruction booklet and separate painting guide, which is printed on glossy paper and has Gunze paint codes with a chart converting to Acrysion, Vallejo, Model Master, Tamiya and Humbrol colours. In case you were unaware, Acrysion is another brand of Mr Hobby, which seems to have a fairly limited line-up of colours at present, and even uses the same codes for their colours, but is supposed to have enhanced gloss and self-levelling properties that lends itself to easier brush painting. Detail is good, and it's a full chassis and interior model, due to the fact that the engine is situated mid-chassis under a loose-fitting cowling that is open-ended. There is also a flatrack and even a container to sit atop that in case you wanted to mirror the box art and take up more room on your shelves. Construction begins with the chassis, which is made up from the two main runs, with lots of cross-members, equipment and transfer boxes in between, all fixed on with high-tensile bolts in the real thing, the heads of which are replicated on both sides of the main beams. The axles are built up in pairs on sub-assemblies, using leaf-springs, the axles coupled by drive-shafts, and movable wheels captured by carefully gluing a cap over the stub axle before closing up the outer part of the hub. Brake detail is included on both units, plus steering for the front pairing, after which both are fitted to the rail by their spring mount-points and coupled to the central(ish) transfer box by more drive-shafts and steering linkages for the front axles. Next up is the engine, which although it isn't a highly detailed replica, will definitely pass muster once the cowling is in place. It would benefit from some additional wiring and a sympathetic paintjob though, which will be worthwhile as some elements of it will be seen on the finished model. It also has a short drive-shaft into the transfer box in order to put power to the front and rear axle pairings. The steering is then finally linked to the cab area, with an additional bar between front and rear wheels on the forward pairing, after which the front fenders are built up with the air intake can on one, and other equipment around, with mudflaps extending down to the rear. Because the engine is behind the two-seat crew cab, the exhaust is just a short pipe leading to the muffler, which has a perforated heat shield made from PE, and attaches to the top of the engine on a small bracket. At this point the eight road wheels are given their tyres, which simply push onto the hubs. The spare tyre is placed in a box and hemmed in by a rail at the front and rear, plus a PE strap that goes through the centre of the hub. An aircon unit is built up, as are a number of stowage boxes and receivers for the various fluids, plus a huge fuel tank and the one piece cowl, all of which are later fitted to the chassis in clearly marked diagrams, with lugs and depressions making for an accurate location. The crew cab is quite small, and the majority of it is slide-moulded as a single part, with an underside on its own sprue that receives the driver's pedals, steering wheel, plus instruments and dashboard, which has a decal for the individual dials. The highly adjustable, suspended seats are identical, and are made up from a base, adjustment/suspension element, and the seat pads, which install in the footwells, with more instruments in between the two crew stations. The upper cab has the product code in raised lettering in the ceiling, plus ten ejector-pin marks that you might want to consider removing before you add the sun visors and glazing, the latter having a set of pre-cut masks provided in the box which is nice. The doors are separate, and have two glazing panels each, and again have their own masks, but masks for the exterior only in case you were planning on airbrushing the base coat on the interior. Light clusters and headlamps in the front are installed along with windscreen wipers, and the angled lower front panel with PE grille is fixed to the front once the cab is safely attached to the chassis. The large wing mirrors and aerial bases are fitted last to avoid being knocked off during handling, and you'll need to find your own aerial material, either from stretched sprue or fine carbon fibre rod. The Multi-Purpose Handler (MPH) system is next to be built up, starting with the L-shaped lifting arm and A-frame, with the metal tubes acting as the hydraulic ram sleeves that allow the parts to slide past each other so that the arm can be moved once completed. A 1:1 scale ruler is printed on the page to allow you to select the correct length tube in case you're confused by numbers and sizes like Father Dougal. The base frame fits to the sides of the A-frame and at the other end the longer hydraulic rams fit on a cross-rail. The whole assembly is then attached to the frame along with a set of rollers at the far aft of the chassis, and a couple of mudflaps hanging off the rear. Three of the sprues consist of parts for the ISO container, with five sides covered with ribbing for strength (the floor being flat inside as you'd expect), plus the door frame, which has a nicely detailed rendition of the double-doors and locking mechanism depicted separately. The underside has four steady-pads added, and Trumpeter have managed to limit any ejector-pin marks to the inside bottom rails, which won't be seen once it's built up. The flatrack is made up from a rectangular floor piece with two rails running down its length, and lots of small attachment points fitted to the sides, with the "bed head" upstand fitted to the front for grabbing by the MPH arm. The flatrack has four cones moulded into its corners that fit into recesses under the ISO container, with locks, holding it in place. A final page in the instructions shows how to pose the finished model in travel and loading positions. Markings In Trumpeter's usual manner there's nothing accompanying the two decal options to explain where and when these markings were seen, so you're on your own there! The desert scheme is predictably painted all over sand yellow, while the other option is painted in a NATO European Green/Brown/Black scheme, with the container in a red brown colour and a Florens logo down the front corners, the well-known container leasing company. The decal sheet consists mostly of number plates, stencils and a branding decal for the crane, as well as the aforementioned Florens logos, plus the instruments for the cab. The printing is good, with decent sharpness and clarity, but on my example, the instrument decals were slightly offset on their black background, but this doesn't seem to affect the rest of the sheet. In truth, little will be seen of these once it is finished, unless you leave all the doors open and have very good eyesight. Conclusion Although this isn't a front-line vehicle, it does have a certain appeal, and Trumpeter have given us lots of detail out of the box, plus some useful features such as the movable MPH, and an ISO container to put on it. It's quite a large model, but like a lot of AFV and softskin models, they're surprisingly compact and make for a cabinet friendly carpark. The kit is indeed proving popular, as between us receiving this and writing the review (about a week), Creative have gone out of stock. Check back later, as I'm sure they'll be ordering more. Highly recommended. Out of stock at time of writing Review sample courtesy of
  4. Wooden Boxes & Crates (35581) 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models More diorama and load carriage goodies from MiniArt, or even your first steps in creating a diorama of the Ark of the Covenant in storage after Raiders of the Lost Ark maybe? Wooden crates and boxes are just the thing to transport goods around the world and minimise damage, so frequently find themselves in and around vehicles of all sorts, as well as in industrial and even domestic situations, although with modern cardboard packaging, it's becoming more of a historic thing in that context. This new set from MiniArt's dynamo of production is a set of nine boxes and a hand cart, which arrive in a cardboard box of the figure type, with end-opening flaps as is usual. Inside is a long narrow bag that contains six sprues in grey styrene, plus a fairly large decal sheet with lots of fun markings on it. One sprue is used for the cart, which is the old-fashioned but still useful tipper variety that was often found in warehouses and railway platforms, but can also still be found in one of my sheds, albeit in a more modern, collapsible form. There are two identical sprues of longer, narrower boxes, and two identical sprues plus one supplementary sprue that allow you to construct large rectangular and square boxes, with additional stiffening Xs on the square boxes that resemble waist-high packing crates. The longer crates have lift handles added at the ends, and some have closure clasps, while the larger volume crates are probably nailed closed for strength. It's a shame there isn't a pry-bar included in the set! This is MiniArt, so detail is good, with a restrained wood texture on all the major surfaces along with nail marks, moulded in furniture such as handles and latches, all of which gives the set more realism. Markings Yes there are decals included, and pretty fun ones they are too. From Red Cross to Radiation warnings, recycling, warnings about water, which way up, and not to use fork-lifts, it's all there, including chemical warnings, bio-hazard, poison and fragile, plus some carrier names such as US Mail, some German ones, and various weight markers, with a couple of number stencils for good measure. Decals are by Decograph, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin matt carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion Nine packing crates and a trolley in excellent detail. What's not to like? All you have to do is choose a suitable colour scheme and the correct decals for the period and location. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  5. Soviet Ball Tank "Sharotank" (40001) 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models This is a hypothetical design from an alternative reality where ball-tanks were practical, and although there are some quite realistic looking pictures out there on the web, this is a decidedly fictional or "what-if" design for a small infantry tank that might have been quite handy for approaching bunkers or installations with significant light weapons presence. It does appear to have some weaknesses though, such as the little outrigger wheels that if shot out, would result in a seriously dizzy crew at best, so it's probably for the best that it remains in the realms of the fantastic. The ball hull is static, with a large wide track running around the circumference, propelled by the motor inside. There would be some serious torque transfer to the hull on acceleration or deceleration, but as this doesn't seem to adversely affect those big-wheel motorcycles, it wouldn't be a huge impediment, especially as the majority of the hull won't be moving. There is a crew of five, with the top-most crew member in each side running the weapons stations, and the front-facing crew driving and operating the forward machine gun. The final rear-facing crew operates another machine-gun that faces to the rear. Oddly, the main guns face sideways in ball-mounts, which would make shooting straight ahead difficult without cooperation from the driver, which could be tricky in such a confined, noisy environment. In reality, it would probably have been a massive failure, but it's interesting nonetheless. The Kit This is the first real What-If subject from MiniArt, who usually keep their subjects in reality, or at least prototype form. A lot of effort has been put into making it appear real however, including a complete interior, which gives the model a bit more gravitas and believability than an empty shell would have done, and also opens up the possibility for dioramas or vignettes. The kit arrives in standard sized MiniArt box, with a yellow/sand colour scheme, and inside are 23 sprues in mid grey styrene of various sizes, a single sprue of clear parts, and a decal sheet. The instruction booklet is bound in a colourful glossy cover, with greyscale drawings inside, and the decal options printed on the inside covers front and back. Detail is really nice for a relatively small kit, and I have to say that this is just the kind of silliness that appeals to me, as it is at least semi-believable and just a little bit left-field. Construction begins with the engine, which is quite a complex assembly, and has a large friction roller at the rear to apply power to the track. The crew seats are built up next, and then attached to the main frame, which consists of two large hoops with cross-members to retain its shape. Track rollers are fitted to the inside of the frames, and the engine, seats and ancillary equipment are all suspended from this. Ammo racks for the main guns are built up at the same time as the gun breeches and the machine guns, which also have spare ammo cans made up, and all these sub-assemblies are installed into the hull halves, which have cut-outs for the ball-mounts, a radiator grille (backed with a fairly standard looking radiator), and conformal fuel tank. In the centre of each side is a crew hatch that is operated by a wheel, with arched hinges and interlock parts included. With the breeches and machine guns fitted from the inside, and the hatches put in their required positions, the halves are glued to the frames, and the hollow tipped gun barrels are added, plus a headlight with clear lens for night operations (ha!). The track is supplied in four parts with a chevron tread and matching joins to minimise clean-up. The four parts glue around the open section of the hull, with a scrap diagram showing the correct location on the lip, and of course the two "trainer-wheels" that stop it from tipping over. That's all there is to it! Markings As it's all fiction, it's probably more a case of choosing the scheme that appeals to you, and as there are a choice of six, it should be pretty easy. You can of course mix and match decals and scheme, as no-one (sane) is going to be complaining that it isn't accurate! From the box you can build one of the following: Red Army, Summer 1942-43 Red Army, Summer 1942-43 Mobile Checkpoint, 1st Belorussian Front, 1944 Captured Combat Vehicle. Wehrmacht unit, Eastern Front, 1944 Polish 1st Armoured Brigade in the Red Army, 1944 1st Belorussian Front. Battle for Berlin, 1945 Decals are by Decograf, with good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin matt carrier film cut close to the printed areas. The shark mouth is going to be quite popular, I'd expect. Taken from MiniArt's website Conclusion An awesome trip into alternative history that's got a certain hokey appeal, partly because it looks like it could possibly have worked. The internal structure has been well thought-out, and the variation in decal options makes for a fun project that shouldn't take too long to complete. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  6. Schweres Wurfgerät 40 (35273) 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models The Schweres Wurfgerät was a portable rocket launcher that could be set up and taken down by a small crew, and launch three 23cm or 32cm Nebelwerfer 41 crates from a simple angled framework. These were spin-stabilised rockets that carried either high explosive warheads in the smaller diameter, or 50 litres of an incendiary mix of oil for the larger 32cm rocket. Both types are suspended in wooden crates of the same external dimensions, so they were interchangeable without any adaptation to the launcher, which fitted three abreast, and could be targeted by changing the angle of firing. The rockets were launched by an electric signal, and due to their rather noxious vapour trail the name nebelwerfer literally means "smoke bomb". These weapons were used in stand-alone framework launchers as in this kit, as well as attached to the side of a half-track, which gained the nickname Stuka zu Fuß, "Stuka on foot", and cobbled to an artillery piece, as reviewed here. Their smoke trails made it likely that they would attract return fire, so mobility was key, which led to the easily transported versions finding favour, and the self-propelled half-track version even more so, which probably makes this one the most unsafe for its crew to dilly-dally after firing. The Kit This is a new kit from MiniArt, but there are some shared parts with their recent German Rocket Launcher with 28cm WK SPR & 32cm WK Flamm (35269), as per the link above, due to its use of the same crated rockets. With the addition of the framework launcher parts and a set of crew figures, they have created this alternative firing method, which makes it even more likely that they'll be pinning these same launchers to the side of an Sd.Kfz.251 in the near future. Inside the modest box is a weighty twenty sprues in varying sizes of grey styrene, plus a decal sheet and a short instruction booklet. Detail is good, and all you'll need in addition to complete the build is a length of fine wire to replicate the firing lead. There are six of each of the 32cm and 28cm warheads, made up from four parts apiece, and surrounded by a framework crate that consists of slightly different internal structures to accommodate the different diameters of the rockets. The frame is very simple, with a separate cross-bar with lugs to hold the crates low on the frame, and a self-entrenching tool at the bottom that hinges to accommodate the different trajectories. The frame is propped up with another C-shaped frame that has multiple right-angled sections welded along the vertical length, which attaches to the main frame via a short peg and wingnut top, allowing the modeller to choose their own launch angle during construction. Another two pegs are driven into the ground, with just their tops depicted in the model, in order to stop the spade from slipping during firing. There are five figures on the largest sprue in the box, with a couple of extra crates that aren't used into the bargain. There are four crew with one at each corner of one of the crates, carrying it with the flip-down handles that will need to be glued in the extended position during construction, rather than vertical for launch. The last figure is of course the officer bossing everyone around, with hand on hip and finger outstretched because in his mind the launch frame is obviously very difficult for mere soldiers to find. Two of his underlings are without tunic, while the other two have their tunics still on. One of each pair has a cap on, and the officer has the peaked cap, long boots and riding pants to pick him out from the rest. As always with MiniArt, the sculpting of the figures is excellent, and the natural poses will help with realism once they are sympathetically painted and placed in a diorama setting. Each figure is broken down into torso, head, separate arms and legs, plus cap, and in the case of the officer, a pistol in a holster on his belt. Markings The rockets were usually grey, while their crates could either be natural wood or dunkelgelb, while the launch frame could be anything from German Grey, olive green to dunkelgelb or bare wood. The decals are stencils for the rockets and their crates, with white or black lettering on the crates, depending on whether you have painted them a light or dark colour. The figures are dressed in standard Wehrmacht colours, which are called out in an ensemble picture showing their final arrangement, which has been lifted from the box picture. Decals are by Decograph, with good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin matt carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion If these odd weapons appeal to you (like they do me), it's another interesting alternative launch method to add to the cabinet, and a good model into the bargain. The crew figures add a little human scale to the model, and would look good on some rough field, or amongst the ruins of a city or town. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  7. V-55 Engine MiniArt 1:35 The V-55 is a huge V-12, 580hp water cooled diesel engine used in all T-55 variants. This kit is taken from the superb interior kits of the T-55. As I said in my reviews of the full kits this is a beautiful model in its own right. Well, looks like MiniArt heard me and have released a separate kit of it. The small, yet attractive box with artwork showing the engine in its completed state, contains four sprues of grey styrene and a length of copper wire. Construction is as in the full kits, starting with the two piece sump, onto which the starter motor and alternator are attached, as is the electrical tube that sits between the cylinder heads. Each of the cylinder blocks are made up from six parts, each completed assembly is then glued to the sump assembly. The exhaust manifolds are then attached, along with the three lengths of pipe at the rear of the engine, and two lengths at the front, which in turn are attached to the separate water pump. The engine fitted with a seven piece cradle, followed by the exhaust silencers and their attachment blocks. The air filter is made up from eleven parts. Once assembled the filter is glued to the front of the engine and two recirculation pipes fitted between it and the exhaust silencers. The copper wire is then cut to length and used as glow plug leads Conclusion This is a very nice and useful little kit. You can use it in the MiniArt kits that don’t come with engines, or use it on its own as part of a workshop scene in a diorama or whatever your imagination can come up with. Review sample courtesy of
  8. Soviet MBV-2 Rail Cruiser Late KT-28 Gun HobbyBoss 1:35 History The MBV-2 was a very large, self propelled armoured train or rail cruiser, as they were sometimes called. It was fitted with three turrets armed with the 76.2mm KT-28 guns removed from old T-28 Medium Tanks. They also carried four maxim machine guns within the hull with a further three DT machine guns in each turret. For anti-aircraft protection, the turret mounted DT’s in AA mounts were augmented by a Quad maxim in a retractable mounting between the control tower and first of the rear turrets. A pyramidal structure amidships formed something of a command cupola jutting out of the angled, armoured hull. This hull was simply fitted over the existing train car. Unlike other armoured trains built before, the MBV-2 included its own power pack - a diesel engine mated to a hydraulic transmission system - which allowed it to be self-propelled removing the use of a dedicated locomotive. In practice, MBV-2 trains were generally deployed as ranged fire support weapons and as deterrents along key fronts. Its firepower was capable of stopping all known light- and medium-armoured German tanks of the war which made German war planners take their threat seriously. However, the MBV-2 trains suffered from what other armoured trains suffered from - they were confined to existing railroad networks and weighed down by their heavy armament, ammunition, and armour. Fortunately for the Soviets, the country managed an extensive railway network - its value already proven in the First World War. Additionally, if disabled for any reason, these trains could also serve in a valuable static defence role. At least one (the second) MBV-2 armoured train was present along the Leningrad Front where it served as part of the 14th Independent Armoured Train Battalion (23rd Army). This example was saved from the scrap heap following the war to find sanctuary as a showpiece of the Kubinka Tank Museum. The Model Having reviewed the earlier release of this vehicle I was expecting to find something different in this version. But this is not the case. Other than the main guns it is in fact the same kit in a different box and paint guide. The kit comes in a large new style of box. It has a nice artist’s rendition of the rail cruiser on the front and a clear panel, through which you can see part of the main hull. Opening one end, you will find three of the main parts separate from the sprues, which are contained in two top opening boxes. On opening the smaller boxes the modeller is confronted with a box full of medium grey styrene, twenty sprues in total, along with separate hull, floor, bogies, control cupola, and turrets. There are also five rail ballast sections and a sprue of rails and sleepers in a light grey styrene. All the parts are beautifully moulded, particularly the single piece hull of the cruiser, with no sign of flash and only a few moulding pips, so cleaning up after removal from the sprues should be a bit of a doddle. Be aware that this is quite a large kit measuring out at 570mm in length and 94mm in width. The cruiser construction begins with the bogies, one is fitted with a frame, three sets of brake pads, three axles and three pairs of wheels. With the wheels fitted, the two side plates/axle bearings plus the front and rear plates. The second bogie is of similar construction, but with only two sets of wheels plus driving connecting rods and counterweights. The main body is then fitted out with the four two piece maxim machine guns from the inside. The floor is then attached followed a pair of air bottles and a single cross member. Two sets of control rods are then assembled and glued to the underside, followed by the two bogies and a pair of accumulators. The underside is then finished off with a pair of angled side skirts. Probably the most complex build is that of the quad AA maxim machine gun mount. The frame is assembled, followed by the four machine guns with separate handles. A connecting frame is attached to the front of the gund and two elevation arc frames fitted underneath. The ammunition boxes are glued to the guide frame which in turn is glued to the underside of the machine guns. The main mounting is part solid pyramid, part tripod with a two piece mount joint on top. The machine gun assembly is fitted to the joint and the completed assembly slid into the compartment just aft of the control tower hole. Unfortunately there are no bulkheads to this mounting position, so you can see straight through the main hull, including the previously fitted maxims, which are only the muzzle sections. You may wish to close this are in, but don’t forget any access doors. On the bow of the hull there is a three piece machine gun mounting for a DT gun, along with the two, two piece buffers, mid mounted dome and a load of handrails all over the hull. The six piece control tower/cupola is glued into place, along with more hand rails, as are the couplings fitted fore and aft. Four hinges are made up and attached to the hatch covers for the maxim pit, these can be made operable or just glued into the chosen position. Each of the three turrets are assembled from single piece upper sections, turret ring section, five piece coaxial DT machine guns eight piece main guns, two piece periscopes, and the separate commanders and gunners hatches. Two of the turrets also have another five piece DT machine gun fitted on the turrets rear face, while all three have a DT AA mount on the roof made of 10 parts. The completed turrets are then placed into their respective positions and the completed cruiser placed onto the rails. The three sections that make up the majority of the track are joined together and fitted with the two end pieces, one of which needs to be modified to fit. The sleeper sections are then fitted from beneath, again with one section requiring modification to fit. The rails are then slid through the ties and joined together with two fishplates per rail. Since most of the track laid in Russia seems to have been pretty much straight onto the ground surface, it might be best to leave the track bed parts and lay it onto a board or such like as part of a diorama. Conclusion As with the previous release, this is a great kit and will certainly look different in your model collection.. The build isn’t at all complicated and would be a good first build for anyone interested in these trains, just a shame that Hobbyboss couldn't make it at least a little different from the previous release, especially adding some more bulkheads around the AA machine gun well. The camouflage possibilities are interesting, with a few photos on the web showing how the cruisers were painted. Review sample courtesy of
  9. North American P-51D Mustang "Yellow Nose" (LS-009) 1:48 Meng Model via Creative Models Originally developed to fulfil a British requirement for new fighter aircraft, the unmistakable North American P-51 Mustang famously went from drawing board to first flight in just 178 days. It went on to become one of the most famous and successful aircraft of the Second World War. Transformed by the addition of Rolls Royce’s legendary Merlin engine, the Mustang went from strength to strength and was eventually developed into several variants. The P-51D introduced a number of improvements in response to combat experience, including a cut-down rear fuselage and bubble canopy and an increase in the number of 0.5 inch machine guns from four to six. Over 8000 P-51Ds were produced, more than any other Mustang variant. The Kit This new tooled P-51D from Meng is designed as a "snap together" kit and Meng trumpet it can be put together without glue. As such the kit is designed in a different way than your standard kit. There are more tabs and inserts and construction varies from a standard kit. Having spoken to a couple of modellers who have built the kit it certainly does go together without glue, however the modeller it would seem would be wise to glue it as they go. The kit arrives on five sprues of dark grey plastic and a clear sprue. Construction starts its seems in the conventional way with the cockpit. The front fire wall and instrument coaming are assembled with the rudder pedals clipping it. The radio area behind the pilot is installed onto the cockpit floor. The control column is added and the seat made up, then fitted. Moving on to the fuselage sides, side panels are added, then the tail wheel well & wheel are made up and attached. A couple of insert parts are attached and then the fuselage can be closed up. The propeller is then made up fro two sets of two bladed added to hub. The top engine cowl part is added along with the exhausts (2 different types being provided). Construction then moves onto the wings. The landing gear complete with wheels are added into the gear bay, this is then inserted into the rear wing. The flaps (down position only) are then added into the lower wing, and the whole thing is trapped by the addition of the upper wing. Inserts are provided on the leading edge for the guns. The cowling under the main engine is then added to the fuselage. The main ventral radiator assembly is then made up, the wing installed and then the radiator installed. Next the gear doors are installed (either up or down) and the rear scoop for the radiator added. Underwing stores are made up and installed. There is a choice for 100lb bombs, 75 Gal & 108 Gal drop tanks. Lastly the frame is added inside the canopy and its installed, followed by a top fuselage insert, the tailplanes and the rudder. Markings Two options are provided on a sheet made in house by Meng. 308 FS, 31 FG 44-15459 (Capt. John Voll) 356 FS, 354 FG, 9 AF 44-15622 (Capt. Richard Turner) Conclusion Recommended if you want something a bit different, or you would like a project that snaps together, however I wont be replacing any of my other Mustang kits with this one. Review sample courtesy of
  10. Russian 9K79 Tochka (SS-21 Scarab) IRBM (85509) 1:35 Hobby Boss via Creative Models Mobile launch systems are a method for deploying missiles in such a way that makes tracking them down by the enemy more difficult, ensuring that launches take place before they are destroyed due to their location being known in advance. The Soviet Union had a number of such types in their inventory, which were able to move, set up and fire in short order, then escape retaliation by packing up and moving again, at least in theory. This system is known in the West as the SS-21 Scarab, with the suffix A, B or C used for improved variants over time that could reach further into enemy territory. The missile is capable of carrying high explosive, nuclear, biological or fragmentation warheads and is more accurate than its larger predecessors, with better inertial guidance, and solid propellant that makes it easier to handle and launch than equivalent liquid options. The carrier and launch vehicle is a BAZ 5921 built by KB Mashinostroyeniya with the designation 9K79, and it carries the missile in a recess that runs down the length of the chassis that has a protective warhead "cup" at the front behind the crew cab. When setting up, the missile is raised pivoting at the rear on a short platform, with corner steadies deploying from the underside to reduce instability. The chassis has 6 wheels on three axles and is fully amphibious, with water jet propulsion at the rear, and a set of long lift-and-slide doors that cover the missile when on the move. The system has been in use since the mid-70s, and still serves with the Russian military in an upgraded capacity today, as well as former Soviet states and sympathetic countries. It has seen use most recently in the ongoing Syrian conflict, causing concern and an aborted reaction by neighbouring Israel. The Kit This is a new tool from Hobby Boss, and pretty much the first injection moulded kit of the type that I could find online. It arrives in a fairly large box, which is divided internally to hold the hull parts and missile safely, with ten sprues in sand yellow styrene, plus the five larger parts that have already been removed from sprues before packing. There is a clear sprue, a fret of Photo-Etch (PE) parts, six black rubberised tyres, two decal sheets, a sheet of die-cut masks, and a short length of braided thick brass wire. It's a full interior kit, so the instruction booklet is a fairly long affair, and the painting guide includes photos of the interior built up and painted. The level of detail is excellent throughout and the exterior surface is very crisp, fitting snugly to the underside part with no adjustment. The instructions begin with the drive and steering units, of which there are six, built up in pairs due to their location on the hull. The tyres are slipped over the two-part hubs, and glued to the axles, while various small parts are fitted around the underside before it is flipped over to accept the main chassis rail. This large part sits in the space between the wheel arches down the full length of the hull, and has additional drive parts added to the inner rail, cross-members fitted between the halves, and a small deck at the rear of the frame. When it is placed in the hull, transfer boxes a fitted inside, and the basic cradle parts for the front of the missile are put in place, including the rear pivot-points. The big 300bhp engine is incorrectly mislabelled when it is built up as E-E, and later as G-G when it is installed in the chassis, so it may be worthwhile altering the instructions to remind yourself. It sits low behind the crew cab, and as joined by a number of other assemblies, such as the receivers for the rams that power the steadies, which can be fitted deployed or stowed as you see fit. The ancillary power unit is also built up from a substantial number of parts, along with the cab bulkhead with radio gear, the water jet system in the rear, the launch rail for the missile, various equipment, plus a protective shroud for the main power plant. A whole host of other equipment is made up and installed in a flurry over the next few pages of instructions, with controls for the missiles, stowage, equipment boxes and all manner of other tanks, receptacles, and of course the crew compartment, which has seats, instrument consoles and pedals fitted, plus the remainder of the parts, and even more equipment being fitted to the inside of the hull top. The missiles can be built up either ready to launch or stowed for transport, with two included so you can take your pick. The fins fold closed, and the steering baffles can be fitted to the exhaust ring open or folded up parallel to the rocket body, and it latches to the launch rail by four small tangs that fit into corresponding recesses on the sides of the missile body. The folding nose-cone shroud is attached to the chassis and can be left open or closed as is appropriate to your build option. Although it looks like you can build two missiles, they are slightly different from each other, and there are only one set of fins and baffles supplied. Turning to the upper hull, this is detailed with the aforementioned internal parts, plus the door mechanism for the missile trough, the doors themselves with separate hinges, external vents that are fitted from the inside, the top crew hatch, and of course the windscreen parts, which are actually fitted from the outside (don't forget to mask them!). Externally there are a set of pioneer tools, some PE mesh vents, side windows, hooks, light clusters, wing mirrors… the list goes on! The final act brings the two halves together, which would probably be best done before you add all the greeblies for fear of knocking them off during handling. The back page of the instructions show the two display options, either all locked away for transport, or in a deployed mode with doors open, steadies down and the missile at a jaunty angle. Markings Someone at Hobby Boss quite likes this subject, as they have included six decal options for the kit, and most of them are quite attractive camo options in varying colours, and only one boring Russian Green version for the camo-phobic. The missile is always a medium green however, but some options sport a bright red tip, and others have decal stripes added to the sides. As usual with Hobby Boss however, you don't get any additional information of where and when these schemes were used, so you'll have to make an educated guess based on the decals, or surf the net to pick up some comparables. Decals are printed in-house and have good enough registration, clarity and sharpness for the job, and the smaller sheet includes lots of decals for the interior equipment, with dials and so forth for instrument panels. Conclusion Nicely detailed and quite petite for a mobile missile system, this should look cool in your cabinet if you choose one of the camo options, needing only a little extra headroom if you decide to portray it in the launch position. Review sample courtesy of
  11. US Machine gun set (37047) 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models Continuing their current theme of providing the modeller with a full range of ancillary items to bedeck and festoon dioramas, vehicles and vignettes, this set takes the theme of machine guns seen on US Army vehicles since WWII. Namely the Browning M2 0.5" Heavy machine gun and the smaller Browning M1919 0.3" Medium machine gun. 4 of each type of gun is included along with various mounts, ammo belts and feed boxes. The quality of the mouldings is superb throughout and PE is included even for the perforated sleeves if you wish to replace it. This will be a perfect set for anything needing to have a Machine gun mounted, or for diorama purposes. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  12. Merkava Mk.4M w/Trophy Active Protection System (TS-036) 1:35 Meng Model via Creative Models The Merkava name has a long history with the Israeli military, and the Merkava IV is the latest in a line of main battle tanks that have been in service since the 1970s. The design has evolved over the years into the Mk.4, which bears a family resemblance to the earlier vehicles. The Mark.IV is a product of the new millennium, and builds upon the shoulders of the Mark.III, incorporating all the latest protective and offensive systems that are necessary to improve survivability in an increasingly missile dominated battlefield. It is also fitted with a larger 120mm gun, and has modular armour packages that can be compared to the TUSK armour of the US Abrams MBT. Fire control is highly automated, and when it was decided to extend the life of the IV, introduction of helmet mounted targeting and advanced protection systems were developed to give the tankers a 360o view of the battlefield, which gives a huge advantage in situational awareness over tanks that still rely on vision ports and periscopes. The Trophy protection system was developed by Raphael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd., and is designed as an all-round autonomous missile destroyer, picking up threats with four sensor panels, instantaneously calculating the trajectory and arrival time of incoming missiles, and intercepting them with a blast of pellets that shred the missile with their kinetic energy, whilst posing minimal danger to surrounding troops or non-combatants. It also "grasses up" the position of the firer of the weapon to the crew, and in addition can give nearby units the location so that reaction times are reduced, and they don't have to wait for another round if the crew missed the location first time around. They are developing an extension to the system to handle Discarding Sabot Kinetic Penetrators, which will open up new possibilities for survival of tanks and other vehicles in the battlefield. In Israeli its name translates to Windbreaker, and since introduction in 2011 not a single IVm has been lost to RPG or anti-tank missiles. The Kit This is Meng's first tooling of the Merkava IV, having engaged in a number of earlier versions some while back, so you could say they're back on the wagon after a fallow period where they concentrated on other things. As usual with Israeli subjects, Desert Eagle Publications have been involved in the development of the kit and markings, which is indicated on the box lid, and on the inside cooperation with the curator of the Latrun Armoured Corps Museum is also acknowledged. The kit arrives in the standard satin Meng box, and under the lid there are sprues right up to the lip, and it has clearly been bestowed with lavish detail throughout, and a comprehensive list of contents, as follows: 8 x sprues in sand coloured styrene Turret top, bottom, upper hull, M2 machine gun receiver and idler wheels off-sprues 2 x black sprues of track links 1 x clear sprue 1 x Photo-Etch (PE) sheet with nickel-plating 1 x length of chain 1 x length of brass wire 1 x sprue of polycaps 1 x decal sheet The instructions complete the package along with a separate colour painting and markings guide on glossy paper. Main Battle Tanks have a tendency to get larger over time, especially with spaced armour or ERA blocks, and this is evident from the size of the hull and turret parts. There is also a degree of slide moulding to produce outstanding details, such as the styrene springs that are found along the edge of one sprue. The anti-slip texture on the exterior faces is also well done and in-scale, with this level of attention to detail pervading almost the whole kit. Construction begins with the road wheels, which have separate tyres and outer rims, with a polycap sandwiched between each pair. The idler and drive sprockets also have polycaps at their heart, while the larger twin return rollers are permanent fixtures once glued in. The lower hull and sides are put together and the rear crew access door is framed using extra parts, while the suspension is built from a large number of parts, including those incredible styrene springs, which are one per swingarm, with the torsion arms threaded through holes in the hull. The rear door is a block of a thing, and is affixed to the frame, with two tubular framed stowage baskets flanking it and the rear brackets for the belly armour below them. The armour is a single shaped part that has strong shackles front and back that hold it in place under the tank. Tracks! Everyone has their preference, and these are individual links that comprise two parts each, which glue together around the previous part to retain workability once set. They are moulded in black to ease painting, and have three attachment points to the sprues each, which are on the curved edges that won't be seen, so clean-up of these will be relatively easy. There are two sprues, and each one seems to suffer from flash in two main places, which will mean additional clean-up of the delicate parts that won't be easy, and can't be left because it will interfere with fit. There are rectangular ejector pin marks on each half of the links, and these seem to have a small amount of flash around each one, which will need scraping off before they will fit together. Add to this their penchant to bow slightly, and you have a difficult set of parts to glue together, especially when you consider that the aim is to finish up with workable links. I have built up two pairs of links from the flashed and non-flashed areas, and although there are only half a dozen flashed links per sprue, the ejector-pin flash and general fiddliness gave me headaches, and resulted in me having to clamp them closed while the glue set up. I suspect that this will cause a great deal of extra work for the builder, and once you consider that there are to be two lengths of 95 links each, it will put some off for sure. Friulmodel do a replacement set in white metal, but as that's an additional cost, I'd have a go at a few links and see whether it's a job you'll relish or not. With the tracks out of the way, it's the turn of the upper hull, which is a large slab to which the exhaust port and rear bulkheads are added, along with a bunch of vision blocks, hatches, travel lock and mesh panels on the engine deck and over the exhaust. Pioneer tools are added, and the large attachment brackets for the side skirts are fitted along the sides of the hull, then installed once the two halves of the hull have been joined along with mudflaps and rear extension. The two tow cables/chains run down the top of the left skirt, and these are made up from 165mm of chain with styrene eyes, and 150mm of braided cable, again with styrene eyes. The turret is a focal point of any AFV model (apart from those without turrets of course!), and the large faceted clam-shaped turret of the IVm is quite impressive. There is no interior, so the main gun is built from two halves with a ring that slips over the business end and slides down to the fume extractor hump. A wedge of mantlet is constructed around it, and this is later fixed into the slot in the front of the turret, which is surprisingly closed up before installation. The turret top and bottom are completed by the rear bulkhead, which is covered with track links and other equipment, then the mantlet is glued in the front, some additional armoured hardware is fitted to the roof, and two of the Trophy sensor panels are installed in the cheeks either side of the gun. The turret may be shallow, but it is covered with small parts; spare ammo canisters; commander's range finder; the commander's vision blocks, which are fitted into a semi-circular insert that drops into the deck; commander and loader's hatch; panoramic sight turret, and a large tubular-framed turret basket with the ball & chain shot-trap curtain that has become synonymous with Israeli tanks. The basket has spare jerry cans and sensor masts added, and just forward of this, two more Hard-Kill APS panels are fitted into the armour, with drop-down protective shields that save them from damage when not in use. The commander has a MAG machine gun on a ring in front of his hatch, while the M2 .50cal derivative machine gun is mounted centrally over the main gun, and is controlled remotely. The turret fits to the hull with a bayonet lock, and the piece of wire that's supplied can be used in sections to attach PE tactical marking panels that are appropriate to the decal option you have chosen. Markings Sinai Grey is the colour, although I had a bit of trouble tracking down MC-207 in the Meng Colours branded AK range. There are loads of Sinai Greys out there though, and it might be so new that it isn't listed yet. All vehicles are painted the same colour, with only their unit and tactical markings to differentiate. From the box you can build one of the following: Tank 11 Gimel, 1st "Shelaqh" (Sword) Battalion, 401st Armoured Brigade IDF, Golan Heights, Oct 2014 Tank Dalet, 2nd Company, 1st "Shelaqh" Battalion, 401st Armoured Brigade IDF, during training on the Golan Heights, Jun 2015 Tank Gimel, 3rd "Magen" (Shield) Company, 3rd "Eshet" (Steel) Battalion, 401st Armoured Brigade IDF, during training on the Golan Heights, Mar 2016 Decals are printed in China with good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin matt carrier film cut close to the printed areas. The majority of decals are white, while some have black shadows painted on, and one has grey lowlights on the winged shield. Conclusion With the exception of the tracks, which I can't warm to however hard I try, this looks to be a good model of an interesting subject. The detail is excellent, and it represents a thoroughly modern IDF AFV, with plenty of scope for weathering and dust effects. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  13. Vodka Bottles with Crates (35577) 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models Fancy a snifter? This quirky little set contains enough vodka to sink a 1:35 battleship, along with the crates that make carrying multiple bottles a breeze. Arriving in a standard figure-sized box, it has a strangely weighty feel to it due to the density of the plastic inside. There are twenty four sprues in light sand styrene, and a further twelve in clear styrene, plus a decal sheet for bottle labels, and instructions on the back of the box. Two of the sandy coloured sprues are used to make up a box, which has a set of dividers inside to hold the bottles stable. There are spaces for 20 bottles inside, and each clear sprue contains that exact number, but in two styles, so as it's more likely that you'll have one type per crate, use two half sprues per crate. The decal sheet contains six types of label for the bottles, with 42 of each type, so a few spare as long as you don't screw up too many. All you need to do is apply the decals and paint the bottle caps before you can install them in the crates. The crates will need painting, and using a dry brushing technique should bring out the moulded-in wood grain nicely, and if you have any decals spare, you could paste one to the side of the crates like in the photos. Conclusion Another great accessory set, and in total you have twelve crates of vodka for your various dioramas, backs of Russian trucks or for whatever other purpose you can think of. Just remember to drink responsibly. Cheers! Review sample courtesy of
  14. Soviet Tank Crew (35254) For flame tanks & heavy breakthrough tanks 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models MiniArt, those doyens of figures have new sets almost every week, and this one contains four crew of the Soviet persuasion, which are of WWII era, wearing leather jackets and posing in the hatchway of their tanks. They arrive in a figure-sized box with a painting of the gentlemen in question on the front, and a construction diagram and painting guide on the rear. Inside are four sprues, three of which were attached together with a runner that I cut off in order to ease photography. There are four figures, one per sprue, broken down into torso, separate legs, arms head, helmet and face, plus additional overlap parts such as jackets, goggles and helmet side flaps. All the figures have complete bodies, with their legs depicted entirely, which offers flexibility in positioning, and three are clearly leaning with their hands on the edges of hatches, while the fourth is stood with hand on hip pretending to be a little teapot. Their dress varies, with all four wearing boots, two with overall trousers (one tucked in, the other out), the tea pot chap wearing riding-style trousers with voluminous thigh panels, and the remaining figure having leather pants. If you check out MiniArt's website here, you can also see the photos that were used as reference for the sculpts, which as usual are first class. Review sample courtesy of
  15. Soviet Combat Engineers (35091) 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models Another useful and interesting set of figures from the masters at MiniArt. This one is a set of Combat Engineers undertaking mine clearing exercises, presumably those left behind by the retreating Germans. The set arrives in a figure-sized box with a painting of the figures on the front, and a construction/painting guide on the rear. Inside are a lot of sprues of grey styrene, more than you'd get in some full kits! There are twelve sprues in total, with only three that are identical with some metal detectoring (?) parts. There are five figures, one per sprue, broken down into torso, separate legs, arms head, helmet and face, plus additional parts such as backpacks, bed rolls, ammo pouches, a couple of detector-loops and even a couple of mines. The accessory sprues include the three mine detecting paraphernalia, pouches, a plethora of helmets, additional weapons such as Moisin-Nagant rifles, a PPHs-43 and a couple of PPSh-41 machine guns with 71-round drum or 35-round curved stick mags. There are also stick grenades, entrenching tools, water bottles, teaspoons (why?) and tea cups. On the three identical accessory sprues there are poles either for detectors, or for a probe-stick, mine flag, headphones, backpack, electronics box that runs the coils of the detectors, plus a couple of different shaped coils that aren't used in this boxing. Each figure is in a unique pose, with a prone solider with detector attached to his rifle's bayonet lug, a standing detector on the prowl, a man carrying a mine and pointing, a soldier probing the ground in front of him and finally a man kneeling down unearthing a mine that he has found with his probe. Three of the figures are wearing more typical Soviet uniform, while the mine carrier and the prone gentleman are wearing a baggy camouflaged overall that will be fun to paint. The boxart shows one with a leaf pattern, while the other has a simpler two tone camouflage cloud pattern on his overalls and helmet. A little research might be in order here. Sculpting is first class as always, and the choice of accessories gives a lot of options to personalise your scene, with just the addition of some wiring to the operators' headphones to finish off. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  16. Delta Force FAV (82406) 1:35 Hobby Boss via Creative Models Designed by Chenowth Racing Products in the 1980s, using some VW Beetle parts that shows more than a hint of its Dune Buggy heritage, over 100 Fast Attack Vehicles (FAVs) were procured and used to give troops the speed to race to an engagement over all manner of terrain, strike fast and get out just as quickly. When the HUMVEE came into service it replaced the FAV, but didn't offer the flexibility and speed of the FAV, which were given to Special Forces until it was replaced by the newer Light Strike Vehicle, which can carry two passengers in addition to the two crew that an FAV could carry. The Kit This is a new tooling from our benign Chinese modelling overlords, and arrives in a smallish box that has a painting of the subject matter on the front, crewed up and moving forward. Inside are four sprues in sand coloured styrene, plus another with only the floor tray and one other part; four wheels in hard rubbery plastic; two clear sprues; a fret of Photo-Etch (PE) brass; a small decal sheet, and of course the black & white instructions with separate colour painting guide. As is usual with Hobby Boss vehicle kits, the level of detail is good, and the part count is respectable for such a small 2-man vehicle. There aren't any crew figures in the box sadly, and the floor pan has some large ejector pin marks that will be visible in the side panniers unless you fill them with stowage. Deal with these early on if you plan to, as it will get a little crowded in there later on. Construction begins with the floor pan, which has PE mesh side panels, seats and driver controls added, and here the seats are identical, so if you aren't planning on adding crew it might be an idea to adjust the drape of one seat to make it look different. The engine is exposed, and is built up from a good number of parts that will be familiar to anyone that has watched an episode of Wheeler Dealers where Edd strips out a Beetle engine. It includes all the tin-work that directs the cooling air around the engine, transmission and pulleys of the real thing, and is fitted to the rear of the floor pan once complete and painted. Suspension is installed on the rear corners with drive-shafts and their gaiters, then the roll-over frame is dropped into slots in the floor either side of the crew. The instrument panel and steering wheel are attached to a front cross-member, which slips between the two sides, and the bonnet/hood/boot then covers the front of the floor pan, hiding away a couple more ejector pin marks that won't need filling. A stowage area at the bottom of the cage is popped in place behind the crew seats, and the front suspension turrets are fitted to the front, supporting the main light cluster, with clear lenses added. Another stowage tray that covers the flexible fuel tank goes behind the crew on short stand-off tubes, with some more PE parts holding things within. The front bumper/fender and clear lensed headlights are glued on, and the front suspension is completed ready for the wheels later on, after which the air filters are attached to the top of the engine, and the exhausts to the bottom, with cooling fins closest to the manifolds. The rest of the framework is complete, with 6 spare shock absorbers lashed to the sides in case of incident, and front PE mesh covers for the light clusters giving an idea of how rough the terrain these vehicles travel over really is. A perforated armoured panel is fitted over the engine compartment, with a slot through the bottom to allow the exhaust pipe to protrude from the back. Another panel is attached to the roof, and a clear wind deflector screen covers the lower half of the windscreen area, with a single wing mirror on a stalk to check behind. Fenders are fitted all round on PE brackets, the chunky rubbery tires are each given 3-part hubs, and are fitted into the wheel wells in each corner, with rear lights and whip antenna finishing it off. Markings It's a small vehicle when completed, at barely 11cm long and 6cm wide, so it's not going to have much in the way of decals. There are two schemes shown on the sheet, one wearing a Black/Green/Brown NATO camo with unit markings on the front, and the crew names a la "Kevin & Stacey" in black lettering on the wind deflector. A more desert related tritonal scheme with a brown base, green camo and black edging is provided on the other page, and this has only US Army on the cowling and rear of the seats. A couple of instrument dial decals finish off the sheet, which as it is all black apart from some sandy backings to the unit markings for the first option. Conclusion An interesting and seldom covered subject, but this modeller would have liked to see some custom fitted figures in the box in an ideal world. It's still a cool model though, and will look good once painted, weathered and decked out with stowage. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  17. Luggage Set 1930-40s (35582) 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models Continuing their current theme of providing the modeller with a full range of ancillary items to bedeck and festoon dioramas, vehicles and vignettes, this set takes the theme of luggage. It arrives in a figure-sized box, and inside are five sprues all containing different types and styles of luggage, as well as some wheeled goodies in the shape of a pram and a cart. The instructions are printed on the rear of the box, and deal mostly with the creation of the cart and pram, with additional steps for the bags, sacks and suitcases that are also included in the set. A small decal sheet is also provided to dot around the suitcases as you see fit. Within the box you get one each of the following: 4-wheeled cart with framework 4-wheeled pram Large suitcase Medium suitcase Small suitcase Doctor's bag Hat box Folio case Sack with round vegetables showing through Sack with longer vegetables showing through Large sack Painting suggestions can be found on the front of the box, but the choice is yours, as are the placement of the decals. The pram is perhaps the most complex of the assemblies, with the cart following closely behind, which will require a little care in cleaning up, so that you don't break any of the delicate parts. Much of the pram is more robust, apart from the handle and leaf-springs under the chassis. This will be a perfect set for anything including refugees or travel situations, where personal effects have been abandoned due to circumstance, or stacked in the back of a truck/bus etc. Review sample courtesy of
  18. T-55A Late Mod. 1965 (37023) 1:35 MiniArt The T-54's gestation and transformation into the T-55 was long-winded and complicated by constant changes to an as yet unsatisfactory performing vehicle, which began at early as the end of WWII. Production of the T-54-1 was halted due to production and quality issues, and recommenced as the re-designed T-54-2, with the turret design changed to closer resemble the eventual domed shape of the T-55. The -2 didn't last all that long before the -3 replaced it, and the requirement for survival of tactical nuclear blasts led to the eventual introduction of the similar looking, but significantly different T-55 that we know so well. As the heavy tank fell out of favour, the T-55 became part of the burgeoning Main Battle Tank movement, with thousands of them being produced over the years in various guises. In the early 60s the T-55A was developed, providing more adequate NBC protection that required a lengthening of the hull and coincidentally added anti-spall protection for the crew. It also sounded the death-knell of the bow-mounted machine gun, which was removed to improve ammo storage, and hasn't been seen on MBTs for decades now. The Kit This partial new tool is from the extensive MiniArt line of T-54 and T-55s that they've been working on for some time now. We reviewed (amongst others) their Full Interior kit of the early Mod. of this type in March of this year here, and that was a huge sprue-fest due to the modular moulding techniques and the fact that it was presenting a full interior, even including the engine compartment, so is a staggering kit! This kit doesn't provide the interior but has its own fairly large quantity of sprues, some of which it shares with its sibling, which extends beyond the larger sprues into a lot of the smaller ones too. I've taken the liberty of pinching the shared sprue pics where I can, and taken new ones for the new ones, or sprues that were bundled with interior parts in the last review. The use of the smaller sprues for repeated parts is efficient because many can be reused, and it helps to keep tooling costs reasonable, so we see more kits of similar subjects. The kit arrives in a standard top-opening box, wrapped in cellophane to protect it from prying eyes and damage on its way to you. Inside are two bags that hold the large and small sprues, and these spill out with great gusto when you open them. There are an eye-watering 74 sprues in grey styrene, one of clear parts, a sheet of Photo-Etch (PE) brass, a decal sheet, and of course the instructions. Why so many sprues? Some of them are small and only carry 4 parts each, with for example there are 16 with the individual track-links, 10 for the wheels, and so forth. It soon adds up. It will come as no surprise that the detail is excellent, and there are options for the minor variations that occurred between units, such as two types of fuel tanks and tool boxes, the rain cover for the driver in the stowed or deployed position, and fittings for the deep wading and mine plough attachments, although these aren't supplied in the box, but vehicles were fitted with them wore the attachment points at all times. The individual track links are workable, which should make their installation easier when the time comes. The lower hull pan is decked out with the suspension mounts and hatches firstly, with the torsion bars and swing-arms added through the holes along with the ancillary suspension parts, and the optional mine roller mounts on the lower glacis. Additional suspension parts are glued to the outer hull sides, and the inner sides are slotted into place on their backside. Although there is no interior, glimpses of these parts may still be seen through any open hatches. The sides are held in place by tabs on the lower, with a similar method holding the rear lower bulkhead, and two internal bulkheads giving the hull a bit more stiffness. The upper glacis is festooned with light clusters and more plough mounts, as well as the bow-wave baffle in either plastic or PE, with a pair of clear vision blocks added to the area above the driver's position. Road wheels are built up in pairs with separate hub caps, plus the idler and drive sprockets at each end, the former held out past the side of the hull on an adjustable axle that is moved to correct track tension on the real thing. Each wheel set is pegged onto the swing-arms, and can be left mobile with careful use of the glue. At this stage the first part of the upper hull is added in the shape of the turret ring, which overhangs the hull sides, and has small inserts fitted before it is cemented in place. The engine deck is made up in segments, one each for the main grilles, intake box, and the round-down toward the rear bulkhead. The main vents have PE mesh fitted, and the intakes have a set of PE louvers on a frame over a mesh installed later on, after they have been glued onto the hull along with the aforementioned rear bulkhead. The forward section has a number of access hatches moulded-in, and this is last to be fitted just behind the turret opening. With the majority of the hull done, attention shifts to the fenders, which are both loaded with equipment before they are fitted to the hull on long tabs. A choice of early and late fuel tanks, a host of pioneer tools, two types of stowage box, a number of PE detail parts and the exhaust trunk are all fitted along the way. Tracks. Love 'em or loath them, it's usually a necessity for a main battle tank. MiniArt have done some work on simplifying their construction here, and it seems to have paid off, at least partially. The track links are individual, as already mentioned, with separate pins that attach the parts together. Each link has three sprue gates that are easily cut and sanded away, while the tiny pins are cut from their sprues with a teardrop-shaped "handle" part of the sprue left attached. The pins are meant to friction-fit into the holes in the links, but in practice I had a few fall out during my brief experimental build of a couple of links, which I think could be remedied by brushing a tiny amount of liquid glue on the tip of each pin before insertion. If done with a dry(ish) brush, this should soak into the pin and not the pin through which it passes first, and shouldn't lock the links solid. I did another quick experiment, and it seems to work, but I could feel a little resistance when first moving the links, suggesting that a tiny bit of glue seeped in between the links despite my efforts. Once mobilised however, they stayed mobile, so this may still be a decent solution. With them pushed or glued in place, the teardrop handle can be cut off with a sharp blade, leaving the flat end of the track pin visible. The unditching beam, additional fuel drums, their PE bands and even a small number of PE bolt heads are fixed to the rear, and the towing cables are draped over the rear, the cable for which you must supply yourself, using some braided wire or fibre with the supplied styrene eyes. Even though this isn't marketed as an "Interior Kit", some parts of the interior are included, which applies mostly to the turret, which has the main breech parts, periscope and sighting gear within, the top hatch, vision blocks (with PE armour) and optional hatch-mounted search light on the outside. The main searchlight is mounted to the side of the barrel, and can be covered up for daytime operation, as can the hatch-mounted light. The mantlet can be depicted with a protective canvas bag around it, or bare, both of which are added to the model before the slide-moulded barrel is fitted through the aperture. The bag has a PE ring round the barrel, and four lengths of PE that clamp it to the turret on the real thing, with more PE used to depict straps on the rolled tarpaulin stowed on the rear of the turret. The commander's cupola is up-armoured with an appliqué part before his hatch is installed, and the driver's rain-hood is made up flat or erected, depending on whether you plan on using it. If it is stowed, it slings off the tarp on the back of the hood using another PE strap. The completed turret is then placed in the ring, and twisted to lock in the two bayonet lugs that hold it in place. Markings Eight markings options are supplied with the kit, with variations on the green or sand theme, depending on where and when they were deployed. From the box you can build one of the following: Macedonian Army 1999-2001 Northern Alliance Forces, Afghanistan, Autumn 2001 Taliban Units, Afghanistan 2001 Northern Alliance Forces, Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, Dec 2003 Soviet Army 60-70s 55th Marine Infantry Division, Pacific Fleet of the Soviet Navy, Ethiopia 1980 Soviet Army 70-80s Ethiopia's Army "Ogaden War" 1977 Quite a selection, and the decal sheet is printed by MiniArt's usual collaborator, Decograph from the Ukraine. The decals have good register, sharpness and colour density, with a set of excellent lightfast yellow circles for the Ethiopian option. Conclusion Another winner from MiniArt in their ever expanding range of T-54/55 kits. If you feel like tackling the full interior verion, look for the product code 37022 instead. Review sample courtesy of
  19. Cable Spools (35583) 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models Well this set's a load of bobbins! No, seriously, it really is. You often see cable spools lying beside tracks, in rail or engineering yards, even today, so this set is a handy one to have if you are planning any dioramas, or need to load up a truck or trailer. You could even have some soldiers having a tea party around one if you like! Arriving in a figure-sized box, the set contains six sprues in grey styrene, a large sheet of decals and an instruction sheet. Each sprue contains half the parts for a large and small bobbin/spool, measuring 51mm and 28mm respectively in real-world numbers. Each core is made from four parts that make up the cylinder, and two end caps, with wooden planking and texture on everything that will be seen after construction, plus screws/nails/bolts where appropriate. The decal sheet contains a whole raft of curved lettering, brand logos and various stencilling, depending on what's supposed to be on the reels. The rear of the box shows some typical colour schemes, and also shows where and when these types were in use. On top of all these decals you also get a bonus of two "Kilroy was here!" decals with their big-nosed accompaniment. I decided to make up a pair, which didn't take too long with a sharp knife and a sanding stick. They go together easily, although I think I would scribe the join-lines of the cylinder when the glue is dry, and the little pips that centre the parts are fiddly to register in the depressions due to the texture of the end-caps, but a little care gets you there in the end. I hope you like my spool sample They're the kind of addition to a model that adds some realism to any diorama, and with six spools in the box they should last you quite some time. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  20. German Tank Crew Normandy 1944 (35275) Special Edition 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models As WWII dragged on, uniforms as well as military equipment evolved, and the German tankers began wearing a more close-fitting utilitarian uniform in tank black, with smaller caps that replaced the rather foppish ones of very early war. This set depicts a set of German tankers in a seemingly buoyant mood, one of whom is entertaining the rest with an accordion. The figure sized box contains three sprues of grey styrene, plus a small sheet of instructions for the accompanying accessories such as first-aid kit, MP40 machine pistol, map and flare pistol cases. Instructions for the accordion aren't given, but it's not exactly rocket science to figure it out! The musical crew member is stood, presumably on the engine deck, while the crew watch, one stood with his hands on hips, another sat, while another leans on the barrel. The commander is stood in his hatch trying not to look too impressed, with both hands resting on the cupola. Sculpting is excellent, and as usual fall of cloth and poses are very realistic. The figures are broken down to torsos, legs, arms and head, with caps separated to glue to the flat tops of their heads. The additional sprue contains all the aforementioned items, plus bayonets, pistol holsters, pistol and flare pistol, ammo pouches (rifle and MP40), a couple of Kar98 rifles and even a pair of binoculars, which have slide-moulded outer lenses. Conclusion These gents represent a perfect accompaniment (excuse the pun) to a late war diorama of a Panzer parked up waiting for the inevitable invasion. The calm before the storm. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  21. German Grenades & Mines Set (35258) 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models Wars are full to the brim with things that go bang and if you're lucky, only leave you with ringing ears. During wartime the boffins become increasingly inventive while trying to kill and maim the opposition, with grenades & mines amongst their arsenal. The Germans in WWII were no exception, and developed all manner of ways to destroy their enemies, some of which are depicted in this set. Troops often have a small quantity of grenades on their webbing, but these and other items usually arrive in crates to be doled out to the soldiers as required. It's likely that a half-track or other AFV would have a box of grenades, or even shaped charges amongst their stowage for use by their crew and passengers during skirmishes. Arriving in a standard figure-sized box, there are six sprues of grey styrene, two sprues in translucent green and brown styrene, a tiny sheet of Photo-Etch (PE) brass in a card envelope, and a small decal sheet. An instruction sheet is also included, as there are a few construction steps to some of the assemblies, but in the box you get the following: 1 x crate of magnetic mines with shaped charge warheads 1 x magnetic mine, (loose) 2 x crates of "potato masher" grenades of different designs 5 x potato masher grenades (loose) 1 x crate of "pineapple" grenades 5 x pineapple grenades (loose) 1 x Bundled grenade Geballte Ladung 5 x teller mines of 2 types 1 x crate of Molotov cocktails 20 x Molotov cocktails (loose) 3 x decals for mine warning placards The magnetic mine crate is made up with two rows of four mines within, and the fuses as separate parts. The clasps are formed from PE parts, The crate of the potato masher grenades are built up from two layers of conjoined grenades in their supports, which fit inside the box, and again use PE for the clasps. The pineapple grenades are in a single layer within a custom crate, with a few holes left for you to add or leave empty as you wish. The bundle-grenade has a separate handle, and a PE strap holding the cylindrical warheads together, while the mines are each made up from two halves, one with a flatter, ribbed profile, the other with a UFO-like raised pressure switch, both types with a PE carry-handle. The Molotov cocktails are individual translucent bottles of green or brown that are fitted into the completed crate and have fire hazard warning labels applied. Various stencil decals are supplied, and the back of the box shows the colours that they were typically painted in. Conclusion This perfect fodder for stowage on an AFV, softskin, or in a diorama. The parts are well-detailed, the crates have a wood texture, and you get decals for the stencils. Nothing else needed. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  22. USMC Tank Crew at Rest (37049) 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models War is often described as interminable boredom punctuated by moments of terror, so on balance if you drop-in on a soldier randomly, you'll either find them training, or if they're deployed there's a good chance they'll be filling their time with some kind of recreation once the daily tasks are completed. The Marines despicted in this set are doing just that. Arriving in a standard figure box with one of MiniArt's excellent paintings on the front, this set contains four modern USMC tankers waiting for their call to whatever-it-is, and relaxing as they see fit. Each figure is split into separate legs, torso, head and arms, with additional parts for scarves, hats, scarves, gloves, and a few parts of the sides of a plate carrier, so that the MOLLE loops carry on around the torso. One guy in shades is stretched out with his back against something with his arms behind his head catching some rays, with another sitting looking off to his left. Figures three and four are both stood, one resting on something around waist height, the other about to thrown an American Football to someone that either isn't in the box, or isn't expecting a ball up the side of the head. They are all wearing tanker overalls, with a variety of headwear from a knitted beanie, parade cap or brimmed Boonie to the sun-worshipper with no hat at all. Two of the guys have their gloves protruding from pockets, as if they have been stuffed in there whilst dismounting their Abrams HA. Sculpting is excellent, and MiniArt know how to break down a figure for best effect and ease of construction. There is a little flash on my example however, but that's of the type that's easily scraped off, and is far better than short-shot parts! Poses, features and fabric sculpting are all on-point, with differing faces to such an extent that the figure in the plate carrier can be identified as African-American from the sculpt, not just from the boxtop painting. As usual, the painting guide covers a myriad of manufacturers, including Vallejo, Mr Color, LifeColor, Tamiya, Testors, AK Real Color, Humbrol, Revell, plus names in Ukraine and English, with little colour swatches on the far left for anyone else. Another superb set of figures from MiniArt, and yes you do get the egg-shaped football in the set! Review sample courtesy of
  23. German Rocket Launcher with 28cm WK SPR & 32cm WK Flamm (35269) 1:35 MiniArt Based upon the chassis of the 7.62cm FK 39(r) field gun, which was in turn based on a Soviet 76mm M1936 gun, this rocket launcher was cobbled together using the frame, trailing arms and part of the breech and recuperator assembly, with a framework "shelf" welded to either side of the barrel on which two 23cm or 32cm Nebelwerfer 41 crates could be mounted. These were spin-stabilised rockets that carried either high explosive warheads in the smaller diameter, or 50 litres of an incendiary mix of oil for the larger 32cm rocket. They were both suspended in wooden crates of the same dimensions, so they were interchangeable without any adaptation to the launcher. The rockets were launched by an electric signal, and due to their rather noxious vapour trail the name nebelwerfer literally means "smoke bomb". These weapons were used in stand-alone framework launchers, as well as attached to the side of a half-track, which gained the nickname Stuka zu Fuß, "Stuka on foot". Their smoke trails made it likely that they would attract return fire, so mobility was key, which led to the easily transported versions finding favour, and the self-propelled half-track version even more so. The Kit This is a newly tooled kit that utilises a lot of the parts of another MiniArt kit of the 7.62cm FK 39(r) (35104), which gives us the chassis, running gear and some of the upper structure. I don't have that kit, but on reflection I think I seem to have three sprues of it, which includes the barrel, splinter shield and most if not all of the elevation mechanism. The box is slightly larger than a figure box and opens at the top, containing nineteen sprues of various sizes, a sheet of Photo-Etch brass, decal sheet and a rather nice instruction booklet in a glossy colour printed cover. It's an interesting topic that combines a lesser known gun and these fearsome rockets that were used to good effect during WWII. Construction begins with the trails, which are rectangular in section and taper toward the rear. These have the usual grab handles and towing hitch applied, as well as the ground spike and spades, which can be show deployed for combat, or stowed for transport as you see fit, with alternative construction steps along the way. The carriage is next with the single axle through the centre, attaching to the trails by massive hinges, and each axle end is the capped off by a road wheel that is laminated from three parts and a rear hub, which results in a good representation of the grooved solid rubber tyres and pressed steel hub. The lower sled and remnants of the recuperator and breech are fitted next along with a large counterbalance that was welded in place on the real thing. The trunnions are made up on each side with some PE parts, and the whole assembly is installed on the carriage with recoil springs and the elevation mechanism. Meanwhile the crates and rockets are assembled, with four provided of each diameter in eight identical crates, four of which have the adapters for the smaller 28cm rounds. Frames are added to each side of the breech for the crates using PE parts, and they are each held in place with a cage that is folded up from PE, with two bracing strips between the cages. The transport lock between the trails is fitted in the stowed or active position, and the pins that lock the hinges of the trails are fitted in appropriate sockets depending on which variation you choose. Markings The small sheet of decals is used on the rockets and their cases, with their positions shown on the painting diagram at the rear of the booklet. The rounds are all painted olive green, but their crates can be Dark Yellow, German Grey or bare wood. The gun/launcher/carriage is painted dark yellow, with the counterweight in bare steel, so you can have a bit of fun adding surface rust if you feel like it. There's probably plenty of scope for sooting up the launcher too, given their reputation. Conclusion I built a six-tubed Nebelwerfer a few years back and have a fondness for their oddities. Detail is excellent throughout, and the supplied munitions are generous, giving opportunity for diorama use or loading up the towing vehicle with ready rounds. Now, where can I get a Stuka zu Fuß from? Highly recommended Review sample courtesy of
  24. Railway Tools & Equipment (35572) 1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models Dioramas thrive on ancillary items that lend an air of realism, where the devil really is in the detail. There are plenty of 1:35 railway engines out there or various eras (mostly WWII from what I've seen), and scratch-building the equipment specific to railways is a chore, as would be the research to get things right. This little figure-sized box from MiniArt contains all that hard work, and all you have to do is glue them together and apply a little paint. The box contains seven small sprues of grey styrene, and two individual parts in clear and red styrene. The build and painting guide is on the rear of the box along with a sprue map, as well as a paint conversion chart in Vallejo, Mr.Color, LifeColor, Tamiya, Testors, AK, Humbrol, Revell, and Mission Models, plus the names of the colours in English and Ukrainian (that's a guess, but a fair one). Each sprue contains parts for a particular item, which consists of a wheel barrow-like trolley, two spare sleepers/track ties, two sizes of bucket, a lamp with clear & red lenses, a set of grips, fire extinguisher and blow torch. There are also a bunch of other single part tools that require no construction, with shovels, axes, hammers and an oil can amongst the sprues, which you can see in the photos. Moulding is excellent, as is the detail, with proper engraved wood grain on the wooden parts of the trolley and sleepers. Just the sort of thing found in corners around railway and other engineering locations. Review sample courtesy of
  25. Diorama bases for modeling projects 1:35 AV Vallejo Scenics via Creative Models It would seem that along with other products vallejo are now making bases for modellers to sit their models on. These are in 1:35 and are aimed (presently) at the armour modeller. The bases are made from some form of resin material and arrive in s sturdy card box unpainted. Cobblestone Street Section (SC103) This is 31cm x 21cm and features a cobblestone street section typical of Europe. Not sure why they have not kept this square along the front edge? Wooden Airfield Section (SC102) This is 31cm x 21cm and features a wooden plank airfield surface. section. Despite being an airfield section its really designed for vehicles being 1:35 and not really large enough for a 1:32 aircraft. Paved Street Section (SC001) This is 14cm x 14cm and features a paved street section. Its not that big for 1:35 and will only fit a Armoured car / Bren Gun carrier, or a few troops. The road is also a little narrow Conclusion These are another line of products if you want something to sit your model on. The crux though will be in the painting of them to get the right look. Review samples courtesy of
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