Military reviews
SHOOT AND SCOOT
Academy’s M12 returns in Airfix packaging with a new set of markings for two late-war machines.
PETITE DEFENDER
French armour subjects are gaining in popularity, with the Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée (FCM) 36 light tank being ICM’s latest new-tool offering.
ARMOURED DEMAG
On a theme of small-scale German half-tracks, Special Armour has re-boxed MK 72’s 1/72 Sd.Kfz. 250/1 Ausf.A Demag-built troop-carrier, which features a hexagonal cross-section.
DINKY-SIZE GENERAL
Intended for wargaming via the Art of Tactic linkup, this 1/100 snap-together M3A1 is ideal for those just entering the hobby, with low parts count - just 11 items on the single styrene runner - and ease of construction.
TANK AND ‘BATTLE TAXI’
Having surprised and delighted modellers with its newly tooled 1/72 Chieftain Mk.10/11 combo, Takom has included different parts to allow an earlier Mk.5 tank to be built, plus original components for a same-scale FV432 Mk.2/1 armoured personnel carrier.
DOWNSIZED DISH
Brengun appears to have ‘downsized’ the ex-Extratech 1/72 FuSE-65 Würzburg-Riese radar system in subsidiary firm Hauler’s range to produce this 1/144 version.
THE LEADER’S HEAVY HITTER
Dragon’s 1/35 JS-2 Stalin II Soviet heavy tank includes parts for three options: either a JS-1 early model with 85mm gun, a JS-2 with 122mm weapon or a JS-2m with a late-production simplified hull front.
Airfix 1/72 Tiger I / Sherman Firefly Vc
Airfix’s new dual package featuring the Tiger I and Firefly should interest armour modellers who favour smaller scales. CHRIS CLIFFORD inspects the contents.
ICM 1/35 Model T Ambulance
If you enjoy building military medical vehicles, ICM’s 1/35 early Model T Ambulance kit is just what the doctor ordered, says CHRIS CLIFFORD
CLOSE-SUPPORT CROMWELL
The second iteration of Airfix’s new-tool 1/35 Cruiser Mk.VIII A27M Cromwell tank caters for the Mk.VI variant, which differs by featuring a 95mm howitzer for close-support operations.
WEHRMACHT WEDGE
ICM’s newly tooled offering depicts a Schwerer geländegängiger gepanzerter Personenkraftwagen (heavy off-road armoured passenger motor vehicle) – also known as Sd.Kfz. 247 Ausf.B.
NORMANDY DEFENDERS
It’s great to see Dragon’s 1/72 re-releases, such as its mid-production Panzer IV Ausf. H with schürzen armour plating.
'PLAY' OR DISPLAY
Italeri has been a pioneer of wargaming/modelling crossovers and its ZIS 3 with ‘servants’ (gun crew) is typical, with a low parts count and ‘snap-together’ construction, yet providing well-moulded components, making it ideal for builders of all skill levels.
BRITISH ARMY WORKHORSE
Despite the Leyland Retriever being a common 6x4 truck in British service during World War Two, ICM’s kit is the first 1/35 styrene offering of the type.
BASTOGNE THUNDERBOLT
Released as part of Dragon’s Battle of the Bulge series, its up-gunned ‘wet-stowage’ Sherman has returned with new markings to depict vehicles operated by American units involved in countering the German Ardennes offensive of 1944/45.
ARMED HAULAGE
This is the first time IBG’s 1/72 Diamond T 968 has appeared as a standard cargo lorry since the initial release in 2014, and adds a Browning M2 machine gun to the cab roof.
TANK CARRIER
A common sight behind Sd.Kfz 7 or Sd.Kfz. 9 half-tracks, the Sonderanhänger 115 trailer could carry vehicles of up to 10,000kg, yet this is the first styrene kit of the type in 1/72.
Italeri New Tool 1/72 T-55A Tank
Fans of small-scale armour and military vehicles have an ever-growing selection of subjects to build, and the quality seems to improve constantly. A good example is Italeri’s all-new 1/72 T-55A tank (kit 7081).
OVER A BARREL
Dragon’s 1/35 JSU-122 tank destroyer is back, with parts for a baseline assault gun, semiautomatic breech-equipped JSU-122S or up-gunned JSU-152, plus German Panzerjäger figures.
EAST-GERMAN MINE CLEARANCE
This version of Revell’s recent 1/72 T-55A/AM contains new runners E and F for the KMT-6 and EMT-5 mine-clearance systems used by the East German Army.
AIRFIELD HOT STUFF
Derived from the six-wheeled Saladin/Saracen armoured cars, the Salamander fire tender was a common sight on RAF and RCAF airfields, yet this is the first kit of the type in 1/72.
IMPROVED HOWITZER
IBG’s 1/35 Skoda houfnice vz 14/19 gun has been reworked to depict modernised artillery used by Polish forces during World War Two, notably featuring large tyre-shod wheels.
STALIN’S ORGAN
This is another great set from ICM, combining its WOT 8-mounted BM-13-16 Katyusha rocket launcher (35591) with a four-man reloading team (also available separately as 35648).
GAMING GUNNERY
Although produced and released by Italeri, this 1/56 scale Sturmgeschütz is a collaboration with UK-based wargaming company Warlord Games for use with the latter’s 28mm Bolt Action system.
LAST-GASP DEFENDER
Comprising 11 styrene runners and a photo-etched brass fret, Academy’s King Tiger has been repackaged by Airfix with new markings.
BIG-SHOT SHERMAN
The Sherman Firefly Vc is Airfix’s first foray into 1/72 armour in many years and is aimed at all modellers, offering a choice of simplified running gear for beginners or separate suspension, road wheels and link-and-length tracks for those with a few builds under their belt.
EASY-BUILD ARMOUR
It has been a long time since Airfix released any small-scale military kits, and its newly tooled 1/72 Tiger I Ausf. E is an absolute gem.
GUTTRIDGE'S GUN-CARRIER
ICM has added to its range of 1/35 Model T Ford variants with this armoured car version – built to Chief Petty Officer L Gutteridge’s design for service with the Royal Naval Air Service.
GERMANY'S 'SPORTY' TANK
Revell’s Leopard 1A5 follows from its 1A1 variant, adding two runners to the original seven for this sub-type’s characteristic bolt-on armour, fire-control optics and mantlet shield.
ROCKETS ON HALF-TRACK
While the original Esci kit for Italeri’s Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track might be approaching 50 years old, it’s the base for a lovely model.