Military reviews
Top-Quality Armour from MiniArt: 1/35 Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf.H Nibelungenwerk Mid Prod
MiniArt’s high standards are again on view with its ‘baseline’ offering of the Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf.H, reviewed here by AMW.
ALLIED HALF-TRACK ‘UNIFORMS’ FROM STAR DECALS
If you plan to build a US Army M3A1 half-track but want alternative markings, check out Star Decals' sheet 35-C-1233, which offers four fresh liveries.
TAMIYA’S ALL-NEW CHALLENGER 2
Thirty years have passed since Tamiya produced its 1/35 Challenger 2 tank...but finally we now have 1/48 version from the company.
ICM’S RARE ARMOURED CAR REWORKED
ICM has released its third boxing of the German Sd.Kfz.247 Ausf.B armoured car, this time with an MG 34 machine-gun and mount.
ICM's General Purpose Hauler - 1/35 G7117 truck review
Modellers wanting to build US World War Two logistics vehicles are spoilt for choice with two manufacturers releasing several kits: ICM's G7117 is reviewed here.
DRAGON’S SMALL-SCALE STURMGESCHÜTZ
Dragon's 1/72 armour kits are packed with detail, and the tradition is upheld by the firm's new Neo Pro StuG.II Ausf.B boxing, which offers link-and-length tracks. It also provides structural details of early IIIBs.
ALL-NEW SOVIET KV-2 BY TAMIYA
Tamiya has reworked its superb 1/35 Soviet KV-1 tank to produce the imposing KV-2sub-type with 152mm howitzer.
‘TREE MONKEY’ CANNON FROM 16.02
Custom-Scale sub-brand 16.02 has released a superb ground-based version of the 3cm Bordkanone gun. It's in ground-firing format, with the choice of two different mounts, and is ripe for diorama treatment.
Alkett Assaulter: MiniArt's new 1/35 StuG III Interior Kit
VIDEO: Announced with considerable fanfare, the first of MiniArt’s 1/35 StuG III interior kits has arrived… JOHN FULLER discovers what this highly anticipated package can promise...
DETAIL-PACKED T-55 VARIANT BY MINIART
Few tank kits are as impressive as the 1/35 interior-detail products manufactured by Ukraine's MiniArt. Its T-55A MOD. 1970 kit upholds the firm's tradition of staggeringly good detail.
DRAGON’S DUAL-IDENTITY HALF-TRACK
Dragon's 1/72 German Sd.Kfz.251 half-tracks are packed with detail, and this 2 in 1 offering provides alternative parts so you can choose to build one of two different vehicles. The common factor is that of pioneer bridge sections mounted on the upper hull sides.
Armor Pro 1/72 scale Chinese PLA ZSL-10 troop carrier
The latest Chinese Type 08 series from Dragon is the ZSL-10 armoured personnel carrier for 1/72 scale, with changes to the rear hull and turret configuration.
STUNNING QUARTER-SCALE TIGER I FROM USTAR
Military fans who favour 1/48 scale have been envious of their 1/35-building brethren, when it comes to tanks with full interiors. But no longer though, as Asian firm USTAR has released a mind-bogglingly good quarter-scale Tiger I, on a Kursk theme, and it's festooned with detail inside and out.
Demonstration for Display: ICM's 1/35 FCM 36 with French Tank Crew
ICM has combined its 1/35 FCM 36 French tank with the same-scale figures designed to accompany the vehicle in a package that’s cheaper than buying the two sets separately.
Tamiya's Heavy-Hitting Rhino: 1/48 Nashorn Review
Modellers wanting a German Nashorn but who don’t have the space for a 1/35 version might prefer Tamiya’s 1/48 offering - the subject of Airfix Model World's review, here.
Brengun adds another Teeny Tiny Tank: 1/144 A7V German WWI tank
Brengun continues to expand its range of ‘airliner-scale’ armour subjects, with the German A7V tank being one of the latest. Discover more about this tiny military kit in Airfix Model World's review.
MiniArt releases Lanz Bulldog: D8506 tractor & Trailer with Crew
MiniArt has continued to build on its range of D8056 tractor kits – replicating the famous Lanz Bulldog vehicle – with this version containing the now-familiar trailer, German figures plus a range of grenades and mines. Discover more about the full kit here.
Wheeled Troop Carrier from Dragon: /72 PLA ZBL-09 IFV
Arguably, convergent evolution is just as prevalent in vehicle design as nature, as evinced by China’s ZBL-09, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the Piranha series of vehicles (the source of many Western 8x8 designs) – understandable given they provide similar functions.
ICM's Gun-Toting Tourer: 1/35 G4 Partisanwagen
The latest version of ICM’s 1/35 G4 tourer/staff car depicts a less common variant (of the 57 examples built) equipped with pedestal-mounted MG 34 machine guns in the rear/passenger section. Find out more here!
Special Armour's Personal Command: 1/35 Panzerbefehlswagen 35(t)
Here’s a surprising but very welcome return for CMK’s 1/35 Panzerbefehlswagen (armoured/ tank command vehicle) 35(t) under the label of another Special Hobby subsidiary: Special Armour. Check out AMW's review here.
EIGHTIES ISRAELI ARMOUR
Amusing Hobby's second 1/35 Israeli Centurion kit ticks all the boxes in terms of detail, parts count and price. If you're a fan of Cold War armour, you'll love this fun-packed product.
BRITISH SHERMAN STUDY
If you have Sherman Firefly builds on the cards, regardless of scale, Model Centrum's softback book on these machines is a superb reference. It offers myriad photos, scale drawings, colour profiles and more.
Revell embarks on a World of Tanks link-up with new Armour Kits
Revell is arguably pioneering the art of model kit and videogame linkups, as here’s a new range of armour subjects under the World of Tanks label. We examine two of these offerings: 1/72 Cromwell tank and SU-100 tank-destroyer kits.
Unscrambling ICM's Ie.gl.Einheits-Pkw package
The latest of ICM’s current diorama sets provides one of the best value-for-money packages on the market, combining three staff vehicles (Kfz.1, 2 and 4) plus a twin MG 34 mounting for just 60% of the separate kits’ total cost. Airfix Model World's full review contains exclusive parts photos.
MiniArt's combined T-55 and KMT-5M Mine-roller package
MiniArt has raised what modellers expect from an armour kit, such as this T-55 with mine roller, offering 91 styrene runners, plus two brass chains and a photo-etched brass fret, yet this is just a ‘basic’ offering, without a full interior.
Dragon adds a 1/72 T-34/85 to its Armor Pro range!
Released as part of Dragon’s Armor Pro range, this is a welcome return of the firm’s late-model T-34/85; AMW lifts the lid on this re-issued kit here.
ICM's 1/35 G7117 Truck gains drivers!
Deciding to produce a newly tooled Chevrolet G7100-series truck in 1/35 was a smart move by ICM, as there are numerous sub-types and users to depict; here, the firm has provided Soviet figures, as the Red Army utilised the vehicles.
BLITZ’S 2-IN-1 STURMGESCHÜTZ
Takom sub-brand Blitz has produced a superb1/35 kit that allows you to build either a late production StuG III Ausf.G, or a StuH 42. It's great value for fans of German armour, and includes extensive photo-etched metal details and optional turned metal barrels.
AIRFIX’S CLERICAL HOWITZER: THE M7 PRIEST
Airfix's 1/35 M7 Priest is a happy medium between the vintage Italeri offering, and more modern toolings by Dragon. Learn more about the heritage and detail of this military gem.