Military reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
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.
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).
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
'AUSSIE' TRANSPORT
Here’s another Model T Ford variation with ICM’s 1/35 offering depicting a ‘Touring’ model used by Australia’s Mounted Division during World War One.
PANZER NEMESIS
Academy’s M18 returns in Airfix packaging and new decals, with eight styrene runners and a choice of single-length vinyl or link-and-length styrene tracks.
INTERIOR DELIGHTS
As with its Ausf.E model Sturmgeschütz III (see here), Dragon has modernised its Ausf.G with the addition of NEO link-and-length tracks, and bonus parts for the interior.
DUSTY GENERAL
This re-boxing of Academy’s M3 Grant by Airfix provides the same styrene parts as previous iterations, which are presented on eight runners plus a separate one-piece lower hull and single-length vinyl tracks.
POST 'TOTEM POLE'
Takom’s newly tooled 1/72 Chieftain tank has been awaited eagerly by fans of British Cold War armour, and the firm’s Mk.10/11 dual-boxing has now arrived.
OPEN-TOPPED DEMAG
Arguably, Demag’s Sd.Kfz.10 was the most common half-track used by German forces during World War Two, and its popularity continues in kit form – Special Armour is the latest firm to offer this vehicle in 1/72 scale, with a re-box of the MK 72 product.
PROTECTION CONUNDRUM
Dragon’s latest Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H offering is slightly misleading in that it depicts a late-production vehicle with Schürzen plates, so the titular Zimmerit is just for the glacis and front/rear-facing panels – the turret and rest of hull are plain.
ROMAN ARTILLERY
Italeri has paired newly tooled components with 1973-vintage parts to produce a 1/35 Semovente da 75/18 self-propelled gun, depicting a post-1943 Carro Armarto M15/42 version.
MOBILE DEFENDER
The latest version of IBG’s Lancia 3Ro is effectively a two-for-one offering as it combines the basic chassis of the firm’s splendid truck kit with all-new parts for a flatbed-mounted 90/53 90mm anti-aircraft gun.