Military reviews
Mortar Assault
Italeri’s Sturmmörser Tiger may be more than 20 years old, but still manages to surprise.
GO-ANYWHERE CARRIER
This version of Tamiya’s 1/35 Komatsu Light Armored Vehicle retains the styrene and die-cast components from previous iterations, including a one-piece upper body, three green-toned runners and a clear frame, plus four vinyl tyres and metal screws.
TURRETED TURTLE
Italeri’s 1/35 M1A1 Abrams returns with five crew figures to pose with the vehicle – the latter are supplied on a single grey styrene runner with convincingly rendered clothing, but flash was evident on several parts.
DRIVING WIND
A pair of additional runners have been combined with Revell’s 1/72 Panzer III to enable modellers to produce a prototype Ostwind (East Wind) self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, fitted with a 3.7cm FlaK 43.
KURSK 'LETTERBOXES'
Tamiya has recently tooled new components to produce this 1/48 Panther Ausf.D, although the die-cast lower hull originated with its preceding Ausf.G and Jagdpanther kits providing a substantial heft to the finished model.
WIDE-TRACK ASSAULT GUN
Here’s a return for Dragon’s 1/35 StuG III, with this ‘Smart Kit’ version depicting the Ausf.B iteration, which features the correct broad rubber ‘tyres’ on the road wheels for this sub-type.
MOBILE MEDICINE
ICM’s 1/35 Model T 1917 Ambulance with US Medical Personnel is another value-for-money offering, as it’s less expensive than buying kits 35661 and 35694 separately.
POTENT COCKTAIL
This version of IBG’s 1/35 Matériel de 75mm Mle 1897 Field Gun represents one of the the 2,000 weapons supplied to the American Expeditionary Forces during World War One, where they received the designation M1897.
INFANTRY SUPPORT TANK
Forces of Valor kits are aimed at wargamers, but are also ideal for novice modellers due to their large locating pins and pre-coloured material.
PORSCHE'S TRUNK
While Zvezda’s initial Zvezda’s 1/35 Sd.Kfz.184 Jagdpanzer (tank destroyer) featured the Ferdinand, its second release depicts the later ‘Elefant’.
EXQUISITE DISH
Hauler has re-boxed Extratech’s superb resin/photo-etched (PE) brass 1/72 German FuSE-65 Würzburg-Riese radar system.
LIGHT AND AGILE
This Airfix re-boxing of Academy’s 1/35 Pz.Kpfw.35(t) includes markings options for Wehrmacht-and Slovak-operated versions of the Czechoslovakian LT vz. 35 tank
SNAPPY JEEPS
Although designed for wargaming, this twin pack of Italeri’s ‘fast assembly’ 1/72 Willys Jeeps is an ideal beginner’s project as the vehicles can be constructed without glue, plus the green styrene means painting could also be forgone if desired.
TRACK AND TRUCK
Diorama modellers will appreciate this MiniArt release as it combines parts for a 1/35 European open-topped railway wagon and length of track with an assortment of metal drums and five Wehrmacht figures, posed as if loading the railcar.
FIERY REPTILE
Airfix’s 1/76 Churchill Crocodile is the sole small-scale offering depicting this 1943 flame-throwing variant of the Mk.VII tank.