AFV Modeller - Issue 22 - 7 - Keeping Track.pdf - AFV modeller - gaszek.karol

Keeping Track - new releases

MIG Productions

Top marks to MIG Productions for their latest

releases certainly in terms of choice of

subject. Domestic 4WD vehicles always

seem to be in news footage from current

conflicts and here we have a selection of

BJ44 Landcruiser subjects which will fill that

gap. These are all full resin kits supplied with

a full colour instruction leaflet. The kits have

a detailed chassis and 4WD system and

they are very cleanly cast. My favourite is the

Dushka version which includes an ample

supply of ammunition boxes and even

includes an AK 47 to dress the rear

compartment. These are bound to be

popular subjects for anyone modelling

modern subjects.

Next we have an early model KV1

conversion mastered by Adam Wilder and

his rendition of this kit is featured in this

issue. Again the quality is excellent and the

conversion usefully includes resin plugs to fill

the motorisation holes in the old Tamiya hull.

There are additions to the diorama range

with ribbed pattern oil drums and modern

plastic chemical drums and in 1:72nd scale

a set of aggressive pattern Hummer wheels

the set contains 4 wheels and 2 spares.

Finally MIG have released a sand and earth

pigment set which contains six colours from

their popular range of pigments along with a

small guide with tips and techniques.

VLS

As usual from Warriors we have a good

variety of subjects amongst these latest new

releases beginning with 2 separate sets of

Russian Tank riders sculpted by the talented

Douglas Lee these are bound to be popular

and it looks like they will adapt to a variety of

vehicles. Next we have a casually posed GI

carrying a fuel can a subject with plenty of

potential as is the next release a WWII

combat cameraman depicted framing a shot

through his camera, and there is a new

addition to the headsets range with a set of

bald heads. From Custom Dioramics there is

a Donkey - enough said, along with an

Orthodox Priest. New additions also include a

public shower, a clockface and park benches

along with an assortment of different

guttering components, downpipes and

connectors for 1:35th scale biuldings.

As usual with VLS the casting quality across

all the releases is first rate.

ABER

Just as we are about to go to press a big

batch of exciting new things arrived from

ABER - too many to fit in our limited space

so we will split our coverage over this and the

next issue. We begin with a great set of

280mm rounds for the Leopold Rail Gun

which have etched base plates and almost

worthy of display as they stand. New

additions to the gun barrel range are a late

model 75mm Panther barrel, a 105mm for

the AFV Club LeFH 18 Howitzer, a 20mm for

the Tasca Luchs with etched flash guard, a

76.2mm for early model KV1’s and in 1:72nd

scale a Soviet 37mm for the B-3 or BT2. In

the long established ABER tradition of

pushing us to the limits we have a set of

20mm magazines and ammo boxes - not

sure if the Mission Models 20mm rounds will

fit but no doubt someone will try! Next we

have a very useful set of different sized screw

heads which go from about 2mm down to

microscopic - ideal for those Panzer III roof

plates. 35A100 is set of additional roof

armour for the M10 and finally we have a set

of wall mounted power lines with optional

street light fittings.

35 L-42 20mm Luchs

72 L-29 37mm BT2

35 L-43 76.2mm KV1 early

35 L-36 75mm Panther G Late

35 L-38 105mm LeFH 18

Keeping Track - new releases

Echelon Decals

Accurate Armour haves sent examples of 2 new releases from Echelon which sees them

tackling what might be called a more ‘mainstream’ subject in the shape of Tiger 2

markings. Set 351001 covers vehicles of SS 101 with markings for eight different vehicles

both with and without zimmerit and the set handily includes some wobbly style crosses for

the zimmerit finishes. 351002 covers vehicles of Schwere Panzerabteilung 505 with the

famous charging knight logo. The set includes colour marking references for 5 particular

vehicles with notes on variations and a small figure peculiar to one vehicle to be cut from

the guide sheet. Quality and presentation are excellent and highly recommended. Echelon

decals are available from Accurate Armour www.accurate-armour.com

Hannants Xtracrylix colours

Hannants have launched an acrylic version

of their well known Xtracolor range

The colours are matched identically to the

colours in the Xtracolor range and should

satisfy all acrylic users needs for precisely

matched paints and they have the same

slight sheen finish as the enamels

Airedale

A handy little accessory set here from Airedale in the shape

of two Milan antitank missile cases suitable for dressing your

warrior or other modern British Army subject, these would be

a really difficult to scratchbuild due to their strange shape.

They are available direct from Airedale at:

www.airedalecastings.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk

Standard Catalog of German

Military Vehicles

By David Doyle

Published by KP Books USA

Tel 001 800 258 0929

This 500+ page catalogue is an extremely

comprehensive single source reference for

the full range of tracked, semi tracked and

softskinned vehicles used by German forces

in WWII. Each vehicle type has a short

developmental history along with technical

specifications but the huge attraction of this

for me is the overwhelming use of fresh

images. So often with this type of reference

we see the same old pictures again and

again but here the author has taken the

trouble to offer something of real value. My

only criticism is the quality of the paper which

does sadly detract slightly from what is a

most useful reference.

Goffy Models

Moredun Models have kindly sent a sample of Czech company, Goffy Models IDF Magach

7 conversion kit for the Academy M60. This is a fairly comprehensive resin conversion with

a complete new turret casting, new bow armour and side skirts along with a good selection

of stowage components, flak jackets etc. which are most welcome. The casting quality is

good with minimal flaws but the turret basket has been artfully draped in fabric to

overcome the casting difficulties and this may not satisfy everyone. The kit instructions are

fairly basic and you may struggle if you do not know the Magach well but some good

reference should sort that out. The Goffy Models range is available from Moredun Models

Tel/fax: 0131 653 2001 or email moredunmodels@btconnect.com

Dragon

Just as we were going to press with Issue

21 the Dragon 3 in 1 Tiger1 arrived to a

standing ovation. Tiger tanks do seem to

polarise opinions but regardless of if you

love them or loathe them this kit really is an

education in just how to design the

complete model kit. It is easier to list what

is not included - mesh screens for the

engine decks. As a complete package it is

unrivalled. Aside from the complete content

the finesse and quality of the mouldings has

moved up a gear as witnessed by the logos

on the tyres and the delicate headlamp

mounting brackets making it surely the

finest 1:35th scale kit ever produced?

Another release on the 251 chassis this

time its the ‘21’ Drilling mount which is a

popular subject which has never really been

done properly until perhaps now. Dragon do

a very good job with a very detailed mount

which features multipart guns with

aluminium flash guards and the correct

ammunition stowage along with the often

overlooked travel lock. Although we have

not had time to assemble the kit yet it does

appear that the whole gun mount might be

too high - certainly the plans in the

instructions would suggest this so care

should be taken. The kit also includes crew

figures with a gunner which is useful as he

would be quite tricky to scratchbuild.

Next we have a slightly unusual choice of

subject with the newly released Jagdpanzer

IV A-O which was the prototype for the

Jagdpanzer IV series and features rounded

front armour instead of the squared off

production design as there were only a

handful of these produced. The kit is a

delight with sharp mouldings and includes a

turned aluminium barrel, clear moulded

periscopes and etched brass side skirts.

The new Bergpanzer Tiger (P) is based on

Dragon’s excellent Elephant/Ferdinand

chassis of a few years ago and the kit

allows the choice of modelling the

Bergpanzer with the gib stowed or deployed

and for this it includes 3 types of chain

along with braided metal tow ropes. There

are also 2 small etched frets and the kit

includes the same one piece track as the

recently released Tiger P. Again moulding

quality is excellent and the urge to rip open

the bags and start building is hard to resist.

The amended Pak 40 reappears with

corrected trunion and gun trails and a new

Fallschirmjager gun crew.

The Panther A late has been re-released as

part of the Normandy Campaign series with

a turned aluminium barrel now included in

the kit. Also re released is the German

railway Gondola with AA MG crew.

Keeping Track - new releases

AFV Club

Tiger 1 Late Production

You wait for ages then they all arrive at once - AFV Club’s rendition of

the late model Tiger 1 very much continues the excellent quality of

their recent Sdkfz 251 releases. The kit has working torsion bar

suspension in the same style as the Tasca luchs with adjustable idler

wheel and the overall moulding quality is first class with some very

good weld bead detail. Early build reports warn that the polycap

fittings for the roadwheels mean they are almost impossible to

remove once installed which is something to be aware of. The kit

includes a turned aluminium barrel with a choice of muzzle brakes

and etched fret for the deck screens along with rubber tracks which

are nice but will most likely be replaced. The kit lacks zimmerit which

will need to be applied but unusually has a nice pitted texture on the

turret walls which will of course be hidden. This kit has some really

nice touches and although it will suffer in any direct comparison with

the Dragon example just because it lacks the host of extras it

remains an excellent kit not to be overlooked.

In conjunction with this release AFV Club have also produced a set of

zimmerit tools which has a choice of 2 different sized ribbed rollers

as well as textured areas on the handle to reach areas that are

unsuitable for the rollers. We have yet to test the tools but they look

like they will work well and will certainly speed up zimmerit

application.

Calibre 35 and 72

Some interesting new subjects from our

friends at Calibre in both 1:35th and their

new and fast expanding 1:72nd scale

ranges. In 1:35th we have a very attractive

T-34/76 Laminate turret with aluminium

barrel which features a very convincing

texture on the turret and Calibre say they

believe this is the only available version of

this particular turret. The new addition to the

diorama range is a set of 2 Willows with sea

foam branches. In the Calibre 72 range

there are M4 Sherman Cast Wheels to

replace the Eduard/Extratech or Italeri

Shermans wheels and M8/M20 Wheels to

replace those in the Italeri kit. These look

great in the pictures but you have to

remember that these are just tiny in real life

and they will be an immediate improvement

to the kit parts they replace.

Italeri

A very welcome release from Italeri in the

shape of the SdKfz 232 6 Rad Armoured car

which is has been executed with

considerable flair and we understand that a

version with resin interior is due to be

released at a later date. This really is a very

good looking kit with crisp mouldings and

even delicate areas which might have you

chasing aftermarket alternatives are

beautifully rendered so that this can be built

from the box with considerable ease. The

only very minor weakness in my opinion are

the tread patterns on the wheels which

could do with more definition but don’t let

that put you off what is a very fine kit.

AFV Modeller - Issue 22 - 7 - Keeping Track.pdf

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