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Keeping Track
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Doug’s Original Renowed modeller Douglas Lee (see his work in our Euro Militaire show report in this issue) has launched his own range of 1:35th scale resin figures designed very much with the diorama builder in mind. The initial releases are mostly domestic animals with the exception of two running boys - not exactly military but the kind of subjects that are very hard to source. These are great - well cast with for example good subtle textures on the cow’s hides. This will be a range to watch as Mr Lee is not short of good ideas for more information and to place orders vist the company’s web site at: www.hobbistenterprise.com email:
[email protected]
Tiger Productions Diorama Products TMD have supplied samples of their extensive range of diorama accessory products. These samples come from their ‘Escala 72’ 1:72nd scale range of resin building sets. The sets are well detailed with pleasing brick detailing on some of the facades. There will be some minimal cleaning up required and most of the sets comprise two or more sections that must be joined together. The inside faces are
ICM WW1 sujects are mostly overlooked by both modellers an manufactures so it is good to see ICM filling that gap with this set of British Infantry. The quality of moulding is very good with quite nicely scuplted faces and good weapons. Packs and other personal equipment is moulded separately with the exception of the webbing ammunition pouches and the poses look good. Recommended.
plain so you will need to add your own interior if that’s what you require. The big advantage of these types of sets is that they give the modeller a really good head start and you can always add more detail if required. The buildings themselves have been well researched and capture the ‘look’ of each subject with some excllent ‘fall of Berlin’ potential in the brick factory buildings. Details of the full range of Tiger Productions products and ordering information is available on their web site: www.tigerdio.com
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Tristar Following on from their Panzer IV Ausf D Tristar have released a limited edition Ausf C. As expected there are many common parts with the earlier release but this kit also sees a number of amendments and improvemants aside from the modifications required for the ‘C’. The engine deck hinges have been corrected and the track guard tread pattern is now the more common checker pattern. There are new clip together tracks which work rather well and delightfully are only sprued in 2 places making for easier assembly. All the hull visors can now be opened and clear vision blocks are supplied and the return rollers are supplied with separate tires just like the roadwheels. There is a new etched fret which now includes the chains for the smoke candles and the towing pins.
Tamiya More new releases from Tamiya as they virtually single handedly attempt to persuade us that 1:48th is the new 1:35th. The three new vehicle kits follow very much the approach of the previous releases with the dreaded die cast chassis. The Panzer IV Ausf J includes a choice of mid or late idler wheels and turret Schurzen but only supplies templates for you to make your own hull Schurzen. The Panther Ausf G has the same incorrect outer roadwheel rim as the 1:35th scale version and the rear stowage bins are moulded onto the rear plate which will make adding any damage rather difficult. worth of note though are the OVM tools which are very delicate. I would have prefered these
Skybow
not to have been moulded onto the stowage
To compliment their delightful 1:48th scale
frames.
Tiger 1 kits Skybow have released sets of
The M10 is my favourate of the three it is
late and early pattern individual track links to
supplied with a reasonable degree of hull
replace the rubber band types supplied in
interior and a well detailed turret and a set
the kits. The links clip together with pins on
of exterior stowage is also included.
each link and they are sprued sensibly. The
To support the vehicles there is a further
only slight niggle is that they lack the hollow
figure set - German Panzergrenadiers. This
guide horns but then so do the rubber tracks.
is again another scaled down set from the
Our samples were kindly supplied by
1:35th scale range and the detail is okay but
Parabellum
it would be nice to see something fresh.
Tel: 0121 551 8878 email
[email protected] 51
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Keeping Track
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35 171 35 G12
35 D-29
35 173
PP 17
ABER Following on from the previous batch of new releases we have 2 further detail sets for the Dragon SdKfz. 251Ausf D. 35 171 is a replacement upper hull for the standard vehicle with the side opening engine deck hatches. As with the late version this offers 35 179
a complete new upper hull with the advantage of a more scale thickness to the armour. Set 35 173 supplies replacement rear seat backs and seat boxes. These offer the chance to open up the stowage bins under the bench seats and will give a much finer finish to the seat back stowage bins. Set 35 179 is a set of replacement fenders to fit the Dragon Jagdpanzer IV A-0, these will allow you to add some realistic fender damage. and the same applies to set 35 176 which is a fender set for the Tiger (P). Relpacement grills now for the Dragon Porsche King Tiger - set 35 G12 gives you new grills for all the engine deck air intakes and throws in a couple of MG ring sights as well. Finally we have a set of maple leaves 35 D-29 always handy for
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adding camouflage to vehicles and a set of cross pattern tread plate.
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Dragon First up from Dragon we have their much
1:35th scale kits. The SdKfz 251 Ausf C is
anticipated Panzer IV Ausf E 3 in 1 kit. This
superb with cleverly moulded roadwheels
allows you the choice of building early, late
and etched brass seat backs and gun
or DAK versions and even by the standards of their recent releases Dragon have surpassed themselves here. I do not have the space here to list all the features of this comprehensive kit but some of the highlights are a detailed turret and cupola interior, a choice of hulls,working suspension, pattern on both sides of the fenders and stripped down final drive housings. Sadly it has not always been recieved with the rapture it deserves from the modelling community and whilst it seems that there may be a question over the position of the drive sprocket be in no doubt this is very much what we have wanted for so long from our kits. To complain would be like complaining about the colour of Farrari you have just been given! Buy one just to marvel
shields, and visors can even be positioned at the contents of the box even if you never build it. Next we have the follow up release on the 88mm Flak theme with a Flak 37. Obviosly this shares many common parts with the previous kit but also has some stunning new additions. Of particular note are the new gun shields, the tires which are even moulded with a weight flattened section and clear moulded dials with the faces of the dials moulded into these clear parts. Add this to the other host of extras, etched parts and turned parts and you have another superb kit. In 1:72nd scale Dragon continue to up the standards as well with versions of their
opened or closed. The Bergepanzer Tiger follows up on the earlier Elephant kit with the same level of detail and link and length tracks. An etched fret provides the chain mechanism for the crane should you want to show it deployed but the kit lacks the zimmerit finish sported by all the Bergepanzer Tigers. Finally we have a 1942 model T34/76 the main differences here from the previous releases is the inclusion of the later style roadwheels both steel and webbed rubber rim patterns along with the hexagonal pattern turret with the choice of 2 roof designs. Markings are included for 6 different vehicles. 53
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Keeping Track
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HLX48054
HLX48049
HLX48048
HLX48042
HLX48050
HLX48047
HLX48056
HLX48052
HLX48055
HLX48054
HLX48053
Hauler Hauler continue to cater for the new 1:48th scale ranges with a
we have four fire extinguisher sets, HLX48056 is a late pattern WWII
growing range of top quality afternarket detail sets. Firstly we have
German type and 052 is the early pattern. 055 is the WWII British
HLX48048, 049 and 054 which are three MG sets, two US .30Cal’s
Pyrene type with 054 the later pattern British type. Each set
and a Vickers Mk1. These comprise resin resin guns and tripod
contains parts to make four extinguishers with resin bodies and
mounts with etched details, ammo boxes and ammunition belts.
etched brackets. Finally we have HLX48053 which is a set of
HLX48042 is a detail set for the Tamiya Universal Carrier kit which
Tunisian Tiger 1 turret number decals featuring the big white outline
includes new drivers controls and instrument panel, protective
numbers.
frame for the radio set, new stowage brackets, crew steps and mesh grills. HLX48050 is a set of photoetched Sherman track duckbills. HLX48047 is a replacement Notek light set and the then
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Italeri Something of a blast from the past here
cause some problems but it should build
from Italeri in the shape of the M4A3
into an attractive model with a few simple
Sherman. That said its a tidy enough kit but
additions.
showing its age now and the recently
In 1:72nd scale the Leopard 1A2 lacks
Dragon
released Dragon kit is far superior.
some finesse with the roadwheels moulded
More tiny tanks from Dragon with
The Air Defence LAV-25 features a
as a single unit rather than as 2 wheels
variations on their earlier Karl Morser kits
reasonably detailed suspension sytem but
bolted together. This means that the link
with the full rail transportation rig including
the hull lacks any interior detail. The turret
and length track lacks any track teeth. The
rail tracks and an operational version with
has a fairly basic interior but the small
hull feature moulded on tools which are very
munition schlepper panzer IV and crew.
windows mean this is not a problem. The
one dimensional and the kit is going to take
This version features separate tracks and
windcreen wipwers are however moulded
some work to bring it up to standard.
the choice of raised or lowered suspension
as integrally with the windscreen which will
although this is the early pattern suspension. Given the size of these kits the
The Small Shop EU
detail is really very good and they both include etched frets and decal sheets.
The Nutter is the latest tool from the Small Shop EU which will produce domed rivets, hexagonal nuts and pop rivets. The tool consists of a clamp with a soft rubber pad and a handle with assorted screw in former tips which will produce the desired rivet or nut. The rivets or nuts are produced by clamping a sheet of the soft metal sheet along with the plastic dome sheet into the tool clamp and pushing the former through these which leaves the rivet sitting on the rubber. This can then be scooped into the handy trough at the front of the base plate. As well as this the highly reflective metal sheet can be formed into the assorted domed recesses on the top of the tool to make headlight reflectors. These can be filled with clear glue or resin to make lenses from size 2mm to 8mm which is a very useful extra. It does exactly what it says on the tin and should be very popular. Highly recommended. For more details see the Small Shop web site: www.smallshopeu.com Tel/Fax 01747 825 646
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