Review Topic: Military
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Academy’s M1A2 Abrams, Eduard’s “Rise of the Bubbletops”, Dragon’s big Scharnhorst, & Roden’s VC10
FSM reviews four new plastic scale model kits and accessories.
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Rye Field Tiger I Tank 321
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/35 scale plastic model armor tank kit. Newcomer Rye Field Model has produced the best kit yet of a Tiger I with interior. The model represents an early Russian Front vehicle from s.Pz.Abt. 503, specifically tank 321, in 1943. Tigers from this unit sported a field-built storage bin on the turret.…
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Tamiya SU-76M
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/35 scale plastic model armor tank kit. The SU-76 married the excellent 76mm ZiS-3Sh gun and mechanical components of the T-70 light tank. The 10-ton self-propelled gun was built in huge numbers during World War II, making it second only to the T-34 as the Soviet Union’s most-produced armored vehicle. Used…
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Tamiya IJN Kagero
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/350 scale plastic model ship kit. Tamiya’s 1/350 scale kit represents the Kagero, the lead ship of its class, in its 1939 fit. Similar in design to previous classes, the Kagero class was considered the pinnacle of Japanese destroyers, with a streamlined bridge structure, 35.5-knot speed, 5,000-mile range, and balanced weapons…
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Revell Germany BAe Hawk T1
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/72 scale plastic model aircraft kit. Revell Germany’s Hawk trainer offers markings for the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force’s aerobatic team, in the current eye-catching red-and-white scheme. Molded in slightly soft red plastic, the parts feature excellent recessed surface detail. Several smaller pieces have flash and seam lines on them.…
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Trumpeter USS Tennessee BB-43
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/700 scale plastic model ship kit. Despite being damaged at Pearl Harbor and subsequently rebuilt and designated an OBB (battleship, old) by naval planners, USS Tennessee earned 10 Battle Stars in World War II. During the island-hopping march on Japan, the ship supported assault landings, sometimes firing on targets as close…
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Valom F-101C Voodoo
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/72 scale plastic model aircraft kit. Valom’s new F-101C is the first 1/72 scale kit of the single-seat fighter-bomber version of McDonnell’s big jet. Before now, the Voodoo that you’d do would have been the ancient Hasegawa RF-101C recon aircraft or the newer Revell two-seat F-101B interceptor. The all-new kit captures…
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Takom Mk.A Whippet
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/35 scale plastic model armor kit. Looking to complement the heavy and slow Mark IV and exploit openings in the lines, the British army ordered the faster Whippet; it could make 8 mph versus the Mark IV’s 4 mph! Armed with machine guns, the Whippet entered combat in March 1918. The…
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Zvezda’s Petlyakov Pe-2
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/48 scale plastic model aircraft kit. The moment I opened the box, I fell in love with Zvezda’s 1/48 scale Pe-2. It was also obvious it was going to be a project, not because Zvezda’s kit is bad but because it has 435 parts. The major parts show amazing surface detail,…
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Takom Chieftain Mk.5/5P
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/35 scale plastic model armor kit. When the Chieftain entered British service in 1967, it was the most powerful tank in NATO’s arsenal. The primary versions of the main battle tank were the Mk.3 and Mk.5, the latter being the final production version. Later marks designated major upgrades or rebuilds of…