What is in the Box

• 4 gray injection molded plastic sprues [247 parts total]
• 1 clear sprue
• 1 decal sheet with 6 markings options
• 1 3d printed instrument panel (three parts)
• 2 Etched Brass frets
• 1 canopy & wheel hub masks
• 1 elastic vinyl tubing
• 1 brass wire
• 1 instruction book in FULL color

Construction

The construction begins with the cockpit and the fuselage interior and this makes up the majority of the early construction sequence. Extra time spent here will pay dividends later in the build and I recommend a thorough reading of the instructions since they will alleviate most if not all construction problems. The sprue gates are on the mating surfaces, so it is imperative to cut them from the sprues with care and be sure not to over sand the sprue gate nubs.

From AOA Decal Manufacturer’s Notes

14 options for JLTVs in US service:

• 2x Army Reserve (Fort McCoy)
• 12x USMC - Additional decals are also included without the tape/exercise markings that cover some various unit markings. Decals for an M1102 trailer are also included for one JLTV option.
• Includes full JLTV stencil data set (enough for two vehicles) with variations.
• For Rye Field Model (RFM) 1/35 JLTV.

Background and Historical Notes

As one of the military’s most important decisions, it put out a bid announcement for a replacement for its basic utility vehicle, what was to be called the ‘Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.’

During World War II, the concept of creating airfields in days, rather than months or years, came about with the use of what was called “Pierced Steel Planking”. These were segments of metal, linked together to form runways, taxiways, and parking areas, to name a few. Its modern day equivalent is the M8A1 Landing Mat.

This is a fairly simple, straight-forward kit. Six sprues, each containing one section of matting, comprised the entire kit. The instructions show two different ways of creating a rectangular mat, and I build the 2nd version.

The only downside I have to mention is that when I assembled the kit, there was a minute gap down the center seam – although I cannot discount the possibility of an erroneous assembly procedure on my part.

WW2 Vehicles – Through the Lens Volume 7 by Tom Cockle is a forthcoming photographic reference book focused on Second World War era military vehicles, part of the WW2 Vehicles – Through the Lens series. It’s designed primarily for military history enthusiasts, scale modelers, and researchers who want authentic period photography and detail on armored vehicles and related transport.

The volume is a photo-centric reference book with minimal narrative — it emphasizes large, high-quality black & white images accompanied by concise captions that identify vehicles, locations, and sometimes field conditions. Each section groups photos around a specific vehicle type or theme.

Featured subjects include:

This ResKit 3D printed resin set includes three crew members: pilot, copilot, and a rear facing crew chief or flight engineer that controls the hoist. The figures come in three incredibly detailed resin blocks. The first includes the three figures seated in CH – 54 seats. The second block includes four heads for the figures. There are options for the pilots’ helmets to have visors down or up. The headsets on the helmet are printed with a gap between the figure’s face and the headset. The crew chief head is molded on the body with the visor up. The third block includes the control levers for the CH – 54.

The ResKit figures are produced in cooperation with ICM so they will fit perfectly into the ICM cockpit.

I am familiar with Scale Aircraft Conversions but have never used any of their products. Having a Fine Molds Ki-43 III, I was keen to compare these metal landing gear parts to the kit parts provided by Fine Molds. The SAC landing gear provides additional strength being metal, and the ability to slightly bend the gear if needed.

Upon close inspection, the landing gear provided by Fine Molds is my preference over the metal landing gear offered by Scale Aircraft Conversions. In my sample, the metal landing gear has mold part lines, heavy pitting, and a shape that is more oval than round. One of my struts had a curve coming out of the packaging, but this was easily bent back to shape.

Scale Aircraft Conversions has been creating parts for modelers since 1990 and has long supported the IPMS-USA Review Corps with their items for review. The white metal parts are meant to replicate the original kit parts, but with the additional strength of being metal instead of plastic. There is also an advantage in that the metal gear can be slightly bent, if necessary, once installed to allow for improved positioning.

The IPMS-USA recently began receiving items for review from Gaahleri. The company is relatively new and first introduced airbrushes and has since expanded into the production of their own line of paints. Kaleido ColorWorks is their premium sub-brand of water-based paints, which are developed with RapidAir Technology. In addition to all the individual colors, Gaahleri also has sets of paint available for consumers.

The IPMS-USA recently began receiving items for review from Gaahleri. The company is relatively new and first introduced airbrushes and has since expanded into the production of their own line of paints. In addition to their individual and sets of paints, they have also released their own Cleaner, which can be used on both paint brushes and airbrushes. This cleaner is advertised as being non-toxic, odorless, non-flammable, and safe for the environment by Gaahleri.

History

The Kokusai Ta-Go (Ki-128) was a dedicated Kamikaze attack plane designed to use non-strategic war materials in its construction. Developed by Captain Yoshiyuki Mizuyama at the Japanese Army Aerotechnical Research Institute in Tokyo, his idea was to produce a simple aircraft that could be produced in small workshops. He initially had some issues in getting his design approved and produced by the Tachikawa company at first. After having some production setbacks, he went to the Nippon Kokusai Company, which eventually gave him the backing to move forward with his project.

When I received this set, I thought the parts were too small to be 1/32 scale. Turns out the Tunnan has a round fuselage with all the gear contained within it. This allows for very short landing gear legs. SAC appears to have duplicated the kit parts in their usual soft white metal. My research indicates the landing gear in the base kit is tricky to install, so don’t expect the fit you might get from other brands these days. I also read comments about the need for stronger main gear legs since the completed model has a bit of heft to it.

Neverland Hobby has provided this beautiful new tool release of the German armored version of the classic G Wagen, in this 1/35 scale.

• Ten Tan Sprues
• One Clear Sprue
• One Photo Etch set
• One Mask set
• One Decal sheet
• Six rubber tires
• Six rubber bushes
• One Metal foil decal sheet
• Set of four 3D printed resin parts
• One Instruction guide

The detail quality is excellent in every way with this kit; crisp and detailed molding, as I have seen on other Neverland Hobby kits.

The Assembly is quick and easy.

You must select which version you are going to build before you start, I chose version -B based on a vehicle on Kabul service in 2009.

Ian Baxter is a respected historian and an author I actively seek out for his insight and amazing photographs for World War II. This book continues its amazing legacy, does not disappoint, and is worth the price for the photographs alone.

Following the familiar Pen & Sword Images of War series is the story of Tanks and Armour in Ukraine 1941–1944. Each chapter starts with a brief history of the topic covered, followed by a lot of photographs to complement the text. This book is composed of the following:

The kit is enclosed in a top‑opening box (typical of Tamiya), with excellent artwork adorning the package. In addition to the regular plastic sprues, there are poly caps, metal washers, two magnets to allow the engine cowling to be displayed open or closed, and a printed masking sheet for the clear parts (note: the builder must cut these out).

The instructions are well illustrated, easy to follow, and contain 40 steps for assembly. There are also two sheets of painting guides (printed in 1/48 scale) covering five marking options.

For painting reference, Tamiya lists their own paint line, but it is easy to cross‑reference other paint brands online.

The decals are in perfect registry with vibrant colors. Some builders may consider the clear film to be thick, but this is typical of Tamiya kit decals.

This is part of a series of books by FlightCraft on aircraft and I have a few of these and are truly indispensable when building a model of the subject matter.

This book goes into great detail on the F-35 fifth Generation fighter. There are a few versions of this aircraft all covered in this book.

The contents of the book are as follows:

• Introduction
• Design and Development
• Key Technical Systems
• Power Systems
• In Service
• Camouflage and Markings
• Modeling the F-35 Lightning
• Showcase Products

I found the Key Technical Systems section most interesting section to me and learned a lot about the aircraft systems.

The modeling sections were also very informative. There are a few builds highlighted including the Tamiya, Academy, Italeri, and Trumpeter Kits.

In 60-plus years of modeling I’ve never had a “modeling stand” except what I’ve hand made or jury-rigged, Rube Goldberg style. This is the first “store bought” rig that I’ve owned, and I’m glad I waited until now.

Reviewer’s Comments:

TankCraft 46, Panther Medium Tank, German Army, Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe Units, Eastern Front, 1944 details the Panther tank, officially the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther (Pz. Kpfw. V, Sd. Kfz. (Sonderkraftfahrzeug) 171, during the largely defensive battles on the Eastern Front during 1944. As the author states in the Introduction,

“At the beginning of 1944, the German armies in the East had lost much of the territory that they had overrun in the spectacular advances of 1941 and 1942. In the north, Leningrad was still surrounded but was being resupplied, and the city was no longer under any serious threat. Most of modern-day Ukraine east of the Dnipro River was now in Soviet hands and in the south the Red Army had occupied the Perekop Isthmus, cutting off Generaloberst Erwin Janecke’s 17. Armee in Crimea.

Helion is a UK-based company that produces books on many aspects of Military History from the Late Medieval period through to the present day. Helion was established in 1996 by University of Warwick graduate Duncan Rogers. Since then, they have published over 1,200 books, with 100 or more new titles coming out every year, for readers around the world. Casemate markets Helion books in the United States.

The Yugoslav Air Force in the Battles for Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina 1991–1992, Volume 2 by Aleksandar Radić is an excellent addition to any aviation or modern military history collection, especially for those with an interest in the Balkan conflicts of the early 1990s. Radić does a strong job of combining operational history with detailed insight into the aircraft, units, and missions that defined this complex period. The narrative is clear and well-structured, giving enough political and military context without overwhelming the reader, while still maintaining a strong focus on aviation.

War in Ukraine, Volume 9: Soviet-Designed Artillery Systems, 2014–2024 by Wen Jian Chung is a highly focused and informative entry in the Europe @ War series, offering a detailed look at one of the most important elements of the ongoing conflict, Artillery Systems. Chung does an excellent job breaking down the development, deployment, and battlefield use of Soviet-designed systems still in operation today. The text strikes a solid balance between technical detail and operational context, making it accessible without losing depth. It’s particularly valuable for readers interested in how legacy systems have been adapted and employed in a modern, high-intensity conflict.