Fran

I build this one for SAM … I used Eduard details set (all of them), quickboos engines and guns and FoxBot decals, that has some fantastic schemes for the B.25 in 1:48 and I felt in love by one… Casper`s Flash… The only thing I found about it on the web site as a post in the picture of it in Pinterest with the follow comment: “Casper's Flash was one of the planes my grandfather flew on in WWII. They ended up crashlanding this plane on the island of Angar in the Palua Group during a severe storm. My grandfather is pictured in the far upper right, with his pilot Art Baker next to him. I don't know the names of the others but the guys in the lower row were the group crew mechanics on Pelelei. To my knowledge, the plane is still located on Pelelei either pushed off into the ocean or on the island itself.” Cheers Fran

Love it!! Very well done Mike! Thanks so much for sharing Fran

F.A.Q. Dioramas By Rubén Gonzalez (Ak-Interactive) Price: €80,52 Rubén González is a master model, worldwide recognition in the diorama modelling. And this book is not a small thing: 559 The English version was translate by Pete Hamann, so we can be sure of a smooth and unblemished text. Ruben`s work is world wide knowed and this FAQ is a reference to all modellers, being or not a diorama builder. The book is divided into four main chapters and sub-chapters. The index is a little weird but I think it's like I said: 4 chapters (chapter n.º 3 has eight subchapters) and then we have the conclusions and acknowledgments). The main chapters and sub-chapters are: I. Concepts, Bases, and displays; II. Theory of composition in 3D III. Techniques a. Bases; b. Ground and terrain; c. Vegetation; d. Artificial elements e. Miscellaneous f. Figures g. Constructions and Atmosphere h. Common Mistakes, shows and contests; IV. Gallery V. Conclusions VI. Acknowledgements The first chapter is just one page, with bases, concepts and stands basic aspects. The second one (theory of composition in 3D) is all about diorama composition with several essentials notions for square, round or rectangular composition. The third chapters is the biggest one: Techniques. It is structured to present itself as evolutionary as the work of a diorama. So it begins with the making of the bases, from those that are a simple terrain, or with multiple unevenness. After, it goes forward to the terrain, like desert, mud, sand, stones and rocks, asphalt, cement, puddles, explosions crates. Its looks so, so simple and using several different products like Humbrol Enamel, generic white glue, AK washes, Mig washes, Vallejo still water. One particular part that I really liked in this chapter was the special effects one because it presents step-by-step of explosion crater, road sinkhole, puddle and, of course, water. After the terrain in its various forms, we move on to vegetation. Here, you will learn to work with the vegetation products like ModelScene, Joe Fix and Mininatur as well as other products and scratchbuild plants. Every imaginary type of vegetation is covered with step-by-step. I particularly enjoy the “plants with the sense of movement” and all Trees subject. The tree step-by-step you get conifers using real wood trunk and mimics branches, fruits trees with real wood trunk, miliput roots and natural plants for the branches and so on, like wire made tree, palm tree. Still in the vegetation sub-chapter, I once again highlight the special effects (ground cover, fallen leaves, and mushrooms), as they add extra detail and interest to the final work. Also love the Tropical Tree with step-by-step wines, a work that will have in the final a shot down chopper. The next sup-chapter is the artificial elements: vertical elements, architecture and accessory items. In this, there are mainly urban vertical elements like lamppost, wooden power pole, tall electrical poll (in full scratch), metal signs, stone signs post, wood signs and traffic signs. In the architecture part, you guess it right: buildings. Starting with wood shed in full scratch with the steps. Great tutorial. Next a burned shed which is awesome! Still in building, the author give us a 24th scale gas station in full scratch once again, and also with a step-by-step. Then there are several forays into smaller jobs, from brick wall, to bad cone building. At the end this chapter, the author embarks on the large buildings, starting soon a row of two-story houses, in full scratch and several others houses and buildings like the house with a balcony or apartment building (full front) with full scratch. Bunkers are not forgotten, this time not in scratch but using a verlinden bunker, and all the painting and weathering are in step-by-step. Brilliant stuff. Leaving the building sub-chapers, we enter the accessory items like doors, windows, roofs etc. Starting with several types of metal doors with glasses (and broken glasses), several types of wood doors, then rolllup doors Then the top of the building got the attention: Roofs. And as all others aspects, you get metal roofs, shingled roof, tile roof, wood roof. All with painting and full weathering. To finalize, the author goes towards balconies, like patio with cinder block wall, cement patio and balcony. The next sub-chapter is miscellaneous. The author mention that the biggest takeaway of this chapter is to tell you how to place and integrate these items into to your vignette or diorama. So, through page 437 to 475, you are given step-by-step to deal with rugs, jersey barriers, chemical barrel, wooden crates, drink boxes, posters, curtains, footprints, curtains, footprints, boards, tarps, vending machines, wooden pallet and wooden fence. Next one, the sub-chapter of figures. Several painting step-by-step of figures are made and several basic tips are given, that are very useful to all diorama modelers. If you want to go deeper in figure painting, so get the “F.A.Q. Figure Painting Techniques By Kiril Kanaev”, that we review here. The final sub-chapter is almost as the book started – Composition with figures and integration into the diorama. It`s possible to see several diagrams with figure position into diorama and their balance between the figures, the building and specially with the main piece (AFV or Airplane) and also integration of the figures to blend to the terrain, either with oils, pigments and acrylics. Last but not the least, the integration of the building itself to the terrain and the atmosphere. I was curious to know what this atmosphere was about. Opening the pages, it`s the work of integrating the buildings to the season of the year that we want to represent in our directory and in which we already had to have this option when making the land. This is how to create the temporal environment in which the story that we believe appears in our diorama, be it autumn, winter or summer, jungle, sand, etc. In the next chapter, we have the “common mistakes, shows and contest”. Here the author makes some comments about the categories in the contests and the work of the jury. And the author draws up a list of common mistakes in the various “actors” of a diorama – vehicles, figures, building, terrain, composition and cohesiveness. Finally the last chapter: Gallery with fantastic works from the author. CONCLUSION Well, this book has a lot of information that is impossible to summarize it in a way worthy of the book itself. Its information is very well compiled and structured, allowing access to it in a very easy way, not only for reading but for the immense step-by-step that the author presents us throughout the book. Several material are used from several brands, just don't worry that it's not an AK book to show only AK material. It is a real must-have not only for model makers but for all model makers because there are techniques here that are universally used in all areas of model making. So, I can only say that this book is highly recommended to all modelers even to those that aren’t diorama makers. My truly thanks to Fernando Vallejo and AK-Interactive for the review sample.

1:35 707 Forte Grupo de Cavalaria 1 “Dragões de Angola” 1961-1974 (€11) 707 Forte is a name well know manufacture in Portugal, run by a single person, a very good Portuguese modeler, that you can check his facebook page here. The mainly products are decals, with some resin conversions, all to Portuguese Army. This release was one the best one, for me, because I really like the subject. So I decided to get one. The decal arrived and it’s a simple zip lock bag with the tag label identifying the product. Opening, a single sheet in given in continuous film so careful and patience is need to trim the decal. The registration is very good, with a white solid on the letters. The color has a very good pigmentation and saturation with a very good dragon head delimitation. There’s no instructions at all, as they are given in video, directly for the producer on 707 Forte facebook page, link that in the end of this review. You can make, at least, five different models with this small sheet. So, you get five Dragon heads. The Dragon head looking right are the EBR turret (eight wheels). The Dragon head looking for the left side, are for the Panhard ETT (there`s a resin model in 1:35 for a Portuguese Manufacture – NP Modelismo: modelismonp@gmail.com). The word “Dragões” are to put below the dragon head. The symbol of “Grupo Cavalaria 1” with “Dragões” below are for the Panhard AML 60 And the one without the words, only with the sabres and RMA (Região Militar de Angola), that was used latter EBR e others vehicles. The word “dragões” in straight line were used um the windshield of the Unimog404 and in Jeep Wills CJ3b e CJ5. *All the pictures of the vehicles are printscreen for the explanation video made y Pedro Grilo, te owner fo 707 Forte Check it here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3264439783878850 Conclusion: 707 Forte is a one man show with very limited releases but all the products are of very good quality. It’s a simple zip log bag with a label and the decal sheet inside and frankly you don’t need much more to make a great model of “Dragões de Angola”. However a simple diagram where to put the decal would be nice but nothing you can`t get from the explanation video. For the price, you got a small sheet, with very good registration, to make several vehicles (EBR, ETT, Unimog, Jeep Willes and Panhard ML60) from Regime de Cavalaria n.º 1 that operated in Angola during the Ultramar War “Guerra do Ultramar”, that will stand out in your collection or in a local model show that for sure. So it`s a very good value for you money!! So, indulged yourself and get a 707 Forte decal sheet! My thanks to my bank account for the review sample. Francisco Guedes

Thank you for your words. The adds made by AK and being a bit cheaper, its a win win to AK! So the Pume is most welcome. Fran

SD.KFZ.234/2 PUMA 1/35 Catalogue Number AK35503 Price Tag: 59,95€ AK Interactive is starting to release their own brand of models, starting with some rebox. Today we are reviewing the 1:35 Sd. Kfz. 234/2 Puma. The model kit is a rebox of the Dragon model, that was originally release back in 2006. Back then, as all Dragon model kits, only 4 four options were given. So, opening the box, you get the Dragon plastic and PE with new instructions and an extensive new decal sheet with 12 options!! The hull top and bottom are packed separately into their own plastic bags for protection, and there are a further nine large sprues of grey styrene, and five small sprues of grey styrene and four small sprues transparent plastic. Considering the model itself, its model release back in 2006, if Scalemate don’t fail me, and back then were made several review about the kit it. The most complete one is this: http://www.missing-lynx.com/reviews/german/dml6256reviewcs_1.html Resuming you get a very detailed Puma, with the following features, very well listed in AK Interactive website: "One-piece turret housing with accurate weld pattern. – Movable gun assembly including a detailed 50 mm gun with one-piece barrel, muzzle brake recreated with multiple slide-molded parts and mantlet with accurate cast pattern. – Commander’s and loader’s hatches with interior detail can be assembled in open or close positions. – Hull interior detail including both the front and rear driver’s positions. – Driver’s and rear vision ports can be assembled open or closed. – Engine deck ventilation louvers with open/closed option. – Authentic multi-part muffler. – Detailed spare wheel mounting frame. – Delicate width indicator poles and star antenna. – Realistic jerry cans including photo-etched parts. – Photo-etched parts for lifting hooks, bumper details, starter cover and convoy light cover. Has that Missing-Lynk full review doesn’t have any pics, here`s some pics of the plastic: The decal sheet is quite big, considering the AFV decals in 1:35. So the decals gives the modeler 12 complete markings of several sceneries of the World War II. Those markings are, in fact, for several, the few Pumas, which there are some photos references. So here`s the markings: I. Pz.Aufkl. Lehr Abt. 130, Pz Lehr Div. Germany 1944; II. Probably of 4.(Pz.Aufkl.)/Pz.Gren. Lehr-Btl, Pz. Tr. Schule Krampnitz, Germany 1944; III. Stabskp./SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt.1, 1. SS-Pz.Div. “LSSAH”, Normady, France, July 1944; IV. Stabskp./SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt.1, 1. SS-Pz.Div. “LSSAH”, Laon, France, late August 1944; V. 1./Pz.Aufkl.Abt.2, 2. Pz.Div, Normandy, France, Summer, 1944; VI. 1./Pz.Aufkl.Abt.2, 2 Pz. Div. Normandy, France, Summer, 1944; VII. 1./Pz.Aufkl.Abt2, Kampfgruppe von Böhm, 2. Pz. Div, Ciney, Belgium, 27 December, 1944; VIII. Pz.Aufkl.Abt.2, Kampfgruppe von Böhm, 2. Pz. Div, Celles area, Belgium, 29 December, 1944; IX. Stabskp./Pz.Aufkl.Abt20, Eastern Front, late summer, 1944; X. Stabskp./Pz.Aufkl.Abt20, Eastern Front, late summer, 1944; XI. Probably of Pz.Aufkl.Abt20, Silesia, winter 1944-1945 XII. Pz.Aufkl.Abt.7, 7. Pz.Div. Eastern Pomerania, March 1945; The color registrations and printing are perfect, no surprising coming from Cartograf. The instructions are very similar with the original ones, with new graphism (3D drawings) and new satin paper, making easier to read the drawings. Really like the QR Code for Spanish digital instructions. It’s a nice update for the old ones. Conclusion: This is a great re-release of the 234/2 Puma as it has been out of production for quite some long time (2019 in the European market, I think), and it comes with a better price than the original Dragon release. Much better if you consider that you have a new booklet (new paper and better graphics) and a great and extensive decals sheet with lots of markings. Very Highly Recommend. Our thanks to AK-Interactive for the review samples and all the support given. To purchase this directly, click THIS link.

Well Ernie, there`s a lot of Model shop with way lots less models that you!! Thats some priceless models and severel repetead ones!! I do have almost 300... circa 50 are WnW!

Some news HGW brings a detail set for the 1:35 Border Ju-87 and Model Monkey continues their extensive detail set to the 1:32 Revell Beaufighter. https://www.model-monkey.com/scale-32

Done.

and here it is: ZM 1:32 Hs 129 B-3 - release date: Dec 2022.

Wow!! I love it! The work behind this model is epic!

I working on a brief review.... It is on my pile to do soon as another 10.... 🙄but when I started I will put some wip pics...

Happy Birthday Rod!!! Have a great one!

These arrived this week!

WOWWWWW!!! Great painjob!! Love that digital camo!!

Love it ! Well done !

I know this one... As always, great work my friend!

Well done !

Realy realy nice! Well done ! The weathering is spot on!

sweet!

Really nice work in a not easy kit!!

wow!! Love it!!

Well, I will enterthis GB at least with this Fokker DVII "F" Ukrainien Galician Army, September 1919 Not an actual modern airplane or AFV but Its an ukrainian scheme and every profit from this Aviattic sheet will be to charities aiding refugees fleeing the outrageous invasion of Ukraine and the violence inflicted by the Putin regime.

Great!! And Reskit are also Ukrainian!!

I really want to enter this Gb... Looking for Ukrainian subject with a Ukrainian kit....