Editions de Barbotin

Minitracks No 12

Small Scale Military Modeling - Bilingual Edition

Reviewed By Phil Peterson, #8739

SUBSCRIPTION (postage included): 1 year (4 issues) €50 Euro

SALE BY ISSUE €10,50 Euro + €3 Euro (postage)

Braille scale (1/72 – 1/87) military modeling is enjoying a resurgence here in the US mainly due to some great new kits by manufacturers such as Revell of Germany, Trumpeter, Dragon, Roden and others.  However, in Europe, these scales have never gone out of favor.

I started building in this scale back in the early 70’s when all you could get were Airfix, Nichimo, Hasegawa, and Entex with the odd Fujimi kit thrown in.  Then I moved to 35th scale but now that I am older, I have moved back to this scale to keep most of my collection in the same scale.

This magazine is produced quarterly in France and shows what can be done with models in this scale.  Each article is documented in both French and English.  I can’t vouch for how good the French is (took German in High School) but they did a pretty good job with the English portion.  Ok, it isn’t perfect but just a few words misspelled and some words hyphenated in the wrong place. 

Included in this issue: 

  • Gun Tank – RPM FT-17.

  • Too Late – diorama featuring a Retrokit Bergepanther and a burnt out ESCI Opel Blitz.

  • Euro  Militaire 2004 – show report concentrating on small scale kits (16 pictures).

  • On the Messina Road – another diorama featuring the Mr. Panzer Semovente 90/53 and the IL Principo Nero AB 41 armored car.  This includes a 4 view 72nd scale drawing of the 90/53 and a larger color profile of this vehicle.

  • Seafoam – a very interesting article on growing your own small scale vegetation.

  • Operation ‘Greif’ – another mini diorama featuring a Revell Stug III converted into a US marked vehicle used during the Battle of the Bulge.  Supporting it is an Academy Jeep.

  • Brick – a how to article on creating a brick wall using a hand made punch and 5mm ‘carton-plume’ (don’t ask me).

  • Panzerkampfwagen III – a quick and detailed history of this tank from development through its many versions.  Includes several interesting pictures, another 4 view drawing and several color profiles.

  • PzKpfw III “SKI” – another quick history lesson on a version of this tank that had hydraulically operated suspension allowing it to operate on railroad tracks.  Includes another 4 view drawing.

  • Berlin 1945 – following the previous article is one that details converting the ESCI PzKpfw III kit into this interesting version.

  • Panzer III. Ausf. L – a detailed build of the new Revell kit.

  • Heavy Stuff – the Hauler kits of the M 35 prime mover and US M1 240mm Howitzer are given the treatment here.

  • Eurosatory 2004 – a pictorial report of this showcase of land armament held each year in France (17 pictures).

  • The Panther Ausf F – the final article builds a vignette of the Hasegawa kit as it may have looked in battle if it had gone into production.

The magazine also includes a ‘New Releases’ section with pictures of 70 new kits.

This is a great magazine for those of us who build in these scales and the historical pieces can be used by builders of any scale.  You can even see every article of this magazine at the Minitracks website (but you can’t read it).  http://perso.wanadoo.fr/minitracks/n12.htm

My thanks to Minitracks for this copy.

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