Editions de Barbotin |
Minitracks No 9 Small Scale Military Modeling |
Reviewed By Jim Pearsall, #2209 |
Bilingual Edition (English French) Single issue 10.50 EURO + 3 E P & P USA Subscription (4 issues) 50 E US Distributor:
Back issues from issue 1 are available at the single copy price. 72 pages, including the covers. A4 size, full color, slick finish heavy paper. This is a magazine that meets its mission statement. It covers “Small Scale Military Modeling”, and does it well, from the European scene. There are 16 articles, 3 of which combine to form a feature article. There are the usual “how to” articles, but several other interesting features. One of interest to me is “Le Web de Minitracks”. Four web sites were featured. My favorite site is www.tigerpanzer.de. It’s all in German, but the pictures are great. All articles are printed in French in the left column, English in the right column, with all photos and drawings dual captioned. Most of the articles include diorama builds, which means there are multiple models, usually of different vehicles, figures and a base. The first article is “The Armored Tricycle”, although I find the French name “Le Char du Tsar” to be entertaining alliteration. The kit (featured on the cover, see above) is the Russian idea for a WW1 trench crossing vehicle. Since the multimedia kit (resin/PE) is 25 cm (9.25 in) tall and 14 cm (5.5 in) wide, this is a large item. In 1/35 it would be (OK, divide by 35, carry the 7) 51 cm (19 in) tall and 28.8 cm (11.3 in) wide. The combination of the Tricycle with a Russo Balt armored car and 3 figures gives a real idea how big this item was. This is somewhat a “what if”, as the prototype was badly underpowered, and guns were never fitted. The feature article(s) are on the Ferdinand/Elefant, both of which were SdKfz184, large SP anti tank systems with the L71 88mm gun. Since all Ferdinands which survived Kursk were converted into Elefants, the author gives a rundown of all the changes made. (Hint: Only Elefants had zimmerit.) Other articles of interest:
Recommended |
Information, images, and all
other items placed electronically on this site |