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AFV Modeller |
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AFV Modeller Magazine #27 |
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Reviewed By Pascal Zandt, #44514 |
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MSRP: $16.95 USD As a small-scale modeler returning to the hobby after a fifteen year hiatus, I am amazed by all the developments in the industry. With the variety and quality of kits, accessories, building materials and publications, etc., it has taken me a while to come around to AFV Modeller magazine. Though I had quickly thumbed through pages of a past issue or two, it was not until a friend gave me a copy of AFV modeler #26 and I had a chance to read it at my leisure, that I appreciated what a great magazine it is. I was, therefore, eager to volunteer to do a review of issue #27. Broken up into seven segments, the first segment, (pp. 2-9), starts with the title “German Art.” Modeler Javier Redondo Martinez does a great job of creating a North African scene, depicting a captured Marmon Herrington MKIII armored car behind a defensive rock wall being painted over with a Balkenkreuz by its new owners, the DAK. The vehicle is a modified Wespe 1/35 scale kit. In the article, Javier describes the modifications he made to the kit, the colors and techniques he used to paint and weather the vehicle, then the figures, and finally, he gives a list of references he used. Segment two, (pp. 10-17), titled “Shermanski” describes how modeler Glen Bowen built a beautiful 1/35th scale Dragon M4A2 (76) Sherman in Russian service. Though a simple layout, a Sherman riding over a log roadbed, the detailing on the vehicle is anything but. The Tristar Russian crew figures also look fantastic. Segment three, (pp. 18-27), shows a diorama created by Jason Bobrowich, depicting a training exercise set in Germany in 1986, whereby an Italeri 1/35th scale Leopard 1A4 is converted into a Leopard C1 in Canadian service, using a Maple Leaf Models/Trackjam Models conversion kit. The conversion, the figures, and the diorama itself look great. Pages 28-39, make up segment four, which covers Martin Smith’s stunning Grille Ausf. H in 1/35th. What a remarkable creation! The detailing is phenomenal, and goes to show what an accomplished modeler can create by scratch building. It is truly amazing the amount of detail that can be built into a vehicle of such scale. This really should be an article in itself, but I’ll leave it to the reader to get a copy and really appreciate all the work that went into building the vehicle. The fifth segment, (pp. 40-49), Xtreme detail, highlights an M5A1. (The timing couldn’t be better as I just bought an M5A1 at Tamiya-Con a couple weeks ago.) This segment includes many images from a prototype vehicle, which is ideal for those who want to provide the detail similar to the Martin Smith did with the Grille, mentioned above. Keeping Track, segment six, (pp. 50-55) provides information about what’s new in the hobby. In this particular issue, there is a book entitled, “Die Panzer Instandesetzung der Wehrmacht,” which describes the recovery and maintenance workshops of the Panzertruppe. The review will entice the reader to seriously consider adding this text to his/her book collection. Of course, there was also mention of new kits in various scales and accessories. Finally, segment seven, (pp. 56-64), covers the top finishers of the Digital Imagination photo competition. First place was taken by Pascal Tognon, with his Iosuf Stalin III digitally placed behind a farmyard fence. It really looks as if it were taken sometime in 1945. As this is supposed to be a review, I had to keep the comments to a minimum. However, the pages that I saw and read were phenomenal. Each segment was well described and illustrated with numerous images and helpful information. The magazine is not only beautiful to look at, but is a treasure trove of information for the modeler who is serious about his hobby. I can only recommend getting this issue. At $16.75 per issue or £48.30 per year subscription you’re getting a modeling magazine for your money, not a collection of ads. It’s available in most hobby shops, or in the United States from Wise Owl Worldwide Publications www.wiseowlmagazines.com; 760-603-9768, or direct from AFV Modeller Ltd., 176 Newbridge St., Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2TE. Tel: (UK) 0191 209 1107 website www.afvmodeller.com. Many thanks to AFV Modeller for the review copy. |
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