AFV Modeller

AFV Modeller Magazine #34 May/June 2007

Reviewed By  Andrew Birkbeck, IPMS# 27087

MSRP: 6.00 Pounds Sterling (US 16.00) Website: www.afvmodeller.com . If you have read any of the previous issues of AFV Modeller Magazine, then this issue, #34, will not disappoint. As always the models covered within the (64) pages are very well built and finished and then photographed to the highest standards. In this issue we have: 88mm Flak 36: DML's new 1/35th kit as built by Glenn Bowen, and utilizing an aftermarket flak emplacement resin base by Just Plane Stuff. The author constructs a scene depicting an abandoned gun in a suitably grubby state, guarded by a US soldier. "SCRAM!", Part Two: part two of Bernhard Lustig's article detailing his construction of a lovely diorama depicting a disabled German "Elefant" SPG, its crew bailing out into an abandoned Russian trench, bullets flying from unseen assailants. A 2006 Euro Militaire Gold winning entry, the author in this installment details the building of the groundwork. M2 Half Track: author David Parker builds DML's latest 1/35th release of the M2/M2A1 US half track. Tons of excellent photos cover the author's tweaking of the basic kit, and his very fine paint, decal and weathering job. Then immediately following the kit article, comes author David Doyle's written history of the M2/M3 half track series, together with 27 well chosen period black and white photos showing tons of useful detail for the modeler. PLUS Mr. Doyle provides 30 color photos of a preserved M2 half track, in case the B&W photos weren't enough! White Elephant: Antonio Martin Tello builds a 1/35th M4A3E2 "Jumbo" Sherman, utilizing the Blast Models' Jumbo resin conversion for the Tamiya M4 Sherman kit. The author applies an overall winter white wash to the model, and then proceeds to make it filthy. Great stuff, and many color photos to show his journey through the process. Pages 48 through 55 consist of numerous mini "in box" reviews of various new products: injection plastic kits, photo etched sets, figure kits, decals and books. The final section of the magazine is an article by author Greg Gardner covering his "upgrading" of Tamiya's M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle to the latest M3A3 version. The author extensively details the Tamiya kit using both scratch built plastic card parts and aftermarket resin and photo etched parts. A nice "clean" build with many well-taken photographs to document the author's extensive work. To conclude: a first rate magazine, filled with inspiring models, and all very well photographed. For anyone interested in the M2/M3 half-track series, the photographic coverage of the period and restored vehicles alone is worth the price of admission. My sincere thanks to the publishers for providing IPMS USA with this review copy.

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