Model Art Co. Ltd

Model Fibel: Self-Propelled Gun Vol.1

Reviewed By  Andrew Birkbeck, IPMS# 27087

MSRP: 2000 Japanese Yen (US$17.50) Order direct from Model Art (www.modelart.jp). I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but I really SHOULD have paid attention at high school when they were trying to convince me to take Japanese as my foreign language subject! Looking through the pages of this spectacular book has me kicking myself, hard! Model Art Publishing for the past many years has been supplementing their monthly modeling magazine, Model Art Modeling Magazine, with a series of "Specials" on various armor, aircraft and naval subjects. The "Model Fibel" title is their armor series, and this one covers as the title suggests a series of 1/35th scale WW2 Axis and Allied self-propelled guns. In order of appearance in the magazine: · DML/Dragon Premium Edition Sd.kfz. 164 Nashorn, Page 2-11 · DML/Dragon SmartKit Marder III Ausf. H, Page 18-21 · AFV Club Sturmtiger, Page 22-31 · Fine Molds IJA Type 3 "Honi-III", Page 32-43 · AFV Club Sd.kfz. 251/21 Ausf. C and DML/Dragon Sd.kfz. 251/21 Ausf. D, Page 44-55 · AFV Club M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage, Page 56-65 · DML/Dragon Sd.Kfz. 234/4, Page 66-80 · Brach Model Italian Semovente 149/40, Page 82-87 · RPM Sd.kfz. 135 Marder, Page 88-97 · Eduard Jagdpanzer 38 "Hetzer" Late Production model, Page 98-109 · AFV Club Achilles I/IIC 17 pounder tank destroyer, Page 110-122 · Sturmpanzer IV "Brummbar" Early production (conversion using Tamiya Pz.IV Ausf. H), Page 122-129 · DML/Dragon Pz.Kpfw. 1 Ausf. A Flakpanzer 1, Page 130-141 Each page (there are 148 of them) of this soft covered book measures 8.25 by 11.75 inches, and the articles are color photo heavy. None of the kits are built out of the box, in fact most are "super detailed" with the standard of workmanship for the most part extremely high. Despite the potential language barrier, there is LOTS of information contained in these pages to help anyone contemplating building one or more of the kits on the list above. Not only the well chosen color photos of the models in various stages of construction, but some of the articles contain walk-arounds of 1/1 museum vehicles or archival period shots: Jagdpanzer Hetzer (22 color photos), Sd.kfz. 234/4 (70+ color photos, including three of the engine removed from the vehicle), Sturmtiger (4 very useful black and white interior shots). Despite this being a Japanese language publication, there are English translations for seven of the articles: Sd.kfz. 251/21; M40; Marder 1; Brummbar; Sd.kfz. 234/4, and the museum detail photos of the Sd.kfz. 234/4 and Hetzer also have English captions. Overall then, I feel this is a superb publication. If you have one or more of the kits detailed in this magazine as I do, I think this would be a very useful addition to one's reference library. The models are first rate, are very well photographed, and for me at least, were a real inspiration. Highly recommend. My sincere thanks to Model Art Co. Ltd for providing IPMS/USA with this review sample.

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