What's New in 2008

What's New in 2008

December

Seems I got a bad fever, about 105... milimeters! The release of the Resicast ammo and stowage sets and new crew figures from Warriors has inspired me to join the Priest-hood. I'm in the midst of researching and building not just one, not two, but THREE Priests: a late-early version from the Academy kit, with the better-defined Italeri gun; an intermediate "Baboon" using the Academy with a Foundations one-piece tranny cover; and an Italeri late M7, which still holds its own after nearly 30 years. Stay tuned next month for progress reports and photos, and a review of Resicast's unique assault boat and trailer set.

Happy Holidays!

We keep the 105mm action going with a review of Warriors' M7/M7A1 Priest Crew #2.
Alpine continues to offer marvelous figures, and WW2 U.S. Tank Crew #1 and WW2 U.S. Tank Crew #2 would not be out of place in a Priest crew.
Finally, Neograde has a couple bountiful boxes of doodads that merit consideration: U.S. Willys Jeep Accessory Set and U.S. 2 1/2-ton Cargo Truck Accessory Set.

November

Kurt Laughlin brings his research gravitas to us this month with an extensive examination of 105mm howitzer ammunition. I bring up the rear with a comparison of 105mm ordnance kits on the market and a listing of related AFVs, upgrades, and accessories.
Unfortunately, this research points out some problems with Resicast's Priest Ammunition, Crates, and Spent Ammo Cases, and I've revised my review from September accordingly.
I continue the 105mm mania with reviews of Resicast's new U.S. Priest Stowage #1 and Warriors' M7/M7A1 Priest Crew Set #2.
And if your Priest crew is wounded in the line of fire, they can be tended to by the U.S. Combat Medic ETO 1944-1945 from Helos Miniatures.

October

Good golly, Miss Molly! We've just completed year number six of Modeling the U.S. Army in WWII. Where has the time gone? I did some counting (had to take off my shoes!) and discovered this site now offers nearly 400 reviews of U.S. WWII kits from more than 90 manufacturers, as well as a good number of articles and references. And remember, if you would like to contribute to the cause (either product samples or well-written reviews), just shoot me an email. There are still plenty of kits, new and old, to examine, so let's keep moving forward.

Cookie Sewell reports in with a first look at the new M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage from DML.
As promised, I have a construction review of Resicast's smartly detailed 75mm M8 Pack Howitzer.
As a comparison, I finally peeled open the shrinkwrap on Tamiya's old white metal 75mm Pack Howitzer to build alongside the Resicast kit.
Neo Grade is a newer company from South Korea that has some nice resin upgrades, including a Sherman Accessory Set and Sherman Armor Set (Europe War–02).
Finally, Mark Corbett sent me photos of his excellent 57mm M1 anti-tank gun from Resicast, which I had missed photographing at AMPS. I've updated my construction review of this kit with his photos and a few of my in-progress shots.

September

Graham Sellar of Resicast kindly sent me a few items, including the new Priest Ammunition, Crates, and Spent Ammo Cases. Next month we'll look at the 75mm Pack Howitzer.
To complement the above review, I've uploaded photos of the 105mm Howtizer M2A1 from the Victory Museum in Auburn, Indiana.
One of the first kits I built when I got back into the hobby was Italeri's M24 Chaffee. Someday, when I build it again to my improved skill level, I'll be sure to use Chris "Toadman" Hughes' excellent Light Tank M24 Photo Detail CD as a guide.
Rounding out the reviews are a collection of four Warriors figures: U.S. General Europe 1944-45, U.S. 2 ½ Ton GMC Crew, U.S. Officer with Walkie Talkie, and American Tanker Officer.

August

Gary Binder has written up Modeling the WWII Sherman Tank which he kindly shares with us here.
Gary also provides the start of a Glossary of the Sherman Tank, which we invite readers to add to.
While I await my order of the new DML Tank Riders to arrive, I reach back into the shelves to review some oldies but goodies from Verlinden: Soldier at Rest, Sleeping Soldier, Mechanic #1, Mechanic #2, Mechanic #3, Shaving Soldier "Long John," and Wounded GI & Medic.

July

Cookie Sewell reviews DML's M4A3 76mm(W) "Premium Edition."
Martin Dogger offers his Observations on Building the AFV Club M5A1.
Speaking of AFV Club, I've written up reviews of their M4 Sherman VVSS T51 Track and the M4 Sherman VVSS T48 Track.
Finally, I've posted some photos of the WC54 Dodge Ambulance that is in the Victory Museum collection that I visited during the 2008 AMPS convention in Auburn, Indiana.

June

Chris "toadman" Hughes kindly sent me a trio of recent CD releases, and I examine Toadman's 105mm H.M.C. M7, M7B1, and M7B2 Photo Detail CD and Toadman's M2A1 Half-track Photo Detail CD this month.
John Williams (likely not the composer) shares some photos of what's inside the box of the old 1976 Airfix M3 Lee.
And we conclude the update with reviews of four figures from Warriors: U.S. Tanker with Bazooka, G.I. Walking with Jerry Can, U.S. Infantryman Europe 1943-45, U.S. Tanker with Machine Gun.

May

It's Stuartmania this month! We have reviews of the new AFV Club Stuart M5A1 Early Production from Cookie Sewell as well as Kurt Laughlin, who has just published A Field Guide to the M5 Series Light Tanks and the M8 Howitzer Motor Carriage, available through Formations.
While at the AMPS show last month, Kurt and I combined our photographic abilities and his wet-weather tank-scaling skills to produce this walk-around of a Stuart M3A3 in Warsaw, Indiana.
Speaking of AMPS, I picked up a pair of U.S. Army Wounded Tankers from Chris Mrosko's New World Miniatures. You'll like these guys.
Saul Garcia has reviews of Tank Sides 3 Board Sherman Marine, a new laser-etched microboard product from GCLaser, and the new Tasca U.S. Medium Tank M4A1 Sherman (Late Production).

April

I'm squeeeeking in a pre-AMPS peek at the final stages of my just completed "Mail Call for the Sons of Thor." These are still in-progress photos. I'll shoot some better photos of the finished diorama and post them soon.
And here is my report back from AMPS 2008. It was a great show!

March

Well, this month is going to be slim, since I'm trying to get a couple of things done in time for my first trip to the AMPS International Show, held this year at the WW2 Victory Museum in Auburn, IN, from April 10-12. I'm looking forward to the chance to meet many of you there! But in the meantime, I have gotten around to examining DML's U.S. Armored Infantry and it's a very worthwhile set.

February

Saul Garcia reviews two new items from Formations: Riveted Sherman Lower Hull and M4 Direct Vision Upper Hull.
Last fall, GCLaser introduced some 1/35 wooden boxes and containers—made of real wood! I review four of their new products.
Master Box came out with three new sets of GIs last year, and I posted a review of one before my site went down. Here are reviews of U.S. Infantry July, 1944 and D-Day June 6, 1944.
Martin Dogger has sent along some photos of his build up of the M4A3 Sherman 105mm Howitzer (Assault Support) from Tamiya.
Finally, I've updated the Links of Interest and added some great armor links to the Sherman Corner.

January — Happy New Year to One and All

Well, we got the wheels back on this thing and the engine tuned up and ready to roll into our sixth year. I thank you all for your support and if you're interested in contributing a review or article, shoot me an email.
Academy's M7 Priest has been out a few weeks and you can read what Saul Garcia and Cookie Sewell think of it.
Saul sent me a copy of Dodge Trucks in Detail by Koran and Mostek and it's a fine addition to my recommended vehicle references.
Steve Malikoff kindly sent some great TM images of the M12 Welding Truck,
I've added three new entries to the Kits and Reviews section: Hobby Boss, which has issued two versions of the M5 High Speed Tractor; Real Models, Miloslav Hraben's unique line of resin vehicles; and New World Miniatures, a new figure company from Warriors and VLS veteran Chris Mrosko.
What's New - 2011
What's New - 2010
What's New - 2009
What's New - 2008
What's New - 2007
What's New - 2006
What's New - 2005
What's New - 2004
What's New - 2003