Military Modelling - July 2013

AFV reviewsThree new Army Spray colours are part of a new range fromThe Plastic Soldier Company.Dunkelgelb and a Russian Green.If you are painting figures, thenField Grey for German uniformsis another good one to go with. Isprayed outdoors, so no smell inthe house, but they went on welland dried quickly. Once dry it gavea good solid colour and a very evenfinish. For those who can’t affordthe luxury of an airbrush, thesenew Army Sprays work out verywell. The Plastic Soldier Company,Felstead Cottage, Sandy Lane,Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9UXand they have a website at www.theplasticsoldiercompany.co.ukMirror ModelsBut what of some new kits?Let’s start with the latest releasefrom Mirror Models and theirrange of 1:35 scale injectionmouldedplastic kits. The latestis the Russian KomsomoletzArtillery Tractor T-20, with theinclusion of a Russian fuel traileras well in this limited editionversion of their kit. Moulded in agrey plastic, there is an excellentattention to detail in the model,as we have now come to expectfrom Libor Zachoval, the manbehind the masters of the MirrorModels range (as in LZ Models).You start with engine andtransmission details, to fit insidethe hull. Then you have the optionof detail fittings for either a 1937 or1938 Model, both early versions ofthese handy little artillery tractors.The crew cab and then the benchseats for the gun crew are added.The two crewmen have somebasic armour protection, whereasthe crewman seated on thebenches would have been veryexposed to enemy fire. Runninggear is nicely done, and the tracksare made up from individuallinks, so be prepared for somepatience to prepare and assemblethem. One of those things wheremodellers tend to fall into one oftwo camps - you either love themor hate them! The end resultusing the individual links thoughdoes look very good. The smalldetail fittings are quite small insome cases, so do be careful inremoving them from the sprues,so as not to damage them, or havethem ‘ping-off’ to be swallowed bythe ‘carpet monster’.Detailing of both interior andexterior is nicely done, andit will look good if you leaveBox art for Tamiya’s new 1:48 scale Mobelwagen with 37mm FlaK 43.the two hatches open to thedriver’s compartment, allowingthat interior to be seen on thecompleted model. As part of a‘limited edition’ of the kit, thisone includes a Russian Fueltrailer to tow behind it. A quitesimple trailer, just a cylindermounted on an equally simpleframe and axle, you can set itup behind the Komsomoletzor equally have it as a standaloneaccessory by itself. MirrorModels are in the shops now, orsee their website atwww.mirror-models.comTamiyaMore from Tamiya now withtheir 1:48 scale range of armourmodels. This time the PanzerIV based Mobelwagen, armedwith the single barrel 37mm FlaK43 rather than the quad 20mmFlakvierling of their earlier 1:35scale release. The superstructuresides can be fitted in any oneof three positions. The fullupright travelling position, aslightly opened out AA firingposition or laid out flat as theworking platform for the guncrew, as shown in the box art.The chassis is neatly done andassembles well as we expectfrom any Tamiya kit, using linkand length track parts as wellover the running gear. Alsoprovided, as is common in thisseries, is a pair of metal weightsto fit within the hull, to add some‘weight’ to the finished model.The gun has the parts on aseparate sprue and this work outrather nicely in this scale, not toocomplex to assemble either, evenwith the frame for the net used tocatch the empty shell casings. Anecessary accessory on a gun ofthis calibre, as a member of thecrew I wouldn’t have wanted hot,empty brass shell casings as big as37mm flying around in the air nearme! No gun crew, but one figureis included, standing and usingBox art for the new 1:35 scale Russian Komsomletz Artillery Tractor T-20 plus Russian Fuel Trailer from Libor at Mirror Models.www.militarymodelling.com57