Looks like the US Army is getting its tanks upgraded a bit quicker. I, for one, am happy to see that the U.S. armed forces are not ignoring conventional war-fighting. Given our experiences with non-traditional combat (terrorism and insurgency) it would be easy to lose focus on conventional warfare. I am glad we are not.
I’ve seen the footage that is referred to in this story. I suspect many WWII history buffs will recognize it. Amazing to know the history behind it. I look forward to the book.
I will admit that I’d like to get all three of these kits, but especially the Japanese truck.
I was unaware that Russia was fielding one of these. Syria looks more and more like 1936-1939 Spain to me, with Russia using it as an opportunity to test their new weapons in combat.
In past reviews I’ve said just about all I can say about RT. It is, IMHO, the best non-commercial modeling magazine out there, and in fact is one of the best magazines period. It is the only modeling magazine that I read all of the articles regardless of subject or scale.
This issue is no different. In addition to an excellent article on building the 72nd scale Airfix Spitfire PR.XIX, there is an article on building and improving the Italeri Italian manned torpedo from WWII. There is also build article on a 1/144th 727 airliner. Finally there are two articles on the RG-31 Nyala, MRAP/ wheeled APC. The first is a history of the vehicle, with a focus on its use by the Canadian armed forces, while the second is a construction article using the Kenetic kit as the starting point. Both are excellent reads, even for a non-armor guy like myself.
Highly recommended.
Date: 3/23/2018
Time 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (1.0 hrs actual modeling time.)
2018 Total time: 26.63 hrs.
Managed to get a little time in at the bench. March isn’t looking much better than February so far. Worked on the Trumpeter T-34/85. Work has slowed to a crawl as I am trying to improve the kit a little.
I have noticed that, in general, when I model solo, I can only get about an hour’s worth of work in before my eyes start to give into the strain and my back starts to hurt. Old age sucks.
Date: 2/28/2018
Time 10:15 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. (.58 hrs.) and 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (1.0 hrs.)
2018 Total time: 21.22 hrs.
With this entry, February is in the books. As I predicted, I couldn’t keep up the January pace. I got in 12.99 hours in January and this dropped in February to 8.23 hours. I am on pace for 127.32 modeling hours for the year. At an average of 40 hours a model, this will have me completing only 3 models in 2018, well below my goal of 5. Depressing.
This session was spent mostly drilling holes in the hull of the T-34/85 for the grab handles, which I am going to make out of fine wire as the plastic ones in the kit are too chunky. I also got the major components of the T-33 together and used plastic strip to fill the gaps created by the odd engineering choices made by Platz.
Here is where the models stand at the end of February.
I am not sure when I started building the Italeri AB41 in 72nd scale. I know it was several years ago. This one was started for an MMCL challenge build, but not finished in time. It then languished on the Shelf of Doom. I just recently dragged it on to the bench and finished it. Honestly it didn’t take that much. My build was far from perfect and this is the first armor kit I’ve finished in about 20 years. I am not really happy with the result, but I’m not sad either. I am happy to get one from the Shelf of Doom finished.
