A second M24 Chaffee from Bronco: British Army Version

Hot on the heels of their initial M24 Chaffee, Bronco Model has announced a 2nd version of the M24, this one being a British Army version.

No other details have been released about the kit.  Based on the artwork, some additions may/will include a Number 19 aerial base, a stowage box on the left fender, and a gunner's sight cage.  Possible a figure or 2 as well.  No release date has been set at this time.

With regards to the U.S. version, it is due out sometime in November.

New decal company: LM Decals!!

Last week while scanning the various forums, I ran across a posting from the owner of a new decal company. LM Decals of Greece specializes in decals covering Greek AFV's and softskins. Their current online catalog lists 6 1/35 scale sheets and 4 1/72 scale sheets.  Vehicles covered include M113's, Deuce and a Halves (both WW 2 and post-war), military Dodges, Jeeps and more.  All sets are reasonably priced between 4.00 and 5.00 euros each and include plenty of marking options.  Shipping is a flat rate of 5.00 euros to anywhere.

Of the sets in their catalog, I quickly locked onto the one covering M24 Chaffees and M47 Pattons, #LM35003.  I quickly hit the PayPal button and paid my 10.00 euros/ $13.00 and ordered a set.  The next morning, I had an email from the company letting me know the decals were on the way.  Exactly 7 days after I ordered them, I received a notice from the post office that a piece of registered mail from Greece was waiting for me to pick it up.  Damn quick service I must say!!

Set #LM35003 for the M24 and M47 provides 16 different decal options for 15 different vehicles.  Included in these options are markings for a Turkish M47 that was used in the invasion of Cyprus.  This M47 was captured by Greek Cypriots and used against its former owners.  All of the decals on the sheet I purchased were in register.  The colors look good.  I haven't tried them out yet but they don't appear too thick.  Instructions are not included with the set.  Instead, a very well illustrated instruction set is available for download off of the LM Decals website.  The instructions consist of reference photos along with a numbered decal guide so you know what decal goes where on what tank.

 LM Decals is providing armor modellers with another alternative for marking/painting their kits.  The price is right and the service is excellent!  I wish them great luck in their endeavor. 

Finally! A modern 1/35 M24 Chaffee kit!!

Bronco Model has just recently released the artwork and CAD drawings for their upcoming 1/35 M24 Chaffee.  For many years, modellers have been craving a new tooled M24 to replace the long in the tooth Italeri kit.  If the CAD drawing from Bronco are any indicator, it looks like that craving will be answered.

What I find interesting about this release is that Bronco is including a set of Dragon U.S. tanker figures.  Why is it interesting?  Well for several years now, Dragon's little propaganda site has been openly hostile towards Bronco releases.  Well, that matters little now as we'll soon have a new M24!!

I haven't bought any new kits for quite sometime as I have a decent stash and very little time to work on them.  Therefore, I can't really justify the expenditure.  However, when this kit comes out, I will make an exception as I too have been waiting for a new M24.  It'll be fun to check it out compared to the 2 M24's that are here in the SF Bay area.

Thanks to Rubin at Bronco Model for the artwork files.

BTW, look for a sale on CD #19 Toadman's Light Tank M24 Chaffee Photo Detail CD sometime in the next couple of days!!

New SabIngaMartin book: Israeli Wild & Cruel Cats, Vol. I

Israeli Wild & Cruel Cats: Puma, Vol.I, by Dr. Robert Manasherob

The latest from Dr. Robert Manasherob is Volume I of Israeli Wild & Cruel Cats: Puma.  Released this past summer, its 80 pages are filled with photos, line drawings and color plates of the Puma.  The Puma is a Centurion based heavy APC used by Israeli combat engineers.  

To some, this maybe a familiar title as back in 2001, Dr. Manasherob wrote a similiar book, Israeli Wild & Cruel Cats Part I: Achzarit and Puma.  The new book does include some photos from the first one but since it is long out of print with very few copies printed to begin with, the photos will be new to most readers.

  

Since Dr. Manasherob is a personal friend of mine, I will not comment on the quality or accuracy of the book.  However, it is pretty damn good and many of the photos in the book have never been published before.

This book and others from Dr. Manasherob can be purchased directly from his website, SabIngaMartin Publications.  Each book is $35.00 plus shipping.

Thank you to Dr. Manasherob for my sample copy. 

Book review: "Panzers in the Sand" Vol. 2 1942-45

Panzers in the Sand, Vol. Two 1942-45 by Bernd Hartmann

2011, Stackpole Books $32.95

Following up on his earlier Panzers in the Sand, Vol. One 1935-41, Bernd Hartmann continues the story of Panzer Regiment 5 in Panzers in the Sand, Vol. Two 1942-45.  As with the first volume, this book was originally published in German in 2002 and has now been published in English by Stackpole Books.  Within its 290 pages are more than 285 photographs, along with many charts and tables.  The quality of the photos is very good.  In following with the same format at Volume One, each chapter begins with text and a scattering of photos and charts where relevant.  The end of each chapter is comprised of numerous photos that go with the chapter text.

The first two chapters discuss the regiment's role in the North Africa battles culiminating with the surrender of the Afrika Korps in May 1943.  These two chapters alone take up half of the book.  First hand accounts by former regiment members describe how the conditions were including food and equipment.  They provide a nice addition to the author's text. 

With the demise of Panzer Regiment 5 in North Africa, the next final three chapter cover it's reincarnation as Panzer Abeilung 5 and its battles on the Eastern and Western Fronts.  More first hand accounts combined with the author's text make these chapters just as interesting and informative as the first two. 

The book finishes with several appendices which cover regimental/abteilung commanders, Knight's Cross recipients, German Cross in Gold recipients, logistics,  Panzer Ersatz Abteilung 5, personnel of the regiment reassigned to I./Panzer Lehr Regiment 130, uniform, and documents/decorations/awards.  The appendices alone contain lots of valuable information and photos and are well worth the read.

I really enjoyed this book, probably a bit more so than Volume One which I thought was quite good in its own right.  I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in military history, especially the armored vehicle enthusiasts.

Thanks to Chris Evans at Stackpole Books for the review sample.

Book review: "Panzers in the Sand" Vol. 1 1935-41

I'm now getting organized and on track again.  Below will be the first of several book and kit review/previews that I'll be posting in the next 10-14 days.  Enjoy!

Panzers in the Sand, Vol. One 1935-41 by Bernd Hartmann

2010, Stackpole Books $32.95 USD

Panzers in the Sand is a two volume series covering the history of Panzer Regiment 5 from its inception thru the end of World War II.  Orginally published in German in 2002, an English language version of it has been published by Stackpole Books.  This hardcover book is 298 pages long and includes over 360 photos plus numerous charts and maps.  Some of the photos appear to be copies of copies but are of overall good quality.  Each chapter begins with text and a scattering of photos and charts where relevant.  The end of each chapter consists of numerous photos.

The book starts with establishment of the Panzertruppe including information about the training that took place in the Soviet Union during the late 1920's and early '30's.  Chapter 2 describes the early days of Panzer Regiment 5 through August 1939.  There are some good photos of PzKpfw I Ausf. A and early PzKpfw II in this chapter. 

Chapter 3 covers the Polish Campaign while Chapter 4 covers the Campaign in the West.  The information in these chapters matches what I have read in other books fact wise.  There are excerpts from Thomas Jentz's Panzer Truppen that cover after action reports.  Chapter 4 also has several photos of a PzKpfw II Ausf B(?) from several different angles that will allow modelers to build this tank with a good degree of accuracy.

Chapter 5 is a short one and covers the regiments work up prior to being deployed to North Africa.  In Chapter 6, which is the final one of the book, the North African Campaign thru the end of 1941 is covered. 

Overall, I found the book quite readable and entertaining.  I thought it covered the development of the regiment and its early battles quite well.  Details including sample training schedules are included in early chapters.  Throughout each chapter are sidebars describing key personalities from the regiment including various commanders and award winners. 

The English translation flowed well compared to some others that I've read in the past.  I only found one photo caption that I could confirm was off.  On page 163, a knocked out a 5cm KwK L/42 armed PzKpfw III Ausf G or H is noted as being knocked out during the Battle of France.  More than likely it from the Balkans Campaign as there weren't any 5cm armed PzKpfw III's in the Battle of France.

In short, I enjoyed the book very much and I recommend it to those interested in the Panzer Truppe and in armor in general.

Volume Two of the series will be reviewed in a few days.

Thanks to Chris Evans at Stackpole Books for the review sample.



It's been awhile!

It's been nearly 3 months since my last update. Time to get caught up. I have several book and kit reviews to post but they'll have to wait a bit longer as I am currently without a computer. Mine crapped out over the weekend. Luckily, it looks like I'll be able to recover all of files. As I just recently purchased a new camera, I'm not in any position to by a new computer. However, as luck would have it, I do have another pc that we'd bought used a few years ago and I'll be able to upgrade it on the cheap during the next couple of evenings.

I hope to be back in business by Friday. If that's the case, the first review should be up by Sunday evening.