[chascbv]

Also in the shops now is this excellent, stunning model of an early-production (Porsche turret) Koenigstiger by HM, and it has the mandatory (for Porsche-turreted Tigers, that is) zimmerit coat. In the available pictures the zimmerit looks right, and the proportions and stance of the vehicle are simply spot-on. Bravo!

My only complaint is that some details are fairly coarse - I'm talking about the lift-rings on the turret top, which have been represented as solid blobs. This is nowadays hardly passable in 1/72 scale, and I deem it unacceptable in 1/48. A silly neglicence that in my humble view mars an otherwise superb model.

The unit to which this tank belonged, sPzAbt 503, was one of the Tiger battalions that played a role during the Normandy campaign, at which time they displayed a characteristic camouflage scheme; the latter has also been faithfully reproduced by HM.

The only thing I can say regarding the accompanying figures is that I feel very sorry for the panzergrenadier with the severely contractured neck - hope he will recover soon.

[hawkonevoodoo]

The lift rings or should I say, the lack of lift rings has been pointed out to Hobby Master so the same thing shouldn't happen to HG0110.

UPDATE, too late!!!! Sorry

[A3driver]

I got my HG0109 Königstiger today, and (sniff) it's beautiful. Ok, the lift rings... but even that does not matter.

[chascbv]

Regarding HM's Cromwell Mk.VI, which was announced months ago, here is what seems to be the first picture of a production-run sample, borrowed from The Flying Mule as usual.

To me this is something of a let-down, if anything for the sole reason that its inaccuracies were reported in this forum long, long ago, and Hawkonevoodoo kindly pointed them out to HM... who in turn did nothing about it! This is - I'm afraid - the shape of things to come, so we all better expect a Pershing with wrongly shaped track guards, those unacceptable blobs in their upcoming T-55, etc. Am I being pesimistic? Well, pictures of the recently announced Polish IS-2 can now be seen in the Hobby Master Collector website, and the redundant periscope may still be seen on top of the turret!

Anyway, this will only affect collectors who, like me, are concerned with accuracy and the like, the "nitty-picky" guys in this forum with their fastidious remarks. To all those who do not really care much for this sort of thing, the ones who just want a nice-looking mini-tank on their shelves, this Cromwell seems a good choice with its short-barreled 95-mm howitzer, and striking camouflage scheme. The model is beautifully assembled (see those perfectly pinned-down tracks) and painted, even if the latter attribute entails a showroom look with no weathering at all.

What is wrong with this tank then? First, it has a "C" hull, which was at least uncommon for Mk.VIs (most sources state that VIs only had D/E or F hulls; however, one source [New Vanguard's Cromwell] considers that also C hulls were used. The pictures I've reviewed show F and D/E hulls [where hull type can be discerned], with the later type of diagonally-split hatch forward right). Second, it has those over-intrusive tyres already reported for a previously released sibling in the Cromwell-Centaur line. Third, as reported in my prior review of a pre-production sample, it has a sand-on-olive scheme that is false - no sources I know of show that scheme (a well-known British expert has never heard of it either!) in the Western European theatre of operations; moreover, British specs did not include such scheme for this type of vehicle in said theatre of operations. The scheme has been copied from a Corgi Cromwell model, and no unit is quoted by the manufacturer.

Oh, but it looks great, some of you will say. That's right, so get yourselves one. I myself won't.

[chascbv]

Also in The Flying Mule now is HM's new KV-2, this time a white-washed version with no markings whatsoever (that's how most KV-2s were in fact; thankfully, gone is the "Za Stalina!" legend).

What we get is a correct and accurate KV-2 for our shelves (the solid triangles on the track guards notwithstanding...) in a striking white wash through which some of the underlying green colour may be seen. The effect is very nice, though somehow pastel-like, and again the weathering is virtually absent, which is particularly noticeable around the running gear and tracks.

The vehicle represented was a tank in Kalinin Front during January 1942. I've enclosed a colour illustration borrowed from the rkkaww2 website.

Kalinin Front is a military unit, not a geographical term; it was named after General Mikhail I. Kalinin, and included Armies 22nd, 29th, and 30th. It took part in the Soviet counter-offensive around Moscow, and seemingly recaptured the town of Kalinin from German hands (all very confusing... Kalinin is the name used in Soviet times to designate the Russian town of Tver'; is it a coincidence that the unit named after Gen. Kalinin was operating near Kalinin in January 1942? Or is there confusion with this word "Kalinin" somewhere in the references?). To which of the Armies and subunits in Kalinin Front did this KV-2 belong, I just don't know.

All in all, this is basically a very good representation of the original tank, and my display area has already a place reserved for it.

[chascbv]

The first vehicle in the M26 Pershing new line by HM is in the shops! It represents a tank in the 1st Marine Tank Bn at Inchon, Korea, in 1950, and the enclosed picture shows the real tank - B41.

The 1st Marine Division had a real hard time in Korea, as they seemed to be everywhere at all times! Of course, they also took part in the landing operations at Inchon, where the allies (UN) finally arrived in force in Korea and started the offensive that would liberate Seoul and wipe North Koreans home... until the arrival of zillions of Chinese troops. These M26 tanks were in the first wave that landed at Green Beach, and were instrumental in the destruction of several columns of T-34s that attempted a counteroffensive against the beach head.

As you may see in the accompanying picture, the model by HM is a late M26 with the square housing at the glacis. While the model looks certainly good, it has two obvious errors: a) the gun lock on the engine deck corresponds to an M26A1, not an M26 (please Hawk, tell HM to include this detail in their third release, which has been announced as an M26A1!); b) the funny curve upwards that we saw in the pre-production sample's rear fender is still there... and is wrong!

The rest of the model looks good, and the overall shape and proportions seem right. As with other HM models, some more weathering would be welcome, especially around the tracks and wheels.

I really hope the next issue will have those "sporty" flared rear fenders corrected, and a proper gun lock attached to the exhaust pipe on the rear plate. The quality and accuracy of the remaining parts and details well deserve it.

[hawkonevoodoo]

Originally Posted by chascbv

The first vehicle in the M26 Pershing new line by HM is in the shops! It represents a tank in the 1st Marine Tank Bn at Inchon, Korea, in 1950, and the enclosed picture shows the real tank - B41.

The 1st Marine Division had a real hard time in Korea, as they seemed to be everywhere at all times! Of course, they also took part in the landing operations at Inchon, where the allies (UN) finally arrived in force in Korea and started the offensive that would liberate Seoul and wipe North Koreans home... until the arrival of zillions of Chinese troops. These M26 tanks were in the first wave that landed at Green Beach, and were instrumental in the destruction of several columns of T-34s that attempted a counteroffensive against the beach head.

As you may see in the accompanying picture, the model by HM is a late M26 with the square housing at the glacis. While the model looks certainly good, it has two obvious errors: a) the gun lock on the engine deck corresponds to an M26A1, not an M26 (please Hawk, tell HM to include this detail in their third release, which has been announced as an M26A1!); b) the funny curve upwards that we saw in the pre-production sample's rear fender is still there... and is wrong!

The rest of the model looks good, and the overall shape and proportions seem right. As with other HM models, some more weathering would be welcome, especially around the tracks and wheels.

I really hope the next issue will have those "sporty" flared rear fenders corrected, and a proper gun lock attached to the exhaust pipe on the rear plate. The quality and accuracy of the remaining parts and details well deserve it.

I pointed both items out to them but the model was too far along to change. Thanks for your input.

[chascbv]

Also in the shops now is HM's first T-55, which represents an early (no AA MG on the loader's cupola) T-55A (bulged cupolas and other items making up the POV anti-radiation protection system).

No unit, location, or year is quoted, except that this is a Soviet tank. All I could find out is that this same vehicle is one of the options included in Tamiya's kit, but could find no photograph of this vehicle. Maybe Berkut76 can fill in some of the blanks...?

I have a soft spot for these Russian tanks, and have been waiting for ages to have a good model in my collection. And here it is now! The model looks great except for those blobs where the railings meet the turret wall - and these have been corrected for the next versions! (Thank you Hawk, thank you HM.)

My other nitpicking is that the holes in the road wheels are maybe too shallow, and that the whole vehicle - most particularly the running gear - is in need of some weathering (the latter may fix the former!).

Another good thing with T-55s is that variations are endless (paint schemes, models, subvariants, mixed-retrofitted types, Chinese versions, etc.), and T-55s can be found in almost every conflict the world has ever witnessed since WW2 - Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Balkans, Latin America, you name it. So, from a historical standpoint, this is an essential addition to many of the "theme shelves" in any serious collection with a focus on post-WW2 military history. (Should HM need Intel on all this, I offer to do my best and summon other members to join me!)

A big THANK YOU goes to HM! Keep them coming!

[Berkut76]

Originally Posted by chascbv

I have a soft spot for these Russian tanks, and have been waiting for ages to have a good model in my collection. And here it is now! The model looks great except for those blobs where the railings meet the turret wall - and these have been corrected for the next versions! (Thank you Hawk, thank you HM.)

My other nitpicking is that the holes in the road wheels are maybe too shallow, and that the whole vehicle - most particularly the running gear - is in need of some weathering (the latter may fix the former!).

A big THANK YOU goes to HM! Keep them coming!

I'm passing on this plain vanilla, unidentifiable Soviet T-55. If there are no problems (apparently HM gets everything right on the third release of anything), I'll be getting Polish T-55 as my first in the series, but like chascbv mentioned the possibility of T-55 mold are almost endless even without various "upgrade kits" versions.

Regards,

Sergey

[Cavtanker]

It is the most widely-exported tank in the world.