Panzer Aces Number 51 Book Review

By Michael Benolkin

Review

Here is the latest from Accion Press Modelismo - Issue 51 of Panzer Aces. This is their Winter Camouflages special edition with interesting techniques to expand your building and finishing skills. The in-depth build, painting and weathering articles in this issue include:

• Cruiser Tank A-30 Challenger - 1/35
• Bison I - 1/35
• Marder III - 1/35
• Crush This Bastard!!- 1/35 diorama
• Modeling Lessons: Techniques for Winter Camouflage
• Sd.Kfz.251/9 - 1/35
• Modeling Lessons: Tree Stump in Snow 2nd Part

As usual, there are a nice cross-section of articles and subjects designed to highlight different techniques for achieving winter camouflage, or in one case, what winter does to normal camouflage. The British tank in the first article walks through some nice model conversion techniques before launching into the painting and weathering to achieve that winter effect.

I was curious about the article entitles 'Crush This Bastard!!' wondering how this dovetails into the winter theme, but when I saw the excellent diorama, I'm still laughing while writing this. The tank featured in this piece is a US Sherman in winter camouflage along with some well-done figures for crew and infantry. The centerpiece of the diorama is the best part - a snowman made up to look like Adolf Hitler. It is amazing what a little imagination can do to transform a tank model and some figures into a story.

These Panzer Aces series are must-have references for the armor modeler, whether you're a novice or a master, these issues provide the clear visual how-to techniques which can teach or enhance your own skills. What is also enjoyable with these titles is that they are some of the few left that are not full of advertisements, only the inside cover and rear cover carry ads, the rest is all golden content. You're going to want this in your library!

Definitely recommended!

My sincere thanks to Accion Press for this review sample!