SCALE MODEL NEWS

A RECENT VISIT TO THE BRITISH ARMY TANK MUSEUM STORE gave us a chance to inspect something a little different - a laser-cut model of a World War II Sherman tank. SMN report: The Metal Earth Sherman tank component sheets are things of gleaming beauty, almost deserving to be shown off by themselves in a suitably-lit museum display. Packaging for the sheets consists of a slim A5-size card envelope, which also contains a detailed A3-size instruction sheet. Brief historical details ( below ) of the Sherman tank are printed on the pack's reverse side. These two sheets comprise all but one component for the Metal Earth Sherman tank. Scale isn't quoted, but the assembled model measures about 75 mm (2.9 in) which puts it in working distance of standard 1:76 scale. Tank sides ( below left ) are given a textured treatment, the tracks ( below right ) are each a single item. The running gear is neatly designed, though don't forget that the final result will be a non-realistic shiny obj...

THE TANK MUSEUM, BOVINGTON, UK, houses a wide-ranging display of tanks and armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) with some 300 vehicles on show, making the collection a world leader. Among the many AFVs on view are the world's first tank, Little Willie, the deadly German Tiger, and the modern Challenger 2. SMN report:  An excellent model display when we visited the Tank Museum included ( header, below ) a World War II Afrika Korps-built wooden bridge. Huge attention to detail contributes to a highly realistic appearance, as well as in the fit and finish of the scout car, with not too much weathering to overdo the surface finish. , War on the Eastern Front, shown ( below ) by a platoon of troops advancing with a Soviet T-34 tank. Another Afrika Korps diorama ( below ) comes complete with a scale palm tree. Note the rear windows of the Volkswagen, later to become a standard-fit on early post-war civilian Beetles. Officers ( below ) discuss battle plans with a large-scale map of North Afr...