Voyager Model was a totally unknown company to me until I was given a link to their website today. Frankly, the range of the material they are producing totally surprised me.

For modellers interested in modelling the U.S.M.C, HardCorps Models has now launched it's online store with a selection of products guaranteed to tempt the Marine Corps Modeller...

Mole Military Miniatures have kindly provided samples of their specialist custom-printed decals, which are available exclusively from Dorking Models (see below).

With the arrival of this month's Osprey newsletter announcing the new titles to be published in June, it struck me that this new title was perhaps worthy of a little more than simply appearing amongst a list of other titles.

ACE Model (from the Ukraine) have begun production of the well-known BTR-60PB (the one with 14.5mm KPVT heavy mg in a turret)....

Firestorm Models,are an Australian Retailer/Producer of high-quality resin armor accessories and conversion sets. Their latest releases are, following their company policy, are principally Vietnam-era items in 1/35th scale.

Pegasus Hobbies is a California based, on-line hobby store. Recently I picked up a snippet of news that they were starting to produce their own 1/72nd scale armor kits and figures...

The last few months have seen some attractive new figures and accessories from Andrea Miniatures. Here are just a few....

We are now stocking ATAK's range of resin Zimmerit Sets.

This is a Canadian based bookseller/publisher whose speciality is Commonwealth Armor/Artillery subjects....

Alan Hobbies announced at the recent Shizuoka Hobby show in Japan, their latest release: A 1/35th scale 'Bison' SPG

Mirage Hobby have supplied details of their eagerly awaited 1/72 scale M3 Lee and Grant tanks. The kits will feature fine surface details and the tracks are to be moulded in what Mirage are hailing as a new formula plastic. Added to this, each kit will feature an etched-metal fret.

Today I received an unexpected surprise in the form of ADVANCE images of CMK's new interior kits for the Tamiya Sherman.

Continuing with an overview of the products of GOFFY MODEL, this news item will concentrate itself with the highly useful products that this companty has available for the increasingly popular 1/72nd scale.

This is the second (of two) 1/35th scale Conversion sets available from the Czech company, GOFFY MODEL. The conversion set is designed for Academy's M60.

GOFFY MODEL, are a company based in the Czech Republic. Completely unknown to me, I stumbled across their webpage while looking for something else. This was surely one of those happy accidents.

ACE company just begun production of a BTR-60P (open top) kit.

Interior parts included.

Decals for 4 versions (3 Soviet + East German).

More details can be found here:

ACE MODELS

A series of interesting recent arrivals from Accurate Armour should have many modellers interested.

Today, totally unsolicited, I received a copy of the new Dragon Catalog. Many of the products have been already announced, others may come as as pleasant surprise...

New Releases from Quartermasters Depot! Decals and Gear!

What do you mean you've never wanted to build a movie star's tank? With this decal sheet you can!

ACE Models announced today production of a 1/72 scale LAV-M mortar carrier. It is kit number 72407. Decals are included for three different United States Marine Corps vehicles.

Though not new, this set of very interesting decals should be of interest to Commonwealth armor modellers.

This is the second set of decals from Echelon, after their first this should find a bigger market, dealing as it does with a vehicle which is becoming more and more popular with mdellers.

Extra Detail has expanded its range to 1/48 and 1/25 scale products and also increased its 1/72 range.
We have also released Placards for TAMIYA German Armour Kits

The items will be available as from Mon 16th Feb, please contact your nearest distributor for availability

ACE company just begun production of a T-72M1 kit.
Decals are for 6 vehicles (two Iraqi, Indian, Soviet, East German and Finnish).
More details here:
http://www.acemodel.com.ua/?p=model&id=113&s=&l=en

BMP-2D (kit #72125) is out of production.

I would like to see if I can help clear up some tire details about the Italeri modern 5 ton trucks that are on the market. The kits need a lot of work to make them accurate. That’s why there are so many after market detail set available. The military unit I am in has about 2 dozen of these trucks. We received them directly from the factory (AM General) and therefore they were not modified before we got them. I have see many pictures of these truck in the field and it looks like deployed units use whatever they have on hand when replacement are needed. This tends to make vehicles misidentified when these pictures are used for reference purposes.

As mentioned previously Extra Detail and Scale Effect have joined forces and have started a new company called DIORAMA SOLUTIONS.

ACE company just begun production of a 1/72 plastic (short run) kit of Yugoslav M-84A (Kuwaiti M-84AB).
Decals for 5 different tanks (2 Kuwaiti tanks in Desert Storm, 2 Yugoslav federal forces and Slovenian Army).
More details can be found on ACE Web site here:
http://www.acemodel.com.ua/?p=model&id=115&s=&l=en

Echelon are a new company in the 1/35th scale decals business. Their first sheet deals with Leopard 2A4's in service with the Spanish Armored Division, 'Brunete'. Six vehicles are featured on the sheeets.

Formations Models, should be the first stop for anyone enhancing their Shermans. This is a company who works exclusively in producing AM parts for the Sherman. Their new releases continue this trend...

Dragon in 2004 seems to be making a strong bid for the re-awakening 1/72nd market.

As this list has been circulating on other sources although not compiled for Armorama, I'm drawing this together according to nationality in 1/35th. For the Allied modellers it looks as if we are finally going to get a decent bite of the cake.....

Little is unfortunately available as reference for French armor subjects. This new series of Monographs from Editions Du Barbotin may help to redress the balance.

The security requirements of Israel have forced its defence industries to develop vehicles capable of performing a wide-range of functions in many different environments. This book. Modern Israeli Tanks And Infantry Carriers 1985-2004 is an overview of what for many modellers is an irrestible source of inspiration.

With the interest represented here in Vietnam era armor, this book should find more than a few who will want to add it to their bookshelves....

Currently the 'Cover-up' Campaign is attracting a lot of interest. Primarily because it deals with the use of military fortifications within dioramas. This new book by Osprey, concentrates on one of the most interesting themes of military archaeology, Germany's West Wall..

Another great addition to their line of the "Armor At War Series" (photo essays) is the title "U.S. Tank Battles In France 1944-45" by Steven Zaloga.

A month or so, I published the mouth-watering goodies that we can expect to see from AFV Club in the first quarter of 2004. Here are some more with a MAJOR surprise.....

The first news of Academy's 2004 release schedule should come as no surprise, rumors have been wildly circulating for some time. However...

Recently, Osprey added to its small list of Armor modelling books with the M3/M5 Stuart. In the early part of this year they are adding 3 more titles....

This is the New 'BrassAssit' Roller Set Mk MC exclusivly from The Small Shop EU. It rolls curves, tubes and even bends GRAB HANDLES and TIE DOWNS perfectly EVERY TIME. Scratch building or Pre Etched Brass...The Small Shop EU just keeps making it easier every time

Our NEW web site:
www.smallshopeu.com

The newest releases for 2004 from SP Designs, a major manufacturer of modern russian and E. Block kits and conversions.

New resin kit released by Crielmodel depicting the Fiat 508. This car was assigned to Regiment's (or equivalent units) commanders and in production from 1931 to 1937.

Here is a full list of firestorms 2004 releases which were found on Track-Link, looks like were in for some nice goodies!

Now for the big news around here: we have purchased Tank Workshop! This is NOT a hostile take over of this well known company. I have used many TWS products in the past, and have always thought it was a sound line at a fair price. Certain situations that do not need to be discussed here presented us with an opportunity to acquire this well known resin line. Larry Provo is selling to us on good terms, and will remain in business as a consultant to TMD, and master pattern maker for the TWS line. Larry will be working closely with us to keep the TWS line alive, and we hope to breath new life into his fine kits.

I think of all the companies which have emerged in the last few years, few have captured the modeller's imagination as much as AFV Club.
Always innovative with subject matters that many of the 'big-boys' would never consider, the release list for early 2004 is impressive (as always)

After a conversation with GeneralFailure, he told me that Pro Art Models is releasing a set of Tanks & Fuel Pump Unit in 1/35 scale - Just like the one he scrachbuilt in 1/15 scale for his M35 Cargo Truck.

Ukrainian company "ACE" just begun production (Kit #72155) of a 1:72 scale Soviet T-62M MBT.

Kit contains new T-62 parts plus new turret, DShKM heavy MG and new RMSh tracks. Decals for three Iraqi vehicles, Chechen war Russian tank and Northern Alliance one. More details can be found here: ACE Models

Eduard Model Accessories has released a quick preview of some of their upcoming releases for December. Featured in this preview are examples of new PE for the 1/35 Morser Karl and 1/35 M-1025 Humvee.