Guideline Publications- Military Modelcraft International- February 2025

This month's issue of MMI is another gem to be sure. It is also the second month in a row that I seem to be in sync with the content. Last month I had picked up a T-80 kit and the issue was focused on this very tank with it's Armour in Profile and accompanying build. Earlier this month I picked up a Dragon M51 ISherman and sure enough-- this month's Armour in Focus is on Shermans in Israeli service, along with some great IDF builds. I'm curious to see if the trend continues next month. Meanwhile editor David Grummitt speaks on New Year's resolutions and the contents of this midwinter issue in his Forum article. Let's get into it...

US Associate Editor Rob Riviezzo opens up News at the Front with his review of Tamiya's new quarter scale Stuart. Having built this kit last month, I can agree it was quite a blast to build. The section continues with previews from Dynamo Models, ICM, Miniart, Vargas Models, and another Riviezzo Tamiya review of their Panzer I Ausf. B. Tucked into the content is a quick snippet on the London Plastic Modellers Show that took place on Dec. 7th. Quartermaster's Stores features three more pages of upcoming releases. 

This month's On the Bench features another Rob Riviezzo build- this time of Rye Field Models King Tiger Henschel Turret. If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing one of Rob's pre-painted pieces in person, the photos in the article can't do them justice- but the details at least are evident in the article.

Marco Preto takes on Cyber Hobby's Orange Box M4A4 in "A Sherman on a Budget". Marco recreates the tank as seen during the Independence Day celebrations of 1954.

Newcomer Gary Wickham builds up Dragon's 1996 boxing of the Israeli M50 Super Sherman in "Valley of Tears". Gary also gives a great overview into the groundwork he made for the model's base.

As previously mentioned, this month's Armour in Profile "The Sherman in Israeli Service: The M3, M4, and M1" is the first part of MP Robinson's look at the Sherman in Israeli service.

"Death's Head Tiger" features the work of another newcomer- Ryan Young. He builds up Dragon's Tiger I Early '131' Tunisia kit as a Waffen SS Tiger from the Kursk Offensive in 1943.

Kristof Pulinckx is back with Part 2 of "Rattenkrieg". This time he focuses on on the step-by-step process for the building, groundwork, and figures for his piece.

"In the Bleak Midwinter" welcomes back Ilya Yut as he builds the cover feature- Miniart's SU-122. Ilya has an extraordinary camouflage for this piece- featuring some handpainted trees and bushes on the whitewashed tank.

Stan Spooner is back again with an exquisite quarter scale 3-D printed Ukrainian BMP-2 kit from Tank Mania. Stan scratchbuilt the monument for the base and added other custom work to make this one really stand out.

The At the Bench this month features the work of Bryan Krueger and showcases his unique Red Army armor conversions as well as his other passion- Maschinen Krieger kits.

Words and Pictures wraps things up with reviews on books on the Sherman tank and U.S. Dodge from Emfour Publishing, a new Desert Eagle Publishing book on Merkava Special Utility Tanks, and an Osprey book on the AH-1 Cobra Gunship vs NVA armor in Vietnam.

Conclusion

This month's issue was perfect timing as we had a snow day here in NY and this was an excellent way to spend the morning sipping coffee while the snow and sleet was pelting outside. The content was not your typical fare and I really enjoyed the three articles on the IDF armor. Nothing here to disappoint at all- and as always, to subscribe to the magazine, here is a link to the Guideline Publications website: www.guidelinepublications.co.uk and US customers can subscribe to MMI and pay in US dollars at www.guidelinepublicationsusa.com .

Highly Recommended for Beginner to Advanced builders.

Thanks goes out to Guideline Publications for this review sample.

Reviewed by Michael Reeves

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