AFV Modeller Publications

AFV Modeller - issue 141

AFV Modeller is one of the premier military modelling around, well regarded for its quality content and physical presentation. The issue being reviewed here is issue 141, which speaks volumes about the longevity of this publication.

This issue is made up of 61 pages, printed on glossy paper.

This issue contains five build articles, and one reference-type article.

The first article is the third and final part of a Ukrainian defenders diorama build by Chris Meddings. This final installment focuses on the figures along with the work’s composition and groundwork. Excellent work well performed, described and photographed.

Above - more on “Heroyam Slava!”

Above - This issue’s second article is a very interesting saga on the Soviets doing a post WWII reverse engineered version of the U.S. DUKW. 

The author of this article added some cool touches to already interesting build by adding a UAZ469 and an Enfield motorcycle to the composition. Excellent photographs illustrate this multi-part build.

Above - now for some in-house advertising….even the ads are quite interesting!

Above - My personal favorite article in this issue is this massive WWII diorama, featuring three exquisite vehicles, a gorgeous stone church and a whopping 55 figures. This work took the author FOUR YEARS to complete!

This article is the second and final installment on this splendid work, and focuses largely on finishing and placing the figures, composition of the work, and the building of the diorama’s central piece, the church. Wonderful photography and text outline how the author accomplished building this terrific work. 

The next article outlines the build of the AFV Club M113A1 ACAV as ARVN assault vehicle. Very nice build photos are included in this article, along with a solid tutorial in creating that reddish tone weathering common on vehicles in Vietnam service. Nice work here.

The issue’s final build article is centered on one of the most recent TAKOM Tiger I offerings, a late model cat with molded-on zimmerit. The author went a bit down the aftermarket road with this build, adding Fruil tracks, 3D printed parts, as well as lots of photoetched additions. 

Very complete paint, finishing tips and photographs show how the author’s work resulted in a wonderful looking big cat.

The final segment of this issue is eight pages of reference photos of a wide variety of trucks used in WWII German service. These photos are generally of excellent quality, and large enough to be of use for reference. The captions provide good information on what’s pictured. This section provides a nice reference component to what’s otherwise a magazine full of (excellent!) build articles. 

Conclusions

There is a very good reason for AFV Modeller magazine to enjoy the reputation that it has. This issue demonstrates the qualities that the publisher has so clearly established, those being high quality content, very well presented. Further, this issue contains a nice mix of subject matter.

All of the articles contained in this issue were interesting, and quite well written and photographed, there wasn’t a “clunker” in the group. 

This issue (as with just about any copy of the magazine that I’ve ever seen) is well worth a read!

Highly Recommended

Thanks to David Doyle Books for the review copy

Reviewed by Chuck Aleshire, AMPS Chicagoland

AMPS 2nd Vice President, Midwest Region

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