In the 3-ton (or medium) category the major and most successful design was the Opel Blitz. This was a 1938 design from Opel (the German subsidiary then, as now, of General Motors) and was quite conventional in layout. The Opel Model S3.6-36, to give its maker’s designation, was a 4×2 vehicle with pressed steel cab [...]

 
BT is the abbreviation of the Russian term for “fast tank”, with the BT-7 being the last in a line of Soviet fast tanks designed during the 1930’s.  Each tank in the series incorporated the Christie type suspension – as designed by J. Walter Christie. 

The BT series of tanks where also know as convertibles in [...]

I've mentioned before that I have a soft spot for construction equipment – and giving the opportunity to model two of the latest release from Tamiya I jumped at the chance.  The challenge, of course, would be to present the same model in two, unique finishes.  My plan was simple; show one Komatsu dozer as [...]

Plans for a return to the continent of Europe had been developing ever since the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940. However it was only by 1944 that the huge amount of men and equipment necessary for such an invasion would be ready. In the meantime the Germans had been building the ‘Atlantic Wall’, a series [...]

Tracing it’s beginnings to 1902, what began as the Tacheuchi Mining Company operating the Yusenji copper mine about 8 kilometers from Komatsu City later became the Komatsu Equipment Company in May, 1921.
In 1920, the mine ran into financial difficulties and ceased operations. At this time, the head of the mining company, Meitaro Tacheuchi, got together [...]

The Type 97 was the Japanese Army's standard medium tank during World War Two.  The Type 97, like it's predecessors, was intended primarily for an infantry support role.  In 1939, skirmishes with Soviet forces along the Manchurian border proved that the Chi-Ha's short barreled 57mm cannon was not effective against enemy armor.
To remedy the situation [...]

Off we go!  I'm not sure if you would call it a slump, or perhaps it is just due to the fact the life has gotten busy lately.  Regardless of the reasons my modeling output has recently dwindled.   
I have a number of good friends who are aircraft modelers; I admire their attention to the details, the painstaking [...]

The Mk I "Little Boy" was 10 feet (3.0 m) in length, 28 inches (71 cm) in diameter and weighed 8,900 lb (4 000 kg). The design used the gun method to explosively force a hollow sub-critical mass of uranium-235 and a solid target spike together into a super-critical mass, initiating a nuclear chain reaction. [...]

The project stemmed from a 1914 report that Belgian soldiers were using an armor-plated Minerva sedan car to raid the German Army. Inspired by this knowledge, Rolls-Royce quickly armored an assortment of Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts donated by private citizens. The cars were shielded with 3/8” thick armor plate, fitted with dual rear axles and two [...]

In keeping with the British concepts at the time, the Matilda tank was developed for a role as infantry support. Although well armored, the relatively weak engine power and troublesome suspension severely limited the speed of the vehicle. This shortcoming, however, was not considered an issue as the vehicles intended role was to provide close support to [...]