The Abrams Squad No#12
from Pla Editions has just arrived on our desk and no doubt in the shops near
you. We spent some time reading it today and thought it was only fair to tell
you what we thought about this latest edition in today’s review….
English version (also available in Castellano)
Published by: Pla Editions
Bi-monthly publication
77 Pages
Portrait A4 format
Price: 9€
Purchase: Directly
from Pla Editions as a single issue and as a subscription…
We have been closely watching this one… From the start issue
when we saw this magazine kind of finding it’s feet and not knowing where it’s
audience was, ‘till the last edition we reviewed the mag where it was pretty
sharp and quite sure of it’s own direction. The bar is now high on our
expectations so we always look forward to seeing if and how this tittle can be
polished any further – let’s have a look shall we.
Physically this is a pretty regular looking magazine from
the outside. Thick(ish) glossy softcover in a portrait A4 format. Open this up
to find seventy-seven pages of magazine with eight (including the inside
covers) total of adverts. These are really pretty unobtrusive and if there in between builds or sections. This is the reason for the slightly higher 9€ price
tag than newspaper shop model mags – but those have twice the adverts and so a
lot less modelling per buck. I like this approach and it encourages you to
concentrate on the modelling rather than “What’s New” ‘cos facebook and forums
are the main bearer of news nowdays. What you really buy magazines for now are
the model builds.
Abrams Squad promises to be the first and the best in the
models and their maker’s work that focuses on modern vehicles and AFV’s. The
style is mainly Step by step articles & building/painting/weathering
techniques with an introduction and a little of the modeller’s thoughts in
block text at the start of the article.
One thing I will say before we look at each part of this
magazine is that the photography and the models themselves are very very nice
indeed. These guys do make the modelling and capturing of their prizes look
easy, and I think that many modellers eyes have been opened to more modern
stuff from reading these mags and inspired by the quality on offer. However let’s
have a look inside this issue a bit deeper at each article before passing
judgement on this issue.
This magazine starts with what in hindsight is a positive
message from a a maybe frustrated editor – the message is positive but I know
probably from my own exposure how he got there. IT’s nice to read these things
and I always check in there.
The review section of this magazine is called “Commander’s
Display Unit” and it has improved a lot from way back when. From before when we
used to get a lot of stuff but not much of an in depth look at anything in
particular to now when the editor shows us a few select things in a little more
detail over just three pages. It is kept simple and it gives more time for the
builds in the mag. Again news is now not as important as magazines often cannot
keep up with the instant access of social media so I am glad this section has
shrunk and become more targeted.
The construction review of this magazine is always something
I like to read. Abrams calls it “Remote
Thermal Sight” and it is pretty much a step by step construction build with the
model’s author making it all up unpainted. This issues feature is the Meng 2A4
version of the Leopard tank. César González has
built his brand new kit pretty quickly.
The real thing I like about this is the author does not
usually hold back in these build reviews which are usually the best way of
working out if the kit is REALLY any good. The writer's tend to be more focused on the kit and not so much about what they want to do with it. Also there are
often pictures of the real thing at a similar angle to the pictures of the kit so you can compare and contrast yourself. A great way to do it and César has done a great job here.
Well he started with a blank sheet of paper. My new
modelling hero is a man called Martin Rauscher who built the next kit – a 35th
scale PATRIOT LKW 15t mil 9l KAT I A1 (8X8) (phew) missile launcher. He built
this thing from scratch! This is the cover article and I can see why.
Look it isn't ALL from scratch – a fair few bits were
borrowed from other things and add-on sets. But the majority of this
complicated fabrication are from plastic sheet. The patience and time this took
Martin must be admired and he takes us through step by step in his build which
if you are not inspired by you must take your cap off to this man’s attention
to detail.
There is also a painting and a comparison to the original
truck to judge Martin’s work against. Like I said I just don’t know how he does
it – but at least I have an article now showing me where I can TRY to
understand. Nice work by the editor as well to make this so prominent – we are
making models after all and not just shaking and baking!
Next is a tense scene as two kits are represented in this full
sized diorama by Imad Bouantoun, the Bronco Buffalo anti-IED armoured truck
and the wrecked soviet BTR-6036 in what looks to be a high altitude mine
clearing operation in Afghanistan.
Called “ Silent Tension”, this scene shows the Buffalo in
action with it’s anti mine claw extended
and the mine clearing soldier going out into the unexpected to investigate
further. Movies like “Hurt Locker” reverberate through this diorama and not
only do we see the models being made but the details on the soldiers as well.
We are also shown a really important guide to the diorama
base as well. Many modellers are all about how their kit looks on a white piece
of paper, but Imad has shown us how to lay a decent rocky base as well. This is
also a great effort and article – well done for the first time at bat.
Now for an old “pro” as the editor of the magazine steps up
to the plate. The tank he is modelling is the Trumpeter T-10 soviet heavy tank in
the time of the uprising in Prague – complete with the white invasion stripes
and graffiti’d on slogans of the protesters. I like the premise of this build
already.
Pictured at the time of “Operation Danube” in Czechoslovakia in 1968, this tank is seen in an SBS build
with several pages dedicated to the build – almost as much attention as the
painting and weathering had which is nice. It’s good to see these first steps
as much as the finishing touches and this kit looks pretty simple to build in
the article.
It’s good to see that
only tracks and figures were added to this kit. All additions are listed in the reference parts at the start of each article.
Modern warfare at it’s most recent – the conflict in the Ukriane is next with “Death comes from above”, a diorama featuring the 35th scale Panda Hobby BMD-1 from the Ukraine ATO 2014 heavily modified
with some very nice looking PE set and several other bits of stowage. The talented Łukasz Orczyc-Musiałek adds a bunch of figures to his diorama which
shows the scene of some type of hold up at a check point.
Some very nice groundwork is discussed as well as all of the
barriers and items of stowage and gear that populate the scene. A detailed
painting and weathering guide show how to transform this ATO tank into
something a little more tank like and less toy like.
Last of the main sections features a pictorial walk around
and this month we have a look at some Afghan Humvees. Patrick Winnepenninckx shows
us his not before seen pictures of various Humvees in service with the Afghan
forces. All of them are different and very inspirational and they will probably
give you the jump on your mates who have not before seen the myriad of colours
and variations of these vehicles. We also have the last page “Turret Basket”
section which gives a preview of what is to come on the last page as well.
Well I have already kept you longer than I should. This is
another great magazine from Pla Editions. They have really nailed their audience
and I am happy the focus has narroed but sharpened over time and issues.
A great mag full of good modelling and inspiration.
Adam Norenberg
You can get your copy
of issue #12 of the Abrams Magazine and the BTR special edition that has also
just been released Directly from
Pla Editions or their distributors worldwide as a single issue and
as a subscription…
