News: Mantis Miniatures German Motorcycle Crew

German motorcycle crew

Manufacturer: Mantis Miniatures
Item Code: 35030
Material: Resin
Sculptor: Pawel Krasicki
Box Artist: Artur Miniszewski

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News: Mantis Miniatures German motorcyclist, WW2 Eastern Front

German motorcyclist, WW2 Eastern Front

Manufacturer: Mantis Miniatures
Item Code: 35029
Material: Resin
Sculptor: Pawel Krasicki
Box Artist: Artur Miniszewski

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Coming Soon: Minisoldiers Soviet Cossacks

Soviet Cossacks

Manufacturer: Minisoldiers
Item Code: ms-0017
Material: Resin
Sculptor: Dmitri Shevtsov
Box Artist: TBC

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News: Black Dog Grenadiers Ardennes 1945

Grenadiers Ardennes 1945 (Set)

Manufacturer: Black Dog
Item Code: F35024
Material: Resin
Sculptor: Radek Tomanec
Box Artist: Branislav Lukačovič

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News: Black Dog Grenadier - Panzerschreck Ardennes 1945

Grenadier - Panzerschreck Ardennes 1945

Manufacturer: Black Dog
Item Code: F35023
Material: Resin
Sculptor: Radek Tomanec
Box Artist: Branislav Lukačovič

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News: Black Dog Leutnant Grenadier Ardennes 1945

Leutnant Grenadier Ardennes 1945

Manufacturer: Black Dog
Item Code: F35022
Material: Resin
Sculptor: Radek Tomanec
Box Artist: Branislav Lukačovič

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News: New World Miniatures Kettenkrad Passenger, Winter, Wehrmacht

Kettenkrad Passenger, Winter, Wehrmacht

Manufacturer: New World Miniatures
Item Code: NWM35091
Material: Resin
Sculptor: Brian Steward
Box Artist: Hap Wolfgram

Comments: Also available in set NWM35086 Wehrmacht Winter Kettenkrad Crew, announced circa March 2011.

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News: New World Miniatures Kettenkrad Driver

Kettenkrad Driver

Manufacturer: New World Miniatures
Item Code: NWM35090
Material: Resin
Sculptor: Brian Steward
Box Artist: Hap Wolfgram

Comments: Also available in set NWM35086 Wehrmacht Winter Kettenkrad Crew, announced circa March 2011.

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News: New World Miniatures L.R.D.G. Kiwi Scorpion #2

L.R.D.G. Kiwi Scorpion #2

Manufacturer: New World Miniatures
Item Code: NWM35089
Material: Resin
Sculptor: Brian Steward
Box Artist: Greg Cihlar

Comments: Also available in set NWM35077 Commonwealth LRDG Set #2 announced circa March 2011.

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News: New World Miniatures L.R.D.G. Kiwi Scorpion, NCO

L.R.D.G. Kiwi Scorpion, NCO

Manufacturer: New World Miniatures
Item Code: NWM35088
Material: Resin
Sculptor: Brian Steward
Box Artist: Greg Cihlar

Comments: Also available in set NWM35077 Commonwealth LRDG Set #2 announced circa March 2011.

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News: New World Miniatures WWII U.S. Soldiers Eating

WWII U.S. Soldiers Eating

Manufacturer: New World Miniatures
Item Code: NWM35087
Material: Resin
Sculptor: Brian Steward
Box Artist: Hap Wolfgram

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F135: The Week That Was (25/04/2011 - 01/05/2011)

From the Editor's Desk

I've decided to shuffle a few things on this blog around. Let's get right into it. 

1. As of today, 1 May 2011, I'll be posting a weekly summary. Inspired by Dave G's "Wargaming Tradecraft from N++", I'll post a summary of the news featured on F135 as well as a few other (relevant) links I come across during the week. I'm not 100% decided on what I'm going to include or exclude yet, and this will evolve over weeks until I find a format which is easy for me to publish, and more importantly useful to F135 readers.
2. I'll no longer be linking to reviews on an individual basis, in fact the more observant may have noticed I stopped doing that a while back. My original intent was for figure reviews to be searchable, in almost a database-like style. Perhaps I'll still get to that one day; perhaps someone else will. However, for now, I'll cease doing that. That said, we're not going "cold turkey". Links to reviews published during the week will be linked to via the "F135: Week That Was" newsletter.
3. Blog visitors will have noticed the scrolling image on the homepage. This reserves the space for "The Editor's Pick of the Week" feature. Every week I'll be picking my favourite release of the week. I'll try to be objective. And yes, there may even be some weeks when none of the releases impress...

So let's get into it...

News Summary

This week I was still playing catch-up with the news. This week's can be found here: 24 April 2011 - 1 May 2011.
Notably this week we saw the first of a new range of Cossacks from Minisoldiers, a German Cossack with Soviet Cossacks to follow shortly. My choice, The Editor's Pick of the Week though goes to DToys "SS Tank Crew 1944 #1". Only the second WWII Figure release from DToys, based on the box-art this appears to be a nice looking sculpt from G.H. Jung, with Man-Jin Kim applying masterful brush strokes for the box-art.

To the Blogosphere

The "To the Blogosphere" section of this newsletter features blog entries (made during the week) which I feel deserve a bit of attention. Readers may find these blog entries, or the models featured therein, posted on community forums. The figures may not always be complete, and they won't always be stand-alone models, often featuring in a diorama.

• Gert-Jan Knol's Harley Rider (Sculpt WIP)
• Jaume Ortiz' Allarmi SS Das Reich Feldgendarme
• "USDiorama"'s "In Danger (1944)" (apparently an old vignette dating back to 2005)

In the Community

The "In the Community" section will, like "To the Blogosphere", feature forum posts relevant to this blog: WIPs, completed figures, etc. In addition to these, for now I'll be lumping reviews, SBSs, events, gallery features, etc all in this section. At a later stage I may split these up, but for now: all here.

• Community posts (WIPs)

• Men of the 761st Tank Btn.: Check out the posts by Professor P on 22 and 29 April for very nice African skin tones. 
• Wolf British Tommy WWII: by Carl Barton (The photos aren't as bad as he makes out)

• Community posts (Completed Figures and Galleries)

• Russian Tank Crew (WWII): Alpine figures by Anar Aytaliev (okay, not posted in the last week, but too good not to mention)
• SS Grenadier LAH Kharkov: Alpine 35064 by Mark Benette (the WIP can be seen earlier in the thread)
• Andy's Well: a vignette by Andy Fettes (the WIP can be seen earlier in the thread - and while you're visiting that site, check out Bob Letterman's latest HUGE diorama)

• Reviews

• Alpine Miniatures' 35101 German Pz Crew Summer Set: an inbox review by yours truly. After a 7 month break from review writing I'm back. Watch this space.
• S.I. Publicaties BV Propaganda Photo Series Vol.VII: German Sniper Rifles: by Vinnie Branigan

A Parthenon shot

If readers feel I've missed something worth sharing, please don't hesitate to drop me an email, or even comment on this post.

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