AFV Modeller - Issue 69 (2013 03-04)

Issue 69 cover_Issue 26 cover 13/02/2013 16:40 Page 1

THE VERY BEST IN SCALE ARMOUR MODELLING

69

AFV Modeller

March / April 2013

March / April 2013 £6.50 UK $14.95 www.afvmodeller.com

W

E N R

TE

IN TI C A

Alexander Zelenkov’s

VE

Don Steppe

LI

N O E

N

VI S

E R

U AT FE

EW

GULLY

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CONTENTS 2

Don Steppe Gully Alexander Zelenkov describes his Eastern Front diorama

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Berlin 1945 The second part of Aitor Azkue’s stunning riverside diorama

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New Zealand Special Air Service Humvee Mark Neville describes his fully loaded Tamiya Humvee with AC Models conversion

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Afghan Humvees Patrick Winnepenninckx presents some modelling inspirtation and reference of Humvees operating with Afghan forces

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Sturer Emil João Carrasco-Guerra builds Trumpeter’s 12.8cm Selbstfahrlafette L/61

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Keeping Track More new releases

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Libyan Liberator Meng Models Pick Up converted into an improvised rocket launcher by Kamil Sztarbala

INTERACTIVE FEATURE

TAKE

IT

FOR

A

SPIN...

W W W. A F V M O D E L L E R . C O M / D I G I TA L (MORE

AFV Modeller is published Bimonthly by AFV Modeller ltd Old Stables East Moor Stannington Northumberland NE61 6ES Tel: 01670 823648 Fax: 01670 820274 email: [email protected] Editor and Designer: David Parker Deputy Editor: Donald Campbell Sales Director: Keith Smith ISSN 1747-4183

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Don Steppe

GULLY Modelled and described by Alexander Zelenkov The Idea for this diorama did not come to me right away. Usually I am inspired to work after seeing archive photos or films, and sometimes after reading veteran’s memoirs but with this diorama it was different. I did not have any single source of inspiration for this diorama idea. I wanted make something about the fighting in Southern sector of Eastern Front in Summer-Autumn of 1942. At this time the German offensive against the Caucasus and Stalingrad had the Red Army engaged in heavy defensive battles. After seeing many dioramas and figures I felt there were omissions. Many modellers make dioramas, but what we can see there? Typically Germans near a burned out tank, Germans briefing with pointing figures, Soviet troops walking, Americans shooting, German repairing a tank… and this is all. Are these scenes really representative? Veterans accounts rarely talk about walking and shooting solders. Usually veterans remember very cold and very hot weather, tiredness, and constant danger from air attacks and artillery fire. Between 60-80% of deaths on the Eastern front in WWII were caused by artillery fire and 56.8% of wounded Russian soldiers had splinter wounds.

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It is no surprise that the Russian Army Artillery were called “Gods of war”, but when do we see artillery in dioramas? Usually modellers make artillery on the march or Anti-tank guns firing but never any depiction of the influence of artillery fire. We rarely see even a simple shell-hole. I wanted to try and do something on this theme. I decided that the main object of the diorama will be figures. It will depict soldiers taking cover from artillery fire. The figures that I wanted were not manufactured by any firm, and so I decided to sculpt them myself. At this time I had some sculpting experience, but the task would be demanding. Usually I am inspired to work from wartime photos, but I could not find any good photos of soldiers under fire. WWII photographs were not taken in extremely dangerous situations or the photos are poor quality with limited view because soldiers are hiding in narrow trenches. I thought about a trench diorama, but trenches usually were deep and narrow, and you can see only helmets and the backs of the soldiers, not ideal for a diorama. A diorama should be piece of art and should show an artistic interpretation of reality, and so I decided not to make a trench but a more spacious covered 4

environment.

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I sculpted my figures from Apoxie Sculpt A+B material over a copper wire armature. You also can try making figures from other A+B material like Magic Sculp, FIXIT, Green Stuff, Milliput etc. I will not go into detail about the sculpting here as it is a complex and time-consuming procedure which we do not have space for now. Learning to sculpt or make figure conversion is the way to go if you want make really interesting and unique dioramas. I tried to show the fear and psychological effect of the danger in my Soviet infantrymen. I tried to give individual features to each figure. I did not want to show my figures as a ‘grey crowd’ of mannequins in different poses. Each person has their own character. First a young soldier cowers in fear after nearby explosion, a second soldier feels fear but tries to keep control. A third slumbers in exhaustion and a fourth older veteran with an MG smokes a Russian “makhorka”. The fifth, an officer tries to control the situation and speaks with the sixth, a signaler who is trying to contact their unit by field telephone. I also made a wounded soldier for more drama and this soldier has received some medical, but may not evacuated under enemy fire. I made each figure with its own character, but all the figures should look like soldiers from a common unit of a single army, with the same uniforms, weapons, and the same uniform colours. These figures are now available in my resin Stalingrad range.

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The Figures were painted with artists’ tempera polyvinyl acetate colours. A deep flat surface is the main feature of this paint and an important feature for good painting of figures from hot and dusty Don Steppe. A slight sheen for faces, hands, boots and leather belts was made by gently polishing them with cotton buds. I want to write few words about “Russian khaki” WWII Soviet uniform colour. Russian khaki has no exact shade. Soviet uniform has very many variations, from a saturated grey-green to yellow and from beige to offwhite. Soviet uniform were made in very many different factories. Not evey factory had a standard dye or consistent quality. Therefore even new Soviet uniforms and equipment had various shades of khaki. Along with the influence of sun, dust and washing the colours changed again. In the Red Army very often soldiers used old second-hand uniforms after mending, so we should not paint Soviet soldiers in a gaudy green colour. Try to show pale shades for older items and a bit brighter shades for newer items. Remember that equipment (gasmask bags, for example) would be issued to soldiers at the same time so would probably fade uniformly. It is a small detail that will show that our soldiers are from one unit. It is especially interesting to show uniform details from the USA and UK with lend6

lease supply.

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Characteristic features of American

embankment perhaps? Maybe, but then I

diorama! The KV is a big brutal tank, but in

supplies were brown leather boots (Soviet

should make part of railway. An empty

this situation the tank will not overwhelm

soldier’s boots were only made from black

railway? No, that wont be interesting.

the small figures. Furthermore the slope of

leather), green plastic buttons with the

Maybe a burned out T-34 on railroad and

the gully and position of the tank make a

Soviet star (Soviet buttons are made from

signal nearby? Yes, it would be interesting,

good composition with dynamic changes in

metal) and wide leather belts with big

but eight small crouched figures would be

height. I chose the opposite slope of the

buckles. I set my diorama in the summer of

lost on this big diorama. No, I should

gully as my foreground as It would show

1942 and American supplies were not very

contrive another compositional solution. But

the shape of gully and show the sheltering

evident in the Red Army in this period, but I

a tank should be included anyway. I was

figures. I found the best composition finally

painted brown leather shoes on two

painting the figures already, but work on

after many sketches and test fitting.

soldiers.

the base had not advanced. I cannot find a composition solution yet. Then I

I checked my stock of plastic kits and found

The next step was to finalise the diorama

remembered a photo of a KV-1 tank that

Trumpeter’s KV-1 model 1942 No. 00360.

composition. The soldiers should situated in

had got stuck in a gully. I even found two

This kit was not entirely satisfactory as it

shelter. A trench is unacceptable as I

photos of this tank from different

had the late simplified rear hull, and the

discussed earlier. Roadside ditches is not

viewpoints. The Tank in the photo had

tank in the photo had the early bent rear

good solution – soldiers would need to lie in

tipped into the gully called a “balka” and

hull. I hesitated but decided that I could

shallow cover. Cover behind railway

become stuck. It was a great idea for the

easily make new bent stern from heated

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plastic and A+B putty. I added ABER

Also I made some interior for the turret and

The Tank in the wartime photo had tried to

photoetch and made a new front applique

driver’s position from styrene rod, sheets,

get out of the gully, so the upper run of the

armour panel from styrene sheet (the kit

aluminium foil and a gun breech from

tracks is stretched taught. The kit upper

armour has insufficient height). Weld beads

Dragon’s T-34. The Interior was kept quite

tracks are sagged so I made them straight

were added with A+B putty and rough cut

primitive because you can’t see much

with hair dryer and steel rulers. Also using

edges around the armour plate were

through the open hatches. I painted the

the hair dryer I made damage to the left

added. I enhanced the rough cast texture

interior before finishing the build and

fender like in the archive photos. I made a

of the turret with white Tamiya putty and

because the illumination of the interior is

paper mask for the tank (with a small

solvent. I added casting numbers on the

very specific I first painted all the interior in

window) so that the Hot air from hair dryer

turret using sprue numbers from old plastic

deep flat black. Next I painted in lighter

would not damage other parts of the tank.

kits. On the engine deck I added new bolts

tints the peripheral details and more light

I fixed the tank hull with two screws onto a

with Masterclub resin bolts and opened the

shades the details under the open hatches

wooden bar to handle it during painting.

pistol port on left side of turret. Good

(and light source). The effect is like that of a

The tank was painted with Tamiya acrylic.

reference for work on the model were

Rembrandt painting – light picks out only

Russian tank ‘4BO colour’ which I mixed

photos of the KV-1 from Aberdeen Proving

some important details from the dark and

approximately and a bit lighter for future

Ground which is a similar variant to my

you can’t see the full interior.

weathering. I used artists’ tempera polyvinyl acetate colour for filters (blue, yellow,

model. Track links are from the kit, but modified. 8

brown and green).

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Chips and scratches (not many as the tank

be with stencil), but number on right side of

I made the final fitting of the tank and

is almost new) made with acrylic paint and

turret painted pretty crudely. I painted the

figures. The end of the work is near, but for

a graphite pencil. Mapping with oil paint.

turret numbers by hand with acrylic colour.

the final positions of the figures I needed additional fitting and sketches. I painted the

Washing and pigments from MIG Productions. I used Mr.Metal Color metallic

I began the base work. I made test fittings

sides of the base with Tamiya acrylic and

paint for the fresh metal surface on rollers

and decided on a standard A4 size for my

applied a lacquer. I protected side of base

and track links - a very good and realistic

base. The size of the base should not be

with masking tape. The KV tank was

paint! You can add more shine afterwards

large (because tank and figures will be lost

fastened onto base with strong

by polishing with cotton buds. Thicker dirt is

in a big space) and not too small (it should

construction glue. The surface of the earth

made from pigments, plaster, acrylic resin,

show the landscape and the scene should

inside the gully was made like the built up

sand and water for a very realistic result.

not be crowded). I bought a standard A4

earth on the tank – a mix of pigments,

photo frame and the fit was ideal.

acrylic resin, plaster, small stone, sand and

I cut out the outline of the sole of boots

I made the sides of the base from styrene

water. The main pigment I used was MIG

from a rubber eraser as a stamp to imitate

and to keep down the weight I using

P234 “Rubble Dust”, but I used other

footprints on the tank. I paint exhaust with

expanding building foam to infill the volume

pigments for variations in the shades of the

mix of pigments and tempera color. A deep

of the groundwork. I cut out the relief of the

surface also. Obviously these will differ in

matt surface is obligatory for the exhausts.

base with knife after foam had cured and it

different areas. The topsoil for example,

The round tactical symbol I painted with a

cuts easily. After this I applied an aerosol

and freshly disturbed earth around the tank.

mask (made with a puncher). On the

primer using an acrylic primer, as an

But I kept all these tints within a tight colour

photos I could see the tactical number on

enamel primer can damage the foam

range so that the dust on the vehicle and

left side of turret painted pretty neatly (may

base.

figures was the same.

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I added accumulated dirt to the tank and base with care. I added mud in all the recesses, inside the sprockets, below the fenders, between track links and hull etc. using a small brush. This is essential to make the model believable, taking care to consider mobile parts of the chassis where mud would be dislodged. Next I added small stones, pigments and grass. The grass made from natural flax, the coarse bristles from large paint brushes and spikes of feather-grass. I added a few modest wildflowers made from paper. I fastened these things with white glue. White glue is very useful for diorama building with a long working time, good adhesion it dries flat and transparent. Pigments were applied with MIG Pigment fixer. Figures were fixed to the base with CA glue. After this I was working on the smaller details. It is very careful and tiring work. I made weapon belts (from lead foil), some scattered uniforms and equipment (from paper and A+B putty), ammo belts and an ammo box (from photoetch), used bandages and dressing packs (from paper), the signal cable reel (wire and plastic). I made the telephone line from copper wire. The tank tow cable is from the kit. I tore it apart as if it had snapped in the attempt to recover the vehicle. I made log on right fender from old wooden handle of a brush and A+B putty. I added small dark washes near the figures and small items. I believe what this wash is necessary to seat them into the landscape.

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Well, the diorama is finished! I removed the masking tape, fastened the diorama’s name plate and copies of the wartime photos. I also carefully turned over and shook the diorama and blew the diorama with an air brush to dislodge any loose debris. This final test guarantees long life for your work and you will not find loose elements dislodged on your way to a model show! A couple of words about the photos to end. I took my photos with two simple table fluorescent lamps. I used a textile background. I recommended shooting dioramas with a wide-angle zoom lens. The 18 mm position of 18-55 mm kit DSLR lens is very useful and the wide-angle lens adds perspective and brings life to the photos of your diorama.

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PART TWO • AITOR AZKUE’S

BERLIN 1945

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VEHICLES Tiger II I used an old Tamiya kit to which I added the barrel and the corresponding photoetch from ABER. Likewise the incredible Fruilmodel tracks are an indispensable accessory for this kit and any kit for that matter. I have also applied a slight texture to the surface of the tank using liquid glue, which softened the plastic surface before I gently stippled the surface with an old stiff bristle brush. Once dry, I used fine sandpaper dampened well with water to smooth the entire surface which gives an excellent texture to the armour plate. The painting process began with the base colours which are applied with an airbrush and Model Air brand. For the different effects of weathering I used several different products from AK Interactive and some pigments from MIG Productions.

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Stug III "G" This vehicle comes from Dragon and belongs to their ‘smart kit’ range which lives up to its name as it really does not require any other aftermarket upgrades or details. It has excellent detail and goes together really well. The only thing extra which I added were the tracks, with Modelkasten ones which I had to hand although this model comes with individual link "Magic tracks"

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"Ostwind" At the time I built this diorama there was very little reference on this vehicle and no state of the art kits! I had to build my Ostwind using parts from different kits. For the hull I used a Tamiya Pz IV J with wheels replaced with ones from Tristar. Tracks are Fruilmodel and the radio operator's hatch are by New Connection Models, as are the turret and internal gun mount details. The flak is by Italeri with some Eduard photoetch. I almost forgot, the gun barrel is from Aber! I also had to modify the position of the radio operator hatch to make accurate for the Ostwind The late style engine exhausts are made from plastic tube. For painting I had very little information to work from. I had not yet seen the magnificent "Nuts and Bolts" book, for this vehicle, so it was more myth than something real. I painted it with a recovered chassis to which the factory had mounted an unpainted turret and installed a gun from another vehicle, a typical late war improvisation. In the new references, we have discovered several operating units with this vehicle and a hard-edged three colour camouflage schemes.

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Railcar The railcar comes from Trumpeter

The light is from AFV Club and is

and is of very good quality with

of high quality, but not all that

great details such like the wood

easy to assemble, due to its

grain texture. The railcar was both

many small parts. Still, worth a

easy to assemble and paint.

purchase. As for the search light

I wanted to represent a wagon

power supply generator, this was

featuring a search light,

built from scratch using plastic

improvised at the last minute for

card, although there are resin

the defence of the city, located at

versions available on the market.

an important point, as was the bridge serving the metro and anti-aircraft support, and also abandoned.

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FIGURES The figures are predominantly from ‘Alpine’ (I used 4 of their figures), 2 are from ‘Platoon’ and the radio operator is by ‘Royal Model’. The two dead figures in the centre of the diorama are from ‘Verlinden’. The quality of all 9 figures is excellent.

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NEW ZEALAND SPECIAL AIR SERVICE

HUMVEE

Mark Neville loads up Tamiya’s 1:35 Humvee with the AC Models conversion

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Nostalgia plays a big part in modelling for

Sporting head scarves and long beards

me, remember the feeling of standing in

the crew were straight from the pages of a

your local hobby shop clutching that

‘Commando’ comic book.

hard-earned pocket money presented with

Fast-forward thirty-odd years and this

a wall of kits and taking what seemed like

conversion from AC Models immediately

hours to choose?...One of the kits I

struck me as the modern version of that

remember fondly was the Tamiya SAS

classic kit, not my usual modelling cup of

Willys jeep, a kind of desert hot-rod loaded

tea but what a great looking Hummer with

up to the gunnels with all manner of

fantastic figures, it was just begging to be

equipment for those long range missions,

built!

and what of the figures?

NZ SAS humvee- Mark (Q8):Layout 1 14/02/2013 13:25 Page 2

With selected articles you can now view new interactive content via our website. For a complete 360º view of the model simply visit www.afvmodeller.com/digital to access the ‘360° Portal’, select the appropriate article and enter the Username and Pass Code shown below. You can use your PC/Mac to view the featured model from all round, just keep an eye out for the 360° symbol in future issues!

Username: AFV

Pass Code: 36982

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TAMIYA WITH AC MODELS CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND SPECIAL AIR SERVICE

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01

Because of all of the intricate shapes I would recommend a black or very dark base-coat

Be prepared for some clean-up of the resin parts although the fit is very good throughout.

THE CONVERSION AC Models of New Zealand may be a familiar name to you if you indulge in figure painting on occasion. Andy Cairns is the sculptor and man behind the business renowned for his large scale busts (stop sniggering) and historical subjects, Andy previously released the figures in this set as one of his first forays into 1:35. Andy’s sculpting has a very particular style which appeals to me as it suits my style of painting, a kind of ‘sculpted sketch’ concentrating on the anatomy and pose which always have a very natural feel. The conversion is packaged in a stout corrugated pack which hadn’t suffered from it’s posting from the other side of the World. The presentation is very ‘Old School’ with the cottage industry feel we were used to in the past with plenty of cleaning up of the grey resin required. The majority of the chunks of resin are the Humvee’s stowage which are a very good fit to the Tamiya kit with the field modified and built lockers and boxes already complete with items attached. The nature of the vehicle sort-of suits the hand-crafted feel of the masters, no CAD rendering or rapid prototyping here which means the soft stowage has a very convincing look to it but some of the items such as the grenade launcher ring mount, ammo boxes and the GPMG and mount are poorly defined in places and the detail soft - requiring some old fashioned clean-up. Another negative are the assembly instructions which consist of a few photos of the complete unpainted model and some shots of the actual vehicle, not adequate in my opinion resulting in lots of dry-fits and head scratching especially for a novice in modern equipment like myself. 22

There is a very generous selection of equipment, much of which I haven’t had room to add, and a choice of ammo cans to suit the grenade launcher or a .50cal. The spare wheel supplied matches the Tamiya kit parts for tread pattern (by the way, AC Models state that this conversion would fit Academy’s Humvees also) and is designed to fit in front of the mass of fuel and water cans. The cans are cast all together which certainly speeds-up assembly, individual cans are also supplied. The crew’s huge bergens are designed to fit on the modified tail-gate and are beautifully rendered. You can find a few photographs of trail bikes tied down to these tail-gates which would make an interesting feature as a few are available in 1:35. The clean-up time of the resin parts is compensated for by the speed of which the Tamiya kit goes together, I’ve used the M1025 kit but as the upper structures are largely unused any version would be suitable. This is really one of those Tamiya classics, great detail and fit makeing assembly a breeze, and as already mentioned, the conversion fits very well which allowed me to drop in many of the larger ‘chunks’ after painting them separately. The figures are undoubtedly for me the focal point of the finished model, excellent figures with very little preparation they fit into place with a natural look and feel not often seen with vehicle crews. These guys ooze character and although are sculpted as NZ SAS could easily pass for several nations’ special forces in their generic modern gear.

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HUMVEE

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03

Applying the sand colour with the airbrush in a constant direction from above creates shadows and depth.

AK Interactive filters add further depth and tone to the sand colour. Dark ready to use washes, also from AK Interactive, pick out surface details.

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The interior green is applied as washes over the sand and black which have already created the highlights and shadows

PRE-PAINTING With the figures and the rest of the resin parts dry-fitted in place the Humvee takes on an organic appearance, with so many intricate shapes I decided to give a primer coat of flat black (from Lifecolor) to act as a pre-shade which suits both the interior green and overspayed sand colour of the exterior. With the pressure set low on the Iwata I was able to get in close to all the nooks and crannies with the black, I didn’t thin the Lifecolor as much as usual allowing good coverage quickly and good adhesion to the plastic and resin. The figures, jerry cans, ammo boxes and some stowage were all given the black base-coat treatment. These parts were drilled and fitted with cocktail sticks which in turn are pushed into a block of polystyrene to allow easy handling throughout painting. I allowed the black to dry for a couple of days which provided me a very tough base to work on.

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The figures can be added after everything else is in place (with the exception of the steering wheel)

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THE PAINTING

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TAMIYA WITH AC MODELS CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND SPECIAL AIR SERVICE

The conversion comes with a couple of prints of the subject vehicle in Afghanistan, a quick internet search found these very same shots which allowed me to enlarge them on screen for colour reference. Flicking through my available paint I decided on a colour from AK Interactive’s DAK set, RAL 7027 Grau- which is in reality a sandy-brown. The base colour wasn’t too critical as I tend to use lots of washes and filters which in turn change the base colour somewhat. Using the airbrush at a constant angle the sand colour was gradually applied concentrating the strongest coverage on the upper surfaces letting the black show through as shadowed areas. This technique works well if done gradually, I also used this method on the stowage and the figures painted separately, letting the sand colour double-up as a light source for the

highlights adding a good start to the shading and contrasts of further colours.

Detail painting and the stowage was done entirely with acrylics from Lifecolour mixed referring to the colour shots to hand, with many of the colours so similar I found it helped to keep strong contrasts between the shading and highlights. Weapons were undercoated with a wash of Vallejo Air Black which has a subtle sheen followed by a rub of pencil graphite. Many parts of the grenade launcher appear to be in the Humvee’s original green finish and the GPMG on the side mount has crudely applied cammo paint in the photographs. The conversion supplies a length of ammo cast in white metal and an array of ammo containers.

AK Interactive’s ‘European Earth’ pigment powder looked a favourable match to the photographs to provide the ingrained dirt of the tyres. The powder was laded on heavy in a dry state then removed from the high spots with a stiff bristled brush. A quick and easy method which matched the reference shots.

The stowage lockers and boxes on the Humvee appear to have been built from heavy plywood or MDF with a random over-spray of red-brown (probably from an aerosol) which I re-created with some fine airbrushing. The interior metalwork appears to be in it’s factory dark green, with the black shadow already in place and the sand colour catching the highlights all that was needed were some washes of dilute ‘Russian Green’ acrylic followed by some subtle dry brushing of the dash and radio details. A coat of Vallejo Black-grey was left to dry on the tyres and the filters and washes could be started. I’ve become a bit of a convert to the ready to use magic potions such as filters and washes, for one we’re sent samples to review so it’s only

A little sparkle was added with the front headlamps from SKP Model, these are from another modern US vehicle set but proved a good fit. SKP have the edge over many of the available lamps as the lenses are moulded to a photoetched nickel reflector adding that extra touch of realism.

fair to put them to the test and they’re also very convenient and consistant. The majority of these products are enamel based and perform pretty much the same, AK Interactive and MIG Productions are the ones I’ve tried with excellent results but you must frequently shake the bottles to suspend the pigment, before and during use. I’ve found the washes work best if the area being worked on is dampened first with clean thinner (as you would with oil paint or an enamel wash) details such as the rivets on the side panels were individually picked out with a fine spotter brush loaded with AK’s ’Dark Brown Wash’. I’ve also found mixing some of the pigment residue from the cap or neck of the bottle allows variation in the strength of the wash.

The figures were painted in the same way as the stowage with a black base-coat and the sand colour sprayed in a way to provide ‘directional light’ giving a great guide as to where to place highlights and shade. From the little reference (as you’d expect due to the nature of their operations) on the NZ SAS in Afghanistan you can still see a large variety of uniforms and equipment. A desert DPM camo uniform very similar to the British version seemed commonly used, and more importantly the easiest to replicate! With colour print-outs taped to my desk the colours were mixed by eye from Lifecolor acrylics following the strong contrasts applied elsewhere.

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HUMVEE

CONCLUSION This conversion set initially appears to have a few weak spots, mainly with the vehicle ‘hard’ parts in their rendering and casting. Lately we’ve seen CAD produced masters cast with the latest industrial techniques resulting in resin parts that require minimal preparation with incredible fine detail. This kit is ‘old school’, some seam lines to remove and flash on some parts but this time is repayed with the simple assembly of plug-in ‘chunks’ and the easy build of the Tamiya kit. Once all the components start to come together you just can’t wait to start painting, it’s not often you get figures that look so natural in a vehicle-and what a vehicle!

CONVERSION SET WITH FIGURES: www.acmodels.co.nz (SK Miniatures are a UK distributor)

PHOTO REFERENCE: http://www.hfmodeling.com/modules. php?op=modload&name=SquawkBo x&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id =185475&page=1 Thanks to Hobby Link Japan for the Tamiya kit 35263 M1025 Humvee

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AFGHAN

HUMVEES Patrick Winnepenninckx presents some modelling inspiration and reference of Humvees operating with Afghan forces. The newly formed Afghan National Army or ANA consists of more than 160,000 men incorporated in less than 10 years. The army is being structured according to US / Western doctrine and at this point mainly consists of Light Infantry Kandak’s (Battalion’s). These unit’s are almost exclusively equipped with American vehicles: Ford Ranger pick-up’s and Humvees.

More or less 7550 Humvees have been delivered to the ANA of which at least 2500 are of the M1151 & M1152 type. ANA Humvees come in several versions; it’s force is mainly composed of the M1114 weapons carrier, the M1114 & M1151 road clearance vehicle, the M1151 Enhanced Capacity Vehicle (ECV) weapons carrier, the M1152 ECV troop carrier & guntruck and the M1113 4-litter ambulance. Afghan Humvees appear in two possible colours: a plain desert yellow or a 4-tone camouflage pattern composed of desert yellow which has been applied over the ‘standard’ US colours (olive-green, dark-brown and black). Since mid 2010 the Afghan National Police (ANP) and the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) also started to receive armoured Humvees. The ANP Humvees are painted in a distinctive dark green colour, the ANCOP vehicles are plain desert yellow.

A M1151 weapons carrier & a M1152 Guntruck. Note the different colour schemes in use in the Afghan army

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An ANA M1114 securing the entrance of an army camp with a green (with US camo pattern) engine hood. Also note the home made sun screen made of Hesco Bastions and a poncho.

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M1113 based Humvee ambulance. Note the HHC (HouseHold Company) and 1-2-209 (1st Kandak – 2nd brigade – 209th Corps) unit markings on the vehicle.

Above Overview of the engine of a M1152 cargo Humvee.

Below Afghan National Police (ANP) M1114 Humvee in the distinctive dark green colour. Note the picture of Massoud on the windshield and the ANP symbol on the side rear.

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An Afghan army M1114 with some unusual features. The Humvee has the US army colour pattern and some markings. Does this mean this Humvee was in US service first?! Note the green engine hood and the desert yellow armour package.

Left An Afghan army M1114 with some crudely applied lettering. Right A close-up of impact damage on the protective glass, both would be nice touches on a model.

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An ANA M1151 on an Afghan FOB. Note the sun screen made of Hesco Bastions and a poncho. Take a look at the range of 1:35 weapon stations from Live Resin we featured last issue, superb upgrades for your project.

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Top view of an ANA M11151. Note the accumulated dust on top of the vehicle.

ANA M1152 guntruck on the move

An army Humvee conducting guard duties in an Afghan city. Note the unit marking on the door and the Afghan soldier is still wearing the older US style camo uniform.

Side view of a M1151. ANA vehicles have a lot of problems with their batteries, especially in winter time.

ANA M1154s showing the interior of the rear storage area and details of the tail-gate and spare wheel carrier

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Each ANA Brigade has a Road Clearance Company (RCC) equipped with Humvees fitted with mine-rollers and jammers. Both the M1114 and the M1151 weapons carrier can be equipped with the road clearance device.

The detached roller device viewed from the rear

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Close up of the Humvee’s mount for the mine roller. Note the missing headlamp and subsequent wiring conectors left behind.

The rear of one of the banks of lamps fitted

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Close-up of the jammer mast. Both E.T. Model and Voyager produce a great selection of upgrades and accessories for Humvees in 1:35 but I don’t recall seeing this exact one?

ANA M1151 of Road Clearance Coy / 2nd Brigade / 209th Corps seen during LOC clearing operations.

This front view gives an impression of the size of the roller set-up. Note the black IR lamps fitted along with floodlamps.

The M1152 cargo / troop carrier version

Note the bow fitted for a canvass cover and the exhaust stack

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Overview of the cargo area showing a heavy covering of dust

On patrol, M1152 guntruck belonging to the Afghan Civil Order Police (ANCOP).

An excellent overview of the guntruck interior, again, note how heavy the dust lies inside the vehicle

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Tarpaulin (almost!) fitted on this cargo truck. Note the Afghan flag mounted

M1152 guntruck in the three-tone scheme

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Close up of the weapon mount and protective shields. Note how the position of the shields can be adjusted by hand

Front bulkhead of the guntruck

Rear door latch and handles on the guntruck

Underside of the weapons station showing the pivot mount. Note the bunjee cords and ammo box holder

RCC M1151 Humvee and HMT trailer driving on Highway 1 between Kabul and Kunduz.

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12.8cm Selbstfahrlafette L/61

Recently a friend offered me Trumpeter’s 1:35 kit of German 12.8cm Selbstfahrlafette L/61 "Sturer Emil”. Although my passion is for WWII AFVs, I must confess I wasn’t familiar with the vehicle, so before I started working on the model I did some research, looking for all the available information and images of the real vehicle and also of reviews of this kit.

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After consulting several sources on the internet and technical libraries, I gathered all the information I needed concerning the real “Sturer Emil”, namely from: Panzer Tracts nr. 7-3 - Panzerjaeger, by Thomas Jentz and Hillary Doyle and AFV Modeller nr. 25, issue of

November-December 2005, article “Sturer Emil”, by Thomas Anderson, which contains an enlightening history of this tank-killer and several priceless photos of the real vehicle in trials and in action, as well as a walkaround of the surviving one displayed in the Kubinka Tank Museum, in Moscow.

Modelled by João Carrasco-Guerra

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Trumpeter 1:35

To sum up, the 12.8cm Selbstfahrlafette auf VK3001(H) "Sturer Emil" (Stubborn Emil) was an experimental German self-propelled anti-tank gun projected to deal with the new generation of Russian T-34 and KV series tanks. Its base was the chassis of the experimental Henschel VK3001. This chassis was then extended to receive the huge and powerful Rheinmetall 12.8cm K L/61 gun (based on the 12.8cm FlaK 40). Two vehicles (named Max and Moritz) were built, both of which served - not for long - on the Eastern Front in the 3rd company 521st sPA and the 2nd Panzer Division.

Even though, there were several problems due to slow speed and lack of compatibility with other armoured and mechanical equipment, during action the two “Sturer Emils” engaged effectively targets at ranges that the Russians could only dream of at that time. In open ground the Sturer was a supreme tank buster. Fortunately for the Russians, one vehicle was destroyed (there is not much data on this), and the other was abandoned by its crew and captured intact at Stalingrad, in January 1943, with 22 kill marks painted on its barrel. This is the one presently displayed and well preserved in the Kubinka Tank Museum.

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Trumpeter’s Kit In 2005, Trumpeter released the kit nr. 00350, German 12.8cm Selbstfahrlafette L/61 "Sturer Emil”. The kit consists of a total of 278 parts in light grey plastic and a set of full length rubber tracks. It comes with a small decal sheet providing markings for trial and operational versions of Sturer Emil and very clear instructions with a separate coloured sheet, showing the overall Panzer Grey painting scheme used as well as the position of the decals. The kit is characterized by very good quality injection moulded plastic, accurate dimensions and details with some cast texture on certain parts and nice bolt head and weld seam details on the hull panels and wheels with precise fitting. This kit provides any

modeller with a straight forward build without any major problems. In fact, one can build an impressive model just out of the box without any aftermarket sets. Moreover, it is not expensive. Not withstanding the above, I opted to replace the rubber tracks with the excellent ATL-86 set from Friulmodelismo, Eduard’s photoetched set nr. 35819 and the turned metal barrel from Jordi Rubio. I also added a tow cable from RMG Models, an antenna and metal ammunitions from RB Model and two jerrycans and a jack from my spare box.

The canvas hull cover which was fixed on the rear hull superstructure, according to several photos, was not a part of this kit. I made it using grey Milliput and the fixation belts using copper wire and foil. The jack came from the spares box.

The driver’s bay hatch mechanism (spring and articulation), which was visible when open, was scratchbuilt with copper materials.

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The jerrycans support container was made using copper foil. The jerrycans are from the Tamiya set. Those jerrycans are seen in lots of photos of the Sturer Emil. So, it is strange that they are missing from the kit. Tool clips are PEs from Eduard.

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Weights were added to the breech to counter-ballance the metal barrel. Although good quality, I chose Fruil tracks over the kit parts.

As mentioned before, this was a straight forward build, without any problems. No putty was needed to fit parts. I just added weld seams, using stretched sprue, to some panels, namely in the front and rear hull, drivers compartment and upper superstructure. I constructed the model in sections: the wheel’s set, hull, hull superstructure, interior, gun structure and tracks. These sub-assemblies would only be joined once the overall painting was completed (easier this way).

Aftermarket turned metal german hand grenades and Sturer’s ammo from RB Model. Small upgrades or just personal choice, these make quite a difference.

The full length rubber tracks provided with the kit are excellent, with details on both sides, end pin details and open guide horns on all links and free of flash. Nevertheless, I opted to use the track links set from Friulmodelismo, since this permits to replicate the tracks sag over the return rollers, so evident in the vehicle. Some smaller details were also added: the jerrycans support, the tow cable, the antenna, the hull canvas cover and the jack. These were either scratchbuilt or came from the spare box.

The radio antenna wire and its small protection plate, made with copper cable and foil. Eduard’s photoetched set served to upgrade interior detail, tools clips, and so on. The wheels set sub-assembly was somehow time consuming and boring (24 wheels plus idlers, return rollers, etc!) but it all went well too, and in the end it looks great.

Painting the Monster The many old black and white photos of the real vehicle leave us with doubts regarding its true painting scheme during operations in Russia. It is supposed that Sturer Emil was overall painted in German grey. However, some photos give the idea that it had some spots of red brown over grey. There are also some photos suggesting that during winter it received a white paint wash. However, the lack of clarity of these photos, including the effects of dust and other natural elements over the vehicle, don’t allow a definative conclusion on this. So, I choose the safer way: the German grey scheme. Vallejo’s acrylic polyurethane Grey Primer was used for better adhesion of the acrylics. This primer is very good: dries fast, it’s resilient, gives a smooth and uniform matt finish. The model was painted in German Grey mixed with white. The center of the plates was airbrushed with a lighter tone.

Black Red acrylic mixed with a little bit of Brown Iron Oxide pigment, both from Vallejo, replicate the German red primer in the chassis plate and fenders.

Decals were applied with Microscales’ Micro Set and sealed with Matt Varnish.

A wash of diluted oils was applied by brush, enhancing several details. As the surfaces were painted with acrylics there is no need to seal it with a coat of varnish or future, since there is no risk of reaction with the wash.

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Weathering effects were achieved with oils applied by brush and worked with turpentine. Subtle variations are achieved giving life to the monotone grey.

More washes were used to represent grease and oil staining.

Brown Earth Paste from Vallejo and European Dust, Russian Earth and Beach Sand pigments from MIG, simulate mud and other residues resulting from the all-terrain action.

Special attention was given to the exhaust unit, which was painted with Oily Steel acrylic, washed and brushed with the same MIG pigments used in the lower parts.

Weathering Effects This is not a rule, but in this step I usually apply a wash, followed by some chipping (if required), oils and finally the pigments. The wash was made using a mix of black and burnt sienna oils significantly diluted in turpentine and a drop of liquid soap. I prefer to make my own wash mixture, allthough the pre-prepared washes available on the market are very helpful. The wash was brushed on every corner and detail before the excess was removed with white spirit applied where applicable. Next, I added some chipping using a sponge and a very thin brush with black grey or very dark brown acrylics. The weathering effects, resulting from moisture, rain, dust, oil, fuel stains and all bad treatment of an operational vehicle in combat, were made using oils (black, burnt sienna, natural sienna, blue and titanium white). These effects were obtained by dragging or rubbing small oil dots with a thin brush wet in turpentine on certain surfaces. The lower hull and wheel set were scrubbed with a hard brush in areas with an appropriate Brown Earth Paste from Vallejo and European Dust, Russian Earth and Beach Sand pigments from MIG, simulating mud and other residues resulting from the all-terrain action.

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Tracks were painted with a matte black primer in spray and then scrubbed with graphite powder. Then these received the same treatment of the wheels and chassis plate. I finished the model by joining all different sub-assemblies and airbrushing a very transparent mix of matt varnish with some drops of dark yellow, more intensely in the lower parts, giving a subtle dusty look to this huge anti-tank vehicle.

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For this model I have produced a display stand using a scenic carpet from the Czech brand Modelscene, cut and glued on a MDF plate and a frame of slats of balsa wood, painted black. The track trails were cut out from the carpet and filled with Vallejo’s Earth Brown Paste, marked with the tracks. The simplicity of this carpet is an added value allowing any modeller to draw up a realistic-looking base.

This model was very well appreciated in recent contests in Portugal by the IPMS-Portugal and the Montijo Modelling Association.

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KEEPING TRACK

new releases

Reality In Scale Diorama Accessories Our first look at some items in the range available from Reality In Scale starting with a real centrepiece to a scene 'North African Housefront'. This resin-cast building facia is very lightweight due to the resin including micro-balloons with excellent fine surface detail and subtle textures. The set comes packaged in a sturdy box and includes detailed instructions and photo reference. Along with the resin parts are some extra details such as brass door fittings and a piece of material for a curtain (a little overscale in my opinion) The set also includes carpets which are printed on a flock material for a realistic look. The texture and print detail are very fine with the designs lending themselves to various scales and eras. Assembly is very simple leaving you to focus on painting to bring this facade

to life. Highly recommended. A nice compliment to the building would be 35164 'Food Supplies', cleanly cast in cream resin this set is a finely detailed selection of vegetables in wooden crates (with some decals supplied for the crates) bread and meats. Some printed accessories now with 35190 WWII era maps which are finely detailed and output on very thin stock featuring thirty European and Russian battle grounds. Judging by these samples the large and varied range is very much worth investigation. Set 35005 is a set of German WWII air recognition flags which are printed directly onto a very fine fabric which means they can be draped realistically. Thanks to UK stockists Historex Agents for our samples.

Italeri 1:35 Land Rover 109' LWB

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A welcome re-release from Italeri of this version of the iconic Land Rover seen the World over during the 1970s and 80s. The kit remains unchanged from it's previous release now in a pleasing pale grey styrene along with a clear sprue of glazing and lamp lenses. A typically 'Italeri' dated tooling provides a decent level of detail although not up to the standards of some more recent productions (like the Hobby Boss Defender). The series III is certainly ripe for conversion and served well by aftermarket parts, as usual wheels are first in line for replacement if you're looking to improve the detail on some older tooled kits. In the tradition of the

Land Rover itself the kit is simple but still provides an option of open cab doors and tailgate. A full rear canvas covering the cargo area is included which is passable but easily improved with a little work to add some finer creasing and texture with your favourite putty. A couple of options of British markings (IFOR and a medical vehicle) are new but hardly extensive. As a re-release this kit is good value making it ripe for some aftermarket upgrades and conversion and a worthwhile addition to any 1970s to present day diorama in civilian colours even?

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Meng 1:35 AMX30B Meng are certainly one of the most high profile manufacturers to hit the market in recent years with strong marketing and a genuine interest in what modellers want. At the Scale Model World show in November they announced this kit (and had the decency to display the actual vehicle from the Tank Museum on their stand!) certainly a surprise release met with enthusiasm from post-war armour modellers. Meng's presentation of their kits is second to none, quality packaging is always a nice starting point and you certainly feel you've got value for money with a quick flick through the contents. Dark green individually bagged sprues make up the bulk of the kit along with five brown sprues holding the track parts, a small photoetched fret of mainly perforated mesh for the exhaust mufflers, an excellent thin flexible rubber mantlet cover, clear parts for vision blocks and lenses, some polycaps for the road wheels and a small decal sheet. Moulding quality is excellent with some incredibly fine parts which will require care when removing from the sprues. A single piece hull

'tub' provides a solid basis to add the running gear to with individual suspension arms and a superb level of detail. The track is assembled from two parts per link for ultimate detail and the laborious task should be speeded up by the assembly jig supplied. Meng's assembly instructions are very clear and produced in a friendly small format which doesn't cover your work space! The AMX follows the usual build process finishing with the turret. One goodie we're not given is a single piece metal barrel, this is probably due to the ventilation holes running the length of it's underside represented very sharply but resulting in a seam to clean up either side of the barrel. Meng's obvious effort and attention to detail with their kits really shows and they're quickly becoming very highly regarded as a major player in our hobby. If you're into post-war armour you've probably ordered one, if you're into French armour you've probably ordered two, if you fancy a nice out-of-the-box build of something different this kit is highly recommended. Bravo!

Italeri 1:35 U.S. Gun Truck I suspect modellers of modern U.S. hardware would have been quite excited to see Italeri's news some time back about the release of an OIF guntruck depicting a well photographed M-923 'Iron Horse' with extensive armour ad-ons. Unfortunately this isn't the truck which has actually been released and we're served a much watered down version which is pretty much the original release with some tagged-on sections of sprue. The new elements are attached to the sprue carrying the wheel parts 'good news' I thought presuming the tyres had been modified from previous releases, unfortunately not and many modellers will look

to aftermarket parts to dress-up this kit (Real Model, Legend and D.E.F. spring to mind including excellent wheel replacements in resin). The Hardox armour parts to create the rear 'box' and cab doors are new but over-scale and there's also a pedestal mount .50 Cal. So basically, if you have the 'standard' truck kit you'd be better off making your own armour from plastic card and spending your cash on some upgrade parts, this is an inexpensive Italeri kit which is close to twenty years old and needs some work to bring it up to standards we're used to today. 45

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new releases

Dragon 1:35 Flakpanzer IV Ausf.G ‘Wirbelwind’ We have of course already seen the Dragon Wirbelwind in two different versions and I think we are all agreed that it is the current state of the art kit and default choice for this subject. In this third release there are a few differences and the biggest one is the provision of a zimmerit finish. Dragon have mastered the reproduction of the textured finish with considerable skill and if it is something that you hate to have to do then this will be very welcome. The kit draws on zimmerit parts from previous releases like the Brummbar to provide some of the parts and there are also new pieces like the bolted on glacis armour panels. Even though we have seen it before we are still impressed by the two-piece turret moulding with its ultra-thin edges and superb weld detail along both internal and external panels. This version of the kit has

ditched the individual link Magic Tracks and replaced them with DS Styrene rubber band tracks which may not be to everyone’s taste. The quad 20mm Flak is well detailed and the muzzles of the guns have been pushed about as far as is possible in injection moulding, and there being plenty of aftermarket replacements if you wish to go that bit further. The kit includes a photoetched fret with intake covers, track guard brackets, ring sight and other small fittings and comes with metal tow rope and clear moulded vision blocks. A handful of individual track links are provided to fit out the spare track racks too. Impressive stuff again from Dragon and the pain-free zimmerit will be welcomed by many its just a shame that the original magic tracks did not make it into the mix in this version.

Dragon 1:35 Leichte (Funk) Pz.Kpfw.1 Ausf A DML present another Panzer I 'Smart Kit' here in the form of the Ausf.A radio vehicle. The busy box presents a huge amount of parts for such a diminutive little tank, many parts are destined for the spares box as you'd expect, we've a mix of sprues from previous Pz.Is along with specific parts for this variant the main one being the fixed turret. The moulding and detail are Dragon at their best, absolutely crisp with minimal seams to clean across the grey sprues. A clear sprue is also present providing vision blocks and lamp lenses with suitable etched brass parts which will further enhance the delicate detail. The weld beads and recessed

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screw heads are so beautifully fine a thin coat of paint will be required to get the most from the kit's detail. Magic Track is ready de-sprued with fantastic finesse but may prove a challenge to assemble due to the tiny links. A very comprehensive interior is provided with a fully detailed radio installation and transmission allowing the large hatches to be modelled open should you wish. Being a pre-war vehicle there's a choice of two or three tone camo patterns and also the easier finishing option of overall dunkelgrau. Dragon are to be praised for these recent Panzer Is, beautifully detailed models straight from the box.

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Revell 1:35 Leopard 2A4/A4NL Builders of more modern machines will be pleased to see Revell using their base A6/A6M kit to produce the classic A4, this one boxed as the 'NL' as originally supplied to the Dutch army but also used in this form by many armies including Greece and Spain. As well as the hull from the A6 kit the main new parts are housed on a new sprue housing the slab sided turret. Revell's dark green styrene is no doubt a help when it comes to applying the paint but doesn't show the nice detail off at it's best, some very fine moulding is present with anti-slip textures and an excellent effect on the rear intake grilles. When we first looked at this kit in it's A6 guise the upper hull looked decidedly warped, it has no side panels as these are moulded to the lower hull sides. I've nipped some of the larger parts off the sprues and can report that a dry fit looks promising with the Leopard having a definite kicked-up

angle to the rear deck. The lower hull being of a multi-plate assembly is very well detailed with separate torsion arms and well detailed wheels. Tracks are two-part vinyl with good detail although a few ejector pin marks will be hard to remove, many of you will look to the wide choice of aftermarket track available. Seven versions of markings are included and call-outs for the various countries specific fittings are throughout the instructions to keep you on your toes. This is a really nice new tooling from Revell and I'm sure we'll see other A4 versions released giving us budget priced kits with the option to add aftermarket photoetch, tracks etc should you wish without blowing your modelling budget. www.revell.eu has more details and good toy and model shops usually stock Revell kits.

Zvezda 1:35 Tiger 1 Ausf.E Early Production Its is always a brave manufacturer who tackles the iconic Tiger 1 in 1:35 and with the intimate details of the Tiger familiar to most modellers now, there is little or no room for error. So how have Zvezda done with their new kit? Well first impressions are generally very favourable. The quality of moulding is excellent and the kit provides a well detailed turret interior and comes with some excellent rubber band tracks with open teeth equivalent to the Dragon DS versions. Roadwheels are excellent with nice weld detail and Continental logos on the tires, no complaints here! Moving to the hull we have individual swing arm suspension and some basic radiator fan detail for the engine bay. However the left hand side of the hull has a distinct quilted appearance with sink marks between the side skirt fitting lugs along the side plate. This effect is not present on the right hand side on our sample. Moving

to the hull deck plate and the headlamp brackets and cables are clearly wrong. Also incorrect are the rearmost engine deck grilles where the interconnecting webs are far more curved than on the real thing. The Tiger is provided with the full Feifel system and Zvezda have made a good attempt at the twisted ribbed hoses that run across the deck but the hoses look undersized and the pattern needs to be more defined. The kit provides S mines but they are solid tubes. A choice of two sets of markings are provided on the simple decal sheet and there is a clear sprue for the periscopes. Overall then not perfect but pretty good and at a budget price. The most tricky things to correct will be those engine deck grilles but don’t dismiss this one out of hand as it has a lot of positive points.

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new releases

Blitz 1:35 Laffly W15 TCC I am really pleased to see Blitz releasing a model of the Laffly W15 TCC as the old Alby kit has long been out of production and this is one of those ungainly but inherently attractive vehicles and it is a welcome addition to Blitz's growing range of resin kits. Quality is as usual with Blitz, excellent with clean bubble-free castings and only minimal wispy bits of flash. A detailed ladder frame chassis is supplied with all the drivetrain components and you have the option of articulating the suspension on the rear axels like the real vehicle. Tires and wheel hubs are moulded separately which does almost inevitably mean a gap between the two which will have to be filled. The louvered bonnet is crisply detailed and the cab provides all the pedals, levers and

instrument panel. The flexible joint between the bonnet and cab has to be made from your epoxy putty of choice. The headlamps are cleverly moulded as hollowed out reflectors with a bulb leaving the modeller to add the glass lens. The 1939 model 47mm gun also looks good with a great scale thickness to the gun shields and the kit also provides the FM 24/29 machine gun with a choice of roof top or gun shield mounting. A simple decal sheet provides roundels and registration plate cockades and numbers but no instrument dials sadly. The kit is designed to be easy to build without hundreds of parts but without compromising detail. Its a big thumbs up from us for this one and no doubt from other French armour fans.

Blitz 1:16 AMR 35

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Something of a treat now with the delightful diminutive French reconnaissance tank which is already in the Blitz 1:35 catalogue released in 1:16 and the companies first release in this scale. The kit comprises separate hull sides, chunky upper hull casting, bow and rear panels and solid turret. Big location strips mean that the basic hull plates all locate together with confidence and the modeller will have to fabricate his own hull floor. You can have the basic shape of the vehicle assembled within a couple of hours! Rivet detail across the kit is excellent and very consistent. The turret has a large hatch-shaped cut out but I would have preferred a true hollow turret in this scale. The running gear is a simple design and beautifully replicated right down to the slotted rims on the idlers wheels. The bogie frames are well detailed too with

castellated nuts and delicate lip detail around their edges which has proved susceptible to damage in one or two places on our example. Tracks are individual link which means something of a slog to clean them up and assemble them but is the only effective way to handle them in this scale. The intake grilles for the engine have been moulded as separate parts which is a great help in cleaning them up. The kit is available in 3 different versions depending on your choice of turret and our sample is the ZT1 with the 13.2mm cannon which has its ribbed barrel perfectly replicated. No decals were included in our sample but at this scale that’s not too much of a problem. This is a great looking model and with a choice of colourful camouflage schemes to tempt us we cant help but recommend this!

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Stalingrad 1:35 figures Some of our favourite figure releases come from the hugely talented Russian sculptor and modeller Alexander Zelenkov the creator of our KV-1 diorama featured in this issue, under his 'Stalingrad' brand. The anatomy, sculpting, detail and casting of these figures is second to none. The three Red Army officers would work as a group or individually, S-3575 points holding a map, S-3574 stands holding binoculars and S-3573 stands hand

on hip in a greatcoat. Russian civilians available here which would enhance any Eastern front vignette or diorama S-3543 'Russian girl with buckets' and S-3544 'Refugee children' are beautifully sculpted with great finesse. Pretty much as good as it gets for figures in this scale, populate your diorama or enjoy painting all that crisp detail as stand alone figures. Details of these and the full range at www.stalingrad.diorama.ru.

Model Scene grass and groundwork As used in our Sturer Emil feature this issue this is a very impressive range of ready-made groundwork from Czech manufacturer 'Model Scene'. The wide range covers various seasons in suitable colours with variations on the theme such as 'Forest Floor' and 'Stoney Steppe' as our sample pictured. The mix of grass, foliage and stones has a real modeller's touch - so much so that nobody would know you've 'cheated'. The mat can be formed across contours and is easily cut down from it's A4 size. Certainly one of the most impressive instant groundwork we've seen. Historex Agents kindly provided our sample from stock.

MIG Productions More new releases to expand the vast MIG Productions range of finishing products starting with three new ready to use filters. These heavily diluted colours work straight from the jar to give subtle colour variations and effects such as fading paint. P-423 is Dark Green Grey, P-424 Japan Navy Blue (handy for some of the recent Dragon subjects) and P-425 Green For Allied Tanks. Three new colours also in the famous MIG Pigments range P-053 Old Brick Red, P-054 Alkaline Dust (very light which will provide good contrast) and P-055 Cream Rust which looks very suitable for exhaust mufflers.

A new trio of metallic oil colours join the 502 Abteilung range under the ‘Metal Power’ banner. ABT 200 is a rich gold, ABT 205 is a bright silver, and ABT 210 copper. With a thick paste consistency and strong pigment these tubes should last many years, as oil colours do, if sealed correctly after use. In all cases the metallic pigment is a little grainy for our liking, certainly for smaller scales. www.migproductions.com is the place to visit for more details and Worldwide stockists.

49

AFV-69 March-April 2013_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 14/02/2013 10:41 Page 50

35 L-89

35 L-80

35 L-106 R35

35 A121

35 A119 35 251

35 248

35 252

35 250

35 247

ABER

50

It is our pleasure to announce some new releases from the fathers of photoetch, Aber. Quiet for some time now Aber are back with a brass bang reminding us of the very high standards they set offering the ultimate detail upgrades. Starting with some generic items, 35A119 is a sheet of Marston Mat planks (surely suitable for 1:32 aircraft also) and 35A121 which is a very useful set of wiper arms and rear view mirrors for 1930/40s cars and soft-skins. If Russian armour is your thing R-33 will provide you with three aerial bases and masts for T-34s to T72s. On to barrels with 35 L-80 for the M2 .50cal comprising of the barrel and perforated collar with ammo box holder and a few rounds of ammo, 35 L-89 is for any German Flak 38 L/65 equipped piece providing a spare barrel box and two barrels. Still on a German theme, 35 L-106 will add finesse to your Pz II with the Kw.K 30 and MG 34. Turning their attentions

to recent Tamiya releases 35 247 is a basic set for the BT-42 providing tool boxes, numerous brackets and small fittings and turned brass fire extinguishers, pistol port plugs and barrel cleaning rods. 35 248 gives you a full set of fenders / mud guards for the Finnish assault gun. A couple of Tamiya kits that look so much better with some detail upgrades are the Israeli Shermans. 35 250 is for the M1 including toolboxes, engine deck mesh, periscopes and a whole load of fine detail. The M51 Super Sherman gets the treatment with 35 251 providing all of the fine brackets, light guards and extra detail you could want and 35 252 takes things a step further with all of the tool boxes and fenders along with some brass tube and rod to create various fittings including the barrel clamp frame. www.aber.net.pl will give an insight to the huge range and if you're in the UK, Historex Agents are the distributor.

AFV-69 March-April 2013_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 14/02/2013 10:41 Page 51

Panzerwrecks 14 Ostfront 2 By Lee Archer and William Auerbach Published by Panzerwrecks landscape softback 96 pages ISBN 978-1-908032-04-1 www.panzerwrecks.com Where do they keep finding them? Another exciting edition of the Panzerwrecks series gathers another stunning collection of archive images covering knocked out or abandoned Axis equipment from the Eastern front. This volume features fold out gatefold covers for a panoramic view of Pz.Beob.Wg.III dwarfed by the ISU-152 parked next to it and the back cover shows a burned out SS Pz.Abt.503 King Tiger. This is a familiar image but I have not seen it reproduced at this size or quality. Tiger fans will find more material inside and the book begins with three different Tiger 1 subjects before moving onto the Stug III including interesting examples with spaced armour modifications and another concrete encased example without a cupola but split hatches instead! There are several all around views of this vehicle providing plenty of modelling reference. The Stug fest continues with several other sad looking examples including a rarer partly submerged Stug IV. Next are pictures of both Hummel and Wespe

and then several pictures of Panther Ausf.Ds abandoned in Narva. More Panthers follow with a whitewashed Ausf.A, and late model Ausf.G. A finnish BT42 makes a rare appearance along with the former French Panhard armoured car. Another rarity is a French 7.5cm gun mounted on a captured Russian T-26 chassis featured in a series of pictures. The RSO/01 is featured in several different pictures and there is a series of pictures of the same intact looking Panther A. The SdKfz.251is next including a rare Flamm 251/16 example. Hungarian armour is covered with the Nimrod and Turan and then we have more Panthers and Tigers and some Panzer IVs including Bulgarian examples. Nashorn and Marder II feature next along with Jagdpanzer IV, Mobelwagen and another late model Panther complete with IR stowage box. Quality all the way as usual from Panzerwrecks and essential reference for Axis armour fans.

PzKpfw IV at the front- Update No.1 Vol 1-5 Published by 8wheels-good softback, portrait format, 80 pages ISBN 978-0-9563655-8-3 http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1102388#author-bookshelf We've been very impressed by the previous releases from author Craig Ellis featuring his '8-wheels good' collection of period photographs of Panzer Ivs and variants. This latest release will certainly be of interest if you have the volumes 1-5 of the series as the book is split into chapters updating information and using newly obtained photographs for each volume. Some of the shots include new angles of vehicles previously featured in the usual large format. The rare nature of the photographs means that quality varies from 'very good' to 'excellent' but the real beauty is

the subjects, fantastic modelling inspiration with very detailed captions. As well as being a must to anyone with the previous releases in their collection, this Update volume serves as an excellent taster of the series as it covers early to late vehicles and variants.Indispensible reference on the PzKpfw IV with a great mix of interesting un-seen photographs and well researched detailed captions. The titles can be ordered from the Blurb website www.blurb.com, go to ‘bookstore’ and put ‘8wheels-good’ into the search box to see all of the titles available.

51

AFV-69 March-April 2013_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 14/02/2013 10:41 Page 52

EA35-156

EA35-086

EA35-088

EA35-158

EA35-158 EA35-163 S35-12

EA35-152

EA35-157

E.T. Model Upgrades

52

More bumper brass upgrades from ET Models so much that we are struggling to fit it all in! For Meng’s Tortoise kit set E35-156 provides superb new tow ropes, hatch pads, track guard brackets, exhaust muffler straps and wonderful textured stowage straps. Merkavas next and set E35-158 is a basic set (with ten frets!) for the Meng Merkava 3D. This provides new engine deck grilles, rear stowage bins, mudflaps, replacement ammo racks for the MGs as well as new lifting loops and placards for the armour panels and all the assorted latches. Very imressive are the tiny shaped springs for the antenna mounts. A superb set! E35-163 provides new side skirts for the same kit and if you want to go all the way E35-087 is a new turret basket floor and the ball and chains again for the Meng kit. Set E35-094 is a basic set for the Academy Merkava IV. This 8 fret set includes a tow rope and those excellent springs again and has all the grilles, latches and photoetched chains for the turret basket. Comprehensive is the only word that comes close. Modern Russian next with S35-012 which is a value package for the Trumpeter T-62 1972 kit and this 9 fret set covers everything! Track guards, stowage boxes, engine deck panels and grilles, fuel tank brackets and a huge list of other details. For the BTR-60PB from Trumpeter is catered for by set E35-152 with a daunting underside grille to assemble from interlocking bars, new instrument panel, exhaust covers, improved hinge detail, new running boards, gun mount, resin gun barrel, antennas and brass co-ax barrel. The Trumpeter

BRDM-2 gets the same treatment with set E35-157. For the Zvezda T-90 there are a set of new engine grilles EA35-086. There is also a value pack for the ASU-85 S35-013. Modern American now and we begin with the staggering M1A2 SEP Tusk II upgrade set for the Dragon kit. This 26 fret set is so big it comes in a weighty box. You have complete sets of the new hull and turret armour panels, each individually assembled this will be tough going even for the photoetch enthusiast but with undeniably impressive results. Clear plastic sheets are provided to make the additional cupola armour and all the MGs get the usual upgrade treatment. Not your casual couple of evenings build! For the Hobbyboss M1070 HET with CPK Cab set E35-134 gives you all the additional armour panels with 1.2mm clear plastic for the glazing panels and great touches like the perforated crew steps. E35-140 is an Anti IED Device and antennas with the set including resin parts. German WWII sees comprehensive sets for the Dragon King Tiger, E35-102, Tamiya Tiger 1, E35-164 and fenders/side skirts for the same kit E35-090. Engine grilles for the Tamiya Tiger 1 are also released separately as EA35-088. E35-166 is designed for the Tamiya German Bicycle. We wrap up with replacement resin wheels with RSOV weighted wheels for the Hobbyboss kit and as usual ET have mixed the positions of the lettering on the side walls. Set ER35-044 provides some superb Willys Jeep wheels.

AFV-69 March-April 2013_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 14/02/2013 10:41 Page 53

EA35-102

EA35-164

EA35-166 EA35-087

EA35-094

ET35-090

ET35-140

EA35-134

S35-013 ER35-046

ER35-044

EA35-161

53

AFV-69 March-April 2013_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 14/02/2013 10:41 Page 54

Dragon 1:35 'German Elite Infantry' Dragon 1:35 'Rommel and Staff'

Master Box 1:35 figures Always top marks for originality, MB continue to impress with the subject and quality of their injection moulded figure sets. Mr. Karaschuk's box art is so nice we can excuse the fact that the figures sometimes don't match the illustrations exactly (usually more figures are included than the artwork shows). This first set will be most welcome by diorama modellers 'Women of WWII era' are four female figures and a child The styles are period perfect and would suit any Western Europe or American scene from the 40's. Moulding is excellent and they should prove a pleasure, and also a nice change, to paint. Now here's a set and a half, and a ready made diorama from MB; 'Friendly Boxing Match' contains nine superbly animated figures of US and British Airborne troops enjoying an impromptu boxing bout to relieve the boredom pre DDay. Moulding is precise and detail excellent especially the facial expressions, so critical when figures are interacting to this degree. This really is a terrific group of figures.

We'll look at these two sets of Dragon figures together as they're so similar in approach. The first set consist of four individual figures depicting a wide variety of Waffen SS uniforms from early to mid war and looking like stand alone subjects. Sculpting and moulding is to a good standard all-round and the sprues of Gen2 weapons and equipment are superb but we find we're repeating ourselves yet again when it comes to these Dragon sets; the poses are just so generic! Very good quality but very uninspiring. The second set is an improvement as these four figures interact with each other to create a typical planning conference scene in North Africa. The figures are well designed with multi part greatcoats a nice touch. Uniform and insignia detail is very fine and sharp although I would have liked to have seen the facial expressions with more life as if engaged in conversation. Ideal for AFV Club's imminent release of the Dorchester as depicted on the box-art.

Uschi Van Der Rosten Blackening Agent

Meng 1:35 'Middle Easterners' A perfect complement to Meng's pick-up kits (as featured in this issue) is this set of figures comprising of a woman walking (wearing to my limited knowledge an Abaya?) a young girl wearing a hijab carrying a bag, a young boy and a para-military looking chap. These figures certainly fill a gap in the market for modellers of modern subjects. The glossy finish to the single grey sprue doesn't do the detail and finesse any favours which on close inspection is very good, these should paint-up well once assembled.

This magic potion allows a better base colour to your photoetch and brass turned parts. Submerse your degreased metal parts in the solution mixed with the same amount of water and a chemical reaction takes place leaving a black finish to the surface. The solution can be stored and re-used several times and needs no more specific handling than your usual paints and thinners. The finish is particularly effective on gun barrels and has a benifit over paint in that no crisp detail is lost. www.uschivdr.com has more information and tutorials on this and other finishing products in the range.

Pinnacle Modelling Supplies weathering pigments

54

Pigment powders have been on the market for some time now and most manufacturers of hobby finishing materials have their own range. This new range by Pinnacle has a wide range of thirty two colours including various natural shades such as 'Light Sand' and 'Dark Mud' along with colours applicable to vehicle finishes like 'Faded Olive Drab'. The powders perform pretty much the same as others available both dry and wet, the main difference here is the large quantity of 50ml packaged in a flat round dish (as you'd see cosmetics contained in) offering very good value if you use powders frequently. www.model-supplies.org.uk is the place to view the range of colours and order.

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Rocket pick up article (Q8):Layout 1 14/02/2013 13:36 Page 1

Kamil Sztarbala’s

Libyan Rebel conversion of the MENG 1:35 kit

56

Rocket pick up article (Q8):Layout 1 14/02/2013 13:36 Page 2

Highly mobile and readily available, the pick-up truck is utilized the World over by rebel forces as improvised weapons carriers and armoured vehicles.

It seems that MENG MODEL make a successful and impressive debut. Firstly, the Chinese manufacturer quite quickly responded to

The details are crisp and subtle, the ejector pin marks are

the market need, secondly, the designers didn’t forget about

cleverly arranged, and you won’t find any flash and sink

spectacular packaging of the product. A nice box with a

marks either. Clear parts are thin and perfectly transparent.

decent artwork shouts ‘Buy me!’. Purchasers of the kit will not

The only decals really worth mentioning are the instrument

be disappointed after opening the box. Inside there are a few

dials. Generally speaking, the whole kit appears to be very

sprues made of black, grey, white, and transparent styrene, a

attractive, even if some design solutions such as rubber tyres

decal sheet, a small photo-etched fret and a set of rubber

and colourful sprues are more typical of 1:24 civilian car kits,

tires. The car body is moulded almost as a one part thanks to

but then this is a civilian vehicle! There’s also a rigid-looking

slide-mould technology and secured within a small cardboard

figure included in the kit, which is rather a funny feature.

box. The assembly guide is nicely designed, clear, and

Lastly, I need to mention that there are some errors in the

legible. However, the most important thing is that the parts on

assembly guide.

the sprues look very good.

57

Rocket pick up article (Q8):Layout 1 14/02/2013 13:36 Page 3

Assembly

Another issue appeared during the positioning of the front axle cover. It had to be squeezed and glued with C.A. adhesive. Fortunately, the next steps were easy and completing the whole chassis took me a total of two hours.

The start of building stage confirms the first impressions of the kit,The use of black styrene was not an ideal choice, although the sprues looks nice, it can be hard to spot areas requiring cleaning up or reworking and where to trim and position parts.

Wheel mountings are quite strangely designed. Their shape might suggest that we should have vinyl polycaps to push into the hubs which is a popular solution in civilian car kits. You won’t find any of these in the box, even moulded in styrene. The steering arm connecting the front wheels will not hold the hooks without a slight modification, a small tab of styrene is

To reduce the amount of paintwork in the interior, which would not be too exposed in the finished kit, I cut off the a piece of black adhesive tape in the shape of roof lining.

enough to hold the parts and remain moveable.

The assembly of the body had to be started by painting the cab

Next I sprayed the whole interior with Mr.Super Clear satin coat.

interior. I only added seat belt buckles made from pieces of

When it dried, I followed up by coating the seat upholsteries with

styrene. The interior was airbrushed with various shades of grey,

Lifecolor’s matt varnish.

with Tamiya Masking Tape to mask the colour boundaries. Details

58

were brush painted with Vallejo acrylics. I also made miniature

Then I could add some dirt, using Tamiya Weathering Sticks

windscreen wipers from pieces of black Oramask stencil film.

applied with dampened brush, as well as cardboard boxes, the

I applied AK-interactive’s Dark Brown Wash and dry-brushed the

indispensable Kalashnikov’s, and some assorted junk for a lived-in

edges with grey acrylic paint to bring out the details.

look.

Rocket pick up article (Q8):Layout 1 14/02/2013 13:36 Page 4

Painting

Using a motor tool burr and sandpaper, I added numerous dents and other damages into the body. Next I coated it with Tamiya Hull Red.

The body was ready for applying two layers of AK-interactive’s Worn Effects fluid with some salt added in places to act as a random mask. When

Then I made the scratches and paint chips according to the instructions of AK-interactive’s fluid. After dampening the surface I scratched the paint layer with toothpick and blunt-edged scalpel.

it dried, I airbrushed it with Vallejo Off-White and added some shading with a mixture of base paint and Middlestone. To improve the properties of these acrylics as well as to get a satin surface, I diluted the Vallejo paints with Sidolux. Many modellers favour Johnson's Future floor wax over dedicated gloss varnishes. In Poland, a product called Sidolux is often used for the same modelling purposes. My tests indicate that it also works very well as a thinner for Vallejo acrylics, especially when we want to apply them with an airbrush. However, I’ve never used Future, so I can’t say if it works for diluting Vallejo paints also.

59

Rocket pick up article (Q8):Layout 1 14/02/2013 13:36 Page 5

My next step was to paint the details such as mouldings and window seals. Another layer of clear gloss varnish was necessary to secure the paintwork on the whole body.

I also applied some Vallejo Dark Earth acrylic paste inside the wheel arches which worked as a base for imitating dry mud.

Rocket Launcher Having the cargo bed already assembled, I

Next all parts of the

could build the rocket launcher mount. I

conversion were cast in

started by making the main pillar from a

resin. Of course, it took

2mm styrene rod which afterwards was

some time to prepare

attached to a special mount fixed into the

the silicone moulds and

roll-bar. The construction of launcher mount

produce the conversion

was inspired by photos of real vehicles with

set.

the same armament. An ordinary car jack found in my spare parts stash was

When the resin cast

employed as the launcher elevating device!

conversion was ready, I

The UB-32 pod comes from one of my

could finally assemble

resin conversion sets. Here it had to be

the vehicle. Before I

modified by adding some details.

attached the roll-bar to the cargo bed I had to

60

I also decided to scratch build the ammo

paint it. First I coated it

box. The shapes of rocket bodies were built

with Mr.Color C8 Silver, which worked as a

The assembly of rocket launcher and its

from styrene rods and supplemented with

primer and surfacer as well. Next I

mount was easy.

pieces of Tamiya Masking Tape which

airbrushed a few layers of Mr.Color Super

Only the ammo boxes required a little

imitate the plastic covers of the folded fins.

Metallic Chrome over it. Light and indicator

cleaning. After cutting off their casting

The finished missiles were connected with

lenses were coloured with clear paints in

blocks I had to recreate the woodgrain

imitations of wooden separators. Then I

relevant shades and glued to the kit. The

effect, I rubbed their surfaces with coarse

scratch built two ammo boxes - one

indicator lens located near the dented

sandpaper. I also added two handles bent

closed, and one open which had to be filled

wheel arch was accordingly damaged

from copper wire to the rocket pod and its

with rockets.

before painting.

mount.

Rocket pick up article (Q8):Layout 1 14/02/2013 13:36 Page 6

Next all parts of the conversion were cast in resin. Of course, it took some time to prepare the silicone moulds and produce the conversion set.

Then I airbrushed the UB-32 with Tamiya Flat Aluminium, while its mount received a metallic grey finish.

The wooden ammo boxes were initially sprayed with Tamiya’s Flat Earth and Dark Yellow.

I thought that it would be a nice touch to paint the rocket launcher in the Libyan national colours, previously used by the Kingdom of Libya between 1951 and 1969 and adopted by the rebel forces. My idea was inspired by photos of similarly decorated rebel vehicles, which can be easily found while browsing the web. Again, I started by coating the launcher with AK-interactive’s

Next I applied two layers of AK-interactive’s Worn Effect fluid. When it dried, I airbrushed the boxes with two shades of green acrylic paints, recreating some highlights and shadows. To damage the layers of acrylic paints and thus recreate the worn appearance of the boxes, I dampened them with water and then scratched with a hard brush and toothpick. Finally, I brought up the details and made light discolouration, using AK-interactive’s Dark Brown Wash.

Worn Effect fluid and followed up by painting it in appropriate colours, using Vallejo acrylics. Next I damaged the acrylic paint layer the same way as on the ammo boxes.

To imitate the sprayed white marking I applied a few transparent layers of a mixture of Lifecolor Tensocrom White, Lifecolor’s thinner, and a little dishwashing liquid.

61

Rocket pick up article (Q8):Layout 1 14/02/2013 13:36 Page 7

Weathering and finishing touches

Before I attached the rocket pod mount to the vehicle, I had to paint some damage to the chromed rollbar with Vallejo Glossy Black, using a fine brush. Afterwards the launcher mount was glued to the cargo bed with C.A. adhesive and washed with AK-Interactive’s Wash for NATO Camo Vehicles. The streaking and stained rust effects were painted with AK-interactive’s Rust Streaks enamel. Please note that I was removing the excess of the paint not with a brush dampened with White Spirit as suggested by the manufacturer, but with dry brushes and cotton buds. The main reason was the glossy surface of the kit. If I followed the instructions, I would completely wash off the enamel liquid.

62

I decided to recreate some weathering effects typical for a vehicle operated in industrial area. It was mainly a matter of choosing colours. First I airbrushed AK-Interactive’s Engine Grime enamel over the lower surfaces of the vehicle, most intensively spraying it over the areas on which most of dust is deposited in real vehicles. The liquid should be sprayed from a greater distance than other paints and requires keeping a minimum air pressure. When it dried a bit, I made some scratches with a toothpick to expose the clean car paintwork in some places. The wheels were treated similarly. First I sprayed a mist of Engine Grime over them and made some abrasions on the rims. Next I applied some AK-Interactive Rainmarks for NATO Tanks enamel on the

tire treads. I also rubbed the tires’ contact areas with coarse sandpaper. Only a few final jobs were required. The whole vehicle, including the windows, was misted with AK-Interactive’s Rainmarks for NATO Tanks enamel. Next I removed the masks from the windshield, added a few streaks to it, and then attached the wipers. The edges of side windows were also stained with AK-Interactive enamel fluids. Finally I applied some fuel stains, using AK-interactive fluid designed for that purpose, and the kit was ready for the final photo shoot.

Rocket pick up article (Q8):Layout 1 14/02/2013 13:36 Page 8

63

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