ISSUE 37
THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER PILOT - USAF ACE ROBIN OLDS
GOODWOOD Back to the Future
FIRST
OF THE
1/72 GR.1 Harrier build pilot's account
SHARPENING THE LANCE SAAB A 32A Lansen Airfix DEC UK 13.indd 1
DEC 2013 £4.10
BREED
THE FUTURE IS ORANGE Ford Fiesta S2000
SILVER DREAM MACHINE Stealthy German DFS 40 10/10/2013 08:57
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EDITOR'S DESK 3
B
y the time this issue is published it’ll be time for IPMS Scale Model World, better known as ‘Telford’ to the seasoned visitor. In fact, as you read this Editor’s Welcome you may even be midway through drawing up a Telford wish list, or be at the show itself surrounded by carrier bags and chatting with friends. The halls will probably be echoing with the hum of a thousand modelling-related conversations, while the club displays are no doubt inspiring you to get modelling again that evening. Meanwhile the quest to match newly purchased kits with new decal sheets and resin accessories, and recently published reference books, may be causing that feeling of being back in an exam hall at school. But it’s all part of the modelling extravaganza and hopefully, once home, you won’t experience that sinking feeling of having missed a purchase. Among the modellers I know I often hear: “I’m not going mad this year, I’m only getting what I really need – honestly.” I’ll wait and see what they actually buy. There can be a lot of ‘really need’ purchases.
Advertising Commercial Director: Group Manager: Advertising Manager: Production Manager: Production Assistant:
Editorial
Editor: Assistant Editor: Editor's Secretary:
Glenn Sands Chris Clifford Julie Lawson
Regular Contributors
David D'Arcy, Steve Abbey, Jennifer Wright, Malcolm V. Lowe, Ian Hartup, Toni Canfora, Tom Sunley, Johan Augustsson, David Fisher and Ian Grainger
Design
Art Editor: Group Art Editor:
Production Sub Editor: Production Manager:
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Tom Bagley Steve Donovan
Kay Kelly Janet Watkins
Marketing
Ann Saundry Brodie Baxter Sean Leslie Debi McGowan Danielle Tempest
Marketing Manager: Marketing Executive: Marketing Assistant: Subscriptions Manager: Mail Order:
Martin Steele Shaun Binnington Jess Jagger Roz Condé Joan Harwin Liz Ward, Ann Petrie
Managing Director: Executive Chairman:
Adrian Cox Richard Cox
Key Publishing Ltd, PO Box 100, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1XQ, UK. Distributed by: Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PP. Tel: 020 7429 4000. Fax: 020 7429 4001. Printed by: Warners (Midland) plc, Bourne. Printed in England (ISSN 1471-0587).
Telford also gives our readers the opportunity to have some input to the magazine. Let us know if you fancy contributing, if you have an idea that you think we should explore, or if you’re interested in an area of modelling that we haven’t explored yet. But be realistic, there won’t be a 1/32 Avro Vulcan or a 1/6 Challenger Tank anytime soon within these pages. One area that I am most keen to develop further in the magazine though is Skills School. There are a lot of modellers out there with some handy ideas and techniques, so why not come and see us at Telford, share your experience and let’s get the word out there? Perhaps next year even more models can be entered in modelling competitions and, in some small part, both you and AMW will have had a role in helping the modelling fraternity prosper. Glenn Sands Editor
Subscriptions Please refer to main advertisement within the magazine. All applications stating name, address, date to commence and remittance to: Subscriptions Department, Airfix Model World, Key Publishing Ltd, P0 Box 300, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1NA, UK. Telephone/24-hour answer machine: +44 (0) 1780 480404 Fax: +44 (0) 1780 757812 E-Mail:
[email protected] Airfix Model World (ISSN: 1471-0587) is published monthly by Key Publishing Ltd, P0 Box 300, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1NA, UK and distributed in the USA by Mail Right Int., 1637 Stelton Road B4, Piscataway, NJ 08854. Periodicals Postage Paid at Piscataway, NJ and additional mailing offices.
All items submitted for publication are subject to our terms and conditions. These are regularly updated without prior notice and are freely available from Key Publishing Ltd or downloadable from www.keypublishing.com The entire contents of Airfix Model World is ©copyright, and no part of it may be reproduced in any form or stored on any form of retrieval system without the prior permission of the publisher. We are unable to guarantee the bona fides of any of our advertisers. Readers are strongly recommended to take their own precautions before parting with any information or item of value, including, but not limited to, money, manuscripts, photographs or personal information in response to any advertisements within this publication.
Readers in the USA can place subscriptions by visiting www.airfixmodelworld.com or by calling toll free 800-676-4049 or fax 757-428-6253 or by writing to Airfix Model World, 3330 Pacific Ave, Ste 500, Virginia Beach, VA23451-9828. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Airfix Model World, Key Publishing Ltd, c/o Mail Right International Inc.,1637 Stelton Road B4, Piscataway NJ 08854.
The average sale for the period Jan – Dec 2012 was 12,175 copies monthly.
09/10/2013 09:51
4 CONTENTS
REGULARS 06 News and Show Scene The latest happenings in the world of modelling and a comprehensive up-to-date calendar of related events.
42 Subscribe and Save! Subscribe to Airfix Model World and make great savings!
80 On the shelf Eleven pages of reviews bring you the latest kits, books and modelling products.
98 Cutting Mat Chat A final word from the ‘movers and shakers’ within the industry.
32
ADVANCED BUILD SAAB LANSEN
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18
FIGURE BUILD COL. ROBIN OLDS
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INSIDE 5
52
EXCLUSIVE BUILD HARRIER GR.1
FEATURES 12 In Focus – The Ultimate Fighter Pilot Warren E. Thompson explores the legend of Brigadier-General Robin Olds, USAF fighter ace.
18 Figure Build – Colonel Robin Olds Pete Watson turns his hand to a Vietnam-era bust of this legendary F-4 Phantom II pilot.
22 In Focus – SAAB Lansen Jan P. Forsgren charts the operational service of Sweden’s quiet Cold War warrior.
32 Advanced Build – SAAB Lansen To complement our reference feature, Eric Larson puts a keen edge on Tarangas’ limited-run SAAB A 32A Lansen.
44 In Profile – Harrier GR.1 Training
72
REVIEW BUILD FIESTA S2000
Air Vice-Marshall (Ret’d) Peter Dodworth gives his account of being one of the original RAF Harrier GR.1 instructors.
52 Exclusive Build – Harrier GR.1 Stu Fone explores the first of the operational breed, with an exclusive testshot build of Airfix’s new-tool Harrier GR.1.
60 Out and About – RAF Leuchars Airshow Tom Sunley reports from the final airshow at this legendary airfield.
62 Out and About – Goodwood Revival Ian Grainger goes back to the future with some racing classics.
66 Advanced Build – DFS 40 Garry Tobiss explores the ancestry of the Me 163 Komet with the mixedmedia DFS 40 from Master-X.
72 Review Build – Fiesta S2000 Ian Grainger is in rally heaven with Bellkits’ Ford Fiesta S2000.
60
OUT AND ABOUT RAF LEUCHARS
78 On the Road – ModelFest 2013 AMW Editor Glenn Sands reports from yet another outstanding IPMS model show in Farnborough, Hampshire.
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09/10/2013 10:09
6 NEWS BULLETIN
{BREAKING
NEWS!}
GREAT GR.3
GET ’EM WHILE YOU CAN!
THEY WEREN’T many aircraft modellers who watched the RAF’s 2013 Tucano Display Team and wondered if and when the Airfix kit would be released with these decals, (see News, August, 2013) when AMW first announced the new boxing. This Limited Edition 1000 (Code A73010) issue retains the standard and well-liked 1/72 Tucano T.1 kit, with a separately packaged canopy (most welcome) and supplies a new decal sheet by Cartograf,
although on our example the fuselage roundels were slightly out of centre, but replacements can be easily found. Much of the details on this kit were covered in the June and August 2013 issues. But if one has a hankering for special schemes, then it's advisable to snap up this cool new boxing before it disappears. For details visit: www.airfix.com. For information on the Tucano Display Team visit: www.raf.mod. uk/tucanodisplayteam
AIRFIX CONTINUES its 1/72 Harrier series with this latest boxing, the RAF GR.3, (Code A04055), a new weapons sprue contains AIM-9L Sidewinders, SNEB rocket pods and a Vinten camera pod. A comprehensive instruction seat includes tips on setting the airbrake position and rear tail planes for a parked Harrier. A neat touch is the pre-flattened tyres. Two decal options are provided for a wrap-around Dark Green/Dark Sea Grey Harrier from No.1(F) Squadron based aboard HMS Hermes, during the Falklands War, while the other is an early GR.3 in the Dark Green/ Dark Sea Grey with short-lived Light Aircraft Grey undersides of No.4(R) Squadron at RAF Gutersloh, Germany in the mid1980s. See: www.airfix.com
PHANTOM DÉCOR
THE RELEASE of Academy’s 1/48 F-4B Phantom II has prompted decal firms to re-visit this legendary warplane. There’s much variety, too, because the F-4B mould is also soon to be issued as an air force F-4C. Kits World has come up trumps with
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its two sheets, which provide US Navy and Marine Corps Vietnam schemes, as well as test and reserve ‘uniforms’. Sheet KW148095 has two rare Medium Green-over-White F-4Gs (B models with data-link) and a line jet from VMFA-542 Tigers, while the other release (KW148105), carries a stunning 1970s International Orange F-4B from Point Mugu’s Pacific Missile Test Center, and a Commander Air Group machine from VF-302 Stallions. Another option lies with Superscale’s offering (MS481269) – that of F-4B 152972/200/AB, of VF-32 Swordsmen while aboard the USS John F. Kennedy in 1970. With air force machines in mind, Caracal Models has visited the US Air National Guard arena; its two sheets (CD48035/036) provide eight ANG aircraft (F-4C/D) in the familiar ADC Gray. Examples hail from
North Dakota, Hawaii, Oregon, Minnesota and Texas, but the real winner is that of a Michigan machine with rare stylised ‘Michigan’ lettering on the tail, in a decal debut for this particular ANG scheme. Kits World: www.kits-world.com Superscale: www.squadron.com Caracal: www.caracalmodels.com
BRITISH ARMY QUADS THE LATEST release in Airfix’s Operation Herrick Afghanistan series is the Quad Bikes & Crew, (Code A04701,) so frequently seen on news footage. This set comprises two bikes with trailers, two riders and two troopers. Detail throughout is crisp and careful study of the instructions is best advised before commencing work as there are a number of areas that must remain ‘glue-free’. A small decal sheet is provided although the instructions are somewhat vague as to where they go. The British Army looks set to continue using Quad Bikes for the foreseeable future and the instructions provide samples of European camouflage pattern if one doesn’t fancy a desert example for the collection.
KEY MODELLING GUIDE PART II AFTER THE success of last year's Scale Modelling - Stepby-Step, a second instalment designed for advanced modelling is due. It covers photoetched metal and soldering, resin parts, building an entire resin kit, scenic modelling and much more. Available for just £4.99 from leading newsagents from Thursday 14 November. Alternatively, order your copy from www.keypublishing.com/ shop - delivery from Monday 11 November. Key magazine subscriber? Call 01780 480404 to claim your £1 special discount.
09/10/2013 10:10
LATEST UPDATES
BUGS AND BLADES 1968 Limousine version (07083), which displays various traits of that subtype, such as vertical headlamps and outside petrol cap cover. The detail is impressive, with a full engine, gearbox and transmission, splendid interior, chromed parts, rubber tyres and a very neat body shell. For further details visit: www.revell.eu REVELL HAS two interesting new releases for helicopter and auto fans. In 1/72 scale, there is a MBB/Kawasaki BK117 (04833) with ‘Space Design’ colour scheme…this being rendered courtesy of a dazzling decal sheet, with rainbow stripes and stellar/ planetary artwork. The inspired livery was applied to the manufacturer’s D-HBKS sales and development machine in 1986, and was created by Italian designer Luigi Colani…undoubtedly influenced by Halley’s Comet which was visible that same year. The kit itself is a re-released Matchbox mould which, for its age, is decidedly decent. In car terms, many modellers love the legendary Beetle and Revell has just released a
US CLASSICS ON DISK
AERO RESEARCH has released CDs packed with useful detail and information on two popular modelling subjects… the Skyraider and Sabre/ Fury. The usual format is followed, with examinations of available kits and breakdowns of the real machine’s subtypes - with salient points
06-07_News.CC.indd 7
called out in terms of airframe features. The Sabre has been well served with regards to the number of kits released, but glaring inaccuracies have crept in, too. Aero’s CD points out the errors and offers corrective advice. The kit review section is particularly extensive, due to the sheer number of Sabre products available; decals and conversion/detail parts are listed, along with information on user nations and units. Punctuating the text are line drawings and photographs, with focus placed on that all-too-confusing aspect of the Sabre… its different
wing formats. The Skyraider option follows the same course and, it’s not until one explore its content that the surprising number of kits released comes to light, from early Airfix, Mongram and Fujimi to later Tamiya and Hasegawa offerings, and all the necessary work needed to make them more accurate. For further details, visit: www.aeroresearchcds.com
21/10/2013 11:23
8 NEWS BULLETIN
{in brief} A GRIP ON THE DELTA Some modellers don’t just covet plastic kits…they also have an interest in real aircraft parts. The Holy Grail is the control stick top but, no matter which aircraft they come from, these desirable items fetch very high prices. Now, though, Mirage fans have the best of both worlds in this new, full-sized Mirage III stick grip in resin. It’s been mastered by the Australian Eric Galliers (under the E-Resin label), from a real Aussie Mirage III stick…and it really looks the part. Aside from the main grip portion, there is a trigger, slab switch, trim hat switch and two data plate decals. The instructions are clear and concise, and even feature operational details provided by former Mirage ‘jockey’ Sean Trestrail. It’s not cheap at AUS £100 plus postage, but it looks superb and is a sight more reasonable than the real thing! For details contact:
[email protected]
LATEST UPDATES
MASSIVE MOONSHOT DRAGON HAS converted its huge 1/72 scale Saturn V rocket collectors’ piece into a proper construction kit. The main difference between this (11017) and the pre-built version is that it includes the Lunar Module, but all the detail on the original has been carried over. The big box alone looks like it could accommodate a toddler at full stretch! Features include the Launch Escape System, slide-moulded S-IV B third stage with engine, and the LM has moulded reflective coating. The upper end of the main engine section has a diameter of 13 cm, so this is substantially bigger than even the 1/96 kit released by Revell some years ago, but does
come with a dinner plate-sized plastic display base. But omissions on the pre-built model also loom large; the rocket lacks various hose and wire connections for the launch tower swing arms, the bumps for the retro-rockets on the conical section of the second stage, and detail is also sparse on all engine thrust structures. The first stage does not feature the LOX tank dome at the top, so if one removes the second stage, the first stage is empty. These matters aside, it’s the biggest Saturn V to date and experienced space modellers will undoubtedly be able to refine the model. For further details visit: www.hobbyco. net and www.dragon-models.com
DIVE-BOMBING MUSTANG
XTRADECAL OOPS! In October’s issue we reviewed Xtradecal’s X48-121 sheet for the 1/48 Jet Provost T.5. The review highlighted an errant black border around one set of fin flashes, but this is entirely how it should be as the ‘JP’ wore different styles of fin flash, depending on the individual scheme…apologies to Hannants and decal designer David Howley for AMW’s incorrect interpretation of the instructions.
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ACCURATE MINIATURES’ debut offering, the A-36 Apache, was received warmly on its initial launch…but the kit has been out of production for some time. Now, though, Italeri has re-released it. The parts come on three grey styrene runners and the detail is impressive. Beautiful cockpit sidewalls fit into each fuselage half, the tyres have a pleasing pattern and separate wheel hubs, and there is ordnance in the shape of 500lb bombs. Also worthy are the slotted dive brakes moulded integrally into the wings, and the gear bay has a wealth of cabling moulded on. Italeri’s new decal sheet is a real triumph. All options are USAAC A-36s apart from a single RAF Mustang I. The four machines are: • 956/N ‘Priscilla’, Lt. Bert Benear, 526th FS, Corsica, 1944
• 283902/T-D ‘Herschel IV/ Dotsie’, Lt. Don Smith, 312th FS, Algeria, 1943 • KH944/C, 1437th Strategic Reconnaissance Flight, RAF, Italy, 1943 • 36081/03, Lt. Bill Creech, 328th FS, Burma, 1944 For further details visit: www.hobbyco.net or www.italeri.com
A BOOST FOR DRAGON’S ROCKET TIMED PERFECTLY for the release of Dragon’s huge 1/72 scale Saturn V rocket are these ‘batted’ F1 engines from LVM Studios. Dragon’s kit offers engines of incorrect size and their format is that of in flight. These resin replacements though, portray engines with pre-flight insulation but also offer internal detail. Ten parts are included and the nozzles can also be fitted to Dragon’s pre-finished collector’s version. All that’s required for fitment to the plastic kit is some basic detail removal on the supplied heat shield. For further details visit: www.lvm-studios.com
09/10/2013 10:11
10 show scene
diary dates
nov 9-10
scale model world 50th Anniversary show
nov 17
Military vehicles day
nov 17
malvern militaria convention/fair
Hosts:
IPMS
Hosts:
Brooklands Museum
Hosts:
GA Promotions
Address:
Telford International Centre, Telford, Shropshire, TF3 4JH
Address:
Brooklands Museum, Brooklands Road, Weybridge, KT12 0QN
Address:
Times:
10:00-18:00 (Sat), 10:00-16:00 (Sun)
Times:
10:00-16:00
Three Counties Showground, Wye Hall, (Brown Gate) Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6NW
Prices:
Adults £10 for one day, £15 for two days, Concession £7 per day. Children and IPMS members free.
Prices:
Adults £11, Senior Citizen/Student £9.90, Child £6.05
Times:
09:00-16:00
Prices:
TBC
Tel:
01932 857381
Tel:
01743 762266
Email:
[email protected]
Email:
[email protected]
Email:
[email protected]
Web:
www.smwshow.com
Web:
www.brooklandsmuseum.com
Web:
www.militaryconvention.com
nov 23-24
31st annual festival of model railways and hobbies Shoeburyness Model Railway Club
aircraft enthusiasts' model show
dec 1
winter fayre and model show
Hosts:
nov 24
Address:
Garon Park, Eastern Avenue, Southend on Sea, Essex, SS2 4FA
Hosts:
Mark Roberts
Hosts:
Coventry and Warwickshire IPMS
Address:
Address:
Times:
10:00-17:00
Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 8DY
Midland Air Museum, Coventry Airport, Baginton, Warwickshire, CV3 4FR
Prices:
Adults £10, Children £4, Senior Citizens £5
Times:
10:00-16:00
Times:
10:00-16:00
Prices:
Prices:
Tel:
N/A
Adults, Children £5 (includes entry to the museum)
Adults £6.50, Child £3.25, Senior Citizen/Student £6.00
Email:
[email protected]
Tel:
01264 334779
Tel:
07756 195121
Web:
www.shoeburynessmrc.co.uk
Email:
[email protected]
Email:
N/A
Web:
www.armyflying.com
Web:
www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk
dec 7-8
The model show 2013
dec 8
Hamex 5
dec 8
london plastic modelling show
Hosts:
Paul Fitzmaurice
Hosts:
Guideline Publications
Address:
Hanslope Village Hall, Newport Road, Hanslope, Buckinghamshire, MK19 7NZ
Address:
The Islington Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, London, N1 0QH
Times:
10:00-17:00
Times:
11:00-16:00
Prices:
Adults £2, Children under-16 free
Prices:
Adults £6, Children under-16 free
Tel:
N/A
Tel:
N/A
[email protected]
Email:
N/A
Web:
www.little-cars.com
Web:
www.guidelinepublications.co.uk
Dec 29
Copdock Medals and militaria fair
jan 5
aviation, airline and military collectors' fair
Hosts:
TMS
Address:
Poynton Leisure Centre, Yew Tree Lane, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 1PU
Times:
10:00-17:00 (Sat) 10:00-16:30 (Sun)
Prices:
Adults £5, Accompanied child under 18 free
Email:
[email protected]
Web:
www.themodelshow.co.uk
Dec 15
bromsgrove, militaria, medal and arms collectors' fair
Hosts:
James Brown
Address:
Spadesbourne Suite, The Council House, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove, Worchestershire, B60 1AA
Hosts:
Militaria Fairs
Hosts:
Acebell Aviation
Address:
Copdock Community Hall, Old London Road, Copdock, Ipswich, IP8 3JD
Address:
Croydon Airport Hotel, A.23, Purley Way, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 4LT
Times:
09:00-14:00
Times:
09:30-14:00
Times:
10:30-16:00
Prices:
Adults/Children £2.50
Prices:
Early Entry £5; after 09:30 £2.50
Prices:
TBC
Tel:
07980 608211
Tel:
07810 311977
Tel:
01737 822200
Email:
[email protected]
Email:
[email protected]
Email:
[email protected]
Web:
www.RZMilitaria.com
Web:
www.copdockmilitariafair.co.uk
Web:
N/A
KEY
E MODEL DISPLAY
) MODEL COMPETITION m AIRCRAFT DISPLAY
Email:
MILITARY DISPLAY
REFRESHMENTS
AUTOMOTIVE DISPLAY
FREE PARKING
J TRADE STANDS
AIRFIX ROADSHOW ATTENDING
IMPORTANT: It is worth noting that ALL events are subject to change or cancellation. This information has been collated from a variety of sources and was believed to be correct at the time of going to press. To advertise your event here, email:
[email protected]
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12 IN FOCUS
D
Captain Olds poses by one of the 434th Fighter Squadron’s Mustangs at Wattisham in 1945. He was already an ace in the ETO based on his kills in the P-38J Lightning. (Bill Hess via Thompson)
Warren E. Thompson explores the Legend of Brigadier-General Robin Olds, USAF
uring World War Two and the early jet age, there were thousands of pilots trained and most of them eventually flew on combat missions. The number of aerial kills made in that conflict was staggering and each of these pilots had specific skills. Many became aces, some twice and three times over. The number of exceptional pilots that became great leaders, though, was relatively small. However, one pilot in this elite fraternity was Robin Olds. His father was a Major-General in the Army Air Corps and was stationed in Hawaii when Robin was born. He had a serious interest in aircraft from the time he was old enough to start school. At the age of eight, he had his first ride in an open cockpit biplane with his father at the controls. Growing up at Langley Field, Virginia had a lot to do with moulding his interest in making a career out of flying in the military. He and his family lived on base and he had a close
relationship with some of the future aviation leaders, who would become famous in their own right during World War Two. In high school, he was an outstanding football player and had offers from numerous colleges with scholarships. However, he was focused on going to a military academy once he finished high school. Instead of entering college, he chose to attend a prep’ school that taught students who were going to attend military academies. While he was there, Germany invaded Poland and he tried to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, but his father refused to sign the papers. A short time later, he was accepted into West Point Military Academy on June 1, 1940. While a cadet there, he was an outstanding football player where he won many awards. Once the United States became involved in the war after Pearl Harbor, Olds hoped to graduate early from ‘The Point’ in order to see combat, but he would not get
Captain Robin Olds seen in the cockpit of his ‘Scat IV’ at Wattisham in early 1945. At the time, he was operations officer for the 434th Fighter Squadron. (Glen Wold via Thompson)
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09/10/2013 10:14
ROBIN OLDS 13 of resigning from the military, but he was talked out of it by a well-known Major-General in the Air Force. He was given many command assignments in the late 1950s and early 1960s, which was when the war in Vietnam entered its early stages. In 1966, the F-4 Phantoms were having a hard time going up against MiGs. Records show that in 1966, up to the time Colonel Olds took over the 8th TFW on September 30, there had been 18 MiG kills and four of these were by F-105s and three by Navy F-8Es. He quickly moulded the wing into a top-notch MiG killing unit,
‘Scat VI’ was assigned to Robin Olds during the latter stages of his second combat tour in Europe. The kill symbols on the canopy rail display aerial and ground victories. (Bill Hess via Thompson)
into action until after he received his pilot’s wings in late May 1943. His first combat assignment in Europe was with the 434th Fighter Squadron/479th Fighter Group, flying P-38 Lightnings. The new group’s first missions were flown on May 26, 1944 which put them in an intense regimen of softening-up German defences right before D-Day. Finally, on August 14, Olds shot down his first German aircraft which was a Fw 190 while on a low-altitude bridge attack mission. At this time, he had already been promoted to the rank of Captain. While flying the P-38J in combat, Captain Olds claimed eight aerial kills and five of these were recognised by the USAAC. At one time, he was credited with being the topscoring P-38 pilot in the European Theatre of Operations.
attacking the bombers and he was credited with damaging one. The mission ended with Olds shooting down a Bf 109. Two weeks prior to this mission, he was given command of the 434th FS and his World War Two tours ended with him being credited with 12 German planes shot down and 11.5 others destroyed on the ground. Major Olds was assigned several positions in the post-war years which also included a stint as
an exchange pilot with the RAF flying the Gloster Meteor. His next assignment was in the famous 94th FS at March AFB, with its then new F-86A Sabres. He later flew with the 71st FS on the east coast in Air Defense Command. With the widely publicised air duels between the F-86 and MiG15 in Korea, Olds tried to get into that fight any way he could…. but to no avail. His frustration almost brought him to the point
This classic portrait shows Colonel Olds in flight gear right after completing a mission over North Vietnam. (Scrappy Johnson via Thompson)
Mustang ace In September 1944, the 479th Fighter Group transitioned from the Lightning to the P-51 Mustang. Olds’ first combat tour ended in early November 1944 and he had added one Fw 190 kill in the Mustang, so he finished that first tour with six confirmed kills. His second tour was with the same unit and in early February 1945, he was promoted to the rank of Major and his aerial kills increased that same month with victories against a Bf 109 and Fw 190. On April 7 he was escorting B-24s; he got into a fight with Me 262s which were
12-14_Robin Olds Focus.CC.indd 13
Colonel Olds (left rear) celebrates his MiG-21 kill on May 4, 1967 with other Wolfpack crew members who were on the mission. To his left is his back-seater, Lt. Bill Lafever. (William Lafever via Thompson)
09/10/2013 11:47
14 IN FOCUS
ROBIN OLDS
The 8th TFW operated several F-4 squadrons from Ubon in late 1967. This F-4D was assigned to the 435th TFS, which wore the tail code FO. Here, the jet was loaded with Mk.82 air-to-ground ordnance, equipped with a mix of Snakeye tails and fuze extenders. (James Wood via Thompson)
and was instrumental, along with his fellow pilots, in formulating Operation Bolo which scored a huge victory, using deception techniques, on January 2, 1967. On that mission Olds got one MiG-21 and the total score for the squadron was seven MiG-21s destroyed…which was half of
the total MiG-21 force in North Vietnam at the time. Before his tour with the Wolfpack was over, he had two MiG-21s and two MiG17s to his credit.
Wolfpack leader When Brig.Gen. Olds’ Vietnam War service ended, he became
Commandant of Cadets at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs until 1971. In February that year, he took on his last major role when he assumed the position of Director of Aerospace Safety in the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center at Norton AFB. The number of decorations and
awards that he earned in his career were impressive. They included the Air Force Cross, DFC with five oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 39 oak leaf clusters, Silver Star with three oak leaf clusters and many more. As fighter pilots from all countries ❚ go, he was one of the best.
RECOMMENDED FIGHTER PILOT: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds (St Martin’s Press), by Robin Olds and finished after his death by his daughter Christina Olds, with help from fighter pilot Ed Rasimus. ISBN-13: 9780312569518
These were the aircrew members on the record-setting mission on January 2, 1967. The front-seaters are in the front row and back-seaters to the rear. Colonel Olds is front centre. (Walt Radeker via Thompson)
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18 FIGURE BUILD
Pete Watson turns his hand to a bust of a legendary US Air Force pilot
A
comparatively new company, FEX from Eastern Europe has released a 200mm bust of the allAmerican fighter ace Colonel Robin Olds. It is cast in a very workable grey resin and Olds’ likeness has been sculpted very cleverly. There is a photo of Olds on the box to use as reference for facial complexion and flight suit/equipment colours, although further reference is advisable for accuracy on the latter…flight suits of the 1960-70
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The bust was primed with Humbrol 34 and left to dry overnight. Given the flight suit colour, matt white is appropriate.
This side view of the primed bust reveals very good hair detail and, of note, the chunky handle of the survival knife.
Impressive sculpting was evident on the officer’s cap, with realistic creases and folds which would shade well.
Humbrol flesh basecoat was added; while a heavily diluted blue wash was received by the flight suit.
Filling with Milliput was carried out here and there to neaten minor imperfections.
The flight suit was base-coated in Humbrol enamel green shades, and a flesh oil coat was brushed on.
Shown here are the areas where midtone shading was placed prior to being feathering out.
Mid-tone colours were then blended into the base coat to help achieve that tanned look.
period could vary in shade and suffered the usual wear and tear seen on any other combat garb. One could render the garment sweat soaked after a dogfight, bleached by the sun and faded due to constant laundering.
The bust in detail Once a few mould lines were filed away the bust was drilled to accept the stand position from the base. Also a small hole was drilled underneath to take the paint stick. This would be filled prior to being
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USAF COL ROBIN OLDS 19 mounted on the main base. The bust was given a wash in a soapy solution to remove any mould release agent, and then it received a thinned coat of Humbrol 34 Matt White enamel and was left to dry overnight. This process was repeated several times to achieve a solid primer coat.
Painting steps
MODEL SPEC
As far as the skin tone was concerned, a healthy light tan colour was decided upon and the base undercoat of Humbrol comprised 34 White, 61 Flesh, 62 Leather, 60 Scarlet and a hint of 110 Natural Wood. This was applied in several thinned coats until a solid colour was achieved, and left USAF COL ROBIN OLDS By:
Fex
Stock Code: VIM01002 Scale:
1/9 (200mm)
Price:
US $49.95
Available from: Time Machine Miniatures, timemachineminiatures.com
to dry thoroughly between coats. A base layer of oils was then mixed, starting with Burnt Sienna, Titanium White, Gold Ochre and a touch of Cadium Red. Once brushed on, a dry soft brush was used to wipe off excess oil paint, with the brush being cleaned on a lint-free cloth after each pass. A thin stain of colour was left, and this layer could then be shaded and highlighted accordingly. Firstly, the shades are created with Burnt Umber for the darkest, these being under the nose, chin, below the bottom lip, under the cap line, behind the ears and in the lower regions of the neck line. The colour was feathered carefully into the flesh base. While the base was still wet, a mid-tone shadow colour of Mars Orange was used around the nose, temples and ears, mixed with a little Venetian Red, to create a healthy glow in the cheek areas. Final shading was with Sepia around the eye sockets and under the nose. The 5 0’clock shadow was put in with a minute amount of Paynes Grey and a touch of Windsor Blue, laid on and then stippled with a worn fine brush to help blend the colour into the flesh tones. Highlights comprised a mixture of Titanium White and the
A thinned mix of oil black was applied to the hair, followed by white, to echo this pilot’s ‘salt and pepper’ appearance.
Highlights were applied to the face area, along with the appropriate eye colour being added.
This opposite side view shows that the bust’s 5 0’clock shadow has been applied, subtly, by brush.
Work on the eyes was completed, while subtle highlights were applied to Olds’ trademark moustache and thick eyebrows.
The forage cap is seen with its base colour added over an undercoat. Plenty of creasing was apparent in the casting.
Black shades were rendered on the cap colour and blended into the wet base coat.
Highlights on the cap were blended and this process was repeated several times in the same areas.
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20 FIGURE BUILD
The cap was dried in a light box under a 60w bulb for 3-4 hours, which helped to mute the shiny oil blue finish.
White piping and the rank badge were picked out, along with greying hair around the temples.
Piping around the cap was highlighted, working wet on dry. This classic headgear loaned contrast with the green flight gear.
The cap and hair were completed and additional highlights were placed randomly and then blended in by brush.
A base coat of blue-green was applied to the flight suit which, with its top coat, turned Sage Green.
Here’s a side-on shot which shows the flight suit in its base colour. Much variety could come into play at this stage.
flesh base colour (tip - it is always best to mix more flesh colour than required), and the highlights were spotted on the forehead, tips of the cheekbones, along the bridge of the nose and top of the nostrils, and again was blended carefully into the drying basecoat. Purple Madder Alizarin plus Sepia was used as a colour for the lips, initially painted with a very fine line between the upper and lower lip, then the brush was wiped before the colour was feathered gently to the front edge of the bottom lip; a highlight of pure white was then applied. The eyes were painted Salmon Pink mixed from Cadmium Red and Titanium White, then left to dry. Cobalt Blue and white were mixed for the iris colour, and care was taken to ensure the iris touched the top and bottom lids. Light blue highlights were touched in with a Series 7 miniature 00 brush… Winsor & Newton miniature range brushes are excellent for this fine detailing work. With the same size brush, Lamp Black was spotted into the eye to represent the pupil, and then a tiny reflection highlight spot was applied to both pupils.
Colonel’s cap Shadows were rendered with dark blue, to bring extra life to the flying overalls. These garments often faded quickly.
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Shadows were blended to portray the natural highlights of the suit. Simple green can still take on plenty of life.
An undercoat of Humbrol 104 Oxford Blue was used as a base before Windsor Blue, Lamp Black
and Paynes Grey were mixed and applied, avoiding the flesh area. Once this was brushed out to leaving a thin skin of base colour, Lamp Black was used for the deepest shades and Paynes Grey for the lesser. A small amount of Titanium White was brushed on and gently stippled into the dark blue to change the colour slightly, to create a highlight, and then more white was used for the second light. An off-white mix was created from Humbrol 34 and 110, and this picked out the cap piping and ‘bird colonel’ badge. Once dry, pure white was placed along the edge to create a slight highlight on the badge and cap piping.
Ace’s overalls Firstly, Humbrol 116 US Dark Green was used as an undercoat for the flight suit, with 117 US Light Green being used on the straps/harnesses. Although the final colour would be blue-grey on the suit and two different tones of blue on the harness, green was a complimentary colour to blue, which would glow through the oil topcoat to alter the hue very slightly. Cobalt Blue, Paynes Grey, Lamp Black and Gold Ochre were mixed to give the base for the flight suit; this was aimed to create Sage Green with a blue tint. Shading began
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USAF COL ROBIN OLDS The nearcompleted bust with highlights and shadows finished on the straps; the survival knife was painted a light tan leather colour, with oil paints.
This rear view of the flight suit reveals its shadow phase.
Harnesses and straps were basecoated in slightly different coloured blue-greys for variety.
with Lamp Black for the deepest areas, moving to Windsor Blue for the general shades, which were heavily stippled into the blue sage basecoat. Highlights first comprised the basecoat plus more Gold Ochre, and then for the top highlight Titanium White was employed.
Harness/straps These received a mix of Cobalt blue plus Lamp Black for the one set, and then the same mix but with Titanium added to change the blue hue. The metal clasps and other fittings were base-coated in a mix of Humbrol 85 Satin Black and 11 Silver, then shaded with black and highlighted with pure silver. Once completed and thoroughly dry, the main area of the flight suit was given an airbrushing of well-diluted Humbrol Matt Varnish to mute some of the slight sheen left after the blue mixes had cured. The underneath was painted matt black and once dry, the bust was checked before being set onto a turned chrome pillar in a round mahogany base. ❚
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22 IN FOCUS
THE LANSEN CONC Jan P. Forsgren charts the operational service of Sweden’s SAAB Lansen
F
lygvapnet (Swedish Air Force) was very small at the outbreak of World War Two and somewhat stronger when it ended, but the expected disarmament became the opposite…the Cold War. The Swedish Commander-inchief was convinced that jet aircraft were the future, and the Vampire fighter was purchased from Great Britain to introduce jet aircraft before the J 29
32542, a J 32E, seen at the old F 9 airfield in 2008 with a Volvo F 85 tow truck.... typical for the MFD up until the end in 1997. This aircraft is still in the original paint and is beautifully weathered. (Jan P Forsgren)
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Tunnan was ready. The Swedish bomber B 18 was a new twinengined propeller aircraft, but with technology from World War Two. In the autumn of 1946 SAAB and the Flygförvaltningen (comparable to Ministry of Supply) began to discuss which aircraft should replace the B 18. SAAB had already designed the J 29 Tunnan as a modern fighter which entered operational service in 1951. The Tunnan was
the first swept-wing jet fighter in Europe, and SAAB was later to design the first double delta wing jet fighter, the Draken, in operational service from 1960. Lansen came in between those two internationally recognised aircraft, as a conventional jet with good (but not excellent) performance. It is easy to overlook the qualities of the Lansen, and its long career in the Flygvapnet.
Development After evaluation of several alternatives, including a flying wing, the Flygvapnet in December 1948 decided to continue with project 1150, a single-engined, two-seat aircraft intended for strike attacks on land and at sea. The directive from the Flygvapnet was: “The aircraft must be able to carry its armament – cannons, rockets, bombs and missiles – from a central airbase to any along Sweden’s 1,245 miles (2,000km)
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SAAB LANSEN 23 A lovely airborne study of Lansen 32543, a J 32E, which now resides at the Museo del Aire in Madrid, Spain.
NCEPT of coastline within an hour, in any weather, as well as night”. In 1949 the designation ‘flygplan 32’ was given to SAAB, and the first drafts of 1150 did not differ much from the final SAAB 32, except for the position of the horizontal stabiliser. The design of the Lansen was for the first time in Sweden completely based on coordinate systems, where every separate subassembly had its own coordinate system to improve precision and save construction time. The Lansen was constructed mainly from aluminium in a riveted shell design. It had several sub-assemblies; nose, forward fuselage, mid-fuselage, rear fuselage, wing, fin and horizontal stabiliser. For easy access to the engine the whole empennage was easy to dismantle by five wedge locks. The cabin was pressurised and had climate control, and the two ejection seats were of Swedish design. Crew members
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were protected by armour plates, while the windshield had 50mm-thick bullet-proof glass. The fuel system comprised four large fuselage tanks and 16 separate wing tanks, which totalled 769gal (3,500lit), and an extra ventral 132gal (600lit) tank, which could not be ejected. In flight, Lansen could withstand between +12G and – 8G, but was limited to +8G and -4G…and today even less. Initial life expectance was estimated at 1,500 hours, but that was to be extended during the years up to 5,500 hours for the MålFlygDivisionen (MFD Target Towing Division) aircraft. For the wings the Fowler flap was chosen, which extended 16 degrees for lift off and 28 degrees for landing. Initially, leading edge slots were planned but during prototype testing the advantages were so small that short wing fences were used instead. Compared to the Tunnan the wing for the Lansen was even more advanced at 35 degrees sweep and it was decided, as with the Tunnan’s development, to use a SAAB Safir test aircraft. With a Lansen half-scale wing, the SAAB 202 flew in March 1950. During testing it was found that the stall speed was increased by 12mph (20km/h) and the entire runway was needed to get the 202 airborne at SAAB’s airfield. The aircraft was to be armed with four 20mm cannon, rockets, bombs and a new anti-ship missile, which was to become the RB 04 after a very long
The ship-buster
RB 04 was an air-to-surface missile for anti-shipping with a maximum range of 20 miles (32km). It was a fire-and-forget skimmer missile, which went down to just 32ft (10m) above sea level and travelled at high subsonic speed to its target. It deliberately flew over the ship but when it passed over the deck it was detonated by a proximity fuse, with the blast being directed downwards. If it hit the superstructure it was detonated by contact after a delay. RB 04 sported a delta wing with vertical fins at the tips. Its radar seeker was in the nose and the ailerons at the delta wing trailing ends, and it had solid propellant. The A 32 carried two, one under each wing. It was operated from 1961, and was the first working anti-ship missile in the west, and was developed further in the 1960s and 1970s for use on the attack Viggen. Length: 14ft 7in (4.45m) Wing span: 6ft 7in (2m) Weight: 1,323lb (600kg) Warhead: 661lb (300kg)
development. Special attention was focused on integrating the electronics and weapons systems to the equivalent of today’s military aircraft design. It was meant to use the Swedish STAL Dovern (RM 4) jet engine, similar in power and weight to the Rolls-Royce Avon later chosen. Development was one year behind schedule when the Dovern was cancelled
at the end of 1952, and the Flygförvaltningen decided to purchase licences for manufacture of the Avon. Interestingly, when the Flygförvaltningen in 1950 tried to purchase the Avon for licence production for the Lansen, the Air Ministry did not want to let Sweden have the latest British jet engine, but when Sweden cancelled production
A late A 32A from the Såtenäs wing with a low demarcation line below the air intake. Note the spent cannon shell plate close to the wheel well doors and the closed gun muzzle ports. (All photos Anders Nylén unless stated)
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24 IN FOCUS
32503, A J 32E, banks above the Swedish west coast archipelago after the closing of F 3, when the wing was changed to F 13.
of its indigenous product, the embargo was lifted! The first two prototypes had RA 2 engines, the third and fourth had the RA 7, all British built, while the version chosen for production Lansens was the RA 7R/RA 21R. The first SAAB 32 prototype flew in November 1952 and flight tests continued without major problens; in October 1953 the first prototype broke the sound barrier in a shallow dive. Lansen was designed for the strike role, but it was also developed as a reconnaissance and fighter aircraft, and became the first multi-role aircraft in Sweden. In total 450 airframes were produced between 1952 and 1960.
A 32 A The production model flew for the first time in June 1956 and between June 1956 and July 1958, SAAB delivered 284 A 32As to the Flygvapnet. It replaced the B/T 18 and A 29 Tunnan. This strike-optimised A 32 Lansen was the first Swedish strike aircraft for low-level, allweather attack (and at night) armed with rockets, bombs and missiles. System A 32 in its
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tactical role was very effective at engaging hostile ground and sea targets. When attacking there were two different tactics; dive attack and radar-guided level attack. In the dive it used rockets (135, 140, 150 and 160mm), 20mm Bofors m/49 cannons and different kind of bombs ranging from 110lb (50kg) to 1,322lb (600kg). In guided level attack the RB 04C airto-sea missile was used. There were six hard points under each wing where different pylons could be attached: • Rocket and light bomb Type A pylon carried one or two rockets or bombs (up to 264lb (120kg) each, and could be attached to all six hard points • The heavy bomb 551lb (250kg-plus) Type B pylon was for hard points 2 and 5, but the heaviest bombs could only be carried by hard point 2. Lansens often carried four Type B pylons and eight Type A • On the centreline a Type D pylon could be fitted for bombs, but mostly the conformal Lansen fuel tank was fitted • RB 04C anti-ship missiles on Type G pylons could be fitted
to hard point 4 • BOZ 3 chaff dispenser was mounted on a modified Type B pylon (BF) on hard point 5 on the right wing With a full weapons and fuel load, afterburner had to be used on take-off. The general opinion was that the A 32A was underpowered
considering the weapons load. While well-loaded, though, it was considered stable, agile and pleasing to fly. Externally the A 32A’s gun muzzles were covered by shutters which were opened when ‘safety off’ was selected, but had to be closed by a manual command. Compared to the J 32B it had
32606 is just about to ‘kiss’ the runway at F 7 Såtenäs, home of the SwAFHF.
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SAAB LANSEN 25
Lansen colours
32052, an early A 32A but with a late-service low demarcation line around the air intake…and heavily-chipped paint. Also obvious is the common problem with worn paint around the national marking, due to starter and brake fluid.
a short exhaust and the lateral air intakes were slightly smaller. Spent casings were directed downwards and impacted the conformal fuel tank, which had a neoprene-covered nose that was always painted blue grey, while the remainder was kept in bare metal. The Lansen radar, used for surface targets and navigation, was developed by the French CSF company, to Swedish specifications, and was licence built in Sweden. A number of French-built radars were installed in several Tp83 Pembroke transport aircraft equipped with Lansen radar screens and radomes, so operators could trained.
J 32 B Major differences between the A 32A and the fighter J 32B were a more powerful jet engine, new weapons and new avionics; J is short for Jaktflygplan (fighter
aircraft). The RM6A jet engine was a license-built Rolls-Royce Avon RA.24/Mk.47A. It delivered 10,750lbf (4,880kp) without and 14,330lbf (6,500kp) with the Swedish EBK 61 afterburner. This remarkable increase in power eventually gained the J 32 B the nickname ‘Lansen Sport’. The 31st J 32 B was ordered in April 1955 and 120 were ordered (but 118 were actually delivered), between July 1958 and May 1960. It would replace the J 33 Venom as a night fighter and increased the Flygvapnet’s allweather capability. The six hard points under each wing for the J 32 B could be equipped with: • Pods with 19 x 75mm rockets on hard point 1 for air and ground targets • RB 24 missiles (Sidewinder AIM-9 IR) on hard point 1 and 2 from the early 1960s • Mixed load of rocket pods on hard point 1 and RB 24 on hard point 2
The Kungliga FlygFörvaltningen (KF - Royal Aircraft Administration) managed Lansen painting regulations, among other things. It distributed markings instructions first to SAAB before delivery and later to the different wings. Colours were stated with a matt or satin sheen, but the latter faded quickly: • 325 H or M Olivgrön (Olive Green), close to FS 595a 34079/34096 when new, but very soon faded to a hue close to 34201 • 328 H Mörkt olivgrön (Dark Olive Green), between FS 34086/34088, but when faded it was very close to FS 34201 (325 H) • 058 H Blågrå (Blue Grey), close to FS 36173, similar to FS 36314 when faded, and finally close to FS 36622 • 438 H Mörkblå (Dark Blue), close to FS 35042/35045 when new, but when faded could turn turquoise, a very pale FS 35193, or Pale Blue FS 35177. Study photos! Paint sheen: H for halvblank (satin), M for matte (matt) A 32A The first detailed instructions came in April 1955 and stated that the aircraft should be delivered unpainted except for the wing tips and the fin/rudder, which should be painted Olive Green 325 H, but some had the fin/rudder painted blue. In 1956 tests were carried out with the upper sides painted 325 H, keeping the lower side unpainted. First the demarcation line at the air intake was high and straight, later slightly lower and finally in 1959 below the air intake. This pattern followed the A 32 until the end. The unpainted lower side was not polished, but instead the aluminium was allowed to oxidise to gain a protection layer; after that it was washed regularly which produced a beautiful bare metal surface. • J 32B Olive Green 325 M wraparound except for the lower-rear fuselage being left unpainted. Note that it was the M paint, and not the H, that was used. The KFF changed the paint type from MF68-325 H to MF85-325 M, from an alkyd varnish to a polyvinylbutyral varnish, and this change in paint might render the 325 H darker than the 325 M, for a recently-painted aircraft. • S 32C The same as A 32A except for a few test examples painted 325/328 and 328/438 on all upper sides. • J 32D/E For the 24 rebuilt J 32s the Draken camouflage was used, 328/438 on all upper sides and 058 on lower sides except for the lower rear fuselage, which remained unpainted. Because the starter turbine driven by isopropyl and hydraulic fluid dissolved the paint being used, it was decided to leave the lower rear fuselage unpainted on all aircraft. Hydraulic fluid also affected the national marking (three crowns shield) on the port side, so on some test aircraft it was moved to the air intakes. Markings Early A 32 aircraft (unpainted) had the division colour painted around the nose, behind the nose cone, in a 9½in (240mm) ring (1st Division red, 2nd blue, 3rd yellow) and the individual letters on the fin in the division colour with a white outline. In July 1959, F 1 wing began to use yellow number codes instead of letters on its J 32 Bs and, in May 1964, it was decided to immediately exchange letters to numbers on all 32 Lansen aircraft. Dayglo markings began to appear in the 1960s, sometimes for the individual aircraft number, and often around the air brake to make it easier for other aircraft to see if it was extended. Also, for large exercises dayglo panels were applied to the wings and fuselage.
It was also possible to fit the same pylons as on the A 32A, but only for 180mm rockets. The four nose cannons were changed to 30mm Adens capable of 22 rpm and with 90 rounds per gun, which increased the fire power dramatically. The J 32 radar, PS-42/A, was based on the PS-431/A, but it could lock on targets and the pilot had his own display which made
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it easier to guide his Lansen in the final stages of any attack. Externally the J 32B sported a longer exhaust pipe and larger air intakes compared to the A 32A, and did not have covered gun muzzle openings.
S 32C During the first half of the Cold War, the threat to Swedish territory increased and,
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26 in focus 32606, a J 32D, restored by SwAFHF but flown by the air force until 2012; it was grounded in 2013 pending a change of ownership to SwAFHF. This aircraft is painted in 328M to get a slightly darker hue consistent with the original paint as a J 32B. (Jan P Forsgren)
to survey the long coastline and large sea areas for hostile activity, a capable reconnaissance aircraft was needed. At first the Lansen
was planned to replace the S 18 in the marine recce role, and night recce, with speciallydesigned cameras for night photography. For daylight photo
reconnaissance there was the S 29C Tunnan, which was soon to be replaced by the S 35E Draken. The recce variant was based on the strike A 32, but
SPECIFICATIONS A 32A
S 32C
J 32B/D/E
Powerplant
Svenska Flygmotor RM5A at 33.9 kN dry, 46,1 with afterburner Svenska Flygmotor RM6A at 47.9 (7,628 lbf/10,362 lbf) kN dry, 63.8 with afterburner (10,758 lbf/14,330 lbf)
Wingspan
42ft 7in (13m)
Length
49ft (14.94m)
Height
16ft (4.95m)
Wing area
402ft² (37.4m²)
Empty weight
16,400lb (7,438kg)
16,580lb (7,520kg)
17,800 lb (8,077kg)
Max take-off weight
30,000lb (13,600kg)
27,550lb (12,500kg)
29,760lb (13,500kg)
Internal fuel
769gal (3,500lit)
External fuel
132gal (600lit)
Max. speed
699mph (1125km/h)
Cruise speed
528mph (850km/h
Landing speed
131mph (210km/h)
155mph (250km/h)
Rate of climb
197ft/s (60m/s)
328ft/s (100m/s)
Service ceiling
–
46,000ft (14,000m)
Range
1,150 miles (1,850km)
1,245 miles (2,000km)
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all cannons were removed and instead an array of camera equipment was installed. It was unarmed and all hard points could be used for photo flash bombs. BOZ 3 chaff dispensers were also fitted. Visible differences to the A 32 were the bulges on the nose necessary for the bulky cameras and the absence of nose gun muzzle ports. It retained the RM5A engine with the shorter exhaust of the A 32. The upper bulges were for the two high altitude cameras, and the lower for the side and forwardlooking cameras. The S 32C was delivered to the Flygvapnet between October 1958 and May 1959, and all 44 equipped F11 wing. They were delivered without camera equipment and radar, which were installed at F11 beginning in October 1959. Due to problems, though, all reconnaissance flights were made without cameras up until 1961, but since the main objective was maritime recce with or without radar, the flights were not ineffective. In 1978 the S 32C was replaced by the SF/ SH 37 Viggen. As the S 32 was unarmed it had to fly at low level on all its missions, even for high-altitude photography, where it closed to the target, made a steep upwards climb to several thousand feet, rolled 180 degrees, turned to the horizontal and rolled again to Lansen 32606, one of three airworthy J 32s, flies over typically stunning Swedish landscape with its landing gear down.
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SAAB LANSEN 27
A J 32E in flight with air brakes extended and dayglo panels on the wing tips. Note the blue camouflage colour having turned into a blue-green hue, the green into brown-violet and the fluid stains around the air brake.
Here’s an A 32A with the early-style demarcation line on the nose. There is chipped paint around the air brake, which has dayglo markings to each side.
an upright position and started the cameras. This took a few seconds, and then it dived downwards in an erratic manner and finally flew away from the target area at low level.
towing division (MFD) would be formed at F 3 Malmslätt, to supply target-towing services to the different wings. In June 1967 the Flygvapnet began to run all target-towing, initially with 40 Tunnans, but in the early 1970s 24 Lansen J 32Bs began to replace them. Six of these were rebuilt as dedicated target-towing aircraft (J 32D), while six previously used for target-towing at F 15 Söderhamn were kept unchanged and the remaining 12 were rebuilt as J 32Es, all belonging to the MFD. When F 3 was disbanded in 1974, the MFD was transferred to A view of 32503 on take-off. Of note is the MFD badge on the fin and the blade antenna immediately behind the vertical tail. (Anders Nylén)
J 32D After World War II, nearly all target-towing in Sweden was operated by the civilian company Svensk Flygtjänst; this was due to the government demanding that all military aircraft be in active duty during the war, even though Sweden was neutral. The aircraft had a civil registration but were actually owned by the Flygvapnet. During the major reduction of the Flygvapnet in the late 1960s, it was decided that a target-
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28 IN FOCUS The most recently restored J 32E, rendered as a J 32B. Note the external fuel tank painted only at the front, as a shield to damage from spent cannon shells. (Jan P Forsgren)
F 13 but remained at Malmslätt and the base was renamed F 13M (M for Malmslätt). The J 32D rebuild consisted mainly of better instrumentation, a civil and military transponder and modernisation of the autopilot. The target-towing winch (MBV2S) was installed on the number 2 port hard point, with a counter weight, and a Type A pylon was fitted to the starboard wing hard points 3 or 4. It also carried one or two laser reflector pods on a Type S2 pylon on hard point
4, port and/or starboard. The winch could trail a wire cable of 11,482ft (3,500m) and the target being towed was usually a few hundred meters below and up to almost 5,000ft (1,500m) behind the towing aircraft, depending on the target and type of attack. Wing targets were towed for cannon firing, and arrow targets for the modern aiming systems associated with heat-seeking and radar-guided missiles. The winch was operated from the Lansen’s rear seat.
J 32E The ECM Lansen was used for pilot and radar operator training. As mentioned previously, 12 were rebuilt from J 32Bs, the first in March 1972, and like the targettowing Lansens all armament was removed and replaced with other equipment. All Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) gear was made in Sweden; carried externally were Adrian (S- and C-band for ground- and shipbased radar) jamming pods, Petrus (X-band for aircraft
and missile radar) and BOZ 3 chaff dispensers. These were complemented with internal jamming equipment for S-, C-, L- and X-band radar and for UHF/ VHF radio: • Adrian and Petrus on hard point 2 • BOZ 3 on hard point 5 • Laser reflector on Type S2 pylon on hard point 4 • Counterweights on Type A pylon on hard points 3, 4 and 5 • Externally visible were also a number of blade antennae for flight radio; behind the cockpit and the fin, on the lower fuselage behind the left wing and behind the nose gear well.
The Swedish Flight Squadron E1 The E1 (E for Eskader) was directly under the Commanderin-Chief, and from 1948 it comprised aircraft from F 6 Karlsborg, F 7 Såtenäs, F 14 Halmstad and F 17 Kallinge, and was a dedicated strike squadron. Several divisions of eight A 32A Lansens at low level, were difficult to shoot down with antiaircraft guns, and all carried two RB 04C missiles, capable of sinking larger escort ships; A wonderful image of the restored Lansen 32606, with its bare metal rear underside. Of note is the miscoloured surface from the starter turbine isopropyl fuel and hydraulic fluid.
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SAAB LANSEN 29
Lansen 32512 together with a weathered Draken. This restored J 32D now resides at the Aeroseum in Gothenburg.
WINGS AND BASES Wing
Location
A 32A
J 32B
S 32C
J 32D
J 32E
F1
Hässlö
1958-67
F3
Malmslätt
1973-98
1972-98
F4
Frösön
1966-70
F6
Karlsborg
1957-78
F7
Såtenäs
1956-74
F 11
Nyköping
1958-78
F 12
Kalmar
1958-69
F 14
Halmstad
1957-61
F 15
Söderhamn
1960-75
F 17
Kallinge
1956-75
F 20
Uppsala
F 21
Luleå
1961-69
this would make even a major opponent think twice before attacking. The E1 was known as the Commander-in-Chief’s ‘Sledgehammer’, to counter the threat of Soviet invasion across the Baltic Sea…a highly likely and frightening reality during the first part of the Cold War. Surprisingly, during this period, the Flygvapnet was the fourth strongest in the world by aircraft number.
mission was after the 1986 nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, when parts of Sweden received massive fallout. Flights were made over the Baltic Sea over a two-week period, from 1,000ft
(304m) and upwards to map the fallout cloud. Another notable task came during the volcanic events on Iceland, which caused enormous disruption to air travel across western and northern
Europe over an initial period of six days in April 2010. Eventually, the J 32B/D/E was withdrawn from operational service in July 1997, when the MFD was closed for economic reasons. Some MFD aircraft were saved and two are in flying condition, but have been grounded this year as they will probably be transferred to the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight and will need a civil registration… but such things take time. The SwAFHF is working to get a fourth Lansen airworthy, though, ❚ so there is hope!
Note the camouflage for colours for the J 32D/E, but this different pattern was tested on some S 32Cs in 1962…but was not introduced on all aircraft. The test subject, however, retained the colours.
The end in sight…? From the early 1970s the Lansen collected samples of radioactive fallout from nuclear blasts in the atmosphere, beginning with the J 32B from F 15 wing and later with J 32D/E from the MFD. The most famous
22-29_Lansen In Focus.CC.indd 29
09/10/2013 10:20
30 reference round-up
The port engine air intake with splitter plate on 32512 at the Aeroseum in Gothenburg; it’s a J 32D painted as an A 32A. (All Jan P Forsgren)
SAAB LANSEN
Lansen 32606 at the Såtenäs SwAFHF hangar; this view from the rear shows the air brake, landing gear and bare metal rear portion of the external fuel tank.
The business end of the Lansen J 32; this is a Swedish-designed afterburner unit. J 32 seen with its unusual air brakes extended, to the side and below.
This rear port view shows the air brake and lower side of the J 32, with the bare metal lower rear fuselage. The Swedish EBK 61 jet exhaust for the J 32, which had a larger diameter than that seen on the A 32A.
30_Lansen Pic Ref.CC.indd 30
09/10/2013 10:21
32 ADVANCED BUILD
Eric Larson puts a keen edge on Tarangus’ limited-run SAAB A 32A Lansen
T
arangus delighted Swedish aircraft fans with its debut release of the SAAB A 32A Lansen. Developed in the late 1950s, Lansen (translates as The Lance) variants served in several roles including attacker, fighter, reconnaissance and, as recently as 2010, high-altitude research. Several restored Lansen are still flying today.
Swedish menu Four excellent Maestro Models photo-etched metal sets provided significant enhancement to the base kit.
32-41_Lansen.CC.indd 32
One clear and five grey runners comprised the injection-moulded parts, while the two ejection seats
were resin items. The well-printed instructions included a numbered parts layout and generic colour call-outs. Impressive for a limited-run kit, especially for a company’s first effort, was the delicate engraved surface detail and polished finish of the major airframe parts, although thick runner gates and several large mould stubs made for challenging parts clean-up. A modeller with prior limited-run kit experience could produce an attractive Lansen replica right out of the box, but as some components were crude, with soft or missing detail, to do this kit justice required after-market or scratch-built items. Maestro Models specialises in upgrades for Swedish aircraft kits, including the Tarangus Lansen, and graciously provided products for this project. Various sizes of Evergreen strip, rod, and sheet styrene were used for scratch-building and other construction aids. Unless otherwise noted, liquid cement was employed for assembling styrene parts and cyanoacrylate (CA) for resin or photo-etched (PE) metal.
09/10/2013 10:22
SAAB LANSEN 33
Braking manoeuvres
MODEL SPEC
An interesting feature was four airbrakes which rotated out from within the Lansen’s fuselage, just behind the wing, usually seen extended when the aircraft was parked. Since the kit fuselage was moulded with the airbrakes closed, displaying them open involved surgery and Maestro’s PE airbrake set (MMP4811). Prior to cutting out the fuselage openings, the airbrakes were assembled in case building the complex and delicate PE units met with disaster. Forming the airbrakes was not for a PE novice, as each involved multiple folds, curved sections, SAAB A 32A LANSEN By:
Tarangus
Stock Code: TA4801 Scale:
1/48
Price:
€63.00
Available from: Rebell Hobby, www.rebell.com
32-41_Lansen.CC.indd 33
and attachment of numerous tiny parts. Good tweezers, a magnifying visor and steady hands were a must. Folds and joins were internally reinforced with CA and bits of styrene. Following completion of all four units, the airbrake openings as well as numerous vents and ports outlined on the fuselage halves were cut out. Holes were first drilled in the centre of each area to be opened, followed by final shaping with needle files. Repeated test fitting of the PE airbrakes ensured a proper fit in their respective openings. Styrene strip was used to form internal structures seen in the larger vents and to box in the airbrake bays.
Airbrakes and vents that required opening were marked with a black Sharpie marker pen and starter holes were drilled in the centre of each. Needle files were used for final shaping and the PE airbrakes were dry-fitted to check their openings. Strip styrene was used to box in the airbrake bays and add ramps to various vents.
Cockpit and other challenges The ‘office’ comprised individual front and rear tubs (parts 23 and 21). Convincing moulded detail was present on the side consoles and instrument panels, although the latter lacked instrument faces, but since Maestro’s interior detail set (MMP4809) was used, all panel and console surfaces were sanded smooth. Before the PE details were installed, both
Moulded detail on the kit parts was convincing and would look good with careful painting, but not to the level provided by Maestro Models’ interior set. Both instrument panels in particular benefited from PE replacements.
09/10/2013 10:22
34 ADVANCED BUILD
Perfect pipework
A prominent ejector pin mark in the main wheel well insert was filled with a styrene disc, which was sanded flush with the surrounding area. Surface detail was re-instated with a file.
The kit part featured good surface detail, but sorely lacked the common airframe mechanic’s nightmare of hoses and connectors found in Lansen’s main gear bay.
Guided by reference photos, fine solder and Evergreen strip and rod were all used to detail the gear bay.
After being painted silver, along with the entire underside, the bay was dirtied with a Burnt Umber oil wash.
Finally, details were highlighted with Citadel metallic and other acrylic paints.
32-41_Lansen.CC.indd 34
Styrene strip was used to add additional detail prior to painting the aft bulkhead and trunking silver. Also visible are the scratch-built arm rests.
Maestro’s PE interior details were added; the two styrene strips on the front tub were eventually shortened and provided support for the rear tub.
tub interiors were painted with a 3:1 mix of White Ensign Models’ ACSM07 MiG Cockpit Interior Turquoise and Testors' Model Master 1725 Neutral Gray, which matched closely the coloured Maestro parts. As provided, the rear cockpit tub was a simple box but in reality, the air intake trunks intruded into this area. To replicate the trunking, thin styrene sheet was wrapped around a brass tube, secured with a wooden clothes pin, and dipped in boiling water to form the curved sections. After cutting away portions of the tub side walls, the curved sheets were cemented in place, trimmed and styrene strip reinforcing ribs were added. The aft bulkhead was fitted and the correct angle determined by dryfitting into a fuselage half.
Portions of the cockpit, such as the rear bulkheads and intake trunks, as well as the fuselage side walls and edges, were dull unpainted aluminium. After masking the areas to remain grey-green, the tubs and fuselage interior were airbrushed with Floquil Bright Silver followed by Testors’ Dullcote lacquer. Once painting was completed, PE panels, rudder pedals, and control levers were attached. Moulded arm rests on the rear cockpit side consoles were removed, replaced with new items made from styrene strip and painted to simulate worn leather. Tarangus’ front cockpit tub also
09/10/2013 10:23
SAAB LANSEN 35
included the nose gear bay roof around which parts 33, 34, 39, and 40 were attached, to form the complete bay. Placement of these was a little vague, particularly the side walls, so care was required to ensure that all fitted properly. Once assembled, the bay was painted silver. The kit’s simple control column was replaced with a scratch-built version from styrene rod and strip, and Magic Sculp epoxy putty (www.magicsculp.co.uk), with the base provided by the kit part. Two sticks were included but as the rear was only used in the A 32A for training, it was omitted. To prevent loss or breakage, the seats, gun sight reflector and control stick were set aside until closer to completion. Prior to installing the front cockpit, intake parts were cemented into the fuselage halves but no effort was made to improve their appearance as covers would eventually hide them. In a departure from the instructions, only the front tub was installed prior to joining the fuselage halves, as the rear was easily inserted from below
through the underside opening, which allowed for more control over the fit. Lengths of styrene strip were cemented to the front tub’s underside to support the
32-41_Lansen.CC.indd 35
inside the fuselage but as it caused fit problems, the tab was removed and the cover cemented in place. After neatening the seams around the cover, it was time to deal with the worst-fitting part of the kit...the windscreen. As moulded, this thick transparency
rear unit. Once the cockpit tub/ nose gear bay was positioned, additional support was provided by a thick styrene block wedged between the gear bay’s front edge and fuselage. Tail-sitting was prevented by 1oz (28g) of lead shot placed in the nose, glued with five-minute epoxy. The fuselage halves lacked alignment pins, so short lengths of styrene strip cemented at points around one half served the purpose. As the halves were mated, a styrene strip shim was inserted length-wise along the lower rear join, which slightly widened the opening into which the engine was later fitted. Fit was very good with minimal seam neatening required. At this point, several scoops, grilles, hatches, and plates from Maestro’s exterior detail set (MMP4810) were attached. The front instrument panel cover was moulded with a tab, which was supposed to slide
was too long and the front edge had an enormous step. Guided by reference photos, the windscreen front was shortened and filed to a more accurate shape. Abrasive paper wrapped around a large copper tube was used to reshape the windscreen’s front inner edge until a flush fit with the fuselage was achieved. Fortunately, the part’s thickness gave margin for error.
The rear cockpit was easily installed through the underside opening. Styrene strips at the tub front dove-tailed with those on the front tub. Also visible, inside the upper fuselage join, is one of the styrene alignment strips added since there were no locating pins. Visible here is much of the work required prior to joining the fuselage halves, including lead shot epoxied in the nose, various styrene braces and internal vent detail visible just under the intake trunk.
09/10/2013 10:23
36 ADVANCED BUILD After deciding how many weapons pylons were to be used, mounting holes were drilled out, their position being indicated by faint dimples moulded on the wing.
The printed PE cockpit placards added colour and detail difficult to achieve by hand painting. A bleed air vent which required enlargement, and a styrene strip interior structure, are visible just behind the intake. Removal of the forward tab made fitting the instrument panel cover a real breeze. Reduction and re-shaping of excess plastic at the windscreen front edge was required for an accurate appearance…and flush fit with the fuselage.
32-41_Lansen.CC.indd 36
Winging it The lower wing/fuselage belly comprised two butt-joined halves assembled on a flat surface to ensure proper alignment. Next, the main gear bay was installed, followed by the centre divider (part 30 – shown reversed in the instructions) which required trimming. Styrene strips cemented along the inside buttjoin provided additional strength. Mounting holes for the 12 optional pylons were drilled in the lower wings, the positions for which were indicated by faint dimples. The kit lacked weapons or other stores but while a variety of items were available from Maestro, it was decided to leave the pylons empty for a cleaner look. Pylons were cleaned up, painted with Alclad Aluminum and set aside until after the underside was painted and decaled.
A potential step at the aft wing/ fuselage join was eliminated by a T-shaped sprue segment installed inside the fuselage, just behind the wing opening. Neatening around the rear wing roots was also required to achieve a perfect fit. The lower wing was then cemented to the fuselage and allowed to harden before the upper wings were attached. Dry-fitting revealed that strip styrene shims attached inside the wing root, just forward of the main wheel bay, eliminated steps between the upper wing sections and fuselage…resulted in near perfect wing root seams. The upper wings were then mated and secured with clamps.
09/10/2013 10:23
SAAB LANSEN 37
At this point a number of wing details were added. Position lights were made by filing notches in both wingtips, into which clear plastic chunks were cemented with CA and filed to shape. The kit lacked a small gun camera which protruded from the left wing root, so this was added from styrene tubing and faired in with Gunze Mr. Surfacer 500. Blade antennae mounted on the upper side of each wing, near the roots, were shown too far aft in the instructions. Careful study of reference photos indicated the correct position and two small PE plates from the Maestro exterior set, onto which the antennae were later attached, were cemented to the wings. After the main gear bay details were added the belly fuel tank, which handily covered the forward wing seam, was cemented in place. Next, the instrument panel cover and windscreen inner frames were masked, painted matt black and the windscreen was attached with liquid cement. With the airframe together, seams neatened, and a few lost panel lines re-instated, a light coat of Alclad Grey Primer was airbrushed over the entire model. Pre-cut Maestro paint masks (MMK4846) protected the transparencies.
Swedish camouflage Two olive green/natural metal schemes were provided but for this model, an unusual
32-41_Lansen.CC.indd 37
experimental livery from Maestro Models’ decal set MMD4804 was chosen. According to the instructions, the colours for White 36 could not be verified but were stated merely as dark green and dark blue over natural metal. Paints chosen for the upper surfaces were Humbrol 116 US Dark Green and 77 Navy Blue, with a combination of Floquil and Alclad metallics for the underside. The only photo of this particular aircraft found was taken from port, so the starboard side, wing, and horizontal tail surface camouflage patterns were a best guess. The photo revealed considerable wear, which included pealed paint around the fuselage waist, but it was decided not to attempt this effect on the model. Alcad primer was rubbed out with Micromesh abrasive cloth after which the fuselage, wing, and tail plane undersides were airbrushed with silver, ensuring the paint extended over the wing and horizontal tail leading edges and onto the upper surfaces. Individual panels were then masked with 3M 658 Post-It tape and airbrushed with various Alclad shades. Next, natural metal areas were masked and the first camouflage colour, US Dark Green, was applied. Allowed to dry overnight, rolled Blu-Tack worms and tape were then used to mask ahead of the second colour. After further masking, the nose and tail fin tip were painted satin black
Wingtip lights were added by filing notches, into which chunks of clear styrene were cemented and sanded to shape.
Binder clips, available at office supply shops, secured the wing halves when joined. Installation of the main gear bay (and styrene strip cemented along the join) provided additional strength.
09/10/2013 10:23
38 ADVANCED BUILD
With just the wheels left to attach, the main gear bay certainly looked the part and showed the additional detail was worth the effort.
and the tail fin leading edge silver. The entire model then received Alclad Gloss Klear Kote prior to decal application. Airframe stencils came from the kit sheet, while national insignia and other markings were from the Maestro set, all of which responded well to Micro Set and Sol. After 24 hours’ drying, a second application of
Gloss Klear Kote sealed the decals. Next, a ‘sludge' wash of dark Burnt Umber acrylic craft paint, distilled water, and liquid dish washing soap was brushed over all panel lines, allowed to dry, and excess was removed with a damp rag. Photos revealed significant staining of the fuselage underside, aft of the main gear bay (probably from hydraulic fluid leaks), so additional wash and black-brown pastel chalk dust was applied and streaked. To dull the gloss and seal the wash, Testors’ Dullcote Lacquer was airbrushed lightly over the entire model, including the natural metal areas, which duplicated the dull finish seen on the actual aircraft.
Exhausting work
Thin solder and punched styrene sheet discs added visual interest to the upper airbrake housings.
32-41_Lansen.CC.indd 38
The kit gun sight reflector was too large so replacements were made from thin, clear acetate.
One item for which an aftermarket replacement would have been favourable was the engine. The complex eyelid nozzle structure was poorly rendered, with soft detail and heavy moulding. Making the best of what was provided, after assembling the engine halves, the nozzle opening was enlarged and eyelid edges thinned with a Dremel tool. Nozzle detail was enhanced with curved lengths of styrene strip cemented inside the nozzle and sanded to shape. Maestro’s exterior detail set provided additional engine parts, which included a rear turbine face,
flame holder, and afterburner liner - but once installed were nearly impossible to see. Airbrushed Alclad (Jet Exhaust, Pale Burnt Metal, and Steel), outer edges highlighted with Citadel Chain Mail and a Burnt Umber acrylic wash, made for an engine that definitely looked the part. To allow installation after all airframe work was completed, the engine’s mounting rings were removed, which resulted in a smooth cylinder that easily slid into place when the time came.
Undercarriage The sturdy landing gear struts were painted Mr. Color C23 Dark Green, with Testors’ Chrome Silver oleo struts. A crude block on the nose strut, which represented an actuator cylinder, was replaced with a scratch-built unit. Rather than trapping the nose wheel between the supports, a hole was drilled through the parts and the wheel was installed with a styrene rod axle. Several PE parts enhanced the undercarriage area;
plates on the main gear door inner surfaces, retraction struts, and brake lines. Two landing lights mounted at the front of the nose gear doors required reduction of their bases, to prevent them from touching each other when
09/10/2013 10:24
SAAB LANSEN 39 After the exhaust opening was enlarged and edges thinned, styrene strips added detail to what was a rather crude and simplistic engine nozzle. Mounting rings were also removed, which allowed the unit to be slid into place after the fuselage was closed. Intake covers were formed by gently rolling the side with a brass tube on a piece of soft craft foam. Once formed, the end was folded and the join secured on the inside with CA and styrene scraps.
the doors were attached. All inner doors were painted Old Silver and set aside until after the gear struts were in place. Installation of the nose gear was aided by moulded slots on either bay wall, into which a cross bar fitted while the retraction strut went into a shallow box moulded in the bay roof. Fit of the main gear was vague as there are no locating pegs or holes. The struts required trimming of the cross pieces which butt-joined to the outermost area of each bay roof. Liquid cement and CA ensured a solid join, followed by attachment of the retraction struts which provided further support. A sanding stick was used to flatten the tyres,
32-41_Lansen.CC.indd 39
after which they were painted Mr. Color C137 Tire Black, with silver hubs on the main wheels and dark green on the nose wheel. Frontal views of the actual aircraft showed the main wheels cant visibly inwards, which required the tyres to be flattened at an appropriate angle.
Shades of Metal Alclad’s fast drying time, and 3M 658 Post-It Tape’s low adhesion, made quick work of shading various natural metal panels. Applied over a Floquil Old Silver base, each chosen panel was outlined with tape, airbrushed lightly with Alclad, the tape removed and the process repeated with the next panel.
The tail planes were treated separately. Light, misted coats of Alclad were all that was necessary to produce the shaded panels.
Alclad dried so quickly that in the time between a quick flush of the airbrush and the next colour being loaded, it was safe to mask the previously applied shade.
Striped additions The fourth Maestro PE set employed was the pre-painted Ladder and FOD set (MMP4812). These eye-catching items not only added great visual interest, but the FOD covers hid areas which would have required additional
Eye-catching result! Alclad shades included White/Dark/Polished Aluminum (on the belly tank), Magnesium, and Duraluminum.
09/10/2013 10:24
40 ADVANCED BUILD
After-market & references Maestro Models www.maestromodels.com SAAB Aircraft since 1937 by Hans G. Andersson (Putnam Aeronautical Books), ISBN: 0-85177-886-0 Kronmärkt, by Leif Hellström & Leif Fredin (Allt Om Hobby, Sweden), ISBN: 91-7243-003-6 Flygvapnet – Scenes from Swedish military aviation history, by Anders Nylén & Jan Jørgensen (Nordic Airpower), ISBN: 978-87-993688-1-5 Aviation Classics Issue 16 – SAAB 75 Years of Defence and Security (Morton), ISBN: 978-1-906167-63-9
The assembled nose gear strut and nose wheel were drilled out so a styrene axle could secure the wheel. A crude moulded block, which represented an actuator cylinder, was removed and a replacement was made from brass tubing and styrene.
applied to the covers and ladder, followed by chipping and wear marks with a silver Prismacolor artist’s pencil. Nearer the model’s completion, the covers where attached with PVA glue but the ladder was attached only when time to take final photographs.
The completed seats seen ready for installation. Lansens were often flown with only a pilot, in which case the belts and packs were removed from the rear seat.
Details, details
Online walk-round www.plasticwarfare.se/2012/01/ saab-a32a-walkaround/
work had they been visible. The finish stood up well to shaping and folding and, what little touchingup needed was made easy by the basic yellow and black colours. Forming the FOD covers was straightforward and required a single 90-degree fold, with one section rolled to meet the curved edge. CA and scrap styrene inside the fold ensured a secure join.
32-41_Lansen.CC.indd 40
The assembled nose gear showing the styrene axle which was then cut flush with the strut ends.
Tiny handles bent to shape and cemented to the covers’ sides and faces completed the units. On the other hand, building the boarding ladder was akin to creating an origami metal spider web. Deciphering the assembly diagrams, while trying not to destroy the delicate structure, required patience and persistence. Once completed, matt varnish was
The resin ejection seats, while well cast, lacked details such as firing handles, belts, and cushions. Overhead handles, as well as full sets of pre-painted belts and harnesses for both seats, were provided in the interior PE set while lower pull rings were scratch-built from styrene and fine copper wire. Lansens were often flown without a rear crew member, in which case the belts, chute pack, and cushion were removed from the rear seat. This model was configured as such, so just the pilot’s seat was fully rigged. A styrene cushion was fitted to the seat pan and
09/10/2013 10:24
SAAB LANSEN 41
the parachute pack was formed from Magic Sculp. Seats were painted and details were picked out with acrylic craft paints. Clear ear-like shields were shown erroneously mounted at the front of the headrests, but the correct position was at the rear. As these parts were too thick and not quite shaped correctly, new items were made from clear plastic. Thin wedge-shaped supports made from styrene strip were added to the back of each shield. The secondary wind shield required trimming of the front end in order to fit over the rear instrument panel and, after masking and painting the framework Alclad Aluminum, it was duly attached. At this point, small parts were attached, such as antennae, shell casing shields, tail skid, and a fuel dump pipe made from brass
tubing. Next, the canopy received interior details such as a PE mirror and a strip styrene cross brace. The instructions showed the canopy in only the closed position but there was no reason it could not be displayed open. Fiveminute epoxy was used to secure the canopy to the left cockpit rail, while a jig held it in position until the glue hardened. An actuator piston, made from fine brass tubing and wire, was then attached between the canopy cross brace and a rail just behind the front seat. The pitot tube was attached, but the crude kit part was replaced with Maestro’s lovely turned brass version (MMK4870).
Razor-sharp Lance Lansen was a big aircraft and the Tarangus kit successfully captured the elegance and presence of
this impressive machine…but was not for an inexperienced modeller. Even without the added complexity of Maestro’s upgrades, errors in the instructions and a few construction issues could
prove frustrating to a novice builder. On the other hand, for someone with several limited-run, multi-media kits under their belt, this kit should prove to be an ❚ enjoyable challenge.
After masking the natural metal underside and wing leading edges, the first camouflage colour, Humbrol 116 US Dark Green, was applied.
Other areas that required masking and painting were the satin black radome and fin tip, and the natural metal fin leading edge.
Panel lines were highlighted and the airframe was dirtied with a ‘sludge’ wash of Burnt Umber acrylic craft paint, distilled water and dish-washing soap. Excess was removed with a damp cloth after a few minutes’ drying time.
32-41_Lansen.CC.indd 41
09/10/2013 10:25
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44 IN PROFILE The Kestrel – a development of the Hawker Siddeley P.1127 prototypes. Nine aircraft were purchased for the Tripartite (US, UK, Federal Republic of Germany) Evaluation Squadron.
JUMP JET
SCHOOL Air Vice-Marshal (Ret’d) Peter Dodworth was one of the original Harrier Conversion Team (HCT) instructors. Here, he describes the birth of pilot training on the GR.1
The Kestrel Evaluation Squadron Pilots. Back row: Sqn Ldr Fred Trowern; Lt Col Lou Salt; Wg Cdr David Scrimgeour (CO); Col Gerhard Barkhorn; Flt Lt David Edmonston. Front Row: Capt Volke Suhr; Maj Al Johnson; Maj JK Cambell; LT Cdr Jim Tyson; Flt Lt ‘Porky’ Munro.
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E
arly attempts at vertical take-off and landing mostly seem strange today but the practical breakthrough for the UK was the ‘Flying Bedstead’, which used a single engine. Later, the Bristol/ Hawker V/ STOL (Verticle/Short Take Off and Landing) project led to the P.1127, which proved successful and eventually developed into the Kestrel, produced for tripartite evaluation. The squadron comprised four US, four UK and two German pilots…the latter included Gerhard Barkhorn, the World War Two Luftwaffe pilot who became the second highestscoring ace of all time with 301 victories. The Kestrel led to the development of the Harrier GR.1, to meet Air Staff Requirement 384. The GR.1 employed the Pegasus 6 engine with 19,000lb (8,618kg) thrust; a significant improvement over the 15,500lb (7,030kg) of the Pegasus 5 in the Kestrel. Fitted in the GR.1 was the Inertial Navigation and
Attack System (INAS), complete with Weapon Aiming Computer (WAC) which emerged from the TSR.2/P.1154 programmes. This, with the other operational equipment, meant a quite crowded cockpit. It also had an excellent Head-up Display (HUD) which was new to RAF aircraft. The rotating jet nozzles represented a completely new control concept for any fighter pilot; all four nozzles could be rotated together to vector the thrust from fully aft to approximately 15 degrees forward of the vertical. The nozzle actuation system was operated by a single lever just inboard from the throttle. One pushed the lever forward to position the nozzles fully aft, back to the vertical for hovering and further back for the braking position. Control in jet-borne flight was by reaction controls, situated at the extremities of the aircraft, fed by air bled from the last stage of the compressor and controlled by shutters connected to the associated flying control surface. The GR.1 could achieve supersonic flight during a dive, and it could fly for 500nm at low level. It carried two 30mm ADEN cannons and a variety of weapons, fuel tanks and a reconnaissance pod on its five pylons…a fully
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HARRIER GR.1 TRAINING 45 operational combat aircraft. Harrier entered RAF service in April 1969 and was immediately entered for the Daily Mail Air Race. This was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first crossing of the Atlantic by Alcock and Brown in a Vickers Vimy. The course was from the top of London’s Post Office Tower to the top of the Empire State Building in New York.
Dynamic debut In parallel with the excitement of the Daily Mail race, the introduction of the Harrier into RAF service took place at the Hawker Siddeleley Aviation
Designer of the Harrier. From all this we devised and prepared the lectures for the subsequent HCT ground school. The flying phase started with a short Hunter refresher at RAF Chivenor and a bespoke helicopter course in the Westland Whirlwind at RAF Tern Hill, which gave us six hours of hovering and transitioning experience. The Harrier course involved around eight hours’ flying in the singleseat GR.1; it was approximately two years before the two-seat trainer or simulator would enter service. Conversion started with a conventional flight, chased by Duncan in a Hunter, which
A Harrier GR.1 with 100gal drop tanks and two 30mm Aden cannons follows a line feature at low level.
The Harrier Conversion Team, from left: Flt Lt Ritchie Profit; Flt Lt Peter Dodworth; Duncan Simpson (HSA), Sqn Ldr Dick Le Brocq and Flt Lt Bruce Latton. (All via Peter Dodworth)
airfield at Dunsfold, Hampshire. The HCT consisted of four pilots with Hunter and instructional backgrounds, and began its conversion in January 1969 under the watchful eye of Duncan Simpson, then the Deputy Chief Test Pilot at Dunsfold. The ground training phase lasted ten weeks and included systems courses at Dunsfold, Rolls-Royce, Ferranti, and Specto Aviation for the HUD, Miles Aviation for the simulator and the Royal Navy Weapons School at Whale Island for computerised weapon systems. Our briefings on V/ STOL aerodynamics were given by John Fozard - then Chief
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culminated in a 160kts (296km/h) conventional landing…the most dangerous of all in a Harrier! Vertical take-offs and landings followed and then a series of sorties, transitioning to and from vertical flight. We did a ‘dual’ on this exercise with the four of us being flown around the circuit at Dunsfold by Duncan in a de Havilland Dove…“Take 40° nozzle about here, flap here, turn over this farm” and the like. Short takeoffs and landings were the final discipline to be covered from both runway and grass. Subsequently, with our own students, we
The Harrier GR.1 was a development of the Kestrel seen here, to produce a fully operational aircraft.
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46 IN PROFILE
A ‘clean’ (no under wing pylons or stores) GR.1 descends vertically into a clearing in a wood.
started with short landings then VTOL and transitions, and left conventional landing until later.
Steady conversion Early Harriers were not equipped with the INAS, but just had a variable depression weaponaiming sight. When we asked what we should do in our flying away from the airfield, Duncan said: “Do what you like as long as it is above ground level”…so we did! We finished our conversion with Vertical Landings on a 50ft (15.2m) pad in the middle of a wood near RAF Boscombe Down, Wiltshire. This was fairly bold as one had to come all the way down through the trees using a couple of small panels in the trees as hovering cues at 12 o’clock and 3 o’clock, and the pad was only sighted from about 15ft (4.5m) up. Subsequently 75ft (22.8m) pads were normally used. It was not all flying, though, as there were many performance calculations to learn and we produced a V/ STOL computer to help with this. We also spent much time learning about the INAS and WAC, so that we could produce digestible instruction on it when it finally arrived. While we were at Dunsfold the RAF ground crew who were posted to the Harrier received their instruction at the Hawker Siddeley Instructional School, and completed their training in time for our departure.
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The log book entry for April 30, 1969 recording Peter Dodworth’s first flight in a Harrier. The flight lasted 1 hour 20 minutes and included 10 minutes’ instrument flying and a Ground Controlled Approach.
On May 16, 1969 we took four Harriers to RAF Wittering and started converting the existing Hunter squadrons, one flight at a time. The first flight of 1 Squadron included Sqn. Ldr. ‘Porky’ Munro who had been on the Kestrel Evaluation Team. The VTOL and transitions were done on detachment to RAF West Raynham where better quality concrete pads – built for the Kestrel – were available. The second flight of 1 Squadron included its new CO, Wg. Cdr. Ken Hayr, who was to play a key part in developing the aircraft’s operational role. It also included Capt. Bud Hall, a USAF exchange Officer and Maj. Bud Iles of the United States Marine Corps (USMC), who was gaining experience prior to helping to convert the Marines onto its Harrier, the AV-8A. As a result of our experiences, the basic conversion was now twice as long. Without a two-seat trainer we found that extra sorties were necessary to consolidate the exercises. The Harrier was not intrinsically difficult to fly, but the acceleration was fierce and one needed to think all the time about the correct control to use. Although use of the nozzles was intuitive, the need to apply substantial power rather than pull the ‘stick’ back to control rate of descent was not. Similarly, it was vital in semi-jet-borne flight to eliminate any yaw. At certain angles of attack and yaw the induced roll could exceed the power of the roll controls and a number of aircraft were lost The HCT also gave all the ground instruction associated with the conversion – the aircraft systems and the use of the new HUD, INAS and computerised weapon aiming system.
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HARRIER GR.1 TRAINING 47 through this. We chased sorties in our two faithful Hunters – named ‘Fred’ and ‘Nuts’ by Duncan who had not yet adapted to the ‘new’ phonetic alphabet – and also occasionally in Harriers. Instruction was also given from a caravan situated by the VTOL pad or STOL strip.
Two seats on the horizon With conversion to the INAS, weapons, recce and Air Combat Training (ACT) now included, the course had grown to about four months long. Our third course was the first flight of 4 Squadron, a re-badged 54 Hunter Squadron, and included Gp. Capt. David Scrimgeour, en route to become the first Harrier Station Commander at RAF Wildenrath in Germany. They were followed in June 1970 by the second flight of 4 Squadron. The HCT gave all the ground school lectures from airframe/engine systems to the
operation of the INS, WAC and HUD – we even designed and fitted out the lecture and briefing rooms. The students all found the aircraft exhilarating with so many new activities, such as INAS navigation, live weapons training, recce, landing in fields and woods and its performance in air-to-air combat using the nozzles. Then, in August 1970, we converted the pilots who would become the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) staff, and in October 1970 the last singleseat course comprised the first flight of the new 20 Squadron and the first USMC course. On it were Sqn. Ldr. Dave Edmondston, who had been on the Kestrel, en route to 20 Squadron and Capt. Harry Blot USMC who eventually became the commander of Marine Corps aviation. The RAF subsequently trained two courses of USMC pilots when the Corps started its AV-8A programme. With the arrival of the Harrier
A tail shot of a GR.1 with SNEB rocket pods and 30mm Aden cannon. It shows the nozzles and the size of the fuselage needed for the large Pegasus Engine.
TRANS-ATLANTIC DASH On May 5, 1969 Sqn Ldr Tom Lecky-Thompson ran from the top of the post office tower in Central London to a helicopter which took him to St Pancras railway station, where he took off vertically in a Harrier GR.1 (XV741). He refuelled at 0.88 Mach, from a Victor tanker, landed vertically at Bristol Basin in Manhattan and roared through New York on a motorbike to arrive at the top of the Empire State Building, in the winning time of six hours, eleven minutes and 57.15 seconds. Squadron Leader Graham Williams flew the return leg on May 9, in XV744 but used an E-type Jaguar in New York and landed in a cloud of coal dust at St Pancras, before a helicopter and motorcycle took him to the top of Post Office Tower, just five hours, 49 minutes and 58 seconds after leaving the top of the Empire State Building. This gave great publicity to the Harrier, particularly in America where it was the country’s first real exposure to the aircraft. The Air Race was the only time I can recall that the ferry tips were used. These 18in extensions were bolted on to the wing tips – “cheap variable geometry” Hawker called them - and gave improved cruise performance at height but carried limitations that precluded their use for low-level operations.
A crowded cockpit! In the centre is the analogue INAS with its moving map display; most of the flying, navigation and weapon aiming instrumentation was presented on the HUD.
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48 IN PROFILE
A GR.1 being towed in a dispersed site. Each site would have six aircraft in hides and have all the fuel, weapons, communications ground defence and domestic support to operate autonomously.
HARRIER GR.1 TRAINING T.2 (the two-seat trainer) in October 1970, 233 OCU formed, absorbed the HCT and started full operational conversions for first tourists. The T.2 was fully operational and a very effective trainer. The arrival of the Pegasus 10 with its increase of 1,500lb (680kg) thrust conveniently offset the T.2’s extra 1,400lb (635kg) of weight. Towards the end of 1972 the early Harriers started to be converted to the GR.3 with the Pegasus 11 and its 21,500lb (9,752kg) thrust and, subsequently, equipped with the Laser Rangefinder and Marked Target Seeker (LRMTS) in the elongated nose. The GR.3, with the associated T.4, became the standard Harrier in RAF service until the advent of the GR.5 and T.10. The OCU courses lasted six months and started with a week’s helicopter flying. They involved considerable ground school and simulator time and around 75 hours’ flying. The OCU was divided into Basic and Advanced Squadrons. Basic Squadron covered the VSTOL, instrument, formation and night flying, and the ACT, while the Advanced Squadron tackled low-level navigation, attack profiles, recce
and weapons training. The OCU training was geared to the concept of operations that developed. The normal way of operating from field sites was to make a short take-off from a taxiway, road, metal strip or grass and then with weapons and most of the fuel gone, to do a vertical landing onto a metal pad or a rolling vertical landing on a strip. The aircraft operated mainly at low level and would primarily use 30mm cannon, SNEB 68mm rockets and BL.755 cluster bombs against armour and other targets, as well as conducting recce with the port oblique nose camera or centreline recce pod. All of these disciplines were taught at the OCU and specialist courses were run most years to teach experienced pilots to become weapons instructors, recce instructors or instrument rating examiners. Overall, the single-seat conversions and full OCU courses were very effective training programmes, geared to the changing requirements of the operational units. The success rate of students was similar or better than comparable operational training on other aircraft and the VSTOL dimension did not become the problem many had predicted. ❚
Scorch marks from short take-offs and landings during trials by the Kestrel. At Harrier GR.1 sites, though, a metal strip would be laid for continuous operations. Once pilots graduated from the conversion they would then be posted to operational units, such as 3(F) Squadron. Here one of its GR.1s lines up for take-off at a deployed base. With take-offs from a metal strip and landings on a pad, an intense sortie rate could be achieved with aircraft often completing ten sorties each per day.
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A Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1 of 1(F) Squadron, RAF Wittering lands in a forward operating location during a UK training exercise in September 1970. The RAF was keen to exploit the Harrier's ability to operate from concealed woodland locations throughout the Cold War.
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52 EXCLUSIVE BUILD
VERTICAL
PIONEER
T
here’s not much that can be said here about the GR.1 that hasn’t already gone before; needless to say, it was the first operational fixed-wing Vertical/Short Take-off and Landing (V/STOL) aircraft. It was initially introduced by the
RAF and subsequently used by the United States Marine Corps, and Spanish and Thai Navies. Although superseded by the Harrier II, for many the ‘original’ Harrier epitomised how a simplistic approach to design could yield impressive performance.
The kit contained a detailed four-part Martin-Baker Mk.9 Ejection seat, which was easily the best kit-supplied version on the market.
Initial response This modeller’s first impressions were excellent – engraved panel lines were reminiscent of the old Esci offering, albeit slightly deeper; parts breakdown was similar but also incorporated design methodology used in Airfix’s new-tool GR.9 release.
Stu Fone explores the first of the operational breed, with an exclusive testshot build of Airfix’s new-tool Harrier GR.1
Four grey styrene runners featured, along with a single clear frame for the canopy and head-up display. As this was an early test shot, it lacked colour scheme instructions and decals; however the overall level of detail for what will be a budget kit was fantastic.
Engraved panel line detail adorned the single-piece upper wing and dorsal fuselage segment, while fine fuel dump pipes were moulded separately to the wing flaps. Once assembled, the ejection seat accurately captured the shape of the real Martin-Baker Mk.9 seat; all that would be required for more realism would be seat straps and a ‘bang’ handle.
The fuselage was equally well moulded with fine detail; of note were the cutouts at the rear for the vertical and horizontal stabilisers, the engineering of which was excellent.
The intake liner was moulded as a single piece. While it was well moulded and captured the complex curves of the real thing, this prevented any view of the intake fan from the outside.
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HARRIER GR.1 53
KIT COLOUR SCHEMES Two schemes are included in the standard boxing, that of GR.1 XV749/K, of 1 (F) Squadron, RAF Wittering, in September 1970, and XV785/Q, of 20 Squadron, RAF Wildenrath, Germany, June 1971. A forthcoming gift set version (A55205) will feature XV792/N of 3 Squadron, RAF Wildenrath, Germany, 1974
MODEL SPEC
Recent releases by Airfix have highlighted advances in moulding and the manner in which a subject is researched. HAWKER SIDDELEY HARRIER GR.1 By:
Airfix
Stock Code: A03003 Scale:
1/72
Price:
£10.99
Available from: Airfix, www.airfix.com
For this release, there was a detailed nose wheel bay, airbrake interior, a wellmoulded cockpit which included raised canopy sill and, in a debut for a first-generation Harrier, separately moulded fuel dump pipes on the upper wing piece which fitted into a corresponding groove in the flap/aileron…just as on the full-sized aircraft. The overall standard of engineering was high and particular mention must be made with regard to the vertical and horizontal stabiliser assembly, which just dropped into place, and the entire interior…but more of that later. Having exercised considerable restraint in not reaching for
The cockpit tub was easy to assemble; its detail included the rudder pedal assembly and throttle/nozzle quadrant on the side console.
A combined main wheel section and a fully detailed airbrake bay also featured, the latter arguably being the first accurate representation in a mainstream kit.
The cockpit rear bulkhead also had delicate detail on the back, such as hydraulic pipework, which would subsequently form the front of the nose wheel bay.
The level of detail provided for a pocket money product was excellent. Even the inner faces of the intake centre insert were moulded so that detail for the nose wheel bay was included.
Reasonable detail was apparent on the fuselage interior, with raised mouldings on the cockpit walls.
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54 EXCLUSIVE BUILD
The overall effect of the detail was highlighted by a combination of dry-brushing and a dark wash to provide contrast with the dark grey interior.
Although the production kit does have specific decals for the main instrument panel, here, spares from a Modeldecal sheet were used.
The engineering of the parts was to a high standard but dry-fitting was essential. The intake liner was checked to ensure alignment before gluing to the fuselage.
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After painting the intake blades with gunmetal; light dry-brushing with aluminium and a wash of dark grey made the fan blade detail stand out.
Main wheel detail was also impressive with moulded brakes on the inner faces and a weighted effect on the tyres, to represent an aircraft on the ground.
With the inserts glued into place, the fuselage halves were dry-fitted in preparation for stage 11; this was crucial to ensure proper alignment.
Once the ejection seat had dried, it too was dry-brushed. The frame was mainly black, while the seat pads were in various shades of green.
paint and glue immediately, and having the ‘freedom’ of no kitsupplied markings at this stage, this issue’s history feature on early Harrier training proved inspirational and prompted a hunt for Harrier Conversion Unit markings. What was particularly appealing was the gloss finish, ‘old-style’ red-white-blue roundels and grasshopper emblem on the fuselage side; these all came from a hotchpotch collection of Sky Models, Vingtor, Aztec, Modeldecal and Alley Cat sheets. Given the pocket-money nature of this kit, it was decided to build as simply as possible, mostly straight from the box.
Another view of the cockpit tub, highlighting the front wheel well detail and the effect even light dry-brushing had on the moulded features.
Ready to hover! The assembly sequence followed the instructions apart from when trying to make painting easier. Eight parts made up the cockpit and ejection seat, with a combination of raised detail on the cockpit walls and decals for the instrument panel. The cockpit was painted very dark grey with a wash of black, followed dry-brushing to highlight raised detail. The Martin-Baker Mk.9 seat was one of the best 1/72 kit-offered items when completed; it lacked
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HARRIER GR.1 55
only straps and ejection handles and could easily be left out of the cockpit until the very last stages of construction. One of the best-engineered sections was the intake assembly, whereby inner and outer parts accurately reproduced this complex structure. A note for all modellers; dry fitting of these assemblies, particularly when fitting into the fuselage halves, was vital for success – any misalignment would have serious repercussions down the line when mating the fuselage halves. After the intakes and cockpit were attached to one half, the fan blades were dropped into place and the rear wheel and airbrake bays fitted. Care was needed with this part
(A2) to ensure level positioning otherwise there would be a step on one side of the fuselage. The latter went together with minimal fuss and only a small amount of filler was required on the joins. One could actually skip stages 13 and 14 until the very end because the fit of the parts was so good. This test shot had noticeable sink marks on the trailing edge of the wing stubs and on the underside, just by the moulded alignment pins which needed filling. The wings comprised an upper and two lower parts; as mentioned previously the fuel dump pipes were moulded with the upper wing so take care, because they were fairly fragile. However, once the
MANUFACTURER’S DILEMMA Given the budget price of this release, Airfix was faced with difficult decisions regarding how much detail could be incorporated. However, after all of the building work and research there were only a few small external shortcomings to note: a lack of exhaust vents and cannon muzzle on the gun pods, water ejector vent on the forward exhaust nozzle fairing and one must fill the last vent on the fuselage for an early GR.1. Internally, the issues surrounded the intake, which was moulded in a similar fashion to the 1/24 scale release, so even when the auxiliary intakes are at full deflection, one won’t get to see the nozzle, just the outside of the inner liner. This could probably be rectified with judicious razor saw work and re-profiling of the intake wall. A more difficult issue was the engine fan location, which should be in line with the engine bay panel line on the upper fuselage; in this kit it was approximately 4mm further back; again this could be rectified by those seeking greater accuracy, but not without considerable work. Finally there was a trapezoidal-shaped panel moulded onto the upper wing surface – it is normally the key reference point for the placement of the wing roundels – Airfix appears to have moulded this a litle too closely to the wingtip.
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The engineering of the subsections was apparent in section 11, all dropping into place; for the first time the full effect of the multi-part front wheel well was visible.
With the wings and fuselage assembled, the fit was excellent and minimal filler used…although sink marks in the aft wing stubs did require additional attention. The view from the underside was equally impressive, again highlighting how well the parts fitted. Just a dash of filler was needed around the airbrake bay.
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56 EXCLUSIVE BUILD
The level of external detail was splendid. Treats included air conditioning vents and, in a first for this scale, raised cockpit sills so characteristic of the Harrier. 30mm Aden gun pods were generally well rendered and lacked just the cannon exhaust holes and open muzzle.
Here’s a closer look at what would normally be the weak point of a Harrier kit. On Airfix’s product, however, the wing-to-fuselage join was trouble free. The kit provided an option for closed or dropped auxiliary inlet doors; the two-part outer intake sides have been assembled, with dropped doors chosen for an aircraft on the ground.
To echo early Harriers, the kit contained two fuel tanks; the halves went together without issue.
wing structure was glued together the whole section was very robust. Stage 18 dealt with the joining of the wing and fuselage; historically this was one of the weak points of many Harrier kits, but any fears one might have had could be set to rest because the join was excellent and very little, if any, filler was required.
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Exhaust fit The intakes could be assembled either with the auxiliary doors closed (in flight) or with the upper doors open (powered down on the ground) and fitted very well against the fuselage sides. Ancillary items such as weapons pylons, strakes/gun pods were added, before a challenging area of the kit was
tackled – the exhaust nozzles. These were moulded as twopiece items and although they fitted together very well, adding them to the fuselage was quite a struggle. After much trial and effort it proved easiest to fit the forward nozzles pointing rearward (as if in flight) and then rotate them as required. Conversely, the rear nozzles
needed to be fitted pointing downwards and even then, plenty of pressure was required for them to snap into place. The build also highlighted the need to fit the nozzles before the wing pylons – otherwise there was a risk of breaking these off as one tried to fit the nozzles. The exhaust plates (parts A19 and A22) were perhaps the best
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HARRIER GR.1 57 With a coat of primer on the model, the depth of some of the panel lines was highlighted. However, once fully painted the slightly deep engraving was far less apparent.
The underside seen here following a coat of primer: It should be noted that fitting of the gun pods would hide the two main sink marks present on the lower fuselage.
AFTERMARKET DECALS representation seen in any scale to date, actually being held away from the fuselage side by small strakes, as on the real thing. One area which stood out on the Airfix GR.9 was the highly detailed undercarriage, but this GR.1 kit was no different; the nose wheel was constructed in the same way and fitted neatly into the wheel-bay. Main and outrigger wheels were all beautifully moulded, although the latter did have a sink-mark in the fairing which was hard to deal with. The undercarriage was left off until final assembly, but the engineering was such that even on a dry-fit, all the wheels touched the ground. With the majority of the fuselage built, all ancillaries such as antennae and cannon pods were added before painting commenced.
painting was done by brush, with just the light aircraft grey undersides being airbrushed. The gloss colour scheme had its pros and cons though. While the gloss paint dried slowly enough to provide a level surface for markings later, it did present the risk of fingerprints showing should the paint not have properly dried. That aside, the light grey was then masked and the whole fuselage painted
Once the painting of the three-tone camouflage was completed, the effect of previously highly visible panel lines was muted.
Alley Cat Decals 72008: The Harriers of 233 OCU 1972-77 GR.1A/GR.3/T.2/T.4 Vingtor 72109: Harrier Test and Demo Aircraft P.1127/GR.1/T.2 Sky Models: 72-044 Harrier/AV8B Aztec 72016: RAF and Spanish Harriers GR.1A/GR.3/AV-8A Model Alliance 72184: RAF Germany 1970-75 Part 1 GR.1/T.2 Model Alliance 72187: RAF Germany 1970-75 Part 2 GR.1 Model Alliance 72188: RAF Germany 1970-75 Part 3 GR.1 Xtradecal X72181: Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1/3 (see Page 7, October’s issue)
Bring out the brushes In keeping with an out of the box build, the majority of the
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58 EXCLUSIVE BUILD
HARRIER GR.1
in dark sea grey. Hannants’ Xtracolour paints were used and although the colour and gloss sheen was just what was required, these paints did seem to be much thinner than usual – it took three coats over an undercoat of Vallejo dark grey to obtain sufficient opacity. The dark green took a similar number of coats, but once the masking was removed it was worth the effort and the gloss scheme was a pleasant alternative to later matt camouflage. Once the camouflage and detail painting had been completed, all remaining subassemblies were laid out ready for the final stages of construction.
After having added the wing pylons, exhaust nozzles and ancillaries, the final markings were added to bring the build almost to a close. The three-tone scheme, with the original red-white-blue roundels and fin flashes, really stood out when compared to later matt-finished aircraft.
Decal mosaic Thankfully, SkyModels has Harrier HCU markings on its big Harrier sheet, so these were utilised along with roundels and tail flashes from Vingtor. Stencils came courtesy of Modeldecal and Aztec sheets, while serial numbers were from Sky Models and AlleyCat. All markings went on well, and a coat of Johnson’s Klear was used to seal them and eliminate any silvering that might have occurred…particularly with the older decals. After leaving the kit for a day or so to dry completely, final assembly took place. All the remaining parts and sections went together well; horizontal and vertical stabilisers just dropped into place and there it was, a 1969 Harrier GR.1 from the HCU.
doubt, though, the baton has been passed and the best firstgeneration Harrier in 1/72 scale now belongs to Airfix, despite ❚ just the odd shortcoming.
REFERENCE MATERIAL UK Harrier: A Proud History 1969-2010 UK MoD (no ISBN) World Air Power Journal Vol 6, Summer 1991, Aerospace Publishing, ISSN: 0959-7050 Aviation Fact File Harrier (Modern Fighting Aircraft) by Bill Gunston, (Salamander), ISBN: 0 86101 1287 Harrier The Vertical Reality, by Roy Braybrook (RAF Benevolent Fund), ISBN: 1-899808-40-X Good internet sites for GR.1 photos include: www.globalaviationresource.com www.airwar.ru www.forums.airshow.co.uk There is also the Harrier Special Interest Group website (http:// harriersig.org.uk/) which is a veritable encyclopaedia on all things Harrier.
Vertical victory This kit took 20 hours, although the majority involved hand-painting. Without a
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60 OUT AND ABOUT
Last hurrah for
Leuchars Tom Sunley reports from the final airshow at this legendary RAF base
As well as the QRA role demo, this Austrian Air Force Typhoon provided its own ‘cloud’ in a clear blue sky!
T
his year was the famous Fife air base’s final fling after 65 years of celebrating the ‘Battle of Britain at Home Day’. With all the cuts by the USA this year due to sequestration, the gossip was always going to be about what wouldn't appear at UK air shows, but the team at RAF Leuchars provided the public with a show that couldn’t
possibly disappoint! Top of the bill was the Austrian Air Force Typhoon QRA role demo team. Seen flying outside Austria for the first time, the team provided two stunning displays full of energy which, rightly, earned it the Best Display accolade. The Swedish Air Force Historic Flight was forced to withdraw its J-29 Tunnan due to technical issues, but in its place alongside
the Viggen and SAAB 105 was the de Havilland Vampire T.55. Two unusual flypasts involved a Boeing E-3 Sentry with a Typhoon on each wing, and the Red Arrows arrived in style with four Leuchars Typhoons. RAF Typhoon display pilot Jamie Norris had his work cut out following the Austrians’ efforts, but his spirited performance showed the crowd that the
The Swedish Air Force Historic Flight’s SAAB 105 seen in a top side pass. Known by the Swedish Air Force as the SK60, the 105 fulfilled basic trainer and light attack roles. Team 60, the aerobatic team of the Swedish Air Force, uses this aircraft to great effect.
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home team can get the job done. Further flying included a Soko Kraguj (Sparrowhawk) in Yugoslav colours paired with a Yak-52, The Blades, RAF Tucano, PBY-5A Catalina, T-28 Fennec, Rolls-Royce-owned Spitfire PR.XIX, Gnat Display Team, Jet Provost T.5, Strikemaster Mk.82A, Pitts Specials and the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The static area, usually dominated by ‘heavies’ from the USA, was populated with alternatives such as a KDC-10 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, along with a VC-10, Voyager and Sentinel R.1 from the RAF. Other highlights included Italian Eurofighters, French Navy Rafale Ms, and six F-16s from the Danish, Norwegian and Dutch Air Forces. An example from the latter, J-002, sported a special tail to celebrate 65 years of 323 Squadron. The show ended with the traditional flypast, which comprised a Typhoon and Tornado to signify the transition of Typhoon from Leuchars to ❚ Lossiemouth in 2014.
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RAF LEUCHARS AIRSHOW 2013 61
Royal Netherlands Air Force 323 Squadron was present with its 65th anniversary special-tailed F-16AM, J-002
SAAB AJS 37 Viggen of the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight… currently the only airworthy example of the type. During Flygvapnet service between 1971 and 2005, the type equipped seven Air Wings.
Leuchars Air Show was treated to the first showing of the Austrian QRA Role Demo outside Austria, which had two Typhoons scrambled with the task of forcing a rogue aircraft (Austrian C-130) to land or be destroyed. (All Tom Sunley)
The Red Arrows arrived at Leuchars in another of this year’s mixed type flypast formations; this time with a ‘Box Four’ of locally-based Typhoon FGR.4s.
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09/10/2013 10:31
62 OUT AND ABOUT
d o o w d o o G y ss Cla Ian Grainger goes back to the future with some racing legends
A
s in previous years, The 16th Goodwood Revival celebrated historic racing and the ‘atmosphere’ from the 1940s to the 1960s. As well as on-track action, other highlights included the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation with classic aircraft on static display and in the air. The event held at the sweeping circuit in West Sussex from September
13 – 15, which was formerly RAF Westhampnett, is a magical venue to get unrivalled access to historic modelling reference. The paddock is crammed with fantastic machinery that can be physically touched, and one can mingle in a relaxed manner, with motor racing legends past and present, plus the odd celebrity petrol head. The 2013 on-track highlights were the Whitsun Trophy, a 45
minute, two-driver race for a grid of more than 25 Ford GT40s and related cars that raced between 1964 and 1966; plus a daily parade of a further 13 examples, celebrating 50 years since Henry Ford launched the programme to beat Ferrari at Le Mans. The Revival also showcased a wonderful tribute to the alltoo-brief career of legendary Scottish racer Jim Clark, which
commemorated half-a-century since he won his first Formula One World Championship and comprised more than 30 cars in the order in which he drove them. Finally, the unique 1961 Aston Martin Project 212, fittingly won the flagship Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration race of priceless GT cars on Sunday, coincidentally in the famous marque’s centenary year!
From Farmer to Formula One! The Jim Clark tribute was spectacular. Over 30 cars provided a mobile timeline of a this amazingly talented Scot who’s career was tragically cut short aged 32 at Hockenheim, Germany in 1968 having already won two F1 titles.
Jim Clark tested this unusual wedge-shaped, gas-turbine-powered Lotus 56 Indy ‘STP special’ in 1968, but never raced it, before his fatal accident.
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The actual ‘offset suspension’ 1965 Indianapolis 500 winning Lotus-Ford 38, driven by fellow Scot and triple IndyCar champion, Dario Franchitti, who has himself won the ‘classic’ race three times.
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GOODWOOD REVIVAL 2013 63
50 years of the 40 The legend that is the Ford GT40 celebrated its 50th anniversary with a parade on the very circuit where examples tested regularly for racing during the mid-1960s, playing a vital role in the car’s development programme.
Whitsun Trophy For 2013 as part of the 50th anniversary, the entire field comprised Ford GT40s that raced from 1963 to 1966.
Car No.22 a 1965 Ford GT MkII receiving close attention from the black-liveried No.12 GT40 of the same vintage.
Several of the Ford GT40s housed in their very own purpose-built replica paddock/pit lane area for the Revival weekend. The line-up also included chassis P/1046, the black No.2 car that won the 1966 Le Mans 24-hour race.
GT40 No.24 lapped the circuit parade, by three-time Formula One champion, Jackie Stewart in his famous Royal Stewart Tartan helmet. With Graham Hill, he actually raced this lightweight, Alan Mann Racing-developed AMGT at Sebring in 1966.
Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy (RAC TT) Celebration A one-hour two-driver race for closed-cockpit GT cars in the spirit of the RAC TT races, 1960-1964. Arguably the most expensive historic racing grid of 2013, where AC Cobras battled with Jaguar E-types, Ferraris and Aston Martins.
The unique Aston Martin Project 212 took advantage of the conditions on-track during the second half of the TT, taking the win for the marque’s centenary.
Glover Trophy The Glover Trophy featured 1.5lit Grand Prix and 1lit Formula Two racers from 1961 through 1966. The original regulations produced agile little racers from the likes of Cooper, BRM, Braham and Lotus; with their '25' being the most famous.
A magnificent seven Jaguar E-types including lightweight, ‘lowdrag’ and Fixed Head Coupe examples were assembled for racing in the TT.
This rare 1964 Ferrari 1512 receives special attention in the paddock from the mechanics prior to the Glover Trophy race on Sunday. With Joe Colasacco at the wheel, the car qualified well in 9th place, but could only manage a 12th place race finish.
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The 1960 silver Ferrari 250GT SWB/C fishtails under power at the hands of Le Mans legend Henri Pescarolo.
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64 OUT AND ABOUT
Gordon Trophy
GOODWOOD REVIVAL 2013
Aviation Attractions
A race for rear-engined Inter-Continental Formula and Formula One cars that raced between 1956 and 1962. The field comprised mainly Cooper and Lotus with the odd BRM and Lola in the mix.
The worlds only airworthy EE Canberra PR.9, XH134, made its debut air display over the circuit on September 13, repainted in classic colours since its first public appearance in the RIAT static park earlier in the year. Miles Griffiths took the win driving this 1959 Cooper-Climax T51, completing 18 laps with a final lead of just over 24 seconds, a stellar performance including a fastest lap of 1:24.705.
The Avro 504 also celebrated its centenary in 2013, with this fine example generously provided by Eric Verdon-Roe. Several of this type of aircraft performed the first ever aerial bombing raid on November 21, 1914, on the Zeppelin airship sheds at Friedrichshafen, Germany.
Fordwater Trophy Another 25 minute race for production-based sports and GT cars of the period 1955 and 1960. A pair of Cooper-Climax T53 ‘lowline’ single-seaters from 1960 battle for third and fourth place with No.91 eventually claiming the final step on the podium by only 0.239 seconds.
St Mary’s Trophy The Saint Mary’s Trophy, for saloon cars that competed between 1960 and 1966.
The ‘Jim Clark’ Porsche 356A coupe battles with No.14 Jaguar XK140.
Olympic cycling multiple Gold Medallist Sir Chris Hoy, shared driving duties of this Austin Mini Cooper S, over the two races with its entrant Andrew Ruhan.
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Jochen Mass (team mate to James Hunt in 1976, as part of his illustrious career) finished in second place in this beautiful Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘Gullwing’ from 1955.
09/10/2013 10:32
SILVER DREAM MACHINE
66 ADVANCED BUILD
Garry Tobiss explores the ancestry of the Me 163 Komet with the mixed-media DFS 40 from Master-X
T
he Deutsche Foreschungsanstalt fur Segeflug (DFS) 40 was designed by Alexander Lippisch in 1937…and was intended to test the then radical aeronautical idea of a flying wing.
The sole aircraft built was a progression on earlier delta designs and was originally designated ‘Delta V’. Unpowered flight trials were encouraging so the project advanced to powered flight via a rear-mounted propeller. This took place in 1939 but, unfortunately, Lippisch had moved on to work for Messerschmitt and the new engineers miscalculated the machine’s centre of gravity; the result was that the aircraft went into a flat spin and crashed. But the pilot survived and went on to become the first person to exceed 620mph (1000 km/h). This was Heini Dittmar, who flew the Lippischdesigned Messerschmitt Me 163 rocket-powered fighter on October 2, 1941. Master-X’s model came in a sturdy cardboard box with basic
The photo-etched brass fret supplied with the kit; doors for the wheel wells came as one piece for each side, so needed to be separated by using the lines etched on the pieces as a guide. Two major parts made up almost the entire kit. Surface detail was good and the two central panels on the top and bottom in particular had a very convincing hand-built look.
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DFS 40 67 Once the parts had been separated, neatened and washed, the scope for further damage or loss was minimised by storing them in a new container. Boxes such as this are sold in DIY stores, for storing nails and screws.
Plastic card and filler were added to enclose the wheel wells in proper fashion.
good although some parts had nasty casting faults, which needed correcting. No painting instructions were provided but the few images available on the Internet suggested an overall silver finish for the exterior. Despite the picture on the box
which showed a red stripe and Swastika in a white circle, it appears that the DFS 40 actually had no markings.
Off the drawing board The first task was to carefully separate all of the parts from
their casting blocks. This was done with either a razor saw for the larger parts or a PE saw. Sawing was preferable to snipping or cutting the pieces, because the brittle resin could easily be snapped. This process generated a lot of dust so a
MODEL SPEC
artwork pasted to the front. There were only about 30 resin pieces in the entire kit plus a vacuum-formed canopy, a fret of photo-etched (PE) parts and a small clear plastic sheet with instrument dials printed on. Surface detail was quite
The cockpit side walls also benefitted from plastic card. This medium covered join seams that would have been difficult to hide with filling and sanding.
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DFS 40 By:
Master-X
Stock Code: 4840 Scale:
1/48
Price:
€80.00
Available from: Master-X, e-mail:
[email protected]
The tubular frame in the cockpit gave the area an interesting, almost industrial look.
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Fuse wire was added to the back of the instrument dials to replicate wiring, since this area would be visible through the canopy.
A simple but effective instrument panel was built with resin, clear plastic with black dials and a PE front – although there were no clear instructions on how this was to be installed in the cockpit.
vacuum cleaner was on hand to allow the working area to be cleaned up very frequently. Resin dust can cause health problems, including allergic reactions, so exposure should be minimised and, ultimately, a good quality mask should be worn. Each part was then inspected for bubble holes left in the resin by the casting process. The few that were found were filled with Humbrol Model Putty. All parts were then washed with a toothbrush, water and a little washing-up liquid to remove all traces of release agent, as well as any remaining dust. Construction
then began with the wheel wells. These were basic with no surface detail and they needed plastic card to complete the bay walls. Once this had been done the upper and lower wings were glued together. The fit was reasonable apart from the central leading edges, where gaps of several millimetres were left. These were filled with putty and then sanded with Wet and Dry paper to make good. Lots of small holes left by bubbles in the resin appeared and these had to be carefully scraped out and filled. Attention then turned to the cockpit. The instructions did not give a lot of clarity in this area; some parts such as the joystick were missed off and it was unclear how others fitted together, so imagination was required to make everything look convincing. The interior of German prototypes
Much detail was provided for the seat straps – all made with PE components.
All of the frame sections had paint scratches applied via a sponge, to simulate wear and tear.
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DFS 40 69
WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?
Resin kits tend to be of the ‘short run’ variety and are often of esoteric subjects. The DFS 40 is a perfect example. If an unusual model is required for a collection then resin may be the only option for a manufactured kit. After-market upgrades for plastic kits usually have a large resin component so many modellers are already familiar with the medium. A complete resin kit may need some ingenuity to build, though, because the fit might not be perfect and the instructions unclear in some areas. Cyanoacrylate (CA) glue is normally required to secure the pieces although canopy glue or similar can be used in some circumstances where more time is needed to get the parts lined up. Epoxy glue, either fast- or slow-drying, is another alternative.
The fit between the aileron and the wing on the port side was not good…and the starboard side was not much better.
Resin parts are cast rather than injection-moulded, so they typically have a large casting block still attached - sometimes much larger than the actual piece. Detail on resin is generally very good. Such resin parts, especially smaller items, are brittle and despite the manufacturers’ best efforts to pack them carefully there are often pieces that get broken in the box…as this undercarriage strut shows. Flash is also common as seen on the second part.
were apparently painted in grey so Lifecolor Dark Grey RLM 66 (FS 36081) was used for all of the components, including the wheel bays and doors. Slight weathering was achieved with matt black acrylic paint applied by sponge. Test-fitting of the canopy confirmed that the frames in the cockpit were of the correct dimension. The method used to shape the canopy was to cut roughly to size with a small pair of scissors, followed by sanding with a small drum on a mini-drill. This had to be done very gradually, because the removal of too much material would have left a poorly-fitting canopy. A great deal of time was spent trying to get an acceptable fit…and even then it was not perfect. The fit of the undercarriage struts into the holes in the wheel wells was not
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good, so each area was blanked off with a piece of plastic card and new holes drilled; undercarriage components were then glued onto the new pieces. A small resin part was provided for the tail skid, but it seemed very unlikely that this would take the weight of the model without adjustment. The part was modified and a small hole drilled at the bottom of the fuselage to take the piece. Even so, the skid remained very vulnerable and with hindsight, a better solution would be to replace it with a piece of wire. The remaining PE parts were then fitted and the model was ready for painting.
Part counts in resin kits are usually low so assembly is not complex. Resin parts may lack numbers to aid construction, so more thought and dryfitting than for plastic kits is required. Vacuum-formed canopies are common. In this kit the two canopy pieces had to be cut out from a single moulding. The small acetate sheet of instrument dials is also shown.
Silver…or silver? There is only one colour scheme, that of overall silver. As an experiment, no primer was
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70 ADVANCED BUILD
This abrasive moror tool barrel was an essential item for gently sanding the canopy parts to size. Portions of the airframe were masked to provide surface colour variation.
Casting faults on one of the ailerons: although these are emphasised in the photo, a metal finish betrays even tiny blemishes. These had to be minimised with a small chisel to remove as much as possible without destroying the detail.
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used for this build. This was because the resin surface was very smooth and previous use of Gunze Mr. Metal products showed good adhesion to resin. Mr. Metal Alminue (sic) 218 was brushed on to the majority of the airframe and then buffed with a brush to a high sheen. The finish immediately revealed any imperfections that could then be treated and re-coated very easily, so the no-primer technique worked well. Certain panels plus the ailerons were painted in Mr. Metal Chrome Silver 211 to provide subtle variation. Painting the canopy proved a challenge, though. There were pre-cut masks supplied, but after several trials it became clear that these did not match well with the frames on the canopy. In addition it would have been very difficult to align the individual pieces and get a convincing straight line for the frames. Plan B was therefore to use Tamiya 6mm tape to mark off and paint each frame one by one. Mr. Metal lent itself well to this technique because the majority of the paint could be allowed to dry on the brush, before application to the masked area. There were enough metal particles left on to coat the surface, but there was little or no bleed under the tape because the paint was so dry. The paint was not too affected by repeated masking, as the pattern of the frames was gradually completed. The undercarriage and propeller were brush-painted with Mr. Metal Stainless Steel 213 to
complete the basic finish. The DFS was a prototype with a relatively short career, so no weathering was applied.
Does it fly? This is certainly not a kit for beginners. Even with the low parts count there were still ‘mystery’ pieces with no real indication of where they go and other parts not shown on the diagrams, which need to be included. Many of the main components did not fit well and needed much careful filling and sanding. The kit required thought on how to place the components of the cockpit - the instrument panel and rudder pedals were good examples. It was very fiddly to get even a reasonable fit with the two-piece canopy. On the positive side, the kit builds reasonably quickly and creates something unique in this scale. It certainly brought a lot of interest to anyone who saw the model under construction. The weight of the resin also makes it feel substantial. If the objective is to get something that stands out in a collection - and the modeller is prepared for extra effort - then ❚ this is a good choice.
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DFS 40
Canopy masking had to be done with every part of the frame. Note that much of the cockpit interior is visible through the glazing, including the additional wiring.
MATERIALS AT A GLANCE Lifecolor Dark Grey RLM 66 (FS36081) Black FS 37038 Gunze Mr. Metal Color Alminue (sic) 218 Chrome Silver 211 Stainless Steel 213
The components of each undercarriage leg; each tyre had an integrally-cast bulge to represent the effect of the aircraft’s weight. The undercarriage units looked impressive after final assembly.
Weston UK canopy glue Cyanoacrylate glue
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72 REVIEW BUILD
Deviating from the instructions, several items were fitted to the main body shell prior to painting. Holes were drilled to accept roof aerials and the bonnet rally light-pod.
The large roof vent/scoop was fitted to this car. Belkits provided the alternative two-piece style vents.
The ventral face of the rear wing/ spoiler was filled and sanded to eradicate a large ejector pin mark.
he four-wheel-drive Ford Fiesta S2000 rally car project began in early 2009 under the development of M-Sport based in Cumbria. Fitted with the same basic engine components as the Focus RS WRC, but without the turbocharger, the car still developed 280 bhp @ 8000 rpm and when mated with new Xtrac gearbox the car was sure to prove competitive in the Inter-Continental Rally Challenge (IRC) and the Junior WRC at the time. For 2010, the Super 2000 World Rally Championship (SWRC) was born and S2000 cars and drivers now had a proper FIA home, alongside the established IRC. The Ford Fiesta S2000 was stunningly effective, winning its 2010 debut outing of the IRC at Monte-Carlo with the (then) works Ford WRC crew of
Hirvonen and Lehtinen. Further successes for the Fiesta S2000 followed throughout 2010; in the IRC, Middle Eastern Rally Championship (MERC) and most notably the overall championship victory in SWRC by Xavier Pons for Nupel Global Racing. For 2011, the full WRC version of the Fiesta was introduced alongside the S2000 SWRC car; both made inroads in their respective championships and were successful right up to date. In 2011, Norwegian rally ace Henning Solberg (older brother of 2003 WRC champion Petter) employed a Fiesta S2000 during the season including the MonteCarlo, where unfortunately he suffered early retirement. The car, however, wore his trademark striking orange ‘Expert’ colour, and as such, its standout livery was a must for this feature.
Ian Grainger is in rally heaven with Belkits’ second 1/24 offering… the Ford Fiesta S2000
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FORD FIESTA S2000 73
With the interior masked, the body shell parts were airbrushed with Vallejo acrylic-polyurethane White Primer.
Scrutineering
MODEL SPEC
Those having purchased and built the Peugeot 207 S2000 will be familiar with the quality and quantity of Belkits’ products. A generous 125 parts were provided, the majority in injection-moulded white styrene, plus the body shell, and a clear moulding for headlamp parts and glazing. White, paper-style, adhesive window masks were supplied. Also included were ten realistic rubber tyres, five of each different tread patterns…a first, to the best of knowledge, for a mainstream kit. A small photo-etched (PE) steel fret comprised body fasteners, seat mountings, seat belt hardware, plus blue ribbon for the belts themselves and a set of beautiful FORD FIESTA S2000 By:
Belkits
Stock Code: BEL-002 Scale:
1/24
Price:
€39.00
Available from: www.hiroboy.com
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Cartograf decals complete the package. The basic components of the kit packed a real punch and made it good value for money. Although the kit’s decals provided the attractive (and historic) 2010 Monte-Carlo scheme; from the outset, the build would utilise one of the increasing ranges of after-market decal options available. Renaissance Tk24/340 for the orange Monte Carlo 2011 car of Henning Solberg and Ilke Minor was chosen. With the kit built pretty much box stock for this feature, the remainder of the article will concentrate on deviations and detailed additions.
Shakedown Deviating from the excellent instructions, which employed CAD views of construction and could be downloaded in full-colour (from www.belkits.com) some of the major components were fitted to the body. The roof had holes drilled to accept aerials in the correct places for the subject vehicle, plus those for the large single-piece air intake for the crew, which incidentally had the corresponding roof interior vent moulded as a separate part. Parts for the rear portions of each of the front wheel arches were moulded separately from the
The bonnet rally light-pod was painted with Tamiya X-2 Gloss White and had fastener details added from the spares box, to match references. With the rear light reflectors initially painted in Vallejo Black Primer, their surrounds were masked, gloss varnished, and Aclad II Chrome lacquer was then sprayed.
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74 REVIEW BUILD
Belkits also supplied extra detail for the seats, in the form of PE emergency beltcutting tools and seat mounting points.
The steering wheel grip was coated with Tenco Proto, and the detail buttons carefully highlighted in primary colours.
The sprayed CF effect was also employed for under-body guards and other items.
The rear under-body crash protection received Humbrol Metal Cote 27002 Polished Aluminium.
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body and required gap filling and sanding to achieve an acceptable finish. From early on, it was decided that the night stage rally light pod would be employed, so more locating holes were drilled in the bonnet to accept it during final construction. Finally, the exhaust had its port drilled out to a more realistic depth. The moulding (and overall package) was very similar in quality to that found in Hasegawa rally kits, with the styrene having similar ‘workability’ for sanding and cutting. Very minor flaws needed rectification; a single ejector pin mark on the underside of the rear aerofoil wing, plus the general seams in several areas, such as the roll cage. With the body and main components prepared, they were primed with Vallejo acrylic-polyurethane White Primer. Any further blemishes apparent after inspection were resolved and re-coated.
Special stages To save time, because a large number of interior components were white on the real car and the mouldings were already suitably white and glossy, they could remain in bare plastic finish. As a result, additional masking of certain components, such as the interior side/door faces and rear lamp clusters, would be necessary. Gloss black base for the front and rear lamp clusters was essential, so that these parts could be airbrushed with Alclad Chrome. Tenco Proto spray fabric
in a can provided a realistic finish on the dashboard, steering wheel grip and the front shells of the crew seats. The kit-supplied seatbelt hardware was employed, rather than those printed on the decal sheet for use by the less experienced. Being real stitched blue fabric/material, the belts proved tricky to thread through the PE buckles due to fraying at the cut ends. A solution presented itself, though; the cut ends were sealed with a sparing amount of cyanoacrylate (CA) adhesive to make the whole operation much less onerous. Once completed, they did look highly realistic. For the metallic shades on certain components of the interior and chassis/suspension, various Alclad lacquers (Stainless Steel, White Aluminium, and Magnesium) were chosen instead of standard paints, but these items also required priming with Vallejo acrylic-polyurethane Black Primer. Several components of modern rally cars are fashioned from carbon fibre composite materials. The seat backs had decals provided on the kit’s sheet but other areas required detailing. For the front valence and rear wing the template and decal route was chosen; for larger areas such as the door interiors and under body protective plates, spraying metallic shades through mesh, over a black base, was employed.
Service area Once the majority of components were painted and decorated, attention moved to other matters.
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FORD FIESTA S2000 75
Front and rear suspension ‘uprights’ were replicated as per the kit source data.
The spare wheel was fitted with a retaining strap, also provided from the box.
All the suspension components came together easily, to build into a comprehensive representation of the real car in this area.
One set of the two-tyre pattern options provided were selected, to match references, and neatly fitted over each wheel. The contact patches of the tyres were given a worn appearance with a sanding stick, while the spare had its retaining straps fitted in similar fashion to the main seat belts. Construction of all interior and chassis components was accomplished with ease; no additional wiring or other details for the interior, other than
Brake disks and callipers received a wash of Citadel Badab Black before ‘brembo’ decal logo application.
The remaining interior components were added, including the dash and steering column, which proved to be a tricky operation.
a simple PE mobile phone and holder to replace the basic kit item. A problematic area of the chassis construction concerned the suspension uprights and dampers/springs. It transpired that these were moulded erroneously and thus required minor surgery to fit them to the hub parts designed to attach to each wheel. Another error was that the main headlamp lenses were numbered incorrectly for left and right, but in reality The interior sides tended to hide visible detail after their installation. Considering the model was built almost out of the box interior-wise, the detail provided was easily on par with its contemporaries.
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proved virtually impossible to be physically fitted to the wrong side. Painting of the underside vinyl flaps which fitted to the rear transmission protector was tricky. Due to the nature of the vinyl material, getting the Tamiya Matt Buff XF-57 paint to adhere was a trial; cracking and flaking occurred without an obvious solution.
Time control Masks for the interior of the main glazed areas for the body came supplied in the kit. The paper style was acceptable, but required extra care to burnish the edges, thus avoiding paint creep.
The replacement Renaissance decals for the glass went on without fuss. Tamiya X-27 Clear Red was applied with care to the interior of the rear light clusters.
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Focus returned to the main body components at this stage. With the body primed, colour matched to RAL3004, Zero Paints’ (Hiroboy) Expert Orange ZP-1232 was airbrushed in several thin layers. As the orange was supplied as a matt/satin basecoat, once dry, Zero Paints’ Pre-thinned clear lacquer was used to seal the colour pigment. Detail painting of the window surrounds was accomplished by careful hand brushing of Citadel Abbadon Black. Window masks were of the white adhesive paper variety, as opposed to the more standard yellow masking tape. As such, their accurate positioning was more critical, as was the burnishing of their edges to avoid paint creep. The Renaissance decals adhered well to the body and glazing, aided by the use of compatible Microscale decal solvents. The decals had perfect colour density and register as should
be expected from after-market products. The Monte Carlo Rally, one of the most historic on the calendar, supplies the competitors with actual metal rally plates for application on the bonnet. Fortunately, Reji Model manufactures 1/24 scale PE plates suitable for supporting these particular decals, so one of these items was employed. Final construction of the body parts was achieved simply and effectively, with the main glazing snap-fitting into place. It must be said that the moulding for the heated rear windscreen was a little over zealous, but other than replacing completely, difficult to correct. Having experienced problems in the past, the author chose not to seal the decals with varnish, but alternatively used several layers of good quality carnauba wax polish. The body fit to the chassis proved snug and required several attempts, however, once
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FORD FIESTA S2000 in place correctly, the ‘sit’ of the model was faultless. Now that a minimum of unnecessary handling was envisaged, delicate items such as wiper blades and door mirrors were mated to the body, with the latter items benefiting from the addition of PE ‘glass’. The final components to be added to the body were aerials for the roof (from the spares box) with a GPS antenna by Sakatsu, supplied PE body fasteners and the completed rally lamp pod for the bonnet.
Finish ramp Even with just the box contents, this Fiesta builds into an accurate model. Released at the same time as the firm’s 1/24 Ford Fiesta RS WRC (BEL-003) which shares many common components, just like the real car, its range is ever expanding. Combining either kit with its Gravel Suspension and Wheel transkit (BEL-TK001), presents further modelling possibilities. More after-market decals and upgrades for the Fiesta(s) have appeared already, so the modern rally modeller is well catered for once again. Due to its generally easy level of construction, it is easy to recommend the basic kit to a novice, particularly if the builder omitted the use of PE hardware and took the provided decal route instead. With Belkits’ future release of the Skoda Fabia S2000 and its own companion gravel transkit on the horizon, the rally genre may once again be experiencing a renaissance… ❚ no pun intended!
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With the interior of the body still masked, Citadel Abaddon Black was brushed carefully on the window surrounds and trim. With the body components nearly completed, a coat of carnauba wax polish sealed the decals and gave an attractive high-shine finish.
Rear spoiler wing fitted to the body. This item provided a distraction to the rather heavily moulded heating elements of the rear window.
16/10/2013 09:24
78 ON THE ROAD
IPMS FARNBOROUGH MODELFEST 2013 Mick Burton from IPMS Portsmouth was on a Spanish Air Force theme, with a number of aircraft from this nation. One of the best was his 1/72 CASA Heinkel, converted from the Revel kit with resin aftermarket engines. (All Key – Glenn Sands)
FANTASTIC FEST T
he IPMS Farnborough ModelFest has long been a favourite model show to visit, particularly as it gives me the opportunity to catch up with friends from local model clubs in the south of England. Despite the long drive down from Lincolnshire, with my ‘wants list’ sat next to my wallet on the passenger seat, I knew that despite the mist the drive would be worth it. I wasn’t disappointed at all. Taking place on a Saturday, there’s the chance for every visitor to be suitability inspired, purchase some bargains and then have an entire Sunday to look through their booty. A perfect plan for any weekend modeller! Spread over two halls, it
appeared as though every model club in the south was present. Among the familiar Tomcats, Bf 109s and Spitfires were a number of themed displays, laid out on national flags – very inspiring. Spain seemed to be very popular. The Farnborough ModelFest is much more than modellers simply showing off their latest creations...t’s the opportunity to strike-up new friendships and discuss techniques. I had a great chat with Jim Chapman; Honorary Treasurer of IPMS, on some minor construction problems relating to Airfix Lancasters and how tricky those exhaust stubs can be to fit. At the show I always make a point of looking at the Thames Valley Model Club display; they
A perfect airbrush finish, beautifully executed panel lines and an aggressor colour scheme...What more could one possibly need?
78_Farnborough.GS.CC.indd 78
have a reputation of exhibiting stunning 1/48 jets and this year didn’t disappoint. I particularly liked an F-5E Tiger II in the markings of US Navy aggressors, VFC-13 ‘Saints’. I wonder what these chaps have on the modelling
bench at the moment? It was great to see a 1/72 Airfix Concorde built; beautifully finished and in British Airways colours from the Locate and Cement model club. The scale armour on display didn’t disappoint either with plenty of themes on show; a rather good collection of Panther tanks, which showed the various technical modifications made by the German army during World War Two, was weathered to wartime perfection. Well-known modeller Mike McEvoy was quick off the mark with Freightdog’s new resin ‘What If’ conversions and had a number of 1/144 Airborne Early Warning Boeing C-97s on display from the Royal Canadian Air Force and the RAF, which certainly proved a conversation piece, I wonder if we’d get this resin conversion in 1/72 scale, eh Colin? The whole show has the feel of a giant model club where you can discuss models all day and only break to go and grab a coffee and burger from the stand outside, where the banter proved to be as fast as the service. IPMS Farnborough is to be congratulated once again. ❚ Glenn Sands
Newbury Scale Model Club had an impressive display of 1/35 scale armour and certainly demonstrated they know a thing or two about German Panther tanks.
One of a number of Mike McEvoy’s 1/144 ‘What If’ kits on display, in this case an Airborne Early Warning C-97 of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
09/10/2013 10:41
80 ON THE SHELF
MARK TWO BOMBER BIBLE that is already groaning under the weight of Vulcan books, I thought that many of the images in this title would have already been published but, that’s not the case. Over 80% of the images are new, many from personal photo-collections. A few myths are also clarified in that a limited number of Vulcans, those that underwent overhaul at Bitteswell, did receive a sprayed soft-edge demarcation camouflage scheme. So, modelling critics beware next time you see an Airfix model on a show table. This is a remarkable book on a classic British Cold War bomber
that is well-worth picking up. The print run may be limited so I’d certainly not hesitate in getting a copy. Profits from the book will go to assist the upkeep of Vulcan XH558. GS
BOOK SPEC
With the full backing of the Vulcan to the Sky team, before one opens the soft cover of this book it's obvious that it's going to be a treat, given the contacts the author has made while writing this second, revised and updated edition. It's
certainly a unique approach by just examining the B.2 series and allows for so much more information and images to be presented to the reader and - it certainly is! The content is broken down into the new aircrew training required for the B.2, Operational Wings, Maritime Radar Reconnaissance missions, camouflage schemes used and the Vulcans that were employed as display aircraft before XH558. The text is easy to read and packed with information, much of it first-hand from aircrews that were there at the time. Having a bookshelf
THE VULCAN B.MK2 FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE By:
Craig Bulman
ISBN:
978-0-95678802-3
Price:
£20.00
Format:
A5
From:
Vulcan to the Sky Trust, www. vulcantothesky.org
NOT SUCH AND UNDERDOG
BOOK SPEC
The third in the Airframe Album series examines, in substantial detail, the Commonwealth Aircraft Company (CAC) Boomerang. This book dispels the long assumed opinion that Boomerangs were simply stopgap fighters until the RAAF could acquire enough P-40s and Spitfires. Author Richard Franks examines the origins of THE CAC BOOMERANG AIRFRAME ALBUM 3 By:
Richard A Franks
ISBN:
9780956719881
Price:
£15.95
Format:
A4
From:
Valiant Wings Publishing
the fighter; why it was needed, the problems faced by the CAC in its development and provides a stunning account of the type’s operational service within the RAAF. The myths of the camouflage are explored and for once the Foliage Green and Medium Sea Grey paint schemes are explained, although it appears there were many exceptions to the wartime regulations, and these are documented with clear photographic proof! It’s obvious that this title is aimed at modellers and historians, as the chapters relating to the construction of the Boomerang, by using surviving airframes as examples, is remarkable and a practice
that many other publishers should adopt. For the modeller, there’s the exceptional profile artwork by Richard J. Caruana and this time there’s a fourview included which shows the Boomerang’s entire camouflage scheme – great stuff! There’s a chapter on all the kits and accessories that are out there along with all the past publications that have been produced on the Boomerang. In reality, though, one would only need this title, which looks set to become the definitive book on the Boomerang. It’s clear that this work has been a labour of love for the author and this is demonstrated throughout; that can only be best summed up with this
example: a table of all the Boomerangs built and their operational service within the RAAF, and their eventual fate. Where else is one going to get that? If a Boomerang build is on the cards then get hold of this splendid book. Highly recommended. GS
THE TERRIFIC ‘TIN-WING’ HARRIERS
80-81_Aircraft Books.CC.indd 80
shortly the GR.3. Each chapter provides a concise history of the development of the Harrier series and, is now further illustrated by
archive images to. But for many it will be the sheer scale of the colour profiles and four-views, which cover every scheme used by the RAF, FAA, USMC, Spain, India and Thailand that will be of use to the modeller. There are some real classics in here including the two ‘Matchcoat’ GR.3, the pink T.2A, that didn’t last for very long following a squadron exchange with the Armée de l’Air. On top of this there’s the recently introduced low-viz Indian Navy schemes. A brilliant work that
will certainly have any modeller asking if they have enough Harrier kits in their stash. Thoroughly recommended. GS
BOOK SPEC
These AIRfile titles are certainly getting better and better and filling a gap that became vacant with the collapse of The Aviation Workshop. Having a similar format to those titles the Harrier has sensibly been broken down into two volumes in order to give this remarkable British aircraft, lets not forget we are dealing with just the first generation variants here, justice. This book is simply a wealth of information and colour schemes and could not have been better timed for the recent release of the 1/72 Airfix GR.1 and
H.S/BAE FIRST GENERATION HARRIER IN WORLDWIDE SERVICE VOLUME 1: 1960-2000 By:
Glenn Ashley
ISBN:
978-0-9569802-6-7
Price:
£19.99
Format:
A4
From:
AIRfile Publications
09/10/2013 10:42
AIRCRAFT BOOKS 81
THE VERY BEST OF BRITISH stunning successes at Red Flag and Maple Flag exercises, flown in North America and which took the USAF hierarchy by storm, are covered in detail. Two chapters are devoted to the intensive, but little known, Bush War operations by 24 SAAF Squadron in the border areas of southern Angola. Two USAF exchange officers who flew Buccaneers relate their experiences and the aircraft’s deployment for the Lebanon crisis (and the reinforcement exercise to the Falklands Islands) is examined. The introduction of new air-to-surface anti-ship missiles is covered before the Buccaneer left to go to war in the Gulf where it distinguished itself, providing precision laser marking for the Tornado force in addition to carrying out its own
GERMAN CLASSICS
BOOK SPEC
Bf 109 fans have much to savour here. A rare photo of a then Rumanian Air Force Bf 109E3 is presented in the opening Reader’s Forum section, and fuels debate on the shade used LUFTWAFFE IN FOCUS 21 By:
Axel Urbanke
ISBN:
9783941437166
Price:
€54.00 (inc. postage)
Format:
A4
From:
LuftfahrtverlagStart
on the cowlings, fuselage band and code numbers. A photograph of Bf 109G-6 Black 11 ‘Usch’, flown by Uffz. Reich of JG 52, is also offered. The Fighters chapter has a rare colour image of a pilot in the cockpit of his Bf 109F which, apart from showing camouflage shades and uniform colour, also affords an excellent view of the Revi C/12D reflector gunsight. The wolf badge of III./JG 52 looms large on a featured Bf 109E , flown by Hptm. Von Winterfeldt during August 1940. The two included photos of the aircraft provide
useful detail views of the nose and undercarriage, and anyone who continues to paint their ‘109 tyres in neat black after seeing these photos is beyond help! A
precision bombing attacks. This has to be the perfect read for those wanting to know what is was like to ‘really fly’ the Buccaneer without being weighed down with technical jargon. A stunning collection of aircrew accounts. As an additional bonus, The Aviation Bookshop has a limited number of exclusive aircrewsigned copies available. Visit: www.aviation-bookshop.com. Tel: 01892 539284 GS
BOOK SPEC
Following on from other titles such as Victor Boys and Lightning Boys, they have saved one of the best until last with aircrews recalling their days of flying what was the ‘last all-British bomber.’ The collection of stories brought together by Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork, himself a former Buccaneer
navigator, recall the experiences of Fleet Air Arm, Royal Air Force and South African Air Force aircrews...and their affection for the Blackburn Buccaneer. Arranged in chronological order, the book traces the history of the aircraft and the tasks it fulfilled. In addition to describing events and activities, it provides an insight into the lifestyle of a Buccaneer squadron and the fun and enjoyment of being a ‘Buccaneer Boy’, in addition to being part of a highly professional dedicated force. The type's introduction into service is fully described and there are chapters devoted to flying from the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers. Further sections cover the development of two squadrons in Germany in the overland role. The aircraft’s
BUCCANEER BOYS By:
Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork
ISBN:
978-1-909166-11-0
Price:
£20.00
Format:
A5
From:
Grub Street
large colour profile, photos and text aim to solicit information from readers regarding the identity of ‘mystery’ Bf 109E, while another three pages of ‘109 images provide further inspiration. Those interested in transport types have a doublepage-spread focussing on the mighty Arado Ar 232, and the Personal Emblems section offers a stunning colour image of a crashed KG 51 Ju 88 named ‘Pedro 2’. The Focke-Wulf Fw 200 and Fiesler Storch are also examined, before a superb profile of Stuka pilot Dr. Ernst Kupfer of StG. 2. It’s all splendid stuff. CC
ONE-A-DAY AT TAMPA BAY
80-81_Aircraft Books.CC.indd 81
during the Normandy Landings and the advance into Germany, and where its medium-level tactical ability shone through.
The Marauder also served with the RAF, SAAF and Free French Air Force in the Mediterranean and the little-credited Balkan Air Force in support of Tito’s Partisans in Yugoslavia. This new book from Osprey tells the story of its design and development, through the acquisition of its unfortunate reputation and its operational history, to its sad fate, as many of the more than 5,200 B-26s produced were scrapped just days after the end of the war. Osprey’s Vanguard series is fast
gaining a reputation in providing a well presented, concise overview of famous fighters and bombers, for a reasonable price. GS
BOOK SPEC
One of the most underrated medium bombers of World War Two, the Martin B-26 Marauder never fully managed to shake off an underserved early reputation as a dangerous aircraft to fly. Deemed a superior design when being developed, almost 1,000 had been ordered before the aircraft first took to the air in November 1940. B-26s became operational from late 1941, first in the Pacific, then the Mediterranean. It was in Europe, however, that the type was most prolific, particularly
AIR VANGUARD: 4 MARTIN B-26 MARAUDER By:
Martyn Chorlton
ISBN:
978-1-8-78906605-2
Price:
£11.99
Format:
A5
From:
Osprey Publishing
09/10/2013 10:43
82 ON THE SHELF
BOOKS & DVDS
POST D-DAY STRUGGLES
BOOK SPEC
After the Allies’ initial success on D-Day, the push to Berlin was hampered by dogged German defence. The US launched Operation Cobra in a bid to gain ground, but the fighting remained hard going. Two notable actions in August 1944 were at Mortain A SOUND LIKE THUNDER By:
Dennis Oliver
ISBN:
978-0-9876013-1-5
Price:
£14.99
Format:
A4
From:
The Aviation Book Centre
and Falaise…the latter famous for its ‘Gap’. Oliver’s softback book examines the German armour involved, with a mix of text, tables for tank, assault gun and artillery strengths and maps…and many colour profiles and interesting black and white photographs. Relevant German units are described and there’s a passage (and half-tone profile) which covers the death of famous tank ace Michael Wittmann in Tiger I ‘007’. While many photos aren’t really clear enough for the study of fine detail, they do lend context for military modellers, particularly if one specialises in dioramas. The winning content,
{DVDs}
though, is arguably the copious colour profiles of vehicles such as the Sd.Kfz.251 in various forms, Panzer IV, Panther, Tiger I and various StuGs. The camouflage rendering on these is pleasing and will help no end with airbrushing and finishing. CC
EARLY WAR SEAWOLF Scratch-builders and superdetailers have much to consider and enjoy here. In a very handy move, fold-out 1/144 scale black and white plans are also provided; these give profile, plan, front and rear views, along with oblique angle line drawings of all four subtypes. If you’re a U-Boat fan, don’t miss it! CC
BOOK SPEC
There seems to be more reference material on U-Boats than ever before, and the number of models has also blossomed. Not long ago, ICM released a 1/144 scale Type II and the mould found its way into a Revell box. For anyone with these kits, Kagero’s softback book will be the last word in reference.
An opening spread differentiates Types A, B, C and D in terms of structural features and general characteristics tables are provided for each. Then follows profile, plan and front views of all four in colour, and then one is plunged into the great many 3D CAD drawings of Type IIs. No angle has been ignored and much effort has gone into the reproduction of even the tiniest feature. There’s even impressive rendering of the texture of the hull to add to the realism. Views into the conning tower provide extra detail, but an equally useful trait is that individual equipment such as the 20mm C/30 gun (and its mount), is afforded separate and highly detailed illustrations.
THE TYPE II U-BOAT By:
Waldemar Góralski
ISBN:
978-83-6287864-2
Price:
£15.99
Format: A4 From:
The Aviation Book Centre
RESPLENDENT ON THE THAMES
BOOK SPEC
HMS Belfast has always been a popular modelling subject…mainly because one can actually visit the vessel as a museum on the River Thames. The cruiser was one of the largest employed by the Royal Navy and served with distinction throughout the Arctic Convoys, Battle of the North Cape, Operation HMS BELFAST CRUISER 1939 By:
Richard JohnstoneBryden
ISBN:
978-1-84832-155-7
Price:
£14.99
Format: 246mm x 174mm From:
The Aviation Book Centre
82_NonAircraft Books.CC.indd 82
Tungsten and during D-Day. She also expended rounds in the Korean War, and stayed with the Royal Navy until 1963. Thankfully, the decision was taken to preserve the vessel. Seaforth’s book is useful for anyone interested in Royal Navy ships, with its well-researched text on Belfast’s history, which
covers commissioning to eventual retirement. All photography is clear and exposes the inner workings of Belfast, and offers appraisal of her external features. Here’s the kicker though…there is no imagery of Belfast in her early years, but Airfix’s 1/600 kit portrays the vessel as she was before her 1944 refit, while Trumpeter’s new 1/350 release depicts the 1942 fit; although many features remained unchanged, others differed significantly by the 1960s. One will have to look elsewhere to glean the correct details on the ship’s appearance during World War Two. As a standalone title, though, this is decent and will be handy if converting either kit. CC
ROYAL AIR FORCE IN THE 1980S These are the RAF films that I grew with and remember. At school I recall watching the images of a Nimrod searching for a Russian submarine off Scotland, F-4 Phantoms intercepting a Bear bomber, and thinking seems like a good life! But there's a lot more besides just aircaft footage.The two-disc set also tells the current political situation and the threat RAF personnel faced from the IRA on a daily basis and, the need to be vigilant at all times. But like many it will be the aircraft footage that is of most interest here - and there's plenty of that! This is at a time when the Tornado GR.1 was new and Phantoms and Lightnings ruled the skies.. Each film veries in length from a few minutes to half-an-hour meanign a total of over six hours footage! It was the decade when the RAF was at its best, with plenty of aircarft types, proper camouflage and the Soviets were still the bad guys! To order visit: www.strikeforcetv.com GS 95th RIFLES 1809 TO SALAMANCA Perhaps better known nowadays as the Green Jackets, this is the second of a threepart series of this unit’s history, telling its story under Wellington from 1809 to 1812. Battlefields are walked and the tale told of their part in the Peninsular Campaign. It is interwoven with shots from period re-enactments and the 95th Living History Group. Also detailed is the clothing and equipment of the time and, it is easy to forget that while we may think of how badly equipped they were, for its time, the 95th was at the cutting edge of soldiery.The discipline was harsh, they walked everywhere and they were probably just as likely to succumb to disease as they were to a French musket ball.The story is detailed and well told with the climax of the 1812 campaign to capture the two Frenchheld fortifications known as the ‘Keys of Spain’… and to bring the French to battle at Salamanca which, ironically, while a success for the allied forces was not such a wonderful battle for the 95th. For details visit: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk DD
09/10/2013 10:43
84 ON THE SHELF
COLOURFUL ‘BOLTS
OLD SCHOOL SUB-HUNTER
LARGE-SCALE CURTISS
PRODUCT SPEC
Having already produced the E and K, Hasegawa now offers the N and it’s an impressive kit, although the modular moulding does mean slight fit issues. That aside, two canopies enable closed and open fits, the cockpit is respectable and there’s fine engraving all round. Nine grey runners and one clear means a high parts count and plenty to get one’s teeth into. A very detailed multi-part pilot figure (seated) P-40N WARHAWK appears, as do bombs and fuel By: Hasegawa tanks, but there are just two colour Item no: 08232 schemes although the nose art is splendid on both: Scale: 1/32 • 2105711/17, 502nd FS, 337th FG, Price: £52.49 Florida, 1944 Available from: • 42 ‘Kansas City Kiddie III’, Amerang, Capt. Robert White, 8th FS, 49th www.amerang.co.uk FG, 1943
84-85_Aircraft Kits.CC.indd 84
PRODUCT SPEC
Eagle-eyed modellers who bought Italeri’s recent HU.5 boxing would have spotted spare parts for other versions. In this release one gets the distinctive nose and spine radome with which to render the subhunting HAS.3. All the lovely features of the first kit are here, such as fine panel lines and rivets, good interior detail, drooped rotors and photo-etched brass. The superb decal sheet offers four colour WESTLAND WESSEX HAS.3 schemes: By: Italeri • XP142 ‘Humphrey’, 737 NAS, HMS Item no: 2732 Antrim, Falklands, 1982 • XM870/652/PO, 737 NAS, HMS Scale: 1/48 Antrim, 1982 Price: £29.99 • XM328/653/PO, 737 NAS, HMS Available from: Antrim, 1982 The Hobby Company, • XT257, RAF No.1 School of www.hobbyco.net Technical Training, Cosford, 1967
PACIFIC HOOKER
Special Hobby’s Seafire XV is now available from Revell, but with styrene parts only. Three grey runners carry well-detailed parts, with just a hint of flash. Fine moulding is evident on components such as the radiator screens, and in the cockpit which is impressive. This kit portrays the late version with ‘stinger’ tail hook. While refinements such as fuselage strengtheners and catapult spools are present, there SUPERMARINE SEAFIRE are errors which include the MK.XV rudder-mounted formation light By: Revell which sits below the trim tab, but Item no: 04835 it should be above it. Two colour Scale: 1/48 schemes are offered: • SW768/Y/1-14, 806 NAS, HMS Price: £17.99 Glory, BPF, 1946 Available from: • SR5?7/N/I-32, 801 NAS, HMS Revell, www.revell.eu Implacable, BPF, 1945
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Here, Eduard brings us Academy’s P-47D Bubbletop but adds resin parts such as two styles of propeller blade, wheels, and cockpit, along with plain photo-etched brass and pre-coloured metal, and paint masks. Academy’s kit was always good, with fine engraving and plenty of stores, but it gets a whole new lease of life, due also to the five eye-catching colour schemes: • P-47D-28-RA, 228473/R3-F ‘Dorothy’, 373rd FG, March 1945 JUGS OVER GERMANY • P-47D-25-RE, 226628/LM-C ‘Miss By: Eduard Fire/Rozzie Geth II’, 56th FG, 1944 Item no: 1179 • P-47D-26-RA, 228382/HV-S ‘Ole Cock III’, 56th FG, 1945 Scale: 1/48 • P-47D-28-RA, 228445/G9-B ‘Chow Price: £40.99 Hound’, 405th FG, 1944 Available from: • P-47D-28-RA, 228870 ‘Lil’ Tuffy’, Eduard, www.eduard.com 406th FG, 1945
09/10/2013 10:44
AIRCRAFT KITS 85
PRODUCT SPEC
Hasegawa's F-111 has long been due a re-release. At last we have one boxing, the F-111E with an improved decal sheet. The moulds have held up well with finely engraved detail throughout, decals for the cockpit consoles but no weapons as before. The fit of the parts is just as good as it always was, although it's a shame that the canopy still cannot be mounted open; some careful cutting will be required. The standard kit decals are not included in this boxing F-111E AARDVARK 'NOSE ART' being replaced by two 'nose-art' By: Hasegawa examples from RAF Upper Heyford in the early 1990s: Item no: 02060 • 68-0020, 'The Chief', Commander, Scale: 1/72 20th Fighter Wing, RAF Upper Price: £42.49 Heyford, 1993 Available from: • 67-0120, 'The Chief', Commander, Amerang, 20th Fighter Wing, RAF Upper www.amerang.co.uk Heyford, 1992
LUSH LION CUB
FORTIES TESTBED
The flying wings from Northrop did much to further aviation knowledge, but in 1/72 scale the XB-35 would be imposing. For those short on space, this smaller offering could be just the ticket and comes with impressive moulding given its diminutive nature. Wing panel line engraving is not too pronounced and the engine air intakes are moulded cleverly with the upper half. The type’s roomy flight deck has seating and other details moulded integrally, and XB-35 FLYING WING control panel detail is superb. By: Cyber-hobby A pleasing provision is that of Item no: 2017 different styles of propeller for XB/YB sub-types, and one can Scale: 1/200 model the machine with wheels Price: £24.99 up or down. The only markings Available from: to speak of are national insignia Amerang, and wing walkways, but these are www.amerang.co.uk well printed.
PRODUCT SPEC
WARSAW PACT CENTRAL HEATING
SHE AIN'T NO VIRGIN
84-85_Aircraft Kits.CC.indd 85
It has been a few years since Hasegawa's 1/72 Mitchell series has been generally available, but now they are back as a Limited Edition run of boxings, with a change in decals along with an inevitable increase in price! As expected, little has changed with the kit parts, but one has to remember the detail was exceptional throughout with this B-25 to begin with. Cockpit and bomb bay are adequate although the tail guuner's position is a little bare of detail. Do remember to put an adequate nose B-25H MITCHELL 'NOSE ART' weight in the forward fuselage if By: Hasegawa you are not using the crew ladder Item no: 02058 provided. Two USAAF decal options are provided and both wear the Olive Drab/Neutral Grey scheme: • 43-4208, 'Vikin's Vicious Virgin', 82nd BS, 12th BG, Italy 1943 • 43-4380, 'Barbie III', 1st Air Commando Group, Burma, 1944
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Until now, the Kfir C7 could only be modelled accurately in 1/48 scale with the aid of conversion kits. Now though, Kinetic has this superb boxing of two sub-types across nine grey styrene runners, which come packed with parts. There are alternative instruments, along with different ejection seats, nose sections, rear cockpit bulkheads, flush or Pave Penny under-fuselage panels, superb clear parts and detailed undercarriage bays. Stores include Mk.82 Snakeye, Mk.20 Rockeye, ISRAELI AIR FORCE KFIR LGBs and Python 3. The kit comes C2/C7 with a trio of classic three-tone By: Kinetic camouflage and two low-vis schemes. Choices include: Item no: K48046 • C2, 805, The Valley Squadron, Scale: 1/48 Ramat-David, 1983 Price: US $35.99 • C7, 539 ‘Venus’, The Arava Available from: Guardians, Hatzor, 1992 Lucky Model, • C7, 521 ‘Pluto’, The Arava www.luckymodel.com Guardians, Hatzor, 1994
Scale:
1/72
Price:
£38.99
Available from: Amerang, www.amerang.co.uk
09/10/2013 10:44
86 ON THE SHELF
RUSSIA'S RESPONSE
A NAVAL TWIST TO A CLASSIC
EUROPE'S TYPHOON
PRODUCT SPEC
The 1/72 Typhoons are coming thick-and-fast from Hasegawa and while the basic single-seater kit remains the same, it's the weapons provided in the kits that sets the bar very high. For Italian and Spanish boxings there's the addition of two Taurus KEPD360 and IRIS-Ts missiles which will be most welcome. The detail throughout is stunning and the only aftermarket item neded would be a EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON resin ejection seat. Suprisingly ITALIAN/SPANISH AIR FORCE the canopy can only be mounted By: Hasegawa closed which is a bit of a shame. Two decal options are included in Item no: 02031 the darker greys than those used Scale: 1/72 on RAF machines. They are: Price: £39.99 • MM7284, 36-10, 10th Gruppo, Available from: 36th Stormo, Italian Air Force Amerang, • C16-31, 11-11, ESC 113, Ala 11, www.amerang.co.uk Spanish Air Force
86_Aircraft Kits.GS.CC.indd 86
PRODUCT SPEC
Another boxing for Revell's excellent 1/72 Hurricane, this time with the additional parts to make the Royal Navy's carrier based variant (note the extra parts are packed loose in the box!). Crisply moulded in pale grey, there's plenty of detail provided throughout the kit. The cockpit only requires the addition of straps for the pilot's seat to be more than adequate. There's the option to have the canopy mounted open if desired. Two Fleet Air Arm SEA HURRICANE MK.II C decal options are provided in the By: Revell Grey/Green camouflage schemes: • NF721/YO*F, No.787Z Naval Air Item no: 03985 Squadron, St. Merryn, Scale: 1/72 November 1943 Price: £6.50 • NF699/P*, No.824 Naval Available from: Air Squadron, HMS Striker, Revell, www.revell.eu early 1944
BRITISH THUNDER
Hasegawa's 1/72 Thunderbolts were always good in accuracy, if not a little dated now compared to more recent releases, but this boxing is wellworth seeking out if one is after some alternative markings. Mouldings are clean and crisp with finely-engraved panel lines, although the cockpit is somewhat dated and bare compared to more current kits. Despite being Hasegawa there's no provision for an open canopy or dropped flaps, but THUNDERBOLT MK.II 'RAF given the kits age that's no surprise. COMBO' This double offering provides By: Hasegawa markings for three RAF machines: Item no: 02033 • KJ348, RAF, No.73 Operational Scale: 1/72 Training Unit, Spring 1945 • AW*F/KL315, RAF, No.42 Squadron, Price: £33.49 Squadron Leader Soutter, 1945 Available from: • GQ*B/KL339, No.134 Squadron, Amerang, www.amerang.co.uk Flying Officer Salter, 1945
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
For accurate 1/72 Flankers its clear that Trumpeter is the top choice for most modellers. This latest boxing for the first of the single-seaters doesn't disappoint at all. Cleanly moulded, it certainly has the feel of a quality product. The fuselage consists of just two parts; top and bottom which mean careful gluing in order not to lose any of the beautiful RUSSIAN SU-27 FLANKER B surface detail. This late-model FIGHTER Flanker has the correct, 'nose-down By: Trumpeter hunch' of the forward fuselage and Item no: 01660 the fins are the correct height too! There're enough AAMs to satisfy Scale: 1/72 any configuration. Two current Price: £21.99 Russian Air Force options are Available from: included: Hannants, • Red 10, shark's mouth on intake www.hannants.co.uk • Red 08, shark on fuselage
09/10/2013 10:45
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BOHEMIAN BELTER
BULGE ROYALTY
1/35
Price:
£21.99
Available from: Pocketbond, www.pocketbond.co.uk
MAMMOTH IN THE DESERT
PRODUCT SPEC
An amazingly-well-detailed interior is the top selling point, but there’s plenty to covet on the outside, too. Detail-hounds will love the extensive seating, map table (and printed paper maps), radios and planked inner lining. There’s also a well-appointed cab, optionalposition roof hatches and wellpatterned rubber tyres. Brass parts DORCHESTER ACV are supplied, and full suspension By: AFV Club is included on the 11 runners Three Item no: 35227 colour schemes are offered: • L4426428/White 5, 3rd AB, 2nd Scale: 1/35 AD, Spring 1941 Price: £49.99 • L4426425/White 1, 2nd AD, Available from: advanced HQ, Spring 1941 Pocketbond, • L4426423/White 3, 2nd AD, www.pocketbond.co.uk advanced HQ, Spring 1941
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PRODUCT SPEC
Scale:
Here’s a re-boxing of Dragon’s King Tiger…but with an additional figure set entitled Ambush at Poteau, to further enhance Battle of the Bulge status. The parts are fairly well detailed although not up to Dragon’s current standards. It’s pleasing, though, to see DS Styrene tracks as well as plastic items for spare links on the turret. More experienced modellers may feel that the twopart kit barrel is best replaced with SD.KFZ.182 KING TIGER a turned metal item. The figures are (HENSCHEL TURRET) soft in detail and need improvement. By: Cyber-hobby For military beginners, though, Item no: 9144 or those on a budget, this is good value. Decals for six colour schemes Scale: 1/35 are provided, two of which are: Price: £37.99 • Blue 334, s.Pz.Abt.501, Available from: Ardennes, 1944 Amerang, • Black 201, s.Pz.Abt.505, www.amerang.co.uk Russia, 1944
GERMAN CLASSIC
This is the 11th StuG.III from Dragon and it provides parts for the December 1944 format without Zimmerit…but with a Saukopf mantlet, and a close-defence weapon with remote control mount. The high parts count makes for an involved build; interior detail comprises the main STUG.III AUSF.G LATE gun and breech, inner cupola, storage PRODUCTION DEC.1944 racks and radio gear. On the outside By: Dragon there are Schurzen brackets (burt no Item no: 6593 armour), DS Styrene tracks, two frets of photo-etched brass and real metal towing cable. Four colour schemes are provided, two being: • Black L, 185.StuG.Brig., East Prussia, 1945 • 185.StuG.Brig., Eastern Front, 1945
PRODUCT SPEC
parts…and what a price! Two colour schemes feature: • A01, 6th Panzer Division, France, 1940 • 735, 6th Panzer Division, Russia, 1941
PRODUCT SPEC
Academy has a winner here, not just because the subject is interesting, but also due to the kit being a stunner. Although photo-etched metal is absent, there is impressive detail and deft moulding. Rivets are excellent, the tools with integrally-moulded clasps are worthy and there’s exquisite rendering in areas such as transmission covers and wheels. Link-andlength tracks are free from ejector pin marks and the two figures PZ.KPFW.35(T) have convincing facial features By: Academy on four alternative heads. This is Item no: 13280 sheer modelling bliss in 300-plus
Scale:
1/35
Price:
£49.99
Available from: The Hobby Company, www.hobbyco.net
09/10/2013 10:46
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90 ON THE SHELF
FIGURES
SERGEANT, PRINCESS PATRICIA’S CANADIAN LIGHT INFANTRY, FREZENBERG, 1915 By:
Tommy’s War
Item no:
TW54016
Scale:
54mm
Price:
£14.00
Available from: Tommy’s War, www.tommyswar.co.uk
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Dark World Creations
Item no:
DWC2AD004
Scale:
70mm
Price:
£34.80
Available from: Dark World Creations, www.darkworldcreations.com
Brengun’s new resin Fishbed pilots are well detailed for their small size, and are the perfect accompaniment to Eduard’s MiG-21 kit. Two figures are supplied although both strike the same pose…standing, arms to the side with one hand holding a map. A flying helmet is worn and the oxygen hose and mask hang from it. While billed as MiG-21 flyers, in this scale they’d suit many Soviet jets of the Cold War or later.
MIG-21 PILOT By:
Brengun
Item no:
BRL144073
Scale:
1/144
Price:
€5.55
Available from: Brengun, www.brengun.cz
Whether one has the old Monogram kit, Academy’s or the latter’s more recent appearance in an Eduard box, this figure is perfect for enlivening a display base for a MiG-29. It’s very well sculpted and oozes detail, from the strong facial expression and trademark Soviet flying jacket, to the oxygen hose and mask held in the left hand. Plenty of creases in the clothing offer shading and dry-brushing opportunities. MIG-29 PILOT By:
Plus Model
Item no: AL4029 Scale:
1/48
Price:
€7.90
Available from: Plus Model, www.plusmodel.cz
ANZAC TREAT With this subject Tommy’s War goes beyond the Western Front for the first time. The resin figure, sculpted tall, features glorious rendering of the leather belts and ammo pouches, and the knee-high puttees are well depicted. Beyond the main component there are separate arms, head with integrally-cast slouch hat (and smiling face), arms, rucksack, belt bag and more. A photo-etched brass rifle sling is included and the pose is well considered, with the figure studying a Turkish sun helmet in hand. Lovely. PRIVATE, 11TH BN AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE, GALLIPOLI, 1915 By:
Tommy’s War
Item no:
TW54015
Scale:
54mm
Price:
£14.00
Available from: Tommy’s War, www.tommyswar.co.uk
CRIMESTOPPERS IN THE FIELD
Some very cool rear-echelon dioramas or vignettes could be produced with these four military policemen in mind. Dragon’s has done well with how it rendered the trademark hanging chest plates, which are moulded integrally with chain on each subject. Basic personal equipment such as ammo pouches, gas mask containers, and weaponry, are provided, but the real boon is the set of posts and road signs which sport excellent wood grain effect. Lettering and symbols for the signs could be painted, or added via the paper samples supplied.
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
It’s always pleasing to have Commonwealth options for World War One, and this new resin figure sets a high standard. There’s crisp detail on the tunic in particular, although the handsome face with handlebar moustache is a worthy feature. The canteen is also a good item, with fine strapping, and the integrally-cast webbing and pouches are sublime. Photo-etched brass takes care of the rifle strap and there’s a separate rucksack, too.
By:
FISHBED FLYERS
PRODUCT SPEC
CANUCK OVERSEAS
SLAINE
FULCRUM DUDE
PRODUCT SPEC
have been brilliantly sculpted, the large ‘Brainbiter’ axe also features, while the highly detailed hair and menacing visage will benefit from careful painting and shading. Sláine’s cape, with excellent fur top and subtle creases and folds, fits perfectly but our sample did display the odd pin head-sized air bubble…easily filled though. This is a fine option for fantasy/ comic fans, or anyone looking for something different. A branded display base is provided.
PRODUCT SPEC
2000AD favourite and Celtic wanderer Sláine MacRoth is superbly reproduced here by DWC. The character’s rippling muscles
PRODUCT SPEC
COMIC STRIP CELT
GERMAN FELDGENDARMERIE By:
Dragon
Item no:
6061
Scale:
1/35
Price:
£13.50
Available from: The Hobby Company, www.hobbyco.net
09/10/2013 10:46
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DECALS
GREAT WAR GERMAN
HANNOVER CL.II By:
Pheon Models
Item no:
32042
Scale:
1/32
Price:
£15.00
Available from: Pheon Models, E-mail: pheon.models@ hotmail.com
placement. Choices include: • 1/9390/17, Scusta 30b, Inchy, March 1918 • 13080/17, unit unknown • 132??/17, Schlasta 31b, Vzfw.Peez & Gefr. Lang, Hangest, May 1918 • 13253/17, Schlasta 34, Dury, May 1918 • 218, Polish Air Service, May 1919
ALLIED ARMOUR
PRODUCT SPEC
D-Day fans who favour smaller scales should investigate this well-researched collection, which provides markings for the 5th Guards AB during its travails in Normandy, from D-Day onwards. This first instalment covers the brigade’s 5TH GUARDS ARMOURED BRIGADE (SET 1) By:
Dan Taylor Modelworks
Item no: DTM-T-76025 Scale:
1/76
Price:
£6.95
Available from: Dan Taylor Modelworks dantaylormodelworks.com
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PRODUCT SPEC
Printed with the recent Gallery Models H-34 kits in mind, Caracal’s trio of Sikorsky schemes are very attractive, particularly the Floridabased machine in overall International Orange. The markings are printed by Cartograf so the quality is assured; all on our sheet had superb register and rich colours. A full array of stencilling also features, along with national insignia. Three schemes are offered: • UH-34D, H-34 US NAVY/USAF By:
Caracal Models
Item no:
CD48031
Scale:
1/48
Price:
US $15.99
Available from: Caracal Models, www.caracalmodels.com
149389/141/2E, HT-8, Pensacola, 1968 • UH-34D, 150208/23/UA, VC-1, NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, 1973 • HH-34J, 149386, 304th ARRS, Portland, Oregon, 1973
HOVERING SOVIET
junior element, the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards, which operated the Sherman Mk.V/ Vc, Stuart Mk.VI, M9A1 HalfTrack and Humber. There’s a full placement guide with pertinent data on the unit, and decals for Lt John Gorman…notorious as the officer whose tank rammed a Pz.Abt.503 King Tiger. Some choices include: • Sherman Mk.V, T-147427 ‘Erin’, RHQ Troop • Sherman Mk.V T-147745 ‘Ballyragget’, 4 Troop, 2 Sqn • Sherman Firefly Mk.Vc, T-212688, 2 Troop • Stuart Mk.VI, T-224197 ‘Rathoye’, Recce Troop • Humber, F-195161, Liaison Troop, HQ Sqn
For anyone with the Hobbyboss Forger kits, this large decal offering represents excellent value, with a choice of 24 schemes which, besides the traditional blue over green, also provide rarer two- and three-tone camouflaged aircraft. The decals are well printed and some yellow codes sport varying shades and are in different styles to suit. Most useful is the copious stencilling on a separate sheet, which also caters for various under-wing stores. Begemot provides a legend for the quoted paint references and Federal Standard numbers and major airframe shades are described by name in the each scheme description. Some example
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
This characterful escort fighter and ground attacker is well represented on Pheon’s sheet, printed for use on the glorious Wingnut Wings kit. As ever, Pheon’s research take some beating and the decal colour and register is highly pleasing. There are 12 options here, and some sport colourful artwork over the already eye-catching camouflage. Full-colour profiles and plan views leave nothing to the imagination in terms of
VINTAGE ROTORS
YAK-38 FORGER FAMILY By:
Begemot
Item no:
48-028
Scale:
1/48
Price:
£9.50
Available from: Hannants, www.hannants.co.uk
jets include: • Yak-38, Yellow 14, 279th SSSAR, Soviet Navy, aircraft carrier Kiev • Yak-38, Yellow 53, 299th IRSSAR, Soviet Navy, Shindand, Afghanistan • Yak-38M, Yellow 83, Ukraine, 1993 • Yak-38U Yellow 01, Yakovlev Bureau, Krymskoye, Crimea, late 1980s • Yak-38M, Blue 93, 279th SSSAR, Soviet Navy North Fleet, Severomorsk-3, late 1980s
09/10/2013 10:47
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DECALS
SPOOK DETAILS
END OF AN ERA The Gladiator was always a great background for the colourful markings of the silver period, and the fact is exemplified here with Pheon’s second instalment of RAF decals for the type. Two sheets carry all the glorious unit heraldry and other devices, such as large over-wing flashes, while a third has all the black serial numbers and stencilling such as wireless-telephony symbols. First aid panel and white Dunlop tyre decals also feature. Of the nine aircraft provided, options include: • K6150, Flt. Sgt. Lomas, A Flt, 3(F) Sqn, Kenley, January 1938
F-4B/N STENCILS & DATA By:
Furball AeroDesign
Item no:
48-013
Scale:
1/48
Price:
US $19.99
Available from: Furball Aero-Design, www.furballaero-design.com
stars and bars. The printing is spot-on and there are black and grey examples of stencils, along with various styles of ejection seat warning triangles. Vital, if one wishes to produce an accurate F-4 and one’s kit decals aren’t up to the mark.
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
No US Navy or Marine Corps Phantom looks ‘pukka’ without a full array of stencilling…and kit decals are not always correct or comprehensive enough. Enter Furball, with its excellent collection of stencils, warning markings, intake ‘danger’ chevrons and a single set of
GLOSTER GLADIATOR MK.I RAF VOL.2 By:
Pheon Models
Item no:
48026
Scale:
1/48
Price:
£10.50
Available from: Pheon Models,
[email protected]
Here’s the second instalment of Xtradecal’s foray into the humble ‘JP’, in tune with the release of the T.5 kit by Fly. This sheet provides eight options for RAF display jets, with lovely splashes of colour to improve on the standard training scheme of the 1970s/80s. Some of the aircraft include: • XW295/67, 1 FTS, RAF Linton-on-Ouse, 1985 • XW310/70, Linton Blades, 1 FTS, RAF
A dazzling selection of camouflage defines Linden Hill’s examination of the 9-12 Fulcrum sub-type. From the two-tone green Russian example, to the very pretty Kazakh machine in two shades of blue, there’s something to excite any die-hard MiG-29 fan here…and maybe a few converts. Shark mouths and stinging bee artwork feature, while the leopard which adorns the nose of a Ukrainian jet is beautifully rendered. Twelve schemes are
BAE JET PROVOST T.5 PART 2 By:
Xtradecal
Item no: X48122 Scale:
1/48
Price:
£7.99
Available from: Hannants, www.hannants.co.uk
94_Decals.CC.indd 94
Linton-on-Ouse, 1973 • XW306/Y, Flt. Lt. MD Ashton, 6 FTS, RAF Finningley, 1977 • XW375/10, Poachers, RAF College Cranwell, 1976 • XW375/10, Poachers, RAF College Cranwell, 1972
PRODUCT SPEC
FANCY FULCRUMS
PRODUCT SPEC
SMART TRAINER
MIG-29 PART 1 THE LATE 9-12 SERIES By:
Linden Hill
Item no:
LHD48032
Scale:
1/48
Price:
US $21.99
Available from: Linden Hill Imports, www.lindenhillimports.com
• K7918, A Flt commander, 54 Sqn, 1938 • K7985, C Flt, 73 Sqn, Debden, 1937 • K7960/P/3, Sqn. Ldr. HLP Lester, 3(F) Sqn, Kenley, 1938 • K6147, A Flt, 56 Sqn, North Weald, 1938
offered across four individual sheets, with some of those being: • ERAF 508, 5 Sqn, Eritrean Air Force, Asmara Int. Airport, 2001-6 • Red 10, VVS of Kazakhstan, 600th Air Base, Zhetygen AB, 2008 • Blue 55, VVS of Russia, 343rd IIAP, Bagai-Baranovka/Sennoy AB, 1993 • White 21, VVS of USSR & Russia, 773rd IAP, 16th GvIAD, Damgarten AB, Germany, 1993 • White 24, VVS of Ukraine, 204th TAB, Belbek AB, Ukraine, 2007
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Scale:
1/48
Price:
€10.53
Available from: Brengun, www.brengun.cz
JAZZ UP YOUR JUG
PRODUCT SPEC
Eduard has re-released Academy’s P-47D (see On the Shelf, this issue) with lovely resin additions, but the photoetched metal is limited. This set, though, ups the ante considerably in terms of extra detail. It offers engine cylinder case embellishment, external flourishes such as engine cooling doors, new undercarriage bay linings and doors, and supplementary components for stores such as the 500lb bomb, rocket tubes and both types of fuel tank. P-47D-25 UPGRADE SET By:
Eduard
Item no:
48784
Scale:
1/48
Price:
€22.45
Available from: Eduard, www.eduard.com
96_Accessories.CC.indd 96
Item no:
1179
Scale:
1/48
Price:
€11.25
Available from: Eduard, www.eduard.com
PRECIOUS METAL
For those in the mood to splurge on a build, Eduard has cast replacement main undercarriage legs in bronze for its new Spitfire Mk.IX. The legs are beautifully detailed, with brake lines cast integrally, and they come with replacement undercarriage bay doors. Casting gates for the latter are very slight, so preparation will be super quick. SPITFIRE UNDERCARRIAGE LEGS By:
Eduard
Item no:
648124
Scale:
1/48
Price:
€17.25
Available from: Eduard, www.eduard.com
By:
Lifecolor
Item no:
XS 09
Price:
£16.99
Available from: The Airbrush Company, www.airbrushes.com
Plus Model’s resin hay cart is a dream for diorama modellers who enjoy rendering realistic wood. The grain pattern on the planks is subtle but could be accentuated further. All 20-plus components are well cast, and the wheel spokes seem sturdy. One could pose this fine subject with, or without horses (none are supplied), but it would make a great addition on its own to any diorama or vignette.
PRODUCT SPEC
BRL48040
Eduard
FINNISH AIRCRAFT WWII COLOURS
FARMER’S KIT
HAY WAGON By:
Plus Model
Item no:
385
Scale:
1/35
Price:
€23.00
Available from: Plus Model, www.plusmodel.cz
BASE WORKHORSE
IKEA IN MINIATURE Any diorama would receive extra life due to these ‘flatpack’ boxes which have a multitude of applications. They’re made from very thin (0.5mm) laser-cut wood and have separate lids. Assembly is simple with the call for PVA, epoxy or thick cyanoacrylate adhesive. One could use them for ammo or other military staples, and the boxes could enliven truck flatbeds, tanks etc…the choices are many. MILITARY BOXES By:
Plus Model
Item no: 148 Scale:
1/35
Price:
€7.90
Available from: Plus Model, www.plusmodel.cz
A staple on many US air bases is the Harlan tow tractor and here, Skunk Models provides two vehicles, not just with their associated towing arms, but also supplied are two NATO trolleys for carrying missiles or bombs; the correct racks for each are included, but no actual weaponry features. Even if one doesn’t wish to follow the involved diorama route, the addition of a trolley and/or a tractor can breathe extra live into a project.
PRODUCT SPEC
Brengun
Item no:
By:
Scandinavian and Nordic air arms make for interesting modelling, and these new acrylic colours will go a long way to ensure accurate camouflage on aircraft such as the Brewster Buffalo, Bf 109, Hawker Hurricane and others. The shades have been prepared in cooperation with Finland’s Ilmailumuseo aviation museum, so one can be confident they’re correct. Six 22ml bottles are provided and the colours are: Olive Green, Light Grey, Light Blue, Black, Yellow and Orange.
PRODUCT SPEC
By:
SPITFIRE RADIO COMPARTMENT
NORDIC SHADES
PRODUCT SPEC
TOILET BOMB FOR SKYRAIDER
Among the raft of thoughtful aftermarket products Eduard has created for its 1/48 Spitfire Mk.IX, is this excellent radio bay that comes in halves (resin) with superb stringer detail and the comm’s gear, along with photo-etched metal to afford extra refinement. There’s also a separate radio hatch and the entire affair simply gets sandwiched by the kit fuselage halves. It’s a clever feature, which will shed new light on the Spit’s inner workings.
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
In October 1965, mischievous mechanics loaded a VA-25 ‘Fist of the Fleet’ A-1H with a porcelain toilet on one of its wing pylons…the aim to drop it with actual live bombs to mark the six-millionth pound of ordnance dropped. Here, Brengun provides said toilet in resin, with a photo-etched brass mounting frame and decals for the carrier aircraft and loo itself. If any modeller fancies adding a fun aspect to a 1/48 Skyraider build, but doesn’t own the special Hasegawa/Monogram toilet bomb boxing, this is perfect for Tamiya’s kit or the standard Monogram offering.
ROGER, WILCO!
PRODUCT SPEC
PAPER TIGER II
ACCESSORIES
TOW TRACTOR FOR US AIR FORCE & MISSILE CART By:
Skunkmodels Workshop
Item no:
48028
Scale:
1/48
Price:
US $13.99
Available from: Lucky Model, www.luckymodel.com
09/10/2013 10:49
98 CUTTING MAT CHAT
Since the firm was launched, L’Arsenal has brought us highly useful after-market items. Here, proprietor Jacques Druel provides a Gallic perspective on his formative modelling years
WITH JACQUES DRUEL
I
n the early 1960s, World War Two still loomed large in most people’s memories, and I was more than interested in that particular conflict. Preferred reading included Battler Britton and Rapaces, small paperback booklets that recounted the exploits of Allied pilots. Modelling was also an important pursuit; the monthly visit to the local hobby shop, with its appealing rack full of Airfix bagged kits (all priced at FF 2.50) sparked endless discussions about what would be the perfect choice. Back then I remember thinking…the more parts, the better the model! Of course, with Christmas came the possibility of the famous Series 6 Avro Lancaster or B-17 Flying Fortress, and the box-art from Roy Cross that led to the
choice are still my favourites today. Rainy holiday afternoons with my brother and cousin were always enjoyable, as they gave the opportunity to build, paint and decal a complete fighter in a few hours, even if fingerprints were visible in the end as the enamel paint’s drying time lost out to my will to play with the model. As years passed, my modelling skills, along with the quality of kits and accessories, improved. In the 1990s I was heavily involved in building ships from Heller’s famous 1/400 range. With more than 50 different models in that scale, Heller’s ship series is still one of the more prolific ever produced but, while design and accuracy were excellent, the technology of the period led to oversized parts
“The new 1/72 Airfix Lancaster Dambuster is at the top of my list!”
such as railings, 20mm guns and radars which were caricatures of the real items. The only solution to overcome the problem was scratch-building with very thin brass rod and fishing thread, a long and boring option. Rescue came from Loren Perry of Gold Medal Models, with his fine line of photo-etched parts, which provided maritime modellers with the same possibilities aircraft fans had already enjoyed for years. Natural curiosity led me to see if I could obtain the same results for the kits I was building and, after some painful and frustrating trials, I managed to design and produce a decent 1/400 railing set. Fellow modellers at shows expressed interest in seeing these parts available for them, and so L’Arsenal was born in 1996 as a part-time project. The business grew quite quickly and went full-time in 2002. My ultimate goal, though, is to once again find those happy, wet afternoons spent building kits. The new 1/72 Airfix Lancaster Dambuster is at ❚ the top of my list!
THE NEXT ISSUE IS ON SALE DECEMBER 5* *UK scheduled on sale date. Please note that overseas deliveries are likely to occur after this date.
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