EUROPE'S BEST-SELLING MODELLING MAGAZINE
ISSUE 51
+WS 0 6REVIE
6
MODEL BUILDS
EXCLUSIVE BUILD! FEB 2015 £4.20
We build Airfix's newly tooled turret fighter
NIGHT-FIGHTING OWL
THE MASCULINE OPTION
MAGNIFICENT MUD HEN
Zoukei-Mura's He 219A-0 Uhu
Tamiya's WWI Mk.IV Male Tank
Eduard's Limited Edition F-15E
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EDITOR'S DESK
WELCOME
Editorial
Editor: Assistant Editor: Editor's Secretary:
Chris Clifford Stu Fone Vanessa Smith
Contributors
Mikael Terfors, Tom Sunley, Steve Abbey, Malcolm Lowe, Mike Grant, Jennifer Wright, Pete West, Pete Watson, Ian Grainger
Design
Art Editor: Group Art Editor:
Production Production Manager:
Tom Bagley Steve Donovan
WELCOME
Janet Watkins
Advertising
Commercial Director: Ann Saundry Group Advertising Manager: Brodie Baxter Advertising Manager: Tom Lee Production Manager: Debi McGowan
Marketing
Group Marketing Manager: Marketing Manager: Subscriptions Manager: Mail Order:
Martin Steele Shaun Binnington Ann Petrie Joan Harwin Liz Ward
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).
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/9.00-5.30 Monday-Friday GMT +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. 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. All items submitted for publication are subject to our terms and conditions. These are regularly updated without prior notice and are freely available 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. “AIRFIX’’ is a registered trade mark of Hornby Hobbies Limited and is used under licence. 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.
The average sale for the period Jan – Dec 2013 was 11,488 print and digital copies monthly.
A
t the time of writing I’m working towards beating an early deadline, due to the printer shut-down over Christmas. This time of year always puts me in reflective mood and it’s certainly been an eventful 12 months...the most notable move for me being that of assuming the editorship of Airfix Model World. Thankfully, AMW seems to go from strength to strength and manages to offer plenty of inspiration each month. Of course, one can never please all of the people all of the time, and I have on occasion received rather robust correspondence from readers, commenting on editorial content and the builds we offer, but I also receive many pleasant and appreciative e-mails thanking us for what we do. Such praise is heart-warming, certainly, but little of the content would be possible without our merry band of contributors who work very hard to offer great modelling and useful instruction. Almost all have ‘day jobs’ so do very well to meet deadlines and maintain build quality. They might not be experts in every subject they tackle for AMW, but believe me it is nigh impossible to find an experienced modeller who is well versed with certain examples of the real machinery, can build the kit to a high quality and photograph it to the required standard...which currently I feel is very good. With this in mind, I’d like to say a big thank you to the entire band of contributors, no matter how long they’ve been with us, for producing such excellent and enjoyable models. My thanks also go to the team at Airfix, which gives such valuable support. Obviously, I brief our contributors and get to see their material before anyone else, and I still marvel at the talent out there and what can be created with care, attention and no small amount of ingenuity and imagination. We’ll continue to bring you builds of the latest kits and, of course, those all-important Airfix exclusives you all crave. This year will usher in a splendid collection of new toolings from Airfix, and some will have you exclaiming: “No way!” All of the kits on the list brought a big smile to my face and I know they’ll have the same effect on you. It’ll be great fun bringing them to you all...Happy New Year!
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE! MAKE GREAT SAVINGS BY SUBSCRIBING TURN TO PAGE 70 TO FIND OUT HOW
Chris Clifford, Editor Follow us at www.facebook.com/airfixmodelworld Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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CONTENTS INSIDE
14
INTERMEDIATE BUILD Mk.IV MALE TANK
REGULARS 06 News The latest happenings in the world of plastic modelling.
10 Show Scene A comprehensive and up-to-date calendar of model-related events.
22 Your Airfix Readers gets the chance to showcase their own Airfix builds.
70 Subscribe and save! 74 On the shelf Seventeen pages of reviews bring you the latest modelling products.
98 Kit Court Put forward your case to AMW, as to why a particular ‘missing’ kit subject
LITTLE LIFESAVER Westland Wessex HAR.2
should be made available.
52
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EXCLUSIVE BUILD DEFIANT
64
INTERMEDIATE BUILD AFRIKA KORPS
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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CONTENTS
INSIDE
36
INTERMEDIATE BUILD HEINKEL He 219
FEATURES 14 Intermediate Build – The Masculine Option Mikael Terfors is seriously impressed with Tamiya’s new 1/35 Mk.IV Male Great War tank.
24 Advanced Build – Idaho Striker Eduard’s limited edition 1/48 F-15E Strike Eagle package is assembled by Tom Sunley.
34 Out and About – Tank Mod Malcolm Lowe reports from The Tank Museum’s successful Autumn 2014 model show.
36 Intermediate Build – Night-Fighting Owl Zoukei-Mura’s detail-packed 1/32 Heinkel He 219 gets the Steve Abbey finishing treatment.
44 Out and About – Yeovilton show Reports of the Fleet Air Arm Museum model exhibition's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Malcolm Lowe finds out more...
46 Intermediate Build – Little Lifesaver Mike Grant enjoys a helping of miniature rotary-wing action with Mark I Models’ 1/144 Westland Wessex HAR.2
52 Exclusive Build – Boulton Paul Defiant Airfix’s newest tooling is appraised with a test-shot build by Jennifer Wright
58 In Focus – Boulton Paul Defiant To support our Defiant build feature, Malcolm Lowe describes the highs and lows of Boulton Paul’s famous turret fighter. Pete West also supplies colour profiles of the type.
64 Intermediate Build – Palm Tree Soldier Pete Watson’s enviable painting skills enliven Alpine Miniatures’ 120mm Afrika Korps Grenadier.
24
ADVANCED BUILD F-15E STRIKE EAGLE
72 Photo Focus – Goodwood Revival Ian Grainger provides excellent car modelling reference images from Goodwood’s classic racing event. Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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NEWS BULLETIN
LATEST UPDATES
NEW TOOLING BONANZA! • 1/72 Westland Sea King HC.4 Set (Hurricane Mk.I, Bedford, (Classic) Albion, RAF Groundcrew) • 1/72 Junkers Ju 87b Stuka • 1/72 Beaufighter Mk.X (Classic) (Classic) • 1/72 Heinkel He 111 (Classic • 1/72 Avro Shackleton MR.2 and BoB Gift Set with Spitfire, (Classic) Hurricane, Bf 109) • 1/72 AW Whitley Mk.V (Classic) Do note that the 1/48 Spitfire • 1/72 Nakajima B5N2 Kate Mk.Ia and Harrier AV-8A have (Classic) new parts married with existing • 1/72 Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat model components. For further (Classic, Starter Gift and Dogfight Double with Kate) details visit: www.airfix.com
1/72 Avro Shackleton MR.2 AIRFIX HAS now revealed its range of new toolings for 2015... and the list holds some true delights. They are, in release order, as follows: • 1/72 BP Defiant Mk.I (Classic, Starter Gift and Dogfight Double with Dornier Do 17) • 1/48 Bedford MWD truck (Classic)
• 1/48 RAF Ground Crew Figures (Classic) • 1/48 Spitfire Mk.Ia Classic (Mk.V fuselage with new wings) • 1/48 Hurricane Mk.I metal wings (Classic) • 1/72 Harrier AV-8A (Classic, GR.1 with new parts added) • 1/48 Albion 3-point Refueller (Classic) 1/72 Westland Sea King HC.4 • 1/48 Battle of Britain Gift
LAVISH LIMITED EDITIONS THE THIRD SHALL BE FIRST Even more impressive, though, is ‘Stříbrné Śípy (1187), which provides three sets of styrene parts with which to render the MiG-21PF/ PFM/R. Gorgeous pre-painted PE components, tape masks and decals for 31 interesting schemes are also supported by a 90-page softback reference book. As both these limited edition releases are aimed predominantly at the Czech home market, the books are written solely in that language, but the photos and artwork are incredibly useful nonetheless. www.eduard.com
EDUARD HAS issued two breathtaking special boxings surrounding existing mouldings. Firstly, the firm’s Lavochkin La-5FN and La-7 feature in the package ‘První doma’ (kit no.1189), which offers basic styrene for each aircraft, photo-etched (PE) metal details, resin wheels and tape masks. The cool addition, though, is the thumping 106-page reference book, which explores both types in Soviet and Czech service, via period photos and colour profiles. Coupled with the ridiculously generous decal sheet for 27 individual schemes, it’s a great offering for fans of Lavochkin's purposeful fighters.
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Wing Commander Cab Townsend, who recently passed on command of the RAF’s 3(F) Squadron, accepts models from IPMS (UK) Treasurer Jim Chapman. The 40-strong collection of 3(F) Squadron aircraft will reside at the unit’s home, RAF Coningsby. ONE OF Wing Commander Cab Townsend’s last duties before he recently handed over the reins of the RAF’s 3(F) Squadron, to Wg Cdr Chris Moon, was to accept a donation of 40 scale models of aircraft from throughout the unit’s history. These included examples from 3(F)’s inception as the RAF’s first heavier-than-air aircraft squadron. The collection was built originally by IPMS (UK)
Treasurer Jim Chapman, for an impressive 3(F) Squadron centenary display at 2012’s Scale ModelWorld, in Telford. Wg Cdr Townsend said: “This is a fantastic donation, which depicts perfectly how we have evolved through the years. The attention to detail in Jim’s models is quite incredible; indeed some of the earlier examples are so delicate I was scared to hold them in case I caused any damage!”
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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NEWS BULLETIN
LATEST UPDATES
PIONEERING TYPES type appears in the shape of Martin-Baker’s smart black T.7 ejection seat tester, WA638, as seen in 2000, and fans of the Tornado will welcome the F.2 prototype ZA254 in Light Aircraft Grey and black, and BAE’s Dark Green and Dark Sea Grey wrap-around GR.4 trials machine, ZG773, from 1993. Harrier specialists have three choices to round off the collection; BAE’s T.10 ZH653, the
same firm’s GR.9 trials aircraft ZD320 and, pleasingly, the VAAC Harrier T.4 in raspberry ripple. This example was involved in deck landing trials in support of the F-35 programme. The final option is rather more subdued... BAE’s Typhoon T.1 (IPA 1), as seen in 1992. This two-sheet decal package costs £16 and has splendid colour instructions. For further details or to order, visit: www.model-craft.co.uk
IT’S BEEN more than a year since Model Craft announced its Combat Decals British Test & Development aircraft collection...but it’s finally here! For modellers interested in this arena there is much to savour. Devotees of the Jaguar will welcome the 1978 Active Control Technology demonstrator, XX765, in ‘raspberry ripple’ (the resin conversion for this jet is reviewed on this issue’s Accessories pages). An older
FAST BOAT FIESTA
NAVAL MODELLERS will welcome splendid new products from Coastal Craft. The firm specialises in 1/72 scale British Coastal Forces vessels, and the three mixedmedia items already add to an impressive range. The kits are: Fairmile ‘D’ LRRC (CC7209), BPBCo. 70’ MGB 64 (CC72011) and Fairmile ‘D’ MTB 629 (CC72010); all feature resin, white metal and photo-etched brass components. And Coastal Craft’s new book,
‘Vosper Torpedo Boats – From 68ft PV boat to MTB 538’, will be vital in terms of reference. The 50-page landscapeformat softback is packed with lovely colour profiles and plan views, and offers much historical information on the craft and their camouflage schemes; the book will be reviewed in March issue of AMW. To round off a busy release period, the firm also has 11 new six-bottle AKAN acrylic paint sets, which
are: RAF WW II 1939-1941, RAF WW II 1941-1945, RAF Africa 1941-1944, Day fighter Aviation UK WW II 1941-1945, RAF Great War 1914-1918, RFC/RNAS/RAF Great War 1914-1918, Soviet Navy Sea of Okhotsk, Sea of Japan [northern part], Baltic Sea [south], Soviet Navy Black Sea, Sea of Japan [southern part], Soviet Navy Barents Sea, Soviet Navy Baltic Sea [northern part] and Imperial Russian Navy 1903-1908. For further details visit: www. coastalcraftmodelsuk.com
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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NEWS BULLETIN
LATEST UPDATES
{in brief}
WYNN’S WEAPON notable changes, though, included moving the torpedo tubes to the forecastle, to help defeat enemy torpedo nets, and adding on-deck exhaust pipes at the rear. This new kit (5619) also comes with photoetched brass details and scale ropes, and a separate crew figure set is also available (see Figure reviews, this issue). www. hobbyco.net
SAGEM’S HAMMER French kit and after-market manufacturer L’Arsenal now offers these excellent 1/48 scale AASM guided bombs...perfect if building Revell’s Dassault Rafale. Six stores are supplied, all with separate front fins. The weapon is also known as the Hammer (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range), and has been employed operationally in Afghanistan and Libya. These stores (AC 48 60) are priced €9.95 and are available with many other great air weapons, from www.larsenal.com.
NAVAL SPECIALIST CLOSES It is with sadness that we report the sudden closure of White Ensign Models, long considered the UK home of the ship modeller. The announcement occurred on November 25, with the company ceasing business on Friday, November 28, although it continued to fulfil orders up to the deadline. As this issue went to press it was unknown as to whether a buyer had been found, although it is to be hoped that this iconic range of accessories, kits and paints will be resurrected under another owner. On behalf of all Airfix Model World readers, we wish Dave and Caroline well for the future.
ITALERI HAS re-worked its imposing 1/35 Vosper torpedo boat to portray Operation Chariot’s ill-fated MTB 74...the converted craft used to attack the huge dry dock at St Nazaire in 1942. The weight-saving conversion of the real vessel, proposed by Sub Lt ‘Micky’ Wynn, involved removing the guns, reducing the wheelhouse size and taking away many standard fittings. The most
POPULAR SHERMAN RETURNS
ON THE RIGHT RUNG Nothing sets off a great aircraft model like an access ladder, and the fact has been well and truly recognised by Plus Model. The Czech-based firm has now released new 1/48 access ladders for popular fighters, which are: MiG-21 (AL4037), MiG-23 (AL4038), F-105B/D (AL4039), F-105F/G (AL4040), F-16A/C (AL4041) and F-16B/D (AL4042). Each ladder comes on a small styrene runner and needs to be assembled... and the detail is spot-on. They are priced from €7 to €9.40. www.plusmodel.cz
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TASCA’S REVERED 1/35 M4A1 Sherman kit, which has been out of production for some time, has now been re-released by Eduard in ProfiPACK format. This treatment means that kit no. 3716 comes not just with the generally excellent styrene parts, but also with new decals and Eduard photo-etched (PE) brass; the latter frame provides items such as mudguards, tool clamps, .50 cal gun details (the kit’s gun is very good as it is, though) and more. To tally with the four colour schemes, alternative drive sprockets and wheels are included,
along with an all-new decal sheet. The liveries are: • 3016307/H 13 ‘HELLCAT’, 66th Armored Regt, 2nd Armored Div, June 1944 • 1-6 ‘BULL O THE WOODS’, 5TH Army, Italy, Summer 1944 • 3036754/G 2 ‘GOLDIE’, 3rd Bat, 6th AR, 2nd AD, Normandy, June 1944 • 11 ‘FRANTIC’, 13th AR, 1st AD, Anzio, Italy, March 1944 Eduard has also released a separate and very comprehensive set of PE deep wading gear for this kit (see Accessories, this issue). For more details, visit: www.eduard.com
DUTCH FELINE
FANS OF Netherlands-based helicopters will be interested in this cool update set, which converts Airfix’s 1/48 naval Lynx into a Dutch Marine variant. This latest addition to DACO’s fantastic range (DCC4806 - €25) includes 24 exquisite resin parts and features a complete tail fin and associated rotor assembly, replacement console and instrument panel, and modified main undercarriage sponsons. The only cutting work required will be to remove the undernose radome and fill the resulting gap. Do note that markings for these Netherlands machines are available via Dutch Decal. For further details visit: www.dacoproducts.com
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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NEWS BULLETIN
LATEST UPDATES
WIND, WALLOP AND A WALLET Langley Moor (County Durham). The club displays covered all eras of modelling, along with a healthy dose of Airfix 1/48 Lynx kits on show. Traders had a wide selection of books, second-hand kits and limited edition Hasegawa offerings – some of which I had not seen before in the UK. Organiser Mark Roberts did another great job with one of the last Aerojumbles of 2014, which allowed modellers to pick up supplies and bargains before modelling hibernation begins for the winter. Glenn Sands
TRENCH FIGHTER
The shape of things to come? IPMS Gloucester had a number of ‘drones’ on display in model form; one of the best was this 1/48 scale Freedom Models X-47B. DESPITE HIGH winds, rain, flooded country lanes and a muddy field it’s hard to keep modellers away from potential bargains...in this case the Middle Wallop Aerojumble. Surrounded by helicopters and aircraft from the entire Army Air Corps operational history, there were club members from Romsey Modellers, The Tank Museum, IPMS Salisbury, Newbury Scale Model Club, IPMS Gloucester and IPMS
This Russian T-90 MBT on IPMS Salisbury’s stand looked set for battle, with a fully detailed interior and crew.
POSH SWITCHES VENUE PETERBOROUGH SCALE Model Club club is moving home from the Blue Bell pub in the city’s Werrington district. Instead, meetings will convene at the Elmtree Tavern (previously the Comet) in Peterborough’s Garton End Road. For further information visit: www. peterboroughscalemodel club. co.uk
COLD WAR LEADERSHIP MEMBERS OF the IPMS Cold War Special Interest Group have a new ‘boss’. Existing group stalwart Adam Barber took up the reins during Scale ModelWorld at Telford, and let AMW know that the SIG has a busy show attendance plan
for this year, which will include built model displays at Bolton, Hinkley, Huddersfield, Cosford, Coventry and, of course, Scale ModelWorld at Telford. If one is interested in joining the Cold War SIG, e-mail Adam at:
[email protected]
Let AMW know what your club has been up to, whether it’s a competition, local display or change of personnel, venue or contact details. Simply e-mail the editor, chris.clifford@ keypublishing.com, and include any good quality photos of 1Mb or larger.
ANDREA MINIATURES has released a superb new 90mm German Stormtrooper figure, circa 1917. Cast entirely in white metal, the subject (kit no.S8-F57) stands with stick grenade in hand in a relaxed pose, and one also receives optional heads...one barefaced, the other clad in a gas mask (lenses for the latter are supplied). There’s a wealth of personal equipment to add, such as pouches, an entrenching tool, wire-cutters, canteen and rifle, and the standard German helmet is provided along with a very small metal base with locating indentations for pegs on the feet. The detail in all areas really is quite splendid, and a generic preparation and painting guide is also supplied. For details on this and other items in the range, visit: www.andreaeurope.com
GET INVOLVED! Are you a passionate aircraft, armour, space, car or ship modeller who's keen to see their work in print? If you can follow certain criteria, your article could soon grace the pages of Airfix Model World. Email:
[email protected]
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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SHOW SCENE
DIARY DATES
SHOW SCENE
At-a-glance model and airshow calendar
Huddersfield Model Show Hosts:
IPMS Wakefield and District Branch
Address: Huddersfield Sports Centre, Southgate, Huddersfield, HD1 1TW
15 FEB, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD SPORTS CENTRE
Times:
10am-5pm
Prices:
Adults £4, concessions £2
Tel:
01132 893152
Email:
huddersfieldshow@ gmail.com
Web:
www.huddersfield modelshow.co.uk
FEB 14
ON TRACK MILITARY MODELLING SHOW
FEB 20-22
BRIGHTON MODELWORLD
MAR 1
PETERBOROUGH SCALE MODEL SHOW
MAR 29
EAST MIDLANDS MODEL SHOW
Hosts:
On Track Shows
Hosts:
Brighton Modelworld Organising Group
Hosts:
Peterborough Scale Model Club
Hosts:
East Midlands Model Club
Address: Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent, United Kingdom, CT20 2DZ Times:
10am-5pm
Prices:
Adults £5, accompanied under-16s free
Email:
[email protected]
Web:
www.ontrackshow.co.uk
FEB 15
NORTH DEVON MODEL SHOW
Hosts:
North Devon Model Society
Address: Fremington Village Hall, Higher Road, Fremington, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 3BG Times:
10am-4pm
Prices:
Adults £3, 12-16 years (unaccompanied) £1.50, accompanied children free
Tel:
07703 003719
Email:
[email protected]
Web:
www.northdevonmodel society.co.uk
KEY
E MODEL DISPLAY
) MODEL COMPETITION m AIRCRAFT DISPLAY
Address: The Brighton Centre, Kings Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2GR Times: Prices:
10am-5pm Adult £9.50, children £5.50, senior citizens £7.50, family (2+2) £26
Tel:
N/A
Email:
info@brightonmodelworld. com
Web:
brightonmodelworld.com
FEB 21
FLEET AIR ARM FEBRUARY MODEL SHOW
Hosts:
Fleet Air Arm Museum
Address: The Voyager Academy, Mountsteven Avenue, Walton, Peterborough, PE4 6HX
Times:
10am-4.30pm
Prices:
Adults £4, concessions £2, family ticket £9
peterboroughscalemodel
[email protected]
Tel:
N/A
Web:
www.peterboroughscale modelclub.co.uk
Email:
N/A
Web:
www.eastmidsmodelclub. co.uk
MAR 21-22
SOUTHERN EXPO 2015
Hosts:
Peter Bagshaw, Robin Bellamy
APR 12
SHROPSHIRE SCALE MODEL SHOW
Hosts:
Shropshire Scale Modellers
Times:
10am-4pm
Prices:
Adults £2, under-15s free
Email:
Address: Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, BA22 8HT
Address: Hornchurch Sports Centre, Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch, Essex, RM11 1JU
Times:
10am-5.30pm
Times:
Prices:
Adult £14, concessions £12, accompanied under-15s £10
Prices:
Adults £3, senior citizens £2, children £1
Tel:
01935 840565
Email:
[email protected]
Web:
www.fleetairarm.com
Web:
www.southernexpo.co.uk
Address: The Leisure Centre, Coventry Road, Hinckley, LE10 0JR
Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm
Address: RAF Museum Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8UP Times:
10am-4pm
Prices:
Free
Tel:
N/A
Email:
[email protected]
Web:
www.shropmodels.org.uk
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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Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
WWI BRITISH TANK Mk.IV MALE
The
Masculine Option Mikael Terfors tackles the long-awaited Mk.IV Male tank from Tamiya...and finds a slice of modelling nirvana
The parts breakdown indicated that this would be an easy build, and a test-fit of the main hull components confirmed the fact. Note the many pegs for the road wheels. Construction started with the armoured petrol tank and rear bulkhead, which highlighted the excellent fit and near-invisible joins.
The large attachment ‘cones’ were associated with the optional motorisation and would be hidden from view.
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the ‘Male’, equipped with two large 6-pounder (57mm) guns as well as machine guns, and the ‘Female’, which sported
MODEL SPEC
A
s the Western Front bogged down into a stalemate, both sides tried to find ways of breaking the deadlock. Concentrated artillery fire combined with head-on assaults had failed to break through enemy lines and into open ground...a new solution was sorely needed. In Britain, the potential answer arrived in the form of a tracked and armoured vehicle, officially named ‘tank’ to deceive enemy intelligence reporting on the project. Trial vehicles were developed into the first operational tank, the Mk.I, and this went through several modifications leading to the Mk.IV, of which around 1,200 were produced from March 1917. Two variants were used,
WWI British Tank Mk.IV Male By:
Tamiya
Stock Code: 30057 Scale:
1/35
Price:
£49.99
Available from: The Hobby Company, www.hobbyco.net
Roof and cab parts displayed fine surface details, and visors could be posed either open or closed.
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
WWI BRITISH TANK Mk.IV MALE
Kit colour schemes
• ‘Glamorgan’, G Battalion, location unknown, 1918 • H45 ‘Hyacinth’, H Battalion, near Ribécuort, France, November 1917 • B28 ‘Black Arrow II’, B Battallion, Fontaine-Notre-Dame, France, November 1917
machine guns alone. With a crew of eight, the Mk.IV was involved in several actions, including the mass deployment of around 400 vehicles at the battle of Cambrai in November 1917. It also took part in the world’s first tankon-tank action against German A7Vs during the second battle of Villers-Betonneux, in April 1918.
Holy Grail A state-of-the art kit of the Mk.IV tank has been on the wish-list of many modellers. Early in 2014, rumours began circling that a kit from Tamiya was imminent and excitement mounted, only to be replaced by dismay (and in some cases anger) when it was then announced that it would be motorised. Modelling forums became arenas of heated debate, claiming the new rhomboid would offer no advantages over current releases, and that it would be no more than a ‘toy’. However, as the first test shots were issued, the resentment seemed to dissipate, to be replaced with quiet optimism... perhaps the new item would not be a disappointment after all? The review kit arrived with the expected styrene runners, a motor and several instruction leaflets. Being the ‘international release’, an associated WWI British Infantry set (Item 35339), which comprised five welldetailed figures, was included although they were not used here. When the instructions were examined, they were at first rather puzzling, as steps for motorisation were interlaced throughout. However, after further scrutiny it became clear that building a static kit would not be a problem, and was simply a matter of skipping certain steps. It took a while to sort out all of the components as the motorised parts were
Although parts were provided for a motorised version, they were not required for this build.
The almost-completed main hull...the fit of the roof was so good that it could be left un-glued, should one desire to access the interior.
The roof seen in place, together with the rear bulkhead and petrol tank sandwiched between the rear horns. For added interest the escape door was left ajar slighty.
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
WWI BRITISH TANK Mk.IV MALE At this stage the visors were glued in their open position to add visual interest.
Tremendous tracks Many tank builders have long regarded construction of tracks as a laborious chore, but Tamiya may well have changed this with its Mk.IV. Track links were all provided in a sealed bag ready to be clipped together, and were completely free of any mould seams. Assembly was amazingly simple; the links were poured onto the worktop and clipped together, and it took no more than 20 minutes to complete two 87-link track runs. This was later extended to 88 links, as it was felt the fit needed to be a tad looser to look right and, even with this slight change, the experience was a pleasure and something of a game-changer.
Two sets of drive gear were included, one for static, the other for the motorised version. The latter would have to be screwed together with a small screwdriver provided in the kit.
With the wheels in place, the three-part side armour could be fitted; possibly indicating a Female Mk.IV may be produced in the future.
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unfamiliar, and there were several sealed bags of small items. Several elements of the running gear appeared to be duplicated as styrene and metal parts; after a little head-scratching, it was realised that the choice boiled down to whether a static or motorised version was to be built. In addition, metal chain for the unditching beam and nylon thread to simulate towing cable was included. Overall, the styrene looked fabulous, with great surface detail, and a dryfit session promised pain-free construction. After the long years of waiting, this modeller could hardly contain himself before getting stuck in.
Effortless assembly The decision to build the kit as a static version was taken almost immediately – thus many parts could be sidelined from the outset. Construction started at the rear, with the petrol tank and bulkhead, and heralded what was to become a very pleasant build experience where everything just seemed to slide into place almost effortlessly. The main hull sections were constructed from very few parts (floor, sides and roof), but once assembled they formed a rigid structure. Next in line for assembly were the many road wheels, of which there were two kinds, depending upon whether a static or motorised version would be built. For
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
WWI BRITISH TANK Mk.IV MALE
the latter, great care would be needed to ensure they worked smoothly, but as this was a static model and the wheels would not be visible once the tracks were in place, they were attached firmly. With this completed, the outer sides could be added to the main structure; each comprised three parts, which prompted thoughts on whether Tamiya intends to release a Female variant in the future? The fit of these was excellent, and led to the assembly of the drive sprockets, although here the builder of the static version was left somewhat in the dark as the
instructions didn’t identify the relevant styrene parts. One could of course have used the metal cogs, but after trial and error, the corresponding plastic parts were duly sourced and fitted. The 6-pounder main guns were beautifully rendered and built into impressive replicas; it was a pity most of the detail was hidden from view once in place. A pleasing touch was the use
of poly-cap fittings to facilitate the elevation and turning of the guns. The sponsons followed the logic of the rest of the kit, with few parts and a great fit, to form a sub-assembly that mated perfectly with the main tank body. There was an option to pose the sponson hatches open, but it was realised that if they were opened sufficiently to reveal the main guns, it would
also show much empty space... so just one was left ajar slightly. Once the tracks had been finished, all that remained before the painting process was to fit the un-ditching beam rails, and to construct the beam itself. The fit of these parts was excellent, even though this was the only occasion in which filler was used, on the slight gaps where the rails mated.
Dry-fitting one of the sponsons revealed no issues, and almost invisible joins. The large ‘pegs’ on the roof were the attachment points for the exhaust system.
Tamiya’s excellent engineering of the main sponson section made fitting of the other parts that much easier.
The 6-pounders were miniature models in their own right and built into faithful renditions of the real thing. Note the poly-cap pivot on the dismantled gun, which facilitated elevation.
Dry assembly of the port gun and associated shield revealed an excellent fit, and that the majority of detail would be hidden from view. Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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WWI BRITISH TANK Mk.IV MALE
Materials at a glance Tamiya (www.tamiya.com) TS-1 Red Brown TS-48 Gunship Grey XF-1 Flat Black XF-2 Flat White XF-7 Flat Red XF-10 Flat Brown XF-22 RLM Grey XF-52 Flat Earth XF-55 Deck Tan XF-63 German Grey XF-69 NATO Black XF-83 Medium Sea Grey
Tamiya’s inclusion of metal chains and a towing cable were welcome additions and far more realistic than any styrene moulding, while the two-part exhaust assembled quickly and easily.
Vallejo Air (www.creativemodels.co.uk) 71.062 Aluminium 71.068 Copper 71.072 Gungrey Vallejo pigments (as above) 73.102 Light Yellow Ochre Winsor & Newton Artists Oil Colour (various outlets/art stores) 076 Burnt Umber 074 Burnt Sienna 331 Ivory Black 554 Raw Umber 644 Titanium White 678 Venetian Red 744 Yellow Ochre
A dirty white interior was created with a light coat of dark grey over a white base, with a further misted coat of white. The gun received NATO Black before a thin mist of Gungrey metallic.
MIG Productions (www.migproductions.com) Standard Rust P025 Humbrol (www.humbrol.com) Humbrol 53 Gun metal After-market items Accurate Armour (www.accurate-armour.com) A005 British WWI/II POW cans. D17 Chain (Fine) PanzerShop (www.panzershop.cz) PS35A329 Grabs for British WW1 tracks
Following an oil wash, the guns and sponson interiors looked suitably grimy. Details were picked out on the guns and brush-painted with acrylics.
Brown is the new green The chosen profile for this build was 2365 ‘Glamorgan’, because of the added colour of the identification flashes; contrary to the instructions it
was decided to paint one on top of the cab as well, as this was common practice at the time. Before any priming, the inside of the sponsons and areas that would be covered by the red and
white identification flashes, were sprayed white. A mask for the red stripe was then created with Tamiya tape and, after Tamiya XF-7 Flat Red was applied, the flashes were masked. The inside of the sponsons was shaded with grey before another pass of white, to form a dirty greywhite base. Light weathering, via Winsor & Newton Burnt Umber and white spirit, ensured a grimy interior. The finely detailed guns were sprayed with a mixture of black and Vallejo Air 71.072 Gungrey. After the details were painted and the guns weathered, the inside was deemed finished and the sponsons were glued in place – effectively hiding the work just described. The next step was priming, which was done by spraying Tamiya TS-1 Red Brown and TS-48 Gunship Grey from aerosol cans. Small dots of Winsor & Newton masking fluid were then applied with a sponge, to prepare for chipping effects further down the line. Although there is a common perception that British World War One tanks were painted in olive or khaki green, research and other reliable sources state that the Mk.IV was finished in a brown shade. Some sources say there were up to three different browns used – and that the version appropriate for this build was a light ‘milk chocolate/coffee latte’ hue. Fortunately, Tamiya’s colour profiles identified this same shade, and included colour pictures of the Male Mk.IV displayed at Bovington Tank Museum to support its choice. The mix detailed for this colour was one part XF-52 Flat Earth and one part XF-55 Deck Tan; to provide tonal variation for this model, two paint blends were
Extras Aluminium tape for the scratch-built tarpaulin
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mixed. A lighter shade, with more Deck Tan, was sprayed in light coats, so that the grey primer could still be seen in areas. This resulted in a sort of ‘desert camouflage’ finish, which needed to be toned down...a darker blend, where Flat Earth was more dominant, was mixed and applied in thin mists, with heavier coats on the lower parts of the tank. Once the paint had dried thoroughly, a few coats of Johnson’s Klear were airbrushed over the model. After this the decals were positioned, which was a quick job, as there were only four small markings for this tank. The tracks were painted a mixture of black and matt brown, and then dry-brushed with Humbrol 53 Gunmetal.
Battlefield gunk With the masking removed from the markers and subtle variations of the paint-job, the tank already had an interesting look. This was only the beginning though – few kits could offer such a tempting canvas for the weatheringinclined modeller, as the large slab sides of this imposing rhomboid. The weathering process began with the removal of the previously applied masking fluid, to reveal the grey primer as an interesting chipping effect.
The red stripes of the identification flashes were masked with Tamiya tape. Though the instructions didn’t call for the cab roof to have one painted, the temptation was too great to resist.
With the gun emplacements finally glued in place, and the identification markings masked, all was ready for the main priming. Note the Lewis guns were also added at this stage.
The first top-coat was a light shade of the brown, to allow primer to show through in places. A second, darker brown hue was airbrushed until the colour looked ‘just right’, before the masking was removed.
A combination of Tamiya TS-1 Red Brown and Tamiya TS-48 Gunship Grey aerosol cans acted as primers. The fine surface detail really stood out once painted.
Decaling was preceded by airbrushing the model with a coat of Johnson’s Klear. At this stage the latex masking fluid was also removed, which revealed scratches and paint chips. Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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WWI BRITISH TANK Mk.IV MALE
The tracks were mounted on an old shampoo bottle to facilitate the painting process, before they were airbrushed with a mix of black and brown.
An overall wash of Burnt Umber and Venetian Red oil paints was applied with a large paintbrush. This left the tank with a decidedly grimy look.
PanzerShop ‘grabs’ (grousers), which had been acquired previously for another build. These were mounted on a matchbox and painted in a similar fashion to the tracks.
After dot filters were applied, the tank really started to look interesting...despite the monotone camouflage. The rusted exhaust was achieved with oils and MIG pigments.
A liberal wash of Winsor & Newton Burnt Umber and white spirit was applied with a large brush. Some of the leftover paint was then removed with cotton buds, until the desired effect was achieved, before a dot filter was applied, which began with application of fine dots of random oil colours. The shades used were Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, Venetian Red, Yellow Ochre and Titanium White. A brush moistened with white spirit was then used to work the dots into fields, filtering the underlaying colours. To complete the basic weathering, streaking and
was to indicate an operational vehicle and not overdo the presence of mud. To weather such a large model, it was important to tackle the weathering in stages and to divide the tank into sections, approached one by one. Once the mud had dried it was time to wrap up the build with final details.
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rust effects were applied, again with oil paints and a variety of moistened brushes, with subtle chipping applied in strategic places. Once these layers were in place, the formerly clean tank was transformed; one last addition remained though...mud. To simulate this, a home-made mix of plaster, white spirit and Winsor & Newton Umber was used, sprinkled with Vallejo 73.102 Light Yellow Ochre pigments. This mixture was applied with an old paintbrush in stages, mainly to the tracks, but also in other places where mud would stick to the vehicle...the intended effect
Reference New Vanguard 133 British Mark IV Tank, by David Fletcher (Osprey), ISBN: 978 184 6030826 www.ospreypublishing.com
Extras from the stash The included towing cable and unditching beam certainly added to the overall impression of the kit, but it was felt that additional items could improve the finished model. A set of period
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WWI BRITISH TANK Mk.IV MALE fuel containers from Accurate Armour was sourced from the spares box, which also yielded a set of PanzerShop ‘grabs’ for the tracks. These grousers had been acquired as an upgrade for the old Emhar kit, a build that never got past the starting point. In period photos of the Mk.IV, grousers are frequently seen attached to the tracks to improve crosscountry agility. Those here were painted in a similar fashion to the tracks and attached to every sixth link, with cyanoacrylate adhesive. Finally, a small tarpaulin was scratch-built from aluminium tape, painted olive green (in contrast to all the browns of the tank), and once these last details had been put in place this very satisfying build came to an end.
Armoured bliss So was this an improvement over older releases? A resounding yes! The result certainly looked like a Mk.IV and the build quality was simply outstanding; just one or two minor joins required filler and no modifications to kit parts were necessary. This modeller almost had to pinch himself at times to
stop grinning, as this was one of the most satisfying builds for quite some time. The kit could potentially offer something to most modellers who are into armour or World War One subjects – and that includes beginners as well as seasoned
After the tracks were dry-brushed with Humbrol Gunmetal, they were simply snapped into place, with a realistic look to the manner in which they sat on the vehicle.
veterans. Furthermore, the vast scope for weathering should be enough to whet the appetite of any member of the 'mud and grime brigade’. Rivet-counters should be able to rest assured, as there seemed to be no shortcuts taken due to the motorisation...
it was simply an added option for modellers keen on a moving replica. Thanks to the clever engineering of the tracks and a well-considered parts breakdown, this kit could probably be built and painted over the course of a long weekend...highly recommended! ❚
Application of mud, the last stage of the weathering process, was restrained to avoid spoiling the overall impression. The home-made mixture of plaster and garden debris was applied in stages with an old brush. Final details and extras were then ready for attachment to the tank’s roof. The spare petrol cans came from Accurate Armour, but the towing cable and un-ditching beam were kit items.
A test-fit of the PanzerShop grousers revealed they would fit well, despite being designed for a different kit.
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YOUR AIRFIX
SA JETSTREAM
Greg Phillips gets back to basics with a 1/72 scale classic
YOUR
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AIRFIX
T
his was an original boxing of Airfix’s Jetstream and the idea was to keep the project simple, as a break from more involved builds. After dry-fitting the fuselage halves and transparencies, I added colour to the interior and then brush-painted three highly diluted coats of Humbrol Matt White enamel around the window openings (the kit was moulded in white plastic); this gave me a sharp, clear line between white paint and windows. Once the glazing was in place, the interior was added and the fuselage was closed, ensuring there was as little to sand as possible. After fitting the windscreen, the upper fuselage received three thin coats of white brushed from front to back in long strokes, each layer afforded proper drying time. The surface was then sanded very lightly and cleaned before Johnson’s Klear was worked in the direction of the airflow with a flat brush (Royal Soft-grip size 12 SG 150). The model’s silver area underwent much the same process. First I masked the white at the demarcation line with Tamiya tape. Next, certain areas such as the ailerons and fronts of the engine nacelles were painted dark grey, just to add a different tone. The dark grey enamel looked quite stark against the white plastic, but it needed to be because of the forthcoming paint layers. Xtracolor High Speed Silver was thinned to aid brushing
and was applied in long strokes to the fuselage, inner wing leading edge to the rear of the engine nacelles and finally the outer wing, from the engine nacelle to the wing tip. Two further coats were applied with ample drying. After more Klear, I mopped up excess around the windows and undercarriage bays with a small brush to avoid it hindering the fit of parts. When dry, the Tamiya tape was unpeeled but left a slight raised edge on the silver side in some places, so a new scalpel blade was used to scrape it away. A pleasing, straight demarcation between white and silver was the result, but this would be covered with a blue cheat line decal (added once the black anti-glare panel was painted). These old kits often refresh my enthusiasm; maybe it’s just the subject or the nostalgia of simpler times. Regardless, if it puts a smile on my face then I’ll stick with it. Now, with renewed vigour, I can tackle Kitty Hawk’s challenging 1/48 MiG-25! Greg Phillips, Isle of Wight Are you proud of a particular Airfix build? Then let AMW know by providing us with 200-250 words on the project and what was involved, along with 6-8 good quality photos against a clean white background. Photo file sizes should be 1Mb or larger. Please e-mail your submissions to the editor:
[email protected]
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975 RAF 2015 fp.indd 99
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ADVANCED BUILD
F-15E STRIKE EAGLE
Tom Sunley enjoys Eduard’s Strike Eagle…a re-issue of Academy’s kit with plenty of multi-media detail extras
IDAHO STRIKER Before fitting of the PE parts, existing detail required removal. This was achieved by scraping with the edge of a scalpel blade before cleaning up with a sanding stick.
Eduard boosetd the detail factor considerably with a wealth of plain brass and precoloured photo-etched meral details.
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D
erived from the highly successful Eagle family, the F-15E has a very long pedigree. The Strike Eagle is an allweather multi-role fighter; developed in the 1980s by McDonnell Douglas (Boeing now holds design authority), it is intended for long-range, highspeed interdiction without the need to rely on an escort. The rear cockpit is occupied by a Weapon Systems Officer, which leaves the pilot free to fly the jet. Armament consists of an M-61 Vulcan cannon buried in the starboard wing root, along with multiple ‘tangential’ hard points around the fuselage and conformal fuel tanks, and traditional pylons under the belly and wings, which provide the capability to carry the vast majority of munitions in use by the US today. Combat-proven twice in Iraq, as well as the Balkans, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria. The Strike Eagle carries out air-to-ground attacks mainly at night. Using the LANTIRN twopod targeting system, a primary task was the hunting and killing of mobile SCUD missile launchers and artillery sites in Iraq.
Good value On opening the box one was greeted with a plethora of parts. Ten runners in grey styrene, one clear frame, 26 resin parts and two photo-etched (PE) metal frets (one in colour), paint masks for glazing and wheels, two decal sheets and a 20-page, full-colour A4 instruction booklet. Engraving on the styrene parts was cleanly done and in scale
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05/12/2014 10:16
ADVANCED BUILD
F-15E STRIKE EAGLE
ST R I K I N G S C H E M E S
MODEL SPEC
The markings supplied with Eduard’s kit offered four options: • F-15E, 89-0487, 4th Fighter Wing, 335th Fighter Squadron, Bagram AFB, Afghanistan, January 13, 2012 • F-15E, 87-0173, 366th Fighter Wing, 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, 2002 • F-15E, 89-0472, 335th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, 2002 • F-15D, 80-0133, 106th Tayeset, Tel Nov Airbase, Israel
Striking Eagles F-15E Limited Edition By:
Eduard
Stock Code: 1177 Scale:
1/48
Price:
€65.25
Available from: Eduard, www.eduard.com
throughout. Casting of the resin was crisp and well detailed. Due to the inclusion of the resin and PE parts, approximately 100 styrene components would not be used; spares box bliss!
On the second sheet was a comprehensive stencil set for airframe and munitions. All decals exhibited excellent register and performed very well on the model, with minimal use of setting solutions. For this build, 87-0173 of the 366th Fighter Wing was selected. The 366th, which has operated in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, has the motto Audentes Fortuna Juvat (fortune favours the bold).
Home for the crew From the outset this was not a build for the faint-hearted or inexperienced modeller. Stage one entailed chopping off half of the instrument panel and discarding it, then scraping away the detail from the remainder. This allowed attachment of full-colour PE parts with Gator’s Grip PVA glue, thus building the panel back PE detail was added to the cockpit tub and it slowly built into a more realistic ‘office’.
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ADVANCED BUILD
F-15E STRIKE EAGLE
PERFECT PANELS Cockpit and external detail was provided in the form of two PE frets. By using colour PE, a level of detail could be obtained that would be extremely difficult to achieve with fine paint brushes. Replacing the supplied instrument panel with coloured PE started with cutting the instrument panel in half. The lower part was discarded and all remaining detail on the top part was removed. After folding to shape, the first piece of PE was fixed to the panel; this contained the gauges and rudder pedals. Next, the PE that contained the gauge frames and detail was glued on top of the first piece with PVA, which dries clear so the gauges remained readable underneath.
up in stages to end with a worthy representation of the real thing. Similar work ensued for the rear instrument panel. The end result of this first session resulted in a pair of impressive panels, which really stood out in the completed cockpit. Similarly, all detail was removed from the cockpit tub parts and the detail, again, replaced with PE. The finished assembly was then fixed to the upper side of the front wheel well. While this dried, the insides of the front fuselage were adorned with yet more PE, then over-sprayed with Tamiya XF-54 Dark Sea Grey. A dark wash was applied to the PE inside the fuselage to bring out the details. Before the front fuselage halves were joined, the nose area was packed with Blu-Tack to prevent the finished model from tail-sitting. Once mated, the cockpit assembly was inserted from the rear and, when happy with the position, this was cemented in place with liquid glue. The instructions would have modellers fix the nose gear in position at this point but, to save the risk of breaking it during the build, this was left off until later.
Main fuselage Once the intake trunkings had been fixed together, the seams were rubbed gently with a cotton bud dipped in cellulose thinner, which melted the plastic and eventually the seam disappeared altogether. Intake interiors were sprayed white from both ends to ensure good coverage throughout, while compressor fans received gunmetal paint
and were cemented in position at the end of the intake trunks. The assembly was then attached in position in the lower fuselage, before the addition of the upper fuselage piece, which sandwiched the intakes into position. Thin liquid glue was applied to the fuselage seams, to allow capillary action to draw it along the joins. Tamiya tape was applied to the fuselage to hold everything in place until dry. Resulting joins were treated with a fine sanding stick and finished with a polishing sponge. The rear part of the front fuselage was in the form of a plug (part D24), which was cemented and set aside to dry prior to the
The cockpit tub is seen detailed fully with PE instrument panels in position.
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ADVANCED BUILD
F-15E STRIKE EAGLE Intake trunking came in halves; these had the seams smoothed with cellulose thinner before the trunking was sprayed white and fitted inside the fuselage.
assembly of the mainplanes. Before the wing halves were joined, locating holes for pylons were drilled. The wings were then glued with thin polystyrene cement and, again, once dry were cleaned along the seams with a fine sanding sponge. Any panel lines at the leading edge lost or shallowed during clean-up were reinstated with a modelling knife, to gently re-scribe the line. The wings were then fitted to the fuselage and held in place with tape. Extra thin cement was brushed along the joins and allowed to penetrate and the main fuselage assembly was set aside to harden.
between the two at a point where an actual panel line appears on the real aircraft. The two parts were held together with Tamiya tape to ensure no movement would take place while the cement was drying. With a cocktail stick, the tape was lifted gently at each side of the seam line so as not to catch the cement while it flowed around the join. The assembly was then set aside to ensure ample drying time before handling further. Intakes were next and Eduard supplied two sets of these, enabling
Afterburning Supplied in the kit was a pair of replacement resin engines with PE parts to enhance the detail; the resin parts were removed carefully from their casting blocks with a razor saw. A mask was utilised during this process to prevent inhalation of resin dust. The parts were then rubbed on a sheet of fine abrasive paper, held flat while sanding. Four PE parts for each burner were assembled to form the flame holders for the burners. These were painted with a burnt iron shade and fitted to the resin burner. The burners were then fitted to the resin exhaust tube, which had been painted white internally. Finally, the two resin parts that formed the exhaust cans were assembled. External surfaces of the exhaust cans were sprayed with Gunze Mr. Metal Color 212 Iron, which is a metal shade that
of the exhaust petals. These were held in position with a drop of cyanoacrylate (CA) glue at each end. The actuators were brush-painted with Citadel Bolt Gun Metal.
Mating the fuselage The front-to-rear fuselage join was butted at an angle. Great care was taken here to give a clean join
them to be assembled in the up or down position. A reference check showed these to be in the up position while parked, therefore these were the parts
Tamiya tape was used to hold the fuselage halves in position while the cement cured.
can be buffed. Once dry, the cans were rubbed with paper towel until a metal sheen similar to that seen on reference photos was obtained. Each can was then fitted with 15 PE pieces, which formed the actuators Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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ADVANCED BUILD
F-15E STRIKE EAGLE The wing-tofuselage join was near perfect and required no filler after the cement had dried.
PE details were added to the airframe throughout the build to enhance the overall appearance.
selected. Assembly was delicate as the butting edges were extremely narrow. A small amount of thin cement was touched to each part and a few seconds allowed it to start working. The top
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panel was gently touched against the sidewall and aligned carefully while the glue set. Once the cement had a good bite, another coat was applied on the inside of the join to ensure it was good all the way along. The second side was attached in a similar fashion and set aside to harden fully before the resulting joins
were sanded clean. Intakes were then fitted to the fuselage sides, cemented in sections to ensure a good fit all round. Conformal fuel tanks were attached to the fuselage sides next. These didn’t display the greatest fit but, once dry, an easy fix was obtained by applying PVA glue around the join and rubbing away excess with
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a damp cotton bud. Weapons pylons were fixed in position on the fuel tanks and allowed to set, and panel line pre-shading was applied over the whole fuselage in preparation for the paint stages. The rear fuselage metallic section was masked and sprayed with Gunze Mr. Metal Color 212. After curing time, the metalwork was rubbed gently with paper towel until the required metallic sheen was achieved. This was coated with Alclad Clear Gloss to protect the finish. Finally the metalwork was masked in readiness for the application of the final colour. At this stage the vertical tail fins were cemented in position after being pre-
shaded along panel lines. Frustratingly, the canopy parts had a seam line down the centre that required removal. This was taken care of with a fine sanding stick initially, and then progressively finer grades of sanding sponge before polishing produced a perfectly clear canopy. This was covered with the supplied mask set and fitted temporarily
with PVA to provide protection for the cockpit. Tacking with PVA ensured easy removal after painting.
Eject, eject! The kit’s original styrene seats were replaced with a pair of resin examples which were also included
by Eduard. These seats were assembled and painted as per references and then dry-brushed before they received a dark wash to bring out the detail. Further enhancement came via the supplied PE parts, such as the realistic belts. A final spray of matt varnish was applied to harmonise the finishes.
SEAM REMOVAL Academy’s original moulding produced a centre seam down the glazing, which needed to be removed. Firstly, the line was eradicated with a fine sanding stick, and then progressively finer sticks were employed to make the surface as smooth as possible. This method requires patience but will result in crystalclear glazing. If desired the canopy can be dipped in Johnson’s Klear/Future floor treatment and left to dry overnight, for a super-shiny outcome.
Going grey Strike Eagles only wear one shade…Federal Standard Medium Gunship Gray, and this was replicated with Xtracrylix XA1130 Gunship Grey diluted to 60%
‘Tricky’ would be a good word to describe the front-to-rear fuselage join, but it was made easier with the use of tape. Holding the parts in place before thin cement was run along the join gave a near perfect result.
Eduard’s Brassin range resin engine parts were removed from the casting blocks before they were sanded smooth, ready for assembly.
Academy’s conformal tanks exhibited a poor join but this was solved by filling with PVA, with the excess wiped away with a damp cotton bud.
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ADVANCED BUILD
F-15E STRIKE EAGLE
Shown here is the kit exhaust unit (right) next to the supplied resin replacement; the detail on the latter was a huge improvement.
Gunze Mr. Metal Color ensured a convincing look was achieved on the exhaust nozzles. The nozzle on the left has had the paint burnished with paper towel. The finished resin exhaust shown next to the sorely lacking kit piece for comparison.
Burner flame holders were provided as part of the extensive PE improvements.
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with Tamiya X-20A thinner. This mix was sprayed in light coats over the entire fuselage, ensuring the pre-shading was allowed to show, thus simulating shadowing in the paintwork. Once dry the airbrush was loaded with 85% thinner to 15% XA1130 and a few drops of white from the end of a cocktail stick, to lighten the grey a few shades. This new mix was applied to the centres of individual panels, with care taken to stay away from panel edges. The high percentage of thinner ensured the mix evaporated from the model quickly, to revealing the effect of bleached paintwork and break up the solid block of grey. Alclad Klear Kote Gloss was applied
over it to preparing the model for decaling. Decals were applied with the Microscale Industries decal system, and this performed well in that all markings conformed to panel lines and contours with ease. A further coat of gloss was applied to protect the decals from further weathering. Wheel wells were masked and sprayed white before gloss coating and a Dark Dirt wash was applied over the airframe and inside wheel wells, and allowed to dry. This was then removed with moistened paper towel, which left the wash behind in panel lines. Do remember to wipe in the direction of the airflow for the proper amount of realism.
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05/12/2014 10:22
ADVANCED BUILD
F-15E STRIKE EAGLE before their metallic parts were coloured with silver. These were also weathered with a dark wash before the resin wheels were fixed with CA glue. Tyres were painted Tamiya XF-85 Rubber Black and, once dry, the undercarriage was cemented in position. Gear doors were sprayed white on the inside and attached at this point. The load for the model came
Resin replacement seats were provided by Eduard and emerged as highly convincing replicas of ACES II units.
Basic surgery was required on the kit undercarriage, so that improvements could be made with PE and resin parts.
Wheels and weaponry Another area given extra detailing was the main gear. The wheel hubs and scissor links were cut away and the parts neatened, before new links were formed from PE and fitted to the legs with CA. Hubs were integral to the replacement resin wheels, so, after removal from their casting stubs and neatening, they were sprayed white and gloss varnished before receipt of a dark wash. All gear legs were sprayed white
from the box and comprised Mk.82 500lb General Purpose bombs, four AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles a centreline fuel tank and, as a finishing touch, a pair of AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles from Eduard set 648087. These were fitted to the model, before they were sprayed with Alclad Klear Kote Flat varnish, which brought back the different overall finishes to a more uniform sheen. Welcome extra detail was also supplied for the internal canopy frame. After a matt black coat this was dry-brushed with white to highlight the moulding. A black panel line pre-shade was applied to the paintwork, to produce depth on the finished model… important with dark, single-shade schemes. PE detail extended to the vertical tail fins, too. The rounded piece on top of the fin was rolled around a small drill bit to give it shape before it was cemented in position.
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ADVANCED BUILD
F-15E STRIKE EAGLE
M A G I C M E TA L Gunze Mr. Metal Color buffable paint was sprayed onto the engine area parts and dried to a very powder-like matt finish. Once dry, rubbing with paper towel or cloth brings the finish to a realistic metallic sheen. The more one polishes, the shinier it gets until the desired sheen is attained.
Dark Dirt wash was applied to the model and, once dry, was wiped off to leave panel lines and details highlighted.
After a gloss coat to seal the paintwork and provide a base for the decals, the model was adorned with stencil data as well as the main squadron identity. Tiger stripes gave pleasing contrast.
The masking was then removed from the canopy and windscreen, and any residue was eradicated with some Goo Gone cleaner on a cotton bud. Ejection seats were also set in place in the cockpit with CA, and a final stage of weathering was applied with pigment shades from Tamiya Weathering Master sets, to render streaks and leak marks at various hinge points/ panel lines. Finally, all antennas were fitted and brush-painted before the model was inspected for missed details and leftover weathering materials.
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A striking subject
Exhaust nozzles were finally fitted to rear of the uselage and displayed a realistic metallic finish akin to the real aircraft.
Eduard has taken an old Academy product and enlivened it with fantastic resin and PE parts. There are some inaccuracies, and outdated base-kit weaponry, but the end result produced a model that looked every inch the combat-ready Strike Eagle. Is it worth the large price tag? Definitely, as it provided a truly enjoyable build experience…although it’s not for the novice. ❚
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05/12/2014 10:23
OUT AND ABOUT
BOVINGTON MODEL SHOW 2014
DORSET DELIGHTS IPMS Farnborough’s stand was the launch pad for this excellent representation of Thunderbird 1, from the famous Gerry Anderson television series. Visitors were allowed a privileged glimpse inside the new Vehicle Conservation Centre, with its wealth of rare and unusual tanks and ‘soft-skins’.
T
he world-famous Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset was the venue for a very successful model show in early October. Branded Tank Mod 2014, the event was the first model exhibition to be held at Bovington for several years, and was a reminder of the excellent
events that used to feature there a decade ago. Organised by Bovington’s in-house events team, the event was held in several of the museum’s indoor display halls. These are filled permanently with the priceless exhibits owned by the museum, including tanks, armoured cars and other assorted vehicles
Straightforward but effective, this 1/35 scale German Büssing-NAG Type 4500S truck built from AFV Club’s kit was displayed on the South Staffs MAFVA stand.
that make Bovington one of the world’s great military collections. Visiting model clubs and traders pitched their display stands among these exhibits, to give the show a unique atmosphere. The large selection of model clubs included not just local organisations, but several from much further afield and various branches of the Miniature Armoured Fighting Vehicle Association (MAFVA). Prominent, and with the largest display, was the Museum’s own modelling group, the Tank Museum Volunteer Modellers. A highlight was the opportunity to explore the museum’s separate but co-located Vehicle Conservation Centre, which allowed visitors and exhibitors alike a privileged
This 1/35 Churchill tank with full wading gear was a star exhibit of the locally based Tank Museum Volunteer Modellers.
Impressive large-scale engineering included this scratch-built World War One Mk.I Male tank, still under construction. (All Malcolm Lowe)
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This 1/72 Predator UAV was built beautifully from the Italeri kit, by a junior member of Newbury Scale Model Club.
view of Bovington's enormous reserve collection. The Vehicle Conservation Centre was officially opened in September 2013 having been built with the help of Heritage Lottery funding, and is usually only accessible at restricted opening times for public viewing. The overwhelming success of Tank Mod 2014 has encouraged the events team at Bovington to plan a similar show in 2015, with a provisional date of October 10. Further details on the Tank Museum and its varied events can be found at www.tankmuseum.org ❚ Malcolm Lowe
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03/12/2014 15:53
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WWI BRITISH TANK Mk.IV MALE
WWI BRITISH TANK Mk.IV MALE
Kit colour schemes
We build Airfix's newly tooled turret fighter The
Masculine Option Mikael Terfors tackles the long-awaited Mk.IV Male tank from Tamiya...and finds a slice of modelling nirvana
The parts breakdown indicated that this would be an easy build, and a test-fit of the main hull components confirmed the fact. Note the many pegs for the road wheels.
NIGHT-FIGHTING OWL
THE MASCULINE OPTION
Zoukei-Mura's He 219A-0 Uhu
Tamiya's WWI Mk.IV Male Tank
s the Western Front bogged down into a stalemate, both sides tried to find ways of breaking the deadlock. Concentrated artillery fire combined with head-on assaults had failed to break through enemy lines and into open ground...a new solution was sorely needed. In Britain, the potential answer arrived in the form of a tracked and armoured vehicle, officially named ‘tank’ to deceive enemy intelligence reporting on the project. Trial vehicles were developed into the first operational tank, the Mk.I, and this went through several modifications leading to the Mk.IV, of which around 1,200 were produced from March 1917. Two variants were used,
the ‘Male’, equipped with two large 6-pounder (57mm) guns as well as machine guns, and the ‘Female’, which sported
MODEL SPEC
A
WWI British Tank Mk.IV Male
MAGNIFICENT MUD HEN
Construction started with the armoured petrol tank and rear bulkhead, which highlighted the excellent fit and near-invisible joins.
The large attachment ‘cones’ were associated with the optional motorisation and would be hidden from view.
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By:
Tamiya
Stock Code: 30057 Scale:
1/35
Price:
£49.99
Eduard's Limited Edition F-15E
Airfix FEB UK.indd 1
Although parts were provided for a motorised version, they were not required for this build.
The almost-completed main hull...the fit of the roof was so good that it could be left un-glued, should one desire to access the interior.
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The roof seen in place, together with the rear bulkhead and petrol tank sandwiched between the rear horns. For added interest the escape door was left ajar slighty.
Available from: The Hobby Company, www.hobbyco.net
08/12/2014 09:39
Roof and cab parts displayed fine surface details, and visors could be posed either open or closed.
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14-21_WWI Tank.CC.indd 14
Read on your
• ‘Glamorgan’, G Battalion, location unknown, 1918 • H45 ‘Hyacinth’, H Battalion, near Ribécuort, France, November 1917 • B28 ‘Black Arrow II’, B Battallion, Fontaine-Notre-Dame, France, November 1917
machine guns alone. With a crew of eight, the Mk.IV was involved in several actions, including the mass deployment of around 400 vehicles at the battle of Cambrai in November 1917. It also took part in the world’s first tankon-tank action against German A7Vs during the second battle of Villers-Betonneux, in April 1918.
Holy Grail A state-of-the art kit of the Mk.IV tank has been on the wish-list of many modellers. Early in 2014, rumours began circling that a kit from Tamiya was imminent and excitement mounted, only to be replaced by dismay (and in some cases anger) when it was then announced that it would be motorised. Modelling forums became arenas of heated debate, claiming the new rhomboid would offer no advantages over current releases, and that it would be no more than a ‘toy’. However, as the first test shots were issued, the resentment seemed to dissipate, to be replaced with quiet optimism... perhaps the new item would not be a disappointment after all? The review kit arrived with the expected styrene runners, a motor and several instruction leaflets. Being the ‘international release’, an associated WWI British Infantry set (Item 35339), which comprised five welldetailed figures, was included although they were not used here. When the instructions were examined, they were at first rather puzzling, as steps for motorisation were interlaced throughout. However, after further scrutiny it became clear that building a static kit would not be a problem, and was simply a matter of skipping certain steps. It took a while to sort out all of the components as the motorised parts were
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
HEINKEL He 219A-0 Uhu
Steve Abbey gets to grips with Zoukei-Mura’s super-detailed 1/32 Heinkel He 219 ogged by political infighting, the Heinkel He 219 almost never made it off the company drawing board.
Initial design work began in 1940, but following repeated rejections and specification changes, operational evaluation did not
Each of the two Daimler Benz 603 engines comprised 60 parts! They looked great when assembled and painted.
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occur until 1943. The He 219 was much better suited as a nightfighter than other aircraft, as these were predominantly adapted from existing bomber or fighter aircraft. Heavily armed, the Uhu carried a powerful punch, with up to four cannons in a belly-mounted weapons pack, two in the wings and a further two upward-firing weapons in the fuselage (known as Schräge Musik). It had the honour of being the first operational aircraft to be fitted with ejection seats, and had the type entered service earlier, and in quantity, it would most certainly have impacted upon the RAF’s night bombing operations against the Third Reich.
A profusion of plastic First inspection revealed a mass of styrene, with 15 grey and two clear runners which held 479 parts in all – gone was the multi-coloured plastic favoured by Zoukei-Mura (Z-M) in the past. Accompanied by a 48-page instruction manual, which was designed to look like a World War Two document, there was a large decal sheet, vinyl canopy masks and a resin leading edge lamp. Metal undercarriage units and balance weights were foam-wrapped inside a
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
HEINKEL He 219A-0 Uhu
MODEL SPEC
cardboard sleeve, to prevent any damage to the other components. The decal sheet included two schemes: • He 219A-0, Wk.Nr. 190012, 2./NJG 1, Hptm. ErnstWilhelm Modrow • He 219A-0, Wk.Nr. 190070, Stab I./NJG 1, Hptm. Manfred Meurer Given the amount of internal detail supplied by Z-M, along with separate panels and doors through which to display it, a big decision had to be made immediately, and this modeller came down firmly on the side of revealing as much exposed structure as possible. One could of course have buttoned-up the hatches and closed all the doors, thereby saving plenty
Heinkel He 219A-0 Uhu By:
Zoukei-Mura
Stock Code: SWS06 Scale:
1/32
Price:
15,800 Yen
Available from: Volks Japan, www.volks.co.jp
Although it would be hidden in the rear cockpit, details on the radar rack were picked out with red, silver and black paint.
The cockpit comprised eight parts; the sub-assemblies were painted and detailed before they were put together. As each of the sides was added, more and more of the intricate cockpit detail began to disappear. With the outer skins attached, the cockpit formed a separate module.
of time...but the spares box would have overflowed.
Start your engines! Construction began with the Uhu’s two Daimler Benz DB 603 engines, rather than the usual cockpit area. These were models in their own right - each comprised 60 parts, built in 11 stages over five pages of the instructions. Bizarrely, Z-M featured piston and con-rod detail that, when assembled, was lost forever from sight...something of a company trademark. As well as glycol tanks, magnetos, flywheels, superchargers and fuel injection gear, there was plenty of plumbing to be added. Care was needed to clean-up the fragile pipework, which was beset with tiny amounts of flash that, if left in place, would have had a detrimental effect on
the fit. Added to the front of each powerplant was a fully detailed annular radiator assembly, and the mechanism associated with opening/closing the external radiator flaps. To ease assembly of the engine later in the build, the radiator and exhaust pipes
were only tacked on with a dab of white glue (PVA). A base coat of Tamiya XF-63 German Grey was then followed by an overall wash of AK Interactive 082 Engine Grime. Matt black acrylic thinned with water was then used to deepen shadow areas. While still on
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
HEINKEL He 219A-0 Uhu
Though well detailed, the rather flimsy rear fuselage was strengthened by seven perpendicular bulkheads, along with the ‘Schräge Musik’ upward-firing weapon system.
The three fuselage fuel tanks slotted neatly into the top of the fuselage centre section, along with a great deal of beautiful plumbing and other ancillary equipment.
The ventral bay was fitted with four MG151 cannon and associated equipment. To ensure sufficient ‘flex’ when sliding them up into the fuselage, the ammunition chutes were fixed in place with quick-drying epoxy glue.
A cardboard spar protected the more delicate area in the centre of the one-piece wing internal structure. It was only removed when the wing and fuselage were ready to be joined.
the runners, pipework was picked out with various silver paints that were to hand - the idea being to create an impression they weren’t all made, or painted with, the same material. To enable each engine to be handled while the rather fragile piping was added, all engine mounts and exhaust manifolds were attached first. This was the only deviation from the instructions at this stage, although a fair amount of test-fitting and adjustment was required to ensure a perfect fit. On completion, each engine was packed carefully in bubble wrap and put aside while the rest of the build went ahead.
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Something for the crew In contrast to the engines, just three instruction pages were required for the cockpit – although the 40 or so parts built into a comprehensive unit. Cockpit sidewalls, radar rack, ejection
seats and floor were constructed as sub-assemblies, before they were painted with German Grey and matt black in a similar fashion to the engines. An element of weathering was applied to the floor and lower walls, with pale-coloured pastels which, after blending in with a finger, were sealed with lighter fluid. There were options of detailed styrene or clear instrument consoles, onto which either a full decal or individual
bezels could be applied. Here, the full decal was used and, with the aid of decal softening fluid, adhered to the plastic without fault. A choice of seats, with either integrally moulded belts or without, was also offered and the former was used; the seats were painted German Grey and the belts beige. When assembled, the unit formed both cockpit and nose wheel bay, complete with compressed air bottles
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The interior of each well-appointed engine nacelle was covered with Mr. Hobby H70 RLM 02, and detailed painting was completed before it was attached to the wing internal structure.
and linkages. Again, these were mostly hidden when the outer fuselage skins were attached. Rather than risk damage to the four rather delicate radar antenna mounts and the nose cone, these were left off until later. The rear fuselage was next in line for construction, and comprised four rather flimsy parts, stiffened with ten bulkheads. All were moulded with superb detail, especially the fuselage sides, which had interior and exterior rib detail. Z-M’s instructions made it clear that the bulkheads should be perpendicular to the fuselage for the unit to fit correctly. Interior fittings not only included the 30mm Schräge Musik oblique weapon system, electrical boxes and
heater unit, but also a temporary wooden floor and safety belts, for the luckless technician who had to tweak the power supplies in flight! It should be noted, though, that several references suggested that the wooden floor, and clear panel above it, may have been installed by Allied forces after the aircraft’s capture. Sanding and further gentle persuasion were needed to ensure all four outer skins were fitted correctly. The ventral bay roof and weapons frame were complex mouldings; the latter was fitted with four 30mm MG151 cannon and associated equipment. To ensure sufficient ‘flex’ when
Careful painting was needed on the beautifully detailed wing cannons, which included ammunition boxes and feed trays.
The cannon assemblies were inserted between the ribs of the internal structure before the inner wing skins were attached. Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
HEINKEL He 219A-0 Uhu When finally glued together, the outer skin panels, combined with internal framework, formed a very sturdy structure.
The cockpit module, including the FuG 220 radar mounts, required copious amounts of styrene cement and CA to achieve a solid bond. • SWS06-F02 Barrel Cleaning Set • SWS06-F03 Engine maintenance set Zoukei-Mura quickly followed the release of its He 219 with several accessory sets in its Super Wing Options range, which included resin figures. The first offering depicted two mechanics and a supervisor working on a spare DB 603 engine, while the second portrayed two more mechanics cleaning an MG151 cannon barrel. Cast with lifelike poses in extraordinarily sharp detail, from clothing folds to facial expressions, Z-M’s pattern maker has done a superb job. Each figure was easily built with separate heads, and in most cases, individual hands or arms. With just a dab of CA, assembly was completed with a minimum of clean-up and no filler. Designed as vignettes, both sets included a small base, packed with moulded detail, onto which each figure slotted. To complete the picture, extra parts such as buckets and toolboxes were included, as well as an optional DB 603 part with cylinder head removed.
they were married to the fuselage, the ammunition chutes were fixed in place with quick-drying epoxy glue. Three fuel tanks were positioned between the fuselage sides and painted with Gunze Mr. Hobby H70 RLM 02, with details picked out in grey, silver and black. Zoukei-Mura thoughtfully supplied a metal weight, shaped to fit the front fuel tank, that ensured the Uhu wasn’t going to sit on its tail. To make handling the model easier this, and the tailplane, were not fixed in place until later on, when the model needed to sit on its wheels. The fuselage was then put aside to dry while the wings were attended to.
One-piece wonder wings Zoukei-Mura designed the wings to be built around a simplified internal one-piece spar and rib structure, and this enormous moulding stretched from wingtip to wingtip. After mould marks or seams were removed from this part, each
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upper engine nacelle slotted into place easily between cut-outs in the wing framework. RLM 02 was used to cover the highly detailed mainwheel bay bulkheads and roof pieces, which were full of pipework and interwoven electrical cables, and were again picked out with silver, black and
brown. It was felt that Z-M could have helped the modeller here with more specific colour labels. At this stage, both engines could have been clipped into place and enclosed by the addition of the lower engine nacelles and doors. However, to make the model easier to handle, it was discovered that the
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
HEINKEL He 219A-0 Uhu
engines could be inserted after the nacelles had been fixed in place, filled, sanded and painted. The two beautifully detailed wing cannons, which included ammunition boxes and feed trays, were painted and installed within the inner wing framework. After the join surfaces were sanded, the inner, and then outer wing skins were cemented in place with clamps, and masking tape was used to hold them firmly until dry. The finished wing was then clipped into place between cutouts in the fuselage sides; Z-M thoughtfully supplied thin plastic fillets to improve the wing-tofuselage joins. It was decided to position the flaps deployed...these were built and, along with both ailerons, set aside ready
for painting. The cockpit section was secured with plastic cement and cyanoacrylate (CA) after it was discovered that by the use of just the former, it was insufficient to prevent the whole nose coming
adrift while handling! To keep dust and unwanted bits of plastic out of the structure, all removable panels were tacked in place with small dots of PVA, which would make them easy to remove once the paint stages were complete.
Standing tall Faced with a choice of metal and styrene undercarriage legs, it was decided to use the former as these would better support the weight of the finished model - these were mated to plastic wheels, brake cables and wheel guards. Interestingly, the Uhu’s main wheel structures were identical, not right- and left-handed. RLM 02 was used on the legs, with Lifecolor UA733 Tyre Black on the tyres, after which the kit-supplied decals were added to enhance the mainwheel units further. It would have been a good idea to add the wheel rim markings at this point, rather than at the final decaling stage as Z-M suggested. The completed undercarriage sets were put aside until after the wing and fuselage lower surfaces
were painted. Engine panels were painted RLM 02 and then darkened with progressive layers of AK Interactive Engine Grime and 083 Track Wash. Another choice offered was between fully glazed canopies, or a combination of clear and grey parts. With the relevant masks supplied in the kit, it was decided to use the clear parts, which were prepared, then sprayed with
RLM 02 followed by Lifecolor UA509 RLM 76. Having already masked the cockpit, engines and undercarriage bays with tape and pieces of foam, the model was primed with Halfords' grey automotive car primer. After
The aircraft with the chosen markings sported a black starboard wing and engine nacelle on the underside. This was masked and then sprayed with a mixture of RLM 66 and black.
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The exhaust mufflers were painted with a black/brown mix, but when placed next to the engines it was noted that they looked too smooth. Once the model was on its wheels, a darker layer of RLM 75 Grey was sprayed over the top surfaces of the wings, engine nacelles and fuselage.
this had been sanded, more RLM 76 was sprayed over the entire model. Once dry, the black area under the starboard wing and engine nacelle was masked and sprayed with a mixture of RLM 66 and black. To protect the recently painted undersurface, the Uhu’s undercarriage was bonded in place with quick-drying epoxy adhesive. Once on its feet, Lifecolor UA508 RLM 75 was sprayed over the Uhu’s upper wings, fuselage and surfaces. To complete the distinctive blotchy camouflage finish, more RLM 76 was sprayed freehand in wavy lines that left the darker grey showing through in an irregular pattern. As reference photos showed the Uhu’s engines smoked copiously, heavy exhaust staining was applied around the engine nacelles with
an RLM 66/black mix and a hint of Vallejo Red Oxide Primer. Before installation, the exhaust mufflers were painted with a patchy black/brown mix, but unfortunately these looked a little too smooth. Therefore, with several reference images as guidance, three rings were made by wrapping thin masking tape around each unit; these were then overpainted in patches with various rusty brown colours. The decals presented no problems, especially when applied with setting solution
To complete the mottled camouflage, more RLM 76 was sprayed in wavy lines, to leave an irregular pattern of darker grey patches.
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
HEINKEL He 219A-0 Uhu
After the engine access panels and upper surface doors were repeatedly knocked off during handling, they were re-attached with fast-acting two-part epoxy.
All lower panels were painted with RLM 02 and darkened with progressive layers of Engine Grime and Track Wash, so they blended into the surrounding surfaces.
over a gloss surface. The lengthy installation of all the ‘fiddly bits’ began with the undercarriage doors and lower antennas. Prior to the addition of the canopy, propellers and all of the access panels across the wing, the model was turned the correct way up and set on its wheels. Unfortunately, all of this handling resulted in numerous accidents where panels and aerials
items to be attached, and a final coat of matt varnish was misted on to seal everything.
were repeatedly knocked off, and it was decided to re-attach them with two-part epoxy glue. The distinctive FuG 220 radar antenna ‘horns’ were first primed in white so the dipoles nearest the ground could be finished with red and white bands. The rest of the array was painted in German Grey and finished with a black wash to emphasise the detail. Because of their fragility, these were the last
Ready to own the night Zoukei-Mura’s attention to detail, not just on the external parts, but also the internal engineering required to produce a model both large and heavy, was quite amazing. This was by no means an easy build but, by constant scrutiny
of the instruction manual, testfitting and where needed, a gentle fettling of the parts, an exceptional model can be built. This prickly monster certainly captures the ❚ menacing air of the original!
The Heinkel He 219 ‘Uhu’, by Richard A Franks (Valiant Wings), ISBN: 978-0-9567198-4-3 Zoukei-Mura Concept Note SWS No.V Heinkel He 219, by Hideyuki Shigeta (Ed), ISBN: 978-4-903596-15-0 Modellers looking for references need look no further than Zoukei-Mura’s own guide to the He 219, which provides developmental and operational histories, how the kit itself was actually designed and several build articles. Included throughout were stunning colour photographs of the kit in various stages of build as well as of the single airframe to survive World War Two, currently on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre in Fairfax, Virginia. An added bonus was the inclusion of a full set of 1/48 plans, making this invaluable reference material for any He 219 build.
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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OUT AND ABOUT
YEOVILTON AUTUMN MODEL SHOW 2014
Model clubs and traders pitched their display stands among the museum’s priceless and unique exhibits. (All Malcolm Lowe)
NAVAL ARENA Trumpeter’s 1/700 scale Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto formed the centrepiece of this extensive maritime diorama, by independent exhibitor Steve Millard. The new Airfix 1/72 scale Tiger Moth builds into a small but pleasing model, exemplified by this beauty on the stand of Yeovil’s 7248 Club.
Tamiya’s new 1/35 kit of the First World War Mk.IV Male tank in 1/35 scale was displayed by Mendip Modellers.
T
he Fleet Air Arm Museum at Somerset’s RNAS Yeovilton has been home to an excellent model show during the past two decades. Originally a single annual event, the exhibition and venue proved to be so popular that in recent years two shows have been held in each year, usually to coincide with school half-term holidays in February and October. The most recent, officially called the Museum’s ‘Autumn Model Show 2014’, was the first to be staged by a completely new marketing team at Yeovilton, due to the on-going integration of the Fleet Air Arm Museum with Portsmouth’s National Museum of the Royal Navy...and the usage of the latter’s group brand. Unfortunately, rumours had been propagated in some areas of the modelling press, prior to the event, which suggested that due to this integration, the Autumn 2014
show would not take place, or that it would be the last at Yeovilton. These rumours were completely untrue, and the October event went off without a hitch and was very successful. Yeovilton is one of the world’s great aviation museums, and is filled with priceless and unique exhibits that highlight Britain’s rich naval aviation heritage. Visiting model clubs and traders pitched their display stands among these features, as usual, to give the show a unique atmosphere. Modellers and traders from Southern England, the Midlands and Wales are always well represented at Yeovilton, and the Autumn show was no exception, with model clubs and individual exhibitors from Somerset, Dorset and Hampshire being particularly prominent. The next model show at Yeovilton will take place on February 21, 2015. Further details of the Fleet Air Arm Museum and its events can be found at www.fleetairarm.com ❚ Malcolm Lowe
Bill Allan of IPMS Salisbury exhibited this colourful US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet at Yeovilton, built from Hasegawa’s 1/48 scale kit.
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Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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32090 Dornier Do 335 Landing Gear (HK) (for 1/32 Hong Kong Models) MSRP $22.95
Extensive inventory of aircraft landing gear with 500 + sets and growing!
scaleaircraftconversions.com
INTERMEDIATE BUILD
WESTLAND WESSEX HAR.2
LITTLE
LIFESAVER Mike Grant gives Mark I’s tiny Wessex a whirl
Although it required a little trimming to achieve a good fit, there was well-defined detail on the busy fuselage underside panel.
The cockpit was supplemented by control columns and the instrument panel.
Exhaust stubs were hollowed with several progressively larger drill bits.
A few simple additions enhanced the cockpit; among these, seat harnesses were made from thin strips of painted masking tape. The author made decals for the instruments, but these could be sourced from the spares box.
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and so they were given more depth with careful scribing.
Construction The cockpit floor, bulkhead, centre console and seats were all moulded as one part, which just needed careful painting and the addition of (highly simplified) seat harnesses from tape for enhancement. An instrument panel was also supplied, but unfortunately no decal for it, which seemed an odd omission given the otherwise superb markings. But gauges could be sourced from the spares box or printed onto paper and glued to the fascia. No interior detail for the main cabin was included, but as the windows were so small it’s unlikely
MODEL SPEC
T
here’s a common misconception that small-scale kits are quick projects, and the logic is undeniable: fewer parts, simplified detail and smaller areas to paint. Offsetting this, though, can be the additional time spent adding detail, refining parts and the extra care needed to achieve scale paint effects. Alignment is also more critical in ‘tiny’ modelling. A 0.5mm misaligned part is much less noticeable on a 1/48 or 1/32 kit than on a 1/144 model, where the discrepancy is exaggerated by the scale’s multiplication factor. And, of course, much depends on the quality of the kit to begin with. Mark 1’s Wessex was wellpresented, with colour profiles for four options printed on the back of the box, a very good decal sheet (which even included stencilling), and two runners of parts, one being clear. This was one of several boxings of Wessex variants, so several parts included were not applicable here. Overall the detail was excellent, with a good compromise between scale fidelity and strength. Like many Czech short-run kits, the plastic had a slightly pebbled texture, which required sanding and polishing. Panel lines were recessed but shallow in places,
Westland Wessex HC.2/HAR.2 By:
Mark 1 Models
Stock Code: MKM14423 Scale:
1/144
Price:
£13.99
Available from: www.4pluspublications.com
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
WESTLAND WESSEX HAR.2 With no cabin interior and the main door moulded in the closed position, there was little to do except paint it black.
anything would be seen anyway, especially since the starboard cargo door was moulded closed. The fuselage halves were airbrushed black inside, and then the windows were installed. If there was one shortcoming, it was the transparencies. None of the side windows fitted into their apertures without being sanded to size, but the biggest problem was the main windscreen/canopy, which was marginally too big in all proportions. Its depth was reduced to some degree by sanding, but unfortunately the width was much more problematic and had to be left overhanging the fuselage sides. Cockpit side windows were supplied as separate items, which allowed them to be posed open, but the parts needed sanding to an acceptable thickness before being polished and dipped in Pledge floor polish to restore clarity. Once the fuselage was together the underside panel was glued in place, having first dry-fitted and trimmed the part for a better fit. Nevertheless, filling was needed, but sanding proved a challenge in such small, tight areas. Miniature sanding sticks were made by
gluing Wet and Dry abrasive paper to wooden stirrers, sliced into small sections. Having decided to build the search and rescue HAR.2, the prominent winch above the main door had to be scratch-built from sections (and a chunk) of stretched styrene. The 4+ Publications reference book on the Wessex included invaluable photos, which showed the equipment, as well as many other details. Despite being a fairly simplified assembly, correct and symmetrical alignment of the undercarriage on both sides required trial and error. Stretched styrene was used to replace the diagonal supports, as the kit items seemed a little heavy. Flotation bag stowage hubs were supplied for the wheels, as were spherical inflation bottles; unfortunately both of these tiny styrene balls were launched from tweezers into the darkest recesses of the model room, never to be found! The prominent exhaust outlets were moulded solid, so were drilled out but left off the model until painting and decaling was completed. Mark 1 moulded the main rotor blades with a
There was a small amount of flash to remove from the mating surfaces of the fuselage halves, but having done so they fitted together well, as did the bulbous nose parts. Parafilm was used to mask the clear parts, each tiny pane being cut freehand with a fresh No.11 blade.
Black was sprayed over the masked transparencies to simulate internal framing.
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
WESTLAND WESSEX HAR.2 After initial priming with white, pink was used as a basecoat to add depth to the final paint layer. A cocktail stick served as a useful handle while airbrushing.
The heavily-thinned Tamiya yellow acrylic paint was applied gradually, to achieve solid coverage. Subtle weathering was applied to the main rotor blades. These faded heavily over time, contrasting with the clean condition in which the airframes were maintained.
The finished Wessex in its iconic yellow search and rescue scheme.
characteristic droop, although it wasn’t entirely convincing, appearing to be more of an angle than a subtle curve. An attempt was made to straighten this by careful bending, followed by inducing a more gradual sweep. The rotor head assembly was necessarily simplified, yet still convincing at this scale, but in comparison with photos of the real thing it was felt that the rotors
LIKE THIS?... THEN TRY THESE! Mark I offers various Wessex helicopters in 1/144 scale: • MKM14403: Westland Wessex HAS.1/31A • MKM14404: Westland Wessex HAS.3/31B • MKM14424: Westland Wessex HU.5/5C
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sat too closely to the roof. An extension post was added from styrene rod, the end of which sat on the helicopter’s floor. This enabled the rotor to be spun in a satisfyingly child-like way, as well as being removable when transporting the model.
Painting and finishing Markings for four very different colour schemes were illustrated in the instructions, but for those of us not closely familiar with post-war RAF aircraft, actual paint references or FS numbers would have been appreciated. Parafilm was used to mask all the clear parts prior to them being sprayed, while chunks of cosmetic sponge prevented overspray in the cockpit. Black was airbrushed over the transparencies, since the internal framework would be visible from inside the cockpit.
As an initial white primer was to be applied, the black areas were then sprayed with grey – similar in tone to the kit plastic – to minimise contrast and reduce the number of primer coats needed. After a few light coats of Tamiya white fine surface primer were applied, a drop of red was added and the resulting pink airbrushed on the model. This created a warm-hued base over which the somewhat translucent Tamiya X-8 Lemon Yellow was sprayed; this created good solid coverage and a rich, deep yellow. Although X-8 is a gloss acrylic, two coats of Pledge were applied to seal the paint and prepare the surface for decals. These were well printed and trouble-free in application, with no signs of silvering...even on the tiniest markings. Additional stencilling was laser printed onto decal paper and applied.
A pin wash of orange-brown water colour was then flowed into the panel lines before everything was sealed with a coat of Tamiya Semi Gloss Clear. The final steps were to add the tail rotor, exhausts and a few of the myriad aerials that protruded from the Wessex.
Small is good! What an enjoyable project this was. There was enough detail to create an excellent replica straight from the box, yet plenty of potential to add more; only the over-sized transparencies let it down. Despite its diminutive size though, this wasn’t a quick project. The idiosyncracies of a short-run kit, combined with the time taken to refine and add detail, demanded an investment of almost 23 hours. In terms of modelling pleasure, though, for this modeller at least, it was time well spent. ❚
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MODELLING THE F-4 PHANTOM
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Produced by the Airfix Model World team, Scale Modelling F-4 Phantom is a new 100-page guide, vital for anyone contemplating scale kit builds. Fascinating history text, reference photos and colour illustrations accompany five fantastic model builds, in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scales. Features Include: Tamiya 1/32 F-4J This is built as an RAF F-4J (UK), with accompanying text by former Phantom navigator Ian Black. Academy 1/48 F-4C Our expert uses this recent kit to portray a MiG-killer in later US Air National Guard colours.
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The gunner of Defiant L7013/PS-U blasts away at a Heinkel He 111. While the type found success initially, the Defiant was soon eclipsed by Axis machinery and so was relegated to night-fighter duties, where it proved useful.
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EXCLUSIVE BUILD
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT
Jen Wright explores the latest newly tooled Battle of Britain combatant from Airfix, with an exclusive test-shot
B
oulton Paul’s Defiant was the last of three brand new monoplane fighters introduced to the RAF between 1938 and 1939... the other two being the Spitfire and Hurricane. The Defiant was fated to be a somewhat less successful day fighter than its peers; after initial success it was quickly relegated to night-fighting duties, where it was considerably less vulnerable. A single surviving Defiant is currently on display in the RAF museum, Hendon.
Long overdue Few modellers would disagree that Airfix’s original 1960 kit was ripe for replacement, and with this release their prayers have been answered. This new offering came on two light grey runners and with comprehensive clear parts. The components were clean and crisply
The cockpit detail was realised in pleasing fashion, and was treated to a wash to help accentuate the moulded features.
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moulded, with quite deep, but very fine panel line representation. Smaller details were worthy for the scale, and options for two aircraft were included on the decal sheet. Interior parts were tackled first, and these slotted together so positively that glue was virtually unnecessary. A fuselage half
was employed as a jig to ensure everything was glued squarely, and then all was removed for painting. The pilot’s seat was shown as having a brown backrest in the instructions, but no leather padding detail was moulded integrally. This being so, the modeller should either make a
Seatbelts were added from an Eduard ‘Real Fabric’ set, but Airfix’s instrument panel decal was a welcome inclusion to the kit sheet.
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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EXCLUSIVE BUILD
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT
Kit colour schemes Airfix’s new Defiant Mk.I has two liveries provided in its classic release, and they are: L7013/PS-U, 264 Squadron, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, July 1940 (Dark Earth and Dark Green over Sky) N3328/DZ-Z, 151 Squadron, RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire, February, 1941 (see the colour profiles on p.62 to learn the fate of this particular aircraft)
A separately moulded part for the undercarriage bay allowed it to be realistically deep, and well detailed.
Filler was required in the wing-to-fuselage join. Since the area was somewhat tricky to access, Tamiya putty was used due to its easy-to-sand nature.
Gaining closure
padded backrest or leave the seat green. Everything was painted Interior Green via Tamiya XF-71, and then washed with a neutral brown mix from the Ammo panel line wash range. When dry, the detail was dry-brushed lightly with Sky, before details were picked out
in black. A finishing touch in the form of Eduard ‘fabric’ seatbelts was chosen for the pilot’s seat; these were not actually fabric but a very flexible, almost rubbery material. After they were peeled from the backing sheet, very little glue was needed to fix them in
With the finished cockpit parts installed, the fuselage was glued together. The fit was very positive, with no filler required at all. After the necessary sanding to remove all traces of the join, small amounts of lost detail were duly re-scribed.
Moving to the flying surfaces, the separate undercarriage bay part was attached and then the upper halves were cemented to the fullspan lower wing. Although the wings fitted brilliantly, the trailing edge was rather thick, and was not easily thinned after gluing. Modellers who wish to remedy this are advised to do so before
MODEL SPEC
place, as they were naturally very flexible and quite convincing in this small scale.
Boulton Paul Defiant By:
Airfix
Stock Code: A02069 Scale:
1/72
Price:
£7.99
Available from: www.airfix.com
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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EXCLUSIVE BUILD
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT
Decisions decisions... This kit had a dizzying array of options represented within the plastic parts. As well as the standard (for Airfix) raised or lowered undercarriage, there were several choices for the canopy and turret arrangements. In an attempt to mitigate the drag caused by the large turret, the Defiant had fairings in front and behind it. These were raised until the turret was used, whereupon they were lowered to allow it to rotate. Parts were included for raised and lowered front and rear fairings. Additionally, open and closed canopies were available, with the option being split into three parts. A very welcome touch by Airfix was to attach all the transparencies to the runners via the flat join faces, rather than on the sides. This made cleaning-up far more simple and left no scarring in visible areas. To ensure a completely smooth join between the fitted canopy and the fuselage, a small amount of Gunze Mr. Surfacer 500 was brushed into the join and sanded when dry.
Landing lights were filled flush with CA glue, and wingtip navigation lamps were added at the same time.
mating the wings, by thinning from the inside. The design of the wing-to-fuselage interface was interesting, and almost a very good fit. Unfortunately a slight undercut step was present, which could not be eliminated due to the design of the join. The fuselage could not be squeezed together to make it narrower due to the cockpit parts inside, and the plinth moulded to the wings was of fixed width, so Tamiya putty was used to remedy the problem. The landing lights did not fit awfully well, so cyanoacrylate (CA) glue was used as a filler to blend them in. CA was ideal for this because it can
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be polished along with the rest of the clear part and is completely invisible when all is finished. Since CA and sanding was being carried out on the landing lights, the solid depiction of the wingtip lights was carved away and replaced by chunks from the clear parts runner. These were fitted and blended with CA in exactly the same way as the landing lights. At the rear, the horizontal stabilisers displayed almost a push fit, and the separate rudder could be posed dynamically if preferred. Final steps towards basic airframe completion were centred on the radiator and oil cooler housings. These had
separate and finely detailed cooler faces, which were fixed in place after the underside colour as painted...not forgetting to paint the equivalent area on the underside of the model! At this point attention turned to the cockpit; the closed and raised options were chosen for a streamlined look, and the fit of the one-piece canopy was extremely good. After the canopy itself was masked, all possible paint fume entry points were blocked-off with packaging foam, and the turret aperture was also masked with tape. Although the turret could have been left until later, it was prepared at this
point so it could be painted along with the rest of the model. The internals were simple to assemble but very effective, although not much could be seen through the small windows after the frames were painted. Gun muzzles were hollowed with a combination of a 0.4mm drill bit and the point of a scalpel blade.
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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Painting time No primer was deemed necessary due to the limited amount of remedial sanding, so painting began with the cockpit framing; first with Interior Green and then with black at the same time as the turret framing. Before beginning with the main paintwork, time was taken to plan the intended amount of weathering. To have an idea of where one wished to end up was always useful for the journey. In this case the aircraft in question was essentially quite clean, although certainly not pristine. Because of this, pre-shading was avoided in favour of careful dirt effects and a panel line wash for accentuating surface detail. Chipping was also to be added at the wing root and boarding step, as seen in period photos. Standard Battle of Britain colours of Dark Earth and Dark Green over Sky were required for the time period depicted. The paints used
for this were Gunze Mr. Color (lacquer) 368 for the Sky underside, Gunze H72 for the Dark Earth and Tamiya XF-81 for the Dark Green. Acrylic paints were necessary for the topsides to allow the hairspray effect planned for the wing root to work. Before any camouflage was applied, silver was sprayed in the wing root area where the wear was to be represented. When dry, hairspray was applied directly from the aerosol over the silver. Any hairspray can be used for this, but do experiment on a scrap model first. In the next stage, Dark Earth was applied in the general areas required, with no pre-shading or other effects. Instead, the paint was applied a little unevenly on purpose, to achieve a very subtle mottled appearance. Before the paint had fully cured, a slightly stiff paintbrush was loaded with water and scrubbed in the wing root walkway area. At first
Dark Earth was applied first, in a rough camouflage pattern, with Gunze H72.
Tamiya XF-81 Dark Green was used for the second colour, and the whole model was then sealed with a brushed coat of Johnson’s Klear.
Wing root walkway chips were created with water and a slightly stiff paintbrush, before the brown paint was cured fully. Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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EXCLUSIVE BUILD
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT
The kit decals represented an aircraft from 264 Squadron in July 1940, and were applied with the help of Mr. Setter solution.
nothing happened, until the water soaked through the paint layer and started to dissolve the hairspray underneath to reveal the previously applied silver paint. Once happy with the chipping, the area was sealed with Johnson’s Klear. The Dark Green was applied freehand, since references showed some 264 Squadron aircraft to have fairly loose demarcations... and it saved masking! When all was dry, a further coat of Klear was applied by brush to protect the colour work. Airfix’s decals were up to the usual high standard we’ve come to expect, and they settled beautifully into the panel detail with minimal help from setting solution. One exception to this was the large
Since no shading was employed in the paintwork, the wash was applied across the whole surface. When wiped off, small amounts were left to give a suggestion of ground-in grime.
Satin varnish was applied to seal the finish; it can be seen that the wash has accented the panel line subtly, and blended the bright decal colours to some degree.
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fuselage roundel, which was situated such that the contour of the model made softening solution necessary. As is also now the norm from Airfix, a comprehensive set of stencils was supplied. After drying overnight, another coat of Klear was applied, this time by airbrush, which sealed and blended the decals before the panel line wash. This was applied to the whole model rather than just in the panel lines, so that when removed carefully with paper towels it was possible to manipulate the amount of wash left behind, so that a slightly grimy effect was achieved across the entire surface. Ammo satin acrylic varnish finished the job and left a smooth but matt surface, which was buffed gently
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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EXCLUSIVE BUILD
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT
Wheels of fortune
In common with other recent Airfix releases, the Defiant’s wheels were a little softly detailed. This was most noticeable where the wheel rim met the tyre, the join line being all but imperceptible. While this was not a problem in and of itself, it did make trying to paint the wheel and tyre neatly rather difficult. Of course after-market wheels will no doubt appear in the future, and there was always the option of creating a circular mask, but an easier solution presented itself in the form of a pointy scriber. The tool was run carefully around the join between the rim and tyre, very gently at first. Gradually, as the scribed line became more pronounced, more pressure was used and after a few passes a neat circular groove was the result. This was much easier to paint, using the capillary method to mark the demarcation. The photograph shows an unmodified wheel on the right, and a scribed version on the left. This same method was used on the one-piece tailwheel and strut, to accentuate the wheel rim, and to suggest separation of the tyre from the tailwheel strut itself.
the airframe, and what a good job Boulton Paul actually did in fairing it in so well. Care must be taken with the undercarriage legs – they were handed, and so very wonky wheels would be the result if they were attached to the wrong side. Although the wheels were keyed for the integrally moulded flat spot to be on the ground, attention was still needed to get them to sit square and true. The rear-most underside aerial was snipped short to portray the retracted position on the ground, and a Lycra thread aerial wire was stretched from it to the front aerial mast, to form the final detailing task.
Scale success
Although usually painted separately, in this case the colours in use made it possible to paint the propeller and spinner as one...with a little masking of course! Although the parts were a little fragile in themselves, the undercarriage was robust once it was all fitted together. A neat touch was the inclusion of the tiny torque linkmounted mud scrapers.
Like the Blenheim, and some other notable early war aircraft, the Defiant seems to garner a level of interest from modellers which is out of all proportion to the success of the actual aircraft. As such, this release will be welcomed widely by modellers, for whom an accurate 1/72 Defiant has been the Holy Grail for many years. The wait is over now, though, as this kit is accurate, well detailed for the scale and a joy to assemble. The few minor shortcomings were easily addressed and the end result was most pleasing. At the risk of sounding akin to a broken record, ❚ Airfix has nailed it again!
when dry with a clean cloth to produce slightly shiny areas. This being a relatively simple model, final assembly offered no drama; Airfix offered many pleasing touches for the finer detail points. On fitting of the four-gun turret, it was apparent immediately just how bulky this was in comparison to the rest of
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IN FOCUS
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT
A standard production Mk.I, possibly N1573, shows the typical 1940-era day fighter configuration of the ‘bomber interceptor’ turret-armed Defiants. (Boulton Paul)
T
here have been many concepts in aviation deemed ‘a good idea at the time’. One of these was most definitely the Boulton Paul Defiant, which received much fanfare at the time of its creation in the second half of the 1930s, but was to have a very short daytime fighter career with the RAF during the early stages of World War Two – although it did become an important pioneering nightfighter in RAF service, and went on to operate in a number of second-line and special duties roles later in the war after its frontline
Malcolm V. Lowe recounts the trials and tribulations of Boulton Paul’s Defiant...the RAF’s only single-engined frontline two-seat turret-equipped fighter of World War Two career ended. The layout of the two-seat fighter had been proven successfully during World War One by the famous Bristol F.2b Fighter, and even in the 1930s this concept still appeared to some military tacticians to be valid. At that time Britain was faced with the growing need to defend in the future against formations of enemy bombers, the prevailing thinking being that the bomber would be expected to fight its way to the target. This concept also suggested that the bombers would not require escort fighters to look after
them. Therefore defending fighters would simply need to shoot down the bombers with a heavy offensive armament, without the need to defend themselves against enemy fighters that would not be present to defend the bombers. With hindsight this thinking was fatally flawed, as experience during World War Two proved very quickly. Nevertheless, Air Ministry Specification F.9/35 of 1935 asked Britain’s aircraft industry for a two-seat fighter, armed with a gun turret. One company in particular was very well placed to answer this particular requirement.
The very first Defiant, K8310, was originally designated by Boulton Paul as the P.82, and was initially built ‘clean’ without the turret fitted...although it had been installed by the time of this image. (Boulton Paul)
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Turret specialists The original Norwich-based Boulton & Paul (the aviationrelated department of which became Boulton Paul Aircraft in 1934) was a world-leader in gun turret design and manufacture. It had developed poweroperated gun turrets for its own Sidestrand biplane bomber of late 1920s-vintage, which grew into the Overstrand when thus turret-equipped. Both Sidestrand and Overstrand were important frontline types for the inter-war RAF, the latter especially for its revolutionary and world-leading gun turret installations. Boulton & Paul was fully aware of gun turret developments that were also taking place during that era in France, and used French technology in its own gun turret design and manufacture. This especially related to the operation of the turret itself, the French developments having demonstrated the use of electrohydraulic power to allow the turret to rotate; electric motors located in the turret drove hydraulic pumps that powered hydraulic systems for turret operation. The company’s
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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IN FOCUS
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT 264 Squadron, which received its first aircraft in December 1939. The unit moved to Martlesham Heath to operate the Defiant, but several varied malfunctions were found with the new aircraft, while special tactics had to be explored to decide the most effective use of the heavy gun turret. An attack from below into the target aircraft’s ‘blind spot’ was the most
The initial prototype Defiant, K8310, went through several detail changes while the Defiant design was perfected. It is seen here with early exhaust outlets. (Boulton Paul)
development work also led to the four-gun turret design that became a central feature of its response to Specification F.9/35. Indeed, the company had already armed with turrets several Hawker Demon biplanes for the RAF earlier in the 1930s, and became one of several manufacturers that answered the F.9/35 requirement. Of these, just Boulton Paul and Hawker constructed prototypes. The latter's Hotspur design eventually did not progress very far, due mainly to development and production commitments with the Hurricane, but Boulton Paul’s project was far more successful. Initially designated P.82 by the company and later named Defiant, the Boulton Paul design was a potential winner from the start because it incorporated all of the company’s know-how in turret design and technology. The initial P.82 aircraft, allocated the British military serial number K8310, made its first flight on August 11, 1937. It was not fitted with a turret at that time, and looked sleek and purposeful... which was not the case when the turret was installed. The armament chosen for the Defiant was a Boulton Paul ‘A’-series turret, which mounted four 0.303in (7.7mm) machine guns. There was no fixed forward-firing armament within the Defiant itself, which was to prove a costly deficiency. Neatly retractable fuselage fairings ahead of and just behind the turret gave it an excellent traverse and field of fire, and in production aircraft the pilot was equipped with clear panels just behind the cockpit to allow some rearwards vision. The first prototype was powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin I engine rated at 1,030hp. A second, supplemental
With aerials mounted on its fuselage sides and starboard wing leading edge, this radar-equipped Defiant Mk.II represented the state-of-the-art in nightfighter technology during 1941 to 1942. (Boulton Paul)
prototype (K8620) flew in May 1939, but long before this, in April 1937, an initial production batch of 87 Defiant Mk.Is had been ordered. Unfortunately, overlong development delayed series manufacture, with the first production aircraft, L6950, only flying in July 1939. Dimensionally, with a wing span of 39ft 4in (11.99m) the Defiant Mk.I was just smaller than a Hurricane and larger than a Spitfire, but was longer than both with a length of 35ft 4in (10.77m). Power for the production aircraft was provided by the improved Merlin III engine, of similar rating to the Mk.I. A direct contemporary of the
Defiant was the Blackburn Roc naval fighter, designed for Britain’s Royal Navy. This single-engined two-seat aircraft also featured a four-gun Boulton Paul turret, and although it was a Blackburn design, production Rocs were actually built by Boulton Paul at Wolverhampton. Constructed in far fewer numbers than the Defiant, the Roc was largely unsuccessful as a daytime fighter, and survivors were relegated to second-line duties by the Royal Navy, such as target-towing.
Frontline problems The first RAF unit to become operational with the Defiant was
obvious approach, the Defiant in effect being a ‘bomber interceptor’. It was already becoming obvious even in early 1940, however, that Defiants would face formidable German fighter opposition – for which the lack of fixed, forwardfiring armament was going to be a huge disadvantage. The squadron became operational in March 1940, and was involved from the outset when the Germans attacked France and the Low Countries in May 1940. Early encounters with Luftwaffe aircraft were encouraging, and several were shot down by the Defiants; the unit distinguished itself in air battles over the
Two Canadian-manned units flew the Defiant within the RAF, 409 and 410 Squadrons. Defiant Mk.I V1123/RA-R shown here belonged to the latter unit. (RCAF)
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IN FOCUS
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT
Photographed in flight during daylight, this nocturnal Defiant Mk.II nightfighter, AA436/DZ-V, was flown by 151 Squadron. (via John Batchelor)
Dunkirk beaches during the evacuation of British and French forces. Nonetheless, several Defiants had been shot down by German fighters, and the type’s vulnerability was becoming obvious. A second Defiant Mk.I unit, 141 Squadron, became operational in the early summer of 1940. During July and August the Defiant force fought bravely but suffered considerable losses to the Luftwaffe’s nimble, well-armed Messerschmitt Bf 109E. Initially the Germans had been caught out by the Defiant’s unusual armament configuration, but it soon became obvious how to defeat the unconventional fighter. Eventually the Defiant was withdrawn from daytime fighter operation in late August, as the Battle of Britain reached its peak. The less than successful daytime aerial combat experiences of the Defiant did not stop the type from eventually becoming a useful fighter, but in a far different role. Both 264 and 141 Squadrons, and
later several other units including the Polish-manned 307 Squadron, commenced using their Defiants for potentially less hazardous night patrols. Success was achieved immediately with several German bombers intercepted in the dark by 141 Squadron during September 1940, as the Germans increasingly switched to nocturnal operations. Pilots from 264 Squadron had, by that time, already flown some night patrols. At first the Defiants were very austere nightfighters, with no radar and relied on the pilots’ skills to operate in the dark. Production of the Defiant Mk.I eventually ended with more than 700 manufactured, but Boulton Paul always sought to improve the type. A change of powerplant to the Merlin XX of 1,260hp, plus other alterations that included a modified fuel system and slightly enlarged vertical tail surfaces, resulted in the Defiant Mk.II. This was the best of the breed, and at once the new type became important for the nightfighter role
A large amount of work was needed to convert the Defiant into a target-towing aircraft, as illustrated by this example with modified lower rear fuselage, lack of turret, and fuselage-mounted propeller for the on-board winch mechanism. (Boulton Paul)
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that the Defiant made its own from late 1940 onwards. Developments in airborne radar allowed the new sub-type to be fitted with Airborne Interception (AI) Mk.IV (later Mk.VI) radar, for which various prominent aerials were fitted to different parts of the Defiant’s airframe. This made the radar-equipped Defiant nightfighter one of the most advanced types in frontline service anywhere in the world...a significant role that it played until it was eventually replaced from 1942 onwards by the radarequipped Bristol Beaufighter and de Havilland Mosquito. At least 13 squadrons flew nightfighter Defiants, and some of these operated Mk.I alongside Mk.II airframes; Mk.Is fitted with radar retrospectively were sometimes called Mk.IA.
Further roles Following the withdrawal of Defiants from frontline duties, the type’s usefulness to the RAF was by no means over, and it embarked
on a second career in a number of second-line and special roles that gave the type a new lease of life. The many Defiants increasingly redundant in frontline activities resulted in a number being converted for target-towing. Well over 100 new-build aircraft were additionally finished to target-towing standard, while others intended as fighters were transformed into target-towers on the production line. The TT.Mk.I roughly equated to the Defiant Mk.II, while the TT.Mk.III was related to the original Mk.I. A considerable amount of work was needed to make the Defiant into a target-towing aircraft, including the removal of the turret and its replacement with a transparent covered fairing, a modified lower rear fuselage to carry a drogue or sleeve target, and a fuselage-mounted propeller to provide power for the on-board winch mechanism. The Defiant proved successful in this role and literally served world-wide with many different gunnery schools, specialised gunnery training flights and anti-aircraft co-operation units. Two target-towing Defiants were employed on ‘reverse Lend-Lease’ by the USAAF in Britain. For a short time, the Defiant became an important air-sea rescue aircraft. In this role the type largely replaced Westland Lysanders during 1942. An air-drop dinghy could be carried on underwing racks originally intended to carry bombs, and eventually five RAF squadrons flew a mix of Defiant Mk.I and Mk.II aircraft. A little-known but important role played by the Defiant was as an electronic countermeasures
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IN FOCUS
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT (ECM) aircraft. As World War Two progressed, electronic warfare became increasingly important, and a significant aspect of this was the protection of Allied bombers from ever more sophisticated German electronic detection equipment. Work carried out principally at the Telecommunications Research Establishment (initially at Worth Matravers in Dorset and then at Malvern in Worcestershire) resulted in two specific devices, code-named ‘Moonshine’ and ‘Mandrel’, which aimed to confound the German radars including the highly-effective Freya early-warning variety. This was being used particularly to defend against Allied bomber operations. A unique RAF unit, 515 Squadron, was established at RAF Northolt in October 1942 to operate specially configured Defiants of an existing Defiant-equipped special duties organisation called the Defiant Flight. Both devices required a number of Defiants to fly in specific areas, often ahead of the bomber stream, to confuse German radars; the earlier ‘Moonshine’
The Canadian-manned 410 Squadron flew this partly snow-covered Defiant Mk.I nightfighter, V1110/RA-H, which was later converted into a target-tower. (RCAF)
the RAF simply as standard or specialised trainers, quite in addition to the aircraft employed specifically for target-towing. Two Operational Training Units (OTUs) that trained Defiant nightfighter crews, among other duties, were 54 and 60 OTUs. Various OTUs for the training of bomber crew members also flew Defiants. Several Advanced Flying Units similarly operated Defiants, and one was employed by Martin-Baker on early ejection seat trials and, in May 1945, Martin-Baker used Defiant DR944 to test its first ejection seat with a dummy launch.
Senior service Britain’s Royal Navy also flew Defiants. But this was most definitely not in a frontline capacity, however, because the aircraft involved were employed as shore-based trainers. Well over 100 (possibly as many as 150 or so) were transferred to the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), and the Defiants involved were predominantly, if not wholly target-towing aircraft. They served with second-line Royal Navy squadrons, mainly stationed overseas although some were ‘home’-based. One of the first FAA units to fly the type was
770 NAS, which operated Defiants on target-towing duties from the summer of 1942 onwards at Crail (HMS Jackdaw) in Fife, Scotland. At least 16 Fleet Air Arm squadrons eventually flew Defiants as a part of their inventories for training and general fleet requirements. More than 1,000 Defiants in all were built by Boulton Paul at Wolverhampton. The exact total is open to debate, mainly because of the change of mark of some aircraft during production, and the subsequent conversion of others. The overall amount is probably ❚ between 1,043 and 1,100.
Coded ‘PS’, 264 Squadron was the first unit to equip with the Defiant Mk.I, and was fully involved in the major air battles over Dunkirk, and later in the initial stages of the Battle of Britain. (Malcolm Lowe Collection)
was fairly rapidly compromised, but ‘Mandrel’, used by Defiants from late 1942 onwards, was an effective jammer that tackled Freya and Würzburg radars. In these operations the Defiants were among the first ECM aircraft ever deployed in combat. Eventually their role was taken over within 515 Squadron by the larger and more suitable twin-engined Bristol Beaufighter. The last known ‘Mandrel’ sorties flown by ECM Defiants were made on the night of July 17, 1943. A far less dramatic war was fought by the Defiants used by
This early Defiant Mk.I, L7012, was from the first production batch and is seen awaiting delivery − apparently without guns in its turret. (Boulton Paul)
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IN PROFILE
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT
An example of a Mk.I from 264 Squadron based at Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, with an upper surface of Dark Green and Dark Earth, before the type received Night paint for night-fighter duties. The squadron’s aircraft wore A and B type camouflage schemes.
This Bolton Paul Defiant Target Tug (TT) AA507 served in India with 22 Anti-Aircraft Cooperation Unit, in late 1944 or early 1945, and sported overall yellow and black stripes; the black stripes varied between individual aircraft. A total of 150 TTs were ordered originally, but were followed by another 140. Note the Vokes filter for tropical operations.
Defiant Mk.I N3328/DZ-Z, of 151 Squadron based at RAF Wittering, in December 1941. The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed on take-off in October 1942, while undertaking a routine flight from its home station.
Another Vokes filter-equipped target tug, AA591, from South East Asia Command based in Tezagon, (now Bangladesh), portrayed just as the war in Europe ended. The scheme comprises dark sea grey and dark green with a black and yellow underside. These aircraft were generally used by Air Armament Schools and Anti Aircraft Co-operation units.
Illustrations by Pete West © 2015
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Thursday11/12/2014 16:56
INTERMEDIATE BUILD
DEUTSCHE AFRIKA KORPS GRENADIER The kit parts were cast in light-grey resin and had minimal casting lines. An option was provided for either a steel helmet or fabric field cap.
Pete Watson breathes life into Alpine Miniatures’ 120mm German Afrika Korps Grenadier
{64}
Once washes had been applied to replicate shadows, details were painted to bring the shovel, carrier and bayonet to life.
n September 1940, an overconfident Italian army invaded Egypt from its colony in Libya, and outnumbered British and Commonwealth forces by at least five to one. Within five months, though, it had surrendered after being beaten comprehensively in the desert and, faced with the potential loss of North Africa, Germany then intervened, with the first units landing in February 1941 under the command of Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel. Although initially a small force, it was well trained, fully armoured and became known as the Deutsches Afrika Korps (DAK). The British and Commonwealth forces finally faced higher calibre
opposition, and combat stretched along the North African coastline for the next two years. By the time the DAK surrendered on March 12, 1943 it contained 240,000 troops and although defeated, had earned fully the respect of its opponents.
MODEL SPEC
The canteen and entrenching tool were undercoated with mixes of black/silver and desert yellow/white respectively.
Deutsche Afrika Korps Grenadier By:
Alpine Miniatures
Stock Code: 16017 Scale:
120mm
Price:
£33
Available from: Alpine Miniatures, www.alpineminiatures.com
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
DEUTSCHE AFRIKA KORPS GRENADIER
The canteen was shaded with black, and the leather strap undercoated in Humbrol 110 Natural Wood, before it received a lighter topcoat and additional shading.
Hairspray was misted on the canteen before rock salt was sprinkled on it; after a wash of olive green, the salt was removed to reveal a faded appearance.
Humbrol enamels were used to prime and undercoat the water flasks; highlights would be added to the drinking cup and buttons for the felt cover. After further shading and detail painting of the webbing straps, the flasks were ready.
An undercoat of Humbrol 86 Light Olive was applied to the grenade launcher pouch, which was then shaded with 155 Olive Drab before white highlights were added.
The figure was undercoated in Humbrol enamels; unfortunately the paint dried with a glossy finish on the breeches, despite vigorous stirring and the use of clean turpentine.
The figure Sculpted by Taesung Harmms, Alpine’s grenadier was cast in eleven highly detailed resin parts, and offered a choice of heads with different headgear (standard metal helmet and field cap). It was good to have a choice of different heads because once painted, the figure would have a totally different look and feel…almost as if there were two figures in one pack. Faint seams on several parts were
removed easily, and as the legs and torso came as one section, once the arms were attached the main figure was ready for painting preparation. Smaller parts were mounted temporarily onto cocktail sticks, to be painted separately. Although there were no painting instructions with the kit, the box photo was excellent and showed a figure with both head variations. Even with this at hand, references were sought for
Finishing effects on the rifle included the use of black enamel to paint/highlight the metalwork.
The Kar 98 carbine received undercoats of Natural Wood for the stock and thinned black washes on the gunmetal. Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
DEUTSCHE AFRIKA KORPS GRENADIER
A lighter mix of Humbrol 93 Desert Yellow base colour was used to fade the field cap, and 74 Linen was brushed onto the hair; oils were used to add tones on the face.
‘Hot spots’ caused by the intense desert sun were replicated with white and Naples Yellow on the more exposed parts of the face.
The ears and neck line were shaded and highlighted, before sun-tan/burn effects were applied with Mars Orange blended into the underlying layers.
uniform and equipment colouring and the excellent illustrations in two Osprey Men at Arms books provided suitable guidance.
for originals. The figure’s cap was undercoated with Humbrol 93 Desert Yellow mixed with white, to produce a light yellow colour. Once dry, a mix of Raw Sienna, Naples Yellow and Titanium White, with a minute amount of Chromium of Oxide (green) oil paint, was used to tint the base colour. Raw Umber was employed for shaded features, while thinned Sepia was run into the finest parts of the cap once all was dry. Raw Sienna and Titanium White emphasised the main areas, with more white being added for final highlights. The goggles received a mix of Humbrol 33 Matt Black and Flesh as a base coat, with black then used for shadow and Flesh as the main highlight along the edges of the glasses. Alizarin Crimson and black coloured the lenses. The field shirt received a mix of Humbrol 86 Light Olive and 83 Ochre, and was highlighted with Light Olive and Naples Yellow, while small amounts of Raw Umber darkened the recesses. Humbrol 72 Khaki Drill was used as an undercoat for the neckerchief, which was then treated to an oil topcoat of Cerulean Blue and Raw Umber;
Famous sunstopper The trademark field cap, which came to symbolise the desert campaigns, was made from a light olive material, which bleached to almost white in the desert’s strong sun. Unsurprisingly, these became highly prized and even today uniform collectors pay high prices
Dark washes and highlights replicated the look of real hair, and care was taken to ensure that the sides and rear were treated equally.
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The field cap head was selected, as this was the headgear most commonly associated with the DAK. All parts received several base coats of white for a solid colour, and each was allowed to dry thoroughly before being re-coated. A mix of Humbrol enamels, which comprised 61 Flesh, 62 Leather, 85 Satin Black and 60 Scarlet, was used as undercoat for the flesh areas. These were blended to achieve tanned skin...expected in the desert sun. An oil top coat of Titanium White, Burnt Sienna, Gold Ochre and a hint of Alizarin Crimson was applied, with Burnt Umber used to provide shading, mainly on the figure’s forehead. The remainder of the colour variations were mid-tones of Burnt Sienna and Mars Orange, in and around the nose area. Once the highlights of the base, plus Titanium White, had been applied and blended, the face was placed in a heat box and allowed to dry. It then received several very thin washes of a grey/ brown mix to replicate a five o’clock shadow. The same colours were used on the hands, with the exception of Mars Red, which was employed sparingly to outline the veins on the back of the hands and creases around the fingers.
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03/12/2014 16:04
INTERMEDIATE BUILD
DEUTSCHE AFRIKA KORPS GRENADIER shadows were rendered in Sepia, and subtle highlights were created with a hint of Naples Yellow to give signs of wear along the edges.
Outer garments When the first German units arrived in February 1941, they would mostly have been issued with tropical uniform and equipment of various descriptions and colours. The blouse and breeches were manufactured from lightweight olive-coloured cotton, with painted buttons in the same shade. Shorts were also issued but were not permitted on the front line (in theory). This material would have suffered the same fate as the caps in losing the original colour and became more washedout to a yellow-sand hue. Two different undercoats were used on the figure - first the field blouse received a mix of Desert Yellow, white and a speck of black, while
the breeches were painted in Khaki Drill, with a hint of Desert Yellow and white. More yellow and white were added to obtain a different, lighter hue. The base coat for the jacket consisted of Raw Sienna, Titanium White, a dash of Yellow Ochre and a tiny amount of Lamp Black, and was applied by brush. A clean brush was then used to remove paint, and was cleaned after each pass. It was essential to keep the oil coat as thin as possible, to avoid any sheen after it had dried. Raw Umber and Sepia again provided shadow and deep shadow tones, with the base colour tone varied by the addition of Naples Yellow as a highlight… then white was added to that same mix to give a stark contrast. The procedure for the breeches was exactly the same, except the base colour comprised simply Raw Sienna and Titanium White. This
The left hand received a base coat of a light flesh tone prior to being shaded with a reddish colour, which outlined the veins and knuckles.
A similar process was used on the right hand, although the highlights on the knuckles were more pronounced; a dark tone was also added to the Kar 98's wood.
was shaded in Raw Umber and highlighted with Buff Titanium added to the base mix. After each area was completed, the model was placed in a heat box for several hours to help dry the oils to a matt finish.
pastel green) and olive green. The figure’s canteen was primed in matt white and once dry, it was given a coat of Humbrol 11 Silver and Satin Black, mixed to a light tin colour. Hairspray was floated onto the canteen and while it was still wet, rock salt was sprinkled onto the surface. After around 30 minutes, a light olive green mix was misted carefully over the canteen via an airbrush. Once thoroughly dried, the salt was washed off gently under a tap, which allowed the metal base colour to show through and give the impression of worn paint.
Oil undercoats were applied to the jacket, equipment bags and neckerchief; these were followed by Raw Umber blended into the areas around the straps and collar.
Personal equipment All metal items on the real gear, such as the canteen, buttons, belt clasps, strap eyelets and buckles were painted, presumably to eliminate reflection from the sun (which would betray the troops’ position). Colours used included tan, light brown, reed green (a
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
DEUTSCHE AFRIKA KORPS GRENADIER One or two parts were tidied with the black/silver mix before matt varnish was applied by brush. The tropical shelter roll was undercoated in Brown Yellow then given washes of Burnt Sienna and Sepia to shade it, and Brown Yellow plus Titanium White to create highlights, mainly around the roll edges. To bring life to the grenade launcher pouch, Light Olive mixed with a touch of black served as the undercoat colour, while the addition of Humbrol 155 Olive Drab gave a dark shade; white was used on the edges.
Water and rifle Two field flasks were issued and commonly covered with brown felt, while the aluminium tops were painted in either black or olive. The large rifle grenade pouches were produced in several colours, ranging from Reed Green through to tan or dark grey/black. Here, they were painted with a mix of
A base was selected and the outer area masked, before Styrofoam was cut to size and fixed with PVA glue. This was covered with Polyfilla, and then small stones were added and left to dry. To ensure no gaps were visible around the boots, the figure was placed into pre-drilled holes and the groundwork filled to ensure a bedded-in appearance. The Polyfilla was painted with brown acrylic prior to being covered in PVA glue, after which sand was sprinkled over the wet glue. After the glue had hardened, grass tufts were added, along with the reedlike grass at the rear of the figure. The ground area was given a wash of clean white spirit; it was better to use a cheaper brush for this type of work, as the sand/rock has little effect on nylon or bristle-type brush hairs. A thin wash of Burnt Sienna was floated onto the already dampened base; this helped the wash to disperse further, and flow into all the tight spots around the stones and grass clumps. This was repeated with dark washes and mid-shadow tones. The base was left to dry and then pure oils were layered onto the highlighted areas, but only very lightly. Finally, a light sand mix of Raw Sienna and Titanium White produced highlights on the tips of the grass.
The blue neckerchief and metal/olive green canteen provided contrast with the remainder of the uniform.
An oil undercoat, lighter in tone than the jacket, was painted onto the breeches and then blended in to the base coat; the boots received a similar treatment.
black and Ochre; the latter was then used on its own for faded and worn areas. The figure had the high lace-up boot with the top half made of canvas and the boot part in leather...the former was painted in a mix of Light Olive and white. Once dried, washes of Raw Umber and shading with the base plus Sepia was used. Metal clasps were given a slight highlight of silver plus Burnt Umber, while the canvas was weathered with white and Naples Yellow added to the base colour. Metalwork on the rifle was undercoated with matt black, followed by a mix of silver and satin black...once dry, further
{68}
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
DEUTSCHE AFRIKA KORPS GRENADIER washes of black were applied to deepen recesses and accentuate any silver highlights. Humbrol 110 Natural Wood and Scarlet were mixed to act as an undercoat for the wooden stock, which then received a mix of Burnt Sienna, Cadmium Yellow and Cadmium Red. This was brushed off and shaded with Burnt Umber before Mars Orange highlights were placed on the extreme edges.
Desert delight Alpine has yet another classic on its hands here…a superb piece of sculpting and casting, which fitted together beautifully. The subject should be very popular with all modellers of this period in history.
❚
With all of the equipment added, the figure looked incredibly life-like; all that remained was to complete the base.
A combination of careful highlighting and blended oils produced a realistic worn effect on the figure; note the more matt finish to the breeches’ base colour.
Elite 34: Afrikakorps 1941-43, by Gordon Williamson/Ron Volstan (Osprey), ISBN: 9781855321304 Osprey Men at Arms 234: German Combat Equipments 1939-45, by Gordon L Rottman, (Osprey), ISBN: 9780850459524
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PHOTO FOCUS
GOODWOOD REVIVAL 2014
Ian Grainger offers great reference photos for car modellers, from last year’s Goodwood Revival classic racing event
Revival regular Anthony Bamford’s 1956 LanciaFerrari D50A...a unique sight at Goodwood.
r u o d n e l p S o r t e R T
he Goodwood Revival meeting celebrated historic racing at its best, with almost 400 vintage cars and motorcycles all competing in 15 races. With on-track action and heritage atmosphere from the 1940s to the 1960s, the event is a mecca for all things vintage and fast! The event took place at
the fantastic, sweeping circuit in West Sussex that was formerly RAF Westhampnett. For Airfix Model World, this was another fantastic opportunity to gain access to historic modelling reference. With the multiple paddocks packed full of historic machinery close enough to touch, one could enjoy the proceedings in
Jackie Stewart leads the parade in his final racer, the 1973 Tyrell-Cosworth 006, with Mark Webber and John Surtees in tow.
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a relaxed manner. Motor racing legends past and present were in attendance, such as Stirling Moss and current F1 driver Max Chilton, plus celebrity ‘petrolheads’ such as Rowan Atkinson and TV chef James Martin. Highlights included the Lavant Cup, a race exclusively for Jaguar D-Types, and the Shelby Cup...a 45-minute, two-driver race for
small-block pre-1966, V8 saloons such as the Ford Mustang and Falcon Sprint. And daily parades celebrated 60 years of the Maserati 250F, as used to great effect by Moss and Fangio in the 1950s, plus a wonderful tribute to the career of legendary Scottish racer Jackie Stewart, who was ‘discovered’ at Goodwood half-acentury ago!
This stunning 1958 Maserati Eldorado Special is seen as driven by Stirling Moss. Note the mesh grille within the front air intake.
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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PHOTO FOCUS
GOODWOOD REVIVAL 2014 Derek Hill (son of 1961 F1 World Champion Phil Hill) in the Maserati Tipo 151 he shared with Joe Collasacco to claim second in the race. (All Ian Grainger)
St.Mary’s corner was a fantastic place to view the Maserati in action!
The classic 1962 Jim Clark Lotus-Climax 25 (available in 1/20 scale from Tamiya), so close one could touch it!
Local racer and Revival Regular Derek Bell qualified for the Lavant Cup in this lovely 1956 Jaguar D-Type.
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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ON THE SHELF
SEND IN YOUR PRODUCTS FOR US TO REVIEW AT: Airfix Model World, Key Publishing Ltd, Units 1-4 Gwash Way Industrial Estate, Ryhall Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1XP, UK
BOOKS
‘X-TRENTE’ GENESIS its emphasis on the first two aspects, whereas other Western designs sacrificed speed for protection. Coupled with French versus NATO (and particularly German) politics in the de Gaulle era, the French vision of the AMX-30 as the standard NATO tank faded quickly, and initially it only operated in France. Entry into service is covered in detail, even the rather daunting river crossing capability with an engine snorkel; the latter was all that could be seen. Emerging from a river must have been a great relief to the crew! The final third is devoted to an extensive set of walk-around images, which cover the tank
from almost every angle, and these are accompanied by a set of beautifully rendered colour profiles. A second volume will examine the later history and ultimate AMX-30 B2 variant in detail. These are highly recommended for anyone interested in the type. SF
BOOK SPEC
Kagero’s latest release in its Photosniper series is a twovolume set devoted to the French AMX-30 main battle tank, nicknamed ‘X-trente’ by its
crews. Here, the first volume covers the development history and early service period for this French tank, which was the mainstay of the country’s armoured units until it was replaced by the Leclerc. With just 80 pages, the author has his work cut out to cram in all the information; to his credit, though, he also manages to include a discussion as to why France opted for a 30-ton tank when other NATO members considered 50-ton or heavier vehicles. In tank design, everything revolves around the triangle of firepower, speed/manoeuvrability and protection; the AMX-30 placed
AMX-30 Char de Bataille 1966-2006 Vol 1 By:
MP Robinson
ISBN:
978-83-62878-99-4
Price:
£13.99
Format:
A4
Available from: casematepublishing.co.uk
GERMAN TYPHOON
BOOK SPEC
The Bf 108 was designed by Willy Messerschmitt as a sports, touring and communications aircraft and was allegedly his favourite work. With its retractable undercarriage and all-metal stressed skin, the machine was considered ahead of its time in the early 1930s; most Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun By:
Jan Forsgren
ISBN:
978-83-6142167-2
Price:
£13.99
Format:
230mm x 165mm
Available from: www.mmpbooks.biz
aircraft were still steel-tube fuselage and wooden wing biplanes. Yet less than ten years later, the design had been overtaken rapidly by advances in technology as World War Two began. Despite finding widespread success in its intended roles, this unarmed aircraft is perhaps more commonly known as a generic ‘German fighter-type’ from World War Two, courtesy of films such as The Longest Day, The Great Escape and even Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Mushroom’s latest profile is another in the ‘Yellow Series’, which has previously covered the Ju-87 Stuka, Gloster Gladiator and A6M
Zero. After a brief introduction to the Taifun, which includes how its design was driven by the need to compete in a touring aircraft competition, the Bf 108 is examined in great detail, including its Luftwaffe and post-war service. In addition to the variants, space is set aside to cover the Nord 1000 series, which employed an identical airframe, but was powered by Renault aero-engines and built in Les Mureaux, France. Each section is accompanied by colour profiles and contemporary photographs, and the final ‘survivors’ chapter includes an excellent series of walkaround images and documents
airframes still being flown today. A final bonus for any modeller is the inclusion of 1/72 and 1/48 plans – perfect for those Eduard, Heller or Fly kits currently sitting in the loft! SF
AIRCREW ADORNMENTS
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excuse for stumbling over even minute details. From headgear, goggles and oxygen masks, to summer coveralls and the
famous leather jackets and trousers, absolutely every piece of the European Theatre aircrews’ gear is explored. Leather and cloth flying helmets, sunglasses, footwear, parachutes, rations, navigation tools...you name it, it’s here. A pleasing section for this reviewer was that on Flying Jackets, and this offered 21 black and white photos of the rear of various jackets with amazing nose-art. In some cases, there are revealing detail glimpses of aircraft such as P-51s, B-17s and the like. Manufacturer lists, and
photos of human models wearing immaculate examples of period clothing and gear, round off a spectacular book that should be on the shelf of anyone who builds US Army Air Corps subjects. Simply stunning. CC
BOOK SPEC
Subtitled US Army Air Forces Aviators in Europe, this Histoire & Collections book is a must-have guide for anyone modelling larger scale aircraft with figures, or those modellers who build and paint larger individual figure subjects. For the latter, one couldn’t get a better study of aircrew clothing and gear if scratch-building. The large, hardback format allows for the photos of real clothing and equipment to be shown at a useful size and, if viewed in conjunction with the many excellent period shots of US aviators, one has no
Flight Gear 1942 1945 By:
Mathieu Bianchi
ISBN:
978-2-35250302-6
Price:
£34.95
Format:
319mm x 240mm
Available from: casematepublishing.co.uk
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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Bring new levels of realism to your model making
RAVEN SCALE MODELS
Available to buy from our web & eBay shops
BEACONS MODEL LIGHTING KITS www.ravenscalemodels.com tel: 01550 721099 email:
[email protected]
L IGHTING FOR A IRCRAFT, S CI -F I & MORE ... !Install into your models to see them light up & come alive !Discover our exciting developments in space & Sci-Fi modelling – including a lighting kit for Star Trek ‘Into Darkness’ USS Enterprise !Mains conversion & double-flash strobe lighting kits now available !Contact the designers regarding custom model lighting projects
ON THE SHELF BOOKS
ENGINEERING ARMOUR devoted to the Chata’p, in its early and late variants, highlighting variations between individual vehicles. A smaller section covers the Macha’g, and identifies the inevitable commonalities in external equipment with the Chata’p, but also the modifications this variant has received. It’s not often that such a small publication can be described as a goldmine of information, but this fully deserves the accolade. The quality of images is splendid throughout, and, rather than just featuring vehicles in barrack locations, instead covers a wide range of operational deployments. Chata’p and Macha’g are shown dusty, scratched, dented, grimy,
festooned with equipment and generally well used, and modellers will gain a wealth of information as to how a vehicle will weather in a desert environment, as well as how tactical markings are not always neatly or evenly applied... a fantastic study. SF
BOOK SPEC
This latest in a series on Israeli armour provides a stunning overview of the M113 Zelda, and will be the first in a number of volumes dedicated to this ubiquitous vehicle. Originally
acquired as an armoured personnel carrier, the M113 was adapted to fulfil a wide range of additional roles and here the focus is on the fitter vehicle, at the Company Technical Team (Chata’p) and Battalion Fitter Team (Macha’g) levels. The authors open with a brief introduction to the M113 in Israeli service, accompanied by excellent images of each major variant, and how it has evolved in more than 40 years of use. Attention then turns to the fitter vehicles themselves, and following a brief introduction to the structure of an armoured battalion, one is immersed in a series of walkaround and interior photographs. The majority of the content is
IDF Armour Series No.9: Zelda M113 in IDF Service Part 1 - Fitters By:
Michael Mass and Adam O’Brien
ISBN:
978 9659163557
Price:
£24.99
Format:
277mm x 215mm
Available from: www.aviationbookcentre.com
ROTARY ASSETS WITH FANGS
BOOK SPEC
With the profusion of Huey Cobra kits currently available, from the likes of AZ Model, Special Hobby, HobbyBoss, Italeri and the like, a good reference book is always going to be useful. This hardback work by Mike Verier manages to offer an absorbing read, yet caters for the modeller ably with Cobra! The Attack Helicopter By:
Mike Verier
ISBN:
978178159338 7
Price:
£25
Format:
254mm x 181mm
Available from: Pen & Sword, www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
a wealth of excellent imagery, drawings and colour profiles. Points of interest are many, and include the early Cobra's blade noise and how it could be used to emulate the sound of the helicopter's own chin turret 40mm grenade-launcher...thus supressing the enemy when ammo was expended! Personal accounts, from pilots such as US Army veteran Floyd Werner, give huge insight into the type's good and bad points. The Cobra's full history is all here, and includes coverage of foreign users. Most interesting are the US marine Corps variants and these are depicted in fine style, even down to colour shots of digital
camouflage. The incredibly handy 'Snakeskins' chapter informs on the type's camouflage schemes across the many user air arms, and offers Federal Standard codes for each where possible. Real variety lies in the colour profiles; these portray machines from the Vietnam era through to the 1980s, when camouflage got more interesting, Desert Storm participants and others. Just four foreign Cobras are covered by the artwork, which is a bit of a shame, but if one's focus is on US sub-types, there's much to inspire. Even drawings that show paint scheme layout, with FS numbers, are supplied. Ultimately, this is a vital work
on the subject and shouldn't be missed if one plans to build more than one or two examples. If one is really taken by the Cobra, though, the book definitely shouldn't be ignored. CC
SWING-WING CLASSIC
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certainly worth a look. Written by Ian Black, AMW contributor and former Tornado F.3 pilot, the 155-page work stands out immediately as a great entry-
level tool...but those long-keen on the type will also find much of use. Of course, the 'Tonka's' combat is described and there's a large variety of imagery to help with detailing. Having seen off the Phantom and ushered in the F.3 as an armourer, at RAF Leuchars, I've always been interested in weapons loads and the Tornado itself, so in this respect I was keen to see how the book would perform. Luckily, the whole gamut of stores carried by the type are covered, from Paveway, ALARM and Storm Shadow, and pods such as Litening, TIALD and RAPTOR, to
legacy munitions such as JP233, BL.755 and the humble thousandpounder...although the latter are slightly less well served. All in all, though, this is a solid examination of the RAF Tornado and worth investigating. CC
BOOK SPEC
Impressive performance in both Gulf Wars, Afghanistan, Libya and other conflicts have earned the Tornado an exceptional reputation. Having been the RAF's ground-attack and airdefence stalwart in the Cold War and beyond, the Mighty Fin/ Tonka/Electric Flick-knife (tick your favourite) has long been a solid choice for modellers, courtesy of Hasegawa, Italeri and Revell...especially the latter with it's all-new 1/48 scale tooling. If one is new to the type, or simply wants to improve upon the existing reference cache, then Haynes' hardback is
RAF Tornado 1974 onwards By:
Ian Black
ISBN:
978 0 85733 247 9
Price:
£21.99
Format:
278mm x 214mm
Available from: Haynes Publishing, www.haynes.co.uk
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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ON THE SHELF
AIRCRAFT KITS
EMBELLISHED JAPANESE VIPER
PRODUCT SPEC
Hasegawa has updated its superb F-2A with a new photo-etched metal fret that provides additional detail for the ejection seat, undercarriage legs, static dischargers and under-wing stores. The remainder of the kit, which comprises 12 crisply moulded styrene runners, remains unchanged and features raised cockpit detail and full intake trunking. Although four AAM-3 missiles are included, Mitsubishi F-2A ‘Detail up modellers wishing to hang version’ additional stores on the wing By: Hasegawa pylons will need to source separate Item no: 52121 weapons. Three JASDF schemes are provided, from the 2013 Air Scale: 1/48 Combat Meet; two of which have Price: £42.99 colourful tail artwork: Available from: • ‘558’, 13-8558, 8 Sqn, 3 AW Amerang, • ‘557’, 13-8557, 8 Sqn, 3 AW www.amerang.co.uk • ‘563’, 13-8563, 6 Sqn, 3 AW
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The latest release from Fly is its second kit to portray the Bf 108, and this time it includes international operators from World War Two and just after. A single styrene runner is accompanied by resin parts for the engine and cockpit. There are a surprising number of options for such a small number of components, with three spinner/prop combinations for Messerschmitt Bf 108B/D B-1, B-2 or D variants. Six schemes Taifun ‘Post-war Service’ are provided, some of which are: By: Fly • Bf 108D, SE-BZN, Sweden, 1954 Item no: 72029 • Bf 108B-2, SP-AIO, Poland, 19471948 Scale: 1/72 • Bf 108B-2, 9th Independent Liaison Price: £8.27 Squadron, Poland, 1949 Available from: • Bf 108B/D-10, LDP Air Transport Fly, www.fly814.cz Regiment, Prague, 1946-1953
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
In terms of kill/loss ratio, the Hellcat was the most successful naval fighter ever, and earned a fearsome reputation during the latter years of World War Two. Eduard has re-boxed its fantastic F6F-3 in ProfiPACK format, adding resin wheels, photo-etched metal parts for the cockpit and engine and a canopy mask to the basic kit. The attention to detail is staggering, and includes three different cowling types, to allow the option of building either an early-, mid- or late-series airframe. The excellent decal sheet provides for five schemes in standard US Navy Sea F6F-3 Blue/Intermediate Blue/White By: Eduard camouflage, including: Item no: 8221 • ’33-13’, BuNo 25813, VF-33, Ondonga, December, 1943 Scale: 1/48 • ‘9’, BuNo 40090, VF-1, USS Price: €25.95 Yorktown, June, 1944 Available from: Eduard • ‘17’, VF-27, USS Princeton, October, www.eduard.com 1944 (sharkmouth)
STORMY LIAISON
DIMINUTIVE GIANT
The CH-53G may be the largest helicopter in service with the German military, but Revell’s release is one of the smallest helicopter models available. With just two dark green styrene runners, this is a simple and easy kit, and features very fine raised and engraved panel lines on the exterior. Internal detail is minimal, yet the undercarriage and main cabin area are very well captured in this Lilliputian scale. Although two German Army Aviation Corps options are offered, the main rotor blades are only suitable for one of those; they Sikorsky CH-53G will require modification to provide By: Revell a tapered rotor tip for the second. Item no: 04858 Two liveries feature on the excellent Scale: 1/144 decal sheet, one olive green, the other in medium green/dark green/black Price: £6.50 camouflage: Available from: • 84+34, 35 Regiment, Mendig, 1986 Revell, www.revell.de/en • 84+62, 25 Regiment, Lauphelm, 2012
PRODUCT SPEC
CARRIER-BORNE KITTY
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ON THE SHELF
AIRCRAFT KITS
COMMUNIST SPY
NIPPON CROWD-PLEASERS
MULTINATIONAL ‘TIFFIE’
Japan’s aerobatic display team, Blue Impulse, is represented with a decidedly retro livery on Hasegawa’s lovely Sabre. Thankfully, the styrene is all white to tally with the required paint, over which the superb kit decals are overlaid. The plastic itself is very good, with moulded detail in the cockpit, full intake trunking down to a detailed engine face, complete exhaust F-86F-40 Sabre ‘Blue and open or closed airbrakes. Impulse Early Scheme’ Under-wing fuel tanks are also By: Hasegawa provided (and AIM-9s for the Item no: 07381 spares box). This will be a highly attractive option for display Scale: 1/48 team fans, or anyone looking Price: £36.99 for a decidedly different-looking Available from: F-86. Just one of the team’s Amerang, aircraft is represented, that www.amerang.co.uk being 92-7872.
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Already released in comprehensive Profipack format, Eduard’s recce Fishbed now appears in a more spartan style, without the photo-etched metal and with just two colours schemes. A splendid MiG-21R can be built from just the styrene parts alone here, although Eduard does offer a wealth of separate after-market for this type if desired. Ten runners provide beautifully detailed components, which include two styles of camera MiG-21R Weekend Edition pod, and there is also a set of the firm’s own Super fabric seatbelts By: Eduard provided; great value for not too Item no: 84123 much cash. The two colour schemes, Scale: 1/48 both camouflaged, are: • Black 111, Cuban Air Force, Price: €23.93 1980s/90s Available from: • White outline 24, 263rd OAETR, Eduard, www.eduard.com Soviet AF, Afghanistan, 1982
IMPOSING TWIN
Scale:
1/72
Price:
£14.99
Available from: The Hobby Company, www.hobbyco.net
Revell’s Beaufighter has been with us since 1974, when it was regarded as state-of-the-art. Despite its age, this is still a good kit and represents excellent value for money...although the raised panel lines will have some modellers reaching for their scribing tools. Detail is basic throughout, especially the crew figures and undercarriage; however, the cockpit and observer’s position have been augmented by a full set of instrument panel decals. Sink marks are present on the main fuselage but these will easily be treated with filler; those on the navigation lights mean they will need to be replaced with other clear styrene. The decal sheet is printed in Italy for Revell but has a matt Bristol Beaufighter Mk.1F carrier film, raising the potential for silvering on the completed By: Revell model. Altogether, though, this is a Item no: 04889 fine basis for super-detailing. Two Scale: 1/32 RAF schemes are offered: • PN-B, R2198, 252 Sqn, Abu Sueir, Price: £26.99 Egypt, May 1941 Available from: • NG-F, T4638, 406 Sqn, RAF Revell, www.revell.de/en Coltishall, August 1941
PRODUCT SPEC
Del Cole AB, Italy, 2011 • 30+23, JG74, Schleswig AB, Germany 2014 • 14-01, Ala 14, Albacete AB, Spain, 2014 • 7L-WD, Zeltweg AB, Austria, 2014
PRODUCT SPEC
The Typhoon has become the workhorse of several air forces, and Italeri’s release reflects this with markings for six nations. This is a great value kit, offering basic detail with a fantastic decal sheet, although the wing pylons are oversimplified and the underwing fairings lack chaff/flare dispensers. A standard air-to-air load is provided, including AMRAAMs and a choice of Sidewinder or IRIS-T missiles; for those wishing to build an RAF aircraft, ASRAAM missiles will need to be sourced from elsewhere. The decal sheet is printed by Zanchetti and EF 2000 Typhoon Single offers eight options, including: Seater • 37-01, 37º Stormo, 18º Gruppo, By: Italeri Trapani-Birgi AB, Italy, 2014 Item no: 1355 • QO-M, ZJ927, 3 Sqn RAF, Gioia
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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ON THE SHELF
AIRCRAFT KITS
BIPLANE REVIVAL
RESIN CIVILIAN ROTORS
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
If one is a Great War aviation fan and loves colourful schemes, this newly tooled Siemens Schuckert will be of great interest, especially as it replaces the company’s original kit of this attractive aircraft. Two styrene runners carry more than 60 beautifully detailed parts, and these are complemented by plain and pre-coloured photo-etched (PE) metal details, and tape masks. On the plastic, notable is the stitching detail on the wings (although some may find its rendering a little too pronounced), and the multi-part engine and intricate spinner. Pleasingly, one can use the decent styrene guns, or pared-down plastic alternatives to be married with rolled PE cooling jackets. The five colour schemes are highly SSW D.III ProfiPACK attractive and varied: By: Eduard • 3025/18, Trier, 1918-1919 Item no: 8256 • ‘LO!’, Jasta 4, Metz, 1918 Scale: 1/48 • 1618/18, Jasta 85 (Kest 5), Ltn Heinrish Dembowsky, Price: €16.30 Schaffenhausen, 1918 Available from: • ‘V’, Jasta 15, Chery-les-Pouilly, 1918 Eduard, www.eduard.com • 1626/18, Kest 4b, Vzfw Reimenn, 1918
Kits of the charismatic Whirlwind have been hard to come by since Italeri’s Hu-19s went out of production, and those still need extensive re-working to replicate British examples. But for more experienced modellers, though, comes this excellent mixed-media Bristow Whirlwind. Most of the parts are in very crisp and light resin, but white metal undercarriage legs also feature, along with a clear resin/vac-form windscreen and canopy, and photo-etched brass details. The rotor blades have gentle bends to portray drooping and the interior features Whirlwind Series 3 are well rendered, with mesh By: Whirlybird seat backs and bulkheads. The Item no: WPX72043 instructions are comprehensive and offer excellent manufacturer Scale: 1/72 drawings of undercarriage and Price: £45 flotation gear. The colour scheme Available from: is eye-catching, that of G-AYTK of Whirlybird, Bristow Helicopters’ rescue unit at www.whirlybirdmodels.com RAF Manston, in the 1960s.
LUSCIOUS LION CUB
SCALED-DOWN GRIZZLY
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For the uninitiated, German outfit Wingman Models specialises in taking Kinetic kits and marrying them with its own resin, metal and other items. This release of Kinetic’s Israeli Kfir is backdated to ‘early’ status airframes, with and without the canards. The resin selection is substantial and includes alternative noses, cockpit, wheels, supersonic fuel tanks, exhaust nozzle and more. In support of these, there’s a small offering of photo-etched brass parts, turned brass pitot and AOA probe from Master Model, and tape masks for neat painting/airbrushing. The Cartograf decal sheet is also superb and gives IAF KFIRs Early Variants 11 schemes...and the prominent black By: Wingman Models and yellow ID triangles for the wings. Item no: 48-004 Liveries include: Scale: 1/48 • 709, Tayeset 101 First Fighter Sqn, 1976 Price: €65 • 727, Tayeset 109 Valley fighter Available from: Sqn, 1982 Wingman Models, • 764, Tayeset 254 Midland Sqn, 1984 www.wingmanmodels.com • 719, Tayeset 113 Hornet Sqn, 1977
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Revell looks to have scaled down its 1/72 A400M moulding for this latest release, and at first glance one would be forgiven for thinking the kit was in that scale, such is the level of detail. This version is excellent in terms of moulding and engineering – it seems as if all that is needed is to throw the glue and paints in the box, shake it, and out will pop a finished model. The only really fiddly task will be removing the propellers from the runners – there is a moulding gate on each individual blade, so careful cutting will be crucial. Three assembly options are provided; airborne, on the ground, and the same but with Airbus A400M ‘Atlas’ all doors and ramps open. Three By: Revell schemes are provided: Item no: 04859 • 0018, 54+01, Luft Transport Geschwader 62, Wunstorf, 2014 Scale: 1/144 • 0008, F-RBAB, ‘Ville de Toulouse’, Price: £24.99 French Air Force, 2014 Available from: • 0006, F-WWMZ, A400 Revell, www.revell.de/en Prototype, 2013
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Airfix Ad 1 F_P.indd 1
08/12/2014 10:00
ON THE SHELF
MILITARY KITS
WINTER TRACKS
ARTILLERY PRIME MOVER
ALL TERRAIN UTILITY
PRODUCT SPEC
Occasionally, a mould doesn’t fare well with time and this is true of Revell’s re-released Unimog, which has thick mould lines and a considerable amount of flash. However, once the parts have been cleaned-up, this will build into an excellent model. The underside is well detailed, with 40 construction steps associated with the transmission and LKW 2t.Tmil gl (Unimog) suspension alone. The cab is decent, By: Revell with decals supplied for dashboard dials, and the transparent parts are Item no: 03082 good. Four schemes are provided: Scale: 1/35 • 4./Panzerbataillon 383 Price: £17.99 • 3./Wachbataillon.BMVg, Siegburg • ISAF, Kabul, Afghanistan Available from: • Königlich Belgische Armee, 2004 Revell, www.revell.de/en
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• 1st Canadian Infantry Division, Italy, late 1943 • 3rd British Infantry Division, Normandy, 1944 • 6th South African Armoured Division, Italy, Early 1945
PRODUCT SPEC
Released as part of its D-Day range, Italeri’s Chevrolet Gun Tractor heralds the return of a classic which, despite its 1970s vintage, holds up well. The only real hints of its age are sink marks on larger parts; otherwise the components are flash-free and crisply moulded. The cab interior is well appointed for its age, and includes Chevrolet ‘Gun Tractor’ brake, gear and transmission levers. By: Italeri Three Olive Drab schemes are Item no: 240 offered: Scale:
1/35
Price:
£26.50
Available from: The Hobby Company, www.hobbyco.net
ROCKET CARRIER
The Sd.Kfz.251, has mainly been covered in Ausf.C and Ausf.D variants; Zvezda has continued its range of the earlier Ausf.B with this Wurfrahmen 40-equipped ‘Stuka zu Fuss’. The kit incorporates surprising levels of detail, including a full Maybach engine. But much of the interior is inaccurate for Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf.B ‘Stuka zu an Ausf.B, which had wooden seats in Fuss’ the rear and lacked under-seat and By: Zvezda hull-mounted storage lockers. The Item no: 3625 tracks come via individual links, and Scale: 1/35 two Wehrmacht colour schemes are provided, as are stencils for the rockets: Price: £22.50 • WH 881786, 3rd Engineer Available from: Company, 1941 The Hobby Company, • WH572568, 8th Armoured www.hobbyco.net Division, 1941
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Here, Dragon has employed parts from its previous Panzer IIIs, StuG III and Panzer IV, and matched them with new ‘Winterketten’ track links. These are of the individual variety and are colour-coded per side. Anyone who owns one of Dragon’s existing Panzer IIIs will testify to their quality...these are packed with detail, although this kit has many parts that will be consigned to spares. Important features include separate engine deck hatches, beautifully Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.L Late produced stowed towing cable Production w/Winterketten assemblies, optional extra armour on By: Dragon the front plate and a new gun shield. Item no: 6387 Photo-etched brass takes care of items Scale: 1/35 such as idler wheel detail, mesh covers and armour brackets. All three colour Price: £49.99 schemes replicate grey tanks with Available from: whitewash; only one of the tank’s units The Hobby Company, is identified, the vehicle being Red 32 www.hobbyco.net from Pz.Rgt.15, 11.Pz.Div., Kharkov, 1943.
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ON THE SHELF
MILITARY KITS
PRODUCT SPEC
Dragon’s Black Label kits have a definite ‘prototype’ theme developing with the M6A1, conceived in 1940 as a heavy tank yet never entered production and was declared obsolete by 1944. The featured variant is one of the later designs, which had a welded hull but retained the cast turret of earlier prototypes. Eleven styrene runners are included, , but there is almost no contrast between the parts representing welded and cast components; in particular the turret is conspicuously smooth. Given the price it is unusual M6A1 Heavy Tank that there are no clear or photo-etched By: Dragon metal parts and no turned barrel. Item no: 6789 Comparison with reference images Scale: 1/35 indicates that the turret is slightly too far forward, potentially obstructing Price: £49.99 at least one of the drivers hatches. A Available from: single scheme is provided, for one of The Hobby Company, the 12 prototype M6A1s, based at Fort www.hobbyco.net Knox in 1942.
ADVANCED ARMOUR
Revell’s T-90 comprises five light-tan runners, which feature excellent moulded detail and a high parts count for a small kit. Three build options are offered; the basic T-90, T-90K command tank and the T-90S export version, which lacks some of the type’s protection systems. The tracks come as two styrene lengths, which require immersion in hot water before being bent to shape; for those intending to build the T-90S, afterRussian Battle Tank T-90 market tracks and drive sprockets By: Revell will be required because the kit parts Item no: 03190 are relevant for a T-90 or T90K. Scale: 1/72 Three camouflaged schemes are included: Price: £10.50 • T-90, Russian Armed Forces, 2005 Available from: • T-90K, Russian Armed Forces, 2011 Revell, www.revell.de/en • T-90S, Indian Armed Forces, 2004
PRODUCT SPEC
AMERICAN BEHEMOTH
SEVENTEEN-POUND PUNCH
NEW-BUILD GERMAN PATTON
Tasca's excellent Firefly is re-boxed by tamiya, and with new British Infantry figures and personal equipment. The figures are good, although some may wish to improve them, but the tank is totally peachy and features a pleasing, if somewhat subtle cast texture on the turret and transmission cover. Features include alternative muzzle brakes, an excellent cupola, .30 cal machine gun and photo-etched brass. Even foundry lettering is present on the hull. ‘Rubberband’ tracks are offered, as are clear Sherman VC Firefly parts for the periscopes. • T148495, 24th Lancers, 8th AB, By: Tamiya Normandy, June 1944 Item no: 25174 • T-212680 ‘Belvedere’, Staffs Scale: 1/35 Yeomanry, 27th AB, Normandy, July 1944 Price: £37.99 • T228615, 2nd AR, 10th ACB, 1st Available from: Polish AD, UK, 1944 The Hobby Company, • T-288935, C Sqn HQ, 20th AR, 4th www.hobbyco.net NZAB, Italy, 1945
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Revell's German variant of the M48 is a completely new tooling. Considering the lack of interior detail there is a high parts count, and the standout feature is how Revell replicates the cast metal turret, mantlet and hull, and although the tracks are rubber, they are similarly well moulded. Four schemes are provided, two in standard NATO green/ brown/black, the others in all-over dark green: M48A2GA2 • 244, Heimatschutzbrigade 52, By: Revell PzBtl 523, Lingen, 1990 • 723, Heimatschutzbrigade 62, Item no: 03236 PzBtl Wietmarschen-Lohne, 1988 Scale: 1/35 • 212, 4 PzGrenDibv, PzAufklBtl 4, Price: £26.99 Roding, 1980 Available from: • 320, Heimatschutzbrigade 54, Revell, www.revell.de/en PzBtl 543, Hermeskeil, 1989
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ON THE SHELF
DECAL SHEETS
GALLIC BIRDS
TASTY TEUTONS Those wishing to maintain the German angle on Revell’s recent new-tool 1/48 Tornado should investigate Wingman’s superb set of markings for the type. Low-visibility grey rules here, but older camouflage patterns and occasional splashes of colour (and interesting special tails) provide extra interest. The colour instructions are very good and also supplied are tape masks to help with painting/airbrushing. Different versions of Norm 95 camouflage are present, as is a stunning tail belonging to a US-based Tornado...and full stencilling. Of the generous 18 IDS/ECR schemes offered, highlights include: • IDS, 43+58 ‘Oktoberfest’, JaboG 33, Lechfeld, 2007
By:
Authentic Decals
Item no:
48-64
Scale:
1/48
Price:
£13.20
PRODUCT SPEC
Dassault Rafale B/C/M with Mission Marking
Available from: Olimp Models Group, www.olimpmodelsgroup.com
PRODUCT SPEC
A real mixed bag lies here for anyone interested in Cold War jets, and the bonus ‘anomaly’ sits with more than ten Dutch Navy Lynx helicopter schemes. Besides the choppers, though, the bulk of coverage represents USAFE aircraft based at Soesterberg, Netherlands in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. The Lynx options are all in the standard Extra Dark Sea Grey over Sky, with individual artworks, save for the option in desert pink. Choices include: Lynx & Soesterberg Eagles
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Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
By:
Dutch Decal
Item no: 72074 Scale:
1/72
Price:
£11.99
Available from: Hannants, www.hannants.co.uk
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Luftwaffe Tornados Part 1 By:
Wingman Models
Item no:
WMD48006
Scale:
1/48
Price:
€25
Available from: Wingman Models, www.wingmanmodels.com
• IDS, 43+92, JaboG 31 (1,000,000th flight hour), 2005 • IDS, 45+38, JaboG 32 (40 Years Panavia), Lechfeld, 2006 • ECR, 45+27, NATO Tiger Meet, Balikesir, Turkey, 2005 • IDS, 46+05, FlgAusZLw, Holloman AFB, 2014
MARITIME CANUCKS
JETS AND ROTORS
• F-86F, FU-25418, 512th FDS, 1954 • F-100C, FW-41871, 32nd FIS, 1959 • F-102A, FC-61032, 32nd FIS, 1960 • F-4E, CR/68-443, 32nd TFS, 1978 • Lynx Mk.25, UH-14A/261, 1976 • Lynx, SH-14D 2(77) ‘Daltons’ • Lynx, SH-14D 2(64) ‘Pink Panther’
If one hadn’t already thought about building a Ventura, these splendid decals may just tip the balance towards grabbing Revell’s excellent 1/48 kit (although the markings are also available in 1/72 scale). Here we have nine subjects from 113 and 145 (BR) Squadrons, part of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Eastern Air Command in World War Two. The schemes are overall white, and Blue Gray/Light Gray; two aircraft feature individual nose/fuselage artwork, while another sports a U-boat kill. Much detail about the aircraft and schemes is offered on the instructions, and the decals themselves are well printed.
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Revell’s Rafale kits have been with us for some time now, so it’s good to see companies such as Authentic providing new focus on the subject. A generous nine options are provided in this double-sheet set, with eight covering operations in Afghanistan and Libya. The ninth is the spectacular 70th Anniversary scheme worn by an Escadron de Chasse 2/30 ‘Normandie-Niemen’ aircraft in 2012, featuring camouflaged upper surfaces, two lightning flashes and a huge red star, to commemorate its service in support of the Soviet Union in World War Two. Options include: • Rafale C, 113-HS, 108, Kandahar, Afghanistan 2010 • Rafale B, 118-EC, 305, Libya, 2011 • Rafale C, 118-IX, Normandie-Niemen, Mont de Marsan, 2012 • Rafale M, 12, Charles de Gaulle, Libya, Summer 2011
Venturas In Canada 2 By:
Aviaeology
Item no:
AOD48031
Scale:
1/48
Price:
Can $12.99
Available from: Aviaeology, www.aviaeology.com
Choices include: • GR.V, 2248/B ‘PAT’, 113 (BR) Sqn, 1943 • GR.V, 2146/M, Donald Duck artwork, 113 (BR) Sqn, 1943 • GR.V, unidentified serial • GR.V, 2141/5091, 145 (BR) Sqn • GR.V, 2152/K, 145 (BR) Sqn
03/12/2014 16:18
Airfix Ad 2 F_P.indd 1
08/12/2014 10:01
ON THE SHELF
DECAL SHEETS
SIX PRETTY DEUCES
By:
Fündekals :)
Item no:
N/A
Scale:
1/48
Price:
US $12
Available from: Fündekals :) www.fundekals.com
HERE IN MY...HARVARD!
PRODUCT SPEC
Whether one likes special schemes, display aircraft or machines flown by celebrities... this new decal sheet will satisfy all three genres. Dubbed ‘Synth
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‘Synth Star’ Noorduyn AT-16 Harvard By:
Air-Craft Models
Item no: ACD72001 Scale:
1/72
Price:
£2.99
Available from: E-mail: coastalcraftmodels@ gmail.com
Star’ by the instructions, the markings are for Harvard IIB G-AZSC, flown for some years in Japanese markings by music star Gary Numan. The sheet offers Hinomarus, codes for under the wing and on the vertical tail, and advice on little structural ‘tweaks’ on this particular aircraft. Also provided, thoughtfully, is the long exhaust pipe as a resin part. Perfect for Revell, Academy or Airfix Harvards with the sufficient corrective work. Also available in 1/48 and 1/32 scales, minus the exhausts.
PRODUCT SPEC
Convair F-102A Delta Dagger Part 1
colour instructions...but they are excellent. The options are: • PQM-102A, 56-1263/709/01, Holloman AFB, 1978 • F-102A, N617NA, NASA, Lewis Research Center, 1974 • F-102A, 56-1009, 48th FIS, Langley AFB, 1959 • F-102A, 317th FIS, 21st CW, Elmendorf AFB, 1966 • JF-102A, 56-1358, NACA, Ames Research Center, 1957 • F-102A, 56-0960 ‘Red Striped Rascal’, 4th FIS, Misawa AFB, 1962
The cream of French ground attack is represented here, with ten Armée de l’Air Mirage 2000Ds, three 2000Ns and a ‘curve ball’ single Qatari twoseater. The latter is an odd addition, but variety never did anyone any harm! All the French jets save one wear the standard green/grey wrapDassault Mirage 2000D/N/5DDA By:
Authentic Decal
Item no:
48-66(1)
Scale:
1/48
Price:
£13.20
Available from: Hannants, www.hannants.co.uk
around camouflage, with the anomaly being a desertschemed aircraft. The Qatari example is in that air-arm’s two-tone grey air defence livery. A standout option is the 2000D 188-IH/631, with its aggressive shark mouth. Frustratingly, no unit information is given with any of the artwork on the instructions, but as a hint, French squadrons have their numbers as part of the nose codes. Choices include: • 2000N, 116-AH/343, Libya, 2011 • 2000D, 133-XN/652, Libya, 2011 • 2000D, 3-JI/675, Kosovo, 2002 • 2000N, 4-AF/341, France, 2005 • 2000-5DDA, QA-85, Qatar AF, 2011
CARGO CLASSIC With the advent of Airfix’s lovely new C-47, these refreshing markings from Kits World are most welcome...although they can be used on older offerings from Italeri and Esci. There’s a real international flavour and plenty of colour across these four options, which include an overall orange ‘bobby dazzler’! They are: • C-47, 47-76503, Congolese Air Force
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
There’s nothing quite like US fighters from the 1950s/60s to tick all the boxes in terms of colour. Some of the most impressive schemes were worn by the F-102, and this splendid sheet provides six stunning examples of the ‘The Deuce’. Line jets are accompanied by test and drone aircraft...the latter being adorned in Southeast Asia camouflage and International Orange panels. As with all decals from this range, one must download the
DELECTABLE DELTAS
Douglas DC-3 and C-47 Dakota By:
Kits World
Item no:
KW172122
Scale:
1/72
Price:
£10.20
Available from: Kits World, www.kits-world.com
• C-47A, 64-371/371, Peruvian Air Force, 1962 • C-47, 7318/318, Yugoslav Air Force, 1958 • DC-3, OO-AUH, Sabena Belgian Airlines, 1940
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Airfix Ad 3 F_P.indd 1
08/12/2014 10:01
ON THE SHELF
DECAL SHEETS
Releases from Jean-Pierre Desprez’s Model Art range are infrequent, but when they do appear they always satisfy. This new sheet matches a wonderful older subject, the PB4Y-2 Privateer, with more modern fayre in the Royal Navy Merlin helicopter and French Air Force Super Étendard. The latter aircraft appears here in the late-service overall light grey Afghanistan scheme. A host of ships’ flight and land-based Merlins are catered for, while the Privateer hails from the arena of French Indochina. Options include: • PB4Y-2, 8-F-7, Flotille 8F, Tan
Rowan Broadbent has excelled himself with this new collection of markings for French Salmsons, printed with the Wingnut Wings kit in mind. What strikes one immediately is the glorious selection of large and colourful unit/ pilot heraldry; all aircraft are in camouflage apart from a single monotone example. The usual excellent colour profile cards are provided, along with very good information on individual aircraft. Of
By:
Model Art
Item no:
72/064
Scale:
1/72
Price:
£8
Available from: Model Art, www.modartdec.com
Son Nhut, 1952 • Merlin HM.1, ZH838/70, 814 NAS, HMS Illustrious, 2013 • Merlin HM.1, ZH828/13/CU, 820 NAS, RNAS Culdrose, 2005 • Merlin HM.1, ZH841/502, 829 NAS, HMS Westminster, 2011 • Merlin HM.1, ZH839/83 ‘Guinevere’, 820 NAS, RNAS Culdrose, 2011 • Super Étendard, ‘51’, Flotille 17F, Kandahar, Afghanistan, 2008
SHINY TWELVE
PRODUCT SPEC
{88}
History of RAF 12 Squadron WW1 to 2014 By:
Xtradecal
Item no: X72-208 Scale:
1/72
Price:
£7.99
Available from: Xtradecal, www.hannants.co.uk
Salmson 2A2 in French Service By:
Pheon Decals
Item no:
32048
Scale:
1/32
Price:
£12.75
Available from: Pheon Decals, www.pheondecals.com
the nine choices offered, some are: • Unknown serial, Capitane Derode, SPA 102 • XX(53?)47, SAL 14 • 5351 (speculative), SAL 17, Mayence-Gonsenheim, Germany, 1919 • 490, SAL 33 • 316, SAL 39
SPECIALS AND NEWBIES
One of the RAF’s most notable squadrons is represented here, and the collection of markings is perfect for those who love modelling on a theme. Classic types also feature, from the Wellington and Lancaster to the Vulcan and Buccaneer. National insignia for all options is included, the Anti-Flash White Vulcan has full stencilling and there’s a rare example of noseart on the Lancaster. Printing is up to the usual Xtradecal standard. Highlights include: • RAF RE8, F6097, Lt CR Pithey/2nd Lt H Rhodes • Vickers Wellington Mk.II, W5421/ PH-G, 1941 • Avro Lancaster B.III, LM321/ PH-H, 1944 • Avro Vulcan B.2, XM602, RAF Coningsby • HS Buccaneer S.2B, XX885, mid-1990s • Tornado GR.4A, ZA395, RAF Lossiemouth (disbandment scheme)
What a wonderful collection of decals this is! Some of the RAF’s most impressive recent special schemes accompany markings for the new generation of assets; the F-35 and Rivet Joint RC-135W. The Red Arrows’ 50th display season livery appears, as does the ‘Lest We Forget’ Tucano and the North Africa spine/ tail 6 Squadron Typhoon. Some of the excellent examples are: • Typhoon FGR.4, ZK343/ BX, Flt Lt N Rees, 29 Sqn • Tornado GR.4, ZA412, Wg Cdr Arthurton/Fg
PRODUCT SPEC
Privateer, Merlin, Super Étendard
PRODUCT SPEC
FLYING WORKS OF ART
PRODUCT SPEC
TANTALISING TRIO
Royal Air Force Update 2013-14 By:
Xtradecal
Item no:
X72216
Scale:
1/72
Price:
£7.99
Available from: Xtradecal, www.hannants.co.uk
Off Hartley, 617 Sqn ‘Dambusters 70th’ • Puma HC.2, ZJ955/P ‘Black Peter’, 230 Sqn • F-35B, ZM137, Alan Norman, Lockheed Martin • RC-135W, ZZ664, Wg Cdr T Talbot, OC 51 Sqn • Typhoon FGR.4, ZK348/FN, Wg Cdr MR Flewin, 1(F) Sqn
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Airfix Ad 4 F_P.indd 1
10/12/2014 09:27
ON THE SHELF
MARITIME KITS
PRODUCT SPEC
Dragon has re-worked its original USS Ohio mouldings to portray the post-conversion Florida, with its Tomahawk missile launchers instead of those for the previous Trident. Also included are Dual Dry Deck Shelters on the top of the hull, for accommodating special forces troops such as Navy SEALs. The engraved detail is most respectable, and the way Dragon has rendered the Tomahawk hatches is splendid, with separate USS Florida SSGN-728 inserts to portray the tops of By: Dragon the stores themselves. A highly Item no: 1056 detailed sail is also provided, and Scale: 1/350 this is equipped with the requisite dive planes, periscope, masts and Price: £35 antennas. This is a great subject Available from: and it has presence too, being The Hobby Company, almost 19in (48cm) long. A display www.hobbyco.net stand is included.
RETURN OF A CLASSIC
VINTAGE K-CLASS
In what will be a very popular move with modellers, Revell looks to be re-issuing various elements of the old Matchbox range of ship kits. The latter’s HMS Kelly was regarded as one of its better efforts in 1/700 scale, and is now available once more, complete with alternative parts to build either HMS Kelly or HMS Kipling. Despite the age of the moulds, there are no sink marks and only the slightest amount of flash present, with raised detail being used HMS Kelly (HMS Kipling) throughout. The tiny decal sheet By: Revell provides for three options: Item no: 05120 • HMS Kelly, 5th Destroyer Scale: 1/700 Flotilla, Mediterranean, 1941 • HMS Kipling, 14th Destroyer Price: £6.50 Flotilla, Mediterranean, 1942 Available from: • HMS Kipling, 7th Destroyer Revell, www.revell.de/en Flotilla, Home Fleet, 1940
PRODUCT SPEC
FROM TRIDENT TO TOMAHAWK
MINIATURE WOLFPACK
{90}
For anyone wanting to portray a small-scale U-Boat diorama, this is the ideal choice. Hasegawa has included four diminutive submarines, two of each type, along with two sinking merchant vessels. Although the parts count is low, with just a waterline option available, there is a photo-etched metal fret which includes hand and guard rails and optional anti-aircraft guns. The single-piece submarine hulls are moulded in an excellent manner, with a combination of fine raised and engraved detail. German Submarine B-Boat Three options for successful U-Boat commanders are provided for each Type VII/IXC ‘U-Boat Aces’ class of submarine; these include: By: Hasegawa • Type VIIC, U-201, Kapitänleutnant Item no: 30034 Adalbert Schnee Scale: 1/700 • Type VIIC, U-522, Oberleutnant Erich Topp Price: £19.99 • Type IXC, U-68, Korvettenkapitän Available from: Karl-Friedrich Merten Amerang, • Type IXC, U-156, Korvettenkapitän www.amerang.co.uk Werner Hartenstein
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
The Fletcher class of destroyers was one of the most common World War Two vessels, with more than 170 of the type commissioned between 1942 and 1945. This re-release from Revell is a re-boxing of the classic Matchbox kit, right down to the inclusion of the original ‘PK-63’ item number on one of the two styrene runners. The parts feature raised detail on the deck and superstructure sections, and there’s just a single build option for a waterline model. A paper sheet provides suitable ensign and signal flags for the respective jacks and rigging and the small USS Fletcher (DD-445) decal sheet provides for two By: Revell camouflaged schemes, one in Measure 22, the other in Item no: 05127 Measure 12: Scale: 1/700 • DD-451, USS Chevalier, Boston, Price: £6.50 October 1942 Available from: • DD-445, USS Fletcher, New Revell, www.revell.de/en York, July 1942
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MODEL MART
CLASSIFIEDS
Tel: 01530 231407 www.aviationbookcentre.com Unmade or already built, any quantity, especially large collections, Will collect nationwide and pay best cash price.
Email:
[email protected]
You can also view and buy from our huge stock of Eduard kits, etch and Brassin, Aires, SAC, Pavla, Brengun, Valom, Quickboost, Rob Taurus, Amodel and many other hard to find manufacturers.
Please call 01202-976974. or 07901-890461. Thank you.
www.oxoniansplasticfantastic.co.uk
[email protected] - DON’T FORGET ALL UK ORDERS ARE POST FREE -
Freightdog Models
Home of Blue Max and Pegasus Models Online shop for kits, decals ands accessories www.freightdogmodels.co.uk +44 (0) 1342 716004 Fairlight, Sandy Lane, Crawley Down, Crawley, RH10 4HX
AVIATION ANTIQUES All plastic kits & Diecast models wanted. Airfix, Corgi,Tamiya, Armour, Revell. Collections Purchased/ collected 27, A, The Grove, Biggin Hill Kent TN16 3TA
07973 885754
To advertise here T please call Tom Lee on 01780 755131
Fast and friendly service Easy to navigate webshop Large range of over 3500 models, figures, tools and accessories from Revell, Airfix, Italeri, Tamiya and many more, ready for immediate despatch Based in the Midlands since 2001 with worldwide shipping available
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ON THE SHELF AUTO KITS
FIVE-DOOR COUNTRYMAN
OLD-FASHIONED PICK-UP
1/24
Price:
£39.99
Available from: Amerang, www.amerang.co.uk
CHAMPIONSHIP BMW
PRODUCT SPEC
Revell has followed its release of the Martin Tomcyk-driven BMW M3 with that of team-mate Bruno Spengler. As would be expected, the two kits are identical apart from the colour scheme and decals, with Spengler’s BMW being finished in an overall satin black. With just six runners carrying beautifully moulded parts, there is minimal flash present but this is isolated to the clear parts, with a distortion also BMW M3 DTM 2012 ‘Bruno present on the rear windscreen of Spengler’ this sample. Interior and exterior By: Revell detail has been captured and replicated faithfully, right down Item no: 07178 to the spartan racing interior and Scale: 1/24 suspension, which will be obscured Price: £22.99 on the completed model. The decals are a work of art, with great printing Available from: and gloss carrier film. Revell, www.revell.de/en
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PRODUCT SPEC
Scale:
Emhar’s Bedford truck kits are deceptively simple-looking, but in fact are well detailed and beautifully moulded. The latest version, the recovery crane-equipped short-wheel base (S), the 5-ton (B) specification of the O type chassis (hence OSB) is no exception. Comprising seven styrene runners, separate cab, body and jib parts, seven vinyl tyres and a length of thread for the crane, there is Bedford OSB SWB Recovery minimal flash and only the slightest Truck hint of sink marks here and there. By: Emhar A well-appointed cab, engine and Item no: EM2404 crane are the standout features, and Scale: 1/24 the spares box will benefit due to the number of runners common to Price: £37.99 earlier releases. The decals provide Available from: a cream Brook & Sons Ltd vehicle, Pocketbond, and a cream and crimson truck from www.pocketbond.co.uk North Worcestershire Garage.
HAVE ROCKETS, WILL TRAVEL
Until recently, 1/35 kits of civilian vehicles were few, but this is changing. Takom’s offering is the ambiguously titled ‘German civilian car’ to evade licensing issues, although it obviously echoes a late 1970s BMW 3 series, but adds an AKM-toting insurgent and four rocket-propelled propane German Civilian Car w/Gas gas cylinders. The moulding is Rockets excellent, with superb detail and By: Takom vinyl tyres. Options include open or Item no: 2005 closed doors and boot, and moveable Scale: 1/35 front wheels; the gas rockets and a spare AKM can be fitted in the Price: £26.99 boot. Although either a red or black Available from: scheme is provided, the painting Pocketbond, guide is basic, with just colours for www.pocketbond.co.uk lights, radiator trim and indicators.
PRODUCT SPEC
colour variations on the decal sheet (pink, green, orange and yellow), and a further two options (blue and white) covered on the painting step. This will certainly look a little different on the display shelf!
PRODUCT SPEC
Boasting four-wheel-drive and wearing the classic Countryman label, this version of the Cooper is the largest in the range. Hasegawa has already released a basic and ‘Union Jack’ version of the Countryman, and this latest re-boxing is almost identical...the only difference being the decal sheet. With options for right- or left-hand drive, this looks a great kit to build, even if the body marking colours are bordering on the psychedelic. Perhaps the only down-side to this kit is the lack of any engine detail or paint masks for the Mini Cooper S Countryman windows, although a stencil is included All4 ‘Ray Package’ on the instruction sheet for the latter. By: Hasegawa Just a single gloss black scheme Item no: 20262 is included, but there are four trim
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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ON THE SHELF FIGURES
Matched with the re-release of Italeri’s giant Vosper in MTB 74 St Nazaire Raid guise (see News this issue), is this handy crew figure set for use with said craft. One styrene runner offers seven men (two officers among them, one in a duffle coat, and the other in a pea
Dragon
Item no:
6697
Scale:
1/35
Price:
£23.50
Available from: The Hobby Company, www.hobbyco.net
NATIVE AMERICAN?
PRODUCT SPEC
From Sovereign’s fantasy range, this new resin bust echoes an American Indian of undetermined tribe. The detail is respectable and the subject wears a top hat with feather decoration, and a resin display plinth is provided. Cleverly, the casting plug is on top of the head, so any removal marks in this area will be covered by the headgear. The facial features, though, are highly pronounced and may not be to everyone’s liking; but some may favour this rendering, which will allow for high creativity in the finishing. Medicine Man By:
Sovereign 2000
Item no:
S2KB014
Scale:
1/9
Price:
£16.50
Available from: Sovereign 2000, sovereign2000.uk.com
cooking gear and a loaf features here, but the added bonus is the antitank gun that can be built as a PaK 35/36, with or without Stielgranate 41 weapon, or a 4.5cm PaK 184(r) for true versatility. The figures are quite well detailed, although some might wish to add after-market heads for more refinement.
GALLIC CANNONEERS
Timed perfectly for this year’s Waterloo bicentennial, Italeri’s neat artillery package will please not just gamers, but fans of small scale static modelling. Moulded in soft styrene, the detail is actually very good for the scale. There are eight horses, two cannons, defences such as wall sections and earth-filled gabions, along with a spiked wooden post section and plank hardstanding for a gun (the latter has positioning rings for the gabions). Gunpowder barrels are also supplied, and the figure poses account for riding on horseback, on the carriage seats and manning the guns. Careful painting will pay dividends in this small scale.
PRODUCT SPEC
By:
French Artillery Set By:
Italeri
Item no:
6031
Scale:
1/72
Price:
£14.99
Available from: The Hobby Company, www.hobbyco.net
Vosper MTB Crew By:
Italeri
Item no: 5616 Scale:
1/35
Price:
£17.50
Available from: The Hobby Company, www.hobbyco.net
‘STIFF’ JOCKEY PJ’s welldetailed resin F-104 pilot could actually be posed with other NATO Cold War types. The mastering and casting are very good, and the parachute pack is rendered integrally with the figure itself. Plenty of creasing in the G-Trousers adds interest in terms of shading and washes, and the arms and oxygen masks are provided as individual items to be glued on. The best feature, though, is the inclusion of five different heads, all with different styles of helmet for real variety.
PRODUCT SPEC
‘Chow Time’ German Anti-Tank Crew w/3.7cm PaK 36/37
F-104 Pilot By:
PJ Production
Item no:
321116
Scale:
1/32
Price:
€13.20
Available from: PJ Production, www.pjproduction.net
coat). The ratings wear just the standard white naval roll-neck jumpers and trousers, and are posed differently; one adjusts his helmet strap, another holds the boat’s wheel and the third uses a signalling lamp. Another leans on a torpedo and the final subject mans a machine gun. The moulding is pretty good on the clothing and equipment, but falls down on the facial features.
SIX VCs BEFORE BREAKFAST The famous action by the Lancashire Fusiliers at Gallipoli, in which six Victoria Crosses were won, is legendary. This figure is inspired by the feat and wears the correct garb, such as Wolseley helmet and 1914-pattern battledress. Most TW figures are sculpted tall and this helps the pose, which is commanding; ready for combat with bayonet fixed on his long Lee Enfield rifle, and mouth open as if ready to utter a war cry. Items such as the bedroll and canteen are cast separately for easy painting, and the detail on the integrally cast bandoliers and webbing is impressive. A photoetched brass rifle sling is included.
PRODUCT SPEC
This styrene figure package will be of great use to any diorama or vignette modeller who favours German subjects. The trio of Wehrmacht troops on the Eastern Front have thoughtful poses, with gaining sustenance in between the fighting being the focal point. As such, two standing subjects eat from mess tins, while a kneeling soldier uses a bayonet to de-lid a food can. Even
PRODUCT SPEC
COASTAL SAILORS
PRODUCT SPEC
BARBAROSSA RATIONS
Private, 1/7 Bn Lancashire Fusiliers, Cape Helles, 1915 By:
Tommy’s War
Item no:
TW54024
Scale:
54mm
Price:
£14
Available from: Tommy’s War, www.tommyswar.co.uk
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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ON THE SHELF ACCESSORIES
648 145
Scale:
1/48
Price:
€14.95
Available from: www.eduard.com
GUSTAV RESIN
PRODUCT SPEC
Revell’s recent Bf 109G-10 will be better off for these exquisite resin wheels from Eduard. They come with the unique moulding lines cast in situ, and separate, finely rendered hubs and a tailwheel. Tape masks are also supplied for neat painting/ airbrushing.
{94}
Bf 109G-10 Wheels By:
Eduard
Item no:
632 040
Scale:
1/32
Price:
€11.25
Available from: www.eduard.com
Item no:
672 045
Scale:
1/72
Price:
€8.22
Available from: www.eduard.com
SPLENDID BELTS Anyone with Azur’s I.A.R 80/81 in the stash should consider Radu Brinzan’s superb seatbelts with dainty photo-etched metal buckle details; they will brighten the cockpit instantly. The belts themselves are thin and textured, so a lifelike look is assured as long as one is careful with the glue. Avoid cyanoacrylate and opt for gator Glue or pacer instead. I.A.R 80/81 Late-Type Harness By:
RB Productions
Item no:
RB-P32038
Scale:
1/32
Price:
€5.50
Available from: www.radubstore.com
By:
MH Models
Item no:
X7202
Scale:
1/72
Price:
€10
Available from: www.mhmodels.cz
The range of 1/48 scenic products for dioramas is growing, and a great addition is this nifty little resin stone well. There’s a wonderfully irregular pattern to the stonework, and the flagstones around the top are great. The jib is cast in resin but its support is a pre-shaped metal item. A small bucket is provided, too, and all one has to add is convincing rope. This will look great with a vehicle parked by it, as soldiers refresh themselves.
PRODUCT SPEC
Item no:
Eduard
A4/V-2 Gezakt-ragged late airbrush mask
WATER SUPPLY
STORM GUNS
Village Stone Well By:
Red Zebra
Item no:
N/A
Scale:
1/48
Price:
£8
Available from: E-mail:
[email protected]
AIRCRAFT MOVER
Revell’s 1/32 Hurricane is the only one in the scale, and it can certainly stand extra detail. These beautifully rendered turned brass gun barrels will certainly add that quality look, and they come with real round metal recoil springs. Each barrel comprises four pieces, but construction is doddle. Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc Hispano Mk II 20mm Cannons By:
Master Model
Item no: AM-32-075 Scale:
1/32
Price:
€13.90
Available from: www.master-model.pl
Built by Curtiss Wright and used to move all manner of aircraft on airfields and ships, this cool gizmo has now been re-created in 1/32 scale by Scalewarship. Perfect for a Lynx diorama, or for posing with various fixed-wing or rotary subjects, this product involves 13 resin and part and seven in photo-etched brass. Also included is the machine’s control box and cable. The casting is great and the item will bring a whole new dimension to a diorama...how about Revell’s Lynx?
PRODUCT SPEC
Eduard
By:
This innovative mask set will make life so much simpler come painting time, for anyone with Special Armour’s 1/72 A4/V-2 kit. The package includes PDF instructions on a CD, to replicate two different ‘splinter’ colour schemes. Some of the individual die-cut masks may need a little help from a scalpel in terms of removal, but the quality is good and they will make short work of an otherwise laborious task.
PRODUCT SPEC
By:
F-16CJ Block 50 Exhaust Nozzle
REVENGE WEAPON SPLINTER
PRODUCT SPEC
MiG-21PF Ejection Seat
Want to improve your new Tamiya 1/72 F-16? Eduard’s exhaust package is just the ticket, with a highly refined resin rendition of the GE engine nozzle. Afterburner detail comes on a separate part, along with three photo-etched metal items. Easy to work with and fit, it will add real authenticity.
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Eduard’s ejection seat in its MiG-21PF kit is good, but for those who seek the ultimate in refinement the firm’s own resin and metal version will be desirable. It comes via 12 resin parts, all with lovely detail, but one must take care when sawing away the casting blocks, to prevent damage... some parts are quite delicate. Also provided is a photo-etched metal fret with seatbelt and back-pad details, and several decals.
VIPER PIPE
PRODUCT SPEC
FISHBED BANG-OUT
MANTIS Universal Aircraft Acquisition Trolley By:
Scalewarship
Item no:
N/A
Scale:
1/32
Price:
£24.50
Available from: www.scalewarship.com
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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03/12/2014 16:21
ON THE SHELF ACCESSORIES
Bae Jaguar ACT converion By:
Combat Conversions
Item no:
CC72-01
Scale:
1/72
Price:
£12
Available from: www.model-craft.co.uk
SNORKEL-TASTIC!
Sd.Kfz.3b Maultier with Flak 38 By:
Eduard
Item no:
36278
Scale:
1/35
Price:
€22.95
These refined props, with separate blades and hubs, will bring extra ‘oomph’ in the detail department to the Airfix Blenheim. The blades are all consistent and the features on the hubs are crisply rendered. Sometimes it’s the little things that make the difference, and so it is here.
PRODUCT SPEC
Want to make a real project out of Italeri’s recent Maultier with Flak 38? Eduard’s two-fret set in plain brass offers a wealth of extra and replacement detail, such as ignition leads for the engine, radiator grilles, cab door handles and window winders, tool brackets, a new gun shield and much more. Comprehensive, certainly, and great fun for more experienced military modellers.
BLADES OF GLORY
Bristol Blenheim propeller set By:
SBS model
Item no:
72022
Scale:
1/72
Price:
€6
Available from: www.sbsmodel.com
SPOOK EMBELLISHMENT
Available from: www.eduard.com
PROPS IN THE COLD
BANNED WEAPONS
Before being phased out, the BL.755 was employed by many European air arms including, of course, the RAF. If one has a Harrier or Jaguar build on the cards, Wingman’s resin BL.755s, with photo-etched brass arming vanes, will help to ensure an accurate Cold War load. The rivets on each store are a little heavy, but they can be sanded. Photos of the real thing are supplied, along with decals for the stencils and cradle markings.
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Via a new sub-brand from Model Craft, to accompany its existing Combat Decals, this resin conversion will transform the Italeri/Revell Jaguar GR.1 into the Active Control Technology Demonstrator, used to explore fly-by-wire equipment. Surgery to the base kit is necessary to make way for the 20-plus parts, but the outcome will be superb when matched with the necessary decals, also just released by the same firm (see News this issue).
FLAK METAL
PRODUCT SPEC
BIG CAT DEMONSTRATOR
BL.755 Cluster Bomb Units By:
Wingman Models
Item no:
WMF 48022
Scale:
1/48
Price:
€14
Available from: www.wingmanmodels.com
A BIT OF BOUNCE
Eduard
Item no:
36 289
Scale:
1/35
Price:
€16.27
Available from: www.eduard.com
By:
SBS model
Item no:
72023
Scale:
1/72
Price:
€6
Available from: www.sbsmodel.com
F-4 Phantom Canopy Details (Academy) By:
Hypersonic Models
Item no: HMR 48016-2 Scale:
1/48
Price:
£7.99
Available from: hypersonicmodels.co.uk
Riich Models’ Universal Carrier kits are reasonable for sure, but Sovereign’s suspension springs will ensure more life and detail for the running gear area. They are well rendered and easy to use. Simply remove them from the casting block and use them to replace the kit parts. All eight springs are included.
PRODUCT SPEC
By:
Bristol Blenheim propeller set Finnish version
PRODUCT SPEC
M4A1 Deep Wading Kit
If you have a new Airfix Blenheim but fancy a change from RAF schemes, this set of propellers and VL spinners as fitted to Finnish versions could well sway the balance in favour of that country’s markings. These are just as well produced as the standard Blenheim props by SBS, also reviewed on this page. They just need careful removal from the casting blocks and they’re ready.
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
This mass of brass is designed to fit Eduard’s new M4A1 Sherman, itself a re-release of the excellent Tasca kit (see News this issue). One would be advised to invest in a dedicated PE-bending/folding tool for this project, though, as the brass components are fairly large and will certainly take some manipulating. Once built, though, superb deep wading snorkels will be the result.
If there’s one area on any quarter-scale Phantom that can do with improvement, it’s the canopies. Hypersonic’s offering provides crisp resin and photo-etched brass to improve Academy’s recent F-4s. One receives complete inerts and smaller parts, which are glued into the kit glazing, along with trim for the ends of the canopies, locks and mirrors. Hypersonic also provides parts for rear-seat overhead instrument layouts on later Phantoms.
Bren carrier spring set By:
Sovereign 2000
Item no:
S2KA020
Scale:
1/35
Price:
£7.20
Available from: www.sovereign2000.uk.com
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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ON THE SHELF
RECENTLY RELEASED EDUARD
1/48
1/350
Photo-etched metal/resin details www.eduard.com
EX435 A-6E mask (Hobby Boss)
SM-350-079 HMS Belfast armament barrels 6in (x12), 4in (x12)
1/72
EX436 EMB-314 Super Tucano mask (Hobby boss)
CX396 Sunderland Mk.III mask (Italeri)
EX439 Bf 109E-1/E-3 mask (Eduard)
CX397 AH-1 mask (Special Hobby)
48807 A-6A exterior (Hobby Boss)
CX399 F-35 mask (Hasegawa)
48814 A-6E exterior (Hobby Boss)
CX401 C-47 mask (Airfix)
48820 EMB-314 Super Tucano exterior (Hobby Boss)
672 040 F-16CJ Block 50 wheels (Tamiya) 672 045 F-16CJ Block 50 exhaust (Tamiya)
AM-48-098 Gloster Javelin pitots
SM-350-080 HMS Roberts
armament 15in (x2), 4in (x8)
49683 A-6A interior (Hobby Boss) 49690 EMB-314 Super Tucano SA
(Hobby Boss)
73022 Seatbelts Luftwaffe fighters Super Fabric 73023 Seatbelts USAAF & USN WWII Super Fabric
SM-350-081 Bofors 40mm aircooled gun barrels (x20), HMS Roberts et al
73024 Seatbelts IJN Super Fabric
1/72
AM-48-100 Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer pitot & refuelling probe
73025 Seatbelts RAF early Super Fabric
AM-72-073 MiG-19 S (Farmer C) gun barrels and pitot
AM-48-101 Dassault Mirage IV refuelling probe
73026 Seatbelts RAF late Super
AM-72-074 Shenyang J-6/F-6 gun barrels and pitot
1/35
Fabric 73027 Seatbelts RFC WWI Super Fabric
AM-72-075 MiG-19 PM (Farmer E) missile rails, nose parts & pitot
73028 Seatbelts France WWI (Super Fabric)
AM-72-076 Fairey Firefly Hispano 20mm cannons w/uncovered barrels
GM-35-005 Browning M1919 .30 cal barrels (x2) one-piece muzzle (cylindrical)
73509 Su-27SM Flanker B SA
AM-72-077 Fairey Firefly Hispano
GM-35-006 Flakvierling 38
20mm cannons in long fairings
barrels (x4)
(Zvezda)
AM-48-099 De Havilland Sea Vixen pitots
GM-35-004 Browning M1919 .30 cal barrel (x2) two-piece muzzle (conical)
49693 F-14 Remove Before Flight Super Fabric (Eduard) 648 144 MiG-21PF Interior
AM-72-078 Fairey Firefly Hispano 20mm cannons in short fairings AM-72-079 Gloster Javelin pitots
GM-35-007 German 2cm L/65 Flak 38 barrel
AM-72-080 De Havilland Sea Vixen pitots
GM-35-008 German 2cm L/50 Kw.K. 38 barrel
648 156 AGM-45 Shrike
AM-72-081 Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer pitot and refuelling probe
1/32
1/32
AM-72-082 Mirage IV refuelling probe
JX167 T-2 Buckeye mask (Special Hobby)
1/48
648 145 MiG-21PF ejection seat (Eduard)
73514 C-47 cargo seatbelts (Airfix)
AM-32-072 Shenyang J-6/F-6 gun barrels and pitot
632 040 Bf 109G-10 wheels
AM-48-092 MiG-19 S (Farmer C) gun barrels & pitot
MASTER MODEL
AM-48-093 Shenyang J-6/F-6 gun barrels & pitot
Turned metal/PE details www.master-model.pl
AM-48-094 MiG-19 PM (Farmer E) missile rails, nose parts & pitot
AM-32-074 Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc Hispano Mk I 20mm cannons with flat recoil springs
1/700
AM-48-095 Fairey Firefly Hispano 20mm cannons with uncovered barrels
AM-32-075 Hurricane Hurricane Mk IIc Hispano Mk II 20mm cannons with round recoils springs
AM-48-096 Fairey Firefly Hispano 20mm cannons in long fairings
1/24
SM-700-040 USN 16in/45 Mk.1 for turrets without blastbags USS Colorado/Maryland/West Virginia SM-700-041 USN 16in/45 Mk.1 for turrets with blastbags USS Colorado/ Maryland/West Virginia
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AM-32-073 MiG-19 PM (Farmer E) missile rails, nose parts & pitot
AM-48-097 Fairey Firefly Hispano 20mm cannons in short fairings
AM-32-071 MiG-19 S (Farmer C) gun barrels and pitot
AM-24-009 Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc Hispano Mk I 20mm cannons with late recoil springs
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
96-97_Access List.CC.indd 96
03/12/2014 16:22
ON THE SHELF
RECENTLY RELEASED AM-24-010 Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc Hispano Mk II 20mm cannons with round recoil springs AM-24-011 British RP-3 Rocket w/60lb SAP heads, for early Mk I rails (Typhoon, Mosquito etc)
1/35
World War Two Military Maps
World War One Posters
GP29 Gunpowder Line Desert Sand pigment
Iraq Posters and Newspapers Vietnam Posters
GP29 Gunpowder Line River Sand pigment NI34 Nitro Line Murky Water fluid
RB PRODUCTIONS Masks and PE details www.radubstore.com
ZVEZDA 1/72 Snap-fit figures www.hobbyco.net
1/32 RB-M32003 I.A.R 80/81 Canopy Masks
6180 German Elite Troops 1941-1943
RB-M24001 Hawker Typhoon Canopy Masks PJ PRODUCTION Resin figures www.pjproduction.net
SCALE AIRCRAFT CONVERSIONS French Commercial Signs Italian 1930-40 Posters
White metal undercarriage www.scaleaircraftconversions.com 1/72 72095 C-123 Provider landing gear (Roden)
1/72 721131 RAF Pilots seated in a/c (‘60s)
72096 Mirage III/V landing gear (PJ) 1/48
721132 RAF Pilots seated in a/c (‘70s)
6181 Soviet Militia 1941
48270 Panavia Tornado landing gear (Revell)
721133 NATO pilots seated in a/c (‘60s)
48271 Sea Harrier landing gear (Kinetic)
1/48
48272 F-106 Delta Dart landing gear (Trumpeter)
481126 German F-4 pilot seated in a/c Russian WW2 Posters RED ZEBRA
GP 28 Gunpowder Line Beach Sand pigment
Afghanistan Posters Modern Day
48273 F-4C/D landing gear (RevellMonogram) 1/32
Printed paper details www.redzebramodels.co.uk
32088 Fokker D.VII landing gear and struts (Wingnut Wings)
1/48 Italian 1930-40 Posters
32089 F4F Wildcat landing gear (Trumpeter)
Russian WW2 Posters
1/24
Iraq Roadside Signs
24008 Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib
landing gear (Airfix)
6197 Soviet Infantry in Winter Uniform 1941-1942 6198 German Infantry in Winter Uniform 1941-1945 6208 Soviet 82mm Mortar with Crew 1941-1943 (Winter) 6220 Soviet Machinegun with Crew 1941-1943 (Winter) 6226 British Recon Team
1939-1945
Syria (Arab Spring) Posters Afghanistan Posters Modern Day Iraq/Afghanistan Military Warning Signs French WW2 Period Posters 7415 US M-47 ‘Dragon’ Anti-Tank
Iraq Posters and Newspapers 1930-40 Advertising Posters
WILDER
Missile System with Crew
Weathering products www.airbrushes.com
WW2 Posters (Germany) US/UK – Iraq/Afghanistan Warning Signs Modern Afghanistan Posters Maps – Military and Civilian World War Two Military Maps Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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KIT COURT
SA.330 PUMA
Mark Atrill reckons it’s high time we had a new 1/72 example of this rotary workhorse
(Key - Glenn Sands)
EXHIBIT 1
Airfix’s venerable Puma is still available on the second-hand market, but it needs aftermarket options and/or scratch-building to update it.
I
can recall vividly purchasing Airfix’s 1/72 SA.330 Puma. It was 1973 and we lived in Gibraltar where I regularly visited a bookshop that also sold kits. The availability of modelling magazines there was practically non-existent then, and so the Puma's release was a surprise. But I remember the amazing detail (for then) clearly; a superb cockpit and cabin interior and
impressive rotor assemblies. Airfix later entered into a partnership with Heller, which prompted several re-releases of the base kit on both sides of the channel. Heller issued it at least twice and included an all-French version with Armée de Terre decals, and extra parts to replicate revised air intake filters and nose antenna. The other boxing was part of a ‘United Nations’ gift set.
EXHIBIT 2
Heller also marketed Airfix's Puma, with French Army markings, and there has also been a special United Nations release of the type from the same manufacturer.
Airfix has also re-released the Puma at least twice. The most recent boxing included additional parts (also retrofitted to real RAF machines), and with revised decals. Surprisingly, given its attractiveness and extensive use, the Puma has not fared well as a kit subject. If I recall correctly, the first ever kit was a 1/50 example from Heller, released shortly after the helicopter entered service and represents a pre-production variant. It is long out-of-production and rare, and commands high prices. Later, Matchbox released its 1/32 kit when there were, arguably, far more pressing subjects that could have warranted its expenditure in R&D and raw materials. That said, the kit was well received although typically Matchbox, with simplified detail and uninspiring markings. Revell re-released the kit with superb decals for an RAF 230 Squadron machine in Tiger Meet livery; this limited edition re-issue is also highly prized. More recently, Revell released two editions of a delightful little kit in 1/144 scale, including one with Operation Granby markings, and the second with another Tiger Meet scheme. So, in 2015 we have limited availability of a Puma more than 40 years old, with raised detail, rivets and gimmicks...such as oversized main cabin door fairings to facilitate opening doors. In 1/48 scale, we have never benefited from the release of a Puma, in
spite of the many military and civilian operators. I believe, along with the Sikorsky S.55/Westland Whirlwind series, it is the only commonly used rotary-wing type that has been largely ignored in this scale. With the likes of the Wessex, EH-101 Merlin and Lynx family now available in quarterscale, there must surely be a case for producing a newly-tooled kit in either 1/72 or, preferably for some, ❚ in 1/48 scale.
EXHIBIT 3
For those with more display space, the Matchbox/Revell Puma offers choice, but it is a product of its time, with limited detail.
HEARINGS If there’s a kit you’d love to see re-released or produced then state your case to the world via AMW. What you need to supply is 300350 words for a ‘reasonable’ case, a good quality photo and two to three high-resolution box-top scans to help illustrate the subject. AMW can’t promise a new kit by the end of the year, but the industry will definitely get to hear a ‘modeller’s case!’ email: chris.clifford@ keypublishing.com
THE NEXT ISSUE IS ON SALE FEBRUARY 5* *UK scheduled on sale date. Please note that overseas deliveries are likely to occur after this date.
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Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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Lucky Models F_P.indd 1
09/12/2014 10:27
Hobby Link Japan F_P.indd 1
08/12/2014 12:40
