E-DAY SHOW REPORT Prague perfection
RADAR KILLER 1/72 Lockheed Martin F-16CJ
Dec 2015 Issue 61
60 REVIEWS
A CLASSIC RETURNS Airfix’s re-released 1/48 Lightning F.1A
TOOTHY GRIN 1/32 Roland C.IIa (Late)
£4.30
BEAST OF BOVINGTON 1/35 Pz.Kpfw.VI Tiger I Ausf. E (Early) DEC COVER UK.indd 1
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EDITOR'S DESK
WELCOME
Like us! facebook.com/airfixmodelworld Visit us! www.airfixmodelworld.com
WELCOME TO ISSUE 61
R
ecently I was fortunate enough to attend E-day in Prague (see p.38-39), and was rather impressed by the Czech approach to the hobby and, perhaps, what it could offer to
the wider community. At first glance, it seemed that younger modellers received more support and encouragement than their UK counterparts...this view was reinforced during subsequent discussions while there. The resulting builds were exceptional, with techniques I wouldn’t have attempted at that age (although that may be just a poor reflection on me!). Indeed, I believed that many of those ‘junior’ models would be contenders for ‘senior’ awards at UK events. Perhaps it was the family orientated nature of the hobby in the Czech Republic (something that E-day actively nurtured) that made it possible.
The relaxed atmosphere was mirrored by the presence of numerous trophies and awards on club stands, which is something I haven’t seen at many UK shows, perhaps due to the inevitable banter that results. But here there was no sense of ‘pot-hunting’, just a reflection of what various enjoyable builds had achieved. One welcome difference was a competition area that was completely open to the public, even during judging. Having been used to segregated tables, it was a revelation to walk around while the judges did their work. It got me thinking as to why this doesn’t happen more often in the UK, as it was great to
see which models were under consideration, and avoids that rush of people once the area is re-opened. Whether any of this translates to UK shows is down to you, and I have been heartened by the popularity of ‘Make and Take’ events and the online articles describing how younger members are entering the modelling community. All these budding builders now need is a little support and encouragement...their imagination will do the rest! Stu Fone, Assistant Editor
[email protected]
A subscription to Airfix Model World makes a great gift this Christmas.
See pages 76-77 for details.
Editor: Chris Clifford Assistant Editor: Stu Fone Editor's Secretary: Vanessa Smith Contributors this issue: Mikael Terfors, Mike Grant, Dana Bell, Dave Oliver, Richard Langford, Chris Jones, Peter Johnson Art Editor: Tom Bagley Group Art Editor: Steve Donovan Production Manager: Janet Watkins Commercial Director: Ann Saundry Group Advertising Manager: Brodie Baxter Advertising Manager: Tom Lee Ad Production: Louise Talbot Group Marketing Manager: Martin Steele Marketing Manager: Shaun Binnington Subscriptions and Mail Order: Liz Ward Managing Director: Adrian Cox Executive Chairman: 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 2014 was 12,005 print and digital copies monthly.
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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CONTENTS INSIDE
14
INTERMEDIATE BUILD ROLAND C.IIa
REGULARS 06 News The latest happenings in the world of plastic modelling.
12 Show Scene At-a-glance model show calendar.
24 Your Airfix Readers showcase their Airfix builds.
76 Gift Subscription A subscription to AMW makes a thoughtful gift this Christmas.
78 On the Shelf Fourteen pages of reviews highlight the latest modelling products from around the world.
98 The Plastic Surgery
SHOW SCENE E-day – Prague perfection
Quiz AMW’s team of contributors, history writers and industry contacts about your modelling conundrums.
42
26
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD PZ.KPFW.VI TIGER I
INTERMEDIATE BUILD STEARMAN PT-17
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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CONTENTS
INSIDE
52
INTERMEDIATE BUILD LIGHTNING F.1A
FEATURES 14 Intermediate Build – Toothy Grin Sweden’s Mikael Terfors is bowled over by Wingnut Wings’ Roland C.IIa... apparently, it almost builds itself!
22 Out and About – Mid-Season Special AMW contributor Dave Oliver finds plenty to enjoy at this year’s Essex Model Show, including his own competition success.
26 Intermediate Build – Wings of Gold Mike Grant adds his own detail to Revell’s quarter-scale Stearman PT-17 trainer.
34 In Focus – Training Legend The history and service colour schemes of the Stearman biplane are explained by Dana Bell.
38 Out and About – Exhilarating E-day Assistant Editor Stu Fone discovers a whole new level of modelling at the E-day show in Prague, Czech Republic.
40 Out and About – Autumnal Treat Editor Chris Clifford finds the exhibits at this year’s Brampton Model Show are up to the usual pleasing standard.
42 Intermediate Build – Beast of Bovington The Tank Museum’s famous Tiger ‘131’ is re-created by Richard Langford, from Zvezda’s 1/35 scale kit.
52 Intermediate Build – Phoenix Rising A true Airfix classic, the 1/48 Lightning F.1, has been re-released and is built by type-enthusiast Chris Jones.
60 Out and About – Fun in the Fens Spalding’s Wings and Things 2015 model show offered plenty of scale delights for Stu Fone.
62 Basic Build – Radar Killer Chris Jones encounters a weighty arsenal with Tamiya’s 1/72 F-16CJ Block 50 Fighting Falcon.
62
BASIC BUILD LOCKHEED MARTIN F-16CJ
70 In Focus – The Lawn Dart Has Fangs Glenn Sands explores the inception and operational success of the USAF’s ‘Wild Weasel’ F-16CJ. Exclusive photos from the Iraqi theatre are included. Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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NEWS BULLETIN
LATEST UPDATES
NEW TOOLING!
AIRFIX HAS announced a completely new 1/72 kit of the Jet Provost T.3/T.3A. This much-loved RAF trainer enabled countless pilots to earn their wings, and this styrene version promises to be a little beauty. The colour schemes are: • XM413/24, 2 FTS, RAF Gaydon, 1967 • XM461/11, 1 FTS, RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire, 1984 Another all-new item is the P-40B in 1/48 scale, which falls in line with next year’s 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Airfix has had access to the P-40C at Duxford for its research...so expect a high degree of accuracy!
But that’s not the only good news, as this year’s early 1/72 Mk.X Beaufighter will reappear in 2016 as a ‘late’ variant, with the trademark thimble nose, fin fillet and other specific features, and markings for an RAF Coastal Command aircraft in 1945, and post-war machine in RAF Operation Firedog colours (Malayan crisis). And a treat for fans of larger aircraft will be the re-working of Airfix’s recent AW Whitley, into Coastal Command Mk.VII format and as a BOAC Mk.V, while this year’s superb Heinkel He 111P-2 will morph into a torpedo-toting H-6 subtype. Exclusive builds of all will feature in forthcoming issues. www.airfix.com
BUDGET AIRBRUSH
SPARMAX HAS made quite an entry into the hobby with its excellent Arism compressors (see AMW Nov 2015 News), and now its MAX range of quality dual-action airbrushes. AMW's test sample was a MAX-4, which is equipped with a 0.4mm needle/nozzle combination and features a large 8ml (9/32fl oz) paint cup, which results in a slightly noseheavy balance. Thanks to a wide aperture at the base of the paint cup, colour mixing and cleaning is easier than with other airbrushes. What makes this airbrush different is it
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can be converted quickly to singleaction operation, and includes the necessary parts to achieve this. Testsprays were conducted with various enamels, acrylics and lacquers and a 50:50 paint/thinners mix produced superb results. Fine pencil-like lines were possible at low pressures and the 0.4mm nozzle meant that large areas can be covered easily. With a retail price of £45, this falls into the budget range and would be an ideal first dual-action airbrush for any modeller. For further information visit www.airbrushes.com
BUMPER BoB BOXING
TO MARK this year’s 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, Airfix has issued a well-considered 1/72 four-kit package. This titular release (A50173) comprises the recent He 111P-2 (G1+AN, 5./KG 55),
as well as the slightly older Hurricane Mk. (L1592/KW-Z, 615 Squadron), Spitfire Mk.Ia (L1043/DW-D, 610 Squadron) and Bf 109E-3 (chevron and ring, Oblt Werner Pichon-Lalau von Hofe, III./JG 51.
FIELD GUN REPRISE FOLLOWING THE recent reappearance of Airfix’s classic 1/32 Crusader tank, the firm has also now re-released the venerable 1/32 17 Pounder AntiTank Gun and Crew (A06361). This nostalgic item features five styrene runners, and the crew comes with small arms such as the Lee-Enfield .303, Sten Gun
and Bren Gun. Despite the kit’s vintage, some of the detail is still noteworthy indeed.
CHERRY BLOSSOM
RADU BRINZAN’S RB Productions has two exciting new 1/32 scale items. The first is a mixed-media rendition of the Japanese Yokosuka Ohka (cherry blossom) Kamikaze aircraft, which comes via a multitude of crisp resin parts, photo-etched (PE) brass and PE seat buckles/laser-cut card belts. A decal sheet with stencils and cherry blossom motifs also appears...as does a vac-form canopy and full transportation trolley. This kit is coded RB-K32003.
Modellers with their focus on Great War aircraft will love the second product (RB-32032), a full set of PE mainplanes, tails and rudder for Wingnut Wings’ Fokker Eindecker kits. The main brass fret measures 210mm x 141mm, and is staggering in its execution; for those with the patience to portray ‘skinless’ wings/tails, or cover the PE with tissue to get a more realistic appearance, it’s a stunning after-market release designed to fit Wingnut’s E.II/II/ IV Eindeckers. For further details visit: www.radubstore.com
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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NEWS BULLETIN
LATEST UPDATES
BOVINGTON WAR PRIZE OBVIOUSLY RATTLED by Rye Field Model’s release of its own all-new 1/35 Tiger I, Dragon has issued a same-scale kit depicting Tiger ‘131’, which resides at The Tank Museum. Kit 6820, Early Production s.Pz.Abt.504 Tunisia, represents ‘131’ at time of capture, and not as it stands today (the restoration is not 100% wartime accurate). Dragon’s package contains runners from its previous Tigers, but has newly tooled parts such as the loader’s seat, Feifel air cleaners and on-vehicle tools. Gun breech detail is included, along with well-rendered hatch inners, but the kit has ‘love them or
loathe them’ DS Styrene onepiece tracks, and not Magic Track individual links. Photoetched brass engine deck grilles feature, among other PE extras, and there’s even a neat
set of cacti in DS Styrene for modellers who wish to pose the vehicle in a diorama/vignette. If Tigers are your thing, see p.42 of this issue for a build of Zvezda’s 1/35 Tiger as ‘131’.
SPOOKY RETAIL VENTURE
with Kinetic and Skunkmodels Workshop, AMK, Kitty Hawk, Eduard and others...and Mr. Color paints. Of course the current range of AirDOC/ DoubleUgly! books and other brands are also available. Becoming a ‘Phantom Shop Phan’ ensures access to a discount scheme, and the team will be present at this year’s Scale ModelWorld in Telford, on November 7-8. For further details, or to place orders, visit: www.shopofphantoms.com
THE TEAM behind Wingman Models and AirDOC publications has opened a retail store in Germany. Shop of Phantoms already had an online presence but
now offers a proper visitor experience for customers who like to see products before they buy. The retail facility, in Erlangen, offers all Wingman kits and accessories, along
DUXFORD DECALS IMPERIAL WAR Museum Duxford is one of the UK’s most popular aviation attractions. Within in it lies the American Air Museum, the exhibits being enshrouded in a futuristiclooking, glass-fronted ‘hangar’. The collection is eclectic, with splendid variety, and now one can actually model all its aircraft in 1/72 scale thanks to a new decal set by Alley Cat Models. Two near-A5 sheets (one shown here) come in set
ACD-72015, and all visitor favourites are provided, such as the smart VF-74 F-4J, F-111E ‘The Chief’ and the B-29A ‘It’s Hawg Wild’. Even one of the vehicles in the museum is catered for, with red crosses for the Dodge ambulance, and other machines represented include the C-47, B-52, T-33A, B-24, SPAD, A-10A, Lockheed U-2 and the awesome SR-71. A DVD containing photos of each of the real exhibits is
also included with the decals. This is a great idea if one is considering a somewhat different theme. To order, visit: www.alleycatmodels.co.uk
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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NEWS BULLETIN
LATEST UPDATES
{in brief}
YOU GOTTA BE WHAT?... Can it really be 50 years since the first operational anti-radar ‘Wild Weasel’ sortie? It was in Vietnam, and when told of the required mission, one incredulous pilot exclaimed:“You gotta be sh****n me!” To mark the 50th anniversary this year, the 20th FW at Shaw AFB applied celebratory artwork to one of its Block 50 F-16CJs, and Two Bobs now offers 1/48 markings on its new sheet 48-247 F-16C Blk 50 – 50 Years of YGBSM. All the firm’s trademark qualities are offered; great printing and all the necessary stencils, along with fullcolour drawings of the aircraft and stores such as fuel tanks, AIM-120B, AIM-9X, AGM-88, HTS, Sniper and AN/ALQ-84. If one favours anti-radar as a theme, these decals are a dream! www.twobobs.net
MAKE A DATE Cross & Cockade International has provided a timely reminder that 2015 is drawing to a close with the release of its 2016 calendar. As usual it features artwork by noted aviation artists, of aircraft during World War One, and proceeds go towards the upkeep of the British Air Services memorial; this is on the airfield at St. Omer, France...spiritual home of the Royal Flying Corp. Notable artworks include September’s ‘Duel above the Piave’, which features Hauptmann Godwin von Brumowski’s skulladorned red Albatros D.III. This attractive calendar will retail for £11. www.crossandcockade.com
Search: 'Airfix Model World'
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LILLIPUTIAN OMNIBUS
AMW readers may remember Mikael Terfors’ stunning build of Airfix’s Type B bus in the August 2015 issue. Now imagine an even more detailed vehicle, but in 1/72 scale... this is what’s on offer from W↑D Models. Well known for its range of exquisite resin figures in the same scale, it has now expanded its scope to include vehicles, and these include Thorneycroft and Denis 3-ton lorries and several horse-drawn wagons and gun limbers. The Type B bus kit comprises 100 finely cast resin components, with a single-piece chassis and front suspension, and
features full interior detail in the coach and driver’s sections. Flash is present on several complex parts, but this will be easy to remove and the casting blocks will be similarly simple to excise. For diorama modellers, W↑D thoughtfully provides a bonus driver figure, complete with a selection of heads, which has exemplary detail on the tunic. Markings are offered as rub-down dry decals for the two schemes. These are overall green vehicles assigned to the 1st and 2nd Auxiliary Bus Companies. For further information visit www.wdmodelscom.co.uk
THE GOLDEN ERA
PEN & SWORD has launched two amazing new books, covering the golden years of the RAF. Each entitled RAF in Camera, by Keith Wilson, the 1950s volume features mostly black and white photos, while the 1960s edition is almost all in colour. The simple joy with both is that a high proportion of the excellent photos are previously unpublished, and offer a wealth of aircraft nostalgia and colour scheme inspiration. The sections are broken into each year of each decade, with notable happenings in RAF history. Much data is offered in the captions, and one can spend countless enjoyable hours thumbing through these weighty tomes of 300-plus pages. From the mighty Lightning, Vulcan and Jet Provost to the Javelin, Argosy and Hunter, these superb books should not be missed by any RAF fan. For further details, visit: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
ROTARY WARRIOR
IT'S HARD to believe that the AH-64 Apache, now in D/Block II Longbow standard, has been in service with the US Army for more than 30 years. Academy has previously produced a 1/72 scale AH-64A, but thankfully resisted the temptation to merely add a few parts to create the later variant; instead it has opted for
a completely new-tool kit. This depicts an early D/Block II Apache, and features a very high level of detail and quality, with delicate engraved panel lines on the fuselage halves and stub wings. The standout element is the rotor assembly, which is provided as a single part, and incorporates the four blades with the main
hub...preventing any of those annoying alignment/droop issues. Disappointingly, the canopy is provided as a ‘closed’ item, which will limit what can be seen of the interior. The busy decal sheet, though, provides full stencil data for the airframe and weapons, and six Olive Drab (FS 34031) US Army schemes are offered: • 07-7029, A-4-2, Attack Reconnaissance Bn (ARB) ‘Archangels’, 2ID, Camp Humphreys, South Korea, 2010 • 07-7031, C-4-2, ARB ‘Slayers’, 2ID, Camp Humphreys, South Korea, 2010 • 99-5118, C-1-3, ARB ‘Vipers’, 3ID, Iraq, 2003 • 99-5102, B-1-3, ARB ‘Vipers’, 3ID, Iraq, 2003 • 02-5289, A-1-227, ARB ‘Avengers’, 3ID, Iraq, 2003 • 01-5241, C-1-4, ARB ‘Sidewinders’, 4ID, Iraq, 2003 For further information visit www.pocketbond.co.uk
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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NEWS BULLETIN
LATEST UPDATES
GORGEOUS GHIBLI THE CHARACTERFUL AMX is a type that has received little attention from kit manufacturers, but thankfully Kinetic has now seen fit to produce its own mainstream 1/48 offering (K48026). There’s a real feast of engraved detail, with fine panel lines and rivets, a good cockpit with alternative instrument panels (and photoetched brass), and a very busy rendition of the main undercarriage bay. Slats and flaps can be posed up or down, and Kinetic has performed its usual act of supplying generic runners of weaponry from other kits; AIM-9L and GBU-12 armament is supplied, along with AIM-9X, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser and GBU-38 500lb JDAM, but the latter four are not cleared for AMX use (it is cleared for GBU-31/32). Fuel tanks and
an Orpheus recce pod are provided, but if one wishes to portray the Italian jet as used in Afghanistan, it would be more accurate to source an after-market RecceLite pod or convert a Litening pod. Alternative Italian/Brazilian gun fits also feature. The decals are superb, and offer three schemes (Italian and Brazilian, but some decals given are not for use on this
kit). The liveries are: • A-1A, 5506, 1°/16° Grupo de aviacao – Esq. Adelfi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2008 • AMX, MM7133/51-32, 51° Stormo-132° Gruppo Caccia Bombardleri Ricognitori, Treviso-Istrana, Italy, 2007 • AMX, MM7175/51-45, ISAF Task Group ‘Black Cats’ – 51° Stormo, Afghanistan, 2009 For further details visit: www.luckymodel.com
THUNDERBOLT EXTRAS (Q48 219), a resin airbrake set (Q 48 220) and a truly impressive thrust reverser unit (Q48 222) in the same medium. All exhibit splendid detail, and the cast features on the airbrakes are particularly noteworthy. All are available from: www.cmkkits.com
FANS OF Sweden’s mighty SAAB Viggen now have further refinement they can add to the 1/48 Tarangus/Special Hobby kits. CMK’s three useful new items offer a lovely resin/ photo-etched brass ejection seat
in the piPeline...} • Another ship has been added to Dragon’s 1/700 Premium Series, in the form of the USS Lake Erie (CG70), which will feature photo-etched metal radar and mast elements, a newly tooled 5in (12.7cm) gun barrel and a choice of waterline and full-hull models • Kinetic has continued to tease with the release of more CAD shots for its 1/48 family of single-seat F/A-18A/C/ A+M ‘legacy’ Hornets, due for release in 2016, with images of a CF-18/ CF-188 variant. • Italeri has previewed its forthcoming 1/32 Mirage III C kit, which will
include a full Snecma Atar 9B turbojet and associated ground support trolley, detailed cockpit and air-to-air weapons load. • Bandai is continuing to expand its range of Star Wars kits (recent releases have included the Y-wing and Snowspeeder), with 1/12 Sandtrooper (Tatooine) and Darth Vader figures due for release before the end of 2015. • Fans of British World War One aviation will eagerly await Wingnut Wings’ 1/32 Sopwith F.1 Camel, currently under development, and which features its typically
meticulous approach to detail and accuracy. • Russian armour continues to be a source of inspiration for Trumpeter, with the announcement of the 1/35 T-90MS Tagil ‘Early Version’ main battle tank, complete with modular weapons station, armoured side skirts and wedge-shaped turret armour. • Meng’s latest announcement is for a 1/35 Chinese PLZ05 155mm Selfpropelled Howitzer (TS-022), which will feature photo-etched metal parts, a turned-aluminium barrel and individual track links.
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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SHOW SCENE
DIARY DATES
SHOW SCENE
At-a-glance model and airshow calendar
Scale Model World 2015 Hosts:
IPMS (UK)
Address: Telford International Centre, Telford, Shropshire, TF3 4JH
7-8 NOV, 2015 TELFORD INTERNATIONAL CENTRE
NOV 22
AIRCRAFT ENTHUSIAST FAIR AND MODEL SHOW
Hosts:
Museum of Army Flying
Address: Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop, Hampshire SO20 8DY Times:
10am-4pm
Prices:
£7.50
Tel:
01264 334779
Email:
mark@roberts15863. fsnet.co.uk
Web:
www.armyflying.com
DEC 12-13
STOCKPORT MODEL SHOW 2015
Hosts:
Friends of the Model Show
Address: Poynton Leisure Centre, Yew Tree Lane, Poynton, Cheshire, SK12 1PU Times:
Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4.30pm
Prices:
Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4.30pm
JAN 3
CROYDON AIRPORT AVIATION & MODEL COLLECTORS’ FAIR
Hosts:
David Sutton, Alistair White
Address: Hallmark Hotel, Purley Way, Croydon Surrey CR9 4LT Times:
10:30am-3pm
Prices:
Adults £3.50, children under-12s free
N/A
Email:
scalemodelworld@ipmsuk. co.uk
Web:
www.smwshow.com
Hosts:
Brighton Modelworld Organising Group
Hosts:
IPMS Wakefield and District Branch
Address: The Brighton Centre, Kings Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2GR Times:
10am-5pm
Prices:
Adult £9.50, children £5.50, senior citizens £7.50, family (2+2) £26
Email:
[email protected]
Email:
Web:
N/A
info@brightonmodelworld. com
Web:
brightonmodelworld.com
JAN 17
BOLTON IPMS SCALE MODEL SHOW 2016
Hosts:
Bolton IPMS
FEB 20
FLEET AIR ARM FEBRUARY MODEL SHOW
Hosts:
Fleet Air Arm Museum
Adult £4, OAPs £3, under16s £2, family (2 adults and 2 children) £10
Tel:
HUDDERSFIELD SHOW
N/A
10am-4pm
Adults £10 each day, concessions £7 per day, children under 16 and IPMS Members free
FEB 21
Tel:
Prices:
Prices:
BRIGHTON MODELWORLD
07973 885754
Times:
Sat 10am-6pm Sun 10am-4pm
FEB 19-21
Tel:
Address: St Joseph’s RC High School, Chorley New Road, Horwich, Nr Bolton BL6 6HW
Times:
Address: Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, BA22 8HT Times:
10am-5.30pm
Prices:
Adult £14, concessions £12, accompanied under15s £10
Address: Huddersfield Leisure Centre, Spring Grove Street, Huddersfield, HD1 4BP Times:
10am-4pm
Prices:
Adults £4, concessions £2
Tel:
0113 2893152
Email:
huddersfieldshow@gmail. com
Web:
huddersfieldmodelshow. co.uk
FEB 27
ON TRACK MILITARY MODELLING SHOW
Hosts:
On Track Shows
Address: Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent, United Kingdom, CT20 2DZ Times:
10am-5pm
Prices:
Adults £5, accompanied under-16s free
Tel:
N/A
Email:
enquiries@themodelshow. co.uk
Tel:
N/A
Tel:
01935 840565
Tel:
N/A
Email:
[email protected]
Email:
N/A
Email:
[email protected]
Web:
www.themodelshow.co.uk
Web:
www.ipmsbolton.co.uk
Web:
www.fleetairarm.com
Web:
www.ontrackshow.co.uk
KEY
E MODEL DISPLAY
) MODEL COMPETITION m AIRCRAFT DISPLAY
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 ROLAND C.II LATE
Mikael Terfors tackles the iconic and aerodynamic Roland C.IIa, and finds that Wingnut Wings’ kit almost builds itself!
Toothy Grin The characteristic shape of the fuselage was obvious, even without any assembly. All parts seemed crisp and well detailed throughout. Many of the complex sub-assemblies came as one-piece mouldings, making construction easy, although the delicate framework needed a gentle approach.
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though it was ahead of its time, the fast development in the aero industry eventually caught up with the ‘Wahlfish’ (Whale Shark) and by mid- 1917 it was retired from frontline service and relegated to training squadrons. Even so, it has remained an icon of the Great War...much because of its
MODEL SPEC
O
n studying the Roland C-types one could easily understand the engineers’ thinking behind the aerodynamic design... the need for speed. Designed in 1915, every effort was made to make the aircraft as aerodynamic as possible to avoid drag, thus increasing speed. The engineers were successful with this mission as the prototype proved much faster than any of its contemporaries, and it was indeed faster than most single-seat types. This of course proved popular with the crews, who could get on with the business of artillery-spotting and reconnaissance, safe in the knowledge that they could outrun almost any enemy aircraft they encountered. However, there were also problems present; the wings’ position made landing difficult, resulting in many accidents, and the deep fuselage hindered airflow over the tail plane. Even
Roland C.IIa Late By:
Wingnut Wings
Stock Code: 32041 Scale:
1/32
Price:
US $99
Available from: Wingnut Wings, www.wingnutwings.com
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
ROLAND C.II LATE
Kit colour schemes Wingnut Wings supplied beautiful Cartograf decals for five interesting German liveries: • White 7, Kasta 2, Kagohl 1, late 1916-early 1917 • Black III, Vfw Hesse, Scusta 13, Early 1917 • 3645/16, Hans Joachim von Hippel, Beobachter Schule Cöln, early-mid 1917 • White 21, Otto Burgermeister, Kasta 21, Kagohl IV, Nov-Dec 1916 • ’Circles’, Kagohl II (?), late 1916early 1917
subject from the Great War. Thus it was fairly high on the wish list of many Wingnut Wings fans, and met with general approval when it was first announced. The kit was released in two versions, an ‘early’ and a ‘late’, with a hint that a ‘middle’boxing might be a future possibility. The subject of this article, the late version, came in a sturdy box, adorned with an evocative Steve Anderson painting of a shark-mouthed Roland. Inspection of the nine runners revealed the usual very high production standard, with very crisp details present. The decals, by Cartograf, were printed beautifully on a single large sheet, giving modellers the choice of five different schemes. Apart from decals and plastic runners, the box contained a small PE fret, a transparency frame and, of course, the booklet containing instructions and many useful hints, tips and images.
The engine came as a separate runner, which has been used throughout the DIIIengined kits from Wingnut Wings. The framework benefited from a very good fit, and mated well with the engine. Test fitting the cockpit floor with the main components revealed a snug match that bode well. Most components were painted before any cement was applied.
Drab interior
handsome and sleek design that was very much ahead of its time.
A kit with many fans The Wahlfish was never as famous as some of the Sopwiths and Fokkers, but due to its futuristic shape it has endured as a classic
Assembly started with the cockpit sub-assemblies, which came as large, easy-to-handle parts that demanded very little clean-up. For such a complex interior, there were surprisingly few parts to tackle. The flooring was cast as one piece with the main fuel tank integrated, and each of the formers already contained many smaller details. This of course meant that painting was more demanding. Each of the main parts was kept unassembled before the painting was done, taking care not to get too much paint on mating
The first paint shade, a medium grey, was sprayed on the inside of the fuselage; the laminated ‘wooden’ lattice really stood out once under a coat of paint.
„Wingnut provided data plates as water slide decals…
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Much of the interior of the Wahlfish was a fairly drab affair, with highlights in metal and wood. The ‘wooden’ floor was brush-painted with artist’s oils.
The ‘leather’ seats were also finished in artist’s oils over a base coat of Tamiya XF-55. Distressed tanks were achieved with masking fluid.
The insides of the fuselage halves were weathered with a light wash of Burnt Umber, which further enhanced the grooves between the ‘wooden’ laminations.
Control wires were rigged with flexible EZ-line. The dials and meters were provided as waterslide decals and added much life.
surfaces; the large side frames had to be separated with care from the runners, to avoid bending or damage. Most of the interior was covered in a fairly drab medium grey, represented by Tamiya XF-66 Blue Grey. However, some details still highlighted different textures in the cockpit area. The leather seats were finished in Winsor & Newton’s Burnt Sienna and Umber
and wireless set. The finished floor was then incorporated into the side frames, which in turn had received various control levers and meters. The ammunition box was then put in place together with the instrument panel, as well as the last formers and seatbelts. All interior parts received a light wash of Burnt Umber to help pick out the details, and make the
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via paintbrush. The fuel tanks were first airbrushed in Vallejo 71.066 Gold, which was masked in patches with a sponge before the patched masking was removed to reveal a distressed and worn tank. Once the parts had dried it was time to start construction. With the flooring as a base the seats and formers were added, together with smaller items such as the control column
cockpit appear more worn and grimy. After final touch-ups and additions, the well-detailed cockpit was ready for the next step...the instalment of the engine.
The old Daimler The Daimler-Mercedes DIII series engines were true workhorses of the German Air Force during World War One. This powerplant
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
ROLAND C.II LATE
„A very small amount of filler was needed overall… was used in aircraft such as the Albatros series and later the famous Fokker DVII. Accordingly, Wingnut provided the same engine runner for all of its DIII-engined kits, and optional parts made it possible to construct any of the DIII series. The Roland CII used the early 160hp configuration so the appropriate parts were clipped from the runner. The engine sump
was then constructed easily from four main parts, while the cylinder halves were joined together. These were then painted silver and black respectively and mated before the smaller pieces were painted and added one by one. Wingnut provided data plates as water slide decals, which helped bring the engine to life. As the powerplant was pretty much enclosed, it was
constructed straight from the box, but additional piping and ignition leads could further enhance the detail further if one really desires. With most parts assembled, the engine was weathered with artist’s oils to simulate dirt, oil and grime. Once dry, the DIII was put to rest on the engine bearers, which in turn were added to the interior frames.
Buttoning-up With the interior package finished and tucked in place, it was time to join the fuselage halves. Perhaps thanks to dryfitting several times during the previous construction stages, the joining went very smoothly and without any surprises. While the liquid cement was drying, small strips of tape and a clamp
Once the cement had cured the fin and stabilisers were fitted together with the radiators. The configuration of the engine louvres varied depending on production batch, and Wingnut provided several options. With the completed engine in place, it was time to install the interior. Thanks to previous dry-fitting, it all slid into place perfectly.
After masking the engine and cockpit, Tamiya AS-5 Light Blue was sprayed from a can. The model then received black pre-shading.
Test-fitting the upper wings revealed the need for a small plastic shim at the wing roots. The side windows were added at this stage.
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD ROLAND C.II LATE
held everything in place. The next phase in construction was adding the lower wings, and the tail, which posed no problems. As the wing struts were rather large and would be painted together with the rest of the fuselage, the decision was taken to add these as well at this stage. A very small amount of filler was needed overall, and it was noted that the pronounced ‘ridge’ along the top fuselage was a feature
of the original aircraft, and was therefore left in place.
Three-tone camouflage German colour practices evolved through several distinct phases over the course of the Great War. By the time the Roland CIIa entered service, most were finished in a three-tone scheme consisting of light and dark green, together with chestnut brown. The undersides were mostly painted in
a light blue hue, not dissimilar to the later RLM 65. After masking and a little neatening, the entire airframe was primed with Tamiya AS-5 from a spray-can. This light blue was a good match for the underside camouflage colour, and served well as a base for black pre-shading. The undersides were then sprayed sparingly with Tamiya XF-22, making sure the pre-shading showed through. When the paint had dried, the undersides were
masked with tape and Blu-Tack to create a soft demarcation between the upper and lower shades. The first colour for the upper side was pale green, represented by Tamiya XF-71 Cockpit Green (IJN) mixed with a generous measure of Tamiya X-22 Clear. All camouflage colours were in fact mixed with Clear to ensure a smooth surface for the decals. Light green was followed by dark green, the latter represented by XF-61. By studying
The undersides were masked with tape and Blu-Tack, the latter used to give a softer edge between upper and lower camouflage.
The first colour of the camouflage was light green, represented by Tamiya XF-76 Grey Green (IJN). This was applied in darker and lighter hues to create tonal variety.
XF-61 Dark Green was next colour. Airbrushing was done without masking, with a 0.2mm needle and low pressure to create soft demarcations.
Finally, XF-68 NATO Brown was sprayed carefully next to the previous shades. A small amount of overspray occurred and touch-ups were still necessary.
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
ROLAND C.II LATE
The shark mouth proved irresistible and really accentuated the Roland’s fish-like shape. Note the position of the compass on the wing.
After the decals had dried the entire model was coated in Alclad II Aqua Gloss. Initial weathering demanded a wash of artist’s oils in brown and black.
photos of the Roland, it was clear that the paint had somewhat soft edges between the different areas. To achieve this, the upper colours were airbrushed freehand with a 0.2mm needle and at low pressure, without masking the previous colours. With care this worked well, and just very minor touch-ups were required in the end. The last colour before finishing was XF-64, for the chestnut brown.
The upper wings were weathered separately from the fuselage for easier access. To create the illusion of ‘speed’ the wash was brushed chord-wise over the wing.
A winning grin With this kit, there was one profile that stood out from the others – at least to this author. This was of course the very handsome ‘White 7’ with its grinning shark mouth and colourful red (or possibly black) bands around the belly. So, once the paint had dried thoroughly, two coats of Alclad II Aqua Gloss were applied by airbrush. This medium was easy to handle and created an even glossy surface. To facilitate further for the markings, the model was sanded very lightly with fine Micro-Mesh to make the surface even smoother. The decals were then cut from
the sheet and dipped in lukewarm water before being slid into place. A small amount of Micro Set and Sol were used in this process; this proved especially useful when getting the shark mouth to settle over the nose’s compound curves. Crosses, bands and numbers all settled down perfectly over the prepared surfaces, transforming the look of the model. When the decals had settled they were oversprayed with another coat of Aqua Gloss. Rolands of Kasta 2 often had their side windows adorned with painted curtains, and the subject of this build was no different. But this was the only part of the build that proved slightly difficult. The decals for the curtains, for some reason, were printed without their white background, leaving the modeller to mask and paint the white on the windows. This was not as easy as it may sound, as matching the shape of the decals with a small freehand-cut mask was quite fiddly. The end result was not perfect, but looked reasonable after subtle weathering. After the final gloss
Upper wing in place with the few rigging strands prior to mounting. Thanks to the position of the wings and the large struts, mounting the wings was very easy.
„Flexible EZ Line sufficed for control lines…
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD ROLAND C.II LATE
„It almost built itself in many respects…
coat had dried, the model was weathered with washes of Burnt Umber mixed with white spirit. The weathering was followed by two coats of Alclad II Klear Kote Flat.
Final construction Rigging and mounting the top wing is usually the most demanding and difficult part of any biplane build. But with the Wahlfish this was certainly not the case. Thanks to the wing configuration and large aerodynamic wing
struts, the wings were simply slotted into place. Rigging was also comparatively light with fairly few lines needed. Wingnut had, very thoughtfully, provided pre-drilled holes. Nevertheless, these were deepened with a 0.4mm drill bit held in a pin vice, making for stronger anchor points. Certain receiving holes then had turnbuckles (tiny brass loops) from Bobs’ Buckles added. All this pre-rigging work was actually done before painting and
mounting the upper wings. It also proved wise to place the rigging lines into their starting holes on the top wings, before they were mounted. For the main rigging, 0.14mm monofilament fishing line was used, as it added a great deal of strength to the structure. Flexible EZ Line sufficed for control lines as they were easy to tension in place over the control horns. Once the top wings had set in their positions, final rigging was carried out by tensioning the lines
to their respective location holes, with 0.5mm brass sleeves and Superglue. The rudder and ailerons were added only after most of the rigging was done, to avoid knocking them off in the process. As the rigging was finished, it was time for the final parts to be added. Armament consisted of two machine guns and, optionally, small bombs could be mounted on a frame under the belly. The bombs were not used and the ‘high’ detailing level was chosen for
Tensioning the rigging lines was carried out one by one using buckles and brass tubes. After this, they were painted with Tamiya XF-69 NATO Black. The curtain decals in place over the white-painted background; it proved hard to achieve a perfect fit but after weathering it all looked more convincing. The armament was assembled ready for painting. Wingnut gives the modeller the option to use either ‘high detail’ with PE barrels, or ‘low’ with plastic barrels.
The ‘curtains’ on the side windows proved the trickiest part of the build. The white had to be masked and sprayed before applying the decals.
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ROLAND C.II LATE
Final details in stages of painting and weathering...the propeller laminations were achieved via oils and coloured pencils.
the guns. The difference between high and low was the photo-etched brass barrels and greater degree of refinement for the magazine drum. Meanwhile, the laminated propeller was painted with watercolour pencils to represent wood grain, over a base coat of Tamiya XF-55. The entire propeller was then brush-painted with a thin layer of Burnt Sienna; the complex exhaust was also finished with artist’s oils. To add a more worn look, MIG rust pigments were added as a closing touch. With the final details painted and finished, all that was left to do was mount them on the model.
A great starting point
The exhaust was finished in oil colours and rust pigments prior to fixing it in place; the cage over the gun was intended to protect the pilot if the aircraft rolled over on landing.
The observer's Parabellum Machine Gun mounted on its ring. The magazine drum was very detailed, but like the gun barrels, could be built with either ‘high or ‘low’ detail.
Thanks to the precise engineering, this was a kit that required very little effort to build. Many complex sub-assemblies were in fact provided as one-piece components, letting the modeller get on with the things that make modelling fun. The only slight problem this modeller encountered was trying to match the transparent curtain decals with their whitepainted bases. With a minimum of rigging and a very simple strut arrangement, this kit is arguably a great starting point for anyone making their debut in Great War aircraft modelling. It almost built itself in many respects. In the end it proved almost impossible not to choose shark-mouthed Wahlfish ‘White 7’ – and at a guess this would be the case with most modellers. As a bonus, the finished item was comparatively small for a two-seater – saving space on the display shelf. ❚
Materials at a glance Tamiya www.tamiya.com AS-5 Light Blue X-1 Black X-2 White X-9 Brown X-19 Smoke X-22 Clear XF-1 Black XF-2 White XF-10 Flat Brown XF-18 Medium Blue XF-20 Medium Grey XF-52 Flat Earth XF-55 Deck Tan XF-61 Dark Green XF-66 Light Grey XF-68 NATO Brown XF-69 NATO Black XF-71 Cockpit Green (IJN) XF-76 Grey Green (IJN) Vallejo Model Air www.creativemodels.co.uk 71.062 Aluminium 71.066 Gold 71.072 Gungrey Winsor & Newton www.winsornewton.com 076 Burnt Umber 074 Burnt Sienna 331 Ivory Black 554 Raw Umber 678 Venetian Red Alclad II www.alclad2.com Alclad Aqua Gloss Alclad Klear Kote Flat MIG Productions www.migproductions.com P025 Standard Rust 0.14mm monofilament fishing line and EZ Line for rigging Brass sleeves and turnbuckles from Bobs’ Buckles (www.bobsbuckles.co.uk)
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OUT AND ABOUT
ESSEX MODEL SHOW 2015
Alan Marks on the Automodels table made this Tamiya 1/35th Challenger tank mostly straight out of the box...the simple but effective base complemented the model perfectly.
Colin McAuliffe’s Hammerstein Figure from the 2000AD comic possessed much extra detail, and custom lighting made all the difference.
An inventive Deep Space Nine spacecraft in Eddie Stobart colours, by Rick Fornalski, was a feature of the North Essex Modellers Club exhibit. The custom lighting rig was also designed and installed by Rick.
Mid-Season Special N ow in its fourth year, the Essex Model show is organised by four local groups; Chelmsford Model Club, IPMS Hornchurch, IPMS South-East Essex and the Essex branch of MAFVA. This combined approach provides an interesting and, in my case, local summer show. As most of the clubs present are from East Anglian there is a friendly and familiar atmosphere, which seems to attract not just modellers but
also a fair number of the general public, who seem to enjoy the high standard of work on display. There was certainly an eclectic mix of subjects at Hannakins Farm Community Centre in Billericay, from ship models to science-fiction, and it seemed as though every niche of the hobby was represented. So many models were worthy of mention but particular builds did stand out. Colin McAuliffe’s excellent
The stunning 1/32 Trumpeter MiG-3 on IPMS Ipswich’s table was built by Aaron Scott. Uschi wood decals and AK Interactive Wax Metal paints helped to achieve a quality finish.
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Hammerstein figure, based on the character from comic 2000AD (complete with illuminated LED eyes and purposeful pose) was very eye-catching, as was Rick Fornalski’s Eddie Stobart-liveried Deep Space 9 Runabout. With a good mix of vendors and clubs, Essex Model show is set to establish itself as a great mid-season outing, and is a worthy addition to the show calendar. ❚ Dave Oliver
John Sladden, from East Kent Scale Modellers, created this 1/43 Fordson SuperMajor Tractor from an old mixedmedia kit of unknown origin. The excellent base was scratch-built.
The author was flattered that his 1/35 Israeli Tiran 5 Diorama, as featured in AMW’s June 2015 issue, won Best in Show in the open competition.
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YOUR AIRFIX
WALLACE AND GROMIT
West Country modeller Glen Eames builds a ‘cracking’ diorama, with his Aardman Animation heroes as its centrepiece
Wallace and Gromit
W
hat do you do when you get a part-started kit from the charity shop, only to find it’s incomplete? This is what happened to me with the Wallace and Gromit ‘Anti-Pesto’ Van set. The only items that were present in entirety were the figures. Having already made the bike and sidecar, and the plane, I
was a little bit disappointed, but at my local Avon IPMS club night I began chatting to other members and it wasn’t long before someone said they had spare figures from a Shaun the Sheep set, and if I was interested I could have them. The figures went together quite tidily, with minimal filler required. For display purposes the only thing I could think off was to
put all the figures together into a diorama, which I called the Oscar Acceptance Speech. It entailed Wallace and Gromit accepting the award, being filmed with the Shaun the Sheep characters in the background in a sort of protest. I scratch-built the packing crate from coffee stirrers, and made the fence from timber strips from my local model shop, and all the signage.
This has done its rounds on the Airfix SIG tables at shows, but last year I attached the Airfix signs to celebrate the company’s 75th anniversary; it made an appearance at Telford 2014, and followed by a win at the Avon Show for having the most fun with modelling, awarded by the retailer Antics. Glen Eames, Bath Somerset
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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INTERMEDIATE BUILD STEARMAN PT-17
WINGS OF GoLD Mike Grant hears wind in the wires as he builds and rigs Revell’s recent 1/48 Stearman trainer
Revell’s toolmaker incorporated superb detail, although everything seen here was beyond view once installed inside the fuselage.
The engine was well rendered, with none of the mould seams that commonly affect such complex parts.
Strips of fine masking tape were painted green, cut into lengths and applied to the fuselage sidewalls to replicate longerons.
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everal years ago this author found himself suspended upside down over a Canadian mountain lake, as the Boeing Stearman in which he was the passenger did an inverted roll...with no advance warning from the pilot! It was the highlight of a tooshort pleasure flight on a glorious Autumn day, which instilled a real appreciation for this sturdy, reliable biplane. Considering the huge number of actual Boeing-Stearman Model 75s built, the aircraft hasn’t been particularly well served by kit manufacturers, perhaps because trainers are perceived to be less glamorous than their fighting counterparts. A 1960s 1/72 kit from Revell and an equally outdated 1/48 example from Lindberg represented the Stearman for almost 40 years, until Pavla released a short-run
S
1/72 offering. This latest release from Revell, however, is worlds apart from these other products, and finally provides modellers with a great opportunity to build an accurate replica of this ubiquitous biplane. The kit was moulded in white, traditionally a difficult colour to work with. It’s a logical choice considering the bright yellow and blue decal options provided, but it made seams and imperfections difficult to see, especially as the plastic was quite glossy. However, a close examination of the parts suggested that this had been a labour of love for the toolmaker. The surface detail was superb, with virtually every panel, fastener and hinge replicated subtly. Those used to the sharp, deep engraving of Trumpeter or Tamiya kits might find the detail almost too light, but once highlighted at the paint stage
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD STEARMAN PT-17
What’s in store?
MODEL SPEC
everything popped right out. The two windscreens were impressively thin and clear, the fabric surfaces looked realistic and there was enough overall detail straight from the box to satisfy most builders (although as with any kit, there’s always room for improvement). Stearman PT-17 By:
Revell
Stock Code: 5264 Scale:
1/48
Price:
US $16.99
Available from: Revell, www.revell.com
With two open cockpits, interior detail certainly becomes a focal point and fortunately Revell supplied plenty to satisfy most modellers. All of the tubular internal framing was represented, and although it was perhaps a little heavy for the scale it was a reasonable compromise between moulding tolerance and accuracy. Once the mould seams had been sanded and the distinctive rudder pedals attached, it was sprayed the appropriate colour. In most cases this would have been Interior Green, but a little Olive Drab was mixed in to give a more scale appearance, as the colour can sometimes look a little too vivid straight from the bottle. Very little of the framing was actually visible behind the rear seat once the fuselage was sealed. The inside surfaces of the fuselage were sprayed a linen colour, although the writer has subsequently learnt that they would have been silver dope, since this was how all Stearmans were delivered from the factory. To add more visual interest, the longerons were added via strips of 1mm Aiku Micron Masking Tape, painted Bronze Green. These were only applied in the areas visible through the cockpit opening. Areas that would
"THERE WAS ENOUGH OVERALL DETAIL STRAIGHT FROM THE BOX TO SATISFY MOST BUILDERS"
Longerons were only applied to areas visible through the cockpit openings.
The kit seats captured the shape of the real units quite well, and were dressed with wine bottle foil harnesses and photo-etched metal buckles.
Also well reproduced was the Stearman’s open floor.
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD STEARMAN PT-17
"WITH TWO OPEN COCKPITS, INTERIOR DETAIL CERTAINLY BECOMES A FOCAL POINT"
have been metal – the forward sections of the fuselage, inside of the cockpit decking, centre section of the metal wing and the inner surface of Part 9 – were sprayed Interior Green. Revell’s seats were well moulded and incorporated lap belts, but the geometric inverted ‘V’-shaped embossing on the seat backs suggested these may have been an integral part of the seat structure, rather than belts. As a result, new harnesses were made from strips of wine bottle foil, while suitable photoetched (PE) metal buckles were lifted from an Eduard pre-painted set and glued in place. Also
faithfully replicated was the open cockpit floor with foot boards, control column, a small rear switch console and even a fire extinguisher. Once everything was painted and weathered, the entire cockpit assembly was installed snugly between the fuselage halves. The fit of all parts up to this point was exemplary, and the tailplanes also virtually snapped into place, although contrary to the instructions, the vertical fin and rudder were left off at this point to simplify painting later. It should be noted that the cabane struts were moulded integrally with the fuselage
The various interior components, seen painted and ready to install, including the fire extinguisher that attached to the port sidewall.
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DETAILING THE PANEL With the instrument panels being so visible, it was decided to make them more dimensional than the kit supplied parts. Some detail was moulded onto the centre sections but it was fairly shallow, and the gauge decals in the kits were defined poorly.
The shapes of the centre panels were traced onto styrene and a punch-and-die set create new apertures for the gauges.
Using PVA white glue, the new panels were attached temporarily to the kit parts, and then sprayed dark grey.
When the new sections were removed, small circles of paint were left...perfect location guides for the replacement gauge decals (Mike Grant Decals).
The new centre panels were re-attached and a drop of Johnson’s Pledge was placed in each aperture to represent glass.
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD STEARMAN PT-17
The fit of the complete internal assembly inside the fuselage was perfect, and looked convincingly busy when viewed through the open cockpits.
halves–an elegant solution which ensured perfect alignment of the upper wing; however, care had to be taken not to bend or snap them as they were quite fragile. Similarly the tailwheel was not a separate item. Well, not until the author managed to snap it off and it had to be re-attached at the end of the project! Several parts were supplied that fixed to the forward bulkhead, including the main engine mount, but why Revell included these is a mystery, as they were completely invisible once sealed inside the fuselage (although some additional work might be required, the nose panels could feasibly be cut and displayed in an open position, as the hidden parts were very well detailed). After double-checking and a few dry-fits, it was determined that the following parts could simply be left off the model entirely: 35, 36, 68, 69, 73 and 74. The fit of the lower wing underside to the fuselage was very tight...so much so that careful trimming and sanding
At this stage the Stearman looked more like an autogiro than an aircraft without its wings; note the cabane struts and undercarriage legs were moulded integrally with the fuselage.
was needed to prevent an unrealistic anhedral. Once addressed, the lower wing uppers were attached, resulting in an almost perfect fit that required no filler at the wing roots. There were no issues with the upper wing, which was a simple twopart assembly that incorporated excellent detail on the central fuel tank. The wing-tip lights looked odd though when compared with references, so the protruding horn behind the main teardrop cover was removed.
In an apparent throwback to the 1960s, Revell moulded its copyright information on the underside of the tailplane. A sanding stick resolved this minor problem.
Because the upper wing was moulded in two parts, the seam needed eliminating... even inside these openings which were clearly visible on the finished model.
Painting and decaling In keeping with most biplane models, the Stearman had to be painted and decaled entirely before the upper wing could be attached, and the model rigged. Although the two colourful kit decal options were tempting, online photos of a beautifully restored Stearman caught the author’s eye. The scheme was the US Navy Light Grey with Orange Yellow upper wing and tail, and a deep blue-green fuselage band. Virtually all
A T-shaped section of sprue was glued inside the open fuselage at the front, to which a crocodile clip could be attached as a handle while the Stearman was being painted.
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD STEARMAN PT-17
ENGINE TUNING More evidence of the kit designer’s passion for the type could be observed on the various powerplant components. The fins on the cylinders were reproduced finely, with no evidence of a circumferential seam. Nevertheless, with the engine being such a prominent feature of the Stearman, a few simple steps were taken to improve its appearance.
The undercarriage legs were sprayed in Alclad Polished Aluminium, while extra refinement was ensured via brake cables replicated by fine solder.
The small stubs of plastic that represented spark plugs were sliced off, holes were drilled in their locations and short sections of hypodermic tubing inserted.
After painting the cylinders and rocker covers black, and the crankcase medium grey, lengths of soft wire were inserted into the ‘spark plugs’ and brush-painted dark grey.
Part 27 replicated the push rods, which were felt to be a little over-scale. Stainless steel hypodermic tubing was used to replace these.
Having applied the small data plate decals to the crankcase and following an oil wash, Vallejo 836 London Grey was used to dry-brush the cylinder fin detail.
The exhausts and collector ring were initially sprayed dull aluminium, followed by a light airbrushing of red-brown.
Finally the propeller was added, having first drilled out the centre boss and making four smaller holes in its circumference.
Not a new range of modelling paints from Crayola, but an empty bottle from the writer’s grandson, which held the decanted Tamiya spray paint!
Clingfilm served as a quick way of masking large areas, in this case while the yellow areas were being prepared for spraying.
markings could be sourced from the kit decal sheet and Caracal Models’ sheet 48063, which even provided the split black/white zero. A black and a white 18in ‘2’ were found on Aeromaster’s ‘U.S. 45 Degree ID Numbers and Letters’ sets AN48802 and AN48803. The first painting step was to prime the model with Tamiya Fine White Surface Primer, followed by the application of Tamiya TS-34 Camel Yellow. This wasn’t an exact match
to the actual colour, being a touch too orange. The paint was decanted from the aerosol can and airbrushed and, as with all Tamiya spray paints, went on beautifully and dried overnight to a hard gloss. Having masked the tailplane, the light grey areas were airbushed Xtracrylix XA1140 Light Grey. When thinned correctly these paints also spray superbly and dry to a semigloss sheen, but primer is a prerequisite as they’re prone to peeling and scuffing otherwise.
"A PIN WASH OF BLACK AND BURNT UMBER OILS WAS APPLIED TO THE PANEL LINES"
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD STEARMAN PT-17
With the two main colours applied it was left to mask and spray the fuselage band (a visual mix of Tamiya XF-17 Sea Blue and X-5 Green) and the black
wing walkway areas. The latter were supplied as decals on both the kit and Caracal decal sheets, but painting them enabled tonal variation, suggesting wear and
tear. However, the edge-strip of rivets was cut from the decals and applied. Decaling began with the large upper wing cockades. Caracal’s
sheet provided the red centres as separate elements, but as Revell’s markings had them printed in situ (and in perfect register) these were used instead. They settled down well with a light brushing of Micro Set, but there was a little show-through of the underlying yellow in the white areas. The large rudder decals wrinkled alarmingly at first but eventually flattened out after poking with a blade and brushing with Micro Sol. The Caracal numerals and lettering behaved superbly, as one would expect from Microscale-printed decals. Prior to the final overall airbrushed coat of satin varnish, a pin-wash of heavily thinned Black and Burnt Umber oils was applied to the panel lines, and
Xtracrylix paint was used for the main light grey airframe colour.
Once the main assemblies were painted they were given a coat of Tamiya X-22 Clear, to provide a suitable surface for decals and an oil wash.
Highlighting the excellent fuel tank detail on the centre of the upper wing added visual interest to the otherwise large expanse of yellow.
Both the kit decal sheet and aftermarket set from Caracal Models (left) were printed superbly. Note the slightly different interpretations of Insignia Red.
Vallejo's acrylic 908 Carmine Red paint was a good match to the kit decal sheet's red ink when touching-up the rudder's trailing edge.
A circle of aluminium foil representing the rear-view mirror was applied to the underside of the wing. The clear section of sprue simulated the fuel indicator. Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD STEARMAN PT-17
GETTING WIRED! Revell’s instructions included rigging directions, but a close study of reference photographs helped clarify the diagrams. Stainless steel wire (.005in diameter) was chosen for the rigging, as it would remain rigid at the fairly short lengths required, and wouldn’t kink easily. The rigging procedure began early on, when holes for the wires were pre-drilled, having had their positions marked exactly with a ruler and pencil. Note that Stearman wires didn’t attach exactly at the struts, but several (scale) inches away.
Drilling-out the moulded filler cap detail and replacing it with a tiny disc of styrene was one of many small enhancements. Fuel pipes running from the wing tank and down the cabane struts were fashioned from copper wire. The intake behind the engine was hollowed out.
Actual lengths were quoted in the instructions for each section of rigging, but as these were based on strut-to-strut attachment points they were not quite correct for this subject. Xuron cutters were used to cut the wire lengths cleanly.
With tweezers, each length was inserted into the location holes. Because these were drilled right through to the hollow centre-section, there was quite a bit of leeway when positioning them.
Dividers were used to determine the distance between each drilled hole. The wire was then cut to that length, adding a couple of millimetres to allow for error. It was better to cut too long (which could be trimmed) than too short.
Once the section of rigging was in place, cyanoacrylate glue was applied to a short length of wire held between tweezers, and carefully transferred to each location point.
"STAINLESS STEEL WIRE WAS CHOSEN FOR THE RIGGING"
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raised details such as fasteners, bolts on the struts and various hinged panels. This simple step really brought the model to life and helped define the many small airframe details.
Tasty twin-tub It may have been a long time coming, but finally modellers have a Stearman kit that does justice to the real aircraft, in which countless pilots earned
their wings. Revell’s kit is engineered superbly, and a delight to build. With more than 8,000 Stearmans manufactured, there’s no shortage of markings options...and perhaps an enterprising after-market company will release a cowling and wheel spats conversion for a Super Stearman variant. Regardless, this kit is destined to become a classic, just like its full❚ sized counterpart.
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IN FOCUS
BOEING/STEARMAN N2S
TRAINING LEGEND Dana Bell delves into the history and colours of one of the world’s most famous instructional aircraft... the ‘Stearman’ n the 1930s the world’s air forces experienced dramatic advances in aviation technology countered by the crippling austerity of the Great Depression; manufacturers’ designs promised remarkable performance, but governments had limited funds for experimentation, testing and development. In America, Congress and the US Army Air Corps created the Cooperative Aircraft Policy (CAP), which ‘allowed’ companies to design and produce prototypes completely at their own expense for military evaluation. Prototypes that completed the Air Corps’ test programme favourably could be purchased outright and – for
I
the fortunate few – placed into production with any available funds. But prototypes that failed to impress were returned with no cost to the government...and no benefit to the manufacturer.
Trainer requirement When, in 1933, the Air Corps needed a new primary training aircraft, Stearman submitted a prototype of its new Model 70, which was designated XPT943 under the CAP. Although the Model 70 won the Army’s competition, no order was placed at that time, and the prototype moved to the US Navy for evaluation. The Model 70 won this competition too, but
this time (in 1934) the Navy was able to place a contract for 61 production aircraft. These were designated NS-1 (‘N’ for trainer, ‘S’ for Stearman, and ‘1’ for the first sub-variant. Designated Model 73s by Stearman, they used the Navy’s seven-cylinder Wright R-780-8 Whirlwind engine instead of the Model 70’s nine-cylinder Lycoming R-680. In 1934, Stearman introduced minor structural and instrumentation improvements, submitting the aircraft for Army evaluation as the Model 75. Although impressed, the Army delayed ordering until 1936, when 26 PT-13s were delivered with Lycoming R-680 engines. The Army would eventually order thousands more Model 75s, all nearly identical aft of the firewall, with designations determined by the engine types. Thus all Lycoming-equipped aircraft were variants of the PT-13; all Army Continental R-670-equipped
aircraft were PT-17s (with 300 similar PT-27s ordered for Canada under Lend-Lease), and the 150 Jacobs R-755-equipped machines were designated PT-18s. Although the Navy had placed the first order for Stearman biplanes in 1934, it would be six years before the Bureau of Aeronautics could place a second order. The Model 75’s structural changes were enough to warrant a new Navy designation: N2S, for Stearman’s second trainer design. Unlike the Army, the Navy used the same basic designation for all Model 75s, distinguishing subvariants with a suffix digit. Aircraft powered by the Continental R-670 became the N2S-1, N2S-3, and N2S-4 (each with minor engine changes). Aircraft with Lycoming R-680s were N2S-2s or N2S-5s. For modelling purposes, Army and Navy Model 75s were nearly identical, distinguished just by colour scheme. Revell’s newest kit can be built as any R-670-powered
N2S-3s on the line at Naval Air Station New Orleans, Louisiana, in early 1944. While early aircraft were delivered in overall Orange Yellow, later examples arrived in overall aluminium; inconsistently applied Orange Yellow sections were applied by local painters.
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IN FOCUS
BOEING/STEARMAN N2S variant. But in production, a frustrating diversity of military standards for instruments, fittings and other details slowed deliveries. Army-Navy committees haggled through their differences, eventually reaching the point that the Army’s PT-13D was identical to the Navy’s N2S-5. Built on a single production line, the 1,768 examples completed received their final designations only when delivered to Army or Navy representatives. With the war’s end, 8,429 Model 75s had been delivered to various customers – not a bad return on Boeing’s original investment! Stable and relatively inexpensive to operate, the Model 75 remains popular on the air show and flying circus circuit, with many an armchair aviator having enjoyed, or are still looking forward to, a first ride in a Stearman.
Colours and markings The pre-war US Army and Navy were famous for their abilities to disagree on simple standards, including colurs. At first glance, the 1934 Army-Navy Aeronautical (ANA) agreements meant that both services would adopt the same colours, even if they were applied in different patterns. Since the Navy had the strictest and best-defined standards,
This 1942 image used a Naval Aircraft Factory N3N to show how field numbers were to be applied beneath training aircraft.
most of the ANA colours simply accepted the Navy’s standards; as there were no Navy equivalents for Maroon (used for propeller anti-glare) or Olive Drab, Army paints were accepted for those standards. On paper, the two services cooperated splendidly, but in practice there was no commonality – the Navy had no need of the Army’s ANA shades, and, before 1940, the Army
refused to mention ANA hues in its specifications or contracts. Even national insignia tones/sizes and aluminium dopes differed! The Army’s primary trainer scheme called for a Light Blue fuselage with Yellow wings and tail planes; the Navy’s demanded overall Orange Yellow. (Despite the differences in names, the Army’s Yellow was more orange than the Navy’s Orange Yellow. Although
both are often referred to as ‘Chrome Yellow’, neither included any Chrome Yellow pigment. In the last year before entering the war, the Army finally began to specify the use of ANA colours, but this eventually led to a new problem – by early 1942 the Army found that yellow dopes were causing fabric wings to fail prematurely. With little time to explore alternative yellow dopes, the Army simply
N2S cockpits were simple enough...instructors generally sat in the front and students in the back, with solo flights flown from the rear.
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IN FOCUS
BOEING/STEARMAN N2S Navy prop tips initially wore stripes of red, yellow, and blue, with the blue often extended to the hub on the aft face as an anti-glare measure. The Army eventually adopted yellow tips as a safety precaution, and the Navy accepted this simplified solution. However, in 1944 the Navy discovered that yellow prop tips blended easily when viewed against yellow aircraft. The yellow tips were soon modified by the addition of a red stripe, repainted as red tips, or repainted as alternating white-redwhite stripes. A number of props in these colours were also used on Army aircraft. Similar views show the differences between the Lycoming R-680 on an N2S-2 (left) and Continental R-670 on an N2S-3. The aircraft were structurally identical aft of the firewalls.
switched to an overall aluminium scheme, with aluminised dope on fabric and aluminised lacquer on metal. The Army was the main customer for Stearman biplanes, and to avoid production delays the Navy agreed to accept the aluminium scheme. Once in service, however, the Navy applied Orange Yellow panels to increase visibility. Cockpit interiors were fairly simple. The Model 75’s weldedtube framework was originally finished with Yellow Green mixed from aluminium paste, black enamel, and zinc chromate primer – though the Army and Navy formulas varied slightly. In 1943, a new, darker ANA standard for Interior Green was introduced by both services, with a standardised formula of Zinc Chromate primer and black. The fabric fuselage covering was not painted inside; the initial coats of clear dope sealed through the fabric, preventing the exterior finish from leeching through. Propeller tip warning colours also went through several changes.
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WHAT'S IN A NAME? Lloyd Stearman formed the Stearman Aircraft Co in 1927. Located briefly in Venice, California, the company moved to Wichita, Kansas, before the year ended. Stearman Aircraft was a United Aircraft and Transport Corp subsidiary from 1929 to1934, then a sub-sector of the Boeing Airplane Co (parent company of Seattle’s Boeing Aircraft Co). Boeing renamed the Wichita plant the Stearman Aircraft Division in 1938, then simply the Wichita Division in 1941. Although the vast majority of PT-13s, PT-17s, and N2Ss were built by Boeing’s Wichita Division, the aircraft are still commonly recognized as ‘Stearman’ biplanes.
National identity Before the war, the Army and Navy applied national insignia above both upper wings and below both lower wings. While the pre-war introduction of camouflage deleted the insignia from above the right wing and below the left wing, this did not apply to un-camouflaged trainers. Camouflaged aircraft also had national insignia added to their aft fuselages, another rule not applied to trainers. In fact, both services resisted efforts to place insignia on the fuselages, reserving the space for the largest possible field identification numbers (field numbers allowed ground observers to record the progress of student pilots). In 1943, the Army and Navy agreed that all military aircraft would carry fuselage insignia, though some time would pass before the orders were obeyed universally. One detail often overlooked by modellers and aircraft restorers came about in 1942, when the Navy ordered that field numbers be repeated beneath the wings
On March 14, 1945 a sudden storm damaged dozens of aircraft at Grand Prairie Field, NAS Dallas, Texas. N2S-4 BuNo 27978, seen here, was among the damaged. Note the overall Orange Yellow factory colours, Light Green fuselage and wing stripes (marking this as an instrument trainer) and the red and yellow prop tip markings.
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IN FOCUS
BOEING/STEARMAN N2S and fuselage in large, black digits to be read from the front. With lower wings often needing replacement following student pilot accidents, ground crews complained that too much time was wasted repainting wing digits. The Navy’s response was to order the digits repeated beneath the fuselage only. The orders were not specific, however, and different painters applied the digits in a variety of styles; some were stacked, read from the front or rear, and others were linear, read from the left or right side. While staff at many Army and Navy airfields applied identifying prefixes to their field numbers, this was rarely seen on Stearman trainers. Their short range, lack of navigational instruments and local flying missions kept them within just a few miles of their bases, and a simple two- or three-digit number was generally adequate for identification purposes. Shortly before the war, the Navy
After warning student pilots of an approaching storm, N2S-3 BuNo 38075 was brought down by that storm. The black and white recall plane suffered relatively minor damage and the pilot was uninjured; NAS Bunker Hill, Indiana, July 31, 1945.
began painting 3ft-wide (91.4cm) red stripes around the wings and fuselages of aircraft used for instrument training. The bright markings helped to warn other pilots that the pilot might be flying ‘under the hood’ and unable to
avoid possible collisions. By 1942, pilots had become desensitised to any red markings, and the Navy ordered the recognition stripes to be repainted in Light Green (also known as Willow Green). To save weight and costs,
Weak brakes and a young aviation cadet facilitated the meeting of two N2S-3s at NAS Bunker Hill, Indiana, on June 14, 1945. The cadet, in Orange Yellow aircraft 364 (BuNo 07701) turned and hit black and white recall plane 98 (BuNo 4351), but avoided causing major damage to either. Neither aircraft appears to carry national insignia.
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nearly all Model 75s were flown without radios; for internal communication, a Gosport speaking tube passed the instructor’s voice directly to the student’s ears. Since students were not thought to have anything worthy to say, they were not provided a reciprocal communications system! Rapidly changing weather conditions at many Navy training bases led to the introduction of recall planes – boldly marked aircraft whose very appearance was to be regarded as an order to return to base and land safely. Although no centralised order has ever been found, most training facilities used black and white stripes. As the photos in this feature show, the operational N2S wore schemes every bit as interesting as those found on today’s warbirds. ❚
22/10/2015 10:07
OUT AND ABOUT
E-DAY 2015, CZECH REPUBLIC
Exhilarating E-day Various figures, buildings and vehicles combined to create this wonderful 1/35 scale diorama of a depression-era Sunday morning in Italy. It included aspects of everyday life, from children playing and beer-drinking locals, to a motorcyclist repairing his mount.
This clever 1/72 diorama was one of the more unusual scratch-builds on show, and was inspired by the film The Fabulous World of Jules Verne (also known as ‘The Deadly Invention’) and was rendered in black and white to match the original footage. Every wondered what to do with those spare coffee stirrers? Bedford Scale Model Club’s Hadleigh Mead employed them in this category-winning scratch-built model of an abandoned railway boxcar. (All Stu Fone)
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’d heard plenty about E-day, especially its unusual location (an underground car park), but this was my first visit to the event held beneath Prague's Galerie Butovice shopping centre. Punters were welcomed with a gift of a 1/144 Eduard kit (MiG-21, MiG-15 or Avia B-534), all specially commissioned for the show. Czech hospitality was evident throughout, with freshly grilled sausages
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available from one corner of the show area, and more than generous measures of slivovitz from several club stands! First impressions were very favourable, and the venue was packed, but notably there were more family groups than one sees at UK shows. Even better was the manner in which they were catered for during the event, and four areas were provided to entertain
younger non-modellers. These included three dedicated to radiocontrol (tanks, trucks and ships) and one with computer games. All were busy throughout the weekend, especially the tank area, with gleeful youngsters driving and ‘firing’ (sound effects only!) 1/16 armour across a large sandpit. There appears to be a different approach to the hobby in the Czech Republic, and one I’ve
noted in other central European countries, with a great deal of encouragement for youngsters to participate and improve their skills. Here, there was a full competition for the juniors, and the level of talent was incredible...many builds would not have looked out of place in a senior category. One club stand even displayed models completed solely by youngsters and teenagers, but until one
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OUT AND ABOUT
E-DAY 2015, CZECH REPUBLIC VIEW MORE ONLINE airfixmodelworld.com
This Castle Miniatures’ 1/9 battlescarred Roman Centurion bust displayed brilliant painting, from the serpentine shield emblem to the life-like facial expression and blood-stained gladius (sword). A different take on a situation was this wonderful 1/35 Nieuport N.17 diorama, with the Russian pilot of the crashed aircraft hiding from two German soldiers. Fine detail and weathered finishes made this a noteworthy build. It was a welcome surprise to learn that all of the models on the KPM Šturmovik Písek stand were built by younger modellers, and Filip Vomàĉka’s 1/35 winter-camouflage T-34/76 was one of many excellent examples. Special Hobby’s 1/72 Meteor Mk.4 received a flawless finish to its overall yellow livery and portrayed EE455, which broke the air speed record in 1945. This model won the QMT Award for Best British Aircraft.
One of the most impressive metallic finishes this reporter has seen adorned this gorgeous Academy 1/144 B-58A Hustler, and the panel line detail was highlighted sufficiently to be visible, but not to overpower...a very difficult balance in any scale.
chatted about the subjects, the fact wouldn’t have been apparent, such was the quality of the builds. The competition was another revelation, with almost 1,000 models challenging for various class categories and a relaxed atmosphere, and the work available for public viewing throughout. At no time was the area roped-off for judging, although occasionally an entry
was taken to a judge’s area for discussion, before being returned. Eduard’s product and demonstration stands drew considerable attention, particularly the Q+A sessions. Modellers were in rapt attention as building, painting and finishing techniques were displayed, and it was pleasing to see such a wide range of questions posed by modellers of all ages and experience. It was
also encouraging to see new and upcoming companies trading at the show, as well as established businesses and others that until recently had received little attention outside of continental Europe. Among the new companies was QMT, which has launched a splendid range of accessories for Fujimi’s 1/72 Phantoms, particularly UK versions. There was also JPMK, firmly established in Europe,
which produces stunning 1/87 resin civilian and military vehicles, including unusual chemical decontamination subjects. HPH’s new 1/48 XB-70A Valkyrie caused jaws to drop; it is so large that the main fuselage and wing sections are made from fibreglass instead of styrene. All-in-all, this was an exhilarating weekend, and the event is highly recommended to all. ❚ Stu Fone Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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OUT AND ABOUT
BRAMPTON MODEL SHOW 2015 Host club Brampton created an ingenious display of Duxford's American Air Museum. Alley Cat decals enabled all aircraft to be portrayed (see News this issue).
Dave Coward, of the South Lincolnshire Association of Modellers, pulled out all the stops on his gorgeous Eduard 1/48 Spitfire Mk.IXc, posed in a maintenance setting on a neat pierced steel planking base.
Autumnal Treat AMW’s Chris Clifford presents exhibits from this year’s Brampton Model Show, in St Ives, Cambridgeshire
Dave Burlinson’s 1/48 Meteor TT.20, of 728 NAS at Hal Far, Malta in 1959 was a delightful inclusion. The Chiltern SMC member converted Aeroclub’s vac-form, and scratch-built the winch.
Clacton IPMS member Geoff Adams did a stellar job with his 1/35 AFV Club M3A3 Stuart tank. Well-painted figures and stowage, and sublime weathering, made it a standout exhibit. (All Key - Chris Clifford)
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It’s tricky to make an all-black aircraft look interesting, but Graham Matthews of West Norfolk IPMS did just that with his new-tool 1/72 Airfix AW Whitely Mk.V. He chose the markings of 10 Squadron RAF, at Leeming.
Tony Smart of the Airliner SIG added after-market ‘Milka’ decals to Italeri’s 1/72 Junkers Ju 52. These aside, the kit was finished in out-ofthe-box format.
Brampton’s own Janet Cox built this cool little1/72 Bell 47 from Italeri’s kit, and portrayed it as SE-HAK, operated by Autoair Ltd for the Falkland Islands and Dependencies Aerial Survey Expedition, in 1956-57.
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
PZ.KPFW.VI TIGER I AUSF. E EARLY
Richard Langford replicates The Tank Museum’s famous exhibit via Zvezda’s 1/35 Tiger I Ausf.E
BEAST OF BOVINGTON {42}
evaluation in the UK, it was eventually transferred to the Tank Museum in 1951, were it was restored meticulously during the 1990s. It is the only example of a Tiger I in running order, and has gone from celebrated war prize to movie star, participating in the 2014 Brad Pitt film ‘Fury’.
Opening salvo Zvezda’s Tiger I comprised more than 335 parts on five runners, with construction divided into 22 stages. Clear parts were supplied for the vision blocks, and the decal sheet provided markings for two different vehicles. However, research was required to ascertain the unit affiliations (Pz.Abt. 504 and 505) and that both vehicles participated in the Battle of Kursk in 1943, as the information in the instructions was unclear. At the time of this build, Zvezda’s Tiger was a fairly new offering and had received a degree of criticism, so
Eduard’s PE upgrades improved the appearance of the turret interior significantly. Of note was the strap on the MG 34’s tripod case, which looked very authentic. At this stage the turret halves had merely been test-fitted together.
MODEL SPEC
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nitial design work on what became the Panzerkampfwagen (Pz.Kpfw.) VI Tiger began as early as 1937. However, wartime experience and encounters with superior Soviet armour such as the T-34 led to a heavier design, armed with the 8.8cm Kwk36 gun. Porsche and Henschel submitted competing designs, and the latter was chosen as the Pz.Kpfw. IV Tiger Ausf. E Sd.Kfz. 181. It rapidly earned a fearsome reputation, due to its thick armour and devastating performance of the 8.8cm gun. The subject of this build was constructed in February 1943 as Tiger serial 250122, and dispatched to Tunisia, where it was assigned to 1 Company, 3 Platoon, Panzer Abteilung (Pz.Abt.) 504 and bore hull number 131. On April 21, 1943 it was involved in a battle against British Churchills, where it was damaged and subsequently captured intact. After extensive
German Heavy Tank Tiger 1 Ausf. E (Early Production) By:
Zvezda
As with the turret, PE parts were used to embellish the inside of the commander’s hatch, although the exterior moulded features were more than adequate.
Stock Code: 3646 Scale:
1/35
Price:
£29.99
Available from: The Hobby Company, www.hobbyco.net
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
PZ.KPFW.VI TIGER I AUSF. E EARLY
BRASS ENHANCEMENTS
Eduard was quick off the mark with two PE upgrades for Zvezda’s Tiger. One provided a series of interior and exterior components (36256), which included stowage boxes, catches and engine grille meshes, while the other (36229) offered new track guards to replace the styrene parts. Unfortunately, these arrived after work had begun on the turret interior, but the majority of items were added easily and improved this area vastly.
this modeller could hardly wait to begin...if only to see what all the fuss was about! In a change from most armour kits, work commenced with the
turret interior rather than the chassis and wheels. Test-fitting of the turret sides revealed an excellent fit and that the allimportant asymmetric turret shape was correct. To ease painting it was decided to attach all turret interior components, but leave the turret sides as separate sub-assemblies. Gas mask containers, water bottles, hatch mechanisms and ammunition pouches were all well detailed and fitted perfectly, and even the case for the MG 34 tripod was included, which impressed this modeller greatly. With all interior parts assembled, the turret halves, along with the top, were test-fitted...again the result was a seamless join. Both turret hatches were attached in the open position, and photoetched metal (PE) handles were added to improve the locking mechanism. It was desirable to check the fit of the turret to the hull, and it helped to identify a bend in the hull top...at this time though, it didn’t appear to be a major issue. Particular attention was paid to the hull sides as these were the main areas of previous criticism, and inspection revealed their uneven nature, which was rectified with plenty of sanding.
The front sections of the track guards were removed, prior to PE replacements being added. Note the slight warping of the upper hull, which was rectified later. Early Tiger tanks had Feifel air filters fitted to the rear of the vehicle. Here the kit item has been embellished with a PE chain on the cover. The hull sides needed to be sanded to smooth the uneven surface...the small squares below the sanded area are lugs for the track guards, which must be removed if being replaced with PE parts.
Taking shape The addition of a support bar, located approximately one-third from the hull front, allowed for a second test-fit of the upper
“CLEAR PARTS WERE SUPPLIED FOR THE VISION BLOCKS”
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INTERMEDIATE BUILD
PZ.KPFW.VI TIGER I AUSF. E EARLY
Cooling fans and fuel tanks were painted before being mounted in the engine compartment, which was treated similarly.
The fans fitted snugly, although it was uncertain how much detail would be visible. The support bar located one-third along the hull had to be sanded to allow the upper hull to fit.
Spraying the wheels separately greatly facilitated the painting process, as well as preventing any mistakes with the complex running gear.
Helpfully, the majority of the single wheel/sprocket items were located such that they could easily be painted while still on the runner.
deck. Unfortunately, the bar, combined with the previously identified warped deck, resulted in a very poor fit. The latter was bent gently to correct the shape, and the former sanded heavily before a snug join was achieved. Attention turned to the fuel tanks and cooling fans, and these gave the modeller an insight into the layout of the tank. They were sprayed black, dry-brushed lightly
be marked clearly, although the layout of pieces on the runners allowed the outer, single, wheels to be airbrushed in situ. All of the wheels were sprayed with Lifecolor UA203 Grünbraun (see panel), before the tyres were painted with Tamiya XF-63 German Grey, as black was considered too stark. As the wheels featured plenty of detail, they ably accepted various ink washes in their stride
with grey paint and the fans were picked out with Citadel Miniatures’ Ironbreaker shade. The next job was to fit the torsion bar suspension system and drive sprockets and, as the running gear was very complex, great care was taken. Once assembled, the wheels were mounted onto cocktail sticks with Blu-Tack, which in turn were added to blocks of polystyrene. This enabled the part numbers to
and were a joy to paint. The lower hull and sides were also airbrushed with UA203 Grünbraun at this point, before any overspray on the wheel locating lugs was then removed, to provide a secure bond for the running gear.
Realistic refinements Research indicated that the front pair of road wheels were removed for maintenance on many Tiger
Photographs of Tiger ‘131’ clearly revealed a front road wheel was missing. To represent this, a wheel was removed from its rim and the latter section fitted in its place.
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PZ.KPFW.VI TIGER I AUSF. E EARLY
“ALL SUBASSEMBLIES WERE THEN WASHED IN SOAPY WATER” tanks, but on 131 just one wheel (on the driver’s side) was missing, and most of the others were damaged, so these features were incorporated into the build. Work began with the removal of the outer wheel from its hub with a drill and sanding stick. It was only after about an hour’s work that this modeller discovered wheel hubs had been supplied in the kit to cater for this possibility, though it wasn’t clear in the instructions. All Tigers carried an MP 40 submachinegun in the turret for crew defence, and a rummage in the spares box produced one from a Tristar kit, which was duly painted and added. With the turret still in two parts, the interior and innards of the main hull were airbrushed with XF-78 Wooden Deck Tan. Once dry, white was blended gradually with the base colour, and further coats were added until a dirty white ‘lived-in’ tone was produced. The turret traverse gearbox was painted dark grey and fitted separately, before chipping effects were added to the interior with dark grey oil paint, which was stippled onto edges and surfaces. Although not an approach usually utilised by this modeller, the results were so pleasing it is likely to be employed in future. The spare track link bracket attachment points on the turret exterior were filled with Milliput and sanded smooth, as these were not fitted to 131 in Tunisia. All subassemblies were then washed in soapy water in preparation for the main painting stages, as this would remove any remaining release
agent and sanding residue. A coat of Vallejo 73601 Grey Surface Primer was then airbrushed, before the tank floor was sprayed with XF-50 Field Blue and the wheels weathered with heavily thinned black oil paint.
Back inside A complete breech mechanism for the 8.8cm Kwk36 was provided, which included a sighting optic. The majority of this assembly was painted as per the turret interior, with additional details such as the optic and breech painted black and Citadel Chainmail respectively. The inside of the ammunition bin was subjected to heavy chipping effects, with dark grey stippled onto the edges and sides. As the breech was attached to the inside of the gun mantlet, it was aligned with its locating holes on the turret halves as the latter were joined. At this point it was decided not to glue the turret roof in position, so that it could be removed to display the interior. One had expected the part to require sanding to achieve this, but it was unnecessary as the fit was perfect. As the front sections of the track guards were to be replaced with PE components, the styrene was removed from the relevant areas of the hull with a razor saw. New parts were then bent to shape and attached; once dry, the hinges were added. It was realised quickly that it would have been better to delay fitting these parts until much later, as they were knocked off several times while handling the model.
The running gear was weathered with heavily thinned black oil paint; any excess was removed with a cotton bud.
By leaving the turret halves separate, all of the components could be fitted and then painted in place. Here, water bottles, MG 34 ammunition pouches and an MP 40 have been added. The opposite half of the turret contained the turret traversing gear, gas mask containers and a pistol holster. Chipping effects were achieved with dark grey oil paints.
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PZ.KPFW.VI TIGER I AUSF. E EARLY
Before the turret halves could be joined, the mantlet inner and gun breech mechanism needed to be added, and this highlighted the cramped nature of the interior.
As the Bovington Tiger was not fitted with mounting brackets for spare track links, the holes for these items were filled with Milliput and sanded smooth.
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With the cooling fans in place, the tank’s main deck was then attached...it fitted reasonably due to earlier sanding efforts, but still required filler and Citadel’s Liquid Green Stuff was employed as it dried quickly and was ready for sanding almost immediately. Before the remainder of the track guards were fitted, it seemed prudent to assemble and fit the tracks themselves, which would also allow realistic sagging to be achieved. The two-piece vinyl tracks were of reasonable quality, but as it was intended to apply mud to these, the main concern was to achieve a decent fit and form. They were sprayed with two heavy coats of XF-9 Hull Red and dry-brushed with gunmetal, before a final layer of matt varnish was applied. Once the paint had dried fully, they
were welded together with a hot screwdriver before being slipped over the front drive sprockets and stretched until they slid over the rear-most wheel. It was crucial to ensure the sprocket and rear wheel had sufficient time to set, otherwise they would have twisted when the tracks were applied. The characteristic sag was achieved by attaching the track to the road wheel tops with Superglue and then applying pressure to each section with a flat screwdriver until dry. Photographs of ‘131’ highlighted that the tracks were covered with mud at the point of capture, and this was emulated with a mix of plaster, wood glue, dark weathering powder and dark brown acrylic paint. This was applied thickly, before strands of Woodland
While the PE fronts to the track guards looked impressive, they were remarkably fragile, and would have been better attached later in the build.
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PZ.KPFW.VI TIGER I AUSF. E EARLY
COLOUR CONFUSION Over the years, German armour paint schemes have been the cause of much debate. Bovington’s Tiger camouflage is very subtle, and several references had inaccurately stated the tank was monotone. During its restoration various paint layers were removed, which revealed the true colours to be RAL8000 Grünbraun and RAL7008 Graugrün, and those tones have been replicated faithfully on the vehicle. For this build, Lifecolor’s acrylics were employed, as it produces two boxed sets of authentic RAL hues, and these include the specific tones for Bovington’s Tiger (UA203 and UA212 respectively).
A small amount of Citadel’s Liquid Green Stuff was used to fill several slight gaps between the upper and lower hulls. The characteristic sag to the tracks was reproduced by attaching them to the wheel tops with Superglue.
The grilles on the rear deck slotted easily into place, although they could also be positioned open to display the fans.
Scenics’ Medium Green Grass (FG174) were added to the mud.
Guarding the tracks The side and rear sections of the track guards needed to be folded into shape before they were attached, and a Mission Models Etch Mate tool was used to expedite the process. Having studied Tigers over the years, one was impressed with the replacement parts, but before they were added, the styrene
attachment points needed to be removed. A sharp scalpel and a sanding stick made quick work of this, before the track guards were fitted one at a time; each received several slight bends for a realistic touch. Once mounted, they were primed in grey, and damage to the wheels and track guards was created with a rotary drill, with constant reference to photographs of ‘131’. As yet the engine deck grilles had not been fitted, so these were
Light damage to the wheels and track guards was replicated with a rotary drill, with constant reference to photographs.
PE mesh engine grille covers enhanced the look of the rear deck considerably. These items were painted with Lifecolor UA203 Grünbraun and then attached.
“IT WAS CRUCIAL TO ENSURE THE SPROCKET AND REAR WHEEL HAD SUFFICIENT TIME TO SET”
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PZ.KPFW.VI TIGER I AUSF. E EARLY
“ALL ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT WAS PAINTED BEFORE BEING ATTACHED” just popped into place; the fit was such that no glue was required. By comparison, the rear exhaust covers were far too thick and so were replaced by PE components. These were rolled on a pencil until they fitted the rear of the tank perfectly, and then tapped hard with a knife handle to add dents. Shrapnel holes were created with a rotary drill...once again the fit was such that no glue was required.
Subtle shades
Once the various cables and tools had been added, the upper hull took on a busy appearance, with PE enhancements to the spade and wooden box. The external ‘Tetra’ fire extinguisher was painted red as it was known for real items to be this colour.
Battle damage was achieved with a combination of a rotary drill, washes and much dry-brushing. Moulded detail on the spare track links responded well to an ink wash.
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Once the main components had been prepared, the turret and unpainted sections of the hull were sprayed UA203 Grünbraun, before the disruptive camouflage pattern of UA212 Graugrün was airbrushed freehand. The net result was a very subtle differentiation between tones, akin to Bovington’s Tiger. Additional enhancements to the engine deck, which included splendid PE grille covers, were provided by Eduard’s upgrade set (36256), and these were painted prior to attachment. The model then received a layer of matt varnish before it was weathered with thinned oil paints. Although plenty of cables and tools were supplied, the small spade received a new PE blade and the wooden tool box was also replaced, as the PE had a particularly wellrendered wood grain texture. All ancillary equipment was painted before being attached, and the cable eyelets, spade and shovel
received chipping effects on the metal edges. Unfortunately the hull-mounted cable (C46) was damaged badly (broken in four parts), due to its thinness and the runners bending easily during handling. Although it was repaired, it’s recommended that this piece should be removed before construction starts. After the tow cables had also been
ACCESSORIES & REFERENCE Eduard 36229 1/35 Tiger I Ausf. E early fenders 36256 1/35 Tiger I Ausf. E early Tiger in action, Armour Number 27,, by Bruce Culver (Squadron/ Signal Publications), ISBN: 9780897472302 Owners’ Workshop Manual, Tiger Tank, Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger 1 Ausf.E (Sd.Kfz. 181) Model (Haynes), ISBN: 9781-84425-931-1
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PZ.KPFW.VI TIGER I AUSF. E EARLY added, a metallic sheen was created with a pencil, and the cable clamps were painted in the requisite camouflage colours. At first glance the kit decals appeared to be unusable, but upon closer inspection it was realised that all the necessary numbers were present, and of roughly the right size, albeit in a different sequence. Individual numerals were cut from the sheet, applied to the turret sides and then painted red. After a final coat of matt varnish, light chipping effects were applied with dark grey paint, and sand weathering powders were brushed over the model.
PE clasps and padlocks improved the appearance of the turret stowage, and shrapnel damage also added interest. The kit decals were previously black and white but werepainted in red, in keeping with the real tank.
Tiger verdict Zvezda’s kit builds into a great model straight from the box, and represents good value, particularly with the detailed turret interior. The majority of it goes together really well, with the fit of the turret roof and engine deck grilles being testament to the kit’s quality. However, work will be needed to correct moulding blemishes and any warped styrene, but most modellers with a several builds under their belt should be able to manage this easily. And for modellers wishing to push the boundaries, Eduard’s upgrades will turn this simple kit into a real show-stopper. ❚
The subtleties of the Tiger’s camouflage scheme were apparent on the completed turret, as was the comparative length of the 8.8cm Kwk36 gun barrel.
The divisional chevron insignia was created with a Lion Roar mask (LAM-002), although the red line was eventually hand-painted as it was particularly difficult to airbrush this mark through the metal template.
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Resplendent in its flashy red trim and 56 Squadron 'Firebirds' heraldry, Lightning F.1A XM176 demonstrates its jaw-dropping climb rate.
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ENGLISH ELECTRIC LIGHTNING F.1A
PHOENIX RISING Chris Jones couldn’t be happier building the re-released early version of Airfix’s superb 1/48th scale Lightning
t
The most obvious differences between the early and later Lightnings concerned the wings and fuselage. Early versions all had smaller ventral fuel tanks and straight leading edge wings. A pin vice was used to drill out some of the fuselage vents and exhaust ports.
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Its stunning performance, brutal elegance and enduring presence ensures that the Lightning remains one of the best loved of all British military aircraft.
Legendary tooling In the late 1990s Airfix released its 1/48 scale Lightning kits in two separate packages. One covered the later F.2A/F.6, with enlarged ventral tanks and kinked/ cambered wings, while the other depicted the earlier versions (F.1/ F.1A/F.2/F.3), with smaller ventral tanks and straight leading edge
MODEL SPEC
he English Electric Lightning was born during the Cold War, from the need for a supersonic interceptor to counter the threat of fast, highflying Soviet bombers. Its performance was blistering, with a top speed around Mach 2, a staggering climb rate, a service ceiling in excess of 60,000ft (18,288m) and a maximum attainable altitude well above this. Besides sheer power, it was an excellent dogfighter and aerobatic performer. Indeed, the Lightning became the last mount of the great RAF fighter squadron aerobatic teams (before training aircraft took over on cost grounds), gaining fame through such units as the ‘Tigers’ of 74 Squadron and 56 Squadron’s eye-catching ‘Firebirds’. Although short range and rather limited armament were always an issue, numerous improvements were proposed during its lifetime. The tragedy was that policy makers frequently saw the Lightning simply as a stop-gap and it therefore never reached its full potential. However, in a happy irony, this ‘temporary’ fighter served across three decades, from 1960 until retirement in 1988.
English Electric Lightning F.1/F.1A/ F.2/F.3 By:
Airfix
Stock Code: A09179 Scale:
1/48
Price:
£29.99
Available from: Airfix, www.airfix.com
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ENGLISH ELECTRIC LIGHTNING F.1A
KIT COLOUR SCHEMES Three RAF decal options are offered for an F.1, F.1A and F.3. Although decals weren’t provided for an F.2, all the parts needed were present in the kit. • F.1A, Firebirds aerobatic team, 56 Squadron, RAF Wattisham, Suffolk, England, 1963 • F.1, 74 Squadron, RAF Coltishall, Norfolk, England, 1962 • F.3, Lightning Training Flight, RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire, England, 1980
The seat and instrument panel were more than reasonable, and although the cockpit tub and side console detail was rather simplified, very little could be seen on the finished model.
Various sub-assemblies, such as those for the engine and air intake, needed to be completed before the joining of the fuselage halves.
wings. Although some batches suffered from wing warping (a problem that has certainly not affected re-releases, including this sample), the general consensus was that they were marvellous kits, with truly excellent recessed surface detail and good fit. To this day, they remain impressive. A few years back, the F.2A/F.6 boxing was re-released, while the increasingly rare early versions
became ever harder to obtain, apart from expensive offerings via online auctions. As a modeller in love with natural metal Lightnings with colourful tails, finding out that Airfix was soon to re-release the early boxing was fantastic news! It was decided almost immediately to model Lightning F.1A XM174 ‘D’ in the wonderful colours of the 56 Squadron ‘Firebirds’, which represented the RAF as Fighter Command’s aerobatic team during the 1963 airshow season. This scheme was represented on the original Airfix boxing and has made a welcome return as the box art and a
It was vital to trap the flaps within the wing halves as the parts were being sealed, or else the fit would have been poor.
Time and careful alignment was needed to ensure the radar bullet housing wasn’t askew.
"THE VAST MAJORITY OF PARTS ARE INTERCHANGEABLE ACROSS AIRFIX'S LIGHTNINGS"
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Ballast was vital to prevent tail-sitting and in this case, air-drying clay proved highly useful. The exhaust section wasn’t glued in place at this stage; it was removed and only fixed permanently once the fuselage halves were together. After painting and weathering, the cockpit looked more than presentable, while the casting of Quickboost’s Martin-Baker Mk.4 ejection seat was simply stunning.
Fuselage and wing half fit was very good. To prevent overstressing the wing root join, the seams were sanded separately before the airframe was brought together.
decal option for the re-release. In the box were four runners in grey plastic and a single transparent frame. The vast majority of parts are interchangeable across the Airfix Lightning kits, with the key differences being the fuselage and upper wing halves. Although the main tools have kept well, with no real problems present, the cockpit transparencies (arguably the only real weak parts of the original kit) boasted a number of imperfections. A reasonable ejection seat was present and although the cockpit was rather basic, not much of it can be seen on the finished model.
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New ‘bang’ seat To avoid re-creating the traumatic mess of seatbelt harnesses on the Martin-Baker Mk.4 as fitted to the Lightning, it was decided on this occasion to use a resin replacement from Quickboost. Test-fitting before painting is advisable, due to the amount of trimming required, while minor fettling also took place on the instrument panel to ensure better positioning. After spraying the cockpit with Tamiya XF-69 NATO Black, a thin mottle of XF-64 Dark Sea Grey was airbrushed in a random mottle to add interest, before careful dry-brushing with
The fit of the wing-to-fuselage join was rather loose, so Tamiya tape and an improvised support structure was used to keep the airframe static as the glue set.
matt grey was used to highlight the edges. A different shade of grey was used to accentuate side console detail, while a .005 fine line black pen was used to pick out instrument dials. A token pair of throttles was added with plastic rod, and a silver Prismacolor pencil was used to provide chipping effects. As this was a test-shot build no Airfix decals were available, but instrument and console detail will be included in production kits.
Internal assembly Before any major construction could begin, the jet pipe and intake
section had to be dealt with. The intake trunking, radar bullet housing and compressor face were primed with a mix of Tamiya Clear and XF-19 Sky Grey and set aside to dry, before being sprayed with Alclad Aluminium. Next, the jet pipes received a 1:1 mix of XF-2 Flat Black and XF-64 Red-Brown. The inner faces of the afterburner petals were also sprayed with a Flat Black/Red-Brown mix, which was then masked, before the exteriors were coated with Alclad Dark Aluminium and treated to a dark grey oil wash. After painting the reheat
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ENGLISH ELECTRIC LIGHTNING F.1A
"THE RADAR BULLET ITSELF WAS LEFT OFF UNTIL VIRTUALLY THE END OF THE BUILD"
spray bar/flame holder detail in silver, black oil wash was applied. Great care was necessary when adding the radar bullet housing with the intake trunking, because although there were locating tabs at the front end, there was nothing at the rear to stop it being misaligned. There was also little in the way of mating surfaces in this area, due to the peculiar gap between the rectangular wheel well section moulded as part
of the intake trunking, and the oval-shaped wheel well section recessed into the bullet housing. This would eventually be filled with white glue and painted on the underside to help prevent a gap showing. A pen marked where the parts touched, before a scalpel was used to scrape paint off the mating surfaces. Revell Contacta cement was applied sparingly to fix the bullet housing to one side of the trunking, before the
other half was attached and, after careful alignment, all was well. The intake trunking was then taped and left to dry, before the compressor face was attached. However, the radar bullet itself was left off until virtually the end of the build. The entire exhaust assembly was brought together apart from the exhaust/exterior section (part 25) which would be added later to prevent exterior misalignment.
Variant variety As Lightnings were festooned with various ducts, scoops and exhaust ports, some of these were drilled out before proceeding. 56 Squadron made a few modifications to its Lightnings during the aerobatic display season, one of which was to blank off the gun ports. Instead of using the standard cannon panels for a regular F.1A, the blanking plates (intended for the gunless F.3)
After filling, sanding and localised applications of primer had been sprayed and cleanedup, the entire airframe was coated with Mr. Surfacer 1000 aerosol spray. A conveniently spare Lightning canopy was used to mask the cockpit.
Alclad Duraluminium provided the darker tones to various panels, some of which were then oversprayed with a black-brown mix. The blanked-off cannon ports were sprayed with Alclad Dull Aluminium initially, before masking and more black-brown overspray. After a coating of Alclad Aluminium, plenty of time was taken to mask panels and leading edges. Minor repair work was undertaken in a couple of areas, which thankfully would be covered by red paint and not Alclad.
With the masks removed, one of the most stunning of all Lightning paint schemes started to come to life.
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were utilised. Before attaching the fuselage halves, it was also decided to add the relevant cable ducts. Essentially, Lightning F.1s had no cable ducts along the lower sides of the fuselage, F.1As and F.2s did have ducts, while F.3s (which introduced Red Top missile capability) had longer cable ducts. However, the instructions would erroneously have the builder add these ducts for decal option ‘B’, a Lightning F.1 from 74 Squadron. Don’t do this, or drill out the required holes on an F.1 build! Another key fuselage difference concerned the intake duct on the spine (part 136) and the outlet in
the spine underneath it. These were relevant just for the F.2 and F.3, so if one chooses to model an F.1 or an F.1A, the hole should be filled and sanded and the intake should be omitted. The author avoided the intake but neglected the filling, so Miliput had to be brought out late in the day. There were also a few other minor areas of the airframe that required attention. For example, parts 146 and 147 should be omitted for F.1/F.1A/F.2s and the associated recessed detail filled in. Other differences across the variants involved the various aerials and protruding parts on
The tonal relationship between Alclad Aluminium and Duraluminium was perfect for darker panels contrasting against the base coat, without the difference being too stark. Supports made from Blu-Tack and cocktail sticks were placed in the wheel wells to keep the airframe elevated, before gloss varnish was applied.
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the airframes, but rather than becoming hopelessly bogged down, and to save space, don’t immediately add all the protruding parts in the instructions...just take time to consult references. Finally, the F.1/F.1A and F.2 could only carry Firestreaks, so Red Tops should be avoided if at all possible.
Airframe construction With the outer surfaces of the fuselage halves tackled and the internal parts dealt with, ballast in the form of air-drying clay was added inside the forward fuselage to prevent tail-sitting. It was vital to avoid gluing the outside edges of the intake trunking to the inside edges of the fuselage, because it would cause alignment trouble later, but once it was in, the cockpit hub sat happily on top. After adding the exhaust, the fit of the fuselage halves was excellent and finally the exhaust/rear section and intake ring could be added too. The wing halves also fitted well, but it was essential to add the flaps as the halves went together, or they wouldn’t have fitted properly. With
the wings and flaps together, the underside leading edge inserts were added, once again with excellent fit. After adding the tail fin, and forward spine/upper rear cockpit bulkhead insert, the wings could be attached. The fit was rather loose here and the correct dihedral left a gap along the top join of the wing root. Liquid cement helped plug the gap, before Tamiya tape was used to help align the wings and hold them in place while the glue set. After leaving the airframe for several days to ensure the joins had cured fully, and to minimise the risk of ‘ghost’ seams appearing after sanding, Miliput was used where needed and along the wing root joins. Once panel detail across the seams had been deepened and all sanding had taken place, matt black was used to prime all seams to check for blemishes. After remedial filling and sanding, the black paint was removed with thinner and light sanding, before the cockpit was masked. The entire airframe was then checked for dust and hairs, before Mr. Surfacer 1000 aerosol
After the gloss coat, the anti-glare panel was sprayed before the dazzling decals were applied.
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Once the decals were sealed with more Aqua Gloss, a medium grey wash was mixed and applied to all panel lines.
The exhausts were masked and sprayed with a 2:1:1 mix of Red Brown, Clear Yellow and Flat Black.
56 Squadron carried dummy missiles during its aerobatic displays, because the winglets on the Firestreaks actually enhanced the Lightning’s handling characteristics!
The Oil Stain shade from Tamiya’s Weathering D set was applied to represent grime and streaking from the wheel wells. This was sealed with a localised spray of Aqua Gloss once completed.
The ‘Do Not Chop’ canopy line was masked and sprayed to save the awkwardness of using the relevant decal.
To save tedious masking, the radar bullet was sprayed separately and added towards the end of the build.
spray was brought into action as a pre-Alclad primer.
a mix of approximately 20 parts XF-7 Flat Red, one part XF-9 Hull Red and Tamiya Clear, diluted with cellulose thinner. With major painting completed, the entire model was sealed with Alclad Aqua Gloss before decaling. Once the gloss had set, the exhaust exterior was masked and sprayed, cockpit masks were removed and the windscreen was attached, before the anti-glare panel was masked and sprayed with Flat Black. It would later receive a
mottle of XF-63 German Grey to enliven the monotone finish. Because the production decals were unavailable, a combination of Barracuda Studios’ Lightning Stencils (BC-S48001), a defunct Model Alliance Sheet (ML48182) and a decal sheet from an original Airfix Lightning (18 years old!) were used to cobble together the final result. All decals were sealed with more Aqua Gloss, before a subtle grey oil wash was applied
Convincing metal Alclad Aluminium was used as a base coat, before (and after much careful consultation of reference material) relevant panels were masked and sprayed with Alclad Duraluminium, while some panels were also over-sprayed with a 2:1 Flat Black/Red Brown mix. The cannon ports were treated to a coat of Alclad Dull Aluminium to
represent the blanking plates, before they were masked and sprayed with thin coats of the above Black/Brown mix to represent the colour of the actual cannon panel. The intake ring was also masked and coated with Alclad Stainless Steel, as was the section behind the exhausts. These areas were sealed with Alclad Aqua Gloss for protection and after all exposed panels were masked, the red areas were undercoated with white, before being sprayed with
"THE FIT OF THE FUSELAGE HALVES WAS EXCELLENT" Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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ENGLISH ELECTRIC LIGHTNING F.1A After sealing the decals, the anti-glare panel was masked and sprayed.
Squadron added piping to pump diesel from the (isolated) port flap tank to spray into the jet efflux, to create smoke for their displays (and despite having got part way through scratch-building the pipe from brass tube) it was decided at the last minute that the assembly would probably fall off the model all too quickly, so it was abandoned. The antiglare panel and windscreen were masked and muted with Xtracolor XDFF Matt Varnish, before the entire airframe received two thin coats, to reduce the glossy effect to more of a satin finish. Wingtip formation lights were created with white glue and painted, while the locating tab and base of the
pitot was trimmed to improve the angle, before it was attached to the nose. Finally, last-minute postshading with a black-brown mix, then NATO Black, brought the project to a close.
Still a corker! Yes, there are some areas to take care with during assembly, but with such delightful recessed detail, accurate outlines and a model with real presence, who could say no to building one or more? Modellers can once again reproduce one of Britain’s most iconic jet fighters in some of the most colourful schemes ever worn by RAF squadrons...a highly welcome ❚ re-release indeed!
RECOMMENDED REFERENCE Publishers have been kind to Lightning fans, with a host of books old and new being readily available. Some of the best include: Lightning Squadrons of the Royal Air Force, by Richard L Ward (Ad Hoc Publications), ISBN: 0-946958-41-6 Lightning 1954-2014, by Ian Black (www.firestreakbooks.com) Several sessions were devoted to getting the post-shading to look reasonable. Subtle shading was added in fine vertical streaks, along panel lines and in a general mottle across the metallic areas, first with black-brown and then NATO Black.
across all panel lines, while a black-grey wash went into scoops and exhaust ducts. After the undercarriage legs and wheels were attached, ‘Oil Stain’ from Tamiya’s Weathering Master Set D was applied to represent the grimy streaks back from the main wheel wells. As much final assembly as possible then took place, although the main gear retraction and operating jacks fitted somewhat vaguely. The
only real concession to scratchbuilding concerned the small arm that reached from the nosewheel leg to the rearmost nosewheel well door. This was added with plastic tube. Subtle black-brown post-shading was applied to most panel lines, in mild vertical streaks and in a general mottle over the metal areas of the airframe. The effect of this looks rather lost in the photos, but it was visible to the Mk.1 Eyeball! Although 56
On Target Plus Profile 13 English Electric Lightning in Worldwide Service, by Andy J Donovan and Peter Scott (Aviation Workshop), ISBN: 1-904643-28-0 Modellers Datafile The English Electric Lightning, by Richard J Caruana (SAM Publications), ISBN: 0-9533465-7-9 Aircraft Illustrated Special – Lightning, by Roger Lindsay (Ian Allan), ISBN: 0-7110-1825-1 Aeroplane Icons Lightning - The All-British Supersonic Cold War Interceptor (Key Publishing), ISBN: 978-1-907426-22-3 (https://shop.keypublishing.com)
"A HIGHLY WELCOME RE-RELEASE INDEED!"
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OUT AND ABOUT
WINGS AND THINGS SHOW 2015
W
By Kevin Fleckney, this impressive Panda 1/32 Panzer 38(t) won best in the armour category... not bad for his first attempt in the scale!
Fun in the Fens
This battered-looking Mirror Models 1/35 Diamond T 969A Wrecker was just one of many varied models on IPMS Fenland and Spalding’s stand. The Tornado SIG's Andy Hardwick showed that one doesn’t need an uber-modern kit to produce a fine model; this Italian 'Tonka' was built from Italeri’s 1/48 offering.
hile larger shows have their undeniable attractions, it’s the smaller events where the camaraderie and sociable side of the hobby are most apparent. The ‘Wings and Things’ show at Spalding Girls’ High School was the epitome of this, and a friendly and welcoming atmosphere was obvious as soon as one walked through the door. Modellers of all ages were present, and it was great to see younger builders recognised, with Jack Tinkler’s 1/72 1940s diorama winning the Junior Best in Show. The senior prize went to Dave Coward’s incredible 1/32 Felixstowe F.2A flying boat, which featured an immaculate finish and intricate rigging. In addition, there was the inaugural awarding of the Craig Gardiner Memorial Trophy, judged by the Belvoir Model Club, which was won by Mick Condra’s stunning 1/48 He 219 ❚ diorama. Stu Fone
Among the many World War One subjects on display, Steve Cox’s Otto Doppeldecker stood out, mainly due to the complex rigging and clean finish on his Phoenix 1/72 vac-form model. (All Key – Stu Fone) On the Belvoir Model Club stand, Wayne Tong’s eye-catching AMT Eagle Transporter, from the TV show Space:1999, attracted plenty of attention.
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BASIC BUILD
LOCKHEED MARTIN F-16CJ
Chris Jones discovers a bountiful war load to hang from Tamiya’s superb F-16CJ
T
he F-16 was initially conceived as a lightweight and affordable fighter to supplement the vastly capable, but prohibitively expensive F-15 Eagle. Although capable of performing across the full spectrum of air combat, from long-range missile engagement, to close in dogfights, the F-15 was simply too costly to procure in sufficient numbers and so an alternative was required. Thus was born the Fighting Falcon...or ‘Viper’ to its crews. Upon entering service
with the USAF in 1978, with its lightweight, fly-by-wire control system, ability to sustain 9G and an impressive thrust-to-weight ratio, the F-16 was an incredible step forward. It has since been adopted by a great many air arms across the world, in a multitude of versions, and has been employed successfully in combat from the Balkans to Iraq and Afghanistan. Over time, the F-16 has got bigger, heavier and more expensive, but it has undoubtedly evolved into a supremely capable multi-role platform. Although the sheer
The raised detail on the side consoles was well moulded, although the ejection seat was rather basic.
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amount of Viper variants can seem confusing, the F-16CJ Block 50 is essentially the USAF’s dedicated Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) platform.
Loaded for bear It rapidly became clear that this package was something special; surface detail on the components was simply stunning, with sharp recessed panel lines and tiny runner gates, which made life so much easier when removing and cleaning-up parts. Surprisingly, the kit’s initial release contained
a bizarrely sparse armoury, but Tamiya has since redeemed itself by providing ‘Full Equipment’ to hang from the F-16’s pylons, to offer a complete load for anti-radar missions; the official term is suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD), but the US Air Force codename for the task is Wild Weasel. Tamiya’s stores included a pair each of AIM-120C
Eduard pre-painted photo-etched metal made the seat look more presentable.
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BASIC BUILD
LOCKHEED MARTIN F-16CJ
TAMIYA’S DECAL OPTIONS 1) 5th Air Force Commander, Pacific Air Forces, Misawa AB, Japan 2010 2) 52nd FW Commander, USAFE, Spangdahlem AB, Germany 2011 3) 79th FS Leader, 20th FW, Tiger Meet Scheme, Buckley AB, USA 2001 The mainwheel well and bulkheads needed to be assembled, along with the cockpit, before the fuselage halves could be brought together.
AMRAAM, AIM-9X, AIM-9M, AGM-88 HARM and 370 US gal (1,400 lit) wing tanks. These were accompanied by a single 300 US gal (1,135 lit) centreline tank, AN/ AAQ-3 Sniper XR targeting pod, AN/ALQ-184 countermeasures pod and two versions (and mountings) of the AN/ASQ 213 Harm Targeting System pod.
Beginning to build There were a number of areas to be tackled before the fuselage halves could be brought together, so after adding the separate
cannon port and starboard rear fuselage panel inserts to their respective locations, the mainwheel well required uniting with its bulkheads. The instructions called for the door arms found at the front of the bay to be added, but these were left off to ease masking of the wheel wells later. Next, the option for a blank plate or ‘bird slicer’ antenna array in front of the canopy presented itself, so it was important to decide which decals to use at this stage. With this in place, the two-part
upper fuselage was mated and the fit was so good that the join became a perfect panel line, but owing to the intricacy of the connection between the halves, it was decided not to use glue on the exterior of the join. Instead, the halves were secured on the underside with cyanoacrylate (CA), before Tamiya Extra Thin Liquid Cement was used sparingly and carefully to avoid it running into any panel lines. The raised console detail in the cockpit looked superb once painted and, with the mainwheel well in
MODEL SPEC
After the side consoles were painted, 1,000-grade abrasive paper was used carefully over the tops of the switches to remove the black and reveal the grey underneath...much easier than painting them individually!
Lockheed Martin F-16CJ (Block 50) Fighting Falcon w/Full Equipment By:
Tamiya
Stock Code: TA60788 Scale:
1/72
Price:
£24.99
Available from: The Hobby Company, www.hobbyco.net
“SURFACE DETAIL WAS SIMPLY STUNNING”
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BASIC BUILD
LOCKHEED MARTIN F-16CJ
“MATT BLACK WAS SPRAYED ACROSS A FEW JOINS TO CHECK FOR NEATNESS”
place, upper and lower fuselage halves could be married and once again, the fit was superb. Tiny drops of CA were used on the inside to tack the leading edge strakes together, before Tamiya Extra Thin was brushed
sparingly along the joins. With the front joins secured, the same glue was used lightly around the rest of the locating surfaces. The vertical stabiliser and its associated fairing were treated as a separate sub-assembly and Masking had to be carried out around the air intake to capture the black leading edge. Lead shot was added beforehand (to stop tailsitting) and covered by a scratch-built blanking plate at the end of the build.
brought together before it was attached to the rear fuselage, and once more the fit was admirable. At this stage, the wings were also brought into place, along with the radome and front fuselage panel inserts. Overall, the fit was truly
ASTRA DECAL OPTIONS
excellent although the underside wing-to-fuselage join wasn’t quite as neat as the others. After the intake section was added (which was loaded with lead shot to combat tail-sitting) the main undercarriage legs had to be added before the mainwheel well was enclosed fully with an insert. This was completed with slight
(ASD-7214) Astra’s sheet provided serial number information and comprehensive decals allowing any F-16 from the 22nd FS ‘Stingers’ or the 23rd FS ‘Fighting Hawks’ based at Spangdahlem to be built.
The basic parts breakdown can be seen here to good effect. Thankfully, the instructions were clear and comprehensive.
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BASIC BUILD
LOCKHEED MARTIN F-16CJ and only added towards the end of the build. Once the entire airframe was assembled, matt black was sprayed across a few joins to check for neatness, before it was wiped off immediately with a tiny amount of isopropyl alcohol on a cotton bud.
Two tone
trepidation, as protruding parts always seem to get broken before a build is completed. Impressively, though, the only areas that required sanding were the radome half join, the underside of the intake and a tiny section in front of the strakes. White Glue was used in layered applications in places to tidy certain joins, but with more care this could possibly have been avoided. Owing to the impossibility of masking and painting the rather complex patterns required on the exhaust section, this was kept separate
The interior of the jet pipe was sprayed with a Tamiya Flat Black/ Red Brown mix, while the interior of the afterburner petals were sprayed white, before they were treated to a rubbing with the ‘Oil Stain’ colour from Tamiya’s Weathering Set D. After covering the interior, the exterior was sprayed with Alclad Honey Primer before being coated with Alclad Aluminium. The thin ring section was masked, before Alclad Dark Aluminium was airbrushed over the outer petals. Afterwards, a mix of Citadel Boltgun Metal and Abaddon black was mixed and used to brushpaint the remaining areas. Once completed, the whole area was masked before being sprayed with the camouflage colours as per the rest of the airframe. Tamiya’s paint guide called for the three-tone F-16 grey scheme across all three decal options, but photos seemed to suggest this was inaccurate for the two most recent liveries and possibly the
The main undercarriage legs had to be added before being contained by a section that fitted over the top, so extra care with handling was required. With the canopy and intake masked, it was nearly time to add paint.
Painting the exhaust separately was essential...otherwise the airbrakes would block it off.
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BASIC BUILD
LOCKHEED MARTIN F-16CJ
FUNKY FINISH
1
As part of the Have Glass programme, certain F-16s were treated to a special Radar Absorbent Material (RAM) coating to help lower radar signature and increase survivability. Owing to the uneven nature of the finish, it tends to attract much dirt and seems to fade substantially in places. Moreover, it can range in appearance from rather flat to displaying a metallic shine, depending on how light impacts the surface. Two photos of an especially grubby F-16CJ ‘351’ from the ‘Stingers’ were discovered, which provided perfect reference material for an interesting finish. It was decided to draw inspiration from the images, but not depict the aircraft at the exact point in time those images were taken, so the unit markings haven’t been faded into obscurity or over sprayed, and the finish isn’t as dramatically weathered. It does however go some way to providing a visually appealing and weathered model. Mottling different tones into paint is a useful way to represent fading, grime and/or uneven surfaces and is especially suited to the kind of effects seen on Have Glass finishes.
2
FS 36270 Neutral Gray was mixed from six parts Tamiya XF-54 Dark Sea Grey, one part XF-66 Light Grey and six parts white. The same mix was lightened, thinned substantially and mottled carefully over the top.
After masking, XF-24 Dark Grey represented FS 36118 Gunship Gray. The front curved demarcation was sprayed freehand with a very thin mix.
More Neutral Gray was mixed, before being darkened slightly by the addition of Flat Black, and thinned heavily before another careful random mottle was applied.
3 To suggest the faded patchy appearance of RAM coating, the Dark Grey was lightened with white and once again mottled over the base coat.
4
Reference photos showed numerous lighter panels. The smaller examples were sprayed freehand, but two panels in particular jumped out as being more hard-edged, so these were sprayed with the help of masks. The original Dark Grey was tinted with a tiny amount of Flat Black, before being mottled over the top and post-shaded across certain panels, and in small grimy streaks from slats, flaps and control surfaces.
7
After the masks were removed, overspray was added carefully to the base of the tail fairing. The final finish hopefully replicated the dirt and fading present in reality.
6
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5
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BASIC BUILD
LOCKHEED MARTIN F-16CJ
Reference photos showed the falcon and unit badges had faded into virtual obscurity, but it was decided to portray the aircraft at an earlier stage of life.
The radome was painted with XF-63 German Gray and the gear bays were masked and sprayed white. Leaving off the centreline pylon and individual main gear door arms made masking much easier.
“THE AIRFRAME WAS SEALED WITH JOHNSON’S KLEAR FLOOR POLISH”
earlier one too, with the modern two-tone Viper scheme of Neutral Grey and Gunship Grey being the appropriate choice. After using the bird slicer antenna insert, the two relevant kit decal schemes were discovered to be rather pristine flagships, and a more visually interesting option was desired, so an Astra decal sheet
was sourced for a different Wild weasel 'uniform'. With camouflage painting completed, the gear bays were masked and sprayed white; masking was made much easier by leaving off the centreline pylon and forward main gear door retraction arms. The airframe was sealed with Johnson’s Klear
floor polish, before the decals were applied and overall, Astra’s decals behaved well. Meanwhile, the kit markings were used for the weapons and although the carrier film did seem rather thick, they responded reasonably. The stores provide in the kit were gorgeous, but goodness there were a lot of decals to apply! Once these Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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BASIC BUILD
LOCKHEED MARTIN F-16CJ
REFERENCE MATERIAL F-16 Fighting Falcon: Still in the Fight at 40, by Mark Ayton and others (Key Publishing Ltd). Available from: https://shop.keypublishing.com Lockheed Martin F-16A/B/C/D, by Danny Coremans and Nico Deboeck (DACO), ISBN: 90-806747-1-0 Lockheed Martin F-16 Volume 2 Fighting Falcon C to F versions, by Frédéric Lert (Histoire & Collections), ISBN: 978-2-35250-316-3 General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon 1978 onwards (all marks), by Steve Davies (Haynes), ISBN: 978-0-85733-398-8 F-16 Fighting Falcon Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom, by Steve Davies and Doug Dildy (Osprey Publishing), ISBN: 1-84176-994-0 F-16 Fighting Falcon in Action,, by Lou Drendel, David Gebhardt and Darren Glenn (Squadron/Signal), ISBN: 0-89747-490-2
were applied and sealed with more Klear, a medium grey wash was mixed for the Neutral Grey areas, while a very dark grey wash was utilised for the Gunship Grey section. After being left for an
Decaling weapons can be tedious and doing it in 1/72 scale can be laborious in the extreme! They looked great once completed, however, and the fins on the air-to-air missiles were particularly good and sharp.
hour or so, it was cleaned-up with dry cotton buds. Annoyingly, a few hairs had settled in the Klear, so after careful sanding with damp 2,500-grade Wet and Dry paper, the offending areas were re-sprayed with Klear. To avoid over-handling a matt finish, as much final assembly as possible took place before the last coat of varnish. Thankfully this was a fairly smooth process, although it was necessary to thin the rearmost main gear door arms to get the doors themselves to sit properly. With as much attached as possible, including missiles, everything was muted with Xtracolor Matt Varnish. Have Glass RAM finishes seem to exhibit various levels of sheen, from
matt to metallic shine, but this author was happy with something towards the more muted end of the spectrum. With the canopy masks off, the last elements of final assembly posed few issues, although the fuel tanks fitted tightly and so a little persuasion was required.
Winning Weasel This was an exceptional kit and it can only be hoped that more F-16 variants are on the way. The overall level of detail, finesse and sharpness, coupled with excellent fit and weapons options, means Tamiya has surely produced one of the finest 1/72 scale kits available today; truly superb and ❚ enjoyable to build.
“THERE WERE A LOT OF DECALS TO APPLY!”
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IN FOCUS
F-16CJ ‘WILD WEASEL’ After topping up its tanks from a KC-135, F-16CJ 92-913 drops away from the tanker during a May 2000 Southern Watch sortie. The Viper is armed with three AMRAAMs and a single AIM-9L for self-defence, two HARMs, two fuel tanks and the intake-mounted HARM Targeting System pod. (all photos AB Ward unless stated otherwise)
The Lawn Dart has Fangs Key Publishing’s Glenn Sands examines the current ‘Wild Weasel’ F-16 and its combat debut
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“
T
he scariest thing was probably a surfaceto-air missile...it’s coming for you, it means to kill you” – a quote from an F-4 Phantom pilot during the Vietnam War. Things haven’t changed too much for fighter pilots because there are still SAMs out there, but there is a new way to kill them. For the United States Air Force (USAF) it’s with the Lockheed Martin F-16CJ. In the late 1980s, the USAF planned to replace the antiradar/SAM F-4G Phantom with a Follow-On Wild Weasel (FOWW) to spearhead the manned lethal suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) mission, but, by the beginning of 1990, it was
clear that there would be a long gap between the retirement of the F-4G, the USAF’s premier SAM killer, and the introduction of a new aircraft. In the early 1990s there was one possible solution dubbed ‘Weasel in a can’ – a podded system would be able to provide a fighter with some of the capabilities of the F-4G’s APR-47 emitter location equipment. The desired fighter was the F-16 (called ‘Viper’ by its crews) but for the next three years very little was made public about the concept. The only information released, was that General Dynamics and Texas Instruments had started a highly classified operational design study to explore the concept, although specifics were
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IN FOCUS
F-16CJ ‘WILD WEASEL’ never disclosed. By April 1991 a contract was signed covertly that would produce the ASQ-213 HighSpeed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) Targeting System (HTS) for the F-16. The first unit was delivered in September 1993 and the first batch by June 1994. The principle function of the HTS is to allow the F-16 to fire the AGM-88 HARM in ‘range-known’ mode. A simple passive receiver determines the bearing of hostile radar, but can’t measure its range. If range is known, the HARM can tailor its flight profile accordingly either for increased range or shorter time of flight; and the missile can distinguish between two targets on the same bearing and different ranges. The HTS incorporates a steerable antenna, which can search a wide field of regard around the aircraft. Once a target is acquired, the F-16 flies a standard manoeuvre, which allows the
F-16CJ 90-825, from the 14th FS/35th FW, sits on the End Of Runway (EOR) arming area at Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia, before a Southern Watch sortie. The significance of the nose art is unknown.
HTS to triangulate the emitter and determine its target. The system was upgraded when it entered service, including massive improvements initiated after the GM-Hughes Precision Direction Finding (PDF) System, intended for a definitive FOWW based on the F-15, was cancelled in 1994. The Block 50/52 F-16 arrived on the scene at a time of very rapid change at Fort Worth. In the mid- to late-1980s, the F-16’s prospects were booming. The USAF was planning to sustain the fighter force of 37 active,
Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve wings. The majority would be F-16-equipped, because the service planned to retire its A-10s and all future F-15s would be ‘Echo’ model strike aircraft, which were expensive and would not be acquired in large numbers. The USAF intended, as far as possible, to replace all its F-16A/Bs with later versions. The result, at the beginning of 1991, was that the Fort Worth production line was set to deliver some 180 F-16s in that year... so many that General Dynamics had trouble keeping up with
HARM mission markings, possibly earned during the 1999 war in Kosovo, grace the fuselage of F-16CJ 91-355 of the 55th FS/20th FW, from Shaw Air Force Base. Here it is seen at Nellis AFB during a Red Flag exercise in January 2000. Loaded for a July 1999 Iraqi No Fly Zone mission, this WW-coded 13th FS/35th FW Viper is armed with AMRAAM and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, and totes an asymmetric load of an AGM-88 HARM under the starboard wing and an AGM-65 Maverick under the port wing. (AB Ward)
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IN FOCUS
F-16CJ ‘WILD WEASEL’
Wild Weasel Vipers are in great demand during Red Flag Exercises, where they form an essential part of every package. This CJ is parked on the Nellis ramp during January 2000, and carries an Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation pod on the starboard wingtip station, with a training Sidewinder out of view on the adjacent wing rail.
production schedules. However, the end of the Cold War brought a reduction within the USAF fighter fleet to 26 ½ fighter wings, and the knock-on effect for GD was a reduction in the US order; by 1994 F-16 production was reduced to 60-70 aircraft a year, many of which were F-16C/ Ds of the Block 50/52 series.
Taming Bosnia It would be the ‘lead’ USAF squadrons that were to receive the ‘new’ SAM-hunting F-16CJ first. Senior USAF generals agreed that F-16 squadrons based overseas, particularly those operating in ‘high-threat’ areas were to receive the ‘new’ Wild Weasel F-16CJs as a priority. A reflection of the importance
placed on the type was demonstrated during operation Deliberate Force, as part of NATO’s No-Fly Zone, above Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1994. Following the loss of one USAF F-16 flown by Captain Scott O’Grady, due to a SA-6 missile over Bosnia in June 1995, eight F-16CJ Block 50s from the 52nd Wing at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, carrying HARMs and equipped with the ASQ-213 HARM Targeting System, were deployed. Nine HARMs were fired during Deliberate Force, and all were judged effective in shutting down the targeted radars (although this does not necessarily mean they hit or destroyed their intended targets; the US has been coy about
revealing the true accuracy of HARMs fired by F-16s over Bosnia). But no NATO aircraft were fired on when Weasels were in the vicinity, despite the fact that they were operating at medium altitudes within range of radar-guided SAMs. The replacement of the F-4G by the F-16C Block 50/52 remained controversial, though, and there were die-hards who argued that one pilot cannot fly the complex mission. However, the F-16 Wild Weasel operators countered that the F-16’s faster computers and more modern displays make up for the difference. The system becomes more effective as its software and hardware are upgraded – an easier task than in the older computers of the
F-4G – and the Weasel mission itself had changed with the introduction of an Improved Data Modem, which permitted much closer integration of Weasel/nonWeasel F-16s and other air assets such as the RC-135 Rivet Joint. Critics would only be silenced when Wild Weasel F-16CJs proved themselves in combat and there were to be many more opportunities to come for the anti-SAM Vipers to demonstrate their prowess. As F-16CJs policed the skies over Bosnia, others enforced the No-Fly Zone over Iraq. The Viper had been operating in the area since August 1990 and had conducted countless low-level strikes against Saddam Hussein’s weapons-making and storage facilities as part of Operation Desert Fox in 1998. Sixteen F-16CJs from the 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, South Carolina flew alongside F-16C/ Ds from a host of units deployed from the US.
Shock and awesome On the evening of March 19, 2003, the US commenced Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) – the Second Gulf War. The first priority of OIF was to take control of the battle space, necessitating an extensive SEAD effort to remove key individual components of Iraq’s integrated air defence system (IADS). This would require all 71 F-16CJs to be deployed to the theatre of operations. The USAF commitment to this objective was spearheaded by F-16CJs of the 77th Fighter
Awaiting the attention of groundcrew, F-16CJ 90-825 waits on the EOR at Prince Sultan Air Base, Al Kharj, prior to a Southern Watch sortie during August 1999.
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IN FOCUS
F-16CJ ‘WILD WEASEL’
Proudly wearing the ‘WW’ Wild Weasel code of the 35th FW, 92-884 flies on the wing of a KC-135 during a May 2000 Southern Watch sortie. The low angle reveals the CJ’s weapons fit; wingmounted AMRAAM missiles for selfdefence, HARM for defence suppression and 600 gal (2,271 lit) fuel tanks. The centreline pylon mounts an ALQ-184 ECM pod, while the HTS pod sits snugly under the air intake.
Squadron (FS), from Shaw AFB. The ‘Gamblers’ were deployed to Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia, where they would be the dominant squadron in the 363rd Air Expeditionary Group (AEG). The 363rd AEG would also be home to eight Block 50 F-16CJs from the 14th FS ‘Samurais’, 35th FW, Misawa AB, Japan. Following a failure for air bases within Turkey to be used during the campaign, F-16CJs of the 22nd FS ‘Stingers’ and 23rd FS ‘Fighting Hawks’, 52nd FW, Spangdahlem AB, Germany, were duly reassigned to Al Udeid AB, Qatar. The 379th AEW, to which Spang’ CJs were assigned, was also home to F-16CJs of the 175th FS ‘Lobos’, 169th FW, South Carolina Air National Guard (SCANG). The three CJ squadrons were assigned SEAD and destruction of enemy air defences (DEAD), time-sensitive tasking and close air support (CAS) as their primary missions. For one F-16CJ pilot the opening hours of OIF would be a complete surprise. While conducting a ‘routine’ patrol as part of Operation Southern Watch he was re-tasked in flight to support a F-117 sent to strike a site purported to be housing Saddam Hussein. In the event, Hussein was not there. But the F-16CJ had just been part of the opening gambit of OIF.
Search and strike In the early stages of the war, the Wild Weasel Viper was
often assigned to SEAD Escort role; each jet loaded with two HARMs and assigned to protect a coalition package of strikers. SEAD escort required F-16CJs to
fly in close coordination with the main force on their wait to the target, sniffing out radar nodes and threats, and pre-emptively employing the AGM-88 from
Also known as ‘weasel in a can’, the HARM Targeting System pod and its mount on the air intake are clearly visible on this 35th FW Viper, on the End of Runway area at Al Kharj, in May 2000.
stand-off ranges in a bid to keep threat radars offline. The AGM-88’s pre-planned mode made this an effective mission – the HARM was fired at a suspected site regardless of whether it was emitting. Based on precise and thorough preflight planning, timings were calculated so the HARM would be in the air as the strikers were over the target...their most vulnerable point. If the threat radar came online during the missile’s time of flight, the HARM’s sensitive seeker would detect the radar energy and issue corresponding guidance commands to steer the missile towards the source. The main priority was to get the emitters off-air as soon as possible, or to dissuade them from coming online at all. The battle space across Iraq, as it had been in 1991, was divided into kill boxes to allow strikers assigned to CAS and battlefield air interdiction (BAI) to work specific areas and avoid a blue-on-blue engagement. But for the F-16CJs, they were free to roam wherever they wished during their on-call SEAD vulnerability time. When they were tasked to fly support in one of the kill boxes, there was no telling what they’d be called on to do. They struck hard targets such as ammunition bunkers, but at other times special forces troops would call that they were under fire and needed support. Occasionally Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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IN FOCUS
F-16CJ ‘WILD WEASEL’
The 52nd FW at Spangdahlem AB, German (SP tailcodes), is a long-time Viper operator and flew standard F-16Cs in ‘hunter-killer’ pairs with F-4G Phantom IIs, before it received dedicated Wild Weasel F-16CJs. (Key Collection)
a show of force was all that was required. Several times the F-16CJ was called on to use its 20mm M61-A1 gun to strafe soft mobile targets on the ground. A few days into OIF it became readily apparent that the Iraqi IADS was not going to fight to its fullest capacity. More often than not, the F-16CJ’s HTS detected just spurious transmissions, and the most potent threat came from mobile systems. The requirement to change tactics and mission type became increasingly apparent as more and more Wild Weasels returned home from sorties with a full weapons load.
Adjusting tactics Accordingly, the F-16CJs of the 52nd Wing and SCANG shifted to a precision strike DEAD role; they employed the Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) and WindCorrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) against visually acquired threats, pre-planned targets, and in support of forward air controllers. Pre-planned targets were often fixed SAM sites; on one mission an F-16CJ dropped a JDAM on an SA-2 launcher and then rolled in and released a WCMD on an adjacent SA-3 site while the JDAM was still airborne. On these missions, pairs of Wild Weasels flew mixed loads: one
jet carried HARMs, and the other GPS-guided weapons (typically a JDAM on one wing and WCMD on the other). But in one area the USAF had not learnt lessons from the 1991 Gulf War – the squadrons still did not have an adequate number of targeting pods, only this time it was a lack of AAQ-28 Litening II pods. Most had gone to the F-16CG units operating Block 30 Vipers. Pilots flying the F-16CJs had to rely on assistance from ‘other sources’ to positively identify and conduct collateral damage estimates on their targets. As Iraqi resistance crumbled, F-16CJs began flying
’Fighting Hawks’ F-16CJ from the 23rd FS/52nd FW carries a SUU-30 practice bomb dispenser under the port centre wing pylon, with an AIM-9L Sidewinder next to it. AMRAAMs are fitted to the wingtip rails, while a AN/AAQ-14 targeting pod hangs from under the air intake. (Key Collection)
{74}
DEAD and flexible tasking sorties, armed with AGM-65 Mavericks and supported by a wingman with two JDAMs. Maverick was a useful weapon, not only due to its effect on a target, but also because of the lack of targeting pods; it was the closet the F-16CJs came to using an electrooptical or infra-red sensor system to find and attack targets.
Critic killer The emphasis USAF planners placed on the F-16CJ units is represented by the combat activity of just one squadron during OIF. The 77th EFS employed 170 CBU-103s, 105 AGM-88s, 52 GBU-31s, 16 AGM65s and in excess of 7,000 rounds of 20mm PGU-28. The squadron engaged 338 ground targets, destroyed 104 SAMs, radars and AAA pieces, and destroyed or disabled 20 tanks and APCs, 26 trucks and 36 aircraft. Shaw’s pilots and maintainers had flown/generated 676 sorties for a total of 3,803.5 combat flying hours by the time the war ended. This was just one of six F-16CJ squadrons committed to the campaign. The success of the Wild Weasel F-16CJ squadrons silenced the critics once and for all, demonstrating to the world that the ‘lightweight lawn dart’ as the F-16 was sarcastically referred to in the early years by its critics, had come of age...and in the SAM hunting role was as good as the F-4G Phantom had ever been. ❚
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ON THE SHELF BOOKS
BUCKETS OF INSTANT SUNSHINE
The Cold War was anything but cold to the men and women of Strategic Air Command (SAC) in the 1950s-60s, the period covered by Jet Age Man.
its operations. Although a less hazardous aircraft to fly, it too had its share of peculiarities that kept air and groundcrews on their toes, and the loss and accident investigation of ‘Meal 88’, a B-52 on a practice bombing mission, is recounted in detail. The book is capped by listings of B-47 and B-52 accidents and nuclear weapons incidents. I actually served as a SAC aircraft maintainer in the late 1970s, and McGill does an excellent job of conveying the SAC experience: endless training, Operational Readiness Inspections and alert duty to prepare for, and ultimately prevent, nuclear war. His
writing is entertaining, and makes the reader feel a part of the story...and conveys a vivid and believable picture of life in SAC during the period in question. PJ
BOOK SPEC
Author McGill’s memoir covers 15 years of flying the B-47 and B-52, rising from rookie co-pilot to aircraft commander and instructor pilot on both aircraft. He describes Boeing’s B-47 Stratojet bomber as “The sweetest killer I ever flew”, and his memoir is full of harrowing tales that prove the point. The Stratojet was unforgiving of complacent or unskilled pilots, and many aircraft and crews were lost to accidents and mishandling. Cold War notwithstanding, some also became victims of hostile action as well. McGill then moves to the B-52 Stratofortress, and the second half of the book covers
Jet Age Man - SAC B-47 and B-52 Operations in the Early Cold War By:
Lt Col USAF (Ret) Early J. McGill
ISBN:
978-1-909384-94-1
Price:
£21.95
Format:
234mm x 156mm
Available from: Helion & Co Ltd, www.helion.co.uk
WINGS NORTH OF THE BORDER
BOOK SPEC
It was with relish that I read this book about one of the UK’s most famous aircraft bases, having been stationed there in the late 1980s...and so I’ve experienced the re-heat from F-4s and Tornados battering my ears. But over time I’ve often Northern ‘Q’ The History of Royal Air Force Leuchars By:
Ian Smith Watson
ISBN:
978-1-78155192-9
Price:
£20
Format:
240mm x 164mm
Available from: Fonthill Media, www.fonthillmedia.com
thought about what came before, and this book proved to be the perfect guide. While most know Leuchars as a Cold War air defence hub close to the home of golf at St Andrews, a fascinating array of types has rolled down the runways since the facility became operational in 1920. The book details all the aircraft and units, from the Sopwith Camels and Nieuport Nightjars of the Fleet School of Aerial Fighting, to the Eurofighter Typhoons that only recently left for more northerly climes at RAF Lossiemouth. A staggering list of aircraft lies in between, with examples being the Fairey Flycatcher, Blackburn Blackburn, Hawker
Nimrod and Osprey, Avro Anson, Bristol Blenheim, anti-Submarine Hudson and B-24, Lancaster ASR/GR.3 and Spitfire XVI/XIX. A most interesting mention is that of the aircraft flown in British Overseas Airways colours, at the hands of RAF crews, in clandestine World War Two missions to and from Sweden. And then there are the jets, of course...Meteor, Hunter, Javelin and Lightning. Absorbing narratives regarding Soviet interceptions abound, including the Lightnings scrambled to intercept “eighty unidentified tracks coming round the North Cape”. These materialised as seemingly countless finger-
fours of Badgers and Bears...what a sight that must have been! With its intermittent black and white photos, this is a revealing examination of what was a very busy station. CC
SAGE ADVICE FROM THE SPANISH SCHOOL
{78}
to. The book does explode the myth that superb scratchbuilding can only be achieved by the ‘gods’ of the hobby; in
reality, anyone can achieve great results with patience, and the right tools and materials. Worthy examples include the detailing of undercarriage legs with plastic tube and soft lead wire, working with metal landing gear, adding extra embellishment to a radial engine with wire and styrene, and the improvement of in-line powerplants with various mediums. But despite the book’s title, there’s still coverage of basic painting, such as metal finishes on and around jet engines, sanding and polishing, re-scribing, offsetting flying surfaces and a whole lot more.
It’s all heady stuff, with example build subjects including an Me 262, He 162 and F/A-18 Hornet. If you've bought the first volume, you most certainly won’t want to miss the rest! CC
BOOK SPEC
This is the second instalment in the softback series from the MiG Jimenez stable (we reviewed part one in September 2015 issue), and this time author Quijano goes beyond cockpits and their painting to other internal areas, such as undercarriage bays, engines (piston and jet) and how to scratch-build the insides of panels. The methods are imparted in step-by-step fashion, with super-clear photography, and while much of the work involved is arguably aimed at more experienced modellers, there is still plenty for the novice to inwardly digest and aspire
Encyclopedia of Aircraft Modelling Techniques 2 – Interiors and Assembly By:
Diego Quijano
ISBN:
978-84-943891-3-9
Price:
€25
Format:
A4
Available from: www.migjimenz.com
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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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
FENCER: STILL GOING STRONG! detailed, informative text and a mammoth collection of revealing imagery. There’s much to learn in the realm of basic history, but it’s when one explores the more focussed chapters, such as those on the different sub-types, weaponry and airframe features, that one really gains vital detail for modelling. The many weapons shots are useful in the extreme; armament is so often an area that is not covered properly and modellers do sometimes fall down in its scale depiction. Besides the splendid walk-round photos, there is also a wealth of colour profile artwork, which
portrays Russian and export versions, and the many examples of unique airframe art seen on Su-24s. Whether one has the 1/72 Dragon/Italeri or new Trumpeter kit (or 1/48 boxings from the latter), this is arguably the best reference available. CC
BOOK SPEC
Ironically, while this new book was being studied for review, Russian Fencers commenced bombing missions over Syria...but this is not the first time the type has been flown in combat. The
Su-24 participated in the last five years of the decade-long Afghan War, closer to home in the Chechen and RussoGeorgian Wars, and the recent Ukrainian conflict; in export hands it was an element in the First Gulf War on the Iraqi side, and in the more recent Libyan and Syrian Civil Wars. Besides its obvious powerprojection capabilities, the type is fascinating in general, and so is a well-considered choice for Crecy’s Famous Russian Aircraft series. This thumping 352-page hardback unpeels the Fencer like no other book, with the full story laid out with
Sukhoi Su-24 By:
Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Komissarov
ISBN:
978-1-857-80370-9
Price:
£39.95
Format:
287mm x 215mm
Available from: Crecy Publishing, www.crecy.co.uk
OVERSHADOWED BOMBER
BOOK SPEC
Avro’s Manchester has, unsurprisingly, always sat in the shadow of its descendent the Lancaster...in history, book publishing and modelling terms. Of course, many know the type to be underdeveloped despite three enlargements of its The Avro Manchester – The Legend Behind the Lancaster By:
Robert Kirby
ISBN:
13: 978-1-78155285-8
Price:
£50
Format:
255mm x 180mm
Available from: Fonthill Media, www.fonthillmedia.com
flying surfaces, and it was the only aircraft to be fitted with the Rolls-Royce Vulture engine operationally. While it undoubtedly contributed to Bomber Command’s early-war failures, it equipped seven RAF squadrons and notably helped to deny German capital ships the naval base at Brest. Luckily, cool heads prevailed and the Manchester was eventually developed further into the legendary Lancaster. This thumping 509-page Fonthill hardback is the last word on the type, with its superbly researched history, personal accounts, descriptions of raids and individual missions. If one
likes a rounded read andplenty of background, the book offers very useful appendices, such as Manchester crew evader reports, lists of squadrons and commanders, sortie and dispatch statistics, and losses. A truly massive amount of information has been shoehorned into this work, and one will not be better informed by data seen elsewhere. There’s also a pleasing collection of black and white photos, although it would have been good to see some used at a larger size. As it’s the new ‘bible’ on the type, too, it would also have been useful to have colour profiles...but that’s just a minor niggle. If one can’t find
the elusive Planet Models kit, Blackbird Models is to release an Avro Manchester conversion designed for Airfix’s new-tool Lancaster...and this magnificent book will be the perfect companion! CC
BRITISH DOUBLE-UGLY CELEBRATION to portray the Phantom at its very best. All RAF squadrons are represented, and many views are of the air-to-air variety so we can enjoy the drama and the
unmistakably aggressive lines of the type. There is a scattering of Royal Navy birds included, and special schemes such as 111 Squadron’s ‘Black Mike and the all-blue 19 Squadron jet, but in general every image offers something useful in modelling terms. Tactical green and grey mixes with low-vis air defence grey throughout (including the ‘’Flint Grey’ of the F-4JUK), and many pages carry a single image, which means a high measure of sumptuous detail. Captions are also apportioned to the back of the book, to leave the imagery
uncluttered. Yes, there are a great many F-4 studies out there, old and new, but this example should not be missed by anyone who loves, and intends to model ‘Blighty’s Rhino’. CC
BOOK SPEC
Ian Black will always be known as the last pilot trained to fly the mighty Lightning, but he also flew the RAF’s Phantom FGR.2. Many modellers will already own his previous photographic books, including 2014’s critically acclaimed study of the Lightning, and in this self-published project some of Ian’s best photos make the pages. The binding factor is that all the shots are splendid... and the coffee table style more than does justice to the subject. This hardback limited edition work also benefits from the landscape format, which helps
F4UK Phantom 1968-1992 By:
Ian Black
ISBN:
N/A
Price:
£39.99
Format:
257mm x 316mm
Available from: Firestreak Books, www.firestreakbooks.com
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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Airfix Yearbook 2016
1916 An Illustrated History
This is the first ever Yearbook from Airfix and besides highlighting new kits for 2016, it also offers a 2015 retrospective, model builds, aircraft type history, hints and tips on starting out in modelling...and full listings of all Airfix and Humbrol products. 132 pages, special magazine.
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Vulcan Farewell Special FlyPast magazine presents a unique 84-page souvenir devoted to a much-loved icon: Vulcan XH558. Created with the assistance of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, with breath-taking photography and amazing archive images, the story of the world’s only civilian operated V-Bomber is revealed. 84 Pages, Special Magazine.
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Pearl Harbor to Coral Sea Book 70th Anniversary Special, mainstreaming on the colour schemes and markings carried by the Imperial Japanese Navy’s pre-emptive strike force aircraft and the defending USAAC and USN / Marine aircraft based at Pearl Harbor and then Midway. 100 pages, Softback.
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RAF Trainers Volume 2 - 1945-2012
Continuing the coverage of the colour schemes and markings of aircraft used to train the pilots and aircrew for the RAF, ‘RAF Trainers Volume 2 1945 - 2012’ covers the changeover from immediate postwar piston-engined aircraft, through the 1950s and in to the jet age of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and in to the present era. 84 pages, Softback.
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The year 1916 will always be remembered for the Battle of the Somme. Overshadowing the fighting in the Middle East and East Africa, the Irish Easter uprising and even the greatest naval engagement in history at Jutland, it is the Somme that has come to epitomise everything that was both heroic and hopeless in the world’s first global conflict. 132 pages, special magazine.
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Victory 1940 Book
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Victory 1940 presents a pictorial chronology of the legendary Battle of Britain, when the might of the Luftwaffe was defeated for the first time, by Churchill’s ‘Few’. The history of the battle has been recounted many times, but this publication offers a new and exclusive approach, through John Dibbs’ razor-sharp contemporary imagery of restored Battle of Britain warbirds, combined with previously unpublished archive material. Hardback, 228 pages.
Code: B487
Operation Overlord Volume 2 Book
Operation Torch Book The colour schemes and markings of the aircraft, from both sides, involved in Operation ‘Torch’, the first AngloAmerican amphibious operation of World War Two.
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Hawker Hunter in RAF Service Book Covers one of Britain’s classic postwar jet aircraft, which first entered RAF service in July 1954. This special edition includes numerous colour photographs. Also available: a series of decals from Fantasy Printshop. 92 pages, Softback.
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Adler Gegen England Book Covers all the major phases of the Luftwaffe’s war against the British Isles, and the camouflage schemes and markings applied to the aircraft types it employed. 76 pages, Softback.
Pictorial coverage of the very colourful schemes and markings applied to the USAAF’s 8th and 9th Air Forces’ aircraft during ‘Operation Overlord’ from June to September 1944. 76 pages, Softback.
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RAF Trainers Volume 1 - 19181945 Book RAF Trainers Volume 1 offers over 70 pages of profiles and 4-views of the bright and often gaudy colour schemes and markings applied to RAF aircraft used in the Training Role from the end of World War One and the creation of the RAF in April 1918 until the end of World War Two in May 1945. 76 pages, Softback.
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The Thunderbolt DVD Under the command of group Commander Archie J. Night, the 65th Squadron of P47 Thunderbolt’s, were based in 1944 on Corsica and charged with implementing Operation Strangle, to resolve the impasse of The Gustav Line, with the aim of liberating Rome. Region 2 DVD.
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The most widely manufactured and deployed German tank of WWII, the Panzer IV. Robust and reliable, it saw service in all combat theatres involving Germany, and has the distinction of being the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout the war, with over 8,800 produced between 1936 and 1945. The losses it felt however on the Eastern front were enormous – throughout 1943, the German army lost 2,352, and in 1943 a further 2,643.
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This book not only illustrates the changes in aircraft types, but the camouflage schemes and markings policies of RAF aircraft during this ‘golden age’ of British military aviation. 76 pages, Softback
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Code: DVD685
Panzer IV Tank 1:76 Scale Model
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RAF Middle East and Near East Book
Code: B464
First Generation Harrier in Worldwide Service Book
World War I Female Tank 1:76 Scale Model
The Female version of the MkI tank was produced in larger numbers than it’s Male partner, this was due to the four Vickers machine guns mounted on the sides, which were more effective in combat than the heavier guns carried by the Male tank in the treacherous conditions on the Western Front.
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Colour schemes and markings of the most recognised and loved post-war British-designed military aircraft ever produced. New Feature – archive photographs included.
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AIRCRAFT KITS
PRODUCT SPEC
It’s great to have new toolings of more unusual types, and this ATR from Italeri is welcome indeed. The regional twin-turboprop airliner has been treated relatively well here, with a respectable parts count and, in most places, deft moulding. Some of the fuselage panel lines on our sample were surprisingly rough and uneven, but it’s nothing that a scriber and fine abrasive can’t remedy. The cockpit is good for the scale and has seats, a rear bulkhead and an instrument panel with moulded detail. Wheels up/down options are provided, and to suit the former a smart display stand is offered. The signature curved prop blades look good, window glazing is catered for via two one-piece glue-in multi-pane strips, and ATR 42-500 the three colour schemes (excellent decal sheet) are varied: By: Italeri • ATR 42-50MP Surveyor, 10-03, Item no: 1801 Guardia Costiera, Rome-Ciampino, Scale: 1/144 2011 • ATR 42-500MP Surveyor, MM62251/ Price: £22.50 GF-16, Guardia di Finanza, Pratica Di Available from: Mare, 2014 The Hobby Company, • ATR 42-500, XA-UAU, Aeromar, www.hobbyco.net Mexico City, 2015
COLD WAR BEAST
For those who've tackled Hasegawa’s original MiG-21 F-13, Revell’s ownmould re-release blasts the Asian kit out of the metaphorical skies. While the former is ancient, with raised lines and basic moulding, this beauty ticks all the boxes with its fine engraving, splendid cockpit and excellent undercarriage bays. Stores comprise UB-16-57 rocket pods, what appear to be FAB-500 bombs, possible ECM pods and fuel tanks, while the multi-part SK-1 seat is a great rendition...but the headbox arming plate is moulded in the down (armed) position; if one wishes to pose the canopy open, the plate needs to be MiG-21 F-13 Fishbed C removed and a new item fashioned in the 'up' position. Two schemes By: Revell are offered on the excellent decal Item no: 03967 sheet, and there are stencils and Scale: 1/72 instrument panel detail: • Blue 66, 32 Air Defence Guards Price: £13.50 Regt, USSR, 1961 Available from: • Red 737, S Jähn (first German Revell, www.revell.de/en Kosmonaut, GDR, 1963-65
PRODUCT SPEC
REGIONAL MULTI-TASKER
BREEZE OVER THE DECK
ORIENTAL WATER GOD
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For the reasonable asking price, Special Hobby provides a lovely rendition of the Fouga for French Aéronavale service. The four styrene runners are packed with parts, and the engraving is extensive and well rendered. Moulded instrument panel and side console detail is present, while other thoughtful flourishes include well-appointed wheel bays, open or closed canopies and stowed or deployed wing spoilers. Plenty of spare weapons feature (not carried by the naval trainer, but good for use elsewhere), and the all-important arrester hook is provided. Markings for four metalFouga CM-175 Zéphyr lacquer schemes (three with Day-Glo By: Special Hobby panels) are provided: Item no: 72323 • ‘4’, ex-Esc 59S, BAN HyèresFrance, Scale: 1/72 now at Grimbergen, Belgium • ‘11’, Esc 59S, BAN Hyères, 1970s-1994 Price: €15 • ‘16’, Esc 59S, BAN Hyères, 1970s-1994 Available from: • 57.S.23, Esc 57S-École de Chasse de la Special Hobby, Marine, Khouribga, Morocco, 1959-60 www.cmkkits.com and Port Lyuatey, Morocco, 1960-62
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Hasegawa’s Neptune is very long in the tooth, but has been re-issued here as Japan’s fly-by-wire Variable Stability Aircraft test bed; the 39th production P2V-7 coded 4655 and converted in 1977 by Kawasaki. New resin aerofoil sections for the wings feature, along with a replacement flush fairing for the underbelly radome section, which must be removed. There’s also a white P2V-7 Neptune ‘VSA’ metal pitot tube provided, and an By: Hasegawa appropriate decal sheet for this Item no: 02150 smart red, white and grey scheme. Scale: 1/72 This release allows the building of an unusual subject, but the age of Price: £49.99 the moulds means much sanding, Available from: re-scribing and scratch-building/ Amerang, after-market help to achieve a www.amerang.co.uk quality result.
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ON THE SHELF
AIRCRAFT KITS
IDENTITY CRISIS
ANCIENT ‘BRICK’
CLASSIC CONTENDER
PRODUCT SPEC
Zvezda has worthy opposition to its own Il-62, in the shape of ICM’s version. Although the former’s offers slightly more detail and different flap positions, ICM’s kit is still a great option. This is the second boxing of the mouldings, with white styrene, and a display stand comes on the clear parts runner (which also carries the window strips and windscreen). The engraved panel lines are crisp, and the fuselage halves have window holes in which the clear styrene glazings are fitted...but one could just as easily use Kristal Klear or thinned PVA to render the windows. Ilyushin Il-62M Turbine blade discs are offered for By: ICM inside the engine nacelles, and the Item no: 14406 undercarriage is rendered very well. No interior detail is given though. Scale: 1/144 The three colour schemes are: Price: £17.99 • DDR-SEN, Interflug, GDR, 1989 Available from: • D-ADAJ, Interflug, 1990 ICM, www.icm.com.ua • German Air Force, 1992
PRODUCT SPEC
Revell has re-released Matchbox’s Buccaneer and although the multicoloured styrene is gone, one still has to reconcile with trench-like panel lines and sparse detail. That said, the kit is fine for a younger modeller or novice, and actually conforms well dimensionally to scale plans. There’s a modicum of detail in the wheel bays, engine fan detail is on bulkhead inserts and the wingtips are of the extended variety. The ‘office’ is basic though, with poor seats that sit on steps moulded on the fuselage Buccaneer S Mk.2B inner faces. A one-piece canopy is By: Revell provided, the bulged bomb bay door Item no: 04902 is moulded closed and that’s just as Scale: 1/72 well, because no stores are supplied. The decal sheet gives one RAF Price: £9.50 scheme: XW533/A ‘Miss Jolly Roger/ Available from: Sky Pirates/Glenfarclas’, 208 Sqn, Revell, www.revell.de/en Muharraq, Bahrain, 1991
SWING-WING SNOOPER
Trumpeter’s all-new Su24 depicts the ‘MR’ tactical recce variant, which carries sideways-looking aircraft radar (SLAR), and cameras under the fuselage and port air intake. The box is crammed with parts: type-specific features, such as the octagonal nose panel for the SLAR, and fuselage centreline camera/TV fairing are present, along with well-rendered general highlights–a workmanlike cockpit with reasonable seats and accurate moulded instrument panel, up/down refuelling probe and missile warning device on the upper fuselage. Sadly, the wedge-shaped under-intake camera is missing, and so Su-24MR Fencer-E are any MR recce pods. Just a wingsBy: Trumpeter forward position is possible, but the kit Item no: 01672 does offer a mass of weaponry that, Scale: 1/72 although not applicable to the MR, can be used on other builds; this may also Price: £32.99 point to an attack Fencer release. Two Available from: colour schemes are given: Pocketbond, • Blue 33, Ukraine Air Force www.pocketbond.co.uk • White 34, Russian Navy
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Trumpeter is making the most of its base moulds for the Skywarrior, but in doing so it has become confused. This release is billed as an EA-3B electronic warfare version; the airframe here has the correct tail ECM fairing and other relevant antennas, but it still has a weapons bay (in the EA-3B, this was a sensor operator’s station). Also, the colour schemes are for A3D-2 attack versions and not the EA-3B, and the fuselage is missing windows and a EA-3B Skywarrior Strategic crew door on its starboard side for the Bomber EA-3B, along with the canoe-shaped By: Trumpeter fairing under the belly. In short, this is Item no: 02871 still just an A3D-2 (A-3B), and not an Scale: 1/48 EA-3B. The kit does have absolutely super moulded detail, though, and Price: £59.99 three sheets of photo-etched brass. The Available from: US Navy schemes are: Pocketbond, • 142406/4/NH, VAH-10 www.pocketbond.co.uk • 142401/611/NH, VAH-13, USS Kittyhawk
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ON THE SHELF
AIRCRAFT KITS
SPARKY SUPER BUG
NOCTURNAL FLYING PENCIL
GOLDEN RAPTOR
PRODUCT SPEC
For all its fame, the Beaufighter hasn’t been issued as a 1/144-scale styrene kit until now, and Mark I’s release is impressive. The parts are moulded beautifully with fine engraving, and the airframe is furnished with a well-detailed interior and seats for pilot and navigator. Purists may regard the transparencies as being slightly thick, but for most they’ll be spot on; wingtip lights are also provided. Although just a wheels-down option is given, it will be simple to omit the undercarriage and close Bristol Beaufighter Mk.If the doors. There are four schemes: By: Mark I Models • R2248/WM-S, 68 Sqn, RAF High Item no: MKM 14434 Ercall, autumn 1941 • X7671/WP, 89 Sqn, RAF Abu Sueir, Scale: 1/144 Egypt, spring 1942 Price: €15.95 • T4637/NG-O, 604 Sqn, RAF Middle Available from: Wallop, autumn 1942 4+ Publications, • V8318/F, 252 Sqn, RAF El Magrun, www.4pluspublications.com Libya, spring 1943
The Japanese passion for colourful commemorative schemes, and Hasegawa’s for re-working its kits, is a match made in heaven. Here it has re-boxed its long-in-the-tooth JASDF F-15J with striking dark blue/ black markings for a Chitose-based 203 Sqn aircraft in 2014, when the unit celebrated its 50th anniversary. The quality and detail provided by Hasegawa’s mouldings cannot be faulted, especially the finely engraved panel lines and well-appointed F-15J Eagle ‘203 Sqn 50th cockpit. However, the need to purchase separate weapons sets just Anniversary’ to portray the aircraft on the box By: Hasegawa cover does make for an expensive Item no: 02132 package. As expected, the decals are Scale: 1/72 of the highest quality, and feature full stencil data (which includes Price: £29.99 chaff/flare dispenser ports), with Available from: stunning liveries for the vertical Amerang, stabilisers as part of the striking www.amerang.co.uk special paint scheme.
PRODUCT SPEC
MINIATURE TWIN
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Having already moulded the later Do 215 airframes, ICM has taken a step back in time and released a newly tooled Do 17Z variant, the -10 night fighter. As expected, the kit is packed with detail, particularly the interior, and a long-range fuel tank is provided for those who wish to display open bomb bay doors. The Z-10’s distinguishing feature was the almost conical nose, with four MG 17s and one or two MG FF cannon around a central Do 17Z-10 WW II German infra-red searchlight, and ICM has Night Fighter captured this perfectly. Highlights By: ICM include a single-piece upper wing Item no: 48243 section, with its engraved panel detail, and two intricate engines. Two Scale: 1/48 overall black schemes are provided: Price: £26.99 • R4+LK, I/NJG 2, Gilze-Rijen, 1940 Available from: • R4+AK, 2./NJG 2, Gilze-Rijen, ICM, www.icm.com.ua October 1940
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Hasegawa’s excellent EA-18G Growler gets another outing, this time with the colourful green dragon livery of VAQ-130 ‘Zappers’. The basic F/A-18F offering has been augmented with the relevant lumps, bumps and antennas for the Growler electronic warfare variant, and clear annotations indicate which panel lines need to be filled or scribed on the forward fuselage. However, where this kit really scores is the provision of a full weapons load, with options for ALQ-99 electronic countermeasures pods and AIM-120 AMRAAM and AGM-88E EA-18G Growler VAQ-130 missiles on the wing and/or fuselage Zappers pylons. A choice of moulded detail or decals is offered for the cockpit By: Hasegawa interior, and the markings provide a Item no: 07390 complete set of weapon and low-vis Scale: 1/48 airframe stencils in addition to the squadron livery. But it is surprising Price: £59.99 that none are provided for the black Available from: demarcations on either the vertical Amerang, stabiliser leading edges or the www.amerang.co.uk fuselage spine.
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ON THE SHELF
MILITARY KITS
PAPER OBSERVER
ARMOURED CANINE
£49.99
Available from: The Hobby Company, www.hobbyco.net
BATTLEFIELD MEDIC
NEW-TOOL HAULER
PRODUCT SPEC
Revell has capitalised on its excellent GTK eight-wheeler with this splendid ambulance version. The main difference is the raised rear structure, and components for this are supplied on a single new runner. As with the previous version, Revell has captured the exterior perfectly, down to the characteristic circular ‘bumps’ that adorn the sides and top of the upper hull, and the suspension is superb. Disappointingly, the rear section interior is that of the standard armoured personnel carrier, and will require substantial effort to convert into an accurate medical module. By contrast, the eight vinyl wheels are excellent, GTK Boxer sgSanKfz with clearly defined tread, and a By: Revell length of steel wire is provided for the communications antenna. Two Item no: 03241 NATO green/black/brown schemes Scale: 1/35 are offered: Price: £26.99 • Y 430 421, SanLehr Regiment, Available from: 2013 Revell, www.revell.de/en • ISAF Afghanistan, 2013
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PRODUCT SPEC
Price:
While Mk.IV tanks are cool, Great War modellers will love having an alternative in The moulding is generally very good and a bonus is individual track links. The way the machine’s side armour and mud chutes are is moulded is clever and eases construction, while the machine guns are sublime. A small photo-etched brass fret carries equipment hooks Mk A Whippet WWI Medium and other surface items. The interior Tank is bare, but it would be amazing if By: Takom some enterprising after-market Item no: 2025 firm didn’t oblige soon. Eight colour schemes are given and these include Scale: 1/35 captured vehicles; examples are: Price: £39.99 • A321, British Army, near Achiet-leAvailable from: petit, France, 1918 Pocketbond, • A347/ B/6 ‘Firefly’, 6th Btn Tank www.pocketbond.co.uk Corps, B Company, Amiens, 1918
Here’s a splendid and 100% new option for military fans. The KHD moniker refers to the Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz factory, which produced this ubiquitous 3t truck during the war years. ICM’s version is impressive, with pleasing moulding; a detailed engine is provided, and there’s a sweet piano hinge along one of the individual engine covers. Full suspension and drive train parts are also offered, and there are bare hoops on the flatbed section, KHD S3000 so one can show a load or create a By: ICM tarpaulin cover. There is no wood grain Item no: 35451 moulded on cargo bay parts, but in Scale: 1/35 this scale that’s no bad thing. The vinyl tyres have decent tread, and a clear Price: £22.99 runner carries windscreen/window and Available from: headlamps parts. Three scemes (Heer ICM, www.icm.com.ua and Kriegsmarine) are offered.
PRODUCT SPEC
imparted by the pre-punched styrene sheets for side skirt armour plates. A minute decal sheet provides three Balkenkreuz, for two schemes from prospective units.
PRODUCT SPEC
Dragon has developed a penchant for obscure subjects and this release of an apparent ‘paper’ Panther artillery observation vehicle is typical. The usual mix of runners from various kits are included, notably the Panther Ausf.A/D, which means plenty of spares, yet the parts are excellent in terms of moulding. Interior detail is limited to the Pz.Beob.Wg.V Panther mit breech for the 5cm gun, although the 5cm KwK.39 exterior is to this company’s usual high standards and the hull and turret weld By: Dragon seams are noteworthy. Modellers will Item no: 6821 be pleased with DS styrene or Magic Scale: 1/35 Track individual links, and the realism
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SPHERE PRODUCTS Stands to reason
www.sphereproducts.co.uk Make the most of
Albion Alloys Broken Toad Dark Star Expo Tools Lifecolor Vallejo Wilder Winsor & Newton Zap Glue E S P H RE
your workspace with our range of Storage Systems, Workstations, Transit Cases and Modelling Aids.
Bespoke Design and Manufacture Service.
Designed and made in England
[email protected] 19 Anson Road, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, Suffolk IP5 3RG +44 (0)1473 636787
Buy from us on ebay, search for ‘Oxonians’, or email me
[email protected] Come and see us at many of the southern UK Model Shows
ON THE SHELF
MARITIME KITS
MULTI-PURPOSE CRUISER
PEARL SURVIVOR
Scale:
1/700
Price:
£19.99
Available from: The Hobby Company, www.hobbyco.net
ROYAL FIRST
Trumpeter’s release of the USS Tennessee is crammed with parts and the level of detail approaches that of 1/350 kits. It shares several runners with Colorado-class kits, and this includes sufficient parts to build five twin turrets from the latter class and an excellent photoetched metal (PE) fret. The deck sections are particularly notable, and these feature gorgeous engraved wood grain moulding on the plastic. Options include styrene or PE aircraft catapult and cranes, gun barrels with or without blast bags, and the choice of a waterline or full-hull vessel, for which a stand is provided. Trumpeter has been meticulous in capturing the detail, none more so than with the multitude of 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannon and Carley rafts that adorn the deck and superstructure. It appears to be a growing trend to mould 1/700 aircraft in clear styrene, and the two examples of the OS2U USS Tennessee BB-43 1944 Kingfisher observation floatplane By: Trumpeter are superb, with separate main Item no: 05782 and wing floats. The single scheme is of USS Tennessee in Scale: 1/700 1944, when it was camouflaged Price: £29.99 with the Measure 32 scheme of Available from: Light Gray, Ocean Grey and Black, Pocketbond, with Deck Blue and Ocean grey www.pocketbond.co.uk horizontal surfaces.
PRODUCT SPEC
for anyone interested in naval models, as assembly is simple and straightforward. Just a single scheme is offered, for Mogami, although sister-ships Mikuma or Kumano could also be built.
PRODUCT SPEC
Lead vessel for a class of four light cruisers, Mogami’s short career was marked by constant upgrades, first to a heavy cruiser and then an aircraftcarrying cruiser. Tamiya’s re-release includes runners from other Mogamiclass kits, as well as two from the Japanese Heavy Vessel Ordnance set. Mogami is portrayed in her pre-1939 configuration, with five triple 6in (15.5cm) guns in turrets positioned fore and aft of the superstructure. The use of generic runners provides a great source of spares for other maritime projects, and has also enabled Tamiya to produce both later versions of this ship. While the hull and superstructure components feature raised detail, the moulds are sharp and flash-free, and the Japanese Light Cruiser quality of the smaller components, Mogami particularly the aircraft and antiBy: Tamiya aircraft guns, is top-notch. This Item no: 31359 would be a perfect beginner kit
SOUTHERN BATTLESHIP
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Following on from its USS New York, Trumpeter has now issued the second in class, the USS Texas. The contents reflect accurately upon the changes that occurred on the vessel during World War Two, with new runners for the superstructure. In a departure from single-piece hulls, Trumpeter has elected for a two-part structure, reinforced by four thick bulkheads, which will ensure rigidity. Great efforts were made to reproduce the complex design of the bridge superstructure accurately, which comprises more than 30 styrene and PE parts. Four photo-etched metal frets provide a wealth of additional refinements, from ladders and railings to the large cranes and turret-mounted aircraft catapult. While the majority of styrene parts are first-rate in terms of accuracy and detail, the hull halves feature over-scale weld seams and inaccurate hull bulges, particularly towards the stern of USS Texas BB-35 the vessel. The former will be easy to rectify, but the bulges will need By: Trumpeter considerable effort to correct. Item no: 05340 Just a full-hull version can be built, Scale: 1/350 although a neat stand is provided. The single scheme depicts Texas as she appeared in 1945, when it was in Measure 21 camouflage, which featured Navy Blue vertical and Deck Blue horizontal surfaces.
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
The lead vessel in a class of dreadnought battleships, HMS Queen Elizabeth served in both World Wars, and Trumpeter’s release depicts the vessel as it appeared in 1941. It exhibits the same high quality moulds as seen in recent Trumpeter kits, and again raises the bar for the level of detail incorporated into a 1/700 offering. The main highlight is the two-piece deck, which features crisply moulded secondary gun tubs and excellent breakwater and anchor chain detail. Waterline and full-hull versions can be built, with a decent stand provided for the latter. Other options include the use of moveable or fixed gun barrels, although the former do not provide blast bag covers. Further details for the funnels, rangefinders and ladders are offered on a small photo-etched metal fret. A full complement HMS Queen Elizabeth 1941 of four Walrus amphibious By: Trumpeter reconnaissance aircraft is Item no: 05794 provided on two clear runners, although usually just one was Scale: 1/700 visible out of the hangars. Price: £30.99 Just a single livery is provided, Available from: for when the battleship was Pocketbond, assigned to the Royal Navy’s www.pocketbond.co.uk Mediterranean Fleet.
Price:
£69.99
Available from: Pocketbond, www.pocketbond.co.uk
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MODEL MART
CLASSIFIEDS
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
Unmade or already built, any quantity, especially large collections, also diecast models & books. Will collect nationwide and pay best cash price.
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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
SILVER HORSE
SUPERCAR RACER
RALLYING QUEEN
Aoshima has re-boxed its sublime Lamborghini Murciélago, with markings for a GT1 racer. With 20 white, black, clear or chrome-plated runners, vinyl tyres and paint masks, this kit is packed with detail. The interior is particularly well appointed, and features a full roll-cage and engine bay, although there is just a left-hand drive option. Aoshima has cleverly broken the exterior into Lamborghini Murciélago multiple parts to capture accurately R-SV 2011 GT1 Zolder #38 the complex exterior lines, but thankfully, they fit snugly into place. By: Aoshima Options include open/closed engine Item no: 007181 cover and doors, and metal struts Scale: 1/24 are provided for when these are in the open position. Two schemes are Price: US $38.59 provided, for car numbers #37 and Available from: #38 of the Münnich Motorsport/ Aoshima, All-Inkl.com Racing team with its www.aoshima-bk.co.jp/en striking red/white/black livery.
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
The Ford Mustang is one of America’s most recognisable cars, and Revell’s newly tooled 2014 version includes a pre-painted body shell. Runners are moulded in various colours, which would indicate that this is aimed at the beginner, and may be assembled without the need for painting. Interior detail is excellent, although there is just an option for a left-hand drive vehicle, which may limit which number plates can be used. On this sample the decal sheet, which features Revell’s usual collection of registrations, was rather poorly 2014 Ford Mustang GT trimmed, and almost cut through By: Revell several markings. Just a single scheme Item no: 07061 is provided, with an overall Ingot Silver body shell and dark blue stripes; Scale: 1/25 however, it would appear that the 2014 Price: £19.99 Mustang was not available with this Available from: combination, as references indicate the Revell, www.revell.de/en stripes should have been black.
CHEVROLET’S CLASSIC
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Revell has re-issued its Camaro as the 2014 ZL1 version as part of a series of 1/25 kits, which include a pre-painted body shell (and pre-assembled windscreen), and features a metallic red finish. Multiple runner colours intimate a kit for beginners, but there are comprehensive paint annotations for those who wish to add more detail. While the moulding is good, there is just a single option, for an open/closed bonnet, which will enable the intricate engine and transmission to be viewed. In this sample, though, 2013 Camaro ZL1 there was a large gap between body By: Revell and windscreen. Registrations for at Item no: 07059 least eight countries are provided, Scale: 1/25 but Revell has surrounded several decals with dotted ‘cut here’ lines, Price: £19.99 despite a lack of surrounding carrier Available from: film, which will make application Revell, www.revell.de/en more of a challenge.
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Hasegawa’s Lancia Stratos has been re-released in 1977 Monte Carlo Esso Aseptogyl colours, as driven by Christine Dacremont. This is an unusual kit in that it features detailed suspension and a driver’s area, notably the instrument panel, but is otherwise basic, with no options for open doors, boot or bonnet. The single-part body shell is a brilliant piece of moulding, which incorporates the wraparound curves of the lower bodywork and is intended to clip into place over the floor pan Lancia Stratos HF ‘1977 and interior. There is an option Monte-Carlo Rally’ for poseable front wheels, which By: Hasegawa will highlight the clearly defined Item no: 20268 tread on the kit’s vinyl tyres. The packed decal sheet, which is Scale: 1/24 printed by Cartograf and features Price: £34.99 sharp colour boundaries, provides Available from: markings for Dacrement’s car, and Amerang, includes all of the sponsors’ logos www.amerang.co.uk for the 1977 race.
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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ON THE SHELF
DECAL SHEETS
More RCAF Mosquitoes – Canadians in Coastal Command #3 By:
Aviaeology
Item no:
AOD32011
Scale:
1/32
Price:
Can $13.39
Available from: Aviaeology, www.aviaeology.com
Green. One example also has nose art. As usual, the instructions are packed with information and excellent drawings, which include weaponry. Anyone purchasing the decals direct is also entitled to a colour PDF file of the instructions. The liveries, all from 404 Squadron RCAF, at Banff, Scotland, during April-May 1945 are: • RF838/EO-A ‘Annygumchum’ • RF851/EO-H • RF882/EO-Z • RF856/EO-P, Wg Cdr EO ‘Teddy’ Pierce • RF880/EO-X, Wg Cdr EO ‘Teddy’ Pierce
SOVIET PEOPLE-CARRIER
PRODUCT SPEC
This sub-brand from Fündekals :) enables plenty of choice if one wants more variety when building a Zvezda or ICM Il-62. This selection focuses on 13 Aeroflot airframes, with plenty of differences in the liveries to make the purchase worthwhile. The choices include an IL-62M Salon, and the instructions advise how to render the spine-mounted HF secure communications antenna fairing fitted to several of this sub-type. The printing is superb,
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Ilyushin IL-62 ‘Classic’ Aeroflot 1973 Scheme By:
Liveries Unlimited
Item no: N/A Scale:
1/144
Price:
US $10
Available from: Liveries Unlimited, www.fundekals.com
Obviously printed with Revell’s impressive 1/32 Hunter F.6 and FGA.9 in mind, this dazzling array of markings allows the portrayal of nine Hunters that served with the RAF. Besides the colourful sheet shown here, two others carry roundels and all the black serial numbers and letters. Mark 6 and 9 Hunter schemes are provided, although if one feels brave enough for the required conversion work, liveries for straight-wing F.4/5s are given; all schemes are lovely, though, most having the large squadron bars of the 1950s-60s. These decals were produced to complement the excellent AIRfiles oftback reference books on the type, and these are now available from Key Publishing (https://shop. Hawker Hunter in UK Service Pt .1 Single Seat Variants By:
Fantasy Printshop
Item no:
FPAF 32-001
Scale:
1/32
Price:
£19.95
Available from: Fantasy Printshop, www.fantasyprintshop.co.uk
keypublishing.com). This is a real riot of colour, and example schemes include: • F.6, XJ680/A, 20 Sqn, RAF Gutersloh, W Germany, 1959 • F.6, XF383/14, 229 OCU (145 Sqn), RAF Duxford, 1960 • F.4, WV275/D, Sqn Ldr R Chapman, CO IV (AC) Sqn, RAF Jever, West Germany, 1956 • F.5, WP130/S, 34 Sqn, RAF Tangmere/Nicosia (Operation Musketeer), November 1956 • FGA.9, XF421/C, 8 Sqn, RAF Khormaksar, Aden, 1962
NAVY WINGS
but do note that all Fündekals :) sheets need their instructions downloading via PDF files. They are in colour and are very informative in terms of airframe/ engine differences. Besides the sheet shown here, two others carry black codes and glazing decals. Examples include: • IL-62, 50103/CCCP-86663, 1979 • IL-62M, 4521617/CCCP-86622 ‘Official Olympic Carrier’, 1978 • IL-62M Salon, 46748339/CCCP86712 ‘Sovietski Soyuz’, Soviet Government, 1990 • IL-62, 3037314/CCCP-86512, wet lease to Air India, 1988-91 • IL-62M, CCCP-86577
Designed with Revell’s recent quarter-scale Stearman kit in mind (see build and history features
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
With the release of Tamiya’s new 1/32 Mosquito FB.VI, we now have a wonderful example of the type...but the company’s decals are known for being rather tricky when it comes to application. Fear not, though, because Canada’s Aviaeology has this superb package of RAF Coastal Command liveries as an alternative. What is very interesting is the suggestion of an ad hoc variation of the two-tone Night Fighter scheme, with paler grey being used instead of Dark
COLD WAR CLASSIC
PRODUCT SPEC
MOSSIES OVER WATER
N2S-3 Kaydet USN Primary Trainer By:
Starfighter Decals
Item no:
48 10
Scale:
1/48
Price:
US $20
Available from: Starfighter Decals, www.starfighter-decals.com
in this issue), Starfighter’s comprehensive collection of markings for said type will provide a wealth of variety. Basically, the two sheets provided offer generic code numbers, different national insignia and wing/fuselage ID bands in Black, Insignia white, Insignia Red and Willow Green. From these, one can portray a myriad of Stearmans from different units. Example BuNo blocks are provided on the instructions, along with useful notes about the markings.
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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ON THE SHELF
DECAL SHEETS
GLOBAL TWIN-PROP
SPITFIRE SUMMER
PRODUCT SPEC
DeHavilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter By:
Iliad Design
Item no: 72015 Scale:
1/72
Price:
US $12
Available from: Iliad Design, www.iliad-design.com
• UV-18, 76-22565/AK-NG, Alaska Army National Guard, circa 1979 • Twin Otter Series 300, 65-CT/ FMO, ET 2/65, Multinational Force & Observers, Sinai, 1989 • Twin Otter Series 300, HB-LRR, International Committee of the Red Cross, Algeria/Afghanistan, 2004
PRODUCT SPEC
Xtradecal really has led the charge this year with markings to commemorate the battle of Britain’s 75th anniversary. This second instalment of quarterscale Spitfire liveries provides four options in the standard Dark Green and Dark Earth over Sky/ Sky Grey, and two have small examples of artwork that sit on the forward fuselage. The printing is up to Xtradecal’s usual high standard. These are perfect for Airfix’s newtool Mk.I Spitfire, and the 1940 liveries are:
The re-release of Revell’s Twin Otter kit would inevitably prompt at least a couple of after-market decal sheets, and here’s Iliad Design’s effort. Variety is here in spades, with two camouflaged military machines, keeping company with another pair that have an altogether less-warlike appearance. The Canadian example in red is particularly striking. Here are the four options: • DHC-6 Series 300, FAE 449, Ecuadorian AF, September 1994 • Twin Otter Series 300, C-FCSU, Transport Canada, coastal pollution surveillance, 2006-7
By:
RAM Models
Item no:
RAM144-001
Scale:
1/144
Price:
£12.99
Available from: RAM Models, www.rammodels.co.uk
Xtradecal
Item no: X48145 Scale:
1/48
Price:
£7.99
• Mk.IIa, P7357/LZ-I, Flt Lt C Green, 421 (Recce) Flt, RAF Gravesend, November • Mk.Ia, X4253/FY-N, Sgt Wilfred Duncan-Smith, 611 Sqn, RAF Rochford, September • Mk.Ia, L1027/LO-A ‘Izal get You’, 602 Sqn, RAF Westhampnett, August 15 • Mk.Ia, EB-L, Plt Off T Shipman, 41 Sqn, RAF Catterick, July
A ‘FEW’ MORE FIGHTERS Revel in even more Battle of Britain schemes with Xtradecal’s coverage of this pivotal point in our wartime history. The five Hurricanes sport the expected colours and markings, and subtle nose art also features on some. Arguably, the standout livery is that of an Auxiliary Air Force aircraft with a smart red and white lightning flash, and redwhite-blue spinner. Got Airfix’s all-new 1/48 kit?...then these are for you! The five options, all Mk.Is in 1940, are: • P3675/UF-S, 601 (County of London) Sqn, RAF Exeter, September • P3010/DX-?, Sqn Ldr JWC
based at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, are: • XV104 ’40 Years of RAF Service’, 2006 • XV102 ‘Celebrating 1,000 Years of Oxfordshire’, 2007 • XV105 ‘90th Anniversary of 101 Squadron’ • XR808 ‘95th Anniversary of 101 Squadron
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Vickers VC10 C.Mk.1K RAF Anniversary Markings
By:
Available from: Hannants, www.hannants.co.uk
BRIZE SUPPORT SPECIALS Anyone with Airfix’s out-of-production VC10 in the stash should certainly consider RAM’s new quartet of schemes... all of the ‘special’ variety, with varying degrees of colour to enliven the low-visibility grey. The sheet offers all the required stencilling, refuelling pod markings and window decals, and the printing (by Fantasy Printshop) is very good. The options, all 101 Squadron jets
Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary Pt.2 Supermarine Spitfires
Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary Pt.2 Hawker Hurricanes By:
Xtradecal
Item no:
X48146
Scale:
1/48
Price:
£7.99
Available from: Hannants, www.hannants.co.uk
Simpson, 245 (Northern Rhodesia) Sqn, RAF Aldergrove, August • P2831/LE-K, RJ ‘Dickie’ Cork RN, DSO, DSC, 242 (Canadian) Sqn, RAF Duxford, August • P3221/SO-K, Flt Lt AH Boyd, 145 Sqn, RAF Westhampnett, August • LE-T, possibly flown by Sub Lt RE ‘Jimmy’ Gardner RN, 242 (Canadian) Sqn, RAF Duxford, August Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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ON THE SHELF ACCESSORIES
By:
Eduard
Item no:
48839
Scale:
1/48
Price:
€14.95
Available from: Eduard, www.eduard.com
RHINO IMPROVEMENT
AH-1Z Exterior By:
Eduard
Item no:
48845
Scale:
1/48
Price:
€22.45
Available from: Eduard, www.eduard.com
TADPOLE TANKER
This great little set from Owl is designed to fit the AZ Model kit of this German sailplane. It provides all that is necessary to detail the cockpit area on a single photo-etched brass fret, and includes fine rudder pedals, a tow cable release handle and a choice of instrument panels for either Luftwaffe or foreign operators of the type. Helpfully, pre-painted covers for the latter are provided in RLM 02 and wood colours, which will simplify assembly. Grunnau Baby II By:
Owl
Item no:
72009
Scale:
1/72
Price:
€3.35
Available from: Owl, www.owl.cz
CM WHEELS
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE This release from Plus Model is perfect for a German military maintenance diorama, and provides all of the necessary equipment to depict the recharging of vehicle batteries. In addition to the expected generator, jerrycans and batteries, there is a workbench with a variety of smaller batteries and a storage box. Thoughtfully, the distilled water container has been provided as a clear resin item, which will add extra realism to the scenario. The resin is cast beautifully, with excellent detail on the generator and batteries.
PRODUCT SPEC
F-4J Air Brakes
No matter how good a kit is, there’s always room for extra refinement and this photoetched metal set will improve the appearance of Kittyhawk’s AH-1Z dramatically. In addition to the usual grilles and antennas, it provides a host of parts for the avionics bay equipment and the interior of the engine access doors. A prepainted interior set is available for those seeking greater detail in the cockpit area.
GLIDER UPGRADE
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Academy’s 1/48 F-4J needs little improvement, but one such area is the airbrakes, and Eduard's remedy is that rather than replacing the styrene parts entirely, these metal components attached over the inner faces of the airbrakes and bays. Moulded features will need to be removed from the plastic before they are added, but the delicate detail provided is far better than in the kit.
ZULU DETAILS
PRODUCT SPEC
JULIET DRAG
German Battery Charger By:
Plus Model
Item no:
444
Scale:
1/35
Price:
€19.60
Available from: www.plusmodel.cz
LIQUID STORAGE
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QMT
Item no: 72003 Scale:
1/72
Price:
TBC
Available from: QMT, www.q-m-t.cz
By:
Steel Beach Accessories
Item no:
SBA48133
Scale:
1/48
Price:
US $11.99
Available from: Sprue Brothers, www.spruebrothers.com
508 CM Coloniale Wheel Set By:
SBS Model
Item no:
35034
Scale:
1/35
Price:
€12
Available from: SBS Model, www.sbsmodel.com
Royal Model has a great reputation for detailed resin that depicts everyday objects, and this release provides various plastic chemical/ water containers and bottles. Six different types of receptacle are included, with two well-cast examples of each. The small decal sheet is notable, as it offers warning labels for the chemical containers.
PRODUCT SPEC
By:
KA-6D Conversion
PRODUCT SPEC
FG Mk.1 (F-4K) Exterior Set
There has been a renaissance in 1/48 A-6 Intruders, and Steel Beach now provides the means to build the KA-6D tanker...overlooked by other manufacturers. Designed for Hobby Boss’ offerings, it comprises seven finely cast resin parts, and enables one to build either an early or late tanker (different antennas). Replacement parts are included for the refuelling fairing and instrument panel, with separate basket, fuel tank rear section and a basket/hose guide.
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
A new name to the hobby, Quick Model Detail (QMT) has produced a brilliant photoetched metal (PE) update set for Fujimi’s 1/72 Phantom FG.1. The PE is produced by Eduard, and as expected is of the highest quality, with parts to embellish the airframe, canopies exhausts, undercarriage and external fuel tanks. Of particular note are the reinforcement strips for the horizontal stabilisers and the replacement inlet at the base of the vertical tail.
Designed to fit Italeri’s 1/35 508 CM Coloniale, this neat set replaces the kit’s styrene wheels with superior resin items and provides a mounting lug for the spare. The casting is top notch, and the delicate tread of the tyres has been captured perfectly. Perhaps the only omissions are the tyre inflation valves. For those seeking that extra detail for the remainder of the vehicle, SBS Model also provides interior and exterior sets.
Plastic Chemical/Water Containers and Bottles By:
Royal Model
Item no:
648
Scale:
1/35
Price:
€16
Available from: www.royalmodel.com
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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ON THE SHELF ACCESSORIES
BRL144110
Scale:
1/144
Price:
€8.78
Available from: Brengun, www.brengun.cz
FIAT UPGRADE
508 CM Coloniale By:
SBS Model
Item no:
35021
Scale:
1/35
Price:
€14
Available from: SBS Model, www.sbsmodel.com
By:
Limes Model
Item no:
35041
Scale:
1/35
Price:
€3.90
Available from: www.limesmodel.hu
COLD WAR KILLER If one has a 1/48 Foxbat on the build list, Plus Model’s superb resin AA-6B Acrid missile are just the ticket for portraying a MiG-25P interceptor. Two stores are provided and come in multiple resin parts, with the option of protective covers for the seeker heads. Not shown here are the sensor covers provided in photo-etched brass (these will need to be rolled to fit) and the extensive decal sheet that’s packed with stencils.
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
We highlighted SBS Model’s interior for Italeri’s Coloniale in October’s issue, and here we have the firm’s set for the exterior. It’s a wellconsidered resin package, with a rear luggage compartment and separate hatch, and the canvas roof in folded format. Also provided in resin are lids for the storage boxes mounted on the front mudguards. The boxes themselves are photoetched brass items, which come on a fret that also carries steps, the folding frame for the roof and other fine details.
Iron bench A-type
Russian missile R-40T AA-6B Acrid By:
Plus Model
Item no:
AL4044
Scale:
1/48
Price:
€12.30
Available from: www.plusmodel.cz
Spitfire Mk.V gun bays By:
Eduard
Item no:
648 198
Scale:
1/48
Price:
€14.95
Freightdog’s new foursome of thousand-pounders is relevant for British military aircraft of the 1950s. Cast in resin, no flash is apparent and they are sized appropriately. The ballistic tail unit is defined by a circumferential panel line, and these weapons can be fitted to a wealth of types from the period.
PRODUCT SPEC
Brengun
Item no:
STORES QUARTET
Available from: Eduard, www.eduard.com
SLEEK KITTY
Occasionally it is fun to pose a model with aircrew figures and wheels up, but it can be tricky getting the undercarriage doors to sit properly. But one can banish the fuss if building Hasegawa’s quarter-scale F-14 ‘Bombcat’, with these clever onepiece resin wheel bay plugs. The door panel detail is represented in full, and these units will make life much easier if modelling an in-flight format. F-14B/D Inflight Plugs By:
Steel Beach
Item no: SBA50001 Scale:
1/48
Price:
US $14.99
Available from: www.spruebrothers.com
1,000lb bomb x 4 By:
Freightdog Models
Item no:
FDR72089
Scale:
1/72
Price:
£4.50
Available from: www.freightdogmodels.co.uk
MATERIAL DETAIL Thachweave produces very clever and beautifully crafted gear to breathe life into military builds, and this 1/35 cam net is no exception. It’s a medium-sized rolled net, in brown and two shades of green, handmade from 100% cotton and silk; the quality is splendid and this size is ideal for, say, fixing to the bonnet of a Jeep... but would be equally at home on various US softskins and armour. Winter colours are also available.
PRODUCT SPEC
By:
If one is the sort of modeller who craves extra detail, no matter the quality of the base kit, then why not go with these neat gun bay parts designed for Airfix’s new 1/48 Spitfire Mk.Vb? The set offers B-wing armament, so that’s two 20mm cannon and magazines, and four .303 machine guns, with panels (all in resin), as well as full bay linings in photo-etched brass. It’s a great way to improve an already sublime kit.
PRODUCT SPEC
F-18A/C
It’s the subtleties of any diorama that make it convincing, and items such as this excellent park/ street bench can make all the difference. The laser-cut card package offers the cast iron bench ends, with a decorative pattern, and four seat planks. Once the latter are given an oil wash, or painted, this bench will be a neat feature of a diorama or vignette, be it civilian, military or both!
WING WEAPONS
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Modellers who work in 1/144 scale have no reason to sacrifice detail, with Brengun’s eye-popping PE for Revell’s F/A18C. This set offers inserts for the fuselage strakes and weapons pylons, HUD frame and boarding ladder, chaff/ flare ports, flap actuators and more. One will need perfect peepers or serious magnification, but a showstopping small-scale legacy Hornet will be the result.
TAKE IT EASY
PRODUCT SPEC
TINY BUG BITS
Camouflage Net Stowage (Medium) By:
Thachweave Products
Item no:
TWN02
Scale:
1/35
Price:
Can $10
Available from: www.thachweave.tripod.com Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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ON THE SHELF ACCESSORIES
By:
Eduard
Item no:
648 201
Scale:
1/48
Price:
€14.95
Available from: Eduard, www.eduard.com
COOL CARGO
Mosquito Mk.IV interior SA By:
Eduard
Item no:
32840
Scale:
1/32
Price:
The belly tank in Airfix’s 1/72 Supermarine Swift fighter is not quite right dimensionally, according to Freightdog, which has found an actual Swift fuel tank storage box to measure! This new one-piece resin unit just needs its small pour stub cutting from the front and then it’s good to go...a direct replacement for the kit part. Swift FR.5 corrected belly tank By:
Freightdog Models
Item no:
FDR72088
Scale:
1/72
Price:
£3
Available from: Freightdog Models, www.freightdogmodels.co.uk
€18.95
Available from: Eduard, www.eduard.com
EXTRA RANGE
BIG CAT METAL
DELTA ARMOURY Any modeller with the Mirage III/5 on the favourites list will be drooling over this cool new weapons package from Belgium’s PJ Production. All cast crisply in pale yellow resin, the following items are provided: 2 x Matra R550 Magic and pylons, CES-3 pylon, Phimat chaff/flare dispenser, Barrax and Barracuda ECM pods, PM3 ventral pylon with 2 x Alkan P65 adapters, 2 x STRIM bombs, 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinders with rails, 2 x LAU-32 and 2 x LRF-4 rocket pods, and 2 x JL-100 fuel/rocket pods with CRP-18 pylons. This is a superb collection of stores no Mirage fan should be without.
PRODUCT SPEC
Spitfire Mk.VIII gun bays
If one wants to go further than the kit parts during a build of HK’s new large-scale, glass-nosed Mosquito, Eduard’s set offers extra detail via plain photoetched brass and pre-coloured metal. Features include radio embellishment, rudder pedals, instruments, a throttle quadrant and more. The pre-painted components for the instruments and radio are some of the best so far produced by Eduard.
BIG BULGE
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Similarly to the firm’s new set for Airfix’s 1/48 Spitfire Mk.V, Eduard now has this great package for its own Spitfire Mk.VIII. Much fun will be had in installing these busy gun bays, which comprise resin frames and gas feed pipes, ammo boxes, gun breeches and wing panels. Brass details are included but surgery is necessary; nothing drastic though, even for the average modeller with a few builds under his/her belt.
MOSSIE ADDITIONS
PRODUCT SPEC
WINGS WITH BITE
Mirage IIIE/5F Weapons Set By:
PJ Production
Item no:
721214
Scale:
1/72
Price:
€17.80
Available from: PJ Production, www.pjproduction.net
MULTI-PURPOSE STORE
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Red Zebra Models
Item no: N/A Scale:
1/35
Price:
£10
Available from: www.redzebramodels.co.uk
By:
Eduard
Item no:
36306
Scale:
1/35
Price:
€22.95
Available from: Eduard, www.eduard.com
AH-1/UH-1 External Aux Tank By:
Werner’s Wings
Item no:
48-10
Scale:
1/48
Price:
US $9
Available from: Werner’s Wings,
More Miragerelated goodies from PJ come in the shape of these two resin RPK fuel tanks, which also act as bomb racks. Eight bombs are supplied, along with separate sway braces, and the stores are suitable for use on the Mirage 5F, Australian IIIO, Mirage 50, Panthera and other derivatives.
PRODUCT SPEC
By:
Pz.Kpfw.V Panther (Ausf.D)
PRODUCT SPEC
Crates and Rolls
PRODUCT SPEC
PRODUCT SPEC
Red Zebra’s set of eight resin storage crates, loaded with various tarpaulin/bedroll loads, have a multitude of uses for military and civilian vehicles in 1/35 scale. The sculpting is impressive, with plenty of difference between all, and with the proliferation of truck kits on the market, from World War Two to the Cold War, these treats will find plenty of applications.
While some may find the extra cost limiting, those who covet photoetched brass (and are willing to open the wallet) will enjoy this extensive metal bundle from Eduard, for Zvezda’s recent Panther D. The exterior of the tank will benefit hugely from the new mudflaps, rear deck mesh screens, tool holders and brackets for items such as the jack block, details for the spare aerial tube, locking pins on chains and much more. There are even fastening levers for the rear stowage bins.
Helicopter modellers have an interesting option in this new resin fuel tank, which is suitable for AH-1W/Z and UH-1N/Y builds. The auxillary tank comes in one piece and is also supplied with the associated pump assembly, but one must scratch-build the necessary connecting hoses. Our sample had a faint mould seam on it, but gentle sanding will eradicate any blemishes and ultimately, this is a useful piece of kit for rotary wing fans, especially if they have the new Kitty Hawk kits. Colour photos are provided on the instructions.
R.P.K Tank By:
PJ Production
Item no:
721215
Scale:
1/72
Price:
€14
Available from: PJ Production, www.pjproduction.net
Airfix Model World www.airfixmodelworld.com
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THE PLASTIC SURGERY ASK THE EXPERTS
Sponsored by
Airfix Model World’s team of experts answers your modelling questions
New-age painting and weathering mediums
Q
“After a long lay-off I’ve started plastic modelling again, and have bought some AK Interactive paints and weathering sets...but have no real clue how to use them efficiently. Could I please ask for some expert advice?” Patrick Janssen, Belgium, via-e-mail Kristof Pullinckx, of AK Interactive, replies: “All our acrylic paints are made from top quality components, with the result that they only need to be shaken and they’re ready to use. When applied by brush they also have a greater degree of coverage. In the case of our figure series, you can use
them directly by brush and if you decide to load these paints into your airbrush, you can easily dilute them by adding 40% of our acrylic thinner. You can dilute our colours with tap water, although we recommend our specific thinner for the best results. Don’t forget that you can use AK’s colours (label with brush & airbrush) directly from the bottle without dilution. If you want the best results for painting camouflage or thin lines, you can add a few drops of our specific thinner, useful for all types of acrylics; the AK-712 thinner improves the performance of the paint. Filters: These are designed to achieve subtle tonal variation,
especially vehicles in monotone camouflage. Simply shake and apply directly from the bottle with a moist, flat brush. Washes: The basic technique used to weather any type of model is the wash, a classic method that is still one of the most popular in modelling today. After shaking the bottle, apply the wash with a large brush to pick out details and create shadows. Excess wash can be removed easily with a clean brush and white spirit. Effect: The engines and transmissions of many vehicles offer a special aspect, where grease and the remains of spilt fuel are the protagonists. These enamel-based effects just need to be painted on. For a lighter effect you can dilute them with white spirit. Streaking effects: Apply your streak with a fine pointed brush and let the paint dry for about ten minutes. Next take a moist (white spirit) flat brush and swipe with gentler pressure over the earlier applied streak to soften the effect and create a natural look. Pigments: These can be applied either dry or wet depending on your taste and the desired goal.
Mix them with Pigment Fixer or white spirit to apply them wet, but when you decide to apply the pigments dry you can later fix them in place with either Pigment Fixer or white spirit.”
Contact us Do you have a modelling conundrum regarding techniques or references? If so, why not quiz our band of contributors, history writers and industry contacts? Simply send your query via e-mail (with The Plastic Surgery in the subject line), to:
[email protected], or a typed letter by post to: The Plastic Surgery, Airfix Model World, Key Publishing Ltd, PO Box 100, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1XQ, United Kingdom. Please provide your postal address. Each question printed will receive a selection of Ultimate Modelling’s sanding sticks worth approximately £15. For further details on Ultimate Modelling products, please visit www.umpretail.com
THE NEXT ISSUE IS ON SALE: DECEMBER 3, 2015* *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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