Airfix Model World Issue 074 (January 2017)

AIRFIX WORLD EXCLUSIVE!

VICTOR B.2

SPRAY SPOTLIGHT

Airbrush gear guide

Jan 2017 Issue 74

BATTLE STANDARD

70

Kinetic’s 1/48 Super Étendard build and reference

PRODUCT REVIEWS

IT'S HERE! AIRFIX'S ALL-NEW

VICTOR B.2 LONE-STAR LIBERATOR Hasegawa’s 1/72 B-24J

WAR PRIZE

Brach Model’s 1/35 Lorraine 37L

£4.40

EDITOR'S DESK WELCOME

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WELCOME TO ISSUE 74

Y

ou’re reading the words of a very happy modeller this month. Those who know me well are familiar with my life-long passion for the F-4 Phantom, so imagine my glee

after Zoukei-Mura’s 1/48 F-4J finally went on sale (special offer at Telford). But as if that wasn’t enough to stimulate my ‘Spook gland’, Airfix goes and announces an all-new 1/72 Royal Navy F-4K for release next October. It’s a fact that Cold War jets are still the most-requested subjects by Airfix fans, and the company has done us proud in recent years with items such as the Vampire, Swift, Gnat and Jet Provost. The Phantom, though, was surprising to me when I learned of it, and I predict it had the same effect on many a visitor to the Airfix stand at Scale ModelWorld. If ever LIDAR scanning was required for a subject it would

be the F-4; while its curves are recognisable instantly, they are not easy to replicate with 100% accuracy. Fujimi’s kit did a fair job of looking like a British Phantom, but Airfix’s will exhibit better shape and detail…with highly desirable features not available on the Japanese tooling. On a tangent, I mentioned Scale ModelWorld earlier and I must say, I enjoyed the 2016 event more than many others from the past two decades or so. There was a relaxed atmosphere, yet still a busy hum on both days and much to inspire in the competition room. A full report will feature in next month’s issue. Telford was also the perfect arena in which to

unveil the first volume in Key Publishing’s new reference book series, Combat Machines. Being the Series Editor, it was obvious to me to choose the B-17G as the inaugural subject, to coincide with Airfix’s glorious new 1/72 kit. AMW’s history writer Malcolm V Lowe has written the book and offers the most factually accurate examination of the sub-type thus far. It’s going to be fun deciding what we tackle next time!

Chris Clifford, Editor [email protected]

A subscription to Airfix Model World makes a great gift this Christmas.

See pages 72-73 for details.

Editor: Chris Clifford Assistant Editor: Stu Fone Editor's Secretary: Tuesday-Maria Osborne Contributors this issue: Andy Davies, Andy Hay, Kev Smith, Steve Budd, Joe Turner, Brian Wakeman, Mark Attrill, Ian Hartup, Mike Grant Art Editor: Tom Bagley Group Art Editor: Steve Donovan Group Editor: Nigel Price Production Manager: Janet Watkins Commercial Director: Ann Saundry Group Advertising Manager: Brodie Baxter Advertising Manager: Sarah Jarman Advertising Sales Executive: Elizabeth Ridge Classified Sales Executive: Hollie Keeling Ad Production Manager: Debi McGowan 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 800-428-3003 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 2015 was 12,524 print and digital copies monthly.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 3

CONTENTS WHAT'S INSIDE?

REGULARS 06 News The latest happenings in the world of plastic modelling.

10 Show Scene At-a-glance model show calendar.

12

EXCLUSIVE BUILD VICTOR B.2

72 Give the gift that lasts all year! A subscription to Airfix Model World makes a great gift this Christmas. See pages 72-73 for details.

74 On the Shelf Sixteen pages of reviews highlight the latest modelling and reference products from around the world.

98 The Plastic Surgery Quiz AMW’s team of contributors, history writers and industry contacts regarding your own modelling mysteries.

ProdUCt UCt FOCuS 42 Airbrush gear guide BUILD LORRAINE 37L 26 ADVANCED

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Airfix Model World

BUILD BREWSTER BUFFALO 68 BASIC

CONTENTS WHAT'S INSIDE?

BUILD B-24J LIBERATOR 34 INTERMEDIATE

FEATURES 12 Exclusive Build – Victor Ludorum Thousands of modellers have waited for a newly tooled 1/72 Victor of any mark, but the angst is over as Airfix’s all-new Victor B.2 is now due. Andy Davies builds a test-shot and reckons you won’t be disappointed.

22 In Profile – Victor B.2 Appreciate the curves and colours of Handley Page’s crescent-winged beauty, via splendid profile artwork by Andy Hay.

24 Your Airfix Ben Davies represents an Air Training Corps legend, courtesy of his reworked Airfix 1/72 Chipmunk T.10

26 Advanced Build – Mademoiselle of Mercy Brach Model’s superb all-resin 1/35 Lorraine 37L is finished expertly as a captured vehicle in German service, by Kev Smith.

34 Intermediate Build – Lone-Star Liberator Steve Budd honours a relative’s wartime service with his build of Hasegawa’s 1/72 B-24 in RAF markings.

42 Product Focus – Airbrushing gear Want to take the plunge with airbrushing? If so, let the AMW team guide you through a selection of suitable products.

46 Intermediate Build – SEMi-sonic Kinetic’s recent 1/48 Super Étendard is built in fine style by Brian Wakeman... with after-market help.

54 In Focus – Battle Standard Mark Attrill imparts the career story of Dassault’s charismatic carrier fighter-bomber, the Super Étendard. Walk-round photos are available online at: www.airfixmodelworld.com

60 Intermediate Build – Open Door Policy Tamiya’s worthy 1/24 rendition of the delectable Mercedes 300SL ‘Gull Wing’ is appraised by Ian Hartup.

60

68 Basic Build – Buffalo Wings INTERMEDIATE BUILD MERCEDES 300SL

Mark 1 Models’ 1/144 Brewster Buffalo kits may be small in stature, but they’re big on detail. Here, Mike Grant builds two examples.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 5

NEWS BULLETIN LATEST UPDATES

BREAKING

NEWS

NEW NAVAL DELIGHTS

BY THE time these words are read, Airfix will have already unveiled its forthcoming 1/72 F-4K Phantom II. A lost wax stereo development model of the type was displayed by the firm at last month’s Scale ModelWorld, Telford, and it caused quite a stir…although some unwitting visitors, not familiar with how plastic kits come to fruition, thought what they saw was the final product! The Royal Navy Phantom is due for October 2017, and will have superb features such as an optional extended nose leg for carrier takeoff, wing folds, a refuelling probe, 2in rocket pods, separate slats

and flaps that can be posed up or down, and a complete radar with radome that can be fixed in the open position. With Fujimi’s old British Phantoms being difficult to obtain, Airfix is filling a long-time gap, and with sharper (and more) detail via LIDAR scanning of a real F-4. Already announced by Airfix (and on the AMW Facebook/ web pages) is the company’s allnew 1/48 Hawker Sea Fury FB.II, which has wing folds, bomb/rocket armament, fuel tanks, a camera pod and rocket-assisted take-off gear. The Sea Fury is also slated for the second half of 2017. For further details, visit: www.airfix.com

PROTECTION AND REALISM MH MODELS has released a batch of 1/32 canopy and markings masks for selected Special Hobby and Azur World War Two fighter subjects. So-called ‘Hi-tech Imatriculation’ sets provide unit codes, serial numbers and (for the Yak-3) a series of lightning flashes for the fuselage

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Airfix Model World

side. The releases include: • X32002 Hawker Tempest Mk.V British Roundel • X32003 Hawker Tempest Mk.V Hi-tech Imatriculation • X32004 Hawker Tempest Mk.V Hi-tech Imatriculation • X32005 Bloch MB-152.C1 Canopy • X32007 D.520C.1 Canopy • X32010 P-36 & Hawk 75A Mohawk Mk.IV Canopy • X32014 Yak-3 Hi-tech Matriculation Mask All will simplify painting greatly, particularly for the Mohawk, with its multi-pane glazing. For more details, visit: www.mhmodels.cz

METEOR ODDITY

AIRFIX’S 1/48 Meteor F.8 is the intended recipient of a new conversion from Brigade Models, which allows the portrayal of the type’s famous prone position testbed, WK935. The unorthodox test machine first flew on February 10, 1954 after being converted from an F.8 by Armstrong Whitworth. The project involved the grafting of an extended nose section to the front of the aircraft, with its own canopy, prone couch and pilot controls, for trials by the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine. Brigade offers a well-rendered resin package here (BKC48002),

which contains a one-piece nose extension with interior detail, couch, instrument panel, control column, canopy insert, NF.12 tail unit, nosewheel doors and a canopy release lever. Also included are two vac-form canopies and the aircraft’s clear lower vision panel. The conversion looks relatively simple despite the need for surgery on the kit parts, and could be a great first-time multi-media project for modellers seeking a more involved build. Beautifully printed decals are also supplied, along with informative instructions. For further details, or to order, e-mail: [email protected]

GLAMOROUS STORM

JAPANESE BRAND Aoshima is renowned for its high-class 1/24 renditions of Lamborghinis… and this new release upholds the tradition. Resplendent in Verde Mantis green on the box, the amazing Huracán (Hurricane) comes via a veritable bonanza of styrene runners, in white, black, pale grey, chrome, clear red and clear orange. There are also stunning aluminium and anodized red/blue wheel options, highly impressive low-profile vinyl tyres, and the body shell is in white to aid painting. A set of masks for the glazing is supplied,

and the naturally aspirated V10 engine is replicated superbly… although super-detailers can undoubtedly make more of this feature. Tail lights are moulded in the correct clear colour, the engine hood opens and the instructions give Gunze Creos mixes to replicate Lamborghini’s colour options; besides the green, one can choose Nero Noctis (black), Rosso Mars (red), Arancio Borealis (orange) and Giallo Midas (yellow). For further details on this stunning kit, visit: www.aoshima-bk.co.jp

ALMOST PURR-FECT INTERCEPTOR THERE’S JUST something about Grumman’s F-14 Tomcat, possibly due to scene-stealing abilities in Hollywood films or merely its imposing appearance. Initial impressions of Tamiya’s new-tool 1/48 F-14A, the first in a series of releases of Grumman’s ultimate carrierborne fighter (based on parts breakdown), are excellent. The exterior features delicately engraved panel lines and rivets, and this refinement extends to the cockpit interior, with a superb representation of the instrument panels and sidewalls. One minor quibble regards the wings, which lack the option for lowered control surfaces, but the rugged inner ‘spars’ will aid painting and the ability to alter the sweep (with changeable wing and fuselage seals) is a neat touch. Tamiya appears to have done its homework–the engineering is superb and accuracy issues are tiny...invisible to all but the keenest expert. The

weapons and pylons, though, are (comparatively) weak; the correct AIM-9Ps for Iranian Tomcats aren’t included, and the pylons/adapters lack any attachment/rail detail, particularly on the LAU-7 launchers. Modellers wanting to load either six AIM-54s or AIM-7s will need to dip into the spares box for extra weapons, as just four of each are included. There’s a splendid choice of schemes, with a VF-84 ‘Jolly

Rogers’ 1979 ‘boss-bird’, an equally colourful VF-2 ‘Bounty Hunters’ airframe during its 1976 deployment on USS Enterprise and a single Iranian example (the last airframe to be delivered) in ‘Asia-Minor’ camouflage. This is an impressive package, and there’s plenty to keep most modellers happy, although its hefty initial price tag of £74.99 may reduce its appeal somewhat. For more details, visit: www.hobbyco.net

SHOW TURMOIL MODELLING HAS been rocked by the closure of two longrunning shows...but there is a silver lining as a new event has been announced. In October, the Fleet Air Arm Museum (FAAM) at Yeovilton announced that 2016’s autumn show was to be its last, citing all-round poor attendance. As a focus for maritime modellers this venue had no equal, and its spring show was probably the largest ‘post-winter hibernation’ gettogether for hobbyists…and will be sorely missed. Fortunately, within a matter of days The Tank Museum at Bovington declared it would hold an inaugural ‘Model Expo’ on February 11, 2017 (effectively replacing FAAM’s event), in addition to its annual Tank Day. It might be slightly further to travel for some, but with all its other museum displays

this should be a spectacular day out and well worth the trip. Unfortunately, there was further bad news in November when My Time Media, which has run Euro Militaire for many years, also affirmed that 2016’s show would be the final gathering. It too had alluded to falling

attendances, but also a decrease in numbers within organisers and volunteers. While there is no direct replacement for the latter, Scale Model Challenge (in Eindhoven, Netherlands) has grown in size and reputation, and is considered by many to be Euro’s de facto successor.

NEWS BULLETIN LATEST UPDATES

SHINY SWEDISH ‘DAVID’

ALWAYS KEEN to make the most of its moulds, Hasegawa has re-issued its 1/48 Draken as a J35D ‘Natural Metal’ boxing. The kit (07434) offers the D-model’s earlier framed canopy, and this sub-type also the first to sport the bulged vertical tail top and longer air intakes…both represented in this product. Detail-wise the styrene is good, with fine engraving and restrained rivets, but the cockpit, although

having moulded features, is a little spartan. ‘David’ J 35s carried Sidewinders and rockets, but unfortunately none are in this kit… just two fuel tanks. As the name suggests, both colour options are for bare-metal jets from F 10 and F 13 Wings, but the traditional threecrown national markings, in blue and yellow, add a splash of colour; it’s a great excuse to practise one’s metal finish! For further details visit: www.amerang.co.uk

ITALIAN SERPENT

A VERY cool scheme applied to an Italian Air Force F-16 has been reproduced in 1/48 scale by US decal specialist Two Bobs. The 2010 livery painted on F-16A ADF MM7244, of 23˚ Gruppo at Cierva, comprises a snake wrapping itself around the airframe, with the head on the starboard vertical tail, and another stylised snake head motif on the port side. The special garb was to mark the retirement of the F-16A ADF from Italian service, and it’s certainly one of the best

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Airfix Model World

applied to the type in that air arm. Two Bobs’ release, entitled F-16A La Vipera (48-252), gives the snake art in sectionalised form, but also full stencilling and national insignia across two separate sheets One will need an ADF moulding that offers the hydraulic actuator bulge at the base of the vertical tail, and ‘bird-slicer’ aerials; Hasegawa and Kinetic have produced this subtype, but the latter may be easier to obtain. For further details on these decals visit: www.twobobs.net

BOUTIQUE TRAINER KIT

TANMODEL HAS released a limitededition T-33A in 1/72 scale. Restricted to 999 units, kit 2905 features generally sharp moulding and is a worthy competitor to recent offerings from Platz and Sword. Excellent detail adorns the wheels, undercarriage bays/legs and the engineering of the separate air intake parts is good. Best of all, a complete engine is supplied and the rear fuselage can be posed on the maintenance trolley provided (the rear interior features ribbing).

Some may be underwhelmed by the cockpit, whose instrument panels and side consoles are reasonable at best, and the ejection seats are oversimplified. But masks for the one-piece windscreen/canopy are supplied and another boon is the generous decal sheet, which offers markings for jets operated by Germany, Spain, Turkey, the US, France, Belgium, Italy and Indonesia. The kit is being imported into the UK by Ultimate Modelling Products: www.umpretail.com

TRACKED HOWITZER BACKDATE

DRAGON HAS re-worked it’s pleasing Zimmerit-covered StuH.42 Ausf.G tooling to offer earlier Ausf.E/F sub-types. Kit 6834 offers many components from the original release, but the notable variant changes involve the earlier casemate shape as seen on the StuG.40 (angular top, and side ‘cheeks’ to accommodate radios), and different engine deck layouts with relevant parts for Ausf.E/F. One-piece DS Styrene tracks

are provided, and there’s also a photo-etched brass fret with mudguards, engine screen mesh, stowage straps for small arms and other structural details. The suggested camouflage varies from a whitewashed vehicle, to Panzer Yellow and Panzer Grey. The only identified unit is StuG.Abt. 185, on the Eastern Front in October 1942. The kit is available in the UK from Dragon importer The Hobby Company: www.hobbyco.net

NEWS BULLETIN LATEST UPDATES

ARTILLERY AND MISSILE DELIGHTS

SINCE ITS formation in 2014, China-based Toxso Model has established a reputation for highquality 1/72 scale military kits, with detail rivalling that of largerscale offerings. To date it has concentrated on artillery subjects, but its range includes modern missiles, armour, diorama accessories and figures. Typical of the former is the 10.5cm s.K 18 howitzer (1407) and one would be forgiven for thinking this was a 1/35 subject when reading the instructions. The two runners provide a wealth of parts, all crisply moulded and bursting with detail, and the gun can be moved in azimuth and elevation. As a bonus, there is a five-man gun crew and even four diminutive 10.5cm artillery rounds for an instant loading vignette, with a single overall grey

scheme offered. The Scud-B and Launcher (1401) is most impressive, with four runners of well-moulded parts depicting the eponymous shortrange ballistic missile on a MAZ543 chassis. Despite the small scale, a full interior is supplied, including launch station and driver/crew compartments, and the launch rail is superb, lacking just the fuel pipes at the rear. The missile can be posed in either raised (launch) or lowered (transit) modes. There are three schemes, including overall green Soviet and North Korean vehicles and a khaki-coloured Iraqi machine. With the bigger models there’s also a nostalgic touch with the large-format fold-out instruction leaflet, reminiscent of Frog and Matchbox. For more details, see www.toxsomodel.com

BIPLANE TEXTURES EACH TYPE of aircraft brings its own challenges and this is particularly true for World War One subjects, with the difficulties of replicating the appearance of the various materials. Thankfully, True Earth has produced

a concise step-by-step guide, with text in English and Italian, that will enable modellers to tackle wood, metal and fabric tones. Also included are instructions on how to create a shape effect for ribbed wings, and a quick tutorial on applying decals. Lavishly illustrated with colour photographs, a 1/48 German Albatros D.III is employed as the test subject, and the end result is stunning. While this is undoubtedly a showcase for True Earth products, which are featured throughout, these techniques are generic, and equally applicable to lacquer-, enamel- or other acrylicbased paints, washes and filters. More information is available at www.true-earth.com

NEW NAVAL SPOOK

JAPAN’S ZOUKEI-MURA has diverted from its usual World War Two subject matter, to produce an all-new 1/48 US Navy F-4J Phantom. The kit was announced around 18 months ago, but Super Wings Series No.4 now provides what is arguably the best quarter-scale ‘Juliet’ Phantom. But let’s get one gripe out of the way and that concerns the single colour scheme…the overused Randall Cunningham/Willie Driscoll ‘Showtime 100’. Academy chose the same MIG-killing livery for its new 1/72 F-4J, but there are far more attractive examples of US Navy Phantom colours, so it’s disappointing that this ‘default’ scheme appears again, with no second option. The remaining box contents, though, are mostly awesome and should please any diehard F-4 fan; Z-M’s grey styrene is moulded very crisply and the maker has included thoughtful features, such as a separate part for the upper

fuselage, so one doesn’t lose all the copious rivets on the circular panels…a common problem when sanding traditional F-4 full fuselage halves. Cockpit detail is extensive and accurate, with impressive reproduction of the instrumentation and six-part ejection seats. Other highlights include separate control surfaces, well-rendered slotted stabilators and beautifully moulded Sparrow missiles that have all four fins – with proper slots in the bays – and centreline/wing fuel tanks (although USN F-4Js rarely carried wing tanks). That’s not all...as there are two complete and busy engines with full intake trunking, separate wheel hubs and alternative cockpit glazing for open or closed canopies; the frame between the canopies does appear to be a little too skinny at the top. Look out for a full build in AMW soon, but for now further details can be found at www.zoukeimura.co.jp/en

EASY PART LOCATION HOW OFTEN do we fumble around trying to find the desired components while building a kit, all because the actual runner letter/number is usually hard to see? This frustrating incidence can be banished immediately, though, with MAN Models’ nifty self-adhesive letter stickers. They are printed in different colours and have the individual letter printed at both ends so, once wrapped around the runner in question and stuck together, one can see easily see the letter from both sides; bingo...speedier part location, and it’s amazing no-one

has thought of this before. Two extra sheets of coloured stickers, without letters, are also offered, so one can simply add letters with a pen as necessary. For further details Tel: 07927 055829 or visit: www.manmodels.co.uk

www.airfixmodelworld.com 9

SHOW SCENE DIARY DATES

s re

hows on

e lin

Mo

SHOW SCENE

At-a-glance model and airshow calendar

Huddersfield Scale Model Show Date:

February 12

Hosts:

IPMS Wakefield and District Branch

Address: Huddersfield Leisure Centre, Spring Grove Street, Huddersfield, HD1 4BP

ALDINGBOURNE MODELEX

Hosts:

North Surrey Military Modelling Group

Hosts:

North Devon Model Society

Hosts:

Aldingbourne Modellers IPMS

Address:

Fremington Parish Hall, 12 Higher Rd, Fremington, Barnstaple, EX31 3BG

Address:

Times:

10am-4pm

Aldingbourne Community Sports Centre, Olivers Meadow, Westergate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 3YA

Prices:

Adults £3, concessions £1.50, under-14s free

Times:

10am-4pm

Prices:

Adults £2.50, under-16s free

Tel:

N/A

Tel:

N/A

Email:

details@northdevonmodel society.co.uk

Email:

Aldingbournemodellers@ gmail.com

Web:

www. northdevonmodel society.co.uk

Web:

Aldingbourne Modelex (Facebook)

FEB 26

THE UNIVERSAL MODEL SHOW

MAR 5

EAST OF ENGLAND MODEL SHOW 2017

Hosts:

South Cheshire Military Modelling Club

Hosts:

Peterborough Scale Model Club

Address:

The Voyager Academy, Mountsteven Avenue, Walton, PE4 6HX

Hallmark Hotel, Purley Way, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 4LT

Times:

10.30am-3.30pm

Prices:

Adults £4, under-12s free

Times:

10am-4.30pm

Tel:

07973 885754

Prices:

Email:

[email protected]

Adults £3, seniors and children £1

Web:

N/A

St Joseph’s RC High School, Chorley New Road, Horwich, Nr Bolton, BL6 6HW

Times:

10am-4pm

Address:

Banstead Community Hall, Park Road, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 3AJ

Tel:

07764 196615

Email:

[email protected]

Web:

www.nsmmg.org.uk

FEB 25

ON-TRACK MILITARY MODELLING SHOW

Hosts:

On Track Shows

Address:

The Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2DZ

Address:

Malbank 6th Form College, Welsh Row, Nantwich, CW5 5HD

Times:

10am-5pm

Times:

10am-5pm

Times:

10am-4pm

Prices:

Adults £3.50, children and concessions £1.50, under-5s free

Prices:

Adults £3, under-15s free

Tel:

01733 321617

Email:

[email protected]

Web:

www.peterboroughscale modelclub.co.uk

Prices:

Adults £4, OAPs £3, under-16s £2

Prices:

Adults £5, accompanied under-16s free

Tel:

N/A

Tel:

N/A

Tel:

01270 256880

Email:

[email protected]

Email:

[email protected]

Email:

[email protected]

Web:

www.ipmsbolton.org

Web:

www.ontrackshow.co.uk

Web:

www.scmmc.co.uk/militaire

KEY

E MODEL DISPLAY

) MODEL COMPETITION J TRADE STANDS

www.huddersfieldscale modelshow.co.uk

MAR 4

Address:

Address:

Web:

NORTH DEVON MODEL SOCIETY ANNUAL SHOW 2017

Aviation Antiques

Bolton IPMS

[email protected]

FEB 26

Hosts:

Hosts:

Adults £4, concessions £2

Email:

NORTH SURREY MILITARY MODELLING GROUP OPEN DAY

CROYDON AIRPORT AVIATION & MILITARY COLLECTORS’ FAIR

BOLTON IPMS SCALE MODEL SHOW 2017

10.30am-4.30pm

Prices:

FEB 11

JAN 8

JAN 22

Times:

m

AIRCRAFT DISPLAY

 MILITARY DISPLAY  AUTOMOTIVE DISPLAY



REFRESHMENTS FREE PARKING 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

EXCLUSIVE BUILD VICTOR B.2

VICTOR

LUDORUM

Andy Davies gets to build his favourite aircraft, in the shape of Airfix’s all-new and long-awaited 1/72 Victor B.2

I

 The quality of the moulding was of the highest order, with a logical and well-considered parts breakdown. Panel line engraving was superb, too.

f ever a kit cried out to be replaced, a perfect example would be the old Matchbox 1/72 Handley Page Victor. While it’s appeared since under Revell packaging, it was for many years the only realistic route to a Victor in this scale…but its period 1970s moulding, sparse detail and trench-like panel lines made it a real chore. Now though, Airfix has enabled throngs of V-Bomber fans to tick a long-empty box on their build list. It’s not a tanker (as was the Matchbox offering), but a B.2, famed for its Cold War carriage of the Blue Steel standoff nuclear missile. Important features, such as the trademark airbrake unit, are present as well as more nuanced items… the tail cone ECM blisters being a good example. With the Victor being the longest-serving of the V-Bombers, it seems fitting that it’s now received the Airfix

treatment and is more refined than the firm’s previous same-scale Valiant. Of course, though, it will prompt cries from many bomber fans: “What about the Vulcan?”

Crew compartment Airfix provided most of the parts needed to furnish the complex crew area; an instrument panel and coaming, hinged fuel console, detailed flooring (which included seat rails), two MartinBaker Mk.4 ejection seats and four swivel seats for rear crew members, two control yokes and rudder pedals, ensured an impressive representation. In the production kit, the instruments are represented in decal form, but these weren’t available at the time of building, so Flightpath’s photo-etched (PE) brass detail set for the old Matchbox kit was a useful stand-in. With surgery, this fitted well though it did

 Clear parts came in the form of beautifully moulded canopy and bomb aimer’s glazing, as well as complete outer wing sections to ease masking of the wingtip navigation lights.

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Airfix Model World

EXCLUSIVE BUILD VICTOR B.2

emphasise just how over-wide that manufacturer’s cockpit was. A few items were omitted, which included the pilot’s side panels and these were duly

scratch-built from spare resin and decals. As for interior colours, Airfix suggested Humbrol 28 Camouflage Grey overall in the instructions, but former crew members who flew early Mk.2 Victors recalled the correct colour for the interior was a mixture of satin black for the forward section housing the pilots, and a light ‘sky’ shade for the rear area (with matt black aft instrument panel). In this case, Tamiya XF-69 NATO Black was used for the black areas and Vallejo Air 71.009 Duck Egg

Green, lightened with white, for the ‘sky’ component. Once assembled and painted, the whole unit was fitted into the starboard fuselage half without issue, and secured with mediumthickness cyanoacrylate (CA) glue. Note that at least 20g of weight should be added to the forward fuselage to prevent the model from becoming a tail-sitter once finished; to that end, 30g of lead weight was added...just to be sure. With cockpit parts fitted, then came a tricky aspect, namely fitting the instrument panel and coaming. Airfix suggested adding this part once the fuselage was mated; however, this was not a good idea as it was extremely difficult to slide it in between the seats without damaging these and the instrument panel – and their finely painted detail. A more practical method would have been to install it prior to the fuselage halves being mated.

 Airfix’s cockpit came with most of the parts needed, though a few side panels were missed. The seats were detailed with harnesses and ejection handles from Eduard and the spares box.

KIT COLOUR SCHEMES Anti-Flash White and camouflage are both represented with Airfix’s forthcoming Victor. The liveries are: • XL519, 139 Squadron, RAF Wittering, 1963-64 • XL189, Victor Training Flight, RAF Wittering, 1968

“THE QUALITY OF THE MOULDING WAS OF THE HIGHEST ORDER”

www.airfixmodelworld.com 13

EXCLUSIVE BUILD VICTOR B.2

Attention then turned to the nose gear bay, which displayed good detail (basic ribbing and gas bottle). The nosewheel leg was fitted into one side of the bay before being sandwiched between the halves, but the problem with this approach was the parts remained vulnerable to damage at any point, so the leg was taped back into the bay until painting was completed. Two options were provided for the bomb bay; one being the conventional bay along with its doors and retraction/extension jacks, and the other the partially recessed bay for the Blue Steel, which was opted for here. Airflow deflectors were included, one open and one shut. On missileequipped aircraft these were sealed shut as they weren’t required. A strange problem then presented itself, in that the bomb doors were almost 2mm too short…a factor remedied by the addition of a shaped strip of plastic card,

sanded and filled to blend into the underside of the forward fuselage, this being easier than attempting to correct the rear end of the bay instead. The Blue Steel cooling fairing was also ready to be fitted, though the area under it was first sprayed gloss white as it would be difficult

 The production kit will have decals for the instruments, but no decals were available with Airfix’s test-shot. Instead, Flightpath photo-etched brass was altered to fit.

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Airfix Model World

to access after this had been fitted. A small intake to the front of the unit was drilled and carved to shape, to add more realism.

Stopping power Once the bomb bay was attached it was time to assemble the complex airbrake unit, as this

feature was to be left open on AMW’s model and the detail here was superb, with all parts included. The only items that benefited from slight modification were the two large panels festooned with lightening holes. These were moulded as solid items, but time spent with

 Four well-detailed swivel seats were supplied for the rear crew members; three for the Air Electronics Operator, Nav/Plotter and Nav/Radar, with a fourth just behind the two pilots.

EXCLUSIVE BUILD VICTOR B.2

a 0.6mm micro-drill was well spent as the finished components looked more realistic. One unfortunate consequence was the completed unit then had to be fitted to the fuselage, again putting delicate parts in harm’s way. So, thin card boxes were fabricated to surround the arms, and masking tape was applied to secure them – which also helped in masking the area, before the assembly was fitted to the starboard fuselage half. A problem was discovered during test-fitting; there was a gap at the rear end of the fuselage, which was resolved by removing plastic from the two bulkheads. Once the fuselage was essentially assembled, it was time to remove all traces of seams and modeller-induced blemishes. One noticeable omission was the lack of the vapour-cycle cooling pack intake on the left stub wing root, just behind the airflow splitter

plate, but this was corrected with a 0.6mm drill and a round file. It was important to keep the intake in line with the airflow, so it was filed along the datum line of the aircraft.

Heavy breathers The Victor’s capacious intakes were complicated, but Airfix

employed ingenious engineering that made assembly and painting as painless as possible. With no fewer than three splitter plates either side and a central divider, care was necessary for proper alignment. However, this was made easy by Airfix incorporating slots into which the plates fitted, after the top and lower halves of the intakes were glued, which in turn allowed for each part to be painted before being pushed into place. Matters were complicated a little by the fact that, on the real aircraft, the splitters all had differently coloured leading edges. The Victor’s intakes were painted gloss/satin white, with the upper surface camouflage wrapping onto the forward edges of each splitter plate. This all meant these sub-assemblies could be painted prior to positioning in the upper wing. With a wingspan of 120ft (36.5m), the Victor was a wide beast, though later of course, 3ft (91cm) was removed from each wingtip during tanker conversion, as they weren’t required to operate at the bomber’s higher operational ceiling. The kit’s centre wing came as a large single piece, designed to carry the weight of the heavy wings across the top of the fuselage via two large slots. Two large strengthening spars were fitted onto this section, and these incorporated a slight twist to ensure the mainplane extremities remained parallel to the ground (a prominent problem with the Matchbox kit). Outer wing sections then attached to these spars, which added to the overall strength and rigidity of the unit. Upper-outer sections

 As no dedicated masking set was available for the clear parts, Tamiya masking tape was cut to shape and applied.

 A beautifully detailed bomb bay was included, which allowed the carriage of conventional weapons…though no free-fall ordnance featured in this release. Aftermarket companies will no doubt provide the necessary stores in the fullness of time.

 The correct colours for the B.2 were satin black for the forward section housing the two pilots, and a light ‘sky’ colour for the rear. In this instance, Tamiya XF-69 NATO Black and Vallejo Model Air Duck Egg Green fitted the bill.

 Once the cockpit was in place, nose ballast was added to avoid tail-sitting; fishing weights were ideal. At this stage, the nose gear bay and bomb bay have been fitted into the starboard fuselage half.

 Detailing of the air-brake assembly included drilling the lightening holes (a prominent feature of the real item), achieved easily with a micro-drill bit in a pin vice. www.airfixmodelworld.com 15

EXCLUSIVE BUILD VICTOR B.2

production B.2 with clean wings, but a new fin root fillet would be required…certainly not an insurmountable problem.

Shapely legs  All the parts in place. The sections with their bulkheads lent strength to the fuselage, which in turn meant there was less chance of warpage once the long halves were joined.

 The airbrake was a superbly rendered unit and suitably complex. Build sequencing required the retraction/extension jacks, main jack and hinged panels to be fitted into the unit before the halves were joined. This resulted in a delicate assembly that needed protection once fitted into the fuselage, as it was vulnerable to accidental damage.

of the wingtip were provided as clear parts, so navigation lights could be masked easily ahead of painting. Engines and intake assemblies then fitted into the upper wings, and this whole unit was attached to the fuselage. Lower wing sections were then glued to their upper halves, before the edges were sanded to blend in the intakes. With that done, this stage of the build was finished. Interestingly, as the Küchemann wing fairings were separate items, it would be possible to produce an early

REFERENCES Warpaint Series No.36 Handley Page Victor, by Steve Hazell Osprey Combat Aircraft 88 Victor Units of the Cold War, by Andrew Brookes (Osprey), ISBN: 978-1-84908-339-3 On Target Special V-Bombers. By Glenn Sands and Gary Madgwick (Aviation Workshop), ISBN: 978-1-90464-322-7 Flight Craft V-Bombers Valiant, Vulcan & Victor, by Dave Windle and Martin Bowman (Pen & Sword), ISBN: 978-1-47383-424-8

 While the forward fuselage fitted well, it was a different story at the rear end. Much careful shaving of the bulkheads was needed to ensure a tight fit; all the time being careful not to damage the delicate parts. This was not difficult, though, and the result was worth the effort.

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Airfix Model World

Handley Page Victor, The CrescentWinged V-Bomber, by Phil Butler and Tony Buttler (Aerofax), ISBN: 978-1-85780311-2

Airfix certainly managed to do justice to the complex undercarriage. The main units each came in no fewer than seven pieces (not including the 16 wheels) and the quality of moulding was exemplary. The main legs themselves came in halves, as a retraction/extension jack and brake accumulator had to be sandwiched between them. One of these needed to be painted gloss white and chrome metal, and the other light grey, which would have proved difficult if moulded in one piece. The upper section then slid into this assembly, resulting in a sturdy structure more than capable of supporting the completed model’s weight. Wheels were well moulded, too, but it was decided to use PE hubs from Flightpath’s Victor K.2 set to enhance them...also simplifying painting. Once fitted to the legs, the wheels were then treated with Wet and Dry abrasive paper (with water), to flatten the bottoms slightly so the model sat in its proper stance. Turning to armament, Airfix’s Blue Steel missile was a pleasing rendition of this large store, and a big improvement over that supplied with the company’s old Vulcan B.2. Decals were sourced from an Airfix Vulcan though, and were duly applied and looked the part. One slight issue with

EXCLUSIVE BUILD

MODEL SPEC

VICTOR B.2

the finished missile was that the Stentor rocket exhausts were moulded open, which, while appropriate for a displayed or in-maintenance weapon, was rarely (if ever) seen on an operational V-Bomber. These could easily be filled with either Milliput or thin plastic card discs if need be.

New clothes The chosen camouflage scheme comprised an attractive yet

complex pattern of Dark Green, Medium Sea Grey and white, with red, white and blue national insignia. It was decided to use Mr. Hobby acrylics for this build, specifically H-330 RAF Dark Green, H-335 RAF Medium Sea Grey and H-1 Gloss White. Halfords’ acrylic white auto primer was used to prepare the model, and once two coats were applied, the whole airframe was sanded to reveal any issues and surface blemishes that could

affect the finish. Once happy, the white was applied in light mists to ensure complete coverage, before a 48-hour drying period, after which Medium Sea Grey was applied in several light layers. The scheme was prepared with the use of the Matchbox Victor’s painting guide, which included a 1/72 diagram. White Tack ‘worms’ set the pattern, and once this was established, the interior of each section was filled with tissue paper cut to shape and

Handley-Page Victor B.2 (BS) By:

Airfix

Stock Code:

A12008

Scale:

1/72

Price:

£59.99

Available from: www.airfix.com

With the difficult task of sliding/cajoling the instrument coaming and panel into place, the cockpit was essentially complete…and certainly looked the part.

 For some strange reason the Blue Steel recess part was 2mm too short, which resulted in an unsightly gap at either the front or rear end of the fuselage, (same applied to the conventional bomb bay doors). The easiest way to remedy this was to insert a shaped piece of plastic card, followed by light filling and sanding. www.airfixmodelworld.com 17

EXCLUSIVE BUILD VICTOR B.2

 Another detail fitted to Blue Steel aircraft was that of two small intakes on the fuselage sides, above the engine exhausts. These were sourced from the spares bin, drilled out and fitted as per photographs. It was these small features that differentiated Blue Steel aircraft from standard B.2 and SR.2 aircraft.

 The entire top section of each outer wing came in clear styrene, which made masking of the wingtip lights simple; a novel approach to the problem.

 One of the most difficult aspects of modelling V-Bombers is painting the air intakes. Airfix, however, eased the process with its ingenious method of assembly.

 Substantial strengthening spars were provided, which held the outer wings in place and at the correct angle. With everything assembled, the wing was a heavy but solid structure. The undercarriage units were beautifully rendered, with all the jacks and extension/ retraction units included. But a spare Flightpath PE set provided 18 aluminium hubs for extra refinement.

 Another Victor characteristic was the anti-flash curtains, which were visible in their stowed position through the extensive cockpit glazing. Victors were rarely, if ever, seen without them so it was decided to replicate these with folded Bare Metal Foil and shaped 1mm plastic card, painted Mr. Hobby H-314 Blue.  Once the airframe was sanded smooth and masked, primer was applied…in this case Halfords’ acrylic white auto primer. The undercarriage bays were covered by appropriately shaped pieces of plastic card, held in place with White Tack.  Once completed, the landing gear units looked splendid. They were airbrushed with a selection of Alclad metallic lacquers: ALC-102 Duralumin, ALC-103 Dark Aluminium, ALC-117 Dull Aluminium and ALC-119 Airframe Aluminium.

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Airfix Model World

EXCLUSIVE BUILD VICTOR B.2

held in place with masking tape. This was a laborious process that took several hours to complete, but once dry the masking was removed and the finish was checked for any overspray or errors in the pattern. Though the finish on the real aircraft was high-gloss polyurethane, it was decided to apply a satin layer to better represent scale effect; high-gloss varnish tends to make a model look rather toy-like. Alclad’s ALC312 Klear Kote Semi Matte was airbrushed onto the entire model at approximately 18psi (1.24 bar), several misted layers being built gradually until a smooth satin finish was achieved.

“THE MODEL CAN’T BE RECOMMENDED HIGHLY ENOUGH”

Once this was dry, all surfaces were treated with 12,000-grade Micro-Mesh cloth, which buffed the finish to a realistic sheen. Finishing touches included the addition of Little-Cars’ clear landing lights under the wings, and red anti-collision lights atop the forward fuselage.

camouflaged Wittering Wing B.2, circa 1964. This period included the early central servicing livery, with feathered camouflage demarcation…and before the large wing tanks were fitted. Decals came from a mixture of Matchbox, Euro Decals and AirDecal sets, the latter being highly recommended. Early camouflaged Victors weren’t adorned with many markings (which simplified matters somewhat), being mostly devoid

Markings As decals were not included with the test-shot, the choice of scheme was left open and in this case, it was decided to opt for a

 With the primer sanded, Mr. Hobby H-335 Medium Sea Grey was applied, followed by the tedious process of masking the complex camouflage pattern with White Tack ‘worms’. The old Matchbox Victor kit supplied 1/72nd plans for the camouflage pattern.

of wing badges, station emblems, bright warning markings etc. These early airframes were generally very clean, too, with little evidence of the heavy weathering apparent on later aircraft; the underside, engine bay panels, behind the undercarriage doors and under the rear fuselage being the only areas that became stained after relatively little use. This effect was achieved with AMMO MIG pastels, an HB pencil and XF-69 NATO Black airbrushed over masking tape, which

produced hard edges. Once everything was painted and varnished it was time to assemble the multitude of detail parts, and a special stand was constructed for the task, so that full access could be gained. The undercarriage was fitted first, and while a certain amount of fettling was required to get the legs to fit into the recesses, everything sat squarely eventually. Slow-cure CA was used to attach the legs and the model was turned over and placed on a flat surface

 The centre of each area was filled with tissue paper cut to shape and attached with Tamiya tape. Once all masking was in place, and double-checked for any gaps, Mr. Hobby H-330 Dark Green was applied in lightly misted coats. www.airfixmodelworld.com 19

EXCLUSIVE BUILD VICTOR B.2

The supplied Blue Steel missile also required decals, which in this instance came from the old Airfix Vulcan B.2; a few extra stencils were also added for further accuracy. Let’s hope that after-market companies will provide the handling trolley and power loader at some point.

The reason for the use of rolled White Tack was so feathered edges to the camouflage could be achieved; appropriate to the particular aircraft modelled for this article.

 The underside received several light coats of Mr. Hobby H-1 Gloss White, built to a high gloss ready for the application of decals. As no markings were supplied with this test shot, the decal stash was raided…which resulted in Matchbox, Euro Decals and AirDecal sets being employed.

 Yet another feature of early B.2/SR.2 aircraft involved special chutes built into the undersides of the ‘Küchemann Carrot’ fairings on each wing, for the deployment of chaff radar countermeasures. These chutes had prominent doors, replicated here with strips of plastic card and black decal.

to ensure all wheels sat evenly on the ground. It was as well that 30g of nose weight was added, as the model sat perfectly on its legs…much less and it may have been a different story. Next were the flaps and these were best approached from beneath the model. There were good location points and no problems

part of any build…removing all the clear parts’ masking. Luckily, everything was perfect, with just one piece of dust on the canopy glazing. This was removed easily with a piece of lead wire angled through the open entrance hatch. With that the model was finished; a complex and lengthy build, but well worth the effort involved.

were encountered with their attachment; again, slow-setting CA worked best. The airbrake doors were then fitted without incident, but it was important to ensure that everything aligned symmetrically, via constant checking. Finally, the model was placed back on its undercarriage for the most nerve-wracking

“ESSENTIAL FOR ANY DIEHARD V-BOMBER AFICIONADO”

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Airfix Model World

V for victorious? What a splendid kit, and a worthy tribute to the real aircraft. A few details were omitted, but overall it’s superb and essential for any diehard V-Bomber aficionado. The model can’t be recommended highly enough and we can only hope for more versions…SR.2 camera pack anyone? ❚

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IN PROFILE VICTOR B.2

Victor B.Mk.2 XM715 100 Sqn, RAF Wittering, April 1963

Victor B.Mk.2 XL 158 139 Sqn, RAF Wittering, early 1960s

Victor B.Mk.2R XL513 139 Sqn, RAF Wittering, February 1964

Victor B.(SR) Mk.2R XH674 543 Sqn, RAF Wyton, 1974

Victor B.Mk.2R XH675 Wittering Wing (100 & 139 Sqn), RAF Wittering, late 1960s

(Andy Hay/www.flyingart.co.uk)

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Airfix Model World

Scale Aircraft Conversions

scaleaircraftconversions.com

When it rains, it pours!

1/48 Heller/Airfix - Model by Brian Wakeman

Super Etendard (Hel/Ax)

Modellers now have three 1/48 Super Etendard’s to choose from and a 4th is forth the way. SAC offers metal landing gear for Heller/Airfix, Kinetic, Kitty Hawk and AMK (soon) kits.

LUFT NEW.indd 1

14/11/2016 09:11

YOUR AIRFIX CHIPMUNK T.10

Ben Davies recreates a typical Air Training Corps scene

Chipmunk T.10

A 

few years ago, I participated in an Air Experience Flying-themed Air Cadet model competition. Although my own experience was in Grob Tutors, the competition kit was Airfix’s 1/72 Chipmunk. This was a product of its age, so the raised panel lines and oversized rivet detail were sanded smooth, with scale drawings used as a guide to re-scribe the former. The cockpit was scratch-built, with spare photo-etched metal dials utilised

for the instrument panel. Crew figures came from the spares box, with a modern head grafted onto one of the running aircrew from Airfix’s RAF Personnel set for the back-seater. Aeroclub’s white metal propeller and vacform canopy provided additional refinement, while an old Revell Contacta glue bottle dispenser tube replaced the kit exhaust. The traditional red/white/ grey training scheme was reproduced by careful masking and airbrushing. After three thin coats of Johnson’s Klear,

a combination of kit stencils and decals from S&M Models depicted a Chipmunk from 6 Air Experience Flight, RAF Abingdon. As these were well-maintained aircraft, just light weathering was added, including a panel line wash and slight chipping on the wing walkways, before a final layer of satin varnish. The MDF base received black primer, then thin tape was added to demarcate the concrete slabs. Once a suitable stone/grey hue had been airbrushed, the tape was removed and extra depth

added by scribing. Mud was simulated with pigments, and static grass applied on top; once dry, the base was weathered with oil spills and the taxiway markings were added. Finishing touches included a small step crafted from scrap brass sheet, and a figure from Hasegawa’s US Personnel set. Overall, this was an enjoyable build and showed just what could be achieved from an older kit, with time and basic scratchbuilding skills. Ben Davies, Cambridgeshire

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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Airfix Model World

Pennine Models at Haworth

Large stock of rare items (enquire for details) Broad range of plastic kits available including: • Aircraft both military & civilian • Cars & trucks • Military, armour & softskin • Railways: rolling stock, buildings and people • Scenics and paint • Boats from over the ages • People (including soldiers from romans, vikings to modern day)

Wednesday to Sunday 11am - 5pm 33/35 Mill Hey, Haworth, Keighley BD22 8NQ Tel: 01535 642367 [email protected]

All too often advertisers accept publisher’s statements on their performance. Our ABC Certificate shows we have been independently audited and gives credibility to support our claim. Justify your marketing spend and get the exposure you’ve been promised. As you can see from our ABC Certificate our circulation is 12,524 for the period January to December 2015. See it, believe, trust it To advertise, call Sarah Garrod on 01780 755131 or email [email protected]

ADVANCED BUILD LORRAINE 37L

Kev Smith picks a workmanlike subject for his first all-resin military build…Brach Model’s excellent 1/35 Lorraine

MADEMOISELLE OF

and reliable. Large numbers of these were duly converted, many into tank destroyers or selfpropelled artillery.

he Lorraine 37L or Tracteur de ravitaillement pour chars 1937 L (Tank Supply Tractor) was a light, tracked armoured vehicle developed by the Lorraine company during the Interwar period. It fulfilled the French Army’s

It’s fair to say that Brach’s instructions were not as good as those from, say, Tamiya or Meng. Rudimentary, but easy enough to follow, the manufacturer has employed a series of black and white in-progress photographs and simply printed these into a booklet. Two schemes were suggested via colour plates; the first being a French Army example, the other a captured vehicle in German service, but the modeller must find his or her own references for any internal

MERCY T requirement for a fully armoured munitions and fuel supply carrier to be used by tank units for frontline replenishment. The German army also used captured examples of the Lorraine in its units, and quickly found the suspension system to be robust

 The instructions were basic, but annotated in-progress photos of actual construction were enough in the end.

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Airfix Model World

Instructions

colours and details. It was decided to complete the model as a medical vehicle from the 21st Panzer Division, best known for 1941-43’s North Africa campaign. After the defeat of the German Afrika Korps, the division was reformed in June 1943 and placed on garrison duties. The division was formed from the elements of the Schnelle Brigade; these formations were to have greater mobility than a standard Panzer division. At the time, German industry could not provide the Wehrmacht with enough of its own war machinery, so the division was mostly equipped with captured French vehicles. Interestingly, the 21st

 Brach Model’s casting and detail was of a very high standard, with minimal clean-up required before assembly.

ADVANCED BUILD LORRAINE 37L

was the only German formation to engage the Allies on D-Day.

From the bottom up

MODEL SPEC

All the resin was beautifully cast and had no flaws whatsoever. There was a little flash present in some areas, but this was very thin and removed easily. The castings didn’t suffer from seam lines, and it must be said that Brach Model captured the look of the real vehicle faithfully. The road and drive wheels sported an impressive level of detail, which complemented that on the rest of the vehicle. Lorraines had 12 road wheels (mounted in pairs) and the bogies on this model were well rendered… the fit was as good as (or even better than) some plastic kits. As a total novice with resin kits, though, I experienced trepidation about the project. There are many horror stories on modelling Lorraine 37L Troop transport and ambulance By:

Brach Model

Stock Code:

BM124

Scale:

1/35

Price:

€95

Available from: www.brachmodel.it

forums, and in magazine articles, about resin kits having warped parts. Then there’s the separation of the pieces from their casting blocks, and the requisite sanding that goes with this, but the wheels and suspension units went together perfectly and were married to the well-appointed hull tub, which benefited from a fully detailed underside. Brach included a handy jig so the modeller can align the large springs that join the return rollers to the tops of the bogies. The cradle for the return rollers was a fine example of casting, but as a precautionary measure the resin securing pins were replaced with lengths of wire, cut to size. Tracks were of the link-and-length variety, with pre-formed sections to fit around the idlers. The links were very fragile, and a number were broken in the process of cleaning and linking them together. Thankfully, spares were included in case of mishap. The links were designed to click together, but being of a fragile nature, a precautionary dab of Superglue was added to the joints before the tracks were built in situ and would be painted while fitted to the model. Throughout the build, the adhesive of choice was Loctite Power Flex Gel Control; being a gel, it was much easier to control than standard (and very runny) cyanoacrylate A general point when working with resin, is that sanding will produce an amount of resin

 Wire cut to length replaced the kit’s resin wheel axles, for added strength, as the original items were fragile.

 Brach Model made life easy with the resin and minimal work was required to remove parts from the casting blocks.

A finely produced photo-etched metal fret was included in the kit.

"ALL THE RESIN WAS BEAUTIFULLY CAST AND HAD NO FLAWS"

www.airfixmodelworld.com 27

ADVANCED BUILD LORRAINE 37L

The hull ‘tub’ was a generic casting, also employed for other Lorraine variants in Brach Models’ range.

dust which can be harmful if inhaled. Therefore, it’s essential to work in a well-ventilated area and with a suitable facemask (readily available from DIY stores). Where possible, all parts were sanded in one go, followed by a thorough clean-up of the work area. Before removing the part from the casting block, the relevant component number was written onto the part itself in pencil, thus saving potential confusion later.

What’s under the bonnet?

 A useful jig was included to help with alignment of the leaf spring suspension units.

The on-vehicle tools came cast as one piece, with additional PE clamps.

A full interior for the driver’s compartment came as a very welcome surprise; the level of detail was impressive, with the transmission cast as one piece, which fitted perfectly into an equally well-represented firewall. Finer features, such as the steering tillers and pedals, were left off at this point, mainly to protect them from damage during painting. References for this area seemed to be nonexistent, but this was remedied by Brach Model’s proprietor, who kindly provided two photos of Lorraine engine compartments. With the correct reference, and with the hull and driver’s compartment sub-assemblies ready for painting, it was time to move to approach the upper reaches of the model. The three

 A high level of detail could be applied to many areas of the model, courtesy of such delicate parts.

main compartment sides were constructed without issue, although it could be argued that the plates were slightly too thick…but little sleep was lost over this small consideration. The well-detailed floor plate was then fitted, but just temporarily, to be removed if necessary for painting. Large brass rings and mounts, to be fitted to the exterior of the compartment, were left off in favour of

"A FULL INTERIOR FOR THE DRIVER’S COMPARTMENT CAME AS A VERY WELCOME SURPRISE"

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Airfix Model World

ADVANCED BUILD LORRAINE 37L

attachment at the end of the build. To add texture to the armour plate, thinned Vallejo liquid filler was applied liberally to all surfaces.

Interior shades Adding colour to any opentopped vehicle presents a challenge, as the interior and exterior need to be painted in similar tones, but weathered in different ways. The internal base shade was deliberately left lighter to the vehicle’s external colour, to help break up the overall uniformity. The interior would show wear and tear from the movement of the crew, such as worn paint, mud and dust, while the exterior would suffer

from the elements. In this instance, the easiest way of approaching the painting was to leave much of the model in sub-assemblies; the crew and driver’s compartments were treated as stand-alone pieces and Tamiya was the paint of choice, to provide a good base for the acrylics to bond to the interior surface pre-shading. Once this had dried for 24 hours, a basecoat of dark yellow was mixed. This was deliberately kept light, as the subsequent weathering process would have the effect of muting the accents considerably, and it’s always easier to tone down a light colour than it is to lighten a dark hue. Mixed from XF-60 Dark

 With open-topped vehicles (and those with hatches to be posed open), careful masking is vital to prevent overspray. For ease of handling during painting, the model was mounted on a homemade stand.

 Note the scale pin-up poster applied to the driver’s compartment wall, to add a more human feel. www.airfixmodelworld.com 29

ADVANCED BUILD LORRAINE 37L

"WET EFFECTS WERE ALSO ADDED TO THE LOWER AREAS OF THE UPPER HULL"

Yellow and XF-55 Deck Tan, the resulting shade, airbrushed via three light coats, was pleasingly reminiscent of the tan base seen on wartime German vehicles. To add depth to this tone, a very light glaze of X-24 Clear Yellow was needed; this was thinned

considerably with distilled water and applied with a large brush over the tan base. Care was taken not to allow the yellow to pool around raised details (excess can be removed with a clean brush). This was then sealed with X-22 Clear to protect it from robust

weathering. After this stage the model’s base coat had a slightly darker, richer tone, but without being too dark. Once dry, a filter of Humbrol 98 Chocolate was applied to impart depth. The same hue was also used to suggest shadow in the areas were

deck plates butted against the compartment walls. Panel lines and raised details were defined with pin washes of Burnt Umber oil paint, while scratches were created with more 98 Chocolate, applied with a fine brush. The driver’s area was painted with To match reference photos, the green camouflage was hand-painted with a brush.

 To help promote a sense of depth to the final finish, pre-shading was applied before the base coat was added. A glaze of Tamiya Clear Yellow was applied by brush to help vary the final tone.

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Airfix Model World

To mute the colours, controlled washes of highly diluted Humbrol 98 Chocolate were employed, in three coats, and were followed by pin washes of Burnt Umber oil paint.

ADVANCED BUILD LORRAINE 37L

CONVINCING RUST

Orange oil paint was mixed with a little Burnt Umber, thinned and applied with a fine brush over Humbrol 98 Chocolate enamel. A hairdryer is a handy tool during this stage, to expedite the drying time.

 This process was time consuming, but eventually the shroud started to come to life.

X-9 Brown, then misted with a mix of XF-55 Deck Tan along with a hint of XF-2 Flat White, then chipped with 98 Chocolate. The last detail to be added was the power pack in the engine bay, which provided a welcome splash of colour; it was painted green

and weathered with appropriately dirty-looking washes. To finish the interior, some of the crew’s personnel items were painted and positioned to give a busier, more lived-in look, including a pin-up poster stuck to the firewall behind the driver’s seat.

 Going from light to dark, each coat was kept as translucent as possible to create the depth of rust on the exhaust shroud.

 The final stage was to add washes of rust in a downward motion to represent streaks.

Outer paint The base coat of dark yellow was applied in the same way as in the interior; a little white was added which lightened the hue, but this would darken slightly in the weathering process. A yellow glaze was then added, and when properly dry the green striped pattern was painted by hand, to replicate the look of vehicles in reference photos. Before the striped pattern was started, a camouflage net fashioned from

webbing intended for book spines, was fixed to the front of the vehicle (cut gauze soaked in PVA glue would achieve a similar effect). The green stripes were deliberately kept light, and rendered with four coats of well-diluted Humbrol 131 Mid Green. After this stage the model needed to be toned down, as the appearance was somewhat stark. The process began with light and careful dry-brushing over the green with 72 Khaki Drill, lightened with white. Once the camouflage colours were subdued appropriately, it was

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ADVANCED BUILD LORRAINE 37L

 Humbrol 98 Chocolate was used to add wear and tear to logical areas of the model.

 Liberal amounts of slurry, mixed from MIG Pigments, were applied to the lower hull to mimic the build-up of wet mud.

time to harmonise the tan and green with a filter of Humbrol 98 Chocolate, thinned with white spirit and applied with a wide brush in a downward motion. A pin wash of Burnt Umber oil paint defined any raised details.

REFERENCE Panzerwrecks No 8. Normandy 1, by Lee Archer and William Auerbach, ISBN: 978-0-9555940-5-2 www.panzerwrecks.com

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When the filters and washes were dry, chips and scratches were added, in the same manner as in the interior. The weathering of the running gear started with two layers of Humbrol Matt Cote; this enabled the pigments to

 Wet effects were also added to the lower areas of the upper hull.

adhere much better to a matt surface than gloss. Earth-toned pastel pigments followed (MIG Productions’ P028 European Dust and P033 Dark Mud), plus a small drop of PVA glue as a fixer, along with a small amount of static grass for good measure. Humbrol Satin Varnish mixed with PO33 pigment was then painted sparingly onto the road wheels to suggest damp earth. To finish, two water jerrycans (indicated by the painted white cross) were liberated from the spares box and duly placed on the model. Tools were painted in matt black enamel before a patina of PO28 was applied, while the handles received various wood/ earth tones, and Woodland Scenic products emulated locally sourced camouflage.

A stretcher wasn’t included in the model, so one was borrowed from a Dragon Maultier Ambulance build to add a sense of scale and extra reinforcement of the vehicle’s medical role.

Rockin’ resin This kit is for more experienced modellers, and along with it come the usual pitfalls of working with an unforgiving medium, such as fragile parts. Considering this was my first resin project, though, I was pleasantly surprised to see the resin detail was cast perfectly. Some areas did have a modicum of flash but this was removed easily. Brach Model kits aren’t cheap, but they are splendid representations of unusual subjects and are highly recommended for those with the requisite skill. ❚

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INTERMEDIATE BUILD B-24J LIBERATOR

The ten-part ‘core’ was slotted into one fuselage half and then the other, to make positioning of strip styrene formers and stringers easy to judge and control.

Steve Budd transforms Hasegawa’s 1/72 B-24J into an RAF Pathfinder, in a tribute to his relative Ted Budd and Australian pilot Tom Scotland here can be no more fulfilling modelling objective than to honour those who fought in the cauldron of war. A personal aspect to this was finding out about a relative, Flight Sergeant Edward ‘Ted’ Budd, and his service during World War Two, culminating in his assignment to 614 Squadron (Pathfinders), which flew Liberator Mk.VIIIs. For pilot Flying Officer Tom Scotland DFC, his crew and Ted Budd, KG945/A ‘Altair’ was their home, ‘their’ aircraft, and one that bore them through wild weather, flak and fighters. After completing 14 training missions in Altair (named after the brightest star in the constellation Aquila, and used frequently by aviation navigators), Ted Budd joined another crew, but in February 1945 he and a crewmate

T  Rough-cut ammunition box materials fitted easily within the confines of a UK penny and US one cent coins. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement brought everything together.

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lost their lives after bailing out of their ice-laden Liberator…their bodies were never found. This build of Altair stands in fond memory of all those brave men. Pathfinder Liberators looked, for all practical purposes, identical to conventional airframes, with the single external difference being the supplanting of the underside ball turret with an H2X ground mapping radar unit. Payloads usually comprised variants of Target Indicator (TI) bombs, which either ejected flares in various colours or illuminated the target. Unsurprisingly, the most adept

navigators and bomb aimers were regularly ‘creamed’ from other squadrons, to maximise Pathfinder

INTERMEDIATE BUILD B-24J LIBERATOR

 The white styrene additions stood out well from the grey kit components and while not fitting perfectly in every location, certainly brought life to an otherwise empty interior.

efficiency; a function that grew and evolved from 1943 onwards.

Modular bomber Prior to Hasegawa’s family of B-24 kits, Consolidated’s four-engined bomber had seemed out of favour with manufacturers,

with a choice of ageing offerings from Airfix, Academy/Minicraft or Revell. Early discovery of separate nose and aft sections for the fuselage was unsurprising, given Hasegawa’s fascination with extracting the greatest number of releases from a single tooling. The modular theme started with ten core parts for the bomb bay and waist gun areas; if closed bomb and waist doors were destined to be the order of the day, then this basic assembly would

be enough for most. Should one decide (as I did), to jog happily in the opposite direction, then plastic strip and card will replicate many of the missing details. With references arranged, the modelling brow furrowed at the realisation that the waist section roof and walls of the real aircraft were festooned with oxygen bottles, sadly absent in the kit. Happily, this was remedied by a dedicated Quickboost resin set (QB 72319), which contained both fixed and hand-carried types. The same after-market source also furnished a resin H2X radar housing and lower fuselage plate, to replace the styrene ball-turret and completed this particular Libby’s essential Pathfinder credentials.

 Accessory boxes for the waist guns and tail turret, together with a sundry storage container, were simple to assemble and install as this area became ever busier.

 Styrene strip and wire detail were added to the kit’s three-piece engines, until the overall parts count was 39! Painting and weathering these was a joy.

 As additional details were added to the powerplant, the cowling was test-fitted regularly to ensure all would be well after painting and weathering.

Sticky moments Stringers and formers were the logical start point for the waist gun area and consistent alignment was easy with sharply pointed dividers. Working front to back,

 Wartime colour photographs of a Liberator’s interior revealed an astonishing level of battered and marked paint, which exceeded that achieved in the build.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 35

INTERMEDIATE BUILD B-24J LIBERATOR

 With no English decal script to hand, German stencils on the waist ammo boxes (visible but unreadable through the open waist gunner doors) were utilised instead.

 Master Model’s turned brass .50 cal gun barrels replaced the soft detail on Hasegawa’s parts. The long holes required to fit them into the kit pieces had to be drilled with great care. Once everything had been added, there was a real sense of just how crowded and narrow the Liberator’s waist gun area was – particularly when picturing two fully suited crew standing back to back!

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the H2X retract/deploy gantry and control box was formed from styrene rod, strip and lead wire, before ammunition box trays were fashioned from similar materials and added to the ensemble. The four partial roof bulkheads started as a single, carefully shaped piece of styrene, which did double duty as a template for the three subsequent items. Judicious fettling of the profiles with 1,500grade Wet and Dry brought the fit to a perfect pitch and Tamiya Extra Thin Cement sealed the deal. With just photographs and everything judged by eye, the ammunition boxes grew from square-section rod, around which plastic card was placed. Then the vertical sight holes, which gave the gunners a quick visual reference of rounds remaining, were drilled. Additional panels skinned the areas beneath the waist windows, and what appeared to be sections of armour plate (located aft of each gunner), were similarly cut, shaped and fitted. This was followed by an extension of the floor leading to the tail, with the extra space essential to provide a home for two wooden ammunition boxes that fed the tail turret. These large capacity containers were built differently, and with Occam’s Razor foremost (the simplest solutions are usually best), four rectangles of card were sandwiched for the basic shape, sanded square and then duplicated before being laid on their sides and linked with lengths of right-angle strip. Four floor ‘pads’ were added to the base via a punch-and-die set, before the waist section was cleaned with isopropyl alcohol in advance of airbrushed Tamiya

XF-26 Deep Green. Once dry, and before any equipment was installed, the interior was ‘dry dabbed’ and scraped with a piece of closetextured sponge that had been dipped in Humbrol 80 Matt Grass Green. The same technique was used to create chips and nicks in the paintwork with Xtracolor X502 Natural Steel. A session with ‘hairy sticks’ dealt with the natural metal floor, panelled with sections of black anti-slip paint and sealed with Galeria Matt Varnish, before being weathered suitably with dirty black-brown oil wash, fixed with more matt varnish. Once fully cured, the oxygen bottles, ammo boxes and .50 cal guns were fitted, along with the flexi-feed chutes (misappropriated from Eduard B-17 set 73331) to complete the waist area. The chutes were deployed disconnected, in anticipation of re-arming after landing.

Bombing along Dialogue with the pilot, Tom Scotland, revealed that his Pathfinder unit carried black TIs, filled with flares of a single colour, each painted with a ring the same shade as the flare contents. Pragmatism ruled here and the round tail fin of the TI was ignored and the kit bombs

INTERMEDIATE BUILD B-24J LIBERATOR

 The tyres were base-painted XF-69 NATO Black, coated liberally with pigments and sealed with matt clear; this was repeated twice for an enhanced effect.

Specific dialogue with Altair’s pilot, Tom Scotland, revealed he recollected a ‘light green’ in the cockpit and not the usual Consolidated Bronze Green tone.

“the interior was 'dry dabbed' and scraped with a piece of close-textured sponge”

masked, before the remaining inner surfaces were sprayed black, simply to increase the ability to judge alignment later, when attaching the nose to the rear fuselage. Eduard’s B-24J Zoom set (73318) was perfect for adding enough visible extra detail to the flight deck and fell into place quickly. It might seem odd that the cockpit finish applied was RAF Interior Grey Green (custom-mixed from XF-71 Cockpit Green IJN, XF-69 NATO Black and XF-2 Flat White), and not Consolidated Bronze Green. However, Tom Scotland was adamant that the area was ‘a light green’ and nothing darker, so

used, painted XF-69 NATO Black. In a gentle tribute to Tom’s Australian heritage, the forward TIs were ringed with green and those in the rear with yellow. Hasegawa suggests installing ordnance further along in the build, but rather than attempt this, the pseudo-TIs were pre-emptively stored in their cradles. All that remained, with visibility into the loaded bay restricted greatly,

was to add a handful of extra formers and a little wiring, as the construction clock ticked steadily round to the cockpit. Hasegawa circumvented any glazing-related stress by providing the nose, forward of the rear cockpit bulkhead, as a trio of clear parts, to which one simply added or subtracted a few pieces and sections, to correctly configure one’s chosen B-24. As flat vertical navigator’s windows were present on Altair, no modifications were necessary and the interior sections that needed to remain clear were www.airfixmodelworld.com 37

INTERMEDIATE BUILD B-24J LIBERATOR

his recollections were adhered to. With PE and paint boxes both ticked, all that remained was to add the upper nose section and tape it carefully, before applying Eduard’s bespoke B-24J masking

product (CX220). Overall, this fitted well and neatly shortcircuited an otherwise longwinded process. Nose mating comprised an overlapping join (provided by the rear cockpit

floor) and a circumferential butt-join between front and rear fuselage sections. A small step subsequently manifested itself on either flank, but this was faired easily with Mr. Hobby’s superb Mr.

MODEL SPEC

With all detailing and painting completed, it was finally time to assemble the central core of the kit, before proceeding to the wings and ancillaries.

 Test-fitting of the engines revealed that each powerplant seemed to match a particular location better than the others, and was marked suitably for reference.

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B-24J Liberator By:

Hasegawa

Stock Code:

00976

Scale:

1/72

Price:

£64.49

Available from: Amerang, www.amerang.co.uk

Dissolved Putty, which was then sanded and polished.

Winging our way The large, horizontal tail snuggled into its recess with only minor fettling, and the two substantial fins on either side followed suit obediently, and were taped square. Each wing swallowed a couple of nacelle inserts and main gear bay roofs swiftly, before being closed…any gaps were treated with beads of cyanoacrylate (CA). Hasegawa positively leapt to the top of my Christmas card list when the wings slid neatly over their muscular double spars and nestled into the fuselage recesses, with scarcely a murmur of protest. With that quick progress under the modelling belt, the Libby was ready to grow engines. Alas, after the scratch-building adventures in the waist gun compartment, the kit’s threepiece Pratt & Whitney R-183065 Twin Wasp motors simply wouldn’t suffice. Before long, each engine had expanded from three to 39 components, and better represented the robust arrangement that pulled the B-24 around the sky. Final masking on the turrets marked the cessation of construction hostilities, as Halfords Grey Acrylic Primer was applied to the airframe via a spray can. A session with 1,500-grade Wet

INTERMEDIATE BUILD B-24J LIBERATOR

The four engines were batch-painted across each unit to save swapping colours more often than necessary. These were followed quickly by their Hamilton propellers.

and Dry, used wet, produced a smooth surface and Mr. Hobby H-53 Neutral Gray was applied in a series of misted coats. What followed is a technique best described as ‘pre-dry sponging’, and employed a one-inch cube of packing foam, brushed with small amounts of matt black and dabbed on kitchen paper to eliminate wetness. Thousands of marks of various sizes were applied to the undersides, varying the pressure and the concentrations around the airframe. Further treatments were dragged in the direction of airflow, to create patchy staining

in random areas, ensuring this was kept asymmetric. Various marks were then softened and streaked with a broad chisel brush, which was damp but not wet with white spirit. A thin mix of H-53 Neutral Grey was then skimmed over the weathering until the appearance of marks and stains had been reduced by approximately half. Further emphasis of local areas was achieved with a thin black oil wash, corrected when dry with an ordinary pencil eraser where necessary. Before inverting the Liberator, the lower surfaces were sealed with a coat of matt varnish and masked comprehensively with Tamiya tape.

Spraying with masks

 Tamiya tape held together the fivepart fuselage mask; vital in allowing it to be placed securely in the correct location, with all components aligned properly.

 With ‘transport tape’ removed carefully from the mask, the position was checked before the centre disc was removed and stored on the mask sheet backing.

 Post-It notes, augmented with Tamiya tape, prevented any overspray from the matt white ring (pre-sprayed with XF-20 Medium Grey).

 The fruits of this more protracted process were clear once the masking was removed. It was a pleasure to mostly avoid the use of decals.

Drab plumage

The important first step is to decide one’s destination. In this instance, ‘well-worn and dusty, late summer in Amendola, Italy’ was the name of the game, so a factory finish of H-304 Olive Drab was applied first. Perhaps this seems odd? If a faded brown Olive Drab was the end result, why bother with the original shade? In essence, what lies underneath affects what follows. It’s an approach consistent with the key principal of weathering – work in layers and build the effects in stages. Over this went an initial

The prospect of an Olive Drab upper finish may seem a little dull, but to me it’s alive with all kinds of potential for weathering.

“the key principal of weathering - work in layers and build the effects in stages” www.airfixmodelworld.com 39

INTERMEDIATE BUILD B-24J LIBERATOR

“This was a great kit, and one that modellers can buy and build with confidence”

References Voice from the Stars: A Pathfinder’s Story, by Tom Scotland (Tom & Laurel Scotland), ISBN: 978-1-87531-709-7 Consolidated B-24 Liberator Owners’ Workshop Manual, by Graeme Douglas (Haynes), ISBN: 978-0-85733-159-5 B-29 Liberator 1939-1945, by Martin Bowman (Patrick Stevens), ISBN: 978-1-85260-073-0

scribbled fade, created with a thin mix of H-304 Olive Drab combined with 15% H-74 Sandy Yellow. No attempt was made to reach a conclusion straight off the bat; instead, an even lighter tone, mixed with a further 15% H-74, evolved the finish into a ‘dapple’, with enough visual contrast for later

thin colour overlays. Into a cleaned airbrush went H-341 Mud, which was misted thinly over the airframe to shift the colour bias towards the brown hues Olive Drab often exhibited. At this point, Michael Harding oils were recruited, starting with a random stain of Burnt Umber. The

 Several sessions with sponge and brush disrupted the plain base colour (as well as being great fun) and care was exercised in ensuring a random finish.

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disruptive surface stain began with dampening a section of the airframe with white spirit – in this instance the upper port wing. Armed with a square-tipped chisel brush, lightly loaded with Burnt Umber wash, it was dabbed randomly over the surface. Each dab deposited a quantity of colour

that bled across the surface, with the wing tilted to alter the pattern of distribution. The wash was then dried gently with a hair dryer and sealed with a coat of matt varnish to prevent subsequent weathering affecting it. A further layer was added and sealed, before a random application of Yellow Ochre and

 A deliberately patchy upper base-coat of H-304 Olive Drab aided subsequent weathering, which would be applied in a sequence of layers.

INTERMEDIATE BUILD B-24J LIBERATOR

 The olive base tones were altered more markedly by a thin coat of H-341 Mud.

Zinc White, which produced the final shift in tone from ‘factory colour’ to ‘several years down the line’, was completed with another coat of matt varnish. Aside from custom decals on the nose (produced by a kind friend) and tail serials, the markings were sprayed with vinyl masks from the Maketar range (see panel). Doing this in 1/72 might seem a little awkward, but in practice it was quite the opposite. The process was simply one of removing each mask from the backing

sheet with ‘transport tape’, applying it accurately on the model, removing the tape and working through the colours in a logical sequence that kept everything aligned. In the case of the fuselage roundels, they were completed in the sequence red,

blue, yellow and finally white. With the over-worked airbrush back in its holster, gently smoking, there was just the addition of the turrets, supercharger plumbing and H2X dome before Altair was completed.

 After the first application of Michael Harding oils, the muted tones were firmly towards the ‘hot and dusty’ objective, with that company’s hand-ground pigments a great asset. Random staining with Yellow Ochre and Zinc White oils completed the colour shift.

Modelling requiem The engineering (including Hasegawa’s penchant for modular breakdown) gave no issues throughout; the fit standards were equally fine and these two foundational aspects of kit design left no justifiable cause to complain. As far as the interior was concerned, it’s relatively spartan, with the detail provided either a plus or a minus, dependent on one’s inclinations towards scratchbuilding and whether to open the waist gun doors. I welcomed the diversion from a straightforward kit assembly to exercise basic card and strip techniques, to place a personal stamp on the outcome. This was a great kit, and one that modellers can buy and ❚ build with confidence.

 No fin-flash masks were present in the Maketar set, but the wider version used on RAF Liberators was easily catered for with suitably sized Tamiya tape.

 The turret guns also benefited from the addition of Master Model’s .50 cal brass barrels. Note the masking of the transparencies evolved into a blend of Eduard and Tamiya tape.

 Initial random scribble was airbrushed; the Olive Drab lightened with 15% H-74 Sandy Yello, before an even lighter tone was applied to provide a mottled finish.

 The ‘A’ individual aircraft letter was sprayed via a mask, cut from a photocopy of a decal in the Kits-World 1/72 RAF Squadron ID Letters 48 Inch (KW172026). www.airfixmodelworld.com 41

PRODUCT FOCUS AIRBRUSH GEAR

Spraying Spotlight Considering buying new airbrush equipment? Then let AMW team members guide you through a selection of great items

Procon Boy WA Platinum 0.3 By: Mr. Hobby Item no: PS289 Price: £119 Available from: www.albionhobbies.com Mr. Hobby’s Procon Boy WA Platinum 0.3 fits neatly into the median of its growing range of precision airbrush equipment, in both price and performance. Also supplied is a 1m length of 4mm diameter vinyl hose and adapters for compressed air propellant cans, 4mm hose and standard 9mm-thread braided hose for larger compressors. This is a well-balanced gravity-feed airbrush, but is slightly heavier than comparative Iwata or Badger offerings, which gives it more heft and it was comfortable to hold and operate. The double-action trigger allows substantial control of paint and air, and an integral air adjustment screw (located on the underside), which enables finetuning of the latter without the need to alter compressor settings. A 1/3 fl oz (10cc)-capacity paint cup provides a substantial reservoir for broad area coverage, and when combined with the 0.3mm nozzle/ needle, the result is a good quality general-purpose airbrush for fine detail work. Testing with lacquer, enamel and acrylic paints yielded similar results, as all three required additional thinning, even with supposedly ‘airbrush-ready’ products…notably when attempting finer work. Pencil-thin lines were achieved with minimal experimentation, although the paint/thinner ratio is arguably more important here than the needle size, and the crown-style needle cap facilitated closeup work. Ease of cleaning is comparable to other airbrushes, and parts breakdown during this process is identical to the majority of other types. Stu Fone

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Airfix Model World

NEO for Iwata Gravity-feed Airbrushing Kit By: Iwata Item no: IW 120 Price: £190 Available from: The Airbrush Company Web: www.airbrushes.com

Iwata’s airbrush and compressor kit is designed to cater for both novice and more experienced modellers, who are prepared to spend that little extra for a quality product. The compact nature of the compressor is ideal (hotels permitting!) for those who spend a lot of time travelling or don’t have the space for a larger unit. Primary contents comprise a NEO for Iwata compressor (with international plug adapters), 1m length of 4mm diameter vinyl air hose and a Neo for Iwata CN gravity-feed, dual-action airbrush with interchangeable paint cups (1/10 fl oz/3cc and ¼ fl oz/7cc). Extras include three 1 fl oz (30cc) bottles of Com-Art paint and a similar-sized bottle of airbrush cleaner; a website address is supplied for Iwata’s excellent tutorials on airbrush use and maintenance. The constant-flow compressor has three pressure settings (covering 4-15psi/0.3-1 bar) which are selected by pressing the on/off switch; there is a four-step sequence: on/low, high, medium, off. Note that this type of compressor achieves a more stable airflow when it has been working for several minutes prior to airbrushing. As with most Iwata products, the CN airbrush is well-balanced, and the double-action trigger allows for fine control of the paint flow. By providing interchangeable cups, Iwata has also eased cleaning, as with the funnel-shaped reservoirs removed, the paint ‘well’ is more accessible. A standard 9mm thread connector is included with the vinyl hose, negating the need for a separate adapter when a compressor with higher capacity 8mm braided hose is attached. When tested with acrylics, enamels and lacquers, the airbrush coped admirably, and in addition to basic area coverage, thin, almost pencil-like lines were achievable, although this was dependent on paint mix and pressure setting. Note that for close-in/ fine work (as with many modern precision-machined airbrushes), even supposedly airbrush-ready products must be thinned, to prevent clogging/and or drying in the nozzle. Stu Fone

PRODUCT FOCUS AIRBRUSH GEAR

Airbrush Cleaning Kit By: Iwata Item no: CL-100 Price: £31.95 Available from: The Airbrush Company Web: www.airbrushes.com

Deluxe Professional Airbrush Set By: Testors Item no: A4709 Price: £159.99 Available from: www.shesto.co.uk When Testors announced the Aztek, it was greeted with surprise from modellers; gone was the familiar T-shape, and in its place, an ergonomic profile with interchangeable modular needle/nozzle assemblies. And don’t be deceived by the plastic exterior...merely a shell covering a very capable airbrush. Furthermore, the quick-change modules are simple to use, without the need to clean the remainder of the device. The Deluxe Professional set combines an Aztek 470 with six nozzles, three side cup/ bottles and three gravity-feed paint cups, a length of 4mm diamater hose, combination wrench/cleaning tool and two instructional DVDs. Other than the individual nozzle assemblies, which are screwed into the main body with the combination tool, the big difference with the Aztek 470 is its weight, as most competitors are at least twice as heavy. This does take getting used to, but the dual-action trigger is responsive and comfortable. Colour-coded nozzles cater for all levels of spraying, from large area coverage (turquoise and orange/0.5 and 0.7mm) to fine detail (tan/0.3mm), with separate nozzles for acrylic paints (black and white/0.4 and 0.5mm). This was found to be an excellent all-round airbrush during testing, and wasn’t as susceptible to paint clogging in the nozzle as others, but the needle springs were occasionally difficult to clean after prolonged spraying. If there is one drawback, it’s the plastic combination tool, which would be better produced in metal. Stu Fone

Airbrush Hanger

Airbrush maintenance, along with the rest of the hobby, has become increasingly sophisticated in recent years, although staple equipment such as quality pipe-cleaners are a refreshing and ‘old-fashioned’ constant. In addition to a healthy stock of the latter, Iwata’s cleaning kit comprises a maintenance guide, nozzle wrench, ‘wet’ cleaning wipes, LED magnifier, three small cleaning brushes, airbrush lubricant and a 1 fl oz (28cc) bottle of cleaning fluid. While intended for Iwata’s products, this is equally suitable for any airbrush, although one will need to check the relevant manufacturer’s instructions with regard to use of the lubricant. The maintenance guide is easy to follow, with clear photographs and supporting text, and includes specific guidance on how to employ the various tools. A refill pack (CL-150) is available separately, comprising three cleaning brushes, 12 wipes, one bottle of cleaning fluid and 50 pipe cleaners, and retails for £9.55. While the illuminated magnifier is excellent for checking the nozzle and needle for damage and paint debris, perhaps the best item is the nozzle wrench. Instead of resembling a very small spanner, this fits over the actual nozzle, minimising the risk of this being dropped accidentally while it is being removed or replaced. Although generic products are widely available, this is a superb package, with the modeller reassured that the correct types of cleaning materials (such as non-shedding pipe cleaners) are included. Stu Fone

By: Sparmax Item no: H4B1 Price: £16.50 Available from: The Airbrush Company Web: www.airbrushes.com When one enters the world of airbrushing it’s easy to focus on seemingly important items, but forget others that might be deemed superfluous. I made this mistake in shunning the need for an airbrush holder…instead relying on a large bulldog clip fastened to my bench! The inevitable happened more than once, and due to the lack of proper support the airbrush flopped out of the hole in the bulldog clip handle, covering me with paint. Let this be a cautionary tale, and enough motivation to obtain a dedicated airbrush hanger such as this cool product from Sparmax. With four receptacles (two sleeves, two hooks), holder for an on-hose moisture trap, and a strong vice grip for attachment to the workbench, this will ensure one’s airbrushes are held safely…thus avoiding paint spillage and, more importantly, damaged crowns/needle tips. It’s a no-brainer really, and great value. Chris Clifford

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PRODUCT FOCUS AIRBRUSH GEAR

Evolution Silverline 2 in 1

By: Harder & Steenbeck Item no: 126003 Price: €149.38 Available from: Harder & Steenbeck Web: www.harder-airbrush.eu This is Harder & Steenbeck’s premier mid-price, double-action airbrush. It comes in a neatly packaged box containing an instruction guide, 1/16 fl oz (2cc) and 1/6 fl oz (5ml) colour cups, and 0.4mm and 0.2mm needles. The airbrush itself is light and ergonomic, with its sleek rear section sitting comfortably in the hand. The surface is nickel-plated, making it resistant to staining, therefore it’s easy to maintain. Strip-down is simple, but due to small holes in the nozzle, cleaning this part is quite tricky. The trigger rod has a support arm, called an Excenter, attached to it…which allows precise control of the paint flow. There is an adjustment screw on the end, allowing the user to preset the maximum volume of paint to be sprayed (perfect for pre-shading). During testing, the Silverline 2 excelled at providing an even basecoat and was very good for painting fine lines and detail. It was also very effective when spraying complex camouflage patterns. It worked best with a slightly higher pressure setting, to get ensure ‘clean’, uninterrupted air flow and could also be used for priming, but would need the 0.4mm needle. Overall the Silverline 2 in 1 is a precision device with ease of use and excellent control, making it an ideal choice that modellers should consider when looking to move up from basic models. Joe Turner

User-friendly Airbrush and Compressor Kit

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TG Talon By: Paasche Item no: P-TG#2L Price: £130.85 Available from: The Airbrush Company Web: www.airbrushes.com Paasche has long had a reputation for high-quality airbrushes and the Talon TG certainly doesn’t buck the trend. It’s a double-action gravityfed ‘brush with a generous 4oz cup, and it weighs 109g as a whole; its nearest competitor equivalent would be, say, the Badger Krome. The Talon is finished beautifully in chrome and burnt orange anodized aluminium, and is comfortable in the hand, while the body cut-out eases needle adjustment. Its 0.38mm needle tip is protected by a crown cap that has three rectangular prongs to shield the needle itself, this being removable if required, and PTFE packing means it can handle water or solvent-based paint. The needle limiter has a knurled knob at the end and disassembly is simple, making cleaning relatively easy…although as with all fixed paint cups, getting into the area between cup and tip demands extra effort. In use the Talon feels solid, with smooth trigger action and good balance, but the air release lever takes getting used to, as it has a very positive action. The cup lid on the review sample was quite loose, but not something that affected the painting process. Talon responded well to all mediums thrown at it; an excellent airbrush, especially considering its price, and it’s more than up to the varied challenges of scale modelling. Andy Davies

By: SprayCraft Item no: SP30KC Price: £100 Available from: www.shesto.co.uk This budget-priced combined compressor/airbrush set from SprayCraft is ideal for modellers on the go, due to its compact nature. An SP30 gravity-feed single-action airbrush is supplied, along with a mains-powered mini-compressor, a 1m length of 4mm vinyl air hose, and an airbrush holder bracket that attaches neatly to the compressor. The latter was surprisingly capable, with three settings (indicated by LEDs) selectable on a combined on/off/pressure rocker switch. Note that when first activated, the airflow is at its highest setting, and one can cycle through high/medium/low without having to power down the unit. However, the airbrush is basic (being the only single-action item reviewed in this feature), and modellers should note that the machining is not to the standards of Iwata, Paasch or Badger…on this sample there were burrs on the needle cap thread that snagged on cleaning equipment. A lightweight rear cover means there is a noticeable nose-heavy imbalance, although this will be less apparent as modellers become accustomed to the airbrush. Another slight drawback, especially for those unable to upgrade airbrush and compressor at the same time, is that there are no adapters for differing hose connections. During testing, the airbrush coped well with all three paint types, but while the box artwork portrays it as capable of both wide area coverage and fine details, the thinnest line this reviewer could achieve was almost twice the claimed 1.6mm. Cleaning was hampered by the previously mentioned burrs, but all normal techniques (including blow-back) are applicable to the singleaction unit. Additionally, the small 1/16 fl oz (2cc) paint cup means that this isn’t well suited to area coverage, unless one is prepared to continually refill with paint. Stu Fone

Hobby Spray Booth

By: The Airbrush Company Item no: SB-88 Price: £145 Available from: The Airbrush Company Web: www.airbrushes.com While wearing a mask for airbrushing is vital, to prevent breathing in airborne contaminants, further protection should be considered for the wider work area. The clear answer is a spray booth, to contain and divert vapours through filters and an extractor fan. This product from The Airbrush Company is a good budget example; one must assemble it, and this was slightly tricky due to the firmness of the plastic joints – another pair of hands will be a boon – but placing the filters and attaching the extractor was easy. One also receives a turntable, on which sub-assemblies and models can be rotated to ease spraying. It’s relatively quiet while in use, and it’s sturdy and well rooted due to the weight of the extractor. Vapours are vented via the flexible hose, which connects to the extractor. The other end of the hose can then be placed out of a window, or attached to a standard domestic vent. One spare filter is provided, although replacements are just £8.90 so it’s a wallet-friendly way to protect one’s health indefinitely after the initial outlay. Full dimensions are: 515 x 301 x 400mm (550 including fan unit). Chris Clifford

Half Mask Twin Respirator with Typhoon Valve By: Force 8 Item no: FM-F8-A1P2 Price: £26.10 Available from: The Airbrush Company Web: www.airbrushes.com These days, there really is no excuse for not wearing a filter mask while airbrushing…partly because the cost isn’t that great and, ultimately, why put our respiratory health at risk needlessly? This Force 8 mask is a great example of value combined with performance; it’s comfortable and not too heavy, and the neck/head straps can be adjusted to obtain the best fit possible. Double filters ensure a high level of protection from atomised paint/ thinner/lacquer, and fumes, and low breathing resistance means one’s attention won’t be diverted by focusing on getting enough air! The price quoted here is for the mask and a pair of filter cartridges, but it’s inexpensive to replace the latter items when necessary… and they’re easy to change on the mask itself. We should all value our health, and it’s crazy to endanger it for a simple hobby, so equipment such as this is vital and ought to be considered even before an actual airbrush and what we put through it. Chris Clifford

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SUPER ÉTENDARD

Dassault’s famous attack fighter now comes reasonably well equipped from Kinetic. Brian Wakeman improves this 1/48 kit with a sprinkling of after-market accessories

T

he Super Étendard (standard or flag in French) came to the British public’s attention during the Falklands War of 1982, in the hands of Argentine Navy pilots who employed Exocet missiles in a deadly manner against Royal Navy vessels. In French service, though, it provided sterling service in various conflicts and only last

July was it retired from the Aéronavale, to be replaced by another Dassault product, the elegant and capable Rafale M.

New kid If one has stashed away, or ever built, the older 1/48 Airfix/Heller Super Étendard, one will know that kit contained few parts…but was still a fine model for its time. Kinetic, on the other hand,

 Not much would be seen of the SNECMA Atar AK50 engine front and intake trunking, but the detail level was very good.

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indulges modellers with 274 components on one clear and five grey runners, which are accompanied by a small photoetched (PE) brass fret. Armament options are adequate, but on closer inspection Kinetic does not supply the final operational fit for the Super Étendard Modernise (SEM), employed in Afghanistan and Libya. The canopy can be positioned

MODEL SPEC

SEM I-SONIC

Dassault SuE/SEM By:

Kinetic Models

Stock Code:

K48061

Scale:

1/48

Price:

US $39.99

Available from: Lucky Model, www.luckymodel.com

 The well-detailed cockpit needed just a coat of paint and dry-brushing to make the best of the moulded features, but the kit seat was replaced by a Pavla resin item.

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SUPER ÉTENDARD

Kinetic’s colour schemes • Super Étendard, ‘19’, 11F, Aéronavale, 1980 • Super Étendard Modernise, ‘37’, 17F, Aéronavale, Libya, 2011 • Super Étendard Modernise, ‘51’, 17F, Aéronavale, Afghanistan, 2008 • Super Étendard, 3-A-204/04, Argentine Naval Aviation, 1980s • Super Étendard, Iraqi Air Force, 81 Squadron, 1983-85

Pre-coloured Eduard PE added refinement to the cockpit, but the kit parts alone will be enough for many modellers. Plasticine made a good counterweight for the nose section.

 Neatening of the wheel bays and airbrakes took just a few minutes’ work with a sanding stick.

closed or open, but the latter present a challenge in securing it permanently due to a fragile connection. Optional flap, wing and tailplane positions (including PE back-plates) were provided, while the Cartograf decal sheet was excellent, especially as the

liveries represented the entirety of the type’s service life.

Raising the standard Work began by painting matt white on the inner trunking and intakes before the engine and fan blades were assembled. The  Pavla’s resin seat fitted like a glove on a dry-fit. A small angler’s weight was pushed into the Plasticine for extra ballast, and a PE head-up display would be installed eventually.

"274 components on one clear and five grey runners" www.airfixmodelworld.com 47

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SUPER ÉTENDARD

cockpit area was well detailed, with options for standard SuE and updated SEM instrument panels. On first viewing these appeared similar, so attention was warranted to ensure selection of the correct version.

Further PE refinements were added from Eduard’s Super Étendard interior set (49776), before the cockpit was painted with Lifecolor US375 Deep Cockpit, to replicate the black coating of fullsize airframes. This in turn was drybrushed, before various switches were picked out in the requisite colours. A decision was made to replace Kinetic’s Martin-Baker

Mk.4BS seat with a Pavla resin item (S48014), as it as far superior to the styrene kit option. Detail in the wheel bays was reasonable but it looked even better with a coat of Tamiya AS-12 Aluminium. Before long, the stage was reached when the fuselage needed to be joined. Prior to doing this, though, one has the option of opening or closing the engine

vents…a feature not available on the Airfix kit, but it makes a subtle addition. It’s then that the SuE/ SEM alternatives kick in and the way Kinetic tackles this is to be applauded, as no form of cutting or chopping is required. Most of the activity relates to the selfdefence systems on the 34 SEM aircraft, which could be identified by angular tail-mounted Thales

Both seat options: the rudimentary kit offering on the left, and Pavla’s more refined resin item.

 Putty, and a lot of it, was necessary on the spine…even after careful alignment of the fuselage halves.

 Kinetic made light work of the older SuE and new Super Étendard Modernisé modifications. The optional parts all fell into place without issue.

Dedicated Eduard PE was used to detail the inner cavities of the wing-folds.

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INTERMEDIATE BUILD SUPER ÉTENDARD

Minor scratches marred the windscreen after sanding the puttied surrounds, so this was made good with Novus polishing compounds.

Pencil was used to set the upper camouflage demarcations. Note the very fragile PE wing spoilers.

 Kinetic was reasonably generous with its stores: three sizes of fuel tank, Matra Magic 1 and 2, Phimat, Damocles, Exocet and buddy refuelling pod.

 Eduard Brassin GBU-49s were well detailed and had the correct features, such as GPS ‘pips’ on the forward section, and a body cable conduit.

Sherloc P radar-warning receivers, replacing the standard SuE BF-system. Most other upgrades relate to the inner workings and radar, but can also be reflected by

the wings were attached! Careful study of the plans is advisable before making a move on the wings. These were slightly confusing, because of the folded/ in-flight wing, flap up/down and wing spoiler options. Once a decision was made to drop everything and fold the wings,

weapons carriage. It may be advisable to divert from the instructions at this stage, as they suggested assembling the airbrakes and wheel doors before

the work wasn’t as daunting as imagined, but the spoilers were extremely flimsy, so were posed retracted. Eduard details for the wing-fold, came from its Super Étendard exterior set (48890), but test-fitting of the windscreen revealed a large gap and this

"Further PE refinements were added from Eduard’s Super Étendard interior set" www.airfixmodelworld.com 49

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SUPER ÉTENDARD

armament/ stores Kinetic provides the following items in this boxing: • Matra R550 Magic 1 • Matra R550 Magic 2 • Douglas refuelling pod • Damocles targeting pod • Barracuda ECM pod • PHIMAT chaff/flare pod • AM.39 Exocet missile • 600 lit ventral fuel tank • 600 lit wing fuel tank • 1,100 lit wing tank

Careful masking and painting ensures neat armament. The orange Magic 2 practice missile provided a welcome splash of colour.

had to be filled before painting. Several coats of putty aided the author’s re-profiling initiative, but resultant sanding caused several light scratches on the glazing, which were removed with Novus 1 and 2 polishing compounds. With the canopy masked, painting could begin.

Decisions, decisions As the SuE received many liveries during its long service life, one may struggle to decide quickly due to the variety. Initial thoughts turned to the overall grey employed over Afghanistan. But given the attention received by the type during its actions in

Libya during 2011, the decision was made to portray a two-tone grey aircraft, as if working-up at a French live weapons range, prior to deployment aboard the carrier Charles De Gaulle (R91). Having already painted the canopy surround, along with the radome in Colourcoats ARS16 (BS987C) Blue/Black Disruptive (www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk), the main pattern was outlined in pencil over medium grey automotive primer. Xtracolor X136 FS 16375 Light Compass Grey looked perfect for the lighter shade, Gris Median, opposite the darker Gris Marin Foncé, emulated by UA022 FS 36118 Medium What a difference the Medium Gunship Grey made; the model started to look like a pukka Aéronavale SEM.

 Xtracolor Light Compass Grey was applied within the pencil-marked outlines.

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INTERMEDIATE BUILD SUPER ÉTENDARD

 Kinetic’s decals adhered well with Mr. Hobby Mr. Mark Softer and DACO setting solutions.

 A Graduate No.1 brush was used to apply the first coat of Wilder’s LS07 Dark Yellow Oil wash.

 Wilder’s oils are excellent for weathering, and perfect for depicting busy, dirty jets… especially during sustained combat operations.

 The weapons, apart from the GBU-49s, looked great and were ready for attachment. Locating holes were widened slightly to aid the fit of the pylons.

Gunship Grey; the latter shade was mixed with Winsor & Newton Acrylic Flow Improver, which worked very well. Occasional splashes of random greys over the airframe were thrown into the mix for realism, looking almost spot-on as touch-ups. Three coats of Humbrol Clear Varnish then sealed the camouflage pattern, allowing decaling to proceed. Kinetic’s decal sheet was sizeable and packed with options

Most of the panel lines were highlighted by Lifecolor LPW27 Grey Liner and LPW01 Burnt Umber Liquid Pigments, along with Wilder’s LS09 Black/Brown and LS07 Dark Yellow Matt fast-drying oils for most of the streaking, rendered with a long,

(see panel). A Flottille 17 (17F) aircraft, No.37, was the preference for this build, being land-based at BAN Landivisiau on the Brittany coast, before deployment to the Mediterranean. Weathering-wise, the normal leaks and streaks seen on a fast jet were recreated, mainly on the underside, but wear and tear on the inner wing walk area was also represented, this area being well trodden by groundcrew.

thin 000 paint brush. Note that Lifecolor and Wilder products are available from The Airbrush Company (www.airbrushes.com).

Three-point plan The kit’s undercarriage was also a work of art and ably

"The kit’s undercarriage was also a work of art" www.airfixmodelworld.com 51

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SUPER ÉTENDARD

 Wilder’s Gunpowder Line GP08 Dry European Mud was effective in replicating grime on the wing walkway.

References Dassault Super Étendard by Fredric Lert, (Histoire & Collections), ISBN: 978-2-35250-175-6 Camouflage & Markings 6: The Air Campaign for the Freedom of Libya, February to October 2011, by Charles Stafrace, (Guideline), ISBN: 978-1-908565-78-51 AirForces Monthly October 2016, ‘Sunset for the Super Etendard Modernisé’, (Key Publishing) Dassault Etendard IV and Super Etandard, by Alain Crosnier and Jean-Michel Guhl (SupAir), ISBN: 2-86603-001-X

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represented the features of the real units. Lifecolor UA733 Tyre Black, and AS-12 Aluminium from a spray can, were the colours used on the tyres/wheel hubs, and Wilder NL02 Nitroline Deep Shadow Wash gave extra depth. Kinetic supplied almost all the necessary stores for a preAfghan SEM and standard SuE, but AMW’s build represented a more up-to-date aircraft, so aftermarket items were sought. French company L’Arsenal (www.larsenal. com) kindly provided resin items and these comprised Alkan chaff/ flare dispensers (with pylons) for the inner wings (AC4826), and AUF-2 twin-store carriers (AC4830) for GBU-49 laser/GPSguided bombs; the latter coming from Eduard’s Brassin range (648220). Kinetic items employed for the build included the Damocles targeting pod, a single

 Almost complete…but it may have been wiser to attach the pair of GBUs to the pylon before the latter was glued to the wing.

Matra Magic (painted as a training round), one large drop tank and a Barracuda ECM pod. Once the author was happy with everything, a light misting of Lifecolor LC77 Clear Satin Varnish, with one or two drops of LC27 Matt Clear Varnish added, ❚ was the final flurry.

 All the accoutrements were finally in place, with the in-flight refuelling probe extended. The ‘bone-dome’ perched on the windscreen frame brought extra life to the subject.

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IN FOCUS SUPER ÉTENDARD

Mark Attrill outlines the history of Dassault’s characterful maritime attack aircraft

Battle Standard D

assault-Breguet’s Super Étendard is a direct derivative of the earlier Étendard IVM and IVP carrier-borne fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, which had equipped French Navy aviation (Aéronavale) from the 1960s to the 1980s. Etendard translates loosely to ‘battle standard’ The origins of the Étendard family can be traced to an urgent operational requirement from

the French Ministry of Defence, to develop a more conventional fighter to operate from aircraft carriers – at a time when Marcel Dassault was concentrating on the design, development and production of elegant delta-winged Mirage fighters. These became the hallmark of this prolific manufacturer, but were wholly unsuited for maritime use. Fortunately, Dassault had been working on a French Air Force

French Aeronavale SuEs and SEMs benefited from a limited air-to-air refuelling capability due to a buddy-buddy pod, seen here under the centreline on aircraft ‘51’. (Key collection)

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requirement for a light, jet powered fighter-bomber, also the subject of a contemporary NATO competition and the design team reverted to an equally successful Dassault pattern of the 1950s, the Super Mystere. This aircraft was successful with the Armée de l’Air and Israeli Air Force, and offered potential as a more conventionally configured carrier-borne mid-winged machine of robust construction. The resultant Étendard II

ultimately failed to deliver, but the French Navy (Aéronavale) expressed interest in exploiting the design, which led to the Étendard IVM/P, which first flew in 1956 and operated from the new Clemenceau class of aircraft carriers between 1962-1990, with the IVM version being withdrawn from French Service in 1991 and the IVP reconnaissance variant finally retired in 2000. In the meantime, the Anglo-French consortium SEPECAT had been charged with the development of a navalised version of the new Jaguar fighterbomber and advanced trainer, known as the Jaguar M (Maritime). But the prototype was dogged by political issues and more practical problems associated with operations aboard ships, including an inability to land back on a carrier after an engine failure. At the time, France considered acquiring the combat-proven LTV A-7 Corsair or Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, although in anticipation of the issues with any multinational aircraft development programme, Dassault proposed an improved version of the now successful Étendard IVM, to

IN FOCUS SUPER ÉTENDARD

The spectacular 1997 colour scheme worn by SuE ‘43’ of 11 Flottille for the mini-Tiger Meet at BAN Hyères; at the time 11F actually operated from BAN Landivisiau.

Super Étendard ‘59’ carries an asymmetric load comprising a fuel tank on the port wing, and to starboard, the Air Sol Moyen-Portée nuclear cruise missile. The latter store can also be carried by the Mirage 2000N and Rafale, and sports a 300-kiloton warhead. (Key collection)

The Aéronavale initially planned to receive 100 of the new variant, but budgetary constraints led to an initial order of 60, with options on a further 20 aircraft. Ultimately, 71 examples finally entered service with the Aéronavale from June 1978, and the manufacture of all aircraft, including an Argentinian order, was completed by 1983.

shore-based at Landivisiau in eastern France and operated from the Clemenceau-Class carriers, Clemenceau and Foch. The SuE was first used in combat by Argentina during 1982’s Falklands War, but the first operational missions performed by Aéronavale SuEs took place over Lebanon, during Operation Oliphant; in September 1983,

Departing for Kandahar, Afghanistan SuE ‘2’ was one of three aircraft from 17 Flottille that deployed to the region in 2008, wearing overall light grey camouflage. The significant factor of this deployment was the ability of the SuEs to drop the newly introduced 550lb (250kg) GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II GPS/laser-guided bomb.

include a more powerful engine, revised wing, radar and improved avionics. This proposal was accepted by the French Navy in 1973 as the Super Étendard (SuE). Since the new aircraft was so closely aligned to the original design, the first of three prototypes, a modified IVM airframe with the new nonafterburning SNECMA Atar 9K-50 turbojet, and some of the new avionics suite, completed its maiden flight in October 1974. In time, the aircraft was to receive a Thomson-CSF Agave radar, integrated with the new air-launched version of Aerospatiale’s anti-shipping missile, the AM.39 Exocet, which was to form the aircraft’s main anti-ship armament; SuEs were also modified to carry the ramjetpowered Air-Sol Moyenne Portée air-launched nuclear missile.

Into service Initial entry with the Aéronavale was relatively swift, given the service’s extensive experience with the Étendard IVM/P and Flottille 11F, the first squadron to be equipped with the new aircraft, became operational in February 1979. In total, three operational squadrons and a training unit flew the SuE,

eight SuEs aboard Foch attacked Syrian Army positions to the east of Beirut, which had previously engaged a French Army contingent employed on UN peacekeeping duties in the civil war-ravaged country. Two months later, 14 SuEs from Clemenceau bombed an Iranian-sponsored training camp in Baalbeck, northeast of Lebanon,

in retaliation for Islamic terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of 58 paratroopers serving with the French Multinational Force in Beirut.

Latin connection Dassault secured its first, and ultimately only, export order for the SuE in 1980. Argentina, frustrated by a US arms embargo that prevented the supply of spares for its Navy (Armada) Douglas A-4P/Q Skyhawk fleet, placed an order for 14 aircraft equipped with Exocet. Armada pilots received initial training in France, with the first five aircraft (and Exocets) being shipped to Argentina during mid-1981. The aircraft were assigned to the 2 Escuadrilla de Caza y Ataque (2ECA - 2nd Naval Air Fighter/ Attack Squadron), shore-based at Rio Grande when not embarked aboard the carrier ARA 25 de Mayo. Shortly after their initial introduction to service, four SuEs were hastily brought into use during the Falklands War in May 1982. Fortunately for the British, the Armada’s use of the SuE was hampered by a lack of operational experience, with Argentinian pilots having less than 50 hours on type as war commenced, no carrier qualifications and a limited number of the deadly Exocets.

The Aéronavale has been a loyal supporter of the NATO Tiger Association, with 11 Flottille sending Super Étendards whenever possible. This tiger-striped example, one of three that wore this scheme, is pictured taxiing during the 1998 Tiger Meet at Lechfeld AB, Germany.

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IN FOCUS SUPER ÉTENDARD

Argentine Navy SuE 3-A-202 flown by Captain de Corbeta Francisco flew the last AM.39 Exocet sortie of the Falklands War, on May 30, 1982. After two inflight refuellings, the missile was launched against a target supposed to be HMS Invincible…a fact denied by British sources to this day.

have, ironically, completed carrier qualifications aboard the Brazilian aircraft carrier NAE Sao Paulo (the former French carrier Foch) during bilateral ARAEX exercises, or on US Navy carriers during GringoGaucho manoeuvres.

Super Étendard Modernise (SEM) Over a decade of French Aéronavale operational experience with the Super Étendard identified the need for an upgrade programme, to better suit the

The flying display at RAF Greenham Common’s International Air Tattoo in the early 1980s contained a two-ship display team, composed of Super Étendards from 11 Flottille. Flying in close formation, part of their routine was a simulated carrier landing down the main runway.

Nevertheless, following the sinking of the cruiser General Belgrano on May 2, and the rapid withdrawal of 25 de Mayo (together with its embarked A-4 Skyhawks), from action, the Argentinians turned to their small SuE force to provide an effective anti-shipping attack capability. During a brief period of action, the SuE/Exocet combination demonstrated its lethal ability to influence the maritime domain of warfare. On May 4, two Exocet-equipped SuEs attacked Royal Navy picket ships lying to the west of the main Task Force and launched two missiles against HMS Sheffield. One Exocet hit the British destroyer and,

although it failed to detonate, it created so much damage that the ship was eventually abandoned and scuttled by the Royal Navy two days later. In a second attack, on May 25, two more Exocets were launched during a concentrated attack by Argentinian air assets against the British Fleet. Royal Navy warships managed to decoy the missiles, but inadvertently redirected them towards British merchant shipping supporting the Task Force. One of the Exocets struck MS Atlantic Conveyor, which resulted in the loss of the ship and its valuable cargo of support helicopters and logistics materiel... although by now the Armada had

Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton was a regular port of call for SEMs, flying dissimilar air combat sorties against Fleet Air Arm Sea Harriers in the 1990s. This SEM ‘65’ from 11 Flottille stayed the weekend to participate in one of the annual Air Days at the base.

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Airfix Model World

just one Exocet left in its arsenal. The last two sorties performed by Argentinian SuEs were against the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible, although on this occasion the attackers failed to find their target. In spite of a desperate search for additional Exocets elsewhere in the region, the Armada was forced to withdraw its SuEs from the war after a very brief but highly effective campaign. Once the conflict had ended, Argentina received the remainder of its SuE order and completed full qualification aboard 25 de Mayo, deploying regularly until the ship’s final retirement in the late 1990s. Since then, Argentinian pilots

aircraft for the challenges of modern air warfare. As a result, the aircraft went through a series of upgrades throughout the mid-1990s which included installation of the next generation Thomson-CSF Anemone radar (which provided far better range than the previous Agave radar) and a re-designed cockpit complete with hands-on-throttleand-stick controls; 48 aircraft were to receive the upgrades. In addition, and in recognition of the imminent loss of the carrierborne reconnaissance capability with the ageing Étendard IVP, the Aéronavale Super Étendard received a new reconnaissance pod. The upgraded aircraft, designated Super Étendard Modernise (SEM) first participated in NATO’s Operation Allied Force over Serbia in 1999, and flew 400plus combat missions during the air campaign from the carrier Foch. Further in-service upgrades for the long-serving SuEs followed, including an improved self-defence countermeasures suite, night vision capability, and the ability to carry and utilise the latest generation of laser-guided munitions and Damocles laser designator pod.

In the meantime, France had committed itself to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom mission in Afghanistan, deploying the carrier Charles de Gaulle with embarked Super Étendards under the French codename Operation Heracles in November 2001. Aéronavale Super Étendards deployed again the following year during Operation Anaconda, in direct support of French forces operating within Afghanistan, and were to operate as part of coalition forces in Afghanistan on at least five subsequent occasions. By now though, the Dassault Rafale M was in ascendancy, and Super Étendards provided laser designation for the newgeneration aircraft. As Aéronavale Rafale M deliveries gathered pace, so the drawdown of the Super Étendard squadrons continued…but the aircraft continued to provide invaluable service. In March 2011, Super Étendards from 17 Flottille (17F), deployed on the French mission Operation Harmattan, supporting NATO’s Operation Unified Endeavour over Libya, again providing laser designation capability on joint SEM/Rafale interdiction missions. Even at the end, and with fewer than six months before a final retirement date in 2016, Super Étendards were once more aboard Charles de Gaulle, deployed during

Operation Chammal to support attacks against Daesh militant targets in Iraq and Syria. Flottille 17F performed its last launch from Charles de Gaulle in March 2016, and the aircraft was finally retired from Aéronavale service in July of the same year, some 42 years after its first flight. Argentina has the honour of being the last Super Étendard user, with at least 10 still in service although efforts to secure the aircraft’s continued career with an upgrade (to bring Armada aircraft broadly up to SEM standard) have since been hampered by political ❚ and budgetary issues. 

VIEW MORE ONLINE www.airfixmodelworld.com

 Lashed firmly to the stern of the carrier Charles de Gaulle during a port call to Italy in 2006, SEM ‘49’ from 17 Flottille illustrates the fading of the two-tone grey/blue camouflage after just one cruise to the Middle East. (All Glenn Sands Collection unless stated)  For NATO Tiger Meet 1994, two SuEs from 11 Flottille arrived at the event with suitably adorned tiger-striped drop tanks. The squadron’s admission to the NATO Tiger Association is based on its parent aircraft carrier Clemenceau having a tiger as its official emblem.

Iraq During the strategically significant and prolonged war between Iran and Iraq between 1980-88, international concern was heightened when the latter country leased five SuEs from France, diverted from Aéronavale deliveries, and pending the arrival of Agave-equipped Mirage F.1EQs capable of launching Exocet missiles. The SuEs arrived in Iraq during October 1983, with the first reported use of the SuE/Exocet combination taking place against a Greek tanker in March 1984. The aircraft were employed with some success during the so-called ‘Tanker War’, making more than 50 attacks against shipping sailing to and from Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and Hormuz Straits, in fewer than two years of operation. It is understood that at least two SuEs were downed by Iranian aircraft during this period; one was shot down and a second was damaged, but crashed while attempting to return to its operating base. Three aircraft were reportedly returned to France in 1985 following the long-awaited delivery of the Dassault Mirage F.1EQs to Iraq.

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INTERMEDIATE BUILD MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL

Open Door Policy Tamiya’s recent Mercedes-Benz 300SL is appraised by Ian Hartup

Construction of the chassis began with adding the vertical braces. Tamiya engineered these in such a way as to ensure they fitted perfectly first time.

The two horizontal frames, each with all attendant sub-assemblies already in place, mated splendidly.

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F

or many years, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL was the regarded as the pinnacle of automotive design. From its unconventional gullwing doors to the sweeping bonnet line, it was every inch a thoroughbred. First exhibited in 1954 the 300SL was derived from the earlier racing car of 1952. With an inline 6-cylinder 3 lit engine embedded in a space frame tubular chassis, the 300SL was right on the cutting edge of road car technology in its era. In

fact, this car featured the first use of direct fuel injection in a road-going production vehicle. Just 1,400 were built before production stopped in 1957, and to this day it remains one of the most sought-after cars for collectors the world over.

In the frame There have been a number of kits of the 300SL over the years, but they all date to the 1970s80s and as such, they now look long in the tooth. Tamiya clearly thought it was time for an all-new The completed chassis was a delight; rigid, beautifully detailed and required minimal clean-up. A real triumph of the plastic kit producer’s art.

INTERMEDIATE BUILD MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL

 Major body parts received Zero’s RAL 5005 colour matched paint, over its own-brand grey primer.

MODEL SPEC

offering of this classic, though, as in 2015 they released the example described here. Tamiya has really gone to Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘Gull-wing’ By:

Tamiya

Stock Code:

24338

Scale:

1/24

Price:

£34.99

Available from: The Hobby Company, www.hobbyco.net

town with the chassis and engine detail, providing a full representation of the tubular space frame and powerplant. The quality of the engineering was apparent immediately when construction of the chassis began. The vertical elements were keyed to fit in their correct locations alone, and to do so without the need for anything more than a spot of thin cement. Half an hour or so of extra effort with a Flex-I-File and a sanding pad removed any trace of the joins and mould lines, leaving the part ready for a coat of satin black. The issue with this model, as with any car kit (be it historic or modern) is the amount of black paint

 The front axle and steering rack assembly was added to the chassis frame. Brake assemblies had already been sprayed in Zero’s equivalent to Tamiya’s X-10. The rear transaxle and brake assembly dropped into place on the chassis with a minimum of fuss.

“ The completed chassis was a delight ”

www.airfixmodelworld.com 61

INTERMEDIATE BUILD MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL

 The fuel tank slipped neatly into place, trapped within the rear of the chassis. Its filler cap required picking-out in a chrome finish, and Mr. Hobby’s Mr. Super Metallic was used here.

 The top end of the engine, cylinder head and various other components were painted and added next. Excellent fit was experienced all round, and Alclad II shades were utilised for the colours.

 The engine and driveshaft were assembled and painted with assorted Alclad II shades, before being attached to the chassis. Care was required to ensure the engine sat correctly on its mounting points.

involved, and this can leave a very bland monochromatic finish on the chassis and elsewhere. To remedy this, a fairly varied stock of black paints was compiled. Choosing which to use for a particular application was the art; Tamiya X-1 Gloss Black was used for the basic chassis of this kit. The differential and other detailed parts utilised a range of satin black shades from Revell, Tamiya and Mr. Color to introduce more variation. The 300SL employed an air-cooled drum brake typical of the period, and these were sprayed with Zero Paints’ pre-thinned equivalent of X-10 Gun Metal over a black primer. This imparted the correct, slightly gold hue found on the real parts. A clever touch was the way the rear shock absorbers

Materials at a glance Alclad (www.alclad2.com) Grey, Black and White Primers Various metallic shades Mr. Hobby (www.albionhobbies.com) Mr. Cement S Mr. Cement Deluxe Mr. Colour H-92 Satin Black Mr. Color Leveling Thinner Revell (www.revell.de/en) Aqua Color pots, various colours Tamiya (www.tamiya.com) Masking tape (various widths) Zero Paints (www.hiroboy.com) Arancia Atlas Pearl Pre-Mixed Clear Coat Gaia Colour (www.hobbyeasy.com) Dark and Light Stainless Steel (1001 & 1002) Games Workshop (www.games-workshop.com) Citadel Washes, various colours

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INTERMEDIATE BUILD MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL

were designed to fit into the chassis under load, to ensure everything aligned correctly…and making sure that all four tyres touched the ground at the same time.

Colour me fast Mercedes-Benz chose a uniquefor-the-era engine to install in the 300SL, and Tamiya has once again reproduce a well-detailed replica. The engine block was assembled first, before being primed in black and then masked for the aluminium areas. Tamiya included an erratum in the box, as there was a mistake in the painting instruction for these parts; oops, missed that first time! So, a second painting and masking session corrected that and the rest of the engine was assembled quickly. In many cases car modelling is all about pre-

planning the construction and painting sequences. This kit was no different, so the vast majority of components were neatened and pre-painted in advance of assembly. The end result was that the model went from a box of bits to a broadly complete chassis in just two evenings. Of course, during all of this time the preparation work on the parts to be painted in the external body colour proceeded in the background. Tamiya suggests the modeller paint the body silver with a red interior. However, a trawl through the internet revealed a diverse range of colours on the real cars. A real favourite of this modeller is a bright blue in

 The airbox and engine cover were pre-painted with Alclad II Aluminium and Tamiya X-18 Semi-Gloss Black before they were slipped into place. Placard decals were added at this point.

 Wheels and tyres were painted with the body colour. They were secured via simple frictionfit to the chassis, utilising poly caps trapped previously in the hubs. Test-fitting them at this stage ensured all clearances were properly understood before final assembly began.

 Having polished the clear coat, the brightwork was all that needed to be detailed. First it was masked with Tamiya tape. www.airfixmodelworld.com 63

INTERMEDIATE BUILD MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL

Having masked all window surrounds, these were then sprayed with a light coat of clear before gloss black was applied.

 Brightwork was sprayed with Mr. Super Metallic Chrome, diluted with Mr. Leveling Thinner. Masking was then removed.

 The completed chassis was certainly an impressive sub-assembly. Sadly, little of this detail would actually be visible on the finished model.  Zero Paints’ Light Ochre Interior colour was added to the tub; seats and other parts for inside were painted at the same time.

the RAL 5005 selection, and typically this is matched to a light ochre/tan interior. With is in a mind, a jar of Zero Paint custom-mixed to the correct RAL number was obtained and the bodywork painted in this shade. Body priming involved Zero’s new 2 Pack Grey Primer, sanded between coats until a uniformly smooth finish was achieved. Four coats of the base blue were applied, preparing the finish between layers. Finally, the body was finished with Zero 2 Pack Clear and set aside to cure. After two weeks the clear coat was deemed properly cured, and was flat-sanded with MicroMesh pads and sheets of 12,000 grade and higher, to remove any remaining ‘orange peel’ and then polished to a high shine with Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze compounds and waxes.

Chrome dome The window surrounds and frames of the real cars were manufactured in a chromed finish. This kit required these areas to be painted to match the chrome-plated runner in

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INTERMEDIATE BUILD MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL

“ The kit chrome was considered pretty. much spot on”

the kit. To achieve this, the required areas were masked in the customary method via Tamiya tape. A base coat of X-1 Gloss Black, diluted with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner, was applied and, once touch dry, a new No.11 blade tip was run along the edge of the masking tape to sharpen the cut. After allowing 48 hours for the black to dry fully, two layers of Gaia Chrome were applied, again diluted with Leveling Thinner for a glossier finish. Once the masking was removed, the resulting sheen certainly looked the part. Tamiya’s chromed runner was actually very good, with discrete attachment points and neatly hidden mould lines. The finish was such that all it required was a light wash with X-19 Smoke, thinned heavily and sprayed over it to impart extra depth. Gator

Grip’s excellent acrylic adhesives (in both standard and thin forms) were used to fix the chromed and clear parts into place, and was reliable as ever.

Open doors The interior of the model was built typically around a neatly produced tub, but the front wheel arch liners were moulded integrally, with this part requiring complex masking to ensure a homogenous finish. The interior was primed in grey and then it received two light coats of Zero’s Interior Ochre paint. This range of inner colours is designed to spray straight from the bottle, and gives excellent coverage and a neat, uniform satin finish, ideal for leather seats. The luggage and carpet areas were given a different finish from this existing satin

 The bonnet was tacked into place with strips of Tamiya tape while the clips were allowed 48 hours to dry properly.

look, with a coat of Vallejo acrylic satin varnish and this imparted a modicum of contrast with the leather seats. Possibly the worst part of this kit was the instrument cluster, which was provided on the

chromed runner; meaning that to obtain a correctly coloured finish it had to be stripped of the chrome and the detail built layer by layer, with much complex and careful masking. Not the best bit of design by Tamiya.

 The kit chrome was considered pretty much spot on, so it was used in an unaltered manner throughout. Tamiya supplied mesh with which to line the front grille.

 Side vents were fixed in place with clear-drying two-part epoxy adhesive, to ensure a strong and resilient join. www.airfixmodelworld.com 65

INTERMEDIATE BUILD MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL

 The rear bumper, light units and badges were added. The fit and engineering of the lights was atypically a little vague, so a careful alignment was required.

 Unfortunately, the door hinges were misaligned when they had dried and, as a result, the doors were locked open via the provided stays. Embarrassing!  The trickiest part of masking in the whole model was the dashboard. Tamiya provided this in chromed form, but this plating was stripped and the rest was a case of careful planning of colour layers and tape.

 Fitting the glazing involved absolutely no drama…just a few spots of PVA and patience.

Assembly line With the various sub-sections completed, the final assembly took just two evenings. Unfortunately, the door hinges of the review model were broken when it was dropped accidentally at this stage, meaning the decision to fix them open was forced upon the builder. The

bonnet was propped open, as the clips designed to hold it shut were not particularly effective. The wheel covers again tasked the reviewer with extensive masking work, and a set of die-cut masks would have been gratefully received here. The casual reader will probably realise this is one of those kits

where a couple of short cuts by the manufacturer compromised the ease with which a higherquality finish could be achieved, and this is arguably the case. A set of masks for the dashboard and wheel hubs, stronger retention mechanism for the bonnet and something a little less over-scale for the door hinges

would have really elevated this product to ‘masterpiece’ status. Instead it comes across as simply workmanlike. A pity really, when the overall quality of the chassis and body shape is considered. In this modeller's opinion, it is the best-ever kit of a 300SL... although it could have been just ❚ that tiny bit better.

“ Fitting the glazing involved absolutely no drama”

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Airfix Model World

2017

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1162 RAF17 fp.indd 99

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BASIC BUILD BREWSTER BUFFALO

release; each package contains two full kits, the styrene is grey and features lightly recessed surface detail. In reality, most panel lines are over-scaled in 1/144, but a kit devoid of them would probably look simplistic and toy-like, so Mark 1’s light engraving is a good compromise. The decal sheet offers two ‘yellow-wing’ US Navy and two camouflaged Finnish schemes. Clear parts include the underbelly windows, although these were usually faired over on B-239 aircraft.

Getting started

Mike Grant discovers Mark 1’s 1/144 Buffalo kits are reduced in scale, but certainly not in detail

 A

fter decades of neglect, serious modellers of 1/144 subjects now have literally hundreds of kits to choose from…and a growing after-market

industry to support the small scale. Czech manufacturer Mark 1 Models is a fairly recent newcomer to the genre, but already has an impressive catalogue. As with most

of its releases, the Buffalo/B-239 model comes in several boxings with a variety of decal options, the subject of this article being the US Navy F2A-1 and Finnish B-239

The cockpit included sidewall detail, instrument panel (but no decal for this) and an integral seat/bulkhead, to which simple tape seatbelts were added. To add a little extra detail, a roll-cage behind the seat was fashioned from stretched sprue, and a life-raft container (for the naval option) made from styrene rod. Before joining the fuselage halves, the instructions indicated that the undercarriage retraction struts should be installed; these were extremely fragile and snapped off after repeated handling of the model, resulting in all four struts being replaced Heavy framing on the belly window of the US version led to the part being sanded flush, with the glazing polished back to clarity, followed by a final coat of Johnson’s Pledge.

 The parts exhibited fine detail, the engine being especially impressive for this scale.

Cockpit detail was more than adequate out of the box. Only a seat harness and roll-cage were added.

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Airfix Model World

After priming both models with white, the naval version had its wings sprayed gloss orange-yellow. The overspray on the fuselage was of little concern…

BASIC BUILD

MODEL SPEC

BREWSTER BUFFALO

Brewster F2A-1 & B-239 By:

Mark 1 Models

Stock Code:

MKM14444

Scale:

1/144

Price:

£12.99

Available from: www.hannants.co.uk

…as the silver enamel paint was opaque and covered the excess yellow with no problem. Lacquer thinner ensured speedy drying.

 The yellow wing panels and fuselage band on the Finnish model were airbrushed to ensure they matched the cowling colour.  Uncertain of the opacity of the Finnish roundels over the dark camouflage, the areas were first painted white and masked with 5mm Mr. Hobby circles. For the Finnish model, parts of the serials on the kit decal sheet were printed in the camouflage green. Tamiya XF-58 Olive Green was a fairly close match.

with sections of steel pin. Mark 1 moulded the wing as one part and its fit was reasonably good after test-fitting, and just light scraping of the aperture in the fuselage, and a small amount of filling and sanding ahead of the wing root, was all that was required.

DECAL OPTIONS • F2A-1, BuNo 1386, Black 3-F-17, VF-3, US Navy, USS Saratoga, winter 1939 • F2A-1, BuNo 1393, Black/White 3-F13, VF-3, US Navy, USS Saratoga, winter 1939 • B-239, BW-354, White 6, 2/LeLv 24, Finnish Air Force, Tiiksjärvi airfield, summer 1942 • B-239, BW-370, Black 4, 4/LeLv 24, Finnish Air Force, Römpötti airfield, summer 1942

After airbrushing the engines with Alclad Polished Aluminium, an oil wash of dirty black-brown accentuated the relief detail. The cowlings fitted well, but benefited from having the gun apertures hollowed with a fine drill bit. Mark 1’s attention to detail was obvious from the optional parts supplied for the different variants, the tailwheel and tail cones among them. The latter were tricky to attach on account of their minute size, and their smooth contours evaded all attempts to grip them with tweezers. Canopy framing in this scale is another case of balancing authenticity with practicality, being necessarily over-scaled to facilitate masking and painting. The part was also oversized, being slightly too wide and too high at the rear, but at actual viewing size the error was barely noticeable. Masking was carried out with Parafilm and a fresh No.10 scalpel blade. Both models then received Tamiya White Fine Surface Primer.

of Tamiya X-2 Gloss White before being masked. There was no paint match for the wings’ orangeyellow in my paint collection, so it was mixed via X-8 Lemon Yellow and just a hint of X-7 Red. The upper half of the cowling was airbrushed with X-8 to match the yellow wing stripes on the decal sheet. For the overall silver finish, X-11 Chrome Silver was used. Being a true paint rather than a ‘metaliser’, it was opaque and the

lacquer thinner used resulted in a quicker drying time than regular enamel thinners. Several coats of X-22 Clear imparted the gloss finish required before applying decals, which were of very high quality, exhibiting fine detail and they adhered well over

Painting 1: US Navy With the model primed, the tail surfaces needed just two coats www.airfixmodelworld.com 69

BASIC BUILD BREWSTER BUFFALO

Thin rolls of Blu-Tack were applied as masks to achieve a slightly soft edge, although in 1/144 scale, hard-edged demarcation would not look incorrect.

 After removing the masking and gloss-coating both models, they were ready for decals.

Failure to properly clean the airbrush between colours led to the silver sheen in the matt coat!

the kit’s surface detail. The only exception was the wing stripes, which wouldn’t conform to the wing blisters, even with generous applications of Micro Sol, so they were cut with a scalpel blade and neatened later with paint.

Painting 2: Finnish version A decal was supplied for the fuselage band, but to match the cowling and lower wing tips, the stripe was airbrushed with the same yellow. Once these areas were masked, the undersurface was sprayed with Tamiya XF-80

In retrospect, a complete re-paint might have been quicker, but the brush-painted winter scheme made for an interesting alternative.

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Airfix Model World

 The decals were excellent…just the yellow stripes caused a few conformity problems where they laid over the wing blisters.

Royal Light Grey lightened with white. XF-58 Olive Green and XF-69 NATO Black were applied for the upper camouflage; thin rolls of Blu-Tack being used to achieve a slightly soft demarcation between colours. A gloss coat followed, then the decals…which performed flawlessly. While the latter items cured, it was decided to spray the other Buffalo’s prop blades silver. Unfortunately, I failed to clean the airbrush properly afterwards, so when the matt coat was applied to the Finnish example, it developed a strictly non-standard, ‘metalflake’ camouflage… The slight silver sheen was only really apparent on the dark green and black areas, so rather than strip and repaint the model entirely, a winter scheme was adapted after consulting reference photos. This was replicated on the model with white acrylic applied by fine brush, not worrying too much about consistency of coverage to simulate the temporary nature of the original paint.

Diminutive duo While modellers of 1/144 scale aircraft may not have quite the same choices available to those who favour larger scales, Mark 1’s Buffalos are indicative of how seriously certain manufacturers now treat the genre. Well detailed and accurate, with superb decals, their small size means they occupy just a quarter of the shelf space of their 1/72 counterparts. Poor airbrush-cleaning practices notwithstanding, these were straightforward and most ❚ enjoyable builds!

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ON THE SHELF BOOKS

AIRBORNE OFFICES

Fighting Cockpits By: Donald Nijboer and Dan Patterson ISBN: 978-0-7603-4956-4 Price: £25 Format: 312 x 256mm Web: www.quartoknows.com Synonymous with fighters, but present in every manned aircraft, the cockpit is the pilot’s ‘office’ and this glorious study captures its development from wood and wires, to electrons and carbon

224 pages fibre. Divided into four distinct sections, it covers World War One, the inter-war period, World War Two and finally notable machines since 1945, although not every type is featured. Unsurprisingly, the colour photographs of the cockpits are superb. Accompanying shots of the subjects in flight or on the ground are of similar quality, although for one or two German World War Two types the only surviving images are comparatively poor. While this is a magnificent reference document, worthy of any coffee table, it’s also very engaging, with pilot accounts breathing life into the photos and providing humorous interludes (the description of snow in an F-86 is definitely worth reading!) along the way. In addition to impressions by warbird and historical society pilots, this publication was fortunate to have contributions from legendary Royal Navy aviator and test-pilot Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown, who sadly died earlier this year. SF

FLASHY POLSKI FULCRUMS

Polish Wings 21 MiG-29 ‘Kościuszko Squadron’ Commemorative Scheme By: Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak ISBN: 978-83-63678-64-7 Price: £15 Format: A4 Web: www.mmpbooks.biz Mushroom’s Stratus imprint has produced two volumes on Polish MiG-29s, with minor coverage of a special scheme in the second. This new book on the type, though, focuses solely on Polish Fulcrums that bear the Kościuszko Squadron badge as part of a

80 pages

celebratory livery. This unit was part of the Polish Air Force during that country’s border war with Russia in 1919; it was manned by Poles and American volunteers. After the fall of communism in the early 1990s, the traditions of the squadron were revived and the markings worn by the 1st Fighter Regiment. Post-reorganisation, the heraldry is sported by MiG29s of the 23rd Tactical Base. This book is vital reference for all these splendid ‘uniforms’, which in many cases have the large unit badge painted on the aircraft’s upper fuselage, but notable Polish pilots have also been immortalised on the vertical tails. Illustrated profusely with photographs and colour profiles/scrap views, every Fulcrum painted with these commemorative markings is explored. It’s the ideal reference for any modeller with the appropriately decaled kits by Italeri and Kora, or if one has standard boxings with aftermarket decals by Caracal or ModelMaker. A folded A3-sized pull-out carries colour profiles and plan views, with full airframe stencilling guides. CC

BATTLE-HARDENED CHARIOT

Siman 4/4 LIC/4M Merkava Mk4 in IDF Service Part 2 By: Michael Mass and Adam O’Brien ISBN: 978-965-91635-9-5 Price: £24.99 Format: 278 x 216mm Web: www.aviationbookcentre.com Desert Eagle’s IDF Armour series is the go-to reference for anyone interested in Israeli armour, providing extensive photo-based examination of subject vehicles. This second look at the Merkava (Hebrew for chariot) Mk.4 begins where the first ended, and after a brief overview of the type’s

83 pages

development and history, the reader is immersed in a study of its main sub-variants. These are the standard Mk.4, Trophyequipped Mk.4M Windbreaker and the low-intensity conflict-modified machines, known as Mk.4 LIC, fitted with (among other additions) v-shaped underside plates. Walk-round photos examine every nook and cranny of the vehicle, highlighting differences between versions and how modifications are incorporated into the basic design. Notably, many Merkavas in the book sport varying levels of damage to side skirts and track guards, either due to combat or inadvertent contact with buildings and/or terrain. At times it’s difficult to determine whether vehicles are painted green or desert sand due to the dusty patina on the upper surfaces. However, as a welcome contrast a small section is devoted to the vehicles during winter, when mud is the main concern; many of the ‘in action’ photos cry out to be replicated as dioramas. This is an indispensable reference on the Merkava Mk.4. SF

WEAPONS’ EFFECTS ARCHIVE

96 pages

Panzerwrecks 20: Ostfront 3 By: Lee Archer and Kamen Nevenkin ISBN: 978-1-908032-14-0 Price: £17.99 Format: 210 x 280mm Web: www.panzerwrecks.com In this, the third visit to the battlefields of the Eastern Front, a slightly different approach has been adopted by the authors, as all photographs are courtesy of Russian Central Military Archives, and were compiled originally by the Soviet 17th Air Army in 1945. These rare images, taken at battlefields in the vicinity of Hungary’s Lake Balaton, have never previously been published and provide insight into how effective contemporary Soviet air-delivered munitions were against Axis vehicles. Chalked/painted numerals identify individual wrecks, and sketches illustrate how various machines met their fate, whether by bomb or cannon fire. Furthermore, detailed descriptions of munitions used highlight the differing damage mechanisms (blast, fragmentation,

fire) and the subsequent effects. Colour plates by noted artist Felipe Rodna add further context, taking the black and white images and, after occasionally stripping away some of the detritus of war, providing a canvas from which modellers can recreate the scene themselves. Armour modellers of all tastes will appreciate this volume, with diorama builders especially well served, especially with the road- and rail-side scenes near Márkó, Jenő and Balatonfűzfő, featuring a broad variety of damaged German and Hungarian armour. SF

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ON THE SHELF BOOKS

THE DRAGON IN THE EAST

Flashpoint China By: Andreas Rupprecht ISBN: 978-0-9854554-8-4 Price: £18.99 Format: 280 x 210mm Web: www.casematepublishing.co.uk As a growing political, economic and military power, China is a fascinating subject–and one that deserves understanding of its overall intentions and capabilities. When read in conjunction with an earlier book (Modern Chinese Warplanes), this volume seeks to address these issues and supplies informed analysis of potential military

80 pages

conflicts along China’s borders. More importantly, it also considers how changing technological, political and economic factors affect each in turn. As an introduction, the reader is exposed to how China regards itself and the international community; when compared to a Western view of the world, the difference may be surprising. China’s military structure (based on Northern, Eastern, Western and Southern commands) is then used as a framework to detail potential adversaries, allies and conflicts of interest, before examining the country’s military capabilities in each region. While not aimed specifically at modellers, there are plenty of clear colour photographs depicting Chinese aircraft to aid build projects, and accompanying tables provide guidance on how serial numbers are allocated, along with where certain types are based (ideal for those kits that lack such information). Finally, an extensive bibliography provides a plethora of additional material for those who wish to further their knowledge on China’s military…and its place in the world. SF

A LEGEND ON WHEELS

75 pages

Modelling Full Ahead Special: Lexington’s Final Battle By: Marijn Van Gils ISBN: 8-436535-576673 Price: €15.95 Format: A4 Web: www.ak-interactive.com Besides offering many weathering products, AK Interactive is also a prolific publisher. In this case, it’s naval modelling under the spotlight through award-winning builder Marijn Van Gils’ stunning 1/700 diorama of the USS Lexington’s final throes. The entire book focuses on this single piece of work, but the number of pages is necessary considering the jaw-dropping levels of detail incorporated. An opening history section precis Lexington and offers period photos. One is then catapulted into how this amazing diorama was created; Trumpeter’s Lexington is the base kit, but Van Gils also has the USS Morris DD-417 in the scene, for context and accuracy… this is portrayed by a converted Niko USS Hughes DD-410 kit. The author describes the entire process in a highly visual manner, via build photos with captions

and longer passages. Much photo-etched (PE) metal and scratch-building is employed, and the most impressive technique (and its execution here), is that of giving 3D appearance to miniscule PE sailor figures, of which there are a very high number. The only gripe is that ships are tricky to photograph and one needs high apertures to keep everything in focus...which hasn't happened, so not every part of each model shot is properly sharp. It’s still a great book though, and hugely inspiring for maritime modellers. CC

172 pages

Military Land Rover 1948 Onwards By: Pat Ware ISBN: 978-1-78521-096-9 Price: £14.99 Format: 264 x 206mm softback Web: www.haynes.com It’s hard to believe that, almost 70 years ago a prototype was unveiled at Rover’s Solihull plant, intended as an ‘interim’ successor to the wartime Jeep. Since then, the Land Rover (as it became known) has served constantly with the UK’s armed forces and been exported widely. Haynes’ Enthusiasts’ Manual serves as a tribute to the type’s longevity, as well as being an informative and entertaining history covering the myriad variants (even one-off oddities) and, in its penultimate section, a handy buyer’s guide for military-surplus examples. Utilitarian by design, its flexibility in roles is covered in depth, with notable focus on those modified for use by special forces of various nationalities. Technical and structural details

STAGGERING CARRIER BUILD

ATLANTIC SCOURGE

96 pages

Fw 200 Condor Units of World War 2 By: Osprey ISBN: 978-1 Price: £13.99 Format: 248 x 185mm Web: www.ospreypublishing.com

are supplied, and the narrative is enhanced by the descriptions of how certain variants, such as the famous ‘Pinkies’ were developed. This is a one-stop-shop of data, diagrams and splendid photographs (including both black and white and colour examples) for modellers, which provides all one needs to know about military Land Rovers, regardless of the scale being built…although a different Haynes’ Manual may also be required for 1:1 restorations! SF

Searching the Atlantic for prey, Focke-Wulf’s menacing Fw 200 Condor often heralded trouble for Allied convoys; directly or by summoning additional aircraft or U-boats. Osprey’s Combat Aircraft series examines the units that flew these maritime predators, but as Condors were operated by a single kampfgeschwader, events are addressed chronologically, rather than by detailing the exploits of each staffel individually. Unsurprisingly, almost a third of this volume is dedicated to the Battle of the Atlantic, where the type played a substantial role, and how the Allies devised counters (not all of which were successful), before the tides of war changed and the Condors became the hunted, both in the air and on the ground. Less-wellknown operations, such as those in the Mediterranean and airlift

missions in support of beleaguered German units in Stalingrad, are also covered in detail. The narrative benefits from a broad range of official and rare personal accounts, and is backed by high-quality black and white photographs and colour profiles, which highlight the varied camouflage schemes applied to the type. Bonuses in the appendices include biographies of notable Condor pilots, and a description of the standard attack profiles employed by KG 40 aircraft. SF

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ON THE SHELF BOOKS

‘FRIGHTENING’ GUIDE

English Electric Lightning By: Martin Derry and Neil Robinson ISBN: 978-1-47389-055-8 Price: £16.99 Format: A4 Web: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk Pen & Sword’s Flight Craft series has blossomed over a short time span, with well-considered subjects being covered. This new volume, though, has mass appeal due to the Lightning being such

96 pages a popular aircraft. Regardless of the kit(s) one has stashed, this edition offers much, as it has what appears to be well-researched historical text and a wealth of (mostly) colour photographs. The Lightning’s career is unpicked in logical fashion, by sub-type; from early development aircraft and the F.1/F.1A, via the two-seaters, to the F.6. Camouflage and markings are investigated in their own section, via chronological narrative on how low-vis paint schemes took over from bare-metal and those glorious high-visibility markings and squadron artwork. More than 30 well-rendered colour profiles and plan views serve to inform and inspire, each with their own informative caption that imparts history and scheme data. Modelling-focused content then follows, whereby an extensive array of kits (current and past) are critiqued. Closing with photos of built models, real-aircraft serial number/conversion lists, statistics and a page of cockpit close-ups, this is a great-value reference tool for Lightning fans old and new. CC 156 pages

ENZO’S REPLY

Ferrari 512 S/M By: Glen Smale ISBN: 978-0-85733-787-0 Price: £22.99 Format: 264 x 206mm Web: www.haynes.co.uk Awarding-winning motoring writer Glen Smale is a great choice to describe one of Ferrari’s most delectable and thrilling track cars; he’s done sterling work for Haynes in the past and is eminently readable. As for the car, the 512 was born out of necessity, to give Ferrari a fighting chance of competing

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against Porsche’s mighty 917 in the Group 4 arena. Modelling-wise, there has been a plethora of kits of the 512 S, in different scales, with just some being from Fisher Model & Pattern, Fujimi, Testors, Profil 24, Renaissance and Model Factory Hiro, but kits of the 512 M are fewer in number. Regardless, though, Haynes’ Owners’ Workshop Manual is a corking examination of the marques, whereby diligent retelling of notable race performances combines with development/technical aspects. The photography is a treat, being a mixture of race-day shots and more arty views courtesy of highend auctioneer Sotheby’s. Detail close-ups from the author’s own collection are splendid for superdetailers, but much colour also comes via personal accounts from drivers such as Mario Andretti and Derek Bell, and modern-day owners of restored examples… Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason being a good example. Chassis records round-off a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable read. CC

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BIG CATS ON SOVIET SOIL

Tank Craft 1: Tiger I and Tiger II Tanks By: Dennis Oliver ISBN: 978-1-47388-534-9 Price: £14.99 Format: A4 Web: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk It was inevitable really; with Flight Craft and Ship Craft imprints already rolling out various titles, Pen & Sword has now taken the plunge with its first book for military modellers, under the Tank Craft banner. Author Dennis Oliver is well known for his own armour reference works, and some

DAZZLING ‘STIFFS’

64 pages

of that series’ style is carried over here, notably for the history section and its colour profiles. There’s a general appraisal of the Tiger on the Eastern Front, along with a look at formations, equipment allocation, and losses for units such as Schwere PanzerAbteilung 501/502/503/505, 506 and Panzer Regiment Grossdeutchsland. Monotone profiles of Tigers are interspersed throughout this narrative, but the lack of colour means they are useful for markings information alone. The colour profiles proper, though, are excellent…full of life and with extensive captions. These are followed by a model showcase, with photos of six quality Tiger I, Tiger II and Sturmtiger builds, and then a comprehensive study of available kits (and a smaller, lessextensive glimpse at after-market companies). Coverage of the real machines picks up again towards the book’s end, and offers close-up images of structural details (some of these are a little too small), and descriptions of design/equipment changes. All in all, a good and inexpensive reference. CC 43 pages

F-104 Special camouflages By: Lieuwe De Vries ISBN: 978-83-63678-58-6 Price: £19 Format: 304 x 217mm Web: www.mmpbooks.biz Aircraft enthusiasts of a certain age, particularly those with a love of Cold War types, will undoubtedly have their own favourite encounter with the super-sleek F-104. My fondest memory is of the German Marineflieger team the Vikings, with that dash of Day-Glo on the wing tanks. The type has been relatively well served in modelling terms, with many kits being available over the years, but the F-104 has, arguably, been its most impressive when adorned in commemorative and/ or non-standard livery. That’s the sole focus of this Stratus ‘Spotlight On’ book, which presents splendid artwork of the Starfighter in various guises. Standout inclusions are the famous red Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft, 104805, with white trim and native American Indian head motif, Greek ‘Mount Olympus’

example and the eye-popping Italian 3˚ Stormo ‘Strega’ in yellow, white and black. Some subjects are represented by colour profiles alone, while others benefit from the inclusion of plan/underside artwork. All these come with captions to impart the reason for the special scheme, and with more than 25 options, there’s ample food for thought for modellers. The task then will be to locate the correct kits and decal sheets! CC

ON THE SHELF AIRCRAFT KITS

CLANDESTINE LIZZY

Lysander Mk.III By: Eduard Item no: 8290 Price: €37.45 Web: www.eduard.com It’s mostly good to see old moulds given a new lease of life, and Eduard’s ProfiPACK refresh of Gavia’s 2001-era Lysander is very welcome. Complementing the five styrene runners is a pre-painted photo-etched metal fret with adornments for the cockpit and wings, canopy masks and resin

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parts for a single Lewis gun and ammunition as fitted to Special Duties (SD) airframes. The basic components are still praiseworthy though, from the fuselage and wing ribbing to the interior structure, all of which is replicated faithfully. Similarly, while the four-part cowling may be fiddly to build, it does mean the profile is accurate. Five RAF schemes are supplied, including: • V9374/ZR-F, 613 Sqn, Odiham, 1941 • V9287, 161 (SD) Sqn, Tempsford, 1942

INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS

Piper L-18C By: Kovozávody Prostějov Item no: KPM0064 Price: €12.99 Web: www.kovozavody.cz KP’s liaison aircraft has been re-boxed with new decals to provide an international flavour, and features Belgian, Luxembourg and West German airframes. The parts are well moulded, with just a touch of flash present, although a few swipes with a sanding stick will remove this. Interior detail is basic, and the

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cockpit would benefit from aftermarket embellishment or scratchbuilding. As usual with short-run offerings, parts for other versions are included as standard, and one could actually build the Super Cub from this kit, although alternative decals would need to be sourced. In addition to the overall yellow box-top option, there are two camouflaged schemes: • 96+30/48, JG 71, Luftwaffe • LX-FAA, Luxembourg AF, Findel, July 1985 • OL-L47, Royal Belgian AF, 1981

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FORLORN FIGHTER

Polikarpov I-185 By: Ark Models Item no: AK 48045 Price: €14.95 Web: www.ark-models.org Polikarpov’s short-lived and underpowered I-185 is the subject of this release and, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the only kit of the type in this scale. This offering represents the second prototype, which was powered by an M-82 engine and featured a revised airframe and 20mm cannon armament. There are two runners,

MISSILE BLINDER

Tu-22KD By: Modelsvit Item no: 72022 Price: US $59.80 Web: www.hobbyterra.com For years, modellers wanting a 1/72 Tu-22 Blinder had to struggle with Esci’s or Archers Products’ inaccurate offerings. Thankfully Modelsvit has stepped up to the plate with this missile-carrying and refuelling probe-equipped KD variant, and it’s an impressive effort, with engraved panel lines, detailed cockpit and weapons officer’s

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with separate upper and lower wing sections, and although the detail is basic, all components are moulded cleanly, with recessed panel lines and undercarriage bay cover vents, while the canopy is a single-piece item. The sole livery is for a notional dark green/light blue airframe assigned to the 728th Fighter Aviation Regiment, supporting operations on the Kalinin front during December 1942; according to references though, none of this type reached frontline squadrons. 1/72

station. Three configurations are possible, wheels down with missile on trolley or loaded onto airframe and with/without RATO packs. To facilitate multiple variants, there is multi-part fuselage, which may lead to alignment issues. Three baremetal schemes feature, of the same aircraft at three times in its history: • Red 63, 341 TBAP, Russian LRA, Ozernoe, 1980s • Red 63, 341 TBAP, Ukranian Air Force, Ozerne, 1990s • Red 63, Poltava Museum of Long Range Aviation, Ukraine, 2000s

ON THE SHELF AIRCRAFT KITS

NIPPONESE TILTROTOR

MV-22B Osprey By: Hasegawa Item no: 02146 Price: £32.99 Web: www.amerang.co.uk Hasegawa’s MV-22B is re-boxed as the Japanese naval variant; there’s almost no difference in the styrene, but a new decal sheet is provided and caters for low-vis grey machines. Readers who saw AMW’s May 2014 issue will know this moulding is well detailed and builds like a dream… and one can pose the nacelles at different angles due to polycap

ROTARY ‘AKULA’

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joints. A display stand is provided for an in-flight or hovering format (undercarriage and flaps can be fixed up or down), and all the fine accoutrements of the type are present such as the refuelling probe, infra-red turret and various airframe antennas. The cockpit is reasonable, with decals for instrumentation, but no cargo bay interior is supplied. An aircraft from the 51st Squadron at Atsugi AB, Japan, is offered schemewise, but the extra generic numbers mean that seemingly, any aircraft from the fleet can be portrayed. 1/72

STORMING HAWKER

Tempest Mk.V By: Special Hobby Item no: SH 32049 Price: €55 Web: www.cmkkits.com Unlike most manufacturers, which release a basic then ‘hi-tech’ version, Special Hobby issued the latter option first. It’s a testament to the firm’s research and design that, for a ‘vanilla’ kit, the styrene parts are more than sufficient. Best of all, it allows one to pick and choose what adornments (if any) are fitted, from the myriad products now available for this

SALTY TWIN-TUB

Black Shark Hokum By: Zvezda Item no: 7216 Price: £11.99 Web: www.hobbyco.net Zvezda’s imposing Ka-50 Hokum combat helicopter has been re-boxed as a regular Russian Air Force machine, and lacks the undernose TV/FLIR turrets of the night-attack prototype. Otherwise, the parts are identical, held on six styrene runners; there is a fair amount of flash, but once removed, this is a good representation of the type. Notably, several components

(nose, pylons, underside panel) have a ‘pebbled’ finish, which needs to be sanded smooth. Panels are represented by finely engraved lines, with raised articles on the rotor blades. Cockpit detail is adequate, but purists may wish to add refinement to the instrument panel and K-37 ejection seat. Options include raised/lowered landing gear and open/closed cockpit door. The two schemes are: • Yellow 25, Russian Air Force (three-tone camouflage) • White 26, Russian Air Force (overall black)

Russian Su-33UB Flanker D By: Trumpeter Item no: 01669 Price: £25.99 Web: www.pocketbond.co.uk The Su-33UB was intended as an operational trainer for the type, with side-by-side seating, but none entered service. Trumpeter has subsequently chosen to kit the aircraft, though, to fill a gap in the market. It’s a creditable attempt and displays the correct nuances, such as wing-folds set further outboard than on the baseline Su-33. A well-detailed cockpit has moulded instrumentation and decals, but

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aircraft. Highlights include the magnificent cockpit, with internal framing and multi-part seat, and the undercarriage bays, which are surprisingly complex. Four RAF airframe options are provided: • NV969/SA-A, 486 (NZ) Sqn, Fassberg, Germany, April 1945 • JN862/JF-Z, 3 Sqn, Newchurch, England, August 1944 • EJ705/W2-X, 80 Sqn, B80 Volkel, Netherlands, winter 1944/45 • SN165/ZD-V, 222 Sqn, B91 Kluis (Malden), Netherlands, April 1945 1/72

relatively poor seats. Sadly, the rudders are of the standard Su-33, and not the broad-chord items on the UB. A photo-etched brass fret offers grilles for the air intakes, plus details for one of the weapons and what appear to be seat firing handles, but the latter are not shown on the instructions. There’s a huge array of armament, including ‘shortburn’ AA-10 Alamo, AA-12 Adder, AS-18 Kazoo, AS-20 Kayak and APK-9 data-link. Surface engraving is beautifully executed, via very fine lines and rivets, and the decals combine myriad stencils with ‘Blue 21/717’ demonstrator markings.

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ON THE SHELF AIRCRAFT KITS

LUFTWAFFE CLASSIC

Bf 109G-6 early version By: Eduard Item no: 82113 Price: €37.45 Web: www.eduard.com In the eyes of many, Eduard has redeemed itself with a corrected version of its 1/48 Bf 109G-6 in lateproduction format. Here, though, ProfiPACK treatment is afforded to its new early version G-6. Instead of the ‘Erla’ canopy, one can expect standard G-6 framed glazing, D/F loop and shorter radio mast. Underwing gun pods also feature, as does a centreline fuel tank, a

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photo-etched fret with plain and precoloured parts, and tape masks. Wellknown schemes of famous ‘experten’ are provided, although one livery is more exotic, with earthy Italian theatre green and sand camouflage: • W.Nr 15919/Green 1, Maj Hermann Graf, JGr 50, September 1943 • W.Nr 20499/Yellow 1 + wavy line, Lt Erich Hartmann, 9./JG 52, 1943 • W.Nr 18107/White 9 ‘Seeman’, Uffz Georg Amon, 7./JG 53, June 1943 • W.Nr 440190/Yellow 1 + –, Lt Alfred Hammer, 6./JG 53, February 1944 • W.Nr 160756/Yellow 4, Uffz Rene Darbois, I./JG 4, July 25 1944

CELESTIAL TWIN-SEATER

T-33A Shooting Star Early Version By: Great Wall Hobby Item no: L4819 Price: €45 Web: www.gsieurope.de Great Wall’s kit is notable for two reasons; one being the excellent detail, the other the relatively low parts count. The moulding is exquisite in places, from the cockpit, five-part seats and busy consoles, to the wellappointed undercarriage bays/ doors. Instrument panels are built sandwich-style, as a dial decal is placed between the

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panel front and back-plate. Basic intake trunking also features. One can choose open airbrakes, and beautifully executed dropped flaps are another highlight. It’s a fine package that has three schemes, but the carrier film is matt in finish. The liveries are: • 53-4892/TR-892, 78th FIW, USAF, Hamilton AFB, 1957 • 51-17481/JA-395, 2 Staffel, JG 71 Richtofen, German AF, Alhorn, West Germany, 1961 • MM55-3076/CR-20, Reparto Radiomisure, Italian AF, Pratica de Mare, Rome, 1964

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BRAMO POWER

Do 17Z-2 By: ICM Item no: 72304 Price: £18.99 Web: icm.com.ua ICM now turns its attention to the glazed-nose, Bramo engined Z-2. The new moulding compares well to Kagero scale plans, and presents the option to build early or late examples, the two formats differing mainly in exhaust layout. The engines are reasonable, and bearers are also provided for fitting onto the firewalls. There’s also the choice of DF loop or

aerodynamic fairing on the main glazing. A full bomb load, fine panel line engraving and a wellappointed cockpit make this pleasing indeed. Four schemes are offered and a white aircraft accompanies three in splinter: • 5K+HR, 7./KG 3 ‘Blitz’, France, August 1940 • F1+BL, 3./KG 76, France, August 1940 • U5+BH, 1./KG 2 ‘Holzhammer’, Greece, May 1941 • A1+TZ, 15.(Kroat)/KG 53, USSR, winter 1941-42

NORTHROP ‘FOXTROT’

F-5F Tiger II By: Italeri Item no: 1382 Price: £15.99 Web: www.hobbyco.net If one ignores the raised lines and too-shallow undercarriage bays, Italeri’s re-release portrays the shape of this aircraft well. Purists will re-scribe and detail the basic canopy mechanisms. Some parts, though, such as the wheels, instrument panels and exhausts are on par with more modern kits. The ejection seat will need TLC too, if one wants a truly detailed unit. Stores are limited to misshapen Sidewinders, and underwing/centreline fuel tanks.

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There are separate canopies and the decal sheet is a triumph, with three Swiss jets, two US Navy and one US Marines example in aggressor liveries. One of the USN machines is overall black, while the other is a Key West aircraft with dazzling ‘Sun Downers’ tail: • J-3210, J-3206 and J-3207, Fliegerstaffel 15, Swiss AF, Sion AB, Switzerland, 2014-15 • BuNo 761586/00, VMFT-401 ‘Snipers’, USMC, MCAS Yuma, 2011 • BuNo 840456/00, VFC-111 ‘Sun Downers’, NAS Key West, 2015 • BuNo 761580/20/AF, VFC-13 ‘Saints’, NAS Fallon, 2011

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ON THE SHELF MILITARY KITS

EXQUISITE ARMOUR

T-64BM Main Battle Tank By: Modelcollect Item no: UA72037 Price: US $21.99 Web: www.modelcollect.com At first glance, this might appear a high price for a 1/72 tank, but Modelcollect’s T-64BM is positively overflowing with 12 styrene runners, four photo-etched brass frets and turned brass barrel, and features a level of detail more commonly associated with 1/35 kits. Moreover, the hull features are rendered beautifully, notably the turret armour plates and reactive armour

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blocks, while the unditching beam has realistic moulded wood grain. Tracks are supplied as link-andlength items, and the refinement is in keeping with that on the larger hull and turret. Thanks to the runner layout, there are all the items necessary to build any of Modelcollect’s T-64s. There is a single overall dark green scheme offered, but the generous decal sheet provides markings for several Russian/Soviet units; if painted in conjunction with the box artwork it can be finished as either a Ukrainian or Novorossiya machine.

MARTEN WITH PUNCH

Marder I 7.5cm PaK 40/1 auf Gw.Lr.s(f) Sd.Kfz.135 By: Panda Hobby Item no: PH-35006 Price: £30.99 Web: www.panda-hobby.com Panda’s Marder (Marten) I captures accurately the type's high rear and overhanging side profiles, with commendably thin fighting compartment sidewalls. While the exterior detail and replica PaK 40 are first-class, there isn’t an engine or driver’s compartment. Cleverly

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engineered running gear results in surprisingly few parts, and the individual-link tracks add a final touch of refinement. Five schemes are supplied, and though no unit details are provided, one is easily recognisable as a Belgian Resistance-captured vehicle. However, the decals incorrectly provide German colours (the red and yellow should be swapped for Belgian hues) and hull markings should be rough as these were hand-painted…the Balkenkreuz should also be partially obscured.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPER

Warrior MCV with Add-on Armour By: Revell Item no: 03144 Price: £13.50 Web: www.revell.de Revell has dusted down its 1/72 Warrior and re-released the up-armoured version with new decals, and despite its comparative age (first produced in 2002) the three styrene runners are crisply moulded, with no sign of flash. Detail is generally good, with the notable inclusion of items such as rear-view mirrors that larger-scale kits omit. The

HUMMER-SKI

GAZ-233014 ‘Tiger’ By: Zvezda Item no: 3668 Price: £19.99 Web: www.hobbyco.net Russia’s multi-purpose 4x4 has been released by Zvezda, supplying a busy interior, packed with spare ammunition for the roof-mounted AGS-17 grenade launcher, PKP Pecheneg machine gun and grenade launchers. Solid vinyl tyres feature a distinctive V-patterned tread, which is used cleverly to hide the mould seam, and these complement the complex chassis, suspension

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side add-on armour packs are particularly well-rendered, with all 250-plus bolt heads replicated, along with the six circular vents on the left-hand unit. Areas needing attention include the over-scale front stowage ‘bin’, turret and hull baskets and the missing turret stowage boxes. Two schemes are supplied, both for BosniaHerzegovina-deployed machines. The first, in standard British Army green/black camouflage has SFOR markings, while the second is an overall white UN vehicle. 1/35

and transmission. This variant has increased armour protection compared to earlier vehicles, represented by heavy door liners, while the characteristic circular roof opening is replicated faithfully. The roof hatches and driver, passenger and rear doors can all be posed open to reveal the innards. A single Russian Green scheme is supplied, with options for a standard Army, Guards unit or Moscow Victory Day Parade machine, with the orange/ black stripes and red/white star for the latter included.

ON THE SHELF MILITARY KITS

PAPER ARTILLERY

E-75 SP Gun with 128/L55 By: Modelcollect Item no: UA72054 Price: US $21.99 Web: www.modelcollect.com Leaping straight from the pages of German designers, Modelcollect has taken its E-75 heavy tank and has created this notional 128mm gun-armed tank-killer. Mould quality is splendid, with refined hull and running gear detail, while the link-and-length tracks will sag realistically. Engine grilles and netting/spare link attachment points

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are supplied as photo-etched brass items, as is the pepper-pot muzzle brake, which adorns a turned brass barrel. No internal fittings are provided, but this is still a reasonably complex build, and would be ideal for an armour modeller wanting to attempt a more challenging smallscale subject. A single scheme depicts a vehicle with late-war threetone camouflage, while the decal sheet provides suitable Balkenkreuz, hull numbers and kill rings for the barrel; however, on AMW’s sample these were all out of register.

FOUR-DOOR STAFF CAR

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SOVIET STUG

Early Production Su-122 By: MiniArt Item no: 35181 Price: £42.99 Web: www.miniart-models.com MiniArt continues its focus on Soviet self-propelled artillery with the early Su-122. Differences between this and the initial variant include the top plate, tracks and minor fittings, although this kit lacks most of the interior detail of MiniArt’s previous release (see News, Sep 2016). A small photo-etched brass fret supplies an engine grille and stowage box latches. Standout items

include exterior bolts and weld seams, and the stunning M30S 122mm howitzer, which features an accurate breech, loading ramp and recuperator. There are four schemes depicting overall Russian Green vehicles, with one daubed in heavily weathered white distemper: • ‘Frunze’, Bryansk Front, summer 1943 • White Diamond 7, 4th Tank Army, Bryansk Front, August 1943 • ‘Death to Hitler/Glory to our Tankers’, Sverdlovsk, 1943 • Red 909, 1434th SP Arty Regt, Leningrad, December 1943

FELINE ANATOMY LESSON

Typ 320 (W142) Saloon By: ICM Item no: 35537 Price: £20.99 Web: www.icm.com.ua ICM has racked up another first with its Mercedes-Benz Typ 320. Three styrene runners provide a wealth of features, particularly the splendid engine and drive train, around which the chassis is constructed. Although wartime cars usually had the wooden trim painted with drab black or grey, those for senior officers

often retained the original livery, which would be a worthy challenge to replicate. Six vinyl tyres are supplied, and the detail is refined, with a good tread, but lacking sidewall data. It’s slightly disappointing that the doors and bonnet are moulded closed; notably the latter will hide the sumptuous detail in the engine bay. Four schemes are provided: • IE-88288, Germany, 1941 • WL-378809, France, 1942 • WH-865314, Norway, 1942 • WH-1206545, Italy, 1943

King Tiger Sd.Kfz.182 Henschel Turret w/Zimmerit By: Takom Item no: 2045 Price: £59.99 Web: www.pocketbond.co.uk Rye Field and MiniArt are slaking a long-time thirst for full interior detail, but Takom won’t be outdone and top marks are afforded to its new King Tigers. Here, every facet of the real Henschel machine seems to have been replicated, and a complete covering of beautifully moulded Zimmerit is offered. There’s a full supply of ammunition on racks, the

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Maybach powerplant is excellent and one can leave hatches loose to enjoy all the refinement. Other sections of the model could also be fitted without glue, to reveal further inner workings, but adventurous cutaways will undoubtedly be seen at various model shows in the future. Two photo-etched brass frets offer engine screens, shell endplates and more, while the Gg 26/800/300 track links are all individual and detailed impressively. The colour guide shows two s.Pz.Abt.503 vehicles, Black 301 and Red 223, as seen in France and Hungary respectively.

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ON THE SHELF AUTO KITS

JAPANESE STYLE

Honda/Acura NSX By: Tamiya Item no: 24344 Price: £34.99 Web: www.hobbyco.net Honda’s original NSX supercar remains such an iconic vehicle that despite production ceasing in 2005, demand for the cars eventually forced the manufacturer to consider a replacement. First unveiled at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, the new version is every bit a suitable replacement for the 1990s original. Tamiya has now produced a kit of the 2015 NS, and the design ethos

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is reminiscent of the firm’s recent Mazda MX-5 kit, with much-simplified construction methodology and sequencing. That’s not to say the kit is in any way a lesser product, as the attention to detail is typical of Tamiya. Components are spread across two black, one white, one chromed and a clear runner, and these provide for both left- and right-hand drive configurations. Self-adhesive photo-etched metal badges are supplied for both Honda and Acura branding. Look for a full build article in a forthcoming issue of AMW.

ELEGANT MASTERPIECE

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BRINGING UP THE REAR

Curtainside Trailer ‘schoeni.ch’ By: Italeri Item no: 3918 Price: £47.50 Web: www.hobbyco.net Most truck kits provide just the tractor unit, so it’s great to see Italeri’s three-axle fabric-skinned ‘curtainside’ trailer. The box is packed with nine styrene runners, which have been moulded in four different colours, and these offer the potential for a paint-free build, although the parts lack the varying sheen apparent on the full-size items. Most components are dedicated to the chassis,

SNAP-TOGETHER FUN

DAF XF105 Smoky Jr. By: Italeri Item no: 3917 Price: £54.99 Web: www.hobbyco.net Italeri’s DAF XF105 has been re-released with yet another stunning example of cab artwork, depicting ‘Smoky Jr.’ with its horse and wilderness theme. This is a busy offering, with a fully detailed cab, engine and transmission, and although parts are provided in several colours, extensive painting will be required to achieve the box-top livery… the enclosed three-part mask

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set will simplify this task greatly. Chrome-plated components are a love/hate item for modellers, but these are generally well rendered, but unfortunately, Italeri hasn’t managed to produce the exhausts as single items. Arguably, this kit’s biggest attraction is potentially its Achilles’ heel, as the side panel decals each comprise one large item, which will be challenging to apply over the vehicle’s curves and trim lines. As ever, there is a varied choice of national licence plates, although this particular machine sports an Italian registration.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

Kenworth Aerodyne By: Revell Item no: 07671 Price: £16.99 Web: www.revell.de/en Modellers wanting to get into truck building need look no further than this lovely vintage re-release from Revell, which reintroduces Monogram’s 1981 Kenworth Aerodyne ‘snap-tite’ kit. There are just four runners, moulded in red, black and chrome-plated styrene, and the parts count is refreshingly low. A single-piece transparency provides windscreen, quarter panels and over-cab glazing, with the side

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which is surprisingly detailed and includes jacks, mudguard attachment supports and undervehicle stowage compartment. Eight hollow vinyl tyres are supplied and although the tread is basic, these should impart realistic sag when added to the model. The finishing touch is provided by the two stunning decal sheets, which offer the full ‘schoeni.ch’ livery (for both tractor and trailer) and 19 alternative registration plates, although modellers may choose to source after-market decals for other haulier regalia. 1/32

windows open to view the interior. The standout item is the single piece cab body/roof (featuring lovely raised detail), especially when one considers this was produced long before slide-moulding was employed! Befitting its basic-level status, the wheels are supplied as styrene single-faced items, with the tyres moulded integrally; these benefit from chrome-plated inserts for the hubs. One major improvement is that of the decal sheet, which profits from modern production techniques... meaning sharp colour demarcation and good register.

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ON THE SHELF MARITIME KITS

PACIFIC JOURNEYMAN

JMSDF DD-181 Asakaze I By: Pit-Road Item no: J21 Price: ¤12 Web: www.gsieurope.de Pit-Road’s lovely waterline Gleaves-class destroyer makes a welcome return in the shape of the ex-USS Ellyson, which served in the post-war Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force as DD-181 Asakaze. In 2002 this was a state-of-the-art product, and it compares well when measured against recent 1/700 ship releases, notably the mould quality and overall accuracy. Considerable

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thought has gone into the component layout, and Pit-Road has included sufficient alternative parts to build the vessel at any stage in its service between 1942 and 1970, although this boxing concentrates on the 1954-1966 period. Four configurations are suggested, with varying gun and radar fits, funnel markings and hull numbers. This will make a great model straight from the box, with oodles of potential for further embellishment. The single scheme depicts Asakaze as it appeared in 1966, in standard light and dark grey camouflage.

UNIQUE COMBATANT

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TURRET TRANSPORTER

IJN Cargo Ship Kashino 1942 By: Pit-Road Item no: W177 Price: ¤27 Web: www.gsieurope.de Merchant ships aren’t usually regarded worthy subjects for modellers, but Kashino was no normal vessel, being designed to transport Yamato-class battleship turrets. Released initially in 2014 as the early war turret-carrying version, it has now been updated with new cargo hold covers to portray the ship in 1942, when it was employed as a mere munitions carrier. It can be assembled as

either a full-hull or waterline model, with a neat stand provided for the former, but a base-plate must be scratchbuilt for the latter. Modellers can either cover the holds or fill them with components for one of the massive triple 18in (457mm) gun turrets; alternatively, an entire barbette, complete with turret ring and support structure can be posed alongside the ship. There is just a single dark grey scheme, with the major difference between early and late versions being the use of unpainted wooden hold covers on the latter.

IMPRESSIVE PATROLLER

IJN Destroyer Shimakaze 1943 By: Pit-Road Item no: W176 Price: ¤20 Web: www.gsieurope.de Shimakaze was a one-off design, capable of travelling at more than 40kts, and possessed one of the heaviest armaments fitted to a destroyer during World War Two. Pit-Road’s re-release captures the vessel’s rakish profile perfectly, and packs plenty of detail into the 7 3/10in (184mm)-long hull, which can be built in either full or waterline configurations...a standard three-piece stand is

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included for the former. The parts ooze refinement, from the separate textured deck and raised mine rails through to the three-piece quintuple torpedo launchers and main gun turrets. As this is repackaged from the late-war offering, all those components are present, as are a considerable number of spares; despite its diminutive size, this is an impressive model. The single livery depicts Shimakaze in 1943, shortly after entering service, with Maizuru Gray upper surfaces and linoleum deck areas, and an option for the ship’s name on the hull sides.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

IJN Destroyer Minekaze By: Pit-Road Item no: W179 Price: ¤13 Web: www.gsieurope.de Predominantly, 1/700 kits are released in waterline configuration, so it’s great to see companies such as Pit-Road revamping older offerings, such as its Minekaze-class destroyers, with a full-hull option. A new runner, supplying the lower hull, screws and rudders and a smart three-piece stand joins the usual two items, and all parts are well presented, with just minimal

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flash present on the small components. Standout items are the single-piece upper hull, with delicate texture on the steel deck plating, and the twin torpedo mounts, while generic Runner B supplies a generous helping of spare parts for other projects. As a bonus, two Kaiten suicide-torpedoes are included, along with their own mini-stands, but these were not carried on this class of ship until 1944. Two Maizuru Gray schemes are provided, for Minekaze in 1920 and 1930 respectively, with alternative hull names and numbers.

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ON THE SHELF FIGURES

JSF JOCKEY

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Pilot F-35 Lightning II By: Plus Model Item no: AL4064 Price: €8.10 Web: www.plusmodel.cz

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While these resin subjects would be fine displayed individually on a base, they’d arguably look better posed with a piece of armour, such as a St. Chamond. The sculpting on Stalingrad figures is usually flawless, and it is so here with this superb French tanker and his pet dog. The latter’s hair is wonderfully shaggy, although one must remove a casting gate section from its head and make good the hair. Separate arms and a head need to be attached to the

ARMOUR OCCUPANTS

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DEUTSCHE VOLKS

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Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Tank Crew 1965-1990s By: Fine Molds Item no: FM47 Price: €13 Web: www.gsieurope.de

German Sturmtruppen 1918 By: ICM Item no: 35692 Price: £8.99 Web: www.icm.com.ua ICM may have returned to mainstream subjects with this set of four Imperial German Army assault troops, but the poses are wonderfully original and will ensure a lively trench raid diorama. Moulded crisply in tan styrene, the figures feature good detail, and while facial expressions are neutral, one is adorned with a splendid moustache. Packs and special equipment are also included, but the real bonus is the inclusion of duplicate runners from the WWI German Infantry Weapon and Equipment set (35678) which supplies the remainder of the standard equipment (shovels, water bottles, mess tins and bayonets), rifles, machine guns and a plethora of spares.

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French Tank Crewman and Dog, World War I By: Stalingrad Item no: S1125 Price: £12.99 Web: www.stalingrad.diorama.ru

Want to add scale and context to a Kitty Hawk 1/48 Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter? If so, Plus Model’s crisply cast pilot figure is just the ticket. Figures are always easier to paint when the detail is good, and it’s more than that here, with a splendid portrayal of the Helmet-Mounted Display System (in visor up pose). The flyer’s G-suit is beautifully done, and exhibits pleasing creases and folds that will help ensure extra life come painting/shading time. Equipment such as the oxygen hose and survival vest are impressive, and the facial features are also well defined.

TRENCH ASSAULT TEAM

TANKER AND POOCH

These neat figures will be ideal for any Cold War-era Japanese tank, but are released in concert with Fine Molds’ Type 61 (kit no.FM46) . The loader and driver are posed seated, while the commander and gunner are standing, and a choice of Howa Type 64 rifles and M3 sub-machine guns are offered for crew weapons. Detail is excellent; intercom boxes are moulded integrally with the torsi, representation of the fabric belts is notably well rendered and rank slides are included on the decal sheet. Full assembly and painting instructions are supplied on the box rear, with useful lists of Mr. Hobby hues and Japanese military ranks on the opposing box sides.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

tanker’s main body section, but they fit brilliantly after removal from their casting blocks, and neatening of the mating face of the right arm. Facial features are strong, which will help to achieve good results from careful painting.

FLESHEATING FIEND

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Zombie in NBC coverall By: Royal Model Item no: 763 Price: €12 Web: www.royalmodel.com

German Sitting Civilians By: MiniArt Item no: 38006 Price: £9.99 Web: www.miniart-models.com Intended to complement MiniArt’s 1/35 Tram kits, this pleasing set of five seated figures provides four passengers and what appears to be a ticket conductor. Each comprises at least seven pieces, with separate arms, legs and heads, and while a fair amount of flash was present on AMW’s sample, this is easily removed with a few swipes of a sanding stick. MiniArt’s attention to detail is highlighted by an accurate depiction of fur linings and clothing creases (caused by sitting) and the period style of the passengers’ attire. A selection of paperprinted newspapers (two) and magazines (six) are provided as a final refinement.

If you’ve already become a zombie, a nuclear-bacteriological-chemical (NBC) suit will be of little help…your day could hardly get any worse! But it’s a fun choice of garment for Royal Model’s example of the ‘living dead and, as the box front shows, it can be painted with all manner of dirt, detritus and gore. The figure is cast superbly in resin, and the suit has plenty of creases to provide ample shading/dry-brushing opportunities. The face has suitably sunken features, and a clever move is to portray the feet with that typical zombie-like inward angling of the feet. Torn segments of the suit allow extra life, with flesh being visible. Great for individual display or as part of a postapocalypse scene with other features.

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A19003 HAWKER TYPHOON Mk.IB ‘CAR DOOR’

HAWKER TYPHOON Mk.IB ‘CAR DOOR’

Introduced into service in 1941, the Hawker Typhoon was designed to be the RAF’s new ultimate interceptor fighter. Superseding the Hawker Hurricane it was hoped that the Typhoon, together with the Spitfire, would be a powerful and effective opponent of the Luftwaffe. However it was not to be. Initially plagued by mechanical woes from the engine and suffering from a deficit in performance at high altitude, the Typhoon instead found fame as a low level attack aircraft, a role to which it was both well suited, and hugely effective. n Fully detailed cockpit interior and pilot n Complete exposed engine option n Fully detailed gun bays n Fully detailed undercarriage n Landing flaps up or down options

Fuselage length 404mm Wingspan 528mm Official Product

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ON THE SHELF DECAL SHEETS

WHISPERING DEATH AND MORE

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BLACK AND BUSY

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Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk By: Print Scale Item no: 72-223 Price: £10.80 Web: www.hannants.co.uk

Bristol Beaufighter in RAF and Commonwealth Service By: DK Decals Item no: 72024 Price: £9.99 Web: www.dkdecals.cz One will want to buy a whole bunch of Airfix Beaufighters, or locate older Hasegawa or High Planes offerings, after seeing what’s offered here. A hugely generous 24 schemes are represented via three individual sheets (just the main item shown here – the others carry mostly roundels, codes and serials), and there’s a wonderful array of camouflage. From Mediterranean tones and maritime liveries, to menacing

overall Night Black and colours for the China-Burma-India theatre, there’s something for everyone. We can’t list all here, but the more interesting options include: • Mk.VIf, X8166/E, Wg Cdr NE Reeves, Libya, 1943 • Mk.If, X7677/TJ-Z, Fg Off E Coate, 272 Sqn • TF.X, NE209/P6-J, 489 (NZ) Sqn, 1944 • Mk.If, V8324/BR-O, Sqn Ldr Richards, 29 Sqn • Mk.If, T3301/T4705? ‘Phoo’, 2 PRU, Egypt, 1942 • Mk.VIc, T5273/H ‘Benghazi Bus’, 46 Sqn, Egypt, 1942 • TF.X, LZ451/FE-M, Wg Cdr K Gatward, 404 (RCAF) Sqn

AFTER THE ONSLAUGHT

Post War Avro Lancaster By: Xtradecal Item no: X72256 Price: £7.99 Web: www.hannants.co.uk Everyone should build at least one Lancaster in their lifetime, but perhaps you’re looking for something other than the Bomber Command scheme? If so,

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Xtradecal has the answer in this new peacetime package, which offers just one aircraft in said livery. The standout example is a 236 OCU aircraft in maritime shades (Extra Dark Sea Grey, Slate Grey and Sky), but extra variety comes via white and Night Black airframes, an overall High Speed Silver aircraft with yellow/black target tug stripes and a white and Medium Sea Grey Lancaster: • PR.I, PA439/D, 82 Sqn, RAF Eastleigh, Kenya, 1949-50 • B.VII (FE), NX721/FGGA, Empire Navigation School, RAF Shawbury, 1948 • B.I (Special), PD199, RAE, Farnborough, 1948-49 • GR.III, SW364/CJ-C, 203 Sqn, RAF St Eval, 1949-50 • ASR.III, RF314/K7-LJ, 236 OCU, RAF Kinloss, 1947-48 • B.I (FE), TW872/TL-D, 35 Sqn, RAF Graveley, 1946 • B.I (FE), NG115/DX-C, 57 Sqn, RAF Scampton, 1946 • B.VII, RT680/FCXS, ECFS, RAF Hullavington, 1948

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

Print Scale will please many modellers who favour USAF subjects, with this gaggle of TR-coded F-117s flown by squadrons subordinate to the 37th TFW during Operation Desert Storm. The type was prolific during that conflict, and here there are 17 different jets one can portray (two sets of stars and bars provided). Obviously the livery remains the same for all, but the interesting difference comes via cool examples of inner bomb bay door artwork. Print Scale has done reasonably well with this, although there are instances of incorrect colours being used on occasion, and note the firm has written ‘TFW’ in its unit descriptions, but this should be TFS – Tactical Fighter Squadron. Some of these aircraft are: • 82-0803 ‘Unexpected Guest’,

NORDIC GUSTAVS

Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 in Finnish Service By: SBS Model Item no: D48013 Price: €10 Web: www.sbsmodel.com If one loves the Bf 109G-6, but is becoming a little jaded with Luftwaffe garb, this collection of Finnish schemes could be the perfect antidote. While three of the choices exhibit classic latewar German camouflage (RLM 74/75/76), the Finnish insignia and codes ensure a different look. But it’s the smart Olive Green over RLM 65 (with white

Capt S Stimpert, 416th TFS • 84-0814 ‘Final Verdict’, Capt K Huff, 416th TFS • 85-0825 ‘Mad Max’, Sqn Ldr G Wardell, 415th TFS • 85-0826 ‘Nachtfalke’, Capt R Donaldson, 415th TFS • 85-0837 ‘Habu II’, Capt m Byrd, 416th TFS • 85-0834 ‘Necromancer’, Maj J Moore, 416th TFS

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wing, nose and tail wargame markings) post-war aircraft that really stands out, with the blue and white roundel style we are more familiar with today, rather than the swastika. The options are: • MT-416/Yellow 6, SSgt Aaro Nuorala, 3/HLeLv 34, Kymi, summer 1944 • MT-459/White 9, 2nd Lt Kullervo Joutseno, 1/HLeLv 34, Taipalsaari, summer 1944 • MT-487/Yellow 7, WO Mauno Fräntillä, 2/HLeLv 30, Kymi, summer 1944 • MT-505, PleLv 41, Luonetjärvi, summer 1950

ON THE SHELF DECAL SHEETS

VINTAGE EXHIBITS

Aircraft of the Shuttleworth Collection By: Alley Cat Models Item no: ACD72018 Price: £15 Web: www.alleycatmodels.co.uk Two years ago, Alley Cat produced 1/72 decals representing US Air Force exhibits at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford…this time it’s the turn of a select number of Old Warden’s assets. Comprising

1/72 three sheets, all national and unit markings are provided for 19 vintage airframes maintained and operated by the Shuttleworth Trust, with the Avro Tutor’s red and Tiger Moth’s red/white liveries also provided in decal form. Mark Burgess’s artwork is superb, notably for the squadron insignia, while colour boundaries are crisp and blemishfree. Featured machines include: • Avro 504K, E3273, 77 Sqn • Bristol F.2B Fighter, D8096, 208 Sqn • Hawker Hind, K5414, 15 Sqn • Miles Magister, P6382/C • Piston Provost, XF603 • Sopwith Triplane, N6290 ‘Dixie II’ • Hawker Sea Hurricane, Z7015

THE STOCKHOLM RUN

Lockheed Lodestar & Hudson By: Vingtor Decals Item no: 72-128 Price: €11.16 Web: www.vingtor.net Wartime civil guises for the Lockheed Lodestar and Hudson are few and far between, so it’s great to see this 1/72 set from Vingtor, which is perfect for the Special Hobby or Airfix offerings. There are comprehensive notes on how to modify the kits to portray airframes operated by

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the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), including comment on likely seating configurations for these aircraft that flew between RAF Leuchars and Swedish capital Stockholm. The decals are well-printed, with silveredged serials and titles, and the register and definition are splendid. Just three BOAC schemes are covered in detail, but a further three are on the instructions’ cover; there are two bonus options, namely a fourth Lodestar (G-AGEJ) and an otherwise unidentified Luftforsvaret airframe, with serial letter D: • 18-10 Lodestar, G-AGOO ‘Loch Losna’, 1941 • 18-10 Lodestar, G-AGDE ‘Loch Lesja’, Norwegian Detachment, 1941 • 18-10 Lodestar, G-AGEJ ‘Loch Lange’, 1942 • 18-10 Lodestar, G-AGEI ‘Loch Loen’ • Hudson Mk.III, G-AGOC ‘Loch Lamond’ • Hudson Mk.III, G-AGDF ‘Loch Leven’, 1942 • Hudson Mk.III, G-AGDK ‘Loch Lyon’, 1943

LARGE-SCALE NIPPONS

A6M5 Zero By: HGW Models Item no: 232014 Price: €16.67 Web: www.hgwmodels.cz Czech firm HGW’s waterslide decals for Japanese Navy A6M5s will suit either the Hasegawa or Tamiya kit, and they offer plenty of choice in airframes. No national insignia (Hinomaru) are included but the stencils are excellent, with clear placement drawings, and the yellow of the codes is not too glaringly bright. A neat touch is that of different data panels for Mitsubishi and Nakajima factories. Seven aircraft are provided for,

all wearing the classic green over bare metal. Unit details are sparse (we’ve done a little homework here), but one of the aircraft is a well-known machine: • A6M5 Reisen Model 52, ƎD-126, 302nd AG, Atsugi, Japan, 1945 • A6M5c Reisen Model 52, “J-126, Oita, Japan, 1945 • A6M5, 210-105 • A6M5, 653-111 • A6M5, 9-151 • A6M5c Reisen Model 52, 252-114, 252nd AG, 311th Sqn, Mobara, Japan, 1945 • A6M5c Reisen Model 52, 03-09, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, 1945

SCHUTZSTAFFEL SUPPORT Waffen SS-StuG By: Star Decals Item no: 35-842 Price: US $6.50 Web: www.star-decals.net The Sturmgeschutz family offers a wealth of modelling amusement and there are great kits available. This decal set is certainly recommended as it offers markings for six StuG.IIIs of differing sub-types, and besides overall Panzer Yellow-painted machines, there are those with multi-tone liveries and a mix of full, partial or no side-skirt armour. Do note that while the decals are printed crisply, they come on matt carrier film so plenty of gloss varnish is advisable to combat silvering. Here are the options, which represent interesting units:

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• Ausf.G, ‘Mickey Mouse’, SS-StuGAbt. Frundsberg, Maaseik, Belgium, September 1944 • Ausf.G, 223 ‘Seydlitz’, SS-StuG-Abt. Frundsberg, 1943-44 • Ausf.E (w/ add-on armour), R ‘Die Alte’, SS-Kampfgruppe Schill, Slovakia, 1944 • Ausf.F (w/ add-on armour), 91834, SS-StuG-Abt. Reichsfuhrer der SS (RFSS), Italy, 1944 • Ausf.G, SS-StuG-Abt. RFSS, Corsica, September 1943 • Ausf.G (on Pz.III Ausf.M), ‘1’, SS-StuG-Abt.RFSS, Italy, 1943-44

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com 91

ON THE SHELF DECAL SHEETS

INSTRUMENTS OF A LEGEND

Chesty P’s Iron Fists By: Flying Leathernecks Item no: FL32002 Price: US $20 Web: www.flyingleathernecks models.com Named in honour of the universally revered and most highly decorated

US Marine ever, Lewis ‘Chesty’ Puller, these 1/32 schemes represent USMC close-support aircraft across a wide timespan. Large-scale kit fans have a treat here if they have Academy/Kinetic F/A-18C/ Ds and/or Skyraiders by Trumpeter/Zoukei-Mura. The instructions offer build/ upgrade/backdate notes and recommendations for after-market products, and the decals themselves are of excellent quality; very thin, and with gloss carrier film. The options are: • AD-3, BuNo 12274/21/AK, VMA-212, K-3 (Pohang) Airfield, Korea, 1952 • AD-6, BuNo 13975/17/VL, VMA-331, MCAS Cherry Point, NC, 1959 • F/A-18C, BuNo 162469/03/VW, VMFA-314, Sheik Isa AB, Bahrain, Desert Storm, 1990-91 • F/A-18D, BuNo 165684/01/CE, VMFA(AW)-225, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan (UPD MCAS Miramar, 2009)

ASIAN ‘WHAT-IF’ FIGHTERS

Singapore Tigersharks By: Miliverse Item no: MV48002-1 Price: US $19 Web: www.miliverse.com The release of Freedom Model Kits’ F-20 Tigershark boxings

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has prompted this fun ‘what-if’ decal collection from Miliverse. It offers wellconsidered notional schemes for the ‘vanilla’ A-model, the B/N two-seater and, if one’s budget will stretch, a kitbash of the Freedom product with an AFV Club Tigereye. The camouflage is pleasingly varied, with low-vis greys, wraparound Southeast Asia tones, air-defence blues and grey…and a very dark grey recce variant. Besides the main sheet shown here, four others carry badges, stencils and serials. Of the 24 liveries provided, examples include: • F-20A, TS-1601, Indonesian AF • F-20A, 13-001, Philippines AF • F-20B, 888, 150 Sqn, Singapore AF • F-20A, 86001, Thai AF • F-20A, 843, 144 Sqn, Singapore AF • F-20B, 891, 142 Sqn, Singapore AF • RF-20S, 876, 141 Sqn, Singapore AF

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

CELEBRATORY STRIKE EAGLES

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RSAF F-15SG 428th FS Buccaneers By: Miliverse Item no: MV-48003-1 Price: US $22 Web: www.miliverse.com Strike Eagles are dull subjects colour-wise, but a remedy lies in these excellent Singapore Air Force liveries from Miliverse. Two jets have dazzling tail art to mark the fifth anniversary of the US-Singapore Peace Carvin V partnership, which has a detachment of the latter country’s F-15SGs stationed at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho. Both airframes wear Medium Gunship Gray, but the tail art differs between them. Also provided is a scheme for a 149 Sqn F-15SG seen at 2014’s Exercise Hot Shot, with large eagle head tail art. But for those who prefer everyday garb, a fourth option allows the portrayal of an MO-coded line jet with standard low-vis markings. A thoughtful addition is that while most decals are sized for Great Wall Hobby’s F-15, alternatives for the Revell-Monogram kit are

TEUTONIC SNOOPERS Luftwaffe Fighter Reconnaissance By: Xtradecal Item no: X72257 Price: £7.99 Web: www.hannants.co.uk Luftwaffe fans tired with standard fighter schemes should consider Xtradecal’s new collection of fighter-recce aircraft, some of which wear fascinatingly non-standard paint schemes. All that’s required is for the modeller to conduct the necessary conversion work for camera fits, via scratch-building and/or after-market. Fourteen aircraft are catered for, and there’s ample national insignia for a high proportion of these. Some of the options are: • Bf 109F-6/R2, F6+TH, 1.(F)/122, Sardinia, 1942 • Bf 109G-8/R2, White 14, 2./ NAGr.12, Albania, 1944 • Bf 109G-8/R2, N5+DK/Red 4, Nahaufklarungsgruppe Bromberg, Germany, 1945 • Bf 110E-3/U2, 5F+MM, 4.(F)/14, Cherbourg, France, 1940 • Bf 110D-3/Trop, 5F-DK, 2.(H)/14, North Africa

also supplied, and the instructions in general are packed with information. The most colourful sheet is shown here, but three more carry stencils, codes and badges: • 05-005, 428th FS flagship • 05-0007, 428th FS • 8302, 149 Sqn, 2014 • 05-0003, 428th FS, Red Flag 14-3 1/72 • Bf 109G-10/R2, 5F+12, 2./NAGr.14, Germany, May 1945 • Fw 190A-4/U4, Red 6, unknown unit, possibly Sicily 1943 • Fw 190A-4/U4, Black double chevron, circle and bar, Stabskette/ NAGr.13, France, 1943

Unparalleled quality at a price you can afford modelling the RESIN2detail way!

Please visit us at www.resin2detail.com to stay abreast of new release announcements for the B-17 and other kits! Please reach out to me anytime with comments, questions, etc. - happy to assist.

Brian Watkins - President, Owner RESIN2detail Premium Model Accessories

www.resin2detail.com Email: [email protected]

ON THE SHELF ACCESSORIES

SAHARAN VOYAGER

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Cruiser Mk.IVa Conversion Set (Western Desert) By: Dan Taylor Modelworks Item no: C-76085R Price: £4.50 Web: dantaylormodelworks.com S-Model’s A13 Cruiser Mk.III receives a make-over to produce a Western Desert Mk.IVa tank. This is one of Dan’s more involved sets, providing a new turret, extra equipment stowage and replacement side skirts, with options for the mantlet and cupola, and open/closed hatches for the driver, commander and loader. As usual, the resin components are cast crisply, and the photo-etched brass fret is surprisingly comprehensive. No decals are supplied, so modellers will need to source these from aftermarket companies.

ARMOUR RESUPPLY

SPEEDY WHEELS

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Previously available from Etzel’s Speed Classics, this set depicts late-1950s five-pin Halibrand magnesium wheels and speedway tyres. The casting is superb, but the tread must be re-cut on the casting block attachment point. To aid fitting the wheels, a diagram shows the asymmetric location of the tread in relation to the racing track geometry…it should always be towards the outside of any corners. Firestone decals and other tyre stencils add the finishing touches.

If one desires more refinement for Kinetic’s 1/48 scale Su-33, Eduard has come to the rescue. The Czech PE specialist now offers this plain brass set, which carries more detailed replacements and extras; these include more delicate and accurate flame holders for the engines, air intake grilles, nosewheel mudguards, fold mechanisms for the horizontal stabilisers, airbrake details and surface panels.

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TANK’S HIGHFLYER TREADS

Focke-Wulf Ta 152H Wheels By: MasterCasters Item no: MST32071 Price: £5.99 Web: www.mastercasters.co.uk It’s disappointing when wheels are often a comparative weak spot on good kits. Even ZoukeiMura’s gorgeous Ta 152 suffers in this area (this was addressed with the H-0 release), and these replacements are designed for that company’s kit or the Pacific Coast Model offerings. The detail exhibits greater refinement on the hub and rim, but modellers will need to check their references as to the presence of a triangular cut-out on the outer face (as depicted in the latter kit).

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FORGER CRASH ESCAPE

1/72 LATE ROUNDHEAD TANKS

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Phantom FGR.2 (F-4M) Interior Set By: QMT Item no: 72002 Price: £14.30 Web: www.c-m-k.cz WW2 3inch British Tank Ammo Boxes By: Red Zebra Models Item no: N/A Price: £TBC Web: www.redzebramodels.co.uk Modellers wanting to load their 1/48 British tanks will appreciate this set, which offers 12 examples of World War Two British 3in ammo boxes. Two sizes are provided, with six of each. The casting and sculpting is excellent, with realistic wood grain, and the rope handles on the box ends are notable for their refinement.

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Eduard 48891 Su-33 exterior By: Eduard Item no: 48891 Price: €22.45 Web: www.eduard.com

Late 50s Halibrand Mags with Speedway Tires By: American Racing Miniatures Item no: ESCA-7 Price: US $16 Web: www.americanracing minatures.com

‘TOOM ‘TERIOR

SEA-GOING FLANKER

Modellers with Fujimi’s FGR.2 will welcome this photo-etched metal set, which will transform the kit’s cockpit. Compared to other after-market products, there are fewer parts for the instrument panels and consoles, but there is 3-D relief nonetheless. The main embellishments are for the ejection seats, which receive upper and lower firing handles, rigid backs, straps, and leg restraints. As a bonus, there are 27 remove before flight tags in three styles, a head-up display frame and a 6 x 3¾in (140 x 93mm) sheet of black 20 thou (0.5mm) plastic card.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

Yak-38 ejection seat By: Eduard Item no: 648269 Price: €14.95 Web: www.eduard.com The quality of Hobby Boss’ 1/48 Yak-38 Forger will be elevated instantly by this stunning mixed-media ‘bang’ seat. Eduard’s offering provides sharply defined resin seat frame components, including the head box, arm guards and launch rails, but finer items (seat pan firing handles, data placard, leg restraint straps and the like), are on a precoloured photo-etched metal fret. An excellent rendition of the K-36 series seat.

A27M Cromwell Mk.VII/VIII Conversion Set By: Dan Taylor Modelworks Item no: C-76124R Price: £4.50 Web: dantaylormodelworks.com Dan Daylor’s conversion sets are highly regarded items, incorporating a mind-boggling amount of detail into 1/72 and 1/76 scale subjects. Designed for Revell’s Cromwell Mk.IV kit, this clever upgrade provides all parts necessary to produce either a Mk.VII or Mk.VIII tank, incorporating the modified F-type hull components as well as a 95mm CS Howitzer for the latter variant. The casting is superb, with noteworthy detail on the commander’s cupola. While not as expansive as other sets from this firm, it will enable one to build either of these later versions of the Cromwell.

ON THE SHELF ACCESSORIES

RESIN WHIZZBANGS

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Matra Type 155 SNEB Rocket Launcher Pod By: CMK Item no: 7340 Price: €10.30 Web: www.cmkkits.com RAF Harriers, Jaguars, Hunters and Buccaneers carried the SNEB rocket pod, so these two units from CMK are ideal for those types. They are cast in resin and feature excellent detail, and the frangible covers to the rocket tubes are replicated well. The provision of extra cut-out rear fairings, besides standard cylindrical units, means these stores can be employed on models of French AF types, such as the Jaguar A and Mirage 2000. Three small stencil decals are also provided for each pod.

FIRST OF THE FAMILY

CLASSIC BIPLANE DETAILS

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DH.82a Tiger Moth By: Brengun Item no: BRL72108 Price: €8.78 Web: www.brengun.cz Via a relatively small, yet busy photo-etched (PE) metal fret and a printed acetate sheet, Brengun offers modellers a neat way of enlivening Airfix’s new-tool 1/72 Tiger Moth. There are items such as the cockpit surround, seatbelts, instrument panels, fold-down crew access doors, alternative wheel hubs, throttle levers, control horns for the flying surfaces and more. The acetate is sandwiched between the kit parts and the PE, to portray instrument dials.

SMALL SANDERS

MUD HEN GEARS

Mini-Foamies By: MDC Item no: FSX4 Price: £2.95 Web: modeldesignconstruction.co.uk The firm Model Design Construction has always been innovative, and the fact is exemplified by this new set of neat Mini-Foamies sanders. Measuring 2.5 x 2.5cm, there are four 180-grade pads and another four of 220-grade. They are deep enough to grip comfortably and are perfect when files or large sanding sponges are simply too big for the task, in tight areas on a model. A great idea.

ZUNI QUARTET

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RESPIRATORY SUPPLY

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LAU-10 Rocket Pod By: L’Arsenal Item no: AC 48 74 Price: €5.95 Web: www.larsenal.com AIM-9B Sidewinder with pylons By: PJ Production Item no: 481214 Price: €7.40 Web: www.pjproduction.net Early French Mirage IIIs, and some sub-types of the famous delta flown by other air arms, carried the AIM-9B Sidewinder air-to-air missile. Here, PJ’s wellcast resin items come with Aero 3 rails and CES-3 wing pylons suitable for the Mirage III/5. The front fins especially are very sharp, and of course, the missiles alone could be employed on a multitude of other aircraft that used this famous weapon, from 1956 onwards.

USAAF Heavy Bomber Oxygen Tanks By: RESIN2detail Item no: AC002 Price: US $10.99 Web: www.resin2detail.com Anyone contemplating a build of HK Models’ huge 1/32 B-17G or F should consider these neat oxygen tanks for adding extra detail. Cast in grey resin, four units come in bare unbridled form, but another four are cast with securing brackets/ straps in situ. The standard of mastering is very good indeed, and slight attachment points will result in easy clean-up.

The 5in Zuni rocket was utilised by the US Navy and Marine Corps in the ground attack and target-marking roles… predominantly in the four-shot LAU-10 pod. L’Arsenal’s set provides sufficient resin for four units, each comprising two body halves, with four separate rocket tips. The rear of the pod features exquisite detail on the firing actuators, and the fore and aft rims are paper-thin items. Once removed from the casting blocks, minimal preparation is required and the halves are aligned easily, thanks to the attachment lugs on the upper centreline.

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F-15E & All Strike Eagle Wheel/ Tire Set By: GT Resin Products Item no: N/A Price: US $25 Web: www.large scaleplanes.com GT Resin Forum Arguably, Tamiya’s F-15E Strike Eagle needs little in the way of improvement, but GT Resin’s magnificent resin wheel sets are worthy of serious consideration. Parts are included for Goodyear versions of the main and nosewheels, and the level of detail is jaw-dropping, notably the brake units on the former, which fit into a separate hub. A choice of mainwheel covers is provided, offering both large and small diameter apertures and the nosewheel anti-shimmy device has been replicated faithfully. A set of Michelin wheels/tyres is available separately, and there are additional products covering both types of tyres for F-15A/B and C/D.

DELTA POINTY BIT

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Dassault Mirage III Pitot Tube By: Master Model Item no: AM-32-090 Price: £5.20 Web: www.master-model.pl Turned metal accessories generally add real refinement to any styrene model, and Master’s items are arguably the best in the business. This new nose pitot tube, in aluminium, is designed to fit the recent Italeri Mirage III boxings (with the supplied adapter), and must be attached with cyanoacrylate or epoxy adhesive. The quality is splendid, and with this part there will be no need to sand any mould seams as one would need to do with the kit component.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 95

ON THE SHELF RECENTLY RELEASED

DRAGON

672115 SC 50 German WWII Bombs

IBG MODELS

(www.hobbyco.net)

672122 Spitfire Drop Tank (Eduard)

(www.ibgmodels.com)

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672140 UB-32A-24 Rocket Pods

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3567 IDF Magach 3

CX463 Jet Provost T.3/T.3a (Airfix)

72040 Type 89 Japanese Medium Tank Kou

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35568 European Gauge Railway Track with Dead End

1132 Folgore 8438 Albatros D.III 48896 Do 17Z-2 Exterior and Bomb Bay (ICM) 6399 Bergepanzer 38(t) Hetzer mit 2cm FlaK 38

35575 Champagne & Cognac Bottles with Crates

48897 Do 17Z-2 Landing Flaps (ICM) 48898 F/A-18C Exterior (Kinetic) 1/35 35034 KTO Rosomak with OSS-M Turret

49104 Seatbelts USN WWII Steel

PLUS MODEL

6721 5cm PaK 38 auf Pz.Kpfw.II (Sf)

49794 F/A-18C Interior (Kinetic)

(www.plusmodel.cz)

6830 Panther Ausf.D V2 Versuchsserie

82114 Bf 109F-4

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6835 Berge-Panther mit aufgesetztem Pz.Kpfw.IV turm als Befehlspanzer

35038 Chevrolet C30A General Service Truck

EDUARD

ITALERI

(www.eduard.com)

(www.hobbyco.net)

1/144 53175 HMCS Snowberry Pt.1 Armament (Revell) 53176 HMCS Snowberry Pt.2 Superstructure (Revell)

1/72 1378 B-52G Stratofortress 648281 MC.202 Exhaust Stacks (Hasegawa) 648283 P-38J Turbochargers and Air Intakes (Academy)

491 Air-condition

648284 Harrier GR Mk.7/9 Update Set (Hasegawa)

SCALE AIRCRAFT CONVERSIONS

EX528 Do 17Z-2 canopy mask (ICM)

1/72 7437 Hellcat Mk.I 70119 Fw 190F-8

486 Trash

(www.scaleaircraftconversions.com)

EX534 F/A-18C canopy mask (Kinetic)

MINIART

FE793 Albatros D.III Weekend (Eduard)

(www.miniart-models.com)

14424 C-141B Starlifter (Roden)

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1/48

35207 T-34 Wafer-Type Workable Track Links set

48314 RF-84F Thunderflash (Tanmodel)

FINE MOLDS (www.gsieurope.de)

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48315 T-33A Shooting Star (GWH)

1/48 FB20 Mitsubishi A5M2b Claude

TAMIYA (www.hobbyco.net) 1/12 14131 Kawasaki Ninja H2R 35200 US Soldiers at Rest

ZVEZDA

72632 WWII USAAF Bomber Re-supply Set (Airfix)

FB21 Mitsubishi A5M4 Claude

(www.hobbyco.net)

73566 Jet Provost T.3/T.3a (Airfix)

1/35

1/72 Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker D

FM46 Type 61 Tank Upgraded

35561 European Gauge Railway Track 35563 Concrete Telegraph Poles

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PLASTIC SURGERY ASK THE EXPERTS

reproduce the explosion and fireball effects?” Gary Strong, via e-mail

Explosive effects

Q

“I have recently returned to plastic modelling after my doctor told me I needed a hobby to help me relax. A question I have often wanted to ask since seeing a photo in your report

on 2014’s Scale ModelWorld at Telford, concerns the large 1/72 scale Vietnam diorama with the napalm explosion. I would love to know who, and more importantly how the modeller managed to

AMW’s Editor, Chris Clifford, says: “A great question Gary! I was lucky enough to find the modeller in question at this year’s Scale ModelWorld, and his name is René Hieronymus…a member of IPMS Austria, who lives in Salzburg. René had brought another diorama with an explosion, this time a carrier ramp strike by an F7U-3 Cutlass. Here’s how he does it: First, he creates a basic frame from chicken wire and nails it to the baseboard; this is positioned over a small hole that’s been drilled in the base. He then stuffs cotton wool into the frame, leaving almost no space inside. The next step is to tease back out portions of the cotton wool, in a very random manner until happy

Trapped air

Q

“When my builds have been painted and are ready for the decals, I apply a good top coat of Klear or gloss varnish as a base…but sometimes when I do this the decals silver regardless of how many gloss coats are applied; and I also use Micro Set and Sol solutions. Why is this and how can I stop it happening on future builds. It’s incredibly frustrating as it spoils the finished model.” Kevin Lyford, via e-mail AMW’s Assistant Editor, Stu Fone, says: “When silvering occurs, it is due to either the presence of air bubbles/pockets under the decal, or the adhesive failing to ‘stick’ to the model. When light strikes these areas of clear carrier film, reflection between the decal and model surface produces the dreaded silvering effect.

It’s worth noting that this is more likely to occur with kit decals, as they can be of a lesser quality (unless produced by the likes of Cartograf) than aftermarket items, either because of a rougher underside (not visible) or the decal thickness preventing it from conforming to the shape of the model. Additional factors will include the amount and type of carrier film; if there are large

areas then it is best to trim these with a sharp blade, but note those with a matt finish are far more likely to result in silvering than gloss. When it comes to preparation, what you are doing sounds spot on, and as long as the Micro Set and Sol is used as directed, then this should cater for the majority of cases. However, another technique (which I have heard titled ‘flooding’ or ‘floating’) involves applying to the decal onto wet Klear, which is added to the area covered by the decal alone. This is then bedded down as normal (my preference is a water-soaked cotton bud to avoid any ‘streaking’ of the Klear), with a combination of capillary action and surface tension helping to remove any offending air. Another route is to use stronger decal setting solutions, such as those by DACO products.”

with the look. Acrylic paints, in different red, yellow and orange shades, are airbrushed onto the cotton wool to portray fiery accents, and this is followed by matt black for the sooty elements. All paint must be ‘misted’ so it dries quickly; don’t get the cotton wool too wet as it will start to sag. The whole thing is then set with hairspray, and the final act is to place an LED light through the hole in the base, and add a suitable power source. LED’s are chosen because they don’t get too hot…undesirable for obvious reasons. Rene said the Vietnam explosion took 18 attempts before he was satisfied… but practice makes perfect. I hope this gives you the confidence to attempt the technique.”

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

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