Airfix Model World Issue 077 (April 2017)

Closing date: April 18, 2017

MISSION MODELS PAINT

TOOTER’S RHINO 1/48 F-4J Phantom II from Zoukei-Mura

Apr 2017 Issue 77

TACTICAL TRAINER

Embellishing Airfix’s re-issued 1/72 Jet Provost T.4

70

PRODUCT REVIEWS

DEADLY DELIVERY Hasegawa’s 1/72 ‘Last Exile’ Vanship

MARTEN MENACE

1/35 Marder II from Dragon

NORTH SEA HUNTER

Wingnut Wings’ 1/32 Hansa-Brandenburg W.12

£4.50

EDITOR'S DESK WELCOME

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WELCOME TO ISSUE 77

W

ithout sounding like a broken record, I need to say another big ‘thank you’ to you the readers, and my staff/contributor team. AMW has received its new sales certificate from the

Audit Bureau of Circulations, and we’ve gained more than 200 new readers per month for the period Jan-Dec 2016. This is the third year AMW has upped its sales, which means it has only reinforced its position as Europe’s biggest-selling monthly modelling magazine. With average sales of 12,730 copies per month, I feel it’s timely to remind potential and current advertisers of the benefits of being seen in AMW… especially as it is the only modelling publication in the UK to have an ABC certificate; an official record that can’t be fudged, faked or embellished. If you're a kit or aftermarket producer, and wish to gain coverage for your products, simply e-mail me in the first instance, or send your products

for my attention to the address in our reviews section. As I’ve said before though, continued success doesn’t mean laurels can be rested on, and the team is always conscious of how we can improve, and offer interesting and useful content. Traditionally, our history/ reference features have always concerned a subject that’s being built in the same issue, but this month we buck the trend and offer a fascinating look at how special schemes have been applied to full-size RAF Chinook helicopters. I’m considering publishing other stand-alone features that do not accompany builds, but nonetheless will be beneficial to modellers. I’d like to know what you think…after all,

this is your magazine, so please e-mail your comments and any article suggestions to me. Another reason for my even more buoyant than usual mood, is that Assistant Editor Stu and I visited The Tank Museum’s first model show last month and we both had a blast; there’s nothing quite like a new model show to get the creative juices flowing, and boost the inspiration levels. TTM and its volunteers did a grand job, and a full report will feature in next month’s AMW.

Chris Clifford, Editor [email protected]

FREE GIFT! Subscribe to AMW and claim your free 1/72 Hurricane Mk.I model kit or 5-piece diamond file set. See page 78. Editor: Chris Clifford Assistant Editor: Stu Fone Editor's Secretary: Tuesday-Maria Osborne Contributors this issue: Chris Jones, Eric Larson, Joe Turner, Alan Price, Malcolm V Lowe, James Littlejohn, Andy Davies 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 2016 was 12,730 print and digital copies monthly.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 3

CONTENTS WHAT'S INSIDE?

MISSION MODELS PAINT WORTH MORE THAN £500

REGULARS

See page 22.

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

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

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

78 Free Gift! Subscribe to Airfix Model World and claim your free 1/72 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I model kit or 5-piece diamond file set.

12

INTERMEDIATE BUILD F-4J PHANTOM II

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

SHOW SCENE 34 Nuremberg show report FOCUS SCHEMES 58 INCHINOOK

BUILD W.12 (EARLY) 24 INTERMEDIATE

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Airfix Model World

CONTENTS WHAT'S INSIDE?

INTERMEDIATE BUILD VANSHIP

64

FEATURES 12 Intermediate Build – Boss Bird Rhino Zoukei-Mura’s new 1/48 F-4J Phantom is arguably the best-ever kit of this sub-type. Chris Jones shows why with his superb build.

24 Intermediate Build – North Sea Hunter Eric Larson enjoys a helping of Great War action with Wingnut Wings’ 1/32 Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 floatplane.

34 Out and About – Something Old, Something New… Editor Chris Clifford discovers a wealth of new products and re-releases promoted at the Nuremberg Toy and Hobby fair.

38 Intermediate Build – Marten Menace Junior modeller Joe Turner builds Dragon’s 1/35 Marder II tank destroyer and places it in a Mediterranean Theatre setting.

46 Intermediate Build – Tactical Trainer Airfix’s new-tool 1/72 Jet Provost is being released as a Small Starter Set. Here, Alan Price embellishes the kit with extra detail and aftermarket decals.

52 In Focus – Instructional Gem Malcolm V Lowe explores the history of the Jet Provost’s T.3/T.4 variants.

58 In Focus – Paint Your Wokka

INTERMEDIATE BUILD MARDER II

38

In a decidedly different feature, AMW discovers what it’s like to apply a special scheme to a full-sized RAF Chinook. The parallels with scaled-down painting are startling.

64 Intermediate Build – Deadly Delivery Japanese Anime and Manga is the backdrop for Andy Davies’ build of the Hasegawa ‘Last Exile’ Vanship.

72 Out and About – Scholarly Splendour Assistant Editor Stu Fone reports from this year’s Bolton IPMS show.

Your favourite magazine is available digitally. See airfixmodelworld.com for more details. You can also find us on:

Search ‘Airfix Model World’

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NEWS BULLETIN LATEST UPDATES

BREAKING

NEWS

FORTRESS AND ZERO COMEBACK 1944. This aircraft is depicted in Olive Drab over Neutral Gray, but with a bare metal replacement port wing. Full builds of the original releases featured in July and December 2016 issues of AMW. Also due for re-release is Airfix’s delightful 1/72 Mitsubishi A6M2b21 Zero (Zeke), with new markings for an Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft in overall IJN Grey: X-182, 3rd Air Group, 202nd Kokutai, Rabaul, 1942. AIRFIX HAS shoehorned its splendid new-tool 1/72 B-17G and Bomber Re-Supply Set into one fun-packed box. Item A12010 offers all the vehicles from the latter (Cushman Package Car, M6 Bomb Truck with trailer and bombs, and Autocar 4x4 Tractor with F-1 Fuel Trailer), alongside the Flying Fortress, which has new decals. These represent B-17G-35-DL 42-38206 ‘Thundermug’, of the 364th BS, 305th BG, at Chelveston, UK, in

JAPANESE ART FORM TOP MARKS go to Platz for creating the most unusual subject we’ve seen for some time…replica Bonsai trees. Kits BON-01 and 02 allow the replication of small styrene Bonsai with scatter material foliage, and they have their own styrene pot, display base and wooden plinth. It took Assistant Editor Stu seven minutes to assemble one of these, but the fun factor is immense. And anyone who’s tried growing and maintaining real Bonsai will testify that Platz’s route is much easier! Beautifully packaged, the trees comprise around seven parts. For further details visit: www.platzhobby.com

REGAL FRIEDRICH PACKAGE ITALIAN-BUILT WIND GOD carries markings for 13 Luftwaffe aircraft (and one Hungarian), and famous aces, such as Werner Mölders, Günther Lützow, HansEkkehard Bob, Walter Nowotny and ‘Macky’ Steinhoff are represented. For further details on this classy collection, visit: www.eduard.com

EDUARD HAS afforded Royal Class status to its recent 1/48 Messerschmitt Bf 109F tooling. For those not wise to this moniker, the firm usually presents enough standard parts to build two models, along with aftermarket goodies and a special collectable item. In this case, boxing R0014 offers not just the basic kit styrene (which is excellent), but also photo-etched brass (and pre-coloured metal) details for the interior/exterior, and the company’s own Brassin-range resin items, which include exhaust stubs with backing boxes, tail and mainwheels, with separate spoke sections for the latter. There are also tape masks for the wheels and glazing, but arguably best of all, also provided is a lovely decorated beer glass with beer mat. One is spoilt for choice with colour schemes, as the superb decal sheet

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Airfix Model World

SUPERCAR KIT specialist Aoshima has released a 1/24 kit of the stunning Pagani Huayra. The Japanese manufacturer is renowned for its attention to detail, and that trait is fully evident on this product (010914). It offers full suspension and steering parts, beautifully crafted seats, a complete engine with more than 30 components and convincing metallic-plated parts. There are also accuratetread rubber tyres, and tape masks for the glazing. It would be a shame not to show off all this gorgeous detail, so Aoshima allows the doors to be posed open, and the engine cover and front body panel are simply sit-in-place items (although it appears these could also be fixed open). Also released by Aoshima are Detail Up Parts (0109021/1800) for the Pagani, which comprise photo-etched metal features such as grille/ radiator mesh, brake disc, and there are metal stickers

and turned-alloy exhaust pipes. Oh, and in case you were wondering, Huayra was a windgod worshipped by the ancient South American Quechua people…who knew? For further details visit: www.aoshima-bk.co.jp/en

THE BEAST OF NOVOSIBIRSK ASK ANY modeller who favours Soviet Cold War types, what the biggest gap in their sector has been, and many will say a decent Yak-28 Firebar…but the wait is over. Bobcat Hobby Model Kits, which appears to be from the same makers as the Xuntong brand, has issued a corking 1/48 kit of the Yak-28P, one of the most aggressive-looking aircraft built by the Soviet Union, under the company project name izdeliye 40 at the Novosibirsk aircraft plant. Bobcat’s product offers much considering the retail price (just US $29.98); highlights include moulded cockpit instrumentation, five-part ejection seats (these just need belts sourcing), delicate

surface engraving, finely rendered exhaust detail, separate flaps and ailerons, and alternative parts (radomes and canopies) to represent early and late airframes. Armament comprises radar and infra-red AA-3 Anab and

AA-2 Atoll missiles…early/ late underwing pylon positions are also accounted for. The decals are rich in hue, and offer Bort numbers for 18 different aircraft, along with stencilling. Bobcat’s kit (48001) is available from: www.luckymodel.com

WORLD WAR TWO COLOURS HIGHLY REGARDED for its maritime enamels, Colourcoats’ range now offers aircraft shades. Managed and distributed by Sovereign Hobbies since 2015, following the closure of White Ensign Models (News, Feb and Mar 2015), the original catalogue has been revamped and revised extensively. There are now more than 240 different shades in the aircraft range, and a recent development has been the release of themed selections,

each catering to a specific camouflage and containing three, six, eight or ten 14ml tinlets. Six sets arrived recently at AMW, covering RAF Day and Temperate, Luftwaffe RLM 65/71/02 and RLM 78/79/80 and US Navy Pacific 1942 and Pacific 1943-1944 schemes. Other than the provision of popular tones in Colourcoats’ fine-pigment paint mixture, which is easy to brush or spray (when thinned), what’s great is everything that's

needed for a specific scheme is presented in a single package. This is more notable with the larger Coloursets, which even address aircraft interiors. www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk

BUMPER BUG PACKAGE KINETIC HAS followed last year’s 1/48 F/A-18C release with a new boxing that provides parts for both singleand two-seat airframes. With kit 48030, one can build the A, B or two-seat CF-188, and the large and well-printed decal sheet carries markings for Canadian, Spanish and Australian Hornets. All the fine moulding of the original Kinetic release is here, and the stores runners are generous too, with 500lb GBU-38 JDAM, CBU-87, GBU-12, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9X Sidewinder and

Sniper/Litening/AAS-38 pods. A photo-etched brass fret provides cockpit, canopy and

external details. The kit is available from www.luckymodel.com

NEWS BULLETIN LATEST UPDATES

{in brief}

RAILWAY DIORAMA EXTRAS

HARDY UNDERCOATS Three different shades of ‘One Shot’ primer have been released by Spain’s AMMO MIG. Issued in black, white and grey, these non-toxic primers are designed to provide excellent coverage in one coat, are watersoluble and come in 60ml bottles. High gripping power is one feature, but they can also be sanded easily and are suitable for use on styrene, resin and photo-etched metal parts. For further details visit: www.migjimenez.com

WHISKERS AND TUSKS Stealing a march on the arrival of Airfix’s new-tool 1/48 Walrus, Xtradecal’s latest sheet supplies eight schemes for Mk.I and Mk.II airframes. There’s a range of differing camouflage, from overall Silver Dope to Extra Dark Sea Grey/Dark Slate Grey/Sky, with varying upper/lower demarcation lines for the latter. The aircraft are: • Mk.I, L2236/G9U, 712 NAS, HMS Cumberland, 2nd Cruiser Sqn, Home Fleet, July 1939 • Mk.I, L2271/34, 712 NAS, HMS Southampton, 2nd Cruiser Sqn, Home Fleet, 1938-39 • Mk.I, W2771/9F, 710 NAS, HMS Albatross, early 1940 • Mk.I, L2177/071, 711 Flt, HMS Sussex, 1st Cruiser Sqn, Mediterranean Fleet, 1938 • Mk.I, L2253/J9G, 714 Flt, HMS Manchester, 4th Cruiser Sqn, China Station, 1939 • Mk.I, W3065/P, HMS Victorious, British Pacific Fleet, Okinawa, Japan, 1945 • Mk.II, HD908/BA-D, 227 Sqn RAF, 1944-45 • Mk.I, W3040/AA5R, 751 Sqn RAF, Dundee, 1944 www.hannants.co.uk

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Airfix Model World

MILITARY MODELLING and railways might not seem likely bedfellows, but recent offerings from Trumpeter, Cyber-hobby and ICM have sparked interest among aftermarket firms. MiniArt’s new 1/35 scale extras include different track lengths and equipment, and the latter are items commonly seen along World War Two-era railways, from replenishment towers to signalling units. Two types of track cater for standard European-gauge sections, either with buffers (35568) or without (35561); Russian-gauge

rails are also available (35565). Each set supplies sufficient sleepers (with tie-points) and rails for at least 13in (342mm) of track, although modellers will need to add aggregate from other sources. To accompany these, MiniArt has released a Semaphore signal (35566), Water Crane (35567) and Power Poles and Lamps (35570). These are faithful replicas of European equipment, and although there is a relatively high parts count, the comprehensive instructions will aid assembly greatly–these would be recommended to

AWESOME MARITIME METAL

A STUNNING NEW 1/350 detail set for the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Shimakaze, in 1944 fit, is now available from Korean aftermarket specialist Infini Model. The hugely involved offering (IM-535004R1), is designed to fit Fujimi’s new-tool kit from 2015 and is being imported to the UK by Scotland’s Sovereign Hobbies. Three large photo-etched (PE) brass frets are supplied, and there are more than 200 individual components on each; a multitude of features for the superstructure, ship’s boats, weaponry and more. The fun doesn’t stop there, though, as turned-brass barrels are provided for all main and defensive

guns (depth charges and torpedoes are in the same medium), along with black Lycra rigging thread and even tiny laser-cut wooden details for the ship’s cutter. A staggering selection of parts for even the greediest detail-hound! Sovereign also has another new set from Infini (IMW-70004R1), this being a smaller affair for Tamiya’s 1/700 USS Iowa…but it’s nonetheless impressive, with ultra-thin wooden decking, a small PE fret carrying mast fittings and radar details, turnedbrass masts and delicate real metal anchor chain. Visit: www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk and www.infini-model.com

modellers of all skill levels. A basic railway diorama is possible with any of these products, but when combined with roadway accessories, such as Concrete Telegraph Poles (35563), the range of scenarios is even greater. Typifying MiniArt’s attention to detail, there is also a full set of maintenance accessories and tools (35572). For more details, see: www.miniart-models.com

FINEST HOUR TONES

THE LATEST Lifecolor box set (CS 35) provides tones for RAF aircraft flown during the Battle of Britain and comprises six 22ml jars of acrylic paint. While modellers looking for a quick match will welcome this set, those wanting truly accurate shades may be confused slightly, as five are matched to US Federal Standard hues, which aren’t exact matches to BS.381 equivalents. Additionally, Light Green and Light Earth do not appear to match hues worn by RAF aircraft during the Battle of Britain, but may be intended to represent Light Slate Grey and Middle or Light Stone respectively (used on Fleet Air Arm and desert camouflaged machines). Visit: www. airbrushes.com

NEWS BULLETIN LATEST UPDATES

ROYAL UPGRADE

MERIT’S 1/350 HMS Ark Royal is an impressive model, but this stunning update set from Tetra Model will elevate it to masterpiece level. Its HMS Ark Royal Detail Up Set (SE-35009) isn’t for the fainthearted, with ten sheets of photoetched (PE) brass, 96 turned brass items, wooden decking, an anchor chain and busy nine-page A3-sized instruction leaflet. No detail appears to have been too small, from anti-aircraft gun ammunition lockers, to stoppers and pad-eyes for the anchor and even drilling templates for the individual rung ladders. The

carrier’s defensive weapons are replaced almost in their entirety, with each octuple pom-pom station comprising more than 50 parts. As a standout, these are the narrow winner, with the intricate interior for the ship’s boats and superb reproduction of the heavy-duty cranes a close second. With complex folds required on many items, and the delicacy of the PE components, this is recommended for experienced maritime modellers… with plenty of time on their hands! Tetra Model Works products are available at: www.tetramodel.com

DIY SCULPTING BALSA-FOAM is an amazing material, developed for sculpting 3D objects and can be worked with a variety of scribers, punches/stamps and knives. It’s available in three densities (5, 10 and 20 PCF), four thicknesses (from 25mm to 6mm) and either 12in (305mm) or 9in (228mm) lengths. Modellers will find the softer 5 and 10 PCF the most useful, with the former particularly suitable for creating damaged/worn brick structures, although it’s also the easiest to damage accidentally (and can even be sculpted with a fingernail), while the latter is ideal for producing buildings. Working Balsa-Foam is generally intuitive, although to reproduce brick/ stone walls one must opt for a thicker sheet than would at first be expected, as all ledges and hollows are carved, rather than adding layers of extra relief. White glue/ PVA is recommended for attaching segments, but should be done after the carving.

One will need to wear a mask when working with this material, as the fine particles (similar in size to those from MDF) can cause irritation if inhaled. Also, metal tools used on this substance may rust if left in prolonged contact. Balsa-Foam is available through craft retailers, via its European distributor Breveco Modelling (www.brevecomodelling. nl) or direct from American Art Clay Co: www.amaco.com

CEMENT-COVERED KITTIES

DRAGON HAS joined the current King Tiger frenzy with two re-workings of its existing moulds. While Takom, Meng, ICM and Zvezda have issued King Tigers recently, Dragon’s examples do make life easier for modellers with their integrally (and beautifully) moulded Zimmerit coatings; Takom’s is the only kit from the others listed to have this anti-mine past moulded in situ. They are also 2-in-1 boxings and the first (6840) offers alternative Henschel turrets, one having full Zimmerit, the other with the plain cut-out on which the badge of s.Pz. Abt.505 (knight on horseback) sat; all three Kompanie colour versions of this artwork are supplied on the decal sheet. Other delights include photo-etched brass details, individual styrene track links and real metal tow cable. The second package (6848), offers

a Porsche-turreted vehicle with Zimmerit, but this option also provides bonus parts for ‘Pilze’ sockets to accommodate the jib boom crane used for lifting engines, final drives and the like. The whole crane is provided, along with PE chain, but as we understand, photographic evidence of these units fitted to Porsche-turreted Tiger IIs is rare. The suggested schemes are for three differently coloured tanks from s.Pz.Abt.503, and another from s.Pz.Abt.(Funklenk)316. Both kits are imported to the UK by The Hobby Company: www.hobbyco.net

COMPACT ILLUMINATION GETTING ENOUGH light onto the modelling bench is a perennial issue, so LightCraft’s neat foldable LED Slim-Line Task Lamp (LC8040LE, available from Shesto) is a winner. Lightweight, with a small surface footprint, it has three brightness levels, determined by pressing the four-step on/off button until the desired illumination is reached. One notable downside is it’s quite easy to knock over accidentally, despite the 3in (75mm) diameter base. It’s mainsfree, and the battery is recharged via a USB connector cable (supplied)…note if connected, the lamp is brighter than when powered by just the internal battery. For more details, see www.shesto.co.uk

www.airfixmodelworld.com 9

SHOW SCENE DIARY DATES

s re

Shropshire Model Show Date:

April 2

Hosts:

Shropshire Scale Modellers

Address: RAF Museum Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8UP

hows on

e lin

Mo

SHOW SCENE

At-a-glance model and airshow calendar

Times:

10am-4pm

Prices:

Free

Email:

[email protected]

Web:

www.shropmodels.org.uk

APR 8

WELLING 2017

APR 8

SCALE MODEL EXHIBITION

APR 23

MODEL KRAFT 2017

APR 29-30

SCOTTISH NATIONAL SCALE MODEL SHOW

Hosts:

Welling Model Club

Hosts:

Hosts:

Falconwood Community Centre, The Green, Welling, Kent, DA1 2PG

Milton Keynes Scale Model Club

Hosts:

Address:

IPMS Dorset and Poole Vikings Model Club

Scottish National Scale Model Show Team

Address:

Parkstone Grammar School, Sopers Lane, Poole, BH17 7EP

Address:

Stantonbury Leisure Centre, Milton Keynes, MK14 6BN

Address:

Dewars Centre, Glover Street, Perth PH2 OTH

Times:

10am-4pm

Times:

Times:

10am-4pm

Prices:

Sat 10am-5pm Sun 10am-4pm

Prices:

Adults £3.50, children £1

Adults £5, seniors £3, children free

Prices:

Email:

[email protected]

Email:

[email protected]

Adult £7 (one day) or £10 (two day), juniors £2 per day

Web:

www.poolevikingsblog. wordpress.com

Web:

www.mksmc.co.uk

Email:

[email protected]

Web:

www.scotnats.org

APR 22-23

MOSON MODEL SHOW

APR 29

PLYMOUTH MODEL SHOW 2017

MODEL CLASSIC 2017

Hosts:

Hosts:

Mosonmagyaróvár Modelling Club

Hosts:

IPMS North Virginia Modellers

Address:

West-Hungarian University, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Science Hall, H-9200 Mosonmagyaróvár Vár 2

Plymouth Scale Modelers Association, Plymouth Model Soldier Society & The Odd Boyz

APR 29

Address:

Address:

Plymouth Guildhall, Plymouth City Council, Plymouth, PL1 2AA

Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA

Times:

9am-4pm

Times:

10am-4pm

Prices:

Adults US $8, under-17s free

Times:

10am-4.30pm

Prices:

Adults £2, juniors and OAPS £1

Email:

josephperera335@yahoo. co.uk

Web:

TBC

APR 8

SWORD AND LANCE 2017

Hosts:

Darlington Military Modelling Society

Address:

Darlington College, Haughton Road, Darlington, DL1 1DR

Times:

9.30am-4.30pm

Prices:

Adults £4 concessions £2

Times:

Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 8am-5pm

Prices:

Adult £4, children & OAPs £2

Prices:

Free

Email:

[email protected]

Email:

Email:

[email protected]

Email:

[email protected]

Web:

tomhenderson51@verizon. net

Web:

www.swordandlance.co.uk

Web:

www.mosonshow.hu

www.plymouthscale modelassociation.co.uk

Web:

www.novaipms

KEY

E MODEL DISPLAY

) MODEL COMPETITION J TRADE STANDS

m

AIRCRAFT DISPLAY

 MILITARY DISPLAY  AUTOMOTIVE DISPLAY



REFRESHMENTS FREE PARKING MAKE AND PAINT

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

29th

30th

2017

INTERMEDIATE BUILD F-4J PHANTOM II

BOSS- BIRD RHINO There is much to love about Zoukei-Mura’s newly tooled 1/48 F-4J Phantom, as Chris Jones discovers

M

 Construction began by fitting the five-piece cockpit tub/nosewheel bay sub-assembly together; note the crisp features on the sidewalls.

The moulded detail on the cockpit parts was phenomenal, although it was necessary to remove the odd support frame beneath the RIO’s radar control stick to ensure a snug fit.

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Airfix Model World

cDonnell Douglas’ legendary Phantom needs little in the way of introduction, and as one of the most widely produced Western fighters, it has been a popular subject with kit manufacturers. Until now there hadn’t been a Zoukei-Mura offering, but its 1/48 F-4J has left quite an impression. The biggest revelation was it didn’t adopt the usual ‘exploded skeleton’ approach to construction, where the intricacies of the internal framework are reproduced. Instead, it came as a conventional model with a sensible number of parts, but packed with incredibly clever and welcome features; the designers made great efforts to ensure joins matched real-life panel lines as far as possible. The upper fuselage came as lengthwise-split halves, but the spine comprised two separate parts, a long insert and the rear canopy fairing. These covered the entirety of the upper fuselage join, apart from a millimetre at the base of the tail fin. The seams

between the lower fuselage/wing and upper fuselage also followed this pattern of clever engineering, as did other items such as intake inserts, so sanding and re-scribing was reduced to an absolute minimum. On top of this, a comprehensive panel line drawing was incorporated as part of the painting/decaling instructions, which provided extra clarity during assembly.

Sublime styrene Detailing on the plastic was excellent, with fine engraving and crisply moulded parts being the order of the day; the heat-resistant panels adjacent to the exhausts were particularly refined. Notably,

INTERMEDIATE BUILD F-4J PHANTOM II

PHABULOUS PHANTOMS

 The jet pipes were one of the few areas of the full-length engines that would be exposed on the final model, which was a shame as the exterior features fine raised relief.

the cockpit was phenomenal and, arguably, made any thought of aftermarket accoutrements quite unnecessary. Perhaps just one area, the wiring behind the radar intercept operator’s (RIO) panel, could have been improved, but as this was partially hidden behind the pilot’s seat and canopy framing, it would probably be a case of extra effort for limited return. Otherwise, the kit ejection seats were quality representations of the real items, with seatbelt harnesses being the only necessary additions (see panel).

As the kit decals supplied just a single option (for the rather overused Bu.No 155800 CunninghamDriscoll MiG killer from VF-96 ‘Fighting Falcons’), it was decided to select an aftermarket product. Furball Aero-Design’s superb Air Wing All-Stars, Phantoms Part One (48-006) was chosen, which supplied a choice of seven F-4J/N Carrier AirGroup (CAG) commander’s airframes: • F-4J 153777, AA/100, VF-74 ‘Be-Devilers’, USS Forrestal, 1974 • F-4J 152882, NG/200, VF-92 ‘Silver Kings’, USS Constellation, 1974 • F-4J 155854, AC/200, VF-103 ‘Sluggers’, USS Saratoga, 1974 • F-4J 157270, NH/200, VF-114 ‘Aardvarks’, USS Kitty Hawk, 1973 • F-4J 155731, AJ/200, VF-142 ‘Ghostriders’, USS America, 1974 • F-4J 155882, NH/100, VF-213 ‘Black Lions’, USS Kitty Hawk, 1974 • F-4N 152323, NK/200, VMFA-531 ‘Grey Ghosts’, USS Coral Sea, 1980 www.furballaero-design.com

Several gaps became apparent during test-fitting of the cockpit floor to the sidewalls and bulkhead, but Milliput (smoothed with damp cotton buds) was a perfect remedy.

 Tamiya’s XF-19 Sky Grey provided a good match to the official FS 36231 Dark Gull Gray tone of the cockpit interior.

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INTERMEDIATE BUILD F-4J PHANTOM II

 Detail painting with a variety of acrylic colours, combined with sanding the raised detail lightly, highlighted the superb effort Zoukei-Mura put into designing the front cockpit.

 The spine inserts were ingenious in their design, as they hid any awkward seams and were simple to attach.

Full-length intake trunking and compressor blade ‘faces’ were supplied, along with two complete J79-GE-10 engines. These were marvellous assemblies, but unfortunately they were hidden inside the fuselage (apart from the jet pipes and a small section viewable through the auxiliary inlets). If they were to be displayed separately, scratch-built plumbing and wiring would really seal the deal. Although a support frame was included, it should be noted the powerplants had to be employed as part of the build, as the nozzle assembly attached directly to the jet pipes (otherwise there was just a gaping chasm). Zoukei-Mura provided a full air-to-air weapons fit, with four AIM-7 Sparrows and four AIM-9D Sidewinders, along with three drop tanks, but US Navy Phantoms rarely used wing tanks so these items weren’t utilised here. The option for extended airbrakes and refuelling probe was also included, although for the sake of convenience and not spoiling the Phantom’s handsome lines, these were kept shut.

Certainly not ‘Double Ugly’ After removing a few ejector pin marks in the cockpit, construction began in earnest. The detail present was stunning, with delicate raised features on the side consoles and comprehensive instrument panels. As the cockpit floor also formed the nosewheel bay roof, these sections were married before the remainder of the ‘office’ was assembled. At this stage, the instrument panels and separate boxes were not attached,

 The kit seats were excellent, and harnesses were the only necessary aftermarket additions. Sadly, clumsy behaviour led to the breaking and replacement of the firing handle assemblies, and at least one of the seatbelts may have ended up in the wrong place!

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Airfix Model World

since painting them individually was easier. Oddly, there seemed to be gaps along the floor/sidewall/ bulkhead seams, so Milliput Super Fine White was applied with a cocktail stick and neatened with brushes and damp cotton buds, while still wet. Once the filler was primed with Tamiya XF-54 Dark Sea Grey, the entire cockpit received XF-19 Sky Grey, before being over-sprayed with Alclad ALC-600 Aqua Gloss to aid the subsequent oil wash. To assist impatient modellers, this was supplied courtesy of AMMO MIG’s A.MIG-1602 Deep Grey Panel Line Wash, which helped to emphasise the lavish surface detail. A degree of caution should always be exercised with pre-mixed washes, as the impulse towards time-saving and convenience can sometimes

INTERMEDIATE BUILD

“THE MOULDED DETAIL ON THE COCKPIT PARTS WAS PHENOMENAL”

MODEL SPEC

F-4J PHANTOM II

McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II By:

Zoukei-Mura

Stock Code:

Super Wing Series 1/48 No.4

Scale:

1/48

Price:

£59.99

Available from: www.tigerhobbies.co.uk

lead to the use of inappropriate hues, but in this instance, it seemed a good shade to represent operational grime. Side consoles were masked and treated with XF-69 NATO Black, before 1,000-grade abrasive paper was used to remove paint from the raised switches; this was a simple and effective way to enhance the detail, without the trauma of painting minute raised knobs and switches. Any operational aircraft will, over time, suffer from scuffing and chipping in areas of wear and tear,

particularly sections such as cockpit floors. To this end, XF-4 Yellow Green chips were applied with a sponge to areas of the greatest foot-fall, to represent exposed primer, before dark and light silver pencils were used to suggest chipping that had worn through to underlying metal. Finally, pastel dust provided dirt on the floor. Test-fitting and references suggested trimming of the RIO’s instrument panel was needed before the cockpit coaming would fit correctly, but this was a fairly quick modification. The coaming itself was not attached until a later point. With the crew area complete, the fuselage was brought together while using the underside fuselage/wing piece as a temporary guide, to ensure a perfect fit later in the build.

 Engines and intake trunking were assembled before the wings could be mated properly to the fuselage; note the upper wing parts were left off until later.

 Superglue (applied at the arrowed locations) held the fuselage sides in place, before Tamiya Extra Thin Cement secured the joins. In conjunction with constant test-fitting of the wing, this prevented any gaps at the root.

Inside the 'Spook' One of the engines was assembled fully and painted before being hidden away in the model. Notably, several seams were in awkward places and their removal (without destroying intricate raised detail) proved challenging. Overall, the powerplants looked good, but sadly any efforts at extra refinement were wasted entirely as the engines must be placed inside the fuselage, www.airfixmodelworld.com 15

INTERMEDIATE BUILD F-4J PHANTOM II

A coat of white, mixed from matt and gloss Tamiya acrylic, started the painting process. These areas would be weathered with oils and post-shading later in the build.

AFTERMARKET ADDITIONS There was minimal need for any extras, and these were limited to just seatbelts and intake covers. The product selected for the former was of the most interest, as having never used these before I was curious to see how they would work.  Despite the kit’s full-length intake trunking, it was decided to add Quickboost’s F-4B/N intake covers (QB48615). These foreign object damage (FOD) guards were excellent, and although designed for Academy’s offerings, they fitted reasonably well.

 Zoukei-Mura’s replica ejection seats were adorned with Eduard’s fabric McDonnell F-4J Phantom Seat Belts (ED49076). Applied with thinned white glue, they were an easy addition…although incredibly delicate.

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Airfix Model World

 A handy tip when using matt acrylics (if airbrushed in light coats), is to remove any of those inevitable rough patches (which occur when applying this type of paint) with a clean sponge.

otherwise there was nothing to support the exhaust nozzles. Before further assembly could take place, various holes had to be drilled in the fuselage/wing lower half; another clever engineering feature was an optional insert for the front Sparrow trenches. If the missiles were fitted, a suitable gap presented itself to enable them to fit snugly; but otherwise, blanks were supplied with which to plug the apertures. This way, full AIM-7s could be assembled and attached, which is not always possible on Phantom models, thanks to the semi-recessed carriage. The mainwheel wells looked superb and were assembled without incident, before the engines were united with the intake trunking (this was left unpainted, as FOD guards would be utilised) and attached to the lower fuselage. Zoukei-Mura suggested mating the upper and lower halves of the wings before attaching the fuselage, but it was decided to deviate from this. Test-fitting indicated the sides of the fuselage would pull inwards slightly at the wing root. To make sure the join was as good as possible, small drops of Superglue were employed

to attach the fuselage sides to the lower wing assembly, before Tamiya Extra Thin Cement secured the remainder. Some F-4Js carried electronic countermeasures fairings on the intake shoulders, and these were included in the kit, along with shallow raised outlines on the fuselage halves to indicate their placement. However, as they were not required on this build, surrounding panel detail was deepened with a scriber, before the offending lines were sanded carefully. At this stage, it was possible to attach the upper wing halves and radome (the latter filled with lead shot to prevent tail-sitting). The next step was to unite all other major airframe components, including the intake inserts, splitter plates, leading-edge slats, aerial fairings, catapult bridle hook mount panels, airbrakes, plus the ingenious spine inserts. Care was needed to ensure a neat join on the upper panel, with Tamiya Extra Thin Cement and tape used in stages to secure it. The pitot tube and horizontal stabiliser feel ram air inlet (both located on the tail leading edge) were removed and replaced later with metal wire, to ease clean-up the fin seam. The fit was generally excellent, and before long a full Phantom airframe sat on the bench. After the cockpit coaming had been attached, it was faired with black Milliput where required, then touched-up with XF-69 NATO Black. The general fit of the airframe was flawless, but Milliput was used in a number of areas to ensure the joins were

INTERMEDIATE BUILD F-4J PHANTOM II

The uppersurfaces on US Navy Phantoms were painted FS 36440 Light Gull Gray; a custom mix of XF-2 White and XF-21 Sky Grey replicated this particular shade.

Grey for a ‘jay’

extra neat, before the canopy was masked, and the joins primed with XF-54 Dark Sea Grey. After minor remedial work, it was time to add paint.

An equal mix of XF-2 Flat and X-2 Gloss White was diluted with cellulose thinner, and layered lightly on the under surfaces and fuselage sides. Tamiya’s whites seem to spray best with this aggressive thinner, but its fumes are pungent, so sensible precautions include wearing a protective filter mask. Although there are a great many paint manufacturers, I have never been able to pull myself away from Tamiya acrylics, despite the need to mix a large range of colours from scratch. Light Gull Gray was therefore produced from an approximately 3:1 concoction of XF-2 White and XF-21 Sky Grey. This was thinned with 99.9%

 The paint finish was then weathered by applying mottled coats of lightened and darkened grey mixes, producing tonal variation to the previously monotone surface.

“THE PAINT FINISH WAS THEN WEATHERED BY APPLYING MOTTLED COATS”

After a gloss coat, the airframe was masked and Alclad metallic tones applied to the aft fuselage, before XF-63 German Grey was sprayed freehand in various thicknesses over the heat-resistant panels; XF-85 Rubber Black finished the scorched-metal effect.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 17

INTERMEDIATE BUILD F-4J PHANTOM II

Alclad’s Dark Aluminium was utilised for different panel tones on the metal sections of the exhaust area and tail.

With all masking and painting completed, an oil wash was applied and the excess removed before it was time for decaling to begin.

 A combination of kit stencils and Furball unit markings were used. Both were of supreme quality, although the black kit stencils were slightly too stark; Xtracolor Matt Varnish muted the airframe before final weathering began.

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Airfix Model World

isopropyl alcohol (IPA), before the lengthy process of spraying the upper colour could begin. Airbrushing IPA is slightly more nuanced than cellulose thinner, but it is cheap to buy in bulk, more forgiving, and exudes lesspungent fumes. The lower grey/white demarcation was created freehand, employing a highly diluted Light Gull Gray mix and an exposed airbrush needle to ensure a neat edge; a thicker solution was used for the remaining areas. Note that when spraying so much matt paint over a large area with curves and recesses, it’s easy for ‘rough’ patches to form where turbulence and/or overspray deposits excess paint (which is semi-dried before it hits the surface of the model). As long as the paint is applied slowly, in thin layers, it’s actually possible to use a clean sponge to remove any rough areas gently…as and when required. However, this is possible with just quick drying matt acrylic paint; a veritable disaster could result with glossier finishes or any enamels, as they would remain damp for longer. Once the uniform base colour had dried, initial weathering began with a lightened grey mix mottled over the entire airframe. Well-thinned paint was vital to ensure soft feathered borders appeared between the tones, and not obvious speckled edges where the paint had failed to atomise fully. Certain Tamiya acrylics can appear ‘chalked’, or much lighter in shade, when sprayed, but a misted over-spray should resolve this. A darkened mix of the original grey was then created with a tiny amount of black and another mottle treatment applied.

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES If Zoukei-Mura’s F-4 has whetted the appetite, AMW’s Scale Modelling special on the Phantom is the perfect guide to achieving the best results. With five build articles, histories, photo-references, colour scheme charts, full kit, decal and accessory listings and Vietnam weapons overview, it’s great value. For more details, visit: www.shop. keypublishing.com

Although this is by no means the first time I’ve mentioned this technique in an article, it really is an effective way to weather a paint scheme, and generate extra visual interest on a finished model. It’s not the only way to weather a build, but it certainly helps. Light, protective layers of ALC-600 Aqua Gloss sealed the weathered finished and prepared the model for masking. The radome, anti-glare

panel and spine required XF-69 NATO Black, while the fin cap was airbrushed with a 10:7 mix of XF-7 Flat Red and X-7 Gloss Red. Discoloration on the radome was replicated by mottle treatments of XF-54 Dark Sea Grey, followed by more NATO Black. Next, the entire airframe was

INTERMEDIATE BUILD F-4J PHANTOM II

given a full gloss coat of Aqua Gloss, built in a series of layers, before the metal tail section was masked and sprayed with ALC-101 Aluminium, and selected panels received ALC-103 Dark Aluminium. The heat resistant panels were sprayed lightly with XF-63 German Grey, then specific sections received XF-85 Rubber Black, sprayed freehand, before heaver vertical streaks were applied. The final effect was quite subtle, but visible on the finished model.

CAG colours Before decaling began, the airframe was treated to an oil wash. The upper surfaces received A.MIG-1600 Light Grey Panel Line Wash, with A.MIG-1501 Grey Filter for White added to the underside.

Once dry, the entire airframe was cleaned comprehensively with kitchen roll and cotton buds. The chosen airframe was a CAG example from VF-213 ‘Black Lions’, courtesy of the company Furball (see panel), alongside the kit stencils/walkways and US ‘star and bar’ insignia from the spares box (this particular machine sported a smaller version of the latter on its upper wing). It was piloted by Captain Foster S ‘Tooter’ Teague, at the time Commander Carrier Air Wing 11, then embarked on USS Kitty Hawk. Teague had previously been involved in a daring rescue of a downed pilot in Hanoi Harbour, and went on to command VF-51 ‘Screaming Eagles’ (during which he claimed a MiG-17 kill); eventually returning to Kitty Hawk as its Commanding Officer in 1980. As all decals were Cartografprinted items, the quality was excellent; the only minor gripe was that the kit stencils appeared quite stark, far more than they were on many real Phantoms. Any decal job on an F-4 is a laborious process, thanks to the seemingly endless tiny stencils, many of which were aimed at stopping personnel from standing on the leading edges of the wings. VF-213’s striking fin flash required stressful trimming before it would fit on the tail properly, but apart from that, decaling was drama-free. The kit supplied walkways were particularly good and required just a tiny amount

 Black/grey oil paint was brushed and dotted onto the airframe and dragged back with cotton buds (moistened with white spirit), to represent the staining seen on real Phantoms.

 The underside of the Phantom rapidly became grubby, due to oil and hydraulic fluid seepage and leaks. Good references were essential to achieve a realistic appearance, but the effort and result was well worth it.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 19

INTERMEDIATE BUILD F-4J PHANTOM II

“THIS WAS A HIGH-QUALITY KIT...”

All panel lines were post-shaded with a highly diluted mixture of 2:1 Tamiya Flat Black/Red- Brown.

of encouragement to adhere to the awkward curve at the intake/ splitter plate juncture. Once the decals had dried, they were sealed with Aqua Gloss.

A grimy flying brick

 Not being happy with the initial result, walkways were mottled further with a Flat Black/ Red Brown mix; this was also applied to various areas of the airframe and metallic parts.

 The kit armament looked excellent, although I do find that any attempt to prepare/ assemble/paint/decal/varnish such weaponry is incredibly time-consuming, especially when there are so many missiles involved!

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Airfix Model World

Final assembly was a joy; virtually everything fitted without a hitch. There are kits that require surgery to get gear legs, doors and smaller parts secured, but not here. Xtracolor XDFF Flat Varnish was applied in multiple light coats, before a highly thinned 2:1 mix of XF-1 Flat Black and XF-64 Red Brown was used to build a sense of accumulated grime in panel lines. It’s important not to overdo this effect, but when used subtly it can really enhance the final look of a model. Various mottles of XF-54 Dark Sea Grey, XF-19 Sky Grey and the black-red/brown mix were also used to weather the walkways. Phantoms can exhibit considerable staining on the undersides, and a wonderful photo of an RAF F-4J’s lower surfaces provided excellent reference material. Dark grey oil colour was mixed, then applied as small brushed streaks and small dots behind relevant panel lines, before being dragged rearwards with white spirit-moistened cotton buds. The same solution was also used to add muck to the undersides, via small oil dots blended with more white spirit. Although the underlying matt coat was enamelbased, XDFF Flat Varnish was quite resilient to this type of abuse once dry, but be careful not to take liberties. After all the remaining small/vulnerable parts had been

attached, highly thinned XF-21 Sky Grey was applied to represent anti-corrosion touch-ups. Red was hand-brushed on the unit markings for a similar effect, before a final treatment of black/red-brown on various white areas, the walkways (again) and metal areas brought the build to a close.

Phantom phinale This was a high-quality kit that captured the essence of the Phantom perfectly. The shape is accurate, cockpit and surface detail is excellent and it’s engineered cleverly to simplify the building process. It’s also marvellous to see Zoukei-Mura using its high standards on a more conventional kit, as not all of us want to spend a lifetime building ❚ internal framework!

REFERENCES McDonnell F-4 Phantom: Spirit in the Skies, by John Lake (Aerospace/ Airtime), ISBN: 978-1-88058-831-4 Uncovering the US Navy Q/F-4B/J/N/S Phantom, by Danny Coremans (DACO), ISBN: 978-90-806747-9-0 USN Phantoms in Combat, by Lou Drendel (Squadron/Signal), ISBN: 978-0-89747-213-5 F-4 Phantoms: US Navy and Marine Corps Gray Ghosts, by Peter E Davies (Schiffer), ISBN: 978-0-76431-021-8

COMPETITION MISSION MODELS

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irfix Model World has joined forces with Mission Models to offer readers the chance of winning MMP paint. Mission Models has been fastidious with the development of this new product and the range includes primers, metallics and weathering shades. Proprietary thinner is also available, along with polyurethane additive to retard drying time. There are 50-plus shades for military and civilian vehicles, but aircraft colours will be available soon. These paints can be obtained in the USA from Mission Models (www.missionmodelsus. com), while in the UK, they are imported by Tiger Hobbies: www.tigerhobbies.co.uk

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e-mail your details to [email protected] with ‘AMW April Mission Models competition’ in the subject field.

Winners will be drawn out of the hat at random and announced in a future issue of Airfix Model World. Closing date for entries is Tuesday 18 April, 2017 at 12:00 GMT and winners will be notified no later than Tuesday 25 April, 2017. There is no cash prize alternative and the Editor’s decision is final. On occasions Key Publishing and Mission Models may make offers on products or services that we believe to be of interest to our customers. If you do not wish to receive this information, please state NO INFORMATION clearly on your entry. No purchase necessary.

Didn’t win or want to know more? Visit: www.missionmodelsus.com 22

Airfix Model World

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INTERMEDIATE BUILD HANSA-BRANDENBURG W.12

Wingnut Wings’ magnificent Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 provides Eric Larson with a sublime build experience

D

esigned by Ernst Heinkel, the HansaBrandenburg W.12 became one of World War One Germany’s more successful seaplane fighters.

As illustrated in the kit’s stunning box art, W.12s were tasked with hunting British flying boats, such as the Felixstowe, which in turn attacked German U-boats in the North Sea. Representing the

 Numerous moulding lugs and runners, marked in black on the left-hand piece, required removal from the delicate cockpit side frames.  Interior components were painted and ready to receive their oil colour treatments, for woodgrain and leather simulation.

24

Airfix Model World

earlier short-fuselage version, Wingnut Wings’ (WNW) kit comprised one clear and nine grey styrene runners, as well as a small photo-etched (PE) fret. Two large decal sheets, printed by Cartograf,

provided markings and stencils for five schemes on one sheet and pre-cut hexagonal lozenge on the other. The 26-page instruction booklet was WNW’s usual superb combination of full-colour assembly diagrams, and numerous reference photos.

First things first Instead of a kit scheme, Ltn Becht’s ‘1414’ from Pheon Decals’ aftermarket Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 set was chosen for this model. Research revealed two unique features on this aircraft; a wing-mounted airspeed indicator

INTERMEDIATE BUILD HANSA-BRANDENBURG W.12

 Areas of the fuselage interior above the wood sections were painted Mr. Color MC 69 Off White. The upper engine compartment sections would eventually receive Alclad Aluminum.

 Minor variations of the final wood tones, provided by different base colours, are evident on the completed components.

MODEL SPEC

and enlarged pilot entry doors. Notes in Pheon’s documentation stated the latter was likely a field modification made after Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 (Early) By:

Wingnut Wings

Stock Code:

32036

Scale:

1/32

Price:

US $129

Available from: www.wetaworkshop.com

the aircraft’s delivery, so initially the standard doors would have been in place. It was thus decided to use the kit doors as provided and finish the aircraft as it may have appeared early in its career; therefore, weathering was kept to a minimum and the floats and their struts painted grey. Eventually 1414’s floats received black tar-based waterproofing, but retained the lozenge camouflage. Prepping the interior to receive its woodgrain finish came next. Care was required when cleaning the moulding lugs and runners from the delicate side frames (parts A13, A22), including careful study of the diagrams to ensure just those artefacts were removed. Four colours – Tamiya XF-57 Buff, XF-59 Desert Yellow, XF-60 Dark

 Drilling holes behind the integrally moulded pulleys allowed the rudder control cables to pass around them.

 The control wheel featured PE details and was rigged prior to installation. Holes were drilled in the control horns, through which the lines were looped and secured with brass tube sleeves and CA glue.

 Oil paints dabbed with foam rubber (over Tamiya XF-64 Red-Brown base) replicated a realistic worn leather look on the seats.

“The control wheel featured PE details” www.airfixmodelworld.com 25

INTERMEDIATE BUILD HANSA-BRANDENBURG W.12

Sophisticated seatbelts HGW Models’ brilliant microtextile seatbelts replaced the kit’s simplistic PE items. Complete instructions were found on HGW’s website and all steps were followed to achieve the proper appearance.

 Contrast between the simple kit PE belt (left) with the HGW replacement is striking. Cyanoacrylate glue was used to assemble the various pieces.  The four completed HGW seatbelts ready for installation; the final step was a thin black-brown oil paint wash, which highlighted the stitch detail.

 Besides the textile belts, buckles and other accessories were provided on a PE fret made by Eduard. Note the separated belt part next to its disposable paper backing (white, with red stripe).  An interesting step was to roll and knead each belt part between one’s fingers to increase the components’ flexibility. Thank you HGW for providing the seatbelts and masking set used on this model. www.hgwmodels.cz

Yellow, and XF-78 Wood Deck Tan – were airbrushed randomly on the cockpit parts and appropriate areas of the fuselage inner surfaces, which gave subtle tonal variation to the finished wood.

Following 24 hours’ drying, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber and Burnt Sienna oil paints were brushed on the cockpit components, then wiped with small foam rubber pieces, to provide the desired

“Strip styrene was used for the ignition wire trays” 26

Airfix Model World

grain effect. Drying time for the oil paints was reduced by adding a drop of Naphtha (Zippo lighter fluid) to the paint, although two days passed before the parts could be handled safely. A 50:50

mix of Tamiya Clear Orange and Clear Yellow, sprayed lightly over the dried wood areas, sealed the oils and provided a varnished appearance. Pilot and observer seats received a base coat of XF-64 Red Brown followed by Raw and Burnt Sienna oils dabbed on with foam rubber, followed by drybrushed Yellow Ochre for a lightly worn leather look. Metal components, such as the fuel and oil tanks, were painted XF-22 RLM Grey lightened 2:1 with XF-2 Flat White, while details were picked out with Vallejo and craft acrylics. The fuel tank pressurising pump (A6) and tank caps received Mr. Metal Color (MMC) 219 Brass, chosen for its fine pigment grain. Rather than the ubiquitous XF-22 as indicated, XF-63 German Grey was used for the observer’s map case. All parts then got a light coat of X-22 Gloss Clear, after which black-brown oil wash highlighted details and provided staining around the fuel and oil tanks. Data placard and gauge dial decals on the throttle and fuel tank were also applied. To facilitate installation of the control wires, holes were drilled in the control column horns and behind the small pulley on each side frame with a #80 bit; 0.15mm monofilament fishing line painted MMC 213 Stainless was used for the wires. Once all controls were in place, the rudder wires were passed around the pulleys and, with those from the control column, were threaded through

INTERMEDIATE BUILD HANSA-BRANDENBURG W.12  The well-appointed instrument panel utilised decals for the dial faces. Two scratch-built fuel selector switches were the only added details.

the appropriate bulkhead holes, pulled tight gently and secured behind the aft bulkhead with cyanoacrylate (CA) glue. Supports for the observer’s table and seat were fashioned from stiff 0.15mm wire. Attention then turned to the instrument panel which, having earlier received woodgrain

treatment, had its bezels and other details (front and back), picked out with aluminium, black, and brass paints. Individual dial face decals were applied and sealed with Johnson’s Klear. Lastly, two fuel selector switches made from thin styrene rod and flattened 0.20mm copper wire were added. The completed panel was attached to the engine bearer and fixed to the interior sub-assembly. As one of the kit schemes sported a pair of forward-firing Spandaus, instead of the usual single gun, the magazine (A32) was moulded with two ammo boxes…so the extra box was removed with a razor saw. The magazine was sprayed Alclad Aluminium and installed as indicated. Interior work was completed with the addition of HGW Models’ seatbelts (used in lieu of the kit’s PE units see panel), two spare Parabellum magazines in the aft cockpit, and a small map decal on the observer’s table.

cylinders, Alclad Aluminium for the sump and crank case, and Humbrol Polished Steel for the valve lifters. Locating holes for the lifter rods were drilled in the crank case with a #77 bit, and lifter rods were cut from 0.4mm wire, painted MMC Stainless, and duly installed. Ignition wire channels were then formed from 20 x 60-thou (0.5 x 1.5mm) Evergreen strip, while

Building a Benz Next came the assembly of the exquisite Benz Bz.III engine, which was a model in its own right. Half sections comprised the cylinder row, with part E4 featuring moulded-in valve lifter rods, which an experienced modeller might immediately want to remove and replace with wire. Fortunately, an alternative component (E7), without lifter rods, is provided though for some reason the instructions show it as not for use. Here, paints included MC 92 Semi-Gloss black for the

 Displayed below the crankcase are the alternate cylinder halves, with and without moulded lifter rods. The latter allowed more realistic rods (cut from wire) to be added.

Many interesting details found in the interior sub-assembly would prove to be difficult, if not impossible, to see once the model was completed. Note the starboard rudder cable passing behind the drilled pulley.

 Strip styrene was used for the ignition wire trays; the wires themselves would be added later. www.airfixmodelworld.com 27

INTERMEDIATE BUILD HANSA-BRANDENBURG W.12

Valve lifter rods were cut from stiff 0.4mm bronze wire, measured to fit between holes drilled in the crankcase and lifters. Note the ignition wires attached to the spark plugs and magneto.

the wires themselves were 0.2mm copper wire painted light tan. Attaching the ignition harnesses was saved until the engine was nearly completed, as they were knocked loose easily during handling. Throttle linkages were added to the engine’s left side (from wire and bits of scrap PE), though this additional work was barely visible on the completed model. Other engine accessories, such as the water pump and oil filter, were attached and painted silver or brass as indicated. Data placard decals were applied prior to weathering with AMMO MIG Engine Fuel and Oil stains and a dark brown oil wash.

Closing time

 The completed engine featured a scratch-built throttle linkage made from wire and PE scraps. Unfortunately, once enclosed in the fuselage this detail was effectively hidden.

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Prior to assembling the fuselage halves, their interior surfaces were masked and the exterior painted Mr. Color 335 Medium Sea Grey, the paint chosen to represent the grey-blue fuselage sides. The completed engine was attached to the engine bearers after which the inner structure was installed in the left fuselage half. Tolerances between the interior and fuselage halves were tight, so it was vital to remove paint buildup from contact points before joining the fuselage halves. Once together, clamps secured the

fuselage while the cement cured. Shortly afterward, clumsy handling caused the engine to pop loose but though damage was minimal, it was decided to reinstall it later in the build. This also necessitated postponement of attaching the radiator and Spandau machine gun, which was just as well as they would have been vulnerable to breakage. Skipping ahead several steps, the observer and pilot transparencies were installed in the fuselage underside and the one-piece horizontal tailplane attached. Gaps between the latter and fuselage underside were filled with CA glue and smoothed, with care taken to not damage the raised reinforcing plates. The tailplane also had shallow sink marks across its upper surface, which were filled with Mr. Surfacer 1000 and sanded level. Other fuselage seams were neatened and the previously applied paint repaired. The sides and belly transparencies were then masked and the fuselage and tailplane undersides sprayed XF-19 Sky Grey. Alclad Aqua Gloss Clear (ALC-600) was then applied in preparation for the fuselage decals. The striped fuselage sash and numbers came from Pheon’s set, while other markings were kit supplied. Challenges encountered while applying large decals, such as sashes and lozenge sections, included dealing with trapped air bubbles...and getting them to conform to uneven surfaces. Micro Set was applied liberally to the surface before sliding the decal

INTERMEDIATE BUILD HANSA-BRANDENBURG W.12

Marking alternatives

 Masking the fuselage interior and painting the exterior prior to assembly simplified later masking efforts, reduced the risk of overspray on exposed details, and required just minor touch-ups along final joins.  To provide secure attachments, the control surfaces were drilled and pinned with 0.3mm wire, which fitted into corresponding holes drilled into the wing and tail.

Pheon Decals has cornered the aftermarket for World War One aircraft decals in various scales, and modellers who desire alternative markings for many Wingnut Wings kits need look no further. The scheme chosen for this build came from Pheon’s Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 (Early) set 32056, which featured three options: • 1183, Oblt z Friedrich Christian Christiansen, Zeebrugge, December 1917 • 1409, crew names unknown, Zeebrugge, late 1917/early 1918 • 1414, Ltn Becht, Zeebrugge, early 1918 Only those markings unique to the specific schemes were provided. Lozenge, national markings, and common data stencil decals were sourced from the kit decals. Thanks go to Pheon for providing the decals used on this model. www.pheondecals.com

into place. Gentle rubbing with a damp fingertip or cotton bud removed any bubbles, followed by careful application of heat with a hair dryer, which softened the decals and helped them settle. Micro Sol was then brushed carefully over the decals, resulting in a painted-on appearance

when fully dry. Another coat of Aqua Gloss sealed the decals, after which light weathering was performed via dark brown oil wash around the engine area, and AK Interactive Streaking Grime on the fuselage sides. Finally, Alclad Klear Kote Matte provided the desired dull finish.

Merrily we float along Next, the floats were built and painted Medium Seagray with XF-19 Sea Grey undersides. Light weathering followed, through oil washes and AK’s Streaking Grime. Prior to applying the top lozenge decals (see panel) various fittings were painted XF-22 RLM

Grey. The floats and associated struts were then assembled and rigged with Bob’s Buckles eyelets, 2lb Maxima Chameleon fishing line, and 0.5mm brass tubing for the turnbuckle bodies. To ensure proper tension, the rigging lines were not tightened until the entire airframe was completed. The

“control surfaces were drilled and pinned” www.airfixmodelworld.com 29

INTERMEDIATE BUILD HANSA-BRANDENBURG W.12

“fishing line was used for the float and wing rigging”

 Simulating the clear doped linen undersides on the wings and control was tedious, but worth the effort. These photos of the lower wings illustrate the steps described in the article.

float assembly was then attached to the fuselage with the strut ends fitting securely into the corresponding fuselage slots. Wings and control surfaces were tackled next and all but the rudder featured lozenge camouflage on the upper surfaces and clear doped linen (CDL) undersides; the rudder was painted the same colour as the fuselage sides. The three-piece upper wing was assembled with the large cut-out centre section (part 14) as indicated in Pheon’s documentation. Seams between the wing sections were filled and neatened with CA, followed by an overall coat of Alclad White Primer. The CDL surfaces initially received MC 318 Radome and were allowed to dry thoroughly. Shading lines were drawn on either side of each rib with a soft (4B) lead pencil then feathered by rubbing gently with a finger or cotton bud. Light coats of Radome where then airbrushed over each rib to blend the shading

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with the surrounding paint. Next, the areas between the ribs were masked and the ribs painted MC 69 Off White, after which the masking was removed and the entire surface airbrushed with thin coats of Radome lightened 50:50 with Off White to complete the CDL effect. Application of the top-side lozenge decal sections,

 The painted and decaled rudder’s ribs were masked then over-sprayed lightly with Tamiya Smoke. Here’s the finished rudder, complete with control wires, ready to join the fuselage.

INTERMEDIATE BUILD HANSA-BRANDENBURG W.12

using the steps described earlier, went without a hitch. The upper wing centre section was printed to fit the smaller cut-out so the excess material was trimmed with a razor blade after application, and minor damage treated via colour-matched paints (see panel). Once dry, the decals were sealed with Aqua Gloss then each rib was masked with 1mm Tamiya tape strips, after which Tamiya X-19 Smoke was airbrushed over each rib to provide a shading effect. Multiple light passes prevented rapid build-up of the Smoke, with a section of rib tape lifted carefully between passes to check the contrast. Once the desired look was achieved, the tape strips were removed and the entire surface airbrushed Alclad Klear Kote Matte. Walkways and access panels on the wings’ undersides were painted lightened XF-19.

Tying loose ends The lower wings were attached to the fuselage, followed by the outer float struts, which ensured proper alignment and a sturdy structure. It was then deemed safe to reinstall the engine and attach other items, which could have easily been damaged or

lost during handling, such as the elevator, windscreen, foot steps, and the Spandau gun. For the latter, as well as the observer’s Parabellum, the version that used the PE cooling jacket was chosen. The radiator cowling, which required the engine to be in place first, was also installed. For visual interest the radiator pipe and hose connections were painted Alclad Copper and Vallejo Dark Rubber, instead of the indicated grey. Cooling grilles were painted Floquil Weathered Black and rubbed with Uschi van der Rosten Metal Polishing Powder Steel. Prior to attaching the upper wing, the struts were rigged loosely with Chameleon line and brass tubing turnbuckles and placed in the lower wing locator holes. The upper wing was then put in position and once all struts and supports were in place, liquid cement was applied to all contact points. Berna clamps secured the wing while the cement cured, after which the wing and float rigging lines were tightened. The brass turnbuckle bodies were painted Vallejo Air Metal Steel, but the lines were left unpainted as the Chameleon line’s brown tint gave a pleasing scale appearance.

 The completed lower wings’ upper surface show the subtle depth added by masking and overspraying the ribs with Tamiya Smoke. Also visible are the wing-mounted compass and walkways.

 The completed upper wing is ready to join the rest of the airframe.

 Details of the port aileron’s underside control horn and line are seen here. The line was looped through a hole drilled in the horn, and tightened after the other end was

 2lb breaking-strain Maxima fishing line was used for the float and wing rigging. The line’s attractive dark brown colour made painting it unnecessary.

Paint match perfection Heavy surface detail made application of the float’s lozenge decals challenging, and was not achieved without damage to the markings. Attempts to effect repairs with spare lozenge cells or mixed paints were unacceptable, but as despair set in, it was remembered that some household paint stores offer computerised colour-matching services. Conveniently, solid sections of the five lozenge colours included on the decal sheet met the minimum size requirement to get a good match. A trip to the local Lowe’s home improvement store resulted in five 7.5oz (221ml) jars of satinfinish latex paints that were spot-on matches.

The extent of the lozenge damage is obvious, much of which was caused by slicing the decals next to prominent ridges.  Thinned to three parts paint/one part distilled water and Liquitex Flow-Aid, the latex colours brushed easily and dried to a smooth finish. Subsequent clear coats and weathering washes blended the touched-up areas with the surrounding decal.

 Even when cut in three sections as indicated, getting the decals to conform to the float tops proved difficult.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 31

INTERMEDIATE BUILD HANSA-BRANDENBURG W.12

“The exhaust was painted Alclad Steel and Burnt Iron”

Accessories & References

 Both machine guns made use of kit-supplied PE cooling jackets. Seen here is the finished Spandau with a spare PE jacket…and the brass rod around which the item used was shaped.

The laminated propeller was painted XF-60 Dark Yellow, then masked with thin Tamiya tape strips prior to applying the XF-64 Red Brown.

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The propeller was first painted XF-60 Dark Yellow then masked, and dark laminations were added via XF-64 Red-Brown. Van Dyke Brown oils provided the wood grain, followed by Clear Orange/ Yellow varnish. The tips were masked and sprayed MCC Brass, before stencil and logo decals were applied. The ‘1414’ tip number was fashioned from two kit decals and finally, the hub was painted Humbrol Polished Steel and highlighted with black-brown oil wash. Photos of 1414 revealed a winddriven airspeed indicator on the lower starboard wing, which was possibly a field modification as they weren’t usually seen on W.12s. This unique detail was represented by one of GasPatch Models’ superb resin replicas. Rather than paint the beaching trollies and support trestles a monotonous grey as directed, the trestles received a dark finish while the dollies, the wheels of which echoed those of a medieval ox cart, were a combination of lightened XF-22 RLM Grey for the

Gas Patch Models (www.gaspatchmodels.com) 13-32013: German WWI Airspeed Indicator 1/32 HGW Models (www.hgwmodels.cz) 132558: 1/32 Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 Seatbelts Pheon Decals (www.pheondecals.com) 32056: 1/32 Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 (Early) Bob’s Buckles (www.bobsbuckles.co.uk) 1/32 Turnbuckle Eyelets Zoukei-Mura (www.zoukeimura.co.jp) SWOP Diorama Base 06 Shrike Perches - Luftwaffe Hard Stand SWOP 1/32 Hobby Base Paulownia Weathered Wood Effects – Painting a Crate www.plasticmodelsworld.com/ node/1489. German Seaplane Fighters of WWI by Jack Herris (Aeronaut Books), ISBN: 978-1-935881-09-4 Brandenburg W 12 – Windsock Datafile 61 by P M Grosz (Albatros Productions), ISBN: 0-948414-93-6

metal frame supported by wellweathered wood wheels and iron rims. All wood surfaces received an XF-64 Red Brown base coat, with Van Dyke Brown oil paint used for the trestle’s wood grain. The wheels were finished with Vallejo acrylics as described in a video on the Plastic Models World website about painting and weathering a crate. The process started with Light Mud then moved through a series of dark washes (thinned Burnt Umber and German BlackBrown), highlights with lighter colours (Iraq Sand and Pale Sand) and final blending and staining with thinned Smoke. Next, the wheels were masked and the rims airbrushed MMC 212 Iron. Finally, the wheel hubs received Humbrol Metalcote Polished Steel and nail heads on the wheels and trestles were accentuated with MCC Brass.

Sensational Seaplane As those who have built one know, there’s something special about Wingnut Wings kits. Interesting subjects, exceptional engineering, and attention to detail (combined with the mystique of World War One aviation) make for a unique modelling experience. The W.12 is no exception and, despite the challenges of the large lozenge decals, the limited rigging makes it an attractive choice for novice Great War modellers. ❚

 The exhaust was painted Alclad Steel and Burnt Iron, with rust effects via AMMO MIG washes and pigments. Note the airspeed indicator dial and how the cowling hides much of the engine’s port side.

 The observer’s Parabellum gun, echoing the Spandau, was painted satin black then rubbed gently with graphite powder. The barrel brace was added from thin brass wire.

 The sturdy beaching dolly wheels looked the part with their weatherbeaten wood effect.

 The attractive pre-painted Zoukei-Mura resin base was described as a WWII Luftwaffe Hard Stand but the weathered wood plank surface made an appropriate display for the W.12. The resin unit was mounted in a separate wood base, also from Zoukei-Mura.

OUT AND ABOUT NUREMBERG TOY FAIR 2017

 Wingnut Wings made its debut at Nuremberg, and the test-shot of the firm’s forthcoming 1/32 Jeannin Stahltaube was highly impressive.

Something Old, Something New…

T

his year’s Nuremberg was a real mixed bag – with interesting new tooling and surprising re-releases. Arguably, the most notable exhibitor was Wingnut Wings, making its debut in Germany and with a stunning new kit; the 1/32 wing-warping Jeannin Stahltaube (from 1914) is being developed at present, but the test-shot displayed

what is Wingnut’s finest moulding to date. The outer wing trailing edges were so impressively fine, they were flexible! It’s going to be a pleasing year for Great War fans, as besides this forthcoming gem, Wingnut’s Sopwith Camel should be available as these words are read…and the firm’s Fokker D.VII moulding is also due for re-release, with different markings.

 Having already released a splendid 1/72 legacy Hornet some years ago, Academy will now offer a twin-seat Super Hornet in the same scale.

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Home soil designs Revell’s enclosure was packed with products, and Luftwaffe fans will rejoice at the news of a 1/32 Junkers Ju 88A-4, while those who favour fast jets can look forward to a 1/48 Tornado F.3 (a reworking of its ground-attack ‘Tonka’), and 1/32 F/A-18E Super Hornet. The most notable project, though, is the company’s new 1/48 Bristol

 Vladimir Paredes, of AMMO MIG, shows off the company’s first own-branded kit; Takom’s 1/35 King Tiger but with new parts for a March 1945 machine, and night fighting gear for a cool ‘what-if’ build.

Beaufighter Mk.X, but other highlights include newly tooled Spitfire Mk.IX, P-51D Mustang and Fw 190A-8 night fighter kits, all to 1/32 scale. Totally fresh 1/24 Porsche 934 RSR racer kits will come in Jägermeister and Vaillant liveries, and there’s an all-new 1/24 Porsche Junior 108 tractor for those interested in agricultural vehicles. And maritime enthusiasts will have a comprehensive option in Revell’s re-released Fletcher-class Destroyer from 2009, as it’s now afforded Platinum Edition status, with photo-etched (PE) brass details, turned-brass gun barrels and wooden deck. Japan’s Hasegawa always comes up with a worthy new tooling or two, and this year is no exception, due to a 1/350 IJN Junyo aircraft carrier (with separately available PE details and styrene aircraft), a 1/72 Kawanishi H8K2 Type 2

 New from IBG is this 1/35 Scammell Pioneer, but a host of other kits will include 1/72 Japanese Type 89 and 94 tanks, and a 1/35 Chevrolet C60S with Holmes breakdown arm.

OUT AND ABOUT NUREMBERG TOY FAIR 2017

 Heller weathered a company buy-out last year, but has bounced back in style... particularly with a new 1/24 Ferguson tractor.

 Amusing Hobby continues to select fascinating war machines to kit, such as this splendid 1/35 Rheintochter R1…a subject previously only available in resin.

(Emily) flying boat and 1/24 Suzuki Jimny 4x4. That other Japanese legend, Tamiya, celebrated 50 years of exhibiting at Nuremberg by displaying its forthcoming, allnew 1/48 Kawasaki Ki-61-Id Hien and Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate. Military modellers will no doubt be pleased with debuting 1/35 Mk.III Valentine Mk.II/IV and Crusader Mk.III tanks, while the 1/48 armour

tooled Ferguson ‘Petit Gris’ tractor in 1/24 scale, along with re-releases including the 1/200 Royal Louis and 1/150 La Grande Hermine sailing ships…out of production for some 15 years. Aircraft re-issues include the 1/72 E-3B AWACS, SAAB Tunnan and Bloch 174. Italeri, continues with its largescale aircraft by offering 1/32 TF-104 Starfighter and Lockheed F-35A Lightning II kits…and the

range expands with Elefant and Sturmtiger kits, with Zimmerit decals also being available. New from Academy this year is a 1/72 F/A-18F Super Hornet and 1/700 USS Missouri BB-63 battleship, among several re-released items.

French fancies Heller marked 60 years in the business and 2017 brings a newly

built test-shot of the latter was resplendent in a patchy primer scheme. Another item in the preview sheet is a 1/32 Tornado GR.4, but at the time of writing, it’s unconfirmed whether it’s a re-decaled Revell tooling or totally new. Also advertised was the 1/48 H-21C Flying Banana, in 1/12 scale the Fiat 500 F and a 1/24 Scania S730 Highline 4x2 truck. The 1/35 German Schnellboot is

 Tamiya’s new-tool 1/48 Elefant and Sturmtiger kits will be accompanied by separate textured Zimmerit decals.

 A subject to excite maritime modellers is Aoshima’s 1/700 IJN Yamato, in full-hull format. The firm will also release new 1/24 Lamborghini Diablo GTR and Aventador SV kits.

 Fans of larger scales will undoubtedly be gagging to get their hands on Italeri’s forthcoming 1/32 Lightning II. It looks splendid here, in factory primer.

 Many expected Revell to produce a Tornado F.3, after already giving us ground-attack ‘Tonkas’…and here it is, resplendent in 111 Squadron markings. www.airfixmodelworld.com 35

OUT AND ABOUT NUREMBERG TOY FAIR 2017

 ICM has re-worked its 1/35 French Panhard armoured car into a German railway example, complete with scale track/sleeper section.

 Always surprising with its new tooling, Hasegawa will offer a new 1/72 Kawanishi H8K2 Type 2 flying boat…and the detail looks enviable.

re-worked to represent S-38. Trumpeter has also been busy developing new kits and on show were built test-shots of the Soviet 2k11 Krug (SA-4 Ganef) surfaceto-air missile system and SA-10 Grumble mobile launcher. Most imposing was the forthcoming 1/24 Ju 87A Stuka, and sister firm Hobby Boss also has exciting releases due, such as a 1/35 M35 Mittlere Panzerwagen (ADGZSteyr) and 1/350 French Navy PreDreadnought Battleship Condorcet. This year, Ukraine’s MiniArt will

offer other versions of its 1/35 Soviet SU-85, SU-122 and T-54 family kits, along with new figure sets, two boxings of the Panzer III Ausf.B/D and a delightful samescale German Light Fire Truck LF 8. Not to be outdone, ICM is entering the 1/48 military arena with Sd.Kfz.223, 260 and 261 armoured radio cars, and 1/35 highlights include a full interior version of its King Tiger late production, an allnew Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.A half-track, and a reworking of its Panhard armoured car into a German

 Military hardware has seldom looked more menacing than the Soviet tracked SA-4 Ganef missile system…kitted for 2017 by Trumpeter as this test-shot demonstrates.

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The Czech effect Eduard has a busy year planned, as it prepares a newly tooled 1/48 SE.5a, which will offer Hispano-Suiza and Wolsley Viper engines (there will also be a Royal Class package). Later in the year, there’s a new-tool 1/72 MiG-21MF, further quarter-scale Bf 109 variants (G-2/4/10), and Fw 190 fans can expect 1/48 A-3 and A-4 sub-types… and these are completely new tools as Eduard decided the original 190 moulds were at the end of their lives. The detail on the new kits will be improved, although no engines or gun bays will feature as offered on the older kits. There will also be a new-tool 1/48 Tempest Mk.V (and Mk.II/VI boxings in conjunction with Special Hobby). Limited Edition packages will mean Hasegawa toolings will be matched with Eduard aftermarket, and these include the 1/48 Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib Car Door, 1/32 P-40N, 1/48 F-8E Crusader, and two boxings of the 1/72 Liberator in Coastal Command schemes. The hugely popular special boxing of Zvezda’s 1/72 Mi-24 Hind will also be re-released.

Panzerspähwagen P 204 (f) railway vehicle, complete with track base. There’s also a KHD S3000/SS M Maultier and Typ L3000S in 1/35, and 1/700 Großer Kurfürst/König (full hull and waterline) ships, while the most surprising release is a 1/32 Polikarpov I-16.

Nostalgic plastic ARK Models will please no end of modellers as it’s bought the original FROG/NOVO moulds, and will be repackaging them with the same period artwork, but also with

new decals and the ARK logo on the box. Its own new items, though, include a 1/400 Russian Aurora cruiser (with extra conversion parts), 1/48 Yak-52/54 and Yak-130, and a 1/72 Il-2 Sturmovik. It’s been impossible to write about every new release here, but rest assured, AMW will feature many as in-box reviews and full builds in the coming months. Watch this space! ❚ Chris Clifford

VIEW MORE ONLINE www.airfixmodelworld.com

 Modellers who favour Japanese World War Two subjects should love Tamiya’s forthcoming Ki-61, which has one fuselage half supplied in clear plastic.

TIGER HOBBIES LTD. HOBBY IMPORTERS AND WHOLESALERS

Tiger Hobbies Limited supply a number of Plastic kits brands including: • Meng Models Eduard • Italeri • Dragon • Zvezda • Revell • Hobbyboss • Hasegawa • Meobius• MPC and many others. We are also the UK Importers of Rye Field Models 1/35 Military Vehicle Kits and Hobby Master now the leading brand of quality Diecast Aircraft and Military Models.

TIGER HOBBIES ARE LOOKING FOR HOBBY TRADE ACCOUNTS FOR MISSION MODELS ZOUKEI-MURA SUPER WINGS SERIES Tiger Hobbies will hold the full range of models and figures plus the books, these will be in stock from March 2017 with some items arriving late Apr 2017. SWS07 1/32 DOUGLAS A-1J Skyraider U.S Air Force

SWS48-07 1/48 F-4J Phantom II

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SWS08 1/32 Horten Ho 229

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MISSION MODEL PAINTS

£131.95 SWS09 1/32 P-51D/K Mustang IV RAF

SWS04 1/32 P-51D Mustang USAF

£93.99

£93.95 RYE FIELDS MODELS

Premium Hobby Paints. PAINTS RRP

£5.99 PRIMERS RRP

£7.49 ADDITIVES RRP

£8.99

RM5011 M1 ABV

RM5007 1:35 M1A1/M1A2 ABRAMS Full Interior RM5010 Tiger 1 Tank Mid Production 217 Otto Carius JAN 2017

COMING SOON!!

Unit 18B, Goldthorpe Industrial Estate, Commercial Road, Goldthorpe, South Yorkshire, S63 9BL • Telephone: 01709 890 940 • Email: [email protected]

www.tigerhobbies.co.uk TIGER HOBBIES FP.indd 1

13/02/2017 10:04

INTERMEDIATE BUILD MARDER II

Marten Menace AMW’s junior modeller, Joe Turner, places Dragon’s Marder II in a Mediterranean Theatre setting The lower hull came as one piece, which was sturdy and benefited from crisp detail.

D

uring the early stages of Operation Barbarossa, the Germans were shocked to discover the T-34 and KV-series tanks they were facing were superior to their own. The Wehrmacht simply lacked the firepower to tackle them, so one solution was to mount captured Russian 7.62cm anti-tank guns on the chassis of a Panzer II, firing modified PaK 40 rounds. Thus, the Marder (Marten) II was born as the Sd.Kfz.132, which became known as Kohlenklau (coal thief) to its crews, after a propaganda caricature. As there was a limited supply of Russian guns, the Germans mounted their own 7.5cm PaK 40, which became the Sd.Kfz 131. Over time, the Marder II progressed into Marder III, built on the Panzer III chassis, which eventually led to bigger and more advanced self-propelled guns such as the Nashorn. The Marder II served until the end of the war on all fronts, with varied success.

fret. Study of the instructions, though, soon revealed that approximately just two-thirds of the parts would be used. The plastic exhibited Dragon’s usual high level of moulding, with crisp detail, although it was noted that flash was present on a few of the components. The general shape of the model appeared accurate when compared to reference images, but it seemed decidedly small to a modeller used to Tigers and Panthers. Assembly began with the lower hull. This model had a full interior and was to be built in

Brief beginnings On opening the box there were an impressive 23 runners of light grey styrene, a one-piece lower hull and small photo-etched (PE) brass

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 Dragon’s wheels were moulded beautifully and had many fine details, including weld seams, manufacturer’s name and serial number.

INTERMEDIATE BUILD MARDER II

 The tracks were made from individual links that were, thankfully, colour-coded for each side; but the fact they measured less than a centimetre wide made for tricky assembly.

MODEL SPEC

sub-assemblies; the first step was to add the suspension arms and running gear. There was a total of 14 wheels – road units, two drive sprockets and two idlers. There was exquisite detail in this area, with individual rivets and manufacturer’s name moulded Sd.kfz.131 Panzerjäger II für Pak40/2 Marder II Early Production By:

Dragon

Stock Code:

6769

Scale:

1/35

Price:

£53.50

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

integrally. All parts went together in lightning-quick fashion and it was soon time for the interior, which comprised a corrugated floor, the driver’s compartment and engine transmission. The latter was enhanced with fuse wire based on real images…the only detail the kit was lacking. At this point, the ever-tedious task of assembling individual-link tracks had to be started. The small size of the tracks didn’t make it any easier, so tweezers were required and the links were assembled into two lengths for each run. Then, Tamiya Extra Thin Cement was run along them and left for a minute to half-dry. The track sections were then attached swiftly and moulded around the wheels and placed into a realistic position, with little sag as was found on the real vehicle. The next sub-assembly was the upper hull section. This was kicked-off by adding the walls for the fighting compartment to the underside

 An exquisite engine enlivened the hull, along with convincing treadplate texture on the floor. For extra detail, wire and tubing was added to recreate features seen in reference photos.

 The upper hull section was full of fine features on the outside, but surprisingly, also sported most of the interior equipment.

Detail on the gun was excellent, but was very delicate as it was designed to be workable. As this was not needed in this build, all moving parts were glued.

“Detail on the gun was excellent” www.airfixmodelworld.com 39

INTERMEDIATE BUILD MARDER II

“Grease was placed on the engine and floor”

 The kit was to be built in sub-assemblies for ease of painting. After the interior received colour, the parts would then be assembled for colouring the exterior.

of the upper hull. Unfortunately, the piece in question was a little too thin in the middle and was warped slightly. To fix this, strips of plastic card were attached along the side-skirts. The walls were well detailed and extra features were attached at this point, as it would be easier to paint them this way. The external hull fixtures vwere then glued in place, which included mudguards, ammunition boxes (at the rear) and lights. Next on the agenda were the walls to the fighting compartment. There was a slight issue in the instructions, as the first time the upper hull is shown it is labelled as H1 and then later as A23; if one uses H1, then parts A6 and A7 should be employed for the walls

instead of the recommended H21 and H22. As there were tools on just one side, the holes on the left had to be filled. On the right-hand side where the tools were to be mounted, these were left off for ease of painting. In terms of the interior it was basic, but small arms for the crew section came from a generic runner of German equipment. The detail was poor and very soft in places, so they were replaced with better and crisper alternative items from Masterbox; PE straps were also provided with this package.

PaK-ing firepower It soon became clear the kit contained parts from two separate products…B, D and H sprues were from one of Dragon’s

Precision paint- applier  Superb resin from Royal Model was used on this build: a muzzle brake cover and tarpaulin for the fighting compartment.  The base colour for the interior was Mr. Hobby H-79 Dark Yellow…applied in an even coat to ensure good coverage.

For this build, I was lucky enough to trial Harder and Steenbeck’s Evolution Silverline 2-in-1 airbrush. It was equipped with the choice of either a 0.2 or 0.4mm needle, as well as a 2mm or 5mm colour cup (this modeller preferred the former). The airbrush had several useful features, the first being the locking system at the back, which could be used to restrict the paint flow…effectively limiting the amount of paint coming out (great for pre-shading panel lines). The second feature was the ease with which the airbrush could be stripped, for intensive cleaning. For more details on this and other H&S airbrushes, visit: www.harder-airbrush.eu

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INTERMEDIATE BUILD MARDER II

 A mixture of dry-brushing, washes, chipping, and pigments were used to create the appearance of a well-used area.

 As this area would have been used frequently, a heavily worn and stained effect was desired. To achieve this, multiple products were applied to the floor and engine.

standalone PaK 40 sets. These sprues consisted of the gun shield and main breech, gun and mantle. The detail was pleasing, especially as the main barrel came moulded in one piece and had a minimal seam, which was removed easily with a hobby knife placed at 90 degrees. The breech was assembled from many parts in small sub-sections, with fine features such as wheels and rivets...and these went together with ease. The gun shield comprised two parts, which offered external and interior detail. The only part that required extra work was the periscope, as it had considerable flash on the surface, which took considerable time to remove. For this build it was decided to utilise Royal Model’s excellent

silver shade replicated metal and multiple brown hues were used to represent wooden elements. The first stage of weathering was chipping, whereby the base shade was mixed with white, on and around the edges and floor, to increase the depth of the scratches. Black was applied in the middle with a fine brush. Secondary weathering involved a wash of AK Interactive AK2073 Paneliner Sand and Desert Camo, which was spread all over and then removed with a cloth soaked in white spirit, leaving the wash in

Covers Marder II Set No.702, which provided a tarpaulin for the compartment and a muzzle brake cover.

Cabin colours It was time to paint the cabin as the build couldn’t progress until this had been completed. To begin with, all parts were covered with Alclad ALC-302 Grey Primer and Microfiller. This was applied in several coats to ensure an even surface. The next phase was pre-shading in the form of Mr. Hobby H-79 Dark Yellow, which was sprayed between panels and around the edges of the parts. Following this, H-313 Yellow was applied. Following on, matt black was used on the engine and other mechanical parts. For the crew's stowed weapons, a

the recesses. Adam Wilder’s NL36 Old Grease and NL 35 Grease were then employed to finish the interior. It was surprising how much these products smelled like the real thing! Application of the Old Grease was focused in corners, around fuel caps and under the engine, whereas the Grease was placed on the engine and floor, where the real medium would have probably accumulated. At this point the sub-assemblies were brought together…revealing a large fault, in that the fit of the upper and

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INTERMEDIATE BUILD MARDER II

lower hull was very poor. So, the upper section was forced into place with large clamps and tape. Over the course of the following day, six applications of Tamiya Extra Thin Glue were layered over the join. Next was the filler, applied in large amounts and in areas difficult to access, but it would not be too visible. The next awkward fit was the side panels, although the cover was helpful in aligning the two parts. Masking tape then held the pieces in place while they dried, and the small gap left required minimal thinner.

Desert attire The kit suggested two different camouflage patterns which,

despite being in black and white on the instructions, were clear and gave options for a vehicle in Eastern Europe 1944, the other in Sicily, 1943. A slightly different pattern was chosen, though, following Internet research. The first step was to prime the model with thin layers of Alclad Grey Primer. Vallejo’s Desert War Zenith Transformation set (71153) was chosen for the basecoat, and the instructions stated the two shadow colours should be used in a pre-shade, but they were thought to be too dark and would not be needed for the finished effect. To begin with, the model was painted fully in 71.217 Base. The next colour, 71.218 1st Light,

 Once assembled and filled, the entire model was given a coat of Alclad Grey Primer and Microfiller, to prepare the surface and check for imperfections.

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was applied in all areas excluding the deep recess and shadow areas. The following colour, 71.219 2nd Light, was sprayed at 25psi (1.72 bar) on the top parts of panels, to create a shading effect. The final hue was 71.220 Bright, which was applied solely on the very edges of panels, and a piece of card was laid on the extremities, to ensure a straight line. After this, the model was ready for the camouflage, which comprised sprayed ‘dots’ applied over the top. The colour chosen for the green was H-405 Olive Green, diluted with Ultimate Modelling Products’ airbrush thinner. Once this was applied, the airbrush pressure was turned down to 15psi (1.03 bar). Moving

section by section, the small dots were painted, keeping the nozzle very close to the surface and slowly pulling back the trigger. For authenticity, it was decided to ensure the shape and size of these dots was irregular. This being repeated all over the model until the desired effect was achieved, and any touch-ups needed were applied with a brush. Other details were hand-painted with Vallejo acrylics, followed by an overall gloss coat. Wheels and tracks were then painted and attached to the lower hull. The tracks were initially brushpainted with Vallejo 70.865 Oily Steel. To complement this and add a more rusted look, Citadel Typhus

 Vallejo’s Desert War Zenith Transformation set (71153) was used for the Dunkelgelb base colour, although ultimately, little of it would be seen.

INTERMEDIATE BUILD MARDER II

Corrosion was applied liberally over the tracks. The decals were simple and consisted of three Balkankreuz, which were placed in the appropriate areas. The model was then given three successive

Materials Adam Wilder (www.airbrushes.com) NL35 Grease NL36 Old Grease MiniArt (www.miniart-models.com) German Tank Crew Africa Corps (35141) Tamiya (www.hobbyco.net) Jerry Cans (35026) Royal Model (www.royalmodel.com) Covers Marder II No. 702 Masterbox (www.mbltd.info) German Infantry Weapons WW2 era (35115) Woodland Scenics (www.woodlandscenics.com) Coarse Turf Dark Green T65 Naturally sourced stones Vallejo (www.creativemodels.co.uk) Desert Sand VAL26217 Dark Earth VAL26218

 Lifecolor’s Dust SPG 04 consisted of three pigments and three acrylic paints, representing a more realistic grey and cream dust shade.

coats of Alclad ALC-600 Aqua Gloss and duly set aside to dry for several days.

H-405 Olive Green was sprayed at a low pressure to replicate the ‘dot’ camouflage.

Dirt, dust and damage For the weathering, this modeller started with an overall wash of AK Interactive AK2073 Panel Liner for Sand and Desert Camouflage over the entire model. After 30 minutes' drying, it was removed with a thinner-soaked cloth. The aim was to let the wash accent the details, so it was left in recessed areas. This was repeated twice on the wheels, as these had copious fine detail and rivets. It was presumed that, being a desert vehicle, it would be susceptible to heavy chipping. It would also be different compared to other Deutsche Afrika Korps vehicles, as this would have been painted specifically for the North African campaign, rather than the Dark Yellow over Panzer Grey seen on earlier vehicles. The base colour was used for the initial chips (applied via a sponge), followed by black to add depth. This wasn’t that visible, though, as it was mostly covered by the subsequent layer. The next stage was adding dust and Lifecolor’s SPG 04 Dust Set seemed perfect. For the initial colour, N.Europe Dust UA 910 was misted over the lower areas of the vehicle, keeping it heavier in places closer to the ground. The next stage was mixing PG 111 N.Europe Dust with Humbrol AV0202 White Enamel Wash, in a ratio of 4:6, as well as a little thinner so the white was not too strong. Applied to recesses and areas that would naturally

 The model was given an overall wash, concentrated in areas that would naturally accumulate grime.

 The dust was first misted onto the model in light coats, and then a wash comprising paint and pigments was brushed into the recesses.

“The dust was first misted onto the model in light coats” www.airfixmodelworld.com 43

INTERMEDIATE BUILD MARDER II

“A thick sandy mud mix was made with pigments”

Desert Diorama

 The figures from MiniArt had good detail, but were designed to fit on a Panzer III or IV. To make them more appropriate, two were changed to infantry as the Marder had a crew of just three.

 Tamiya Jerry Cans set 35026 was used to provide oil drums. One was heated and bent to represent damage, and would serve as a seat to one of the soldiers. The drums were painted dark grey to start with, followed by two coats of hairspray. As soon as this had dried, dark yellow was painted over the top. A damp brush was then worked over the drum to create chipping, and rust-coloured pigments enhanced the appearance.

 Due to conditions in the desert, soldiers and tank crews alike would have varied skin tones. To show this, various shades from the Vallejo Model Colour range were used to paint the figures; the tank crew received a brownish hue to their skin, while a more pinkish tone was employed for the soldiers. On some of the figures, sunburn was created with highly thinned reds and purples.

 A circular wooden base was obtained and, for the groundwork, Vallejo 26.217 Desert Sand was mixed with other muddy shades and spread across the base. Following this, sand and stones found on a local beach were introduced, giving a more realistic effect.

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 A small ruined wall was added, with stones and 26.218 Dark Earth to create the effect of mortar. Woodland Scenics’ T65 Coarse Turf Dark Green was fixed in small patches on the ground. The entire base was then misted with a sandy shade for unity.

 Adam Wilder’s Nitroline NL36 Old Grease and NL35 Grease were used extensively throughout the build.

accumulate dust, it was blended in with a cotton bud moistened in thinner. The final stage concerned the tracks, and 26.217 Desert Sand was diluted with water and dabbed into gaps in the tracks with an old sponge. Pigments were then dusted over the top while still wet, which resulted in a muddy and sandy appearance. It was thought that a small diorama, with crew figures, would give the model more context...see the accompanying panel on how this was done.

 A thick sandy mud mix was made with pigments and then splattered over the rear of the vehicle, keeping it thicker nearer to the bottom.

Small but mighty This kit was a welcome change from heavy armour subjects; it was small and complex, but resulted in an enjoyable build. The main downfall was the poor fit, and a greater range of paint schemes would have been good. Despite this, I now have great respect for this little beast and the task it had to fulfil.

❚

 The dust mix was brushed along the crease lines of the cover, to give an overall realistic effect on the surface.

INTERMEDIATE BUILD HUNTING JET PROVOST T.4

Airfix’s new-tool Jet Provost goes down the upgrade route courtesy of Alan Price and Eduard

TACTICAL T

hough this new Jet Provost kit has only been on the market for a few months, Airfix is to re-release it as a Small Starter Set, with paint, a brush and cement…and a dazzling all-red

 The essence of this build was extra detail via Eduard’s set 73566, which offered plain brass and pre-coloured alloy parts.

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Central Flying School livery. As one might expect, there are already Airfix Jet Provost aftermarket options available for more ambitious modellers. The item most builders are likely to choose is Eduard’s photo-etched

(PE) metal, Jet Provost T.3/T.3a set (73566), as used here. This comes with a pre-coloured fret for the cockpit and plain parts for other details around the airframe. The kit itself was reviewed comprehensively by Mike Grant

Existing interior detail was ground away gingerly with a rotary burr, to allow the new Eduard parts to be fitted.

in last November’s issue, and the styrene remains unchanged in the Small Starter Set…just the decals are new. To accompany Eduard’s metal, and because the kit decals were unavailable at the time of building, new markings were sourced from Xtradecal via sheet X72250; the kit would be built as XR679 from the RAF’s 79 Squadron/Tactical Weapons Unit at Brawdy in 1989. Details of the other options on this sheet can be found in Mike’s article.

 The ejection seats were assembled and fitted with their new Eduard details, then everything was painted dark grey.

INTERMEDIATE BUILD HUNTING JET PROVOST T.4

 Careful test-fitting was required to get all the parts positioned in the cockpit, as the PE can interfere with fuselage closure.

Czech metal

MODEL SPEC

 The PE includes parts for the undercarriage; these were very small and required careful folding with tweezers. Unfortunately, one of the completed legs flew out of the tweezers just before painting, never to be seen again! Hence these parts did not make it onto the finished build. Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.4 Small Starter Set By:

Airfix

Stock Code:

A55116

Scale:

1/72

Price:

£9.99

Available from: www.airfix.com

Eduard’s set provides a comprehensive upgrade to the Airfix cockpit, with a beautifully printed instrument panel as the centrepiece. New sidewalls are also provided, and to fit these, existing plastic detail must be removed from the insides of the fuselage halves. Strangely, Eduard’s instructions do not show this, but ultimately there is no way the parts can be fitted without removing the existing features. A rotary burr was used in a Proxxon mini-drill to grind away the plastic, and the Eduard side parts could then be shaped and glued in place with cyanoacrylate (CA) adhesive. Test-fitting is always important when adding PE, and here the cockpit floor needed careful trimming as the new sidewalls interfered slightly with the fit. The centre console was assembled next and the instrument panel added; the fit of the completed parts was checked and a few adjustments made to allow the fuselage to close properly. Once this was

 The completed ejection seats looked superb, but assembling these tiny parts was not an easy task. The fit of the fuselage was excellent and just a little tape ensured the joints were held tight while the glue set.

 With basic construction completed, the seams were all sanded; the fit was excellent and very little filler was required.

“THE ESSENCE OF THIS BUILD WAS EXTRA DETAIL”

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INTERMEDIATE BUILD HUNTING JET PROVOST T.4

Tiny PE trim tab actuators were added to the tail surfaces; fortunately, Eduard provided a few spares on the fret, to help when the inevitable happens!

The rest of the airframe assembled very quickly, and again, the fit was excellent everywhere.  One addition decided late in the build process was to replace the wingtip navigation lights with clear plastic. Small sections of clear runner were glued in place, then filed and sanded to shape.

done, the unpainted interior could receive colour…it was airbrushed with a dark grey mix, then dry-brushed with very pale grey. A black wash followed, before a final coat of matt varnish. Instrument dials were ‘glazed’ with drops of Humbrol clear varnish. With work on the interior completed, the fuselage was closed. Ejection seats were assembled next and Eduard provided parts to detail these crew escape units. As with the fuselage interior, though, moulded detail must be removed by sanding before attaching the parts. The seats were then painted the same colour as the interior, with the seat cushions in dark green. A superb set of seatbelts were included in the Eduard set, which required careful work to position them correctly, but the result was a huge improvement over the standard kit seats and made a real showpiece of the cockpit. The seats were not fitted at this stage, but instead put to one side to be added at the completion of the model.

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“TINY PE TRIM TAB ACTUATORS WERE ADDED TO THE TAIL SURFACES”

Structural work Assembly of the rest of the airframe proceeded rapidly, helped by the excellent fit of the kit parts. Hardly any filling was required, save for a hint around the front of the wing-to-fuselage join and the engine inlets. In just two evenings the whole model was assembled and all the seams sanded. Eduard’s set also

offered additional details for the exterior, firstly by way of trim tab actuators for the tail surfaces. These were rather fiddly to attach but added real finesse. Hinges were also supplied for the wing flaps, but these were not used as it was not felt they gave little to the model, while PE inlets for the top of the fuselage remained unused, as these

INTERMEDIATE BUILD HUNTING JET PROVOST T.4

were far too large. Wingtip tanks were improved by cutting off the tips and replacing them with sections of clear styrene runner. These were then filed to shape and polished to a clear finish to represent the navigation lights. The model was then almost ready to paint, so the fixed front and rear sections of the glazing

were attached and covered with Eduard's mask set CX463… which fitted perfectly. Tamiya masking tape protected the cockpit opening, then the glazing was airbrushed with black to allow the interior colour to be seen from inside the canopy. Mr. Hobby's Mr. Surfacer was then applied from an aerosol tin,

which produced a super-smooth uniform finish, onto which the top colours could be placed. The scheme chosen was for a two-tone grey aircraft, specifically Barley Grey underneath and Medium Sea Grey on top. However, the striking yellow fuselageidentification band and tip-tanks

made painting quite complex. After pre-shading the panel lines with black, the underside was airbrushed with Mr.Hobby H-334 Barley Gray. Once dry, this was masked and the upper surfaces were sprayed with H-335 Medium Seagray (sic). After removing the tape, yellow areas on the wing tips were covered carefully.

 As soon as the canopy was glued in place, Eduard masks were applied to the glazing… and fitted perfectly.

 The yellow fuselage stripe was marked out; first the front edge was masked, then strips of tape cut to the width of the stripe determined where the back edge would be.

 After establishing the rear position of the stripe, the area was masked carefully before covering the rest of the model to prevent overspray.

 All the areas to be yellow received an initial coat of white, to help ensure a vibrant final hue was achieved. www.airfixmodelworld.com 49

INTERMEDIATE BUILD HUNTING JET PROVOST T.4

“AN IDEAL CHOICE FOR THOSE LOOKING TO TACKLE THEIR FIRST UPGRADE PROJECT”

 Yellow was then airbrushed over the white. Following this, the black edges to the fuselage stripe were masked and airbrushed.

Next, the position and size of the fuselage stripe was established and the front edge masked; from this, the rear edge of the stripe could be determined and lengths of tape cut to the correct size were used to mark the position. With the rear of the stripe masked, the rest of the airframe could then be covered to avoid overspray. All yellow areas received a coat of white first, then H-413 RLM 04 to which a few drops of H-24 Orange Yellow were added. Though the Xtradecal sheet provides the black edges for the fuselage stripe, it was thought this would be easier to paint, so the edges were masked and

 After removing the masking the yellow was revealed. The wing walkways were masked next and painted black.

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airbrushed black before removing all the protective covering.

Decal time After a coat of gloss varnish, the decals were applied...kit markings being used for the stencils and standard items. Both the Xtradecal and Airfix decals performed well with Microscale setting solutions. When the decals had dried, the model received more gloss varnish, and then a pin wash was applied to the panel lines via Flory Models’ Black Wash, which was sealed with a final coat of gloss. Navigation lights were painted the appropriate colours, then the ejection seats, canopy and

 The completed paintwork was checked for any faults once the tape was removed, and these were duly rectified. Gloss varnish then prepared the model for decals.

INTERMEDIATE BUILD HUNTING JET PROVOST T.4

 Once the decals were applied, a detail wash was run into the panel lines. The final gloss layer was added after that.

 Tiny foreign object damage (FOD) covers on the PE fret were airbrushed red, before being attached to intakes with G-S Hypo Cement (www.gshypocement.com).

undercarriage were glued in place. Covers for the engine inlets and tail pipe were also attached, these having previously been airbrushed red. Photos showed this aircraft had

Modellers who bought the first boxing of Airfix's Jet Provost last year, will attest to it being a delightful kit…very simple and easy to build. For those wanting more of a challenge, the addition

a large red anti-collision beacon on the fuselage, so this was fashioned from Microscale Micro Kristal Klear, and then painted clear red once dry. With this done, the build was complete.

of the Eduard set is the perfect choice; it’s challenging without being too complicated, and would make an ideal choice for those looking to tackle their first upgrade project.

❚

 Further details needed to be attached at the end of the main build. The lower PE aerial was fitted first, as it could be damaged too easily if added any earlier. Note the upper aerial was not used as this is not flat on the real aircraft; the kit part is more accurate.

 The PE blade aerial was painted, while the many small whip antennas under the wings and fuselage were fashioned from nylon monofilament. www.airfixmodelworld.com 51

IN FOCUS JET PROVOST T.3/T.4

T

raining aircraft rarely appear in the limelight or create much of a sensation. A complete exception to that rule was the popular and very successful little Jet Provost. Introduced during the 1950s, the ‘JP’ was a landmark aircraft when it entered service. It was the first in the world to initiate pupil military pilots into primary/basic (ab initio) flying training on a jet-powered aircraft, without any prior courses in piston-engined trainers.

The JP began as a project of Percival Aircraft, which had produced the famous wartime single-engined three/four-seat Percival Proctor radio trainer/ communications aircraft. Percival joined the Hunting Group in 1944, and in the immediate post-war period became a major supplier of trainers to the RAF, firstly with the somewhat questionable Prentice, but later the highly-successful piston-engined Provost. As a basic trainer, the fixed-undercarriage, propeller-driven Provost entered

INSTRUCTIONAL

GEM The Jet Provost was a vital trainer for the RAF during the challenging years of the Cold War. Malcolm V Lowe explores the T.3/T.4 versions

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 During the early 1960s, an aerobatic team was provided for each display season by 2 FTS at RAF Syerston. One of the line-ups is seen here comprising XM370/9, XM383/27, XM405/34, and XM409/39, during a formation manoeuvre. (Key Collection)

IN FOCUS JET PROVOST T.3/T.4

 One of the pioneering Jet Provost T.1 aircraft was XD677, which first flew during April 1955. It later served with the CFS at RAF Little Rissington and 2 FTS at RAF Hullavington. (Malcolm V Lowe Collection)

October 1955. He was followed by other students in this initial intake, and the overwhelming success of this, and other initial courses, proved the brand-new concept of jet-powered basic flying training. It led to significant orders for the Jet Provost, which was thenceforward set to serve in the RAF, in one form or another, into the 1990s. The initial production Jet Provost was the T.3. Much development work for this version took place with the T.1 and a handful of T.2 trials examples, approximately four Jet Provosts being to the

 Typical of Jet Provost T.3 production at Luton was XM370, delivered to the RAF in 1959 and much later was upgraded to T.3A standard. Note the early painted aluminium and Golden Yellow (BS.381C/356) scheme. (Key Collection)

RAF service during 1953, and thus instituted the famous ProvostVampire training programme for RAF pilots. The Provost provided the basic element, and the jet-powered Vampire T.11 was the advanced machine. This combination worked well, but official and industry thinking started to develop along the lines of an entirely jet-powered syllabus. However, no other country had introduced such a radical proposal. A private venture project, instituted by Percival, found the solution.

airframe. The appropriate name Jet Provost was suggested due to these developments. In March 1953 Percival received a contract for a batch of pre-production/ development Jet Provost T.1 aircraft. The first, serial XD674, flew from the company’s Luton base during June 1954, piloted by RG Wheldon. Ten T.1s were intended to be built, but there was some interchange between these and the following developed Mk.2

in terms of numbers, roles and configuration. Training suitability trials with several initial T.1 aircraft began with the RAF Central Flying School (CFS) at Little Rissington, in mid-1955. The world’s first basic flying training course using solely jet aircraft commenced in the late summer of 1955, with 2 Flying Training School (FTS) at RAF Hullavington. The first pupil to go solo was RT Foster during

latter standard at one time or another. A major alteration for the T.3 was a shortening of the type’s tricycle undercarriage from the stalky main units of the T.1 (a throwback to the piston Provost) to a distinctively shorter design. The original heavily framed windscreen was changed to an improved-vision curved shape, the rear fuselage profile was refined, and the Viper ASV.8 Mk.102 jet engine was installed. Martin-

Innovative design Percival’s proposed new jetpowered basic trainer utilised parts from the existing pistonengined Provost, but with a new rounded nose that housed sideby-side seating for instructor and pupil pilot (the Vampire T.11 also had this layout). The intended jet engine, a single Armstrong Siddeley Viper turbojet, was housed mid-fuselage, with access through the top of the

 Important in the transition of the original Jet Provost T.1 design into the T.2 and thence to the T.3 production series, XD694 displays the T.3’s shortened undercarriage layout compared to the T.1 standard. (BAe via Alexander Johnston)

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IN FOCUS JET PROVOST T.3/T.4

 Wearing a very smart painted aluminium and Day-Glo orange training finish, T.3 XM384/26 was operated by 2 FTS at RAF Syerston. It was written off due to a mid-air collision during May 1966. (Key Collection)

Baker Mk.4P ejection seats were fitted. Orders were received from early 1957 onwards and the first production T.3, XM346, flew on June 22, 1958. In total, 201 Jet Provost T.3s were built for the RAF. With a wingspan of 36ft 11in (11.25m) over the type’s distinctive wingtip fuel tanks, the JP was a small, compact aircraft. In RAF service, most of the then basic flying training schools and other second-line units eventually operated the type. Initial deliveries were to 2 FTS during June 1959, this outfit having moved to RAF Syerston. Other operators included

the CFS, RAF College at Cranwell, 1 FTS at Linton-on-Ouse, 3 FTS at Leeming, 6 FTS at Acklington, and 7 FTS at Church Fenton. The JP’s original designer had by then become Hunting Percival Aircraft in 1954, Hunting Aircraft in late 1957/early 1958, and eventually the Luton Division of the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) during the 1960s. Soon, though, another JP version was developed. The T.4 was similar externally to the T.3, but was more powerful, with the 2,500lb st Viper ASV.11 Mk.202 turbojet engine, which gave a faster climb

 Dated April 1960, not long after the Jet Provost T.3 entered RAF service, this image shows several of 2 FTS’s aircraft being refuelled. XM406/36 crashed several years later due to an uncontrolled spin, its pilot ejecting safely. (Key Collection)

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rate, allowing an extended basic training syllabus to be instituted; this economised in part on the more expensive use of advanced trainers for certain aspects of the curriculum. In total, 185 T.4s were ordered (although some sources quote 198, but just 185 serial numbers are confirmed), starting with XP547, which first flew in August 1961; airframes XP549 and XP550 were the first deliveries, to the CFS at Little Rissington during late 1961. All the RAF’s main training units that flew the T.3 eventually also operated the T.4, plus the College of Air

Warfare at Manby. Little-known RAF use of the T.4 involved trials of a small number in combat conditions during the height of the Indonesian Confrontation in the mid-1960s. 

Sky dancing The excellent aerobatic qualities (and comparatively docile performance) of the JP made it an ideal mount for aerobatic display teams, and most training units and related organisations that operated the type within the RAF had at least one, if not several line-ups. The earliest JP aerobatic team was the Sparrows from the CFS, which used four T.1s during 1958. The Poachers from the RAF College at Cranwell, Linton Gin (sometimes written Linton GIN) from 1 FTS at Linton-on-Ouse, the Vipers from 2 FTS at Syerston and the Macaws from the RAF College of Air Warfare at Manby, all flew T.3s or T.4s (or both). There were additionally several less formal or unnamed teams, and duos such as the Gemini Pair from 3 FTS at Leeming. The Red Pelicans was a successor to the Sparrows from the CFS and became, in the first half of the 1960s, the premier RAF aerobatic team, being as well known then as the Red Arrows in their Hawk T.1As are today. For the 1964 display season, the team featured a highly visible overall red colour scheme for its designated Jet Provosts,

IN FOCUS JET PROVOST T.3/T.4

and eventually flew both T.3 and T.4 versions.

Export success During production for the RAF, the Jet Provost achieved several important export successes. New-build export equivalents were developed by the type’s manufacturer of both the T.3 (T.51) and T.4 (T.52). Both contained full armament provision, unlike their RAF counterparts…the JP’s airframe being suitable for this development. The T.51 could mount internally two .303in (or .3in) machine guns, featured a gun camera in the nose, and had underwing attachment points for a variety of unguided rockets and small bombs; the T.52 had a similar weapons capability. The scope of training available on the Jet Provost was thus extended, while giving the type a limited offensive prowess.

The initial export customer for the T.51 was the Royal Ceylon Air Force (12 examples), the first of these being built during 1959. Kuwait had six delivered. The T.52 was exported to Venezuela (15), and Iraq (20), while Sudan received a mixed selection of both types. The Jet Provost was also fully involved in the mid-1960s troubles in what is present-day Yemen, several flying initially for the interim South Arabia and afterwards for South Yemen. These were not new-build examples, however, being ex-RAF T.4s and believed to be eight in number. Airworthy survivors later passed to Singapore. In addition, a single Jet Provost T.2 was exported to Australia and operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as A99-001 (ex-G-AOHD), to evaluate the type for possible ‘all-through’ jetbased training. However, following

 The cockpit area of the T.3/T.4 series remained essentially the same as seen here, with the distinctive side-by-side seating on Martin-Baker ejection seats for the instructor and pupil. (Key Collection)

 The 1963 Red Pelicans display team from the CFS included (L-R, all Flt Lt) Keith Beck, Anthony Hawkes, Ian Bashall (team leader), Neville Raffin (RAAF), Terence Lloyd, Bryan Nice. Jet Provost T.4 XP549/40 is in the background. (Key Collection)

evaluation the RAAF ultimately decided against buying the type.

Later developments The need for a pressurised version of the JP became obvious, from experience with the extended syllabus of the RAF T.4. Training lessons in the unpressurised T.4 were often made at high altitude, forcing the crew to breathe oxygen for extended periods without the benefit of pressurisation. Development work therefore led to the Jet Provost T.5 (BAC 145), essentially a second-generation JP of which 110 were built for the RAF, with overseas sales as well and the spin-off armed BAC 167 Strikemaster. The last two T.4s (XS230 and XS231) were used as prototypes, and the first production T.5 flew on February 28, 1967. The T.5 went on to gradually and largely replace the earlier T.3 and T.4, but in a major

upgrade programme during the 1970s some 70 T.3s were upgraded to T.3A standard with improved and updated avionics. Among the last T.4s in RAF service were several operated by the Central Air Traffic Control School at RAF Shawbury, and 1 Tactical Weapons Unit at RAF Brawdy. Although the concept of ‘allthrough’ jet training of pupil pilots had been proven as a valid concept, the RAF did not persist with the idea beyond the Jet Provost. Comparatively high operating costs, and the development of the turboprop engine as a rival to jet power in the competitive field of pilot training, resulted in the Embraer Tucano turboprop being selected as the JP’s replacement. The first Belfastassembled Short Tucanos entered RAF service in the late 1980s, with the final Jet Provost T.5A being ❚ withdrawn during 1993.

 Kuwait was one of several overseas operators that received export Jet Provosts, in this case a T.51 numbered ‘103’. Six were delivered to this country. (Key Collection)

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IN FOCUS CHINOOK ‘SPECIALS’

Airfix Model World diverts from scale subjects and speaks to someone who’s taken the art of painting and decaling to a whole new level. RAF Odiham’s paint bay Senior Tech, James Littlejohn, reveals the challenges of applying RAF Chinook special schemes

I

’m a hands-on person who struggled to learn things through books, but excelled and progressed faster through a practical approach. A manual job was always at the forefront of my mind and throughout my three-year mechanical apprenticeship, I dabbled in painting and finishing cars during college; after getting my degree, though, I decided it

wasn’t for me and before I knew it I was at the Armed Forces Careers Office, where they offered me a job as an Aircraft Surface Finisher. That was the start of my career and after 17 years I still love it as much as I loved model aircraft when younger. Modelling was a passion and a large part of why I joined the RAF. It’s probably why I ended up where I am now and I often visit the model shop in my home town, but never quite seem to purchase any plastic… mainly due to a lack of time, and the commitment I know I will need to start it! What has happened to me in the past 18 months probably compares to how modellers feel

 Protective equipment is essential, no matter what the subject being sprayed. Working from a good set of drawings and forward planning is equally important too.

 After applying the first shade of yellow, James inspects the paint finish on ZH777 in March 2016.

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IN FOCUS CHINOOK ‘SPECIALS’

and the RAF, through Andy, was fantastic. An enormous amount of work happened in advance… but that’s another story. I wonder though, how many AMW readers have ever completed a model with someone else? That was, after all, the only option for us so how do you tie together the work of many hands? In the earlier days of RAF painters and finishers, a team of 12-15 fully trained personnel with a vast amount of knowledge would have taken this on. Fast forward to 2015 and the first 18 Squadron paint scheme was achieved with seven people, and the only one with prior experience working on this scale was myself. Two of the team had been with us for just a month, had never sprayed or even been this close to an aircraft, so a few jaws hit the ground as they realised the enormity of the task! Our other commitments to an operational station were not relaxed during the two weeks

 The designer’s computer-generated files were transformed into sign masks by RAF Marham and, once applied, these were sealed by hand masking before the next coat was applied.

we had, nor for the subsequent projects when we were even more stretched. How many times have you got to a crucial point on a model, just to have someone walk through the door and insist on you doing a household

 Somewhat brighter than when she entered the bay two days earlier, the future 28 Squadron special stands awaiting the next stage of masks to be applied.

when a new kit is released, or they are about to start work on a project they’ve been looking forward to for a while. When someone walks through your door and pitches an idea such as decorating a full-sized Chinook it sounds amazing. There’s the excitement about being involved in something new as it’s any painter’s dream, but one must also be realistic and ask the right questions. I had to judge whether we could do it at all and that’s when experience helps massively. We weren’t talking about following a set of instructions, so we had to make sure we weren’t setting ourselves up to fail. I discovered immediately that compromise had to occur between the customer’s desires, and our capabilities on-site before things could begin. There are probably parallels for diorama builders dreaming of their next project among Airfix Model World’s readership.

Red Tape So how does it all begin? Luckily we don’t have to choose which kit to purchase as our 1:1 version is fairly accurate, so we’re told! However, we do have to ask permission…something some modellers may also be familiar with. For us the process is governed very tightly by the RAF and wider MOD. The hoops to jump through are numerous and specific drawings, policies and procedures exist that cannot be ignored. This mammoth task was handled by one of the pilots at RAF Odiham, Flt Lt Andy Donovan, and when he walked out after our first ‘fireside chat’, I aired on the side of it being a pipe dream. Attempts such as these have flopped before and getting the wheels turning is not easy. By the end of it though, I was over-worked but totally convinced. Much was being asked of our very small team but the relationship between ourselves

 An HVLP DeVilbiss GTi spray gun awaits its next job as the masking is added between colour applications. The time required to complete the preparatory work vastly outweighed that spent spraying. www.airfixmodelworld.com 59

IN FOCUS CHINOOK ‘SPECIALS’

 Jim Aggiss rubs down the yellow coat atop the aft pylon, in doing so better preparing the surface to receive the forthcoming Royal Blue.

task? Well, if you can identify with that, multiply the problem several times over. The 27 Squadron aircraft was delivered by just two of us and the 28 Squadron ‘cab’ by five…both in a 10-day window. Just like your skills with modelling though, you need to be challenged to grow.

The right gear Our equipment is not particularly specialised, but as with modellers, it’s about knowing how to get the best out of what one has. We use the HVLP DeVilbiss GTi spray gun, which has been trialled extensively by the RAF and selected for its  Jim Aggiss begins the laborious de-masking process on the aft pylon, after applying the blue coat. Heat guns were required to de-bond the masking material, making it a far more painful job than in the world of scale modelling.

 The paint products used by the Serco team cover extremely well, and tend to obscure the underlying colour after just one application. Modelling equivalents often require a few more attempts! 60

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versatility and effectiveness with low atmospheric paint waste, while giving the best overall finish. There’s a lesson there when purchasing your next airbrush. Don’t just go with what the masses say; if possible, test a wide variety and work out what suits your needs. Looking after the equipment is essential too. Due to the nature of our paints, we must ensure the gun is cleaned thoroughly upon completion of a colour application, as different activators and paint compounds can play havoc if they crosscontaminate – and limited pot life can ruin a finish. Just like the milk in your fridge, these things do go off. One of the biggest parallels to be drawn between what we did and the scale world lies in the masking. When Andy’s final drawings arrived, we took large copies to the paint bay, stuck them to the wall, glanced at the mammoth aircraft before us and decided it was time for a coffee break! What lay ahead was many hours of painstaking application of masking tape,

done primarily freehand but in some cases the drawings can be converted into large-scale stencils, which are placed by hand like a jigsaw puzzle and, after painting in layers, they form more complex shapes. Getting it all the right size comes down to the adage of ‘measure twice, cut once’. We gave as much information as possible to RAF Marham, which kindly produced the larger stencils and eventually we find out if it had all worked when the final piece arrived. Then the hard work began, as we looked to place it on the aircraft across all those rivets, lumps and bumps. This may be the first time anyone has ever written this sentence, but you certainly cannot compare a frontline helicopter to a baby’s bottom! Patience and experience are essential, as you must know where to start to give the best shot at achieving symmetry. The drawings are there for guidance, but you can never translate 2D into 3D exactly, as unless we step into 3D digital design, the computer doesn’t account for compound curves, hand holds,

IN FOCUS CHINOOK ‘SPECIALS’

or those rivets that I’ve come to love so much. Like modellers we leave our paints to cure, often overnight. As manager, I must plan around that so while one area dries we may work on the next; if we can’t work on anything else we have our day job and operational tasks for the station. Of course, I need to order the correct amount of paint for the task, so in the early stages I study the drawings and the aircraft, and consider the amount of paint needed. If I get it wrong it’s on my head, but after 17 years and many aircraft painted, I tend to know how far paint will go so it becomes second nature. When it takes 30 days to arrive from the supplier though, there’s not much wiggle room.

 After further lengthy masking, white paint was applied to the aft pylon. In scale modelling, the act of putting white over yellow might not be advisable but no such limitations apply to full-sized aircraft.

A gentle touch It is best to accept that many factors are outside of our control and, as any spray painter would know, de-masking is nerve-racking as you never know whether you’ll expose an area where the paint has bled badly, or even damage it along the way…that’s why my team prefers to let me do it! All we can do is try to eliminate potential errors, by triplechecking masking and ensuring the surface is prepared to receive paint well before we start. Exactly like models, good paint adhesion comes down to preparation so gentle abrasion techniques

 With the rest of his team looking on, James begins to remove the masks after the grey coat, doing so while the paint is still wet to achieve sharp edges between the blocks of colour.

 Eight days into the project and finally the full extent of the new scheme was becoming clear for all. The final jobs were to include respraying the black walkways and applying the mandatory stencil data.

are carried out to roughen the surface ever so slightly at a microscopic level, which forms a ‘key’ to which the paint can grip. This can’t be aggressive or we might damage the airframe, so it is done by hand due to the fine tolerances in metals, composites and rivet heads. Once the painting is completed, our process diverges somewhat from the art of modelling. A small number of markings are applied as decals, but we don’t need to apply gloss varnish below them to aid adhesion. We do apply matt lacquer afterwards but that is more to protect the paint itself from boot scuffs and damage, as it’s susceptible if left exposed. The decals themselves are backed with aircraft-grade glue, designed to withstand rapid airflow along the fuselage in flight, but we add a 4mm line of edge seal to secure them from failure as a precaution. To apply them, we simply add a small spray of water to the area to eliminate any bubbles and use a roller to squeeze out the water, which gives a perfect finish. The most disheartening part is that our work disappears over the horizon when it’s finished, so we can’t sit back and admire it on the mantelpiece – but I get over this knowing it’s seen and enjoyed by others. All three aircraft have the designer’s signature hidden on them, along with those of the paint team. Whenever I see them flying I stop and take a deep breath to marvel at what an achievement they www.airfixmodelworld.com 61

IN FOCUS CHINOOK ‘SPECIALS’

 Every artist signs their work…to the left J Littlejohn, L Middleton and D Sosnierz with Flt Lt AJ Donovan, J Aggiss, K Barnett and A Saunders displayed on the right-hand side.

were, and often catch myself smiling. They give very similar satisfaction to the completed model that begged to be built.

Glowing with pride There are no plans to produce another Chinook in special markings, but I’m proud to have formed a part of the Squadrons’ and aircraft’s history…and to lead a team to create them. They mean more to me than anything I’ve done before. I put my heart and soul into these, and every second was worth it, but people will eventually forget and move on. Andy has

already been headhunted by the Hercules Force to advise on and design three huge schemes for the C-130 and, although I know one of them wasn’t allowed to emerge as he’d hoped, this has already taken him to pastures new. As the sun sets on it all, we’ll look back with fondness at opportunities and journeys we never saw coming. I must close by thanking my team, because without them this wouldn’t have been possible: Laura Middleton (SF Tech 1), Dominic Sosnierz (SF Tech 2), Kieren Barnett (SF Tech 3), Anthony Saunders (SF Tech 3) ❚ and Jim Aggiss (SF Tech 3).

 Completion of the trio – the Serco team stands proudly in front of their masterpiece on the evening they finished the job. Only debagging of the engines and other components was to follow prior to roll-out.

 The last of the line, 28 Squadron’s ZH777, leads the first on departure from Salisbury Plain. The squadron will continue to train pilots and crewmen for frontline units for many years to come.

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HISTORY • REFERENCE PHOTOS • COLOUR PROFILES Key Publishing’s first reference book in the new Combat Machines series is a detailed 84-page study of the famous B-17G bomber, timed perfectly for the release of Airfix’s new 1/72 kit of the type. Written by Malcolm V Lowe, the development and history of the B-17G, including its post-war service are covered in full with rare black and white (and colour) photos, more than 30 specially commissioned colour profiles, a two-page cutaway drawing and walk-round images of a restored aircraft. This is a vital research and reference tool for modellers and aviation enthusiasts alike, and seeks to correct erroneous information published in other books. Besides offering useful material about the aircraft itself, Combat Machines B-17G also explores the flight crews, their clothing and Medal of Honor awards, as well as missions flown by the RAF and USAAF’s numbered air forces.

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13/02/2017 12:42

INTERMEDIATE BUILD VANSHIP

D E A D LY D E L I V E R Y

Andy Davies steps into the world of ‘Last Exile’ with Hasegawa’s Vanship... is it a plane, trike, car or spacecraft?

V

anships featured in the successful Japanese animated series Last Exile, set against a backdrop of eternal war between the nations of Anatory and Disith on the fictional world Prester. These aerial vehicles are the principle form of transportation, one being flown by the story’s protagonists, teenage ‘sky couriers’ Claus Valca and Lavie Head, who were tasked with delivering a girl who could bring

an end to hostilities. Technology featured in the cartoon is reminiscent of 19th century Europe at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution (although Vanships are equipped with a form of antigravity drive). Many designs were inspired by German technological advances during the inter-war period, and combined Steampunk and Art Deco styles with the frontal aspect of 1930s American Auburn Speedster cars…and streamlined locomotives of the era.

 The moulding was to Hasegawa’s usual high standards, with crisp, well-defined features and flash-free parts. Solid portholes on the fuselage halves were drilled, to give a more realistic appearance when compared to the kit’s decals.

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Pandora’s box This limited-edition release featured new details compared to Hasegawa’s original Vanship offering, and included a welldetailed resin torpedo in place of the outrigger skid, with two finely rendered multi-part resin crew members. A smaller ‘Vespa’ model, associated with a character named Fam (and which accompanied the original release) was deleted from this boxing, although an updated decal sheet provided two new

colour schemes. Styrene parts were supplied on three grey and two clear runners, with one smaller resin frame for the figures and torpedo; these were bagged separately to avoid damage. The crisp mouldings were to Hasegawa’s usual high standards, with no flash or sink marks present, and the clear glazing was especially well produced, but still benefited from treatment with Johnson’s Klear to add sparkle. There was an

 A new resin torpedo was supplied, along with extra crew members. Although plastic versions of the figures were included, the new resin parts were of much higher quality...but they were not required for this build.

INTERMEDIATE BUILD VANSHIP

 Instrument dials were added to the kit panels in the form of Airscale’s convincing 1/72 decals.

option to display the completed model in the flying position, via a transparent stand and base, along with a separate ‘tailwheel’ in the stowed position.

Crew compartments

MODEL SPEC

As provided, the basic cockpit was just that, so it was decided to add additional detail sourced from leftover sections of 1/700 decking, and resin seats from the spares box. As much online data as possible was gleaned from programme episodes, and the original booklet included in the first issue of the kit. The selfadhesive decking was cut to shape Last Exile Vanship with Torpedo By:

Hasegawa

Stock Code:

64713

Scale:

1/72

Price:

£33

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

and fitted to the floor, and a new control column was added from a spare Hawker Hunter model, as the kit item was oversimplified. Side panel features were fashioned from 0.1mm thick plastic card and painted Interior Green, before a variety of Airscale 1/72 instrument and placard decals were added for realism. As mentioned previously, the kit seats were discarded as they lacked refinement, primarily because crew members were intended to be fitted, hence no seatbelts/ harnesses. However, on this occasion pilots were not required, and two well-appointed resin seats were substituted. The two small clear windshields were dipped in Klear prior to being fitted to the cockpit with Gator’s Grip PVA. Four photo-etched (PE) metal portholes were the final items to be added here, to replace the moulded kit parts, and these were plucked from Airscale’s PE24 BEZ WW2 Instrument Bezels set. Rather than use the kit’s decals for the windows, 2mm diameter holes were drilled on either side of the cockpit, with Gator’s Grip PVA glue used to attach the PE components. These would be left unpainted as the natural brass colour was appropriate to the subject.

 It was decided to display the engine bay open, and scratch-build a powerplant and bay interior, so the left fuselage was razor-sawed at the bonnet line to facilitate this.

 With the cockpit area being rather bare, extra detail was added by way of real wood flooring and spare PE/resin parts on the sidewalls. The former was fabricated from pieces of leftover 1/700 ship decking, cut to shape.

All in the detail Prior to the build, it was decided to super-detail the innards of the engine bay. Hasegawa’s original release featured a small pamphlet that included a detailed sketch of the machine in ‘maintenance mode’, which illustrated the interior of the bonnet and powerplant; this proved very useful as the basis for any

“PORTHOLES ON THE FUSELAGE H A LV E S W E R E DRILLED”

 All the parts were adapted to fit and painted ready for final assembly. The kit-supplied seats wouldn’t be used here, as more richly detailed resin aftermarket items would take their place.

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INTERMEDIATE BUILD VANSHIP

 A large drawing of the engine bay was supplied in the original boxing of the Vanship, and was a useful reference when scratch-building the interior detail on this version.

 The first task was to create a rigid floor on which the engine could sit; this was cut from riveted plastic card obtained from a hobby shop.

 The powerplant was constructed from scrap resin and leftover items from the spares box. Everything was scaled to the drawing and test-fitted repeatedly to ensure it would sit inside the bay without fouling the bonnet.

 Long, looped cooling rods were prominent features on each side of the ‘engine’, and these were made from 1mm lead wire, before being backed with card and cross-braced with yet more wire.

necessary embellishment. First, the left-hand bonnet panel was removed carefully, a razor saw being used for this after the part was scored initially with a scribing tool. Lengths of 1mm styrene strip were then added to replicate the inner framework, and cooling grooves, corresponding to those on the outer skin, were cut into the surface. Interior Green paint was applied before work could

the correct outline had been achieved, the floor and bulkhead were airbrushed with Alclad ALC-102 Duralumin and ALC-117 Dull Aluminium, with streaks of ALC-120 Gunmetal and ALC-111 Magnesium, followed by a wash of Burnt Umber oil paint to add shadow and depth. These were then set aside to allow work to commence on the engine itself. The spares bin was raided to find suitable components, and these were added gradually until a decent rendition was achieved.

commence on the innards proper. The ‘engine’ started as a block of scrap tan-coloured resin, cut to fit centrally in the compartment… this would form the core for the ancillary equipment and wiring. A suitable base for this section (and corresponding bulkhead) was fashioned from special 1mm scale-rivet-embossed plastic sheet, which was cut to shape and dry-fitted in the bay. Once

“ T H E P O W E R P L A N T WA S C O N S T R U C T E D FROM SCRAP RESIN AND LEFTOVER ITEMS” 66

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Examples included a main control unit at the rear, based on an unidentified 1/48 jet engine, before being detailed with 0.5mm lead wire. Prominent looped pipework sections, located on either side of the main engine block were fabricated from loops of Plus Model’s 1mm diameter lead wire (sourced from www.modellingtools. co.uk), which were then braced with thin plastic rod and glued into place with cyanoacrylate (CA). The front end then received a resin 1/144 jet engine intake from an

INTERMEDIATE BUILD VANSHIP

 The decals were superb, from the goldcoloured filigree artwork for the Yamatobased machine, to the intricate winged insignias and Greek-style stencilling. All were in perfect register, with minimal carrier film, although the latter was rather thick.

unknown donor. Next, the rear bulkhead was cut from Evergreen 2mm plastic card, and fitted to the front of the cockpit, with additional scrapstyrene boxes added and holes drilled for various heating pipes/ ducts. Spare PE items from an unused Canberra flap set were press-ganged into serving as bracing struts, before extra control boxes and wiring were added to the front section to complete the picture. The whole subassembly was then sprayed with a

combination of the Alclad metallic tones mentioned previously, to obtain as realistic a finish as possible. Treatments of AMMO MIG grime and oil washes were then added, to create a weathered and used look. Once dry, the assembly was trial-fitted under the ‘bonnet’ to check alignment, prior to it being glued to the riveted base with slow-drying Zap CA, making sure the previously removed panel could close over the parts. The final addition was a pair of metal struts, which secured the bonnet for inspection; these were made from steel pins, cut to length and slotted into pre-drilled holes at either end of the bonnet, so the compartment could be displayed closed when required. The stubby wings included cutouts for what were assumed to be airbrakes, with the petals supplied as separate items. It was decided to posed these as if deployed, and then detail the bare interior with scrap PE donated from an

 Once completed, the engine was treated with Alclad Grey Primer through an airbrush at low pressure, to ensure fine coverage without flooding the detail.

 An unwanted 1/144 resin aircraft engine intake was fitted to the front of the unit and further wiring (of various diameters) linked various components. Additional parts were grafted onto the drive unit as building progressed, to create the impression of a complex structure.

 Drive unit components ready for assembly; the hose would be used as part of the cockpit hot air system and fed through a control box fitted to the front of the bulkhead.

 Lead wire and resin parts were added to the rear section, creating a busy unit, before the assembly was added to the flooring, which had been pre-painted with Alclad metallic. www.airfixmodelworld.com 67

INTERMEDIATE BUILD VANSHIP

 Once satisfied with the fit, the assembled flooring and engine section was fixed into the fuselage. The interior had received plastic strip bracing before being painted Interior Green; the ribbed cabin hot air feed pipe was attached to the bulkhead control box at this point.  Attention then turned to the anti-gravity devices and the major parts were laid out prior to final assembly. Note Hasegawa even labelled the turbine shrouds L and R!

 Completed power units: the large spherical collector bottles were painted with Alclad’s Pale Burnt Metal, Dark Aluminium and Hot Metal Violet, before being weathered sparingly with MIG’s Light Rust pastel powder and Paneliner for Brown and Green Camouflage.

 Although care was taken during construction to prevent the interior parts fowling the bonnet, a final check was undertaken before the exterior was airbrushed with Alclad Duralumin, then streaked with misted passes of White Aluminium.

otherwise unneeded Italeri Stirling set. Once sprayed with ALC-103 Duralumin, the parts were fitted onto the lower wing sections with Gator’s Grip PVA. The corrugated wings were treated to ALC-120 Gunmetal, before the outer end fairings were added, these having been pre-painted with Duralumin. Little-Cars’ LENS1MMRed 1mm red navigation lights were attached to

included two spherical ‘collector’ bottles and long ‘carpet beaters’ that formed the powerplant’s energy units. Beautifully moulded inner turbine faces were included, as were shrouded covers for each of the two engines. Various shades of Alclad were mixed and applied,

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the fairings and cockpit rear, with 3mm clear lenses (LENS3MMCL) fixed to the four headlamps, replacing the kit parts.

Newton would be impressed! The strange anti-gravity drive devices were well rendered, and

before being coated lightly with AK Interactive AK2071 Paneliner for Brown and Green Camouflage wash, to age the paint and create a heat-treated appearance. The fit of the carpet beaters into the fan sections was not the strongest, with a certain amount of slack

INTERMEDIATE BUILD VANSHIP

underside of the fuselage and inner wings, torpedo carrier and anti-gravity devices.

Natty stickers

After the fuselage was weathered and washed, the wing upper surfaces (already pre-painted with Alclad Gunmetal) were added. The thin inner-wing rib section was also attached after being airbrushed with Duralumin.

Hasegawa’s decals were well printed and in perfect register; the only downside being the carrier film was slightly thick. To address this, Klear was applied to the bodywork first via a good quality

half-inch Pro-Arte sable brush, with the decals applied while the surface was still wet. When almost dry, a moist cotton bud was used to roll any excess air from beneath the decals to excise any bubbles, but care was needed not to roll too enthusiastically, otherwise there was a high chance of irreparable damage to individual markings. When completely dry

“THE ANTI-GRAVITY DRIVE DEVICES WERE WELL RENDERED”

 Fortunately, Hasegawa designed the kit to be assembled after being painted...an extremely user-friendly feature, which other manufacturers would do well to follow.

noted; therefore, they were attached with CA and accelerant, which secured the parts firmly. In hindsight, due to the length of these parts and the potential for them to sag over time, two brass rods inserted into the turbines (and then slid into the bottles) would have provided a stronger option. In a neat touch, the wheel spats were moulded such that the mainwheels could be added at the end of the build, which made painting easier, and the wheels were flattened to give the impression of weight.

What to wear? Four schemes were included, Claus’s silver/natural-metal machine, Tatiana’s burgundy version, a generic Vanship in medium green and a dark grey livery affiliated with the aerial battleship Yamato. All very colourful...but to make the most of the steampunk-inspired theme it was decided to opt for Claus’ metallic regalia, which meant it was imperative to ensure a perfectly smooth, blemish-free

surface prior to paint application. The bare plastic was buffed several times with various grades of MicroMesh cloth to remove blemishes, dust or sanding residue, before the parts were given several misted coats of Alclad Grey Primer. Once dry, each application was then abraded to bare plastic each time with Micro-Mesh cloths, until a glass-like finish was achieved. To remove any stubborn dust particles, an airbrush was used to blow air over the surface, and after five repetitions, a final buffing was conducted with an Ultimate Modelling Products Ultra Fine sanding stick, which left a super-smooth surface. In total, nine Alclad shades were used: ALC-101 Aluminium, ALC-117 Dull Aluminium, ALC-102 Duralumin, ALC-104 Pale Burnt Metal, ALC120 Gunmetal, ALC-103 Dark Aluminium, ALC-106 Exhaust Manifold, ALC-117 Hot Metal Violet and ALC-111 Magnesium. Besides these, several variations of each were mixed to achieve different hues, particularly along the

 Airbrakes were supplied as separate parts and the option was taken to display them in the deployed position. Inner panel detail was added from sections of a spare PE grille set.

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INTERMEDIATE BUILD VANSHIP  Portholes were selected from four appropriately sized Airscale 1/24 PE instrument bezels; these being attached with Gator’s Grip PVA glue. The inner holes still needed to be treated with a circular file, to neaten the area before any glazing was fitted.

 Finally, the engine grille and nose were detailed. Little-Cars’ 3mm clear lenses replaced the kit’s clear parts to replicate the four large headlights fitted either side of the nose and undercarriage spats. Small red and green lights were also fitted to the wingtips and to the rear of the cockpit.

(approximately 12 hours later), a further coat of Klear was applied, which rendered the carrier film all but invisible. Notably, all decals settled perfectly into the panel details, without the need for decal setting solution. As the torpedo looked rather drab, red and white bands were added to the centre section to brighten its appearance, and a yellow band was applied to the upper part of the weapon carrier tube. These were subsequently scratched gently with a cocktail stick to simulate wear and tear. Having watched several episodes of the Last Exile series, it became apparent that many styles of Vanship appeared and even the same vessel would feature with variations, so a degree of artistic license could be applied.

“THE MODEL ITSELF WAS OF SUPERB QUALITY”” 70

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 Resin seats replaced the kit parts as the crew members were not used. These were cut to fit the cockpit apertures, and mounted on small plinths to ensure the correct height. The small Klear-coated windscreens were also added at this point.

Nasty weather The final part of the project involved weathering, but how much should appear on a vehicle such as this left one in a quandary! Having studied the animation closely, they appeared to be heavily used machines, as they travelled between the planet’s surface and huge skyships, often through inclement conditions and magnetic storms. It was decided to apply a moderate level of wear, and this was achieved with MIG Productions pastel powders; P027 Light Dust, P024 Light Rust and P023 Black Smoke. These were applied with a small brush to various areas that would have suffered heaviest use, such as the underside of the fuselage, nose and weapons beam, wheel spats and engine shrouds. Once the correct amount of pastel had been applied, and the residue blown-off with neat air from the airbrush, Vallejo 26.233 Acrylic Medium Pigment Binder secured the various powders. Light vertical passes with ALC-120

Gunmetal were made over the rear fuselage sections, which gave the impression of underlying ribbing, followed by a few panel in-fills of ALC-106 White Aluminium to lighten selected areas. Bare-Metal Foil 001 Chrome was applied to a prominent panel between the cockpits, adding further variation to the scheme, followed by washes of Burnt Umber oil paint, which accentuated shadows and gave extra depth to the metallic finish.

A breath of fresh air The Vanship was a very welcome addition to the fun world of sci-fi/fantasy modelling and is recommended to all those interested in the subject matter... and even for those with a passing interest in building something different. The steampunk/interwar style definitely appealed to this modeller, as did the prospect of building several more versions in the future. The model itself was of superb quality, with the fit being almost perfect; no filler was required at any point, which made a pleasant change. Of course, one doesn’t have to add the extra detail to have a great replica, but it was thought the new features made a worthwhile difference in this case. ❚

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OUT AND ABOUT BOLTON SHOW  Paul Dobson’s amazing North American Indian Shaman bust stood out on the British Bulldog Model Club table, even more so when it was revealed he had also sculpted it and then adorned the headdress with real feathers.

 A busy winter’s modelling was evident on the 580 IPMS stand; Toby Knight’s splendid Tamiya 1/48 P-47D Thunderbolt caught the eye, with a lovely weathered metallic finish and flawless decals.

Scholarly Splendour B olton IPMS bid a fond farewell to St Joseph’s RC High School in Horwich, as its annual show venue, but did so in style with a busy and well-attended event. While some clubs utilise just

assembly halls and gyms, few go the lengths of taking over most of the English department as well! It may have taken slightly longer than usual to get used to the layout, with traders and displays squirrelled away in classrooms,

 Proving the adage of ‘small is beautiful’, this Airfix 1/72 A-4B Skyhawk by Staffordshire Moorlands’ John Lingwood was an exercise in how a good finish, featuring restrained weathering, can make any model stand out from the crowd.

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 Trumpeter’s 1/35 Scud -B is an impressive beast, and drew plenty of attention on the Sutton Coldfield stand. Understated exhaust and mud stains complemented the overall high standard of Andy Keane’s build.

but the organisation was excellent (and passed a fire alarm activation with flying colours). As one of the first shows of 2017, there were plenty of new models on display, no doubt evidence of a busy Christmas and New Year period for many modellers. There were discussions galore as visitors and club members caught up with current build projects and new kit releases. The competition was very informal, with everything on club and special

interest group (SIG) stands up for contention, with Best in Show awarded to IPMS Stoke-on-Trent’s Fraser Booth for his stunning 1/35 Italeri LCM-3 landing craft. But having already outgrown this current venue, Bolton’s intention is for a bigger setting next year, with final choice to be confirmed as AMW went to press. ❚ Stu Fone

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 Holy miniature! Moebius’ 1/24 Batmobile from the ‘Batman vs Superman’ film received an extensively scratch-built interior and battle-weary finish, courtesy of Wirral IPMS member Iain Costall. While difficult to see here, there’s also interior lighting for the various displays.

IPMS F_P.indd 1

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ON THE SHELF BOOKS

NIPPON NIGHTMARE

Attack on Pearl Harbor By: Bert Kinzey ISBN: 978-0-9860677-6-1 Price: US $9.99 Format: e-book Web: www.detailandscale.com Detail and Scale needs little introduction, having been a venerable reference source. Now, the books are slowly being re-introduced and expanded as digital copies for computer/tablet/smartphone use. With the 2010 print version of Attack

432 pages on Pearl Harbor having been out of print, the e-book will be welcomed by aircraft and naval modellers alike. The original was limited by its size, whereas this new offering has been enlarged to accommodate much of that ‘missing’ data. Four new chapters now feature. The first examines the story from two different perspectives, political background included, while the second studies exactly why Pearl was selected for attack. The third centres on Japanese vessels besides the aircraft carriers (the latter subject from the first release is also expanded), and Chapter 4 focusses on the main weapons of the Japanese aircraft. The books heart, though, still beats with the superb coverage from the original, which involves concise and informative text, myriad black and white (some colour) photos, and superb colour profiles, plan views and other illustrations representing aircraft, ships and weapons. Maps and tables also appear to swell the information levels…and bring extra context. CC

CRANBERRY TESTERS

Black Box Canberras – British Test and Trials Canberras 1951-1994 By: Dave Forster ISBN: 978-1-90210-953-4 Price: £29.95 Format: 217 x 305mm Web: www.crecy.co.uk The Canberra is an enduring subject, beloved of many modellers, but the type has not been well served in scale form. This handsome, hefty book, while telling a fascinating and modelripe story, also begs the question… why is there still no worthy 1/72 Canberra B.2 kit? In the meantime,

256 pages

we’ll have to concentrate our efforts mostly on Airfix’s 1/48 bomber-canopy offering, and after reading this book, one will be desperate to replicate the sometimes heavily modified and attractive airframes shown within. The Canberra’s career as a testbed is unpeeled in admirable detail and, after a short history and precis of the type's trials work, different test projects are covered with revealing text and superb imagery. Aiming systems, weapons and electrooptical reconnaissance are just some of the subjects, and the plentiful photographs immediately prompt thoughts of how the extra equipment, instrumentation and structural changes (and colour schemes) can be reproduced in scale form. A useful appendix provides lists of aircraft within different test establishments (and the relevant trials), with contractors also being described. What needs to happen now, is for an enterprising aftermarket proprietor to recognise the need for suitable conversion sets with appropriate decals! CC

BARBAROSSA DOCTOR

568 pages

A Medical Officer During the Russian Campaign By: Axel Urbanke, Dr Hermann Turk ISBN: 978-3941437-29-6 Price: €79 Format: 242 x 288mm Web: www.luftfahrtverlag-start.de Following its photo-journal covering German operations in North Africa and Italy, the second in the ‘Photographs by Soldiers’ series focuses on the Russian Front. While the impact of the 400-plus black and white shots (augmented by colour prints from slides) is significant, the extracts from Dr Turk’s personal diaries bring home the realities of that conflict on the Eastern Front. The doctor’s detailed notes and photography have resulted in a truly epic volume, to which the author has helpfully added text and full-colour maps to provide a broader context. All aspects of the 3rd Panzer Division’s advance into Russia are covered, from daily ablutions and the bitter struggle against the winter cold, to the aftermath of combat, often

depicting exhausted or wounded soldiers. Dr Turk’s prolific work with the camera also portrays the effects of war on civilians, and how the Wehrmacht would render assistance to Russian refugees. War trophies are prevalent throughout, including Russian aircraft downed either by the Luftwaffe or ground units. From a modelling perspective, this is a veritable cornucopia of imagery, and an invaluable reference for German units on the Eastern Front…but also an indispensable historical record of events from June to December 1941. SF

GAME-CHANGING WARSHIP

156 pages

Dreadnought Battleship 1906-16 Owners’ Workshop Manual By: Chris McNab ISBN: 978-1-78521-068-6 Price: £25 Format: 276mm x 214mm Web: www.haynes.co.uk Released to coincide with the Battle of Jutland’s centenary, this riveting manual charts the development of the revolutionary all-big-gun HMS Dreadnought and its sister vessels. The ensuing arms race led to the creation of superDreadnoughts, with main armament of 13.5in (343mm) or greater, and this fascinating contest is covered succinctly…notably several of the latter type fought in both world wars. There is a focus on British vessels throughout, with those of other nationalities mentioned in brief, but the USS Texas receives greater attention, due to it being the last surviving Dreadnought. A summary of the basic layout is included, but this section also addresses subsequent British designs, including Colossus and Queen Elizabeth classes. Analysis of the ships’ firepower, propulsion and crews then

follows, before a short overview of the type’s combat history, culminating in the 1916 Battle of Jutland. While not a Dreadnought, the cruiser HMS Caroline is the last surviving vessel from that famous encounter, and the final chapter is dedicated to its restoration. Modellers and naval enthusiasts will both enjoy the narrative, and the excellent photos, line drawings and schematics will be of use to anyone with 1/700 or 1/350 Dreadnought kits by Hobby Boss, Trumpeter, Aoshima or Pit-Road. SF

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ON THE SHELF BOOKS

DETAIL DENOUEMENT

Encyclopedia of Aircraft Modelling Techniques Volume 5: Final Steps By: Diego Quijango ISBN: 978-84-945543-9-1 Price: €28 Format: A4 Web: www.migjimenez.com AMMO MIG’s stunning compendium of aircraft modelling techniques comes to a conclusion, offering chapters on weapons and final detail/finishing. Illustrated lavishly with full-colour and high-quality photos, this is worth getting for the

MORE FAST CRAFT

The Fairmile D MGB/MTB/FPB By: Mark Smith ISBN: 978-0-9930934-2-5 Price: £17.99 Format: A4 landscape E-mail: coastalcraftmodels@ gmail.com Costal Craft’s first two softback volumes detailed Vosper and British Power Boat Company vessels, but this time the focus is on the Fairmile D gun, torpedo and patrol boats. The style is the same, with a wealth of information being provided on the craft in question, in terms of engines, structural features, and offensive and defensive weaponry, while one is

156 pages ‘things under wings’ section alone, armament tends to be neglected when compared to the rest of the airframe. Here they receive the author’s full attention, with tips on scratch-building improvements to pylons, fuel tanks and weapons, before each is treated as a kit in its own right, with examples of preparation, painting, and weathering. The so-called ‘Spanish method’, with its sharp contrasts, may not be to everyone’s tastes, but the featured methods are applicable regardless of the intended result. Having added the necessary warload, it’s time to complete the build, and those final steps are broken down in piecemeal fashion. From repairing damaged paint to making/attaching scratch-built navigation lights and adding all those small items (probes, antennas and gun barrels), everything is explained thoroughly. There’s even a tutorial on rigging, (the bane of many modellers) and, as would be expected from AMMO MIG, on how to apply fluid, dust and mud stains to the completed model. This is a fitting finale to a worthy, readerfriendly series and it’s recommended to all modellers. SF

KING OF THE STRAFERS

289 pages

Vanished Hero By: Jay A Stout ISBN: 978-1-61200-395-5 Price: £19.99 Format: 160 x 235mm Web: casematepublishers.co.uk One of the most enigmatic air combat stories of World War Two concerns Elwyn Righetti, and it’s told in superb fashion here. To this day, ‘Eager El’ has never been found after belly-landing his P-51D ‘Katydid’ in Germany, after being hit by flak. Righetti, whose Swiss farming family settled in California, realised that life on the homestead was no match for flying; through various jobs, and scrimping and saving, he logged 170-plus hours in civilian flight school before joining the US Army Air Corps in 1939. After gaining his wings, Righetti became an instructor and climbed the promotion ladder quickly, but with the war raging, he was desperate to join the fight. Author Jay Stout tells how Righetti eventually joined the 55th Fighter Group at Wormingford, and before long, command of the whole group became his. Righetti’s reputation (and eventually that

of his subordinate pilots), as an aggressive strafer, grew steadily and he topped the table of ground kill aces. It was this tenacious approach that eventually brought him back down to earth for good and, after a single radio transmission, telling that he’d landed safely, Righetti was never heard of again; it’s thought he was killed by German civilians. This is an engaging story, told precisely and sympathetically, and it’s ideal background if one is considering a build of Righetti’s famous Katydid (photos are included). CC

49 pages also treated to sizeable full-colour artworks of the individual boats. Most useful, too, are the colour chip-style references, which provide actual paint codes. References are also quoted, for further reading, but all this material is mostly aimed at providing vital detail when building one of Coastal Craft’s own 1/72 mixed-media Fairmile D kits, of which there are four in the range. All three volumes, though, stand as superb references on their own, and are helpful when building other manufacturers’ kits…especially as Coastal Craft also offers excellent aftermarket detail parts for models such as Airfix’s 1/72 Vosper. There are excellent colour schemes to savour in this book, including MTB 5003 in fetching shades of blue and grey, MTB 755, whose hull is resplendent in MS4A (close to RAF Sky), the menacing MGB 658 in two-tone grey, and MTB 629 with its wonderfully large shark mouth on the bow. A splendid book, chock-full of inspiration. CC

‘FRIGHTENING’ IN DETAIL

160 pages

Uncovering the English Electric Lightning By: Danny Coremans, Peter Gordts ISBN: 978-90-8198-901-5 Price: €37.45 Format: 240 x 216mm Web: www.dacoproducts.com There have been books describing the Lightning, and then there’s DACO’s offering, the sixth in its ‘Uncovering’ series, which delves beneath the skin of this iconic aircraft in unprecedented detail. Divided into clear sections, with a helpful diagram at the top of each page to highlight which part is being examined, this is likely to become the must-have reference for ‘Frightning’ fans. Airframe, wings, empennage, cockpit and weapons receive equal attention, with differences between versions indicated where necessary. What sets this above other publications on the type is the inclusion of items such as FOD (foreign object damage) covers and even the rocket packs (fitted to early sub-types). Even the most avid super-detailers will have

their appetite sated by the shots of the engine, armament, electronics and radio bays, while there is a meticulous examination of each variant’s cockpit. Completing the package are two sets of gatefold 1/48 scale drawings for all major UK variants, along with labelled diagrams of the different instrument panels. For those modellers not satisfied with this glorious collection of imagery, then there’s a book/DVD package, which adds a further 2,200plus photos, and is priced €47.50. SF

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ON THE SHELF AIRCRAFT KITS

HOVERING LEATHERNECK

MV-22B Osprey VMM-265 Dragons By: Hasegawa Item no: 02212 Price: £49.99 Web: www.amerang.co.uk This company’s superb Osprey makes a comeback in different colour schemes, but the parts are the same (of which there are many). Impressive engraving abounds, although decal alone replicates cockpit instrumentation. There is the option of flaps up or down, and the same goes for the undercarriage. Arguably, the real benefit is that the rotor units

can be fitted in take-off/landing position, as well as in flight; the latter being enabled by poly-caps and a multi-angle clear display stand. Two low-vis grey US Marine Corps liveries from 2016 are supplied; thoughtfully, for the first with a dragon on a black tail, one can apply this entire artwork and background as a decal, but just the dragons alone are also provided if one wishes to paint the tails black: • 168220/00/EP, VMM-265, MCAS Futenma • 168299/44/ET, VMM-265, MCAS Futenma

GREAT WAR MONOPLANE

Pfalz E.I By: Special Hobby Item no: SH 48176 Price: €24.90 Web: www.cmkkits.com Originally released by Gavia in 2006, this is a re-box with new decals, and the photo-etched alloy fret is replaced with an identical brass item; the styrene and small acetate sheet is unchanged. This is an impressive offering, with an elegant cockpit that has full framing and even fuel and oil tanks supplied. Unlike other kits where PE components are effectively

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‘add-ons’, those in the E.I are mostly integral to assembly, with just the throttle, propeller boss, undercarriage reinforcements and gun cooling jacket as optional extras. There is a full set of rigging diagrams, complete with the allimportant wing-warping control cable attachments. The three schemes are in typical linen or off-white and black camouflage, but just one has a full description (there isn’t much information available on Pfalz E.Is); mercifully, all of the black rib, wing and fuselage trim is supplied as decals.

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EARLY CAESAR

Messerschmitt Bf 109C-1 (Cäsar) By: Arsenal Model Group Item no: 48-716 Price: £32.50 Web: www.alleycatmodels.co.uk There aren’t many kits of early versions of Willy Messerschmitt’s classic fighter, so AMG’s quarterscale offering is most welcome. There are six styrene runners, four resin parts, vinyl tyres, two photoetched (PE) brass frets, a canopy mask and small acetate sheet. Interior detail is good, especially the cockpit, which benefits from PE embellishments throughout. The engine is moulded integrally

ITALIAN AEROBAT

MB.339 PAN (2016 livery) By: Italeri Item no: 1380 Price: £15.99 Web: www.hobbyco.net Supermodel’s MB.339 moulding gets another outing via Italeri, but while good in shape, one needs to sand and re-scribe the raised panel lines, and add refinement via scratchbuilding/aftermarket. As this tooling was re-released just last year, with extra parts for an attack version, the latter components are still present although the fuel tanks, rocket pods and gun pod are not carried

1/48

with the fuselage halves, but with separate bearers and cylinder covers, this will build into a neat replica. A three-part canopy is supplied, and while the shape is good it would benefit from dipping in Johnson’s Klear. Three small decal sheets provide the markings; two supply generic crosses and stencils, with unit specific items on the third. Helpfully, a mask is included for one airframe’s shark mouth artwork. Four schemes are offered, three of which are from 2./JG 71 during summer 1939; the fourth is of the adjutant’s machine from an unknown squadron. 1/72

by this kit’s subjects…airframes of the Italian Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team. Thoughtfully, though, the kit’s two runners are moulded in dark blue styrene to help with finishing the model in the real aircraft’s same-shade colouring. The ejection seats are reasonable, needing seat pan firing handles, but there is no moulded instrumentation (decal provided). Italeri’s decals are splendid, and offer tail numbers for every aircraft in the team during 2016, and a 2015 55th anniversary of Rivolto Air Base livery.

ON THE SHELF AIRCRAFT KITS

DREAMY PEOPLE-CARRIER

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner By: Zvezda Item no: 7021 Price: £19.99 Web: www.hobbyco.net This is a re-working of the firm’s 787-8 Dreamliner, whereby the Dash 9’s longer fuselage is provided, and the decals are for ‘9’/N789EX, one of the Boeing test aircraft…but more of that later. Zvezda’s plastic has a slightly rough texture, which will need to be polished for the best results, but shape-wise the model looks convincing. Open window

1/144

holes are fitted with clear ‘runs’ for the fuselage glazing, and the undercarriage units are workmanlike (no mainwheel bay detail though). The R-R Trent engine blades are well done, but they are thin and care is vital when removing the part from the runner. But the real kicker here is that of the decal sheet; not only is the paler of the two blues on the tail motif too dark (blue-grey, instead of bright blue), but none of the fine fuselage pin-striping is supplied and Zvezda suggests painting it…which will be challenging in the extreme.

LAST OF THE ANTONS

1/48

NIPPON WINGS AND WHEELS

Kawasaki Ki-61-I-Tei Type 3 Fighter Hien & Type 95 Kurogane 4WD 244th Flight Regiment By: Hasegawa Item no: 07404 Price: £39.99 Web: www.amerang.co.uk This is a useful combination of Hasegawa’s worthy Ki-61, and a new-tool Kurogane 4x4 vehicle; produced to compete with Tamiya’s kit of the same, no doubt. Here, one can expect good features on Hasegawa’s Hien (Tony), as it has a decent cockpit with moulded instrumentation, and crisp engraving on all surface parts. A bonus in this package is

that of an exquisitely detailed 1/48 resin pilot figure. Then there’s the car, which comes on four runners (plus one clear frame), and offers an entire engine, suspension, exhaust system, driver figure and Type 96 machine gun, which can be mounted on the vehicle or a separate tripod. There’s also the choice of a raised or lowered canvas roof. The Tony comes with three 244th Sentai schemes: • Capt Teruhiko Kobayashi, Hamamatsu, Dec 1944-Jan 1945 • Pilot as above, Chofu, March 1945 • Lt Chuichi Ichikawa, Chofu, April 1945

DEVILISH MARITIME KITTY

Fw 190A-8 By: Italeri Item no: 2751 Price: £33.99 Web: www.hobbyco.net For modellers interested in the hobby’s history, this kit is a must, as it’s a re-box of the Trimaster/Dragon Fw 190A8…a game-changer when first released in 1987. Since surpassed by items from Eduard and Hasegawa, it’s still a fine offering with nine styrene runners and two photo-etched metal frets providing plenty of detail, especially in the cockpit. There are even two complete underwing Mk.103 cannon for those wanting to portray a Rüstsätze-modified airframe. One advantage of

Italeri’s version is the superbly printed decal sheet, which is in perfect register and supplies markings for six schemes. Unfortunately, poor research means that the livery ‘White 9’ is in fact for an Fw 190A-3 of Gerhardt Eisermann, also of JG 5. Another issue is that ‘Yellow 13’ is portrayed thus on the instructions, the decal is red, but in reality it was brown! • White 9, Uffz Martin Ullmann, 9./JG 5, Norway, 1945 • Red 1, Uffz Alfred Fritsche, 4./ JG 1, Operation Bodenplatte, January 1945 • Yellow –+1, Gfr Ludwig Sauter, 6./JG 300, Löbnitz, November 1944 • Yellow –+13, Lt Gerhard Vogt, 7./JG 26, France, 1944

Hellcat Mk.I By: Eduard Item no: 7437 Price: €12.75 Web: www.eduard Eduard’s 1/72 Hellcats are widely regarded as the best in the scale. This Royal Navy variant issued in Weekend format offers just styrene parts, but if one has aftermarket decals it can also be built as a straightforward F6F-3. Interior and external detail is superb, notably the exquisite fivepart Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine and busy cockpit. Options

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are limited to just the open/closed canopy, as there doesn’t appear to be any provision for raised undercarriage. Eduard has upped its game with the decals compared to its previous RN release, as it now features full stencil data, along with markings for two Fleet Air Arm machines: • JV105/E-W, 800 NAS, HMS Emperor, Aegean Sea, September 1944 • FN427/5-A, 1844 NAS, HMS Indomitable, Bay of Bengal, October 17, 1944

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com 81

ON THE SHELF AIRCRAFT KITS

DIMINUTIVE HUNTER

MiG-31 Foxhound By: Revell Item no: 04086 Price: £4.99 Web: www.revell.de/en First released just prior to the Soviet Union’s collapse, and therefore lacking in certain areas, it’s a shame Revell hasn’t addressed any shortfalls subsequently, as this is a great kit. The parts (contained on two runners) are well moulded, there’s very little flash, and surface features are rendered as fine engraved lines. No interior detail is supplied (unsurprising, given

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its vintage) and there is a choice of raised/lowered undercarriage. Most importantly, it builds into a recognisable Foxhound, just failing on armament (as do many kits), lacking the type’s signature fuselagemounted AA-9 Amos (R-33) missiles. However, there are two neat AA-6 Acrid (R-40TD) and two external fuel tanks for under the wings, and the decals offer a hint of the Amos attachment points. Just a single scheme is supplied (note the decals were out of register on this sample), for RF-92367/Blue 17, VVS/Russian Air Force, 2014

NEARLY NAVAL BUG

De Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 By: Trumpeter Item no: 02895 Price: £25.99 Web: www.pocketbond.co.uk This is another ‘almost’ release from Trumpeter, as it's the result of patchy research; so it almost builds into a pukka Sea Hornet NF.21 (the necessary corrections for total accuracy will be extensive). All but two runners are shared with previous Hornet releases, and these cater for the fuselage, second cockpit and folding wings. The moulding is excellent,

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and there is fine engraving and seemingly adequate detail. On closer inspection, various issues are apparent, including the tooshort fuselage and horizontal stabilisers, nose, canopy and wingtip shapes, rear cockpit fittings, and strange scalloping on the control surfaces. The schemes are for Royal Navy aircraft, but serials and ‘Royal Navy’ titles should be replaced by larger items: • VZ672/481/Q, 809 NAS, HMS Vengeance, 1951 • VW967/424/BY, Airwork Fleet Requirements Unit, 1955

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GREAT WAR LEGEND

Albatros D.III By: Eduard Item no: 8438 Price: €18.75 Web: www.eduard.com Considering Eduard’s Albatros was originally released in 1991, the moulding has fared well and now appears in Weekend guise. Just the styrene is present, rather than any photo-etched metal/resin extras, but the decals are new. About the only niggle concerns the undersized mainwheels, but

the rest of the kit is lovely, due to a busy cockpit (ribbing detail on the fuselage sides, too), complete engine and pleasing detail in general. A rigging diagram is provided, and the decal sheet has markings for two attractive schemes…one in mostly red paint, the other in varnished wood and camouflage. They are: • Lt Werner Voss, Jasta 2, Proville, France, May 1917 • Manfred Freiherr von Richtofen, Harelbeke, Belgium, June 1917

SEA-GOING INTERCEPTOR

Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker-D By: Zvezda Item no: 7297 Price: £18.99 Web: www.hobbyco.net Much thought has gone into Zvezda’s new-tool maritime Flanker, and it’s great value. Besides the crisp moulding and engraving, extra refinement comes via multi-piece exhausts, beautifully rendered weaponry and separate flaps/ ailerons. Even a boarding ladder and wheel chocks are provided, along with a two-position airbrake,

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but the best feature comprises full wing and tail folds. The cockpit has a multi-part seat, but no moulded instruments or switches are present (decals). Weaponry includes Alamo, Archer, Adder and Krypton, while two-piece cockpit glazing, and standing/seated pilot figures, are other features. The decals are thin with gloss carrier film and offer Russian Naval Aviation markings for: • Red 80, 2 Sqn ‘Tigers’, 279 Regt, 2005 • Red 67, 1 Sqn ‘Eagles’, 279 Regt, 2014

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ON THE SHELF MILITARY KITS

TAKE YOUR PICK

WWI Heavy Battle Tank Mk.V By: Takom Item no: 2034 Price: £45.99 Web: www.pocketbond.co.uk Takom’s contribution to the current crop of 1/35 Great War kits has been considerable, and this Mk V is splendid, with options for Male/ Female/Hermaphrodite sub-types. There are 11 styrene runners, one photo-etched brass fret and a length of chain...all are manufactured to Takom’s usual high standards. The differences between the sub-types are due to the weapon sponsons,

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and there’s a full cannon (Male) and machine gun (Female) fit, with a mixture for the Hermaphrodite. Caterpillar construction is aided by excellent individual-link workable tracks, which simply click together. With ten schemes, there’s a veritable feast of options covering all three versions, including: • Female, Red Army, Tallin, August 1941 • Female, Military Trophy, Lustgarten, Berlin, 1945 • Hermaphrodite, ‘Za Rus Svyatuyu/ Moskvitch-Proletary’, Red Army, 1920 1/72

HYBRID PUMA

Schwerer Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz.234 Puchs By: Attack Hobby Kits Item no: 72001 Price: TBC Web: www.attack-hobby-kits.cz Attack Kits has collaborated with Roden for this release, which depicts a field-modified Sd.Kfz.234 ‘Puchs’ (portmanteau of Puma and Luchs), fitted with the turret from a Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. L. Roden’s donor kit comprises three runners, and while the parts are generally moulded crisply,

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several suffer from minor flash. From Attack comes a resin turret and commander figure, and two turned-brass gun barrels. These are all of high quality, with even a hollow muzzle for the 20mm cannon. The single scheme is for a vehicle sporting late-war camouflage, assigned to an unknown unit in Bohemia and Moravia (now modern-day Czech Republic), in 1945. This is a great kit, and would be ideal for modellers venturing into smallscale multi-media subjects.

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MISSILE-TOTING ARMOUR

Russian BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle By: Modelcollect Item no: UA72034 Price: US $21.99 Web: www.modelcollect.com Modelcollect is establishing itself as the ‘go-to’ source of modern small-scale armour, incorporating levels of detail normally associated with 1/35 subjects. This is particularly true for its BMP-3, and the five styrene runners and two photo-etched (PE) brass frets supply a wealth of internal and exterior features. Mould quality is superb; the upper

I-GO EVERYWHERE

Type 89 Japanese Medium Tank Kou By: IBG Models Item no: 72040 Price: €9.80 Web: www.ibg.com.pl Modellers welcomed IBG’s initial Type 89 - named I-Go (first number) - as at last there was an accurate 1/72 version of this pre-war tank. It's been followed quickly by the late petrol-powered variant and reflects changes made to the glacis, turret and armament configuration accurately. Incorporating four

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hull is the standout item, with its combination of raised and etched relief, replicating even armour attachment bolt heads (embellished by PE grilles and tiny grab handles). Appliqué plates are commendably thin and there is a hollowed muzzle for the main gun/missile barrel. Notably, it includes complete driver’s, turret and infantry section compartment fittings. Tracks are supplied as linkand-length items, and the relief on each link is admirable for this scale. Two schemes are provided, for unidentified vehicles, in plain Green and three-tone camouflage. 1/72

styrene runners and the small photoetched brass fret from the original, three new frames address the differences, notably the larger turret, swapped driver’s and gunner’s hatches, and revised track guards. While no interior is provided, the exterior is splendid, with delicate bolt heads and crisp plate joins. The single scheme depicts tank 8941, attached to the 7th Tank Regiment, Luzon, Philippines, in 1941-42 and it is portrayed in the typical four-tone camouflage of the period.

ON THE SHELF MILITARY KITS

LIGHTWEIGHT TANK-KILLER

5cm PaK 38 auf Pz.Kpfw.II (Sf) By: Dragon Item no: 6721 Price: £59.99 Web: www.hobbyco.net Thanks to its mix-and-match approach, it’s easy for Dragon to release lesser-known machines, such as this self-propelled anti-tank gun. Although the real vehicle was built in small numbers, it’s such an unusual subject that it’s likely to attract attention. The downside to Dragon’s policy is the mass of spares, with almost half the parts unused,

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but those that are to be assembled are all crisply moulded. An interior is supplied, and while the PaK 38 runner is one of its older offerings, it won’t detract from the overall build. Neat touches include ammunition boxes for the rear stowage and a photo-etched brass exhaust covering. There are DS Styrene tracks, rather than individual-link items, and these feature realistic pads and dual track horns. Three unidentified vehicle schemes are supplied, in Dark Yellow, Panzer Grey and winter distemper camouflage.

DIORAMA IN A BOX

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GREAT WAR AMMO HAULER

FWD Model B 3-ton US Army Ammunition Truck By: Roden Item no: 736 Price: £12.99 Web: www.pocketbond.co.uk Roden has tweaked its splendid Model B truck with two new runners, to create the US Army ammunition-carrying vehicle, with its metal-sided cargo area and wheels. Detail is excellent on all parts, with a good representation of the transmission; the singlepiece front lamps are neat items and would benefit from

NEXT-GEN RUSSIAN

US Self-propelled 155mm Gun M40 By: Tamiya Item no: 35351 Price: £69.99 Web: www.hobbyco.net Tamiya’s eagerly awaited, but pricey M40 more than delivers, with 11 runners supplying all the elements for an instant diorama. There’s a well-appointed interior, including full ammunition stowage, and the gun is workable in the horizontal and vertical axes. Unsurprisingly (given the M40’s Sherman lineage), Tamiya has re-used the HVSS suspension, running gear and vehicle optics

parts from its ‘Easy Eight’ offering. The type’s T80 tracks are single lengths of black vinyl, featuring crisply moulded detail on each link. In a welcome move, a full eightman crew is supplied, with loaders, rammers and a troop arming a fuse…Tamiya is to be applauded for its creativity here. History text is combined with colour scheme diagrams and a page of walk-round photos; decal options are for US Army vehicles assigned to the 937th Field Artillery Battalion, during the Korean War: • ‘Courageous Confederate’, C Bty, April 1951 • ‘Aita’s Ankies’, A Bty, June 1951

T-14 Armata By: Zvezda Item no: 3670 Price: £32.50 Web: www.hobbyco.net Zvezda’s is the third 1/35 kit of Russia’s revolutionary T-14 to be released, but thanks to clever engineering and what appears to be support from the UralVagonZavod tank company, it’s arguably the most accurate yet. There are eight styrene runners, plus separate upper and lower hull halves, and the mould quality is superb, with crisp features

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careful painting. Two options are provided, for either an open or tarp-covered rear section (thankfully, the bolt/rivet features on the inner sides are replicated) and driver’s cab. As these trucks were used frequently as light artillery tractors, this would be ideal in a diorama, and would make for an interesting display. The two US Army schemes (there are no decals) are for an overall olive green vehicle on the Western Front in late 1918, and a post-war machine adorned in black-edged four-tone camouflage. 1/35

and delicate detail (such as hinges and ring handles), while the bar armour is among the best styrene examples seen to date. As with all other T-14 kits, there are no interior details, but that’s probably due to the innards still being a Russian state secret! Tracks are supplied in link-and-length format, with separate guide horn sections, and assembly will be far easier than on other offerings. Two schemes are supplied; one for the 2015 Victory Day Parade machine, and the other for a vehicle in speculative camouflage.

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ON THE SHELF AUTO KITS

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BAVARIAN CENTENARY

100 Years of BMW By: Revell Item no: 05738 Price: £36.99 Web: www.revell.de/en If all anniversaries were marked as Revell’s celebration of BMW’s 100th has been, modellers would be spoiled rotten, as it has paired the 507 Cabriolet and i8, covering more than 60 years of Bavarian motor design.

The former is a product of the early 1990s, and while its detail may not match current offerings, there’s plenty to keep a modeller busy. The 507’s vintage is reflected in the egregious ejector pin release marks and flash, but time with a sharp knife and sanding sticks will be well rewarded. There’s a hidden gem in the type’s 3.2 lit OHV V8 engine and gearbox, and

RISING SUN SPEEDSTER

YHP Nissan R89C By: Hasegawa Item no: 20244 Price: £34.99 Web: www.amerang.co.uk This re-release of Hasegawa’s Nissan endurance car should please many fans of the genre, as it’s been out of production for many years. A good kerbside replica, it may not have the finesse of more modern tooling but there’s still plenty to enjoy. Louvres on the front wheel arches and nose are impressively thin and, while no engine is supplied, there is a hint of a transmission unit supporting a

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multi-part tail support. Thankfully, components mostly to be coloured black are moulded in that colour (the rest are white), and there is basic raised dash detail with decal embellishment. The transparencies are admirably clear, although the real-rubber slick low-profile tyres do have mould seams. Decal-wise it’s all good, as the Cartograf-printed markings are beautiful and have good register/colour density. The scheme is for the YHP #24 car driven by the Hasemi-Olofsson pairing (fastest qualifier, failed to finish), in 1989’s Fuji 500.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

the bonnet can be posed open to display it. Just a left-handdrive vehicle can be built, but the well-appointed interior reflects the 1950s styling and fittings accurately. Chrome parts are supplied for the vehicle trim and hub-caps, and the decal sheet offers a diverse collection of 11 registration plates, plus company logos and ‘whitewalls’ for the vinyl tyres. The i8 is unchanged from its original 2015 format (see Auto reviews, Oct 2015), with crisp features and an absence of any blemishes. Interior fittings are rendered faithfully, notably the complex hybrid petrol/ electric engine and batteries. The exterior isn’t neglected, with clever parts breakdown aiding painting, and the type’s suspension is reproduced correctly. While chromed parts aren’t to everyone’s liking, here the alloy wheels seem overthe-top, as reference photos indicate a more muted metallic finish. Decals supply elements of

vehicle trim, dashboard displays and 12 different nationalities’ licence plates. As with most recent Revell car releases, just a single scheme is suggested for each, but there are many alternatives to choose from. Being a gift set, it contains Contacta Professional Mini cement, six small pots of acrylic paint and a size 2 brush. With two 1/24 cars and these extras, this is superb value and should appeal to novice and experienced car modellers alike.

TEUTONIC COPS’ BUG

VW Beetle Police By: Revell Item no: 07035 Price: £22.99 Web: www.revell.de/en Modellers interested in emergency vehicles, or the legendary Beetle in all its forms, will welcome this release…but it needs a little extra care. The kit is based on the Revell’s 2013 tooling, and although many smaller parts are well moulded, the body shell is slightly disappointing, with rather overstated shut lines, heavy seams on the front arches,

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and sporadic flash. None of this is deal-breaking, though, and in fact, much of the detail is very good. There’s a full engine, plenty of refinement on the floor pan, poseable front wheels, chromeplated parts and rubber tyres. The decals are superb, having gloss carrier film, and they allow the replication of four different German police vehicles, all in green and white: • Police Bruehl, 2009 • Police Museum Marburg, 1990 • Police Neuss, 1974 • Police Mainz/Wiesbaden, 1972

ON THE SHELF MARITIME KITS

A KING AMONG SHIPS

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BLUE RIBAND LINER

United States By: Revell Item no: 05146 Price: £17.99 Web: www.revell.de/en König WWI German Battleship By: ICM Item no: S.014 Price: £22.40 Web: www.icm.com.ua ICM’s first foray into 1/700 ship kits is a scaled-down version of its quality 1/350 König offering, with a choice of full-hull and waterline configurations. While the quality of the parts and overall accuracy will appeal to experienced modellers, its presentation in multi-coloured styrene (grey for the upper hull and superstructure and red for the underside) will attractive those with fewer builds under their belt.

Standout items include the twopiece main deck, with fine engraved representation of the wooden surface and sharp rendering of the paired mooring bollards. Equally notable are the styrene barrels for the casemate and 88mm guns, along with protective fairings for the latter. The single scheme depicts König as it appeared in 1918, with overall grey superstructure and tan main and gun decks. Decals are limited to the white rings located on the super-firing turrets and Imperial German Navy ensigns, while self-adhesive nameplates are supplied for the five-part stand. 1/56

CUP INSPIRATION

USS America By: Revell Item no: 05416 Price: £36.99 Web: www.revell.de/en Revell’s 1969-vintage kit, of the sailing vessel that gave the America’s Cup its name, makes a return after a long absence, with two thicknesses of thread and a length of chain added to the original package. Its detail might not be the most refined, and the sails are vac-formed (which means they can be awkward to attach),

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but it’s surprisingly flash free. There aren’t many parts, which should result in a quick build, and for those up to the rigging challenge, half the construction stages are dedicated to this aspect. The scheme depicts the vessel after it became a school ship for the Union Navy in 1863 (denoted by the 35-star flag), but if one wanted to return it to its civilian heyday, then changes would be minimal, although adding the bow ornamentation would be a challenge.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

First produced in 1955, Revell’s vintage SS United States is surprisingly good, once one gets past the inevitable presence of flash, caused by moulds of such age. There are just 41 parts for this full-hull build (including a two-part stand) so assembly will be relatively quick once the components have been cleaned-up. Most of the detail is moulded integrally, but with careful painting this will make an attractive model;

any additional scratch-building would be well worth the effort. A broad selection of paper-printed signalling flags is included, along with an American ensign, while the decal sheet provides those necessary features seen aboard a luxury liner; multiple gaming areas, including those for tennis on the main sports and promenade decks. The scheme supplied is that of the smart black/white United States Lines’ livery as depicted in 1953, a year after the vessel won the coveted Blue Riband trophy for the fastest crossings of the Atlantic…an accolade and record it holds to this day.

BALTIC MINESWEEPER

ORP Mors By: Mirage Hobby Item no: 400430 Price: TBC Web: www.mirage-hobby.com.pl Aga’s lovely Polish minesweeper gets a new boxing, courtesy of Mirage Hobby, although thankfully in dark grey styrene and not bright pink as seen originally. Just a full-hull configuration is offered, but a waterline model would be feasible with a modicum of effort. The detail is basic, with rather thick bridge wings and featureless gun mounts, but the overall lines

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and shape appear to be accurate. Compared to more modern kits, there is a minimal parts count; however, this should increase its appeal to novice modellers. There is a single camouflage scheme, for a light-grey vessel, with markings for minesweepers Mors, Ryś and Żbik, and a choice of pennant number styles for pre- and post1960s timeframes. A mixture of pennants and ensigns are supplied on the small decal sheet, along with ship nameplates, which will need to be mounted on styrene before attaching to the stand.

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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 Pieces 520

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ON THE SHELF DECAL SHEETS

BOSSES WITH CROSSES

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Stab pt.1 By: Xtradecal Item no: X72261 Price: £7.99 Web: www.hannants.co.uk Luftwaffe Stab (staff) aircraft are instantly more interesting due to the nature of the markings, to denote higher command status. This sheet is occupied solely by

decals for the Fw 190…a type on almost all selfrespecting Luftwaffe modellers’ build lists. It’s a very generous helping, with 15 options, representing many ‘190 sub-types, and both famous pilots and those less well known. In short, there’s huge variety and plenty of national insignia/Swastikas so it’s also superb value. The camouflage also differs greatly, too. Choices include: • A-6, double chevron and bar, Erich Rudorffer, Kom II./JG 54, Finland, 1944 • A-7, < o +, Wilhelm Krebs, TO of I./JG 1, Dortmund, 1943-44 • A-8/R6, – + –, Stab JG 26, France, early 1944 • A-9, < +, Adjutant, I./JG 301, Leck, 1945 • F-8, < + 1, most likely Stab I./SG 2, Austria, 1945 • A-2, He – + –, Bruno Hegenauer, Stab./JG 26, France, 1942 • D-9, < – + –, Günther Rall, Kom JG 300, Czechoslovakia, 1945

Now here’s a refreshingly different scheme for a Mosquito, especially if one is a little jaded with air force liveries. This decal

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KING’S CUP CLASSIC

Airco DH.4A By: Arctic Decals Item no: AEC48-015 Price: €12 Web: www.arcticdecals.com Civil aviation fans, especially those who favour older subjects, should enjoy this interesting option, which provided decals for the Airco DH.4A ‘City of York’, operated by Cardiff, Wales-based Instone Air

GLAMOROUS DAKS

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CIVILIAN MOSSIE World Wide Airways Mosquito Racer By: Thunderbird Models Item no: 48-001 Price: £4.95 Web: thunderbirdmodels.co.uk

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set provides green codes and fuselage artwork for the very smart Diana Cream-coloured racing Mosquito owned initially by Canadian pilot and founder of World Wide Airways, Don McVicar. The aircraft was a former B Mk.XXV, but anyone with Tamiya’s 1/48 B.IV kit has the means of reproducing this handsome machine; Thunderbird has, though, already issued these markings in 1/72 if a smaller build is desired. This is a simple affair, as all the main Stinson Green trim sections, WWA badges and CF-FZG/41 codes are provided in decal form, and all one must do then is match the green paint on the propeller spinners. Cool!

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C-47 Pin-Up Nose Art Part II By: Foxbot Decals Item no: 72-018 Price: £11.40 Web: www.foxbot.com.ua Whether one has older 1/72 C-47s from the likes of Esci or Italeri, or the new-tool kit from Airfix, these decals markings from newcomer Foxbot Decals are a must. This sheet, part of a series, provides two schemes for aircraft in Olive Drab over Neutral Gray. Both have revealing female nose art, which will enliven what is,

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Line…and which won the first King’s Cup race in 1922. These markings are designed for use with Roden’s 1/48 DH.4A (Passenger) kit, and besides the beautifully printed decals themselves, one also receives window masks, and selfadhesive, chrome-plated window frames. The instructions are a goldmine of information, via good colour artwork and black and white photos.

1/72 essentially, a rather featureless ‘uniform’. The colours on the artwork are vivid, national insignia also features, as does an array of generic serial numbers. Pleasingly, aircraft operated in the Pacific and Northwest Europe are represented: • C-47A-30-DL ‘Ghost of Bille L’, 66th TCS, 433rd TCG, 5th AF, Papua New Guinea, 1944 • C-47A ‘Fatigue’, 7 Photo Recon Group, 8th AF, Mount Farm, UK, 1943-45

ON THE SHELF DECAL SHEETS

DUSTY PROTAGONISTS

Middle East Meteors By: IsraDecal Item no: IAF-95 Price: US $26 Web: www.isradecal.com Airfix’s new-tool Meteor has obviously prompted this super decal collection, but it’s also applicable to older Classic Airframes kits due

HOME AND AWAY

Polish APC Rosomak Vol 1 By: Toro Model Item no: 35D29 Price: €7.50 Web: www.toro-model.com.pl Toro Model’s considered sheet for the Polish Rosomak armoured personnel carrier is just one element in its series of 1/35 aftermarket items (see Accessories and Figures) for IBG Models’ kit. It offers a mixture of standard Polish Army and UN-marked vehicles, along with several deployed to Afghanistan under NATO auspices. Unit identifiers, artwork and vehicle names are included, along with

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to the sub-types covered. Israeli, Egyptian and Syrian aircraft are represented, with bare metal and varying camouflage providing attractive choices. One of the Hebrew Meteors is particularly fetching, as it sports Day-Glo striping over its Oxford Blue and Dark Earth camouflage. The printing is flawless, and this package is recommended unreservedly to any fast jet/Middle East aviation enthusiast. The main sheet is shown here, but two others carry Syrian and Egyptian insignia, and various serials. Example schemes include: • FR.9, ‘36’, Israeli AF, 1956 • F.8, ‘04’, Israeli AF, Sinai Campaign, 1956 • T.7, White 15, Knights of the North Sqn, Israeli AF • NF.13, Grey 52, Bat Squadron, Israeli AF, 1956 • Mk.4, 1407, Egyptian AF, 1950 • F.8, 1425, Egyptian AF, 1955 • F.8, 109, Syrian AF, 1955 • NF.13, 476, Syrian AF, 1957 1/35 convoy warning placards (which must be mounted on plastic card before being added to the model). This set represents superb value, given the quality and variety of the decals, the excellent colour register and definition. The eight schemes are: • UB 02167 ‘Kojot’, Polish TF, Giro Base, Afghanistan, 2012 • UB 02403, White F13, 17th Mech Inf Bde, Poland • UB 02088, Polish TF, Afghanistan • UB 02081, White 0831, 17th Mech Inf Bde, Poland • ‘Mirafiori’, Polish TF, Ghazni Base, Afghanistan, 2010 • UB 02008, Medical Evacuation Vehicle, Polish TF, Ghazni Base, Afghanistan, 2010 • UB 02001, Polish TF, Afghanistan • UB02103, 17th Mech Inf Bde, UN Force Training Camp, Poland, 2006

COLOURFUL PONIES

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North American Mustang P-51D - P-51K By: Kits-World Item no: KW172142 Price: £10.30 Web: www.kits-world.com The legendary Mustang is the subject of this delightful sheet by Kits World, specifically the overall polished aluminium mounts of two USAAF aces (one each from the European and Pacific theatres). As usual, just specific airframe numerals, insignia and artwork are supplied; stencils will need to be sourced from the kit or elsewhere. The first is Major Harry C Crim’s P-51D, 44-73623 ‘My Achin’, 531st FS, based at Iwo Jima in 1945. It includes both fuselage and wheel bay door artwork, with unit markings limited to a black and white spinner and tail stripe. Just the black elements for these are provided; modellers will need to mask and paint the white sections beforehand. The more colourful

example is Major Leonard K ‘Kit’ Carson’s P-51K, 44-116222 ‘Nooky Booky IV’, and comes complete with nose chequers and full kill markings, although the red and yellow spinner will need to be painted. Note the pilot’s name was not carried on the canopy during wartime, but does feature on the P-51D warbird currently adorned with these markings, should one choose to portray that specific airframe.

LEATHERNECK HORSES

USMC CH-53D/E Super Stallions By: Flying Leathernecks Decals Item no: FL 48002 Price: US $20 Web: www.flying leathernecksmodels.com Designed to fit Academy’s and Revell’s 1/48 CH-53s, this stunning collection provides markings for nine US Marine Corps D and E variants. There is a three-view drawing of each airframe, with comprehensive notes on any alterations necessary

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to the basic kits, and recommendations for any aftermarket accessories. Several notable machines are covered, including CH-53D 162493, which was painted in an FS 20400/FS 30219 Tan scheme (with a ‘Nekkid Lady’ silhouette on the port fuselage), and CH-53E 161542 with its Decepticon logo on the fuselage door. The nine schemes include: • CH-53D, 156959, YL/53, HMH-362 ‘Ugly Angels’, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, 2010 • CH-53D, 157728, YZ/46, HMH-363 ‘Luck Red Lions’, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, 2010 • CH-53E, 162493, YK/70, HMH466 ‘Wolfpack’, Operation Desert Shield/Storm, 1990/1991 • CH-53E, 161542, EN/07, HMH-464 ‘Condors’, MCAS New River, July 2008 • CH-53E, 162523, YM/25, HMM-365 (REIN), 24th MEU(SOC), Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, 2008 • CH-53E, 163061, EG/24, VMM-263 (REIN), 22nd MEU, USS Bataan, 2009

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com 91

ON THE SHELF DECAL SHEETS

STORMING FIGHTERS

Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc Pt2 By: Xtradecal Item no: X32063 Price: £7.99 Web: www.hannants.co.uk Xtradecal has dished out another serving of 1/32 Hurricanes to accompany Fly’s Mk.IIC kit and it’s

1/32 a great mix of schemes. There’s an all-black night fighter, Middle Stone/Dark Earth/Azure Blue desert machine and finally a Far East Air Force airframe, with Dark Earth/Dark Green/Medium Sea Grey camouflage. While Gerald Stapleton’s Hurricane is likely to be the more widely known, the 30 Squadron example flown by Squadron Ldr Norris is intriguing; this was during the brief period he was assigned to 243 Wing, just before he assumed command of 33 Squadron (which also flew Hurricanes). Finally Graham Skellam’s Mk.IIc is one of the few to bear a name, being labelled ‘Daisy Bell’. The three options are: • FM-E, Flt Lt Gerald ‘Stapme’ Stapleton DFC, 257 (Burma) Sqn, RAF Honiley, March 1942 • BP588/RS-X, Sqn Ldr SC Norris DFC, Benina, Libya, November 1942 • LD726/Y ‘Daisy Bell’, Fg Off Graham Skellam, 113 Sqn, Burma, October, 1944

DEFENDERS OF FRANCE

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LATIN-AMERICAN STYLE

Ilyushin Il-62M Classic Cubana de Aviación By: Liveries Unlimited Item no: N/A Price: US $10 Web: www.fundekals.com ICM and Zvezda’s 1/144 scale Classics can be given a distinctly Caribbean touch, thanks to these wonderfully colourful markings. Any of the 15 airframes leased by Cubana can be made using this sheet, although modellers will need to check references as to scheme variations; several had

ISRAELI THUNDER

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slight tweaks, and extra decals to cater for these are supplied. As usual, the printing is firstrate, with very thin gloss carrier film, great colour density and the thoughtful inclusion of spare sections of the bright blue and fluorescent red-orange trim. To avoid the daunting task of cutting each passenger window from the red fuselage piping, strips of grey glazing are supplied, along with two decals to replicate the windscreen (and negate the need to paint the frames). 1/32

F-15I Ra’am By: IsraDecal Item no: IAF-97 Price: US $40 Web: isradecal.com

British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France 1940 By: Black Lion Decals Item no: 72055 Price: €4.50 Web: www.blackliondecals.nl Black Lion Decals is developing a reputation for great 1/72 transfers addressing specific periods of history, and this collection of BEF vehicles in France, 1940 will only improve it. Printed on a single layer of carrier film (each item must be cut individually from the sheet), markings are supplied for eight vehicles assigned to the force. Most have featured prominently in archive footage of the BEF’s retreat across France, with many

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abandoned or destroyed and were noted in action at Arras, Calais and Huppy…they are: • Bren Carrier, ‘Hitler’s Bogey’, 1st Border Regt, 2 Div • Morris CS9, White 129 • Matilda Mk.IIa, T6751 ‘Good Luck’, 7th Royal Tk Regt, 1st Armd Bde • Cruiser Mk.I CS/A9, T7256, Calais • Cruiser Mk.III/A13 Mk.I, B Sqn, 3rd Bn, Royal Tk Regt, 3rd Armd Div • Cruiser Mk.IV/A13 Mk.II, T9143 ‘Agility’, 10th Royal Hussars, 2nd Armd Bde • Vickers Light Tank Mk.VIb, T4269, 51st Highland Div • Matilda I, ‘Dragon’, 4 Royal Tk Regt, 1st Army Tk Bde

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

If one has ever wanted to build a large-scale F-15I Ra’am (Thunder), then IsraDecal’s markings and stencils are ideal. Four sheets supply all annotations, serials and artwork to transform Tamiya’s F-15E into its Israeli cousin, and the instructions are extensive. These sumptuous decals are in perfect register, with glossy carrier film, and sharp delineation and tone…even the white items have sufficient opacity to prevent bleed-through. Two options are provided, either the single Test and Evaluation Squadron machine, or a choice of any airframe from Israel’s operational F-15I squadron ‘The Hammers’. The former is

festooned with black and white reference markings and orange and blue strips on the vertical stabilisers, while the latter has the more recent style of eagle’s head motif. Helpfully, IsraDecal has included a paper mask to create the background shape for this, but it must be cut from the selfadhesive sheet.

NE

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This 100-page special publication from the team behind FlyPast magazine pays tribute to all who built, maintained and flew Lancasters, past and present. Using extensive archive images, renowned aviation writers and researchers present an incredible salute to an incredible aircraft. FEATURES INCLUDE: A tribute to the man who designed the Lancaster, Roy Chadwick How and where Lancasters were built From the disaster of the Manchester to the triumph of the Lancaster Potted histories of 75 Lancasters, from the earliest to the survivors Wartime operations and crew exploits Test-beds and trials airframes Legacy, the Lancaster ‘family’, the York and Lancastrian transports, the Lincoln and the Shackleton And much more! A N E W S P E C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N F R O M K E Y P U B L I S H I N G

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ON THE SHELF ACCESSORIES

SECURE ON-DECK

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BANG-OUT!

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PATRIOTIC METAL

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REFINED DIPOLES

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Tie-down points (cross type) US aircraft carrier By: Brengun Item no: BRL48073 Price: €6.59 Web: www.brengun.cz Many modellers will have considered creating a well-detailed carrier deck base, on which to pose a US Navy aircraft build. Help is now at hand, though, with Brengun’s simple photoetched brass tie-down set. More than 100 tie-down points are on the fret, but they are flat and will need to be shaped over a suitably sized spherical object. Then, one must drill shallow indentations in the base over which the tie-downs need to be placed. The next task is to source fine chain and hooks, so the aircraft in question can be secured properly.

ROYAL INTRICACIES

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AV-8B Canopy Det. Cord By: Flying Leathernecks Item no: FLV48003 Price: US $5 Web: www.flyingleathernecks models.com Decals often don’t look convincing enough to replicate the miniature detonating cord seen on some canopies. But these self-adhesive vinyl efforts are thicker and denser, so should look the part. Application is easy, and while billed as for the US Marines’ AV-8B, they also look good for the RAF Harrier GR.7/9. Owners of 1/48 Hasegawa and Monogram kits take note!

TWIN-TUB GRIFFON

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MIM-104F PAC-3 By: Eduard Item no: 36347 Price: €29.95 Web: www.eduard.com

Me 262B-1A/U1 Antennas and Pitot Tube By: RB Productions Item no: RB-C32005 Price: €24.99 Web: www.radubstore.com

Dragon’s 1/35 Patriot anti-aircraft/ missile package will build into a fine subject from the box, but extra refinement is available courtesy of Eduard. This very busy two-fret affair offers a wealth of details, large and small. The system’s control unit receives some of the embellishment, but there are also parts for the launch rail and other structural areas. Due to the size of certain components, a dedicated PE bending tool is recommended. The rendering of fine treadplate on some parts is noteworthy.

Revell did well with the FuG 218 Neptun radar antennas in its newly tooled Me 262B-1, but they are fragile. Thankfully RB Productions has released a robust replacement resin/ turned-brass unit, with 12 metal items for the dipoles, plus pitot and radio aerials, and a singlepiece ‘H’ resin support truss. The latter will demand careful separation from the casting block, but construction of this well-engineered package is otherwise simple.

SCHWALBE GEAR

Tiger II Ausf.B Königstiger By: Hauler Item no: HLH 72054 Price: €9.64 Web: www.hauler.cz Revell’s 1/72 military kits are one of its best product streams, but even in this scale, photo-etched brass details can make a real difference. Hauler’s package has superb replacement parts, such as tools and clamps, hatch inner details, engine screen mesh (early/late, with optional armour plate), and Jan-Mar 1944 pattern exhausts. Some of the components are seriously tiny, so good magnification, decent light and a steady hand are vital!

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JAS-39D By: Eduard Item no: 73565 Price: €18.75 Web: www.eduard.com Revell’s new-tool two-seat Gripen benefits from this dedicated set, which offers many plain brass parts, and alloy with pre-coloured detailing. And as the donor kit is relatively inexpensive, one can create a real show-stopper relatively cheaply. Cockpit and seat components are supplied, along with extras for the undercarriage bays/doors and gear legs, missile rail/wing pylons, exhaust, airbrakes, the canopy and refuelling probe door.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

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Me 262 Main Wheels By: RB Productions Item no: RB-C32006 Price: €12.50 Web: www.radubstore.com These 1/32 resin Me 262 mainwheels are for Revell’s new offering, but should fit onto Hasegawa or Trumpeter kits. The pour stubs on the tyre are aligned with a tread block, and there’s hardly any casting seam to remove, which reduces preparation. Separate inner and outer hubs will ease painting, and the detail issuperior to styrene equivalents (there is even raisedprofile text on the sidewalls).

OFF-ROADER IMPROVEMENT

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Insignia Plates Airfix Jeep/ Ardennes Armoured Jeep Conversion By: Sphere Products Item no: SPD72001/72002 Price: £2.50/£4.50 Web: www.sphereproducts.co.uk For those with Airfix’s new-tool 1/72 Jeep, Sphere offers two handy photo-etched brass sets. The first provides scale-thickness insignia plates and a steering wheel nut for Airborne Jeeps, while the second, more substantial product is a neat two-piece armour plate array for US Army Jeeps used during the famous Battle of the Bulge.

ON THE SHELF ACCESSORIES

LANC’ RESCUE AID

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RAF Mk II airborne lifeboat By: Air-Craft Models Item no: ACR 72002 Price: £8 E-mail: coastalcraftmodels @gmail.com Hasegawa issued a 1/72 Lancaster with airborne lifeboat some years ago, but the kit is expensive and now hard to find. Enter Air-Craft Models, which has recognised the problem and now offers this excellent resin Mk.II lifeboat. With a little fettling, it will fit Hasegawa, Airfix and Revell Lancasters and, once the casting block is removed, all one has to do is attach the underside beaching strips and paint the vessel. Of course, the relevant decals for a lifeboatcarrying Lanc’ must be sourced.

‘STOOF’ BOOTS

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STRAIGHTWING BACKDATE

Hawker Hunter F.1/2/4/5 By: Blackbird Models Item no: BMA72020 Price: £7.99 Web: www.blackbirdmodels.co.uk The building of Hunter subtypes preceding the Mk.6 has never been straightforward, due to a lack of suitable (and good-quality) kits. One remedy lies in Blackbird’s new resin conversion which, with simple surgery performed on Revell’s excellent F.6 or FGA.9, allows the replication of an F.1, F.2, F.4 or F.5 airframe. The set comprises new leading edge and wingtip sections, a suitably shaped exhaust and new wing flaps (applicable for F.1/F.2, as these didn’t carry wing tanks). The mastering and casting are good, and the firm also offers relevant decals separately; one of these sheets was reviewed last month.

ESCORT UPGRADE

S-2F Tracker Wheels By: Royale Resin Item no: R093 Price: US $8 Web: www.royaleresin.net These resin wheels will be suitable for the Kinetic/Italeri (same tooling) 1/48 S-2 Trackers; the real aircraft is known as the S-two-F or ‘Stoof’ in service). Royale’s wheels will provide extra quality to the finished model. They should also be applicable to any quarter-scale E-1 Tracer/C-1 Trader kit. The main and nosewheel pairs are cast well, with sharp definition on the brake housings, wheel rims and tread, while the location of the pour stub on the bulged portion (simulating weighted tyres) minimises the need for superneat sanding as it will be hidden.

HELO WEAPON

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AH-64 Apache M230 Chain Gun Barrel By: Master Model Item no: AM-32-092 Price: €12.80 Web: www.master-model.pl Anyone with Revell’s ageing 1/32 Apache can add instant refinement courtesy of Master’s splendid M230 Chain Gun. The main barrel is a turned-brass item which, along with resin and photo-etched brass details (the muzzle and cooling jacket are excellent), fits onto the kit’s existing plastic breech. Turned-brass pitot tubes are also supplied for the sponsons and vertical tail. A superb set.

BOMBER RESIN

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Belkits’ new Escort would be the ideal recipient for these neat wheels from Motobitz, for modellers wishing to combine them with the latter firm’s decals. This allows the replication of Escort Mk.1s raced in the British Saloon Car Championship and other period series. Here, one receives 4.75/9.40-13 front, and 5.80/12.95-13 rear units, with superb tread pattern and beautifully cast separate spoke sections. Not shown here are the four stub axle adapters. Cast in black and grey resin, these are suitable for use with Motobitz’s decal sheets MBD24007/24011.

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Mirage F.1C Cyrano IV radar with pressurized casing By: CMK Item no: Q72 249 Price: €7 Web: www.cmkkits.com Special Hobby’s superb Mirage F.1s can be embellished to a high degree with sister firm CMK’s resin and photo-etched metal accessories. This offering represents the type’s Cyrano IV radar underneath the characteristically pointed radome, but unlike CMK’s other version with a bare scanner, this unit has the pressurised casing cast in situ. The very delicate pitot tubes mounted on the fuselage ‘collar’ are present, and care is necessary not to damage these.

SOVIET BEAMRIDERS

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13” Magnesium Elektron Minilite wheels By: Motobitz Item no: MBA24002 Price: £17 Web: www.motobitz.co.uk

GALLIC MONOPULSE

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B-17 Flying Fortress Seats (No Belts) By: RESIN 2 Detail Item no: AC32029 Price: US $9.99 Web: www.resin2detail.com This US-based firm is offering high-quality aftermarket parts for HK Models’ B-17s, and these resin seats are certainly worth investigating. Unlike the company’s other Fortress seats, which come with belts cast integrally, these resin units come without belts for those who favour separate photo-etched metal/micro-fibre versions, or scratch-built items. The cushions exhibit convincing creasing for that multi-mission look, and frame-attachment bars are also represented on the seats’ rear.

RS-2US / AA-1 Alkali By: Eduard Item no: 672 105 Price: €7.45 Web: www.eduard.com Builders of Soviet Bloc types will love Eduard’s beautifully rendered resin AA-1 beam-riding missiles. Four are provided, and each store comes with a separately cast tail cone section. The bonus is that alternative launch rails are also offered (APU-4/APU-7), for versatility, and carrier aircraft include the Su-9/9U, and MiG-21PF/ PFM/R/S. Although not shown here, a small decal sheet also features, representing stencil data.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com 95

ON THE SHELF ACCESSORIES

FIFTIES HEAT-SEEKER

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DH Firestreak Air-to-Air-Missiles By: BarracudaCast Item no: BR72215 Price: US $9.95 Web: www.barracudacals.com The Firestreak missiles in Airfix’s 1/72 Lightnings may tick the boxes for detail, refinement and clear nose cones, but the same cannot be said for those in various makers’ Sea Vixen or Javelin offerings. BarracudaCast’s well-designed resin replacements comprise parts for two missiles, with crisply cast main bodies, wafer-thin cruciform wings and clear faceted nose cones. The casting plugs for the latter are at the base, avoiding any attachment gate marks, but the pièce de résistance is the decal sheet, which provides stencilling and role bands.

GLAZING TRIM

Mosquito Rocket Stubs By: Model Design Construction Item no: CV32080 Price: £6 Web: www.modeldesign construction.co.uk Tamiya’s 1/32 Mossie is a masterpiece straight from the box (see our forthcoming Mosquito bookazine) but it does have one surprising omission: it lacks rockets, which were carried frequently by fighter-bomber variants. MDC’s launcher stubs will allow modellers to depict an airframe fitted for (but not loaded with) either 25lb or 60lb projectiles, and there are sufficient for a full eight-round armament load (four per wing).

HUN PETALS

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One of the challenging aspects of Vietnam-era US Air Force warplanes is painting the yellow/ tan-coloured canopy framing lines. The arrival of Furball’s bespoke decal sheet will come as a relief as it supplies enough items for two single- or two-seat airframes, and will eliminate much tedious masking. One word of caution; these are designed to fit the Monogram/Revell F-105D/ F/G offerings, and so may not be suitable for Hobby Boss’ kits.

COMPUTER CAMO

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F-100 Exhaust Iris Nozzle By: Sierra Hotel Models Item no: 48703 Price: US $14 Web: sierrahotelmodels.webs.com Trumpeter’s Super Sabres are good, but they lack definition on the exhaust; this three-piece drop-in replacement should address this. The advantages of resin casting are clear, with delicate blade detail and an intricate actuator mechanism at the nozzle end. While assembly requires cyano, it's otherwise simple, and the delicate features will respond well to dry-brushing. This complements the firm’s earlier F-102 nozzle for F-100 (Accessories, Dec 2016), and is also available for Monogram's offering.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

SHIP’S LINES

Digital Su-27S By: Foxbot Item no: FM 48-009 Price: £14.50 Web: www.foxbot.com.ua When Ukrainian Flankers appeared in ‘digital’ camouflage, modellers were champing at the bit to reproduce them in scale form. Ukrainian company Foxbot has come to the rescue with two sheets of intricately detailed pre-cut masks, which remove the hard work of cutting the complex patterns. Accompanied by meticulous placement instructions, this will enable most builders to master this unusual scheme, and is intended to work in concert with either Foxbot’s own markings or (in 1/72) Authentic Decals’ products.

PIXELATED FROGFOOT

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Masks for Digital Su-25M1 Ukrainian Air Force By: Foxbot Item no: FM 72-001 Price: £3.70 Web: www.foxbot.com.ua

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F-105 Tan Canopy Framing By: Furball Aero-Design Item no: 48-055 Price: US $6.99 Web: furballaero-design.com

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BITING ATTACHMENTS

Digital paint schemes look the business but are murder to pull off successfully without masks. Here, Foxbot offers just that, with its great set of gloss-finish vinyl masks, sized for the Art Model single-seat Frogfoot. The colour/ monochrome placement guide is clear and concise, but just the masks alone are provided; they are designed to be used in conjunction with waterslide markings from Authentic Decals. Go on…go digital!

Super Fine White Lycra Rigging 40 Denier By: Infini Model Item no: IR-0402W Price: £12.50 Web: sovereignhobbies.co.uk If one can get past the words ‘Lycra’ and ‘denier’, this rigging material from Infini (distributed in the UK via Sovereign Hobbies) is a brilliant medium for ships and aircraft. Its flexibility will enable suitably taught lines to be created easily, without placing undue stress on any styrene or photo-etched components, and its fineness makes it perfect for 1/700 and 1/350 scale subjects. This product is also available in black and as 20, 70 and 110 denier (0.048, 0.091 and 0.121mm respectively) diameters.

FLYING BOAT WINDOWS

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Supermarine Stranraer Pre-Cut Flexible Mask Set By: Thunderbird Models Item no: TBM-006 Price: £2.95 Web: thunderbirdmodels.co.uk It’s encouraging to see aftermarket products for older kits, such as the Matchbox/Revell Stranraer, with its many small windows. While most masks are pretty much the same, thought has been given here to the layout, as they are arranged in a similar fashion to the kit’s clear parts, aiding selection, and there are covers for the mainwheels should one select the lowered undercarriage option.

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PLASTIC SURGERY ASK THE EXPERTS

Quiz AMW’s team of contributors, regarding your own modelling mysteries... HISTORY

(Malcolm V Lowe)

Revelatory research

Q

“I very much enjoyed your build of Airfix’s 1/72 Spitfire 19 in issue 75. Having family in Hong Kong, I’ve spent time researching the history of the RAF and Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force at Kai Tak and Sek Kong, and as such would have to question the research behind your otherwise beautiful build could you clarify for me? In January 1951, the date given in the Airfix instructions,

1952. Indeed, all of the photos that I have seen of PS852 in her silver scheme can be dated to the aircraft’s time with the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (1954-55). Stu’s build is a lovely representation of the aircraft in its later guise, but doesn’t depict the aircraft in her recordbreaking heyday. Moreover, neither does the BBMF’s current scheme on PS915 - unless you or their research team know something I don’t!” Benjamin Short, Southampton, UK

PS852 was recently transferred from Singapore and would have carried the low-demarcation Medium Sea Grey (MSG) over PRU Blue scheme, which has been captured in a number of period images. It’s unclear when Powles’ machine was re-painted into the silver scheme depicted, but in interview, Powles has previously confirmed that PS852 carried the MSG over PRU blue scheme when he undertook the infamous highaltitude, high-Mach sortie in early

AMW’s Assistant Editor, Stu Fone, says: “Research undertaken for the build was purely for the High-Speed Silver scheme, chosen due to its eye-catching appearance (an MSG/PRU Blue airframe was featured in 2011). Text on the record account, during which it undoubtedly wore the latter muted hues, was included for interest alone, and not to suggest this was how the aircraft appeared at that time. During

Build identities

of the models on display have a name tag or similar…do you have any idea where I can get my hands on something like that?” Dan Hayman, Dunedin, New Zealand

“I am a 12-year-old boy living in New Zealand, and I’m now really getting into modelmaking, In Issue 71 of Airfix Model World magazine, some

AMW’s Editor, Chris Clifford, replies: “If one is placing a model on a base, a nameplate does give an extra touch of

class when done neatly. In the UK, Name It is the best-known model-focussed provider of nameplates (www.nameitplates. co.uk). There are firms such as this world-wide, even though they may not specialise in nameplates for models and are more industry-led operations. One such outfit is Permark (www.permark.co.nz).”

NAME PLATES

Q

the build, the issue of the date and airfield name on Airfix’s instructions was raised, as my research tallied with yours, but this was the information available at the time AMW went to press. In addition to various online and book sources, I was fortunate enough to have Flypast’s recent (December 2016) summary, and for the most part, my efforts dovetailed neatly. Although I haven’t spoken with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight directly, it is my understanding that PS915’s regalia simply portrays one of Ted Powles’ airframes, and not to recreate that of the record attempt. There is one slight mea culpa, in that I didn’t spot the wheel wells were painted with the wrong colour until after the issue had been published; they should be in the airframe’s silver shade.” 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 Sponsored by

* * THENEXT NEXTISSUE ISSUEISISON ON SALE: APRIL 6, 2017 THE SALE: FEBRUARY 4, 2016 *UK scheduled on sale date. Please note that overseas deliveries are likely to occur after this date.

98

Airfix Model World

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MOSQUITO

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The Mosquito was one of the most famous and capable aircraft of World War Two. This 100-page special from the team behind Airfix Model World magazine celebrates that fact with five full model builds, type histories, kit/decal/accessory listings and exclusive scale drawings. Learn about the real Mosquito, and receive great instruction and advice on assembly, scratch-building, detailing and more. History features are provided by the renowned authors Dana Bell, Malcolm V Lowe and Terry Higgins, and all are accompanied by superb period images and colour profiles. The five in-depth Mosquito build projects are: AIRFIX 1/24 FB.VI COASTAL COMMAND TAMIYA 1/32 FB.VI SEAC HASEGAWA 1/72 FB.XVIII ‘TSETSE’ HK MODELS 1/32 B.IV AIRFIX 1/48 USAAF F-8 CONVERSION

An

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