Airfix Model World Issue 084 (November 2017)

EXCLUSIVE PHANTOM FG.1

Closing date: December 5, 2017

PHANTOM Kits, books and decals!

Nov 2017 Issue 84

PHANTOM MENACE

Airfix’s new 1/72 Phantom FG.1

70 LATEST PRODUCT REVIEWS

PLUS CARRIER DECK SECTION SCALE PLANS INSIDE

SOPWITH AT SEA 1/32 Camel 2.F1 from Wingnut Wings

£4.50

FUNKY SCOUT

Hobby Boss’ 1/35 Sd.Kfz.223 ‘Funk’

AMMO_FP.indd 1

04/09/2017 09:59

EDITOR'S DESK WELCOME

Like us! facebook.com/airfixmodelworld Visit us! www.airfixmodelworld.com

WELCOME TO ISSUE 84

I

’m incredibly excited about this month’s issue; having built a few Fujimi British Phantoms in my time, I always wondered if any manufacturer would pick up the reins and offer an up-to-date alternative in styrene. Besides becoming increasingly hard to

find, Fujimi’s boxings also had their failings. I’m sure Airfix had received many a request for a British F-4, and thankfully, knowing the hunger for Blighty’s Cold War jets displayed by UK modellers (and many abroad), it decided to take the plunge. The F-4 is a tricky beast, with sumptuous curves in some places, and harsh angles in others. Airfix appears to have nailed it though, and I’m sure you’ll be impressed with Chris Jones’ exclusive test-shot build on p.50 of this month’s edition. I’m equally thrilled with my Assistant Editor Stu, who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to produce a truly fine set of 1/72 drawings, in a bid to educate us all on how to scratch-build our own HMS Ark Royal deck catapult section. He

laboured long and hard, dusting off tech-drawing skills that had been exercised little since school, and even visiting the Fleet Air Arm Museum archive; the final plans were digitised by our freelance illustrator Andy Hay. A Royal Navy Phantom model arguably looks best when crew figures have bums on seats, canopies are down and that trademark nose leg is extended to full take-off height. An aggressive demeanour…but it will look truly amazing on a proper base with Jet Blast Deflectors up and catapult bridle attached. If you can replicate scale steam, then hats off to you! Stu explains how to build it all in detail, so I hope you’ll attempt the project and make use of the excellent scale drawings. I know I will...thanks Stu.

I’ll close with a warm ‘congratulations’ to Adrian Hopwood, Richard Wharton and Steve Kirtley, organisers of the new Euro Miniature Expo show… the de facto replacement for the former Euro Militaire. It was a brave decision to pick up the baton and offer their own version of what had gone before, and having just visited the inaugural event, I can say they did a grand job and the standard of work in the competition was stunning. We’ll publish a full report in our December issue. Well done guys.

Key Publishing Ltd, PO Box 100, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1XQ, UK.

1NA, UK and distributed in the USA by UKP Worldwide, 3390 Rand Road, South Plainfield, NJ 07080. Periodicals postage paid at Rahway, NJ and at 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 3390 Rand Road, South Plainfield NJ 07080.

form of retrieval system without the prior permission of the publisher.

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 92. Editor: Chris Clifford Assistant Editor: Stu Fone Editor's Secretary: Melissa Smith Contributors this issue: Steve Budd, Garry Tobiss, Malcolm V Lowe, Cristian Lupu, Glenn Sands, Tim Gedge, Chris Jones, Jennifer Wright, Mike Grant, Andy Davies, Dave Oliver Designer: Tom Bagley Chief Designer: 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

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

“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.

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

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?

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

46

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

92 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.

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

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

WIN! 61 Phantom kits and more!

76

36

16

4

Airfix Model World

CONTENTS WHAT'S INSIDE?

24

FEATURES 12 Your Airfix Readers show us their Airfix model builds new and old.

16 Advanced Build – Sopwith at Sea Steve Budd completes Wingnut Wings’ new 1/32 Sopwith Camel 2.F1.

24 Advanced Build – Leyte Survivor Hasegawa’s 1/35 IJN Yahagi light cruiser is super-detailed by Garry Tobiss.

32 In Focus – Six-Gun River Malcolm V Lowe describes the travails of Japan’s IJN Yahagi warship.

SCALE PLANS 59

36 Intermediate Build – Cold War Lizard

HMS Ark Royal carrier deck plans

Cristian Lupu builds Trumpeter’s 1/35 SA-8 Gecko SAM launcher.

Assistant Editor Stu Fone shows how to scratch-build an HMS Ark Royal deck catapult section base; and provides his own exclusive 1/72 drawings.

44 Out and About – High End on a Hot Day Glenn Sands reports on the Salisbury IPMS model show, held in June this year.

46 In Focus – Team Omega Commander Tim Gedge AFC, RN, describes flying the Phantom FG.1.

50 Exclusive Build – Defending the Fleet Chris Jones is bowled over by Airfix’s hotly anticipated 1/72 FG.1.

62 Photo Focus – Freedom at Work…USN Style Glenn Sands enjoys a naval aviation photographic fiesta aboard the USS George HW Bush supercarrier.

66 Advanced Build – Funky Scout 66

Garry Tobiss adds accuracy and refinement to Hobby Boss’ Sd.Kfz.223 ‘Funk’, via Sovereign 2000’s resin improvement set.

74 Out and About – Naval Edge RNAS Yeovilton Air Day was as impressive as ever, says Glenn Sands.

76 Advanced Build – Aces Mount Eduard’s 1/72 Spitfire Mk.IXc receives extra detail – and the livery of French ace Pierre Clostermann – courtesy of Jennifer Wright.

84 Out and About – East Anglian Inspiration Dave Oliver reports on the quality exhibits at his local Essex Modellers Show.

86 Basic Build – Mark One Foxtrot Mike Grant tackles the recent 1/144 Bristol Beaufighter If from Mark 1 Models.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 5

NEWS BULLETIN LATEST UPDATES

SCENIC TREATS AND WARPAINT

SPAIN’S AMMO of Mig Jimenez stable has released useful new items. For modellers considering scenic activity for dioramas and vignettes, the firm now offers A.MIG-2100 Arid Dry Ground under the Acrylic Mud for Dioramas label, and A.MIG2205 Clear Water…super useful for maritime as well as military builders. Two new Lucky Varnish clear coats are available, these being A.MIG-

2050 Ultra-Matt and A.MIG-2053 Glossy. The final product received by AMW is an Air Set paint package, A.MIG-7212 USAAF WWII Colors, which offers four 17ml jars: Medium Green, Neutral Gray, Dark Olive Drab and ANA 613 Olive Drab. These shades are designed for hand and airbrushing, although will need to be thinned for the latter. For more details visit: www. migjimenez.com

TROJAN TRIO TRAINER, GROUND-attack machine and warbird; North American’s T-28 has operated in all these roles, and in a first for 1/144 scale, Miniwing has released a batch of three Trojan trainers. Comprising US (mini313), Taiwanese (mini314) and Mexican (mini315) Air Force T-28As, each package contains one grey styrene runner and separate single-piece canopy. Exterior panels are rendered as fine engraved lines, and there is a pleasing level of detail in the cockpit, with seats and instrument panels supplied, but no decals for the latter. Note there are four small depressions in each wing for weapon pylons; these will need to be filled as the T-28A wasn’t fitted with these

6

Airfix Model World

items. A single livery is provided for each kit, with a grey/white, natural metal and grey machine respectively. Judging by the unused parts, -B and -D versions will follow shortly, offering the three-bladed propeller and ‘mudmoving’ variants of this versatile aircraft. For more details, see: www.miniwing.cz

WORLDWIDE T-BIRDS warning markings/labels. There are examples from Bolivia (which amazingly, finally retired the type in July this year), Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Guatemala, Chile, Japan, Libya, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain, and Taiwan. Liveries range from classic metal to a wide variety of twothree- and four-tone camouflage schemes, with the occasional DayGlo embellishment brightening the proceedings. Further Armycast decals will be reviewed in future issues; for more information on these and the company’s resin conversion/detail sets, visit: www. armycast.cz CZECH FIRM Armycast has produced a stunning two-sheet set of decals for the Lockheed T-33. Printed in 1/72 and 1/48 scales, they are perfect for any Hasegawa, Heller, Platz, Sword, TanModel, Academy, Hobbycraft or Great Wall Hobby offerings of this classic jet trainer. Each package (ACD 72018 and ACD 48018) supplies sufficient items for 16 different aircraft, representing 14 air arms on two sheets, and at €12.50 and €13.90 respectively, these are great value. The decals are printed in perfect register, with good colour definition and gloss carrier film, and provide basic national, unit and emergency/

NATIVE AMERICAN RESIN FIGURE and bust producer Stormtroopers has released a new 120mm subject, in the form of a Cherokee Woodland Indian. The package (T2001) provides a two-part rock-effect base and six components for the Indian himself, who’s posed thoughtfully, in a relaxed state. His clothing comprises buckskin leggings and shirt (with rolled sleeves), moccasins, and a blanket draped over the shoulder. A shoulder-slung bag and powder horn are cast in situ on the torso and leg sections. The head is depicted mostly shaved, with a tight hair bunch at the back, decorated with a feather grouping. A splendid long rifle with two sling sections is also included, along with a length of fine wire to form ear decorations. It’s a splendid figure, with convincing features and strong facial detail, and is highly recommended

to anyone interested in American historical modelling. Careful painting will pay dividends! For information on this and other items in the range, visit: www.stormtrooperminiatures.co.uk

ARMOURED GENERALS COMPARED TO the M4 Sherman, the M3 Lee/Grant hasn’t been covered particularly well in 1/35 scale by kit manufacturers…but Takom’s new toolings should alleviate this shortfall. Unsurprisingly, there are seven common runners in its M3 Lee (Early) and M3 Grant (#2085 and #2086 respectively), but the British modifications to the latter are incorporated on an additional two frames. All components are moulded crisply, and the types’ prominent rivet heads have been rendered faithfully, as have the vertical volute-sprung suspension and running gear. A small photo-etched brass

EDK11111 1:48 Supermarine Spitfire for Israel. Spitfire Mk.IXe flown by Israeli Air Force in late 40ss and 50s. 5 Decals options Paint Masks, Resin & Photo-Etched parts £38.80

fret provides engine grilles, light surrounds and various hull fittings. Tracks (T41 for the Lee and WE210 for the Grant)

are supplied as link-and-length items, with the end connectors notable for their refinement; a neat jig will help to replicate the characteristic ‘hump’ as the track passes over the drive wheel. There are four schemes in each boxing; the Lee offers markings for US and Soviet Army vehicles, and there are British (including Montgomery’s command tank) and Australian options. While there is no interior detail in either version, it’s good this important, yet arguably overlooked type has received a modern release. For these and other Takom products, visit: www.pocketbond.co.uk

EDK7039 1:72 Fokker Dr.I ProfiPACK edition. 5 Decals options Paint Masks & Photo-Etched parts £12.99

EDK82111 1:48 Messerschmitt Bf-109G-6 late series ProfiPACK edition. Features Erla canopy and redesigned bigger tailplane. 5 Decals options Paint Masks & Photo-Etched parts £32.30

ALL-NEW MUDHEN UNTIL RECENTLY, modellers have put up with 1/72 Strike Eagles based on the F-15B prototype, but Great Wall Hobby’s F-15E offers a new modern tooling. This stunning kit comprises three large and 19 smaller styrene runners (including one clear), packed with beautifully moulded parts, which feature restrained panel line and rivet detail. Component breakdown is clever, with the rear of the forward fuselage forming a plug for a socket located between the intakes. Identifying a single highlight is difficult, as the raised detail in the cockpit is superb (decal alternatives are offered), the exhaust nozzles and undercarriage are intricate replicas of the real thing, while the weapons are superior to most aftermarket items; the provision of a short-winged

EDK82132 1:48 Royal_Aircraft_Factory S.E.5a with Hispano Suiza ProfiPACK edition. 5 Decals options Paint Masks & Photo-Etched parts £25.80

GBU-15 and rocket-propelled AGM-130 is a first in this scale. There are options for raised/lowered wheels, intakes, canopy and air brake…a radar antenna is also included. The instructions are unusual, being of multi-sheet fold-out format, but they provide clear CAD-based stages, and even armament configurations. There are three USAF schemes, which depict the F-15E in

its standard overall Medium Gunship Grey camouflage, with two Mountain Home-based examples (including the box-top shark mouth airframe) and a jet from Seymour Johnson. With brand new fighter Eagles from Platz, and another F-15E from Academy, modellers of modern 1/72 US jets will be spoilt for choice. For this and more from Great Wall Hobby, visit www.tigerhobbies.co.uk

EDK84161 1:48 Bell P-39K/N Weekend edition 2 Decals options £19.40

H G HANNANT LTD HARBOUR ROAD, OULTON BROAD, LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK, NR32 3LZ

www.hannants.co.uk Tel: 01502 517444 0845 130 7248 (Local rate) Email: [email protected]

NEWS BULLETIN LATEST UPDATES

INTERSTELLAR MIGHT

ENTERPRISING CZECH aftermarket firm Green Strawberry has released a cool photo-etched (PE) brass detail set for the Zvezda/Revell 1/2700 Star Destroyer. Iconic as being the first Imperial spacecraft on screen in the original Star Wars film, in 1977, the Star Destroyer is imposing in this scale, and has plenty of impressive moulding…but this PE set will add much extra refinement. Via two

frets, the parts improve areas such as the deflector shield units, docking bays, electro-magnetic paralysing pincer crane, and garbage chute. The bridge receives plenty of attention with exterior embellishment, too; all etchings are of very high quality, and the instructions are clear and easy to understand. For more information on this and other sets from the firm, visit: www.greenstrawberry.cz

DELECTABLE DOVE

WE HIGHLIGHTED the fact that Wingnut Wings was to release a 1/32 Jeannin Stahltaube in April issue’s Nuremberg show report. Now, Sir Peter Jackson's New Zealand-based company has released promotional images of this fascinating 1914 wing-warping type, which should be available later this month. The initial bird-like ‘Taube’ (Dove) was designed by the Austrian Igo Etrich and first flew successfully in April 1910. Wingnut’s kit (32058) offers 165 styrene parts and 21 photo-etched

metal components. Optional 100hp Daimler-Mercedes D.1 and 120hp Argus AS.II engines are provided, along with alternative propellers, exhaust manifolds, gravity fuel tanks pistol armament and hand-dropped bombs. A majorly impressive feature of this kit is its ultra-thin 0.3mm to 0.5mm wing warping control surfaces, and the Cartograf decals including markings for five aircraft. If one is desperate for a Wingnut ‘fix’, for now, why not enjoy our full build of the firm’s recent Ship’s Camel, on p.16. www.wingnutwings.com

DUAL-ROLE FOXBAT

MASKS MADE EASY KEEN-EYED AMW readers may have spotted an amazing-looking circular cutting tool on social media of late… well, here it is! We caught up with the Nertherlands’ Breveco Modelling, European importer of Dspiae’s Stepless Adjustment Circular Cutter, at Euro Miniature Expo and the firm kindly provided a sample. This Chinese-built gadget is crafted from high-quality aviation aluminium and has an unbelievably silky-smooth action due to the 440 stainless steel bearings. It comes with a set of three different tungsten steel blades (30˚, 45˚ and 60˚), designed to cut neat circles in paper, masking tape and thin plastic card to a thickness of 0.4mm, and from a diameter of 50mm down to just 1mm. The masking opportunities are legion…from roundels and the dot patterns on, say, 8th AF lead ships,

8

Airfix Model World

to the circular camouflage on German World War Two armoured fighting vehicles, masking wheel hubs, airfield or ship deck markings…the sky’s the limit. A non-slip under-surface means steady, accurate cuts and new blades can be bought separately; it’s an ingenious device, that’s part of a wider range of tools by Dspiae. To purchase this or other items, visit: www.brevecomodelling.nl, but the company will also be at this year’s IPMS Scale ModelWorld at Telford.

ICM HAS been quick to capitalise on its splendid 1/48 MiG-25RBT, and now offers the more exotic MiG25RB reconnaissance/high-speed bomber variant. The main parts are mostly unchanged, but there are five new runners, which provide a replacement nose and larger upper air intake panels, along with eight FAB-500 bombs and associated twin-store carriers. As with the earlier release, the surface detail is rendered as delicate engraved panel lines, rivets and fasteners, while the parts are flash free and devoid of sink marks. The well-appointed cockpit comes with busy sidewalls, consoles and

instrument panel (the clear insert for the latter is a neat touch), and there’s full intake trunking. Unlike its RBT predecessor, the nose contours appear spot on, with correctlysized dielectric panels for the early signals intelligence equipment fits, but the aperture for the vertical reconnaissance camera (on the fuselage) is missing…modellers will need to scratch-build this. The decal options are an interesting mix, comprising a Soviet Air Force Foxbat-B, two Egypt-deployed airframes (one with Egyptian insignia) from before/after the Yom Kippur War, and an Iraqi AF jet. More information is at: www.icm.com.ua

NEWS BULLETIN LATEST UPDATES

REVISED ABRAMS GUIDE SABOT PUBLICATIONS’ first volume on the M1A2 SEP tank was an instant classic, and in such demand, it sold out quickly. The good news is this In Detail volume (SP007) isn’t just a re-release…it’s been updated comprehensively, and packs even more colour photographs into its 144 pages. For those unfamiliar with the type, there is a short introduction outlining its characteristics and the distinctive Tank Urban Survival Kit (TUSK) upgrades, complemented by colour profiles and 1/35 scale plans of a TUSK-enhanced machine. The photos are divided into five sections; in Action, Walkaround, Training in the Field, Barracuda Camouflage Testing, and Field Exercises Eager Lion and Spartan Shield. Thus, every nook and cranny of the US Army’s principal main battle tank is examined exhaustively, with superb notes on equipment and how to identify sub-variants. The author’s modelling and military background shines through at all stages (it’s dedicated to all serving

BLACK KNIGHTS

soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen), and M1A2 SEP In Detail further cements Sabot’s reputation for top-quality armour guides. This is sure to be popular, and will influence many an Abrams build, whether it be of Dragon, Meng, Rye Field or Academy kits (for in-depth builds of the latter two, see Jul and Sep 2017 issues). For more on this and other publications, see www.sabotpub.com

VINTAGE INSTRUCTION

ZOUKEI-MURA has extended its superb 1/48 Phantom range by releasing the F-4C…and in a stunning paint scheme. The colours are well known, and for an aircraft of US Air Defense Command’s 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in 1976, participating in that heady Bicentennial year’s William Tell Weapons Meet, at Florida’s Tyndall Air Force Base. The livery comprises the standard Southeast Asia camouflage, but with the empennage covered in black and white chequers, William Tell badges on the wing tanks and Bicentennial ‘pretzel’ markings on the air intakes. This boxing (Super Wing Series No.6), comes with much the same styrene as in the F-4J/S kits, but

with C-specific components such as the under-nose IR seeker fairing, shorter (but beautifully detailed) exhaust nozzles for the J79-GE-10B engines, boom refuelling receptacle panel on the spine, USAF-style inboard wing pylons and later AIM-9J/P Sidewinder missiles to accompany the AIM-7E Sparrows. Unslotted stabilators, two complete engines, separate leading-edge flaps and low-pressure tyres are other features, as well as a well-appointed cockpit and wheel bays. Judging by unused parts on the runners, we can also expect an F-4D in the future…go Delta! For further details, visit: www. zoukeimura.co.jpo and www. tigerhobbies.co.uk

LITTORAL DETAILS

BUILDERS OF large-scale aircraft from the Great War won’t want to miss this splendid new skills-based manual from Chris Meddings’ Inside the Armour Publications. Stringbag! A Modeller’s Guide to the Art of WWI Aircraft, is the result of a two-year building/writing project by Jeroen Veen and Flip Hendrickx. With a strong (and unsurprising) leaning towards Wingnut Wings’ 1/32 kits, the book is packed with thoughts, ideas and techniques for achieving the best results from World War One aircraft builds, and the authors bring two distinct and

individual approaches to modelling these fascinating subjects. Themes include the replication of wood, leather, castor oil staining, carving wooden propellers and rigging. Stringbag! Will be launched at the Netherlands’ Scale Model Challenge event, on October 21 this year. Look out for a full review in AMW after that. See www.insidethearmour.com

WHETHER ONE has a 1/350 USS Iwo Jima or USS Wasp by Gallery Models, Revell or Trumpeter, Eduard’s photoetched (PE) metal accessories are ideal, as they are all essentially the same kit. There are five sets in all, enabling modellers to choose the level of enhancement they want on the completed model. The USS Iwo Jima LHD-7 pt.2 Helicopters and Vehicles (53183) and USS Iwo Jima LHD-7 pt.3 Superstructure (53184) each comprise a single fret of PE brass, and the extra detail provided is jawdropping. In the former, the usual rotor blades and undercarriage are joined by AV-8B pylons, a comprehensive upgrade to all the deck-handling vehicles and even windscreen wipers for the helicopters and Ospreys. For the latter, almost every part is improved, with replacement radars and satcom

antennas, and a generous helping of railings, safety nets, water-tight doors and inclined ladders. The remainder of the range features the vessels’ amphibious assault craft (53181), railings and safety nets (53185), and life-rafts (53186). More details are at: www.eduard.com www.airfixmodelworld.com 9

NEWS BULLETIN LATEST UPDATES

EASIER SPRAYING

MODELLERS WHO favour Iwata airbrushes should note the new accessories available from The Airbrush Company. Cleaning is always easier with a dedicated spray out pot, and Iwata’s Workstation unit (IWCL300) features a non-skid pot sleeve, universal airbrush hanger (which fits all gravity/bottomfeed and trigger-style ‘brushes, combined filter cap/parts holder and two spare filters. It also has a dishwasher-safe glass pot and can be used in conjunction with Iwata’s Universal Airbrush Holder (IWA-AH-400), also shown here. The latter fixes to a table-top and

has optional left- and right-hand cradles supplied, and a bracket to mate it with the aforementioned Spray Out Pot. Also now available is a reformulated Super Lube (IWA015001), which is essential for good maintenance of Iwata airbrushes. It should be applied to the main lever, needle packing, valve-piston packing, along the needle and in the needle cap, to enhance paint flow and prevent tip drying. This new formula doesn’t evaporate and maintains its viscosity in all environments. Visit www.airbrushes.com for more details.

COOL TRAINER PACKAGE

JAPAN’S PLATZ has re-boxed Eduard’s 1/72 MiG-15 UTI and issued four separate accessory packs. The two-seater kit itself (AE-4 2800) has all the superb standard plastic parts from its Czech originator, but Platz has added new decals for Finnish and Polish Air Force airframes (two of each, including an overall white aircraft from the latter air arm), and bespoke shaped nose weights to prevent tail sitting. The individual detail sets, produced by Eduard, are tape masks (MS72-3) for the

cockpit glazing, photo-etched (PE) brass improvements for the exterior/ undercarriage bays (M72-40), wing flaps (M72-41) and plain/pre-coloured PE embellishment for the cockpit (M72-39). When combined, one will have everything necessary for a truly superior build. Platz also continues its thoughtful trait of providing a useful carrying jig for show transportation, to be built from card components cut from the kit box. For further details, visit: www.platz-hobby.com

PRECIOUS MARITIME METAL REVELL IS a wizard when it comes to enlivening its large-scale ships with a host of extras, as part of its Platinum Edition range. Its latest attempt matches the firm’s original 1/144 FletcherClass Destroyer tooling from 2008, with a staggering amount of

bespoke photo-etched (PE) metal and turned brass. On its own, the Fletcher styrene is reasonable at best, and in this scale, which is unusually large for maritime subjects, the kit certainly benefits from all the quality additions. Five substantial instruction

sheets display the assembly/ folding/positioning of all the PE parts and sub-assemblies alone (and then there is the 28-page styrene assembly booklet), making this a truly involved project for experienced modellers; a real ‘winter masterpiece’ for those long, dark evenings. The PE offers a wealth of refinement, in that it builds into whole radar units, depth-charge racks, platforms, gun shields, ladders, railings, a torpedo crane, chain stopper and brake wheel, bulwarks, torpedo tube ends

10

Airfix Model World

and much more. Gun barrels, depth charges, cable reels and masts are replicated via turned brass items, and one also receives a spool of twine for rigging, and a paper sheet of signal flags. This is a stunning package, which comes with a display stand, and pennant number/nameplate decals for two vessels in 1942: DD-451 USS Chevalier and DD-445 USS Frank Fletcher…the latter wearing attractive disruptive MS-12 MOD camouflage. See www.revell.de/ en for more information.

®

Precision products for craft, hobby and industry

Best Quality /Value on the market

Mr Hobby Procon Boy Airbrushes ®

Come and see us at Telford Scale Model World

Precision products for craft, hobby and industry

We’ll be demonstrating the complete range, have a go yourself and see why it’s fast becoming one of the most popular ranges on the market ®

Don’t buy your next airbrush until you’ve Precision products for craft, hobbycome and industry and seen us at Telford!

FORM-U-LAY BUNKERS, BUILDINGS & ROADWAYS Bases Õ Accessories Õ Figures Õ Aircraft Come and see us in hall 2 Grid D2 Providing vacuum formed moulds for modellers since 1998

www.form-u-lay.co.uk

011_AMW_Nov17_ad.indd 1

• Dual Action • Superb quality • Made in Japan • Needle travel control • Air control valve (PS270/289/770 only) • Full set of spares are available • Watch

video (search Albion Alloys Procon Boy)

Contact Albion Alloys for details of your nearest dealer: tel: 01202 511232 email: [email protected]

19/09/2017 10:34

SHOW SCENE DIARY DATES

SHOW SCENE

E MODEL DISPLAY

) MODEL COMPETITION J TRADE STANDS

At-a-glance model show calendar

 REFRESHMENTS

m AIRCRAFT DISPLAY  MILITARY DISPLAY  AUTOMOTIVE DISPLAY

FREE PARKING MAKE AND PAINT

Scale Modelworld Date:

November 11-12

Hosts:

IPMS (UK)

Address: Telford International Centre, Telford, Shropshire, TF3 4JH

October 14-15 Plastic And Steel Hosts: IPMS Belgium Address: Bellekouter Hall, 1790 Affligem, Belgium Times: Sat 10am-6pm Sun 10am-5pm Prices: Adults €2, IMPS members and under-12s free E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.plasticandsteel.be

15 Southwell Show Hosts: IPMS Lincoln Address: The Grandstand, Southwell Racecourse, Rolleston, Newark, NG25 0TS Times: 10am-4.30pm Prices: Adults £2, under-16s free E-mail: [email protected] Web: Lincoln & Newark Model Expo (Facebook)

21 Glasgow Modelfest 2017 Hosts: IPMS Glasgow Address: Bellahouston Leisure Centre, Bellahouston Drive, Glasgow, G52 1HH Times: 10am-4pm Prices: Adults £4, children/concessions £2 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.ipmsglasgow.com

28 Showcase 2017 Hosts: Letchworth Scale Model Club Address: The Icknield Centre, Icknield Way, Letchworth, SG6 1EF Times: 10am-4pm Prices: Adult £3, juniors/concessions £1.50m, family £8 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.letchworthsmc.yolasite. com/showcase-2017.php

19

Aircraft Enthusiast Fair & Model Show Hosts: Museum of Army Flying Address: Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop, Stockbridge, Hants, SO20 8DY Times: 10am-3pm Prices: Adults £7.50 (includes access to museum) E-mail: mark.roberts15863@ gmail.com Web: www.armyflying.com

November 4-5 Switzerland Model Show 2017 Hosts: Club Historia Address: Swiss Army Barracks, Salle Barbara, Switzerland Times: Sat 12am-7pm Sun 9am-5pm Prices: Free E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.clubhistoria.ch

11-12 Hosts:

Scale Act 17 Australian Capital Territory Scale Modellers’ Society Address: UC High School Kaleen, 108 Baldwin Drive, Kaleen, Canberra Times: Sat 10.30am-4.30pm Sun 10am-3.30pm Prices: Adults AUS $5, children and seniors AUS $2 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.actsms.asn.au

25 Plastic Winter Bratislava Hosts: KPM Bratislava Address: Dom Kultúry Ružinov, Ružinovská 28, Bratislava, Slovakia Times: TBC Prices: TBC E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.kpmbratislava.sk

25 Euro Scale Modelling 2017 Hosts: IPMS Netherlands Address: Expo Houten, Meidoornkade 24, 3992 AE Houten, The Netherlands Times: 10am-5pm Prices: €7, IPMS members and under-12s free E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.ipms.nl

Times:

Sat 10am-6pm Sun 10am-4pm

Prices:

Sat - Adults £12, concessions £8, children/ IPMS members free  Sun – Adults £10, concessions £7, children/ IPMS members free

Email:

scalemodelworld@ipmsuk. co.uk

Web:

www.ipmsuk.org/ipmsscale-modelworld

26 Bugle Call 2017 Hosts: Bristol BMSS Address: Nailsea School, The Link, Mizzymead Rd, Nailsea, North Somerset, BS48 2HN Times: 10am-4.30pm Prices: Adults £5, OAPs £4, under-12s £2 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.bmssbristol.org

December 2 IPMS Korea 6th Exhibition Hosts: IPMS Korea Address: Yeongdeungpo Art Hall, Yeongdeungpo Art Hall, 596 Gukhoe Daero, Yeongdeungpogu, Seoul, Republic of Korea Times: 10am-6pm Prices: Free E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.ipmskorea.co.kr

3 Hosts:

Christmas Model Fayre 2017 Midland Air Museum/IPMS Coventry and Warwickshire Address: Midland Air Museum, Rowley Road, Coventry, CV3 4FR Times: 10am-3pm Prices: Adults £7, OAP/students £6.50, children £3.50 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk

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]

12

Airfix Model World

YOUR AIRFIX 1/48 LIGHTNING F.6

A 

AMW contributor Chris Jones offers his ‘commission’ build of a what-if Lightning F.6

few years ago, my good friend Jon Plumb masterminded the the ‘Round the World in an Airfix Kit’ project. He sent a 1/48 Airfix Lightning F.6 kit around the globe, organised an international line-up of modellers to complete different stages, and then auctioned the finished model to raise awareness and funds for the veterans’ charity Help for Heroes. He even managed to enlist the assistance of such luminaries as Mig Jiminez and James May along the way! Sadly, due to ill health, Jon is no longer able to model, but before he was forced to hang up his tools, he wanted to produce a notional Lightning in USAF Vietnam service, so my questionable services were offered to bring his marvellous concept to life.... Interestingly, the Sparrow missile was considered for the Lightning but ruled out, and photographs exist of a ground attack proposal (which was never adopted) carrying a horizontal pylon each side of the belly tank. However, the Lightning could be adapted to carry overwing and outboard pylons, so the only part that really took a stretch of the imagination was the inboard ‘wet’ pylon for the fuel tank, which had to sit unusually far forward to clear the main undercarriage. Unfortunately, the Lightning was generally viewed as a stop-gap by the British defence establishment, so it was never developed as it should have been, but what if the US recognised its full potential, produced modified variants under licence and used them in the skies over Vietnam? Well, if they had, they might have looked something like this!

Are you proud of a particular Airfix build? Then let AMW know by providing us with 200-250 words on the project and what was involved, along with 6-8 good quality photos against a clean white background. Photo file sizes should be 1MB or larger. Please e-mail your submissions to the editor: [email protected]

14

Airfix Model World

AJ AVIATION PUBLISHING

Blackbushe-London’s lost airport 1942-60 A history of RAF Hartford Bridge 1942-44 & Blackbushe Airport 1944-60................£14.99

AFTER THE BATTLE

Airfields of the Eighth Then & Now .......................£27.50 Aviation Landmarks...............................................£14.95 Aerodromes of Fighter Command Then & Now .... £44.99 Invasion Airfields Then & Now ............................ £34.95 Stations of Costal Command Then & Now..............£37.50 The Battle of Britain Then & Now..........................£59.95 The Battle of France - Then & Now ...................... £44.95 The Falklands War Then & Now.............................£47.95 UK Airfields of the Ninth Then & Now ................. £24.95 Invasion Airfields Then & Now.............................. £34.95

AMBERLEY PUBLISHING

Better by Design (Shaping the British Airways Brand) ......................................... £17.99 British Airways An Illustrated History .................... £17.99 British Airways Engineering an Airline .................£18.99 Shoreham Airport An Illustrated History ................£15.99 Heathrow From Tents to Terminal 5 ..................... £17.99 Jet Provost - The Little Plane with the Big History £19.99 Leavesden Aerodrome - From Halifaxes to Hogwarts ........................................................£16.99 RAF Transport Command (A Pictorial History) .......£14.99 The de Havilland Mosquito Through the Eyes of a Pilot .............................................£14.99

FOX TWO DETAILS & MARKINGS

No.1 Blackburn Buccaneer ...................................£15.00 No.2 BAe Systems Harrier II GR9 & T.12 in the 21st Century ............................................ £35.00 No.3 Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (The A-4 Ahit’in Israeli Airforce Service ........................................ £22.99 No.4 Vought A-7 Corsair II (The LTV A-7E/H Canadian Starfighters (The CF-104 & CF-104D in The Canadian Service )1961 – 1986 ................. £30.00 LTV A-7D/K Corsair II (The ‘Sluf’ in USAF & US ANG Service) 1968 – 1993 ................................................... £26.99 US Navy Phantoms (Atlantic & Pacific Fleet Units) 1960 – 2004 ....................................................£39.99 British Phantoms (FG Mk.1,FGR Mk.2 & f-4J(UK) in Royal Air Force Service) 1979 – 1992 ................£39.99

AIRCRAFT OF THE COLD WAR IN FOCUS

No.1 US Navy A-4 Skyhawk ................................£14.99

CRECY

British Secret Projects Vol.1 Jet Fighter since 1950 £27.50 British Secret Projects Vol.2 Jet Bombers since 1949£27.50 British Secret Projects Vol.5 Britains Space Shuttle £27.50 French Secret Projects Vol.1 Post War Fighters .......£27.50 French Secret Projects Vol.2 Bombers, Patrol Assault Aircraft ..........................................£27.50 Famous Russian Aircraft – Ilyushin IL-28 ............ £34.95

Famous Russian Aircraft – Mikoyan Mig-17..........£39.95 Famous Russian Aircraft – Mikoyan Mig 19 .......£39.95 Famous Russian Aircraft – Sukhoi Su 7/Su 17 ... £50.00 Famous Russian Aircraft - Sukhoi Su 24 ..............£39.95 Famous Russian Aircraft – Tupolev Tu 22/Tu 22M£50.00 Famous Russian Aircraft – Tupolev Tu-95/Tu-142 £39.95 Forgotten Airfields of WWI ................................... £24.95 Japanese Secret Projects Vol.1.............................. £25.00 Japanese Secret Projects Vol.2 ............................. £25.00 Wreck & Relics Lost Aviation Collections of Britain .£18.95 Luftwaffe Secret Projects:Fighters ..........................£29.99 Project Terminated – The Inside Story of Famous Military Cancellations 1945 – 1990£...................£21.95 The Boeing B-47 Stratojet .......................... £23.95 The Boeing KC-135 ...............................................£27.95 The Lockheed Martin Hercules – A complete History of over 50 years service............................£29.95

NF103 Sikorsky S-43/JRS-1 Amphibian ............. £24.99 NF104 Brewster F 2A Buffalo & Export Variants. £34.99

1. Israeli Phantoms – The “Kurnass” in IDF/AF Service 1969 - 1988 ...........................................£39.99 2. Israeli Phantoms – The “Kurnass” in IDF/AF Service 1989 until Today .....................................£39.99 3. US Navy Phantoms Atlantic & Pacific Fleet Units 1960 – 2004 ...........................................£39.99 4. British Phantoms FG Mk.1 & FGR Mk.2 in Royal Navy & RAF Service 1966 – 1978 ............£39.99 5. British Phantoms FG Mk.1, FGR MNk.2 & F-4HJ (UK) In Royal Air Forcer Service 1979 – 1992 ............£39.99

HARPIA PUBLISHING

DOUBLE UGLY

EAM BOOKS

Junkers W 33, W 34 & K 43 (Workhorse in Peace & War).................................£39.95 The World’s First All-Metal Airliner Junkers F 13 ....£39.95

FONTHILL

Handley Page - Forty Years on 1909-1949 ...........£12.99 Heathrow Airport An Illustrated History..................£18.99 History of the De Havilland Vampire..................... £35.00 Lympe Airfield (At War and Peace)........................£18.99 Rare Birds (Forgotten Aircraft of the 2nd World War) ........................................ £25.00 SBAC Farnborough A History..................................£16.99

NAVAL FIGHTERS SERIES

NF90 Northrop BT-1 Dive Bomber .......................£29.99 NF91 McDonnell F2H-3/4 “Big Banjo”..............£29.99 NF92 Grumman F6F Hellcat ............................... £36.99 NF96 Consolidated P2Y Ranger .......................... £24.95 NF97 Martin PBM Mariner ................................. £34.99 NF98 Douglas AD/A-1 Skyraider – Part 1 ..........£37.99 NF99 Douglas AD/A-1 Skyraider – Part 2 ..........£41.99 NF100 Blue Goose – Command Aircraft of the USN, USMC, USCG 1911 – 1961 ......................... £30.99 NF101 Grumman S2F/S2 Tracker Part 1 .............£41.60 NF102 Grumman S2F/S2 Tracker & WF-2/E-1B Tracer Part 2........................................................ £43.99

AIRFORCE LEGENDS SERIES

NFAF216 USAF in Vietnam ................................ £33.99 NFAF217 Curtiss Ascender XP-55........................£15.99 NFAF218 Lockheed F-94 Starfire ....................... £33.99 NFAF219 Republic XF-84H Thunderscreech..........£14.95 NFAF220 Northrop YF-23 ATF ........................... £42.99 NFAF221 Consolidated Vultee XB-46 ..................£19.99

US NAVY SQUADRON HISTORIES SERIES

NFAF221 Consolidated Vultee XB-46 ..................£19.99 NSH301 Black Knights Rule – A Pictorial History of VBF-718/VF-68A/VF-837/VF-154/ VFA-154 1946 – 2013 ....................................... £34.99 NSH302 From Bats to Rangers – A Pictorial History of Electronic Countermeasures Squadron two (ECMRON-2) Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron two (VQ-2).................. £53.99 African MiG Vol.1 - Angola to Ivory Coast ............. £34.99 African MiG Vol.2 - Madagascar to Zimbabwe ...... £34.99 Arab MiGs - Volume 1 ......................................... £34.99 Arab MiGs - Volume 2 ......................................... £34.99 Arab MiGs - Volume 6 ..........................................£41.99 Beyond the Horizon ............................................. £34.99 Fall of the Flying Dragon ..................................... £34.99 Flashpoint China ...................................................£18.99 Iraqi Air Force Reborn ...........................................£18.99 Iraqi Fighters ....................................................... £34.99 IRIAF 2010 .......................................................... £34.99 Latin American Fighters........................................ £34.99 Latin American Mirages........................................ £34.99 Modern Chinese Air Power ................................... £34.99 Modern Israeli Air Power ...................................... £34.99 Russia’s Warplanes ...............................................£18.99

HAYNES WORKSHOP MANUALS

Aerospatiale / BAC Concorde 1969-2003............. £22.99 Avro Lancaster – 1941 onwards (all marks) ........ £22.99 Avro Shackleton 1949-1991 (all marks) ............... £25.00 Avro Vulcan – 1952 onwards (all marks) ............ £25.00 Bristol Blenheim 1935-1944 (all marks) .............. £25.00 Dam Busters .........................................................£21.99 DeHavilland Comet .............................................. £22.99 Douglas DC-3 Dakota - 1935 onwards (all Marks) £19.99 Fairey Swordfish 1934-1945 (all marks) ...............£21.99 Handley Page Halifax........................................... £25.00 Heathrow Airport 1929 onwards........................... £22.99 RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight .................. £25.00 RAF Chinook........................................................ £22.99 Rolls-Royce Merlin ............................................... £25.00 Short Stirling 1939-1948 ..................................... £22.99 Vickers/BAC VC 10 1962 – 2013 (all marks & models) .......................................... £22.99

HIKOKI

Axis Aircraft in Latin America .............................. £34.95 Battle Flight – RAF Air Defence Projects & Weapons Since 1945 ............................................£29.95 British Experimental Combat Aircraft of World War II£34.95 Early Soviet Jet Fighters ....................................... £34.95 Early US Jet Fighters.............................................£29.95 Listening In - RAF Electronic Intelligence Gathering since 1945 ...........................................£29.95 On Atlas Shoulders RAF Transport Projects since 1945...............................................£29.95 Shadows Biafra & Nigeria Airlift 1967 – 1970.....£29.95 Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft in Africa ........ £34.95 Soviet and Russian Aircraft in the Americas .......... £34.95 Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft in Asia ...........£39.95 Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft in the Middle East ......................................................... £34.95 Spyflights and Overflights (Cold War Aerial Reconnaissance Vol.1 1945 – 1960 .....................£29.95 Thunder over the Reich Flying the Luftwaffe’s He 162 Jet Fighter .............................£29.95 HISTORY PRESS BOAC (An Illustrated History) ................................£19.99 Heathrow 2000 years of History ...........................£14.99 Heathrow Airport The First 25 Years ......................£12.99 Heathrow Cabbie ...................................................£9.99 Airwork - A History ............................................... £17.99 OSPREY AIRCRAFT OF THE ACES SERIES 125 F4F Wildcat & F6F Hellcat Aces of VF-2 .......£13.99 126 Aces of the Repulic of China Air Force...........£13.99 127 Polish Spitfire Aces .......................................£13.99 128 Aces of Jadgeschwader Nr III ........................£13.99 129 J2M Raiden & N1 K1/2 Shiden/Shiden-Kai .£13.99 130 MiG-17/19 Aces od the Vietnam War ...........£13.99 131 Spitfire Aces of the Channel Front 1941-43...£13.99 132 Jadgeschwader 53 ‘Pik-As’ Bf 109 Aces of 1940........................................................£13.99 135 MiG-21 Aces of the Vietnam War (Sept 2017) .........................................................£13.99 OSPREY COMBAT AIRCRAFT 112 Luftwaffe Mistel Composite Bomber Units .....£13.99 113 F-51 Mustang Units of the Korean War........£13.99 114 AD Skyraider Units of the Korean War ...........£13.99 115 Fw Condor Unites of the World War 2 ...........£13.99 116 US Navy F-4 Phantom II Units of the Vietnam War 1964-1968............................£13.99 117 Tempest Squadrons of the RAF .....................£13.99 118 He 162 Volksjager Units ...............................£13.99 119 Nakajima B5N ‘Kate’ & B6N ‘Jill’ Units ........£13.99 120 Ju 52/3m Bomber & Transport Units 1936/41 ......................................£13.99 121 A-6 Intruder Units 1974-1996 ......................£13.99 122 Savoia-Marchetti S.79 Sparviero Bomber Units£13.99

OSPREY MODELLING World War 2 Luftwaffe Fighter Modelling............. £20.00 WW2 US Army Fighter Modelling ......................... £20.00 Aircraft Modelling ................................................ £20.00 Modelling Luftwaffe Jets & Wonder Weapons....... £20.00 Airbrushing & Finishing Scale Models ................... £20.00

GUIDELINE COMBAT COLOURS

No.3 The Curtiss P-36 & P-40............................... £9.95 No.4 Pearl Harbour & Beyond ............................£11.95 No.7 Focke Wulf Fw190 in WW II .......................£15.00 No.8 Supermarine Spitfire in WW II ....................£15.00 No.9 Mitsubishi Zero in World War II ...................£16.00

GUIDELINE CAMOUFLAGE & MARKINGS

122 Savoia-Marchetti S.79 Sparviero Bomber Units .......................................................£13.99 No.1 RAF Fighters 1945 – 1950 UK Based ........£14.95 No.2 The Battle for Britain – RAF May to December 1940 ....................................................£14.95 No.5 RAF Fighters 1945 – 1950 Overseas ......... £17.95 No.6 Campaign for Freedon of Libya ................... £17.99 No.7 Israeli Air Force Pt.3 2002 – 2012 ........... £17.99

WARPAINT BOOKS

No.8 Supermarine Spitfire in WW II ....................£15.00 No.91 MiG 21 Fishbed....................................... £25.00 No.92 Grumman HU-16 Albatross .......................£14.50 No.93 Messerschmitt Me 262.............................£13.00 No.94 Supermaine Attacker ................................£13.00 No.95 Westland Sea King ...................................£16.00 No.96 Consolidated B-24 Liberator .................... £25.00 No.97 North American RA-5C Vigilante ...............£15.00 No.98 Avro York .................................................£15.00 No.99 McDonnell F3H Demon.............................£15.00 No.100 Republic F-84F & RF-84F ......................£17.50 No.101 de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth ..............£14.50 No.102 Convair B-36 Peacemaker ......................£14.50 No.103 Avro Manchester ....................................£13.00 No.104 General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark & EF-111A Raven...................................................................£19.00 No.105 Sopwith Pup ..........................................£13.00 No.106 ikorsky S-55/H-19 Chickasaw & Westland Whirlwind ..............................................£16.50 No.107Il2 Ilyushin..............................................£14.00 No.108 Martin Mariner & Marlin ........................£15.50 No.109 Douglas C-54/R5D Skymaster ...............£19.50 No.110 Westland Scout & Wasp .........................£15.00 No.111Vought OS2U Kingfisher ...........................£14.50

ADH/TAMIYA PUBLICATIONS

How to build Tamiya’s Fairey Swordfish................... £9.95 How to build Tamiya’s Bristol Beaufighter .............£11.95 How to build Tamiya’s Spitfire Mk IXC ...................£11.95 How to build Tamiya’s Mustang P-51D..................£11.95 How to build Revell’s Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 ....£11.95 How to build Tamiya’s Mosquito FB.VI 1/32 .........£13.95

& MANY MORE...

Jan & Tony’s retail counter is open at 4 Horton Parade, Horton Road, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 8EP. We are open for business Monday thru Saturday, 10.00 to16.00. We carry a varied range of aviation related books from major publishers, and a large range of plastic model kits & accessories. We offer a 10% discount for ATC Squadrons, IPMS members and genuine model clubs/societies on over the counter sales on production of a current membership card. We attend numerous aviation related events, flyins, conventions and a number of model shows. We look forward to seeing you soon. We accept major credit cards, cheques and postal orders for mail order, which should be made payable to AJ Aviation. Mail order is post free in the UK, and at cost for our overseas customers.

015_AMW_Nov17_ad.indd 1

19/09/2017 10:47

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SHIP’S CAMEL

Split Personality Steve Budd takes a trip to 1918, via Wingnut Wings’ 2F.1 maritime boxing from its delightful new Camel series

A

s 1916 closed, the Sopwith Baby seaplane found itself in need of a worthy successor; with the advent of the F.1 Camel, both the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air

Service placed significant orders for this devastatingly agile fighter. After extensive testing, the ‘navilised Camel’ was deemed fit to go to sea with a landplane undercarriage, a single Vickers

The moulding demands close inspection…to appreciate the care and attention poured into this definitive series of Camel family kits. 16

Airfix Model World

machine gun firing through the propeller and a Lewis gun on an Admiralty Top Plane Mounting, shooting clear of the prop’ arc. The modified rear fuselage was detachable for storage and

contained flotation bags in case of ‘wet’ landings, while Sopwith re-designated the project ‘2F.1’. To its new owner, however, it was instead referred to as the ‘Split Camel’ and more commonly, the ‘Ship’s Camel’.

The fuselage interior comprised a mix of clear doped linen, wood and metal – here segmented and base painted, awaiting further enhancements.

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SHIP’S CAMEL

Weathering and staining the ‘metal’ was a fun part of the project. A solid coat of Alclad II ALC-101 Aluminium was used as a foundation.

Weigh anchor!

MODEL SPEC

Wingnut’s build guide expects everyone aboard to set sail in the cockpit, so this sober rating did just that. First steps involved careful removal of items belonging to the F.1 versions; the starboard ammunition hopper (parts A22 and A31) were eliminated before the centre struts SOPWITH 2F.1 “SHIP’S CAMEL” By:

Wingnut Wings

Stock Code:

32076

Scale:

1/32

Price:

$79

Available from: Wingnut Wings www.wingnutwings.com

on fuselage frames A19 and A22 followed suit. With that, parts could then start coming together and it was apparent there was much pleasant modelling in wait. Looking back at the completed tub, it was evident the ‘Bent undershield’, A25 could be fitted last, in contravention of the instructions. Doing so would give improved control over fit and, while it all married very well, there were fine gaps the alternate method would have obviated. Those contemplating a resin replacement seat may save themselves added expense in the knowledge that careful painting, washing and delicate dry-brushing breathed convincing life into the kit part, and that the huge lap belts dominated and obscured 65-75%

The starting point for any subsequent work with tube oils was a sympathetic application of Mr. Hobby 318 Radome, cut with cellulose thinners.

Comparison between the kit seat and the photo-etched brass belts may give the casual impression there was a scale mismatch, but the latter really were that broad.

of it anyway. Another important consideration was the internal rigging guide, and with 12 control cables and 18 bracing wires, the fitting of these, within the build sequence, was considered carefully. In essence, the bracing lines were laid after the fuselage frames were

finished entirely. Don’t laugh, but it was my first time with the E-Z Line Wingnut recommended and sure enough, it was indeed ‘easy’. The only slight drawback I found with this material was a gentle propensity to vary in thickness visually, if stretched beyond

www.airfixmodelworld.com 17

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SHIP’S CAMEL

Mr. Hobby Dark Iron 214 and Steel H18 were sponged over the Alclad II as a prelude to further staining and weathering.

a minimum point. To that end, when one end was fixed with a tiny amount of medium viscosity cyanoacrylate (CA), care was lavished on trimming as close to the far point, while allowing for just enough tension to avoid sag. The rudder bar carried six of the control lines and was not robust enough to be drilled, so the ‘double’ lines either side were run in one, uncut length of E-Z Line glued via CA to the top of the bar, and then ‘returned’ by wrapping the line over the forward edge of the bar and then attaching again with CA underneath for the run aft. Hanging underneath the ‘back engine plate’, A31 were two moulded pulley wheels for the ailerons and elevator cables. These pulley wheels were augmented with two punched discs of thin card, which gave them

18

Airfix Model World

enough ‘body’ to then allow E-Z Line to be routed securely around them. With that, the 12 control lines were passed through their correct holes in the cross member (by no means straightforward with the tub assembled) D11 and fixed in place with CA. With that, the impressive cockpit was completed with the addition of the highly detailed instrument panel, and Vickers gun mount. The usual caveat applied, that some location holes needed clearing of paint to allow neat fit but beyond that, it was gravy all the way. With that ‘model (literally) within a model’ nailed, it was onto the fuselage and here, Wingnut provided halves with the centre section struts, correct for the 2F.1, moulded in situ. This was a key example of the thoughtful

Michael Harding Yellow Ochre Deep 118 was mixed with Uschi van der Rosten Blitz Dry and brushed out thoroughly. 

The wood section that flanked the pilot was coated with Michael Harding Burnt Umber 126 and sponged/brushed for texture.

engineering the company has employed exhaustively to bring top quality World War One aviation modelling within the capabilities of almost anyone. With the parts clipped out, the interior of B10 and

B11 was a trio of bare metal, dark wood and clear doped linen and, with paints chosen, it was simple enough to mask the mating edges with a bead of Copydex rubber adhesive, applied with a toothpick.

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SHIP’S CAMEL

This simple technique made later paint removal from key seams easy. The most complex task at this point was also the smallest, as the tailskid bay required six bracing wires, along with its moulded frame being rendered in ‘wood’ with suitable oils. A little flurry of photo-etched metal work also occurred, with a pair of brass ovals that provided the site for the skid’s steering cables. These

were run in with CA and a 0.5mm hole was added dead centre to complete the modification. Wingnut’s method for positioning the cockpit was elegantly simple, as each fuselage frame, A19 and A26, had a large hole at the aft end that matched a robust circular ‘key’, which made the remaining alignment foolproof. The Wingnut mantra of ‘remove paint/ensure

every joint travels home’ still applied and it was as crucial to the fuselage fit here, as it had been on previous kits.

Full steam ahead With all that assembly lying astern, it was clear blue water ahead as the remaining steps did not involve either quite the intensity of work, or the x3.5 magnification Optivisor.

Wingnut has a deserved reputation for superb fit, but this fell away somewhat with the clear inspection doors (C3) over the aileron pulley bays moulded sharply into the wings. The issue was thickness… and mine necessitated reduction to a third of what they were originally. Given the sanding had left their inner surface (you’re required to fit four) opaque was a fait accompli,

The staining was burnished with a lint-free cloth before the effect was muted with progressive dry-brushing of Xtracolor 502 Natural Steel.

Those parts designated ‘dark wood’ received a streaky finish with Michael Harding Burnt Umber 126, patterned deliberately.

Truly a model in its own right, much enjoyable bench time was to be had massaging the gem of a cockpit sub-assembly into life.

Michael Harding Yellow Ochre 119 was applied very lightly over the ‘dark wood’ to soften the contrast and add another tone. www.airfixmodelworld.com 19

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SHIP’S CAMEL

The photo-etched brass belts were not annealed before being fitted, but shaped slowly over tube formers, using a synthetic rubber eraser for seamless, crease-free pressure.

as the doors were (according to Wingnut) “frequently over-painted in service” and were rendered as such on the model. The different armament configurations across the Camel family resulted in a number of variations in the ‘hump’ and in this instance, B13 was released from runner captivity and treated to the requisite wood and aluminium finish on its inner surfaces, before slotting smoothly into place on top of the fuselage. This was the point at

The bent metal under tray that supports the rudder bar could be left out of the assembly sequence until last, to allow accurate fit.

which the reality of the notoriously limited cockpit view forced itself on my consciousness - what one can see is the industry standard for Camel detail, but the bulk comprises the seat and those broad lap belts. The 150hp Bentley BR.1 was a delightful change of pace to assemble, paint and detail and required just spark plug leads for completion. However, a slight engineering oddity presented itself with the four ailerons. With the rest

Two punched card discs were added to the moulded pulleys on the crowd bar, which allowed secure fitting of control cables.

20

Airfix Model World

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SHIP’S CAMEL

of the kit characterised by robust and secure design, these items were to be secured via the tiny, scale hinge tabs. Concerned that normal handling would lead to breakage, two brass pins each volunteered to keep body and control surface together. The top wing comprised three sections, in accordance with the real thing, and in that vein had a join intended to show a fine separation between the parts. Use of liquid glue here would have destroyed the delicate effect, so a discreet amount of gel CA was used to tack the hefty centre section tabs to their respective outers. The integral centre section struts gave a solid head start in aligning the top wing, and it was advisable to test thoroughly all eight of the strut ‘plugs’ in their respective homes well before paint, as the ‘female’ parts of the equation needed to be opened. Copydex rubber cement ensured a paint-free join further down the line.

Cartograf capers The editor provided samples of Drooling Bulldog (DB) paint to me in the form of its PC10 and PC12 shades, and asked that one or other be trialled in the build. Usually, this cautious soul declines to experiment in a ‘live fire’ exercise…but a brief test of the PC10 looked perfect, so the plastic was degreased first with methylated spirit, then with ‘lab grade’ isopropyl alcohol. One’s modelling OCD revolves around paint adherence under masking and, having never taped over Drooling Bulldog’s finest, no chances were taken. After coating the lowers in a homespun version of clear doped linen (CDL), with a little of the now de rigueur rib accentuation, the PC10 needed to be ‘returned’ a few scale inches(ish) over the CDL. Masking the rounded wing corners was

Regular and thorough test-fitting was vital, as tolerances were tight. The aft upper fabric required careful, sympathetic seam sanding. 

eased by use of a compass cutter and punch and die set, in making tape circles that followed the curved wing edges. These were joined with 0.7mm Aizo tape before filling in the exposed CDL with Tamiya tape. With the lowers protected, the PC10 was shaken thoroughly (the jars each have a ball bearing in them, in similar fashion to Alclad II) and diluted 50-50 with Mr.Hobby Leveling Thinner. It is possible to spray the DB straight from the bottle but the dilution rate cut the speed of coverage, allowing the extremely fine pigment to distribute more evenly over the surfaces. Although this meant around ten thin applications before proper colour density was achieved, the results were astounding. The Camel’s flat flanks were almost mirror-like and it was impossible to detect grain in the finish, even under the Optivisor.

Quite the best painted surface ever achieved by this kit tickler. The real acid test was yet to come as, although the paint appeared dry after ten minutes or so, it was left to cure overnight before it was subjected to masking. The hallmark plywood around the cockpit was taped around its periphery and sprayed with Tamiya XF-9 Hull Red, as a prelude to the oil paint used that imitated the distinctly reddish-brown tone of the copal varnish on the real aircraft. With that completed, the forward fuselage was sprayed with Tamiya XF-1 Black before the masked PC10 reappeared once more from under its protection. Happily, not a scrap of paint lifted from the airframe anywhere and the DB passed the test impeccably. Before commencing this project, the author was aware of rumblings in the modelling jungle that the Cartograf decals included in the Camel releases

The chosen markings option required this PE inspection door, while the 2F.1 fuselage had the centre-section struts moulded in situ. 

www.airfixmodelworld.com 21

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SHIP’S CAMEL

The minuscule hinge tabs were deemed inadequate for the task of ensuring support, so were augmented with brass pins.

The robust three-part undercarriage was assembled, glued and placed ‘in sit’’ to allow the kit to function as an alignment jig.

were causing issues. Comment here was drawn from the experience of building the Wingnut Fokker E.III (Late) that appeared in a previous issue of AMW. The Cartograf decals with that kit were a thorough delight — elastic, tough and barely required a hint of Micro Sol before conforming fully to all details and surfaces. Not so with this Camel. The main national markings in particular were stiff and brittle, and cracked on contact with the model. DACO Products’ Strong, Mr. Mark Softer and Walther’s Solvaset were tested and it was the

Drooling Bulldog’s PC10 paint was a pleasant revelation; its grainless deep shine was indicative of freshly doped Camels.

22

Airfix Model World

latter, with Mr. Mark Setter applied under the decals that gave the best results. Sadly, the markings remained troublesome. It seems Cartograf has an A and a B game…it brought A to the Fokker, while B simply gave this Camel lover the hump.

Rig for battle The ultra-reliable method of Reflo fishing line, fine brass tube and homespun wire loops were all this boy knew from previous World War One builds, but somehow the fashionably modern alternative of elastic

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SHIP’S CAMEL

The finished propeller, engine and cowling were the last items to be attached; the latter item provided much chipping enjoyment.              

thread demanded attention. Earlier indications with the cockpit E-Z Line revealed a deeply irritating tendency for random joins to fail to ‘take’. There was no way of predicting when or where and, as a nod towards personal tradition, tiny wire loops were added discreetly as anchor points. Even so, this was the first and last time the fishing line would be sidelined as, sure enough, the E-Z Line failed to adhere without repeated attempts to overcome its shyness…an event unheard of with loops and tube. The attraction of elastic thread is obvious but (even when it works reliably) it lacks the enormous strength and rigidity fishing line imparts. As an

This is a superb kit, which shares all the characteristics that its predecessors have exemplified over many years — and which continue to make Wingnut Wings a byword for top drawer quality and epic building pleasure. The fly in the naval ointment were those problematic decals, and this was an occasion when aftermarket alternatives (or paint masks) would be advised. Having personally begged Wingnut’s Richard Alexander for new Camels, after the company’s initial trio of releases, it has been wonderful indeed to finally ‘scratch that itch’. ❚

aside, there needs to be a special award, including a medal for gallantry, for those who include successfully the infamous Camel ‘acorn’ that links cross-rigging over the Vickers. Mine was cross-drilled and two lengths of E-Z Line passed through. The two lower ‘wires’ were anchored first; there was nothing to join to, bar the interior of the Bentley cowl. Then, the two upper lines were pulled taut. It was fiendishly difficult (the acorn is miniscule!) and roars of laughter rang out to the instruction “position the acorn 7mm below the top wing”. Head on, mine ended 8mm down and slightly to port, but looked near perfect from all other angles.

Sea trials complete

RECOMMENDED REFERENCE

Copal varnish used to weatherproof Camels was reported to impart a decidedly reddish tone to the plywood surrounding the pilot.

Sopwith Camel 1916-20 (F.1/2.F1) Owners’ Workshop Manual, by Jarrod Cotter (Haynes), ISBN: 978-0-85733-795-5 www.haynes.co.uk

www.airfixmodelworld.com 23

ADVANCED BUILD IJN YAHAGI

LEYTE

SURVIVOR Garry Tobiss voyages into new modelling waters with Hasegawa’s 1/350 IJN Yahagi

L  This was the basic structure for the ship – two hull sides plus spacers and the decks.

MODEL SPEC

 Hasegawa’s bridge comprised the basic elements shown – although there was also a myriad of tiny parts to add detail. IJN Light Cruiser Yahagi ‘Battle of Leyte Gulf’ By:

Hasegawa

Stock Code:

40092

Scale:

1/350

Price:

£99.99

Available from: www.amerang.co.uk

24

Airfix Model World

aunched on October 25, 1942, Yahagi was one of four World War Two Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) light cruisers that formed the Agano class; the others were Agano, Noshiro and Sakawa. Hasegawa’s limited-edition 1/350 Yahagi was supplied in a very large box brimming with 30 grey (and two clear) styrene runners, two decal sheets, a small photo-etched (PE) brass frame, metal chain and poly caps. A poster size full-colour painting guide also featured. As one would expect from Hasegawa, mould quality was excellent and all parts displayed fine detail and minimal flash.

Maritime mission Building Yahagi was the first time I’ve attempted anything larger than the old Airfix 1/600 scale ship kits, which was many years ago, so before starting it was necessary to pay extra attention to the instructions. This was even more important because so much aftermarket PE was being added to replace both surface detail and various parts. Hasegawa split the build into a logical sequence, so the ship was constructed starting at

ADVANCED BUILD IJN YAHAGI

and stairs especially providing considerable finesse. There were plenty of parts for the bridge, many being very tiny, but they soon grew into an imposing and intricate assembly. Each of the two triple anti-aircraft (AA) mounts on the bridge superstructure was partly replaced by tiny folded PE barbettes. The barrels were also supposed to be flat PE items, but kit parts were employed due to their 3D nature. Curiously, all other triple AA mounts were not part of the Eduard PE. The main mast was then rigged with fine black Lycra rigging (70 denier) supplied by Sovereign Hobbies.

MARKINGS AND METAL Hasegawa’s kit came with national and signal flags supplied as pre-cut stickers. Most of the decals were for the two floatplanes, while the small PE fret offered railings and stairs.

"all parts displayed fine detail and minimal flash" the bows and moving to the stern, with sub-assemblies for major deck structures built and finished separately before being attached to the deck. The build started with the two parts of the hull and main decks. Hasegawa also offers kits of Agano and Noshiro so many basic elements were the same for Yahagi. This meant drilling a series of holes of various diameters in the parts prior to assembly, to account for the differences between class mates. The build employed Eduard’s ‘Big Ed’ BIG5319 1/350 IJN Agano PE sets to augment the small fret supplied with the kit.

Yahagi was part of the same class so most of the PE was appropriate. The first main deck structure was the bridge; much preparation was needed because surface detail had to be scraped away and replaced with PE. On this subject, there was some PE, notably on the funnel and torpedo tubes, where the surface detail on the styrene was supposed to be removed and replaced with brass. However, the improvements would have been so marginal in relation to the effort expended, that the kit parts were left intact. Apart from these, the PE augmented the detail greatly (see panel) with the tiny ladders

The port side of the bridge assembly, showing the extensive PE upgrades (such as delicate ladders); the internal area was pre-painted by hand.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 25

ADVANCED BUILD IJN YAHAGI

PE extravaganza To make for a more detailed project, the kit’s small PE fret was supplemented by Eduard’s 1/350 Big Ed package for Yahagi’s class mate Agano (BIG5319), and it comprised the following sets: • 53096 IJN Agano Light Cruiser. A comprehensive frame of upgrades • 17518 IJN figures…these were pre-painted on both sides • 53097 IJN Agano Light Cruiser railings

 Type 96 triple 25mm AA guns forward of the bridge, built via a mix of Eduard PE and kit parts.

was rejected, so new bags were fabricated from fine white Milliput two-part putty. A reasonable amount of effort was required…but this was justified by the result.

Imperial hues It would have been difficult to follow the usual approach for armour builds, where constructing as much as possible and then painting is preferred. However, it was possible to paint each deck module as a sub-assembly before each was added to the hull. The instructions specified the main colours but pointed out they were approximations. For this build, Sovereign Hobbies (www. sovereignhobbies.co.uk) provided not just the exact IJN colours from its specialist stock, but also advice on which colours to use. Yahagi was completed at Sasebo yard in 1943, and would have been painted in Sasebo Grey at the time. It went to Kure yard for This was because it would have been more difficult to access the area after assembly. Moving onto the funnel meant assembling a set of piping to create a very impressive structure. A PE unit was designed for the funnel top, and several frustrating hours were spent trying to assemble a tiny frame, but eventually the ‘carpet monster’ intervened when a PE part pinged into oblivion and gave an excuse to refine the kit part with a file instead. Replacement gun barrels for the main and secondary armament were also used (see panel). The kit provided two versions for the main armament barrels – high angle with no blast bag, and with a blast bag when the guns were at a low elevation. The easiest approach was to set the guns at high angle, but this

26

Airfix Model World

"Random matt black pre-shading was applied over the hull"

a four-week dry dock refit ending in July 1944 and was repainted in Kure Grey. The IJN typically painted the hull and superstructure the same colour, and Yahagi wore Kure Grey until being sunk in April 1945. The IJN used the same basic anti-fouling red across its fleet, with the underwater hull painted IJN Anti-Fouling Red, which faded to pinkish-white. The Battle of Leyte Gulf was in October 1944, meaning Yahagi was in the water for less than three months since the July refit, so the fading should not have been pronounced. Lighter Japanese ships (ie anything smaller than a battleship) had steel decks with

ADVANCED BUILD IJN YAHAGI

Yahagi Reference

Random matt black pre-shading was applied over the hull to provide subtle variations in the final colours.

The Light Cruiser Yahagi, by Mariusz Motyka (Kagero), ISBN: 978-83-64596-66-7 This A4, 92-page softback is crammed with detailed colour drawings showing every aspect of the external features of the ship. There is also a foldout double-sided line drawing offering various views of the ship, plus rigging diagrams. It proved to be an invaluable reference for the Yahagi build. 3D drawings were also provided, together with a pair of card-framed 3D glasses to view them, although these renderings were of limited value for this build…but did have the fun factor. www.kagero.eu

The three basic colours were applied in thin coats, so the pre-shading showed through.

a linoleum covering, fastened by brass strips running across the beam at regular intervals. The following Sovereign enamel paints were used for the superstructure: IJN02 Kure Grey, IJN10 Linoleum and IJN11 IJN Anti-Fouling Red. The paints were diluted roughly 50:50 either with cellulose thinner

or Mr. Leveling Thinner. The latter was an experiment, but there was no discernable difference in the overall results between the two products. Using these thinners meant that primer was not required, because the paint keyed into the styrene. Enamel paints usually take a while to dry

but using the aforementioned thinners resulted in a drying time roughly equivalent to acrylics. All deck panels were then painted in linoleum, and the gaps between them were accentuated with a dark yellow oil wash to add interest. The grey surfaces were weathered with a thin oil wash of mixed black

 No pre-shading was used, as all colour variation came from washes. It was easier to add rigging at this stage, before the superstructure was attached to the deck.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 27

ADVANCED BUILD IJN YAHAGI

Heavy metal armament

2

Replacement gun barrels were used for this build, just to try out this approach. Here are the main components (1) for the Type 41 twin 6in (15cm) main armament, and Type 98 twin 3 in (8cm) high-angle guns. The replacement barrels (2) came from Master (www.master-model.pl) and were made from beautifully turned brass. The kit barrels were replaced with the metal versions, which in turn had blast bags fashioned from white Milliput (3).

1

3

"Highlights were also applied with white and black pencils"

and raw umber. This helped disrupt the colour and accentuated the detail. Highlights were also applied with white and black pencils, plus Lifecolor Rain Effects (www. airbrushes.com). Construction then continued with the finished main bridge and forward gun turrets being added to the deck. All tiny

deck details were then set in place, tweezers being essential. A pin was used to place the glue into each of the pre-drilled holes. If the adhesive was applied directly to the part, there was a risk it would be forced out of the hole and damage the paintwork. This took time and patience, but the

Parts for the torpedo launchers, the two Type 94 High Angle detectors plus searchlights… PE enhancements have been applied.

28

Airfix Model World

 Components for the flight deck and spare parts store. Hasegawa’s usually deft moulding is evident.

ADVANCED BUILD IJN YAHAGI

forward deck soon assumed an appropriately busy look. Next came the torpedo tubes and magazines, which assembled quickly and easily. Each was painted and weathered but the superb surface detail was largely obscured when the flight deck was attached. The latter was assembled next, again with several PE additions, followed by the aft superstructure. This included an intricate PE crane formed largely from a single piece of bent PE. It was hard to get the PE to stick correctly, so eventually the kit crane was sanded back and used as the internal structure for the PE. All sub-assemblies where then painted, weathered as before and added to the deck.

More embellishment All detail parts – mainly vents, ammunition stores, winches and machine guns – were then added to the decks before work began on the two aircraft. These were tiny, but exceptionally well detailed.

Once assembled, they were delicate to handle and elevators/ floats were knocked off more than once. Each aircraft was painted with Mr. Hobby H61 IJN Gray (undersides) and then Mr. Hobby H59 IJN Green diluted 50:50 with Mr. Leveling Thinner. Parts such as the floats were too diminutive to mask so were hand painted. Both shades dried to a high gloss finish perfect for the decals. The latter were fiddly to apply but settled well with encouragement from DACO Products’ Setting Solution Strong (www.dacoproducts.com). The canopies on the aircraft got lost somewhere along the way, so new items were created from spare sections of the clear runner…a good opportunity to try Micro Finishing Cloth abrasive sheets from Albion Hobbies (www.albionhobbies.com). Each aircraft was finished and matt varnished before being installed on the model. The final deck furniture consisted

Components for the aft superstructure, with the kit’s rendition of the crane (replaced by PE) on the right.

of the two cutters, each even having its own decals, and these were fixed to the deck to complete the main part of the build. Next came the PE railings, which needed to be applied around the entire edge of the deck. This initially appeared daunting, but was, in fact,

easy. A splodge of high-tack white PVA glue was placed on scrap paper and the bottom of each section of rail dragged through; this left a thin coat of glue on the part. The adhesive bonded quickly but not as rapidly as cyanoacrylate so there was time for adjustment. The railings left a small gap at

There was no comparison between the Eduard PE launch ramp and the original kit part. Similarly, the brass cradle for the second aircraft eclipsed the styrene original. The crane for the aft superstructure was also formed from cleverly engineered PE.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 29

ADVANCED BUILD IJN YAHAGI

The completed flight deck with PE railings and aircraft cradle installed, ready for painting.  Two Aichi E13/A1 Jake Type 0 reconnaissance seaplanes were provided.  The wonderfully detailed and complex pipework around the funnel was highlighted with Lifecolor Rain Marks.

the bows but there were enough spare parts to fill this. It was then time for the rigging, and the same Lycra thread was used as for the masts. The

product stretches, making it quite straightforward to rig the ship. A tiny amount of Super Glue was added to the start point and as far as possible, the line was then wound around the ship features to create individual runs, using the Kagero book (see panel) rigging diagram as a guide. Another spot

 A small piece of chain was supplied for the two anchors, and was weathered with rustcoloured pigments.

30

Airfix Model World

of Super Glue secured the end of the run. Last of all came the attempted addition of the tiny prepainted PE figures, but in the end, these didn’t seem to add much so were left in the packet. Last, but not least, came the two stands. These had been used unpainted throughout the build to support the model. They were removed

carefully and the model was set on a piece of foam. Each stand was then neatened and washed to remove any handling residue, before being given a coat of Alclad II ALC-305 Gloss Black Base; ALC-109 Polished Brass was then applied to achieve a high-sheen metal finish. Yahagi now rested on two worthy stands.

 Two completed aircraft enlivened the build; one on the Kure No 2 Model 5 catapult, and the other on the cradle.

POCKETBOND SCALE MODEL CONSTRUCTION KITS

"A small piece of chain was supplied for the two anchors"

I:35 M113A1 ACAV PKAF35113

I:48

1/48 IDF F-CK-1C (Single Seat) PKAR48108

Materials at a glance

I:72

DACO (www.dacoproducts.com) Decal Setting Solution Strong Eduard (www.eduard.com) Big Ed BIG5319 IJN Agano 1/350

Set course for home

 The stern section showing the two antiaircraft stations and the busy deck – note the weathering between the sections of linoleum.

I’ve heard some modellers say that ship builds are too long and complex, so they are reluctant to attempt them…but this was the first large-scale ship kit I’ve tackled and, personally, I found it to be an excellent experience. Yes, there were myriad tiny pieces to try one’s patience, but the increasing complexity of many aircraft and armour kits demands the same skills, along with Zenlike concentration and Jobian patience. Hasegawa’s superb engineering provided many happy hours of building. Yahagi was a fascinating subject, and the additional detail provided by the Eduard PE was well worth the extra effort.

Albion Hobbies (www.albionhobbies.com) 2050A Micro Finishing Cloth abrasives Mr. Hobby H59 IJN Green Mr. Hobby H60 IJN Gray

BL 8-inch Howitzer Mark VI PKROD716

I:35

Lifecolor (www.airbrushes.com) LP02 Rust Wizard Liquid Pigments Michael Harding’s Artists Oils (www.michaelharding.co.uk) 121 RawUmber 128 Lamp Black Sovereign Hobbies (www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk) C02 Matt Black IJN02 Kure Grey IJN10 Linoleum IJN11 IJN Anti-Fouling Red IR-0701B Infini Fine Black Lycra Rigging, 70 Denier

M3 Lee US Medium Tank Early PKTAK02085

I:35

M3 Grant British Medium Tank PKTAK02086

I:72

F-106A Delta Dart PKTM01682

ORDER NOW FROM A BACHMANN STOCKIST

www.bachmann.co.uk

FOR MORE INFO ON OUR PRODUCTS

www.pocketbond.co.uk

amw_1710_290x65.indd 1

15/09/2017 10:31

IN FOCUS IJN YAHAGI

SIX-GUN RIVER

This dramatic image of Yahagi under intense fire was taken during an early part of the ferocious attack by US Navy dive- and torpedo-bombers that sealed her fate on the afternoon of April 7, 1945. (US Navy)

Malcolm V Lowe describes the career of the IJN Yahagi… arguably the best-known of Japan’s wartime light cruisers

T

he early stages of World War Two in the Far East and Pacific Ocean placed the naval forces of Japan (known in the West as the Imperial Japanese Navy – IJN) in an all-conquering position. Following massive initial

There are few properly clear images of Yahagi; the official caption to this port beam view stated she was photographed during December 1943 while sailing near to Sasebo where she was built, at around the time of her commissioning (Malcolm V Lowe Collection)

32

Airfix Model World

successes, however, the tide turned irrevocably against the Japanese as the war continued and the IJN gradually lost its ascendancy. Nevertheless, the IJN was a well-equipped fighting force in the early 1940s, and among its array of warships were

several modern light cruisers of which the Agano Class, formulated during the late 1930s, was of great importance.

Sleek design During the 20th century, cruisers were generally a stepping stone

in size and capability (particularly range and firepower) between smaller destroyers and much bigger battleships. Agano was one of several classes of light cruisers and somewhat larger heavy cruisers, which were included within the IJN’s inventory during the bitter fighting in the Pacific and Far East during World War Two. The Agano Class comprised four ships – Agano, Yahagi, Noshiro, and Sakawa, all named after Japanese rivers or streams. The advanced (for its day) design of these vessels resulted in a low, uncluttered and relatively sleek profile with a single funnel structure. The displacement was intended to be in the 5,905 — 6,397-ton (6,000 — 6,500-tonne) category. Built by the naval arsenal at Sasebo on the island of Kyūshū in south-western Japan, Yahagi was laid down during November 1941 and launched in October 1942, but was not completed ready for commissioning until December 1943. She was designed with an intended overall length of 572ft 6in (174.5m), and a planned maximum speed of a fast 35kts (40mph - 64.8km/h), achieved

IN FOCUS IJN YAHAGI

by six boilers with four sets of turbines. Her main armament comprised three turrets (two forward, one aft) each with a twin mounting of 6in (152mm) Type 41 (41st Year Type) naval guns, with a potential range of 22,966yds (21,000m). Smaller calibre weapons were also fitted, some of these for anti-aircraft defence; the latter were supplemented considerably later in the war. She also had two quadruple torpedo launchers amidships for Type 93 torpedoes, and provision for depth charges. Agano-Class light cruisers were fitted with an aircraft platform and catapult aft of the funnel over the torpedo tubes, and an aircraft crane;

The lead ship of the Agano Class of light cruisers, to which Yahagi belonged, was the Agano herself. She was sunk during February 1944 by torpedoes from the US Navy submarine USS Skate (SS-305). (John Batchelor Collection)

Yahagi normally carried two Aichi E13A single-engine monoplane floatplanes (Allied codename Jake). Her thickest armour plating was 2 1/3in (60mm), and generally the Agano-Class ships were considered to be underarmoured..and under-gunned. There was no specific antitorpedo protection built into their hull design.

Battle honours

The futility of the Japanese one-way mission to Okinawa was finally illustrated during the afternoon of April 7, 1945, when a massive explosion ripped Yamato apart, taking more than 2,000 of her crew to their deaths. By then, Yahagi had already sunk. (US Navy)

The Yahagi first sailed for Singapore during February 1944 on training duties, but significantly, participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea during June 1944 – which was a major defeat for the Japanese forces involved. She later took part in

the Battle of Leyte Gulf during October 1944. In a large sea battle off the island of Samar, Japanese naval forces almost succeeded in disrupting the US landings, taking place during protracted fighting to liberate the Philippines. The main claim to fame for Yahagi, however, was her participation in the ill-fated action in which she was sunk while directly supporting the massive Japanese battleship Yamato. On April 1, 1945, US troops landed on the island of Okinawa (Operation Iceburg); this was the last major US objective before the Japanese mainland, and was a strategic location the Japanese needed to defend at all costs. By that stage in the war, the IJN had virtually ceased

www.airfixmodelworld.com 33

IN FOCUS IJN YAHAGI

Important target The question has sometimes been asked as to why Yahagi was subjected to such a major bombardment on April 7, 1945 during the Battle of the East China Sea, when the main target for the US Navy’s dive- and torpedo-bombers that day was surely the much larger and far more dangerous Yamato. The answer lies in the relative importance of the light cruiser in Japanese service, in comparison to that of Allied navies. For the Japanese, the light cruiser was a significant warship in its own right, employed as a flagship and leader of destroyer squadrons, with a high-ranking commander aboard for a particular mission. Additionally, because the Japanese had more light cruisers in commission than needed by destroyer squadrons, certain light cruisers were assigned extra duties such as support for heavy cruisers and battleships during specific actions. Yahagi was playing both destroyer leader and battleship support roles for the ill-fated oneway mission to Okinawa, during April 1945, which became the Battle of the East China Sea… and as such, she was a primary target second only to Yamato herself.

to exist as a major fighting force, and the main Japanese response to the US landings was kamikaze attacks by aircraft. Initially hesitant to become involved, naval commanders bowed to pressure from the Japanese Emperor and

This apparently retouched but nonetheless interesting image shows the layout of the Agano Class light cruisers, in this case a sister ship of Yahagi, the Noshiro. The forward main armament of two turrets, characteristic of this class, is well represented. (John Batchelor Collection)

34

Airfix Model World

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive-bombers inflicted fatal damage on Yahagi. Involved specifically was unit VB-9 from USS Yorktown (CV-10), one of whose Helldivers is seen here during its split cruise with the USS Lexington. (US Navy)

in a hastily ill-conceived attempt to slow the Allied advance, Yamato was dispatched on a one-way mission to Okinawa during April 1945, with orders to beach herself and fight on until destroyed protecting the island. Known to the Japanese as Ten-ichi-gō (usually translated as Operation Heaven Number One), the plan was fatally flawed because no air cover was available. The Yamato force set sail from its anchorage on the island of Kyūshū during April 6, Yamato and Yahagi being accompanied by eight smaller destroyers. They never reached Okinawa. Ranged against them was the US Navy’s Task Force 58 (TF 58 – formerly TF 38) comprising an array of aircraft carriers and escorts, and if these did not succeed in stopping the Japanese force, there were no fewer than six US Navy battleships also on hand to help. The Yamato force was spotted easily by US reconnaissance assets and, on April 7, TF 58 aircraft were launched against the Japanese in waves, comprising Grumman Avenger torpedo-bombers and

Curtiss Helldiver dive-bombers. The subsequent action became known as the Battle of the East China Sea.

Coup de grâce Attack co-ordinators circling the Japanese ships assigned targets, and Yamato and Yahagi were the prime objectives. The latter was very soon hit in the engine room by a torpedo launched from an Avenger, which stopped

the ship dead in the water and encouraged more attacks from other Avengers. In addition, the Helldivers of VB-9 from the USS Yorktown (CV-10) were assigned specifically to sink the ship. Yahagi duly received six further torpedo hits from Avengers and 12 bomb strikes from Helldivers. Most accounts confirm her sinking at 14.05, with the loss of at least 445 crew. A destroyer that came to her aid was also attacked heavily, but the mighty Yamato fared no better. Hit Repeatedly by torpedoes and bombs, she capsized moments after 14.20, and was torn apart by a huge explosion. More than two thousand (probably many more) of her crew perished. The Battle of the East China Sea was the last major action of the IJN during World War Two; the US eventually won the vicious struggle for Okinawa, and several weeks later the war ended with the total defeat of Japan.

Taken from a US Navy aircraft during the strikes on Yamato and her escorts, on April 7, 1945, Yahagi is shown here under intense bombardment and in dire trouble, while attacking aircraft can be seen to the left of the image. (US Navy)

Pennine Models at Haworth

SOME OF OUR REVELL BARGAINS Roland C11 1/48 ................................................£8.00 Boeing 747 & space shuttle 1/144 ..................£14.50 Bell UH-1 1/24 .................................................£14.50 Apollo Saturn V 1/144 ...................................£14.50 DeHaviland Mosquito mkIV 1/32 ...................£15.00 Boeing B17f Memphis Belle 1/48 ..................£18.00 Mig 21F Fishbed C 1/72 ....................................£6.50 London Routemaster Bus 1/24 ........................£26.50 Peterbuilt 359 conventional 1/16 ....................£43.50 1/48 Tornado Tigermeet....................................£21.00 1/72 Halifax B mk2 ...........................................£14.50 1/72 DC4 Balair ................................................£27.50 Mercedes-Benz Actros ....................................£27.50 MAN TGX XLX 1/24 ........................................£27.50

Humbrol_Half-page_Brush_Pack_ad_AMW.pdf

1

08/08/2017

15:58

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

A brush for every creation C

M

Detail

Flat

Stipple

Coloro

Evoco

Palpo

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

AG4301

AG4302

AG4303

AG4050

AG4150

AG4250

Detail pack Size 00, 0, 1, 2

Flat pack Size 3, 5, 7, 10

Stipple pack Size 3, 5, 7, 10

Coloro pack Size 00,1,4, 8

Evoco pack Size 0, 2, 4, 6

Palpo pack Size 000, 0, 2, 4

Suitable for Enamel and Acrylic paints. Easy grip ergonomic handles.

Suitable for Enamel and Acrylic paints.

Suitable for Enamel and Acrylic paints, as well as Weathering Powder.

Best for use with acrylics.

Best for use with enamels.

The ultimate modelling brush pack.

Visit www.humbrol.com to locate your nearest Humbrol stockist.

humbrol.com 5506HL_Half-page_Brush_Pack_ad_AMW.indd 1

035_AMW_Nov17_ad.indd 1

/humbrol

@humbrol

/humbrol

08/08/2017 15:58

19/09/2017 17:04

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SA-8 GECKO

COLd WAR LiZArd

 The wheel hubs and the tyre pattern appeared spot on, and thankfully, the dreaded vinyl seam lines weren’t too prominent.

Cristian Lupu completes Trumpeter’s iconic Cold War SA-8 Gecko mobile surface-to-air-missile launcher

d

esignated 9K33 Osa (wasp) by the Soviets and Gecko by NATO, the SA-8 was a first-generation mobile air defence system, designed to support mechanised units. The main vehicle is based on a BAZ-5937 6x6 chassis, and is

classed as a transporter, erector, launcher and radar (TELAR), which permits stand-alone operations. Each TELAR carries six missiles, in two packs of three, located either side of the central surveillance, target acquisition and missile guidance radar unit, known as

1S51M3 or Land Roll. The SA-8 was operated by many countries, including most Warsaw Pact states, but also African and Middle Eastern operators. Despite the model’s impressive size and inclusion of a detailed interior, the kit comprised just 340 components. While not a quick build, the parts count was arguably lower than modellers have come to expect from other more modern armour offerings. While there were fewer items in the box, this didn’t mean detail was omitted, and the use of larger pieces with integrally moulded relief, rather than many smaller pieces, was a smart move on Trumpeter’s part. A good example was the instrument panels, which were effectively hidden on the finished vehicle, but displays, gauges and even single control knobs were represented with raised relief.

Scanning

 The crew and driver compartments were extremely well detailed, notably the missile control panels, so it was a pity all this would be hidden once the vehicle body was closed.

36

Airfix Model World

Assembly began with the vehicle interior, which comprised just a handful of parts. First impressions were that the operators’ cabin was simplistic (although the instrument

frEEZEr triCk Occasionally rubber or vinyl parts, such as tyres or gun mantles, are moulded with a prominent seam along exposed edges. Depending on the material, these can be difficult to remove, even with a new/sharp hobby blade. A simple solution to this (after ensuring it’s OK to do so!) is to place the components in the freezer for approximately 30 minutes, until they become more rigid…then use a sharp knife to trim any excess. Care must be taken not to overdo the cooling process, as items can become either too brittle or suffer deterioration when thawing.

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SA-8 GECKO

MODEL SPEC

Compared to assembly of the lower body, the suspension was more complex, but Trumpeter’s clever engineering allowed the wheels to be moveable.  The interior was dry-fitted in preparation for painting and final assembly. Aside from the radar and launcher superstructure, there wasn’t much more to the vehicle’s outer reaches.

Soviet SA-8 Gecko By:

Trumpeter

Stock Code:

05597

Scale:

1/35

Price:

£79.99

Available from: www.pocketbond.co.uk

 The missile containers had superb detail, despite being provided as closed canisters. The tubular supporting structure was equally refined, despite its slightly over-scale appearance.

panels were superb), but comparison with reference photographs revealed Trumpeter had replicated this area accurately. The instrument panels, seats and the floor were left as subassemblies at this point, to ease later painting and weathering. Six well-appointed vinyl tyres were provided, and fortunately the dreaded mould seam lines – which are usually hard to remove on this type of material (see panel) – were close to non-existent. Two-piece wheel hubs were equally faithful reproductions of the original; once mated, these were attached to the

suspension, notably without the use of a central axle. The former were complex sub-assemblies to say the least, but once completed they were well worth the effort, as with care the wheels were moveable. A missing connecting bar between the wheel pairs, which would have enabled them to move synchronously, was something that could be wished for, but then again wasn’t a show-stopper. www.airfixmodelworld.com 37

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SA-8 GECKO

MOdEL MAkE-Up

The PE mesh for the main radar dish was real eye-candy for detail hounds, although it’s delicate appearance did raise fears over damage while fitting it.

Fine details such as knobs, dials or even small screens can be painted with fine markers; here Stabilo’s 0.4mm pens were employed. Unlike fine paint brushes, pens are easier to handle and more precise in application, as these won’t run and the colours don’t ‘bleed’ as easily. Black fine line markers can also replicate rubber sealant around clear windows. If the results are less than desired, the ink can be removed with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and the process recommenced.

 Unquestionably, the radar-launcher unit was the vehicle’s centrepiece. Even harnesses and tubing, which are usually left off styrene parts, were reproduced faithfully, contributing greatly towards a realistic model.

Target detection The vehicle body was supplied in horizontal halves, with the mating seam hidden cleverly at the bottom; the design mitigated any slight misalignments caused by the warping of such large components. Attention then turned to the vehicle superstructure, with the missile containers next in the assembly process. The support structure seemed slightly crude and over-scale, but the latter was probably a result of Trumpeter pushing modern moulding techniques to their limits. While the admittedly

38

Airfix Model World

fine detail would have benefited from photo-etched (PE) metal replacements, much was hidden by the rest of the upper structure.

The central radar tower was undoubtedly the centrepiece of this build, particularly the large mesh cut-parabolic radar antenna, for which two identical PE components were included, yet just one was required in the instructions…perhaps the second was a spare?

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SA-8 GECKO

 Dry-brushing, pigments and oil washes were combined to replicate the ‘in-use’ look of the interior compartments.  Edges and prominent areas were pre-shaded with Revell 06 Tar Black. This helped to disrupt the vehicle’s monotone green camouflage.

Admittedly, the slightly curved shape, limited mating surface and delicate filigree structure of this large PE component prompted anxiety at first, but assembly proceeded better than expected. Fast-setting gel Super Glue or accelerator could have been handy but weren’t absolutely necessary. Considering the complexity and level of detail, the main radar control and support unit was probably the apogee of this kit. This sub-assembly alone was spread across two complex build stages, and filled two nights’ patient modelling. But once again,

the result more than compensated for the effort.

Locking-on Painting commenced with the cab interior. Although barely visible on the finished vehicle, the instrument panels were well detailed; once treated with AMMO-MIG’s A.MIG2002 Grey Primer, the raised relief offered the option of a flat, decalonly finish, as well as painting the knobs and handles individually. Fine markers were then used to add precise colour details to the gauges and dials (see panel), before drops of Revell 01 Clear

Gloss replicated the protective glass covering. With the fine line markers being water-based, the varnish partially dissolved the ink, which caused it to run towards the edges. While this might be unwanted in most cases, here it resulted in a rather attractive highlight effect. The driver’s dashboard was finished by painting the accelerator and brake pedals with 09 Anthracite, before raised features were dry-brushed with 76 Light Grey. Crew seats were then painted 39 Dark Green, with the cushions covered in 06 Tar Black, followed

by further dry-brushing with 76 Light Grey on the exposed edges. A dark wash, mixed from thinned Burnt Sienna and Lamp Black oils in a 4:1 ratio, picked out the crew compartment floor details, before highlights of dry-brushed 91 Steel were added. Finally, the interior was completed by adding pigments, which were layered to emphasise the buildup of dirt and grime. This began with Vallejo 73.105 Natural Sienna, followed by A.MIG-3007 Dark Earth and a small amount of an equal mix of A.MIG-3007 Dark Earth and 73.115 Natural Iron Oxide. www.airfixmodelworld.com 39

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SA-8 GECKO

 Post-shading was achieved by airbrushing a mix of the base green colour and yellow, concentrating on horizontal areas and the centre of panels. The stark tonal contrast was muted later by weathering.

 The whole vehicle was covered in a slightly uneven, cloudy layer of 39 Dark Green. Pre-shaded areas almost disappeared under this paint, creating varied tones.  The rear-view mirrors were reproduced with self-adhesive Bare-Metal foil. After application, the foil was pressed in the corners with a cocktail stick, then cut to shape with a sharp blade.

Tracking Three colour schemes were supplied: overall green, a parade vehicle (green with white trim) and three-tone camouflage. As there was no information regarding time period or operator, references were checked. Although the threecolour livery was very attractive, there was no immediate evidence

40

Airfix Model World

of it being used on SA-8 TELARs. A rare image depicting such a scheme was of a later variant, with upgraded equipment. While reference photographs revealed registration plates on each vehicle, these were unfortunately missing from the decal sheet. Therefore, as none of the kit schemes could be verified, the overall green scheme

was chosen. As with most single-colour vehicles, pre- and post-shading was a must, so the painting process started with airbrushed 06 Tar Black applied around prominent edges and raised detail. Larger, flat panels also received dark mottling, to create tonal variation. Next, 39 Dark Green was applied

in several thin layers, aiming for good coverage, but also a slightly uneven, cloudy appearance… which resulted in further subtle colour differences. It was then complemented by post-shading; this comprised an equal mix of the base colour with 12 Yellow, diluted in a 30:70 paint-IPA ratio. This was sprayed mainly on horizontal

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SA-8 GECKO

MAtEriALS Revell acrylics (www.revell.de/en) 01 Clear Gloss 02 Clear Matt 05 White 06 Tar Black 12 Yellow 39 Dark Green 76 Light Grey 79 Greyish Blue 89 Beige 90 Silver 91 Steel 330 Fiery Red 382 Wood Brown AMMO-MIG (www.migjimenez.com) A.MIG-2002 Grey Primer A.MIG-029 New Iraqi Army Sand A.MIG-044 Chipping A.MIG-3007 Dark Earth A.MIG-1402 Fresh Mud A.MIG-1408 Fresh Engine Oil Vallejo pigments www.creativemodels.co.uk) 73.105 Natural Sienna 73.115 Natural Iron Oxide Winsor&Newton oils (www.winsornetwon.com) Burnt Sienna Lamp Black

surfaces, and was concentrated in the middle of the panels.

Missile launch With the main livery completed, it was time to highlight the detail. The mirrors were painted in the same green as the rest of the vehicle and their reflective surfaces covered with BareMetal foil, a material similar to that provided in many kits, but considerably thinner, while being at least as reflective. After application of the foil over the mirrors, it was burnished into

the edges with a cotton bud and cocktail stick, then cut to shape with a sharp blade. The black rubber seals around the windows were replicated with a fine-tipped black marker pen, and while the rear lights were provided as clear parts, the more prominent headlights were not, so these received silver paint. The result was acceptable, but arguably not as good as it would have been with transparent components. The mating of the upper and lower body halves posed no problems. The fit was good and any small gaps left behind were filled by the glue, with just small areas requiring touch-up. With the main parts together, it was time to prepare for the weathering process, whereby an airbrushed coat of 01 Clear Gloss provided the base for the subsequent pin washes. As a secondary effect, the clear gloss layer also darkened the base colour, reducing the initially stark contrast of the pre- and post-shaded areas. The same dark oil wash used in the crew compartment was then applied to panel lines, which accentuated the fine surface structures. A thicker mix of the same oil wash, with equal proportions of paint and thinner, was used to replicate grime and dirt accumulations.

 Clear gloss was used as a base, before applying an oil pin wash (mixed from 80% Burnt Sienna and 20% Lamp Black). The clear layer also reduced the contrast between pre- and post-shaded areas.

Finally, small amounts of the Burnt Sienna and Lamp Black concoction, which had been thinned just lightly, were applied to specific areas, then a medium brush soaked in lighter fuel was used to draw this backwards along the vehicle, as if affected by the TELARs movement. Note lighter fuel, while volatile, does

have advantages over standard thinning agents as it evaporates rapidly, leaving oils touch-dry in approximately 30 minutes, and reducing any residual shine.

Guiding to target After allowing the oil paints to dry for at least 24 hours, the vehicle received 02 Clear Matt, which didn’t just recover the matt look specific to military vehicles, but also provided a base for pigment weathering. A ‘used-but-notabused’ look was desired, which would be achieved with moderate dust and mud accumulations. First, a thin, 30:70 mix of A.MIG-029 New Iraqi Army Sand and IPA was applied in a translucent dust layer to the tyre outer faces and the vehicle bottom area. To replicate a heavier patina, 73.105 Natural Sienna pigments were mixed with IPA and the resulting sludge applied to the tyres and vehicle’s lower areas with a medium

www.airfixmodelworld.com 41

INTERMEDIATE BUILD SA-8 GECKO

Grime and dirt accumulations were replicated with Burnt Sienna and Lamp Black oil paints, mixed in equal amounts and applied in a thicker consistency – which was then diluted and manipulated with a lighter fuel-loaded brush.

 The launcher-radar unit sub-assemblies were joined after the oil wash stage, but the missile covers painted were prior to final assembly.

 Different earth-coloured pigments were diluted in IPA, then applied to the model with a medium brush. Damp mud spots were added with AMMO-MIG enamels and the mix was manipulated for a more realistic look, then fixed with lighter fuel.

brush. Before this layer was completely dry, A.MIG-3007 Dark Earth, also dissolved in IPA, was then applied randomly for more tonal variation. Once the pigment layer was dry, selected areas around the wheel hubs, crevices and the back and bottom of the vehicle received small stains of A.MIG-1402 Fresh Mud, depicting damp mud. At this point, the dust accumulation looked spotty and unrealistic, while the pigments were still very fragile. To deal with this, a medium brush was loaded with lighter fuel and the pigment layer then soaked with it. While still wet, the pigments were pushed around and mixed, removing any stark boundaries. At all times, the brush movements

42

Airfix Model World

followed the natural, topto-bottom flow lines on a stationary vehicle, not excluding slight hints of movement reproduced by flow lines going from front-top to bottom-back. The tyre treads were cleaned of pigments and dry-brushed with 09 Anthracite to regain their rubber colour. As a last weathering step, freshly spilled fuel and lubricants were reproduced by A.MIG-1408 Fresh Engine Oil, which was applied sparingly, leaving a glossy appearance behind.

Boom! Trumpeter’s SA-8 Gecko was a great build. Its low parts count, but great out-of-the-box detail made it a great choice for beginner and advanced modellers alike. The finished vehicle provides

a splendid centrepiece for any display shelf, show table or even office desk. This is due not just to its impressive size and complex superstructure, but the rarity of the subject, which will surely attract plenty of attention.

Model kits and Diecast collections always wanted! We pride ourselves on being fast... ...friendly... ...and above all fair Discretion assured

01827 767654 ∙ [email protected]

www.kitsforcash.com Online Mail order hobby shop Stores.ebay.co.uk/Oxonians User Name : Heepdrutt

Expected soon :1/72 Sword Shooting Stars 1/72 AZ Model Curtiss Hawks Re-Stock Eduard Zoom Sets Re-stock Pavla Resins

A Dedicated EBAY Model Shop

SPHERE PRODUCTS Stands to reason www.sphereproducts.co.uk

WORKSTATIONS, PAINT RACKS, TRANSIT CASES, STORAGE SYSTEMS. CUSTOM DESIGNS. FIGURE, AIRCRAFT & AFV PAINTING STANDS. XURON CUTTERS, WILDER TWEEZERS. [email protected] +44 (0)7825 569434

043_AMW_Nov17_ad.indd 1

19/09/2017 10:58

OUT AND ABOUT IPMS SALISBURY SHOW

 How’s this for a bit of retro racing? Kevin Leadley, of North Somerset Modellers, combined Revell’s 1/24 Escort kit with Studio 27 and Reji enhancements…the result being this 1980 Escort Mk.II Acropolis Rally car, as driven by David Richards.

High End on a Hot Day S taging a truly great model show is a challenge, but the organisers were more than up to the task, as demonstrated on June 3. IPMS Salisbury’s event offered a wealth of club displays from far and wide, and a host of traders. Despite the hot temperatures in the sports hall (a result of the British weather defying usual expecation), modellers shuffled up and down the various isles, pausing to photograph a model on display, pounce on a bargain kit from under a club table or chat with an old friend; the event had the feel of a great model club meeting rather than a fullblown show.

I was keen to see the latest creations from IPMS Thames Valley Scale Model Club’s Greg Woodbridge. He’s a master modeller, but unswervingly modest and only too happy to pass on tips he uses to create 1/48 masterpieces. What’s he been up to of late? He’s recently completed his fifth quarter-scale Tamiya F-14A Tomcat! But, it wasn’t all fast jets; South Hants Military Modelling Society had an amazing display of 1/72 Thornycroft Antar tank transporters, while Romsey Modellers’ table was hard to miss given the colourful selection of 1/12 racing motorcycles. At the other end of the scale literally,

 Stonehenge Modellers brought along an impressive selection of 1/35 armour, which included Trumpeter's AS90 built by Pete Smith. The basic kit was enhanced with an Eduard basket set and grilles, an RB metal barrel and home-spun detail from plastic card. 44

Airfix Model World

 Visitors needed no reminder that the Red Arrows would be displaying all over the UK, but Patrick Camp from IPMS Abingdon made his own tribute with a corking build of Revell’s 1/32 kit. Extra refinement came via Eduard cockpit details, and the paint finish was flawless.

was the IPMS Asian Air Arms Special Interest Group, run by Brian Griffin, and the display featured a number of 1/144 helicopters, jets and multiengined transports from the region. If that wasn’t enough there was even the latest generation Chinese drone, the Divine Eagle, scratch-built in 1/144 scale from plastic card and

a ballpoint pen. IPMS Salisbury is to be congratulated once again on organising a great day, and praise even extends to club members handing out free old model magazines to departing visitors, if they fancied a slice of reference material to read on the way home. Well done gentlemen. Glenn Sands

 This 1/76 Antar Mk II Tractor Dyson 50-ton trailer, complete with Churchill Bridgelayer, was a splendid exhibit. Built by Barry Sharman of South Hants Military Modelling Society, it was one of a number of resin Matador Antar ‘combos’ on show.

 Racing superbikes were hard to miss on Romsey Modellers’ stand; perhaps the brightest was Paul Adams’ 1/12 Tamiya 2003 Honda RC211V built almost straight from the box. Custom decals depicted the livery of Valentino Rossi…‘The Doctor’.

Photo Etching - Photo Tooling - Laser Engraving - Vinyl Cutting

Model Rail

PPD Ltd have been etching for 40 years, based in the west coast of scotland. We are a successful family business that has grown over the years due to our attention to detail and a well priced service. We are happy to quote and give you our lead times for small and large projects.

Military Models

TV/Film Props

Accurate Armour

PH Designs

ScaleWarship LVM-studio.com

RB Productions

MARC Models

PPD Ltd - Unit 3 - Highbank Park Ind Est - Lochgilphead - Argyll - PA31 8NN Tel: 01546 602963 E-Mail: [email protected] www.ppdltd.com

TheSmallShop

Specialising in Photoetch bending tools and accessories.

■Rolling Sets ■Cut-off Kits ■Accessories ■Videos ■PE Bending Tools

www.TheSmallShop.com

Huge range of 15mm and 1/72nd fast-build kits for modellers and WWII wargamers

LATEST PLASTIC KITS

M3 ‘HONEY’ LIGHT TANK

5 15mm M3 light tanks per box. Can be built as M3s for North Africa, Italy or the Pacific.

£19.95

SdKfz 231 ARMOURED CAR

3 20mm 231 armoured cars per box. Can be built as SdKfz 231, 232, 263 or 233.

£17.50

www.theplasticsoldiercompany.co.uk

The Plastic Soldier Company Ltd Units 13-15 Henfield Business Park Shoreham Road Henfield West Sussex BN5 9SL United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1273 492730 [email protected]

OTHER 15MM AND 1/72nd KITS INCLUDE

• Panzer III G or H • Panzer III J, L, M or N • Panzer IV E, F1, G or H • SdKfz 251/D • SdKfz 251/C • SdKfz 250 alte • Medium Truck - Opel Blitz, Mercede L3000 or Maultier • StuG III G • Panther A • Panzer 38(t) or Marder ... and more for the Allies

Tradesales enquiries welcome: [email protected]

045_AMW_Nov17_ad.indd 1

19/09/2017 11:21

IN FOCUS RN PHANTOMS

TEAM OMEGA

Commander Tim Gedge AFC, RN, former 892 NAS Senior Pilot, describes flying the Phantom from HMS Ark Royal

H

“

old your attitude! Little Power!” These classic radio calls by the Landing Signal Officer (LSO) bring back instant memories of recovering the F-4 Phantom aboard HMS Ark Royal. Not in itself a particularly difficult task, but one that did require precision and practice: the aircraft was generally a delight to fly, but you had to set it up at exactly the correct attitude or angle of attack on finals, and the normal relationship between stick and throttle seemed somehow different from other aircraft. You controlled rate of descent with the throttle levers in your left hand, and speed with your right hand on the control column.

Tip of the spear The Royal Navy (RN) bought the F-4K from the US in 1968, and re-named it the FG.1; I had joined the single frontline squadron equipped with this new aircraft, 892 Naval Air Squadron, in August 1969. We were based initially at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset…then the spiritual home of the Naval All-Weather Fighter community. In later years, though, the RN formed a unit at RAF Leuchars in Fife, Scotland. The squadron embarked for the first time aboard Ark Royal in May 1970 for trials in the English Channel, but the general pattern of our embarkations was to participate in the annual autumn

 Pictured on June 12, 1969, and with the rank of Lieutenant, Tim Gedge looks suitably reflective after his first flight in a Fleet Air Arm Phantom.

exercises off the north coast of Scotland and Norway, and to head over the Atlantic to exercise with the Americans early in the year. Hours spent enjoying the spectacular Northern Lights

while flying on Combat Air Patrol (CAP) over the Norwegian Sea spring to mind, together with highly enjoyable visits to the Mediterranean (Malta in particular) and Brazil’s Rio de

Phantom XV587/010/R, of 892 NAS, just about to be launched from the waist catapult of Ark Royal. Note how the original gloss Extra Dark Sea Grey paint weathered to a satin finish. (Key Collection)

46

Airfix Model World

IN FOCUS RN PHANTOMS

Lepus flares for illumination. Some crews were qualified in the strike role, and this required special and highly specific additional training.

On the right path

 US Navy groundcrew perform ‘hot’ refuelling of RN Phantoms at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, USA, in February 1975. (All via Tim Gedge unless stated)

Janeiro. But I did not go east of Suez with the F-4, unlike earlier times when flying the Sea Vixen. The F-4K’s power was immense; with its two high-bypass RollsRoyce Spey engines it could out-accelerate the American Phantom at lower levels when starting at around 250kts (287mph / 461km/h), and its specific fuel consumption was lower. It could also fly slightly further without refuelling. But in other respects, it took us a while (with our small numbers and just the single embarked squadron’s 12 aircraft) to iron out all the early problems. Ultimately, the F-4K lasted some ten years with the Royal Navy.

But we also had other roles, such as attack (conventional weapons) and strike (nuclear). The pilots all enjoyed firing 2in (50mm) rockets at ground or sea targets, even if the Observers didn’t. We dropped bombs and practised coordinated attacks by day: by night using self-fired

The aim was to qualify as many pilots as possible to fly at night, but here the limitations of the aircraft when embarked posed quite a hurdle. It wasn’t that the FG.1 was particularly difficult to land aboard the carrier…it was that the limitations on the ship’s movement in pitch were absolute. You approached the ship down a 3-degree glidepath. Put simply, if the ship pitched down at 3 degrees as you reached it, you would fly into the after (back) end! So, a practical limit of about 1.5 degrees of pitch was usually set to allow for a pilot approaching slightly lower than he should. And at night the limitations were, of course, imposed more stringently. You had to night-fly ashore at an

airfield within so many days of flying embarked, or else you had to keep in night flying practice at sea. The reality was, we were short of night-qualified pilots. The other real constraint was that the maximum entry speed into the arrester cables was 103kts (118mph / 190km/h). Four arrestor cables were strung across Ark Royal’s deck and the target was usually number three wire, counting from aft. The Deck Landing Projector Sight showed a bright light (ball) to the pilot and this was gyro- stabilised in the centre of a horizontal set of datum lights. If the ball was high relative to the datum, then you were high on approach: if it turned red and was lower than the datum then you were low. It was vital to be on the correct 3-degree glidepath and at the correct speed; an important difference from landing on a runway was that you needed a constant-speed approach and had to fly the aircraft into the deck.

Bear hunters So what was our role? This was the height of the Cold War and our main task was Fleet Air Defence: in particular, to be able to intercept the high-flying, supersonic Soviet missile-carrying bombers. If the unthinkable ever happened, some enemy aircraft could attack at a height and speed echoing Concorde’s performance. In response, many hours were spent practising head-on attack manoeuvres that would enable the Raytheon AIM-7 Sparrow missile to be fired at optimum range. The reality was that you would accelerate to supersonic speed, and aim to fire the missile at approximately 13 miles (21km); we anticipated enemy aircraft to be supersonic and well above us. The closure rate would be about one mile every two seconds: your window of opportunity for missile release would have been very small!

 As demonstrated by this 1970 photo, RN Phantoms were eventually fitted with boxy radar warning receiver fairings on top of their vertical tails. Previously, they were shaped like any other F-4 fin. Buccaneers of 809 NAS are also in view here.  Looking decidedly small from altitude, HMS Ark Royal is seen by Lt Cdr Tim Gedge from the cockpit of his Phantom.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 47

IN FOCUS RN PHANTOMS

No ‘greasing it on’, as some pilots used to flying land-based aircraft found to their cost. The correct speed was calculated from the aircraft’s allup weight (AUW) 138kts (158mph / 254km/h) approach speed at 36,000lb (16,329kg) AUW with a change of 3 kts per 1,000lb change in weight. If more than about 3kts fast, then sometimes the resetting (jigger) wires for the arrester gear broke, with much cursing from the ship’s engineers who would have the unenviable and sweaty 24-hourlong task of replacing them. If more than 5 or 6kts fast then there was a real danger the gear itself would break, and you and your aircraft would dribble over the bows of the ship into the sea! Ejection in that case would be inevitable. To achieve the 103kts wire entry speed, the ship would steam into wind for each recovery: if there was no natural wind then the aircraft weight had to be reduced (by dumping fuel and hence reserves) to lower the approach speed. If you were low on approach, the after end of the ship or ‘round down’ became uncomfortably close…low and slow was a real no-no.

Lash of the cat Each sortie from the deck, of course, started with a catapult launch. The F-4 had been designed for the US Navy, whose catapults were significantly longer than the two in Ark Royal. So, an ingenious method of extending the RN Phantom’s

 Big seas make life challenging for Ark Royal’s groundcrew during operations in the Iceland-Faroes gap.

nose leg was designed and this angled the aircraft at 9 degrees for launch. The catapult was less than 200ft (61m) long and you reached a speed of more than 120kts (138mph / 222km/h) in just over two seconds! Add to this the ship’s speed into wind and you were at flying speed just after placing the back of your gloved hand against the canopy, as a signal to the Flight Deck Officer (FDO) that you were ready to be launched. You would then brace your arm to hold the control column steady, ensure your left hand was also braced to hold the throttles ‘through the gate’ in full reheat and wait for the ‘eyeballs-in’ acceleration. The maximum for the aircraft was approaching 7g but we were usually launched at around 4g. Your signal to cancel the launch would be a slow shaking of your

head: the FDO’s signal would be to raise a red flag, but it would not be until he walked in front of the aircraft on the catapult that you even thought about coming out of reheat… Once the FDO was happy you were ready to go, he would check for a green light on the bridge superstructure that he was authorised by the ship command to fire the catapult, that everything around him looked normal, that you, the pilot, were still happy and then lower his green flag slowly to the horizontal. At this signal, the deck catapult operator situated in the howdah (a retractable citadel recessed in the deck) would press his firing button and the actual sequence would begin… there was no stopping it. At night, the FDO used an illuminated wand. Once the firing button was

pressed, the catapult would fire some two seconds later come what may, and the aircraft would be launched. All you, the pilot had to do was to raise the nose gently after launch from the 9-degree attitude to 14 degrees, and hold this while the aircraft accelerated away from the sea. After dark, you used the aircraft navigation lights as signals to the FDO. Total concentration on the instruments (to the absence of all other sensory information) was essential as you suddenly found yourself airborne in disconcerting inky blackness.

Dynamic debut Along with several other types, I had flown the Sea Vixen in my first frontline appointment, so converting to the Phantom was not in itself too big a task. In those days, we did not have

 This 892 NAS Phantom from 1977 sports Silver Jubilee nose artwork, to mark 25 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s rule. It is connected to a Houchin ground power unit. (Glenn Sands Collection)

48

Airfix Model World

IN FOCUS RN PHANTOMS

any twin-stick F-4s (or for that matter a simulator) so your first flight was with an experienced Observer in the rear seat. On that initial familiarisation ‘hop’ you were limited to a conventional power (without reheat) take-off; arguably the only one you would ever make and usually thought of as being the most dangerous! The brief was to light the burners at 15,000ft (4,572m) and experience the huge surge of power for the first time. In my case, as I advanced the throttles through the gate from military power to full reheat, the starboard engine blew all its turbine blades out of the back end and stopped dead,

Useful underside detail is displayed in this image, such as the recessed Sparrow missile bays, and triple ejector racks hanging from the inboard wing pylons. The airframe is relatively clean underneath (in the engine area), as any die-hard Phantom fan will confirm! (Glenn Sands Collection)

 The unit markings of 892 NAS were comparitively demure in the early days, as exemplified by this Phantom FG.1 with standard fin top. The 'Omega’ device did not receive the red flash until later. (Key Collection)

and the port engine started fluctuating between about 80 and 95 percent! Landing this beast for the first time was interesting but I was pleased that my overseeing staff Observer stuck with me. The sheer power of the Phantom was, however, the exciting part. Being able to accelerate easily to supersonic speeds, and the capability with Sparrow missiles and the fantastic radar system, gave us a step change in capability from the Sea Vixen. This was a serious war machine, enormously capable and fun to fly. After the exacting days of conventional carrier flying, the Royal Navy led the world into the era of Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) operations, with a much smaller carrier

and the venerable Sea Harrier. Here, instead of catapults, we could launch up a ski-jump and landing was a piece of cake by comparison. Now we could stop and land in our own time, coming in vertically when the ship’s movement was at a minimum rather than landing and then stopping. This was a much easier operation, which required less training and was subject to far fewer restrictions on ship pitch than for conventional deck launch/recovery cycles. The new Queen Elizabeth Class of aircraft carriers now leads us into yet another generation of naval flying, and Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II gives us a whole new embarked capability – with the huge advantage of a large deck area, giving the UK a versatility well into the future.

 892 NAS wasn't the only naval unit to fly the Phantom. This example was operated by 700P Squadron, tasked with intensive flight trials, at Yeovilton. Note the 'Spook' badge on the tail. (Glenn Sands Collection) www.airfixmodelworld.com 49

EXCLUSIVE BUILD PHANTOM FG.1

DEFENDING THE FLEET A new British Phantom kit is due soon and it’s from Airfix. Chris Jones couldn’t wait to investigate...

T

he F-4 Phantom is legendary, but for those with a passion for British aviation, the Rolls-Royce Spey-powered Phantoms of the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force

are almost mythical. With a collection of impressive nicknames – Rhino, Spook, DoubleUgly et al – the Phantom always looked threatening (and still does), but modifications to fit the larger

 Alongside the recessed panel lines were numerous restrained rivet and fastener details.  Runner ‘G’ contained numerous FG.1-specific items, such as the extendable nosewheel leg, catapult bridle hooks, slotted stabilators and folding nose and radar. The ‘traffic’ lights on the nose wheel door were provided on the decal sheet.

50

Airfix Model World

British engines imbued British Phantoms with an extra air of menace. Cavernous intakes fed ravenous, down-angled engines, which seemed to hold the very ground in contempt, spewing

thrust and flames earthward during take-off. Two versions were produced, the navalised F-4K (FG.1) for the Royal Navy and the RAF’s land-based F-4M (FGR.2). The FG.1 replaced the Sea Vixen in the

EXCLUSIVE BUILD PHANTOM FG.1  Choices, choices! A comprehensive auxiliary intake bay was included, along with all manner of raised/lowered control surfaces.

fleet defence role, and performed sterling service with 892 Naval Air Squadron aboard HMS Ark Royal. However, cuts to the carrier force meant that some FG.1s destined for naval service found their way into the RAF, where they operated alongside FGR.2s. After the shocking disbandment of Royal Navy carrier capability in 1979, all remaining FG.1s were passed to the RAF, where they continued to serve until the type was retired from service in 1989. Meanwhile, the Phantom FGR.2 soldiered on with 56 and 74 Squadrons until 1992, but that’s another story...

Phantom forerunners Spey-engined Phantoms attract a phenomenal amount of interest, especially in the UK, but until now the only real choices were ageing kits from Fujimi and Matchbox (1/72), and Hasegawa (plus the Revell re-boxing) in 1/48. The former have been difficult to obtain for a long time now, and their rarity has created a definite demand in the market. Thankfully, Airfix has now filled the void splendidly! With its pioneering Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) techniques, the

KIT COLOUR SCHEMES

 Open or closed, up or down, early or late? Numerous options were present for the auxiliary intake doors, arrester hook, tail and stabilator positions...do remove the ILS antennas on the late-style fin. They weren’t fitted to Royal Navy Phantoms.

• XT864, 892 Naval Air Squadron, HMS Ark Royal Royal, 1974-1975 • XT864, 767 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Yeovilton, 1971 • XT867, Naval Air Support Unit, RNAS Yeovilton, 1969

 Yet more decisions, this time for the outboard wing sections, with slats up/down or the wings folded.

 A mixture of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions was supplied, but due to time constraints, just the underwing tanks were fitted for this build. Stores included 2in rocket pods, 540lb bombs, and AIM-7 and AIM-9 missiles. www.airfixmodelworld.com 51

EXCLUSIVE BUILD PHANTOM FG.1

“THOUGHTFUL DESIGN HAD CLEARLY GONE INTO THE KIT”

 Parts were included for those wishing to pose the nose folded for movement aboard carrier elevators, or to have the radar exposed for maintenance. Note for both options, the radome must be cut from the fuselage halves.

design team took scans of the 74 Squadron Phantom FGR.2, XV474, at Imperial War Museum Duxford, so the unique and complex curves of the Spey-engined beast have been captured to perfection.

Options galore

 Phantoms needed a high angle of attack to assist launch from the relatively small British carrier decks, and the iconic nosewheel leg could be posed extended or retracted, with just minor surgery.  The bare plastic of the cockpit, all ready for paint. None of the ejector pin release marks needed removing, as they were masked by the cockpit tub itself. Note the transparent coaming section, with its engraved circle for the pilot’s optical sight unit illumination.

Due to time constraints, it was essential to start building this test-shot before the instructions were actually ready, which posed an interesting challenge; the most striking feature of this release is how many options Airfix has managed to cram into the kit. Everything the modeller could want to position on the model can be achieved straight from the box, with choices for in-flight, take-off, landing and parked configurations. The stabilators, flaps, ailerons and rudder could be posed differently, the airbrakes, arrester hook, With the nose ballast and intake interiors in place and the cockpit painted, glossed, oil washed and attached, the fuselage halves could be mated.

52

Airfix Model World

refuelling probe and nosewheel leg could be retracted or extended and the auxiliary intake doors underneath and on fuselage sides could be open or closed... phew! Beyond this, the inboard section of the wing came with options for retracted and extended slats,

EXCLUSIVE BUILD PHANTOM FG.1

The catapult bridle hook panels were oversized and the wing inserts sat just proud of the underside, so sanding and scraping was the order of the day. To ease painting, the auxiliary intake doors were removed, to be attached later.

 The wing upper halves, outer sections, flaps and ailerons went into place quite happily, but the leading-edge slats benefited from the locating tabs being removed.

and integrally moulded belts. Instrument panels and consoles were smooth and came with decals (as ever, slight trimming was required), which may or may not be to one’s taste, and while the navigator’s starboard sidewall was devoid of detail, this can of course be added by the modeller if required. One particular stand-out feature was the wheels, which boasted blinding hub detail, and they were also weighted…but not keyed. Thoughtful design had clearly

MODEL SPEC

 Two three-piece Martin-Baker Mk.7 seats were included, complete with integrally moulded harnesses and firing handle detail.

while the outboard wing sections were very cleverly engineered indeed. Here, there were three separate parts to choose from, with either folded wings, wings down and ‘clean’ or ‘dirty’ with slats deployed. Cleverly, the underside join here was covered neatly by the wing tank pylons, apart from a tiny section at the rear...which was filled easily. As if that wasn’t enough, the radome could be positioned closed, folded, or folded with the radar electronics exposed – and there were closed one-piece or open canopy options. Recessed panel line detail was generally fine and sharp (apart from a couple of small areas), along with incredibly subtle rivet and fastener rendering. The cockpit was reasonable for the scale, with very respectable equipment and wiring representation on the shelves behind the ejection seats, which came with firing handles

McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1 By:

Airfix

Stock Code:

A06016

Scale:

1/72

Price:

£24.49

Available from: www.airfix.com

www.airfixmodelworld.com 53

EXCLUSIVE BUILD PHANTOM FG.1

 The fit around the forward fuselage was tight, but Super Glue, clamps and Tamiya Extra Thin Cement got the job done.

 Wing root fit was perfect, although the intake exteriors were tight, with a slight gap at the bottom where they met the lower fuselage. Thanks to the width of the cockpit, it was possible to complete decaling and weathering part- way through the build. Instrument and console items did need trimming though.

Milliput Superfine White was used in a few areas to neaten and improve joins. As ever, it can be neatened while damp, removing the need to sand.

54

Airfix Model World

gone into the kit, with a one-piece spine insert, to remove the need for tedious sanding, and intakes moulded in such a way that no internal blemishes were present. They also appear seam-free from most angles. The stabilators on the FG.1 were ‘slotted’ and were well rendered in the kit, while there were inserts for the catapult bridle hooks, and options for an early tail fin, or later version with the RWR fairing. The latter came with two small blade antennas either side, which were present on many RAF Phantoms, but not fitted to Royal Navy FG.1s. Sadly, the author didn’t pick up on this until it was time to position the ‘R’ for Ark Royal on the fin, which then required artistic licence! After eventually obtaining the instructions, it was clear the design team had missed this as well, because there was no reference to this in the build guide either...so be warned. Beyond the centreline and wing tanks, there were options for inboard pylons, with either Sidewinder rails, and/or a pair of Carrier, Bomb, Triple Ejector (CBTE) units, which were Britishdesigned items, to carry larger domestic ordnance. Numerous weapon options included Sparrows, Sidewinders, finless Sparrow shapes (which could double for acquisition rounds or ballast) along with two pairs of 540lb bombs and 2in rocket pods. Overall it was an impressive package, but there were a handful of areas where detailing was either not included or simplified. Most obviously, the bleed air louvres (the grates above and below the air intakes, just behind the intake ramp) were missing, along with the engine bay cooling louvres (the small grates just above the exhaust nozzles). This After priming and a coat of white, the undersurfaces were masked in preparation for the much darker top colour.

didn’t detract overly from the final appearance of the kit, which looked highly impressive once assembled, but it did seem a peculiar omission. Beyond this, the Spey exhaust nozzles were a little basic, but that is probably nitpicking. The transparent runner also included a second centre glazing portion, with the port window blanked and a separate Telescope Sighting System (to assist in long range visual identification).

Beginning to build Initial test-fitting suggested the navigator’s instrument panel would snag the canopy centre section, so this was

OMEGAS AND TRIALS If modellers desire alternative Royal Navy Phantom schemes, then one need look no further than Xtradecal’s new sheet X72268, which offers a choice of ten airframes, including several with decidedly non-standard markings, courtesy of brief stopovers on US Navy carriers.

EXCLUSIVE BUILD PHANTOM FG.1

A home-made mix of Extra Dark Sea Grey was applied, then mottled and touched up with a lightened mix to depict the effects of the harsh maritime environment.

“OVERALL IT WAS AN IMPRESSIVE PACKAGE”

filed on the underside, and while a gap presented itself at the base of the cockpit front bulkhead, it was decided to continue. Of interest was the coaming for the pilot’s panel, a multi-part affair, which included a clear section for the bulb that projected onto the pilot’s optical sight unit (Part F2). After painting and assembling the intake interiors, these were attached to the fuselage halves. The cockpit was painted and glossed, and once nose ballast had been added, the

fuselage halves were united, with a pleasingly good fit. It was essential to decide which build configuration to use early in the project, and since a ‘clean’ wing was desired, the relevant inboard slats and outer wing sections were selected.

The underside of the mainplane included a large panel insert, along with parts for the catapult bridle hooks, but trimming and sanding was required in these areas to ensure a good fit. It was also decided to separate the one-piece auxiliary inlet doors (Part D12) and attach these individually at the end for ease of painting. The fit of the outer wing sections and upper wing halves was perfection itself, and the flaps and ailerons slotted smoothly into place. Locating tabs for the inboard leading-edge slats seemed to produce a suspect fit, so these were removed. At this point, the fully assembled wings and fuselage lower half, complete with jet pipes, compressor faces and drilled pylon holes were attached to the fuselage, with perfect wing root fit. Wonderfully, the locating surfaces also matched real life panel lines (apart from a tiny section next to the exhaust nozzles), but the fit was tight across the lower front fuselage. To resolve this, a clamp held the fuselage halves in place, Super Glue and accelerator secured the front of the part, before Tamiya Extra Thin Cement was run along the join. However, the intake exteriors fitted very tightly, and Super Glue was needed to fill a gap on the underside,

 A number of other areas, including the radome and auxiliary intake bays, needed masking and painting before decaling could take place.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 55

EXCLUSIVE BUILD PHANTOM FG.1

“THE AMOUNT OF AIRFRAME OPTIONS WAS IMPRESSIVE”

The hot metal section of the tail was applied straight over the smooth Alclad Aqua Gloss varnish.

where the intakes met the lower fuselage/wing sections. The next stage was to add the tail fin, windscreen and spine insert. Regarding the latter, the best approach was to secure it on the underside with polystyrene cement, hold it in place with tape until the glue had dried, then run Tamiya Extra Thin down the joins. Filler was used to cover part of the join immediately behind the Spey nozzles, where it didn’t match a real-life panel; the same was true for the area forward of the tail fin. Milliput Super Fine White was applied in several areas to improve joins, but this was smoothed with damp cotton buds to remove the need to sand subsequently. Tamiya XF-54 Dark Sea Grey was used along joins to check for neatness, and after minor corrections and re-priming, it was time to paint.

Grey-blue ocean hue

 Decals galore! Airfix is to be commended for its attention to detail, as FAA Phantom airframes were festooned with information and warning stencils…much like US examples. How about that for swagger? This was a smart paint scheme with real charisma, especially after the 892 NAS markings were positioned.

56

Airfix Model World

The Fleet Air Arm adorned its Phantoms with a handsome Extra Dark Sea Grey (which is more of a dark blue-grey) over white scheme. After a coat of white on the underside and much masking, a home-made mix of 17 parts XF-24 Dark Sea Grey, two parts XF-2 White/X-2 Gloss White and one part XF-8 Flat Blue was applied to the upper surfaces. Although FAA aircraft of the period were delivered with a gloss finish, the paint weathered to a satin or even matt appearance (which Airfix refers to in the painting instructions). One reference photo of ‘007’ also showed several paint touch-ups in a lighter shade, so

after the initial layer, a lightened mix was airbrushed in a random mottle and across selected panels to represent fading and re-sprays. A darkened blend of the same paint was then used in another random topside mottle, before multiple coats of Alclad ALC600 Aqua Gloss were applied, and the tail section and auxiliary intakes duly masked and sprayed. After more gloss to seal the new paintwork, decaling began…and what a task it was. The quality of the decals was phenomenal, but there was an incredible number of stencils to be applied. The markings were finally sealed after hours of work, but before a dark blue-grey wash was applied to the top surfaces, while the undersides received light grey. As much final assembly then took place as possible, and here another standout feature was the design of the undercarriage and gear doors. Often, this can be a frustrating part of Phantom modelling, but the clever arrangement of the legs, doors and jacks took the pain out of the process. Xtracolor XDFF Matt Varnish was sprayed in multiple, painstakingly light coats over the airframe and left to cure for 48 hours, before weathering could begin. One of the most glorious aspects of building F-4s is the scope for dirtying the airframe, particularly the undersides. So after careful consultation of references, dots of black-grey oil paint were applied with cocktail sticks (and even

EXCLUSIVE BUILD PHANTOM FG.1

roundels and the 892 Squadron Omega marking, to blend them in to the overall look of the model.

'Phinal' thoughts

needles for added subtlety) and dragged back with cotton buds moistened with white spirit. Oil washes of the same mix were also used to provide streaking on the wing tanks and more general grime on the underside. Next, a highly thinned 2:1 mix of XF-1 Flat Black and XF-64 Red Brown was sprayed over all panel lines to suggest accumulated grime, before delicate touches such as wingtip lights were tackled. The final act was to spray XF-57 Buff in thin, tight mottles over the

The author was among countless Phantom fans who greeted the announcement of this kit with huge excitement, so it was an absolute privilege to be entrusted with a test-shot build of this hotly anticipated release. A new British Phantom has been at the top of many wish lists for a long time, but the wait is now over. Thanks to the pioneering use of LIDAR technology, the modeller can rest secure in the knowledge that the type’s subtle shapes have been captured to perfection. Clever engineering work clearly went into the design process; the build itself was fun, and the amount of airframe options was impressive. Yes, one or two areas do demand extra attention during assembly, and there are a few details that have not been included, but the final result looks truly spectacular. For most of us, it will be impossible to build just one of the new Airfix Phantoms…surely, entire squadrons are called for!

 Black/grey oil dots were applied, and then dragged backwards with cotton buds moistened with small amounts of white spirit. Needles were used to add minute dots for extra subtlety, but usually cocktail sticks sufficed. Various Tamiya clear shades were applied to provide additional heat staining, before an overspray of a highly thinned 2:1 Flat Black/Red Brown mix.

REFERENCE MATERIAL British Phantoms 1966-1978, by Patrick Martin (Double Ugly), ISBN: 978-3-935687-84-3 McDonnell F-4 Spirit in the Skies, by Jon Lake (Aerospace/Airtime), ISBN: 978-1-880588-31-4  The same Black/ Red Brown mix as on the exhaust area was used to provide the impression of grime in the panel lines.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 57

MODELS, HOBBIES AND ACCESSORIES FOR ALL YOUR MODELLING REQUIREMENTS!

JOIN OUR FACEBOOK COMMUNITY

MODEL KITS FOR LESS

MJR are now a stockist of MRP/ MR PAINT

MJR MODELS & HOBBIES

11 Hindley Road, Daisy Hill. Westhoughton, Bolton BL5 2JU Tel: 01942 386790 Email: [email protected]

www.mjrmodelsandhobbies.co.uk We also stock a range of Radio Controlled Models & Hobby Kits. COME AND SEE US IN THE VILLAGE!

NOVEMBER ISSUE

- OUT NOW!

FREE 16-PAGE HURRICANE GUIDE AND DOUBLE-SIDED POSTER THIS ISSUE ALSO FEATURES: MOONLIT WINGS The Shuttleworth Collection’s ‘Dodge’ Bailey explains how the Westland Lysander was used for clandestine sorties behind enemy lines. SKY FULL OF MEMORIES Noel Dunningham recounts tales from his extraordinary 32-year career in the RAF to Chris Gilson. UNLIMITED AVENGER Jake Peterson profiles the Texas Flying Legends Museum’s awardwinning Grumman Avenger.

896/17

£4.60

AND MUCH MORE! Available NOW from

A LT ER NAT IV ELY, O R D E R D I R E C T:

Order online with FREE P&P* at

www.keypublishing.com/shop *Free 2nd class P&P on all UK & BFPO orders. Overseas charges apply. Postage charges vary depending on total order value.

Also available on

058_AMW_Nov17_ad.indd 1

and all leading newsagents

b

ONLY

iTunes

OR

Call UK 01780 480404 Overseas +44 1780 480404 Lines open 9.00am - 5.30pm GMT

also available for PC, MAC & Kindle Fire from

Search: FlyPast

19/09/2017 16:53

SCALE PLANS

MAIN JBD DOORS 0.5

IT'S ALL IN A DRAWING

--Ir

42.5

1

4.5

T

�

35.5

-i:­

_l_ 0.5� 0.5

11.5 19

70

23 26

30.5

!

T---;-

2_l_ T

Right JBD is mirror of left JBD.

JBD 'PIT'

4.5

11.5

9

---L-

- t-----;::::---c:::::0:il-=-----;:::,-----;::::;-i1/,1=----=----i

_l_

1--..J....L-'-JV/!-..J....L----'-..J.._...L....L.-V/,ll-"--..J....L-I -� 3

D D D O D

-+ t --

DD

--r-

2

1 . _ �_ 2s �-2 __.. 29.5

With all materials assembled, where to begin? The flight deck comprised two sheets of 40-thou (1mm) plastic card, kindly supplied by Little Cars (www. modellingtools.co.uk), which were joined and a basic 250 x 350mm working area marked (a larger boundary was kept at the bottom, as this helped when scribing/ cutting circles for the aircraft lift). While the 1/72 drawings may appear daunting, everything is based around the blast-panel apex (Point A). Note on this area of HMS Ark Royal's deck, all markings are parallel to one of the four datum lines; these being the ship's centreline (lift and catapult control), landing strip, bow and waist catapults.

i=lffllU Work began by drawing the

catapult line, blast plates and main JBD openings, before moving to the waist catapult

The size of plans was constrained by the gatefold dimensions, combined with the desire to fit into a basic 12 x 16in (300 x 400mm) picture frame, which obviated the need to build a frame/surround. While much was gleaned from the FAA museum's archive, there were still areas for which little information was available, such as the interior of the port outer jet blast deflector (JBD), so the design of the starboard unit was utilised. Key measurements and angles are annotated on the drawings. Of interest, the dashed lines on the main JBD 'pit' (see left) were intended to represent the actuator housings (modellers can make them as deep as they wish), but this was before realising a hardwood liner was needed. Notwithstanding Andy Hay's superb digital rendition of the original drawings, any errors or slight adjustments in measurements (the smallest increment I could cope with was 0.25mm) are mine.

track and aircraft lift. The first cutting session removed the main JBD coverings, before their outlines were transcribed onto 50mm squares of 2 0-thou (0.5mm) styrene sheet for the doors and 40-thou (1mm) for the recessed 'pits'. Similarly, the two outer JBDs were measured and cut, before attention turned to creating the detail from stock plastic card. For those seeking accuracy, the JBD 'ribs' are T-shaped; here the 'leg' comprised 2 0-thou (0.5mm) wide styrene strip, topped by 1.Smm-wide 10-thou (0.25mm) plastic (a simpler approach would just use 1.5mm wide block sections instead).

SIDE JBD DOORS 4.75

1.5

�.F 3.5

,:� �l

0 n-n�:

0 62

D

�llD -� llD

D

j

�

�

k:I I

_L

1.5

�

.

�

11 5

D

ODQTIO]

23.5 32

E

SCALE PLANS HMS ARK ROYAL DECK

Rough shapes were cut into the foam base for the jet blast deflector recesses, along with holes for the bridle catcher and hold-back cables.

 Once the deck construction had dried, the entire structure was primed with Mr. Surfacer 1000, before the raised structures received Alclad ALC-112 Steel. The blast plates then received Jet Exhaust and Burnt Iron.

A photocopy of the plans was sacrificed so the sections of abrasive paper could be cut, after which they were masked for the deck markings… laborious, but necessary.

Badger’s Stynylrez SNR-01 White (www.barwellbodyworks-shop. com, also available as Ultimate Primer from www.umpretail. com) was employed here, as this covered well and dried quickly. Red sections (landing strip centreline and JBD warning stripes) required yet more masking tape, before a custom mix of Vallejo 71.003 Red and 71.039 Hull Red was applied. Each section was sprayed separately, before the masking was removed and the abrasive paper secured to the deck with contact adhesive.

Once any paint over-runs and glue marks were corrected, the deck received minimal weathering, with thinned Tamiya X-19 Smoke misted randomly, before Jet Exhaust and Burnt Iron were added to areas bordering the blast plates.

Flight preparations Adding the various subassemblies was a quick

process, with the JDBs and their recesses attached first, followed by the deck being secured to the foam base with contact adhesive. Actuators were made from lengths of Albion Alloys’ 1mm, 0.8mm and 0.6mm tube, secured with PVA glue. The various cables were fashioned from 0.25mm elastic thread and 0.5mm beading elastic (available from art and craft stores),

 A quick and easy method for the deck marking curves was to mark an ‘X’ on masking tape, ensuring the lines were at 90°, before cutting a circle to produce four corners (inner and outer).

NAUTICAL HISTORY

With the challenge of creating scale plans for this build, I was grateful for the assistance of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Museum (part of the National Museum of the Royal Navy), which allowed me to research its archive plans and photographs. For anyone modelling an FAA subject, a visit to the museum is well worth it, especially as it’s currently commemorating 100 years of naval aviation. Exhibits in its four display halls include most aircraft to have served with the FAA, the first Concorde, and a splendid Aircraft Carrier Experience, enabling visitors to see what it’s like to work on a flight deck. Fleet Air Arm Museum RNAS Yeovilton Ilchester Somerset BA22 8HT Tel: 01935 840565 www.fleetairarm.com

www.airfixmodelworld.com 59

SCALE PLANS HMS ARK ROYAL DECK  As each section was painted, it was checked against the other deck pieces to ensure correct alignment of the deck markings. Here the lift portion is being compared to those already positioned.  It was a necessary evil, but the chopped photocopied plans served a vital purpose; checking everything would fit before the abrasive paper was cut. Here, slight discrepancies were noted along the catapult track and aircraft lift.

 The JBDs received Colourcoats’ M01 RN Light Weatherwork Grey on the inner faces (Steel and Jet Exhaust were applied to the exterior), while the recesses were painted matt black.

with small sections of Albion’s 1mm tubing for the ‘collars’. A launch shuttle and hold-back point was fashioned from scrap styrene, the latter with a groove for the cable to pass through. The bridle-catcher cable was attached to the catapult collar with Superglue, before two lengths of 0.3mm copper wire (www.modellingtools.co.uk)

were looped around it and then fed into the bridle catcher attachment holes and secured with tape…just the loop should remain above the deck-line. For the hold-back cable, this was looped through the collar in a similar fashion to the catapult cable, then threaded through the attachment point, before being attached to the hook on the

 After experimenting with wire alternatives, it was realised elastic cables would be much better, so lengths of 0.25mm and 0.5mm thread were used to replicate the catapult and bridle-catcher cable respectively, with a collar fashioned from Albion Alloys’ 1mm brass tube. The loops would attach to hooks on the Phantom model.  All that remained was to attach the blast doors before securing the deck to the foam base. The cables and their copper wire restraints would be fed through the holes in the bridle-catcher tracks and hold-back point.

60

Airfix Model World

Phantom. Tweezers were then used to attach the catapult cable hoops to the appropriate points on the aircraft, before the cable was stretched over the launch cradle, completing the build.

Successful cat’ shot From the outset, it was realised this would be a challenge, but it’s probably done more to restore my modelling mojo than many recent projects, and work is already underway to complete those areas bypassed due to deadline time constraints. While this was time-consuming, it was mainly measuring, then doing so again just to make sure, before cutting; but once finished, it takes pride of place on the display shelf. If modellers haven’t tried scratch-building, give it a go…it’s amazing what can be achieved! ❚

FREE PRIZE DRAW PHANTOM ITEMS

WIN BRITISH PHANTOM GOODIES! To celebrate the imminent release of Airfix’s splendid 1/72 Phantom FG.1, Airfix Model World is giving away heaps of associated prizes to five lucky readers

The winners’ haul looks like this: Two readers will each receive an Airfix Phantom FG.1 kit, a hardback copy of RAF F-4 navigator David Gledhill’s new book Phantom in the Cold War (along with an author-signed postcard of the book cover) courtesy of publisher Pen & Sword (www.pen-and-sword. co.uk); see p.96 of this issue for a review of this superb

book. Also included will be two of Xtradecal’s new 1/72 aftermarket decal sheets for Phantom FG.1s, thanks to mail order giant Hannants (www. hannants.co.uk). The sheets are X72268 (Royal Navy, see p.54 this issue) and the soon-to-bereleased X72282 (RAF). Three other readers will each receive an Airfix Phantom FG.1 and the two Xtradecal sheets.

For your chance to win one of these superb prizes simply send your name, address and telephone number to: Airfix Model World Phantom competition, Key Publishing Ltd, PO Box 100, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1XQ.

OR

e-mail your details to [email protected] with ‘Airfix Model World Phantom competition’ in the subject field.

Closing date for entries is Tuesday December 5 at 12:00 GMT and winners will be notified no later than Tuesday December 12, 2017. No cash prize alternative and the Editor’s decision is final. On occasions Key Publishing and Airfix 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.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 61

PHOTO FOCUS USS GEORGE HW BUSH

Freedom at Work... USN Style Glenn Sands was fortunate to photograph aircraft aboard the USS George HW Bush during its recent visit to Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK

A

merica’s nuclear-powered supercarriers are without doubt a potent symbol of America’s military strength and reach. For the last decade, they have been a constant presence in the waters off the coast of the Middle East, conducting combat operations against terrorist groups in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. As part of Operation Inherent Resolve USS George HW Bush (CVN-77) was deployed to the region this February, and for five months its air wing (CVW-8) conducted daily operations against Islamic State groups in Iraq and Syria. After more than 1,000 combat sorties it was time to head back to the US as its deployment came to an end. During transit to Newport Naval Base, the carrier made a five-day port call in Portsmouth, Hampshire, arriving on July 27, allowing the crew to get much-

62

Airfix Model World

 This MH-60S ‘colour bird’ belonged to HSC-9 ‘Tridents’ and was undergoing routine maintenance on its rotor blades while the carrier was at anchor.

PHOTO FOCUS USS GEORGE HW BUSH

 The Su-22 Fitter-killing F/A-18E (168912/302/AJ) flown by Lt Cdr Michael Q Tremel, from VFA-87 ‘Golden Warriors’. It shot down the Syrian aircraft with an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile near Raqqah, Syria on June 18 this year.  Dominating the Solent for the five days it was present during its Portsmouth visit, the USS George HW Bush (CVN-77) is one of the most powerful warships currently in service. On the deck are Hornets and Super Hornets of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8. (All photos Glenn Sands)

 Four Grumman E-2C II Hawkeyes were attached to CVW-8, coming from VAW-124 ‘Bear Aces’. The aircraft were in spotless condition, despite their daily missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.  The Deputy CAG’s F/A-18C (165187/400/AJ) of VFA-37 ‘Ragin’ Bulls’ was trimmed in the squadron’s blue over its regular grey camouflage. Painted on the inside of the tail were the names of former VFA-37 servicemen lost in combat.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 63

PHOTO FOCUS USS GEORGE HW BUSH

 For those planning on a carrier diorama, the deck tractors are loaded with equipment, essential for operating aircraft at sea. Wheel chocks and fuel connection valves are scattered across the top of this example.

needed rest prior to participation in Exercise Saxon Warrior off Scotland, before finally heading back across the Atlantic. For invited aviation enthusiasts, it was a welcome opportunity to enjoy a close-up look at a Carrier Air Wing returning from combat operations; it was evident by the amount of mission tallies on the noses of the F/A-18s that the squadrons had been engaged heavily in the conflict. Glenn Sands

 This is how a legacy Hornet’s paintwork looks after five months’ combat operations in the Middle East. Faded and touched-up, this F/A-18C (165176/407/AJ) from VFA-37 ‘Ragin’ Bulls’ also wears an impressive tally of mission markings under the LERX.

 US Navy Carrier Air Wings operate mixed fleets of single-and two-seat Super Hornets. Much like their F-14 Tomcat predecessors, the F/A18F crews from VFA-213 ‘Blacklions’ were assigned some of the most complex strike missions over Syria, with the Weapons System Operator in the back seat dropping the stores, while the pilot focussed on not having a ‘mid-air’ in the congested airspace over the country.

Squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 8 VFA-31 ‘Tomcatters’

F/A-18E

VFA-87 ‘Golden Warriors’

F/A-18E

VFA-213 ‘Blacklions’

F/A-18F

VAW-124 ‘Bear Aces’

E-2C II/C+

VAQ- 131 ‘Lancers’

EA-18G

HSC-9 ‘Tridents’

MH-60s

HSM-70 ‘Spartans’

MH-60R

VFA-37 ‘Raging Bulls’

F/A-18C

64

Airfix Model World

 A recent addition to the deck were EA-18G Growlers, which have now replaced Grumman EA-6B Prowlers in the electronic warfare support role. This Growler (168775/503/AJ) belongs to VAQ-131 ‘Lancers’, and was one of five equipping CVW-8. Note the size of the wing tip electronic pod.

1:48

GLOSTER METEOR F.8 KOREA A09184 GLOSTER METEOR F.8 KOREA

The Gloster Meteor was Britain’s first jet fighter and the only Allied jet aircraft to see operational service during the Second World War. The post-war F.8 variant of the Meteor was fitted with new more powerful Derwent turbojet engines and was perhaps the definitive incarnation of this famous aircraft and was the main RAF fighter throughout the 1950s, until superseded by the Hawker Hunter. A stable and reliable aircraft, the Meteor F.8 soon became outclassed as an air superiority fighter, but the effectiveness of the basic design allowed the aircraft to be used in a variety of other roles.

GLOSTER METEOR F.8 Aircraft A77-851 flown by Sergeant George Spaulding Hale, No.77 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Kimpo, Korea, March 1953

GLOSTER METEOR F.8 Aircraft A77-854, No.77 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Kimpo, Korea, 1953.

GLOSTER (FOKKER-BUILT) METEOR F.8 No.327 Squadron, Ruiten Vieró (Diamonds Four) display team, Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force), Commando Lucht Verdediging (Air Defense Command), Soesterberg Air Base, The Netherlands, 1952. Length 287mm Width 236mm Pieces 190

Airfix.com

and all good retail stockists

Start as you mean to finish Official Product

5356AX_AMW_A09184_ADS__July_2017.indd 1

Airfix_FP.indd 1

07/06/2017 15:08

05/09/2017 16:53

ADVANCED BUILD Sd.Kfz.223 ‘FUNK’

NAG and Horch from 1935 to January 1944.

Aftermarket help The 223 was quite a small vehicle, but the box for Hobby Boss’ kit was relatively large. There were four runners of light grey styrene parts, two pieces for the upper and lower bodywork, four rubber tyres, three photo-etched (PE) brass frets, a decal sheet and a small clear parts frame. The kit’s representation of the suspension was incorrect, though, so Sovereign 2000’s correction/update set was employed; this offered a plethora of resin pieces, so there were many components to shoehorn

Garry Tobiss employs Sovereign 2000 resin to improve Hobby Boss’ diminutive German Sd.Kfz.223 radio car

Funky Scout various reconnaissance roles. The ancestry of the Sd.Kfz.223 can be traced to the ‘221 all-terrain four-wheel-drive

 Many components went into the chassis, but some were replaced by resin parts.

66

Airfix Model World

armoured car, which had limited off-road capabilities so was largely redesigned, resulting in 1938’s Sd.Kfz.222. This vehicle had a more powerful engine, better armour protection and a 20mm main gun, although its all-terrain performance still disappointed somewhat. The ‘223 was the ‘Funk’ (radio car) variant, largely identical to the 222 but the heavier turret used on the latter was replaced with the lighter version from the ‘221. The most discernable feature of the 223 was the collapsible ‘bed frame’ radio aerial. Armed with an MG 34 machine gun and manned by a crew of three, the ‘223 had a top speed of 50mph (80km/h) on roads, 25mph (40km/h) off-road and a range of 300 miles (480km). More than 560 examples were manufactured by Weserhütte, MNH, Büssing-

 Three PE frets came with the kit; the large mesh on fret ‘D’ served as antigrenade protection for the turret.

MODEL SPEC

F

rom the early 1930s, German industry produced a series of light armoured cars designed to fill

Sd.Kfz.223 Funk By:

Hobby Boss

Stock Code:

82443

Scale:

1/35

Price:

£24.99

Available from: Creative Models, www.creativemodels.co.uk

ADVANCED BUILD Sd.Kfz.223 ‘FUNK’

Dealing with resin Resin upgrade parts have been around for many years, but for those unfamiliar with the medium, it is well worth understanding the pros and cons. Many modelling materials such as glues and paints have potential health risks and resin is no exception, but if a few basic rules are observed there should be no issues. All parts should be washed in warm soapy water to remove traces of the release agent, which usually hampers paint adhesion. Resin is cast rather than injection-moulded, meaning the components come with casting blocks that must be removed. Saws of the type shown here are generally better than blades for separating parts, because less pressure is applied…so there is reduced risk of snapping the resin. After separation, a new scalpel blade is essential for paring away flash and general neatening. If the resin part is large, scalpels can also be used to score the line between it and the casting block. All resin debris should be removed carefully, a mask should be worn, and any sanding should be carried out with water and Wet and Dry paper.  PE razor saws are ideal for separating small components, while larger examples can tackle heavier castings. Sprue cutters are often useful for snapping off larger pieces of casting block but beware…over-zealous use can cause damage.

 Note the casting blocks and the flash often seen where resin has seeped between the moulds. Resin is very brittle, so care is required when neatening delicate pieces, such as the steering wheel.

Many were replaced eventually by resin upgrades, and adding these items meant modifying certain kit parts before assembly. The major pieces affected were the chassis beams, which had inaccurate representations of the brake cables and control horns. They also had surgery to widen

 Part neatening: Sanding sticks can be purchased, but those shown were fashioned from lolly sticks, double sided tape and fine Wet and Dry paper. These can be re-made easily when the paper wears out. A scalpel was used for ‘fine tuning’.

the space for the drive shafts to the wheels. All detail was scraped away carefully with a sharp scalpel and the parts sanded very lightly. The main chassis was then assembled, together with the engine and gearbox, due to concerns that any resin added would be knocked off

during handling. Many of the resin parts were tiny, so great care was required to ensure they were separated and neatened without anything snapping or pinging off to another area of the workspace…or worse still, the wide expanse of the floor. The photographs of the completed

 A simple decal sheet was supplied. One set of number plates was supplied with codes but the inclusion of blanks plus a selection of numbers allowed other plates to be created.

into a model roughly 5¼in (13cm) long and 3¼in (8cm) wide. Moulding quality was mixed, with fine surface detail on many parts, but rough edges and ejector pin marks meant tidying was required.

Chassis first All parts were removed from the runners with a razor saw and had their seams eradicated. www.airfixmodelworld.com 67

ADVANCED BUILD Sd.Kfz.223 ‘FUNK’

Sovereign 2000 Resin This resin update set (S2KA014) had 136 parts cast either in light cream or grey. Components were designed to correct the suspension assemblies for each wheel, add detail to the chassis, replace the wheels and provide interior enhancements. www.sovereign2000.uk.com  Kit parts for one wheel’s suspension are shown on the right, and the resin corrections on the left. Six tiny resin ‘locking’ pins were also provided, but are not shown for fear of losing them. The resin was designed to fit with the kit springs shown in the middle.  The remainder of the resin was used to add detail to the interior, so much wasn’t visible after the build was completed. All components supplied are shown here.

 Replacements for all four wheels, plus the spare, were provided by Sovereign 2000, although the new wheels used the kit parts for the central hub. One of the kit wheels complete with the rubber tyre is shown top-right for comparison.

assembly provided by Sovereign had to be scrutinised for a while, to make sure everything about the process was clear. Note that if the resin is being use, kit parts A6 and A14 should not be attached – originally missed for this build. Adding the resin was a lengthy process. Much of the assembly was held together with miniscule resin pins, so various holes had to be drilled. Much patience was required to  A close-up of the two chassis beams. Most of the surface detail was removed in preparation for the resin.

68

Airfix Model World

complete the four suspension assemblies, but the results were impressive. Next came the control linkages. There were no photographs to help, but the original kit parts were used as a general guide and the resin alternatives came together very well.

Motoring on The kit’s basic engine was fairly well represented, although there was plenty of scope for super detailing. This build did not display the engine, so just the standard kit items were used. The engine and gearbox were added to the chassis to complete the first phase of construction, and next came the addition of the hull; the interior of both halves was painted and weathered before they were fixed to the chassis. Off-white was used for the interior, followed by scratches and scuff marks added by black pencil. These were blended with a dark oil wash made from a product new to the author, Michael Harding’s Artists Oil Colours. These hand-ground oil paints were recommended highly by fellow AMW builder Steve Budd.

ADVANCED BUILD Sd.Kfz.223 ‘FUNK’

Raw Umber 121 was mixed with white spirit to create a very finely textured wash, which then emphasised the detail. All the extra boxes and equipment supplied by Sovereign 2000 meant the placement of the standard kit pieces had to be modified. The kit PE was applied mostly where specified in the instructions, but everything else was fitted around the resin. The result was a very busy interior, which must have been a claustrophobic environment for the three-man crew. Hobby Boss’ standard parts were detailed enough to allow the vision ports to be posed open or closed, so the driver’s was built open to add extra interest. A PE screen was supplied for the vehicle top, and this was attached and painted top and bottom prior to closing the hull, to avoid overspray of the exterior colour later in the build. The lower hull was then

joined to the chassis and the upper section added to close the interior. All exterior parts, such as mud guards and storage boxes, were then added. This included various PE enhancements, and these were bent via ‘The Bug’, a

specialist bending tool (www. thesmallshop.com) – it would have been difficult creating the shapes required without this. Engine access hatches were separate pieces, so could have been open or closed. Assembling the exhaust pipes, though,

highlighted a fit issue where the resin fouled the original placement. Removing the curved final section of each exhaust, and then re-aligning it around the resin, solved the issue. Next came the small turret, where the styrene and resin components

 Components for the Horch V8 engine. Depending on the version of the vehicle, these were either 3.5 or 3.8 lit powerplants.  One of the four suspension assemblies, showing the significant amount of Sovereign 2000 resin.  Resin and wire replacements enlivened both chassis beams.

 The completed chassis, drive shafts and gearbox looked impressive once together.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 69

ADVANCED BUILD Sd.Kfz.223 ‘FUNK’

rest of the model. This revealed the turret sat above the top of the hull, so a small section of the support post (just in from of the gunner’s seat) was removed as a remedy. Last came the distinctive but fragile-looking radio antenna. The supports were added to the aerial first, then adjusted onto the hull locations while they were still setting. Once dry, this resulted in a robust structure. Everything was then ready for paint.

A grey blob?

built into a somewhat delicate structure. A small box located forward of the seat was too large, meaning the gunner would have needed to be a contortionist to sit there, so the box was cut back to allow the seat to fit properly. The turret unit was then painted inside and out before test-fitting with the

 The major components of the hull with various storage boxes – note the PE screen that separated the crew area from the engine bay. Both side doors have been attached.

 Various pieces of equipment and components for the internal structure were provided in the standard kit.  The completed interior showing the distribution of the equipment. Weathering was applied via black pencil, dark oil wash and pigments.

70

Airfix Model World

The challenge was to avoid a boring monotone finish, by adding interest to quite a dark Field Grey devoid of camouflage. Mr. Hobby Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1,500 Gray Primer was sprayed first, followed by black pre-shading. Next came the main colour; Mr. Hobby H32 Field Gray (1), kindly supplied by Albion Hobbies. This turned out to be so dark that none of the pre-shade showed through, so a step could have been missed out. A tiny amount of white was then added to the Field Grey in the airbrush cup, and the resultant shade was applied lightly to the centre

 No communications units were supplied in the kit, but Sovereign 2000 has a 30w FuG 10 medium-range radio set. The kit dashboard is also shown with the instrument decal applied.

ADVANCED BUILD Sd.Kfz.223 ‘FUNK’

 A view from the opposite side; imagination was needed to fit the resin and kit-supplied parts wherever space allowed.

 One side of the model after completing the hull. Note the PE additions, which all came as standard in the kit.

of each main panel, to provide basic variation. The finish was quite glossy, so this was muted slightly to get closer to satin with a thin coat of matt varnish. This process provided the starting point for weathering. Lifecolor produces a series of ‘Liquid Pigment’ sets and the Airbush Company (www. airbrushes.com) supplied Rust

sides of the vehicle. Very low pressure was all that was needed, otherwise the result was a runny splodge. Next came a light overspray of LPW Dark Dust, concentrating on the lower sides. The airbrush was then parked and out came brushes to add rain

Wizard and Rain and Dust. The rust effects were used first to provide an oxidised look on the two exhaust manifolds. Scratches were then added to the whole vehicle with black pencil, so the dust and weathering that followed would help in blending these. The first shade was LPW 12 Road Dust, sprayed in light coats around the underside and lower

and rust streaks. Each panel was weathered in turn. A few spots or lines of LPW 11 Rain Marks were added and these were then drawn down with a wide flat brush. If too much product was used, a brush dipped in Remover (supplied in each set) adjusted

“Weathering was applied via black pencil, dark oil wash and pigments”  Another view of the chassis showing the engine installation.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 71

ADVANCED BUILD Sd.Kfz.223 ‘FUNK’

 The parts for the turret and interior built into quite a delicate structure…a PE screen was also provided (not shown).

 Note the box in front of the gunner's position. This was too long, so was shortened and blanked with plastic card to allow the seat to be placed correctly.

the finish. This provided a great deal of control over how the streaks looked, and the remover left no stain marks. Random dots of the dust solutions were also scattered across the surface and drawn down, and panel

brush, especially in the wheel wells, to create a layered finish to simulate road dust accumulation. Finishing touches included making a scratch-built tow cable, which was wound around the front bumper to add extra

edges were accentuated with LPW 07 Eroding Light Rust. The undersides were treated with a slurry of AMMO-MIG's A.MIG-3004 Europe Earth and pigment/fixer, with a stippling and painting approach via a stiff

interest, and attaching the delicate width indicator poles on the two front bumpers.

Over and out Building the ‘223 was an intriguing project, which

 Two recently released Lifecolor sets were used. These products performed superbly and allowed a huge amount of control over the finish.

Materials at a glance Sovereign 2000 (www.sovereign2000.uk.com) S2KA015 Sd.Kfz.223 update set AMMO-MIG (www.migjimenez.com) 3004 Europe Earth Pigment

“Adding the resin upgrade provided an extra dimension” 72

Airfix Model World

Mr. Hobby (www.albionhobbies.com) Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 ‘Gray’ Mr. Hobby Color H32 Field ‘Gray’ (1) Lifecolor (www.airbrushes.com) LP02 Rust Wizard liquid pigments LP03 Rain and Dust liquid pigments Michael Harding’s Artists Oils (www.michaelharding.co.uk) 121 Raw Umber

ADVANCED BUILD Sd.Kfz.223 ‘FUNK’

demonstrated that one doesn’t need a high-calibre weapon on an armoured fighting vehicle to make it interesting. The basic kit was fine; it’s true that a little remedial effort was required to bring it up to scratch, but nothing particularly serious… and it would have been a quick build from the box. Adding the resin upgrade provided an extra dimension, though, with the high quality of the engineering and the intricacy of construction all contributing to an absorbing build. Much entertainment came from experimenting with the finish, to enliven the monotone surface. Mr. Hobby primer and paints provided a sound basis for the Lifecolor products to excel, and these are now definitely a favourite part of the author’s armoury.

 Black pre-shading was applied first, but was deliberately 'solid' to enable it to show through the Field Grey.

 Next was the Field Grey itself, with a lightened version used in the middle of the panels. This formed the palette for the effects that followed.

 Weathering created from the Lifecolor shades. The main effect was from Rain Marks, supplemented with Road Dust and Light Eroding Rust.

 The box art showed a tow cable but nothing came in the kit. This item was made by twisting two strands of lead wire with ends that came from the spares box. www.airfixmodelworld.com 73

OUT AND ABOUT YEOVILTON AIR DAY 2017  The star of the flying display was the Rafale M ‘36’ from 11 Flottille, which still wore its stunning Tiger Meet scheme. (All photos Glenn Sands)

Naval edge T he Royal Navy International Air Day held on July 8 certainly had a ‘retro’ feel. Within the static park were two Gloster Meteor T.7 (Mod) aircraft, a MiG-15 UTI, a Sea Harrier FA.2, a Phantom FG.1, a Sea Vixen, a Sea Venom and Sea Fury…all carefully laid out for the crowds of enthusiasts who made their way to the hardstand early on the Saturday morning. While the RN finds itself in a transition phase with its aircraft and helicopters, there were enough Wildcats and Merlins to satisfy many a modeller, and air and groundcrews were only too happy to allow close-up shots of the various airframes and answer questions from visitors. A fullsize plastic F-35B Lightning II was positioned at one end of the hardstand with Lockheed Martin and BAe employees allowing ‘sneak-peaks’ into the cockpit. Although a full-size replica, when compared to the nearby Phantom FG.1, the small stature of the F-35 was surprising.

Lovely Lynx While the Lynx HMA.8 was retired from the Fleet Air Arm earlier this

74

Airfix Model World

year, the Danish Navy brought across two Super Lynx Mk.90Bs from Eskadrille 723, one of which wore a special anniversary colour scheme. A welcome addition to the static park was a French Navy Lynx HAS.4 from 34 Flottille and, despite the lack of any offensive weapons being fitted, the twotone grey Aéronavale camouflage looked great on the helicopter's sleek lines. Representing a quantum leap in technology for maritime rotorcraft is the NH90 NFH, a helicopter that’s now regarded as ‘a game changer’ by the crews that fly it. A Dutch Navy example from 860 Squadron based at De Kooey, was in the static park and wore special markings. It had recently returned from international counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean, and the pilot was happy to discuss some of the on-board radar systems’ capabilities. During the deployment, the NH90 crew intercepted three ‘go-faster’ boats and could detect and catalogue maritime targets more than 100 miles (161km) away. The flying display took a

 Celebrating its connection with the RAF during World War Two, the Czech Air Force's 212th Tactical Squadron painted one of its L-159s in the colours of ace Wing Commander General František Perina’s 312 (Czech) Squadron Spitfire.

 This year’s event provided five ‘Fighting Falcons’ at the show, one of which was this Belgian Air Force F-16AM ‘FA-132’, painted in 100th Anniversary of 1 Squadron colours.

OUT AND ABOUT YEOVILTON AIR DAY 2017

 Seldom seen at UK airshows are Lynx HAS.4s from the French Aéronavale. This example, ‘276,’ was from 34 Flottille based at LanvéocPoulmic. A rare treat, as they are soon due to be replaced by NH90 NFHs.

 Despite being retired this year, Danish Air Force Super Lynx Mk 90Bs have been busy pirate-hunting off Somalia, as mission markings on the nose of ‘S-134’ demonstrate.  Martin-Baker’s two Meteor T.7 (Mod) testbeds made a rare appearance, with the immaculate all-black WA638/G-JWM’ looking as though it had just come off the Gloster production line! Note the JSF badge (inset). Used as an ejection seat trials aircraft, Meteor T7 (Mod) ‘WA638’ is currently conducting tests on the Mk.16E ‘bang seat’ used on the F-35 Lightning II.

different format this year, with the traditional finale of the Commando helicopter assault being cancelled due to the current upgrading of the Merlin fleet, and many of the personnel from the Commando Helicopter Force were either on exercise or deployed for on-going operations. But a stunning mixture of fast jets and display teams more than compensated for the lack of explosions and ‘Junglies’ in the air. While the F-16 displays were incredible, the MiG-15 UTI unusual and the Gripen fast and furious, for many enthusiasts the aerobatics were ‘owned’ by two High-speed runs and afterburner turns defined the display format of the Belgian Air Force F-16AM from 10 Squadron. It even released flares during its final loop in front of the crowd!

teams; the Czech Air Force L-159 Advanced Light Combat Aircraft (ALCA) pair from the 212th Tactical Squadron, and the Aéronavale Rafale Ms from 11 Flottille, one of which wore a spectacular NATO Tiger Meet colour scheme. Both teams flew impressive mock airfield attacks in front of the crowd, complete with pyrotechnics

and flares. For military aviation buffs, it was a chance to compare the ultra-modern Rafale M against the L-159 ALCA, which evolved from the L-39 jet trainer developed in the 1960s. Having watched both displays it was hard to call a favourite – both were entertaining, as was the entire show. Glenn Sands www.airfixmodelworld.com 75

ADVANCED BUILD SPITFIRE Mk.IXc

Eduard’s small-scale Spitfire packs a real punch, as Jen Wright discovers

T

his 1/72 Spitfire tooling, in ProfiPACK format, follows Eduard’s recent trend of down-sizing previous 1/48 releases. As much as the world may seem awash with kits of everyone’s

favourite fighter*, when it comes to the Mk.IX, truly accurate renditions have always been elusive. Ruling the roost since the mid-1990s in this scale has been Hasegawa’s offering, which although up to the standard expected of the marque, did

 Addition of PE side panels required removal of the integrally moulded kit detail. This was simple with a Mission Models micro-chisel…perfect for this sort of task.

76

Airfix Model World

suffer from notable accuracy issues, and has always been expensive in the UK. *(other favourites are available!)

Great value Stepping in with this obviously scaled-down version of its superb 1/48 kit, Eduard has provided a

truly state-of-the-art gem. Just like the larger version, it offers an almost dizzying array of alternative features. There are options for wingtips, elevators, ailerons, rudder, carburettor intakes, upper cowling, slipper tanks and bombs, exhausts, undercarriage legs and doors, wheels and tyres, cannons, canopies and gunsights. On top of that, the review

 The complexity and scope of Eduard’s Brassin cockpit is readily apparent, as is the astonishing detail. Small sub-assemblies were the order of the day, to ease painting.

ADVANCED BUILD SPITFIRE Mk.IXc

MODEL SPEC

sample was supplied with a selection of Eduard/Brassin extras including photo-etched (PE) brass seatbelts and flaps, and resin cockpit, wheels, exhausts and one-piece upper cowling. Showing his customary scant regard for my sanity, the Editor issued the blasé instruction: “Just cram in as much of it as you can.” Said cramming began, as ever, with the cockpit and in this case, that meant preparing kit Spitfire IXc late version By:

Eduard

Stock Code:

70121

Scale:

1/72

Price:

€18.75

Available from: www.eduard.com

components to accept their Brassin replacements. Because Eduard designs these sets alongside the kit, the cutting is minimal compared to many other resin cockpit replacements. A little trimming of minor sidewall detail left a smooth surface for PE replacements; the resin parts were then assembled as far as possible without compromising access for paint to be added. Mr. Color C364 replicated Interior Green, which was accented with a brown filter rather than the more usual wash. Being thinner, the filter left a suitably subtle finish more in keeping with the diminutive components. Detail painting was very kept subdued, as World War Two cockpits were rather drab! At this stage, all the resin pour-blocks (which had served as handles for painting) were removed to assemble everything. This was in truth somewhat fiddly, as much of the resin was extremely fragile or flexible. Once everything was together, test-fitting the cockpit with the fuselage produced a large gap in front of the windscreen because the instrument panel was too wide. This was remedied via careful filing until a good fit was obtained, and the fuselage could be mated permanently.

 Standard Mr. Color RAF Interior Green was the main hue, while the seat received a home-made mix of Tamiya XF-64 Red Brown and XF-7 Red. Most of the details were simply picked out in black.

After(market ) party Eduard has always been a leading light in the aftermarket with its PE sets, but with the addition of the Brassin sub-brand more recently, it really does cover all bases. The trend of designing accessories alongside the main kit has continued with this release, and a selection of the available sets was sent with the review kit. As expected, the quality of all was excellent, but fair warning is due regarding duplication. The mask set, for example, is the same as that supplied in the Profipack kit. If one were to purchase the Brassin cockpit set, then the separate PE (72624) becomes superfluous, as almost everything in that is covered by the combination of kit PE and the Brassin set.

Minor surgery As with the larger model, the instructions detailed the removal internally of the lower identification lamp, to provide

 Adding colour was relatively simple in terms of shades at least; but the tiny size of some components did push the author’s old eyes to the limit!

Eduard’s relevant aftermarket sets for this 1/72 Spitfire kit are: 672106 Mk.IX wheels 5 spoke, smooth tyre 672107 Mk.IX wheels 5 spoke, w/pattern 672108 Mk.IX wheels 4 spoke, smooth tyre 672109 Mk.IX wheels 4 spoke, w/pattern 672110 Spitfire fishtail exhaust stacks 672111 Spitfire rounded exhaust stacks 672112 Spitfire Mk.IX cockpit 672121 Spitfire 500lb bomb set 672122 Spitfire drop tank 672124 Mk.IX top cowl late 672126 Mk.IX engine 672134 Mk.IX legs Bronze 672135 Mk.IX legs Bronze w/ 5 spoke wheels,

smooth tyre 672136 Mk.IX legs Bronze w/ 5 spoke wheels 672137 Mk.IX legs Bronze w/ 4 spoke wheels, smooth tyre 672138 Mk.IX legs Bronze w/ 4 spoke wheels 672150 Mk.IXc gun bays 70121-LEPT1 Mk.IXc late version PE 72641 F Mk.IX PE 72623 Mk.IX landing flaps 72624 Spitfire Mk.IX PE CX421 Spitfire camo scheme A masks CX425 Spitfire camo scheme B masks CX454 Mk.IX masks D72008 Mk.IX stencils SS597 Mk.IXc seatbelts Steel

www.airfixmodelworld.com 77

ADVANCED BUILD SPITFIRE Mk.IXc

Any modeller familiar with the arrangement of the wheel bays in Eduard’s 1/48 kit will recognise these instantly. Although seemingly a little complex, they replicate the original sloped bays properly, and slot together beautifully.

 Test-fitting of the wing to fuselage showed that, just as with the 1/48 kit, the Brassin cockpit floor interfered with the centre section of the wing. Although the instructions suggest removing the inside of the lower identification light, further thinning and sanding of both parts was necessary to obtain a good fit.

 Once the wing was attached, construction whistled along at breath-taking pace, such was the excellent fit of all parts. Filling was restricted to a just little Mr. Surfacer here and there.

Kit colour schemes

• LF Mk.IXc, MJ586/LO-D, Pierre Clostermann, 602 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force, Longues sur Mer, July 7, 1944 • HF Mk.IXc, ML296/DU-N, Flt Lt Otto Smik, 312 (Czech) Squadron, North Weald, late August 1944 • LF Mk.IXc, MH712/WX-D ‘Pat’, W/O Henryk Dygala, 302 (Polish) Squadron, summer/autumn 1944 • LF Mk.IXc, MJ250/UF-Q, 601 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force, Italy, summer 1944 • LF Mk.IXc, ML135/YO-D, Jerry Billing, 401 (Canadian) Squadron, Tangmere, June 7, 1944

78

Airfix Model World

 To ease masking, the interior of the radiator housing and lower wing areas received Medium Sea Grey before the housings were added. Masking was then performed by a small piece of foam pushed into the opening.

room for the Brassin cockpit. Unfortunately, also echoing the 1/48 version, this was not enough. The bottom of the resin cockpit floor was thinned, but in fact, the lower wing part was much thicker than the resin, so this was reduced too. Once happy with this work, the wings were assembled without issue as the fit was near perfect, despite the complex wheel well arrangement. Wing-to-fuselage mating was also very good, although I suspect it would have been better still had the kit cockpit parts been used. One point that caused some musing was the inclusion of separate ailerons and a rudder, while moulding the elevators into the tailplanes. The only control surface that is deflected in almost all photos of these aircraft on the ground, was the only item not supplied separately. In the same vein, I found the Brassin one-piece cowl a slightly odd choice. Using it saves fixing a small and easy-toremedy seam; personally, I would prefer a one-piece lower cowl

and carburettor intake, as that area is much trickier to neaten. As a final construction gripe, the three-part radiator housings were fiddly and didn’t fit together well. For the small loss in scale fidelity, one-piece housings would perhaps be preferable to many. With all that said, cleaning up the major joints was quick and simple, since most places only required a little sanding or at most, a smear of Mr. Surfacer. The closing airframe construction before paint involved the transparencies. A choice was supplied of open or closed main canopy sections, and here it must be noted that the

ADVANCED BUILD SPITFIRE Mk.IXc

open portion has been moulded significantly larger than the closed version, to enable it to sit neatly on the spine of the aircraft. This did cause tingling of my Spitfire-sense, but it proved too difficult to trim the correctly sized closed part to fit, so ultimately, the larger item was used. Masking was fabulously easy thanks to the supplied Eduard pre-cut mask set, and at that point the model was ready for its paint scheme.

Colour time  Lower surfaces were sprayed with Tamiya XF-83 Medium Sea Grey. Light and dark shading was effected by adding white or black to the base colour, before lightly over-spraying with the original colour to blend.

Painting began with applying the interior shade to the canopy frames. At the same time, some of this was sprayed lightly over the seams as a form of confidence check. Next, the frames were airbrushed black to prevent the all-too-often encountered transparent effect, due to the paint layers lacking sufficient opacity to prevent light passing through. Moving to the camouflage, my favourite matches to the RAF colours are

 The same process was used on the Tamiya XF-82 Ocean Grey; the whole upper surface was painted as it was such a small model. Before blending, the shading is quite obvious and shows how an illusion of texture can be created.

from Tamiya, so XF-83 was used on the underside. Two coats achieved coverage, and then a dark layer was made by adding black to the base colour. This was applied both to delineate panels and to accentuate dirty areas, such as the centre section where engine leaks spread back in the slipstream. Following this was a light shade, created by adding white to the base colour, and applied to suggest highlights and accentuate raised areas. To finish, a light coat of the base colour blended the effects. This process was followed for all three main hues, with Ocean Grey (XF-82) being next. Masking for the XF-81 Dark Green was carried out with AMMO-MIG camouflage masking putty, AKA ‘Panzer Putty’. It’s so easy to form this medium into any shape or size, that it reduces a masking task such as this to just a few minutes’ work; a real timesaver and a very useful weapon in the masking arsenal. Do be aware, though, that Panzer Putty is not useful for any long-term masking, as it slowly flows and levels itself. Usually, this would mean the paintwork was pretty much completed, but since there was still much masking for stripes of varying shapes and colours, a coat of Tamiya X-22 Clear was applied to protect the work done already. Striping began with the Sky tail band, which was marked with Tamiya flexible tape as it conforms to curves easily, but is forgiving enough to keep a straight line while doing

“ Eduard has provided a truly state-of-the -art gem” www.airfixmodelworld.com 79

ADVANCED BUILD SPITFIRE Mk.IXc

“ The first weathering step was a filter”

AMMO-MIG Masking Putty in use. The main advantage this has over Blu Tack (or similar) is the ease with which it can be used to fill in the outlines, making it a much faster process.

set the outer demarcations, and then the whole area was painted white. Again, while consulting the diagram, the width of each stripe was approximately 5.5mm, but 6mm Tamiya tape was employed ‘as was’ for simplicity. Tamiya XF-85 Rubber Black was used for the stripes themselves. Masking the fuselage stripes was far more complicated thanks to the partial removal and the exposed serial numbers. On top of that, masking where the roundel was due to sit was thought prudent to avoid the stripes showing through the decal. To achieve this, the decal sheet was measured to enable a round mask to be cut for the roundel, and the serial numbers

so. Mr. Hobby H74 was used to paint the band, and the whole area was sprayed even though some of it would be covered later. Attention then turned to the wing underside for the ID stripes there. The incredible fit of the undercarriage doors merits special mention; a Blu Tack false wheel and tyre was placed in the wheel bay, and the door simply clicked into place on top of it, masking the area effectively. The decal diagram was used to

were removed and taped temporarily into position, to align all the striping. The softer edge (where the stripes had been washed away) was replicated by tearing the tape by hand to leave a rough edge. After spraying the stripes and removing the masking, a tiny paintbrush was used with very thin black and

After adding the Sky band on the rear fuselage, the lower wings were masked for ID stripes. Blu Tack was used to make dummy wheels and to plug gaps in the tape.  After the addition of Tamiya XF-81 Dark Green the camouflage scheme would normally be complete, but in this case, there was much more to come! A light coat of Tamiya X-22 clear was added at this point to protect the work already executed.

80

Airfix Model World

ADVANCED BUILD SPITFIRE Mk.IXc

 Once the white was applied, masking was added for the black. Measurement dictated the stripes were a little less than 6mm, but for the sake of ease, 6mm Tamiya tape was used as was.

white paint to make streaks and feather the edges a little. Finally, more X-22 Clear was applied over all new stripes to seal the finish.

Excellent markings Although the decals looked good on the sheet, I was a little cautious, as some recent Eduard builds had been let down slightly at this stage. On this occasion though, the decals performed admirably. They were thin enough to settle properly into the super-fine surface detail, without being so thin that handling became difficult. Mr. Hobby Mr.

Mark Setter was used in placing them, and proved sufficient for all but the underwing roundels; these were helped to adhere with a touch of Mr. Softer, as they had to conform to blisters present in that area. Eduard supplied a separate, comprehensive sheet of stencils, which were not all used. Some of that was with due deference to the slightly temporary nature of the finish being replicated, and some was personal preference. As beautifully rendered as they were, it was still felt that they could appear quite overstated on such a small model if they were all employed. After

 The fuselage stripes on this machine had the appearance of being partially washed off in photos. Via cut-out decals, and with careful reference to the artwork in the kit (and photos), the fuselage was masked as shown for white.

 After the masking was removed, slight touches with a brush made some edges a little more ragged on the black/white demarcations. Masking the roundel shape ensured there would be no see-through effect.

suitable drying time had elapsed, yet more X-22 Clear helped blend the decal edges, and to protect them from the forthcoming

enamel-based washes. Weathering began with a filter, namely AMMO-MIG A.MIG-1504 Brown for Desert Yellow. The

www.airfixmodelworld.com 81

ADVANCED BUILD SPITFIRE Mk.IXc

aim was to harmonise the finish and begin to build a somewhat dusty appearance. Selected panel lines, mainly those representing removable panels, were accented with A.MIG-1602 Deep Grey panel line wash. One pleasing trait of the enamel filters and washes, is they can be manipulated and blended to create panel variations relatively easily – particularly useful when adding the trademark streaky oil leaks underneath. Although far from complete, there came a point when some form of protection was required for the weathering finish itself. Constant handling does tend to gradually wear away wash and filters, and for this reason the model was sprayed with two coats of Mr. Hobby H20 Flat Clear at this point. Use of Mr. Color lacquer thinner gave a slight lift to the sheen, which was perfect for the aircraft in question. When the matt coat was dry, weathering continued with further washes for the very dirty areas underneath. Very subtle chipping effects were added via a fine brush and slightly lighter tones

“...A worthy addition to any Spitfire collection” The kit decals were applied with Mr. Mark Setter to help them settle. They were very thin, and conformed exceptionally well given the finesse of the kit’s surface detail.

 The first weathering step was a filter, to unify the camouflage and decals, and impart a dirty look. When that was dry, selected panel lines were picked out with AMMO-MIG PLW Deep Grey.

82

Airfix Model World

of the camouflage colours, with a few tiny areas of silver added around the wing roots. For the final flourish, the ubiquitous brown/black spray mix was applied to slowly build the grimy underside and exhaust staining. The two essentially blended together around the aft end of the wing root and were applied to the point where there was almost no contrast between the ID stripes, as seen in reference photos (see panel). Leaving the model aside

temporarily, it was time to concentrate on finishing all the fiddly bits ready for final assembly. The only part used from the PE detail set in the end was the entry door. This was folded as directed, neatened and painted…with a replacement crowbar fashioned from lead wire to replace the flat PE item. Brassin goodness came next, courtesy of exquisitely detailed wheels featuring block-treaded tyres. Since they were supplied with masks, painting was very

 To suggest light scratches and scrapes, highly thinned camouflage colours were applied carefully with a tiny brush. Although technically incorrect, this can look quite effective in such a small scale.

 Ready for final assembly, all the smaller parts had been painted and weathered alongside the main model, and although some parts hadn’t been test fitted, the fit throughout was beyond reproach.

Reference material (2nd Tactical Air Force, page 203) I always have an idea of the way I want my finished model to appear, and to aid in this I prefer to work from photos of the actual aircraft where possible. The above-mentioned book has two useful images of the aircraft in question, at the time depicted by the decals. Gleaned from this we can see the aircraft is very dirty but not overly worn; even the wing walk area appears relatively undamaged. No overwing invasion stripes were present, and those on the fuselage had been partially overpainted or removed. Interestingly, the fuselage serial is underneath the ‘D’ of the code – perhaps the D was repainted at some point. No underwing stripes were visible in the photo, but they were assumed still present by the decal artist. Overwing stripes were removed within a month of D-Day to avoid compromising the camouflage of parked aircraft, and all stripes were ordered to be eradicated from December 1944; where this could be done without damage to the aircraft, and with due regard to time and materials available. The aircraft in question was flown by the renowned French ace Pierre Clostermann, and Eduard provided the correct decals for this subject. 2nd Tactical Air Force Volume Two July 1944 to January 1945, by Christopher Shores and Chris Thomas (Classic Publications), ISBN: 978-1-90-32234-13

simple. While adding colour to the resin exhausts involved (initially) varying shades of Alclad ALC-112 Steel and ALC120 Gunmetal hues, matt varnish then followed to provide grip for the brown and grey pigment powders that finished them. The remaining kit parts were prepared and painted as required, bringing everything together ready for final assembly. Since most items had been test-fitted at some stage, there was no last-minute drilling or trimming. Of particular note, though, was the way the undercarriage legs locked themselves into position, even though the mounts did not appear that positive. Likewise, the conical taper of the wheel axles allowed precise wheel alignment in all axes, while still giving a solid joint.

High praise I’m aware that some of my niggles and gripes could appear a little negative in certain aspects of this build. But in fairness, these were of the splitting hairs order of stature. This was a genuinely enjoyable experience throughout and a truly excellent little kit. The model is accurate, extremely well detailed and builds beautifully – with or without extras – and is a worthy addition to any Spitfire collection.

OUT AND ABOUT ESSEX MODELLERS SHOW

 This 1/48 Forward Air Control Cessna O-2A, by Graham Mathews, received much extra detailing to improve the Testors base kit. Many other fine examples of Graham’s Vietnamera aircraft were on display on the West Norfolk IPMS table.

 Alan Marks' beautiful recreation of Fred Dibnah’s Land Rover, made famous by the 1970s BBC TV programme. Constructed from a heavily modified 1/24 ESCI kit, the distinctive signwriting was researched meticulously and then hand painted.

East Anglian Inspiration N

 Winning a well-deserved best in show award, Bob Rowles put his heart and soul into modifying and super detailing this stunning 1/72 Matchbox Victor K2. Many numerous modifications had to be made to the ageing kit to bring it up to scratch.  A very effectively displayed 1/35 Meng Mk.V Male tank took pride of place on the Southend Model club stand. It was built mostly out of the box by Phil Lloyd-Worth.

ow in its fifth year, the Essex Modellers gathering has quickly become a mainstay of the summer show circuit, thanks to the coordinated efforts of several local clubs. These include IPMS South East Essex, Hornchurch and Chelmsford, as well as the Essex MAFVA branch. A record turnout, traders and clubs made this year’s event a real highlight of the event calendar, with an overwhelming amount of high-quality modelling displayed on the 24 club stands. There were so many pieces worthy of mention. Personal favourites included a faithfully reproduced 1/24 scale Fred Dibnah Land Rover inspired by the BBC TV series, built by Alan Marks and displayed on the Essex Automodels stand, as well

as the painstakingly detailed 1/72 Matchbox Victor by North Essex Modellers’ Bob Rowles; a real labour of love that rightly won the open competition’s Best in Show accolade. With more than £250 being raised for the St Francis Hospice in Havering, credit must go to the organisers Jim Smith and John Drummond, for creating a friendly and inclusive atmosphere at the Hannakins Farm Community Centre. The catering was also worthy of mention (the cornerstone of any model show)… the ubiquitous bacon roll being well prepared and very reasonably priced! All these elements combined to ensure an enjoyable day, which garnered a favourable response from modellers in attendance and passing members of the public alike. Long may it continue. Dave Oliver

 Mick Pitts super-detailed this 1/35 Tamiya 4x4 Quad and Flak Gun, adding open windows and re-texturing the surface of the canvas top cover. Its rear roof rack was scratch-built, with added stowage salvaged from the spares box. 84

Airfix Model World

FLYING TIGERS FLYING TIGER ModELS LTd UNIT 2, AIRwAYS HoUSE, SYwELL AERodRoME, SYwELL, NoRTHAMpToNSHIRE, NN6 0BN

01604 499034

Aviation Model Kits & Diecast Models

opEN MoN-FRI 9-5 oRdER THRoUGH THE wEBSITE, BY pHoNE oR EMAIL

[email protected] www.flying-tigers.co.uk Enjoyed SMW? Then take a day trip to the beautiful Salisbury and visit a real Model Shop (and the Cathedral of course...) www.salisburymodelcentre.co.uk All your Hobby needs Dedicated to plastic kit builders with main and unusual brands stocked. 7 paint ranges (inc’ Airbrush ready), diorama and scenic items. Weathering for Military and Railway. COME SEE

37 FISHERTON STREET 01722 334757

OPEN SUNDAY 10.30 -15.00, CLOSED MONDAY. TUES TO SAT 9:30-17.00 EXCEPT WED: - 3.30 finish.

AIRFIX, HOBBY BOSS, ZVEZDA, TAMIYA, VALLEJO, REVELL, ARMY PAINTER, WARLORD, TRUMPETER, BRONCO, DRAGON, RB Metal gun barrels, MASTER BOX, MINIART. Exclusive Busts for Painters. Hard to find items: RYE FIELD, MASCHINEN KRIEGER, MR METALS, GNR & other Diorama items. TRAVELLING TO SEE US? Ring ahead with 2 weeks notice, we’ll try to get specific items ordered in time for you.

085_AMW_Nov17_ad.indd 1

19/09/2017 11:47

BASIC BUILD BEAUFIGHTER Mk.If

Mike Grant puts Mark 1’s 1/144 Beaufighter night fighter under the spotlight

MARK ONE FOXTROT A

“

fuselage in hot pursuit of two engines” was a description supposedly attributed to the Beaufighter…the pugnacious RAF twin that fought on many fronts in World War Two. Czech-based Mark 1 Models has released several boxings of the aircraft in 1/144 scale, including this Mk.1f night fighter variant.

The main components were on two runners and moulded in light grey styrene. Although necessarily over–scale and somewhat simplified, the recessed panel lines were executed sharply, while detail overall was impressive; of special note were the inner faces of the undercarriage doors. The canopy was thin and clear, and a thoughtful touch was the

 Although ejector pin release marks were noted on several parts, they were almost all hidden once assembled.

86

Airfix Model World

provision of clear wingtips so the navigation lights could be replicated – not bad for a 1/144 scale kit! Completing the package was a superbly printed sheet of decals and well-illustrated instructions.

Beau Building Construction was quite conventional, and began with

the interior. A long floor with integrally moulded cockpit side consoles was provided, which ran almost the full length of the fuselage. Pilot and navigator seats were improved with cushions cut from laminated masking tape, and foil seat harnesses. An instrument panel, control column and the base for the rear-fuselage seat were

 The detail on the inner faces of the mainwheel doors would have been impressive in larger scales, let alone 1/144.

BASIC BUILD BEAUFIGHTER Mk.If

MODEL SPEC

 Strips of 0.5mm AIZU masking tape were applied to simulate internal structure, but once the canopy was in place these stringers weren’t visible. Bristol Beaufighter Mk.If By:

Mark 1 Models

Stock Code:

MKM14434

Scale:

1/144

Price:

£14.99

Available from: www.4pluspublications.com

added, and then painted RAF Interior Green. The inner fuselage sides were featureless, so strips of thin masking tape were employed to simulate stringers, before the innards also received Interior Green. Ultimately it was wasted effort, since none of it was visible through either of the transparencies once the model was completed. Despite the absence of locating pins, the fuselage halves went together without a problem, and

 Crocodile clips were needed to secure the wing halves while the glue cured. Note the thick trailing edges, which were thinned later by sanding.

were glued with Tamiya liquid cement. Likewise, the upper and lower wing halves located positively, although the resulting trailing edges were deemed too thick, so these were sanded for a more in-scale appearance. The clear wing tips were also attached at this point, with cyanoacrylate (CA) glue. When cured fully, they were sanded to conform to the wing, then polished with fine abrasive paper, and finished with a coat of Johnson’s Pledge.

Small lugs on the tailplanes fitted into holes in the vertical stabiliser, and these had to be supported while the glue cured, to ensure they were perpendicular to the fin. A form of tongue-and-groove arrangement, between wing and fuselage, ensured a positive and symmetrical attachment, with built-in dihedral. After leaving the main airframe assembly to set overnight, something didn’t look right when viewed afresh the next

“SEAT CUSHIONS WERE FASHIONED FROM LAMINATED MASKING TAPE”

Seat cushions were fashioned from laminated masking tape, while the seat harnesses were created from thin strips of aluminium foil.

The completed interior was painted RAF Interior Green, prior to joining the fuselage halves.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 87

BASIC BUILD BEAUFIGHTER Mk.If

morning. It took a while to identify, but comparison with a front elevation drawing provided by Mark 1 showed the model’s wing dihedral to be much too pronounced. Having ignored a dihedral problem with a Revell Lancaster several years ago and regretted it ever since, I decided to make the correction by sawing through just the

upper wing halves and inserting a stretched-sprue spreader to force the wings down. The saw cuts and spreaders were then filled and sanded, and the panel lines reinstated.

Each cowling was formed from halves, and the Hercules engines were supplied in the correct front and rear groupings of seven cylinders each, although the latter lacked fin detail – perhaps too much to ask in this scale. Well-defined hedgehog exhausts and props completed the powerplants. All that remained to assemble

was the undercarriage, and this was the weakest aspect of the kit. In Stage 4, the forward undercarriage bulkheads (parts 8) had to be installed, exactly perpendicular to the ground plane, since the lugs formed the location points for the undercarriage legs. Unfortunately, the fit and alignment of these parts was

 Tiny holes were drilled in the wing lights to simulate bulbs, and a drop of red/green paint placed in the respective port/starboard positions.

 Mark I’s Beaufighter’s transparencies were commendably thin, especially the canopy. The edges were painted black to minimise refraction.

 According to references, just the forward lights were fitted with coloured bulbs, so the rear holes were left untreated; here the wingtips have been glued, sanded and polished.

 Where panel lines had been lost through sanding, they were reinstated with a Mr. Hobby G-Tool, which was fitted with a 0.1mm tip.

88

Airfix Model World

BASIC BUILD BEAUFIGHTER Mk.If

 As built, the Beaufighter’s wing dihedral looked too severe, compared with the manufacturer’s own front-view drawing.  To fix the dihedral error, tape was applied chord-wise across the wing to act as a guide, before cutting through just the top half with a razor saw.

imprecise, leaving plenty of room for error. Next, the undercarriage leg assembly itself was weak, the parts – albeit looking impressively to scale – being fragile, with tiny attachment points. Finally, the instructions for the undercarriage were vague, leaving the actual

 After cutting and forcing the outer wings downwards, the dihedral looked more realistic.

 The twin-row 14-cylinder Hercules radial engines were well replicated, although little could be seen of them once enclosed in the cowlings.

DECAL OPTIONS Mark I was typically generous with the four RAF schemes, and each featured a different style of camouflage, from overall Night Black to Coastal Command Dark Slate Grey/ Extra Dark Dark Sea Grey/Azure Blue. The options were: • R2248/WM-S, 68 Sqn, High Ercall (detached to Valley, Anglesey), 1941 • X7671/WP-D, 89 Sqn, Abu Sueir, Egypt, spring 1942 • T4637/NG-D, 604 Sqn, Middle Wallop, autumn 1942 • V8318/F, 252 Sqn, El Magrun, Libya, spring 1943

“TINY HOLES WERE DRILLED IN THE WING LIGHTS TO SIMULATE BULBS” www.airfixmodelworld.com 89

BASIC BUILD BEAUFIGHTER Mk.If

“AERIALS WERE SCRATCH-BUILT FROM STRETCHED SPRUE AND ADDED TO THE WINGS AND NOSE” locating points and angles to considered guesswork.

Painting and weathering

Masking the propellers was a challenge…RAF standard 4in (101mm) yellow tips measured just 28 thou in 1/144 scale – approximately 0.75mm!

 Humbrol Metallic Bronze (171) was airbrushed on the engine collector rings.

The mainwheel doors received just Interior Green and a dark wash, which highlighted the excellent moulded detail.

90

Airfix Model World

Of the four decal options offered in this boxing, the Egypt-based example was arguably the most appealing, with its Middle Stone/ Dark Earth topsides and black undersurfaces. Xtracrylix paints were used for the camouflage, its RAF colours generally being considered very accurate, although they do require a primer coat (Tamiya Fine White Surface Primer in this case). After the initial overall treatment of Middle Stone, a hint of white was added to the mix and random areas sprayed with this paler version to replicate fading. In 1/144 scale, a case could be made for hard-edged camouflage demarcations, but the Blu Tack method produced a very subtle soft edge which still looked in scale. The areas between the Blu Tack strings were filled with Parafilm, then the Dark Earth was applied, followed once more by random  The Beaufighter was a big, heavy aircraft and to help convey this, the tyres were flattened slightly.

Andrew Rawlinson

Xtracrylix Middle Stone (XA1009) was airbrushed overall, then white was added to the base colour, which created subtle fading effects.

H A N D picked PICKED Hand FO R 2 0 1 7 for 2016

Signed-off by:

5

8 03925 o F.3 ADV, 1:4 Tornad

2

 Thin strings of Blu Tack set the camouflage pattern, the areas between being blanked with Parafilm.

1:7 waffe’, s ‘Luft 03929 A400M Atla Airbus

5

 Wing leading-edge gun port covers were masked and sprayed an oxide-red colour, mixed from Tamiya paints.

 Once the Xtracrylix Dark Earth (XA1002) had been sprayed, the masks were removed to reveal a slightly soft-edged camouflage.

Publication:

Terrific tiny twin Mark 1 has established an excellent reputation with its 1/144 scale kits, and the Beaufighter continues this tradition of well-detailed and accurate models. While the Mk.If was let down by the weak undercarriage and a dihedral issue, this was offset by features such as the transparent wing lights, finely detailed gear doors and crystal-clear canopy. It’s definitely worth considering the other Beaufighters in this range, as there are several interesting variants and unique colour schemes.

Job Number:

4547

5

Airfix Model World

spraying with a slightly lightened version. The undersides were then masked and sprayed with Tamiya X-1 Gloss Black, before the whole model received a predecal gloss coat of X-22 Clear. Mark 1’s markings are among the best available – these were printed beautifully, opaque and settled down superbly. Once dry, an oil wash was wicked into the panel lines, a dark grey being used on the black undersides. Minor weathering with oils was then applied over lacquer-based matt varnish. Aerials were scratch-built from stretched sprue and added to the wings and nose, then an Uschi van der Rosten antenna wire (www.albionhobbies.com) completed the build.

03932 rmovik , 1:48 IL-2 Sto

Available from all good model stockists and online from Amazon

Visit our website

WWW.REVELL .DE /EN facebook.com/Revell

@RevellGermany

Revell GmbH, Unit 10, Old Airfield Industrial Estate, Cheddington Lane, Tring, HP23 4QR Tel: 0845 459 0747, Fax: 01296 660041, Email: [email protected] ©2017 Revell GmbH. A subsidiary of Hobbico, Inc. All rights reserved. Trade enquiries welcome.

FREE GIFT! W H E N YO U TA K E O U T A 2 YE A R O R D I R E C T D E B I T S U B S C R I P T I O N TO

895/17

ONLINE www.airfixmodelworld.com

PHONE UK 01780 480404 OVERSEAS +44 1780 480404

FAX UK 01780 757812 OVERSEAS +44 1780 757812

POST Complete the form and post to:

Airfix Model World, Key Publishing Ltd, PO Box 300, Stamford, Lincs, PE9 1NA, United Kingdom

3 EASY WAYS TO ORDER ...

MAKE HUGE SAVINGS! 1/72 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I kit

When you pay by easy Direct Debit – just £10.25 quarterly or £38.99 annually PLUS FREE 1/72 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I kit or Modelcraft Diamond File Set

 YES, I would like to subscribe to PAYER’S DETAILS Title Address

The Hurricane was developed as a replacement for the RAFs pre-war bi-plane fighters, such as the Hawker Fury and Gloster Gauntlet. Once fitted with 3-blade propellers these early RRP Hurricanes were very successful £6.59 during the Battle of Britain in 1940.

Modelcraft Diamond File Set

OR

Achieve precise and accurate results with this 5 Pack Mini Diamond File Set. This fantastic set is ideal for intricate filing, especially on small plastic model projects.

First name

Surname

Postcode Email address

Country

Please complete to receive news updates and offers from us by email.

DELIVERY DETAILS Title Address

IF DIFFERENT

First name

Postcode Email address

Surname

Country

Please send gift card 

SPECIAL OFFER

Gift choice:

Hawker Hurricane Mk.I

Europe USA

RRP

£10.96

FREE M A G A Z I N E S

FIVE FREE

2 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION

Rest of the World

Modelcraft Diamond File Set



PLEASE TICK

24 ISSUES FOR THE BE PRICE OF 19 PLUS OFFESRT! FREE GIFT

12 ISSUES FOR THE PRICE OF 10 UK



 £44.99

24 issues

 £83.49

 £53.99

24 issues

 £95.49

12 issues

 $68.99

24 issues

 $121.99

12 issues

 £56.99

24 issues

 £99.99

12 issues 12 issues

PAYMENT DETAILS I enclose a cheque for £/$ ................................. made payable to Key Publishing Ltd Please debit my Mastercard  Visa  for £/$ ...............

Expiry date

Security Code (3 digit code on reverse of card) OFFER CLOSE DATE: 30 NOVEMBER 2017 PLEASE QUOTE: AMW1117

Signature .............................................................................................................Today’s date .................................

INSTRUCTION TO YOUR BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY TO PAY BY DIRECT DEBIT Please tick:

UK Direct Debit

Quarterly £10.25

Annually £38.99

TWO FREE

1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION 6 5

8

9

6

0

AMERICAN READERS Readers in the USA may place orders by telephone toll-free 800-428-3003 or fax 757-428-6253 or by writing to Airfix Model World, 3330 Pacific Ave, Ste 500, Virginia Beach, VA 23451-9828. Alternatively, order online at www.imsnews.com/airfixmodelworld quoting/entering code AMW1117

Direct Debit UK only. If paying by Direct Debit please send in form. Payments are accepted by Direct Debit, cheque, Postal Order, Credit Card and US Dollar check. Payments by credit or debit card will be shown on your statement as Key Publishing Ltd. Key Publishing will hold your details to process and fulfil your subscription order. Occasionally we may wish to contact you to notify you of special offers on products or events. If you do not wish to receive this information please tick here  or mention when calling. Gift subject to change. Any alternative gift will be of equal or higher value. Should you cancel your subscription earlier then an invoice will be raised for the full price of the gift.

ON THE SHELF BOOKS

A TON OF BRIGHT IDEAS

RAF 100 1918 Technical Innovations Manual By: Jonathan Falconer ISBN: 978-1-78521-084-6 Price: £25 Format: 276mm x 214mm Web: www.haynes.co.uk Haynes’ RAF 100 manual has been released to commemorate next year’s centenary of the Royal Air Force. It takes a different approach, instead providing insights into 100 technical innovations that were either invented in the UK or have

otherwise benefited the RAF during its lifetime. These are the author’s personal choices, but such is the range of subjects, one is bound to find favourites contained therein. Each entry receives a two-page spread, providing an overview of the idea/design, followed by historical anecdotes on its use, backed by a mixture of photographs (colour and black and white) and line drawings. While several are to be expected, such as radar, and Barnes Wallis’ Upkeep bomb, many are comparatively unknown. These include the Safeland barrier, Hucks starter and the cavity magnetron… the latter described as the ‘widget at the heart of radar’. It’s not all historic, with modern concepts such as unmanned aerial vehicles and the Striker/Striker II target tracking helmet systems. While unashamedly for the aviation ‘geek’ or historian, the manual highlights how military aviation has advanced in 100 years, with hints as to what the next century will bring…the photos are great modelling reference too. SF

WEATHERING HEAVEN?

Tiran Wrecks Part 1 By: Michael Mass and Adam O’Brien ISBN: 978-965-7700-05-1 Price: £26.99 Format: 279mm x 215mm Web: www.aviationbookcentre.com Desert Eagle’s sumptuous IDF Armor Series has been joined by Tank Wrecks, the first volume of which explores ageing Israeli Tiran 4/5/6 machines (based on captured and modified T-54/T-55/T-62s respectively). It offers a fascinating study of these vehicles’ fate after they

212 pages

83 pages

had been either withdrawn from Israeli or South Lebanese Army service or destroyed in conflict. Part personal fascination (the author served on a Tiran unit) and part historical archive, it combines the best features of a walk-round with extensive notes on the vehicles. Individual chapters focus on the turret, hull and suspension, before close attention is paid to reallife chipping and rust examples, highlighting differences in paint schemes and how the various layers have abraded over time. For modellers, this volume is manna from heaven, with photos of extensively rusted, corroded, damaged, weather-beaten and generally dilapidated tanks. The images present a virtual ‘what’s what’ of the degradation seen on abandoned hulks, and how the various forms of weathering effect a full-size machine. Chipping, rust, surface patina, torn and twisted metal (whether by accident or enemy action) are all shown and offer a cornucopia of modelling and weathering inspiration. SF

BIG CAT PACKAGE

24 pages

Topdrawings 43 Sd.Kfz.171 Panzer V ‘Panther’ By: Dmitry Mironov, Łukasz Gładysiak ISBN: 978-83-65437-54-9 Price: £18.50 Format: A4 Web: www.casematepublishing.co.uk Germany’s World War Two Panther tank is a much-loved subject for many military modellers, and there is a decent selection of kits in various scales. When it comes to reference, arguably the best was the multi-volume treatise on the Panther by AJ Press, but these are now out of print. A great budget option, though, lies in Kagero’s new softback Panther book in the Topdrawings series. Besides the expected black and white line drawings (profile, plan and front/ rear), several isometric views are also provided. Now, the drawings themselves may not be as highly detailed as those in the AJ Press books, but they are worthy nonetheless and will help modellers with shape and dimensional accuracy when building any kit. Pleasingly, 1/72, 1/48 and 1/35 scales are represented on-page,

THE BIG THREE

but the bonus additions are three sets of separate double-sided, poster-size fold-out plans in 1/16 scale, for anyone contemplating a build of Trumpeter’s forthcoming kits. Also offered is a handy sheet of 1/16 self-adhesive masks for German crosses. Ten excellent colour profiles also serve to inspire and show different camouflage and markings; the Polish-operated Panther Ausf.G is a standout example and begs to be recreated in scale form. CC 214 pages

V Force Boys By: Tony Blackman and Anthony Wright ISBN: 978-1-910690-38-3 Price: £20 Format: 240mm x 160 mm Web: www.grubstreet.co.uk Here’s a fascinating collection of previously unpublished accounts about life in the V Force, covering not just the individual aircraft but also the nuclear weapons, QRA, navigation exercises, tanking and ground handling. Co-authored by two highly experienced flyers, Avro test pilot Tony Blackman and RAF instructor Anthony Wright, the dayto-day routine is well documented along with accounts from those who flew and maintained the Vulcan, Victor and Valiant. Included are several incidents where things didn’t quite go according to plan, how these were resolved and lessons learnt, as well as light-hearted tales of fun and games on overseas deployments. V Bomber flying displays are also explored, as are the complex navigation and bombing exercises that really put the air and

groundcrews through their paces, earning them the utmost respect from the competitor air arms. As one would expect, the role of the Vulcan and Victor in the Falklands is also imparted in some depth (including an account of friendly fire on a pair of Victors which, thankfully, didn’t result in any losses. Many previously unpublished photographs enliven a superb account of this fascinating chapter of the Cold War. AD

SEND IN YOUR PRODUCTS FOR US TO REVIEW: Airfix Model World, Key Publishing Ltd, Units 1-4 Gwash Way Industrial Estate, Ryhall Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1XP, UK

94

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

ON THE SHELF BOOKS

HISTORY AND MODELLING COMBINED

Air War Over Italy By: P Branly, RJ Caruana, Steve A Evans, L Jekl ISBN: 978-0-9935345-9-1 Price: £9.95 Format: A4 Web: www.valiant-wings.co.uk Building to a theme is always fun, but one needs to choose carefully to ensure variety. Valiant’s latest Airframe Extra is the ideal helping of inspiration, as there’s a huge range

of aircraft subjects to tackle from the Italian theatre…and what colour! The usual format is employed, in that one receives a sizeable dose of history via extensive text, period photos and a mass of colour profiles. From the Allied side, the artwork includes the Mustang III and IV, Spitfire PR.XIX and Mk.IXc, Kittyhawk Mk.IV, B-26 Marauder, Westland Walrus Mk.I, P-47, A-36, P-51, B-17 and B-24. Conspicuous by its absence is the B-25, but this is just a very minor niggle. Some of the Axis aircraft are the Macchi C.202, Reggiane Re.2002, Savoia-Marchetti SM.84, Macchi C.205V, Fiat G.55, Bf 109G10/AS, Cant Z.1007, SM.79, among others. Richard Caruana’s artwork is as pleasing and inspiring as ever, and a handy paint reference chart is also offered. Actual modelling is represented via the following 1/72 builds: Special Hobby Baltimore Mk.V, Eduard Spitfire Mk.IXc, Special Hobby Fiat G.55 and Hasegawa Ju 88A-4. The lone 1/48 project involves Eduard’s P-39L/N Airacobra, and there’s a 1/32 21st Century Toys Macchi C.205 for those who favour larger models. CC

ASSAULT GUN IMAGES

By: Mátyás Pánczél ISBN: 978-615-5583-02-5 Price: £25.99 Format: 217 x 302mm Web: www.panzerwrecks.com Peko’s fourth visit to the Sturmgeschütz III offers yet more photographic reference for modellers, historians and gamers alike. Whether it’s wrecked/abandoned machines, or those very much ‘alive and kicking’ with crew, all the images provide plenty to consider; how mud clung to the tracks, and the sag of the

82 pages

112 pages

latter…the drape of a towing cable, weathering wear and tear…they are all visible here. Vehicles in the StuG series often seemed to be covered in various items of stowage, from canvascovered personal equipment to larger items such as wooden boxes, cable reels and the like, and the fact is shown on several pages so modellers take note! Unit markings are evident in places, too, and the captions do allude to the actual users. And the scene depicted on p.27 simply begs to be re-created in diorama form, whereby the engine of a StuG.III is being lifted from the vehicle by way of a gantry crane. Different Zimmerit patterns can also be ascertained here and there, as well as how camouflage paint was applied directly onto spare track links and other items. If one has StuG.IIIs in the stash, this series of books is a superb reference tool and offers much for detail hounds. CC

GERMAN STALWART

168 pages

251 Half-track By: David Doyle ISBN: 978-0-9861127-7-5 Price: £22.95 Format: 222 x 288mm Web: casematepublishing.co.uk Half-tracks make for wonderful builds, because their open nature affords an excellent view of all the fighting compartment detail…and there are a great number of kits available. If one is looking for suitable reference material with the Sd.Kfz.251 family in mind, this stunning hardback is invaluable. From the USA’s Ampersand group, and by renowned military writer David Doyle, it presents myriad period phots of various ‘251 examples. In the beginning, there are subtype descriptions, detailing all from the Sd.Kfz.251/2 mortar carrier and ‘251/3 radio vehicle, to more eclectic variants such as the ‘251/11 mittlerer Fernsprechpanzerwagen telephone cable layer. After this, it’s straight in to the black and white imagery which,

thankfully, is mostly very clear and reveals a wealth of detail for modellers. Photos showing tools and stowage, troop positions, markings and scenic inspiration for vignettes and dioramas are all on offer, and fine examples include a shot on p.93 of Gen Heinz Guderian in an Sd.Kfz.251/6, packed with comms gear, other personnel and the famous Enigma cypher machine, and a superb study of the rocket-launching Stuka zu Fuss on p.76-82. With bags of atmosphere in many images, as well as critical structural/ equipment detail, this is a book no fan of German half-tracks should miss. CC

COLOURFUL VÂNATOARES

By: Teodor Liviu Moroşanu and Dan Melinte ISBN: 978-83-65281-05-0 Price: £19 Format: 303 x 216mm Web: www.mmpbooks.biz In terms of variety of colour schemes, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 is certainly hard to beat. Some of the most attractive examples, though, were flown by the Romanian Air Force and it’s these

44 pages

machines that are highlighted in MMP’s latest ‘Spotlight On’ book. Adhering to the usual format, the Bf 109E and G are depicted via 40 colour plan and profile views. Early examples, such as the Bf 109E-3 Yellow 2 ‘Maril’, of Grupul 7 Vânătoare (fighter group), set the tone immediately, with this air arm’s eye-catching blue, yellow, red and white cross insignia looming large (as well as fuselage artwork). Interestingly, there were 12 iterations of the aforementioned cross, and these are all shown on a separate page, along with the later roundels and their proportion measurements. All the Emils are dazzling due to the mix of yellow paint and decorative devices, and much of this is carried over to the Gustavs, albeit in a slightly subtler manner. Detailed captions provide RLM paint quotations, pilot and unit information where possible. This is a fine hardback, ideal for anyone wanting reference on Romanian ‘109s. Buy the book, then treat yourself to Eduard’s 1/48 Bf 109 reviewed on p.100, as it has the relevant decals! CC

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com 95

ON THE SHELF BOOKS

STARING DOWN THE BEAR

Phantom in the Cold War RAF Wildenrath 1977-1992 By: David Gledhill ISBN: 978-1-52670-408-5 Price: £25 Format: 254 x 179mm Web: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk I reviewed David Gledhill’s excellent Phantom from the Cockpit for AMW, but wondered if his latest work on the type suffered from repetition; thankfully, there is hardly any. While PFTC was an extensive study of this RAF Navigator’s career in the F-4, Phantom in the Cold War is a more

focussed story of the RAF’s 19 and 92 Squadrons at RAF Wildenrath. It soon becomes clear that much of the information centres on the latter unit; not because of squadron loyalty, but due to 19's diaries not yet being released. Gledhill served on 92 Squadron in the 1970s-80s, when the Cold War was arguably at its greatest intensity, and one could count on some form of exercise (or preparation for), seemingly every other week. In the thick of all this was Battle Flight…the RAF Germany equivalent to the UK’s Quick Reaction Alert, whereby F.4s would be on standby to intercept attacking Warsaw Pact aircraft. While, thankfully, no ammunition or missiles were ever fired in anger, a succession of stray civilian aircraft tested the crews’ reaction times and ID skills. There are fascinating stories here, also from other Phantom aircrew, describing the difficulties of operating in Nuclear, Biological, Chemical clothing, Missile-firing trials in the UK, and dissimilar air combat training with other NATO types. Supported by many useful photo, this is splendid read for any Phantom or Cold War jet enthusiast. CC

EARLY ABRAMS PHOTO STUDY

M1A1 Main Battle Tank, Vol 1: Iraq By: C Mrosko, B Avants, P Browning ISBN: 978-0-9973774-5-3 Price: US$34.99 Format: 216 x 279mm Web: www.sabotpub.com Sabot Publications has deservedly earned a reputation for quality, accuracy and stunning photo collections of modern US armour, notably the M1 Abrams, with the M1A2 SEP publication in its second issue (see News, p.9). Here, it’s

96

271 pages

144 pages

the turn of the earlier M1A1, which was involved in extensive combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom and follow-on deployments. Whatever one expects from a walk-round title, prepare to have it blown away, as the authors have compiled an incredible array of close-up and detail shots. The initial selection examines 1-4 Cavalry’s Abrams, and this occupies almost a third of the pages. Notably, these machines wore NATO-standard camouflage, not the usual desert sand, and serve to highlight the extensive patina caused by dust build-up on the vehicle’s surfaces. Every aspect of the exterior is covered and the image quality throughout is excellent. Further chapters are devoted to tanks from 3rd Infantry Division (including examples of M1A1 TUSK) and M1s ‘In the Field’, and ends with coverage provided by members of C Company (The Crusaders), 2-37 Armored Regiment, to which there is a tribute in the introduction. This is an indispensable reference. SF

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

FROST-BITTEN EAGLES

Luftwaffe Over Finland By: Kari Stenman and Kalevi Keskinen ISBN: 978-1-84832-798-6 Price: £12.99 Format: 189 x 257mm Web: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk Finland’s involvement in World War Two was a complex affair, fighting both the Soviet Union (twice) and Germany, which at one point was allied with the Nordic nation. During this period, Luftflotte 5 units were based in-country, enabling this formation to conduct its operational roles in Norway,

72 pages

Finland and into the Soviet Union. This is a slim volume at just 72 pages, but it’s packed with archive photographs, combining many black and white shots with 20 colour images. Although the usual fighter and bomber subjects feature heavily, there is plenty of space devoted to those less-well-known types, including transports, liaison/reconnaissance and maritime patrol aircraft. These include Ju 52s, Fw 200s , He 59 and 115s, and even Bv 138 seaplanes. Many aspects of the daily routine are covered, including refuelling and engineering work, and there are several light-hearted moments, including pilots on a reindeer-pulled sleigh, and crews achieving milestones in operations and their flying careers. There are instances of juxtaposed summer/ winter photos of types at the same airfield, emphasizing the extremes of weather conditions experienced by the Luftwaffe in Finland. The short narrative and detailed captions put a final gloss on this superb collection, which is invaluable for modellers building Finland-deployed aircraft kits. SF

WANT TO BUILD A BIPLANE?

164 pages

Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5 By: Nick Garton ISBN: 978-0-85733-846-4 Price: £25 Format: 276mm x 214mm Web: www.haynes.co.uk Haynes’ Workshop Manuals tend to oscillate between purely historical and engineering publications and those more in tune with the interests of modellers. Its SE.5 falls into the latter category, providing a full kit listing and, courtesy of an interview with Sir Peter Jackson of Lord of the Rings directorial fame, photographs of Wingnut Wings’ 1/32 kit. That aside, this volume has the same structure as most other Haynes’ offerings, providing an overview of the aircraft, its development (including the acrimonious relationship between the Royal Aircraft Factory and noted ace Albert Ball) and entry into service with the Royal Flying Corps. An informative narrative recounts the restoration of several airframes, notably The Shuttleworth Collection’s machine, after which there is an in-depth examination of the type’s anatomy,

including an annotated cutaway diagram and colour photographs of the interior and exterior. Views from pilots, engineers and owners (of refurbished/replica SA.5s) offer differing perspectives on the type; notably the first two are further split into World War One and modern/ contemporary accounts, although the required skill-sets remain the same. Touchingly, this Owners’ Workshop Manual is dedicated to an unknown airman, who has lain in the Leventie Military Cemetery, France, since 1920. SF

Valiant Wings’ Airframe Album series appeals to aviation history and technical enthusiasts eager to get under the skin of an aircraft A wealth of historical and modern photographs Period detail images during production and service use

“The best all-in-one books of a single type around…”

The Gloster

Gladiator by Richard A. Franks

3D isometric views by Chris Sandham-Bailey Colour profiles and camouflage detail by Richard J. Caruana 100+ information-packed pages that no World War II aviation enthusiast should be without

Order your copy today – only £16.95! plus p&p

www.valiant-wings.co.uk +44 (0)1234 273434 [email protected] vwp_aa12_amw_sept_180x130.indd 1

07/09/2017 13:48:12

A WORLD OF

INFORMATION

RRP: £1 2 .9 9

WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED www.haynes.com

097_AMW_Nov17_ad.indd 1

PO Box 56023 St. Petersburg, FL 33732-6023

19/09/2017 11:52

ON THE SHELF AIRCRAFT KITS

LIGHTNING EMIL

Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 ‘JG 77 Blitz’ By: Hasegawa Item no: 07413 Price: £29.99 Web: www.amerang.co.uk Hasegawa’s ‘JG 77 Blitz’ boxing of its veteran Bf 109E-3/4 kit was released originally in 2015, and is once again available as a limited-edition offering. The moulds might be 30 years old, but there is minimal flash and the engraved detail, while not quite up to modern standards, is still pleasing to the eye. There are five styrene runners (including two clear) and a

1/48

small photo-etched metal fret, which provides cockpit armour plating and underwing radiator grilles. Either an E-3 or -4 can be built, and both early and late canopies and windshields are included. It’s a welcome return to satin carrier film for the decals, which supply markings for the airframe stencilling, instrument panel and seatbelts. Both options are for Battle of Britain machines: • Bf 109E-4, Black 13, I./JG 77, France, summer 1940 • Bf 109E-3, Walter Horten, Gruppenkommandeur III./JG 26, France, spring 1940 1/48

ARMY ARCHER

AH-64D Longbow Apache By: Italeri Item no: 2748 Price: £34.99 Web: www.hobbyco.net Italeri’s re-released AH-64D is a real mixed bag, combining its A-variant parts with two updated runners…the latter supply better quality components and feature engraved panel lines. When married, these allow a late Longbow airframe to be built, and while not all Apaches are the same, most differences are provided. These include all necessary

98

equipment lumps and bumps. The decals are sublime, offering full airframe and munitions stencilling. Five schemes include a three-tone camouflage Japanese machine: • ZJ222, 656 Sqn, Army Air Corps, Wattisham, UK, 2016 • 05203, US Army, ValparaisoEglin, Florida, 2004 • JG-4508/74508, Japanese SelfDefense Force Training School, Kasumigaura, Japan, 2016 • 074, United Arab Emirates AF, Dubai, 2015 • Q-24/H80, 301 Sqn, Dutch AF, Paris le Bourget, 2005

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

ALL-NEW AIRLINER

Boeing 737-800 By: Zvezda Item no: 7019 Price: £20.99 Web: www.hobbyco.net Boeing’s 737 receives a modern make-over courtesy of Zvezda, with this newly tooled 1/144 scale -800 offering. For the most part, the advances made on its larger Boeing and Airbus subjects have been carried across, so expect delicate engraved panel lines, well-moulded components, and an absence of flash. Attention is focussed on the exterior (no

interior is supplied), with two eight-part CFM56 engines, which feature the correct flat-bottomed profile and integrally moulded pylons; there is also an option for raised/lowered undercarriage (a stand is provided for the former). A single-piece lower wing ensures correct dihedral, and Zvezda supplies transparent styrene strips for the passenger windows. The single white/grey livery is that of Russian carrier UTair Aviation, and provides serial numbers for two of its nine-strong 737-800 fleet (VQ-BJH and VQ-BJF).

AUXILIARIES AND RACERS

Spitfire Mk.XVI Bubbletop By: Eduard Item no: 70126 Price: €18.75 Web: www.eduard.com First released as a dual/combo set with a ‘high-back’ version, Eduard’s 1/72 Spitfire Mk.XVI is now available as a ‘bubbletop’ airframe, in ProfiPack packaging, with a canopy mask and small photo-etched metal fret. The latter components cater primarily for the cockpit, including instrument panel, seat harness and armour plating, but also provide radiator grilles for the underwing oil coolers and even landing gear oleo scissors. The high quality styrene

1/144

1/72

parts feature delicate engraved surface detail, arguably among Eduard’s finest to date; note these runners supply components for the late-style wing, with its teardropshaped bulge above the wheel well. Generously, there are five post-war Mk.XVIe schemes: • SL718/RAS-D, 612 Sqn RAuxAF, Cooper Air Race, Elmdon, July 1949 • RW393/HT-A, 601 Sqn RAuxAF, Cooper Air Race, 1949 • SL721/JMR, ACM Sir James Robb, September 1951 • SL549/UT-N, 17 Sqn, Farnborough, 1950 • TE456/RAB-J, 501 Sqn RAuxAF, Filton, 1949

ON THE SHELF AIRCRAFT KITS

TRIPLE ENTENTE RECCE

Nieuport Nie 10 Two-seater By: Special Hobby Item no: SH 48184 Price: €25 Web: www.cmkkits.com Having delighted modellers with its Nieuport 10 fighter, Special Hobby has now released the twoseater, although this was actually the first version built, serving as a reconnaissance and training aircraft. The contents are almost identical to the previous iteration, with a new upper wing, forward fuselage section and an extra seat supplied on modified runners. Generally, the moulding is to a high standard, with

1/48

raised stitching at the fuselage/ cowling join, but the engine suffers from flash between the cylinder heads. The type’s sesquiplane (oneand-a-half wing) configuration with V-struts has been captured faithfully, and rigging guidance is provided for those desiring to attempt it. Three schemes are supplied, for overall linen or off-white airframes: • No.652, Esc MF388, Aéronautique Militaire, Macedonia, 1916 • No.318, 4 Sqn, Aviation Militaire Belge, Houtem, 1915 • No. 8517, Flt Sub Lt SJ Gobble, A Squadron, 1 Wing, RNAS, Dunkirk, July 21, 1916

VERTICAL RE-WORK

1/144

DELIGHTFUL DONKEY

I-16 Type 28 By: ICM Item no: 48098 Price: £14.99 Web: www.icm.com.ua Known as Ishak (donkey) by its Soviet pilots, the Type 28 now joins Special Hobby’s growing stable of late 1/48 I-16s. The styrene parts, which are provided on three runners (including one clear), are unchanged from the previous I-24 offering (see Reviews, October 2017); the sole difference between the two versions being the installation of wing-mounted 20mm ShVAK cannon, in place of the earlier

1/48

ShKAS machine guns. Special Hobby’s clever parts breakdown allows the compound curves of the cowling, with its exhaust apertures, to be replicated accurately, while the multi-piece engine is a delight. There are markings for three aircraft: • Yellow 15, 45th Aviation Div, Southern Front, Odessa, June 1941 • White 6, 45th Aviation Div, Southern Front, Odessa, June 1941 • White 51, 72nd Mixed Regt, Northern Fleet Aviation, August 1941

INTERCEPTOR UPGRADE

1/72

Su27SM2/3 Flanker B ‘Updated’ By: Platz Item no: AE-5:5600 Price: US $52.68 Web: www.platz-hobby.com

Bachem Ba-349 M52/M58 By: Brengun Item no: BRP144002 Price: €12.09 Web: www.brengun.cz Having already released its Ba 349A in 1/144th scale, Brengun also now offers the rail-launched Natter with new decals, so one can build Mustermaschine 52 and 58 airframe in the same scale. The parts are the same as in kit

144001, but note that along with fresh decals, the longer-span horizontal stabiliser now comes into play. Styrene runners for two whole kits are supplied, along with support cradles, fuselagemounted rocket boosters and a finely moulded rendition of the rocket-firing nose panel. The colour schemes comprise mostly grey airframes, with white paint accents/decals; both machines sport red noses.

Japan’s Platz has already re-boxed Zvezda’s recent Russian Su-27SM (see News, May 2017), but now it also offers this SM2/3 boxing. The SM2 suffix denotes an upgraded SM airframe, featuring selected equipment from the Su-35BM, while M3 signifies new-build machines rather than conversion. Platz’s kit features all the excellent styrene parts from its predecessor, including optional antennas, a mass of airto-air and air-to-ground stores, multi-part exhausts, fine panel line engraving and much more. A boarding ladder and seated/standing pilot figures are also supplied. Two camouflage schemes feature, having different shades in two- and threetoned patterns: • Su-27SM2, Red 04/RF-92211, 4th Center of Combat Application and

Conversion of Frontline Aviation, Lipetsk, 2013 • Su-27SM3, Red 55, 6972nd Aviation Base, 4th Air and Air Defence Forces Command, Krymsk, Krasnodar Krai, 2011

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com 99

ON THE SHELF AIRCRAFT KITS

MESSERSCHMITT MENAGERIE

Bf 109G-4 ProfiPACK By: Eduard Item no: 82117 Price: €37.45 Web: www.eduard.com Eduard’s highly regarded, re-worked Bf 109 tooling ‘flies’ again, this time as a G-4 in ProfiPACK format; the latter status means extras such as tape masks and photo-etched (PE) metal details are included. The latter comprise pre-coloured instrument panels, seatbelts, rudder pedals with straps, radiator screens, antennas and other items. Easily the best quarter-scale Gustav on the market, the parts come on four grey styrene runners and a clear frame. The real bonus here, though, is that of the

colour schemes; besides foreign users, ace of aces Erich Hartmann is also represented: • G-4, White 3 ‘Don Pedro’, Esc 57, Grupul 7 Vânătoare, Kirovograd, June 1943 • G-4/trop, 15013/Black 16, Lt U Seiffert, 8./JG 53, Tunisia, April 1943 • G-4/R6, 14946/double chevron and bar, Maj W Ewald, Stab.III/JG 3, Soviet Union, April 1943 • G-4/R6, 19566/White 365-1, Ten G Gianelli, 365a Sq, 150˚ Gruppo Autonomo, Italy, 1943 • G-4/R6, 14997/KJ+GU/White 2+wavy line, Lt Erich Hartmann, 7./ JG 52, Soviet Union, 1943

VENOMOUS ROTORCRAFT

Bell AH-1G Cobra By: Revell Item no: 04956 Price: £17.99 Web: www.revell.de/en Revell has seen fit to re-box Special Hobby’s superb 1/72 Cobra. This boxing offers the G-model from the Vietnam era, and for those not familiar with these toolings, the cockpit is a worthy facsimile, with good armoured crew seats, moulded instrument panels (decals also provided), quilted rear bulkhead and even the gunner’s pantographic gun/rocket

100

1/48

1/72

sighting unit. The chin turret is equipped with a 7.62mm minigun and 40mm grenade launcher, and other stores comprise XM-157, M-158 and M-159 rocket and M-18 minigun pods. Surface engraving is sharp, and areas such as the louvred air intakes display real finesse. Two US Army in South Vietnam liveries are provided: • 15062 ‘The Crystal Ship’, 9th Air Cavalry, Phuoc Vinh, May 1970 • 15058 ‘Leprechaun’, 227 Assault Helicopter Battalion, Lai Khe, early 1970

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

SCHWARZ NACHTJÄGER

Do 215B-5 By: ICM Item no: 72306 Price: £18.60 Web: www.icm.com.ua ICM’s 1/72 Dorniers are sublime scaled-down equivalents of their 1/48 brethren. The parts in this night fighter boxing carry all the hallmarks of the Do 215B-5 Kauz III variant, such as FuG 202 radar aerials, infra-red searchlight for the unsuccessful ‘Spanner’ system (and pilot’s scope for same), underbelly gun tray and a mix of MG FF 20mm cannon and MG 17 machine guns in the nose.

The radar antennas are relatively fine for the scale, and two complete engines are provided. Cockpit detail is decent (as is the decal sheet), and in general this kit offers splendid value. One might want to swap the wheels for aftermarket items, though. Colour scheme-wise there are two options, one in overall black, the other in RLM 74/75/76: • R4+DC, Stab.II/NJG 2, Leeuwarden, Netherlands, spring 1942 • R4+SN, Oblt P Gildner, II./NJG 2, Gilze-Rijen, Netherlands, autumn 1941

TOP BRASS’ SNOOPER

Dornier Do 215B-4 By: Hasegawa Item no: 07443 Price: £79.99 Web: www.amerang.co.uk Ukrainian firm ICM’s 1/48 Dornier is now available in a Hasegawa limited-edition package, with new decals. This is a splendid kit, with a host of detail in the cockpit/ nose section (and bomb bay), and two complete engines are also provided; the Rb 50/30 camera

1/72

1/48

fairing comes as a separate part, with clear lens cover. Bombs are present but these are just for attack variants, therefore not appropriate for this reconnaissance version… great for spares though! The large decal sheet provides three splinterpattern (RLM 70/71/65) liveries for the Aufklärungsgruppe recce assets of the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (High Command): • PK+EH, 1940 • PK+EM, 1940 • T5+BC, Soviet Union, 1941

Graphic tshirts designed for the aviation enthusiast WA RBI RDS VIN TAG E JET S AVI ATI ON HEROES RAF CLA SSIC S

FAMOU S SQUAD RONS

21st CEN TURY JET S ICO NIC FIG HTE RS Visit our website and see a collection of 50 original T-shirt designs

Designed and printed in Great Britain, sold around the world

www.flyingraphics.com

101_AMW_Nov17_ad.indd 1

19/09/2017 12:21

ON THE SHELF MILITARY KITS

MONSTER TANK

T30/34 By: Takom Item no: 2065 Price: £49.99 Web: www.pocketbond.co.uk Takom has followed its T29 (see Reviews, Sep 2017) with the T30 variant, which featured a different engine, larger turret and 155mm main gun on the same chassis. It shares seven runners with the previous release (including the linkand-length tracks), with new lower hull, turret, gun barrel and engine deck provided either as separate

1/35

components or on extra frames. The parts are moulded superbly, with the turret notable for its cast texture and weld seams. As a 2-in-1 offering, it also provides parts for the 120mm gun-armed T34 prototype, with an option for a canvas-covered mantlet. Confusingly, Takom doesn’t identify these different-sized weapons…but Stage 26-1 caters for the T34 and 26-2 for the T30. Three notional schemes are provided, depicting the T30/34 in a variety of singleand multi-toned camouflage, for Germany-deployed machines in 1945.

KEEP ON TRUCKING

1/35

DESERT HEAVY HITTER

LRDG Ford F30 w/37mm Bofors By: Milicast Item no: UK347 Price: £23.95 Web: www.www.milicast.com Milicast’s exquisite resin LongRange Desert Group (LRDG) Ford F30, which comprises more than 70 finely cast components, builds into an accurate small-scale replica of this North African-theatre machine. Like many LRDG assets, it was equipped liberally with various machine guns, but this variant was also fitted with a 37mm Bofors in the rear

1/76

cargo compartment, and this is reproduced faithfully as a seven-piece sub-assembly. The single-part chassis ensures correct alignment, and there is a wealth of detail for the midsection, provided by a single ‘luggage’ component. There’s plenty of spare equipment, rifles and machine guns (both water-cooled Lewis and Vickers K types) with which to adorn the vehicle. Just a single scheme is supplied, for a sand/green vehicle, although no paint colours are specified; similarly, there are no decals.

AIR DEFENCE PROGENITOR

1/72

Rheintochter 1 Missile Launching Position By: Modelcollect Item no: UA72072 Price: $21.99 Web: www.modelcollect.com

Bedford MW (Early) By: ResiCAST Item no: 35166 Price: €85 Web: www.resicast.com Trucks, for all their utility, aren’t common subjects for model manufacturers, but ResiCAST is one of several firms seeking to redress this shortfall. Its all-resin Bedford MW is supplied in opencargo deck configuration, and the casting of the 150-plus parts is pin sharp. Flash will need removing from several components,

102

principally the voids in the single-piece chassis frame, but little preparation will be required otherwise. A small photo-etched (PE) brass fret supplies various grilles, clasps, chains and straps, while three sizes of styrene rod are included for rails, crash bar and tilt supports. Clear styrene/ acetate must be sourced for the windscreens, although the frames are provided as PE items. There are no decals or colour guide, but this is a stunning replica of a ubiquitous British wartime vehicle.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

Modelcollect’s wonderful series of German late-war and experimental subjects now includes the Rheintochter (Rhine maiden) 1 prototype surface-to-air missile. There are four styrene runners, and these provide sufficient parts for two complete missiles and launchers; even the large wooden side plates are supplied. It’s obvious this product has been researched fully, as there are individual booster nozzles, and the venturi-type sustainers are moulded integrally with the main body, located between the main fins. The attention to detail extends to the launcher, with raised rivets on the launcher arm, a blast-deflector plate, and this sub-assembly can be rotated and/or raised/lowered. No decals

are included, but there’s a choice between a Panzer Grau or Dunkel Gelb launcher…as there are two, why not one of each?

ON THE SHELF MILITARY KITS

COLD WAR BRUISER

T-54B Early Production By: MiniArt Item no: 37019 Price: £43.99 Web: www.miniart-models.com Recent releases from this Ukrainian manufacturer simply ooze quality, and this T-54B maintains the trend. We’ve already reviewed three of the firm’s T-54 variants (T-54-1, with and without interior, and T-54-2 Mod 1949), and this boxing shares many parts with the previous iterations. It depicts a later vehicle in the family, with two colour schemes for the 1950s-60 (one with winter

1/35

whitewash). Features include workable torsion bars, two types of road wheels and optional open/ closed positions for all hatches. The DShK machine gun is a delight, with 20 parts in all, while the main gun barrel is a one-piece item that has just a faint mould seam. The type’s trademark fuel tanks on the track covers look authentic and ensure a busy appearance, and the photoetched brass details really make a difference, via engine screens and many other accoutrements. Individual track links complete a stunning kit.

WEAPONISED FORD

Model T 1917 LCP By: ICM Item no: 35663 Price: £16.80 Web: www.icm.com.ua Auto modellers got a great option when ICM kitted an all-new 1/24 Ford Model T, but now the firm has down-scaled the tooling and re-worked it with military builders in mind, via this Australian Army Light Car Patrol from 1917-18. It’s a little gem, with a complete engine,

1/35

full exhaust and axle/steering mechanisms, and a bespoke rear section fitted with troop seats. The engine covers come as separate parts, so one could pose either open with ingenuity. There’s also the post-mounted Lewis gun and even a cranking handle. This is a refreshing package, with two 1918 colour schemes: • LC-1093, Dead Sea region, Palestine • LC-1426, Palestine

WARPAC WORKHORSE

Multicar M-22 By: Plus Model Item no: 458 Price: €65.50 Web: www.plusmodel.cz Here’s a very different subject, with a multitude of uses. Plus Model’s M-22 represents just one of this ten-body range of vehicles, which employed the same chassis. They were all built in East Germany from 1964-74, with more than 42,000 being produced in total. This kit comprises more than 50 resin parts, accompanied by a fret of photo-etched brass details,

two small sections of copper wire and clear acetate windows. The mastering and casting is excellent, although due to the mediums used, this kit is not for beginners. It benefits from a full engine and, once built, could be employed in a great many vignettes or dioramas…posed with a 1/35 Hind, say. Three schemes are suggested: • 514-48-57, Czechoslovak People’s Army • German Democratic Republic National People’s Army • CB-39-42, civilian version ‘Stavopodnik’

TOUGH AS OLD BOOTS

Typhoon K By: Takom Item no: 2082 Price: £57.99 Web: www.pocketbond.co.uk Carrying up to 16 troops, a remotely controlled weapon system, integrated ceramic armour, bulletproof glass and tyres, night vision and full NBC protection, Russia’s Typhoon K is an impressive beast… the latest in that country’s line of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. Takom pulled out all the stops here, and the sheer size of the

1/35

1/35

real thing is evident on seeing just the upper body section alone. Four large styrene runners and a clear frame hold delicately moulded parts; these form superb suspension/axle units, rows of troop seating, a busy cab and radio gear on the inner end wall. All upper hatches and cab doors are moulded separately, and photoetched brass mesh screens are included, as are chunky rubber tyres; the rear hatch can be posed open or closed, too. Markings are basic; Russian stars and a Guards badge for a Victory Day parade in 2015.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com 103

ON THE SHELF FIGURES

ARMÉE DE L’AIR

1/72

ALL-AMERICAN AVIATOR

1/48

Pilot P-51 By: Plus Model Item no: AL4072 Price: €8.10 Web: www.plusmodel.cz

French Pilot and Two Mechanics By: CMK Item no: F72305 Price: €10.30 Web: www.cmkkits.com This neat resin trio from CMK is designed to accompany sister firm Special Hobby’s recent 1/72 Mirage F.1 kits. The aircrew figure, resplendent in full flight suit, ‘bone

UNDER ADVISEMENT

1/35

dome’ and hanging oxygen mask displays jaw-dropping detail for the scale, while the mechanics are posed as if checking a wing leading edge and undercarriage strut…the latter being at head height. Just a modicum of casting flash needs to be remove from the ‘techies’, and their heads are separate parts, but once neatened, all will respond well to careful painting and dry-brushing.

WESTERN NOMADS

1/35

On the Great Plains By: Master Box Item no: MB35189 Price: £11.50 Web: www.creativemodels.co.uk

German Infantry (1939-1942) By: ICM Item no: 35639 Price: £9.20 Web: www.icm.com.ua Having previously entertained modellers with various exotic military units, ICM has released a set of four German early war Wehrmacht soldiers. Each comprises at least eight basic parts, with personal weapons and kit supplied on a runner from its German Infantry Weapons and Equipment Set (35638). This being ICM, the poses are individual, rather than formulaic, with an MG 34 crew (gunner and ammunition carrier) passing an obviously harassed officer, with an MP 40 and Luger-armed NCO putting the hapless Hauptman straight; the moulding is such that pips are visible on the latter's epaulettes.

104

Any number of Plains Indians (Cheyenne, Blackfoot, et al) can be replicated with this double-figure set, which follows other recent Western releases from Master Box. One receives a proud-looking brave and his squaw, both in tanned hide shirts and trousers (with fringes) and moccasin footwear. The female holds their baby in a papoose, but the real delight is the horse with accompanying travois litter used for transporting belongings, which are also provided. Extra life is injected through the thoughtful poses of both subjects, obviously intent on something in their distant view. Master Box’s moulding shows real deftness in many places, and this is an instant vignette. Very careful painting is required though, particularly for the trademark decorations on the garments.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

Timed perfectly for 1/48 Mustangs from either Meng or Airfix, Plus Model’s resin figure portrays a strapping 6ft 1in (187cm) American aviator, complete with archetypal sunglasses and leather flying jacket. Posed as if walking towards an aircraft, this singlepiece resin accessory is well cast, with minimal seam lines once the pour stubs have been removed, and carries a parachute under its left arm. The posture and facial expression is most realistic, and the sumptuous detail on the clothing and equipment cries out for judicious brushwork.

BIGGER COUSIN

1/32

USAAF Fighter Pilot ETO, late World War Two By: Master Details Item no: 32055 Price: US $14.95 Web: www.masterdetails.com Master Details’ terrific largescale figure comprises 13 resin and pewter components, and the quality, notably of the former, is stunning. Buckles, belts and g-trousers are packed with detail, and would be suitable for any 1/32 Mustang, Thunderbolt or Lightning project. Options abound, with arm poses for holding aircraft controls or unclipping the separate pewter oxygen mask (a hose is also supplied), and four different heads: with/without mask and with goggles raised/lowered.

PREPPY PAIR

1/24

Bob and Sally – The Happy Couple By: Master Box Item no: MB24029 Price: £10.99 Web: www.creativemodels.co.uk We had to chuckle when this landed on the editorial desk. Master Box is renowned for offering outof-the-ordinary items, but this styrene Happy Couple pushes the boundaries. Looking like cast members from an American soap opera, Bob and Sally are in preppy gear, but when one thinks about it, they could bring an extra dimension to a civilian car vignette, or dockside boat scene. The male figure wears smart shoes, slacks, pullover and cravat. Sally, meanwhile, grips hubby’s arm and sports a mini-skirt, lapelled jacket and Sketcher-type shoes. It’s a fun duo that will test one’s figure-painting skills, especially as Sally has so much leg on show!

The second volume in Key Publishing’s Combat Machines series explores the legendary B-25 Mitchell light bomber, which also excelled in various other roles. Following the high-quality design and format of last year’s Combat Machines 1: B-17G,Volume 2 offers period photos with informative captions, and extensive history text to tell the Mitchell’s story. The type’s development is studied, ahead of chapters covering many facets of the B-25’s wartime genesis…from the famous Doolittle raid on Japan, and the USAAF unit’s efforts that inspired Joseph Heller’s novel Catch 22, to strafing in the Pacific and US Marine Corps operations, export users and a very personal focus on the Pacific Theatre B-25 ‘Dirty Dora’. This is an all-encompassing view of the Mitchell, across 84 pages, which also provides many colour profiles and extensive model kit, decal, accessory and book listings. It’s the ideal reference to accompany Airfix’s new-tool 1/72 B-25 kit later this year.

! NEW

84 PAGES, SOFTBACK

AVAILABLE NOW FROM

ALTERNATIVELY, ORDER DIRECT Free P&P* when you order online at www.keypublishing.com/shop

105_AMW_Nov17_ad.indd 1

AND ALL LEADING NEWSAGENTS

PLUS FREE

P&P *

Call UK: 01780 480404 Overseas: +44 1780 480404

899/17

*Free 2nd class P&P on all UK & BFPO orders. Overseas charges apply.

Monday to Friday 9am-5:30pm

19/09/2017 16:50

ON THE SHELF DECAL SHEETS

SLEEK SOVIET TWIN

1/48

CAMM’S GEM OVERSEAS

1/72

Hawker Hurricane Foreign Operators By: Kits-World Item no: KW172144 Price: £10.20 Web: www.kitsworld.co.uk

Petlyakov Pe-2/3 ‘Buck’ Family By: Begemot Item no: 48-041 Price: £19.99 Web: www.begemotdecals.ru Is it possible to be too generous? It’s arguably the case here, because with four large sheets of markings (two shown) for 108 different Pe-2 sub-types, it’ll be incredibly difficult to choose one’s build subjects. Added angst is assured due to the sheer variety and colour, with nose art, many examples of national insignia, patriotic slogans and more.

Obviously, there are too many to list but a few representations include: • UPe-2,’1’, Bulgarian AF, late 1940s • B-32, MU-11, 25th BAR, Czechoslovakian AF, 1946-47 • Pe-2, ‘12’, 7th SBAR, Polish AF, 1947 • Pe-2, PE-211/A, Capt Jaakko Ranta, 48th Bomber Sqn, Finnish AF, 1942 • Pe-2, ‘58’, Capt Gnedoy, 40th BAR, Soviet Navy Black Sea Fleet, spring 1944 • Pe-2, ‘15’, 73rd BAR, Soviet Navy Baltic Fleet, winter 1942-43 • Pe-2, ‘21’, 132nd BAR, VVS RKKA, Kalinin front, winter 1941-42

Never mind the ‘snappy’ title, Xtradecal’s new collection of Spanish Civil War markings is a real winner in terms of

106

INDEPENDENCE BIRD

• Mk.Ic, HC456/6, Capt Heikki Kalaja, 1/LeLv 30, Finnish AF, Utti, July 1941 • Mk.IIc, 624/MP-B, Esquadrilha MP, Portuguese AF, Sintra AB, 1950s • Mk.IIc/Trop, HL988, Turkish AF, Middle East, 1942

1/48

1/72

CONDOR MOMENT Spanish Civil War Nationalist Fighter & Ground Attack Collection Pt1 By: Xtradecal Item no: X72274 Price: £7.99 Web: www.hannants.co.uk

Many aircraft types gain more interest when clad in an export livery, and this sheet has ‘em in spades for the legendary Hurricane. One will need a whole host of kits, because it’ll be difficult to choose just one or two. Nine airframes are represented, some sporting a Vokes tropical filter, but also shown is a twoseater; if one wants to avoid extensive conversion work then Omega Models’ 1/72 trainer kit is a must. The camouflage varies considerably, and options include: • Mk.I/Trop, Z4434, Free French AF, North Africa, 1942 • Mk.IIb/Trop, Z5664, 2-VI-G IV, KNIL-LVA, Java, Dutch East Indies, 1942 • Mk.IIc/Trop, 2-13, Imperial Iranian AF, Doshan Teppah AB, 1947

colour and variety. Nationalist all, the ten subjects display attractive camouflage and the trademark numbering/insignia of the theatre…and it’s not just German Condor Legion aircraft, as schemes for Italian fighters in Spanish service also feature. All aircraft are Spanish-based, and even types are catered for; some of the options are: • Heinkel He 112V-9, 8•2, Hptn Harro Harder, 2.J/88, 1938 • Ju 87A-1, 29•2, ‘Jolanthe’ Stukalette VJ/88, 1938 • Fiat CR.32, ‘Monico! • Presente’, St Giuseppe Cenni, 1a Esc de Caza, Talavera, 1936 • Heinkel He 51B-1, 2•85, Oblt ‘Edu’ Neumann, 3.J/88 Legion Condor, 1937 • Henschel Hs 123A, 24•5 ‘Teufel’, Stukakette 88, Legion Condor, 1938 • Arado Ar 68E, 9•2, Stab, Jagdgruppe J/88, La Senia, 1938 • Bf 109D, 6•56, Hptm Gotthard Handrick, Stab.J/88, 1938

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

TF-15A Bicentennial Eagle By: Two Bobs Item no: 48-253 Price: US $20 Web: www.twobobs.net Here’s a real blast from the past! If one is slightly jaded with the usually necessarily dull liveries on F-15s, why not plump for this helping of retro dazzle? The patriotic markings are for the two-seat TF-15A bedecked in red, white and blue paint to mark the USA’s bicentennial in 1976. While the schemes are all for the same

aircraft, 71-0291, variety comes via the jet being tweaked in decorative terms at different time points. There’s the original stylised star on the tail for the Farnborough airshow, the globe device for the World Tour Australia, and the same for the WTA Canada, all in July 1976; Aussie and Canadian roundels are supplied for the latter two options. There are three sheets in total, although just two are shown here, and Two Bobs provides also provides stencils and base kit suggestions.

ON THE SHELF DECAL SHEETS

DECORATIVE HAVOCS

A-20 Pin-Up Nose Art, Part I By: Foxbot Decals Item no: FD 72-006 Price: £11.40 Web: www.foxbot.com.ua For anyone with Frog, Matchbox or MPM/CMK A-20s, Foxbot’s collection of nose art liveries is a stunner. While the standard Olive Drab over Neutral Gray is worn

1/72 by all, it’s the crewpainted illustrations that make the real difference…and should be enticing enough to convert any modeller to the type. One sheet carries the artwork, codes/serial and national insignia, the other has stencils, extra serial numbers and red wing walkway lines. Three full options are supplied, along with a ‘what-if’ bonus via a single piece of artwork (hence the extra serial numbers): • A-20G-30-DO, 43-8715/F6-M ‘Cille’, 670th BS, 416th BG, France, November 1944 • A-20B, 41-3148/34 ‘Miss Burma’, 47th BG, Italy, spring 1945 • A-20G-25-DO, 43-9380/F6-N ‘Denver Darling’, 670th BS, 416th BG, France, October 1944 • Bonus option: ‘Wow!’ by Dave Stevens

ROMANIAN FIGHTER

IAR.80 By: RB Productions Item no: RB-D72021 Price: €9.85 Web: www.radubstore.com Being Romanian himself, RB’s Radu Brinzan has studied his country’s indigenous fighter closely to write a book on the IAR.80, and produce accurate aftermarket products. This neat set of 1/72 decals offers markings for nine aircraft, while the instructions carry good colour profile and plan/

DISPLAY BUGS Demo Hornets By: Two Bobs Item no: 48-257 Price: US $14 Web: www.twobobs.net Fans of Legacy and Super Hornets will find this sheet of interest, with its pair of demonstration airframes. The first is a VFA-15 Retro TAC Demo Jet from VFA-106 in ‘old school’ Light Gull Gray over white, while the second, a twinseater, hails from VFA-122. The latter is in the low-vis Tactical Paint Scheme, with special markings to honour Blue Angel pilot USMC Capt Jeff Kuss, who was killed on June 2, 2016 while preparing for the Great Tennessee Airshow: • F/A-18C, 164718/315/AD, VFA106 ‘Gladiators’, March 2017

DOUBLE-DELTAS

1/72

underside views, with paint codes for Lifecolor and FS being stated. Differing styles of camouflage, as well as the decals’ quality, will mean one build isn’t enough! This sheet is also available in 1/48 and 1/32 scales. Some of the options are: • White 2, 2 Escadrila de Experiente, August 1940 • White 3, Elev Av. Clobănaş Andrei, Sc.Vt.Flt.3Vt, Galati, October 1943 • White 17, Adj.Stag.Av. Florian Budu, Esc.41Vt./Gr.8Vt, Birlad, July 1941 • White 26, IAR, Braşov, March 1941 • White 44, Flt.2Vt./Gr.8Vt, Tirgşor, March 1941

1/48

JA 37D/Di Saab Viggen By: Moose Republic Item no: 72018 Price: €17.21 Web: www.mooserepublic.se Moose Republic’s jaw-dropping attention to detail is fully evident on this gathering of SAAB Viggen schemes, which offers ten airframes in all; four of these are ‘specials’ with extra decoration. Besides the bare-metal and splinter liveries, there are low-vis grey machines and an off-white test aircraft. The main and most colourful decals

• F/A-18F, 168928/156/NJ, VFA122 ‘Flying Eagles’, August 2016

1/72 are on two sheets, while a third carries stencils, unit badges and formation lights. The instructions are a goldmine of information on Viggen colours, with paint matches for FS, Tamiya and Humbrol. Choices include: • JA 37D, 37394/47, F17, Kallinge, 2002 • JA 37D, 37402/02, F21, Kallax, 2004 • JA 37, 37410/P10, F16, Uppsala • JA 37Di, 37347/47 ‘Interoperability’, Försokscentralen, 2002 • JA 37Di, 37442/37, F4, Frösön/ Östersund, September 2004 • JA 37, 37325/25, F17 Kallinge, February 1985

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com 107

ON THE SHELF DECAL SHEETS

RISING SUN DIVER

Aichi D3A2 Model 22 Type 99 Val By: Print Scale Item no: 72-232 Price: £9.80 Web: www.printscale.org For its second foray into the world of Aichi Vals, Print Scale has gathered a cracking collection of nine airframes, with both carrier-

1/72 and land-based divebombers offered. They are all clad in late war dark green over grey/ green, although several also sport a black engine cowling, while three feature rear fuselage identification stripes. Decal register is pin-sharp, while colour opacity is firstrate, notably the yellow and white tail codes. The aircraft include: • Red A1-1-221, 1.Koku Sentai, IJN Zuikaku, summer 1943 • Red A1-2-236, 1.Koku Sentai, IJN Shokaku, June 1943 • Red A3-2-204, 3. Koku Sentai, IJN Taiyo, September 1942 • White 701-04, Dai 701 Kokutai, Philippines, October 29, 1944 • Yellow ?? 282, Nagoya Kaigun Kokutai, Nagoya, spring 1945 • White 53-229, Naoharu Fukabori, 553. Kokutai, Matsua/Kuril Islands, May 1944 • Yellow 321-226, 652. Kokutai, Junyo, June 1944

ARMOURED LEXICON

1/72

BOSNIAN MISSIONS

Balkan Peacekeepers Part 4 By: Star Decals Item no: 35-C 1005 Price: US $8 Web: www.star-decals.net Once again, Star Decals has released decals for a subject seldom catered for, this time focussing on French VAB 4x4s that served in the Balkans during the NATO- and UN-led Bosnia peacekeeping missions in the 1990s. Three are standard

SEEING SPOTS Danish Air Force Roundels By: Lima November Decals Item no: LN72-D01 Price: £7.99 Web: www.lndecals.com Lima November’s quality product supplies Danish red/white military insignia in 24 sizes; while eight examples are supplied for the smaller roundels, this decreases to four for the larger items. While

Italian Tactical Markings By: Black Lion Wargames Item no: 72511 Price: €4.50 Web: www.blacklion.online.nl Armoured vehicle tactical markings are omitted occasionally by kit manufacturers. Thankfully, Black Lion has come to the rescue, at least for 1/72 scale Italian subjects. This small sheet supplies markings for the 1st

108

(red background), 2nd (blue) and 3rd Company (yellow) machines, further identified as HQ (no stripe), 1st (one stripe), 2nd (two stripes) and 3rd Platoon (three stripes). Individual tanks are then identified by the number above the symbol. The yellow and black triangles are for Semovente Gruppos…and Italian national insignia are also provided. Printed on a single sheet of carrier film, decals will need to be cut individually.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

1/35

armoured personnel carriers (ideal for Heller or Azimut kits), while the fourth is an ambulance variant; this and one of the APCs wears an overall white scheme, while the others are painted in disruptive camouflage. Decals are identified clearly, and while the print production is to a high standard, these do have matt carrier film. Four machines are specified: • 4x4 VAB, 6S33 0262, French IFOR Contingent, Bosnia 1947 • 4x4 VAB, UNPF 4233, Regt d’Infanterie et Chars de Marine, Bosnia, 1992-93 • 4x4 VAB, 6833 0043, Escadron de Gironde, 1996 • VAB Sanitaire, 6863 0036, 151. Rgt d’infanterie, Bosnia, 1986

1/72 this range may seem bewildering at first, rest assured, Lima supplies a handy guide, which specifies 43 aircraft and helicopter types, from immediate post-war machines to current equipment. Register is spot on, and the decals feature strong tonal density, preventing bleedthrough from underlying colours. This set is also available in 1/48 and 1/32 scales.

ON THE SHELF DECAL SHEETS

PEACETIME SUPERMARINES

Pre-war Spitfires By: Iliad Design Item no: 48003 Price: US $12 Web: www.iliad-design.com Iliad has revamped its Pre-War Spitfires set, adding a sixth scheme

1/48

and providing yet more variety for Airfix’s 1/48 Spitfire Mk.I… other manufacturers’ offerings lack the two-blade prop and flat canopy. These are splendid decals, featuring excellent colour replication, and capture the simplicity of pre-war markings faithfully, including the broad range of roundel types and sizes worn during that period. The schemes include airframes with A- and B-type Day Fighter Camouflage, flat/bulged canopies and twobladed Watts and three-bladed de Havilland propellers: • K9795/White 19, 19 Sqn, RAF Duxford, October 1938 • K9843/DL-N, 54 Sqn, RAF Hornchurch, summer 1939 • L1088/PR-E, 609 (West Riding) Sqn AuxAF, RAF Yeadon, 1939 • Prob K9789/WZ-C, 19 Sqn, RAF Duxford, May 1939 • K9927/JH-B, 14 Sqn, RAF Hornchurch, May 1938 • EB-M, Sgt EA ‘Shippers’ Shipman, 41 Sqn, RAF Catterick, 1939

INVASION ANNIVERSARY

MAGYAR GUSTAVS

Bf 109G-6 in Hungarian Service Vol.II By: SBS Model Item no: D48021 Price: €10 Web: www.sbsmodel.com SBS Model serves yet another feast of Hungarian aircraft, covering four late-war Bf 109G-6s with this two-sheet package. Both hi- and low-vis national markings are supplied, along with spare spiralschnauze for the spinner; just one scheme is adorned with this marking, the remainder bear truncated versions. At least two

Starfighter Decals’ busy sheet commemorates 75 years since the November 1942 Allied invasion of North Africa, with 11 schemes covering five different US Navy aircraft types. While the presence of F4F-4 Wildcats, SBD-3 Dauntless and TBF-1 Avengers is to be expected, examples of the lesser-known SOC-3 Seagull and L-4A Piper Cub are also supplied. Equally pleasing is the inclusion of airframes from the smaller escort carriers USS Santee and USS

of these machines were flown by noted Hungarian aces, and this nation had a flair for bright markings on its Gustavs. While the register is excellent, with sharp colour delineation, the opacity of the white elements appeared insufficient, as the backing paper hue could been seen through them. • Black V3+74, Capt József Kovács, 102 ‘Ricsi’ Fighter Sqn, Mokre, Poland, April 1944 • Black V.8+53, Maj Kálmán Nánási, 101/5 ‘Puma’ Fighter Sqn, Zalaszentgrót, August 1944 • Black 1, Capt László Pottyondy, 102/2 ‘Risci’ Fighter Sqn, Munkács, October 1944 • Red 2, 101/1 ‘Risci’ Fighter Sqn, Zamosc-Mokre, Poland, August 1944

1/72

BOMBERS AND SPIES Handley Page Victor B.Mk.2 / SR.Mk.2 Collection By: Xtradecal Item no: X72271 Price: £7.99 Web: www.hannants.co.uk

Operation Torch November 1942 By: Starfighter Decals Item no: 72-153 Price: US $12 Web: www.starfighter-decals.com

1/48

Suwannee, and even one of the supporting heavy cruisers. Notes are given to correct Academy’s TBF-1 (and other manufacturer’s offerings) to the type’s proper configuration. Among the liveries are: • SBD-3, 06620/41-S-17, VS-42, USS Ranger • L-4A, 42-36389, 8th Observation Sqn, USS Ranger • F4F-4, 11703/17, Lt(jg) Charles August, VF-41, USS Ranger • F4F-4, 29GF-10, Ens Bruce Jacques, VGF-29, USS Santee • TBF-1, 14, VGS-27, USS Suwannee • SOC-3, 18, VCS-7, USS Augusta (CA-31)

This is Xtradecal’s second Victor sheet (for X72265, see News, May 2017), and covers seven B.Mk.2 and SR.Mk.2 airframes based at RAF stations Wyton and Wittering. While elements of airframe stencils are supplied (ejection seat warnings, emergency access cut lines and fire extinguisher locations) the remainder must come from Airfix’s kit. Note the SR.Mk.2 reconnaissance variant will need scratch-built modifications to the bomb bay (the doors were removed and three camera packs installed). Register and opacity are excellent, and these are the featured machines: • SR.Mk.2, XL161, 543 Sqn, Wyton, 1960s • B.Mk.2, XL158, 139 Sqn, Wittering, March 1964

1/72 • SR.Mk.2, XH674, 543 Sqn, Wyton, 1970s • B.Mk.2R, XH675, Wittering Wing, late 1960s • B.Mk.2, XM715, 100 Sqn, Wittering, March 1964 • SR.Mk.2, XM717, 543 Sqn, Wyton, 1986 • B.Mk.2, XM714, 100 Sqn, Wittering, March 20, 1963

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com 109

ON THE SHELF ACCESSORIES

TYPE 21 UPGRADE

1/600

HMS Amazon By: Atlantic Models Item no: ATEM 60009 Price: £9.50 Web: www.atlanticmodels.net With its 1/600 photo-etched (PE) brass HMS Amazon detail set, Atlantic Models has addressed all Airfix’s classic small modern warship kits (including HMS Leander and Devonshire). As with previous offerings, the PE augments and/or replaces the original components, while adding extra features (engine air intake housings, 20mm Oerlikons, Corvus chaff launchers and auxiliary conning position) and supplying all necessary railings, ladders and radars. Note this will also be applicable to Dragon’s 1/700 Type 21…as it’s actually based on Airfix’s 1/600 kit!

UNCLE SAM GEAR

1/35

FRANK OFFICE

1/72

XB-70 Valkyrie By: Brengun Item no: BRL72126 Price: €21.60 Web: www.brengun.cz

Ki-84 (Ko) Hayate cockpit set By: CMK Item no: 7374 Price: €7.80 Web: www.cmkkits.com While Hasegawa kits are known for their sublime surface detail, the cockpits in some of the firm’s 1/72 kits can sometimes be a little sparse. A sure-fire remedy lies in CMK’s resin cockpit set, which comprises 12 parts. These include a wellrendered floor and fuselage sidewalls, rear bulkhead, seat, rudder pedals, a gun sight and other small accoutrements. The casting and detail are excellent.

SCHWALBE REFINEMENT

110

Me 262A-1a By: Eduard Item no: 73600 Price: €18.95 Web: www.eduard.com With Airfix’s wonderful Me 262 finally on sale, why not make it a real winter project with Eduard’s new PE details. Besides full cockpit detail (pre-coloured instrument panel and side consoles, rudder pedals, sidewall parts, seat straps, head armour, etc), there’s also much for the general airframe. The latter benefits from undercarriage bay walls and doors, hydraulic lines and oleo scissors for the gear legs, aileron control horns, an underwing antenna and more.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com

Modellers used to small photoetched brass sets from Brengun are in for a surprise with its XB-70 offering, which has four frets and is designed for the AMT/Italeri kits. The Valkyrie’s exhausts, intakes and fuselage all receive improvements, but the focus is on the type’s undercarriage. While just minor surgery is required, the landing gear receives a comprehensive upgrade, with replacement doors and scissor links, and new wheel hubs, rims and leg detail.

1/72

WWI US Infantry Weapon and Equipment By: ICM Item no: 35688 Price: £7.99 Web: www.icm.com.ua This is a splendid package, comprising two duplicate runners of well-moulded styrene weapons, helmets, packs and various tools, sufficient to equip a standard World War One US Army Rifle or Automatic Rifle Section. A key feature of ICM’s equipment sets is the naming of each item, whether it be an M1918 BAR machine gun or periscope case. This variety is another strong point, providing the majority of kit issued to US Army troops during the Great War, making this useful for diorama scenes as well as figures alone.

1/72 BOMBER ENHANCEMENTS

TREADING CAREFULLY

1/35

1/32 CUTTINGEDGE JUNKERS

Ju 88A-6/A-8 Barrage Guillotine Conversion By: ProfiModeller Item no: 32237 Price: €19.12 Web: www.profimodeller.com ProfiModeller’s delightful 1/32 resin and photo-etched (PE) brass conversion offers one of the rarer '88s…the barrage balloon cable cutter. Its distinctive lattice structure for the cutter is replicated flawlessly in resin…exhaust flame dampeners and cutter attachment points are supplied in PE. Even better, the small decal sheet supplies markings for five aircraft, including skeleton-type Balkenkreuze for aircraft with black-painted undersides.

‘ECHO’ IMPROVEMENT

1/32

T-34 Wafer-type Workable Track Links By: MiniArt Item no: 35207 Price: 10.99 Web: www.miniart-models.com Intended to complement its 1/35 SU-85, MiniArt’s waferstyle working tracks are also suitable for T-34/85 and /76 tanks, and comprise 18 small styrene runners. Once the parts have been cleaned up, they are just clipped together, with 86 alternating ‘flat’ and trackguide-fitted links required for a track on each vehicle type. The wafer tread on the outer face is rendered accurately and will benefit from careful painting.

Mirage IIIE By: Eduard Item no: 32907 Price: €18.75 Web: www.eduard.com These days, if one pays the asking price for a new-tool 1/32 jet fighter, scrimping on detail isn’t an option. If Italeri’s Dassault Mirage IIIE is on the build list, then Eduard’s PE parts are a must. They include a beautifully pre-coloured instrument panel and side consoles, cockpit lining panel, ejection seat firing handles and frames, rudder pedals, and items for the rear bulkhead, canopy and windscreen.

ON THE SHELF ACCESSORIES

BIPLANE BITS BONANZA

1/48

PONY PANEL

1/48

ROOM WITH A VIEW

1/35

GLAZING COVERAGE

1/72

Douglas A-20B Havoc/Boston Canopy Airbrush Mask By: MH Models Item no: X72009 Price: €3 Web: www.mhmodels.cz

WWI Aircraft Details By: Brengun Item no: BRL48079 Price: €9.28 Web: www.brengun.cz With the ongoing renaissance of World War One aviation subjects, Brengun’s 1/48 photo-etched metal accessories set is likely to be popular, as it provides generic extras for the interior and exterior. Cockpits benefit from throttles, steering controls, gunsights and harnesses, while the airframe receives stitching, control actuator horns, propeller hubs, pitot tubes and turn-buckles with eyelets for the rigging. There are multiple styles and sizes of most items, and this is likely to find its way into many biplane builds.

Aircraft with extensive and heavily framed glazing can be a chore when it comes to masking. MH Models has made the task easy, though, regarding MPM/ Special Hobby’s A-20B. Its bespoke mask set caters for all the transparencies, with all mask sections being self-adhesive for speed and accuracy. Result!

P-51D Early By: Yahu Item no: YMA4819 Price: £3.40 Web: www.yahumodels. siemianowice.com The ready-to-use instrument panels from Yahu are a real boon, especially if one’s modelling time is at a premium. This nifty and convincing unit, designed to fit Hasegawa’s P-51D kits is superb, with realistic depth and sharp printing. With a little fettling, it may also work in Airfix’s new 1/48 Mustang (see September issue for a full build).

GROOVY GROUSERS

1/72

1/24

WHEELY GOOD EXTRAS

Workshop Windows - Square By: Plus Model Item no: 498 Price: €12.18 Web: www.plusmodel.cz Plus Model again comes to the aid of diorama builders, this time with its ingenious workshop windows set. It comprises two sheets of lasercut cardboard which, when folded, sandwich the supplied acetate sheet between lattice frames, also incorporating an outer-facing rebate. Quick and easy to assemble, it makes a huge difference to any workshop scene. This product is also available as an arched window (#502).

CORKING ‘CANS’

1/48

FLYING BOAT TREATS

1/48

Walrus Mk.I interior By: Eduard Item no: 49848 Price: €27.75 Web: www.eduard.com

European Tractors Tyres and Rims By: Italeri Item no: 3909 Price: £19.99 Web: www.hobbyco.net Designed for Italeri’s extensive truck range, this styrene and vinyl set supplies seven 315/70 and two 385/55 units on two metallic-toned runners. These are sufficient for two sets of front wheels, plus a spare and a pair of twin rear units are well moulded, with no trace of flash. Two styles of hub covers are included, offering a choice of single or double rows of attachment bolts. Decals for Goodyear, Bridgestone, Continental and Michelin brands are provided on the decal sheet, along with the correct tyre widths to fit the wheel rims.

Duckbills for M4 and M10 tracks By: Hauler Item no: HLH72060 Price: €6.23 Web: www.hauler.cz Bitter fighting in freezing conditions, in actions such as The Battle of the Bulge, highlighted serious traction problems for Allied armour. To remedy the issue, M4 Shermans and M10 tank destroyers were fitted with grousers, also known as duckbills; these were plates fixed to every track connector, to improve tractive force on snow, etc. Hauler’s photo-etched metal set offers 252 individual grousers, each requiring three folds. Laborious, yes…but the only way to produce an authentic small-scale Sherman or M10 used over winter in northwest Europe.

F-4J exhaust nozzles By: Eduard Item no: 648314 Price: €25.95 Web: www.eduard.com Despite Zoukei-Mura’s new F-4J Phantom arguably being the best on the market, it’s seldom that styrene can match detail reproduced in resin and/ or photo-etched (PE) metal. Eduard has recognised the fact, and as such offers this bespoke set of exhausts. The afterburner mounts and inner/outer petal units are cast as separate items, and there are extra PE flame holders, which must be pressed and rotated to achieve the correct shape.

Readers who enjoyed our test-shot build of Airfix’s new Walrus (August issue) will be interested in Eduard’s new photo-etched metal detail set. It’s extensive, due to the very ‘open’ nature of the type – and Airfix’s efforts to provide a decent level of base refinement throughout. There are replacement/ additonal parts for the bow winch and crew station, instrument panel, rudder pedals, internal strengthening plates, window frames and much more. A stunning package.

View more reviews online: www.airfixmodelworld.com 111

MODEL MART CLASSIFIEDS

ACCESSORIES

MODEL SHOP

Freightdog Models

Home of Blue Max and Pegasus Models Online shop for kits, decals ands accessories www.freightdogmodels.co.uk +44 (0) 1342 716004 Fairlight, Sandy Lane, Crawley Down, Crawley, RH10 4HX

BOOKS

CHURCH STREET MODELS Airfix & Revell kits: 1/72 Tanks & Planes, 1/48 Planes, Ships – various Cars- 1/24, 1/25 & 1/32. Paint- enamel & acrylic, weathering powders, washes, glues, Plastruct, balsa wood, scenery, abrasives & tools.

DECALS

10A Church Street, Basingstoke, Hants RG21 7QE, 01256 358060 Mail Order Welcome Mon-Sat 09.30-17.30 Closed Tues Closed 24th-29th Oct

We carry many makes & scales of model kits, plus Vallejo acrylic paints Tel: 01226 208654

www.jancotoys.co.uk

For latest news and reviews visit

MJW MODELS ONLINE MODEL SHOP

• Aircraft kits, accessories and paints • Quick Despatch • Low Prices Email: [email protected] www.mjwmodels.co.uk

www.airfixmodelworld.com KITS AND ACCESSORIES

KITS

MODEL SHOP

R&R Hobbies

y

y

NAMEPLATES AND ETCHING

SS NORMANDIE

Large selection of

MODEL KITS, PAINTS, TOOLS & SCENICS

1/350 Kit

3, Shoppers Walk, Swansea SA1 3AY open 10 - 4 Mon - Sat also in Porthcawl

tel 01792 468749 www.randrhobbies.co.uk

ONLINE MODEL SHOP

www.oldmodelkits.com

MODEL SHOP - THE MODELLERS MODEL SHOP -

Contact us on: 3-5 Brockwell Rd, Birmingham B44 9PF 0121 360 4521 Email: [email protected] www.mikes-models.co.uk

NovemberCLASSIFIED.indd 96

Over 11,000 products in stock covering all aspects of model making. Great after sales support. From ready to go kits, to materials for your hobby or anything in between.

14/09/2017 17:02

MODEL MART CLASSIFIEDS

MODEL SHOP

Trains4U.com

27 St. David’s Square, Fengate, Peterborough, PE1 5QA

Open Tues-Fri 9:30-5:00,Sat 9:00-5:00,Sunday 10:30–3:30, closed Monday

Massive Range of Plastic Kits, Tamiya Radio Controlled Cars, Paints, Glues & more

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE FOR ANY VALUE - CALL OR ASK IN STORE

Tel: 01733 895989 e-mail: [email protected] WANTED Unmade or already built, any quantity, especially large collections, also diecast models & books. Will collect nationwide and pay best cash price.

Please call 01202-976974 or 07901-890461 Thank you

To advertise please contact: Hollie Keeling [email protected]

or Elizabeth Ridge [email protected]

735/17

For a great selection of books, DVDs, magazines and models visit:

IN STOCK NOW

ACCESS MODELS Founded in 1980 by Steve Clark, Access Models is one of the Midland’s leading privately owned model suppliers. Steve has built the business based on reputation, sound knowledge and excellent service.

We stock... Trumpeter Airfix Revell TAMIYA

Metcalfe Hobby Boss Hornby Academy

and many more! Access Models

43 - 45 Castlegate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1BE, United Kingdom 01636 673116 [email protected]

@AccessModelsUK

All too often advertisers accept publisher’s statements on their performance. Our ABC Certificate shows we have been independently audited and gives credibility to support our claim. Justify your marketing spend and get the exposure you’ve been promised. As you can see from our ABC Certificate our circulation is 12,730 for the period January to December 2016. See it, believe, trust it To advertise, call Sarah Jarman on 01780 755131 or email [email protected]

www.keypublishing.com/shop

NovemberCLASSIFIED.indd 97

19/09/2017 12:34

PLASTIC SURGERY ASK THE EXPERTS

Quiz AMW’s team of contributors, regarding your own modelling mysteries... to fit the Airfix kit. Externally, your first task will be to sand away all the raised panel lines and rivets, and then re-scribe. It’s possible to scribe new lines using the old raised lines as a guide, or simply sand everything and scribe afresh, with scale drawings as a guide if you can find any. My preferred scribers are the photo-etched metal versions from RB Productions (www.radubstore.com); these fit into an X-Acto knife handle, and the same firm also makes splendid riveting tools. There are also plenty of aftermarket decals from the likes of Kits World, Warbird Decals, Print Scale and Expert’s Choice. Any project such as this demands patience and time, but make that first step and you’ll be hooked on ‘rejuvenation’ builds!”

AIRFIX B-29

Superfortress improvement

Q

“I recently purchased an old Airfix B-29 Superfortress, and I’m looking to add detail and update the kit. I was wondering what materials are best for doing this and where they can be found. “ Kieron Jones, Buckinghamshire, UK Editor Chris Clifford says: “Kieron, your question brought a smile to my face, as I have fond memories of tackling Airfix’s B-29 when I was 12 years old! It seemed state of the art back then, in 1980, but now of course, it’s just one of many vintage kits ripe for rejuvenation. Many modellers would certainly opt for Academy’s version, with engraved panel lines…but breathing life into the older Airfix product will prove immensely satisfying. First, buy yourself one or two good reference books; I recommend Squadron-Signal’s B-29 Superfortress in action,

and Haynes Boeing B-29 Superfortress Owners’ Workshop Manual. Once armed with these, along with the Detail & Scale book on the type if you can find it, it’s time to start thinking about products. As with any update of this nature, scratch-building is vital; fresh detail can be formed from plastic card and strip/rod (www.modellingtools.co.uk), and Plus Model’s soft lead wire (www. plusmodel.cz). Aftermarket items have been produced for the B-29, too, but most are designed for the Academy kit. A search at www. hannants.co.uk will result in items such as photo-etched brass details from Airwaves, resin wheels from the firm Radial Engines & Wheels, white metal undercarriage from Scale Aircraft Conversions, vac-form transparencies by Squadron and yet more wheels from True Details. There are other structural items, but you’ll have to exercise your judgement as to what might be adapted suitably

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

THE NEXT ISSUE IS ON SALE: NOVEMBER 2, 2017* *UK scheduled on sale date. Please note that overseas deliveries are likely to occur after this date.

114

Airfix Model World

The International Plastic Modellers Society was established in the United Kingdom over 50 years ago with the aim of promoting and supporting the hobby of plastic modelling and has developed into a truly global ‘model club’ with more than 60 international bodies. Come along and see for yourself at

The World’s Greatest Model Show

Incorporating the IPMS (UK) National Competition

Senior Best of Show in 2016 Ferrari 330 P4-2/TB V/Stol ~ Daytona 1967 by 2016 National Senior Champion Stefano Marchetti Image © Chris Ayre

The International Centre Telford Shropshire TF1 4JH More than 400 exhibitors in 2017, including 200 trade stands and over 200 model clubs

Saturday 11th November 2017

Sunday 12th November 2017

Open: 10.00am to 6.00pm

Open: 10.00am to 4.00pm

Admission: Adults £12.00 ~ Concessions £8.00*

Admission: Adults £10.00 ~ Concessions £7.00*

Two day pass £20.00

Advance ticket sales now available from: ipmsuk.org/ipms-scale-modelworld

Children under 16: FREE (up to 2 children per full-paying adult) ~ IPMS Members FREE *Concessions means either Seniors (over state retirement age) or Registered Disabled (accompanying carer gets free admission)

For an IPMS (UK) Information Pack, including a FREE sample magazine, please send 3 First Class stamps to the Membership Secretary (quoting AMW17): Cliff Bassett West Barn Duken Lane Wootton Bridgnorth Shropshire WV15 6EA Email [email protected] or visit ipmsuk.org/membership/ to join online

Ad 2017SMW-AMW17.indd 1 IMS_UK.indd 1

IPMS(UK) Thursday07/09/2017 20:48 19/09/2017 12:24

HobbyLink_FP.indd 1

11/09/2017 09:10