OUR MODELING TEAM BUILDS AND REVIEWS 7 ALL-NEW KITS
BUILD YOUR FIRST HELICOPTER MODEL»
Bill Plunk’s 1/35 scale
Marder II D – p.24
ARMOR
IMPROVING
Conquer
cockpits &
canopiesp.46
Model distressed paint the easy wayp.30
A master modeler builds a one-of-a-kind aircraft p.36
BASIC TECHNIQUES FOR
ADVANCED RESULTS
p.56 p.57 p.59
PLUS
www.FineScale.com
July 2014
FSM
GALLERY
OUR READERS’BEST
MODELS
p.32
HobbyBoss’ 1/72 scale TV-inspired
Coast Guard HH-60J – p.42
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AIRBRUSHING & FINISHING
22 Re-dressing a Bf 109
for the night
Evening attire for a Messerschmitt
AARON SKINNER
COVER STORY
24 Building Bronco’s Marder II D
Build well, paint well, and go get some
individual-link tracks
BILL PLUNK
30 Weathering with hairspray
An easy way to model distressed paint
MARC ROCCA
36 Carving out a conversion
for a Pregnant Guppy
It took scratchbuilding, woodworking,
vacuum-forming, and two kits
JEFF THOMSEN
42 Quick and easy helicopter
TV inspires a Coast Guard HH-60J
DON STAUFFER
46 Big canopy, big detail
A lot of glass lets the front office shine
FRANK CUDEN
July 2014 • Vol. 32 • No. 6
50 Questions & Answers
52 Reader Tips
63 Advertiser Index
64 Hobby Shop Directory
64 Classified Marketplace
In Every Issue
Inside
Get more at www.FineScale.com!
60
In World War II, Germany’s vaunted Panzer Korps was never above
fielding vehicles cobbled from captured equipment and Wehrmacht
hand-me-downs — and neither is Bill Plunk with his Marder II D.
On the Cover
22
24
36
42
46
6 Editor’s Page
8 Scale Talk
12 Spotlight
14 New Products
32 Reader Gallery
FineScale Modeler (ISSN 0277-979X, USPS No. 679-590) is published
monthly (except for June & August) by Kalmbach Publishing Co., 21027
Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187. Periodicals Postage is
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to FineScale Modeler, 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI
53187-1612. Canada Post Publication Mail Agreement #40010760.
WORKBENCH REVIEWS
7 NEW
KITSPage 54
61
58
• Italeri F-104G/S
• Zoukei-Mura Mitsubishi
J2M3 Raiden
• ICM Opel Typ 2.5-32
• Revell Germany
“Star Trek Into Darkness”
USS Enterprise
• Airfix de Havilland
DH.82a Tiger Moth
• Wingnut Wings
Salmson 2-A2
• Revell Germany T-90
• Grex airbrushes
Online Content Code: FSM1407
Enter this code at www.FineScale.com/code
to gain access to web-exclusive content.
6 FineScale Modeler July 2014
By Matthew Usher
Editor’s Page
Contact Us
Your Editorial Staff
[email protected]
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Want to learn more? For the latest news as
well as modeling tips and techniques, visit
our website at www.FineScale.com
Editorial: FineScale Modeler
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Associate Publisher
Mark Savage
msavage
@Kalmbach.com
Editor
Matthew Usher
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Associate Editor
Mark Hembree
mhembree
@FineScale.com
Associate Editor
Tim Kidwell
tkidwell
@FineScale.com
Associate Editor
Aaron Skinner
askinner
@FineScale.com
Editorial Associate
Monica Freitag
mfreitag
@FineScale.com
Finding the time
ONE OF THE KEYS to build-
ing great models isn’t necessarily
mastering the skills and tech-
niques used to build them. I’ve
found that more often than not,
simply finding the time (even an
hour or two) to devote to the
workbench is tricky. Work, house-
hold chores, helping my son with
his homework, and managing our
one-year-old beagle eat up plenty
of time.
Then there’s the computer.
Even though both my wife and I
spend the better part of our work-
days tapping away on a keyboard,
we still spend quite a bit of time in
front of our laptop at home. More
time gone; more time away from
the workbench.
Apparently the dog sensed we
might be working too hard, and
took it upon himself to unplug the
computer’s power supply, then
chew most of its wiring to bits.
Suddenly, we had a rainy weekend
ahead of us without the distrac-
tion of the glowing screen on the
dining-room table. No e-mail, no
Facebook, no video games.
We couldn’t have had a more
relaxing weekend. My wife caught
up on her reading and did some
baking, and my son and I dusted
off my workbench and built a cou-
ple of snap-together kits that have
been waiting on him. We haven’t
built any true glue-and-paint proj-
ects yet, but they’re undoubtedly
right around the corner. I can tell
by the way he works on things
that he’s thinking of his models as
something more than just toys. He
spent a good amount of time find-
ing just the right spots to display
them in his room when we were
done. That doesn’t happen with
his Lego work.
With my bench cleaned off, I
briefly considered pulling out one
of my own projects to work on,
but that had to wait. First I had to
break out my soldering gear to get
the computer up and running
again. The dog is fine, for the
record, and the wires are safely out
of his range.
Until next time, enjoy the issue!
HE’S THINKING OF HIS
MODELS AS SOMETHING
MORE THAN TOYS
July 2014 www.FineScale.com 7
Editor Matthew W. Usher
Associate Editor Mark Hembree
Associate Editor Tim Kidwell
Associate Editor Aaron Skinner
Editorial Associate Monica Freitag
Art Director Tom Ford
Senior Graphic Designer Patti L. Keipe
Photographers Jim Forbes, William Zuback
Production Supervisor Helene Tsigistras
Production Coordinator Cindy Barder
Group Circulation Manager Kristin Johnson
Circulation Coordinator Carly Witkowski
Associate Publisher Mark Savage
CONTACT US
Customer Sales and Service 800-533-6644
Advertising Sales 888-558-1544
Group Sales Manager Rick Albers, Ext. 652
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SELLING FINESCALE MODELER MAGAZINE OR
PRODUCTS IN YOUR STORE
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KALMBACH PUBLISHING CO.
President Charles R. Croft
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Vice President, Editorial, Publisher Kevin P. Keefe
Vice President, Marketing Daniel R. Lance
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©2014, Kalmbach Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Title
is registered as trademark. This publication may not be
reproduced in part or in whole without written permission
from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations
used in reviews. Postmaster: Periodicals postage paid at
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Printed in U.S.A.
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ARA Press
One-Stop Data Shop!
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to “beat the Americans to the moon!”
Please visit our website to
order on-line.
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for shipping options.
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The complete history of the Soviet
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Over 400 photographs and illustrations,
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Over 100 pages of Dimensioned Draw-
ings and hardware analyses.
235 Pages, 80 lb coated stock
Smythe-sewn Hardcover binding
Simon Harrison used multiple kits and aftermarketdetails to build Erich Hartmann’s Bf 109G-6 – p.38
www.FineScale.com
May 2014
OUR EXPERT TEAM BUILDS AND REVIEWS 8 ALL-NEW KITS
KITBASHING
GET STARTED
Superdetail a World War II U-boatp.24Build a great-looking multilevel display basep.36SHOWCASE: Roy Chow’s amazing Studebaker truckp.28
15fantasticreadermodels
p.30
Airfix Gloster
Javelin–p.56
Takom
Renault
FT-17
–p.54
Zvezda Sukhoi
Su-2–p.61
HOW TO AIRBRUSH SINGLE-COLOR CAMOUFLAGE p.20»
COMBINE KITS TO BUILDTHE MODEL YOU WANT
8 FineScale Modeler July 2014
The best beginner airbrush
I often see people write letters to FSM ask-
ing, “What is the best airbrush for a begin-
ner?”Your answers always seem to be the
same: You state the differences but stop
short of an actual recommendation. So, I’m
throwing in my two cents based on my
experiences.
I would recommend a beginner get a
double-action airbrush with a .50mm tip.
Whether it is a gravity or siphon feed
makes no real difference beyond preference.
Many double-action airbrushes have a set
screw that lets you adjust the needle posi-
tion. In essence, this lets your airbrush work
just like a single action, with one big differ-
ence: You have the ability to quickly pull
the needle all the way back and shoot a
quick blast of air (aiming away from your
work) to clear clogs.This is especially help-
ful to beginners who may not get their
paint mix correct (especially with acrylics).
The .50 tip is better than the .35mm
(the other most common size) because it is
larger and less prone to clogging while still
allowing you to paint a thin line.
One final note: You should purchase a
double-action airbrush from the beginning
because, once you get good, you’ll want a
double-action anyway.Then, you’ll already
have one!
- Dennis Rossko
Carrollton,Texas
Your voice in FSM
Scale Talk
Now at FineScale.com
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can search our extensive database of
reader-supplied tips.
FineScale.com/Videos
Video issue previews
FSM Editor Matthew Usher highlights
what’s inside the current and past
issues.
How-to
Want to use super glue as a filler,
apply a wash, or rescribe panel lines?
Trying to get your airbrush to work the
way you want it to? FSM’s editors show
you how.
New Product Rundown
Associate Editors Tim Kidwell and
Aaron Skinner pick the hottst scale-
model hobby releases, open up the
boxes, and show you why they rock.
FineScale.com/OnlineExtras
Photographing Hartmann’s Bf 109
For May’s cover story, Simon
Harrison kitbashed Erich Hartmann’s
Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/U2. In this
online extra,
Simon shows
you how he
captured the
wonderfully
realistic photos
of his ace
model while
braving the
winter cold.
SUBSCRIBE AT FINESCALE.COM AND GET IMMEDIATE ACCESS
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AIRLINERS
Hobby
ModelingAirliners
Skinner
S C A L E M O D E L E R ’ S H O W -T O G U I D E
AARON SKINNER
Modeling
10 FineScale Modeler July 2014
Scale Talk
Praise for Modeling Airliners
I enjoyed Aaron Skinner’s latest book,
Modeling Airliners. I am usually a military
aircraft modeler, so building an airliner, a
Revell 1/144 scale Boeing 747-8, was a lot
of fun. Please, Aaron,
keep the how-to books
coming! You now have
a new fan.
By the way I love
FineScale Modeler
magazine. I look
forward to the new
issue every month.
Keep up the great
work.
- Dave Rouse
Bedford,Texas
Surprising airbrush purchase
I see a number of inquiries about buying
your first airbrush. I recently bought a com-
pressor and airbrush set from Amazon.com.
It was called “Multi-purpose Three
Airbrush Set — Low-Noise Compressor
Kit.” I’ve used airbrushes for years, and I
wanted a small portable unit. I crossed my
fingers hoping the compressor would do
the job.The whole package cost $100, so
my expectations weren’t high. I expected
the airbrushes to be junk. I was wrong.
The compressor is compact and quiet,
with an adjustable pressure gauge.The
three airbrushes — a siphon-feed double-
action, a gravity-feed double-action, and a
single-action — are of excellent quality.
Indeed, I think they may be Iwatas.They
are certainly of similar build.
I have used this unit and the airbrushes
for more than a year. My older airbrushes
now collect dust. Amazon sells many pack-
ages similar to this (mine was advertised as
a fingernail painting set), some for as low as
$50. If you can find a better airbrushing set
for less money, I want to hear about it.
- Chet Mohn
New Cumberland, Pa.
Let us know what you think!
Comments, suggestions, corrections, and
additional views on FSM articles are
welcome. E-mail your thoughts to
[email protected], or visit
FineScale.com and click on “Contribute
to FSM.” You can also mail typed or
handwritten letters to the address on
Page 6. Clearly mark “To the Editor” on
the envelope. Please limit your comments
to no more than 300 words and include
your name and location.
July 2014 www.FineScale.com 11
Spotlight
Compiled by Aaron Skinner
12 FineScale Modeler July 2014
B
ased on the results of the
last two FSM most-
wanted-kit surveys, mod-
elers want 1/48 scale airfield
service vehicles to go with
their World War II fighters
and bombers.Tamiya has
answered the call with a fuel
tanker (kit No. 32579) based
on its terrific 1/48 scale
2½-ton truck released in 2007.
This kit shares the cargo
truck’ s chassis and drivetrain
with well-molded wheels and
tires, leaf springs, and one-
piece frame. It’s a curbside kit,
so only the engine’s sides and
bottom are provided.
But from the frame up, the
kit is all new: hardtop cab
with driver controls, a dash-
board with decal instruments,
and separate doors.
The tank is molded in
upper and lower halves with
separate front and rear panels.
A pump and hose reel detail
the equipment bay at the front
end of the tank. Wire and
vinyl tubing represent the
hose itself, which can be
spooled out to meet a fueler
figure holding the nozzle.Two
other figures are included: a
standing truck crew figure as
well as the driver from the
cargo truck.
Decals provide markings
for two U.S. Army Air Forces
fuel trucks in France in later
World War II.
This truck would be at
home displayed with innu-
merable WWII aircraft, and I
expect to see a lot of them
showing up at contests and in
the pages of FSM.
Distributed in the U.S. by
Tamiya America, 800-826-
4922, www.tamiyausa.com,
the fuel truck costs $37.
Tamiya tanker truck fills a void
New 1/48 scale kit provides plenty of fuel for the imagination
BuildingDioramas
Dioramas
Building
CHRIS MROSKO
July 2014 www.FineScale.com 13
BOOKSHELF
W
hen Kalmbach published
Shep Paine’s definitive
book How to Build
Dioramas, its widespread success
highlighted the continuing popularity
of scale modeling. In addition to
inspiring modelers, it convinced
Kalmbach to launch FineScale
Modeler magazine.
Now, more
than 30 years
later, comes a
modern-day
successor:
Building
Dioramas, by
world-class
modeler and
highly
regarded
FSM author
Chris
Mrosko. As a
professional artist and designer,
Chris has worked with manufacturers
such as Kirin Models, VLS, Custom
Dioramics, Miniatures PMC,
Warriors, and New World
Miniatures.
In 120 colorful pages, Chris
explains how to build dioramas that
showcase models and create dramatic
scenes. You’ll learn about constructing
and painting bases, groundwork,
water, streets and sidewalks, buildings,
and other structures as Chris shows
the fundamentals of composition,
construction and design, airbrushing
and finishing, shading and weather-
ing, how to cast resin parts, and much
more — including examples by
renowned modelers such as Dan
Capuano, David Manter, Robert
Doepp, Carlos Startin, Masaya Saito,
and Chris’longtime modeling associ-
ate and special-effects maestro John
Rosengrant, whose work can be seen
in major motion pictures such as the
“Terminator” series, “Jurrasic Park,”
“Aliens,”“Predator,”“Avatar,”“John
Carter of Mars,” and “Iron Man.”
Building Dioramas is available in
bookstores, hobby shops, and from
Kalmbach (800-533-6644; 262-796-
8776 international).The softcover
book costs $21.99.
Learn how to do
dioramas with a master
Take off with SpaceShipTwo from Revell
I
t’s always thrilling to see a
new real-space kit show
up, but Revell Germany’s
1/144 scale SpaceShipTwo
is one of the more unusual.
Currently undergoing test-
ing, the vehicle is Virgin
Galactic’s endeavor to take
tourists to the edge of space.
Revell’s 1/144 scale kit
(No. 04842) includes the
ship as well as White
Knight Two, which carried
the rocket-powered craft to
50,000 feet before releasing
it for its climb to 361,000
feet. More than 500 passen-
gers have already signed up
for the trip.
Molded in white plastic,
the parts feature restrained
surface detail consistent
with the full-size construc-
tion. Clear windows and
windshields are provided,
but no interior detail. Both
vehicles have landing gear.
The model can be built
joined together in flight on
the provided stand, as well
as together or separate on
the ground.The fidelity of
small parts such as landing
gear, trailing edges, and the
engines is outstanding.
Beautifully printed
decals provide markings for
both vehicles, including the
dramatic Virgin artwork.
Distributed in the U.S.
by Revell, 847-758-3200,
www.revell.com, the kit
costs $28.95.
Big-scale Bantam from Asuka
T
he original jeep was the Bantam
Reconnaisance Car, designed and built
by American Bantam in 1940. More
than 2,500 were made, many going to the
Allies in the Lend-Lease program.
Hasegawa and Italeri have produced kits
of the Willys jeep in 1/24 scale. Now Asuka
Models (formerly Tasca) has produced a
Bantam (kit No. 24-005) in this larger scale
associated with civilian car models rather
than 1/35 scale military vehicles.
The kit features a complete engine and
transfer case.The one-piece frame is aug-
mented with additional parts for the cross
members.The front wheels are designed to
be mova...
