Military Illustrated Modeler - Issue 078 (2017-10)

modeller FROG GETS TOWED

AFV edition

Trumpeter’s impressive 1:35 Soviet 9P113 Frog 7, broken down and abandoned

£6.50 - October ’17 (issue 078)

Eagle Quest model show • VK16.02 Leopard • KV-1 diorama • plus references and more...

military illustrated

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Contents

modeller deller military y ill illustrated ustratted ted

ISSUE No.078 October 2017

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NEWS

Military model product news

SUBSCRIBE AND RECEIVE A FREE TOOL SET! A very special MiM subscription offer!

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MODEL CITIZEN

ICM’s delightful 1:35 Model T Light Car Patrol

PATTON MAKER

The ‘middle’ Patton tank is reborn in 1:35, thanks to Takom

10 ARMOUR MODELLING IN THE LONE STAR STATE

MiM visits Squadron’s Eagle Quest model show Dallas, Texas

16 INSPIRATION FROM THE TOP Amusing Hobby Panther II in 1:35

22 KAMAZ YOU ARE

Takom’s 1:35 Kamaz Typhoon K Russian 6x6 MRAP, previewed

24 ORDNANCE DEPOT

New and recent accessory sets and modelling materials

26 BATTLE OF NORMANDY For You, The War Is Over

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28 FROG GETS TOWED ‘Cover Story’

Trumpeter’s impressive 1:35 Soviet 9P113 Frog 7

36 SMALL CAT DIARY

Chronicling the construction of Amusing Hobby’s delightful 1:35 Panzer VK 16.02 Leopard

44 A BEAST FROM THE EAST!

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The GTU-1 is just one in a series of ARVs produced by the Soviet Union

50 BATTLE OF NORMANDY Chasing The Rabbit

52 TALES OF THE RIVERBANK

A highly original diorama KV-1S/85 heavy tank

58 BATTLE OF NORMANDY Hiding In The Hedgerows

60 MIGHTY M1A2 MUSCLE

Tamiya have created a 1:16 M1A2 Abrams!

62 BOOK REVIEWS

Military model-related book reviews

66 SIGN OFF

A collaborator is captured in Normandy

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News NEWS JUST IN...

ON THE WAY FROM TAMIYA

1:35 BRITISH SELF-PROPELLED ANTI-TANK GUN ARCHER DRAGON

• 1:35 M752 Lance • 1:35 Flakpanzer IV (3cm) Kugelblitz • 1:35 Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) mit 2cm KwK.38 • 1:35 StuG.III Ausf.G concrete armoured • 1:35 DAK Pz.Bef.Wg.III • 1:72 Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F2(G) • 1:72 StuG.III Ausf.C/D • 1:72 King Tiger Henschel Turret • 1:72 StuG.III Ausf.E • 1:72 Tiger I ausf.E • 1:72 Sd.Kfz.184 Elefant • 1:72 T-34-85 Mod.1944 • 1:72 10.5cm StuH.42 Ausf.E/F

Tamiya's next new 1:35 armour kit takes the form of the British WW2 17pdr antitank vehicle, later known as the Archer. It will use parts from the new Valentine kit, with an all-new 17pdr gun www.hobbyco.net

ON THE WAY FROM TAMIYA ON THE WAY FROM TAMIYA 1:35 PANHARD AMD 35

BRONCO

• 1:35 Hungarian Medium Tank 41.M Turan II

HAULER

• 1:72 FuSE 62D Würzburg radar • 1:72 Skoda RSO wheeled tractor • 1:35 M-9 Ace (Takom kit)

ICM’s mouldings will be found in this Tamiya re-boxing, along with A host of Tamiya accessories that include a commander torso figure, boxes, oil drums and more. Comes with three marking options; two for French unit vehicles and one a captured vehicle in German service www.hobbyco.net

1:48 HANOMAG SS100

The little Hanomag tug was used on airfields to tow Luftwaffe aircraft and to move the V2 missile to launch sites. Maybe Tamiya will also release the Meillerwagen and V2 in 1:48 at a later date? www.hobbyco.net

ON THE WAY FROM DRAGON 1:35 SYRIAN JAGDPANZER IV L/48 SIX-DAY WAR

Dragon's excellent Jagdpanzer IV L/48 kit has re-appeared in the guise of a Syrian machine from the Six-Day War of June 5th-10th, 1967 www.hobbyco.net

ON THE WAY FROM ZEVZDA 1:35 BMP-2D APC

Zvezda are to re-issue their excellent kit of the Soviet BMP-2D with markings for Marines Regiment Afghanistan 1985, Shindand's Airborne Regiment, Afghanistan 1987 and Motorized Rifle Regiment, Afghanistan 1987. Also on the way is the vast Russian MSTA 2S19M2 152mm SPG. www.hobbyco.net

ON THE WAY FROM TAKOM 1:35 PANTHER TANK SERIES THIS MONTH IN TAMIYA MODEL MAGAZINE…

TAMIYA 1:35 MORRIS QUAD

This month’s edition of Tamiya Model Magazine (October, No.264) features Mirror Models’ 1:35 Morris Quad. Order your copy now at; www.tamiyamodelmagazine.com

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Takom have been promising 'something new from the Battle of Kursk period' for a while and now we can reveal that it will be at least one all-new Panther, most likely a D. Like the company's Tiger IIs, it will have a full interior - we can't wait! www.pocketbond.co.uk

Military Illustrated Modeller - October 2017

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We have teamed up with our friends at Model Craft so we can offer you a special gift for subscribing with us for 24 issues. There are one of two gift options to choose from and these Model Craft tool sets are perfect for modellers at all skill levels, whether you have just started modelling or you just need to replenish the stocks! This offer is available to both NEW and EXISTING subscribers. If you are an existing subscriber, we will simply extend your current subscription for a further 24 issues, so do not wait until your subscription runs out, RENEW TODAY while stocks last! MODEL CRAFT OPTION 1 15 Piece Craft & Model Tool Set A 15-piece tool set that has everything you need for craft, model making, repairing and small general tasks. The A5 size self-healing mat is a perfect addition as it ensures no cracking or warping when using the blades, preventing any cutting errors and preserves the life of blades! Includes: • 1 x Side cutter • 1 x Snipe nose Plier • 1 x Modellers knife with no.11 Blade • 5 x no. 11 spare blades • 1x Flat hobby file • 1x Flat end tweezers • 1x Bent nose tweezer • 2 x Grip clamps: 2 x 2" (50mm) • 1x Grip clamps: 1 x 3" (75mm) • 1 x A5 size self-healing cutting mat

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MODEL CRAFT OPTION 2 9 Piece Plastic Modelling Tool Set & 16 Piece Precision Craft Knife Set The 9 Piece Plastic Modelling Tool Set is ideal for plastic modelling and other craft & hobby applications, and includes: • Plastic Sprue Cutter - for cutting & snipping sprues and parts on plastic kits, eg. planes, cars, boats, military models and figures, etc. • Mini Flat File - for filing and smoothing off burrs or excess material. • Craft Knife - for cutting out shapes, decals and general craft/hobby tasks. • Self Healing Cutting Mat - protects work surface and extends blade life. The excellent Precision Craft Knife Set comes complete with a choice of 3 knife handles & 13 various blades, ideal for hobby, craft and professional tasks. The knives can perform fine angle cuts & precise trimming, cutting, carving, sawing, gouging & shaping. All packed in a handy storage case. Includes: Classic craft knife #1, Medium duty hobby knife #2 & Plastic handled craft knife #5 Blades to fit the #1 handle • 1x General purpose curved blade #10 • 2x Classic Fine point blades #11 • 1x Scoring blade #16 • 1 x Chiselling blade #17

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07/09/2017 12:10

KIT PREVIEW ICM 1:35 MODEL T 1917 LCP WWI AUSTRALIAN ARMY CAR • KIT NO.35663

MODEL CITIZEN It might not be at the top of many modellers’ ‘must build’ lists, but the sheer originality of ICM’s Model T LCP makes it very appealing

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his delicious little kit depicts a British-built Model T (the F-word isn’t mentioned, but the company logo does appear on the radiator header) as it appeared in Australian service during the Great War, within the Middle Eastern theatre of operations (Egypt and Palestine). It features an extended rear deck, a nicely put together engine (just needing ignition cables) and a well designed cabin – with excellent, individual foot-pedals – that reflects the simplicity of the original. The detail is very fine throughout, including the Lewis gun that dominates the scuttle of this tiny vehicle. The kit comes on two sprues of grey polystyrene, plus another in clear and a small

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sheet of decals for the WD numbers and radiator grille for one of the versions. In our sample, the sprues were quite distorted in places and the knockon effect was some slight sideways warpage in the chassis/body moulding. This was easy enough to rectify once the parts had been snipped out, but it should not really have snuck past the QC department. That slight issue aside, this is a very original production with great detail and lots of diorama potential. • AVAILABILITY ICM models are widely available from good model shops and online. www.hannants.co.uk

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KIT PREVIEW: TAKOM M47 E/M • KIT NO.2072

PATTON MAKER The 'middle' Patton tank is reborn in 1:35, thanks to Takom

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or many years there was a family of Patton tanks in the US military, starting with the M46 (the M26 Pershing's replacement) followed by the M47 and the M48 and its descendent the M60, although the latter was never officially named after the (in)famous general. Takom have chosen the middle tank of the family tree as their latest tank subject and it was a good choice because the vehicle founds its way into various armies of the world and thus offers the modeller with an decent range of colour schemes and markings to choose from. Having said that, the review sample we received, the M47 E/M, offers just two basic schemes; overall green for the Iraqi Army and overall sand for the Spanish Army; kit No.2070, the M47/G comes with a wider range of colour schemes including Pakistan, South Korean and Jordanian armies. The kit parts are all-new and use nothing from the old Italeri model. The suspension is fully depicted with individual swing-arms and dampers and to ensure all parts line up properly once cemented in place, moulded plastic jigs are provided for each side. The jigs have a second use as assembly formers for the link-and-length tracks, allowing them to be built up off the model

(but on the sprockets and idlers) for painting, then transferred to the running gear. This type of track is difficult to depict in model form because the end and central connectors (the latter with the guide-horn) pivot on the links and they look 'stiff' if they are all set in a straight position. Takom have moulded the connectors at an appropriate angle on the single links that wrap around the sprockets and idlers and so long as the correct parts are used in the right locations, the result should look very convincing and natural. The turret of this kit is a masterpiece, with a casting texture in all the right places, although there are mould-part seams that need removal, followed by gentle re-texturing where they have been scraped off. The commander's cupola comes with a clear insert for its vision blocks and the gun barrel is offered with no less than four muzzle brakes and covered or 'naked' mantlets. From this in-box inspection it looks like an excellent model that captures the salient features of this Cold War machine: the proof will be in the building of course. • AVAILABILITY Takom models are widely available from good model shops and online. www.pocketbond.co.uk

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SHOW REPORT SQUADRON EAGLE QUEST XXVI 2017

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MiM's Editor flies out to Squadron's headquarters near Dallas, Texas to report from the Eagle Quest model show

ARMOUR MODELLING

IN THE LONE STAR STATE

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ack in June this year, over the weekend of 15th 17th, I travelled from London to Squadron's hometown of Carrollton in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to cover the company's highly esteemed 'Eagle Quest' event that encompasses a competition, presentations, very generous raffles and more. After an evening's rest following my ten-hour flight, it was an early start at Squadron's incredible model warehouse to avail myself of their extremely generous 40% discount! As well as the competition entries – some photos of which you can see in this report – many seminars and demonstrations took place, covering scale modelling-related topics such as scratchbuilding, the use of Vallejo paints, weathering effects, working with oil paints plus my own. I must admit that I'm not a particularly confident public speaker but

armed with an airbrush, compressor, paints, a camera, lights, microphone and projection screen, I felt reasonably comfortable. My gratitude must go to TMMI collaborator Stan Spooner who helped me prepare for the talk. Fitting in perfectly with this year's theme of '10,000 Days of Thunder, Vietnam: a Tribute to Valor', the 2017 keynote speaker was Mr Dan King, a retired Chief Warrant Officer and helicopter pilot with the US Army who flew Hueys in the late 1960s and early '70s during the Vietnam War. His combat tours were with the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, Vietnam 1969/70 and a twelve month tour working with the South Vietnamese Air Force as Test Pilot Trainer in 1973/74 when the US pulled out all its troops. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in June 1970, thirty-three Air Medal

Awards (one for every twenty-five combat missions), Bronze Star, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (individual and unit) and Vietnamese Civic Action Medal (individual and unit). Dan's speech was fascinating and his anecdotes from the war will stay with me for a long time. Eagle Quest is the largest peer-judged model show in the USA and draws in some high quality model work from local enthusiasts plus modellers from across the country too. Over the next few pages you can see some photos from the event that hopefully convey the variety and quality of the models entered. My thanks go to Squadron's CEO Gwynne Gorr for inviting me to attend the event and Richard Poulsen for being my chauffeur and landlord during the show, I am very grateful for your support, help and generosity. •

AFV Edition

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SHOW REPORT SQUADRON EAGLE QUEST XXVI 2017

A remarkable variety of armour subjects were seen on the display and competition tables

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Overall, the quality of modelling on show was very high

AFV Edition

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SHOW REPORT SQUADRON EAGLE QUEST XXVI 2017

A fun time was had by all, and MiM would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone at Squadron for such a great show 14

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FULL-BUILD - MILITARY VEHICLE AMUSING HOBBY 1:35 PANTHER II • KIT NO.35A012

INSPIRATION FROM THE TOP ByeongSoo Kim takes inspiration for his Amusing Hobby Panther II from well-known modeller, Adam Wilder

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very modeller has someone they want to emulate and so do I. The person whose models I wanted to pay homage to is a very unique modeller with a special ability to express beauty in his work. His name is Adam Wilder. I have followed his work for some years and have learned a lot from him; his models are very special to me. And so I made a unique attempt to recreating his style on one of my builds, which I find simple but fascinating and beautiful. I had a lot of anxiety when I started assembly, which was very monotonous. So I started making various attempts to add interest, one of which was by placing additional armour on it. I tried this for the first time on this project and it certainly increased the visual appeal of the tank. When I made the armour, I soldered it together which kept it strong and able to withstand the subsequent weathering stages. When I started painting, I was worried. I had to paint it methodically to express it in a three-dimensional fashion. So I over-emphasised the contrast of colours using the 'colour modulation' technique, for which Adam is well known. It was effective and eliminated the monotony of colour and later I used oil paints to further accentuate the effect. If you are familiar with the attributes of oil paints, you can use them efficiently. I am always concerned about making my models more realistic! I made the armour look rusty with the use of a variety of colours, making sure they were in harmony. • AFV Edition

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FULL-BUILD - MILITARY VEHICLE AMUSING HOBBY 1:35 PANTHER II • KIT NO.35A012

Defensive ‘bedspring’ stand-off armour was added to the model, using soldered etched-brass parts

The engine deck’s top armour can be observed here

All metal detail additions were soldered for robustness

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Colour-Modulation was the initial Wilder technique used on the Panther

As this model was an homage to Adam Wilder, it made sense to use his own line of weathering products on it!

The ‘Wilder’ line of materials are extremely useful and are focused on achieving a high level of realism

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FULL-BUILD - MILITARY VEHICLE AMUSING HOBBY 1:35 PANTHER II • KIT NO.35A012

The Wilder style is clearly in evidence, but with some nice touches of the author’s techniques too

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KIT PREVIEW TAKOM KAMAZ TYPHOON K RUSSIAN MRAP • KIT NO.2072

KAMAZ Takom's new 1:35 Kamaz Typhoon K Russian 6x6 MRAP truck captures the gargantuan profile of the real thing

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amaz Typhoon (Russian 'Камаз-63968 Тайфун') is a family of Russian, multifunctional, modular, armoured, mine resistant MRAP vehicles. The Typhoon family is part of Russia's Typhoon program. As of 29th May 2017 a number of Typhoon-K in the Russian Armed Forces fleet was about 260 units of Typhoon-K. The development of the 'Typhoon' vehicle family began in 2010, when the Minister of Russian Federation Armed Forces approved the 'Development of Russian Federation Armed Forces military vehicles for the period until 2020' program and started the Typhoon MRAP programme. In 2012 the first contract between Russian Ministry of Armed Forces and Kamaz to buy Typhoons was signed. Twelve Typhoons took part in Russian Victory Day military parade in 2014. Source; Wikipedia

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Takom's kit of this mighty beast is one of their newest releases in 1:35 scale. It comes in a suitably big kit box in which you'll find four large sprues of grey plastic and one in clear, a separate upper bodyshell, a bag of six, flexible vinyl tyres, a small photo-etched brass fret providing ventilation/ air-conditioning grilles and a modest decal sheet carrying two Russian stars and the military display 'flash'. The model's suspension/drivetrain is comprehensively depicted with workable steering, using the old 'melt with a heated screwdriver-tip' method of assembling the steering rods. This isn't the most reliable way to link the moving parts, so modellers might wish to make some modifications should they wish to use this feature. Otherwise, just cement up the arms for fixed-position steering. The Typhoon's interior receives quite a thorough treatment too, with two rows of seven seats included, plus a forward bulkhead. A little extra detailing will be needed in here, but it's a very good starting point. The rear crew ramp is a very

well detailed item and can be modelled open or closed, with suitably extended and retracted pistons included for either option. The driver's cabin comes with three seats and individual mounts, steering wheel and column and dashboard; references of this area are scarce, but there's enough as standard to satisfy the eye. Colour options for the Kamaz are limited to overall dark green, so it will need some imaginative weathering to bring it to life, but bearing in mind it's a relatively new machine, the dirt is best kept to dust and mud splashes; no paint fading yet! Overall, a large and impressive model of an extremely intimidating modern subject that dwarfs WW2 tanks in size. Excellent detail throughout and flawlessly moulded. •

Availability; Takom models are widely available from good model shops and online. www.pocketbond.co.uk

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AZ YOU ARE

Photos of real vehicles by Vitaly V. Kuzmin; www.vitalykuzmin.net/Military/ARMY-2016-Demonstration/, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52213749 AFV Edition

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ORDNANCE DEPOT New and recently issued kits and accessory sets for armour modelling projects

FRIULMODEL, HUNGARY New track sets in from Friulmodel are for the experimental ‘Entwticklungsfahrzeug’ E-25 (a proposed Jagdpanzer 38t ‘Hetzer’ replacement), T85E1 ‘rubber’ chevron tracks for the US M24 Chaffee and a set ideal for the MiniArt Soviet T-44M, T-54 model 1949, AT-T, BTM-3, BAT-M and MDK-2M. Excellent quality castings in metal, with a coil of wire for the track-pins. 1:35 ATL-176/T-44M, T-54 model 1949/AT-T/BTM-3/ BAT-M/MDK-2M ATL-177 Entwticklungsfahrzeug E-25 ATL-175 T85E1 rubber-type for the US M24 Chaffee

PLUS MODEL, CZECH REPUBLIC TAMIYA, JAPAN Tamiya’s figures have improved beyond all recognition in recent years and the latest to arrive are absolutely fantastic. The set comprises four full and four partial figures, all designed to work with Tamiya’s 1:35 tank and AFV kits. They are moulded in grey polystyrene over two sprues and come with side-arms, separate headphones, binoculars and a set of decals for uniform insignia. Optional heads and hats are offered and the poses are super-realistic. 1:35 Wehrmacht Tank Crew Set (35354)

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Plus Model’s latest little wonder in laser-cut wood is a jetty, featuring planked decking and a handrail in wood, plus buffers and a life-ring in resin. It could form the heart of an attractive diorama and is easy to assemble. Also new is a set of beer and lemonade crates (laser-cut wood) with clear-cast bottles in resin. Each bottle is provided with a label (waterslide decal). In Plus Model’s ‘Easy Line’ we have a set of four resin cast suitcases plus travel stickers (decals) which are perfect for adding to a tank’s crew stowage etc. 1:35 Jetty, laser carved wooden parts (500) Beery and Lemonade crates (422) Suitcases (EL061)

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EDUARD, CZECH REPUBLIC Tamiya’s newly-tooled, 1:35 Valentine tank is the recipient of no less than three photo-etched brass detail sets from Eduard’s latest batch of releases. The first are general detail parts that improve items like brackets for the jacking block (a massive improvement on the kit part and worth buying the set for alone), tools brackets, stowage box latches plus a set of track guards and front/rear mudguards. The second set provides full-length desert-type side shields and these can be used on both the Eduard PE track guards and the Tamiya moulded kit parts. They offer scale thickness brackets that can be bent and dented like the real thing, and have the potential to look great. Finally, we have a much smaller but very useful set that folds up into a box/ bracket for the WW2 ‘flimsy’ fuel cans. 1:35 Valentine Mk.II/IV (36359) for Tamiya Valentine Mk.II/IV desert fenders (36360) for Tamiya Valentine Mk.II/IV cannister holder (36361) for Tamiya Panzer IV Ausf.H (36356) for Zvezda Panzer IV Ausf.H schürzen (36357) for Zvezda Scammell Pioneer SV2S (36358) for IBG

STAR DECALS, SWEDEN - www.star-decals.net Star Decals are very productive these days and some of their latest sets cover some attractive modelling subjects. Tamiya’s recently issued 1:35 Matilda II tank lends itself to becoming an Australian machine with some mods, and there are two decal sets for it. Takom’s new 1:35 FV432 gets some new markings for IFOR, UN and a machine from Operation Granby, but always check your references if the kits require extra modification other than new markings. Wonderful subjects and extremely well printed decal sheets. 1:35 Australia tanks and AFVs in WW2 Matilda CS Close Support tank (35-C 1069) Australia tanks and AFVs in WW2 Matilda 2-inch gun tank (35-C 1068) Balkans Peacekeepers The Light Infantry FV432, Scimitar, Warrior (35-C 1067) Balkans Peacekeepers FV432 Trojan UNPROFOR 1992-95 (35-C 1066) Gulf War 1991 British FV432, M548 Op Granby 1991 (35-C 1065)

WHERE TO BUY? Plus Model, Eduard, Vallejo; www.creativemodels.co.uk Star Decals, Sweden; www.star-decals.net Tamiya; www.hobbyco.net Friulmodel; www.friulmodel.hu

VALLEJO, SPAIN Well-known Spanish acrylic paint makers Vallejo have come up with five new box-sets for desert-based AFVs, plus a very useful pack containing six shades for the painting of tracks and wheels. The US desert MERDC set is interesting, as is the British ‘Caunter’ scheme, a contentious and much debated subject. All paints come from Vallejo’s airbrushable ‘Model Air’ line and each bottle is 17ml is volume. DAK Colors 1941-44 (71.207) IDF Colors from 1957 to present (71.210) Caunter British Colors 1940-1941 (71.211) US Modern Desert Colors (71.209) MERDC Desert Colors (71.212) Wheels & Tracks (71.213)

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MODEL REFERENCES BATTLE OF NORMANDY

FOR YOU, THE WAR IS O

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S OVER I

n this interesting photo, we see the first German prisoners captured by the Canadian Army at Bernièressur-Mer being searched. This small seaside hamlet was in the middle of ‘Juno Beach’ on D-day and saw a

lot of fighting. The German garrison at Bernières-sur-Mer belonged to the 5 Kp. Of the II/Grenadier Regiment 736 of the 716 ID. Most of the Canadians here are motorcyclists from the Corps of Military Police

and wear British motorcycle helmets and uniform. The facial expressions of the captured soldiers display bewilderment and maybe even some relief; their war was over and these men survived intact. •

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FULL-BUILD - MILITARY VEHICLE TRUMPETER 1:35 SOVIET 9P113 TEL W/9M21 ROCKET OF 9K52 LUNA-M SHORT-RANGE ARTILLERY ROCKET SYSTEM (FROG-7) • KIT NO.01025

FROG GETS TOWED

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any years ago, I picked up a used copy of the book ‘A Visit to the Zoo: Iraqi Tanks and AFVs’; a US Military Ordnance Special (Number 15) book that photographically recorded the equipment captured in the first Gulf War (Desert Storm) in the collection sites in Kuwait and Iraq. Towards the rear of the book, on pages sixteen and seventeen were a few photographs of some tired looking Frog 7s (NATO designation – Free Rocket Over Ground). This is an archetypal Soviet Cold War vehicle; functional and ugly! I always promised myself that if a model of one was ever released I’d have a go, although in reality I never thought we’d see one in plastic, but oh what

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great times for us modern Warsaw Pact modellers! The Trumpeter kit had sat on my desk a couple of times, but remained un-started. Every time I opened it all I could concentrate on was the fact that Trumpeter hadn’t included any cabling or hydraulic hoses in their offering, whereas in reality the real thing is covered in them! I amassed a wealth of reference material including five on-line walk-arounds and hundreds of photographs; however I was missing a schematic of the hoses around the crane and base of the launcher. A few online enquires lead me to a paper modelling site www.model-kom.pl, where I found a full set of CAD drawings of the hydraulic systems, including

individually coloured hoses and pipes – fantastic! The images shared in this article were used with the kind permission of Karol Ciesielski.

STARTING OFF

With good info on the missing hoses, I felt like I could now make a start on the kit. The first few pages of the instructions deal with the chassis, which is a multi-part, multi-fixing mixture of cross braces and struts which make up the chassis. Amazingly and much to my own surprise, once complete it sat square and seemed reasonably strong. With the chassis complete I gave the whole thing a spray of Tamiya Olive Green, knowing

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Ian Barraclough builds Trumpeter's impressive 1:35 Soviet 9P113 Frog 7, in a broken down and abandoned condition that this area would be difficult to reach later on with the rest of the parts fitted. I adjusted the wheel fittings to turn the front and rear wheels which adds visual impact to any model. As per my usual style of building, I jumped around the instruction booklet as required to complete the ‘interior’ parts before moving on to the exterior parts. I built up both engines and added a lot of cabling as per the pictures I have. Trumpeter have missed a fitting for what I assume to be the accelerator, which in a similar fashion to the supplied gear selector rod, fits between the two engines at the rear above the gear boxes. As an interesting aside, the left and right engines control

the left and right wheels independently with no differentials or connecting axles. There’s a great video of a Frog starting up and it lurches from side to side as the engine speeds ‘balance’! I completed the engine coverings – cutting out the engine bay doors – before again painting the interior in Olive Green. I painted the engine with Vallejo Dull Aluminium before giving it a thick coat of dark brown oil paint. I wiped the excess off the top and sides, but left the majority sitting in the recesses.

INTO THE CABIN

With the engine and chassis complete and painted, I made a start on the cabin interior. There are a

lot of control boxes to be fitted to the dashboard, all of which should have cabling. Before fitting these I drilled out a number of small holes on their undersides and ran in some thin solder wire and braided hose from the model car world. With the boxes superglued to the dashboard, I then folded the wires underneath the dashboard. I found that the supplied seats looked very basic and flat, so I added some lead foil cushions, which were given some rips and tears.

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FULL-BUILD - MILITARY VEHICLE TRUMPETER 1:35 SOVIET 9P113 TEL W/9M21 ROCKET OF 9K52 LUNA-M SHORT-RANGE ARTILLERY ROCKET SYSTEM (FROG-7) • KIT NO.01025

The bulky chassis takes shape. Note the photo-etched brass step parts at the right of the chassis in this view

The lower areas of the chassis have been painted and the bodywork is being test-fitted

I also fitted a clear green sun visor; seen in one of the walk-around pictures which I felt added a splash of colour. I again sprayed the interior Olive Green before picking out the seats in a pale blue and the control boxes in silver. I applied my usual dark oil wash, before wiping and adding some chipping with a sponge and Tamiya Flat Brown. To complete the cab interior I gave the floor and seats a wash with Lifecolor Liquid Pigments Dark Sand, to which I mixed in some very fine ‘real’ sand and brushed into the corners on the floor. To complete the cab I fixed the exterior parts.

HYDRAULICS? NOT YET

Giving a stiff ignoring to the crane and launcher (knowing the amount of work which adding the hoses would entail) I fixed the tread plate and fittings to the chassis, making sure that the various tool holders and brackets were empty; representing

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The cabin interior is seen here in its base colours

Weathering works wonders; the detail of the kit parts has been amplified and enhanced by colour-washes

an old vehicle pawed over by coalition troops after being abandoned. I made the brackets from various leftover etched brass parts; they seem to resemble WW2 German tool brackets in their appearance and operation. In doing my research for this model I noted that the missile lifting beam was sometimes fitted on the lefthand centre mudguard, with the remote control cable reel being moved to the right hand mudguard. It would seem that there were different ‘marks’ of Frog-7, with fittings in different places (I also noted that the engine doors were often reversed in their fitting). I moved the lifting beam and cable as per the reference and opened up the bins around the vehicle. I also fitted batteries into the battery box with associated cabling and added a leftover resin T-55 stowage box to the centre of the tread plate, a fitting seen on some of the Iraqi Frog-7s.

Just some of the masses of hydraulic lines added to the model by the author. Lead solder wire is a very useful material for this operation

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These close-ups allow us to see the additional detail that Trumpeter’s model is crying out for. Again, note the use of lead solder wire, vinyl tube and photo-etched brass. The Frog is a machine that uses miles of hydraulic plumbing and looks incomplete without it

FLATTENED TYRES

The tyres of the model were given an extreme flattened appearance using some trick explained in the main text, right

Taking a step away from the main body of the kit I moved on to the wheels next. In most of the pictures seen of Iraqi Frog-7s they seem to have very flat, or often missing tyres, with some reports of vehicles being driven with just four wheels! As far as I am aware there are no aftermarket wheel sets for this kit, so I knew I would have to adapt the kit rubber tyres to ‘flatten’ them. I’d heard of other modellers using tissue paper soaked in white glue to shape rubber tyres. In a variation on this theme, I fitted and glued the tyre to the hub centre, before drilling a small hole through the rubber and into the hub. Then I syringed some Gorilla Glue into the hole before dripping in a small amount of water. The Gorilla Glue activates and expands on contact with water, so whilst still fluid I screwed a toy retaining clip into the hole and into the hub. This flattened the bottom of the tyre whilst the glue set solid. With a bit of effort, the screw clip can then be removed and the same process completed on the next seven

wheels. With all eight wheels ‘flat’ I applied some two-part putty into the holes in the bottom of the tyres; allowed it to dry and then sanded the bottom of the tyres flat with an electric sander. This sounds more difficult than it actually is, but gives a really great visual effect, but care must be taken with the orientation of the wheels, as they have offset fittings to their stub axles.

OK, THOSE PIPES...

I could put it off no longer… I made a start on the crane. I added a hydraulic junction box on top of the rotating crane base with eight separate outlets. Into this I threaded 0.6mm lead wire with miniature brass nuts fitted. Each end was then routed as per the previously mentioned diagrams, which proved to be invaluable here.

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FULL-BUILD - MILITARY VEHICLE TRUMPETER 1:35 SOVIET 9P113 TEL W/9M21 ROCKET OF 9K52 LUNA-M SHORT-RANGE ARTILLERY ROCKET SYSTEM (FROG-7) • KIT NO.01025

Wrecked and rusty is the perfect look for this abandoned Iraqi Army Frog 7

Underneath the crane there are also a number of hoses and fittings which were added in a similar fashion. On the base of the crane (the part fixed to the chassis) Trumpeter missed two cut-out switches, which essentially stop the crane rotating past those points. I added these with plastic stock and built up the remaining crane parts and arm. I replaced the rope in the kit with some thin metal cable; and added a cable spool inside the hatch on the top of the arm. Enthused by my success on the crane, I moved on to the launcher base. Again, I used the wiring diagrams extensively here to ensure that all the hoses and wires are routed correctly. Knowing that I wanted the launch rail to be movable, I used rubber hoses and metal, flexible braided hoses for the four cables that plug into the bottom of the launch rail. These four cables feed through a spring mounted loop on the real Frog-7; this I made from the flexible metal braided hose, pulled open to represent a spring. On the underside of the launch rail Trumpeter have simplified the fittings at the end of the supporting legs to make it workable. In reality, the launch rail is raised and lowered by means of a motor driving a long threaded shaft. A corresponding, threaded fitting on the end of the support legs moves up and down this shaft, raising and lowering the launch rail. I cut out the top centre part of the fitting, and replaced it with a tube, hinged along its length. I also added the threaded shaft from thin plastic stock, before fitting the hinged tube over the end. I made an end-stop from plastic stock and added a locking brake, also missed by Trumpeter. To finish off the launch rail I opened up one of the bin doors and added some ‘gizmology’ behind the opening to give the effect of working parts.

The open engine access hatches allow a view into the left-side engine room; the Frog had two powerplants

The kit builds up into a large model and with launcher erected, it looks rather magnificent

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Plumbing diagram courtesy of Karol Ciesielski

Plumbing diagram courtesy of Karol Ciesielski

Plumbing diagram courtesy of Karol Ciesielski

MISSILE AND PAINTING

Plumbing diagram courtesy of Karol Ciesielski

Plumbing diagram courtesy of Karol Ciesielski

The missile is very straightforward, although the numerous ribs and protrusions along its length make it difficult to remove the seam from its ‘half and half’ construction. I spent quite a few hours filling, sanding and refilling to get rid of the seam. An opportunity for aftermarket manufacturers? I painted the missile in light grey first, building up layers of lightened grey and topped off with white; before a wash of dark oils and finished with some chipping, applied with a sponge. I left off the retaining clamps for fitting after the main body of the kit was painted. With the cab and engine bay masked off; and much of the lower chassis already painted in olive green, I didn’t want to prime the model in grey or white, as the overspray would look strange against the green finish. With this in mind I used air, blown through an airbrush to give the model a clean and get rid of plastic and resin dust. I then mixed up some Vallejo Modern Iraq Sand and Tamiya Flat Brown and

sprayed the entire model, followed by a clouded overspray with straight Modern Iraq Sand. The modern colour is much darker than the pale, almost magnolia colour seen on Desert Storm vehicles, so I then airbrushed with Vallejo Pale Sand, giving good depth to the finish. I hand painted the wheels in Tamiya Rubber Black and all door interiors and bins in a dark green mix.

WEATHERING TIME

Before sealing with Johnsons Klear, I added some chipping with a sponge; first Tamiya Dark Yellow and then Tamiya Olive Green. I kept this to a minimum as the pictures in the book don’t show much chipping. Following the sealing coat, I colour-washed the whole model in thinned dark brown oil paint and left it to dry overnight. I attacked the semi-dry ‘mess’

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FULL-BUILD - MILITARY VEHICLE TRUMPETER 1:35 SOVIET 9P113 TEL W/9M21 ROCKET OF 9K52 LUNA-M SHORT-RANGE ARTILLERY ROCKET SYSTEM (FROG-7) • KIT NO.01025

Subtle weathering effects and truly airless tyres bring this Cold War leviathan to life

the next morning with a mixture of cotton buds, soft cloths and wide brushes all soaked in odourless white spirit, removing the dark staining from the upper surfaces but leaving it in the recesses. This is a long process but worth the effort – I generally go through a box of cotton buds per build! Of course, doing this you’ll get some breakages but I put these aside before carrying our repairs at the end of the build. After another sealing coat I dabbed on small specks of white oil paints to the upper surfaces and panels; and allowed to dry for a few hours before blending them into the surface with a clean, soft brush and white spirit. This fades the upper surfaces, giving the impression of a vehicle that’s been sitting in the sun for years. On the insides of the bins and boxes I used Lifecolor Liquid Pigment Rust Colours to add a bit of visual interest to the drab greens; I also treated the black tyres to a coat of Lifecolor Liquid Pigment Dark Dust and Road Dust. These pigments, being in liquid form, are much easier to control than powders and you don’t end up with dusty fingerprints everywhere!

DISPLAY BASE

Knowing that I wanted to display this model on a small base, I raided the spares box for debris and detritus to be scattered around the vehicle. I won’t describe every item, but the mattress was masked with very fine masking tape for the blue stripes; and ‘stained’ with oils, before sealing with a matt varnish. The base was built on a 10” x 12” picture fame; I masked off the wooden frame and filled the hole with a piece of plywood. I drew the ‘splodge’ outline freehand, before cutting the masking tape with a fresh scalpel blade and peeling off the inner side. I used dark wood filler to create the initial groundwork and pressed in the Frog-7 and major debris, using kitchen film as a protective barrier. With the groundwork dry and the parts removed, I airbrushed a dark brown cloud pattern over the base in a random fashion; much

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of this would be hidden. For the cracked, dry sand I used thick coats of Citadel Agrellan Earth Technical paint. This cracks over a few hours and peels upwards, hence the use of wood filler, as wall filler or plaster can get pulled up by it. With the cracked paint dry, I used the aforementioned Vallejo Modern Iraq Sand to airbrush clouded patterns followed by drybrushing with Vallejo Pale Sand. I followed this up with some thinned dark washes and rusty red washes, before fixing the Frog-7 in place with CA. I made up a nameplate and reference picture plate from triangles of plastic sheet and added some fake bolt heads, as well as some grass tufts from the scenery box.

FINAL BITS

The goal posts were made from plastic stock, and a Verlinden Camouflage net; and are based on the picture I’ve added to the front left of the base, with two Frog-7s abandoned next to a football goal. With the debris appropriately scattered I took a football from the Master Box ‘Resting Germans’ set and made a football shirt from lead foil; and called it a day… Game over, match abandoned due to Frog-7 on the pitch! •

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The wrecked machine looks right at home in front of a Photoshopped backdrop of burning desert oil fields

The debris surrounding the vehicle adds to the look of abandonment

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Y R A I D T A C L L A SM FULL-BUILD MILITARY VEHICLE AMUSING HOBBY 1:35 VK16.02 LEOPARD • KIT NO.01025

Łukasz Orczyc-Musiałek chronicles his construction of Amusing Hobby's delightful kit of the prototype panzer VK 16.02 Leopard DAY 1 (SUNDAY, 27TH JANUARY, 2013)

I started the kit immediately after the previous model was ready to show. First, a Google search gave me some basic information about the kit and the vehicle itself. So to begin with the historical brief. The intention was to build a new tank as a replacement for the Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf.L. It would be armed with 5cm KwK39 gun. In the beginning, two versions were planned, a lighter, faster eighteen-ton variant and a slower, twenty-six ton vehicle. The second project was continued but after some time, all work was stopped when it was determined that the vehicle was not heavily armed enough for its weight. It was clear that Panzer IV and V versions could serve just as well in the reconnaissance role as they were more capable to defend themselves. And that was the short life of the Leopard tank, who had not even got an official Panzerkampfwagen title. Its turret design was adopted for the Sd.Kfz 234/2 armoured car. After the Pz.Kpfw.VII Löwe I had built couple of weeks earlier, this was my second Amusing Hobby kit. In comparison it is much more complicated than Löwe kit. A lot of parts are spread over twenty-eight sprues (surprisingly a lot of them are useless and come from Panther and Sd.Kfz.234/2 Puma kits), and the twentyfour stage instruction book with clear drawings and nice captions surprised me a lot! I did not expect such difference after the rather crude and simple Löwe. In addition the producer includes two photo-etched sets, metal side skirts, good quality decals and individual track-links. Wow!

The kit comes with individual-link, articulated tracks as standard

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FULL-BUILD MILITARY VEHICLE AMUSING HOBBY 1:35 VK16.02 LEOPARD • KIT NO.01025

The Puma-type turret was given a few detail tweaks but is basically very well done

LET’S BUILD A LEO!

I started with the turret. First I decided to close all hatches and left the gun mechanism parts on their sprues. It would be invisible and I do not like to waste my time on something that would be covered for 99% of model’s life time. I prepared additional parts from my spare box; RB Model main gun (35B84) and MG barrel (35B38), Friulmodel tracks for a Panther D (ATL-33) plus smoke grenades launchers from Dragon’s Panther D kit (6299). The first thing I did with the kit was the enhancement of the cast texture on the mantlet. I used a mixture of Revell cement and Tamiya putty applied with an old brush. This effect makes the surface rough enough. Then the hooks for spare tracks were changed for 'wire' items. Finally, I added the weld seams around the hooks and added some torch-cut texture some traces on the armour plates' ends. By the way, I noticed that the front plate is much thicker than the side ones – nice! But one thing was poor; the periscopes. I do not know why there is only one sprue with clear parts. Four parts are needed but we have only two, not so good. Luckily I had a lot of spares from other kits so I was able to rectify the situation.

DAY 2 (MONDAY, 28TH JANUARY, 2013)

Today I worked through the next stages of the instructions; the kit grew in my eyes when the hull elements were glued together. I need to say that they fitted very nicely and I had no problems with them. Only a bit of 'welding' (filler) was used to correct the seams and add the new ones around the small elements on the hull surface. The chassis parts fitted perfectly and it was very easy to align them. Good job, Amusing Hobby! I was surprised when I saw an oil cap on the engine deck. It was possible to show off, but I decided to cover it as I didn't know how the cover cap should be mounted. Finally, I started to work with the PE parts which are fragile. Again, I needed to take my own periscopes for the same reason as before. It was time to re-create some battle damage; one fender was cut off and the second was bent around a little with the aim of painting a lot of scratches to simulate the destroyed paint coat. The vehicle sure looks battered.

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The angled hull is covered with welding seams, which the author ‘beefed up’ to create a ridged, torch-cut effect

One entire fender was left off, with corresponding bracket detail added in its place

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DAY 3 (TUESDAY, 29TH JANUARY, 2013)

Today I had only two hours for modelling so I focused on the rear of the kit. First I prepared all the kit parts and decided to substitute the right box for the one from the IR devices set (ET Model ER35034) I had left over from the Löwe build. Also, I added a chain to the towing hook bolt and metal shackles from the Panther kit mentioned above. The jack was painted separately as it would be much easier to apply weathering to, as with the exhausts. Tomorrow I will start on the tools!

DAY 4 (WEDNESDAY, 30TH JANUARY, 2013)

I started on the tool racks after supper and to up-detail them I used Aber’s clamps. This was necessary because the manufacturer only provides plastic blocks to simulate the holders. The barrel-rod tube was upgraded with new clamps. I left all parts unglued to allow easier access during the painting stages. The most time consuming was the infra-red gear which I made by looking at an instruction sheet from ET Model. I hope it looks okay? Four hours was like five minutes and the last thing I did was to take some pictures!

DAY 5 (THURSDAY, 31ST JANUARY, 2013)

I can see the end of the building stages. Today I prepared all parts which were left; antennae, side shields with hangers, lights, indicator, fender mounting rack and other small details. Now only wheels and tracks were left. First I started with wheels. It took a minute to clean them up and prepare for assembly. I mounted them to the torsion bars, holding them in place with BluTack. There is very nice detail on the rims, fine and subtle in execution. Unfortunately this will be invisible under the coat of mud. The tracks are made from hard plastic and it was not easy to clean them up. I was thinking about throwing them out and buying Friuls but in the end I persevered and prepared them in one hour. I was really surprised when I used the jig designed for track building. It was really good! So after two hours of cleaningup and building, the tracks were ready. And they are workable; again I need to say 'good job Amusing'. I adjusted the length of the tracks to fit the wheels and stuck them on with masking tape to see the results of my work. Yay, it was the end of building stages.

The Panther style tool racks were built up off the model

The over-thick width indicators were replaced by in-scale metal items

Assembly of the tracks is eased by a jig, included with the kit

Note the aluminium schurzen and cast metal track links on the turret side in this view

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FULL-BUILD MILITARY VEHICLE AMUSING HOBBY 1:35 VK16.02 LEOPARD • KIT NO.01025

The remarkable camouflage scheme looks outlandish at this stage, but looks quite appropriate once later weathering effects have been applied

I had some time to spare, so the airbrush work began. The kit was divided into smaller sections for easy painting. I applied Vallejo black and here and there I used sandpaper to remove imperfections. Now to the most important thing – what camouflage scheme should I use? I would like to create something eye-catching, using the correct colours used by the Germans in the last months of the war, but it had to be modern enough. I found an interesting picture on the internet and would try to use this idea.

DAY 6 (FRIDAY, 1ST FEBRUARY, 2013)

I started with a mix of Vallejo Model Color 976 Buff and 912 Tan Yellow in 1:1 ratio; this was the easiest part. After that I applied some subtle modulation and highlighting of details. Then I started the masking, painting the schurzen first. The result was quite nice so I decided to paint both sides and front of the hull, the same as the turret. The horizontal surfaces were covered to avoid unnecessary paint overspray. To create the camouflage I used 890 Reflective Green, 872 Chocolate Brown and 950 Black. I achieved an interesting effect.

A circular paint scoring effect on the upper deck was created by taping a pencil in place and traversing the turret!

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DAY 7 (SATURDAY, 2ND FEBRUARY, 2013)

It was a long day on the painting. Yes, the kit looks unique, but this is somewhat of a science-fiction vehicle so it could be painted that way. The darkpainted sides look interesting and striking at the same time. After the tool racks and tube had been cemented in place, the colour blocks were covered a little but it still looks quite eye-catching. I’m glad! Okay, the main camo was now ready, now for the wheels. I painted them in the camouflage colours plus some of them were given little additions in silver and red. They will probably be covered by dust and mud, but some of them should be slightly visible.

DAY 8 (SUNDAY, 3RD FEBRUARY, 2013)

Day of decals, colour-washes, fading and streaking grime. I found some spare blue decals from a Dragon kit and composed the '0527' turret number. The emblem of the 9th SS Hohenstaufen Division comes from Archer (as does the extinguisher plate) and the crosses come from model decals set. With Set and Sol they settled perfectly. As always, Mig’s mixes were used; Dark Wash and Thinner for Washes.

To fade the horizontal surfaces I used white oil paint and three tones of yellow. They were blended in situ to differentiate each panel. For streaking I applied AK mixtures wiped with white spirit. And then midnight came…

DAY 9 (MONDAY, 4TH FEBRUARY, 2013)

Chips are on. Using three Vallejo colours – Buff, German Camo Black-Brown and Cavalry Brown – I painted the first part on the front of the kit. The sponge was very helpful but I used the 000 brush mainly. At the end of working on each panel I used the 'sprinkle' technique – a nice and realistic result with minimum effort.

DAY 10 (TUESDAY, 5TH FEBRUARY, 2013)

Almost midnight and the chipping is done. After couple of hours of work I can say I finished them. They look nice especially on the dark blocks were the Buff is clearly visible. That’s all for tonight!

DAY 11 (WEDNESDAY, 6TH FEBRUARY, 2013) I started today’s work with pre-dusting with US Field Drab. It is my typical preparation for pigment application. After that I applied dark pigments;

Dirt-coloured mixes of pigments were flicked from a brush onto the hull’s underside to form a highly convincing ‘mud’ build-up

The weathered-up sprockets and idlers, ready to be mounted to the running gear

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The tracks were undercoated in black, then airbrushed with US Field Drab. Various pigments and colour washes were then applied to build up the effect of worn and muddied steel

“Then I started on the wheels. I was looking for some inspiration to treat them in an attractive and unique way...” Russian Earth and Dark Mud on the lower parts of the hull especially in places which are covered by tracks. It was an unnecessary work because nobody will look there but I feel better knowing the mud is on! Some lighter splashes of mud were created with Europe Dust. Then I started on the wheels. First I was looking for some inspiration to treat them in an attractive and unique way. My idea was very simple; there are three lines of wheels. The first line, next to the hull, is almost invisible so I weathered them only from one side. The second line (double wheels) is dirty on both sides. For the mud, I opened the jars

with the same pigments as before. The most visible line with three wheels on each side was prepared to show the different 'mud effect' on each wheel. It is a bit unreal but looks good on the model. I can say it is an eye-catcher. So for this effect I used pigments and fixer, oil paints, oil and grease mixture, thinner and pencil to polish the teeth and edges. I’m glad with the result.

DAY 12 (THURSDAY, 7TH FEBRUARY, 2013) The next day of pigment-play! I primed the tracks in black, then airbrushed US Field Drab (as a 'pre-dusting' layer) and on this surface I applied

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FULL-BUILD MILITARY VEHICLE AMUSING HOBBY 1:35 VK16.02 LEOPARD • KIT NO.01025

It really does look like a baby Panther, right down to the stowage boxes at the rear. That crazy camouflage looks just right on this ‘paper panzer’

the pigments with fixer. Some of the links were highlighted and treated with Neutral Wash. I added polished areas and rubber traces. Once the tracks were mounted, I turned my attention to the exhaust. I prepared the rusty look of it by following Adam Wilder’s 'Authentic Metal' DVD and his step-by-step description. I need to say it is a very easy but effective way of painting. I love the result I achieved! Note the shields and the shrapnel marks. The difference between them and the sides of the hull is clearly visible. Vertical surfaces are dusted and the sloping surfaces are satin in finish. Moreover, I hung them in various positions which I think is much more interesting than the suggested way. So now I had 90% of the ready kit. I now need to prepare some further details plus the stowage. Good night!

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DAY 13 (FRIDAY, 8TH FEBRUARY, 2013)

The finishing line is close! I rusted-up the additional tracks and decided to add more links, just one or two. The towing hooks and shackles were put on their places. The antennae were ready to attach but they were left until the very end to avoid damage.

DAY 14 (SATURDAY, 9TH FEBRUARY, 2013)

The model is finally done after working all work today. The stowage, towing cable, burnt wooden beam, lost schurzens, jerry cans, chain, T-34 fuel can, additional links, tarpaulin are all glued in place and the kit is ready for a photo session and presentation. I’m really satisfied with the result. This 'little Panther' was nice to build and hope to meet another Amusing Hobby kit on my way! Happy modelling! •

The camouflage has been toned down but not entirely hidden by the weathering, tool brackets and other on-vehicle equipment

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MODELLING REFERENCES SOVIET GTU-1 ENGINEERING VEHICLE

A BEAST FRO M The GTU-1 is just one in a large series of armoured recovery vehicles produced by the now defunct Soviet Union. Zack Sex brings us a photo-report of one interesting version

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uring World War Two, many countries saw the need for dedicated repair and recovery vehicles. The USA was to convert both the Lee and Sherman into the M31 and well known M32 respectively, while Britain would deploy Cromwell and Churchill ARVs along side their Sherman ARVs. German use of Bergepanzers and Bergepanthers is fairly well documented. All of these western designs were extensively modified versions of the original vehicles. The Soviets had other considerations in their Herculean battle for survival with the Hitlerite hoards there was no time for such niceties; worn out T34 and KV hulls minus their turrets would have to make do. After all, the Soviet tank war on the

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Eastern front was a numbers game, one if which they overwhelmed their German opponents and as their foe retreated steadily westward the Red army would take all before it anyway. The postwar environment would change all of this and the massive and victorious Red Army would begin to deploy more expensive and advanced designs in an attempt to keep up in the qualitative arms race of the Cold War. Marketing may also have played a role, as the west sold M88s and Centurion ARVs to their customers the Soviets no doubt felt the need to offer similar goods to theirs. The first major Soviet post-war ARV took the form of the BTS 2 and 4a which utilised T44 and T54 chassis mounting BTU dozer blades on

their front plates, a large stowage box mid section and a chunky earth anchor and winch to the rear. Other types would quickly follow from East block allies such as the Polish WTZ and Czechoslovakian VT-55. These dedicated recovery vehicles were to be widely exported throughout the developing-world and particularly to Arab allies. Nowadays they are being phased out in favour of the more modern Brem-1, based on T72 and T90 chassis. Amongst all these military ARVs, Soviet planners saw a need to develop a quasi-civilian variant that could be used during emergencies such as natural disasters or industrial, chemical or nuclear accidents. The GTU-1 was an ideal candidate and with a large, roomy crew cabin to the front it had all the tools

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O M THE EAST! required to get through rubble-filled streets after an earthquake and enough protection to enable a crew to operate in a radioactive or chemically contaminated area. So it was in 1986 that the GTU-1 would have its moment to shine, albeit in a rather dire situation. After the catastrophic nuclear accident in the Chernobyl plant, vehicles such as the GTU-1 and IMRs were sent in with thousands of volunteers to try and contain the massive damage and reduce the risk of an even more deadly series of explosions beneath the reactor halls. The GTU-1 was also to see limited use in Chechnya where these ARVs were to see use with civil defence operators, removing damaged and destroyed Russian army T72s from the streets of Grozny. •

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MODELLING REFERENCES SOVIET GTU-1 ENGINEERING VEHICLE A. The BTU 55 dozer blade is attached to the GTU-1 and all other T series tanks by a pair of robust arms connected to the lower hull KMT fittings B. A rear view of the GTU-1 showing the empty fitting for the earth anchor normal mounted to the rear. Above we see the fitting for the winch or tow cable C. A detailed view of the busy rear of this GTU-1 showing the engine deck opened, the radiator unit elevated and a number of well worn and battered fittings D. Detail shot of the rear of the GTU-1, its early T54 wheels and OMSH tracks coated with dry mud E. Top view of the rear engine deck, the engine grill raised to gain access to the engine radiator. Of note is the exhaust unit and stowage box construction

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F. The large central stowage box positioned midway down the GTU-1 is a standard fitting on all Soviet era ARVs. Of note is black and smokey exhaust outlet G. A front three quarter view from the lefthand side of the GTU-1 showing to very good effect the type of rust accumulation on the BTU dozer blade H. Detail shot of lefthand side of the crew cabin which offers protection from smoke, chemicals and radiation during use in emergencies I. Detail shot of OMSH track showing its worn bear metal in contrast to its mud encrusted grooves J. Top shot of the GTU-1 driver’s and crew cabin showing light fittings and top zip box normally mounted on the running boards on the T55 series. Of note is also the construction and fittings of the BTU-55 hydraulic box

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MODELLING REFERENCES SOVIET GTU-1 ENGINEERING VEHICLE

K. Detail view of the rear construction of the BTU-55 dozer blade widely available in resin but also from early Trumpeter T55 kits L. Detail view of the front upper hull showing the formation lights found front and rear of all Soviet tanks and the KMT attachment lug for connecting to the dozer blade or mine rollers M. Detail shot of the GTU-1 exhaust outlet and dry mud encrusted tracks N. Close up of the rear engine deck showing formation light, mesh grills,work light and winch guide unit

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O. Detail shot of the cable guide or winch unit mounted on the rear engine deck through which the tow cable (missing here) is normally pulled P. Interesting shot of the GTU-1 in comparison to the massive KZKT recovery truck which mounts a KET-T crane on its back Q. A side profile shot of GTU crew cabin, its simple box-like construction making it an attractive scratchbuild project perhaps? R. A view through the GTU side window into the rather austere crew quarters S. The GTU-1 cab normally has thick windows and in many cases thick wire mesh window guards. Here we see the top zip boxes and variation of rust on this colourful AFV

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MODEL REFERENCES BATTLE OF NORMANDY

HIDING IN THE HEDGE R

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E ROWS I

n this diorama-worthy photo, possibly taken in early August 1944 near Vire in the Calvados region of Normandy, we see four Sherman tanks concealed behind a

tall hedgerow, the five-man crew of the first tank posing nicely for the photographer. The tanks belong to E Co, of the 67th Armored Regiment of the 2nd Armored Div.US. The first

is an M4A1(76)W followed by an M4, another M4A1(76)W and then another M4. A simple but effective ‘long and thin’ diorama display idea? •

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FULL-BUILD TRUMPETER 1:35 KV-1S/85 • KIT NO.01567

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OF THE RIVERBANK When building Trumpeter's 1:35 KV-1S/85 heavy tank kit, the image of a wrecked tank on an 85 degree (pun intended) angled cliff, was probably the last thing on George Koullouris's mind. However, a diorama on a flat surface would not give do justice given its sheer size, so he decided to go for an extreme approach

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irst I began by designing the base, with a high, steep cliff on the background, a second, even bank in the middle and a lower water surface for the foreground. After carving a rough basic shape out of insulating foam and using balsa wood for the frame, I coated all the surfaces with a thin layer of Das Modelling Clay. Before it was hard, I carved details such as exposed rocks and erosion streaks using clay sculpting tools and pressed in the tracks where the tank would finally rest. I then coated the clay with thinned wood glue and sprinkled on various sizes of rocks and sand. In order recreate the natural drop of dirt and rocks due to the erosion from the sides of the cliffs, I tilted the base back a bit, and poured a mixture of sifted dirt and small stones and let gravity create the effect as seen on the left and right. I used thinned wood glue with water and a drop of dish soap to ease the capillary action and to glue the clamp together without breaking it apart. Small sticks and dried roots were added to the ground work, and left to completely dry. For the painting process I coated the groundwork with various tones of acrylics including Vallejo’s Desert Yellow, Light Mud and US Field Drab, all mixed with white in order to create a lighter tone for the darker wash stage. For the rocks and stones I used various greys, including Neutral and Grey Green, again mixed with white for the highlights. The smaller stones were painted using a brush to break up the monotony of the ground work and then used a thinned wash of burnt and raw umber oil paints on the entire base. For the erosion marks as well as the water banks, I used Dark Mud, Fresh Mud and Slimy Grime enamel washes from AK Interactive, undiluted as streaks and softened them with odourless enamel thinner to create shadows and give more depth. The lower banks received another wash of Summer Kursk Earth and then Dark Mud for the lower points where the water would meet the earth. At this stage the foliage was added using a variety of products, from dried sea grass, to ready-made grass tufts, and Mininatur’s excellent maple foliage of various colours, all fixed using wood glue.

For the rocks and stones the author used Vallejo Neutral Grey and Grey Green

To paint the base, the author coated the groundwork with acrylics; Vallejo Desert Yellow, Light Mud and US Field Drab

THE TANK

The kit was fairly easy to build and just needed a few minor fixes and additions for the purpose of this diorama. Trumpeter provides a metal barrel and very good detail overall. In order for the model to sit at the awkward angle required, a little styrene surgery was performed with a Tamiya Saw and tested the angle until I was happy with the result. The additions made were weld seams on the external fuel tanks and various points of the model using thin strips of Green stuff, textured using a toothpick. Also, although provided in the kit, a rougher texture was created on the turret using the

The base colour for the water was keep dark and muddy-coloured

traditional method of applying glue directly to the surface of the model and dabbing it with a sponge. The other major alteration was the whole suspension system, as it does not allow for any movement of the wheels. Using a file, I rounded off all the hexagonal pins of the suspension, thus providing freedom of movement. I then attached the wheels temporarily and placed the model on the base. I superglued the suspension in place, as seen in the pictures having a variety wheel positioning. In order for the tank tracks to have a realistic sag, I used the excellent set of Friulmodel tracks for KV-1 tanks.

Colour-washes and drybrushing brought out the detail in the rocks and dirt

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Foliage on the riverbank was created using a variety of products, from dried sea grass to ready-made grass tufts and Mininatur’s excellent maple foliage of various colours, all fixed using PVA wood glue

The entire model was coated with Vallejo Black Surface primer, then Grey Primer to create artificial shadows and highlights before the first coat of paint. For the camouflage I used Vallejo Russian Green 4BO Set from their AFV Painting System series. The set includes 5 acrylic paints ranging from a Dark Green primer to Light Green for highlights and a satin varnish. All the paints were thinned using Vallejo’s Airbrush Thinner. The painting began with a Green base in light, almost transparent layers and finished with Light Green in very small raised areas, particularly were I wanted to create brighter areas due to natural light. Small details were painted with a brush using light green paint to accentuate them before the darker washes. The decals came from the spares box and were fixed using Mr. Mark Softer by Mr Hobby.

Dry grass for model railway layouts was cut up into short lengths

The chipping was done with Vallejo German Black Brown and was applied by brush for the finer scratches and sponge for larger surfaces. Washes included a variety of colours and products. Firstly a Dark Brown enamel wash by AK was applied to create darker areas and dirty up all the surfaces.

OIL WASHES

A raw umber oil colour wash followed, heavily thinned with AK odourless thinner to soften the dark brown wash. After everything dried up, the oil colour spot technique was used to create different filters and effects on the model. Dark green, yellow ochre, raw umber, buff titanium, burnt umber, burnt sienna oil colours and AK Streaking Grime were used in order to create rusty, oily, dusty area effects as a basis for the rest of the weathering to follow.

All the oil paints were left on a piece of cardboard for a half an hour so the excess oil would be absorbed and the paints would dry faster. Darker paints were used around raised details and engine covers, while lighter paints were applied to the edges of the tank or were the crew would step on with dirty boots. The effects created varied all around the tank, creating a very realistic finish on flat surfaces and streaking on vertical ones. A variety of pigments were also used for the mud and dirt effects. For the lower hull I applied a layer of Summer Kursk Earth wash, then sprinkled the pigments randomly on the wash, following the same pattern with lighter on top and darker on the bottom. Pigments were applied on the fender with a brush and then fixed in place with Pigment Fixer. Splash effects were created all over the tank

The grass was fixed to the base with PVA. AK Interactive products were used to create variations in colour

The rough grass along the top of the riverbank was airbrushed with varying tones of Vallejo acrylic paints to create a realistic effect

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The tank during the painting process. Shading was done using the ‘black and white’ technique

Colour-washes were employed to deepen detail and add accumulations of grime

The painting and weathering is moving along. Note the rust tones on the track guards

A close-up on the turret top shows the effect of the washes and chipping

Some of the weathering products and oil paints used on this model!

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Some AK Interactive premixed products are prepared for application

The clear resin for the water was tinted with acrylic paint prior to pouring

With the resin water poured and cured, a little ‘motion’ was required on the water’s surface to add some life

using a brush soaked in thinned pigments and a toothpick. Remember to make the first splash on a paper towel to remove the bigger drops! Oil and fuel stains were a mixture of Streaking Grime and Fuel Stains from AK. The mixture was applied in small layers to avoid having an excessive build-up of oil stains, around the engine hatches and wherever the crew would perform service repairs and refuelling. Then, lightly thinned fuels stains were added on an even smaller area to recreate fresh stains. Also oil streaks were applied to the lower hull and the suspension. Smaller oil stains were applied on the entire model randomly using the same mixture. Clumps of grass and leaves were fixed on the fenders using small drops of wood glue. The tracks received a dark brown paint layer, followed by various pigments fixed with Pigment fixer. The edges were lightly scuffed with coarse sandpaper to expose the white metal of the Friulmodel tracks.

THE WATER

For the lake I used the excellent Resin Water set from AK. It includes a bottle of resin and a bottle of hardener agent and two syringes. The edge of the water was tightly and carefully sealed with painter's tape and also used spare wood panels to support the tape so it wouldn’t bow from the weight of the resin. I mixed a ratio of two parts resin to one part hardener and added a few drops of Vallejo Canvas to recreate the muddy water. The resin mixed perfectly, leaving no air bubbles to

To create some small ripples in the river, Woodland Scenics ‘Water Effects’ was painted on; it will dry clear

worry about, since they broke by themselves after a couple of minutes. I applied the mixture in three layers, always making sure there were no leaks. After the second layer was dry, I drilled a few holes to insert the reeds from Reality in Scale. The reeds were firstly painted with lighter tones of green and yellow. After the third layer was dry I began gluing long grass between the reeds, leaves, small sticks and lilly pads. Also using a sharp blade I cut off the raised edges of the resin that were created by the tape. Finally I used Woodland Scenics Water Effects to recreate waves and bind everything together. It has the consistency of very thick glue and can be applied by dabbing it with a brush. After three layers I was finally happy with the result.

THE FIGURE

The figure came from a Master Box Eastern Region Peasants WWII set. Minor changes were made, including creating a Soviet flag out of tissue paper and moving the head to a more downward angle to look at the tank, using Green Stuff. All colours used on the figure were from the Vallejo series. The entire project was a challenge given the strange angle and new products I used, especially Resin Water. Overall I had a great time making it throughout and provided me with more experiences for future projects. The tank is highly recommended for Soviet armour lovers, and so are all the products used in this diorama. A thank you goes to AK Interactive for sending me the resin water and some washes for the model. •

The figure comes from Master Box’s ‘Eastern Region Peasants WWII’ set. A Soviet flag was made from tissue paper and the head was tilted downwards so he is looking at the tank

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MODEL REFERENCES BATTLE OF NORMANDY

CHASING THE RABBIT

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IN MODEL FORM

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n this detail-packed image, two US soldiers sit on a captured and quite new-looking Sd.Kfz.2 kleines Kettenkraftrad while another fills the open, US-pattern jerrycans in the rear compartment with water. An Sd.Anh1 trailer is hitched to the Kettenkraftrad and its electrical connector can be clearly seen leading to the ‘hump’ at the rear of the vehicle. The GIs are

observing the rubble and devastation of Carentan’s town centre after heavy fighting. The US censor has obscured all the shoulder and helmet patches, but the photo referenced by the US Signal Corps (No.190625) indicates that these are Paratroops of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regt of the 101st Airborne Div.

There are various kits of the Kettenkraftrad in a range of scales; 1:6, 1:9, 1:24, 1:32, 1:35, 1:48, 1:72 and even 1:144. The newest model on release is from a new company ‘Fox Models’, part of the Studio27 car model company. It’s in 1:24 and formed from resin, white metal and photo-etched brass. It’s not cheap (about £160) but is very detailed. More news on this kit soon. •

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KIT PREVIEW TAMIYA 1:16 US MAIN BATTLE TANK M1A2 ABRAMS DISPLAY MODEL • KIT NO.36212

MIGHTY M At last, Tamiya have created a 1:16 M1A2 Abrams! Here, we review the static display version, which will be followed by the 'Full-Option' radio controlled version

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ext in Tamiya's 1:16 'Big Tank' series is a kit that depicts the current stalwart of US forces, the M1A2 Abrams. The M1 Abrams has been around since the early 1980s, receiving constant upgrades to ensure that it stays at the cutting edge of military technology. M1A2s were introduced from 1992 and developed as next generations of the tank, chock-full of the front-line technology and bringing the M1 into the digital age. They featured depleted uranium armour, a modified commander’s cupola and more and saw action in the conflict in Iraq in 2003.

ABOUT TAMIYA'S NEW MODEL

• This is a 1:16 scale, static plastic (and metal) model kit of the M1A2 Abrams. The version shown here is the non-motorised release, intended for modellers who do not require the radio controlled features. • The form of the M1A2 with its flat turret and hull armour is expertly recreated, complete with depictions of the textured, anti-slip surfaces of the real tank. • The model is based around a tough, pre-folded aluminium hull tub. Cast metal parts are provided

for the drive sprockets, idler wheels, suspension components and more. • In the box you'll find durable, pre-assembled engineering-grade plastic, double-pin tracks secured with metal pins. Rubber track-pads feature. • The gun barrel is aluminium for strength and realism Photo-etched parts are included to recreate the engine deck screens and turret rear basket with complete accuracy.

MIM'S IMPRESSION

Inside the vast kit box we find the enormous upper hull moulding which is quite staggering in size. The upper turret moulding is also a big piece of plastic, rendered with eye-popping detail. As with any kit, some areas could be improved; the hull's accesshatch handles are moulded solidly and the bolted strips that run along the tops of the side-armour panels are missing, but these are the fun things to add; no major corrections are required. This is a mightily impressive model that will dominate any display cabinet. We can't wait to see the full-RC version! •

The hull of the M1A2 is truly huge in 1:16 and takes up quite a bit of workbench space

The turret is a massive moulding and it covered with fantastic surface detail

The model is based around an aluminium-sheet tub, which comes pre-drilled for suspension parts

Primer will be needed when painting the exposed metal surfaces

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M1A2 MUSCLE

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BOOK REVIEWS TIRAN WRECKS, TIRAN 4/5/6 WRECKS IN THE IDF, PART 1 MICHAEL MASS, ADAM O’BRIEN, DESERT EAGLE PUBLISHING www.aviationbookcentre.com ISBN; 978-965-7700-05-1 In 1:35, Tamiya offer an excellent kit of the Tiran, a captured and modified T-55 and Takom have just released a stunning new model of the Tiran 4, which was derived from the T-54. The exciting thing about the Israeli Tiran series of tanks is that they got into the most incredible states of disrepair and were painted in varying shades of paint that later flaked off and made a horrible mess; perfect for weathering addicts! The authors of this new, eighty-four softback production from Desert Eagle Publishing clearly understand this too and have chosen to compile a photographic collection of the most mouthwateringly beaten up vehicles you could imagine. Some background history of the Tiran programme is provided but quickly we are off into the photos and if you’re a compulsive weatherer, your mind will be whirring with modelling ideas by the time page twenty comes around. The close-ups are fantastic and focus on the peeling paint, crumpled, rusty stowage boxes, corroded metal, perished rubber, sun-bleached markings and dry mud-packed tracks, all making wonderful references for these machines specifically and also for any tanks abandoned in arid lands. This book comes highly recommend as a reference source for the Tiran of course, but also for the striking imagery that captures the ‘beauty’ of gently corroding AFVs.

GUN TRUCKS, A VISUAL HISTORY OF THE US ARMY’S VIETNAM-ERA WHEELED ESCORT PLATFORMS DAVID DOYLE, AMPERSAND GROUP, INC www.casematepublishing.co.uk This recent production from Ampersand chronicles the evolution of the US Army’s modified trucks that were used as armoured transports in ‘hot’ zones of Vietnam during that conflict. Within the 124 pages (including covers) we are treated to incredibly useful photos of the vehicles that were used in this programme, from the humble M151 Mutt (up-armoured) to the mighty five-ton M54A2 truck, plus walkarounds and close-ups of the M45 Quad .50cal mount, the various machine guns fitted to the trucks and a generous selection of photos of the last remaining gun truck ‘Eve of Destruction’ which now lives at the US Army Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis, Virginia. The bulk of the book is taken up by page after page of wonderful, mostly colour photos of gun trucks ‘in country’. Absolutely fantastic stuff for modellers and a must-have for modellers of Vietnam War-era military hardware.

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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

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

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modeller Next Issues military illustrated

ISSUE No.078 October 2017

Aircraft Edition - Brett Green AFV Edition - Marcus Nicholls Publisher; Alan Harman Graphic Design; Alex Hall Advertising Manager; Sean Leslie Office Manager; Paula Gray Administration Manager; Hannah McLaurie Administration Assistant; Julie Lane MIM Website; Doolittle Media Web Team Editors;

Military Illustrated Modeller Issue 79 - Aircraft Edition on sale October 19th 2017

THE GREY GREYHOUND

Brett Green details an ANR Macchi C.205

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FELIX F/A-18E

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Revell’s 1:48 F/A-18E Super Hornet

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James Hatch converts HK Models’ 1:32 Meteor Mk.4 into a Mk.7 two-seater

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DER STUKA!

Contemporary techniques and aftermarket revitalize a classic kit by Rafe Morrissey.

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1:35 BTR-70, Afghan style

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...AND MORE!

DANA IN THE DUMPS

Hobbyboss's DANA gets rusty

WARING MATILDA

Tamiya’s superb little 1:35 Matilda II in detail AFV Edition

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MODELLING INSPIRATION...

SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY

DIORAMAS YOU

MUST BUILD BEFORE YOU DIE...

A collaborator is captured

P

re en Pail, near Alençon, Normandy, August 1944; two armed French resistance fighters – both wearing armbands – pass a Sherman tank parked under roadside trees. They bring a woman back to the village with her hands on her head, suspected of having collaborated with the Germans on 16th August 1944. It was a distressing and often brutal scenario, acted out across

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liberated France and western Europe, and seldom represented in model form for understandable reasons. It was a part of WW2 history however. The M4 Sherman is well stowed-up, with a box of rations on its sloped frontal armour, kit-bag and jerrycan on the turret side and further items on the turret rear and engine deck. Something approximating this scene could be made using

selected individuals from two sets of figures by Ukrainian producer Master Box. The sculpting of these figurines is excellent and they will look great once carefully painted. • Masterbox sets are imported and distributed in the UK by Creative Models; www.creativemodels.co.uk See you again next time!

Military Illustrated Modeller - October 2017

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AVAILABLE in the ‘HOW TO BUILD...’ series NEW How to Build The Steel Wheeled Tiger I A New and revised edition of the ultimate guide to building the Tiger I Steel Wheeled version by Angus Creighton. The new revised edition includes: ■ Early-batch Sturmtiger, using Tamiya’s 1:35 kit with factory zimmerit, ModelKasten battle-tracks ■ Late-batch Sturmtiger, using Tamiya’s 1:35 kit, Dragon late pattern road wheels, extra frontal armour, no zimmerit, ModelKasten battle-tracks ■ Dragon’s 1:35 Tiger I (SPzAbt 510 194445), ModelKasten transport tracks ■ and more...

NOW SHIPPING Only

.95 £13 s p&p plu

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