Model Military International - Issue 108 (April 2015)

A ! U M EW O S VI A Y E I R M P A K T EA SN

■ All the information you’ll ever need to create the best military models... ■

Issue 108 April 2015 www.modelmilitary.com

SIMPLE DINGO

Tamiya’s 1:48 Dingo Mk.II Scout Car

A DUSTY CZECH Bronco’s impressive new 1:35 scale Panzer 35(t)

INSIDE: p 01 CoverMMI 108B.indd 1

1:35 KV-85 ■ 1:35 Stuka Zu Fuss ■ 1:35 57mm Gun ■ 1:35 Fire Truck ■ Meng 1:35 FCM-2C Feature Article ■ and more...

BIG BROTHER

Large scale “Band of Brothers” half-figure

April 2015 / £4.20 / Issue 108

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Squadron Signal 12055 - Stuart Light Tank in action by Rob Ervin and David Doyle. Published by Squadron Signal, Sofback, 80 pages, Black/White and Colour photographs. £16.99 New Vanguard 217 - British Light Tanks 1927-45 This is the definitive study of British light tanks of the Second World War. The author draws upon a vast and comprehensive body of archival information and research to explore their technical characteristics and combat performance. Paperback, 48 pages. £9.99

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Panzer Wrecks 18 Who modified their Jagdpanthers and why? What non-threatening name was painted on a Jagdpanzer? How does a Treibgas device work? What Panzer did a Ram Kangaroo ram? The answers to these and other questions are to be found here in Panzerwrecks 18, with 126 rare and unpublished large format photographs sourced from around the world. £16.99

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Tankograd Fast Track 06 - Type 10TK Modern Japanese Army Main Battle Tank In action photographs and a detailed walkaround, English text. Limited print-run 999 copies - As our series ‘In-Detail’ but half size / half price! Quantity Photos and Illustrations: Illustrated with 70 colour photographs, 40 pages. £10.99

D.A.K Profile Guide This book shows the original German camouflage of vehicles used by the Deutsche Afrika Korps, with color variants throughout the war. 108 pages, Over 170 profiles cover schemes, published by A.K Interactive. £23.99

Panzer Tracts No.8-1 Sturmpanzer This 80 page Panzer Tracts is the ultimate package of primary source material on the Sturmpanzer with over 19 pages of the world leading 1:35 scale drawings that have been grouped together to facilitate comparison, and over 80 clear large-format photos laid out in an attractive style. £28.99

Panzer Tracts No.22-5 Gepanzerter 8t Zugkraftwagen & SFL.Flak This 88 page Panzer Tracts is the ultimate and only accurate primary source reference on the gepanzerter Zugkraftwagen 8t (Sd.Kfz.7) and Flak Sfl. for both beginners and experts. There are 21 pages of 1:35 scale drawings grouped together to facilitate comparison and over 100 clear large-format photos most of which have never been published before. £28.99

Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) in Wehrmacht 112 page publication in English and Czech language contains more than 220 historical photographs mapping the combat deployment of thelegendary tank in the Wehrmacht produced in Czechoslovakia. £21.99

Modulation & Light Techniques This book explains in depth in an educational and visually easy to follow format, how to apply various light effects on your models, including the famous modulation technique. Through its 106 pages, hundreds of photos and numerous diagrams show how to obtain more from your models and give them more life and personality. £22.99

Superking - Building Trumpeter’s 1:16th Scale King Tiger The step by step story of David Parker’s remarkable award winning 1:16 scale replica. Bringing together the three and a half year coverage from AFV Modeller with additional unpublished material and combining archive photographs with extensive walkaround photography of the real vehicle in 452 pages with over 1500 images for the ultimate guide to modelling the King Tiger. Available in Hardbound & Softbound. H/B £65.00, P/B £55.00

Art of Modelling 7 Chapters include Honda CR250R by Tamiya, Painting and Weathering a Red Oxide Finish by Adam Wilder, Gvozdika Trumpeter Russian 2S1 Diorama, The Enemy at Home. Paperback, 66 pages, full colour. £7.95

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Nuts and Bolts Volume 33 Leichte Feldhaubitze 18, GW II f¸r le.F.H. 18/2 Wespe and HummelWespe. Paperback, 184 pages, Black/white and Colour photos, line drawings. £25.15

The Men Inside the Metal Volume 2 This book, the second volume in a series of two, completes the story of the uniforms and equipment of British and Commonwealth tank and AFV crews, 1939-1945. The evolution of uniforms, and the variations in actual use on all fronts, are described and illustrated, as is the personal equipment of AFV crews. Illustrated with many photos and drawings, covering all uniform variations and equipment. £24.99

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Tankograd In Detail Fast Track 04 - M109A6 Paladin US Army SelfPropelled Howitzer In action photographs and a detailed walkaround, English text. Limited print-run 999 copies - As our series ‘In-Detail’ but half size / half price! Quality Photos and Illustrations: Illustrated with 89 colour photographs, Pages: 40 £10.99

Soldaten The German Soldier in WW2 Volume 1 Holland Author and illustrator Dennis Oliver is joined in this title by renowned military artist Stephen Andrew to showcase the men and armoured vehicles that held the German lines in the Netherlands through 1944 and 1945. Title number eight includes, 13 pages of brilliantly rendered and painstakingly researched colour artwork by Dennis Oliver and guest artist Stephen Andrew - Black and white period photographs sourced from the world’s major archives and private collections. £14.99

Abrams Squad 8 - The Modern Modelling Magazine Articles include T-62 Model 1972, M-ATV, Operation ‘Peace for Galilee’ Magach 6, T-72 M1 Czech, LeClerc, and Turret Basket, 72 pages, full colour. £9.99

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How to Build Tamiya’s Armour Kits in 1:35 This new book brings together five detailed features that will show what is possible from this extensive range of kits. In so doing, it offers hints and tips, detailed step-by-step guides and written descriptions on all manner of techniques from basic construction, through detailing, painting and realistic weathering. Paperback, 82 pages, full colour. £12.95

Tankograd 6034 - U.S. WW II & Korea M4A3 Sherman (76mm) Medium Tank 48 pages with 150-200 illustrations, among them WW2 action photos, colour photos and technical drawings. Illustrated throughout. Excerpts of technical manuals, wartime photos, photos of restored vehicles. Ideal compagnion for modellers and fans of technology. Complete background history and variants. £9.99

WW1 The First Mechanized War This book provides a comprehensive and complete view of the crude beginnings and fast evolution of armored warfare during the Great War. It includes historical texts illustrated with period photographs, and detailed colour profiles of each of the most outstanding models. Paperback, 167 pages, Black/White photos, colour profiles. £27.99

Tankograd In Detail Fast Track 05 - M992A2 FAASV US Army Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle (for M109) In action photographs and a detailed walkaround, English text. Limited print-run 999 copies - As our series ‘InDetail’ but half size / half price! Quantity Photos and Illustrations: Illustrated with 75 colour photographs, 40 pages. £10.99

Tankograd 6033 - U.S. WW II Dodge WC62-WC63 6x6 Trucks 48 pages with 150-200 illustrations, among them WW2 action photos, colour photos and technical drawings. Illustrated throughout. Excerpts of technical manuals, wartime photos, photos of restored vehicles. Ideal companion for modellers and fans of technology. Complete background history and variants. £9.99

Coastal Craft History Volume 1 - Vosper Motor Torpedo Boats From 68ft PV boat to MTB 538. Profiles and Text: Mark Smith. Profiles based on the drawings of John Lambert. The Colour profiles in this book detail the colour schemes and equipment of Vosper MTB’s from job 1763 (MTB 102) to MTB 538, the last boat ordered during wartime. £17.99

The Weathering Magazine 10 Water This issue is dedicated to water and moisture. The best modellers in the world will offer a repertoire of exceptional examples and they explain with detailed step by step process, all the newest tricks and techniques to get your models represent similar conditions. From ships at offshore to tanks out of the water or crossing rivers, seaplanes, standing water, streams and much more. 64 pages. £8.99

Landscapes of War - The Greatest Guide-Dioramas By Rodrigo Hernandez Cabos Chapters include: Barbarrossa Coniferous Woods Forest with Rocks, Counterstrike and Retreat, Fall-Winter 1943/44 Rocks, water, vegetation, snow, ice and icicles, Cruel Pacific, Bloody Beach Reproducing Sea Water, Duck Hunt Stream Bed, Techniques. £17.99

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Contents - Issue 108 April 2015 18

40

52

REGULARS

FEATURES

p 4 NEWS

p 6 THINK TANK

p 58 INCOMING

p 12 PREVIEW

What’s new in the world of military modelling News on accessories, tools and finishing products

p 59 BOOKS

The latest titles from the modeling press.

p 60 1:48 SCALE

Luke Pitt explores 1:48 scale military models, figures and accessories.

Daimler Dingo by Bruce Culver Bronco 1:35 KV-85

Italeri 1:35 Stuka Zu Fuss

p 26 SNEAK PREVIEW

Tamiya 1:35 Somua S35 by Marcus Nicholls

p 14 SPEED BUILDING

p 28 A DUSTY CZECH

p 18 NO PARKING!

p 38 PREVIEW

Tamiya 1:48 Dingo Mk.II by Brett Green Tamiya 1:35 Dingo Mk.II Vignette by Joaquin Garcia Gazquez

Bronco 1:35 Panzer 35(t) by Luke Pitt ICM 1:35 Fire Truck

p 40 BIG BROTHER

©ADH Publishing Ltd 2015

Large scale Lt. Winters bust by Matt Wellhouser

p 66 LAST POST

Late breaking news and ramblings from the Editor

p 25 PREVIEW

28

p 46 PROPAGANDA KING

Meng’s 1:35 FCM-2C by Javier Redondo

p 52 AN AUSTRALIAN IN VIETNAM

AFV Club’s 1:35 Centurion Mk.5/1 by Chris Wauchop

p 54 PREVIEW

Riich Models 1:35 57mm Anti-Tank Gun

Tel: (UK) 01525 222573 Fax: (UK) 01525 222574 Email: [email protected] Address: ADH Publishing, Doolittle Mill, Doolittle Lane, Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, LU6 1QX, UK Model Military International is published monthly by ADH Publishing. Reproduction in part or whole of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. While due care is taken to ensure the contents of Model Military International is accurate, the publishers and printers cannot accept liability for errors or omissions.

ISSN 1749-8864

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Newsline - April ’15

MMI Newsdesk, ADH Publishing, Doolittle Mill, Doolittle Lane, Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, LU6 1QX, UK Tel:01525 222573 Fax:01525 222574 Email:[email protected]

MENG MODEL 1:35 LEOPARD 2A4

M

ENG released its 1:35 scale Kit No. TS-007 German Main Battle Tank Leopard 1 A3/A4 and TS-015 German Main Battle Tank Leopard 1 A5 plastic model kit in 2013 and 2014. The Leopard 1 tank developed in 1960s was the first generation tank of Germany after WWII. It once was the standard equipment of the European armies. However, the German Leopard 1 tank was inferior to the Soviet T-62 tank so Germany quickly started the development of a replacement. It cost them much money and time to work with the United States on the MBT-70/ KPz70 program which eventually failed. In the 1970s, Germany successfully developed the Leopard 2 MBT on its own. The tank went through several modifications. Military enthusiasts call these versions Leopard 2 A1, Leopard 2 A2 and Leopard 2 A3, but the German military still designated them as Leopard 2. It was in 1985 that the fifth batch of Leopard 2 tanks were officially designated as Leopard 2 A4. Germany completed production of all eight batches of Leopard 2s in 1992 and the first four batches were gradually upgraded to Leopard 2 A4 standard. The combat weight of the Leopard 2 A4 MBT is 55 tonnes. It is powered by a 1500hp MTU MB873 diesel engine. Its maximum speed is up to 72km/h. It is fitted with a Rheinmetall 120mm L/44 smoothbore gun. It adopted a digital fire control computer incorporating with the design of simulator interface for training and

fitted with an automated fire and explosion suppression system. It changed the sight cover and antiaircraft machine gun’s mount, and relocated the return rollers. The Leopard 2 is universally recognized as one of the best and most balanced main battle tanks today. It is the major equipment of 16 countries in the world. Undoubtedly, it is very popular among modellers. MENG’s brand-new 1:35 scale TS-016 German Main Battle Tank Leopard 2 A4 plastic model kit is a replica of Leopard 2 A4 of the fifth batch. It realistically represents the most famous German MBT. You can also build a Leopard 2 A4 of the sixth, seventh or eighth batch with parts in the kit. Meng has advised that the model will feature: • Separate engine deck. • Details inside the side skirts are represented; side skirts can be built in the rail transport option. • Mirror film for the rear view mirror. • Highly detailed EMES15 gunner’s primary sight • Hatches may be built open or closed. • Many replacement/upgrade parts are available. • Easy-to-assemble cement-free double pin workable tracks and movable. We will have more information on Meng’s 1:35 scale Leopard 2A4 closer to release. Thanks to Meng Model for the information and images www.meng-model.com

Kit Form Services. 1:24 scale Bedford OXD / OYD conversion kits for the Emhar O Type Due to the large number of conversion possibilities & mixture of parts used for various applications, (OW, OYD, OXD to mention just three), Kit Form Services has released eight sets allowing the modeller a mix and match approach in conjunction with the 1:24 scale Emhar base model. TQ215. New 4 part bonnet, air cleaner, radiator, cab steps, bumper, brush bar & head lights.The etch parts include the bonnet sides (2 types, early & late), semaphore indicator, the front grill mesh, three headlight options & number plates. A substantial decal sheet is also supplied with the bonnet kit.

This covers wartime & post war VRN numbers, several sets of unit markings for WW2 & post war, RAF & RN markings, & even markings for captured vehicles in use with the German Afrika Korp. £30.00 including vat.TQ216. This kit provides new CAD drawn & rapid prototyped wheels & tyres with hubs plus the universal larger front springs applicable to both the OYD & OXD. £18.00 including vat. TQ217. OXD body floor & universal timber tailboard set. £38.00 including vat. TQ218. This is the 'completion kit' for the TQ-217 OXD body

ICM Model T Ford and Soviet Armoured Car Riders ICM has expanded its figure and vehicle range with two new releases, available right now: • 1:24 scale Model T Ford 1913 Roadster, American Passenger Car. • 1:35 scale Soviet Armoured Carrier Riders (1979-1991), (four figures). More information is available on ICM’s website. Thanks to ICM for the information and images www.icm.com.ua

floor & offers the head board & sideboards for the optional timber sided body. TQ219. This is the 'completion kit' for the TQ-217 OXD body floor & offers the head board & sideboards for the optional steel sided body. £10.00 each including vat. TQ220. LWB body floor & universal timber tailboard set. £45.00 including vat. TQ221. This is a 'completion kit' for the TQ-220 OYD body & offers the head board & sideboards for the optional Timber sided body. TQ222. This is a 'completion kit' for the TQ-220 OYD body & offers the head board & sideboards for the optional steel sided body. £12.00 each including vat. Thanks to Kit Form Services for the information and images.

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NEW in the ‘HOW TO BUILD...’ series NEW VERSION for 2015 HOW TO BUILD... TAMIYA 1:32 SPITFIRE Mk.IXc, Mk.VIII & Mk.XVIe

Although initially conceived as a stop-gap measure, the Spitfire Mk.IX (and the essentially similar Mk.XVI) eventually became the most numerous of all Spitfire variants with more than 7,000 delivered to the RAF, the VVS and other Allied air forces. Premier Japanese model company Tamiya has released Spitfire Mk.IXc, Mk.VIII and Mk.XVIe kits in 1:32 scale. These three kits are simply superb in terms of detail, engineering innovation, fit and presentation. In the warm afterglow of their release, many modellers have declared Tamiya’s 1:32 scale late model Spitfires to be the some of the best scale model aircraft kits of all time. This book details the construction of all three kits in step-by-step illustrated guides, and also suggests how Tamiya’s kit may be improved and describes the after market decals and accessories that are available for these plus p&p magnificent models.

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£11.95

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Think Tank - Daimler Dingo Scout Car in British and Commonwealth Service Alvis Car and Engineering Co. Ltd was one of three companies responding to a proposed specification for a light 4x4 scout car in 1938. This is the Alvis “Dingo” prototype submitted for the competition. Ultimately it was not chosen but contributed to the final design.

DAIMLER DINGO SCOUT CAR IN BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH SERVICE Bruce Culver describes the design, development and operations of the Daimler Dingo Scout Car.

F

rom the beginnings of organised warfare, military forces have depended on scouts to reconnoitre the land ahead of the main army and find out the disposition of enemy troops and positions. Accurate intelligence about the enemy has always been vital in achieving victory. For most of recorded history, the prime source of reconnaissance has been the cavalry, using horse troops to locate and report back on the enemy’s position. In the 20th century, the role of cavalry began to pass from mounted troops to motorized units that could cover more territory and also carry radio equipment for better and faster communications. During and after WWI, motorized troops came into their own as motor vehicles supplemented and then supplanted the horse in many modern armies.

As the threat of war built up in Europe in the 1930s, nations began the task of expanding their military forces, conscripting infantry, building ships and aircraft, and also developing better military forces. One essential element of this was creating a superior reconnaissance arm to provide the army with the best field intelligence possible. In Great Britain, this led to the need for a small armoured vehicle suitable for the scouting role, small, nimble and tough enough to withstand the rigors of stealth and manoeuvre.

SPECIFICATION AND DESIGN A requirement specification for a light 4x4 two-man armoured scout car was released in 1938 by the British War Office, and three manufacturers responded with proposals and later prototype vehicles. Trials began in August September 1938 with prototypes

from Morris, the Alvis Car and Engineering Co. and the motorcycle division of BSA. All three designs were mechanically similar with the engine in the rear. The Morris entry was eliminated quickly due to a lack of speed required for the mission. The Alvis and BSA machines both performed well, but the Alvis had a higher centre of gravity which made it more likely to turn over in high speed turns or on slopes. The BSA entry was the best mechanically, having a good turn of speed, a lower centre of gravity and excellent reliability. The specification was changed to require more armour with a roof to protect the crew, and BSA modified the vehicle, adding a more powerful engine. The first contract was let in May 1939, for 172 vehicles designated “Car, Scout, Mk I”. BSA, in the midst of extensive pre-war expansion,

assigned the Daimler Company, part of BSA’s automotive group, to develop the prototype design for mass production. The resulting scout car proved to be one of the best armoured vehicles produced by Britain in WWII.

A DINGO IS BORN Designated the “Daimler Scout Car”, the new type quickly became known by the name of the unsuccessful Alvis competitor – “Dingo”, after the wild dog native to Australia. Though the Alvis entry did not contribute to the mechanical design of the Dingo, the front armour layout was very similar. Daimler produced 6,626 Dingoes in five basic models, but there were very few major changes and all the variants looked much alike. The Daimler design for the Dingo used a ladder frame that carried the power train and suspension

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ice components. The car featured all independent suspension with long coil springs with about 8” (200mm) of travel to absorb road shocks, fairly large wheels with run-flat tyres, and a sophisticated fourwheel drive system with four-wheel steering. Daimler had developed a number of advanced automotive components and these found their way into the Dingo scout car design. Among these were a preselector gearbox and fluid flywheel that allowed five gear speeds in each direction with separate drive shafts to each wheel. A flat plate of thin armour covered the bottom of the chassis frame. The compact power train layout allowed the Dingo to have a low silhouette and excellent manoeuvrability. The four-wheel steering gave a very small turning radius of 23 ft (7m), valuable for driving cross-country. The allwheel steering was often difficult to handle for inexperienced drivers and later models had steering only on the front wheels. The two-wheel steering models had a turning radius of 38 ft (11.6m) Power was provided by a Daimler six-cylinder 55HP petrol engine of 2.5 litres displacement. The engine’s coolant radiator was placed at the rear under the rear armour plate with cooling slats to control the temperature. Fuel tanks holding 79.3 gal (300 litres) of petrol allowed a maximum range of 200 miles (320km). Maximum speed on roads was 55MPH (89km/h); cross-country speeds were somewhat less, depending on conditions. The armoured body was bolted to the chassis frame. The front armour was increased to 30mm before production began and the sides and rear armour were 12mm. A two-piece armoured roof 6mm thick was provided to protect the crew from high-angle fire and shell splinters. It could be folded in half, and the whole roof assembly could be moved to the rear to open the entire crew compartment. There were several opening armour flaps in the crew compartment in the front and side armour, a hinged flap in the rear and a small door in the left lower side. There was an armoured glass block in the driver’s hinged flap, but vision closed up was poor. A small vertical door in the front plate accommodated the primary crew weapon, either a .303 (7.7mm) Bren light machine gun or a .55 (14mm) Boys anti-tank rifle. A .303 SMLE Enfield rifle was often stowed under the roof as a secondary weapon. The crew accommodations were fairly Spartan and the interior was

cramped. The driver sat on the right side of the vehicle with the gunner/radio operator on the left (off) side. The driver had a large hinged armour flap in front with a glass armour vision block for driving while buttoned up. There was also a small hinged flap on the forward side for a view to the side, and one on the left for the gunner, with a larger flap facing to the rear. The driver’s seat was fixed but the gunner-radio operator’s seat swivelled to allow him to use the crew weapon or the No. 19 wireless set, which was located behind his seat. The fuel tank was inside the crew compartment behind the driver’s seat. Vehicles not equipped with the radio were fitted with additional stowage for kit and supplies. With the roof panels closed it was a very cramped space and Dingoes were most often opened up.

This rear view of the Alvis Dingo shows the original open rear body and rear axle assembly. The Alvis prototype was not the winning design but elements were combined with the successful entry from BSA.

IN SERVICE The Dingo’s first use in combat was in the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) during the Battle of France in 1940. It served in the 1st Armoured Division and the 4th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. The Dingo proved to be fast and reliable, but the campaign in France ended with the evacuation of the British and some remaining French forces from Dunkirk, which left an enormous amount of materiel for the victorious Germans. Thousands of automobiles, armoured cars, tanks, artillery, lorries and other AFVs and support vehicles were seized and folded into the German occupation forces in France. Many of them, including the Daimler Dingo, were issued to German troops complete with licence plates, manuals and the support of local shops for maintenance. Early Dingoes were also used in the campaigns in Greece and North Africa, where again large numbers were captured by the Germans and their Italian allies. As in France, some were simply used by the capturing forces, but many were formally issued to German and Italian units with support and German or Italian licence plates. They proved popular in armies with long standing shortages of motor vehicles.

DEVELOPMENT At the same time, experience had brought out some deficiencies and things that needed to be improved, and so several modified models were developed. A number of these entered service in smaller numbers. The original Dingo Mk I had four-wheel drive and four-wheel A

BSA’s entry to the light scout car competition in 1938 was the winning design. In particular the running gear and chassis was superior to the Alvis entry but elements of both entries were combined in the production models.

This is an early Daimler Dingo Mk I which first appeared in 1939 and was issued to troops in 1940. All 6,626 Dingoes built were remarkably similar, with only minor detail changes. The major changes were to the steering and rear radiator installation. This is a stowage diagram for the Daimler Dingo Mk II radio vehicle equipped with the standard British No. 19 wireless set. Many Dingoes were equipped with this radio for better communication. The Dingo’s interior was quite cramped. This is the stowage diagram for the Dingo when not equipped with the wireless set, with additional stowage in place of the radio. Note the rifle tucked back under the rear roof for use by the crew. Almost all Dingoes also mounted a .303 Bren light machine gun. April 2015 - Model Military International 7

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Think Tank - Daimler Dingo Scout Car in British and Commonwealth Service

There were a number of attempts to improve the armament of the Dingo, culminating in this aggressive looking prototype. Two .303 Browning LMGs were mounted fixed on the front wings and the original .303 Bren was replaced by a 15mm Besa heavy MG.

The Dingo was issued to British units in 1940 and widely used during the early part of the war. This Mk I was knocked out in the campaign in Greece in 1941. The missing engine cover allows a view of the engine and radiator, a very compact installation.

The campaign of the BEF in France 1940 ended in the evacuation from Dunkirk, leaving hundreds of British vehicles for the Germans to incorporate into their forces. Many, like this Dingo Mk I, were issued to German troops with manuals and support.

The Dingo served the British Army around the world, like this Mk I photographed in Malaya in late 1941, before the Japanese invasion. The Dingo’s simple design gave it very reliable performance in almost any climate.

The Dingo’s first extensive use was in North Africa where its reliability and versatility were greatly appreciated. This is a Mk II from the famous 7th Armoured Division, the “Desert Rats”. The colours are probably Portland Stone and Charcoal Grey or Dark Green.

B steering, a two-piece folding

roof that could be opened to the rear, exposing the entire crew compartment and a radiator installation with cooling slats on the rear armour plate and a long engine cover. The Mk IA was very similar to the Mk I but had a simpler folding roof instead of the fully opening type. It retained the four-wheel

In British and Commonwealth armoured recce units, the Dingo scout cars were usually accompanied by heavier armoured cars for support. Here, two Dingoes are followed by a Daimler Mk I armoured car and an AEC armoured car in the rear.

steering and original cooling system and rear body. The Mk IB reverted to the Mk I’s opening roof and introduced a new radiator installation with reversed airflow to improve cooling. This in turn required a redesign of the rear body with the cooling slats brought up to the top of the engine compartment rear armour with a shorter engine cover. This

arrangement was used for all later marks of the Dingo. The Mk II was similar to the Mk IB with the new radiator installation, but eliminated the four-wheel steering. Only the front wheels steered and this opened the turning circle from 23 feet (7m) to 38 feet (11.6m). The lighting system was simplified by removing the original large

headlamps and replacing them with a single blackout light. The Mk II was produced in large numbers and was the most common variant used during WWII. The Mk III was the last production model and had a waterproofed ignition system. Its distinguishing feature was replacing the roof with a canvas cover, leaving the crew

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ice

The Canadian raid on Dieppe in France in August 1942 was a failure, as most of the vehicles (Dingoes and Churchill infantry tanks) could not get off the treacherous chert beaches, as shown by HOUND, a Dingo MK II bogged down up to the axles.

German troops in Dieppe recovered dozens of vehicles from the failed raid, including this Dingo Mk II, probably soon to be issued to German occupation forces in France. The Dingo’s reliable design made it valuable to the Germans, who needed good vehicles.

German and Italian forces in North Africa captured a number of Dingoes during the earlier part of the campaign, including this Mk IB. The Mk IB had the Mk I’s four-wheel steering but a new radiator and rear armour design used from then on.

As in France in 1940, the Germans issued captured Dingoes with full support and integrated them into the German supply system. This is a Mk IB and shows the new radiator installation and revised rear armour layout used on all subsequent models.

Daimler was not able to turn out enough Dingoes to meet the demand from the British army, so Humber produced over 4,000 of their own scout car design. This is a Humber Mk I scout car. The overhead machine gun could be operated remotely from inside.

The Dingo’s primary role was as a scout car for reconnaissance and many of them were equipped with the No. 19 wireless set. This Mk II seen during training in England shows a typical scouting mission. Though cramped inside, the Dingo could carry three men.

compartment open. At least one Mk III was built with a modified superstructure with an extended box for the gunner and an armament of two .303 Browning LMGs fixed to the front wings and remotely fired, and a 15mm Besa heavy MG replacing the normal Bren gun. It did not enter production.

Dingo Alternatives – Friend and Foe Production of the Dingo could not keep up with the requirements

of the expanding British and Commonwealth forces, and an alternate source for scout cars was needed. In 1941, Ford of Canada developed a scout car using the body of the Daimler Dingo mounted on a 4x4 modified Ford CMP chassis with the engine moved to the rear. Because the Ford drive train and transmission was larger than the Daimler components, the new scout car, called the “Lynx”, was about one foot (300mm) taller than the Dingo. The Lynx served

with Commonwealth troops in Italy and Europe, entering service in 1942. Early models had problems with engine overheating and failures of the rear axles, and later models were lightened by removing the armour roof, replacing it with a canvas cover as for the Dingo Mk III. In a rather bizarre twist, a third variant of the Dingo appeared in the Italian campaign. The Italians had captured examples of the Dingo Mk I earlier in the war and

were impressed with its excellent performance to the extent they contracted with Lancia to produce a reverse-engineered copy. This appeared as the Autoblinda “Lince” (“Lynx”). It was a nearperfect copy differing in only details. Lancia and Ansaldo built 250 Linces. The engine cover was raised in the centre to clear the Italian engine installation, external silencers were mounted on the rear wings, the gunner’s vision flap

A

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Think Tank - Daimler Dingo Scout Car in British and Commonwealth Service

Prior to the Overlord landings on D-Day, there were extensive training exercises conducted in England to prepare for the invasion. These Dingoes were part of the largest invasion preparations ever seen. Note the shipping stencil on the nose armour.

In its element – an older Mk IB leads a recce detachment followed by a Daimler armoured car and an AEC armoured car, followed by two Dingoes at the rear. This was the standard organization for most British recce operations in Europe.

This Canadian Ford Lynx served with the 12th Manitoba Dragoons in Europe. Very similar to the Dingo, it was higher and was not as capable as the Daimler model. As was common with Allied vehicles in Europe, this Lynx is loaded down like a furniture van.

This Lynx served in Italy with the New Zealand Division cavalry, seen here in the Belmont area in May 1944. The Lynx was not as reliable as the Dingo, but served well in Italy’s mountainous areas. Following the Lynx is a British-made Bedford lorry.

The Italians captured a number of Dingoes in North Africa and were so impressed with its capabilities that they copied the design very closely, basing their clone, the “Lince” (Lynx), on the early Mk I. This rear view shows the Mk I style rear cooling slats and the raised centre engine cover. The cover and the external silencers were identifying features.

B was moved to the side over the

hatch and the front stowage box and lights were altered. The mount for the 8mm MG was built-in and there was an armoured cover in the roof for the MG gunner’s sight. Since the Lince lacked the run-flat tyres on the Dingo, a spare tyre was carried on the driver’s side of the body. The Germans also used the Lince, designating it the “Panzerspähwagen Lince 202(i)”. These were used to the end of the war and some survived into the post-war years.

The Dingo in British and Commonwealth service usually operated in cavalry or recce units, typically with the heavier Daimler armoured car – itself a larger development of the Dingo – in recce detachments of two or three Dingoes supported by two armoured cars. In some units AEC armoured cars supplemented the Daimlers.

Post War Service The Dingo proved to be such a capable and valuable vehicle that

An additional attempt to provide enough scout cars for the needs of the British military was this Ford of Canada scout car, the “Lynx”. It used a Dingo body mounted on a modified Ford CMP 4x4 chassis and rode noticeably higher than the Dingo.

From the front, the Lince was very similar to the Dingo Mk I. The lower headlights and smaller stowage box were identifying features. Note the protrusion in the roof plate for the MG gunner’s sight. The two-piece roof folded back just like the Dingo’s roof.

it was not replaced until 1952 with the introduction of the Ferret armoured car, serving in territorial units for another 10 years. The Dingo also served in British colonies like Malaya, where it was used extensively to fight the communist guerrillas from 1948 to 1960. Dingoes in Malaya were modified, as the heavy jungle cover along roads and trails allowed the guerrillas to ambush patrols without much warning. Early modifications included a cylindrical rotating turret for the Bren gun,

and later models had a built-up superstructure with a raised mount for two Bren guns that could be aimed and fired from inside the vehicle. Dingoes continued to serve in the British Army until the 1960s and with several other nations for another 10 years after that. Surviving examples have become prized collectors’ items and are used in collector’s rallies and for re-enacting. Like its namesake, the Daimler Dingo had proven to be small, nimble and tough enough… n

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ice

Commonwealth troops enjoy a ride on their captured “license-built” Lince scout car. The Lince was popular with both Italian and German units that used them from 1943 to 1945. The Italian firms of Ansaldo and Lancia built 250 Lince scout cars.

These Daimler Dingo Mk II scout cars were painted in a common color scheme used in the European theater, S.C.C. 2 Brown base color with a pattern of S.C.C.14 Black as a disruptive measure to break up the shape of the vehicles.

The Daimler Dingo continued in Commonwealth service for many years after WW2. This is a Dingo Mk III of a New Zealand formation used in Korea in 1952. Dingoes remained in service with many units until the 1960s.

During the battle against communist guerrillas in Malaya in the 1950s and 60s, the Dingoes were useful scout vehicles. They had to be modified due to the heavy jungle cover, which enabled ambush attacks. This example carries a turret for the .303 Bren LMG. The crossed kukris symbol denoted a Ghurkha division.

The early turrets were cumbersome and later Dingoes in Malaya were rebuilt with a raised superstructure and a high mount for two Bren guns that could be aimed and fired from inside the scout car. Note the empty cartridge collecting sacks on both guns.

The front view of a reworked Dingo in Malaya shows the raised mount for the Bren LMGs and the added superstructure. With these modifications the car was much less vulnerable to sudden attacks and the internal weapon controls allowed accurate fire.

As it was one of the best British armoured vehicles of the WW2 period, the Daimler Dingo remained in active service for many years. Here a Dingo leads a 1960s recce detachment, followed by two Daimler armoured cars, a Saracen armoured personnel carrier and another Dingo. It served into the 1970s with several other armies. April 2015 - Model Military International 11

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KIT PREVIEW

Bronco 1:35 Bronco Russian Heavy Tank KV-85 • Kit No. GB-35110

The one-piece lower hull. The new upper hull has provision for the open engine bay.

We’ve been waiting a while since it was first announced, but Luke Pitt finally gets his hands on Bronco’s new 1:35 scale KV-85.

The new track guards.

PINNACLE OF THE KV SERIES

T

he KV series of tanks when introduced was arguably the finest examples of heavy tank design produced at the time. Thick armour, a good gun and a reasonable turn of speed resulted in a tank that was both feared and respected by the invading German forces at the outbreak of World War II. In fact, those of you that have seen the film “Fury” might be interested to know that the last, oft criticised final scene was based in part on an incident in Russia where, a single KV Tank, together with infantry, held up the German advance by two days, so ineffective were mainstream German anti-tank weapons against its thick armour. The KV-85 was the pinnacle of the series combining the 85mm D-5T gun on a modified KV-1C (lightened) hull. Depending on what source you gather your information from, over 190 were manufactured. The vehicle was effective but the defence Commissioner Kliment Voroshilov (from where the KV designation had arisen) had fallen from favour and the newer “IS” series, basically a warmed over version of the KV models, replaced it. The kit is presented in the now familiar Bronco box with a crisp illustration adorning the lid.

When opening the box, one is confronted with 1000 parts over 36 sprues. Bronco has used many parts from their SU-152 kit (CB35113). When disregarding the parts not needed, the massive parts count is reduced to and more manageable 318 for the tank itself and 682 for the individual tracks – and admittedly most of these are for the connection pins). Those of you familiar with “Modelkasten” tracks will no doubt at home here as they go together very much the same way. Their will however, be howls of protest in some quarters in regard to the number of parts for the tracks themselves but in reality this type of track is the best compromise to produce the notable “track sag” evident on this type. The moulding of all the parts is to a very high standard with no flash present on any of the sprues. The all important turret shape is handled very well and scales out to the scale drawings I had on hand. A partial turret interior is included. The lower hull is made up of a large plastic tub into which the vehicles torsion bars are inserted. The road wheels are beautifully detailed with detail on the inner and outer surfaces, and are of correct diameter. The upper and lower hull fit is

superb resulting in a perfectly square assembly without the need for any trimming. An engine bay is included and while basic by Bronco standards, it includes everything that could be seen (bar the engine wires) if choose to leave the engine bay hatch open. The drive sprockets are in two halves and have the correct rib contours on their inside surfaces. The tracks included are both appropriate for this vehicle and very well done. A small photoetched fret is included that addresses the rear engine grill outlets and rear breather vents. Four marking choices are included with three in Russian OBD Green and one in German service wearing whitewash camouflage. A large 20-page instruction booklet is included with 27 construction steps. The instructions are well laid out and easy to follow. In fact, I see an improvement in clarity with these instructions. This new kit from Bronco has been a long time coming, having been announced well over a year ago. Has it been worth the wait? The answer is an undoubted yes. I doubt if this KV-85 will be bettered anytime soon. ■

Engine parts are included.

Cast texture on the mantlet is very convincing.

The new turret shell.

Thanks to Bronco for the review sample www.cn-bronco.com/en/index.php

Individual track links are provided. Lots of them!

The generous photo-etched fret.

Clear parts are also included. The track pins. A jig is supplied to assist assembly.

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BUILD PREVIEW

Tamiya 1:48 Dingo Mk.II • Kit No. 32581

Tamiya’s attractive box art.

SPEED BUILDING The Editor undertakes a lunchtime build of Tamiya’s new 1:48 scale Dingo Mk.II.

T

amiya’s latest contribution to 1:48 scale military modelling is an all-new Dingo Mk.II Scout Car. Supplied on just two sprues, the kit comprises 57 parts in dark green plastic, which includes eleven parts for the two-man crew. The model is extremely simple, with all hatches and visors moulded closed. Interior details are limited to seats for the two crew members, a steering wheel, internal visor detail and a fuel tank. Each axle with its two springs and shock absorbers is supplied as a single part. The steering is fixed in the straight-ahead position. Surface detail is by way of mostly raised detail for the hatches, doors, tie-downs and rivets, plus nicely moulded hinges. Ejector pin circles are limited to the insides of the hull, but they are quite visible when the model is built. The tyres are moulded in two pieces each from polystyrene plastic and the hub and tread texture looks good. There is a raised moulding seam along the centreline of each tyre and not really any detail to speak of on the back of the wheel. These are attached to the axle by simply

gluing them in place – no poly caps here. On-vehicle tools comprise a shovel and a jack. The Bren gun is not included, as the passenger’s visor is moulded shut Markings are supplied for a single vehicle attached to 5th Guards Armoured Brigade. The vehicle is finished in Dark Green with a disruptive Mickey Mouse pattern in Black.

SPEED BUILDING As you can probably tell from my in-box description, this is a very simple kit. Construction is correspondingly fast and easy. I started building the model around 1:00pm and was finished basic construction by 2:30pm on the same day, including the time required to take and edit the photographs. There are no tricks or traps to speak of, but next time I would spend some time filling and sanding the ejector pin marks on the upper inside of the hull sides. Fit is as good as you would expect of a new Tamiya kit. I did think that the model looked a little bare straight from the box. Once it was finished, I

checked my reference books and online sources, but surprisingly few Dingoes carried much in the way of stowage. Despite this inconvenient fact, I decided to pull out my poetic licence and add some scratch built packs and tarps from Kneadatite two-part epoxy putty, plus 1:48 scale British packs and boxes from Black Dog and Verlinden resin sets. I will be using this vehicle in a larger diorama in future, so stay tuned!

CONCLUSION I am very pleased to see Tamiya’s new 1:48 kit of this important and widely used scout car. Tamiya’s Dingo is very simple in parts breakdown and construction, but will fit the bill either as a standalone display piece or in a larger scene. ■

Thanks to Tamiya Japan for the sample www.tamiya.com Tamiya kits are distributed in the UK by The Hobby Company Limited www.hobbyco.net

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Surface features are mostly raised and all crisp. Even the exhaust and muffler are moulded

Fenders are moulded with recessed areas for various fittings.

Smaller details are well moulded.

The two crew figures are broken down with separate arms and head.

to the hull side.

The floor of the body is supplied as a separate part.

Wheels are broken down into two pieces each.

Forward and rear body parts.

Springs and shocks are moulded to the axles.

Figure detail is good and the poses are quite versatile.

Decals are supplied for a single vehicle from 5th Guards Armoured Brigade.

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BUILD PREVIEW

Tamiya 1:48 Dingo Mk.II • Kit No. 32581

The basic interior parts assembled.

The main body halves have been assembled here.

The spartan interior simply drops into the body.

Fenders and body parts ready to the added.

A fair amount of detail is visible through the open top.

The simplicity of the kit’s running gear is obvious here.

Not much detail on the back of the wheels!

Axles and shock absorbers added to the bottom of the body.

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This, in turn, is simply glued to the bottom of the hull.

Voila! A lunchtime Dingo!

Afterwards, I added some scratch built tarps and rolls, with resin packs and boxes from Black Dog and Verlinden resin sets.

This model will be part of a larger diorama that will feature in a future issue of Model Military International magazine.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Tamiya 1:48 Dingo Mk.II • Kit No. 32581

NO PARKING! Kit Build: Carlos Alba López and Joaquin García Gázquez Kit Painting and Base: Joaquín García Gázquez Figures: Roberto Ramirez Gutierrez

T

he Daimler "Dingo" scout car was a light four-wheel drive vehicle used in reconnaissance and liaison roles during WWII. The two-man crew comprised a driver and observer, who also handled the machine gun. The 2500cc, 55 hp engine was located at the rear of the vehicle, with a frontal armour of 30mm. It was well protected for its size, and also fast and reliable. As a result, the Dingo was held in very high regard by

its own crews and also the enemy, and was kept in production for the entire war.

THE MODEL I particularly like these kind of small vehicles in 1:48 scale. This one is especially nice – and very small in the case of the Dingo. For me, this was a great chance for an easy fast build straight from the box. In my opinion, this is the perfect kit to take advantage of painting and weathering.

Construction is fast and easy. All the pieces fit perfectly. I left the wheels off until the end to make painting easier.

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PAINTING

I chose Tamiya’s single kit marking option for my model, a vehicle of 5th Guards Armoured Brigade. For the base colour I used Vallejo’s UK Bronze Green set, airbrushing the different tones to realise a zenithal lighting effect; distinguishing horizontal, sloping and vertical planes. This enhances the kit shapes resulting, in my opinion, a more natural appearance than other styles of painting.

The black “Mickey Mouse” mottles were painted with a brush using Vallejo Model Color acrylics, mixing Black and Ochre.

I applied a few filters to unify the colour base using Vallejo Dark Green and Khaki Green washes.

Vallejo Gloss Varnish was sprayed over the entire vehicle.

The decals were placed with the Micro Set and Sol system.

The model is now ready for the weathering process.

The oil treatment step will enrich the surface and imitate the paint wear of an operational vehicle.

A

D

B

E

C

A. The wheels are a very important area that demands our full attention. The kit wheels have been stuck to double-sided tape for weathering. B. The process starts with different earth pigments, fixed with diluted enamel thinners. C. You need to stop between applications to allow the fixer to fully dry. D. I left a ring of heavy dirt close to the wheel rim, once again fixing with thinners. E. A simple finger dragged along the wheel will remove the excess pigments and leave a realistic finish.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Tamiya 1:48 Dingo Mk.II • Kit No. 32581

I worked on the lower parts too, dabbing on AK's Damp Earth diluted in thinner. The pigments were set with a broad brush.

Chipping was applied using Vallejo acrylics in several different shades for the green and the black areas.

The tools, antenna bases, etc. were also painted with Vallejo acrylics.

The exhaust is painted with AK Interactive’s Dark Rust, and weathered with the Tamiya Weathering Master B Set, using the soot and rust colours.

A heavy application of pigments was brushed onto the upper hull to represent accumulated dirt…

…which was fixed using oil earth colours diluted in thinners.

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The model is finished after a little retouching here and there.

THE BASE

I always like to present my models in a minimally decorated setting. This helps to place it the model in scale and in context, even more so if we accompany it with figures.

A photographic frame and a small chunk of wood border the base.

For the pavement I used Tamiya’s Stone Paving C. The curb is made with a thin strip of cork and the soil part using a mixture Tamiya’s Diorama Texture Paint, Dark Earth, pigments and thin sand.

The road sign is also by Tamiya from their Road Sign Set. I mixed the soil using Texture Paint diluted in water, and a layer of diluted putty on the pavement and curb. Now it is ready for painting.

I applied black primer to highlight any faults and to provide an effective base for the following paint layers.

I painted the base with Vallejo acrylics.

The stones of the pavement are a mixture of blue and ochres.

I added variety of tones to enrich the base colours with different oil paints.

The process continues by fixing earthy pigment colours with AK’s Pigment Fixer.

To finish the groundwork, I added some dampness effects with Tamiya X-19 Smoke diluted in water, applied in successive thin layers.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Tamiya 1:48 Dingo Mk.II • Kit No. 32581

The grass was done with natural fibres, painted with my airbrush in shades of green, and stuck to the base with white glue.

THE FIGURES

The sculpting of the figures is excellent, especially the walking soldier.

The road sign is completed with a Tamiya decal, and a Verlinden Productions signpost.

The figures are by Total War Miniatures, modelled by Manel Arin and painted by Roberto Ramirez. They are painted using acrylic colours for the highlights and shading. Here, Roberto picks up the story: I painted the two figures that accompany the Dingo in the scene. They are by Total War Miniatures, with great detail and casting in this small scale. I kept the heads and bodies separate to make painting easier, then primed the parts. This really highlighted the quality of the casting and sculpting. It is important to apply paint very thinly or we will obscure the fine detail of the figures. For the faces, I used the AK-Interactive’s flesh paint set. Once again, the paint has to be applied thinly, especially when applying it with a brush.

He has a natural and dynamic pose.

I moved on to the helmets next. For maximum speed, I used a mixture of airbrush and brush for painting. I started with a brush over the whole surface of the overall with the base colour, then added highlights to "shoot" splashes of lighting paint with the airbrush from above, to enhance the upper points followed by the same process for the shadows, only turning the figure upside-down in order that the paint settles in the low areas and natural shadows. Further highlights were added with a brush. For the walking soldier, I only used the mixed brush/airbrush technique for the uniform, and painted the rest with brush including the leather jacket and the equipment he carries on his back. I hope that you like it. ■

The crew figure is more static, but the sculpting is magnificent, and is a perfect complement to the Dingo.

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THE COMPLETED SCENE

Everything has now been placed in the small scene.

Tamiya kits are distributed in the UK by The Hobby Company Limited www.hobbyco.net

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KIT PREVIEW

Zvezda 1:35 Sd.Kfz 251/1 Ausf B ‘Stuka Zu Fuss’ • Kit No. 3625

Zvezda has released a 1:35 scale rocketequipped Hanomag half-track based on the Ausf. C version. Graham Tetley takes a close look.

Individual track links. Note the sink marks on the pads.

STUKA ZU FUSS O

ver the years we have been graced with a few Sd.Kfz. 251 ‘Stuka Zu Fuss’ kits (Dragon’s 6284 251 Ausf C, AFV Club’s 35091 Ausf. C, and the Cyberhobby 6326 251/2 Ausf. C) however this is the first, and only currently available in plastic, on the Ausf. B chassis. So what is it like? On opening we have 460 parts moulded in light grey plastic on eleven sprues. Included in the kit are separate link tracks with two parts to each link, 28cm rockets & launchers, a crew weapons set and a detailed multi-part engine. Construction options are limited to having the rockets deployed or not plus you can have the various hatches open or closed. For the halftrack the standard of molding is good with no flash or knock-out pin marks on visible surfaces. That said, some parts do suffer from sink marks and the track pads especially are marred by this. Detail is a little clunky and some parts overly thick, in fact it reminds me of a Tamiya kit from the early 1970’s. The rockets and launchers though are much better, being finer in detail and molding quality. I am particularly impressed by the finesse of the rocket crates and mounts, which are better than everyone else’s out there.

CONSTRUCTION The chassis pan is made from separate parts so care will be needed to get it straight. The suspension arms have some positive location points but I

would still recommend building it on a level surface to get the whole running gear straight and level. The interior is quite sparse and suffers from some clunky detail. For example, the driver’s bulkhead has the control pedals moulded solid and the mechanism for opening the rear doors is really thickly done. There is no rivet or weld seam detail anywhere on the main panels (interior or exterior) so if detail is your thing this will be a project for those winter nights. Crew weapons in the form of MP40’s and Kar 98’s are provided but these are not Dragon Gen2 weapons and, in my view, best replaced. Turning to the running gear, the front wheels themselves come in two halves and are positionable with care. The detail on the wheels and tracks is good although the drive sprockets are another matter. Zvezda have moulded them fully circular, but in real life the contact surfaces were flattened and slightly offset opposite each drive tooth to allow the contact with the tracks. It will be a pain to manually correct this and it is a shame that Zvezda have not picked up on it. You will need to add the internal bolts to the drive sprocket rims if you so wish, but that depends on whether you are fully bothered by these incorrect parts.

THE ROCKETS Starting with the wooden crates, these are (in my opinion) the best currently available. Zvezda give us all of the internal supports

and these are really nicely done. We are missing the wood grain effect but it isn’t a major problem in my opinion. The frames attach to the hull with the aid of small indentations but I suspect that getting it all straight with be fiddly, so just take your time. The rockets are the 28cm versions and come in two halves with separate fuses. If you decide to depict the launchers folded then you are missing out on some really nice parts! Markings are supplied for two vehicles, both from 1941and in Panzer Grey, with Humbrol paints being the only ones referred to. The instructions I must say are really clear, uncluttered, and very easy to follow.

CONCLUSION Zvezda’s kit differs from all others on the market by being on the Ausf. B chassis so in that respect it is unique. It would be an ideal kit for someone with a few builds under their belt or as a superdetailing exercise. It does not have the level of detail that the Dragon or AFV Club 251’s have, but then it is half the price. As I have not yet got around to building any of this at the time of writing I cannot comment on the fit of the parts. I do not think that this is aimed at the experienced modeller but it does fill a gap in the market. If you can overlook the errors and clunky detail, and put the sinkhole affected track pads facing the ground, it will build into a very reasonable model. ■

The rocket mounting frame.

Two sprues of running gear parts are included.

Road wheel detail.

The kit’s small arms.

Engine bay detail.

Decal options.

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Firewall and radio detail.

The cabin floor.

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SNEAK PREVIEW

Tamiya 1:35 French Medium Tank Somua S35 • Kit No. 35344

SOMOUA SNEAK PEEK Marcus Nicholls takes a look at a pre-production sample of Tamiya's latest 1:35 tank kit, the French Somua S35. This is a newly-tooled kit, not a re-boxing of old sprues.

T

amiya's brand-new 1:35 scale Somua S35 kit comes moulded in sandcoloured polystyrene plus a small clear plastic sprue for the vision slots and headlamp lenses, separately bagged individual track links, polythene cap wheelfasteners, heavy gauge metal chain and a waterslide decal sheet carrying three markings-options for French vehicles. A well-detailed commander figure is also provided to sit on the open turret hatch. The Somua S35 is a goodlooking tank, the rounded surfaces of its cast-steel hull giving it an unusual and appealing appearance. The cast texture (a feature of Tamiya's kit) is also wonderful bonus for modellers, offering

the chance for some creative paint techniques and weathering processes. The core of the model is a conventional lower 'bathtub' hull and a one-piece upper hull moulding. Two side panels – carrying all the suspension location points – affix to the lower hull early on in assembly, ready to receive the four-wheeled bogies, drive sprockets and idlers, over which outer panels and curved armour plates fit. The tracks are beautifully fast and easy in their assembly, simply snapping together to form fully articulated runs that can then be painted. The instructions suggest fitting the tracks to the tank before the upper hull is in place, but I'd say it'll be easier to do this after

the main structures are complete and painted. A fantastically charismatic, much-wanted subject has become reality and it is a triumph of kit design.

CONCLUSION This is a welcome release of a much-desired subject. The kit, naturally, features Tamiya's legendary parts-fit, detail and refinement. ■

Tamiya model kits are imported and distributed in the UK by The Hobby Company Limited www.hobbyco.net Widely available from good model shops everywhere.

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The one-piece upper hull.

Moulded-on detail is up to Tamiya’s standards.

Lovely cooling fins on the exhaust.

Surface texture looks great straight from the box.

Close-up detail of the rear deck.

Idler wheel detail. Once again, the cast texture here is impressive.

Crisp detail is also present on the smaller parts.

The individual track links are almost ready to use straight from the box.

The upper turret shell.

These are simply clicked together for a genuinely workable result.

Clear parts provide lights and lenses as well as the driver’s visor.

Polythene caps and a length of chain complete the package.

The kit supplied decal sheet provides three marking options.

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I IAI DUSTY I I I I I CZ II FEATURE ARTICLE

Bronco 1:35 Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) • Kit No. CB35065

Luke Pitt adds an engine bay and stowage to Bronco’s impressive new 1:35 scale Panzer 35(t).

I

have always liked the lines of the Skoda LT vz.35. A fairly average tank by 1939, it was nevertheless pressed into German service with the occupation of Czechoslovakia. The Skoda was a light tank developed for the Czech army in the mid1930s. The tank saw service in German Panzer Divisions in Poland, France and Russia. To my knowledge, this is the third plastic rendition of this vehicle in 1:35 scale and is undoubtedly the best.

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I I I I I I I I I CZECH IN THE BOX Bronco’s 1:35 scale Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) kit is presented in the now familiar box with a crisp illustration adorning the box top lid. A large 22 page instruction booklet is included with 30 construction steps. The instructions are well laid out and wonderfully drawn but are a little vague. In fact, I found myself scratching my head in places and indeed had to consult some of the steps ahead of various sequences to discover where certain items should be placed. When opening the box, you are confronted with 643 parts over 29 sprues. After the initial shock over the sheer number of parts

and reviewing the instructions it becomes apparent that Bronco has done their homework with this kit. Almost everything is included with the exception of an engine bay. In summary, this is a very good kit and is, in my view, better than all other 35(t) kits that have preceded it. The kit is basically state of the art and includes all of the elements needed to make a quite stunning model right out of the box.

BUILD APPROACH I roughly broke the build down into phases. I call my approach “Modular Modelling” or “MM” for short. I break the build down into a number of steps and approach

each build step in small bites adding as much detail as I can possibly manage. In reality, we all do this and all I have done is simply put a name to the process. I wanted to display the engine on this piece and tell a little story along the way. My reason was simple. I had purchased the original CMK kit may years ago and had installed the aftermarket CMK interior and engine bay. The model was a labour of love but sadly, I never got around to finishing it. The model lay around for years with the upper and lower hulls never glued together. When Academy announced their kit of this type I was keen to get it. Unbeknownst to

me, our Editor also had a fondness for the vehicle and promptly built it (Issue 93). Meanwhile, Bronco had also indicated they would release a kit so I set my sights on that kit. When the review sample arrived, I was suitably impressed, my mind started to wonder and thought, what if I scrapped my old CMK build and installed the engine into this new Bronco kit? Well readers, that’s just what I did. This article has been written in the “Spanish Way” for want of a better term, as most of the build process has been covered in some way or another with photos. I hope you enjoy my little journey. A

THE START - A QUICK REVIEW A,

B,

C,

D,

E,

F,

G,

H,

A, The lower hull is made up of four basic parts - the floor, both hull sides and a rear panel. B, The belly plate and front driver’s station are moulded in flat pack form. C, The upper hull is provided in two parts, front and rear. The rear deck has both the engine openings, which just scream for engine detail. The turret is moulded as an upper part onto which the two part copula is attached. D, The rear hull is again moulded in flat pack form. The fit is superb, with next to no filler required. E, The Bronco kit is not for the faint hearted. It contains many very small parts that in the end, have to be cleaned up, this can sap even the most studious modeller. F, The 18 road wheels on each side are moulded well and have very crisp details. G, The drive sprockets are in five pieces each with the front missing out on the distinctive semi recessed holes on the hub itself. These are represented a slight raised circles. One has to ask, why so many pieces? H, The bogie assemblies are complex affairs that require a careful study of the instructions.

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IIIIIIIIII FEATURE ARTICLE

Bronco 1:35 Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) • Kit No. CB35065

THE BUILD - TRACKS

The tracks are very well done. In fact, all that needs to be done is to carefully remove them from the sprue gates with a sharp knife…

…and click them together.

When complete they may be set aside. When putting the tracks together you will find some of the small pins break off resulting in the track not really staying together. The simple solution is to glue these in short lengths and use them for the underside (or flat sections) of track.

In this view I have attached the front sprocket to the track. You will note the holes on the inside rim have been drilled out. This was done to better reflect what I was seeing in my references.

The rear drive assembly was also attached to the completed track assembly.

I used the drape and glue method for assembling the tracks. What this means is once the track is assembled, you merely tack the bogie assemblies in place and carefully glue the track together with the desired drape. When dry, the bogie assemblies may be removed and set aside. This method speeds the painting stage.

THE BUILD - JERRY CANS

The kit provides ten jerry cans with two cans per sprue. Each has have five parts and one photo etched spacer. I was impressed with the detail and they went together flawlessly.

When complete, the jerry cans look the part. I will even go out on a limb here and say these are the best plastic jerry cans on the market today.

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IIIIIIIII THE BUILD - BOGIES

The next step was to assemble the bogie units but not glue them to The drive assemblies are also complex affairs the hull. I tend to do this as it just makes the painting process that requiring eight parts each. much easier. The problem here is there are 34 parts that make up one bogie assembly. They are designed to fully articulate just like the real vehicle. Added to this, you need to multiply this by four as there are two assemblies per side. This means that you have a whole lot of clean up, which is very time consuming.

The next step is to assemble the return rollers and each assembly, which have no less than three parts in each assembly. Multiply this by eight - as there are four per side - and you have a whole lot of clean up to do. Some of the parts on these assemblies are ultra small and one has to wonder why Bronco has taken this overly complex approach. Nevertheless, once completed, the assembly is very detailed.

THE BUILD - HULL AND TURRET

One of the very minor faults of the Bronco kit is the poor fit of the upper hull to the bottom hull assembly. To overcome this, I carved away a small portion of the fender.

Bronco has left nothing to chance with this kit. Even the lower mudguards have detail but are produced in two parts. In this view I have sanded the parts flush and rescribed the indented rib detail.

This helps the upper and lower hulls sit flush without the aid of clamping.

One of the curious things about the Bronco interior is the exposed heater and engine assembly. My references would indicate a firewall was in place, but some of the engine was exposed via a grill of some kind. I covered the exposed engine and heater assembly with a 15 thou firewall, adding a grill assembly from the spares box. To be perfectly honest both my and Bronco’s renditions are incorrect but neither can be seen when the turret is in place.

The upper and lower hulls mate very well with only a little modification.

I had purchased the old CMK engine upgrade for their kit (Item No. CMK 3020) and installed it in their kit. I removed it from that old, never to be completed build and test fitted it to the Bronco hull.

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IIIIIIIIII FEATURE ARTICLE

Bronco 1:35 Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) • Kit No. CB35065

THE BUILD - HULL AND TURRET CONTINUED...

The upper hull was then painted and oil washed in the appropriate colours. You will note I have masked off all the various openings after the painting process. I have done this on the inside surfaces (before the upper and lower hulls are joined together), this results, in a neater finish when the topcoat is applied.

With a few modifications the engine and associated hardware fitted very well into the Bronco hull.

The turret assembles nicely but, some of the detail is lost when mating the upper and lower sections. I replaced the lost screw heads with some from the Aber range (Item No. 35101)

I attached little masking tape pull tabs to the masking tape as an aid to removing them after the top coat is applied. You will also note that I have replaced the rear engine access cover with 20 thou plastic card as it seemed more scale like in thickness. On reflection, I should have also replaced the other engine flaps as well as they too seem overly thick in profile.

The Bronco gun barrel seems nicely moulded but after careful clean up it was found to be somewhat lacking. I replaced it with this one from Lion Marc (Item No. LM10054), which was a vast improvement on the kit part.

When completing the turret assembly I noted the visor blocks have been moulded in clear plastic. I’ve always thought this was a noble but ultimately dumb idea as the visor has to be painted in the end but even so, these ones are nicely detailed.

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IIIIIIIII INTERIOR PAINTING

The CMK engine set provides most of what you require to fill the engine bay. I stripped the paint off my example and repainted it for this build. The engine bay was painted in red primer while the engine itself was finished in Alclad. I added the various pipes and fittings from soft solder in various diameters. I have also extended the exhaust pipe to meet the Bronco part. But on reflection this was unnecessary (as it is not seen)

The fighting compartment was then assembled and painted next. This is where the Bronco kit shines. It includes almost everything you need and careful painting is all that is required. I used MBI reference source (ISBN 80-901263-8-3) as it gives a good overall view of this aspect of the vehicle in both photos and drawings.

I have added various knickknacks to the interior to give it that lived in look. The cartons came from the Jadar range, while the girly poster came from an old Verlinden set. You will note that I have hand painted the Panzer Grey section of the hull where the interior meets the exterior to give it a sharp well defined line (which would be impossible when the lower and upper hulls are joined together)

PAINTING

I generally spray with a higher PSI air mix than most - in my case 35 PSI. I tend to do a few light coats rather than one thick one. My mix for Panzer Grey is a little strange and was based in part by all the colour photos I have recently seen that depict the colour as very dark with a hint of blue. It is however true that we all perceive colour differently so my perception may be entirely wrong. Nevertheless, my mix is equal parts Tamiya XF-1 Flat Black, XF-50 Field Blue and XF-24 Dark Grey.

The masking of the interior with the little pull tabs made from masking tape. The rear tarp and wooden brace board were taken from the DEF update set intended for the Academy kit.

I generally use 30% paint, 70% thinner. I have thinned the paint with Mr Hobby Levelling Thinner. It does wondrous things for Tamiya paint making it so much easier to achieve a thin but durable finish.

The turret was painted next. The same softly muted modulation effect was used on the top and middle of the Commander’s hatch and turret roof.

I have been impressed of late with some forms of the so called modulation concept. I’m too lazy to mask areas off to produce a sharp defined edge so I simply sprayed the top areas of the tank in a slight lightened tone of my initial paint mix with the addition of a little more XF-50 Field Blue.

In this view, the top of the barrel and turret has received the lighter coat. Note also that I have masked off the top and bottom of the turret with masking tape with the latter also having a small hand hold made from masking tape.

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IIIIIIIIII FEATURE ARTICLE

Bronco 1:35 Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) • Kit No. CB35065

ENGINE The focal point of this piece was to be the engine bay. For that reason, all of the engine hatches were left open. This was more difficult than I imagined as I wanted a tank used in Operation Barbarossa. As a result of this, I had to figure out how the rear engine hatch would open with the jerry cans attached. The oil stains on the engine really worked well on this piece and much of the credit for those should go to Mig Jiminez’s new range of “Ammo” of washes. In this case I have used both “Fresh Engine Oil” Item No. A.MIG-1408 and “Fuel Stains” Item No. A.MIG-1409. This product can be used much the same as a wash.

The rear engine hatch was fabricated from 20 thou plastic card as the kit item seemed a little thick. The engine grab handles were made from fuse wire bent and repositioned. The small ladle was made from a plastic tube with a fuse wire handle. The rust on the muffler and engine pipes uses the almost flawless Lifecolor rust system. Consisting of four paints (UA 701 through to UA 704) it is both easy to apply and produces a good result.

OPEN HATCHES

The front hatches were left open in a deliberate attempt to show You will note the driver’s visor had been left open. This again was an as much of the interior as possible. I’m not a huge fan of in-your- attempt to add more light to the inside of the vehicle. I have added face shading, and as such the result was deliberately muted. fuse wire cables to both the light and side markers. Looking at this photo now, it seems strange that the instrument binnacle on the inside of fighting compartment has no wires or instrument rears protruding from them. I could find no reference on this unit and left it as Bronco produced it. From this angle it just looks wrong.

The commander’s hatch has the internal cushion moulded on to it and this calls out for a little shading of the cushion itself. The internal cushions have to be carefully sanded to shape as they are the meeting point between the cupola and turret roof. I have added micro chipping to the inside of the copular itself.

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IIIIIIIII THE FIGURE

The Commander is an amalgamation of three resin figures. The upper body and arms come from the Evolution German Tank Crewman (EM-35071) and while this figure is good, I found his pants to be more 54mm in size and bulk. I cut away the pants at the belt line and added the lower legs from the Alpine Russian Tanker figure (35012). I modified that figures pants by removing the large pocket on right leg and repositioned the boots to fit the slope of the tanks engine decking. The last addition was to use the head from The Evolution German Tank Crewman (EM-35070)

The figure was painted exclusively with Vallejo paints with particular attention being paid to the shading of the fabric creases.

The dust and mud to the lower portion of the legs was sprayed on using the final mix of dust that I had mixed.

WEATHERING I have always like the dusty look that German Panzer Grey vehicles took on in the opening weeks of Operation Barbarossa. The aim from the beginning was to portray a vehicle that was almost brown at the bottom and Panzer Grey at the top of the turret. The tracks where sprayed a dark red colour using a combination of Tamiya XF-1 Flat Black, XF-7 Flat Red and XF-79 Linoleum Deck Brown. They were pin washed. The track contact points were then picked out in silver. The application of mud and dust was one of trial and error. The mud build up on the drive sprocket was achieved by mixing Winsor & Newton Galleria modelling paste with some dark earthy tones from the Mig range of pigments (Po 33 and Po28). I added a little black to the mix as I knew it would dry a lighter colour, which is something I wanted to avoid on this piece. The vehicle was weathered with the so-called microchipping method on the sides and doors of the half track. The entire running gear was sprayed with a mix of Tamiya XF-49 Khaki, XF-60 Dark Yellow and a little XF-2 Flat White to lighten the mix. The road wheels were also encrusted with a little of my mud mix via a toothpick.

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IIIIIIIIII FEATURE ARTICLE

Bronco 1:35 Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) • Kit No. CB35065

B CONCLUSION This new model from Bronco is without a doubt the best representation of the 35(t) done by any model company at any time but the sheer number of small parts and the vague instructions in places will put a lot of modellers off. I was reminded of a saying when the build was complete: “the sweet is never as sweet without the sour”. I think this sums this kit up nicely! ■

I pin washed and micro-chipped the sides of the vehicle heavily. The pick and shovel handles were then hand painted in brown and oil washed accordingly.

Modelspec Bronco 1:35 Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)

Kit No. CB35065

The combination of different colours and textures gives a pleasing effect when viewed from this angle. The mud mix was applied to the wheels and lower half of the body in a random pattern. When complete, the areas treated were highlighted with a thin oil wash and dry brushed in a sand white mix. The jerry cans were arranged in a random pattern as they have been moved from the rear access engine door to facilitate servicing.

Materials and Updates Used: Lion Marc Barrel (Item LM10054) CMK engine upgrade (item number Cmk 3020) Evolution German Tank Crewman (EM-35070) Evolution German Tank Crewman (EM-35071) Alpine Russian Tanker Figure (35012) Aber Screw Heads (Item number 35101)

THE FINISHED MODEL

Paints Used: Tamiya XF-2 Flat White, XF-69 Nat Black, XF-50 Field Blue, XF-1 Black, XF-52 Flat Earth, XF-49 Khaki, XF-51 Khaki Drab, XF-79 Deck Brown, XF-24 Dark Grey, XF-60 Dark Yellow Mr. Hobby Khaki Brown 404 Humbrol Matt White “34”, Wood Brown “62”, Brown “94” Vallejo Matt Varnish “520”, Red “829”, Brown ”856”, Maroon“859”, Yellow “953”, Orange Brown “981” Revell Colour light flesh “35” Mig Pigments PO-28 Europe Dust, PO-33 Dark Mud Lifecolor rust system Consisting of four paints (UA 701 trough to UA 704) Ammo “Fresh Engine Oil” item A.MIG-1408, “Fuel Stains” item A.MIG-1409

The wooden block propping the rear engine access panel open was a solution to the problem I had with reference. I could find no information on how this was held in place. This was the only plausible thing I could think of.

Tools Used Waldron Sub-Miniature Punch and Die Set Small Shop Brass Assist Roller set Small Shop Hold and Fold References MBI Skoda LT vz.35b (ISBN 80-901263-8-3) Nuts and Bolts Panzerkampfwagen 35(t) ✓ Very high level of detail; excellent moulding; best 35(t) available in any scale. ✗ Very high parts count and complex assembly; confusing instructions. Available from Thanks to Bronco Models for the sample www.cn-bronco.com/en/index.php

Rating

The weathering on this vehicle is what I would describe as extreme. I had to push myself well outside my comfort zone to achieve it.

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IIIIIIIII I roughly broke the build “ down into phases. I call my

This ground eye view gives a good impression of the amount of weathering applied to the vehicle.

approach Modular Modelling or, MM for short...

”

The front antenna was made from thin wire.

In this overhead shot, the rear jerry can placement is shown to good advantage.

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KIT PREVIEW

ICM 1:35 Typ 2.5-32 KzS 8 WW2 German Light Fire Truck • Kit No. 35403

Andy King examines ICM’s 1:35 Opel Blitz Light Fire Truck.

Lovely slatted grille.

LEICHT FEUERWEHRAUTO

B

ased on the Opel-Blitz 1.5 ton chassis the Kz8 ‘Katze’ or cat as it was known by it’s crews first appeared in 1936. Initially the first vehicles had an open cab and crew area and only later on was the cab enclosed and a canvas tilt fitted to the rear. It was ordered in large numbers for use by the Air Ministry and the Safety and Rescue Services but it also equipped the Fire and Rescue Service and Fire Police (Feuershutzpolizei) as modelled in the kit and at war’s end over 300 were still in service. Inside the box you have five sprues moulded in tan styrene, a single clear sprue for the cab glazing, eight vinyl tyres, a small decal sheet and a thin sheet of clear styrene for the rear canvas tilt. All parts are well moulded although there is a small amount of flash here and there, some mould-seam lines and pin-marks are present however these are mainly confined to the undersides of the front fenders and the insides of the body and cab. The vinyl tyres are not bad at all detail-wise and surprisingly the seam line around the circumference of each tyre is very light and should disappear after a quick rub with wet-and-dry paper. There is however some heavier flash on the sidewalls which may be trickier to remove (I would recommend a new scalpel blade for this job), personally I would replace these with resin aftermarket items.

The cabin glazing is nice and clear if a bit on the thick side but you can use the kit parts as templates for new windows cut from thinner clear styrene should you wish. The decal sheet is okay but the ‘Feuershutzpolizei’ eagle emblem could have been sharper in detail so one for someone like Archer Decals to improve on I think. The engine is very well detailed which is nice, it’s just a shame that you won’t be able to see it unless you hack apart the bonnet and side panels as no provision is made for optional parts in this area. At least the ’Opel-Blitz’ logo is moulded into the radiator grill, something that is left off other kits due no doubt to licensing issues. The chassis is a multi-part assembly and will need care to get it square and flat otherwise you run the risk of having a wonky model on the shelf. There is some confusion on the instructions at page 4 where it states at the bottom “For variant 1” and “For variant 2” with three boxes in red containing a question mark and the letters ‘N’ and ‘B’. The problem is that colour call outs throughout the instructions are also red letters in red boxes, the only thing I can see is that it refers to the optional bracket on the front fender for the Notek light but check for yourselves. Keeping with the instructions I noted that no mention is made of the engine, chassis and interior colours so you’ll have to fend for yourselves on this one as I

Clear parts.

have no idea, I can only assume that the chassis and engine block would be black and the interior colour would be the same as the exterior but again do your research. Some of the exterior details are VERY fine such as the door handles, bonnet catches, windscreen wipers etc and great care will be needed to remove them from the sprue otherwise you risk destroying them or launching them into the void of missing kit parts. Mostly these things are replaced by etch but I honestly think it’s unnecessary with this kit. This looks to be another fine model by ICM and adds to the L1500LLG fire truck that they released a couple of years ago. My only nitpick would be the quality of the instructions that ICM supply as they can be a bit vague, the contrast of the illustrations at the rear could be a lot sharper. With the relatively low partscount it would appear to be an easy build but with the multi-part chassis and tiny details I think it will give just enough to test your patience but not totally destroy your soul. ■

Tyre tread on the vinyl tyres isn’t too bad.

One-piece mudguards and running boards.

The tilt is supplied.

ICM kits are available online from Creative Models Limited www.creativemodels.co.uk History is from the excellent book ‘German Firefighting Vehicles in World War Two by Michael Fedorowitz, ISBN 0-7643-0191-8 Running gear and detail parts.

Markings and supplied for two vehicles. An engine is included too.

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NEW in the ‘HOW TO BUILD...’ series HOW TO BUILD... TAMIYA’S ARMOUR KITS IN 1:35 Though the modelling world is awash with an incredible variety of military vehicle kits from a huge number of different companies, one stands head and shoulders above the others in terms of originality, buildability and fun. That company is Tamiya, who have consistently provided the budding enthusiast with some of the finest kits available in the scale of 1:35. This new book brings together five detailed features that will show what is possible from this extensive range of kits. In so doing, it offers hints and tips, detailed step-by-step guides and written descriptions on all manner of techniques from basic construction, through detailing, painting and realistic weathering. No stone is left unturned in the quest to inspire the modeller to complete similar projects for themselves. It really is a one-stop-shop for the budding military modeller! Within its 84 pages you will five find features that take you through the construction and painting of the ‘Easy Eight’ Sherman, Nashorn, Elefant, Gama Goat and Tiran 5, all expertly put together by our renowned team of authors, Spencer Pollard, Brett Green and Marcus Nicholls, who have created one of the finest collections of modelling features ever published, on this famous range of kits. This then is the world of Tamiya’s wonderful 1:35 military vehicle kits plus p&p – we hope that you enjoy your visit!

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TECH GUIDE

Nuts Planet 1:10 scale 101st Airborne • Kit No. NP-B007

BIG BROTHER

Matt Wellhouser describes a few of the changes to his standard technique when painting Nuts Planet’s large-scale Band of Brothers half-figure.

T

he iconic 101st Airborne has made its mark in history during World War Two and subsequent conflicts. In the past 70 plus years movies and books have brought attention to the unit’s heroic exploits during World War Two. Notably, when Steven Ambrose’s book “Band of Brothers” was written and subsequently brought to television, the 101st was in everyone’s living rooms. As a modeller and follower of World War Two history, this miniseries was the best thing since sliced bread. I think sales of anything 101st or 82nd Airborne modelwise flew off the shelf. So it is an understatement that this kit is popular.

NUTS PLANET’S 101ST AIRBORNE KIT This 1:10 scale half-figure is a product of Nuts Planet - a relatively new Korean company. This figure was sculpted by the talented Jun-Sik Ahn. The kit has two head options, and once you look at the choices, I imagine that most modellers will decide on the likeness of Damian Lewis from “Band of Brothers”. Lewis portrays the real-life Dick Winters from the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and a main character in the Ambrose book. The likeness is stunning and just works. Sometimes character busts miss a mark or two, but this one is spot on. For my project, I chose the Band of Brothers head. The other is a

Mohawk-adorned bare head without the helmet. It has a vague Robert DeNiro look to it. The uniform put the kit as D-Day +1 or 2, if you followed the miniseries. This was when Lt. Winters was detailed with a group of men to take out three German gun emplacements. If you review the Band of Brothers episodes around that timeframe you can get ideas on painting the bust and the equipment he was carrying. The figure is clad in the standard Airborne issue M1942 jump suit. It is a tannish khaki colour. Be aware that when Band of Brothers was filmed, they stripped some of the colour from the scenes to give the picture a dated look, much like they did for Saving Private Ryan. Good references will help you

understand the true colour. I usually use Vallejo Model Color, but lately started to add Jo Sonja acrylics as well. For flesh, they produce a nice tone, plus they dry dead flat. I was getting too much red tone using Vallejo exclusively. For many parts of the figure you do not need to use a specific colour. With all of the GIs that I have painted, I usually mix up something that looks like khaki and something that looks like olive drab and so forth. There is so much khaki and OD on a GI that you have to constantly change the tone or it looks like its all one colour. I began the figure by cleaning up all the parts and making subassemblies as needed, then each part was primed with Tamiya primer.

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TECH GUIDE

Nuts Planet 1:10 scale 101st Airborne • Kit No. NP-B007

PAINTING THE HEAD

I started by painting the face. Here it is bare with a coat of primer.

Eyes painted starting with the “white” portion. It is actually off white. I added Brown Sand to white to tone down the brightness.

The pupils began with black. Gradually work each pupil to make the size similar.

The blue green mix, leaving a small black outline between the two colours.

Black with some burnt umber for the pupil.

Flesh starts with a thin base coat - Jo Sonja Naples Yellow + Burnt Sienna + Vallejo Brown Sand.

Shadows lightly added with more Burnt Sienna + Burnt Umber. Brown Madder and more of the previous mix to enhance shadows and highlights with Naples Yellow added.

Refinement of the shadows and highlights. The beard was added with Black and Raw Umber. I made small, localised corrections.

Final face. All mixes are relatively thin - 30 to 40% paint 70 to 60% water. Each successive coat is a glaze like a controlled wash.

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PAINTING THE BODY Next I tackled the body. To ease painting it was approached in three stages - the torso, the right arm added and then the left arm. The backpack and pistol magazine pouch were glued on before painting.

The torso base coated after pre-shading with black. I used thinned Tamiya Khaki.

Arms were base coated at the same time.

The colours on the uniform refined by brush with various khaki, olive drab, canvas colours.

The left arm attached, and seams filled with A&B. The arms are touched up and final painting is done when on the figure.

The right arm was added and refinement of shadows and highlights continue.

As I continue with the torso, highlights, shadows and details are refined and painted. I keep going adding shadows and highlights until I am satisfied with the result.

The felt shoulder pads painted with Scale 75 Brown Leather.

Backpack painted with a version of the base color by adding English Uniform. Edging on pack painted with German Field Grey. Last, I painted the “US” with black and careful study of my references.

The 101st Airborne patch is painted.

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TECH GUIDE

Nuts Planet 1:10 scale 101st Airborne • Kit No. NP-B007

DETAIL PAINTING

Detail parts were done as I waited for paint to dry. The M-1 Garand has a resin sling included. The swivels on the sling are resin as well. Not trusting the glue to hold, I substituted brass wire and brass micro tubing. It is a relatively easy job to drill out the sling and insert some small brass wire.

Painting the rifle was straightforward: base coat with a light buff or tan for the wood areas.

The stock was painted using artist’s oil colours.

The metal was painted with a mix of Humbrol Gunmetal + Panzer Grey. Humbrol Gunmetal is a buffable colour that you burnish with a cotton bud after it dries. When dry, powdered graphite was used to highlight the metal.

The sling was painted with Vallejo and Scale 75 colours and everything is touched up.

HELMET

Next, the helmet is painted with a base coat with Tamiya Olive Drab.

Detail and scrim painted with Vallejo OD Green, Khaki, English Uniform, and Scale 75 Brown Leather. Be sure to add some bare steel edges to the helmet. I use a silver pencil or Citadel Boltgun Metal.

Unit insignia was painted then the helmet was given a Rembrandt sepia oil paint wash. The insignia is a “spade”, but because of the netting it is hard to distinguish.

Since this is a large figure, you can actually see the underside of the helmet liner. I painted it using English Uniform and a very dark brown. Reference photos can help here.

The finished helmet with straps attached. I used a soldering iron to gently heat the straps to bend they way I want them.

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The painted canteen.

The Colt .45 holster painted and the leg strap added. I drilled out the leg strap and added a very small brass wire to reinforce it.

For the final assembly, I added the holster…

…canteen, head and rifle.

THE COMPLETED FIGURE

The final result really shows the character of Dick Winters from the Band of Brothers series. This is a finely sculpted figure with plenty of fantastic detail. You can’t go wrong with this one.

Modelspec Nuts Planet 1:10 scale 101st Airborne Kit No. NP-B007 ✓ Excellent sculpting and moulding; very strong likeness to Damian Lewis; straightforward assembly. ✗ Nothing worth mentioning. Available from A list of Nuts Planet retailers may be found on their website www.nutsplanet.com

Rating

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Meng 1:35 Char 2C French Super Heavy Tank • Kit No.TS-009

PROPAGANDA STAR Javier Redondo builds Meng’s 1:35 scale Char 2C, describing painting and weathering in detail.

D

esigned as armoured breakthrough vehicle, the FCM Char 2C was destined to take a prominent part in the planned major offensive of spring 1919, but the armistice in November 1918 deprived it of the honour by ending the war without having been put into full production. The initial order of 700 units was therefore reduced to 300 to ultimately cancelled. However, it was agreed to build ten units, and these were completed and delivered by the French manufacturer Forge Chantier Mediterranee from 1919 to 1921.

The concept of the heavy tank prompted heated arguments with supporters of light armoured vehicles being dominant in subsequent years. Even so, the commitment to the so-called "Ground Battleship" had its supporters until the 1930s in many armies, who designed projects of varying degrees of success. Powerfully armoured with a thickness of 45 mm at the front and 22 mm on the sides, the Char FCM 2C was the first heavy tank operating in the world, weighing nearly 70 tons. It was equipped with two 250 hp Maybach engines of each electric

drive to provide mobility and a top speed of 15 km/h with a range of 150 kilometres. A turret armed with cannon APX 1897 75 mm housed three crew. Another smaller rear turret was fitted with a 7.92 mm machine gun. Three more guns were installed directly in the hull, one in the front and the other on both sides, all in separate compartments, which offered respectable this firepower. Measurements were exorbitant - 12 meters long with the rear skid mounted. By comparison, the German Maus was less than 10 meters. The FCM 2C also featured a width of 2.95 meters and a height

of 4 meters. Her crew consisted of 12 men; driver, commander, gunner, loader, four machine gunner, mechanic, electrician, an assistant and a radio operator. In 1926 one example (Champagne) was modified as Char 2C bis and rearmed with 155 mm cannon in a new turret design, incorporating new engines and eliminating machine guns. The project was ultimately unsuccessful due to motor problems, so he turned to reconvert to their original state. In 1939, another unit (Lorraine) it was uparmoured to make it invulnerable to German anti-tank

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guns of the time, with a thickness of frontal armour of 90 mm and sides of 65 mm. As a result, the weight increased to 75 tons. This was the armoured company commander and became the armoured combat car of its time. In the inter-war period, its operational value was rapidly declining. At the beginning of World War II were already clearly obsolete. During the 1939 general mobilization, the ten Char 2Cs were reactivated and attached to the 51º Bataillon of Chars de Combat, with serial numbers (above 1 to 10) from 90 to 99. (See table). Two of these, 94 and 96, were put straight into reserve. Because the French High Command was aware of the poor operating potential of the 2C, it was relegated to propaganda work. Away from the front line to preserve their propagandistic value, its purpose was simply to boost morale and to show the population that France had invincible armour, displaying them on the newsreels and alleging that German positions that were just old French forts in film productions. When German Panzerdivisions commenced Operation Fall Rot, destroying the French front lines on June 5, 1940, it was decided to prevent the capture of the Char 2C. They were immediately ordered south by rail, due to the poor mechanical reliability of the tank and especially their extreme slowness. After three days of erratic orders and movements offsetting orders, the convoy was forced to stop about 50 kilometres from the Neufchateau due to damage sustained by aerial bombardment. The train was immobilised on a curve with small embankment that prevented the unloading of tanks. Another train stopped behind made escape impossible. At 19:00 on June 5, six 2C of convoy were sabotaged by their crews to avoid capture, without ever having entered combat. Later, Goebbels and Goering declared that the Char 2Cs were destroyed by Stukas of the Luftwaffe. Paradoxically, the French armoured unit relegated to perform propaganda functions ended its days serving propaganda of Nazi Germany. A 2C, 99 "Champagne" was captured undamaged due to failed demolition charges, and was transported to Berlin to be exhibited as a war trophy. In 1945 it was captured by the Soviet army.

Nothing was officially heard of this vehicle afterwards, but apparently it was seen in East Germany three years later. Its ultimate fate is uncertain. Some sources claim that it was scrapped, but the legend persists that it survives today, stored at the Russian tank museum Kubinka in Moscow.

MENG’S 1:35 CHAR 2C The Chinese manufacturer Meng is strongly committed to quality and originality of its models and the Char 2C is a proof of that. After being pleasantly surprised with the Renault FT-17, Meng continued to expand its catalogue with this release. The kit comprises 387 plastic parts with excellent detail, 150 individual links for tracks, a transparent piece and a sheet of photo-etched grilles for the engine compartment. The kit is broken down cleverly, allowing assembly without excessive and useless assemblies that are often difficult to build. The instructions are clear and concise. Individual track links show a high level of detail without the annoying traces of circular mould marks, offering clean and separated links. These are simply clicked together to create a fully workable length of tracks. The only notable flaw is the lack of detail in the undercarriage and lack of spring damping. The model is essentially an empty box with no interior detail, but this is by no means essential. No additions were necessary to have a very good reproduction of this armoured behemoth. The model was therefore built straight from the box.

The single clear part is for the headlight lens.

The kit’s photo-etched fret.

Markings are supplied for four vehicles.

The individual track links are bagged and ready to assemble.

The links simply click together.

Assembly is fast and easy. Here are all the main sub-assemblies.

No additions were required.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Meng 1:35 Char 2C French Super Heavy Tank • Kit No.TS-009

PAINTING When deciding to individualise my 2C, and discarding the three marking options proposed by the manufacturers, Alsace (no. 93) and the colourfully camouflaged two-tone Poitou (no. 90) in Vert Olive and Normandie (no. 97) in the same colours, I chose perhaps the most iconic of them all, for its history and its original camouflage; Champagne (no. 99). Due to the size of the model it is best to divide the work into sections, so work on the hull, engine compartment and the two turrets may be done separately, but following similar processes for all of them.

The model was first washed with warm soapy water to remove traces of oil from handling during assembly, then primed with Mr. Surfacer1200.

I used a mixture of Tamiya acrylic colors comprises the XF-59 Desert Yellow, Dark Yellow XF-60 and XF-2 Flat White, applied to past airbrush to coat evenly thin.

With a green watercolor pencil, I drew the camouflage scheme onto the surface of the model.

The green section of the pattern was brush painted with acrylic Panzer Aces 327 diluted with water.

Humbrol Enamel Interior Green151 was diluted and applied in successive passes, allowing to dry between them, until it covered completely.

The end result applied in thin layers was a hard edged camouflage that is compelling and saved the tedious work of drawing templates for the airbrush.

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THE TRACKS

The tracks first received a base coat of Europ Gelb from Amaga’s acrylic range. We use this colour for its covering power and its toughness when dry.

This was applied liberally to the tracks with the help of an old paintbrush.

The mixture was flicked onto the tracks with an old toothbrush. Don't use this to clean your teeth afterwards!

A thick and malleable paste was mixed from acrylic Black Vallejo 950, green ocher 914, chocolate 872, fine art pigments, stucco, fine sand and water.

A custom mix of burnt umber, stucco, acrylic Black Vallejo 950, Chocolate 872 and Gloss Varnish was created. This was diluted for a darker paste to be applied to the central parts of the tracks.

A graphite pencil was used to represent worn metal.

The effect was reinforced with polishing with a fingertip.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Meng 1:35 Char 2C French Super Heavy Tank • Kit No.TS-009

WEATHERING

Accumulated earth was applied to the top of the sponsons.

Colour fading was achieved with a varied palette of oil colours, with special emphasis on the sides of the hull.

Effects of rust and burnt exhaust tip are applied with oil colours and pigments.

The mud and dirt is simulated by applying oil mixed with satin varnish. For oily undercarriage has also had asphalt applied at different intensities.

The finished engine compartment placed in its definitive position.

The different effects of water and humidity reproduced with paintbrush and AK Interactive’s Fuel Stains.

The machine guns are painted in metallic then polished with a graphite pencil. AK Worn Effects were added, leaving colour only in the area around the machine gun.

Chipping was done with a sponge and Vallejo acrylic Dark Rust 302.

Fine lines of dirt were made with Vallejo’s Dark Brown Model Wash diluted in water.

The earth and mud on the lower surfaces of the hull were created with a stucco mixture - Humbrol 29 Dark Earth and pigments.

The mixture was spread with a stiff paintbrush and the air of the airbrush.

Towing points were buffed with pencil lead too.

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The kit is “ broken down

cleverly, allowing assembly without excessive and useless parts that are often difficult to build... FCM 2C in Service

”

• N°10/ n°90 Poitou Sabotaged Neufchâteau south of the June 15, 1940. • N°1/ n°91 Provence Sabotaged Neufchâteau south of the June 15, 1940 • N°2 / n°92 Picardie - Sabotaged its crew in Joudreville near Briey, the June 12, 1940 • N°3 / n°93 Alsacie Sabotaged Neufchâteau south of the June 15, 1940 • N°4 / n°94 Bretagne Renovated in September 1939 (on reserve), their final destination is unknown. • N°5 / n°95 Touraine Sabotaged in Mainville, near Briey, the June 12, 1940 • N°6 / n°96 Anjou Renovated in September 1939 (on reserve) unknown destination • N°7 Lorraine - Normandie renamed No 97, tank company commander. Destroyed by its crew south of neufchâteau the June 15, 1940 • N°8 / n°98 Berry Sabotaged Neufchâteau south of the June 15, 1940. • N°9 / n°99 Champagne - Failed Sabotaged Neufchâteau south of the June 15, 1940.

The model did not require any after-market enhancements. It was built straight from the box.

This is a large vehicle – bigger even than the awesome German Maus.

Modelspec Meng 1:35 Char 2C French Super Heavy Tank Kit No.TS-009 ✓ Well detailed; simple parts breakdown; excellent fit; fast build; fascinating subject. ✗ Simplified road wheel mounts. Available from Meng Model news may be found on their website www.meng-model.com

Rating

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GALLERY

AFV Club Centurion Mk.5/1 • Kit No. AF-35100

i fi l t

AN AUSTRALIAN IN VIETNAM Chris Wauchop builds and improves AFV Club’s 1:35 scale Centurion Mk.5/1.

H

ere is Chris Wauchop's 1:35 scale AFV Club Centurion Mk.5/1, kit number AF-35100 The model represents a vehicle from the Royal Australia Armoured Corps in Vietnam, in service with C Squadron, 1 Armoured Regiment. A combination of somewhat

vague instructions and tricky fit of parts led to a fairly lengthy build time, but the results were worth the effort.

Construction The AFV Club kit was supplemented with a number of after-market items and scratch

A cable for the searchlight was added using 24 gauge copper wire.

built details. AFV workable individual track links (Item No. AF-35102) were used. These look great, but the fit was very tight and the completed track runs were bowed. All handles and tie down brackets were replaced with fine brass wire. Where appropriate, a

small weld bead at the base of the handles/brackets was depicted with a tiny puddle of super glue. Tie down straps were added to turret stowage boxes from lead foil. The electrical cables moulded to the turret and front of the hull were sliced off and replaced with fine solder.

Picture wire was used for the tow cables.

The ca

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A combination of “somewhat vague

instructions and tricky fit of parts led to a fairly lengthy build time, but the results were worth the effort...

”

The entire model was covered with was a heavy coating of various pastel chalk colours representing Vietnam red dust.

A cable for the searchlight was added using 24 gauge copper wire. The handles moulded to the searchlight were cut off and replaced with spare lengths of flat photo-etch bent into shape. Wing nuts from photo-etched spare parts were added to the antenna bases and tool attachment brackets. Ties for the twin tow cables were bent from short lengths of lead foil. A dust cover for the searchlight was made from lead foil. The canvas mantlet cover was

made for the kit part by building up layers of Milliput and sculpting it to shape. The frame for the cover was built from strips of plastic card and bolts cut from .020" plastic rod. The Firestorm resin replacement part was not available to Chris at the time that he built the model.

Painting, Markings and Weathering All camouflage colours were applied with the Testor Aztek A470 airbrush. The overall camouflage green is a mix of equal parts Tamiya acrylic XF-62 Olive Drab, XF-58

The canvas mantlet cover was made for the kit part by building up layers of Milliput and sculpting it to shape.

Olive Green and XF-49 Khaki, plus a dash of Gunze-Sangyo H312 Green FS34227. The inner wheel rims moulded to the vinyl tyres were painted green using a fine brush. The wooden handles of the tools were painted XF-59 Desert Yellow. A protective coat of Tamiya X-22 Gloss Clear was sprayed over this base colour to protect the paint job from the subsequent wash. This wash was a mix of Tamuya enamel X-18 and XF-64 in equal parts, heavily thinned with mineral turpentine.

The entire model was then covered with Vietnam red dust. This was a heavy coating of various pastel chalk colours, ground down and mixed with turpentine then painted onto the model. When dry, the dust was scrubbed off with a soft toothbrush. The result is dust in the crevices, with a fine reddish effect overall. This method of application if also very robust and can withstand handling without rubbing off the pastel. AFV Club kits are available at all good hobby stores worldwide. n

Wing nuts from photo-etched spare parts were added to the antenna bases and tool attachment brackets.

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KIT PREVIEW

Riich Models 1:35 U.S. M1 57mm Anti-Tank Gun on M2 Carriage • Kit No. RV35020

Crisp raised lettering on the tyres.

Jeremy Moore reviews Riich Models’ 1:35 scale 57mm Anti-Tank Gun.

Both military and civilian tread tyres are included.

TRANSATLANTIC 6 PDR

R

iich Models is a relative newcomer to the industry and have released several unique and highly sought-after subjects. Their most recent release is the U.S. M1 57mm towed anti-tank gun with a late configuration carriage. Several kits of the M1 have been produced in resin in recent years but this is the first styrene kit released since the venerable Peerless Max/Italeri offering from many years ago. Originally manufactured for the British in the U.S. as the 6-pdr (57mm) anti-tank gun, the U.S. designated M1 57mm anti-tank gun went into production in early 1943 to replace the inadequate 37mm anti-tank gun that drew many complaints due to its dismal performance in North Africa. Adopted by infantry regiments for their anti-tank battalions, the M1 57mm gun was initially mounted on the M1A3 carriage and towed by either the WC-63 1 ½ ton truck or the M2A1 halftrack. Further development and field experience resulted in the carriage M2 that added a small caster wheel and relocated the trail handles to assist the crew in handling the gun. Despite having better ballistics and penetrating power over the 37mm gun, the M1 57mm never gained popularity amongst infantry commanders. It was incapable of penetrating the frontal armour of the Panther, for example, and could only penetrate the side armour at very close range. Troops also complained of difficulties in manoeuvring and transporting the weapon particularly in the often encountered mud of Europe during the winter of 1944-45. Chronic shortages of high explosive (HE) ammunition throughout the war also limited its use and capabilities when dealing with targets other than armour. Ultimately towed anti-

tank weapons were replaced with self-propelled versions such as the M10, M18, and M36 tank destroyers. Riich Models release of the later production M1 57mm gun on M2 carriage (kit no. RV35020) consists of 166 parts moulded in light grey styrene, two photo etched frets with a total of 28 parts, a small decal sheet, and a length of thread. Included in the parts total is a sprue from their recent M1 57mm & 6 Pdr Ammunition Set (RE30009) with a sampling of ammunition, empty shell casings, cardboard packing tubes, two types of metal ammunition containers, and a U.S. style wooden ammunition crate. Moulding quality of the parts is excellent with minimal clean up required. As is typical with most modern injection moulded kits some of the sprue plugs are a bit large on some of the smaller parts but shouldn’t present problems and are necessary to maintain the fidelity of the parts. The onepiece barrel with rifling detail is nicely done and precludes the necessity of an aftermarket metal option. The one-piece gun shield is also noteworthy as it has been reproduced in a suitable scale thickness with no mould release marks and effectively captures the angles and scalloped edges of the real example. The instructions are familiar isometric drawings with parts callouts clearly marked and appear to follow a logical assembly sequence. While the parts count may appear high for such a small subject, the assembly sequence is broken down into 11 steps (12 including the ammunition crate). There are some notably

small parts utilized mostly in the gun mount and telescoping sight assemblies so caution is advised to avoid contributing to the carpet monster! Both the breech block and recoil portion of the gun will remain movable if assembled carefully with minimal use of cement. The modeller is provided with the option of civilian tread or combat tread tires and both are very nicely done; each wheel/brake assembly consists of 8 parts! The civilian tread tires are formed using the “sandwich method” with individual layers forming the treads resulting in excellent detail for their small size. The only other option provided is for the towing or firing position which includes the positioning of the lower gun shield, armoured sight cover and of course trailing arms for either the towing or firing position. Painting and marking options are limited to olive drab and, well, olive drab! The decals provided are for the ammunition crates, packing tubes, and individual rounds are nicely printed and in register. Riich Models has produced a very nice kit of a welcome subject for Allied modellers. My overall impressions are very good and it’s been well worth the wait for an injection moulded styrene kit of this subject. Riich has also announced an early version M1 57mm on the M1A3 carriage with a crew of four and my mind is already running with diorama possibilities! Highly Recommended. ■

The gun shield.

The gun halves.

The small castoring wheel is equally well done.

Small details are well moulded.

Alternative ordnance is included.

Shell cases too!

Photo-etch, decals and string.

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DON’TT MISS A THING....

Only

£4.20 (UK) £5.25 (Europe) £6.45 (World-wide) including postage

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Bronco 1:35 M22 Locust Dragon 1:35 Wirbelwind Dragon 1:35 Type 95 Light Tank Ha-Go MiniArt 1:35 MB Type 170V Bronco 1:35 Buffalo 6x6 MPCV Bronco 1:35 Hunber Mk.II Cyberhobby 1:35 Panzer II with mineroller • Dragon 1:35 Panzer 38(t) Ausf. S » and more...

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Bronco 1:35 Versuchsflakwagen Dragon 1:35 Type 95 Ha-Go Dragon 1:35 Panzer IV Ausf. H Tasca 1:35 M32B1 Recovery Vehicle Dragon 1:35 Sherman III DV Inside the Armour A10 Cruiser Trumpeter 1:35 8.8cm Pak 43 auf Leichte Waffentraeger • Bronco 1:35 25 pdr Ammo Set and Limber » and more...

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• 1:48 Panther A Conversion • Dragon 1:35 StuG III Ausf. G Late Production • Tamiya 1:35 Merkava 1 • Bronco 1:35 Jeep w/ 37mm Anti-Tank Gun • Dragon 1:72 Churchill in a diorama • Bronco 1:35 Korean War M24 Chaffee • Young Miniatures’ 1:10 Battle of Jang-Jin Reservoir 1950 bust » and more...

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• Tamiya 1:48 BA-64B • 1:48 Tamiya 1:48 Steyr Kommandeurwagen • HobbyBoss 1:35 Hungarian Light Tank Toldi III (C40) • HobbyBoss 1:35 Panhard EBR-11 • ICM 1:35 Packard Twelve • HobbyBoss 1:35 Meng Shi • Bronco 1:35 Valentine Mk.IX • Panda 1:35 Object 279 • ICM 1:35 Leader’s Car » and more...

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• Tamiya 1:35 scale Gama Goat • Dragon 1:35 Waffentrager Pt.2 • Dragon 1:35 Sexton SPG Normandy diorama • Young Miniatures 1:10 British Infantryman Somme 1916 • Dragon 1:35 Zugkraftwagen 1t • Meng 1:35 Leopard 1A3/1A4 • Bronco 1:35 Korean War M24 Chaffee • ScaleACT 2013 Show report » and more...

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• Tamiya’s 1:48 scale GAZ-MM Truck • Bronco Panzer I Ausf. F • Italeri’s LCVP and Revell’s LCM in a 1:35 scale diorama • ZiS-30 conversion from Mirror Models 1:35 Komsomoletz • Small-scale Nashorn wreck • Takom 1:35 Leopard C2 MEXAS kit and Trackjam Conversion » and more...

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• Meng 1:35 AMX-30 • Tamiya 1:35 Tiger British WWI Mk.IV Male tank • Bronco 1:35 Toldi conversion • Shizuoka Hobby Show 2014 • Large scale Panther Commander bust • Bronco 1:35 6 pdr • Bronco 1:35 sWS Cargo Version • Kinetic 1:35 MRAP » and more...

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• Italeri 1:35 Crusader • Puckapunyal Crusader in detail • AFV Club 1:35 M1130 Stryker CV/TACP • Dragon 1:35 Panzer T-34-747(r) • Zvezda 1:35 Panther Ausf.D • Italeri 1:35 BMP-1 • Tamiya 1:35 M4 Sherman showcased • Roden 1:35 Rolls-Royce Armoured Car » and more...

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Don’t worry, all the issues are still available to buy and full details are on the website @ www.modelmilitaryinternational.com

Inside the Armour A10 Cruiser Tank HobbyBoss 1:35 T-26 Meng 1:35 Merkava Mk.3 BAZ w/ Mine Roller Brach Models 1:35 French R35 Meng 1:35 Pickup w/ZU-23-2 1:35 Kinetic M109A2 MiniArt 1:35 GAZ-AA truck Riich Models 1:35 Universal Carrier Dragon 1:35 25 Pdr with Limber » and more...

Diopark 1:35 Mercedes modern sedan Resicast Wading Sherman Mk.III conv Dragon 1:35 Tauchpanzer III Meng Model’s 1:35 Char 2C Italeri Opel Maultier Hobby Boss 1:35 German Sd.Kfz. 254 Xact Scale Models 1:35 T-80U Bronco 1:35 Panzer I Ausf. F Tamiya 1:35 revamped LRDG Command Car » and more...

Kinetic 1:35 Maxx Pro Dragon 1:35 M6A1 Heavy Tank Tamiya 1:35 Toyota Model AB Phaeton ICM 1:35 WWII Ambulance Xact Scale Models 1:35 Tiger Bonehead Models 200mm SS Squad Leader • Dragon 1:35 Jagdpanzer IV L/70 • ICM 1:35 V300 Maultier & Pak 36 » and more...

• • • •

Dragon 1:35 Panzer I Ausf. A Leichte Funk Bronco 1:35 M24 Chaffee 1:35 Tamiya StuG III Ausf.G kit Airfix 1:48 Supacat Jackal Meng Model 1:35 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer AUF1 MiniArt 1:35 Ya-12 Italeri 1:35 Gun Truck Bronco 1:35 88mm Flak 41 Gun Bronco 1:35 Su-152 » and more...

Kinetic 1:35 R-11 MRAP Meng 1:35 D9R Bulldozer Dragon 1:35 M48A3 Mod B Zvezda 1:35 BMD Panzer II Diorama Meng 1:35 T-90 Tamiya 1:35 Japanese Type 10 tank Dragon 1:35 Flak 37 Bronco 1:35 Fiat Topolino » and more...

Takom’s 1:35 Leopard C2A1 MEXAS Tamiya 1:35 Panther Ausf. G Late Version Tunnel Rats In Vietnam Reference 1:35 Vietnam War vignette Bronvo 1:35 6 pdr Bronco 1:35 M24 in Indochina Tamiya 1:35 Tilly by Tamiya 1:35 6x6 Airfield Fuel Truck Bronco CV-3-33 » and more...

Tamiya 1:35 Jagdpanzer IV /70(V) Academy 1:35 Merkava IID Dragon 1:72 AAVP7A1 IBG Models 1:35 Marmon Herrington Mk. I Tamiya & MR Modellbau 1:48 Achilles HobbyBoss 1:35 White 666 Truck Scale Model World 2014 report Italeri 1:48 Huey » and more...

FREE 1:35 DECALS! 1:35 HobbyBoss Leopard 2A6M CAN Tamiya 1:35 Tiran 5 HobbyBoss 1:35 Toldi Meng 1:35 AUF1 Dragon 1:35 M4A2 Sherman Trumpeter 1:35 German 12.8cm PAK 44 Waffentrager Krupp 1 » and more...

HobbyBoss 1:35 T-26 Meng Model 1:35 Achzarit WWI Tanks showcase Tamiya & AFV Club 1:48 Sd.Kfz. 251 kits ICM 1:35 Type G4 (W31) Neo for Iwata pistol trigger airbrush Tamiya 1:35 Ford Mutt Dragon 1:35 SAS Jeep Bronco 1:35 Valentine Mk.XI » and more...

Tamiya 1:35 Mark IV Male Meng 1:35 Leopard to AS1 conversion Kapitan In Italy 1:35 diorama Heller 1:35 Somua S35 Great White North Show Report Bronco 1:35 Panzer 35(t) ICM 1:24 Admiral Cabriolet Italeri 1:35 Water Tanker » and more...

Char B1 bis History and Walk Around Tamiya 1:35 Motorised Char B1 bis Iwata Custom Micron B Airbrush Dragon 1:35 M1A2 Upgrade 1:35 scale Berlin Street Diorama MiniArt’s 1:35 AEC Mk.I Armoured Car Bronco 1:35 Pz.Bfwg. 35(t) » and more...

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Tel: 01525 222573 - Email: [email protected] p 55 BackIssues 108.indd 57

12/02/2015 15:43

Figures

ICM

- A round-up of the latest figure sets on release...

1:35 SCALE GERMAN INFANTRY (1914) KIT NO. 35679 1914 saw the 100th anniversary of WWI and to mark the event there has been a slow but steady release of related items in 1:35. ICM have joined in with this set of four German Infantrymen. Moulded in tan styrene, you have one sprue containing the figures and two identical ones of weapons and personal equipment including steel helmets, mess tins, backpacks, wire cutters etc., and for the weapons you have the MG08/15 machine gun, M1918 anti-tank gun, Mauser carbines and rifles, Luger and Mauser pistols, Bergmann MP18/1 SMG and bayonets. The quality of moulding is very good indeed with little flash and light seam lines and no trace of the dreaded die-lines that seems to afflict another manufacturers figures, the detail is nice and sharp on the figures with webbing, undercuts and creases well defined. Facial features are quite possibly some of the best available for injection moulded ones too. All the figures are depicted in the typical 1910 field-grey uniform with stand and fall collar (Stehumfallkragen) and ‘Brandenburg’ cuffs on the tunic which along with the side seams on the trousers would have been piped in red. The famous ‘Picklehaube’ helmets included have the canvas cover over them which usually had the unit number painted on up until 1915. Fur covered backpacks and bread bags are also on the sprue. The weapons and personal equipment on the two duplicate sprues are also nicely detailed and moulded and a very useful inclusion are the 1916 pattern steel helmets as these are equally applicable to early period WWII German troops and of course the Volkssturm at that war’s end who were equipped with anything that came to hand. The painting instructions leave a bit to be desired as the sheet is mainly in black and white with a somewhat confusing amount of red lines pointing here and there however the box art can be used as a colour reference too. Colour call outs are for the Model Master paint range only. ICM has been putting out some great figure sets over the past couple of years and this one is no exception. It is also good that we are finally getting some decent WWI figures in 1:35 scale as this period of history has been largely ignored in this scale. Highly recommended if just for the weapons and equipment alone. Available online from Creative Models Limited www.creativemodels.co.uk Andy King

ICM

1:35 SCALE SOVIET MOTORIZED INFANTRY (1943-1945) KIT NO. 35635 New from ICM is this set of five figures, four of which are WWII Soviet troops in relaxed poses designed to populate a truck or similar soft-skin vehicle and an old woman receiving a loaf of bread from them. All the parts are very well moulded with only bits of flash and light seam lines present and once again the detail on the figures is very good particularly the facial features, especially on the old woman. Probably due to the fact the troops are depicted riding in a truck, the amount of weapons and personal equipment is rather limited to a couple of machine guns, water bottles and bread bags so you will have to source any extra equipment yourself. All the soldiers are all depicted wearing the green M43 pattern tunic and trousers with three of them sporting the ‘Pilotka’ or side cap. Painting instructions are typical ICM in black and white with red letters indicating what colour to use, paint numbers quoted are from the Model Master range only. You could use the box art for reference to a point but I would recommend further research especially for uniform details such as rank insignia and awards. This is another great set of figures from ICM and although designed for use with a truck I’m pretty sure they can be adapted for other vehicles. The old lady included will also be very useful for dioramas and vignettes too. Highly Recommended. Available online from Creative Models Limited www.creativemodels.co.uk Andy King

56 Model Military International - April 2015

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ICM

1:35 SCALE SOVIET MAXIM MACHINE GUN (1941) KIT NO. 35676 It sort of follows the above review in the fact that it’s Soviet WWII so in the box you get just three sprues in tan styrene comprising some 26 parts (well it is only small) however, as is typical with ICM, all parts are well moulded with only light flash and mould-seams present. The gun may be built in either a transport or firing mode and although there is an ammo belt included it is rather rigid so you may need to immerse it in hot water to soften it enough to be able to mould it to shape. The spokes on the wheels are commendably thin and the gun shield is usable but would look better with a photo-etched item or alternatively go mad and make one yourself from thin styrene sheet. Another thing to add is some chain on the end of the barrel for the ‘tompion’ (or the plug for the muzzle). I compared the model to walkaround photographs on www.primeportal.com and apart from the couple of points I mentioned above, everything appears to be there. All in all, an excellent little model that should make for a quick stressfree build and an ideal accompaniment for a Soviet WWII vignette. Highly Recommended. Available online from Creative Models Limited www.creativemodels.co.uk Andy King

ICM

1:35 SCALE WWI BRITISH INFANTRY AND EQUIPMENT. KIT NO. 35683 WWI FRENCH INFANTRY AND EQUIPMENT. KIT NO. 35681 Some more WWI stuff from ICM and this time it’s Infantry equipment and weapons for British and French troops. In both boxes you have two duplicate sprues moulded in a tan styrene and like the German Infantry set above all parts are very well moulded and nicely detailed with minimal flash present. The British equipment includes items such as Lee-Enfield rifles with and without bayonets, Webley revolvers, Lewis machine guns and Mills grenades with personal gear such as the Mk 1 steel helmet, mess tins, ammo pouches etc., also included are wooden rattles that were used in the trenches to warn of gas attacks. The French weapons include the Hotchkiss Mle 1909 and Chauchat CSRG Mle 1915 machine guns, Lebel-Berthier Mle 1916 rifle and bayonets, Ruby pistols and holsters and F-1 and OF-15 grenades. For personal equipment you have mess tins, canteens, binoculars, coffee mills, wire cutters and Adrian M1915 helmets. The instructions are again in black and white with red letters and arrows indicating what colour the items should be but I would refer to the box art for a better idea of what they should look like, at least the instructions list a description for all the equipment included. These are two great sets of WWI equipment and of course equally applicable to WWII as the rifles, grenades, helmets etc. were also carried over to that conflict particularly the early war years. The moulding and detail is once again of a very high standard. ICM is just getting better and better. Most welcome and highly recommended. Available online from Creative Models Limited www.creativemodels.co.uk Andy King April 2015 - Model Military International 57

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Incoming ARCHER FINE TRANSFERS

AR77029 – UK INDEPENDENT ARMOURED BRIGADE UNIT SIGNS. SUMMER 1943-SPRING 1945 AR77033 – UK & COMMONWEALTH AOS SIGNS. SUMMER 1943-SPRING 1945 AR77035 – UK INDEPENDENT ARMOURED BRIGADE UNIT SIGNS. SUMMER 1943-SPRING 1945 AR88096 – RIVETS IN A CIRCULAR PATTERN AR99067 – US ARMY AND CORPS PATCHES

Archer Fine Transfers has an interesting batch of recent releases. The first is a selection of 1:35 scale waterslide decals under the new branding of AFT Decals. These cover UK Independent Armoured Brigade Unit Signs and UK & Commonwealth AOS Signs. These are relevant for various Corps active in Italy and North West Europe from Summer 1943 until Spring 1945. Specifically, AR77029 contains decals for 21st Army Group, VIII Corps, 2nd Army, I Corps, V Corps, XXX Corps and XII Corps. AR77033 includes AOS signs in three different sizes for Reconnaissance Units belonging to Armoured and Infantry Divisions and Infantry Units of both Armoured and infantry Divisions including Divisional Armoured Reconnaissance Regiments, HQ Infantry Brigades of Armoured Divisions, Senior Infantry Battalions, Middle Infantry Battalions and Junior Infantry Battalions. Also includes Infantry Divisions, Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment, HQ Middle Infantry Brigade and Light Aid Detachment REME, Middle Infantry Brigade, Infantry Battalion no.1, Middle Infantry Brigade, Infantry Battalion no.2, Middle Infantry Brigade, Infantry Battalion no.3, Middle Infantry Brigade Support Group (MG & Mortars). AR77035 supplies AOS signs in three different sizes for Corps of Royal Engineers (RE) units belonging to Armoured Divisions including HQ Divisional RE, Field Squadron no.1 RE, Field Park Squadron RE, Field Squadron no.2 RE and Armoured Division's Bridging Troop RE. Infantry Divisions included are, HQ Divisional RE, Field Park Company RE and Light Aid Detachment REME, Field Company no.1 RE, Field Company no.2 RE, Field Company no.3 RE. Next up is a set of rivets in circular patterns. These texture decals are actually raised resin on clear decal film and are designed to be applied direct to the surface of a model before painting. These will have a myriad of uses for both aircraft and military modellers across a range of scales. The sheet includes .010 inch (.25 mm), .014 inch (.36 mm) and .018 inch (.46 mm) diameter rivets in circle patterns from .125 inch (3.18 mm) to .650 inch (16.5 mm) in diameter. These are conventional waterslide decals, and application instructions are included. The final new release in this batch is a set of US Army and Corps patches for 1:35 scale figures. This set offers twelve each of 1st, 5th and 7th Army and 3rd Corps uniform patches as seen on combat uniforms. It includes instructions and Wet Media Paper for easy positioning and application. All Recommended. Thanks to Archer Fine Transfers for the samples www.archertransfers.com Brett Green

58 Model Military International - March 2015

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VOYAGER MODEL

1:35 SCALE US M103A1 HEAVY TANK BASIC (GUN BARREL INCLUDED) ITEM NO. PE 35686

Voyager Model from Shanghai has released a new update set for Dragon’s 1:35 scale Black Label M103A1 Heavy Tank. The Heavy Tank M103 served the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps during the Cold War. Until the development of the M1 Abrams in the mid-1970s, it was the heaviest and most heavily armed tank in US service. The M103 was manufactured at the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant and the first units were accepted in 1957. The last M103s were withdrawn from service in 1974. The new Dragon Black Label kit has been criticized for a lack of detail straight from the box. Voyager’s multimedia update set will certainly address that issue for the superdetailing fans out there. Despite the use of the word “Basic” in the product description, this is in fact quite a comprehensive upgrade for Dragon’s kit. The set contains a one-piece turned metal gun barrel with rifling visible through the muzzle. A turned brass .50 cal gun barrel is included too, as is an impressive one-piece milled cooling jacket for the machine gun. Other metal parts include antenna bases and fine, delicate springs for the Commander’s hatch. Additional multimedia parts include four lengths of plastic rod, copper wire for the tow cable and fine metal wire. Two photo-etched parts deliver new fenders and mounts, stowage boxes, hinges, mounts for the turret rack and many smaller details. A third smaller photo-etched fret supplies webbing, straps and buckles. The photo-etched parts will best be attempted by the experienced modeler, but the results will be stunning given appropriate applications of skill and patience. All Highly Recommended to experienced modellers Voyager is available in Australia from Creative Models Australia www.creativemodels.com.au Brett Green

16/02/2015 11:20

Incoming Book Reviews NUTS AND BOLTS

VOLUME 33 LE.F.H.18,GWI II FUR LE. F.H 18/2, WESPE AND HUMMEL-WESPE BY HEINER DUSKE, DETLEV TELISTEN AND TONY GREENLAND

I have a friend that did not have enough information on a particular German subject he wished to model. He had searched the web downloaded the information, printed it and had it all on hand ready to start. When I found out what he was modelling I lent him my copy of the subject in the “Nuts and Bolts” range of books. He later confessed he simply threw out all the information he had collected and relied solely on the book I had lent him. That’s what the “Nuts and Bolts” series of books are - a one stop reference source. This new reference work has some 185 pages. The book is logically broken down into segmented parts. The first 49 pages are devoted to firstly the development and history of the Field howitzer itself and then it’s adaption to Pz. Kpfw. II chassis. Within this section, subsections discuss the development and technical description, followed by the differences between the prototype and production vehicles. A very useful chart describes how many were made and what units they were assigned to. The book is jammed packed with details like the variations of the weapon system itself and how they were used in the field. I particularly liked the chart describing the set up of a typical unit and all the vehicles that supported them. The next 67 pages is lavishly illustrated with a little over 59 black and white period photos of the howitzer and 127 photos of the Wespe again in period service. The next 15 pages are devoted to very well drawn 1:35 scale plans of all the known versions. John Rue never disappoints with his drawings and the three dimensional drawings just add to the experience. Twelve colour profile drawings follow over the next six pages and are wonderfully executed and presented. What I like about these profiles is that within the profile itself, a small black and white period photo of the relevant vehicle. This, I believe should be the industry standard. The last page of colour profiles deals with the various ammunition used together with a converted Wespe used for carrying ammunition profile. The next section consist of 26 colour walk around photos of the howitzer followed by 29 pages with 90 walk around photos of the Wespe. The entire vehicle is covered from the interior and engine through to a detailed study of the radios fitted. The last 12 pages are devoted to model builds. In my opinion, this is the best reference source I have come across for this weapon type. It strikes the right balance between historical fact, photo coverage and high quality colour profiles. For me, it is all I would ever need reference wise .It includes information that is easy to digest and presented in a logical manner. Reference doesn’t come much better than this. I must confess I love these books they offer convenience of just grabbing them, In reality, these books are more like four traditional books in one - a development history, wartime photo coverage, line drawings and colour profiles and a comprehensive walk around photo essay Highly Recommended. Thanks to Nuts & Bolts for the sample http://www.nuts-bolts.de Luke Pitt

NUTS AND BOLTS

VOLUME 32 MITTLERE GELUANDEGANGIGE LASTKRAFTWAGEN (O) – THE MEDIUM CROSS COUNTRY LORRIES 3 TON (6X4) OF THE REICHWEHR AND WEHRMACHT. BY HEINER DUSKE, DETLEV TELISTEN AND TONY GREENLAND

This title looks like a regular Nuts & Bolts reference book, but it marks a milestone. It is, in fact, the very first Nuts & Bolts title that focuses exclusively on wheeled trucks. The trucks in question are commercial lorries in service during the 1930s with the Reichwehr and later with the Wehrmacht. Although these vehicles were never designed for the torturous trials of war, many laboured on until 1945 or, more likely, until their own destruction beforehand. This title is presented in the usual useful Nuts & Bolts format with bilingual German and English text, glossy high quality paper and 224 pages plus covers. A historical and technical development section is followed by special bodies, camouflage and markings and modelling. Bussing-NAG, Henschel and Krupp 6x4 trucks are covered in detail with hundreds of wartime photos, walk around pictures, plans and colour profiles. The concluding Modelling section contains several inspiring builds covered in text and coloured photos. This is another excellent production by Nuts & Bolts, and it is great to see them expanding their analysis into the realm of wheeled vehicles. Highly Recommended. Thanks to Nuts & Bolts for the sample www.nuts-bolts.de Brett Green

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16/02/2015 11:22

1:48 Scale – A round-up of the latest news and releases GETTING BACK IN TO ARMOUR MODELLING?

TRY 1:48 SCALE - IT TAKES A QUARTER OF THE TIME!

I

have met and had conversations with many modellers that, for one reason or another, have re-joined the hobby. One comment that is often relayed is, “I always loved modelling as a kid and the kits are so much better now”. Indeed, the detail on most kits today is breathtaking, and as many others have said, this seems to be the golden age for the hobby in general. However, how much detail is enough? For those who are rejoining the hobby, some of the new 1:35 scale releases have well over one thousand parts. Added to this, how many of us have a 1:35 scale kit that just won’t go together, no matter how hard we try? Generally in 1:48 scale this is not an issue. By their very nature, the kits are less complex. Now, a wise man will tell you this overcomplication of some 1:35 scale kits is a character building experience. Well, in my view, that is absolute and utter

rubbish! Building a kit that is over complicated is akin to hitting your head with a hammer and telling yourself “gee this is really good, I’m learning something from this”. I mean, really, what are you learning? Our hobby should give us joy not make us angry or frustrated. It should be a pleasurable experience. Put simply; if that 1:35 scale kit is giving you a hard time, put it aside and start a 1:48 scale build. 1:48 scale is a good way to reintroducing yourself into armour modelling. Modellers often ask me what gives me pleasure in modelling, as I have a tendancy to over detail and make things more complicated than they need to be. Well, my greatest joy is seeing a well-detailed model complete. It can be mine or someone else’s. I also like opening new kits and thinking of the possibilities. As I see it, the problem with other scales is the sheer amount of time it takes to build any particular subject. In 1:48 scale, you can take a quarter of the time and as a result gain more joy from the hobby. This is why I think, if you intend to give armour modelling a try, 1:48 scale is the best place to start.

Until next time Luke Pitt

HAULER BRONCO SU-152 UPDATES 1:48 SCALE HLX48348 - SU-152 BASIC SET HLX48350 - SU-152 FENDERS HLX48351 - SU-152 RESIN ENGINE

So you thought the superb Bronco SU-152 was good enough right out of the box? Think again! You have to hand it to Hauler. They provide every new 1:48 scale release with some kind of upgrade and these three sets provide that little something extra that will set your model apart from the rest on the competition table. Now I’m not saying that the Bronco kit needs anything but these sets provide a little more finesse than the kit provided parts. The basic set provides the engine screens, tool clasps, and open fender/fuel tank brackets. Other items are the internal brackets for the engine access doors. The Fender set includes the fenders themselves as well as the enclosed bracket assembly. The resin engine consists of just four resin pieces and is wonderfully detailed. This set will provide all the relevant detail, apart from wiring, that could possibly be seen if you leave the main engine access door open. These sets are well worthwhile if you plan to go the extra mile with your build, they provide a sensible upgrade solution without the need for overly complex pieces or super small photo etch. Highly Recommended. Thanks to Hauler for the review samples www.hauler.cz Luke Pitt

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Luke Pitt explores the wonderful world of 1:48 scale models and after market.

ARKMODEL

1:48 SCALE GERMAN TYPE VIIC SUBMARINE KIT NO. 7602K

The Grey Wolves of the Atlantic - nothing instilled as much fear during the first years of World War II than the German Submarine, roaming and sinking Allied shipping seemingly at will. The signature warship of the German Kreigsmarine was the Type VIIC U-Boat (the most numerous type of submarine produced by any Navy). 565 of these U-Boats would be commissioned between 1940 and 1945 as well as 90 of the Type VIIC/41. The Type VIIC was developed from the prewar Type I and Type VIIA and VIIB classes. The Type VIIC was powered by two supercharged, 6 cylinder, and 4-stroke M6V 40/46 diesel engines producing between 2,800 to 3,200 horsepower which gave the boats a 17.7 knot maximum speed on surface. For submerged operations the boats were powered by one of a number of different electric motors whose batteries were charged by the diesels. The electric motors produced 750 horsepower and could drive the boats a maximum of 7.6 knots. In 1944 many of the surviving boats were equipped with the Schnorkel apparatus which allowed them to use their diesel engines underwater at shallow depths. The type had a range of 8190 miles which in turn, gave them a vast amount operational flexibility for their Atlantic operations. Arkmodel from China has generally been known for their remote control tanks in 1:16 scale and smaller scale remote control ships. This is their second 1:48 scale submarine (the other being, the modern German type 212). The kit is intended to be built as either a remote control or a static display piece. When opening the box the first thing that strikes you is the sensible approach the designers have taken in designing the hull. The hull is moulded in three sections split horizontally. Each section is joined together with the aid of hex screws into which are inserted into nuts that have been moulded into the hull at strategic points. The approach is both ingenious and simple. When the hull is assembled it measures a whopping 1400mm from bow to stern so, the model is big - very big. The detail on the hull also noteworthy as it strikes the right balance between accuracy and “handling toughness”. I say this as the kit is designed to be both a static and R/C piece. The deck is handled much the same way and comes in three sections. One of the nice things on both the hull and the deck is that all the grating is moulded open. This is in stark contrast to the Revell 1:72 offering which are moulded as depressions. This makes the Arkmodel much more accurate in that regard. The rest of the boat is made up of seven sprues comprising some 198 fairly well moulded plastic parts. The kit allows for four variations of the VIIC and all are handled quite well. The bridge and conning tower have almost all the detail you could ask for, while the deck guns are a little sparse (detail wise) but perfectly acceptable. Six marking choices are provided for on a waterslide decal sheet and colour profiles on the instruction sheet. You know, I have the Revell 1:72 scale Type VIIC in my stash and I have compared this new 1:48 scale offering to the Accurate Armour 1:35 scale kit and I have to tell you that this kit is better than both. It combines ease of assembly with greater detail. I like this kit. While not a techno moulding marvel it delivers and ticks all the right boxes. Recommended. Thanks to Arkmodel for the sample www.arkmodel.com

Reader Responses

What I’d Like to See in 1:48 scale

We have a number of responses from our readers in regard to the question asked a few months ago, “What you would like to see in 1:48 scale?” I’d like to add to Michal’s comments and say yes, I’d like to see a plastic M18 as well and encourage you all to write in. It can only help!

“Hello Luke, I just found that I got lucky - Tamiya will release one item from my wish list: the Panzer 38(t). They already did the Hetzer and two Marder III variants so I guess it was just a question of time. And since one can always dream, I hope the Flakpanzer 38(t) is also coming! Another WWII vehicle I'd like to see in quarter scale is the Russian Katyusha (say on the ZIS-6). Speaking of Russian trucks with missiles, I guess I'm not the only one who'd buy the SA-2 with the requisite ZIL-157.Scarcity of modern subjects is indeed baffling, icons like the T-54, T-72, Abrams or Leopard 2 come to mind immediately. Also, newer types used in recent conflicts like the Max Pro or M-ATV. Looking at Tamiya's latest release today I realised it's their 83rd kit in the regular 1:48 MM range (plus at least 11 special editions and the like, not counting aircraft combos). That's actually pretty impressive considering the series was only launched some 10 years ago, and what's important the kits keep coming at a pretty regular rate. And until the M18 Hellcat is released, I find the F6F an equally exciting option in quarter scale! Michal Urban San Clemente, CA, USA” And a second response from Matt Palmer with the question, why no Russian mobile ICBMs? Now they would be impressive in 1:48 scale. Just the right size especially that really big one with the very cool camo: “Hello, First thing to say is that I have no great experience with 1:48 scale. Even so, I would concur with those who suggest modern armour as possible future subjects. These are invariably larger than their older brethren, so having the detail - for the most part - of 1:35 scale but not taking up quite so much shelf space could be a benefit? This would be true also of the even bigger vehicles - the Russian mobile ICBMs or the larger MRAPs. Anyway, just a thought! Regards, Matt Palmer”

Luke Pitt April 2015 - Model Military International 61

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SPECIALISING IN AIRCRAFT, ARMOUR, VEHICLES & FIGURES IN 1/72, 1/48 & 1/35, VALLEJO PAINTS, MAIL ORDER

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1/48 website: www.parabellum.co.uk

HALIFAX MODELLERS WORLD

Tel: 01422 349157

Halifax Modellers World , 29 Union Street, Halifax, HX1 1PR

email: sales@ parabellum.co.uk

MASTERCARD/VISA

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OPEN 10.00AM - 5.30PM, THURS & FRI OPEN UNTIL 7.00PM

OPENING HOURS: MON,TUES,THUR 10.30-17.30,WED CLOSED, FRI 10.30-17.00,SAT 9.30-17.00,SUN 10.30-16.30

NO1 IN EUROPE FOR PLASTIC KITS AND ACCESSORIES INCLUDING THE FULL RANGE OF TAMIYA (NOT RC)

www.halifaxmodellersworld.co.uk Email:[email protected]

email: [email protected]

1/2 MILE FROM RAF MUSEUM

www.hannants.co.uk

MASTERCARD/VISA/SWITCH

ADVERTISE ON THIS PAGE! IF YOU ARE READING THIS THEN SO ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS. FOR INFORMATION, CALL GARETH LIDDIATT ON 01525 222573

WEB BROWSER>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> eduard.com

creativemodels.co.uk

www.hobbyco.net tamiya.com

italeri.com

revell.com

www.missing-lynx.com www.hyperscale.com p 62 Buyers Guide 108.indd 62

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Contact Details - for companies featured in MMI... ACCURATE ARMOUR/ ARMOUR DISTRIBUTION

Units 15-16 Kingston Industrial Estate, Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, PA14 5DG Scotland. Tel; 01475 743 955 Fax; 01475 743746 www.accurate-armour.com

ADALBERTUS

Iberyjska 7/49, 02-764 , Warsaw,Poland [email protected] www.adalbertus.com.pl

THE AIRBRUSH COMPANY Ltd

Unit 7 Marlborough Road, Lancing Business Park, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 8UF. Tel; 08700 660 445 www.airbrushes.com

ALCLAD II LACQUER

5 St Georges Close, Bacton, Norfolk. NR12 0LL Tel; 01962 65216 Fax; 01692 652334

ALPINE, ROYAL MODEL, ARTISAN MORI, YOSCI; SMARTMODELLING No.7 Gordons Way, Oxted, Surrey RH8 0LN. UK Tel; 01883 734746 [email protected]

AMPERSAND PUBLISHING (via Historex Agents in UK)

235 NE 6th Avenue #4 Delray Beach, Florida 33483-5543, USA Tel; 561-266 9686 Fax; 561-266-9786

ARCHER

(Historex in UK)

PO Box 1277 Youngsville, NC 27596-1277, USA www.archertransfers.co

BADGER AIR-BRUSH COMPANY 9128W Belmont Ave, Franklin Park, IL 60131 Tel; 847/678-3104 www.badgerairbrush.com email [email protected] (In the UK from www.shesto.co.uk)

BISON DECALS

Available from www.hannants.co.uk and www.pdi-model-supplies.com

DELUXE MATERIALS www.deluxematerials.co.uk [email protected] Tel; 01529 455 0340

DRAGON MODELS

(The Hobby Company in UK)

Dragon Models Ltd, Kong Nam Ind. Building B1-10F, 603-609 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan NT, Hong Kong Fax; (HK) 4110587 www.dragonmodelsltd.com (For 1:6 Action Figures, please contact Amerang in UK)

ECHELON FINE DETAILS

Available from; wwwaccurate-armour.com & http://pachome1.pacific.net.sg/~kriegsketten/

FRIENDSHIP MODELS

12 Delta Drive, Musselburgh, East Lothian, EH21 8HR Tel; 0131 665 0866 Mobile; 07877166225 www.friendshipmodels.com

GREAT NORTH ROADS

9a Marcombe Road, Torquay, South Devon, TQ2 6LL Tel; 01803 400436 www.greatnorthroads.co.uk email [email protected]

HANNANTS

Harbour Road, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 2LZ, Tel; 01502 517444 Fax; 01502 500521 www.hannants.co.uk [email protected]

HISTOREX AGENTS

Wellington House, 157 Snargate Street, Dover, Kent, CT17 9BZ, UK Tel; 01304 206720 Fax; 01304 204528. www.historex-agents.co.uk [email protected]

HOBBYLINK JAPAN

CAMMETT

(Lifecolour, Scale Caliber)

Unit 5 Greenfield Industrial Estate, Forest Road, Hay on Wye, Powys, HR3 5FA Tel; 01497 822757 Email; [email protected] www.cammett.co.uk

CLASSIC PUBLICATIONS

Midland Counties Publications, 4 Watling Drive, Sketchley Lane Industrial Estate, Hinckley, Leics UK. LE10 1YF Tel; 01455 233 747, Fax; 01455 233 737 [email protected] www.classic-publications.com

CREATIVE MODELS LTD

(Mig Productions, Vallejo, Accurate Miniatures)

Unit 6-10, Honeysome Industrial Estate, Honeysome Road, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire. PE16 6TG Tel; 01354 760022 www.creativemodels.co.uk [email protected]

DARTMOOR MILITARY MODELS Haylis cottage, Budlake, Broadclyst Exeter, EX5 3LJ, England Tel; 01392 881271 www.dartmoormilitarymodels.com

C/ Santiago Rusinol 7, Pral 2a, 08750 Molins de Rei, Barcelona, Spain www.migproductions.com

MILICAST MODEL CO.,

9 Rannoch St., Battlefield, Glasgow G44 4DF, Scotland Tel/Fax; 0141 633 1400 [email protected] www.milicast.com

MISSION MODELS

(ETCHMATE, GRABHANDLER, MICRO CHISEL)

www.etchmate.com www.missionmodels.com Tel; 818 842 1885 Fax; 818 842 1886 [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

THE ARMORY; M&MODELS

9329 S. Cicero Ave, Oak Lawn, IL 60453, USA http://home.earthlink.net/~mmodels/

www.airconnection.on.ca

www.ianallanpublishing.com Mail Order Dept 01455 254450 Kiev 02099, Ukraine, Borispolskaya 9 building 64. Tel/fax; (+38044) 369-54-12 [email protected] www.icm.com.ua

ITALERI

(The Hobby Company in UK)

Via Pradazzo, 6, I-40012 Calderara Di Reno, Bologna, Italy, Tel; 051 726037 www.italeri.com

JUST BASES

21 Graham Road, Paignton TQ3 1BB Tel; 01803 558520 www.just-bases.co.uk

JUST KITS

Schiffer Publishing, 4880 Lower Valley Rd, Atglen, PA, 19310 USA www.schifferbooks.com

SCHIFFER BOOKS in UK

Bushwood Books, No.6 Marksbury Avenue, Kew Gardens, Surrey TW9 4JF, UK. Tel; 020 8392 8585, 020 8392 9876, email; [email protected]

SCHUMO KITS

www.schumo-kits.com

SDV MODEL www.sdvmodel.cz

SIMPLE 2 TRADE

No 2 Hollywood Lane, Hollywood, Birmingham, B47 5PP Tel; 0121 474 3030 www.simple2trade.com

SMARTMODELLING

No.7 Gordons Way, Oxted, Surrey RH8 0LN UK Tel; 01883 734746 [email protected]

MONROE PERDU

SQUADRON

Monroe Perdu Designs, 3168 Renee Court, Simi Valley, CA 93065, USA. www.monroeperdu.com

ORDNANCE MODELS Via; www.steelmodels.com

PACIFIC COAST MODELS Tel; 001 707 538 4850 [email protected] www.pacmodels.com

PO Box 164, Heathfield, Sussex TN21 8WA, UK www.panzerwrecks.com (Creative Models in UK)

Jizni 56, 370 10 C. Budejovice, Czech Republic. [email protected] www.plusmodel.cz

POCKETBOND LTD

(Trumpeter & AFV Club in UK)

PO Box 80, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England, AL6 0ND Tel; 01707 391509 Fax; 01707 327 466 [email protected]

PSP MODELS LTD (Mission Models in USA)

Unit 19B, Applin’s Farm, Farrington, Dorset DT11 8RA, UK Tel/Fax; 01747 811 817 www.psp-models.com

QUICKBOOST

www.quickboost.net

REVELL GmbH & Co. KG

LSA MODELS

SB MODELS

Model Design Construction, Victoria Place, Victoria Road, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 3FW Fax; 01773 513344 [email protected] www.modeldesignconstruction.com

SCHIFFER BOOKS

(Swash, Tasca, Gap, Yosci, Royal Model)

4 High Street, Botley, Southampton, SO30 2EA Tel; 01489 781177 www.justkitsandmodels.co.uk

MDC

Industriestrasse 6, 94347 Ascha, Germany Fax; 09961 910 7826

Tel; 01892 533036 www.modelwholesaleuk.com

Orchard Mews, 18C High Street, Tring, Herts, HP23 5AH Tel; +44 (0) 1442 890285 www.revell.eu

(TASCA, MASTER BOX) Retail; 151 Sackville Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 3HD, England. Tel/Fax; 01273 705420 [email protected] www.lsamodels.co.uk

SCHATTON BARRELS

MODEL WHOLESALE UK LTD

PLUS MODEL

ICM

Via Hannants in UK

(Creative Models in UK)

HUSSAR PRODUCTIONS, CANADA

BOOKWORLD WHOLESALE

CALIBRE 35

MIG PRODUCTIONS

PANZERWRECKS

IAN ALLAN

Unit 10 Hodfar Road, Sandy Lane Ind Est Stourport, Worcs, DY13 9QB Tel; 01299 823330 Fax; 01299 829970 [email protected]

http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~m.a.mori/index_eng.html

Sano-shi, Kurohakama-cho 162-1, Tochigi 327-0813, Japan www.hlj.com

BLAST MODELS

Via AFV Modeller or www.blast-models.com

MODELING ARTISAN MORI

UK distributor for Model Victoria and Royal Model

P.O. Box 114, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA13 0WY. Tel/Fax; 01229 430 749 [email protected] www.sbmodels.net

1115 Crowley Drive, Carrollton, TX 75006-1312 U.S.A

SWANN-MORTON

Owlerton Green, Sheffield, S6 2BJ Tel; +44 (0)114 234 4231 Fax; +44 (0)114 231 4966 General: [email protected] www.craftknives.com

TAMIYA JAPAN

Tamiya, Inc., 3-7 Ondawara Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8610 JAPAN www.tamiya.com

TAMIYA UK;

THE HOBBY COMPANY LIMITED Garforth Place, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, MK5 8PG, UK Tel; 01908 605686 Fax; 01908 605666 [email protected] www.hobbyco.net

TRUMPETER

www.trumpeter-china.com Pocketbond in the UK

VERLINDEN PRODUCTIONS (Historex in UK)

811 Lone Star Drive, O’Fallon, Missouri 63366, USA www.verlinden-productions.com

VALLEJO

(Creative Models in UK)

Acrylicos Vallejo, SL Apartado 337 - 08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona, Spain Tel; (34) 93 893 60 12 Fax; (34) 93 893 11 54 www.acrylicosvallejo.com

VLS CORPORATION (LSA in UK)

(TRAKZ, WINGZ, CUSTOM DIORAMICS, WARRIORS); Lincoln County Industrial Park, 1011 Industrial Court, Moscow Mills, Missouri 63362, USA www.modelmecca.com

WHITE ENSIGN

Unit 5, Cobnash Industrial Estate, HR6 9RW Tel; 0844 415 0914 [email protected] www.whiteensignmodels.com

WWII PRODUCTIONS, AUSTRALIA

PO Box 794, Cheltenham GL52 3ZW, UK [email protected]

12 Prince Street, Waratah, 2298, NSW, Australia Tel; +61 (0)2 4967 3205 Fax; +61 (0)2 4967 3207 [email protected]

SBX MODEL SHOP

ZVEZDA

SBLC

Norwich Road, Ipswich. IP1 5DN Tel; 01473 464311 www.sbxmodelshop.co.uk

(The Hobby Company in UK)

Promishlennaia Str.,2, Lobnya, Moscow Region, 141730 Russia [email protected] www.zvezda.org.ru

■ Please mention ‘Model Military International’ if you make contact with any of the companies listed above - thanks! 64 Model Military International - April 2015

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Next Issue On sale 2nd April, 2015

ISSUE No.108 April 2015, Published March 5th 2015 Editor;

Brett Green

Group Editor;

Marcus Nicholls

Publisher;

Alan Harman

Graphic Design;

Alex Hall

Advertising Manager;

Gareth Liddiatt

Advertising Assistant;

Joe Brown

Office Manager;

Paula Gray

Administration Manager; Hannah McLaurie MMI Website;

ADH Web Team

Printed by; Symbian Print Intelligence, Hertfordshire, UK Distributed by; Seymour Distribution 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT Tel; 020 7429 4000

Berlin, 20th April 1945

Newstrade; Select Publisher Services 3 East Avenue, Bournemouth, BH3 7BW Tel; 01202 586848 Email; [email protected]

Great Wall’s 1:35 SWS in a diorama by Jose Brito

Model Military International is published on the first Thursday of each month by; ADH Publishing, Doolittle Mill, Doolittle Lane, Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, LU6 1QX UK www.modelmilitary.com Tel; +44 (0)1525 222573 Fax; +44 (0)1525 222574 Editorial enquiries; Email; [email protected] Advertising enquiries; Tel; +44 (0)1525 222573 Email; [email protected]

Reproduction in part of any text, photograph, or illustration without written consent from the publisher is strictly prohibited. While due care is taken to ensure the contents of Model Military International is accurate, the publishers and printers can not accept responsibility for errors and omissions.

CARPATHIAN PANZER

Dragon’s 1:35 scale Panzer III Ausf. J kit by Pawel Rzymski

GONE TROPPO

Advertisements are accepted for publication in Model Military International only on ADH Publishing’s standard terms of acceptance of advertising, copies of which are available from the advertising department. Please write to the address above. All advertising, circulation and subscription enquiries should also be directed to the UK address above.

Dragon’s brand new 1:35 scale Black Label Saladin Mk.2

...and much more! Due to many influencing factors, we cannot guarantee the appearance of the above projects, but we’ll try our best!

FOR YOUR SAFETY

TANK BOY GALLERY

Noisy Leadership – 1:35 scale diorama

Don’t forget, when using solvents such as glues, paints, thinners and cleaning agents, always ventilate your work area thoroughly and wear a face mask. When using power tools, side cutters or any tool that can suddenly break or create highspeed airborne particles, wear approved eye protectors with hard, clear lenses. Please always model in safety!

Subscription rates are; 1 year (12 issues); £44 UK £56 Europe £69 Worldwide (Airmail) Binders; £8.50 plus postage (UK £2.45, Euro £4.45, World £6.45) For all orders, please call; (UK) +44(0)1525 222573 or visit www.modelmilitary.com Back Issues; Back Issues are available at the current cover price. See the latest back issues advert or visit www.modelmilitary.com The paper used in this magazine is manufactured at the Leipa Georg Mill and is 100% recycled using de-inked pulp. The mill conforms fully with the requirements of both FSC and PEFC and carries the full accreditations for their environmental policies.

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April 2015 - Model Military International 65

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The Last Post... M R O T S X E S S E W X E N O Y R T N FA MECHANISED IN

T

he British Army is testing, evaluating and developing the techniques used in deploying mechanised infantry for future use on operations anywhere in the world. Exercise WESSEX STORM is being undertaken by 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade (12 Bde) on Salisbury Plain Training Area, Wiltshire. It is focussing on the use and role of the MASTIFF armoured vehicle, which was brought in to service for operations in Afghanistan to counter threats such as Improvised Explosive Devices. Major Fraser McLeman, Chief of Staff at 12 Bde, said: “What we’re doing here is looking at the medium weight capabilities bridging the gap between the light role forces, such as the Parachute Regiment held at very high readiness that could get somewhere very quickly, and those heavier forces that would take more time with the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks and Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicles and all the supporting elements that make up a Lead Armoured Battlegroup (LABG). “We are taking the best elements and capabilities that were very specifically employed in Afghanistan and those you might use in an uncertain future and deploying them on this exercise for possible use in contingent operations.” The exercise scenario involves attacks in the open and in built up areas, long moves over ground of personnel and vehicles, night work, as well as aviation including fast jets. It sees the Airborne forces, in this case 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment making the initial entry in to areas held by an opposing force and holding the ground until the arrival of 1st Battalion The Scots Guards (1 SCOTS GUARDS), which is providing the fast-deploying armoured assistance in the shape of MASTIFF, before the heavy armour of the LABG arrives. Major James Leask is Officer Commanding Left Flank, 1 SCOTS GUARDS. He said: “There are really two parts to our role as the Mechanised Infantry - there is the vehicle part and that of the light role soldier. After focussing on the light role soldiering up in Otterburn in Northumberland, we moved on to the Plain about a week and a half ago and met up with our MASTIFFS and are now integrating the two by getting to know the vehicles. Taking them out of Afghanistan, we are now looking at how more widely we can use them for the future and that is what we are trialling here and with great success I think.” As well as testing vehicles such as MASTIFF the exercise is an opportunity to test the soldiers operating them and have them competent and ready to deploy on contingent operations in the future. “I’ve been thrown into the deep end which is good for me,” said Second Lieutenant Guy Carpenter, 23, who was born in Scotland and passed out from Sandhurst Military Academy in April this year. ”Last night we were using the troop shelters off the side of the MASTIFF, the night before a barn, the night before that in a wood – it’s a real mixture. The MASTIFF is certainly a lot easier than walking everyone – it does most of the ground work for you.” “MASTIFF in this sort of environment is good, using it in it Afghanistan was really good, very safe, operationally brilliant,” said Lance Corporal Ross Hayworth, of 1 SCOTS GUARDS, from Melrose. “It’s difficult to live in, very small but obviously that’s not its main use it’s for safety and efficiency – it’s a really good bit of kit.”

Paratroopers of C Company, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, part of 16 Air Assault Brigage, train during Exercise Wessex Storm on Salisbury Plain. [Crown Copyright /MOD2014]

Stormer HVM on exercise, used for short range air defence.

A Mastiff in action on Salisbury Plain during Exercise Wessex Storm.

© 2015 Crown Copyright

66 Model Military International - April 2015

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D3554 Find us on facebook search Plastic Kits UK

p 67 Dragon 108.indd 8

Dragon Kits are distributed in the UK by The Hobby Company Limited, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, MK5 8PG See the full Dragon range at www.hobbyco.net Dragon models are available from all good model shops

12/02/2015 15:45