Model Military International - Issue 116 (December 2015)

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

THINK TANK

PART2

PANTHER BY BRUCE CULVER

Issue 116 December 2015 www.modelmilitary.com

DOOMED

AT DIEPPE

IS THAT AN AK1AB1 RAMS?

Part Two – Painting and Weathering

Academy’s South Korean 1:35

TANK TORPEDO INSIDE:

RBT-5 1:35 scratch-built conversion

1:35 Mittlerer Einheits ■ 1:35 M4A3E8 Easy Eight Sherman ■ 1:35 Tauchpanzer III ■ 1:35 Bergepanther Gallery ■ and more...

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Contents - Issue 116 December 2015 16

REGULARS p 4 NEWS

What’s new in the world of military modelling

p 56 BOOKS

New model-related titles

p 57 SMALL SCALE

News of models and figures, 1:72 scale and smaller

p 58 INCOMING

News on accessories, tools and finishing products

p 60 1:48 SCALE

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

p 66 LAST POST

Late breaking news and ramblings from the Editor

FEATURES p 6 THINK TANK

Panther Part Two by Bruce Culver

p 15 PREVIEW

Dragon 1:35 Panzer III Ausf. M with Schurzen by Graham Tetley

p 16 TANK BOY GALLERY

Italeri 1:35 Bergepanther

p 18 IS THAT AN ABRAMS? Academy 1:35 K1A1 by Sean Lynch

6

p 28 PREVIEW

Bronco 1:35 Mittlerer Einheits by Luke Pitt

p 30 TANK TORPEDO

©ADH Publishing Ltd 2015

1:35 Scratch Built Conversion by Kamil Feliks Sztarbala

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

p 44 DOOMED AT DIEPPE Part Two

AFV Club + Inside the Armour 1:35 Churchill Oke by Brett Green

p 52 SHOW REPORT QMHE 2015

52

p 59 PREVIEW

Dragon 1:35 Tauchpanzer III by Graham Tetley

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Newsline - December’15

ALL-NEW 1:35 M4A3E8 SHERMAN COMING FROM TAMIYA

Tamiya will be releasing an all-new 1:35 scale M4A3E8 variant of the legendary Sherman medium tank. The M4A3E8 was known fondly as the “Easy Eight” by its crews, thanks to the relatively smooth drive afforded by its Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS). Another distinguishing feature was its 76mm gun. Some of the 2,500 examples produced were in time to appear in the Battle of the Bulge (Dec. 1944-Jan. 1945), and others served in the Korean War years after the Allied WWII triumph. Movie buffs will no doubt also recall that the "Easy Eight" was the star of the 2014 hit film "Fury." The model is totally new and will feature Tamiya’s usual combination of hassle-free assembly, convincing surface texture and good detail. Full-length flexible tracks will be included, as will a Commander figure. We’ll have more news about this exciting release in the next issue of Model Military International magazine. Thanks to Tamiya for the information and images www.tamiya.com

NEW 1:24 Carrier Maintenance Tracked FV434 (REME) FROM KFS Kit Form Service has announced the release of a 1:24 Carrier Maintenance Tracked FV434 (REME). This detailed model is based on their FV432 chassis and is fully detailed inside and out. The model features the same lift-out K60 pack feature as the KFS FV432 APC & with a fully operating HIAB crane, opening rear boot, hollow stowage bins, folding walkway panels, folding rear work bench & vice, optional extra front stowage bin, & a full compliment of pioneer tools, gun planks & jerry cans. The crew compartment is fully detailed with the additional crew seats, revised NBC kit, crane hydraulic tank & slewing rams. The individual track links are this time produced in resin rather than white metal for easier assembly. The parts count is virtually identical to the FV432 having 289 in resin & 148 in white metal plus 3 brass etch frets, pre coloured lights, beacon & crane hydraulic piping. • Length; 240mm, Width; 125mm, Height; 120mm overall. Release date 2nd October 2015 • £260.00 GBP (UK) or £216.66 GBP (Export) Available now from Kit Form Service website www.kitformservices.com

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

CHURCHILL MKI/II DIEPPE CONVERSION WITH BLOWN WATERPROOFING AND SAD NEWS FROM INSIDE THE ARMOUR This new 1:35 set for the AFV Club Dieppe Churchill (AFV35176) will convert your AFV Club Churchill to either a Mk.I or a Mk.II Churchill as seen at the raid complete with the evidence of blown waterproofing on the turret and hull. Tanks on the Dieppe Raid were sealed with surplus barrage balloon fabric, sealed with Bostik paste and used det cord to blow the waterproofing off when they landed. This was not wholly successful at Dieppe and evidence of fabric still attached can be seen in after-action German photographs, and we have faithfully replicated it in this set. The set includes 3 turned barrels, optional Mk.I or Mk.II parts, 27 resin parts, over 100 photo-etched parts and lots of extra detail for your build in addition to the conversion items. This set is strictly limited edition, limited to just 100 sets, and will be discontinued when all 100 are sold. The set is available now at www.insidethearmour.com We were also sad to learn that Chris Meddings will be closing Inside the Armour at the end of 2015. He has issued the following statement: “It is with some sadness that after five and a half years of trading, I have decided to close Inside the Armour permanently as of December 31st. Although successful, and highly enjoyable, it has got to a point where the return no longer matches the effort and time involved in running an aftermarket business Consequently the shows of Autumn 2015 will be our last and we will close to new business at the close of the year. All outstanding orders will be fulfilled and the business will remain contactable for ongoing customer service such as parts replacement as part of our long-term commitment to our valued and loyal customers. Although we will no longer make or sell kits, Inside the Armour Publications will continue in books and related items. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has supported Inside the Armour over the years and to especially thank Marcus and Brett for their valued and sustained support in TMMI and Model Military International magazines. To our customers... It has been a privilege to work for you. Thank you.” If you want any Inside the Armour accessories or conversions, get in while you can! Thanks to Chris at Inside the Armour for the information and images: www.insidethearmour.com

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Bastogne December 1944 Diorama set scale 1:72 N° 6113

The Diorama set includes:

1 M4A3 Sherman 76 mm 1 M4A3E2 Sherman “Jumbo” 24 German infantry Winter uniform 1 Pz. Kpfw. VI Tiger I 36 American infantry Winter uniform 1 Wrecked house

6529 M4A3E8 Sherman “Fury”

1 Walls and ruins 1 Battlefield Accessories 1 German Pak 40 AT Gun with crew 1 8.8 cm Flak 37 AA Gun

1:35

7402 Triumph

Collect the Italeri - World of Tanks Model Kit Line

from the online videogame phenomenon with tank guide, in-game bonus code and decals!

1:9

1:35 SCALE

World of Tanks Model Kit Line:

36501 Ferdinand 36502 Pz. Kpfw. VI Tiger 36503 M4 Sherman 36504 M24 Chaffee 36506 Pz. Kpfw. V Panther 36507 Leopard 1 36508 Type 59 36509 T-34/85 36505 Diorama Set Photo-etched fret

Italeri S.p.A.- via Pradazzo, 6/b 40012 - Calderara di Reno - Bologna - Italy - Phone +39 051 31 75 211 - email: [email protected]

Think Tank - The German Panther Tank – Part Two

Seen here are two of the first 12 Bergepanthers built by MAN and delivered in June 1943. They were converted from Panther Ausf. D tanks by deleting the turrets and covering the turret rings with wooden decking, but they did not have winches.

The German Panther Tank A

B

Part Two

Bruce Culver concludes his short series on the Panther Tank, covering the Bergepanther, Panther Ausf. G, the Panther Ausf. F and Schmalturm turret, the Jagdpanther tank destroyer and Panzerstellung fixed bunkers.

E

ven before the Panther tank entered production, the Germans had looked at the problems involved in recovering the heavy tanks that were being developed. The first attempt at a dedicated recovery vehicle was the design based on the chassis of the VK 3601, fitted with a 40-tonne winch and renamed the VKz 3501. They were intended to recover Tiger tanks that had broken down or become stuck in soft ground, as a number of them did. Famo was supposed to build the winches, and five vehicles were planned to be completed. However, there is no record that they were ever completed, issued for service or delivered to any Tiger units. Thus, early Tiger abteilungen had to depend in the Famo Sd.Kfz. 9 18-tonne halftrack artillery tractor. Up to three of these massive vehicles were sometimes required to retrieve a Tiger bogged down in soft ground, and usually at least two were needed to tow a disabled Tiger.

BERGEPANTHER In March 1943, General Heinz Guderian as Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen ordered that 4% of Panther production plus 3 vehicles from each month’s production total were to be completed as Panzerbergegeraet for the Panther abteilungen. MAN was given the contract to design the definitive Panther recovery vehicle, and the initial design layout was completed by June 1943. MAN’s design featured a 40-tonne winch which laid cable over the engine deck, a built-up superstructure around the opening for the winch, a jib-boom crane for smaller lifting tasks with hull mounts in both sides, a front mount on the glacis for a 2cm KwK 38 automatic cannon, a large rear-mounted spade and a tow coupling on the lower rear hull plate. The crew positions were all in front under the opening for the transmission cover, which was not fitted. The driver and radio operator were seated normally while two more crew members sat

in hump seats behind them. A cloth cover could be erected over the crew opening, and extra fuel tanks were fitted. As the complete design was too late for the planned summer offensive in the Kursk region, MAN was ordered to complete the first 12 Bergepanthers by converting Panther Ausf. D chassis. The turrets were left off and the open turret rings were closed by a frame support and wooden decking. These Bergepanther Ausf. Ds had no winches, and were essentially towing vehicles. Two Bergepanther Ausf. Ds were issued to each of the two Panther units at Kursk, Pz.Abt. 51 and Pz.Abt. 52. Each of the two Ferdinand units, s.Pz.Jaeg.Abt. 653 and s.Pz.Jaeg.Abt. 654, received one Bergepanther for towing disabled vehicles. One of these vehicles was later converted to a Befehlspanzer command vehicle by mounting a fixed PzKpfw IV Ausf. H turret on the original Panther turret ring. Production of the MAN final

Bergepanther design began at Henschel’s Kassel plant, which produced 70 Bergepanther Ausf. A vehicles between July and December 1943. Due to shortages of the winches, many Bergepanthers were completed without them. During early production, two upright blade mounts were added on the corner periscope guards for fitting antiaircraft mounts for two MG 34s, and a number of changes occurred during production, including fitting a large un-ditching beam, adding brackets and fittings to carry additional jib-boom poles, tow bars and tools, enlarging the spade, rearranging tools and stowage, modifying the rear tow coupling, plus the normal automotive improvements introduced during Panther production. Armour was the same as the basic Panther models. After Henschel delivered 70 Bergepanther Ausf. As, production shifted to Daimler-Benz, who completed 40 vehicles in early

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This is a Bergepanther Ausf. A with all the intended features of the original MAN design. It had a 2cm KwK 38 in a central mount and raised mounts for two MG 34s at the sides. A 40-tonne winch and rear spade allowed the easier recovery of heavy tanks.

This Bergepanther Ausf. A was tested by the British. Note the erected jib boom crane, used to lift engines and transmissions. The jib boom sections were stowed along the sides of the superstructure and could be used on either side of the vehicle.

1944. From March 1944, production was transferred to Demag, who completed 123 Bergepanther Ausf. A up to October 1944, when the plant switched to the Bergepanther Ausf. G, building 45 examples through February 1945. Total production was 290 Bergepanther vehicles of all types. Bergepanthers began appearing in Panther abteilungen in August 1943 and in Tiger abteilungen in January 1944. They greatly improved the ability of German recovery units to retrieve disabled and bogged down heavier tanks like the Panther and Tiger, and there were never enough of them. To some extent, they also suffered from the automotive troubles of the Panther tank, but were several tonnes lighter and thus the power trains were less likely to fail under load.

PANTHER AUSF. G The abortive Panther II project abandoned in 1943 produced some changes to the basic Panther tank design to simplify production. The

most noticeable was the change to the basic hull armour. In place of the complex welded assembly of several 40mm plates at the rear side over the fuel tanks, the new hull had one piece of armour 50mm thick, set at an angle of 29 degrees instead of the Ausf. D/A’s 40 degrees. The bottom of the sponson was a straight slope instead of having a lower rear extension, simplifying production while maintaining the same protection. The new model, designated Panther Ausf. G, mounted the same turret as the Ausf. A – only the hull was new. Additional changes included hinged hatches for the driver and radio operator, a rotating periscope for the driver and deleting the prominent opening driver’s hatch in the glacis plate, redesigned ventilator cowl, a single Bosch headlight mounted on the left front fender, redesigned exhaust and engine ventilation system that eliminated the triple pipes on the left exhaust outlet, a

The Bergepanther’s drivers’ compartment was open, with two crew jump seats behind the drivers’ seats. Note the mount for the 2cm KwK 38 at left, the blade mounts for the AA MG 34s welded to the side periscope guards and the rain tarpaulin at the rear.

The rear spade stabilized the Bergepanther during recovery of bogged down tanks, increasing the effective force of the winch and cable used to pull the tank to firmer ground. Note the large un-ditching beam on the superstructure side.

revised engine deck, revised tool and equipment stowage, Schuerzen skirts mounted on a narrow side fender running the length of the hull and various automotive improvements to increase reliability. Most Panthers had only a FuG 5 radio receiver/transmitter, while company and platoon leader tanks had both the FuG 5 and the FuG 2 receiver. A number of Panther Ausf. Gs, like the previous Ausf. D/ As, were completed as command Panzerbefehlswagen Panthers with extra radios. The Sd.Kfz. 267 and 268 were standard Panthers with a reduced ammunition load of 64 rounds against the normal 82, to make room for the radios and the generator equipment to run them while the tank was stopped. In addition, the coaxial MG 34 was deleted and the opening in the mantlet was sealed with an armour plug. The Sd.Kfz. 267 had an extra Sternantenne D (star antenna D) mounted at the rear of the rear deck in an armoured “pot” mount,

with a second 2-meter rod antenna on the right rear turret roof. Extra rods for the star antenna were stowed below the cylinder for the gun cleaning rods. The Sd.Kfz. 268 had a different radio fit and the engine deck antenna was a 1.4meter rod antenna on the left side, plus the 2-meter rod antenna on the turret roof.

INTO PRODUCTION The introduction of Panther Ausf. G production was staggered over several months, with MAN converting in early April 1944, and Daimler-Benz and MNH following at two-month intervals. This allowed a better transition in the supply of new parts as each factory began assembly of the new model, but few problems appeared with the change. The Panther Ausf. G was planned to remain in production until May 1945, when it was to be replaced by the more advanced Panther Ausf. F, using a modified Ausf. G hull with a new Schmalturm A

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Think Tank - The German Panther Tank – Part Two

The deep mud of the Russian spring and fall were extremely hard on the mechanical components of tanks and recovery vehicles alike. The Panther transmissions and final drives were often stressed to the breaking point in these poor driving conditions.

The Panther Ausf. G began production in April 1944, and introduced a simplified hull influenced by the design of the Panther II. Early Panther Ausf. Gs has Zimmerit antimine paste applied to the hull and turret as was done with the Ausf. A models.

A number of Panthers were converted into command tanks by adding extra radios. They can be identified by the Stern (star) antenna mounted on the rear engine deck. They were designated as Panzerbefehlswagen Panther, SdKfz 267. Note the mantlet impact damage.

The Fries 16-tonne Strabokran (gantry crane) was a critically important tool for the German tank repair units. It most commonly was used to lift the turrets for Panthers and Tigers, but could also be used to replace transmissions, engines and main guns as needed.

B (narrow turret) similar to a turret proposed for the cancelled Panther II. Production never shifted to the Panther Ausf. F due to delays in the new turret and damage from bombing raids that reduced production, and all three companies built Ausf. Gs until they were overrun by Allied troops. Panther Ausf. G production totaled 2953 vehicles - 1143 from MAN, 1004 from Daimler-Benz and 806 from MNH. As the major production version, built far longer than the Ausf. D/A, the Panther Ausf. G had the most modifications, affecting virtually every area of the tank. Among the major changes made were – wood bumpers and grab handles for the driver’s and radio

Bergepanthers were used to recover most of the heaver tanks in the Wehrmacht. This Ausf. D model was towing a Panzerjaeger Tiger (P) “Ferdinand” when it experienced its own problems – note the open engine hatch. Bergepanthers had the Panther’s durability issues.

As the war progressed, German troops found themselves fighting without air superiority, and thus a greater need to camouflage their vehicles. This Panther Ausf. G was one example of well-camouflaged vehicles. Foliage was the most common form of cover.

operator’s hatches, a base for an Orterkompass (floating compass), changes to suspension arms and bumper stops, welded armour guards for the exhaust manifolds, sheet metal covers for the exhaust stacks to hide the glow from heat, Pilzen (sockets) welded to the turret roof to mount a jib-boom crane for lifting the rear deck and engine when needed (reducing the need for special vehicles to do this), adding a grab handle to the turret rear hatch, deleting an observation periscope mount from the cupola, adding a rain guard over the driver’s periscope, making the front hatches jettisonable in cases where the turret obstructed the hatches, sheet metal guard over the gap between the mantlet

In good mechanical condition, the Panther had excellent automotive performance and was more mobile than most other tanks. However, the tank was prone to mechanical failures when the drive train was pushed to its limits, and required an experienced driver.

To compensate for the thinner armour on the turret sides, many Panther crews hung spare track links on their tanks. This Ausf. G was photographed in France in the late summer of 1944. German crews had to take every advantage of local cover to avoid Allied planes.

and the turret roof, factory-applied camouflage paint schemes, deleting Zimmerit anti-mine paste, adding a rain guard above the gunner’s sight opening in the mantlet, converting some Panthers to mount the FG 1250 infrared (IR) searchlight and receiver scope on the commander’s turret cupola, introducing a new mantlet design with a chin extension to prevent hits on the lower half from penetrating the hull roof, substituting steel-rimed road wheels on a small run of Panther Ausf. G, replacing the radiator cooling fans, adding a crew compartment heater, improved final drives, replacing the old idler with a new larger self-cleaning idler, introducing flame-suppressing exhaust mufflers, deleting the

rear shock absorbers, adding a second elevated seat for the driver when driving from an open hatch, replacing the instrument panel assembly, adding poison gas protection equipment, adding a cleaning wiper for the gunner’s sight, deleting the cupola ring for the anti-aircraft MG 34 mount and welding a simple post mount to the front of the cupola, reducing the number of mounting bolts for the rear deck, deleting the loader’s seat and adding welded rings to the turret sides for adding external foliage camouflage. It should also be noted that there were usually minor differences in details among the various manufacturers, and shortages of parts or assemblies

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Even in transit, Germans tanks, like these Panther Ausf. Gs, were subject to heavy Allied air attacks. Heavy foliage camouflage and tarpaulins were used extensively. Many roads also had stands of cut foliage to apply to vehicles to improve their camouflage.

In 1944, the Allies conducted firing tests of the best US and British anti-tank ammunition against the hulls of several captured Panthers. After a number of hits, this Panther Ausf. G still had not been completely penetrated from the front though some welds were cracked.

Several new Panther brigades were committed to the fighting in Lorraine, but were badly defeated by American troops in several engagements, most notably at Arracourt, where American tank crews were more experienced than the newer Panther crews.

In September 1944, MAN completed a small run of Panther Ausf. G fitted with the steel-rimmed road wheels originally developed for the Panther II. Late in the war MAN also installed steel rimmed wheels on the last axle position, but apparently few were built.

could result in older parts being used to assemble new vehicles, and older vehicles being rebuilt with new parts during factory overhauls and rebuilding. As the industrial and transportation situations became critical in late 1944 into 1945, many more disruptions occurred and at one point the supply of engines from Maybach was cut off after a bombing raid severely damaged the factory, and only Albert Speer’s insistence in establishing a second source kept engines in production for Panthers and Tigers. Zimmerit was discontinued in September 1944, and there were a number of changes in the painting

The lack of transport made every tank a bus. The riding infantry earned its passage by looking out for Allied aircraft, one of the main threats to German vehicles on the move.

The Panther brigades in the Lorraine campaign were issued new Panthers like this Ausf. G. This tank was painted in the complex and short-lived “disk” camouflage used in the late summer of 1944. The foliage was added to break up the shape of the tank.

This Panther Ausf. G was built by Daimler-Benz and represented the appearance of the Panther in the late summer “ambush” factory paint scheme. This example was fitted for testing with an FG 1250 infrared searchlight and scope for the tank commander.

of the basic armour components and finished vehicles, most notably a change in the primer colour applied at the armour fabrication plants from the usual Rot-Braun (red-brown) to Olivgruen (olive green), but with orders to use up old paint first, not all suppliers complied with this order quickly. Panther Ausf. G tanks began appearing in front-line units in mid-summer 1944. In the west, the German Panzer Divisions engaged at Normandy after D-Day had been refitted in France with the earlier Panther Ausf. A, the first model the Allies encountered in the French campaign. The Ausf. Gs gradually replaced damaged or

Relatively few German vehicles used the “disk” camouflage as it was very labour-intensive, requiring cutout stencils for the disk pattern and a two-stage painting process. The tank was painted in brown and green, then sprayed dark yellow through the stencil.

destroyed Ausf. As, and by the end of summer, they were the most common version of the Panther on the Western Front, although Ausf. As and reworked Ausf. Ds served to the end of the war if they were serviceable. The later production Panther Ausf. As and the Ausf. Gs in the summer of 1944 were the most effective examples of the Panther in combat. Most of the mechanical problems that could be solved without a complete redesign had been worked on, making these models far more reliable than the early Ausf. Ds in Russia. In addition, the Panther crews in Normandy had been working up, training with

these tanks for several months as their units were rebuilt, and thus were able to get the most from their tanks in action. While the bocage country was poor for both sides, the limited spaces helped restrict movement, which meant that Allied tanks often met the Panther head-on, where their guns could not penetrate the Panther’s glacis at any range. On the other hand, as a large tank with a long exposed gun barrel, the Panther proved a clumsy weapon in the hedgerows and narrow roads of the Normandy bocage, and many of those lost were destroyed at close range by infantry tank hunting teams and anti-tank guns. A

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Think Tank - The German Panther Tank – Part Two

This Panther Ausf. G passing through a roadblock position in the Siegfried Line was typical of the patterns sometimes used to paint white winter camouflage, a process limited only by the crew’s artistic abilities and supplies of the white paint.

The Panzerbrigade 150 Panthers were disguised as M10 GMCs by removing the cupolas and adding sheet metal shells over the tank hulls and turrets. As seen here, no attempts were made to hide the distinctive Panther suspension or tracks.

The Germans struck US units in the Ardennes in mid-December in an attempt to break through Allied lines and reach the Belgian port of Antwerp. This Panther Ausf. G was not snowcamouflaged; new snow tended to stick to the cold metal of the tank’s structure.

Ultimately, in the general chaos and confusion of the Ardennes campaign, the elabourate measures to use these converted Panthers were more trouble than the limited results. Most of the Panther/ M10s were knocked out or abandoned after breaking down.

Knocked out near the end of 1944, this Panther Ausf. G was one of the MAN September 1944 production tanks with steel-rimmed wheels. These were a limited production run and spares were not always available, as shown by the replacement standard wheel.

B There were many detail improvements and later Ausf. Gs had some advantages over the earlier models, but gradually several critical deficiencies appeared. The heavy losses of Panthers in the late summer and autumn of 1944 reduced the number of experienced crews, and quickly trained replacement drivers often mishandled the fragile power trains, causing increased breakdowns. As the war progressed, the Germans lost their sources of critical armour alloy metals – molybdenum, manganese and nickel – and this required using armour strengthened by adding carbon and using various heat treatments. While overall the quality of German armour plate remained fairly high during the

As part of the German drive through the Ardennes, the Germans formed Panzer Brigade 150 to infiltrate US lines with troops disguised as US soldiers. Among the ruses were several Panther Ausf. G tanks modified to look like the US M10 Gun Motor Carriage.

war, thinner plates more frequently failed when hit, often cracking. This was due to the less resilient armour plus the Allies’ use of bigger, more powerful guns that hit harder. Loss of the Romanian oil fields in August 1944 placed additional limits on fuel supplies, which led to less time being allowed for training due to fuel shortages, which in turn exacerbated the problems with the transmissions and final drives. A general decline in quality marked the last year of the war, as shortages and damage from bombing attacks began to chip away at the heart of industrial Germany. These conditions fed into the decline in the quality of German tanks, crew training and thus the crews themselves. A particular problem was a serious decline in

Later in the war, all German armoured vehicles were painted at the assembly plants in more or less standardised camouflage schemes. This broad-banded paint scheme was used by MNH for its Panther production from late 1944 to the war’s end.

MAN’s final Panther production configuration used a steel-rimmed wheel on the last axle, and this example also has the late camouflage rings on the turret sides, interior crew heater and chin mantlet. This was the last model of the Panther Ausf. G built by MAN.

the production of spare parts for repairs (almost 2/3 by 1945) in order to maintain production levels of completed vehicles. In battle against a foe with almost unlimited supplies of fuel, ammunition, vehicles and air superiority, German Panzer forces in the west by April 1945 had declined to about 90 gun tanks and 400 other armoured vehicles on the entire western front, against over 11,000 Sherman tanks and tank destroyers in just the US armies, plus several thousand more in the British and Commonwealth units. Most of the Panthers built in 1945 were sent to the Russian front to stave off the huge armies advancing from the east, the Germans’ major defensive action in the final months of the war.

Panther Ausf. F As early as 1943, with the Panther Ausf. D just entering service, attempts were made to improve the protection for the turret and gun. Rheinmetall designed a conceptual turret based on work done for the aborted Panther II project, though these two designs were not directly related. The intent of all the new turrets was to reduce the size of the turret front plate and increase the armour thickness on the sides and rear. In May 1944 the project was transferred to Daimler-Benz for detail design, keeping the same hull-turret interface and mounting a modified version of the KwK 42 L/70 main gun, which was designated the KwK 44/1. A completely new sighting system

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This late-war Panther Ausf. G was found in Koetzing Germany in 1945, and had a three-colour camouflage scheme using a base colour of red primer with patches of dark yellow and olive green painted over it, the primer replacing the usual brown camouflage paint.

The Panther Ausf. F was to be the next production model after the Ausf. G, but it was not built. The hull and chassis were identical to the Ausf. G, but the turret was a new design to improve protection, often called the Schmalturm (‘small’ turret) for the smaller front area.

was designed using a stereoscopic sight mounted in two housings at the front of the turret sides. The Panther cupola was replaced by one used for the late Tiger I and Tiger II tanks. Front armour was 120mm, side and rear armour was 60mm and the roof plate was 40mm. The gun mantlet was a casting similar to that for the Tiger II. This turret was referred to as the Schmalturm (narrow turret). The basic chassis was that of the Panther Ausf. G with only a few modifications, and most drawing numbers remained the same. One change was an increase in hull roof armour from 16mm to 25mm where the 40mm armour was not used. The driver’s and radio operator’s hatches were modified to lift up slightly and slide to the side rather

The Jagdpanther went through a long development process before entering production in early January 1944. The early models were built by Miag in Braunschweig, but heavy damage from several bombing raids reduced the number completed by Miag.

than being hinged to open, and four small guides for the hatches were added to the forward hull roof. The Kugelblende ball mount in the glacis was modified to mount the StG 44 assault rifle in place of the MG 34. The radio installation was revised so that tanks could be converted to command vehicles in the field by adding the extra radio equipment in the turrets, all of which were fitted with mounts for the extra radio antennas. Prototype Schmalturm were completed by Daimler-Benz, and at least two were fitted to Panther Ausf. G chassis for testing by WaPruef 6 (the automotive design office), but no Panther Ausf. Fs were completed before the end of the war. Four Panther Ausf. F hulls with the required modifications

Initial production was slow in ramping up, but training commenced in France in 1944. The Jagdpanther’s hull was developed from that of the Panther II with the sides extended up to form the fixed superstructure. The main gun was the 8.8cm Pak 43/3, L/71.

were found at Daimler-Benz in April 1945, but apparently no Schmalturm had been delivered, and most likely they would have been completed with Ausf. G turrets had they progressed to final assembly. No photographs have been found showing Panther Ausf. F tanks with Schmalturm completed and in action.

Jagdpanther Discussions on the creation of a self-propelled mount for the 8.8cm gun started in late 1941, though Krupp had built an experimental chassis for such a vehicle in 1939. Krupp completed the conceptual drawings in early 1942, based on the MAN VK 3002 prototype chassis for the future Panther tank, still in the

design phase. There were several meetings to discuss details and production of the prototypes, and eventually after a bewildering number of detail proposals and name changes, Krupp was ordered to develop a vehicle based on the chassis of the new Panther tank being developed by MAN. In October 1942, detail design was transferred to Daimler-Benz, as that company would be producing the vehicles starting the in the summer of 1943. Krupp was to finish design of the 8.8cm L/71 main gun and the mount to carry it in the new Sturmgeschuetz auf Panther. The design was for a 35-tonne vehicle with the 8.8cm L/71 main gun, one MG 42 and two machine pistols for the crew, with A

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Think Tank - The German Panther Tank – Part Two

The early Jagdpanthers had a tool and equipment layout similar to the Panther tank. The extra weight of the superstructure and the long gun caused most Jagdpanthers to have a nose-down sit on the chassis, and other German heavy vehicles had similar problems.

Many Jagdpanthers had a coating of ‘Zimmerit’ anti-mine paste, applied from the start of production to midSeptember 1944. As was common in France in 1944, Allied air superiority necessitated the use of foliage as a supplement to the painted camouflage.

B 60 rounds carried for the main weapon. Armour was to be 80mm for the large glacis plate, 50mm for the lower nose plate, 40mm for the sides and a split roof with an angled forward section and a flat rear area. Power was provided by a Maybach HL 230 engine with the ZF transmission and final drives as used in the Panther tank. In January 1943, a meeting with Daimler-Benz concerning the 8.8cm Sturmgeschuetz 43(Panther) resulted in a change in the armour thicknesses to match the Panther II then in development. The glacis was increased to 100mm with the sides being increased to 60mm. The top, bottom and rear plates would be 30mm. In May 1943, a further name change and specification, 8.8cm Panzerjaeger 43/3 L/71 auf Panther-Fahrgestell, designated the main gun as the Pak 43/3 L/71, and retained the Panther II armour thicknesses except for increasing the rear armour to 60mm. Upon the decision to cancel the Panther II project, Daimler-Benz redesigned the superstructure to fit onto the chassis of the standard Panther tank. Armour was reduced to match the Panther, the glacis being 80mm, the sides were 50mm and the superstructure

rear, chassis sides and all rear plates were 40mm. The roof was reduced to 16mm. Assembly of the new vehicle, now designated 8.8cm schwerer StuG 42 auf Panther Fahrgestell, was transferred to Muchlenbau und Industrie AG (Miag) in Braunschweig before DaimlerBenz had finished detail design, and production required still more changes - to the gun mount to correct fouling an internal shock absorber, altered ammunition stowage, adding a periscope sight for the main gun, adding a bow MG 34 and a number of pistol ports for crew defense, and providing a number of vision devices for the vehicle commander and crew. There were five periscopes in the roof, three for the commander and two for the loaders. The interior was relatively spacious, and at this time, a sixth crew member was added as a radio operator, but that position was later deleted. Production began at Miag in late 1943 and the first five Jagdpanthers were delivered in January 1944. Production was well below the scheduled numbers due to necessary automotive improvements and only 40 had been completed by May 1944, and 46 by the end of June, due to damage from a bombing raid.

This Jagdpanther Ausf. G1 was the first Jagdpanther captured and tested in Britain. It was an early mid-production model with only one vision port for the driver but still fitted with the early welded cast mantlet, and using the Pak 43 with a one-piece barrel.

It was not uncommon for Jagdpanthers to sink farther in the soil in front, as seen here. The vehicle was a superb anti-tank weapon with a gun effective at long range, especially when used from ambush so it could fire the first shots of an engagement.

Production was again reduced in September from another bombing attack on Brauschweig and the Miag factory. Because of the delays and reduced production at Miag, MNH and a new firm in the Berlin area, Maschinenfabrik Bahn Bedarf (MBA), were given contracts to assemble the Jagdpanther, using hulls initially supplied by Miag. MNH was originally to serve as a transitional manufacturer until MBA had developed enough experience to build its Jagdpanthers. However, MBA and Miag were not able to produce as many as planned and thus MNH continued to build Jagdpanthers until the end of the war. Overall production of Jagdpanthers totaled about 427, and almost half of the welded armour assemblies remained in April 1945, never having been completed as Jagdpanthers. There were two separate production models of the Jagdpanther, designated G1 and G2. The G1 was the earlier type and used the engine deck and fittings from the Panther Ausf. A. It was produced from January through December 1944. The second model, the G2, was produced from January through April 1945, when all three factories were overrun

by Allied troops. The G2 used the engine deck and fittings from the Panther Ausf. G and the angle of the rear superstructure plate was adjusted to fit the slightly longer rear deck. A number of changes appeared during the production run. The most obvious was the replacement of the early near-flush gun mount in the glacis with a larger cast bolted gun mount, this occurring during the production of the G1 version. Another change was the adoption of a two-piece barrel for the 8.8cm Pak 43/3, replacing the original one-piece barrel. There were changes to the tool and equipment stowage – later vehicles had most of the smaller tools arranged on the engine deck rather than the side armour. Jagdpanthers also adopted the automotive improvements introduced on the Panther, including revised exhaust systems and the later larger self-cleaning rear idlers. The first unit to use the Jagdpanther in action was schwerer Heeres Panzerjaeger Abteilung 654, formerly equipped with the Ferdinand Panzerjaeger in Russia. The unit received five Jagdpanthers for driver training and familiarization in February 1944, as there weren’t enough to equip even one company. By 6 June 1944, only

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As the Allies advanced into Germany, the Jagdpanther proved to be effective at very long ranges. This Jagdpanther Ausf. G1 had the later bolted gun mantlet and the older single-piece gun barrel. The camouflage finish was burned when the added foliage caught fire.

This Jagdpanther Ausf. G1 was captured after breaking down. The added weight of the larger superstructure and the 8.8 cm Pak 43/3 increased the stress on the transmission and final drives and made careful handling all the more important.

8 vehicles had been delivered, but 2.Kp./s.PzJag.Abt. 654 deployed to the Western Front, arriving on 20 June with 6 operational Jagdpanthers. Due to the usual mechanical problems, only five of the vehicles were serviceable at any one time. By 1 July 1944, the unit had a complement of 25 Jagdpanthers, but by the 17th, only 8 were serviceable due to mechanical issues. s.H.Pz.Jag.Abt.654 made a number of changes to their new Jagdpanthers, moving the tools to the rear deck, adding tool stowage boxes to the rear superstructure plates, welding closed the second driver’s periscope and adding a rain guard and deflector to the glacis for the remaining one. The unit gained a great deal of experience

and their combat reports led to a number of improvements in production Jagdpanthers. The Pak 43/3 was the most powerful gun mounted on the Panther chassis and could destroy any Allied tank at ranges exceeding 2500 meters. The terrain and foliage of the Normandy battlefield only rarely allowed shooting at those ranges but the gun was a superb weapon. However, the extra weight of the big 8.8cm gun and the heavier superstructure severely overloaded the transmission and final drives and required specially strengthened drives to hold up. Due to the limited production, only s.H.Pz.Jag.Abt.654 was able to equip all three companies with Jadpanthers; the other “Jagdpanther” units had to use

This Jagdpanther Ausf. G1 was commanded by Walter Spielberger, and was destroyed by several hits in the front fuel tank. In addition to combat losses, Jagdpanthers suffered from the same mechanical problems as the Panther gun tanks.

a mixture of Jagdpanthers and either StuG III assault guns or Jagdpanzer IV/70 tank destroyers. Though, like the Panther, it suffered from mechanical limitations, the Jagdpanther was a superb defensive weapon, particularly when used from ambush. Its excellent gun could take a toll of any Allied armour in its field of fire and after a quick engagement, the Jagdpanther could withdraw to set up another ambush, until it was knocked out or broke down. It was used on both the Western and Russian fronts and when employed carefully, it was one of the most effective tank killers Germany fielded. There were never enough and eventually most of them were overwhelmed, along with the rest of the Wehrmacht.

Panzerstellung In August 1943 in Russia, Heeresgruppe Nord (Army Group North) and Heeresgruppe Mitte (Army Group Center) received the Fuehrer’s orders to build a long fortified defensive line on the Eastern Front. Among the fortifications planned were positions for mounting Panther turrets on armoured bases sunk into the ground, providing excellent firepower in locations where a fixed position could command a local area. There were prefabricated steel box mounts, especially the O.T. Stahlunterstaende D (Organization Todt steel bunker type D), designed to mount a Panther tank turret. There were also various bunkers of reinforced A

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Think Tank - The German Panther Tank – Part Two

This Jagdpanther Ausf. G1 was photographed upon delivery to Aberdeen Proving Ground for testing. The original camouflage scheme seen here was bands of red-brown with added bands of dark yellow and accent bands of white or Elfenbein interior ivory colour.

Although the Panther-turm positions were often elaborately camouflaged as seen here, the construction process was long enough that many were located and even mapped for later attacks by aircraft and artillery.

B concrete and even wood, depending on the local building conditions. The O.T. Stahlunterstand could accommodate a crew of three, with six more men in the lower portion. Armour ranged from 50mm for interior walls to 100mm for the roof plate. There were ventilation ducts and fans, generating equipment for power and a hidden outside entrance. 130 O.T. Stahlunterstaende were authorized, a limit set by the availability of steel plate. An alternate design was a reinforced concrete bunker to mount the Panther turrets, called a Betonstaende (concrete bunker). The turrets mounted on the steel bunkers were called Panther-turm I and the turrets on concrete bunkers were called Panther-turm II. There were also three different turret designs – new Panther Ausf. A production turrets, reworked Panther Ausf. D turrets and new turrets designed and built to be installed on the in-ground bunkers. Such was the haste to build the fortifications that new Panther Ausf. A turret shells and components were taken from Panther assembly plants and replaced later. Being mounted on fixed bunkers, these turrets didn’t have the hydraulic traverse

drive components and the gunner traversed the turret manually. A second hand wheel allowed the loader to assist the gunner to speed the turret traverse. The reworked Panther Ausf. D turrets were modified in the same way and retained their original drum cupolas. The third type of turret was the Panther-Ostwallturm (Panther East Wall turret), built for bunker mounting, with a reinforced 65mm roof and a flat roof hatch replacing the cupola. The Panther-turm I and II were built in some numbers – records indicate that 130 Panther-turm I and 123 Panther-turm II were emplaced on all fronts, Russia, the West and Italy. They were often sited so as to command bottleneck areas like mountain valleys and areas where enemy troops had to use certain approaches due to poor terrain. Many of them were discovered during construction by reconnaissance planes and put out of action fairly quickly but others proved to be difficult to neutralize. Low to the ground and often well-camouflaged, they could prove difficult to locate. Some were emplaced in a number of German cities, including Berlin, putting up the last defenses of a dying Reich. n

This example mounted a specially built turret with a 65mm roof plate and no cupola. Note how low and difficult to locate many of these fortifications were, and intact, they could stop an Allied advance by picking off any tanks that ventured into their range.

The Panther-turm fixed fortifications were erected all through the German defense campaign. Here, Berlin civilians passed by a wrecked position converted from a Panther Ausf. A turret. Once located, they were often put out of action fairly quickly.

Serious disruptions in the production of Panther engines and armour assemblies led to a surplus of turrets, and many were finished as fixed fortifications in a bewildering variety of different models, using Panther Ausf. D, Ausf. A and specially built turrets. Benito Mussolini, Il Duce in Fascist Italy, seen here, was inspecting an early model installation.

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KIT PREVIEW

Dragon 1:35 Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.M w/Schurzen • Kit No. 6604

Dragon has combined components from various kits to produce a new Panzer III Ausf. M with etched metal side skirts. Graham Tetley offers his verdict.

The main armament sprue.

SPORTING SHINY SKIRTS

D

ragon’s onslaught on all things Panzer III continues with this latest version. The Panzer III Ausf. M shared the same 5cm KwK39 L/60 main gun as the Ausf. L and among its modifications was a deep-wading muffler with a series of associated hatch seals that allowed fording of water obstacles up to a depth of 1.3m. This kit allows the builder to depict no less than 6 vehicles that took part in the Battle of Kursk in July 1943 as well as one from an unidentified unit in Sicily in 1943. There is nothing new in this kit. What we have is a combination of parts from the previous Dragon Panzer IIIs, notably the Panzer III Ausf. N w/Schurzen kit 6474 with the gun, fenders & cupola from the Panzer III Ausf.M w/ Wading Muffler kit 6558. The only new addition is the decal sheet

and Dragon has swapped their excellent Magic Tracks for the not so good DS equivalents. One thing that I cannot fault Dragon for is the quality of their moulding and this kit is no exception. It is crawling with fine detail and all plastic parts are perfectly moulded with no flaws on my example. Knock-out pin marks are in places that won’t be visible on the finished model however Dragon’s use of lots of little pips does increase the cleaning up time. Of those kits that I have built previously the only comment I can make is be careful in fitting the rear deck to the lower hull, but it should be a straightforward build. For the Schurzen, Dragon provides the rails in plastic and the shields in etched nickel. . You don’t get the scale effect that brass gives but it does make

the assembly both quicker and stronger. The instructions are busy and, as I have not yet built this, I can’t say if there are any errors. The incorrect etched fret is shown on the front page but the etched parts called out in the instructions do match the fret included. This amalgamation of existing sprues comes together to form a popular addition to the Panzer III family. For the cost of the kit though I do wish Dragon would bring back the Magic Track with DS Track as an optional extra in the box for those who prefer them. It is a good, sound kit and comes highly recommended. ■

Dragon kits are avaliable from all good model shops and distributed in the UK by The Hobby Company Limited www.hobbyco.net

Main gun barrel.

Teeny turret lifting hooks.

Turret side armour and supports.

Turret armour supports are commendably thin.

Generic photo-etched parts.

Marking options.

Schurzen plates in all their shiny glory!

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TANK BOY GALLERY

Italeri 1:35 Bergepanther • Kit No. 285

IT’S HARD WORK Takahiro Sumitomo presents his detailed and upgraded Italeri 1:35 scale Bergepanther.

I

taleri’s 1:35 Panther family lags well behind both Tamiya and Dragon in terms of detail and accuracy, but it is still the only game in town for a Bergepanther recovery vehicle straight from the box. This model was built with only minor improvements and additions, notably filling the many sink marks

with green putty. The kit tracks were also replaced with Bronco’s early version individual track links. These workable tracks are a big improvement over the Italeri tracks. The building in the diorama has been scratch built from cork, and the base is cork and clay.

Bronco’s workable individual link tracks were used.

Lots of sink marks to fill!

PAINTING AND WEATHERING Mr Hobby lacquer paints have been used over a white primer coat to paint the Bergepanther. A wash of 502 Abteilung series has been applied over this. Further weathering was achieved using AK interactive’s Streaking Grime, Vallejo Light Fresh and various oil paints. ■

Overall white primer coat.

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The scratch built cork building takes shape.

The groundwork was also scratch built from cork and clay.

The three figures painted and ready to go.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Academy 1:35 R.O.K Army K1A1 MBT • Kit No. 13215

IS THAT AN ABRAMS? NO IT’S A K1A1

Sean Lynch builds Academy’s 1:35 scale Abrams lookalike – the South Korean K1A1.

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?

A

t first glance the South Korean K1 series of tanks might be confused for the US M1 series of tanks. This lies in the fact that when South Korea wanted to develop its own series of advanced tanks in the 1970s to face the North Korean threat it did not have the knowledge or experience to do so. As such it turned to its ally in the US who had supplied so much

of its military equipment. The early development work for the K1 was done in coordination with General Dynamics (then Chrysler) and thus shares many features from the XM1 project. South Korea tailored the K1 to fit its needs. These different features include a hydropneumatic suspension and torsion bars, allowing it to attain greater elevation and depression

with its main gun, an advantage in the hilly terrain of Korea. Additionally the K1 series uses a diesel engine versus the gas turbine engine used by the M1 series. South Korea currently fields the K1 which uses the and M68A1 105mm gun, an ARV that features systems similar to those found on Leopard and LeClerc ARV’s, an AVLB (Armored Vehicle Launched

Bridge) and the K1A1. The K1A1 features the M256 smoothbore 120mm gun found on the M1A1/ A2 Abrams and in improved turret and fire control systems over the K1. The K1A1 is currently being supplemented by the K2 Panther which will feature a 55 calibre 120mm main gun and many advanced features found on the latest variants of current western MBTs.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Academy 1:35 R.O.K Army K1A1 MBT • Kit No. 13215

The Kit and the Build Academy, which is a South Korean company, has naturally produced models of the K1 and K1A1. The subject of this article will be the model of the K1A1. The K1A1 model by Academy is a very nice replica of the actual tank. Academy’s engineers appear to have done their homework and have delivered a very detailed model out of the box. The important features are included in the kit, but as with any kit small tweaks can be made if desired. Tankograd’s Mission and Maneuvers #7009 “Republic of Korea Army ROKA-Vehicles of the Modern Korean Army ROKA” was used heavily for photographic reference.

Some of the buildup of the turret is shown in these photos. As can be seen the actual turret isn’t that large itself, but it carries a large amount of external stowage racks and boxes. Prominent among these is the large stowage rack at the rear of the turret. This comes in several pieces and requires care in assembling.

The vinyl tracks provided with the kit were used as they provide very good detail and replacing with after market would be a bit redundant, especially since they are mostly covered by the side skirts. At this point I had not added any extra details as they just really weren’t needed. If pressed to do so I would maybe replace the Commander’s M2 MG barrel, the headlight lenses and maybe add a bit of wiring. Clear plastic is provided for the periscopes, but I chose to use plastic strip since I was going to paint them. One item to note is that the instructions have the mounting arm for the M2 off to the side of the Commander’s viewer. However, this should be more forward. If installed as indicated M2 will be blocking the Commander’s hatch.

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The lower hull is very well fitting and has great detail. The engine intake screens are moulded so that they match the detail associated with a PE screen. The biggest item that could use replacing would be the lenses for the headlights. The rear mud flaps are shown installed in the preceding photos, but examination of photos of the real subject show that these are often removed on the K1A1 and I would later remove these from the model.

After looking at reference photos I realised that I needed to add some stowage and other items to enliven the model and take advantage of the large stowage rack. Aftermarket stowage from Verlinden and Value Gear were added as well as tarps formed from Apoxie Sculpt. A range flag was made from styrene rod and Apoxie Sculpt. The unditching beam and wheel chocks were made from styrene as well. One detail missing from the kit is mounting brackets for the tow cables. These were made from styrene and added. The figure is one of two that is included in the kit, though the detail of the head is very soft. I replaced the head with one from the US Modern Tankers set from DML.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Academy 1:35 R.O.K Army K1A1 MBT • Kit No. 13215

PAINTING The majority of South Korean vehicles use a variation of the winter MERDC scheme as used by the US. The K1A1 is no exception. The challenge I faced was finding good matches for the tones used by South Korea. A search of the Internet as to what other people used provided some great ideas. However, the brown tone took a bit of trial and error until I found what I liked.

After trying to match the brown on a test subject with several browns I arrived at a mix of Vallejo Leather Brown and New Wood followed by a filter of Tamiya Khaki. After revisiting the reference photos I realized this just wasn’t the correct tone.

After some more trials I came up with a brown mix that captured the tone seen in photos. This consisted of an approximate 50/50 mix of Vallejo English Uniform and Leather Brown. The field green mix came from a recommendation on the Internet of a 50/50 mix of Tamiya Dark Green and Field Grey. Different ratios of these colours would later be used to map and highlight various details.

Tamiya Buff is a great match for the sand colour. The reference photos for the K1A1 only show the sand on the lower hull front, sides and rear.

Quick Figure Painting I knew from the beginning of the project that I would want a figure in the vehicle. I feel a figure can make a subject more warm and interesting. The kit includes two figures, but the detail is soft, especially the heads. I decided to use only one of the figures and replace the head. The head used came from DML’s older Modern US Tanker set. The problem with the heads is that the faces are decidedly Caucasian instead of Korean or at the very least Asian. Luckily one of the figures has his lower face covered with a scarf, much like some of the tankers in the reference photos. I used this head on the kit provided body for the commander figure.

Vallejo paints were used to complete the camouflage pattern. Looking back the Flat Green was a bit too bright of a choice.

The South Korean Army wear the woodland camouflage uniform that the US wore prior to the introduction of the digital camouflage uniforms. I use Vallejo for all my hand painting, but didn’t have any Khaki. I airbrushed Tamiya Khaki over the black primer to begin the camouflage for the uniform.

I had trouble coming with a good match for Korean skin tone. After finding an article on various skin tones on the Cool Mini or Not forums I decided on English uniform for the base skin tone. This was altered for the shadows on highlights. The gloves were painted deck tan, the helmet dark green, canvass material Brown Violet and the remaining details black.

Highlights of the uniform were painted with a translucent coat of Sunny Skin Tone and the whole figure given a brown wash to bring out the shadows. The figure painting process took a couple of hours in one sitting. While it is fast, the results are good enough to add a little something extra to the model but not be the centrepiece of it.

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Tamiya NATO Black completed the camouflage pattern.

Markings The K1A1s featured in the Tankograd reference were from the 32nd Tank Battalion. These feature a thumbs up sign on each side and the unit insignia and the front hull. Of course none of these are included with the kit. Necessity being the mother of all invention spurred me to test myself and paint these myself.

The mask was placed on the proper location of the model.

I decided to trace the thumbs up from one of the Tankograd photos that nearly matched dimensions with the model. This was then cut out and the trace paper template taped to the paper side of masking film and the thumbs up cut out.

The black base was airbrushed on and the mask removed.

The white outline of the fingers, thumb and hand was painted with Vallejo Off-white. The process was repeated on the opposite side of the tank.

A similar process to the one to create the thumbs up was employed to create the insignia on the front of the hull.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Academy 1:35 R.O.K Army K1A1 MBT • Kit No. 13215

WEATHERING

A gloss coat was applied to the model after some of the details have been painted. A dark pin wash was then applied to bring out the details. In the preceding photo only the hull has received the wash, clearly bringing out the details on the hull when compared to the unwashed turret.

Some of the vehicles in the Tankograd title showed some deep scratches on the side panels. I decided this would be nice touch of wear and tear to add to the vehicle. These were created by first painting a lightened colour of the corresponding base colour and then adding German Camouflage Brown to represent some rusting area to the scratches.

With the washes complete the vehicle was given a coat of Vallejo Satin Varnish that not only creates a natural finish but also facilitates the final detail painting and weathering.

The fin located painte

A diluted mix of Tamiya Flat Earth, Khaki and Buff was airbrushed onto areas of dust accumulation to begin the process of adding dirt to the vehicle.

Next I wanted to add mud spatter to various areas of the lower hull, with emphasis toward the rear hull sides where mud may not built up heavily due to the side skirts. The Wilder Brown Mud Spatter had a similar tone to the Tamiya dirt mix used earlier. It is an enamel paint that allows excess spatter to be removed/toned down. This was added by dipping a short bristled wide brush in the paint, wiping the excess from the brush and flicking the remaining paint from the brush with my finger. A piece of postcard was used to block in the areas I wished to accumulate the spatter. A flat brush dampened with hot water was used to remove some of the mud colour. This created random effects with the accumulated mud.

The Brown Mud Spatter was painted on the sides of the hull and the turret in thin bands. The excess paint was removed in a downward motion with a brush dampened with mineral spirits, leaving the faint hint of rain streaks.

The reference photos of several vehicles showed heavy accumulations of mud on some of the lower plates as if the vehicle had scraped against the side of a muddy wall. I used Wilder Brown Textured Earth to simulate this. The textured earth was also flicked on to some areas of the vehicle to simulate heavier fresh mud to contrast with the brown spatter from earlier. A touch of lighter coloured enamel paint from AK Interactive was used to create bit of light coloured spatter for some contrast. The textured earth was also painted onto the road wheels, tracks, front and rear lower hull and the suspension.

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The co Verlind M2 MG damag

The final details such as the machine guns and lights have been painted. The optics for the Commander and gunner were made from AFV Club’s reflective lenses stickers. The commander M2 MG mount has now been located forward on the Commander’s viewer mount. One item that was missing but seen on most reference photos was a roll of concertina wire on the rear of the vehicle. A set of Hauler Concertina wire was ordered, painted and placed on the rear of the vehicle.

The completed figure was added. A map from Verlinden was placed over the area where the M2 MG had been moved from to cover the damage done when moving the M2 mount.

I wanted to work some various methods of creating mud effects with this project. One that I wanted to try was to use a chipping medium (similar to the hairspray technique) to create irregular mud on the front fenders and lower hull in the front and back where thicker mud would accumulate and then be removed from usage. I airbrushed Vallejo Chipping Medium onto the desired areas.

A more concentrated mix of the dirt mixture with a higher ratio of Flat Earth was airbrushed over the desired areas.

Next I wanted to add more dust and dirt accumulation to the upper hull and turret without over power the underlying camouflage. I again used the Brown Mud Spatter (to keep colour consistency). This was painted in accumulation areas and random flat areas. Once it dried for a few minutes, a clean round brush moistened with mineral spirits was used to stump away the excess paint and then blend the residue in with the vehicle to create a mottled and dusty appearance.

Some wet streaks were created using Wilder Murky Water. These streaks were painted with a fine brush in a zigzag pattern.

Wilder Diesel Exhaust Runs Effect was used to paint the exhaust from the diesel engine as well as some fuel stains. At this point I stepped back for a few minutes and then took a close look at the model. I also looked and at my reference photos and decided I had accomplished what I had wanted to do with the model and now was the perfect time to stop.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Academy 1:35 R.O.K Army K1A1 MBT • Kit No. 13215

Modelspec Academy 1:35 R.O.K Army K1A1 MBT

A close view of the completed rear plate.

Kit No. 13215

Accessories Used: Hauler Item No. HLU35065 Razor Wire Modern Verlinden Productions Item No. 2638 M113 Stowage Vietnam Value Gear Miscellaneous Stowage Tools and Modelling Products: Tamiya Putty Basic Type Grey Apoxie Sculpt Two-Part Epoxy Putty Tamiya Extra Thin Liquid Cement Gorilla Super Glue Vallejo Item No. 76.550 Chipping Medium Evergreen Scale Models strip styrene, plastic rod and sheet styrene AFV Club Reflective Lenses Mylar Tracing Paper Masking Film Paints and Finishing Products: Vehicle: Vallejo Item No. 73.602 Black Surface Primer Tamiya Acrylic – XF61 Dark Green, XF65 Field Grey, XF49 Khaki, X22 Clear, XF57 Buff, XF69 NATO Black Vallejo- 70.921 English Uniform, 70.871 Leather Brown, 70.522 Satin Varnish, 71.003 Scarlet Red, 71.093 Field Green, 70.310 Old Wood, 70.801 Brass, 70.950 Flat Black, 70.862 Black Grey, 70.820 Off White, 71.016 US Dark Green, 71.070 Turn Signal Red, 70.864 Natural Steel, 70.822 German Cam. Black Brown Ammo of Mig- MIG097 Crystal Orange, MIG099 Crystal Black Blue Figures: Uniforms - Tamiya XF49 Khaki, Vallejo-70.968 Flat Green, 70.872 Chocolate Brown, 70.984 Flat Brown, 70.950 Flat Black, 71.012 Dark Green, 70.845 Sunny Skin Tone, 70.887 Brown Violet, 70.986 Deck Tan Wash-AK Interactive AK 045 Dark Brown Flesh - Base Coat: Vallejo 70.921 English Uniform Wash: AK Interactive AK045 Dark Brown. Flesh Highlights: 70.921 English Uniform, 70.311 New Wood Weathering - Future Floor Polish Alclad II ALC-117 Dull Aluminium Tamiya- XF49 Khaki, XF52 Flat Earth, XF57 Buff AK Interactive- AK074 Rain Marks for NATO Tanks, AK075 Enamel Wash for NATO Camouflage Vehicles (Black Wash) Wilder Nitro Line- NL29 Brown Mud Spatter, NL31 Diesel Exhaust Runs Effect, NL34 Murky Water Wet Effect Wilder Textured Earth – TE03 Dark Brown Textured Earth

The rear of the turret with stowage and the weathered beam.

Commander at the ready!

References: Tankograd-Mission and Manoeuvres #7009, REPUBLIC OF KOREA ARMY ROKA VEHICLES OF THE MODERN KOREAN ARMY ROKA, by Gordon Arthur, Tankograd Publishing 2007 ✓ (Base Academy Kit) Highly detailed kit, excellent fit of parts, everything needed for an excellent kit is in the box. ✗ Assembly of stowage rack does require patience. Available from www.pocketbond.co.uk & www.creativemodels.co.uk

Rating

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The K1A1 model “ by Academy is a very nice replica of the actual tank...

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KIT PREVIEW

Bronco 1:35 Mittlerer Einheits PersonenKrafwagen (m.E.Pkw) K fz12 (Early Version) • Kit No. CB-35175

Luke Pitt wades through the contents of Bronco’s new 1:35 scale Horsch Staff Car.

SUPER DETAILED STAFF CAR

T

he Kfz 12 was a medium size cross-country vehicle manufactured in Germany by the Horch Company. The vehicle was produced in a number of configurations but this version is the early variation with the side mounted spare wheels. To my knowledge, this is the second plastic version of this type to be produced in 1:35 scale, with the first being offered by Italeri in the 1970s. This new kit from Bronco represents the early production type produced from 1937 through to 1940. Most modellers that have tackled a Bronco kit will no doubt be aware that they require a particular mindset. If you enjoy building for building sake, then this may be the kit for you, I say this, as the kit has some 915 plastic parts over 20 sprues and 88 photo-etched parts spread over one fret. Many of the parts are very small and tricky to clean up. A well-illustrated and precise set of instructions is included with the option of five marking choices. The standard of moulding is very good, with detail on all parts rendered to a high standard. A beautifully detailed engine is included with nothing more to add that the associated wiring. The wheels are multiple piece affairs with some very nice touches like the tyre manufacturer’s logos and the hub cap attachment rings. Provision has been made to have the front steering to be positioned in either, right, left or

straight ahead settings without the need to adjust the steering arms. At the end of assembly sequence 21 you will find yourself with the most detailed rolling 1:35 chassis I have ever encountered. The only nitpicks, apart from the sheer complexity of the assembly and build process, are the side steps that attach to the chassis. Although these are wonderful mouldings the round perforations need to be drilled out for a more accurate representation of what was on the actual vehicle. Moving on to the distinctive coachwork, a few compromises have been made. When looking at the grill work for example one can see the radiator through the grill bars, Sadly the exterior radiator and its associated grill bars have been moulded as one piece resulting in a solid appearance. That’s not to say it’s bad - it’s just that it is in stark contrast to the uber detailed chassis. For the more detail-focused amongst us, the grill work would best be replaced with rod of the appropriate diameter. The bonnet is another slight compromise as while the pieces are almost scale like in thickness they do not have the grill vents moulded open. The only solution here is to either wait for a photo etch replacement or use a scriber to open up the vents. The coachwork sidewalls are very thin and all the crew doors are separate they too have an in-scale appearance which

again is a nice touch. The rear stowage compartment is moulded open, onto which the boot lid can be positioned in any position of your choosing. Within the boot there is various stowage shelves and nick nacks and is almost complete in every way, the boot floor has even an embossed correct checker board pattern. The dashboard and instrument cluster is a good representation that includes separate decals for the dial faces and instruction placement cards. The clear windshield frames are moulded as separate parts that allow you to display the model in windscreen in either the up or down positions The side “all weather screens” are also moulded in clear and have some nice folds in them. The kit can be displayed with the roof up or down with separate parts provided for each, these are very well done and come with well defined crease marks. Over recent years, Bronco has lifted their game to such an extent that they are as good and in some cases better than the class leaders. The model is packed with options and really needs nothing in the way of aftermarket details. It’s funny how we modellers change over time. 10 years ago modellers were complaining that kits were not detailed enough and now we are complaining that some are just too detailed. Bronco kits demand a certain mindset. If you want a quick build then this probably is not the kit for you. If on the other hand, you want a scale replica then this may well be the very kit your after, Just be prepared to spend more time on the build than your used too. The end result, however, will be worth it! ■

One of the vehicle sides.

The one-piece floor.

Plastic springs – these will be fun to remove from the sprues!

The multi-part wheels in plastic…

…feature flexible vinyl tread sections.

Individual chassis pieces.

Thanks to Bronco for the sample www.cn-bronco.com The kit-supplied photo-etched sprue.

Markings are supplied for five vehicles. Some of the many smaller detail parts.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Scratch built conversion based on Zvezda 1:35 scale BT-5 Soviet Light Tank • Item No. 3507

TANK TORP

Kamil Feliks Sztarbała scratch builds a new turret and armament to create the rocket-equipped RBT-5 Soviet experimental tank in 1:35 scale.

I

n the early 1930s, Soviet engineers designed the so-called “tank torpedo”; a 250-kg unguided rocket that could hit targets at a range of between 300 and 1800 metres. Whilst they could be fired from stationary launchers, it was obvious that this would be more effective if mounted on a mobile platform. The trials were conducted with T-27, T-37 and BT-5 tanks. The project turned out to be a failure, but the experience gathered during these tests helped to develop a much more effective weapon; the legendary “Katyusha”.

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RPEDO

THE HULL The final variant of the Soviet BT cavalry tank series, the BT-7, was beautifully reproduced by Tamiya. However, if we wish to build its older brother, the BT-5, a dated Zvezda release is basically the only game in town. This model was first released nearly a quarter of a century ago, and even though it was quite a nice kit at that time, it doesn’t meet current standards. What’s more, the moulds have clearly seen better days.

Construction started with the lower hull tub. I soon discovered the first flaws that required correction. The cover of the drive shaft featured two large sink marks.

The easiest way to deal with this was to replace the drive shaft with a length of plastic tubing. For this purpose, I had to cut the lower hull floor accordingly…

...and then remove the original drive shaft from the rear plate. Subsequent steps didn’t bring any further problems.

With the lower hull tub complete, I could assemble the running gear. Unfortunately, the wheels required a lot of sanding. Using a steel wire brush and coarse sandpaper, I added some damage to the rubber rims of the wheels.

The drive wheel spokes also had to be improved.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Scratch built conversion based on Zvezda 1:35 scale BT-5 Soviet Light Tank • Item No. 3507

The upper hull turned out to be almost unusable due to moulding defects and poor details. Fortunately, its rear side was flat and even, so I decided to take advantage of this…

The transmission covers were riddled with sink marks. I filled them with super glue, additionally inserting small pieces of scrap plastic into the largest cavities.

Firstly, I removed the details from the edges of the part.

Next, I levelled the surfaces with a wide, flat metal file.

Next, I scribed off the excess plastic, in order to adjust the superstructure to the lower hull tub.

The idler wheel gear housings were affected by even more spectacular sink marks. I filled them with lengths of styrene rod, and sealed with cyano. Once I had cut off the excess rod and smoothed these areas with sandpaper, the problem was gone.

The radiator intakes were faired over with photoetched screens. As the tiny holes in the latter parts would be easily clogged with super glue, I used Tamiya Extra Thin Cement to attach them. I repeatedly applied little amounts of glue to melt the plastic…

…and subsequently impressed the screens into the softened plastic.

In the case of the wheel steering mechanism, it was easier to scratch build some details than to correct the kit parts.

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Afterwards, I added the replacement engine access plate and driver’s hatch. These were made from pieces of 1.5 mm and 0.5 mm styrene sheet, respectively.

The upper and lower hull could then be joined together. I also thinned down and detailed the front fenders.

The rear fenders required more attention. Using pieces of 0.5 mm styrene sheet, I scratch built a more accurate representation of these parts than were offered by Zvezda.

The main sections of the fenders were enhanced with Aber’s photo-etched parts, and lengths of styrene rod.

As the meshed hatch from the kit was over-simplified, I had to build a replacement from Aber photo-etched parts.

I subsequently added more photo-etched details from an Aber set. Some of them were left separate, allowing for easier painting.

The opening in the rear part of the engine deck was supplemented with a simple reproduction of the rear radiator air exhaust louvers, made from pieces of 0.5 mm styrene sheet.

This sub-assembly was left movable in order to enable easy access to the exhaust louvers during the painting phase.

Other missing hull details were made from lengths of styrene rod.

For example, a length of 1.5 mm rod was used to create the bolts that adjusted the suspension springs in the real tank. I gave the correct shape to the end of this, and then wrapped a length of 0.2 mm lead wire around the rod, to reproduce the thread.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Scratch built conversion based on Zvezda 1:35 scale BT-5 Soviet Light Tank • Item No. 3507

The finished bolts were inserted into the holes that had been drilled into the superstructure.

Next, I milled out the interiors of the headlamp covers and glued tiny tin balls inside them, in order to represent the bulbs. The headlights were then fitted to the kit.

Finally, I made the replacement shovels from photo-etched parts and plastic rod. The muffler required a lot of sanding, as well as hollowing out of the exhaust pipes.

The hull was complete.

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TURRET The sole surviving photo of the RBT-5 armed with “tank torpedoes” reveals that the launchers were mounted on the early-type cylindrical turret. I decided to use the kit turret as the basis for my conversion.

Once I had glued the turret halves together, I trimmed off the rear part of this sub-assembly…

Using an Olfa compass circle cutter, I cut out the new turret roof from a piece of 0.75 mm styrene sheet.

I then added the photo-etched details and hatches. The latter were made from pieces of 0.25 mm styrene sheet.

The basic turret takes shape. …and replaced it with a piece of 0.5 mm styrene sheet. It’s easy to bend a thin plastic piece after pulling it a few times against the corner of a straight edged tool.

Next, I attached the roof to the turret and levelled the surface. The turned metal barrel was supplied by RB Model.

For the visor cover, I used the kit part, albeit slightly modified. At the very most, all I had to do here was to drill an aperture.

The missing recesses between the armour plates that build up the turret of the real tank, were created using a Trumpeter scribing tool.

The rear sponson was scratch built from pieces of 0.5 mm styrene sheet.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Scratch built conversion based on Zvezda 1:35 scale BT-5 Soviet Light Tank • Item No. 3507

Now I could focus on creating the launchers. Developing them was time-consuming, as I had to dry-fit and modify these particular elements several times, in order to determine their correct shapes and sizes. I started by gluing the mounting brackets to the turret sides.

Next, I attached the side racks and pre-bent them in specific areas.

The latter were made from lengths of 1.6 mm styrene rod, whilst for the missile cradles, I used lengths of 4 mm plastic tubing. By fixing them to the brackets, I also ensured the proper alignment of the launcher racks, making them more rigid.

Little by little, I added the remaining parts of the racks.

Afterwards, I built up the brackets that would hold the trunnions.

To proceed with construction, I had to conjure up the tank torpedoes, as these were necessary for various test-fits. Therefore, I checked my stash of spare 1:48 scale aircraft external stores, and quickly assembled a few chosen bombs.

Some useful parts were cut off each of the bombs…

...and glued together, forming the basic shape of the missiles. To get the correct size, I had to add a 4 mm-thick piece of scrap plastic to each of them.

A carefully selected and sanded length of plastic sprue was used to scratch build the rocket engine nozzles, which would also hold the missiles within the cradles.

Using pieces of 0.25 mm styrene sheet, I created the missile fins. Their size had to be meticulously determined, as any contact with the launcher racks would result in a disaster for the real vehicle. Actually, any hit by enemy guns would also bring big trouble…

Next, I mounted the fuses and fin reinforcements. The addition of the latter, soon turned out to be significant.

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Based on the blueprints from a Russian publication, I began the construction of the missile rail elevating mechanisms. However, I quickly twigged that the presence of the aforementioned missile fin reinforcements rules out installing the mechanisms under the front parts of the rails, as suggested by my reference. Inevitably, I had to place them at the rear of the launchers. Once again, the threads were represented by wrapping a length of 0.2 mm wire around lengths of styrene rod.

The missile rails were made from pieces of styrene strip. This process required extensive dry-fitting.

Once I’d finished building the launchers, I had to reproduce the rivets. Firstly, I drilled shallow holes in the correct positions, using a 0.4 mm drill bit, held with a pin vise.

These apertures were filled with droplets of Tamiya Extra Thin Cement, and subsequently plugged with tiny glass balls, applied with a wet brush. Honestly, I have no idea where I obtained them, but for your reference I can confirm that BGA solder balls would work equally as well.

The last step of this stage was to assemble the metal tracks from Friulmodel.

With regard to these tracks, the spare links without the guide teeth, should be grouped together, as otherwise the teeth would collide with the rotating turret.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Scratch built conversion based on Zvezda 1:35 scale BT-5 Soviet Light Tank • Item No. 3507

PAINTING As usual, I left many parts and sub-assemblies separate, allowing for easier painting.

As I wanted to try to paint this model in a different way than I usually employ, I sprayed it with AK-interactive AK088 ‘Worn Effects Fluid’. Once it had dried, I airbrushed a layer of Mr.Hobby H331 ‘Dark Sea Gray’ over the entire kit.

The wheels and lower hull surfaces were primed with Tamiya XF-1 ‘Flat Black’, whilst the remaining areas received an even coat of Mr.Color C29 ‘Hull Red’.

This was followed with another layer of AK088 ‘Worn Effects Fluid’ and a basecoat of Tamiya XF-5 ‘Flat Green’.

Next, I emphasised the shadows and chosen details with Mr.Hobby H94 ‘Clear Green’, in a way similar to the popular post-shading method.

More intense damage was added to the fenders.

Mr.Color C13 ‘Neutral Gray’ was used for applying highlights and subtle vertical streaks on larger flat areas.

Naturally, I didn’t forget to create scratches on the lower hull sides, which would be caused by track motion.

Now I could take advantage of the features of the ‘Worn Effects Fluid’. I dampened the chosen surfaces with water and rubbed off the paint layers with a brush and toothpick.

The chipping phase was finished.

My next step was to paint the details. The straps were given their appropriate colours with AK-interactive AK3030 ‘Leather and Buckles’ set.

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The rubber wheel rims were painted with UA735 ‘Deep Cockpit’ from Lifecolor CS27 ‘Shades of Black Set’. To add some variety to their finish, I applied Vallejo 70950 ‘Matt Black’, by rolling over the edges of the rims with a cotton bud, dampened with a small amount of thick paint.

Using a cotton bud, I rubbed the edges of the drive sprockets with Uschi Van der Rosten’s ‘Metal Polishing Powder - Steel Type’.

The tank torpedoes were primed with Tamiya X-1 ‘Gloss Black’ and subsequently sprayed with AK088 ‘Worn Effects Fluid’

In order to create a realistic patina on the metal tracks, I dipped them in AK-interactive AK159 ‘Metal Burnishing Fluid’.

I then focused on finishing the muffler. Firstly, I painted it with Lifecolor UA702 ‘Rust Base Color’. The remaining rusty tones from CS10 ‘Dust & Rust Set’ were applied with small pieces of sponge, held with tweezers, using the wet-on-wet technique. Once the paints were dry, I dampened the muffler with water, and poured some salt crystals of various size over it. Most of them stuck to the upper surfaces. This allowed me to airbrush a basecoat of Tamiya XF-5 ‘Flat Green’. By removing the salt, I achieved the effect of tiny rust spots showing through the green paint layer.

Afterwards, I airbrushed them with Mr.Hobby H331 ‘Dark Sea Gray’, and purposely damaged the paint layer in the same way as I did with the tank hull and turret.

To bring out the details, I used MIG Productions P220 ‘Dark Wash’. I applied the enamel with a brush, and soon removed the excess with cotton buds. The paintwork was sealed with clear matte varnish.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Scratch built conversion based on Zvezda 1:35 scale BT-5 Soviet Light Tank • Item No. 3507

WEATHERING

The weathering process was begun by recreating some staining. For this purpose, I applied a number of different vertical streaks with AK-interactive AK012 ‘Streaking Grime’, using a fine brush.

The same product was stippled over the upper surfaces of the vehicle, which had been previously dampened with white spirit.

Before they fully dried, I blurred them with a brush, slightly dampened with white spirit. The dust was replicated using products from AK-Interactive’s AK4060 ‘Dust & Dirt Deposits’ set. Firstly, I airbrushed the lower areas of the hull with AK4063 ‘Brown Earth Deposit’…

...and immediatelly formed some vertical streaks by distributing the fluid with a brush, dampened with white spirit.

This process was repeated a few times, using AK4062 ‘Light Dust Deposit’ and AK4063 ‘Brown Earth Deposit’ alternately.

To build up the mud texture, I mixed AK081 ‘Dark Earth Pigment’ and a little AK4062 ‘Light Dust Deposit’. The dense mixture was speckled over the lower hull with an old toothbrush. The mud texture would be vulnerable to damage to the same extent as the paint layer. This damage was mainly created with a toothpick.

Of course, I also applied some mud over the wheels.

The deep scratches down to bare metal, were added to various edges and details with an 8B pencil.

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Next, I hung the pre-weathered, rusty tow chain from AK-interactive (#AK231) on the hooks attached to the glacis plate.

The “threaded” details were brush painted with A.MIG-1408 ‘Fresh Engine Oil’.

The same enamel, diluted with white spirit in different ratios, was used to reproduce fuel stains and spills.

A little ‘Black Smoke’ pigment was also added to the exhaust pipes, using a brush with fine, resilient bristles.

The tracks also required some attention. Firstly, I applied different quantities of two pigments: AK-interactive AK081 ‘Dark Earth’ and A.MIG-3004 ‘Europe Earth’. This was followed by speckling the tracks with AK-interactive AK4112 ‘Medium Rust Deposit’ and white spirit. For this process, I used a specially modified toothbrush.

Once the tracks had dried, I shook off the unfixed remnants of pigment. Next, I rubbed their edges and running surface with Uschi Van der Rosten ‘Metal Polishing Powder - Steel Type’, in order to add an authentic-looking metal sheen.

All the sub-assemblies were then ready for the final installation.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Scratch built conversion based on Zvezda 1:35 scale BT-5 Soviet Light Tank • Item No. 3507

The final touch was to mate the tracks with drive sprockets and mount them on the running gear.

Modelspec Zvezda 1:35 scale BT-5 Soviet Light Tank – Cat. #3507 Accessories Used: RB Model 45 mm 20-K m.1942 Turned Metal Barrel – Cat. #35B73 Aber BT-5 Soviet Tank Detail Set – Cat. #35003 Friulmodel BT-7 Tracks – Cat. #ATL-74 AK-interactive Rusty Tow Chain Big – Cat. #AK231 Tools and Modelling Products: Tamiya Extra Thin Cement C.A. Glue Styrene Sheet, Strip, Rod and Tubing Olfa Compass Circle Cutter Trumpeter Scribing Tool Tin & Glass Balls Lead Wire Paints and Finishing Products: Paints: • Ammo of Mig Jimenez • Lifecolor • Mr.Hobby • Tamiya (acrylic) • Vallejo Mr.Hobby Clear Varnishes 8B Pencil Talens White Spirit AK-Interactive weathering products: • AK012 Streaking Grime • AK081 Dark Earth Pigment • AK083 Track Wash • AK088 Worn Effects Fluid • AK159 Metal Burnishing Fluid • AK4062 Light Dust Deposit • AK4063 Brown Earth Deposit • AK4112 Medium Rust Deposit MIG Productions weathering products: • P023 Black Smoke • P220 Dark Wash Ammo of Mig Jimenez weathering products: • A.MIG-1408 Fresh Engine Oil • A.MIG-3004 Europe Earth Uschi Van der Rosten Metal Polishing Powder No.4009 Steel Type ✓ Was a nice kit in its day; basically accurate. ✗ Does not meet current standards; moulds have deteriorated over time; detail errors; needs lots of updating! Available from Zvezda kits are distributed in the UK by The Hobby Company Limited www.hobbyco.net

Rating

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surviving photo “ofThethesole RBT-5 armed with “tank torpedoes” reveals that the launchers were mounted on the early-type cylindrical turret...

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FEATURE ARTICLE

AFV Club 1:35 Churchill Mk.IV • Kit No. AF35154 Inside the Armour 1:35 Churchill Oke Conversion • Item No. 35060

DOOMED AT

PART TWO – TRACKS, DETAILS, PAINTIN

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T DIEPPE

NTING AND WEATHERING

Brett Green paints and re-paints AFV Club’s 1:35 scale Churchill tank and Inside the Armour’s Oke flamethrower conversion.

Basic construction and conversion is complete.

I

n MMI Issue 113, we left my Churchill with basic construction complete and awaiting its tracks and paint.

MAKING TRACKS AFV Club supplies full length, very flexible – almost rubbery – tracks with their kit. They don’t look too bad, but they depict the later lightweight tracks, whereas my Churchill Oke wore the B.T.S.3 heavy cast steel box section spudded tracks. AFV Club offers these as a separate aftermarket set made up from two-part individual links. One of the parts is the main link, while the other is the connector for the inside surface of the tracks. I started by snipping all the

links from the sprues, keeping the two sections in different piles then cleaning up the remaining sprue attachments and light flash with a sharp hobby knife. It is important that the flash is removed at this stage. 150 sets of links are included, which is plenty for this vehicle. The links may be made fully workable if you apply cement carefully. I first lay one of the main link sections on my workbench, then trapped one of the connector plates with a second plate. I then picked up the small assembly, squeezing the connector and link together, then applied Tamiya Extra Thin Liquid Cement sparingly to each edge of the join. A

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FEATURE ARTICLE

AFV Club 1:35 Churchill Mk.IV • Kit No. AF35154 Inside the Armour 1:35 Churchill Oke Conversion • Item No. 35060

A

B

E

C

F

I

D

G

J

H

K

A. AFV Club’s after-market individual link early-version tracks were used for this project. The kit only supplies the later, lightweight version. B. Each link is supplied as two parts – the track pad and the connector, moulded with the track pin in place. C. One of each of the link sections. Note the fine flash still on the pieces. D. I lay one of the main link sections on my workbench, then trapped one of the connector plates with a second plate. I then picked up the small assembly, squeezing the connector and link together. E. The track pin moulded to the connector was then slipped over the recessed locating channel on the inner surface of the next track link, then the connector is pressed onto the top and glued in place. F. This process is repeated until you have finished your full track length. G. Tamiya Extra Thin Liquid Cement was applied sparingly to each edge of the join. H. Each pair was squeezed together to ensure a tight fit. I. I made up my tracks in lengths of 20 plus a short run of five links for each side. J. The inside surface of one of the track runs. K. The tracks remained workable and fitted over the idler and drive sprockets without any trouble.

B The track pin moulded to the

connector was then slipped over the recessed locating channel on the inner surface of the next track link, then the connector is pressed onto the top and glued in place. This process is repeated until you have finished your full track length. For the sake of ease of handling,

I made up my tracks in lengths of 20 then connected these lengths when the glue had dried. In fact, I did not make up a long single run for each side. Instead, I completed one run of 60 links and a short run of five links for each side. The long run was tucked under the front of the short track guard then

looped around the idler and drive sprockets before being fed into the rear of the mudguard. The short track section was then slipped into the vacant space between the back of the track guard and the front of the rear mudguard. If all this sounds confusing, check out the photos!

Although progress was slow and tedious at first, once I had worked out this approach things went fairly quickly. The result is certainly worthwhile – the individual link tracks are the correct version for the Oke and they look significantly better than the kit’s flexible tracks.

The wading exhaust pipes were liberated from AFV Club’s Churchill Mk.III Dieppe kit.

AFV Club’s Dieppe boxing includes full wading gear including trunks, pipes and braces.

Spare links from the individual track set were glued to the rear mudguards.

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Churchill in grey. Tamiya primer has been applied straight from the can. This is a particularly important step on a conversion project such as this, as it is easier to see any gaps and flaws before the final colour is applied.

Details in place and ready for paint.

The overall colour is SCC 2 Brown. I mixed Tamiya acrylics based on Mike Starmer’s formula.

FINISHING TOUCHES Photos of “Beetle” abandoned on the beach at Dieppe show the bent wading extensions fitted to the exhaust pipes. At first, I thought that I would make a set by bending metal rod. In fact, I found that a coat hanger was almost exactly the correct diameter for the wading pipes. The challenge was bending it! I was just about to anneal the metal in an effort to soften it when I realised that AFV Club’s Churchill Mk.III Dieppe kit, Item No. AF35176, includes a full set of wading gear including trunks for the vents, exhaust extensions and braces. I therefore took the easy way out and borrowed the exhaust extensions and braces from AFV Club’s Dieppe boxing. I can A

The decals generally performed very well, but they were a bit brittle and unyielding over some of the more extreme surface features.

A paler version of the colour was created by adding around 20% Tamiya XF-55 Deck Tan. This was heavily thinned and sprayed in patches, mainly on horizontal surfaces and the top of vertical surfaces.

Echelon offers two sets of decals for Dieppe Churchills, including my subject vehicle.

The decals were applied over two glossy coats of Future Floor Polish.

A dark oil wash has been applied over the glossy Future finish.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

AFV Club 1:35 Churchill Mk.IV • Kit No. AF35154 Inside the Armour 1:35 Churchill Oke Conversion • Item No. 35060

Each of the four track lengths were sprayed with my mix of “scale black” (around 50/50 Tamiya XF-1 Flat Black and XF-64 Red Brown)…

…then brushed with a sloppy coat of Maru’s European Earth Easy Mud thinned with water. The excess mud was quickly wiped off with a dry rag.

B always build this as a standard

Mk.III in the future, or maybe use another of Inside the Armour’s conversions to backdate the model to a Mk.I or Mk.II. Two sets of three spare links were made up from the AFV Club track set and glued to the rear mudguards, and the turret was drilled and pinned to accept the aerial base. The model was now ready for paint.

The tracks and weathered vehicle hull and turret ready for final assembly.

The same wet mix of Maru Easy Mud was flicked onto the front, the sides and the rear of the hull.

Chipping was achieved using J-Works’ sponge set and dark brown Vallejo acrylic paint.

MID-WAR COLOURS Although the classic perception of Allied tanks in Europe is that they were universally finished in Olive Drab or Dark Green, this was not the case for British AFVs until around 1944. At the time that this Churchill trundled onto the beach at Dieppe, the standard base colour was SCC 2 Brown. Noted camouflage expert Mike Starmer has suggested a mix of Tamiya colours to achieve this shade: 5 parts XF-68 NATO Brown + 4 parts XF-3 Flat Yellow + 1 part XF-1 Flat Black. As it turned out, I did not have XF-68 or XF-3 at the time I was starting the paint job, so I substituted XF-10 Flat Brown and XF-4 Yellow Green. I only used a spot of XF-1 Flat Black. This custom SCC 2 Brown mix was sprayed over a base coat of Tamiya Grey Primer. A paler version of the colour was created by adding around 20% Tamiya XF-55 Deck Tan. This was heavily thinned and sprayed in patches, mainly on horizontal surfaces and the top of vertical surfaces. Echelon’s decals were then applied over two glossy coats of

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This photo, supplied by Steve Osfield, showed a roughly-finished two-tone hull and early manufacturing characteristics.

Future Floor Polish. The decals generally performed very well, but they were a bit brittle and unyielding over some of the more extreme surface features. I had to cut around some of the raised bolts and then repair the missing pieces with paint and a fine brush once the decals had set. The tracks were painted and weathered at this stage. Each of the four lengths – two long and two short – were sprayed with my mix of “scale black” (around 50/50 Tamiya XF-1 Flat Black and XF-64 Red Brown), then brushed with a sloppy coat of Maru’s European Earth Easy Mud thinned with water. The excess mud was quickly wiped off with a dry rag. Once the mud had set, track shoes and sides were wiped with a cloth that had been dipped in a mix of Silver Rub n’ Buff and Testor’s Gunmetal Metalizer. The metallic blend was partially wiped off the cloth before rubbing it onto the raised track surfaces. The track shoes were then polished with a clean dry rag.

I experimented with a number of finishes using different pigments and sealants. The large conical bolts were carved off the hull sides and any resulting holes and gauges were filled with Milliput and sanded flat. New small bolts were made from plastic sheet and my Waldron Precision Punch & Die set.

The small bolts were glued to the hull sides using Tamiya Extra Thin Liquid Cement.

CAMOUFLAGE, TAKE TWO I posted a few photos of my model to Facebook when I thought that I had finished it. In reply, Steve Osfield posted a photo of "Beetle" abandoned on the beach at Dieppe. While building and painting my model, I used two small photos of the front and the rear of this vehicle as reference, but they were small, dark and contrasty, making it almost impossible to tell anything useful about camouflage. A

Tracks were masked and the hull sides were resprayed with my SCC 2 Brown mix. In the end, I settled on a blend of MIG Pigments’ P026 Concrete, P054 Alkaline Dust and Vallejo Pigments’ 73.102 Light Yellow Ochre. I wiped some of the excess pigment off with a fingertip, then sealed the hull sides with a light coat of Alclad II Flat Clear. This faded the effect too much.

The pigments were mixed with water into a thick slurry and brushed onto the hull sides.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

AFV Club 1:35 Churchill Mk.IV • Kit No. AF35154 Inside the Armour 1:35 Churchill Oke Conversion • Item No. 35060

B However, Steve's excellent full-

length photo showed something very strange going on with the colours of the hull. It appears that there were large, well-defined but fairly roughly applied areas of a paler colour. These seemed to be far too uniform to be random weathering, but I could not find any documentation of this as a camouflage scheme, and Churchillfancier Chris Meddings couldn't offer a definite explanation either.

CORRECTIONS Despite the late stage, I decided that it was not too late to correct my model. I carved off the bolts and the mud channel, filled and sanded the hull sides, added small punched bolts to the top sides of the hull made with my Waldron Punch and Die set, and repainted the area. In the end, I only tried to reproduce what I could see in the photo. My guess was that these might have been some sort of temporary identification markings for a formation vehicle, and that it may have been a mix of petrol, sand and/or mud brushed roughly onto the hull sides. I tried to duplicate this effect with layers of pigments mixed with water and sealed with lacquerbased flat coats. Of course, if anyone has more definite information about this one, I would be pleased to hear (although I probably won't refinish it again!)

CONCLUSION I really enjoyed this project. Inside the Armour’s conversion was a pleasure to work with, and Echelon’s decals are a colourful addition too. I was very pleased that Steve Osfield posted the photo of this vehicle on my Facebook page. The large pale patches are a striking contrast to the monotone finishes on most Allied vehicles in North Western Europe. Will I build another Churchill? For sure! ■

Modelspec AFV Club 1:35 Churchill Mk.IV

Another coat of the pigment slurry was applied, but this time the excess was not wiped off until after the flat coat. I was happier with this.

Kit No. AF35154

Conversion Used: Inside the Armour 1:35 Churchill Oke Conversion. Item No. 35060 Accessories & Materials Used: AFV Club Item No. AF35183 – Churchill Heavy Cast Track Workable Echelon Fine Details Item No. ALT352010 – Churchill Operation Jubilee Part 1 Evergreen plastic sheet (scraps from larger sheets) Soft wire Tools Used: Mission Models Multi-Tool (Small) NorthWest Short Line “The Chopper II” Mission Models Etch-Mate Waldron Precision Punch and Die Set CMK and Tamiya Saws Various Electrical Pliers – flat nose, round nose, pointed

Two new, slightly longer tow cables were cut and added to the sides of the vehicle.

Modelling Products Used: Tamiya Extra Thin Liquid Cement Revell Contacta Cement Selley’s Super Glue Zip Kicker Super Glue Accelerator Milliput White two-part epoxy putty Tamiya Surfacer Tamiya Masking Tape (6mm and 10mm) ✓ Accurate; relatively simple conversion; generally high quality casting; useful options; illustrated instructions; interesting subject; includes Commander figure. ✗ Vagueness and omissions in instructions. Available from Thanks to Inside the Armour for the sample www.insidethearmour.com

This was an enjoyable project that delivered an interesting and unusual Churchill.

Thanks to Steve Osfield and to Chris Meddings for their input on this one.

Rating

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BINDERS

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SHOW REPORT

QUEENSLAND MODEL AND HOBBY EXPO 2015

QUEENSLAND MODEL AND HOBBY EXPO 2015 The Editor heads to sunny Brisbane to visit the 2015 Queensland Model and Hobby Expo at its new venue.

T

he 20th Anniversary Queensland Model and Hobby Expo was held at a new venue this year - Just Sports n' Fitness, Redbank - on the weekend of 20 and 21 August 2015. The show generated a great deal of interest with wide press coverage and an opening ceremony presided over by Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale. The new venue delivered recordbreaking crowds, with long queues waiting for the doors to open on the Saturday morning. 1,800 visitors attended on Saturday alone, with many curious families as well as local modellers browsing the aisles. A total of 3,500 visitors attended over the weekend. President of the organising committee, Fred Liedel, was clearly delighted and confirmed that the show will be held at the Redbank venue again in 2016.

QMHE is a co-operative annual venture between local Queensland model clubs, but entries are open to members and the public alike. This year, the competition tables boasted more than 400 quality entries, but numbers were boosted by many more models on club display tables. In addition to the aircraft models present, there were plenty of cars, trucks, military vehicles, figures and even a working small-scale railroad. Plenty of traders were on hand, amongst them OzMods, Modelnerds, Firestorm Models, Fold iT Models, Creative Models Australia, Ronnel’s Hobbies and many more. The canteen, serving hoot food, was doing a roaring trade too. If you’re in Australia anywhere near sunny Queensland in August next year, drop by – it’s well worthwhile! ■

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Welcome to QMHE 2015!

The venue was filled with creative club and special interest group displays.

15/10/2015 14:33

WWI was a major theme of this year’s show.

AMMS Queensland fielded a typically impressive display.

Plenty to see on the display tables.

Traders were kept busy over the weekend. This is Firestorm Models.

Airbrush demonstration by Peter Shum.

5

Wargamers were at the show too.

Queensland Figure Modellers display.

Committee President Fred Liedel was delighted with the crowd and the large number of quality entries.

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SHOW REPORT

QUEENSLAND MODEL AND HOBBY EXPO 2015

“Don’t Shoot!” – Vietnam brown water diorama by Chris Bond.

A selection of Panzers in competition from Danny Lapthorpe.

Wayne Nelson’s impressive beached Liberty Ship. This is the 1:350 scale Trumpeter kit.

Tamiya’s Gama Goat adapted for the Zombie Apocalypse! “What If” modelling by Greg Rowe.

Super crisp finish on Dan Moore’s Tamiya 1:35 scale BT-7.

Dan Moore’s Meng 1:35 scale A7V featured in Issue 115 of Model Military International magazine.

Moore from Dan… Trumpeter’s 1:35 scale Sd.Kfz.8 DB10 Gepanzerte 12t.

Tamiya’s 1:35 KV-2 by Wayne Nelson.

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Wayne Nelson’s 1:35 Italeri Crusader Mk.III.

One of Rob Fraser’s miniature masterpieces – a Dragon-based 1:72 scale Uber Tiger E100 “What If”.

Australian Army 110 GS Landrover based on the Hobby Boss 1:35 scale kit by Ben O’Dowd.

…and at the larger end of the scale spectrum, Danny Lapthorpe’s 75mm “Calm Before the Storm” vignette.

Tamiya 1:35 scale King Tiger by Ian Crowley.

Laurence Maftei’s Tamiya 1:35 scale Dragon Wagon.

Weiner Scale Models’ 1:72 scale SMS Adler by Brent Simpson. December 20151:35 - Model Military International 55 scale Gallipoli diorama by Anthony Lund.

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Book Reviews PANZER ACES MAGAZINE SPECIAL NO.49 - WWI MODELLING EURO MODELISMO

Panzer Aces magazine has been on the scene for some time now, and has always been a high quality publication, with brilliant work. This special edition is based purely on WWI subjects, and I will say, they are stunning. There are four builds and a walk around in this issue being the following: • A7V Sturmpanzerwagon by Carlos de Diego Vaquerizo, which is loosely based on the TAURO model, but pretty much scratch built, and is just amazing work. • Saint Chamond by Laurent Stankoviak, using the Takom kit. A Saint Chamond Walk around from the example at the museum in Samur. • Mk.IV Male by Jose Luis Lopez Ruiz using the Tamiya kit , and finally • A CA1 Schneider by Michel Perez, in 1:48 scale using the Gasoline resin model. All these builds are beautifully done, and of particular interest was something included in the A7V chapter, were the templates included in 1:32 scale to build the variant in the article. As always this magazine has not been a let down, filled with great subjects and very nice photographs. A worthy edition to have. Recommended. Thanks to Euro Modelismo for the sample www.euromodelismo.com Andrew Judson

SCALE MODEL HAND BOOK FIGURE MODELLING 13

SCALE MODEL HANDBOOK FIGURE PAINTING 14

Being an avid figure painter, I was obviously very excited to hear that there is a new edition to this brilliant series of A4 soft covered books. So here we have Volume 13 containing nine brilliant subjects by some of the worlds best. There are 48 high quality pages with excellent photographs throughout, and text by the individual modellers as follows: • SS Squad Leader by Kazufumi Tomori, using Boneheads 200mm figure, • 10th Tennessee Flag Bearer, Irish Brigade by Ernesto Reyes Stalhuth using Stormtroopers 200mm figure, • WWII BritishSAS Trooper by Ernesto Reyes Stalhuth using Alpine’s 120mm figure, • Steady Lads, here they come again by Anders Heintz, a scratch built three figure vignette, • Mounted Crusader by Daniel Milosevich using a 54mm Pegaso item, • Royal Flying Corps Ace WWI, • Face painting tutorial by Javier Gonzalez Arsies using Latorre models 54mm figure, • Bonaparte crossing the Alps by Isaac Jaramillo Sama using the Pegaso figure in 90mm, • US Paratrooper 101st Airborne, Normandy 44 by Juanma Vergara using Mitches Military Models in 120mm and lastly, • A Spartan officer bust by Joannis Tsiktsiris in 180mm by Young Miniatures. All of these subjects are exquisitely done and are very inspiring. If you are into figure painting or want to learn, this is an excellent series to have. Recommended. Thanks to Mr Black Publications for the sample www.mrblackpublications.com Andrew Judson

Hot on the heels of Issue 13, here we have the latest in figure painting books from Mr Black Publications. These are a fantastic series of books, and this edition just goes to prove that. As with all the series it comes in the form of a soft cover A4 format book, with 48 pages of beautifully illustrated colour pages and seven topics. These topics are: • Ambush, by Sergey Popovichenko, in the form of three scratch built figures in a vignette, • Maschinengeewehrschutze MG34 by Juanma Vergara using Jeff Shius 200mm figure, • The Coronation of Napoleon by Isaac Jaramillo Sama using Masterclass figures 54mm figure, • Greek hoplite bust by Louis D Orio using Young miniatures 180mm product, • Private, 93rd Highlanders, Crimea 1854 by Stelios Demiras with Stormtroopers 150mm Bust, and also includes a guide for British Red, • The Siege Giant by Ju-Won Jung and Sang-Eon Lee, using the 90mm Galapagos Miniatures Bust, and finally, • Hospitaller by Daniel Milosevich with a Pegaso 75mm figure. Like all other editions, one cannot help but be very impressed with the content of this book, and they always inspire me to go out and start painting the next project. These books really do impress me. Highly Recommended. Thanks to Mr Black Publications for the sample www.mrblackpublications.com Andrew Judson

MR BLACK PUBLICATIONS

MR BLACK PUBLICATIONS

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AMMO OF MIG JIMINEZ THE WEATHERING SPECIAL WORLD WAR ONE

This is a special edition of Mig’s great magazine, “Weathering Mag”. It is laid out in the same format as a A4 high gloss publication with 74 pages. This issue exclusively covers WWI topics, with three builds and a photographic article covering the history of the first armoured vehicles from WWI and the development, plus the different countries and the vehicles they used. Looking at the builds, one can honestly say they are stunning. The first build is of a Renault FT-17 Light Tank built by Volker Bembennek, which is a work of art. This article is broken up into four sections, building, painting interior, weathering and vignette. It is 22 pages long with many pictures and written text. The second is a French St Chamond Takom kit by John Tolcher over 14 pages and finally a Mark IV Female “Mariechen” built by Mig Jimenez using the Takom kit over 22 pages. This is quite a comprehensive step-by-step build and well done. One can see that the articles are lengthy and go into detail of how they were built, which is very hand for anyone wanting to build these subjects or are a fan of WWI topics. Also included with this edition is a small 23 page booklet with a colour chart and brilliant colour profiles of Tanks used in the great war, a very handy reference guide for all. I can say that this is a great edition of the Weathering Mag and a very informative and helpful guide to all interested in this subject. Well worth adding to the collection. Highly Recommended. Thanks to AMMO of Mig Jiminez for the sample www.migjimenez.com/en/ Andrew Judson

A round-up of the latest news and releases in 1:72 and 1:76 ITALERI

1:56 (28MM) SD.KFZ.142/1 STURMGESCHUTZ III KIT NO.15756

Wargames AFV kits should appear accurate in outline, have sufficient detail to look authentic, but be robust enough for frequent handling. They should also be simple to assemble, enabling rapid construction in order achieve timely concentration of force at the critical point of battle…. Or more simply put, wargamers want easy to build robust AFVs that still look like realistic scale models. This single-kit boxing is designed for Italeri’s 1:56 (28mm) scale Warlord game. The kit is contained in an end-opening box with appealing artwork on the front and two colour profiles on the back. The box-top also advises that either a Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. G with 75mm L/48 gun or a Sturmhaubitze 42 Ausf. G with 105mm L/28 howitzer can be assembled. The kit comprises two grey sprues providing 56 parts, a sheet of decals with adequate national insignia and numbers in red-on-white and black, and clear foldout instructions. The instructions use CAD-derived assembly illustrations, and provide three-view colours and markings drawings. Three colour schemes cover StuG III options for either Italy or Normandy, and one StuH 42 based in Italy; all schemes date to 1944. The parts are very clean and crisply moulded, with a hint of sink-marks in the Shurzen plates, but these are easy to fix. There are some fairly fine parts, including a nicely mastered crew member. The figure is legless below the knees and ready for insertion in either of the superstructure’s two hatches that can be modelled open or closed. The suspension is obviously simplified with solid pairs of road wheels and return rollers, and two track lengths per side. However, it will still appear thoroughly convincing thanks to the Shurzen plates. The 75mm gun and 105mm howitzer share the same mount and welded-plate mantlet, and this is free to be elevated of depressed. Other details include a MG 42 and large shield (not the later remote-controlled mount with small v-shaped shield), spare road-wheels, smoke-grenade dischargers, exhaust, jack, spare track lengths, horn, tow-hooks, antenna mounts, fire extinguisher, and Shurzen bracing. This should be an easy and quick build that will certainly look the part. In fact, it would make quite a convincing scale model in its own right, yet it should be robust enough to survive the service life expected of a wargames AFV. I happily recommend it for meeting the key criteria of a good wargames kit. Recommended for wargamers. Thanks to The Hobby Company Limited for the review sample www.hobbyco.net Mark Davies

The one-piece upper hull.

Lower hull.

The running gear is moulded as one plastic part per side.

Four track lengths are supplied.

Plenty of markings are offered on the kit decal sheet. December 2015 - Model Military International 57

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Incoming

EDUARD

1:35 SCALE FENNEK LGS WINDOWS ITEM NO. XT213

When building a model kit with windows, it always seems to be a worry when working out how to accurately protect them in the painting phase. In this set, Eduard comes to the rescue with a window masking set for the Trumpeter 1:35 Fennek kit. In the standard Eduard packaging is a small sheet of pre-cut vinyl masks to place on all of the windows before painting. They are precision cut to fit well ensuring no paint goes where it should not. This is a handy little set to have if you decide to build and paint a Fennek LGS vehicle. Recommended. Thanks to Eduard for the sample www.eduard.com Andrew Judson

MINIART

1:35 SCALE REST ON MOTORCYCLE ITEM NO. 35176

MiniArt has been around for some time now, always producing great sets of figures and model kits. Here in this set we have one of each in the one box, being a WLA Harley Davidson, and a figure of a US soldier using it as a bed. A great subject. In the box are two sprues of grey plastic, being for the bike and figure, a clear sprue for the headlight, and a photo etched fret for the finer details on the bike such as the wheels spokes, gear lever, light brackets and the bracket to hold the weapon rack on front wheel. There is also a small decal set with the US Stars and speedometer dials. In total there are 94 plastic parts and 34 photo-etched parts. The detail in the bike appears to be very crisp, with some very fine and well moulded parts. I like the layered tyres in plastic rather than a vinyl option, and when doing the spokes, there is a bending jig to get the correct bend for when placing these into the rim, a very handy and clever idea. The frame and engine detail is outstanding. I think care will be needed when assembling though the end result will be excellent. The figure is also very well moulded with very nice detail. The creases in the uniform are excellent, the detail on the head and face, brilliant, with no need to replace with a resin item. There are also the bunched up blankets and field coat that is being used as a pillow that are very nice indeed. I am very happy with this set, and would recommend it to those wanting a nice bike, or dio / vignette scene. Very nice! Highly Recommended. Thanks to Creative Models Australia for the sample www.creativemodels.com.au Andrew Judson

EDUARD

1:35 SCALE ACHZARIT, EARLY ITEM NO. 36284

Not to long ago, Meng released a kit of the IDF Achzarit, which in itself is a very nice model. For those that want to go that next step further, Eduard have now released a photo-etched update set for this vehicle, consisting of a single sheet with 99 parts. The instructions are clear and from looking at them, there are a lot of straps and buckles, and some very nice detail to add to the weapons, with new ammo tins and holders, belted ammo, and a feed chutw for the RWS. Care will be needed to make this look effective but I’m sure once completed, it be well worth the effort. A nice set from Eduard. Recommended. Thanks to Eduard for the sample www.eduard.com Andrew Judson

EDUARD

1:35 SCALE MAGACH 6B GAL BATASH ITEM NO. 36287

It seems that IDF vehicles have become a popular subject recently, with a lot of manufacturers producing some very nice subjects. One of these is Acadamy’s Magach. Eduard has now released a single sheet photo-etched set to add some more fine detail to this kit. Looking at the instructions, it does not seem overly complex at all. Bending of parts seems minimal, there are not many parts to be cut from original kit, and I was impressed with the new rear stowage rack update parts that will be a nice improvement, as well as the finer details that are to be added to the .50 MG. This will be a nice upgrade for this kit bringing out more overall detail to an already nice offering. Highly Recommended. Thanks to Eduard for the sample www.eduard.com Andrew Judson

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KIT PREVIEW

Dragon 1:35 Jagdpanzer IV L/48 July 1944 Production w/zimmerit • Kit No. 6369

Superb zimmerit on the lower hull.

Detail on the undersides of the track guards.

STOP-GAP JAGDPANZER T Graham Tetley examines the latest variant in Dragon’s 1:35 scale Jagdpanzer IV family. he Jagdpanzer IV (Sd. Kfz.162) was originally intended to be armed with a 7.5cm PaK42 L/70 gun but because there was a shortage of them, initialproduction versions featured the shorter 7.5cm PaK 39 L/48 cannon. This weapon was shorter and less powerful than the L/70 that subsequent Jagdpanzer IVs were fitted with. Dragon has combined parts here from their previous L/70 and Panzer IV kits, plus a new sprue for the gun, to give us this distinctive version of the infamous Jagdpanzer. There are approximately 600 parts to this kit, of which are about 230 are unused. Being based on the Panzer IV, the road wheels and suspension are very familiar and have some really fine detail present. Their superb zimmerit adorns the upper & lower hull, glacis & mantlet parts and we get a new brass fret for parts exclusive to this release. On the sprue, detail is outstanding with no molding flaws at all present on my

example but, as is now normal for Dragon, we get DS Tracks instead of the superb Magic Tracks. Sometimes with Dragon kits I find that a few silly mistakes creep in and this kit sadly is affected. On looking at the new parts, something struck me as odd with the gun barrel as it seemed a little to ‘fat’. This really stands out when compared to the box art and my references. There is a really good thread on Missing Lynx that highlights this (www. network54.com/Forum/47207/ thread/1424281393/ Dragon+Jagdpanzer+l48+6369+questions). It appears that the mantlet is from the L/70 kit and the barrel has simply been shortened rather than being re-tooled. In fact, the barrel as presented is closer in scale to a 105mm gun, not the 75mm it is supposed to be. The normal L/70 barrel is included in the kit but is unused, and if you compare the two together you can clearly see that there appears to be a problem. What Dragon should have done is given us a correct L/48 mantlet and correctly tapered barrel of the appropriate diameter. There are some other errors which the above thread points out, namely with the glacis armour and tie-downs on the mantlet, that

The new L48 sprue. Shame about the barrel.

space doesn’t allow me to expand upon here. That said, if you can ignore the error, this does build into a nice kit. The side armour plates are commendably thin and quite convincing and can be built on or off the vehicle. The tools come with their clasps molded on and be prepared for a little surgery on some of the parts. A complete gun breach is provided but internal detail is limited to the rear firewall and a radio. One thing that stood out for me was the detail on the underside of the track guards – Dragon has not missed a thing here. The instructions are not as busy as usual but, as I have not built this at the time of writing, I cannot say if there are any errors or not. Markings are limited to three vehicles, one from Warsaw in 1944,one from East Prussia in 1945 and one from an unidentified unit. In the box this is a fine looking kit, but if you seek total accuracy you will need to source a new mantlet and barrel. This is a noticeable mistake and heaven knows why Dragon made it. As very little of it is new, I do wish that Dragon would give us the option of Magic Tracks as the parts are in their inventory. This will make a fine kit out of the box, but it could have been better. Recommended with a 7/10 from me. ■

Thanks to The Hobby Company Limited for the sample www.hobbyco.net

Note the threading on the barrel.

Zimmerit on the front of the superstructure…

…and the side…

…and even the rear side panels!

The one-piece schurzen shields.

The new photo-etched fret.

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1:48 Scale – A round-up of the latest news and releases

MAYBE IT’S BEST THAT YOU DON’T HAVE A CLUE W

hen I used to attend modelling meetings on a regular basis, there was always a guy with the latest kit and we used to flock around and discuss the various merits of the model being shown. Various experts (and I use the term loosely) would instantly add a spoiler to the mix by saying things like “I’m not quite sure about this or that” and as scale modellers, where accuracy and shape is the cornerstone of what we do, an instant seed of doubt was always sown. Fast forward to the present and there are those who believe in this new age of streaming and instant delivery, the once all powerful spoiler or “kit kryptonite” would be a thing of the past. However, the opposite actually seems to be true. The spoiler survives, more potent and complex than ever before. Far from being a new age of spoiler-free

postings, the electronic water cooler now has to contend with something far more complex; the notion that were not all binge viewing at the same time. What’s more, someone who switches onto a website with wide eyed innocence to check the various pros and cons of new 1:48 scale kit could, and often is, confronted with so many spoilers that one would be inclined to think, why would you bother to buy any kit? Sometimes I yearn for the old days when a new kit was released and then quietly disappeared into the ether of modelling history, leaving only a memory. I’ve compiled a list (with tongue firmly in cheek) of the various spoilers that I have often seen on the web.

The first is the “shameless spoiler”. They don’t believe in spoilers and that it is kill or be killed on social media. For example, “I’m so glad I didn’t buy that kit - it’s so wrong” The second is the “power spoiler”. They relish the spoil and more importantly they relish showing off that they knew it first. For example “Seriously, you didn’t know the kit was that bad?” The third, the “coded spoiler”. This is a super modeller who respects lesser mortals by speaking in code. For example “Speechless, of all the kits to be that bad” (and not mentioning it by name). The fourth is the “impulsive spoiler”. They can’t help themselves for love nor money, they simply have to be the first to say it. For example, “I’ve seen the sprue shots and its bad… really bad”. And lastly, the “clueless spoiler”. They can’t for the life of them work out why people get so upset with the inadvertent clangers they drop. For example, “every kit that company makes is rubbish”. I propose a statute of limitations. Three months after the kit is released and available, all bets are off, but then again, where is the fun in that?

Until Next Time Luke Pitt

INSIDE THE ARMOUR

1:48 SCALE ITEM NO. 48007 DAIMLER DINGO (FOR THE TAMIYA KIT) ITEM NO. 48009 GENERAL TOOLS AND TOOL BOXES I mentioned last month that it was great to see another 1:48 scale aftermarket producer. Well, this month I must report that Inside the Armour will close its doors on 31 December! This is a great shame as the sets they did produce were some of the best photo-etch that I had seen, what’s more they were going to produce a full kit of a Churchill (which the scale badly needed) but alas now this will never be. The first set for this month is the recently released Tamiya Dingo and what a set it is. A full set of

mudguards is included and a front stowage box. The set has some nice additions that other aftermarket manufacturers seem to have missed. Take for example the option package. Two distinctly different unditching ramps are included, two sand ladders for the North African campaign and one solid ramp for the European campaign. A smaller sea wall ramp is also included if you decide to do one from the Dieppe raid. Other small details like a sun compass are also included. The interior is also furnished with a correct radio and various other bibs and bobs.

The next set consists of two tool boxes. One is a carry all and the other a bi-fold concertina box. 21 tools are included and consist of items like saws, spanners, bolt cutters and wrenches. My advice is if any of these sets take your fancy you best “beat feet” and purchase then now, as once their gone they will be gone for good. Both Recommended. Available online from Inside the Armour’s website www.insidethearmour.com Luke Pitt

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

GREAT HOBBY SHOP CAMPAIGN

O

ver the last two months I have encouraged all who read this column to write in and tell us of a great hobby shop that you may know or have visited. I encourage all who read this column to do this and take a few photos of your favourite shop and its contents - this is really easy as most mobile phones take acceptable photos. Tell us why you like the shop so much. This is an important campaign in my view, as many of the smaller hobby shops are the lifeblood of the hobby. This month we swing over to visit a shop called “Hobby Landia” and Gabriele Geroldi takes up the story

RED ZEBRA

1:48 SCALE PRINTED ITEMS GERMAN WWII TRUCK LOAD SET

Red Zebra is a small garage resin manufacturer of 1:35 and 1:48 scale accessories. The printed items consist of posters from the Second World War and cover Russian, French, German, Italian and North African varieties. The other printed items include a set of vintage and modern pin up girls, a set of news papers in various languages and lastly a set of military and civilian colour maps. The printing and colour density on all of these is first class and come highly recommended. The German WWII truck load has some 21 very well resin cast pieces and consist of 15 wooden boxes in various shape and sizes together with two open boxes with the internal contents and lastly two 44 gallon drums with reinforcing roller rings fitted. This set has endless applications and is well worthwhile. The real beauty of both of these sets is you can mix and match to suit your desired display option. Recommended. Available online from Red Zebra Models website www.redzebramodel.co.uk Luke Pitt

Hello Luke, I’m sending you here attached the photos I have already sent you on Facebook. The shop is downtown and I visit there very often. Moreover, when I go there, odds are that I leave with many kits more and many Euros less! The address is: Hobby Landia. Via Tito Livio 20, Milano. Italy. The owner is Mr. Francesco Tamborini. Email address: [email protected]. Tel: 02 36509827, Fax: 02 36509827 The reasons why I find it a good shop are: • Stock constantly updated • Older Kits that can be found on customer’s request. • Assistance in case of modelling problems. Sometimes the owner gives advice based on his own experience, other times he relies on the experience of other modellers. To some extent, it works like a modelling club. • In some special cases, you can find spare parts coming from the shop owner’s spares box. • Owner available, in case of need, for hours of discussion on model making or social subjects. • Always a big box of kits offered at a reduced price. Of course, this applies to kits that do not sell as well as other ones do. Regards Gabriele Geroldi

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BUYERS GUIDE>>>>>>>>> AVID READER

Tel: 01299 823 330 Fax:01299 829 970

Unit 10, Hodfar Road, Sandy lane Ind Estate, Stourport On Severn, Worcestershire, DY13 9QB

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

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1/2 MILE FROM RAF MUSEUM

www.hannants.co.uk

MASTERCARD/VISA/SWITCH

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NEW in the ‘HOW TO BUILD...’ series NOW AVAILABLE Order Now

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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 MODELS (Toms Model Works)

8532 Lamar Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA [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 - December 2015

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Next OnIssue sale 3rd

December, 2015

ISSUE No.115 December 2015, Published November 5th 2015 Editor;

Brett Green

Group Editor;

Marcus Nicholls

Publisher;

Alan Harman

Graphic Design;

Alex Hall

Advertising Manager;

Sean Leslie

Office Manager;

Paula Gray

Administration Manager; Hannah McLaurie

JAPANESE AMPHIBIOUS

Administration Assistant; Julie Lane MMI Website;

ADH Web Team

Printed by; Symbian Print Intelligence, Hertfordshire, UK

Harvey Low creates the very unusual 1:35 Ka Chi heavy amphibious tank using the Yellow Cat conversion.

Distributed by; Seymour Distribution 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT Tel; 020 7429 4000 Newstrade; Select Publisher Services 3 East Avenue, Bournemouth, BH3 7BW Tel; 01202 586848 Email; [email protected]

REVERSE BEUTEPANZER

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

Kamil Feliks Sztarbala finishes Tamiya’s 1:48 scale Marder III in captured Soviet markings.

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.

TERMINATOR

Zvezda 1:35 scale Terminator build report by Graham Tetley.

The Last Success - Operation Südwind Tamiya’s 1:35 FAMO and Dragon’s Jagdpanzer IV in a dramatic scene by Vladimir Adamec.

FOR YOUR SAFETY 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!

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. 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.

...and much more! p 64-65 Contact NI 116B.indd 65

© ADH Publishing 2015

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

The paper used on this title is from sustainable forestry

Order online now at; www.modelmilitary.com

Subscription enquiries; Tel; +44 (0)1525 222573 Fax; +44 (0)1525 222574 Email; [email protected]

December 2015 - Model Military International 65

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The Last Post...

TAMIYA’S LONG PANTHER HISTORY Graham Tetley outlines Tamiya’s long history with the Panther family.

I

n my article on Tamiya’s brand new 1:35 scale Panther Ausf. D (MMI Issue 114, October 2015), I kicked off with a brief history of Tamiya’s Panthers. It turns out that I was missing quite a few releases! Graham Tetley picks up with the full story of Tamiya’s Panthers: “Having located my reference books (photos of the covers also provided) I can now tell you that Tamiya’s very first ever kit marketed in 1:35 scale was a Panther, and that was released in January 1962. A ‘Rommel’ tank (Jagdpanther) followed it in March 1963, and this was the third one in the series. Both were available in single and dual motor versions. Sadly I don’t have any of these in my collection. January 1969 saw the release of the Panther ‘A’ that we all know and love and, again, that was available in single or dual motor versions as was the Jagdpanther. The earliest of the 1:25 scale kits came out in 1966 and I have in my collection almost all of these. By far the most unique is the

Panther where the box art is in overall dark yellow as I have never seen another either before or since. The unique thing with that is that there is a hand written price tag on the box side that corresponds to a 1969 price list that I have. It even has the RIKO stock number pencilled onto it. In a copy of a RIKO 1968/69 catalogue that I have, I can even tell you that the price of the single motor 1:25 Panther & Jagdpanther were 99/11 with the dual motor versions both coming out at 126/-. Not sure what all that is in new money though!” ■

66 Model Military International - December 2015

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D6608 Find us on facebook search Plastic Kits UK

p 67 Dragon 116.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

12/10/2015 10:02