301-Cover-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 13:02 Page 1
t
D S R C BP AW AL De IN E fia G n S
THE No.1 MODELLING MAGAZINE
YAK-3
1/72 by Zvezda
D E N O POIS
ARROW DO 335B-2 HEAVY FIGHTER
SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM Vol 21 Iss 04 April 2015 £4.50 Printed in UK
MIG-15BIS
1/72 by HobbyBoss
SPITFIRE I AND VB 1/72 by Tamiya
T-33
1/32 by Special Hobby
302-ZoukeiMura-0415-WP_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:58 Page 1
Mastered-Adverts-AV-0415_AV-0606 14/03/2015 12:05 Page 303
eduard
304-05-Contents-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:16 Page 304
EDITORIAL
Scale Aviation Modeller International
PRODUCED BY MEDIA HOUSE
21 Kingsway, Bedford MK42 9BJ Telephone: +44 (0)1234 211245 Fax: +44 (0)1234 325927 Email:
[email protected] Use the above address for back issue orders, subscriptions, enquiries or book orders. Note that we cannot undertake research into specific or general aviation queries and that there may be some delays in responses from the contributors, as they are not based at the editorial address. PUBLISHER
SAM Publications Limited
Spring has sprung!
GROUP EDITOR
Andy Evans
[email protected] EDITOR David Francis
[email protected] ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Colin Pickett
Tim Upson-Smith
The editorial emails are ONLY to be used for editorial submissions. They are NOT for subscription payments or queries, back issues or Modellers Datafile orders. Please send all of these to the Media House address detailed at the top of this column. STUDIO MANAGER
Jonathan Phillips
PAGE DESIGN & LAYOUT
Andy Folds
PRE-PRESS PRODUCTION PRINT PRODUCTION
Media House
Headley Brothers Ltd, UK
AVIATION ILLUSTRATIONS
John Fox
Chris Sandham-Bailey SCALE PLANS
Chris Sandham-Bailey
SAMI TEAM
Paul Bradley Dick Clark Geoff Cooper-Smith Andy Evans John Fox Ernie Lee Andy McCabe Colin Pickett Chris Sandham-Bailey Tim Upson Smith CONTRIBUTORS THIS MONTH
Angelo Picardo Christopher Busbridge Tony Grand Wojciech Butrycz Bill Bunting Konstantine Malinovski Adam Rehorn John Bisset Andy Brook ADVERTISING SALES
APRIL 2015 • VOLUME 21 • ISSUE 4
Rebecca Harris
[email protected]
B
y the time you read this the nights will be lighter and the days longer and modellers come blinking into the daylight to show off their long winter night labours. In the UK the spring modelling season is underway with a number of major shows over the next month including Hinckley, Cosford, Milton Keynes and the Scottish nationals in Perth, all in the space of a few short weeks. Then we enter the summer layoff as the better weather and outside beckons even the most devout modeller from his den. It is also time to spring clean your workspace be it a tea tray on your lap, a shed in the garden or the ultimate luxury, a whole room devoted to your hobby. (Wherever you model please send me some pictures to the editorial email of your workspace, as I am sure your fellow readers may be interested, especially if you do it differently from the norm). It is also time to spring clean the magazine and I am sure regular readers may have already noticed the subtle change to the badge on the cover, and no one can miss the more
major changes to the layout of the contents in this issue. I am hoping this will make for a more logical read with the news and gossip at the front and the classic plastic towards the back. In between you will find everything that you know and love: lots of model builds, reviews and articles. So just like many spring cleans nothing is thrown away, it is just its location that has changed. I hope you enjoy the new layout and I always welcome your feedback and ideas, just look out for me at most of the shows listed above. I hope you enjoy your new look Scale Aviation Modeller International, Britain's number 1 modelling magazine.
David Francis Editor
[email protected]
DISTRIBUTION COMAG Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE Tel: 01895 433600 NORTH AMERICAN DISTRIBUTION
Disticor
695 Westney Rd South, Suite 14, Ajax, Ontario, Canada L1S 6M9 Tel: + 1 (905) 619 6565 Media House is a member of The paper used in this magazine is made from timber sourced from sustainable managed forests; the pulp is ECF (elemental chlorine free); the manufacturing mill is accredited with ISO14001 and EMAS for their environmental controls. © Media House 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted (including posting to a website) in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers.
REVIEWS 328 FMA IA-58 “PUCARÁ” Miniwings 1/144 by Andy Brook
329 FAIREY FIREFLY FR MK 1 Special Hobby 1/48 by John Bisset
330 AIRBUS A400M “ATLAS”
COVER 356 DO 335B-2 HEAVY FIGHTER
Revell 1/144 by Andy McCabe
HK Models 1/32 by David Francis
332 BELL HUEY UH-1B
362 FIAT G.50-II FRECCIA
Revell 1/24 by Angelo Picardo
Special Hobby 1/32 by Angelo Picardo
334 F4U-7 CORSAIR Hobbyboss 1/48 by Andy Brook
335 MIG 1.44 MFI “FLATPACK” SUBSCRIPTIONS Cheques/Money Orders in Sterling only made payable to SAM Publications Limited and sent to the address above. Major credit card payment accepted by telephone. Subscription Hotline +44 (0)1234 211245
AMERICAN SUBSCRIPTIONS
QUICK BUILD
SHOW REPORT
Revell 1/144 by Adam Rehorn
324 HUDDERSFIELD
338 SEM MODELS
580 Modellers at the IPMS Wakefield & District Huddersfield Show by Geoff Cooper-Smith
A New Italian Kit Company
340 AVIA B.534 IV SERIES Eduard 1/72 by Tim Upson-Smith
326 FOLKESTONE On Track Show at The Lees Cliff Hall in Folkestone by David Holman and Family
Wise Owl is no longer selling subscriptions on behalf of Media House. Current Wise Owl customers can renew their subscriptions at the current rates directly with Media House: Subscription hotline +44 (0)1234 211245 – we are happy to call you back to take your order!
REGULARS
Email ordering and customer support:
[email protected] Website secure online ordering: www.sampublications.com American shops and trade may obtain copies from Kalmbach Publishing Toll Free 1 800 558 1544 Canadian shops and trade may obtain copies from Disticor Tel: + 1 (905) 619 6565 Scale Aviation Modeller International, Volume 21 Issue 4, April 2015 (ISSN 1356-0530) published monthly by: Media House, 2221 Niagara Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY, 143045709. Periodicals postage pending: Niagara Falls, NY. US Postmaster: Send address corrections to: Scale Aviation Modeller International, PO Box 265, Williamsville, NY 14231
304 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
356 DO 335B-2 HEAVY FIGHTER
306 308 314 316 318 322 394 398
NEWS CZECH OUT PREVIEWS FIRST LOOK ACCESSORIES DECALS BOOKS AND FINALLY
304-05-Contents-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:16 Page 305
CONTENTS
346 BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT
370 SPITFIRE I AND VB
366 T-33 OVER EUROPE
374 YAK-3
390 BOEING B-47 STRATOJET
FEATURES MODELLERS PORTFOLIO 346 BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT • •
A quick build of the new 1/72 Scale Boulton Paul Defiant by David Smith Boulton Paul Defiant. Artwork and scale drawings by Chris Sandham-Bailey
CLARK’S FIELD 380 ONLINE INSPIRATION The Tony Per Memorial Group Build by Dick Clark • Revell 1/144th Eurofighter Typhoon F.2 • HobbyBoss 1/72 Easy Assembly MiG-15bis diorama
PAINT IT WITH TESTORS 386 TRAINING COLOURS
1/32 FEATURE 366 EUROPEAN SHOOTING STAR
Detailing the Hasegawa 1:72 Fuji T-1A/B by Adam Rehorn
Special Hobby’s 1/32 T-33 over Europe by Gorden Scott
390 CLASSIC PLASTIC
1/72 FEATURE 370 SUNWARD I’VE CLIMBED
Edited by Paul Bradley • Revell Boeing B-47 Stratojet by Andy Hazell • Skyraider AEW.1 by Thomas Watts
Building Tamiya’s Spitfire I and Vb in 1/72 by Tony Grand
Cover Illustration by John Fox www.design-phoenix.com
1/72 FEATURE 374 YAK-3 The Nimble Fighter from Zvezda in 1/72 by Konstantine Malinovski
Subscribe to Scale Aviation Modeller see page 388
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 305
306-07-News-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:13 Page 306
NEWS
in association with
APRIL 2015
MARCH 2015
news
www.spruebrothers.com
SUBSCRIBERS’ MONTHLY PRIZE DRAW WINNER: Mr Gaerditz, USA WINNER: Mr Kiuru, Finland WINNER: Mr Stewart, UK Entry to the monthly prize draw is FREE to all subscribers
After last months bumper Nuremberg news I suspected that things would be a bit quieter this month and I was right, though we have got some interesting items from the aftermarket sector.
Expo Drills and Tools This manufacturer is well known in the boat and railway building areas of modelling but produces many tools that will be of interest to modellers. They have just launched their 2015 catalogue with over 6000 items. You can view this online at www.expotools.com and you can also order a paper version from the website or by telephoning 01834 845150 Monday to Friday 9 to 5 GMT
Revell Have just issued some more photos of their Fw-190 test shot that was on display at Nuremberg, this kit should be hitting the shelves at about the same time as this issue. Also we have some photos of the schemes chosen for the reissues of the OH-58D Kiowa and AH-1W Cobra.
IBG This Polish company has some impressive plans for the next few years and this will start with two boxings of the RWD-8. With over 550 produced this parasol monoplane was used by a number of air forces in Europe as well as being one of the first types used by the Israeli’s after independence. This kit will be released in two boxing’s, and one with military markings and one with civil options.
306 |
APRIL 2015 •
This Month in Model Aircraft Sea Spads at War - AD Skyraider’s in the Korean Conflict & and Big Dog - The 1:32 Trumpeter AD-4 Skyraider Air Wars in Focus – No.11 Squadron RAF Cats Cradle – Early SEPECAT Jaguars, with scale plans MIG Masterclass - ‘Admiral Kuznetzov’s ‘Flanker – the Su-33 and Soviet Sea Sniper ANT-44 – the ‘Black Sea Seagull, with historic details, colour artwork and scale plans
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
Bringing Help to the Warsaw Uprising - 1:72 Handley Page Halifax Mk II Series 1A Ventura’s Over the Balkans 25 Squadron SAAF and its early Ventura’s in Italy Raiders from the Lost Ark Part 3 – The Fairey Gannet AEW.3 Real to Replica – TOW Cabs – The Army Lynx AH-7 Have You Heard of this Polikarpov? - Tomasz R. Lubczy ski builds the 1:72 ICM Polikarpov I-5
306-07-News-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:13 Page 307
NEWS
Wingnut Wings
Hobbyboss
Probably the biggest in nearly all senses of the word and almost completely unheralded was the surprise release from Wingnut Wings of two versions of the AEG G.IV Bomber that was for first announced a number of years ago. Though not quite as large as the recent Felixstowe’s 91cm wingspan is still measures an impressive 57cm or nearly 2 feet in old money, and despite its more modest size it actually has a higher part count. Initially we thought their was only going to be one version but Wingnuts have gone with two versions, an early model which will be prefect if you do not like decaling and a late version which I am sure will be the most popular due to the graphic bat face. Why I hear you ask is the early one more suited if you do not like decaling? Each kit comes with no less than five decal sheets as Wingnuts have decided the easiest way to produce the lozenge camouflage which covers
Landing as you read this are new additions to their ME262 family in the shape of a Me262A-2a Bomber and at last an out of the box clipped wing Fleet Air Arm Corsair II. We will also have the first of a series of KA-27 Helix Helicopters starting with the ASW sub hunter. Finally we have a rare Fw190 the D-12. Due in April is the night fighting Corsair the F4U-5N and another boxing of the P61B Black Widow.
the whole aircraft, is to produce them as shaped decals. This will be a major exercise to test anyone’s decaling skill. Fortunately two of the early options are in a painted camouflage scheme and I have a sneaky feeling these will be the ones most often seen at shows.
IWATA Are about to release a new compressor, which is designed for travellers called the Freestyle. This compressor is battery powered and comes with a selection of international plugs and is lightweight weighing just 766 grams.
Werner Wings Details on some future projects from Werner Wings with a 1/24 scale Vietnam era crew for the recently reissued 1/24 UH-1B Husey as seen reviewed in this issue. A second figure set will supply three heads and two arms that can be posed to produce three slightly different figures and will be suitable for US Army Pilots from Vietnam till the middle 1980’s in 1/35 scale. Finally a correction for the Special Hobby and AZ Model AH-1G Cobra, which are incorrect for the later style tail rotor fitted to AH1G and UH-1D/H. Other upgrades are in the works to detail areas of the Kittyhawk ‘s AH-1Z hopefully more new of this in a later issue.
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 307
308-13-CzechNews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:08 Page 308
NEWS
in association with
www.cmkkits.com
CZECH OUT
Our monthly look at News from the Czech Republic
By Colin Pickett
AZ Models This month’s contribution from AZ kicks off with a 1:72 Great War subject, the parasol winged Pfalz A.I. #7495. Whilst their range of 1:72 Supermarine Spitfires extends still further with the arrival of their Mk.IX UTI Soviet Trainer Version in their silver range #7208. The De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth with Long Tailfin (#74094) adds to their extensive coverage of the type, and Luft ’46 Modellers receive a further version of the Gotha P.60C-6 in its ‘Raptor’ form #74092. A little further in the future will be the arrival of a series of P-51B and C Mustangs in 1:72, two aeroplanes surprisingly overlooked for their more famous younger brother the P-51D.
Brengun The US surface to air missile development of the V2 is Brengun’s next subject of interest, in the form of the Hermes A1 missile #144024 in 1:144.
308 |
APRIL 2015 •
Special Hobby A point of note is that MPM are now only producing aircraft kits under the name Special Hobby, not a major change, but one that might make hunting for that kit a bit easier. The first release from Special Hobby this month is a duo of Grumman AF-2 Guardians. During the 1950s, Grumman AF-2 Guardian anti-submarine aircraft were operating from the decks of US Navy aircraft carriers in Hunter Killer pairs. These pairs consisted of the AF-2W version, which performed the `Hunter' role using its huge fuselage mounted AP-20 search and early warning radar to locate submarines while the second aircraft of the pair was the AF-2S which was the `Killer' and carried anti-submarine weapons such as torpedoes, depth charges or rockets in the bomb bay and under the wings. The latter also had a small radar attached to the wing. Development of the Guardian began during the Second World War although the original request from the US Navy had been for a torpedo-bomber. At Grumman, this project was known under G-70 designation while the US Navy recognized it as XTB3F and this new aircraft was to have two combined power plants, with a Pratt & Witney R-2800 radial engine driving a four bladed propeller in the nose and a Westinghouse 19XB jet engine mounted in the tail section. The Westinghouse jet engine was later removed from the specification, however, before the maiden flight of the prototype, which took
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
place on the 19th December 1945. By this time the torpedo bomber role had become outmoded and therefore the US Navy changed its requirements for the new aircraft. On the 24th December 1945 Grumman was asked to reconfigure the aircraft for the anti-submarine role but because the current AP-20 search radar was too big for a single engined aircraft to carry alongside a weapon load the requirement was for two separate aircraft, which would fly together, one carrying a radar and the other carrying weapons. The result of this was the AF-2W and AF-2S. The prototype AF-2W (which was the radar equipped Hunter version) first flew during November 1948 and the AF-2S (Killer variant) performed its first flight in January 1949. The type also received the name `Guardian'. The first Guardians entered service with the US Navy in 1950 in their Hunter Killer pairs and were later joined by the improved AF-3S version which was almost identical to AF-2S but had a MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detector) added. AF-2 and 3 Guardians flew from carriers and from land bases and during the Korean War they were responsible for protecting the US Fleet in combat areas. Although the type was removed from front line service during 1955 it continued in service with units of the US Naval Reserve until
308-13-CzechNews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:08 Page 309
CZECH OUT 1957 and the Guardian was the first custom built specialized antisub aircraft to fly from US Navy carriers. It also holds the record for being the largest single engine, piston engine, aircraft to be flown from the decks of a US Navy aircraft carrier. The Grumman AF-2S Guardian ‘Submarine Killer’ 1:48 #48135 kit consists of seven plastic sprues , clear injected parts, resin and PEparts. The underwing weapons are laid out in two sprues along with the searchlight. The decal sheet provides markings for two machines, the first serving with a reserve unit at NAS Oakland which wore distinctive orange stripes while the second option flew from the deck of USS Saipan. Whilst the Grumman AF-2W Guardian ‘Submarine Hunter’ 1:48 #48158 kit consists of seven plastic sprues, clear injected parts, resin and etched parts. The decals provide markings for two machines, the first serving aboard USS Bairoko, the other flew from USS Badoeng Strait. Other kits in the final throws of preparation before being shipped out to your local hobby shop are: • AH-1G Cobra ‘Over Vietnam with M-35 Gun System’ 1:72 #72076 • Northrop N-3PB ‘Little Norway’ 1:72 #72299 • Northrop N-3PB ‘No. 330 (Norwegian) Squadron RAF’ 1:72 #72250 • Caproni Ca.311 ‘In Foreign Service’ 1:72 #72313 • Supermarine Spitfire F Mk.21 ‘Contraprop’ 1:72 #72318 • SG-38 Schulgleiter ‘German and Slovakian Service’ 1:72 #72319 • SG-38 Schulgleiter/ŠK-38 Komár ‘Czechoslovak, Polish and DDR Service’ 1:72 #72269 • Fairey Firefly AS Mk.7 ‘AntiSubmarine Version’ 1:48 #48130
RVHP
• Fairey Firefly U Mk.8 ‘Drone Version’ 1:48 #48166 • Fairey Fulmar Mk.I/II 1:48 ‘HiTech’ version #48157 Those of you who have been following the column for a while will remember the Taranus/MPM collaboration to produce a 1/48 Saab Viggen AJ37 #48148. At the 2015 at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in Germany this kit was awarded one of the ‘Best Of’ medals, and the kit will soon be here in a Special Hobby box as well, covering other versions of this distinctive aeroplane. Also under development by Special Hobby is a 1:72 Folland Gnat #72137 in its original single seat ‘Lightweight Fighter’ guise as operated by the Finnish and Indian Air Forces.
A further five versions of Fairchild Swearingen C-26 variants in 1:72 from resin kit manufacturer RVHP, these being: • Fairchild Swearingen RC-26B Condor (USAF) #72013 • Fairchild Swearingen C-26A/D (USANG, USN) #72014 • Fairchild Swearingen C-26A(RC) Metroliner (Barbados, Mexico) #72015 • Fairchild Swearingen C-26A Metro III (Venezuela, Colombia) #72016 • Fairchild Swearingen C-26BM Pegasus (Peru) #72017
Frrom-Azur An often overlooked and neglected type is the Stampe and Vertongen S.V.4, perhaps partially due to being mistaken for its better known look alike the dH Tiger Moth. Frrom-Azur look to redress this imbalance with the introduction of four different versions of the type in 1:72, these being: • Stampe & Vertongen S.V.4b Belgium #FR024 • Stampe & Vertongen S.V.4c France #FR025 • Stampe & Vertongen S.V.4 #FR026 • Stampe & Vertongen S.V.4 FR027 Well worth looking for if wartime training types are your ‘cup of tea’.
Kovozavody Prostejov A recent announcement marks a new direction for the Kovozavody Prostejov team in the form of a range of Lavochkin La-5, La-5F, La-5FN’s in 1:144, forming the start of the KP Junior range. The kit is a result of 3D modelling with the metal mould produced using CAD-CAM technology. The kit has a high level of detail including a comprehensive and detailed interior, open canopy option, engine cover and closed blinds and wheel wells. This will be joined in the
near future by a 1:72 version as well. Other announcements from Kovozavody Prostejov include the imminent arrival of three different
versions of the Piper Cub, along with three versions of the SG-38 Schulgleiter Glider. Expanding the range of Czech training aircraft still further is the arrival of the Zlin C-105 (Trener 2) Early #7221.
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 309
308-13-CzechNews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:08 Page 310
NEWS
in association with
www.cmkkits.com
Eduard
HPH The good people at HPH continue to tease us with more images of the upcoming Fw189 kit in 1:32. Needless to say this looks to be an explosion of detail that only HPH know how to produce in this scale, tempting even the most resilient of modellers.
A new release in Eduard’s beautiful Supermarine Spitfire range is the arrival of the Spitfire Mk. VIII 1:48 #8284. This kit contains many completely new parts from specially made tools to make sure the model is as accurate as possible. As in keeping with the Profipack doctrine, the Spitfire includes coloured etch parts, paint masks and six different and highly attractive colour schemes which are listed below, the only problem I can see is how to restrict yourself to just one kit? • Spitfire LF Mk.VIII, MD280, Flown by F/Lt. Paul Ostrander, No. 155 Squadron, RAF, Burma, 1945 • Spitfire F Mk.VIII, JF330, Flown by AVM Harry Broadhurst, 1943 • Spitfire LF Mk.VIII, MT714, Flown by F/Lt A. W. Guest, No. 43 Squadron RAF, Ramatuelle Air Field, France, August, 1944 • Spitfire F Mk.VIII, JF470, 31st Fighter Group, 308th Fighter Squadron, Fano Air Base, Italy, 1944 – 1945 • Spitfire HF Mk.VIII, Flown by W/C Robert Gibbes, CO of No. 80 Fighter Wing, • Dutch East Indies, 1945 • Spitfire F Mk.VIII, JF404, No. 32 Squadron RAF, Foggia Air Base, Italy, Early 1944. It’s also worth mentioning Eduard’s latest release of the Avia B.534 in 1:72 as a Royal Class boxing. Eduard are proud to inform us that this is just the start of their 1:72 ‘Revolution’, and plan a host of 1:72 kits over the coming months of high quality at sensible prices. These kits will include scaled down versions of their Fw190 range, as well as their Spitfire Mk.IX. These will also be joined by a MiG-15 UTI. The plan is to release the kits in special edition or Royal Class versions first and follow this up with Profipack and Weekend kits in a similar fashion to their 1:48 models. With is in mind the 1:72 Avia B.534 IV is due in its weekend form #7428 with two decal options in the very near future. Eduard’s highly successful 1:48 MiG-21 MF Profipack #8231 is due to make a welcome return, containing colour etch, and paint masks along with six decal options, these being: • MiG-21MF No.7628, Egyptian Air Force, unit unknown, Tanta Airbase, 1988 • MiG-21MF, Czechoslovak People’s Army, 9th Fighter Squadron, Bechyne AB, Czechoslovakia, 1989-1993
310 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
• MiG-21MF, Slovak Air Force, 4th Flight, Sliac Airbase, Slovakia, ca.1999 • MiG-21MF, Polish Air Force, 10th Eskadra Lotnictwa Taktycznego, Lask AB, Poland, 20012003 • MiG-21SM, 812th UAP, Kharkov Higher Military Academy, based at Kupyansk Airfield, Soviet Union, August, 1991 • MiG-21 MF,German Democratic Republic, Jagdfliegergeschwader 3, Preschen Airbase, 1990 Another welcome reissue is the 1:72 Aero L-39ZA in its ‘Weekend’ form #7427. In keeping with the most recent Weekend kits the L-39ZA will include two decal options, making these already economically priced kits even more attractive. The options included are: • Aero L-39ZA Albatros, 1st ‘Tiger’ Squadron, 11th Fighter Regiment, Czechoslovak Air Force, Žatec Air Base, 1991 • Aero L-39ZA Albatros, Algerian Air Force, 618th Advanced Training Squadron, Tafraoui AB. For those of you who have a firm focus on the Luftwaffe, the re issue of the excellent 1:48 Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8/R2 in its Profipack form #8175 will bring much joy, as will knowing that it has five decal options included along with paint masks and etched parts all as per its original 2007 release. Looking a little further into the future, Eduard inform us of the release of their second 1:48 Lockheed F-104G Starfighter utilising the Hasegawa kit as its basis. The NATO fighter kit #1196 will be limited to 1500 boxes and include two Brassin ejector seat options, paint masks, colour photo etched parts and five different marking choices. Finally from Eduard is something to delight modellers of things with a World War I vintage with the announcement of the impending arrival of the 1/48 Siemens-Schuckert D.III in the Weekend Series #8484 including two decal options.
311-Gaspatch-0415-WP_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:58 Page 1
8 Types Lewis Guns
Salmson Late 2A2
h c t s a l e P d s o a m G Scale 1/48
www.gaspatchmodels.com
8 Types Vickers Guns
Scale 1/48
Air Speed Indicator Spandau 08/15
Salmson Otsu1 2A2
Spandau Early 08
W E N
Parabellum 14
Parabellum 14/17
Copyright © 2015 GasPatchModels All rights reserved
7 Types Metal Turnbuckles
Salmson Mid 2A2
Vickers K
Scale 1/48
Also available in Scale 1/35
308-13-CzechNews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:08 Page 312
NEWS
in association with
www.cmkkits.com
Scale Resin An announcement causing much excitement is that from Czech resin kit manufacturer Scale Resin, in the form of two new tool 1:72 Blackburn Buccaneers, the Blackburn Buccaneer S.Mk.1 #A7201 and the Blackburn NA.39 Preproduction version #A7202.
THE NEWS IS AS FOLLOWS:
RS Models Another aircraft that’s long been missing as an injection moulded plastic kit in 1:72 is the Miles Magister. But fear not as RS have come to our rescue with the arrival of their new kit (#92167) which includes decal for four versions: • RAF at Alexandria, Egypt 1941 • G-AIJA Coventry Airfield, 1960 • Sonderstaffel Buchmann, Gulf of Finland, Luftwaffe 1942 • Turkish Air Force HavaOkulu, 1st Training Battalion 1936. RS will also be extending their Yak-11/C-11 ‘Moose’ range with two new boxings the first containing four decal options for the type as a ‘Warbird’ #92168 • D-FJII, La Ferte-Alais France, in May 2012 • F-AZFJ, WarsawBabice Poland, in August 2012 • G-BTUB, Kemble England, June 2011 • D-FMAX, Hahnweide Germany, September 2013 The second boxing covers the types use by Egypt, USSR, Bulgaria and North Korea (#92169) again with four decal options: • C-11, at Gebel al Basur Egypt 1964 • C-11, USSR, 1952 • C-11, AF Bulgaria Plovdiv, 1958 • C-11, Kimpo Airfield North Korea, Finally a further boxing of the delightfully Italian style of the Ambrosini SAI 403 Dardo #92159 is in the offing, with two options, one for the type in Italian service, the second for a Luftwaffe machine.
312 |
APRIL 2015 •
Greatly overlooked by model aircraft manufacturers for some forty-years – being overshadowed by its younger sibling the Rolls-Royce Spey powered S.Mk.2 variant – CMR Moulding and Casting have announced the imminent release of the original de Havilland Gyron Junior powered versions under their Scale Resin label. These are not generic ‘Buccaneer’ models but two completely new models, worthy of 21st Century quality with historical and technical accuracy. Czech Master Resin (under the leadership of now-retired Petr Buchar) was already well known by modellers for their range of highly detailed Buccaneer S.Mk.2 resin models they have produced in the past. The first two models (S.Mk.2A & 2B) were originally released in 2006 and by 2011 the full operational service career of all the Mk.2 versions had been covered, from Royal Navy introduction in 1965 to RAF retirement in 1994. Now modellers can get the chance to see where it all began. With such a lineage of casting various Buccaneer S.Mk.2 versions, it would be easy to think that these Scale Resin models would just be adaptations of the existing CMR kits. This is absolutely not the case. Working in close collaboration with Andy White, who kindly supplied complete sets of highly accurate scale drawings for both production and pre-production versions (along with copies of early 1960’s Air Publication Service Manual diagrams), it was decided that with all the visible differences between the NA.39/S.Mk.1 and S.Mk.2 airframes, completely new sets of master part tooling would be produced, incorporating all the advances in resin moulding technique that are available today. Though outwardly similar, the model airframes of both the A.7201 Buccaneer S.Mk.1 and A.7202 NA.39 [Pre-production version] faithfully reproduce all the main structural differences between the original aircraft. In the vein of their CMR predecessors, these are both fully complete models that require no ‘after market’ detailing sets. Configurations common to both models include: Folding nose with fully detailed interior that is specific to each particular type – even down to the locking mechanism; highly
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
detailed folding wing joints; optional main flap positions; optional open or closed air brake petals, plus a variety of weapons payloads. For example the rotating weapons bay door can be displayed in either the open or closed positions, with the interior surface detail faithfully reproduced from original A.P. diagrams, plus it also includes four individual bomb carriers for the 1000lb HEMC/HES bombs supplied – enabling the bay to still be displayed open but without a bomb load if desired. The Buccaneer S.Mk.1 model also includes examples that were fitted with a retractable in-flight refuelling probe (signified by the blister just forward of the pilot’s windscreen on the port side) and those later modified with the more well known fixed in-flight refuelling probe. Also there is the option to model an early 1963 version with unreinforced air brake petals or the later modified versions that included reinforced panels to stop the outer surface of the air brake
308-13-CzechNews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:35 Page 313
CZECH OUT
petal skin from buckling caused by the jet exhaust during braking. The NA.39 version includes differences such as: Doors covering the arrester hook trunk; missing holdback mechanism necessary for catapult launches; differences in cooling ducts and ventilation grills to name but a few. Each airframe is fully panellined; along with all the correct access panels specific to these Gyron Junior powered airframes. No expense has been spared over the level of detailing included, such as: the fully detailed main undercarriage bays with wing spar surface detail around the jet pipes, plus the additional main air duct pipes, for the boundary layer control system that bled hot air from each engine over the main control surfaces to increase lift at lower speeds during take-off
and landing aboard aircraft carriers. As for the most obvious difference between the Gyron Junior and RollsRoyce Spey powered versions - the engines and nacelles: The deep-set engines have not been overlooked, with the front bearing and air starter assembly faithfully reproduced forward of the compressor blades; the small triangular air intakes located at the wing root leading edges that supplied cooling air to the main jet pipes; even down to the two small air intakes on either side, located between the fuselage and the engine nacelles that supplied the cabin air system. Regarding the colour schemes supplied: • The S.Mk.1 includes those of No.801 Squadron for trials aboard HMS Ark Royal in 1963 plus ‘Far East’ operational tour aboard HMS Victorious between 1964/65, and No.800 Squadron aboard HMS Eagle between 1964/66. • The NA.39 [Pre-production version] includes two examples from ‘IFTU’ 700Z Flight and two from No.809 Strike Headquarters Squadron, RNAS Lossiemouth covering the period November 1961 to March 1965. Each model also includes a full set of airframe stencil decals to Air Publication: A.P.4744A
One-stop shopping for modellers Order online at www.hannants.co.uk Product of the Month
No 1 for Mail Order
Airbrush Heaven BD-512 Portable spray booth with interior light.
We stock the largest ranges of plastic, resin and vacform kits, accessories and conversions, photo-etch sets, paints, airbrushes, tools ands books. Everything under one roof from Academy to Zvezda. We specialise in decals and stock ALL available sheets from just about every manufacturer in existence. We carry over 21,000 items from all over the world.
This booth is easy to set up & use. All you do is fold down the bottom piece & then clip the top in place & that's it. No more working in the dark as inside there are 6 bright white L.E.D.'s to shine on your work while spraying so will show colours more accurately & where you have sprayed. The power switch can be set to have the lights on or off while the fan is running. There is a free standing turntable included that can be placed anywhere on the base if you so wish or used for your own use as a separate turntable. An extendable hose is provided to fit into the back of the booth so fumes can be sent out through a window or door. Hose can go to a max of just over 2 metres. Air flow: 3m3/min Noise level: 45 db. Extended dimensions: 40.5X47.5X33.5 CM Stored dimension: 40.5X21.5X29 CM Net Weight: 5.0KG
£69.99
UK Distributors for MPM, Azur, Special Hobby, Eduard, Classic Airframes and many more. If it’s advertised or reviewed in this magazine try us first. We probably have it in stock now. Mail Order: (all major credit cards accepted)
Hannants London:
Unit 2, Hurricane Industrial Estate, Harbour Road, Oulton Broad, LowestGrahame Park Way, Colindale, London oft, Suffolk NW9 5NQ NR32 3LZ England Tel: 020 8205 6697 UK local rate number: Next to the RAF Museum, Hendon 0845 130 72 48 Email:
[email protected] Tel: 01502 517444 (8 lines) www.hannants.co.uk Fax: 01502 500521
314-CreativeTimes-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:08 Page 314
Sponsored by Creative Models www.creativemodels.co.uk
PREVIEWS
CREATIVE TIMES
A Selection of new releases now available from Creative Models REVELL
REVELL
HOBBYBOSS
HOBBYBOSS
Ar 196
Victor
Me 262A-1A/U1
Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-12
PRICE: £36.99
KIT NO: RV04326
DECAL OPTION: 1 STATUS: Revised new tool
PRICE: £22.99 DECAL OPTIONS: 2
KIT NO: 80370 PRICE: £16.99
SCALE: 1/48
DECAL OPTION: 1
KIT NO: 81719
INFO
SCALE: 1/72
INFO
SCALE: 1/48
KIT NO: RV042
INFO
INFO
SCALE: 1/32
STATUS Revised new tool
STATUS: reissue Ex Matchbox
This is the seventh version of the HobbyBoss 262 family and represents the bomber variant with its two distinctive pylons under the nose. Many see this variant as a bit boring but its predominantly green finish certainly makes it stand out from its fighter brothers. Decals are supplied for one option and include full stencil detail as well as a segmented swastika to comply with the law in some European countries.
DECAL OPTION: 1 STATUS: Revised new tool
This kit supplies markings for the single aircraft produced with one float rather than the normal two as seen on the rest of production. Markings are supplied for a civilian marked prototype scheme complete with a red band and white circle on the tail, though you will have to source your own swastika to go on the white circle to produce the Nazi German flag.
A real 1980s kit complete with raised detail, but thankfully now moulded in grey plastic rather than the originals multi-coloured shades. Decals look really nice and include marking for two camouflage schemes from 55 and 57 Squadrons including an example with female artwork from the first Gulf war.
HOBBYBOSS
HOBBYBOSS
TRUMPETER
Corsair Mk II (F4U-1D)
Jaguar A French Air Force
Grumman A-6E Intruder
INFO
SCALE: 1/32
KIT NO: 80395 PRICE: £25.99
SCALE: 1/72
DECAL OPTIONS: 2
KIT NO: 87258
STATUS: Revised new tool
At last an out-of-the-box Royal Navy Corsair complete with clipped wings; decals are included for two markings including one with Far East markings.
APRIL 2015 •
INFO
INFO
SCALE: 1/48
314 |
PRICE: £13.99
KIT NO: 2250 PRICE: £139.99 DECAL OPTIONS: 2 STATUS: Revised new tool
PRICE: £22.99 DECAL OPTIONS: 2 STATUS: New tool
This kit supplies markings for two aircraft, the first is in the familiar European camouflage scheme while the second is in the sand and brown scheme applied for operations over North Africa.
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
Probably the most awaited Intruder variant after its announcement nearly 10 years ago. This kit lives up to its promise with an amazing level of detail combined with markings for two grey-scheme aircraft, though one has a bit of colour by the addition of a black tail.
Another example of HobbyBoss family approach to kit production, this kit provides markings for the prototype Fw 190D-12, CS+IA, probably the only example of this variant produced.
Mastered-Adverts-AV-0415_AV-0606 14/03/2015 12:05 Page 315
The Specialist of Italian Aircraft Kits and much more! Visit our website: www.misterkit.com Flying Machines 1/48 plastic kits w/photoetched & resin 02 – Fiat G.50 Bis /A.S...........................................................€ 35,00 03 – Fiat G.50 I Serie ............................................................€ 35,00 04 – Fiat G.50 II Serie ...........................................................€ 35,00 05 – Fiat G.55 I Serie & Torpedo version ..............................€ 35,00 Flying Machines 1/72 plastic kits w/photoetched & resin 01 – Piaggio P. 108 I Serie ...................................................€ 50,00 02 – Macchi M.C. 200 VII Serie .............................................€ 15,00 03 - Fiat G.55 I Serie & Torpedo version................................€ 15,00 RCR 1/72 Photoetched 02 – Fiat B.R. 20...................................................................€ 12,00 03 –Cat Z. 1007 Alcione .......................................................€ 12,00 04 – Caproni Ca 313 / 314....................................................€ 21,00 06 – Cant Z .506...................................................................€ 21,00 07 – Fiat G.91 R/T ................................................................€ 12,00 08 – Fiat G. 91 Y...................................................................€ 12,00 10 – Aermacchi M.B. 326 .....................................................€ 12,00 12 – Re 2000 / 2002.............................................................€ 12,00 13-Fiat C.R. 32......................................................................€ 12,00 14- Fiat C.R. 42 .....................................................................€ 12,00 15 - Seatbelts Regia Aeronautica..........................................€ 12,00 16 - Seatbelts Regia Aeronautica 1/48 .................................€ 12,00 17- Re 2005 1/48..................................................................€ 12,00 18 – Fiat G.55.......................................................................€ 12,00 19 – Savoia Marchetti SX 55.................................................€ 18,00 20 – Fiat C.R. 25 ...................................................................€ 10,00 EDUARD Plastic Kits EDU-R0009 1/48 Bf 109G (Royal Class).................................€ 80,00 EDU-07424 1/72 MiG-15bis (Weekend Edition) ...................€ 10,25
MISTER KIT Authentic acrylic colours U.S. Nvy & Marine Corps W.W. I 3 colours ..........................Available Austro Hungarian W.W. I - 10 colours ...............................Available RCF/RAF W.W. I - 13 colours...............................................Available Russian W.W. I - 5 colours ..................................................Available French W.W. I - 12 colours..................................................Available German W.W. I - 24 colours................................................Available Italian W.W.I - 7 colours.....................................................Available Luftwaffe W.W. II - 33 colours............................................Available French W.W. II - 18 colours.................................................Available Regia Aeronautica W.W. II - 28 colours .............................Available RAF W.W. II - 26 colours .....................................................Available U.S. Navy W.W. II - 30 colours ............................................Available Aeronautica Militare Italiana - 14 colours ..........................Available MISTER KIT plastic kit & conversion set Fiat C.R.42 complete kit w/resin & photoset. .......................€ 15,00 Fiat CR 42 Night figh. Luftwaffe & North Africa ...................€ 15,00 Macchi Mc. 2002 super detail set .........................................€ 10,00 Macchi Mc. 205 Conversion & super set................................€ 10,00 BROPLAN 1/72 174- Aermacchi C.100 ........................................................Available 153 – Caproni Ca-310 Libeccio ...........................................Available 097 – Cant Z.1007 Asso......................................................Available ALI D’ITALIA 022 – Macchi Mc 202 .........................................................Available 020 - Caproni Ca. 133 .........................................................Available 01 – Camouflage & Markings Vol. 1...................................Available 02 - Camouflage & Markings Vol. 2 ....................................Available 03 - Camouflage & Markings Vol. 3 ....................................Available
“FOR A FULL CATALOGUE LIST, VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE, NEW UPDATES EVERY DAY! More than 550 brands and over than 60,000 items available”
Please place your orders from our website, we do accept also mail orders We do accept the following payment methods :Credit Cards (VISA/Mastercard), Paypal and Bank Transfer, please email
[email protected] in order to have detailed information
E-mail:
[email protected] Website: www.misterkit.com For more information about our products write to: MISTER KIT s.a.s – Via Alberelle 45, 20089 Rozzano, Milano, Italy
316-FL-F86D-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:24 Page 316
FIRST LOOK
KITTY HAWK 1/32
F-86D Sabre By David Francis hen Airfix released their F-86D Sabre Dog in the 1970s I thought it was an outstanding kit and must have built at least twenty of them at various times. But until now I have not been able to reproduce this kit in 1/32 scale, so I eagerly awaited the release of Kitty Hawk’s new kit. I was impressed by the quality of the plastic parts and their packaging, in particular the clear components are in their own little box, something which other manufacturers should take note off. The main fuselage is split into a number of sections which will enable you to show off the detailed engine and also make it easy for the manufacturer to produce a late F-86K at a later date. The Mighty Mouse rocket tray, which was the type of main armament, is moulded in the extended position, which certainly adds interest to your model. A fulllength intake is supplied though this is made up from five components so some careful filling may be required. Detailed parts are supplied for both the engine and that nose radar assembly, but without modification there is no real way of showing these parts off. The plastic parts that make up the undercarriage bays show a good level of detail, which will be easy to pick out, and it is a similar story in the cockpit with a mix of raised detail and all separate parts for items like the throttle. If you are not that good at dry
W
brushing a decal alternative is also supplied. The ejection seat is made up from 11 components with etched brass supplying the seat belts. The wings comprise separate control surfaces, flaps and slats, with holes drilled already moulded for the underwing fuel tanks and Sidewinder rails, however the latter are only applicable to one version on the decal sheet, so some filling may be required. A nice touch is that the canopy parts have internal sections supplied to add detail, something that is often missed if you decide to display your canopy open. The decals supplied on two sheets are very high quality, so on a number of options you will be expected to paint large bands of colour accurately onto a natural metal finish. The kit supplies five marking options, three from the United States Air Force, all of which have some attractive squadron heraldry. Japanese and Korean options are also supplied with
I was impressed by the quality of the plastic parts and their packaging
316 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
equally attractive artwork. You also have a plain Jane from the Republic of China; this aircraft is also finished in a predominantly grey colour scheme, which will be a lot easier for those who do not like producing natural metal finishes.
CONCLUSION It may have taken 40 years for me to get a 1/32 scale Sabre Dog, but the long wait looks like it has been worth it. The multi-part fuselage may be a little challenging as will applying the large areas of colour needed on some of the marking options, but this will make a colourful, large and impressive model on completion. And hopefully it will not be too long before the aftermarket decal manufacturers supply us with even
more colourful options. Our thanks to Kitty Hawk models for supplying us with the review sample. A full build will appear in future issue, and a first-look video is also available on this kit so visit our website at www.sam publications.com, then look for the Sami portal.
317-SAC-0415-WP_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:58 Page 1
Scale Aircraft Conversions White Metal & Resin Aircraft Parts Since 1990
32094 Pfalz D.IIIa Landing Gear (WW) (replacement for 1/32 Wingnut Wings) MSRP $15.95
48281 SAAB Viggen Landing Gear (Tar) (replacement for 1/48 Tarangus) MSRP $19.95
72103 Rafale M Landing Gear (Rev)
14419 C-119 Boxcar Landing Gear (Rod)
(replacement for 1/72 Revell) MSRP $13.95
(for all 1/144 Roden C-119 variants) MSRP $12.95
C-46 Curtis Commando in JSDF Livery
Carmel Attard (a.k.a. “The Maltese Magician) proves that a 40 year old kit can be used to produce eye popping results. Carmel replaced the vintage William’s Brothers kit gear with SAC gear which offers greater strength and improved detail. An in-depth review can be viewed at: http://www.arcair.com/Gal14/13301-13400/gal13357-C-46DAttard/00.shtm.
scaleaircraftconversions.com
318-21-Accessories-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:23 Page 318
ACCESSORIES
Eduard
Airbrush Heaven Last month we reviewed the Airbrush Heaven BD132 double action airbrush I was very impressed with this brush though I am not a lover of side mounted bowls though I appreciate their large capacity on a big job. This month we have another version of the same brush and for me it is a combination of the best parts of the BD132 with my preferred top mounted cap. BD-137 As before on opening the plastic carry case you are presented with a nicely balanced brush that has a smooth action. But instead if a 7cc side mounted cap you have a 2cc top mounted bowl. Supplied with a 0.2 mm head you can reproduce Luftwaffe modelling which is always my test for fine work. This is helped by the rear screw mounted preset which restricts the pull back on the trigger making thin lines and tight mottles a piece of cake. Extra parts included in the box include a spanner to help dissemble the brush plus a quick release connector and a pipette for measuring out your paint mixes.
CONCLUSION I was incredibly impressed with both this and the brush I reviewed last month and is hard to believe it is being sold at such a competitive price of just £19.99. There are also a number of combined deals to be had, which adds cleaning tools, compressor and even a spray booth. (Watch the video in the SAMi portal) for equally reasonable prices. Our thanks to Airbrush Heaven for supplying us with the review sample which can be purchased from their web site at www.airbrushheaven.co.uk and they will also be present at Scale Modelworld in November for those who want to play before they buy.
The Eduard etched brass range has something for everyone from more fabric seat belts which are as realistic as they get in my view, and of course most sets are available as either the basic Zoom which supplies just the pre-painted brass of full sets which add one or sometimes to extra frets of brass for more detail.
1/72 SCALE Avia L-39 Albatross Fabric Seat Belts Part no: 73030 Designed for: Eduard Dornier Do-17Z Part no: 73522 Designed for: Airfix
Bristol Blenheim Mk.VIF Exterior Part no: 72599 Designed for: Eduard
1/48 SCALE
Bristol Blenheim Mk.IVF Interior Part no: 73523 Designed for: Airfix Dornier Do-17Z Bomb Bay Part no: 72596 Designed for: Airfix Dornier Do-17Z Landing Flaps Part no: 72597 Designed for: Airfix
Spitfire Mk.VIII Fabric Seat Belts Part No 49704 Designed for: Eduard
318 |
APRIL 2015 •
This set supplies three colours aimed specifically at a type of colour scheme. And one of the latest perfectly timed for use with a number of projects on my bench is for late war Luftwaffe schemes for aircraft painted in any combination of RLM 76/78/81/82/83 so we have a dark
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
Avia L-39 Albatross Part no: SS517 Designed for: Eduard
SAAB JA-39BD Grippen Part No: 49709 Designed for: Kittyhawk
1/48 SCALE Spitfire Mk.VIII Landing Flaps Part No 48834 Designed for: Eduard
SAAB JA-39BD Grippen Part No: FE709 Designed for: Kittyhawk
Spitfire Mk.VIII Surface Panels Part No 48835 Designed for: Eduard
CONCLUSION
1/32 Vought F4U-1A Placards Part No 32829 Designed for: Tamiya
Eduard started by making etched brass and I am still amazed at how many new sets they turn out each month, and we have not covered the ones for ships and armour! Our thanks to Eduard for supplying the review samples.
Kleer or Acrylic varnish to act as a barrier coat to prevent any risk of the camouflage paint lifting.
cannon or machine gun. A.Mig- 7415 German Late Fighters A-Mig-161308 PLW Blue Grey for RLM 76/78 A-Mig-1611 PLW Black Night for RLM 81/82 A-Mig-1612 PLW Green Brown for RLM 83
Dornier Do-17Z Part no: SS522 Designed for: Airfix
Spitfire Mk.VIII Part No 49708 Designed for: Eduard
Ammo by Mig Jimenez Last year Ammo by Mig Jimanez launched a range of aviation washes and these are of equally high quality as the armour washes that have become so familiar with, although their application will be slightly different as these washes are designed to highlight panel lines rather than be applied more liberally as an overall wash as I do on my armour projects. The other new items is from the massive range of pigments, the ones we have received are a sand shade designed for use on middle east subjects and a very dark earth colour suitable for the Russian theatre of operations. The Final one is a Gun Metal finish that will be perfect to lift out the detail on any black painted
ZOOM SETS 1/72 SCALE
Pigments A.Mig-3009 Gun Metal A.Mig- 3014 Russian Earth A.Mig- 3018 Middle East Dust
CONCLUSION black green or black colour for use on the top surfaces a light blue grey for use on lower surfaces. A visit to the Mig site will give you a simple pictorial tutorial on how to apply them, the only thing is bear in mind that these washes will work best on an acrylic painted surface, if you use enamel make sure you have applied a couple of coats of Johnson’s
I really like the subtle effects I have achieved with these washes which look a lot better inking in of every line as seen at many European and Japanese shows. They also last a long long time as I have had some of my original Mig armour washes for years and I am nowhere near the bottom of the bottles. Our thanks to Mig Jimanez for supplying the review samples.
318-21-Accessories-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:23 Page 319
ACCESSORIES
Aerobonus by Aires This months new subjects are perfect illustrations of the diverse range of products that now come under the Aerobonus brand. The introduction of high quality figures last years has really taken off and this month we have three more nicely animated 1/48 scale US Army mechanics from the pacific theatre of operations. In 1/32 scale we have two diorama accessories the first is a wooden FOD point with two large barrels which are full of rubbish and four empty buckets. A small decal sheet supplied FOD markings in both white and black. The second 1/32 set supplied an adjustable mechanic seat, which looks like a modern office chair with out a back. Finally something that is really different, I have heard that Aerobonus had produced a range of caricatures including the famous Phantom Spook, but this is the first I have seen and is a figure based on a Mig 21 pilot.
Aires Two new sets received from Aires this month, the first supplies a beautiful RR Nene engine or more correctly the Klimov RD-45 as the copy used to power the Mig-15 was called. This set use a mix of resin and etched brass to produce a stunning replica that could be displayed on its own or fitted to Eduard’s new Mig-15 Family. The other set is part of a whole series of sets released in both the Aires and Quickboost ranges for the Italeri F104G/C. The set that Aires have supplied reproduces the detailed air brake bays and the associated doors. Both sets supplies full instruction diagrams and should be easy to assemble and fit to the model.
SCALE 90MM Mascot for Mig 21 Product No: 100 003 Designed for: N/A
1/48 SCALE US Army Aircraft Mechanic, Seated with beer, Pacific Theatre Product No: 480 105 Designed for: N/A
1/32 SCALE F-104G/S Starfighter Airbrakes Product No: 2204 Designed for: Italeri
US Army Aircraft Mechanic, polishing, Pacific Theatre Product No: 480 108 Designed for: N/A
1/72 SCALE Mig15 Bis engine Product No: 7317 Designed for: Eduard
US Army Aircraft Mechanic, Arms raised, Pacific Theatre Product No: 480 109 Designed for: N/A
CONCLUSION
1/32 SCALE Flightline FOD Point Product No: 320 057 Designed for: N/A
Adjustable Mechanic Seat Product No: 320 063 Designed for: N/A
Both of these products are cast to the highest standard and show what a manufacturer at the top of their game can produce. To see the full range have a look at the full range at their website at www.aires.cz. Our thanks to Aires for supplying the review samples.
CONCLUSION The Aerobonus range really does feature a unique range of products and the addition of the Mascot range is a bit of fun and I am hoping they may consider a Lockheed Skunk at some point. Our thanks to Stanislav Riegr of Aerobonus for supplying the review samples.
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 319
318-21-Accessories-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:23 Page 320
ACCESSORIES
Pan Pastel
Eduard BrassIn
Sometimes we need to look outside our normal fields for inspiration and Pan Pastels is a good case for doing so. These pastels were launched a number of years ago and stateside have been widely accepted by model railway modellers and diorama modellers as a important tool for weathering. I was given two samples from this range of weathering kits to try, each set supplies seven circular dishes containing the pastel cakes. And each set also includes a set of applicators, which is made up from different shape sponges and a plastic knife like tool, which has thin sponge applicators placed over the tip.
The Eduard BrassIn range goes from strength to strength and this month we have yet more weapons sets as well as two truly stunning sets to upgrade the already nice new tool Eduard Spitfire VIII. In 1/24 we have a complete set of Hispanio cannons for the Airfix Typhoon while in 1/72 the Tamiya F-16 gets some welldetailed open air brakes.
Weathering Kit: Greys, Grime and Soot This set contains 1.Titanium White 2. Paynes Grey Tint 3. Paynes Grey Ex dark 4. Neutral Grey Ex Dark 5. Neutral Gray 6. Neutral Gray Ex Dark 7. Black
1/72 SCALE F-16 Airbrakes Part no: 672056 Designed for: Tamiya
M177 Bombs (Late) Part No: 648189 PBY-5A Catalina wheels Part no: 648192 Designed for Revell/Mongram Spitfire Mk.VIII Cockpit Part No 648199 Designed for: Eduard Spitfire Mk.VIII Engine Part No 648200 Designed for: Eduard
Dornier Do335 Exhaust Stacks Part No 632050 Designed for: Eduard
1/24 SCALE Typhoon Guns Part No 624002 Designed for: Eduard
CONCLUSION If you really want to go all out with your latest model you should have a look at the BrassIn range, though they are not the cheapest resin out there, quality never comes cheap! Our thanks to Eduard for supplying the review samples.
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Application of these pastels is a bit unlike any other weathering process I have come across to date so I decided I would use the HK Models Do 335 seen else where in this issue as a test bed. I started with the wheels by lightly brushing one of the sponges lightly across the Paynes Grey pastel, this is the first difference from the normal application of pigments. Unlike my normal brush application method there is very little waist and absolutely no mess. Next the sponge was brushed around the wheel leaving a light coating of the colour on the edges of the wheel. Next I repeated the process with raw umber shade to the sidewalls of the tyre to give the impression of earth dust. I know moved on to the exhausts with red oxide being lightly brushed across the weld seams to give a subtle weathered appearance. All of these actions took about the same time it took me to write these words. Next I got a bit more ambitious by using a pre painted F/A-18 from Easy Model and given it the full weathering treatment using all the colours greys and grime set. These worked amazingly well lifting this already nice model to a real good level, in fact so good it placed in my club nights monthly competition with no one realising that the only extras I had added was the weathering to the plain grey finish. And that this had taken just 10 to 15 minutes from start to finish. Clean up was easy to just put the lids back on the dishes and give the sponges a quick dab in to some water to remove the excess and I was done.
This month we start with a return to SACs WW1 series a subject perfectly suited to having their thin undercarriage struts replaced with strong white metal examples. This time is Wingnut wings amazing Pfalz D.III that gets the treatment. In 1/48 scale we one of the most complex SAC sets I have seen to reproduce the complicated layout of the Saab Viggen designed for the Tarrangus kit as well as the just announced Special Hobby Viggen. In 1/72 we sets for the Revell Rafale while in 1/144 scale the recent Roden AC/C119 Boxcar family of kits gets a metal leg upgrade.
CONCLUSION
1/32 SCALE
I was very impressed with this product and if you need to see the effects that can be achieved have a look at
Pfalz D.IIa Landing Gear Product No: 32094
APRIL 2015 •
GBU-10 Paveway Part no: 648171
1/32 SCALE
Weathering Kit: Rust and Earth This set contains: Burnt Sienna Burnt Sienna Tint Burnt Sienna shade Burnt Sienna Ex Dark Raw Umber Red Iron Oxide Red Iron Oxide Ex Dark
320 |
1/48 SCALE
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
Designed for: Wingnut Wings Price: $15.95
1/144 SCALE
1/48 SCALE SAAB Viggen Landing Gear Product No: 48281 Designed for: Tarrangus Models Price: $19.95
1/72 SCALE Rafale M Landing Gear Product No: 72103 Designed for: Revell Price: $13.95
C-119 Boxcar Landing Gear Product No: 14419 Designed for: Roden Price: $12.95
CONCLUSION These samples were provided by Scale Aircraft Conversions and will be available to purchase in the UK from Hannants and www.oxonianplasticfantastic. co.uk the manufacturers also have their own website at www.scaleaircraftconversion s.com Our thanks to Ross McMillan for supplying the review samples.
318-21-Accessories-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:23 Page 321
ACCESSORIES
Quickboost This month we have a number of sets from Quickboost that are to upgrade a particular model. In 1/32 scale we have twos sets for the Revell Messerschmitt Bf109G-6, in 1/48 the Kittyhawk F-101 Voodoo gets 3 sets while in 1/72 scale the Airfix Lancaster also gets 3 sets. The 109G 6 includes a set of corrected cannon gun bulges and a correctly shaped oil radiator, both which will instantly make your 109 more accurate than out of the box. The F-101 gets a super thin set of undercarriage doors and what is described as antennas but is actually an aerial and a pair of AOA vanes. Finally we have a pair of hollowed out fuel vents, something most modellers could not achieve by drilling due to the small size of the parts. The Lancaster gets a full set of gun barrels with a choice of either round or oval perforations while the final set is another must have correction this time supplying hollowed out air intakes.
1/72 SCALE Avro Lancaster B.11 Gun Barrels (Oval Perf) Product No: QB 72 465 Designed for: Airfix Avro Lancaster B.1/II1 Air Intakes Product No: QB 72 467 Designed for: Airfix
B u i l d Yo u r D r e a m !
NEW RELEA SES All these brand new releases from Revell display the superb quality and levels of detail which you have come to expect from the world’s leading modelling company.
03986 1:32 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IIa
F-101 Voodoo Antennas Product No: QB 48 624 Designed for: Kittyhawk F-101 Voodoo A/C Undercarriage Covers Product No: QB 48 629 Designed for: Kittyhawk
1/32 SCALE Messerschmitt Bf-109 G-6 Corrected Oil filter Product No: QB 32 169 Designed for: Revell Messerschmitt Bf-109 G-6 Corrected gun Bulges Product No: QB 32 170 Designed for: Revell
03987 1:48 Panavia Tornado IDS
CONCLUSION Yet another batch of simple upgrades and at such a low price I honestly wonder how they make a profit. If you have any of these 3 kits you should be seeking out these sets. Our thanks to Stanislav Riegr of Quickboost for the review samples, which can be purchased from Hannants.
04842 1:144 SpaceshipTwo & WhiteKnightTwo
Avro Lancaster B.1/B.II1 Gun Barrels (Round Perf) Product No: QB 72 469 Designed for: Airfix
1/48 SCALE F-101 Voodoo A/C Fuel Vents Product No: QB 48 623 Designed for: Kittyhawk
07074 1:24 Red Bull Racing RB8 Available from branches of
and all good Toy and Model shops Visit our brand new website and online shop
www.revell.de/en facebook.com/Revell
@RevellGermany
R E VE L L H A S M OV ED :
Revell GmbH, Unit 10, Old Airfield Industrial Estate, Cheddington Lane, Tring, HP23 4QR Tel: 0845 459 0747, Fax: 01296 660041, Email:
[email protected] ©2015 Revell GmbH. A subsidiary of Hobbico, Inc. All rights reserved. Trade enquiries welcome.
322-23-Decals-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:23 Page 322
DECALS
Werner Wings The latest release from Werner wings enables you to update the brand new Kittyhawk AH-1Z viper cobra with colour schemes applied by front line squadrons from the west coast. Any sheet from Werner Wings is going to be of the highest standard and this one has been researched by Mason Doupnik and Patrick Najmulski two experts on the subject. The sheet has markings for eight aircraft and also includes full stenciling; extensive does not do justice to either the instruction sheet or the decals, which supply full stencil detail.
SCALE 1/48 WW 48-98 AH-1Z Vipers Den • 1. AH-1Z, HMLA-369, SM45. • 2. AH-1Z, HMLA-169, SN45 • 3. AH-1Z, HMLA-267, UV50 • 4. AH-1Z, VMM-163 (REIN),YP43 • 5 AH-1Z, HMM-268 (REIN), YQ41 • 6. AH-1Z, HMM-364 (REIN), PF44 • 7. AH-1Z, VMM-161 (REIN), YR44 • 8. AH-1Z VMM-166 (REIN), YX46
CONCLUSION If you have a Kittyhawk Viper this will be a great addition to produce a service marking rather than the training ones included in the kit. This decal sheet is available to purchase from Werner’s Wings website or at their E bay store for a very reasonable $14 USD plus shipping. For future release we will have more Marine Corps AH1s covering the Corps’ use of the Cobra from the early G models in Vietnam to the Zulu. But first and just in time for another new Kittyhawk release the UH-1Y Venom. Our thanks for supplying the review sample
Xtradecal The latest decals from Xtradecal are both aimed at new kits, we start with a lovely selection of Mirage IIIEs aimed at the Kinetic kit in 1/48 scale. While in 1/72 scale we have a set for the Italeri Stirling family which, includes both bomber and target tug versions. The Mirage sheets supplies a wonderful selection of colour schemes from the classic grey and green camouflage on French and Swiss versions though one of the French examples is covered in red-orange panels. To low viz schemes applied to Pakistani and Australian examples though my favourite is a classic naturel metal finish applied to a RAAF Mirage IIIO with some very attractive green and white tail markings. The Stirling sheet has less option as far as colour schemes basically Black/Earth camouflage over black though you do get some nose art on most options as well as D Day markings on one of the target tug option. A real nice extra page to the instructions gives a photograph coverage of the crash site of Stirling WE S in Norway with details of the aircraft demise. It also includes specific details of the aircraft location though this would mean 4-hour drive from the capital Oslo and a 3 to 5 hour hike each way. •
• •
Shorts Stirling Mk.IV LJ566, ‘D4.N’ “Yorkshire Rose II” flown by Pilot Officer Derek de Rome of 620 Squadron, RAF, RAF Westcott 22 April 1945. Shorts Stirling Mk.III LK516, ‘WB.J’ of 90 Squadron, RAF, RAF Tuddenham 1944. Shorts Stirling Mk.III LJ516 ‘EX.B’ of 199 Squadron, RAF, RAF Lakenheath 1944.
1/72 SCALE
1/48 SCALE
X72219 Short Stirling Mk.III/IV • Shorts Stirling Mk.IV LK171, ‘WE.S”, “Shooting Stars” flown by Group Captain W.E. Surplice DFC of 295 Squadron, RAF, RAF Rivenhall, 2 November 1944. • Shorts Stirling Mk.IV LJ865, ‘D4.D’ “Get In” flown by Flying Officer Frank Cox of 620 Squadron, RAF, RAF Great Dunmow 1944. • Shorts Stirling Mk.III EF411, ‘OJ.K’ of 149 Squadron, RAF, RAF Mildenhall, April 1942. • Shorts Stirling Mk.IV LJ875, ‘QS.B’ “Cheers for the Beer at the Getsumin” of 620 Squadron, RAF, RAF Fairford June 1944. • Shorts Stirling Mk.IV LJ850, ‘QS.Y’ “Yorkshire Rose” flown by Warrant Officer Crane & Flying Officer Murray of 620 Squadron, RAF, RAF Fairford late May 1944.
X48142 Dassault Mirage III • Dassault Mirage IIIR ‘336’ of Armee de l’Air, of Escuadron de Reconnaisance 3/33 ‘Moselle’ based at Strasbourg-Entzheim, 1980’s. • Dassault Mirage IIIO 90-560/’560’ of 7 ‘Bandits’ Tactical Attack Squadron, Pakistani Air Force, based as Masroor, Karachi, 1990’s. • Dassault Mirage IIIEZ ‘842’ of 3 Squadron, South African Air Force, based at AFB Waterkloof, 1980’s. • Dassault Mirage IIIO(F) 43-42 of 77 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, based at RAAF Williamtown, 1969. • Dassault Mirage IIIRS R-2112 of Fliegerstaffel 10, Swiss Air Force, based at Flugplatz Abteilung 10, Buochs (stans) late 1980’s. • Dassault Mirage IIIO A3-25 of 75 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, RAAF Butterworth, June 1981. • Dassault Mirage IIIO Project ROSE, 90513/’513’ of 7 Squadron Pakistani Air Force, based at PAF Samungli, Quetta during ‘Exercise Saffron Bandit’ 2012, • Dassault Mirage IIIE ‘4-BE’ of Armee de l’Air, of Esquadron de Chasse 2/4 ‘La Fayette’ based at Luxeuil-Saint Sauveur, 1980s.
CONCLUSION These are both superb sheets very well printed with good instructions with colour notes keyed to this manufacturers enamel and acrylic paint ranges. If you have a Stirling or Mirage on the bench it is well worth seeking out these sheets. Our thanks to Hannants for supplying the review samples.
322 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
322-23-Decals-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:23 Page 323
DECALS
Model Art At Telford Model Art released their latest sheet and as with most of their range and reflecting the Anglo/French nature of the company we have three aircraft types, two of which are from the French Navy and one from the Royal Navy. I will start with the Royal Navy and the EH-101 Merlin HM.1, markings are included for no less than eleven examples many of which carry a name on the nose with a Arthur and the round table theme. For the French schemes we options for six Super Etendard operating over Afghanistan in 2008 . Probably the largest aircraft Model Art have ever covered is the PB4Y-2 Privateer in overall glossy sea blue from two squadrons which have incredibly well printed squadron badges which include the thing gold band around their edges. The decals include full stencils and markings for one aircraft and to say they are comprehensive is a bit of an understatement. With over 70 images for the Super Etendard and a similar quantity for the Merlin. Instructions are this manufacturers normal black and white style, and are bilingual English/French. And will need careful reading as there is a lot of informative text supplied to insure you get your model correct and I very pleased to see the comprehensive interior colour notes something I wish other manufacturers would do.
1/72 SCALE ART72/064 • PB4Y-2 Privateer/Aeronautique Navale. 8-F-7 Flottille BF TAN SON NHUT 1952. • PB4Y-2 Privateer/Aeronautique Navale. 24-F-3 Flottille 24F Tourane 1954. • PB4Y-2 Privateer/Aeronautique Navale. 28-F5. Flottille 28F CAT BI 1965. • EH-101 Merlin HM.1/Royal Navy. ZH838/70 814NAS HMS Illustrious 2013. • EH-101 Merlin HM.1/Royal Navy. ZH839 820NAS RNAS Culdrose 2013. • EH-101 Merlin HM.1/Royal Navy. ZH861 /84/’Gawaine’ 824NAS RNAS Culdrose 2011. • EH-101 Merlin HM.1/Royal Navy. ZH828/13/CU 820NAS RNAS Culdrose 2005. • EH-101 Merlin HM.1/Royal Navy. ZH863/11 820NAS Operation Taurus 2009. • EH-101 Merlin HM.1/Royal Navy. ZH837/503 ’Lola’ 829NAS HMS St Albans 2011. • EH-101 Merlin HM.1/Royal Navy. ZH834/86/’Trisan’ 824NAS RNAS Culdrose 2011.
Ventura Decals It has been a while since we have had anything new from this New Zealand based manufacturer. But if you are a Mustang fan the wait has been worth the wait with the release of a nice sheet that covers three P-51 Mustangs complete with checkerboard fuselage markings.
SCALE 1/32 V3275 – New Zealand checker Board Mustangs • N.A P-51D Mustang, NZ2419, No.2 Wellington Squadron, Yellow /Black checkerboard
Thunderbird Models
• EH-101 Merlin HM.1/Royal Navy. ZH839/83/’Guinevere’ 824NAS RNAS Culdrose 2011. • EH-101 Merlin HM.1/Royal Navy. ZH841/502 829NAS HMS Westminster 2011. • EH-101 Merlin HM.1/Royal Navy. ZH827/80/’Arthur’ 824NAS RNAS Culdrose 2011. • EH-101 Merlin HM.1/Royal Navy. ZH836/87/’Gareth 824NAS RNAS Culdrose 2011. • EH-101 Merlin HM.1/Royal Navy. ZH842/88/’Lamorak’ 824NAS RNAS Culdrose 2011. • Dassault Super Etendard No51 Flottille 17F Kandahar AB Afghanistan 2008. • Dassault Super Etendard No31 Flottille 17F Kandahar AB Afghanistan 2008. • Dassault Super Etendard No24 Flottille 17F Kandahar AB Afghanistan 2008. • Dassault Super Etendard No17 Flottille 17F Kandahar AB Afghanistan 2008. • Dassault Super Etendard No8 Flottille 17F Kandahar AB Afghanistan 2008. • Dassault Super Etendard No1 Flottille 17F Kandahar AB Afghanistan 2008.
CONCLUSION This sheet at just £8 represent amazing value for money from one of the oldest surviving English decal manufacturers . The full range can be seen at www.modartdec.com where you can purchase both the Model Art and Galdecal range of decals and includes a highly recommended range of resin accessories for anyone who has an interest in French or Finnish aircraft.
New company Thunderbird Models are producing a whole range of subjects with a Canadian theme initially in 1/72 scale with the promise that larger scale will follow. The first two subjects we have received cover smaller Canadian airliners flying the DH Beaver and Twin Otter. The First in a very attractive predominantly blue, white and grey scheme belongs to Nordair who flew a number of Twin Otters between 1969 and 1976. The second sheet covers two float equipped DH Beaver delivered to BC Air Lines in 1955 and 1956. One of these aircraft after many changes of ownership is still flying in the Yukon. Each sheet comes with full colour instructions and comes with a comprehensive history of the airline and the colour markings applied to each aircraft.
1/72 SCALE TB-72-006 Nordair DC-6 Twin Otter • DHC-6, CF-NAN • DHC-6, C-GNDN • DHC-6, C-GNDO TB-72-007 B.C Air Lines DH Beaver • DH Beaver, CF-IUY • DH-Beaver CF-HGZ
CONCLUSION These sheets will produce some interesting civilian schemes when applied to Revell/Matchbox DHC-6 or the Airfix/ Hobbycraft Beaver. Even better at just £4.50 each these sheets are tremendous value for money. Other releases include civilian and racer mosquitos and a 1/144 sheet for an early Boeing 737-200 from Nordair to name just a few. Visit www.thunderbirdmodels to see the full range and we thank Andy Bannister for supplying us with the review samples.
• N.A P-51D Mustang, NZ2427, No.3, Canterbury Squadron, Red /Black checkerboard • N.A NZ2430 of No.4 Otago Squadron Yellow/Blue checkerboard.
CONCLUSION An attractive option for your Tamiya or Zoukei Mura P-51, and as a small bonus 4 squadron Checkerboard is extended so it can also be used on a Kittyhawk N.A Harvard to produce the squadrons hack aircrafthack aircraft. For full details of this range which covers many New Zeland subjects visit Ventura publications web site and we thank them for drawing our attention to their range.
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 323
324-25-Show-580Mod-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:22 Page 324
SHOW REPORT
Believe it or not, this English Electric P.1A (which took the honours in Class 7 Aircraft Vacuum-formed or Scratch-built (Any Scale)) is handmade from wood and included a full cockpit and pilot. It was evidently a close call as a Lightning Mk 53, complete with over wing rocket pods, also in wood, took second place.
The hosts as usual had a varied and eclectic display with some examples of quality modelling. They placed themselves in the ante-room with the competition and our good selves plus others, far from the madding crowd. Their table cloth is class as it has the IPMS logo and branch name stitched into it at regular intervals!
‘I’m Saying Nowt’ SUNDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2015
The IPMS Wakefield & District Huddersfield Show By Geoff Cooper-Smith of 580 Modellers o readers, despite predicting a move of venue for the past two years, would you like to guess where the 2015 show was held? Yes, you guessed, it at the same venue as previously, Huddersfield Sports Centre, Southgate, Huddersfield. Now apparently the new Huddersfield Leisure Centre (a subtle difference that) is on track to be completed in the summer, but bearing in mind that this is all financed by Tesco, so they can build a big new superstore on the current
S
Sports Centre site and that they are having some financial difficulties at present, it’s probably best to say nowt! The ‘580 crew’ turned out in force as usual for this is one of their favourite shows, and have I ever mentioned that 580 Modellers were ‘born’ at Huddersfield? The show this year represented our 7th birthday, which was celebrated in the usual understated style (no honestly, it was).
A clean sweep of Class 3 (Aircraft 1:73 -1:59 (Modified)) was taken by a set of RAF Trainers; 3rd, 1st and 2nd respectively. The Chipmunk was a treasure having had its rivets removed, been re-scribed, provided with a complete scratch-built cockpit and a homemade vac-formed canopy. One of the Provosts is Airfix, the other a CMR resin – have fun deciding which is which!
324 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
Now, at most model shows the hubbub dies down considerably during the mid-afternoon and everyone takes a breather, particularly the traders. Yours truly takes this as a cue to go wandering with the camera, collect some images for this erstwhile column and have a chat with whoever will engage. However, this simply did not happen – the camera says this image was taken at 14:06, the halls being virtually impassable during the morning peak.
324-25-Show-580Mod-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:22 Page 325
SHOW REPORT
Model Show News Compiled by Geoff Cooper-Smith of 580 Modellers 26th (Sunday)
APRIL
MODELKRAFT
11th (Saturday)
(IPMS Milton Keynes/Milton Keynes (Darlington Military Model Society) at Scale Model Club) at Darlington College, Haughton Road, Stantonbury Campus, Milton Keynes, Darlington, DL1 1DR. Doors open at 09.30am Buckinghamshire, MK14 6BN. Doors open at and close at 4.30pm. Admission is £3.50 10am and the show closes at 4pm. Admission adult, £1.50 children (3 to 15 years) and is £5 adult, £3 Senior Citizen, with concessions. There will be refreshments, accompanied children free. There will be a modelling demonstrations, an open competition and refreshments will be available. competition, bring and buy (10% commission For more details go to: www.mksmc.co.uk donated to the Royal British Legion) and ample * See Us At The Show – Come Along to the car parking. For further details go to: SAM Publications Stand www.swordandlance.co.uk/section737245.html
SWORD & LANCE
There are no fewer than 26 classes in the competition with seven of these being for aircraft only, at least one of these being ‘airliner friendly’, so I’ll make no apologies for the number of class winners presented here. This beautifully finished and pristine BMI A319 took the honours in Class 1 (Aircraft smaller than 1:73).
MAY
12th (Sunday)
02nd (Saturday)
SHROPSHIRE MODEL SHOW (Shropshire Scale Modellers in association with IPMS Telford and the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford) at the RAF Museum Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8UP. The model show occurs from 10am to 4pm (the museum closes its doors at 6pm). Admission is free. There will be a caf serving meals, a free park and ride, an open model competition and disabled access. For more details go to: www.shropmodels.org.uk/index_files/Page998 * See Us At The Show – Come Along to the SAM Publications Stand
A little indulgence, if I may! This was your columnist's personal favourite, not just in the competition (it was entered in Class 24 Diorama) but the whole show and depicts a force-landed Russian Mosquito and photographic party.
at Carmarthen Town Library, King Street, Carmarthen, SA31 1LN. From 1030am to 3.30pm. Free admission, wheelchair accessible and homemade refreshments. For more details go to: www.clubbz.com/club/38469/Carmarthen/c armarthenmodellersclub.
02nd (Saturday) to 03rd (Sunday)
SOUTHWEST MODEL AND HOBBY SHOW
at Bath and West Show Ground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6QN. Doors open at 10am and the show closes at 6pm (5pm Sunday). Admission is £15 adult (£13 if purchased in advance on-line), children (under 18th (Saturday) 15) £5, children under 5 free. Two-day tickets POOLE VIKINGS ANNUAL MODEL and family tickets are also available. Includes SHOW all aspects of modelling and miniature at Parkstone Grammar School, Sopers Lane, Poole, Dorset, BH17 7EP. Doors open at 10am engineering. For more details go to: and the show closes at 4.30pm. Admission is www.swmee.co.uk £3 adult, £1.50 children and senior citizens 09th (Saturday) and £7 family. There will be a ‘make and take’, tombola, competition, refreshments and SOUTH DOWNS MODEL GROUP at the Parish Hall, South Street, Lancing, West free car parking. For more details go to: www.myweb.tiscali.co.uk/poolevikings/Show Sussex, BN15 8AJ. Doors open at 10am and the show closes at 4pm. Admission is free (donations welcome). Competition, raffle and 25th (Saturday) to 26th (Sunday) refreshments. For more details go to: THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL SCALE www.lancingmodelshow.org.uk MODEL SHOW at The Dewars Centre, Glover Street, Perth, PH2 0TH. Doors open at 10am and the show closes at 5pm (4pm Sunday). Admission is £8 adult, £4.50 concessions, £15 family (2+2) for one day and £12 adult, £7 concessions, £20 family (2+2) for both days. There is a kit swap, tombola and competition. The show has grown this year to occupy two halls with 45 exhibitors and 25 traders. For more details go to: www.scotnats.org.uk
25th (Saturday)
BRITISH MODEL SOLDIER SOCIETY’S 80TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW at the Holiday Inn, Bloomsbury, Coram Street, London, WC1N 1HT. Doors open at 10.30am (10am for members). Admission is £6, BMSS members £5 with accompanied children free. There will be demonstrations, a ‘paint and take’, and a competition. For more details go to: www.bmssonline.com/annual-show
Around mid-day it looked as if this really might be the last event at the Sports Centre as the fire alarm sounded. At first everyone looked at everyone else as no one was sure whether the alarm was real. However, it was indeed real, necessitating evacuation with suitable encouraging announcements over the Tannoy, and with modellers being modellers this didn’t exactly happen quickly! However, the evacuation was orderly and the alarm was soon over, with the traders naturally being allowed back in first.
CARMARTHEN MODELLERS CLUB EXHIBITION
10th (Sunday)
IPMS GLOUCESTER at Churchdown Community Centre, Parton Road, Churchdown, Gloucestershire, GL3 2JH. Doors open at 10am and the show closes at 4pm. Admission is £3.50 adult, £1.50 children (15 and under) and senior citizens, family £6. This is their 15th show and as usual will have fantastic homemade food, free parking and full wheelchair access. For more details contact Jeff Brown on 01285 659254 (after 7.30pm) or
[email protected].
JUNE 21st ( Sunday)
IPMS WEST NORFOLK at Downham Market Town Hall. Free parking, Doors open 10am. Tombola, traders, competition, Refreshments, Proceeds to West Norfolk Community Transport Charity. Detail at www.westnorfolkipms.co.uk
If you would like your event listing then please contact Geoff Cooper-Smith on 07841 417680 or at
[email protected]. Full details of all coming shows and photo reports on those attended can be obtained by visiting www.580Modellers.co.uk
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 325
326-27-Show-OnTrack-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:22 Page 326
SHOW REPORT
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14TH
On Track Show
at The Lees Cliff Hall in Folkestone
By David Holman and Family he show was its usual affair with a predominant presence of Military vehicles and AFVs, however as has been a regular occurrence over the past few years there was also a wide variety of aviation related subjects on the club
T
326 |
APRIL 2015 •
tables and kits cascading from the trade stands. Highlights this year seem to be a definite First World War theme with a range of aircraft from that era present, with some of the Wingnut Wings products including a wonderful
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
Albatross D.VI, and plenty of the Roden quarter-scale models with both sides of No Man's Land being represented by a S.E.5A and Fokker Triplane. And even the large 1/28 scale Revell Camel made a colourful appearance. amongst the displays. Also, as what appears to be a standard feature on the East Kent Model Club stand each year, was yet another 'Tales from the Fire Dump'. This time a small badger was seen getting a bit of early morning summer shade from a forlorn Indian Jaguar International as seen on the dump at Abingdon. The competition classes had some very interesting models including an excellent diorama in 1/32 scale of a stripped down 'Devil's Sled' the Me 163B in its splendid TK-16 red test colour.
For the kids the ever present Airfix Make'n'Take was there offering a dogfight double of an Albatross and Sopwith Pup as well as a Tiger Mk 1 Tank to keep them busy in the a corner of the display hall. As far as purchasing of kits was concerned it seemed that the new-tooled British World War 2 Turret Fighter from Airfix, the Boulton Paul Defiant, was clearly visible in a number of carrier bags, and on quizzing a few of the customers on what finish they would choose they all seemed to favour that all-black version with that striking shark's mouth. So once again a good show and I am now wondering how many built Shackletons will be on the tables this time next year.
Highlights this year seem to be a definite First World War theme
326-27-Show-OnTrack-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:22 Page 327
SHOW REPORT
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 327
328-37-Reviews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:31 Page 328
REVIEWS
MINIWINGS 1/144
FMA IA-58 “Pucará” By Andy Brook his is a great little kit and bags of fun. It’s just the sort of thing to remove “modeller’s block”, and I can’t recommend it enough. Now I’ve got that off my chest, on with the review proper. To be honest, up to now, I have never had a “soft spot” for the Pucará. En route to the South Atlantic in April 1982, I recall this being the aircraft in the Argentine order of battle, which gave me (if no-one else) considerable concern. Its small size, heavy punch and ability to “bounce” us when close inshore seemed to make it more dangerous than the fast jets, with which I expect I felt our weapons systems were designed to cope. In the end, though, the Pucará posed little threat to the Royal Navy “down South”, and I am happy to look at it in a different light. The Pucará (the Spanish version of the word for “fortress” in Quechua, with the emphasis on the final “a”) was developed in Argentina as a counter-insurgency and ground attack aircraft, and the prototype first flew in 1969. First deliveries were made to the Argentine Air Force in 1976. Designed to operate from rough airstrips, it’s a two-seater, which carries a formidable armament in the nose of two 20mm cannons and four 7.62mm machine guns, and has three hard points underneath for bombs, rockets or fuel. By the time of the Falklands War, about 60 Pucará had been delivered. Ideal for operating from the short airstrips of the Falkland Islands, they were soon forward deployed and took part in operations against the British. Some fell to Sea Harriers and surfaceto-air missiles and a number were destroyed by the SAS on Pebble Island. But it was two Pucará which achieved the only confirmed Argentine air-to-air victory of the conflict, a Westland
T
328 |
APRIL 2015 •
Scout helicopter. After the war, 11 Pucará were captured and six were shipped back to the UK. Two of those captured aircraft are the subject of Miniwing's model: one is at the RAF Museum Cosford and the other at the Imperial War Museum's Duxford site. As it happens, I photographed Duxford's sorry-looking Pucará in June this year. The kit itself is resin, and comprises 31 parts, with a choice of resin or vacuform canopy. All come neatly bagged on four sprues, with a little flash but not much to clean up. The mouldings themselves have a fine level of detail, although the panel lines are a bit deep for the scale. Some parts are very delicate, and my kit had a broken undercarriage and all the propeller blades had broken off their sprue. Instructions are on an A5 sheet, with a simple construction diagram on one side and a colourpainting diagram on the other. Dimensionally, the finished model is spot on in length and wingspan.
CONSTRUCTION This is pretty simple and you can more or less start where you like. I attached the combined wing and nacelle part to the fuselage first. It took a bit of trimming around the rear joint, but fitted snugly. Next on went the buttjointed tailplanes and there was the aircraft! The cockpit interior went in next, with ejector seats and instrument panels, all of which have neat little decals for the detail. I added control sticks for the sake of form. The rest of the construction actually took place after the main painting. It wasn’t much trouble, just awkward because of the size and delicate nature of the parts. I managed to break the forward wheel undercarriage bay doors, but replaced them with plastic card, which is probably more to scale anyway. The load consists of six bombs for the centreline hard point.
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
Photos suggest rocket pods under each wing and a fuel tank under the centre would have been more typical for Falklands War Pucará, but I went with the bombs. The resin canopy didn’t seem to fit over the seats, so I used the very clear vacuform option, although it does seem to be a little too large. The kit is an absolute tail-sitter, as there is nowhere to put sufficient counterweight. Miniwings supplies a length of clear rod to keep the tail up. The options provided are both from Escuadron Pucará-Malvinas, A-528 and A-549, aircraft based on the Falklands. Comparison with the real aircraft and the excellent reference material in AIRFile “Air War over the Falklands” and MAM May 2007 suggest something is amiss. The camouflage patterns aren’t quite right for either aircraft depicted, and the placement of serials and roundels on the wings doesn’t match the references or reality. That said, the Cosford-based A-528 has had a complete repaint and the Duxford-based A-549’s paintwork
has faded away over time. Just check your references. I hand-painted Tamiya Sky and Humbrol Hu118 for the upper surfaces and Humbrol Hu65 for the lower, all of which seemed good matches for the AIRFiles plans. Control surfaces on the rudder and underneath the wings were various metallic shades. The decals went on well, though the “Fuerza Aerea Argentina” decal on the starboard side of the nose curled up on me and I had to extemporise with paint.
A delightful and very enjoyable little model
CONCLUSION And that was it: a delightful and very enjoyable little model. With 1/144, one can have a whole air force on a shelf. The variety of schemes carried by Argentine Pucará in the Falklands War would provide an interesting theme in itself. When you add in Argentine metallic and grey schemes, Colombians, Uruguyans, Sri Lankans and even the RAF, there’s a whole project waiting to be started. How about it, decal manufacturers?
328-37-Reviews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:31 Page 329
REVIEWS
SPECIAL HOBBY 1/48
Fairey Firefly FR Mk 1
“Foreign Post War Service”
By John Bisset KIT NO: SH48151
TECH
STATUS: New PANEL LINES: recessed TYPE: Injection Moulded Plastic PARTS: 177 injection moulded, 6 resin, 2 PE brass DECAL OPTIONS: 4
his model is of the Firefly Mark 1 as used by the Air Arms of several countries in the post war period, including Thailand, Canada, the Netherlands and Ethiopia. Of these attractive possibilities, the one which appealed to me most was that of the Imperial Ethopian Air Force, which for many years successfully operated aircraft passed on from Canada and later from the Netherlands. When I first worked in East Africa in the late Nineteen Sixties, I was told of these aircraft, still in existence and recently retired, which sat by the side of an airfield in Ethiopia. Even then they were relics of another age, and their survival seemed anomalous and surprising. At least two of those same machines survive, one now even flying again in Canada, having finally been rescued from their desert rest. I simply had to build a tribute to these fabled relics.
T
CONSTRUCTION A very finely detailed cockpit is provided, with lots of side panel detail. Some items seemed to me to have been moulded ‘because we can’ rather than because it was strictly necessary to make them separate. I’ve felt that before with Special Hobby kits. Some of the very tiny items are so small it is hard to carve away the sprue connections without damaging or destroying them. Certain parts are very fragile and hard to remove from the sprues intact. Still, this makes for an interestingly busy cockpit. I strongly recommend that as well as using a very
new, sharp scalpel, you remove the small parts with the whole sprue assembly held inside a large box. That reduces the carpet monster losses. You can guess why I know. I did a lot of pre-painting on the sprues because there are many small parts and panel items. That allows a bit of variety, which means detail doesn’t get so easily lost in the dark cockpit areas. The exact positioning of the cockpit assemblies within the fuselage was hard to define, so after some trial and error, I built the cockpit assemblies into the starboard fuselage, and then closed up with the port fuselage side once all the detail was added, painted and touched up. I have been told that the internal details for the rear cockpit are not entirely correct; I left the details as provided since I couldn’t find any information specific to the Ethiopian rear cockpits. It is probable they were simply maintained as provided, but lack of clear evidence justified my laziness. The rear canopy transparencies needed a
little trimming to fit well. They are thin and clear, nicely moulded. The quite complex glazing needs a steady hand for painting; for once I might have appreciated having a mask for that. The front canopy fits well. I did debate trying to cut it, since many Fireflies were flown with it open, but the thinness of the mould worried me. Two canopies are provided, the second looking to be correct for a Mk IV Firefly. I shall try cutting that spare open, ready for my next build. After dry runs suggested it would be easy to end up with wings misaligned on the fuselage, I assembled the lower wing section to the fuselage first, and then added the upper wings. A small amount of gentle filing was needed to get a good fit, but the wing root fit achieved was excellent. The various air and oil intakes and exhausts around the engine cowling needed some filler and sanding to look right. They were obvious candidates for some streaked oil stains later. The tailwheel assembly confused me. One kit drawing showed open tailwheel doors, for which it would be necessary to cut the casting in two along the seam line. Another drawing showed the closed doors, with the tailwheel attached through a hole in them. A bit of study of photographs suggest that some Fireflies had fixed tailwheels. These were some at least of the target tugs and trainers. Most fighter versions had retractable tailwheels, however the doors opened to allow the wheel to extend then close around the leg after extension, presumably to prevent dirt entry and to provide more
If you have any interest in early Fireflies, I’d recommend you opt for this kit
tail clearance on landing. I’d welcome any comment from Firefly experts out there! The earth and middle stone colours recommended by the instructions looked rather dark to me when trialled, so I elected to use Humbrol mid-stone and pale stone with undersurface sky, to simulate the likely weathering and fading of years in the African sun. I debated doing this piecemeal but concluded I was not yet sufficiently skilled. Careful use of an airbrush, graduating the fading, is what I needed. More practice required. The kit instructions and various drawings showed an aerial wire stretching from a stub aerial on top of the engine cowling to an aerial above the rear canopy and then to the top of the tail fin. This appears to be common on many Firefly 1s. A check of photographs showed no forward aerial or wire on any of the Ethiopian Fireflies, so I removed that. I have left the rear aerial wire in place, since I can see it, or the insulators at least, in some photos. Although the instructions suggested the drop tanks should be left off, photographs showed them frequently in place so I added them to make the aircraft look busier. Aligning the quite long cannon barrels on the wings was a challenge, after which some light soot and oil streaking completed the finish.
CONCLUSION This was a kit I greatly enjoyed, though it took longer than I’d hoped. There were some challenges during the build, but the quality of the detail made it well worthwhile. If you have any interest in early Fireflies, I’d recommend you opt for this kit. The dusts of East Africa may seem an odd place to find a naval fighter-bomber, so it makes a fine conversation piece.
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 329
328-37-Reviews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:31 Page 330
REVIEWS
REVELL 1/144
Airbus A400M “Atlas” By Andy McCabe THE KIT he Airbus A400M Atlas is the newest large Military Transport Aircraft. The aircraft is a collaboration of 8 nations and is being assembled at the EADS assembly plant in Seville, Spain, the assembly began in the first quarter of 2007 but subsequent delays meant that the roll out of the first prototype did not occur until 2009 with the first flight being performed from Seville on the 11th December 2009. The A400M has so far been ordered by 8 countries including the UK (for 22 aircraft), and the order total currently stands (at the time of writing) at 174 aircraft with 11 currently built. The A400M is powered by 4 × Europrop TP400-D6 turboprop engines each producing 11,060 hp coupled to a Ratier Figeac/Hamilton Sundstrand FH386, 8-bladed propeller delivering 11,000 SHP. When in service the A400M will be capable of transporting 116 fully equipped troops, or 66 stretchers and 25 medical personnel or 37,000kg of payload. Interestingly the A400M also features contra-rotating inner and outer propellers on each wing and apparently
T
it is the first aircraft to feature such a configuration which improves the airflow over the wing and improves the lift characteristics along with other benefits. The Revell 1/72 kit of the A400M is huge; this scaled down 1/144 version comes in a box containing 6 sprues of grey and one clear sprue of injection moulded plastic, one decal sheet and one instruction booklet. Paint references are as usual for Revell's own range; it would be nice to see a few more references such as FS etc
alongside these. The parts are very nicely moulded with fine engraved panel lines, the decals are up to Revell's high standard and the instruction booklet follows their customary style with paint call-outs given throughout the build where and when necessary.
CONSTRUCTION The build begins by painting and assembling the cargo bay floor and Loadmaster station and cockpit steps; there are no raised details to the Loadmaster station nor is there a decal supplied. Construction moves on to the cockpit and crew rest area, the main instrument and centre/side panels have no raised detail, a decal is shown on the instructions for the main instrument panel but I could not find it on the decal sheet. It is worthwhile spending a bit of time painting and detailing this area as the cockpit windows are quite large and the detail can be seen, but the same cannot be said for the crew rest beds as these are totally hidden when the fuselage halves are joined together. The cockpit assembly now joins to the cargo bay floor assembly and the two inner cargo bay sidewalls are painted and fitted to it. The detail on these sidewalls is fairly basic which seeing as it is mostly hidden in the cavernous interior is not too big a problem. The main fuselage halves have clear parts for the side windows, though I left these out to be filled with Micro Kristal Klear later on. The model can be made with either the cargo ramp up or
down; if down then the two tail ramp parts have to be cut from their respective parts before the fuselage assembly is commenced. The nose wheel well was fitted to one of the fuselage halves and then the interior assembly was glued into one of the fuselage halves. 40g of weight can be added to the nose if you wish but if you are displaying the model with the cargo ramp down then there is no need as the ramp and rams hold the fuselage level. The two fuselage halves were glued together, remembering to insert the rear upward opening cargo bay door before gluing the rear of the fuselage together as it would be very difficult to do it afterwards. The main landing gear bay was now built and the main landing gear struts fitted. The wings are next, the upper wing is one part that spans across the fuselage to which the two underside surfaces are glued, this assembly then slots onto the fuselage by means of two stepped joints on the fore and aft sections of the centre wing section. The flap and aileron actuators were now assembled, cleaned up and fitted to the wings. The tail was assembled and glued to the fuselage, the joint of the tail to the fuselage was excellent having a very positive location by means of two slots in the fuselage and two slats inside the tail that slot into each other,. The engines were next, each engine nicely detailed with front and rear blades and an intake duct that fits into two engine casings; this assembly then fits into the two engine fairing parts to which the intake and propeller mount
The parts are very nicely moulded with fine engraved panel lines
330 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
328-37-Reviews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:31 Page 331
REVIEWS fit. The fit of the parts is excellent and no filler was needed on any of the four engine assemblies. The rear cargo bay ramp and upper door were temporarily fixed into position using Maskol and after masking off the canopy, I was now ready to apply a coat of primer. After priming a few gaps had to be dealt with and the numerous antennae and aerials along the top and underside of the fuselage and also the refuelling probe were fitted and another coat of primer was applied. The model was now ready for the main paint scheme to be applied: finding the correct shade of grey for the RAF aircraft was a task, and in the end I chose FS36314 Overall Grey, which is pretty close. I now applied the decals, and although the decals supplied in this kit are nice I chose to make my own for the RAF A400M that has recently been named as the City of Bristol. After the decals were dry I assembled the undercarriage which was fitted along with the gear bay doors, crew access door, navigation lights and rear cargo bay door. There are two sets of propellers included: one set is feathered as they were when the aircraft was on the ground at RIAT 2010 and for that reason this is the set I used. These really finish the model off but be careful
as the two inner sets are different to the outer ones, the outer and inner ones on each wing contra-rotate. •
WWMZ, 2013 Airbus A400M, c/n 0008, F-RBAB “Ville de Toulouse” French Air Force, 2014.
larger counterpart, but considerably smaller and much easier to display. The fit of the parts is as good as the larger model and is still impressive even in this smaller scale. If you want a model of the A400M but do not have the space or the budget for the larger 1/72 scale version, then this is definitely the one to get. Highly recommended.
COLOUR OPTIONS 3 decal options are supplied with the kit: • Airbus A400M,c/n 0018, 54+01 German Air Force, Luft Transport Geschwader 62, 2014 Wunstorf. • Airbus A400M “Atlas”, c/n 0006, F-
CONCLUSION Anyone that purchased the 1/72 scale A400 from Revell would recognise the sprue layout on this smaller version of it. This kit is every bit as good as its
A wide range of military model kits, paints, sprays and accessories available! This is just a small selection from the ranges we offer! Please buy from your local stockist whenever possible. You can find them, and view all of our products at: www.expotools.com TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOMED.
www.expotools.com
In case of difficulty obtaining items you can order direct on our website. 74464
£17.40
Permagrit Contour Sanding Block
70240
£9.95
Permagrit offer a wide range of abrasive tools coated with super tough Tungsten Carbide which lasts for years and enables the user to cut, sand & quickly. A large range of Permagrit available at; www.expotools.com
74365
New!
£9.95
75070
£9.95
Expo 2015 Catalogue - 132 pages in full colour!
Free to all readers:
Supplying Quality Model Products since 1981 Catalogue Free with any Purchase
Pin Vice with Micro 3 Jaw Chuck
75090
£8.95
EXPO 2015 CATALOGUE 1000's of New Products Inside! HUMBROL
®
MODE LMATES
Precision metals for craft, hobby & industry
Hundreds of Innovative Tools inside!
The EXPO 2015 Catalogue is now Available. To order your free copy please visit:
www.expotools.com Modelmakers Flexible File Set
Hand Held Mitre Guillotine
Miniature Precision Hand Drill
This is just a small selection of the fantastic range we have to offer. To view all of our products please visit www.expotools.com (Please note we can now accept orders from North America)
G Force - radio control accessories A vast range of G Force radio control accessories available through Expo Tools. A few examples can be seen to the right.
GF2131001 GF1131001 Switch Harness Steering arm “single” Universal Futaba - 33mm ø4mm (1pc) Price: £3.11 JR Price: £3.11
GF2108001 Micro Clevis (5pcs) Price: £2.00
GF1060002 2.0mm gold connector, male, silicon wire 20AWG, 10cm Price: £2.15
1000's of Model Kits, Accessories and Tools Available Inside!
www.expotools.com
or get one from your local stockist.
Albion Alloys Precision Metals for the Creative Model Maker
A vast range of Albion Alloys products available through Expo Tools. To view the full range and ¿nd your local stockist please visit www.expotools.com
328-37-Reviews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:31 Page 332
REVIEWS
REVELL 1/24
Bell Huey UH-1B By Angelo Picardo his kit dates back to 1969, according to the date stamped on various parts of the kit, about the time the type was seen on the news most nights. Inside the box are nine sprues moulded in dark green, silver, clear plastic and soft vinyl. There is quite a bit of flash, and ejector pin marks are found on numerous visible parts. The size of the parts, especially the fuselage and main rotor blades, is impressive. Surface detail is a mixture of raised and engraved panel lines with restrained, raised rivet detail. The plastic is very hard and brittle, and features a very fine, shiny finish. The instruction booklet has forty-seven assembly stages, with a painting and decaling guide for two schemes, and all of the paint guides refer to Revell’s own paints.
T
CONSTRUCTION We start construction with the interior, which is a reasonable replica of the original. The floor has a nice non-slip surface, and the rear wall features the quilted soundproof material. For the main instrument panel, you get a decal, but the central switch console features raised detail. There are a number of instrumentation boxes behind the instrument panel and the flight controls have some nice details moulded on them. The pilots’ seats have the shoulder harnesses only moulded in situ, and each seat also has four large ejector pin marks on them to remove. The roof of the crew compartment is an open framework, possibly what you would see if the skin panels were removed, and there is no overhead switch console. Revell recommend that a weight of at least 35g be added into the void of the central console, which I did using lead shot. The whole interior assembles very quickly with no fuss at all and the fit of
Surface detail is a mixture of raised and engraved panel lines
332 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
the parts is very good and forms a nice rigid structure. A reasonable engine and transmission is included, but most of this will be hidden as none of the access panels are separate. (I believe the original issue of the kit featured clear fuselage halves.) The instructions show the main rotor being fitted prior to the engine being fitted into the body. As this is a fairly large piece, it would no doubt get in the way during the rest of the build, so I left it off until the end of assembly. The interior module fits neatly between the fuselage halves, and the whole thing comes together with no problems and no filler being needed. One thing to note is that as the instructions show, the clear parts are to be fitted before the fuselage comes together, being put into their position from inside the body. The rest of the assembly stages are for the adding of the skids, doors,
external fixtures and armaments. The weapons are two rocket pods, and four M60 machine guns; there are some sink marks on the rocket pod face, which are hard to fill, but otherwise there are no problems here. The ammunition feed chutes for the machine guns are moulded in a very soft vinyl, they need some injector pins removing, but are free from flash. The vinyl parts don’t take paint at all well so I fitted them in place first, then painted them, otherwise you’ll just rub the paint off as you handle them while fitting them into place, especially as it is a very tight fit where you feed them through the fuselage opening and into their ammunition boxes. Two colour schemes are included, both are for machine that served in the Vietnam War. One is United States Army, which is olive drab with white fuselage and tail panels, and features an impressive shark mouth around the front of the helicopter. The second scheme is a US Marine
328-37-Reviews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:31 Page 333
REVIEWS
CONCLUSION Corps aircraft, again in olive drab, but with a red tail boom, and full colour stars and bars decal; I went for the colourful USMC scheme. Humbrol enamels were used for the paint scheme, and weathering effects along with various oil washes. The decals are very well printed; the colour density is good, even though the decals are thin. They are reluctant to move once in place, but they do settle down very well over the surface detail.
Despite the age of the kit there were very few, if any problems with the build. The fit of the parts is very good and I didn’t need any filler at all. There is a fair amount of flash, and a lot of clean-up of mould separation lines is needed, but the kit builds into an impressive sized model with no real fuss or dramas. It is an ideal kit for a new modeller, and I am sure we are going to see some examples where the modeller will go to town super detailing the whole model. Very highly recommended. Our thanks to Revell for supplying the review samples. The kit is available from many toy and hobby retailers. For more info visit www.revell.de/en
The kit builds into an impressive sized model
$YLD%
Aircraft profiles from Publications MBI Focke-Wulf Fw 189 £6.50 Republic P-47 Thunderbolt at £7.40 Polikarpov U-2 / Po-2 at £10.50 Avia B-35 / B-135 at £10.90 Northrop P-61 Black Widow / Lavochkin La-7 (re-print) at £10.90 F-15 Reporter at £10.90 Lavochkin La-5 at £14.50 Heinkel He 162 Spatz (Volksjäger) at £ 13.90 (re-print) Avia B-534 Czechoslovak Fighter 3rd and 4th Version at £ 15.90
6((2851(:3$*(61(:(6+23 %ORFK0%
.L,,.DL
$PEURVLQL6$,
(Latest modelFILE profile 73 pages packed full of photos, aircraft manual extracts, detail drawings and colour artwork for this iconic Czechoslovak pre-war biplane fighter aircraft. All MBI profiles have full text in Czech and English)
The Airports of Prague – hardback, bilingual, historical and photographic record Vol. 1 1918 to 1946 at £21.00
Vol. 2 1947 to 2000 at £24.50
Vol.3 2001 to 2005 at £26.20
Czech-Six Publications – the authorised UK distributor for Publications MBI
Send cheques only please with order, (add £ 0.60 per book for Post and Packaging, overseas rates on request, plus option of PayPal), made payable to Czech-Six Publications, to:
17 Goodwyns Place, Tower Hill, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 2AW Telephone 01306 889584
www.czechsixpublications.com
FREIGHTDOG MODELS
Freightdog Models, Fairlight, Sandy Lane, Crawley Down, Crawley, RH10 4HX, United Kingdom
APRIL NEW 1/72 RESIN RELEASES • Supermarine Swift F.1, F.2, F.4 and F.7 conversion sets with decals (for new Airfix FR.5 kit) • Westland Wessex/UH-34 fuselage length correction set (for Italeri kit) • HP Halifax BP raised turret fairing (for Revell kit) • Kayara Katsuodori Fighter Ram Jet intake correction (for MENG kit)
See website for more details or search for us on facebook
Tel + 44(0) 1342 716004 or 44 (0) 7545 642265 email:
[email protected]
www.freightdogmodels.co.uk
')6&
328-37-Reviews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:31 Page 334
REVIEWS
HOBBYBOSS 1/48
F4U-7 Corsair be too much of an issue. In effect, a roundel and the port rudder came ready weathered!
By Andy Brook Moi, j’adore le Corsair français. C’est un avion vraiment magnifique. Malheureusement, cette maquette n’est pas si magnifique. Les ailes sont terribles. but more of that later. s usual, HobbyBoss’s heavyduty box provides more than adequate protection for the parts within. The 12 sprues (11 grey and one clear) are all individually bagged, and some have extra foam protection. HobbyBoss has taken its standard F4U kit and added some new sprues for the -7. In particular, HobbyBoss has correctly kitted the F4U-7’s distinctive cowling, which mixes the chubby cheeks of the F4U-5 with the double chin of the F4U-4. Plus the new wings have the two cannon stubs and five hard points inherited from the F4U-6/AU-1. Alors, les ailes. HobbyBoss has made a major faux pas here: the wings are truly terrible. It’s not insurmountable but the wings have obvious corrugations to replicate fabric covering. Fine for early Corsairs, but not for the F4U-5, AU-1 or F4U-7 marks, all of which had metal wings. Instructions are an eight-page A4sized sheet and a separate full colour sheet for the painting and decaling. Paint call-outs are for Mr Hobby, Vallejo, Model Master, Tamiya and Humbrol, though not all for all colours required. My decal sheet, though, had stuck itself to the back of the instructions, so was slightly damaged. This didn’t turn out to
A
CONSTRUCTION The cockpit is well detailed, sidewalls are provided and the representation of the main instrument panel (for which a decal is provided) looks to be accurate. What isn’t accurate, though, is the pilot’s seat. HobbyBoss has left unchanged the early Corsairs’ rather basic “bucket with a metal back”, whereas the later versions had a proper seat. Using the Warpaint series book as a guide, I did a little scratch building to modify the kit part with some plastic card sides and back, and added seat belts from pliable metal. Painted and weathered, the completed item very much looks the part. The 15-part engine is also pretty impressive. Learning from my experience with the F4U-4B, I managed to get the right bits of pipework in the right places without too much difficulty (moral: take your time). It looks like HobbyBoss has engineered the pipework well for the different marks of the F4U series. That might mean that the main parts make up to a generic engine. I’m not such an expert to be able to say whether the kit has the correct engine for this mark. It looks good, though. The instructions then take the modeller to the central wing section. This permits the option of folded or spread wings, as internal bulkheads are provided. Wheel wells are ribbed but without any other detail: wiring could be added if you wish. At this stage, I decided to jump ahead and complete the wings. I had decided to model my F4U-7 with spread wings and wanted
The cockpit is well detailed, sidewalls are provided
to see how the joint would work. This is where the hard work on this kit began. As noted before, the parts erroneously depict fabric outer wing panels, so I got out the sanding papers and rubbed down the ribbing until I achieved a smooth surface. This didn’t take too long, and, although a little rescribing was required, it wasn’t too much of a hardship. I then completed the outer wing assemblies. Again learning from the F4U-4B, I inserted some plastic card patches inside the upper wings to which I could stick the fiddly five-part gun access panels. The outer wings themselves fitted very well to the central section, which is a testament to some fine engineering. Admittedly I used super glue and a little bit of filler, but the joint is almost perfect. I chose to model the kit with all flaps lowered: easy enough to do but you will need to trim off the hinges. Engine, cockpit and tailwheel subassembly are all held together by the fuselage halves. The cowling and rudder and elevators complete the main part of the build. Do remove the aerial stub mast from the top of the rudder, which wasn’t fitted to later Corsairs. After that, it’s on to the undercarriage (sturdy and a good representation with the correct wheels and tyres), aerials and stores. I replaced the pole aerials and pitot with metal needles and the cannon barrels with metal pipe. HobbyBoss only provides two large fuel tanks and no missiles to go on the 10 pylons. For a different look, I just fitted
the starboard tank, taking my cue from a photo of F4U-7s taking off from the Arromanches. The very clear canopies fitted well. Two options are provided in the basic US Glossy Sea Blue finish. The more colourful is that depicted on the box top. It’s Bu.No. 133699, aircraft 17 from Flottille 15 with striking yellow and black Suez recognition stripes. Without stripes is Bu.No. 133657, aircraft 12 of Flottille 14. Both schemes are very similar to those kitted by other manufacturers, which is a pity. The later Aéronavale marking scheme (with large numbers on the outer wings, more like the US Navy’s or Marines’) would be an interesting alternative. I went for the less chic option and decided to try to replicate the frequently well-worn appearance of French Corsairs. I sprayed some aluminium on the wings and front fuselage, before applying Humbrol Midnight Blue. Once the blue had dried, I gently rubbed it away to reveal the aluminium below. The trick is not to rub too vigorously and to know when to stop. I then scuffed leading edges and highlighted panel lines with a metallic pencil. Tamiya weathering powders were used to represent the heavy exhaust staining over the wings. I also painted one wheel hub midnight blue and one aluminium. Photos suggest both were common, so I decided one of each wouldn’t have been out of place on a busy aircraft carrier. As usual, HobbyBoss doesn’t provide any stencils, other than for the propeller blades. The decals go on very well, and the roundel white holds its intensity over the dark blue. Even the decals for the rudder went on without too much trouble, though I had to cut around and touch up the trim tab on the port side. I added the number 12 for the forward undercarriage doors from decal stock, and put a circle of black decal behind Flottille 14’s pirate skull emblem on the tail, which seemed to be more authentic. I also painted the arrestor hook rather than using the supplied decals.
CONCLUSION I enjoyed this kit. It’s very far from perfect, but with a modicum of effort, can be made into a very pleasing model of the last of the Corsair line. Merci beaucoup, M. HobbyBoss.
334 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
328-37-Reviews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:31 Page 335
REVIEWS
REVELL 1/144
MiG 1.44 MFI “Flatpack” By Adam Rehorn hen the time came for the Soviet military to decide on aircraft to compete against the American and European “5th Generation” fighters, they ended up doing what America did with the ATF program; they had a competitive build and fly off. Or at least, they were going to. Sukhoi built their radical forwardswept-wing (FSW) S-37 Berkut as a technology demonstrator. This futuristiclooking plane looked like it was a prototype for a fully-fleshed out fighter, but that wasn’t the case. As time wore on, it became obvious that the bureau was using it as a publicity tool to get people interested in Sukhoi technology (like Chevy using Corvettes to draw in Cruze buyers). MiG, on the other hand, was a bit behind in the game. They had lost favour with the government, due to Sukhoi Management’s adept political manoeuvring, and were doing poorly on the export market. However, MiG rose to the challenge and created an aircraft called the 1.44. This was an offshoot of an earlier project called the 1.42, but tailored to the new contest in which MiG found itself competing. The 1.44 was, for a MiG, a very large aircraft. It was clearly advanced in approach, being something of a stylistic and aerodynamic mashup of the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Rafale and even the illfated IAI Lavi. With blended curves and sleek lines, the 1.44 certainly also looked the part of something from which a new fighter could sprout, fully formed. Unfortunately, the economic climate in the former Soviet Union was not conducive to the purchase of new fighters at the time, and MiG, being far more cash strapped, made only a few flights in the 1.44 before it was packed away into a hangar, covered with a tarp and left to collect dust. Still, its futuristically aggressive shape, a blend of typical Russian forcefulness and an aerodynamicist’s key-eyed calculations, immediately caught the collective attention of the aviation world. As a result, there have been a few kits of this unfortunately stillborn future fighter. Zvezda makes one in 1/72 (also reboxed by Revell Germany) and Revell Germany made one in 1/144
W
The MiG 1.44’s similarity to what would have been its contemporaries continues in side elevation. The large ventral intake actually curves up a bit towards the rear, adding an odd bulkiness to the mid-fuselage section. You can see the change from the light beigebrown pastels on the upper surface panel lines to the light blue pastels on the undersides right at the colour demarcation. Pastels make post-shading very easy to control.
The fit’s good but not perfect. The fuselage has a bit of warp to it, clearly seen here. Thankfully, there’s no axial twist, and this small separation is easily dealt with by just gluing one end and then waiting for it to dry before gluing the other. Here you can see the “cockpit tub” in place in the nose of the 'Flatpack'. The decal instrument panel isn’t terrible, especially considering the scale, but the rest of the detail isn’t too great. Notice all the shot I’ve put in there. I definitely don’t want a tail sitter, and there’s no way to get more shot in later. Better safe than sorry!
THE KIT The MiG 1.44 is a typical Revell Germany kit. There is a lot of fine detail on the parts, and there’s no flash to be found anywhere. The kit comes on a couple of sprues of grey-beige plastic, with one very small clear sprue for the cockpit canopy. The colour is amazingly close to the actual tawny colour of the MiG! The canopy looks nice, although it is tiny. The frame lines are not very distinct, but they are distinct enough that there is a good guide for reetching the frames prior to masking. There’s a job I didn’t want: re-etching lines in 1/144 canopies! You have the option of building the very fragile-looking landing gear raised or lowered, but there’s no such option for the canopy. It’s in one-piece and it’s designed to be displayed closed. Interior detail is passable and the seat has belts moulded into it. There’s a control stick, and a bit of “armrest” detail on the side consoles. The instructions are typical Revell
The 1.44 was, for a MiG, a very large aircraft
The kit’s intake is not very deep, as you can see here. Painting the “wall” flat black to simulate a hole is the easiest thing to do. At this scale, it’s unlikely most people will notice anyway.
Germany. They are printed on a nonetoo-sturdy feeling, almost newsprint paper and they open like a book. Revell Germany kit instructions always seem to lack precision. They have an almost hand-drawn feel to them. Looking at them, they’re clearly not that bad, but when you compare them to instructions from other makers, they just feel cheap. Thankfully, with such a small plane (and with there being no options for equipment fit), you won’t have to deal with the booklet for long! Building the MiG 1.44 One interesting feature of this model that struck me immediately was that the fuselage was split horizontally, not vertically. Normally this is only seen on planes with variable geometry “swing wings” like Tomcats, Tornados and
The gear doors on the MiG 1.44 come joined, intended for a “wheels up“ display. Unlike some kits, that give you two sets of doors, Revell Germany does not. A photoetch saw, like the one shown, is best for cutting the doors apart if you intend to build this bird wheels down.
Fencers. However, because the 1.44 is so pancake-like in its geometry, the “sandwich split” (as I call it) makes more sense. This is also nice because it puts the seams right along the ‘bulge’ of the fuselage, making sanding much easier than for a traditionally verticallysplit plane. It makes installing the cockpit easier too, since you can get everything placed and just drop the upper fuselage over it; there are far fewer alignment problems this way than with the other geometry, I’ve found. Mind you, on this model there isn’t a whole-lot of cockpit to begin with. The main instrument panel is a separate piece, but has no detail on it. This is because Revell opted to go the “decal route” in this case. With the “dashboard” painted an appropriate colour, the clear decal gives an
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 335
328-37-Reviews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:32 Page 336
REVIEWS
From this angle, the very “European” canard layout is apparent. There is a similarity from this angle between the MiG 1.44 and the TKF-90 concept that led to the EFA and Eurofighter Typhoon. There are elements of stealth, but it is not as overriding a concern to the MiG engineers as it is to those at Lockheed, it would seem.
Close, but no cigar! The canard fairings don’t quite fit on the way they’re supposed to. There’s more gap at the top of the fairings than on the underside. This requires either putty, or extra glue/plastic melting to correct. It looks like a mess now, but things cleaned up just fine with a bit of sandpaper and some needle files.
immediately-realized instrument panel, complete with MFDS, buttons, etc. This is very effective in this scale, although I think it’s a cop out on larger kits. Now, as for the appropriate colour, I had a paint that was made up of some Model Master Acrylic (MMA) Gloss Green and GM Engine Block Blue (and some white and yellow, for that matter) just for this occasion, and it worked perfectly. I gave it a wash with some Citadel washes (Baddab Black and Devlan Mud) to bring out the details, and then drybrushed some silver on there to give it a scratched up appearance. Since the 1.44 is now stored outdoors, I don’t figure that they took a lot of care to preserve the cockpit paint. The MiG 1.44 is one of those planes that, when looking at it, seems like it will want to tip over. Most of the body seems to be behind the main gear, and that includes the engines. Well, the tricks of 1:1 engineering don’t always translate to models, and thus this little plane wants to be a tail sitter. To correct this, I used some lead birdshot in the nose. Because the nose is so flat and broad, I just piled up some shot and CA’ed them in place in front of the cockpit tub. It’s important not to go too crazy; after all, the gear is not that large or strong looking, so too much weight is just asking for disaster! One issue I ran into building this model is that the body halves don’t
336 |
APRIL 2015 •
Here you can see the three separate landing gear doors on the main gear bay, and the two for the front gear. The doors are a bit thick, but given the small scale it’s understandable. The fit of the gear doors is surprisingly good; cutting them apart is really the only challenge.
quite fit together. They seemed to be warped. If the nose was joined, the tail was split, and vice versa. So, to keep things together, I just glued the nose and left it overnight until it was good and solid. Then I held the back end together while I glued it with some Ambroid ProWeld, and all was fine. Another issue that was fit-related concerns the canard actuators/attachment fairings. These are NOT moulded into the kit; they have to be added on afterwards. However, the fit of these is approximate at best, and I had to use some excess glue to get them to “melt” appropriately into place. I think the fit issue was due to the fact that the contours on the fairings weren’t quite right, so there were more gaps than I’m sure were intended. Once the canard fairings were sanded into place, and the fine detail rescribed, everything looked fine. The only other major sub-assembly that posed any issue was the forward intake trunk. It’s no surprise that this kit doesn’t have full engine detail, and there isn’t even a compressor face in the intake ducting. Heck, there isn’t even ducting! Instead, about 1” back from the intake openings is a wall. This was painted black, to simulate “holes”. The forward intake box was then painted light blue inside, and attached. Attaching this part was tricky, since there weren’t any locating pins on it, and alignment to the rest of the fuselage is critical. Sanding it once in place also requires care; the deployed landing
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
The broad fuselage and semi-blended wings/canards give the 1.44 a very wide appearance. From this angle, you can see the detailing on the inside of the engines. I would have painted them metallic on a 1/72, but in this small scale, I couldn’t get in to do this. The Radome Tan engine liners are like what’s seen on the real thing; it may look odd, but it is correct.
lights are close to the seam. Thankfully, the fit was quite good, and only minimal sanding was required. The wings, fins, control surface actuators and engines of the model fit on very well. Sadly, Revell Germany is an adherent to the “cut your own doors” school of thought, so putting on the gear doors was less fun. The doors need to be separated using a very, VERY sharp knife, or, much better than that, a photo-etch Razor Saw. If you have one of those, the gear doors are no problem. If you don’t; go get a set of them. You’ll wonder how you survived without them! Once the doors are separated, they can be painted light blue on the outside and grey-black on the inside, and attached to the kit once everything else is done. Overall, the fit of this little model is very good, but sanding requires a careful hand due to the fineness of the etched-in detail. Alignment of the main flying and control surfaces is a bit dodgy too; being such a small kit means there’s not a lot of room for alignment pins. Ensuring the wings, canards and tail fins are aligned is a big, but ultimately rewarding, job. Painting and Decalling: Unless you want to do your MiG 1.44 as a “what if”, and you’d certainly be forgiven for leaning that way, there isn’t a whole lot in the way of colour schemes to choose from. There was only one scheme ever worn by this plane, and that’s a strange tawny concrete grey/beige on top and light blue on the bottom. To get the right colours, I went to my paint stash and started mixing. There’s no available colour I had on hand to get the colours I wanted. For the “topside taupe” I used a bit of MMA Olive Drab, Light Grey and Dark Tan. For the underside, I used Flat White, GM Engine Blue and Light Grey. Of course, I ended up mixing FAR more paint than necessary, but when your kit is this small, that’s bound to happen. I airbrushed the underside first, and then masked it with Tamiya Tape and a clear bag. I then shot the topside with the “buff” colour. I was very pleased to see
that, upon unmasking, I only had very few runs, and thanks to my using Testors MMA colours, touching these up by hand was extremely easy. The MMAs don’t change colour when airbrushed, unlike Tamiyas and Gunzes, I’ve found. I then painted the nose radome, tail radomes and the fin- and wing-tip dielectric panels in MMA Marine Corps Green, which matched the colours I’d seen. The engines were hand-painted using MMA Jet Exhaust on the outside, with Radome Tan on the inside. Yes, this may sound odd, but it simulates that “new engine” look very well. Surprisingly, the engines do have some nice detail in the back of them, and I used the Baddab Black wash to bring this out. The “cans” are too deep to get into easily and paint the detail a metal colour but the wash did tint things well enough. Gluing the engines and gear on was simple. Once the kit was complete, I applied a light coat of Future using my airbrush. The kit was sanded using fine wet-dry sandpaper (about 1000 worked fine) and then it was time for decalling. Again, due to the fact that there’s only one of these birds, the decals aren’t going to overwhelm you with choice! You get some Russian stars, the “Blue 01” code for the intakes, a couple of warning decals for the gear doors and the MiG and MAPO callouts on the nose. It may not seem like much, but at 1/144, this is plenty. Once the decals were on and overcoated with Future to ensure they stayed on the plane, it was time to highlight the panel lines. Lately, I’ve been using pencil first to highlight the lines, and then I’ve been post-shading using pastels. However, this is a very stark treatment, and I was sure it would be too much in this small scale. Therefore, I only used pastels, and only applied them in a very thin band around the recessed panel lines. I customground chalk pastels to highlight both the buff and blue paints, and then applied them using Tamiya Extra Small
this little MiG is a great kit to have in your stash!
328-37-Reviews-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:32 Page 337
REVIEWS Craft Swabs. These have quite a point on them when new, and allowed me to keep the pastelling lines nice and tight. The end result was somewhere between a panel line wash and post-shading, but it worked great. The gear legs and wheels were black washed with Baddab Black, and to highlight the nicely sculpted “turkey feathers” on the engines. Once the pastels were nailed down using another coat of Future, the entire kit was flat coated using Delta Ceramcoat Indoor/Outdoor Matte Urethane Varnish. To this I added a few millilitres of Future so that the final result was a semi-gloss finish.
CONCLUSION The MiG 1.44 never got a chance to strut its stuff, but it’s still a popular subject because of its striking yet nottoo-radical design. This little model is a nice testament to the engineers and technicians at MiG who persevered against bad odds to create a new generation of Soviet fighters. This particular model has just the right amount of detail for its size, and the final product is one that looks every inch the thoroughbred MiG was going for. It’s not as simple a kit to build as it may look, though. While the piece count isn’t that high, care is still needed in building and assembling the kit. Like most 1/144 kits, I wouldn’t
recommend this to someone new to modelling, or used to the larger scales, but for someone who’s played around in 1/72, this kit will not present any real problems. It is a shame that there aren’t any missiles for the underfuselage bays, but the real 1.44 didn’t get a chance to carry any, so at least in this case the lack of weapons is accurate. Interestingly enough, the NATO reporting name for this plane is “Flatpack”. The reason, apparently, is because the plane was also known as the “MFI” in Russia (which roughly translates to Multifunctional Frontal Fighter). In the UK, there used to be a chain of Ikea-like stores that sold prefab furniture in flat-packs; the name of this store was “MFI”. It was also not financially successful, so it appears that the good folks at NATO had a chance to poke the bear (literally and figuratively) with their naming choice on this one. If you’re into prototypes, Russian planes, the Cold War or What Ifs, this little MiG is a great kit to have in your stash! Mind you, it looks even better on a shelf beside other planes in the same scale so, if you can find one, I suggest busting it out and getting your own 5th Generation Fighter Museum under way! Our thanks to Revell for supplying the review samples. Kits are available from many toy and hobby retailers. For more info visit www.revell.de/en
1/32 scale WWI pilots for Roden & WingNut Wings:
As seen in front of his Fokker Eindecker… MC32022 Oswald Boelcke $22.50 USD
1/12 scale Busts MC12B07 Walter Von BulowBothkamp Includes alternate bare head $27.50 USD
THE
Model Cellar
PLEASE NOTE: all our figures and accessories are unassembled and unpainted
To place an order and to see more please visit our website:
www.ModelCellar.com
On a model of this scale, using both pencil and pastel on the panel lines would have been overkill. Thus, I opted to use just the pastels to get a finely-controlled post shading effect. The only washes are on the engines and landing gear.
I told you it was big for a MiG! This view of the Revell MiG 1.44 beside the Trumpeter Su-34, both in 1/144, gives you an impression of just how big the MiG really is.
338-39-ExReview-SEM-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:26 Page 338
REVIEWS
REVIEW
KIT 2 – IMAM RO.63
special!
SEM MODELS 1/72
A New Italian Kit Company By Chris Busbridge INTRODUCTION EM Models is a new Italian kit company set up by Fabrizio Catalano. They specialize in producing limited-run 1/72 resin kits of lesser-known Italian aircraft that would not normally be covered by other kit companies. This is good news for modellers such as myself who are always looking to add these types of aircraft to their collection. All SEM Models kits come in a generously proportioned, sturdy topopening cardboard box; with a laser printed box-art glued on to act as a tamper-proof seal… a common practice by small-scale manufacturers. All kit parts are carefully packaged in selfsealing bags. The canopies are vacuum formed and instructions are supplied in both printed and CD form (in most cases). Each box also contains a dust mask, a pair of surgical style gloves and a warning about the dangers of inhaling resin dust, which is a first for me! All parts have a definite hand-made ‘garage’ feel, with pouring blocks and the occasional air bubble evident, which is to be expected. What is surprising is the variety of resin types used across the range. It’s almost as if SEM Models can’t quite decide what is the best one to use.
S
KIT 1 – AERFER SAGITTARIO II Their first release is a 1/72-resin kit of the Aerfer Sagittario II. This was a prototype jet, designed by ing. S. Stefanutti, that was to be Italy’s first indigenous aircraft to go supersonic. Inspection of the rather soft pale grey resin parts suggests a very close resemblance to the Dujin kit, which has been OOP for a while now. The shape and dimensions of the model are pretty much spot on. The cockpit consists of nicely detailed tub, ejector seat & instrument panel. Where the model suffers is the quality and level of detail elsewhere. There is minimal engraved surface detail on the fuselage and rather deep inaccurate engraving on the wings. The fuselage halves have very prominent, over-scale wing fillets, gun trough covers and elevator hinges. These are best removed or at least sanded back. As the main undercarriage doors were normally shut when parked, the detail free fuselage wheel-well area can be closed off. The speed brakes can also be closed too as there is no detail here either. The exhaust detail is a bit messy but this area can be ground out and replaced with tube stock to get a better look. The undercarriage parts are cast in a very hard white metal and should be replaced, as detail is poor and they look nothing like the actual units. The Supermodels Macchi MB.326 undercarriage parts are a suitable
All parts have a definite hand-made ‘garage’ feel
338 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
match, should scratch building not be to your liking. The cockpit aperture is too large and squared off at the front. It should curve up into the centre of the fuselage. This modification will give a much better fit for the canopy. The vacform canopy is moulded out of very thin stock, which makes it fragile and difficult to work with. The wings will benefit from new wing fences and the aileron and flap hinge lines corrected. As this aircraft only ever had a natural metal finish, very careful preparation of all surfaces will be required, as even the slightest blemish will show. In this scale it will be difficult to achieve. The decals are nicely printed, with an overall varnish, and go on without fuss. The CD supplied with the kit has a multitude of walk-around photos that will be a big help for anyone wanting to go the extra mile detailing this kit. As no other models are known of this interesting and, in many ways, attractive aircraft, I still have to congratulate SEM Models for releasing this model, despite the amount of work that will be required to get a good result.
Their second release is the IMAM Ro.63. This was a short-lived Italian WWII STOL design that saw very limited use. This is no doubt due to the Storch having established itself in Regia Aeronautica service at the same time. I know of one other 1/72 resin IMAM Ro.63 kit from a few years back, but it is no longer available. The SEM Models IMAM Ro.63 is very similar in appearance. The parts are cast in a hard, dense grey resin with both the wing and the fuselage cast as a single piece. Almost unbelievably, the wing has its pouring block on the trailing edge, which leaves a very nasty cleanup job. The fabric effect is rather crude too. I would purposely remove all fabric detail while dealing with the thick trailing edge and indicate fabric detail as rib tapes instead. This works just as well, in my view. I have passed my comments about the wing to SEM Models and they hope to re-do the wing master at some point. The fabric effect on the fuselage is better but can still do with a little clean-up, as well as the seam left after removing the pouring block. The cockpit walls are extremely thick, which makes the canopy frames way over scale. It should be thinned down to a more scale-like appearance, but not so much that it can’t support the wing. Cockpit detail is rather basic but useful references are supplied in the CD to help scratch build detail this area. Some work is needed to blend in the rear of the wing to the top of the fuselage. This includes restoring the fabric effect, which is not an easy task. The very thin vac-form canopy is very difficult to trim, but it is secure once glued in place. The side windows are pre-stamped out of plastic sheet and are a good fit. The undercarriage struts are cast in white metal and are more than adequate to support the model, which is surprisingly large in 1/72. One definite improvement to make is to replace the rather thick wing support struts with appropriate strut material and to scratch build the prominent hinges for the wing aileron and flaps as the kit parts are not really suitable. The camouflage depicted on this model deviates somewhat from the kit instructions as it is based on a photo I found via the Internet. I used Vallejo acrylics for the mottled scheme. As the
338-39-ExReview-SEM-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:26 Page 339
REVIEWS kit decals do not come with whitebacked fasces, spares were used. In summary, this is a potentially easy build made rather more difficult than necessary by having to deal with the crudely moulded wing and the excessively thin vac-form canopy. It is hoped that SEM Models will modify the master and use thicker sheet stock for the canopy. If they do, it will definitely make it a worthwhile purchase.
KIT 3 – CNA PM.1 The third kit in their range is the petite CNA PM.1. Originally designed by Milanese aircraft design students around 1938, it was resurrected after WWII as the Macchi MB.308. The main visual difference between the two was the tricycle undercarriage and larger tail fin seen on the Macchi. (Italian kits have a 1/72 resin MB.308 kit in their catalogue). The 1/72 CNA PM.1 kit is delicately moulded in pale cream resin, with both the wing and fuselage moulded as a single part. The pouring block has been placed on the leading edge of the wing, which makes it an easy clean up. However the aerofoil section is a bit odd, with a thick blunt leading edge and uneven lower surface. The fuselage is nicely moulded, but the cockpit detail a bit basic. The vac-form canopy is moulded with thick sheet stock, which makes it easy to work with. Assembly is very straightforward but some effort was required to restore the aerofoil section to the wing. The actual colour scheme is a bit vague, with some sources indicating either ivory or white finish. I chose silver as photos suggest this is equally valid. The decals need careful trimming, as the sheet has an overall varnish. This is easily SEM Models' best & easiest model to build so far, despite the problems noted!
KIT 4 – REGGIANE RE.2006 The fourth kit in their catalogue is the Re.2006, which was a modified Re.2005. Just one was built but it never flew. The Re.2006 is a popular subject in 1/72 and has been made by various kit companies. The parts for the SEM Models resin kit are cast in hard grey resin with engraved detail. However the wing parts are poorly moulded with uneven surfaces and difficultto-remove pouring blocks. The wingspan is about 2mm too short, which in turn means the one-piece fuselage will not fit. There is hardly any wing fillet to the fuselage, which makes it look a bit too flat in this area, in my view. The rear section has a flat base too. This is at odds with other depictions of this aircraft but, with the lack of verified plans, overall accuracy cannot really be questioned. It is very rare for me to pass on building a kit, but I think this time I will do just that. To my eyes, the RS Models 1/72 Re.2006 kit looks far more convincing as a modified Re.2005 and a much easier kit to assemble. SEM Models have since informed me the kit is now OOP.
Surface detail is a mixture of raised and engraved lines
KIT 5 – CANSA FC.12 Their fifth kit is the CANSA FC.12, a 1940’s tandem-seat light-weight monoplane that was built in very small numbers, despite showing good promise during its development. I now have this kit for review purposes and hope to start it soon. Initial impressions are favourable. I think this model has appeared in 1/72 and 1/48 previously but SEM Models' FC.12 is the only one currently available.
KIT 6 – SAVOIA MARCHETTI SM.1019 The sixth SEM Models kit is the SM1019. This aircraft is essentially a licence-built Cessna O-1 Bird Dog. Savoia Marchetti fitted it with a new turboprop engine and modified the tail surfaces. This 1/72 kit is moulded in soft, pale grey resin, with a one-piece resin wing and a vertically split fuselage. Surface detail is a mixture of raised and engraved lines of reasonable quality. The vac-form canopy pieces for the front and rear canopy are accompanied by stamped sections of clear sheet stock for the rest of the cockpit glazing, which work surprisingly well. What is missing is the glazing for the wing-mounted light. The undercarriage legs are supplied as metal etch and the instrument panels are coloured photo-
etch. Assembly is relatively quick and easy, although some modellers might prefer to add extra detail in the cockpit. The area needing most attention is the seam along the lower fuselage. The camouflage pattern was researched online, as the instructions were rather vague. It would appear that the lower surfaces are painted aluminum. Kit decals are nicely printed and easy to apply. I rate this kit as OK but dealing with the canopy glazing is not for the ham fisted!
KIT 7 – AERFER ARIETE The seventh kit in the SEM Models range is the Aerfer Ariete. This is, in essence, a modified version of the Aerfer Sagittario II. The Ariete was fitted with an additional smaller jet engine in the rear fuselage, with a retractable intake installed behind the cockpit. The kit parts, apart from the revised fuselage, are identical to the Aerfer Sagittario II kit so all comments about that kit apply to this one too!
KIT 8 – SIAI AMBROSINI SAGITTARIO I The eighth and final kit in the range will be the SIAI Ambrosini Sagittario I. It was the development ‘test-bed’ aircraft for the Aerfer Sagittario II and Ariete. It is interesting to note that Dujin did release a model of this aircraft a few years ago, so without having seen the kit parts, it will be interesting to see if it is based on this kit or not.
CONCLUSION Now that I have tackled these SEM Models, what is my overall impression? My thoughts are ‘close, but no cigar’! I applaud SEM Models for releasing such an esoteric range of interesting aircraft types but, compared to other smallscale resin companies such as Choroszy Modelbud and CMR, they do not quite make the grade. Anyone familiar with Dujin kits will know what to expect when ordering any SEM Models, as they are very similar in feel and quality.
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 339
340-42-ExReview-B534-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:25 Page 340
REVIEWS
REVIEW
special!
EDUARD 1/72
Avia B.534 IV Series Tim Upson-Smith THE KIT received this kit in a clear plastic bag, containing three sprues and no instructions, decals or etched brass. As is sometimes the case with test shots one of the sprues was moulded in bright orange and the other grey, reminiscent of a 1970s Matchbox kit! The final sprue in the bag was the clear sprue containing the canopy parts for all of the Avia variants that Eduard is going to produce. I have been very lucky, in that for the last five years I have been to Eday in Prague and each year I have been to visit the Prague Air Museum at Kebly, where there is on display a
I
340 |
APRIL 2015 •
replica of a B.534 containing original parts, although with some finishing anomalies. For example when first displayed it was fitted with the correct metal two-bladed Letov propeller, whereas currently displayed it is fitted with a wooden two-bladed Avia propeller, more appropriate to a series 1 to 3 B.534. Seeing this inspired me build the HpH 1:32 scale kit, which was featured in this magazine 4 years ago now. I also have in my stash several Eduard 1:48 scale Avia B.534s which I have yet to find time to build, one day… So I was really pleased and excited to see that Eduard had decided to kit the B.534 in 1:72 as the first kit in, what they are calling, a ‘1:72 scale Revolution’ and if the quality of this release is anything to go by I say, bring it on!
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
340-42-ExReview-B534-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:25 Page 341
REVIEWS
As you may have guessed by now I was impressed by the kit just looking at the sprues; it is a quality looking product, so how would it build? My first task was to spray the sprues with Halfords grey primer so I had a uniform grey to work with, because much as I liked the orange it would be a bit tricky to paint over! With no instructions I used those from my 1:48 scale kits and my reference books on the Avia to guide the build (if you are thinking of purchasing the Royal Class boxing this comes with its own reference book). With the interior of the fuselage painted aluminum I added the sidewall detail, following the 1:48 scale painting guide for the colours. I used the instrument panel with the moulded detail (a blank one is included for use with an etch brass panel) and I picked out the dials with clear gloss. For seatbelts I used some narrow strips of masking tape, colour etch will be provided in the release version with microfibre belts available as an aftermarket set. The cockpit went together so well that before I knew it, I had the fuselage halves closed up and the wings fin and tailplanes on. With this done it was time to think about paint and colour schemes. As I have already mentioned the test shot came without any decals, so I raided my stash and borrowed a set of decals from another kit.
was carried out from airframe number 184, but looking at photos and colour profiles it may not have been this clear cut… always check your references. That said there are several photos of H6 after a landing accident in which it nosed all the way over onto its back, and in these pictures it can be clearly seen that the underside of the top wing is the same colour as the struts and fuselage, khaki. Also at the time of its accident H6 had had its wheel spats removed. I should at this point mention the wheel spats; if you have seen on the internet pictures of the test shot you may have noticed sink marks in the centre of the spats, this was obviously picked up by Eduard as the spats now on the production sprue are moulded differently to eliminate this problem. So it was in this scheme I finished my model. The undersides were sprayed using Alclad white aluminum as I had it in my airbrush for another project on my bench. The remainder was sprayed khaki using Mr Colour Aqueous Hobby Colour H80 as suggested in the Eduard instructions. The khaki wraps around the undersides of the bottom wing and tailplane. Masks for this were made by photocopying scale plans and overlaying them with Tamiya tape, which was then cut undersize to give the overlap area. The decals were then put on with no issues. With not having the etched brass for the kit, I was missing the quite prominent gunsight and the radiator grilles. I had in my stash a Brengun set for the RS Models Avia so I borrowed these items from that set, but the radiators on the Eduard kit were a slightly different size so the grilles do not fit perfectly (Brengun have now announced a set of etch designed for the new Eduard kit). The gunsight however is a great improvement as this is an obvious feature on the real aircraft (of course the Eduard kit has all of these parts and more on the etched fret that comes with the production kit).
I was impressed by the kit just looking at the sprues
COLOURS AND MARKINGS I chose the markings of Avia B.534.226 H6 of the First Air Regiment Prague Kebly. These are the markings that the replica at the Prague Air Museum is marked in, however the museum example differs in several aspects from period photos of this aircraft. Avia B.534s appeared in a standard scheme of aluminum-doped undersides with khaki upper surfaces, however the undersides of the top wing could also be khaki. One of my references suggests that this practice
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 341
340-42-ExReview-B534-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:26 Page 342
REVIEWS
As I did not have the full etch for the interior I opted to use the closed canopy option, so this was duly masked and painted, again the production kit has masks for the canopy to make life a lot easier! The fit of the canopy is near perfect as was the fit of the whole kit. With the canopy on it was time to fit the top wing, I would normally drill holes for the rigging prior to this, but as this was a test shot I did not want to make a mistake so I opted to rig with stretched sprue after completion. The strut attachment points are quite small so care is needed but that said the fit is again as near perfect as possible and the top wing was fitted with no issues. I did make a small template (from an old business card), for getting the angle of the interplane struts correct; this was made by tracing over scale plans. For the production kit the rigging is supplied on the etched fret, and I look forward to seeing how this works! The three-part propeller was assembled and painted, in my case the spinner was red with a white tip and the blades polished steel with the backs painted black. With the prop fitted the model was done.
going to be really picky I could mention that the landing light under the nose is not represented on the kit, but that is very easy to rectify with a drill and scale plans. There has been comment about the prominence of the rib tapes, but if you don’t like them a few swipes with a sanding stick will tone them down. I have two other manufacturer's kits of the B.534 in my stash and of the three this one by Eduard matches the plans I have perfectly, (the other two come up short in the fuselage) and whilst the others
The best fitting and engineered 1:72 scale kit it has ever been my pleasure to assemble
CONCLUSIONS It would not be an exaggeration to say that I think this is the best fitting and engineered 1:72 scale kit it has ever been my pleasure to assemble. If I was
342 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
are not by any means bad kits they are typical limited-run kits with the extra work that that sort of kit entails. With the Eduard kit you get a perfectly fitting kit for pretty much the same money, and I for one can see several of these appearing in my collection showcasing the many schemes worn by the B.534 during its service life in the Czech Air force and beyond. Long may the Eduard 1:72 Scale Revolution continue! Highly recommended. My thanks to Eduard for supplying this advanced test shot. •
•
•
REFERENCE Bily M, Vray J 2008, Avia B.534 Czechoslovak Fighter 3rd and 4th Version, MBI, Prague CMK Photo Hobby Manual 1001 2006, Avia B.534 Czechoslovakian fighter 1933-45, CMK, Prague Krybus J 196? Profile Publications No.152 The Avia B.534, Profile Publications, Leatherhead
343-MigJimenez-SAMI-0415-WP_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:57 Page 1
SAM-F-111-Mosquito-Mustang-DPS-March-2015_Layout 1 13/02/2015 14:43 Page 1
NORTH AMERICAN
P-51 MUSTANG part 2
By Malcolm V. Lowe n ‘North American Mustang Part 2 Merlin Powered’, acknowledged author Malcolm V. Lowe continues the Mustang story, looking in depth at the Merlin engined versions as used by the RAF and USAAF in World War II through Korea and beyond, describing its operators and variants, from the P-51B though to the F-82 Twin Mustang. This volume includes colour side profiles, walk arounds, technical diagrams, scale plans production and serial data, and looks at modelling the Mustang in popular scales, backed up with a Kitography of available models, decals and accessories. Fully illustrated throughout, North American P-51 Mustang Part 2 Merlin Powered is the comprehensive guide to one of the world’s most recognisable aircraft.
I
OUT NOW MDF 24
£19.99 (+p&p £3.00)
THE NORTH AMERICAN
MDF SCALED DOWN – 1
P-51 MUSTANG
AGGRESSORS
part 1 By Malcolm V Lowe he North American P-51 Mustang is one of the most well-known fighters of World War II. Possessing excellent range and maneuverability, the P-51 operated primarily as a longrange escort fighter and later as a ground attack fighter-bomber and went on to serve in nearly every combat zone during WWII, and later fought in the Korean War. The Mustang was originally designed to use the Allison V-170 engine, which had limited high-altitude performance and was first flown operationally as the Mustang Mk I by the RAF in the role of a tactical-reconnaissance aircraft MDF 21 (+p&p £2.00) and fighter-bomber.
T
£19.99
Secure online ordering at
By Andy Evans AM Publications takes you into the world of ‘Top Gun’, with a full colour, high octane look at the world of the United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps ‘Dissimilar Aircraft Training’ aircraft. The US Navy and Marines originally operated the A-4 ‘Skyhawk’, the T-38 ‘Talon’ and the F-5E ‘Tiger II’ to simulate ‘bad-guy’ aircraft from foreign nations, and likewise the US Air Force also employed the ‘Tiger’ for its purposes, whilst the Marines even operated a number of ex-Israeli Air Force ‘Kfir’s’ for a brief period. However, in order to replicate the performance of the ‘next-generation’ of agile fighters, the Navy and Marines turned to the F/A-18 Hornet, and the F-16N ‘Electric-Jet’, whilst the Air Force opted for the F-16 ‘Viper’ and the larger F-15 ‘Eagle’. But what makes these aircraft so outstaning – apart from their mission – is the abundance of unique and diverse colour schemes and MDF SD1 (+p&p £2.00) markings.
S
£9.99
www.sampublications.com
Order hotline +44 (0)1234 211245
SAM-F-111-Mosquito-Mustang-DPS-March-2015_Layout 1 13/02/2015 14:43 Page 2
MDF SCALED DOWN – 2 RAF & Royal Navy
PHANTOM By Andy Evans
Order Form DELIVERY and PAYMENT – Please Enter Quantities Below MDF20 Mosquito
MDF21 Mustang Part 1 (Allison)
Mosquito + Resin Combo
MDF22 Hurricane Second Edition
MDF23 Spitfire Part 1
MDF24 Mustang Part 2 (Merlin)
MDF25 Skyraider (Pre-Order)
MDF SD1 Aggressors
Illustration purposes only.
MDF SD2
£9.99 (+p&p £2.00)
DOUGLAS A1
SKYRAIDER By Andy Renshaw with Andy Evans he Douglas A-1 Skyraider became one of the world’s most iconic piston engine multi-role attack aircraft, seeing service from the late 1940s to the early 1980s. It became something of a propellor driven anachronism in the jet age, yet is rugged airframe, heavy weapons load and long loiter ability made it a huge success in the Vietnam War and beyond, and it even saw service with the Royal Navy as an AEW platform. Nicknamed the ‘Spad’ the Skyraider had a remarkably long and successful career, even inspiring it’s straight-winged, slowflying, jet-powered successor, the A-10 ‘Warthog’. MDF 25 (+p&p £2.00)
T
£19.99
MDF SD2 Phantoms (Pre-Order)
Mr/Mrs/Ms Initials
Surname
Address
Postcode/Zip
Country
Subscription Reference
Daytime Telephone Number
A
I enclose a £ Sterling cheque made payable to ‘SAM Publications Limited’
B Please charge my
Visa
Valid From
Mastercard Expiry Date
American Express
Maestro (Switch/Solo)
Maestro (Switch)/Solo Iss No
Card Number Security Code
Signed
Last 3 digits (4 for Amex) of the Security Number on reverse of card
Today’s Date
Payable by • Cheque • Credit/Debit Card • via PayPal to
[email protected]
Please note we now accept US Dollar and Euro cheques made payable to SAM Publications Ltd. When paying by credit/debit card, please ensure you include your Security Number as payment cannot be taken without it. Please quote your Sub Ref No if known. Please allow 28 days for delivery.
Send to: SAM Publications Limited, Media House, 21 Kingsway, Bedford, MK42 9BJ, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1234 211245 • Fax: +44 (0) 1234 325927 email:
[email protected]
SAM Publications Ltd International Books & Magazines
346-54-ModellersPortfolio-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:39 Page 346
MODELLERS PORTFOLIO
Turret Fighter A quick build of the new 1/72 Scale Boulton Paul Defiant By David Smith
I
n 1960 Airfix gave us their first kit of the Boulton Paul Defiant, since then there have been various other Defiant kits issued, some in vacform, some resin, and lots of short-run injection. All of these were of varying quality and accuracy. But now in 2015 Airfix have returned to the fold with a newtool Defiant that has a good shape, is easy to build and at a reasonable price. What a difference between this new model and the 1960s original, I found it very interesting to see how far the hobby has travelled in those 50 years.
OPENING THE BOX To start I must say that this is a delightful little kit comprising 62 grey and 8 clear pieces, a lovely decal sheet that includes both a day fighter from 264 Squadron and also a black night fighter from 151 Squadron in early 1941, the latter sporting a shark's mouth, The decal sheet also includes an instrument panel and a number of stencils which are well printed. The instruction booklet is in Airfix's current style with black and white drawings, which includes colour notes, finally there are two coloured three-
346 |
APRIL 2015 •
view drawings to help with the painting section and a separate sheet showing the locations of all the stencils. There were a number of little quirks on the original aircraft and the 1960s model that Airfix have spotted and incorporated to bring you what is almost a perfect Defiant, these little things include: • 1. The pull-out step on the port wing fairing • 2. The broad chord ailerons • 3. Two styles of exhaust pipes • 4. A correct rear fuselage shape • 5. A drop-in turret with movable guns, (a bonus when building and painting) • 6. A selection of 3 canopies with the rear section up, down or the main part slid open • 7. Two rear decks for up or down as well • 8. Finally the two crew figures. The gunner is moulded with the unique 'Rhinoceros' suit designed for the Defiant gunner, this suit had an integral parachute rather than the more normal clip-on.
CONSTRUCTION I started assembly with the two fuselage halves, adding the two cockpit sidewalls and central panel supporting the turret. I then built the cockpit, which is made up from only a
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
few pieces but still looks busy, next I gave everything a quick coat of matt black paint: it's a bit of a cheat but you can see very little through the closed canopy, but you know it is in there if you want to go wild! The fuselage was then glued up and set aside to dry, and as I was building a night fighter I went for black as an interior colour but I believe day fighters still had the standard RAF grey green interior. As I wanted the rear decking up on this model I added this next to allow it all to dry together before moving on to the wings. I started with the lower wing by attaching the undercarriage bay to the lower wing as it adds rigidity to this part. Next came
the two upper wing halves, which are well thought out pieces having the wingtips moulded on to the upper wing but the ailerons moulded to the lower wing, which gives a very positive location all the way along the joint. I used Tamiya ultra thin cement throughout this build, as I love the speed at which it both flows, then dries. Once the wings are finished you have a nice solid lump to hang everything else on to. Once the glue had fully cured I attached the wings to the fuselage, along with the tailplanes and the separate rudder. I got to this stage within 2 hours of starting off and as assembly had happened so fast I was beginning to
in 2015 Airfix have returned to the fold with a new-tool Defiant
346-54-ModellersPortfolio-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:39 Page 347
MODELLERS PORTFOLIO
wonder if I had missed anything out? Next came the radiator and air intakes and these were attached with no problems or filler. With these done I now started on the turret. I started with the two banks of guns by gluing them to the central axle and then leaving them aside to dry. While I waited I started to clean up the other pieces of the turret assembly and by the time I had done that the glue was dry enough to allow them to be installed into the control box, then fitting this to the turret base. I left the clear turret canopy off until much later, allowing the turret to be painted inside first. If you have made sure that the guns can be moved the clear parts can just be slid over the whole assembly and into place, just take your time and it will be OK. On a historical note, the turrets were assembled in another part of the factory and were delivered in a mostly semi-gloss black enamel finish on the metalwork; look at a good photo of a day fighter Defiant and it is still has a semi-gloss black framing to the turret. I have seen very few photographs of canopy framework camouflaged. Back to the model, with the turret complete you can choose to add the gunner before attaching the ammunition tanks, and the completed turret can then be set aside as it will drop firmly into its location after everything else on the model is finished. I now added the undercarriage, there are two options here with Airfix giving a set of closed doors to use in place of the undercarriage legs, a real bonus if you like your models to be 'in
flight'. If you are using the lowered undercarriage be careful as you set them up, I began with the two main legs and then added the retraction jacks, only after this was totally dry did I add the odd scissor links and boot scraper to the main legs. I kid you not, it's there and that’s its purpose! The wheels are moulded in one piece with subtle flats on them but they are handed so watch out. The inner u/c doors and tail wheel finished this section off, well it didn’t as there is the matter of the radio aerials. The Defiant had two of these, the first one fitted by the main undercarriage and another in front of the tail wheel, this latter was winched in when the aircraft was on the ground, and extended when the aircraft was in flight. Airfix give both as 'in flight' so the front one is no problem but the rear is a bit fuzzy as to how much to remove; I suggest you glue the piece in place and when dry trim it down, it's best guess, I am afraid. Now all I had to do was assemble the propeller. I broke away from the instructions here and glued the bushing in place and then glued the retaining pin to the prop without its rear washer so I could add the prop after painting was completed, because I still manage to break things unless I make it simple for myself. I had decided to use the fixed canopy so added some masking before gluing it in place. At this stage I also masked the turret
canopy which looks complicated but it has only 11 panels in total, which is the same as the cockpit canopy.
PAINTING AND DECALING This is quite simple: I sprayed everything black and then painted it with 'Future' to give a gloss base for the decals, and I think it looks OK. The first decal I applied was that shark's mouth; it was the one I was scared of as it bends in two different directions, but I must say how pleasantly surprised I was with it when it lay down and wrapped itself around the nose perfectly without any added setting agent. All of the decals have good opacity, no see-through decals here, even over a solid black finish, and the same can be said for the codes on the fuselage and as with the other decals I had no problems whatsoever. When all the images had been applied I sealed them with a matt varnish, removed the masking from the canopies and dropped the turret in place before adding the exhausts and propeller, and we were finished.
Does it look like a Defiant? Yes, would you build another? Yes
three ways at almost the same time, all with different marking options, the one I built was A02069 the standard issue with 2 marking options. There is also a kit pack A55213 that includes paints, glue and a single set of markings for a 255 Squadron Defiant in a day scheme. The last is a 'Dogfight Double' A50170 along with their Dornier Do 17Z in the colours of Kg3, this being the Dornier recovered from the Goodwin Sands and which can be seen being restored at RAF Cosford. This set includes markings for Defiant PS B of 264 squadron, which shot it down. I have bought all three versions but feel that the dogfight double offers the best value for money of the three.
CONCLUSION Does it look like a Defiant? Yes, would you build another? Yes. Did you have fun with it? Absolutely. To date Airfix have issued this kit
See the review for the reprinted Boulton Paul Defiant on page 394
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 347
346-54-ModellersPortfolio-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:39 Page 348
MODELLERS PORTFOLIO
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT PROTOTYPE K8310 The P.94 prototype wore a variety of schemes during the time its time in service including this one with a natural metal finish to the nose and painted aluminium all over. It later had the turret removed and faired over as a fighter demonstrator.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT MKI L6950 A&AEE The first production Defiant wore the standard camouflage scheme of Dark Green/Dark Earth with Sky undersides but also during this period the port wing was painted black with the aircraft serial in white. It was with A&AEE during September 1939.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT MKI N1572 KO-I 2 SQUADRON Whilst still primarily using the Lysander at Clifton, 2 Sqn was briefly equipped with Defiants between August and September 1940 when the type was used for trials along with the Fairey Battle. The aircraft has Dark Green/Dark Earth upper surfaces with Sky undersides, the spinner being black.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT MKI L7009 TW-H 141 SQUADRON Based at West Malling and Biggin Hill during mid July 1940 the 9 squadron aircraft took off on the 19th July to engage in action with Bf109Es. Only one Defiant returned with 6 being shot down in the Dover region during the engagement, this included TW-H flown by Flt Lt I.D.G. Donald with Plt Off A.C. Hamilton being the gunner.
Colour artwork by Chris Sandham-Bailey/Inkworm www.inkworm.co.uk
348 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
346-54-ModellersPortfolio-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:39 Page 349
MODELLERS PORTFOLIO
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT MKI N3333 YD-B 255 SQUADRON Despite being one of the first night fighter squadrons to operate the Defiant in late 1940 it took some time to repaint the aircraft in all over Night and they continued to fly for a period in the day camouflage. N3333 was being flown by Plt Off Ballantyne and Sgt McTaggart for a night test in poor weather when they damaged a He111 they happened to come across.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT MKI L7064 PS-V 264 SQUADRON Based at Kirton in Lindsey during August 1940 the aircraft has Dark Green/Dark Earth upper surfaces with a Sky underside and spinner. During the spring of 1940 many of the squadron aircraft were painted in the half Night/White undersides.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT MKI N3437 EW-K 307 SQUADRON 307 Sqn was formed with Polish airmen and moved to Kirton in Lindsay where they became equipped with the Defiant and became operational as a night fighter unit. The aircraft retained their day fighter scheme but the underside and light parts of the spinner were soon overpainted in Night.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT MKI N3328 DZ-Z 151 SQUADRON In October 1940 still equipped with Hurricanes 151 Sqn became a night fighter squadron. At the end of the year it started to receive the Defiant and operated these with the Hurricane, relocating to Wittering on the 22nd December and flying from there for several successful months. The aircraft were painted in all over matt Night black. DZ-Z is unusual in that it carries personal markings in the form of the shark mouth. This aircraft also has the flared exhausts.
Colour artwork by Chris Sandham-Bailey/Inkworm www.inkworm.co.uk
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 349
346-54-ModellersPortfolio-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:39 Page 350
MODELLERS PORTFOLIO
1/72
SCALE PLANS BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT SCALE DRAWINGS BY CHRIS SANDHAM-BAILEY/INKWORM WWW.INKWORM.CO.UK
350 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
346-54-ModellersPortfolio-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:39 Page 351
MODELLERS PORTFOLIO
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 351
346-54-ModellersPortfolio-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:39 Page 352
MODELLERS PORTFOLIO
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT MKI N3340 YD-D 255 SQUADRON Painted in Night with Medium Sea Grey codes and red serial the roundel has had the white painted out on the fuselage. Based at Kirton in Lindsey during spring 1941.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT MKI N1744 JT-S 256 SQUADRON Initially based in the south west 256 Sqn were posted to Squires Gate in March 1941, being tasked with the air defence of Liverpool and Mersyside. The aircraft had been painted Night over the original camouflage but in many cases it began to wear and weather heavily.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT MKI N1801 PS-Y 264 SQUADRON Flying from several bases including Debden and Biggin Hill during the winter and spring of 1941 N1801 was frequently flown by Plt Off D. Hughes and Sgt F. Gash. Who during this period shot down 3 aircraft and became an ace.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT MKI V1110 RA-H 410 SQUADRON 410 Canadian squadron was based at Drem during the summer of 1941 and unusually for Defiant night fighters had roundels on the lower wings as well.
Colour artwork by Chris Sandham-Bailey/Inkworm www.inkworm.co.uk
352 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
346-54-ModellersPortfolio-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:39 Page 353
MODELLERS PORTFOLIO
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT MKI L7011 KJ-A 11 OPERATIONAL TRAINING UNIT 11 OTU was created to train bomber aircrew and L7011 was utilised for Gunnery Training and Fighter Affiliation duties. All codes in Dull Red. Skatz likely to be in white but possibly in red.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT MKI T3997 AQ 276 SQUADRON Many Defiants were relegated to secondary roles including Air Sea Rescue. The aircraft were repainted in the Temperate Sea Scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey/Dark Slate Grey upper surfaces with Sky undersides, spinner and codes in Red. 276 Sqn were based at Harrowbear whilst using the Defiant between My 1942 and June 1943.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT MKII PROTOTYPE N1550 The prototype Mk II was used as a trials airframe. Tests included the fitting of the tropical filter. At the stage it was painted in the Temperate Land Scheme of Dark Green/Ocean Grey upper surface and Medium Sea Grey undersides.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT TTI PROTOTYPE DR863 Prototype Defiant painted in Dark Green/Ocean Grey with Yellow underside and Night stripes on wings.
Colour artwork by Chris Sandham-Bailey/Inkworm www.inkworm.co.uk
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 353
346-54-ModellersPortfolio-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:39 Page 354
MODELLERS PORTFOLIO
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT TTI AA628 NW-V 286 SQUADRON Serving with 286 Sqn based at Exeter during 1944 AA628 is painted with Dark Green/Ocean Grey with Yellow/Night undersides.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT TTI AA507 26 ANTI AIRCRAFT COOPERATION UNIT Operating in the Middle East during 1945 the aircraft is all over Yellow and Black.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT TTI DR945 JW-U 94TH BOMB GROUP Only two Defiants served with the USAAF including DR945 which retained the standard Dark Green/Dark Earth with US insignia replacing the Roundel on t he fuselage. Based at the 8th Air Force Combat Crew Replacement Centre, Bovingdon from 1942 until August 1944.
BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT TTI AA519 SEAC. Based at Tezgoan, India (now Bangladesh) in June 1944 it served with the RAF before being struck off charge in June 1945. It then served for a period with the Inidan Air Force. Painted in Dark Sea Grey/Dark Green upper surface with Yellow/Night underside.
Colour artwork by Chris Sandham-Bailey/Inkworm www.inkworm.co.uk
354 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
Mastered-Adverts-AV-0415_AV-0606 14/03/2015 12:05 Page 355
N EW S AT R A V EN
Clifton Curios Models
S C A LE M O D
EL S Available to pu rchase from our web & eBay shop Navigation, be s acon, strobe & la nding lights Modelling clu b discounts avai lable
R AV EN S CA LEt M OD EL
We now stock Products
S
presen
G 10K99ITS TIN H IG L EL D O M S 0 N 55 O BEAC enscalemodels.com tel: 01 72 www.rav alemodels.com email: bml@ravensc
Bringing new levels of realism to aviation modelling. Set your models apart with our ready-to-fit LED kits with pre-programmed cts authentic strobe effe
A S SE EN AT S CA LE M OD EL W
EAST MIDLANDS VENUE
OR LD
20 14
Close to East Midlands Airport, Donington Park Race Circuit and Ashby de la Zouch Easy to reach from A42 & M-1 Derby, Leicester, Loughborough, & Nottingham LOCATED in GRANARY ANTIQUES at BREEDON PRIORY Ashby Road, Breedon on the Hill, DE73 8AZ EVERY SATURDAY, SUNDAY & BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 9:30am - 4:30pm CAFÉ & FREE PARKING on site
Install into your static air craft models to see them light up & come alive Discover our exciting ne w developments in space & Sci-Fi modelling Contact the designers reg arding any special model lighting projec ts
Brushes; Glues; Fillers; Scenic Materials; Tools; Aviation & Military Books; Magazines
Clifton Curios Models – Vintage Postcards & Ephemera tel. 01827 373497 (after 6p.m.) www.cliftoncurios.co.uk
eagles over gazala
IBN PUBLISHING
Air battles in North Africa - MAY/JUNE 1942 The volume deals with the so called “Battle of Gazala” a period that has been of great importance for the war in North Africa as it rose from a seemingly stale situation. The Axis army was near to reaching Alexandria and the Suez Canal, which would be a significant blow to British Empire. At last, however, as the Author will unfold in detail in his next books, the Commonwealth was able to turn the tide and push back Rommel to Tripoli. Text in English - ISBN 9788875651688
> by Michele Palermo > € 27,00 > 300 pages > 113 b&w photos > 17x24 cm
E-BOOK EDITION
€ 8,99
AVIOLIBRI - The bookshop that takes you right up to the sky!!! Via dei Marsi, 53/55 - 00185 ROME - ITALY phone & fax: +39 064452275
[email protected] www.aviolibri.it
356-60-QB-Do335-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:37 Page 356
REVIEWS
QUICK BUILD!
Poisoned ARROW HK MODELS 1/32
Do 335B-2 Heavy Fighter By David Francis he Dornier Do 335 was a unique aircraft in so many ways. Far from being the conventional twin engined, multi-role fighter bomber that the Germans had used for most of the war its pushpull layout led to it being the fastest piston powered twin engined aircraft. Also like its predecessors it was designed to be a multi-role aircraft with bomber, heavy fighter and night fighter variants. This year we are due to have two kits of the Dornier 335 in 1/32 scale, the first to reach the market being from HK models and they have chosen one of the more obscure variants, the B-2 heavy fighter. The most noticeable
T
356 |
APRIL 2015 •
features of this variant are the large cannon bulges that protrude from the front of the wings containing the equally huge MK103 cannons complete with some impressive muzzle brakes. The bomb bay was also used to house fuel tanks and this is also represented on the model. This kit will also be released as a standard A-1 fighter, the proposed A-6 night fighter and the Aardvark trainer. On opening the substantial box I was immediately impressed by the beautifully engraved grey plastic parts contained within, which feature subtle detail which will look great once you have applied a wash to the model's
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
surface. One thing I also liked about this model is that it supplies lots of detail, which will be visible on the completed model from the fuel tank in the bomb bays to the two detailed engines at both front and midsection, as well as a beautiful cockpit. The clear parts are beautifully clear and will show up any extra work you choose to do in the cockpit. The instructions look clear and precise and guide you through the assembly process in a logical manner, while the decal sheet supplies markings for two German and one French aircraft.
the fastest piston powered twin engined aircraft
CONSTRUCTION A feature of most of my builds is the inevitable muck-ups and mistakes, but with this kit these started before I even got home. On the way back from Telford one of the book cages stored in our van broke loose and ran over some of the samples we had received at the show. Unfortunately this kit was one of the victims with the right hand fuselage nicely broken into two parts, but fortunately the break was quite clean and I managed to glue the parts together with a small amount of filler being needed to hide the join. In fact this was the most filler I used on the model. So, on with construction and unusually I started with the engines, which are made up from 25 parts each. But before you start construction
356-60-QB-Do335-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:37 Page 357
REVIEWS The completed engine before painting
Rudder pedals are nearer to 1/72 as supplied
make sure you drill out the indicated holes on each engine half, these are slightly different depending on whether you're assembling a rear or forward engine. The front engine also contains a large metal weight, which is sandwiched between the two halves, and there is no chance of this model tail sitting as there will be a second weight added later under the cockpit floor. The exhausts have made use of slide mould technology and are nicely hollowed out as well as displaying some nice weld seams. Out of the box these engines are some of the nicest I have seen in plastic, all that needs adding is a little wiring to make them perfect. Next comes the cockpit, again out of the box this is about as good as it gets in plastic, the ejector seat is made up from seven parts and includes etched brass set belts. I did make up a replacement seat cushion from Milliput, as the injection-moulded example looked like a hard square block rather than something you would want to sit on. The only other change in the cockpit was the replacement of the plastic rudder pedals, which are very undersized; I used a pair from an Eduard brass set. The instrument panel caused me a bit of bafflement at first as it is
A large heavy weight is inside the front engine
The cockpit look very nice with just a little painting
Moulded detail in the nose bay with Aeroscale placards
supplied as a thin plastic part with instrument dials drilled out to match the dials supplied on the decal sheet. But not mentioned on the decal sheet is part E25 which supplies the backing plate on to which you can attach the decals. I discovered this a bit too late as I had already made a backing plate from some plasticard, I also replaced the kit dial decals with examples from the Aeroscale range as these gave a far more accurate appearance. As the rear of the instrument panel would be visible through the canopy I also added some instrument backs from slices of plastic rod plus some wiring to make this area
I started with the engines, which are made up from 25 parts each
The bomb bay before adding fuel tanks
look a bit busier. Now it was time to start assembly of the two large structures, which run the length of the model. These are made up from the nose wheel bay on which the cockpit will sit, and the bomb bay onto
Nose firewall detail
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 357
356-60-QB-Do335-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:37 Page 358
REVIEWS
Added detail is just visible behind the instrument panel
which will attach the rear engine. These two parts are joined together by a substantial spar, which will help support the wings later. The detail on all the visible areas of this model are really first rate and easily picked out with an oil wash over my normal Tamiya acrylic paint. I particularly liked the wiring loom on the front bulkhead. It was at this stage I added the fuel tank to the bomb bay as well as the large centre body fuel tank, however the latter is a bit wasted, as it will not be visible on the
finished model. Now came the part I was a bit nervous about as there were a lot of parts to fit inside the fuselage, but I need not have worried as with a loud click all the parts just slotted into place. In fact the fit of parts on this kit ranged from amazing to very good, the only one that needed a little bit of help was the large section along the top of the fuselage, but this may have also been caused by the earlier damage in this area. Feeling confident I added the engine
I particularly liked the wiring loom on the front bulkhead
358 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
and its bearers to the front of the model, and bearing in mind the not inconsiderable weight in the nose the fit was really solid. But here came muck-up number 2, the model was now quite long and while carelessly handling the fuselage I decapitated the engine from the firewall, and sadly all the pegs that supported the bearers were left in the firewall (I told you it was a solid fit) so I know had nothing to support that heavy engine. A week later the cursing had stopped and I returned to the workbench, and came up with plan B. I originally wanted to have all the engine covers open to show off the engines but now I decided to close it all up, which would help show off the
type's lines. Now I will say that this kit is not designed to have the engine covers closed, and I had to remove a lot of detail from the inside of the nacelle doors to get them to sit down properly. From here on everything proceeded incredibly quickly, in particular the wings with their separate control surfaces and flaps just clicked firmly
356-60-QB-Do335-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:37 Page 359
REVIEWS
into place with just a little bit of PVA needed to fill a tiny gap at the roots. The wing tips are separate and are impressive one-piece mouldings, two types are supplied, the standard style and the extended tips fitted to one prototype, and it was this example that was also used by the French post-war. I had decided to replace the plastic undercarriage with the white metal set released at the same time as the kit by Scale Aircraft Conversions, especially considering the weight of the metal helps to stop the model from tail sitting. The wheels are supplied in plastic rather than the vinyl used by some other companies and have a nice weighted effect. They are also keyed to the axle to insure that the moulded flat is touching the ground correctly. One of the main things that draw the eyes on this variant are the large muzzle brakes on the wing guns, these again have been formed used slide moulds to produce a hollow barrel but the holes on either side are only semi-depressed in to the plastic. It only took a few minutes to open these up with a twist drill and I had some really nice looking muzzle brakes. In an attempt to stop my clumsiness
breaking them off I replaced the plastic barrels with Albion Alloys brass tubing to which I attached the muzzles with super glue. The final step before painting could commence was to add the canopies, which fit incredibly well, especially the separate panels that produce the large bulges on either side seen on this version. Though the mirrors that these bulges covered are not supplied in the kit they are easy to add from plasticard. For masking I used the simple method of applying Tamiya masking tape over the canopy. Then a cocktail stick was used to insure the tape was settled tight against the raised frame. Next a new scalpel blade was run around the frame to produce a perfect mask.
PAINTING AND DECALING 3 options are supplied in the kit, the first is the M14 coded RP+UQ while the second is the extended wing M13 coded RP+UP, all in light green/ dark green splinter over light blue grey. I decided to portray M13 but in the photographs I have seen this aircraft's extended wing tips are in natural metal with roughly applied filler on the panel lines. The third option is this aircraft after its capture by the French with their roundels applied on the wings and fuselage as well as the French tail flash on the upper and lower tails. Again the photos I have seen show this aircraft in an overall brown finish rather than the Luftwaffe camouflage but this may also be correct. I used Xtracolor RLM 76/82/83 and as usual this sprayed beautifully, but muck-up number 3 was looming. As I removed the masking tape for the splinter camouflage all the layers of paint lifted up from both the fuselage and wings. Again this was entirely my fault as in my rush to get started on the model I had forgotten to wash the
Masking looking good
Insert swear words
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 359
356-60-QB-Do335-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:37 Page 360
REVIEWS
Pastels used on the nose wheel 24 hours late
model to remove all traces of mould release agent. Another spell of cursing and a day later I returned to the bench to sand back all the paint and reapply it after first carefully washing the model. This time all went well and I could start to apply the kit decals. Despite their glossy finish these worked very nicely, though I did find that I had to soak them longer than aftermarket sheets to get the images to lift from the backing paper. They also responded well to the Micro decaling solutions, settling down well into the engraved detail. I now added the wing tips; the fit of
these was so good they had been painted separately in Alclad aluminium with red primer roughly applied by brush before attaching them to the model. Next an overall coat of Alclad’s matt primer was used to blend everything in while a little light weathering was applied to finish the model using PanPastels, which are reviewed elsewhere in this issue.
You do get a lot of plastic for your money
360 |
APRIL 2015 •
CONCLUSION I have always liked the Do 335. From the front its long fuselage with protruding intakes looks swift and deadly and somehow at odds with its broad wings. The latest HK Models kit shows a real learning curve from the B-25 and the fit of parts almost rivals Wingnut Wings in most areas. All the problems
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
I had with this kit were self-inflicted and I am still annoyed that I am not able to show off the model's detailed engine compartments. But I will not make the same mistakes again when I purchase the three other variants as they are released. And if there is a downside to my plan for building all four Do 335’s, it is the price. But you do get a lot of plastic for your money and a great looking model at the end. This kit certainly bodes well for the first of their D.H. Mosquito family due later this year. Our thanks to Pocketbond, HK Models' UK importer, for supplying the review sample
Mastered-Adverts-AV-0415_AV-0606 14/03/2015 12:05 Page 361
KINGKIT
THE ORIGINAL KIT DEALER (Est. 1983)
Due to the continued success of our new web site, we are looking to buy all types of second hand models, accessories and related books....please contact us for a quote
www.kingkit.co.uk NEW
ADDRESS!
Unit 8, Cedar Court, Halesfield 17, Telford TF7 4PF
TEL: 01952 586 457 e-mail
[email protected] www.kingkit.co.uk
Need Rare Kits? 5000+ kits worldwide shipping every kit you see is in stock
www.oldmodelkits.com Václav Lomitzki – VALOM Zlešická 1808, 148 00 Praha 4. Czech Republic Tel. 00420 271910470 Email:
[email protected]
Bristol Bombay Mk.I (RAAF)
www.valom.net
Bristol Bombay Mk.I (early production)
NEW KITS!
PRECISION PRODUCTS RF-101C Voodoo (1/72 scale)
N.A. L-17B Navion (1/72 scale)
COMING SOON! Other forthcoming kits: F-101A Voodoo (1/72), Hanriot HD.1 (1/144), SPAD XIII (1/144)
Now stocking Albion Alloys Metal and Connecto products
Cornwall’s best selection of scale model kits AIRFIX – REVELL – TAMIYA - EDUARD and many others Tools, solvents and accessories
VISIT www.sampublications.com for more information
“SAM Online Offer”
SAVE 10% on all metal products by using code ‘METAL10’ * at the checkout. *Terms and conditions apply
Open Monday-Saturday 11 Pydar Mews, Truro TR1 2UX and at shows throughout the South West
01872 273582 www.t7models.com
362-65-QB-FiatG50-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:35 Page 362
REVIEWS
QUICK BUILD!
SPECIAL HOBBY 1/32
Fiat G.50-II Freccia By Angelo Picardo he FIAT G.50 Freccia, or Arrow, was one of the Reggia Aeronautica’s (Air Force's) first monoplane fighters, first flying in February 1937. Though some were sent to Spain they were too late to participate in the Civil War but they went on to serve in most of Italy’s fields of combat, including the Battle of Britain, which is what the subject of this build is modelled as.
T
IN THE BOX Special Hobby’s 1/32nd scale kit of the G.50 is typical of their limitedproduction range of kits, made up from plastic, resin and etched parts, which feature some very fine engraved panel lines and surface detail on the plastic parts. These parts are quite thick, when compared to mainstream kits, and feature no locating pins, plus some hefty mould ejector pin marks are to be found in some awkward places. There are also no numbers on
362 |
APRIL 2015 •
the sprues so the modeller has to rely on the parts’ map in the instructions to find bits. The kit of the FIAT comprises four grey and one clear sprue, along with an etched fret and nineteen resin parts, most of which go towards building the engine. There is also meant to be an acetate sheet to make the reflector sight lenses, but it was missing in my kit, but it’s not a major problem to replace them. There is a decal sheet with two marking options, and the instructions are in the form of a twelve-page booklet, with nineteen assembly stages and two full colour painting and marking guides. The painting reference is for colours from the Gunze Colour range.
CONSTRUCTION Assembly begins with the cockpit, and the first thing is to remove some very prominent mould ejector pins from the inside of the cockpit wall. The interior is fairly well detailed with a mixture of plastic, etched and
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
resin parts. Some of the plastic parts are a bit clunky, and have prominent mould separation lines, but these clean up quickly with a scrape of a blade, and a pass of a sanding stick. The sprue attachment points are quite thick and care is needed when cutting parts away to avoid damage, and also to stop them pinging off across the room and into the waiting jaws of the part-eating carpet monster! The whole cockpit fits together well, but the plans do not show where the trim wheel assembly, resin part 4 and etched part 12, is supposed to be placed. A quick look on the Internet found that it’s meant to go on the left side of the pilot’s seat, as in most fighters of this era. Some of the parts are quite small, two instrument lights are provided as miniscule parts, and the throttle quadrant also has some very tiny etched levers to attach. But the carpet monster went hungry as no parts disappeared from the workbench during this build.
Reference photo of worn paint scheme
362-65-QB-FiatG50-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:36 Page 363
REVIEWS
The tail cone needs removing to fit a different one specific to this version. The cut is made along a panel line.
These are the two tiny instrument lights that are to be fitted in the cockpit.
Shows the ejector pin marks in the cockpit that need removal.
The seat is a plain bucket affair, which is detailed with etched harness, but sadly the instrument panel is moulded in plastic with just soft relief detail for the dials. I dipped into my spares box and dug out a set of Luftwaffe instrument decals by MDC, and they were used to represent the dials with a dot of clear varnish for the lenses, and there was a reasonable looking instrument panel to grace the cockpit. The rest of the cockpit was painted with Humbrol enamels; their cockpit green, 78, was used to represent the main interior colour, and a wash of Tamiya’s X-19 smoke was brushed on to produce some shading and a representation of accumulated grime. Before assembling the fuselage, the tail cone had to be cut off and replaced with a different part to represent the airframe of the G.50-II. Fortunately the
cut-off point coincides with a panel line, but as the plastic is quite thick, it’s still a bit of trial to remove the part neatly. When all the interior parts were ready, the fuselage halves could be brought together. As mentioned before, there are no locator pins on the fuselage halves or for the cockpit parts so care is needed to ensure everything fits in its correct place, but in my case bringing the fuselage together was virtually problem free. The only issue I had was the control lever, part D18, and the starboard side console, C2, which got in each other’s way. D18 lost! To ensure the fuselage stayed put while the cement did its job, I used a fair amount of tape, and a couple of clamps. The main wing assembly also came together fairly well. A number of ejector pins needed trimming away, and the
The G.50 is typical of their limitedproduction range of kits
The cockpit interior assembled and painted.
trailing edges needed to be thinned, but the top and bottom halves fitted together with no major dramas, just don’t forget to insert the two resin intakes, parts 19, in the wing roots first. The control surfaces of the wing are moulded integrally, but the rudder and elevators are separate parts, allowing you to pose them in a deflected position. The next main assembly is the engine which is an all resin assembly. Fourteen separate cylinders, with fine cooling gill detail, are fitted to the
central crankcase. There is a difference between the front and rear rank of cylinders, so care is needed to ensure you get the correct ones in the right place. The modeller needs to supply the push rods themselves. The instructions call for twenty-eight lengths of 0.3mm wire to be cut to 8mm in length. I found 8mm was too short, but only after I had finished cutting all 28! The rods need to be closer to 9mm to get a good fit.
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 363
362-65-QB-FiatG50-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:36 Page 364
REVIEWS
The kit’s instrument panel with MDC decals applied.
The pilot’s seat with the etched seat belts painted and fitted
The completed cockpit prior to closing the fuselage halves
PAINTING AND DECALING
The fuselage closed up and held together with tape and clamps.
The resin engine with push rods added with black wire, and ignition harness added using lead wire.
Side/rear view of the engine.
I also decided to wire up the spark plugs with lead wire as the connection points on the crankcase are clearly marked, but the plans make no mention of these. Two different types of exhaust pipes connect the cylinders to the case, and a horse shoe piece of resin, with hollowed ends, represents the main exhausts. Once assembled, I painted the whole engine with Humbrol aluminium, and then applied another wash of Tamiya smoke to enhance the moulded details. The reduction gear housing was painted a medium grey and a couple of generic data plates from the MDC decal set were applied. Once the exhaust pipes and ignition harness were painted, the engine was put aside while the main fuselage was painted. Before I got out my airbrush I assembled the engine cowling. The two halves came together very neatly, and when they were dry I thinned down the interior and the trailing edges to ensure a good fit over the engine, and a nice scale look.
364 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
The kit provides two colour schemes. One is for a machine based in Albania in 1941, and the other is for a FIAT based in Belgium during the Battle of Britain. The BoB scheme appealed to me as it has a nice bright yellow cowl, and the camouflage looked easier! The only physical airframe differences between the two schemes are that the Belgium based aeroplane has a spatted tail wheel and a spinner hub.
362-65-QB-FiatG50-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:36 Page 365
REVIEWS
Propeller blades were drilled and brass rods fitted to enable a more secure fit to the hub.
“Worn paint” aluminium paint applied with torn sponge and scouring pad. Engine and cowling fitted to the model
Camouflage painting completed.
Propeller assembled and painted with Alclad polished aluminium.
Painted and weathered engine Rear of engine showing exhaust pipes
For the base colour I used Tamiya’s desert yellow, XF-59, while for the green I used Humbrol’s matt 30, and the red brown was Humbrol’s matt 100. The camouflage pattern was applied freehand with the compressor turned down low, and the paints thinned to milk-like consistency. Humbrol’s matt 147 was used for the underside. The painting guide explains that the fuselage around the cockpit suffered heavy wear and tear when the machine was based in Belgium. Apparently this was caused by the tarpaulin cover that protected the open cockpit while the machines were parked. Another quick search on the internet turned up some B&W photos of the actual airframe and the worn and battered paint finish was very clear. To try and replicate the worn paint I applied Humbrol’s Metalcote flat aluminium, 27001, with torn pieces of packing sponge, and torn pieces of scouring pad. It was a bit of a moment when I first looked back at the model after applying the aluminium paint. I thought I would have to clean it all off and start again as it appeared overdone, but a quick glance at the reference photos made me decide to leave it as it was. I sealed the paint with a couple of coats of Johnson’s Klear floor polish in preparation for the decals, and here the fun really began. The decals are thin, in perfect register, with a good colour density, but they don’t want to move once applied to the surface, no matter how much water you apply. The first decals applied were the tail
Gloss coat and decals applied.
crosses. They would not budge. They tore, I swore. I finally got them into position and after that all decals were carefully applied onto the exact location on the airframe to save on any stress, and my family’s ears! The large decals wrinkled with the Klear, but they dried perfectly flat with no silvering at all. With the decals applied I continued the weathering. A wash of raw umber, thinned with white spirit, helped enhance the panel lines and recessed details. More paint scratches and chips were applied with small bits of torn sponge. Tamiya smoke was airbrushed on to apply some post-shading, and for the exhaust stains.
a lovely model can be produced from this kit
I then applied small dots of raw umber oil paint and streaked them with a flat brush damp with white spirit, to represent oil streaks, and other dirt streaks. A coat of Xtracolor flat varnish sealed everything down and as that dried, I finished off the smaller parts. The propeller blades are just a butt joint to the hub, so to strengthen them I drilled and pinned them. There is no guide to the actual pitch of the blades, so I guestimated their position. Both the blades and hub were painted with Alclad polished aluminium. The main undercarriage was assembled with no major problems and fitted securely in its respective positions. As were the two machine gun barrels which are finely cast in resin with hollow muzzles. The last part applied was the windshield which was fixed in place using gloss varnish as an adhesive so as not to
marr the clear part, which is very thin and clear.
CONCLUSION Special Hobby has produced a lovely kit of a very interesting fighter plane. It’s not a shake and bake kit, but it’s not beyond the capability of a modeller who has never built one of these limited-run kits. The instructions are fairly straightforward, with a few omissions, but a lovely model can be produced from this kit.
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 365
366-68-FEAT-T33-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:45 Page 366
T-33 SHOOTING STAR
1/32
EUROPEAN
SHOOTING STAR Special Hobby’s T-33 over Europe By Gorden Scott
H
ave you ever had a kit when just about everything goes wrong when you make it? It began when the postman hammered the door, stuffed the large box into my bleary eyed face and ran before I could see that the package had suffered “issues”. On opening the package it was very obvious that the kit had been stood on at some stage; Special Hobby please note that your cardboard box clearly doesn’t take the weight of a postal employee. On checking the kit it was found that many more pieces than the manufacturer intended were supplied in pieces. The clear sprue was smashed, the wheel bays, wing tip
366 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
tanks, and other small parts had also suffered a similar fate. Special Hobby to their credit kindly supplied a new clear sprue and I resigned myself to get out the filler and wet and dry paper to repair the rest. To replace the broken undercarriage bay parts I ordered the Avionix resin undercarriage bay set for the F-80 which also adds a lot of detail missing from the kit parts. This came from Squadron/Signal’s website as it was half the price of the same set in the UK. The plastic parts are very well moulded, the fuselage is as long as the box, which surprised me, and appeared to be from another source as the detail which is a mix of fine raised and engraved features does not match the wings and stabilisers which by comparison suffer from slightly heavy handed engraved detail. There are seven sprues with a number of parts from the previous F-80 kit, some terrific coloured photo-etched parts for the cockpit, and a bag of resin parts that include the seats, wheels (two differing patterns) and other cockpit parts, with detail that puts some other manufacturers to shame. There are three well-printed decal sheets covering five different countries, so you certainly get a lot for your money.
CONSTRUCTION I decided to largely do my own thing for the construction, not because the instruction book is poor, on the contrary its very well presented, printed in full colour and very clear, it’s just that I like to assemble as much as possible and carry out any sanding prior to applying paint. So to start the fuselage, wing tanks and stabilisers were assembled and put to one side whilst the cockpit was assembled, the reasoning being it’s no harder to paint than a resin cockpit. The cockpit is a fine collection of plastic, photoetched and resin parts all of which certainly look the part when complete. The ejection seat rails need a bit of thinning or the seat won’t slide down them; perhaps in my next T-33 I will replace them with “L” shaped Plastruct, they would certainly be more to scale. I’ve been making models for just over 50 years (scary thought) and I’ve never come across a complicated elongated “s” shaped fuselage/stabiliser joint, which threw me for a bit. I tried to straighten it out with a knife, but it made no difference to the gap and it ended up being filled with thick superglue then sanded flush and rescribed, it’s just a touch odd. Next I attached parts E9 that form the
The cockpit is a fine collection of plastic, photo-etched and resin parts
366-68-FEAT-T33-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:45 Page 367
FEATURE
intake fences inside the fuselage and this produced a large step to deal with, I suppose I could have filed and filled it but a simpler solution is to cut an oblong of thin plastic card the same length and width as the intake. This is then attached with thin superglue along the leading edge to effectively hide the step. Stage 10 covers the assembly of the jet exhaust pipe, its fit is appalling, it is also very short, very thick and has no internal detail. Sadly the fuselage at this point also has issues with differing thicknesses and needed filing; I ended up using a circular hole enlarging tool which did the trick in no time producing a good even result. Then I replaced the jet pipe with a piece of copper pipe giving a nice deep pipe that looked good after the application of Alclad jet exhaust and Alclad engine manifold. At this point I cleaned up the fuselage and inserted the replacement nose wheel bay then tried to insert the completed cockpit, but neither of these parts fitted
very well and I had to put them aside whilst I thought about making them fit. I assembled the air intakes and was immediately unimpressed by the poor fit, the fault lying with the liners which are too deep, and attaching the intake trunking and test fitting with the resin wheel bays in place revealed the intake trunking was never going to fit so the rear half of the trunking was sawn off and the ends blanked off. To be fair once in place you
need a mirror to see into the intakes so you could dispense with the intake liners and save yourself a lot of filling. This means that you have a choice - cut the liners down gradually until the intakes fit or sacrifice accuracy by leaving them out, I went with the first choice and got the filler out, The intakes took a bit of elbow grease, needing filling and resanding a number of times, the leading inner edges were treated with Micro Kristal Klear wiped smooth with a damp finger then undercoated; the final coat of filler was “Perfect plastic putty” that can be smoothed with a wet finger even after setting. I now cut out the main wheel bays and inserted the resin replacements without issue, then assembled the wings, all good so far, but test fitting the wings to the body revealed a number of fit problems: the upper surfaces had large gaps, the area in front of the airbrake wells had a large gap that went around as far as the upper wing surface, the lower rear face didn’t really fit anywhere, and to compound matters sits a good bit lower than the fuselage. I inserted a large nut and bolt from my car spares (I’ll need that soon, you can bet on it) to ensure the kit wouldn’t become a
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 367
366-68-FEAT-T33-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:45 Page 368
T-33 SHOOTING STAR level of the wings. Once all the sanding was completed I primed the whole kit with Tamiya primer from a warmed aerosol then put it in the airing cupboard to cook for a few days whilst I sorted out the undercarriage. The nose wheel leg is fine but lacks the prominent closing mechanism for the bay doors, the main gear legs are okay but have next to no axles. I thought this would be a problem but attaching the resin wheels was not a problem and they’ve not dropped off yet, but inserting the legs into the bays resulted in one bay breaking loose, though fortunately I was able to insert the gear leg and let it set then used the leg as a handle to pull the part back into place and then re-attached it by applying thin superglue around the edges. A good rub over with an extra fine sanding pad followed to make sure I had a perfect finish. I next attached the windscreen which was a touch too wide, and test fitted the canopy which was also too wide. I have not got good references for the cockpit so don’t know if it’s right or not, but the internal canopy frame is missing and the central inner frame has been minimised, and when inserted as per the instructions it interferes with the backseater's instrument panel.
I now changed to Tamiya aerosols for the main work, beginning with the red which worked well until after masking the rear fuselage I sprayed over the red with their aluminium. This seemed to just soak through the red coat! So I now applied a barrier coat of clear varnish and left that to set for a few days, and then I remasked and resprayed the aluminium, which finally worked and I could move on to the next stage. The final stage was to apply the decals, which have good colour density but do not like being moved about even when given plenty of water and they curl and split at the drop of a hat, hence the incomplete red decal around the flaps on my model.
it’s a kit that’s never going to build itself or indeed give you much help
tail sitter then superglued the resin nose wheel bay in place. Now it was time to insert the assembled cockpit, but I was prevented from doing so as when inserted it touched the nose wheel bay before it was in the correct position. So out with the razor saw and the front of the cockpit tub was removed gradually until the cockpit could be fully inserted into place. Then a new front was added from a piece of plastic card, painted and glued into position. A number of test fitting sessions now followed as I tried to mate wings with fuselage successfully without leaving large gaps needing more filler. I removed the upper gaps by inserting a length of sprue beneath the cockpit tub to spread the fuselage slightly and this went very well – no filler, but the front and rear lower joins were another matter entirely, the gaps were filled with thick superglue and allowed to set overnight, I’ve discovered that using accelerator makes the glue brittle so I let it set naturally. Once set it was covered with “Perfect plastic putty”, the rear join needed the adjacent fuselage opening up to allow the wing to be inserted then the rear fuselage was sanded back towards the tail to eliminate an obvious step and match the
368 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
PAINTING AND DECALS I began to paint with Vallejo Red but on the wing tanks the paint pooled on the surface, so I removed the applied paint and cleaned the tanks with Fairy power spray (an amazingly good paint remover), out came the red paint again but sadly the same thing happened again so back to the sink and power spray.
CONCLUSION It took a number of weeks to complete this kit and that was due mainly to the fit problems around the intakes and wing/fuselage joins; you need to make things fit and be prepared to get the sanding sticks out. The decals fold over themselves when wet and need careful application. The canopy width issue is disappointing but you could display the canopy open which would disguise the problem. In the end my model does look every inch a T-33, but it’s a kit that’s never going to build itself or indeed give you much help. It’s not a bad kit, it just needs building rather than simply assembling. My thanks go to Special Hobby and I would like to request a 1/32 F-94C Starfire next, after all this kit is not that different, just a new fuselage and wing pods, come on Special Hobby, how about it?
Mastered-Adverts-AV-0415_AV-0606 14/03/2015 12:05 Page 369
The Scottish National Scale Model Show SATURDAY 25th April 10am to 5pm SUNDAY 26th April 10am to 4pm
BIGGER SHOW!
Now in Two Halls
Competition Demonstrations Tombola
45 Exhibitors 25 Traders Kit Swap
The Dewars Centre • Glover Street • Perth • PH2 0TH
www.scotnats.org.uk
MAGNA MODELS Scale Model Aircraft Kit Manufacturers Magna Models, Buzon 27, La Crujia 29719, Velez Malaga, Malaga, Espana. Tel: 0034 951 066 690 MAGNA MODELS - Scale Model Aircraft Manufacturers, 14 Fernhill Close, Blackwater, Camberley, Surrey, GU17 9HD. Tel 01276 33667 Email
[email protected]
BOMBER TO TRANSPORT CONVERSIONS 6272 7372 9272
Lancastrian (Airfix) C D4 £19.00 Boeing/SAAB B17(Academy) C D2 £19.00 Liberator Mk1/11 includes complete wings (Academy)
7072 8472
Halton/Halifax C8 (Airfix) Stirling Mk V (Airfix)
0272 2772 3472 4872 5072 5272 7572 7672 7972 8172 8972 9172
Fairey Firefly T7 Blackburn Firebrand TF3/4 Short Sturgeon TT2/3 Supermarine Swift F1 DH Dove/Devon Srs1-7 Percival Sea Prince T1 Gloster F.5/34 DH Flamingo S A Twin Pioneer Short Belfast C1 DH Dove Srs1(Dan Air) Short Sperrin
0472 3172 3572 4572 5172 6572 6972 7772 8072 8572 9072 9872
Blackburn Firebrand TF5 Fairey Firefly U8 Miles Monitor TT11 Supermarine Swift F7 Supermarine Swift F2/F4 Blackburn Beverley Hawker Henley TT111 Percival Petrel S A Pioneer A W Argosy C1 Vickers VC10 C1K Avro Ashton
NEW! 0148 0448 0648 0848 0248 1148
* * D * D2 *D D6 D D *D
£18.75 £18.75 £26.50 £19.95 £26.25 £26.00 £18.75 £29.00 £35.00 £107.00 £26.00 £87.00
1348 Hunting Percival Pembroke
Miles Martinet TT1 Blackburn Firebrand TF11 Hunting Percival Sea Prince Miles M20 Mk1 Blackburn Firebrand TF5 Miles Master Mk IA
* D2 D *D 3D D2
£34.00 £40.00 £45.00 £32.00 £40.00 £40.00
0548 0748 0948 1048 1248
C D5 C D3 Civil * C D3
* D3 D5 D2 D D
*D2
£19.00 £19.00 £31.50 £18.75 £18.75 £26.50 £20.95 £19.95 £98.00 £19.00 £23.25 £26.00 £90.00 £107.00 £87.00
£48.00
Miles Master Mk11 Martin Baker MB2 DH Sea Devon Boulton Paul Balliol T2/T21 Miles Master Mk I
4D 2D * D4 D2
£34.00 £32.00 £46.00 £45.00 £40.00
*= Optional parts; C= Conversion; D= Decals; 2, 3, 4, etc= Number of decal options Payment by cheque, IMO etc. Credit cards not accepted. Above prices include postage & packing in UK. EU add 15%, Rest of the World add 25%
HPM HOBBIES ENAER
MIRAGE ŝŘCN PANTERA
1:72
Fuerza Aérea de Chile
www.hpmhobbies.com UK: www.freightdogmodels.co.uk CAN: www.westcoasthobbys.com IT: www.misterkit.com NL: www.aviationmegastore.com AR: www.hobbieslc.com.ar JP: www.willing-hobby.com
NEW RELEASE HPK072103
370-72-FEAT-Spitfire-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:44 Page 370
SPITFIRE I AND VB
1/72
Pilot Officer Magee
SUNWARD I’ve Climbed O
n December 11th, 1941, at about 11.30 am, during a routine training mission, with three other Spitfires from RAF Wellingore, Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, RCAF, in his Spitfire Mk Vb, serial number AD291, VZ-H, collided with an Airspeed Oxford piloted by a student, LAC Ernest Aubrey Griffin, a Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve pilot from RAF Cranwell. Magee at the time was emerging at high speed from cloud at about 1,400 feet. The collision,
witnessed by a local farmer, took place over the hamlet of Roxholme, which lies between RAF Cranwell and RAF Digby. It seems that Magee jumped from the plane too low for his chute to open. LAC Griffin was also killed. At the time of the crash, Magee was assigned to No. 412
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
By Tony Grand
High Flight
"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, – and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air.... Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace. Where never lark, or even eagle flew — And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, - Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."
(Fighter) Squadron RCAF, which was formed at RAF Digby on 30 June 1941, and where he had become a qualified Spitfire pilot, after time with 53 Operational Training Unit, RAF Llandow, following training in Canada. He had joined the RCAF in October 1940 and was 19 years old when he died. Though this young man saw limited combat (nevertheless, one ‘circus’ he participated in involved tangling with the
370 |
Building Tamiya’s Spitfire I and Vb in 1/72
Luftwaffe’s notorious ‘Abbéville boys’), his posthumous reputation is great. His poem, High Flight, reproduced here, is the official poem of the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Air Force and has, it seems, to be recited from memory by fourth class cadets at the United States Air Force Academy. Portions of the poem appear on many of the headstones in the Arlington National Cemetery and it is displayed on panels at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, likewise in the National Air Force Museum of Canada, in Trenton, Ontario. It is the subject of a permanent display at
370-72-FEAT-Spitfire-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:44 Page 371
SPITFIRE I AND VB
the National Museum of the United States Air Force, in Dayton, Ohio. Famously and movingly, U.S. President Ronald Reagan concluded his speech following the Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986, with quotations from the poem. It seems Reagan had first heard it when, at the end of World War II, actor Tyrone Power, who had served as a U.S. Marine Corps pilot, recited the poem from memory at a Hollywood gathering, in a tribute to all those who had given their lives. At Power’s funeral, Laurence Olivier read High Flight. In addition, it has been much quoted in books and has been a favourite poem amongst both aviators and astronauts. Notably, James Irwin, who served as lunar module pilot for the Apollo 15 mission, took a copy of High Flight with him to the moon and was so affected by the mission and the poem's association with it that he later founded a religious organization called the High Flight Foundation.
serial number R6976 but unfortunately the squadron letters were not in Magee’s logbook. So I decided to build two Spitfires, the Mk Vb in which died and the Mk I one without a name, as it were.
A young man died in a flying accident in 1941 but before he died, he wrote a poem about flying high above the earth
THE KITS
I chose the relevant 1/72 scale Tamiya kits, partly because of availability and price, and partly because, strangely, I’ve never built anything from that manufacturer. The kits turned out to be as good as I’d hoped, with clean mouldings, good detail and excellent instructions. The Vb kit offers alternative builds, including a Vb Trop, and clipped wingtips for some modified examples. There is little to tell about the builds: well, actually, about the Mark I, as the Vb involved some self-inflicted wounds. I made the mistake of buying the Aires
replacement cockpit for the Mk Vb. Now, don’t get me wrong: as can be seen from the few photographs included here, the Aires items take an already good cockpit to a much higher level. But there are problems! You are warned that much thinning of both kit and replacement sidewalls is needed, as is much dry fitting. However, despite risking resin poisoning, from sanding the Aires parts it proved very difficult to get the completed assembly to fit easily and I ended up with uncommonly wide cockpit sills. I decided to hide them under the one-piece kit canopy, instead of using the Rob Taurus vac-form item, which I had originally planned to fit in the open position. Finally, as you 1/72 Spitfire builders will know after all this work, you can’t see much of that lovely detail with the canopy in the closed position. I don’t often
REASON FOR THE BUILD I decided to make myself a small commemoration of this young man and the poem, which I believe I’d first become aware of through President Reagan’s speech and then through a parody in the Simpsons recited by Homer. It would be a notable build for me, as I had previously only built two Spitfires: the first an Airfix Spitfire I in a bag, when my son Adam was a lad, and the second a 1/32 conversion of a Hasegawa Vb into a IXc reconnaissance version, about seven years ago. Initially, I was only going to build the Spitfire Vb but contact with Ray Haas, who has written a book on John Magee’s life and poetic afterlife that I can’t recommend highly enough, led me to build a Mk I as well. It was this book that gave me the type and serial number of the Spitfire used on the flight in which the parts of the famous poem formed in Magee’s mind, so much so that that he had to write the poem down on the back of an envelope very soon after landing. This aircraft was a Spitfire Mk.I,
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 371
370-72-FEAT-Spitfire-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:44 Page 372
SPITFIRE I AND VB
1/72
CONCLUSION
consider that I’ve wasted time and money during modelling (ahem…) but on this occasion that was my judgement and I didn’t repeat the mistake on the Mark I.
PAINTING AND DECALING After the usual priming and making good. I did both planes in Ocean Grey, Dark Green upper surfaces and Sea Grey Medium undersides, using Humbrol paints. The decals were settled on a coat of Klear floor varnish. The squadron
A young man died in a flying accident in 1941 but before he died, he wrote a poem about flying high above the earth, At 33,000 feet, according to his logbook, if, as Ray Haas deduces August 18th, 1941 was the day of ‘High Flight’. That poem was subsequently sent to his parents and, almost by accident it spread across the United States and then the world. It has not died and to more and more people it has expressed the spiritual dimension of soaring free of the Earth, whether in a plane or a spacecraft. I’m glad to have reminders of that young man on my shelf.
letters and serial numbers came from Xtradecal sheets. Just as I was taking the final photographs of both planes, an email from Ray Haas informed me that he now had reason to believe that the Mark I was MVJ. That was good enough for me and I added the letters. In a different font from the Mark Vb, it is true, but I trust that the Spitfire Sages will smile on me in this instance, as the fonts and letter sizes seemed to vary a lot, according to the side views in the superb SAM Data file.
The kits turned out to be as good as I’d hoped, with clean mouldings, good detail and excellent instructions
•
•
REFERENCES
•
372 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
Touching the Face of God: The Story of John Gillespie Magee, Jr. and His Poem ‘High Flight’: Ray Haas, 2014 Spitfire: The History: Eric B. Morgan and Eric Shacklady, 2000 The Supermarine Spitfire: A Comprehensive Guide for the Modeller, Part I, Merlin Powered: Robert Humphreys, SAM Modellers Datafile 3, 2000
373-Bookworld-SAMI-0415-WP_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:57 Page 1
BOOKWORLD wholesale
Blackburn Buccaneer
The awesome Flying Banana Jet in Royal Air Force Service by Willy Peters and Glenn Sands with Andreas Klein.65 pages,full colour
£15.00
French Aviation During the First World War. This book, the first of its kind,provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of the French Air Force from 1914 to 1918 through a historical narrative peppered with anecdotes and illustrated with many previously unpublished photos. Profiles of the most iconic aircraft constructed by France during the Great War are included and complemented by a full range of data on each piece of equipment .176 pages.
McDonnell-Douglas F-4C/RF-4C Phantom II This book is a concise, illustrated history of the legendary McDonnell Douglas F4C and RF-4C Phantom II. Covered are its technical developments, markings, and use by Spanish forces.Published by Schiffer.48 pages,74 color & b/w photos
£12.50
£29.95
Bookworld Wholesale Ltd. Unit 10 Hodfar Road, Sandy Lane Ind Est, Stourport, Worcs DY13 9QB Tel: 01299 823330 Fax: 01299 829970 web: www. bookworldws. co. uk email:info@bookworldws. co. uk
The BAE Systems Harrier II GR.9 and T.12 in the 21st Century.
How to Build Airfix 1:24 Hawker Typhoon. The complete guide to building the amazing Airfix 1:24 scale Hawker Typhoon, written by Brett Green of HyperScale and Model Military fame. This new book features an exhaustive step-by-step guide to construction with modelling contributions by Brett, Marcus Nicholls and Chris Wauchop.74 pages,full colour.
£12.95
Naval Fighters 99.Douglas AD/A-1 Skyraider Part 2.U.S Navy Squadrons This volume covers 95 squadrons that flew this amazing aircraft.273 pages,13color photos, 589 B & W photos, and 138 patches. Published by Stebe Ginter
Over 180 pages are dedicated to the modeler and contain the following: avionics - cockpits - landing gear engines - most recent armament fuselage details - camouflage schemes 1/48 scale drawings.Over 950 images,An absolute must have for the fans of this unique British aircraft.
£35.00
£41.99
Coastal Craft History Volume 1 Air Battles 22 Crickets against Rats Regia Aeronautica in the Spanish Civil War 1936-1937 vol. I.The book follows day to day air struggles and the rapid development of the Italian Air Force in Spain. The First volume descibes fights since July 1937, including such actions as air raids on Madrid the Battle of the Jarama River, Malaga and Guadalajara.80 pages,110 archive photos,10 color profiles
Vosper Motor Torpedo Boats.From 68ft PV boat to MTB 538.Profiles and Text:Mark Smith.Profiles based on the drawings of John Lambert. The Colour profiles in this book detail the colour schemes and equipment of Vosper MTB's from job 1763 (MTB 102) to MTB 538,the last boat ordered during wartime.
£17.99
Monograph 58.Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien The Ki-100, a Ki-61-II Kai airframe mated to the Mitsubishi Ha-112-II radial engine, entered service towards the end of the war. 116 pages,18 painting schemes,105 archive photos 19 pages A4 sheet of scale drawings 2 double A2 sheet with drawings.
£15.00
£15.99
Wings of Angels 2 Tribute to the Art of WWII Pinup & Aviation.A beautifully presented, twovolume collection, uniquely chronicling the story and history of the most recognizable aircraft of World War II and the pinup girls whose images graced these legendary warbirds.Hardback
£33.50
Wings of Angels 1 Tribute to the Art of WWII Pinup & Aviation.A beautifully presented, twovolume collection, uniquely chronicling the story and history of the most recognizable aircraft of World War II and the pinup girls whose images graced these legendary warbirds.Hardback
£33.50
The “Easy” Boys The Story of a Bomber Command Aircrew in World War II: Based on the Wartime Diaries of Flying Officer Reg Heffron, RAAF.224 pages,89 Black/White photos,Hardback
£28.99
Aircraft Pictorial 7 Blue 016.T-2 Buckeye Jet Trainer in Detail U.S. Cold War Era Jet Trainer Still in the Hellenic Air Force Service by Ioannis Lekkas, Martin Velek 96 pages, 238 colour photos soft cover, V4 binding
£21.99
Airframe & Miniature No.7 MMiR 62 Isherman! A Special Great War Commemorative Feature: Napoleon Complex: The Little Renault FT17 goes BIG! , The M103, A Primer: Part 2 , Conqueror: Heavy Super Armored Fighting Suit, Float Your Boat: Dragon's Ka-mi times two , Bronyetransportyor!: Trumpeter's BTR80 kit , Finally Isherman!
£8.99
Static Model Manual 9
Figurevolution.With a bit of practise, using well-known techniques and proven materials it is not difficult to achieve miniatures at a more than respectable level. Alex Michelotti attempts to provide substantial assistance to enable us to reach the goal of creating our own personal style! Step by step photos, secrets, tricks, shortcuts, anything goes.84 pages,Full color.
£19.99
Airplanes in Scale
The Greatest Guide.Compilation of the most popular planes from WWII with the latest available kits and accessories. A complete guide employing the most common techniques and the latest assembly and painting tricks. Step by step explanations easy to follow.200 pages,full colour.
£31.99
Painting Girls in Acrylics Master Julio Cabos explains through clear, step-by-step sequences, how to paint girl figures from beginning to advanced levels, introducing an innovative painting technique using brush and airbrush.DVD,running time 90 minutes
£19.95
The Modeller’s Guide Superdetailing, Painting and Weathering Aircraft of WWII, with airfield accessories, ordnance and diorama.The book is intended for both beginners and advanced modellers as it covers a wide variety of modelling tasks.178 pages,full colour
£18.95
YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www. bookworldws. co. uk Stockists of the following subjects: Aviation, Military, Naval, Modelling, Railway, Motoring Major credit cards accepted, UK cheques payable to Bookworld Wholesale Ltd
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Radialengine.Airframe & Miniature No.7: The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Radial-engine Versions (including Fw 190A, B, C, F, G & S) ñ A Complete Guide To The Luftwaffeís Butcher Bird by Richard A. Franks. This seventh book in our much acclaimed series contains a massive 224 pages packed with vital information that no active modeller and Fw 190 enthusiast should be without.
£18.95
Rolls-Royce Merlin 1933-50. The Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engine still has the power to turn heads and raise hairs on the backs of necks, for this was the heart that gave life to the famous names of Hurricane, Spitfire, Lancaster, Mosquito and Mustang.Hardback,160 pages, 225 colour, 75 mono illustrations.
£25.00
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter.
An illustrated technical history of the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter supersonic interceptor and fighter-bomber. Features 40 superb colour profiles of camouflage and markings, walk-around colour photographs and rare b&w archive photographs.
F4U-1 Corsair Vol.1.There are many fine books describing the original "Birdcage" Corsair, but once again the Aircraft Pictorial Series has turned up new documentation explaining this amazing aircraft.72 pages,paperback,black & white photographs.
£15.99
£19.99
A.K Airbrush Essential Training DVD This DVD covers basics of airbrushing which will help lay the foundation for successful use of a double action airbrush.This DVD will give you a solid no non-sense foundation which will take the fear and mystery out of using this essential tool. Even the more experienced modeler will pick up a few things from watching this DVD.
£9.99
The Weathering Magazine 10 Water This issue is dedicated to water and moisture. The best modellers in the world will offer a repertoire of exceptional examples and they explain with detailed step by step process, all the newest tricks and techniques to get your models represent similar conditions. From ships at offshore to tanks out of the water or crossing rivers, seaplanes, standing water, streams and much more. 64 pages
£8.99
UK POSTAGE SINGLE BOOKS £2. 50 TWO OR MORE BOOKS £4. 50 OVERSEAS AIRMAIL PLEASE ADD 15% OF ORDER VALUE MINIMUM £4. 50
374-77-FEAT-Yak3-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:43 Page 374
ZVEZDA YAK-3
1/72
YAK-3
The Nimble Fighter from Zvezda By Konstantine Malinovski
T
here are moments in every modeller’s life when the spirit of the moment caused by the change of the season, or a change in diet, is when he or she steps aside from their usual subjects or scales, and builds something very different. Once every couple of years, I fall for into this trend and “cheat” on the only true modelling scale (1/72 - that is) for something a little different. This year's cheat fell on Zvezda’s Yak-3, and in many ways because I had already built the 1/72 version of this aircraft (also from Zvezda) and hoped to capitalise on the research I already had in hand, thus saving time and effort. Regrettably, the real life reasons distracted me from finishing this kit quickly, and it not being in my favourite scale, actually prevented me from putting all the effort in time it deserved… so the project dragged on and took a while. For
this, I apologise to the editor and the good people at Zvezda. The Yak-3 was the favourite creation of A. Yakovlev (called “the King of Fighters” in the former USSR) and probably marked the limit that could have been achieved for a piston engined fighter of mixedmedia construction. It was optimized for the conditions on the Eastern Front and in most of the cases outperformed “the Slim” a Soviet nickname for the Bf 109. Soviet fighter pilots considered the Bf 109 a much more dangerous opponent during the whole duration of the war than the Fw 190, as they considered the latter as too heavy and sluggish for the realities of the Eastern Front.
The Yak-3 was envisaged as an “air superiority fighter” and its weapons were more than sufficient to destroy any of the fighters of the day. It was very well received by the pilots, who loved the ease of control, nimbleness and speed. These features, however, were achieved through a merciless sacrifice of extra weight and as a result a relatively fragile structure. In other words, the Yak-3 could efficiently deliver a strong punch but would not be able to take any. However, coupled with the experience of the VVS fighter pilots, this machine proved to be an extremely good front line fighter and quickly achieved an iconic status in the East (similar to the Spitfire’s in the West).
There are three simple modifications that could be done to improve this kit
THE KIT For a long time the best option to add a Yak-3 to one’s 1/48 collection was the Eduard kit. Over the years it was rereleased in various guises and many forms (ProfiPacks, Special Decals, Week-End) etc. Being good value for money the Eduard kit, however, had major outline and dimensional issues, fixing which would be a challenge for even a rather experience
374 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
374-77-FEAT-Yak3-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:43 Page 375
FEATURE
modeller. The new kit from Zvezda was eagerly anticipated by the 1/48 community. Zvezda’s prior kits of the La-5 and Bf 109 quite frankly made a new quality benchmark for the whole industry globally, and the release of a very accurate (albeit snap-fit) Yak-3 in 1/72 a year earlier heated up expectations even further. Jumping ahead of myself, I would confess the kit leaves mixed feelings. The quality of the moulds is superb throughout, the clear parts are thin (I would even say there is no real need to have them replaced by the vacu-formed aftermarket) and crystal clear. Zvezda even provides a slightly “shrunk” rear part of the canopy, so the cockpit can be positioned opened. The box comes suitably packed with plastic and the parts count is very respectable. From first glance it is clear that Zvezda provides the option to build the model in the open engine configuration. The downsides start appearing after a much closer look. For example most of the control surfaces are not detached and thus are not positionable, the cockpit interior is rather simplified, and the actuator arms for the central wheel well covers are not there at all. The optionality is also limited to a “completely exposed engine” or “completely closed engine” configuration. The engine is superbly detailed and its parts counts exceeds the rest of the model. One has an impression that the kit designer spent a lot of time on perfecting and creating a great representation of the VK-105 and then the deadline came and everything behind it was rushed quickly. It really looks like the whole kit is the wonderful kit of the engine with an airframe thrown in as an afterthought. Having said that I must say that the airframe is very accurate and corresponds perfectly with my information.
CONSTRUCTION I started my build with the wings. There are three simple modifications that could be done to improve this kit: add “wheels down indicators”, add transparent position lights and imitate the fuel tanks gauges on the wings. In 1/48 scale the latter is a must and it is better to start the modifications with them. Zvezda provides the gauges as decals and they are quite decent. To imitate the depth of the indicator, I chiselled round holes in the wings, transferred the decals into the
resulting “valleys”, Then clear resin was then poured on top, and after it had set, carefully sanded and polished it flush with the wing surface. Next, round masks were cut from foil and placed over the dials to protect the finish during painting. A few coats of Mr. Surfacer were than sprayed on top of the wing, to make sure that all the surfaces were even. The wings were then glued together, and the position lights were added from clear plastic of an appropriate colour (green and red). The holes for the wheel
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 375
374-77-FEAT-Yak3-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:43 Page 376
ZVEZDA YAK-3
1/72
had the airframe, minus the engine. The fit throughout was exemplary. The only gripe (and the biggest fault of the kit, I dare to say) is the join between the wing and the rear fuselage. Zvezda designers wisely decided to make the dreaded wing-to-fuselage joint as an integral part of the wing, but for some inexplicable position indicators were marked and drilled but the indicators themselves were not added until the very end of assembly. In parallel (while the glue and Mr. Surfacer dried on the wings) I had started on the cockpit. Zvezda provides enough detail for the “closed cockpit” version (and the pilot's figure is just superb!) But as I was planning to have the cockpit hood opened, I purchased Eduard’s Zoom PE set. At the time I started the kit, they did not produce a set specifically for Zvezda (EDFE641), so I obtained the one for their own version (EDFE399). By doing this it was obvious that the Eduard kit was oversized, however the set worked fine, except the instrument panel which needed some major trimming to get it to fit into the Zvezda kit cockpit. The addition of this set provides a decent
amount of detail in the cockpit and saves a lot of time. But unfortunately it does not address the radio compartment (the area behind the cockpit) at all. First and foremost, most of the Soviet radio equipment I saw was traditionally painted in “steel grey” with black buttons and bezels. Eduard (and to give them justice, Zvezda too) for some reason think that the receiver on the Yak-3 was black. I am not sure this is correct, but decided to go with their suggestion (mostly because the face of the receiver on the PE set is painted black and just using it was easier than repainting). Some wiring and missing handles were added to the cockpit and radio compartment. But please note that the throttle levers in the Yak had their handles coloured in blue and yellow, not red as some sources suggest. With everything glued together, I now
I promise the experience will be greatly rewarding, as the built engine will look stunning
376 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
reason, decided to make the actual joint half way to the nearest panel seam. As a result, and not depending upon the quality of the fit, the use of putty is mandatory and the resulting sanding afterwards will damage the panel lines. And re-scribing those gentle curves, arghh… Another small correction which needs to be done (and in a way very similar to the one above) is to reposition the joint seen on the spinner. It has to be behind the propeller blades and not in the middle of the openings where Zvezda has made it. I opted to simulate this by adding a thin strip of foil, but scribing it would also work. As already mentioned the
374-77-FEAT-Yak3-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:43 Page 377
FEATURE engine is a kit in itself. And if there is a tip a reader can take from this article, let it be this one: “Study the instruction sheet and follow it closely!” I cannot stress more highly the importance of this, take your time and plan in advance the painting assembly as you will save a great deal of time (as you will have to apply at least four different colours) and religiously follow each step, this will ensure that all parts fit each other and you will not break off some extremely delicate parts trying to fit them through a maze of previously installed components. If you follow the instructions, I promise the experience will be greatly rewarding, as the built engine will look stunning. I thought hard, but the only things I could see to add were the ignition wires. Alas, one needs to look specifically for them to see them once the engine is attached to the fuselage. I decided early on that building this model with the fully exposed engine (looking gorgeous as it is) would not give justice to the elegant and refined outline of the Yak-3, so as a compromise some of the cowling panels had to be left in place to preserve the solid lines. I opted for the full underside panel and one panel on the top. As mentioned before, Zvezda does not allow for this partial solution, and the kit parts could not been cut up (which was my original idea, due to their thickness). Thus these panels had to be scratch built. I used thick foil to press out the panels using the kit parts as a pattern to produce scale thickness replacements.
PAINTING AND DECALING After a tedious and lengthy masking process the model was ready for painting and decaling. In the box Zvezda provided three rather interesting options to choose from, but I opted for the aftermarket solution. Mostly for two reasons – I wanted an aircraft with a patriotic slogan on it and with the minimum markings or colours on the front of the fuselage, and the kit decals (printed, I believe, by Begemot) have a very distinct yellowish tint to their white colour. I chose to use the markings from an Authentic Decals (AD4853) sheet, which provides a number of options including a presentation aircraft, though I still used the stencils from the Zvezda decal sheet and they worked rather well. My chosen scheme represented the second aircraft purchased during the war from the personal savings of a farmer (Mr. Golovati) and presented to the Soviet ace
pilot Guards Major B. Eryomin, who proceeded to shoot down 6 German aircraft in this particular machine. In his final mission of the war Major Eryomin flew this aircraft in the skies above Berlin. After the war the aircraft was preserved and displayed in the Yakovlev Design Bureau museum in Moscow. After the decals were applied, and the oil dot filters suitably brushed on, I learnt that I had made a major mistake as this
particular aircraft was an early series Yak3 and was fitted with only one machine gun on top of the engine! Alas, it was too late for this particular model, as I could not bear the thought of removing the extra gun then pressing out a new cowling, followed by reapplying the colour scheme. The final additions to my model were the actuator arms for the inner landing gear doors. Zvezda completely omitted them from the model and this added a couple of hours of bending, gluing and painting. Finally the main wheels supplied by Zvezda are rather simplified. I am sure there might be some aftermarket replacement on the market already (Indeed Armoury has produced some, Ed) and that would be the easiest way out, but for my model I chose to
add treads by cutting grooves into the tyres.
CONCLUSION Is it the best kit Zvezda has produced? Sadly no, but it is the best Yak-3 kit on the market to date. My overall impression is highly favourable. It is a great kit, and scores very highly in all the important areas. Most importantly it is geometrically correct and for the current market price there could be a lot of cash left for aftermarket parts if you wish to take that route. Our thanks to the Hobby Company, Zvezda’s UK importer, for supplying the sample used in this build.
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 377
SAM-MDF24-Mustang Part 2-Advert_Layout 1 10/10/2014 14:48 Page 1
T OU W NO
THE NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION
P-51 MUSTANG A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Part 2 Merlin Powered
MDF 24
MDF 24
P-51 MUSTANG
£19.99 +£3.00 P&P
By Malcolm V. Lowe
T
he North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was one of the most iconic single-seat aircraft of World War II, and was subsequently used in the Korean War and beyond, and by a host of countries worldwide. The Mustang was conceived, designed and built by North American Aviation in response to a specification issued by the British Purchasing Commission. The Mustang was originally designed to use the Allison V-1710 engine, which had limited high-altitude performance, and this mark is detailed in Modellers Datafile #21, which is Part 1 of the Mustang Story. The addition of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine to the P-51B/C model transformed the Mustang's performance at altitudes above 15,000 ft, where it matched or bettered almost all of the Luftwaffe’s fighters at altitude. The definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard V-1650-7, a license-built version of the Rolls Royce Merlin 60 Series two-stage, two-speed, supercharged engine, and armed with six .50 calibre M2 Browning machine guns.
From late 1943, P-51Bs, supplemented by P-51Ds from mid-1944, were used by the USAAF’s Eighth Air Force to escort bombers in raids over Germany, while the RAF's 2 TAF and the USAAF's Ninth Air Force used the Merlin-powered Mustangs as fighter-bombers, in various roles which helped give the Allies air superiority in 1944. The P-51 was also in service with Allied air forces in the North African, Mediterranean and Italian theater’s, and saw limited service against the Japanese in the Pacific War. At the start of the Korean War, the Mustang was the United Nations main fighter until jets such as the F-86 Sabre took over their role, and the Mustang then became a specialised fighter-bomber. Despite the advent of jet fighters, the Mustang remained in service with some air forces well into the early 1980sm, and continues this popularity in the Warbird scene.
M DF 24
P-51 MUSTANG
In ‘North American Mustang Part 2 Merlin Powered’, acknowledged author Malcolm V. Lowe continues the Mustang story, looking in depth at the Merlin engined versions as used by the RAF and USAAF in World War II through Korea and beyond, describing its operators and variants, from the P-51B though to the F-82 Twin Mustang. This volume includes colour side profiles, walk arounds, technical diagrams, scale plans production and serial data, and looks at modelling the Mustang in popular scales, backed up with a Kitography of available models, decals and accessories. Fully illustrated throughout, North American P-51 Mustang Part 2 Merlin Powered is the comprehensive guide to one of the world’s most recognisable aircraft.
ORDER HOTLINE: 44 (0)1234 211245 ORDER ONLINE: www.sampublications.com
379-Testors-WF-Plane-0415-WP_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:57 Page 1
380-85-ClarksField-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:40 Page 380
TYPHOON F.2 & MIG-15BIS
1/144 1/72
Revell 1/144th Eurofighter Typhoon F.2
HobbyBoss 1/72 Easy Assembly MiG-15bis diorama
380 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
380-85-ClarksField-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:40 Page 381
online inspiration
CLARK’S FIELD
The Tony Per Memorial Group Build By Dick Clark
INTRODUCTION I allude on occasion to the inspiration behind certain builds. Many of us suffer occasionally from ‘modellers’ block’ and need something to fire us up again. One place to look for inspiration is among the various group builds conducted on the internet. One which I recently found doubly inspiring was the ‘Tony Per Memorial Group Build’. It was the rules for this that particularly caught my interest: each build entered must take no more than one week and have a maximum budget of £6.50, excluding consumables such as glue and paints. You could enter as many builds as you wanted over the three-week duration of the competition as long as the first rules were followed. The first thing I had to do was raid the stash for a kit with a price-tag within the budget and which, preferably, had its purchase price on the box. I came up with the Revell 1/144th Eurofighter Typhoon F.2; cost, £4.50 (reduced from £5.99 – still well within budget).
doesn’t seem to matter how carefully I read Revell’s instructions before starting a build, I can’t avoid missing an error somewhere. Such was the case with this kit right at Stage 1. There are decals for the main instrument panel and side consoles, but there is no mention of them whatsoever in the instructions. So I painstakingly marked some basic screens and switches with a draughtsman’s pen, only to discover the decals when I came to apply the rest, by which time, of course, it was too late. I added masking tape seat belts to improve the look of the seat. I added a small roll of lead strip into the nose before joining the two upper fuselage halves. The instructions do not refer to nose weight being needed, but I didn’t want to take any chances. At Stage 8, Part #10 is shown in the instructions upside down. But this part really needs to be fitted at Stage 7 before the upper and lower fuselage halves are joined. I had to prise these apart, thankful that the glue had not fully set, in order to get the part in. At Stage 10, Part #33 is shown as optional but is not appropriate to either version offered as shown on the paint charts, so one wonders why it is shown at all. I referred to photographs of the real aircraft in which this part was fitted, so I added it anyway. The fuselage is obviously designed in such a way that both the single- and twoseater Typhoon can be made from the same tooling. A spine insert covers over the rear seat aperture, negating the need for too much sanding along the top joint. In fact the only joint that needed any serious attention was under the nose, but a thin swab of filler and a light sanding soon sorted that out.
After fixing the cockpit canopy and canards I felt the model was ready for paint. For this build I brush-painted, using Revell Aqua Color acrylics. I thin these paints down with a little water for brush painting; it’s difficult to be precise, but roughly 80% paint to 20% water. Use a large soft brush and paint in the direction of airflow wherever possible. Two to three coats should be enough. On this model I used the recommended Hellgrau for the main colour and Mausgrau for the radome and a few other parts. The wheel wells were painted with plain matt white. Once this was all dry I brushed on a couple of coats of Klear and left this to harden overnight. There now followed a couple of long decaling sessions; there are an awful lot of tiny but perfectly legible stencils on this model, but they sure do enhance the look
Each build entered must take no more than one week and have a maximum budget of £6.50
BUILDING UP A STORM Despite this being a highly detailed little kit, and despite the instructions running to 24 stages, the model builds up quickly; several of those stages, especially in the early part, consisting of only one move. I
The Typhoon almost at the painting stage, with just the canopy to add. No masking was needed as this was to be brush-painted.
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 381
380-85-ClarksField-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:41 Page 382
TYPHOON F.2 & MIG-15BIS
1/144 1/72
Painting done, ready for a couple of long decaling sessions.
All the decaling done, it only remains to apply some panel wash to the control surface edges, matt the model and add the final weathering and details.
of the model when they’re done. The decals were sealed with another coat of Klear, then some restrained panel wash was applied, mainly around the control surface edges and in the wheel wells, with Vallejo Black Shade wash. The painting was finished with a coat of Revell Aqua Color Matt Clear. Undercarriage parts were also painted white and weathered in similar fashion. The afterburner cans were painted with Citadel Boltgun Metal, also weathered with Vallejo wash. I decided to fit the main pylons but just the large wing-tanks, as per most photographs, although this was also a time-saving ploy given the limited build time allowance; there are a lot of stencils and markings to be
382 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
applied to the various ordnance and I was afraid of this just taking too long. Besides, I rather like the look this way. Smoke stains were worked in with pastel powder, using photographs for reference. My last job was to neaten up the canopy framing where my freehand brushing had gone onto the clear parts, using the tip of a cocktail stick to scrape away the excess paint without scratching the canopy.
SECOND WIND Rather late in the day, I decided I had time for a second entry. I pulled a HobbyBoss 1/72 Easy Assembly MiG-15bis from the stash – kit price £4.85. I have a penchant for MiG-15's and this is a favourite kit of mine despite the need (usually) to cut off and reset the vertical fin, which invariably has a lean to port. However, for this idea – and I have no clue as to where the inspiration came from – I felt this was unnecessary as it could be put down to crash damage. So the basic airframe was built as it comes – not even any need for nose weight this time! It is a shame this kit has no instrument panel detail, either moulded on or as a decal, but again this didn’t matter so much this time as the panel was to be covered in a layer of frost. It was still worth doing a reasonably
380-85-ClarksField-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:41 Page 383
CLARK’S FIELD
good paint-job and adding masking tape belts to the seat. I did drop the elevators a touch and set the rudder to port; this is an easy job with this kit. I fitted the main cannon set off-line as if bent on impact, glued the undercarriage as if collapsed and rather mangled, with some parts missing altogether, and set the speed brakes at different angles; one hanging wide open and the other having settled semi-open. The pitot under the starboard wing, close in to the fuselage, was set bent back. The main battle-damage was created by drilling a line of holes along the fuselage. I imagined a series of canon strikes causing severe, but not catastrophic, internal damage; perhaps loss of hydraulic and electrical power, internal systems damage and some fire damage to the engine. I have no idea if such damage is even possible, but this was my imagination where anything is
possible! The holes were widened and their edges splayed out simply by twisting the tip of a nail-scissor blade into them. I imagined the pilot jettisoning his canopy but his ejector seat failing to fire, or maybe realising he was too low to bail out; again, I have no idea how these things actually worked on a 1950’s first-generation jet, I’m just guessing and making up excuses! So the pilot brought his crippled fighter into a belly-landing in wet mud, which it rapidly furrowed into, slowing as the mud sucked at his belly and mangled his useless undercarriage, finally coming to a halt as it hit an old, dead tree, slewing around and digging its nose in. Unable to radio for help, the pilot sheltered under
The main battle-damage was created by drilling a line of holes along the fuselage
First thing at the start of a group build is usually a photo of your chosen kit, unstarted…
the starboard wing, building a fire with the remains of the old tree. But during the night, as the bitter cold crept over him and the falling snow won the fight against his fire, he slowly slipped into unconsciousness and froze to death. So anyway, back to the model! I primed with Hycote Grey Auto Primer, went over that with Tamiya TS-17 Gloss Aluminium and finished with Tamiya TS-13 Gloss Clear. Decals came from the kit, though
The model ready for paint from the starboard side, relatively undamaged.
…with, in this case, something showing the date and the price of the kit.
But on the port side the battle-damage can be seen in its raw state.
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 383
380-85-ClarksField-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:42 Page 384
TYPHOON F.2 & MIG-15BIS
1/144 1/72
Underneath, the undercarriage is showing quite serious crash-damage.
the wing walk panels were taken from the Airfix version. The nose number is from the Russian option with the numbers changed around – I didn’t want anyone to be able to say “That didn’t happen to that airframe!” This is, as far as I am aware, a fictitious aircraft in a fictional setting. Weathering was quite heavily done using Vallejo Black Shade panel wash and black pastel powder, and the whole lot sealed with Tamiya Satin Clear. The diorama base was a cheap picture frame – 80p for a pack of 3 from Wilko! The space where the picture and backing are supposed to go was packed out with card off-cuts. Delving into my decorating materials, a thick mix of exterior filler was mixed for the mud, layered on to about 10mm deep. Whilst it was still wet, the MiG was dragged through the filler to the point where I intended placing the treestump, where it was slewed around about 20 – 30 degrees and the nose simultaneously dug in. The tree stump – a twig from the garden, was pushed in half under the port wing and the upper
The diorama base is a cheap picture frame packed out with mount board offcuts. I temporarily fitted the tree stump to ensure everything would line up as intended.
384 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
The MiG after painting and weathering, looking heavily used and terminally damaged. I haven’t bothered to put a National marking on the port wing as it is all part of the plan that it will be covered by snow.
trunk, broken off by the impact, was pushed into the mud against the nose of the aircraft. This was then placed on top of the fish-tank where the gentle warmth could help it to set. The filler dries to a cement colour, so this was overpainted with various shades of thinned brown acrylic. While
this paint was still wet, the fire was indicated with a drop or three of Anthracite acrylic; the wet paint allowed this to blend in and run into the uneven surface of the mud quite naturally. The fire was built up with more twigs representing the burnt ends of log and the charred ends represented with more Anthracite. The figure of the frozen-to-death pilot was a whitemetal figure from my model railway box. After painting he was drybrushed with white to represent frost on his flight suit. For the snow effect I sprayed the whole model liberally with Satin Clear then sifted interior Pollyfilla over from above, gently blowing some in the wind direction to make it drift a little. After giving this a while to soak up the clear coat and set, I misted more satin clear over to seal it in – you have to go gently with this to avoid disturbing any loose snow and to avoid it
Both ideal projects for modellers on a budget, as I am sure many are in these austere times.
380-85-ClarksField-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:42 Page 385
CLARK’S FIELD
The base covered to about 10mm deep with external filler.
clumping in the fresh varnish. Lastly, a light spray of gloss clear was misted over to give the snow a little sparkle. And there it is – a dramatic diorama costing a little over £5.00 including the model, built in under 6 days and, as it turns out, the winner of the inaugural Tony Per Memorial Group Build!
CONCLUSION Well, if nothing else, this has proved that great models can be achieved with minimal spending, both these builds costing less than £6.00, plus materials taken from stock (or the garden!). The HobbyBoss MiG-15bis is a great, cheap, simple kit as a basis for something different, or for extra detailing; actually an ideal kit for those beginning to stretch their skills into adding etch, maybe aftermarket decals or to try setting in a
A sequence of images showing how the model was dragged through the ‘mud’ while the filler was still wet, finally slewing it around and digging the nose in. If you don’t get it right first time, pull the model out, smooth the filler over and try again.
The MiG in its final resting place. The filler is still wet here, the broken tree and wheel still to be added.
diorama. The Revell Typhoon is another style of budget kit, highly detailed for its diminutive size and easily standing alongside similar kits in larger scales. Both ideal projects for modellers on a budget, as I am sure many are in these austere times.
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 385
386-87-Testors-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:52 Page 386
TESTORS
Sponsored by
www.testors.com
PAINT IT WITH TESTORS
Training Colours Detailing the Hasegawa 1:72 Fuji T-1A/B By Adam Rehorn fter World War II, Japan, like the other nations, found its once thriving, innovative and in many ways world-leading aircraft design and manufacturing industry, literally and figuratively in ruins. However, the Japanese were determined to redevelop this key capability, and not to be reliant solely on the aircraft offered to them by their new friends in the West. Their first step was to create a modern jet aircraft, in this instance a trainer, and flying for the first time in 1958, the Fuji T-1A represented quite a milestone for Japan. The Fuji T-1A and T-1B (they differed primarily in the engines used) were not worldbeaters, but they had both the style and substance of an early 1950’s aircraft. The T-1, with its swept wings and tailplane, was a graceful and effective aircraft, and looked a lot like a two-seat F-86. Yet this was not simply a converted ‘clone’ of the F-86 but was in fact was a solid performer that continued in service until 2006, and stands as conclusive proof as to the soundness of the design. Given the immense technical and nationalistic achievement that the T-1 represented, it’s no surprise that Hasegawa were quick out of the gate with a replica. The first T-1A kits were produced in the 1960’s, and the tooling has been going strong ever since, and just like its full sized counterpart, the Hasegawa T-1 seems to refuse to die.
A
The clean, simple lines of the T-1 are rather lost amid the myriad of colourful strips, panels and swooshes that adorn this example from the 13th Training Wing. Just like the real aircraft, the Hasegawa T-1 proves to be an excellent canvas for colourful expression!
The particular boxing of the kit I have is the 1991 version, and it says a lot about the quality of Hasegawa’s moulding and production processes that this model looks no worse than many kits released in the early 1980s. In addition, it’s hard for me to believe how clean, flash-free and distortion free this particular boxing was, so kudos is well deserved. Now, given that this kit is indeed from the 1960s in terms of design, it will come as no surprise that all the detail on this model consists of raised panel lines. However, there are a lot of these, and
The first T-1A kits were produced in the 1960’s
From the rear three-quarters, there is more white to be seen, but the colourful stabiliser and tail fin keep the colours going strong. There are three layers of decal on the tail fin alone; the red is a decal, as is the blue marking and the black number code. Hoping these would all go over the raised panel lines was something of a pipe dream.
386 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
The way in which the wing fences cut the decals makes trimming the film on the decals essential. The coloured part goes right up to the base of the fence; there’s no room for film. This impressive decal-based paint scheme is the real challenge of the kit. Building the T-1 is actually very simple and enjoyable!
Shooting this without a flash reveals the ‘self-shadowing’ feature of the closed-off intake piece. The splitter plate looks well-defined as the intake trunk trails off to somewhere in the shadows. This is very effective and prevents there being a ‘dead stop’ to the intake trunking, despite the fact that the shadow is actually the back wall of the nose piece.
386-87-Testors-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:52 Page 387
Sponsored by
www.testors.com
PAINT IT WITH TESTORS
The sleek, largely unfettered lines and garish paint scheme make this T-1 look something like a giant flying ornamental Koi, with the sky its decorative pond. Whether or not this was intended is anyone’s guess. Keeping the panel line rescribing to a minimum helps to preserve this graceful simplicity.
This close-up of the nose reveals more heavily layered decals, as well as more examples of where trimming is essential. The orange band just meets the anti-glare patch perfectly, so long as there’s no extra film! Note the home-made seat-belts fashioned from masking tape. An old trick for an old kit, it seemed appropriate. There’s not much detail under the nice and distortion-free canopy!
if you want to save all of these details when you sand the fuselage after gluing, you can bet there’s going to be a lot of either rescribing or gluing of stretched sprue going on. Also Hasegawa’s decals are traditionally quite thick, and while of high quality, I had fears about them accurately fitting over so many small contours and lines. The T-1 comes moulded in white, with a clear sprue containing the twopiece canopy. This model can actually be built with the canopy open, but in order to make it worthwhile, a lot of extra bits were going to be required. There’s not a lot of cockpit detail, and the seats don’t even have seat-belts. However, the canopy is surprisingly clear and free of distortion. Construction was straightforward, and needing a healthy amount of nose weight! For my build of this Hasegawa classic, I opted to rescribe only the major panel lines, as I wanted just enough to add character. The rest of the well-moulded small details were sanded off, giving me a nice, clean airframe with only a few important lines. The real T-1s are usually very clean, and it’s difficult to see all the fine detail on the real thing, let alone on a small 1:72 model! There aren’t any real pitfalls awaiting the modeller who tackles this kit, and I was amazed that I needed no putty at all! Early T-1s were operated in a silver finish, not unlike the JASDF’s F-86s. However, the bulk of the T-1s spent their life wearing white. Well, that’s a bit misleading; they wore white underneath, but most were adorned, peacock-like, with wild paint schemes
resplendent in shades of reds, oranges and sometimes even blues. Rarely has such a small family of aircraft lived such a colourful life! So I painted this T-1 with Model Master Flat White #4769, and when it was dry the panel lines were pencil outlined before decalling to give them some depth. The wheel bays were painted with Model Master Steel #4679, and given a light treatment of Model Master Black #37038 as a wash to bring out what little detail there was. Another area needing more detail was the cockpit, which I painted Model Master Light Ghost Grey #36375 and a wash of black picked out what details there were. I also chose to make some basic seat belts using masking tape strips, aged with black and brown
I would definitely recommend the kit to anyone fascinated with unusual aircraft
The gear bays are very simple without much detail, and there’s nothing in the nose wheel bay. A simple wash adds some life, but for some modellers, the need for extra details in here could well lead to the project becoming overly complicated. Notice that the decaling extravaganza continues apace on the aircraft’s belly. No rest for the wicked here!
washes with hand-painted silver ‘buckles’. With the panel lines done, the entire aircraft was glossed with a coat of Johnson’s ‘Future’. Applying the decals is one part of a model that can really make or break the final look, however, in the case of the T-1, this is taken to the extreme! Every bit of airframe colour you see is actually a decal and there are some places where there are layers of decals. In
The simple exhaust nozzle is right in keeping with the actual aircraft. Note the simple air brake with no backside detail. At least there is a hydraulic actuator to hold it in place!
addition, there are places where one decal butts right up to another one. This means that trimming the complex decals is absolutely essential to make everything fit just right, and most of the decals are large plates of colour, and they are precisely sized to fit . This is one of the only kits upon which I have used Micro Sol and Micro Set. I will admit they did an admirable job getting the very thick Hasegawa decals to not only conform to the contours of the aircraft, but also to fit into the panel lines I’d rescribed, as well as over and beside each other. Once the decals were dry, they were given a light overcoating of Johnson’s ‘Future’ to really nail them down. With the ‘Future’ coat completely dry, the panel lines that the decals covered were repencilled for consistency. I kept any weathering to an absolute minimum, as these aircraft were always beautifully maintained. I would definitely recommend the kit to anyone fascinated with unusual aircraft, or jets of the 1950’s. It’s a beautiful kit of a very graceful and important subject, but builders should be aware that it’s not as simple a kit to build as it may at first look.
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 387
SAM-Subscription-DPS-April-2015_Layout 1 14/03/2015 16:29 Page 1
www.sampublications.com Order hotline +44 (0)1234 211245 NEW STOCK
Secure online ordering at
Visit the SAM Publications website to see an ever expanding range of products
SAM Publications Ltd International Books & Magazines
Deluxe Materials
51 Studio Figures
Swann-Morton Victrix Model Kits
SAM-Subscription-DPS-April-2015_Layout 1 14/03/2015 16:29 Page 2
Magazine Subscriptions
Please start my subscription from the next issue for the following titles: Scale Military Modeller Scale Aviation Modeller Model?Aircraft UK
Europe
World
12 issues
£40.00
£50.00
£60.00
24 issues
£75.00
£95.00
£115.00
RRP based on UK prices.
Binders (NEW STOCK JUST IN) Available to all readers, strong, robust ‘Cordex’ binders to hold 12 issues of Scale Aviation Modeller (in green) or Model Aircraft (black) or Scale Military Modeller (Blue).
n n n
5
£10.99
Scale Aviation Modeller Model Aircraft
EACH inc p&p
Scale Military Modeller
Order Form DELIVERY and PAYMENT Mr/Mrs/Ms Initials
Uschi Van Der Rosten
Surname
Address
s Postcode/Zip
Country
Subscription Reference
Daytime Telephone Number
A
I enclose a £ Sterling cheque made payable to ‘SAM Publications Limited’
B Please charge my
Albion Alloys / Flex-i-File
Visa
Valid From
Mastercard
American Express
Expiry Date
Maestro (Switch/Solo)
Maestro (Switch)/Solo Iss No
Card Number Security Code
Signed
Last 3 digits (4 for Amex) of the Security Number on reverse of card
Today’s Date
Payable by • Cheque • Credit/Debit Card • via PayPal to
[email protected] Ultimate Modelling Products
Please note we now accept US Dollar and Euro cheques made payable to SAM Publications Ltd. When paying by credit/debit card, please ensure you include your Security Number as payment cannot be taken without it. Please quote your Sub Ref No if known. Please allow 28 days for delivery.
Airbrush Heaven
Send to: SAM Publications Limited, Media House, 21 Kingsway, Bedford, MK42 9BJ, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1234 211245 • Fax: +44 (0) 1234 325927 email:
[email protected]
SAM Publications Ltd International Books & Magazines
390-93-ClassicPlastic-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:50 Page 390
In association with
CLASSIC PLASTIC
Plastic CLASSIC
Edited By Paul Bradley
REVELL BOEING B-47 STRATOJET The ultimate “Classic Plastic”? By Andy Hazell
O
nce again I managed to keep my hands very firmly in my pockets and only splashed out a grand total of 4 quid at this year’s Bolton IPMS show. So what exactly did my £4 buy me? Well, how about the 1954vintage Boeing B-47 by Revell Inc. of Venice, California, USA? OK, so it is the not the original, but the “Classic” re-release anniversary special edition, which I found on the Transport Models of Preston stand. So “classic” is this kit that it does not confirm to any declared scale, just a wonderfully vague and prominently displayed “scaled from official prints” statement. The killer question was which method of construction do I adopt? Should I build it straight from the box as would have been done 60 years ago, complete with raised location indicator lines for the decals, or upgrade using all the modern accessories and techniques now available? I opted for the former, using just the simplest and cheapest route to completion. Although I must confess I did sand off the raised decal position indicators the kit deserved it! The kit is very straightforward, no interior detail or, indeed, undercarriage. Building “in flight”
View of the finished model. Andy made a simple hardwood base
using the kit-supplied stand is the only option. However, it does capture those pioneering lines of the-then futuristic B-47 perfectly. It all looks very Buck Rogers or Dan Dare and evokes that immediate post-war period when science seemed destined to make all dreams into reality. Despite the age of the kit, the parts went together very easily, the only issue being the upper wing inserts that required plastic card spacers to ensure
The 1954-vintage Revell box scale B-47
390 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
wargaming friend Nigel - simply paint that they fitted flush when in place. the exterior of the canopy dark gloss Any gaps in the joints were then filled blue, job done! with my trusted method of waterThe main paint finish was achieved based Pollyfilla - no need for sanding, with the use of Halford’s rattle cans. just wipe with a damp cloth to profile. Aluminium over grey plastic primer, I have lately refined this approach a followed with 3 airbrushed coats of little by sealing the filler with PVA glue Johnson’s Klear to protect the soft when dry to ensure that the primer metallic surface coat does not and provide a soak in. The smooth gloss cockpit was The kit is very surface for the always going to straightforward, decals. Prior to be the biggest problem, no interior detail decals, I airbrushed in the moulded flush or, indeed, radome and antiwith some undercarriage glare panel on the “blobs” upper fuselage in supposedly matt black and the representing rudder tip in gloss the pilots and red with Lifecolour acrylic. The engine seats, and a canopy with two great intakes were also picked out using mounting pegs at either end that Humbrol Satin Black enamel using a would be prominently visible through brush. the finished item. I chose to adopt a The decals went on a treat and got technique recommended by my
390-93-ClassicPlastic-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:51 Page 391
CLASSIC PLASTIC
Because of a lack of interior detail, Andy chose to paint the canopies in blue
The kit went together with minimum fuss and just a little Polyfilla
me thinking that this is the one area where during the last 50 years things really have evolved the most. Modern decals are light years ahead of the dreadful attempts that were passed off when I was a lad at around the same time the Stratojet flew! Two light coats of Johnston’s Klear were finally airbrushed into place to seal everything in and provide a uniform finish. The cabin windows were applied with Clearfix, the kit items being basically too thick and opaque to contemplate. I chose to ditch the flimsy kitsupplied stand and created something more sophisticated using some brass bar and a nice piece of hardwood - oak I believe, as my carpenter brother-inlaw informed me as he cut and planed it to size. I even used the circular decal
logo supplied in the kit. This was quickly followed by my compulsory comedy build moment as I split the fuselage open while drilling the underside to fit my newly crafted bespoke “Chippendale” mount. Liquid superglue fortunately delivered an instant remedy! I am very pleased with the finished item and enjoyed building it very much. Funny; the older the kit the more satisfaction achieved? So, in conclusion, a big thanks to Mark and David of Transport Models for “persuading” me to by the classic B-47 in the first place. So what next? Well, the Saab’s MOT is due, so it may be some time before I am heard of again!
became three: a pilot and two observers, with their radar screens, seated side by side in the very cramped rear compartment. In order to create a model of this aircraft in ‘the gentleman’s scale’ it is necessary to extensively modify one of the existing single-seater kits, either by scratch building the necessary parts (oh the horror!) or by utilising one of several scarce conversion kits from Aeroclub, C-scale or Airmodel. All of these now command high prices on the second hand market so if you spot one at a fair deal then my suggestion
is to grab it quickly and run to the hills. I was lucky to do such a thing early in 2014 by obtaining the oldest of the three mentioned above, this being the Airmodel set number 109. The set dates back to the early 70’s and provides a replacement canopy and a radome shape. All the other changes are to be made by the modeller and my guide in this was an in-depth article by Bryan Philpott in an old copy of Airfix Magazine from November 1975. Following Bryan’s advice I started with the wings and first filled the slots for weapons pylons in the outer wing
SKYRAIDER AEW.1 from Airfix and Airmodel By Thomas Watts
I
t has been said by many modellers, this one included, that we are living in a golden age for plastic scale modelling. So much so, that we are seeing new releases monthly of many weird, wonderful and downright esoteric subjects. And I know that each one of us is secretly hoping that the next announcement from our favourite manufacturer will be that one missing model for our collections. Unfortunately for those dedicated aficionados of the Fleet Air Arm there are still several important gaps in the coverage, most notably in the less glamorous supporting roles. One such aircraft is the AEW variant of the Douglas Skyraider. There has been much written in the past about the Skyraider, a piston-engined anachronism in a jet powered age that did all it was designed to do and more besides, that it isn’t necessary to repeat it all here save for the following. The Royal Navy took delivery of the first of
50 Skyraider AEW.1’s (US designation AD-4W) in November 1951 and they served till replaced by the Gannet AEW.3, beginning in December 1960; in the process they gained the distinction of being the last pistonengined aircraft – helicopters aside – in front line service with the Fleet Air Arm. The AEW was fitted with an APS19A radar, a redesigned windscreen, autopilot and a modified arrestor hook. In addition to this the intake for a petrol combustion heater was retained, and the crew complement
The materials used for the Skyraider conversion
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 391
390-93-ClassicPlastic-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:51 Page 392
In association with
CLASSIC PLASTIC
Tom needed to alter the shape of the wheel wells
A large part of the spine needed to be removed
Filling the gap with plastic card, then trial fitting the new vacform canopy
The kit needed quite a bit of filler both on the top…
panels. Whilst the filler was drying I turned my attention to the wheel wells. The AD-4W differs from the single-seater Skyraiders in having plain open wells in the wings, so the large square openings needed to be filled with pieces of plasticard. I used a template cut from the plans provided in the source article to get the right shape and location for the new wells and cut them out. The wings were
then glued up and put aside to set fully. Moving my attention to the fuselage, the airbrakes were fitted closed and the outlines filled as the rear access doors on the AEW reside where the airbrakes used to live. A hole was drilled in each fuselage half to allow fitment of the rear observation windows. The modeller needs to provide these bulged windows themself so I made my first
The model was finished with decals from a Model Alliance set
392 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
…and the bottom.
From photo references the interior of the AEW Skyraider’s was mostly black
Creating the AEW.1’s finlets using a razor saw and plastic card
attempt at plunge moulding; thankfully I can say I survived the experience with only a few minor burns, and the completed transparencies were glued in with copious amounts of PVA to avoid them popping in later in the build. From photo references the interior of the AEW Skyraider’s was mostly black, which happily helps to cover up the lack of interior detail in the donor kit. Personally, in 1/72, I don’t tend to add much to cockpit interiors as it usually can’t be seen; call it lazy modelling but I prefer to add detail to the exterior of my models, therefore a couple of quick coats of Tamiya NATO Black and the fuselage could be sealed up. The upper decking of the kit needed cutting back and down to allow the replacement canopy and fairing to be fitted. This was very much a process of trial and error with a lot of errors. A rough guideline was marked on the fuselage with a Sharpie before the cuts were made with a razor-saw. Despite measuring from the plans I still cut too deeply, meaning I needed to rebuild the decking by a few millimetres using plasticard. This was then sanded to shape and gave a firm base to attach the new canopy to. I used PVA to attach the canopy securely and then faired in the rearmost section with filler. Moving forward, the kit engine provides excellent detail which
390-93-ClassicPlastic-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:51 Page 393
CLASSIC PLASTIC
showed well after painting and drybrushing. The complex cowling is supplied in two pieces and wasn't a fantastic fit to the rest of the fuselage, several sessions of filling and sanding were required to eliminate all the seams. Once finished up, however, the front of the airframe took on the brutish good looks of a Skyraider. The final two major modifications required on the airframe were to make new tail finlets and to fit the distinctive radome. I started with the tailplanes by cutting a slot in each, the location for which I measured from a set of plans in the Philpott article. Into these were glued plasticard finlets and these were left aside to cure fully before gently sanding into a vaguely aerofoil form. Whilst the tailplanes were drying, I cut out the two halves of the radome and glued them together. The resulting join was fairly rough and there was a considerable mismatch at
The prominent radome came in two ill-fitting parts
the rear of the radome, so once again it was out with the filler to get things trued up. Lots of sanding and shaping was needed to get things looking just right before the finished article could be offered up to the fuselage. It was at this point I purchased shares in several reputable filler manufacturers because it took a lot of fill and sand sessions to get the radome blended to the fuselage and looking correct to the eye. Painting was next on the menu and I am lucky enough to have a tin of the
The airframe ready for primer and paint
long gone and much missed Humbrol 181 Gloss Sea Blue. I understand that paint these days needs to conform to very stringent health and safety laws but brushability has taken a huge step backwards. Just one coat of 181 was sufficient to fully cover the white plastic and it dried smooth and without brush marks. Unfortunately it also showed up a couple of areas that needed another going over with the wet 'n' dry. A second coat of paint to touch up the repairs and the model
could really call was finally ready this build for decals. Decals for this completed. Decals for build came from So there you this build came the Model Alliance have it; not the from the Model easiest conversion Alliance HMS HMS Ark Royal to achieve given Ark Royal sheet, sheet the lack of easily now available parts, but discontinued one that fills a but still very important space on the shelf for available if you are prepared to search. this modeller. Of course now I have They are printed by Fantasy Printshop, invested the hours into my conversion so behaved perfectly, settling nicely I am sure a manufacturer will pop up onto the surface with Klear. All that with a new injection moulded tool was left was to add the undercarriage within months. C'est la vie. and prop and the aircraft was complete. Well, nearly complete as no Skyraider is really a Skyraider without REFERENCES: a lot of exhaust staining down its • Early Warning Skyraider – Bryan flanks. I used Tamiya weathering sets Philpott (Airfix Magazine November to get the finish I was after and then I 1975)
A coat of Gloss Sea Blue, ready for decals
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 393
394-95-Books2-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:50 Page 394
BOOKS AND MEDIA
Boulton Paul Defiant (reprint) Yellow series
PUBLISHER: Israel Defense and Fisher Institute Joint Venture ISBN: 978-965-90757-4-4 FORMAT: Hardback landscape
The Israeli Air Force An inside look at IAF structure and operations
The sub-title of the book is certainly accurate as this is indeed an inside look at the IAF, with the preface written by Brigadier-General (retd) Asaf Agman, the former commander of both Sde Dov and Lod Air Force bases, who is now the managing director of the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies. The preface looks at the challenges faced by the IAF now and in the future and how it is facing them. What follows are 11 chapters covering all aspects of the IAF including Special Missions, Special Units, the UAV Force and Maintenance amongst others. Each chapter is lavishly illustrated with both general and in detail colour photos, the quality of which is very high. Growing up I have always thought of the IAF as being quite secret, not any more it would seem, as this book really does give you a real look into its current capabilities. Looking at the chapter on the fighter force I am always amazed by how mean the F-16I Sufa looks with its conformal fuel tanks and weapons load, somehow far more aggressive than its US forebears! If you are interested in the modern IAF then this book is a real must for your bookshelf, the print quality is superb and it is overflowing with images that will inspire! My thanks to the publisher for the review sample.
AUTHOR: Mark Ansell
INFO
INFO
AUTHOR: Ofer Zidon
This reprint of the 2005 look at the Boulton Paul Defiant is a timely re-release timed to coincide with the new 1:72 scale kit from Airfix. The first 48 pages of the book take a look at the development of the type through its service use, during the Battle of Britain, then as a night fighter and its later use a target tug. This section is illustrated with period black and white photos and has several pages of 1:72 scale plans illustrating the various variants of the type. The next 50 pages offer close-up detail views of the sole surviving Defiant N1671 as displayed at the RAF Museum Hendon. The airframe was earmarked for preservation in September 1944 and eventually went on display in 1960; here it remained until it was recently completely restored by the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society at Rochester Airport, going back on public display in early 2013. The photos in the book were taken prior to this restoration so there are some differences from how the airframe looks today, the most notable being the colour of the squadron codes; in the book they are red, after the restoration they are now grey and in a different style. The last 20 pages are taken up with colour profiles of the type in its various guises including one of the two examples used by the USAAF in the 11th Combat Crew Replacement Centre, 326 Bombardment Squadron based at Bovingdon. This target tug variant would certainly make for a different build with its yellow and black striped undersides, green and brown topsides and mix of US and British markings! I really enjoyed
PUBLISHER: Mushroom Model Publications ISBN: 978-83-89450-19-7 FORMAT: 120pp paperback
reading this book and it brought back memories of my old Airfix Defiant brush painted in matt black (Humbrol 33) with very silvered decals trying and failing to conform over all those rivets! The new kit certainly banishes those memories! And this book will certainly be a valuable companion to the new Airfix kit, or any other kit for that matter.
Ciel de Guerre Number 26, Jan-Feb-March 2015
INFO
The latest issue of the French quarterly magazine, “Ciel de Guerre” (Wings of War), is the third part of the history of the Israeli Air Force. This edition focuses on the 1957 to 1967 era, which is the end of the Sinai campaign to the Six-day war. Israeli pilots nicknamed this period the “French era” as most of their aircraft were supplied by France : Ouragan, Mystre IVA, Super Mystre B.2, Vautour, Mirage III CJ, Fouga Magister, Noratlas as well as the Super Frelon and Alouette II! This issue provides a very complete study of the period, including the upgrade from propeller aircraft to the modern subsonic fighters. This volume takes you through 1957 to 1967 with a more detailed section dealing with the Six-day war day by day. Included are tables showing planes destroyed on both sides of the conflict (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq on one side and Israel on the other). Well written French with superb pictures, drawings, colour profiles and tables make this magazine a great addition for anyone who has an interest of this subject or French aircraft of that time. Highly recommended!
394 |
APRIL 2015 •
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
AUTHOR: Patrick Laureau and Jose Fernandez PUBLISHER: Artipresse FORMAT: Paperback, 80 pages
394-95-Books2-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:50 Page 395
BOOKS AND MEDIA
Polish Wings 18
‘Artie’ Bomber Command Legend
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter Yellow series
INFO
This book takes a comprehensive look at the Starfighter from its early development through to its retirement and everything in between including a look at all of the countries who operated it. Starfighters Aerospace Company, the last operational user of the F-104, also has a small section; this civil company uses the Starfighter to test various avionic components at high speeds and altitudes. The striking blue and AUTHOR: Jaroslav Dobrzynski white livery would PUBLISHER: Mushroom Model certainly make for a Publications different looking F-104. ISBN: 978-83-63678-39-5 Throughout the book are plans to 1:72 scale of all FORMAT: 176pp paperback the variants and colour profiles of the major users of the type. (Scale plans in 1:48 scale and a Spotlight book on Starfighter special schemes are available separately from MMP). The last 50 pages of the book are taken up with detail walkaround photo focusing both on the outside and inside, giving enough information for even the most dedicated super-detailers! If I was going to be picky I did notice an error in the introduction where it mentions the type's
‘significant dihedral’, this should of course read ‘anhedral’ as the Starfighter's short wings definitely droop! This aside, the book is a onestop-shop for the type offering the mix of informative text photos, plans and profiles which are the hallmark of this publisher. Recommended. My thanks to Mushroom Model Publications for supplying the review copy www.mmpbooks.biz
The remarkable story of Wing Commander Artie Ashworth DSO, DFC and Bar AFC and Bar, MID
This book, written by the subject's younger brother, looks principally at the role of Bomber Command during the Second World War using both his brother's log books and memoirs as well others who served in Bomber Command, creating a compelling mix of biography and history. The book continues the story with chapters on Artie’s service in AUTHOR: Vincent A. Ashworth Malta and the PUBLISHER: Fighting High Ltd Middle East, his return to the UK ISBN: 978-0992620752 on bombers, a FORMAT: 200 pages, hardback tour of the Pacific theatre and his joining the Pathfinder force. The next two sections look at his post-war RAF service flying V-bombers and his work as a test pilot, the final section a short look at his civilian career. The book is illustrated with black and white photos from the family album and pages from Artie’s meticulously filled-out log books which were written in the most beautiful script. A picture which really stood out for me was that of a Canadian Air Force lady twiddling Artie’s rather fine ‘RAF’ moustache! This is one of those books, whilst not being modelling related, tells the story of the men behind the models we make and in this case focusing on Artie Ashworth, who from reading this book was quite a character and worthy of the sobriquet ‘legend’. Recommended as a really good read. My thanks to the publisher Fighting High for the review copy www.fightinghigh.com
INFO
INFO
This book looks at the role of the Breguet 19, Farnam F.68 Goliath and Amiot 123 in Polish service. The Breguet section is by far the largest as this type saw quite extensive service in the Polish Air Force, including a rather epic flight from Warsaw to Tokyo and back. A model of how it looked on its return would look a bit special; it’s amazing it was still airworthy! You will have to buy the book to see why! The Goliath saw less service and there were only 2 Amiot 123s, which were specials for an attempt at crossing the Atlantic, so these two sections are quite small but none the less informative. Each section has a text introduction, which is accompanied by contemporary black and white photos and colour profiles. Although most of the Breguets are allAUTHOR: Bartłomiej Belcarz over dark green there are some really quite cool experimental COLOUR PROFILES: by Thierry Vallet colour schemes, including a geometric scheme which I would love to replicate in model form… Currently I could PUBLISHER: Stratus (MMP) only find an Omega resin 1:72 scale Breguet, but Azur have ISBN: 978-83-63678-14-2 an injection FORMAT: 72pp paperback moulded one listed as a future release, so watch this space! As for the Goliath and the Amiot I could not find any kits listed. That said, though, this book is a really good read with inspirational profiles and I am sure the kits will appear at some point; recommended if this is your area of interest. My thanks to Mushroom Model Publications for the review copy, www.mmpbooks.biz
USN-USMC Collection No.8
This disc like the others in the series presents as JPEG images photos of aircraft, in this case 155 images of aircraft in USN and USMC service, I particularly liked some of the F-16 Aggressor schemes and the pictures of the AV-8 were PUBLISHER: Aero Research Co. just a reminder SERIES: Military Series of what we here in the UK no CAT. NO: 1059 longer have… FORMAT: CD ROM There is no text included but most of the images have the date and location of the photo in the file name. There is plenty of inspiration here for colour schemes and dioramas with many of the pictures showing wing-folds if appropriate and also ground equipment. My thanks to Aero Research Co. for the sample copy. www.AeroResearchCDs.com
INFO
Breguet 19, Farman F.68 Goliath, Amiot 123
WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM •
APRIL 2015
| 395
396-97-ShopWebGuide-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:49 Page 96
SHOP&WEB GUIDE
Promote your company here and appear in all 3 titles – Scale Aviation Modeller International, Model Aircraft and Scale Military Modeller International – with a total 126,000 circulation. Contact Rebecca Harris on +44 (0)1234 224995
[email protected]
HPM HOBBIES Producers of high quality screen printed civil aircraft decals.
www.hpmhobbies.com
CF-BXO
Secure online ordering Realtime stock levels Worldwide shipping
BXO
Stockists of kits, paints, tools, decals, accessories and modelling materials. ALASKA QUEEN
KENTING AIR
PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY CORP. LTD.
AIRLINES LTD.
KENTING AVIATION LIMITED
FALCON - JAYS - OZMODS - REDROO PJ PRODUCTIONS - FCM DECALS
GNDN
OTTAWA, CANADA
Distributors of Hobbyboss, Vallejo, MiG, AK Interactive, Miniart, Model Master and many more…
$ www.halifaxmodellersworld.co.uk Shop Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs 10.30-17.30, Fri 10.30-17.00, Sat 9.30-17.00, Sun 10.30-16.30, Closed Wednesday
01354 760022
HALIFAX MODELLERS WORLD 3 29 Union Street, Halifax. HX1 1PR p 01422 349157 YORKSHIRE
Units 6-10 Honeysome Ind Est, Honeysome Road, Cambridgeshire, PE16 6TG www.creativemodels.co.uk
UP TO 20% OFF ALL KITS ONLINE AND MAIL ORDER Incorporating 1,000’s of deleted and new kits. 303 The Broadway, Bexleyheath, Kent DA6 8DT Tel/Fax: (020) 8298 7177 MON/TUES/THURS/FRI/SAT 9.30-5.30 CLOSED WEDNESDAY
PLASTIC & METAL KIT RETAILERS HOBBY & PASTIME MATERIALS
www.kitkrazy.com
Email:
[email protected] NEW MAIL ORDER LISTS – SEND 70p SAE
At least 5-10% discount off manufacturer’s prices Fast and friendly service Easy to navigate webshop Large range of over 3500 models, figures, tools and accessories from Revell, Airfix, Italeri, Tamiya and many more, ready for immediate despatch Based in the Midlands since 2001 with worldwide shipping available
Web: www.models2u.co.uk Email:
[email protected] Phone: 01543 433999
121 HIGH STREET, UCKFIELD, TN22 1RN
SCALE MODELS
48
YEARS
Sheffield’s Specialist Model Shop ( 0114 2449170
www.marcway.net
KITS • PAINTS • GLUES • AIRBRUSHES • TOOLS • STYRENE ETC Friendly service & advice - Mail Order Open Tuesday – Friday 10 – 5.30. Saturday 9.30 – 5.00. Closed Sunday and Monday.
www.thehobbybox.co.uk Vast selection of plastic kits - Aircraft - Tanks - Military - Ships - Cars - Bikes - Space - Trucks etc
HUNDREDS OF RARE & OBSOLETE KITS Dioramas - Scenic Materials - Plastic, Metal & Wood sheet and sections - Modelling Tools, Paints, Brushes, Airbrushes & Compressors Also Model Railways, Die Cast Models and Scalextric WORLDWIDE MAIL ORDER
598-600 Attercliffe Rd, Sheffield S9 3QS 0114 2449170
Open 10am - 5pm, 6 days • Situated 2 miles from M1 (junc 34) • 200 yds from Attercliffe Tram Stop
01825 765296
City Cycle Centre We have a large selection of Plastic Kits from Airfix, Revell, Tamiya, Italeri, AFV Club, Academy and more. Also Paint and Sprays from Humbrol, Tamiya, Revell, Vallejo and Games Workshop
CITY CYCLE CENTRE 3 7 Market Street, Ely, Cambs, CB7 4PB Q
[email protected] $www.citycyclecentre.com CAMBRIDGESHIRE
p
01353 663131
52 Holdings Road, Sheffield S2 2RE South Yorkshire England
Tel: [0114] 2761587
www.blackbirdmodels.co.uk
STANG MU “The world’s finest hobby kits, figures and toys.”
MOTOR BOOKS The world's oldest motoring bookseller • AVIATION • BUSES • TRAMS • COLLECTABLES • MARITIME • MILITARY • MISCELLANEOUS • MOTORCYCLES • MOTORING • MOTORSPORT • RAILWAY • WORKSHOP MANUALS •
www.motorbooks.co.uk
HO
B BIES
Mustang-Hobbies.com Models, Decals, Books, and Much More !
396-97-ShopWebGuide-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:49 Page 97
SHOP&WEB GUIDE
Promote your company here and appear in all 3 titles – Scale Aviation Modeller International, Model Aircraft and Scale Military Modeller International – with a total 126,000 circulation. Contact Rebecca Harris on +44 (0)1234 224995
[email protected]
MATADOR MODELS and
EXTENSIVE 1/76TH ARMOUR AND WHEELED VEHICLE KITS AND CONVERSION RANGES, FROM WWI TO THE 2000’S
ALBION ALLOYS Precision metals for industry www.albionalloys.co.uk
Your one stop toy soldier, games & hobby shop Open 7 Days a Week
Airfield Accessories ranges
and Airfield Accessories 1/48th. 1/72nd. 1/76th. 1/144th scale ranges of British and German airfield vehicles and equipment including ambulances, refuellers, tractors, G.S. and specialist vehicles, figure sets etc.
Hobby Bunker, Inc. 33 Exchange Street Malden, Massachusetts 781-321-8855 781-321-8866 (fax)
B W MODELS RANGE OF MILITARY TRANSFERS
[email protected] www.hobbybunker.com
www.matadormodels.co.uk
OXONIANS
GINTER BOOKS NAVY / AIR FORCE
PLASTIC
TEL: (805) 584-9732 FAX: (805) 584-6604 WEB: www.ginterbooks.com 1754 Warfield Circle, Simi Valley, CA 93063, USA NF-301 Black Knights Rule .........................................................$49.95 NF98 Douglas AD/A-1 Skyraider Part One ...........................$52.95 NFAF216 United States Air Force in Vietnam.......................$39.95 NFAF217 Curtiss XP-55 Ascender ............................................$24.95 NF97 Martin PBM Mariner...........................................................$52.95 NF96 Consolidated P2Y Ranger ................................................$32.95 NF95 Douglas R4D-8/C-117D Super Gooney.......................$32.95 NF99 Douglas AD/A-1 Syraider Part 2 US Navy Squadron ...$55.95
FANTASTIC
Specializing in white metal landing gear 3795 Shady Hill Drive, Dallas, Texas 75229, USA +1 (214) 477-7163
www.scaleaircraftconversions.com
We now have the complete Pavla Resin and SAC undercarriage ranges in stock and on our website. You can also view and buy from our huge stock of Eduard kits, etch and Brassin, Aires, SAC, Pavla, Brengun, Valom, Quickboost, Rob Taurus, Amodel and many other hard to find manufacturers.
www.oxoniansplasticfantastic.co.uk
[email protected] - DON’T FORGET ALL UK ORDERS ARE POST FREE -
www.mjwmodels.co.uk Discounted Prices and Many Special Offers Orders despatched within 1 working day
MJW Models ONLINE MODEL SHOP
Stockists & Suppliers of Model Aircraft Kits, Accessories and Paint Sets by :Eduard, LifeColor, MPM, Special Hobby, Sword, Vallejo, and many more
Email us at:
[email protected] Like us on Facebook
SPECIALIZING IN PLASTIC MODEL KITS Some of the brands we carry, AFV Club, Tamiya, Airfix, Bronco, Hasegawa, Sword, AZ Models, Special Hobby, Revell, MPM, Dragon, Miniart, Master Box, S-Model, Modelcollect, Meng, Takom, Aires, Eduard, Ace, MACO, Pontos, Wolfpack and a whole lot more! Free shipping on all domestic orders over $100.00 Visit our retail store located at. Level 3, Unit 2, 258 Little Bourke St Melbourne 3000 Tel: 03 96545956
SCAN HERE!
MegaHobby offers over 35,000 hobby products, from plastic model kits to detail sets, from a fully-stocked paint store to all the tools and accessories. Browse our website to see the amazing selection of products we have to offer. Place an order and we guarantee you will be a customer for life. Shipping goods online since 2000!
www.megahobby.com YOUR FAVORITE ONLINE HOBBY SHOP
www.showcasemodelsaustralia.com.au
Affinity Models
p 01782 320990
www.affinitymodels.co.uk Stockists of Tamiya, Dragon, Trumpeter, Hasegawa, Italeri and Mini Art Plastic Kits. Full range of paints from Tamiya Vallejo (Model & Gamecolour), and Humbrol. Evergreen Centre. Excellent range of tools and glues. AFFINITY MODELS 3 38 Trentham Road, Longton, Stoke-on Trent, Staffordshire ST3 4DL Q
[email protected] V Mon - Sat 9am till 5pm (closed all day on Thursday)
398-AndFinally-AV-0415_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:47 Page 398
APRIL 2015
AND FINALLY
Questions to Contributors If you have a question or query you wish to raise with any of the contributors to this magazine, they should be made IN WRITING to the Media House address. Neither the Editor nor any of the contributors are at Media House on a daily basis and the Editor asks for all enquirers to appreciate this fact and be patient. Please understand that the staff at Media House do not have access to the information you require and therefore cannot answer your questions on the phone. Please enclose a stamped SAE with all enquiries, if you anticipate a reply. Thank you.
Workspace By David Francis
Samples for Review Scale Aviation Modeller International is always happy to review new products within its pages. Any item which you feel is appropriate will be given due consideration for inclusion in the title. Any company, trade representative, importer, distributor or shop which wishes to have products reviewed within Scale Aviation Modeller International should send them directly to the editorial address and clearly mark them for the attention of the Editor. Confirmation of receipt of the samples will be supplied if requested. For all international companies etc the above applies, but please ensure that the package is clearly marked for customs as a ‘sample, free of charge’ to reduce the risk of unnecessary delays. Thank you.
WHERE DO YOU MODEL? his is a question I often ask at my model club when I am introduced to someone new on club night, and I am always fascinated by the diverse answers I receive. As an example I have two friends at my club whose modelling spaces are the exact opposite - one models on a tea tray on his lap with all his tools in a small wheeled toolbox, and the other has a large room decked out with every modelling tool known to man together with an array of airbrushes that would rival an Iwata main dealer,
T
My modelling area is in my loft, no windows, boiling hot in summer, and freezing in winter
but the link between the two is that both their models regularly place in competition at model shows. In my case I have evolved from a tea tray modeller to one that has his own space, though it is far from an ideal modelling room! My modelling sadly has not evolved but at least I am consistent and will never place in the top three in a competition unless there are only three entries! My modelling area is in my loft, no windows, boiling hot in summer, and freezing in winter, but it is my own little space where I can escape family life for a few hours. The walls are covered with posters from the shows I have visited abroad and Ice Hockey memorabilia. I have a wide range of shelving on which model boxes and abandoned projects lurk awaiting inspiration or resurrection. Beams run across my modelling bench ready to
398 |
APRIL 2015 •
catch my head or, as with the Do 335 in this issue, impart damage if I am careless in moving large-scale projects around. Access is through
SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
a hole in the floor, which meant that the recent 1/32 Wingnuts Felixstowe was ruled out as a build, I would never get it out from the loft! And so far much to my wife’s surprise I have not fallen out, though it has come close once or twice. So I will show you mine if you show me yours! I have taken a couple of photographs of my modelling space and would love for others to share with us their modelling arrangements as I am sure there are good ideas to be shared. I am also interested to see what extremes we modellers will go to for our plastic fix. So if you do not mind others seeing your inner sanctum, send your photographs to
[email protected] or the editorial address and I will try and feature them in a future issue. (Fifty sheds of grey) But wherever you model, whatever you model, however you model HAVE FUN. See you next month
Company/Suppliers Addresses & Enquiries Please note that the Editor and staff at Media House cannot help with general enquires about contact details for companies, importers or model shops whose products may be mentioned in Scale Aviation Modeller International if the address information is not included with the review etc. Please check the advertisements in this journal for all suitable UK sources and only contact the firm directly if it is noted that there is ‘No UK stockist’. We are sorry, but we cannot help with details of companies which do not advertise in this magazine. Also note that neither the Editor nor contributors will undertake specific or general aviation research for enquirers. Thank you.
Copyright Warning Due to the growing misuse and breach of copyright apparent on the web Media House gives notice that no-one is permitted to reproduce in any way (in original form or ‘modified’) anything published in this, or previous editions of this magazine. All design, layout and studio photography is the copyright of Media House. All profiles, scale plans and supporting photographs are the copyright of the individual authors. None of these may be used without prior written agreement from both the author/artist and Media House. Infringement is a breach of international law, so if you see items posted on the web from this magazine other than on the official Media House website (sampublications.com) please advise the publisher immediately.
© Media House 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted (including posting to a website) in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers.
Scale Aviation Modeller International is published monthly by Media House and is distributed to the news trade on the second last Saturday of each month. Next on sale 23 April 2015
399-Zvezda-SAMI MA-0415-WP_Layout 1 14/03/2015 12:57 Page 1
WingnutWings_AirModeller_March_2015.pdf
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
3/6/2015
9:53:18 AM
