Thursday, July 30, 2009

Model Airplane International 08 2007


The difference between these two two-seat sub-types was that the 2m had straight wooden wings whereas the 2m3 had metal wings that were swept back at an angle of 15 degrees. Along with the addition of the 11-2 straight wings Eduard have also added a bit of spice via the inclusion of a pre-painted photo-etched fret, canopy masks and a fabulous new decal sheet covering no fewer than five options. The original kit parts looked pretty impressive but with the addition of the coloured etched set the detail is pushed up quite a few notches, especially in the cockpit area where things like the etched instrument panel and coloured belts really improve the final look. But what of the transplanting of the wings, could this Frankenstein type surgery really work? Well it does but not totally painlessly, I may add.

Model Magazine International 06 2005


Even though I'm not a follower of WWII Japanese aircraft, I have to admit that I had a weak spot for the Ki-84, so when I had the opportunity to have a look at the content of the box, I couldn't resist to buy it and start it right away, putting aside all my other on-going projects. When I work on large scale models, I like to add texture to their skin. For this purpose, 'Rosie the Riveteer' was put to good use: this very clever tool is made of a rotating pounce wheel that allows to replicate rows of rivets with a perfectly regular spacing. Although some would use a ruler as a guide or at least draw the rivet pattern onto the wings and fuselage, with a (very) little practice, it is possible to rivet a whole model in a few hours without even using any other tool or even drawing the rivet lines. A good three-view drawing of the aircraft will be the best help for this enterprise. Try it, you might even find this fun... Once this work was done, I could start the model per se. Since I wanted to do it as a quick build project I added very few extras - the high level of details allows you to do so and concentrate on the painting and weathering.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Railroad Model Craftsman 05 2009


Ilong ago discovered that there are some model railroaders who don't much like railroad passenger service. Their layouts offer no Amtrak or VIA service. They have no models of the Twentieth Century Limited, Super Chief, or even a lowly daily local or commuter run. They don't even offer their few potential Preiser or Woodland Scenics passengers a ride on a drover's caboose or an old combine tacked onto the end of a slowly moving freight. Maybe somewhere in the far reaches of Canada a mixed train or two still survives, but you would have a better chance of finding one south of the border, meaning south of the U.S.-Mexican border and heading towards Chile (way south). The former Quebec, North Shore & Labrador Ry., now Tshiuetin Rail Transportation,. Inc., still lists a mixed train between Sept-Iles and Shefferville, Quebec, on their internet timetable, and the Durango & Silver-ton Narrow Gauge R.R. had or still has a boxcar in the consist of some of its trains, but it is more of an express or baggage car.

N-Scale 03-04 2009


New from engine to observation, the stars of many postwar streamliners were the modern sleeping cars. Pullman had begun developing new accommodations in the late 1930s that would offer passengers complete privacy and still carry a miximum number of riders. Many of these innovations were brought together following the war, creating new types of cars like the 10-6 sleeper, with 10 roomettes and six double bedrooms- Complete but compact, the roomette provided a seat, foldaway bed, sink and toilet for one, at a lower fare. Couples, or people who found the roomette to small, could choose a larger and more expensive double bedroom with seating for two, upper and lower berths and an enclosed toilet. Overing two levels of service, the 10-6 was an ideal choice for the flagship trains of many railroads. Many were still in service when Amtrak took over most passenger operations in 1971 and remained in use for a few more years. This model is based on cars built to Pullman plan #4140 first delivered in 1949; with minor variations, similar cars were constructed for several railroads into the early 1950s.

Modeler's Eye Series 1 - Nakajima Night Fighter Gekko Type 11


The photographs presented in this book are those of "Type 2 Gekko Model 11" late production type, s/n 7334 (the 334th completed example), built by Nakajima. Following the end of WWII, the plane was loaded aboard the US aircraft carrier "USS Barnes" (CVE-20) and shipped from Yokosuka on November 16, 1945 to the United States Three other Gekkos were shipped to the US as well, but this is the only remaining example in existence. On June 15, 1946, the aircraft underwent its first test flight in the US. The code number "FE3031" was assigned to the plane, but this was soon changed to T2-N700. At the time, except for anti-glare paint on the top of the nose and inboard side of the engine nacelles, the aircraft was unpainted. The marking '700" was present on the vertical stabilizer. Following testing, the aircraft was stored with the Smithsonian Institute's National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC for many years. As the condition of the aircraft had begun to degrade, it was decided to restore the plane completely. This work was carried out at the Museum's 'Paul E. Garber* facility from September 7, 1979 to December 4, 1983, entailing a total of 17,249 man-hours of work. The excellence at the restoration process is quite in evidence in the photos which follow.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Model Railroad News 06 2009


The Electro-Motive Division of General Motors introduced the NW2 switcher in 1939, using the new 567A diesel engine. In the old Electro-Motive terminology, NW2 stood for Nine hundred horsepower (which was not entirely right, the NW2 had 1,000 hp), Welded frame, and 2 was a model designation, because EMD had built a few NW-type locomotives before. Railroads started buying these switchers, finding them reliable and economical in yard and switching service. But in the eyes of the U.S. government, they were inferior to the American Locomotive Company's switcher offerings. As World War II enveloped America, Electro-Motive was ordered to cease production of all switcher locomotives and focus on their FT road diesels. The NW2 would make a post-war comeback and enjoy several more years of uninterrupted production. Finally, the SW7 replaced the NW2 in Electro-Motive's locomotive catalog at the end of 1949. In the late 1930s, the Pennsylvania Railroad put in an order for a few EMD switchers, including one NW2. Pennsy's only pre-war NW2 was delivered in October of 1941, as Electro-Motive serial number 1426. This was the lone NW2 on the Pennsylvania roster until postwar units were delivered in 1946. Delivery of PRR NW2s continued sporadically until 1948. Pre-war and early post-war production NW2s were distinguished from most of their post-war sisters by the lack of side louvers.

Model Railroad News 07 2009


Some folks find it easy to forget that most freight cars arc bought to serve a particular market need. We have three freight cars, and each has been designed for a particular type of service. SP's B-70-32 boxcars certainly fit this description. These fifty-foot products of 1966 and 1967 were purchased by SP specifically to haul appliances. Relatively speaking, appliances make light loads, so going to an extra height let the interior reach up to 12-feet 7-inches, allowing an extra row of ranges or dishwashers on the top. A single 10-foot 6-inch Youngs town sliding door was sufficient for each side, but the car was equipped with Hydra-Cushion underframes to limit the damage to this new kitchen automation. A few years later, in 1970, Chevrolet and Southern Pacific teamed up to create a car for a very specific purpose. The automaker was ramping up to produce its first subcompact car, the Chevy Vega. With model years from 1971 to 1977, the majority of production would be at Chevy's Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant and they would need reliable and inexpensive transportation for these little cars. The Verta-Pac was designed to hold 30 cars instead of the usual 18 you could load onto a triple-deck auto car. The secret was to hang the cars like bats, heads down with the roofs pointed to the inside. The sides swung down with fifteen doors on each side. The car would be maneuvered onto the ramp-like door. Then it would be drained of all fluid while it was tied down.

Model Railroader 06 2009


Real railroads operate around the clock, meaning that we can add night operations to our model railroad. One of the ways we can make our "nighttime" operating sessions more realistic is by adding lights to structures, vehicles, and station platforms. This month, I'll show you how I illuminated Mukwonago on our HO scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy layout. Regular readers of Model Railroader will recognize Mukwonago from previous Step by Step columns. Managing editor David Popp showed how to model a commuter station (May 2007) and an alley scene (August 2007). Adding lights to an existing scene requires planning up front, so draw a diagram to see how your proposed lighting project will work. When working on a wiring project, be prepared for surprises. For example, the lights over the Mukwonago station signs shown in step 3 on page 34 operate at a lower voltage than the rest of the lights and require resistors. After installation, I tested them, and the filaments on these bulbs were barely glowing. After talking with editor Neil Besougloff and executive editor Andy Sperandco, we determined the supplied resistors for those bulbs weren't right for our application.

N Scale Railroading 03-04 2009


In planning my N scale Rio Grande Moffat Road, I knew that one of the challenges I would have with scenery would be the Flatirons between Plain and Crescent sidings. I envisioned the route though the Flatirons to be a highlight of this portion of the layout. Since this scenery has a very unique look to it, I thought long and hard on how I would construct it. Follow along and see if any of these techniques can help you out with some scenery projects on your layout. Occasionally upthrust to nearly vertical slabs, the Flatirons were a formidable barrier for the railroad. They stood in the path to the drainage of South Boulder Canyon, the most logical westerly route through the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies, and the only way for the railroad to access this route was to bore through these slabs. The railroad's survey from Plainview to South Boulder Canyon took the route northward through seven tunnels (Tunnels 2 to 8) to pierce the Flatirons. These unique rock formations are composed of sandstone and pebble conglomerates and are remarkably stable, requiring little support inside most of the tunnels. The railroad changes to a more westerly direction with a 90 curve through Tunnel 8. Flatiron scenery quickly changes at this point as the railroad escapes to a different environment high above South Boulder Creek in Eldorado Canyon.

N Scale Railroading 05-06 2009


It was six o'clock the morning of September 25, 1975, when the alarm went off. However, we didn't need it because we were already awake and excitedly getting ready. This was our first day of a research trip for my model railroad of the Denver & Rio Grande Western's Third Subdivision, better known as the Tennessee Pass Line, or the Royal Gorge Route. We arrived at Denver the day before, rented a four-wheel-drive Jeep and headed off to Minturn. Colorado, late that evening. The sound of prime movers echoing off the canyon walls added to our excitement and we hardly got any sleep. The next morning we quickly ate breakfast and headed to the yard. My wife's hobby is landscape photography and mine is model railroading; this trip was a great opportunity to merge our hobbies. Minturn was a railroad town. Large numbers of helpers were stationed there to assist eastbound trains up the 3% ruling grade to Tennessee Pass. We walked over to the helper tracks where we met road foreman Keith Schaber, yardmaster Ryan Hads, engine hostler, Tim Kubic, and engineer Ken Lass. They were discussing the day's helper requirements. It was exciting to see EMD F-units operating on the line. My wife Janet surveyed the scene for likely photographs. As luck would have it an eastbound manifest was pulling up to the old passenger station where the crews changed. Before Ken needed to board the helpers, we had a chance to reminisce with him about the glory days when smoke from steam engines used to fill this valley. As duty called, he had to depart on engine number 5664 to help the eastbound up the grade.

Monday, July 27, 2009

FineScale Modeler 10 2003


George Schachinger's 1/35 scale diorama depicts a German unit and its vehicles on thin ice - literally — in Kirovograd, Ukraine in 1944. Retreating westward from the Soviet army, the combat unit has discovered that a critical bridge has been blown up by partisans. With the Russian forces closing in, the German commander has sent a squad to check the ice s thickness before directing his vehicles and troops over the creeks frozen surface. The diorama clearly shows that on a winter battlefield, time and temperature can be your ally or your enemy. George spent six months building his delicately detailed diorama. He began by thoroughly researching the planned scene's historical background, including Kirovograds terrain and the weather conditions tor the period he wanted to depict. Instead of pressing brand-new state-of-the-art armor kits into service, George decided to use older (and less expensive) Tamiya kits with his own scratchbuilt detail parts. The Panzer IV Ausf H wears all-new turret and side skirts fashioned from thin sheet metal, as well as Zimmerit simulated with Tamiya putty. The SdKfz 251/1 halftrack features fully stocked storage boxes and mangled sheet-metal fenders. Both vehicles have realistically applied winter camouflage - a credit to Georges painting and weathering skills.

FineScale Modeler 04 2004


The cockpit is one of the strongest focal points of any aircraft model - "the place where the pilot sits" provides an instant scale reference regardless of the models subject matter. But no matter how much eye-catching detail you add to the cockpit, a poorly painted canopy can spoil your model's appearance. Getting a good paint job on the delicately molded framework of a clear canopy is tricky, even for an experienced modeler. There's little margin for error, and correcting mistakes can be difficult. Actually, turning out razor-sharp canopies is not so much about painting as it is about masking. Mask a canopy properly, and painting that troublesome framework won't be any more difficult than painting the rest of the model. Canopies come in all shapes in sizes, and there's a variety of materials and methods available to help put the paint where you want it. Here's a look at some of the most popular techniques.

FineScale Modeler 04 1999


In late 1937, Hawker Aircraft's chief designer Sydney Camm anticipated the need for a fighter faster and larger than anything then in service with the Royal Air Force. Testing of the plane that resulted in the Typhoon, began in 1941 with production aircraft reaching squadrons in late 1942. Kngine and airframe teething problems plagued its early service life, but after design corrections to the elevator, the Typhoon became Britain's preeminent ground attack fighter of World War II. Finally, Hasegawa brings us the early "Car-door" version of the Typhoon Mk.Ib. The kit features fine recessed panel lines, excellent surface and interior detail, optional open or closed right-side entry door, and markings for two aircraft. There are enough optional parts to build any car-door Typhoon, including both open and faired cannons, external rudder horn-balance arms, flat and bulged canopy roofs, and regular and flared exhaust stubs. Unopened locating holes in the wing and the way the fuselage is molded indicate a rocket-armed bubble-canopy version to come.

FineScale Modeler 12 1990


The Yamato was the largest and most powerful battleship ever completed. She led the Japanese fleet that attacked Midway, and fought valiantly at the Battle of Leyte Gull. She was sunk in April of 1945. after taking damage from over 11 torpedoes and at least 7 bombs. Based on secret Japanese Navy plans No. 19.215-220 , this huge plastic kit is a highly detailed model of the Yamato as she looked at the time of the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The Yamato can be motorized and radio controlled with any two-channel radio. She runs at high or low speeds through the use of an ingenious reduction gear system for the four propellers. The Yamato also features a patented waterproofing system, built-in battery holders and all gears, wiring and running hardware. (Motors and batteries are not included. You'll need a Mabuchi RS540 motor for the propellers, and a Mabuchi RE260 motor for the gun and radar system.) Kit features over 600 parts made of brass, steel, metal, styrene and ABS plastic. The one-piece hull is over 4 feet long. Construction is very simple for a kit this large with so many working features. Includes its own display base.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

The Essential Guide for the Serious Modeller - Airbrushing and Finishing Scale Models


Airbrushing and Finishing Scale Models provides a detailed guide to creating a convincing paint finish for any model, be it military or civilian, aircraft, vehicle, figures or even background items such as groundwork or buildings. Brett Green explores the world of the airbrush and how to use it, starting with the basics of colour and paint fundamentals, before moving on to deal with airbrush hardware and essential supplies, and then specific airbrushing techniques such as freehand and masking. Most importantly, this book thoroughly and practically demonstrates the techniques needed to obtain a realistic finish across a broad range of models, from heavily weathered military aircraft through to pristine, high-gloss motor vehicles. This book is designed to offer a practical guide to airbrushing techniques for all sorts of scale modelling. We will cover some basic theory early in the book, but the emphasis will be very-much on painting techniques and plenty of step-by-step case studies. Most of the examples arc aircraft models, but we will also cover cars, tanks, military vehicles and maritime vessels.

N-Scale 07-08 2009


A short time ago, I saw an ad for King Mill Enterprises' products on an Email list. I had never heard of this manufacturer before, so I took a look at their Web site (www.KingMill.com). I found several products that looked interesting, and their prices were very reasonable, so I placed an order for background buildings, some laser cut boxes to place on loading docks and a pack of "Chevron Cut Fence." Within minutes of placing my order, I received an Email from the company owner, Chris Jessee, thanking me for my order and assuring me the order would ship right away. Three days later, the package arrived and I inspected the contents. I was thrilled with the quality of all of the products I received. The laser cutting is extremely well done, with no burn marks found. The quality of the photo printing is superb. The buildings are excellent for background work such as building flats, including three dimensional work by mounting the photos on Micore or even thick cardboard (reinforced to prevent warping). The instructions encourage you to use sharp blades to cut the photos out of the thick card stock (80# cover stock) and a steel rule to make sure the cuts are straight. This is excellent advice, and I would add that the blades be changed often.

Wing Masters Nr.61


Azur nous gratifie d'un kit comprenant une centaine de pièces en injecté dont dix en plastique transparent. Les grappes sont accompagnées d'une trentaine d'éléments en résine, en majorité dévolus au détaillage de l'intérieur et de la nacelle moteur. La planche de décalques, de belle apparence, propose trois décorations assez semblables, reprenant des appareils en livrée aluminium intégral. La seule « fantaisie » sera les armoiries portées sur les flancs des avions assignés aux croiseurs Dunkerque et Lorraine. On notera la présence dans la boîte de deux modèles de carénage de radiateur, laissant présager la sortie prochaine du modèle « Colonial » Au chapitre des points positifs, on retiendra un moulage très propre, avec de fines lignes de structure en creux et des rangées de rivets, à peine perceptibles, mais qui devraient bien convenir pour une décoration aluminium. Les parties transparentes sont très limpides, même si l'épaisseur du pare-brise du pilote imposera de le retailler dans de l'acétate.

Model Magazine International 095 - 12-01 2003


The Messerschmitt Bf108 Taifun was one of Messerschmitt's most successful designs, in as much as it was still being developed well after WWII. The basic design four-seat, low wing monoplane design was used in many roles from highspeed communications to ferry work, and originated in 1933 as a result of an RLM requirement for an aircraft to participate in the 4th Challenge de Tourisme Internationale of 1934. BFW received the contract to produce the aircraft, which was eventually designated 'Bf108'. The design was very advanced, featuring an all-metal stressed skin, a first for an aircraft of this small size. Six aircraft were built by 1934 - all prototypes and Bfl08As. They proved safe, fast and had excellent low-speed characteristics, aided by the wing leading edge-slats that deployed automatically as the aircraft approached the stall. During 1935 the improved Bf108B was produced, fitted with a 270hp Argus As 10 eight-cylinder inverted-vee air-cooled engine. The 'B' featured a revised fin shape, dynamic balancing of elevator and rudder, removal of the tailplane upper bracings and tail wheel in place of the original skid. This variant became known as the 'Taifun' (Typhoon). Interestingly, over fifty Taifuns were exported, several going to Hungary, Japan, Rumania, Switzerland and Russia.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

FineScale Modeler 05 2004


Talal Chouman has a job most of us only dream of- he's not only a professional model maker, but his work at the University of Massachusetts Submillimeter-Wave Technology Laboratory gives him access to full-scale examples of the military's latest fighting vehicles. What more could a modeler ask for? Talal, 38, has built models since he was 10, and has built professionally tor more than 17 years. His interest in AFVs and modeling doesn't end at 5 o'clock, though. His full-time passion for military hardware led him to scratchbuild this show-stop-ping 1/16 scale Operation Enduring Freedom Marine Corps LAV-25. Starting with four months of intensive research, Talal spent some 1,800 hours on the fully detailed, museum-scale model - that's an average of two hours a day for two-and-a-half years. It's not surprising when you look at the model. Constructed plate-by-plate just like the real vehicle, the model is a masterful assembly of styrene, acrylic, resin, brass, aluminum, and other media. The massive model features a fully detailed interior, one of Talal's favorite parts of the model.

FineScale Modeler 07 2004


Three cheers for Trumpeters 1/32 scale F4F Wildcat! Three more cheers that the company retooled to make the model better! Three jeers that it left a horrible inaccuracy. The F4F was built with raised rivets. However, the models detail is all recessed. This is as wrong as releasing an F-22 studded with raised rivets. This golden age of modeling is afflicted with an unfortunate mindset that all detail must be recessed. This is producing state-of-the-art models that are neither accurate or authentic. The F4F, SBD, B-17, DC-3/C-47, F6F, and TBF, for example, were studded with raised rivets on their surfaces. Former FSM Editor Bob Haydens editorial in the November 1997 issue was titled Accuracy or realism? He wrote, "We probably should be talking about better-looking models instead of either accuracy or realism." He is a modeling hero to me, yet I disagree about making models "pretty" -bringing out detail that isn't there on the real item just to showcase the mold-maker's craft. Trumpeters Wildcat is no doubt an awesome model - I want one - but Revells 30-year-old kit has superior surface accuracy. Long live (appropriate) raised rivets!

FineScale Modeler 03 2005


The US3 Massachusetts was commissioned in May 1942 as the third South Dakota-class battleship. "Big Mamie," as she was called by her crew, was armed with nine 16" guns and 20 5" guns, plus a host of smaller guns, making it one of the most powerful ships in the U.S. Navy. On Nov. 8,1942, during the invasion of North Africa, the Massachusetts earned the distinction of being the first U.S. battleship to fire her big guns in combat. She came under fire from the 15" guns of the French battleship Jean Bart (shrapnel damage from this fight is still visible on the Massachusetts' superstructure). Returning fire, she silenced the enemy ship with five hits. Her big guns also helped sink two destroyers and two merchantmen, ;is well as disabling a floating drydock and blowing up an ammunition dump. Big Mamie never again engaged in ship-to-ship combat. Following a refit, Massachusetts was transferred to the Pacific, where it provided antiaircraft protection for fast carrier task forces and shore bombardments for the rest of the war.

FineScale Modeler 01 2005


Air Force officials announced plans Oct. 4 to relocate the World War II B-17F "Memphis Belle" to the newly renamed National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio. No date has been set, but officials said they expect the move to occur before the end of the year to tie into activities planned to observe the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. Piloted by Robert Morgan, "Memphis Belle" was the first B-17 to complete the 25 combat missions required of crews over German-occupied Europe. Afterward, the ship and its crew returned to the United States and participated in a war-bond drive. Named for Morgan's Memphis sweetheart, Margaret Polk, the aircraft and her crew became a symbol of heroism and sacrifice, and were the subject of two feature-length films, a 1944 War Department documentary and a fictionalized 1990 action drama. The aircraft has been located in the Memphis, Tenn., area since 1946. It was on loan from the Air Force to volunteers and aviation enthusiasts until the 1980s when the "Memphis Belle" Memorial Association became its leaseholder.

Modelar 09 2008


Pokud někdo umi z jednoho výrobku vytěžit absolutní maximum, pak to jsou vývojáři japonské Hasegawy. Když před několika léty spatřila světlo světa jejich čtvrtková stavebnice Curtissu P-40, v mnoha recenzích jsme si mohli přečíst kritiku na přílišnou rozřezanost modelu a tím místy problematičtější sestavitelnost. Byla to daň za to, že stavebnice měla řadu dílů shodných s jinými verzemi, jež spolu s obtiskovými limitkami úspěšně zaplavují trh dodnes. Při prohlíženi letošní novinky firmy Hasegawa, stavebnice P-40E War-hawk v měřítku 1 ;32, mi ledacos bylo povědomé, akorát trochu větši. Ano, vývojáři Hasegawy téměř beze zbytku přejali konstrukční celky čtvrtkové stavebnice a převedli je do většího měřítka. Setkáváme se tedy opět s trupem s oddělenou ocasní částí, dolepovacími panely na přídi atp. Je proto nad slunce jasnější, že další verze budou následovat; mimochodem stavebnice P-40K je anonco-vána na podzim tohoto roku.

Model Airplane International 04 2006


Conventionally construction begins in the cockpit area, and a good number of parts are present with some of these being etched such as the switch panel (replete with tiny switches) and seat belts. Most of this area has a 'wooden effect' (see below) with some parts like the hand pump being grey (I used RLM 02 throughout), and Aluminium. All the parts fit well with very little trimming/sanding needed, although some of the etched parts really are tiny! The engine is very nicely moulded, and along with the cockpit assembly, fits into the fuselage with little fuss. The fit of the lower wing is good but not perfect so a little sanding was needed. The wing itself was not actually glued to the fuselage at this stage as keeping it separate would make applying the wooden effect to the fuselage, and the camouflage to the wing(s) much easier. The vertical tail and tailplane fitted very well, with a minimal touch of filler required to help blend things in nicely. I opted to displace the rudder to add some animation to the model.

Model Airplane International 03 2006


Considering how historically significant and just how handsome this aircraft is it has never caught the attention of manufacturers of 1:72 kits. This was all put right in 2001 when MPM released a kit of the F3F-i and it is that kit. modified to represent the F3F-2. that Special Hobby have now released. The kit shares most of its main parts with its predecessor, but has been updated with the addition of some resin for the interior. It comes in the standard Special Hobby end-opening box and inside is a single sprue of light grey plastic, a handful of resin parts, a small etched fret and the decals. The plastic parts feature very delicate engraved panel lines, while the wings have subtle moulded raised rib detail. Being a short-run kit there is fine ffash around most parts, but not an excessive amount. Both etched and resin parts are of the usual high quality as is the injected canopy, which although a little bit on the thick side, is still quite clear and does not distort the view into the cockpit.

Model Airplane International 01 2006


The build began with the Mercedes engine and it is quite convincing once painted in suitable metallic shades, although you may want to add some wiring if you intend to leave the cowls off. Next were all the interior components and my method for creating varnished wood involves an undercoat of Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow followed by a heavily thinned wash of burnt sienna oil paint, streaked across it. Construction moved on apace and it was now that things started to get a little tricky. I had been forewarned that the engine could be 'interesting' to enclose with the multi-part cowling, and all I would add is that you need to take your time and continuously sand and test until a good fit is achieved. I do suspect that this kit is better suited to having the engine exposed as even with a great deal of care I still had to perform a bit of surgery on the rear crankshaft to get the engine to fit.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Model Airplane International 06 2006


First on the agenda is what to do about those panel lines? You could of course leave them but for goodness sake don't make matters worse by pre-shading or running diluted oil paint info them. If this does not suit you then it is really a matter of how best to fill them and whether or not to either fill them completely or partially? The three most obvious ways of filling are to use a clay-based filler like Milliput, a liquid-based filler like the Gunze Sanyo Mr Surfacer (or a correction pen), or finally an aerosol filler like Halfords Filler Primer. None of the above really represents any great time saving over the other so it will be more about what you want the finished model to look like. Using Milliput will almost completely eradicate the panel lines and you can use the hint of what is left as a guide to any pre-shading you might want to do. This medium also has the advantage of being very controllable from an application viewpoint, but considerable pressure sometimes needs to be applied to manipulate the filler into the panel lines, so you might want to do this prior to construction. At first glance a Tippex correction pen looks ideal in every respect. It is certainly easy enough to apply as the nib is passed along the lip of the panel line and the excess wiped off with lsopropyl alcohol.

Model Airplane International 07 2006


The overall package from Academy is excellent and vastly superior to the old Matchbox version of this type! No wing folds though, which may upset a few, although thinking back to the Matchbox example, maybe it is not a bad thing (remember those hinges' in that kit!). All the injected parts have nice crisply moulded recessed panel lines and there is a good amount of interior detail. There is also a full bomb bay with two bombs in it and separate bomb doors. The cockpit is multi-part with separate sidewalls that just slot into place and although there is room for you to add more detail if you want, that is entirely up to you. All I added were some pre-painted seat belts from Eduard, as the seats looked bare without them. The rear cockpit area is the same, although the radio equipment rack (#A6) is a little two-dimensional, so I am sure the aftermarket boys will come to your aid there. The cam-shell dorsal spine is a little simplified, but reference to books like the In Action title will show you what is really in this area and most of it can be built from plasticard if you desire.

Model Airplane International 08 2006


In pursuing a hobby we all try to juggle both improving our game' as well as learning new techniques and technology. It is not always easy, but there are so many useful bits of equipment around that once you have them you would just never go back (like a dishwasher -1 said a dish-w-a-s-h-e-r. oh forget it!). Nevertheless, one of the things I have always had a bit of a fascination with is the whole process of airbrushing, more so the skill of others than my own. I started like everyone with a motley collection of paintbrushes and never had the money until about 12-14 years ago to purchase an airbrush. I opted right from the start not to use canned propellant, simple because as a teenager I worked in the holidays with my uncle in his motorcycle repair business and knew just how good a real airbrush and compressor could be. In the intervening years I have struggled to get to grips with working with an airbrush and have to admit I was quite pleased with my level until I started to encounter the likes of Steve Evans. Marcus, Spud etc. Having seen how it should be done I started to rethink the whole process and get to grips with it. But then I experienced a bit of a revelation. I got hold of an Iwata airbrush. I had heard about them before and got to see them in use when I joined ADH. but it was not until I actually got one that I realised that this was all of a sudden a whole different ball-game. Don't get me wrong.

Model Airplane International 09 2006


The G' variant was a strengthened and modified version of the basic airframe, tailored to suit life in the harsher European environment, with improved avionics and restressed structures. The two-seat 'G' wasn't just a trainer though, it kept four of the five stores pylons and exactly the same radar systems making it fully combat ready (although it did lose the Vulcan gun in the conversion). With 137 being produced for the Federal German Republic Luftwaffe they became the biggest single user of this particular type, with production running from 1961 right up until 1966, although many other European nations also used the trainer types. Hasegawa have had Starfighters in Their box for a long time, in all sorts of scales, but it's taken them an age (six years to be precise!) to bring out the two-seat version in 1:48. and very welcome it is too. Many people prefer the lines of the trainer (my mate Dai for one) but to me it always looks a little bent' and out of shape, but not to worry, let's see what looking at it in three dimensions will do to change my mind.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Model Airplane International 06 2007


The sprues for the new' 60kg bombs will have you thinking 'why has this kit got floats?" Well the reason is simple, Hasegawa have just taken the sprues out of their A6M2-N Rufe' kit. which includes 60kg bombs, and put them in this box! The rest of this kit is their standard A6M2 Type 21 kit (#JT43) and is therefore moulded in the usual mid-grey coloured plastic with excellent recessed panel lines. The cockpit is made as a nicely detailed tub' that is inserted into the fuselage and the upper decking with 77mm machine gun barrels is also a separate insert. The correct style cowl with separate exhaust stacks is also included but work is required on the wings, as the recessed lines depicting the trim tabs need to be eradicated and the Trim tab linkage arms on the undersides need to be cut off. Other than that, this is a typical Hasegawa product, well engineered, moulded and packaged and it should not prove a problem for anyone to make, complete novice or ultra-experienced expert. The use of the Rufe sprues does mean you get a set of wing floats and two wheels from the beaching trolley, but hey. they will come in handy, right?

Model Airplane International 04 2007


To be fair, sometimes it seems that we take ourselves far too seriously in this hobby. how many times have we heard arguments about the exact shade of RLM 83 and how many rivets are holding that widget onto the flange sprocket? Well, with these little babies it doesn't matter how many rivets, because we're not even sure they have widgets, let alone flange sprockets. Hasegawa of course have something of a history when it comes to the lighter side of this hobby, anyone remember the Egg planes' of years gone by? Marvellous stuff and the T4 Blue Impulse Junior set falls squarely in that fun' box. That's not to say that they are fictitious, far from it, these are fufly-fledged members of the Blue Impulse display team and used by the Japanese Air Self Defence Force for marketing and recruitment drives. The Juniors' are 50cc Honda Dio scooters, wrapped in plywood caricatures of the Blue Impulse Kawasaki T4's. Piloted' around air-shows and the maintenance bases, they delight of the crowds wherever they appear. Originally created by the servicing teams at the Matsushima air base they now follow the acrobatic team all over the world.

Model Airplane International 10 2006


On opening the box I was amazed by its content. The level of detail is noticeably high and the finely engraved panel lines are equal to those we've come to expect from Far Eastern manufacturers, the only exception being thicker lines on the upper wing centre section. The amount of flash is kept to a minimum with only the struts needing a little cleaning up. Also sink marks are almost nonexistent; I found only two on the inner faces of the landing gear covers. The other feature that literally shocked me was the number of optional parts, allowing virtually any CR.42 variant to be built, i.e. fighter, fighter-bomber or night fighter, plus alternative styles of exhausts, intakes, undercarriage (spafted/unspatted wheels, skis), bomb racks, underwing searchlights and different spinners! Even the smallest parts look to scale, something that has not been typical of Italeri in the past. Perhaps the only downside to the kit is the slightly 'overdone' fabric effect, especially the ribs on the wings, which are too pronounced for my taste. The final surprise waited at the bottom of the box - a 48-page reference booklet!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Model Airplane International 02 2007


The kit comes in an end-opening box that is a bit of a pain but I transferred all parts into a lid type so it wasn't too bad. Whilst I did so I had a good look at the parts. The old ICM had a reputation for leaving a thick mould release agent all over the sprues, but I am happy to report that the new ICM kits don't suffer from this. All parts are well moulded with very nice engraved lines although some of the details can be on the soft side and the rear clear canopy for the older framed canopy was malformed. I hope this was an isolated case. With the bits in the box an E-3, 4 and 7 can be modelled as well as the tropical versions, obviously. The decal sheet was matt and there were some minor registration issues but looks good over all. To sum up the kit in the box looks very nice indeed but how does it go together. You wont be shocked to discover that construction started in the cockpit. The detail is good with nice depth to the sidewall details. Everything was painted Gunze Sangyo RLM 66, given a wash with Humbrol matt black and then matt varnished using Xtracrylics superb acrylic matt. All the bits were then given a drybrushing of light grey and paint chips were added with a silver pencil. I tried to add some Eduard seat belts but the lap straps failed to conform over the narrow seat. I may not have annealed them enough or perhaps I was having an off day so t decided not fo bother with them (my excuse being this is a from the box review!). The instrument panel and Revi gunsight were painted with Tamiya matt black and given a drybrush of medium grey and then various details were picked out with colour. I didn't worry about being too neat as I was modelling the box top desert machine and the clear mouldings for the 'square' frame are a single piece.

Model Airplane International 01 2007


As usual, construction starts with the cockpit, and although I wish I could do otherwise, to do justice to Roden's courage to release the Mohawk series, my criticism starts right here. The real Mohawk cockpit looks quite crowded, but the kit one is rather basic and has some areas that need attention. The building instructions mention sprue F for certain parts of the instrument panel: that sprue isn't included in this kit and I have seen others mentioning this too, so this hardly seems a unique occurrence. But, in all honesty, the missing parts can be made easily from some plasticard. The overhead console sits too high, which will cause problems when adding the canopy glazing. Just make sure the top of the console is at the same height as the top of the bulkhead it's attached to and you'll be fine. The seats are too high as well and lack safety harnesses. By shaving off 1.5mm from the bottom of the seats that problem is solved. The missing safety harness can be made from lead foil or an etched set.

Model Airplane International 11 2006


The aircraft he flew was a Ryan NYP (NY = New York. P =Paris), named the Spirit of St. Louis' in thanks for the businessmen of St Louis who funded its purchase. Modified from one of Ryan's current designs of the time, the NYP had a revised nose containing extra fuel tanks. It also had no windshield; forward vision was by means of a small periscope! The airframe was of metal and wood construction, covered with fabric, and due to the modifications the Spirit' had an impressive range of 4,210 stature miles. To date the NYP has only been released by three manufacturers: Hawk and Frog in 1:72 and Lindberg (how ironic!) in 1:48, this latter kit also being reissued by Glencoe around 20 years ago. Inside the box of this new tooling from Revell there are 49 parts moulded in silver and a clear sprue containing 3 parts. All are well moulded with good attention to detail. A nice set of decals is also provided, including a full set specifically for the engine cowl engine turned' or damascene finish. How authentic they will look well have to wait and see! Two pilot figures are offered, one standing and one sitting. The confined cockpit is well detailed but the addition of a few extra pipes wouldn't go amiss, although not too much will really be seen of this area even with the door open.

Military in Scale 07 2002


The Royal International Air Tattoo 2002 will remember a leading British aviator when Europe's airshow takes off from RAF Fairford. Gloucestershire, over the weekend of 20/21 July. Commander Roland Prosper Beamont CBE, DSO and Bar. DFC and Bar died on 22 November 2001 aged 81 and. to celebrate the achievements of this remarkable 'nght stuff' test pilot. RIAT is planning a tribute flypast by an RAF Canberra flanked by a Tornado and Jaguar. The success of these high-profile aircraft owes much to the exceptionally talented Beamont. For three decades post-war. Bee was at the cutting edge of a race to create the new generation of jet aircraft. He was the first Briton to break the sound barrier, flying an American P-86 in 1948. and in the following year took the Canberra jet bomber on its maiden flight. It became one of the most successful British military planes of all time. still in service today over Afghanistan and elsewhere as a photo-reconnaissance platform. By 1954 Bee was test pilot for the PI Lightning, the first truly supersonic Bntish fighter, and on 27 September 1964 he was at the controls for the first test flight of the TSR2. the advanced supersonic bomber that was abruptly cancelled the following year. This u-turn remained the biggest professional disappointment of Bee's life. In the 1970s Bee worked on the Jaguar before his appointment as Director of Flight Testing for the Panavia Tornado front line jet - the final challenge of a long career devoted to British aviation.

Military in Scale 09 2003


This month's Insight comes amid the usual post operation scrutiny that follows the deployment of British forces to any area of conflict, the volume of comment generated with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight has been staggering. The media frenzy surrounding the alleged misconduct of Lt. Col. Tim Collins was a case in point, hindsight and a lack of local knowledge coupled with the desire to sell newspapers override any restraint prior to soiling an officer's reputation. You have to wonder if individuals will want to serve their country if they will be subjected to such pilloring on their return from a hazardous operation? The performance of our personnel and indeed equipment has been second to none, the Challenger 2 must surely now be rated as the most effective main battle tank in service. An account of a Scots Dragoon Challenger troop action against a unit of Iraqi T-55s on the Al Faw peninsula makes grim reading; 14 British MBTs engaged 14 T-55s in open country - predictable result. 14 kills for the Challenger 2s.

Military in Scale 07 2003


Having built FineMolds' excellent Type 1 and Type 3 main battle tanks I hoped the TK would prove to be of similar quality. I was wrong. If anything, the TK is even better. The kit is moulded in olive drab injection-moulded plastic, has glueable vinyl tracks and includes a very nice sheet of photoetch. What sets this kit apart is the way the plastic parts have been designed to work with the etch. I'll explain in detail later, but this kit has been created as a whole package, not just plastic parts plus photoetch as an afterthought. The standard of moulding is flawless. There is no flash, there are no sinkmarks, and the sprue attachment points, where appropriate, are generally on the least visible surface of the parts. The etch is easy to work with and is easy to bend to shape. There is no interior detail in the hull, although the driver's access hatch can be positioned open. The turret features full machine-gun detail, but this is not enough to let you position the turret hatch open without a figure to fill the void. With this in mind, I used Warriors' Tankette crew set. which is specifically designed to fit this kit. Regular readers will know that I like to throw aftermarket sets at my kits. As far as I know the TK doesn't have any, but even if it did I think I'd just stick with the kit parts, the model really is that good.

Military in Scale 06 2003


If sou decide to super-detail your model with aftermarket goodies, it's best to plan ahead rather than retro-fit them. As I had already begun construction several years ago I was forced to carry out some remedial work to incorporate all the extra parts. The Eduard photoetch set tor the Bergepanther has some really useful details such as a new gun shield for the bow cannon and the correct-style spare track link brackets for the rear hull. This set is a must. The 2 cm KwK 38 was dressed up with a turned aluminium barrel from Jordi Rubio, and Friulmodel's late-type Panther tracks were used to replace the hideous items supplied in the kit. Small details were used in favour of the kit originals including a white metal ModelKasten Bosch headlight, resin Bergepanther towing cle-vises from Elefant. Panther tow shackles, also from Elefant, a Tamiya MG34, bracket and tools from the Panzer IV On-Vehicle Equipment Set, and hollow burnished metal exhausts from Moskit.

Military in Scale 05 2003


I have been a fan of Military in Scale since issue number one. I can't claim to have kept all the issues, like many of your readers I am sure. I don't have the room to spare However, certainly the articles that I know I will refer back to I have kept, and I will say I not only read MIS, I also read the others. I won't mention them for unwanted publicity, suffice to say though that MIS is one of the best for overall content and subject coverage Military in Scale provides a great mix of aircraft subjects as well as armour, figures and the Navy. While you cannot please all the people all the time certainly the mapnty will achieve satisfaction every month from their purchase. I feel the feedback you receive is one of the best indicators of what modellers want. One of your competitors from the US does a yearly poll of its readers asking what they want to see in model form. A Japanese publication did the same One year the poll's top choice for a new kit was 1/72 scale Me 262; low and behold Hasegawa produced several kits seemingly on the strength of this poll Revell Monogram produced the Catalina in 1 /48. whether this was a coincidence or not is questionable, but a poll taken previously indicated that modellers wanted this aircraft in their collection. Another of your competitors' from the US run a monthly column with their wish list and its updates. Certainly I have seen some kits/models released from this list and I wonder if it is because the manufacturers take note.

Military in Scale 04 2003


To date. 130 Gripen aircraft have been delivered to the Swedish Air Force, including the first aircraft (No. 208) complete with retractable refuelling probe, updated avionic systems and NATO compatible servicing connections and weapons pylons. Older JAS39A Gnpens are currently being returned to Saab at Lmkoping. for upgrade to the latest standard. With regard to exports, the South African Air Force programme is proceeding well, with Saab making every effort to fulfil its offset agreements in order to secure approval for the second batch, which will be mostly single seaters. A Hungarian Air Force leasing deal will also be concluded very soon, with Gripens entering HAF service from 2006 onwards. Efforts are also being made to resurrect the Czech Air Force Gripen order, which collapsed earlier this year following the disastrous floods in Central Europe, and to also efforts are being made to overturn a recent Brazilian fighter deal with Dassault - for the Mirage 2000-5. Brazil's newly elected President believes that the deal between Dassault and Embraer is not in Brazil's best interests and the competition for a new fighter aircraft may be re-opened in 2003.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

FineScale Modeler 07 2006


Some modelers love tank tracks, others hate them, but most recognize them for what they are - the tedious part of modeling tracked vehicles. Either way, they're a necessity, and mastering them can sometimes be a lesson in frustration. Back in the "old days" of armor modeling we had two choices - rubber-band or vinyl tracks. Rubber-band tracks are just that, large rubber bands designed to be stretched over the road wheels and drive sprockets. These were especially popular and necessary with motorized kits but lacked detail and accuracy. Vinyl tracks, although an improvement over rubber-band tracks, still lacked the detail modelers sought, even as the quality of kits improved. Today, armor modelers have a wide variety of choices for their tracked vehicles. Many companies have retained their vinyl tracks, while others have opted to use link-and-length or individual links. Aftermarket companies like Friulmodel, Modelkasten, and Karaya produce detailed, workable track sets to give modelers the ultimate detail, and companies like Dragon are offering highly detailed functional tracks in their kits. I hope to accomplish a basic understanding of how to work with these various types of tracks.

Military in Scale 09 2002


The tools of the trade. All the items that you see in this shot can be used in any modelling project, not just one of a mixed media nature. Of interest is the range of different adhesives to assemble the models, Mr Surfacer to add the weld beads, the knife to remove the small parts and the pliers to bend and position the photo etched parts. Missing from this shot, but no less important, are sanding sticks and wet and dry to clean up the various parts, as well as a razor saw that was used to remove the larger moulding plugs. The conning tower is moulded in one with the hull and is detailed on its upper surface with a large etched brass plate. Care needs to be exercised to ensure that the holes in the plate line up with depressions in the upper surface of the tower. Though the part fitted perfectly on the waterline kit, it was slightly off on the full hulled version -probably due to shrinkage on one or other part. Note the open hatch that will be detailed later on with a vac-formed Perspex dome. Etched hatches adorn the rear of the hull. Along with the removal of the large moulding plug from the underside of the hull, you will also need to remove webs of resin from around the mounting for the spinner. This took time and care because there was also evidence of stray resin in this area that needed removing with a file and some wet n dry. You will also need to pay attention when adding the winglets and the conical housing for the spinner - the former when fixing them straight and level, the latter when mounting it so that the spinner is central within the confines of the guard.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Model Railroader 2009 08


Dust is a model railroad's biggest enemy, and I've spent many years struggling to keep my HO scale Allegheny & Lackawanna Southern from being inundated with it. Of course, the best way to keep dust off the rails is to keep the railroad operating. I've found it's much easier to clean the wheels of a locomotive than it is to clean all of the track on a 20 x 30-foot model railroad. Like many modelers in snow country, when spring comes I like to get outside to do yard work, play a round of golf, or ride my motorcycle. Some years there may be as much as three or four months of down time for the railroad. I always kept the railroad room closed, but no matter what I did, a fine covering of dust settled on the layout. I discovered two simple ways of keeping dust to a minimum in the railroad room. When I'm not riding my motorcycle for any length of time, 1 cover it to keep it clean. I realized that I could do the same thing with my railroad, using thin plastic sheeting sold in home-improvement stores. The plastic is so lightweight that I can secure it with a few pushpins, and it takes less than an hour to cover the entire railroad.

Model Military International 04 2009


As Tamiya's 1:48 Panzer IV has been out for quite a while, so won't go over old ground and talk about the basic construction, suffice to say all of Tamiya's 1:48 range of armour are straightforward and simple to assemble thanks to their excellent instructions and superb engineering. My intention is to comment on a number of improvements and accessories I have added to it and describe my building and painting style. I decided from the outset that I wanted to depict a late Panzer IV J with the wire mesh Schurzen on the hull sides and stove pipe exhaust pipes. The impetus for this build was provided by the Editor when he provided me with a number of update sets to produce just such a version. Eduard, Aber, Part and Hauler all make mesh screens with, varying degrees of accuracy and complexity. I had also accumulated a few updates myself and like most modellers, I tend to buy sets that will improve a kit only to have them sit on the shelf gathering dust! There is a reason for this (or so I keep telling myself!), in that the accessories may not be available when you get time to build the kit. But one has to wonder how much is enough! Will all these things make a better model? I guess it's up to the individual to decide if this accessory obsession many of us seem to have is worth it? My intention was to use as many of these accumulated updates as I could, simply to make myself feel less guilty and justify why I keep buying them!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

N Scale Railroading 07-08 2009


For years I used a layout height of 48" but over time this "God's eye view" of things became distracting. I didn't quite like the eye level view because of building and maintenance considerations so 57" was selected as a good height for me(5-11"). A modern theme was important with industry, mountains, desert, a workable yard, and some storage tracks, so I didn't elect to model any specific actual scenes. Layout construction is typical 1x4 framing with 1/2" OSB or 2" foam sheeting. All tracks are Atlas Code 55 with #7 and #10 turnouts on the main lines. A few #5s were used at industry locations. All turnouts operate manually with slide switches or Bluepoint machines. HO cork was used for mainline roadbed and ballast is a combo of Arizona Rock GN basalt arid NP granite. Other natural rocks from Mt. St Helens, Washington (ash), Bend, Oregon (red lava), and Ludlow, California (desert gravel), add color variations. Woodland Scenics trees and scratch materials provided most of the landscape greenery. Electrically, the layout is wired in blocks and uses two MRC Control Master 20s with walk-around controllers. DCC is not in the current plan.

Model Railroader 07 2009


Here's a CSX 52-foot gondola with an unusual load that's easy to model. It's a load of the heavy steel breaker balls that steel mills use to begin the slag crushing process. Slag is a red-hot byproduct of iron and steelmaking that looks like molten lava when it's dumped into the slag pits. As the slag cools, it hardens into large chunks that must be broken up before the slag can be crushed into a uniform-sized gray rock that's used for roads and secondary track ballast. The breaker balls are solid steel and weigh up to 20 or 25 tons each. They are lifted with an crane equipped with an electromagnet and dropped into the pit to shatter the hardened slag into chunks. The pieces of slag arc then fed into a crusher. Modeling this load will be easy, since all that's required is a handful of smooth plastic balls and a modern 50-foot gondola. Paint the balls with grimy black, apply a heavy coat of rust weathering to them, and you'll be all set. - Bob Warrick, Barberton, Ohio

Railroad Model Craftsman 07 2009


David M. Hoffman, 8682 U.S. Hwy. 61 North, Woodville, MS 39669-3502, has now produced an HOn3 scale Mann's Creek Railway No. 2 420-ton Shay semi kit. This kit includes genuine MDC casting parts, plus specially made lost wax brass castings upgraded with NorthWest Short Line gearing and U joints. It is powered with a flat can motor. The price is $200.00, postpaid. Athearn Trains, 1550 Glenn Curtiss St., Carson, CA 80746, has introduced an all sound equipped HO scale Genesis locomotive with custom designed SoundTraxx Tsunami digital sound decoders. These new decoders provide smoother and more precise operations with back-EMF control for consistent operating speeds. This unit is compatible with NMRA standards for DCC and features dual mode capability for operation on analog or DCC layouts. The HO model will be available with Mars oscillating signal lights, Pyle Gyra-lights, Western Cullen rotary beacons and more. Also available from Athearn are a new line of HO scale of Fixible Visicoach bus. These standard designed 1950's buses are decorated for Consolidated Bus Lines (Roanoke); Fred Harvey Bus Line (Grand Canyon Village); Badger Bus Line (Madison) and Utah Parks Company (chartered). They are priced at $22.98. For TOFC modelers, there are three new 28-foot Wedge Trailers (two packs). Road names are Consolidated Freightways (two sets) and Roadway. The price is $24.98 per set.