The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II part 2 - A Comprehensive Guide for The Modeller

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom was one of the most successful post-war jet fighters and was the second most prolific American jet fighter to be built, outnumbered only by the North American Sabre. Total US production was 5057, with another 138 being built under license in Japan, and the Phantom remained in continuous production for 20 years from 1959 until 1979, and during the Vietnam War, 72 Phantoms were coming off the production line every month. It was on the 25th of July, 1955 that the Navy and McDonnell agreed to a detailed list of specifications for the YF4H-l,the forerunner of the Phantom. The aircraft was to be capable of staying on patrol for up to two hours at a time at a distance of up to 250 nautical miles from its carriers and was to be able to remain in the air for at least three hours without midair refuelling and carry a crew of two. Initially the aircraft was to be named 'Mithras' or 'Satan', however under government pressure the aircraft was given the less controversial name of 'Phantom II'. During its service it gained a number of nicknames such as 'Double Ugly', Rhino' and 'The Louisville Slugger' to name but three, as well as its acknowledgement for being the 'World's Leading Distributor of MiG Parts'!

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Verlinden's Showcase No.5

The idea for this 200mm figure conversion came from a famous press photograph circulated in most newspapers around the world during the time of the Vietnam war. This picture with the title "Why"? was typical of the rising anti-war movement in America against the military operations in Vietnam. Except for the American Civil War, all other conflicts in which the United States was involved were fought far away in Europe or the Pacific during WWII. Until the '60s. only the weekly movie newsreels, which created the image of an enemy in the form of dictators such as Hitler and Mussolini were given to the American public. But all that changed drastically when television entered the homes, and the horrors of the Vietnam war were shown every day as evening filling TV programs. The photograph "Why"? is a perfect example of what created the anti-war movement, especially the pose of the soldier reminiscent of the crucifixion image being sacrificed for the sake of humanity.

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Verlinden's Showcase No.3

A fair amount of photo-etched jungle foliage and a set of VP Palm Plants was used to fill one spot of the base. Preparation of this back-drop took some time but it was worth the effort. The items used to fill the little encampment aside the M113 are listed on the previous page. Anyone who ever camped, be it in the army or otherwise, knows how messy a camp-site can become, especially in wartime. Note how the guns are kept within reaching distance. It still is best to paint the metal parts of the weapons with Matt Black whereas drybrushing with a Gun Metal mixture will enhance details. For the wooden rifle butts it's advised to use Burnt Sienna mixed with a bit of Raw Umber oil paint. Painting the naked torsos of the two men next to the M113 is quite challenging. Basically, it's the same as painting a face, but the areas where the oil paint has to be applied is a lot larger. Use a flat size #4 brush (which is slightly pointed) to blend the colors. To get a perfect blending it is important not to leave too much paint in the cavities of the body. Oil paint has a heavier consistency than enamels which causes a gradual buildup of paint on the figure. A thick, gooey layer of heavilly textured paint with ugly brush marks does not look so nice on a 35th scale figure. So, painting a figure is a matter of removing excessive paint rather than applying more paint.

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Verlinden's Showcase No.2

For quite some time I wanted to build this Opel Blitz A-Type 3-ton truck with the enclosed rear superstructure. Since the Italeri kit featured the more well-known open rear, scratchbuilding seemed, once again, inevitable. Lots of plasticard, proper tools, an accurate scale plan and a fair amount of fluid from the 'patience-bottle1 (i,e. coffee-pot) was needed to fulfill the task. The chassis needed some attention as can be seen in the top left picture. The frame rails of the chassis should be lengthened to support the compartment and three transversal supporting beams have to be added for the same reason. A rack for the two additional jerry-cans should be fitted alongside the standard tool box. The extra tool box on the left side of the chassis should not be forgotten. A set of drawings have been added on page 10 to build the parts on the next two pictures. Honesty dictates me to note that the size and the shape of the lockers and the table are pure guesswork. But since this was frequently the case in real life too, one should not dwell on this point. The compartment was built up on the basic floor of the kit, retaining the rear fenders. In order to facilitate the paint-job, the roof and the back doors were not yet glued in place.

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Verlinden's Showcase No.1

Two very nice Italeri kits were used to create the atmosphere in this desert scene diorama. When I start building kits for a new diorama I already have an idea of how it should look like once it is finished. Here's a simple trick: as soon as I know which vehicle or tank I am going to build, or which era I am going to portray, I start by reading some books on the subject. This starts some weeks before the actual building of the models and lasts until near-completion of the diorama is at hand. By doing so, the right atmosphere is being created inside your head and your imagination will very soon tell you what to look for. Most likely you'll have to choose between two or three good ideas! By reading these books, you will also found some information on the accessories you are going to use or find something completely new you haven't thought of in the first place. Something that would add nicely to the creation of the scene. Being superbly moulded, they both need no further detailing unless you're a modeler who still has to add a few nuts and bolts to be completely satisfied- If so, please go ahead. No major difficulties were encountered in assembling the kits, they are of the good old Italeri quality. Both were given an overall base coat of Dark Earth. Oversprayed with Sand and given a coat of varnish to protect the parts from the wash afterwards (the turpentine needed for the wash might affect the paint). After the varnish has dried for 48 hours I started washing with Matt Black.

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Model Military International 35 - 03 2009

Tamiya have always been spot on with the timing of their releases and these two Italian subjects could not have been better timed. Italeri have just released a Carro Armato L6/40 light tank to go with the various Italian armoured cars already in their range and Dragon have released a new set of Italian figures. As a compliment to this upsurge in Italian themed models, Tamiya have re-released both their elderly (originally 1976) M13/40 and Semovente M40. These re-releases might have passed with little comment if it was not for the fact that each has several very smart enhancements. If I can run through the M13/40 gun tank first, as this has perhaps the most new additions. There are three new sprues. Firstly two sprue Xs which provide a set of injection moulded 'link and length' tracks, four jerry cans, new drive sprockets and several finely moulded detail parts to improve on the original offerings. A sprue Y which has new separately moulded tools and the mounting straps for them as well as two new exhausts. The last new sprue, (surprisingly enough!) Z has two new crew figures.

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The De Havilland Mosquito - A Comprehensive Guide for The Modeller

After all the uncertainty about the future of the D.H.98 throughout the previous two years, an official order for fifty Mosquito bombers and reconnaissance aircraft was placed with De Havilland by the Air Ministry on the 1st March 1940. These machines (serialled W4050-4099) included the prototype, which was under construction at Salisbury Hall. Many wood-working firms, hitherto limited in their war work commitments, were contacted to undertake, sub-contract, the construction of this new type. These included Gommes, the maker of 'G Plan' furniture at High Wycombe, Dancer & Hearne and Mulliners of Chiswick. With the fall of France in 1940, the newly created Ministry of Aircraft Production, under Lord Beaverbrook, rc-appraiscd all new aircraft designs and attempted once again to axe the Mosquito. Production was to be concentrated on five major types: the Hurricane, Spitfire, Wellington, Whitley and Blenheim. Dc Havillands were instructed to drop the Mosquito and concentrate on Tiger Moth and Airspeed Oxford production, which was considered to be of far greater importance. On three separate occasions Lord Beaverbrook told ACM Freeman to stop work on the Mosquito.

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Scale Aviation Modeler International 2003 01

The first job is to assembly the interior and here is where the first error is apparent. Either the Z-9 has a very small interior fit, or the cockpit parts in this kit are way underscale! I certainly think the latter is the case as the seats etc are so small as to be almost invisible once inside the fuselage and the glass has been installed. Also this interior is very 'civil' in guise with none of the military equipment (e.g. cabin-mounted IR sight) that you would associate with an attack helicopter. Having built up the under-size interior 1 set about building up the fuselage halves with it trapped inside. Be warned that the cabin windows (F1, 2, 3 & 4) do not fit at all well and some modification to the vertical beams (B7 & 10) will also be necessary. The upper engine assembly (stage 3) goes together well, but once installed on the fuselage you will see that there is quite a large gap all around that needs attention. Fitting the forward windscreen sections (P5 & 6) was a nightmare, as they fit where they touched, and did not touch often! I tried various 'tweaks' but got little further, so I left it for a while and moved on to the rotor assembly.

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FineScale Modeler 04 2006

By late 1942, the U.S. had lost four front-line carriers, leaving only the Saratoga and Enterprise to fight the war in the Pacific. This shortage of carriers hindered the navys efforts to train new carrier pilots. Navy Commander C.F. Whitehead suggested training pilots on the protected waters of the Great Lakes, far away from the combat zone. Since existing carriers were too large to fit through the Welland Canal connecting Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, training carriers either had to be built on the lakes or converted from existing vessels. Whitehead was placed in command, and work started on the SS Seeandbee, an excursion steamer owned by the C&B Transit Company. Five of the upper decks were removed in Cleveland, Ohio, and the ship was fitted with a 558-foot flight deck in Buffalo, N.Y. Upon completion of conversion, the Seeandbee was re-christened the USS Wolverine. Throughout the war, the USS Wolverine and the USS Sable (also a conversion) trained more than 18,000 pilots and as many or more flight-deck crew for carrier operations. These ships were the world s first and only paddle-wheeled aircraft carriers. The Wolverine was sold for scrap in 1948.

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Scale Aviation Modeler International 2003 02

Roden produce this kit in their usual side-opening box, featuring nice artwork of the type in action together with a potted history of the aircraft and of the pilot depicted on the artwork, in this case Austro-Hungarian ace Jozsef Kiss. On opening the box you will find all the parts and the instructions enclosed in a poly bag. The parts themselves are well moulded in a light grey plastic but a few have a fair amount of thick flash that will need to be trimmed carefully. There are some very fine detail parts in this kit, in particular the engine which is a little gem, it's just a shame that it's almost covered up completely by the time you place it in the fuselage. One of the most outstanding areas of this kit is the comprehensive decal sheet which covers no less than twelve different marking options.

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The English Electric Lightning - A Comprehensive Guide for The Modeller

To review the history of the Lightning, one must completely forget present day aviation tactics and requirements and go back to the thinking of the early and mid fifties. As Britain began its reconstruction period after the Second World Wan it was only natural that lessons learnt from that conflict would be on the agenda for future defence svstems that had to be created. The de Havilland Vampire's adaptability for further development was seriously curtailed by the nature of its own design. Faring slightly better was the Gloster Meteor, but it had to be the advent of the Hawker Hunter that provided the RAF with a quantum leap forward, Jet propulsion was progressing at a fast pace, and a race for speed and more speed, began. The fighter concept had always been written around the ability of an aircraft to hit fast and run, and contemporary aircraft designers agreed that a fighter depended solely on its speed and agility for survival Political thinking, however, was going down a different path, to the extent of playing down the need for manned high-speed flight. Too much faith was being put on unmanned missile systems, and some hasty decisions taken at that time resulted in near-tragic consequences for the British aviation industry.

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Verlinden's Showcase No.4

I can still remember the days when I, as a modeler , had to spend hours and hours running through a scrapbox, my wife's sewing-box or my son's playthings to find useful items to construct those badly needed diorama accessories. Those days are gone (although not yet completely) since Verlinden Productions entered the model market. And although a lot remains to be released the vast range of available accessories makes it easy to make diorama-"Variations on a theme". This diorama is an example. The MDA German Village Ruin has been used in a previous setting, although in a different function. The "German Commercial Signs" (n°24) offers some 10 different signboards to change the location of the MDA ruin. This, with a variation in accessories, will give the same diorama a totally different look. Note how some attention is devoted to the inside of the ruin. Basswood is perfect to simulate the planking on the first floor. A dark wash with oil paint and highlighting with Humbrol HM8 will bring out the structure of the wood. The wall paper (n°277/Two patterns) has been applied the same way as the real one as well as the peeling effect.

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The Avro Lancaster - A Comprehensive Guide for The Modeller

By the mid-1930s the RAF's frontline bomber squadrons were still equipped with outdated types. Eight squadrons had the H.P. Heyford, three still had the Vickers Virginia and only one (No. 38 Sqn) had a'modern' type in the form of the Fairey Hendon. Even this machine, although at least a monoplane, was still of metal and fabric construction. In America the USAAC test flew the Boeing 299 (later XB-I7) in July 1935, and in Germany the newly acknowledged Luftwaffe was flying types as 'airliners' that would soon prove themselves as bombers in WWII (Heinkel He 111, Dornier Do 17 and Junkers Ju 88). The first truly modern monocoque construction bomber, the A.W.Whitley, flew on the 17th March 1936 and the Wellington (which although of alloy geodetic construction, still had fabric covering) followed later in the year.

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The Messerschmitt Bf-109 part 1 - A Comprehensive Guide for The Modeller

The early development of the Bf 109 and the history of its parent company, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW), did not initially hint at the greatness to come. BFW went through several manifestations before joining forces in August, 1926 with a small manufacturing firm led by Willy Messerschmitt. The newly reconstituted BFW utilized the tooling and machinery of the former Udet Flugzeugbau, a firm launched in 1921 by William Pohl. Pohl, an American from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, recruited the well-respected Great War ace Ernst Udet to act as the company s 'front man', and this he did with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, too much money was spent on development of too many different have Messerschmitt design a small airliner for inter-city use. This aircraft, the M 20, held great promise for both BFW and Lufthansa, but the first prototype crashed on its first flight in February 1928, killing the pilot Hans Hackmack. Two years later, another M 20 crashed in Dresden on 6 October 1930, killing the two crew and six passengers, and this was followed six months later in April, 1931 by yet another fatal M 20 crash, again killing both crew members. The passengers in this last flight survived with only minor injuries, but the director of Lufthansa, Erhard Milch, had had enough and refused the delivery of any further M 20s.

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The Hawker Hurricane - A Comprehensive Guide for The Modeller

The design of the Hurricane was based very much on the technology that had existed previously, insofar as the aircraft used many of the elements of the previous Hawker Hart and Fury. Basically the E34/36 (or Hurricane as it was to become), was the Fury, with the upper wing removed and its area added to the lower one, an enclosed canopy and the spatted wheels replaced with inward retracting examples. To be fair this is too simple a look at the F.34/36 design, but the basic idea is there as the Hawker K34/36 used a Warren truss construction, with swaged wire bracing and fabric covering. The fuselage used tour stainless steel longerons, with steel panels and duralumin tubes that were fixed with plates and bolts. The use of such a structure may seem old fashioned when compared to the other F. 36/34 competitor (the Spitfire), but this extremely strong, yet lightweight, construction was to serve the type well during the early stages of World War II.

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The Verlinden Way - Military Models And Dioramas Volume 2

The next diorama involving the Sherman and its descendants is one of a Priest towed by an ARV (Armoured Recovery Vehicle). The repair and workshop service of the US Army was one of the most important support units. War produces a lot of disabled vehicles which have to be brought back into service when and as quickly as possible. One can imagine the difficult circumstances in which mechanics had to work. They were supposed to recover damaged or disabled tanks from the frontlines often under enenemy fire. With their big ARV's they were a beautiful target, particularly as it took a while to hook up a tank. Often they had to remove tracks, drive-shafts, etc. Half an hour was a fast job but time enough for enemy artillery to pick them out at ease. These guys were no less courageous than the fighting soldiers. Many lost their lives doing their duty. Army technicians are very ingenious men. They have to rely on their skill and imagination almost more than on the availability of spare parts to repair the badly needed tanks. Sleep was a luxury most of them just heard of. The weeks after D-day were a nightmare of broken tracks, blown-up engines and transmissions and partially burned out tank hulls. In spite of this, they kept the Allies moving and they certainly deserve part of the credit for the defeat of Hitlers troops.

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Painting And Finishing Scale Models

THE THRILL IS GONE. Your two most recent kits lie unfinished, gathering dust. Your problems seem insurmountable: Trouble with painting, decal-ing, or weathering leads to frustration, and frustration leads to putting the model aside. Even worse, anticipating similar problems for the next project may prevent you from starting. Your dreams of display cases full of attractive models to show to your friends, children, and grandchildren evaporate. You even consider taking up golf — now that's frustration! But help is on the way. You enroll in FineScale Modeler's Finishing School, where the faculty promises to help you overcome your finishing frustrations. The course work won't be easy, and you'll have to pay attention, but it's a correspondence course, and you can proceed at your own pace. The purpose of FSM's Finishing School is not to make you a prizewinning modeler, but a competent, confident, and contented modeler. The course will concentrate on finishes — paints, decals, and the final touches in creating attractive models. Advanced topics like superdetailing, conversions, customizing, or scratchbuilding won't be discussed — the goal is to show you techniques to produce good-looking models without a lot of work and worry. Once you've mastered these skills, you'll be able to complete every model, every time, and enjoy the hobby more, too.

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Modeling Tanks and Military Vehicles

If you already have some experience in building plastic kits, reading this chapter will serve as a quick review of what you already know and may even introduce a few things you don't. If you've had little or no experience with plastic kits, this chapter will ensure that you start out right. Choosing your first armor kit. If we take the idea of starting at the beginning literally, that means opening our discussion with the purchase of your first kit. Because some kits go together much easier than others, making a poor selection can make building your first model harder than it has to be. Even if you have decided on a particular scale, the range of choices is rather wide — sometimes, even slightly bewildering. My advice: First, start with a kit offered by a major manufacturer, one who has an extensive line of armor kits (usually, you can count on experienced manufacturers to make kits that fit together well). Second, don't let the number of parts in the box influence your decision, because all armor kits, by their very nature, contain lots of parts. Third, don't worry about accuracy or authenticity. Some kits are inaccurate, but this should not be a consideration in choosing the first few you build. Later, as you gain experience and knowledge, authenticity will become an increasingly important factor in your choices.

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FineScale Modeler - Detailing Scale Model Aircraft

Detailing cockpits means many hours of tedious work, especially in anything smaller than 1/32 scale. The number of parts and accessories you use to detail a cockpit may well exceed 100. The addition of these parts, coupled with some basic techniques for painting and weathering, will result in an accurate presentation of the real aircraft. Adding detail, no matter how much, is a waste of time if you cant see it. One of the tricks of master modelers is to use different shades of the same color to highlight detail and create a perception of depth. Artists use this technique when painting a picture that appears to have depth. For example, if the interior of a cockpit is flat black and you use this color throughout, you will end up with a black hole. Creating the perception of depth is easy, but will add extra steps to your modeling approach. The end results, however, are worth the effort. A note here on paints: although I use enamel paints for all exterior work, I use water-base paints for most interior painting. I usually end up air-brushing several shades of a color, and when using an airbrush it is much easier to clean up water-base paints than enamels. You can also accelerate the drying time of water-base paints with a hair dryer — a great ad vantage whentime is limited.

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WW II Aircraft Vol.II - Modelling, Detailing, Painting, Weathering

In an effort to develop a new medium tank superior to the "Sherman" series, the T-20 series program was launched in the spring of 1942. The new tank design was to take advantage of engineering lessons learned after the development of the "Sherman", as well as lessons learned in battle. After three years of development, the better armored T-26E3 was introduced into battle during the final months of the war in Europe. Powered by a new 500 h.p. engine and armed with the more powerful 90mm main gun, the "General Pershing" proved capable of destroying the heavily armored Tiger and Panmer tanks of the Wehrmacht. The "Pershing" also saw action in the Pacific theater during the final months of WWII, as well as in the Korean war. The T-20 program provided valuable insight into the development of future tank designs, notably the development of the modern "Patton" series of main battle tanks, combining a powerful gun, high mobility, and as much armor as possible.

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Battle Of Britain Aircraft - Instructions On Modelling

Once the model has been finally prepared, sanded, filled, smoothed et at, it was given two coats of Gloy matt black enamel serving as a primer Over this later went another two coats, but this time Pelikan Plaka mixing a little white in with the black to reduce its starkness. This medium represents the original finish of Special Night (RDM 2) rather well. The model is painted overall in thin black including the cockpit area, although fuselage and wheel well interiors were painted Aircraft Grey Green. Collector rings and ex-haust pipes are a dull bronze colour. National markings were taken from Letraset sheets M9 and M11 while the Sky Grey codes were painted on as rough squares using Humbrol HX5 Light Aircraft Grey plus a dash of 23/M8 Duck Egg Blue. I could only locate codes of the correct size from Letraset sheet M14 and being in red these were applied over the grey areas to act as a stencil. Having applied the Plaka mix over them, tape was rubbed over the area and pulled off once the paint had dried to reveal perfect codes in the correct colour. Serial number was in dull red and can be 'manufactured' in the same way if unavailable elsewhere.

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Building Military Dioramas Vol.7

I recently acquired a book entitled "Battle of the Bulge Through the Lens", from the makers of After the Battle magazine. In it I found quite a few great pictures from the German attack in Poteau. featuring several American vehicles. I've been looking for an excuse to build the M3A2 Halftrack using the VP Update Set, and these pictures provided me with the inspiration to do so. Starting with an 8"x 8" piece of plywood. I added a piece of styrofoam cut at an angle to provide an embankment for a halftrack that has run off the road. I always try to compose my dioramas so thai they are not square to the base, and I also try to add some sloping ground in order to generate more interest and realism. As usual, I used Cell-U-Clay and small pebbles and sand to form the basic groundwork. While it was still wet I added some roots and static grass. After drying, the entire base was airbrushed with a Black-Brown mixture of Polly-Scale water-based paint. This was followed by several light coats of Browns and Tans to give the grass a wintery look. After I was happy with the color, I added 2 coats of "water", which consisted of Envirotex-light with a couple of drops of Dark Brown mixed In.

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WW II Aircraft Vol.I - Modelling, Detailing, Painting, Weathering

Hasegawa's ME 109G2 has been around several years now and is an accurate representation of the ME 109. The kit is simple and easy. Built straight from the box it can be made into a show winner. However, with VP's new 1302 we can take the ME 109 and hack it up and display its insides! VP's ME 109 G-2 update kit is more extensive than usual and extra planning is necessary. Fortunately VP's 1303 Lock-On #28 ME 109 has well detailed photographs to help along with painting, detailing and location of parts. To start with the plastic kit was cut and chopped up to accommodate the new parts. Some areas after cutting left a thick over scaled edge. These edges were carved with a knife to a thinner scale thickness. Next the major components were assembled with many of the resin parts built up into sub-assemblies. These sub-assemblies helped aid in the painting process. Test fitting is very important and rewarding. The engine assembly with its mounts in particular had to be aligned just right. As can be seen in the photos, copper wire was added to the engine mounts and a brass rod was inserted through the rear of the engine assembly (also simulating cannon barrel). The engine's brass rod goes between the ammo chutes on the bulkhead. A small piece of resin carrier block was cut and glued into the opening. Then a hole was drilled into the small piece of carrier and held the engines brass rod. This brass rod also acts as a support for painting.

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Verlinden Modeling Magazine Vol.3 No.4

Following days of constant bombing, the hungry, exhausted, demoralized Iraqi soldier was easy prey for the "Allied" armies. The US Forces alone took Iraqi prisoners by the tens of thousands which caused great logistical difficulties, not to mention the problems involved in transporting them to a "safe" zone. The physical and mental condition of most Iraqi's ranged from poor to downright pitiful. Many simply refused to fight anymore, particularly after the atrocities perpetrated upon them during their eight-year war with neighboring Iran. Shown here is a very common scene during Operation DESERT STORM. Two Iraqi BRDM-2 crewmen are surrendering to US troops. A soldier flags down a passing Hummer to arrange transport for the Iraqi's to a rear-area processing point. One prisoner is down on his knees, probably begging for a bite to eat or crying for mercy (having had previous experience with the Iranians), while the other is waving a "surrender letter", airdropped by allied airplanes over enemy lines. Their vehicle lies behind them after having a small "disagreement" with an Abrams tank and finishing in 2nd place.

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Tamiya's Fairey Swordfish

The Fairey Swordfish must surely be one of the best known biplanes of WWII. Indeed many readers will still see either the Mk I or II flying at air shows in the UK. Starting out as a private venture by Fairey and originating from the TSR I biplane of 1933, the Swordfish went on to outlast aircraft that had been designed to replace it such as the Fairey Albacore. The Swordfish was considered obsolete by many at the outbreak of hostilities yet 86 aircraft were ordered in 1935 followed by a further 131 aircraft, and it was still in service on VE day in 1945. Incredible though it may seem, the Stringbag was ultimately responsible for the destruction of a greater tonnage of hostile shipping than any other type of allied aircraft. The initial Swordfish Mk I was powered by a 690hp (515-kW) Bristol Pegasus IIIM3 radial engine, driving a three-bladed, fixed-pitch Fairey Reed metal propeller. The wings were of an all metal construction, fabric covered and could be folded back around rear spar hinges. The aircraft had a strut braced tailplane with metal constructed fin and rudder with fabric covering. The locking brace to secure the main wings was permanently located under each tailplane and is clearly visible in the accompanying photographs. The tail wheel was fixed, as were the main gear units although the latter were easily interchangeable with alloy floats. Armament consisted of one forward firing 0.303 in (7.7mm) Vickers machine gun with one Vickers 'K' or Lewis gun mounted in the aft cockpit. The Swordfish could carry one 18in (0.46m) torpedo beneath the fuselage. Alternative loads of one 1,500lb (680kg) mine or two 500lb (227kg) bombs beneath the fuselage plus two 250lb (113kg) bombs mounted on underwing racks or one 500lb bomb beneath the fuselage and one 500lb bomb beneath each wing.

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World War 2 US Army Fighter Modeling

With ten air forces in the field by 1944, all of them with their fighter component, the USAAF had, like most air arms of the fighting; powers, come to appreciate the effectiveness and economy of pursuit aircraft, those the pilots first nicknamed "pea shooters." The role of a category of aircraft historically regarded in the US as much less useful than bombers had changed radically. Very early on in World War 2, American fighters were adapted - and soon built - to carry external ordnance, which brought their basic combat duty partially into the realm of the bomber. Burgeoning numbers of single- and multi-seater fighter bombers now demanded a comprehensive system of markings schemes aimed at rapid air-to-air and "friend from foe" recognition. Different theaters of war saw different fighter markings schemes, for instance those of Europe and the Pacific regions. Arguably the most effective markings system used on US fighters during World War 2 was developed for the RAF whereby each unit was given a code consisting of two letters (sometimes a letter and a number) with a third letter identifying the individual "plane-in-squadron." There was far less visual confusion after this system was adopted, but the first American fighters based in England were also given an additional recognition scheme. Thus white nose, wing and tail bands over camouflage finish marked out the P-47 and P-5l, fighters that could conceivably be confused with their common German adversaries, the Fw 190 and Bf 109 respectively. Untold numbers of Thunderbolt and Mustang pilots probably owe their lives to this paint scheme as they dived through bomber formations in pursuit of the Luftwaffe Jagdfliegcr. "Friendly fire" incidents continued to occur but the white bands minimized this risk.

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Verlinden Military Vehicles Vol.2

The assembled and painted engine is quite a jewel. It was base-coated in Dark Blue, then washed with mixtures of Raw Umber, Burnt Sienna, and flat Black oils. Note the burnt metal on the exhaust collector, and the fuel and oil stains. Overall metallizing was done by dry-brushing a dark metallic mixture of Raw Umber oils and Silver printer's ink. After assembly, the interior was base-coated with an off-white, washed with Burnt Umber oils, and dry-brushed with Flat White. The floor was airbrushed with Humbrol matt 66 olive Drab, washed with mixtures of Raw Umber, burnt Sienna, and Flat Black oils, then dry-brushed with a mixture of Humbrol matt 159 and Yellow. Note the fuel and oil stains and chipped paint on the floor. The radio was detailed with wiring and car eful hand-painted stencilling. To simulate worn leather, the seats were painted Flat Black and dry brushed with Burnt Sienna. The engine compartment was weathered with local washes to simulate fuel & oil stains and rust streaks. The fan shrouds were dry-brushed with darkened silver printer's ink to simulate chipped paint. The intercom boxes in the forward compartment were wired with copper wire. Note the stowed maps & equipment.

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Verlinden Modeling Magazine Vol.3 No.3

A very crisp morning signals the oncoming fury of the Russian winter. In the second year of "Operation Barbarossa" these Wehrmacht troops are well aware of the suffering it will bring them. This morning, their vehicle broke down and. unable to repair it themselves, await a maintenance team to get them roadworthy. While waiting, keeping warm with a makeshift brazier is high on the priority list and as long as it is there, why not frustuck? The vehicle is the basic Tamiya Hanomag halftrack SdKfz 251/9. already an excellent kit on its own, superdetailed using VP Update set. which has all the parts for refining details; full engine and compartment; ammo for the 75mm gun; ammo cannisters and baskets. Other items from various VP accessory sets, small arms, infantry equipment, etc.. complete the realism of the Hanomag. The structure is the Trophy "Old Russian Barn", built and painted "out of the box", the only detailing being the plastic sheet window shutters and a ceiling from basswood. The scrapbox and parts from VP accessory kits; Fuel Barrels; German Radio Set; Jerry Cans; Wooden Barrels; Ammo Boxes; Food Containers, etc.. came in handy for creating a "busy" appearance to the setting. The figures are stock from VP Ostfront Breakfast and German Infantry/Overcoat WWII. Painting was accomplished using artists oils for the flesh areas and Humbrols for uniforms and equipment.

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Verlinden Military Vehicles Vol.1

In 1942, mass production started on a small and light amphibious car for all terrain use. The Schwimmwagen type 166 featured an air-cooled 4-cylinder engine with an output of 25 horsepower. Top speed was 80 km/h on land and 10 km/h in the water. When in the water the front wheels served as a rudder, with the propeller, lowered by hand, at the rear. By the wars closing days, 14.276 type 166 Schwimmwagens were manufactured. They served on every front performing reconnaissance, scouting, liaison, and many other functions. Tamiya's kit is another example of their recent excellent molding quality and engineering. They can be made into an excellent scale miniature right out of the box. Tamiya is making it harder to improve the basic kit! For example, Tamiya includes a very finely detailed engine molded in plastic. VP's Schwimmwagen update kit 1419 offers some kit improvments and various extra accessories, including wide off-road tires. VP provides an all new MG 34. which is a vast improvement over injected-plastic ones. Photo-etch includes many of the smaller details such as latches,screens, wiper, licence plates, etc.

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Verlinden Modeling Magazine Vol.6 No.3

After the release of VP's Tiger IE, the logical choice for a follow up was obviously a kit of the Sturmtiger. By the time this magazine goes to press the kit should be in modelshops everywhere. As with with the real thing, the basic hull components are adapted to receive the box like fighting compartment with the rocket launcher. This compartment consists of five, flat casted parts, separated at the welding seams, the same as with the real Sturmtiger. Care has to be taken when fitting the compartment to the Tiger hull. Test fitting is a must to ensure a perfect fit. If you choose to fit the new VP Tiger I Engine Compartment designed for the Tiger I, you must do so before gluing the superstructure permanently to the hull. Exceptional care was taken on detail while engineering this kit. It is all there: welding seems, textured armor plating, even complete to the zimmerit. All hatches (even the pistol ports) can be in open or closed position allowing the modeler who wants to take the effort, to scratch build the interior. Also enclosed with the kit is a sheet of mesh wire for the engine vents and one 38cm shell. Our example was airbrushed in the three tone dark yellow-red brown and green camouflage scheme and received a "wash" of different shades of dirty browns. Drybrushing was done with one slightly lighter shade of the three basic colors and finally with a metalizing run. The finish was completed with pastels.

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Terrain Modelling

The purpose of this book is to try to help any of you who have difficulty in reproducing the great outdoors in your dioramas. The method I have adopted is to model, and take step-by-step photos of, a number of areas of different kinds of terrain - in most cases, as 6in x 8in vignettes - to illustrate the way I work. This size suits the popular scale of 1/35th, and saved me from the impossible pressure of making a couple of dozen fullsize dioramas specifically for the book. At the same time I have included photos of some already finished dioramas; and also a few outdoor shots, which I hope will inspire you to gather your own useful references for future projects. Obviously, in a book of this size and with the time available, I have not been able to show an example of every type of terrain that you might possibly wish to model, but I hope I have been able to cover many of the main subjects. The methods used are, I believe, fairly simple and don't call for any painfully expensive tools or materials. Virtually all the materials I've used here are readily available in the UK, and I have included an Appendix at the end of the book which lists where I obtained the various brands and products. The chapters are organised in a roughly logical sequence; but the method of working through a series of vignettes has prevented me from keeping each aspect of terrain rigidly in its own section.

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Bill Horan's Military Modelling Masterclass

One day in the spring of 1973 a nervous 14-year-old boy slowly opened the door of the American Eagles hobby shop in Seattle. Washington. Under his arm was a shoebox containing several plastic models, including a Tamiya Kubelwagen complete with a driver and two German staff officers. The models were to be entered in a contest - his first -advertised by the hobby shop, with prizes in the form of gift certificates redeemable at the shop. As the youngster carefully removed each piece from the shoebox, the proprietor placed them in a glass case alongside the few other models entered thus far. The boy stepped back to admire his work. Both the vehicle and figures were well painted, he thought; the faces were painted a rosy shade of flesh colour, and every part of the uniforms was painted in the colour depicted on the box art. He was especially proud of the glossy finish of the leather waistbelts and boots; and of the eyes - tiny black dots inside the somewhat larger white dots - tough to do with a toothpick, his preferred tool for detail painting. His father was happy to let the boy browse awhile; and one kit that particularly caught his eye was a Monogram Sherman tank. Noticing that the plastic shrink-wrap was already removed, lie slowly opened the kit to have a look inside.

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Tony Greenland's Panzer Modelling Masterclass

The scale that I work in - 1:35 - is, I believe, the optimum; it provides the most comfortable size for detail work, and for the modeller who wishes to build up a collection it is the scale supported by the main manufacturers. While reference within this book supports that scale, I appreciate that there is an increasing interest in larger scales; while this is not my preference, it will put a greater onus on the modeller to include additional detail precluded by a smaller scale. Equally, while this book describes only German vehicles, most of the disciplines described are equally applicable to any AFV model. The title "Masterclass" (chosen, I hasten to add, by my publisher) supposes that most readers will have reached a certain stage in their modelling careers and will not be total novices. I hope that the contents of this book will appeal right across the spectrum of AFV modellers. The section on painting insignia would have made little sense without the inclusion of brief reference material on divisional and tactical markings. To those with a deep understanding of this subject I apologise for the brevity of the descriptions; whole books have been written exclusively on this extensive subject, and my objective here is purely to give the reader a good grounding, with reference to where a fuller discussion can be found.

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Scale Aircraft Modelling - Combat Colours 05

The first Mosquitoes to go into front line service with the Royal Air Force were the PR is in the W4054 to W4063 serial number range which began entering service with the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) at Benson in July 1941. The PRU had its origins in the pre-war establishment of the Photographic Development Unit (PDU) at Heston. This unit had been set up to form an experimental unit for the purpose of testing and developing new techniques for making photo reconnaissance sorties over enemy' territory. The basis of these new 'techniques' was 'high speed and invisibility', and the originator, Sidney Cotton, was put in charge. It has been claimed that prior to this, Sidney Cotton was involved in carrying out clandestine photography whilst engaged on what were ostensibly legitimate flights over Germany and Italy on behalf of the British Secret Intelligence Service. The aircraft he used on these flights are said to have been painted a very pale green colour which did not look out of place on a civil aircraft, but at the same time happened to be very good at concealing the aircraft from observers on the ground. At this time the unit seems to have been a civilian one working under contract to the Air Ministry, but this arrangement seems to have come to an end with the outbreak of war with the unit being absorbed into the RAF on or about 22 September 1939. Cotton was given the substantive rank of Squadron Leader, (acting Wing Commander), and placed in command.

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Scale Aircraft Modelling - Combat Colours 02

The Hawker Hurricane was the first of the RAF's new breed of monoplane fighters to enter service. Designed to Specification F.36/34, the prototype made its first flight on 6 November 1935 and entered service with 111 Sqn at Northolt in December 1937. By the time World War Two began in September 1939, the RAF had sixteen Hurricane squadrons fully operational with one more in the process of working up. The camouflage scheme applied to the Hurricane in September 1939 had been developed at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough during the early 1930s where it was termed the Temperate Land Scheme. This Temperate Land Scheme, as applied to monoplanes, was made up of two colours named Dark Earth and Dark Green which were applied to the upper surfaces in a disruptive pattern intended to break up the outline of the aircraft when viewed from above at altitudes of 10,000ft or less. There were two distinct patterns of this disruptive scheme applied to the aircraft on the production line known as the 'A' Scheme, and a mirror image, known as the 'B' scheme. The uppersurface colours extended down the fuselage sides to the lower longeron.

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Modelling Postwar Tanks

This remarkable tank has been almost entirely forgotten by manufacturers. The British company Accurate Armour is one of the few to have produced an S-Tank model. The kit in question is made of resin, or rather what today is defined as 'multimedia' — a mixture of resin, lead and etched brass. The quality of the kit is superb with a great deal of good moulded detail. The cost of the kit reflects this quality and range of materials used. However, despite these positive points, there are drawbacks. First, there are no decals or transfers included. Second, although the assembly sequence is explained well, the instructions lack any painting outline. Finally, some resin parts have bubbles (very few) or a little mould displacement. Although the assembly does not take very long, it is complicated and consequently this type of kit is not recommended for beginners. For example, the model m question arrived with the area of the driver's roof concave. To put this right, it needed the help of hot air from a hair drier applied to the area; with a little pressure the fault was easily corrected.

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Modelling Panzer Crewman Of The Heer

A wonderfully detailed and beautifully finished armour model can easily be let down if accompanied by a poorly painted figure. All too often, armour modellers spend enormous energy and time bringing their AFVs to life with realistic weathering, expensive accessories and a scenic base, then spend very little time painting the figures that go with it. In many cases, figures become an afterthought- This is a shame, because while not every viewer will know-exactly what your model is supposed to look like in real life, everyone knows what a human being is supposed to be. Inevitably, some viewers' opinion of the accuracy of the armour model will depend on the overall realistic appearance of the figure. The addition of scale figures helps provide depth, weight and realism to a model. A well-painted figure can even distract the viewer from a mediocre model. But to this end, painting and working with figures continues to be most armour modellers' worst nightmare, even though building and painting scale armour is far more demanding and time-consuming.

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Modelling The Panzer IV in 1/72 Scale

I became interested in small-scale armour at a time when the Esci range of kits was still readily available. Not only was this range extensive, the kits were also well detailed and affordable. My local model shop had far more choice in this scale than 1/76. Ever since then I decided to stick with just the one scale and not mix them together. I suppose in that sense I'm a bit of a purist! Many of the aftermarket detailing sets are also to be found in 1/72 scale. Although 1 enjoy scratch-building my own details, I will use aftermarket items when appropriate. Photo-etched sets are available for many 1/72-scale kits, yet in contrast are very uncommon for 1/76 scale. However, there are many excellent 1/76-scale kits to be found in both resin and injection-moulded media. It also appears to be the scale of choice for many of the smaller model companies, with an impressive number of kits available from the likes of Cromwell Models, Milicast and others. Attempting to include these in a book of this size would be an impossible task, so the decision to focus solely on one scale was also a practical one.

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Modelling The Churchill Tank

The purpose of this book is to present techniques and methodologies for building scale replicas of the Churchill Infantry Tank. With such a diverse and extensive subject to cover in a modelling book, the challenge was in the selection of variants that best represent the most common types of Churchill. Moreover, it was equally as important to choose projects that would enable the reader to use the methodologies presented herein as a 'stepping-stone' to modelling, with some adjustments and modifications, the many other variants and types of Churchill tanks. This book presents the reader with several Churchill variants using the plastic Tamiya kit as the skeletal basis of the projects with several after-market conversion kits and accessories and also demonstrates scratch-building techniques. In each chapter, the construction will be described in detail. Explanations will be provided on various paint applications with hints and tips on making models look more realistic using several weathering techniques. It will also offer methods to personalize a model with accessories and figures with suggestions on ways of creating an atmospheric setting to accommodate the model.

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North American P- 51 Mustang

The USAAF very nearly didn't get the P-51 Mustang at all, had it not been for the Royal Air Force requirement for an alternative to the P-40. The aircraft was subsequently hugely improved bvy the addition of a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, again stipulated by the RAF Finally, in this form it became highly effective as a long-range escort fighter, capable of seeing Allied bombers all the way to Germany. The RAF initially took delivery of the Mustang I powered bv the Allison engine. This aircraft was found to be quicker than the contemporary Spitfire Mark V, although it was never reallyv regarded as an interceptor fighter - the Spitfire and Messerschmitt Bf 109 were both more manoeuvrable at higher altitudes for example. The Mustang's primary role was as a low-level tactical fighter and the type was first stationed at RAF Burtonwood in October 1941. The remarkable similarity in size between the Allison and Merlin engine meant that only minor redesign of the forward fuselage was needed to test if the different engine would bring worthwhile improvements. The first Merlin-powered Mustang was flown on 13 October 1942 and the transformation was astonishing. Soon the P-51B entered service with the USAAF's Eighth Air Force, based in England. With drop tanks, the fighters could escort the bombers deep into Germain. The first victory came when Lt Charles F. Gumin of the 355th Fighter Squadron shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 110 over Bremen.

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WW2 Soft-Skinned Military Vehicles

The artillery and other branches of the armed forces required a tractor-type vehicle in order to tow heavy equipment to and from the battlefield. This vehicle needed to be fast and capable of operating in a variety of terrain. In 1932, contracts were signed with six different German companies to develop more vehicles of this kind; they were to be varied in size and classified according to weight. One such contract was signed with Hansa-Lloid-Goliath AG of Bremen to build a 3-ton tractor. The first prototype of this series, designated HLKl 2, was built in 1934, and the improved versions HLKI 3 and 4 came out two years later. In 1937 the HLKI 5 was built. Like its predecessors, it had a 6-cylinder, Borgward L-3500L engine. The final version, the HLKI 6, was built in 1939, and was equipped with a Maybach HL-38 Motor — later replaced by the HL-42. Officially called Leichte Zugkraftwagen 3t (SdKfz 11) typ k1 6, this vehicle was kept in production until 1944, by which time a total of 8,800 had been built. There were six versions, each for different tasks; primarily they were used as artillery tractors, towing 105mm guns; they also served as rocket launcher platforms and for transporting munitions. In yet another role they were also used to tow the 75 and 88mm antitank guns.

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Modelling The T-55 (Somali Army Variant)

The Tamiya kit out of the box is the definitive T-55 model in 1/35 scale, but like every kit can be improved and refined using a combination of aftermarket parts and scratchbuilding. The goal of this particular build was to superdetail and improve the Tamiya kit and use a variety of paint and weathering techniques. Modellers looking to see how far the T-55 kit can be taken through extreme scratchbuilding and superdetailing are pointed to Nicola Cortese's work in the book Modelling 20: Modelling the T-55 Main Battle Tank (December 2005). Construction of the Tamiya kit begins with the lower hull. Accuracy is very good here (especially compared to the old Esci kit which had major issues with suspension swingarm orientation) and basic construction goes quickly. On the rear plate I filled in areas which I would replace the Tamiya kit parts with Eduard PE parts, specifically the tow hook retainers and unditching beam mounts. I simply used some styrene to fill the holes and then smoothed these out with Tamiya putty.

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Modelling Waffen-SS Figures

Raised to serve as Hitler's personal bodyguards, the Waffen-SS burgeoned from a small militia into a 38-division-strong elite combat unit by the end of World War II. Its men were handpicked according to the dictates of the Aryan ideal; they were imbued with strict discipline and strong political convictions to the Nazi cause. As such, its units were issued with special uniforms and equipped with the most sophisticated weaponry and equipment of the time. In battle, the Waffen-SS would spearhead some of the most pivotal campaigns and key combat operations, proving time after time their right to be called an elite unit, and gaining the resect of even their most hated enemies. Despite their symbiotic association with the Nazi quest for world domination and the acts of racial hatred and genocide that they participated in, to this very day soldiers of the Waffen-SS exert a fascination, particularly for military modellers, wargamers and reenactors.

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Modelling The Tiger I

Arguably the most famous tank of World War II, Germany's Tiger I tank has been one of the most popular subjects of modellers for many years. Developed as a breakthrough weapon, combining thick armour and a lethal 88mm gun, the Tiger I became a feared adversary for the Allies who faced it in North Africa, Italy and on both the Eastern and Western fronts. The Tiger's production run went from July 1942 to August 1944, with 1,354 vehicles completed. Many improvements and modifications took place over that two-year period, including upgrades to the engine, turret and running gear. Stages of the Tiger's development have been categorized as 'initial', 'early', 'mid', 'late' and 'final', but there were numerous overlaps in factory-produced features that make some vehicles difficult to label. Modelling the Tiger I came into vogue in the early 1970s when Tamiya produced a kit in their new line of 1/35-scale military miniatures, following soon after with a 1/25-scale version with an interior. In the early 1990s Tamiya produced a retooled 1/35-scale kit of a late-production Tiger I that was a quantum leap ahead of the previous offerings with regard to accuracy and detail. Earlier versions of the vehicle were also released after this, and a flood of aftermarket products followed allowing modellers to create very detailed versions of the tank.

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Modelling The F-4 Phantom II

My association with the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II began in April 1986 at 228 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) Coningsby. The FGR.2 was an intimidating beast to get to grips with and I treated her tentatively for many hours. She was honest but extremely demanding and never stopped chatting to her pilot, frequently reminding them of her many aerodynamic idiosyncrasies. Many of her musings were gentle warnings so that those who sought to extract maximum performance had to listen carefully and coax her along with a deft touch. There were no arguments; she could abruptly stop flying if pushed too far. Teamwork was everything with the F-4, both between front and back scats and between man and machine. I have never flown an aircraft with so much character nor one whose operation led to such extraordinary satisfaction. Next came 111(F) Squadron at Leuchars, equipped with the quirky ex-Navy FG.l, full of carrier mods but no battery! The joy of low-level practice intercepts amongst the Western Isles of Scotland on glorious summer evenings will remain with me always. An ex-QFI (Qualified Weapons Instructor), I soon found myself in the back of our homemade two-sticker. From the rear seat, the forward view was dire (I prayed for a cross-wind on the approach) and the cockpit ergonomics made for a frightful instrument scan.

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Modelling Fallschirmjager Figures

From its early beginnings as a battalion in 1936, Germany's paratrooper branch grew to a body comprising several divisions. About 230,000 men served as Fallschirmjager throughout the Third Reich period, the greater part of them during World War 11, when paratrooper units were engaged in every major campaign, earning an elite status, admiration and respect even from their enemies. This image seems to have endured in our own hobby area, and Fallschirmjager are plentiful in the figure market, making this popular subject an excellent choice for this series of how-to modelling guides. Of the diverse subjects dealt with in this book, painting techniques take the lion's share; given the limitations of space, we reasoned that it would be natural to prioritize this, the most widely followed discipline. We hope that the many modellers who concentrate on painting out-of-the-box figures, as well as those who also indulge in figure conversion, will both profit from some of the techniques explained in the painting tutorials. We have also found that painting techniques are especially well suited for a step-by-step presentation. Our chosen medium is acrylic paint, which has steadily gained popularity in our hobby.

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Modelling The Messerschmitt Me 262

The Messerschmitt Me 262 was not the first jet fighter to take to the skies. That honour fell to the Heinkel He 280, closely followed by the Gloster E.28/39. Nor was the Me 262 the fastest weapon in the Luftwaffe's arsenal. The rocket-propelled Messerschmitt Me 163 could reach a maximum speed of 960 kilometres per hour during its four-minute powered flight - considerably faster than the jet-powered Stormbird. Despite its advanced design, the operational life expectancy of the Me 262's powerplant, the Jumo 004B turbojet, was a ludicrously short 10 to 25 hours due to the scarcity of suitable high-temperature alloys. To make matters worse, the Jumo turbojet was plagued with reliability problems right up to the end of the war. Operationally, the Messerschmitt Me 262 was sparsely deployed and also notoriously vulnerable on its long take-off and landing, requiring dedicated fighter cover - by piston-engine aircraft - over its long runways. The new jet fighter was unforgiving to inexperienced pilots too.

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Model Railroader 2009 05

Mixed trains commonly used a downgraded mainline combine or coach in place of a caboose at the rear of the train. This provided comfortable seating and rest rooms for a few passengers and the train crew. It also served as the conductor's office. If an old combine was available, its baggage area was used to haul small express shipments and company supplies. In cases where older passenger equipment wasn't available, some railroads had special cabooses fitted with extra seats for passengers. Passengers generally boarded or exited the coach at station platforms. With short trains, the usual procedure was to spot the train so the coach was left at, or near, the depot while the crew worked the local industries from the head end. Longer mixed trains usually pulled the coach up to the depot, dropped off the passengers, and then backed up far enough to clear the area they needed to do their switching work. Before leaving town, one of the crew would check the depot. If passengers were waiting, the train would pull ahead and stop for them before leaving. Maintaining a schedule was difficult due to the switching these trains did. Potential riders had to contact the local station agent to find out when the train was expected. A crew could easily spend all day on a 30-mile branch if they had a lot of work to do, or they might be done by noon on a light traffic day. This also meant that any passengers riding on the train had to be patient as well.

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