Model Military International No.07

Hot on the heels of Trumpeter's 1:35 Chinooks comes a smaller 1:48 offering from Italeri of the A version in 'gunship' format. Hopefully, further variants will follow including perhaps those in current service with the RAF. The kit comes in the distinctive new blue and grey packaging with eye-catching artwork on the box lid and an illustration of one of the builds therein together with some detail shots of the model on the bottom. The kit itself consists of some 160 crisply moulded, flash free parts in olive green plastic together with 7 clear parts for the glazing. Decals are provided for 3 US Army versions, two from the 1967 Vietnam era and one from the Aberdeen Proving Ground in 1966. The latter is the more colourful in that it has the yellow lettering of the period and full colour stars and bars. The decals themselves are first rate, thin, in register and with the absolute minimum of carrier film. Instructions are standard Italeri - clear, concise and easy to follow.

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AFV Modeller Issue 15

After a hiatus of nearly 25 years I have returned to my boyhood hobby; that of modelling armored fighting vehicles. It was a chance conversation with a friend in a local model shop that led me to wonder what kinds of models were being made today I then spent about two months surfing the internet where I discovered some wondrous things; modern highly detailed plastic injection kits, resin conversions, metal gun barrels, amazing photo-etch detail sets and, perhaps most interestingly to myself, working metal tracks! I was hooked, there was no turning back and almost at the same time my wife bought tor mo the Academy mid-production Tiger 1 with a detailed Interior. And so began this project which to date has taken over seventeen months and has only seen the creation of the kit hull, without dock and turret. As a child I had only modelled in 72nd scale and so working in 35th was completely new to me Right from the outset I was determined that I would do as good a job as possible and I realised that quite a bit of research would be required. What I will therefore try to describe in this article is more of the thought processes that went Into this project rather than the actual build itself.

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Military Miniatures in Review No.11-12

Every September (Labor Day weekend, to be exact), something very interesting takes place in St Louis, Em-Oh. A small legion of dedicated dorks, dweebs, geeks and devotees descend on a unsuspecting Holiday Inn to attend MasterCon. Now being your basic cynics we always gave the obligatory "Hurumpf" whenever we heard the word MasterCon. "What fun could that possibly be" was often echoing in our hallways. Modelers tend to be an anti-social lot, given to huddling in the corner over our X-actos and occasionally growling at passersby. So it was with considerable reservation that we packed our camera and a sandwich or two and headed out for the rolling hills of Missouri on a sultry late summer weekend. Guess what happened? We had a blast!

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Scale Aircraft Modelling 06/2009

FREIGHTDOG'S LATEST full kit, to be sold under the Silver Cloud label, is the Hawker Siddeley P. 1154, cancelled tragically despite representing Britain's greatest possibility of a successful export supersonic fighter. The kit is full resin, mastered and moulded by Anigrand in China before packing with decals and instructions here in the UK. There are 29 resin parts in the kit, including a clear resin cockpit transparency. All the parts in my sample were well moulded, although there were a few bubbles here and there. I wonder if Anigrand are using some sort of injection moulding technique, since many of the smaller parts are linked together by a sort of 'sprue'. The resin used is quite brittle, so care is needed with cleanup, but none of the mould gates are over large. Certainly no saws or motor tools will be needed to clean up the parts. With so few parts, you might expect construction to be pretty easy, and the good new is that it is! With proper cleanup, I found that all of the parts fitted extremely well. Minimal amounts of filling were required to make good any of the joints, and very few problems presented themselves throughout the entire build.

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Model Airplane News 06/2013

For the upcoming 25th Annual Top Gun Scale Invitational, Model Airplane News is once again the primary media sponsor. Held at Frank Tiano's Paradise Field RC flying facility in Lakeland, FL, this year's event is a full five days and will be from May 1 through May 5. As we do every year, we help to heat up the excitement with plane and pilot previews from contestants planning to compete for the title of Mr. Top Gun. Who wouldn't like a sneak peek of some of the best scale RC airplanes and pilots in the country? We will also feature some of these great scale masterpieces at ModelAir-planeNews.com/TG2013 with added bonus photos and details not included here. You'll be able to see these amazing planes and learn some of the back stories that motivate the competitors to build and compete with their chosen aircraft. So, for now, here are some of the pilots and their planes, who have shared their project planes with us!

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Steel Masters No.111

A 25 kilomètres des lignes soviétiques, à l'est de Kharkov que défend le corps blindé SS du général Hausser, le Kampfgruppe Peiper, dont il fait partie, a pour mission d'aller chercher les hommes de la 320. Infanterie Division qui sont presque encerclés par les Soviétiques et de ramener les 1 500 blessés. A cet instant, pendant que ses hommes reviennent au Sd.Kfz 251, l'inspection terminée, le lieutenant voit arriver un étrange cavalier. C'est un agent de liaison de la 320 Inf. Div. qui vient à sa rencontre. Aussitôt celui-ci l'informe du dernier mouvement des troupes ennemies. Cette scène, imaginaire mais tout à fait plausible, permet de mettre côte à côte un cavalier et un semi-chenillé devant une isba enneigée, lors de la formidable poussée soviétique depuis l'encerclement de Stalingrad de novembre 1942.

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Scale Aircraft Modelling 02/2010

SWORD HAVE thankfully stepped forward and provided us with modern toolings of 1:72nd scale F-80's, producing versions of the P-80C and RF-80A. Both kits are identical apart from a clear moulded nose section for the RF-80. Some excellent resin parts are included for the seat, the airbrake bays, undercarriage bays, gunsight or camera controls, along with the nose leg lights. The main injection moulded parts boast neat and highly refined surface detail. One small note is that the sprue attachments are positioned in some awkward spots and are quite large, which requires some careful removal to avoid damaging them. Most of the parts require some cleaning up of seams and flash, however this is not a complex task at all. There are a couple of optional variations provided in the kits, comprising two different styles of nose wheels (spoked and scalloped), and two types of wingtip tanks, the 'Standard' 165 gallon type, or the 'Misawa' 265 gallon option. Two colour options are provided with each kit, the P-80C having overall Natural Metal options of 'Kansas Tornado' trimmed with blue, and 'Evil Eye Fleagle' trimmed in red (my chosen scheme). In addition, both of these schemes have minor differences available for modelling early or late schemes of said aircraft.

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Military Modelcraft International 07/2002

I have been modelling for some years now, building mainly German vehicles, singly or multiples set within a diorama. Recently I find myself drawn to American World War Two vehicles - softskins as well as AFVs - and my latest diorama is testament to this. I decided to call my latest inspiration The Road Into Germany', set in the final stages of the war. The idea for the diorama was a result of reading how the Americans under Eisenhower s instructions were ordered to bypass Berlin and head straight for the Elbe river in the Magdeburg area of Germany. There they would link up with the Russian forces who had been pressing their way in from the east with the intention of cutting Germany in two. In many of the towns that US forces passed through, the German army had already retreated leaving much of their equipment as well as the townsfolk to fend for themselves.

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Military Miniatures In Review No.04

Early this past summer, a friend brought me back a new Italeri Panzerwerfer 42 auf Maultier kit from Germany. I dug hungrily into the box and found a very nice kit. The only thing that really held me back from immediate construction was it's most noticeable feature, the rocket launchers. But take heart, dear reader, we're building this sucker. The kit suffers the unfortunate consequences of the limits of injection molding. There are just some pieces that are too complex or intricate to be injection molded well. The 15cm mortar consists of basically two rows of five tubes held in place by four thin baffles. Italeri represents these pieces in four parts: top row (upper and lower) and bottom row (upper and lower). They look all right and are molded well, but they just look like plastic. Another problem arises when one considers that each tube gets its own ignition wire. These wires are also molded on and look like plastic walls between the tubes. There's got to be a better solution!

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Fly Scale Models 09/2011

The truly creative among the Scale modelling movement are constantly searching for new subjects to replicate in miniature that will take them beyond the staple 'norms' of Spitfires, Mustangs and Me 109s - or - if you are a WW1 era buff, the SE5a, Sopwith Camel or Fokker D.VII. So we commend to all the creative types out there this month's 'Subjects for Scale7 presentation, the Boeing P-26 'Peashooter'. This was USA's first ever monoplane fighter to enter service and has a real 'presence' about it that is really worthy of consideration. We've not seen a flying model of the P-26 since the first ever World R/C Scale Champs, held at Cranfield, UK, in 1972 when one of the German Team (it was actually West Germany back then) entered one. Will anyone give it a go? The conundrum of the German WW1 'Lozenge' camouflage pattern has been raked over for decades and much careful and detail investigation has been undertaken by dedicated experts. In recent years fabric covering material has been made available for scale modellers but the range of scales in which the fabric can be supplied has been limited to 1/4 and 1/3rd scales.

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RC Model Flyer 04/2011

I was lucky enough to get a bit of a sneak preview of the E-Flight Carbon Z yak 54 a couple of weeks before they hit the shops, when the Horizon Hobby UK boys came to Baldock to set up the new models in their rapidly growing range. My first impressions then were of "Wow, that looks like a lot of fun". Distributed to the shops via Horizon Hobby UK, this particular kit came to me as the Bind and Fly version, that is to say that in the box came an 'Bind 'n Fly' (BNF) airframe ready fitted with all airborne radio equipment, motor, speed controller and a four cell 2800Lipo and a charger. All I needed to do was bind this to my shiny new Spectrum DX8, charge the batteries - and fly! The Yak is also available in a 'Plug and Ply' version, which is identical to the BNF one, less the fitted Rx and supplied Lipo battery. The Carbon Z Yak 54 was designed by world champion Quique Somenzini and by the sound of things a lot of development and testing work went into the construction of this model before we get the finished kit to us in the shops.

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Military Modelcraft International 11/2002

Few people in the UK will know of the kits available under this name. John Harloe is the man behind the venture and you can purchase from his Company 'Cottage Industries', a wide range of American Civil War equipment and figures. The Old Steam Navy banner flies over some of the very best artillery pieces in 1/32nd scale that you can buy, the Confederate submarine Hunley in the same scale and now a series of 1/96th scale ironclads. Unfortunately the nature of our mag prevents us from talking more about these - but check out the website below for more info. Currently there are three artillery pieces in 1/32nd scale kit form and these are: a 10" Rodman Gun on a Seacoast Barbette Carriage, a wonderful 13" Union Seacoast Mortar on a firing platform and an 8" Parrot Rifle, also on a Barbette Carriage. Most of the artillery kits consist of 30+ parts: for example, the 10' Rodman Gun & Carriage kit consists of 37 parts. Most of these as with the other artillery kits, are devoted to the construction of the carriage. In addition, there are 12 artillery shells with this kit and a similar number of munitions are supplied with the other guns. These l/32nd scale kits are all resin-cast with a small number of metal parts usually made from metal rod or in the case of the Hunley a few white metal castings.

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Military In Scale 12/2002

The DUKW (or 'Duck' as it was often known) was developed in 1942, during the Second World War, as an amphibious truck capable of carrying cargo direct from vessels moored offshore to storage depots inland, where port facilities were not available or had been damaged. It was designed in 1942 and was based around the mechanical components of the GMC 2.5 ton cargo truck. The vehicle entered service with American forces but was soon supplied to British and Commonwealth units operating in Italy and later, in North-West Europe. The DUKW continued in American service after the end of the Second World War, serving through the Korean War and into the early part of the Vietnam conflict. In British service, the DUKW served largely with RASC transport companies during the war, surviving into the 1960s and the Malayan Emergency. A small number are still operated by the Royal Marines, albeit as general support and liaison vehicles at the Amphibious Trials and Training Unit Royal Marines (ATTURM), near Instow in Devon.

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EuroModelismo - Armor Models No.20

In this particular case, boredom was the incentive for my interest, as there were no novelties on the shelves of my local modelling shop. However, when I opened the box of this kit. I was pleasantly surprised. It was perfect! The tracks were rigid and the box art showed a very attractive camouflage pattern. I thought it would be a perfect way to detoxify myself of the usual models I make and so I started to assemble it as soon as I got home. As I expected, this was one of those models that makes you long for those far off days when all you wanted to do was glue plastic parts together...no photo-etch, resin or airbrushes involved. Just the enjoyment of building a straightforward model with some glue, scissors and sand paper. No headaches, just relax and use your imagination... If the concise manufacturer's instructions are followed, there are no problems assembling the model in next to no time. The only down side was.

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Air Modeller Issue 15

The Duxford Museum is a very interesting place for everyone remotely interested in the history of aerial conflict, Air Power and Aviation as a whole. One of the Hangars houses the "Flying Legends", a group of very dedicated people and their airplanes. The planes are mostly aircraft from the Second World War and with great enthusiasm and skill they keep many of these in flying condition. Several times a year they put them on display for the benefit of all Aircraft enthusiasts and interested Spectators. The display is more like a big international family party with small re-enactments going on. The Pilots and Service Personal are dressed for the occasion in uniforms and there are field stations of all sorts on display. Here you can see a GI shaving In the mirror of a Willy's Jeep, there you can see RAF Flight Lieutenant marking a flight plan on a blackboard in front of a tent, with a perfect English moustache and a haircut in exactly 1940 RAF style. Also there were some veterans signing posters in a special tent and I noticed the presence of veterans from all sides, which reminds us all about the reasons under which these machines were constructed. Today thankfully they act more as a link between nations and visitors come from all over the world to see these fantastic men in their flying machines. Luckily the not so fantastic British summer of 2007 behaved itself for the very best backdrop for this Sunday in July.

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Xtreme Modelling Issue 9

Due to the surprise in having to confront the excellent Russian T-34, the German Army urgently requested a new tank that could face it. General Guderian summoned an urgent Study for the development of a tank that would return battlefield supremacy to the Germans, and even considered copying the T-34 directly. Nevertheless, this option did not end up being pursued, not only for national pride, but because the advanced German industry found many difficulties in copying the aluminium V-12 engine that was mounted in the T-34. On November 25, 1941, Hitler ordered the Wa Pruf (*) to begin development of the new vehicle. At the end of 1941, the Ministry of German Armament invited Daimler-Benz, MAN, Krupp, and Skoda to develop the project. The specifications were: a weight among 30-35 tons, inclined armour-plating of 40-60 mm, an L/48 gun of 75mm, (later on this was changed to a gun of 70 calibre, although Hitler wanted one of 100 calibre's. Rheinmetall-Borsig took charge of turret design. Daimler-Benz designed the new tank being inspired a lot by the previous VK3001 prototype that was the direct copy of the T-34. They thought about two types of different suspension systems, a more economical one that consisted of two bogies with leaf springs, very similar to that of the Czech T-38, but was finally rejected because it was not sufficiently strong enough for the armour increases that was foreseen. The second suspension was chosen and mounted on the Panthers that we know, and was a collaboration between MAN and Daimler-Benz, the two companies that would manufacture the new tank.

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Military In Scale 08/2010

Here we were again at the model show at the RAF Museum at Cosford - don't the years pass so quickly? This year the show was bathed in sunshine with a chilly wind - just the right conditions for attracting a good crowd and moving between hangars. I've decided that this is my favourite show of the year, being large with just about every trader who does the regular circuit. There are also dozens of clubs in attendance, showing a wide range of models and of course there are the exhibits at the museum. The museum is one of the best in this country with a vast variety of aircraft types on show. Just for the day, the resident exhibits take a back seat to the clubs and traders. Although the show is probably too big to look at thoroughly in one day, there is not the same pressure at Telford in November.

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RC Model Flyer 03/2011

In this issue (p36), Mike Parry expounds on the Rascal experience and how he has thoroughly enjoyed the Rascal Stunt, Racing and Speed event held last year at the BMFA Nats (despite the wind!) and gives some advice on updating the design to cope with the requirements of the three disciplines (SRS). Omitted from that article, however, are the rules of the Rascal SRS competition, so to address that omission, we have included them here. There's still plenty of time to get a plan from Brian Lever and build a couple of models in time for May (and even practice a bit!), so why not join in the fun? Did you used to fly control line as a lad, but not done it for a while? What better way to try it again, with a whole host of like-minded fun fliers!

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Flying Scale Models 08/2011

Some say that the longevity and popularity of any event lies in its ability to adapt to a dynamic environment, expand to accommodate change and welcome participation from new sources. Event originator and promoter, Frank Tiano, seems to have accomplished these objectives with his event as it approaches the quarter century mark. It is unique, and enjoys a worldwide reputation for bringing the best scale radio control modellers together for an intense competition with the victor being crowned Mr. Top Gun. Over the years, I've watched some pretty impressive things happen at the event. Models have grown dramatically in size, complexity, sophistication and quality. The trickle-down effect has obviously impacted the everyday, sport scale modeller because the interest in scale is evident right down to the local field level. Obviously, suppliers of products recognise it too; just look at the types of models being offered to the consumer these days! Hard to believe, but some of the ARFs available today rival the models being flown at Top Gun during the early years!

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Flight Journal 06/2013

ONLY ONCE IN HISTORY has an intercontinental ballistic missile — an ICBM — been launched from an aircraft in flight. It happened October 24, 1974 when a C-5A Galaxy from Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, launched a 60-foot, 78,000-pound LGM-30F Minuteman II ICBM from its cargo ramp high over the Pacific Ocean. Now, the C-5A (serial no. 69-0014) is on its way to the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover. With a wingspan over 222 feet and a maximum takeoff weight of 840,000 pounds, the Galaxy will become the museum's largest display item. "People will be fascinated by this huge aircraft," museum Director Michael Leister told Flight Journal. Amid heightened Cold War tensions, the United States and the Soviet Union were searching for ways to make their ICBMs less vulnerable, including launching them from railway trains or from aircraft in flight.

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Aeroplane Monthly 01/2013

"Wings Ltd started operating from Winnipeg in July, 1934. Up to September, 1935, they had carried 8,600 passengers and just under 2,000,000lb of goods, divided between 'freight and express'. Freighting has been the chief feature of air transport in Canada in the past three or four years, when developments in the mining of gold have brought some brightness in the clouded economic skies. For comparison, the amount of goods carried by United States air lines in 1934 was 3,449,675lb, about 11,000,000lb less than in Canada. Freighting in Canada has gone over straight from the dog team to the aeroplane, and the loads are very mixed. Everything from dynamite to darning needles, canned milk to cyanide, diamond drills to diesel motors, cows to comforters goes by air these days into the mining settlements.

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