Panzer Aces No.27

In January 1943, A Tiger I was captured by the Soviet army on the Leningrad front, and was subsequently used on a number of tests. The results were quite revealing: The only existing guns that could harm it were the 85 mm anti aerial gun piece and the 122 mm A-19. A new and powerful enough gun was developed under the leadership of Genera F.F. Petrov. The 85mm D-5S-85 that was assigned to the self propelled SU-122 wich used the T-34 frame was the result of this effort. The tests lead to the following conclusions: This vehicle wasn't equipped with a telescopic sight for direct fire, and this made it inadequate for the gun. A ball joint was designed for the weapon which allowed for a 20 degree turn to each side and a +20 degree elevation plus a -3 degree lowering equipped with a brand new telescopic sight (TSh-15). The weapon was now housed on a redesigned casemate placed on an old SU-122. Engineers Makonin, Gorlick and Troyanov lead the team that carried out the works. The final prototype was presented to a state commission on the summer of 1943.

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Panzer Aces No.26

I decided to build this vignette after reading the Squadron Signal Publications book titled SS Armour (ref 6014). One of the photos showed several German officers chatting in front of a "LSSAH" Panther while a large group of expectant civilians watch the scene around them, as if admiring a new race car. I made a personal interpretation of the scene, preferring to make the civilians stand in the background in a slightly higher position, watching the scene from a vantage point. The vignette takes place on a 13x13 cm square chipboard with sealed edges. The basic base elements are a brick panel and a wall made by Mig Productions and also an Evergreen plastic panel sidewalk. Both the side walls and the terrace floor were made with a 1,5 mm Evergreen panels. I placed a photo etch railing on the upper wall, the handrail had to be thickened with a specially shaped Evergreen rod. I placed an Aneste streetlamp and bench that was scratch built using rectangular section plastic rods as the only urban furniture.

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Panzer Aces No.24

I know mine is not the first case and won't be the last. It is the typical result of an initially modest project that began to grow like a snowball going downhill. It all started with a proposal to write an article in Panzer Aces /Armor Model magazine about a 1/72 scale UM ammunition carrier 38(t) kit.When I had the kit in my hands, I thought it was too small. It would end up being a meagre article. I immediately thought of adding more elements. I immediately thought of another vehicle. I would make a tank to have the munitions transport feed it. If not an incredibly original idea, at east it would help to add ''substance'' to the scene. I was a so attracted by an hydraulic construction I had come across on the Internet. The only thing that was stopping me from reproducing it was the massive size it was going to be in 1/35 scale. Building it in 1/72 scale would be a much more viable project, and I would have a second element to decorate the scene. And I kept on thinking. I have the bad habit of visiting mode shops frequently, where I usually end up watching many incredible kits and buying many of them.

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Panzer Aces No.01

This battalion was formed with a complement of forty-five heavy tanks. Tiger I E's. Crew training began in Sennelager and was completed in Mailly le Camp. France. At the end of October, the unit was entrained by rail convoy to Lemberg. On reaching Lemberg, the men were then driven to Fatowez. three hundred kilometers from Lemberg. The unit first faced their opponents in November 1943. It was embroiled in some really ferocious battles which continued right up until the end of the year, near Zitomir. By the beginning of 1944. the unit took part in operations to protect the bridge over the river Bug at Sasslaw (February) and near Sawniza (March) both of which were of significant importance. In April 1944. the battalion moved to Kolomyja. to undertake the training of Hungarian crews and become part of the reserve. In June, the battalion was sent once more to the Front. During the battle for Kielce in September 1944. the loss of crews became exceptional and the unit retired to Sennelager to be re-equipped with the new Tiger II or Tiger Ausf-B tanks.

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Airfix Model World 05/2011

THE FIGHTER Collection and Imperial War Museum (IWM) at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, has announced that the Flying Bulls display team is to make its debut UK airshow appearance at Flying Legends 2011, on Saturday 9-10 July. The Flying Bulls' Lockheed P-38 and Chance Vought Corsair are to perform a stunning airshow sequence as well as executing solo routines of their own. While the IWM Duxford already has a F4U Corsair based at the airfield, it will no doubt be the P-38L Lightning (N25Y) that will attract the most interest for aviation enthusiasts. The P-38 (N25Y) was retired from USAAF service in September 1945 and was placed on the civil register by Lilee Products Company in Chicago. It was later passed to J.D. Reed, an air racing enthusiast, based in Houston. With some engineering modification, which involved cleaning up the aerodynamics of the airframe, Reed ensured that the aircraft flown by Charlie 'Firewall' Walling, achieved second place at the 1947 Miami Air Races, and second place at the Sohio-race in Cleveland in the same year.

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Airfix Model World 04/2011

The de Havilland Mosquito is one of the most recognisable and successful of British military aircraft from the World War Two era. Excelling in a number of roles, including daylight fighter-bomber, night bombing pathfinder, night-fighter and reconnaissance aircraft, the twin-engined Mosquito was one of the most versatile and capable Allied aircraft of World War Two. Famous for its construction, which was principally of wood and therefore unusual for its time, the Mosquito was a rugged and significant aircraft in the Royal Air Force's wartime inventory. This was true from its service introduction in late 1941/ early 1942, onwards until the end of World War Two. Indeed, several versions continued to serve after the war well into the post-war era. In addition to the various well-known roles that the Mosquito undertook for the RAF during the Second World War, one that is much less celebrated is that of a heavy gun-armed attack aircraft. Designated Mosquito Mk.XVIII, this specific variant of the 'Mossie' was only produced in small numbers, but was nonetheless a lethal member of the Mosquito family.

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Airfix Model World 03/2011

Vickers-Supermarine's Spitfire Mk.lX provided widespread service throughout the European and Mediterranean theatres with the RAF and USAAF, as well as with the multitude of Commonwealth and Free European units under RAF control. It also remained in use with the peacetime RAF during the post war years, at home and abroad. The Mk.lX also went on to equip many other air arms after the war, including those of Czechoslovakia, South Africa, Italy, Holland, Belgium, France, Israel, Egypt and Burma, among others. Egyptian & Israeli Spitfire Mk.lXs even engaged in combat with each other during the first Arab-Israeli War, however those featured here pre-date this occurrence by a few years, depicting RAF aircraft from 32 and 208 Squadrons, which were stationed in Palestine on peacekeeping duties between 1945-47. One of them went on to become the first Spitfire in Israeli service after being rescued from an RAF aircraft dump and repaired.

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Airfix Model World 02/2011

Italeri can always be relied upon to release something unusual, and this new Biber midget submarine is a fine example. In terms of detail there is much to like, with fine weld seems around the hull, reasonable internal parts in the crewman's cabin and excellent torpedoes (with alternative propulsion sections). Besides the three grey sprues, there is also a small amount of etched-brass and clear acetate windows. Three markings options are provided, all having a base coat of what Italeri recommends as Modelmaster 1723 Grey, but one sub has intricate, three-colour camouflage over the top and shark mouth artwork at the bow. Colour references throughout are for Modelmaster, but obviously, use your favourite brands if preferred. The actual base Grey is probably the Kriegsmarine colour Dunkelgrau 51r which is stocked by White Ensign Models in its Colourcoats range (KM 02), which we used.

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