Scale Aviation Modeller 06/2013

On completing the F4U-1D Corsair and Moto Tug, it was a natural progression to form a diorama of a carrier deck scene. I was delighted to find that Tamiya are producing a US Navy pilot set in their Military Miniatures 1/48 series. The box art is in colour, well drawn and makes for a good reference guide. The kit is supplied with two sprues. One contains the Moto-Tug, driver figure and a seated pilot. The remaining sprue contains five pilot figures and two deck crew. Each sprue is clear plastic wrapped. The figures matched the box art exactly. The instruction sheet is clear and easy to follow with Tamiya paint colour references. The Moto Tug was included with the Corsair kit and its construction is described as part of that diorama. Therefore this section deals with just the figures, and the Moto Tug was relegated to the spares box.

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Model Aircraft 06/2013

The Japan Air Self-Defence Force or J ASDF is the aviation branch of the Japanese Defence Forces and is responsible for the protection of Japanese airspace and other aerospace operations. The J ASDF carries out regular Combat Air Patrols around Japan, whilst also maintaining an extensive network of ground and air early warning radar systems. The JASDF also has its own aerobatic team, known as the 'Blue Impulse'. In recent times the JASDF has been involved in humanitarian and UN peacekeeping operations and operates 805 aircraft, 424 of which are classed as fighters. Before the formation of the JASDF after World War ll? Japan did not have a separate air force, as aviation operations were carried out by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service, and the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.

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Panzer Aces No.41

The JS-2 tank first saw combat in the spring of 1944. JS-2s were assigned to separate heavy tank regiments, which were used to reinforce the most important attack sectors during major offensive operations. Tactically, they were employed as breakthrough tanks. Their role was to support infantry during an assault, using their large guns to destroy bunkers, buildings, dug-in weapons, and other 'soft' targets. They were also capable of taking on any German AFV when the need arose. The JS-2 weighed pretty much the same as a German Panther, and was lighter than the German heavy tanks of the Tiger series. It was slightly lower than both. A major weakness was the two-piece ammunition employed, which slowed the rate of fire considerably. A second glitch was the extremely limited ammunition supply of only 28 rounds. This was the price paid by the small size of the original design.

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Panzer Aces No.40

A direct descendant of the famous T-34, this tank has the world record in terms of sheer amount of user countries around the world; being employed in well over 50 countries throughout the planet. This vehicle is still in front line use in many contemporary conflicts (Libya, Syria, etc.). The T-55 has been present in almost all armed conflicts of the second half of the 20th century (Arab-Israeli wars, Vietnam, Iran-Iraq, the Balkans...) The Enigma version of this vehicle and the star of this review, was one of the stars in the Gulf war. This particular version was only employed by commanding armoured vehicles. The T-55 Enigma is a very peculiar version of the T-54/55 family. The Enigma modification basically consists of some additional armouring on the front area of the turret and the sloping area in the front and the sides of the hull or frame, and some metallic extensions on the rear of the turret.

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