t.01.2016 by meta618

www.tamiyamodelmagazine.com

TELFORD SHOW REPORT Model photos from IPMS Scale Modelworld

£4.30 January 2016 ISSUE 243

THE FASTEST HUNK OF JUNK Upgrading the Hasbro Millennium Falcon 'toy'

THE EASIEST EIGHT!

Tamiya's new 1:35 M4A3E8 Sherman

Sparmax MAX-4, an affordable airbrush for Christmas, plus kits, books and accessories…

p 01 CoverTMMI 243MN.indd 1

02/12/2015 10:38

www.hobbyco.net Find us on facebook search Tamiya UK

p 02 HobbyCo 243.indd 8

01/12/2015 13:40

Issue 243 January 2016 EDITOR Marcus Nicholls editor@tamiyamodelmagazine.com

Contents 4 NEWS DESK New kit and model product news

THE FASTEST HUNK OF JUNK Upgrading Hasbro’s large Millennium Falcon PAGE 24

6 NEW ARRIVALS A new section showing some of the new kits received at TMMI 8 MAZDA M-XELLENT! Pre-production sprues of Tamiya’s new 1:24 Mazda MX-5 18 ALONG CAME A SPIDER The new Hobbyboss SS-23 Spider, previewed 20 A RIVETING EXPERIENCE! Applying decal rivets, a revolutionary way of creating surface detail 30 MAXIMUM QUALITY, MINIMUM PRICE Sparmax’s new MAX-4 dual-action airbrush, great quality and an attractive price 42 NEW RELEASES ACCESSORIES New and recently issued modelling accessories

TELFORD SHOW REPORT Photo report from November’s IPMS Nationals in Telford, UK PAGE 10

46 NEW RELEASES KITS Eight new full kits, reviewed 50 LET’S GO BACK TO THE CLASSICS Revell’s Imperial and Rebel ships from the original Star Wars films 52 OPEN-AIR MUSEUM A line-up of KO’d tanks in a Normandy field 53 SHAR ORIGINS Brett Green examines Kinetic’s new 1:48 scale Sea Harrier FRS.1 THE EASIEST EIGHT! Tamiya’s new 1:35 M4A3E8 Sherman, full-build PAGE 32

54 LUXURY LANCIA TMMI’s Editor inspects Model Factory Hiro’s new 1:12 ‘Rally 037’ super-kit 56 TEA’S UP LADS! Airfix’s 1:76 Bedford British Army truck 60 BOOK REVIEWS New modelling-related titles reviewed 64 CONTACTS Where to buy the products used and reviewed in TMMI

Do you live outside the UK and want Tamiya Model Magazine delivered direct to your home, anywhere in the world? Just email us at; enquiries@adhpublishing.com Or call +44 (0)1525 222573, fax +44 (0)1525 222574 GMT Subscription rates for 1 year (12 issues) are: Within UK: £44, Europe: £56, Worldwide/USA: £69 ($106 US approx)

Join TMMI at facebook.com!

HOW H OW O W TO CONTACT US:

TELEPHONE: TELEPH HONE: (UK) 01525 222573 FAX: (UK) 01525 222574 EDITORIAL EMAIL: editor@tamiyamodelmagazine.com ALL OTHER ENQUIRIES: enquiries@adhpublishing.com ADDRESS: ADH Publishing,

Doolittle Mill, Doolittle Lane, Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, LU6 1QX, UK Tamiya Model Magazine is published monthly by ADH Publishing. Reproduction in part or whole of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. While due care is taken to ensure the contents of Tamiya Model Magazine is accurate, the publishers and printers cannot accept liability for errors or omissions.

TMMI 243 January 2016

p 03 Contents 243B.indd 3

02/12/2015 12:32

Newsdesk

If you have news of forthcoming model, armour, aircraft or car events, changes of address or just interesting information to share, please write to: TMMI Newsdesk, ADH Publishing, Doolittle Mill, Doolittle Lane, Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, LU6 1QX, UK Tel: 01525 222573 Fax: 01525 222574 Email: modmagint@aol.com

IN BRIEF...

TAMIYA hobbyco.net • 1:24 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL white (Finished Model) • 1:10 RC Raikiri GT • Bits for Modeller’s Punch (1.5mm, 2mm, 3.5mm) • Extra Thin Liquid Cement (Quick Drying)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! 2015 has been quite a year for scale modelling! Tamiya's new 1:32 Mosquito dominated many a modelling discussion in the Spring, and yet I still haven't finished the TMMI review model... It is taking me quite a time but it will get done, really! Tamiya's new Sherman features this issue and it was a joy to build.The 1:48 vehicle range continues to expand with the recent Horch Type 1A and the forthcoming '7 ton armoured car' coming soon.There are just so many great models out there these days! I wish you all a Merry Christmas, have a great break and try to get some modelling done between the turkey and Tia Maria! See you all next year! The Editor

REVELL • 1:35 VW Type 82E • 1:72 V-22 Osprey • 1:48 C-45 Expeditor • 1:114 F-16 Mlu Tigermeet • 1:32 Tornado ECR • 1:288 Airbus A380 DRAGON hobbyco.net • 1:35 M60A2 Starship • 1:35 Panther ausf.G Early • 1:35 Pz.Beob.Wg.II ausf.C • 1:35 German 3t cargo truck w/2cm FlaK38

PS; apologies for the lack of P-47D this issue, I chose to swap it with Tamiya's new M4A3E8 Sherman. The Thunderbolt will appear soon!

NEW FROM TAMIYA! 1:35 SU-76M SOVIET SPG To follow the Easy Eight Sherman, Tamiya have created an all-new 1:35 kit of the Soviet SU-76M self-propelled howitzer. The model includes a full fighting compartment interior, link-length tracks and three figures. More news soon. www.hobbyco.net

NEW FROM TAMIYA! 1:48 7 TON ARMOURED CAR MK.IV The next AFV to join the 1:48 line-up will be the British '7 ton armoured car Mk.IV' (which is a Humber, but don't tell anyone). The model will feature all the tidy refinements we love about this range. www.hobbyco.net

Professional modeller taking commissions for Naval Vessels, Aircraft, Military Vehicles and Figurines. For details, write or phone...

Ian Ruscoe, 29 Eagle Street, Hanley, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, England, ST1 3PD TEL: 01782-239485 • i.ruscoe@yahoo.co.uk

January 2016 TMMI 243

p 04-05 News 243MN.indd 4

02/12/2015 12:33

‘Europe’s Number One Model Shops’

www.hannants.co.uk

NEW FROM TAMIYA! 1:35 US M107 SELF-PROPELLED GUN (VIETNAM WAR)

NEW FROM TAMIYA! 1:35 US TANK CREW SET (EUROPEAN THEATRE)

Italeri's still-excellent M107 is soon to appear inside a Tamiya box, along with a trio of Tamiya figures and accessories. This impressive kit will be ideal for Vietnam War dioramas. www.hobbyco.net

Designed to go with the new M4A3E8 Sherman kit, this fantastic six-figure set (three full-figures, three half-figures) depicts a tank crew at rest checking maps and rearming. On the way soon! www.hobbyco.net

FREEDOM MODELS FD18002 Northrop F-20A Tiger Shark

£34.99

KINETIC MODEL KITS K48027 1:48 AMX International 2 Seater

£35.99

KITTY HAWK MODEL KH32013 1:32 Bell P-39Q/N Airacobra

NEW FROM REVELL! 1:16 VOLKSWAGEN T1 SAMBA BUS

NEW FROM REVELL! 1:24 MAN TGX XLX

£53.99

Revell’s fantastic new VW bus has arrived and it’s a highly detailed model, inside and out. Includes a complete engine and interior. www.revell.de/en

The latest truck on release from Revell is the mighty MAN TGX XLX, which features a detailed powerplant and driver’s cab. www.revell.de/en

SKUNKWORKS SKW48026

NEW FROM REVELL! 1:72 RED ARROWS BAE HAWK

WIN REVELL KITS!

Revell have scaled down their superb 1:32 Hawk to create this gorgeous, new-tool gem and it captures the look of the sleek British trainer perfectly, with fine detail everywhere. Wonderful stuff. www.revell.de/en

1:48 GeneralDynamics F-16XL Experimental Fighter

£34.99

FLY YLF32010 1:32 Westland Wessex HC.2

£79.99

Win Revell’s 1:72 Red Arrow Hawk TMMI is offering you the chance to win some cool Revell kits of all types, scales and subjects! This time, it’s the gorgeous little new-tool Hawk in Red Arrows colours

NEW FROM TAMIYA! 2016 TAMIYA CATALOGUE Here's a preview of the 2016 Tamiya catalogue cover. As always, it will showcase the Tamiya's current production models in a stylish and slick way. On its way soon. www.hobbyco.net

NEW FROM TAMIYA! BRUSH CONDITIONING FLUID

This new fluid has been formulated to condition the bristles of modelling brushes and we'll be giving it a try for sure; we get through a lot of brushes in our review builds! November 2006 TMMI 133 www.hobbyco.net

p 04-05 News 243MN.indd 5

All you need to do is answer this question; Q; How many aircraft feature in the current Red Arrows display team? You can email your answers or send a postcard to our main office address, below. Please don’t forget to add your name and postal address so we can send you your prize!

competitions@tamiyamodelmagazine.com Red Arrow Hawk Tamiya Model Magazine International ADH Publishing, Doolittle Mill, Doolittle Lane, Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, LU6 1QX, UK In conjunction with Revell Ltd. www.revell.de/en

FLY YLF32011 1:32 Westland Wessex HU.5

£79.99

H.G.Hannant Ltd, Harbour Road, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 3LZ, England.

Open from 09.00 to 17.30 Monday to Saturday.

Phone: 00 44 (0)1502 517444 (8 lines) 0845 130 72 48 local rate from UK phones only (NOT mobiles) Fax: 00 44 (0)1502 500521 E-Mail: sales@hannants.co.uk

02/12/2015 12:33

New Arrivals

A brief look at kits that have recently arrived at TMMI HQ!

REVELL, EUROPE 1:25 2014 CORVETTE STINGRAY ITEM NO.07060 (IM, CP, SVT, WS) • www.revell.de/en Pre-painted body with pre-installed window insert might encourage newcomers to car modelling to have a go with this one. The kit comes with a decent replica of the engine and bay (viewable, thanks to hinged bonnet) plus a good-looking cabin.

REVELL, EUROPE 1:144 BUNDESWEHR VEHICLES ITEM NO.03351 (IM, WS) • www.revell.de/en This set contains two each of the M47 Patton MBT, HS30 APC and 5tGL truck. The models are tiny but remarkably well detailed and will be ideal for large dioramas at this small scale.

REVELL, EUROPE 1:144 US ARMY VEHICLES ITEM NO.03350 (IM, WS) • www.revell.de/en This is Revell’s vehicle set from the recent US Navy Landing Ship Medium (05123) and includes two each of the M4 Sherman, M8 Greyhound armoured car and the GMC ‘Deuce and a Half’ truck. As with the Bundeswehr set, the models are small but with good detail.

REVELL, EUROPE 1:241 MILLENNIUM FALCON ITEM NO.03600 (IM) • www.revell.de/en This little kit of the ‘Falcon is rather nicely executed. The hull is covered with some fab ‘greeblies’ and the hull’s other edges – including the inner faces of the ‘jaws’ – are rendered with individual detail panels. A lovely quick-build of this iconic ship.

REVELL, EUROPE 1:400 USS DALLAS ITEM NO.05067 (IM, WS) • www.revell.de/en Revell’s USS Dallas has just nineteen parts but the kit is well detailed and precisely moulded. It’s a full-hull kit with a press-in base plate for easy display. Just right for a seascape scene from The Hunt for Red October...

KP MODELS, CZECH REPUBLIC 1:72 LAVOCHKIN LA-5FN ACES ITEM NO.KPM0035 (IM,WS) • www.kovozavody.cz www.hannants.co.uk KP’s new La-5FN is a nicely presented kit, with good levels of detail overall and an open/closed canopy option. The cockpit features internal framework, which will be visible through the big greenhouse canopy.

AZ MODELS, CZECH REPUBLIC 1:72 BF109G-6AS ITEM NO.AZ7509 (IM,WS) • www.azmodel.cz www.hannants.co.uk AZ’s Bf109G-6AS looks like a very neat little kit in the box, with fine surface detail and some attractive options, such as a choice of main wheel types, propellers, horizontal stabilisers/elevators and air-intake scoops. Three markings-options are included.

BRENGUN, CZECH REPUBLIC 1:72 LETOV S-16 BOMBER/RECONNAISSANCE PLANE ITEM NO.BRP72017 (IM, PE WS) • www.brengun.cz The Letov S-16’s wide wingspan and narrow cord give it an elegant look that is matched by Brengun’s beautifully detailed new kit. The airframe is finely rendered over its whole outer surface and the cockpit detail is more than adequate to look good from the outside.

January 2016 TMMI 243

p 06-07 NewArrivals 243MN.indd 6

02/12/2015 12:34

BRENGUN, CZECH REPUBLIC 1:72 BLOHM & VOSS BV-40 R ITEM NO.BRP72016 (IM, R, PE, WS) • www.brengun.cz This is the rocket-assisted version of the BV-40 attack glider, released previously by Brengun. It’s a very small model but it sports some lovely detail touches and comes with take-off dolly, resin rockets and racks and photo-etched brass airframe parts. Tiny but superb.

ZVEZDA, RUSSIA 1:72 ANT-5 (I-4, 1-4Z) SOVIET FIGHTER ITEM NO.7271 (IM, WS) • www.hobbyco.net The 1920s/30s Soviet ANT-5 fighter was armed with a pair of 7.62mm guns and fought in the Spanish Civil War. Zvezda’s new kit comes with a basic cockpit but has nicely executed exterior corrugated pattern. Kit features alternative propeller/spinner mouldings.

ITALERI, ITALY 1:24 CLASSIC CANVAS TRAILER ITEM NO.3908 (IM, SVT, WS) • www.hobbyco.net Italeri’s kit of the ubiquitous soft-sided artic trailer could be mated with any number of European tractor units and is highly customisable. The model features full chassis and suspension detail with moulded side-panels, with rope ‘lacing’ realistically moulded-in. Soft vinyl tyres are included.

REVELL, EUROPE 1:72 MV-22 OSPREY ITEM NO.03964 (IM, WS) • www.revell.de/en Revell’s 1:72 MV-22 Osprey makes use of Italeri’s 1989 mouldings here, based on the prototype airframe which first flew that year. It’s a good-looking model and the general detailing is well done, but the airframe features raised panel lines and rivets/fasteners which are a little outdated by today’s standards.

ICM, UKRAINE 1:48 JUNKERS JU88A-5 ITEM NO.48232 (IM, WS) • www.hannants.co.uk ICM’s Ju88A-5 is a handsome model that really fills the kit box with its grey and clear sprues. Exterior detail is restrained, with just panel junctions depicted with fine recessed lines. A pair of Jumo engines are provided, plus an extensively detailed cockpit. Looks fantastic in the box.

DRAGON, HONG KONG 1:35 PZ.BEF.WG.IV AUSF.J W/ZIMMERIT ITEM NO.6823 (IM, PE, SVT, WS) • www.hobbyco.net Here we have the ‘Panzerbefehlswagen’ command/control version of the Panzer IV in ‘Ausf.J’ simplified form. Dragon’s kit comprises a huge quantity of parts so this is no quick-build. Detail is fantastic and the hull sports the company’s highly realistic moulded-in zimmerit.

ITALERI, ITALY 1:72 AUTOCANNONE 3R0 ITEM NO.7508 (IM, WS) • www.hobbyco.net Italeri’s small-scale kit of this WW2 Italian truck-mounted gun is aimed at the wargaming crowd, but it’s a pretty decent scale model too, albeit with a few simplifications to speed assembly and increase robustness. Comes with a full gun crew.

ITALERI, ITALY 1:700 WORLD OF WARSHIPS BISMARCK ITEM NO.46501 (IM, WS) •www.hobbyco.net Italeri have re-boxed Dragon’s rather excellent 1:700 Bismarck for their ‘World of Warships’ series in model-form. The kit is a modern production and comes with a full-hull, with the two halves being split lengthways. To simplify the model, the photo-etched parts have been omitted. TMMI 243 January 2016

p 06-07 NewArrivals 243MN.indd 7

02/12/2015 12:35

KIT PREVIEW TAMIYA 1:24 MAZDA MX-5 ROADSTER ● KIT NO.24342

azda's diminutive MX-5 (or Eunos, or Miata) is a much-lauded sportscar that enthusiasts consider the embodiment of the 'Small British Sports Car' of the 1960s. Whether or not you subscribe to this theory, it can't be denied that the MX-5 has been hugely popular around the world and drives extremely well. Tamiya have kitted the car in the past and now we have the very latest iteration which, while clearly an MX-5, exhibits slightly more dynamic styling than early cars. The model is engine-less and follows a conventional 1:24 parts-breakdown. A gearbox is present and an underside guard disguises the lack of a powerplant, the suspension and drivetrain being beautifully rendered and providing more than enough to satisfy a glance at the belly. Front wheels are, naturally, steerable. Interestingly, there are optional parts for a righthand (UK, Japan) or lefthand drive (USA, Europe) version. This is most obviously manifested in the cabin with the dashboard and pedal layouts, but on the underside, the modeller must remove the foremost portion of the exhaust's protective panel too. L/R windscreen wipers and panel also feature. The cabin comes with decals for the driving dials and also the sat-nav screen, an appealing touch. Another welcome addition to the car's interior is a driver figure in the form of a young woman; arms out straight with both hands on the wheel in proper sportscar driving style. Tamiya have even gone to the length of providing seatbelts, to be trimmed out from the window masking sheet. Another very cool touch is an alternative set of legs for the figure, so the feet can be aligned accurately the pedals! Following tradition, the plastic used for the driver is in a slightly off-white colour in comparison to the bright white of the body structure of the car. A beautiful production with some pure Tamiya touches; it'll fit into the 1:24 line-up perfectly. ● MODEL SPEC TAMIYA MAZDA MX-5 ROADSTER KIT NO.24342 SCALE; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:24 MATERIALS: . . . . IM, SVT, PCM, MB, WS AVAILABILITY; From all good model shops. UK import and distribution; The Hobby Company January 2016 TMMI 243 Limited www.hobbyco.net

p 08 Mazda Pre 243MN.indd 8

MAZDA M-XELLENT! TMMI's Editor takes a look at pre-production sprues of Tamiya's new 1:24 Mazda MX-5

The beautiful new bodyshell captures all of Mazda’s new styling cues perfectly.

LHD/RHD dashboards and windscreen wipers are provided, as well as a stunningly moulded interior. Interior tub is perfectly moulded. The kit includes a young woman driver figure. Underside is comprehensively detailed but no engine is supplied.

02/12/2015 12:36

p 09 Radshape 243.indd 8

01/12/2015 13:40

NEWS EXTRA: SCALE MODELWORLD SHOW REPORT SCALE MODELWORLD 2015

SCALE MODELWORLD AND IPMS NATIONALS 2015 TMMI visits the vast Scale Modelworld show

10 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 10-17 Telford 243MN.indd 10

02/12/2015 12:37

s we do each and every year, the Tamiya Model Magazine team made the drive north from our offices in Bedfordshire to Telford, Shropshire, near the border with Wales. For a venue, Scale Modelworld makes good use of the aircraft hanger-like halls of the Telford International Centre. At the show you'll see a large range of vendors, IPMS model clubs from around the country and, indeed, around the world, plus the competition room. The latter area is where modellers from around the globe flock, to enter their newly build models in the hope of winning medals and commendations, as well as to proudly show off their model-making skills to all who visit. This year, the tables were crammed with all types of entry; aircraft, tanks, trucks, cars, ships, submarines, science-fiction, dioramas, figures and more and the overall quality seemed up on previous years. In fact, the quality of the models gets better each year, which is an encouraging sign.

Airfix 1:72 Ju87B-1 Stuka

Airfix’s new 1:72 Shackleton MR2

Airfix 1:72 USAAF Bomber resupply set

Airfix 1:72 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V

Airfix 1:72 Gloster Meteor F.8

New releases

Notable kit releases this year were two, new-tool Avro Shackletons; one each from Revell and Airfix in 1:72. Revell also showed off their new range of Star Wars kits from 'The Force Awakens' as well as their lovely 1:144 Embraer ERJ195 in Air Dolomiti colours. Airfix showed off their new 1:72 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley which looks rather lovely, as well as build-ups of the new 1:48 Ju87B-1 Stuka, 1:72 Grumman Martlet Mk.VI, Hunting Jet Provost T3 and the 1:24 'Car Door' Hawker Typhoon. On Pocketbond's stand we saw the huge and magnificent 1:200 HMS Hood kit, plus Takom's new 1:35 T-14 Armata modern Russian tank, the Krupp 420mm Big Bertha WW1 howitzer and US Army M9 Ace combat earthmover. DEF Model was present and showed off some new resin wheel/ tyres including a set for Takom's recently released Skoda 'Turtle' armoured car and they will really make the model shine. Our long trawl of the halls revealed further delights, including the new 1:48 resin/PE kit of NASA's 'Ranger 8' lunar probe from L'Arsenal and LVM Studios' newly released model of the Soyuz TMA(M) spacecraft, also in resin and photo-etched metal. Turn to 'New Releases Kits' this issue to see more details on these two fascinating, real-space models. Over the next few pages is our compilation of some of the competition entries that caught our eye this year, arranged in no particular order or class; just cool-looking models. l

DEF Model wheels for Takom’s 1:35 Skoda Turtle

Revell 1:72 Avro Shackleton MR2

Revell 1:144 Embraer ERJ 195

Revell 1:72 Handley Page Halifax B Mk.III

Takom 1:35 T-14 Armata

Revell’s new Star Wars kits

Takom 1:35 A-9 ACE combat ‘dozer

Takom 1:35 420mm ‘Big Bertha’

Pre-production parts of Trumpeter’s mighty 1:200 HMS Hood

TMMI 243 January 2016

p 10-17 Telford 243MN.indd 11

02/12/2015 12:38

NEWS EXTRA: SCALE MODELWORLD SHOW REPORT SCALE MODELWORLD 2015

12 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 10-17 Telford 243MN.indd 12

02/12/2015 12:38

www.grandprixmodels.com

Ferrari 458GT3 Evo – Pirelli World Challenge 2015 1:43 resin & metal kit by Motorsport Model Kits

Citroen DS3 WRC – Monte Carlo 2015 Loeb 1:24 transkit (for Heller) by Renaissance

McLaren MP4-11 – Early Season 1996 1:20 resin & metal kit by Studio 27

Tyrrell 003 - 1st Monaco 1971 Stewart 1:12 plastic kit by Tamiya

Mail order specialists for over forty years, we also have a showroom which is open on the first Saturday of every month from 12 noon – 5pm. Please contact us for details

Grand Prix Models

4 Thorpe Close, Thorpe Way Banbury, Oxon, OX16 4SW. Telephone UK 01295 278070 Fax 01295 278072 from outside UK +44 1295 278070 Fax +44243 1295 2780722016 13 TMMI January mail@grandprixmodels.com

p 10-17 Telford 243MN.indd 13

02/12/2015 12:38

NEWS EXTRA: SCALE MODELWORLD SHOW REPORT SCALE MODELWORLD 2015

14 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 10-17 Telford 243MN.indd 14

02/12/2015 12:38

This year, the tables were “crammed with all types of entry; aircraft, tanks, trucks, cars, ships... and the overall quality seemed up on previous years...

”

TMMI 243 January 2016

p 10-17 Telford 243MN.indd 15

02/12/2015 12:38

NEWS EXTRA: SCALE MODELWORLD SHOW REPORT SCALE MODELWORLD 2015

a venue, Scale Modelworld makes good use of the aircraft “ Forhanger-like halls of the Telford International Centre... ”

16 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 10-17 Telford 243MN.indd 16

02/12/2015 12:38

Pocketbond’s stand we saw the huge “andOnmagnificent 1:200 HMS Hood kit... ”

TMMI 243 January 2016

p 10-17 Telford 243MN.indd 17

02/12/2015 12:39

KIT PREVIEW HOBBYBOSS SS-23 SPIDER TACTICAL BALLISTIC MISSILE ● KIT NO.85505

TMMI’s Editor is keen to see how the new Hobbyboss Soviet nuke launcher shapes up

ALONG CAME A SPIDER A

few years back I built Hobbyboss’s 1:35 ‘DANA’ wheeled SPG kit for TMMI’s sister title, Military Illustrated Modeller. It was my first Hobbyboss build-up and I was very impressed by its ease of construction and overall engineering quality. So when the SS-23 missile launcher arrived at TMMI’s office, I very was interested to see how it looked ‘in the plastic’. How would it compare to the DANA? I have to say that, on the sprues, it looks even better than the DANA and I’m confident that it will go together as well. The model comprises

the vast launcher vehicle complete with its eight-wheel independent suspension and amphibious hull, plus an SS-23 nuclear missile which is actually rather small in comparison to the vehicle. The weapon on its launcher sits in a trough on the vehicle’s back and it is fully detailed on all surfaces. The walls of the trough are moulded as individual panels to which detail parts are fixed; the sub-assemblies then cement together to form a box in which the tactical nuke sits. Although this amphibious vehicle is ‘doorless’ (the crew climb in through hatches in the roof), the cabin is well fitted out and the detail is more than adequate for what can be seen through the windows and optional open hatches. The tyres are moulded in

The tyres are superbly moulded from semi-rigid black vinyl

semi-rigid black vinyl and carry excellent levels of detail on their tread-faces and sidewalls, but don’t feature the all-important weighted ‘sag’. This is a very tricky effect to create in this material; it can just about be done on one wheel/tyre by slicing off the vinyl, but try getting the replicating it on all eight... Best to wait until DEF Model release a set of pre-weighted resin replacements, which is sure to happen! So, having looked at this kit up close and come to the conclusion it’s at least as good – if not better – than the DANA, I have the urge to build it and give it a darn good weathering. It’s too good an opportunity to let pass by! ● MN MODEL SPEC HOBBYBOSS SS-23 SPIDER TACTICAL BALLISTIC MISSILE KIT NO.85505 SCALE; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1:35 MATERIALS: . . . . . . . . . .IM, SVT, PE, WS AVAILABILITY; Hobbyboss model kits are widely available from good model shops. www.creativemodels.co.uk

Surface detail is impressive; Hobbyboss have excellent themselves here

Two photo-etched frets are included, providing engine grille screens and small sheet-metal fittings

18 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 18 Spider Pre 243MN.indd 18

02/12/2015 14:45

MODELLING TECHNIQUE GUIDE: AIRFRAME RIVETS HGW 1:32 RIVET SET NO.321003

A RIVETING EXPERIENCE! Martin Bobek describes the application of decal rivets, a revolutionary way of creating surface detail on model aircraft exteriors

his rivet set is designed for the 1:32 Fw190A-8 by Hasegawa. It contains two sheets of rivets, a sheet for forming the structures on the control surfaces and a detailed set of instructions. Given that I first wanted to try out this new technology on a test subject, I built the model from the box without any modifications and I have compiled the following information according to my experience when applying the decals.

WORKING WITH RIVETS

It is necessary to prepare the initial surface finish for the use of the rivets. Commence with an application black paint, spraying around the recessed panel lines and then apply a layer Mr Surfacer 1200 undercoat to

the entire surface. The black shaded area of the panelling will remain highlighted. It is a good idea to polish the undercoat using 8000 grit sandpaper. When applying the rivets, this pre-shading comes in handy, because the segments with the rivets are applied along the recessed lines. The highlighted lines on the panelling enable us to apply the rivets extremely precisely. I recommend that you first choose the segments on the upper surface of the wing in order to gain some initial experience of using the product. First, roughly cut out the segment using scissors, approximately 2-4cm from the line of the last row of rivets. In the case of edges where the panels join

20 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 20-23 HGW Rivets 243MN.indd 20

02/12/2015 14:45

together, cut the segments up close to the edge of the row of rivets. Soak the segment in warm water and wait a short time until it is possible to easily remove it from the base paper, just as with regular decals. And now some highly important information! Coat the model's surface where the soaked decal is supposed to be affixed with an application of Mr Softer Neo decal preparation before applying the rivets. This seemed strange to me, but the manufacturer explained that this is the decisive step for the successful application of the rivets. After drying, the Softer activates the rivets' adhesive components which enable their firm adhesion to the base. This principle should also work with all products designated as HGW Wet Transfer. The clear transfer film used to transfer the rivets does not react to the decal softener, it is sufficiently strong to work with and at the same time, it is sufficiently flexible to follow the curves on the model’s surface. Remove the cut and soaked segments with the rivets from the backing paper and apply them onto the decal solution along the engraved lines. The rivets sit pretty much exactly where you put them. I checked that, as long as a segment is placed on a sufficient layer of Mr Mark Softer, it can be moved relatively easily and it is possible to apply it with a high degree of precision. If a segment catches somewhere and you try to drag it elsewhere with force, there is the risk of deforming it and essentially spoiling the segment. After applying the rivets on the required location, carefully press from the centre outwards using a soft cotton bud. When pressing the segment down, it is necessary to constantly check and correct the position of the entire segment. After the first round of pressing out the liquid, I found that it was sufficient to wait for fifteen minutes. After this short pause, the segment has relatively firmly attached itself to the base. Then once again use the cotton bud to remove the remainder of the softener and at the same time fully press the entire rivet segment to the base. It is necessary for each individual rivet to be in perfect contact with the surface in order to achieve the correct effect. The same process is applied to the entire model. The rivet sets are cleverly divided into individual segments of an optimum size so that they are exceedingly easy to work with. Even though the manufacturer recommends in the manual that the segments should be left to dry for a minimum of four hours, I would recommend that you leave them to dry all night. It is certainly not worth trying to speed the process up. When I tried to continue working after three hours of drying time, the rivets were not fully adhered to the entire surface. I therefore reapplied some more softener under them and once they had fully dried, they truly gripped the surface of the model as if they had been 'nailed on'. It is possible to add Mr Mark Setter to assist with the more complicated shapes. The transfer film is, however, then a little more difficult to remove, because the Setter contains glue. Once it is completely

Over a layer of pre-shading, thinned Mr Surfacer 1200 was airbrush on, creating a layer of ‘paint’ to which the rivet decals will bond

The decal sheet of rivets was trimmed into easy to manipulate sections. Sizing was done by holding the sheet up against the model

Mr Hobby Mr Mark Softer was used to prepare the model’s surfaces for the decals to follow. The decal is softening up in warm water

Once the marking was soft enough, it was laid carefully on the wing, gently positioning it to line up with the panel lines on the model’s mouldings

U TMMI 243 January 2016

p 20-23 HGW Rivets 243MN.indd 21

02/12/2015 14:46

MODELLING TECHNIQUE GUIDE: AIRFRAME RIVETS HGW 1:32 RIVET SET NO.321003

V dry, raise the cover film on the edge of the

segment using tweezers and then remove it from the surface at an acute angle in the opposite direction. After removing the film, you can apply the rivets around the covers and hatches. The manufacturer has provided sufficient reserve parts on the sheet for these purposes. However, with a little care even this delicate work can be completed without any significant problems. The repair of any small errors which may occur at the beginning, is quite simple. The set includes reserve rows of rivets from which you can cut out the corresponding strip, apply the softener, place it on the repaired area and then let it dry thoroughly. After removing the transfer film, wash the entire surface of the model with water to remove any excess glue and then continue with the spray application of the camouflage paint and any other surface finish techniques. The dry rivets can cope with camouflage paint, polishing, washing and other procedures. With a little caution, it is also possible to polish through the top camouflage paint on the rivet or to indicate dirt by means of a wash around them, as in the accompanying photographs. The silver heads of the rivets protruding above the surface of the model give the resulting model a new dimension and an even more realistic appearance than can be achieved with the common method of riveting using a pattern tracer wheel.

THE CONCLUSION

The range of these new products provides a wide gamut of opportunities for creating even more realistic model surfaces. The application is problem-free, simple and fast. The rivet rows have been precisely constructed for the given kit and scale and as such the manufacturer has, for example, different sets for a 1:48 Fw190A-8 made by Eduard and for the same type of model made by Tamiya. If there is no available set for a given type, the manufacturer also offers sets containing rows of rivets, but the work with them is, of course, more time consuming. I certainly recommend the rivet sets and I look forward to completing my next model with this product. â&#x2014;?

Using a Q Tip, excess water, decal glue and setting fluid was gently squeezed out, starting at the centre and working outwards

The beauty of this decal system is that carrier film is removed once the markings have hardened

The film should be peeled off at a sharp angle back over itself, working slowly and using tweezers

Rivet trace

Available from www.hgwmodels.cz

Mini Review... ICM WWI INFANTRY WEAPON AND EQUIPMENT ITEM no; 35688 www.hannants.co.uk

ICMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s packs of weapons and equipment are really good and offer the modeller some unusual as well as more commonplace side-arms, for use on figures or within dioramas and on vehicles. Here, we have the Lewis MG, Chauchat Mle1915, Browning M1918 BAR, Springfield M1903 rifle, Winchester M1897 trench gun and lots more.

22 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 20-23 HGW Rivets 243MN.indd 22

02/12/2015 14:46

Here we can see the Fw190’s left wing with rivets applied and dried. Even before the camouflage paint has been applied, the effect is looking extremely realistic

Rivets around the cowling side panels; note how they trace around the fastener clips

The HGW set includes the ‘skeleton’ of the rudder’s internal structure

The finished effect; fantastic! Under a layer of paint, weathering and markings, the subtly raised rivets look completely convincing. This set is available from; hgwmodels.cz/en/ and www.hannants.co.uk

TMMI 243 January 2016

p 20-23 HGW Rivets 243MN.indd 23

02/12/2015 14:46

SUPERDETAILING PROJECT: FILM MODEL HASBRO 1:48 (APPROX) MILLENNIUM FALCON PRE-BUILT TOY

THE FASTEST HU

John Simmons reconfigures and up-details Hasbro's sizeable Millennium Falcon to the ‘Death Star escape’ version from 'Return of the Jedi' 24 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 24-28 MilleniumFalcon 243MN.indd 24

02/12/2015 12:39

HUNK OF JUNK W

hen I first heard about this big, relatively accurate toy of the Millennium Falcon I was very excited; the pre-production photos looked impressive and because it isn’t designed to allow action figures to sit inside, the cockpit wasn’t oversized, a common problem for modellers wanting to take the previous toy releases a step further and re-work them as a weathered display piece. But when I learnt that it was to be just two inches smaller than the Empire Strikes Back filming-model I knew I had to take on the challenge (also the price of £30 really meant it was a no-brainer!). The scale of the Falcon worked out to roughly 1:48 which is great, as it would sit well with other Star Wars models in the scale, such as Bandai's offerings and the now out-ofproduction line of Fine Molds models. Also, the scale meant that finding a Return of the Jedi crew to fly it wouldn’t be a problem, as the gaming minis fit just right.

OPENING THE BOX

I was like a kid at Christmas opening the box! The sheer size of the thing is overwhelming and extremely exciting. Being familiar with Fine Molds' 1:72 'Falcon, the Hasbro model was a real eye-opener and gave me an idea of just how big the filming-model was. Inside the box is a small bag containing the radar dish, decals and instructions, not much at all really but this is to be forgiven as it is really just meant to be a toy. The sides of the front mandibles lack any detail and have a sticker/decal to represent the 'greeblies' (detailing added to a model's plain surfaces to create an impression of complexity). After my excitement wore off, the work involved to get this model to look somewhat more accurate was rather daunting, but at least I had a very large blank canvas to work on.

THE BUILD PROCESS

First off, everything had to be stripped and all the screws – about thirty – had to be removed to allow the ship to part in the middle and pop open. A flat-head screwdriver came in handy to pry off the docking rings and cockpit. With little room left on my workbench, I began the first part of many hours of cutting and sawing. The plastic in which the toy is moulded is rather strange and difficult to sand; it isn’t like styrene or resin (media that I’m familiar with), so this was really like starting from scratch. The plastic is also rather bendy and soft but a drill and scalpel were my favourite tools throughout the whole project. The first thing to go was the ugly, softly detailed well behind the cockpit on the rear right hand side. Making a number of small holes all around the well with the drill allowed most of that area to be removed, I simply went in afterwards with a brand new saw blade in the hobby knife handle and cut carefully all around the triangle shape of the well wall. A replacement resin well had been created for me by my good friend John Stuart (some will know him as 'Jaitea') and it was fixed in place with the help of two part epoxy resin and hot glue (super glue will not work on this type of plastic). After inspecting the cockpit I decided rather than carefully cutting out the windows TMMI 243 January 2016

p 24-28 MilleniumFalcon 243MN.indd 25

02/12/2015 12:39

SUPERDETAILING PROJECT: FILM MODEL HASBRO 1:48 (APPROX) MILLENNIUM FALCON PRE-BUILT TOY

Making a number of small holes around the well with the drill allowed most of the moulded detail to be removed, going in afterwards with a brand new saw blade to tidy-up the edges.

A new resin well was created by John Stuart (some will know him as Jaitea) which was inserted with the help of two-part epoxy resin and hot glue (super glue will not work on this type of plastic).

Here, the author chose a circular saw drill-bit to remove the round engine fans which took out the majority of the plastic. Clean-up was achieved with a scalpel. A resin upgrade set available from Randy Cooper Models (randycoopermodels.com) was used to improve the fan detail. The drill and scalpel were used again here to remove the difficult soft plastic of the toy.

The original cockpit was sawn off and replaced with a new, 3D printed part from Shapeways (www. shapeways. com; search for ‘Millennium Falcon and be prepared for a hefty price tag).

I would splash-out on a new 3D printed one from Shapeways. Although pricey, this was a very important upgrade as the one supplied is soft in detail and too short and reminded me of the old '70s MPC cockpit. Now it was time to remove the round engine fans that are located on the top of the rear engine deck. For this I chose a circular saw drill bit, this took out the majority of the fan and then clean-up was used with a scalpel.

LIGHTING EFFECTS

Before taking a sigh of relief, I knew I had to add the lighting for the engines and the obvious choice was LEDs. The rear of the ship where the engine outlets are had to be extremely well lit as the Falcon has a gorgeous blue haze at the back when seen in the films and I wanted to replicate that. I could have just cheated and stuck a load of LEDs in the back and called it a day but I wanted to replicate that diffused look. I used three strips of LEDs – fifty-five lights in total – the top and bottom strips of which blue while the middle was bright white. This already gave the shift in colour tone but I still needed it to be diffused. In the past I’ve used a number things to do this such as sanding the bulbs, using matt varnish and even tracing paper but this time I used a cut-up plastic milk jug which diffused the lights perfectly and gave me that lovely glow I wanted to achieve. To finish off, I installed two yellow lights in the front of the mandibles, one behind the gunner’s seat and two in the cockpit which would later be used as the light-source for the fibre optic lighting kindly made for me by Jaitea again. This would all run off a single nine-volt battery.

PAINTING AND WEATHERING This was definitely my favourite part and an area that I feel most comfortable in. I wanted to replicate the paint job of the thirty-two inch filming model as seen in the Empire Strikes Back; every blast mark and rust streak. But I needed to get the most important

26 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 24-28 MilleniumFalcon 243MN.indd 26

02/12/2015 12:40

A total of sixty LEDs were used in the lighting of the model and a cut-up plastic milk 'bottle' was used to diffuse the light at the engines.

In trying to replicate the thirty-two inch model, an off-white look with a hint of ‘cream’ was used. Over a dark grey primer the author applied an off-white base coat mix, made from four parts Tamiya XF-2 Flat White with one part XF-55 Deck Tan, all spayed through the ever-faithful Badger Patriot airbrush.

A real sense of scale here with the 1:48 Fine Molds Snow Speeder; the Falcon looks huge!

The coloured panels were now being painted; Tamiya and Vallejo acrylics were used here.

I knew I had to add the “ lighting for the engines and the obvious choice was LEDs... ”

Nearing completion now, all small details have been fixed in place and a final pass was made with the airbrush, using heavily thinned black paint.

Having my Padawan learn the ropes of post shading here. Thanks Laura!

Nicely intricate detail work on the resin side walls.

TMMI 243 January 2016

p 24-28 MilleniumFalcon 243MN.indd 27

02/12/2015 12:40

SUPERDETAILING PROJECT: FILM MODEL HASBRO 1:48 (APPROX) MILLENNIUM FALCON PRE-BUILT TOY

The author proudly holds the huge hunk of junk!

part right first, ie; the base coat. This is a topic that is brought up constantly on the forums and to boil it down there isn’t really a ‘right’ colour as there were a number of different models used in the film. Seeing as I was trying to replicate the thirty-two inch model, I went for a slight off-white look with a hint of ‘cream’ in it. I think the paints used in the '70s by ILM were Floquil enamels; reefer white over a black primer. I didn’t want to go as dark as black for my undercoat and fortunately the paint recommended on the net for this plastic (Hycote Bumper Spray along with adhesion aid) was a dark grey. After the primer had cured I made my off-white basecoat mix using four parts Tamiya XF-2 Flat White and one part XF-55 Deck Tan which appeared to be the best colour over a dark grey primer coat. Again, this isn’t perfect but without having the real studio model next to me, I couldn’t be certain. Once I was happy with the basecoat I moved onto the different coloured panels which were all picked out with various Tamiya and Vallejo Paints. All the weathering was achieved by using AK Interactive and Wilder weathering products.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I thoroughly enjoyed this project as I have always wanted a large Millennium Falcon. I wanted to replicate the one shooting out of the Death Star at the end of Return of the Jedi, so with some converted figures and a fabricated broken radar dish base I created my holy grail model. It may not be a 'Master Replica' version but at least I can feel a sense of achievement when I see it adorning my son’s nursery wall… Yes, my amazing two year old little boy has a lit-up, thirty-inch Millennium Falcon mounted on his wall! And I’m quite relieved he hasn’t asked to take it down and play with it yet! ●

TECHSPEC... HASBRO 1:48 (APPROX) MILLENNIUM FALCON PRE-BUILT TOY Materials; - Pre-assembled plastic mouldings Paints used; - Hycote Spray; Bumper Grey, Adhesion Aid - Tamiya XF-2 Flat White, XF-55 Deck Tan - Vallejo Acrylics; various

28 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 24-28 MilleniumFalcon 243MN.indd 28

02/12/2015 12:40

p 29 PilotReplicas 243.indd 8

01/12/2015 13:40

MODELLING EQUIPMENT

SPARMAX MAX-4 DUAL ACTION AIRBRUSH

MAXIMUM QUALITY

MINIMUM PRICE

TMMI's Editor examines Sparmax's new MAX-4 dual-action airbrush, a well specified instrument at an eye-catching attractive price

ne of the questions we are most frequently asked at TMMI as “what type of airbrush should I buy?” The answer comes down to a couple of factors; what type of models you mostly build (complex or simple camouflage schemes, gloss paint-work, large or small scales) and what budget you have. Most modellers will, of course, be chiefly interested in the price, but the build quality and longevity of an airbrush will affect the choice they make too, so it's all about striking the right balance between versatility, quality and price. This is where the Sparmax 'MAX' series of dual-action airbrushes

step in. From a close inspection of the MAX-4 'brush (0.4mm nozzle) we received, it felt solid, well engineered and finished to a high standard; quite Iwata-like in fact. The trigger's spring-pressure offers satisfying resistance for good feedback (like power-steering on a car, it's important to have a decent level of 'feel' in an airbrush trigger) and the instrument is perfectly balanced, front to rear. The chrome-plating is flawless and screw threads feel smooth. I am yet to have a 'test spray' with the MAX-4 and I'll report back when I have done so, but from this initial inspection it looks and feels like a quality piece of kit and at

a mere £45 plus shipping it represents extraordinary value for money, in other words it's the perfect entry-level airbrush that will serve your modelling needs, right up to expert level. ● MN TECHSPEC... SPARMAX MAX-4 DUAL-ACTION AIRBRUSH • Double-action; press the trigger down for air-flow, pull back for paint-flow • Nozzle size; 0.4mm (MAX-3; 0.3mm) • Iwata-fit air hose connector • Plain and castellated crowns in included (castellated for extreme close-up work) • Single-action valve included AVAILABILITY; Please visit The Airbrush Company’s website for a huge range of airbrushes, compressors and accessories; www.airbrushes.com

30 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 30 Sparmax Pre 243MN.indd 30

02/12/2015 14:50

www.creativemodels.co.uk

Mod

el b

yW ayn

rem

e yJ

Get Creative!

HOBBYBOSS, VALLEJO, MODEL MASTER, MINIART, MASTER BOX, AK INTERACTIVE, MIG PRODUCTIONS, PLUS MODEL AND MANY MORE...

Unit 6-10, Honeysome Ind Est., Honeysome Road, Chatteris, Cambs. PE16 6TG

www.creativemodels.co.uk Tel: +44(0)1354 760022

p 31 CreativeModels 243.indd 1

01/12/2015 13:41

FULL-BUILD: WW2 MILITARY VEHICLE TAMIYA 1:35 US MEDIUM TANK M4A3E8 SHERMAN EASY-EIGHT EUROPEAN THEATRE ● KIT NO.35346

THE E

here was a little confusion surrounding the release of this kit, perhaps caused by the relatively recent re-boxing of the Tasca/Asuka 'Easy Eight' kit. Tamiya also have their own kit which was released many years ago but this release shares no parts with either. Adding to the fun was the fact that this new release is not entirely brand new; the running gear comes from Tamiya's 1:35 M51

IDF Sherman, released in 2011 but I consider that new enough to qualify the kit as a new release! So, what we have here is a kit that makes use of the excellent running gear from Tamiya's M51, mated to a new hull and turret. The kit comes with newly moulded, flexible tracks, a one-piece gun 76mm barrel with separate muzzle brake and clear mouldings for the commander's vision blocks. For all intents and

purposes, I am treating this as a brand new kit. The subject is unimpeachable; the M4A3E8 was the US Army's most modern Sherman variant – introduced at the end of WW2 – and is a popular version amongst modellers. The big turret with rear overhang and powerful 76mm gun (matching that of the Panther) plus wide tracks give the machine a business-like appearance, very different to the earliest

Shermans. A good choice then, and it is sure to be popular. I received a pre-production kit to build for review, hence the grey plastic, but I am confident that what you are seeing here is precisely what you'll get in the kit you buy from a model shop or web-page. Tamiya's approach here is to give the modeller an accurate, high quality model with a good level of detail and a near-perfect fit of parts. The model is

32 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 32-40 M4A3E8 243MN.indd 32

02/12/2015 14:50

E EASIEST EIGHT!

TMMI's Editor builds the (almost) all-new M4A3E8 'Easy Eight' Sherman kit and adds just a smattering of additional detailing

designed to be very straightforward to build and so can be tackled by a newcomer to the hobby whilst remaining satisfying for the more experienced modeller. From having built the kit, I feel that Tamiya have achieved these goals with flying colours. The model's construction starts with the lower hull which builds up from individual panels, cementing to a belly plate with a lateral brace to keep things

square. I used Mr Hobby Cement S throughout as it flows perfectly along joints, suits the polystyrene used by Tamiya and dries very quickly. A number of small parts must be fixed to the rear panel but I left off the exhaust outlets as I wanted to paint them individually, in a suitably heated/ rusted finish. In Stage 5 of the instructions, the idler mounts/track tension adjusters are shown being fitted but I chose to leave

them off until it was time to install the tracks. I'm glad I did because to achieve a realistic track tension, the mounts need to be in their most extended position, which is one 'notch' further around than is suggested. The downside to this was to place extra tension on the mounts which could lead to them breaking; they are quite delicate-looking. Through some very practical and imaginative design work, the kit's

HVSS (horizontal volute spring suspension) bogies have been reduced to just four parts each, without wheels. In my opinion, this rationalised approach in no way detracts from the final appearance of the suspension system but it does make their assembly massively easier and quicker. By far the most laborious part of the process is the removal of the moulding seam that runs around each part. TMMI 243 January 2016

p 32-40 M4A3E8 243MN.indd 33

02/12/2015 14:50

FULL-BUILD: WW2 MILITARY VEHICLE TAMIYA 1:35 US MEDIUM TANK M4A3E8 SHERMAN EASY-EIGHT EUROPEAN THEATRE l KIT NO.35346

Roadwheels and rollers

Each pair of roadwheels is moulded in two parts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A18 and A22 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the former with the linking 'axle' moulded in, the latter without. The instructions show the wheel half with the axle (A18) as the inner half, which means it must be fitted before the HVSS units are cemented to the hull as there's no room between the hull and bogie to install it later. As this would not work with my decision to paint the wheels individually, I swapped the position of A18 and A22 (their hub detail is identical), meaning I could easily slip the non-axled wheel halves (A22) in place at the back of each bogie unit and then insert the A18 parts from the front at a later stage. I hope that all makes sense! The tracks are shown being installed in Stage 13, before the upper hull is in place. If you're all painted and weathered up (with the hull halves still un-cemented) this is the best way to go, as the chunky guide horns are too stiff to slip over the return rollers when the hull halves are joined. I wanted to paint each roadwheel and return roller's rubber tyre in Tamiya XF-85 Rubber Black and this meant leaving all wheels off for masking. This is fine for the roadwheels and main return rollers but the smaller, inner rollers sit just behind the upper section of each bogie unit and require a little manipulation to allow them to slip into place after everything has been painted and weathered. It's essential therefore to do all of this before the upper hull has been cemented in place. All wheels were painted in the Rubber Black colour and then a Royal Model metal template was used to mask off the 'rubber' rims so the olive drab colour could be airbrushed onto the wheels themselves. Slightly time-consuming but worth the effort I think. Tamiya have provided filler plates for the gap underneath the upper hull's track overhang on each side, a welcome inclusion. The plates incorporate the outer mudguards and this allows for a very neat finish. As you can see in the accompanying photos, I chose to replace the solid, moulded-in handles on the hatches and engine doors with new items made from appropriately formed copper wire. This small step greatly improves the look of these areas and is simple to achieve.

The lower hull builds up from individually moulded panels for the hull-sides, belly and rear plate. Precise engineering ensures the elements fit together perfectly

The transmission cover has a very subtle cast-steel The final drive housings are moulded individually. texture, as per the real tank A little liquidised filler was applied to blend in the joint lines

The rear of the lower hull is well detailed. The cylindrical object holds a polycap to secure the upper hull, presumably for future motorised versions of the kit. It doesn't need to be used; you can simply cement the hull in place

To add rigidity to the lower hull, Tamiya provide a lateral bulkhead moulding

34 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 32-40 M4A3E8 243MN.indd 34

02/12/2015 14:51

The hull underside is well detailed and features the crew escape panel

The engine cooling vent builds up from four individual elements, with end-caps. The whole unit can swivel like the real thing, once fitted

Other kits' HVSS suspension units tend to comprise many small parts which can be fiddly to construct. Here we see a completed suspension bogie. The units in Tamiya's new model comprise just four parts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; plus wheels â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which makes assembly very Although it is quick to build, there are still some much easier significant mould part-lines present which must be scraped off

Here we see the hull and suspension, ready for the rest of construction. Note that the engine access doors are moulded separately, making the addition of an aftermarket engine and its bay a little easier. The upper hull was left unglued until the final assembly stages

Turret time

The turret is a beautiful moulding and just requires the filling/sanding of the join line between upper and lower parts, which is quite prominent. I used Holts Cataloy filler, thinned slightly with liquid cement. Once this had hardened, it was sanded

and re-textured using a dental burr in my mini-drill to restore the cast-steel texture. The barrel is moveable thanks to the use of a pair of polycaps fitted within the trunions and the friction is just right to allow full movement without the gun tube sagging under its own weight.

The commander's cupola is a little work of art, with individually moulded vision blocks in clear plastic. Once trimmed from the sprue and carefully moved into place in the painted and upturned cupola (take care not to lose them, they are tiny) they were secured by flowing in

some Future polish (you could use Tamiya X-22 Clear) which fixes them in place and also seals any gaps around them. If you're keeping the hatch shut as I did, there's no need to paint them as the darkness inside the turret gives the clear parts the appropriate 'colour'. TMMI 243 January 2016

p 32-40 M4A3E8 243MN.indd 35

02/12/2015 14:51

FULL-BUILD: WW2 MILITARY VEHICLE TAMIYA 1:35 US MEDIUM TANK M4A3E8 SHERMAN EASY-EIGHT EUROPEAN THEATRE l KIT NO.35346

The drive sprockets and idlers make use of polycaps to secure them to the suspension

One criticism of past Sherman kits (and other tanks) was the lack of sponson panels which allowed a see-through effect when looking down through an open hatch. This problem has been solved in a practical manner, as the panels incorporate the mudguards

The effect of the combined sponson fillers and mudguards is extremely neat, as can be seen here. The mudguard braces simply click in place, secured by a dab of liquid cement

The intention with this review model was to build it 'out-ofthe-box' but some essential things were replaced. The solid-moulded hatch handles were snipped off, their location points drilled out and new ones – bent from copper wire – fitted. A simple but worthwhile modification The improvement is clear to see here. The periscope guards are excellent and don't really need replacement

Another part of a Sherman model that can seriously affect its scale-look are the prominent headlight brushguards. The kit supplied parts are pretty decent but nothing can rival the realism of photo-etched parts

As with the hatch handles, those on the engine access doors were also replaced with copper wire. Small and easy tasks like this can make a big difference in the model's final appearance

Here we can see the kit-supplied moulded brushguard resting in place; it looks good, if a little chunky

The photo-etched part (from an Aber set) is superior in every aspect, the only ‘problem’ being that they can be tricky to bend perfectly to shape and to fit to the hull-front.

36 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 32-40 M4A3E8 243MN.indd 36

02/12/2015 14:51

The kit comes with a one-piece gun barrel and a three-part muzzle brake. The small ring here is an internal baffle and is a nice touch by Tamiya

An overview of the model with some more details added; mudguard braces, spare track links, pioneer tools and various hull fittings are now in position

To get the painting started, an overall coat of Tamiya NATO Black (XF-69) was airbrushed on. Sprocket and return roller mounting points were masked off with Blu Tack to prevent a build-up of paint which could affect fit at a later stage.

Mini Review... REVELL HAND DRILL ITEM no;39064 www.revell.de/en

The olive-drab base coat was kept very light, as the subsequent layers of weathering would darken the colour significantly. A mixture was made from Tamiya XF-62 Olive Drab and XF-60 Dark Yellow, lightened with XF-15 Flat Flesh and corrected with X-6 Orange, giving it a ‘warmer’ tone. Over this, Future acrylic polish was applied, although X-22 Clear will work well, but with a longer drying time.

Revell’s line up of modelling tools is steadily expanding and this latest addition is particularly useful. It features a free-spinning palm-rest so the drill can be rotated with ease, plus double-ended chuck jaws to accommodate micro-drills and a larger bits. Comes with three bits in the sizes; 0.7mm, 1mm, 1.3mm.

TMMI 243 January 2016

p 32-40 M4A3E8 243MN.indd 37

02/12/2015 14:51

FULL-BUILD: WW2 MILITARY VEHICLE TAMIYA 1:35 US MEDIUM TANK M4A3E8 SHERMAN EASY-EIGHT EUROPEAN THEATRE l KIT NO.35346

The g way. fitted wrap

The kit-supplied tools are excellent and just need straps/buckles adding. The metal parts were painted very dark brown and later given some metallic touches with a graphite pencil. The wooden handles (although originally sprayed OD with the rest of the tank) were painted in a pale wooden tone then later given a light drybrushing with dark brown

Painting and weathering

I have deliberately avoided showing the weathering processes in photographic form in this article as I wanted to talk more about the modelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s construction. Suffice to say, the model was undercoated in black, then a lightened shade of olive drab applied in a solid coat, with the hatches and cupola taped in from inside so I could remove them for later detail painting. A coat of Future polish was applied and once fully dry (overnight) the decals (dry-transfer types from Archer Fine Transfer) were applied. They were sealed in with another coat of future. Weathering was kept simple; a dark colour wash (dark brown oil paint thinned with white spirit) was applied over the whole model and then Humbrol Enamel 103 Cream then used to simulate dust build-ups in the recesses of the track guards, upper hull and turret. Some of the colour was airbrushed over the rear of the model and along the central strip of the tracks to tie in the running gear with the main body of the tank.

The e ring faste

This view of the turret top shows the superb commander's cupola which features individually moulded vision blocks in clear plastic. These were secured by applying Future polish from behind with the cupola inverted. Note also the foundry marks, MG barrel clip and separately moulded loader's hatch. The stencilling on the MG ammo box is from Archer Fine Transfer; www.archertransfers.com

38 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 32-40 M4A3E8 243MN.indd 38

02/12/2015 14:51

The . and c

The gun's travel lock is seen here in its folded position; it can only be fitted this way. The driver and radio operators' hatches are separate mouldings and can be fitted in the open positions. The bow MG barrel was remade using an Aber PE part, wrapped around aluminium tubing

Further foundry marks will be found on the upper hull. Note the correctly raised weld seams

The effectiveness of the PE brushguard can be seen here. The raised â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Uâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; shaped ring around the bow MG would have secured the dust-cover. It was given a line of fasteners made from tiny discs of plastic card

The kit includes one-piece T66 tracks and they really are excellent. They were painted dark brown, then given further layers of lighter browns and rusty shades to impart a used look

The .50cal M2 was upgraded with a universal detail set from Aber, which includes a new barrel and cooling sleeve, handles, trigger, cocking lever and more

The horn guard was also from an Aber PE set

TMMI 243 January 2016

p 32-40 M4A3E8 243MN.indd 39

02/12/2015 14:51

FULL-BUILD: WW2 MILITARY VEHICLE TAMIYA 1:35 US MEDIUM TANK M4A3E8 SHERMAN EASY-EIGHT EUROPEAN THEATRE ● KIT NO.35346

CONCLUSION

In summary, I am happy to say that this new kit of the Sherman 'Easy Eight' was easy and enjoyable to build and straightforward to paint and weather. The one-piece tracks – so often shunned by armour modellers – were a joy to use. They can be joined up with regular model cement (Mr Hobby Deluxe or Revell Contacta) and painted with any model paint, acrylics being the best choice. I made a few small enhancements such as PE headlight brushguards, hatch handles and machine gun upgrades, but otherwise no major changes were made to the model. I recommend this kit highly, for both beginners and experienced AFV enthusiasts. ● This close-up of a horizontal volute spring suspension bogie shows just how effective it looks, even with just eight parts including wheels. There is a faint mould part-line on the tracks’ edges and this can actually be sanded off with a coarse sanding stick or similar

..an accurate, high quality model “with a good level of detail and a near-perfect fit of parts... ”

p 32-40 M4A3E8 243MN.indd 40

TECHSPEC... TAMIYA 1:35 US MEDIUM TANK M4A3E8 SHERMAN EASY-EIGHT Materials: Injection-moulded polystyrene, polycaps, waterslide decals Paints used: - Tamiya Acrylics; XF-69 NATO Black, XF-62 Olive Drab, XF-60 Dark Yellow, XF-15 Flat Flesh, X-6 Orange - Vallejo Acrylics; detail work Additional items used: Aber 1:35 Sherman headlight brushguards, M2 Browning .50cal detail parts Availability; Tamiya models and paints are widely available from good model shops. UK import; www.hobbyco.net

02/12/2015 14:51

p 41 AirbrushCo 243.indd 8

01/12/2015 13:41

New Releases

Please turn to page 60 for the

The latest photo-etched sets, resin parts, figures and accessories to enhance your scale models...

What’s in the box?

AD; ACETATE DIALS, CC; CAST CERAMIC (PLASTER), CMA; CAST METAL ALLOY, CP; CHROMED PARTS, CPS; CLEAR PLASTIC SHEET, DT; DRY TRANSFER (DECALS), EM: ELECTRIC MOTOR EPS; EXTRUDED PLASTIC SE ALLOY, MR; METAL ROD, MW; METAL WIRE, MT; METAL TUBING, NM; NYLON MESH, PE; PHOTO ETCH, PEBM; PHOTO-ETCHED BADGES/MIRRORS, PCM; PRE-CUT MASKS, PMP; PRE-ASSEMBLED METAL PARTS), PS;

EDUARD, CZECH REPUBLIC

www.eduard.com • www.creativemodels.co.uk • www.hannants.co.uk MODEL ACCESSORY SETS This month, Trumpeter's recent 1:350 kit of HMS Queen Elizabeth gets not one, but four new detail sets that cover railings and stairs, gun platform floors and gun shields, ship's boats and davits plus general details such as hatches, structural parts and loads more besides. These three sets will really bring this kit alive and are well worth the investment. Eduard's new 1:72 Fw190A-8 receives two styles of seat harness, general details and landing flaps in PE and Tamiya's 1:32 Mosquito is treated to interior and exterior PE sets. More will follow for this kit too! MN 1:350 • HMS Queen Elizabeth 1943 Pt.1 (53145) for Trumpeter • HMS Queen Elizabeth 1943 Pt.2 (53146) for Trumpeter • HMS Queen Elizabeth 1943 Pt.3 (53147) for Trumpeter • HMS Queen Elizabeth 1943 Pt.4 (53148) for Trumpeter 1:200; • Naval figures Royal Navy (53144) 1:72; • Fw190A-8 seatbelts superfabric (73033) for Eduard • Fw190A-8 landing flaps (72612) for Eduard • Fw190A-8 details (72611) for Eduard • Stirling Mk.I (73535) for Italeri • Stirling Mk.I exterior (72615) for Italeri • Stirling Mk.I bomb bay (72614) for Italeri 1:48; • Do17Z-10 exterior (48860) for ICM • Do17Z-10 landing flaps (48861) for ICM • Do17Z-10 interior (49738) for ICM • B-1B exterior (48857) for Revell • B-1B details (49737) for Revell • Mirage IIIC seatbelts fabric (49089) for Eduard • Mirage IIIC seatbelts superfabric (49090) for Eduard • Mirage IIIC ejection seat (49734) for Eduard • T-38A Talon details (49733) for Wolfpack • AC-47 Gunship exterior (48858) for Revell • AC-47 Gunship interior (49736) for Revell • AC-47 Gunship landing flaps (48859) for Revell 1:35; • WWII German 12.8cm FlaK Zwilling details (36329) for Takom • Panther ausf.D (36327) for Tamiya • US Army Bulldozer (36326) for MiniArt • Panther ausf.D zimmerit horizontal (36328) for Tamiya 1:32; • Mosquito FB Mk.VI exterior (32379) for Tamiya • Mosquito FB Mk.VI interior (32849) for Tamiya • OV-10A/C Bronco exterior (32380) for Kittyhawk • OV-10A/C Bronco details (32850) for Kittyhawk • OV-10A/C Bronco seatbelts (32851) for Kittyhawk

ALCLAD II, UK

www.alclad2.com Alclad II have formulated a new, quick-drying type of lacquer-based enamel paint that comes pre-thinned and airbrush ready. The material seems very fine-grained in the bottle and we will be testing it soon to see how it airbrushes. The range will be expanding, offering the colours that modellers use on a regular basis. This is a very promising development and we'll bring you more information as we get it. MN MIL-SPEC MATT WHITE (ALCE101) MIL-SPEC MATT BLACK (ALCE102) MIL-SPEC RAF SKY TYPE S (ALCE011) MIL-SPEC RAF OCEAN GREY (ALCE004) MIL-SPEC US CAMOUFLAGE EARTH (ALCE305) MIL-SPEC US CAMOUFLAGE TAN (ALCE304)

42 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 42-45 NR Access 243MN.indd 42

02/12/2015 15:42

Accessories

EXTRUDED PLASTIC SECTION, F; FABRIC, IM; INJECTION MOULDED (PLASTIC), ITL; INDIVIDUAL TRACK LINKS, LCC; LASER CUT CARD, LLT; LINK AND LENGTH TRACKS, MC; METAL CHAIN, MMA; MACHINED METAL ED METAL PARTS), PS; PAPER STRIP, R; RESIN, SVT; SOFT VINYL TYRES (OR TUBING), VF; VINYL FIGURES, VFP; VACUUM FORMED (PLASTIC), WC; WOVEN CORD, WD; WATERSLIDE (DECALS), WS; WOODEN STRIP

PLUS MODEL, CZECH REPUBLIC

www.creativemodels.co.uk New from Plus Model is a delightful kit of a 'wherry' flat-bottomed wooden boat and the company have used their expertise in laser-cut wood to recreate it in 1:35. The model comes with a some photo-etched fittings plus a pre-cut cardboard assembly jig. Also new are two more cable reels but this time, in 1:48; perfect for dioramas and even model railway layouts. Finally, we have a set of 1:35 modern plastic storage drums, the type that would store chemicals etc. More lovely things to add to the collection! MN 1:35; WHERRY (457) PLASTIC BARRELS (466) 1:48; CABLE REELS SMALL (4049) CABLE REELS BIG (4050)

RB PRODUCTIONS, IRELAND

www.radubstore.com New from RB Productions is a set of photoetched radiator faces and intake screens, designed specifically for Tamiya's 1:32 model. Excellent detail and precision made. New for Zoukei Mura's 1:32 Ta152 is an absolutely packed PE brass fret for its cockpit, providing a whole new instrument panel with individual dial bezels and a whole lot more. Superb quality and some microscopic parts here. Also new from RB is a sheet curved masking strips, computer-cut from self adhesive vinyl, plus a sheet of 1mm straight strips in the same material. Very useful indeed. Finally, a new decal sheet in the scales of 1:32, 1:72 and 1:48 offers markings for Romanian Messerschmitt Bf109G-6s, with some very eye-catching and unusual schemes. MN 1:32 MOSQUITO RADIATORS (RB-P32040) MASKING STRIPS CURVED (RB-M32006) MASKING STRIPS 1MM (RB-M32004) ROMANIAN MESSERSCHMITT BF109G-6 PART 2 (RB-D32020)

BRENGUN, CZECH REPUBLIC

www.brengun.cz Brengun have created a photo-etched fret for Hasegawa's 1:32 N1K2-J Shiden Kai (right) which includes seat harnesses, dial faces and interior fittings to sharpen up the detail. In resin (plus PE for the bracket) we have a 1:32, fifty-gallon British pattern drop-tank (above, for Spitfires etc) and a set of US Navy tow bars that would be seen on aircraft carrier decks. All are very well manufactured from resin and PE brass. MN 1:32; 50GAL DROP-TANK BRITISH (BRL32019) US NAVY TOW BAR (BRL32020) N1K2-J SHIDEN KAI (BRL32017) FOR HASEGAWA TMMI 243 January 2016

p 42-45 NR Access 243MN.indd 43

02/12/2015 15:39

New Releases A selection of the latest full kits in plastic, resin, metal and more!

What’s in the box?

TAMIYA, JAPAN

1:48 HORCH TYPE 1A www.hobbyco.net SCALE; 1:48 MATERIALS; IM, WS ITEM NO.32586 The latest addition to Tamiya’s 1:48 vehicle range is the WW2 German Horch 108 Type 1a staff car. The kit comes with a separately moulded chassis, drivetrain and suspension parts and once assembled, the look of the underpinnings is highly detailed and authentic-in appearance. No engine is provided but this should not be too noticeable on the finished model. The tyres/ wheels are in hard kit-plastic and thus are well detailed, albeit without ‘flat-spots’ to depict the vehicle’s weight. The body builds up from individual panels (some ejector-pin marks will need removal from the inner faces) and the interior features forward/backward-facing bench seats. Six figures in seated poses and features a detailed underbody area. Ideal for ground-force dioramas and will also go well with aircraft such as Tamiya’s Fieseler Storch. MN

Classic model subject and lots of fabulous nice touches The inevitable photoetched set from Hauler will provided the finishing touch

PLUS MODEL, CZECH REPUBLIC

PAVESI P4/100-30A ARTILLERY TRACTOR www.creativemodels.co.uk SCALE; 1:35 MATERIALS; R, PE, WS KIT NUMBER; 449 The Italian P4/100 tractor was made by Pavesi-Tolotti in the First World War era to tow heavy artillery pieces. It went on to serve in the Second World War with the Italian, Hungarian and German armies and was later fitted with trucktype wheels and pneumatic rubber tyres. Plus Model choose some truly fantastic subjects and the Pavesi P4 must be one of their choicest cuts– it is simply marvellous! All the main structures build up from grey resin castings with a good-sized photo-etched brass sheet and bags of pre-cut steel rod for the complex wheels’ spokes. A jig and detailed instructions are provided in order for the modeller to build up the wheels correctly. Plus Model include a full engine with the model, along with all the levers and controls for the driver’s position. MN

Wonderful subject, fantastic castings, top quality detail A specialist kit with challenging-to-build wheels

46 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 46-49 NR Kits 243MN.indd 46

02/12/2015 15:44

Kit Reviews

LVM STUDIOS, THE NETHERLANDS

SOYUZ SPACECRAFT TMA(M) www.lvm-studios.com SCALE; 1:48 MATERIALS; R, PE, BR, WS, KIT NUMBER; 12002 One of LVM Studios’ most recent releases takes the form of the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, the 1960s-designed vessel used to deliver astronauts up to the International Space Station between 2003 and 2012 (TMA) and between 2010 to 2012 (TMA-M). The kit comes as three solid resin castings for the main body sections, plus a bag of smaller resin parts, three sheets of photo-etched brass for the solar panels, decals, brass rod, square-section polystyrene rod and a resin base for display. Two thirds of the body is clad with thermal shielding and this is cast in place on the model with great finesse. The colour of the cladding varies from version to version but there are plenty of images on the internet that show it in detail. The delicate photo-etched parts will give the solar ‘wings’ just the right look and with some creative painting, this model will look fantastic, and very different to more familiar subjects! MN

TAKOM, HONG KONG/CHINA

BRITISH MAIN BATTLE TANK CHIEFTAIN MK.5/5P www.pocketbond.co.uk SCALE; 1:35 MATERIALS; IM, PE, WS KIT NUMBER; 2027 Tamiya’s 1:35 Chieftain is a great kit from the ‘70s but there’s always room for a new one! Takom have created this kit from scratch and from an initial fondling of the sprues, it seems to be very good indeed. The hull appears to capture the unique profile of the original and the turret sports a fine casting texture (perhaps a little too fine?), although there are moulding part-lines across its cheek armour which will need removal and subsequent re-texturing. The suspension bogies will build into detailed sub-assemblies although much of this will be covered once the side skirts are on; but we know it’s there! The tracks come in the form of two-part, glue-together, individual links (non-articulated) and they fit together well. The gun barrel is moulded in two halves and the insulation cladding is very well depicted. Photo-etched brass parts are provided for the extensive engine deck screens. A full-build of this kit will appear soon in TMMI. MN

Fascinating subject and a well-executed kit with lots of detail and good instructions

An all-new kit of the Chieftain; what’s not to love? Great detail and individual-link tracks

A little experience with resin and PE might help, but could be tackled by an enthusiastic beginner

Turret cast texture might (or might not, according to refs) need amping up TMMI 243 January 2016

p 46-49 NR Kits 243MN.indd 47

02/12/2015 15:44

New Releases A selection of the latest full kits in plastic, resin, metal and more!

What’s in the box?

KITTYHAWK, CHINA

OS2U KINGFISHER www.hannants.co.uk SCALE; 1:32 MATERIALS; IM, PE, WS KIT NUMBER; KH32016 The OS2U Kingfisher is one of my favourite aircraft types and so to see a kit of it in 1:32 is a mouthwatering prospect. Kittyhawk have come up with the goods and as with most of their other releases, it comes as packed, boxful of parts covered with detail and complexity. The Kingfisher’s most obvious feature is the huge ‘greenhouse’ canopy which reveals a lot of the cockpit interior and the detail here does not disappoint. The entire length of the fuselage’s inner faces are lined with ribbing (plus some ejectorpin marks, which will end up hidden) into which is fitted the cockpit ‘deck’ carrying the pilot and observer’s stations. The transparencies are very clear, allowing an excellent view of it all. A full engine is provided, including firewall, mounting frame, exhaust collectors, intakes, oil tanks; all looking wonderful. Options are provided for the ungainly-looking land-based variant and markings offer US Navy (1942) and US Navy (USS Arizona 1941), US Navy (USS Pennsylvania 1940), Soviet air force (1944) and RAF (Sandbanks, 1943). MN Perfect subject choice, tons of detail inside and out, plus some eye-catching decal options Criticise a Kingfisher? Never!

MOEBIUS MODELS, USA

1971 FORD RANGER XLT www.clubmoebius.com SCALE; 1:25 MATERIALS; IM, SVT, CP, WS KIT NUMBER; 4809 Alongside their sciencefiction kits (for which they are perhaps best known), Moebius Models from the USA also offer some cracking car kits and their 1:25 ‘71 Ford Ranger is the latest. The kit box is adorned with some wonderful retro design work and the illustration appears to have come from the truck’s original brochure fantastic. The model’s main structures are moulded in pale grey polystyrene and are supplemented by very finely chrome-plated brightwork and wheels (x2 styles), plus excellent vinyl tyres and waterslide decal badging. A well detailed engine is provided, along with a complete ladder chassis and suspension. Surface detail is superb and the kit looks straightforward to build. A fantastically handsome pickup truck and a thorough, finely detailed kit; pure 1970s Americana! MN

A classic, good looking US pick-up truck and a really attractive kit with great detail A very neat finish will be needed when painting the large Ford logo on the bonnet’s front edge

48 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 46-49 NR Kits 243MN.indd 48

02/12/2015 15:44

Kit Reviews

ZVEZDA, RUSSIA

PETLYAKOV PE-2 www.hobbyco.net SCALE; 1:48 MATERIALS; IM, WS KIT NUMBER; 4809 This is an all-new kit from Russian maker Zvezda (‘Star’) and oh my, what a beautiful-looking thing it is. The difference between the Zvezda of old and the company’s current standard is astonishing and the fruit of their efforts is this stunning 1:48 replica of the Petlyakov PE-2 groundattack aircraft. The model’s outer surfaces exhibit the most impressive detailing I’ve seen in some while and the inner areas haven’t been neglected either; two complete engines are provided and the cockpit is comprehensively detailed from the nose all the way back to the tailwheel. Even though most modellers don’t fit them, two excellent pilot figures are included and they will be needed if one chooses to pose the model in flight mode on the supplied display base. The PE-2 is the perfect partner to Tamiya’s sublime 1:48 IL-2 Sturmovik model. MN

Wonderful detail, very significant subject choice, two engines, full cockpit and the ideal partner for Tamiya’s Sturmovik No obvious negatives!

HOBBYBOSS, CHINA

RUSSIAN KA-27 HELIX www.creativemodels.co.uk SCALE; 1:48 MATERIALS; IM, WS KIT NUMBER; 81739 Russian-made helicopters usually look so much more interesting than NATO types and this is certainly so with the Helix. This chunky naval machine is equipped with co-axial, contra-rotating rotors and a twin-boom tail and has an instantly recognisable profile. Hobbyboss’s kit is most welcome and features an excellent cabin interior with extensive storage racks, seating, instrument panels and a well appointed cockpit. The rotorhead(s) are nicely complex-looking without being over-complicated in construction. The only thing that you might want to add are the typically Soviet-style rivet lines that cover much of the airframe exterior; HGW decal rivets could be the solution here. MN

Fabulous subject and lots of serious weathering potential. Excellent cabin interior and rotorhead detail Fine but noticeable rivets might need adding to exterior TMMI 243 January 2016

p 46-49 NR Kits 243MN.indd 49

02/12/2015 15:45

KIT PREVIEW REVELL STAR WARS KITS

LET'S GO BACK TO THE CLASSICS TMMI's Editor takes a look at Revell's Imperial and Rebel ships from the original Star Wars films

ast issue we examined some of Revell's new kits from Star Wars Episode VII, 'The Force Awakens' and now it's time to check out four kits of classic ships from the original films; TIE Fighter, TIE Interceptor, Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter and Rebel Snowspeeder. All are in different scales which does seem a little odd, particularly amongst the three TIE variants. But anyway, despite this mismatch, the kits really are stunning little replicas, sporting superb detail in all the areas you'd expect to see it. The 'wings' of the TIE Fighter (stated as 1:110 but the pilot figure is more like 1:72) are moulded as single units and whilst this will entail some accurate masking by the modeller, the detail is wonderful on the 'hubs', as it is on the body and the tidy little cockpit. Darth's TIE and Interceptor

are similarly configured. The Snowspeeder is a tiny little thing but again, it is beautifully detailed whilst being easy to construct. It is moulded in pale grey and comes with a cockpit tub featuring instrument panel detail plus a pair of pilots in back-to-back seating positions. None of these kits are pre-painted and at around £6 each, represent extraordinary value for money. Impressive. Most impressive. ● MN TECHSPEC... REVELL STAR WARS KITS • Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter (03602) • TIE Interceptor (03603) • Rebel Snowspeeder (03604) • TIE Fighter (03605) Materials; Injection-moulded polystyrene Availability; Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model stores. For details visit www.revell.de/en

50 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 50 StarWars Pre 243MN.indd 50

02/12/2015 12:42

p 51 Vallejo 243.indd 8

01/12/2015 13:42

MODELLING PROJECTS ARMOUR BONEYARD

dIORAMA IDEAS... OPEN-AIR MUSEUM

his is a scene that would have been witnessed across the Normandy countryside after a few weeks of fighting, following the Allied landings on D-Day. It’s a bright, sunny day and US personnel

inspect a line of French (and German) armoured vehicles, the previous owners – the Wehrmacht – having abandoned them after mechanical failure or having been knocked out. Various types can be

A line-up of KO’d tanks in a Normandy field seen; Renault R-39, Hotchkiss H-35, Sd.Kfz.138 Marder III ausf.H. Note the differing colours of the vehicles, the markings and the weathering; plenty of modelling possibilities here! ●

52 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 52 DioramaIdeas 243MN.indd 52

02/12/2015 12:42

KIT PREVIEW KINETIC MODEL KITS 1:48 SEA HARRIER FRS.1 ● KIT NO. K48035

Multiple marking options are included

Brett Green examines Kinetic’s new 1:48 scale Sea Harrier FRS.1

SHAR ORIGINS T

he British Aerospace Sea Harrier is a naval short take-off and vertical-landing/ vertical take-off and landing jet fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft, a development of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. It first entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980 as the Sea Harrier FRS.1 and became informally known as the ‘Shar’. The Sea Harrier served in the Falklands War, both of the Gulf Wars, and the Balkans conflicts; on all occasions it mainly operated from aircraft carriers positioned within the conflict zone. Its usage in the Falklands War was its most high profile and important success, where it was the only fixed-wing fighter available to protect the British Task Force. The Sea Harriers shot down 20 enemy aircraft during the conflict with one lost to enemy ground fire. They were also used to launch ground attacks in the same manner as the Harriers operated by the Royal Air Force.

IN THE BOX

Kinetic released their excellent 1:48 scale Sea Harrier FA2 in September 2014 and they have now followed up with its immediate predecessor, the

Sea Harrier FRS.1. Both Tamiya and Airfix have offered Sea Harrier FRS.1 kits in the past, but the Tamiya is an old moulding that suffers from a number of serious accuracy problems and the Airfix kit, while dimensionally accurate, is a very basic kit with raised panel lines and some detail errors. This new kit from Kinetic comprises 284 parts in light grey plastic, sixteen parts in clear and a small photo-etched fret. Markings for all Royal Navy and Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS.1s are included. Compared to the FA2, this kit features brand new fuselage, wing and weapons sprues. A number of the generic sprues are shared with the earlier release. The fuselage is presented as two main halves plus a separate nose cone and the old wing is included too, so make sure you use the right one! The new wing has an additional vortex generator on the upper surface. In common with the Sea Harrier FA2, surface detail looks very nice, with recessed panel lines, vents and rivets over the airframe. Moulding quality is high, with minimal ejector pin circles, seam lines or sink marks and there is only a little fine flash to clean up here and there. Some of the

The generous quantity of painting options are shown on the box-side

Clear sprue, with various other small parts

moulding is really clever too, notably the one-piece nozzles. All four nozzles are connected by a rotating mechanism.

MARKINGS

Decals are designed by Crossdelta and luxuriously printed by Cartograf. The model may be finished in any of the operational schemes - Extra Dark Sea Grey and White, overall Extra Dark Sea Grey, overall Dark Sea Grey and overall Medium Sea Grey.

CONCLUSION

This is a very nice follow up to last year’s Sea Harrier FA2 from Kinetic; it is now easily the best 1:48 scale Sea Harrier FRS.1 on the market today. Kinetic’s new 1:48 scale SHAR is well detailed, offers many useful options and alternative position parts, and provides a wealth of ordnance. Engineering is similar to the FA2, and I found that to be a straightforward and enjoyable build. This should offer a similar experience. ● MN

MODEL SPEC KINETIC MODEL KITS 1:48 SEA HARRIER FRS.1. KIT NO. K48035 SCALE; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1:48 MATERIALS: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IM, PE, WS AVAILABILITY; Kinetic model kits are available from www.luckymodel.com

A small photo-etched brass sheet will be found in the box

TMMI 243 January 2016

p 53 Harrier Pre 243MN.indd 53

02/12/2015 12:43

KIT PREVIEW 1:12 MODEL FACTORY HIRO RALLY 037 VERSION C ● KIT NO.K491

Main photo by Brian Snelson via Wikimedia

L UX U R Y L A N CIA TMMI's Editor inspects Model Factory Hiro's new 1:12 'Rally 037' super-kit

iroboy have lent us one of Model Factory Hiro's newest 1:12 kits for review; the 'Rally 037' which is the Lancia 037 of course, but not marked as such on the box. As you might imagine, this is a highly detailed kit with a very complete bodywork, suspension, engine and cabin detail and comes with an impressive price-tag (£399), which is why the kit has to go back to Hiroboy after we've photographed the parts and written the review! The bulk of MFH's kit is formed from a fine-textured white resin (bodyshell, doors, engine cover, floorpan, rear wing, engine block, wheels, seats) and apart from a

mild satin finish, the larger body components have the feel of injection moulded plastic. This light texture can be sanded out and once a few coats of primer (also sanded out) and gloss white have been applied, it should disappear. Casting quality is close to perfect, with just minor casting points to be sanded off; no flash or air bubbles were present on the sample we examined. From holding the engine cover up against the central body section, the fit seemed perfect, but only the builder will know how it comes together once all parts are painted (paint thickness can affect parts-fit quite significantly) and adorned with ancillary parts.

The underbody structures are formed from metal castings and as is normal with this semi-soft material, some parts will need straightening out before use. The bags of metal castings are clingfilmwrapped to cardboard panels which are in turn fixed to the bottom of the kit box with double sided tape; a combination that is sure to bend the malleable metal further during unpacking, less than ideal. Other materials used in this model include photo-etched metal (a manageable quantity of it), machined aluminium wheel rims and headlight reflectors, cast clear resin, steel springs (suspension),

vinyl tubing (various gauges), vacuum-formed windows, woven ribbon (seat harnesses) micro-springs, rivets, screws and metal rod, braided wire, vinyl fan belts, pre-printed vinyl tyres, waterslide decals, window masks and more! With this much in the box, this is a kit aimed at those with some large, complex car kit-builds under their belts, plus some experience with multi-media productions too; even the very best resin and white-metal will need a degree of fettling. But if you fancy taking on a major project and have the time, space and references to do it justice, this model has the potential to look utterly stunning once complete. ●

54 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 54-55 Lancia Pre 243MN.indd 54

02/12/2015 12:44

Bodyshell parts are cast in extremely fine white resin with very few areas in need of clean-up

Just a small selection of the detail parts provided in the kit box. This kit will require plenty of time for assembly

modelsforsale.com Plastic model kits, New, Second-Hand, and Discontinued. Books and Accessories.

WANTED

Quality collections of second-hand model kits, military books, decals, photo-etch & detail sets. Will collect on larger quantities. Please see our website for more details or please call us.

Tel: 01933 622654 email: sales@modelsforsale.com Unit 3 Dean Close - Raunds - Northants NN9 6BD

Factory photos showing the Lancia under construction. The engine/ rear chassis/suspension is very complex MODEL SPEC MODEL FACTORY HIRO RALLY 037 VERSION C KIT NO.K491 SCALE; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1:12 MATERIALS: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R, WM, PE, WS, SVT and many more AVAILABILITY; MFH kits are available from www.hiroboy.com

TMMI 243 January 2016

p 54-55 Lancia Pre 243MN.indd 55

02/12/2015 12:44

FULL-BUILD: MILITARY VEHICLE AIRFIX 1:76 BEDFORD MK 4 TONNE TRUCK GS BODY ● KIT NO.02326

TEA'S UP LADS! Pete Smith takes a break from his larger, more complex model projects and builds Airfix’s 1:76 Bedford British Army truck

irfix 1:76 kit of the Bedford MK truck has been around for some time. First released by the now defunct JB Models way back in the day and then re-released by Airfix. I picked this kit up in a local hobby shop where it was on sale for a very reasonable £5. Although not my usual scale, I thought it would be fun to build this model up as a form of light relief after having recently completed a couple of complicated builds. Construction began with the chassis and here, things are actually pretty good, so I only added some missing details and replaced others such as the convoy disc at the rear, added a new battery tray, new straps on the fuel tank and new, thinner mudguards around the rear wheels. Some lifting-eyes went on the front bumper and a pair of towing hitches were added to the front and rear of the chassis. I made all these up from plastic card. On the front bumper, the missing light guards were added using

thin lead foil and lead wire. Everything else here received a good clean up as flash was very evident. The wheels were mounted at this stage too. The cab is made up of a grey plastic lower and clear plastic upper which is very handy as it saves trying to add tiny windows and means that a seamless look to the cab can be achieved. I removed the solid plastic headlamps and added mud flaps to the cab using thin plastic card. On the clear upper portion, two indicators were fixed on each side and new mirrors made from plastic card with brass rod for the supports. They were mounted after drilling suitable holes on each door. The cargo body of the kit is made up of the lower section including the stowage bins and rear lights. These were removed and more accurate ones made up. The rear lights were altered to better represent the real thing. The canvas needed no modifications and fitted perfectly onto the cargo bed.

56 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 56-59 AirfixTruck 243MN.indd 56

02/12/2015 12:45

PAINTING

The model can easily be left in sub-sections for ease of painting, so after masking off the windows on the cab, Vallejo grey primer was used to create a uniform base for the main colours. My 'go-to' colour for modern-era British armour is Tamiya XF-65 Field Grey. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more of a green than a grey and matches up really well to the real thing. Once this was sprayed on I began applying lighter tones by adding small amounts of Tamiya XF-15 Flat Flesh to the Field Grey. This was sprayed on the areas I wanted to highlight. The disruptive black pattern on the canvas was painted using a mix of flat black and dark rubber, applied with a brush. The rope along the canvas was also picked out using Panzer Aces canvas. With the upper and lower cab parts now glued together, some clear resin lenses were used for the headlights and the indicators were painted using Tamiya X-26 Clear Orange over a base of Games Workshop Silver. After bringing all the sub-assemblies together, heavily thinned Tamiya XF-52 Flat Earth was sprayed at low pressure on the lower areas to build up a muddy effect.

FIGURES

From the beginning I was keen to add some figures and make a little diorama to display the finished piece. Finding suitable figures in this scale was a challenge, but eventually the war-gaming fraternity came to the rescue in the form of some 20mm BAOR (British Army Of the Rhine) white metal figures from a company called Elhiem. Once primed, Vallejo colours were used to paint the distinctive DPM (disruptive pattern material) of the uniforms.

A. The model comes in a small box and the finished thing is tiny, but remarkably good-looking. B. The clear-moulded cabin makes the windows look much smarter. C. New rear-view mirrors and mounts were fabricated from plastic and brass wire. D. A side-view of the model, ready for paint.

TMMI 243 January 2016

p 56-59 AirfixTruck 243MN.indd 57

02/12/2015 12:45

FULL-BUILD: MILITARY VEHICLE AIRFIX 1:76 BEDFORD MK 4 TONNE TRUCK GS BODY ● KIT NO.02326

BASE AND FINAL ASSEMBLY

started out “as What a fun, quick build

actually finished as a fun, quick build... G

”

After finding a suitable base for the diorama, plaster was applied to the base and a rough roadway pressed into the plaster to shape the almost dry mixture. The figures and truck were also pressed into the plaster to ensure they sat correctly on the base. Static grass and clumps went on next and the base was then sprayed using various acrylic colours. The tree came from Ceynix who make all sorts of interesting trees and shrubs in lots of different sizes. This makes an easy and interesting backdrop to the scene. Finally the figures and truck can be fixed to the base using epoxy glue.

CONCLUSION

What started out as a fun, quick build actually finished as a fun, quick build. The kit was easy to make and the additions and corrections easy to do. Compared to my normal scale of 1:35 the detail is pretty good and the challenge of painting something this small is an enjoyable one. Finding nice relaxed pose figures was also a bonus and resulted in a great scene that conveyed the age-old practice of British soldiers enjoying a brew. ●

E. Here we see the reworked fuel tanks and battery tray. F. Mud flaps were added to the cabin mudguards. G. The base coat of green in place; note the differing tone of the canvas cargo compartment cover. H. The black part of the camouflage is now on. Note the windscreen has been masked off with liquid masking fluid. I. The 20mm BAOR (British Army Of the Rhine) white metal figure set is from a company called Elhiem (www.elhiemfigures.com).

58 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 56-59 AirfixTruck 243MN.indd 58

02/12/2015 12:48

TECHSPEC... AIRFIX 1:76 BEDFORD MK 4 TONNE TRUCK GS BODY KIT NO.02326 www.airfix.com Materials; - Injection-moulded grey and transparent polystyrene, waterslide decals Paints used; - Tamiya Acrylics; XF-65 Field Grey, XF-15 Flat Flesh, XF-52 Flat Earth, XF-58 Olive Green, XF-5 Flat Green, XF-4 Yellow Green, X-26 Clear Orange, X-27 Clear Red - Vallejo Acrylics; German Field Grey, Black, White, Yellow, Red, Iraqi Sand - Panzer Aces; Dark Rubber Canvas Flesh Base, Flesh Shadow, Flesh Highlight - Games Workshop; Mithril Silver Other items used; - BAOR figures; www.elhiemfigures.com - Tree; www.railwaytrees.co.uk

This small but atmospheric scene sets off Airfixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s little Bedford truck perfectly; the figures are an essential addition.

TMMI 243 January 2016

p 56-59 AirfixTruck 243MN.indd 59

02/12/2015 12:45

Book Reviews GOT A NEW BOOK? IF YOU ARE A PUBLISHER WITH A NEW MODELLING RELATED TITLE TO PUBLICISE, WHY NOT SEND IN A COPY FOR REVIEW HERE?

TARNFARBEN VOLUME 2, CAMOUFLAGE PAINTED RELICS OF THE GERMAN FORCES IN WORLD WAR II

OLIVER LOCK, MILITARY MODE PUBLISHING www.militarymode.co.uk ISBN 978-1-5136-0238-7 Armour modellers, figure painters and dioramists are always searching for original colour references so they can paint their subjects with great accuracy. While it is possible to find the occasional WW2 colour image on the internet and in books, there's nothing quite like having a large collection of high quality photos to hand in one (or two) books that show the colours and camo patterns in intimate detail. We have received Volume 2 of Military Mode's new book on WW2 German artefacts and it is an absolutely amazing collection of images, offering the modeller, collector and history buff some invaluable reference imagery of painted helmets, ammunition cases, binoculars, panzerfaust shields, roadsigns, weapons, gas mask cases and even a car door, all exhibiting original paint work, chips, scratches and scoring and all. Each item has been photographed with great clarity against a white background and is shown from several angles, focussing on data stencilling, insignia, makers' plates. One fascinating element that this author had no idea about was how some leather items of a soldier's kit were also painted in three-colour camouflage; logical in its original context but perhaps not something a figure painter might consider. Some objects show the signs of age such as colour darkening and old rust, but all give the reader a completely fascinating insight into exactly how the everyday items of WW2 German kit really looked, and for this reason this beautifully put-together book is utterly invaluable and comes very highly recommended. MN

PANZER, THE GERMAN TANKS ENCYCLOPEDIA

LAURENT TIRONE, CARAKTĂ&#x2C6;RE www.aviationbookcentre.com ISBN 978-2916-403076 There are many tank books 'out there' that look into great detail at individual vehicles from track to turret and of course they are vital for modellers wishing to enhance their model builds. But if you want a book on your shelf that offers a comprehensive overview of the tanks from a particular conflict without having to resort to doing internet searches, this new volume from Caraktere does the job rather well. No.1 in the publisher's 'WWII Arsenal' series focuses on German armour and traces its development from the little Pz.I, Neubaufahrzeug, Pz35(t) and Pz38(t) through Panzers II, III and IV (the latter receives a large section thanks to its ubiquity in the conflict), Pz.V (Panther) Pz.VI (Tiger I) and finishing with the mighty Pz.VI Tiger II. Each vehicle is given a useful 'info panel' that outlines the main specifications such as armour thickness, engine, performance figures and armament fit, an interesting quick-reference for those wanting the learn a little more about the model they are building. The main attractions are the wartime photos and the excellent colour illustrations which combine to offer the reader an insight into how the tank looked 'in country' and also how its camouflage and markings would have appeared. A very useful production to keep by one's side. MN

60 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 60 Books 243.indd 60

02/12/2015 15:46

BINDERS

Keep your Tamiya Model Magazines safe in a high quality binder. Each binder holds 12 issues.

£8.50

+ postage (UK - £2.45, Europe - £4.45, Worldwide - £6.45)

Available direct from our offices on

+44 (0)1525 222573 or online at:

www.tamiyamodelmagazine.com

p 61 ADs Collated 243.indd 2

01/12/2015 13:46

BuyersGuidesBuyersGuidesBuyersGui ABC Models

Tel: 01606 47740 Fax: 01606 47740

167 Witton Street, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 5EA OPEN Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.00pm

AVIATION & MILITARY BOOK CENTRE Tel: 0845 260 4413 PO BOX 4413, ATHERSTONE, WARWICKSHIRE, CV9 9AS

Aviation and Military Books and Magazines

plastic kits, radio control, slot car & model railways MASTERCARD/VISA/SWITCH

Phone lines open 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, 10am-1pm Sat-Sun Phone, write or visit us online. sales@aviationbookcentre.com www.aviationbookcentre.com

email: sales@abcmodels.co.uk

mastercard/visa/switch/paypal/cheques/cash/postal orders

www.abcmodels.co.uk

avid reader

Tel: 01299 823 330 Fax:01299 829 970

Unit 10, Hodfar Road, Sandy lane Ind Estate, Stourport On Severn, Worcestershire, DY13 9QB

Military, Aviation, Naval, Modelling, Railways, Car & Motorcycle Books 9.30 – 4.30 Monday to Friday By Appointment Only

www.bookworldws.co.uk

info@bookworldws.co.uk

Visa/MasterCard/Maestro

D-9 models

Tel/Fax: 01633 222282

D-9 Models, Newport Indoor Market, Newport, South Wales NP20 1DD

Monday to Saturday 9am - 4.30pm SPECIALIST PLASTIC KIT MODEL SHOP. Brands include tamiya, trumpeter, italeri, revell, dragon, afv, hasegawa, roden, eduard and more

www.d-9models.co.uk d.ninemodels@btconnect.com

all major credit cards. mail order

DETRITUS MODELS & TERRAIN

Finescale model world ltd

Airfix, Tamiya, Humbrol paints, Tamiya paints, army painter, balsa, Painting & building commissions

MAIL ORDER AND WEBSITE SALES

Tel: 07593 911629

www.detritusmodels.com

detritusmodels@gmail.com • www.facebook.com/detritusmodels 78 Thirlemere road Wakefield West Yorkshire WF2 9ER

All major credit cards accepted

Open mon-wed 10-5:30 turs 2:00-7:30 fri 10-5:30 sat 10-4:30

Gee DEE MODELS Tel: 0115 9412211 Fax: 0115 9417717

21 Heathcoat Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 3AF Moday to Friday 9.30am - 5.30pm Saturday 9am-5.30pm Specialising in plastic kits, diecast, boats, planes and cars ESTABLISHED 1946

www.geedee-modelshop.com

MAIL ORDER

(8-00am - 4-30pm)

The UK’s largest mail order company specialising in Scale Automotive model kits with a large selection of aftermarket detailing parts, accessories, books and loads more Unit 59, Basepoint Business Centre, Oakfield Close, Tewkesbury Business Park, Tewkesbury, Glos. GL20 8SD, United Kingdom.

www.hiroboy.com Open: Monday-Thursday: 8.00-4.30, Friday: 8.00-2.30

Kit krazy model shop Tel: 020 8298 7177

303 The Broadway, Bexleyheath, Kent DA6 8DT New and pre-owned kits. Collections bought and sold Aircraft, military, cars, ships, bikes & scifi (70p S.A.E for our list)

Opening hours: 9-30am-5.30pm (closed Wednesday & Sunday)

You can also find us at most major model and airshows throughout the year

www.kitkrazy.com

plastic kits, airbrushes, primers, paints, tools, glues, static grass & accessories

www.finescalemodelworld.co.uk

finescalemodelrailways@gmail.com

all major credit cards

HALIFAX MODELLERS WORLD

Tel: 01422 349157

Halifax Modellers World , 29 Union Street, Halifax, HX1 1PR

All Models,All Makes,All Scales. Opening Hours: Mon,Tues,Thur 10.30-17.30,Wed Closed, Fri 10.30-17.00,Sat 9.30-17.00,Sun 10.30-16.30

www.halifaxmodellersworld.co.uk Email:halifaxmodellersworld@fsmail.net

Hurricane models

HIROBOY

Tel: +44 (0)1684 252310

Tel/Fax: 01902 650077

Up to 20% Discount on mail order

Tel: 01992 447346

7 Impresa Park, Pindar Road, Hoddesdon, Herts EN11 0DL

10.00am - 4.00pm Monday to FRIDAY Tamiya Radio Controlled Models and Plastic Model Kits of cars, bikes, boats, tanks and planes from Tamiya and most Major Brands always in stock. Racks of paints and a range of Airbrushes always in stock.

sales@hurricanemodels.co.uk www.hurricanemodels.co.uk

mastercard/visa/Switch/amex/delta

WWW.LITTLE-CARS.COM Tel: 01234 711980

(24hr answer phone)

We aim to stock all the tools and accessories you will ever need. Micro Mesh, Hold & Fold, Detailing Wire and Mesh, Iwata Airbrushes, MIG pigments, Adhesives.

FROM TINY TWEEZERS TO SIZEABLE SPRAY BOOTHS! Swan & Excel knives, Vallejo, Aztek Airbrushes, Actulite, A300S-D Extractor. Lazertran Decal paper, Deluxe Rust & Snow, Zona Saws, Alclad II, Microbrushes... Multimedia Car kits, Eduard, Sweet and Areotech Aircraft kits. Buy direct or see us at your local model show

email: info@little-cars.co.uk

CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

WELSH DRAGON MODELS

MASTERPIECE Models

www.welshdragonmodels.co.uk

www.masterpiecemodels.com

p 62-63 BuyerGuide 243.indd 62

01/12/2015 13:43

SGUIDESBUYERSGUIDESBUYERSGUIDESBUYE

NEW in the ‘HOW TO BUILD...’ series ERCOMING V O C E L SAMP ON

NOW G N I P P I H S

NEW REVISED for 2015 HOW TO BUILD... The Steel Wheeled Tiger I

COMING SOON HOW TO BUILD... The Rubber Wheeled Tiger I

by Angus Creighton

Visit www.adhbooks.com

WEBDIRECTORYWEBDIRECTORYWEBDIRECTO www.hobbyco.net dragon.com

www.ebbro.com Finest Quality Models

www.creativemodels.co.uk

tamiya.com italeri.com

www.tamiyamodelmagazine.com www.missing-lynx.com www.hyperscale.com

p 62-63 BuyerGuide 243.indd 63

01/12/2015 13:43

Contact details for companies featured in TMMI... ● ACCURATE ARMOUR/ ARMOUR DISTRIBUTION Units 15-16 Kingston Industrial Estate, Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, PA14 5DG Scotland. Tel; 01475 743 955 Fax 01475 743746 www.accurate-armour.com

● DRAGON MODELS (The Hobby Company in UK) Dragon Models Ltd, Kong Nam Ind. Building B1-10F, 603-609 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan NT, Hong Kong Fax (HK) 4110587 www.dragonmodelsltd.com

● THE AIRBRUSH COMPANY Ltd 79 Marlborough Road, Lancing Business Park, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 8UF, +44 (0) 1903 767800 www.airbrushes.com

● ECHELON FINE DETAILS Available from; wwwaccurate-armour. com & http://pachome1.pacific.net. sg/~kriegsketten/

● AIRCONNECTION Box 21227, RPO Meadowvale Mississauga, ON L5N 6A2, Canada Tel (905) 677-0016 Fax (905) 677-0582 sale@airconnection.on.ca info@airconnection.on.ca www.airconnection.on.ca ● AIRWAVES Via Hannants www.hannants.co.uk ● ALBION ALLOYS Spacemaker House, 518 Wallisdown Road, Bournemouth Dorset, UK, BH11 8PT Tel: 01202 511232 Fax; 01202 539967 From outside UK please dial Tele; 0044 1202 511232 Fax;0044 1202 539967 ● ALCLAD II No.5 St Georges Close, Bacton, Norfolk, NR12 0LL. www.alclad2.com Tel; 01692 652166, Fax; 01692 652334 ● AMMO OF MIG JIMENEZ S.L. Navarra (SPAIN) www.migjimenez.com www.theweatheringmagazine.com Email info@migjimenez.com In UK; Creative Models ● AMPERSAND PUBLISHING (via Historex Agents in UK) 235 NE 6th Avenue #4 Delray Beach, Florida 33483-5543, USA Tel; 561-266 9686, Fax; 561-266-9786 ● ARCHER (Historex in UK) PO Box 1277 Youngsville, NC 275961277, USA www.archertransfers.com ● BADGER AIRBRUSH 9128 W. Belmont Avenue, Franklin Park, IL 60131, USA 800-AIR-BRUSH • Fax: 800-57BADGER www.badgerairbrush.com customerservice@badgerairbrush.com ● BISON DECALS Available from www.hannants.co.uk and www.pdi-model-supplies.com ● CAMMETT AND CO (Lifecolour, Scale Caliber) Unit 5 Forest Road, Greenfield Industrial Estate, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5FA, United Kingdom Phone; 01497 822757 Email; cammettco@btopenworld.com www.cammett.co.uk ● CLASSIC PUBLICATIONS Midland Counties Publications, 4 Watling Drive, Sketchley Lane Industrial Estate, Hinckley, Leics UK LE10 1YF Tel: +44(0) 1455 233 747, Fax: +44(0) 1455 233 737 midlandbooks@compuserve.com www.classic-publications.com ● CREATIVE MODELS LTD (Mig Productions, Vallejo, Accurate Miniatures); Unit 6-10, Honeysome Industrial Estate, Honeysome Road, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire PE16 6TG Tel/Fax; 01354 760022 www.creativemodels.co.uk info@creativemodels.co.uk ● CZECH SIX PUBLICATIONS 48 Station Road, Stoke D’Abernon, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 3BN UK Tel; 01932 866426 www.czechsixpublications.com

(For 1:6 Action Figures, please contact Amerang in UK)

● EAGLE EDITIONS Ltd PO Box 580 Hamilton MT 59840 USA406 Tel; 363 5415, Fax; 406 375 9270 eagle@eagle-editions.com www.eagle-editions.com ● FANTASY PRINTSHOP The Palms Oasis, New Portreath Road, Bridge, Cornwall, TR16 4QL ● FROME MODEL CENTRE 1/2 Catherine Street, Frome, Somerset, BA11 1DA, UK +44 (0) 1373 465295 www.frome-model-centre.com enquiries@frome-model-centre.com ● GRAND PRIX MODELS 4 Thorpe Close, Thorpe Way, Banbury, OX16 4SW. Tel; 01295 278070 Fax; 01295 278072 www.grandprixmodels.com email@grandprixmodels.com ● GREENHILL BOOKS Park House, 1 Russell Gardens, London NW11 9NN, UK Tel 020 8458 6314 Fax 020 8905 5245 www.greenhillbooks.com L.Leventhal@greenhillbooks.com

● MIG PRODUCTIONS C/ Santiago Rusinol 7, Pral 2a, 08750 Molins de Rei, Barcelona, Spain www.migproductions.com In UK; Creative Models ● MODEL DESIGN CONSTRUCTION Unit 3 Hillstown Small Business Center, Mansfield Road, Bolsover, Derbyshire. S44 6LE. Tel; +(44)1246 82 77 55 orders@modeldesignconstruction.com www.modeldesignconstruction.com ● MODEL WHOLESALE UK LTD Unit 3 Dean Close, Raunds, Northants NN9 6BD Tel; 01892 680009 Fax:01892 522526 info@modelwholesaleuk.com www.modelwholesaleuk.com

● TAMIYA JAPAN Tamiya, Inc., 3-7 Ondawara Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8610 Japan www.tamiya.com

● PANZERWRECKS PO Box 164, Heathfield, Sussex TN21 8WA, UK www.panzerwrecks.com

● TAMIYA UK; THE HOBBY COMPANY LIMITED Garforth Place, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, MK5 8PG, UK Tel; 01908 605686 Fax; 01908 605666 enquiries@hobbyco.net www.hobbyco.net

● PEGASUS HOBBIES (Selected items via Pocketbond in UK) 5515 Moreno Blvd, Montclair, CA 91763 USA www.pegasushobbies.com

● POCKETBOND LTD (Trumpeter & AFV Club in UK) PO Box 80, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England, AL6 0ND Tel 01707 391509 Fax 01707 327 466 info@pocketbond.co.uk

● HIKOKI PUBLICATIONS LTD Ashtree House, Station Road, Ottringham, East Yorkshire, HU12 OBJ, UK

● POL MODELS 64 Cumberland Road, Acton, London, W3 6EY UK polmodels@aol.com

● HIROBOY (Zero Paints) Unit 59, Basepoint Business Centre Oakfield Close, Tewkesbury Business Park, Tewkesbury, Glos. GL20 8SD UK Tel: 01684 252310 (UK office hours only) www.hiroboy.com

● PRO-ART MODELS www.proartmodels.be

● ITALERI (The Hobby Company in UK) Via Pradazzo, 6, I-40012 Calderara Di Reno, Bologna, Italy, Tel 051 726037 www.italeri.it ● IWATA AIRBRUSHES The Airbrush Company 79 Marlborough Road (East) Lancing Business Park Lancing, West Sussex BN15 8UF Tel: +44 (0)1903 767 800 www.airbrushes.com. ● JADAR-MODEL Zielna 8/103, 00-108 Warsaw, Poland www.jadar.com.pl hobby@jadarhobby.waw.pl ● LITTLE CARS Uncle Jacks, Lavendon Road Olney Bucks, MK46 4HH, UK www.little-cars.co.uk Tel (+44) 01234 711980

● THE SMALL SHOP PO Box 580, Kalama WA 98625, USA Tel/fax; (360) 673-1255 info@thesmallshop.com www.thesmallshop.com

● MONROE PERDU Monroe Perdu Designs, 3168 Renee Court, Simi Valley, CA 93065, USA. www.monroeperdu.com

● HANNANTS Harbour Road, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 2LZ. Tel 01502 517444 Fax 01502 500521 www.hannants.co.uk sales@hannants.co.uk

● HUSSAR PRODUCTIONS, CANADA www.airconnection.on.ca

● SCALE MOTORSPORT No.3 Topside Lane, Newtown, Connecticut 06470-2023, USA www.scalemotorsport.com In UK; Grand Prix Models

● SYLMASTA Halland House, Dale’s Yard, Lewes Rd, Scaynes Hill, West Sussex, RH17 7PG Tel; +44(0)1444 415027, Fax; +44(0)1444 458606. Email; sylmasta@aol.com

● GUNZE SANGYO (MR HOBBY) Albion Alloys in the UK

● HOBBYLINK JAPAN Sano-shi, Kurohakama-cho 162-1 Tochigi 327-0813, Japan www.hlj.com

● STUDIO 27 (Grand Prix Models in UK) www.studio27.co.jp

● MODUNI VERSAND GMBH Böttgerstr. 2-14, 65439 Flörsheim, Germany Tel; 06145 5456-0 Fax; 06145 5456-11 info@moduni.de www.moduni.de

● PLUS MODEL (Creative Models in UK) Jizni 56, 370 10 C. Budejovice, Czech Republic. plusmodel@plusmodel.cz www.plusmodel.cz

● HISTOREX AGENTS Wellington House, 157 Snargate Street, Dover, Kent, CT17 9BZ, UK Tel 01304 206720 Fax 01304 204528. www.historex-agents.co.uk sales@historex-agents.co.uk

● SQUADRON.COM Squadron Mail Order 1115 Crowley Drive Carrollton, TX 75006 - 1312. USA

● QUICKBOOST www.quickboost.net ● REVELL UK Revell UK, Unit 10, Old Airfield Industrial Estate, Cheddington Lane Tring, Herts, HP23 4QR, UK ukbranch@revell.de ● RZM PUBLISHING (Greenhill Books In UK) PO Box 995, Southbury, CT 06488 USA Tel; (USA) 203 264 0774 www.rzm.com ● SCHATTON BARRELS Industriestrasse 6, 94347 Ascha, Germany, Fax 09961 910 7826 www.modellbau-schatton.privat.t-online.de email; modellbau.schatton@t-online.de ● SCHIFFER BOOKS Schiffer Publishing, 4880 Lower Valley Rd, Atglen, PA, 19310 USA www.schifferbooks.com ● SCHIFFER BOOKS in UK Bushwood Books, No.6 Marksbury Avenue, Kew Gardens, Surrey TW9 4JF, UK. Tel +44(0)20 8392 8585, +44(0)20 8392 9876, email; info@bushwodbooks.co.uk ● SCHUMO KITS Axel’s-Modellbau-Shop Axel und Bernd Schulze OHG Braustraße 2a 37170 Uslar, Germany Phone: +49 (0) 5571 919 100 Fax: +49 (0) 5571 919 101 www.schumo-kits.com

● TANK MODEL, RUSSIA www.tank-model.ru www.afvmodeller.com ● TANK WORKSHOP 345 Wynbrook Drive McDonough, GA, 30253 USA Tel; (770) 573-1409, Fax; (770) 573-0479 www.tankworkshop.com ● TRUMPETER www.trumpeter-china.com Pocketbond in the UK ● TUNGSTEN DRILLS Allan Sidney No.6, Park Gardens, Holbeach, Lincolnshire, PE12 7PJ allansid@aol.com ● U-MODELS 1103, rue de Feucherolles 78630, Orgeval, France www.u-models.com ● VERLINDEN PRODUCTIONS (Historex in UK) 811 Lone Star Drive, O’Fallon, Missouri 63366, USA (636) 379-0077 www.verlindenonline.com ● VALLEJO (Creative Models in UK) Acrylicos Vallejo, SL Apartado 337 08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona, Spain Tel; (34) 93 893 60 12 Fax; (34) 93 893 11 54 www.acrylicosvallejo.com ● WORLD WAR TWO BOOKS Military History Books Ltd (Mail order address, callers by appointment) 2 Cysgod Y Bryn, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 4LR, United Kingdom Tel; 01970 623778 sales@worldwartwobooks.com www.worldwartwobooks.com ● WIDESPREAD SOLUTIONS Unit 1 Levens Hall Park, Lund Lane, Killinghall, Harrogate, West Yorkshire HG3 2BG, UK. Tel; +44(0)1423 522836 Fax; +44(0)1423 525656 info@graphicair.co.uk www.graphicair.co.uk

■ Please mention ‘Tamiya Model Magazine’ if you make contact with any of the companies listed above - thanks!

64 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 64-65 Contact NI 243MN.indd 64

02/12/2015 12:50

NEXT ISSUE

The next issue of TMMI is February 2016 (No.244) on sale January 21st

ABSOLUTE ASTON Converting Tamiya's 1:24 Aston Martin DBS into the 'Ultimate Edition'

ALTERNATE HISTORY

Stefano Marchetti's vision of a rather different WW1 Mk.IV 'tank'...

...AND MUCH MORE, OF COURSE! Due to the many factors that can influence the appearance (or nonappearance) of a model in TMMI, the items listed here are shown on a provisional basis. We endeavour to bring you these articles, but please be patient if they do not feature! Thank you for your understanding.

STIRLING SERVICE

Italeri's 1:72 Stirling Mk.I, full build

Order online now at; www.tamiyamodelmagazine.com ISSUE No.243 JANUARY 2016 PUBLISHED ON DECEMBER 17th 2015 Editor; Marcus Nicholls Consultant Editor (USA); Stan Spooner, Editorial Assistant; Matt Benfield Publisher; Alan Harman Graphic Design; Alex Hall TMMI Website; The ADH web team Advertising Manager; Sean Leslie Office Manager; Paula Gray Administration Manager; Hannah McLaurie Administration Assistant; Julie Lane Proofing: Ken Hardley-Reed Printed by; Symbian Print Intelligence, Hertfordshire, UK Distributed by; Seymour Distribution, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT Tel; 020 7429 4000 Newstrade; Select Publisher Services, 3 East Avenue, Bournemouth, BH3 7BW Tel; 01202 586848 Email; tim@selectps.com Tamiya Model Magazine is published on the third Thursday of each month by ADH Publishing. Editorial enquiries; editor@tamiyamodelmagazine.com All other enquiries to; enquiries@adhpublishing.com Tamiya Model Magazine, ADH Publishing, Doolittle Mill, Doolittle Lane, Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, LU6 1QX, UK. Telephone; +44 (0)1525 222573 Editorial enquiries;+44 (0)7904 635 694 Fax; +44 (0)1525 222574. Back Issues; From £4.20 Inc. P&P. Back issues from #75 onwards (excluding #79) are available from the UK address below, or online at www.tamiyamodelmagazine.com

Reproduction in part of any text, photograph, or illustration without written consent from the publisher is strictly prohibited. While due care is taken to ensure the contents of Tamiya Model Magazine is accurate, the publishers and printers can not accept responsibility for errors and omissions. Advertisements are accepted for publication in Tamiya Model Magazine only on ADH Publishing’s standard terms of acceptance of advertising, copies of which are available from the advertising department. Please write to the address below. All editorial, advertising, circulation and subscription enquiries should also be directed to the UK address below.

Subscription rates are; 1 year (12 issues); £44 UK, £56 Europe, £69 Worldwide Binders; £8.50 + P&P (UK-£2.45, Europe-£4.45, Worldwide-£6.45). All prices include postage and packing. For all orders, please call (UK) +44(0)1525 222573 or visit www.tamiyamodelmagazine.com Digital subscriptions available from www.pocketmags.com

CONTACT INFO: Tel: +44(0)1525 222 573 Fax: +44(0)1525 222 574 Editorial enquiries: +44(0)7904 635 694 Doolittle Mill, Doolittle Lane, Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, LU6 1QX, UK www.tamiyamodelmagazine.com Editorial email: editor@tamiyamodelmagazine.com Other enquiries: enquiries@adhpublishing.com www.tamiyamodelmagazine.com

The paper used on this title is from sustainable forestry

✁

TO MY NEWSAGENT... Please order Tamiya Model Magazine International for me and reserve/deliver a regular copy starting with issue:-

Name: .............................................................................................................................................................................................. Address: ........................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ Telephone: .......................................................................................................................................................................................

TMMI 243 January 2016

p 64-65 Contact NI 243MN.indd 65

02/12/2015 12:50

The Editor’s Page... Slots in the guest slot!

TAMIYA’S ‘SIXTIES SLOTS This month, the Editor hands over his page to Colin Spinner who discusses vintage Tamiya slot cars In March 1965, Tamiya Kogyo Company entered the world of Slot Car racing with a 1:24 scale Jaguar D Type; they had identified that slot racing was becoming a very popular hobby and wanted to create some raceable, scale-looking models. Several releases followed under the Tamiya Mokei Plastic Model Co brand and one of the most popular in their Japanese market was the Prince GT R 380, kit No.SR 2007. Forerunner to the later renamed Nissan/ Datsun Corporation, Prince’s GT R sidewinder slot kit comprised a super strong, one-piece injection moulded plastic body with a separate decal transfer sheet, spring suspension, a sensitive swinging arm pickup, ball bearings, a brass crown gear and Formula racing tyres. Indeed a heady spec compared to other manufacturers up till then! The chassis was lightweight pressed stainless steel and the wheels turned from aluminium. Designed to use the Mabuchi FT36 motor, this car was popular with club and home racers alike. Performance was adequate if not startling but the scale like appearance ensured its success; shades of Lotus Elan on a bigger scale perhaps? A total of ten models were released in this series and are still very sought after: • SR2001 Jaguar D Type • SR2002 Lotus 30 • SR2003 Ford GT Spyder • SR2004 Ferrari 330 P2 • SR2005 McLaren Elva • SR2006 Lancia Ferrari • SR2007 Prince GT R-380 • SR2008 Lora T70 – well that’s what the box art showed but it should have read Lola for this Eric Broadley creation! • SR2009 Lotus 40 • SR2010 King Cobra Occasionally, examples of the GT R can be found on various internet auction sites (other sources are available) and they command a princely price of around £500 or more. The bodysets of some of the range were re-released a couple of years back and these too are available if you are prepared to do more than a little digging. See you again on January 21st editor@tamiyamodelmagazine.com

Occasionally, examples of the GT R can be found online for £500 or more

INTERESTED IN SLOT CARS? Slot Magazine covers all aspects of the slot hobby from buying your first set to use at home right through to racing at international level! Every issue will contain the latest information on new products and releases, how toos, race news and the history of slot racing

www.slotmagazine.co.uk 66 January 2016 TMMI 243

p 66 LastWord 243MN.indd 66

02/12/2015 12:52

Mirage mon amour! www.hobbyco.net Find us on facebook search Tamiya UK

Mirage IIIC

kit modèle réduit N°2505 model

èchelle 1:32 scale

Super decals sheet for 6 versions Photo-etched fret included

1369

MC-130E Hercules® Combat

www.italeri.com join us on Facebook and Twitter

p 67 HobbyCo 243.indd 8

Talon I

1:72 scale èchelle

Italeri S.p.A.- via Pradazzo, 6/b 40012 - Calderara di Reno - Bologna - Italy - Phone +39 051 31 75 211 - email: italeri@italeri.com

01/12/2015 13:44