FREE DIGITAL SAMPLE ISSUE 8+ FEATURES INSIDE

Sample Issue
2020

HIGH-class

HELLCAT
First look at
Airfix’s all-new
1/24 F6F-5

JEEP
1/35 M38A1C BN
OON SS
1/700 TYPH /300 TITAN
R’S 1
WARHAMME CONVERSION
ERRA T.17A WS
1/48 CANB DUCT REVIEWS AND SHO
NEWS, PRO

FORMIDABLE
SEVEN
Tamiya’s 1/32 Fokker
D.VII (Early)

INTERIOR VIEWING
1/35 Panther Ausf.G from Rye Field Model
Harder_FP.indd 1 10/01/2020 09:20

W
elcome to the 2020
special digital issue
of Airfix Model World,
which presents a
compilation of articles from the
past year, representing the many
EDITORIAL TEAM
Editor: Stu Fone
Assistant Editor: John Fuller
Contributors: Chris Jones, Jay Blakemore,
Jen Wright, Dana Bell, Dave Oliver, Juanjo
Dominguez, Kev Smith, Richard Spreckley
Production Editor: Sue Blunt
Associate Production Editor: David Taylor
Sub-editors: Sally Hooton, Sue Rylance
Designer: Tom Bagley
EDITORIAL CONTACT
Airfix Model World, Key Publishing Ltd,
PO Box 100, Stamford, Lincs, PE9 1XQ, UK.
Tel: 01780 755131.
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Production Manager: Janet Watkins
Head of Design: Steve Donovan
Head of Advertising Sales: Brodie Baxter
Head of E-Commerce: Martin Steele
Head of Circulation: Ann Saundry
Head of Content Management: Finbarr O’Reilly
Chief Digital Officer: Vicky Macey
Chief Customer Officer: Gaynor Hemingway-Gibbs
Chief Content & Commercial Officer: Mark Elliott
Group CEO: Adrian Cox
FREE DIGITAL SAMPLE ISSUE
genres within the hobby.
If you’re not a regular subscriber
– or this is the first time you’ve
seen an issue of AMW – I hope
you’ll be pleasantly surprised by
the contents, not just in terms
of the actual builds, but also the
high-quality photography (all by
the contributors) and supporting
narrative. Both have been
trademarks of this magazine
since its inception in 2010, with
the former vital to creating an
easily understandable article.
After all, modelmaking is a visual
hobby, so we’ve always strived to
show readers just how a result
was achieved.
While we feature exclusive Airfix
material, we also cover offerings
from other manufacturers, such
ADVERTISING TEAM
Advertising Sales Manager: Katie Moon
Advertising Sales Executive: Alison Chater
Advertising Sales Executive: Ashley Smalley
Advertising Production Manager: Debi McGowan
Advertising Production/Design: Clare Thornthwaite
SUBMISSIONS
We will gladly accept and review for publication
any, products, articles, letters, photographs
or other contributions. We cannot guarantee
publication nor, regrettably, return items sent to
us or be responsible for their loss. We will try and
reply where possible. Any letters are assumed
suitable for publication unless we are otherwise
notified. All items submitted for publication
are subject to our terms and conditions. These
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facebook.com/airfixmodelworld
as Eduard, Revell, Italeri, Special
Hobby, ICM, MiniArt and Tamiya,
plus those from limited-run firms.
We also explore every genre
of the hobby, from figures and
aircraft to armour, maritime
subjects and sci-fi/real space
kits, with the aim of providing
you the broadest selection of
content. Furthermore, AMW has
also strived to include informative
articles covering the history and
background to specific builds,
written by renowned historians
or experts in their field. Our
extensive news and reviews
pages examine the latest releases
not only of kits, but also resin,
3D-printed and photo-etched
metal accessories, plus decals,
paint masks and reference books.
Airfix Model World, ISSN 2045-1202
(USPS 4440), is published monthly by
Key Publishing Ltd, PO Box 300, Stamford,
Lincolnshire, PE9 1NA, UK.
The US annual subscription price is $72.99.
Airfreight and mailing in the USA by agent
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US Postmaster: Send address changes to
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Subscription records are maintained at
Key Publishing Ltd, PO Box 300, Stamford,
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Air Business Ltd is acting as our mailing agent.
Readers in the USA can place subscriptions by
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757-428-8180. Alternatively, you can subscribe in
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Service, PO BOX 866, Virginia Beach 23451, USA.
EDITOR'S DESK
WELCOME
Visit us
www.airfixmodelworld.com
Like us
Follow us
twitter.com/airfixworldmag
If you’re seeking something
more in-depth about a particular
subject, we also publish special
supplements, dedicated sections
or bookazines focusing on either
a theme or a newly tooled kit,
along with reference material on
the real subject where feasible.
No other monthly modelling
magazine offers this much variety
and quality. After seeing this
digital issue, I hope you’ll make
AMW a regular element in your
modelmaking.
Stu Fone, Editor
stuart.fone@keypublishing.com
The entire contents of Airfix Model World is ©
2020 and no part of it may be reproduced in any
form or stored on any form of retrieval system
without the prior permission of the publisher.
We are unable to guarantee the bona fides of
any of our advertisers. Readers are strongly
recommended to take their own precautions
before parting with any information or item
of value, including, but not limited to, money,
manuscripts, photographs or personal
information in response to any advertisements
within this publication.
“AIRFIX’’ is a registered trade mark of Hornby
Hobbies Limited and is used under licence.
To find a stockist near you,
visit airfixmodelworld.com
The average sale for the period
Jan – Dec 2018 was 13,529 print
and digital copies monthly.
www.airfixmodelworld.com 3
 CONTENTS
WHAT'S INSIDE?

REGULARS
06 News
The latest happenings in the world of

14
plastic modelling.

12 Show Scene
10 Your favourite
magazine anywhere,
anytime
Subscribe to Airfix Model World
digitally and make great savings.
Find us on your native app store
or visit www.pocketmags.com/
airfix-model-world-magazine.

REVIEWS:
ON THE SHELF
54 Books
56 Aircraft kits
58 Auto kits
60 Figures
62 Maritime kits

78
64 Military kits
66 Accessories
68 Decal sheets

109 Archive Treasures

A regular feature in the magazine,
with a picture selected from Key
Publishing’s aviation archives; this
digital issue features a Blackburn
Shark and Royal Navy battleship
HMS Nelson.

34

24

4 Airfix Model World

 CONTENTS
WHAT'S INSIDE?

100

FEATURES
14 Intermediate Build – Formidable Seven
Chris Jones finds Wingnut Wings’ 1/32 Fokker D.VII to be an educational, yet
thoroughly satisfying build.

24 Figure Build – The Art of War

Jay Blakemore encounters a military tactics legend, courtesy of RP Models’
incredibly lifelike 75mm Sun Tzu.

32 Out and About – On the Road Again

Wakefield and District IPMS moved to a new venue in Halifax for its 2019 show,
but there was still plenty for modellers to enjoy.

34 Basic Build – Pacific Fleet Pugilist

Jen Wright gets to grips with Airfix’s most involved (and arguable best ever)
1/24 Superkit, in the form of its new F6F-5 Hellcat.

44 In Focus – Six-Gun Shooter

Dana Bell describes the development and operational history of Grumman’s
F6F Hellcat, and offers invaluable detail on the type’s colours and markings in
US service; the latter are illustrated with colour profiles by Andy Hay.
90
70 Advanced Build – Desert Recoil
Dave Oliver retrieved an old kit from the stash to create a Middle Eastern-
themed diorama, involving AFV Club’s 1/35 M38A1C Jeep and recoilless rifle.

78 Intermediate Build – Soviet Boomer

Juanjo Dominguez takes a break from his usual modelling subjects with his
first-ever maritime build, of Hobby Boss’ 1/700 Typhoon-class SSBN.

84 Sci-Fi Build – War Machine!

In a different take on figures, Dave Oliver depicts Games Workshop’s imposing
1/300 Adelphus Titanicus Warlord Battle Titan as a Legio Fureans machine.

90 Advanced Build – Inside Out

Rye Field Model’s 1/35 Panther Ausf.G offered the perfect excuse for Kev
70 Smith to display its exquisitely detailed interior, thanks to a transparent upper
hull and turret.

100 Advanced Build – Electronic Warrior

Richard Spreckley mated Airfix’s 1/48 Canberra B(I).6/B.20 with AlleyCat’s
T.17/17a conversion set to build an RAF Wyton-based 360 Squadron airframe.

Your favourite magazine

anywhere, anytime
Find us on your native app store or visit
www.pocketmags.com/airfix-model-world-magazine

www.airfixmodelworld.com 5
 NEWS BULLETIN
LATEST UPDATES

Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer, mid-

KIN G NE production Tiger I and a T-34/85
EA as produced at the 112 (Nizhny
WS
BR

Novgorod/Krasnoye Sormovo)
!

Factory. As with previous offerings,

these are all re-boxed Academy
BR

!
WS

AK kits, with new box artwork and

IN G NE
E

decals. Further details are at:

www.airfix.com and the full list of
September releases is:

A01303V Sherman M4 Mk1

A01308V Tiger Tank
A02340 Higgins LCVP
A03306 Bedford QLD/QLT Trucks
A06021 Blackburn Buccaneer S
Mk.2 RN
A09252V HMS Victory

HERE COMES THE BUCC

AIRFIX’S SEPTEMBER release
schedule is as busy as ever with
its main autumn release, the 1/72
Blackburn Buccaneer S.2, taking
centre stage.
The initial release will cater for
Royal Navy ‘flat-bellied’ versions,
A11170 Apollo Saturn V 50th
Anniversary of 1st Manned
Moon Landing
A1355 JagdPanzer 38t Hetzer
“Early Version”
and Sea Assault) are smaller in A1359 Tiger-1 “Mid Version”
scale and portray a village battle A1361 T34/85 II2 Factory Production
and amphibious landing scene
A50009A D-Day 75th Anniversary
respectively. All come with a vac-
Battlefront Gift Set
formed base, making them instant
A50106 One Step for Man 50th
dioramas, and great gifts too.
Anniversary of 1st Manned Moon
The Apollo landings receive Landing
similar attention – the 1/76
A50156A D-Day 75th Anniversary Sea
Astronauts figures are already Assault Gift Set
available (see Figure Reviews,
A50157A D-Day 75th Anniversary Air
p.116) – the classic 1/144 Saturn
Assault Gift Set
V makes a welcome return and
A50162A D-Day 75th Anniversary Operation
there’s a Lunar Module/Astronauts
Overlord Gift Set
diorama combo ‘One Small Step
for Man’. A55114 Mary Rose Starter Set 1:400
Large-scale armour releases A55117 British airborne Willys Jeep
this month feature an early starter set
with markings for airframes
assigned to 800 and 809 Naval
Air Squadrons. There’s a mix of
armament, with a choice of bombs,
rocket pods and ‘slipper’ fuel
tanks, and a choice of open/closed
bomb bay.
For the rest of the releases,
there’s a great mix of subjects,
from commemorative D-Day and
Apollo 11 kits to the third batch of
re-boxed 1/35 armour, while the
Vintage Classic series features
another sailing ship and more
familiar 1/76 military products.
This year has been rich in terms of
anniversaries, and the Normandy
landings are recognised by four
gift sets: the D-Day Air Assault set
recreates a typical airfield scene
with a Hawker Typhoon, refuelling
bowser and other vehicles, while
the D-Day Operation Overlord Set
depicts landing craft disgorging
tanks and vehicles as troops storm
a German fortified position. The
other two packages (Battlefront

6 Airfix Model World


QUANTUM LEAP
TAMIYA SURPRISED and delighted
modellers in equal measure with
its newly tooled 1/48 Spitfire Mk.I.
Inevitable comparisons with the
old version and other companies’
offerings aside, Tamiya’s
philosophy of ‘less is more’ (in
terms of parts count), and ease
of assembly is apparent from
the outset. The Spitfire (61119)
comprises four styrene runners
(including one for clear items),
a photo-etched metal fret, and
self-adhesive canopy masks
and acetate strips. The exterior
oozes refinement, with delicate
engraved panel lines and recessed
HMH PUBLICATIONS’ imprint
Duke Hawkins is fast earning
itself an enviable reputation for
its Aircraft in Detail series, and
its latest books on the MiG-
29 and Tornado are
worthy additions.
Each of these
comprehensive 114-
page volumes offers
modellers a wealth
of information,
with standard
sections providing
FULCRUM AND TONKA
high-quality photos of air-to-air
‘action’ shots, plus the cockpit,
fuselage, weapons and aircraft
maintenance. The MiG-29
rivets, and the superbly equipped
interior is equally impressive,
with trim and throttle controls,
two-piece compass rose and
faithful depiction of the internal
framework. Options include open/
closed canopy and cockpit door
(with/without crowbar), and with/
without a pilot.
Tamiya’s famed engineering
has yielded an ingenious (albeit
unusual) undercarriage design,
with mainwheel legs and a carry-
through brace supplied as a single
piece; it ensures correct ‘angle
of dangle’, but means underside
panels are potentially omitted until
final assembly.
All three markings options
(P9495/DW-K, 610 Squadron,
K9906/FZ-L, 65 Squadron and
N3200/QV, 19 Squadron) offer
different colour schemes. Tamiya’s
thoroughness extends to the
decals, with the Type A roundels
featuring shaped holes for the
underwing vents. In short, its
Spitfire Mk.I is a quantum leap over
previous quarter-scale offerings.
More details are available via:
www.hobbyco.net
Fulcrum (Duke Hawkins 004) has
a heavy emphasis on European
and Russian airframes, but
includes Indian and Malaysian
machines and rare gems, such
as North Korean examples. Most
variants are covered, from Soviet-
era baseline configurations to
upgraded and locally modified
sub-types (such as those fitted
with NATO-standard identification
friend-or-foe antenna). Similarly,
the Panavia Tornado (Duke
Hawkins 005) combines
NEWS BULLETIN
LATEST UPDATES
VEHICLE
AND SOLDIER
TONES
LIFECOLOR HAS released two
new sets of acrylic paints,
designed to cater for British
World War One figures and
World War Two African/
Balkans-deployed armour.
Both comprise six 22ml
bottles, with the former (CS
45) providing all necessary
colours for British Army
webbing, uniforms, boots
and equipment, and features
various greens, browns and
leather shades; it is intended
to be used with the firm’s
other products for skin tones.
The second package (CS 43)
is more specific, as it caters
for the Caunter Scheme
camouflage, applied to British
Army vehicles in North Africa
and Greece. Four hues are
dedicated to this livery, while
the remaining two offer generic
base tones, specifically Desert
Pink (for the Long-Range
Desert Group’s vehicles) and
Dark Olive (applied to armour
in Syria). See www.airbrushes.
com for more details.
sumptuous coffee-table-style
air-to-air photos with a mass of
close-up detail. It focusses mainly
on RAF GR.4/4As, with up-to-date
photos of combat operations over
Syria and Iraq, but also includes
Italian, German and Saudi IDS
aircraft and the final section is
dedicated to the F.3 interceptor.
These books are ideal references
for general aviation enthusiasts or
modellers building a kit of either
type. See www.hmh-publications.
com for further details.
www.airfixmodelworld.com 7
 NEWS BULLETIN
LATEST UPDATES
BREAKING
BOMBERS AND SAILS
DECEMBER’S RELEASES from
Airfix are a mixture of new and
old, with the RAF variant of the
B-25 and the return of vintage
ship kits representing arguably
Britain's golden age of sailing.
The first has Airfix’s delightful
Mitchell in RAF markings
(A06018); the parts are
unchanged, but there’s a new
decal sheet featuring FL212/EV-W
‘Nulli Secundus’, 180 Squadron,
RAF Dunsfold 1943 and FV923/
SM-E, 305 (Polish) Squadron, RAF
Lasham, 1943. This kit is expected
in late November/early December
2018 and is priced at £24.99.
Man the rigging! It’s a trip back in
time for the next three subjects,
DELECTABLE DELTA RE-BOXED
FANS OF large-scale aircraft
may be pleased to know
that Italeri’s original 1/32
Mirage IIIE/R has been
re-packaged by Revell,
with new markings.
Kit 03919 offers
8 Airfix Model World
NEWS
with Golden Hind (A09258V),
HMS Victory (A09252V) and
Cutty Sark (A09253V). These
are unchanged from their earlier
iterations, so expect to see vac-
formed sails, pre-strung shrouds
(commonly called ratlines) and
the old-style open runners. All are
expected in December 2018, and
will retail at £32.99, but note they
are not to the same scale, being
1/72, 1/180 and 1/130 respectively.
More details of these and other
releases are at www.airfix.com
the same styrene runners,
enabling representation of the
‘Echo’ airframe, as well as the
reconnaissance-nosed RD and
Australian O model. A build of
Italeri’s same-scale and similar
IIIC featured in the March 2016
issue of AMW, and it showed
this tooling can look stunning
when completed. Besides
reasonable panel line and rivet
engraving, there’s a wealth of
moulded cabling/piping in the
undercarriage bays and on the
rear cockpit bulkhead section.
Raised and recessed detail
adorns the instrument panel
and side consoles, the
Martin-Baker
seat is a fair
rendering and,
for those who like this
kind of addition, there’s
a fully detailed Atar engine that
can be displayed on the supplied
maintenance trolley.
CHOPPING
AND FILING
MODEL MANUFACTURER Revell has
boosted its own range of tools and
equipment with cutting mats and a
needle file set.
The latter (39077) comprises
six items, offering a basic flat
rectangular file, plus tapered
circular, square, triangular, flat
and a dual-purpose tapered flat/
hemispherical tool. All feature
knurled handles for easy grip, and
the set is priced at €5.99.
Its self-healing cutting mats come
in A4 (39056) and A3 (39057)
sizes, with pre-printed 2cm grid,
angled lines at 30°, 45° and 60°,
and metric and imperial measuring
bars along the left-hand side and
bottom. They are coloured to match
Revell’s usual box-tops, with a
bright blue tone, and all markings
are white. The smaller mat costs
€6.99, while the larger item is
€11.49. Visit www.revell.de/en for
more information.
The recce nose comes with a
full camera array, although the
format only allows for this area
to be posed ‘buttoned up’. An
extensive stores selection caters
for all three versions rather well,
with the choice of Martel, R530,
R550 and Sidewinder missiles,
PHIMAT, Barracuda and Barax
countermeasures pods, 500 lit
and 1,300 lit fuel tanks and JL 100
fuel/rocket combinations.
A dazzling French Air Force
‘special’ can be replicated in the
form of 1993’s ‘3-XT’, the EC 3/3
‘Ardennes’ 50th anniversary
aircraft with large wild boar
artwork, while the RD is 33-TI of
ER 3/33 ‘Moselle’, in standard
NATO camouflage. The third
option is the RAAF’s ‘A3-49’
of 3 Squadron at Butterworth,
Malaysia, in 1983, sporting low-vis
grey paint but with full-colour unit
markings and roundels.
www.revell.de/en

{in brief}
BIG DIALS
Yahu Models provided
two large-scale delights
in its recent releases,
in the shape of pre-painted and assembled
photo-etched brass instrument panels for
two 1/24-scale subjects.
The first (YMA2410) is designed for
Airfix’s ageing Hurricane Mk.I, while the
second (YMA2417) caters for the Vintage
Fighter Series/Kinetic P-47. Both are
drop-in replacements for the styrene
parts but provide a wealth of refinement
and detail compared with the kit items.
More information is at www.yahumodels.
siemianowice.com
LEONARDO PRADO
SIMÕES
Best known to modellers as the inspiration
behind the Brazilian LPS Decals range,
we are sad to announce that Leonardo
Prado Simões died on May 17, 2019 at the
age of 45.
His company was noted for its military
and civilian decal sheets, often covering
Brazilian subjects (especially airliners)
and otherwise less favoured topics. Our
thoughts at AMW are with his family and
friends at this time.
NEW METAL GEAR
The latest additions to SAC’s (www.
scaleaircraftconversions.com) white metal
landing gear range are as follows:
1/144
14429 C-133A Cargomaster (Roden)
1/48
48365 Su-34 Fullback (Kitty Hawk)
48366 Sikorsky HO35-1, R-5/S-51,
Westland WS-51, HR.2/3 (AMP)
48367 Hawker Hunter F.6 (Airfix)
1/32
32144 Halberstadt CL.II (Wingnut Wings)
32145 Avro Lancaster B. Mk.I (Hong Kong
Models)
SHOW CORRECTION
The NIMCON 8/2019 Midwest Regional
Context event is to be staged on June 22
(as stated in this month’s Show Scene,
p.10) and not the date given in last month’s
issue. We apologise to the Lakes Region
Scale Modellers and all our readers for
the error.
JABO-DEFENCE
HAVING WOWED modellers with
its 1/35 Faun L900 (see News,
April 2019), Das Werk’s second
release is somewhat smaller, in
the form of a 3cm Flakvierling
103/38 anti-aircraft gun.
Known by the Germans as the
SOVIET SPACEPLANE
THE SPACE Shuttle is well known,
but there is comparatively little
presence in the modeller’s domain
for its counterpart, the Buran.
Until Ark Models’ newly tooled
1/144 example, even fewer styrene
kits of the type existed. Its Buran
(AK 14402) is presented on three
runners, with an additional frame
for the cockpit upper windows
and two-piece windshield. The
exterior has fine engraved panel
lines for the control surfaces and
wing leading-edge tiling, but is
otherwise smooth, as the heat-
shield tile patterns would be
too fine to render in this scale.
Similarly, the orbital manoeuvring
thrusters are represented as
depressions, although these should
Jaboschreck (fighter-bomber
terror) this quad-barrelled
weapon was developed late in
World War Two but did not enter
full-scale production. It’s the
first all-styrene kit of the type in
1/35 scale and was developed in
be simple to open with a drill. No
interior is provided for the cockpit,
and there’s a choice of solid or
clear glazing, but the bay has full
interior facings, including fore and
aft bulkheads and representations
of the robotic arms. Options
include an open/closed cargo bay
and raised/lowered landing gear,
and this will build into an accurate
replica of the Soviet Union’s shuttle
orbiter. Decals allow the modeller
to depict the sole completed
spaceframe, OK-1K1, with Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics
insignias and legends. It retails for
approximately £30, and is available
in Europe via Super Hobby, Glow2B
and The Aviation Megastore. More
details are at: www.ark-models.org
NEWS BULLETIN
LATEST UPDATES
cooperation with Custom-Scale,
a company that had previously
released a resin offering. This
newly tooled product features
crisply moulded parts, notably
the muzzle brakes (these can be
improved by drilling the baffles)
and base, which come on two
styrene runners. It can be built
as a ready-to-fire platform, but
lacks the associated trailer
(probably an Sd.Anh.52) required
for a transport-configured unit.
Although not mentioned in the
instructions, there are spare
ammunition canisters and six-
round belt feeds, plus a two-piece
transit box, which has convincing
moulded wood grain. An
assortment of decals is provided
to accompany the four notional
schemes, making this a splendid
addition to any scene or display.
Visit www.das-work-models.com
for further information.
TONKA
TRIBUTES
WITH THE Tornado's retirement
from RAF service, it’s no
surprise there’s been an upsurge
in interest, including aftermarket
sets from Euro Decals.
Its anniversary Tornados set,
available initially in 1/32, has
been released in 1/48 (ED-
48117), for just £13.95. The five
schemes are unchanged, with
centenary liveries on 15 and
12 Squadron airframes (ZA461
and ZA405 respectively), a 617
Squadron machine (ZA412)
commemorating 70 years since
the ‘Dambusters’ raid, and
line-jets from 41(R) TES and 31
Squadrons (ZA560 and ZA542).
More details are at: www.
fantasyprintshop.co.uk
www.airfixmodelworld.com 9
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 SHOW SCENE
DIARY DATES

SHOW SCENE
At-a-glance model show calendar
E MODEL DISPLAY
) MODEL COMPETITION
J TRADE STANDS
AIRCRAFT DISPLAY
MILITARY DISPLAY
AUTOMOTIVE DISPLAY
 REFRESHMENTS
FREE PARKING
MAKE ‘N’ PAINT

Southwest
Model Show –
Spring Edition
Date: February 15-16
Hosts: The Tank Museum
Address: The Tank Museum,
Bovington, Dorset BH20 6JG
Times: Sat 10am-5pm
Sun 10am-5pm
Prices: Adults £14, children £9,
under 5s free
Email: info@tankmuseum.org
Web: www.tankmuseum.org

February 22 On Track Military Modelling

Show
March 28
Hosts:
Sword and Lance 2020
Darlington Military Modelling
1 North Surrey Military Modelling Hosts: On Track Shows 1 East of England Model Show Society
Group Open Day Address: The Leas Cliff Hall, 2020 Address: Darlington College, Haughton
Hosts: North Surrey Military Modelling Folkestone, Kent Hosts: Peterborough Scale Model Club Road, Darlington DL1 1DR
Group CT20 2DZ Address: Queen Katherine Academy, Times: 9.30am-4.30pm
Address: Banstead Community Hall, Park Times: 10am-5pm Mountsteven Avenue, Walton, Prices: Adults £4.50, concessions and
Road, Banstead, Surrey SM7 3AJ Prices: Adults £5, under 16s free Peterborough PE4 6HX children £2.50, accompanied
Times: 10am-4pm Email: on.track@live.co.uk Times: 10am-4pm under 12s free
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children £2 Email: peterboroughscalemodelclub- Web: www.swordandlance.co.uk
Email: membership@nsmmg.org.uk show@outlook.com
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22-23 17ème Salon de la Maquette
Hosts: L’Association des Maquettistes 28-29 Southern Expo 2020
du Montpellierain Hosts: Peter Bagshaw, Robin Bellamy
15-16 Hamburger Tactica 2020 Address: Salle Bleue, Avenue de l’Abbé 7 Aldingbourne Modelex 2020 Address: Hornchurch Sports Centre,
Hosts: Hamburger Tactica Brocardi, 34250 Palavas les Flots, Hosts: Aldingbourne Modellers IPMS Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch
Address: Bürgerhaus Wilhelmsburg, France Address: Aldingbourne Community Road, Hornchurch, Essex RM11 1JU
Mengestrasse 20, 21107 Times: Sat 9.30am-7pm, Sun 9am-6pm Sports Centre, Olivers Meadow, Times: Sat 10am-5pm
Hamburg, Germany Prices: Adults €6, concessions €3, under Westergate, Chichester, West Sun 10am-4pm
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23 South Cheshire Militaire –

16 Halifax Model Show Universal Model Show April
Hosts: IPMS Wakefield and District Hosts: South Cheshire Military Modelling 15 Fantazmagoria 2020
Address: North Bridge Leisure Centre, Club (IPMS) Hosts: Film & TV Model Club 5 Shropshire Model Show
North Bridge Street, Halifax Address: Malbank 6th Form College, Welsh Address: Oakleaf Sports Complex, School Hosts: Shropshire Scale Modellers
HX3 6TE Row, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 5HD Aycliffe Lane, Newton Aycliffe Address: RAF Museum Cosford, Shifnal,
Times: 10am-4pm Times: 10am-4pm DL5 6QZ Shropshire TF11 8UP
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IMPORTANT: It is worth noting that ALL events are subject to change or cancellation. This information has been collated from a variety of sources and was believed to be correct
at the time of going to press. To advertise your event here, email: stuart.fone@keypublishing.com

12 Airfix Model World

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013_AMW_DIGI_20_ad.indd 1 31/01/2020 10:55

 INTERMEDIATE BUILD
FOKKER D.VII

Chris Jones
learns several
new tricks while
building Wingnut
Wings’ 1/32 early
model Fokker D.VII

Seven
Fo r m i d a b l e

erman aviation company or perhaps both is a matter of

G Fokker, the renowned

builders of the famous
Dr. I Triplane, faced a real
challenge in late 1917.
The Allied powers were
dominating the skies over the
 The engine was a mini kit in
Western Front, and rapid action
its own right, and the delicate was needed to prevent Germany
detail required great care falling behind in the air war. Its
when being neatened to avoid response was the Fokker D.VII,
damaging the moulded features. an aeroplane so successful that
it has passed inevitably into
 A photo-etched (PE) brass
fret supplied intricate cooling legend. The type entered service
in April 1918, and provided the
debate. In post-war service, the
type was operated by a bewildering
array of international air arms, a
true accolade to one of the great
fighters of World War One.
The five Fokkers
It’s difficult to avoid clichés when
discussing the exceptional quality
of Wingnut Wings’ kits, but the
firm clearly doesn’t tackle subjects
by halves. The Fokker D.VII is a
Fokker D.VII (Fok) ‘Early’
MODEL SPEC

jackets for the Spandau machine

guns, plus a full seat harness. downcast German pilots with By: Wingnut Wings
a platform that enabled them
to compete with the Sopwith Stock Code: 32067
Camel, SE.5a and Spad S.XIII on Scale: 1/32
more than equal terms. It was
Price: £74.99
fast, superb at high altitude (an
arena previously dominated by Available from: Wingnut Wings,
the Allies), and by the end of the www.wingnutwings.com
Great War was the main fighter
in the German arsenal. The D.VII
was even mentioned in the terms
of the November 1918 Armistice
 Both solid plastic and PE-enhanced options were supplied for the Spandaus. Heat from a agreement, although whether
lighter helped to anneal the brass, before the cooling jackets were formed around a length this was due to its superb fighting
of styrene rod. qualities, large numbers in service

14 Airfix Model World


 In what was always going to be a major task, the cylinders were undercoated with white,
then airbrushed red, sealed with gloss varnish and masked, prior to the black being applied.
case in point, with no fewer than
five different releases (effectively
covering the type’s operational
history). The build subject
represents one of the earliest
airframes produced at Fokker’s
Schwerin factory, but beyond
this, Wingnut has produced OAW-
and Albatros-built versions, plus
standard production D.VIIs from
the Fokker factory and the Fokker
D.VIIF. The aircraft featured in this
article depicts 262/18, as flown by
„One of the best
World War One
aeroplane kits that
money can buy …
Emil Thuy, a 35-victory ace with
the Royal Württemberg Jasta 28w,
during mid-1918. This aircraft was
unusual because it was one of just
a few early D.VIIs with the lighter
underside five-tone lozenge fabric
continued onto the upper flying
surfaces. This, combined with
the wonderful streaked, or strié
finish, Jasta 28w’s yellow and
black markings, and Emil Thuy’s
personal pale blue band meant it
was crying out to be chosen.
 After spraying the fuselage interior (a linen colour), wooden areas were sprayed with
XF-59 Desert Yellow and streaked with Burnt Sienna, in a similar fashion to the bulkheads.
Straight six
This particular machine was
powered by a 200hp, straight-six,
Daimler-Mercedes D.IIIau, and
because Wingnut’s engines are
effectively standalone presentation
models in their own right, it
seemed sensible to begin with
the powerplant. Once assembled,
the sump/crank case ensemble
received a coat of Tamiya X-22
Clear, diluted with Mr. Color
T106 Leveling Thinner (www.
 Before (right) and after (left) oil
streaking, remains an extremely effective
technique to represent grain effects.
INTERMEDIATE BUILD
FOKKER D.VII
albionhobbies.com), which left a
wonderfully smooth coat for the
application of Alclad’s ALC-101
Aluminium (www.alclad2.com).
After this had dried, it was time
to confront perhaps the subtlest,
but also most difficult part of the
entire build, namely creating the
red cylinder stripes. These were
first undercoated with XF-2 Flat
White, after which X-7 Red special
was airbrushed in a series of light
coats. This was later protected
by a layer of ALC-600 Aqua
Gloss, before the terribly intricate
and time-consuming masking
process began, as the tape was
positioned, tucked into any gaps
and then pressed down neatly to
prevent paint bleed.
 Careful detailed painting accentuated
the truly wonderful moulded features that
Wingnut incorporated into this kit.
www.airfixmodelworld.com 15
 INTERMEDIATE BUILD
FOKKER D.VII
The surrounding areas then
received misted XF-69 NATO Black
and, after removing the masks, a
neat, but still unfinished engine
block presented itself. Although
the Alclad base looked good, it was
very uniform in appearance, so Mr.
Metal Color’s 218 Aluminium was
dry-dappled onto the silver metal
areas (after masking the black
cylinders), before a sealing coat of
Voila! All the
effort to mask the
cylinders paid off,
as there was no
overspray on either
the red stripes or
the aluminium-toned
engine block.
 After a leather-hued base coat, the
seat was dappled with water-diluted
brown acrylic tones to give an impression
of texture.
16 Airfix Model World
gloss was added. This technique is
similar to dry-brushing, but instead
of rubbing the brush along edges,
it’s stippled onto the surfaces to
produce a variegated finish. It
was nearly impossible to paint the
entire engine once assembled,
so sub-sections were treated
separately, before the major
elements were brought together.
However, I had every intention
 The ammunition box/fuel tank looked
impressive, but it wasn’t realised that several
mating surfaces hadn’t been neatened
properly, which led to later fit issues.
of representing the ignition
harnesses, which meant the
water-jacketed intake manifold
sub-assembly (Parts E22, E33 and
E42) couldn’t be attached until
the very end, as it would have
prevented the wiring from being
added. After drilling holes for the
cabling, the engine was weathered
with an initial application of
AMMO-MIG’s A-MIG.1000 Brown
 Abrasive paper, wrapped around a pen, was a simple, yet effective tool which helped
preserve the curved nature of the scalloped wing trailing edges.
With weathering
complete and
scratch-built
ignition harnesses
in place, the engine
was a convincing
miniature replica.
Wash for German Dark Yellow
(www.migjimenez.com), which was
applied into recesses, and then
dappled with a stiff brush on the
larger surface areas. Similarly,
the cylinders received a 50/50
blend of A-MIG.1208 Rain Marks
and 1407 Engine Grime. With this
completed, E-Z Line Fine Smoke
elastic thread (www.modellingtools.
co.uk) was used to represent the
ignition harnesses, before that
pesky intake manifold was finally
fitted. Attention then shifted… to
the remainder of the aircraft.
Prior preparation
Despite the Fokker D.VII’s
apparently simple appearance,
compared with other World War
One aircraft, there were plenty
of areas to catch out the unwary
modeller, not least the scalloped
trailing edges on the upper and
lower mainplanes. These were

 Great care was needed when handling the exceedingly fragile fuselage frames because
they broke very easily if mishandled.
The engine wasn’t secured until
later, but a test-fit highlighted the
superb design work incorporated
into Wingnut Wings’ kits.
assembled before work started
on the engine, to allow the glue to
harden fully. The edges were then
neatened via a series of careful
curved motions with a scalpel
blade, and finished with 600-grade
abrasive paper, wrapped around a
pen to ensure the curves remained.
Wingnut Wings’ kits are renowned
for their precise engineering, which
means tolerances are tight and,
because biplane assembly requires
clean surfaces for struts and glue
to bond against, it’s vital to avoid
paint or varnish accumulation in
areas such as strut locating holes.
These were plugged temporarily
with cut-down cocktail sticks
whenever the wings were due to
encounter any form of spray.
The mainplanes then received
Halfords’ automotive Grey Plastic
Primer, sprayed directly from the
aerosol can, followed by remedial
 It was essential to attach E-Z Line Fine
Smoke elastic thread for control lines prior
to installing the cockpit floor.
filling and sanding where blemishes
were noted. Unfortunately, the
scalloped trailing edges were
tackled with undue zeal during
this process, as final assembly
revealed a slight step between the
wing and ailerons, but the basic
principle was at least sound. Next,
the wings were treated to multiple
coats of ALC-600 Aqua Gloss, with
 Cocktail sticks prevented the tight strut locating holes being affected by spray. Clean
mating surfaces were vital to ensure the struts would be secured with liquid cement later.
INTERMEDIATE BUILD
FOKKER D.VII
 The eyelet and wire detail on the seat
bulkhead frames were time-consuming to
paint, but well worth the effort.
 It’s easy to marvel at the progression of
aviation in a relatively short space of time
when comparing this instrument panel with
more modern offerings.
Fuselage fit was tight,
probably due to a failure to
clean interior mating surfaces, so the
cockpit frame edges were reduced via
scalpel scraping to ensure a neat seam.
a smooth surface built over several
airbrushing sessions; care was
taken to remove debris/dust with
2,000- or 2,500-grade abrasive
paper once each layer had cured,
in preparation for decaling.
Would sir care for lozenge?
As mentioned previously, Fokker
D.VII 262/18 was unusual as
www.airfixmodelworld.com 17
 INTERMEDIATE BUILD
FOKKER D.VII

 Hairdryer heat, pressure from cotton buds, scalpel slices on awkward edges and  The effect created by the lozenge-patterned fabric was quite spectacular, and while adding
considerable patience were essential to help the decals conform to the control surfaces. the decals proved time-consuming, but it was far easier than masking.

 The wings’ entire surfaces were covered by lozenge decals. Patience during their  World War One aeroplanes seem to possess an extraordinary number of awkward holes,
application paid considerable dividends later. which must be masked prior to fuselage painting.

necessary to use Micro Sol (www.

microscale.com) around some of
the raised detail and most awkward
edges. I was genuinely surprised
how well it all worked, but this was
a time-consuming and repetitive
process: apply heat, apply
the lighter-toned pressure, check alignment and
lozenge pattern repeat until the desired fit
(usually painted on the was achieved.
mainplane’s upper surfaces In hindsight,
only), was also present on this perhaps too
machine’s upper wings. Meanwhile, much
the underside lozenge fabric was heat
overpainted with a translucent was used
layer of blue, all of which was at times,
represented in decal form. The because
concept of completely covering micro-bubbles
a wing above and below with and blisters
decals was a new one to me, as appeared to form
was the use of a hairdryer to underneath
encourage the decals to conform Beyond this, Wingnut Wings
around the edges (including that suggests modellers should refrain surface
tricky scalloped trailing edge). from using any setting solutions, features.
Pressure was then applied via for risk of causing damage. Instead, Thankfully,
cotton buds or similar objects to the best option involved slicing these techniques
force the remaining water/air from the decals in areas where they worked perfectly,
underneath each marking. were struggling to conform to the although it proved

18 Airfix Model World

 INTERMEDIATE BUILD
FOKKER D.VII

the markings, but the worst

Decal options of these were pricked with a
new scalpel once dry; several
As always, Wingnut Wings included a broad selection of interesting and often colourful treatments of Micro Sol eventually
markings schemes on four sheets of beautifully printed markings, with three dedicated encouraged them to settle
to the five-tone lozenge pattern (wings) and strié livery (fuselage): into the detail. However, these
• 262/18, Emil Thuy, Jasta 28w, mid-1918 imperfections were rendered
• Rudolf Berthold, Jasta 15/JG II, mid-1918 invisible at the end of the build,
• Hugo Schäfer, Jasta 15, October 1918 with the aid of multiple layers of
• Max Kliefoth, Jasta 19, October 1918 gloss varnish, followed by a final
• Reinhold von Benz, Jasta 18b, August 1918 matt coat and weathering effects.
• Bruno Loerzer, Jasta 26/JG III, November 1918 Mercifully, just a handful of small
areas required brush touch-ups,
and because of the markings’ gloss
finish, I applied the Balkenkreuz
decals directly on top. This may
have been a mistake, because
they didn’t adhere very well and
appeared to be of a lower quality
when compared with the lozenge
items, as they split badly on several
occasions, which led to frustrating
remedial work.
Several layers of gloss varnish
were then sprayed to protect the
extensive decaling, after which
Winsor & Newton’s Galleria Matt
Varnish (www.winsornewton.com)
was diluted equally with Isopropyl
Alcohol (a product I was introduced
to recently), to mute the finish.

 The strié finish was created by streaking home-made green and brown oil mixes, layering  The completed strié effect was certainly eye-catching, and captured the original’s rough
and then blending the effect during an extended modelling session. appearance. In hindsight, the green and brown areas could have overlapped more.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 19
 INTERMEDIATE BUILD
FOKKER D.VII
 De-tacked tape was used to mask the strié scheme, to avoid lifting the underlying paint
effects, which were sealed with gloss varnish beforehand.
Highly effective, it could be sprayed
lightly or even quite heavily
and then blow-dried, to build an
effective matt or satin coat very
quickly, depending on how many
layers were applied. The next
task was to use an oil dot filter, to
weather the wings, with Titanium
Buff added to the topsides,
along with homemade light- and
medium-grey tones on the lower
surfaces and the crosses.
Inside the ‘Fokker Seven’
While Wingnut Wings’ kits feature
superb interiors, the parts arguably
have the tightest tolerances of any
current styrene offering, so every
20 Airfix Model World
 Keeping the lower mainplane separate for as long as possible was vital to apply the decals
safely; the heat from the hairdryer would have been bad news for the rest of the fuselage.
Happily, the de-tacked tape
method worked flawlessly, with no
damage to the strié-effect areas,
and no paint bleed through.
 The lozenge decals were of
extraordinary quality, but the
crosses seemed prone to
break and required
numerous touch-
ups and repairs.
mating surface had to be cleared of
paint before glue was committed.
Consequently, even the most
innocuous areas had the potential
to affect the fit disproportionately
in vital locations. There were
several areas where earlier
complacency came back to bite,
but thankfully it all came together
in the end.
As per the instructions, the
fuselage interior on Emil Thuy’s
aircraft required a clear, doped It was vital to leave the
linen finish, achieved with a extremely fragile vertical
homemade 10:5:1 mix of XF-2 and horizontal stabilisers
off the model for as long
White, XF-55 Deck Tan and XF-57
as possible to minimise
Buff. This was sealed with ALC- the risk of damage.
600 Aqua Gloss and then masked,
 INTERMEDIATE BUILD
FOKKER D.VII

before the replicated wooden
areas were sprayed with XF-59
Desert Yellow and streaked with
Burnt Sienna oil paint, to create a
convincing grain effect.
Frames behind the pilot’s seat
and the engine firewall seemingly
took an eternity to complete, due
to their complex nature; on the
real machine they comprised
supplied
additional strength
and rigidity. The engine
was tricky to install, but
it looked marvellous once
in position as the fuselage
finally came together,
while not forgetting to
fill the gap between the
forward fuselage and the
two diagonal
inserts (Parts I1 and
I2). Plentiful awkward
masking ensued, to cover
the engine, various access
holes and cockpit, so the
seams could be primed with
XF-54 Dark Sea Grey before
any remedial work on the
airframe join lines.
Streaking in the garage
One of the major appeals of this
machine was the strié finish on
the fabric fuselage, which was
applied to approximately 150 of
the initial D.VII airframes. Although
decals were supplied to achieve
this, I preferred to attempt it, and
considerable thought was given to
how best to achieve the effect.

fabric or thin metal sheets,

secured to the fuselage structure
with wire or rope passed through „The lozenge decals were
metal eyelets. Needless to say,
this was all rendered faithfully
of extraordinary quality…
and in glorious detail by Wingnut,
but it took considerable time and
painting to complete. The fuel and
ammunition/spent-cases boxes
Reference
were far less fussy, although it Fokker D.VII, Kaiser’s Best Fighter,
was pointless to clean the joins on by TJ. Kowalski, S Grzywocz and
these parts as they were destined D Majsak (Kagero), ISBN: 978-83-
to lie flush against the fuselage’s 65437-67-9
interior faces. This English/Polish bilingual
publication is part historical
Delicate structures reference/part inspiration. The first
The interior framework itself was
section contains a compact but
marvellous but very thin, so much
well-rounded overview of the type’s
care was needed with cleaning and
development and service, while
painting as it proved incredibly
the rest of the book is targeted at
easy to snap. Once it was finally
modellers, with 1/72 scale plans and
time to join the fuselage halves,
excellent digital cut-away views of
a test-fit revealed the upper
metal decking wouldn’t locate the interior. There are also step-by-
correctly, as the former were step builds of two Wingnut Wings  Airbrushed matt varnish muted the overall sheen. Dots of white and grey oil paint were
splayed outwards slightly. Failing D.VIIs, one straight from the box and then added to the undersides.
to clean the mating surfaces of another with comprehensive super-
 These were then blended via a white spirit-moistened flat brush and cotton buds to
the internal fuel tank/ammunition detailed additions. Unfortunately, produce a subtle weathered appearance.
box assembly properly was the these articles are sparse on captions,
likely reason, so the outer edges of repeat part of the book’s overview
the fuselage frames were thinned information and suffer from poor
until everything married neatly. translations. However, the volume
Annoyingly, clumsiness caused is ideal for those seeking an
the tachometer cross bar (Part introduction to this aircraft type.
A17) to break, a vital component
incorporating supports for the
twin Spandau machine guns.
This accident led to all kinds of
frustrating efforts to replace it
with Albion Alloys’ telescoping
brass rod (www.albionhobbies.
com), and a deal of fiddling to
create new supports for the
guns. Having said that, there was
a degree of flex to the fuselage
in this area, and the brass rod

www.airfixmodelworld.com 21
 INTERMEDIATE BUILD
FOKKER D.VII
 A fabric patch, flare gun and racks were among the quirks for this particular aeroplane.
The hole was covered by Tamiya tape in conjunction with varnish and brush painting.
In the end, the fuselage halves
were painted with the same clear
doped fabric mix as used on the
interior, before oil paints were
blended to create homemade
brown and green hues. These
were streaked with a clean,
white spirit-moistened flat brush,
according to the pattern seen on
the decals and instruction manual.
Where necessary, additional
thinner was used, and if the effect
became too indistinct, more
oil was added, to provide extra
definition. It took considerable
effort and time to achieve the
desired effect, but the result was
certainly interesting. In hindsight,
 Supporting rods, next to the guns' butt
plates, were an improvisation after breaking
part of the cockpit earlier in the build.
22 Airfix Model World
there perhaps should have been
more areas where the green
and brown tones were painted
on top of each other, but this
would only have been possible
after the underlying layers had
dried, to avoid creating a muddy
mess. The oils were then left
for two weeks to dry, because
any damage to such a carefully
created finish would have been
very disheartening.
Gloss varnish sealed the strié
scheme, after which de-tacked
tape was used to mask
the fuselage (to avoid
stripping the oils), in
readiness for the next
 Wheel decals were added as per the
instructions (left) but were oversprayed to
match the rest of the paint effects (right).
painting stage. The underside
received a 1:2:5 ratio of X-14 Sky
Blue, XF-23 Light Blue and XF-2
Flat White to match the wings’
lower surfaces, while the pilot’s
identifying fuselage band was a
1:2 blend of Sky Blue and matt
white. Meanwhile, the metal
engine cowl panels were painted
XF-61 Dark Green. With major
painting completed, the tailplane
and lower mainplane, which had
been dealt with separately, were
finally attached.
Mercifully, decaling on the
fuselage was reasonably light,
but it was vital to use a brand
new scalpel blade to remove the
crosses and serials neatly from
their surrounding markings.
They were sealed with yet more
gloss varnish before the finish
was muted via Galleria Matt
Varnish, and oil dot shading
for the weathering. As with the
wings, contrasting tones were
employed, so Buff featured on
the black areas, Raw Umber on
the fabric and yellow sections,
while a dark brown/green mix
was used for the dark green
metal, along with a hint of buff.
Devil in the detail
Another standout feature of
Wingnut’s Fokker D.VII was the
fabric patch and flare pistol (the
latter supplied as Part E38), located
just below the cockpit opening.
After drilling a hole, a piece of
Tamiya Tape was cut to shape,
then stuck onto a glossy bathroom
tile and sprayed with the linen
colour, before being attached to
the fuselage. Next, the dark section
was brush-painted with water-
diluted XF-81 RAF Dark Green, as
were the streaks. The patch was
sealed with brush-painted ALC-
600 Aqua Gloss, left to dry and
then sprayed with matt varnish.
A similarly shaped linen section
was applied inside the cockpit, and
while the quite specific flare rack
was mentioned in the instructions, I
couldn’t find it, so I modified one of
the other parts instead.
After assembling the axle wing
and wheels (the wheel decals
were sprayed to match the rest
of the paint scheme), they were
mated with the fuselage. Staining
on the axle-wing’s upper surface
was suggested with A-MIG.1408
Fresh Engine Oil, and this was also
 INTERMEDIATE BUILD
FOKKER D.VII

These tones
were also used
to simulate
staining and
engine leaks on
the axle wing.

 AMMO-MIG’s Fresh Engine Oil was employed for engine oil streaking, while its Deep Grey
Panel Line Wash was applied sparingly for other weathering effects on the underside.

„A fabric patch, flare gun and racks

were among the quirks for this
particular aeroplane …

brushed in thin streaks on the cowl
undersides. Next, A-MIG.1602 Panel
Line Wash Deep Grey provided
staining around the fuselage
stitching, in streaks under the
axle wing to suggest muddy water
thrown up from the wheels. After
application, this tone was blended
with thinner-moistened brushes
and cotton buds to produce a
subtle effect. All the struts were
attached to the lower surfaces
and left to dry, before the upper
mainplane was test fitted, but as
they located so snugly, it was left in
position (to avoid risk of damage).
The wing was secured with tiny,
precise amounts of Tamiya Extra
Thin Cement around the base of
each join. Damage to the strut
paintwork was rectified with a fine-
grade brush, while several quick
blasts of matt varnish concealed
any marks the glue made on the
wing’s surface. Happily, rigging
was virtually non-existent, and was
achieved with the same E-Z Line
product as the ignition harnesses.
Final thoughts...
Even a subject as deceptively clean
looking as a Fokker D.VII could
take an extremely long time to
finish, especially when exposed
engines, strié finishes, and lozenge
wings were considered. However,
in many ways, the conclusions for
Wingnut Wings reviews almost
write themselves, thanks to the
superb engineering, fit and detail
presented in each box, backed
by highly informative instruction
booklets. With enough time, care,
precision and a small amount of
scale artistry, the result will be a
fine model of one of the best World
War One aeroplane kits that
money can buy.

 After completing the final assembly of the upper decking, the interplane struts were secured  A test-fit of the upper mainplane became permanent, due to the tight fit of the locating pins;
to the lower wing. however, rigging was minimal with just basic control lines and cross-bracing on the axle wing.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 23
 FIGURE BUILD
SUN TZU

the

art of

war
Jay Blakemore masters RP
Models’ new limited-edition
75mm Sun Tzu release to
bring a legendary Chinese
general to life

S
un Tzu was a general,
military strategist and
philosopher who, according
to tradition, lived in China
from 544-496 BC. He was credited
with the authorship of The Art
of War, a military treatise on the
philosophy of tactics and warfare
that is still considered by
many to be the greatest
work of its kind ever
written. Indeed, it’s taught
and studied at military
academies to this day, and
influenced many of
history’s greatest
military

24 Airfix Model World

 FIGURE BUILD
SUN TZU

Although few in number, all the resin components

displayed exquisite detail; the horse featured
integrally moulded saddlery and tack, with
convincingly wrought quilting and fabric effects.

The leg-less falcon impressed

with its delicately cast flight
feathers, though there was
an amount of flash to remove.
A casting fault meant that
the hooked bill required
reconstructing with Milliput.

 The horse comprised just four parts, with the major joins being either hidden beneath
the quilted saddle or disguised by the breast girth strap. Small amounts of filler were
required to hide the seams completely.
 Unlike the figures, which were cast in soft, smooth resin, the sizable base was created
with a harder, roughly textured material. An outcrop of jagged rocks formed a slightly
elevated background, although it wasn’t used during the build.

tacticians. He was actually born
Sun Wu and was known by those
outside his family by the name
Changqing; the honorific suffix of
‘Tzu’ was bestowed later in his life
and identified him as ‘Master’ Sun.
Boxing clever
The latest limited-edition resin
release in RP Models’ ‘Generals
and Commanders’ series arrived
packaged in a sturdy top-opening
box emblazoned with a glossy
maroon-tinted photograph of the
completed figure which, although
striking, proved of little value
when it came to assembly. The
contents were packed diligently
in zip-lock bags, and protected
with bubble wrap and air-filled
cushioning. Needless to say,
there were no breakages on
the example received. Also
included was an A4-information
sheet with a short biography on
Sun Tzu, but no recognisable
guidance on assembly.
The casting quality was evident
immediately upon removing
the components, and the figure
comprised ten body parts
(including a second, severed, head)
and 12 pieces of equipment, all
rendered perfectly in smooth, grey
resin. Facial expressions of both
the general and his victim were
portrayed wonderfully; the fine
detail on the segmented armour
and circular shield was notable
for its refinement and the latter
item featured an embossed
writhing dragon.
The general’s horse consisted
of four body parts, with integrally
cast saddlery and tack. As
impressive as the detail on

Sun Tzu
MODEL SPEC

By: RP Models
Stock Code: RPM-75-12-0003
Scale: 75mm
Price: £70
Available from: www.rpmodels.pt

 Featuring very few components, the Sun Tzu figure required minimal assembly, and construction was aided by way of the chunky socket
joins. The hands, right arm and head weren’t attached until after painting.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 25
 FIGURE BUILD
SUN TZU

rather than a break. As noted,
Alclad’s Grey Primer and Microfiller ensured a smooth surface
for the firm’s metallic lacquers; a mix of Chrome and Brass
the falcon’s delicate legs were
provided a pale golden colour for the saddlery. part of the general’s arm and this
contained an integral mounting
rod for the raptor’s body; further
testament to the quality of
production, and without which the
bird would certainly have broken
during assembly. Three fragile
arrows, a feathered plume and a
curling length of twisted-rope rein
demanded careful handling, unlike
the large, rock-strewn base, which
was supplied as a tough, textured
resin component.
Precious metal
Removing the parts from their
casting blocks and washing them
this and the rider was, it was the outspread flight feathers were in warm soapy water proved
falcon that really stood out. Cast paper-thin and perfectly formed, a more protracted task than
as a single-piece item (apart from as were the delicately serrated building the model, as the limited
the legs, which cleverly were cast rows of feathers that ringed the number of parts meant basic
as part of the general’s arm), the hollow leg-sockets. Only the bird’s assembly of both horse and
raptor was a perfect example bill was deficient, in that it was rider was straightforward and
of just how advanced the art of missing the characteristic hook, accomplished quickly. Filler was
resin production has become. The which seemed to be a casting fault required to disguise pronounced
gaps along the major joins, such
as those edging the rider’s waist-
band and the horse’s girth and
neck-straps. Initially, Sun Tzu was
only built partially — his head, right
arm and all equipment were dealt
with separately.
These were drilled and mounted
on individual lengths of metal
rod to facilitate painting, which
began with a generous coat of
Alclad ALC-302 Grey Primer and
Microfiller on all components.
This versatile and quick-drying
lacquer-based product worked
well on resin, and though intended
primarily for use with the firm’s
own products, provided the
perfect surface for most paint
types, including the enamels used
here. Designed to provide a deep
lustre for its metallic lacquers,
Alclad’s ALC-305 Gloss Black Base
Primer was then applied to the
general’s armour and the horse’s
saddlery/tack, onto which the
metallic lacquers were added in

Humbrol masking fluid protected the metallic harness

parts, which allowed for an overall airbrushed basecoat to
be applied, providing a dark brown surface upon which to
blend increasingly lighter flesh tones.

 The basic shadows and highlights were formed and then left to dry. These continued to
receive attention throughout the build, with increasingly lighter shades added and blended
until the desired tones were achieved.

 In all, eight individual colours were used to create the horse’s skin tones, some of which
can be seen here. They were applied directly onto the model and blended to create soft
shadows and highlights.

26 Airfix Model World

 FIGURE BUILD
SUN TZU

 All the basic colours have been applied to the horse, with several previous colour
combinations having been rejected. Further shadows and highlights were added using various
mixes of black, pale blue and purple hues.
 Humbrol’s Maskol was used throughout the painting process to protect primed areas from
metallic overspray, such as with the general’s helmet. The purple-tinted masking fluid was
removed with a pair of pointed tweezers, with care taken not to damage the primed surface.

two stages. First, ALC-107 Chrome sufficiently to the cloak’s folds, so create the second. in place, this was oversprayed
was airbrushed, followed by ALC- a duplicate was fashioned from The upper surface of the cloak with dark blue. Once dry, the tape
109 Brass, the intention being to normal household masking tape, was pre-painted with homemade was removed, and the dragon’s
create a sense of ambiguity as using the original template to dark-yellow and with the mask twisting image revealed. At this
to the exact nature of the metal
being replicated.
A patina of age was then affected
by removing some of the brass
layer to reveal brighter areas
underneath. This was achieved
once the lacquered layers had
hardened, by ‘scrubbing’ the
metallic areas away with a worn,
stiff paint brush, dampened
with white spirit, until the brass
paint had deteriorated. It was
particularly effective on raised
details, such as the serpent
design on the shield and the
links connecting the individual
body armour plates. Care must
be taken when attempting this
technique, however, so as not to
overdo it and remove the metallic
finish entirety. If this does happen,
then a re-spray will of course be
required. The aging process was
enhanced further with washes
of Humbrol 120 Light Green and
black enamels.

Dragons by design
I decided the prominent but
featureless cloak would benefit
from an example of classically
inspired artwork, to which end a
writhing Chinese dragon, similar
to that on the embossed shield,
was sourced from the internet.
Duplicating such a complex design
in miniature was never going to
be straightforward, especially with
the cloak’s undulating surface, and
so a scale image was produced
on a home printer, the outline of
which was traced initially onto
a piece of low-tack artists’
masking film. Unfortunately,
this wouldn’t adhere

www.airfixmodelworld.com 27
 FIGURE BUILD
SUN TZU
Sun Tzu’s falcon was easily the highlight,
with wafer-thin primary feathers and a
convincing pose. It was joined to the arm
via integrally cast metal rods, which fitted
holes in the otherwise fragile legs.
early stage, the intention was to
replicate the source design in its
entirety, including a panel of black-
and gold-striped
hatching, wave forms and
pools, and to this end the
bottom edge of the cloak was
masked painstakingly and
black stripes applied. This idea
was later dropped in favour of
a simplified design, which it was
felt would have more immediate
impact. In fact, there would be
many changes made
to both the overall
28 Airfix Model World
The figure was similarly
simple to construct, with
upper/lower torso halves,
and separate limbs. Gaps
were treated with Milliput,
which was shaped while
still wet; once dry it
received Alclad primer.
colour pallet and the designs
applied to the general’s uniform
and his mount’s accoutrements
before the project was concluded.
The dragon’s features were
developed over several sessions,
beginning with a basic coloured
‘sketch’. When dry, the design was
over-painted, using an assortment
of enamels, which were mixed
directly onto the cloak’s surface to
flesh out the beast’s body.
Light and shade
Enamels can be used in much the
same way as oils, as their extended
drying times allow for subtle
blending to be performed directly
on the model’s primed surface.
Paints used
Humbrol
63 Sand
94 Brown Yellow
225 Middle Stone
148 Radome Tan
186 Brown
113 Rust
72 Khaki Drill
61 Flesh
104 Oxford Blue
65 Aircraft Blue
131 Mid Green
42 Violet
130 White
24 Trainer Yellow
60 Scarlet
85 Coal Black
Colourcoats
ACUS28 True Blue
ACRN31 WW2 Oxford Blue
ACD10 KLu Lim. Whisky Four Jungle Green
ACRN10 Dark Earth

 Gloss black paint was then airbrushed
onto the armour sections, after the rest of
the figure was masked with tape.
The most effective method is to
use the paint sparingly, applying
it in minimal quantities to a small
area at a time, to prevent a muddy
confusion of colours. However, the
blending process only works while
the enamels remain malleable, and
once they begin to harden they
should be left to dry fully and the
process continued with fresh paint
in a different spot. Continuing to
work on an area where the paint
has already begun to cure will
simply cause it to shift and so spoil
any blending.
Thereafter, over-painting can
only be performed once the initial
shades have dried thoroughly.
In this way, several layers can
be built-up. Utilising these
characteristics, it’s also possible
 The black areas then received a metallic
finish, which comprised an initial layer of
Alclad’s Chrome…
to correct mistakes; if the base
enamels have been allowed to
harden, then newer paint can
be ‘washed off’ while still soft,
using the appropriate thinner or
white spirit applied with a soft
brush. Employing this method,
it was possible to remove those
unwanted designs that had
been applied to the cloak – as
mentioned previously – without
damaging the garment’s base-
shades or the dragon design.
The individual sub-assemblies
were painted in this fashion, and
both the clothing and skin-tones
benefited from the blending
process. With the painting all but
finished, the components were
brought together so further
highlights and shadows could be
Once the red/brown mix
used to paint the leather
armour and belts was dry,
darker washes were added
to create shadows. Clearly
visible are the general’s
boots, with their Alclad
Chrome base coat.
…followed by Brass. Once dry, this
was scrubbed to remove the upper coat,
revealing the brighter underlying hue.
added. A combination of white,
light blue and lilac hues colours
created lighter tones, which
were applied to those areas of
the figure, horse and saddlery
it was felt would catch the light,
based on an environment strongly
influenced by the underlying snow
and perceived wintry overcast.
In this way the once disparate
assemblies received a more
uniform appearance. Finally,
darker shades were added
beneath such items as the flapping
cloak, slung shield and rider’s
legs, where they would naturally
cast shadows and so affect those
colours around them. These
tonal changes were applied after
attaching the model to its base,
therefore keeping handling to a
FIGURE BUILD
SUN TZU
 A dark brown wash then emphasised
the individual plates — the leather portion
received a brown basecoat at this stage.
minimum. A turntable was utilised
during this process to rotate the
entire structure and provide better
access to otherwise difficult-to-
reach sections.
Rocky road
Though the rock-strewn resin base
provided was perfectly adequate, it
was felt something more dramatic
was desirable. An expedition to a
nearby landscaped supermarket
car park, therefore, provided a
bag full of slate chips, which would
be mounted on a cheap medium-
density fibre board (MDF) base, to
form a raised plinth for the figure.
A low-cost, routed MDF base
was procured from an internet
auction site and this was coated
with an aerosol enamel primer.
Focus then shifted to
the tunic, with the blue
tone formed from a
blend of Humbrol and
Colourcoats enamels.
www.airfixmodelworld.com 29
 FIGURE BUILD
SUN TZU

 A suitable dragon design to compliment

that on the embossed shield was sourced
from the internet; originally it was intended
to copy the design in its entirety, but the
small cloak quickly appeared over-busy and
the design was simplified.

 Initially, the cloak received a dark yellow

enamel basecoat, applied by airbrush, over
which a dragon-shaped mask (cut from
household masking tape) was secured
centrally. The grey primer remains visible
on the cloak’s upper portion.

Next, a coat of dark blue was

applied. Originally, it was
intended the cloak would
feature a design along
the hem also, and with
the masking tape
removed, both yellow
areas are visible.

The base was extremely rough,
especially on the routed edges, so
layers of primer/filler were built
over several sessions, with each
dry coat wet-sanded until smooth.
Once the desired surface had
been achieved, a generous coat
of Humbrol’s gloss black enamel
was applied by airbrush and
allowed to dry thoroughly over
several days before being masked
with tissue paper and household
decorator’s tape to protect them.
Next, the slate chips were
manoeuvred repeatedly, until a
pleasing arrangement had been
formulated. They were then
secured to the base via a hot-
glue gun.
An internal core, carved from
a block of balsa wood, was then
inserted into the hollow centre of
the arrangement to strengthen
the structure and to create a
foundation for the groundwork.
This was created with Milliput,
which was manipulated into
shape with wooden sculpting
tools. Additional rocks were also
sculpted from the malleable
modelling material to bridge gaps
between the mis-matched slates to
make the entire structure appear
like a natural rocky outcrop.
Before the Milliput had hardened
completely, the triangular lugs
extending from the horse’s hooves
were pressed into the soft material
and removed immediately to
leave indents, into which the
completed figure would later be
fixed permanently. To emphasise
the movement of the horse,
snow-sprays were created via a
few stiff, nylon bristles cut from
an old paint brush and inserted
into the Milliput. These were
formed into fan-like structures
emanating from the hooves
and onto which randomly torn
fragments of partially dry Milliput
were secured to represent flung

 Black diagonal stripes were created with thin strips of masking tape, although these  The dragon’s features were ‘sketched’ in the appropriate colours and a filigree/wave
would eventually be removed eventually and the area overpainted. pattern added to the black stripes.

30 Airfix Model World

 FIGURE BUILD
SUN TZU

 The snow, which was sculpted from Milliput, was painted initially with pale blue enamel
and overpainted in white, leaving the darker colour visible in places to create shadows. A
final sprinkling of crushed glass added a frosty sparkle.

 Natural slate shards were placed on a turned MDF base, until a pleasing arrangement was
found. A hot glue-gun was then used to secure them, and a balsa wood plug inserted to add
structural strength.

particles of snow. primary requirement when

Colouring began with the building a figure such as this is
scratch-built rocks, which were imagination, and the hard work
brush-painted using a combination lies not within the construction,
of dark greys, browns and black but within the painting.
enamels to match their natural Twenty individual shades were
slate surroundings. The snowy used on this model, and these
areas were painted initially in a were either Humbrol (www.
very pale blue mix, oversprayed humbrol.com) or Colourcoats
with pure white. When the (www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk)
enamels had dried, water-thinned enamels (see panel). Few if any of
PVA glue was used to secure a these tones were used straight
scattering of crushed glass to the from the tin, but were applied
surface. Such products are readily to the model as described
available from a variety of scenic previously and blended to create
accessory suppliers and added a a harmonious mix of light
frosty sparkle to replicate snow. and dark to bring life to this
beautifully produced resin
All a quiver masterpiece. It will be very
RP Models’ Sun Tzu offers interesting to see other
few difficulties with regards modellers’ interpretations
to assembly, though the lack of Sun Tzu in the not-
of instructions did mean the too-distant future.
positioning of components was
left very much to the builders’
imagination. This could lead to
mistakes, and in this instance,
when looking at digital pre-
production images of the figure
(after construction the model
was completed), it was noticed
the arrow-filled quiver was
actually fitted upside-down and
consequently back to front. With
a figure such as Sun Tzu, whose
appearance and costume
can only be surmised, such
‘mistakes’ are insignificant
as long as the model
looks ‘right’. Indeed,
the modeller’s

www.airfixmodelworld.com 31
 OUT AND ABOUT
HALIFAX SHOW
On The Road Again
 Instead of using the kit’s transparent parts, Washington Model Club's Keith Lycett opted  Steve Abbott’s Airfix 1/48 Hunter F.6 was one of several fine exhibits on the Fenland and
for an old-fashioned ‘cut-away’ approach to display the interior on his AFV Club 1/35 T-34/76. Spalding table, with Xtradecal markings used to replicate a 12 Squadron airframe.
C
hanging venues can be seems to take such occurrences was smaller than the previous
challenging for any club, in its stride, with its second move location, but that just added
but the Wakefield and in as many years. to the friendly and welcoming
District IPMS branch This year’s venue in Halifax atmosphere, as traders and
modellers manoeuvred into the
North Bridge Leisure Centre.
Traders occupied the outlying
regions, plus along the central
‘aisle’, while clubs and special
interest groups were located in
the central spaces; thoughtfully,
spare tables were set aside, which
gave the hosts a large degree
of flexibility during the final set-
up. The competition area was
separate to the main hall, but
based on the number of entrants
that wasn’t an issue, and the
 Paul Williams added a huge amount of scratch-built detail to Italeri’s 1/12 Fiat Mefistofele judges had their work cut out to
racing car, including new cylinder bolts and engine bearers, for this class-winning model. select class winners, such was
32 Airfix Model World
 Pete Watson’s ‘Teuton of Riga’ was
painted with oils, creating delicate variations
in white tones on the Surcoat and horse’s
Caparison, and won a deserved Best in Class.
 How to get the best from a not-so-
accurate kit; 580 Modeller Ian Tranter’s
‘Dangerous Shores’ comprised a heavily
weathered Italeri 1/35 Sherman, which
was then immersed in resin, along with
vegetation and plastic debris.
the build quality. This was one of
those shows where it was very
easy to spend most of the day
chatting with fellow modellers
and catching up on what projects
were underway, and was very
enjoyable indeed. One aspect
was very apparent, and that was
the popularity of recent new
releases from Airfix and Revell,
with the former’s 1/48 Hunter
and latter’s re-released 1/48
Phantom FGR.2 seemingly flying
from the shelves. Here’s hoping
the 2020 show is just as popular
and enjoyable…wherever it
may be! Stu Fone
VIEW MORE ONLINE
www.airfixmodelworld.com
 TIGER HOBBIES LTD.
SPECIALIST IMPORTERS OF DIECAST MILITARY MODELS

Tiger Hobbies welcome new Hobby Trade

accounts looking to retail our Brands.

RETAIL ONLY

Unit 18B, Goldthorpe Industrial Estate, Commercial Road,

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Call: 01709 890 940 • Email: sales@tigerhobbies.co.uk

www.tigerhobbies.co.uk
TigerHobb_FP.indd 1 27/01/2020 11:50
 Model Build
Jen Wright tackles Airfix’s
huge new 1/24 Grumman
F6F-5 ‘Superkit’ release
Pugilist
Pacific Fleet
W
hen this newly
tooled offering
was unveiled at
last year’s Scale
ModelWorld at Telford, I guess I
shared everyone’s surprise at the
subject matter choice for Airfix’s
latest ‘Superkit’.
As important a type as
Grumman’s Hellcat undoubtedly
was in World War Two, it’s
somewhat under-represented
when compared with more
mainstream or popular types of
34 GRUMMAN HELLCAT | SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
the time. The built example on
Airfix’s stand certainly looked
impressive, and its subsequent
appearance on James May’s Big
Trouble in Model Britain has no
doubt raised modeller interest
even further.
The test-shot sample arrived
in a box big enough for a
microwave or stereo system… it
was enormous, and it needed to
be. This is a very large model, with
an almost 2ft (61cm) wingspan
and similar length. Supplied on
a multitude of styrene runners,
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
MODEL SPEC
approximately 600 well-moulded
and crisply detailed parts were By: Airfix
provided. Like the 1/24 Hawker Stock Code: A19004
Typhoon that preceded it, this Scale: 1/24
kit had a fantastic rendition of
Price: £119.99
‘oil canning’, so often seen on
real aircraft, moulded across all Available from: www.airfix.com
the exterior surfaces. Options
included full-span/folded wings,
extended/retracted flaps, open/
closed canopy and gun bays, and
all engine panels and control
surfaces were separate. On top

of that, there were 500lb (227kg)
and 1,000lb (454kg) bombs, a set
of six rocket projectiles and two
different types of centreline fuel
tank. Finally, there was a section
in the comprehensive 72-page
instruction booklet, devoted to
the fitting of an electric motor
(available separately) to spin
the propeller.
In the beginning
With such a large and
complicated model, it can
sometimes be slightly
overwhelming,
The cockpit set the tone for the
build, with multiple crisply moulded
parts. Several sub-assemblies were
built, which enabled a balance to be
struck between simplicity of build
and ease of painting.
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
sifting through the runners With a little help from Blu Tack,
and wondering where to start, a test-fit of the complete interior
especially with 310 assembly was possible and facilitated a dry
stages in the instructions. Work assembly of the fuselage itself.
started with the cockpit, which
was well detailed right from the
box. Constructed from the floor
up, with a multitude of included
structural elements, several sub-
assemblies were built to allow
adequate access for painting.
Setting the tone for the entire
build, the fit of the parts
was very good
everywhere,
with just
the odd
little The basic US Interior
tweak Green shade was
needed to open slots or square applied over a silver
corners for the best possible join. base colour to allow for
The only disappointment at this chipping effects on the
early stage was the number of footboards and seat.
ejector pin marks; all modellers
will have a different level of
tolerance for aspects such as
this, mine is very low which
meant I had to fill almost all of
them. These are a necessary part
of the production of a plastic
kit, and where possible Airfix’s
designers had placed them out
of view or on the back of parts.
When it came to applying paint
a certain amount of planning
was necessary because of the
sheer volume of components. A
set of small containers provided
the answer, and as each part or
sub-assembly was readied, it was
placed in a pot for the relevant Dials and details
shade, which minimised
As this test-shot arrived without decals, aftermarket items were sought
the opportunity
for forgetting to for the instrument panel and interior. These came in a gratefully received
paint something. care package from Peter Castle at Airscale decals (www.airscale.co.uk),
To depict wear with a selection of suitable dial and placard details duly dispatched (note,
and tear, many items the company is working on a bespoke Hellcat set for future release).
first received Airframe Old Reheat placards were also selected, as these are great for use as
Aluminium, using Tamiya’s serial number panels. Using the latter can really add an authentic air to
a model, since aircraft are festooned with instruction, data and serial
number stickers and stencils. The production kit decal sheet will provide
a complete set of dial faces and data placards, even down to stencilling on
the parachute pack and gun bay doors.
www.airfixmodelworld.com 35
 Model Build

 Instrument and console panels featured red highlights along with the decal dials  The tailwheel assembly could be fitted later in the build, but was a sturdy unit
and placards; all followed references as closely as possible. and withstood subsequent handling without issue.

A Neutral Brown
AS-12 applied via airbrush. Once
wash muted the dry, this was treated to a coat
vibrancy of the of hairspray (I choose from the
basic colours and Sainsbury’s Basics range) before
created dust effects the inner shades were then
on the floor areas. sprayed. The US Interior Green
parts had either Mr. Hobby H-58
or Mr. Color C352 applied, to
provide a slight tonal variation.
Other items were painted
according to the suggested shades
and with reference to online
reference photos.
The instrument panel was
provided as a sandwich affair,
with a clear section and solid
plastic cover. Airfix’s decals
weren’t ready at the start of this
project, due to its pre-production
nature, so alternatives were
sourced from Airscale (see
panel); these were applied to
the front face of the clear part,
and the black-painted cover was
placed on top. A touch of Micro
Industries Krystal Klear (www.
microscale.com) was then applied
to reinstate the clear glass effect.
Comprehensive innards
Once all the basic colours were
sorted, and suitable chipped
effects had been created,
weathering was carried out
using a Neutral Brown oil wash.
This was applied several times
and buffed with cotton buds,
until a worn and dirty finish was
attained. A darker wash was
used around the fuel filler spouts,
which were fitted to the edges
of the cockpit floor, to simulate
slight leakage, as seen in reference
photos. The filler tubes were
painted with black rings, which
then had tiny strips of metal foil
wrapped around them to replicate
the flexible hose couplings.
After fitting the pilot’s seat, the
moulded plastic harness straps
and parachute pack

 The cockpit was almost a ‘click’ fit into the right-hand fuselage. The air bottle for
the emergency extension of the landing gear is just visible behind the seat.

 The radio racks (top) and batteries (bottom) benefited from placards to add interest.
It was necessary to trim the racks slightly so the fuselage halves could be closed.

36 GRUMMAN HELLCAT | SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT


 The fuselage join was excellent and required little, if any, neatening thanks to the
internal parts being carefully and frequently test fitted.
were attached. These were hand-
painted earlier with assorted
khaki and tan shades, before also
being ‘dirtied’ with the Neutral
Brown wash.
The cockpit was just half the
story for the interior; a water
injection tank was attached to a
bulkhead, with an oxygen bottle
located alongside, and aft of that
a pair of radio racks and battery
packs. These were all
painted black
“The test-shot sample
arrived in a box big enough
for a microwave or stereo
system… it was enormous”
and enlivened with colourful
placard decals. At the extreme
rear was the sting in the tail – or
the arrester hook if you prefer.
This was mounted inside a square
tube which, if glued carefully,
allowed extension and retraction
of the hook itself. Along with the
arrester gear, a pair of fuselage
frames and the tail wheel leg were
built. The latter could be added
late in the build if preferred, but
I opted for a strong glued join at
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
 A myriad of boxes, vents, intakes and trunking for the engine installation were
built ready for paint. Airfix faithfully reproduced the complexities of the real units.
this stage, as the part seemed
sturdy enough to withstand any
handling-induced knocks.
Joining the fuselage halves
was complicated simply due to
their extreme size. I had already
slimmed the radio racks, as they
were too long to allow for full
fuselage closure
initially. With
all interior parts
glued into one
half, the second
item was positioned before
cyanoacrylate (CA) adhesive was
applied to the seam, bit by bit,
via a cocktail stick. As more of
the fuselage was joined, inserting
a scalpel and applying gentle
pressure provided enough of a
gap to get the glue between the
halves for a strong bond.
Motorisation
Tempting though it was, there
were no Airfix electric motors
on hand, so plain plastic it was
for the powerplant. The engine
was built around a large tube-like
core, with each layer of cylinders
and pushrod tubes sliding into
position in sequence. I found
the parts a very tight
fit, which led to
minor carving
and thinning
to avoid
breakage as they were attached.
Each cylinder bank was
supplied in halves, which meant
some difficult seam clean-up
was unavoidable. Once fully
assembled, though, they were
only just visible.
Airfix supplied a set of drawings
for a full ignition wiring harness,
but these were intended to be
a scratch-built option. Fishing-
tie lead wire was used here,
threaded through all the
holes into the cylinders
as shown.
The relative
www.airfixmodelworld.com 37
 Model Build

Kit schemes
Airfix supplied four schemes on the beautifully printed decal sheet:
• F6F-5, White 7 ‘Paper Doll’, Lt Carl A Brown Jr, VF-27, USS Princeton, 1944
• F6F-5 White 32, VF-12, USS Randolph (CV-15), 1945
• Hellcat Mk.II, JV321/6J-K, 808 Naval Air Squadron, FAA, HMS Khedive, East
Indies, March-April 1945
• F6F-5, 264/1.F1, Flotille 1F, l’Aéronavale, Arromanches (R95), Indochina, 1953

 Engine cabling wasn’t included, but Airfix supplied diagrams so this could be
scratch-built; the wire is usually used in fishing ties.

simplicity of building the engine whether the wings were folded/

itself was counter-balanced by the unfolded, and was built around
ancillary parts. None were difficult a pair of massive spar mouldings
to assemble, but again, the sheer which interlocked with the wing
 Holding 2,200hp, in all its oily glory, in the palm of my hand…joking aside, this volume of work was remarkable. ribs around the wheel bays.
illustrates the sheer size of the model. Each duct, intake or tank was Detail was again impressive and,
made from multiple parts, and so although chunky, it was suitable
One could be forgiven for thinking they were each required seam rectification for the scale, and several tubular
building an actual flying model when
work for the best possible finish. struts built into a frame to support
you look at all the supplied
There were approximately 118 the undercarriage legs. Note, fitting
spars and ribs.
parts involved in the construction Parts 30 and 31 at the same time
of the power unit section – not as the outer ribs in Stage 56 was
including the firewall or cowlings. much easier than trying to thread
Much to Airfix’s credit, all these them in afterwards.
complicated and intertwining The outer
ducts, coolers and engine
mounts fitted into position
perfectly, leaving a complete
‘power egg’, which would be
added to the fuselage later. One
tiny disappointment, given the
thoroughness of the decal sheet,
was the lack of a Pratt & Whitney
logo for the engine.

This bird needs wings

Construction of the mainplanes
centred on the burly mid-section;
this was unchanged, regardless of

 The wing centre section was built around a box section formed by the front and  The guns were modified by removing the barrels and inserting a piece of 1mm
rear spars; these interlocked with the ribs around the wheel bays. diameter brass tube as I wanted to fit the former after the main painting stage.

38 GRUMMAN HELLCAT | SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

 Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
 These wing fold hinges joined
the outer wing panels to the centre
section; the instructions suggested
minor trimming would be required
and the lower item here shows how
that was achieved.

 After being painted, the

three .50 cal Brownings
were mounted in the
right-hand wing; notably,
the ammunition belts
appeared very convincing.

with none of the creaky weakness

often found in larger models.
The wing wasn’t attached to the
fuselage until after painting, as
there simply wasn’t room in the
spray booth or the modelling area
to cope with the model’s size at
such an early stage
of the project.

Hue and cry

“This is a Having sanded all the primer
to remove the exterior surfaces’
very large rough texture, it was time
model, with to get colour on the model.
The Hataka lacquers used
an almost (see panel) were a tentative
purchase from Models for
2ft (61cm) Sale (www.modelsforsale.com)
wingspan and were used over a basecoat
of Mr. Paint tones, which were
and similar applied in a random mottle/pre-
shade fashion. Hataka’s colours
length” were then sprayed in a similar
manner, with a final heavily
diluted mist coat to even
the finish. The result was a
subtly blotchy appearance,
without obvious shading,
but equally not a
bland monotone.
All demarcations
were sprayed

wing panels featured a the former. This eliminated any

similar set-up, as two large worries of ugly joins, but also with
spars went almost the full removed the option for changing a razor
span and interlocked with the format once assembled. saw and
the various ribs. I found it Curiously, it was necessary to drilled to
advantageous to neaten, neaten the slots in the upper wing accept a length
deepen or widen many halves for a good fit on the first of 1mm rod,
of the mounting slots to set of wings built, but this wasn't enabling addition at
alleviate the otherwise needed on the second. the end of the build.
very tight fit in places. Comprehensive gun bay detail When mating the three
The main was provided in six splendid main wing sections, the fit
difference between Browning .50 cal machine guns, was so remarkable that no glue
outspread or with attendant ammo boxes and was used on the outer surfaces.
folded wings was belts. There didn’t seem to be a Thanks to those massive spars
in the provision way of fitting the guns after paint, and the way they interleaved
of full span upper without risking snapping the with the hinge point sub-spar, the
wing halves for barrels, so they were removed wing was also extremely strong,

www.airfixmodelworld.com 39
 Model Build
freehand, as reference photos
indicated the original camouflage
boundaries weren’t hard edged.
Overt pre-shading was carefully
avoided in case it clashed visually
with the integrally moulded
surface oil canning. A slightly
different approach was taken on
the wings, as I wished to represent
footwear around the roots. Similar
to the fuselage interior, AS-12
Airframe Aluminium was applied
first, followed by hairspray and
then C352 Chromate Yellow.
 The substantial wing box, created by the spars and interlocking upper This was then chipped, to match
mainplanes, was apparent immediately, as were the perfect joins between the references of similar Indian
sections. Although the former may seem like overkill, this was a heavy model, so
Ocean-deployed Hellcats. Once
the extra strength was needed.
satisfied with the results, hairspray
was added again before the
camouflage, which allowed this
to be chipped in turn. Initially the
finished effect seemed focused
around the raised square panel
at the wing root, so that area was
masked and the whole process
repeated, until the effect
was closer to what
was originally intended. Lastly,
Tamiya’s ubiquitous X-22 Clear
was used to seal everything,
which is very important where
hairspray has been used, ready
for decaling.
Adding identity
The FAA machine was chosen
from the four markings options
(see panel), and the decals were
exceptional as they were very
thin, yet strong. Mr. Mark Setter
(www.albionhobbies.com), was
used throughout, which meant
the markings settled perfectly.
As ever, full stencil detail was
included, even with
alternative

 It’s useful to paint the canopy’s interior framing when dealing with larger
models. After masking the outside to aid visibility of the frames, thin strips of
Tamiya tape were added to the inner surfaces.

 The underside was painted with a combination of XF-21 and Hataka C-026
Sky, while upper tones were applied freehand to produce a mottled finish, which
provided for some very subtle colour gradients.
Fleet colours
A rummage through the paint locker provided several paint options for
a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Hellcat in acrylics, lacquers and enamels. I created
a spray card to compare the colours and was surprised by the results,
which were more varied than expected. Having previously used Mr. Paint
products (www.mrpaint.sk), I planned on using them again, but Hataka’s
colours (www.hataka-hobby.com) really looked the part. Since the aircraft
being modelled was in action in the Indian Ocean, the paler hues felt
appropriate, so the latter were used. In a plot twist, though, Mr. Paint’s tones
were used as a darker pre-shade, which allowed for a patchy and mottled
finish without resorting to a lack of colour density.

The wings were

first painted with
decanted AS-12
Airframe Aluminium
before being treated
with ordinary
hairspray.

40 GRUMMAN HELLCAT | SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT


colour and wording options. Initial
weathering was limited to a filter
layer, which was blended into
the finish with a soft brush. It can
be problematic to use enamel
weathering products directly
on top of decals, so care is the
watch-word when doing so. Once
dry, the model was sprayed with
diluted XF-86 Flat Clear. Usually, I
find this product yields an overly
matt finish, but as the real aircraft
 Chromate Yellow was sprayed over the hairspray, and once dry, it was scrubbed
with a cut-down paintbrush, moistened with water. This process was repeated with
the camouflage colours, so that once chipped, both preceding tones were visible.
“Approximately 600
well-moulded and crisply
detailed parts were provided”
had such an appearance due
to the sun and salt spray, it was
thoroughly appropriate here.
Engineering a finish
Final weathering was carried out
on top of the matt varnish using
assorted oils. These were mixed to
create suitable shades and applied
in tiny amounts to deepen colour
here and there, or to accentuate
panel edges.
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
When the time
came to fit the wing, it was
secured with tube cement. The
mating surface against the cockpit
floor was large enough that I
could be confident gluing here
would be sufficient. No adhesive
was used along the wing root
itself as this could have damaged
the finish. Again, kudos to Airfix
for providing a kit that fitted
together well enough to do this.
 Holding the record for possibly the largest roundel ever applied in decal form,
thankfully Airfix’s kit decals were excellent; especially when combined with Mr.
Mark Setter.
This massive beast
was now ready to
receive the engine sub-
assembly, which was simply
plugged into large slots in the
firewall. These offered a little
room for movement, so the
engine panels were dry-fitted to
guarantee proper alignment of
the powerplant, plus my intent
was for the latter to remain
removable. Again, these attached
so snugly that those who desire
a fully enclosed engine should
also achieve a great finish. After
proving the concept, the panels
were painted in situ to ensure the
camouflage demarcations were
correct, and were held in position
on the finished model with small
chunks of Blu Tack.
Moving to the main
undercarriage, each leg consisted
of vertically split halves, which
required minimal neatening. The
finished units were extremely
strong – reassuringly so, as the
model was very heavy. An
enormous mounting tab at the
top slid into a slot in the wing spar
for a stable and accurate join; a
retraction arm was then located
against the undercarriage bay’s
tubular framework.
www.airfixmodelworld.com 41
 Model Build

 Further weathering was applied using various oil paints. These were mixed to form  Oil and grime streaks were added to the underside using AMMO-MIG products,
complementary shades and tiny amounts were brushed and blended into the finish. this time in combination with a highly diluted black/brown mix, applied via airbrush.

Each wheel comprised three Hellcat firepower

parts and included excellent
detail. One was painted Glossy
Sea Blue as HMS Khedive also
operated Hellcats in the later
overall blue scheme. Brake detail
was accentuated with a steel
colour, while the Neutral Brown
wash highlighted the other
moulded features. Tyres were
moulded in two parts with
diamond tread, which had all
but disappeared in the centre
after the seam was sanded, but
this was remedied by deepening
the pattern with a razor saw…this
was time consuming but made
all the difference.
 Airfix provided
three-part wheels
with separate tyres,
although the tread on
the latter became slightly
indistinct after the seams
were sanded, so it was
reinstated with a razor saw.
When it came to the armament,
the initial preference was for
rockets, as there was a reference
photo of the subject aircraft
carrying them. I wasn’t sure the
included rockets were appropriate
for an FAA example though, plus
the associated wing protection
plates weren’t present. Therefore,
the smaller 500lb bombs were
selected as I also wanted to fit
the centreline fuel tank. Full
stencil and painting details were
provided for all the included
weapons, which was a neat touch.
Final assembly was a breeze;
notwithstanding the tendency

“What an
amazing
project this
was, and
what an
astonishing
kit too”

42 GRUMMAN HELLCAT | SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT


 The kit main gear legs featured an integrally moulded brake line and separate
torque links. Note the much-needed large and sturdy mounting tab on each leg.
to catch/knock anything and
everything on the workbench
while handling this very large
model. All location points were
positive and sturdy, just like the
rest of the build. In short order,
the flaps, control surfaces, wheels,
undercarriage doors and aerials
were all secured, bringing the
build to a close. The bombs, fuel
tank and engine panels remain
removable, so I can be a typical
woman and change my mind
later if I want to…
Winding up
What an amazing project this
was, and what an astonishing
kit too. There were no major fit
problems or quality issues with
the Hellcat, and the included
features will be adequate for all
but the most dedicated super-
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
Space saver
Airfix supplied optional folded wings, and a second set of parts was built
to show this configuration. It would be practicable to build the kit with one
wing folded and one spread, but it wasn’t possible to swap between the two
modes. Once assembled, I found the folded wings were equally as sturdy
as the unfolded version. As the hinge spar slid into position a locating
pin locked into a hole in the outer wing panel, holding everything steady.
Although folded wings restrict the viewing of the cockpit somewhat, they do
provide extra interest with the highly detailed undercarriage bays and folding
mechanism… and just like the real thing, they saved an awful lot of space.
detail fans. Airfix struck a delicate
balance throughout between the
level of refinement and keeping
the build simple. There’s nothing
here that modellers with a few
finished kits under their belt
couldn’t deal with, and in truth,
the only aspect making this an
intermediate build is its size. This
project was completed to a tight
eight-week timescale to meet
the magazine deadline; and the
impressive thing that came to
mind as I wrote this was the way
the kit drew me in. Despite the
long hours at the bench I always
wanted to go back to it, such was
its charm. The finished model is
a hugely handsome and accurate
recreation of Grumman’s tubby,
yet effective fighter – I can’t
imagine any purchaser of the kit
being disappointed.
 The wing was joined to the fuselage after painting; while the model’s sheer size
made this preferable, Airfix's great engineering made it possible. Large slots
were provided for the engine bearers, but pipework must be added first.
 Utilising the engine panels to ensure alignment, the
powerplant sub-assembly was added to the firewall without
drama…and suddenly that huge radial looked small.
Reference
The Grumman F6F Hellcat, a
comprehensive guide by Thomas
Cleaver (SAM Publications),
ISBN: 978-3-906959-39-5
www.airfixmodelworld.com 43
 In Focus

Early production F6F-3s, such as this example seen over southern

California, were delivered in a US Navy camouflage of Blue Gray on upper
surfaces and sides, with Light Gray undersides. National insignia were
carried above and below each wing and on either side of the fuselage.
All photos National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

Six-Gun Shooter
Dana Bell explores the operational history
of US Navy and Marine Corps Hellcats, before
analysing the colours and markings applied to
this formidable carrier-borne fighter in US service.

T
he US Navy’s most
successful fighter of
World War Two, the
Grumman F6F Hellcat
was credited with 5,156 Marine
and Navy aerial victories for the
loss of just 270 airframes.
The F6F was flown in combat
for less than two years, but still
accounted for more than half of
all Japanese aircraft destroyed by
Navy and Marine pilots. Britain’s
Fleet Air Arm gained 1,182 Hellcats
under the Lend-Lease programme,
and also operated these aircraft
against Japan. A total of 12,275
Hellcats were built at Grumman’s
plant in Bethpage, Long Island.
Early steps
Design of what would become
the Hellcat began in early
1938, when Grumman began
planning improvements for its
F4F-2 monoplane. However, the
power advantages offered by
new engines soon suggested
the need for a completely new
design, rather than just an
improved F4F. That summer, the
US Navy selected Brewster’s F2A
Buffalo instead, so Grumman
quickly refocused the efforts of
its engineering team to improve
the baseline F4F design. The
resulting F4F-3 Wildcat went on
to be selected for an initial Navy
contract in August 1939.
With the F4F safely in production,
Grumman returned to work on its
Design 50, expected to be powered
by a 1,700hp Wright R-2600 Twin
Cyclone radial engine. Following
a January 1941 mock-up review,
 ‘Fighting Five’ (VF-5) was one of the first operational Hellcat squadrons. Assigned
the Navy ordered two XF6F-1 to the Essex-class carrier USS Yorktown, VF-5 joined with VF-9 (aboard Essex), and
prototypes on June 30, 1941… VF-6 and VF-22 (both aboard Independence) for the F6F’s initial combat mission
curiously, this was the same day against Marcus Island on August 31, 1943. This late-1943 photo shows weathered
that production contracts were camouflage and evidence of several marking changes.

44 GRUMMAN HELLCAT | SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

 Grumman F6F Hellcat

 F6F-5 ‘Ripper’, VF-7, USS Hancock, November 6, 1944. While most markings were white, those on the tail appeared greyer in
tone, plus the centreline drop tank was white overall.
signed for Vought’s F4U-1 Corsair.
In February 1942, the US Army
and Navy and British Aircraft
Commission members met to
consider revisions requested
by the latter (who were offered
a portion of any production
through the Lend-Lease
programme). The meeting
was an effort to standardise
requirements, to reduce the
number of minor production
line changes, thus cutting
manufacturing time and costs
– and the F6F presented one of
the first opportunities to include
British input prior to beginning
production. Most change requests
were minor, and nearly all found
their way onto the assembly line.
For example, Grumman planned
to place a ring-and-bead sight
to the left of the reflector sight,
as it believed pilots would have
 This rare wartime Kodachrome
less trouble reaching the throttle.
shows details of the fabric-covered
British engineers noted most
control surfaces and rivet patterns on
pilots sighted with their right aluminium panels. The red-bordered
eyes, so the ring-and-bead sight national insignia was standardised
would be easier to use on that between June and September 1943.
side of the cockpit coaming. The Note the yellow safety markings along
committee duly agreed to move the wing fold seam – though common in
the sight, although it was rarely some training units, this was not applied
fitted in production. on combat aircraft.
 Commander of Air Group (AG)
Four months later, in June 1942,
15 aboard the USS Essex, David
a 1,700hp Wright R-2600 engine McCampbell flew Hellcats to become
powered the first prototype on its the US Navy’s highest-scoring ace,
first flight. The second prototype with 34 victories. He’s seen here in the
had been scheduled for testing cockpit of F6F-5 ‘Minsi III’, his
with a turbo-supercharger, but final Hellcat.
was flown instead with Pratt &  Removable hatches provided easy
Whitney’s 2,000hp R-2800 Double access to the F6F-5’s water-injected
R-2800-10W engine. This aircraft shows
Wasp engine two weeks earlier.
a single coat of yellow zinc chromate
Designated the XF6F-3 with this primer on the interior structure; the
engine, the second prototype led panel interiors could be yellow zinc
to the first production contract chromate or a finish coat of Light
for the aircraft, which by then was Gray camouflage lacquer (commonly
known as the Hellcat. referred to as ‘Grumman Gray’).

www.airfixmodelworld.com 45
 In Focus

 F6F-5, VF-12 (or VBF-12), USS Randolph, May 1945. Standard white markings on an Into service
overall Glossy Sea Blue airframe. First flight of the F6F-3 came that
 From January through to June 1944, Randolph carried two Hellcat squadrons October, just four months after
as components of AG-12. Both VF-12 and VBF-12 were marked with the carrier’s
a production F4U-1 Corsair was
horizontal tail stripes, the squadrons being distinguished by the individual aircraft
numbers. In raids against Japanese-held islands and the Japanese mainland, AG-12’s
put through its initial paces. As
Hellcats claimed more than 140 aerial victories. both factories rushed to increase
production, Grumman delivery
rates soon surpassed those of
Vought. The Corsair suffered
from initial teething problems
and was built with revolutionary
production methods, while the
Hellcat design featured more
conventional structures and
assembly techniques, which had
already been standardised on the
Wildcat. As a result, the first Corsair
squadron became operational
during the same month four
squadrons equipped with Hellcats
entered combat against the
Japanese. Choosing to focus its
aircraft carrier supply lines on a
single fighter type, in August 1943
the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet decided
to assign its F4U squadrons to
land bases, retaining the F6F as its
primary carrier-borne fighter.
With the Corsair offering several
performance advantages over
the Hellcat, in early 1944 the
Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics
(BuAer) recommended the Pacific
Fleet reconsider assigning F4Us
to carriers. BuAer noted that
while the F6F had little room for
further development at this stage,
the Corsair continued to show

Star and bar(s)

The US military approved a new national insignia in
September 1943; as explained in the text, Grumman
used three variations of that marking.

 Here VF-17 pilots gather beside the first officially approved variation. The white
star and blue disc are bracketed by two white bars, with a narrow blue border
around the entire insignia.  F6F manual AN 01-85FB-2 included this second,
unique factory variation, which added the white bars to the disc, but omitted any
narrow blue border. This variation was seen frequently on wing upper surfaces.
 In early 1944 the US Navy gave Grumman permission to omit all Insignia Blue
from the national markings, leaving a white star and bars against a Glossy Sea Blue
camouflage. Objections from the Army Air Forces resulted in Grumman returning
to the first two variations in late summer, 1944. For more details, see p.11.

46 GRUMMAN HELLCAT | SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT


performance improvements. Still,
the Hellcat performed better than
its Japanese opponents, even if it
wasn’t to the same degree as the
Corsair. The latter type re-joined
the fleet after Christmas 1944, but
Grumman’s F6F remained the
Navy’s standard carrier fighter
through to the end of the war.
The initial variant, the F6F-3, was in
production for just six months, but
received numerous detail changes
during that period. Other alterations
came with the F6F-5, which first flew
in April 1944. Oddly, no BuAer
document has been found to
explain exactly which revision
distinguished the -5 from the -3. (This
writer eventually hopes to find that
answer through continued research
into the Navy’s contract files.)
 The basic Hellcat design saw minor revisions during the aircraft’s production run, but the basic lines of the first XF6F-1 differed
little from the final delivery, some 12,274 aircraft later.
 In early 1943, the US Navy introduced a graded camouflage scheme of white undersides, Intermediate Blue vertical surfaces,
semi-gloss Sea Blue atop the wings and tail planes, plus non-specular Sea Blue fuselage spines and wing and stabilizer leading
edges. As seen here, when NAS Norfolk, Virginia, repainted older Blue Gray/Light Gray aircraft, they altered that scheme by
drawing the Sea Blue pattern down the fuselage to the wing.
Grumman F6F Hellcat
Heavy punch
Standard Hellcat armament
comprised six .50 cal machine
guns, with three located in each
wing. The first prototype was later
modified as the F6F-4, to test four
20mm cannon, but this version
was never put into production.
With the introduction of the F6F-
5, wing bays were reconfigured to
carry the original six .50 cal guns,
or to replace the two inboard
weapons with 20mm cannons, an
arrangement seen on nearly all
F6F-5N night fighters.
A rack mounted beneath the
right wing root could carry a
 Each of the Hellcat’s six .50 cal machine guns was fed by three ammunition ‘bins’. single 500lb (227kg) or 1,000lb
These were installed through an access panel, with the first two sliding on tracks (454kg) bomb, or an 11¾in
under the wing skin and the third remaining beneath the hatch. This image shows (298mm) diameter Tiny Tim
three of the nine bins serving the left-wing guns. rocket. While the rack could be
installed beneath either wing
root, the Hellcat appears to have
carried just a single rack on
operational missions. Grumman
also added provisions for six
underwing rockets during F6F-
3 production; these were also
installed on reconnaissance and
night fighter Hellcats, and gave
the type a hefty offensive punch
against surface targets, in addition
to its internal armament.
Early operations
The US Navy entered World War
Two on December 7, 1941 with
seven operational attack carriers;
during the next ten months, the
USS Lexington, Wasp, Yorktown,
and Hornet were sunk. Enterprise
and Saratoga both suffered battle
damage and were repaired, but
also required refits. That left
Ranger, which the Pacific Fleet
judged too small for effective
combat operations, but by
November 1943, the first seven
Essex-class attack carriers were
commissioned, as were all nine
Independence-class light carriers.
Coincident with these new
assets reaching the fleet, the first
Hellcat squadrons were declared
operational. Together they would
first be employed in combat on
August 31, 1943 during a series
of fast carrier hit-and-run strikes
against Japanese-held islands.
These strikes damaged enemy
facilities and equipment while
‘blooding the warriors’ – providing
pilots with combat experience
and confidence, in preparation for
subsequent battles.
‘Marianas Turkey Shoot’
Arguably the best known of these
major operations came in mid-
www.airfixmodelworld.com 47
 In Focus
 Even with the Hellcat’s wings folded, armourers could use maintenance stands to
service the guns and install fresh ammunition.
VF-1 moved to Yorktown in May 1944. Here the ship’s deck crew positions one of
the squadron’s F6F-3s forward, during operations the following month. The aircraft
displays the standard factory-graded camouflage pattern, VF-1’s top hat insignia and
(on the left wing) Grumman’s unique national insignia variation.

June 1944, during the First Battle of
the Philippine Sea. An American
force that included 15 aircraft
carriers (with 467 Hellcats as part of
its 900-aircraft aerial component)
struck the Mariana and Bonin
Islands, while covering the invasion
of Saipan. The eventual arrival
of an American task force had
been expected by the Japanese,
who hoped for one more decisive
carrier battle. Although Japanese
planners expected an American
strike much further to the south,
and had reduced the defences
in the Marianas, they had also
assembled the last great Japanese
carrier force. Nearly every
operational ship (including five
fleet carriers and four light carriers),
plus 750 aircraft (350 of which were
land-based) moved eastwards
to confront the American force.
Japan’s admirals hoped the longer
range of their carrier bombers
would allow them to hit the enemy,
while holding their own fleet safe
beyond the threat of reprisals.
Just before 1000hrs on June 19,
1944, a US Navy radar detected
the first wave of Japanese land-
based aircraft. Thirty F6F-3s were
launched in response and, during
the ensuing air battle, 35 enemy
aircraft were downed, at the
expense of just one Hellcat.
At almost the same time, the
first Japanese carrier-borne strike
force was detected. The first
squadron of intercepting Hellcats
destroyed 25 of the approaching
68 bombers and fighters. A
second squadron then arrived to
claim 16 additional planes. The
remaining 27 Japanese aircraft
were able to make an ineffectual
attack on the screening battleship
force before retiring. An hour
later, a force of 107 Japanese
naval aircraft approached from
the west, but 97 of them were
lost to intercepting Hellcats and
shipboard anti-aircraft fire.
The one-sided air battles
continued in the early afternoon.
An hour after noon, a Japanese
naval strike force of 47 aircraft lost
seven planes to Hellcats, before
turning back to their own carriers.
A second group, comprising 49
aircraft, turned towards Guam after
failing to find the American fleet,
but found 27 Hellcats awaiting
them; 30 Japanese planes were
shot down, with the remaining 19
damaged beyond repair. Before the
day ended, the Japanese had lost
approximately 380 aircraft (with
two carriers also sunk by American
submarines). The US Navy still
refers to the day’s aerial action as
the ‘Marianas Turkey Shoot’.
The following day found the
Americans searching for the
Japanese fleet, which was
located mid-afternoon at the

 McCampbell’s penultimate Hellcat, ‘Minsi II’, was photographed during

maintenance on board Essex in mid-1944.
 A small camouflage mystery – Grumman began delivering Hellcat’s in overall
Glossy Sea Blue at the end of F6F-3 production. However, in this October 1944 photo,
an Intrepid F6F-5 is seen in the earlier graded-camouflage scheme.
 The 32 Hellcats of VF-74 were among the few of the type to see combat over
Europe. This rocket-armed F6F-5 is preparing to catapult from the USS Kasaan Bay
in support of allied landings in Southern France. Despite the relative lack of aerial
opposition, VF-74 downed two enemy aircraft on 15 August, 1944.

48 GRUMMAN HELLCAT | SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT


extreme limit of the US strike
range. Knowing that returning
aircraft would have to land after
sunset, 226 aircraft (including
nearly a hundred Hellcats) still
launched in the late afternoon,
reaching the Japanese near
dusk. The 35 defending fighters
had little effect on the attacking
force, which sank two Japanese
tankers and a third carrier – three
more carriers and a battleship
were also damaged. The strike
force lost just 20 aircraft to enemy
fighters and anti-aircraft fire, but
80 more had to be ditched due
to fuel exhaustion, although
three-quarters of the crews were
rescued subsequently.
Grumman F6F Hellcat
 F6F-5, VF-36, USS Siboney, July 1945. Standard white markings on an overall
Glossy Sea Blue airframe.
 The Glossy Sea Blue Hellcat could be extremely shiny, as evidenced by the
reflection of this aircraft in its own wing! Despite this, the forward fuselage pitch
reflected away from the pilot, eliminating the need for an antiglare panel. VF-86
‘Wild Hares’ onboard Wasp carried an ‘X’ marking on the tail and right wing tip
after July 1945.
Varied missions
Thereafter, carrier-borne Hellcats
would serve in every battle in the
Central and South-West Pacific
theatres, including missions against
the Japanese homeland. Other F6Fs
operated from the carriers Kasaan
Bay and Tulagi during Operation
Dragoon, the invasion of Southern
France in August 1944. Although
their main missions were ground
support, reconnaissance and
spotting for naval gunfire, F6F pilots
took advantage of the opportunity
to down three Heinkel He 111
bombers before the landings ended.
Grumman converted more
than 1,600 Hellcats with airborne
intercept radars, as F6F-3Ns
www.airfixmodelworld.com 49
 In Focus
 F6F-5P, VF-153, NAS Alameda, California, September 23, 1946. It may look like a standard F6F-5,
but this is actually a reconnaissance Hellcat, with cameras fitted in the lower fuselage.
 VF-153 'Fightin' Kangaroos' insignia.
and F6F-5Ns; these were assigned
to Navy and Marine night fighter
squadrons, with separate four-
plane sections assigned to almost
every carrier. By the war’s end,
pilots flying radar-equipped
Hellcats would destroy over 150
aircraft, more than any other
American night fighter.
Other F6Fs, configured as
camera platforms, with three
units mounted in the lower
fuselage, became the primary
wartime photo-reconnaissance
aircraft for the Navy and Marines.
 The navy’s last Wildcat combat squadron, VF-26, transferred to F6F-5s in mid-1945, Blues and greys
boarding Santee in July. Photographed over Honshu in October 1945, this Hellcat When the first production F6F-3
shows the markings assigned to Santee in June 1945: two yellow stripes above the
took to the air in June 1942, the
right wing and around the fuselage, with a white upper vertical tail and forward third
aircraft wore the Navy’s standard
of the right wing top. Note, the wing markings were repeated below the left wing.
 From September 1943 through to March 1944, VF-40 flew Hellcats from Solomon
camouflage of Blue Gray on all
Islands bases. The unit subsequently reformed in the US before boarding Suwannee upper surfaces and sides, with
in February 1945. Aircraft 49 shows extreme overspray around its new tail markings. Light Gray on the undersides. By
50 GRUMMAN HELLCAT | SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
late 1941, the Navy was making
efforts to replace Blue Gray with a
darker, more effective paint called
Dark Blue, a colour developed from
the stains used to darken wooden
aircraft carrier decks. Photos
suggest this paint may have been
applied to some Hellcats, though
this substitution might never have
taken place… the documentation
problem is compounded by a 1942
Navy decision, to rename Dark Blue
as ‘Blue Gray’!
Pre-war experiments suggested
a gradual transition of shades
would offer a more effective
camouflage than simple blocks
of colour. Lighter tones would be
employed to counter-shade lower
surfaces, while darker shades
would help mute upper surfaces,
and intermediate hues on vertical
surfaces would be feathered into

the upper and lower colours.
Most tests evaluated various
greys, but in January 1943 the
BuAer established a new standard
scheme of white undersides,
Semi-gloss Sea Blue above wings
and stabilisers, Non-specular Sea
Blue atop the fuselage and on wing
and tail leading edges (to reduce
reflections on these rounded
surfaces), and Intermediate Blue
on vertical surfaces. On factory-
camouflaged Hellcats, the fuselage
demarcations ran parallel to the
thrust line, but any earlier aircraft
repainted at NAS Norfolk featured
an upper demarcation line that
transitioned down to the top of
the wing. By late 1943, the Navy
created a variation of the graded
camouflage using glossy paints, but
no evidence suggests the scheme
was ever applied to Hellcats.
Just blue
The Navy’s enthusiasm for glossy
camouflage had more to do
with reducing skin friction and
easing surface maintenance
than hiding from the enemy. In
March 1944, new specifications
ordered fighters to be painted
overall Glossy Sea Blue. The
orders came as Grumman was
finishing production of the last
F6F-3s and introducing the new
F6F-5, but no records indicate the
serial of the first aircraft in the new
scheme. Atlantic Fleet documents
from May 1944 stated: “The F6F-5
airplane is painted a glossy Sea
Blue...” suggesting that none were
painted in the graded camouflage
scheme. However, notes attached
to this guidance mentioned the
unavailability of the new paint
and directed that F6F-5 spare parts
be repainted Glossy Sea Blue at
depots. Although modellers often
consider the Glossy Sea Blue finish
a distinguishing feature between
late F6F-3s and early F6F-5s, the
possibility remains that some
early -5s were delivered in graded
camouflage, while a number of the
former were certainly repainted
overall Glossy Sea Blue.
Application of the new
camouflage was not without
problems. After creating a new
specification for glossy lacquers
and their usage, BuAer stressed
that those provided under this
new formulation were the only
ones approved for use on the
Hellcat. Unfortunately, BuAer’s
memos failed to mention that
Glossy Sea Blue dopes (not
lacquers) were to be applied onto
 An unknown number of Hellcats were modified to F6F-5P photo-
reconnaissance aircraft. The aircraft retained their armament, adding camera
positions in the aft fuselage. These photos illustrate the three ports, capable of
carrying vertical, split-vertical, or tri-metrogon camera mounts.
any fabric-covered surfaces. As
most modellers know, lacquers
cannot be applied over dopes
or enamels, and all Hellcat
ailerons, elevators and rudders
were actually primed with the
former. As one would expect,
the camouflage lacquers etched
through the dopes, destroying the
integrity of the control surfaces.
While no aircraft were lost as
a result of this mistake, a large
number of fabric surfaces had to
be refinished completely, with
many needing new material.
Interior shades
Photographic references suggest
the earliest Hellcats were
delivered with Dull Dark Green
cockpits, but this colour was soon
changed to Interior Green (also
known as green zinc chromate
primer). For some time, Dull Dark
Grumman F6F Hellcat
Green pilot seats were installed
in the Interior Green cockpits,
probably due to variations in sub-
contractor production schedules.
Grumman painted other interior
surfaces with two coats of primer
and one coat of ‘Grumman Gray’
– the modellers’ name for leftover
stocks of Light Gray camouflage
lacquer expended as a finish coat.
Grumman could also use Light
Gray to finish engine bays, but
most photos and recovered aircraft
suggest a single coat of primer
sufficed in this area. Undercarriage
bays were usually finished in the
adjacent camouflage colour.
US Markings
When the first Hellcat was
delivered in June 1942, the
Navy had standardised its
presentation of the national star
insignia as a simple Insignia Blue
disc and white star, located on
either side of the fuselage and
above and below each wing. In
late June 1943, a white bar was
added on either side of the disc,
with a red border surrounding the
entire marking.
At the same time, the insignias
above the right wing and below
the left wing were removed. The
red border proved unpopular
in the Pacific Theatre, where
any red could be confused with
the Japanese national marking,
which was a red roundel, known
as a Hinomaru. Operational
units were granted permission
to overpaint red portions of the
insignia with blue camouflage
paint; squadrons could also
omit the border altogether when
adding white bars to older star-
and-disc markings.
In mid-September 1943, the US
Army and Navy jointly revised
national insignia specifications,
changing the border colour red to
Insignia Blue. Grumman applied
this marking to fuselage sides
and below the right wing, but
above the Semi-gloss Sea Blue
left wing often painted a simple
blue disc and co-tangent white
star with white borders – but with
no surrounding border at all.
While that version of the insignia
had been seen in field-modified
markings, Grumman is the only
manufacturer known to have
applied this marking at the factory.
We have no written indication of
just how often Grumman applied
this unusual format – in most
contemporary photos the lack
of contrast between the Insignia
Blue and the Semi-gloss Sea
www.airfixmodelworld.com 51
 In Focus
 Another marine unit, VMF(N)-541, flew F6F-5Ns from Pacific bases from September 1944 through to the war’s end. Unlike most
Specifications navy and marine units, the ‘Bat Eyes’ carried artwork on their aircraft cowls. The squadron claimed 23 nocturnal victories.

Span, wings 42ft 10in

extended (13.05m)

Span, wings 16ft 2in

folded (4.93m)

Length, in flight 33ft 6⅝in

(10.22m)

Height, parked 14ft 5in (4.39m)

Height, wings 11ft 6½in

folded (3.52m)

Max speed 380mph

(F6F-5) (612km/h) at
23,400ft (7,132m)

Cruise speed 168mph

(F6F-5) (270km/h)

Service ceiling 37,300ft

(F6F-5) (11,369m)

Range (F6F-5) 945miles

(1,520km)

Max range 1,355miles

(F6F-5) (2,181km)

Blue or Glossy Sea Blue made the
disc nearly invisible. But enough
photos show the marking wasn’t a
one-time fluke – including a 4x5in
(10x12cm) colour transparency
(see page 6) that Grumman
provided to show the standard
version of the national insignia.
Inter-service squabbles
That transparency was provided
to help Grumman in its fight
to revise the national insignia.
In February 1944, Grumman
requested permission to end the
use of Insignia Blue when the
marking was applied over Sea
Blue camouflage, presenting it as
a simple white star with two white
bars. Grumman suggested – quite
accurately – that the simplified
insignia saved a few dollars
in costs per aircraft, while the
Insignia Blue was totally invisible
from a few hundred feet away.
BuAer approved and passed
the new exemption to its various
depots. Unfortunately, the Army
Air Forces objected to this
revised marking and BuAer was
forced to backtrack, rescinding
its agreement with Grumman.
The Hellcat manufacturer
continued to argue its case, but
in October 1944, BuAer gave its
final rejection, stating there was
no justification for the white-
only national insignia. While no
records explain exactly when
Grumman complied with the
new orders, photos show that
many late-production Hellcats
were delivered with the complete
insignia. It would be 1946 before
the Navy could convince the
Army of the advantages of just
simple white stars and bars on Sea
Blue camouflage.
Although VMF-511 was a Corsair
squadron assigned to the USS Block
Island (CVE-106) in March to September
1945, the unit included a handful of
F6F-5N night fighters, such as ‘Butch’.
Navy tests showed Glossy Sea Blue was
as effective a night camouflage as the
US Army Air Force’s Jet Black. Shortages
of special blue dye meant many night
fighters flew with un-tinted radomes.
Matt versus gloss
Navy specifications called for
a very pale grey ‘star and bar’
when the national insignia was
applied to the Semi-gloss Sea Blue
camouflage above the left wing.
This ‘Insignia Gray’, a one-to-one
mix of Light Gray and Insignia
White, appears white in most
photos, but was certainly used by
Grumman in production.
In March 1944, as the new
Glossy Sea Blue scheme was
being introduced, Grumman
questioned the value of Insignia
Gray on such shiny aircraft.
BuAer agreed, but took the
question one step further – would
sun glare make a star insignia
less distinguishable when visual
identification mattered most?
Directed to evaluate the matter,
the test facility at Patuxent River,
Maryland, determined that
glossy national markings were
completely indistinguishable
at many sun angles, while non-
specular markings were far
more easily seen. A January
1945 recommendation from
the BuAer Materiel Lab added
that where glare presented an
“... objectionable operational
problem...” the entire aircraft
should be painted with
non-specular colours, a
recommendation that eliminated
the value of the glossy scheme.
No paper trail indicates what
actions Grumman took with
the Hellcat insignia, but photos
suggest that insignia on some
Hellcats used flat paints or decals.
Photos also show some F6Fs

52 GRUMMAN HELLCAT | SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

 Grumman F6F Hellcat

 F6F-5, Naval Reserve, NAS Livermore, California, November 3, 1946. Markings on these aircraft were Orange Yellow (often
called chrome yellow, the same colour that was used atop the wings of pre-war aircraft). Most modellers are aware of the later
International Orange Reserve markings, but these were a little-known earlier variation.

were less glossy than others, the Pacific Fleet centralised the In June 1945, the Pacific Fleet other markings in the same
though this effect seems more authority for these markings, created new a marking system colour. These machines carried
the result of weathering than the directing each attack and light to be used on aircraft flown from the national insignia above the
Materiel Lab’s recommendation carrier to apply prescribed escort carriers. The latter vessels left wing and below the right
to switch to non-specular paints. geometric markings to its aircraft were organised in divisions and wing, but not on the fuselage.
tails and wings. Commonly each was assigned a distinguishing Almost immediately, BuAer
Carrier identification referred to as ‘G markings’ by marking for the tail and wingtips, ordered that reserve aircraft
Soon after the first Hellcat modellers, contemporary with each ship’s aircraft should carry fuselage insignia
combat missions, the Pacific documents simply called differentiated by combinations of with an International Orange
Fleet recognised that carrier task the markings ‘Naval Aircraft fuselage and wing stripes. band centred on the stars. The
forces needed a visual means Recognition Symbols’. Since the two organisations argued for the
of distinguishing separate units markings were assigned to each Post-war differences better part of a year, but by 1947,
on multi-squadron missions. carrier, air groups were required In 1946, the Navy’s Air Reserve most reserve units were bending
Initially, each carrier devised its to adopt their specific ship’s decided to mark each of its fighter to BuAer’s will. Today, just a few
own symbol, applied usually as markings at the beginning of any aircraft with an Orange Yellow photos remain to show us the Air
a tail marking. In January 1945, assignment change. fuselage band, and applied all Reserve’s early markings.
 The navy modified a number of Hellcats to test the aircraft’s potential as a flying bomb, a target or as unmanned
drones for flying into atomic tests. This yellow F6F-3K ran off the runway following an October 1945 test.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 53
 ON THE SHELF
BOOKS
HANDY SPRAYING GUIDE
Airbrushing Scale Model Aircraft
By: Robin Carpenter
ISBN: 978-1-78500-475-9
Price: £18.99 Format: 191 x 247mm
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This engaging and easy to follow
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at the novice, it can be argued
this is equally applicable for more
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Manual
By: Simon Forty
ISBN: 978-1-78521-168-3
Price: £22.99
Format: 276mm x 214mm
Web: www.haynes.co.uk
In a departure from previous
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education system during the
SEND IN YOUR PRODUCTS FOR US TO REVIEW: Airfix Model World, Key Publishing Ltd, Units 1-4 Gwash Way Industrial Estate, Ryhall Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1XP, UK
54 Airfix Model World
192 pages
experienced modellers, as it covers
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starting with a discussion of how
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This is a superb reference, and one
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180 pages
1930s, which focused on fostering
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period and re-enactment photos
and is recommended for military
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FLYING ARROW
160 pages
The Dorneir Do 335 Pfeil
By: Richard A Franks
ISBN: 978-0-9957773-9-2
Price: £18.95 Format: A4
Web: www.valiant-wing.co.uk
Rather than just re-issue its Do
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Much has been written on the
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The opening section addresses the
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but what sets it apart are the crew of most carrier deployed Phantom
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during ground-attack and combat air Equally useful for modellers are the
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strikes to deck fires, highlighting the accompanying photos. SF

FLAT-TOP FLYING MACHINES
US Navy and Marine Carrier-Based
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ISBN: 978-0-9991959-0-1
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Web: www.detailandscale.com
Detail and Scale bucks it’s usual
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HUNTER HOW-TO GUIDE
Jagdtiger: Building Trumpeter’s
1:16th Scale Kit
By: Sam Dwyer
ISBN: 978-0-9935646-2-8
Price: £35 Format: 298 x 210mm
Web: www.aftvmodeller.com
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261 pages
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value in e-book form, but selected
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163 pages
the interior detail. Throughout,
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the hull, and employing AFV
Modeller's resin aftermarket
accessories where required (such
as ammunition pouches and
gas mask containers). Although
this is effectively a showcase
of advanced modelling skills,
there is much to inspire the less-
experienced builder as many
basic techniques are covered,
such as creating weld beads,
building storage boxes and adding
internal wiring. Arguably, the
most educational element is the
painting, as the sub-assemblies
are coloured, chipped and
weathered. The final chapter
supplies detailed walk-round
photos of a preserved Jagdtiger,
courtesy of the US National
Armor and Cavalry Museum. SF
ON THE SHELF
BOOKS
PLANS BONANZA
20 pages
Brewster Buffalo
By: Maciej Noszczak
ISBN: 978-83-65437-73-0
Price: €18.99 Format: A4
Web: www.kagero.pl
Kagero’s dual-language (English/
Polish) volume, the 51st in its Top
Drawings series, examines the
Brewster F2A Buffalo, catering
for the -1, -2 and -3 sub-variants.
Various scales are employed to
illustrate the type; the majority
of drawings are 1/48 (including
fuselage cross-sections), while
close-ups of specific equipment,
such as landing skis (fitted to
Finnish airframes) and the wing final F2A-3. Whether one has
gun bays are 1/24 scale. The four offerings from Tamiya, Special
centre pages are occupied by Hobby or Hasegawa, there is much
eight superb colour profiles, which to savour, and this collection of
provide examples of US Navy, scale drawings offers much scope
Finnish, RAF and Dutch Near-East for either basic/super-detailing
Indies Air Force airframes, offering projects, or just correcting any
six different camouflage schemes, inaccuracies in the kits. This is a
as worn by almost all Buffalo sub- great guide to the Buffalo, and
types. The final section provides an essential reference for any US
a concise variant guide, charting Navy aviation enthusiast; as a
the changes between the initial bonus, there’s an A-4 colour print
production F2A-1 through to the of a US Navy F2A-3 Buffalo. SF
FLANKER ENCYCLOPEDIA 720 pages
Sukhoi Su-27 & 30/33/34/35
By: Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy
Komissarov
ISBN: 978-1-91080-918-1
Price: £44.95 Format: 220 x 286mm
Web: www.crecy.co.uk
If you thought the previous
collaboration between the
authors on Sukhoi’s Flankers was
comprehensive, then prepare to be
astounded by this completely revised
and updated edition, which delves
into the subject in unprecedented
detail. As previously, the Su-27’s
background is explored, culminating
in its selection for the Soviet
Air Force and Navy, after which in recent conflicts, including those
each of the subsequent variants in Georgia, Ukraine and Syria.
receives an exhaustive examination. The latter is arguably of most
Notably, there’s a complete listing interest, as it covers both air-to-air
of serial numbers, which is divided and air-to-ground roles. Perhaps
alphabetically into operators, unsurprisingly (given the volume’s
and covers all export customers, size), there are more than 1,700
including the Chinese; the latter high-quality photographs, including a
nation also warrants a chapter of its busy ‘in detail’ section, which offers
own, where its local Air Force and all the close-up shots a modeler
Naval variants are described. could possibly need, and there are
The type’s operational history scale drawings for each variant.
receives much attention, chronicling Regardless of whether one is a
the various reorganisations with modeler or aviation enthusiast, this
the Soviet/Russian military, before is the only reference needed on the
examining the Flanker’s involvement Su-27 Flanker family. SF
www.airfixmodelworld.com 55
 ON THE SHELF
AIRCRAFT KITS
FRENCH FLOATPLANE
Loire 130Cl ‘Colonial’
By: Special Hobby
Item no: SH 48172 Price: €40
Web: www.special hobby.eu
Special Hobby has re-boxed Azur’s
Loire 130Cl and added a new
Cartograf-printed decal sheet, plus
a vac-formed gunner/observation
position. Otherwise, the styrene
and resin parts are unchanged,
but the delicate engraved surface
detail rivals that of mainstream
manufacturers. The combination of
styrene and resin components yields
a well-furnished interior, including a
LAVOCHKIN’S EQUALISER
Soviet Fighter LA-5FN
By: Zvezda Item no: 6255
Price: £3.50 Web: www.hobbyco.net
It may not be the most intricate
‘demi-braille-scale’ release, but
Zvezda’s LA-5 is perfect for
beginners, with its single-piece
solid fuselage, comparatively large
components and simple assembly.
This can be built as a parked or
flying aircraft, and a two-part
stand is supplied for the latter.
56 Airfix Model World
1/48
complete set of radio equipment in
the rear. This is an unusual subject,
and one that’s been captured
faithfully – these latest decals have
certainly given this kit a new lease of
life. There are four markings options:
• No.71/SHM2, Section d’Hydroavions
de la Marine, Cat Lai, Saigon, 1940
• No.6, escadrille 1/CBS, Vatchay,
Cochin China, 1944
• No.15/19S-1, escadrille 19S,
l’Aéronautique Marine Nationale
(Vichy), Tripoli, Italian Libya, 1941
• No.14/17S-2, escadrille 17S, AMN
(Vichy), Fort-de-France, Martinique,
Lesser Antilles, 1942
1/144
Exterior detail is limited, with just
major components featured, such
as cowling panels and control
surfaces, but otherwise the shape
appears spot-on for an LA-5FN.
There isn’t a painting guide, just
a decal placement diagram, and
generic national insignia and
numerals are included. Those
wanting to colour the model will
find plenty of online reference
material for camouflaged green or
grey machines.
FIGHTER OF ‘THE FEW’
Hurricane Mk.I
By: Arma Hobby
Item no: 70019 Price: €16.50
Web: www.armahobby.com
Arma Hobby is a relatively new
styrene kit manufacturer, but
its 1/72 Hurricane is a delight,
marrying finely moulded styrene
parts with a photo-etched brass
fret and a canopy/wheel mask set.
There are three styrene runners,
and components feature delicate
engraved panel lines, and subtle
scalloping for the fabric-covered
areas. A choice of de Havilland or
IMPROVED HELLCAT
F6F-3
By: Eduard
Item no: 8227 Price: £23.37
Web: www.eduard.com
Eduard’s F6F Hellcat may have
been around for a decade, but it has
aged gracefully. The F6F-3 variant
has been re-released in ProfiPACK
form, with re-worked contents.
The original five well-moulded
styrene runners are joined by the
fuselage and cowling from the F6F-5
offering (which isn’t mentioned
in the instructions), while the two
photo-etched metal frets (one
1/72
Rotol three-bladed propellers and
associated spinners is offered,
along with a Volkes filter for the
South African Air Force marking
option. There are four schemes,
three of which depict machines
flown by Polish pilots during the
Battle of Britain:
• Mk.I, P3059/SD-N, Sgt Antoni
Głowacki, 501 Sqn, August 1940
• Mk.I, V7234/SD-A, Sgt Antoni
Głowacki, 501 Sqn, August 1940
• Mk.I, R4175/RF-R, Sgt Josef
Frantisek, 303 (Polish) Sqn, 1940
• Mk.I (Trop), 284/J, Lt Robert
Kershaw, 3 Sqn SAAF, Kenya, 1941
1/48
plain brass, the other pre-painted
metal) have been tweaked slightly.
A pair of beautifully cast BRASSIN
mainwheels completes the additions.
There are five markings options:
• White 5 ‘Ruthless’, Lt Oscar
Chenoweth, VF-38, Segi Point, New
Georgia, September 1943
• White 3, Ens GA Stanley, VF-27, USS
Princeton (CVL-23), October 1944
• White 8-F-14, VF-8, USS Intrepid
(CV-11), summer 1943
• White 117/Black 004 ‘Lolly’, Lt
Lochridge, VF-34, Nissan Island
• White 137/WF, OTU VF-2, NAS
Melbourne, Australia, October 1944

CAT-TAILED STINGER
F/A-18 Hornet ‘Tiger Meet 2016’
By: Italeri
Item no: 1394 Price: £17.50
Web: www.hobbyco.net
It’s hard to believe that Italeri’s
F/A-18 kit is fast approaching its
40th ‘birthday’, but it has been
re-packaged with a new set of
decals for a Swiss Air Force ‘Tiger
Meet’ participant. Any of the
Legacy Hornet’s four main variants
(A/B/C/D) can be built from the
three styrene runners, as it provides
parts for both single-and two-seat
SIMPLE DAY FIGHTER
Hunter ‘Maverick Hunter’ F.Mk.58
By: Mister Craft
Item no: 040116 Price: £5.09
Web: www.amerang.co.uk
Modellers wanting a budget Hunter
should consider Mister Craft's
basic offering (a re-boxed ZTS-
Plastyk kit. There’s a rudimentary
cockpit and landing gear, but there
are no rocket pods or Mavericks
(despite the box-top label). The
decals are disappointing; one
sheet suffers from poor colour
opacity, with the backing paper
clearly visible through white, blue
1/72
aircraft. However, it is very much a
product of its age, with raised panel
lines, dubious cockpit and ejection
seat detail and blank faces for both
air intakes and jet exhausts. The sole
highlight is the decal sheet, which
provides all the ‘Tiger Meet’ artwork
and full airframe stencilling. Despite
this, the kit is of questionable value,
being only slightly cheaper than
Academy’s vastly superior offerings.
The specific airframe is:
• J-5011, Fliegerstaffel 11,
Fliegerschwader 13, Zaragoza,
Spain, 2016
1/72
and yellow areas. Note, two of the
schemes are for Hunter Mk.6s,
markings are missing for at least
one option, and references are
needed for the correct Patrouille
Suise livery:
• F.Mk.58, J-4068, Fliegerstaffeln ,
Stans-Buochs, Switzerland, 1994
• F.Mk.58, J-4021, Patrouille Suis,
Dübendorf, Switzerland, 1991
• F.Mk.6, N-249, 325 Sqn,
Soesterberg, 1959
• FGA.9, XG228/56, 79 Sqn/1 TWU,
RAF Brawdy, UK, 1984
• F.Mk.6, IF-126/IS-U, 22 Sqn, 9 Ftr
Wg, Bierset, Belgium, 1960
NOSTALGIA TIME
Bell OH-58D Kiowa
By: Revell Item no: 04938
Price: £7.49 Web: www.revell.de/en
Revell’s OH-58D is a blast from
the past, as it’s a re-boxing of
Matchbox’s 1987 kit, which was
one of that company’s later (and
therefore better) offerings. There
are two beige-toned styrene
runners, plus a third containing
the transparencies, and while
certain elements (exterior panel
lines and rotor blades) are heavier
than modern equivalents, there’s
FOREIGN JUNKERS
Ju 88A-4
By: ICM Item no: 48237 Price: £27.99
Web: www.hannants.co.uk
ICM’s gorgeous Ju 88A-4 is back!
The contents are unchanged and this
remains the best kit of the type in
the scale, so there are eight styrene
runners, packed with crisply moulded
components, which provide for a
wonderfully detailed cockpit and
undercarriage. There are numerous
spares, notably MG 15 machine
guns and ammunition drums, which
will suit any 1/48 early German
bomber model. Armament options
are restricted to a pair each of SC
ON THE SHELF
AIRCRAFT KITS
1/72
plenty for the modeller to work
with. The interior is representative,
rather than accurate, with a decal
for the instrument panel, and
control columns attached to the
crew seats, but the rear section
is accurate, with equipment and
stowage in place of seats. There’s
also a mast-mounted sight fairing,
although it lacks weapons. Two
schemes are supplied:
• 85-24724, US Army, Germany,
1993
• 87-00744, 1st Armd Div, US
Army, Germany, 1993
1/48
500 and SC 1000 bombs, sufficient
to occupy both external racks. As
with other releases, there are two
replica Jumo 211J engines, which
can be displayed if desired, and the
external detail is rendered as fine
engraved panel lines and rivets. The
four schemes cater for Hungarian,
Romanian and Finnish aircraft:
• White 108, Grupul 5
Bombardament, Romania, 1944
• Black B.4+09, 3/1 Bombazo szazad,
Hungarian AF, Russia, 1943
• JK-256/White 1, 1/PLeLv 44,
Onttola, Finland, summer 1944
• JK-265/Yellow 4, 3/PLeLv 44,
Onttola, Finland, summer 1944
www.airfixmodelworld.com 57
 ON THE SHELF
AUTO KITS
LOMBARD RACER
Ford Escort RS 1800 Mk.II
By: Italeri
Item no: 3650 Price: £29.99
Web: www.hobbyco.net
Esci’s long-lived Ford Escort makes
a return in Italeri packaging, this
time as an RS 1800 Mk.II in full RAC
Rally livery. While the moulds are
approaching 40 years old, they are
surprisingly well detailed, although
there are noticeable sink marks on
the bodyshell and bonnet. This is
ideal for beginners, with just four
“MAKES YOU WANT TO LAUGH…”
The Joker Getaway Car
By: MPC
Item no: MPC890 Price: £44.99
Web: www.amerang.co.uk
Released previously as a Dodge
Monaco, various police patrol
vehicles (from Batman, TJ Hooker
and Dukes of Hazard) and the
Joker ‘goon’ car (as here), this
MPC offering is an ageing, but fun
kit. There are six styrene runners,
plus separate bodyshell, interior
tub and chassis, four hollow vinyl
treaded tyres and a delightful
58 Airfix Model World
1/24
styrene runners, plus a separate
body shell and four vinyl tyres.
As with many of Italeri’s recent
re-releases, the highlight is the
markings, which exhibit rich colours
and prefect register; they should
also be opaque enough to prevent
bleed through from underlying tones.
The single option depicts #2, driven
by Ari Vatenen and David Richards
during the 1981 Lombard RAC Rally,
and includes spare blue, orange and
yellow blocks for those wanting to
paint the vehicle’s livery.
1/25
one-piece Joker caricature; the
latter bears similarities to Caesar
Romero’s depiction. Parts are
included to allow either a Joker
car, Police cruiser (with full radio
fit) or standard Dodge Monaco
(although liveries are supplied for
just the former two) and there
are various weapons included as
extras. Similarly, there are decals
for just the Joker or Police options;
the former includes all the graffiti
featured on the boxtop artwork,
and the figure is included in the
painting guide.
JAPANESE IN-LINE FOUR
Honda CBX 400F
By: Revell
Item no: 07939 Price: £49.99
Web: www.revell.de/en
While this Honda CBX 400F
may be new to Revell’s range,
it’s actually a re-boxed Aoshimi
kit, and comprises six styrene
runners, plus two solid vinyl tyres
and a length of tubing for various
cables. There’s a notable difference
in refinement between the two
‘chromed’ runners, with the matt
item far superior to the ‘bright’
frame, which appears to have parts
IF CARS COULD DREAM
Pagani Huayra Pacchetto Tempesta
By: Aoshima
Item no: 26 Price: £49.99
Web: www.aoshima-bk.co.jp
Aoshima seems to have emulated
Pagani in turning its Huayra
Pacchetto Tempesta kit into
something that’s almost a work of
art, such is the moulding quality
and detail. It comprises 16 styrene
runners, plus four hollow vinyl tyres
and a pre-cut self-adhesive masking
set and is packed with features.
There is a well-appointed interior,
gorgeous engine and transmission,
1/12
from the original 1982 release; the
latter will require stripping and
re-painting if modellers desire to
eliminate the seams. Otherwise,
it’s a delightful offering, with
crisp detail, notably on the engine
cooling fins, while the type’s
distinctive six-spoke wheels are
replicated faithfully, and there is
clear guidance provided on fitting
the various cables and aligning the
exhaust pipes. The single scheme
depicts a factory fresh bike, and
helpfully, all the red/black trim is
supplied in decal form, along with
nine difference registration plates.
1/24
meticulously replicated suspension
and faithful representation of
the vehicle’s distinctive styling.
Indeed, there is so much detail that
adding the car’s body shell seems
a shame, as most of the former
will be hidden; thankfully, most of
the latter is designed to just clip
together. Surprisingly, there are a
large number of moveable parts,
many associated with the car’s
aerodynamics, and the doors can
be posed open/closed. This is a
superb offering from Aoshima,
and raises the bar as to what one
should expect.
 TITLES THAT EXPAND YOUR
MILITARY KNOWLEDGE
H AY N E S . C O M / M I L I TA R Y

Haynes_FP.indd 1 20/01/2020 10:02

 ON THE SHELF
FIGURES
ON THE PULL
Ox towing a Me 163B with two
Luftwaffe groundcrew
By: CMK
Item no: F72346
Price: €10.30
Web: www.cmkkits.com
Here’s an instant diorama, in
the form of a beautifully cast
resin bullock and two Luftwaffe
groundcrew ‘handlers’ supervising
the animal as it tows an Me 163B
(note the aircraft isn’t included in
the set, but is available separately
BEFORE THE
1/35
BATTLE
Austro-Hungarian Officer WWI
By: The Bodi
Item no: 35118 Price: €12.50
Web: www.sbsmodel.com
The Bodi is an offshoot of SBS
Model and has been producing
high-quality figures for some
time. This two-piece Austro-
Hungarian Officer depicts an
individual standing with one
hand hooked into the belt,
and is characterised by crisp
detail, notably on the tunic and
boots, and a convincing facial
expression on the separate
head. The attire is typical for
periods of colder weather, with
what appears to be a standard
issue greatcoat worn over the
tunic and trousers; the latter are
tucked into the boots.
60 Airfix Model World
1/72
from Special Hobby). All
poses are realistic, with
one airman leading the
animal, and the other
walking by its side, with
his hand on the bull’s
back. Modellers will need
to scratch-build the
guide ropes, plus either rope or
wire cable to the aircraft, but the
yoke is supplied.
WAITING FOR 120mm
THE SIGNAL
SAS Trooper Operation Nimrod
1980
By: Mitches Military Models
Item no: N/A Price: £35
Web: mitchesmilitarymodels.co.uk
The 1980 Iranian Embassy siege
gripped the UK, until its dramatic
ending when members of the SAS
stormed the residence and freed
the hostages. Sculpted by Maurice
Corry, this 120mm figure depicts one
of the squad members posed on the
embassy roof (a section is supplied
as a base), just prior to the operation,
wearing coveralls and a flak jacket,
plus an S6 respirator, which has been
lifted to rest on his head. The facial
expression is utterly convincing, and
the attention to detail extends to
the equipment, with loose straps on
the respirator, H&K MP5 strap, two
flash-bangs, hand-cuffs and hammer
on the belt, pistol and holster (plus
spare magazines) on the right leg
and three MP5 magazines on his left.
AMERICANS ON THE ATTACK
1/35
US Infantry (1918)
By: ICM
Item no: 35693
Price: £9.20
Web: www.icm.com.ua
With a reputation for unusual
and ‘non-standard’ poses, it’s no
surprise that ICM’s US Infantry
figures are distinctly ‘not the
norm’, with three soldiers
and an officer depicted as if
conducting a raid/attack. All the multi-piece figures and
poses are realistic, although the the detail on the tunics and
infantryman portrayed on the equipment/weapons is first-rate.
box crossing barbed wire does Clear painting and assembly
look strange initially, until its guides are supplied, along with
realised the rifle is being held to a very handy listing of the
keep it from being entangled. It equipment, aiding modellers
comprises two styrene runners, in distinguishing M1903
with crisply moulded parts for Springfields from M1897s.
REAR
1/32 SOUND THE 28mm
CREWMAN ADVANCE
Early Imperial Roman Legionaries
Attacking
By: Victrix Ltd
Item no: VXA026 Price: £22.95
Web: www.victrixlimited.com
Roman Armies have been a source of
fascination for many modellers, and
films such as Gladiator have helped,
so Victrix’s attacking Legionaries
package is perfect for any
re-enactments. It contains sufficient
parts for 25 Imperial figures, with
choices of Gladius (sword) or
Pilums (throwing spear) as the main
US Navy Gunner (WWII) weapons. However, it doesn’t stop
By: PJ Production there, as Centurions, Aquilifers
Item no: 321124 Price: €11.50 (Legion standard bearer), Optios
Web: www.pj-production.be (second-in-command), Cornicenes
(trumpeters), Signifers (standard
Modellers with 1/32 Dauntless, bearer) and Legionaries can all be
Avenger, Devastator or other built, along with Praetorians. There
multi-crewed US Navy aircraft are different shields (round, oval,
will find PJ Production’s four- rectangular) flaming torches and
piece gunner the perfect even severed heads to adorn the
addition to the cockpit. The figures, making this great value.
flying coverall and Mae West-
equipped figure is posed seated,
with the hands raised as if
gripping the firing handles of
a .30 or .50cal machine gun,
and staring intently along the
sights. This is a superb piece
of sculpting and casting, with a
well-defined seat harness and
convincing creases on the legs.
Similarly, the head is clad in a
standard US Navy flying helmet,
with goggles.
 CHESTER MODEL CENTRE
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 ON THE SHELF
MARITIME KITS

ARMOURED SCHNELLBOOT 1/72

LIVING HISTORY
1/180

HMS Victory
By: Airfix
Item no: A09252V
Price: £32.99
Web: www.airfix.com

Airfix’s HMS Victory is history

S-100 Class
By: Revell
Item no: 05162
Price: £29.99
Web: www.revell.de/en
Arguably one of the best
Schnellboot (also known as S-Boot
and E-Boat) kits available, Revell’s
S-100 is also great value, with six
styrene runners, separate hull
halves, a splendid decal sheet,
rigging thread and a pre-printed
acetate sheet for the bridge
glazing. While most parts are well
moulded, smaller items suffer
from flash, notably the prop-shaft
mounts and crew ladders, although
these should be easy to neaten.
METAL MAMMAL
There’s plenty to savour, from
the accurate anti-aircraft guns
to the well-appointed armoured
bridge interior and spare torpedo
rails (two reload munitions are
supplied). While there are no crew
figures, these are available from
aftermarket companies, as are
photo-etched and turned brass
extras for those demanding further
refinement. Markings are provided
for four vessels, two without hull
numbers (although one of these
– possibly S-204 – has jaguar
artwork on the bridge sides), and
the remaining pair are S-68 and
S-206. All are clad in standard
Schnellbootweiss, with black lower
hulls and Dunkelgrau decks.
1/700
personified. The original kit is
more than 50 years old, yet
the parts are comparatively
well moulded, although
smaller pieces suffer from
flash. All the styrene parts
remain unchanged from the
first release, with the sails
represented as vac-formed
items (these will need cutting
from the surrounding sheet
before use), while the deadeyes
are supplied in blocks, to
ease construction. The big
difference is the rigging; gone
are the pre-formed ‘sheets’
of shrouds, instead there’s an
ingenious two-piece jig, two
thicknesses of thread and a
double page devoted to their
use. Ensigns, standards and
signalling flags are supplied
as self-adhesive stickers, and man will do his duty” message,
the latter items are intended although at least one has an
to replicate Admiral Nelson’s incorrect pattern, and the blue
famous Battle of Trafalgar sections are too pale when
“England expects that every compared to references.

FROM PLATE TO JAVA 1/700

HMS Exeter features integral life rafts and

Porpoise-class Submarine
By: Starling Models
Item no: STC02 Price: £8
Web: www.starling-models.co.uk
The second release in Starling’s
‘Craftsman’ line is a British
Porpoise-class diesel-powered
submarine, as used by the Royal
Navy between the 1960s and
1980s. With just four parts,
this is a quick and simple
subject, with a single piece
resin waterline hull and conning
tower, plus a small photo-etched
(PE) brass fret for the diving
planes and anchor. The casting
is excellent, with the upper
casing featuring fine recessed
detail, along with flooding holes
on the sides. Openings in the
conning tower provide locations
for periscopes and masts, and
there is an aperture in the port
hull for a PE anchor. No painting
guide or decals are included,
but helpfully, two references are
provided to aid modellers.
By: Aoshima
Item no: 052730
Price: £19.60
Web: www.aoshima-bk.co.jp/en
Aoshima’s third boxing of HMS
Exeter depicts the vessel as it
appeared after its post-Battle of
the River Plate refit in late 1941,
with improved secondary and anti-
aircraft armament, and replaced
the pole-style masts with tripod
units. It comprises nine styrene
runners, all packed with beautifully
moulded parts, notably the single
piece catapults and crane jib,
while the separate waterline hull
recessed portholes. This is by far
the most accurate and refined
offering of a York-class heavy
cruiser in the scale, and boasts
a staggering level of detail, from
the multi-part octuple ‘pom-pom’
mounts to the delicate engraved
decking and anchor chains.
Experience modellers may wish to
add photo-etched fittings, but it
will build into a convincing replica
straight from the box and would
make a great subject for those new
to maritime subjects. Neat touches
include open bridge windows and
the searchlights – supplied as
transparent items.

62 Airfix Model World

AMMO_FP.indd 1 10/01/2020 09:22
 ON THE SHELF
MILITARY KITS
GERMAN LEVIATHAN
Tiger I ‘Early Version’
By: Airfix
Item no: A1363 Price: £33.99
Web: www.airfix.com
Academy’s early Tiger I kit gets a
new lease of life in Airfix packaging,
with a fresh set of decals and parts
reflecting the former’s 2017 releases,
with individual link tracks replacing
the vinyl ‘band-style’ items. There
are 13 styrene runners, a separate
lower hull and a photo-etched metal
fret. The parts are all moulded
crisply, with excellent definition on
the machine gun ammunition bags,
TRACKED ACK-ACK
Crusader Mk.III
By: IBG Models
Item no: 72070 Price: €13
Web: www.ibg.com.pl
IBG has followed its superb
Crusader Mk.I (see News, August
2019) with the Mk.III anti-
aircraft variant. The lower hull is
unchanged, although it benefits
from optional photo-etched side
skirts, but the upper component
and turret are completely new.
These modifications are reflected
by an increase in the number of
64 Airfix Model World
1/35
cooling fans and engine grilles.
A partial interior is provided, but
otherwise most items are accounted
for, with spare main gun rounds,
associated stowage racks, a well-
appointed turret, while a series of
cutaway drawings act as a handy
placement guide. The two schemes
depict the same vehicle at different
times during its operational career:
• Black/White 823, 2. SS
Panzergrenadier-Division Das
Reich, Normandy, May 1944
• Black/White 823, 2. SS
Panzergrenadier-Division Das
Reich, Russia, Spring 1943
1/72
styrene runners, from six to eight,
with just three common frames.
The highlights are the one-piece
track/running gear units, which
feature inner roadwheels moulded
integrally with the track, making
assembly simple. Similarly, the
new turret is a convincing replica
of this twin-gun unit, and there is
extra stowage for the hull exterior.
• T127078, 1st Armd Div, Polish
Forces in the West, 1944
• 60156 Skyraker/The Princess, 1st
Royal Tk Regt, 22 Bde, 7th Armd
Div, British Army, 1944
SOVIET COLOSSUS
Russian Heavy Tank KV-2
By: Waltersons Item no: 873003A
Price: £6.99 Web: hobbyco.net
Comprising just two styrene
runners, plus separate lower hull
and upper turret, ‘band-style’
vinyl tracks and a two-piece tank
commander figure, Waltersons’
KV-2 is ideal for modellers
and wargamers. It may have a
low parts count, but they are
surprisingly well detailed. There
are convincing weld beads, track
tread and while the figure appears
MODERN BIG CAT
Leopard 2A6
By: Italeri Item no: 6567
Price:: £35.99 Web: hobbyco.net
Despite Italeri’s claim regarding
upgraded moulds, there is little
difference here to previous Leopard
A6 offerings, with just the side skirts
from the A4 release (for non-German
machines). The two-part vinyl tracks
are supposedly new but appear
identical to those in earlier releases.
Most parts seem to be from the
initial 1985 and 1998 releases, and
this is apparent in the numbers of
sink and ejection pin marks. Despite
these faults, it appears accurate
1/72
slightly oversized, it has excellent
moulded features. Arguably
the most complex aspect is the
running gear, with individual inner
and outer road/idler/drive wheels.
The plastic is coloured to match
the standard Soviet 4BO (Russian
Green) tone and, combined with
the large locating pins, mean this
could be built without either glue
or paint. Markings are supplied for
a single vehicle from an unknown
unit, with the patriotic slogan ‘For
the Motherland’ on both sides of
the turret.
1/35
when compared with references, and
includes alternative styles of smoke
dispensers and turret-mounted
machine gun. Four markings
schemes are included, all in standard
NATO three-tone camouflage:
• Y 626 631/D3, Bundeswehr Pz
Bn 104, NATO Enforced Forward
Presence, Lithuania, 2016
• KU-84-52 Armageddon, 42nd Tk
Bn, Koninklijke Landmacht, 2009
• MX-44-37, Exército Português,
Brigada Mecanizada, Campo Militar
de Santa Margarida, Portugal,
2009
• P 274 201, Armd Bde, Suomen
Maavoimat, Parola, Finland, 2015
TheAirbrushCo.FP.indd 1 14/01/2020 12:23
 ON THE SHELF
ACCESSORIES
STORES 1/72
CARRIERS
Japan Bomb Racks (250kg bomb)
By: Brengun
Item no: BRL72141
Price: €6.96
Web: www.brengun.cz
This neat photo-etched brass
addition supplies four bomb racks
for bombs of up to 550lb (250kg)
weight, and could be fitted to the
wings of either fighters or light
bombers. Each item comprises
just two parts, one of which must
be folded in half, before the sway
braces are rotated through 90°. A
small pin at the top of the rack will
require a hole to be drilled in the
wing or bomb bay, but otherwise
adding these to a kit should be
relatively straightforward.
1/48
TANDEM
BOMBS
PM 3 Bomb Launcher for
Mirage III/5
By: PJ Production
Item no: 481223
Price: €6.90
Web: www.pj-production.be
PJ’s impressive resin centreline
twin-stores pylon is suitable for
any 1/48 Mirage III/5 kit, and
comes as a single-piece unit,
with integrally cast sway braces
and convincing ejector unit
detail on the underside. It will
permit carriage of two bombs in
tandem, and features delicate
engraved panel lines, with
the casting plug attached
to the upper face.
66 Airfix Model World
GETTING
1/35
A LIFT
US Army Jacks Stands
By: PlusModel
Item no: 499 Price: €20
Web: www.plusmodel.cz
Arguably diorama builders have
never had it so good, and with
PlusModel catering for even the
most basic pieces of equipment,
its not hard to see why. This
resin and photo-etched metal
maintenance bay/garage
accessory supplies parts for
a hydraulic jack (including
metal top plate and armature
hinges) plus ten vehicle stands;
the latter are supplied in two
styles, with five of each. While
the artwork shows brightly
coloured units, these could
easily be painted in military
tones, and placards and logos
are supplied in decal form.
NAVAL 1/48
PRECISION
GBU-38 Thermally Protected
By: Eduard
Item no: 648386 Price: £7.65
Web: www.eduard.com
Modern naval aviation fans will
appreciate this set of four GBU-38
JDAM, which feature a protective
coating for operations from US
Navy carriers. Each comprises
nine resin and one photo-etched
brass parts, with alternative GPS
antennas and nose caps. These
allow for three versions; standard,
airburst and GBU-54 Laser JDAM.
A handy mask set is supplied, along
with decals for the stencils; note
US Navy JDAMs have either two
or three yellow nose bands. For all
other operators, modellers should
opt for the uncoated version,
available as 648385.
BIG CAT TRACKS 1/72
Leopard 2
By: OKB Grigorov
Item no: S72259 Price: €11
Web: www.shop.okbgrigorov.com
OKB Grigorov’s resin tracks can
be added to any 1/72 Leopard 2,
and comprise two three-piece
lengths and a pair of two-part drive
sprockets; the latter are needed to
ensure a snug fit with the track link
gaps. The firm has a well-deserved
reputation for quality, and this is
evident in the finesse on the inner
faces of each link and the track
pins, plus the drive sprockets are
superior to most styrene offerings.
Note the tracks will need to be
heated in water and bent around
the running gear once the sections
have been joined.
1/350
IN NEED OF
A BRIDGE
NX-326 USS Franklin
By: Greenstrawberry
Item no: 06218 Price: US$36.74
Web: www.greenstrawberry.cz
If there’s one failing with
Moebius’ USS Franklin, it’s
the lack of interior detail,
specifically the bridge, but
Greenstrawberry has come to
the rescue with this delightful
upgrade. Comprising nine
crisply cast resin parts, plus
two photo-etched brass frets
and a sheet of clear acetate, it
supplies a complete command
deck (with new viewscreen/
window), consoles, seats and an
upper access hatch with ladder.
Moving to the exterior, there are
holographic projectors and two
probable pulsed phase cannon
for the upper hull, thruster
covers for the lower, plus
impulse engine grilles.
WHAT-IF
1/72
MISSILES
McD Phantom F-4K/M Proposed
Redtop
By: Freightdog Models
Item no: FDR72125
Price: £5.50
Web: www.freightdogmodels.co.uk
Here’s an intriguing scenario,
what would have happened if
British Phantoms weren’t armed
with Sidewinders? Freightdog’s
lovely resin conversion,
designed for Airfix’s recent
1/72 F-4s, supplies one possible
answer, in the form of single
Redtop missiles for each inner
wing pylon, plus the associated
launch rail. The crisply cast
missiles are supplied as single
units, as are the rails, which
have an upper plug designed to
fit into the corresponding gap in
the kit’s inner pylon.
WIMPEY RACKS 1/72
Wellington Mk.Ia/c Bomb Bay
By: Eduard
Item no: 72673
Price: £30.43
Web: www.eduard.com
Wellingtons had complex bomb
bays, and despite Airfix’s efforts,
styrene just doesn’t capture the
intricacies fully, so Eduard’s photo-
etched brass upgrade is most
welcome. It replaces the bomb bay
dividers in their entirety, along
with the multi-section doors, and
supplies new bomb attachment
shackles. This will transform the
model’s appearance,
providing much
better scale thickness
for the doors.

SHIP 1/600
TRANSFORMATION
HMS Fearless/HMS Intrepid
By: Atlantic Models
Item no: ATEM60012 Price: £11.95
Web: www.atlanticmodels.net
Airfix’s HMS Fearless gets the
Atlantic Models treatment, courtesy
of this superb value photo-etched
brass upgrade. There’s hardly an
area of the kit that doesn’t receive
attention, with replacement Sea
Cat launchers, well-deck/flight-deck
cranes, landing craft davits, deck/
communications/radar rooms
and access ladders. Then there’s
the additions, with Corvus chaff/
launchers, railings, ladders, mast
yardarms (completely transforming
this featureless item) and guidance
on changing Fearless into Intrepid.
TRAVELLING
1/35
GEAR
Luggage Set 1930-40s
By: MiniArt
Item no: 35582 Price: £15.99
Web: www.creativemodels.co.uk
MiniArt’s luggage set has
multiple applications, from city
to refugee scenes...it all depends
on the finish. There’s a broad
selection of suitcases, plus a
briefcase, pram, several hessian
bags and a small wheeled cart.
These are supplied on five crisply
moulded styrene runners, and
considerable thought has gone
in their design; all are multi-
piece items, to capture the detail
faithfully. A small decal sheet
supplies logos, luggage tags and
travel stickers.
DIESEL
1/35
STORAGE
US 300 Gallon Fuel Tank
By: Plus Model
Item no: 533
Price: €15.70
Web: www.plusmodel.cz
With several 1/35 tractors now
available, including three from
Plus Model itself, it’s no surprise
that the firm has decided to
release a 300-gal fuel tank
accessory, which would be
equally suitable in a civilian or
military setting. It comprises
just 16 finely cast components,
and includes mounting brackets
and concrete ‘sleepers’, plus
a separate overflow vent and
filler caps, Helpfully, decals are
included for the various warning
and hazard signs.
WHEELY GOOD 1/72
TROLLEY
Hand Truck
By: Brengun
Item no: BRL72097
Price: €9.16
Web: www.brengun.cz
Brengun’s penchant for everyday
equipment is a ready source of
diorama accessories, such as its
Hand Truck offering, which
supplies sufficient resin and
photo-etched brass parts for six
of these ubiquitous items. Each
comprises a main frame with
laminated handles, plus separate
axle and load plate; two resin
wheels complete the trolley.
SWEET 1/72
HISPANO-SUIZA
Dewoitine D-520 Engine Set
By: CMK
Item no: 7414 Price: €10.30
Web: www.cmkkits.com
CMK seems to be tackling the detail
deficiencies in many of Hasegawa’s
1990s releases, in this case it’s
Dewoitine D.520. While it has an
acceptable exterior, the interior
is poor, so this engine set is most
welcome, with the well-cast resin
parts replacing most of the kit’s
nose section. The powerplant is
a stunning piece of sculpting and
casting, and, thoughtfully, all exterior
engine panels are provided, along
with a mounting plate, replacement
exhausts and a rear bulkhead.
1/48
FAIREY
TREAT!
Firefly Mk.I Exterior
By: Eduard
Item no: 48959
Price: €18.95
Web: www.eduard.com
While Trumpeter’s Firefly Mk.I
has received mixed reviews,
Eduard's neat photo-etched
(PE) brass set addresses several
of its shortfalls in detail. The
undercarriage bays are given
a complete makeover (but
retain the kit’s incorrect shape,
unfortunately), with all moulded
features replaced by more
accurate PE items, while the
undercarriage doors are either
replaced in their entirety or
embellished with new interior
faces. Similarly, the kit’s radiator
and carburettor mesh are
replaced by more realistic grilles.
ON THE SHELF
ACCESSORIES
CLEAR VIEW 1/72
IN SPACE
A/SF-01 B-Wing Starfighter
By: Greenstrawberry
Item no: VC 01 Price: US$9.96
Web: www.greenstrawberry.cz
Need a way of displaying all
the rich detail in the cockpit of
Bandai’s B-Wing starfighter?
Modellers need look no further
than Greenstrawberry’s crystal-
clear and commendably thin
vacform canopy, which comes
with interior and exterior self-
adhesive masks. Thankfully, the
crisp moulding provides clear
frame lines and will make cutting
the glazing from the surrounding
styrene that much easier.
CORRUGATED 1/72
CORRECTION
Junkers F.13 Eurasia
By: Master-X
Item no: MX 7222.07 Price: €10
Web: www.master-x.wz.cz
Junkers’ F.13 hasn’t received much
attention in kit form, so Master-
X’s ‘Eurasia’ conversion, intended
for Revell’s 1/72 offering, is most
welcome, providing a new tailfin,
upper fuselage, ailerons, side-
mounted exhaust, larger horizontal
stabilisers and wheels. The parts
are cast beautifully, with crisp
corrugated surfaces minimal flash,
and correct several of the kit’s
shortcomings. Markings are supplied
for a striking red/black/aluminium
Eurasia Aviation Corporation
airframe, including Chinese script for
the wings and fuselage.
www.airfixmodelworld.com 67
ON THE SHELF
DECAL SHEETS
WARRING FENCERS
STING IN THE TAIL
CVR(T) and Scorpion 90 Part 2
By: Star Decals
Item no: 35-C-1202 Price: £6.50
Web: www.star-decals.net
Star Decals’ second collection of
Alvis CVR(T) Scorpion variants
covers vehicles operated by
Spain, Nigeria, Togo, Chile,
Venezuela and Honduras. While
most can be used on AFV
Club/Accurate Armour kits,
the Scorpion 90s will require
a conversion set to depict
the larger turret and 90mm
main armament. National
modifications are noted where
possible; references will be vital
when modelling most of these
68 Airfix Model World
1/48
Digital Su-24M
By: Foxbot Decals Item no: 48-029
Price: £16.70 Web: foxbot.com.ua
Designed for Trumpeter’s impressive
1/48 Su-24M Fencer-D, this Foxbot
product is from its ‘Warriors of
Light’ series, depicting aircraft from
the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
It comes on three decal sheets,
with all markings printed on satin
carrier film, which should minimise
silvering. Register and opacity are
excellent, notably on the unit insignia
and warning placards (with yellow
backgrounds) and enough stencils
are supplied for one airframe.
The colour drawings provide clear
guidance on decal placement, while
also giving accurate references
for the four-tone camouflage
and equivalent paints in RAL and
FS codes, plus Vallejo Model Air
products. Separate mask sets are
available for the digital camouflage
on each of the two Lutsk-based
airframes, White 20 and White 41, as
they appeared in 2016 (FM48-005
and FM48-006 respectively).
1/35
machines. Six schemes are
specified, but when alternative
vehicles are considered, there
are 11 decal options:
• Scorpion, NA864020,
Armoured Corps, Nigeria
• Scorpion, NA864010,
Armoured Corps, Nigeria
• Scorpion, FN31512/131,
Infantería de Marina, Spain
• Scorpion, 122, Infantería de
Marina, Spain
• Scorpion 90, FAT 3298, Togo
• Scorpion, FAT 3283, Togo
• Scorpion, RHFE
3713026/57MS46, Honduran
Army
• Scorpion, RHFE 3713023,
Honduran Army
• Scorpion
90, EV-106,
Venezuelan
Army
• Scorpion,
CIM-060011,
Infantería
de Marina,
Chilean Navy
• Scorpion,
CIM-060813,
Infantería
de Marina,
Chilean Navy
TONKA FAREWELL
1/72
RAF Tornado GR.4 Special and
Retirement Schemes
By: Xtradecal
Item no: X72310 Price: £7.99
Web: www.hannants.co.uk
Xtradecal was quick off the mark
with its Tornado retirement
decals – one each in the markings
of 31 and IX(B) Squadrons and
the third in retro camouflage and
painted with the crests of all RAF
units to operate the type, along
with five additional airframes.
Four are Tornados, honouring
the 100th anniversaries of 41(R)
Tactical Evaluation Squadron
(TES) and the RAF, plus aircraft
commemorating 40 years of
Panavia and 30 years of the
Tornado. The final option caters
for a 617 Squadron F-35B, ZM148. Marham, March 2019
Note the retirement markings • ZA560/EB-Q, 41(R) TES, RAF
are also available in 1/48 scale Coningsby, 2017
(X48204), but modellers will • ZG752/129, RAF Marham Air
need to use either kit/aftermarket Wing, March 2018
stencils. There are eight schemes: • ZA369/003, XIII Sqn, RAF
• ZD716/DH, 31 Sqn, RAF Marham, Leuchars, 2009
March 2019 • ZA401/012, II(AC) Sqn, RAF
• ZG752, RAF Marham Air Wing, Marham, June 2012
March 2019 • F-35B, ZM148, 617 Sqn, RAF
• ZG775/AF, IX(B) Sqn, RAF Marham, January 2019
ARTY FIGHTERS 1/48
Supermarine Spitfire LF.Vb/VIII/IXe Printed by Cartograf, the markings
‘Sexy Spitfires’ feature the firm’s trademark high-
By: Exito Decals Item no: ED48003 quality illustrations, plus perfect
Price: €12.75 Web: www.exito.site register and sharp demarcations,
notably on the RAF roundels, while
Exito Decals is a new company to the nose art is replicated faithfully.
AMW, but its initial releases are The airframes are:
stunning, and its first Spitfire set • LF.Vb, EN921/YO-A, Fg Off Jack
features three of the comparatively Sheppard, 401 Sqn RCAF, RAF
few machines to receive nose Redhill/Staplehurst/Biggin Hill,
artwork, with one example each July-October 1943
of an LF.Vb, LF.XIII and LF.IX. The • LF.VIII, MT841/U, 2 Sqn RIAF, Kohat,
decal sheet is dwarfed by the A4 British India, spring 1946
placement/colour guides/profiles • LF.IXe, TA864/LW-L, 318 (Gdański)
(all of which can double as posters), Sqn, Plt Off Zdzisław Uchwat,
and there’s a piece of thick card to Risano (near Udine), Italy, May-
prevent them being folded/creased. June 1945

SIX FROM FIFTEEN
100 Years of XV Squadron RAF
By: Xtradecal
Item no: X72305
Price: £7.99
Web: www.hannants.co.uk
It’s with sadness we write this
month’s Xtradecal reviews, after
MITCHELL MENAGERIE
North American B-25B, C & D
By: Iliad Design
Item no: 72019
Price: US $12
Web: www.iliad-design.com
Airfix’s new-tool Mitchell is
the perfect canvas for the new
ON THE SHELF
DECAL SHEETS
1/48
BUCKEYE AND THE KIDD
1/48
the passing of David
Hannant (see News),
but his own-brand
decal range lives on as
a legacy employed by
modellers worldwide.
This sheet is of the
themed variety, offering
six options for aircraft
flown by the RAF’s XV
Squadron. The variety
makes for interesting 4th Fighter Group P-51 Hofer is the other airman,
modelling, but it’s By: Kits World renowned for his maverick
almost entirely bomber Item no: KW148182 nature and lack of radio
led due to this unit’s Price: £10.20 discipline! Just one set of
history. The choices are: Web: www.kitsworld.co.uk national insignia is offered
• Bristol Scout C, 5313, here, but the unit and personal
France, 1916 Kits World’s offering supplies devices are printed well and with
• Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV, markings for two of the Eighth impressive colour/sharpness.
L8852/LS/Q, Wyton, Air Force’s most famous aces, The P-51Bs in detail are:
April 1940 both of whom flew with the • 36913/VF-T ‘Shangri La’, Capt
• Short Stirling 4th Fighter Group. The first is Don Gentile, 336th FS, March
Mk.I, N6086/LS-F ‘Buckeye’ Don Gentile, whose 1944
‘MacRobert’s Reply’, nickname came from the fact • 2106924/QP-L ‘Salem
Wyton, 1942 that he was from Ohio (the Representative’, Ralph Hofer,
• Avro Lancaster B.III (Special), Buckeye State). Ralph ‘Kidd’ 334th FS, May 1944
PD131/LS-V, Bovington, 1946
• Panavia Tornado GR.1, ZA446/F
‘MacRobert’s reply’, Laarbruch,
Germany, 1990
LEGEND REVISITED 1/48
• Panavia Tornado GR.4, ZA602/F, Hawker Hunter F.6 Pt2 • XE645/P, 54 Sqn, Stradishall,
Lossiemouth, April 2015 By: Xtradecal August 1959
Item no: X48191 • XE550/R, Flt Lt Hine, 93 Sqn,
1/72 Price: £7.99 Jever, Germany, June 1960
Web: www.hannants.co.uk • XE548/W, 263 Sqn, Wattisham,
decals from Iliad, but they’d June 1958
work just as well on kits from Here’s Xtradecal’s second helping • XG203/H, 111 Sqn, Wattisham,
Hasegawa, Italeri and the like. of Hunter F.6 markings, in 1958
Each option has its own national anticipation of Airfix’s forthcoming • F.6A, XE587, A&AEE, late 1960s
insignia, and the interesting all-new 1/48 Hunter. This batch • XF526/C, 56 Sqn, Waterbeach,
nose art (and varying offers a blend of standard fighter 1959
camouflage types), makes this camouflage and
a must-have set for B-25 fans. test schemes, and
Of the five aircraft, helpfully, many
just two are in overall of the squadron
natural metal: markings are
• B-25B, 02312, 3rd multi-part items
Antisubmarine Sqn, to help ensure
Westover Field, MA, perfect register.
1942 While one sheet is
• B-25C, shown here, there
112883/1095/15-03, are two others,
training aircraft, mostly comprising
Columbia, SC, 1942 black serials.
• B-25D, 130008/7T The nine options
‘Screamin’ Meemie’, comprise:
487th BS, 340th • F.6/FGA.9 hybrid,
BG, Sicily, late 1943 XE601, A&AEE,
• B-25C, 12449 ‘Fat Boscombe Down,
Cat, Dobodura, New 1994
Guinea, mid-1943 • XE544/V, 66 Sqn,
• B-25D, 5 OUT, Acklington, 1960
Boundary Bay, • XJ680/A, 20
British Columbia, Sqn, Gutersloh,
early 1945 Germany, June
1959
www.airfixmodelworld.com 69
 ADVANCED BUILD
M38A1C JEEP
Looking for
a quick build
after a long-term
project, Dave Oliver
resurrected an old kit in
the form of AFV Club’s 1/35
M38A1C with recoilless rifle
DESERT RECOIL
W
illys MB’s Jeep was a
mainstay for Allied forces
after its introduction
during World War Two.
Developed continuously
throughout the Cold War era, the
adaptable and dependable 4x4
served with many the world’s
armed forces until recently. The
M38A1C variant, the subject of this
build, was introduced in the 1950s
70 Airfix Model World
and incorporated many of the
original’s defining design elements,
such as the curved edges to the
front wheel mudguard and bonnet.
The M40A1 recoilless rifle was
also a development of a wartime
design – the updated weapon is
lighter and more portable than
previous iterations – which made
it suitable for infantry use and an
ideal vehicle-mounted anti-tank
weapon, being fitted to a variety of
wheeled and tracked machines.
This combination was exported to
many African and Middle Eastern
countries, with Israel deploying
them during the 1967 Six-Day War
– albeit with limited success – as
the vehicle lacked protection for its
crews. Nevertheless, the concept
proved fundamentally sound and
various manifestations of the same
idea were used subsequently;
the most recent versions are the
‘technicals’ seen in places such as
Somalia, Libya, Iraq and Syria.
Out of the box
This particular AFV Club kit had
long been languishing in the
build stockpile/stash, along with
Legend Productions’ associated
LF1043 M151A1 Shimira Detailing/
Accessory Set – part of a
previously abandoned project.
After recently completing a major
diorama project, it was time for
a comparatively straightforward
build, and one that wouldn’t take
too much time.
AFV Club’s M38A1C kit came with
 ADVANCED BUILD
M38A1C JEEP

an extra runner for the recoilless Careful positioning of the leaf springs was required to
rifle and included a modified ensure subsequent running gear parts fitted correctly.
windshield moulding, but as this
wasn’t used by the Israeli Defence
Forces (IDF), it was omitted from
the build. The moulded detail was
to a high standard and the engine
and transmission components
were notable for their refinement.
Work began with the chassis, with
care needed to ensure the leaf
springs and axles were aligned,
as these dictated whether the
wheels would ‘sit’ at the correct
height and the detailed prop
shafts and steering racks would
fit once the engine was attached.
The instructions stressed the
need to locate the powerplant
properly to avoid any subsequent
configuration issues, and much
fettling was required to ensure block, while numerous Citadel process, mainly to create the The chassis was airbrushed with
everything was in place. metal colours were used on the convincing corroded tones. After UA901 IDF Sandgrey 1, followed
With all components dry-fitted, gearbox. Once the paint had dried, much experimenting, an initial by an overall treatment with
the engine was the first to be an overall wash of AMMO-MIG’s layer of UA702 Rust Base Color P221 Brown Wash; this acted as
primed and painted. Thankfully, A.MIG-1407 Engine Grime was (from the firm’s LC-LP02 Liquid a test bed for the final finish, and
there is a wealth of available applied, followed by selective Pigment Rust Wizard Set) was provided a base for weathering and
reference material, which meant pin washes of A.MIG-1408 Fresh applied, followed by numerous painting the wheels.
it was easy to determine accurate Engine Oil around the sump and Lifecolor metallic shades. Finally, Bodywork construction presented
shades for each element. cylinder head. Achieving a suitably a selection of MiG Productions’ no major issues, but caution was
Lifecolor’s UA001 Dark Green rusty patina on the exhaust system rust-coloured pigments added the exercised when adding the front
was employed for the engine proved a challenging and involved finishing touches. mudguards to ensure they were

 The engine and exhaust sub-assemblies were straightforward to construct. Small lengths  The various bodywork sections fitted together easily, although several small ejector pin
of lead wire were added to simulate ignition leads. marks on the wings and rear deck had to be neatened before painting.

M38A1C Jeep with Recoilless

MODEL SPEC

With the chassis and component parts painted, much dry-fitting was
Rifle required to ensure everything was properly aligned and positioned.
By: AFV Club
Stock Code: AF35S19
Scale: 1/35
Price: £25
Available from: AFV Club stockists

www.airfixmodelworld.com 71
 ADVANCED BUILD
M38A1C JEEP

 An entire runner was dedicated to the recoilless rifle and associated ammunition stowage,  Once painted and weathered, the recoilless rifle gave a good indication of how the
and AFV Club’s superb engineering was again apparent as minimal sanding was needed. weathering effects would appear on the finished model.

MATERIALS
AT A GLANCE
Accurate Armour
(www.accurate-armour.com)
A094 Carbon Fibre Aerial Rods
AMMO-MIG (www.migjimenez.com)
 The wheels were rendered beautifully and a pleasure to paint. Several progressively A.MIG-1407 Engine Grime
aligned with the chassis, while the
lightened shades of UA733 Tire Black were applied to create a worn effect. radiator grill was left unglued to A.MIG-1408 Fresh Engine Oil
expedite any repositioning of the Dirty Down (www.dirtydown.co.uk)
Several last-minute photo- engine and ancillaries if required. Dark Brown Ageing Spray
etched brass items, taken Once again, the powerplant’s
from the Legend Productions EZ Line (www.modellingtools.co.uk)
position proved crucial to this
detail set, included the EZROPE10 Rope
antenna bracket and
stage, as the whole radiator
spotlight guard. assembly would not fit if the latter FILA Group Accessories
wasn’t mounted correctly. (www.filagroup.it)
DAS Clay
Desert shades
Legend Productions (www-legend.co.kr)
With the chassis and wheels
LF1043 IDF M151A1 Shimira Detailing and
completed, focus shifted to the
Accessories Set
recoilless rifle. Constructing this
LF0047 IDF M151 Shimira Crews Set
prominent weapon presented
no major issues, with none of Lifecolor Paints (www.airbrushes.com)
the components requiring much LC01 Matt White FS 37925
neatening. The barrel was left LC-LP02 Rust Wizard Liquid Pigments Set
unglued to assist painting, while UA733 Tire Black
the intricate sight and ranging rifle UA735 Deep Cockpit Black
were kept separate until later. UA763 Burned Black
Next, all elements were sprayed UA901 IDF Sandgrey 1
with Tamiya’s 87064 Grey Primer, MIG Productions
after which the barrel received (www.migproductions.com)
A dark grey pre-shade was airbrushed UA763 Burned Black, followed by a P221 Brown Wash
lightly into the vehicle’s recessed areas very diluted wash of LPW06 Deep
using UA735 Deep Cockpit Black. Rust, which produced a slightly Pinnacle Pigments
corroded patina. (www.model-supplies.org.uk)
Chipping effects and areas of P719 Beach Sand
bare metal were formed with a P721 Desert Sand
2H pencil, concentrated along Tamiya (www.hobbyco.net)
any raised edges; a dust coat and 87064 Grey Primer
pigments were left off until the end 87177 Vinyl Masking Tape
of the project. The recoilless rifle
dolly was airbrushed with UA901 Vallejo (www.creativemodels.co.uk)
Sandgrey 1, before a selective 28.851 Liquid Mask
wash of P221 Brown blended the Verlinden Productions (no longer in
weapon with the rest of the vehicle. business)
Additional weathering effects were 155 Israeli IDF Vehicle Markings No.1 Dry
added once the gun was placed on Transfer sheet
the rear deck.

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 ADVANCED BUILD
M38A1C JEEP

 With the base colour in place, subtle colour modulation was used to highlight the jeep’s  A selection of the extra stowage items including a scratch-built tarpaulin. Further pieces
upper surfaces. were attached as the build progressed.

Having established the painting an almost pure white highlight. Dry Transfer sheet provided backing sheet before the latter is
and weathering products that This also helped to make the paint suitable serial numbers and unit lifted otherwise these fragile items
worked best on the previous sub- chipping, courtesy of a fine brush markings. Although these items will tear. Perhaps fortuitously,
assemblies, the main body of the loaded with UA022 Dark Grey are no longer in production, there the edges of several items didn’t
jeep was primed, pre-shaded and Shadow, appear more natural. are aftermarket water-slide decal adhere well to the model, which
airbrushed. Lifecolor’s UA022 Dark alternatives available. Verlinden’s resulted in some lifting/breaking
Grey Shadow formed a suitable Kerb weight products are rub-down transfers, when the sheet was removed,
contrast to the overlying UA901 Verlinden Productions’ #155 and each marking must be and this added a suitably worn
Sandgrey 1, to which a post shade Israeli IDF Vehicle Markings No.1 separated completely from the appearance in keeping with the
and weathering could be applied
more effectively. Progressively
lighter tones of Sandgrey
were then airbrushed onto the
horizontal surfaces (including the
cargo bay and bonnet) to give
contrasts in the
overall finish. Areas
of high wear/traffic,
such as the edges of
the mudguards and
bodywork received

“CHIPPING
EFFECTS AND
AREAS OF BARE
METAL WERE
FORMED WITH
A 2H PENCIL”
www.airfixmodelworld.com 73
 ADVANCED BUILD
M38A1C JEEP

1 grey shade produced a subtly worn appearance, in keeping with the rest of the paint
 Once the masking tape had been stuck to the outer sections of the bonnet, small spots
of masking fluid were dotted in a random pattern on the exposed surface.
CHIPPING AWAY
One of the more noticeable features on an IDF vehicle is the distinctive air
recognition stripe on the bonnet. Rather than create neat boundaries, the area was
covered with Tamiya 87177 Vinyl Masking Tape, followed by spots of Vallejo’s 28.851
liquid mask (applied sparingly with a cocktail stick to the centre of the panel), which
formed a suitably ‘distressed’ appearance. A light coat of LC01 Matt White was then
airbrushed, carefully ensuring the base coat was still visible in places, especially on
areas such as the bonnet’s front edge. Once dry, two thin strips of Tamiya Tape were
butted against the existing masking and the latter was then removed. A further two
strips of tape were then positioned alongside the thin lengths, and a final pair were
affixed for the outer demarcation. With the middle pieces of tape removed, UA735
Deep Cockpit Black was sprayed on the now exposed lines; this very dark charcoal
scheme. Once all masking was removed, the patches of liquid mask were rubbed away,
which revealed a damaged paint finish. Finer chipping effects were then produced via
the original Sandgrey 1 tone.

2 3
 Then, the unmasked area was airbrushed unevenly with a light coat of LC01 Matt White  With the masking tape and fluid removed, a suitably distressed appearance was
FS 37925, so the underlying Sandgrey1 was still visible in places. achieved with further chipping later.

 Dry transfers from Verlinden’s IDF sheet
were simple to use and proved easy to
‘distress’ with a scalpel blade.
rest of the vehicle.
Stowage items supplied with the
kit were supplemented by several
pieces from the LF1043 IDF M151A1
Shimira Detailing/Accessory Set
to create a suitably overloaded
jeep. The ad-hoc machine gun
mounting on the vehicle front was
scratch-built from parts salvaged
from the spares box, while a large
tarpaulin, which would be draped
across the bonnet rear, was
fashioned from lead sheet and
tethered with EZ Line EZROPE10
Rope. Smaller additions – such
as the driver’s sub-machine gun
and helmet – were added once
the vehicle was finished and a tow
chain, wrapped around the front
bumper, was a final late addition.
Detailing and finishing
Inhospitable desert conditions
would surely have taken a toll
on the vehicle paintwork with
sand permeating every nook and
cranny. Trying to achieve a scale
representation of this took a little
practice, with the chassis and
recoilless rifle providing a suitable
test bed for the weathering

With the various washes

applied and the majority of
the chipping complete, the
jeep was almost completed.

Smaller stowage
items were positioned
after the painting was
completed. Citadel’s Bolt Gun
Metal was dry-brushed into the
foot wells, to achieve a worn look.

74 Airfix Model World


techniques. The jeep was given an
overall treatment of P221 Brown
Wash to accentuate the detail
and produce a generally grubby
appearance. Further pin washes
with various shades of AMMO-MIG
Oilbrusher washes followed, before
chipping was applied using UA735
Deep Cockpit Black. A dust coat
of heavily diluted XF-57 Buff was
then airbrushed onto areas of the
vehicle that would have accrued
the most dirt and debris, such
as the wheels and inner wings.
The same Pinnacle pigments
used on the base were used to
unify the whole scene, with P719
Beach Sand and P721 Desert Sand
tones brushed lightly onto the
model. Areas such as the wheels
and the bottom of the radiator
“CORK BARK
WAS VERY
INEXPENSIVE
BUT LOOKED
PARTICULARLY
EFFECTIVE”
ADVANCED BUILD
M38A1C JEEP
grill received extra attention,
with the pigments layered by
additional thinner to achieve a
more concentrated appearance.
Once the vehicle was secured to
the base, a final coat of pigments
blended the two elements.
Wheeled hunter
AFV Club’s 1/35 M38A1C provided
a superb starting point for this
relatively quick project; the
inclusion of aftermarket detail and
scratch-built stowage items helped
to enhance the already high-
quality items present in the kit.
The base was a relatively easy and
effective way to display the vehicle
in its usual operating terrain, and
provided a great way of framing
the completed build.
 The finished jeep with wheels
fitted after receiving a dust
coat and weathering powders.
Areas such as the wheels and
radiator grill received several
layers of pigments to simulate
greater accumulations.
www.airfixmodelworld.com 75
 ADVANCED BUILD
M38A1C JEEP

CORKING BASE Once cut to shape and glued to the

base, DAS Clay was added to fill the
With the main elements of the build almost completed, work started on preparing a gap between the two sections to
suitable base, with cork bark utilised to simulate rock texture. Having seen the material form a suitable surface.
used effectively on model railway displays, a section was purchased for the princely sum
of £2. Its malleable properties made it easy to cut to shape and, with two suitably craggy
sections selected, the rear faces were trimmed with an old kitchen knife until they were
flat. Each piece was glued to a section of foam board, before DAS Clay was sculpted over
the top. The jeep’s spare wheel was rolled over the surface to add tyre tracks and provided
suitable rutting in the clay to make the vehicle’s wheels appear ‘planted’ on the scene.

Cork bark was very

inexpensive but looked 1
particularly effective
when crafting a rocky
desert outcrop.

After a base coat of Citadel’s Chaos

Black, XF-57 Buff was sprayed at
a 90° angle to form a series of
shadows in the rough texture.

A generous layer of Dirty Down’s

Dark Brown Ageing Spray was
applied, direct from the aerosol can,
and worked into the surface for
a series of tonal variations.

Finally, liberal amounts of

Pinnacle Pigments P719 Beach
Sand and P721 Desert Sand
powders were worked into the
surface via a soft brush, with
4 accumulations built between
outcrops to simulate
sand accretions.
Highlights were fashioned
by dry-brushing XF-57
over the Dark Brown,
which formed a series
of sharp contrasts.

76 Airfix Model World

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 ADVANCED BUILD
TYPHOON SSBN

BoomEr
Juanjo Domínguez Calvo takes a break
from his usual subjects and indulges
in a ‘little’ maritime modelling with
HobbyBoss’ 1/700 Typhoon

W
ith its innovative
multiple pressure-
hull design, the
nuclear-powered
Akula (shark)-class ballistic
missile submarine (SSBN),
NATO reporting name Typhoon,
was the pride of the Soviet
Navy in the 1980s.
This Cold War icon,
immortalised in Tom Clancy’s
book The Hunt for Red October
and the subsequent film,
 There were noticeable gaps between the propeller shrouds (see panel) and horizontal fins, remains the largest submarine
so these were filled with styrene and putty, and then sanded. ever built. It carried 20 x
R39 Rif (SS-N-20 Sturgeon)
submarine-launched ballistic
missiles, each with up to ten
independently targetable
nuclear warheads. The vessel’s
conventional weaponry was
also impressive, with six bow-
mounted torpedo tubes, while
the surface was covered with
anechoic tiles to reduce its
acoustic signature underwater.
Conceived originally in response
to the US Ohio-class SSBNs, the
six Typhoons had a relatively
short service life compared with
 The hull featured several blind depressions in the surface, supposedly to represent vents contemporary ballistic-missile
on the real vessel, so they were replaced by sections of plastic card which were then scribed submarines, with the first
with the anechoic tiles, as per reference photos. commissioned in 1980, yet most
(if not all) were retired/placed in
reserve by the early 2000s. As
of this year, just a single vessel
remained active, TK-208 Dmitriy
Donskoy, as a missile testbed.
HobbyBoss’ 1/700 Typhoon is
the most recent kit of the type,
and was supplied as a main hull
divided into horizontally split
halves with neat surface ‘tile’
detail (simplified when compared
with its 1/350 offering), and
a separate runner with the
conning tower, propellers,
control vanes and antennas. This
build was undertaken to provide
a break from more demanding
projects – with the premise
being speedy construction and
a focus on painting/weathering,
this subject was ideal thanks to
a low parts count and a decent
fit throughout.

78 Airfix Model World

 ADVANCED BUILD
TYPHOON SSBN

Russian Navy Typhoon class

MODEL SPEC
Submarine
By: HobbyBoss
Stock Code: 35045
Scale: 1/700
Price: £4.50
Available from:
www.creativemodels.co.uk

 Compared with its 1/350 cousin, HobbyBoss’ smaller Typhoon lacked several external
features, such as stabilisation strakes and reactor refrigeration system intakes; these were
fashioned from strip styrene and aileron actuators donated from a Hasegawa 1/72 F-4 Phantom.

SLimLi~E SHroudS
1 2 3

Although most of the kit was more than acceptable in terms of detail, the propeller
housings were easily the worst element, as they were very thick and appeared over-
scale. Spare photo-etched parts (from a 1/72 Sd.Kfz.251 half-track) were used as
replacements, with rectangles cut into the metal (1), which were shaped around an
appropriately sized drill bit, soldered and then smoothed with a jeweller’s file (2).
The propellers were removed from their thick styrene surrounds via a razor saw (3),
sanding sticks and plenty of patience, before the missing tips were reinstated via
scrap styrene and sanded to the correct profile. When compared with the original 4
parts, the re-worked items were far more convincing in appearance (4).

“trAiLi~g EdgES of thE

co~troL fi~S wErE thi~~Ed
for grEAtEr AccurAcy“

www.airfixmodelworld.com 79
 ADVANCED BUILD
TYPHOON SSBN

 Having already improved the hull, the

sensors and antennas were rebuilt from
styrene rod and strip, as otherwise they
would have appeared very basic.

Trailing edges of the control fins  HobbyBoss represented the torpedo

were thinned for greater accuracy, tubes as six openings, so these were
and the towed-array sonar ports filled with styrene rod, sanded and then
were opened with a drill. re-scribed with a sharpened hypodermic
needle tip.

 Painting started with AMMO-MIG’s

A.MIG-2024 One Shot Primer Grey (www.
migjimenez.com), which was then sanded
lightly to reveal any surface blemishes.
These were addressed, before two further
coats of primer readied the model for the
main hull colours.

 Mr. Hobby’s H-406 Chocolate Brown

(www.albionhobbies.com) was the first
tone added to the underside; lighter
shades were created by mixing it with
Flat Red (H-13) and Orange Yellow
(H-24) for tonal variation. Once dry, this
area was masked with Tamiya tape.

80 Airfix Model World

 ADVANCED BUILD
TYPHOON SSBN

“rEfErE~cE photoS of SoviEt/ruSSiA~

SuBmAri~ES rEvEALEd copiouS Bird
droppi~gS o~ thE rEAr fi~“

HuLL
mArki~gS
HobbyBoss’ decal sheet comprised
just draught lines and escape hatch
symbology, and were easy to apply
with Microscale’s MicroSol/Set
solutions (www.microscale.com),
although the latter items required
additional work as they were of a
different size to the styrene features.

 Work on the upper hull began by airbrushing the flanks with matt white, after which the waterline stripe was masked with 0.7mm tape.

 Satin black (H-12 Flat Black and H-30

Gloss Varnish) was then applied to the upper
hull and sides. A study of reference photos
revealed considerable tonal variation, and
this was duplicated by airbrushing the base
tone, mixed with various amounts of Tamiya
XF-63 German Grey (www.hobbyco.net)
onto individual tiles.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 81
 ADVANCED BUILD
TYPHOON SSBN

A similar effect was achieved on the

upper surfaces with A.MIG-1611 PLW
Black Night, again applied by brush.

 Next, raised hull features were accentuated via Vallejo 70.995 German Grey (www.
creativemodels.co.uk), mixed with a hint of 70.992 Neutral Grey, here the aim was to
create a subtle, as opposed to stark, tone with a fine-tipped brush.

 Weathering commenced with a wash of A.MIG-1605 PLW Dark Red Brown onto the  Reference photos of Soviet/Russian submarines revealed copious bird droppings on the
lower hull, via a fine-pointed brush, which gave greater richness and depth to the red- rear fin. This seemed an interesting effect to replicate and was accomplished by adding,
brown surfaces. and then streaking, streaking A.MIG-3501 Oilbrusher White down its vertical surfaces.
 Additional tonal shifts were formed
on the black areas with A.MIG-1207
Streaking Grime for US Modern Vehicles,
A.MIG-1204 Streaking Rust Effects and
AK Interactive’s AK-024 Dark Streaking
Grime (www.ak-interactive.com). Care
was taken to ensure this work didn’t
extend onto the lower areas.

82 Airfix Model World

 Submarines show minimal chipping
or rust on the upper hull, but these do
occur on the lower areas. Here these were
replicated with brush-painted 74.003
Reddish Flesh (74003). Modellers seeking
a ‘clean’ appearance could stop the build
at this stage, but for those wanting a more
weather-worn look…

Splendid submarine
Here I’m again saying this
was my first ‘anything’ in
modelling… yet this was my first
ship build. It was started as a
means of relaxation from more  …Areas above the waterline were masked, before a mix of A.MIG-1401
demanding modelling projects Light Dust and A.MIG-1400 Kursk Soil was airbrushed onto the sides and
and, once again, the plan stern. Further texture was produced by gently dabbing the surface with
worked like a charm. I’ve always thinner-dampened sponge, followed by similar efforts using A.MIG-1410
felt a change to the usual Slimy Grime Dark and A.MIG-1411 Slimy Light Green.
subjects, scale or weathering
methods and stepping out of
your ‘comfort zone’ is a good
way of recharging the batteries,
and here it’s really opened a
whole new modelling world to
me: ships! This was very easy
to build, and could be achieved
in an afternoon, allowing
plenty of time for painting
and weathering – I’ll certainly
be returning to maritime
subjects in the future.

 There weren’t many fiddly parts in this

kit, but most were associated with the
conning tower, in the shape of ensigns,
antennas and sensors. These were the final
parts to be attached, along with the bow-
mounted diving planes.

 A final touch was to depict salt streaks, here Oilbrusher White was again employed, this time mixed with A.MIG-3513
Oilbrusher Starship Filth (to mute the tone) and diluted slightly with white spirit. It was applied with a fine-pointed brush
and then streaked and worked into the surfaces with a small flat brush.
 FIGURE BUILD
WARLORD BATTLE TITAN

WAR MACHINE! hubris, and another of its own

kind.” Grand Master Volkus, Ordo
Sinister of the Divisio Militaris.
The Warhammer 40,000
(also called Warhammer 40k)
universe is a vast and intricate
entity, incorporating tales of
heresy, death and destruction
on a biblical scale, stretching
over thousands of years. The
Battle Titan is an integral part
of this story, with a lore of its
own. Their very construction is
overseen and blessed by the
Adeptus Titanicus, part machine
shop, part cult, while their crews
steadily become an integral
part of the machine. The Titan
itself has its own ‘God Machine’
consciousness, which the pilot
or ‘Princeps’ must overcome
to control the machine
effectively. While these
kits are intended for
wargaming, these
larger subjects are
more than suitable for
modellers of all ages and
experience levels to enjoy, as
‘realism’ is often in the eye of
the beholder.

Adeptus mechanicus
The kit came packaged in a
sturdy box and contained three
runners, a decal sheet and a
comprehensive assembly and

Adeptus Titanicus Warlord

MODEL SPEC

Battle Titan
By: Games Workshop
Stock Code: N/A
Scale: 1/300
Price: £65
Available from: www.games-
workshop.com

“
N
o weapon in the
Dave Oliver takes a break from arsenal of the
Imperium or the
contemporary subjects and tries Traitor equals
his hand at building and painting the Titan on the battlefield,
and a Legion of such vast war
Games Workshop’s imposing machines can bring any world
to its knees. In truth, a Titan
Warlord Battle Titan has only three enemies: folly,

84 Airfix Model World

 FIGURE BUILD
WARLORD BATTLE TITAN

Brightly toned protection

In a deviation from the suggested build sequence, all armour plates were
removed from the runners, with the relevant part number pencilled on the back
to keep track of what went where. A bag of wooden lollipop sticks was purchased
from a local hobby store to use as handles, and the individual components were
affixed with Blu Tack, which made painting these intricate items much easier.

 The main endoskeleton was assembled without issue and the kit’s design ensured any
seam lines were covered by armour plate subsequently.

 Each piece of armour was labelled with its part number before it was removed from
the runner, to prevent any misidentification

 The lollipop sticks made excellent handles on which to mount the armour plates
while they were painted and weathered.  The model and base received a primer of Chaos Black; the irregular surface meant care
was needed to achieve an even application.

painting guide. The grey styrene
parts displayed a high degree
of moulded detail, but the
large attachment gates meant
each component had to be
removed with cutters. Minimal
neatening was required and the
construction stages were both
logical and clearly depicted in
the instructions, but due to the
slightly unorthodox painting
method, these weren’t strictly
followed in order.
The endoskeleton was the
first sub-assembly and its
construction presented no major
issues, but care was needed
to ensure the smaller armour
plates on the legs and arms
would fit under the larger limb
components, all prior to these
being attached to the torso. All
seam lines were hidden, due to
the well-thought-out design,
once again just minimal fettling
was required for everything
to fit snugly. Once completed,
the whole sub-assembly was
treated with Citadel’s Chaos
Black Primer, followed by an
overall coat of Boltgun Metal,
which was sprayed liberally
over the surface. After this had
dried thoroughly, a Nuln Oil
Black ash was then applied by
airbrush, followed by diluted
Gryphon Sepia, which gave a
suitably oily appearance and
muted the metallic tones. Several
subsequent pin washes using

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 FIGURE BUILD
WARLORD BATTLE TITAN

the same colours were then
added over the course of the
project to accentuate the detail
on exposed areas, both before
and after the armour plates
were attached. Finally, various
cables and hoses were painted
with LifeColor UA732 Vulcanized
Rubber, while the hydraulic rams
were painted with Mithril Silver,
before they received a selective
pin wash of AMMO-MIG’s A.MIG-
1408 Engine Oil.
Armour chassis
Drawing inspiration from one
of the many colourful paint
schemes contained in the
instruction manual, it was
decided to paint the Titan in the
scheme of the Legio Fureans.
These machines were covered
in a bright yellow base coat,
with distinctive black flame
effects, and much thought and
experimentation were required
to achieve a realistic finish.
Several online video tutorials
(via Warhammer’s YouTube
channel) provided useful insight
into how to create such a
complex scheme. Several spare
 Several coats of Boltgun Metal were then misted over the ‘skeleton’; again, this required
diligence to ensure all recesses were covered. sections of armour plate were
then primed and painted in the
prospective colours to assess
which products would produce
the most convincing results.
Several minor alterations were
made to the selected metal hues
used for detail painting as a
result; determining these colours
at an early stage meant there
were no difficult/time-consuming
revisions to the endoskeleton
later in the project.
Free-hand flames
A primer coat of Chaos Black
was liberally applied over the
individual sections, with a coat
of darkened Fuegan Orange
sprayed into the recesses, which
allowed areas in shadow to
be emphasised. Progressively
paler shades of this tone
were created by mixing it with
Averland Sunset Yellow; these
were then airbrushed onto
sections that would receive
more light. Each plate was then
checked by regularly placing it
on the endoskeleton to ensure
the modulation was consistent
and ‘realistic’. Further
highlights were dry-brushed
with Flash Gitz Yellow to

 Trialling the painting process helped avoid later issues when the main armour plates
were coloured. Here, Fuegan Orange was sprayed into the recesses and onto the plate edges.

 Tonal variations were then added by spraying Averland Sunset Yellow onto the panels,
away from any recesses/depressions.

 A generous application of a Nuln Oil Wash, followed by a Gryphon Sepia wash, helped  Finally, a lightened shade of Averland Sunset Yellow was applied in the centre of each
achieve a grimy, well-used patina on the model, which muted the previously bright metallic plate; initially the contrast appeared quite stark, but this would be softened by subsequent
sheen and added definition to the moulded features. washes and weathering.

86 Airfix Model World

 FIGURE BUILD
WARLORD BATTLE TITAN

create worn/faded effects on completed, the metal trim was

selected details and panels.
Painting the black flame details
proved a somewhat involved
process. Initially, masks were cut
from Tamiya tape, but getting
them to conform to the contours
of the raised armour details
proved challenging and produced
a slightly feathered edge where
they didn’t adhere directly to
the surface. Subsequently, the
flame details were hand-painted
with Chaos Black, with the parts
compared regularly to ensure a
uniform appearance.
Once the larger panels were
added, with numerous Citadel
metal shades being utilised. A
base coat of Balthasar Gold was
applied, then lightened subtly
with Auric Armour Gold, followed
by a wash of Reikland Fleshshade
to highlight the rivet detail. The
edges of any raised features
were then accentuated with
Mithril Silver, which was applied
with a very fine brush.
Scrapes and scratches
Obviously, a construction of
this size would receive its fair
share of battle scars, so the

 The armour plate was tacked

into position and any minor painting
revisions undertaken at this stage,
prior to the hand-painted black
flames being added.

Materials
at a glance
AMMO-MIG (www.migjimenez.com)
A.MIG-1408 Engine Oil
Citadel Paints (www.games-
workshop.com)
Auric Armour Gold
Averland Sunset Yellow
Balthasar Gold
Boltgun Metal
Chaos Black
Devlan Mud
Fuegan Orange
Flash Gitz Yellow
Gryphon Sepia
Mithril Silver
Nuln Oil Black
Reikland Fleshshade
LifeColor (www.airbrushes.com)
Mimetic Acrylics
Tensocrom Liquid Pigments
MIG Productions (www.
migproductions.com)
P028 Europe Dust
Tamiya paint (www.hobbyco.net)
XF-52 Flat Earth

www.airfixmodelworld.com 87
 FIGURE BUILD
WARLORD BATTLE TITAN
chipping process was applied in
several stages, using a variety
of techniques. First, small
pads of packing foam sponge
were placed in a pair of pinch
tweezers and then dipped in
UA735 Deep Cockpit Black, with
much of the excess removed
with a paper towel. This was
dabbed carefully on random
sections of the armour to
create minor abrasions;
these were complemented
by smaller scratches, applied
with a fine brush, before they
were highlighted with small
applications of the yellow
base coat.
Once satisfied with the results,
the model was set aside to dry
fully. Next, the armour sections
were affixed to the endoskeleton
with Tamiya Extra Thin Cement.
Several last-minute alterations
to the position of the feet were
required, as otherwise one
or two of the smaller ankle
section armour plates wouldn’t
fit properly.
Weathering began with the
application of an overall wash of
 The contrast between black and yellow areas was muted by the overall application of a Devlan Mud, with more specific
Fuegan Orange wash. treatments of the same tone
 With the final parts added, chipping effects were created with a sponge and fine brush,  Metal trim was brush-painted, after which rain streaks and grime were added via
replicating those areas susceptible to damage. This was easy to overdo, so the ‘less is more’ LifeColor’s Tensocrom liquid pigments. As with the chipping, effects were built gradually to
approach was adopted, with repeated light applications until the desired effect was achieved. produce a convincing scale effect.
88 Airfix Model World
around any raised features.
Once dry, rain marks and grime/
streaking effects were created
by using liquid pigments from
the LifeColor Tensocrom range.
A dust coat of heavily diluted
Tamiya XF-52 Flat Earth was then
airbrushed over the model, with
areas such as the legs receiving a
much heavier coating to simulate
the build-up of battlefield grime.
This was then complemented
by adding MIG Productions’
P028 Europe Dust pigment (now
available under the Abteilung
502 label) to the lower sections.
For the Emperor!
The addition of a diminutive
1/300 scale space marine on the
base provided a final finishing
touch, helping to illustrate the
Titan’s huge size. The whole
build had just taken a few weeks
and provided an interesting
diversion from the ‘real world’
subjects I’ve built traditionally.
The ease of construction and
relative freedom to paint
the subject in any number of
colour combinations made this
a very enjoyable and eye-
catching project.
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089_AMW_DIGI_20_ad.indd 1 31/01/2020 11:08

 ADVANCED BUILD
PANTHER Ausf.G
INSIDE OUT
Kev Smith delves into the interior of Rye Field Model’s
beautifully presented 1/35 Panther Ausf.G
he initial evolution of
T Germany’s Panther medium
tank was remarkably similar
to its Tiger I ‘brother’.
Both programmes were subjected
to a foreshortened development
period, then rushed into combat
service while still under test, so
the resultant mechanical failures
came as no surprise. Indeed,
 Rye Field’s turret basket was a delight, and included the gunner’s seat hydraulic motor,
empty case holder and even pedals for traversing the turret and firing the coaxial MG 34.
90 Airfix Model World
many powerplant and technical
issues raised by the designers
were ignored by the German High
Command, desperate for the tank
to redress the armour balance
against Soviet T-34s. Despite
the early entry into service, the
Panther proved highly capable
during Operation Citadel at Kursk
in 1943, with crews able to engage
Soviet T-34s at ranges of almost 2
miles (3.2km), thanks to its high-
velocity 7.5cm KwK 42 L/70 main
armament. Its armour wasn’t as
thick as intended originally, due to
weight constraints, but the sloped
nature meant it was still highly
effective (as an armour-piercing
round has to penetrate a greater
amount of metal than a vertical
 Even the turret ring received attention, and each of these items was built and painted
separately before being attached to the base.
plate for a given thickness). The
glacis remained almost impervious
to Soviet/Allied anti-tank weapons
until late 1944.
Like the Tiger I, the Panther
quickly became an object of awe
among Allied tankers, who rapidly
developed tactics to defeat it,
usually by attacking from the sides
or rear and exploiting the thinner
armour, notably on the turret.
German designers could do little
to remedy this shortcoming, due
to weight constraints imposed by

A handy tip when painting such
small and fiddly components is
to attach them temporarily to a
wooden coffee/tea stirrer with
either tape or Blu Tack.
the under-
powered
engine, but
crews often hung
lengths of spare
track links on the sides
for extra protection.
First look
Rye Field Model released
several 1/35 Panther Ausf.G kits
to mark its third anniversary,
and this offering catered for an
early or late production vehicle.
It also supplied a full interior,
including the engine and fighting
compartments, plus driver’s
and radio operator’s stations…
and complete turret innards.
Unsurprisingly, there was a high
parts count, with 1,353 crisply
moulded components on 14
styrene runners, two photo-
etched (PE) brass frets,
a metal spring
and 190
individual
track links.
A separate box
provided a single clear
frame for the limited-
edition components, which
comprised a transparent upper
hull and turret, plus standard
periscopes/vision blocks and
convoy lights. As I was to discover,
Rye Field’s Panther was no
weekend project.
ADVANCED BUILD
PANTHER Ausf.G
Rye Field appeared to have included
everything in its Panther, including
bespoke PE frames for the alternative
main gun mantlets.
Ins and outs
Unusually, construction started
with the turret, and the clear upper
shell was modified as per the
instructions for a 1945 production
vehicle; there are alternative parts
for an early variant, plus a tan-
coloured top piece for modellers
not wishing to display the
interior. It was quickly
apparent that the
 The single-piece barrel required
just a thin seams line removing before
it could be added to the muzzle brake
sub-assembly; these were then
attached to the turret mount and
threaded through the mantlet.
Panther Ausf.G Early/Late
Versions
MODEL SPEC
By: Rye Field Model
Stock Code: RM-5016
Scale: 1/35
Price: £74.99
Available from:
www.ryefield-model.com
www.airfixmodelworld.com 91
 ADVANCED BUILD
PANTHER Ausf.G
Although it appears to be a
mould seam, the thick line
on the mantlet should not be
removed as this replicated the
casting line created when the
‘chin’ was added to the bottom.
 All the turret basket and main turret sub-assemblies came together quickly; here the
completed base awaits just the gun mount and mantlet.
best approach would be to build
and paint the turret fittings as
separate sub-assemblies. First, all
components were undercoated on
the runners with grey automotive
primer direct from the aerosol can.
The single-piece 75mm gun barrel
required just minor neatening,
92 Airfix Model World
notably a fine seam present along
its length. A muzzle brake, formed
from a slide-moulded baffle, two
inner rings (one styrene and one
PE) and end cap were then added,
and this sub-unit fitted perfectly
into the well-detailed breech block.
There was a choice of rigid or
Rye Field supplied a
beautifully detailed
breech, which included a
metal spring for a working
recoil, although the PE
mesh beneath the shell
catcher should not then be
attached as it would break.
 With the ‘windows’ masked, the turret was undercoated with MMP-082 WWII Elfenbein
Interior White, so this would be visible after the camouflage colours were added.
moving components in the breech, mounting, which also housed a
and a metal spring allowed the co-axial MG 34, main gun-sighting
barrel to recoil, but this wasn’t telescope, elevation mechanism
opted for in this build and all parts and a large breech guard. These
were secured with liquid cement. all received Mission Models’ MMP-
Attention turned to the 082 German WWII Elfenbein
remainder Interior White and were then
of the gun weathered prior to assembly. In a

deviation from the instructions,
the large perforated PE shell
guard was left off until the final
stages of turret construction,
because it was very fragile.
Two styles of mantlet were
provided, and the late style, with
a characteristic ‘chin’ at its base
was selected (on real Panthers
this was an addition to prevent
the mantlet underside from
being a shot trap). Careful study
of the instructions was needed,
as each mantlet had different
components, which included a
rain guard and a large internal
boxed structure… both supplied
as PE items. The completed
gun assembly fitted snugly into
the clear turret; all interior roof
details were hand-painted before
everything was added.
Improvements to the
ring-style MG 34 mount
included hollowing the top
of the ammunition bag
and attaching a locking
lever to the frame.
ADVANCED BUILD
PANTHER Ausf.G
Avoiding blemishes
The clear turret shell presented
several problems, as it depicted
a 1945 production version, so
modellers wishing to portray an
early Ausf.G will have to remove
some moulded features. While
this wouldn’t be a problem with
coloured styrene (as it can be
filled), it would be challenging
with transparent components,
as scratches/gouges can’t be
repaired easily – raised features
could at least be sanded and
polished to restore clarity. Another
 All interior sub-assemblies were painted separately; these were either MMP-082 WWII
consideration was protection
Elfenbein Interior White or MMP-013 Red Oxide, depending on their position.
from glue damage, including
smears caused by over-application damage. It had excellent flow scratches by covering them with
and ‘frosting’, associated with qualities, a fine brush (offering Tamiya tape.
cyanoacrylate adhesives. Tamiya’s more controlled application) and The commander’s cupola was a
Extra Thin Cement was favoured a strong bond. Otherwise, clear well-detailed sub-assembly, with
on this build to help reduce the parts were protected against clear periscopes and interior
Rye Field’s thorough
approach to the subject was
demonstrated by the initial
additions to the lower hull, but
despite the complexity the fit was first-
rate, with no problems encountered.
www.airfixmodelworld.com 93
 ADVANCED BUILD
PANTHER Ausf.G
 The monotone hues of the interior fittings were broken up by lighter shades of the Red  Horizontal panels and plates received further weathering with earth-toned washes. The
Oxide colour. first of the ammunition bins, radio boxes and various other details were then attached.
fittings suitable for either an
early or late Panther. Two styles
of MG 34 mount were supplied,
early (ring) and late (post), and
the former was chosen here; the
excellent four-part machine gun
was equipped with a PE ring sight,
reflecting its primary use as an
anti-aircraft weapon. No model is
perfect, and the MG 34 mount was
improved slightly by hollowing the
ammunition container (to replicate
an open bag), with a locking handle
fashioned from thin wire.
The cupola was treated as a sub-
assembly and painted separately,
 The 7.5cm KwK 42 L/70 main gun fired several types of ammunition: high-explosive, armour-
after the periscopes were
piercing, and smoke, all of which were faithfully reproduced, including decals for the stencils.
protected with Humbrol’s Maskol
masking fluid. A well-moulded
circular hatch dominated the
rear turret panel, and this could
be attached in the open/closed
position, with alternative hinge/
latch mechanisms. Turret assembly
was completed after details such
as the roof ventilator and several
grab handles were added to the
exterior. Again, care was needed
 The final drive assembly comprised 55 finely moulded components – despite this, the
completed unit fitted perfectly.
 Once painted and weathered, the transmission looked very convincing. Glass dials were
replicated with PVA adhesive, which dried clear.
94 Airfix Model World
to protect the clear plastic when
applying the glue.
Inner fittings
The turret interior was constructed
in the same manner as the main
gun, with all fixtures built as sub-
assemblies, after which they were
painted MMP-014 Panzergrey
RAL 7021. Rye Field is to be
congratulated on its attention to
detail. All the internal machinery
was represented accurately, such
as the traverse motor and auxiliary
hand wheels, compressor, spent
ammunition bin and ventilator
ducting tube. The latter was rather
fragile and was left off until after
the turret halves were mated.
Finer detail came from the PE
fret, and each item was duly
folded/bent, assembled, painted
and weathered separately, so they
were ready for installation to the
turret basket as required.
Additional
piping/
ducting
 ADVANCED BUILD
PANTHER Ausf.G

 The driver’s and radio operator’s seats were painted and weathered, ready for
installation – these had separate PE springs for the rear side.
for several compressors was
suppled as lengths of metal, but
Rye Field’s clear line drawings
and measurements made for
a successful fitting. Lastly, the
clear shell was mated with the
turret base/ring and, though
the transparent sides were
disrupted by frames for the
viewing panels, plenty of the
innards were still visible.
Upper hull
Construction of the tank’s main
body was straight forward,
although there were four fine
ejector pin marks on the inside
of the hull piece. These couldn’t
be repaired, but as visibility into
the interior would be obscured
by the turret, the upper surface
was marked for painting later,
which hid the blemishes. Two
separate glacis plates were
provided, a sand-coloured item for
an early Ausf.G and a clear part
for a late vehicle. The latter was
attached on top of the clear hull as
per the instructions although this
did result in slightly poor visibility
due to reflection between the
two components. Different ball
mounts for the hull MG 34 were
also supplied, and the correct
version for a late machine was
selected. The internal element
of the machine-gun fitting was
a stunning replica, and included
a sighting system, cradle, and
ammunition belt. Work on the
upper hull interior was completed
with the addition of periscopes,
grab handles and radio equipment.
External fixtures such as spare
track racks, a container for the
barrel cleaning rods and pioneer
tools were omitted at this stage
to ease painting. The driver’s and
radio operator’s roof panels were
supplied in clear plastic, with
internal details (such as the frame)
moulded integrally. These were
hand painted MMP-013 Red Oxide
to break up the clear finish and add
visual interest. While Rye Field’s
instructions were generally clear,
 Pipework and cables were supplied by Rye Field, such was its attention to detail, and
these fitted neatly around the driver and radio operator positions.
constant referral was necessary the periscope mount rotated. The
to ensure the correct parts were travel lock cradle (for the main
being added as the model took gun) was one of the last items
shape. The external fittings for attached to the exterior.
the driver’s station were a good
example, with a choice of two Shapely rear
periscopes and associated guards, The aft hull plate wasn’t specific to
plus an extended sun shield for either an early or late production
a late Ausf.G configuration. With vehicle, so several holes were
care, these could be assembled so drilled, and small details
TIRED TREADS
The completed track runs received Humbrol’s 173 Track Colour as a basecoat. Once
dry, they were weathered with a cocktail of earth-toned MIG Productions’ pigment
powders (www.migproductions.com), which were stippled randomly into the detail.
Humbrol DecalFix was then employed as a pigment fixer (although thinners or
lighter fuel are equally suitable), after which diluted Burnt Umber oil paint was
splashed onto the links to provide further tonal variation.

“ RYE FIELD HAS CREATED

A MASTERPIECE”

www.airfixmodelworld.com 95

removed in accordance with the
instructions. A highly detailed
12-piece jack was included; this
exquisite unit comprised eight
styrene and four PE components,
and would usually be fitted to the
rear plate. I laid the jack on the
rear deck, accompanied by a jerry
can from the spares box, as if the
 Rudimentary cabling for the radio boxes and control panel was fabricated from plastic
rod and thin wire.
Drive sprocket
housings included three
toothed gears. While these
couldn’t be seen after
assembly, they would be ideal
for a maintenance diorama.
96 Airfix Model World
vehicle was about to undergo a
period of field maintenance.
Three different styles of rear
stowage bins were supplied; the
original with an embossed ‘X’,
MHN-type with vertical raised
lines (as seen on the example at
The Tank Museum, at Bovington)
or the smaller version, used to
stow an infra-red sight unit. The
latter was chosen for the right
bin, while the left was of the MHN-
type. Similarly, a 1945 production
exhaust system with flame
mufflers was selected as being
most appropriate for this build.
Rye Field’s generosity continued
with the engine deck, as two
 Rye Field’s Maybach HL 230 V12 was a superbly detailed miniature, with crisply defined
detail. Helpful diagrams aided the positioning of the piping and wiring.
versions were provided, to cater
for vehicles with/without crew
heaters (the former, with raised
armoured intakes, were chosen),
and constant reference to the
instructions was crucial to ensure
the correct parts were used.
Moving inside
The lower hull was by far the
busiest and time-consuming
portion of the project, holding the
engine, transmission, driver’s
and fighting compartments,
ammunition stowage and
cooling fans. However,
prior to any assembly,
the interior was airbrushed
MMP-082 German WWII
Elfenbein Interior White, with
MMP-013 Red Oxide on the floor
plate and rear side panels. As with
the turret, individual elements
would be built as sub-units and
then painted and weathered.
Separate torsion bar housings,
plus numerus PE ribs and brackets
were constructed, painted, and
then fitted to the hull floor, a
process aided greatly by Rye
Field’s well-designed instructions.
Next, the roadwheel swing arms
were attached to the torsion bars;
I elected to remove the small tabs
The fan/radiator units
fitted into side sponsons
located on either side of
the engine compartment;
these would be linked later
by large styrene pipes.

 With the powerplant and cooling pans secured to the lower hull, the compact nature of these
units was apparent. Most of this detail would be hidden when the upper hull was attached.
on the rear of each arm, which
allowed the running gear to move
vertically, as on the real machine.
Focus then shifted to the many
interior details, including the front
shock absorbers, ammunition bins,
equipment storage and individual
crew positions.
The intricate gearbox/
transmission was built as a single
sub-assembly, before being painted
MMP-014 Panzergrey RAL 7021. It
was then dropped into the front
of the hull and fitted perfectly;
embossed PE foot pedals added a
finishing touch.
Final stages of the interior
involved construction of the
fighting compartment floor,
radios, supporting bulkheads, and
75mm ammunition storage racks
that flanked the turret basket.
The Maybach HL230P30 V-12
engine was a display model in its
own right, and this convincing
miniature comprised more than
45 elegantly crafted parts. Again,
Rye Field’s precise engineering
resulted in a snug fit, and there
was even a note regarding how
the cooling fans may need to be
pushed into position. It was a
shame most of this lovely detail
would be hidden, despite the clear
upper hull and open hatches.
Making tracks
Drive-sprocket housings featured
toothed gears, which would be
ideal for those endeavouring
to display the model in a
maintenance or similar scene.
The actual drive sprockets were
multi-part ensembles but
simple to build and featured
excellent bolt head and
 Rye Field’s Panther included a full complement of 75mm ammunition, stored mainly on
the sponsions surrounding the turret ring in finely moulded racks.
rivet detail and the inclusion
of poly-caps was handy when
it came to fit the tracks later.
Assembly of the remaining road
wheels (including the idler) went
smoothly, the former even had the
manufacturer’s logo embossed
on the outer faces of the separate
vinyl tyres. Three spare wheels
were supplied, each with separate
inner and outer hub parts, and
these offered a higher level of
detail than those on the vehicle
(which would be at least partially
obscured due to the interleaved
running gear). The extra wheels
could be either added to the hull
or used as props in a diorama.
The late-style tracks
were provided as
individual
ADVANCED BUILD
PANTHER Ausf.G
links, with integrally moulded guide
horns and separate track pins; 87
links were required for each side,
which left 16 as add-on armour
for the turret or hull sides. They
required minimal neatening, simply
the removal of shallow ejector
pin marks and two very fine seam
lines, before they were ready to be
inserted into two track jigs, which
greatly simplified assembly. It’s
recommended to build the tracks
in small sections, as each link
required two tiny track pins, which
were ‘handed’ for the inner and
outer sides.
Creating colour
I’d always intended to paint just
selected areas of the upper hull
and turret shell, but initially it was
difficult to determine where the
clear parts would be covered,
“ THE MOULDING
QUALITY WAS
EXCELLENT”
www.airfixmodelworld.com 97

although the aim was to display as
much of the interior as possible.
Efforts were aided by the ejector
pin marks on the hull roof, because
Three of the four ejector pin marks on the upper
hull are visible near the turret opening.
These influenced which sections of
the hull would be painted…
areas to remain clear
have been masked.
 A full set of radio equipment was provided, and these were mounted on a cocktail stick
to aid painting. PVA glue was again employed to replicate glass dial covers.
98 Airfix Model World
these needed to be obscured.
The next issue was to set the
camouflage pattern on the hull
and turret, and then mask the
clear ‘windows’.
The exterior was undercoated
with MMP-082 German WWII
Elfenbein Interior
White, so the
observer would see
the interior colour under
the camouflage. An airbrushed
layer of MMP-019 Dunkelgelb Late
1944 served as the base tone,
followed by MMP-018 Resedagrun
and MMP-015 Rotbraun for the
disruptive pattern. Weathering
was kept relatively light, with just
washes of Humbrol 225 Middle
 Earlier in the build, small tabs were removed from the roadwheel swing arms, which
allowed for a moveable suspension… ideal for any diorama scene.
Stone enamels to the lower
hull and running gear.
Heavier applications
of diluted Burnt
Umber oil paint
were followed with
pin washes around
the raised details
on the exterior. Final
assembly was limited to
the tow cables, plus all
the fittings deemed too
fragile to add earlier in the build.
Lovely cat
Rye Field has created a
masterpiece with its Panther
Ausf.G – I don’t think I’ve ever seen
a 1/35 kit with as many options,
nor one with such an incredible
amount of interior detail. The
moulding quality was excellent,
with hardly a seam to be found
and all ejector pin marks were
hidden behind installed equipment;
the sole issue with these was
caused by their presence on the
clear styrene parts. Modellers
will need their wits about them
throughout the build (to ensure
the correct allocation of parts),
and while this was occasionally a
Panther minefield, it was still
an enjoyable project.
The individual-link tracks
featured excellent detail and
integrally moulded guide
horns. After neatening,
these were joined with
handed track pins in
small sections, via
a handy jig.

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31/01/2020 11:13
 ADVANCED BUILD
CANBERRA T.17A

ELECTRONIC

WARRIOR
Richard Spreckley combines
Airfix’s re-released 1/48 B(I).6/
B20 Canberra with AlleyCat’s
splendid conversion to create
a low-vis T.17A airframe

E
nglish Electric’s Canberra The subject of this build,
was developed into an WD955, was built in 1951 as a B.2
almost bewildering array variant and was upgraded and
of variants, from bombers converted on several occasions,
and interdictors to target tugs ultimately it became a T.17 in
and electronic warfare machines. 1975 and would be operated
Designed to replace the by 360 Squadron (motto:
legendary de Havilland Mosquito, ‘Confundemus’) at RAF Wyton,
it first flew in 1949 and has Cambridgeshire, until it was
arguably become as famous as disbanded in 1994. This unit was
its erstwhile predecessor. The manned jointly by the RAF
Canberra certainly stood the test
of time and wasn’t retired from
the RAF until 2006, although a
small number of highly modified
airframes are still operated by
NASA. During the 1950s, this
twin-engined platform could fly
higher than any other aircraft,
and was one of the few foreign
designs operated by the US
Air Force, albeit in a slightly
changed configuration.

 A comparison of the Airfix and AlleyCat clear parts revealed the greater refinement on  Considering its age, all parts were moulded cleanly and the cockpit consoles featured
the latter, and correct ‘bowl’ configuration with just one direct vision ‘window’. crisp raised detail.

100 Airfix Model World

 ADVANCED BUILD
CANBERRA T.17A

and the RN’s Fleet Air Arm, and Prior preparation

was created for the training of
crews in electronic warfare and
countermeasures. It gained an
excellent reputation, notably
during NATO exercises, where
it would attempt to ‘spoof’
opposing forces with fake radio
and electronic messages.
Airfix’s Canberra B2/20 provided KIT MARKINGS
a great donor kit for this project; Airfix’s busy decal sheet provided markings for two aircraft, an RAF B(I).6 and an
the subject is a large aircraft and Australian B.20, with sufficient stencil data for a single airframe. Colour density and
that was reflected in the size of
register were superb and there were crisp demarcations. The two schemes were:
the box and its contents. It was
• B(I).6, WT313, 213 Squadron, RAF Brüggen, West Germany, 1969
evidently an older offering, with
• B.20, A84-205/205, 1 (Bomber) Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Amberley,
the large runner attachment
Queensland, Australia, 1968
gates, and overly deep panel
lines. The clear parts
were crisply moulded,
but on this occasion,
most wouldn’t be used,
as AlleyCat Models
(www.alleycatmodels.
co.uk) provided
a replacement

item with its conversion set

(AC48015C). The decal sheet was
beautifully printed, with good
colour definition and plenty of
detail in the stencils, although
just the latter would be used on
this build. If this was assembled
straight from the box, there were
two schemes to choose from
(see panel). There was a lack
of general detail, especially in
the cockpit, which offered just
a basic level for the modeller to
work from, although there are
several aftermarket products
available for those wanting
to embellish this area. While
this could be considered a
negative point, it did mean
there was a blank canvas
for scratch-building, in
conjunction with the changes
needed to create the intended
T.17 variant.
Blank canvas
As already noted, the cockpit
featured just minimal detail,
with basic ejection seats and
instrument panel; notably the
kit lacked any decals to enhance
the latter. Thankfully, there are
numerous reference photos of
T.17 ‘offices’, which gives the
modeller the opportunity to add
as much or as little as desired.
Various gauges of plastic
card and wire were added to
improve those visible areas,
while the kit’s ejection seats were
replaced with resin aftermarket
items, as they didn’t reflect the
differences in the real items.
This variant had a crew of three,
two of whom sat on Martin-
Baker (M-B) Mk.2CA seats,
while the navigator used an M-B
Mk.4QS. Pavla’s replacement
products (S48032 and S48033,
respectively) were therefore
chosen (www.pavlamodels.cz)
and these featured full harness
detail. Although they wouldn’t

 Pavla’s replacement ejection seats offered far superior detail to the styrene items and  While Airfix’s panel lines were accurate when compared with reference photos and scale
included full harnesses and even firing handles. plans, they were overly deep, although this was reduced after a primer coat.

www.airfixmodelworld.com 101
 ADVANCED BUILD
CANBERRA T.17A

CLEVER CONVERSION

 Patience was required when cutting through the thick styrene

on the fuselage halves, although this could be achieved with
AlleyCat Models’ all-resin 1/48 T.17/17a set came in a well-presented box and comprised a knife, rather than a razor saw, as it was quite soft.
25 finely cast items (including a replacement canopy) and decals for three airframes.
Its most striking component was the new nose cone, which captured the
variant’s distinctive bulged appearance accurately and came as a single-
piece item. Similarly, the clear resin canopy section was cast integrally
with a section of the upper fuselage that also incorporated the glazing
over the navigator/electronic warfare operators’ compartment. The
instructions were somewhat sparse and covered just the installation
of the nose and canopy sections; the location of aerials/antenna and other detail
parts was comparatively vague, so references will be vital, along with test fitting
to ensure they are placed correctly. The markings options were:
• T.17, WH902, 360 Squadron, RAF Wyton
• T.17A, WD955, 360 Squadron, RAF Wyton, 1994
• T.17, WH665, 360 Squadron, RAF Wyton

be seen fully when enclosed in

the cockpit, they were certainly
worth the investment.
Painting was achieved in
varying stages and Ultimate
Modelling Products UMP027
Ultimate Primer Grey (www.
umpretail.com) provided an
excellent base layer, after which
the cockpit was airbrushed
with Vallejo 71.057 Black (www.
creativemodels.co.uk). This was
followed with 71.251 NATO Black
to add a degree of contrast.
Reference photos revealed
the interior wiring was an off-
white tone, so it was painted
with 71.119 White Grey, before
everything was sealed via
sprayed 70.510 Gloss Varnish.
Airscale’s AS48 Early Allied Jets
decals (www.airscale.co.uk)
were added to the pilot’s and
navigator’s instrument panels,
but required the assistance of
Microscale’s Micro Sol (www.
microscale.com) to adhere
properly. Further detail was
added with 71.003 Red, while
wear and tear were created
via dry-brushing with 77.702
Duraluminium. Everything
was then sealed with 70.520
Matt Varnish.
Pavla’s ejection seats were
treated similarly, with a mix of
71.141 IDF Sand Grey and 71.074
Radome for the sheepskin seat
covers, which was stippled
onto the relevant areas. The
yellow of the life raft canister
is always difficult to paint, due
to the challenges in obtaining
the correct depth of tone; my
preferred method is to use 72.713
Pink as a base layer, over which
is applied 71.078 Yellow. The
back padding was then painted
Grey Green 71.055, with the
upper harnesses treated with
71.074 Radome and the lower
restraints in Hataka’s HTK-A284
FS 35250 UN Blue (www.hataka-
hobby.com). All three seats then
received a worn appearance,
courtesy of dry-brushing with
77.702 Duraluminium; depth
effects were created via a 76.517
Dark Grey wash, before the seats
were sealed with matt varnish.

102 Airfix Model World

 ADVANCED BUILD
CANBERRA T.17A

The interior of the canopy

was masked in preparation for
painting, which was required
due to its large size.

 Test-fitting the conversion parts was crucial to achieve a good seam between the
resin and styrene parts, and minimised the amount of filling and sanding required later
in the build.

 Various thicknesses of plastic card and wire were employed to add scratch-built
enhancements to the cockpit interior, including a false bulkhead for the new nose cone.
On inspection, the wheel
After an undercoat of
wells also lack detail; this
black, the enhancements
was fashioned from various were hand-painted,
diameters of jewellery wire in the before everything
form of hydraulic and electrical received highlights,
lines. These were painted matt courtesy of dry-brushed
white and then sealed in gloss Duraluminium.
varnish, followed by a 76.517
Dark Grey wash – any excess was
removed with a damp cotton bud.
Vallejo’s metallic paint system
was employed on the inner faces
of the engine nacelles, engine
fan blades, with a combination of
73.660 Gloss Black primer and
77.702 Duraluminium.

Major surgery
Next, the forward nose section
and upper cockpit area were all
removed, in  The kit’s basic instrument panels were improved greatly by the addition of Airscale’s
readiness Early Allied Jets dial decals.
for AlleyCat’s
conversion (see
panel), with the firm’s
instructions supplying
most of the necessary
cutting guidance. Notably
though, the suggested aperture
for the cockpit/upper fuselage
insert didn’t match the part (the
resulting gap was rectified with
filler), so a test-fit of the relevant
part is recommended before

www.airfixmodelworld.com 103
 ADVANCED BUILD
CANBERRA T.17A

 Pavla’s ejection seats were a vast improvement on the styrene items and, when  Airfix’s Canberra is a notorious tail-sitter, and it recommended at least 100g of
combined with the revised instrument panels and scratch-built wiring, made a big weight should be added; on this occasion, 150g was used, plus additional ballast in the
difference in the cockpit’s appearance. nose cone.

reaching for the craft knife/razor revealed minor warping in the

saw. All resin components were
washed in warm soapy water
prior to assembly, in accordance
with Alleycat’s advice, to remove
any fixative that may be left
from the casting process.
The bomb bay doors were
added to each fuselage half,
as this compartment would be
closed, and it was known from
prior experience that adding
these items after the airframe
has been mated often caused
fit problems. Interestingly,
attaching them at this stage
English Electric Canberra
MODEL SPEC
fuselage parts, fortunately
nothing akin to that on Airfix’s
1/48 scale Buccaneer, but enough
that the same ‘spot, attach and
tape/clamp’ gluing method was
required to join them.
Test-fitting was carried out
at every stage, with one of the
tightest areas being the new
resin nose, as the bulkhead was
located immediately adjacent
to the pilot’s instrument panel.
Another factor to be borne in
mind is that despite all the resin
in the forward fuselage, this
kit is a notorious ‘tail-sitter’,
and the instructions indicated

B(I).6/B20 at least 100g of weight was

required, just behind the cockpit
By: Airfix
bulkhead. It’s always prudent
Stock Code: A10101A to add more to be on the safe
Scale: 1/48 side; on this occasion, Deluxe
Materials’ Liquid Gravity (www.
Price: £40.99
deluxematerials.co.uk) was
Available from: www.airfix.com employed, with further weight
inserted into the nose section
and sealed behind a scratch-
built bulkhead.
The cockpit fitted snugly
into the fuselage, and joining
the airframe halves was
straightforward, although
previous removal of the upper
fuselage and nose sections
nose did cause a temporary
loss of structural stability.
Deluxe Materials’ Roket Max
cyanoacrylate (CA) adhesive
was used to attach the new
resin nose. A test-fit of the
replacement canopy highlighted
that the original cut was too
deep, so styrene strip was
cut and shaped to achieve
a better seam. The tail was
also converted to the T.17
specification by removing the
tip and adding AlleyCat’s resin
component.
Main assembly
The kit itself was straightforward
and definitely ‘punched above
its weight’ in terms of size and
visual impact. The wing area
was impressive and Airfix gave
plenty of depth in the spar to
attach to the main fuselage
securely. There was
a slight

104 Airfix Model World


 Plastic card strips were added to plug gaps between
the fuselage and the canopy; these were then
sealed with plastic putty and sanded.
gap between the wing and main
body on the lower surface, but
nothing a small amount of filler
couldn’t resolve.
In contrast, the resin wing
tip tanks were a challenge, as
time and care were needed to
ensure the mating surfaces
were prepared and had the
ADVANCED BUILD
CANBERRA T.17A
 AlleyCat’s resin air scoops/vents and long antenna
fairings conformed beautifully to the fuselage.
“TRAILING-EDGE STATIC
WIRES WERE FASHIONED FROM
0.2-GAUGE JEWELLERY WIRE”
correct profile before they were
Trailing-edge static wires were
attached. All the remaining
fashioned from 0.2-gauge
conversion pieces were also jewellery wire and fitted to
added at this stage, although the vertical and horizontal
references were needed to stabilisers.
confirm the correct placement
of the antennas, air scoops and
vents. The final construction
element was to secure the clear
resin cockpit canopy; this had
already been detailed and
painted on the interior, and
close attention was paid
to prevent any dust
 A study of reference photos indicated the T.17a had short intake nose cone ‘bullets’, but
the nacelle usually associated with the long-style fairings.
www.airfixmodelworld.com 105
 ADVANCED BUILD
CANBERRA T.17A

particles or blemishes marring

the main glazing. Once attached,
it must be held in position to
prevent a step between the
resin and styrene surfaces – any
gaps in the join were sealed with
70.401 Plastic Putty.
Airfix offered a choice of long
 All undercarriage and flap bays received matt white after the airframe had been primed; and short ‘bullet’ fairings on the
these were then masked before the camouflage colours were added. engine fan blades, along with
different nacelles to accompany
each. A study of reference
photos revealed WD955 had an
apparently hybrid installation
– fan blades had the short
fairing, but they were in
the nacelle usually
associated

 The primer highlighted several areas with uneven seams, so filler was used to treat these
blemishes; once dry this was sanded with increasingly fine grades of abrasive paper.
with the long-
type ‘bullet’. The
starboard wing pitot tube
(not included with the kit)
was fashioned from a length of
brass tube.
Colour preparations
Readying the model for paint
started with a comprehensive
sanding session with gradually
Tamiya’s Tape for Curves (87177)
was an ideal guide when re-scribing finer Micro-Mesh pads, due to
panel lines lost during sanding. the amount of retro-fitting with
various types of plastic and resin.
This highlighted several
slight imperfections in
the aftermarket parts,
which were treated by filling
and sanding until there was a
uniform surface. Fine layers of
UMP027 Ultimate Primer Grey
were then airbrushed and left
to dry. The primer revealed
several minor flaws and these
were revisited with filler and
then sanded, after which the
affected areas received another

 The light tones of the camouflage colours lent themselves to a pre-shade along the  A study of reference photos revealed WD955 had a coloured panel on the wing-tip tanks,
panel lines, prior to the base shades being applied. which was added by masking and then painting it black, followed by a matt white topcoat.

106 Airfix Model World


coat of primer. Once cured fully,
the whole model was wet-sanded
with fine-grade abrasive pads.
By the time WD955 received
its low-visibility Hemp and Light
Aircraft Grey camouflage and
an overall red fin, it was more
than 50 years old. Reference
photographs showed the
airframe was in excellent
condition; as a training school
aircraft it was predominantly
clean, except for the backwash
 The Canberra’s brightly coloured tail, part of its anniversary scheme, was replicated
via several thin layers of 71.003 Red.
from its Rolls-Royce Avon RA.7
Mk.109 engines, which produced
a distinctive discolouration
alongside the fuselage.
Paint specialist Hataka recently
released a colour set specifically
for RAF aircraft, namely its HTK-
AS73 Modern Royal Air Force
Paint Set Vol.2 ‘Cold War/War
Over Iraq’, which contained all
the required shades for the main
scheme. This offering was part of
its Red Line series (optimised for
“STARBOARD
WING PITOT
TUBE WAS
FASHIONED
FROM A
LENGTH OF
BRASS TUBE”
airbrushes), but is also available
in its Orange and Blue ranges
(lacquer-based and optimised for
brush-painting respectively. The
specified camouflage scheme
lent itself to pre-shading along
panel lines and other areas of
weathering; a light application
of 71.251 NATO Black was used
to achieve this, with particular
attention given to areas where
air scoops, vents and hydraulic
actuators operated. The lower
 With the main masking removed, the pre-shading effect was subtly visible and worked
well with the low-vis camouflage.
ADVANCED BUILD
CANBERRA T.17A
fuselage shade was replicated
with 71.046 Pale Blue Grey.
Although the paints were
supposedly ‘airbrush ready’,
the consistency of each shade
was slightly different and one or
two required diluting with the
appropriate thinners for better
performance when spraying.
After masking the undersides,
HTK-A262 – BS Camouflage
Beige was sprayed in thin layers
on the upper surfaces. Tonal
variations were created by
adding small amounts of matt
white to the base colour, and
applying this in random patches.
Lastly, the vertical stabiliser
received 71.003 Red, after being
masked, this being airbrushed
over an HTK-A153 MK-7
Temporary White basecoat.
Squadron markings
Before final weathering began,
all relevant stencils were added;
Airfix’s decals were printed
by Cartograf and settled well,
with minimal use of Micro Sol.
Continual referral to photos
was needed to ensure the
placement was correct for
WD955, as the position could
vary slightly between aircraft.
AlleyCat’s markings were quite
thick and required plenty of
encouragement to conform to
the model’s surface, but once
dry, they looked magnificent
and fears over the opacity of
the yellow lightning bolt faded
quickly. A further gloss varnish
sealed the decals and prepared
the model for weathering.
Initially, 76.513 Brown Wash was
applied, with any excess removed
with damp cotton buds. This was
followed by gradually adding
www.airfixmodelworld.com 107
 ADVANCED BUILD
CANBERRA T.17A
fine layers of 71.131 Concrete on
the fuselage, just forward of the
wing roots, until the desired tonal
depth was achieved, to create
the distinctive engine backwash
marks. The same process was
used for exhaust ports around
the engine nacelles.
Although this aircraft was
kept generally in a pristine
condition, its age meant there
was deterioration in the more
heavily used areas. Subtle
weathering was therefore applied
to hinges, actuators and vents via
 The kit decals and aftermarket decals were applied with the aid of Micro Sol, after which Tamiya weathering pigments and
the model was gloss varnished. Panel lines were then enhanced by a brown wash, with any AMMO-MIG’s A.MIG 3515 Ochre
excess removed with a dampened cotton bud. Oilbrusher (www.migjiminez.
com). A nose-mounted blade
antenna was painted 71.251 NATO
Black, before the aircraft’s trailing
aerial, fashioned from EZ-Line
elasticated thread, was attached
to it with a drop of CA. It was
then stretched slightly to meet a
similar mount further along the
fuselage and finally the tail fin,
being secured at each point with
CA. The whole model was then
sealed with a matt varnish.
Unsung hero
This year was the 70th
anniversary of the English Electric
Canberra, yet this milestone
 AMMO-MIG’s Oilbrusher was used to add final weathering touches to the exterior, around seemed to pass without notice.
heavily used areas of the airframe. The aircraft was an unsung hero
“PANEL LINES
WERE THEN
ENHANCED
BY A BROWN
WASH”
108 Airfix Model World
of the immediate post-war
period and is often forgotten
against the backdrop of the
more famous Lightning and the
iconic V-bombers. However, it
should be remembered that, in
its heyday, this aircraft could fly
higher and further than anything
else in the world. It was a marvel
of engineering at a time when
the aero industry in the UK was
at its best. The legacy of the
Canberra was its undisputable
longevity, with several airframes
(including WD955), in service for
more than 50 years.
Airfix’s re-release was an
excellent example of how an
approximately 20-year-old
moulding had stood the test of
time; it could do with more detail
and some areas are arguably
‘industrial’, but overall it was
a superb kit. From a building
perspective, it was forgiving
of mistakes due to the nature
of the styrene, and provided a
great foundation for a modeller
of any experience to enjoy,
regardless of whether it’s out of
the box or a complex conversion.
It’s not a small model and
consideration is needed as to
where it will go once built, but
that is a minor aside as it will be
a suitable complement for
any collection.
ARCHIVE TREASURES
BLACKBURN SHARK

T
his month’s archive
treasure is a two-for-
one as it features
a Blackburn Shark
II overflying Royal Navy
battleship HMS Nelson in
this undated photo, although
a study of similar shots
indicates it was possibly
taken during 1938. The Shark
airframe, K8502, was probably
assigned to 810 Naval Air
Squadron, as both other units
to operate the type (820 and
821 NAS) converted to the
Fairey Swordfish during 1937.
HMS Nelson is in its pre-war
configuration and overall
Admiralty Grey camouflage,
with minimal anti-aircraft
guns, and lacks the turret-
top catapult for its Walrus
aircraft. While the Shark has
been served poorly in kit form,
with just various re-boxings
of Frog’s 1/72 offering, HMS
Nelson has been better served
with products from Airfix, Iron
Shipwrights, Trumpeter and
Tamiya in 1/700, 1/600,
1/350 and 1/200 scales.