FineScale Modeler

d-day was our defining moment

Of few things am I certain anymore, but one certainty is that D-Day defined a generation while also reinforcing what the United States and its allies stand for. It is a moment in time we all can see clearly in our minds and agree upon as a necessary (although brutal and costly) action.As we’ve said before, we aren’t here to condone or glorify war or the violence it entails. But we are here to honor the men and women who sacrificed for our freedom. Mostly we are here to celebrate the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the aircraft, armor, ships, and all that were a part of the various conflicts. The machinery of warfare is fascinating and building it brings us closer to the history it represents.All that is a long-winded…

off the sprue: what’s your favorite wwii movie, why?

EditorMark Savagemsavage@Kalmbach.comHave loved The Longest Day since I was a kid, because of the action, the black and white film, and those drums for the theme song. That sticks with you. Also interesting, it shows the actions both sides were taking and how arrogance and inattention sunk the German effort. Thankfully! P.S. Hope and Glory is great, too.Senior EditorAaron Skinneraskinner@FineScale.comCasablanca is a classic movie byany measure (it’s hard to beatBogart and Bergman!) so it topsmy list. It also includes Enemy atthe Gates, for its depiction ofStalingrad; Twelve O’Clock High,because B-17s; Das Boot,because claustrophobia; andThe Dirty Dozen, just because!Digital EditorElizabeth Nashenash@FineScale.comI’ll pick two opposites: The Pianist (2002) and The Producers (2005). They’ll both make you cry, just for very different reasons. But, they do have one commonality: music — and I’m…

scale talk

D-Day diorama focuses on Omaha beachPerfect timing for this issue, Pat Gallagher of Eden Prairie, Minn., sent us a variety of pictures focusing on his large D-Day beach diorama, including not only the invading forces, but German strongholds and bunkers on the bluffs overlooking Normandy’s Omaha beach. Pat is retired U.S. Army Special Forces and builds large-scale dioramas for museums and toy soldier collectors around the world. This is a 50-square-foot depiction of Omaha beach as it appeared in the movie Saving Private Ryan. It was built for a friend.Pat tells us the 1/30 scale diorama contains six landing ships, several bunkers, a dozen vehicles and artillery pieces, and more than 200 German and American troops, all from King and Country Toy Soldiers. He also sculpted and painted dead and…

new products

AIRCRAFT1/48 SCALEB-52H U.S. Stratofortress strategic bomber from Model Collect, No. UA72200, $119.99. WBRTempest Mk. V series 2 from Eduard, No. 8122, $59.95. WBRMirage III C from Eduard, No. 8103, $59.95.1/72 SCALEF6F-5 from Eduard, No. 7450, $14.95. Weekend Edition.ARMOR1/35 SCALE3Ro Italian truck with 100mm 100/17 howitzer from IBG Models, No. 35053, $74.95. WBR3Ro Italian truck troop carrier from IBG Models, No. 35055, $68.95.Bergepanther Ausf.G German armored recovery vehicle SdKfz.179 from Takom, No. 2107, $TBA. Full interior.Jagdpanther G2 German tank destroyer SdKfz.173 from Takom, No. 2118, $TBA. Full interior. WBRFIGURES1/24 SCALEHoly Roller Jordan Jesus Jamerson from Master Box Ltd., No. MB24060, $14.95. Trucker Series No. 7.1/32 SCALEPilot Tempest from Plus Model, No. AL3001, $23.90.1/35 SCALEGerman tank commander from Djitis Production, No. 35088, $10.25.Syrian SDA fighter from Djitis Production, No. 35089, $10.25.1/48 SCALERAF…

fit for a king

Wendy painted this character from Twisted using just six colors, plus glimmering metallic hues.Following a very successful Kickstarter campaign, Australia-based Demented Games has released Twisted: A Steampunk Skirmish Game. As a big fan of Sebastian Archer’s sculpting, I had to pick up some of his figures, including the collector’s resin edition of the Monkey King.In the game, this character serves as a special agent for the Guild of Harmony. He is stubborn, unruly, and quick to act; but also capable and fast.My monkey reference is the bonnet macaque species, with their smooth faces surrounded by fur. I’ll also use both the box art and the card art to help me along the way.As a challenge to myself, I chose to use a limited color palette for the skin and clothing.…

painting a u-boat with a colorful past

I painted the hull below the waterline with engine gray. I initially focused on recesses around the stern to ensure they were thoroughly painted, then sprayed the rest of the hull.By Phillip Gore AIRBRUSHING & FINISHING To break up the monochromatic appearance, I masked random panels with thin, darker gray. Then, thin dark ghost gray (1741) was airbrushed in a random pattern over the lower hull to give it a worn, faded look.In 2013, Revell released a 1/72 scale model of German submarine U-505, a Kriegsmarine Type IXc U-boat famously captured by the U.S Navy in June 1944. Commissioned in August 1941, the submarine went through multiple modifications, including repairs after being seriously damaged in late 1942, as well as several camouflage schemes. I decided to model U-505 as it…