Sommaire pour April 2016 de FineScale Modeler

AT THE RISK of sounding like one of those frantic, screaming TV pitchmen pushing Ginsu knives or ShamWows, I’d like to take a little commercial break from my usual editor’s note. Certainly we have another fine issue of FineScale Modeler this month. You’re holding it. The magazine is packed with how-to stories, finishing tips, motivational photo galleries, loads of new modeling products, and a stellar collection of model reviews. But again, at the risk of sounding too self-serving, FSM has a lot more to offer daily, weekly, monthly … well, all the time. Here’s the deal: I encourage you to dig deeper on our website when you’re watching the latest New Product Rundown video or scanning stories you saw in our biweekly e-mail newsletter. I know the holidays are long…

The Syrian Civil War is a rich source of inspiration for modelers. The conflict involves a lot of Russian-built vehicles used by Syrian government forces and captured by opposition groups. The battlefield ranges from open desert to cities, and the Internet is filled with images of tanks, APCs, and artillery in interesting camouflage and field-applied markings. Prompted by photos of Syrian self-propelled guns in rebel hands, Brett Avants built Trumpeter’s 1/35 scale 2S1. The combination of the subject matter and its worn appearance were inspiring. He was eager to apply key aspects seen in images to his model, including three-color camo, field-applied slogans, and a hodgepodge of military and civilian crew. “These vehicles looked very worn and battle-scarred,” says Brett. After a coat of Vallejo Russian green primer (74.609), Brett…

During more than 50 years of operation, the A-4 Skyhawk was rarely required to prove its air-to-air prowess. The Douglasbuilt A-4 was primarily an attack aircraft. Its first air-to-air kill came on May 1, 1967, over Kep airfield in North Vietnam. Lt. Cmdr. T.R. Swartz, flying an A-4C with VA-76 squadron from the USS Bon Homme Richard, downed a MiG-17 with a Zuni unguided rocket. Three years later, on May 12, 1970, Col. Ezra Dotan, commanding officer of the Israeli air force’s Squadron 109 (the “Valley Squadron”) scored two kills over southern Lebanon. Dotan was flying an A-4H when he shot down two Syrian MiG-17s. He already had three kills in a Mirage IIIC, so his A-4H kills made him an ace. Here’s how the encounter went down: On a…

Surviving air combat in World War II depended heavily on visual identification of targets. Tactical recognition markings were widely used by all air forces to help pilots distinguish friend from foe in split-second combat decisions. The Luftwaffe painted bright fuselage bands and wingtips; P-47s were given contrasting stripes on the tail surfaces; and Japanese airplanes wore a unique yellow-orange paint along the wings’ leading edges. Often, these Japanese leading-edge tactical markings are provided as a decal but the color is not quite right. Mixing the right color is as challenging for modelers as it is for the decal printers. However, my technique enables you to reproduce the yelloworange shade of the leading edges with little extra effort.…

Trumpeter’s “Fencer-E” features an astounding amount of plastic: 370 parts on 28 sprues. Everything is packed separately in a partitioned box, with the clear sprue in its own padded polybag. The parts have outstanding recessed detail except, curiously, the external fuel tanks, which show raised lines. This kit depicts the maritime reconnaissance variant of the Su-24 without attack systems, so the offensive weapons — a couple of hundred parts — aren’t used. Recce pods are provided. Illustrated options include retracted or extended flaps and speed brakes. For visual interest, I elected to open everything. There are some features the instructions don’t point out: The wings can be posed swept or extended (but they don’t operate); the refueling probe at the base of the windshield can be posed extended; and, with…

The Cold War-era T-10M, the ultimate Soviet heavy tank, traces its lineage through the IS tanks of late World War II to the KV tank designed in the late 1930s. The vehicles were built at two factories, and there are substantial differences in appearance as a result. In FSM’s last “Most-Wanted Kit” survey, the T-10 made the top five in 1/35 scale armor, just behind the Soviet tank’s American counterpart, the M103 (FSM, November 2013). Meng answered those requests with an all-new state-of-the-art kit of this impressive Cold War beast. Flawlessly molded in dark green plastic, the kit features individual-link workable track, photo-etched (PE) engine screens, clear light lenses and periscopes, articulating suspension, optional turret stowage box, and separate hatches. The one-piece lower hull features subtle casting texture and integral…

There’s something truly magical about seeing a model ship depicted at sea. But there are significant technical issues to overcome for realistic results, as anyone who has ever modeled an ocean scene can attest. A seagoing diorama comprises three components — basic sculpt, waves, and paint — and each element must be realistic for the illusion to work. I wanted an easily replicable method using easy-toobtain materials to reproduce just about any type of sea. I lived and breathed this problem every day for two years and produced a heap of really poor sea bases until I figured out what worked. I spent hundreds of dollars and thousands of hours experimenting with just about every material I could get my hands on. I continue to experiment, but I’ve discovered techniques…

SEND US YOUR PICTURES! Shouldn’t your model be in Reader Gallery? FineScale Modeler is always accepting new material from around the world. Upload high-resolution digital images (preferably unedited, RAW format) with complete captions at www.Contribute.Kalmbach.com, or send prints or CD-ROMs to FineScale Modeler, Reader Gallery, 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612. Be sure to tell us the kit manufacturer, model, scale, modifications, paint and finishes used, and reason for choosing the model, along with your name and address. We look forward to seeing your work!…

During the first few months of 1917, Germany introduced a graceful two-seat biplane, designated Rumpler C.IV, for reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and light bombing. Due to its impressive speed, range, and high ceiling, this aircraft was an immediate success in combat, and for a time was able to operate deep behind enemy lines without much threat of being shot down. Various versions of the Rumpler continued in service until hostilities ceased in November 1918. In 2011, New Zealandbased In 2011, New Zealandbased World War I kit maker Wingnut Wings released its 1/32 scale Rumpler C.IV kit, which caught my attention even though it had one more wing than I am used to dealing with. Here’s my straight-fromthe-box build of this beautiful aircraft. Learning the interior The kit included an extensive interior…

Carrier needs aircraft Q I recently acquired two models of U.S. Navy Essex-class aircraft carriers, angleddeck configuration, in 1/500 and 1/525 scale. However, all the aircraft were missing. Is there anyplace I can purchase replacement groups of plastic aircraft? – Mike Ball Grand Island, N.Y. A This is a bit of a stumper, Mike. Not counting eBay, I found one source: Starfighter Decals (www.starfighter-decals.com) has resin aircraft in 1/500 and 1/540 scale. Trumpeter and others make carrier aircraft in 1/350 and other scales, but this is all I could find close to yours. If there are others I am sure we will hear about them in time for a following issue! Why resin? Q Resin is hard to work with and produces harmful dust. What’s the advantage? – Steven Siegel…

When the Chieftain entered British service in 1967, it was the most powerful tank in NATO’s arsenal. The primary versions of the main battle tank were the Mk.3 and Mk.5, the latter being the final production version. Later marks designated major upgrades or rebuilds of Mk.3s and 5s. Large numbers of Chieftains were exported, and many served with armed forces in Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, and Kuwait. Given the Chieftain’s widespread service, it’s surprising that only two plastic 1/35 scale kits of the vehicle have been released previously (by Tamiya and Academy). Both are several decades old. Takom’s kit features excellent detail on light gray plastic. Cleanly molded individual-link tracks come loose in a small bag and require only minor cleanup before assembly. Separate pads for the tracks increase assembly…

Maybe you’ve built a few armored vehicle kits out of the box, or perhaps you’re taking a break from superdetailed aircraft. Whatever your modeling experience, individual-link tracks can enhance an armor kit. You may say, “Those track sets are too complex,” or “They take forever.” While it is true that some sets are so complicated that I would only recommend them to the most experienced or patient builders, other sets are pretty easy once you get the hang of it. My M8 I was well into Tamiya’s 1/35 scale M8 Howitzer Motor Carriage (No. 35110) before I opted for aftermarket tracks. The Tamiya kit dates from 1979 and, like most kits of its era, it has one-piece flexible vinyl tracks that lack fine detail. I was thinking of using them…

Much had been written about AFV Club’s Churchill Mk.III AVRE (Armoured Vehicle, Royal Engineers), all favorable. I just had to buy one — and I found the reviews were spot-on. As I put the kit together, though, I thought something was missing — not from the kit itself, but in terms of what an AVRE, particularly a Churchill, actually did. As I looked through my references, it seemed every other picture of Churchills from World War II showed them carrying a fascine. So what’s a fascine? Simply a tightly bound bundle of sticks carried on a wooden frame at the front of the tank. It was used to fill ditches and small water courses to provide a crossing point. Or, it could be placed against walls and other objects to…

If you want to see some of the best figures in the world, a good place to start is the annual show and contest of the Military Miniature Society of Illinois. Held each October in Schaumburg, Ill., just northwest of Chicago, the MMSI show attracts painters and modelers from all over the world. Here are some of the photos FSM Senior Editor Aaron Skinner shot at the 2015 show. Want more great figures? To see some of the other terrific models from the 2015 MMSI show, check out the gallery at www.FineScale.com/OnlineExtras.…

Widespread deployment of unpowered aircraft by the major combatants marked World War II like no other conflict. The United Kingdom had several glider designs, but the Airspeed Horsa was the most common. Large and ungainly looking, the Horsa could carry up to 28 troops, a jeep, or an artillery piece. Employed in all major Allied airborne assaults, the Horsa proved maneuverable and robust. Bronco’s kit opens up numerous diorama possibilities, given how many kits of vehicles and figures are available in the same scale. Despite the Horsa’s relative simplicity, Bronco included plenty of detail. The cockpit is missing only wiring and plumbing. The cavernous troop cabin includes optional seats to fit along the sides, stepladders, and hanging straps. A small photo-etched fret provides straps to stow the ladder, details for…

Commissioned in 1968, USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), originally conceived as a nuclear-powered ship, became the last conventionally powered carrier in the U.S. Navy. A variant of the Kitty Hawkclass, it was 17' shorter. In its 40-year career, Kennedy’s combat operations included Lebanon, Libya, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the Iraq War. Based on the instructions, Merit’s 1/350 scale kit replicates the ship during its final cruise in 2004, with RAM defense launchers and the deleted port forward catapultcable catcher horn as well as the aircraft. Extra parts allow the ship to be built to reflect anytime between 1997 and 2007. The large kit includes 35 plastic sprues and several single items: hull, flight deck, and bridge structures. Cleanly molded, the parts show little flash and minimal ejectorpin…