Tabla de contenidos para September/October 2024 en FineScale Modeler

Building a modern kit, like a Zoukei-Mura 1/48 scale F-4E Phantom II, can be a fun and relatively easy process. Out of the box, these kits epitomize the pinnacle of scale model manufacturing with precise engineering, good accuracy, and a high level of detail. Knowing I wouldn’t be challenged on the assembly side, I decided building a Zoukei-Mura F-4E was a chance to try something I had been thinking about, a new weathering effect that changes with viewing distance. From farther away, I want the paint and weathering to look generally smooth, but when seen up-close, I was aiming for a more dramatic appearance. The F-4E is an ideal subject, and I chose to model an Israeli Phantom II from the 1973 Yom Kippur War. With the frantic tempo of…

One of my modeling friends spent time in the Australian Army driving M113 armored personnel carriers. Nowadays, he volunteers at a military museum that features a M113 in its collection. With that much reference material and info on tap, it seemed natural that I should build AFV Club’s 1/35 scale Australian M113A1 (No. AF35291). The kit provides some interior detail, enough to open a hatch or two, but not if you plan to open all the separate hatches like did. That meant adding missing details for a full interior. FINAL THOUGHTS I ATTACHED THE VARIOUS hatches and the ramp open offering a good view of the detailed interior before spraying the model with flat clear and peeling the masks from the vision blocks. This was a great build. Not only was…

The groundbreaking, 1968 sci-fi movie The Planet of the Apes introduced the world to the sleek ANSA (American National Space Administration) spaceship that accidentally propelled American astronauts 2,000 years into Earth’s future where apes dominate over humans. Called Liberty 1 (later nicknamed Icarus by the movie’s fan base), the ship crash-lands in a lake and sinks. In Beneath the Planet of the Apes, the 1970 sequel, a second, identical rescue ship travels on the same trajectory into the future. This ship lands tail-first on the ground, but an explosion in the drive section causes it to topple over, burning up the rear half of the vehicle. The shot showing the spaceship after the fire is one of the most iconic from any of the original Planet of the Apes movies. Long…

Previously, I’ve referenced the role of Fujimi’s 1/24 scale Enthusiast Series kits from the late 1980s and the competitive response from other kit makers, including Revell Germany’s Precision Series, in establishing the market for advanced, adult-oriented model car kits. Enter Monogram’s High Performance Series. The Monogram 1/24 scale Olds Aerotech kit remains a good example of High Performance Series offerings. Historically, the auto industry’s most effective concept vehicles have always had a purpose beyond a mere exercise in styling. The Aerotech was intended to showcase and create awareness for Oldsmobile’s new Quad Four dual-overhead cam, four-cylinder engine that was slated to soon enter production. The Aerotech’s streamlined body was attributed to GM designer Ed Welburn, who eventually became GM’s most revered Design Vice President since Bill Mitchell. The chassis was…

The F-4 is arguably one of the most popular modeling subjects on the planet, and it has been for a long time. A quick look at scalemates.com reveals more than 1,000 kits of the big McDonnell Douglas fighter having been produced in just about every conceivable scale — and some outliers like 1/2400, 1/90, and even some egg planes. Some of these originated when the Phantom II was new in the 1960s, but 70 years later, new-tool kits of it have been released with all of the finesse we expect from 21st century models. Given this, it makes sense John Ferdico and Darren Roberts would model Phantom IIs, specifically F-4Es, for their second build-off challenge for FSM. For these, one of the modelers builds a modern kit straight from the…

There were only two original Monkeemobiles, both Pontiac GTOs modified by designer Dean Jeffries specifically for The Monkees TV show. At the time, Jeffries worked for Model Products Corporation (MPC) and as part of a deal with Pontiac, MPC received exclusive rights to sell a model kit of the car. It sold over seven million kits. One of the two cars was built to appear on screen, the other for promotional appearances. Although similar, there are differences between the two cars, and MPC’s model more closely resembles car No. 1, the one used in the show. Both cars still exist with slight modifications and cosmetic changes, and several copies have been made. As a result, online research may not match the model kit or provide a great paint guide. Now,…

Kit makers often design chassis and suspensions to simplify manufacturing and expedite assembly so you can get on to more fun like the body and engine. The result is that what are distinct parts on a real car or truck chassis are typically molded together as a single piece. For example, a kit’s one-piece frame might include a portion of the real car’s front suspension. Other parts of the front suspension might show up on a molded crossmember or subframe. Painting these parts just as they come from the box does not accurately replicate the 1/1 scale appearance of a vehicle. Fortunately, careful painting of the molded parts can overcome this issue. There are also ways to add further realism to an underbody, whether it’s on a classic muscle car,…

Developed as a dive-bomber by Vultee, the Vengeance entered Royal Air Force service in October 1942. Deemed unsuitable for the European theater, the aircraft ended up in Burma performing close-support strikes. Dora Wings released a Mk.II version of the Vengeance in 1/48 scale a couple of years ago and, comparing the instructions, it appears that the new 1/72 scale Vultee Vengeance Mk.I/IA is almost a direct, piece-for-piece, scaled-down copy of its larger sibling. With 259 parts, the detail is outstanding. Molded in gray, the parts feature finely recessed panel lines and some rivet detail. The kit includes four marking options and a die-cut sheet of masks for the extensive canopy. If you don’t have a magnifier and superfine tweezers, get both before tackling this kit. I recommend a good razor…

WonderFest 2024 model contest photo gallery America’s biggest pop-culture model show got even larger this year, punctuating the growing popularity of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror in scale modeling. More than 1,100 vehicles, figures, dioramas, and mechs hit the tables in Louisville, Kentucky, and FineScale Modeler was there to capture nearly 100 of them for this gallery. Visit FineScale.com/show-galleries to see photos of the most exciting models this year. FineScale Modeler Weekly videos are back! Don’t miss an episode of FineScale Modeler Weekly! We open the latest kits from scale model manufacturers, show you new tools or some that you might have forgotten about, and share the love of the hobby with show footage, build updates, and behind-the-scenes videos you won’t get anywhere else. Head over to FineScale.com/videos to see the…

Planning to build an F-4E Phantom II from one of the older kits available, I looked at my stash. I found both the original Revell and Monogram releases. The Monogram kit was an F-4J, so I settled on building the old Revell kit. It had been a while since I looked inside one of these 1977 releases and upon opening it, I knew I was in for a dogfight to even get it into the same universe as a modern kit like the Zoukei-Mura kit John Ferdico built at the same time. My first thought was to graft the F-4E nose of the Revell kit onto the Monogram kit but was concerned about matching the profiles. In retrospect, that was probably the best way to go, but, instead, I decided…

AMPS 2024 HERITAGECON 16…

You never know when inspiration for a diorama or scene will strike. During a walk to a nearby grocery store, I spotted a beautiful but rundown house with many flowerpots and various items in the front yard. Trees obstructed the view of the whole building, and this gave me an idea of how to artistically fill gaps in a contained scene with vegetation. Where there might be a bare wall, a climbing vine would emerge. An awkward, empty space could be made pleasing with a bush or tree. With my head full of ideas, I returned to my workbench and began modeling. FINAL THOUGHTS THE LAST THING TO DO WAS grind up dried leaves, sift them through a fine mesh, and scatter them over the scene. This touch adds just…

The all-new Italeri 1/32 scale Macchi MC.202 Folgore is loaded with extras and details. The kit’s design is straightforward, and the parts include the slightly longer port wing built into the full-size fighter to counteract the propeller’s torque. Some surface features, like the control surface ribs, are a bit exaggerated. The kit provides two sets of stabilizers and elevators, but the “early” version are not used. The instructions point out optional parts, so you’ll need to decide on a scheme up front. Italeri included a full R.A.1000 R.C.41-I Monsone, a licensed copy of the German DB601 V12 built in Italy by Alfa Romeo. The landing gear bay and cockpit brim with detail, and you’ll find no shortage of photo-etched metal (PE) items, some of which provide extremely petite fasteners for…