fm.10.2015

FineScale.com

AIRBRUSHING: MASTER ENAMELS FOR WINTER CAMO »

Eduard’s 1/48 scale Russian I-16 – p.20

October 2015

BUILD AN

ICON

DETAILING DREADNOUGHT, THE FIRST BIG-GUN SHIP

HOW TO Improve Hasegawa’s postwar Avenger p.41 Create a Storch diorama p.36 Plus: A detailed cutaway Stuka p.22 Bill Plunk builds Trumpeter’s 1/350 scale HMS Dreadnought – p.24

WE BUILD AND REVIEW 7 NEW KITS—

Kinetic’s 1/48 scale Mirage IIIE – p.55

EXCLUSIV COVER A E GE

AMPS ARMOR GALLERY

SEE PAGE 52 BONUS ONLINE CONTENT CODE PAGE 3

Vol. 33 • Issue 8

CONTENTS October 2015 • Vol. 33 • No. 8 Online Content Code: FSM1510 Enter this code at www.FineScale.com/code to gain access to web-exclusive content.

54

20

AIRBRUSHING & FINISHING

Enamels, oils for winter camo Finishes for a field-applied look CRISTÓBAL VERGARA

20

22

24 24

SHOWCASE

A revealing 1/32 scale Stuka An old kit provides the body for a scratchbuilt Ju 87 skeleton First of its kind Build Trumpeter’s 1/350 scale HMS Dreadnought BILL PLUNK

36

The Storch brings a diorama After detailing a Fieseler Fi 156, it’s easy modeling on the Eastern Front JEAN PAUL POISSEROUX

36

41

Keeping an Avenger in reserve Building Hasegawa’s TBM-3S FRANK CUDEN

41

44

WORKBENCH REVIEWS

7 NEW KITS

Page 52

• Revell Germany Fw 190

58

• Academy T-34/85 • Kinetic Mirage III E • Meng A7V • Bandai “Star Wars” Snowspeeder

60

• Revell Germany M48A2GA2 • Akan acrylic paint • Zvezda BMPT “Terminator”

61

In Every Issue

SHOW GALLERY

5 7 12 14 32

Editor’s Page Scale Talk Spotlight New Products Reader Gallery

50 51 63 64 65

Reader Tips Questions & Answers Classified Marketplace Hobby Shop Directory Advertiser Index

44

AMPS International 2015 The best from the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society’s annual convention

66

Humor in modeling Some projects are seriously funny

On the Cover

MARK HEMBREE

With FSM author Bill Plunk, armor models come first — but this seagoing fortress isn’t far from that. Follow along as Bill builds the ship that would come to define its kind — the mighty HMS Dreadnought.

FINAL DETAILS

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FineScale Modeler (ISSN 0277-979X, USPS No. 679-590) is published monthly (except for June & August) by Kalmbach Publishing Co., 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187. Periodicals Postage is paid at Waukesha, WI and additional offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to FineScale Modeler, 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612. Canada Post Publication Mail Agreement #40010760.

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EDITOR’S PAGE

By Mark Savage

Build something fun: We’re here to help!

BUSY DOES NOT BEGIN to describe our summer at FineScale Modeler!

There have been some changes.

I am the new editor of your favorite scale modeling magazine and Aaron Skinner is the magazine’s new senior editor.

We’ve also launched a brandnew responsive website that will make viewing stories and photos on your smart phone much easier.

I know you’re all familiar with Aaron and the staff, but you may be curious about who this new yahoo is that’s calling the shots.

Like many of you, I was introduced to this hobby as a youngster, back in the early 1960s. No way to hide my age, the beard gets more gray every passing day.

The ol’ memory fades a bit these days, but I’m 90-95 percent

sure my first build was an F-101 Voodoo. Or was it an F-102 Delta Dagger? In any case, it was a simple 1/72 scale jet.

As I grew older I turned my attention to cars and building big-

I’ve worked closely with Scale Auto and Classic Toy Trains. That’s not to drop names but simply to let you know that I love the hobby world and all its great products, whether they fly, crawl, or roll ... or simply look like they could.

MODEL BUILDING ... ALL OF But the ability to build a beautiUS HERE LOVE DOING IT ful, realistic military model, AND SEEING IT DONE WELL diorama, or a crazy-wild sciencefiction creation is something special. All of us here love doing it ger aircraft, like P-40s and my favorite, the P-38 Lightning. I was and seeing it done well.

We want to help you, whether an OK modeler, but a kid, and no you’re that young kid or middleone gave me a cool magazine to aged builder, make the best model read and learn all the expert tips and techniques to make my mod- you can — and have a blast doing it. els great.

Let’s go build something fun!

Noooo, I had to wait until I was middle-aged to get onboard the Kalmbach Publishing train of hobby publications. A few years back I edited our hobby trade editor@finescale.com publication and through the years

Your Editorial Staff

Editor Mark Savage editor @FineScale.com

Senior Editor Aaron Skinner askinner @FineScale.com

Associate Editor Mark Hembree mhembree @FineScale.com

News Flash!

Associate Editor Tim Kidwell tkidwell @FineScale.com

Editorial Associate Monica Freitag mfreitag @FineScale.com

We’ve launched a new website that is responsive so you can view it more easily on a smart phone, tablet or computer! Check it out at www.FineScale.com!

Contact Us Editorial: FineScale Modeler 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612 262-796-8776, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Fax: 262-796-1383 editor@finescale.com Website: www.FineScale.com

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Editor Mark Savage Art Director Tom Ford Senior Editor Aaron Skinner Associate Editor Mark Hembree Associate Editor Timothy Kidwell Editorial Associate Monica Freitag Illustrator Kellie Jaeger Photographer William Zuback Production Coordinator Cindy Barder ADVISORY BOARD John Noack, Paul Boyer, Shep Paine, Bob Collignon, Cookie Sewell, Pat Covert, Rusty White, Pat Hawkey

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6 FineScale Modeler October 2015

ARA Press

SCALE TALK

The Spaceship Enthusiasts’ One-Stop Data Shop!

Your voice in FSM Welcome aboard!

Thanks for subscribing, Morgan! It’s a great way to save money on your FSM habit, and we know it can be tough sometimes finding a local newsstand. Good luck with your models and be sure to send us photos of your finished projects for Reader Gallery. — Tim Kidwell, associate editor

real, and how much was copied and pasted from another source or even from another photo of the object that the model is supposed to depict. In fact, a debate turned ugly on a modeling website over the image of the Polar Lights 1/350 scale “Star Trek�

USS Enterprise that appeared in your July 2015 issue (Page 35) built by Mark Myers.

Charges were made about the model’s engine lights being enhanced using images of the original series filming model. The builder’s less than convincing response left doubts about the matter. Please help avoid such doubts by not using enhanced photos in the future. Imaginative model building is more inspiring for all of us when the creativity is displayed by the model itself.

In the September 2007 issue ...

– Robert Hermes Tampa, Fla.

I’m a first-time subscriber after decades of intermittently picking up FSM at local hobby shops. Receiving that initial delivery in my mailbox added an element of excitement, and I’m finally motivated to tackle one of those many kits that have piled up over the years.

- Morgan Montalvo San Antonio, Texas

While I was looking for some camo markings in the September 2007 issue, I found a review of the HobbyBoss T-34/76 by Tom Foti (Page 62). He describes the tank as having “sloping armor, diesel engine, wide tracks, and a powerful main gun.� Later, he says the “engine is well detailed but has no spark-plug wires.� Unless I’m mistaken, diesel runs on compression and has no spark plugs. Rarely do I catch one, but this was too funny not to point out. FSM is an excellent read — as you can see, I’m still digging out issues after eight years! – Colin Bruce Orchard Park, N.Y.

Hi Colin, nice catch! That’s not Tom’s fault, that’s ours. Every once in a while, things like that make it through. It’s the nature of editing on a schedule and scouring tons of material — the eyes and brain get dull. Keep rooting around in your stash for those useful bits of information and keep reading because there’re more goodies on the horizon. — T.K. Tired of Photoshop

Please, don’t show anymore photos in Reader Gallery of models that have been altered with Photoshop. Every day we are bombarded by computer-generated images in movies, TV shows, commercials, and even other magazines. FSM is one of the few places where we can see something built by hand, not by a keyboard. The gallery should show off models as you’d see them on a contest table. A well-built model will look great without any enhancements; and splashing Photoshop effects over it is no substitute for craftsmanship. It also makes one wonder how much of a model is

Yikes! “Charges� seems a bit much, don’t you think? Head on over to the FSM Forum and search for Jim Kirk (aka, Mark Myers). There, Mark shows how he pulled off the wonderful — and mostly practical — photo and lighting effects. In Reader Gallery, we encourage modelers to be creative, both with their models and how they’re shot. So long as we can keep lawn furniture out of the background and the sheets behind big models ironed, just about anything’s game. — T.K. To weather or not to weather

Just reading the July 2015 issue and Wick Humble’s letter in Scale Talk (Page 10). I have to say I could not agree more with his comments about over-weathering. I would like to add to this a severe overuse of things like Pledge Floorcare Multi-Surface Finish (PFM; once known as Future) as a final overcoat. That nicely weathered airplane with stains, smoke, grime, dirt, dust, etc., looks great — but not when it’s practically glowing from a massive overcoat of PFM! Airplanes in war zones, especially World War II, were often very dirty. They didn’t Let us know what you think!

Comments, suggestions, corrections, and additional views on FSM articles are welcome. E-mail your thoughts to editor@FineScale.com, or visit FineScale.com and click on “Contribute to FSM.� You can also mail typed or handwritten letters to the address on Page 6. Clearly mark “To the Editor� on the envelope. Please limit your comments to no more than 300 words and include your name and location.

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SCALE TALK shine. My father and two uncles were in the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII (one flew B-25s, one was an airplane mechanic, and one flew TBF Avengers). They all comment on the shiny models they see in my magazines. Nope. That’s not how they looked in real life at all.

– Rowen Poole Gibsonia, Pa. Kits are too expensive

As a longtime reader and subscriber to FineScale Modeler (every issue since the first one), I felt compelled to comment on a trend I’m noting in the kits you cover. Now, don’t get me wrong — I love the magazine and the variety of subjects covered, but it seems like you continue to spend the most focus on kits the average modeler can’t afford.

For example, in the July issue, the kits in Workbench Reviews average about $86 apiece. Several of those kits retail for 3-digit prices, ballooning the average somewhat, but nevertheless, many of your readers would not put out the bucks for most of

8 FineScale Modeler October 2015

these kits. I know the prices for kits have continued to rise over the years — that’s a fact of life — but there are still many kits more affordably priced that are worth building and worthy of coverage in the magazine.

I’m not suggesting you should ignore the premium-price kits. Just remember most of your readers are on a budget for this hobby and appreciate seeing the excellent techniques you teach us practiced on kits we actually can afford to buy and build!

Thanks for taking the time to read this complaint from a devoted fan of your publication.

– Howard Kimpel Frisco, Texas

Great to hear from you, Howard. If you exclude the Wingnut Wings 1/32 scale Felixstowe F.2a (a gargantuan and special kit) and PlusModel 1/35 scale U.S. motor grader (a resin kit), you’ll see that the average price for the remaining kits is about $48. Even then, the comparison isn’t fair because we’re talking about a range of scales, manufacturers, subjects,

and levels of detail that an average of prices doesn’t reflect. That isn’t to say some kits aren’t pricey, but we do feature kits that are well within everyone’s budget — just maybe not in the July 2015 issue. — T.K. The work behind the hobby

Several years ago, I visited family in the Czech Republic and toured the Eduard manufacturing facility in Obrnice. Without question, I learned more about scale modeling in that one day than I had in 35 years of hobby experience.

I had, for example, no idea how many kits a company produces in a single run, or how long it takes to go from initial concept to product heading out the door. I have nothing but respect for the men and women who work hard to create what was up until then something I took for granted.

I would love to read about the manufacturing process, the engineering and the thinking that goes into selecting a subject.

So many questions!

-Symon Rankine South Thomaston, Maine

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Now at THE NEW FineScale.com Download a desktop wallpaper Download a desktop wallpaper of the AFV Club 1/35 scale M60A1 Patton Jim Zeske built for Workbench Reviews in the September 2015 FineScale Modeler.

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Heavy hauler and damaged Abrams In the September 2015, we talked to Joe Szczygiel about how he painted HobbyBoss’ 1/35 scale heavy equipment transporter hauling a damaged Abrams. Check out our gallery of the model.

Video issue previews FSM Editor Mark Savage highlights what’s inside the current and past issues.

New Product Rundown Associate editors Tim Kidwell and Aaron Skinner pick the hottest scale model subjects, open up the boxes, and tell you why they rock.

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SPOTLIGHT Compiled by Aaron Skinner

Tamiya tames the early Panther Manufacturer’s detail sets aplenty take a terrific kit to next level

L

ighter and cheaper than the heavy-hitting Tiger, Germany’s Panther tanks featured many advances designed to meet the challenges of the Soviet T-34 and KV-1 tanks. More than 6,000 Panthers were built between 1943 and the end of World War II. Tamiya’s all-new Panther (No. 35345) is not its first kit of this vehicle. But this marks the first time the Japanese manufacturer has tackled the initial operational version, the Ausf D. These tanks saw combat for the first time at the Battle of Kursk in July 1943.

The dark yellow plastic shows all of the molding know-how Tamiya brings to bear, with smart engineering and good detail with an eye toward ease of construction.

Separate road-wheel arms are keyed to alignment on the hull. The complex, overlapping wheels, idlers, and drive sprockets sandwich vinyl grommets; that will ease assembly and painting.

Outstanding surface detail is marked by engraved panel lines, realistic weld seams and torch-cutting marks, and fine, raised reinforcement ridges on the fenders and toolboxes. All of the tools are separate with clasps molded on. The main gun barrel is a single part with a separate three-piece muzzle brake. The thin plastic looks terrific, as do the fine brackets.

Most of the hatches can be posed open or closed, and a few — such as the driver’s vision hatch and the shell opening in the back of the turret — are movable, as is the gun travel lock. No interior is provided, but two figures animate the model.

One-piece vinyl tracks wrap around the running gear and show decent detail, front and back.

Decals and color painting instructions show markings for three Kursk Panthers, all in mid-war three-color camouflage.

Tamiya released three Detail Up sets for the Panther, including: a turned-metal barrel with a complete breech for the main gun (No. 12664, $15.50); click-together individual-link tracks (No. 12665, $26); and photoetched-metal engine grilles (No. 12666, $6.75). In addition, the instructions show that the Panther engine from Tamiya’s German tank engine maintenance crew set (No. 35180) is designed to fit this kit with minor modification.

This looks like another terrific Tamiya offering that should be popular. The kit costs $60.

12 FineScale Modeler October 2015

A raft of RAF markings from Xtradecal

M

ade for Hannants, one of the U.K.’s leading model retailers, Xtradecal markings often feature British subjects. The brand’s latest 1/48 and 1/72 scale sheets are no exception.

There are markings for Bristol Beaufighters — Mk.X and 21s. The 1/48 scale sheet (No. X48148, $12.50) includes a Burma-based aircraft, two Royal Canadian Air Force Coastal Command torpedo bombers, and two Australian Beaufighters, one of which is postwar. The 1/72 scale sheet (No. X72227, $12.50) has those five subjects and five more — three more Coastal Command aircraft and two more Australians.

Sticking with World War II, check out the Fighters over Africa and the Mediterranean, parts 1 and 2. In 1/48 scale, each set (nos. X48149 and X48150) includes six fighters — Hurricanes, Spitfires, Kittyhawks, and Mustangs — in British, Australian, South African, and Greek service. The 1/72 scale sheets (nos. X72228 and X72229) each have 11 aircraft, including those on the larger scale sets. Each sheet costs $12.50.

One of the things I like about Xtradecal’s sheets is the quality of the supporting material. There are four-view color drawings of each marking option, with paint callouts and modelers notes pointing out idiosyncracies of the individual aircraft. To see other Xtradecal releases, visit www.hannants.com.

Modern Russian MBT for small-scale fans

Z

vezda follows its successful 1/35 scale T-90 with a 1/72 scale kit (No. 5020) of the most current tank in the Russian arsenal, and it looks a beaut.

The detail on light gray parts is first-rate, especially around small parts such as the wheels, toolboxes, and ERA blocks. The one-part main gun barrel features a separate muzzle and is keyed to fit into a well-molded mantlet dust cover. Exquisite small items, such as the DsHK machine gun and the headlight guards, give the kit a refined appearance. The turret hatches appear to be posable, but no interior detail is supplied.

The tracks are vinyl lengths that wrap around the suspension and have terrific detail.

A small decal sheet provides a matrix of turret numbers and Guards emblems. Painting instructions show two T-90s, one overall green, the other wearing three-color camo.

Zvezda’s little T-90 costs $19.99.

BOOKSHELF A cornucopia of islandhopping tanks

F

rom autumn 1943 on, Sherman tanks took part in every landing from Tarawa to Okinawa in the Allied offensive against Japanese forces. The history of the medium tank’s role in those operations is told in hundreds of beautifully reproduced photos in Sherman in the Pacific War 1943-1945, by Raymon Giuliani (Histoire & Collections, ISBN 978-2-352-50283-8, $54.95).

The black-and-white images, together with color profiles and maps in the 144-page hardcover book, cover the major battles and provide a wealth of reference and inspiration that will have you reaching for the Dragon and Asuka kits in your stash.

Yakovlev’s pistonpowered steeds

T

he scale of Russia’s industrial output during World War II is staggering.

Case in point: More than 35,000 Yakovlev single-seaters were built. Yefim Gordon, Sergey Komissarov, and Dmitriy Komissarov outline the development and deployment of the Yak-1, -7, -9, and -3 (yes, that order is correct) in Yakovlev Fighters of World War Two (Hitoki, ISBN 978-1-902-10946-6, $56.95).

Black-and-white photos, line drawings, and color profiles abound in the 336-page hardcover volume.

Individual chapters are dedicated to each of the major types as well as some prototype designs. There also are sections about the aircraft’s service with Soviet and foreign air forces, as well as museum survivors. There’s even a short entry detailing flying reproductions on the air-show circuit today. There’s a ton of info for anyone planning to build a Yak.

Duster gets its due

B

uilt on the M41 tank chassis and designed as an antiaircraft platform, the M42 Duster is better known for its role as a ground-support weapon. Anyone building one can’t do better for reference than David Doyle’s M42 Duster — A Visual History of the U.S. Army’s Modern Mobile Antiaircraft Platform (Ampersand, ISBN 978-0989-55477-0, $22.95).

The 120-page softcover book is filled with hundreds of photos (many taken in Vietnam of Dusters in action) and a solid selection of walkaround detail photos. Extensive captions describe the scenes and point out unusual features.

October 2015

www.FineScale.com

13

NEW PRODUCTS Compiled by Monica Freitag 1/48 SCALE

AIRCR AFT

EE/BAC Lightning T.4 from Xtradecal,

No. X48151, $10.40. Options for three RAF trainers.

1/32 SCALE KITS

MiG-29 SMT Fulcrum 9-19 from GWH,

No. L4818, $79.99.

F/A-18C/D Miramar’s MAGTF Hornets #1 P-51B Mustang from Revell, No. 85-5535,

1/48 DECAL SET

$29.95.

Italian Air Force AMX/AMX-ACOL

from Caracal Models, No. CD48069, $13.99.

Seven marking options for Italian Air Force AMX/AMXACOL “Ghibli” light attack aircraft.

from TwoBobs, No. 48-246, $14. Includes markings for the newest schemes from the VMFA (AW)-225 Vikings and VMFA-232 Red Devils. A CO and line jet from each squadron is featured.

1/72 SCALE KITS

DeHavilland Mosquito FB Mk.VI from

Tamiya, No. 60326, $281. Look for a detailed review in an upcoming issue of FSM.

Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai ”George”

from Aoshima, No. 011706, $24.99.

USAF T-38C Talons

from Caracal Models, No. CD48072, $12.99.

Markings for 13 current USAF T-38C trainers from 20062015. Designed for the new Wolfpack kit.

Bf109E-4B from Dragon, No. 3225, $49.99.

Warbird Series, WingTech.

1/32 DECAL SET OV-10D Bronco

from Caracal Models, No. CD32016, $13.99.

Four U.S. Marine Corps marking options for the OV-10D Bronco.

Designed for Kitty Hawk kit.

English Electric/ BAC Lightning T.4/T.5 from

MiG-15 Royal Class Quattro Combo from

Eduard, No. R0011, $99.95. Includes 4 complete kits, Brassin details, markings for 18 aircraft, a crystal tumbler, and a piece of a Czeckoslovakian MiG-15.

1/72 DECAL SET KC-135R Stratotanker from

Caracal Models, No. CD72030, $19.99.

Marking options for KC-135R tankers from 16 USAF/ANG units.

Xtradecal, No. X48153, $12.45. Includes markings for six RAF Lightning trainers.

www.FineScale.com FineScale Modeler magazine receives new products from a variety of manufacturers on a daily basis and we are now able to share all of them with you through our interactive exclusive FSM product database. Click on the Product News link at www.FineScale.com.

14 FineScale Modeler October 2015

Westland Commando (Sea King) HC.4

from Xtradecal, No. X72218, $10.40. Options for 10 Royal Navy and one Egyptian air force helicopters.

British Rota-trailer with 2-pounder ammunition set from AFV Club, No. AF35264,

GAZ-03-30 Mod. 1938 from MiniArt, No.

$27.95.

35149, $59.99.

Schwere Panzerspahwagen SdKfz 233 8-rad with 7.5cm gun from AFV Club, No.

PzKpfw VI Ausf E SdKfz 181 Tiger early production sPzAbt 504 Tunisia from Dragon,

AF35233, $74.

No. 6820, $79.99. 1939-1945 series, Smart Kit.

1/520 SCALE

USS Akron and USS Macon from AMT, No.

AMT892/12, $25.99.

AR MOR 1/32 SCALE

1/48 SCALE

Churchill Mk.III Type D carpet layer from

AFV Club, No. AF35274, $76.95.

German 3 ton 4x2 cargo truck from Tamiya,

No. 32585, $31.

Sherman M4A1 Screamin’ Mimi from

1/72 SCALE

Monogram, No. 85-7863, $27.95.

1/35 SCALE Panther Ausf D from Tamiya, No. 35345, $60.

Look for more detail in Spotlight on page 12.

SpPz 2 Luchs A1/A2 from Takom, No. 2017,

$56.95. Look for a detailed review in an upcoming issue of FSM. Austin Mk.III British armored car, from

www.FineScale.com Churchill Mk.IV AVRE with fascine carrier frame from AFV Club, No. AF35288, $76.95.

Subscribers have exclusive access to model kit photos not published in the magazine! Simply go to FineScale.com/Reviews.

Master Box Ltd., No. MB72007, $22.99.

Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of World War I. T-90 main battle tank from Zvezda, No. 5020, $19.99. Look for more detail in Spotlight on page 13.

October 2015

www.FineScale.com

15

NEW PRODUCTS

SHIPS

REAL SPACE

1/1200 SCALE

Toyota model AA (Toyota’s first production car) from Tamiya, No. 24339, $53.

1/12 SCALE

Table Top Navy: IJN Zuikaku and IJN Yamato from Lindberg, No. HL424/12,

$24.99.

MILITARY FIGURES

Lunar Rover from Ron Shinkle, $1,160. Highly detailed replica. 44 separate parts plus four completed wheels. Wires and rods used to connect various parts, one sheet of Bare-Metal gold foil, six pieces of sized mirrored plastic, all vinyl graphics and decals, a parts list, exploded view, connection diagram and instructions. Parts are manufactured by 3D Printing.

1/25 SCALE

AUTOS

1/72 SCALE

Teevee Dune Buggy from AMT,

No. AMT907/12, $24.99.

Renault 4L GTL from Heller Joustra SA, No. 80759, $37. Five marking options, including fire, police, and telecom company vehicles.

Lil’ Hot Dogger from AMT, No. AMT908/12,

$26.99.

WWII Soviet air force ground crew from

Zvezda, No. 6187, $4.99.

Honda S600 from Tamiya, No. 24340, $51.

www.FineScale.com

WWII German air force ground crew from

Zvezda, No. 618, $4.99.

www.FineScale.com Subscribers have exclusive access to model kit photos not published in the magazine! Simply go to FineScale.com/Reviews.

16 FineScale Modeler October 2015

featuring reviews, product information, photo galleries, and more!

Manufacturer/Distributor Directory Aero Research Co. www.AeroResearchCDs.com

“Back to the Future Part III” time machine Mk.IV final act from Polar Lights,

No. POL932/12, $33.99. Snap-together.

Includes railroad-track display base.

Stone, Woods, & Cook 1941 Willys from

Revell, No. 85-1287, $24.95.

Ampersand Publishing Co. Inc. 561-266-9686 www.ampersandpubco.com Caracal Models www.caracalmodels.com Dragon Models USA Inc. 626-968-0322 www.dragonmodelsusa.com • Aoshima • Bronco • Cyber-hobby • Dragon • Fine Molds • Fujimi • G.W.H. • Master Box • Platz • Riich • Showcase Models Australia • Takom • Zvezda • Concord • Firefly Books • Nuts & Bolts Books Eduard www.eduard.com

Tommy Ivo’s 32-cylinder Showboat from

Revell, No. 85-1285, $29.95.

Hannants 44-1502-517444 www.hannants.co.uk • Xtradecal • Xtrakit Heller Joustra SA www.heller.fr/en Masterpiece Models www.masterpiecemodels.com

“Fast & Furious” Honda Civic Si coupe from

Revell, No. 85-4331, $24.95.

Pacific Coast Models, Inc. 707-538-4850 www.pacmodels.com • HK Models • Takom • Pacific Coast • Amusing Hobby • Asuka • Ebbro • Kitty Hawk • Panda • Xactscale Peregrine Publishing 516-759-1089 Revell 847-758-3200 www.revell.com • Monogram • Renwal • Revell Germany Ron Shinkle www.lunarrovermodel.com Round 2 574-243-3000 www.round2corp.com • AMT • MPC • Polar Lights • Lindberg • Hawk Specialty Press 651-277-1400 www.specialtypress.com • Ginter • Crecy • Hikoki • Zenith • Classic

Merit International 626-912-2212 www.merit-intl.com • Merit • AFV Club • Kinetic

Tamiya America Inc. 949-362-2240 www.tamiyausa.com

Osprey Publishing www.ospreypublishing.com

TwoBobs Aviation Graphics www.twobobs.net

Tru-Color Paint www.trucolorpaint.com

October 2015

www.FineScale.com

17

NEW PRODUCTS

Auto transport trailer from Revell,

No. 85-1509, $49.95.

Cosmic Charger (Carl Casper’s fuel dragster) from MPC, No. MPC826/12, $29.99.

Allied-Axis Issue No. 32, $15.95, by soft

cover, 96 pages, all black and white photos.

Includes Sturmgeshütze in Finland (Finnish and German units) and M20 Diamond-T tank transporter in U.S. use. From Ampersand Publishing Company, Inc.

Batman stock car from AMT/Round 2,

1940 Ford convertible, from Lindberg Line,

No. AMT940-12, $24.99. Racing Dreams, Snap-it.

No. HL119/12, $14.99.

BOOKSHELF

High Mobility: A Visual History of the U.S. Army’s High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle Part 1, $22.95, by David

Doyle, soft cover, 120 pages, all color photos, ISBN: 978-0-9861127-1-3. From Ampersand Publishing Company, Inc. A-10 Thunderbolt II Units of Operation Enduring Freedom 2008-2014,

1941 Plymouth four-passenger coupe from

AMT/Round 2, No. AMT919/12, $25.95. 2 n’ 1 build stock or custom.

Flying Wings, $22.95, by David Doyle, soft cover, 120 pages, few color photos, mostly blackand-white photos, ISBN: 978-0-9895547-7-0.

From Ampersand Publishing Company, Inc.

$22.95, by Gary Wetzel, soft cover, 96 pages, all color photos, ISBN: 9781-4728057-3-7.

From Osprey Publishing.

Avro Lancaster,

USA-1 1963 Corvette Stingray from AMT/

Round 2, No. AMT909/12, $26.95. American Dream Series.

18 FineScale Modeler October 2015

A description of our new-product announcement and review policies is available from Product News Coordinator, FSM, 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187, 262-7968776, fax 262-796-1383, or e-mail at newproducts@finescale.com. FineScale Modeler is not responsible for content of external sites linked through our site. Visit our website at www.FineScale.com.

$18.95, by Richard Marks, soft cover, 64 pages, few color photos, mostly blackand-white photos, ISBN: 978-14728094-4-5. From Osprey Publishing.

Panzer IV vs Sherman: France 1944, $18.95, by

Steven Zaloga, soft cover, 80 pages, few color photos, mostly black-and-white photos, ISBN: 9781-4728076-0-1.

From Osprey Publishing.

ELECTRONIC MEDIA Modelers’ Guide to the Hercules Part 1: UC-130 to EC-130E from Aero

Walk Around No. 24: I-16 Mosca from

Neil Short, illustrated

by Adam Hook, soft cover, 64 pages, few color photos, mostly black-and-white photos, ISBN: 9781-4728058-6-7.

From Osprey Publishing.

Peregrine Publications, $10.

$15.95, by Wojtek Matusiak and Robert Grudzien, soft cover, 96 pages, color renderings, all blackand-white photos, ISBN: 978-14728083-7-0. From Osprey Publishing.

Combat Aircraft 110: Dornier Do 24 Units,

$15.95, by Peter de Jong, soft cover, 96 pages, color renderings, all black-andwhite photos, ISBN: 978-1-47280570-6.

From Osprey Publishing.

Metallic automotive paints from

Tru-Color, No. TCP700-712, 1oz. $6.19, 16oz bottles available on request $11.25. Solvent based metallized with metal flake.

Shown Candy Apple Red.

Research, No. 9004A, $12.50. A guide to 30 variants of the C-130.

Germany’s East Wall in World War II, $13.95, by

Aircraft of the Aces 127: Polish Spitfire Aces,

PAINTS

TOOL S Fine grain hobby cork from

Walk Around No.18: F6F Hellcat from

Masterpiece Models, 1.5mm MMCRK-001 $5.99, 3mm MMCRK-002 $7.99, 6mm MMCRK-003 $14.99.

Peregrine Publications, $10.

Walk Around No.20: FF-1 Flying Barrel from

Peregrine Publications, $10.

Walk Around No. 15: Humu/ F2A Buffalo from

Peregrine Publications, $10.

The Slicer from Masterpiece Models, No. , $12.49. Cut narrow sheets of cork in 1/16 inch or pre-marked sizes for brick, curb stone, cobblestone, sidewalk.

USAF Collection No. 8 from Aero

Convair Deltas From SeaDart to Hustler, $32.95,

by Bill Yenne, soft cover, 216 pages, 344 color and blackand-white photos, ISBN: 978-1-58007231-1. From Specialty Press.

Research, No. 1052, $12.95. Includes 168 high-resolution photos of 19 different types of aircraft from the 1950s to 1990s.

The Corr-U-Gator from Masterpiece Models,

No. MMtL-002, $24.99. 1/35 corrugated panels. Includes press, sheet cutting guide and one sheet of scale metal for forming.

October 2015

www.FineScale.com

19

Enamels and oils for Combining finishes for a field-applied look • BY CRISTÓBAL VERGARA

A

head of its time when it entered service, Polikarpov’s I-16 made up almost 40 percent of the Soviet air force facing the Luftwaffe in June 1941. Although outclassed by German fighters in most respects, the stubby, reliable plane remained in service until 1943.

I improved Eduard’s 1/48 scale I-16 Type 29 with CMK’s resin cockpit and control surfaces as well as some scratchbuilt details.

To paint the camouflage, I used White Ensign and Humbrol enamels. I mixed those with hardware store enamel-paint thinner at a ratio of about 60 percent paint to 40 percent thinner. My airbrush is a double-action Iwata NEO powered by a quiet air compressor.

I started by spraying the undersides White Ensign AII blue (No. AC S 01) and the wheel wells interior gray (No. AC S 05). After the blue was dry, I painted the upper side AII green (No. AC S 03) and left the model to dry for several days. I airbrushed the exhausts, wheels, gear doors, and Vector resin rockets separately to attach at the end of the build.

After painting the door exteriors blue and the interiors gray, I added chips around the edges with dots of Vallejo Model Color dark gray (No. 70.994) and chocolate brown (No. 70.882).

Applying the winter camouflage was a twopart process. I started by spraying a very thin layer of Humbrol white (No. 34). The enamel layer doesn’t need to be heavy because it serves as just the background for the primary layer of white artist’s oil.

I thinned the oil paint a little with mineral (white) spirits — this solvent doesn’t affect the underlying enamels — and hand-brushed it over the Humbrol white. The density should be uneven, especially around the edges, so it looks field-applied and a little bit worn.

I sprayed Marabu clear gloss enamel (No. 1106 05) where the decals would go, applying the markings once it was dry. Sealing the paint and decals with an overall coat of Marabu clear flat (No. 1108 05) prepared the surfaces for weathering.

To enhance the panel lines, I drew a sharp pencil along them and added a wash of brown artist’s oils thinned with mineral spirits for dirt and grime. FSM 20 FineScale Modeler October 2015

Winter camouflage: Using a twofold approach, Cristóbal hand-painted artist’s oils over thin white enamels to produce areas that look like they were applied with a spray gun in the field.

Antenna: After stretching monofilament between the tail and antenna post, Cristóbal painted it dark gray.

IS

AIRBRU

winter camo

HING

ING & SH

FIN

Bare metal: For the metallic band around the cowl, Cristóbal cut a strip of aluminum-colored decal. It was easier than masking and painting, he says.

Pigments: Using alcohol as a fixer, Cristóbal applied Mig Productions pigments — European dust (No. P028) and Gulf War sand (No. P037) — to dirt-prone areas. He concentrated his efforts under the plane and around the landing gear.

Exhaust stains: Cristóbal airbrushed black, then dark red-brown, at low pressure in short strips from the exhaust pipes aft.

Meet Cristóbal Vergara

In 1/48 scale, the I-16 is just over 5" long.

But that didn’t stop Cristóbal from adding killer camouflage and plenty of detail.

After modeling as a kid with Revell, Airfix, and Matchbox kits, Cristóbal got serious as an adult. That’s when his interests turned to Soviet and Russian subjects. It’s something he calls the “dark side” because, although it is topical, for a long time there was very little reliable information about the vehicles and aircraft. His technical skills were bolstered by a career as a draftsman with Spanish aircraft maker EADS-CASA. He’s married with two children and lives in Madrid. Russian equipment still dominates his modeling, but he has started to branch out with naval and “Star Wars” subjects. He shows off his work on his website, www.sovietmodeler.com. Cristóbal’s recent FSM features include a KV-220 kitbash in February 2014 and an antiaircraft truck in April 2013.

October 2015

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21

SHOWCASE Dan Jayne Photos by Chuck Stewart

A revealing 1/32 scale Stuka An old kit provides the body for a scratchbuilt Ju 87 skeleton

A

longtime FSM contributor and World War II aircraft enthusiast, Dan Jayne has had many of his masterful cutaway models featured over the years. This time he delivers a Ju 87 Stuka.

“It may seem like an odd aircraft to add to my growing collection, but the dive-bomber has always been a favorite beast of mine,” Dan says.

With its inverted gull wings, few would suggest the Stuka was a pretty plane, but it chalked up an almost mythic reputation during the the Spanish Civil War and the early days of WWII. It wasn’t until

22 FineScale Modeler October 2015

the Battle of Britain that Germany first saw serious losses to its Ju 87 fleet. Inarguably an important aircraft, it was a must-have for Dan. “Staying with my rule of modeling cutaways only in 1/32 scale left only one kit at the time: the old Revell nasty from the 1960s,” Dan says.

Far from the state of the hobby, Dan corrected the fuselage’s shape and thoroughly detailed the model with aftermarket and scratchbuilt parts.

It took him two months of dedicated building, but we think the result well worth the effort!

While aftermarket parts helped Dan bring his Stuka to life, there was no escaping the colossal amount of scratchbuilding required. Here you can see the master compass (dark gray), control runs made from styrene rod, and first-aid stowage.

Engines & Things from Canada supplied the resin Junkers Jumo 211 V-12 inverted power plant (No. 32035). Decals came from Eagle Strike’s “Achtung Stuka!” set (No. 32024a).

Dan built the wing frame, flaps, and fuselage interior with sheet styrene and shaped stock. For the camo, he used Testors black green (2080), dark green (2081), yellow (1169), and Model Master hellblau (4487).

Except for the instrument panel and seat belts, which are photoetched metal from Eduard, the cockpit and gunner’s position are completely scratchbuilt.

Dan modified drop tanks from a Revell Bf 109 to match his Stuka. The port landing gear is scratchbuilt, with solder for a brake line. The winddriven siren on the wheel fairing is homemade, too. FSM October 2015

www.FineScale.com

23

1/350 Scale

FIRST

OF ITS KIND Build Trumpeter’s 1/350 scale HMS Dreadnought • BILL PLUNK

HMS Dreadnought left a mark so indelible as to have lent its name to an era of naval architecture — every ship prior to 1905 became pre-dreadnought.

More than a century later, Bill Plunk shows you how to build Trumpeter’s 1/350 scale model of this historic “all-big-gun” ship.

T

he course of naval history changed when Britain’s Board of Admiralty ordered the keel for the HMS Dreadnought laid down in October 1905. In that moment, all battleships that came before sailed into the seas of obsolescence, now termed “pre-dreadnought.” Successors would be known simply as “dreadnoughts” — mighty steel-clad 24 FineScale Modeler October 2015

behemoths bearing guns large enough to pulverize coastlines and dominate the course of shipbuilding for the next 50 years.

Luckily, interest in early 20th-century ships has increased with the centennial of World War I, with Dreadnought among the many ships kitted.

To re-create the first modern battleship in all her glory, I

chose Trumpeter’s 1/350 scale offering (No. 05328) dated for 1907. I supplemented my build with Master turned-metal barrels for the 12-inch main and 12-pounder guns (No. SM-350-67), wooden deck veneers from Wood Hunter (No. 35046), and Eduard photoetched-brass detail (No. 53091) and railing sets (No. 53094).

1

2

First, I assembled the two-piece hull using interior braces. The main deck plate was temporarily held in place with masking tape to provide support and help the hull’s top retain its shape.

3

After letting the hull cure overnight, I installed the main deck. Rubber bands ensured it sat level and that the hull sides mated cleanly with the deck’s edge.

4

A small strip of sheet styrene blocks the hawses so you can’t see through the ship.

Putty and careful sanding around the fo’c’sle cleaned up the join at the main deck. A couple of 1/35 scale photoetched-metal tank engine intake screens from my spares made excellent covers for the hawsepipes — a detail missing from the kit.

Bilge keels Rudder

Ribs

Propellers

5 Another missing detail was a series of 16 ribs welded over the waterline armor plate on each side. I made them from .6mm styrene rod sanded flat.

The modified rod was cut to length and glued in place according to scale ship plans.

6 I primed the hull with flat black, pre-shading it and providing a readymade boot stripe with a minimum of masking. I masked for the antifouling paint below the waterline and applied insignia red. (All paints are Testors Model Master enamels unless otherwise noted.)

October 2015

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25

7 I let the red dry overnight, masked the boot stripe, then airbrushed the upper hull and deck with a 7:3 mix of panzer schwarzgrau and light gray.

9

8 Here’s the hull without the masks. I applied gray to the decks so any trimming or adjustments made to the wooden overlays wouldn’t expose bare plastic. I refined the Wood Hunter decks as needed with a sharp No. 11 blade before removing the protective backing and installing them.

10

Short lengths of sprue drilled to mount pins secured the metal barrels inside the turrets. I confirmed the proper elevation, tacked the barrels in place with super glue, then used Aves epoxy putty to permanently affix them.

Sprue cutters removed the solid barrels from the 12-pounders. I used a No. 78 micro bit to drill mounting holes for the brass replacements and super glued them.

11

12

I removed molded detail on the turret tops with a square micro chisel, sanded the surfaces smooth, and added details from Eduard.

Keeping the boat deck split in two made it easier to add details. The admiral’s day cabin was replaced with a photoetched-metal assembly from Eduard. Signal-flag lockers busy up the area.

26 FineScale Modeler October 2015

13

14

The main funnels and conning tower also received details by Eduard. I testfitted them along with the boat deck.

On the signal platform, I halved links of chain from the Wood Hunter set and super glued them to create 12 mounts for the signal-flag lines.

15

16

Flat black, followed by my custom hull gray mixture, went on all of the elements assembled thus far.

Turret plates received a coat of panzer schwarzgrau. Gator Grip glue held the 12-pounder guns and Eduard railings in place.

17

18

The wooden deck overlay rounded out the fore section of the boat platform.

The 10- and 12-pounder guns and searchlights, as well as all of the other miscellaneous gear, went on the shelter deck.

October 2015

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27

19

20

Then I attached the boat platforms and funnels. I drilled holes with a No. 80 micro bit to accommodate bracings made of EZ Line.

I installed the admiral’s walk, inner rail, searchlights, and outer rail. To complete the assembly, a 12-pounder went on either side of the conning tower.

21

22

Eduard parts replaced the bridge, bridge face, and railing and braced the outer support legs. All were airbrushed hull gray; wood decking added detail to the upper and lower platforms.

The bridge assembly fit perfectly. A photoetched-metal ladder leading to the boat platform is the finishing touch here.

23

24

I airbrushed the main mast’s tripod legs before assembling them. Short lengths of .6mm styrene rod added the missing support braces just above the admiral’s day cabin. I rigged the boat derrick with EZ Line.

The kit’s masts and yards were flimsy; I replaced them with soldered brass rod. I tapered the mast tips with a grinding wheel chucked in a motor tool.

28 FineScale Modeler October 2015

25

26

The mainsail yard was glued to the base of the main top. Photoetchedmetal braces add much-needed detail.

Prior to painting the masts, I super glued Eduard’s photoetched-metal rigging lines to the main yardarms. Both sets of masts were airbrushed with my custom hull gray mix, then glued in place.

27

28

Using Super Drawings in 3D: The Battleship HMS Dreadnought (Kagero, ISBN 978-83-62878-68-0) as a guide, I rigged the main mast with EZ Line, starting with the innermost braces and working from bottom to top.

The stays came next, starting with the main-course yard and working from the inside out one side at a time. The process was repeated with the topsail yard until I had all 12 lines in place. I followed a similar method to rig the mizzen mast.

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30

I removed the wheelhouses from the three steam-powered launches and replaced them with Eduard parts. The smokestacks and air vents were drilled to improve detail. The rest just needed minor cleanup and photoetched-metal details.

The boats were primed with hull gray and detailed by hand with flat white, Italian dark brown, Testors Metalizer brass, and a 1:1 mix of panzer dunkelgelb and light gray for the bare-wood areas.

October 2015

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29

31

32

After cutting the kit’s anchor chains to the proper length, I hand-painted them with Metalizer non-buffing gunmetal, tightened the runs around the capstans, and secured them with super glue.

Gel super glue gave the jackstaff and its braces strength to support the rigging. I ran the wireless aerial from bow to stern and added the last lines from the boat platform to the wireless room.

33

34

Next, I added the stack of three boats and followed with the whaleboat/ dinghy combo suspended from the platform by short lengths of EZ Line.

The 30' gigs were attached to either side of the forward funnel and the port-side steam pinnace installed. The starboard side received two steam launches along with a single whaleboat.

35

36

I painted the four propellers Metalizer brass and detailed the drive shafts with non-buffing steel before placing them.

I airbrushed the railings with my hull gray mix while they were still on the fret. After they’d dried, I glued them to the fo’c’sle and starboard and port main deck using a toothpick with gel and medium-thickness super glues.

30 FineScale Modeler October 2015

37

38

Trumpeter provided one 32' lifeboat cutter, but three were needed. I cast resin copies and scratchbuilt rudders from sheet styrene using the kit’s photoetched-metal parts as a pattern.

With the cutters finished, I put the last of the boats on Dreadnought, with a midship stack of a cutter and a whaleboat, and two cutters suspended from davits.

39

40

I applied black pastels to simulate coal soot on the tripod aft of the first funnel. Then the entire ship received a coat of Pledge FloorCare MultiSurface Finish and was left to dry overnight.

Square-tipped brush in hand, I began weathering the upper hull and boot stripe with an enamel wash of 9 parts thinner to 1 part panzer schwarzgrau applied to the boot stripe and the hull gray areas; a wash of 9 parts thinner to 1 part burnt umber went on the lower hull.

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42

A pinwash of panzer schwarzgrau accented the portholes and brought out additional details.

Once I’d finished weathering, I sealed the deal with Testors Model Master lusterless flat from a spray can. FSM October 2015

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31

READER GALLERY

▶ MAXIME LÉVESQUE LAVAL, QUEBEC, CANADA

Maxime painted HobbyBoss’ 1/35 scale AAVP7A1 with Vallejo Model Air acrylic colors, weathering with artist’s oils and pigments from AK Interactive and Mig. He primed the vehicle with black and followed with several shades of sand, saving the lightest for the most prominent areas. Hatches are open to show off the kit’s interior detail. ◀ RAÚL CORRAL SALMSACH, SWITZERLAND

Me 262 jets terrorized Allied bomber formations — but they were vulnerable while taking off and landing. To protect the Messerschmitts of Jagdverband 44, a handful of Focke-Wulf Fw 190s, painted red with white stripes for the benefit of German gunners (and pilots), formed a special squadron within JV 44. Raúl used Hasegawa’s 1/32 scale Fw 190D-9 to model Red 13 as flown by Klaus Faber. In his research, Raúl noted that Faber confirmed the undersides were red, not black, saying, “We would have been crazy to have D-Day stripes on our aircraft!”

▶ JASON VUKOVICH ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

Jason converted Tamiya’s 1/35 scale M1025 HMMWV to one of the ODA [Operational Detachment Alpha] GMVs [Ground Mobility Vehicles] he worked with in Afghanistan. He deployed the Pro Art Models conversion, Verlinden figures, Trumpeter weapons, and Bison decals.

32 FineScale Modeler October 2015

▲ PAULO AYRES MUSELLI de MENDONÇA PORTO TROMBETAS, PARÁ, BRAZIL

Aside from difficulties keeping the plane from tailsitting, and decals that lacked the proper diacritics to spell Força Aérea Brasileira correctly, Paulo enjoyed building HobbyBoss’ 1/48 scale Super Tucano. He recommends it to beginners who want to try their hand at photoetched-metal details.

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 your reason for choosing to build the model, along with your name and address. We look forward to seeing your work!

▲ DONALD KRALIK PITTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY

After many years of model railroading, Donald was bitten by the military modeling bug.

The 100th anniversary of World War I moved him to model Takom’s 1/16 scale FT-17.

He added working hinges to the hatches and airbrushed with Tamiya acrylic paints, masking the camo pattern with poster putty. Challenged by disintegrating decals, he airbrushed the insignia, too.

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READER GALLERY

PABLO BAULEO FORT COLLINS, COLORADO

Pablo used AMT wing pylons and a Hasegawa fuselage spine to convert HobbyBoss’ 1/48 scale P-47D to a late-war model so he could use extra decals from another Hasegawa kit to mark his Thunderbolt as Tarheel Hal. He used three different shades of Alclad II aluminum, masking to vary the panels, and found masking and paint looked better than decals for the cowl.

▲ LUK VANSTAPPEN MECHELEN, BELGIUM

▲ MIKE WALSTON SARASOTA, FLORIDA

Big scale, shiny little bike: Luk illuminated Tamiya’s 1/6 scale Gorilla, installing mini LEDs with a switch and battery under the saddle. He says, “The few parts that needed it were painted with Tamiya acrylic colors.”

“Robby the Astrogator” is what Mike calls his version of the robot from the 1956 film “Forbidden Planet.” To put Polar Lights’ 1/12 scale Robby at the helm of United Planets Cruiser C57-D, Mike installed LEDs, cut the robot off at the knees and hips to reposition its legs, and built a control console from softball and baseball holders, 1⁄16” styrene stock, and various spare parts.

▶ JACQUES NIOT MENNECY, ESSONNE, FRANCE

Jacques is a longtime FineScale Modeler contributor who says he still drinks his morning coffee from a complimentary mug he received in 1995 for his first FSM feature. He likes to scratchbuild unusual aircraft in 1/48 scale, such as this Blohm & Voss BV 138 flying boat.

34 FineScale Modeler October 2015

▲ ROBERT NAGLE COLDWATER, ONTARIO, CANADA

Hitching a reissued Peerless log trailer to AMT’s 1/25 scale “Movin’ On” tractor, Robert built a Kenworth W900 logging rig. He added resin wheels to the tractor, painted with Testors Model Master colors, and applied individual decal letters. The logs are wood dowels sanded to shape, given bark texture by scraping them with an old Sawzall blade, and colored with Minwax wood stain and washes.

▶ OSMANI VICENTE JR. LONDRINA, PARANA, BRAZIL

Osmani built Dragon’s 1/72 scale P-61 in the markings of the 58th Night Fighter Squadron, Iwo Jima, 1945. He painted with War Scenic enamels and weathered with watercolor washes, dry-brushing, and dry pastels.

◀ SCOTT WITHERS CANTON, MICHIGAN

Good thing the Allies didn’t see these before the end of World War II! The VK4502(P) was a Tiger II prototype with a Porsche turret and 8.8cm gun. Scott masked HobbyBoss’ 1/35 scale tank with Panzer Putty to paint the camouflage and weathered with LifeColor’s Dust and Rust set and Vallejo’s German oxide red. The sand color is a mix of Tamiya buff and white. He used AK Interactive’s Worn Effects fluid for chipping.

October 2015

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1/35 Scale

The STORCH After detailing a Fieseler Fi 156, it’s easy modeling on the Eastern Front

BY JEAN PAUL POISSEROUX

36 FineScale Modeler October 2015

Jean Paul had an idea for an Eastern Front diorama, so he built Tamiya’s SdKfz 7/1 and waited for the right airplane to come along. Twenty years later, when Tristar’s Fieseler Fi 156 landed, he was ready.

brings a diorama F

or a long time, I imagined building a 1/35 scale diorama featuring a Fieseler Storch on the Eastern Front. I got the idea from the box art of a Tamiya SdKfz 7/1 Flakvierling (No. 35050) I built 20 years ago. At that time, it stayed in the box awaiting my diorama. I considered displaying it with Hasegawa’s 1/32 scale Storch,

but the difference in scale was too obvious.

Finally came Tristar’s 1/35 scale Fi 156 (No. 35034); I chose the C-3 option. The kit provided markings for JG 54, the Grünherz (Green Heart) unit and the code SB+UG. When I saw a picture of the same plane in Fieseler Fi 156 Storch im Zweiten Weltkrieg, by Janusz Piekalkiewicz

(Motorbuch-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-87943445-9), I was ready for the project!

I added an Italeri Kfz 385 (Opel Blitz) Tankwagen (No. 6467), figures from Dragon’s German Infantry in Wachtmantel, Leningrad, 1943 (No. 6518), and a vacuum-formed building from Remi’s Village Farm (No. 3542).

October 2015

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1

2

Painting begins in the cockpit with RLM 02 grau (gray). Jean Paul left the parts on the sprue for easy handling.

3

He chose the clear instrument panel from the kit and applied the dial decals behind it.

There were no seat belts; Jean Paul found an image on the Internet, scaled it to 1/35 scale, and printed it on paper. Scuffs on the floor represent worn paint on wood.

Paper “chain”

4

5

Jean Paul says, “The engine is fairly complete — 22 pieces — so you have something to admire if you want to leave panels open.”

The 1/35 scale kit provided a crank but no chain in the control system for the flaps; Jean Paul had it in a photoetched-metal set in 1/32 scale, so he made a reduced copy and printed the chain on heavy paper stock.

6 The kit provides masks for painting framework in the glass around the cabin; Jean Paul copied the masks in Tamiya tape to cover the glass inside as well before he painted the frame.

Styrene rod

Stretched sprue

7 Framework missing from the kit is modeled with .8mm (.030") styrene rod.

38 FineScale Modeler October 2015

8 Stretched sprue provides additional trusswork behind the windshield.

9 Jean Paul also stretched sprue to complete fabric stitching underneath the fuselage. Then, finally, he was ready to paint. “Not a weekend model,” he says.

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11

RLM 04 gelb (yellow) bands on the fuselage and wing undersides were painted first, followed by RLM 65 hellblau (light blue) on the undersides and landing gear, and a splinter scheme of RLM 70 schwarzgrün (black green) and RLM 71 dunkelgrün (dark green) on vertical surfaces and topside.

Judging that the kit-supplied decal markings were too big, Jean Paul scanned the sheet, reduced it, set image resolution at 600 dpi, and printed his newly scaled markings on white decal paper for inkjet printers. After they had dried for an hour, he coated the decals with Microscale Liquid Decal Film and allowed another 24 hours for drying.

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Planning ahead for the whitewash camouflage, and knowing it would be painted around the markings, Jean Paul put a light green outline around the green heart squadron emblem.

Jean Paul powdered white pastel, added water, and brushed it on all surfaces except the undersides. After letting it dry, he touched up and textured with a wet brush. A spray of flat clear served as a fixative.

1/35 scale scratchbuilt 1/48 scale resin

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15

Jean Paul’s Storch needed skis, but the kit didn’t have them. He cut his own from an ice cream container and made details with .2mm (.010") styrene.

“The ice cream box had rounded corners,” he says, “and that is the area I cut for the ski tips.”

Jean Paul wanted to open the left side panel on Italeri’s fuel truck, but had no references on what was in there. So, he referred to FM Detail Sets’ 1/48 scale kit (No. 489701) and scratchbuilt the innards using sheet styrene and a punch-and-die set. He whitewashed the truck same as the airplane.

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Once it’s built and painted, the equipment looks the part.

The base is thick plastic sheet covered with plaster of paris.

Before it dried, Jean Paul used an extra figure and the models to make footsteps and vehicle tracks.

Circular tracks and piled-up “snow” show how the plane wheeled before coming to rest in Jean Paul’s wintry diorama. FSM

40 FineScale Modeler October 2015

1/72 Scale

Keeping an AVENGER in reserve Building Hasegawa’s postwar TBM-3S • BY FRANK CUDEN

B

uilt during World War II as a torpedo bomber, Grumman’s TBM Avenger served long after V-J Day. The U.S. employed heavily modified variants in many roles well into the 1960s, including carrier onboard delivery, airborne early warning, and antisubmarine warfare. I built one of the latter, a TBM-3S, using a 1/72 scale Hasegawa kit of a postwar Japanese Avenger that offered a new canopy section and a resin insert for the turretless rear seat.

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1

2

To make way for the resin insert, I cut the fuselage halves along the lines indicated by the instructions. Masking tape kept the saw on track. I cleaned up the edges with files.

3

I added control boxes and a throttle quadrant to the cockpit walls, then built sheet-styrene armrests, supported by thin styrene rod, for the pilot’s seat. Data placards and stenciling finished the cockpit. I made an ignition harness for the kit’s resin engine with thin copper wire.

4

After cutting a hole for the observation window in the bomb bay’s rear bulkhead, I detailed the area with styrene rod and sheet and thin solder. I wasn’t concerned about filling the obvious gap in the roof because the torpedo would cover that.

I replaced the kit’s exhaust with more-realistic pipes made from styrene tube. One of the best tools in my arsenal is a set of reamers. These tapered, round files allow me to enlarge holes by inserting one and twisting it back and forth until achieving the desired diameter.

Reheat seat belts

5 The kit’s rear canopy was too wide and didn’t fit. Judicious sanding and reshaping improved the fit so I could use the kit part to vacuum-form a replacement. The small step at the canopy’s aft might be appropriate for the Japanese Avenger, but photos showed a continuous slope back there. I filled and reshaped that area.

42 FineScale Modeler October 2015

6 A little filling on the airframe and I was ready to start painting. Some modelers leave gear legs off until the end of a project, but I usually attach them early. I can rest the model on the legs as the paint dries and prevent damage to the underside color.

7 I airbrushed Testors Model Master enamels for the gloss sea blue camouflage and the guards red reserve fuselage band. I’ve used a few things to thin Model Master enamels, including lacquer thinner, but I think Testors Universal Enamel Thinner works best, providing a smooth finish that dries quickly.

8 Careful painting picked out the details in the bomb bay. I drew a soft artist’s pencil along the panel lines to accent them and painted the control surfaces a slightly different shade of blue. Rather than attaching the tail wheel strut, I used a toothpick to keep the tail off the bench during painting; it helped me avoid damaging the delicate part.

Masking and painting individual canopy frames

Tail wheel installed

Vacuum-formed rear canopy

9 I brought together decals from several sources to mark the model as a New York Naval Air Reserve Avenger. I used individual characters to spell out the reserve station name, serial number, and aircraft designation under the tail. Photos showed two-color wing walkways — black in front, gray aft — which I replicated using ScaleMaster striping. I scuffed up the gray area with pastels to reduce contrast.

10

Searchlight pod awaiting vacuumformed cover

Small stencil decals help break up the monochromatic finish. I cheated to show the cowl flaps, molded closed, open on my TBM: First, I applied a section of black decal from Scale-Master to give the appearance of depth. I measured the cowl flaps — four per side — cut them from thin sheet styrene, and attached them later with white glue.

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A torpedo makes a colorful addition to the bomb bay. I painted it medium gray with a bronze nose and brass screw. Again, a soft artist’s drawing pencil emphasized panel lines.

I sprayed flat clear over the model. Testors Dullcote doesn’t dull the finish as much as I like, so I mix in a little of the “pigment” from a bottle of Floquil dust. I added the wheels, pitot tube, cowl flaps, and bomb-bay doors.

Referring to a photo, I scratchbuilt actuators for the doors. Notches in the wingtips were filled with clear lenses for the position lights. FSM October 2015

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SHOW GALLERY

VICTOR HERNANDEZ CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Victor spent six months combining Academy’s 1/72 scale M26 Dragon Wagon with Matchbox’s 1/76 scale M40 gun motor carriage and a scratchbuilt base. He rebuilt the transporter’s cab and winch; the self-propelled gun features a scratchbuilt gun and fighting compartment.

AMPS International Convention 2015 Members of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society returned to Auburn, Ind., for the annual International Convention.

The contest was conducted at the World War II Victory Museum, where tables were surrounded by full-size armored vehicles.

FSM Senior Editor Aaron Skinner spent two days wandering the tables and shooting pictures. Here are a few of the great models he found on display at the show. ▲ TREVOR BENNETT EAST POINTE, MICHIGAN

Want more great armor?

There were too many photos to fit in one gallery.

We posted a bunch more online for subscribers at www.FineScale.com/OnlineExtras.

44 FineScale Modeler October 2015

Trevor converted Tamiya’s 1/35 scale M1025 to an M998 with a scratchbuilt soft top.

After replacing the doors with Eduard’s photoetched-metal armor survivability kit (ASK), he scratchbuilt the “hillbilly armor” gun tub, pintle, and gun shield from styrene sheet and tube. Referring to photos of an Iraq War Humvee, he painted the vehicle with Tamiya’s NATO colors.

▲ TERRY HILL LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

Terry teamed Tamiya’s 1/35 scale Panther with figures from Dragon in his dramatic scene, “Ride of Valkyries,” of SS troops in action at Kursk in 1943.

He used acrylics and oil paints to finish the tank and soldiers. ◀ NATHAN LAPORTE

ST. CLAIR, MICHIGAN

Nathan put AFV Club’s 1/35 scale M1126 Stryker in Iraq with photoetched-metal slat armor from Voyager, a bunch of stowage, and an interior lit with LEDs. He painted the slat armor and vehicle separately, using Tamiya acrylics over Tamiya spray-can primer. After installing the cage, he weathered the vehicle with artist’s oils, washes, and pigments. The base is DAS modeling clay on styrene foam. ▶ JERRY FRASKE LIVONIA, MICHIGAN

Recalling a famous photo of a lone student holding up a column of Chinese army tanks during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, Jerry built AMT/Ertl’s 1/35 scale T-59 with a resin turret and engine deck from AEF Designs. MV Products’ lenses detail the headlights; tissue paper replicates covers on the main and antiaircraft guns.

The tank looks very clean in the photo, so Jerry minimized weathering. He converted an Italeri U.S. medical corpsman for the student.

Jerry sprayed foam board with 3M adhesive for a grainy, asphalt texture and painted it dark gray.

Masking and airbrushing produced lane and road markings.

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SHOW GALLERY

▲ MARK HAZZARD YEOVIL, SOMERSET, ENGLAND

Mark kitbashed Dragon’s 1/35 scale M3 and a modified Italeri gun for an Israeli antitank halftrack. The interior is scratchbuilt, and the whole model enhanced with Eduard photoetched metal. Mark airbrushed the camouflage with LifeColor acrylics, then weathered the M3 with washes and pigments.

▲ JOHN WERWIE WHITEFISH BAY, WISCONSIN

▲ RICHARD G. GUETIG LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

John made heat shields for Cyberhobby’s 1/35 scale Tiger I (early) with copper sheet, installed Friulmodel metal tracks, and replaced the main gun with a turned-metal Jordio Rubio barrel. He heated and bent the plastic fenders to model damage.

Richard proves you don’t need the latest kit or even an airbrush to produce a great-looking model. He painted the 40-year-old Tamiya M3 Stuart with Rust-Oleum dark green from a spray can, then dry-brushed Testors Model Master faded olive drab for highlights and shading. The hull is coated with accumulations of AK Interactive mud effects, Mig Productions pigments, and real dirt. Stowage from Blast, Verlinden, and Tamiya joins sandbags from Value Gear.

Richard combined Dragon arms with a Verlinden head and torso for the tank’s commander.

46 FineScale Modeler October 2015

▲ TONY ZADRO MARIETTA, GEORGIA

In the 1970s, the Israeli defense forces rearmed M50 Shermans with an AGM-45 Shrike antiradiation missile launcher in place of the turret. Named Kilshon (Trident), these vehicles were used for SAM suppression.

Tony converted a Dragon 1/35 scale Sherman using a set from AEF Designs and lots of scratchbuilding. He airbrushed the sand gray camouflage with LifeColor acrylics, then weathered with artist’s oil washes and Mig Production pigments. ◀ JESSE NAUGHTON LILBURN, GEORGIA

Converting Academy’s 1/35 scale M3 to a late-production Lee, Jesse used Formations’ final drive and turret, Dragon suspension and tracks, Legend Productions stowage boxes, TMD .30-caliber machine-gun sub-turret, Tasca idlers and road wheels, 3D-printed drive sprockets, and custom decals. He painted the tank with Tamiya acrylics cut with lacquer thinner. A ceramic tile covered with Celluclay serves as the base.

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SHOW GALLERY

▲ ANDY LEFFLER CARMEL, INDIANA

Somewhere in France, American GIs wave at a couple of local sunbathers in Andy’s 1/35 scale diorama. He dressed Italeri’s DUKW with Eduard photoetched metal and Mig Productions resin wheels, loaded it with stowage from Royal Model and Value Gear, and crewed it with figures from The Bodi. The girls are from Stalingrad Miniatures.

Woodland Scenics water laps at a beach made from Durham’s Rock Hard Water Putty. ◀ JEFF EDGE WOODHAVEN, MICHIGAN

German Boxer fighting vehicles entered service in 2009 and were deployed to Afghanistan in 2011.

Jeff built Revell Germany’s 1/35 scale Boxer as an ISAF vehicle, detailing it with nonskid patches and a wire tow cable. He applied light tan over Vallejo black primer. Silly Putty masked the surface between coats of dark tan and green. ▶ STEPHANIE HORNER ST. MARYS, OHIO

Stephanie, 15, took best junior honors with her 1/35 scale Dragon BTR-70. After building the Eastern Bloc armored personnel carrier out of the box, she painted it with Testors Model Master dark green from a spray can. Dry-brushed light tan highlighted detail.

48 FineScale Modeler October 2015

▲ DAVE BROWNE TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA

Building Tamiya’s 1/35 scale Tiger I straight from the box, Dave painted it with Tamiya acrylics. The freehanded camouflage is post-shaded and layered for dramatic effect; washes and pigments tie it into the groundwork to put the German heavy tank on the front lines at Kursk. ◀ DAVE WELCH FORT WAYNE, INDIANA

A mechanic performs minor repairs on HobbyBoss’ 1/35 scale M26 Pershing in Dave’s scene “Korean Kwik Fix.” He detailed the exposed engine and the hatch hinges, and added toolbox handles, a shroud for the hull machine gun, and more than 80 footman loops.

After priming the model with black olive paint, he sprayed olive drab, leaving recesses dark for depth.

YOUR STEP-BY-S TEP MODELING GUIDEBOOK

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FINISHIN G

BUILD MORE RE ALISTIC MODELS OUR TEAM SHOWS YOU HOW!

See some of the best finishes from the AMPS contest and get painting tips from the builders in our Ultimate Guide to Finishing, on newsstands November 17, 2015. Call Kalmbach customer service, 800-533-6644 (international 1-262-796-8776) to reserve your copy.

October 2015

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READER TIPS

By Tim Kidwell

Mike’s mobile workstation allows him to do some of modeling’s tedious tasks in more comfortable conditions than sitting at his workbench.

Gerald’s parts rack stands empty, waiting for parts from two kits of the same subject he’s building simultaneously.

A portable workbench makes for a nice change

Parts rack his is an old trick to organize pieces for painting and hold them until assembly. My parts rack is two pieces of 2" x 8" lumber stacked and drilled with numerous holes. (Pieces of 2" x 4" or 2" x 6" would work fine, too.) You can use scrap wood and drill the holes to your liking, making it thoroughly adaptable to your building style and virtually cost-free.

Tedious modeling work, such as assembling track links, can be done away from the workbench.

My current portable workbench shows several improvements over the original I built 10 years ago. It features a self-healing cutting surface attached with double-stick tape and illuminated by a detachable USBpowered work lamp. Plans and reference photos are held by magnetic clips on a stainlesssteel strip at the top. The memory foam underneath is comfortable yet firm, and provides a solid workspace.

— Mike McCampbell Coronado, Calif.

Paint inventory

If you store your paint in a drawer like I do, finding the color you want can be hard. You have to take out the bottle and read the color name, put it back, then check the next bottle.

To save time, I put a number on top of each bottle and record the number and color on a list.

When I want a color, I just look at the list, find the one I need, and use the number to locate the paint bottle. This method also lets me know if I have the paint in stock.

I’ve created a list for both enamels and acrylics.

– Dell Powers St. Ignace, Mich.

Making desert terrain

Would you like to share an idea about a tool or technique? Send a brief description along with a photograph or sketch to “Reader Tips.” E-mail tips@finescale.com or visit FineScale.com and click on “Contact Us.” Tips are paid for upon publication; if you live in the U.S., we’ll need your Social Security number to pay you. FSM obtains all publication rights (including electronic rights) to the text and images upon payment.

I recently wanted to do a fairsized desert diorama to feature Afrika Korps models. To make the sand, I mixed some Tetrion powder (a plaster filler in Europe) with a little sawdust and then mixed that with diluted white glue. Next, I spread it all on my base with a large spatula.

Once satisfied with how it looked, I used a small, roundedged spatula and made track and tire marks in the concoction.

Once it hardened, I sprayed the groundwork with thinned white glue to seal it. After the second

50 FineScale Modeler October 2015

T

– Gerald Baker El Paso, Texas layer of glue dried, a variety of sand-colored paints finished the job.

Reflective material for lights

– Bernard Falla St. Andrews, Guernsey, Channel Islands

Many snack bags have a great reflective surface inside that can be used for taillights, mirrors, and reflectors.

Helpful decanting tool

— Mike Klewicki Hazel Park, Mich.

While working in my garage, purely by accident I discovered the perfect way to decant spray paint for airbrushing: You can use the tube from a can of WD-40 penetrating oil. First, soak the tube in some Westley’s Bleche-Wite tire cleaner to thoroughly clean it. Second, test-fit the tube in your spray can’s nozzle. Then press and decant. Works great.

– Dennis Cermak Fraser, Mich.

Protect your paintbrush bristles

Do you find that your bigger paintbrushes sometimes get bent out of shape? The next time you go to your doctor, see if they will save you some syringe covers. They are almost transparent and will fit on your No. 7 and larger brushes, helping them keep their shape.

– Pat Giles Windsor, Ontario, Canada

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

By Aaron Skinner PFM airbrushing woes Q I tried airbrushing Pledge FloorCare

Multi-Surface Finish (PFM) and ended up with a big clog. I tried thinning, to no avail, and different pressures without much luck.

What should I use for thinning (if needed)?

I dip or brush PFM on canopies and clear parts without problems. I’ve also run into problems getting the airbrushes clean after using PFM. – Charles Pilkington Muncie, Ind. A I spray PFM straight from the bottle at 15-20 psi. I mist it on, gradually building up the finish and gloss. I’ve never had it clog before. If you leave the brush sitting for several minutes without any air or PFM moving through the nozzle, the PFM may start to set and clog the brush.

Ammonia is the only thing that will remove PFM. I flush the brush with Windex (which contains ammonia) immediately after painting. Don’t leave ammonia in the brush, though, and definitely don’t soak the parts in it; it can damage brass components, especially the delicate nozzle. After flushing the parts with ammonia, spray clean water through the brush. Break it down and clean all of the parts with lacquer thinner, focusing on the needle, nozzle, and paint channels.

Don’t soak the parts in lacquer thinner; it will damage the seals and O-rings.

It is possible to thin PFM with water, isopropyl alcohol, or Windex, but I have not tried it. You might experiment and see if one of them improves your airbrushing experience.

Avoiding paint incompatibility Q When painting plastic, can you apply an

A Generally the rule is that acrylics over enamels is OK, provided the enamels are completely dry. Don’t apply enamels over acrylic paint; the enamels’ aggressive solvents can attack the underlying acrylics.

The base coat may crack or dissolve, and the top coat may never completely cure.

Photoetched metal and canopies Q I am building Dragon’s 1/32 scale

P-51D with Eduard’s photoetched-metal cockpit detail set, which includes canopy frames. I know that photoetched-metal parts should be attached with super glue, but that clouds canopies. Will a white glue work, and are there alternatives?

– Doug Leach Bellevue, Neb. A White glue will work, but takes a while to set. I recommend something like Gator’s Grip acrylic model glue. It won’t harm the clear plastic, dries clear, and quickly gets tacky enough to hold the part in place. But it leaves you with enough working time to adjust the fit. It also dries strong, but with enough flexibility that parts are unlikely to pop off during handling. It’s also water-soluble. So, if you make a mistake, a wet brush will clean it up easily. I’ve had some luck using Aleene’s Tacky Glue, but it’s formulated for a lot of materials and may not be perfect for modeling applications.

It’s possible to use super glue without damaging clear plastic if you first dip the part in PFM (formerly Future). The clear acrylic layer will protect the plastic against fogging caused by super glue. But it won’t protect against glue in the wrong place, and it’s not easy to clean up.

enamel paint over an acrylic or is it the other way around?

Packing models safely Q I have 45 to 50 aircraft models ranging

– Tom Hastings Bayonne, N.J.

from 1/72 to 1/32 scale that I’d like to transport to our new home. I’d like to package them to keep breakage to a minimum during the move. Any advice?

Got a modeling problem? Our Questions & Answers column is here to help. E-mail questions@finescale.com, or visit FineScale.com and click on “Contact Us.” We are not able to conduct lengthy research, such as answering questions on markings and unit histories. We publish letters of general interest in the magazine; however, mail volume and space limitations prevent us from printing every question. Please include your name, town, state, and a daytime phone number.

– Jack Kerr Pittsburgh, Pa. A Packing models is always a delicate issue.

You want to be sure they are packed in a way that they can’t move around and no pressure is applied to critical parts, such as landing gear. The only way to ensure this is to build a custom container to secure each model. I recommend cutting foam or foam core to hold the wings, hull, or other strong

John Ferdico showed his method for packing models in custom foamboard jigs in the September 2011 FSM. You can order back issues at www.FineScale.com/BackIssues or from Kalmbach customer service at 800-533-6644 (international 1-262-796-8776).

points gently but securely so the model can’t move. If it’s an airplane, don’t let it rest on the landing gear. If it’s armor it should be OK on the tracks or wheels, but make sure it can’t move. I don’t recommend packing foam peanuts or beans because they can apply enough pressure to break things like antennas or pitot tubes.

Does anyone else have suggestions for or experience with packing models? Drop me a line and I’ll include the best answers in an upcoming issue.

Decoding airbrush nozzles Q I recently acquired three double-action

airbrushes. The nozzle openings are listed as .35mm, .2-.3mm, and .3mm. What does this equate to in terms of spray pattern?

Fine? Medium?

– Lyle Christensen Ottawa, Ontario, Canada A Nozzle size does affect the size pattern, but can also affect the kinds of paints you use. Most brushes come from the factory with a .30mm or .35mm nozzle. This diameter is a good choice for general-purpose applications; it can be used for fine lines as well as wider coverage. Most people would consider this a “medium” airbrush nozzle. The smaller aperture — .2mm — would be “fine,” but might be too small to work well with some paints (especially acrylics). The smaller opening makes it more prone to tip-drying.

Paint may need to be thinned more than usual to flow well, which can lead to other problems, such as spiders. It can be used for extremely fine work, but I find it isn’t necessary for most applications. FSM October 2015

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WORKBENCH REVIEWS FSM experts build and evaluate new kits

Details and options mark Revell’s big-scale

T

he Focke-Wulf 190 became the Luftwaffe’s workhorse fighter because of its adaptability. The Fw 190F represented by Revell Germany’s all-new 1/32 scale kit was a dedicated ground attacker.

Cleanly molded in sky-blue plastic, the kit is brimming with features: a complete BMW engine, two styles of drop tanks, bombs in three sizes, two types of canopies (blown and flat) in open and closed positions, posable landing gear options, and a display stand.

Unused parts hint at possible future kit releases, including the fighter and maybe a Mistel, an interesting combination of an Fw 190 and Ju 88.

Before starting construction, I checked the instructions for any steps that might be 52 FineScale Modeler October 2015

challenging; it was obvious that the engine and cowling were complicated and would need particular attention.

The cockpit built quickly and easily, and the whole assembly fits precisely into the fuselage.

Wing dihedral is reliably assured by a one-piece lower wing and two wing spars.

One of the spars doubles as the rear wall of the main wheel well. After mating the lower wing and fuselage, I installed the upper wing halves. Everything fit perfectly and I didn’t need to fill any gaps, even at the wing roots.

Separate ailerons and flaps can be posed, but photos of Fw 190s rarely show the flaps in a drooped position when the plane is on the ground.

The landing gear can be built up or

down, with unique doors, tires, and legs for each option. Pay attention during assembly to get the right parts.

Revell succeeded in replicating the powerful BMW 801D engine in great detail.

Fifteen cleverly molded parts assemble easily and the finished item is impressive.

The engine bearer turned out to be the kit’s only stumbling block for fit, an issue that became apparent when it came time to install the engine. Either the arms were not the correct length or I misaligned something along the way.

I detached the engine-bearer ring (Part 96) from the mount and attached it to the engine instead. Then I backed the engine into the fuselage, relying on the attachment tabs on the fuselage sides and bearer arms for alignment.

Butcher Bird The sight of the eight-piece cowl made me more than a little bit apprehensive. The cowl parts assemble around the engine by slotting into place on the exhaust collector ring. This makes it essential to correctly align the engine parts. I must have gotten something out of whack because I needed to fill a few minor gaps.

The kit includes a comprehensive representation of the ordnance carried by the F-8: 50-, 250-, 500-kilogram bombs. I had planned to display the model with a drop tank on the centerline, but I discovered at the end of the project that the kit supplied the rack designed for bombs. That will teach me to check my references more closely.

I painted the Fw 190 using LifeColor’s German WWII Luftwaffe Paint Set 2.

Decals are given for two aircraft, and include an exhaustive selection of maintenance markings and stencils. I applied them without difficulty over a coat of clear gloss and with help from a little decal solution.

My primary reference was Monogram Close-Up 8: Fw 190F (Monogram, ISBN 978-0-914144-08-3). Also, Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Volume Two 1943-1944 (Crecy, ISBN 978-1-906537-30-2) proved useful for its numerous operational photos that showed the best options for build and display.

I completed my Focke-Wulf 190F-8 in 45 hours. I was happy with the result and look forward to building another. Given the price, options, and all the details included, Revell Germany’s new kit comes highly recommended. – Jim Zeske

Kit: No. 04869 Scale: 1/32 Manufacturer: Revell Germany, www.revell.de Price: $29.95 Comments: Injection-molded plastic, 225 parts, decals Pros: Well-engineered parts; precise fits; good detail, especially the complex engine Cons: Some thin and fragile parts

October 2015

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WORKBENCH REVIEWS

Academy T-34/85

T

he T-34/85 was developed to combat the potent Tiger and Panther tanks the Soviets were facing on the Eastern Front. It first saw combat in 1944 and has been in action somewhere around the world ever since.

Academy’s all-new T-34/85 is the first complete kit with the turret style that has been called the No. 112 “composite,” or “hard-edged.”

The kit is cleanly molded in dark green plastic. Features include link-and-length track, two styles of turrets, two versions of

Kit: No. 13290 Scale: 1/35 Manufacturer: Academy, www.academyhobby.co.kr Price: $49 Comments: Injection molded, 336 parts (329 plastic, 7 photoeteched), decals Pros: Quality of the molding and precision engineering Cons: Tricky decals

54 FineScale Modeler October 2015

the commander’s cupola, photoetchedmetal parts, external fuel tanks, and smoke canisters.

I started construction with the lower hull and suspension. The individual suspension arms provide a lot of positive contact as they link to the separately installed internal hull springs.

The turret is a straightforward and easy build. There’s a choice of two turret uppers — one with separate ventilator domes, the other with co-joined domes. The kit also provides a choice of low or tall commander’s cupolas. The turret texture is not to scale and is extremely rough, which created problems later during decal application.

The link-and-length tracks assembled easily and attached around the wheels without needing any adjustment. I felt the exterior surface detail was a bit flat and not as aggressive looking as the real track. Also, there are two ejector marks on the inner surfaces.

The engine deck’s grille comes with two options: One is a single-piece part; the other is completed with a photoetchedmetal screen that allows the cooling slats to be seen. Neat!

All of the access hatches come as separate parts. Surprisingly, the driver’s hatch is affected by the turret’s overly rough texture.

Equally surprising, no clear parts are provided for the headlight or periscopes. I did

replace the solid headlight with a selfadhesive silver dot used for scrapbooking.

Considering all the unused parts left over, it’s likely Academy plans to issue more T-34 versions.

I painted my kit with a combination of Ammo of Mig Jimenez Soviet tank colors and basic colors from LifeColor. Decals are given for six versions, but I had problems applying them as they didn’t conform well (particularly on the turret) and silvered badly. Decal solution did not help. I would recommend using aftermarket decals or dry transfers for this kit.

My primary reference was T-34-85 Medium Tank 1944-94, by Steven Zaloga and Jim Kinnear (Osprey, ISBN 978-185532-535-7). I also used T-34/85 In The Post World War II Era : Museum Ordnance Special Number 6, by Adam Geibel (Darlington, no ISBN), which had a great cover photo of a No. 112-style T-34/85.

I completed my T-34/85 in 32 hours.

Decals notwithstanding, I was pleased with the outcome.

This is a good kit for beginner and intermediate modelers; diorama builders should find it useful, too.

Accuracy enthusiasts won’t find any improvements over previous T-34/85 kits.

But I highly recommend Academy’s kit for the turret variation offered.

– Jim Zeske

Kinetic Mirage IIIE

D

esigned as a fighter, Dassault’s delta-winged Mirage III proved a versatile platform that was modified for ground attack and reconnaissance. More than 1,400 were built, and the aircraft saw combat with Israel, South Africa, and Argentina.

The IIIE multirole version in Kinetic’s kit has a slightly longer fuselage.

Kinetic offers five versions of the Mirage, including two French fighters and a French recon bird, a Spanish IIIEE, and an Australian IIIO. Don’t be alarmed at the number of parts — the kit provides a bunch of optional parts for the different versions; there will be more parts left over than are actually used.

Options include two types of ejection seat, four instrument panels, two styles of main gear doors, and standard radome or recon nose with cameras.

The kit features full intake trunking, complete with engine front, and separate elevons and speed brakes. You get separate control surfaces.

Kinetic gives modelers a nice arsenal to hang under the airplane: two 500-liter fuel tanks; two 1,700-liter long-range fuel tanks; two each of Magic I and Magic II missiles; two AIM-9B Sidewinders; a AS-30L air-to-ground missile; two JL-100 rocket launchers; and two LAU-32 rocket launchers. You also get two RPK-10 fuel tanks with sway braces for Mk.82 bombs (not used).

The cockpit builds easily, but pay attention to the instructions to ensure parts such as the seats, panels, and avionics match the version you are building.

Take care when assembling and install-

ing the intakes in Step 2. Don’t glue the rear of the intakes to the fuselage sides; it makes adding the wings to the fuselage easier later.

Step 3 would have you install the exhaust can in addition to the main gear bay, but I left the engine parts off until final assembly for easier painting.

When constructing the fuselage, cockpit, and nose gear bay in Step 5, glue the engine face to the intake halves, not to the fuselage sides. It’s easy to do this from underneath after the fuselage halves are joined.

Step 6 indicates installing the intakes, but hold off until the wings are on. Pay attention here to ensure you get the spine insert for the version being built.

The wings go together without problems. But there is a gap at the wing roots when the wings are added to the fuselage in Step 8. It’s easily fixed by clamping the wings and fuselage; the pressure spreads the fuselage to fill the gap. If you glue the aft end of the intakes to the fuselage, the solid assembly won’t spread and the gap will need to be filled with putty.

Now you can install the intakes. They’ll need clamping for a proper fit. Glue the top and rear of the intakes first. When those joints are dry, clamp the bottom wing and intake joint. It sounds tedious, but you’ll get a tight joint that won’t require filler.

Check the instructions carefully in Step 12; the kit offers a choice of bulged Doppler radar fairing or a flat panel under the nose.

Take care assembling the main gear in Step 14; the actuators (Part C32) are easily broken. I thinned the locating tabs on the gear doors for better fit.

Step 19 concerns the vertical tail options, with a choice of the tail fillets and rudder extensions.

Finally, Kinetic offers different parts to pose the elevons — on the Mirage the wing control surfaces perform triple duty as elevators, ailerons, and flaps — including optional actuators.

After painting my Mirage in natural metal, I applied decals for one of the French air force fighters. The Cartograf decals performed flawlessly.

I spent 27 hours on the Mirage, but there was some downtime due to the clamping needed. The extra work paid off in my having to do very little filling.

The finished model captures the Mirage’s graceful lines. I recommend it to anyone with some modeling experience.

– Larry Schramm

Kit: No. K48050 Scale: 1/48 Manufacturer: Kinetic Model Kits, www.kineticmodel.com Price: $63 Comments: Injection-molded plastic, 289 parts, decals Pros: Numerous options for versions and display; great decals Cons: Pesky flash throughout; some fit problems require clamping

October 2015

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WORKBENCH REVIEWS

Meng A7V

T

he German answer to the British and French tanks on the Western Front, the A7V resembled a lumbering pillbox. Hampered by poor trench-crossing ability, the A7V was built in limited numbers but saw combat in the last nine months of World War I. I’ve always liked the A7V — I’m a fan of early armor anyway — mostly because I grew up in Brisbane, Australia, home to the only surviving example. It sat outside the Queensland Museum and is the first tank I can remember seeing in the flesh.

Kit: No. TS-017 Scale: 1/35 Manufacturer: Meng Model, www.meng-model.com Price: $89.99 Comments: Injection-molded, 758 parts (30 photoetched-metal, 2 vinyl, 1 string), decals Pros: Good interior and suspension detail; posable doors and hatches; good fits; easy-to-follow instructions with detailed painting diagrams Cons: Only one marking option provided

56 FineScale Modeler October 2015

Meng’s new kit is a masterpiece with terrific detail on the tan plastic parts. The hull armor has rivets, bolts, and panel lines.

Ejector-pin marks are inevitable but minimal on these parts, especially those where both sides will be visible.

The interior is complete: About the only things missing are the two Daimler engines, although the radiators and plumbing are present.

Construction starts with 30 road wheels in two styles. Fine sprue attachment points speed cleanup. The wheels are designed to be movable, but it takes careful work as the only things holding the bogie halves in place are the ends of the axles. A little more than half of mine ended up movable.

I had similar problems in Step 7 with the installation of the return rollers. Roller set A’s brackets don’t actually meet, although the instructions show them being assembled off the model. I glued one half to the support arms, then placed the wheels on the axles and rotated the other half of the bracket into position.

The rest of the wheels and suspension fit perfectly, but pay attention to part and assembly numbers. The trucks look similar, but they are different. If you mix them up, as I did, it takes a process of elimination to put them in the right places.

The tracks impressed me. Each link consists of two pieces — a tread and the guide teeth — which can be a recipe for weakness, especially when pushing the links

together. In this case, the join between the teeth and the link is large and strong.

Watch the alignment of the teeth pieces to ensure straight track runs.

The interior looks terrific, especially the main gun and attached gunner’s seat.

Everything fits perfectly — even the photoetched-metal radiator screens drop into position without fuss. The machine gunners’ seats are fiddly to build but sturdy when finished.

All of the hatches can be posed open.

Photoetched-metal brackets for the driver’s cupola hatches are small and difficult to shape; I used an elbow bender to ensure even angles. (I got to the end and realized I had forgotten the photoetched-metal plates on the bottom of the doors.)

I painted the tank with the Ammo of Mig Jimenez World War I German armor set. Decals went on fine; with help from Mr. Hobby decal solutions they settled around the pronounced bolts and rivets.

The finished model looks just like the hulking behemoth I remember, and it matches drawings and dimensions in Mephisto — A7V Sturmpanzerwagen 506,

by Mark Whitmore (Queensland Museum, ISBN 978-0-7242-3388-5).

I had a lot of fun building it. Despite the high number of parts, construction was made easy by good engineering and molding. This is a must-have for any modeler completing a collection of WWI armor.

– Aaron Skinner

Bandai “Star Wars” Snowspeeder

I

n a universe filled with some of the coolest science-fiction vehicles, the Snowspeeder that played a central role in the Battle of Hoth in “The Empire Strikes Back” stands out. Fast and maneuverable, the diminutive craft, properly known as the modified Incom T-47 Airspeeder, proved itself against Imperial forces before the rebel base was overrun.

There have been kits of the Snowspeeder before, including AMT/Ertl’s box-scale offering, with its infamous Michelin Man crew, and Fine Molds’ reportedly good 1/48 scale kit.

Bandai recently acquired a “Star Wars” license and has been aggressively releasing kits in 1/72 and 1/48 scales.

Typical of Bandai’s Gundam and Starblazers kits, the speeder is molded in colors to match the filming miniatures.

Sometimes there are different colors on the same sprues; in this kit, Bandai has dark gray, medium gray and, most surprisingly, clear plastic on a single frame. Waterslide decals are complemented by a set of identical stickers. Combine that with near snapfit construction and you have a model that a novice could easily build into a convincing replica. Something to keep in mind for the “Star Wars” fan in your life; these kits

are a perfect entry point to the hobby.

The instructions are in Japanese, but the diagrams clearly show part numbers along with explicit locations.

The moldings are first-rate. Finely engraved panel lines and a few fasteners mark the surface of the body parts and control surfaces.

The cockpit includes detailed walls, seats, and controls. A lot of decals provide the instruments and controls inside the cockpit, but they are difficult to conform to the molded detail. I mostly used Micro Sol to settle them, resorting to Mr. Mark Softer for the most stubborn ones. I painted the cockpit with Tamiya German gray, then used black artist’s oil washes and medium gray dry-brushing to make the details pop.

The figures wear well-rendered rebel flight suits and helmets with decal insignia.

The pair look similar, but pay attention — they are different.

Once the cockpit is installed, the build moves quickly with few problems. Fit is positive throughout.

Two canopy options are provided. One provides the entire frame with a separate clear insert for the glass to pose the cockpit closed. The other has the sections, including the frames, molded in clear plastic to

show the canopy open. I chose the former, painting the frame separate and installing the clear part at the end of the build.

The air brakes can be deployed or stowed using optional actuator arms.

Terrific detail marks the bays for the upper air brakes.

The decals include most of the panels but were the only letdown in an otherwise terrific project. In addition to a noticeable printing pattern, many of the panels are too dark compared to images of the filming miniature. Next time, I’ll mask and paint the panels. On the plus side, the decals come off the backing paper easily and respond well to Mr. Mark Setter and Mr. Mark Softer. Despite the clunky printing, the result looks spot-on with all of the tiny stencils and warning labels.

The stand has a snowscape base, and the movable head means the craft can be posed at almost any angle of attack. Transparent red rods can be inserted in the cannons for laser bolts. There’s even a harpoon cable for the stern.

Bandai has hit the ground running with its “Star Wars” kits, and the result is a terrific blend of detail and accuracy, ease of construction, and accessibility. Most of all, it was a blast to build.

I recommend the Snowspeeder to anyone from youngling to master with an interest in George Lucas’ world. Even before gluing the last piece, I was flying my Snowspeeder around the workshop, making attack runs at the cat, and shouting, “Use your harpoons and tow cables. Go for the legs!”

– Aaron Skinner

Kit: No. 0196692 Scale: 1/48 Manufacturer: Bandai, www.bandai.co.jp Price: $27.95 Comments: Injection-molded, 82 parts, decals, stickers Pros: Beautiful engineering makes for trouble-free build; neat display options; posable stand Cons: Decals are too dark and show printing pattern

October 2015

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57

WORKBENCH REVIEWS

Revell Germany M48A2GA2

T

he M48 series of U.S. main battle tanks formed the backbone of the German armed forces until indigenous Leopard tanks replaced them in frontline service. The M48A2GA2, with its 105mm gun and new mantlet, a new commander’s cupola, and a spotlight and case mounted on the rear turret (among other changes), was the last upgrade of the M48 before the Leopard II entered service.

The kit is injection-molded in olive green plastic with “rubber band” tracks molded in vinyl. Generally the molding is crisp, although I did find sink marks and flash on several parts. Cast texture is molded into the hull and turret, but many of those parts should not have the cast texture; I removed it when I could without damaging the part. A power cord for the searchlight is molded in vinyl, and wire is provided for the antennas.

Directions are clear and logical, includ58 FineScale Modeler October 2015

ing a parts list and multiview drawings of the camouflage patterns. Detail colors are called out along the way.

Construction begins with the four-part lower hull. Make sure the lower hull sides are aligned. Removing the seam will damage the cast texture. I used Mr. Surfacer 500 to blend in the seam and tone down the texture. I skipped ahead and glued the rear panel (B5) and upper hull, making sure to first drill the locator holes for later parts. I hid the joint in the hull front with more Mr. Surfacer 500. The rest of the hull was no problem.

The vinyl tracks are supposed to be melted together with the pins on the outside of the track. I found this odd, but the fender hides the melted marks if the seam is on top. Mount the track at the same time as the drive sprocket. If you glue the upper hull in place first, as I did, there is no room to slide the tracks over the drive sprocket.

The tracks are about two links too long,

but not worth fixing. They have knockout marks and flash that is impossible to remove. Aftermarket replacements are your best bet. The drive sprockets have no lightening holes, but you can add them if you like.

Turret assembly started with drilling holes for the additional parts of this version. Fit was good; the only filler needed was around the ventilator cover (Part D85).

The gun tube is molded in two parts, but the good fit left only a small seam that was easily removed.

I added the mantlet before all the detail parts. Next, I glued the top of the dust cover to the mantlet and turret. Once this was dry, I folded the two sides down and glued them. After the dust cover is in place, the gun cannot be moved.

Directions show the searchlight’s vinyl cable is held in place by melting its ends. It was still loose, so once everything was in place I applied more liquid glue to secure it.

For the antennas, you are supposed to heat the wire and melt it into place.

However, the top of the base is small, so I chose not to add the wire because I didn’t want to damage the plastic base.

Parts E128 and E129 are stands for the commander’s hatch. They are supposed to have a seam on top that lines up with the edge of the hatches. Use care removing the basket halves (D100 and D103) from the sprue. The ends of the baskets are molded half-round to match half-round sections on the basket ends (F101 and F102).

The kit provides four marking options: two NATO three-color camouflage and two in a single yellow-olive. I chose the second of the yellow-olive, since I already have several models in the NATO scheme and I liked the markings for the 4th PzGrenDiv, PzAufklBtl 4, Roding, 1980.

I primed with Tamiya spray-can NATO green (TS-61), then airbrushed Vallejo Model Air yellow olive (70.013) and olive gray (71.015) in cloud patterns to provide

variety. Washes and dry-brushing with Vallejo, Ammo of Mig Jimenez, and Humbrol paints produced detail and weathering.

I painted the tracks with Tamiya spraycan tire black (TS-82) and picked out metal parts with a dark rust. Mig neutral wash made the tracks look dusty.

The decals are in-register except for the German flags on the license plates; none of those three colors lined up. The decals did not want to stick to the gloss coat and needed a heavy dose of Solvaset, but there was no silvering.

The kit supplies everything needed for an M48A2GA2. But if you want to make this tank your own, you may want to consult The M48 Main Battle Tank in German Army Service, by Stefan Marx (Tankograd Militarfahrzeug Special Series No. 5011).

A straightforward build with no complex assemblies or photoetched metal makes this a great kit for beginners or a quick, no-thinking build for experienced

modelers. (I took 30 hours.) Replacing the tracks will make this a great-looking addition to any collection.

– Mike Scharf

Kit: No. 03236 Scale: 1/35 Manufacturer: Revell Germany, www.revell.de Price: $39.95 Comments: Injection-molded, 217 parts (3 vinyl, 1 metal wire), decals Pros: Easy assembly; all-view paintscheme drawings Cons: Vinyl tracks; no clear parts for lights or vision blocks

October 2015

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WORKBENCH REVIEWS

Akan acrylic paint

A

flood of new Russian and Soviet aircraft and vehicle kits make modeling those subjects far easier than it used to be. But one thing remains difficult: matching the unique colors used to camouflage them. Most of the kit instructions refer to Federal Standard or other paints — close but no cigar.

To the rescue comes Akan from Russia with an extensive line of acrylic colors matched to Russian military specifications.

They are sold individually and in sets of six for specific subjects. The catalog covers aircraft from World War II until today, navy ships from 1903 forward, and modern armor. There are even paints matched to Aeroflot’s current livery.

In addition, Akan has paints matched to modern Ukrainian, Czech, and Slovakian fighters, WWII German and British aircraft, and World War I British aircraft.

Akan also offers metallic colors, clears, base coats, and primers.

Made in Finland, the paints come in 15ml plastic bottles with screw-on plastic lids. Each bottle’s label lists the color and examples of the vehicles it was applied to.

The paint has a slight, not unpleasant, odor, a little like some artist’s acrylics. It needs to be mixed well before use as the colors quickly settle when unused.

The water-based acrylics are thick enough to out of the bottle for you to apply with a paintbrush, but you’ll need a couple of coats for full coverage. The paint dries 60 FineScale Modeler October 2015

rapidly, so you won’t have to wait long before adding a second coat and you won’t have to worry about damaging the first layer. Water cleanup for brushes was a snap.

For airbrushing, I thinned the paints 20-25% with distilled water, Tamiya acrylic thinner, and Testors acrylic thinner. All three worked well.

The paints sprayed well at 15-25 psi with fine atomization and minimal tip-drying. The coverage is solid and dense. On a Trumpeter 1/48 scale MiG-23 base-coated with Vallejo primer, I sprayed light gray (No. 73059) over black pre-shading. A couple of passes all but eliminated the dark base coat. The paint goes a long way, too.

After painting the MiG, I have at least half the bottle remaining.

Once dry, the paint is tough. Masking tape didn’t damage the surface, and light sanding smoothed it without wearing through. Over unprimed surfaces like the wheels, the paint held up just as well.

After flushing the airbrush with water, I cleaned it with lacquer thinner as usual and easily removed all of the color.

I’m impressed by the quality of the finish and how easy it is to use these paints.

There seems to be less of a learning curve here compared to other acrylics I’ve tried in the past; if you’ve used Tamiya’s paint, you should not have any problems using these colors. Between that and the range of useful, hard-to-find colors, I highly recommend Akan’s paints.

– Aaron Skinner

Manufacturer: Akan, www.lindenhillimports.com/akan.htm Price: $4 for most colors; $5.50 for metallics; $23 for sets of 6 Comments: Water-based acrylic paint; 214 colors matched to military specifications Pros: Extensive focus on Soviet and Russian colors; easy cleanup; tough finish; easy to use Cons: None

Zvezda BMPT “Terminator”

T

he Russian-built BMPT (appropriately nicknamed the “Terminator”) looks like something Skynet would have built.

Designed for the close-quarters chaos of urban warfare, it provides fire support with four Ataka missile launchers, two 30mm autocannons, two 30mm grenade launchers, and a 7.62mm machine gun. It’s enough to make even a tank commander hesitate. So far, Kazakhstan is the only nation to field BMPTs. However, several other countries have shown interest in the vehicle.

Zvezda’s offering is the second BMPT on the market. Molded in gray plastic, the kit features link-and-length tracks; the chassis comes from Zvezda’s T-90 kit.

Clear parts are provided for the headlights, periscopes, and sensors. Two sizes of white plastic mesh are provided to detail the engine grates and rear barrier. While there are no decals in the kit, painting diagrams detail three complex camouflage schemes.

But the diagrams are a bit scant, in some cases providing only two views of camo that really deserves five.

Most armor kits start with the lower hull and running gear. Not this time.

Zvezda has you start detailing the upper hull. Decide early if you want to build your hull with the main hatches open or closed, because different parts are used for each version. I found it easiest to cut the plastic mesh for the vents with a new single-edge razor. The mesh bonded well using Weld-On 3 solvent cement.

The lower hull comprises several pieces; they fit well, but I suggest you have the rear

deck (Part C46) handy when positioning the rear plate to ensure correct alignment. I wound up with a slight gap on the left side of mine. A little epoxy putty fixed the error.

In Step 13a, I suggest you install parts C47 and C49 before Part A1 or you’ll struggle to get them in place. I decided to leave off the running gear and keep the upper and lower hulls separate. This allowed me to install the tracks after I had everything painted. The hulls fit together well. Be careful while building the turret: On steps 28 and 29, the instructions reverse the missile mounts G6 and G7. Build them the way Zvezda tells you and they’ll face backward.

I originally wanted to paint my Terminator in the rectangular camouflage displayed at the 2013 Russian Arms Expo.

But having only two side views of the scheme and doubting my ability to mask straight lines on such an irregular surface, I opted for the 2011 scheme instead.

For my base tan color, I mixed 70% Tamiya wood deck tan (XF-78) with 30% desert yellow (XF-59). I used olive green (XF-58) for the dark green and red brown (XF-64) for the third color. I outlined the green and brown areas with a paintbrush, then filled them with an airbrush. I painted the tires with Tamiya German gray. The road wheels lack a raised rim, making it difficult to align a circle template for painting inner wheels. I gave the model a coat of gloss and, once it had dried, added a wash of Van Dyke brown artist’s oil thinned with mineral spirits.

For some reason, I had a difficult time installing the tracks on the left side. But the

right side fit like a glove. Make sure to leave the idler mount adjustable to allow the tracks to fit correctly. The drive sprockets are fixed, so you can start working off them and proceed toward the idlers. Lastly, I joined the two hull haves and added the tow cables and slat armor.

If your favorite part of model building is assembly, you’ll love Zvezda’s Terminator.

With good instructions and excellent fit, the kit was fun to build. Because of the complex paint scheme, it took me 31 hours to build my model. But I enjoyed almost every minute. The finished vehicle matched the dimensions I found for the BMPT on Wikipedia. Keep up the good work, Zvezda — I’ll be back.

– John Plzak

Kit: 3636 Scale: 1/35 Manufacturer: Zvezda, www.zvezda.org.ru Price: $49.95 Comments: Injection-molded, 541 parts (2 mesh, 1 string), no decals Pros: Linkand-length tracks; clear parts for lights and periscopes Cons: Unrealistic towcable string; inadequate painting diagrams, thin suspension attachment arms

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Wooden Ship Model Kits • Fittings •Tools Wood, paper, resin, static and R/C kits.

Miniature Figures. Architectural Kits.

And More...

(510) 889-6000 $15 off your next order of $150 or more.

Use code K21 (good thru 12/31/15)

“Since 1969�

Specializing in hard-to-find & OOP kits.

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We have over 8000 kits in stock from old Aurora to new releases. Please contact us for a FREE catalog. Please specify cars or military.

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We Buy Collections!

t 'BY

www.deanshobbystop.com dean@deanshobbystop.com

Classified Marketplace This section is open to anyone who wants to sell or buy scale modeling merchandise. FSM reserves the right to edit undesirable copy or refuse listing. For FSM’s private records, please furnish: a telephone number and a street address.

All Copy: Set in standard format. First several words only set in bold face. If possible, ads should be sent typewritten and categorized to ensure accuracy.

Coming Events Rate: $35 per issue (55 word maximum). Ads will contain the following information about the event: state, city, sponsoring organization and name of event, meet, auction or show, dates, location, times, admission fee, name and/or telephone number and/or email of person to contact for information. Name, daytime telephone number and street address of the person providing the information is also required but need not be included in the ad. Unless otherwise requested, ads will be published in the issue month that the event occurs in. Additional months are available at the $35 per issue fee. Please specify issue date(s).

Word Ad Rates: 1 insertion - $1.13 per word, 5 insertions - $1.08 per word, 10 insertions - 99¢ per word. $20 minimum per issue. Count all initials, single numbers, street number or name, city, state, zip, phone numbers each as one word. Payment must accompany the ad. To receive the discount you must order and prepay for all ads at one time.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.

Send Your Ads To: FineScale Modeler – Classified Marketplace, 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612.

Phone toll-free: 1-888-558-1544, Ext. 815, or fax: 262-796-0126.

E-mail: onlineclassads@kalmbach.com

COMING EVENTS

"Your Spare Time is Our Business"

COLPAR’S HobbyTown USA PLANES • ARMOR • CARS • SHIPS • SCI-FI

We carry a huge inventory of plastic model kits from around the world! Full Line of Detailing Accessories.

Airline models, Decals, Books, Promos, Die Cast Collectibles, Historical & RPG Games & Miniatures, Airbrushes & parts. Large Paint and Tool inventory.

Full line R/C department. We ship worldwide.

www.colpar.com COLPAR’S HobbyTown USA To order call: 1-800-876-0414 1915 S. Havana St. For information: 303-341-0414 Aurora, Co 80014

MA, LAWRENCE: The Classic Plastic Model Club presents its 23rd Annual Model Car Exhibition. Elks Hall. Andover St. October 4, 2015. 8:30am-4:00pm. 29 classes, 3 awards per class, 8 best-of awards, 20 members favorite awards, vendors, food.

Theme: Mopar Madness. Subtheme: Goin’ Green. Information: Paul Anagnostopoulos, 978-371-2316, paul@windfall.com Visit us at www.classicplastic.org

THOUSANDS OF MODEL KITS for sale. All types from Old Aurora to new releases. Send a 70¢ SASE to: Dean Sills, 116 N. Washington, Owosso, MI 48867. Specify Military List. Phone: 989-720-2137. Fax: 989-720-0937. E-mail: dean@deanshobbystop.com

NH, NASHUA: IPMS Granite State presents Granitecon XXIII. Nashua Elks Club, 120 Daniel Webster Hwy. Sunday, October 18, 2015. General admission $2.00. First 5 adult entries $5.00.

Junior entries FREE. For additional details, contact Rodney Currier, 603-726-3876. Visit http://home.comcast.net/~vf84/

A BIG BUYER OF AIRCRAFT, Armor, Sci-Fi, Resin, Hybrid or Plastic kits. We buy collections whether they are small or large- Worldwide as well. Call Don Black toll free 1-866-4627277. Don Black, 119 Bernhurst Road, New Bern, NC 28560.

E-mail don@donblack.com

NY, POUGHKEEPSIE: HVHMG 2015, Celebrating 29 years, Elks Club Lodge, Overocker Rd. October 17, 2015. Sponsored

by IPMS Mid-Hudson. Registration 9:00am-noon. More information at: www.hvhmg.com or contact John Gallagher at 845-4624740 or ggallagherjoh@optonline.net PA, CARLISLE: PENNCON 2015 IPMS Model Show and Contest. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center, 950 Soldiers Dr. Saturday, September 19, 2015, 9:00am-4:30pm. Show Theme: FANTASY & SCI-FI. “Make & Take� for kids 15 and under. For more info go to: http://www.cenpennipms.com/ or contact Chet Mohn, 717-774-4803 E-mail: Magus47@aol.com CANADA, AJAX, ONTARIO: Ajax 35 Model Contest. J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate, 1355 Harwood Ave. N. Saturday, October 24, 2015, 10:00am-4:00pm. Admission: $5.00, Model entry $2.00 to max $15.00 (no limit on models). Sponsored by IPMS Toronto, IPMS De Havilland & Peel Scale Modelers. Contact: Bernie Hengst: 705-878-1740 or berniehengst@xplornet.ca Visit: www.ajaxscalemodelcontest.com

IL, SCHAUMBURG: The Military Miniature Society of Illinois holds its 41st Annual Chicago Show at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg, 50 N. Martingale Rd., Schaumburg, IL. Saturday, October 24, 2015, 9:00am-4:00pm. For more information contact Pat Vess (pat@livezey.net 630-730-2492) or website www.mmsichicago.com

FOR SALE

IL, WHEATON: 66th Illinois Plastic Kit & Toy Show. DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester Road. September 27, 2015, 9:00am-3:00pm. Adults $5.00, children under 12 years $2.00. 150 tables available. Buy/sell/trade or just browse. Cars, trucks, airplanes, trains, military, ďŹ re, police, muscle cars, all scales. Relive your childhood memories. Past-Time Hobbies, Inc. 630-969-1847.

PLASTIC MODEL AIRPLANE COLLECTION 45 year collection, 450 models by type, manufacturer and kit number. Call Don at 203-377-7793 or e-mail don208@optimum.net

CANOPY MASKING AND MORE! WWW.EZMASKS. COM List $3.00. Chris Loney, 75 Golf Club Rd., Smiths Falls, ON, Canada K7A 4S5. 613-283-5206, ezmasks@gmail.com

SHIP AND AIRCRAFT MODELS. Built for display. For additional information contact, Ray Guinta, PO Box 74, Leonia, NJ 07605. www.rayguinta.com

WANTED

AIRCRAFT, ARMOR, SCI-FI, FIGURES, AUTO, ETC. Buying kit collections, large or small, worldwide. Top prices paid. Call Jim Banko 610-814-2784 or mail list to 122 Independence Ct., Bethlehem, PA 18020, fax 610-439-4141.

E-mail: cth1@prodigy.net I WANT TO BUY YOUR UNBUILT MODEL KITS. Any size collection. Dean Sills, 116 N. Washington St. Owosso, MI 48867. 989-720-2137. Fax: 989-720-0937.

E-mail: dean@deanshobbystop.com MODEL CAR AND TRUCK KITS. Unbuilt or built. Any size collection. Good prices paid. Please contact: Fred Sterns, 48 Standish, Buffalo, NY 14216. Phone: 716-838-6797. Fax: 716836-6057. E-mail: fsterns@aol.com YOU WILL NEVER FIND TIME TO BUILD ALL THOSE MODELS. Unbuilt kits, diecast aircraft, military books. Milam Models, 519 DiLorenzo Dr., Naperville, IL 60565, Phone: 630983-1407, jetpilotpaul@aol.com

MISCELLANEOUS 1ST AND ABSOLUTELY THE BEST MUSEUM-QUALITY MODELS. IPMS Nationals winner building aircraft and armor to your speciďŹ cation, including conversions and scratchbuilt.

Call BC Models for quote and information at 913-385-9594 or visit www.bcmmodels.com FINESCALE MODELER AUTHOR and IPMS medalist will build your favorite aircraft, specializing in metal ďŹ nishes. Contact John Adelmann at 563-556-7641 or jjadelmann@yahoo.com Closing Dates: Published 10 times a year. Jan. 2015 issue closes Oct. 14, Feb. closes Nov. 7, Mar. closes Dec. 10, April closes Jan. 7, May closes Feb. 17, July closes April 14, Sep. closes June 15, Oct. closes July 8, Nov. closes Aug. 10, Dec. closes Sept. 9.

October 2015

www.FineScale.com

63

Local Hobby Shop Directory Local Hobby Shop Directory listings are available for the next ten issues for $275 (payable in advance) or at $37 per issue (billed to established accounts for a minimum of ten insertions). Ads will be set in standard listing typography. All insertions must be consecutive and may be invoiced if you have credit established with us. No mention of mail order business permitted. For information call 888-558-1544, ext. 815. Closing dates listed in Classifieds section.

ARKANSAS • Jacksonville

Headquarters for scale hobbies. Models; N-HO-O-G trains; gaming; tools; paints, etc.

Discounts & special orders.

Open 10-6, closed Sundays and Wednesdays www.railandspruehobbies.com

RAIL & SPRUE HOBBIES

1200 John Harden Dr.

501-982-6836

CALIFORNIA • Burbank

Large selection of plastic kits, paints, and supplies. Special orders no problem Visit us in person or online www.houseofhobbies.com Secure online ordering

BURBANK’S HOUSE OF HOBBIES

911 S. Victory Blvd.

818-848-3674

CALIFORNIA • Canoga Park

Kits, plastic & wood, Slot cars & toys. Rockets, paint, glue and tools. Trains from Z to O. Mon-Tues 10-5, Wed-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5, closed Sun & Big Holidays. www.scalemodelstuff.com

SCALE MODEL STUFF

7259 Canoga Avenue

818-716-7847

CALIFORNIA • Garden Grove

Rewards program for 10% back on purchases.

Plastic aircraft, armor, ships, cars, decals, books, paints, tools, miniatures war-games.

Mon-Thur 11-8, Fri 11-midnight, Sat 10-midnight, Sun 11-7 www.brookhursthobbies.com

BROOKHURST HOBBIES

12188 Brookhurst St.

714-636-3580

CALIFORNIA • Hollister

Model planes, car, ships & figures. Model train scales: Z, N, HO, O & G. Paints, tools. R/C & parts, incl. service. Craft & educational kits, supplies, products. Clinics available. Tu-Sat 11 -6; Sun 12-4. www.debbiebartunek@mac.com

B.C.T. HOBBY & CRAFTS

201-C McCray St.

831-635-0537

CALIFORNIA • La Mirada

R HOBBIES

562-777-9492

CALIFORNIA • Orange

New Products, Old Kits & Great Service!

Everything you need to build plastic models Armor, Aircraft, Ships, Cars, SciFi and more.

M-F 10:30-6pm, Sat 10:30-5pm, Sun 12-5pm www.militaryhobbiesonline.com

MILITARY HOBBIES

830 E. Lincoln Ave.

Old & rare kits, largest selection in military kits, rockets, & cars. Exit 45 off I-91.

10 minutes from Bradley Air Museum. www.craftechobbies.com or Visit us on Facebook.

CRAFTEC HOBBIES

144 North Road

860-627-7811

CONNECTICUT • Manchester

Largest hobby shop in NE. Military, cars, trucks, plastic models, diecast cars, trucks.

Planes, RC planes, cars, trucks, slot cars, rockets, Breyer, Detailing supplies, games!

Mon-Wed 10-6 Th-Fri 10-9 Sat-Sun 10-6

TIME MACHINE HOBBY

860-646-0610

71 Hilliard St.

CONNECTICUT • Milford

Extensive selection of armor kits & Verlinden accessories. Military, auto & aircraft plastic models. Photo-etched parts. O gauge train sets. Open Tues - Sat 11-6, Sun 12-5. www.HQHobbies.com

HQ HOBBIES

394 New Haven Ave., Unit 1

203-882-1979

FLORIDA • Ft. Myers

Come visit our new store!

Plastic modeling kits.

Paint, tools, scenery, & accessories.

Scale model railroads & rockets.

Mon-Sat 10:00am-6:00pm. Closed Sunday.

METRO TRAINS & HOBBIES

12951 Metro Parkway

239-332-0422

GEORGIA • Blue Ridge

Huge selection of model kits & accessories.

Ships, Armor, Aircraft, Figures, Cars and more.

Visit: www.freetimehobbies.com for complete listing.

Monday to Friday 10-5, Saturday 10-2

FREE TIME HOBBIES

47 Dunbarton Farm Rd.

706-946-1120

HAWAII • Kailua, Oahu

Wide selection of plastic model kits, paint, books, magazines and tools.

Located on the beautiful windward side, a scenic 20 minute drive from Honolulu.

Mon - Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5, Sun 11-2

WELLER'S HOBBYCRAFT

767 Kailua Road

808-262-0211

MASSACHUSETTS • Malden (Boston) Largest store in area, easy access via I-93, Rt. 1, and the T. Complete line of model kits & supplies, plus toy soldiers, figure kits, games, etc. Shipping available.

Info: hobbybunker.com

HOBBY BUNKER, INC.

33 Exchange St.

781-321-8855

MASSACHUSETTS • Marlboro

Wide variety of plastic kits.

Old Nascar Kits - please call.

Mon - Sat 10-6. Closed Sunday.

14269 Imperial Hwy.

CONNECTICUT • East Windsor

714-637-1211

Stop in ONCE! A customer for LIFE! We have 10,000+ models, tools, supplies, 23 paint lines, 50 model mags, 5,000+ books.

Est. in 1973, open 7 days, Th & Fr 'til 8.

Visit us @ www.sparetimeshop.com

THE SPARE TIME SHOP

Rt 20E Main, Post Rd. Plaza

508-481-5786

MASSACHUSETTS • Norton

6,000 model kits, old and new: Autos, armor, planes & sci-fi. Reference books & supplies.

Open T-Th 11-7, F 11-8, Sa 10-5. Rt. 495 to Rt. 123E, behind Dunkin’ Donuts. www. mymummy.com E: mummy@mymummy.com

HARRY’S HOBBIES & COLLECTABLES

250 E. Main St., Rt 123

508-285-8080

CALIFORNIA • San Mateo

MICHIGAN • Owosso

Your source for plastic models, die cast and all supplies needed to finish your latest model.

Mon-Sat 9:30-6, Sun 11-5. www.talbotstoyland.com

We moved! Thousands of model kits from old Aurora to new releases. Mon 4pm-7pm, Tues - Fri 11:30am-5pm. Sat 11:30am-4:00pm E-mail: dean@deanshobbystop.com

TALBOT’S HOBBIES

445 South “B” Street

650-342-0126

COLORADO • Aurora

Large inventory of models from the world over! Detailing accessories, research publications, games, trains, R/C, tools, and supplies. Easy access from D.I.A. http://www.colpar.com

COLPAR HOBBIES

1915 S. Havana St.

800-876-0414

CONNECTICUT • Cos Cob

New & Old Toy Soldiers, Historical Miniatures, Models and Figure Kits from Around the World. Our famous selection of hobby supplies includes scenics, paints, reference and more. www.michtoy.com

MICHIGAN TOY SOLDIER & FIGURE CO.

248-586-1022

MICHIGAN • Traverse City

Planes, tanks, cars, ships, rockets, plastic and wood kits. Trains. Authorized Lionel dealer & repair. Die-cast, RC, slot cars, structural and diorama supplier. Special orders welcome.

ANN’S HOBBY CENTER

405 E. Putnam Avenue

989-720-2137

MICHIGAN • Royal Oak (Metro Detroit)

1400 E. 11 Mile Rd.

203-869-0969

MODELCAVE

103 W. Michigan Avenue

TRAINS & THINGS HOBBIES

NEVADA • Las Vegas

HOBBYTOWN USA

4590 W Sahara Ave Ste 103

ELITE HOBBIES

NEW JERSEY • Kenvil

KENVIL HOBBIES

973-584-1188

NEW JERSEY • Magnolia (Camden) Huge foreign & domestic model selection all scales. Automobiles, aircraft ship, books, wargames, scenery, diorama supplies, parts, tools. Open 7 days

AAA HOBBIES & CRAFTS

706 N. White Horse Pike

856-435-7645

NEW YORK • Buffalo

231-947-1353

SECTION 8 HOBBIES

2243 Seneca St.

716-824-1049

NEW YORK • Middle Island

HO & N, Lionel trains.

Complete line of plastic kits, military and architecture supplies.

Open 11am-6pm M-F, Sat. 10am-5pm www.gandgmodelshop.com

G & G MODEL SHOP

2522 Times Blvd.

MEN AT ARMS HOBBIES, INC.

134 Middle Country Rd.

631-924-0583

NEW YORK • Upr Eastside GR Manhattan Visit our in-house Aircraft Model Museum.

Foreign and domestic plastic and wood kits.

Open 7 days.

JAN'S HOBBY SHOP, INC.

212-987-4765

1435 Lexington Ave.

OHIO • Columbus

Imported & Domestic Aviation Books & Plastic Kits. Paint, Decals, HO, N trains, R/C, U/C airplanes.

Mon 1-6, Tue-Wed 12-6, Thur-Fri 10:30-7.

Sat 10:30-6. www.malhobby.com

M-A-L HOBBY SHOP

108 S. Lee Street

972-438-9233

Scale modeling from beginner to expert.

A wide selection of aircraft, armor, autos, figures, ships, & sci-fi. Lots of reference material, detail parts, decals, tools, & eight lines of paint. Open Tues-Sat 10-6pm.

DIBBLE'S HOBBIES

1029 Donaldson Ave.

210-735-7721

VIRGINIA • Chantilly

Minutes from Dulles Airport & New Dulles Air & Space Museum, Udvar-Hazy Center.

PLASTIC! PLASTIC! PLASTIC! Kits for aircraft - armor - ships - cars Daily 12-8; Sun 12-5. www.piperhobby.com

PIPER HOBBY

13892 Metrotech Dr.

703-803-3103

Plastic model specialty shop.

New and old kits, foreign, domestic, books, paints and other accessories.

We also buy collections. www.dhcinc.com dhc@dhcinc.com

DENBIGH HOBBY CENTER, INC.

14351 Warwick Blvd.

757-874-5708

We are a full line hobby shop. Huge model selection. Gundam, supplies, tool, educational, kit, parts, kite, game. Huge selection, paint, train & R/C items. www.galaxyhobby.com

GALAXY HOBBY

19332 60th Ave. W.

425-670-0454

WASHINGTON • Seattle

Plastic Model Specialists. Large selection of rare & out-of-production models.

Large selection of detail parts. Largest selection of plastic models in South Seattle! www.skywaymodel.com

SKYWAY MODEL SHOP

12615 Renton Ave. South

206-772-1211

CANADA–AB • Calgary

Great selection of model kits, accessories, detail parts, magazines, tools & paints. www.hobbylandstores.com

HOBBYLAND

206 Graceland Blvd.

614-888-7500

Oklahoma’s largest plastic kit, paint and aftermarket inventory. Planes, cars, trucks, armor, ships, trains and sci-fi. Special orders welcome! Mon - Fri 10-7, Sat 11-6, Sun 1-5 Web site: www.topshelfmodelsllc.com

TOP SHELF MODELS

918-274-0433

OREGON • Beaverton

Specializing in R/C models and accessories, helicopters, planes, cars, trucks, boats, plastic, die-cast & model rockets.

M T W F 9:30-6, Th 9:30-8 Sat. 9:30-5 www.modelland.com info@modelland.com

MODEL LAND LTD

3409A 26 Ave. SW

403-249-1661

CANADA–ON • Ottawa (Vanier) One of Canada's leading model shops.

Complete line of military & aircraft kits, decals, paints and accessories.

Free parking. On Parle Francais.

HOBBY HOUSE, LTD

80 Montreal Rd.

613-749-5245

CANADA–ON • Toronto

Complete full line hobby shop.

Z, N, HO, O, Lionel, and LGB. Open Mon-Fri 10-8, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5.

TAMMIES HOBBIES

503-644-4535

Large Selection New & Used Kits Military books, tools, paint, airbrushes Full line hobby shop open Tue - Thur 10-6, Fri 10-7, Sat 10-4 www.CoolTrains.com

COOLTRAINS TOYS & HOBBIES

717-898-7119

Large selection of new & out-of-production kits. Accessories & finishing products.

Servicing the hobbies since 1986. We buy kit collections. www.wheelswingshobbies.com

WHEELS AND WINGS

1880 Danforth Ave.

416-752-0071

SINGAPORE • Singapore

Old kits & latest releases. Good selection of unusual model kits & accessories. We stock electric trains & slot cars. Open 7 days, 1pm-8pm. In the Katong Shopping Centre. www.hobbybounties.com

HOBBY BOUNTIES & MORGAN HOBBYCRAFT

865 Mountbatten Rd #02-91/92

Call Today to

find out more!

1-888-558-1544 Jim Hagerty, ext. 549 600 PIXELS

713-529-7752

WASHINGTON • Lynwood

Excellent selection of lead miniatureshistorical and fantasy. Plastic models, wargames & modeling supplies.

Books and magazines.

106 W. Main Street

865-675-1975

VIRGINIA • Newport News

WNY’s largest selection of models!!!

We specialize in models. New, old, rare and vintage. Tons of detail and weathering products, paint, tools and so much more!

12024 SW Canyon Rd.

HOBBYTOWN USA

11145 Turkey Dr.

TEXAS • San Antonio

Full service hobbies, a full line of HO, N, 3-Rail, military, cars, boats, planes, dollhouses, scratchbuilding supplies, plus details-details-details!

FineScale Modeler’s Email Blast 64 FineScale Modeler October 2015

603-749-0800

#334 90 Washington St.

119 S. Main St.

East Tennessee’s largest plastic model selection. 8,000 sq. ft. of hobbies & toys.

Located in Knoxville’s premier shopping destination. Turkey Creek Area.

Open 7 days a week.

TEXAS • Irving (Dallas Area)

Best plastic, resin & balsa kits from around the world. Scratch building & diorama supplies, reference books, large paint selection including Humbrol, Citadel & Testors

600 PIXELS

MARKETING MESSAGE

702-889-9554

NEW HAMPSHIRE • Dover

590 Rt. 46

TENNESSEE • Knoxville

TEXAS • Houston

While in Las Vegas, come see our wide selection of models and detail accessories.

Less than 5 miles off the Las Vegas strip Hours Mon-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-6, Sun noon-5.

SEND YOUR VERY OWN

CUSTOMIZED

734-316-2281

PENNSYLVANIA • Landisville (Lancaster)

Let your imagination run wild!

Aircraft, ships, cars, armor, special orders, diecast cars, dollhouse miniatures, model railroading Z to G and more...

210 East Front St.

Your single stop model building shop.

Michigan’s largest selection of new and vintage kits in all genres plus everything needed to build them. Wed - Sat 11-8, Sun 12-5 Visit us on Facebook. www.modelcave.com

OKLAHOMA • Owasso

DEAN’S HOBBY STOP

116 N. Washington Street

MICHIGAN • Ypsilanti-Metro Detroit

65-6440-1890

Iwata-Medea __________________6

We believe that our readers are as important as our advertisers. If you do not receive your merchandise or a reply from an advertiser within a reasonable period, please contact us. Provide details about what you ordered and the amount you paid. If no action is obtained after we forward your complaint to the advertiser, we will not accept further advertising from them. FineScale Modeler magazine, 21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187

JAC HOBBIES

JAC Hobbies _________________65

www.jachobbies.com

MegaHobby.com_______________9

Aircraft, Armor and Ships Excellent products, prices and service equal more value for your dollar! (208) 861-6851

Metro Trains & Hobbies _______11

The Advertiser Index is provided as a service to FineScale Modeler magazine readers. The magazine is not responsible for omissions or for typographical errors in names or page numbers.

Micro-Mark __________________6

Ages of Sail __________________63

Model Rectifier Corp.__________68

Albion Alloys, Ltd. ____________11

OldModelKits.com ____________63

Alpha Precision Abrasives, Inc.___10

Pace Enterprises ______________11

ARA Press____________________7

ParaGrafix ___________________11

CharliesPlasticModels.com ______9

Plastruct, Inc. ________________11

Colpar’s Hobbytown USA ______63

Roll Models__________________65

TOTALNAVY.COM

Dean’s Hobby Stop ____________63

Round 2, LLC_________________9

www.TotalNavy.com

Dragon Models USA __________67

Sprue Brothers ________________6

Evergreen Scale Models _________9

Squadron Mail Order ___________4

Fantastic Plastic Models ________63

Tamiya America, Inc. ___________2

FineScale Modeler Books _______65

TotalNavy.com _______________65

Full Circle Hobbies ____________63

True Scene Modeling __________63

HobbyMex __________________63

Ultimate Guide to Finishing ____62

Hornby America _______________9

Zvezda USA __________________8

Website Directory

Ad Index

ROLL MODELS www.rollmodels.com We carry the best from A-Model to Zotz and 43,000 items in between! Find it with our easy-to-use search engine.

763-545-0399

ALL SHIPS, ALL NAVIES, ALL KINDS We are an ebay seller (718) 471-5464

To advertise in the Website Directory, call 888-558-1544, Ext. 549

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65

FINAL DETAILS

By Mark Hembree

Humor in modeling Some projects are seriously funny

EACH YEAR at the International Plastic Modelers Society/USA National Convention, at least part of a table somewhere in the hall will be devoted to humor. The number of entries in this category is usually small, but somehow all attendees remember those models — perennially proving that laughter is the best medicine for AMS (Advanced Modelers Syndrome).

For example, if you were at the IPMS Nationals in Anaheim, Calif., in 2007, you probably remember this “laughterpiece” by Jonathan Silverthorn of Costa Mesa — a “modified” 1/32 scale die-cast Corvette. Jonathan put in a fair amount of metalwork for the “right” look, building from the box with the addition of only one aftermarket item: a ball-peen hammer.

You may have one or two such projects of your own. If so, send them in; as with Reader Gallery, you can submit high-resolution images and text at www.Contribute.Kalmbach.com.

We’ll look forward to seeing your works of mirth — we can always use a good laugh! FSM

66 FineScale Modeler October 2015

What do a “calliope” and a “bedspring” have in common?

Each can be found in a new version of an academy kit

The Sherman, a mainstay of Allied Forces during WWII, was made in a number of variants. None more unique than the Sherman Calliope. Its T34 Calliope rocket launcher fired a barrage of rockets from 60 launch tubes mounted above the turret. The name Calliope derives from the launcher’s resemblance to the pipes of the Calliope steam organ. The kit is complete with rocket launcher, photoetched parts, duckbill tracks and a choice of decals.

Academy … a Passion for Precision

The Soviet T34/85 tank kit features (13294) 1/35 M4A3 Sherman Calliope “bedspring” armor which is installed on the body and turret. Not actually bedsprings, these purpose-made mesh shields derive their name from a close resemblance to actual bedsprings. Other new parts include the made-in-factory 183 turret and a replica of the pressed steel wheels with perforated rubber tires. Check out these and other additions to Academy’s 1/35 collection at www.modelrectifier.com and you’ll understand Academy’s Passion for Precision.

(13295) 1/35 Soviet T34/85 Factory No. 183 “Berlin 1945” with “Bedspring” Armor