Julien

Just picked up the new Takom AML-60

Looks like some good stuff in the box there. JUlien

Building MAC's Birddog in 1/32 Scale KLP Publishing Online publishing is now starting to find its way into the modelling community. KLP Publishing is one of the new online publishers, specialising in eBooks for the scale aircraft modelling community. Their debut title Building Brick’s Sabre in 1/32 Scale: A Scale Tribute to K.J. "Brick" Bricknell reviewed here has proved to be a success, and they are now following this up with Building Mac's Briddog in 1/32, a scale tribute to Macaulay "MAC" Cotterell. The book again by Eric Galliers also includes anecdotes from MAC who flew the FAC in Vietnam in 1968. Here he was recommended for the Silver Star, but was awarded the DFC. One of the great aspects of digital publishing is the inclusion of 95 walkaround images from Rob Fox Photography. Conclusion This is the type of publication that the new digital format will embrace. The subject is not main stream enough for a traditional publication. This is clearly a book written by modellers for modellers. The text is clear and concise and the great selection of walkaround pictures crisp. The words from the pilot really do add to the story. It is worth mentioning that the two titles to date focus on the RAAF and this is something again worthy of praise as well. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Universal Airbrush Accessories Iwata from Airbrushes.com Lube Everyone wants to keep their airbrush in top condition, after all they are not cheap. This is a non toxic silicone free lubricant from Iwata which can be used on all moving parts. In particular they recommend applying it to; The Main Lever, Needle Packing, Valve-piston packing, along the needle and the needle cap to enhance paint flow and prevent tip drying. This is a new formula and is now clear. This new formula does not evaporate and maintains its viscosity. Recommended to keep your Airbrush in tip top condition. Spray Out Cleaning Pot This is a universal pot to allow spraying out paint and cleaning products from your Airbrush. This is a glass pot the lower part of which is covered with a removable rubber sleeve. This stops the pot from sliding of your work bench, and if it does in someway will offer some protection from breaking. There is a hanger which will fit all gravity-side-bottom feed and trigger style brushes (sp pretty much all of them then!). There is a filter cap which holds small foam type filters of which you get two spares in the box (these are also available to buy separate). The cap can even hold small parts if you dont want them rolling around. The pot eliminates over-spray when cleaning and its easy to clean up afterwards. The glass bowl when removed from its sleeve is even dishwasher safe. Highly recommended, especially if like me you have just been using an old jar for this. Airbrush Holder / Hanger As the name would suggest this is holder to keep your brush(es) safe on the bench. This is universal and will hold two brushes of any combination. The design holds your brushes securely and prevents them from being accidentally pulled off. There is a heavy duty clamp which will open up to 3 inches (75mm). The box also includes a bracket to attach the cleaning pot to the stand. Workstation As mentioned the Spray out pot can be attached to the airbrush holder to create a Workstation. In addition there are tapped holes and a screw to mount a pressure regulator here as well if needed. If purchased as a work station there is a cost saving as well. Conclusion These are some handy tools from Iwata which will fit most airbrushes out there and will help keep your equipment in good condition. Recommended. Review samples courtesy of

Eduard already have the cockpit sets out; http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235026729-kfir-c2-c7-update-sets-masks-172-eduard-for-amk-kit/

A slight error by our normally efficient Homebee, we will let him off this time

Exactly.

It does look like Airfix have done their research with this, and talking to a couple of people who have test shots it is a very good kit. It is nice to see a non Europe decal option in there as well (along with a nice local to me one). As mentioned this is a complete new tool from Airfix and they have not copied anyone. Julien

It seems strange but as a business Airfix will make what will sell. When they brought out their new tool Lancaster just after Revell had done theirs, they were asked why? the answer was "a Revell kit makes no money for Airfix!" I am pretty sure whether you buy one or not that this will sell bucket loads, it is byall accounts a very nice kit, and who is to say it wont be better than Tamiya? lets wait and see. Airfix did the Javelin and lets just say finacially for them I dont think it was a success. Julien

Hi, There have been a few cases reported, and seen where Paypal "friends and family" payments have been asked for. Now its against site rules to do this for private individuals, and traders. Sending a payment like this offers no security within the paypal system if there is a problem. The site will also not get involved to help if a payment is sent like this. Thanks Julien

I only ever use them through ebay and have had no problems there. Suspect they fulfil ebay orders first so get no bad feed back.

Fairey Gannet T.2 pics added today. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235028165-fairey-gannet-t2/ Julien

Hi, with help from Mike, the other mods and the review team I have been working on getting a walkaround section here on Britmodeller. This will hopefully contain the sort of detail shots only modellers need. ie the left handed widget on the Blackburn Wurlitzer etc. We are aiming for Aircraft, helicopters, Tanks, Softskins, airliners, Ships, Subs, Weapons, Ejection seats, ground equipment. Basically anything of interest to the modeller. Guys & gals this section will only be as good as the info we can get and post up. If you would like to contribute then please let me know. many thanks Julien

Fairey Gannet T.2. XA508 is not only the first T.2 produced but is now the only one left as well. On loan from the FAA museum to The Midland Air Museum. In service the aircraft was polished metal but it is now painted silver. Pics mine.

A-4E Skyhawk 1:48 Hobby Boss The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was a carrier capable ground attack aircraft developed for the US Navy and US Marine Corps. It is a delta winged single engine aircraft. It was developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company originally under the A4D designation, latter changed to A-4. The A-4 was designed by Ed Heinemann to a 1952 US Navy specification for a carrier based attack aircraft capable of carrying heavy loads. For this an aircraft was to have a maximum weight of 30,000Lbs, and be capable of speeds up to 495mph. Initially the Douglas design with a specified weight of only 20000 Lbs was greeted with scepticism. Ed Heinemann had in fact designed a very small aircraft. This was to be roughly half the weight of its contemporaries. In fact the wings were so short they did not need to fold for stowage below decks. Having a non-folding wing eliminated the heavy wing folds seen in other aircraft, one reason for a low overall weight. The prototype also exceed the maximum speed the US Navy had specified. In fact not long after the aircraft would set a new world record of 695mph for circuit flying, bettering the specification by 200mph. The A-4A was the initial production aircraft with 166 being built. The A-4B was ordered with additional improvements over the initial design. These were to be; Stronger rudder construction, a pressure fuelling system incorporating a probe for in-flight refuelling, external fuel tanks, stronger landing gear, additional navigation equipment, an improved ordnance delivery system, and an external buddy refuelling package. A total of 542 A-4Bs were to be made with fleet deliveries beginning in 1957 only a year after the first A-4B flight was made. The A-4C would then follow giving an all weather capability with the AN/APG-53 radar, a new auto pilot and bombing system and a more powerful J65-W-20 engine. The E model was a major upgrade to previous aircraft included a new Pratt & Whitney J-52-P-6A engine with 8400 lbs of thrust. The air-frame was strengthened and two more weapons pylons were added. Improved avionics were installed including a TACAN, doppler system, radar altimeter, and a bombing computer. Later an even more powerful J52-P-8 with 93000 lbs thrust was added. The E would then see the addition of a dorsal hump on the fuselage spine to house extra electronics as appeared on the later A-4F. The Kit This a new tool from Hobby Boss of this famous Douglas aircraft. The kit itself is on three sprues is fairly simple much like the real thing. Construction starts in the cockpit you will be surprised to know! The two part Escapac seat is put together and placed into the cockpit tub after the aft wall is installed. The seat is fairly basic and there are no belts included in the model. The control column is then installed along with the instrument panel (details by decal), this is followed by the area just behind the seat. The completed cockpit is then installed onto the top of the front wheel well along with the rudder pedals. Next up the wings are completed. This is standard single part lower wing with left & right uppers. Once complete it is placed to one side. Construction then moves to the main fuselage. The completed cockpit assembly and the intake duct are installed in the main fuselage as it is closed up. The avionics hump or the top fuselage fairing are installed depending on which decal option is being modelled. Two side intakes are added along with the main wing assembly. Two small parts then need to be removed from the tail. Lastly the engine exhaust is added along with a rear underside panel. Next up the left and right engine intakes are assembled and added to the main fuselage. The instrument coaming and HUD are added to the cockpit and the 20mm cannons & fairings are added to each side. Two small fairings are added to the rear fuselage. The all moving tails are made u (conventional upper & lower construction) and added, along with the air brakes. The canopy is added along with two strakes just above the cannon barrels. The underwing/fuselage pylons are then made up and added along with the gear doors. The front undercarriage leg is added which has the nose wheel moulded on to it. The rear legs and retraction struts are added along with the wheels. To round things off the arrestor hook and til bumper are added. Weapons Hobby Boss aren't known for being stingy with these, and as you'd expect there are plenty to choose from, infact 5 sprues in this kit are devoted to underwing stores. As always, check your references for likely load-outs if you are going for accuracy, or slap them all on if not. It's your choice! Included are; 12 x Mk.82 Bombs 12 x Mk.20 CBUs 2 x AiM-9B Sidewinders 2 x Wing tanks 1 x Centreline tank Sway braces are provided where needed, as are launch rails and multiple ejector racks. There are other weapons on the sprues not used here so good for the spares box. The back page of the instruction booklet shows the pylon positions of the various options, but as above, check things over before you proceed. Stencil locations are shown on a separate colour page, with positions and colours all called out. Markings Hobby Boss often supply only one option with their kits, but this one has two, one is documented incorrectly, the other is not. It is really about time HB started giving some information about its decal schemes in the kits rather than modellers going on-line to work it out themselves. The decals are printed in house, and are of good quality. 150056 VC-1 US Navy - No data is provided but the box art is very similar to an image from 1972 from NAS Barbers Point, Oahu,HI 151074 VA-155 USS Constellation 1966 wearing experimental 3 tone camo. Note this aircraft did not have the dorsal hump despite the painting instructions showing it. Now preserved at Naval Air Facility Atsugi Conclusion This is a nice new tool of the A-4E from Hobby Boss. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

I had a quick look against my Hasegawa A-4E and it looks similar in size. There is no doubt its a simplified kit, and yes the did the slats closed. No doubt someone will be along to do them open. However its readily available and dare I say at a cheaper price point. Thanks for the comments.

Agree, they are not doing it any favours. NMF does not help either, probably looks better after a quick sand and some paint.

IAI Kfir C2/C7 1:72 AvantGarde Model Kits The Kfir (lion cub) is an Israeli development based on the Mirage 5, and can trace it roots back to the Mirage IIIC adapted for Israeli use successfully as a Mach 2 all-weather interceptor with success, but they felt it lacked the loiter time that would be needed if a ground-attack role was to be added its task list. As a result of an arms embargo, Israel built the Nesher, which was then improved further and was suitably different to be renamed as the Kfir. It entered service in 1975, and was almost immediately superseded in the air superiority role when the first F-15s arrived from America. The C2 variant added more swept canards, dog-tooth leading edges to the wings and strakes under the nose, while the C7 had more hard-points added under the air intakes, a new engine with more thrust, in-flight refuelling probe, plus many upgrades to the avionics, which includes HOTAS capabilities. It continued in service into the late 90s, after which it was replaced by more modern aircraft. The aircraft has been sold to Ecuador, Columbia and Sri Lanka, though all have had to be approved by the US as it uses a licence built J79 engine. During the late 1980s the US Marine Corps & US Navy leased 25 C1 version for adversary training designating them the F-21 Lion. The Kit This is an eagerly awaited new kit from AMK. On opening the box it does not disappoint. The plastic is crisp with fine recessed panel lines. All weapons get there own sprue and there are a generous five decal options covering Israeli, Civilian, and foreign military users. Before construction starts the modeller needs to decide if they are doing a C2 or C7. Construction starts naturally enough with the cockpit, the cockpit tub is built up from the main tub, read bulkhead, instrument panel (instruments provided as decal) and the panel coaming. The front gear bay is then built up, this is un the underside of the cockpit. Once this is built up it can be installed into the main fuselage. An engine mounting part is then installed and the main fuselage can be closed up. Note before doing so the two central american versions require some slots to be opened up in the tail. Attention now moves to the main wing. Holes need to be opened up in the lower one part wing to accommodate the weapons pylons etc. These are version specific so ensure you open the right ones. The main undercarriage bay is now built up and added into the lower wing. The upper wings can then be added (left & right) and the whole wing assembly added to the main fuselage. The intakes can then be added to both sides of the fuselage along with the canards which mount to them. We then move on to the undercarriage. The main wheels are built up from a two part tyre with a central hub. They are added to their legs and retraction struts added along with the doors. The font leg is then also built up. The main leg and strut are one part with the wheel and a few other bits being added. this can then be installed along with its doors. A panel behind the nose is then added, here again there are two choices for both models. The nose cone is then added, here again there are different lumps and bumps depending on the variant. Moving to the rear, antenna are added to the fin and if making either Central American version then additional parts are added. The engine is a five part affair which is then made up and installed, along with a ventral fairing at the rear. We then move swiftly back to the cockpit and build up & install the ejection seat. Two different versions are supplied for the two different variants. Once installed the canopies can be fitted and the nose probe. The last thing to do is install the weapons load and pylons. Python-3 missiles, MK.82 bombs, GBU-12s, Griffin LGBs are all supplied along with a centre line tank, and two wing fuel tanks. Pylons and sway braces are provided as needed. Markings There are there are a generous five options. All decals appear in register, colour dense, and with a minimum of carrier film. The five options supplied are; C2 #874, 101 Tajeset Israeli AF (Two tone grey) C7 #543 "Zohar" The Arava Guardians Sqn, Israeli AF (Green/Brown/Sand) C2 N401AX, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), USA C3 905, 2113 Sqn Ecuadorian AF C7 111 Sqn Colombian AF Conclusion An excellent new tool Kfir from AMK. Highly recommended. Available from all good model shops online and in the high street. Review sample courtesy of

ATAC or Airborne Tactical Advantage Compnay who supply adversaries to the US DOD for training have snapped up 63 F.1s from the French for 21 million Euros! Looks like they plans to return 30 to 40 back to flight status. https://theaviationgeekclub.com/atac-bought-63-mirage-f1-fighter-jets/ Might get some interesting schemes on them like the other aircraft they operate. Julien

Additional F-86A pics added today. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/77141-north-american-f-86a-sabre/ Julien

North American F-86A Sabre (code FU-178/8178) For modelling notes this aircraft has had the leading edge slats wired shut and wing fence added. Both for flight safety reasons which the original A model did not feature. Pics thanks to Martin.

North American F-86A Sabre 48-0242 at Midland Air Museum. This is an early F-86A which features the covers over the gun troughs which were deleted on all later models. Pics mine.

Is there any info about the system on line as I am having dificulty finding any? The Meng set is nice (if expensive) but provides zero information about where to fit the parts onto the tank. Thx Julien

I read it on the internet so it must be true!

Spitfire Mk.IXc "Beer Delivery" ICM 1:48 A fairly well-known aircraft of WWII, the Supermarine Spitfire was the mainstay of British Fighter Command for the majority of WWII, with the Mk.IX being the most popular (with many) throughout the war, seeing extended periods of production with only minor alterations for the role that it was intended for differentiating between the sub-variants. Originally requested to counter the superiority of the then-new Fw 190, a two-stage supercharged Merlin designated type 61 provided the performance in spades, and the fitting of twin wing-mounted cannons in wing blisters gave it enough punch to take down its diminutive Butcher-Bird prey. In what was no doubt considered good publicity for the war, following D-Day the the Heneger and Constable brewery donated free beer to the troops, however as stretched as the logistics chain was there was no way to transport it across the channel. Spitfire pilots and ground crew came up with the idea to fit beer barrels to the racks on a Spitfires wing, and to transport beer in adapted fuel tanks. Such aircraft often had to return to the UK for "important" duties only to return with their valuable cargo. It even came to be that an offical mod XXX was referred to for these beer mountings.The practice came to an end when Customs stepped in as the Brewery was exporting beer without a licence. Even in Wartime officialdom ruled. It does seem that even though it was not officially done after this point various squadrons continued with the practice! The Model This new tool kit arrives in a rather small box making you think they have boxed the wrong scale kit! however be assured it is the right kit in the box. The moulds from ICM look cgood and crisp. Construction starts with the Merlin Engine as ICM have managed to squeeze a full engine onto the sprues. It should be noted that if you dont want to build your model with the engine covers off then you dont have to add the full engine, though the fact it is there is great. Once the engine (or not) is in the fuselage can be closed up with a few cockpit parts and the area behind the pilots head being added before closing up. The cockpit is now built up with the pilots seat being added to the rear cockpit bulkhead. the fllor is then added joingin up the seat and instrument panel area. Once complete the whole thing is added through the bottom of the fusselage. The engine top cowling is then added along with the front canopy and main aerial. Construction then moves onto the wing. This is convention one part bottom and left/right uppers. The underwing radiators are added and the cannons are added into the bays moulded into the lower wing. The uppers are then added along with the cannon covers (these can be left off as needed). The main fuselage can then be added to the completed wing assembly. The main canopy is then added (this is provided as a one part closed, or two part open affair), followed by the rudder and tailplanes. The ailerons can then be added to the main wing, and under the fuselage the lower engine cowl. The propeller is made up from its four individual blades and added to the front. The main landing gear is then made up with the single piece mainwheel being added to the leg, then the door added on. They can then be added to the model. Last up the all important beer barrels can be made up. They can be made as normal barrels or some which were fitted with an aerodynamic front nose cone as I would imagine the drag from a pair of barrels was considerable! Mounting racks are provided. A centre line beer tank (an ex fuel tank) is also provided to add to the centreline as needed, this also comes with its own rack. Decals A small decal sheet provides marking for two aircraft know to have done these flights, the modeler will have to paint their own invasion stripes. The decals are printed in house by ICM, look to be in register and colour dense. MJ452 No.412 Sqn Royal Canadian Air Force. ML316 No308 (Polish) Sqn Royal Air Force. Conclusion There is something totally British about going to the time and trouble to send beer to fighting troops in the midst of one of the biggest battles on the Western front. It is good to see ICM providing a kit to model this eccentricity of the time, and even if you dont want to model this the kit is a fine example of the Mk.IXc Spitfire. It also seems to be available at a good price point. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of