Mark Newton

S scale model railways originated in the US, but the scale is also popular in New Zealand and Western Australia. In both cases it’s known as Sn3½, as it uses HO scale 16.5mm gauge track and mechanisms to model the 3’6” gauge railways of those places. Cheers, Mark.

I wondered how they mistook a monoplane like the E14Y for a Curtiss Seagull. 🤨 The various flights were tracked both visually and by radar, but as Ed notes, surprise was a factor. You also have to factor in the famous Australian attitude of “She’ll be right”. I can say that, I’m Australian and guilty of saying it many times. Incidentally, these reconnaissance flights over Sydney Harbour were in preparation for the miniature submarine attack in June 1942. On the night of the attack my father was sleeping in a small barracks building near the wharf of the torpedo factory at Neutral Bay. He managed to sleep through the event… Cheers, Mark.

This is a kit by Japanese manufacturer Pit-Road, which I bought some years ago while travelling in Japan. The moulding is very good, there’s no flash whatsoever. The fit of the parts is very neat, almost like a snap-together kit. A couple of hours at the workbench and this is where I’m up to. Cheers, Mark.

And thanks to you as well, Bozothenutter. I will eventually get a T-34/85. I have a couple of the Miniart Austin armoured cars - if their T-34 is anywhere near as good it will definitely be worth getting. Thanks again, Mark.

Thank you Kingsman, that’s a very helpful answer. I don’t have any preference for a particular version of the T34/76, so I’ve ordered a Zvezda kit as you suggest. I’m already getting into individual link tracks, both the BT-2 and BT-7 have them, so if I decide on them for the T-34 it wont bother me. I also have some profoundly fiddly 3D printed tracks for a PzII Lynx, which have made me question my sanity. But they do look good. Thanks again for your advice. All the best, Mark.

I have kits for the T-34s predecessors, and I’d like to have a T-34 to complete the lineup. So I’d appreciate people’s views on the best kit in 1/35. Cheers, Mark.

A Joystick AEG C.IV. It’s been a while since I built a vacform, but I think I remember what to do… The reference to go with it. Some K.u.K. goodness. And some stickers to go on a Nieuport or a Hanriot. Cheers, Mark.

Beautiful work on the camo. Now the aircraft looks like it lives underwater!

You're not wrong, it's a beauty. Thanks for the link! Mark.

The decals in my kits appear to be okay, but I have plenty of aftermarket stuff if they're not. As long as the numbers are useable I'll be happy. Incidentally, are the numbers in question works or construction numbers, or serials? Cheers, Mark.

Both versions of the Ago C.IV kit in 1/72 by KP. Cheers, Mark.

Nice one, Ed. I was in Cooma recently and saw the display of relics from the crash site. Sad and fascinating at the same time. So I've ordered the Valom kit. Cheers, Mark.

A Print Scale Rumpler C.IV, an AZmodel Hansa Brandenburg B.I and a HR Model Phönix C.I, all in 1/72. I prefer the aircraft of the Central Powers, and I prefer two-seaters. I've built a number of railway models from 3D prints, but the Rumpler is my first aircraft model in this medium. Should be interesting. Cheers, Mark.

None - not my preferred scale. Mark.

In between domestic duties today I had a bit of modelling time. The cockpit, floor and seats are primed, the engine painted and given a wash, and the prop blades painted as well. The underside of the wings have locating holes for the bomb racks of the キ-36 version, so these have been given a dollop of filler to hide them. Cheers, Mark.

This Fujimi kit was released in 1983, along with the armed reconnaissance version, the Type 98 or キ-36. Considering its age, the kit has subtle and nicely executed engraved surface detail. The interior is very basic, but the transparencies are crystal clear and have well defined framing. The little radial engine is also nicely moulded, I think it will look good when painted and highlighted. As I mentioned previously, I have some aftermarket Manchuoko decals for it, as well as canopy masks from Dead Design. Otherwise I'm going for an OOB build. I started the evening by washing all the sprues with household detergent. Once they'd dried I masked around the area of the cockpit that will be painted. I'm giving it a shot of grey primer in the morning to hide the lurid orange plastic, so I can then paint the interior. I need to have a look in my paint stash and see if I have anything that's a close match for the #3 blue grey that the interiors were painted. Interestingly, the Fujimi painting instructions call for the interior to be painted "Navy Blue" - not too far off the actual colour used. Cheers, Mark.

Thanks Adrian. As you say, the AIR-6 and the Po-2 share the same motor, the Shvetsov M-11. The Aichi is rather like the Walrus, the main difference being the engine nacelle is mounted on the upper wing. Photo of the prototype a/c from Wikipedia: That looks very appealing, thanks for the heads up. I reckon one of these will be the next addition to that sub-category of the "stash". At the moment the smallest high-wing type I have is an Eduard Kunkadlo, which is tiny. And the biggest is a Valom Bristol Bombay. For me, one of the best things about returning to the hobby is having types like these available as injection moulded kits. Things I couldn't have imagined having twenty odd years ago. All the best, Mark.

My postie delivered the Ki-55 kit this morning, the day after I ordered it. My recollection was correct, it has some nicely rendered surface detail. Even though I have some decals for a Manchuoko scheme, I'm tempted by the livid orange trainer colours. I'd forgotten how dazzling the raw plastic was. Cheers, Mark.

While I'm waiting for the Big In Japan GB to start, I've got a few other little 1/72 projects on the go. One is an Amodel kit for a Yakovlev AIR-6. I really like older high-wing monoplanes, so when I saw this on the shelf at my local hobby shop I didn't think twice about getting it. The kit seems like a typical short-run product, but everything has cleaned up nicely so far. The weather today was ideal for painting, so the fuselage and wings got some colour. I find it easier to do some of the painting before final assembly. I think it makes the masking simpler and neater. The interior will be strictly OOB, as I doubt that anything inside will be visible. The other model is an Aichi E11A1 flyingboat fron Fujimi. The kit comes with a simple jig for aligning and attaching the upper wing, which is very useful. I've masked the locating holes for the struts and the rigging. Masking the tiny, heavily framed "greenhouse" canopy was an interesting task. And again, I haven't bothered adding detail to the cockpit as it won't be clearly seen. If the weather holds it'll get the first coat of black paint tomorrow. Cheers, Mark.

Another candidate for the GB is on its way to me - a Fujimi Ki-55 trainer. The kit dates from 1983. I had one many years ago, from memory it was a simple kit with nice surface detail and good fit. I've got some Dead Design canopy masks and Kora decals for an aircraft in Manchukuo markings. Cheers, Mark.

Thanks Pat. My interest in Japanese railway modelling got me interested in Japanese aircraft, hence my choices. Looking forward to the GB kicking off. All the best, Mark.

Now that I'm home I've made a list of what I think are suitable candidates for the GB. Revell/Takara Nakajima J1N1 Gekko, from 1972. I have some aftermarket decals from AML for this and another Fujimi Gekko. Revell/Takara Mitsubishi Ki-21, from 1975. I got this kit from a friend in Japan, who'd removed most of the parts from the sprues, but it's otherwise not started. If that's not allowed, let me know and I'll leave it out. Hasegawa rebox of the Mania Kawasaki Ki-48. I have two of these and some aftermarket parts and decals from Eduard and Rising. MicroAce rebox of the LS Yokosuka K5Y1, from 1973. I built one of these as a teenager, from memory it was a nice little kit. I've got some decals from Rising for a civil registered example. So, what do you reckon about these? Cheers, Mark.

I'd like to sign up for this GB, as I have a number of Japanese aircraft kits in my stash that would qualify. I'm at work right now, but when I get home in the morning I'll put up a list. All the best, Mark.

I recently bought a new ICM Ki-21 in 1/72 scale, so I thought it would be interesting to build this 1980 release from Takara/Revell for comparison. Originally released in 1975, the T/R kit has some very nice recessed surface detail, including a multitude of rivets. A trial fit of the major components this evening suggests that the fit will be reasonably good. Apart from a pair of resin wheels from Kora, and some decals from Rising, it'll be out of the box. I don't intend to provide any extra interior detail, as I doubt it will be visible. Cheers, Mark.

The photos you refer to were taken by Australian photographer Frank Hurley, using the Paget process. https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/captured/official Cheers, Mark.