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This is my first post as a new member and I hope I have dropped this request in the correct area. I would like to find out which modelling magazine recently included a comprehensive profile on the AMX /AMX-T Ghibli. I remember seeing this several weeks back but cannot remember the name and internet searches have been unproductive. Regards Steve

AFAIK there's only one 1/72 kit of the AMX-13. Unfortunately Heller states that it portraits the last variant (from the '80s) with 105mm gun. My question is whether this kit is buildable as the 75mm-gunned early variant that was used by the French in anger (in Suez and then in Algierian campaign). What parts should be modified/replaced and generally - is it worth bothering with as the kit itself looks crude? Perhaps it will be better to wait for some new tool, but life is so short... Cheers Michael

AMX A-11B Trainer 1:48 HobbyBoss The AMX was designed as a replacement to the Fiat G.91 and derivatives, and was the product of a newly create company called AMX International, which was a cooperation between Aeritalia, Aeromacchi and the Brazilian company Embraer. Each partner builds a portion of the aircraft, with the first assembled in Italy for flight testing in the mid 80s. After successful completion of testing, it started to enter into service toward the end of the 80s, as the A-11 Ghibli with the Italian Air Force and the A-1 with Brazil. The B model is the two seat trainer. The aircraft uses a license built Spey engine, which was chosen for reliability and ease of integration with the design, although later other engines were considered. It has been used substantially by both operators and has undergone a number of upgrades of the avionics over time. The two-seat trainer was completed in the 1990s, and many of the approximately 200 airframes are still in service, barring accidents and total loss incidents, of which there have been a few over the years, ironically one of which was due to engine failure. The Kit This new tool from Hobby Boss arrives on eight sprues of grey plastic, a clear sprue, two small sheets of photo-etch, rubber tyres; and two decal sheets. It was evident from the single seater kit reviewed here that a two seat version was planned. Construction starts in the cockpit. First the ejection seat s are made up, they has PE belts. The seats are put in the cockpit tub along with the instrument panels and control columns. Once the seats are in the cockpit sides are added. This is then put to one side. Next up the undercarriage bays are built up. The font bay is a single part to which the 4 part leg is added the front wheel which is a separate hub abd rubber tyre is also added at this stage. For the main gear bays there is a two part leg, a landing light which attached to the leg, the main wheel & hub, plus two retraction struts. Once the gear bays are finished they can be installed in the fuselage halves. Before these are closed up the two part exhaust needs to be fitted inside. The trunking is one part so no seam to worry about. Once the main fuselage is together the intakes are fitted each side along with their attached lights. A note he is that the intakes in the kit appear to rounded and not as square as the real thing. They should be able to be squared up if the modeller wants my a little work. The HUD is made up and attached to the instrument cowling, this is then fitted in front of the cockpit. The front screen then goes over this. For the main canopy there is an internal frame to add, along with three photo-etch mirrors. The next stage is to make up and attach the wings. The wings come with separate flaps and slats which is good, and they can be positioned open or closed, however there appear to be no actuators present. The wings themselves are a single part to which the flaps and slats are added. Once made up they can be attached to the fuselage along with the vertical tail. The tail is a conventional left/right split and there are a pair of aerials to be added from the inside before you close them up. Moving on to the last stages of construction various aerials are added along with a pilots ladder if needed. The gear doors are added along with two prominent rear ventral air scoops for the engines, along with the prominent re-fuelling probe. The arrestor hook is added along with the wing tip & under wing pylons. A wide variety of stores are included with the kit for the modeller to choose from. These are AIM-9P & AIM-9L missiles, MK82 and MK-84 bombs, fuels tanks and GBU-12 guided bombs. Canopy The clear parts in the kit are thin and very clear. As always with Hobby Boss they wrap the clear parts in a protective foam which is a good thing to do. Decals There are two decal sheets in the kit. One provides markings for two aircraft, and the other the markings for the weapons. The two marking options provided are; 32-40, 13 Gruppo, 32 Stormo, Italian Air Force. 2-10, 14 Gruppo, 2 Stormo, Italina Air Force. Conclusion This is good looking kit from Hobby Boss. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

My friend & I have decided to both build 1/48 Italian AF AMX fighters, with him using the Hobby Boss kit and I will be using the Kinetic kit. The grey colour used on the Italian AF AMXs is listed differently on both kits' instructions (Naturally). Plus, the colours listed according to different model paints also differs, sometimes drastically.I mainly use Testors Model Master enamels, while my friend prefers Mr Color acrylics. Even the FS595 callouts differ. I tried to look at photos of actual aircraft online, but depending on the time of day/year & camera used, they all look different. Finally, the available Paint Conversion charts online also differ in their "opinion" as to paint matches. Does anybody have a definitive (Or VERY close) match to either an FS595 or Model Master colour? I looked at all my 30+ differently named grey/gray paints and couldn't come to a firm conclusion. Larry

AMX A-1 Ground Attack Aircraft 1:48 HobbyBoss The AMX was designed as a replacement to the Fiat G.91 and derivatives, and was the product of a newly create company called AMX International, which was a cooperation between Aeritalia, Aeromacchi and the Brazilian company Embraer. Each partner builds a portion of the aircraft, with the first assembled in Italy for flight testing in the mid 80s. After successful completion of testing, it started to enter into service toward the end of the 80s, as the A-11 Ghibli with the Italian Air Force and the A-1 with Brazil. The aircraft uses a license built Spey engine, which was chosen for reliability and ease of integration with the design, although later other engines were considered. It has been used substantially by both operators and has undergone a number of upgrades of the avionics over time. The two-seat trainer was completed in the 1990s, and many of the approximately 200 airframes are still in service, barring accidents and total loss incidents, of which there have been a few over the years, ironically one of which was due to engine failure. The Kit This mew tool from Hobby Boss arrives on eight sprues of grey plastic, a clear sprue, a small sheet of photo-etch, rubber tyres; and two decal sheets. Construction starts in the cockpit. First the ejection seat is made up, this has PE belts. The seat is put in the cockpit tub along with the instrument panel and control column. Once the seat is on the cockpit sides are added. This is then put to one side. Next up the undercarriage bays are built up. The font bay is a single part to which the 4 part leg is added the front wheel which is a separate hub abd rubber tyre is also added at this stage. For the main gear bays there is a two part leg, a landing light which attached to the leg, the main wheel & hub, plus two retraction struts. Once the gear bays are finished they can be installed in the fuselage halves. Before these are closed up the two part exhaust needs to be fitted inside. The trunking is one part so no seam to worry about. Once the main fuselage is together the intakes are fitted each side along with their attached lights. A note he is that the intakes in the kit appear to rounded and not as square as the real thing. They should be able to be squared up if the modeller wants my a little work. The HUD is made up and attached to the instrument cowling, this is then fitted in front of the cockpit. The front screen then goes over this. For the main canopy there is an internal frame to add, along with three photo-etch mirrors. The next stage is to make up and attach the wings. The wings come with separate flaps and slats which is good, and they can be positioned open or closed, however there appear to be no actuators present. The wings themselves are a single part to which the flaps and slats are added. Once made up they can be attached to the fuselage along with the vertical tail. The tail is a conventional left/right split and there are a pair of aerials to be added from the inside before you close them up. Moving on to the last stages of construction various aerials are added along with a pilots ladder if needed. The gear doors are added along with two prominent rear ventral air scoops for the engines. The gun muzzle is added along with the prominent re-fuelling probe. The arrestor hook is added along with the wing tip & under wing pylons. A wide variety of stores are included with the kit for the modeller to choose from. These are AIM=9P & AIM-9L missiles, MK82 and MK084 bombs, fuels tanks and GBU-12 guided bombs. Some aircraft seem to carry a targeting pod when carrying guided bombs which is not in the kit, but aircraft have been observed carrying the bombs only. A good you tube video I found while doing some research shows Brazilian Air Force aircraft carrying out weapons practice. This is a good reference as most of the time they are seen just carrying external tanks. Canopy The clear parts in the kit are thin and very clear. As always with Hobby Boss they wrap the clear parts in a protective foam which is a good thing to do. Decals There are two decal sheets in the kit. One provides markings for two aircraft, and the other the markings for the weapons. The two marking options provided are; A-1A 5530 Esq (Green over Grey camo). A-1A 5506 Esq (two tone grey camo). Conclusion This is good looking kit from Hobby Boss, despite the small error with the intakes it should build up into a good looking model. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

IN STOCK NOW, NEW TAKOM We have had in today the new releases from Takom Takom 1:35 - AMX-13/75 Light Tank IDF 2 in 1 Takom 1:35 - AMX-13/90 French Light Tank Takom 1:35 - AMX-13/75 French Light Tank with SS-11 ATGM 2 in 1 Follow us on Facebook for all the latest news https://www.facebook...eativeModelsLtd Check out the website for all new releases www.creativemodels.co.uk

After the 1/48th kits (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234964446-amx-1m-kinetic-148/?hl=kinetic & http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234976723-148-amx-ta-1b-ghiblifalcao-two-seat-variant-by-kinetic-cads-release-in-2015/), Kinetic is projecting to release 1/72th AMX/A-1 Ghibli/Falcão kits. No release date yet Source: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KineticModel-France/284153468459310?fref=nf V.P.

After the single seat AMX/A-1A (ref.K48026 - http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234964446-amx-1m-kinetic-148/?hl=kinetic), Kinetic is to release in 2015 the 1/48th two-seat AMX-T/A-1B Ghibli/Falcão variants - ref.K48027 Target seems obvious, being on the market before the release from the recently announced HobbyBoss 1/48th AMX kits (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234972802-148-amx-a-1ata-1b-by-hobby-boss-in-20152016/). Source: https://www.facebook.com/Kineticmodel/posts/417339898433127 CADs V.P.

Italeri has just announced a 1/48th AMX fighter-bomber kit - ref. 2753S Source: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234975536-italeri-2015/?p=1878232 A rebox from the future Kinetic kit (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234964446-amx-1m-kinetic-148/)? Otherwise we are waiting another AMX family by Hobby Boss (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234972802-148-amx-a-1ata-1b-by-hobby-boss-in-20152016/). V.P.