Jump to content

Search the Community

Showing results for tags 'CMK'.

  • Search By Tags

    Type tags separated by commas.
  • Search By Author

Content Type


Calendars

  • Community Calendar
  • Group Builds
  • Model Show Calendar

Forums

  • Forum Functionality & Forum Software Help and Support
    • FAQs
    • Help & Support for Forum Issues
    • New Members
  • Aircraft Modelling
    • Military Aircraft Modelling Discussion by Era
    • Civil Aircraft Modelling Discussion by Era
    • Work in Progress - Aircraft
    • Ready for Inspection - Aircraft
    • Aircraft Related Subjects
  • AFV Modelling (armour, military vehicles & artillery)
    • Armour Discussion by Era
    • Work in Progress - Armour
    • Ready for Inspection - Armour
    • Armour Related Subjects
    • large Scale AFVs (1:16 and above)
  • Maritime Modelling (Ships and subs)
    • Maritime Discussion by era
    • Work in Progress - Maritime
    • Ready for Inspection - Maritime
  • Vehicle Modelling (non-military)
    • Vehicle Discussion
    • Work In Progress - Vehicles
    • Ready For Inspection - Vehicles
  • Science Fiction & RealSpace
    • Science Fiction Discussion
    • RealSpace Discussion
    • Work In Progress - SF & RealSpace
    • Ready for Inspection - SF & RealSpace
  • Figure Modeling
    • Figure Discussion
    • Figure Work In Progress
    • Figure Ready for Inspection
  • Dioramas, Vignettes & Scenery
    • Diorama Chat
    • Work In Progress - Dioramas
    • Ready For Inspection - Dioramas
  • Reviews, News & Walkarounds
    • Reviews
    • Current News
    • Build Articles
    • Tips & Tricks
    • Walkarounds
  • Modeling using 3D Printing
    • 3D Printing Basics
    • 3D Printing Chat
    • 3D Makerspace
  • Modelling
    • Group Builds
    • The Rumourmonger
    • Manufacturer News
    • Other Modelling Genres
    • Britmodeller Yearbooks
    • Tools & Tips
  • General Discussion
    • Chat
    • Shows
    • Photography
    • Members' Wishlists
  • Shops, manufacturers & vendors
    • Aerocraft Models
    • Air-craft.net
    • Amarket Modl
    • A.M.U.R. Reaver
    • Atlantic Models
    • Beacon Models
    • BlackMike Models
    • Bring-It!
    • Copper State Models
    • Freightdog Models
    • Hannants
    • fantasy Printshop
    • Fonthill Media
    • HMH Publications
    • Hobby Paint'n'Stuff
    • Hypersonic Models
    • Iliad Design
    • Hobby Colours & Accessories
    • KLP Publishing
    • Kingkit
    • L'Arsenal 2.0
    • Litaki Models
    • Maketar Paint Masks
    • Marmaduke Press Decals
    • MikroMir
    • Model Designs
    • Parkes682Decals
    • Paulus Victor Decals
    • Red Roo Models
    • RES/KIT
    • Sovereign Hobbies
    • Special Hobby
    • Test Valley Models
    • Tiger Hobbies
    • Ultimate Modelling Products
    • Videoaviation Italy
    • Wingleader Publications
  • Archive
    • 2007 Group Builds
    • 2008 Group Builds
    • 2009 Group Builds
    • 2010 Group Builds
    • 2011 Group Builds
    • 2012 Group Builds
    • 2013 Group Builds

Find results in...

Find results that contain...


Date Created

  • Start

    End


Last Updated

  • Start

    End


Filter by number of...

Joined

  • Start

    End


Group


AIM


MSN


Website URL


ICQ


Yahoo


Jabber


Skype


Location


Interests

  1. SBD Dauntless Control Surfaces & Dinghy (4463 & 4462 for Acc.Min & Academy) 1:48 Special Hobby The Accurate Miniatures SBD Dauntless in 1:48 was originally tooled in the late 90s, and was well-received at the time, being well-detailed and researched. It has since been reboxed by many manufacturers, including Academy, Monogram and Revell, the latter seeing an outing as an SBD-5 in 2021, which we reviewed here. It’s still very much a modern-looking kit, despite its 25+ year history, but a few aspects could stand some upgrades. Special Hobby have created these two resin sets to assist in this manner. The sets arrive in Special Hobby’s yellow themed blister pack, with a header card and the instructions forming the slot-in back to the package, and holding the resin in place within the blister, whilst remaining visible to the prospective purchaser. Control Surfaces (4463) This set includes seven control surfaces on their own casting blocks, plus six small hinge parts on another block. The new flying surfaces include replacement ailerons for those that are moulded into the kit wings, new elevators and their stabilising fins, plus a new rudder panel to replace the moulded-in original. The detail on the new parts is substantially better than the originals, with crisp panel lines, raised ribs, a fine trim-tab actuator on the rudder, and rounded leading edges to add realism. The elevators are drop-in replacements that can be posed deflected once the small hinge-points are installed, while the rudder and ailerons need their locations clearing by cutting away the originals along the pivot-line. The instructions suggest thinning and bevelling the edges of the wing at the cut to allow the curved noses of the resin parts to fit snugly into position in a realistic manner. The rudder also needs two more hinge-points gluing to the kit fin, marking their location by using the rudder as a template. When complete, it should add extra detail and a more individual look to the model. Dinghy (4462) Consisting of four small parts, the set includes the cylindrical bay for the dinghy, a stowed dinghy pack that slots inside, and a choice of two styles of door, so when cutting away the round panel on the port side of the fuselage you don’t need to worry about keeping the styrene part in one piece. It’s worth noting that on many decal options this panel appears under where one of the fuselage markings will be, so it is wise to plan ahead, and it might also be a good idea to consider masks for the affected markings, so that matching the colour won’t be an issue. If you are careful however, you could cut the decal once you have placed it, and apply the cut-out section to the door, touching in any damage or blemishes that were likely to happen on the real aircraft around a bay that was often opened for checking by crew and maintainers. Conclusion These sets will make a good model better, and the increase in the detail will be noticeable to all but the most oblivious of viewers. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  2. Sow with 3 Piglets (F48394 & F72393) 1:48 & 1:72 Special Hobby It seems Special Hobby are slowly creating a resin menagerie, which could possibly end with the creation of a huge resin ark to put them in two-by-two? Of course, I’m being silly, but we’ve had a profusion of camels from them, and now we have a mother pig with her piglets in two scales, ready to help you with any countryside or agricultural diorama you might have in mind. These sets arrive in the usual yellow themed blister pack with card hanger on the rear and the instructions sandwiched between the two parts. Inside are the resin parts, cocooned by a block of dark grey foam that has been cut out in the centre to accommodate the contents. Each set includes the sow and three piglets, all on the same printing base, supported by fine tendrils in their signature orange resin that combines strength with flexibility, which are desirable traits in 3D printed resin. You will notice that both sets have visible layers on the tops of the animals where the surface is curving very slowly over the back of the animals. At 1:1 scale these layers are almost invisible, and will disappear under a coat of primer, with encouragement from a very light sanding if they persist. It’s a feature of 3D printing, and as the layer height has reduced over the successive generations of printers, so the stepping has become less of an issue. The animals are all in individual, realistic poses, and are supported under their bellies and chins to avoid damage to any of the more visible details, although the pips that remain after removal are minimal due to their clever design, so no detail should be lost. You can see one of the piglets has separated from the larger 1:48 set during transit, which shows off the pose and the few supports that need removing. Sow with Piglets 1:48 (F48394) Sow with Piglets 1:48 (F48394) Conclusion Oink! If you need some pre-bacon for your next project, or really wanted some for your recent diorama, now you can. The two sets are identical in design, just differ in scale, so pick the one you need, and put your trotter on the “add to basket” button. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  3. P-51B/C Mustang Control Surfaces (7514 for Arma Hobby) 1:72 CMK by Special Hobby Many models arrive from the manufacturer with their flying surfaces moulded into the wings and tail, regardless of scale. For those amongst us that wish to add some individuality to their models by depicting the flying surfaces either deflected as if they have just been left by the pilot, or performing a manoeuvre in-flight, the task of cutting out the kit surfaces and repairing or replacing them so they can be offset one direction or another is a fairly complex task that can put many modellers off. This set is intended to simplify the process, providing replacement surfaces that lets you remove the kit areas without worrying how much you cut away. This set arrives in CMK’s yellow themed blister pack, with a header card and the instructions forming the slot-in rear of the package, and holding the resin in place within the blister, using a sheet of clear acetate to separate the Photo-Etch (PE) parts to the rear when applicable. Consisting of nine grey resin parts in total on six casting blocks, there is a complete replacement for the kit tail in either filleted or unfilleted forms, to which the attach the fin and rudder panel, the former into two pin-holes, the latter down the groove in the fin. The elevators are separate, and attach to the rear of the stablisers, nestling into the rear, and bear in mind that the elevators move as one, so should be at the same angle unless battle damage has severed the linkage. Moving forward, the ailerons are the only parts that require surgery to the wings, cutting the trailing edge of upper and lower halves, being careful to leave the delicate wingtip at the very end. You can probably get away with bevelling the edges of the wing skins to depict the pivot surface, so scrape and test-fit as you go along, setting the two surfaces in opposition, remembering that the authority of the raised aileron is stronger, so less deflection is typically shown than on the lowered aileron. Check your references for evidence particular to the Mustang, just to be sure. Conclusion Detail is excellent on the exterior of the parts, and should blend in with the kit nicely. Helpfully, they are all attached to their casting blocks along hidden edges, so you should be able to score them through with a sharp blade if you don’t have a razor saw, with the possible exception of the stabilisers, which have the tail root moulded-in. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  4. B-25 Mitchell Wheels – Circumferential & Cross Tread Patterns (4461 & 4466) 1:48 CMK by Special Hobby Kit wheels are generally moulded in two halves, which means you have the resultant joins to deal with, possible mould-slip issues on single part wheels, and sometimes less than stellar detail due to the moulding limitations of styrene injection technology, especially in the tread department. That's where replacement resin wheels come in, with their lack of seamline and superior detail making a compelling argument. They are also usually available at a reasonable price, and can be an easy introduction to aftermarket and resin handling, as they are generally a drop-in replacement. These two sets are for any 1:48 Mitchell, whether it’s from Accurate Miniatures, Academy, Italeri or Revell boxings, and both sets arrive in clear-fronted vacformed boxes, with the header card and instructions at the rear, whilst the resin parts inside are safely stored inside. Circumferential Tread (4461) This box contains ten resin parts on six casting blocks, containing two main wheels with a pair of hub fronts each, and one nose wheel with three hubs, one flat, the other two with spokes, allowing a choice of spoked or flat outer hub. The tyres have circumferential tread, the main wheels having cross-marks on the shoulders, with manufacturer’s mark and specification on the sidewalls. All wheels have restrained flat-spots at the bottom to give the impression of weight, and that’s where they are attached to the casting block to ease removal with a razor saw or motor tool. The hubs are all flat-cast, so will need to be careful removed ensuring you keep the blade level. Cross Tread (4466) This set has ten parts on six casting blocks, with the hubs cast vertically with the same choice of flat or spoked hubs for the nose wheel. The tyres are all cross-tread, with diamonds across the contact patch, while the nose wheel diamonds have depressions in the centres, with flat-spots chosen for the ease of removal of the casting blocks. Conclusion Resin wheels are a great way to add realism to your model without breaking the bank or complicating the build unduly. The detail is excellent, just remember that tyres are never black, always a shade of brownish grey or even very brown if they’re dirty or dusty. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
      • 2
      • Like
      • Thanks
  5. Czech Hedgehog WWII Anti-Tank Barrier (P72007 & P48008) 1:72 & 1:48 Special Hobby Tank barriers are important aspects of any defensive line of the 20th century onwards, and they are intended to stop tanks in their tracks to prevent their advance, and therefore leave any infantry without their mobile heavy weapons support. Various designs have been used over the years, and we’re looking at the type fielded by the Czechs during WWII, which was nicknamed Hedgehog, or rozsocháč in Czech, for fairly obvious reasons, as it’s a prickly customer. Made from large metal angle beams that are bolted together at right-angles, forming a similar shape to a jack from the game of the same name. The lower ends dig into the ground under their own weight, and if a tank rubs up against it, there is a good chance it will become snagged on the obstacle, stopping it from advancing any further. There were notches near the ends of the arms to accommodate barbed wire entanglements, which would make the chances of stopping the enemy even greater. Similar style obstacles are still in use today. Both sets arrive in clear-fronted vacformed boxes, with the header card and instructions at the rear, whilst the 3D printed orange resin parts inside are safely stored inside a cocoon of dark grey foam. There are four Hedgehogs in the smaller 1:72 set, while the larger 1:48 set has two Hedgehogs due to the extra size, and they are all printed very close together, supported by fine tendril-like supports that are simple to cut away. 1:72 (P72007) 1:48 (P48008) Conclusion The detail is excellent, and will be a boon to anyone building dioramas in smaller-scales. Once removed from their printing bases, all you need to do is apply some metallic or rusty paint shades. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  6. F4F-4 Wildcat Gun Bay & Dinghy Sets (7512 & 7513 for Arma Hobby) 1:72 CMK by Special Hobby Arma Hobby have released several boxings of their excellent 1:72 Wildcat, with the most recent we’ve seen here in the Cactus Air Force boxing along with an P-39 Airacobra for good measure. Detail is excellent, but some aspects of the aircraft aren’t depicted, leaving space for CMK to create these two sets of upgrade components that can be used for a maintenance scenario, or just to have all the bits hanging out on this pugilistic little fighter. As usual with CMK's resin sets, they arrive in the familiar clear vacformed box, with the resin parts safely inside, and the instructions sandwiched between the header card at the rear. Open Gun Bays (7512) Containing twenty-four resin parts on six pour blocks, the first task will be to open the kit upper wing panels as shown in the instructions, and thin down the corresponding area inside the lower wing half to match. This is best done with either a motor tool, or by scraping with a curved scalpel, checking your work against a bright light to see whether you are getting close to going through. With the preparation done, the bay carcasses are loaded with the three gun breeches per side, plus short ammo feeds, then they are offered up to the new openings in the upper wings. A small triangular web is placed across the inner front corner, and the forward bay doors are placed near vertical along the front of each bay, with the others loose on the wing or somewhere conveniently nearby. Test fitting the bays in the wing will be key aspect of a successful completion, so take your time, and test, test test! Conclusion With only seven parts on two casting blocks, this set needs a small section removing from the spine of your model, as show in the instructions. A floor panel is inserted to span the gap, with a front and rear bulkhead joined by a rib along the line of the spine. The resin dinghy pack is shaped to fit the space, and two clamshell doors are fixed to the lower edges of the bay for the earlier mark, and for later airframes, only one door opens to the starboard side. Conclusion A pair of simple sets that will increase the detail further on what is already a great kit. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  7. PT Boat Weapons Set 2, 3 & 5 (N72031, N72032 & N72042 for Revell) Twin 12.7mm AA Brownings, 37mm M3 Gun & 37mm M4 Autocannon 1:72 CMK Navy Series by Special Hobby The American PT boat series were fast, agile and well-armed to deal with the Japanese enemy vessels in the Pacific theatre for the most part. Revell’s kits of these famous sea-borne warriors are quite old now, so upgrades to the level of detail to modern standards is a worthwhile proposition. We reviewed sets 1 Mk.4 20mm Oerlikon and 4 Mk.50 Rocket Launcher out of order, and now these three sets seem to complete the weapons upgrades… along with the other sets we’ve reviewed here and here that weren’t numbered. The smaller sets arrive in blue-themed blister packs with the resin cocooned inside, separated from the Photo-Etch (PE) by a clear acetate sheet, and protected at the rear by a sheet of dark grey foam, with the instructions flat against the card header. The larger set, #5 is supplied in a cardboard box that has the resin and PE separated in their own bags, plus a few foam peanuts and the folded instructions helping to keep the parts safe. Set 2 – Twin 12.7mm AA Brownings (N72031) This set contains two twin anti-aircraft mounts in protective frames, plus lengths of ammunition link for each of them on the PE sheet, four in total, one for each gun in both paired mounts. The guns are 3D printed, and the detail is exceptional, down to the perforations in the cooling jacket and the cocking handles. Care must be taken when removing the parts from their print-base and surround, but the orange resin that SH are using is both strong and flexible, which is good news all round, especially for ham-fisted modellers like me. Set 3 - 37mm Gun M3 (N72032) Containing the gun’s barrel with integral breech, plus the perforated breech guard on the PE sheet, this set is engineered to replace the kit part while utilising the rest of the kit parts for the trunnions and adjustment gear. Set 5 – 37mm M4 Autocannon (N72042) The largest set of the three contains five resin parts and one PE part to create the autocannon version of the 37mm cannon, including the large deck plate with cut-out, the tapering riser with pinion, plus the D-shaped magazine of 37mm shells that feeds the breech with rounds, fitting above the breech, augmented by adding a PE deflector grille vertically down the centre of the D, locating in a groove marked into the resin. The model is completed by fitting the two grips on a cross-beam at the rear of the breech. Conclusion The rear of the instruction sheet for the autocannon shows the full range of upgrades for the base kit, which is extensive and the kit will be immensely improved for their addition. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  8. Afrikakorps Soldier Riding Camel (F72388 & F48389) 1:72 & 1:48 CMK from Special Hobby During WWII in the African theatre of operations, both sides used the tools available to them to fight and transport themselves to the next battle, so naturally the camel featured at some point. The camel, known colloquially as the ‘ship of the desert’, is a large mammal that is as cantankerous as it is capable, having a huge fat storage hump on its back that allows it to travel for up to 40 days without a proper drink, its long legs and feet making it a capable of travelling vast distances without taking one step forward and two back in sand dunes. They’re still used everywhere there’s a desert, although 4x4 transport is taking over where the need arises. These two sets are 3D printed in both main aviation scales to go with your Afrikakorps or Luftwaffe desert diorama, whether it’s in the background or playing a primary role. Both sets are supplied in the usual clamshell box with card header, the colours and branding different by scale for reasons that aren’t immediately apparent. The instructions are simple, and are hidden between the resin part and the backing, consisting of a simple visual of the model with painting examples. The 1:72 camel still has many supports attached to the underside, as well as a separate back to the seat, which plugs into a slot behind the driver, who is wearing a pith helmet (hold the jokes, please). With only a little work to do in order to remove the attachment pips on the underside, it should be ready for paint pretty quickly, and the detail is superb, even down to the recreation of the harness controlling the animal’s movement, as well as it can be at least. F72388 1:72 F48389 1:48 Conclusion Detail is fabulous, with every aspect of the rider and camel carefully replicated, including the shaggy texture of the animal’s fur and its goofy face, however it looks a little too even-tempered based on the camels I’ve met before. Camels are never happy. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  9. Dear fellow Britmodellers, this is the 1/72 Orange Hobby SdKfz 7 (early) with figures from Milicast and stowage from Blackdog & CMK. Photos by Wolfgang Rabel. I painted the model with Mr.Hobby acrylics (H32) and weathered with artist oils and pastels. The limiting rods are resin add-ons from JK resin - the kit only provides flat etched pieces which I didn't like. The figurines were brush-painted with Vallejo acyrlics and good old Humbrol enamels. Thank you for your interest!
  10. Zetor 25 Military Tractor w/Towbar for MiG-15/17 (8063) 1:48 CMK by Special Hobby Following the end of WWII, many companies returned to create civilian products, and in Czechoslovakia (as was) the Zetor company was created in 1946 to manufacture tractors and farm machinery under the watchful eye of the government, with its first product being the Zetor 25 tractor that was designed before the brand-name was even registered. A year later they had produced almost 3,500 units, when it was joined by the 15, and later by improved versions of the 25 that were made until the early 1960s when it was replaced by the more modern 35. The 25 saw extensive service in the military as a ground-handling tractor, towing MiG-15s and MiG-17s around the airfield once the engines were shut down. Fitted with a custom towing bar, they were a common sight chugging around the perry tracks, in-and-out of hangars on Soviet era military bases until they were replaced by more modern, capable designs as technology improved and the aircraft became heavier. The Kit This is a reboxing of a 2022 tooling of the agricultural version of this common tractor in resin, with new parts to reflect its military service, plus the tow-bar to enable its use on an airfield. It arrives in a rectangular yellow cardboard box, and inside are fifty-eight grey resin parts, six orange 3D printed resin parts, two clear resin parts, two small frets of Photo-Etch (PE), a small decal sheet, and the instruction sheet, printed in colour on a folded sheet of A4. Detail is excellent, and once the parts have been removed from the casting blocks and cleaned-up, it should go together like an injection-moulded kit, but with the parts first washed in warm soapy water to remove any moulding residue, and super glue or epoxy resin used to build the model. Construction begins with the chassis, which is built up from a large number of parts, including the engine, transmission, axles and a bench seat for the driver, with a long steering column topped with a four-spoked wheel. Various PE and resin small parts are installed on the assembly from both sides, then the top cowling and grille are applied over the engine, adding a simple instrument panel in front of the driver, linking the exhaust to the engine with a resin downpipe, and a short length of wire from your own stock passing behind it, another piece of wire bent to create a grab-rail behind the seat, and another short length bent to an L-shape to form the peg that holds the towbar to the 3D printed hitch. A V-strut supports the front axle from behind, adding the small wheels to it, and the larger rear wheels under the driver’s position whilst adding the arches that prevent mud splatter between the chassis and the wheels. There are a pair of optional number plate holders and accompanying decals to give your model an identity. The towbar comprises a main part, adding the eye and compression gaiter to the front, then creating a stabilising wire from your own stock that is tipped at each end with PE eyes from the fret that attach to the main gear legs of your chosen MiG, and wrapping around a pulley printed integrally to the main towbar part, which adjusted position as the vehicle turned corners. The yoke at the rear of the bar attaches to each side of the aircraft’s nose wheel hub, and the towing eye of course connects to the hitch at the back of the tractor. Markings For the most part these beasts of burden were painted a khaki green, with little to differentiate them from each other except for their number plate and the state of their paint-job. This is reflected in the profiles, with just the two red and white decals for the Zetor 25 badges on the sides of the cowling, and the optional number plate decals. The decals appear to be printed using the same digital processes as Eduard are now using, and have good registration, sharpness, and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut loosely around the printed areas. I mention Eduard because from 2021, the carrier film on their decals can be coaxed away from the printed part of the decal after they have been applied, effectively rendering them carrier film free, making the completed decals much thinner and more realistic, and obviating the need to apply successive coats of clear varnish to hide the edges of the carrier film. It’s a great step further in realism from my point of view, and saves a good quantity of precious modelling time into the bargain. Even though this feature will only be visible on the cowling logos, it’s a focal area of the model, so still good to have. Conclusion I’ve been envious of the 1:72 modellers and their CMK Zetor tractors for a while, and now we 1:48 modellers can tow our early jet MiGs too. The kit has plenty of detail, and don’t let the fact it’s resin put you off. It’s not all that hard with a little patience and a razor saw. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  11. Czech Master's Kits (CMK) is to release in February 2020 a 1/48th MD-3 Ground Power Unit (GPU) kit - ref. 129-8058 Source: https://www.specialhobby.eu/en/our-own-production/cmk-kits/md-3-ground-power-unit.html V.P.
  12. Beaufighter Mk.I/VI Main Wheels Early (7481 for Airfix) 1:72 CMK by Special Hobby Kit wheels are generally in two halves, which means you have the resultant joins to deal with, possible mould-slip issues on single part wheels, and sometimes less than stellar detail due to the moulding limitations of styrene injection technology, especially in the tread department. That's where replacement resin wheels come in, with their lack of seamline and superior detail making a compelling argument. They are also usually available at a reasonable price, and can be an easy introduction to aftermarket and resin handling, as they are usually a drop-in replacement. This set is just that, containing two main wheels that are drop-in replacements once removed from their casting block, which is conveniently placed on the slightly flattened contact patch that just needs flattening off once removed. The tyres have the early block tread pattern, and the hubs are similarly early versions with five-spoked fronts and solid rears. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  13. PT Boat Weapon Set #1 Mk.4 20mm Oerlikon Cannon (N72030 for Revell) 1:72 CMK Navy Series by Special Hobby The American PT boat series were fast, agile and well-armed to deal with the Japanese enemy in the Pacific theatre for the most part. Revell’s kits of these famous sea-borne warriors are quite old now, so upgrades to the level of detail to modern standards is a worthwhile proposition. This set is number one of a series of sets that are now available for the basic kit, and it depicts the much-used Swiss developed Mk.4 Oerlikon 20mm cannon that saw extensive use both at sea and in the air during WWII, ironically based on a WWI German design. They were often seen mounted on the foredeck of PT boats, and in a circular ‘band-stand’ installation on the British MTBs amongst many other uses. The set arrives in a white cardboard box with a captive top flap and sticker showing the contents. Inside are three bags of resin parts, the traditional cast resin in grey, and the 3D printed parts in a light orange colour. Additionally, a small fret of Photo-Etch (PE) provides more parts, and all this is protected by the instruction sheet and an additional glossy sheet that advertises some of Special Hobby’s other maritime upgrade sets. Construction begins with creating the conical mount, which starts with a flat circular base onto which the riser fits, adding a 3D printed adjustment wheel and the trunnion on a circular base that holds the cannon in position. A 3D printed magazine and twin shoulder rests finish the cannon, adding the two-part PE ring and bead sight on a tapering mount between the magazine and rear of the breech. There is also an upgraded rectangular locker included in the box to replace the kit part with additional detail. The detail that resin and 3D printed parts bring to the installation will be a huge improvement over the original. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  14. 2,000lb Bomb AN-M66A2 w/Conical Fin Assembly M130 x 2 (4459) 1:48 CMK by Special Hobby The AN-M66A2 bomb was a US made 2,000lb air-dropped bomb that could be fitted with different fin assemblies for various applications, and although it was a WWII era design, it carried on in service long after. The M130 tail assembly was conical type, extending the length of the completed bomb and increasing stability during flight. As usual they were fitted with two lugs at 30” centres, plus another on the underside that was positioned at the centre of mass. This set includes two such bombs as a combination of traditional resin casting and 3D printed parts. The main bodies where the explosive component resides as cast in grey resin, while the tail assemblies are 3D printed in light orange, attached to their printing base by several thin tendril-like support fingers that are easy to cut off and sand smooth. The bombs are attached to their casting blocks at the rear, so the cutting point will be hidden within the tail, so you don’t need to be too fussy with your razor saw. A tiny Photo-Etch (PE) fuse spinner is supplied with a spare on one tiny fret of PE, and these should be glued to the raised turret on the nose, and once the glue is dry, the blades should be tilted with your tweezers to give it the correct shape. Once basic painting is done in olive green, the stencils on the small decal sheet, and the yellow bands for the nose cone are applied, and as these decals have the same removable carrier film as Eduard’s, you should be able to peel it away once it is dry. How much weathering and scratching of the paint you do is then up to you. Conclusion No more than a few minutes’ work to put them together, and very nicely detailed ordnance to hang from your latest model. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  15. Tempest Mk.II Centaurus Engine (P48005 for Special Hobby/Eduard)) 1:48 CMK by Special Hobby Special Hobby and Eduard have collaborated on a new Tempest II kit in 1:48, and it’s a lovely kit with the large cylindrical cowling hiding the brutally powerful Centaurus engine with two banks of nine cylinders that could produce over 3,000hp in its final variants. It is barely seen inside the fuselage when prepared to fly, but with the cowling open it’s a different story. This set is designed to allow the modeller to open the cowling and show off the beast in all its glory, using a combination of 3D printed and traditional resin parts to adapt the kit to suit. It arrives in a rectangular yellow-themed box, and inside are two Ziploc bags of resin parts and the folded instructions that act as padding to protect them from damage. In total there are sixteen parts, the most impressive of which is the 3D printed engine that is printed as a single part with tolerances so fine that you can see deep into the cylinder banks if your eyesight is good enough. The six 3D printed cowling clasps are almost as impressive due to their small size, and these are double-bagged to further protect them. Construction begins with removing the cowling panels from the front of the kit fuselage halves, leaving just the top and bottom hinge-points projecting over where the engine will be fitted. The inside face of these will need to be thinned down from inside, test-fitting as you go, then shaving away some of the width of these areas until the motor slides into position without snagging, using the slots in the back plate as a guide. Before gluing the engine into place, the cylindrical bell housing is glued into the recess in the front, aligning it with the tab and slot around the edge. The kit intake lip is then adapted by inserting the two C-shaped resin lips to the back, leaving spaces of 5.8mm between the parts so it can be attached to the fuselage. After gluing it in place, the four cowling panels are attached hinging from the top and bottom, adding the small open closures into the grooves in the bottom two panels. The top cowlings are propped up by a pair of curved stays that help you achieve the correct angle when opened. There will be a lot of painting going on throughout the building of this set, and you will need to check your references for the correct shades, as there are no colour call-outs in the instructions. Conclusion 3D printing just keeps getting better all the time, and the detail of the engine is phenomenal, with praise due to the designer for what must have been complicated and intricate work. If you only have one Tempest II, perhaps you need another specially for this set. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  16. 15cm Nebelwerfer 41/3.7cm PaK36 Wheels (B72107 for Special Hobby) 1:72 CMK Blitz Line by Special Hobby Kit wheels are generally in two halves, which means you have the resultant joins to deal with, possible mould-slip issues on single part wheels, and sometimes less than stellar detail due to the moulding limitations of styrene injection technology, especially in the tread department. That's where replacement resin wheels come in, with their lack of seamline and superior detail making a compelling argument. They are also usually available at a reasonable price, and can be an easy introduction to aftermarket and resin handling, as they are usually a drop-in replacement. This set is intended to replace the kit wheels of the Special Hobby Nebelwerfer (SA72026), which shared wheels with the PaK 36 3.7cm anti-tank gun (SA72024), so could be used for either. For both of these kits, the wheels are in two halves, having a single layer hub on the outer part, and double thickness for the tyres. These resin wheels are drop-in replacements for the kit parts, and once cut from their casting blocks slide onto the ends of the axles on each side of the weapon. They bring additional fine detail to the hubs, but the main improvement is to the tyres, which have much finer shoulders blocks on the edge of the contact patch, Dunlop logos on the side walls, and circumferential grooves in the centre of the contact surface, adding substantial realism as a result. With resin, you should take the precaution of wearing a mask when cutting or sanding it, as the tiny particles are harmful to your health if breathed in. Washing the parts in warm water will also improve the adhesion of paint, as there may still be some moulding release agent on the parts when you receive them. Take care not to use water that is too hot, as this may cause deformation to more delicate parts, and this technique can conversely be used to fix warped parts, using cold water to “freeze” the changes in the parts. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  17. Hi mates, I've wanted a nice model of the TSR.2 in my collection for quite some time. I picked up one of the 1:72 scale Airfix kits (the one with the Stratos 4 Japanese sci-fi theme) and started collecting some aftermarket pieces. The kit, as moulded, is quite nice - but there were some areas that I felt could use some additional detail. Most of the aftermarket was from CMK, but I also used some photoetch from Eduard and a turned brass pitot from Master. As I found out, several of the CMK resin pieces could have used some aftermarket of their own, as I encountered some size and shape issues. I suspect this was due to shrinkage of the resin. Let me apologize in advance for the lousy photos. I had a devil of a time trying to get good shots of this model, and I think it was due to the overall white scheme. I tried direct and diffuse lighting, a couple of thousand different white balance/exposure compensation combinations...the list goes on. The photos here are the best ones I could get, but I'm not happy with them. Not only is overall white no fun to paint, it's no fun to photograph. No more overall white for me! I admit defeat. As usual, here is my executive summary: Project: Royal Air Force BAC TSR.2 Kits: Airfix TSR.2MS (kit number A08011) Scale: 1:72 (although the lady jockeys from the Japanese cartoon look smaller than this) Decals: From the kit, representing XR220, the ill-fated airframe that not only fell off its lorry, but was ready for its first flight on the day the programme was cancelled Resin: CMK sets 7131 Interior, 7132 Exterior, 7133 Control Surfaces, 7134 Undercarriage, and 7135 Armament (only used the bomb bay door actuators from this set); Odds & Ordnance revised fin with leading edge intake (thanks to a generous donation by a fellow Britmodeller) Photoetch: Some pieces from Eduard 73257 Vacuform: Canopy and windscreen that came with the CMK set - first time I cut out all the pieces without cocking it up! Metal: Master AM-72-102 Pitot Tube Paint: Testors 2143 RLM21 Semi-gloss White, 1180 Flat Steel; Gunze H335 Medium Sea Grey, H338 FS36495, H18, H11 Flat White, H12 Flat Black, H14 Orange, H21 Off-White, H77 Tyre Black, H89 Metallic Green, H91 Clear Yellow, H92 Clear Orange; Alclad ALC302 Grey Primer, 111 Magnesium, 112; Floquil F110015 Flat Finish Weathering: Not much, as the real aeroplane never flew and is setting in a museum. I applied a light grey wash (made from Gunze H338) to the panel lines, and toned that down with a mist of Testors 2143 RLM21 White Improvements/Corrections Accomplished with the help of the resin and photoetch sets: Lowered the main wing flaps Posed the taileron flaps Posed all four airbrakes open Posed the port avionics bay open Replaced intakes and posed auxiliary doors open Replaced the vertical fin to include leading edge intake Replaced all tyres and wheels for more detail Modified the kit's main gear struts to fix the splay angle issue Did a really bad job trying to replicate the main gear brake lines Replaced all gear/bomb bays and wheel wells for MUCH more detail Replaced kit windscreen and canopy with vacuform parts Gold coating on canopy windows made from a mix of Gunze Clear Yellow and Clear Orange Replaced cockpit and ejection seats with CMK sets Build thread: Linky So here are the lousy pictures: Some in-progress shots before the fin and canopies got in the way: I have to include this, as the metallic green tubes on the back of the seats can no longer be seen, and I thought they looked pretty cool. So here they are: Well, there she is. Unfortunately, I don't think she will fit in my display case unless I send some other models to long-term storage. Wait, I could get a bigger display case! Cheers, Bill
  18. Yak-9K/T Wheels (Q32407 for ICM) 1:32 CMK Quick & Easy Line by Special Hobby Kit wheels are generally moulded in two halves, which means you have the resultant joins to deal with, possible mould-slip issues on single part wheels, and sometimes less than stellar detail due to the moulding limitations of styrene injection technology, especially in the tread department. That's where replacement resin wheels come in, with their lack of seamline and superior detail making a compelling argument. They are also usually available at a reasonable price, and can be an easy introduction to aftermarket and resin handling, as they are usually a drop-in replacement. As usual with CMK's resin sets, they arrive in the familiar clear vacformed box, with the resin parts safely inside, and the instructions sandwiched between the header card at the rear. Each wheel is attached its own casting block at the contact patch, which has a small flat-spot and bulge that indicates the weight of the airframe on the tyres. The two hubs for each tyre are moulded flat against their casting block, and detail is excellent. The main wheel tyres have radial tread on the contact surface, while the tail-wheel has a circumferential tread with radial lines on the sidewalls. Once they’re cut from the blocks, installation is as simple as sliding them onto the axles of the main wheels, and flexing the kit's tail-wheel yoke to admit the replacement resin part. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  19. Bücker Bü.181/Zlín Z-181 Main Wheels (Q48404) 1:48 CMK Quick & Easy by Special Hobby Kit wheels are generally in two halves, which means you have the resultant joins to deal with, possible mould-slip issues on single part wheels, and sometimes less than stellar detail due to the moulding limitations of styrene injection technology, especially in the tread department. That's where replacement resin wheels come in, with their lack of seamline and superior detail making a compelling argument. They are also usually available at a reasonable price, and can be an easy introduction to aftermarket and resin handling, as they are usually a drop-in replacement. As usual with CMK's resin sets, they arrive in the familiar clear vacformed box, with the resin parts safely inside, and the instructions sandwiched between the header card at the rear. There are two pour blocks with eight resin parts, some of which are optional, and they are of course a drop-in replacement for the kit parts once they have been liberated from the casting stub. Sensibly, the main wheels are attached by the contact patch, so should be easy to clean up without ruining any of the radial tread. The six hubs include a rear hub and a choice of standard dished or four-spoke hubs at the front, all of which are attached to the casting blocks at the back. A little work with a motor tool or razor saw should see those removed in moments, then all you need choose is whether to have spoked wheels or dished. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  20. Mirage IIIC Martin-Baker MK.4 Ejection Seat (Q72403 for Special Hobby) 1:72 CMK by Special Hobby We reviewed the kit for which this set is intended late last year, and you can find that here. We’ve also reviewed some of the resin sets that CMK have already released, and now we have a replacement seat for the kit from their Quick & Easy range. As usual with CMK's resin sets, they arrive in the familiar clear vacformed box, with the resin parts safely inside, and the instructions sandwiched between the header card at the rear. The Photo-Etch (PE) is separated from the resin parts by a clear piece of acetate to prevent scratching and damage during transit. Inside the box is a single resin seat that is attached to its casting block at the bottom to avoid damaging the detail, plus a small sheet of Photo-Etch (PE). The seat is easily cut from the block, and has the detailed PE harness, leg restraints and the pull-handles on the headbox glued into place with super glue to complete the task, with detail painting being carried out according to the kit instructions. The seat should then slot neatly into the kit cockpit, but test fitting is always advisable in these situations, and a highly detailed seat is always a great investment to bring the cockpit detail up to snuff in a single-seat fighter. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  21. Ki-84 Hayate Armament (7505 for Arma Hobby) 1:72 CMK by Special Hobby We reviewed the excellent new 1:72 kit of the Hayate recently here, and here’s a new resin set from CMK to depict the wing-mounted armament that is absent from the kit. As usual with CMK's resin sets, they arrive in the familiar clear vacformed box, with the resin parts safely inside, and the instructions sandwiched between the header card at the rear. Inside the package are five casting blocks containing 20 resin parts of varying sizes, many on the small side. Before installing the set you must of course remove the corresponding panels in the upper wing, which are replaced by thin resin panels in the set, so you don’t have to be too careful with the removal. You are advised to test-fit the bays in a complete wing and grind away some of the thickness of the lower wing so that the bays will fit neatly. The larger troughs are the gun bays, which have a machine gun breech and cross-brace inserted before they are glued under the opening. The bay doors for this are supplied as three separate sections that fold forwards into the vertical position, as demonstrated by a scrap diagram. The ammo feeds are perpendicular to the bays, and have a length of ammo inserted in the shallow bays before they too are glued to the underside of their opening. Their doors are a single part that is laid flat on the wing as if left there by an armourer. Highly Recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  22. Beaufort Mk.I Bomb Bay (7509 for Airfix) 1:72 CMK by Special Hobby Airfix’s new small-scale Beaufort kit has been around for over a year now, and here comes a new bomb bay set from CMK by Special Hobby to increase the detail in there, and add a set of bombs to populate it too. As usual with CMK's resin sets, they arrive in the familiar clear vacformed box, with the resin parts safely inside, and the instructions sandwiched between the header card at the rear. Inside the package are twenty-three resin parts on nine casting blocks, some of which are very fine, so care must be taken when removing them from their blocks. Before you can start work, you need to sand back the details from inside the kit fuselage sides and roof, plus remove the central section of the bomb bay door part, C17. With that out of the way, the bay can be skinned with new roof and side surfaces, adding a pair of C-shaped bulkheads with inserts, plus fine resin actuators front and rear. The roof is prepared by installing two bomb carriers with shackles front and rear, which accommodate one of the resin bombs each. The bombs have separate noses and cylindrical fin surrounds added beforehand, and are inserted between the V-shaped parts of the anti-sway shackles. The bi-folded bay doors are then glued to the sides of the bay to complete the job, with plenty of painting in between. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  23. Beaufort Mk.I Mainwheels & Tail-Wheel w/leg (4456) 1:48 CMK by Special Hobby Kit wheels are generally in two halves, which means you have the resultant joins to deal with, possible mould-slip issues on single part wheels, and sometimes less than stellar detail due to the moulding limitations of styrene injection technology, especially in the tread department. That's where replacement resin wheels come in, with their lack of seamline and superior detail making a compelling argument. They are also usually available at a reasonable price, and can be an easy introduction to aftermarket and resin handling, as they are usually a drop-in replacement. As usual with CMK's resin sets, they arrive in the familiar clear vacformed box, with the resin parts safely inside, and the instructions sandwiched between the header card at the rear. Inside are two main wheels with separate hubs for each side, and a tail-wheel with separate strut in a harder black resin. Our strut had taken a hit before it was packaged, and had a tiny piece missing, so check yours when you get it, just in case. Each main wheel is cast on its own block, and is joined to it at the bottom where the tyre is slightly weighted, so clean-up won’t be too onerous or risk damaging any detail. The hubs are cast in pairs, and are cut off at the rear at the base of a tapered “socket” so that fit is good once you remove any roughness. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  24. Yak-9D Wheels (Q48405 for Zvezda) 1:48 CMK Quick & Easy Line by Special Hobby Kit wheels are generally moulded in two halves, which means you have the resultant joins to deal with, possible mould-slip issues on single part wheels, and sometimes less than stellar detail due to the moulding limitations of styrene injection technology, especially in the tread department. That's where replacement resin wheels come in, with their lack of seamline and superior detail making a compelling argument. They are also usually available at a reasonable price, and can be an easy introduction to aftermarket and resin handling, as they are usually a drop-in replacement. To be clear, the photo above shows both sides of the set. You get two main wheels and one tail-wheel. As usual with CMK's Quick & Easy resin sets, they arrive in the familiar clear bag, with the resin parts safely inside, and the instructions sandwiched between the header card at the rear. Inside are three resin wheels on a single casting block. Each one is attached to the casting block at the contact patch, which has a small flat-spot and bulge that indicates the weight of the airframe on the tyres. Detail is excellent on the hubs, and the main wheel tyres have radial tread on the contact surface, while the tail-wheel has a circumferential tread with radial lines on the sidewalls. Once they’re cut from the blocks, installation is as simple as sliding them onto the axles of the main wheels, and flexing the kit's tail-wheel yoke to admit the replacement resin part. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  25. Yak-9K/T Exhaust Stacks (Q32406 for ICM) 1:32 CMK Quick & Easy by Special Hobby We reviewed the new Yak-9T from ICM recently here, and now CMK have a new set of Exhausts that improve on the kit parts whilst requiring little in the way of additional work. The Quick & Easy line are a series of upgrades to your kits that live up to their name, and usually arrive in a flat bag with a green-themed cardboard header and the simple instructions between them. Inside the bag are two sets of beautifully cast exhausts on individual casting blocks, and each exhaust has a hollow D-profile tip. There are two sets of paired exhausts in the centre and two more singles at each end of the profiled carrier, which has shaped inserts between the stacks. Once removed from the casting base they are a drop-in replacement for the kit parts, with the only difference (apart from the detail) being that you need to use super glue (CA) to locate them in their slots. Give them a quick wash in warm soapy water to remove any residual mould release, and don’t worry unduly about cleaning up the back of the parts, as they won’t be seen. A great update to the kit parts that are simple to use, and won’t exhaust you or your modelling budget (I'm sorry - they made me say it. Help me, they won't let me go!). Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
×
×
  • Create New...