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Mk-45 Mod.2 5” 54 Calibre Gun (63552) 1:35 I Love Kit via Creative Models Ltd The Mk.45 is a 5” US naval gun turret that replaced the earlier Mk.42 in an effort to reduce weight and ease maintenance of the installation over its predecessor. It mounts an L54 Mark 19 gun in the new turret, and has been the subject of modifications over the years, initially by United Defence, but latterly by BAe Systems after they subsumed the former. It can fire a variety of munitions, and although it has a slower fire-rate than its British equivalent, the extra 0.5” allows a heavier load that results in greater impact damage. It was initially mechanically fired, replacing that with electrical ignition with the Mod.1, the following Mod.2 was an intended to be an export version that was later used by the US Navy. Mod.3 wasn’t put into service, but the current variant is the Mod.4, which has a longer 62 calibre barrel that gives greater muzzle velocity and kinetic impulse. The gun’s crew consists of six operators, a captain, gunner and four loaders that keep the breech fed with fresh shells during sustained fire operations, but a 20-round autoloader can also be installed for crewless operations. As part of the lower maintenance options, the rifled barrel liner can be replaced separately from the gun tube, reducing downtime during the change-over. It is usually paired with the more modern and efficient Mk 34 Gun Weapon System or the legacy Mk 86 Gun Fire Control System that was developed during the magnetic media era of computing. The Kit This is a reboxing of the initial 62 calibre Mod.4 that was released in 2024, and arrives in a modestly-sized top-opening box with a painting of the turret on the deck of a ship of undetermined type, sailing in close convoy with another vessel. Inside the box is a single sprue, turret shell and base in sand-coloured styrene, a Photo-Etch (PE) brass fret with just two parts, decal sheet, the instruction booklet in black & white, plus a single-sided colour painting diagram with five profiles and a small paint chart with Mr Hobby, Acrysion, Vallejo, Model Master, Tamiya and Humbrol paint codes, plus a swatch of each colour with its name over-printed for completeness. There are just fifteen parts in the kit, with good detail throughout, depicting the exterior of the turret. Construction begins with the barrel mount, which consists of a two-part D-shaped mount between a pair of trunnions that aren’t glued, adding two C-shaped PE parts with bolts etched-in top and bottom, and a small two-part spent shell ejection port assembly above the socket for the barrel. The barrel is a single part that has a slide-moulded muzzle inserted at one end, and a shroud at the other, plugging into the base via a collar, both of which are keyed to ensure correct alignment. The turret shell is inverted to install the gun mount, covering the rear with a separate part, then adding the base with turret ring moulded-in. It is then righted to install an appliqué panel under the front, and the barrel assembly is slipped into the socket in the mount, adding a heavily bolted lower turret ring to the bayonet fitting and twisting it to lock it in place, before gluing the ring to the base if you intend to use it. If you have another installation method in mind, such as a replication of a small part of decking and possibly some 1:35 sailors with too little concern for their safety or hearing, the base can be left unused. Markings There is just one scheme depicted on the painting guide, matching the grey of a battleship and doing a little detail painting of the barrel shroud and mount, applying a single decal behind the hatch on each side. The decals are suitable for use, and consist of a white E with diagonal underline, and a black drop-shadow that will help it stand out against the grey. Paint call-outs are provided in Gunze Aqueous and enamels, using their H and C codes, as can be seen above. Conclusion There has been a spate of naval weapon kits in recent years, some of which I have myself, and this new kit adds to the breadth of range available. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Recently, I've come across some photos of the Mark VII Wellington while doing some research for an upcoming build, and I have to ask... WHY? What was the train of thought behind putting a 40mm on the top of a Wellington? I have read before that some were fitted with the same gun in the nose in an abortive attempt to create an anti-shipping aircraft, just the same as some Australian Beaufighters, and that seems reasonable. Was the turret supposed to be used defensively? What were the performance penalties outside of reduced airflow over the vertical tail? Any info and additional photos or plans would be most welcome. I plan to buy the Airfix Mark II as soon as it's available, and I think now that I will have to buy 2... We'll see. Thanks, Tweener

Hi All, Here's my attempt at Airfix' Defiant MkI, built as PS@V of 264 Sqn RAF Martlesham Heath, June 1940. Here is a nice clear photo of the aircraft (image copyright Imperial War Museum): Built OOB except for the addition of Eduard seatbelts and Masks. Finished in a mix of AK Interactives acrylics (Sky, Dark Earth) and Tamiya (Dark Green). If you're interested the build thread is here: Anyway, on with the photos - hope you like it. All comments & critique gratefully received. Thanks for looking, Roger

Hi All, Quick question, does any one have any experience with parts from Big Blue Boy? I've a 1/350 Hood in the 'stash' and keep an eye out for buys for her while I work on other stuff. I've seen a resin turret set to correct the awful trumpeter ones from a company called Big Blue Boy, it includes turned barrels and blast bags. I've had a look on the Hood website and a search on here but can't find any real reviews as to if they're worth the money. The only other thought was Fkyhawks turret set but I'd then need to find turned barrels to fit blast bags, Any input gratefully received Thanks Sam

Welcome to my latest build. As I have been in the mood for building military kits lately, after building the Leopard tank and transporter, I thought it only fair to build something British. I settled for the Challenger as I have always liked watching it in action (on TV) and it seemd to be ahead of its time and stylish and will stand alongside the Leopard nicely. As before I am also using some photoetch but my patience with all of the tiny fiddly bits are testing me (I'm also fed up with super gluing my fingers together and to my head and tea cup). The actual kit is quite detailed really, so PE may not have really been needed. The main parts I wanted were for the rear engine vent grill but I have found some of the extra PE detailing useful in some areas (lights, barrel, etc) so it may have been worth it after all. I hope you enjoy following this build and appreciate all comments, tips, etc. Here goes: The Box Suspension and wheels assembled. Looks like an upside down woodlice......... First coat of the camo to the base, as well as the rear fuel barrels, etc. PE grilles fitted and the front lights sections. Front light PE parts fitted.

Hello, this is my long-winded Panther with Pz IV turret (for those that don't know German!) This particular tank is from the s.Pz.Abt.653 in Russia, 1944. Kit built OOB, except for some wire replacing an attachment for the turret spaced armour, as the original part was lost to the carpet monster... And I'll have to resist turning the turret, as the turret was welded on, and used as a command vehicle on the real thing The kit is what you'd usually expect from Dragon, nice detail and small parts. It was Airbrushed with Tamiya XF-59 Desert yellow then I brush painted the camo. It's a bit messy, so I'll use the excuse that it was painted on by the crew (Even though it probably wasn't ) For any more info, just ask Bit cloudy today, so photos aren't great. http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu7/SJLR_1/P1390559_zpsn3ipxgef.jpg Ooh, what do we have here?? Turns out the Kit also supplies parts for a 'normal' panther, so why not make it?! I will be using this tank for my 'Somewhere in France' Diorama too

A long term modelling project is Revell's B-25J in 1:48. It's been stop/start owing to life plus the lack of an airbrush. My plan/hope is to model it to represent a TB-25J S/N 44-30914 assigned to the Test Pilot's School at Edwards AFB in the early 1950s: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TB-25J_over_Edwards_AFB_1954.jpg. So, my question is would she have had the top turret removed or not? My copy of "B-25 in Action" has many photographs of post war TB-25s that were streamlined, but was this a universal modification? In the case of '914, if she was assigned to the TPS, having a top turret would be ideal. Or does it really matter? Thoughts, ideals, irrefutable evidence are welcome.

Gentlemen, I have a couple of both the Airfix Blenheim Mk. I and Mk. IVF kits underway ATM. One aspect of the Blenheim kit I am unsure of is the dorsal gun turret options offered in the kit. I understand the single and double gun turret options and when the double gun option was introduced into service. What is unclear is whether the two clear parts - G3 & G6 (Mk. I sprues) and G3 & G4 (Mk. IVF sprues) simply reflect the stowed/deployed turret option, or is there a 'different' turret option for the Mk. I for example ? Many side profiles included either in books on the Blenheim or in aftermarket decals I have almost always illustrate the short squat turret. I suspect this is purely reflecting the 'artistic licence' adopted by the illustrators ? Many thanks,

I want to build a stinger tail turret for my B-17. Does anyone have any good side by side type drawings/photos of the stinger and cheyenne please?