THE MOST UNDERRATED BRITISH AIRCRAFT OF WORLD WAR II?

HERE'S A VERY INTERESTING CHAT VIDEO in which Greg's Airplanes and Automobiles talks about a childhood meeting at the Revell company's factory. Lucky kid!

BATTLEGROUND 1945A: ALLIED ARMOUR vs NAZI SUPER-SCIENCE

It's 1945, and the Allies are on the verge of winning World War II, when suddenly the Nazis unleash an arsenal of super weapons straight out of science-fiction, turning the tide of combat in their favour.

TAMIYA 1:72 SCALE ZERO FIGHTER

SMN REPORT:

Here’s another Tamiya kit about to hit the model stores, a beautifully produced 1:72 scale Mitsubishi Zero Type 21 fighter. The kit joins Tamiya’s new War Bird Collection, and it’s really to be welcomed as 1:72 has been looking something of a Cinderella scale in recent years.

TWO ‘TOKYO 1946’ EXOTIC COMBAT AIRCRAFT FROM MENG MODEL

REPORT: DAVID JEFFERIS

“This is not a toy” declares a stern caption on the box of an interesting kit from China-based Meng Model. Actually, it’s not a real aircraft either, but an 1:72 scale kit of an uncompleted World War II design, the Mansyn Ki-98 pusher-prop ground attack machine - but that makes it all the more interesting!

DINKY LITTLE 1:35 SCALE TAMIYA SIMCA 5 IN GERMAN STAFF CAR SERVICE

REPORT:DAVID JEFFERIS

Available shortly from Tamiya is this very neat 1:35 scale Simca 5 military staff car. The tiny Simca 5 was a French-built version of the better-known Fiat 500 Topolino, and many of them were pressed into military service during the World War II occupation of France.

SHIZUOKA 2012 - DOYUSHA 1:100 SCALE ZERO FIGHTER

SMN REPORT:

Here is the eighth model in the 1:100 scale Tsubasa Collection EX range from Doyusha of Japan. The finely-built Mitsubish Zero fighter represents that of Tetsuzo Iwamoto, a top-scoring Japanese ace of World War II.

BIG-SCALE FINE MOLDS JEEP

SMN REPORT:

Here’s a tasty variation in big 1:20 scale kits for military modellers - it’s a Fine Molds model of a quarter-ton US Army Jeep, the original 4x4 that was jack-of-all-trades for Allied forces in World War II.

SECRET AGENT OPERATION - LYSANDER SPY PLANE ARRIVES IN FRANCE

Mat Irvine discusses:

Back in June, I gave details of the Airfix resin-moulded range of ruined buildings, aimed mainly at military diorama builders. The example I highlighted was the ruined workshop, and I hinted that the figures in the scene - French resistance fighters, with a Citroen Traction Avant - were waiting for a spy drop from a Lysander delivery plane. 

Box back includes Humbrol paint details plus aircraft details in four languages.

TAMIYA 1:48 SCALE KOMATSU G40 BULLDOZER

Komatsu is second only to the US Caterpillar company in the construction machinery stakes, and actually makes the biggest ’dozer in the world, the Model D575A. But the first Komatsu bulldozer was much smaller than the D575A, and it’s this early G40 that is the latest 1:48 military vehicle released by Tamiya.

Komatsu developed the G40 to speed up construction of Japanese airfields - until it became available, most runways were produced purely with manual labour - and some 150 G40s were produced from 1943 until the end of World War II. The Tamiya model is a dinky little thing, just 75 mm (2.9 in) long, but the detail is very neat for all that, with components such as hydraulic lines, front grille, suspension system and, of course the ’dozer blade, all well reproduced.

The tracks are one-piece plastic parts though, and so are non-moving items. However, Tamiya has included a decent driver figure, who holds the controls realistically. An unusual feature at the front is the grille badge, which is included as a metallized-decal, and very handsome it is, too.

As you can see from the picture above, the G40 is suitable for use with typical Japanese military aircraft of the time, here a Mitsubishi Zero fighter. Add a section of runway, some figures, plus a stand of palm trees, and you have the makings of a very attractive diorama setting.

An interesting point is that the name engraved on the front grille is 'Komatu', without the 's'. That's how the real thing is, so Tamiya has it modelled correctly, but SMN can't find out the story behind the spelling - does anyone out there know the answer?

Visit Komatsu’s heavy engineering site here.

The G40 bulldozer is due out soon; meantime you can obtain the 1:48 Tamiya Zero as a kit with crew figures included, which would work particularly well in a diorama setting, here: 1/48 A6M5/5a Zero Fighter, Zeke 

You might also like to look at a set for extra detail here: Mitsubishi A6m Zero Fighter Photo-etched Detail Set 1-48 Tamiya

DIECAST FOLDING-WING SWORDFISH BIPLANE FROM CORGI

SMN reports
Here is the latest Fairey Swordfish from Corgi. The rocket-armed 1:72 model represents the Royal Navy Historic Flight machine that still flies at air shows, some 55 years after the end of World War II.

The Swordfish is a significant aircraft, and in World War II accounted for the sinking of more than 300,000 tonnes of enemy shipping, more than any other single Allied type, so the model is a useful addition to any diecast combat aircraft collection of that era.

Corgi’s model shows the advances made in the world of diecasts in recent years, with excellent camouflage and markings, plus a full crew of three and weapon load. The pre-fitted rigging wires add to the realism, as do the underwing rocket launchers. The only downside is that much of the fuselage panel detailing is still somewhat clunkier than an equivalent plastic kit - but that is simply the nature of the two materials, and if you want ultra-fine detail, plastic is the way to go.

Pictures courtesy Corgi.

Visit the Royal Navy Historic Flight here.

Visit Corgi here.

Or purchase kit versions such as the Tamiya 1/48 Fairey Swordfish Mk.I (Clear Edition)

SHADES OF RENWAL’S VISIBLE MAN - CLEAR PARTS LET YOU LOOK INTO THE SOUL OF YOUR MODEL

Decades ago, the US Renwal company came up with the bright idea of making a transparent model that revealed the insides of its subject, a 3D version of the traditional cutaway book illustration. The Renwal Visible Man was a big success, and was soon joined by the Visible Woman (though without private parts to allow her to give birth), the Visible Engine, and others that included even a Visible Dog.

Apart from these early stalwarts, transparency has been largely ignored by manufacturers over the years, but the magic of ‘seeing inside’ is still there, and the latest convert to the idea is Trumpeter. Its big 1:32 scale Fairey Swordfish is absolutely a gem in this department, with a transparent port fuselage section that allows you to gaze inside the ‘stringbag’s portly form. You can mask off parts for painting, to reveal more or less of the interior, as you wish.

The recently introduced MkII Swordfish joins the already available MkI, and is packed with detail, has a wingspan of some 433 mm (17 in) and has a box stuffed with no less than 373 components. Wire bracing on biplanes has become a near-standard fixture on ready-built models such as those of Corgi, but here on Trumpeter’s Swordfish, you get to do it yourself with a supplied wire bracing set. Never the easiest of jobs, at least the big 1:32 scale helps, though this reviewer will pass on the job to a more nimble-fingered craftsman.

All in all, a fine addition to the ranks of see-inside models, and an excellent kit of a World War II classic aircraft.

Visit Trumpeter here.

You can buy the Trumpeter 1:32 scale Swordfish MkI here.

'DESERT QUEEN’ MATILDA TANK FROM TAMIYA

AFV model builders will be pleased with the effort that Tamiya has put in to this 1:35 scale British Matilda tank. In its World War II fighting days, the Matilda became known as the ‘Queen of the Desert’ for action in North Africa, though it was in service throughout the war. In all, 2987 Matildas were built, but the tank did have some weaknesses, including a complex suspension system that demanded heavy maintenance, as did the two diesel engines.

Tamiya’s model captures the look of the 25-tonne machine well, and is beautifully detailed, scaling out to a length of 174 mm (6.8 in). There are three nicely sculpted crewmen, a commander, loader and driver; the first two are figures, the driver is just a head and torso, poor chap. A useful little extra in the box is a pair of photo-leaflets featuring more than two dozen close-up shots of the real thing - a nice touch for us super-detail freaks.

The surface finish of the tank deserves a mention - the dimpled armour-plate has been captured very well indeed, and you can feel the texture when you run your fingertips across it. Well done, Tamiya.

The Tamiya 1:35 scale Matilda tank is available now from stores and online suppliers, including Amazon here.

Pictures courtesy Tamiya.

1:48 MITSUBISHI ZERO FINISHED MODEL FROM TAMIYA

SMN gave a glowing review of the Tamiya Fieseler Storch in July, and here’s another finished 1:48 scale model from the same company. And this one lives up to the mini-tradition started by the Storch, in being a small-but-perfectly-formed treat for those of us who are too busy to do much ‘real’ model making.

Tamiya’s Zero has markings showing that it was flown by Japan’s top ace Tetsuzo Iwamoto, who flew with the Japanese forces from 1934-1945, years that included combat over China in 1938, and at the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942. His personal diaries recorded more than 200 air-to-air kills.

The Mitsubishi Zero was introduced in 1940, at which time it was streets ahead of any other carrier-based fighter. But within two years, improved tactics and new aircraft gave Allied pilots the winning hand in air combat. Aircraft such as the F-4U Corsair and P-38 Lightning outclassed the Zero in almost every way.

Looking at the model, it’s obvious that Tamiya has really done its homework with this Zero. Neither arrester hook nor direction-finder are fitted, both items being removed when the aircraft was stationed at Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, the main Japanese base used for Pacific theatre air and sea forces. Other features of the Tamiya Zero include a nicely sculpted pilot figure in the cockpit, an underbelly tank, and the neatest pair of wheel chocks we’ve come across.

Visit Tamiya here.

FLAKPANZER FROM DRAGON

More goodness from Dragon in the shape of a 1:35 scale Flakpanzer IV, one of the deadliest mobile anti-aircraft weapons in the German World War II arsenal. The kit is not cheap - Dragon’s suggested price is £41.99 GBP ($49.95 USD) - which itself is a rod to bear for the poor old Brits and Europeans. At current exchange rates, they pay hugely more than the sums lucky US buyers are asked to pony up.

Ho hum, moan over: what’s the kit like? For the AFV fan, it’s a winner whatever the price. Much attention has been given to fine detail, with particular thought paid to the turret, both inside and out, with neatly applied simulated welding patterns a neat feature. The four-barrel cannon is a work of art all by itself, and many parts are optioned for plastic or photo-etched metal.

Down at ground level, the tracks are fully detailed on both sides, as are the drive wheels and sprockets. Photo-etch parts can be seen in the lower pictures, where they show up against the unpainted model.

Good work Dragon - pity about the exchange rates though.

FOCKE WULF TA152 FROM DRAGON

Here’s a clean 1:48 scale kit from Dragon, featuring the Focke Wulf Ta 152, one of Germany’s best World War II interceptor fighters. It was given the ‘Ta’ prefix to recognize the designer-pilot Kurt Tank, who was also responsible for the earlier Fw 190, of which more than 20,000 were made. The Ta 152 was a late-war design that built on the earlier design, but was designed to combat Allied bomber streams more effectively.

Dragon’s model is well produced, with much newly-tooled detail, including the very nice touch of options for the engine cowling, which can now be shown with the cooling flaps open or shut. A fret of photo-etched parts is also included, and the canopy can be displayed open or closed.

You can visit Dragon here.

1:48 FIESELER STORCH FINISHED MODEL FROM TAMIYA

Busy lives mean that many of us (including this reviewer) don’t have as much time for model-making as we’d like. It’s a market that diecast makers like Corgi have been pleased to provide for, and with new manufacturing processes, it’s fair to say that ready-builts often vie with or even exceed the best efforts of average modelmakers. A case in point is the micro-fine wing rigging now applied as standard in these ranges - it’s a fit-and-finish zone that even the best of us may not be up to.

And now Tamiya has entered the ready-built market, using plastic instead of metal. There are advantages with both materials of course, but the main plus for plastic is that it allows for much finer surface detail. And this really shows with the Tamiya 1:48 scale Fieseler Storch (Stork), a widely used World War II-era reconnaissance plane.

Tamiya’s Storch is the particular plane used by the famed German ‘Desert Fox’, Erwin Rommel. It is depicted with ‘squashed’ undercarriage in the landing position - in flight, the legs extended much further (see bottom photo) which is why it gained its name from the long-legged bird of baby-carrying renown. The Storch has a wingspan of 297 mm (11.7 in) and comes complete with seated figures in the glassshouse cockpit: a pilot at the controls, with Rommel sitting behind.

A nice feature of this model is the beautifully applied weathering - it’s not overdone at all, with just enough to give the model a used look. Inspect the underbelly pic above to see what we mean. All in all, the Storch is highly recommended for the busy person, and we predict these Masterwork Collection products (there are AFVs out there already) will become a major part of Tamiya’s output in times to come.

Visit Tamiya here.

More Luftwaffe 1946

Woah! Re the previous Revell post, this video shows just about every uber-aviation project dreamt up in the dying days of the Third Reich.

There's even rousing march music as background – well done Green Cacktus, who put the whole thing together.