Hobby Boss M706 Commando Armored Car in Vietnam, #82418, 1/35 scale

I was one of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam during the war (9.8% of the male members of the Baby Boom generation).  In my case, it was as a member of the U.S. Army Intelligence Service.

I spent some of my time in country at Tan Son Nhut, the air base just outside Saigon.  Security at Tan Son Nhut was the responsibility of the USAF and some ARVNs.  The Air Force guys had M706 Commando Armored cars they rode around in, only their model had a single .50 caliber M2 mount on the top, not the twin .30 caliber M1919 mount this kit replicates.

The Air Force guys would ride around wearing those huge ear protectors the guys wore on the flight line.   Inter-service rivalry required that we say something, so we not-all-that-bright Army guys would make fun of their “ear muffs”.  Haha.  So funny.  Of course, those USAF guys are home now listening to their TV’s without the volume so high that one can hear it in the next county.

With that background, and never having made a Hobby Boss kit, I was immediately attracted to this one.

Generally, I liked the kit.  It went together well with no huge problem areas.  I had to use some putty on the front to eliminate some gaps, but they may have been more my fault than theirs.  There is a partial interior.   I say “partial” because the main pieces are there, such as the crew seats and the engine cover, but there is little other detail.  The driver’s seat has to be too small, and maybe the entire drivers compartment is too small.  I don’t know.  However, I closed all the hatches, so the only way it can be viewed is to remove the turret, which is easily done.

I liked the separate clear windows.  The vinyl tires left something  to be desired.  They have an indented seam in the center of the tread that is way too deep to be sanded out.  Otherwise, the tires are nice, but I would have preferred plastic.

There is a fret containing two stone guards for the headlights, a nice touch.  The decals went on very well with Tamiya Mark Fit.  The markings are for two Army MP vehicles, and I selected the one with the colorful name on front.  (For those who don’t know, “Blind Faith” was a short-lived “super group” formed by Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton in 1969-1970.)

Here are two Internet kit reviews I found useful:

Armor Modeling and Preservation Society

Perth Military Modelling Site ((Perth, Western Australia)

This is my second Vietnam War vehicle.  I have gathered some after market items for a Tamiya M48A3 I will be building at some point. 

All in all, this was an enjoyable build and I recommend it to modelers interested in the Vietnam War.

A tab made of masking tape provides a helpful method for quickly finding the correct sprue.  On the upper right, you can see part of the foamcore base I made for my adhesive bottle to prevent spills.  Don't ask me why I made that.

As always, thank you for visiting my blog.  Comments are always welcome.

German A4/V2 Rocket, Revell Germany, 1/72 scale, Kit 03309

This kit has been around for some time and is originally a Special Armor (CMK) 2013 release that was reboxed by Revell in 2018.   I thought this model would be a unique addition to my collection.  Since its availability here in the USA is spotty, I ordered it from Hannant’s in the UK (who seem to have everything almost all the time).

I built this kit as a quick, easy project before I plunged into something more complex.

Much interesting information about the V2 (which was the first manmade object to actually go into space) is available on line.   One interesting story is how the Germans tried to use the missile tactically against the bridge over the Rhine River at Remagen.  They fired off a bunch of these missiles hoping to hit the bridge, and one even got within 400 yards.  The rest just blasted more of the local town and the German countryside.  There was a crude guidance system in these missiles, and they were essentially unstoppable once launched.  However they were by no means accurate, but still capable of inflicting serious damage where they did come down.

There are two sprues and a small decal sheet.  The 11 page instruction book is beautiful with clear drawings in full color with four color profiles for finishing.  The parts are very detailed and go together well. No filler was required anywhere.

The splinter camouflage pattern took the most time to complete.  It continues to amaze me that the Germans wasted so much time on intricate camouflage patterns. We seemed to have done rather well with simple coats of olive drab.

I used the following paints:

    Vallejo 71.019 Camo. Dark Green
    Vallejo 71.032 Golden Brown
    Vallejo  71.143 U.K. Light Stone
    Vallejo  71.251 NATO Black
    Model Master Enamel - Steel #1780

The kit includes a travel cart for the launching pad.

The Bf109E in this photo is also 1/72nd scale.  It shows just how large the V2 was.

As always, thank you for visiting my blog.  Comments are always welcome.

Tamiya M551 Sheridan U.S. Airborne Tank - Vietnam War, Kit 365, 1/35 scale

The Sheridan came about to fit the perceived need for a tank that could be air dropped.  Of course it would be nice to air drop tanks with the airborne troops, but weight is the issue.  Heavy things require large airplanes to transport them, and tanks require lots of (heavy) armor to protect them once engaged.  These two necessities work against each other.  I was in Vietnam several years before the Sheridans were deployed there.  But we had quickly learned that an RPG could ruin your whole day, and that using common chain link fencing could protect our vehicles.  I saw M113 APC crews deploying fencing around their vehicles for just that reason.  The RPG would strike the fencing, explode and spare the vehicle.  Or, that was the theory. 

Here, Tamiya has modeled a frame and fencing shield on the front of the M551.  This was an in-theater installation.  Tamiya supplies some plastic screen material for you to cut out from a pattern.  I decided to go with the Eduard Anti-RPG Wire Net #36408, which looks like cyclone fencing and not large window screen.  Some tanks, of course, did not have these installed, possibly even the tank I modeled.

Speaking of the tank I modeled, I attended the IPMS Nationals in Phoenix last year, and attendees were given a decal sheet, as usual.  The sheet we received included decals for this tank in 1/72nd and 1/48th scale.  “Arizona” was the tank of Platoon Sergeant Vega of Nogales, AZ.  (The second model on the sheet is the Spad flown by AZ notice Lt. Frank Luke,  after who Luke AFB is named.)

The Sheridan, in spite of its rather spotty active duty record has always fascinated me.  Tamiya’s last stab at the Sheridan was decades ago.  There is not one thing, I am told, in common between the two kits.  This kit is a typical new Tamiya kit.  However, I found it more involving a build than I first thought it would be.  There are lots of parts, and in several places you will need to drill .5mm, 1.0mm and 1.2mm holes, so make sure you have some small drills handy.

The figures are outstanding.  I think they are every bit as good as most resin offerings.  There are three. 

The instruction manual is superb.  Also included is a pamphlet “M551 Sheridan in Vietnam” by Specialist Doug Kibbey that is full of information on the combat deployment of the Sheridan written by someone who really knows.  This includes color profiles for the two Sheridans the marking for which are supplied in the kit.  And, finally, there is a Background Information.  All of this material is multi-lingual.

As with all the recent Tamiya releases, this kit is 100% state-of-the-art.  There is absolutely nothing to criticize. 

The gunner sitting on the hatch is a challenge, because you have to fully assemble him holding his M-16 before you can paint him.  Painting the rifle was tricky, but we do need a challenge now and then.

Here is a list of the main paints and weathering materials I used:

    Tamiya Surface Primer - Grey - spray can

    Vallejo Model Air NATO Black 71.251 - Rubber tires
    Vallejo Model Air Olive Drab 71.043 - Overall
    Vallejo Model Color Russian WWII Uniform 70.924 - Jungle Fatigues
    Vallejo Model Color U.S. Dark Green 70.893- Helmets
    Vallejo Model Air U. S. Dark Green 71.016 - Flak Jackets
    Vallejo Model Color Gun Metal Grey 70.863 - machine gun and M16

    Ammo by MIG Track Wash - A.Mig 1002
    Ammo by MIG Modelling Pigment VN Earth - A.Mig 3022

I am no color expert, and my memory of these colors is decades old.  But they looked right to me.  Besides, in the field, equipment and people get really filthy.  The tropical sun fades everything.  Whatever color the clothing and equipment was delivered in did not last that long.

 As always, thank you for visiting my blog.  Comments are always welcome.

Hasegawa Messerschmitt Bf109G-2, 1/48 scale, Kit JT29

The Kit

This is another of the “golden oldies” in my collection.  I wanted to beef up my Bf109 collection, and I remembered this kit, which I have had since it was first released in the 1990’s. 

I also have AeroMaster 48-384, Augsburg Eagles, Pt. VI, which includes some markings for a G-2 model serving on the Russian Front. 

The marking of a Bf109G-2 flown by Obst. Hermann Graf  on the Russian front in Summer/Fall of 1942

I love AeroMaster decals.  They have never let me down, but all of them are pretty old now.  Great product.  Too bad they went out of business.

The Build

The surprise to me was examining the cockpit parts.  Sorry to say, but the cockpit is only a step or two above the old Otaki kits.  Oh, well.  Full speed ahead.  I added some Eduard seatbelts and called it good.  (Luftwaffe Fighter Seatbelts, 1/48, 48290)  Ultimately I was not thrilled with them.  They are colored with brown paint with the metal being left bare.  The problem is the brown paint is easily wiped away in handling.  My favorites are still Ultracast seats with the belts molded in.

Ultimately, I decided to leave the canopy closed, so the cockpit looks fine.  Careful painting really brought out the details.

The fit of the parts is very good and the surface detail looks right on the money. 

Also, I have been experimenting with Tamiya acrylic paints, and almost any German WWII aircraft makes a good subject.  You need to mix two or more colors to get the RLM color you desire.  I will see if the effort is worth it.  My experience so far is these paints airbrush more easily than any other acrylic I have tried.

I was not able to find a formula for RLM 04 Yellow, but luckily I had some in my Model Master Acryl collection (#4771).  I used this to paint the band around the fuselage rear, the undersides of the wingtips, and the lower forward cowl.

Tamiya Mark Fit Strong works very well with these decals, and all others I have tried it with.  You need to work fast in placing the decal, as the product really softens the decal quickly.  This product really makes the decals conform to the details under them.  It may take an additional application or two on difficult spots, but the results are worth it.  This is a different formula than the regular strength.  See my blog entry in February 2017.

The Hasegawa BF109 kits may have been eclipsed by recent releases, but they are still pretty good.  I enjoyed this build, and I think that the kit still merits some consideration.

I made my own masking from thin strips of Tamiya tape and my own masking compound (Elmer's glue with food coloring.)

I used Tamiya primer from the spray can.  The yellow area is masking tape.  I added a primary coat of Tamiya flat white before I sprayed the yellow color coat.

Decal application is almost done.

Finished Model

 As always, thank you for visiting my blog.  Comments are always welcome.