Airfix N.A. P-51D Mustang, 1/72 scale, Kit No. A01004A - VERSION TWO

The Kit & Build

The lead photo may look a bit strange.  This is what happens when one foolishly allows the family cat (a 15 pound yellow tabby named Mr. Rudy) to snoop about the model room and he sees a spot three feet off the floor to explore.  I call it the Cat-astrophe.  Mr. Rudy jumped and landed right in the middle of my slowly growing 1/72nd scale collection. 

A number of models were damaged beyond repair, including an Airfix P-51D in RAF markings I had previously presented here on this blog.  (Upper right in photo) It was such a nice little kit and such fun to build, I decided to do another one.  And, the Xtradecal sheet had many more aircraft markings to select from.

This iteration of the Airfix 1/72 scale Mustang comes with markings for a USAAF blue nose Mustang of the 352nd Fighter Group.  It is the same mold they have had in their catalog for a few years now.

How does it compare with the Tamiya kit, which I have also presented here?  In terms of detail and fit, Tamiya wins.  No surprise there.  However, the Airfix kit is nicely enough detailed and many dollars cheaper.  I enjoy building both manufacturer’s kits. 

My biggest complaint about Airfix is the panel lines are too wide and deep.  I recognize that more precise and detailed surface detail would add much to the cost of the kit, so I live with it depending what I am looking for. 

If I want a model that takes me months (off and on) to build and wow everyone with the result, I would start with the Tamiya.  If I am looking for a quicker build to add a particular aircraft to my collection (like a natural metal US aircraft in RAF markings), I am happy with Airfix.  I am in this hobby to have fun.  Airfix kits are fun to build. 

Another point about Airfix is that the plastic is soft and the sprue gates are wide resulting in difficulties with separating the parts from the runner without damaging the part’s surface.  For example, the radio antenna (not an example of the mold maker’s art in the first place) was impossible to remove without damaging it beyond repair.  The one on this model I fabricated from sheet styrene. 

And, sharp eyes may note there is no pitot tube on this model.  It suffered the same demise the antenna did the I tried to remove it from the sprue and since it is on the bottom of the right wing, I simply left it off.  If it had been on the leading edge, I would have made one from stretched sprue.

All the above being said, I am still very happy with the result or I would not be publishing it here.

Here are the paints I used:

Vallejo Model Air 71010 Interior Green
Vallejo Model Air 71-078 Gold Yellow
Vallejo Model Air 71.057 Black
Vallejo Model Air 71.103 Grey
Vallejo Model Air 71.003
Vallejo Model Air 71.063 Silver
Vallejo Model Color 70.988 Khaki
Vallejo Surface Primer 73.660 Gloss Black
Vallejo Metal Color 77.701 Aluminum
Vallejo Metal Color 77.702 Duraluminum
Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color - Black

I have been very pleased with the Vallejo Metal Color paints used in conjunction with their Gloss Black surface primer.  It was easy to achieve a natural metal finish and use the darker duraluminum for the panel around the exhaust pipes and the gun cover panels in the wing.  These paints are the first product I have used successfully to achieve a natural metal finish.  And, you can mask over the metal fish with Tamiya tape or Post-its with no fears of lifting the metal paint when removing the masking.

I use the Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color to bring out the surface details, and I am happy with the way it looks.  Somehow it gives the finish a more natural look.

Decals

 

Xtradecal X72131 P-51D Mustang Mk IV in RAF, RCAF and RAAF service provided the markings.  I chose the markings for No. 154 Squadron at RAF Hudson in March 1945.  According to Wikipedia, the squadrons that received the Mustang Mk IV (i.e., the P-51D) only had them during the final two months of the war.  How long they remained in service with the RAF after that, I do not know.  Since demobilization was fairly rapid, I doubt many of them were in active service by the end of 1946.

The finished model is rather small, as one can see from the Vallejo bottle. 

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

Eduard Spitfire Ixc Early Edition ProfiPACK (Converted to Late edition) Kit #8282

The Kit

Actually, the kit I used was an Early Edition, but all the parts needed for the Late Edition are in there too.  Some time ago, I had pirated the markings, the masks and some parts from this ProfiPACK kit for another project.  I put the reminder away for another day.

At some point, Eduard offered a Spitfire in Israeli Defense Force service markings.  But for the fact I simply had accumulated too many ProfiPACK kits in my stash, I would have bought it.

Then I saw Techmod decal set 48064, with markings for Spitfires in IDF service.   After examining this kit,  I found that all the parts for a Late Edition with the clipped wings and the cannons mounted outboard were all there.  All I needed were for the Late Edition instructions to identify the correct parts.   That was easily easily available on the Eduard website.

Confused?  I hope not.  The kit went together perfectly with no issues.  The Eduard Spitfires are well-known and do not require much recounting here.  This is my second Eduard 1/48th scale Spitfire, and I was again unable to figure out the odd arrangement of parts for the exhaust manifolds.  But that was no issue as they fit perfectly without all the parts called for.  Some of the parts are extremely small and difficult to work with.  However, patience will be rewarded.

Tamiya paint was used over Tamiya Surface Primer.  Colors used were:

    XF-10 - Flat Brown
    XF-19 - Sky Grey
    XF58 -  Olive Green
    XF-71 - Cockpit Green (IJN) - appears to be the same of Pale Green RAF cockpit color.

The red stripes on the tail were masked off and painted and came out really well.  I used Vallejo Model Air Red/RLM 23, 71.003.

The Techmod decals work very well and settled down with Tamiya Mark Fit (regular strength).  Mark Fit Strong should be reserved for heavier decals, such as Tamiya's own.  Techmod decals come from Poland, and they are very high quality and beautifully printed.  Full color instructions/diagrams are included.  This is my second model using them, and I am quite pleased.  I obtained mine from Hannant’s in the UK.

Historical Information

Looks like White 26 has been reduced to gate guard status.  Or maybe it is another one.  My research told me that the Czechs painted over the RAF Dark Sea Grey with Dark Earth and left the Dark Green and Medium Sea Grey alone. Who knows for sure about these things with no contemporary color photos?   Photo by Oren Rozen.   

Operation Velvetta  involved the ferrying of some 60 Spitfires purchased by the the newly created State of Israel in 1948 from Czechoslovakia at $23,000 per plane.  Israel was involved in a rapidly expanding war with their Arab neighbors.  See Wikipedia article here.

During the war, there was actually an air battle where Egyptian Spitfires fought Israeli Spitfires.   Another ironic fact is that Israel also flew a number of Bf109 ex-Luftwaffe fighters.

Although the U. S. was the first country to recognize the Jewish state upon its creation, the arms cornucopia had not opened at that point.  Israel had to make do with what could be bought on the open market.  Only 4 years after the end of World War II, there was a lot of war material available for purchase.

I was very pleased to be able to add this Spitfire to my collection.

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

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.