Model Military International Jan23 1

FREE 180 metres of
masking tape! LITTLE BIG GUN Takom 1:35 AML-90 French

Light Armoured Car
ISSUE 201
January 2023
TRE KRONOR
TANK KILLER
Hobby Boss 1:35 Swedish
CV90-40C IFV/W
ISSUE
201
January 2023
£5.25
SERGEY TAKES
A WRONG TURN
Tamiya 1:48 KV-1
INSIDE: KETTENKRAFT CLOSE-UP - History and References

Previews n New Releases n Small Scale n Book Reviews n 1:48 scale n and more...
Contents - Issue 201 January 2023
24
REGULARS
p 4 NEWS
What’s new in the world of military
modelling
p 56 BOOKS
Military and modelling in print
p 58 1:48 SCALE
The latest news and reviews in Quarter
Inch Scale with Luke Pitt
p 61 SMALL SCALE
News and new releases in 1:72 and
smaller
p 65 NEXT ISSUE
What to look forward to next time
14 p 66 LAST POST
Exercise Ram Stallion 2022
FEATURES
p 6 THINK TANK
Kettenkraftrad Close-Up
by Graham Tetley
p 12 KIT PREVIEW
Dragon 1:35 T-34/85
p 14 BABY KATE’S GROWING PAINS

Italeri 1:9 Kettenkraftrad by Graham
Tetley
p 22 KIT PREVIEW
Italeri 1:35 M109 A2/A3/G
p 24 TRE KRONOR TANK KILLER

Karel Sutt’s Hobby Boss 1:35 Swedish
CV90-40C IFV/W Additional All-Round
40 Armour COVER
FEATURE
p 40 SERGEY TOOK A WRONG TURN
Tamiya 1:48 KV-1 by Clayton Ockerby
p 48 LITTLE BIG GUN

Takom 1:35 AML-90 French Light
Armoured Car by Javier Redondo
Giminez
© Doolittle Media Ltd 2022

Tel: (UK) 01525 222573
Email: enquiries@doolittlemedia.com
Address: Doolittle Media Ltd., The Granary,
Doolittle Lane, Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, LU6 1QX, UK
Model Military International is published monthly by

Doolittle Media Ltd. Reproduction in part or whole of
any text, photograph or illustration without written
permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. While
due care is taken to ensure the contents of Model Military
International is accurate, the publishers and printers cannot
accept liability for errors or omissions.
ISSN 1749-8864
January 2023 - Model Military International 3

Newsline - January 2023
MMI Newsdesk, The Granary, Doolittle Lane,
Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, LU6 1QX, UK
Tel:01525 222573 Fax:01525 222574
Email:editor@modelmilitary.com
GECKO
FORTHCOMING
RELEASES
Gecko Model has sent the following information about this interesting
forthcoming release:
Gecko Models is to release a 1:35 scale British Army 4x2 Heavy Ambulance from
the late war period. This model includes the familiar and well received Gecko
mouldings but allows use of some of the other optional parts already included on
the sprues such as later headlights, extended exhaust pipe etc.
Included in the package are four new schemes for ambulances in use the North
West Europe campaign from June 1944. A driver figure is also included.
We will have more details upon release.
Thanks to Gecko Models for the information and images www.gecko-models.com
DARKSTAR
MOLTEN
METALS AND
MODELCRAFT
MASKING PUTTY CLASSY HOBBY NEW
Darkstar has added 8 new colours to their Molten Metals
paint range.
Developed originally for the wargaming and fantasy modelling
1:16 SCALE FIGURES
Classy Hobby are to release two US Army tank crew figures in 1:16 scale.
market, these water-based metallic acrylics are a great These are:
addition to your armoury of paints for any modelling genre. • MC16013 WWII US Tank Commander
New Darkstar Molten Metals • MC16012 WWII US Tank Crew
• DS-DM846 - Darkstar Molten Metals Sapphire (17ml)
• DS-DM841 - Darkstar Molten Metals Jade (17ml) Thanks to Classy Hobby for the information and images
• DS-DM854 - Darkstar Molten Metals Tourmaline (17ml)
• DS-DM551 - Darkstar Molten Metals Amethyst (17ml)
• DS-DM849 - Darkstar Molten Metals lack Diamond (17ml)
• DS-DM851 - Darkstar Molten Metals Ruby (17ml)
• DS-DM848 - Darkstar Molten Metals Aquamarine (17ml)
• DS-DM847 - Darkstar Molten Metals Moonstone (17ml)
SRP: £3.50 inc VAT each
ModelCraft Masking Putty

This re-useable masking putty by
Modelcraft is designed to be easily
removed without damaging painted
areas. This versatile putty can be
rolled, cut and shaped to suit any
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making camouflage patterns.
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• Ideal for airbrushing and modelling.
• It doesn’t stain, is grease-free and leaves no residue!
Darkstar Molten Metals and Modelcraft Masking Putty

are available online from www.airbruhes.com
Thanks to The Airbrush Company Limited for the
information and images www.airbrushes.com
4 Model Military International - January 2023

Think Tank - Kettenkraftrad Close-Up
Graham Tetley
takes a walk around
The Tank Museum’s
well preserved
Kettenkraftrad.
KETTENKRAFTRAD CLOSE-UP
T
he Sd.Kfz.2 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 2) aircraft, though not by parachute. The vehicle would engage the track brakes to help make
was a half-track motorcycle with a had the advantage of being the only gun turns sharper. It was also possible to run the
single front wheel, better known as tractor small enough to fit inside the hold of vehicle without the front wheel installed and
the Kleines Kettenkraftrad HK 101 the Ju 52, and was the lightest mass-produced this was recommended in extreme off-road
or Kettenkrad for short (plural Kettenkräder; German military vehicle to use the complex conditions where speed would be kept low.
where Ketten means "chains" or "tracks" and Schachtellaufwerk overlapped and interleaved The Sd.Kfz.2 was designed and built by
krad is the military abbreviation of the German road wheels used on almost all German military the NSU Werke AG at Neckarsulm, Germany.
word Kraftrad, the administrative German term half-tracked vehicles of World War II. Patented in June 1939, it was first used in the
for motorcycle). Steering the Kettenkrad was accomplished invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. Later in
The Kettenkrad started its life as a light by turning the handlebars: Up to a certain point, the war, Stoewer from Stettin also produced
tractor for airborne troops. The vehicle was only the front wheel would steer the vehicle. Kettenkrads under license, accounting for about
designed to be delivered by Junkers Ju 52 A motion of the handlebars beyond that point 10% of the total production.
Details of the sprocket. The Italeri parts are sadly deficient.

The Kettenkrad came with a special trailer
Sonderanhänger 1 (Sd.Anh.1) that could be
attached to it to improve its cargo capacity.
The trailer carried 350 kilograms.
Being a tracked vehicle, the Kettenkrad
could climb up to 24° in sand and even more
on hard ground.
IN SERVICE
Most Kettenkräder saw service on the
Eastern Front, where they were used to lay
communication cables, pull heavy loads and
carry soldiers through the deep Russian
mud. Later in the war, Kettenkräder were
used as runway tugs for aircraft, especially
for the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter,
and sometimes the Arado Ar 234 jet
reconnaissance-bomber. In order to save
aviation fuel, German jet aircraft were towed
to the runway, rather than taxiing under their
own power.
The vehicle was also used in the North
Note the bolt & track pad details.
African theatre and on the Western Front.
Rear idler details. Esci missed the track tensioning gear.
Roadwheel in detail. Track link & pad.

VARIANTS
Only two significant sub-variations of the
Kettenkrad were constructed. Production of
the vehicle was stopped in 1944, at which time
8,345 had been built. After the war, production
resumed at NSU. Around 550 Kettenkräder
were built for agricultural
use, with production
ending in 1948
(some sources
say 1949). n
Body text
adapted from
Wikipedia https://
en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Sd.Kfz._2
Italeri provides the

‘NSU’ detail as a decal.
How the handlebars attach in real life.
Front fork. Towing eye & headlight mount.
Driver’s seat & controls. Here you can see the sidewall details.
Driver’s compartment. Note the rifle holder. The fuel filler cap.

Engine cover & grille. Guess who made Kettenkrad seats!
The tow pintle. Drivers compartment floor.
Good shot of the driver’s controls.

Big Brother in the background.
Here you can see the exhaust. Track pin bolts.
Close up of the pannier clips. Welding detail on the hull.

Overall view of the rear.
Here you can see the shape of the track links. Detail of the rear compartment tubing.
Drive sprocket guide rollers. Track adjuster detail. Note the welding on the idler wheel.

KIT PREVIEW Dragon 1:72 Chinese Volunteer T34/85 • Kit No. 7668
Graham Tetley
takes a look
at an updated
release from
Dragon.
IN WOLF’S CLOTHING A number of new parts have been added.
P
robably the best all-round laughed heartily at, liquid poly A test fit of the upper & lower
tank of the Second World and superglue. There are 98 hull, and turret halves reveal
War, the T-34 continued plastic parts, 11 etched and two no issues at all. The wheels and
to soldier on in other track runs in this kit so it won’t idlers have been moulded as one-
conflicts around the world long be as quick a build as others in piece items and the new spoked
after 1945. One such user was the range. Marking supplied cover roadwheels are very nice. The
China where some of tanks were three Korean War vehicles. idlers & drive wheels though
used by the Peoples Liberation First impressions are very are showing their age. As noted Flash on the wheels.
Army in the Korean War after good. The upper and lower hull above, there is quite a bit of flash
China entered that conflict in are single slide-moulded parts on some parts, but it is easily
October 1950. with an excellent level of detail cleaned up. The instructions are
This kit is one of Dragon’s represented, especially the clear with no errors and model is
older Armor Pro kits with some suspension on the lower hull. built over six steps.
parts dating back to 2004, but The turret comes with two turret This is a straightforward kit
this one has some new features shells & roofs but only one of each with a level of detail that is very
appropriate to its use by the is used. The main gun is moulded good and fit of parts even better.
People’s Volunteer Army of as one part (with flash) but can At a UK price of between £16 &
China. We now have newly tooled be made moveable when fixed £20 between different vendors
parts to depict the sharp-edged between the turret halves. All including eBay, it is good value, One of the full sprues.
lower hull, etched parts for hull & turret hatches are moulded and I would give an 8/10. n
the front fenders and spoked open with separate lids and,
wheel, although the latter do strangely, we also get an open Thanks to The Hobby Company
possess some flash. The tracks engine deck but no etch or mesh Limited for the sample
are one-piece vinyl that you will to fill it with. Your only option www.hobbyco.net
have to staple together as mine is the one piece, solid, part. No
just raised two fingers to, and figures are provided.
The upper hull is moulded as a single part.
Optional engine deck rear hatches are included, but no

photo-etched mesh is supplied.
Parts are securely bagged underneath the cardboard box. Flexible vinyl tracks.

BUILD REVIEW Italeri 1:9 Kettenkrad • Kit No. 7404
BABY KATE’S
GROWING PAINS
Graham Tetley takes a nostalgic journey with Italeri’s
re-release of Esci’s classic 1:9 scale Kettenkrad.
S
ome time ago, our 1
esteemed Editor sent
me this 1970s piece of
nostalgia for review. It
has been around since I was a
lad. Indeed back in 1980 whilst on
holiday in Rome with my parents,
I nearly got it in a model shop that
we found but walked out with a
Lego spaceship instead. So, 42
years later, it is time to crack open
the box and see just what delights
are in store.
We are met by what is a very
large, little kit. As is my style,
I spent a few hours planning
construction and deciding whether
to follow the instructions or not.
This model provides the hull tub
as separate pieces, so what I did
first was prepped and cleaned
up every one of these big bits. It
immediately became apparent that
this is a kit of 1970s in that the fit
Individual suspension parts.
is average to poor, all parts need

2 3
Here you can see the metal pins.
Torsion bars
in place.
4 5 6
Gaps & steps in the lower hull. Poor fit of the hull tub. Gaps between the front & side plates.
a lot of cleaning up, and there are

lots of knock-out pin marks and
not a lot of placement guides.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, so on
I plodded. The instructions are
also not your typical Italeri fayre
as these are badly drawn and
confusing in many places, but more
on this later.
THE HULL
Construction starts with the
torsion bars. All of them had heavy
Poor fit & gaps.
mould separation lines so took
a lot of time to clean up. They
come as an inner and outer piece, 8
with the inner one being hooked
to a metal pin which makes them
moveable. See photos 1, 2 & 3 as
it looks lovely, but fast forward to
photo 29 to see this feature in real
life. Best thing is to glue them in
place at this stage.
I deviated from the instructions
here and glued the sides, front
plate and floor piece together. I
filed all joining surfaces flat, but
the locating guides are very poor
which leaves many gaps & steps
between the plates. All plates The fully
were clamped together and left superglued
overnight to dry, then the gaps hull tub.
were filled & reinforced with
superglue before being sanded 9
smooth. Photos 4 to 9 cover this.
It was at this stage in construction
that I injured my back (a split 3rd
vertebrae really is no fun!) and
spent three days unable to get out
of bed. That was fortunate as, had
I been able to move, I would have
thrown this at the wall and danced
a jig on its carcase. However, with
the aid of painkillers, it was instead
thrown into a suitcase where I was
able to hobble to and from the
airport. Construction started again
And work begins
by the pool bar in sunny Tenerife. A
on sanding.

10
11
Poor fit of the pannier sides.
B THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS!

It was three years since I was last
able to have a pool bar building
session, so this seemed an ideal kit
to tackle in a relaxing environment.
Photo 10 shows my view for the
coming 9 days.
I started by adding the internal
fixtures & fittings. The instructions Think happy thoughts!
are poor, and location guides non- 12
existent so you will need to dig
deep into your psychic abilities.
The hull floor, part 151F, is very
poorly fitting (photo 12), as are the
pannier sides 209 & 210H (photo
11). The pannier lids are moveable,
but a lot of filing was needed on
the location pins to enable this to
happen. Fortunately, there is an
art & model shop in Los Cristianos
(La Galeria/Bellas Arts on Av. De
Suecia) so I was able to acquire
some Vallejo filler for a few euros
on Day 2 of the holiday. Day three
was spent filling & sanding, staying
in the shade and keeping that beer
tap busy.
Hull floor finally
So, with the hull now done, I in place.
and moved onto the running gear.
The drive wheel teeth are not
moulded particularly well and all 13
roadwheels has some horrendous
mis-moulding on them. More filing
and sanding took place to get them
to a presentable condition. I had to
file out the central locating holes
as the pins 170 & 171g were too
wide to fit through the wheels. See
photos 13 & 14 for the cleaned-up
results. I must mention here the
detail on the kit parts compared
to the real thing. The drive
sprocket (photo 15) is lacking all
the bolts that are clearly on the
real thing, and the guide tooth Completed
running gear.
rollers are bland in comparison.
The roadwheels are better, but
the prominent welding around the 14 15
wheel rims is noticeably absent.
To round off the lower hull, I
started on what, for me, is the
most boring and tedious part of
any armoured vehicle – the tracks.
These come a separate links and
track pads and suffice it to say
that every single part had to be
cleaned up. There are knock-out
pin marks in the face of each track
link and fit of link to pad isn’t
great. However, working in batches
of 10 links at a time, I ploughed
through and soon had two track
runs assembled. I must say that
the fit of the tracks to the sprocket
was quite good. A The cleaned up roadwheels. Close up of the drive sprocket.

16 17
Vinyl piping in place. Engine ready for installation.

17
Driver's
control part.
19 20
The driver’s bulkhead test fitted and drying. Bulkhead in place but note the poor fit.

B VROOM OR BUST 21
Next up is the engine which we
build over 17 construction steps.
The large, two-piece, block was
glued, left to dry overnight, and
then sanded smooth all over. To
this, the remaining sub-assemblies
were constructed and then joined
together, aided by the all-inclusive
beer tap at the pool bar. Location
points for most of the parts are
vague so plenty of test fitting is
necessary. When it comes to the
pipework, it is best to leave parts
134F and 137F until the engine is
to be permanently fixed in place so
that they can be lined up correctly.
Vinyl pipe is included which you
must cut to lengths but be warned
that you will need to reduce in
diameter the pins on parts 136F
and 105F if you want this piping
to fit. Photo 16 shows this piping
in place, and photo 17 the engine
ready for installation. As for
Driver's seat under construction.
installation, the engine simply
drops into the space on the floor. 22 23
Don’t glue in place yet though.
BULKHEAD BLUES
Your frustration will reach
stratospheric levels in the next
steps as we deal with the driver’s
bulkhead. Photo 18 shows that
top part 162F is fairly well
detailed and we get decals for
the instruments, over which clear
parts go. I like that. However, the
rest of this stage is marred by
poor instructions and ill-fitting
parts. The problems occur as
the locations for joining parts
206 & 207H to 204H & 166G are
very poor. What I did was attach
the instrument part 162F to the
bulkhead 166G. That was test-
fitted into place in the hull, then Here you can see the seat spring attachment. The main three bits in place.
left to dry. After that, I added the
rest of the parts in Photo 19 and part onto which we fit the driver’s head over a candle and squish the the instructions show it locating
reinforced the that whole curved seat and control pedals. The seat mounting pin into a blob to hold somewhere indicated by an arrow.
part assembly with superglue. assembly is secured by springs them there but settled for a blob Turn the page and you will see that
Photo 20 shows it all in place and is designed to be moveable. of thick superglue and activator it goes into a hole in the bulkhead.
however note the poor fit and It is a nice gimmick, but there is as in Photo 22. I like that the gear At this stage, you have enough to
large gaps. nothing to secure the springs in sticks have their tops moulded test-fit the engine, front bulkhead
Photo 21 shows that the place. In true 1970s style, I was in vinyl with some nice detail on and driver’s seat as shown in photo
transmission cover is a single tempted to heat a screwdriver them. Part 41E is an enigma in that 23. What I have done is glued the
24 25
Engine cover in place. Peek-a-boo!

front bulkhead in place but left the 26 27
rest separate for painting.
I skipped ahead here and
finished the engine cover, seat and
rear towing parts. Nylon mesh is
provided for the engine screen and
is cut to shape and fixed in place
with superglue. The fit of all bits
is adequate but lots of cleaning up
was needed to make the hinges
work, but the final efforts are
shown in photos 24 & 25
The two rear seats are moulded
in vinyl and fit well to their plastic
mounts. The whole seat assembly
is then push-fit into place between
the hull halves with pins allowing
it to be raised and lowered. This is Seats in place.
shown in photos 26, 27 & 28.
It was at this stage that I 28
was able to test fit everything, The completed back end.
but upon looking at the model
something was not quite
right. I mentioned earlier that
the suspension is sprung.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of
plastic here and the weight of
the middle to rear of this kit
compresses the rear suspension.
Where there should be a little
sag between the rear idler and
roadwheel, there is a noticeable
incline in the top track run
as shown in photo 29. Not to Back-end
shot.
be beaten, and resisting the
temptation to offer it up to the
hotel activity team as a target in 29
the morning adult archery class, I
measured, cut & glued some spare
sprue behind the rear roadwheel
and now the model looks much
better. Photos 30 and 31 show my
‘Voila!’ moment.
It was at this stage that the
many sub-assemblies were packed
into my case and came all the way
back home with me. Bye-bye pool
bar until Crete in 2023.
I had to have a little hiatus on
this kit. Sometimes a model just
saps my enthusiasm, and this was
one. It was rekindled however in
mid-June following a visit to the
Tank Museum at Bovington. I do not
recall seeing this before but, tucked
away next to the Panzer III Ausf. N
and right in front of Tiger 131, was A A weighty problem!
30 31
How I repaired the suspension issue. Spare sprue & superglue.

B Baby Kate, the museum’s very own 32 33

Kettenkrad. I hope that you enjoy
the photos linked to this review.
So, back home, I ploughed on
with finishing this kit. What was
left was the construction of the
front wheel & fork and a few odds
& sods. Construction proceeds
well, but my advice is to not attach
parts 29E (the parts that hold
the handlebars) until much later.
Photos 32 & 35 shows that, if
you follow the instructions, these
parts do not lift the handlebars
up far enough and they hit the
vehicle sides when you try to
steer it. There is a long central pin
part 64F that fits this assembly
to the hull. Tucked away in Page
12, in a side drawing, is a guide
showing how it should all look but
the angles of the section holding My error with the handlebars. Better, but not perfect.
the handlebars do not match to
the main instruction drawings. 34 35
Very frustrating and, as I said
earlier, very poor instructions.
With much swearing, breaking of
parts, re-gluing, re-breaking and
re-gluing. I got the handlebars to
look better as per photos 33 & 34.
Words cannot express how much I
need to urge you to plan ahead and
carefully study this section. Use
my photos of the real thing to help.
Photo 36 shows the end result
after much heartache.
ONTO THE HOME STRETCH

Before we can call this done, there
are some crew items to complete.
We get on MP40, three helmets, Front fork springs. Something not right here.
one water bottle and a mess kit
tin. The MP40 and helmets come
with vinyl straps with those on the
helmet simply being sandwiched
between the helmet & liner to CONCLUSION every single item. The metal springs of Google shows some absolute
keep them in place. That on the If this kit were a film, it would be a are gimmicks only and the sprung showstoppers produced from it.
MP40 was a real pig to fit as the cross between ‘The Exorcist’ and suspension cannot cope with the It is certainly a kit of its era and
width of the vinyl was too thick ‘The Shining’. It constantly tested weight of the finished item. hails from a time in our hobby when
to fit through the plastic eyes. my patience and I have to say that On the plus side, it is the we were not so fussy. Personally,
Eventually though, it was done and I did not enjoy its construction. only model of its type and scale I I’m not sure that I would want to
doesn’t look too bad. These can It is marred by poorly drawn available and the size does make it build another one though.
be placed anywhere around the instructions, badly fitting parts and stand out. It will make a fine project Recommended, if only for its
vehicle and do add a little life to it. the requirement for clean-up on for super detailing and a quick scan size and originality. n
36 37
Completed front fork. The completed interior.

38
Side view.
39
The front end.
40
The completed seat and engine cover.

41
Top view.

KIT PREVIEW Italeri 1:35 M109 A2/A3/G • Kit No. 6589
A choice of muzzle brakes is offered.
One of the drive sprockets.
BIG GUN, Six decal

options are
offered.
WILL TRAVEL
Andy King examines the re-released Some detail is a bit crude by today’s standards.
Italeri 1:35 M109 A2/A3/G.
T
he M109 is a turreted over the years, even being breech and no clear parts are
self-propelled howitzer re-boxed by Matchbox in the mid in the kit either so some clever
that first appeared in the 1990s, Revell, Academy and even painting is required for the optical
early 1960s. It mounts Tamiya. system on top of the turret
a 155mm gun and the vehicle A model of this size has been (depending on which version you
has been upgraded several times condensed onto just three sprues do of course).
during its service life. It first moulded in an olive green plastic No less than six decal options
made its combat debut with the with the addition of two track are provided in the kit; A Spanish
US Army during the Vietnam types (T-136 chevron and NM-116 Marine M09A2 during 2019,
war and has seen service with NATO) moulded in vinyl and a two US Army vehicles from
a number of other countries decal sheet printed by Zanchetti 1967 during the Vietnam war, a
including Greece, Iran, The UAE, Buccinasco. US Army M109A2 from the 1st
Switzerland etc. The vehicle is Moulding quality is okay with a Armoured Division, Bn, 9th Field
also seeing action in Ukraine as little flash noticeable. Mould pin Art. Rgt, Bosnia 1995, An M109G
twenty two former Belgian units marks are confined to out of the from the Italian Army during Cupola.
were bought and refurbished by way places with the exception 1992 and finally a Belgian Army
the UK before being handed over of the tracks as these have pin M109A3 during 2001.
to the Ukrainian military. It also marks on the inner faces and This is not a bad looking kit but
served with the British Army being vinyl will be difficult to it could certainly use some love
but was eventually replaced remove. What is noticeable are from the aftermarket such as
by the AS90 and European the sink marks on the lower edge etched metal and tracks to really
countries are replacing it with the of the hull sides (parts B14 and deliver an impressive finish. n
Panzerhaubitze 2000. B18) and although they are not
The Italeri kit of the M09 has too deep, these will show up under Many thanks to The Hobby
been around for a long time, first a coat of paint. Trust me on this! Company Limited for the review
appearing as a new tool kit in No interior detail is included sample www.hobbyco.net
1983 that has been repackaged apart from a very basic gun
The road wheels are simple.
The one-piece upper hull. That’s one big turret!
The inner surfaces of the tracks have pin marks on the

22 Model Military International - January 2023 inner faces. Being vinyl these will be difficult to remove.
Outer track faces are fine.
NEW from the ‘HOW TO BUILD...’ series
How to Build...
TAMIYA’S 1:48 LOCKHEED P-38F/G LIGHTNING
By Marcus Nicholls
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an iconic US fighter from the Second World War. Its twin Allison
V12 engines were mounted in booms to free-up the nose so it could house a fearsome array of
four M2 Browning machine guns and a 20mm cannon. The twin-boom airframe became a sight
feared by enemies wherever it served, with good reason.
In 2019, after several years of painstaking research, Tamiya released an all-new kit of this sleek
aircraft and it has taken its place proudly in the 1:48 Aircraft Series as No.120 in the range.
In this new ‘How To Build’ book, Tamiya Model Magazine’s Editor, Marcus Nicholls, presents no
less than four built-up examples of Tamiya’s fantastic model; one Lightning each from Brett
Green and Spencer Pollard, plus two from Marcus Nicholls.
The second of Marcus’s models incorporates resin and photo-etched super-detail sets from
Eduard, showing how they can be used within the build to take the detail to an even higher
level. New photos of the other models show how Brett Green and Spencer Pollard built and
painted the models in their own styles.
The book includes four complete builds, covering the following topics:
n Adding photo-etched parts
n Using resin upgrade components
n Extending the nose undercarriage leg
n Upgrading the cockpit detail
n Weathering the airframe
n Alternative decal sets
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Spencer Pollard
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FEATURE ARTICLE Hobby Boss 1:35 Swedish CV90-40C IFV/W Additional All-Round Armour
TRE KRONOR
TANK KILLER
Karel Sutt converts
Hobby Boss’ 1:35
CV90 into the
Swedish CV90 120
Tank Killer

I used as the Hobby Boss Kit No.82475 called
Swedish CV90-40C IFV/W Additional All-round
Armour as the base of this project. This was
backed up by Voyager’s PE35461 set, Panzer Art’s
No.RE35-455 resin road wheels, Friul’s metal
tracks ATL-79 and Live Resin’s LRE35240 FLW
200 remote controlled weapon station. The total
cost of all items approached € 110.
I
f I recall correctly, my first
inspiration for this project
came years ago when I spotted
a CV90 120 tank sporting a
shape like Miss Universe. At that
moment I was sure this tank would
be one of my future modelling jobs.
My decision was later confirmed
when I noticed a concept of
Stridsvagn 2000. Totally different
from conventional tanks, this
version was fitted with a low-
profile turret with an automatically
loaded 140mm gun in the centre
and a 40mm Bofors gun to the left
to be used against light targets.
Unfortunately, with the end
of the Cold War and the collapse
of the Soviet Union not only this
but most of the other interesting
design projects were cancelled.
Both the CV90120 prototype and
the Stridsvagn 2000 concept
inspired me. The CV90 120 kit
doesn’t exist as a kit so I would
convert the CV9040, which
seemed to me the simplest way. A

Background
B The CV90 began life as a of the CV90 in service in seven combat value of the tank. Whilst was secondary armament with a
Swedish military design from the countries: Sweden, Norway, externally the chassis and the hull full automatic load system, then an
Haegglunds Company to develop Switzerland, Finland, Netherland, I let completely identical to the M2 cal .50 Machine Gun remote-
an infantry fighting vehicle in the Estonia and Denmark. Surprisingly, basic CV90, the main changes controlled weapon station (RCWS)
early 1980s and after seven years the development 90120 prototype were to the firepower arsenal and up on the turret and finally co-axial
of extensive trials and testing the did not receive any response in the the turret. I converted tank’s turret 7.62 mm machine gun inside the
vehicle was accepted for service form of orders. in a new gun because it offered turret left of main gun for anti-
with the Swedish Army in 1991. That is why I opened my the most lethal efficiency against infantry defence. This allows
The first vehicle armed with a design studio with the goal to get a large spectrum of heavy and the four-member crew (driver,
40mm Bofors gun was handed the CV90120 on a higher level, light targets. This new gun was commander and two gunners)
over in 1993. implementing some improvements the Rh 120mm/L55 main gun. The almost unlimited possibilities on
To date, there are 15 variants with the intention of increasing the 40mm/L70 Bofors autocannon the battlefield. A
construction
The unique shape of the muzzle brake was achieved by cutting a piece of brass tube then thirty-six round ports were drilled with 0,4mm bit
and finally all individual parts were glued together with DeBraven super glue. I installed a piece of thin aluminium foil like a detachable thermal
blanket around the length of the barrel.
The shape was created

by wrapping the foil
around the drill bit‘s
shank. The chosen
colour for the blanket
XF-57 Buff plus drop of
The first task of this conversion was a completely new main gun and XF-2 Flat White, lashing
at the same time the original 40mm calibre Bofors was left as the straps with mix of AK454
secondary weapon for destroying slightly light targets. Instead of Cooper and AK460 Brass
the more commonly used 120mm L50 RUAG gun I installed the more and ratchets with mix of
powerful Rheinmetall 120mm L55. This was a leftover part from Vallejo 77.704 Pale Burnt
the Leopard kit. I decorated the barrel with a distinctive pepper pot Metal with 77.712 Steel
muzzle brake.
Concurrently with the

barrel I was completing
Friul’s metal tracks.
No problem within this step

just have to point the ATL-79
purchase was unnecessary
due to the differences between
the metal and plastic original
tracks are insignificant.
The bigger problem that I had to solve was that the Panzer Art set only
had twelve wheels (CV90 runs had fourteen wheels!). As I found out
I was no exception as this deficiency appeared in all of these packs.
Fortunately the quality of the Hobby Boss kit is so good that its plastic
When the road wheels and the idler wheel were trial- wheels are comparable to resin wheels. Within a month or so Panzer I adapted the original Bofors cradle for the new 120mm gun.
fitted, I found that they were not in the same line. The Art sent me the two missing wheels but in spite of that I used the ones
simplest way for correction was extend a stub axle at from Hobby Boss with just a little modification. I sanded the wheels’
the idler arm. rubber tyres that would have been in contact with the road.
…and simultaneously
prepared a hole in the
turret for the 40mm
Bofors autocannon.
The bay for Bofors was

created by gluing plastic
plates around the hole
I decided on a different location for the smoke grenade launchers. The original dischargers were beside the
Commander’s and gunner’s cupolas. I removed and replaced them with another. Six of them are part of RWCS and
The ejection port for the 40mm shell cases on the top of the turret was blanked off with a the rest are on the discharge panel between the hatches. I used a panel of 17 electrically operated smoke grenade
small piece of photo-etch. launchers taken from the junk yard. This was originally part of the Leopard 2A6 Tamiya kit.

I loaded 10 of the 17 with chopped pieces of aluminium wire representing smoke grenades.
The pocket in the wall under the Commander’s hatch seemed to me like a
I glued a thick lead plate depicting titanium shot trap, so covering it up gave it a more aerodynamical, resistant shape.
alloy additional armour on the right side
of the turret behind the Commander. This
element makes this otherwise quite drab
area more interesting.
I situated another
The hunT for DeTails scratch built

supplement over the
large back door - a
camera covering rear
A couple of other scratch built or “trash yard” hemisphere.
improvements were made around the turret including
a double ball-shaped stabilised panoramic electro-
The lens of the
optical sensors. They are mounted on the top of the
camera was
turret and can rotate 360 degrees with 90 degrees
highlighted with
elevation, allowing it to follow air targets and high
transparent Tamiya
angle munitions that might be a danger to the vehicle.
X-23 Clear Blue.
I made this using

a ball bearing plus
a modified parts
from the hardware
shop. Inspiration
was provided by
the Internet. The
ball bearings were
too bright so the
stainless luminosity
was dulled down
with a couple of
layers of Tamiya
X-19 Smoke.
I installed blow-out panels on the skirts, each with a round shaped sensor in the middle
similar to PULAT Active Protection System. These sensors can detect various missiles and
RPGs heading to the vehicle’s position then activate and directed high explosive charge
towards the projectiles to disrupt large-calibre ammunition impacts on the vehicle.
For this task I used 8mm thick machinable plexiglass. The sensors were depicted by small bearing rollers.

The next step of the turret conversion was its extension at the back. A scale sketch and a The easiest sequence is to start with the bottom of the turret and work up. When measuring and cutting parts be sure to
suitably chosen thickness of the sheet with regard to its possible warping made this job allow for the thickness of the plastic.
easier. I began by cutting a separate piece of Evergreen plastic sheet for each flat plate.
The lines between

individual panels
were deepened
with a scriber.
I used fine
Saharan sand
The rear of the turret has been turned into Instead of plastic side steps I decided for more realistic woven and PVA glue to
ammo storage so two rounds (on back steel wire. Short lengths of cable jacket were put on the ends of accentuate the
and right-side) and two other rectangular the wire and then each step attached to the side skirt. For the tow existing non-slip
hatches (on top) were fitted. cable I used real wire as well but a little thicker and attached it at surfaces and
the turret‘s backwall. create new ones.
The lid of the engine compartment covered with mesh is not as

opaque as it would seem at the first glance, so I decided to fit at
least part of the engine underneath.
No problem finding a reference photo and various scraps for that scratch build task.

The rear fenders look better with real rubber sheet instead of plastic. Vision blocks of were covered with Polaroid stickers taken from the remnants of the K2 Black Panther kit.
I attached safety chains to each of the smoke launchers’ lids. Once when My intention was to present CV9012040 as a development prototype at the 2023 Eurostatory Exhibition
I was metal detecting, one of my finds was the Swedish Optimus No. and this inscription seemed to me quite appropriate and eye-catching for onlookers. BTW, Eurosatory runs
00 kerosene lamp. This suddenly came in very handy with its “Made in every uneven year – that’s why 2023.
Sweden Patent” inscription located beside the tank on the base like an
advertising placard. Another point of interest for the observant viewer.
Originally I wanted to detail

the tank turret with RCWS
Live Resin 35241 but that was
out of stock. Instead I bought
LRE 35240. Both are visually
identical and differ only in the
presence of a circular base.
Making and adding such a cool

element wasn’t any problem, I just
had to find and cut a piece of steel
tube and punched circular pad.

PAINTING
The model was washed in warm water

and detergent. The periscope windows
have been masked with Tamiya
Masking Tape to prevent overspray.
Running gear ready.
All the model’s subassemblies

were primed with Gunze Mr.
Finishing Surfacer 1500 Grey.

My idea for the top camouflage coat was a combination of digital scheme on the sides of the turret, Tamiya paints dry rapidly and I was able to move on the next stage. The second colour was Vallejo‘s Panzer
skirts and hull rear while the rest of the model was left in the classic green-black paint. The most time- Aces Light Rust lightened with 70.820 Off White. I used Vallejo 71.161 as the thinner. This assures smooth
consuming task was masking between the each colour step for the digital scheme. The first colour was H&S Infinity run.
mix of XF-55 Deck Tan with XF-57 Buff in an unspecified ratio.
After leaving the model overnight to dry, the process continued with XF-17 Sea Blue slightly lightened
with XF-55 Deck Tan.
Time for green colour. First of all to create contrast I pre-shaded/varied

upper panels with green shades when XF-5, XF-62, XF-21, XF-81, XF-7,
XF-71 and Mr Color 135 were mixed chaotically till my satisfaction.
Followed a little modulation the individual panels and surfaces by using multi coloured filters of 502 Abt
range → 010, 220, 235 and AK True Metal Steel thinned in ratio of 5 parts colour to 95 parts AK 047.
The filter was applied in an uniform way smoothly and without flooding the surface. I hoped the result I oversprayed a slight haze of XF-5
would not be killed by the last upper green layer. mixed with a small amount of XF-2.

Only the hull’s front panel was airbrushed with a “black”
pattern (XF-17 Sea Blue plus a small touch of XF-2 Flat White)
As the last stage in digital scheme I broke the black panels conformity licking some not-masked areas with heavily intentionally breaking dullness of the surrounding green. I put
thinned rusty mist (mix of XF-3+XF7+XF-64) black inside the apostrophes because the pure black doesn’t
give the same impression as the very similar Sea Blue.
As for the included

decals, I only used the
one with the number
marking. I created the
others myself including
the Swedish flag. Tamiya
tape was used to maskthe
Swedish flag. First a
rectangle with XF-3 Flat
Yellow, was sprayed, then
after 24 hours drying I placed a sticker of a flower next to the flag, which is for
The same dark shade was used for anti-slip patches, re-masking the yellow children’s nail decoration. The white corolla petals were
distinguishing them from green around. strips and spraying XF-8 repainted yellow using a fine brush. I don’t know why – it
Flat Blue over. is just my quirk!
The same yellow colour was

used again when painting the
three crowns on the opposite
skirt. The “Lift Here” decals
were taken from another kit.
I positioned these on each of
the three hatches above the
engine bay.

Time for the tracks.

In the first stage the
track were sprayed
Vallejo Metal Colour
77.712 thinned with
isopropylene alcohol.
Next a heavily thinned coat of rust was

applied over hairspray. This was rubbed
off in places immediately after the drying.
Finally, XF-85 Rubber Black was painted
Once dry, I used a large stiff brush and speckled a lot of irregular and multi-coloured small stains from Vallejo’s
over the track’s rubber pads.
Model Colour range.
Before the wash
Something between overall and a detail wash was

applied around the raised detail and recesses including
the road wheels and tracks. I used the so-called
Wauchop mix consisting Iron Oxide Black + toothpick
point of 502Abt220 Dark Brick Red and a little more of
Burnt Sienna oils, all thinned with AK 050.

After the wash.
Contrast around the details

such as screws and nuts were
picked out by careful painting
with a lightened version of the
ambient shade or a steel colour.
For this job I used my finest
brush that The Army Painter
calls “The Psycho” from my
brushes arsenal.
WEATHERING As my model was intended for display as the prototype at the Eurosatory show, logically
it would not have any mud on and only fine weathering to enhance the overall effect.
In a very controlled way and minimal quantities, AK Track Rust rusty toned pigment was stippled onto the lower part of A few touches of AK effects 676 Moss Deposit, 013 Rust Streaks, 4067 Dust & Dirt
side skirts and wheels. MIG Pigment Fixer and capillary action took care the rest of the work. Deposits and 067 Streaking Grime for DAK vehicles were applied with a fine brush.
The paints were spread vertically with a wide brush slightly dipped in AK 047 White Spirit.
This broke up the front view conformity on the lower glacis plate.
The .50 MG complex was mostly

brush painted with dark colours
such as XF-81, XF-19, XF-13, XF-71
and Vallejo Model Colour 142 US
Field Drab for better contrast with
the turret. The paints were mixed
with each other as per my taste. For
the chipping around the RCWS base
I used the sponge method with two
sponges of different porosity. Small
chips of black and silver oil colours
A silver Faber Castell 8200-251 pencil Albrecht Dürer added highlights were added to create different sized
and depth to those areas and edges affected by friction. chips, adding depth and interest to
the appearance.

CONCLUSION
I painted the turn and B First of all, I would like to say that weight up about of 20 tons, but
brake signals and lights I enjoyed this project quite a lot. this was taken into account when
before gluing them in There’s double-barrelled tank in choosing a more powerful 1500
position. This was the last
step of the build. For this front of me that’s completely alien HP German MTU 883 instead of
task I used transparent to how we normally consider a the original 670HP Scania engine.
Tamiya paints namely X-27 tank should look, yet strangely, Other sensitive particulars about
Clear Red, X-23 Clear Blue some aspects of its aesthetics are this fictitious tank are still secret
and X-26 Clear Orange recognisable. and will be revealed in the case of
allowing at least 24 hours
I did not encounter any major first binding order.
to dry. Then, to depict the
glass, I applied a dropl of problems but if you use Friul When I put the model on the
clear varnish. The light tracks, beware as I couldn't get base I was surprised at the
frame and screws were them through the gap between the stunning overall impression. With
underlined with the help fender and the sprocket. I had to all the improvements, this would
of black liner Kuretake
thin the fender by grinding off the have been a deadly effective
Mangaka 003
underside! weapon that could have been used
All the modifications made to against any present tank. n
the original CV90 increased the
“ I used Hobby Boss Kit

No.82475, Swedish CV90-40C
IFV/W Additional All-round
Armour as the base of this
project...
”

ft
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FEATURE ARTICLE Tamiya 1:48 KV-1 • Kit No. 32535
SERGEY MAKES
A WRONG TURN
Clayton Ockerby takes on
a limited-time construction
challenge for his Tamiya
1:48 scale KV-1.
A
s modellers we are
always finding ways to
squeeze a little extra
joy from the hobby.
Challenges between friends, group
builds, competing in competitions
and even club mystery builds
are all ways in which we throw
ourselves curveballs in an attempt
to expand our skillset and simply
enjoy our time in the hobby.
One of the more popular
challenges is that of the Blitz
Build. The Blitz Build is essentially
the challenge of starting and
finishing a kit in a specific set time.
I do love a Blitz Build because it
forces you to work quickly through
some of the challenges that can
crop up from time to time and
help create momentum through
the build. One of the key things
that derails a lot of builders is
that loss of momentum when
they hit an issue. We tend to
overthink solutions and then these
little problems and imperfections
become roadblocks and often the
kit ends up back on the shelf with
all the other shelf queens.
So I set myself a challenge. I had
a model show coming up with a
special category. It had to be 1:48
scale Russian WWII armour, built
out of the box…and I had 2 weeks
to complete it. So, when factoring
family, work and other things life
presents, I figured I had about
15 working hours to complete
the build. Start to finish. Was it
achievable? I guess time would tell.
People often ask me how long
a model took me to build, and I
rarely have a definitive answer
for them. Obviously, every kit is
different, but I thought it might
make for an interesting article to
map out the race against the clock
and what steps I took and when I
did them in the timeline. A

Construction begins with the wheels.

The drive sprockets include the black
poly-caps so they are workable, and
the other assemblies are a simple
front and back side of the wheel.
Minimal clean-up is required.
A lot of these Tamiya 1:48 range of military kits

come with the weighted hull. I know a lot of
people are indifferent with the inclusion, but I
really like the feel it gives to the model and adding
weight to the model is something I think I’ll take
into future builds. I like the way it feels in your The wheel assemblies are now attached to
hand whilst painting. The front and rear plates the hull. All of the swing arms are set in place,
are attached to the diecast hull using Superglue. so posing the model on anything other than
a flat terrain is going to be near impossible.
That said, the way the kit is manufactured
ensures all the wheels make excellent contact
with the ground. I’m about an hour into the
build at this point and all is going well.
Because I was looking to move

through the build phase quickly, I
decided to not get too fancy with
battle damage or any wear and tear. The turret comes supplied in two
The supports for the side rails are sections and is glued together. Various
attached as is the aerial mount and toolboxes as well as the transmission
vision hatch for the driver. covers are applied to rear deck.
B Before I start though, I always of the pre-war period proved to generating 550 Hp. It weighed 44 to penetrate its armour. Even the
like to share a little history on the be less than adequate in combat. tonnes and had a crew of five. feared German 88 found it difficult
subject I am building. I have a real Stalin ordered for a single-turret Constant transmission issues to knock it out.
soft spot for the T-34, but the KV-1 heavy tank to be produced to plagued the KV-1 as well as its Production ceased in July of
comes a close second. The bulky replace them. That tank became limited speed. 1941 however large numbers had
footprint and heavy-hitting gun are known as the KV-1. The KV-1 maiden battle was been produced. 5219 examples
just so menacing and make for an The armour of the KV-1 was up during Operation Barbarossa in were built and were active during
interesting model. to 75mm in places and carried a the Summer of 1941. The battle the duration of the war. Along with
The KV-1 came about after the 76.2mm main gun. It was powered saw the tank taking on Panzer IIIs the T-34, the KV-1 played a major
early, multi-turreted hulled tanks by a water-cooled V-2 diesel and Panzer IVs that were unable role in defence of Russia. A
The detail on the kit supplied parts was good, but Another prominent feature seen on
with a little extra effort the pieces can be easily Soviet armour is the rough texture
enhanced. Flame cuts are a feature that can be formed during the casting process of the
seen on a lot of the soviet armour. The effect armour plate. To simulate the texture,
is created but adding small and numerous cuts Mr Hobby Dissolved Putty is stippled
across the part with a sharp scalpel. The effect over the part using an old brush. The
is then softened with a coat of Tamiya extra thin assembly looks messy however when dry
cement. You can see the difference from the kit it will receive a light sand and a coat of
supplied part on the left and the enhanced piece primer and it will all make sense. 4 hours
on the right. 3 hours in and counting… and getting closer to paint.
The turret assembly is

completed, and the part
is just about ready for
paint. You can see the
difference the flame
cuts make to the part.

The top and bottom sections receive a The kit comes with link and length
coat of Mr Surfacer and immediately tracks. The natural sag that is moulded
the work on the textured surface is into the track looks good on the sprue, so
apparent. Completely worth the effort. I felt satisfied they would be adequate to
The two halves are not yet attached as use on the kit. As a bit of a short cut, the
the track assemblies will follow shortly. track pieces were painted using a mix
of German Red Brown and German Grey
giving a reddish Grey colour to the parts.
The underside and wheels are base coated in Dark Green and the
contact points of the wheels and return rollers and painted in
Leadbelcher from Citadel and the rubber sections on the return
rollers are hand painted using Black Grey. (6 hours and counting.)
A small cup of dirt from the garden is mixed

with a small amount of static grass and
clippings from a ball of seagrass. This will be
used during the next stage to add some natural
texture to the mud around the wheel sections.
The link and length tracks

are now attached to the
wheel sections. Fit was
perfect and the KV-1 was
now taking shape. Any glue
marks would be easily fixed
with some careful touch- The dirt and scatter was mixed with Dark Earth terrain from AK Interactive and
ups with the airbrush. stippled along the hull using an old brush. The edges of the paste can be blended
with the paintwork using tap water.
The paste is added to the tracks however I stopped short of applying it
to the tracks that will be sitting on the ground. It’s a part of the model
that will never be seen and adding the mix to this part would potentially
interrupt the way the model sat when on a flat surface.

With the tracks assembled and the initial

weathering to the underside complete, the top
section and turret are now attached to each
other using Superglue. The instruction call out I’d always had intentions of weathering this model with a heavy hand. Weathering
for these parts to be connected using a couple more often than now drags the overall tone of the model down, so to combat that I
of screws however I’d covered up the holes, set about lightening the base green colour. A mix of 4BO and Gray Green was applied
so the glue was the next best solution. A base to the horizontal surfaces and top edges of the model. The mix was then lightened
coat of Dark Green XF-61 was then applied using Deck Tan and the coverage area reduced each time I lightened the paint.
over the model. (8 hours and everything is
looking on track) The model was looking a little desaturated, so a
heavily thinned mix of yellow and white was used
to add vibrancy to some of the horizontal surfaces.
I’d been debating as to how I was going to execute the camouflage on the model. Whilst the
camouflage is somewhat real, it isn’t based of reference but was inspired by it. I decided to freehand
the shapes using a diluted mix of White. I wanted the white camouflage to be hard edged so I couldn’t
just spray it on. I also felt trying to mask this with masking putty would have been time consuming
and clumsy. I guess time would tell how successful this technique would be…
I attempted to fill the shapes I’d just outlined using an airbrush however the over-spray was terrible,
and it became obvious that wasn’t going to work. I ended up hand painting the shapes in using a
thinned mix of Vallejo White using a flat brush. It wasn’t perfect but would be adequate once the
weathering was layered over the top.
(Id wasted a lot of time with this
detail and I was now up to 12
hours into the build)
The overspray and sloppy finish was

troubling me, so a quick way to help
tie the paintwork together is to add a
post-shade layer to the model. A heavily
thinned mix of Black and Red brown is
used to outline the shapes and shaded
into some of the recesses and around
details. The effect adds volume to the
finish and helps unify the paintwork.
The muddy textured paste is now applied to

the underside and rear sections of the tank
and well as along the side guards. A stippling
An oil wash is then applied using a mix of Starship Filth action using a sponge is the ideal way to keep
and Shadow Brown. The effect is applied focussing on the effect realistic whilst adding volume and
rivets and recesses and further deepens then visual texture to the mud paste.
volume of the model.

I should have probably
addressed the chipping prior The muddy effect was then enhanced by flicking various
to adding the mud, but in the tones of Earth colour enamels. The ‘Splashes range from
scheme of things it didn’t Ammo has a very high pigment content, so additional volume
really matter. Superficial can be added to the model simply by flicking it at the areas
chipping was then added you want to build up the effect.
around the model. Particular
attention was paid around
the engine hatch and around
leading edges that would
have been venerable to
wear and tear. The effect is
created using a small piece
of sponge and dabbing on
German Black Brown acrylic
paint. (14 hours and this was
starting to get tight!)
Detail such as the engine

covers, exhausts and
machine guns were now
painted using a fine brush
and Vallejo acrylics.
Exhaust staining is airbrushed on using a thinned mix of XF-1 The tow cables are attached to the model and some of the exposed edges around the turret and the cables
are polished using a silicone brush and gun-metal pigment powder. It is important to keep this effect
refined because it can be easily overdone.
I’ve never added snow to a model

before, so I thought this would be my
best opportunity to try something
new. I made a slurry of snow paste
using a mix of Snow Sprinkles, white
acrylic paint, Bi-Carb Soda and PVC
Glue. I didn’t work off any ratios, jut
worked on gut feel. The paste was
then applied over the model in logical
paces that snow and ice might gather.

At this stage the model was done, and I’d managed to get a result after 16 hours. The model made the
display table for the show however I felt like there was a bit of unfinished business with it. I thought
I’d go one better and incorporate it into a small vignette. I’ve been wanting to experiment with the
snow effects for a while now, so with the pressure of getting the model build now out of the way I
felt this was the perfect opportunity. After planning the basic size of the scene, a piece of blue foam
was cut in an irregular shape using a hot wire cutter. A thin layer of modelling clay was applied to the
surface. Whilst still wet, tyre marks and track indentations were pressed into the clay.
Once the clay was dry the surface was coated in Dark terrains The same snow mix that was used on the model was now applied to the Once the snow elements were dry, a combination of Dark Mud and Wet
acrylic paste diluted with water. This helped add texture to the base in a similar fashion. A combination of the three mediums seemed Ground enamel paints were thinned using white spirit and applied as a
surface, fill in some cracks that had formed as well as establish to give the most realistic result. wash. This helped integrate the snow and mud sections together. The
the muddy tones of the scene. edge if the base was also finished in a thinned mix of black acrylic paint.
To finish off the scene a I

managed to find a couple of resin
figures I have had in the stash
for years. They are made by
‘Squad 48’. The casting wasn’t
perfect but the poses and the
expressions from the original
sculpt were very good. They
were painted using acrylics from
Vallejo and washes from Citadel.
With everything then

glued in place the vignette
was now complete.
B CONCLUSION
My challenge to myself was to
paint and weather the 1:48 scale
KV-1 in 15 hours and get it on to
the display table. Did I achieve
that? Well…not really, but 16 hours
was close enough to get it over the
line and on the table, so I’ll take
that as a win.
What this did turn into was
an experiment in moving out of
my comfort zone and trying new
techniques with painting the white-
wash camouflage as well as working
with wet effects, mud and snow
terrain. Overall, I was happy with
the finished result and the poses
of the figures set against the tank
created an interesting little story to
add to the display cabinet. n

“ What this did turn
into was an experiment
in moving out of my
comfort zone and
trying new techniques
with painting the
white-wash camouflage
as well as working with
wet effects, mud and
snow terrain...
”

FEATURE ARTICLE Takom 1:35 AML-90 French Light Armoured Car • Kit No. 2077
LITTLE
BIG
GUN
Javier Redondo Giminez adds

detail to Takom’s AML-90
French Light Armoured Car.
T
he Auto Mitralleuse Legere is a
four-wheel drive light armoured car
designed by the French company
Panhard during the 1950s to meet the
requirements of the French army for a light,
small vehicle armed with a powerful gun.
The two main versions of the AML are armed
with a low velocity 90 mm gun or a 60 mm
mortar. More than 5,000 have been produced
in France and South Africa since 1960.
The AML has been sold to more than 30
countries and has seen action in most of the
modern conflicts on one or both sides, from
the Falklands to Desert Shield.
The Takom kit provides markings for one
Iraqi Army vehicle and this is the one that I
have depicted.
The only after-market parts used were the
FC Model Trend 3d printed baskets and the
Blast Model resin wheels.
The infra-red device over the gun mantlet
was scratch built and the rest of homemade
improvements may be seen in the photos. n

For the base layer we are going to use the colour

Iraqi Army Desert Sand from Real Colors applied
in thin and successive layers with an airbrush.
The rubber flaps were painted by hand with Dark Rubber from Model Color After letting the paint dry for 24 hours I applied a filter with Humbrol Matt Leather Enamel by diluting in
White Spirit to give warmth to the base colour.
“depict
The vehicle I wanted to
was captured by
the US troops who added
their own markings using
adhesive tape...
”
The lower part of the vehicle received some
pigments applied dry with a brush.
I fixed the pigments by wetting

the surface with White Spirit.

The nooks and crannies of the lower parts were outlined with Tamiya I added some splashes using Vallejo Dark Brown Wash. Next I enhanced the volumes using Burnt Umber oil paint diluted
XF-72 Brown JGSDF. with White Spirit.
British Light Mud colour, diluted with 90% water, was

applied between the rim and the tyre. In order to break
the water tension I added a drop of dishwashing liquid.
The tyres were painted using

Tire Black from Hobby Colour.
The same pigments used on the lower part of the vehicle was used again I remove the excess pigment from the tread using the fingertip. The finishing touch was drawing a ring with Tire Black paint
on the wheels taking care make sure they remained in the tyre tread.
I outlined hatches, panel lines and

details using a Natural Umber oil
wash, cleaning the excess with a
brush and White Spirit.
It is time to place the decals. In this case I just used the license plates, adapting them with the
Micro products

Once finished, I applied Worn Effects over the Worn Effects on the surface of the exhaust pipe. Next I painted it with the base colour. I finished by washing out part of the colour with water.
exhaust.
I painted some chips using Dark Rust from Panzer Aces and a fine pointed brush, using the real vehicle picture I used a mix of Green and Yellow to paint the periscopes lenses. Once dry, I covered them with a layer
as reference. of gloss.
The weathering part of the painting

process was done using many oil colours.
I worked by sections, moistening the surface with White Spirit and A brush moistened in White Spirit was passed in vertical
depositing small amounts of oil over it. movements blurring the oils until they left only translucent traces.
The movement should be circular for the horizontal zones
The vehicle I wanted to depict was captured by the US

troops who added their own markings using adhesive tape.
I used Tamiya masking tape to reproduce these.
The strips were fixed in position once they had This method provides a more realistic look tan the decals offered with the kit.
been cut to the right size and painted black.

The rust marks at the fenders were painted using translucent dark rust oil applied with a fine pointed brush. White spirit was sprayed at low pressure to let the rust stains drain down in a realistic way.
The blurred marks

look nice once dry.
Polished metal was depicted using a graphite pencil. Using the fingertips to rub the graphite is an old-school technique.

Time to use the pigments again. This time I

The effects of spilled oil in the engine were reproduced using Fuel Stains diluted in thinner applied with an airbrush. applied them at selected zones at the lower
part of the vehicle and horizontal zones.
I reproduced dry grease stains around the turret rim with Dark Brown wash. I painted many little patches around the turret race, diluting them at different degrees to imitate stains
produced in different times.

Book Reviews
BRITISH CAVALRYMAN THE HAWK AIR BRITTANY 1944,

VS GERMAN DEFENSE MISSILE HITLER’S FINAL
CAVALRYMAN, BELGIUM SYSTEM OSPREY NEW VANGUARD 309, 2022
DEFENSES IN
AND FRANCE 1914
OSPREY COMBAT 66, 2022
BY MARC ROMANYCH AND JACQUELINE SCOTT
ISBN 978 1 4728 5221 2
FRANCE
OSPREY CAMPAIGN 320, 2018
BY ALAN STEELE BY STEVEN ZALOGA
ISBN 978 1 4728 4882 6 ISBN 978 1 4728 2737 1
The Stahlrohrlanze is a wicked looking weapon, On “Hot Status” 24 hour shifts HAWK crews called Patton had wagered with Montgomery that US
sharply-pointed and streamlined, it can only it the “Holiday And Weekend Killer”. At the highest troops would be in Brest by 5 August, but on
have one function – killing and maiming. But it alert level front-line HAWK units had a 20 minute September 17 British Crocodile flamethrowers and
would be other cavalry weapons, the German response time. US 29th Division were still attacking Fort Montbarey
Karabiner 98AZ and British Lee-Enfield that would The Homing All the Way Killer was the first outside Brest. The Breton Festung ports, fortified
be more lethal. Training – equitation, the training operational mobile surface-to-air missile system of Kriegsmarine bases, were priority objectives for
of horse and rider to respond to commands, the Cold War. A short-medium range SAM, HAWK Allied resupply operations. Following the Normandy
horsemastership - the care of the horse, drill in batteries comprised three-missile launchers, a long breakouts and the Allied eastward advance their
formation manoeuvres, weapons training, and distance acquisition PAR radar, a CWAR low level importance diminished. US VIII Corps’ tank divisions
morale were essential adjuncts. Very soon after radar, target tracking illuminator radars, a range led the push, isolating Brittany before being
the BEF arrived in Belgium the Allied Armies began only radar - supplying range data and less sensitive repositioned to Patton’s advance.
to withdraw. At Casteau near Mons, the British 4 to jamming - control, guidance, data handling and The Breton Maquis contributed by capturing
Dragoon Guards charged German kurrassier, hussar communications centres – BCC, ICC and PCP, with river crossings and supporting US infantry units.
and uhlan units, the first British cavalry charge in differing functions - transport vehicles, and power Facing the Corps’ infantry, reinforced by tanks,
Continental Europe since the Crimean War, as well generators. The Assault Fire Unit was a simpler tank destroyers, SPGs and heavy artillery, were
as the first shot fired by a British soldier in WW1. stripped down system. five German divisions, though understrengh and
A week later, at Cerizy-Moy near St Quentin, the Though there were some permanent site HAWK most being Bodenstandig, medically unfit coastal
British Independent 5 Cavalry Brigade fought the units, in wartime most batteries would relocate from defence formations, supplemented by ex-POW Ost
3 Garde-Kavallerie-Brigade, a larger battle amongst bases to prearranged more secluded areas. A M548 battalions. 2. Fallschirmjager Division defended
hills and valleys, farms and cornfields, involving Cargo Carrier based tracked launcher for facilitating Brest. Manned by marine, army and Luftwaffe units,
flanking manoeuvres, and an inexplicable German movement was troubled by faults. coastal gun batteries, flak batteries, forts, bunkers
halt mid-charge on an exposed slope to engage The first Basic HAWK systems utilising tube and strongpoints ringed the ports.
British cavalry with dismounted rifle fire. On the electronics proved fragile in field conditions leading The St Malo garrison aided by StuG IIIs and booty
7 September, the Allied counteroffensive began to improved IHAWK, and later PIP upgrades with French field artillery held out against infantry attacks,
and the British 2 Cavalry Brigade confronted 1 solid state electronics, enhanced performance bombing and Royal Navy warship bombardment for
Garde-Dragoner-Regiment, a short fierce battle radars, speedier target engagement, and faster more a month. Three US infantry divisions besieged Brest,
of skirmishing troops and subunits units around lethal missiles. HAWK battalions in US Army and occupying the surrounding peninsulas, fighting
Montcel, east of Paris that included a lance versus Marine units served in Cold War confrontations and Bocage battles in the outer defences for dominating
lance cavalry charge and a German cavalry charge conflicts: Korea, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, and high points. The inner defences were fights for forts,
destroyed by British dismounted rifle volleys. with NATO Allies forming a “HAWK Belt”, across bunkers, strong points, and street battles.
Within a few weeks, mobile warfare had begun to Germany, Northern and Southern Europe. Exported On 19 September the Brest commander capitulated.
solidify into trench fighting, and many cavalry units to Israel and Iran, HAWK missiles downed aircraft in Other Brittany ports were liberated after Germany
disbanded as infantry. the Arab-Israeli Wars and Iran-Iraq War. surrendered. Illustrations and maps show advance
Recommended. Much investigative work has gone into this little routes, locations of units and fortifications. A
Thanks to Osprey for the sample researched AA missile system. multifaceted campaign, the author has pulled
www.ospreypublishing.com Recommended. together the strands into a coherent narrative.
John Ham Thanks to Osprey for the sample Recommended.
www.ospreypublishing.com Thanks to Osprey for the sample
John Ham www.ospreypublishing.com
John Ham
WAR IN UKRAINE – VOLUME 1:
ARMED FORMATIONS OF THE
DONETSK PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC,
2014-2022
BY EDWARD CROWTHER
PUBLISHED BY HELION & COMPANY LIMITED
GUIDE PRICE £19.95
ISBN: 978 1 915070 66 1
78PP, SOFTBACK, 297 X 210MM
This book could hardly be more topical, describing breakaway regions amount to about 40,000 troops and only served as a great propaganda item.
events and equipment in the Donetsk region up and at the time of writing this book, the estimates A long section of the book describes the equipment
until February 2022 when Russia’s army rolled into are that the conflict has claimed at least 14,000 used by the Donetsk forces, the vast majority of it
Ukraine in large numbers. Although the Donetsk lives. These will be a combination of military and provided by Russia during the period covered by this
People’s Army has used Russian equipment the civilian deaths on both sides. While the rest of book. There are lots of photos and a set of pages of
author points out the fact that the army was being Ukraine was removing statues and other reference colour artwork profiles of some of the main items
run largely as a force independent of the Russian to old Soviet leaders, the Ukrainian eastern used, with good descriptive captions. Everything
state and even developed and manufactured some regions were very protective of the old communist from uniforms, unit insignia, patches and medals for
its own equipment. It is an army in its own right, personalities even go back as far as Tsar Nicholas II bravery are illustrated and described in this book.
having more main battle tanks than some western who was murdered by the communist. This is a book that answers many questions that
nations combined. It is very clear that without the The book goes on to describe the workings of those of us who take in interest in the conflict in
level of support by Moscow, the breakaway regions the Donbas breakaway state, its organisation, Ukraine would look to be addressed. Broadcast
of Ukraine would still be an undisputed part of the propaganda machine and symbology that is very news hardly touches the topics described in this
whole of Ukraine. much modelled on the Russian Federation. book. It is a very good read by an author who until
Chapter 1 clarifies the origins and reasons for At a very beginning of fighting, the newly formed recently lived and worked in Ukraine so was on the
the conflict in the two eastern Ukraine regions of Donetsk army was in trouble when it met strong spot from soon after the Donetsk campaign began
Donetsk and Luhansk that both declared themselves Ukrainian forces and came close to defeat, forcing until early 2022.
independent republics, separate from Ukraine. These the Kremlin to send ground troops to assist. The Thanks to Helion for supplying their recent title for
were both recognised by the Kremlin as stand-alone book goes on to describe the organisations within review. We strongly urge readers to have a look at
nations just before the Russian invasion of Ukraine the Donetsk army, its battles and its equipment. this publisher’s web site (helion.co.uk) to see the
in February 2022. That first chapter will answer One strange addition to its armour strength was in vast range of titles on offer across all military topics.
many questions by readers as to why the eastern the form of a JS-3 WWII vintage Russian tank that Books can be bought on-line through the Helion
Ukraine region was out of step with the rest of the was removed from its memorial plinth, repaired web site or from your local bookshop who will be
country and how they organised themselves into to running order and pressed into use with the pleased to order any titles not on their shelves.
independent rogue states. Donetsk army. However, it was only a matter of days Recommended.
It is estimated that the armed forces of the two before it was set aside having no operable main gun Alan Firbank

1:48 Scale – A round-up of the latest news and releases
THESE TWO HANDS
AN INTERVIEW WITH MIKE SZPAKOWSKI
Most modelers take for granted what we all seem to have, be
it good eyesight, steady hands, or a raft of other things that
physically enable us to enjoy the hobby.
From a personal perspective, I have noticed my eyesight
gradually degrading to the point now where I wear glasses.
Even so, it’s an age thing and not of any real concern.
Some of us however have physical ailments that hinder and in
some cases stop what we all enjoy.
I have focused on mental health in the past and how the
hobby can help in that regard but this month I’d like to
discuss what it would be like to have something that would
put most of us out of the game entirely.
Mike Szpakowski is an inspiring modeler and this is his story:
Luke: Hi Mike. Good to have you with us this month. Can you tells us a Luke: This may seem like a touchy subject but, how did this affect your
little about yourself – where you live and a bit of your background mental health? And what steps did you take to help you recover from
and how you got into the hobby itself? what I would consider a life changing event?
Mike: Thanks for having me, Luke. Here’s some quick background. I Mike: I struggle with chronic pain and at times depression. My accident
was born in 1969 Warsaw Poland and emigrated from behind the led not only to my injuries but also a divorce. Life is an adventure,
Iron Curtain in 1983. I moved with my family and we settled in and a short one at that. I remind myself that I was lucky to
Toronto. My first experience with scale models was watching my survive my crash and there are plenty of things to do in the
uncle build airliner kits in the late 1970s. By the early 1980s I was years to come. In the last few years since I have met an amazing
building my own 1:72 kits. woman and became a father. I could no longer ride a motorcycle
After relocating to Canada and starting high school I discovered a but, I was determined to get back to painting, drawing and scale
tiny hobby shop within walking distance of our home and spend modelling. Even during my hospital time, I was re-learning how
every penny on Matchbox, and Airfix armour. Soon it was 1:35 to draw with my left hand, sharpening my pencils with a hobby
Tamiya tanks. knife and one hand was the first step towards getting back to the
By 1985 I had my first airbrush and I started buying scale model workbench.
magazines and books. Then came the usual break during my My time at the bench was always the time to relax, now it is even
twenties. During that time I studied art and became a blacksmith more important to me. It takes my mind of the constant nerve
for a while. I picked up the hobby again at 28 after moving pain; it gives me a sense of accomplishment. Having been forced
to Vancouver BC, working full time as a mould maker for an to retire from a job early sounds fantastic to many. To be honest
architectural restoration company. The city had a large-scale it is difficult. I have always worked, since the age of fifteen, and
modelling community, I joined IPMS chapter there. Soon I enjoyed the different careers I’ve had. This hobby fills that void.
discovered photo-etch and resin. I dived into modelling and never
looked back. Luke: What advice could you pass on to others that may find themselves in
a similar situation?
Luke: Mike, can you tell us a little about the accident that led to your injury?
Mike: The first year at the workbench was most frustrating. Airbrushing
Mike: Yes, my motorcycle accident was a huge life-changing event. continues to be even now. But slowly I figured out how to
At 35 I moved to Nova Scotia, where I still live. I worked at an build. Blue-tac is my best friend now, there are lumps of the
aerospace manufacturing plant in their foundry and as a fitter stuff all over my bench, lol. I purchased various bench top tools
doing assembly, mostly Bell helicopters and the F variant of the and clamps; I tape my sanding sticks, sandpaper to the bench,
Chinook. During a trip to an annual motorcycle rally I crashed my and run my parts over them. Most importantly I take my time
Harley Davidson and ended up in hospital for four months with when building. I believe my skills as a modeller have improved
a shattered left leg and paralysed right arm. From the start the because of it. After 6 years, doing anything with one hand is
doctors were clear that I was facing life-long and severe nerve second nature. Yes, I still get frustrated and avoid aircraft kits,
pain and would never regain the use of my dominant right hand. and motorcycle kits. Putting together a bike frame while at the
Then came multiple surgeries. I regained some function in my same time holding on to the engine and wheel assemblies is
shoulder and elbow, my hand however was beyond repair. While a nightmare for me. The same goes for any subassembly that
in recovery I had to decide how I will deal with this disability. I requires more than 3 parts to be glued at the same time. I have
opted to have the useless hand amputated. built those kits with mixed results.
Armour is still my favourite subject. For anyone in a comparable

Luke Pitt hosts MMI’s examination of the growing world
of 1:48 scale military models, figures and accessories.
situation I want to say, it’s just a matter of practice, positive

attitude and a bit of ingenuity. Yes, you will probably ruin
countless kits, get frustrated and make mistakes. But that’s all
part of learning or re-learning any skill. Even when I had both
hands, I had experienced similar frustrations. No reason to give it
up. It might seem like an impossible task until you actually start
doing it. Of course, having years of modelling with both hands
behind me made it easier.
Luke: What has kept you in the hobby for the last 25 years?
Mike: Probably what keeps everyone in it. A passion for history, passion
for learning and a satisfaction of creating. I spend as much time
and effort on research as I do on building my kits and dioramas.
Like most modellers I try to improve, be it my airbrushing skills or
knowledge of the subject or accuracy of my model. Over time I
improved, and I can’t help but imagine my next model, and how
much better it could be then the last one I made.
Luke: Great answer Mike! We all have people we admire in the hobby who
are some of yours?
QUICK TRACKS
Mike: There are countless amazing artists who push modelling to DMSH TRACKS FOR THE T-55
higher and fantastic levels. The Internet opens the world of scale ITEM NO. T-48005
modelling as nothing else in the past. Like many, I also have I’ll start off this review with a little stort. Old guys like to do that, don’t
modellers I look up to. I love the works of Jean-Paul Dewar they? Anyway, while doing my grocery shopping the other day I was
Jean Diorama for his unique subject matter and composition, looking for a packet of Sultanas. I asked one of the ladies where they were
Alex Clark for the insane devotion to detail, David Parker for his and she quickly showed me. I asked if she had the premium variety? She
dedication to accuracy, wonderful overall look of Allan Wells’ said yes, but added that the cheaper ones taste the same to which I replied
I’ve tried those but I like the premium better. She replied, but they all taste
models, Michael Rinaldi’s innovating approach to painting and
the same! I smiled and said thanks and purchased the premium variety.
weathering with oils… these are the modellers who never fail to
Now, to her, I was just wasting my money but to me, I was willing to pay
inspire me.
a dollar more for the packet because I simply liked the taste of the premium
ones. Which brings us to this review.
Luke: What drew you to 1:48? The Tamiya 1:48 T-55 has a lovely set of link and length tracks with a quite
wonderful track sag between the front idler to the rear drive sprocket. I’ve
Mike: It is my favourite scale for a couple of reasons. Most of the kits seen these built right out of the box and they look great.
are great straight out of the box yet are a wonderful platform for I heard some outstanding reports on these Quick Tracks, and I can report
further detailing. If I want a weekend build a 1:48 tank works just that they are all true. 200 tracks are suppled and they are outstanding
as well as if I want a three month project. The price is lower than prints. They go together easily are wonderfully thin in profile and fit the
1:35, so purchasing aftermarket sets is not such a heavy hit on Tamiya sprocket like a glove. I can’t fault them in any way. They even have
the wallet. The builds take up less display space too, so building the casting marks on the outside of the track surface.
a larger diorama with multiple figures and vehicles is very much But the real game changer for me was the way they hold their sag once
doable. For the first couple of years after my injury I enjoyed you put them together. They are flexible but kind of stiff as well, which
building 1:48 kits out of the box. When I was once again was makes reproducing that beautiful French curve you often see between the
comfortable with the basics, I began adding aftermarket parts. The front idler rear drive sprocket of the T-55 so easy to achieve. The detail on
addition of 3D printed parts is a game changer for me personally. I these is both finer and crisper that the Tamiya vesion and if you use the
could no longer assemble Fruil tracks, I tried few times. Now snap- same analogy as my sultana example, they are simply better.
Thanks to Quick Tracks for the sample www.quickwheelstore.com
fit printed sets let me add more detail to my tanks.
Highly Recommended.
Luke Pitt
Luke: Looking at your Facebook profile you make no mention of your injury.
To be honest, I find that to be both incredibly brave and kind of cool
and uplifting at the same time.
Mike: I try not to make the fact that I build models with only one
hand to be the focus of my Facebook posts. I do mention it on
occasion, but only when I get truly frustrated over something -
usually, a simple task in the past. I did call the Facebook page
dedicated to my scale models Dead Hand Studio, maybe not
the most creative name in hindsight. It was created shortly
after my accident, and I did it to push myself. Once it was up,
I needed to build and show some content. The platform is also
there so I could see my own progress, way to check myself for
improvement. At this point I just build, like everyone else. It
brings me peace, it’s a distraction from pain and it gives me sense
of accomplishment. I have made countless friendships through
scale modelling and is a fantastic way to connect with people
who share my passion. Thank You Luke for letting me share a
little of my personal experience as a scale modeller
Luke: It’s been a pleasure Mike. I believe your life experiences and indeed
your attitude will be an inspiration to many Thank you for sharing.

1:48 Scale – A round-up of the latest news and releases
OVERLORD MINIATURES
SKODA PA-11 ZELVA
ITEM NO. 48-0020
This Czechoslovakian Armoured Car was designed in
1923. It was powered by a Praga RHP 6Cyl 4v 9730cc
engine generating 55hp at a rather low 1500rpm. It
was capable of 70 kph and had a range of 250 kms. It
had a double drive system that allowed it to be driven
and steered both equally backward or forward. There
were two drivers, fore and aft depending on which way
you looked at it. They were seated behind fold-down
armoured shutters. The Turtle was also 4wd but its off-
road performance was somewhat less than dazzling.
Combat weight was 7.36 tons. That combined with poor
suspension and inadequate tyres probably accounted for MAC ONE MODELS
the poor off-road performance. WWII SOVIET SOLDIERS
The body was hammer formed and then riveted to a steel support frame giving rise to its unusual Modelled by Manel Arin, the figures in this revue
symmetrical push-me pull-you appearance. The vehicle had a crew of five housed in somewhat cramped come in a tough clear plastic blister pack with
conditions - a Commander, 2 gunners and the two aforementioned drivers. It was armed originally on the artwork of the finished figures and internet
Czech version with 4 ball mounted Schwarzlose 7.92 MG’s A total of only 12 vehicles were built. After contact details included on a card inside.
the Nazi Annexation of Czechoslovakia in1938 it appears a number of Turtles migrated their way onto the The two figures are crisply moulded in a softish
Wehrmacht inventory, then being converted to radio vehicles with some apparently seeing service through light grey resin with a low parts count of 11
to the end of hostilities in 1945. making up this set.
On to the kit itself. The kit comes in a stout cardboard box with the kit parts sandwiched inside with Both figures are sculptured wearing the
protective foam. No instructions are included, but there is a QR code link to the web site and a set of Telogreika padded jacket and Ushanka fur
instructions are available to be downloaded if so desired…...it is a brave new world indeed! Realistically caps. A spare helmet is included but some
though, instructions are not really required as the parts breakdown is simple, and assembly is self-evident Frankenstein surgery will be required to fit it to
due to some clever engineering. The main body, chassis and parts are cast in light grey resin, individually either of the heads if so desired.
wrapped in clear plastic pockets. Both figures have realistic anatomical features
Parts count is a mere 28, crisp in moulding with little or no flash. The parts that I test fitted went together with wonderfully expressive faces and hands.
flawlessly which should facilitate in no more than a couple of hours construction at best. The PPSh -41 SMG is carried by both soldiers,
The removal and clean-up of pour tabs should be quick and fuss free due to their placement and some one weapon has a round magazine while the
well thought out engineering. Having said all that, none of the doors and hatches are able to be posed other is curved.
open nor the wheels/steering posable without major resin surgery, which in turn see what I did there can Fit of parts is good with nothing more than a
be rather problematic especially if you want to put your own individual stamp on your model. But that is thin application of a suitable gap filler required
exactly what I intend to do with this kit. on the joints.
The Turtle reminds me of the Pushmi Pullyu from the 1960s movie Dr Doolittle. It is without doubt a I’m of the belief that great figures make painting
curious shape, but a shape that is strangely appealing if not unusual for an armoured vehicle. It is also quite much easier and these samples surely fall into
a large vehicle, when compared to a 1:48 Tamiya Tiger I, it is as long and as tall but only half the width! this category. With the addition of some slings
With some of the wonderfully colourful camo schemes this beast wore, it truly stands out in a crowd. for the weapons and careful painting, these
Alternatively, you could also add a fin and propeller to one end, some funky periscopes and paint the figures would pop and be a grand inclusion to
whole thing bright yellow…. Yeah, I’m a child of the 1960s! Don’t forget modelling is meant to be fun. any Eastern Front themed diorama.
In conclusion, this is a great little big kit and an ideal introduction to resin modelling for the uninitiated. Highly Recommended.
It is an interesting subject of a rare vehicle with some really nice camo possibilities. It comes highly Thanks to Mac One Models for the sample
recommended and I for one look forward to further releases from this company. www.maconemodels.com
Thanks to Overlord Miniatures for the review sample www.overlordminiatures.com Alan Wells
Highly Recommended.
Alan Wells

Incoming
A round-up of the latest news and releases in 1:72 and 1:76
Kit contents.
Beautiful detail on the bonnet.

DRAGON
1:72 SAS BUSHMASTER
KIt No. 7701
Following on from the Australian Army version, Dragon has now provided us with a
Bushmaster in British service. As befitting an SAS variant, there is a new sprue provided
containing the bull bar mounted on the nose of the Bushmaster, additional side and rear
armour, new weapons station and other bits and bobs. It can be used to depict a vehicle
in Afghanistan, Syria or Iraq.
Coming in a standard box with a picture of the real thing on the top, there are four
sprues in total comprising of 62 plastic parts, a clear sprue with a further nine window
parts, single-piece upper & lower hull sections, four vinyl tyres, two metal axles for the Close-up of the crew weapons.
wheels, a small photo-etched fret for the windscreen wipers and one set of decals.
First impressions are very good. The upper and lower hull are single slide-moulded parts
with an excellent level of detail represented. The additional armour parts are very nicely
done, but a stand-out for me is the grille and headlight detail on the bonnet (or hood for
our American cousins). The suspension is moulded integrally with the lower hull, but it
doesn’t matter as it is mostly hidden behind the wheels. The main gun is moulded as one
part and isn’t moveable, and all hull hatches are moulded shut although the turret hatch
can be posed opened. No figures are included.
A test fit of the upper and lower hull, rear plate and turret halves reveal no issues at all.
In fact the upper and lower hull fit is exceptional. The wheels can be made to rotate as
the inner hub is affixed to the hull by a metal shaft that push fits into place. The tyres fit
snugly to the rims and the tread detail is good. The instructions are clear with no errors
and model is built over six steps. As with all 1:72 kits, this would benefit from things such
as the aerials and wing mirror mounts being replaced with brass wire.
This is a straightforward and simple kit with a level of detail that is very good and fit of
parts even better. At a UK price of around £25 between different vendors including eBay,
Additional armour sprue.
I do feel that it is expensive for what you get, but the final choice is down to the buyer.
Overall, I would give an 8/10.
Recommended.
Thanks to The Hobby Company Limited for the sample www.hobbyco.net
Graham Tetley
Detail on the lower hull tub.
The one-piece upper hull.

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Fax; 01475 743746 www.modeldesignconstruction.com Schiffer Publishing, 4880 Lower Valley Rd,
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Iberyjska 7/49, 02-764, Warsaw, Poland Tel; 01529 455 0340 SCHIFFER BOOKS in UK
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(The Hobby Company in UK) C/ Santiago Rusinol 7, Pral 2a, Tel; 020 8392 8585, 020 8392 9876,
THE AIRBRUSH COMPANY Ltd Dragon Models Ltd, Kong Nam Ind. Building B1-10F, 08750 Molins de Rei, Barcelona, Spain email; info@bushwodbooks.co.uk
Unit 7 Marlborough Road, Lancing Business Park, 603-609 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan NT, www.migproductions.com
Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 8UF. Hong Kong Fax; (HK) 4110587 SCHUMO KITS
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Tel/Fax; 0141 633 1400 SDV MODEL
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(via Historex Agents in UK) Tel; 01803 400436 smartmodelling@smart7.fsworld.co.uk
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www.archertransfers.co www.hannants.co.uk MONROE PERDU General: info@swann-morton.com
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BADGER AIR-BRUSH COMPANY Simi Valley, CA 93065, USA
9128W Belmont Ave, Franklin Park, IL 60131 HIROBOY (Zero Paints) www.monroeperdu.com TAMIYA JAPAN
Tel; 847/678-3104 A1 Astwood Business Centre, Staverton Connection, Tamiya, Inc., 3-7 Ondawara Suruga-ku,
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email info@badgerairbrush.com Tel: 01684 252310 (UK office hours only) Via; www.steelmodels.com www.tamiya.com
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PACIFIC COAST MODELS TAMIYA UK;
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Available from www.hannants.co.uk and Wellington House, 157 Snargate Street, info@pacmodels.com Garforth Place, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, MK5 8PG, UK
www.pdi-model-supplies.com Dover, Kent, CT17 9BZ, UK www.pacmodels.com Tel; 01908 605686 Fax; 01908 605666
Tel; 01304 206720 enquiries@hobbyco.net
BLAST MODELS Fax; 01304 204528. PANZERWRECKS www.hobbyco.net
Via AFV Modeller or www.blast-models.com www.historex-agents.co.uk PO Box 164, Heathfield, Sussex TN21 8WA, UK
sales@historex-agents.co.uk www.panzerwrecks.com TRUMPETER
BOOKWORLD WHOLESALE www.trumpeter-china.com
Unit 10 Hodfar Road, Sandy Lane Ind Est HOBBYLINK JAPAN PARAGRAFIX Pocketbond in the UK
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Fax; 01299 829970 www.hlj.com http://www.paragrafix.biz (Historex in UK)
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Tel; 01497 822757 IAN ALLAN Bachmann Europe PLC www.acrylicosvallejo.com
Email; cammettco@btinternet.com www.ianallanpublishing.com Moat Way, Barwell, Leics, LE9 8EY
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CARRERA REVELL UK LTD. ICM (TRAKZ, WINGZ, CUSTOM DIORAMICS, WARRIORS);
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WHITE ENSIGN MODELS
CLASSIC PUBLICATIONS ITALERI (The Hobby Company in UK) QUICKBOOST (Toms Model Works)
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Leics UK. LE10 1YF Tel; 051 726037 SB MODELS www.whiteensignmodels.com
Tel; 01455 233 747, www.italeri.com UK distributor for Model Victoria and Royal Model
Fax; 01455 233 737 P.O. Box 114, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA13 0WY WWII PRODUCTIONS, AUSTRALIA
midlandbooks@compuserve.com JUST BASES Tel/Fax; 01229 430 749 12 Prince Street, Waratah, 2298, NSW, Australia
www.classic-publications.com 21 Graham Road, Paignton TQ3 1BB sales@sbmodels.fsnet.co.uk Tel; +61 (0)2 4967 3205
Tel; 01803 558520 www.sbmodels.net Fax; +61 (0)2 4967 3207
CREATIVE MODELS LTD www.just-bases.co.uk ww2prod@optusnet.com.au
(Mig Productions, Vallejo, Accurate Miniatures) SBLC
Unit 6-10, Honeysome Industrial Estate, Honeysome JUST KITS PO Box 794, Cheltenham GL52 3ZW ZVEZDA
Road, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire. PE16 6TG 4 High Street, Botley, Southampton, SO30 2EA RICHARDSBLC@aol.com (The Hobby Company in UK)
Tel; 01354 760022 Tel; 01489 781177 Promishlennaia Str.,2, Lobnya, Moscow Region,
www.creativemodels.co.uk www.justkitsandmodels.co.uk SBX MODEL SHOP 141730 Russia
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Tel; 01473 464311 www.zvezda.org.ru
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n Please mention ‘Model Military International’ if you make contact with any of the companies listed above - thanks!

Next Issue
On sale 5th January ISSUE No.201 January 2023,
Published 1st December 2023
BATTLE OF 73 EASTING
Alireza Beigi builds Trumpeter’s 1:16
Editor;
Publisher;
Graphic Design;
Brett Green
Alan Harman
Alex Hall
scale M1A1 AIM Advertising; Alan Harman

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FOR YOUR SAFETY

Don’t forget, when using
solvents such as glues, paints,
thinners and cleaning agents, always
ventilate your work area thoroughly
and wear a face mask.
Due to many influencing factors, we
When using power tools, side cutters cannot guarantee the appearance of the
or any tool that can suddenly break above projects, but we’ll try our best!
or create high-speed airborne
particles, wear approved eye
protectors with hard, clear lenses. The paper used on
Please always model in safety! this title is from
sustainable forestry
© Doolittle Media 2022
...and much more! January 2023 - Model Military International 65

The Last Post...
AUSTRALIAN ARMY
EXERCISE RAM STALLION
E
xercise Ram Stallion 2022 saw 18 Australian Army Bushmasters and
a motorised combat team of 150 troops in fighting order by Royal
Australian Army soldiers from Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster
the 8th/9th Battalion, The Royal III from No. 36 Squadron.
Australian Regiment (8/9RAR) airlifted The activity tested the capability of
from RAAF base Amberley to Wellcamp Army to integrate with RAAF strategic
Airport at Toowoomba, southern lift and ensured the battalion remains
Queensland. ready for future employment.
The activity demonstrated the Ex Ram Stallion is the first phase of
readiness of 8/9RAR to force pro- Exercise Ram Horn, which is part of 7th
ject a motorised combat team, with Brigade’s Exercise Diamond Strike. n
66 Model Military International - January 2023 Commonwealth copyright and Department of Defence origin
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FREE 180 metres of

masking tape! LITTLE BIG GUN Takom 1:35 AML-90 French

INSIDE: KETTENKRAFT CLOSE-UP - History and References

p 14 BABY KATE’S GROWING PAINS

p 24 TRE KRONOR TANK KILLER

p 48 LITTLE BIG GUN

© Doolittle Media Ltd 2022

Model Military International is published monthly by

January 2023 - Model Military International 3

Thanks to Gecko Models for the information and images www.gecko-models.com

ModelCraft Masking Putty

Darkstar Molten Metals and Modelcraft Masking Putty

4 Model Military International - January 2023

Details of the sprocket. The Italeri parts are sadly deficient.

6 Model Military International - January 2023

Rear idler details. Esci missed the track tensioning gear.

Roadwheel in detail. Track link & pad.

January 2023 - Model Military International 7

Italeri provides the

Front fork. Towing eye & headlight mount.

8 Model Military International - January 2023

The tow pintle. Drivers compartment floor.

Good shot of the driver’s controls.

January 2023 - Model Military International 9

Big Brother in the background.

Here you can see the exhaust. Track pin bolts.

Close up of the pannier clips. Welding detail on the hull.

10 Model Military International - January 2023

January 2023 - Model Military International 11

IN WOLF’S CLOTHING A number of new parts have been added.

The upper hull is moulded as a single part.

Optional engine deck rear hatches are included, but no

12 Model Military International - January 2023

14 Model Military International - January 2023

Here you can see the metal pins.

a lot of cleaning up, and there are

January 2023 - Model Military International 15

Poor fit of the pannier sides.

B THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS!

16 Model Military International - January 2023

Vinyl piping in place. Engine ready for installation.

January 2023 - Model Military International 17

Engine cover in place. Peek-a-boo!

18 Model Military International - January 2023

How I repaired the suspension issue. Spare sprue & superglue.

January 2023 - Model Military International 19

B Baby Kate, the museum’s very own 32 33

ONTO THE HOME STRETCH

Completed front fork. The completed interior.

20 Model Military International - January 2023

The front end.

The completed seat and engine cover.

January 2023 - Model Military International 21

A choice of muzzle brakes is offered.

One of the drive sprockets.

BIG GUN, Six decal

The road wheels are simple.

The one-piece upper hull. That’s one big turret!

The inner surfaces of the tracks have pin marks on the

Order online at www.doolittlemedia.com or on 01525 222573

24 Model Military International - January 2023

January 2023 - Model Military International 25

The shape was created