AIR Modeller - Issue 56 (2014 10-11).pdf

MENGAIRMODELLEROCTOBER/NOVEMBER2014 56OCTOBER /NOV 2014 • £6.50 UK $15.99 www.mengafvmodeller.com ki-44 “Shoki”DANIEL ZAMARBIDE SUÁREZ BUILDS THE HASEGAWA KIT Issue 56 cover_Layout 1 11/09/2014 12:04 Page 1

AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 11:14 Page 222

1 2 Nakajima Ki 44 ‘Shoki’ Daniel Zamarbide Suárez builds the 1:32 Hasegawa kit. 12 Short S8 Calcutta Part Two Megas Tsonos continues his impressive scratchbuilt flying boat. 22 An Inglorious End Part Two More scratchbuilding as Richard Carrick concludes his crashed B-17 in 1:32. 30 Finnish Fokker Zdenek Sebesta turns his considerable skills to the Special Hobby 1:48 Fokker XXI. 38 Big Bird B-17, Part 7 The Editor continues his build of HK Models spectacular 1:32 Flying Fortress. 44 Air Born New releases. 54 MiG Su-27 Aurelio Reale super details the 1:48 Academy kit 60 French Navy Lynx HAS Mk2 Renaud Pouge converts the recent Airfix 1:48 kit CONTENTS Meng AIR Modeller welcomes contributions from interested parties, but cannot accept any responsibility for unsolicited material. The contents of this publication including all articles, drawings and photographs originated by AFV Modeller ltd become the publishers copyright under copyright law. Reproduction in any form requires the written consent of the publisher. Whilst every care is taken to avoid mistakes AFV Modeller ltd. cannot be liable in any way for errors or ommissions. Meng AIR Modeller is published Bimonthly by AFV Modeller ltd Old Stables East Moor Stannington Northumberland NE61 6ES Tel: 01670 823648 Fax: 01670 820274 email: david@mengafvmodeller.com Editor and Designer: David Parker Deputy Editor: Mark Neville Sales Director: Keith Smith ISSN 1747-177X We are now on Facebook, ‘Like’ us to follow what we are doing and follow our build projects. AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 14:30 Page 1

2 AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 10:57 Page 2

MODELLED BY DANIEL ZAMARBIDE SUÁREZ Not everything in the history of Japanese aviation is about the iconic Mitsubishi A6M Zero. There were more fighters involved in the defence of the Japanese Empire. One of those was the Nakajima Ki-44, a little like the hunting version of the German Fw -190, in this case armed with two huge 40mm cannons that were used to attack and break up the impressive B-29 Super Fortress formations. My chosen kit for this project is the impressive 1:32 release from Hasegawa. 3 “Shoki” AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 10:57 Page 3

With this type of radial engined aircraft I always like to start assembly by building the power-plant. Hasegawa’s detail is a good starting point to add some refinements, here I added ignition cables with lead wire and fittings with foil and die-punched plastic card working from photographic reference. Even with the cowl in place, this extra detail is easily viewed on the finished model so well worth the time and effort. The assembled engine first received a coat of Tamiya silver enamel mixed with a little black followed by a gloss clear. When this was dry a dark wash was applied to bring out the detail followed by elements picked out in black acrylic. More detail painting in acrylic brings out the ignition leads, Vallejo ‘English Uniform’ giving the correct khaki finish. After the final touches of weathering and oil staining an overall coat of matt clear I was ready to start on the spinner and blades. A white base coat helps obtain a good strong red to the tones on the spinner. A fine pencil and drawing pen give sharp lines. Several layers of browns leave a worn look to the blades, note how the yellow is laid down as a base and masked giving a strong colour. 4 AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 10:57 Page 4

I decided the excellent kit cockpit detail was fine as I was using the figure. Figures always give life to a model and also help to visually scale the aircraft once finished. The downside of all this is that once the cabin and fuselage are closed with a seated figure, you see nothing of the details of the cockpit due to the design of the aircraft itself! The only additions made are the harnesses. Carefull painting with strong shadows and highlights give an effective result with the tiny red and yellow details adding interest along with the instrument facia and controls. I decided the excellent kit cockpit detail was fine 5 AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 10:57 Page 5

The assembly of the kit is excellent, all the pieces fit perfectly using almost no filler. This really is rewarding for the modeller, because, at least for me, I quickly move to my favourite phase; the painting. Before laying on the base colours I decided to spend some time to give a more realistic ‘stressed’ finish to the airframe. The three steps I use (as you can see above) are the sanding of the kit’s rivets, a new curved blade to create the slight ‘ripples’ in the panels, and finally re-riveting following a clear plan drawing and using a riveting wheel tool. To begin the painting I applied a layer of metallic aluminum, enamel that will endure the tedious masking process that will come later. To create different shades of bare metal, the metallic colour was mixed in different proportions of "gun metal" colour thus giving more richness to the final look . Also on top of the paint finish I used various metallic pigments from the Uschi van der Rosten brand that are perfect for retouching and shading the metal. 6 Adding a subtle stressed effect to the airframe certainly helps give a realistic finish to a bare metal aircraft in this scale AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 10:57 Page 6

After the whole metal finish process, I began the arduous task of masking the various graphics starting with the yellow bands on the leading edge of the wings. Then the fabric-covered control surfaces were picked out in greenish grey followed by the white fuselage band and ending with red fuselage markings. When the matt black anti-reflective areas were complete everything was left to fully dry before weathering. After a coat of gloss varnish and I applied a series of washes in brown tones to enhance all the panel lines, rivets and detail work. The gloss varnish helps the wash to flow and allows the excess to be easily removed. This is finally sealed with a coat of satin varnish. To make scratches in the red I used an orange red and then chipping by carefully revealing the metallic base paint by gentle scratching. 7 masking and airbrushing the coloured markings was an arduous task but ultimately worth the effort AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 10:57 Page 7

Landing gears were detailed with bolt heads made with a punch and die set and pipes from lead wire and base-coated in bright aluminium. The tyres were airbrushed in grey and brown tones over a black base coat. Japanese aircraft often showed evedence of heavy weathering such as this. Studying period photographs and observing the types of damage and staining is the best route to a realistic finish. Note the subtle tones of the exhaust pipe and the way the soot stains have been removed in areas by the ground crew. The progress of the weathering also helps to tone down the brighter colours for a better in-scale appearence. 8 Japanese aircraft often showed evedence of heavy weathering AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 10:57 Page 8

Items such as fuel tanks in the Mitsubishi green give great interest to the model but we must not forget the materials used to build these aircraft; tanks were wooden and metallic chipping would be completely wrong! A fine black line helps the definition of the canopy frame, a wash, again, highlights the rivet detail. More masking but this time unexpected! I damaged one of the decals on the landing gear covers beyond repair so my only option was to draw the numerals and create a mask to airbrush the red ‘35’ luckily the text has squared edges making the task a little easier. A silver artists pencil is another quick way to show chipped and worn paint. The final touch was some airbrushed dirt thrown up by the wheels. 9 AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 10:57 Page 9

10 ki-44 “Shoki” AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 10:57 Page 10

After the whole process of assembly and painting, the finished model is one of the most rewarding I've done in my many years of modelling. A very good kit, simple and of excellent quality. I’m certainly planning to build another in future with different markings. I hope you liked it . 11 the finished model is one of the most rewarding I’ve done AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 10:57 Page 11

12 SHORT S.8 CALCUTTA MODELLED AND DESCRIBED BY MEGAS TSONOS G-EBVH, ‘CITY OF ATHENS’. On May 3, 1928, the second S.8 Calcutta (c/n s.713) made its maiden flight, and G-EBVH, went to Felixstowe on May 22 for evaluation. ‘VH’ started operations on a passenger and mail scheduled service between Liverpool and Belfast, until October 4. Then she joined the first Calcutta (G-EBVG), already operating on the Southampton - Guernsey service. This lasted until February 28, 1929, when both planes were sent to the Mediterranean, for the England - India service. Its new operational environment called for some reconfiguring, and G-EBVH was eventually fitted with twin oil coolers under each nacelle, removal of some engine covers to improve engine cylinder cooling, four bladed single piece propellers and fresh air induction piping for the passenger cabin, to name just a few. On March 31, 1929, the first service between Genoa and Alexandria was flown by G–EBVH, by then named ‘City of Athens’. The route departing from Genoa called at Ostia (Rome), Naples, Phaleron Bay (Athens), Suda Bay (Crete) and Tobruk. This service, with some alterations due to the political situation in Italy as well as company operational demands, was worked by the Calcuttas until their withdrawal to England in 1936. At some point the airplane was renamed ‘City Of Stoneheaven’. In June 1937, G-EBVH passed to Air Pilots Training Ltd. at Hamble, where she was used for pilot training to the new Short C-class Empire flying boats. She was scrapped after being dismantled for spares before the end of 1937. AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 14:22 Page 12

13 AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 14:22 Page 13

CONTINUING THE FUSELAGE All went well with the fibreglass fuselage, and wearing a high-quality mask, I proceeded to sand the fiberglass to the desired shape, then two layers of fast- curing, (green) two-part fine grade polyester fiberglass filler were applied overall, (photo 1&2) and sanded down to a very smooth finish, in preparation for the final application of Mr. Surfacer 500. The time has now come for the balsa to be removed, leaving only the fuselage shell. I made an opening at the top, remembering that a portion of the fuselage’s top deck adjacent to the wing has already been made and incorporated into the wing assembly. The area to be removed was therefore surplus and was discarded. Through this opening, all the balsa former was dug out (photo 3) with a power tool equipped with a masonry drill, except the extreme tail which could not be reached but also did not need to be detailed. All interior was cleaned of the balsa deposits (photo 4) and the balsa remains in the end of the tail were sealed with two- part epoxy glue to protect against water ingress during any possible washing of the hull. I drilled out the windows at this point, as well as all other openings, sprayed with Mr. White Surfacer 1000 and went on with the scribing of the exterior details of the hull (photo 5&6). A note must be made here, as the vertical panel lines, so characteristic of the Calcutta’s hull are vertical only when the hull is positioned to an upward position at 3-degrees to base line so the panel scribing became a headache! DETAILING THE INTERIOR It is fortunate that the plans in existence today give a fairly accurate idea of the interior arrangement of the Short S.8 Calcutta. When combined with archive photos of the passenger cabin, the main area to be detailed, very little is left to be determined by guesswork. The detailing of the hull followed the normal modelling procedure for scratchbuilding. I started with the baggage compartment, and used pewter sheet (photo 7&8) to simulate the bare aluminium hull construction on which the wooden floor (plasticard) and side protecting strips are added (photo 9). The latter were made of Evergreen strips cut to the desired lengths. Baggage securing nets made of thin cotton thread and painted accordingly were glued at the extreme rear of the compartment as well as the front of it (photo 10), near the baggage door. The bulkhead and door separating the baggage hold from the passenger cabin was modelled from thin plasticard and painted in Alclad lacquer on its cargo side. Gloss white was applied to the side facing the cabin as well as the door. Moderate weathering on the cargo side (photo 11) completed the bulkhead. Moving forward, the main cabin floor (plasticard) was laid to cover the entire area up to the cockpit. I also installed the sidewalls below the windows (plasticard) which was actually the cabin cosmetic lining. The galley and lavatory areas followed, these being separated by the cabin by a door-less bulkhead at the galley entrance. 1 2 4 3 5 6 14 AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 14:22 Page 14

15 9 8 7 10 As the details would probably be seen from the rear windows, I proceeded in making the galley furniture and oil stove cooker (photo 12 & 13), toilet bowl and potable water tank (photo 15). As the hull is affected by the 3-degree slope rule, all detailing was made angled backwards in relation to the floor, bulkheads and galley furniture being no exception. The floors were painted to simulate wood, the sidewalls and ceiling were painted in the customary blue and buff colours with glossy white details, and the cabin front and rear bulkheads were painted in glossy white as well. I modelled and cast in resin (photo 17 & 18) the passenger seats, painted them in royal blue as the real seats were leather- covered (photo 19) and painted in that colour. I chose to ‘unfold’ two tray tables and put a ‘bottle’ of malt whiskey and ‘glasses’ (photo 20), to be seen through the opened windows. Work on the passengers’ compartment went on with the addition of the carpets made of decal (Archer Fine Transfers surface details #21: “non skid texture”) and painted in a deep red colour. The overhead baggage nets (photo etched fine mesh), and the ceiling lights and fresh air louvers (photo 21& 22) completed the cabin detailing. Before moving on to the cockpit, a note must be made, about the twelve cabin windows. AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 14:22 Page 15

16 These were stepped-up and positioned reflecting again the 3- degree rule, divided into groups of three, with the rear window of each trio, being hinged so as to open. As the windows must be exactly the same in size and appearance, I made them in two steps. I drilled them out at first according to the plans, and made them slightly oversized. I installed custom-made photo- etched brass rims (photo 23) that ensured the windows would be identical. The second step was done after painting, when another set of rims, this time a photo-etched nickel/silver one (photo 24), containing exterior framing details, was cemented in place over the previously attached brass rims. I made the transparencies from 0.8mm thick plexiglass that was laser-cut as per the drawings, and installed them from the outside using ‘Future’ clear varnish as a bonding medium. Thus, a uniform appearance of the cabin windows, so important for a model of a civil aircraft was achieved. The cockpit was modelled from the outside the hull, after the hull and wings were joined as it is of the open type, and all detailing could be easily done at any stage of the models’ construction. It will briefly be described here as a part of the overall hull interior detailing. The cockpit is equipped with a virtually empty instrument panel, as all engine instruments are installed in boxes on the engine support struts. The boxes themselves were made of plasticard and Milliput (photo 25 & 26). Their instruments are photo-etched bezels glued on a parallelogram piece of clear acetate, with the instrument 12 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 14:22 Page 16

17 indications (decals) attached on its rear face. The instrument panel is made of thin (Evergreen .005”) plasticard, drilled at the points were the instruments should be fitted. The sandwich method was used to complete the instrument panel, clear acetate being used here as well (photo 29). It is painted white to match the rest of the cockpit and bow compartment. The cockpit was fitted with its normal equipment (seats, control wheels, rudder pedals while at the bow compartment, some more detailing was added, namely a towing rope, an anchor and a bag of ancillary equipment. Following the painting of the hull, the work on the cockpit continued with the making of the cockpit sill, the windscreen (custom made photo-etched framing), the bow hatch and all surrounding details. The radio and navigation compartment should be mentioned here, but as it is very narrow and cramped, it was not detailed. Only its entrance door was made partially open to reveal just a glimpse of what was to be seen inside… JOINING THE ASSEMBLIES Lots of measuring and dry-fitting made the joining of the wings to the hull a rather straightforward job. On every single principal joint (the struts-to-wings, the nacelles-to-struts, etc.), eight pins cut from a length of brass was used (four per side) to secure the top decking to the rest of the hull (photo 30). By carefully aligning the already drilled out pin holes, the job of bringing the two assemblies together was a delicate one. When positioned, drops of 21 22 23 24 25 26 AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 14:22 Page 17

18 thin, penetrating cyanoacrylate glue was left to run through the seams and into the pinholes, gluing the pins and the plastics together. As the lower wing underside was already painted, some care was exercised to fill the join seams with Milliput, without marring the wings. The work was completed by airbrushing liquid Mr. Surfacer 500, thinned with Mr. Color Levelling Thinner, and sanded smooth in waiting for the paint application (photos 31& 32). A coat of Alclad lacquer verified the fineness of the mated surfaces (photo 33) so the work went on with the empennage. THE EMPENNAGE Characterized by a tall vertical fin and a Flettner servo-rudder, the Short S.8 Calcutta also possessed a single piece horizontal stabilizer of variable incidence. The elevators of the first two Calcuttas were of the horn balanced type, while all the rest had internally balanced elevators with set-back hinges. In the case of the model, all the tail surfaces were made of thick plasticard, following the method that was employed on the wings (photo 34). The horizontal stabilizer was made in one piece and passed through the vertical stabilizer via a slot made for this purpose. I drilled two holes at the base of the vertical stabilizer that drilled through the horizontal stabilizer (photo 36) and inserted two 1/16” diameter brass pins that secured the assembly. Thin cyanoacrylate was left to run into the seams and reach the pins, gluing everything in position. Then, I proceeded with the fitting of the assembly on the hulls’ tail cone. I drilled again two large diameter holes, at the base of the fin that corresponded with similar holes on the tail cone. I used 3/32” diameter brass tubes to hold the assemblies together and this time thick cyanoacrylate was used in the process. The rudder and its associated Flettner tab were both deflected to the right (photo 37), as a result of the ‘wind’ blowing when the flying boat is at its moorings. I assembled the elevators and the rudder at a very late stage in the construction, having in the meantime painted the hull and stabilizers. 27 28 29 30 33 34 31 32 AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 14:22 Page 18

19 THE BEACHING GEAR Each beaching gear is comprised of two sets of ‘V’-struts with a spoked wheel fitted between them. The ‘horizontal’ set (angled downwards) is attached to the hulls’ main structure at special fittings provided. The ‘vertical’ set (angled inwards) is attached to the wing spars at special fittings as well. I had successfully tested a way of supporting a flying boat model that had appear to be standing on spoked wheels without actually doing so (see: ‘The Supermarine Southampton’, Air Modeller No.22 and 23). I used this technique again, but with a much heavier model this time. Using the ‘lost wax’ technique, two sets of the ‘horizontal’ ‘V’-struts (port and starboard) and solid wheel axles were made of styrene rods and cast in metal I tied a “rope” (stretched sprue) around the base of each ‘V’ that extended below the wheels to be cast in the same mould as well. Thus, a metal support leg was created and, disguised as rope, to hold the models’ weight leaving the wheels with only a cosmetic function to perform. The ‘vertical’ struts were made of brass tubing soldered together with hollow axles. The idea was to attach each set of ‘V’ struts on its position (photo 38) and while holding them together, insert the solid axle into the hollow one. Following repeated dry fits (photo 39), continuous measuring and making small corrections I ended up with gluing each gear in place with thin cyanoacrylate; at the same moment I positioned the wheels in between. After many hours of tedious work, the model stood on its gear, the supporting cradles being at last removed. As for the tail trolley, this is a normal piece of scratchbuilt work, needing no more discussion as it presents no difficulties. PAINTING The reader is already accustomed to the fact that the painting of this model was not a final step but it was performed as demanded by the rest of the construction. It will be covered here as a whole and in relation to the real flying boat. The hull of the Short S.8 Calcutta was made entirely of anodized Duralumin sheeting which was darker in appearance and somewhat bluish or greyer in colour than the normal airframe aluminium. After assembly the hull was protected from the elements by spraying coats of Rylard clear marine varnish and Rylard gloss white enamel on its planing bottom. This treatment went also for the nacelles and wingtip floats. The different shades of the anodizing treatment were seen through the clear varnish as vertical ‘bands’ all over the hull. All fabric covered areas were given the normal aluminium powder coatings and dopes of the period. I used the Alclad range of lacquers. All areas of the model were painted in ALC- 101. I lightly airbrushed different shades on the hull, using ALC-103 Dark Aluminium and ALC-115 Stainless Steel; then I sprayed on a very light mist of ALC- 403 Transparent Blue. 35 36 37 AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 14:22 Page 19

20 Then I painted on the hull, the flying boat’s registration letters (photo 69). I continued with the application of two or three layers of ALC-310 Clearcote Gloss; and finished with the masking and painting of the planing bottom in gloss light ivory instead of white, strictly observing the scale effect principle. The registration letters were painted in different shades of gloss blue colour depending on the area to be painted. I retained a lighter shade for the upper wing topside while at the lower wing undersides a dark blue shade was chosen. As for the hull letters and cheatlines, a mid shade closer to the lower wings undersides was used. When G-EBVH was deployed overseas, the “Imperial Airways” inscription and names such as “Type Calcutta” that adorned the bow were removed. The ‘G’ letters on the tail surfaces, seen in photos of the flying boat in England, were painted out as well during the boat’s service in the Mediterranean. Only the flying boats’ name “City Of Athens” was left, actually painted on a label that was bolted to the bow sides. I duplicated this by making a label as well. I printed the name on clear acetate, thin enough to cater for scale but thick enough not to look like a decal. EPILOGUE A multitude of details installed were not referred to allowing the reader a more focused reading of the main aspects of the S.8 Calcutta construction. Being a multi media construction project, this model offered me some useful insight into techniques and procedures not tried before. As every scratchbuilt model has its own vices (even normal kits do!), the S.8 Calcutta, being no exception, reversed the normal order of construction, to the point of frustration, its painting being a clear example. This involved risks and setbacks but it finally rewarded me with a most welcome addition to my showcase, and flying boat collection. ACKNOWLEDGMENT I wish to thank Mr. Bryan Ribbans, webmaster of the “Seawings- The Flying Boat Website”, for his help in providing data that made my construction more accurate. 38 39 AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 14:22 Page 20

21 AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 14:23 Page 21

22 An Inglorious End PART TWO AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 11:06 Page 22

23 modelled by richard carrick 1:32 In this issue, you can see some shots of my finished diorama. I managed to get it finished for the IPMS UK 50th Anniversary show at Telford last November, where I'm pleased to say it won the Aircraft Diorama class. I've tried to describe as much of the construction process as I can in this article, but due to space constraints, it would be impossible to list every detail. I hope you've enjoyed reading the article, and that it inspires you to build your own B-17. With the HK Models kit now available, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. The only question now is - how do i follow on from this! AIR 56 Oct Nov 2014_AFV/26 Jan/Feb 06 11/09/2014 11:06 Page 23