Airfix Model World | May 2022

AMW138, May 2022

SOVIET SNOWBALL Feature Premium

SOVIET SNOWBALL

Based on a real prototype, MiniArt's Ball Tank offers a decidedly different and fun project in 1/35 scale. Here, Dave Oliver builds it beautifully and poses the model on a scenic base.

Dusty Cruiser Feature Premium

Desert Cruiser

IBG Models' 1/72 A.15 Crusader tank is built out-of-the-box by Massimo Santarossa. Look out for tips on working with photo-etched metal - and how to create a convincing display base.

FLASH OF LIGHTNING Feature Premium

FLASH OF LIGHTNING

Andy Davies opts for a distressed appearance on his cool build of Ushi Models' 1/72 resin Mitsubishi J4M Senden interceptor concept. It's a fascinating Japanese drawing board aircraft.

DESERT DELIGHTS Feature Premium

DESERT DELIGHTS

Eduard's limited-edition dual combo 'Afrika' package allowed Jay Blakemore to complete a stunning pair of desert-based Bf 109 Luftwaffe fighters.

Kanalkampf Warrior Feature Premium

Kanalkampf Warrior

Revell reworked its original 1/72 Ju 88 into a Battle of Britain-era A-1 format, and it's built in full here by Huw Morgan. He's rather pleased with the results!

HURRICANE WARNING Feature Premium

HURRICANE WARNING

It might be old, but Airfix's 1/24 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I Superkit can be turned into a real showstopper. Here, Richard Spreckley does just that with scratch-built and aftermarket detail.

CHANNEL SCOURGE Feature Premium

CHANNEL SCOURGE

Garry Tobiss clear a very large space to build Italeri's massive 1/35 S-38 Schnellboot... adding aftermarket goodies for extra detail. If you want an impressive German Navy vessel, this is it!

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Figure Review: Tamiya's quarter-scale Wehrmacht Infantry Set

Tamiya is well known for its 1/35 figures and when batches of 1/48 offerings were issued between 2005-07 it seemed this smaller-scale market was about to be similarly enriched.

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Figure Review: ICM releases 1/32 Vietnam-era US Helicopter Pilots

Although they were almost certainly designed for the firm’s AH-1 Cobra kits, ICM’s 1/32 Vietnam-era helicopter crew figures are available separately to suit other firm’s offerings.

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Figure Review: ICM's 1/32 'Photo to Remember' USAAF Pilots

ICM has previously released a set of three 1/32 US Army Air Force (USAAF) figures suitable for most American World War Two multi-crew aircraft (32104) and has followed this with a four-figure combination depicting elements of a three-man team posing for a picture by a USAAF photographer. Subject-specific paints are another element to consider...

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Figure Review: 'Post-Apocalyptic' Sabrina figure from Master Box

Ukrainian firm Master Box’s ‘Post-Apocalyptic’ series of 1/24 figures comprises six individuals, each taking the form of a single-runner styrene kit – as is the case with the first, Sabrina.

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Belkits' Second 1/24 Citroën C3 WRC: Rally Finland 2017

Belkits’ newly tooled 1/24 Citroën C3 WRC has landed – this is the second Rally Finland iteration that arrived with the initial Tour de Corse 2018 version.

STUNNING QUARTER-SCALE TIGER I FROM USTAR Review Premium

STUNNING QUARTER-SCALE TIGER I FROM USTAR

Military fans who favour 1/48 scale have been envious of their 1/35-building brethren, when it comes to tanks with full interiors. But no longer though, as Asian firm USTAR has released a mind-bogglingly good quarter-scale Tiger I, on a Kursk theme, and it's festooned with detail inside and out.

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Takom's Six-Inch Striker: 1/35 Bismarck Turret

Takom surprised many when it released 1/35 scale kits of battleship turrets and modern weapons, with one of its more recent offerings being the Bb II/ Stb II turret from the German battleship Bismarck.

ARMA’S WILDCAT: RE-ISSUED WITH NEW SCHEMES

Arma Hobby has re-packaged its 1/72 F4F-4 Wildcat with new decals, catering for US Navy and Marine Corps airframes. If you haven't taken the plunge with any of Arma's Wildcats, you're in for a treat.

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Terrific Trike from MiniArt - 1/35 Tempo E400

MiniArt’s new Tempo E400 three-wheeler is another odd-looking commercial vehicle and was intended to form Germany’s standard delivery tricycle (Einheits-Dreirad-Lieferwagen). Discover more about this newly tooled kit here.

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Einheitsdampflokomotive from Revell: 1/87 BR 01 4-6-2 Pacific

In the aftermath of World War One, Germany produced standardised steam locomotive designs – Einheitsdampflokomotiven – the first of which Revell has replicated in 1/87 scale: the BR 01 4-6-2 Pacific.

MUD-MOVING TOMCAT RETURNS Review Premium

MUD-MOVING TOMCAT RETURNS

If you missed AMK's first 1/48 F-14D boxing in 2019, the parts have been re-released with new decals for two late-service aircraft. This is a stunning kit, brimming with detail and build options.

HUNGARIAN STAR Feature Premium

HUNGARIAN STAR

David Holmes adds a host of aftermarket extras to his fine build of AMK's 1/48 Aero L-29 Delfín, which represents a Hungarian Air Force machine.

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Demonstration for Display: ICM's 1/35 FCM 36 with French Tank Crew

ICM has combined its 1/35 FCM 36 French tank with the same-scale figures designed to accompany the vehicle in a package that’s cheaper than buying the two sets separately.

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Tamiya's Heavy-Hitting Rhino: 1/48 Nashorn Review

Modellers wanting a German Nashorn but who don’t have the space for a 1/35 version might prefer Tamiya’s 1/48 offering - the subject of Airfix Model World's review, here.

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Brengun adds another Teeny Tiny Tank: 1/144 A7V German WWI tank

Brengun continues to expand its range of ‘airliner-scale’ armour subjects, with the German A7V tank being one of the latest. Discover more about this tiny military kit in Airfix Model World's review.

NEW PAINT AND SCALE SNOW FROM AMMO

Acrylic paint specialist AMMO by Mig Jimenez has released two new themed paint sets, and a useful scale snow product for dioramas and vignettes. The paint is for RAF Coastal Command types, and those flown by the modern German Luftwaffe.

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MiniArt releases Lanz Bulldog: D8506 tractor & Trailer with Crew

MiniArt has continued to build on its range of D8056 tractor kits – replicating the famous Lanz Bulldog vehicle – with this version containing the now-familiar trailer, German figures plus a range of grenades and mines. Discover more about the full kit here.

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Wheeled Troop Carrier from Dragon: /72 PLA ZBL-09 IFV

Arguably, convergent evolution is just as prevalent in vehicle design as nature, as evinced by China’s ZBL-09, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the Piranha series of vehicles (the source of many Western 8x8 designs) – understandable given they provide similar functions.

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ICM's Gun-Toting Tourer: 1/35 G4 Partisanwagen

The latest version of ICM’s 1/35 G4 tourer/staff car depicts a less common variant (of the 57 examples built) equipped with pedestal-mounted MG 34 machine guns in the rear/passenger section. Find out more here!

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Special Armour's Personal Command: 1/35 Panzerbefehlswagen 35(t)

Here’s a surprising but very welcome return for CMK’s 1/35 Panzerbefehlswagen (armoured/ tank command vehicle) 35(t) under the label of another Special Hobby subsidiary: Special Armour. Check out AMW's review here.

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Cannon-Armed Coffmans from Eduard: 1/48 Spitfire Mk.IIb

Eduard has been quick to follow up its limited-edition Spitfire Mk.II with a ProfiPACK offering that features the cannon-armed IIb sub-type.

FREEDOM FIGHTER RE-ISSUED

Kinetic's superb F-5A Freedom Fighter from 2012 has been re-released, with markings for Dutch, Spanish and Norwegian sub-types. The company has also fixed a problem with the original tooling too.

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Special Hobby's Open-Truss Trainer: 1/72 EoN Eton TX.1/SG-38

Here's a welcome return for Special Hobby’s delightful EoN Eton training glider, with three styrene runners holding the 12 well-moulded parts. Read AMW's review here!