AMW127, JUNE 2021

WELCOME TO AMW127 | JUNE 2021

The June 2021 issue of Airfix Model World (AMW127) is here and you can read the full issue in page-turning PDF format or as individual features re-edited to suit the digital world. Indulge in the latest inspirational build features, browse new releases in the News and Reviews, discover the secrets of scale modelling through our step by step guides and much more.

AMW127, June 2021

Are you a Phantom Phreak?

Find out how much you know about the mighty F-4, and modelling it, with our brain-teasing quiz.

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Airbrushing Part 6 - Mastering Your Airbrush

AIRBRUSHING PART 6 - Mastering Your Airbrush: Having thoroughly cleaned our airbrush, it’s about time we started using it. In this penultimate tutorial Jay Blakemore explains the variables that must be considered when achieving a spray pattern: Paint mix (viscosity), air flow (pressure) and distance

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INTO BATTLE!

Tamiya’s newly tooled 1/35 Soviet KV-1 Heavy Tank is placed into a suburban Leningrad setting by Johan Augustsson, with the help of MiniArt figures and Reality in Scale accessories.

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THUD RIDGE RUNNER

Matthew Porter readies his Hobby Boss 1/48 F-105D Thunderchief for a Vietnam sortie with the aid of aftermarket munitions and markings.

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GIANT OF THE SKY

Paul Cawte builds Mark I Models’ 1/720 R33 Airship –a craft that evolved from a weapon of war and marked the golden era of inter-war aviation, when such vessels appeared to be the future for commercial travel.

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IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME

Airfix’s 1/48 Bristol Blenheim Mk.I appears as a bomber in its second iteration, and Dean Large tackles this quarter-scale depiction of a Mediterranean-theatre aircraft.

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TAMING THE RAT

Peter Fearon explores how limited-run kits can be rewarding – if somewhat challenging – as he builds Special Hobby’s 1/32 I-16 Type 24 ‘Rata’.

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FLAK HAPPY

Jay Blakemore conquers confusion as he recreates arguably the most infamous artillery piece of World War Two, in the shape of Dragon’s 1/35 8.8cm Flak 37 gun.

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MISAWA PANTHER

Modelling ideas can come from a variety of sources, here Kev Baxter provides the photographic inspiration behind his Fine Molds F-4EJ Kai build.

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RETIRED RHINO

Kev Baxter snaps up the latest offering from FineMolds in the form of its outstanding 1/72 F-4EJ Kai Phantom and builds this state-of-the-art release to represent a museum airframe.

Eduard 1/48 Bf 109G-2 ProfiPACK Review Premium

Eduard 1/48 Bf 109G-2 ProfiPACK

Messerschmitt’s legendary Bf 109 is a perennial favourite, and Eduard’s latest boxing (kit 82165) – depicting the unpressurised G-2 version ‒ will certainly please modellers who favour World War Two Luftwaffe subjects.

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SUPER-SIZE STORM

Airfix has a long history of 1/24 scale ‘superkits’, and its returning Vintage Classics Hawker Hurricane is regarded as among the best of these from the firm’s 1970s-era offerings.

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THE BEST, BETTER?

Considering the type’s success, it’s surprising there haven’t been more kits of the T-33A. This offering from Italeri is a re-packaging of Platz’s 2012 tooling, making this an inspired match between the latter’s superb parts and the former’s gorgeous decals, with options for six airframes.

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TRICOLORE SOVIETS

Brengun has produced a version of its 1/72 Yak-1B depicting aircraft flown by Groupe de Chasse 3 (3rd Fighter Group) ‘Normandie- Niemen’.

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SPY IN THE SKY

There aren’t many kits of remotely piloted aircraft but Platz’s 1/72 RQ-4B Global Hawk is surely the largest.

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RECCE TUTOR

ICM has continued to expand its range of Foxbats, which now includes the first of two planned two-seater offerings in the shape of the MiG-25RU reconnaissance conversion trainer.

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RED STAR MIRAGE

Special Hobby’s lovely 1/72 Mirage F.1 returns in Revell boxing with spectacular markings for the disbandment of French Air Force Squadron EC 1/30 ‘Normandie Niemen’.

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WEIRD BUT WONDERFUL 'WASP'

Part of AB&K’s ‘Luftwaffe Secret Projects 1936-45’ series, this 1/72 resin kit depicts the unusual Heinkel Wespe (wasp) – designed to test vertical take-off and landing from a tail-sitting starting position.

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BUSY BEE

As with most of its new toolings, Eduard has followed the limited-production version of its 1/72 Z-37A Čmelák (bumblebee) with a Weekend Edition containing just the styrene parts.

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CLOSE-SUPPORT CROMWELL

The second iteration of Airfix’s new-tool 1/35 Cruiser Mk.VIII A27M Cromwell tank caters for the Mk.VI variant, which differs by featuring a 95mm howitzer for close-support operations.

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TANK CARRIER

A common sight behind Sd.Kfz 7 or Sd.Kfz. 9 half-tracks, the Sonderanhänger 115 trailer could carry vehicles of up to 10,000kg, yet this is the first styrene kit of the type in 1/72.

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NORMANDY DEFENDERS

It’s great to see Dragon’s 1/72 re-releases, such as its mid-production Panzer IV Ausf. H with schürzen armour plating.

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WEHRMACHT WEDGE

ICM’s newly tooled offering depicts a Schwerer geländegängiger gepanzerter Personenkraftwagen (heavy off-road armoured passenger motor vehicle) – also known as Sd.Kfz. 247 Ausf.B. 

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BRITISH ARMY WORKHORSE

Despite the Leyland Retriever being a common 6x4 truck in British service during World War Two, ICM’s kit is the first 1/35 styrene offering of the type.

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'PLAY' OR DISPLAY

Italeri has been a pioneer of wargaming/modelling crossovers and its ZIS 3 with ‘servants’ (gun crew) is typical, with a low parts count and ‘snap-together’ construction, yet providing well-moulded components, making it ideal for builders of all skill levels.

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BASTOGNE THUNDERBOLT

Released as part of Dragon’s Battle of the Bulge series, its up-gunned ‘wet-stowage’ Sherman has returned with new markings to depict vehicles operated by American units involved in countering the German Ardennes offensive of 1944/45.

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ARMED HAULAGE

This is the first time IBG’s 1/72 Diamond T 968 has appeared as a standard cargo lorry since the initial release in 2014, and adds a Browning M2 machine gun to the cab roof.

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LUFTWAFFE EXPERTEN

Intended as an accessory for Special Hobby’s recent 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf 109E kits, but equally applicable to iterations of this sub-type by other manufacturers, CMK’s two-figure set depicts Luftwaffe pilot Adolf Galland and a mechanic standing by the former’s aircraft.

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A PROUD FRENCH TANK CREW

The title of this lovely five-figure set from ICM is slightly misleading, as it comprises what appears to be three military figures (two of which seem to be tank crew – an FCM 36 is depicted on the box artwork) and two children who want to look at the tank.

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’TASHED 'JOCK'

The third in ToRo’s splendid military caricature series features an ‘archetypal’ Scottish officer as part of the British Eight Army ‘Desert Rats’ during World War Two.