EUROPEAN FIGHTBACK
Pen & Sword’s Images of War collection offers modellers a wealth of period photographs that are ideal for reference or inspiration, and this addition to the series covers the Allied liberation of much of Western Europe in the second half of 1944.
MARTIN-BAKERS AS MARKINGS
AFTERMARKET DECAL supplier Kits-World has revealed an innovative solution for adding refinement to model aircraft interiors in the form of its 3D-Relief markings.
LONG-BARRELLED PANZERS
Fitting the KwK 40 L/43 anti-tank gun to Panzer IV Ausf. Fs resulted in the amended designation F2 (subsequently renamed Ausf. G after three months’ production), and these tanks are the subject of Star Decals’ 1/35 set.
BALTIC BATTLERS
Modellers with an interest in World War Two-era Axis armour outside of Germany will appreciate Star Decals’ collection of Bulgaria-deployed vehicles, which features a varied mix of types.
CROATIAN STATE MACHINES
Star Decals’ first collection of markings for World War Two vehicles based in the Balkan region is devoted to Croatian machinery, including ex-German, Italian and Polish armoured fighting vehicles.
AFRICANS IN ITALY
Sherman tanks are popular subjects due to their ubiquity, having been operated by most Allied forces during World War Two; among these, South African (SA) machines make for an unusual project and modellers so inclined will find these Star Decals markings of interest.
UNDER THE BONNET
Although Eduard’s 1/48 Focke-Wulf Fw 190s are well regarded, this set from the firm’s Brassin range is an eye-catching upgrade for the A-8 version, as it supplies the upper-cowling machine guns plus a wealth of engine detail visible below these armaments.
ENEMY DEFENCE SUPPRESSOR
Eduard’s 1/48 Air Launched Anti-Radiation Missile (ALARM) set is suitable for RAF Tornado GR.1/4s and a trials EF-3 before the munition’s 2013 retirement, plus Royal Saudi Air Force machines, which still use the Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) weapons.
SPIT 'SHOES'
Modellers seeking refinement for Tamiya’s 1/32 Spitfire Mk.IX may wish to consider these resin wheels from Eduard’s Brassin range.
ANTI-BIRD PROTECTION
Designed to combat the American-designed MIM-23 Hawk missile, the Soviet SPS-141 electronic countermeasures pod is the subject of Eduard’s Brassin set, intended for its 1/72 MiG-21 kits.
TINY TRACKS
Comprising just four styrene runners, Airfix’s returning 1/72 Universal Carrier and 6-pounder gun illustrates the diminutive size of the Vickers-Armstrong design, often referred to as a ‘Bren Gun Carrier’ due to the armament carried.
CLASSIC CAT
Here’s a real blast from the past from Airfix’s Vintage Classics range, with its 1/76 Panzerkampfwagen V Panther tank, which is a staggering 59 years old.
INTELLIGENCE DOUBLE
Airfix’s 1/76 German reconnaissance set includes parts for a Sd.Kfz. 222 armoured car as configured for intelligence-gathering operations plus a Type 82 Kübelwagen – a design produced by Dr Ferdinand Porsche from the Volkswagen Beetle.
WHEELED WEAPONRY
Developed from the 8-rad (eight-wheeled) Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (heavy armoured reconnaissance vehicle), the Sd.Kfz.234 armoured car is the subject of Airfix’s 1/76 Vintage Classics offering, appearing as a late-war 234/4 variant with PaK 40 gun.
NON-FLYING DUCK
Fitting the GMC 2½ ton 6x6 truck with an amphibious body resulted in the DUKW during 1942, and a 1/76 depiction of this versatile vehicle was added to Airfix's range in 1966, now returning under the Vintage Classics banner.
MACHINE-GUNNING 'CONSORT'
Here's a return for Airfix's 1/76 'Female' tank with sponson-mounted machine guns - a reworked version of its 1967-vintage mixed-armament 'Male' vehicle that first appeared during 2009 - the latter is available as another Vintage Classics product: A02325V.
FLAIL-FITTED 'FUNNY'
One of the most distinctive of the specialised tanks produced for the D-Day landings (nicknamed Hobart's Funnies after the general tasked with developing them and their bizarre appearances) was the Sherman Crab: an M4 fitted with a rotating flail for mine-clearing operations.
LONG OR SHORT?
The Panzer IV was the most produced German tank during World War Two, and Airfix's 1/76 replica has now been re-released under the Vintage Classics banner.
MINISTERIAL ARMOUR
With the 'Crocodile' flame-throwing (A02321V) and bridge-laying (A04301V) variants added to the Vintage Classics range, it's no surprise that Airfix's basic 1/76 Churchill Mk.VII tank has been re-released as a standalone offering.
INFANTRY SUPPORT
Here's a real modelling nostalgia trip with the return of Airfix's Vintage Classics 1962-tooled 1/76 Sturmgeschütz (StuG) III Ausf.G assault gun.
HEAVYWEIGHT TRUCKING
Until the arrival of IBG Model's new-tool 1/72 offering (see AMW November 2020), Airfix's 1/76 Scammell Pioneer and fixed tank transportation trailer was the sole small-scale depiction of the type, and now returns as a Vintage Classics offering.
STANDALONE ARMOUR
Having been released as part of Airfix's Vintage Classics LCM3 and Sherman set (A03301V) along with Crab anti-mine (A02320V) and Calliope rocket-artillery (A02334V) versions, the firm's 1/76 M4A2 has now been released as a standalone kit.
HURRICANE GUIDE HITS!
WITH THE arrival of Valiant Wings’ new Airframe & Miniature guide to the Hawker Hurricane imminent, the publisher has unveiled a sneak preview of the contents.
DISPLAY CASE
There's further modelling mischief in this month's selection of reader projects as some of TV's best-loved characters get involved in the hobby, alongside several impressive aircraft builds.
Airfix Model World January 2021
Welcome to Airfix Model World January 2021 featuring model builds, the latest news, product reviews and more. Read the full issue in PDF format here or dip into our reformatted online features for KeyModelWorld at your leisure.
FESTIVE RELEASES
While Airfix's December/ January releases will see the return of several favourites, the highlights are the arrival of newly tooled 1/72 Sherman Firefly VC, Tiger I and Spitfire Mk.Vc kits.
FAR-EASTERN SPECIAL
Zoukei-Mura has followed its 1/48 F-4E (see News, December 2020) with a stunning Japanese Air Self-Defense Force Kai commemorative version - even better, there's a special campaign to mark the tenth anniversary of the firm's Super Wing Series kits.
TRANSPORT WORKHORSE
December 2020 marks the 85th anniversary of the Douglas DC-3’s first flight – a type later synonymous with D-Day due to the military C-47 variant.
GULL-WINGED EXPORT
Although a Polish design, PZL’s P.11 entered service with the Romanian Air Force before its home country’s air arm, and IBG has released a 1/72 offering representing these exported aircraft, which were designated P.11b.
ALLISON-ENGINED PONY
Brengun has added new wings plus a resin dorsal intake to KP’s 1/72 P-51 Mustang, for an early Mk.Ia airframe.