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Fran

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  1.  

    1:48

    BRISTOL BEAUFORT Mk. I

    “WWII British Dominions Air Force”

    ICM

    Catalogue n.º 48132

     

    € 54,20 – in Art Scale Kit

     

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     In 1935 the Air Ministry had issued two specifications, M.15/35 and G.24/35, which detailed requirements for a torpedo-bomber and a general reconnaissance/ bomber respectively. The latter was required to replace the Avro Anson in service for this role and. as mentioned in the Bristol Blenheim entry, was to be met by the Bristol Type 149 which was built in Canada as the Bolingbroke. To meet the first requirement, for a torpedo-bomber, Bristol began by considering an adaptation of the Blenheim, identifying its design as the Type 150. This proposal, which was concerned primarily with a change in fuselage design to provide accommodation for a torpedo and the installation of more powerful engines, was submitted to the Air Ministry in November 1935.

    After sending off these details of the Type 150, the Bristol design team came to the conclusion that it would be possible to meet both of the Air Ministry's specifications by a single aircraft evolved from the Blenheim, and immediately prepared a new design outline, the Type 152. By comparison with the Blenheim Mk IV, the new design was increased slightly in length to allow for the carriage of a torpedo in a semi-exposed position, provided a navigation station, and seated pilot and navigator side-by-side. Behind them were radio and camera positions which would be manned by a gunner/camera/radio operator. The Type 152 was more attractive to the Air Ministry, but it was considered that a crew of four was essential, and the accommodation was redesigned to this end. The resulting high roofline, which continued unbroken to the dorsal turret, became a distinguishing feature of this new aircraft, built to Air Ministry Specification 10/36, and subsequently named Beaufort.

    Detail design was initiated immediately, but early analysis and estimates showed that the intended powerplant of two Bristol Perseus engines would provide insufficient power to cater for the increase of almost 25 per cent in gross weight without a serious loss of performance. Instead, the newly developed twin-row Taurus sleeve-valve engine was selected for the Beaufort, the only concern being whether it would be cleared for production in time to coincide with the construction of the new airframe. The initial contract, for 78 aircraft, was placed in August 1936, but the first prototype did not fly until just over two years later, on 15 October 1938. There had been a number of reasons for this long period of labour, one being overheating problems with the powerplant, and another the need to disperse the Blenheim production line to shadow factories before the Beaufort could be built.

    Test flying of the prototype revealed a number of shortcomings, leading to the provision of doors to enclose the main landing gear units when retracted, repositioning of the engine exhausts, and an increase to two machine-guns in the dorsal turret. These and other items, added to continuing teething problems with the new engine, delayed the entry into service of the Beaufort Mk Is, these first equipping No. 22 Squadron of Coastal Command in January 1940. It was this unit, which on the night of 15-16 April 1940, began the Beaufort's operational career by laying mines in enemy coastal waters, but in the following month all in-service aircraft were grounded until engine modifications could be carried out.

     

    Earlier, the Australian government had shown interest in the Beaufort, and following the visit of a British Air Mission in early 1939, it was decided that railway and industrial workshops could be adapted to produce these aircraft, resulting in the establishment of two final assembly plants (at Fishermen's Bend, Melbourne, and at Mascot, Sydney) with the production backing of railways workshops at Chullora, Islington and Newport. Twenty sets of airframe parts and the eighth Bristol built Beaufort Mk I (L4448, which became A9-1001) was imported for trials, but at an early stage the Australians decided they did not want the Taurus powerplant. Accordingly, they had obtained a licence from Pratt & Whitney to build the Twin Wasp (already being licence built by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in Australia), and these were to power all Australian-built Beauforts, which eventually totalled 700. As from May 1941, several notable long distance flights were carried out by this experimental prototype and all expectations were exceeded. The first DAP Beaufort was tested in August 1941, and was one of a batch of 180 ordered by the RAF for use in the Far East.

     

    Australian production began in 1940, the first Australian Beaufort Mk V making its initial flight in May 1941. Apart from the change in engines, these were generally similar to their British counterparts except for an increase in fin area to improve stability with the powerful Twin Wasp engine. In fact, engine and propeller changes accounted for most of the different variants produced by the Australian factories. These included the Beaufort V (50) and Beaufort VA (30), both with licence-built Twin Wasp S3C4-G engines; Beaufort VI (40 with Curtiss propellers) and Beaufort VII (60 with Hamilton propellers), all 100 being powered by imported SlC3-G Twin Wasps due to insufficient licence production; and the Beaufort VIII with licence-built S3C4-Gs. This last mark was the definitive production version, of which 520 were built, and had additional fuel tankage, Loran navigation system and variations in armament, with production ending in August 1944. Some 46 of the last production batch were subsequently converted to serve as unarmed transports; designated Beaufort IX, this variant had the dorsal turret removed and the resulting aperture faired in. The powerplant rating of all the Australian versions was 1,200 hp (895 kW). The Beaufort was used extensively by the Royal Australian Air Force in the Pacific theatre, serving from the summer of 1942 until the end of World War II.

     

    The early trials of the Australian Beaufort V with Twin Wasp engines induced the Air Ministry to specify this powerplant for the next contract, and a prototype with these American engines was flown in November 1940. The first production Beaufort Mk II flew in September 1941, and by comparison with the Beaufort Mk I revealed much improved take-off performance. However, because of a shortage of Twin Wasps in the UK, only 164 production Mk IIs were built before Mk Is with improved Taurus XII engines were reintroduced on the line. In addition to the powerplant change, this version had structural strengthening, a changed gun turret, and ASV radar with Yagi aerials. When production of this version ended in 1944, well over 1,200 Beauforts had been built in Britain.

     

    The final two Beaufort designations, Mk III and Mk IV, related respectively to a version with Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engines of which none were built, and a version with two 1,250 hp (932 kW) Taurus XX engines of which only a prototype was built.

     

    Beauforts were the standard torpedo-bomber in service with Coastal Command during 1940-43, equipping Nos. 22, 42, 86, 217, 415 and 489 Squadrons in home waters, and Nos. 39, 47 and 213 in the Middle East. They were to acquit themselves well until superseded by the Beaufighter, involved in many of the early and bloody attacks against the German battle cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst, and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, three vessels that often seemed to be invincible, at least to aircraft carrying conventional weapons.-

    -       Historical entry by - http://www.pilotfriend.com/photo_albums/timeline/ww2/Bristol%20Beaufort.htm

     Now a little history in video:

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEEtbTBmuPE

     

    Let`s take a look at the ICM Bristol Beaufort.

    I confess that it is the first time I see this particularly kit in flesh, even thought this is a rebox of the original release last year.

    ICM boxes are quite sturdy, as the art design is just a cover top for a top-opening box, quite sturdy and resistance. It is a nice solution, and I believe probably a lower cost one.

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    Inside of the box, eight gray plastic sprue and one large clear part sprue.

     

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    The gray plastic is easy to work with no being to brittle or not to soft.

    The Fuselage has all the internal ribbing, in the cockpit area and tail wheel bay.

     

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    One very good thing that you see in all latest models is the internal frame fro the fuselage clear that it will assure you a good and sturdy fit.

    A few injection marks but probably only one will be visible, and in fact is very soft so no problem in removing it.

     The wings. The come in two halfs, as usual. The surface detail is limited to panel lines that are very well defined and clean and a few raised panels.

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    The wheels pit as no detail at all, being that reserved to the gondola halves, that have some internal detail.

    Inside the wings, in the fuselage connection theres the ICM usual connection strudy system to help the modellers in having a quite easy fit between fuselage and wings.

     

    All these big parts have connections points and I was curious to see how it all fit and I give I a go…

     

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    All dryfit and very good fit even without a single glue. The wings jugs are essential

     

    In sprue C, we have some cockpit detail, engine – Wheels bay gondolas, flaps, tail fin and wings jigs, rudder.

     

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    The wings jigs have internal detail as they work also give interior detail with nacelles fuselage.

    Some cockpit and internal floors and a nice engraved and raised detail instrument panel. If you do not want to spend more money, with this detail instrument and the instruments bezels in decal in box, with a little work you could get a very good result.

     

     Sprue D

    Keeping all the main parts in this sprue that give the tailwheel, several interior parts with very nice detail for pilot cockpit and radio compartment, tail wings, engine bonnet, all with nice and clean surface detail.

     

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    Unfortunally, it takes a lot of surgery to get the engine open to show their full detail and the cooling flaps are also close.

     Sprue E (x2)

    So, now a duplicate sprue as it deals with engine, wheels, propeller, landing gear and defensive armament.

     

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    All the parts are very delicated and with a very good detail. I`m in fact impressed with the detail that ICM can get from injection modeling.

     

    The wheels are in two halfs.. I really don’t like wheels in two halves but I got to give to ICM… Thse are a very good looking wheels with very good rims detail.

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    The Taurus Engine. ICM gives us two well-detailed banks of cylinders with a circular collector ring attached to the centre by three stators, plus a complex system of tubes installed around the circumference in between the cylinders.

    The detail of the engine straight from the box is very good and that why I think that a engine bay open would be a great option.

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    Sprue F

     

    Constains the parts from the turret with inner carriage.

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    Sprue extra: WWII British Torpedo Trailer

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    Well, this is a kit itself. You don’t get only a detail torpedo but you also get the trailer. Very good addiction to help with a diorama. Very nice touch ICM.

     

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    The clear parts

     

    All the clear parts, and there are quite a few, are made with very good frame detail and they are in fact clear.

     

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    The decal sheet

     One single almost A5 size sheet, with all the markings, insignias, instruments and several stencils.

     

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    The colour and pigmentation looks quite good. I think that they are ICM productions and they usually work well.

     

    Options given:

     

    1.    Bristol Beaufort Mk. I N1089 or N1106 P, No.489 Sqn. RNZAF, Fall, 1941

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    2.    Bristol Beaufort Mk. I L9802 GX-S, No.415 Sqn. RCAF, Thorney Island, November 1941

     

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    3.    Bristol Beaufort Mk. I 753 O, 36 Coastal Flight SAAF, Wingfield, Capetown, Spring 1942

     

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    4.    Bristol Beaufort Mk. I 761 W, 27 Coastal Flight SAAF, Spring 1942

     

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    5.    Bristol Beaufort Mk. I N1030, No.149 Sqn. RCAF, British Columbia, June 1943

     

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    Instructions:

    It’s a booklet with 23 pages each the first 3 and the last 3 are in glossy paper and the remains one in normal paper. I do like the touch of glossy paper but for workbench (to take notes, to risk parts) I prefer the normal mate paper.

    A very short historical note is given.

    The drawings are quite easy to understand and very comphenensive, so it will be easy to follow even to the novice modeler.

     

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    The colour indication of the interior parts could be a more clear one with a little more color indications.

    About the colour to use, ICM give a table chart only with ICM colors, which is comprehensive as they launch their own colours… It would be nice to have the British Standard Colors indication.

     

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    For the experience modeler, that lack of info is not a problem but for the others modelers that don’t have another colour manufacture reference or British Standard Colors, must get ICM colours. I think that is the ICM goal. I have no idea how those colour work however so I cant help with that.

     

    A final really nice touch: masking template.

     

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    While not a masking set, it`s an easy systm to get your canopy masked, better than make your own masking using the clear parts as guide with all the danger of ruin the clear parts.

     

     

    Conclusion:

     

    Well, what a really nice kit.

     

    As you can see, the cleaning parts are reduce to minimum, the fit (at least the dryfit of the main parts) is excellent and the surface detail is quite good and damn, its really looks like a Beaufort. Ther`s a lots of decals options in the market today if you don’t want a British dominions marking.

    So you can get a really nice model straight from the box with the well-known high current ICM quality, even without any extra parts (resin or PE)

     

    So, just go and get one and built it! You will enjoy.

     

    My sincere thanks to ICM for the review sample.

    You can get your ICM model kit on Art Scale Kit  - https://www.artscale.eu/

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    • Like 3
  2. PLUSMODEL

     

    Diorama Modern Accessories Sets

     

     

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    Available from Plusmodel for the prices indicated below on the text

     

    At Large Scale Modeller we just received Plusmodel new line, Detail Print series.

    So first ones that we are reviewing is some modern diorama stuff. Plus Model came again with very original stuff bringing quality and originality to your work,

            All sets are in 1:35 and they come in a new, more modern look box. The box art still have the full build set as box art.

    All of the items very well packaged, with the all the parts coming inside of a bubble bag.

     

    Traffic Cones

    (10 resin 3D prints pieces)

    Catalogue n.º DP3013

    Price tag: 8,23€) – directly from Plusmodel.

     

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    The set is a quite simple and effective one if you can paint it properly. It´s not hard to paint too.

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    The quality of the print is very good and it’s quite easy to cut the part.

     

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    The cones are hollow and you can easy make a hole in the top to make it more realistic.

    *

     

    Direct Columns

     (10 resin 3D prints pieces)

    Catalogue n.º DP3013

    Price tag:  9,92€ directly from Plusmodel.

     

     

     

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            These 10 pieces are very well printed, with no distortion, and quite some nice a subtle surface detail, that give it a very good realism and makes it easier to paint.

     

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    Directional Boards

    (10 resin 3D prints pieces)

    Catalogue n.º DP3020

    Price tag: 13,07€) – directly from Plusmodel.

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            The quality printing here stand also with very high quality, with subtle detail to give you some guilines to paint thered and white

     

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    There is 10 pieces but you can only make 5 directional columns.

      And these are, in fact, directional, so you can put them in the positions that you want.

           

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    Conclusion:

    These three sets of accessories for dioramas translate once again well Plusmodel philosophy: originality, quality and versatility.

    The quality is of the highest level, now with their new line using 3D Printing technology.

    These are simple but effective sets to enhance a modern/city or sci-fi diorama.

     

    Very Highly recommended

     

    With my sincere thanks to Plusmodel for this review sample. To purchase directly, click this link.

     

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    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
  3. 1:32

    DK Decals

    Several Sheets

    B-24, B-17, P-51 and Airacobra

     

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    I was very lucky in review the 1:32 A-20G decal sheet from DK decals (you can check it here)

    DK decals is a decal company with quite some reputation and many sheets already release and several ones coming in 2023.

     

    Here, we will see four sheets.

    All sets came in a ziplog bag, small A5 size sheet with profile and color guide.

     

    Starting with the Airacobra, this set is about the Airacobra in service in the 601 Sqn (County of London) of the Royal Air Force and Czechoslovak pilots.

     

    So, inside there are 3 sheets, one with insignias, other with letters and other small one with a full set of stencils.

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    It given six options:

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    1.      Airacobra Mk. I AH576, 601 Sqn, Sgt. F. Mares, airbase Duxford, Autumn 1941;

    2.     Airacobra Mk. I AH583, 601 Sqn, F/Lt J. Himr, airbase Manston, Autumn 1941

    3.     Airacobra Mk. I AH595, 601 Sqn, F/O . Manak, airbase Manston, Autmn 1941

    4.    Airacobra Mk. I AH589, 601 Sqn, Sgt. J. Kohout airbse Acaster Malbis, Autumn 1941;

    5.     Airacobra Mk. I AH602, 601 Sqn, F/Lt J. Himr, airbase Acaster Malbis, Autumn 1941;

    6.    Airacobra Mk. I AH601, 601 Sqn, S/L E.J. Grace, airbase Duxford, Autumn 1941

     

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    Passing to the P-51 D/K Mustang.

     

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    This set is for 1:32 P-51 with 7 schemes in service over the Pacific and Australia.

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    Inside, you get 6  (yes SIX) decals sheets, one small wit the nose art, other with RAAF insignia, another with USAF insignia and the first large on with all the letters and names and reference numbers and the second large one with tail stripes (white and red), bars, and some stencils.

     

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    The schemes options are:

     

    1.      P-51 D Mustang 44-63272 (Lt. L.E: Curdes, 4th FS, 3rd ACG Philippines, 1945

    2.     P-51 D Mustang 44-64038 (Lt. T. Sheets, 460th FS, 348th FG le Shim 1945

    3.     P-51 D Mustang 44-64124 (Capt. L. V. Grosshuesh, 38th FS, 35th FG Okinawa, 1945

    4.    P-51 D Mustang 44-72602 (Capt. G. Marcott, 458th FS, 506th FG Iwo Jima 1945

    5.     P-51 D Mustang 44-72502, Maj. W. Shomo, 82nd TRS, 71st TRG, Philippines, 1945

    6.    F-6D Mustang, 44-14874 (Lt. J.E. Jacoby, 82nd TRS, 71st TRG, Philippines, 1945

    7.     P-51K Mustang A68-520 (44-12557) n.º 84 Sqn RAAF, Australia 1945.

     

    Next, B-24D Liberator

    This set is for 1:32 B-24 (the only game in town, in injection plastic, is the Hobbyboss one) with 7 schemes in service of 90th Bomb Group “The Jolly Rogers”

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    Inside, you get 4 decals sheets, two big ones with the nose arts, letters and some numbers. Another a little smaller, with the two types of skull (four skulls) and more numbers. The smallest one you got four insignas and white bands.

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    The schemes options are:

     

    1.      B-24 D Liberator 41-24047, pilot Maj. P. Gottke, 320th BS 90th BG, New Guinea, 1943.

    2.     B-24 D Liberator 41-24073 pilot Capt Halverson, 319th BS, 90th BG, New Guinea, 1943

    3.     B-24 D Liberator 41-23836, pilot Capt E.A. Wood, 321th BS, 90th BG, New Guinea, 1943

    4.    B-24 D Liberator 41-24074, pilot Lt. J.R. Wilson, 319th BS, 90th BG, New Guinea, 1943

    5.     B-24 D Liberator 41-23828, pilot Lt. H.L. Chovanec, 321th BS, 90th BG, New Guinea, 1943

    6.    B-24 D Liberator 41-23849, pilot Lt. Ch. Andrews, 320th BS,90th BG, New Guinea 1943.

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    And, finally, last but not the least,

     

    1:32 Fortress Mk I/III (the mighty B-17)

     

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    This set is the one with the less sheets, only three.  Two big ones with insignia and letters and small one with a nose art.

     

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    The schemes options are:

     

    1.      Fortress Mk. II SR376, 214 Sqn RAF, n.º 100 Group, 1944;

    2.     Fortress Mk. II SR386, 214 Sqn RAF, n.º 100 Group, 1944;

    3.     Fortress Mk. III SR223, 214 Sqn RAF, n.º 100 Group, 1944;

    4.    Fortress Mk. III KJ117, 214 Sqn RAF, n.º 100 Group, 1944;

     

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    Analyzing the decal sheets, the color registration is great and a very good definition of the details. The decals have a thin film, in fact looking very thin and delicate. These are printed by BOA Agency.

    The instructions are in fact general and applicable to all decals, it is always important to remember the general principles of decal application. In this case, there is no specific rule for applying these decals.

                The profiles draws contains lots of information, with side view (both side) and top view with precise decal indication.

     

                Conclusion:

    DK Decals gives modeler some great options in 1:32.

    I really love the B-24 and the RAF B-17! It´s really unusual schemes but it would look great!! The color densifications and pigment looks quite good and I relay need to try one of these in some future work.

     The guidelines given about decal location are very good.

    My thanks to DK Decals for producing these fantastic decals and the possibility of reviewed them.

     

    Francisco Guedes

    • Like 5
  4. Hi Guys!

    @KevinM asked for some pictures of this beast so here it goes.

    This kit always was on my wishlist. At Telford in 2019, I saw one in 2nd hand in a very very bad shape box with a price tag of 12£. 

    So I got it... and then the SAM editor pass by me and challenge me to do a mag article (it came out on SAM Publications, January 2023 - I`m a ver slow builder... :( .

     

    I used Babibi Decals and KV mask!

     

    The model itself is not a easy job... specially on the engines and undercarriage (very very weak - Currently, the landing gear is broken).

    It`s a beast in 1:72...

     

    Any question, just shoot!

     

     

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    • Like 5
    • Thanks 2
  5.  

     

    Aircraft Weapons

    Of World War One

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    Canfora Publishing

    (Grafisk Form & Förlag)

    Author: Tom Laemlein

    ISBN: 978-91-988425-0-0

    Price tag: 33€ (plus shipping)

     

    Canfora Publishing is working in full speed with a new book hitting the shelfs.

     

    And, once again, a very specific subject but a very welcome one to all World War One modeller.

    Aircraft weapons!

     

    Canfora Publishing is quite well known by their high quality standards books and this one at the first sigh, is not, at all, off route.

     

    It’s a soft cover, A4 size in with 160 pages, full of rare pictures and I mean full so it´s much more than just a weapon (gun) book.

     

    The inside paper is glossy/satin finish with high quality definition, giving a killer quality overlook to the book.

     

    The first thing I notice is the definition of the pictures! It looks like that they were took a few year (because they are white and black) but not 100 years ago.  The clarity and definition are fantastic and you can see a lot of details, and that work is top notch, made by Toni Canfora. Bloody Fantastic.

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    It`s divided in several chapters:

            

    -      Introduction

    -      Detail Study of major machine guns

    -      Gunnery training

    -      Forward firing machine guns (allied)

    -      Forward firing machine guns (central powers)

    -      Observer`s Guns (allied)

    -      Observer`s Guns (central powers)

    -      Bombs & grenades

    -      Cannons & recoilless guns

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    The detailed study is subdivided into sub-chapters, where the various machine guns of the epic are conducted in depth, namely,

    “Lewis”,

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    “Vickers”,

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    “Marlin”,

     

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    “Spandau & Parabellum”,

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    “Colt-Browning M1895”,

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    “Schwarzlose , “Hotchkiss M1909”, “Fiat-Revelli & Madsen”               

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    In fact, there`s a quite deep study (at least for me) of several type of machine brands of the list of manufactures. There`s not a lot of text (but it´s enough and with good information) but it`s a lots of fantastic pictures with lots of close up of the machine guns where you can see the details.

     

    After the detail study chapters, all other are what the name says: The weapons on training and then on the specifics guns on the specific aircraft styles.

     

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    At the very end of this book, a homage is paid to Henri Farre. Well Done!!

     

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           Conclusion

    Another killer publication from Canfora Publishing and an awesome work by Tom Laemlein to give us the reader some interesinting pics and history.

    Beside the paper quality and printer definition, the content of this book is a quite inspirations one to all the World War I modellers as It`s a very good photographic book with detail history of guns included and the respective WWI Airplanes.

    The quality of the pics, their rarity (at least for me) and the side note text make this book a fantastic reading and a mojo inspiration.

    VERY Highly Recommend

     

    Francisco Guedes

     

    Our thanks to the Toni Canfora and Canfora Publishing for this review sample and all the support on LSM.

     

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    To purchase this directly, click THIS link.

     

    If you found this review helpful and decide to purchase this product, please tell them you read about it at Large Scale Modeller!

     

    Disclaimer: all photos all in low quality to preserve and prevent all copyright.

     

     

     

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    • Like 2
  6.  

    1:32 Lancaster Grand Slam Wheels

    AIMS

    Catalogue n.º 32P048

    Price Tag: 15£

    To buy – Hannants - here

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                The 1:32 HK Model Grand Slam Lancaster is a beautiful model kit that I have had the pleasure to review it right here on Large Scale Modeller.

     

                The Grand Slam is modified Lancaster especially in belly and structure and of course on it wheels.

     

    One point that I make on the review is that the Grand Slam version used the Lincoln wheels that have a large wheel hub.

     It`s a quite visible detail but back then there were no aftermarket 1:32 Lincoln wheels.

     

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    Well, as John helped me out back then, he thought to release this set with his brand AIMS: a wheel set to Grand Slam and all Post-war Lancaster.

                The set comes in a small box, with the wheels casted in a single pieces and the interior rims in two pieces (exterior and interior).

                The resin casting is, as usual, top noch.

     

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                The resin is in gray color with good consistence.

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                The resin blocks will give some work to remove but is the usual work when it comes to work with resin.

                The surface details are very good. Love the detail of the letters.

     

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    The rims details are great and they are in fact much larger that the original wheels.

     

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    The comparasion between the AIMS wheels and the HK Models wheels

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    See how much larger is the rim.

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    Conclusion:

    This wheels set is a must have to all the have the Grand Slam Lancaster or want to make post-war Lancaster or simple that wants to build a 1:32 Lincoln (scrachtbuilding one?)

    The wheels are a standing point in the model, at least for me so wheels with good detail just will stand out.

    The detail of all resin pieces is excellent.

     

    Very Highly recommended

     

    Francisco Guedes

     

    My truly Thanks to John of AIMS for this review samples.

     

    To purchase this directly, click THIS link.

     

     

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 2
  7. 1:32

    DK Decals

    A-20G Boston (or Havoc)

    in RAAF service

     

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    DK decals is a decal company with quite some reputation but in fact, it is the first time I have one of their sheet in hand, so I was quite curious about it.

    This are the first AM decal for upcoming 1:32 Hon Kong Model A-20G.

    This sheet comes in a ziplock bag, with the two decals sheets and a small A5 size, with profile, and color guide.

    Analyzing the decal sheets, the color registration is great and a very good definition of the details. The decals have a thin film, in fact looking very thin and delicate. These are printed by BOA Agency. It`s a new name for me.

     

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     It have two schemes options of two RAAF aircrafts:

    -         A-20G Havoc A28-60, N.º 22 Sqn RAAF, New Guinea 1944

    -         A-20G Havoc A-20-78, n.º 22 Sqn RAAF, New Guinea 1994

     I have a soft spot for RAAF aircraft and the Havoc`s are no exception.

    The nose art of the A-20G Havoc A28-60  is in a separate sheet and to assure alignment between the girl itself, her name and the top bombs, it all come in one single decal.

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    The instructions are in fact general and applicable to all decals, it is always important to remember the general principles of decal application. In this case, there is no specific rule for applying these decals.

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    The profiles draws contains lots of information, with side view (both side) and top view with precise decal indication.

     

     

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                Conclusion:

    Well, DK Decals is a very good surprise for me. While the name was well knowed, I never had one decal sheet in my hand.

    The color densifications and pigment looks quite good. The white should not be transparent.

    The guidelines given about decal location are very good.

    My thanks to DK Decals for producing these fantastic decals for the A-20G and for the review sample.

    Francisco Guedes

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
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