II I,

Modern fl.S. Aviation Ordnance by Bob LaBouy

you going wonder why all the emphasizeon aircraft "hardware." In this Q ome of are to \) issue you will find three different articles aimed at increasing your modeling knowledge about aircraft ordnance. Most of it is for U.S. aircraft and some related to British WW II ord- nance. Several members have recently mentioned that these types of articles (conceming peripheralitems of interestto modelers)are aboutthe only way they leam aboutsuch items. I hope you will enjoy this issue and find the articles useful.

Introduction As some of you will recall a few months ago, we reprinted a brief article by Wayne '97, Wachsmuth(August page5), in which he commentedabout the importanceof paying attentionto the many little "things" which we display under and aroundour finishedmodels. The part which causedme the most con@rnwere his commentsabout bombs, rockets and missiles.

With that initial thought,I would like to introduceyou to modern U.S. underwingord- nalss-namsly Dasrcbombs and a few missile types. I recognize up front that this is a very large topic, one with many associatedfeatures and facts. However, I feel there is some added room for knowledge on our parts as modelers, at least those of us who build modern military aircraft. The greatestlimitations placed on me are my limited knowledge and the information baseupon which I can rely and sharewith you. Shouldyou have additionalinformation, which you would like to sharewith us, pleasecontact me and it will be incorporated into added notes. With this caveat in mind then, allow me to share the topic of modern United Statesmilitary aviation ordnance with you. If we each, as Ted has urged us, treat our models as subparts (and certainly the underwing/ fuselage ordnance is such a major subpart), hopefully we will begin to pay greater attention to this detail as well. This article is not intended to be comprehensive--butrather to cover the more commonly used, seen and photographed ordnance.I can't cover it more fully becauseof the simple constraintsof space,tirne and my limited resources. I am going to omit coverage of guns,gun packs,some of the more exotic missilesand bombs. Entire books have be dedicatedto this single subjectand I've provided some of the best of those referencesin the attachedbriefbibliography. I hopeyou will find thesenotes of interest. (Conr'don ?aqe4) Se attle Chapter I PM S-U SA N ew slett er - ' - :u,;: .'," ,: . , 6eaitl'C r- ,,.', ,' . : Vice PresidentJ' Treasurer:' eUiton TerryDr Moore,: , ,KeithLaird NormFilell:: ' , Bob LaBouy 3612 20-1st,,,P,l.S.W ,,,528 Soufi zndAVe ,testo1r1.E.99f;1,,' 27777}fr1Place S,E. Lynnwood,WA'98036 I Kent, WA 98032 Redmond,WA 98052 Mercer::l'tland,:WA 98040 Ph: 425,i;714-6343 , tn *uO-91,48 , .i ,Ph; 425-gB5-7219' Ph: 206-232.7784 Net:,::nf [email protected] .:...... ': ::::::Net:.:.t.'lOkSWi igbOb',@,401;COm

oaaaarraf aaoaaoooooaaaaaaooaaoaaaoaoaaaaaaaaaaaaaoooaaooaaoooaaao o o the voice of our Chapterand depends r,F' Boilerplate: This is the "otficial"publication of the SeattleChapter, IPMS-USA. As such, it servesas a \9 laroelvuoon the oenerouscontributions of our membersfor articles,comments, club news,activities, any rumorsor facts involvingplastic scale a ? ro-O"iingand ofrir contributions.Our meetingsare normallyheld each month (see the calendarbelow tor actualdates) at the WashingtonArmy a Anne Hill in Seattle. Our meetingsbegin at 10:00amand usuallylast for o ! ru"tion"ieuard Armory,off 15thAve. N.W.,lusi to the west side of Queen 2-s hourr. Our meetingsare usuallyvery informaland are open to any intorestedplastic modeler, regardless of your interests.Subscriptions a I a with paymentof your Chaptei dues of $12.00(to Norm Filer,our Treasurer).We also highlyrecommend our membersjoin and support i o "or" (dues: - and junior- Any of the folks listedabove will gladlyassist you with furtherinformation . ;pMS-USA,our nationalorganization adult $19. $9.) o o aboutany aspectof our Chapteror Society. (see the applicationbelow) a position or IPMS-USA' ! Theviews and opinionsexpressed in this newsletterare just that, and do not constitutethe official of our Chapter a gladlywork with you to see thatyour I Vouare en@uraged(no, begged)to supportand submitmaterial to the Editorfor this newsletter.He will a Pleasecall Bob at232-77a4: ! materialis put into printand includedin the newsletter,no matterwhat your levelof computeror writingexperience. o o we needyourinput. a a . lf you use or reprintfrom the materialscontained in this Newsletter,we would appreciateattribution to both the authorand sourcedocument. a . prepared but one conceptin mind: this is informationfor our membersand fellowmodelers and is We do not copyrightour Newsletter.lt is with a and printedin the Newslefterin order to expandthe skillsof our fellowmodelers. I Rrepared a aaaaaaaaaaaaoaaooaaaaaoaoaaaoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaooaaaoaaaoaoaaoaooo a MeetingDates: 1998 The IPMS/Seattle1998 meetingschedule is as follows. To avoid conflicts with alreadyscheduled IPMS eventsand National Guard activities at the armory pleasenote that some of our meeting days fall on the third Satu-rdayof the month- Becausesome of us never seemto know when we will meet,we strongly recommendthat you cut this page our of your newslet- ter and paste it up next to the recycle, Mariners, Cheersreruns, Husky home game, lemming returns or any other schedulesyou post in your house. All meetinssbegin at L0:fi)am on meetins Saturdays. 1998 APRIL 11,1998 (2ndSaturday) JULY 18,1998 (3rdSaturday) MAY 16,1998(3rd Saturday) AUGUST15,1998 (3rd Saturday) JUNE 13,1998 (2ndSaturday) SEPTEMBER19,1998 (3rdSaturday)

I Address: i,,**l'ilitr,i,l,i,iiii;iiili,ii',ul;il;iiiiiili,,,;'li,,l:",, I

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':,,'fl',.ifuh i Eeoun:919 *^-'&"M:exico;',,$25,ii:,:,::::,:,,r,r,r,ii.:.iflOfher::(ll:zitears:ojdoiV0urc,EiE'$9' t 'Afr.8XlUV;-::lD1?::;i::::::::::.::i:l:li::::l-rE-tlll'lr vr|;tglr' r-l r.qse .Yrer'rver. rv Foreign: $2896e I I! E traOe Member: $19'''ElC*-v .lil-*i.: i (Adult.dues(Adult + on6,:get,,$agazil!eli*',91,'.membershipone igOazinei;*,oi',mffioershipcards required:- ) ! !E Famity dues+ $5, i: ! -tr tt recommendedby an IPMSmembe-tii',i ::,::,':.,.::,::::::'i"::" -Trffisfi r t ;il'-;;-;; hi#;;;;r andmember numodl''"', ! "lemSi .::;:.rr:,,.,, p-h I i| Ft , CSArrT dt O "xo'nt;:lif.,cA3,0es-6.sBor:6138 ! L ------:: r r r r r. r r - r - r - r - - r - r - - --: J r IPMS-USANewslener IntroductingOur NewEdltor: A New Contest ROBERT ALLEN Category by Bitl Osborn new for the Husky Basketball team. He is I Uow me to introduceour keeper .l-a.Editor. RobertAllen. Many of single,but looking. Well, its happenedagain, and again and you haveseen or met Robert at one of our His modeling interests are largely again. Three models and three botched paint local Chaptermeetings, where he is a usual dedicated toward 1/72nd ahcraft and he jobs. visitor and participant and I would like to considers himself "an averagemodeler." He Number one is a Frog Miles Magister strives for sharesome insight into his background and doesn't build for competition and with a lot of time spenton modifications.Now "what he's about" as he enters into his some improvement in eacb of his modeling to be fair the paint job (red, white and yellow) editorship of our Seattle Chapter Newsletter. projects. did come out great. The problem came with Chapter Robert came to the U.S. from his native He is enthusiasticabout the the gloss coat. After four weeks its still tacky. efforts home in England, with his family's movement Newsletter and feels that his editorial Every time I pick it up to do finish work I leave to the Seattlearea in 1966,at the ageof 9. He will be best spent maintaining tbe current smudgeswhich I can't polish out. Also the grew up in the Redmond area, graduatedfrom level ofquality and hopeshis greatest paint is starting to wear off the trailing edge of '75 the the Lakeside School in and the University contribution can be toward increasing the wing. For paint I usedModel Master '81 the Chapter. He of Washingtonin , with a BA in English. number of contributors from Enamel,and Top Coat Aero Master Gloss. For the last several years he has been wants to get as many members writing and Number two belongsto a deHavilland material. employed in the non-profit organization field, increasethe diversity of our subject Dash 8. To be fair the first paint job went very (Windows working with senior citizens. In that capacity, He works with a DOS computer well with the two main colors going on smooth '95) with all of he put together a newsletter which is a bit and looks forward to working and blemish free. The problem came when I join and larger than our Chapter effort and also writes us. Please with me in welcoming put tbe decals on. I read in a model magazine forThe Rocket. Additionally he is the score supporting him as our new Editor! that the paint I was using was so fine that a top coat need not be applied before the decals went on. You guessedit, it didn't work. Aftcr the top coat went on there was so much silvering that therewas only one option. After removing the decals and sanding and rubbing out the model I washedit down with soapand warm water. When it was good and dry, I repainted the lower surface. Not wanting to hurry the paint I let it rest for a and painter, but looking at his sketches hile viewing the Codex sculptor week. Next I masked off the lower surfaces drawings, maybe a diorama builder. And kicester at the Seattle Art and and painted the rest of the model. It looks what he could do with an airbrush(!) Museum, I was struck by the fact that think good. Wait a coupleoff hoursand removethe Those WW II Regia Aeronautica color l-eonardo Da Vinci had some tendenciesthat masking tape and in the processall the paint schemes(Maccb\2021205& others)in 1/72nd current day modelers have: he liked to research under the tape came up with it. Well, now scale? No problem. He probablywouldn't and study in great depth what interestedhim what the h_ do I do? I will not trashthe to use a decal for any aircraft with nose but he rarely saw a project through to need model after all the time spent correcting the kit art - he'd just hand paint it. But, he probably completion(hefinished only l2 paintingsin his You'd think that if the paint came off that early would have many half built projects lying lifetime). Some of my model projects seem to the removal of the rest would be a snap. It's as he would find something else to whet be that way. I certainly am not comparing about not. Paint usedwas PollyScale. I've usedit his appetite immediately after starting anew myself to l.eonardo Da Vinci but I, as well as beforeand had fair results. that is a real problem with one or some others in our hobby, sometimes have a kit. Today, Number tbree is a Matchbox Canberra. the shelvesat the local hobby tendency to over researcha project that results two kits on (you'll notice a lack of smartson my part as to emporium every week! After viewing the in a loss of interest in a particular model we my choice of kits) O.K., I've cleanedthe Codex, I certainly would not hire him to draft are building. Studying the information on a model for paint and the lower color is on. Let instruction sheets. Well, maybe for Mach II subject reveals that a kit is missing a few it dry and cure for a few days and start to mask kits... important items like interior details or that to for upper colors and what happens...Iscrape I had consideredthe possibility of be totally accurateyou have to scratch build some paint off with a fingemail. Which means submitting some of the Codex to "Super major components. On some projects, details if I had stuck the tape down tight when pulled Bob for a seriesof articles in our that would render an averagemodel a good Editor" it off the paint would probablyhave come off but with Lronardo Da Vinci's modeljust don't seemworth the effort and newsletter, as well. Seenumber two above. Paint used - writing style, language, and drawings that sometimesthe model will be set aside was Model Master with Duracryl DTL 876 would not reproduce well in our newsletter,I sometimespermanently. But the researchwas lacquer thinner. Any comments Ted? it. Also, Mr. Gates probably fun and we leamed a lot about the subject, but decided against As it standsnow I'm in a six month would not let us borrow the originals. until a much better kit comes along, we'll slump. I think I'll push for a new contest See you at the meeting. never build one. Maybe I am comparing category: "Built But Unpainted"models. model buildersto Leonardo. Hey, maybe Teny we're all brilLiant artisansand creators! Which meetingond guestspeoker leads to a deeply weird thought: What would I lth; ourMorch onnouncement mentioned two dotes- lhe Leonardo build if he was a model builder? My initial thought is that he would be a figure correctdote isApril 1i. SeattleChapter I PMS-USANew slener

(Contd lrom paqe 1) is not quite so simple. anyone of theftve AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles

Like you I suspect,I have often noticed You have recently seena few articles llJli;"i',T lLlTl""',iij;1i Jiii,liffi .,; that some modelers, myself included, have we've run covering the specificcolors of those of Soviet block forces) from Italieri, failed to do much researchabout what underwingordnance from variousnations (e.g., Fujimi, Revell, Monogram and many fine after- weaponsor "stores" we put under the wings Japaneseand now British), which even permits market parts from such companiesas and from various pylons on modern aircraft. us to paint the bombs in their appropriate AeroMaster, KMC, PP Aeroparts to name a This may be in part due to the fact that by the colors. few. And with someof the brasssheets time we get to "arming" the model, we're available, there are beautiful fins available to exhaustedand just want to completeit. But I What aboutthe shapesthemselves you put onto the bombs themselves,which largely suspectit is becausewe often really do not ask? Well, things have improved markedly correct the width and shapeproblems encoun- have many resorucesdealing with the over tbe last 10-20years. It was about 1980 tered previously. You can also now get a wide ordnance and are basically unsure of what to when the Hasegawacompany treated us to our variety of bombs,fins, fusesand assemblies place there. I have seenmore than one model lust realisticmodern ordnance,again in my usedby front line U.S. units to display with which displayedjust blue bombs under the opinion. Prior to that time (and sometimes vour models. wing pylons. Talking to the builder revealed still) the kit manufacturers "give" you what that they thought their photos of blue bombs could be best described as a "bomblike" shape Bomb Markings were correct and didn't realize that these were and some aren't even that close. Many of the only inert "shapes" placed there for static bombs were basic blob shapesand sort of tear This may be a bit confusing as you look display purposes. I have also (more than once) shaped,usually with four fin-like devices at the over photos from the WW II, Korean and seenwhat I believe to be versions of WW II pointy or rear end. These "fins" are normally Vietnam wars. The reason is becausethere bombs used on modem aircraft. Are they not the correct shape and if projected into scale were changes between the conflicts and more wrong? The answeris a resounding"maybe." would be about 5-8" thick and hardly provide a importantly, becausethe bombs themselves My purpose in this article is to provide you fair representationof the aerodynarnicfins the overlappedin their usage. Forexample, you with a short basic introduction to modern actual bombs contained. Now, there are fairly will often see the WW tr boxed hn style bombs ordnance as used by our armed forces, both decent bomb shapesfor WW II, Korea and used in both Korea and Vietnam. This is shapes,assemblies and colors, as I know them Vietnam eras in several different shapesand simply a matter of supply and demand. As the and to give you a few added referencesfor you both Allied and Axis powers. country's ability to producethese bombs to further researchthis important topic. gained momentum near the end of WW II, later As a direct result of all fine photo- Through most of the formative years of graphic coverage of the Vietnamese conflict, []:ffi:H"f"Hi,T:,"".1,T:]"J,n' - plastic scale models (as I saw them) we were the kit manufacturers started paying attention types of bombs,but more importantly.a largeI rarely given anythingbut basicplastic shapes to the basic underwing ordnance used by the number of "surplus" bombs were held in the by the kit manufacturers. Some companies U.S. Aside from their previouscrude models military's storagedepot system. As a personal clearly gave us the samebomb and missile of Sparrowsand Sidewindermissiles, they now observation (to illustrate this point), I was shapesfor any aircraft, often without any presentedthem in much greater detail and a issued small arms ammunition in the early 90's regard for the time period and in some variety of actual configurations and in both which was still in depot level storagethat were instances,the nationality of the aircraft. I fl2nd and l/48th scales. Their aircraft foaded in 1942 in the Denver arsenal:there are "Bombs were bombs" and all basically look weapons setsprovided such a variety, for still lots of WW II vintage small arms ammuni- the same,right? Again, actual use and practice example. that the modeler could choose from tion availablein quantity. While aboardthe Table1: BasicU.S. Ordnance Markinss - KoreanWar and Later Typeof Color IdentificationBands Color of Bomb of Body Marking Color Number of bands andlocation Nose Center Tail cP, [,C,Frag; AP, Olive drab Yellow I none Black Depth& SAP GP (comoositionB loaded 2 2 GP & I-C (tritonal loaded) 1 narrow I narrow band between band between ? wi& hands 2 wide bands TareetID & Photoflash Grav none none Practice Blue White Drill Olive drab Black I Black or Crray Chemical - Smoke Gray Yellow I Yellow Chemical - Incendiarv Pr:role I Pr:rple Chemical - Persistent sas Green 2 2 2 Ctreen Chemical - Nonoersistent sas Green I Ctreen Chemical - Irritant eas Red 1 Red Seattle r IPMS-USANewsletter manuals. Again, I like to refer to actual photos USS Nimitz in 1990, I saw and photographed ordnance. You will notice some small and recommend this method of authenticating '"ffi differences from the data show below, which " your models. c;,*x#:T:::"#ilH:il,ff was taken from both U.S. Air Force and Navy Korean war vintage ordnance stored at depot publications. What accountsfor the differ- Korean War Bombs levels and very likely still some WW II bombs ences? Ttme and changesin ordnance We are also aware from the news about the As noted, the following chart is taken deshuction of WW tr artillery shells,just now DrawingA: from available U.S. Afu Force publications being planned in several ofthe government's from the Korean War er4 and basedon photos ordnance depots. I say these tbings to call to I have seen,is believed to be accuratefor that your attention to the fact that when it comes to period and for the Vietnam war period' ordnancethe modeler shouldn't rush to judgment as to which bombs and fins are and Common Bomb Parts are not proper for a given aircraft. My rule of thumb is to try to build using photos as In Drawing B, the most common Parts references. You will also be able to "read" illustoated. many of these bomb types by using the color ll style,boxedfin bomb (about 500 lbs.) and strip indications, using the Table 1 data. WW shownon Navyunderwing bomb rack. Fuzes WW tr bomb shapeswere hardlY "aerodynamic" shaped,at least as neededfor As you begin to pay closer attention to high speed or level delivery, when compared to the photosof actualbombs, you will quickly the more modem ballistic shapes. Tbese notice a few aspectswhich I failed to see for differences are reasonablyclear when looking some time. Most are fused at both ends and at pictures of underwing ordnance (see the connecting safety wire which normally Drawing A for several illushations). I am runs from the bomb pylon runs to bottr the aware of several current government ordnance front and tail fuses on the bomb (see Drawing manuals which specify that certain types of C). These safety wires are there to prevent bombs (the boxed fin variety for example) premature arming (and activation) of the bomb were not used durins Vietnam or later. As you \ArWll style,boxed f inbomb (about 500 lbs.) can see from photos and several of the shownon Navyluselage bomb rack (most DrawingC: referenceshots below, this simply wasn't true. likeya F4UCorsair. To somedegree the bombsused were chosen not only becauseof availablestockpiles, but also becauseof the speedof the delivery aircraft. For example there was no fear in using the older style boxed finned bombs on A- 1s,T-37s and several other types of a./cin Vietnam. Notes from ordnance manuals also point out the older styled "high speed" (refened to as "series 60") bombs, which were introduced in the early 50's were still being used by both the Navy and Air Force through- out the Vietnam war. You will see many WWll style,boxedfin bomb (about 500 lbs.) photosof thesebombs being loadedand shownon Army Air Corps underwing bomb Basicaircraft bomb fuse (nosetype, but dropped (e.g., in the intro. photo for this article rack(probably aP-47). basicdesign and shapesare same for from an early B-52 over North Vietnam). Tbe eitherend): bottom line is that you may see a variety of DrawingB: ordnancehanging under the wings of U.S. Basic aircraftbomb parts: military aircraft, all the way up through the middle east conflict. SuspensionLugs -Arming W.ire WW II Bombs

I have also, at the end of this article, included a reprint entitled "U.S. AVIAflON ORDNANCE ruNGUIDED WEAPONS AND GLTDED WEAPONS)", which originally appearedin the early 70's in the Trdewater Chapter's Newsletter, Model Topics. lplease refer to pages 12 for that articlel I have done N this to provide you with as much information \ TailFuse as possible about this subject. My reading and NoseFuse interpretation of this data is that that article FinAssembly covered mostly WW II and Korean war Seattle r IPMS-USANewsletter seen appearto be (seesketche below). While I don't intend to go exceeding 73,000 tons each month and resulted container. The few I've into detail on bomb fuses, most of the bomb in a need to maintain a constant stockpile of at *l fuses are commonly set to detonate the bomb in least 200,000 tons in Vietnam. one of two ways: (a) primer-detonation (when As Vietnam heated up, several additional sa*'r**"Ti*T* ;:*:'r- explode, prior to the strike the target). This may be timed with a needswere foreseen. Not only did the explosive. These weapons fog- preset delay in the fuse itself or immediately on aerodynamicsof the bomb carc:lssneed to be impact with the taxgetand spreada large and air striking the target. These fuses are often improved the for bomb delivery accuracy,but like mist of very small particals of fuel very "armed" by the time they hit the target because also to reduce the drag on the bombs. This was mixture. As this mist is spreadingover a 75-100 of the number of revolutions counted by the important due to the effect of drag on delievery, large area (estimated to be as much as little "propeller" device you see on the fuse tbe increasing need to carry additional bombs yards), the mist is exploded with devasting (called an arming vane). The other co[lmon under our aircraft, increaseloiter time above results. types are (b) proximity fuzes, which may the targets and to increasethe overall speedand detonatebased on approaching the target, on economy of the aircraft themselves. Decreased Cluster Bombs automatic release,radio or electronic transmis- drag resulted in huge fuel savings alone.. These stubby bomb-like containers are sion. When you realize the early B-52 missions were just that, containers full of smaller munitions. You should notice the tail fuzes also carrying up to 108 bombs,an F-l11 would Usually thesecontainers carry several hundred usually contain arming vanes. For most uses, could carry 48 bombs and an 4,-6, 24 bombs, anti-armor or personnel munitions. As the thesefuzes are included to preclude a dud you can more clearly seethe associatedneeds. bomb is dropped (prior to hitting the ground), bomb from not going off due to an ineffective As a result we saw the older WW tr style of the bomb container opens and hundreds of the nose fuze. short,wide diameterbombs (M I l7) replaced sub-munitions are spread around over a wide The final aspectof fuzing which I would by the slim Mk 80 series. At the same time, area. Many of these anti-personnelor Iike to point out are the extensions commonly weight and drag were driving the design of the DrawingF: used on bombs. These were often seen in bomb casings themselves,the nature of our Vietnam era photos and were used to detonate targets and delivery needs in Vietnam (i.e; the bomb at a certain distance above the close-in and low level ground support) ground. This was done to increase the required our aircraft to clear the target destructive power of the bombs. These fuze without darnagefrom our own ordnance and MR77Napalm Canister extensions are commonly seen in three lengths: become more accurate in the bombs (ca.) six inches, two feet and three feet. You delievery. This resulted in increased will see these longer extensionsin at least two deployment time over the target, once the of the accompanying photographs. bomb was dropped. Notes below provide of some further insight into this issue BLu o7 NapalmBomb Bombs Shapes retardation. In Gulf War photo coverage, some As the U.S. built higher speed aircraft of the older M I l7 style bombs were still (and delivery speedsfor ground ordnance), the being used there as well. basic shapesof our bombs and fins both The newer general purpose bomb changed accordingly. As we began deploying series contains the following standard major forces and weapons into Viebram, the bomb models. CBU-55/72Fuel-Air ExPlosive shearnumbers forced us into almost a total -equipment redesignof our bombs. As the Southeastem Napalm Bombs bombletsare setto explodeon Asian war beganto widen, our country's Napalm, the much feared liquefied jelly impact, some are timed for later detonation and bombing efforts resulted in dropping of over fue bombs, are almost always carried in the some may be proximity types (which lay on the 70,000tons of bombsper month! This not sarnetypes of containers. During Vietnam, ground unexplodeduntil somethingtouches only resulted in the utilization of much of our these were usually more tear shapedand most them). While seeminglysmall, this bomblets previous depot stockpiles of bombs, but forced recently, more "barrel" shaped. In both can quickly spread destruction over a very us into producing added weapons at a rate instances,they were basically a silver colored wide area.

DrawingE: Basicaircraft bombfin shapes:the older square or boxed stYle (WW ll) and on the right,lhe newerconical style, used from the KoreanWarforward. Stillseen on some M117bombs todaY.

Basic aircraftbomb fuse shapes: the older(\rVWll& Korea)style(M117), with the newer style fins and (below) the newer high speed, low drag (Vietnam) style(Mk B0 series): Seattle Chapter I PM S-U SA N ew s lener to be Laser-guided bombs camera in the nose of the guidanceportion of explosion. The AF ordnance appears while the Navy Another irnportant contribution from the the bomb. The only model of this I am aware painted in overall olive drab, while Vietnameseconflict in our modern arsenal of of is the GBU-8 (guidedbomb unit) in the usesa combinationof o.d. bomb casings aircraft weapons are the laser guided bombs or Hasegawaweapons sets. In both instances, the guidance section (and sometimesthe fin I have LGBs are they are often called (Drawing G). wbile the initial training beganin 1968,the area) may be gray or o.d. All of these While much was made about the fact that these units of the 8th TFW at Ubon RTAB began to seenpersonally have had both the fins and "smart" weapons appearedonly recently during usethese new "smart" weaponsin 1969and guidance section painted in a "navy gray" the Gulf war and Desert Storm, tbat is far from 1970and both were made evenmore reliable color. true. While reporters and the television media becauseof the advent of the Air Force's ability may have just picked up on them, they were to more closely navigate to their eventual Bomb Fins used (though in earlier versions) starting in late targets using the latest l,oran D equipment. As a result of the Mk series80 bombs' '69 and throughout the later years of our This capability is usually seenon F-4s flown development the older style fins were replaced involvement in Viehram. They came from the by the 8th TFW as a white bar antennaon top by the conical, higher speed,shaped fins used Air Force's program of precision avionics of the fuselage spine (they were called "towel today (Drawing E). These bombs are referred (LDGP) vectoring equipment (abbreviated and called bars"). Today the GBU-15 is the standard2000 to as low drag, general purpose bombs just the "PAVE" system, of which there are a lbs. guidedbomb following either a electro- and often called "slicks." This samebomb numberof sub- "pave" projectsand prograrns). optical or infrared guidance source. series are the basic components for most of Basically what happensis the seekerhead of Color referencesthroughout the LGB todays optically guided and other special the LGB hacks or "guides" onto the target series are reasonably similar. Most of the ordnance bomb assembliesas well. You will using a laser designatedbeam. The LGB LGBs are made up of olive green painted notice whenever you see the older M 11 7 actually flies toward or locks onto this laser components, with the bomb being either a bombs, the Air Force also has a newer, high beam and homes into the designatedtarget, as single shipped (HE) or double stripped speed fin for them as well, the M904 fin. As an it is illuminated by the laser beam. As a result (thermally protected) type (depending again example, you will see several photos here with the probability of the bomb results are alnost upon the end user). The actual seekerhead has older M I 17, fitted with newer conical firs, always very high, certainly much better than a large glass lens, which is clear and can be being loadedonto B-52s (alsoseen dropping with "dumb" bombs. Areasonably accurate made by placing a drop of clear epoxy on the from the lead photo, from an early "tall tail" depiction of this was shown recently in the bomb's guidance head,representing the lens. B-52 over Viehram). As previouslynoted, Tom Clancy movie, "Clear and Present The rear fin assemblieswhile usually still theseolder M I I 7 bombs were still be dropped Danger" (though the bomb type itself is purely composed of olive green components,may also by at leastB-52s, over kaq during the Gulf fictional-as far as I know). be seenwith a light gray fin assembly as well. War, as is evidenced by numerous photos laken I recommend following the Hasegawa during that short conflict. DrawingG: color suggestionsand believe they are As previously mentioned, the need to the most accurateones I've seenin also accurately deploy the bombs and allow the print to date, though it should be delievery aircraft to depart the area before the noted that anytime you have a explosion brought about another need in fin design. Hencethe developmentof the high (500 photographwhich displays Mk82 lbs.)HE bomb, with another color-go with Your drag or retarded bombs. Douglas aircraft LGBguidance head and fins. photo evidence. Someofthese developed the "snakeye" fins (Mk 14 for the latest t GB assembliescontain Mk 8l bomb, Mk 15 SE fin assemblyon the a rocket assisteddelivery Mk 82 bomb). Thesefins can be seenas an package in the tail section as assembly which contains four separate well. This is the combination deployable flaps (Drawing H). These "w" I have seenaboard Navy shapedflaps pop open after dropping and carriers during my last two deploy like an umbrella, slowing or retarding visits. I havealso seena the bombsdeployment. In the last several Mk84 (1000lbs.) HE bomb, with number of the current LGBs in years, the latest development in retarded LGBguidance head and fins. Thetwo various shadesof olive drab in delivery has been the development by color photost^ken of ground GoodyearAerospace of the "balloon" bomb stripsalso indicate this is fireprotected launched aircraft during and (the BSU 85 and 86 fin assemblies).This To say that tbe bomb is a laser guided since Desert Storm. newest retardation system is a container, mated bomb is a bit of a misnomer. The completed New to the inventory during the Desert to the rear of the Mk 80 series bomb, which bomb package or assembliesare guided bomb Storm conflict were the "bunker busting" pops open on deployment and deploys a 4 foot (Ae pear-shaped "bailute" to s)ow'and units (GBU's) and contain several major 6om6s. Thoseoften seenncluded BLU diameter the bombs'delivery. You may have components,which come together as a kit. The 109 series,which includedthe GBU l2 stabilize some greatcolor footageof tbesebombs bombs themselvesare usually either the Mk 82' guidancesection (for 1000lbs. bomb) and seen delivered from B-l and B-2 aircraft 83 or 84 bombs and combined with the GBU 24 (for 2000 lbs. bombs),both of which being IV/NGS shows. computer-control group (the seekerhead) and used the BS-84 tail fin assemblies. The Air during recent Comparative drawings of both the the an air-foil group (front wing assembly and Force also usesa GBU-I8 (w/ B-4) 4700 lbs. bombs and fins are shown below for compari- rear guidance fins). I won't attempt to go into GBU, which is commonly called "deep throat." son (Drawing E). It should also be noted that the numerous combinations and LGB pack- The initial lot of these bombs were all hand while these drawings are not drawn to scale,I ages,since there are so many. Vietnam also crafted at a govemment arsenal,using unissued provided sufficient dimensional data and saw the lrst use of the electro-optically guided cannon barrels for the bomb casings. These have these drawings will allow you to bombs(EOGB), which were effectively bombs bombs are specifically designedto penehate hopefully and paint thesebombs and guided through the use of a small television deep into sand protected sheltersprior to more closely model SeattleChapter IPMS-USA N ew sletter Corps Air Power Directory. missiles. Journal, there appearslittle more to add to the Marine markings and colors for most of the modern AerospacePublishing Ltd; London, Bomb Markings missiles. In recent years there have also r992. J., Tbnkin Gulf Yacht CIub. Mos! if not all of the markings shown appearedseveral beautiful sheetsof decals to Francillon, Ren6 OffVietnam, above (re: Korean War ordnance) are still specifically provide the various stripes and U.S. Canier Operations Press,Annapolis, 1988. valid. There are two basic very significant markings for a variety of modern U.S. military Naval Institute The Illustrated Encyclopedia of additions (in markings) during the Vietram aircraft missiles. The sheetsI have used and Gunston, Bill, SalarnanderBooks war. The lust are those Mk 80 series bombs recommendinclude those by Lloyd Jones' Aircraft Arma:nent, ndon.1988. with only one yellow strip (approximately 3 Scale Master sheetsand those by Precision Ltd; t Steve, "USAF/USN Missile Paint inches in width). This is an indication that the Scale Graphics. Jantscher, IPMS-USA Journal, bomb is and contains a high explosive filler Schemes," 1998,page 36. fiE). References: January/February, & Armament of The second,seen only on naval weapons Unlike a few years ago, when there were Kinzey, Bert, U.S. Aircraft Storm, Detail & Scale and aircraft (to the best of my knowledge) is few photographic referencesand almost no Operation Desert Number 40, KalmbachBooks, that related to thermally protected bombs in the written material available regarding our Series, 1993. Mk 80 series. As a result of the several ordnance, there are now an increasing number Milwaukee, C., CanbenaAt War devastatingaccidental ship-board fires on the ofreferences available. I have outlined my Mikesh, Robert B-57 CharlesScribner's Sons, Forrestal (07-29-67 fue with 134 killed, 62 favorites below and recommend them to you. 1964-lq72, injured and 21 atrqaft lost), Enterprise(01-14- Additionally there are several excellent NewYork,1980. /atDebri.ef, 69, fire w1th27 men killed, 344 injured and reference sourceswhich display their own web Morse, Stan, Editor, GulfAir-l pages on the internet. I obtained much of what AerospacePublishing Ltd; London, I owe not only to personal observation and 1991. Ripley, Tim, Bombs Gone! Modem Aircraft prawtfl${traft lost)and oriskanv (10-26-66' photographs, but to a number of unnarned In Action, Wings Series ITIC former Naval Aviation Ordnance Ordnance Mk 82 LDGP "Snakeye" BOmb Specialists.Theyhavenevertired Number 9, Windrow & Greene, Ltd; of answering my endless London. 1994. (500lbs.) questions. These are the well Rotramel,Jim, "U.S. Mk 82 Bombs," Fine known "red shirts" who are ScaleModeler, January,1997, pages Suspens-ionLug ElectricalReceptacle thereal experts. They 42-44. servicethe Navy's aircraft, Scutts, Jerry, Wolfpack Hunting Migs Over just as do the Air Force Vietnam, Airlife Publishing Ltd; ordnance specialist. These Shrewsbury,1988. are the guys (and now gals) Uhlrig, Frank, Vietnam The Navy Story. U.S 1986. /' who really see that this nations Naval Institute,Annapolis, Friddell, "American (before deplOyment) militaryaviators are able to Wogstad, James& Phil FinS folded tOgether -1974,'' deliver the ordnance,where, Aircraft Bombs, 1917 Replica when and as needed. I also want In Scale,Vol. 2, No's 3&4, SPring- !o thank Norm for generouslY Summer, 1974, pages126-149. Fins opened(after deployment) helping basedon his earlier Air + Force experiences. While each of Photographic References: the following provides something The following few pagescontain some of interest for the modeler, I should photos,intended to illustratesome of the point out that few, if anY even ordnancediscussed above. I realizesome of begin to approachJim Wogstad's them do not print very well, due to both the photocopy with 44 killed, 38 injured and 6 aircraft 1974 effort in Replica In Scale. quality of the original print and the lost or damaged),the Navy quickly took While thesefine publications process we use to print the Newsletter. give you some stepsto increasethe protection neededto have beenout of print for a good However, I hope they at least wet your interest in this keep naval ordnance from "cooking off' number ofyears now and ideas and further of building during ship fires or accidents. This additional probably all are now worthy of collecting, this fascinating and very important protection is readily identified by the double particular issue is an absolute must ifthis topic modern scale model aircraft. yellow strip (each 3 inches in width) around is at all of interest to you as a serious modeler the noseof the Mk 80 bombs. You can easily of U.s. underwingordnance. It is now see the thermal protection coating on the bomb beginning to show its' age (due to the number in photos. It is a thick, rough external finish, of later weapons developments), but in my which results in the bombs ability to bum in a opinion it is a "must have" reference. fre, rather than quickly exploding. The entire bomb system (fuses and components) are also Anthony M. Thornborough, Airborne Weapons protected. Bombs without this ablative coating of the West, Motorbooks Intemational, are no longer allowed aboard our carriers. Osceola,1992. Berger, Carl, Editor-bUsilslbLe$it Missile Markings Force in SoutheastAsia. 1a6l - I 973, With the excellent notes provided by the U.S. Governrnent Printing Office, accompanying Model Topics article as well as Washington,1977. those from our most recent IPMS-USA Donald, David & Jon Lake, U.S. Navv & r IPMS-USANewsletler

fheF-1O5shownis deVartinq,with a centrer linelriple election rack (TER)wiihsixM117 G7 bombs.

Thebombcart/trailer shownbelowconlains sixV117G7 bombs.

TheAF A-1Skyraider shown above is includedbecause it now only showstheheavyloadshe was capable of,but from underl;hewingin the forground,youcan see atleastr two smallWW ll boxfint'ype bombs--sIillbeinq used in Vietnam.

Thisstarboard winq pylon ie onanF-4 andillustrated a qreax,bul Thesetwo photos(below) arc nol both t ypicalqround suVVort lo ad showthe two win4pylons on9-57s, carryinq one of threeMkB2Snakeye M117(75O lbs.) bombs each,fromboth front, and bombson afEK rearviewg.

theF'1OOshowntro the riqhtisbeinq loadedwilhaM117 bombon ite ?orL wingpylon, in a revetment.Thisis the oneof the Iy?ical F-lOOloads "fragqed"asindi- catedbyourVarch speaker,Lt'.Col. Korminisky. SeattleChapter IPMS-USA Newslener 10

Thetwo photos (left) both showAviation )rdnancemen(AOs)movingMkBZ)nakey" - bombsinto positions(onto a bombelevalor and acroselhe flighl deck)ro beloaded onto waitinq Naw carrieraircraft.

There d -shirt e d "ordie"on rhe left is showninstalling a nosefuse. setling the timinqon lhe f useand inserting the arminqsafley wireson a Mk B2 bombaboard a Naw carrier.

this shoLillustratestwo Mk B2"Elicks" loadedonto an A-7 TEK showingsome of t'he nosefusedeLail and the two lt'ri?e5 indicatin q the bombha s the fire retarde d, roughfinish.

Ihe photobelow depicts a AOcrew loadinq a (2ooo Theshotbelow shows AF orA' centnrlinestation with a vk B4 lbs.)bomb. nancesVecialist s loadinqM117 You'llnotice thal until Ihe bombis fullyattached to bombsonto trhewinq stationg Ihe rackand tensioned down with lhe anti sway of anF -1OO in an early Vietnam fittin^s, it is kept f ullyattached (chained)u the revelmenf,gcene. bombcarL. these Vrecautione are common aboard carries,guarding aqainstr any movementby ship. tI Seattle Chapte r I PM S -U SA N ew s len er

Theshottn the lett illuEt'rates an F-4 driverpertorming his pre- - fliqht, in s? e ctin g a TER w ith two Mk B2 slickE a n d 36" f us e exl en eions.Thisalso ehows the arminqsafety wires running clear alonq lhe ext'ensionsoutln trhenosefuses attheir ends.

armamenL lhis piloXis also perlorminq TheVhoto belowshows several ao?ecte of his finalpre-fliqht, and in^?ectinTtheseM117 (750lbs.) bombswith fuse exlen' sions("daisy culters"). As you can^ee from Ihe earlyVietnam era shol of this "1andy,"it is beingloadedfor close-inground support and even thouqh it a?pear5 the a/chasalready had Bbombsloaded onto it'7winq1.itslillhas at'leasT'six wingelationsfreefor othertyVes of ordnancel ::,',,',,,''':,',,,.,,...,',''''..,',.,.,.,',

'., ,,,,,,,,,',, ..,,, ,. ,,,,,,,,,,,,, ...,,,,:,,i ,,, %'

TheEholbelow illustratres a f ullload of 4 MkBZ (1OOO lb s.) LD G7 bomb s inboundtn share wit'hone of Sadam's crackunits. As youcan aeefrom the two bombson the Etarboardwinq Etation.they are both fire retarded (l;wosf,ripes) and ae commonlyeee recentrlyon Navyaircraft. the conicalfin assembliesare painied a qraycolor ratrherlhanolive drab. SeattleChapter I PMS-USA New sletter 12 U.S.AVIATION tbeir coloring. In this and following articles I leadingedge. The Falconwas designedto be will try to cover most of the types carried by FJ0r''!) ORDNANCE United Statesaircraft. In part I, I will cover ;Tff :** ::'.: lT#*'1he guided weapons, that is air to air to surface by L.S. Wilcox & Jim Walls position as the Sidewinders. guided missiles. In part tr will be free fall [This article was adaptedfrom articles weapons;bombs, napalm, etc. and lastly in part by L. S. Wilcox and Jim Walls appearing in UNGUIDED I/VEAPONS Itr will be gun packs and unguided rockets. the NORCAL Newsletter and reprinted from prevent Ammunition is painted to rust I would like to begin this part with the the Model Topics, newsletter of the Tidewater and to provide, by the color, a ready means of Philco Sidewinder(Fig I ) which is one of the IPMS Chapterl identification as to type. The exact markings older and more reliable air to air guided While box, yell@ lefters have changedfrom time to time but the color missiles. It is an infrared heat seekerof assigrunentshave changed little since WW I. approximately1 mile range. It is 108" long, The Military Modeler should examine has a spanof 30" and a diameterof 4 112." lt is photographsof the ammunition item and paintedgloss white overall with two it' yellow determine: l. Whether the item is ca.mouflaged bandsat 18" and 24" (which is the warhead). or not, and 2.The size and type of markings. In Aft of this is the influence fuse which has a general,during periods of combat, ammunition materialmetal band l" wide (Fig 1A). The items are camouflaged in the combat areas rudders are anodized (brass colored) and come Smke (R) only and the items used for training in the U.S. in two types.The older type (Fig lB) and the arenot camouflaged.The'Bands" on newer type (Fig lC). The Navy has a semi- anununition items are in general equal in width active radar homing type which is the same to one-half the caliber or diameter of the item. except for an olive drab guidance unit (Fig Some items have a band of dianond or circular lD). The sidewinders are carried by the F-4s shapedfigures in lieu of a solid band. The on the inboardpylon on a doublemount. The background color (overall body color) may be F-8 carriestwo on eachaide of the fuselage. white on current Navy items to match the The Fl04 and F5 carries them on the wing tip undersideof aircraft. The charts and illusha- on what is called in the Air Force as a Red Dog tions provide a general idea of how the launcher.The Fl00 sometimescarries them on marking system works and the colors used. the inboardpylon (only one per pylon). The exact shadesof the various colors have Next is the Sparrow Itr (Fig 2) which changed from time to time and that is another has a semi active radar homing with approxi- story. In general non-camouflaged items are mately a 3 mile range.It is 145" long and 8" in semi-gloss and camouflaged items are diameter with a span of 40", They are painted lusterless(flat). Nose fuzes are normally white over all with three black bands around natural metal color. Ammunition items (cannon the fuselage.A l" thick band at the 43", and I shells,etc.) have brasscases with the projectile l/2" thick band at 59", and a l/2" band at 90" Amor Piercing (R) painted a color representingthe type, i.e., A and at last a l" brown bandat 81". On the nose 20mm high explosiveround would have a there are four or five digit numbers prefixed brasscase and yellow painted projectile. with the letter R in 3" high letters in black. Armor piercing would be black projectile. The These serial numbers are carried where they Federal StandardNo. 595 colors are referenced can be seen from under the aircraft, The Armor P€rdng {C} below; these are the current colors. spiurow is only canied on the F-4 in recesses under the fuselage. COLORNAME REGULAR CAMOU Next is the Bullpup C which is a radio FLAGE control air to ground guidedmissile. It is 126" Yellow 23538 33538 long and 12" in diameterand has a spanof 36". (Orange Yellow) They are gloss white over-all with two I " black Brown 20rr7 30117 bandsat 40" and 60" with a 1" brown band at Black 2'1038 37038 55" with no other markings 8l8ck hoad whil€ bor. yBllow lelleF Light Green 24558 34558 The Bullpup C is carried on the inboard Armor Piercing HEAT (C) Light Red 21158 3l158 pylon of the F- I 1, F- I 05 and A-4s. The nest Blue 25r09 35109 generationof the Bullpup is the D model which White 27875 37875 is the same as the C but bigger and more Aluminum 17178 17178* sophisticated.It is 162" long and 18" in Olive Drab 24087 34087 diameter with a span of 40" and painted gloss Orange 22246 32246 white with two black bands I l/2" wide at the * Fed. Std. 595 doesnot contain semi- 81" and I I 8" mark. The Bullpup D is carried gloss or lusterless aluminum by the A-4 and on the F-105 inboardpylons. Lastly is the AIM 4G Falcon which is an Amor PiercingATAR (R) GI]IDED WEAPONS infrared heat seeking missile of approximately With the rise in interest in Viet Nam 16 mile range.It is 77" long and 5" in diameter basedaircraft and with the growing production with a span of 24" . T\ey are painted intema- of kits of thesetypes I feel it might be timely tional orange for the aft and gloss whi0e for the to discussthe different types of ordnance and 35" nosesection. The fin has a 1/2" white In€ndiary (B) J. P West Seattle Chapter IPMS -U SA N ew slener 13 PRIMARYUSE Kev: BODY BANp(S) MARKINGS

HIGHEXPLOSIVE R Yellow N/A Yellowor Black c OliveDrab Yellow Yellow

LOWEXPLOSIVE (Rocketmotors Bursting Charges) R Brown N/A N/A c OliveDrab Brown N/A

ARMORPIERCING R Black Yellow Yellow c OliveDrab Blackand Yellow Yellow

SMOKE R LightGreen Brown LightRed c OliveDrab LightGreen and Brown Brown

PRACTICE (Drill,target, dummy, inert) R LightBlue N/A Black c OliveDrab LightBlue and Brown Black

ILLUMINATING (Flaresetc.) R White Brown Black c OliveDrab Whiteand Brown White

INCENDIARY (Liquids,solids, jellies) R LightRed N/A Black c OliveDrab LightRed LightRed COUNTERMEASURE (Lea{lets,radar echo, chaff, etc.) R Aluminum Brown Black c OliveDrab Aluminumand Brown Black

TRACKINGOR RECOVERY R N/A Orange N/A c N/A Orange N/A Key: N/A = Not applicable(may be any othercolor other than that listed) R= Regularor not camouflaged C= Camouflaged Sidewinderll SidewinderTails 112"*11-* Black {M3 3'p-\ Figure1 Figure1a Figure 1b

\Olive Drab Sparrowlll 3"l-T-\ \ t\ Figure1c Wr Figure1d

BullpupD

BullpupC

FalconAIM 4G

J. P West

Figure5 Seattle Chapter I PM S-U SA N ew s letter 1' BRITISH ORDNANCE by D. M. REMINGTON H.E.10,000 Lbs. 750 Lbs. TORPEDOES:

Pre-war: Bright yellow was the standard ffi so they could be found earlier after being U dropped, but colors varied, depending what paint was handy. WW tr: Again color varied, but the DarkGreen, Yellow or Red/Blueband, Greenwith Yellow band standardwas: Heavy torpedoespainted semi- sometimesBlue with rear partblack gloss black. Marked in white on botb sides "HEAVY" - up on forward part 3/4 ways down. Contactpoint: Silver. SeeFig. l. Practice torpedoeswere usually white, green, yellou although like anything else many different colors were used. See Fig. 2. Regular torpedoeswere usually dark grey, dull silver 1000Lb. RetardedGP 1000Lb. Low DragGP with warheadsdull brick red or black. See Fie

---l BOMBS: t U grey G l914-1918:Bombs were medium with various color co clings which denoted the Blackrear seclion Bluewith Blackrear section variety of fillings. PaleBlue with Pale 1920s;Mid 1930:The 20, ll2 and 550 lb. bomb were bright yellow overall, and practice bombs were black with yellow bands. A red one inch thick band three inches from the contact point meant the bomb was hlled and Practice yellow crossedon the red band meant first grade amatol for hot climates. Pre-war: All high explosives were to be yellow, smoke were to be green and incendiary red. H.E. had a greenband around the thickest part of bomb and a red band around nose meant White,Green, Yellow, etc. it was filled. One white band next to the red bandmeant it was semi-piercing-a white band on either side of red meant amour piercing. WW tr: Dark green became the standard for all bombs. The large drumlike 2, 4,8 and 12,000lbs bombswere dark green,but had a Heavy Iight green band two inches wide, two feet from the nose and red bands to indicate variations. Blue bands indicated American manufacture. Modern: The 1000lb H.E. bomb painted dark green, Yellow or red/blue band on nose - OverallSemi-gloss Black sometimesblue with rear part black. SeeFig. 4. me 750 lb bomb is greenwith yellow band.See Fig. 5. The 1000lb low drag GP bomb is painted pale blue with black rear section and the 1000 lb retarded GP is painted pale blue with back rear sectionin black. SeeFie 6a and Regular 6b. [This article was reprinted from the Model Topics, the newsletter of the Tidewater IPMS Chapterl Warhead:Dull Brick Red or Body:Dark Grey or Silver IPMS-USANewsletter

To Cut. Or Not No Cut? That is the on the inside front leaf of each file folder for DETNLS, DAMNED 'tis question; whether nobler to keep all those easeof reference. Thus the featwe article on 'em DETAILS... old magazinesintact or to cut up and keep the P-51 in Winss of Fame,Volume One, only the good stuff; the stuff you're really which is one of the magazinesI don't cut up, is byJim Schubert interestedin. John Amendola put me onto this listed on the inside leaf of Part One of the in the late 1960'sas a way to conservespace. Mustang file. If you're really thorough,you'll useful That Hump Over The 747 Cockoit: If you're like me you will cut and save about also list all of your books that contain file along with And now.... for the rest of the story. The reason lO-2OVo.average. from your magazines. referencesto the subject of each given for the hump in last issue's cartoon is Recycling the other 8O-9OVosaves a lot of the relevant page numbers and a brief note that particular not. of course. the real reason. space. describing the contents of reference. I keep these notes very short: etc. I did Back in the mid 1960'severyone was Some mags are, of course, waY too nice "Color", "Dwg.", "Color Photo(s)", backinginto certain the future of air travel lay with the to cut; publications like Windsock. Narrow not initially list my books,but am a Anglo French Concorde, the Boeing 2707 and Gauge and Short Line Gazette,Wings of Fame, it now by doing it eachtime I use file. you the ThpolevTu.144 "Concordski'.. WW I Aeroplane, Aeroolane Monthly. What's the use of having the information if Automobile Ouarterly etc. so you'll wind up can't find it when you want it? When Boeing's entry lost the USAF's cutting only some of your mags like Wings, CX-HLS (Cargo Experimental - Heavy Airpower. Air Classics, Model Railroader. My files, books, etc. are available for don't LogisticsSystem) (C-5A) competitionto Model Shipbuilder.Autoweek, etc. loan to any responsibleresearcher. Ifyou l-ockheed, Boeing scrambled to salvage some have a copy of my file index and would l-ike benefit from all the effort they had sunk into Now what do you do with the cuttings? one, pleaselet me know andI'll provide it. the CX-HLS. The idea was floated and First, in the interests of good scholarship and adopted,of building it as a low wing civil future referencing, note on each cutting the Which brings up a relatedsubject: of freighter. At that time, however, the air freight name and issue of the publication from which it loaning/borrowing material. Keep a list businesswas not big enoughfor the airplane, came and second,file the cuttings in a logical what you have loanedout, to whom ard when so the decision was taken to design the airplane manner. I useordinary 9 by ll l/2 inch manila and keep another list of what you have as a freighter, but build and operate it as a file folders. Bob LaBouy prefers legal size borrowed, from whom and when. Put your passengerairplane in the interim until the folders so that he does not have to trim name on all of your stuff for identification. your SST's went into service, at which time those NEVER place borrowed material on own airlines which wished to do so could return bookshelfor in with your own files. Doing so their 747s to the factory for conversion to masks the fact that it is not yours and you will freishters. inevitably forget to return it. I recently retrieved a treasuredissue of National Geographicthat had beengone for over ten aat yearswhen a friend told me aboutthis 1933 EtOEttE issue that he had with an article about the iust flight aroundEverest. I challengedhim to look inside the front cover and bet him a beer that he'd find my name there. He took the bet and called me when he got home to tell me he owed me a beer and how embarrassedhe was. Do not hesitate to either loan or borrow, but be responsibleabout it.

To facilitate freight operations Boeing European A-4 size magazinepages to fit the Don't Throw Anything Away...until placed the cockpit above the main deck so that American standard folder. I prefer the smaller you've disassembledit and thoroughly freight could be loaded shaight into the file becauseit sits better on a shelf made from a examined all the parts for potential modeling fuselage via a large nose door rather than nominal 12 inch board, which is a true I I material. Motors and electrical devices of all having to be tumed ninety degreesthrough a inches wide. Take your pick. I label the file kinds can yield good fine wire in various conventional side door. This door, hinged at with the subject. Some labels are very specific; metals and sizes. Small gears,rods shafts, gleaned the top, is so shapedthat when fully open it as "sopwith Pup", "Sopwith Camel", etc. sheetmetal shapes,etc. can all be from does not restrict vision from the cockpit Some are more broadly labeled as "Sopwith householdand personalthrow-aways. Broken enabling the airplane to be taxied with the nose General"; that's where the material on the toys are a frequent source of stuff you can use door open. "Dove" and "Churchill" is filed. There will in model building. obviously never be enough material available Ultimately, of course, the common to me to justify separatefiles on those esoteric As an example of successfulscavenging, wisdom of the 1960'swas proven wrong. The subjects. Some subjects such as the North I've a lifetime supply of fine stainlesssteel 2707 was canceled after a budget and specifi- American P-51 Mustang are so thoroughly screenfrom the inside of wom out fuel nozzles cation killing redesign from a swing-wing to a covered that you'll have Parts one, Tlvo and from jet engines. tailed fixed wing delta, "Concordski" crashed maybe even Three, filesjust to keep the frle publicly out of contentionand Concordewas/is folders to a manageablesize. Don't throw anYthing awaY and be a commercial disaster in spite of being an imaginative in evaluing the bits and pieces of I note other referenceson each subiect astonishingtechnical tour de force. (Contdon ?aqe20) Se attle ChapterI PM S - USA N ew s lett er t6 September9,1942 Fujita and his T-25 was sunk by U.S.S.Patterson (DD- SUBMARINE Samurai observer, Petty Officer 2nd Class Shoji Okeda, 3923 in the Solomonson Seotember3. 1943. ^.f. -";-;'i.. f byJim Schubert were catapult launched fromT-25 in their The net resultsof Ut;iiN _ Watanabe-built Yokosuka El4Y-l Tlp. O activity off the west coast in 1942 were Nobuo Fujita, 86, retired owner of a Small ReconnaissanceSeaplane (GLEN). negligible. The sub activity was too little in metal parts fabricating factory outside Tokyo, They flew east about six miles to cross the scope, not very aggressiveand not an inte- plan. the Warrant Officer pilot of the only enemy Oregon coast neaxCape Blanco, flew inland grated part of a well thought out strategic aicraft to drop a bomb on the U. S. mainland ten miles, turned south for 50 miles and The UN High Command waffled between during WWII, died September30,1996 of lung dropped two 76Kg special phosphorous pursuing offense on all fronts and offense in cancer at his home in Tsuchiura northeast of incendiary bombs into the dense forest east of the west and defense in the east. Tokyo. Fujita becameobsessed with the idea Brookings. September28 they repeatedthis Enroutehome on October 11,1942, of directly attacking the U. S. with submarine performance dropping their bombs into the Tagami spotted two submarinescruising north launched airplanesas retaliation for the forest near Port Orford. In both casesthe about 500 miles off Cape Flattery and one of Doolittle raid of April 18, 1942, which killed a bombs started small fires that were slow to them with his last torpedo. It tumed out to be flying colleague of his. He wrote a letter, develop, due to the constantly damp conditions theRussian sub l-16, which with L-15, was endorsedthrough channels,to the IJN in the coastal forest, permitting U.S. Forest transiting from Vladivostok to the Baltic. (l) (Imperial JapaneseNavy) High Command Service crews to easily extinguish them. T-25 Russiaand Japanwere not then at war. proposing submarine launched mass incendiary carried only six of the special bombs for an Nobua Fujita ended the war with over bomb raids on the U. S. west coast. Several intended three strikes upon the forests. 4,000 flying hours in the GLEN, scouting and other IJN aviators also proposed similar plans. Fujita and I-25's Captain, Commander bombing from ?15 classsubs. In the event only Fujita's ship, submarine T- Meiji Tagami, were at odds over how hard to ln 1962 Fujita and his family were 25*, was assignedthe task on a much reduced press these air strikes. The Captain chose to invited to be honored guestsat the annual scale of undertaking. Brookings Lily Festival. On this visit he gave his family's 400 year old Samurai sword to the city of Brookings where it was displayed in the mayor's office. He was surprised by the friendly reception and made several subsequent visits. In 1992he ceremoniallyplanted a redwood tree in the Siskiyou National'JlT,? Forest ffT#'';T fi*'il: .tr,fi ;",l^?J.',. in a specraldisplay case in thenewly built 1- Len$h: 356' Chetco Community Public Library in Displacement: 2,200tons Brookings for all visitors to see in cofllmemo- ,l-zs Range: 16,000nm ration of his fust visit 50 yearsearlier. Crew: 100 In late 1993 I began to researchT-25 and Fujita's GLEN to better build the Fujimi l/ Prior to December l94l,T-25 along with ceaseoffensive air operations with two of his 70oth scalewaterline kit, #0817, of the T-15 eight other UN subshad scoutedthe west coast six special bombs unexpendedand to operate otsu OceanClass, Tlpe B-l submarine. of North America observing harbor and in traditional submarine mode, keeping the Ultimately the only kit parts I used were the waterfront haffic, commerce, and defenses. Z- GLEN aboard for the rest of the cruise except hull, sail and deck gun, all extensively 25 was stationed at times off the Golden Gate for reconnaissanceand weather work. Before modified. The 700th scale GLEN, wingspan 5/ and within the Shait of Juan de Fuca observing returning to Yokosuka he did venture, again, 8" (l6mm), was scratchbuilt. To enliven the Victoria, Vancouver and Puget Sound. By mid into the Shait of Juan de Fuca where he sank a model I posed 14 crew on deck preparing the January 1942 all nine of these large ocean tanker and two other cargo ships. GLEN for launch. Fuiita. Okeda and Tagami cruising subs had retumed to their base at Kwajalein. In April 1942, shortly after the Doolittle Raid, T-25 departedYokosuka as part of the Second Submarine Group Patrol to observe and "Glen" Span: 36' to harassthe west coast of North America. Length: 28', Enroute?-25 sankU.S.S. Grunnion with a MGTOW: 3,530# torpedo. On June 20 she torpedoed a cargo vessel off the mouth of the Columbia River and on June21 shefired 17 rounds from her 5.5 inch deck gun into the waterfront of Astoria; having gotten, detectedbut unchallenged, past the U.S. Army's heavy, hiangulated, coastal defensesat Forts Canby, Columbia and Stevens to proceed about nine miles into the mouth of the Columbia River to Astoria. By the time the Army was ready to fire their guns, T-25 had finished her attack and regained the safety of the ooen sea. t1 Se attle ChapterI PMS - USA N ew slett er t/ are standing in front of the hangar reviewing a map. The model was finally finished in VANCOI.IVERISUIND O\ February 1994 and won first in class in the May 1942 (N. Pacific) 1996IPMS-USANational Contest. The Fujimi U.55.Grunnion kit also includes a 7-46 class "Kaiten" carrying sub, which I arn researchingfor a full hull model.

CryenrEery Skaitofluan de^fucr SOURCES:

A: The JapaneseSubmarine Force and World War Il: C. Boyd & AYoshida, Naval October'42 lnstitute Press,AnnaPolis, 1995, Ta*er & Two Freightem R|getsound ISBN l-55750-080-0. OLYMPICPENINSTJTA B: Model Art mas.azrne'.an urnecorded**mid 1970'sissue, in which 1G11-42 the Nichimo l/200th scale Z-15 kit was RueoianSub - reviewed in depth. C: ScaleModels International magazine unrecorded* * mid I 970's issue'*'ith a singlephoto and singleparagraph review of the Nichimo kit. D: IPMS-USA Quarterly: 12Q1,January 1976 article and drawings by Jack Potter. E: Humboldt Times newspaper:March 11,1962; long multi pagearticle aboutFujita's war and bis first post war visit to Brookings area. F: Bellevue Journal-American newspa- per: (AssociatedPress), May 27, 1995,article and photo on donationof sword. G: IPMS-USA Journal:713,MarcU April 1995,half pagereview of MPM 72nd scale kit by Bill Paul H: SeattleTimes newspaper:October 2, FortColun&ia magazine:12- FortCanby 1997;obituary. l: Air & Space ColurrbiaRiver 97l1-98: obituary. 6-7042 o J: Personalvisit to Brookings in August Freighter 1997 K: Submarinesof the Imperial Japanese Astoria Navy: D. Carpenter & N. Polmar. Naval 6-2L42 InstitutePress, Annapolis, 1986,ISBN 0- Shelled Astoria 87021-682-l

At this writing MPM kit #72111is the only injection molded 72nd GLEN on the market. It is to be shunned,for although the GLEN's aft fuselage,wings and tail groupwere all fabric covered, MPM shows no stringer or rib indications whatsoever on their kit. Wait for the new 72nd Fujimi kit due in early 1998.I know of no 48th GLEN kit. PortOr{ord * I have herein used the italicized Roman letter "?' as a substitutefor the Kana 9-2&42 figure rf designation, which is pronounced TwoBornbs Brookings ** Cut and filed before I became 9-942 thorough in recording sources;sorry about that. TwoBqnbs City

f-B'sRAIDS ALONG THE NORTHWESTCOAST t" ;ffi; dilil;h'd ;h; ;;;a ih;F4u EiGi;t;;;i;td ;ffi il;; " ""'i'" this ordeal,both in his own wordsand with 1998 IPMS-USA Corsairto destroyseven Japanese NationalConvention:l"fiTin"**itntheJollyRogersfilrn.l:00p'm',Friday,July3.( .Gerhard whoflew the Fw l90D-8 in ToursHighlights: Santa Clafa, Calif. Krol, July 2, 3 & 4, tggS ilfii,i#"r"fi::ffi5,'.butwas This event-scheduledfor 7:30 p.m. on I".0**iff"";i$ffi:"ff:'":T":#T"',, have enclosed the pertainent history and ,,web tours below. As I was discussing surfing" with Friday, July 3 - costsjust $25. Trckets can be information for several of the from the related web our two resident..Johns,' (Alcorn and purchasedin advance along with your This information c:rme Amendola as you know are both cyber- registration' For a new registration form that site summaries' surfers....),I noticedthere are thoseamong us includesthis just-addedevent, e-mail Chris who arenot quite (...howshall I sayit Bucholtz. MOffett Field for diplomatically...) "up to speed" technologically ^ While there is not as much a chance speaking. So what's it to us, you ask? There is Ralph Forehand's seminar mov,esfrgm you to see the many Navy, Marine Corps and a great deal of really useful and interesting l0 a.m. Friday' July 3 to 2:10 Friday, July 3' Army aircraft at Moffett Field now as there information currently available about this was prior to the closing of the Naval Air year'sIpMS-USA National Convenntion. Colors and Camouflageof the Royal Sbtion in 1994,this basestill offers a very rich Much of this information will allow you to lay Navy in World War tr, with Alan Raven, l0 aviation history. One of its' greatestassets are '98 out betterplans for your Conventiontrip a.m.,Friday, July 3. Colors and camouflage of the dirigible hangers,build for the Navy's and in some casesmay just peak your interest the U.S. Navy in World War tr' with Jeff Heme fighter-than-air-ships. Not only can they be to the point that you will decide this is one I I am, Friday, July 3. They were among tie seenfor many miles, but the call back tie convention worth not missing. I have, in the most dazzling ships of WWII, but how do you history of those beautiful and graceful "queens following few pages,picked out some of the get a handle on the markings of a navy whose of the sky." one of the most noteable was the material, facts and history which are of interest camouflage varied from ship to ship and could Macon. week? to me and share it in the hope that it wi-ll be of remain constant for as little as one [Ed: The Moffett Field web site also has mutual interest. Noted author, historian and sometime modeler a lengthy and very interesting summary of the one more last reminder though, this is Alan Raven shareshis knowledge of the Macon's history operations, discovery of her the point prior to the convention, when ideosyncraciesof British naval markings with- remains and recovery attempts to date.l decides they had better regist€r and words and pictures, illustrating why the Royal "u.iyon" its ships as it did, what they get on the band wagon. As you will remember Navy marked Travis Air Force Museum I '92 looked like and how he researcbed from our Convention, the trips and tours REALLY AircraftAircrefr on display:.isnlnv: V hisur; upcominguPLUuu'6 roJ.uuu^' sell out and everyonecan,t go. From the last thisot" topicloPru forrur Douglas A-26blk "Invader" two or threeyears now this has becomeu Douglas A-26 b "Invader" for a navy with a set ofproscribed growing concem and there are literally people Even Boeing B-29 "Superfortress" patterns and colors, nailing down standing at the buses begging for tickets and camouflage Boeing B-52D "Stratofortress" Jeff Heme, author of attempting to get someoneelse's seat. Don't details can be difficult. vultee BT-13 "valiant" allow this to happento you. Make your plans books on the Fletcher Gearing and sumner- andregister quickry. classdestroyers and the cleveland-clas' il:1f.?]ii;"rti:[fi*" Dougrasc-l24c "Grobemaster II" rours i;ll"Jlil"JXll'J"ffi:::lintJ.!1*'"'' c- I 3 ld "Samaritan" Navy,s vivid and varied camouflage schemes. San Francisco Shopping Tour c-140 graphicsand Jeff's strongknowl- (both Thursdayand Friday) computer Beech C-45h "Expeditor" edge of the subject promise to make this Napa Wine Country Tour and Tasting (bothrhursday and Friday) seminarwell worth attending' *."*-#ti:t:i;':;ff:ff"." S.s. Jeremiaho'Brien and u'S'S' Pampanito McDonnell F-l0lb'voodoo" LockheedF-r04a "starnghter" ,*",m::l:;;.; therravis AFB o*^Y""1t"Jfrrlil#;xT:::x13H*t'' Republic F-l05d "Ttrunderchief' " take your questionsabout how the sea Museum (Thursday) Heme F-4c "Phantom II" powers of world war tr camouflaged their Air Museum (Friday) castle Pinkio HazeGrav' MoffettField and NASA-Ames Research vessels'From Mountbatten l:XTh:"-"T f-TH[r"$" you have a questionon the subject'these two Center (Friday) if StinsonL-5 "Sentinel" BehringAutoMuseum(Friday)canprovidealikelyanswer.12a.m.,Friday'Cessnao/2a 3 ' WesternAerospace Museum (Thursday) July Fairchild PT:19 T-37 "I Survived the Indianapolis Sailing"' Seminars rPMSSemicon andEagle Editions have yl":::::",:;-"11,::f:"::::l *:j* 5:ffi"tril joinedforces topresent \;;i,i *-11,"rii 5:::?#[fiit:;:",ff r.-,t#;To* ,,Huskie" Pilots' Symposium, featuring" four veteransof ffi1".HH 43b ,"unun"r" Kaiten suicide torpedo. 900 of her the war in the air: cr!* e'cupedthe sinking ship' but a combina- .Richardpeterson, pilot of p-5tD ..Hurry ;T::": H-ii "I#lilltr" tionof badluck, bureau*acy and bungling HomeHoney,, ;"t;-*u;":'*'' T-28Flight Simulator ""u "*i*;:*t',X,f,t;""iii"io*,0ffiil:ll:ff,*""-,ffi,1i#:fi:i:,',::1' m*,:lgl'l,simu,a,or Seattle IPMS-USANewsletter is narrated 14.3mm KPV B-24M Liberator days a week. The self-guided tour historian 1943Ford ll4ton4x4 F-1018Voodoo by CaptainEdward L. Beach,noted Silent, 1928Studebaker B-25J Mitchell and authorof the submarineclassic Run at 1928Studebaker F-104B Starfighter Run Deep. This site is an in depth look B-29 Superfortress many issuesinvolving one ship, USS Western Aerospace Museum F-105B Thunderchief Pampanito, and includes a tour of the subma- rine, her history, lists of Pampanito's wartime Located on one of the world's most RB-36H Peacemaker crew, descriptions of WW II submarine historic airfields. Former home of Boeing Air F-lllAArdvark technology, historic photographs,a WW [I Transport, Pacific Air Tiansport, Boeing B-45ATomado submarine memorial with the narte of every School of Aeronautics, Transocean,World, and HH-438 Huskie submariner lost during the war, information TransamericaAirlines, Oakland Naval Reserve B-47E Stratojet about educational programs aboard Pampanito Air Station, US Marine Corps and Army Air KAQ-l Drone and a description of Pampanito's preservation Corps ReserveUnits. Departure and arrival WB-50D Superfortress -97 and restoration programs. point for many historic flights including KC L Stratofreighter Hegenbergerand Maitland, Smith and Bronte, B-52D Stratofortress the Dole Races, Kingsford smith and crew and KC-135A Stratotanker S.S.Jeremiah O'Brien two fully-restored Amelia Earhart. Currently a very active B-57 Canberra This vessel is one of World War tr airfield with private, business,and commercial O-2A Super SkYmaster operating survivors of 2,710 partici- propeller and jet aircraft including helicopters BT:13 Valiant Liberty Ships. It is the only ship that returned and blimps. R-5D Skymaster pated in the Normandy invasions that C-45 Expeditor fifty years later to take part in the 50th Lockheed L-l0A (Electra) SR-71Blackbird anniversary of D-Day. the Attack Bomber (Light) C46D Commando Before World War tr, shipbuilding in with Douglas A-4M (Skyhawk) - Serial No: T:6 Texan U.S. was not a major indushy. But 158l 95 C-47 Skyhain German U-boats sinking ships off the east UM-78 (Corsairtr) - SerialNo: 159301 T:33A ShootingStar coastwithin sight of land, Englandon her Bomber C-56 t odestar knees, and the Japaneseconquering Asia and GeneralMotors (EastTBM-38 (Avenger) T:34 Mentor the Western Pacific, it was absolutely essential General Reconnaissance C-123K Provider to build a large,strong U.S. MerchantMarine to Lockheed RP-3A - Serial No: 150520 U-3A Blue Canoe to carry combat supplies and materials the Tanker CF-l00 MK V Canuck Allied fighting forces. The U.S. became built DouglasKA-3B - SerialNo: 147666 U-6A Beaver "Arsenal of Democracy". Tlpwriter firms GrummanKA-6B - SerialNo: 152910 rifles, auto makers tumed out tanks, and West Trainer (Primary) USSPampanito (SS-383) millions of American migrated to the StearmanPTll 3 (Kaydet) USS Pampanito (SS-383) is a World War Coastto build Liberty Shipsin yardsspringing tr Balao class Fleet submarine that is open for up near major cities. Castle Air Museum visitors daily at San Francisco's Fisherman's The liberty designwas a modificationof an earlier British hull. Economical and simple Castle Air Museum is a history lesson Wharf. Pampanito made six patrols in the to build, it usheredin the era of prefabricated that the whole family should share. While Pacihc during World War II and sank six massproduction. Eighteenyards built Liberty there is nothing glamorous about war, these Japaneseships and damagedfour others. ships and one third of the workforce were majestic birds serve as awe-inspiring reminders Operated By the National Maritime Museum women. Without theseships the war simply of how fragile our freedom is and how men and Association , Pampanito hosts over 250,000 would not have beenwon. women steppedforward when that freedom visitors a year and is one of the most popular to Built in 1943in 56 daysin So. Portland, was threatened. The Castle Air Museum is historic vesselsin the counhy. In addition participate Maine, the S.S.Jeremiah O'Brien was continuing to add to its fine collection of World day time visitors, 3,000 kids a year gram- launchedon June 19th, 1943. From July 1943 War II. Korean War, and Vietrram Conflict in Pampanito's educational overnight pro to October 1944,she madefour voyages historic aircraft. At the present time the Pampanito is a National Historic Landmark. between the U.S. and Great Britian traveling as Museum maintains and preserves42 aicraft' ThePampanito headedout under the part of a convoy, a proven and effective Sit back and take a brief virtual tour of the Golden Gate Bridge with volunteer Bob Taylor was deterrent to submarine attack. aircraft located at one of California's premier at the heln in 1995, when the submarine had On her fourth voyage she was diverted afumuseums. Then plan an afternoon to visit feahrred in the fiLn Down Periscope. It under into a shuttle run between England and the the museum in person to see these majestic been fifty years since Parnpanitosailed newly taken Omaha and Utah beacheadsat airplanesup close! the bridge. Normandy. She completed l1 sucb trips before A-26C Invader Pampanito'sis being restoredto a returning to the States. Crewmen report her F-4E Phantom specific point in time, late sunmer, 1945, to guns engaged enemy aircraft and that she was B-2 Vulcan MKtr represent the height of WW tr submarine the target of at least two bomb attacks and one F-80C Shooting Star development. The National Maritime Museum torpedo. Her fifth voyage, begining in October B-17G Association has scoured the country in search 1944, went from New York through the Flying Fortress of missing equipment and spareparts. Almost PanamaCanal to Chile and Peru, returning to F-84F Thunder Streak all of the missing items have now been New Orleans. Her sixth was a quick trip to the B-18Bolo replaced and much of tbe equipment on board Phillipines and back to San Francisco. The F-86HSabre has been restored to operation. gallantship's seventhvoyage took placefrom B-23Dragon Located at Pier 45 at Fisherman's July 1945to January1946. Sailingfrom San F-89JScomi Wharf, Pampanito is open to the public seven Se altle Chapter I PM S-U SA N ewslett er 20 Francisco, she went to Australia, Calcutta, (Details, Dame d Detailsl models,I have seenvarious methods used; a Shanghi, Manila and back to San Francisco. ConL'd from paqe 15) On her retum she carried Australian war brides castoff goodsfor model use. to the U.S. to join their new American If It Can't Be Seen: don't model it. #r*i:"fiili+trf**#*r:O husbands. Don't even paint it. A lot of new kits have all I've even usedit on a car model. With the war over there were far more manner of interior detail that cannot be seenon Dependingon how much I want the ships than neededfor peacetime.In Feburary the finished model.. lrave it out, or if you panel line to stand out, Ill either use black or I 946 shejoined hundredsof her sistersin a can't leaveit out, paint it black or don't paint it brown chalk. On say the olive drab upper reserve fleet near San Francisco. As time at all. Don't make work for yourself. Your surfacesof a P-51, I'll use black, and on the passed,some were sold to foreign countries or modeling time is precious and indeterminately neutralgray undersides,I'll usethe brown. went into commerical service under the U.S. finite. Or are you so young that you still A couple advantagesof this method are flag. Others were scrappedor sunk as artifical believeyou're going to live forever? that it can be done on a flat finish, even directly fishing reefs. A couple of exa.mples:The new over decals. The panel lines don't haveto be In the 1960's,a plan was conceivedto Hasegawa ll72nd"Betty" bomber has tons of supercrisp, thus no rescribingofpanel lines in savea Liberty Ship for posterity. In 1978,the great interior detail, almost none of which can order to get a wasb to flow evenly. One National Liberty Ship memorial, Inc., a be seenfrom outsidethe finishedmodel. So disadvantageis that it can be messy,because of Califomia non-profit corporation was formed don't botherwith it. The Revell-Germany chalk dust and erasercrumbs, especially if to restore,preserve, maintain and present to the Junkers F.l3 kit includes a beautiful little you're doing a large area. public, an original, unaltered Liberty Ship. engine that servesno purpose other than being How it's done- They chose the O'Brien, which met all those a place to glue the rhino-horn exhaust stack. You'll needpastel chalk, I boughtmine criteria and was in excellent condition. She Put the engine in your parts box and blank off at Fred Meyers, and it came in a set. But returned to service in 1979. Since then an the underside of the engine cowling to provide basically you only need black and brown. You enormousamout of work, mostly by volun- a base for that prominent exhaust stack. can pick it up at any store with an art supply teers,has gone into restoring and preserving This approach also applies to many department. Either square or round shaped the ship. The frst annual cruise was on May cockpit interiors. If you build your model with sticks of chalk can be used. The sticks of chalk 21, 1980and shehas beensailing ever since. the canopy hood closed, how much can really aren't going near the model, so their shape ln 1994, the volunteer crew of the be seenin the interior? Not much. So scrimp doesn't matter. O'Brien retumed the ship to the beachesof on your work in there and,/oruse lots of black To apply the chalk I use a "0" wide stiff- Normandy for D-Day +50 years. The paint or darkened interior color. I frequently bristled brush. Rub the brushon the chalk stick Commemorative Voyage was made in honor of use one of the old Modelaid printed,fold-up to pick up dust in the bristles,then scrubthe all those.in the war zones. and on the home cockpit interiors to save time. Save your front, whose sacrifices were vital to the war precious time for things that really matter to the :.i :::x"'ff;:1*:: ","#"*" l'"1"o effort. In order to return to ocean steaming the final appearanceof your model. chalk"hfl: is down in the panel line. And don't ship had to be recertified. That was accom- As a further exarnple of leaving out worry about getting the chalk dust on the areas plishedonly tfuough the devotion of the detail: In last month's issueof this newsletter surroundingthe panel line. After you've volunteers and tbe cooperation and support of John Amendola referred to the beautiful model finished scrubbing in the chalk, blow the various maritime and govemment agencies. work in some of the corporate exhibits at the excessdust off the surface. At this point it may Our voyage could not have been accomplished 1939New York World's Fair. In GM's look like you've ruined your model, but don't without the generosity of our faithful members Futurama model there were a lot of steam worry you haven't. Now, take a corrtmon and friends. The voyage, from April 18, to locomotives running around pulling passenger gummed eraser,the kind we used as kids in September23 , 1995, included l4 port calls. and freight trains. Because of the scale of the school,andjust erasethe excesschalk dust that On the morning of June6,1994, the O'Brien models and the distancesfrom which they surrounds your panel line. If you need to, you was at anchoroff Pointedu Hoc, a visible could be viewed, Norman Bel Geddes,the can cut your eraser into smaller pieces so you reminder of the fleet of over 6,000 ships in the designer of the exhibit, had the model makers can reach into any tighter areasyou may havc. 1944invasion armada. The O'Brien was the leave the leading and trailing trucks, side rods I've also usedpencil erasersor stick erasersto only Nomrandy 1944 ship to retum for the and valve gear off the locomotives. That is get into the smaller areas. Dust the eraser CommemorationCeremonies. something no self respecting model rafuoader crumbs of the model and there you have it, a would ever do, but as none of it would be seen, nice dark panel line. Bel Geddesdidn't wastethe model makers' As with any technique, it may take some time or GM's money on thoseuseless details. practice. If you scrub the chalk on with too Think about it when you're planning your next much pressurethe erasermay not take all the ED6n'f, EDela';yr 3 model. excessoff. So, you might want to practice on a scrap wing or something. And even with a lighter pressurethe excessmay not all come lf you'replonning PANEL LINES off. But this isn't a bad thing. Simply buff the on goingto Sonto AN ALTERNATIVE area with a tissue or a soft cloth to blend the '98 excessa little better. After you seal it the Clorofor the IPMS- I/VAY excesswill most likely disappear,or if it USAConvention, don't By Les Knerr ffi*lTillJH:#lJ:"Tr,"ff til:flilo deloysending in your In our hobby, we as modelers often use dht. reservotionsn ow! di-fferentpaths to reach a common goal; a As I mentioned earlier I do this on the finishedmodel. model while the finish is still flat. You can do As far as delineating panel lines on it directly on the paint, or on a surface tlat's Seattle Chapter I PM S-U SA N ew slener 2l been sprayed with a flat sealer. However, this 453rd when Jimmy was transferredthere to betterby being such a good guy. Not back- become Operations Officer after 2Ocombat stabbing,not cunning, not evenhis consider- :,-T:,i'$lil*missions with the 445th; and Gen. Ted able talent, got Stewart to the top. His OH,f*lH',*;'"'-.,,:":ff Timberlake, under whom he served as biographycontains no scandal,and none of the After I'm finisbed applying the chalk, I Executive Officer of the 2nd Wing. Stewart flaws so prevalentin insecure,ego-ridden seal it with either a flat or gloss coat to set the earned a reputation as an officer who had a Hollywood. chalk and protect it from rubbing off. special regard for his men. Walter Shawinski [Reprinted from the IPMS North Central There you have it, an alternative way of thinks this was noticeable when he was flying Texas "Flak Sheet"l highlighting panel lines. "Stewart was known as being one of the few officers who never left the airfield tower until every singleplane returned... Jimmy would Boeing RC-L35U The Last Arnerican never move until every single plane was back 'Combat for. It was the Sent' Hero: on the ground and accounted kind of small detail that was very important conversion kit Jirnmy Stewart L908- among the men, and they all tucked it away. Walter Matthau, another "Hollywood legend" by Mike Quan IPMS #3925 1997 who recently turned into a "grumpy old man," was then a staff sergeantin the 453rd Bomb Maintrack Models Kit No. 72:42. Price: [The following, courtesy of Mark Group. Matthau tells of his rapport with those $31.50 + shipping,from PrecisionEnrerpises Fiedler, is reprinted from a Spring 1997 article who flocked to briefings to hear "Jinmy Unlimited,PO Box 97, Springfield,VT 05156 in the 2ND AIR DIVISION JOURNAL by Hap Stewart by Jimmy Stewart." Jirnmy continued Chandler and Andy l-ow. Many thanks to serving in the Air Force Reserveuntil retire- When word first got out that there was to 'U' Nancy Quan for graciously (and very compe- ment at age 60 as a Brigadier General. His old be a conversionfor the variantof the tently) transcribing the original text. Next roommate, Andy [,ow, recalls that he was venerableC-135, I was drooling in anticipa- montb we will feafure a second installment on frequently called upon by Senior Air Force tion. Not only was I an avid fan of the Brig. Gen. Stewart and his WWII exploits. - officials for advice and counsel regarding Air Shatotanker family, but having seen and Ed.l Force concerns. In 1955, he staned in the worked on the Combat Sent variant really In Februaryof 1941,Meho-Goldwin- panoramic movie "Strategic Air Command," peaked my interest. Tempering that anticipa- Mayer gave one of the greatestfarewell parties gaining widespread acceptanceand understand- tion however, was the realization that to Academy Award-winning superstarJimmy ing of SAC and its importance at the height of Maintrack Modek of England was producing Stewart. Louis B. Mayer, legendary chief of the Cold War. this kit. Their previous releaseswere all '\ranted tbe studio, to fly the flag at half-mast." Stewart's father was a dominant known for their inaccuraciesand shortcomings. Mayer had used his considerablepersuasive influence in his life. A most moving scene The RC-l35U Combat Sentis one of the talents to convince Stewart that his best interest occurred on the eve of Stewart's departure to ugliest,(okay, I say beautiful!),versions of the would by servesby remaining in Hollywood. England. At a loss for words, Stewart's father C-135 clan becauseof the abundanceof Stewart demurred, and nine months before gavehim a letterwhich includedthe 9lst fairings, lumps and bumps. Originally built by Pearl Harbor, enlisted as a private at the age of Psal-rn.He has written of the comfort this letter Boeing, this airframe has been constantly 32,well beyonddraft age. In Octoberof 1943, and Biblical passagegave him during his modified by the likes of Martin-Marietta, he would lead the 703rd squadron of the 445th perilous missions over Europe. His ETO General Dynamics, and now Raytheon Bomb Group to Tibenham, England, and experience and the death of his stepsonRonald Systems.It is intendedfor classified,world- combat with the United States8th Air Force. Mclran in Vietnam were seminal events in wide Scientific and Technical missions out of After qualifying initially as aB-24 Stewart's long and illustrious life. Military it's Offutt AFB, Nebraskahome base. It has inshuctor pilot, he sought assignmentto an service was a given in his family. His father been regularly photographed in Japan and overseascombat unit. Col. Robert Tenell, served in the Spanish-AmericanWar and World Europewhen deployedatoffsite locales. The Commander of the 445th Bomb Group, War I. His ancestorsfought in every American applicable serial numbers are 64-14847 and 64- selectedStewart to command the 703rd war from Revolutionary times. He reflected 14849,(the very last C-135 serialnumber Squadron. As its commander,he led sixteen of the ideals of his generationtoward military assigned!),for the two aircraft in service. the squadron's aircraft to England in October service. Instead of duty in some Hollywood The contents of the Maintrrck Models of 1943. Over the next 2l months he flew a battalion grinding out training films in conversion are intended to be used with the complete tour of missions as a corrrmandpilot. Califomia, he served in the bitter cold battles A MT Boeing EC- I 35C Airborne Conunand By the end of the war he was a colonel in the for air supremacy lu:.1943-45. Post, but in reality will work with the A.&1IRC- 2nd Combat Bomb Wing of the 2nd Air Jimmy Stewart's filn career is legend- 135V Rivet Joint kit, or with any other AMT C- Division, which consistedof the 445th, 453rd ary. He has played opposite the queensof 135 kit provided you supply the turbofan and 389thBomb Groups. He broughthis wing Hollywood for fifty years, and was romanti- engines. {A plug hereis in order for the home from England on the Queen Elizabeth. cally involved with starsOlivia DeHavilland, excellent Se arnl e s s Suc ke r r esin TF-33 engines Legend has it that Stewart personally shook the Dinah Shore, and Loretta Young. He married produced by Robert Brown in Wichita KS. hand of every man in his organization as they Gloria McClean, adopting her two sons from a They feature more detailed fan and inlet bullet debarked in New York. previous marriage. His marriage reflects his detail, and obviate the need to remove those You will find many prominent members smalltown-values, as he was regarded as pesky, hard-to-get-at inlet throat seams!) The of the 2nd Air Division Association in the Hollywood's model husband. thirteen resin parts comprise the left and right 'cheek' fuselage, course of Stewart's career,including Andy Stewart [was] one of the living icons of hand fairings for the forward Low, his roortmate at the 453rd BGen. Robert classicHollywood and, arguably,its most a new nose that contains the characteristicchin Tenell of the 445th, who brought him to beloved. The big-screenembodiment of the fairing, the forward ventral radome, a new England; Ramsey Potts, Commander of the decent. honestAmerican who makes us feel fuselage tail featuring the tail extension, new SeattleChapter IPMS-USA Newslener 22 left and right hand wingtip fairings, a new Davenport, Chuck, "Stratotankerl" IPMS windscreen and canopy were cast as one piece, vertical fin segmentto be spliced in, & Journal,July 1993. "x"T "" containing the bullet fairing, four engine pylon Lloyd. A1,Boeing KC- 135in Detail and Scale, H:ilff TIIJLfflii ?"ffi f ,iT fairings for the "Ten High" system, and finally t994. raisedpositi I a new antennafairing to replace the boom Peacock,Lindsay,' Boeing RC-135 Super The wings can be displayedfolded, if oprators pod. The sparse,one page instruc- Snooper,"Warplane #53, 1986. you wish, and appropriate internal detail has tion sheetmentions 'white metal' engine been cast on the ribs which show. Ailerons are fairings, but my example had all-resin parts. Thrniya F4D-1 Skyray not separate,and a knowledgeableperson has The casting quality was typical Maintrack stated that, anyhow, they didn't droop when the Models: not especially good, but certainly by Phil Brandt IPMS l409l airplane was parked. However, the thick 'flaperons' usable. There was a very pronounced 'cold which are on either side of the slag run' down the face of one of my 'cheek' Tamiya F4D-l Skyray,Kit # 61055, burner area, have been engineeredby Tamiya fairings, but otherwise, there were minimal Obtained through: Hobbylink Japan to pivot. Positionable leading edge flaps are detailing or flaws to contend with other than New Kit Review: Put down that also included (they drooped slightly at rest). the usual heary resin sprue pouring gates. The Lindberg Skyray, son; the Timiya Ford is The gear struts are relatively plain, with resin is the usual dark yellow variety that is here! Once again,one of my long range no plumbing, but the mains do have disk brake easy to work with, though a little brittle. The projectshas been permanently (and happily!) calipers molded in. The nose wheel is conversion depicts Combat Sent in it's curent shelved by events in the plastic aircraft model especiallydelicately molded, with see-through configuration, with the later, larger E-Systems- industry. This time it's a most welcome areas between the spokes! The gear wells have 'cheek'fairings. designed As such,this kit addition by the master modelers at Tamiya to inner sidewall ribbing and rivets above,but no representsthe frst commercial version of these the heretofore thin ranks ofquality 1/48 kits of plumbing. Gear doors have nice intemal cheeks to be modeled, and by use of these two Fifties-eraNaval jets, the DouglasF4D- l , or structural details. pieces alone, can be used to convert the AMT Ford. As far as objects hanging from the RC-135V kit to a current 'V' or any of the RC- Prior to this new offering, the dedicated wings, Tamiya has included a full load for the l35W model aircraft. Aside from a lack of quaxterscale Navy jet fan was forced to NORAD air defensebirds of VF(AW)-3 surface detail, (though easily scribed in), the intensively kitbash the semi-prototype Ford (Ginter sez they used 'em that way): two fairings have the correct shapeother than that Lindberg issuedin the Fifties. But hey, you external tanks, one with the air refueling probe; needing to be more taperedin profile view, at could at least open the little fuselage hatch and two pods containing air-to-air, free flying the top and bottom edgesfor the forward _" or seethe compressorsection of the engine! rockets.two Sidewindersand a NAVPAC pod. so. The new nose piece has a chin fairing that The overall Tamiya molding quality of Ttvo sheetsof Tamiva decals orovide is about l/8" too deep, but this inaccuracy can the Ford is, what can I say, what we all now be remedied by lots of sanding - better too expect of this primo firm. In short, nil flash, AT"Tii.'"i,'.'$#il:JJ"iililHIO much to sand, rather than to have to build up a sharp detail and lots'a delicately engraved colorful Skyray unit of all, VF(AW)-3, "PA", shortfall! On the other hand, the ventral panels. An interesting variation to the now with the yellow lightning bolt and star- radomeis too narrow by about.15", which is a customary scribing is that the external tanks sprinkled blue field on the spine, vertical fin considerableamount that will need to be added. have raised, circumferential lines, and there is a and extemal tanks. Printing and registration are The "Ten High" fairings are a bit on the skinny solitary raised line on the aft top fuselage half, beautiful,but the decal fiLn seemsa bit thick; side in diameter, but are an l/8" too short near the burner assembly. The corresponding we'll seewhat effect Solvasethas. Superscale overall. The tail fairing is also too narrow, but line on the bottom half is engraved! has had Skyray sheetson the market for years, would require considerablerework to obtain This is a kit that is made to order for the and I'm sureAeromaster or one of the other the exact contours. All of this is to say that OOTB builder, becausethe cockpit is only leading aftermarket decal firms will alsojump Maintrack has done it again! With respect to moderatelydetailed, with sideconsoles that on this businessopportunity quickly, that is if exact, (dare we say: Accurate Miniatures?), taper forward incorrectly instead of aft, as they've finally tired of doing the Messerschmitt contoursand dimensions,this conversionis plainly shown in SteveGinter's excellent and Focke-Wulf family! NOT the last word, but what is in the box is a Skyray referencework, Naval Fighters#13. Although this kit still cries out for start that can be reworked. For those wanting a Additionally, there are no throttles, and the attention by KMC or Cutting Edge, Tamiya has shelf replica, this conversion will suffice very early Douglasejection seat is ratherplain, with a winner here..-.again.Let's hope it's only a nicely indeed. For those wanting an accurate no harness,molded or otherwise. The start into the wonderfuljet aircraft ofthe Fifties repiica, there is no better place to start than instrumentpanel is not bad and hasmolded-in and Sixties;I'm more than ready to move past with this kit. Recommended for the instrument hands for those that do the wwII. Stratotankerhard-core I drybrushingor coloredpencil routine. Otherwise, an ESCI-like instrument decal is Italeri OH-13S Sioux Referenceson building the Combat Sent included. The plumbing/electrics shelf behind airplane: the seat helps crowd the cockpit, and Tirmiya by Norm Filer 'tsuilding Hopkins, Robert, AMT/ERTL's RC- includesa decentlydetailed pilot figure which 'busy' 135V "Rivet Joint," IPMS Joumal, shouldalso serve to more properly the When you first look at the parts, the lrst November/December I 994. area. I wouldn't call him "hunchbacked,"as thing that comes to mind is that there is nothing Hopkins, Robert,'tsoeing KC- 135 one Intemet newsgroupreviewer said;he's on the two hees or clear parts to indicate this Shatotanker; More Than Just A merely leaning forward, a common body .O Tanker," Aerofax, 1997. position in fighters. Only in an F-I6 or some i::x;aTJJT'J*:5il ::*lT,':'" Archer,Bob, and JoeBruch, "Offritt's White- equivalentlate model birds do you get to windmill! This 1/72ndkit is priced at about$ 'Harley tops:The SpecialBoeings of the 556 assumethe cruising position',laid 8.50. 'Sissy Wing," World Air Power Joumal, Vol. back againstthe bar'. And, contraryto a This is a dinky little thing! I guessthis t'l. depressingearly Internet quote that the shouldn't surpriseme asI actuallyhave tried to Seattle IPMS-USANewsletter f guy hide behind the of the Lightning, and unfortunately didn't do a build an H-13 a couple of times. The fust was 2. A little could control stick when they shot at you' And that very goodjob. Whateverone might have i was just about all there was to hide behind' thought of the attempt at an F.3, it was still - more basically 1960'stooling. offiT,T'-T*:T:Tf,::il:J,:"".'"'.::factually went together pretty well. After a few Later birds developed considerably seat. Again The "best" Lightning in l/72nd is the days of sitting on my work bench (OK, it may power and they added the middle the section HasegawaF.6 variant. This said,"best" still have actually been a few weeks) the next time I this is an easy fix. Just cut out converting isn't that good, in that this too is a kit long in picked it up it had a significant port side list. between the two seats. About like Other little tbe tooth. The kit is in fact, a Frog (UK) Since I really was not happy with the engine from a bench seat to two buckets. located come to tooling, and Frog went bankrupt in tbe mid effort, and had not arrived at a plausible stuff like where the battery is 70's. The kit is all raised panel lines, and some method for the clear part, that was the end of mind, but that's dinkY stuff. possibilities of the detail is rather heavy. Despite this, a round one. There are a lot of interesting jewel. floats' decent kit can be bui-lt with effort. And there is Round two was the Esoteric etched brass with this little Extemal litter, etc. Yeah, nothing wrong with a little effort now and kit. That one did not get very far either. Tbe Presidential bird, Coast Guard, etc. used then!! flat brass "tubing" for the rear endjust didn't you heard me right. President Eisenhower between Finally n ll7Znd, we have some passmuster at all. The white metal engine was a pair of H- l3Js to hop back and forth Matchbox kits. Strange as it might seem, these not very impressive either. End of round two. Washington and his reheat at Gettysburg. golf course aren't particularly horrible, and in some ways When I lust heard this kit was planned I Might even have hauled him to the are better than the Hasegawa/Frogkits. was pretty skeptical. To do it right it needsto now and then. Somethings don't change Matchbox is also the only firm to do a twin- be really delicate. So, how did they do?? In a much. Air Force One is a WHAT??? of seat trainer version of the Lightnin g n I l12nd. nutshell, very well. It may be a bit oversize on In summary, this is a really nice kit Lastly in the smaller scales,we have my the diameterof the tubing, but not enoughto what could be argued is the frst really and favorite Lightning kit, the Thmiya 1/l00th worry about. All the exposed engine parts and successfulhelicopter. Ints of altematives as Lightning F.6. Yes, for all those who have not interior stuff is there. In short, this little bug markings possible. While it may not be brushed up on their "History of Modelling" shouldbe aboutan evening'swork!! glamorous as those Mustangs and Phantoms, lately, Tamiya once produced a series of 1/ It provides you with the two different this judge is holding up a 9.5 card. If they had lfi)th aircraft kits. And get this, this Lightning tail rotors, two setsof fuel tanks and some included a figure of either Hotlips or Hawkeye has ENCRAVED panel lines ! ! Anyway, if you alternateparts to arm this thing. Yep, some of it would havehad a Perfectl0!! are a Lightning fan, I highly recommend that them actually were armed. All tbree choices you searchout the second hand dealers, and are for early Viet Nam U.S. Army birds. Since pick up this kit. the differences in markings are pretty much Airfix F,E./ And from the smallest, to the largest limited to different serial numbers, they could Lightning Lightning, Echelon'sSUPERB lB2nd have probably included another dozen alternate BAC vacufomred kit. This is unfortunately now out markings and still kept the decal size to about a by Andrew Birkbeck ofproduction, Echelonhaving gone the way of large postagestamp. On the real bird the usual the Doodoo bird. This firm produced three practice was to wire a national insignia sized I have long had a great love for the EEl kits, prior to going under,all to 1/32ndscale, piece of sheetmetal to the booms and apply the BAC Lightning, the massive,twin-engined, all lovely, all British, and all vacuformed. starsto that. Any other significant markings single seat RAF jet fighter. This great piece of Namely, single and twin seatHunters, and a got the same tretreatment. British aviation engineering first enteredfront single seatLightning. Unfortunately,relatively Now for what you don't get.This is line servicein 1960,and soldieredon, so to few modellersbuild modemjets in 1/32nd NOT a Koreanera M.A.S.H. chopper. This is a speak until the 1980's. Starting service life as scale,fewer yet build British jets, and lessstill much later version of it, but there are some the Fl, and endingup with the F6, with a build vacuforms. Still, if you can find any of significant differences. Perhapsmost notice- couple of twin seat hainers showing up in the thesekits, they produce excellent models with able is the fuel tanks. The early H-13 (Korea) middle, theseaircraft have over the years a little skill and patience. had one fuel tank acrossthe fuselage behind displayed an almost breathtaking seriesof Moving into l/48th scale,Aeroclub a the engine. Later ones like in the kit had two schemes. In particular, the earlier variants few years back produced a seriesof very nice tanks, one on each side of the engine. (Still were very colorful, being mainly bare metal, vacuformed kits of tbe Lightning, including the later, again like the kit, had them on the sides with colorful spines and tails, with extra large single seat fighters as well as the twin-seat only they increasedthe size). Fixing this is not tail markings. Later in its career,the Lighhing trainers. These were part of the "new look" a big deal. All you need to do is make the early took on camouflaged schemesof grays or grays Aeroclub, in that while there was still the usual tank and stick it on. There is nothing aerody- and greens,again with some of the aircraft high quality vacuformed parts for the main narnic or complicated about this little chopper. having very colorful markings. It is probably fuselage, much of the wing and other smaller Everything just is bolted to the frarte some- the great displays of color that initially components were actually made of injection where. attractedme to this aircraft as a modelling plastic, as well as the usual white metal parts. Another noticeable difference is that the subject. At the time, these were very nice kits, but early birds only had two seats. The thing was Until now thosewishing to build a being "vacuformed", many modellers kept just not capable of lifting much more than that. model of the Lightning for their collection have away from them. Recently, our own Jeff Smith Tlvo people were a load! The medivac been rather ill-served. Most of the lfr2nd took one of the Aeroclub kits, and worked his configuration was one guy flying and one guy models in existence are VERY old in the tootb. usual stuff, producing a gem of a model. Jeff laying on the litter. No nurse, no co-pilot, no The first 1/72nd kits came from Ai.rfix, back in was working against the clock, knowing that extra fuel, nothing ! I Rumor had it that they the 1960's,in the guiseof an F.l model. At the Airfix was shortly to releasetheir Lightning picked little guys to fly choppers for two time, it was a de@nt model. At the time, the kits in 1/48th. I take my hat off to Geoff for his feasons; Beatles were top of the charts, and Mick Jagger valiant efforts, and the first rate model that 1. If they didn't weigh much they could was in his very early 20's. Airfix took the resulted from his hard work. cany more useful stuff like cargo and fuel. original F.l molds, and produced an F.3 version Seattle Chapte r I PMS -U SA N ew slener )lt All this said, and Jeff, put your hands betweenbases in the UK, and Germanyetc. over your eyes and ears noq the Airfix kits are They were in no way standardfor F.6's on WWP's GMC CCKW .-. now here, and all I can say is 'TVOW". Can I normal air patrol. say that again? Sure,why not!l "WOW'. Other nice areason the hit include the 353 & 352 Book t Airfix has really done themselvesproud with air intake are4 and the jet nozzle, and the by Andrew Birkbeck their two Lightning kits, one which produces undercarriageunits. The wheel wells are fully the earliervariants, the Fl, FlA, F2 and F3, boxed in, but completely lacking in detail, One thing that never ceasesto arnazeme while a secondkit produces the later F.2A and another obvious cost saving measureby Airfix. in this grand hobby of ours, is the ability of F.6 variants. For thosewho wish to build a However, being that most folks don't display tiny nations in Eastern Europe to produce some twin-seat hainer. fear not. as Aeroclub has their aircraft models in the inverted position, of the best hobby relatedproducts on the produced a conversion set for the Airfix kits to most will acceptthis situation,and for those market today. In fact, in terms of new kits allow you to dojust that. who don't, againsome simple applicationof produced.Eastern Europe is now more 'IVOW" But what of thesenew Airfix appropriate stretchedsprue or wire will important than any other region in the world kits. For those of us who saw the Airfix improve the situation immensely. for kit production, at least when it comes to Spitfire/Seafire kits from last year, we quickly Finally, the instructions and decals. The military model kits. The likes of Eduard, realized that this was not the Airfix of old. former are well done, in the form of a l7 page MPM, Toko, ClassicAirframes easilycome to Tooled in Korea, thesenew kits were very well (8xll inch) booklet,the usualexploded mind. However, a number of Revell Germany made, highly detailed kits with state of the art diagrammethod being employedfor assembly and Italeri kits also spring from East European- engraved panel lines. Well, the Lightnings are instructions. And then we have the color and tooled molds. better than the Spitfire kits. Firstly, Airfix has marking instructions, being 8 or more pages in And then there are the detailing sets: gone to the houble, and considerable expense, length, and very impressive. However, not Eduard again,Aber, Aires, FM etc. And of providing different fuselage halves to show nearly as impressive as the decal sheetyou get finally, the books. Far too many publishers to the differences between the various Marks of in each kit. Dare I use the word again? mention, and many of them seemto only Lightnings. And theseparts are beautifully "WOW'. Unlike the decals that qrme with my produce a few titles a year, but boy are many of detailed with the various scoops and panels all Airfix Spitfire/Seafire kits, the ones that come them lovely, packedwith excellentcolor nicely done. Airfix has also produced the with the Lightnings look to be VERY useable. profiles, scaledrawings, detail sketches,and differences in the Lightning's wings, with The sheetsare HUGE, measuring13 inchesby plenty of photographs. common underwing parts in both kits, but 8 inches,and covering six or seven(depending One suchrecent book is from a small different top wing pieces to reflect the on whichkit) aircrafl as well as full stencil etc. firm called WINGS & WHEELS Publications, differences between the Marks. markings for one aircraft. And when I say full, in theirsmall but growing"Photo Manual For - Moving to the cockpit, this is made up I mean full: over 200 decals will bc used per of variousinjection molded partswith raised model!! i::x:,il;:il::; ffi;"J"';,:,:i' ;T"""O detail, and decals. This was obviously a puely And thesedecals are superbly printed, military aircraft. So far the seriesincludes cost savingmove by Airfix, and with the and in my kits at least, in perfect register. They books on the UH-60A Black Hawk, BMP-1, cockpit closed, will be acceptableto most also look to be thinner than the decals which Opel Blitz, IL-2 Stormovik, and now the people. Should you wish to build the cockpit came with the Spitfire kits. I highly recom- newestin the series,the GMC type CCKW open,I would suggestlooking at appropriate mend that you give the decals that come in the 353& 352. The CCKW 352 is betterknown to picturesof the real thing, and replacingthe kit a try. However, if you wish aftermarket some as the "Duce and a Half'. the 2.5 ton 6x6 decalswith either somesuitable photoetched decals, then be prepared to be DROWNED in military truck used by the Americans during bezelsetc. (Reheathas a set of "generic" parts them: Aeromaster is set to releasethree sheets, WW2 (and post war) in huge numbers. Tamiya that would work) or somescratch built parts. It Cutting Edge has already issued three sheets, hasrecently released a lovely 1/35thscale won't trke that much, either way. The ejection and these arejust the US firms!! We have yet model of this vehicle, so the releaseof the book seat is a four part affair, and is quite nice, to hear from Xtracolor or any of the other UK is very timely. needingthe addition of somehamess detail, firms!! Unlike many of the East European again either scratch built or etched. (Airwaves In short, then, GETTIIESE KITS if you books,this one is in both English and (in the hasjust releasedan etched set for the kit, and have any interest in "modem" RAF aircraft, or caseof W&W) Czcch. The book's pages alnost certainly Eduard will do the same an interest in brutish machines with pretty measure9 .25 x 9 inches, and there are 70 pages shortly). color schemes.At a full retail price of $33, to the title. The book is basically a "Walk For those of us who are never happy they representvery good value for money, and Around" on the two vehicles covered, for those with what the kit manufacturersput in their kit of course, who pays full retail ! ! I picked mine of you farniliar with the SquadronSignal books cockpits,help is at hand. Cutting Edge up for $24.75 from Kevin Callahan at the by this name. As well as a ton of pictures taken (Meteor Productions)has produced a resin Supply Depot, which is a STEAL for such of a number of Czech basedpreserved vehicles cockpit set, and Kendall (KMC) are also quality. I am sure they are also avai-lablefrom in private and museum hands, there is a wealth working on one as well. Either of thesewhen Emil Minerich's Skyway Models as well. Or at of detail sketches,and four pagesof 1/35th installed in the Airfix kit, and suitably painted leastthey were. Being such greatkits, who scaleplans. Half the picturesare in color, half and drybrushed, will tum a decent cockpit into knows if there :ue any left. I myself have are in black and white, and all are very well a stunner. seven of the kits already! taken and reproduced. And the authors have Airfix has included two sets of missiles climbed all over, inside, and underneaththe in their kits, the Skyflash and later Red Top tw. venlclesconcerneo, s( - missiles. These are very well molded and relevantdetail on either vehicle thut do"rn't J detailed. Also included for the F.6 version of have at least one photo covering it, or a sketch, the Lightning, very nice over wing fuel tanks. or both. And there are hundreds ofpictures to These by the way, I am told, were used strictly look at. Also included are a seriesof color side for ferrying the Lightning (a known fuel hog) Drofiles. Se attle Chapter I PM S-U SA N ew slett er 25 Well, there you have it. I can't recom- and books available for color referenceson the speedbrakesopen! This kit featuresthe current, mend this book highly enough for anyone various shuttles and their operations. uncovered under-wingtip and main landing contemplating building the new Tamiya "Duce Being a fan of both the SpaceShuttle gear fairing chaff/flare dispensersthat have and a Half', or for that matter anyone who has program and the l/72nd scale kits (I favor the been badly duplicated or missing in all the older kits by Italeri or Heller of the same l/72nd Monogramkit), this sheetis a must and previous kits. Afirst in this scale are replicas vehicles. While the Tamiya kit is a gem- I certainly recommend it to any devotee or of the single Maverick launch rails, in lieu of quality example of the toolmaker's art, this modeler of our country's spaceefforts. the triple launcher featured in previous 1/72 book will allow the modeller to add a host of kits. The single Maverick launcher is much detail not included in the kit. more co[lmon operationally and was exclu- sively used in the Gulf War, as it allows much Italeri L/72nd, A-L0A greater maneuverability for the aircraft when Space Shuttle Decals Thunderbolt II & dodgingAAA or SAMs!Another kit plus is the F-51-DMustang first rendition of the twin-Sidewinder launcb by Bob LaBouy 'LJ.S. rails widely seenon TV on all Gulf War A-l0As Fighter' and now a "standard" feahre of all A- I 0s, even Sidewinder launch SpaceShuttle Decals, lf2nd scale, by by Mike IPMS #3925 at airshows. Note that both RealSpaceModels, RealSpaceModels, 813 Quan, rails will have to be bent slightly downwards Watt Drive. Tallahassee. FL 32303; $ 9.50 (about I 0 degreesor so) from the horizontal to Italeri has been known not onlY for (cost$ 6.50 plus $ 3.00 for P&H). be completely accurate. producing kits of some of the more desirable If you're planning to do a spaceshuttle, Markings are featured for the Massachu- model aircraft subjects,(lfl2nd Bf I l0C/ D/G, thesedecals are for you! They are not only settsAir National Guard and the AFRes unit at B-57 Canberra,8-66 Destroyer,and He I I lZ beautifully done (printed I suspectby New Orleans, cat 1992. They are welcome Zwilling), but also for competing head-to-head MicroScale as usual), but crisp details, alternatives to the more commonly seen23rd with other kit manufacturerswith respect to excellent register, lots of missing detail (from TFW having a kit "stable" of the more popular the current kit decals that is) and available in Sharkmouth or AFRes'nVartho g" aircraft types,(lfl2nd F-4 Phantom,F-I6 either Ul4/;thor lfl2nd scale. I am impressed. decorations. The kit instructions are the fine, Viper, F-15 Eagle, Junkers Ju 87 Stuka). Their I sent offmy check about 8 days ago and easy-to-understand,isometric drawings that recent releaseof a ll72nd Fairchild A-l0A received them via "priority mail" today in a Italeri are well known for. A very nice touch Thunderbolt tr and North American F-5lD heavy cardboardpackage (though my postal that I wish more manufacturerswould provide Mustang definitely fall into the latter category. carrier, the cleaver little guy he is, was able to in their instructions is the specified amount of So how do thesekits stack up against their overcome the post office's own protective weight to be added to the forward fuselage in competition for the modeler's spending money, package and rolled it together to cram it into order to enable the kit to rest on its tricycle and is the modeling world ready for another my box....ringingthe bell or leaving it under landing gear-in this case, a hefty 30 grams. releaseof these venerable subjects? the box would be a technological stretch way So now the questionis, just how doesit First, let's examine kit no. 087, the A-10 beyond his position description or pay comp.ue to the other Warthog kits out there? Thunderbolt tr, retailing for $18. The kit grade....). This kit is definitely recommendedas the kit of features 124 parts molded in the familiar Italeri This nifty sheet and its rudimentary choice! Matchbox's versioncan be dismissed soft medium gray, and clear plastic. The clear instruction sheet allow the builder to portray as representingthe (quite different) prototype parts cover the two-piece positionable canopy, any one of the four shuttles, the Atlantis, aircraft. Monogram's l[2nd versionwas the HUD, IR Maverick glass noses,and wingtip Challenger, Discovery or Endeavor, and frst A-10 releaseand is very nice, but it lights. A complete selection of underwing contains not only the necessarymarkings for featured raised panel lines and was difficult to ordnance includes 600-gal. drop tanks, the shuttle itself, but the cockpit area tiles, the assemble.Many modelersconsider alternative ECM pods, Sidewinders, Maver- entry door details and the solid rocket booster Hasegawa'sThunderbolt tr to be the premiere icks, Rockeyes, and what appearto be SUU-30 (SRB) packs. kit, but it is also dated, featuring raised panel bomblet dispensers. The ubiquitous Pave If there is anything missing, its the lines and lacking accuratechaff/flare dispens- Penny pod is also included. A six-piece necessarycolor referencesand call-outs on the ers and inboard leading-edge slats. The Airfix interior featuresraised dials on the instrument decal instruction sheets. They just aren't there, Thunderbolt does have the slats but suffers panels and side consoles,but fuselage sidewall which is a loss, especially when the there are from simplified detail and raised panel lines. detail is absent. The ACES tr ejection seat is two sheetsfull of nice (though a bit rough) The Academy-Minicraft kit does have acceptable,though I suspectmost modelers drawings of the shuttles and tanks themselves. contemporary, state-of-the-artengraved panel will replace it with an aftermarket item. In that regard however, not have there been a lines; but the combination of more current Fine, engraved panel-line detail abounds few notesin IPMS-USA publications,but a 'Warthog.' annarnent, inboard leading-edge slats, accurate in this Italeri rendition of the seriousmodeller should also consider obtaining chaff/fl are dispensers,and optional Unusually fine detail is featured in the CE TF- Mike Mackowski's beautifully done, compre- speedbrakesmake this the kit to build over the 34 engine bypass fan blades,the multi-piece jet hensive and very nicely done Space Shuttle competitionl exhaust cores, split aileron/speedbrakesthat publication. It is hopefully still available for Next up is Italeri kit no. 086, the 7l'72nd can be positioned opened or closed, and opened 'U. about $ 8.50 from Mike and possibly the F-51D Mustang S. Fighter,'retailingat boarding ladder and forward-fuselage equip- Gateway Chapter-IPMS. And of course there $8.50. Another Mustang,you say?Yes, but ment accesspanel. The heatment of the are about I 0 bezillion pictures of tbe Shuttle at this is a Mustang kit with a difference. First engine-exhaust"hot section" is especially various stagesof movement, pre-launch and indications are the box art featuring a Korean noteworthy and the best of all kit choices in during actual spaceflight. National Geo- War-vintage USAF Mustang, (hence the "F- this scale. Split aileron/speedbrakeswere a graphic is still one of my favorite resource 5lD" designationas opposed to the "P-5lD" feature only of the previous 1/48th Monogram locations in this regard, though there are moniker), with the back of the box illustrating kit, and you could only build the kit with tbe certainly lots of good commercial publications the alternate decal schemesprovided for an i SeattleChapter IP MS-USA New slener I ? RAF example from No. 65 Squadron at the end numerous comparisons to Hasegawa. Is the of "war deuce," and a Royal New Zealand AF Hasegawakit the epitomeof Mustangkits in 'divine example in natural metal cat 1953. Okay, the scale'?Well, mostly, savefor the Italeri is appealing to the consumer a little shallow wheel wells and integral flaps (a differently wittr this oft-replicated aircraft. situation remedied by Puget Sound Scale GuestSpeaker at Good. Inside, the sixty-seven parts axeon two Models' excellent resin wing & control-surface gray spruesand a clear sprue. The Mustang set-at the cost of more than anotherkitl). April llth Meeting feah-rredhas a dorsal strake common to late- However, considering the price break for this 'D' production models, (as seem all recent kit versus the Japanesehport, it standsup At our April llth meeting,we are 'divine scale'bubble-top Mustangs). Options very well indeed. For the slight inaccuracy of rleasedto have l-oren Perry, as our special include the "standard" or "Dallas" rear canopy, the fin, this kit offers deeper wheel wells and luest. choice of bombs or rockets on rail launchers, the first Mustang zero-length rocket launchers ATTENTION!!! and both the 75-gal.and 108-gal.drop tanks. in this scale. The Academy-Minicraft kit of the TWeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet- Inspection of the parts reveals a number Mustang (in its latest iteration with of pluses: a good cockpit interior featuring a "DOWNFORDOLJBLE" artwork) does have All hands, now hear this, sweepersman beautifully engraved instrument panel, the correct deep wheel wells, engraved panel lour brooms! separatelymolded radiator and carburetor lines and separateflaps. However, the exhaust \J6y766666-lay to and give intake lips, one-piecepropeller blades-I really manifold (corrected from the earlier release's /our attention, all you IPMS ship builders and hate Hasegawa'sindividually molded seven pipes per side to the correct six per side) vannabeship builders. The greatpoobahs of 'emaciated' blades!-and bestof all, realisticallydeep and looks and devoid of detail. In ieattle IPMS upon the conclusion of secret detailed main landing-gear wells-a pleasant addition, the wheel-well outline is incorrectly regotiations, have in their infinite wisdom change from the steady stream of shallow shaped. All in all, the ltalian-produced kit is a nade arrangementswith fellow shipmodeler Hasegawarenderings! On the negativeside are: very nice replica, though not without faults, as rnd IPMSer, Mr. l-oren Perry of our own integrally molded wing flaps, rather prominenU are all the l[2nd offerings today. Buy the -opez Island (that's in the San Juans,for all frrlky shrouded engine exhaust pipes, and Italeri kit if price is a consideration or if you rou late comers to the Evergreen State) to worst of all, machine-gunmuzzles molded as want the underwing rockets-you can't go nake an appearanceat our April llth sepaxatewing-leading-edge inserts! The wrong. neeting. It is hoped that Mr. Perry, perhaps thought of filling and sanding around those In summary, both new Italeri kits retter known to some as Mr. Gold Medal 'nubs' soft, little plastic representingthe .50- deservea niche on hobbyshopshelves and Vlodels,will bring a few of his excellent ship car. muzzles is discouraging. Comparison with compare favorably with their competitors, nodels for our edification and enlightenment, plans published in the recent Bert Klnzey especially if price is a consideration. They rerhapsan assortrnentof his etcheJbrass I Detail & Scale tome reveal that accuracy is make up into great models with a minimum of rroductsand hopefully sharesome of his comparable to Hasegawa'skit except for the fuss, but lack the "finesse" (and price tags) of echniques and skills that will aid us in our length of the fuselage at the trailing edge of the current Japaneseimports. I applaud Italeri for rnending pursuit of "lfte ultimate model." rudder. It seemsthat the fin leading-edge introducing thesekits and wish them well on So, without further ado, bring your sweepisjust a tad short and resultsin the top future lfl2nd releases(...including that roats,bring your ships,bring your problems, of the fin leaning forward at the expnse of the promised new Messerschmitt Me2 I 0 !). rnd questionsand bring your lst mates. correct trailing-edge sweep. This is not [Reprinted from the IPMS North Central ieasick pills are optional. noticeable unless you park your Italeri Mustang Texas "Flak Sheet"l Pleasejoin us in welcoming Loren next to Hasegawa's,and even then you'd have )erry to the Seattle Chapter. to squint to notice. Seeyou on April 1lth. Readersof this review will note the

Saturdav. April 11. 1998 at lO:OOam NationalGuard Armory Room114 'l 601 WestArmoryWay Seattle

Directions:From North or Southbound1-5, take the N.E. 45thSt. exit. DriveWest on 45th,crossing under Highway 99 (orAurora Ave North)toward N.W. Market St. in the Ballarddistrict. Continue West on MarketSt. toward 15th Ave.N.W. Turnleft (south) onto 15thAve. N.W. and drive acrossthe BallardBridge until you reachArmory Way (just as you see theAnimal Shelter). Watch for signs. You shouldpark in the MetroPark & RideLot.

lf comingfrom SouthSeattle, take Highway99 ontothe AlaskaWay viaductto WesternAve. FollowWestern Ave. nonhto ElliottAve. until it turnsinto 15th Ave N.W.,then to the ArmoryWay turnoff.