MilitaryIllustratedModellerIssue134November2022

AFV Edition - November ‘22 Military Illustrated Modeller 134

modellermilitary illustratedSAIPAN military illustrated134
AFV Edition - November 2022SURVIVER
moISSUE
AFV edition Concentration camp liberation diorama, AFV Club M35A2 truck, Pz.II ausf. J diorama, Pz.II ausf. F reference images, plus news, reviews and much more...Dragon’s 1:35 United States Marine Corps M4A2 180 metres of
Sherman gets upgraded to Saipan spec
FREE GIFT masking tape!

dell£6.95-eNovember22r(issue134)

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Model by Wayne Hui

Model by Jeremy Moore

Get Creative!

Hobbyboss, Vallejo, Model Master, Miniart, Master box, aK
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unit 6-10, Honeysome ind est., Honeysome road, chatteris, cambs. Pe16 6tG

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military illustrated

Contents modellerISSUE No.134 November 2022

28 4 NEWS

18 Military modelling news

8 WINTER OF DISCONTENT

A chilly-looking 1:35 street scene with the Alan
Hobby Pz.II ausf.J

16 ICE COLD IN AIRFIX

Airfix’s Austin K2/Y ambulance, previewed

18 FREEDOM’S EMBRACE

Daniel Buchmeier constructs a highly evocative
Holocaust scene in 1:35

26 LATE-WAR LEVELLER

Tamiya’s all new WW2 British A34 Comet Cruiser
Tank, previewed

COVER STORY
28 SAIPAN SURVIVER

Upgrading Dragon’s 1:35 USMC Sherman to
Saipan-spec

38 ONE CAREFUL OWNER

An atmospheric and well-known scene from the
Battle of Normandy, 1944

40 PANZERKAMPFWAGEN II
AUSF.F

Photo-references for the Panzer II ausf.F

54 ORDNANCE DEPOT

New and recently released accessory sets and
modelling materials

52 REFORGER REFINED

AFV Club’s ageing but excellent M35A2 US,
up-detailed

60 US 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION
IN NORMANDY

An action-filled photo, July 26th, 1944, Battle of
Normandy

60 BOOK REVIEWS

Military modelling-related book reviews

66 SIGN OFF

Refreshments in Colleville
sur Mer, Normandy,

52

AFV Edition 3

News THIS MONTH IN TAMIYA MODEL MAGAZINE...

In the November 2022 Issue (325) of Tamiya Model Magazine we have an
impressive conversion of Tamiya’s 1:35 BT-7 tank to the howitzer version.
Check it out! www.doolittlemedia.com

NEWS JUST IN... • NEW FROM AFV CLUB
1:35 US ARMY M110 HOWITZER

The heavy-hitting 203mm mobile howitzer is an iconic
vehicle of the Vietnam War era comes to kit-form thanks
to AFV Club. Expect masses of detail.
www.bachmann.co.uk

AFV CLUB • COMING SOON FROM TAMIYA • NEW FROM AFV CLUB
MODELING BRUSH HGII X3 1:35 CENTURION AVRE
- 1:35 Aluminium PGK Series 155mm
artillery shells These three brushes are of The latest iteration of AFV Club's
extremely high quality and are superb 1:35 Centurion is the 'AVRE',
- 1:35 Aluminium M1122 & M454 ideal for painting very fine details. or Armoured Vehicle, Royal Engineers.
155mm artillery shells www.hobbyco.net www.bachmann.co.uk

- 1:35 Centurion Hush Puppy tracks
- 1:35 M1126 Stryker CROWS-J
- 1:35 Royal Engineers

modern pipe fascine
- 1:35 AAWS-M FGM-

148 Javelin
bachmann.co.uk

RFM

- 1:35 Leopard 2 A6
with full interior

tigerhobbies.co.uk

TAKOM • COMING SOON FROM BORDER MODEL
1:35 AEV-3 PIONIERPANZER '2 IN 1'
- 1:35 Imperial Japanese 150 ton super
heavy tank The mighty AEV-3 Kodiak is an armoured
engineering vehicle based on the modern
- 1:16 Kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen I German Leopard 2 main battle tank and
- 1:16 Panzerjäger IB Border's kit is sure to be spectacular!
bachmann.co.uk tigerhobbies.co.uk

• NEW FROM FAT FROG
1:35 M18 HELLCAT DETAIL SETS

Tamiya's superb 1:35 M18 Hellcat kit can
be upgraded with a set of new, 3D-printed
headlight guards, turret hangers and
engine-deck grilles thanks to Fat Frog.
www.hobbyeasy.com

• COMING SOON FROM FAT FROG • B & L SCALE MODELS
1:35 SLATTED MESH SIDE/REAR PLATFORMS
FOR SD.KFZ.7/2 These 3D-printed figures and accessories

These impressive parts are 3D-printed for the 1:35 for Vietnam War subjects are made in
WW2 German anti-aircraft halftrack and provide
some magnificent detail. www.hobbyeasy.com Vietnam and look spot on for the era.

More details soon.
Availability tbc; search Facebook for
ETA Models for more details

• ON THE WAY FROM KINETIC
1:35 US LAW ENFORCEMENT CARRIER

The International MaxxPro MRAP can now be seen
roaming the streets of the USA on police duty and it
looks even more intimidating in overall matt black!
Expect a highly detailed production.
www.luckymodel.com

• NEW FROM EDUARD • NEW FROM PANZER ART
1:35 SD.KFZ.167 STUG.IV 1:35 WW2 BRITISH TANK CREW
PHOTO-ETCH
Polish detail-meisters Panzer Art have
Designed for Rye Field Model's recently created this pair of WW2 British
recent kit and provide some tankers in resin and they look superb!
essential detail tweaks. www.panzerart.pl
creativemodels.co.uk eduard.com

4 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

The World’s Greatest Model Show

Brought to you by The International Plastic Modellers Society (UK)

(It’s our 60th Anniversary in 2023!)

Incorporating the IPMS (UK) National Competition

Traders Galore! Fabulous Model Displays

Join us at Telford Shropshire TF3 4JH

The International Centre

Saturday Sunday

12th November 2022 13th November 2022

Open: 10.00am to 6.00pm Open: 10.00am to 4.00pm

Admission: Adults £17.00 (+ £2.30 booking fee) Admission: Adults £14.00 (+ £2.30 booking fee)

Accompanied under 16s go FREE (up to 2 children per full-paying adult)
No tickets on sale at the door. Advance ticket sales are now available from: ipmsuk.org/ipms-scale-modelworld/

IPMS Members get FREE Admission and Early Entry each day

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FULL-BUILD: WORLD WAR TWO AXIS ARMOUR DIORAMA ALAN HOBBY 1:35 PANZER II AUSF J (VK 1601) • KIT NO.016
8 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

WINTER OF
DISCONTENT

Takahiro Sumitomo creates a chilly-looking street
scene with the old Alan Hobby Pz.II ausf.J in 1:35

AFV Edition 9

FULL-BUILD: WORLD WAR TWO AXIS ARMOUR DIORAMA ALAN HOBBY 1:35 PANZER II AUSF J (VK 1601) • KIT NO.016

This time, I made a small vignette using Alan I made the building with styrene board and cork sheet. I made it with zero planning, so it was full of corrections, but it took shape in a day
Hobby's Pz.II ausf. J tank. I've always wanted and a half. The bricks were also chopped freehand and cut appropriately, the notches in the bricks carved freehand. The fittings are from
to build this vehicle; Alan Hobby has been MiniArt. Above right; I made the base board from things from my usual 100-yen store (Seria). An accessory case and a photo frame for the
making kits of rare vehicles for a long time, grand total of 200 yen!
and I've made a lot of them. The models are not
particularly difficult to assemble and I was able The styrene board could be attacked by certain thinners, so I used the The road surface was made with Green Staff World’s ‘Dutch brick’
to build it up with ease, however, I couldn't get water-based Green Stuff World Surfacer Primer which is matte and has pattern-roller with handle (GSW-10490). I drilled a number of
the tracks to come together very well, so I had to a nice finish; I really like it. When thinning, I use Liquitex Brush Aid. The shallow holes in the base, applied wood glue, spread on a thin
modify them for a proper fit. Stowage is from by vehicle, figure, base and building were all painted black, then airbrushed in layer of paper clay and textured it with the roller. I sprinkled on a
Value Gear. white from above little cornstarch to prevent the clay from sticking to the roller

VEHICLE PAINT

I used Tamiya Lacquer Light Sand (LP-30) as the
base colour for the Pz.II, and for its camouflage
I used Mr. Color Olive Drab for the green and
Tamiya Lacquer Brown (JGSDF) LP-25 for the
brown. I painted the tracks and steel tools with
Weathered Black (UA723) from Lifecolor's 'Railway
Weathering' set. The rubber part of the wheel
was finished with AK interactive Rubber Black
(AK1027). I used the decals from the kit as they
are, but the small cross on the side of the turret
comes from a Dragon model. For the weathering
and chipping I used AK Interactive's Chip Colour
and VIC hobby (white). I didn't colour-wash it all
over, it was more like a pin-wash, but I used AK
Interactive's streaking grime and Mr Weathering
Color's White Dust to form surface dirt.

I used Mr. Weathering Color 'Sandy Wash'
for the dirt on the tracks and running gear. The
headlight was coated with Vallejo silver on the
inside and filled with light curing resin to create
the lens. I applied fine scratches with oil paint
and rubbed the edges with a pencil. Work was
completed by correcting the areas where the
colour-washing was forgotten and any zones where
there was a sense of incongruity.

FIGURES COMPLETED

This time, I did not paint with an airbrush, and tried
to paint everything with a brush. I used a method
in which very diluted acrylic paint is applied over
and over again creating shadows in black and
white. Trial and error continues! •

For the base shade, I lightly applied sail colour (GSI Creos water-based hobby colour) and randomly airbrushed sky and white. Over that, acrylic paints from Vallejo and VIC Hobby were diluted considerably and applied
with a brush. Since the base was already shaded, I could create an atmosphere just by applying a fairly diluted acrylic paint. Above right, the finished street scene - the manholes are made by Yen Models

10 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

Close-up on the building's facade - all home-made!

Alan Hobby Pz.II ausf J, assembly completed. I bought it because it was on sale for 1,580 yen. It wasn't particularly Trying out various positions for the tank on the street scene
difficult to assemble and the parts fitted almost perfectly

AFV Edition 11

FULL-BUILD: WORLD WAR TWO AXIS ARMOUR DIORAMA ALAN HOBBY 1:35 PANZER II AUSF J (VK 1601) • KIT NO.016

Basic painting of the vehicle completed; base shade is Tamiya
Lacquer Light Sand (LP-30), camouflage is Mr Color Olive Drab
(Colour Modulation Set Highlight 1, CMC01) for the green and
Tamiya Lacquer Brown (JGSDF) LP-25 for the brown

12 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

AFV Edition 13

FULL-BUILD: WORLD WAR TWO AXIS ARMOUR DIORAMA ALAN HOBBY 1:35 PANZER II AUSF J (VK 1601) • KIT NO.016

MODELSPEC

ALAN HOBBY 1:35 PANZER II AUSF J
(VK 1601) KIT NO.016
Materials:
Injection-moulded polystyrene, waterslide decals
Paints used:
Noted within captions
Availability:
Alan Hobby kit is out of production; check
online sources for secondhand examples, or
alternatively, use the Hobbyboss kit No.83803
Pzkpfw.II Ausf.J (VK16.01)

14 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

NEW from the ‘HOW TO BUILD...’ series

How to Build...
TAMIYA’S 1:48 LOCKHEED P-38F/G LIGHTNING

By Marcus Nicholls

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an iconic US fighter from the Second World War. Its twin Allison
V12 engines were mounted in booms to free-up the nose so it could house a fearsome array of
four M2 Browning machine guns and a 20mm cannon. The twin-boom airframe became a sight
feared by enemies wherever it served, with good reason.

In 2019, after several years of painstaking research, Tamiya released an all-new kit of this sleek
aircraft and it has taken its place proudly in the 1:48 Aircraft Series as No.120 in the range.

In this new ‘How To Build’ book, Tamiya Model Magazine’s Editor, Marcus Nicholls, presents no
less than four built-up examples of Tamiya’s fantastic model; one Lightning each from Brett
Green and Spencer Pollard, plus two from Marcus Nicholls.

The second of Marcus’s models incorporates resin and photo-etched super-detail sets from
Eduard, showing how they can be used within the build to take the detail to an even higher
level. New photos of the other models show how Brett Green and Spencer Pollard built and
painted the models in their own styles.

The book includes four complete builds, covering the following topics:

n Adding photo-etched parts

n Using resin upgrade components NOW IN
n Extending the nose undercarriage leg
n Upgrading the cockpit detail
n Weathering the airframe

n Alternative decal sets STOCK

MODELS BY Only
Marcus Nicholls
Brett Green £15.95
Spencer Pollard
plus p&p

Also available

Order online at www.doolittlemedia.com or on 01525 222573

KIT PREVIEW AIRFIX 1:35 AUSTIN K2/Y AMBULANCE • KIT NO.A1375

ICE COLD
IN AIRFIX
Airfix's eagerly anticipated 1:35
Austin K2/Y ambulance arrives

From our usual inspection of the kit parts in which builds up element-by-element; chassis rails, Service Corps, NW Europe 1944 (overall dark
the box, Airfix’s new kit looks incredibly well crossmembers, leaf springs and drivetrain. Only the green), British Army, North Africa 1940 (Caunter
done. Delivered on three large sprues of lower parts of the engine are provided and they camouflage scheme), British Army, Alexandria,
sand-coloured polystyrene plus one in clear should appear perfectly adequate when viewed Egypt 1942 (overall sand colour) and Auxiliary
and a generous sheet of waterslide transfers, the from below. The bonnet is a one-part moulding, so Territorial Service, England 1944 (overall dark
subject is given a comprehensive treatment here, if one were to add an engine to the mix (should the green). The huge red cross emblem decals are
inside and out. As it is an ambulance, the rear aftermarket produce one), this will need cutting up perfectly printed and will provide the ideal finishing
‘box’ is fully furnished with shelves for a quartet and hinges adding. The driver's cabin comes with touch; just add DEF Model wheels/tyres for the
of stretchers – themselves nicely detailed – plus a a full set of driving controls with the neat touch of icing on the cake (shown opposite right). Overall,
liner for the roof that includes a pair of air vents. decals for the dashboard-dials. Seat belts are not a brilliant subject choice, comprehensively detailed
It's really well done and just needs some blankets; needed, because the real thing didn't have them! throughout; there's no upper engine, but not a
check out www.redzebramodels.co.uk for a superb Markings are supplied for one of four Austins; 30 great loss. •
set of these in resin. The model sits on a chassis Corps, Motor Ambulance Convoy, Royal Army www.airfix.com

16 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

www.defmodel.com
AFV Edition 17

FULL-BUILD 1:35 WORLD WAR TWO HISTORICAL DIORAMA

FREEDOM’S EMBRACE

By Daniel Buchmeier

On April 27th and 28th, 1945, the US
12th Armored Division and 101st
Airborne Division liberated Kaufering
IV, one of 11 concentration camps
in the Kaufering complex near Landsberg,
Germany. When the Germans got word that
the US would be arriving, they marched as
many prisoners out to the other camps in
the area and left many that were too weak
and sick to travel at the camp. Then they set
fire to the barracks and left before the US
arrived. Out of 3,600 prisoners, only a few
hundred survived.

This is hard to write. I did not take making
this diorama lightly as I understand the
sensitivity of the subject. I am by no means a
great model builder, and I did not make this
for the shock value. I felt compelled to tell this
story and I wanted to see if it was possible
to create a simple diorama/piece of art that
evokes an emotion that goes beyond the
usual awe we feel when looking at a well
built model.

18 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

AFV Edition 19

FULL-BUILD 1:35 WORLD WAR TWO HISTORICAL DIORAMA

This figure set did not exist. I could have tried to cobble While I was waiting for the figure to arrive, I began construction Searching for the proper barbed wire seemed like a herculean effort.
a couple of figures together or tried sculpting them, but on the camp fence. Miraculously, there were dried weeds in my I wanted REAL barbed wire and I found someone who makes it, but
there was no way I was going to achieve the kind of yard that resembled worn wooden posts, so I grabbed a bunch that naturally, something that complex was expensive. I thought about
emotion that this story deserves. So I looked to my friend I thought were to scale and started cutting them to size making real barbed wire from scratch myself, but that was way out of
Le Xuan Giang who is an incredible 3D artist and owns my patience range. I settled on a photo-etched set from KiloKits. This
Paracel Miniatures. I spoke with Le and told him what I set worked best because of the length of each run of wire, and well, it
wanted to do and he was excited. I sent him a bunch of looks relatively realistic
reference photos and he got started on a rendering. After
a couple weeks of work, he sent me screen shots of the The guard shack required
CG model in progress. He nailed the pose with his amazing two attempts. I’m not
talent. He then 3D printed the figure and shipped it to me. a mathematician
The anticipation of its arrival was like waiting for a new and I don’t
model kit release know how to
measure for
You might say picking a Holocaust theme is scale, so everything
a cheap way to get an emotion out of someone I do is eyeballed.
and you’d be right, but I chose not to portray Needless to say, the
the horror of the Holocaust specifically because first attempt at the
that is what most people expect to see. I also guard shack looked
wanted to explore the balance between art and more like a dog house
model making as I think they are one in the than a Nazi checkpoint.
same depending on the subject, story and style Basswood was used
of the artist/model builder. I see many people for construction.
these days elevating model building to an art Unfortunately I found
form and they are a great inspiration to me. the reference photo of
I believe this 'hobby' can be more than just a the actual guard shack
model on a shelf. at Kaufering IV, AFTER
I completed the diorama
A special thanks goes out to Le Xuan Giang and would have tried to
who has been my saviour lately as he is the match it better
only one I know who can realise the figures
that I want to use in my dioramas. We have Wood glue was my friend while making the fence. The colour and
collaborated on three 'sets' of figures now and matte finish of the glue blended in with the “wood” poles and
without his artistry and the new 3D printing dried very strong. I used historical photo reference to try and
technology, I could have never completed those match the fencing as best I could
dioramas the way I envisioned them.
Fence and guard shack
I also want to thank everyone on Facebook coming together nicely
who commented on this piece while it was on
the forums. Many people had very positive
things to say and I think that helps when you’re
not sure how a diorama will be received. Say
what you will about Facebook, but I believe the
modelling community is one of the most positive
things on the internet.

Thank you to my peers for your inspiration
and kind words: Rick Lawler, Jesse Naughton,
Joe Bevens, Roger Hurkmans, Marcus Nicholls,
Ken Hamilton, Calvin Tan, Yanglei Zheng,
Barlas Pehlivan and many others. •

20 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

It takes a month to get a standard shipment from Vietnam, where Le Xuan Giang lives, so I had Primer applied and work
“plenty of time” to work on the base in preparation for the figure’s arrival. I guess I’m a bit of on the composition
a creature of habit because I make all my bases in a basic box form, using foam and basswood.
I used Sculptamold and railroad ballast to add ground texture, then ran a set of Jeep wheels I better hurry now with the base since I have the figure. I used a range of
through the wet plaster for tire tracks as if the CO of the 101st drove through the gates. Vallejo acrylics on the base to simulate the dirt. I wanted the ground to feel
SIDENOTE: You’d think a modeller of a certain stature would have a nice studio workspace and like a Spring rain had fallen, so the ground is a mix of dark browns with
all sorts of tools to make elaborate bases, but I don’t want to get into that right now highlights added here and there. I added a smattering of fall and spring
grass tufts (from Martin Welberg) to imply rebirth and renewal. The fence
“One of the most moving dioramas THE FIGURE ARRIVED! was weathered with black and brown Vallejo acrylics
I have ever seen” THE FIGURE ARRIVED!
Let’s see how it looks
Bart Howard

“This is the first time a diorama
has made me cry. Great work”

Daniel Goldstein

“A true masterpiece. This is not a
kit or a diorama, but a snapshot of
a moment in history”

Dano Anoran

Back to the shack. Like I mentioned before, I found the reference of the actual guard shack AFTER I built the diorama, so with
what reference I had, I made a believable stand in. A coat of Tamiya flat red was used for the base coat, then various washes
of browns to get a weathered look. I sanded the edges to reveal the wood under the paint for more wear and tear. What’s
the rule? If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try and try again. I made the sign (Attention: No entry
without authorization) with the help of Google translate and design software. I was able to print it at the local Staples store.
I then attempted to trim it and weather it to look convincing. Looks like #11 was the charm

AFV Edition 21

FULL-BUILD 1:35 WORLD WAR TWO HISTORICAL DIORAMA

On to the figure. I sat with this for a few days After priming with Mr Surfacer 1200, I started Adding more details builds confidence Now comes the big plunge. I blocked in a large section
thinking of how to go about it as I knew it would with the ‘easy part’. I’ve painted quite a few US of the camp uniform base colour. Easy peasy
be a big challenge for me. I was terrified to begin servicemen and have the go-to colours for them, so I
because I didn’t want to fail given the subject matter. started in familiar territory
Le Xuan Giang provided me with three prints in case
I screwed one, or two up. Luckily, the first one came
out okay

While I was in my thinking
stage I decided that I
wasn’t going to try and
freehand the stripes on
the camp uniform. I know
the limits to my anger
management. I was able to
find some really great auto
painting pin-striping tape
that had enough stick to
adhere to the curves of the
figure, but not too much to
leave a sticky residue. The
pin-striping tape is 1/32”
which is perfect for the
stripes on the uniform

The big reveal. After
removing the pin-striping
tape, I was pleasantly
surprised that the stripes
looked pretty good. Way
better than if I tried hand
painting them. Still, some
touch up was needed. After
painting the pale flesh tones
and shoes, I moved on to
weathering the uniform

Sometimes for whatever
reason Vallejo acrylics
have a sheen to them, so
I knocked it completely
flat with AK Ultra Matte
through the airbrush

22 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

This page; Kaufering IV. ‘Kaufering’ was the common name of a system of
eleven subcamps of the Dachau concentration camp which operated between 18th
June 1944 and 27th April 1945 and which were located around the towns of
Landsberg am Lech and Kaufering in Bavaria

“Probably the best WWII diorama
I have ever seen... Not so much
because the technical work is so
well done (it is a masterpiece),
but because it perfectly captures
the emotion of such a difficult
subject and what may be our
USA's finest moment in the whole
war. Well done”

Mike Micciche

Gate of Kaufering I after liberation

AFV Edition 23

FULL-BUILD 1:35 WORLD WAR TWO HISTORICAL DIORAMA

“That’s the modelling equivalent
of a well-written five-word story.
There’s just so much there”

Dan Shoemaker

“Your work is beautiful and
serves as a reminder to all of us
to never forget what happened
and more importantly, never let
it happen again”

Numba Toby

“I must say, I was close to tears
when I was looking at the photos
close up. It’s an astonishing piece
of work”

Marcus Nicholls
24 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

AFV Edition 25

KIT PREVIEW TAMIYA 1:35 BRITISH CRUISER TANK A34 COMET • KIT NO.35380

LATE-WAR LEVELLER
Tamiya's all new WW2 British A34 Comet Cruiser Tank is here
and it looks to be the best kit yet of this late-war Panzer killer

The Comet tank or 'Tank, Cruiser, Comet I southern Netherlands early in the same month NEW-TOOL MODEL
(A34)' was a British cruiser tank that first saw for re-equipping. After arriving in Brussels and
use towards the end of the Second World preparing to hand in their Shermans the Ardennes Tamiya's kit is 100% new for 2022 and is No.380
War during the Western Allied invasion of Offensive commenced, and the brigade was in Tamiya's iconic Military Miniatures Series. The
Germany. The Comet was developed from the forced to hastily snatch back its Shermans in parts come on five sprues of olive drab polystyrene,
earlier Cromwell tank and was fitted with the order to take part in the countering of the German plus one in clear for the lights and vision block
new 17-pdr High Velocity gun, in a lower profile, attack. and two polycaps. The decals provide markings
partly-cast turret. This weapon was effective to complete one of two Comets; 'Crusader', 11th
against late-war German tanks, including the The unit returned to the Brussels area in the Armoured Division, Germany, Spring 1945 and
Panther at medium range as well as the Tigers. The middle of January 1945 three weeks later and 'Celerity', also of the 11th Armoured Division in
Comet entered active service in January 1945 and finally traded in its Shermans in exchange for Germany, Spring 1945. Both are overall dark
remained in British service until 1958. In some Comets. The 11th Armoured would be the only green tanks, naturally.
cases, Comets sold to other countries continued to division to be completely refitted with the Comet
operate into the 1980s. by the end of the war. The Comet saw combat Highlights of the kit include link-and-length tracks
and twenty-six were destroyed, but due to its late moulded in kit plastic, which are vastly superior
The British 11th Armoured Division was the arrival in the war in north west Europe, it did not to one-piece flexible tracks in not only detail but
first formation to receive the new tanks, with participate in big battles. The A34 Comet was also how they hang on the running gear. If these
deliveries commencing in December 1944 and involved in the crossing of the Rhine river and the are anything like the tracks in Tamiya's recent
the 29th Armoured Brigade, then equipped with later Berlin Victory Parade held by the Allies in July M18 Hellcat, they will fit like a glove and provide
Shermans, was withdrawn from fighting in the 1945. (Military Illustrated Modeller Issue 132). remarkable realism without the need for additional
expenditure on aftermarket products.

26 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

The towing cables are moulded parts which
won't initially please some modellers, but when
inspected up close, they look very realistic and
outclass cables made from nylon cord in the way
they wrap around their stowage brackets. Arguably
the highlight of this kit is the crew, who are clad in
'zoot suits' (later called pixie suits) and are some
of the best detailed figures Tamiya has yet created.
They really bring the model to life and even if you
don't usually install the tank crew in your AFVs,
these are well worth adding.

Tamiya's Comet is typical of the company's
modern kits of armoured fighting vehicles;
straightforward to build with a sensible parts-count
and packed with subtle detail. We will, of course,
be building this kit up (in fact, construction has
already begun) and the full, in-depth feature will
appear in Military Illustrated Modeller's sister-title,
Tamiya Model Magazine, soon. •

AVAILABILITY;

Tamiya models, accessories, paints and materials
are widely available from good model shops and
online. UK import and distribution by The Hobby
Company Limited; www.hobbyco.net

AFV Edition 27

FULL-BUILD: WORLD WAR TWO ALLIED ARMOUR DRAGON 1:35 SHERMAN M4A2 TARAWA • KIT NO.6062

SAIPAN SU

28 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

RVIVER Javier Redondo

upgrades Dragon's
1:35 USMC M4A2
Sherman to a
Saipan machine

After conquering the Marshall
Islands, the Americans made
the leap to the Marianas in their
approach to Japan. On the island
of Saipan, the 2nd and 4th Marine
Divisions, under General Holland Smith,
clashed with the 43rd Division of the
Imperial Japanese Army. In a bloody
battle from June 15th to July 9th, the
Japanese once again displayed their
fanatical resistance and their suicidal
'Banzais' charges.

There the gelled-gasoline bombs that
would receive the name of 'napalm'
would be used for the first time by the
United States. Of a Japanese garrison of
31,000 men, 921 prisoners remained
alive at the end of the battle.

THE MODEL

The model is from Dragon – kit No.6062
Sherman M4A2 Tarawa – a good
replica of the ubiquitous North American
tank of the version used by the US
Marine Corps. The kit consists of 282
grey polystyrene parts, with another
twenty in transparent plastic, a photo-
etched metal fret, some braided cable
to simulate the towing cable and some
T54E1 vinyl tracks.

I assembled it following the
manufacturer's instructions, stopping
when the time came, to build with
Evergreen plastic section, the wading
system, the additional side plank
armour and the frontal plates. The rear-
loading twenty-five-gallon drinking water
container was constructed from a suitably
sanded and detailed plastic cylinder.

Other minor details easily visible in
the photographs complete an assembly
job without noteworthy problems. I
wanted to represent the famous Sherman
M4A2 'King Kong' of the 4th Marine
Tank Battalion in the Battle of Saipan
during June/July 1944. The photographs
that show us this Sherman allow us
to interpret how it was painted with
the factory Olive Drab No.9 and the
added additional armour painted in the
standard colour intended for the USMC,
Green No.11. Camouflage was brush-
applied with Sand No.3. •

AFV Edition 29

FULL-BUILD: WORLD WAR TWO ALLIED ARMOUR DRAGON 1:35 SHERMAN M4A2 TARAWA • KIT NO.6062

The assembled model, showing
suspension bogies and tracks left
unglued to ease the painting and
weathering processes

The wading exhausts, side-armour and other details were created by the author using The rear deck, showing the drinking-water barrel, plus some already-painted tools
simple Evergreen polystyrene sheet

I began painting the vinyl tracks using Dark
Grey colour from Agama. I like these acrylics
as they have good covering power and are
very resistant to further aggressive work

30 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

For the lower part of the tank and bogies I used Vallejo Primer US Olive Drab 70608 Then, some filters
were applied, using
Dark Yellow 76503
and Sepia 73200
letting each dry
between applications. I
like to use these filters
as they dry quite
quickly so I don't have
to wait too long to
keep the work going

The rubber parts of the
wheels and return roller
were brush-painted with
Vallejo 806 Dark Rubber

For the tracks I followed a similar pattern, in this case with Dark Some hours later I rubbed the teeth and edges of the links with a
Brown 76514 graphite bar to imitate the polished metal

With the graphite bar, I also polished the idler wheel

I applied pigments 'dry' with a brush on the lower
part of the chassis. I also used the same pigments

on the tracks when mounting them in their final
position. With this, I had the lower part ready and

could avoid unnecessary subsequent manipulation

AFV Edition 31

FULL-BUILD: WORLD WAR TWO ALLIED ARMOUR DRAGON 1:35 SHERMAN M4A2 TARAWA • KIT NO.6062

For the hull-side mud, I used Light Yellow Ochre, Later I airbrushed with Humbrol
Natural Shadow, Beach Sand and Brick Powder US Marine Corps 161
from Vallejo and Mig Productions respectively

With half of the painting process ready,
I started to work on the wood planks,
here using Vallejo 310 Old Wood

After waiting a few minutes for
the paint to take hold a little, I
started rubbing part of the paint
along the planks grain using a
brush and thinners

I masked the wooden 'armour and painted the rest of the
hull and turret with olive drab. For this I used a mixture
of Tamiya Acrylics XF-11 JN Green, XF-61 Dark Green
and XF-62 Olive Drab. Then I used Dark Yellow and Black
to create some highlights and shadows airbrushing them
diluted at the required zones

32 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

I used both Vallejo colours
988 Khaki Brown and 976
Khaki Yellow mixed to paint
the sand stripes camouflage

using a fine brush

The front plates were made of other vehicles
parts,and to give the tank a bit of variety I
decide to alter the tone of some of them. I used
Andrea Colours 54 Union Blue and Vallejo 922
Neutral Grey and 941 Burnt Umber

With the sponge technique I applied orange oxide 71.130 from Model Air Followed by Light Rust 505 from Vallejo with the same technique

AFV Edition 33

FULL-BUILD: WORLD WAR TWO ALLIED ARMOUR DRAGON 1:35 SHERMAN M4A2 TARAWA • KIT NO.6062

With an airbrush I applied a layer of Medium Chipping fluid Once this is done, I used Olive Green 968 reduced with a little Yellow 915 With warm water and a brush I removed paint, working on the
edges of each plate

To give a bit of diversity I simulated an unpainted steel plate, again using the sponge technique I simulated traces of rust with Orange Oxide 71.130 from Model Air

I fixed the decals of the
Star Decals Set dedicated to
USMC vehicles in Saipan using
Vallejo's specific products

34 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

I painted with diluted Tamiya XF-57 Buff the zones that tend to accumulate dust I mixed plaster, Calcined Shadow pigment
and Humbrol 72 Khaki Enamel

I added water and stirred until the different components were well mixed

We impregnate a hard-haired brush with this mixture and with the help of a toothpick we sprinkle the areas For the effects of spilled fuel I used diluted oil
that we consider convenient

I reproduced the humidity with diluted glossy varnish and applied in successive layers With Calcined Shadow and Yellow Ochre pigments applied dry, I simulated accumulations of earth

AFV Edition 35

FULL-BUILD: WORLD WAR TWO ALLIED ARMOUR DRAGON 1:35 SHERMAN M4A2 TARAWA • KIT NO.6062

MODELSPEC

DRAGON 1:35 SHERMAN
M4A2 TARAWA KIT NO.6062
Materials:
Injection-moulded polystyrene,
waterslide decals
Paints used:
Listed within photo captions
Availability:
Dragon models and accessories
are widely available from
good model shops and online.
UK import and distribution by
The Hobby Company Limited;
www.hobbyco.net

36 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

AFV Edition 37

WORLD WAR TWO REFERENCES
38 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

ONE CAREFUL OWNER

This is a well-known image from the Battle of Normandy, but it’s worth seeing again in large format. On
board a requisitioned German Horch 40 Kfz.15, we observe Canadian soldiers of B Company of The
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada-Princess Louise’s, 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Cdn Armoured
Division. On the left and at the back of the vehicle are prisoners brought back to Trun, certainly the former
‘owners’ of the vehicle, which belonged to the 85 ID. Behind the Horch, on foot, we can see an FFI militiaman
armed with a rifle and wearing the Adrian helmet. The photo was taken on August 19th, 1944 at the entrance
to a Regimental Aid Post established at the Trun hospice. On the left a Canadian medic tends to a wounded
German prisoner. A great scene to depict in miniature model form. •
Photo: Canadian archives/public domain

AFV Edition 39

MODELLING REFERENCES WORLD WAR TWO AXIS ARMOUR

PANZERKAMPFWAGEN II

40 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

AUSF.F Model references of the well-preserved Panzer II ausf.F
on display at the Tank Museum, Bovington, UK
The Tank Museum’s Panzer II
is an Ausf F model, built in
May 1942. It was shipped
to Tunisia in December and
used by the Reconnaissance
Platoon of Panzer Regiment 7
and was captured by the British
when the Afrikakorps surrendered
in May 1943. It is painted in the
early camouflage of panzer grey
and brown to represent an earlier
model, as used during the German
invasion of France in May 1940;
more accurately it should be in
desert yellow. It is, however, is an
excellent state of preservation and
makes a fantastic reference-piece
for scale modellers. •
www.tankmuseum.org

AFV Edition 41

MODELLING REFERENCES WORLD WAR TWO AXIS ARMOUR

Close-up of bow plate showing weld patterns Transmission access door revealing its welded hinges

Two of the vehicle’s three two cable brackets revealing their prominent welding seams Close-up view of a frontal towing hook, revealing its distinctive shape

Left-side/rear of the turret showing its welded armour-plate construction

42 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

The prism-shaped structures seen here on the upper deck surface are ‘splash-guards’, designed to deflect incoming anti-tank rounds upwards and away from the based on the turret

AFV Edition 43

MODELLING REFERENCES WORLD WAR TWO AXIS ARMOUR

Detail view of the stowage box mounted on the right-side track guard. Note the shape of its extended brackets where the guard slopes downwards to the rear. The front of the stowage box sits flush on the top of the track guard

44 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

Right-side of the engine deck, showing the cone-shaped bolts in the access hatch's hinges and lifting hook in
the foreground

Close-up of an upper hull lifting lug with characteristic holes Suspension leaf spring in detail

The tops of the track guards carry a diamond-shaped non-slip pattern. Note also the cable conduit to the headlight, itself missing

AFV Edition 45

MODELLING REFERENCES WORLD WAR TWO AXIS ARMOUR

Detail view of a tool bracket, still with its butterfly nut in place; don't worry if your photo-etched parts Aerial base and track guard close-ups on left-side
aren't quite straight!

Looking backwards along the left-side of the tank, showing open driver's observation hatch and front of the aerial trough

46 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

Side view of the shovel bracket Left-side aerial trough which was of wooden construction, as evident here

Large stowage box on the tank’s right-side; note the loop-shaped catches

AFV Edition 47

MODELLING REFERENCES WORLD WAR TWO AXIS ARMOUR

This device is the main aerial base – complete with leaf springs – which was mounted on a stout rod and could fold Front-left mud-guard; note the two areas where the diamond pattern is missing to allow the two hooks
down towards the rear into the wooden trough. The front end of the trough can be seen in the left of the photo to be fitted

Right-side idler and final road wheel, with the track exhibiting noticeable sag. Note the manufacturing data in Behind the right-side drive-sprocket we can see the final-drive hub, plus welding seams on the bow plate
the wheel disc

48 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022

An awkward shot, looking up into the smoke discharger rack, or 'Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung' to give it its full name. The rack sits behind an armoured cowling, seen here sporting a balkenkreuz marking

The perforated exhaust box shroud is an item almost perfect for miniature replication in photo-etched brass!

AFV Edition 49

ORDNANCE DEPOT

SSR MODELS, FINLAND

This is a range of 3D printed weapons, figures and equipment, available in 1:35 and 1:72 scales. The level of detail is simply astonishing and the accuracy
is simply incredible. The range includes modern and WW2 subjects, with many Scandinavian items that are impossible to get elsewhere. For example, the
Lahti 20mm anti-tank rifle, used by the Finns in the Continuation War and the Suomi SMG used by the Finnish forces throughout WW2, are now available to
modellers. We also have a set of work gloves, and RK-62 rifles, all if these items showing a level of finesse that is simply beyond belief. The producer, Sven-Åke
Grufsetdt, does not have a physical shop and sells exclusively through the Facebook page SSR Models. CLS

HEAVY HOBBY, CHINA

Recently arrived from Heavy Hobby are set
of 3D-print tracks for Tamiya's Cromwell and
Centaur tanks and if you have good eye-sight,
fine tweezers and a steady hand, you'll be able
to bring an extra special touch to the kits by
using them.
With the imminent arrival of Tamiya's new
1:35 Comet tank, HH’s pack of ‘Type A’ aerial
bases is perfectly timed. This device is extremely
difficult to depict in injection-moulded plastic
thanks to its design, so 3D-print has proved to
be the ideal medium. They are even made from
a slightly flexible resin so they won't just shatter
when you trim them from their printing supports.
Also for British WW2 armour is a set of aerial
bases ‘Type B’ and again, there is some
extremely fine detail on show here. Assemble
with CA (superglue) and finish with normal
model paints. MIM
1:35 3D-printed accessories
• WWII British Aerial Bases A (HH-35029)
• WWII British Aerial Bases B (HH-35030)
• WWII Britain Cromwell tank tracks (PT-35024)

50 Military Illustrated Modeller - November 2022