1/144 Fi-103 (V-1) by Foxone

The Original Article
Pack Shot
Final Design

Early Protoypes and Design Stage:

Foxone has is bringing another kit to Wonderfest and then beyond!

Based upon a V-1 project Foxone started a number of years ago and which never reached maturity until recently.

The experiences of the Bf-108 and Ar-96 projects gave the skills and technolgy with which to remaster this item and now the evidence is here to see.

It is a detailed kit, and maybe some detailing is overly done? It does however make for a visually apealing and engaging kit.

Like the recent Miniwing Fi-103 V-1 kit there is one item in the box and you decide the display options. (see also KG144 #1, #2)

Decals appear to be provided and are reflective of the markings I saw on the V-1 at RAF Cosford.(check before travelling)

It will be available in limited numbers after WonderFest 2010
It is listed as costing : 1,500 Yen

2010 International Toy Fair Nuremberg (Nurnberg)

Some early news coming from the biggest toy and hobby fair in Europe!

IPMS.de Kit List >> Here << - Mixed Scales
IPMS.de Volker Hines Photo >> Here << - Mixed Scales
IPMS.de Andreas Eckendorf Photo >> Here << - Mixed Scales
Prime Portal Photo >> Here << - Mixed Scales
Cyber modeller 2010-2011 Kit List >> Here << & >> Here << Mixed Scales (subject to change)

CGD diorama commission for DivisionPanzer144

CGD diorama commission for DivisionPanzer144

I thought you would like to see this build project, both for the ideas around it and the method and techniques possible in its construction.

A lot of thought has gone into this build to ensure the maximum flexibility in its usage and display capabilities. Additionally though has been given to maximising the variety of features without it looking too over cooked.

The design brief was to take the style of a previous build and expand this to a 77 x 32 cm base plate. Then there was a need to be able to show various model types in a range of scenarios.

Therefore we have naturally inspired mountains, tunnels, rivers and plateaus these are then overlayed with Bunkers, Platforms, Ramps, Roads, Bridges and Railways.... and, did I mention secret V-Weapons launch facility?

This will enable the display of WTM and Can.do armour etc, including the Dragon PanzerKorps railway items and Leopold(K5) guns, right upto the secret V-Weapons from Takara WOTL! and of course the CGD launch tower!!

Initially a few CAD drawings were created as the design was developed and discussed (this can be seen in the initial image set) this shows how the original picture evolved as extra features were added and refined.

Once it was felt that the design was suitable mature a physical mock up was produces and a photo taken, then this was "painted" to make it look more representative of the future model! Once agreed a full and proper ground plane was designed and the the build started for real!

There will be more updates to this build as time goes forward and I look forward to seeing it develop!

If it had been me, I might have been tempted to add an extra section at the front to cover the "edge" of an airfield or airbase, so I could sneak a few more planes in if needed - However, upon reflection that may have been too much and reduced the overall effect!?

Maybe it would just be as well to construct a separate diorama for that!? V-weapons and Airbase (perhaps with underground sections......!?)

PanzerDivision144 Build History >> Here <<
CGD Diorama Build History >> Here <<

images used with permission of DivisionPanzer144

1/144 AEC Matador Lorry (Truck) - Panzerdepot

Panzer Depot have released a new item for Feburary, the British AEC Matador Lorry (not truck, these are British remember!) One of the stalwarts of British softskins http://www.aecmilitant.co.uk/

They were used by the British pretty much through out the war and in most theatres of operation, certainly used by the British Army and Royal Airforce and would be surprised if they were not used by the Royal Navye as well?

These should be a welcom addtion to war gamers order of battles and for dioramas alike.

Avalable : Now (via Panzerdepot eShop)
Price $13.80

"AEC matador tows 3.7 inch gun, Caen, 7 August 1944."
Interestingly is it my eyes, or is the AEC Matador in the picture towing a German 88mm !!!?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AEC_Matador

As for the "white star", I believe that post D-Day it was not unusual for British vehicles to be marked with a white star, or white star within a white circle to aid identification of Allied invasion forces to stop "friendly fire" or "Blue on Blue" incidents!

1/144 H667 "Bauform" Bunker - from CGD

This bunker from CGD is based upon the German Type H667 "Bauform" casemate.

The bunker is situated at the mouth of Exit E-1, on Omaha Beach (D-Day).

The location is actually the valley of a small river, the Ruquet,which flows from the villages of Colleville-sur-Mer and St. Laurent-sur-Mer above down to the sea.

Source: http://skylighters.blogspot.com/2009/02/h667-casemate-with-its-50mm-l42-gun.html

More Normandy Information http://www.strijdbewijs.nl/hinder/bunkereng.htm

MS Powerpoint Slide Show >> Here << 6-7 MB!!

CGD has produced a very nice bunker based upon a historic German design, but in modular form to allow for maximum flexibility. It will work with WTM PAK40 guns and has a 'widget' stand to allow for the WTM 88 (minus shield and cruciform mounts) to be used. The main bunker section can be 'flipped'. As seen in the photos the defence arm and rear entrances can be swapped or removed as required depending on your needs.

See the following for more info Combat-Group-Dynamix

1/144 F-Toys Starwars 3 - Pics

Source: http://syokugan-ohkoku.com

1/144 GR-75 Rebel Transport (Starwars) - Anigrand

Starwars GR-75 Transport, as first seen in he Battle for Hoth
http://www.anigrand.com/catalog_sci-fi-1.htm

more
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/GR-75_medium_transport

1/144 Ftoys JASDF F-2A Wondefest 2010 Specials (update)

F-Toys have also announced on the F-Toys blog a special set of JASDF F-2A Jets also to be released at Wonderfest 2010! They are also featured on the Platz Blog and Hobby Shop, it maybe that the unlikely event that there are any surplus they will be released for sale at the Hobby Shop or Platz webstore!?

Available Wonderfest 2010 (7th Feburary)
Price : 1800 Yen

1/144 IJA/IJN "What IF" (Re-Issue) Algernon Products

It would also appear that Algernon are pulling out all the stops, not only should there be a preview or actual sales of the New Dive Bomber Series - There appear to be a re-issue (and repaint) of the old Cafe Reo "What If" Series!

Algernon (New Issue) Repaint - Bonus Free PC Wallpapers!

Cafe Reo (Original)
KG144 (Original Post)

More news at Wonderfest 2010 (7th Feburary)

1/144 A-4 Skyhawk - Area 88 Anime Special - Platz

Platz will be selling a Area 88 Limted Edition of the A-4 "Skyhawk" at Wondefest.
Its not clear if any unsold will become availale from Platz direct or other sources?


For some English information and Free Wallpaer

If you have any of the Cafe Reo Area88 collections, you might want to keep an eye on ebay?

Available: Wonderfest 2010 (7th Feburary 2010)
Price: 1000 Yen

There is also talk of a special edition Area 88 Saab J-35 a WF2010......???? (here)

EuroFighters & Tigers - Kazama Blog (Update)

"Tora, Tora, Tora...!!!!"

Kazama Blog from Taiwan presents a range of Modellig items
(I think he is a Big Area 88 Fanatic!)

Some interesting painting conversions for "What if" and "Tiger Meet" on various fighter types!
Also, a range of other 1/144 items.

Photo Gallery #1: http://album.udn.com/kazama1974/212843

Photo Gallery #2: http://album.udn.com/kazama1974/178303

Photo Gallery #3: http://album.udn.com/kazama1974

Kazama Blog: http://blog.udn.com/kazama1974
http://blog.udn.com/kazama1974/article?f_ART_CATE=295407

Ps: Nice Hangar buildings see links (Tom-Tom #1) (KG144 #2)

1/144 Cessna T-37 / A-37B Trainer/Attack - By Senworks

Cessna T-37 / A-37B Trainer/Attack - By Senworks

senworks.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/the-trainer-series-continues

So, you thought that Cessna just make dull little weekend hobby aircraft?
Well here is a project that should shake up that view and cause you to look again!

It would appear that Cessna made a interesting jet trainer the Cessna T-37 "Tweet" that could also be used as a (cheap) ground attack aircraft (favoured by third world Dictators and Junta around the world, allegedly).

The project is in its early days but this is the Atelier that bought us the really nice Junkers W.34 Hau at the end of 2009.

It will come with mulitple decal options

I also assume for the Cessna A-37B "Dragonfly" or"Super Tweet" additional munitions and wingtip fuel tanks? (tbc).

The other great news is that according to wiki these was used by a whole host of countries around the world, so there should be some great scope for further paint and decal schemes
Available: to be confirmed
Price: ?

1/144 Curtiss-Wright C-46 "Commando" by Miniwing

This has to be the largest kit produced by Miniwing todate, it pretty much fills the box and has a certain 'heft' that other smaller kits do not have!

Whilst the C-47 "Skytrian" aka "Dakota" gets all press, there were other transport aircraft out there and this C-46 "Commando" is one of the significant others.

In the sameway that the C-47 was derived from the passenger DC-3 the C-47 was also derived from an airliner project (it may also have been a competitor produced to the Boeing B-307?)

Anyway, back to the kit...

The kit is as usual has high production values and is a nicely produce kit, cleanly cast and nicely detailed.

The casting captures the shape well and has the signature crease along the length of the fueslage, the fuselage is in three parts, two halves and the tail section. Everything looks straight and some minor trimming on the tail plug maybe requied, but this is a strong kit with thick walls on the fuselage so there should be no problems. It might be worth considering some careful drilling and inserting of pins to help the stabilisation and join of the wings to the fuselage, again this is obviosuly a matter of taste?

There is a large amount of detail in this kit with regard to panel lines and the like.
It is possible to build this in a "Wheels up" or "Wheels down" setting, the undercarriage should be strong enought to carry the weight of this beast, but you will certianly want to keep it out hte way of any little people!

The decals are basic but produced to the usaul YKRAFT standard and providedes variation for two USA schemes.

Whilst the C-46 did not serve with many airforces it did go one to provide service to many airlines, so there could be some scope for the adoption of other schemes and colours?

Available: January 2010
Price: 35.10 EURO
Contact: http://www.miniwing.cz/

Also available unedited Large pics in Super HD (3027 x 2304)
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1/144 WACO CG-4A "Hadrian" by Miniwing

Well, as is often the case.... you wait for ages and then two buses come along at the same time!

It appears to be the same here too, following me showing the Waco by GRA last week - there is a new version arrived and unlike last weeks wargaming piece this is indeed a true model kit!

Miniwing (Fe-Resin) have in the past produced a number of Larger Luftwaffe gliders, but they have not tackled the range of glider topics available for the Allied forces.

Let us hope that this first foray will the first of many to come?

This WACO CG-4A is a nice little kit the main body is fairly simple, although the detial options do lead to anumber of smaller pieces, those that are here are nicely detailed and cleanly moulded. There are number of fine pieces with have a degree of controlled flash, in so much it is actually intentional to help preserve the fine cast pieces during production and shipping.

There are x4 Decal Options 2x US WWII, a RAF 1946 and a Czech Airforce 1950! (now there is something i did not know!) - I think you could also squeeze a RAF WWII by following the D-Day scheme shown for the US version and adding RAF decals (from your stash) or researching an appropriate RAF or RCAF scheme.?

This kit can be produce "with wheels" or "Without Wheels" so, a diorama could be build featuring a "tug" or "towing" plane on a airfield (2x CG-4A were towed by a C-46, or 1x (?) by C-47/DC-3), or perhaps just the glider itself after landing.

The kit is hollow, so with care it would be feasible to drill or cut out the doors (at your own risk!).

There is also a very interesting cockpit section including folding(jump) seats and yokes, but rather than a typical reassuring aircraft cockpit "tub" these guys where hooked up to some scaffolding!? this has been finely produced by Miniwing

I dont know what the survival rate of glider pilots where, but judging by the number of them with smashed up noses afterlanding it cant be a sought after job! The cockpit seems to provide as much protection and comfort as shopping cart dropped from the sky

If your a modeling Ninja then you would certianly impress if you made this with the "nose up" configuration!

There is a nice 3 plan view > Here <
Available: January 2010
Price: 23.40 EURO
Contact: http://www.miniwing.cz/

Also available unedited Large pics in Super HD (3027 x 2304)
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I will be looking to do this where feasible in future to allow you to see more detail over more pictures than is sensible for a blog post!

1-144 Bell Sea Cobra AH-1 J - By Miniwing

As previewed last month, the 1-144 Bell Sea Cobra AH-1 J from Miniwing is now available.

I an now safely confirm that the kit us cleanly moulded with crisp clean lines, there will of course be some work required to remove certian parts from the sprues but this is normal.

I have tried to capture the detialing on the fuselage and the rotor hub in particular to show the detail available. The landing skids may look like a oversized Zimmer frame in the picture but this is largey down to the sprues and changes to ensure a good consistant flow of resin, as a result with no obvious bubbles or defects. This is equally true on some of the smaller detailing such as the exhausts.

There are some detials for the interior although these are across a number of spures, so pay attention to the parts and the instructions. The interior may also draw you to be creative and add some additonal detailing yourself?

As I may have said previously, this is a nicely produced kit that looks like a straight forward build, and best of all the rotor blades are in one peice which should allow for a stress free assembly! It does run the risk of getting me more curious on the helicoptor modelling front!

Decals produced by YKraft of Japan, provide two versions
- US Marines
- Iranian Airforce

Available: January 2010
Price: 16.20 Euro
Contact: http://www.miniwing.cz/

(coming soon - AH-15 S inc USA & JGSDF decals)

Also available unedited Large pics in Super HD (3027 x 2304)
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I will be looking to do this where feasible in future to allow you to see more detail over more pictures than is sensible for a blog post!

alternative review at Internet Modeller