The monthly newsletterof IPMS, New Zealand.Auckland Branch

APRIL

2012

EDITOR Craig Sargent (09)418 3934craig.sargent@xtra.co.nz

ADDRESS• Postal-C/-Kevin Benson 87PointEnglandRoad,PointEngland, auckland1072

• EMaIl-ipmsauckland@gmail.com • WEB-ipmsauckland.hobbyvista.com

• YaHoo- groups.yahoo.com/group/ipmsauckland

• Members John Watkins Brett Sharman Henry Ludlam Peter Foxley Mike Rather

CoMMIttEE

• Chairman

Peter Harrison

• treasurer

Kevin Benson

IntHIsIssuE

•BulletinBoard 2•HobbyCollective1/72 4 Review UH-60J JASDF 40th Anniversary DecalsbyMarkDavies•Valom1/72SaundersRoe 6 A.29CloudbyMarkDavies•Onthetable 10•Signoff 13

nExtMEEtIngQuIZnIgHt

tuesday17thapril-7.30pmleysInstitute(upstairs)20saintMarysRoad,Ponsonby

WEBMastER RobWillisjaxbw@orcon.net.nz

BullEtInBoaRD

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notICEsRobWillishasdonearevampoftheclubIPMsaucklandwebsite@http://ipmsauckland.hobbyvista.com.Robhasagreedtobethewebmaster.

PeterHarrisonhasputhisnameforwardasclubchairman.Wewillholdaspecialvoteattheaprilclubnighttoratifyclubmembers’decision

iPhone/iPadappsformodellersCoupleofappsfromtheapplestorewhichmaybeofinteresttomodellers

Plappavirtualmodelbuildingappwhereyoucanassembleavarietyofvirtualmodelsandthenpaint,weatheranddecal.ModelsincludeeggplaneF-14,Camelandanon-eggusJeep.thereisalsoatigertopurchaseandmoremodelstofollow.

iModelKitaveryusefulappgivingpaintmatches,colourchipsandcrossbrandmatchingformostmainstreampaintbrands,aswellascolourchartssuchasFs595b,Ral,ana,RlMandBsstandardsamongothers.Particularlyusefulatthemodelshopwhentryingtobuytherightpaintforthelatestmodel,orifonebrandofpaintisoutofstockofacertaincolour.

alsoincludesascaleconverter/calculator,paintmixerandnotepad.

BothareavailableforfreeforiPhone/iPadattheappleappstore

accesstoclubroomsonmeetingnightsaahaverequestedmembersnottousetheaameetingroomandkitchenasaccesstotheIPMsmeetingareaattheleysInstitute.Ifyouarriveandtheclubroomsarenotopen,pleasewaitforoneofthecommitteewithanaccesskeytoopenup.

IPMsnationals2012nationalsarebeingheld22-23septemberinalexandraandwillcoincidewiththeannualblossomfestival.Formoreinformation,gotohttp://www.rexedra.gen.nz/coms/IPMs_2012.html

subsannualsubsarenowdueandcanbedepositedviainternetbankingoratyourbankintotheclubaccountbelow.Makesuretoincludeyourfullnameinthetransactiondetailssoweknowwhohaspaidtheirfees.

IPMsBanKaCCountnuMBER

030162001296000

Pleaseaddyourdetailssoweknowwhohaspaid.

33

May: Model Photography

June: Modelling Sea Bases

July: Buy, Sell, Swap,

august:“AirfixforAugust”:FollowonfromFebFrog.BringalonganyAirfixkitbuiltand/orfinishedin2012formembers’vote

september:Demonstration:Making scale nav lights and vents

october: Build The Same... Night:RNZAF75thAnniversary.AlsoincludesNZPAF,allRNZAFsquadrons

andNZdesignatedSquadronswithinthe RAF.

november:Demonstration:Aerial wires and rigging.

December:Sci-Figroupbuildcompetition,and“2012build”ClosedClubcompetition.ThemebuildforDecember2012announcedatJanuaryclubnight:Sci-Fi.Sci-fiwasclarifiedas anything relating to Science Fiction,eg;TVseriesormovies,oryourownimagination,butdoesn’tincludeLuftwaffe46,whatif’s(regularplanesin‘other’markings!).SoStarTrek,StarWars,Babylon5,Firefly, virtually any Gerry Anderson series, Dr Who, Lost in Space, BattlestarGalacticaetc,allqualify..

as does Gundam and other weird Japanese Sci-fi and mecha…or some assemblyofbitsfromyoursparesbox…yougettheidea.

Asasummaryoftheabove-ifyouare interested in participating in any ofthebuildactivitiesfortheyear,youshouldnowhavestarted,orbethinkingabout,whatyouplantobuildforthefollowingsubjects:

August - any Airfix kitOctober-RNZAF75thAnniversaryDecember-SciFi

Notethatanyentriesforthesebuildsmusthavebeenstarted,orfinishedin2012.

EVENTS

4

Hobby Collective 1/72 UH-60J JASDF 40th Anniversary Decalsby Mark Davies

4

REVIEW

Firstlook The Japanese apply some spectacular specialschemestosomeoftheiraircraft,andthedecalsetreviewedhere is a very good case in point. Thehelicopter’sbackgroundcolourscombinedwithspectacular

serpentine dragons along the fuselagesidesmakeforamostnoticeableandinterestingUH-60J. HobbyCollectivesupplythedecalssealed in cellophane with a roughly A-5sizedsheetofglossypaperthatis the painting and markings guide. The coloured page covers painting

and those decals linked to the overall scheme. Paint call-outs appear linked totheGunzeSangyorange,butmoreusefully,theygiveFS-595codesaswell. The monochrome reverse side guidesplacementoftheextensivestencilling included with the sheet. Thereissomeinformationthatwillbelosttomanyusersbecause

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the instructions have predominantly Japanese text.Theinstructionsareadequate,butwouldbenefitfrombeingabouttwicethesize,sayA-4.Cartografprintsthedecals,andasexpected,theylooktobesuperb. Ithoughtthatthesheetpossiblycoveredtwoaircraftbecauseitincludestwopairsofdragonsandtwofullsetsofanti-glareandexhauststainpanels,andwhatIassumetobeslip-resistantsurfacesformaintenancecrew.However,oncheckingtheserialnumbersoverlaidonthedragons’tailsIrealisedthesheetcatersforjustoneairframe.Iassumedthatextradragonsandblackpanelsmustbespares.However,whilstdoingasearchforimagesofthesubjecthelicopterIGoogledScottVanAitken’sreviewofthe same decal set over at Modelling Madness andfoundabetterexplanation.Scott’sJapaneseisobviouslyalotbetterthanmineisbecausehe realised that the two sets were intended tocaterforsubtleshapedifferencesbetweenthe Hasegawa and Fujimi UH-60 kits. Logically enoughthosemarkedwithanFareforFujimiandHforHasegawa.Thisisaverythoroughapproachand I applaud it. However it also emphasises how usefultheinclusionofanEnglish(oralmostanyEuropeanlanguage)translationwouldbe.

Conclusion Thisisasuperblyproducedsetofsomeverystriking anniversary markings. Larger instructions withsomeEnglishtranslationwouldimprovethingshowever,asevidencedbymyfailuretorealisemarkingsfortwodifferentkitswereincluded.IconfesstobeingtemptedtobuyaBlackhawk* kit just to model this scheme despite itbeingonehelicoptersubjectIwouldnormallyignore! Definitely recommended. * The UH-60J is called the Rescue Hawk, Hasegawa are releasing a UH-60J with various resinandPEextrasrequiredbythisversion. ThankstoHobbyCollectiveforthissample.

6

Valom 1/72 Saunders Roe A.29 Cloud by Mark Davies

6

REVIEW

Background The Saro Cloud first flew in July 1930. CivilcustomersaccountedforfourairframeswhilsttheRAForderedonein1931and16morebetween1932and 1934. The civil machines, known as A.19 Clouds,hadanumberofenginevariations, and one had some significantairframemodificationswhilstinservice.Ishalldescribethisandanotherofthemoreinterestingvariationsinmyopinion: · G-ABHG initially had three Armstrong-SiddelyLynxIVcenginesinplaceofthetwinWrightWhirlwindJ6 configuration used previously. However, reversion to the twin layoutoccurred,butusingPratt&WhitneyWaspenginesbeforeits delivery. Perhaps the strangest alterationtothisairframewasthefittingofalargesupplementarywingabovetheenginesonstrutstoprovideextraliftandaltertheairflow over the tail. This wing was much smaller in chord and span than the main wing, and approximated to thesizeofasportingbiplane’supperwing. Alterations to the tail resulted in twin fins and rudders replacing the Cloud’susualsinglearrangement.

NamedFlyingAmo,BOACeventuallyacquiredituntilitsretirementinmid-1941. · The Czechoslovak shoe company,Bata,obtainedanothercivilCloudfollowingaEuropeansalestour(IcanrecallfrequentTVadvertsin1970’sNZforBataBulletsneakers!).ThiswastheCloudofIona,whichbecameOK-BAKafterre-poweringwithWalterPolluxradials.Itbecamea motor launch named Delfin lost its wingwhilstinstorageduringWW2.Itservedinthisboatingcapacityuntilatleastthemid-sixtiesandpossibly1975.TheKbelyAircraftMuseuminPraguenowholdOK-BAK’sfuselage. The first RAF Cloud flew in July 1931 followinganAirMinistryorderfora single machine that was the third Cloudbuilt.Itsspecificationwasinitially very similar to the civilian one,otherthananincreasedfuelcapacity,theabilitytofittwo500-lbbombracksandgunringsforeandaft.Trialswiththismachineledto several modifications including enlarged elevators, revised horn balances,Townendrings,stifferengine mounts, strengthened empennage,andreinforcementofthehullbottomandfloats.TheAirMinistryplacedanorderin1932for

sixteen machines using this revised military specification, and designated A.29Clouds.TheRAFusedthemachinesforpilotandnavigatortraining. Service introduction was 1933 and retirement occurred in 1939. TheCloudhandledwellbothinthe air and on the water despite a rather ungainly appearance. It wasanimportanttypeforSaroregardlessofitssmallproductionnumberandcomparativelyshortRAFservice.Ithelpedestablishbothafinancialplatformandreputationasaspecialistflying-boatmanufacturer.

thekit IamunawareofanypreviousSaroCloudsin1/72scale,althoughsurelyatleastonemusthavebeenkittedasavac-forminthepast?Manywillthereforewelcomethekitreviewedhereanditssisterboxingofcivilversions, whether they are flying boat,goldenageorRAFinter-warfans.

ThekitcomesinanatypicalboxforaCzechcompany,asValomconsistently uses the widely preferredtop-openingvariety.The contents are contained in a resealablecellophanebag,withthe

decals,PEfret,transparenciesandvariousresinpartsfurthercontainedintheirownsmallbags.TheinstructionsaretypicalforValom,featuringacolouredpaintingandmarkingsguide,anaircrafthistoryinCzechandEnglish,alongwithapartsmapanddiagrammaticassemblystages.AnotherandcommendableValomfeatureisthatcolourcall-outsarecross-referencedtoFS-595bandnolessfourmodelpaintranges(Humbrol,Agama,ModelMaster&Gunze Sangyo). IfoundthepartstobetypicalforCzech limited-run kits. As with other ValomkitsIhavereviewed,IwouldsaythatqualityfallssomewherebetweenSpecialHobbyandPavlaforthosefamiliarwiththesebrands.Someflashispresentbuteasilydealt with, and detail is generally well defined. Interestingly, the twospruesofseats,whichcomeintheirownbag,appearmadefromadifferentplasticandmouldedto a slightly higher standard.

Their tooling and sprue-gate styleisdifferenttoValom’susualappearance. Also unusual is that the main hull and fuselagehalvesareresinwhilsttheupper decking is styrene. I thought thatthiscouldhavebeentorenderasuperior corrugated finish than would bethecasewithValom’sinjectionmouldingtechnique,butIdecidedtomakesomeinquiriesandfindoutforsure. ItseemsthatCMRhadbegunaSaroCloudprojectalittleaheadofValom.When the two company owners (whoarefriends)becameawareoftheother’splanstheyagreedthatValomwouldaloneproceedasanall-resinkitwouldnotbeprice-competitive with an injected one. CMR pointed out that injection mouldingwouldnotcaterforthesquaresectionfuselagecorrugationsbecausetheywouldneedslightlytaperededgestoreleaseformtheinjection mould. Having persuaded

Valomthatonlyresincastingcouldrenderthefuselageaccurately,CMRpassedtheirfuselagepatterntothemalongwithalloftheresearchinformationtheyhadgarnered.Theyalsopassedacrosstheirpatternsforthe seats and control columns, which explainsmyearlierobservationregardingtheirdifferenceinstyletotheotherValomparts. CMR Moulding & Casting produces thefuselagehalvesandtheother resin parts, which all look good. (CMR recently split into two separatecompanies,CMRbyMark1 researches, designs, masters and distributesresinkits,whilstCMRMoulding & Casting cast resin parts forCMRbyMark1aswellasseveralother kit and accessory companies). Surfacedetailonthecorrugatedfuselageandhulllooksrealistic,asdoestherepresentationofthefabricovertubularsteelframeempennage.I am less convinced regarding the wingsurfaceshowever.

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Valom’sCloudwinghasquitelightgroovesscribedalongpresumablyribandsparlines.Iftheoriginalhadametalwingtheselineswouldbeacceptableinkitformasengravedpanel lines. However, it was not a metal wing. Saro used an Avro-designedwingbasedonFokkerpractice (Avro having license-builttheFokkerF.VIIastheAvro618“Ten”).Thewingformedawatertightunitcapableofsupporting

afloodedfuselageandhull.Thistypeofwingwasessentiallyathickwooden structure with a smooth plywood skin. I have studied numerousimagesofCloudsincludingsomeshowingthewingsurfacevery clearly, and it is extremely smooth in appearance. I did find one image with very fine lines where the kit depicts them. I think the lines correspond with where the plywood skinfixestothewing’sinternalstructure,ortheycouldbetapelines

standingoutduetoalightingeffectifdopedfabriccoveredtheplywing(assomeply-coveredairframesusedthis finishing method). Regardless,IamcertainthatValom’sinscribedlinesgiveanunavoidablyexaggerated appearance, and that theywouldbetterbeextremelyfineraiseddetail,ifindeedthelinesoughttobepresentatall.Theengravedlineswillconsequentlymakeforan annoying and time-consuming

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amountoffillingandsandinginorder to impart an authentic scale appearance. Despite this criticism, I can see many choosing to accept thelinesastheyarebecausetheyareveryfine,andmightbepreferredtotheplainappearanceofanoverall smooth wing. Whilst on the subjectofengravedlines,itisworthmentioning that some aileron hinge-lineswillbefitfromaquickre-scribetobetterdefinethem.

Assemblywillholdfewsurprises,butitisfairtoexpectsomefitchallenges, as this is a limited runkitafterall.Theflightdeckhasadequatedetailforthescale,usingPEandacetatefoilsfortheinstrument panels, along with PEseatbeltsandtrim-wheels.Seats, rudder-pedals and control wheelsaremadeofstyrene.Theinstructionscoverthisassemblyprocessneartheirfront,whilstthedrawingthatguidesthePEthrottle

placement is on the last pages followingcompletionofthekit’sassembly!Behindtheflightdeckintheadjacentcabinisthenavigator’sseatandtable,followedinthenextcompartmentbyachemicaltoilet.Ithinkthatverylittleofthiscabindetailwillbeseenwhenthemodeliscompleted. Thefuselage/hullhalveslookasthoughtheyshouldbeagoodfit,butsometimes resin parts need some

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gentle adjustment under warm water to align correctly. A small door and windowalsoneedcuttingoutfromthefuselage.Icouldseeonlyonepinhole and this was on the resin keel. The engines are a standout and ratherungainlyfeatureoftherealCloud.Valomhasmadeanicejobofthenacelles,butthecowlings,whichwillneedabitofcleaningupastheyhavealargecross-bracedsprueacrosstheirinsidesandalotofflash.Theresinenginesaregoodbutlackpushrods, and the instructions make nomentionoftheneedtoscratch-buildthese.Theenginesupportstrutsneedtobelocatedwithcareastheinstructionaldiagramsareoflittle use here, although the painting and markings guide does provide a moreusefulindicationofwherethestruts should fix to the wing. There arenolocatingholesfortheenginestruts,whilstthereareforthefloatstruts–Gofigure!Resinoilcoolerstopoffeachengine,leavingjusttheresinpropellersthatlookabitslab-like,butthentheoriginalswerenotall that refined or elegant either. Fortunately, the instructions do a betterjobofillustratingthewing-float strut arrangement than they didfortheenginestruts.Theundercarriage is very simple, having cablesassociatedwithitselevationrather than retraction mechanism, asitremainedfullyexposedtotheairstreamafterall.Morechallengingisthewheelhubsbecausetheyhavespokedouterfacesandinnermetal ones with holes around the circumference.Valomprovidesstyrenetyres,resininnerhubsandPEouterhubs.TworesinformssuppliedwiththekitshapethePEdiskssimulatingthespokehubs.ThesehavemaleandfemalehalvesthatwilllocatethePEdisksandthendishthemastheformscome

together.EachPErimhasthreecutsinitscircumferencetopreventbucklingastheformscompressit Not many parts remain. There is an acceptablyclearcanopyandvariousclear panels to glaze the windows. The empennage looks good and featuresseparateelevatorsandrudder.Twoquitenoticeableantennamastsattachtothetopofeachengine nacelle and when rigged will addalotofinteresttothefinishedmodel.ThePEfretprovidesthreefuselagestepsurrounds,acoupleofkeelfixtures,someboardinghandlesand two pitots. These last items mayappeartooflatforrealismandrequireeitherfatteningorscratch-builtreplacements. The kit supplies two essentially similardecaloptions,withdifferentserialnumbersandthesamepaintschemeofoverallaluminium.Thedecals have very good registration and suggest good opacity.

Conclusion ThisisthefirstkitoftheSaroCloudtothebestofmyknowledge,andIamsuremanywillthankValomforprovidingthisboxingandtheothercivilian option. Congratulations are duetothemfordealingwiththesubjectstheyhavecoveredsofar,andannouncedasfuturereleases(liketheBristolBombay!).Theycannothearmodellersapplaudofcourse,butifpurchasesexpressappreciation,thenthistrendofreleasesshouldpresumablycarryon. IdofeelitistimethatValomimprovedthequalityoftheirinstructions. Their colours and markings guides are good enough, and their detail-painting call-outs arebetterthanmost,especiallywithcross-referencingtoseveral

paint ranges. Nevertheless, some oftheirassemblydiagramsconveylittlemorethantheobvious,e.g.intheCloud’scase,thattheengineassembliesgoontopofthewing,butwithverylittleguidancetoexactlywhereabouts.Notmuchisrequired,justageneral“polishingup”and more thought towards helping thebuilder. Mydiscussionofthefinelinesonthewings is lengthier than perhaps their significancewarrants,asafterallsurfacedetailisatbestasimulationorrepresentationoftherealthing.Perhapsthekit’sfineengravedlinesare no less realistic than similar ones usedonmetal-wingedsubjectsto represent overlapped panel lines.Itrustthisputsmycritiquein perspective; I would not want it regardedasanobstacletofinishinganicemodelfromthiskit.Thissaid,Istill think a smooth wing in this scale wouldbemorerealistic. Still,Idoubtthatthiswillbeeasybuild.Inpartbecauseofthesubject’slayoutwithseveralstruttedassembliesthatneedcarefulalignment,butalsobecausethekitislimitedrunandValom’sreputationforsomefitissues.Despitethis,acarefulapproachshouldrewardthebuilderwithaquitestunningmodel-Definitely recommended. ThankstoValomforthisreviewsample.

Referencesused:

British Flying Boats – Sutton Publishing,2003

Aeroplane Monthly - July 1991

Avions-Issue128,November2003

Seawings.co.uk

10

ontHEtaBlE gallERY

scatchbuilt1/48CurtissFlyingBoatbyPeterVanderschaff

11

1/72Fw-190abyDavestewart

1/48F7FtigercatbyRobWillis

1/72P-40byDavestewart

1/48HellcatbyRobWillis

1/48spitfireMk18byRobWillis 1/48spitfireMk9byRobWillis

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1/48tucanobyRobWillis 1/48texanIIbyJohnDarlington

trumpeter1/35HindMi-24byJohnDarlington

tamiya1/24FiatBambinabyRobWillis

1/24derelictbyJonnyWier

sIgnoFF

HasEgaWa1/48F/a-18FsuperHornetbyBrettsharman