TBM Avenger Re Post

Starting this week once a week I am going to be re posting older posts of which I feel deserve a second go around because well, they're just so darn deserving :o) Here are some images of Trumpeters 1/32 scale Grumman TBM-3 Avenger torpedo bomber plus a composite image of a 1/48 scale TBM-1 Avenger from Academy. TBM is the designation given to Avengers Built by General Motors (now government motors) (and yes Canada helped bail them out as well) as opposed to TBF which were manufactured by Grumman. The Avenger first entered the war in 1942 during the battle of Midway. This particular aircraft was flown by none other than George H.W. "read my lips, no new taxes" Bush. Having close to over 500 pieces this kit is quite something to behold. The detail is amazing and all parts went together without any trouble. A word of warning, the call out colours in the instructions are in error in a few places, which seems to be a common occurrence with Trumpeter kits. If I had followed the colour instructions I would have ended up with a red engine and rust coloured instrument panels. That's why I say when dealing with Trumpeter always double and triple check the instructions and sometimes the decals. Otherwise it just "wouldn't be prudent".

Mig 3

Here are some images of Trumpeter's 1/32 scale Mikoyan Gurevich Mig 3. This aircraft served with the 12 Gaurds IAP Air Defense of Moscow 1942. From Wikipedia "

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 (Russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-3) was a Soviet fighter aircraft used during World War II. It was a development of the MiG-1 by the OKO (opytno-konstrooktorskiy otdel — Experimental Design Department) of Zavod (Factory) No. 1 to remedy problems that had been found during the MiG-1's development and operations. It replaced the MiG-1 on the production line at Factory No. 1 on 20 December 1940 and was built in large numbers during 1941 before Factory No. 1 was converted to build the Ilyushin Il-2.

On 22 June 1941 at the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, some 981 were in service with the VVS, the PVO and Naval Aviation. The MiG-3 was difficult to fly in peacetime and much more so in combat. It had been designed for high-altitude combat but combat over the Eastern Front was generally at lower altitudes where it was inferior to the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 as well as most modern Soviet fighters. It was also pressed into service as a fighter-bomber during the autumn of 1941 but it was equally unsuited for this. Over time the survivors were concentrated in the PVO, where its disadvantages mattered less, the last being withdrawn from service before the end of the war.

The MiG-3's top speed of 640 km/h (398 mph) at 7,200 metres (23,622 ft) was faster than the 615 km/h (382 mph) of the German Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2 in service at the beginning of 1941 and the British Supermarine Spitfire V's 603 km/h (375 mph). At lower altitudes the MiG's speed advantage disappeared as its maximum speed at sea level was only 505 km/h (314 mph) while the Bf 109F-2 could do 515 km/h (320 mph). Unfortunately for the MiG-3 and its pilots, aerial combat over the Eastern Front generally took place at low and medium altitudes where it had no speed advantage.

The MiG's loaded weight of 3,350 kg (7,385 lb) was greater than the Bf 109F-2's 2,979 kg (6,568 lb) and it was less maneuverable in the horizontal plane than the Bf 109 due to its higher wing loading. This lack of maneuverability was exacerbated by the MiG-3's poor climb performance, its instability at high speeds and its weak armament.

The MiG-3's standard armament was one 12.7 mm (0.50 in) UBS machine gun and two 7.62 mm (0.300 in) ShKAS machine guns. This was a rather light armament by international standards, for example most versions of the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 that it encountered were equipped with one 20 mm (0.79 in) autocannon and two 7.92 mm (0.312 in) machine guns. To remedy this problem 821 aircraft were built with one 12.7 mm UBK machine gun in a pod under each wing in mid-1941. This lowered its speed by about 20 km/h (12 mph) at all altitudes, which was unpopular with the pilots, some of whom removed the pods. One hundred aircraft were equipped with a pair of UBS machine guns in lieu of the ShKAS weapons. Another 215 aircraft also had just the UBS machine guns but were fitted to carry six RS-82 rockets. A total of 72 aircraft mounted a pair of 20 mm ShVAK cannon. A wide variety of armaments were experimented with by various units at the requests of their pilots or to make up shortages.

Expo Pt 9

Here are some more images from the Regina Expo 2010.

First up is a Rattlesnake diorama re-release from “Land of The Giants”. It was built by Dave Kapp. Next is a “Kilo’ class submarine in 1/144 scale. It was built by Eugene Stacyzyn. After that is a 1/35 scale “priest” in Canadian markings. There was a lot of modifications done on this model in order to make it true to the Canadian examples. This model was built by Brian Miller. Next is this 1/72 scale Monogram SR-71 “Ichiban” that was built by Lee David. After that is a naughty P-39 in 1/48 scale. Next is Colin Kunkel’s D-day CF-18 in 1/48 scale. Here is a very nice Schwerepanzer armored train car in 1/35 scale. Last is Al Magnus award winning 1/72 scale WWI “female” tank.

Hanomag

Here are some images of Tamiya's 1/35 scale Sd.Kfz. 251 Hanomag. From Wikipedia "The Sd.Kfz. 251 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251) half-track was an armored fighting vehicle designed and first built by Nazi Germany's Hanomag company during World War II. The largest, most common, and best armored of the wartime half-tracks, the Sd.Kfz. 251 was designed to transport the panzergrenadiers of the German mechanized infantry corps into battle. Widely known simply as "Hanomags" by both German and Allied forces, they were widely produced throughout the war, with over 15,252 vehicles and variants produced in total by various manufacturers.

There were four main models (Ausf. A through Ausf. D), which formed the basis for at least 22 variants. The initial idea was for a vehicle that could be used to transport a single squad of panzergrenadiers to the battlefield protected from enemy small arms fire, and with some protection from artillery fire. In addition, the standard mounting of at least one MG 34 or MG 42 machine gun allowed the vehicle to provide support by fire for the infantry squad once they had disembarked in battle.

Positive aspects of the open top included greater situational awareness and faster egress by the infantry, as well as the ability to throw grenades and fire over the top of the fighting compartment as necessary while remaining under good horizontal cover. Downsides to the open top were a major vulnerability to all types of plunging fire; this included indirect fire from mortars and field artillery as well as depressed-trajectory small arms fire from higher elevated positions, lobbed hand grenades, and strafing by Allied aircraft.

The first two models were produced in small numbers. A and B model can be identified by the structure of the nose armor which comprises two trapezoids. The lower trapezoid has a cooling hatch. The C and D models had a single hexagonal front armor panel. Ausf. A through C had rear doors of the vehicle bulging out. The C variant had a larger production run, but was a quite complex vehicle to build, involving many angled plates that gave reasonable protection from small arms fire. From early 1943, the Ausf D variant was developed with a purpose of reducing the number of angled body plates down to 50%, simplifying the design and thus speeding up the production. Ausf D can be easily recognized by its single piece sloping rear (with flat doors).

The standard personnel carrier version was equipped with a 7.92 mm MG 34 or MG 42 machine gun mounted at the front of the open compartment, above and behind the driver. A second machine gun could be mounted at the rear on an anti-aircraft mount.

Variants were produced for specialized purposes, including with anti-aircraft guns, light howitzers, anti-tank guns and mortars or even large unguided artillery rockets, as well as a version with an infra-red search light used to spot potential targets for associated Panther tanks equipped with infrared detectors.

Another good design feature of the Sd.Kfz.251 was the large track area, with the characteristic "slack track" design with no return rollers for the upper run of track, and overlapping and interleaved main road wheels common to virtually all German halftracks of the period. This lowered ground pressure and provided better traction, giving the Sd.Kfz.251 better cross country performance than most other nations' half-tracked vehicles.

The early production models of this vehicle were issued to the 1st Panzer Division in 1939.

These vehicles were meant to enable panzergrenadiers to accompany panzers and provide infantry support as required. In practice, there were never enough of them to go around, and many panzergrenadier units had to make do with trucks for transport.

Spitfire VB Clipped

Here are some images of Hasegawa's 1/32 scale Supermarine Spitfire MK VB Clipped Wing. From Wikipedia "

• Mk VB and VB(trop): The VB became the main production version of the Mark Vs. Along with the new Merlin 45 series the B wing was fitted as standard. As production progressed changes were incorporated, some of which became standard on all later Spitfires. Production started with several Mk IBs which were converted to Mk VBs by Supermarine. Starting in early 1941 the round section exhaust stacks were changed to a "fishtail" type, marginally increasing exhaust thrust. Some late production VBs and VCs were fitted with six shorter exhaust stacks per side, similar to those of Spitfire IXs and Seafire IIIs; this was originally stipulated as applying specifically to VB(trop)s.. After some initial problems with the original Mk I size oil coolers, a bigger oil cooler was fitted under the port wing; this could be recognised by a deeper housing with a circular entry. From mid-1941 alloy covered ailerons became a universal fitting.

Expo Pt 8

Here are some more images from the Regina Expo. This is Rod Maskiw’s 40 Ford Coupe. The engine is fully wired and plumbed. Next is Curfew James Karmen Ghia. Then there is this very nifty snowmobile dragster. Finally here is shot of some of the onlookers on Sunday afternoon.

Expo Pt 7

More Expo.

First off is Hasegawa’s 1/48 scale F-15E Eagle built by Colin Kunkel. Here is Colin’s Golden Hawks 1/48 scale F-86. Here is a very beautiful 1959 Buick custom built by Ed Kelerluk. An extreme amount of scratchbuilding and finishing went into this piece. Models cannot be built cleaner than this. This Canadian Tire pickup truck was built by Kerfew James.

Expo Pt 6

Here are more items from expo 2010…

Here is Michael Evans 1/35 lee tank. This Mig-23 was built by Ryan Cunningham and it won for the “Best 1/72 Jet”. This 1/48 scale Mig-21 was built by Lee David. This is a Tamiya 1/48 Mustang that sports the colors of the “Tuskegee Airmen”. It was built by Regina’s own Colin Kunkel. Lastly, we have Ryan Cunningham’s 1/48 scale Tamiya Skyray.

FLH 1980 U.S. Army Motorcycle

Here are some images of IMEX's 1/12 scale Harley Davidson FLH 1980 U.S. Army Motorcycle. Try as I might I could not find any information on this motorcycle. I found lots of information on the Harley Davidson FL series bikes but nothing on an FLH 1980 U.S. Army Motorcycle. Not even the instructions provided any information. I hate it when model companies do that. The little bit of white you may see in the background is yes you guessed it snow. Hello winter.