Clearwater Models: 2018

Monday 17 December 2018

SU-122 ASSAULT GUN / TANK DESTROYER (Tamiya)

This gun kills nazi scum.

This is the 1:35 scale SU-122 kit from Tamiya (circa 1986).

It was completed in 11 working days. It is shown in winter camo in the spring of 1944. A tree and metal straps and a chain have been added.

The SU-122 is a 122mm M30S howitzer mounted on a T34 tank chassis. Designed by F. Petrov, some 1150 were built in 1942-1944 at UZTM (Uralmashzavod – Uralsky Machine Building Factory), for the fight against nazi scum. It was mostly used as a very effective assault gun against heavily-fortified positions.

SU-122 ASSAULT GUN / TANK DESTROYER

under construction in the UZTM (Uralmashzavod – Uralsky Machine Building Factory),
which just happens to be in my spare bathroom

The real one...

SU-122 ASSAULT GUN / TANK DESTROYER

MiG E-8/2 (Art Model)

This is a 1:72 scale kit of the MiG E-8/2 from Art Model of Ukraine.

The Mikoyan-Gurevich (MiG) E-8 was an experimental supersonic jet fighter under development to replace the MiG-21. Only two prototypes were built in 1960-61. The original MiG-21's air intakes were moved under the fuselage, freeing up the nose where a larger and more powerful radar, able to deliver longer range air-to-air missiles, could be built in. Canards were built to both sides of the nose.

The two prototypes flew in 1962. Twenty-five test flights were made (24 were completed). The design was abandoned in favour of work on the MiG-23 and the MiG-27. The basic problem was that the highly modern and advanced airframe exceeded the power and ability of the computers to control the aircraft. This shape and configuration are now common, putting the E-8 a few decades ahead of the competition.

On 11 Sept 1962, the Tumansky R-21F-300 engine, then under simultaneous development, exploded in midair at a speed of Mach 2.15. Test pilot Georgy Mosolov, a leading Soviet test pilot, was severely injured by debris from the compressor and had to eject at Mach 1.78. The cause of the crash was disk destruction of the sixth stage of the compressor.

Mosolov lay in a field not far from Moscow for three hours until found by a farmer. Despite massive injuries to his head, left arm and leg which would leave him hospitalized for a year, he had the farmer memorize all the details of the flight so the information could be passed back to the MiG design bureau in case he died. He died in early 2018 at the age of 92.

Paint is Alclad white aluminium. Green and blue and red are Vallejo acrylics. Nose is Tamiya paint bomb. The base is 100 small rectangular magnets painted to resemble concrete blocks. The canopy is coated with future floor wax.

MiG E-8/2

The actual MiG E-8 at the Zhukovsky test facility at Ramenskoye airfield near Moscow in 1962

Georgy Konstantinovich Mosolov (1926-2018), Hero of the Soviet Union, and Honoured Master of Sport of the USSR, shown in 1960, and recently in Moscow.

Monday 24 September 2018

WHEN DOGS DREAM (Airfix)

This is my Airfix 1:72 German Shepherd dog model. It is taken from the Bloodhound Missile kit, and mounted on a dog biscuit. I call it WHEN DOGS DREAM. It is also called Otto after the German Shepherd I walk on the weekends. As Otto is about 8 mm long, it is rather difficult to photograph. Dog biscuit is courtesy of Phoebe the cute blonde (cocker spaniel) next door.

Monday 17 September 2018

COASTAL DEFENCE CANNON, 1780-1812

This is a Mantua Models brass and wood kit of a U.S. coastal defence cannon as used from 1780 until the war of 1812 (and probably long after). It may be about 1:17 scale.
I bought the old (1971) kit at the US IPMS national convention this summer and built it in one week. Five dollars well spent!

coastal defence cannon

Tuesday 12 June 2018

C1 105mm HOWITZER, CANADIAN ARTILLERY (Revell)

This is the ancient (1963) Revell 1:35 kit (re-released in 1995) of the 105mm C1 howitzer. The scene is set during the NATO annual FALLEX 64 exercises in Germany, where a Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery unit is firing on the range under a basic camouflage netting.

CanadianSoldiers.com says "Canada officially adopted the C1 105mm Howitzer as a replacement for the 25-pounder Gun on 11 Sep 1956. The weapon was an adaptation of the US-designed 105mm Howitzer M2A1. The Canadian Army continued to use the C1 Howitzer unaltered from its original M2A1 configuration until 1997 when a modification was made to extend its service life. The new weapons were designated the C3 105mm Howitzer, and included a longer barrel, muzzle brake, reinforced trails and the removal of shield flaps. Canada's requirement for a gun to equip its Field Regiments was 649 guns just for units serving in Canada. In Sep 1948, it was felt postwar requirements would necessitate a total of 771 guns. As part of a NATO standardization, Canada decided to replace the 25-pounder with a 105mm weapon. As well, as aid to other NATO countries Canada divested itself of 168 25-pounder guns which, along with stocks of ammunition, went to other militaries within the alliance. Canada ceased production of 25-pounder ammunition in Jul 1953, and the 27th Canadian Brigade went to Germany with US 105mm guns."

The gun can be operated with a crew of five or seven, If necessary, deployment can be performed with a crew of three.

105mm C1 howitzer

Actual 105mm C1 howitzer at the Canadian War Museum

105mm C1 howitzer