CENTURION Mk.8. TANK (Airfix)

This is the tiny Airfix OO scale (1:76.2 scale) 1964 kit (#A207V reboxed in 1971) of the British Army's  CENTURION Mk.8. main battle tank showing how it would have looked while serving with the BAOR in late 1966 during an "Active Edge" combat exercise with the 6th Brigade near Soltau Germany against the 'enemy' Canadian Army using the same tank. The Centurion went into British service in 1945 and was replaced by the Chieftan in 1967. The Canadian Army used 347 Centurions until 1975. Some 4423 Centurions were built in 13 basic versions at four different factories: Leyland Motors, Lancashire; the Royal Ordnance Factory ROF Leeds; ROF Royal Arsenal, Woolich London; and Vickers in Elswick.

This was a 48 hours build of an ancient kit bought at a militaria sale for $5.  The paint scheme was achieved using knock-off silly putty as masking. I added a cloth cover to the mantlet as shown on the boxtop. OOB including decals. I have not been able to identify the markings. The rubber tracks were too long, so I trimmed out about 10mm of track and stapled the ends together. The four staples are totally hidden by the skirts. The base is a repurposed marble drinks coaster. The plans in the box extol the virtues of this superb tank by mentioning how well it did in Suez in 1956. Very strange.

Bizarre Centurion fact: An Australian Army Mk 3 Centurion Type K, #169041, was involved in a nuclear weapons test in Australia in 1953 as part of Operation Totem 1. Emplaced only 500 m from ground zero, the tank withstood the 9.1 kt blast while being displaced 1.5 m, and having most large external parts ripped away and the glass ports and lights sandblasted. However, it still worked and was driven away from the test site. Later nicknamed the Atomic Tank, it was used by Australian armoured forces in the war in South Viet Nam, and in May 1969 was damaged by an RPG. Three crew were injured but the tank remained in combat condition. It is now a gate guard and museum piece at the Robertson Barracks in Palmerston, NT, Australia. 169041 is the only tank known to have been used as a target in a nuclear detonation and later used in combat.

Centurion Mk.8. British Army main battle tank, circa 1966

Centurion Mk.8. British Army main battle tank, circa 1966

Centurion Mk.8. British Army main battle tank, circa 1966

Centurion Mk.8. British Army main battle tank, circa 1966

Centurion Mk.8. British Army main battle tank, circa 1966

Centurion Mk.8. British Army main battle tank, circa 1966

Centurion Mk.8. British Army main battle tank, circa 1966

Centurion Mk.8. British Army main battle tank, circa 1966

Centurion Mk.8. British Army main battle tank, circa 1966

using silly putty knock-off for the paint scheme

using silly putty knock-off for the paint scheme

DA VINCI STEAM CANNON (AMT)

This is the unknown scale model from AMT of "Leonardo da Vinci's STEAM CANNON" from their Classic Inventions Series. It was a two day build, and a lot of fun. Length overall is about 30 cm. I still do not know how the real design was supposed to work. 

Metallic finish is all Vallejo metalizer acrylics, and the wood is Tamiya acrylics. It is very front heavy due to the length of the barrel. Drawings show the muzzle end being held up by a trestle, so I may add one. I added tiny licks of flame inside the firebox on top of the glowing embers. I also added a liner (drinking straw) inside the barrel as it was obvious it had no interior at the muzzle end. 

Leonardo da Vinci's STEAM CANNON

Leonardo's sketch for the steam cannon made while he lived in France

Leonardo da Vinci's STEAM CANNON

Leonardo da Vinci's STEAM CANNON

Leonardo da Vinci's STEAM CANNON

Leonardo da Vinci's STEAM CANNON

Leonardo da Vinci's STEAM CANNON

Leonardo da Vinci's STEAM CANNON

Leonardo da Vinci's STEAM CANNON

Leonardo da Vinci's design factory at Amboise Château in France,
which just so happens to be in my spare bathroom

MiG-21MF, Bangladesh Air Force (Fujimi)

This is the Fujimi 1:72 scale kit of the MiG-21MF, known as the балала́йка (balalaika).

In 1973 the Bangladesh Air Force had one squadron of eight MiG-19MF fighter aircraft plus two trainers which made up the bulk of their figter capability.

A total of 10 645 aircraft were built in the USSR. They were produced in three factories: AZ 30/MMZ Znamya Truda in Moscow (3203 aircraft); GAZ 21 in Gorky (5765 aircraft); and TAZ 31 in Tblisi (1678 aircraft).  First flown in 1955 and entering service in 1959, it remains in service in over 15 countries. The most notable use of the type was in the destruction of parts of the USAF and US Navy during their attacks on Viet Nam where PAVN pilots using the MiG-21 could be confident of a kill when meeting the F-4 Phantom. Used by the USSR and exported to over 55 countries, the MiG-21 is the most-produced supersonic jet aircraft of all time.

The kit was built OOB in four days for the IPMS Ottawa Thanksgiving Lightning Build event. Metallic body paint is Vallejo acrylic, with Tamiya for interiors. I hand cut masks for the canopy, and dropped the flaps. Decals, while extensive, were not of great quality, and the roundels were in poor shape. Tiny markings were in very good condition.

Bangladesh Air Force, MiG-19MF, circa 1973

Bangladesh Air Force, MiG-19MF, circa 1973

Bangladesh Air Force, MiG-19MF, circa 1973

Bangladesh Air Force, MiG-19MF, circa 1973

MiG-19MF #201 in the Bangladesh Air Force Musem 

MiG-21MF in the GAZ 21 Zavod/factory in Gorky,
which just so happens to be in my spare bathroom

MiG-21MF in the GAZ 21 Zavod/factory in Gorky,
which just so happens to be in my spare bathroom

MiG-21MF in the GAZ 21 Zavod/factory in Gorky,
which just so happens to be in my spare bathroom

MiG-21MF in the GAZ 21 Zavod/factory in Gorky,
which just so happens to be in my spare bathroom

A Portrait of the Modeller as a Young Man

The first known photo of Mr. Modeller as a young man at the Cub & Scout display at
Winnipeg's famous Polo Park shopping centre in about 1976-1977.

LEOPARD 2A6 & 2A5 MBT (Dragon)

This is the 1:72 scale Dragon (#7232) LEOPARD 2A6 and 2A5 main battle tank as used by the Canadian Army. I bough this kit for a friend who was trying to build a small Leopard tank but was having painting problem. I spray painted the entire tank kit on the sprues, including accentuated panel lines, lights, and road wheels, then put it all back in the box and posted it to him so that he can assemble it. I even painted the tracks (which are of a very high quality). This is a very well moulded kit with a surprising amount of detail and options. Sadly, this is the last we will see of it as it is now in Alberta.

Leopard 2A6 MBT

Leopard 2A6 MBT

RUSSIAN NAVAL CANNON

Russian naval cannon in about 1:25 scale from an unknown model company in China through AliExpress. The gun and fittings are metal and the carriage and base are wood. There is a selection of photo etch brass parts. I cut the base down from being a massive circle to something which will more easily fit in a cabinet. The instructions leave a lot to be desired. I started this kit maybe four years ago and abandoned it because of the two large metal sprue attachment points under the barrel which would show up in the finished model. I was unable to grind them off with a power tool so stopped work. Then last week I thought to just use a metal file, and within ten minutes the points were gone, so I sprayed it with Tamiya metal primer then a DIY store satin finish black. The imperial crest on the cannon is well done, and was brought out by sanding and scraping the paint away to reveal the goldish brass beneath. The water in the bucket is blue paint later covered with a drop of epoxy cement which dries like a layer of water.

Russian naval cannon

Russian naval cannon

Russian naval cannon

Russian naval cannon

Russian naval cannon

Russian naval cannon

Russian naval cannon

Russian naval cannon

Russian naval cannon

Russian naval cannon

Russian naval cannon

Russian naval cannon

Russian naval cannon

SWAP MEET MODEL SALE TREASURES

I have waited nearly two years for an Ottawa plastic model kit swap meet and sale. And today was that day. I have been counting sleeps until the event. Thanks to Bill at Hobby Centre for hosting this highly-anticipated event. It was a beautiful day with a lot of sunshine and a lot of vendors set up in the backs of their automobiles. Many IPMS Ottawa members were selling and buying, or both. It was great to see so many club members. Thanks to Ken and Terrry (buy high, sell low), and Brian and Steve and Michael. And thanks to Glenn for the early Christmas present. Hello to Benoit and Patrice and all the other members I may have missed.

None of the items on my 'to-get' list were on offer, but I still came home with eleven treasures to keep me happy for a year. The Leopard 2A6 tank will be shipped to a friend in Alberta after all the parts are spray painted right on the sprue -- he can assemble it himself. Here are my varied treasures:

ps. while cleaning and making room for these new kits in the storage closet I found two kits I did not even know I had, but which I had clearly started years ago.

NIEUPORT 17 XVII C.1 in RUSSIAN SERVICE (Eduard)

The Imperial Russian Air Service Императорскій военно-воздушный флотъ Nieuport 17 XVII C.1 s/n 4187 flown with the 22 KAO Корпуснои Авиационный Отряд (air detachment organic to an army corps) in September 1917 just before the revolution. This is the Eduard limited edition 1:48 scale kit #1106 with a choice of four decal sets.

Wiki says: The Nieuport 17 XVII C.1 was a French sesquiplane (one and a half wings) fighter designed and manufactured by the Nieuport company during The Great War (1914-1918). An improvement over earlier versions and better adapted to the more powerful engine. Aside from early examples, it had the new Alkan-Hamy synchronization gear, permitting the use of a fuselage-mounted synchronised Vickers gun firing through the propeller arc. At the time of its introduction in March 1916, the type's outstanding manoeuvrability and excellent rate of climb gave it a significant advantage over fighters on both sides and was described as "the best pursuit plane of the day". The Imperial Russian Air Service operated large numbers of Nieuports of all types. Being largely reliant on aircraft procured directly from France, there was pressure within Russia to establish the domestic manufacture of fighters and the type was produced under licence by Завод «Дукс» (Dux) bicycle and automobile factory (Завод #1; later the Polikarpov design bureau). Inexperience and the limited availability of trained personnel to assist, and poor quality raw materials, limited quality and quantity. Many of these were operated on the Eastern Front against the Imperial German air force, and during the Russian Civil Wars. Surviving aircraft were divided between the new Russian government, and the "White" Czarist Russians during the brutal Civil War. Russian Nieuport aces include Alexander Kazakov, who flew the type against the Germans and later fought for Churchill against the Russian government during the civil war. 

Length: 5.80 m 

Wingspan: 8.16 m 

Powerplant: 1 × Le Rhône 9Ja 9-cylinder rotary engine, 82 kW

Maximum speed: 170 km/h 

Endurance: 1.75 hours

Service ceiling: 5300 m

Never has a kit caused me this much agony. Near the end of the build I crushed the model while holding pressure on the wings to allow the CA glue to set on the struts. This was also my first attempt at rigging, but only the tail section is rigged. Decals sit nicely on a coat of Future floor wax. There are about 25 photo etch parts in the build; almost all of them tiny and easy to lose. The masks provided were of very poor quality. Basic colour is Vallejo acrylic aged white.

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

Nieuport 17 XVII, 22 KAO , Sept 1917

attempting some tail rigging with stretched sprue