4 MODEL AIRPLANE INTERNATIONAL - August 2019IN THIS ISSUE...IN THIS ISSUE...IN THIS ISSUE...
Hello everyone, welcome to the
August 2019 edition of your favourite
aviation modelling magazine!Written by
Spencer PollardT
hough as usual we have an interesting mix of models in this
issue of MAI, I guess that the most important release and thus
the most important feature, is that created around the brand-
new Airfi x Spitfi re Mk.XIV - so let’s start with that shall we?
Airfi x has made no secret of the fact that they plan on
releasing kits of all of the major Spitfi re variants, so their decision to
look at the ’14, is as welcome, as it is unsurprising. Having only been
replicated in 1:48 by Academy – and poorly at that – the fi eld was
wide open to create a model that accurately replicated this
most attractive of aircraft. Though I may be jumping the gun
somewhat by discussing it here, I am prepared to say that
in the main Airfi x have succeeded and thus helped the
modeller at last to build an accurate replica of this aircraft
in 1:48. Our feature begins on page 36.
Oddball aircraft are a staple diet for many modellers
and nothing can be described as such, quite as much as
those aircraft that were designed by German engineers
at the end of WWII. Perhaps the most extreme example
of this was the truly bizarre Treibfl ügel, an aircraft that
was as extreme in looks, as it perhaps was in terms
of practicality! Though it could be argued that the thing
would never have left terra fi rma (and even if it had, may
not have stayed in the air very long!) there is no doubting
its draw as a modelling project and now thanks to Amusing
Hobby and Miniart, you will be able to build this machine in
1:48 and 1:35 respectively. This month we look at the former,
James Hatch having tackled the kit and painted it in what he
believes might have been a possible colour scheme. Impractical it might
have been, in miniature, the aircraft looks amazing, as you will discover
on page 52.
We all like a ‘weekend’ build don’t we, so we are sure that you will
enjoy Mike Williams’ timed look at his build of Eduard’s stripped-back
1:48 1:48 Fw190A-4. Built over two days, the idea was to test the theory
that a kit like this can indeed be completed over a weekend, whilst
family life and other factors impact on your time at the workbench. It’s
a fascinating insight into a planned build and one that we hope you will
enjoy following. His feature begins on page 46.
No issue of MAI is complete without a 1:72 kit build and this month
that responsibility falls of the shoulders of Huw Morgan, who tackles
Revell’s rerelease of Special Hobby’s delightful Vampire. Nicely detailed
and accurate in outline, this cut-price kit offers much for the modeller
to enjoy and thanks to its use around the world, colour schemes and
markings are legion, as indeed the author proves with his highly original
choice of fi nal fi nish! The fun begins on page 30.
Tamiya’s 1:32 F4U Corsair needs little introduction. Widely regarded
as one of the fi nest 1:32 kits ever released, Tamiya’s superlative offering
has been lavished with praise and many features have been written
about it as a result. Having looked at it upon release, we thought it was
about time to show you once again what all the fuss was about! Alan
Kelley has spent time building the kit and the results, as you’ll see in
this issue, are spectacular with a very fi ne model the reward for all of his
hard work. His feature begins on page 60.
So this then is the August issue of Model Airplane International - we
hope that you enjoy it and that we see you again next month! ■IN THIS ISSUE 168.indd 2 08/07/2019 14: