Issue #1 Autum 2008

IPMS The Four Provinces
News Letter
Issue 1 November 2008
News
♦
Club News
Kit Review
Tamiya Honda RCV211
REIMS FR.172h & FR.172K Rocket
♦
Nimitz
Nimitz--Class
♦
♦
www.ipmsireland.com
IPMS The Four Provinces
Club News
The first news letter has been finished. It’s been hard
work getting it to this stage and it’s been a learning curve
for me. I hope everyone likes it and I would be happy to
hear any ideas. My plan is to print a news letter every 3
months and welcome photos and articles. I’m going to
start working on the next news letter to be printed at the
start of February 2009, so if you have anything for it
please get it to me before Saturday 17th January.
Airbrush demonstration at the Dublin meeting
You can send your articles for the news letter to me at
kmf2000@indigo.ie, can you put “IPMS –” in the subject
line so it is easier for me to sort my emails. I also would
like to know who would like a printed or emailed
copy of the news letter. You can email me at the
address above.
The Limerick Region of the branch will be holding their
meetings, for the foreseeable future at the Atlantic
Airventure Park in Shannon, Co.Clare. This facility
includes 2 Dreamflyer flight simulators, a bank of 8
dual-control simulators, allowing for 16 people to work as
pilot/co-pilot and a Bae 146 flight simulator cockpit with
the nose section of a Boeing 737-800 being delivered
within the next 4 or 5 weeks. This will be configured as a
working simulator. The aim of the Airventure Park is to
provide an aviation education for young and old minds
alike. We will be arranging a day-trip for any interested in
travelling in the near future as well as a possible model
s how.
Pleas e
c hec k
out
their
web-site
www.atlanticairventure.com. If we do arrange a day trip,
this will be for paid-up branch members only. No
exceptions.
The main event is Telford, 15th/16th November. Quite a
number of us are travelling, but not all under the IPMS 4
Provinces banner. We look forward to having a wonderful
time there and I would like everyone there to enjoy
themselves but we need to know who is going so that we
can arrange a roster of sorts to man the table for our
models. Myself and Brendan will be travelling to Cork to
fly out with Roy this year.
There is a model show on in Waterford on 30th
November. Members from Dublin, Cork and Limerick will
travel to represent the branch in Waterford. We will have
4 tables but the venue has not been confirmed yet. I
hope everyone enjoys themselves at the event.
The Forum is working and running. Go to
www.ipmsireland.com. Do NOT click on the forum link
here, it does not work. Instead, click ANY OTHER link ,
for example MODELS and then click the FORUM link
there. It should take you to the forum. Sign up and
communicate!
Alan Brislane has signed up to be our Treasurer and we
have a potential web-master who shall shortly be looking
to fix our web site and help us sort out up-dates
Issue 1
Page 2
November 2008
Kit Reviews
Four Provinces News Letter
Tamiya Honda RCV211
Velentino Rossi.
As a big Rossi fan, I really felt the need to do this model.
At the time I purchased a
num ber
of
dif ferent
versions of the bike so I
could have a nice collection
of five cylinder Honda
RCV211s. I decided to use
a bit of after market photo
etch to improve things a
little. As is typical with
Fig1. Kit on the table before I start.
modern Tamiya motorcycle
kits, every part is perfectly
molded, and not a bit of flash to be seen. It also comes
with a nice bag of screws, vinyl tube and a spring for the
rear shock.
Fig 2. Photo
etch footrest
and gear lever.
The first thing I did was remove the foot
peg/controls mounts and the chain
adjusters. The kit chain adjusters are
particularly blocky and don’t look right at
all, particularly if you are a biker! I then
made up the Photo etch parts from the
Studio 27 kit that I got from Grandprix
models.
As the frame and swing arm
were butchered for the photo
etch parts, I had to repaint
them. The kit chrome is
really nice, and I was a little
worried about replicating it. I
used Alclad Chrome to do it,
and it turned out excellent.
Issue 1
By Lee McGuire
When using it, it is important to have a very shiny and
smooth base, so it is sanded and primed. Then its is
spayed with gloss black. When this is dry I put on 2
extremely thin coats of the chrome paint with low
pressure on the airbrush.
I then moved on to the
engine. Referring to a
whole lot of photos of
the real bike I decided
on colours to use. I
assembled the main
parts of the engine, and
Fig 4. Main engine parts. painted it using Alclad
Aluminium mixed with a
few drops of Humbrol Black. The sump and rocker covers were done with Alclad Pale Burnt Metal. These colours looked spot on.
I then painted up all the rest of
the engine parts. Most of the
metal parts were done with Alclad paints, and the blacks
were Tamiya acrylics.
The
clutch bell is a turned metal
part from the “detail up” set by
Tamiya. I then went over a lot
of the engine with a very thin
mix of matt black in the airFig 5. Complete engine.
brush. I did this as on the real
thing you can see a lot of this
tarnishing on the larger metal parts of the engine.
Fig 3. Frame and swing arm
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(Continued on page 4)
November 2008
Kit Reviews
Four Provinces News Letter
I then moved on to
do a few of the
Carbon fiber parts.
Rather than using decals to
do this, I first painted them
Semi gloss black, thenusing
the type of fine mesh used for
grills etc, held tight over the
part, I airbrushed Tamiya
Titanium Gold over the whole
part. It is then coated with
gloss lacquer to make it shiny.
Fig 6. Carbon fiber petrol.
Next I moved on to all of the
coloured Fairing parts, as I would need some of them
soon. I assembled them all and filled any joints and
sanded them. I then
primed them with white
primer. I decided that I
would paint all of the
insides of the parts, as
they should be carbon
fiber. I used the same
method as above. I
Fig 7. Interior of fairings masked all of these surfaces off before going any
further. After this there was
a little over spray on the outside of the fairings, so I
sanded them lightly with Micromesh and gave them a
light coat of primer, and a final light sand with Micromesh. Each part was wiped well with a tack cloth to
ensure there was no dust. Two colours are used on the
Fairings, I used Tamiya
Dark Mica Blue and Tamiya
Brilliant Orange is used, decanted from the aerosol and
applied with an airbrush.
There were two parts where
a
d e c a l
i s
supplied, however I decided
to mask the part and paint
Fig 8. painted side cowl.
it. For example in Fig 8, the
blue is supplied as a decal.
I then left all of these parts aside so that the paint would
be nice and hard when I came to apply decals.
I next sprayed the wheels with
Tamiya Bright Orange so the would
be hard by the time I needed them.
I used the Studio 27 parts to make
up the rear brake disk, as it is far
m o r e
r e f i n e d
looking than the original part. It’s
painted with Alclad Chrome and
Gloss black.
I then moved on to the front disks,
which are carbon on the real thing.
The disk itself was done with
Humbrol gloss black and a few
drops of Alclad Aluminium. The
Fig 9. Forks.
frame for the disk had an extra
Issue 1
couple of drops of the aluminium as it was a slightly
different shade. The calipers were done using Alclad
Pale burnt metal.
In order to get the red “brembo” logo painted, I used a
very thin mix of acrylic paint thinned with tamiya thinner.
This ment that it wouldn’t damage the Alclad paint in any
way. I allowed the paint to flow into the recesses, and
wiped away any excesses. I did this a second time when
the first coat was dry.
I didn’t need to paint the black parts of the forks, as these
were from the detail up kit and are turned metal already
painted. However the bottom parts were again painted
with the usual mix of Aluminium and black. The suspension pistons came finished too and didn’t need to be
painted.
I sanded the tyres using a mini drill to remove the mold
line and make them look scrubbed, and applied the tyre
decal. I then assembled all parts and put them aside.
I then assembled all of
the swing arm parts, put
the engine into the
frame. One thing I did
here was omit the
screw that holds the
Fig 10. Assembled frame.
rear wheel in place as
this covers all of the extra details in this area, and obviously isn’t used on the
real thing! I used a small bit if plastic rod to hold the
wheel in place.
I next move on to the
pipes. One each of
the silencers I had a
photoetch part to
wrap around them. It
ment also removing
the part that attaches
them to the frame, as there was a photoetch replacement
that looks much much better than doing it the kit way. After all of the parts were assembled and filled they were
then primed. They are made from stainless steel which
discolours with heat, so I wanted a good shiny metal finish before I went on to do the colourings. I painted the
parts with gloss black and then Alclad Chrome. I then
coated them with Kleer floor polish to protect the Alclad
paint, as it is quite delicate.
Fig 11. Nice shiny new pipes.
The pipes discolour
depending on how the Fig 12. Pipes after a few laps.
hot
gasses
m ove
through
them.
For
example the bends and
welds get hotter than the
straight
parts.
So
constantly referring to as
many pictures of the
pipes as I could, I
airbrushed Tamiya Clear
Blue onto the bends on
the pipes, then Clear
Orange
onto
the
Page 4
(Continued on page 5)
November 2008
Kit Reviews
Four Provinces News Letter
straighter parts. Next I used Tamiya Smoke
(clear black) to darken some of the orange and
blue. There are many variations of this discolouring, and from the pics I had I liked this best. I
even polished the pipes on my own real bike to see just
how they would discolour from new!
I then completed the
Instrument panel. I used the
kit part, and sanded all the
detail off it, this was then
covered with a photo etch
part and sprayed the whole
Fig 13. Lil` instruments. thing gloss black. The rear
of the panel was given the
c
a
r
b
o
n
f
i
b
e
r
treatment. In order to do the screen I first painted the recess Tamiya Chrome, and then built up Tamiya Clear
Green over a couple of nights to give the impression of
some depth. Then using the kit decal, I cut out the dial for
the rev counter and applied it. I then built up some clear
lacquer over the dial.
I then spent a bit of time
making up some of the Fig 14. Some of the arkward
little parts, like steering
head, handle bars, chain
and pipes for the engine.
On the rubber hoses I
made some jubilee clips
from metal tape cut into
fine strips and stuck onto
the pipes. This is a little
detail that really looks
good in my opinion. The
steering head was done with Tamiya Bronze and had a
little very thin matt black sprayed over the center, as this
is what the real thing looked like. This is when a lot of the
parts get assembled and the bike really takes shape. I
put on the forks, the petrol tank and the cables for brakes
etc. I also added a bit of wiring behind the instrument
panel complete with connector blocks. I used light copper
wire and some plastic cut into blocks for this. I painted
the wires black and the
blocks orange, green
etc.
haven’t been painted!
I then went back to the
fairings and applied all
decals. I did this over two
or three evenings.
I
a p p l i e d
e a c h
decal, smoothed it out
with a damp cotton bud
Fig 17. Fairings decaled.
or tissue and then covered the decal with Microsol. The Microsol softens the decal and lets it adhere to
every nook and cranny.
I don’t like to leave the decals bear, as the look matt, and
the real thing should be shiny. I left all the decals to dry
over two nights and then applied a few coats of
Halfords lacquer.
I then put photoetch panel clips anywhere they should be,
these came with the Studio 27 kit. All fairings were then
put in place. Some were to be screwed on in place, which
though it doesn’t look the best, it means the
fairing is removable at a later date. Which is good….
Because you cant see most of the detail once the
fairings are on!
There is a also a clear
pipe which connects into
a copper one coming out
from the top of the tank.
Fig 15. Naked from the left.
I’m not sure exactly what
this is, but know its on
the real thing, and not on the kit, so I made it up anyway!
The Radiator was also
painted with Alclad Chrome
and added a metal grill that
came with the Studio 27 kit.
This is also the point where
you hit any little things you
missed, like the small blue
electronics box on the side of Fig 16. Naked from the
the frame. Or any bolts that
Issue 1
Page 5
Fig 18. Shiny new bike.
Fig 19. Good enough for Valen-
Fig 20. Goin`for a spin.
November 2008
Kit Reviews
Walk
Around
Four Provinces News Letter
REIMS (Cessna) FR.172H & FR.172K Rocket.
By P. J. Cummins
Following the outbreak of civil strife in Northern
Ireland in 1970, the internal security of the Republic of
Ireland was also under threat from subversive activities
and violence by dissident forces. During this period the
Irish Defence Forces, with the Gardai, became engaged
on numerous counter-insurgency operations, but the Irish
Air Corps was not equipped with a suitable aircraft type
to provide air support during these operations.
To fulfil this requirement the Department of
Defence ordered eight FR.172H Rockets from the
French company, Reims Aviation S.A., which were to be
“equipped for military service”, and to be delivered in
1972. According to contemporary newspaper reports the
eight aircraft, “costing about £20,000 each”, were to be
“used for observation and reconnaissance missions”.
Each aircraft “which were to be fitted with the latest
navigational aids and radio equipment”, could also “be
equipped with Matra air-to-surface rockets”.
Four FR.172H Rockets (c/ns 0343-0346) were
delivered by Air Corps’ pilots to Casement Aerodrome on
October 4, 1972 and the remaining four (c/ns 0347-0350)
were delivered nine days later. The eight Rockets (as
nos. 203-206 and 207-210) initially entered service with
the Advanced Flying Training School, which had
undertaken responsibility for the introduction of this
aircraft type into service with the Air Corps.
The Rockets had a strengthened hardpoint
under each wing for the attachment of a Matra (SNEB)
pod, which could launch twelve 37mm unguided air-toground rocket projectiles. Due to a fire at the factory of S.
A. Engins Matra in 1972 the pods and rocket projectiles
were not delivered until six months after the Rockets had
entered service with the Air Corps. These aircraft were
Issue 1
also fitted with radio and navigation equipment for civil
and military operations, which included VOR/ILS and
ADF receivers for navigation, with VHF twin radio sets to
communicate with other aircraft and air traffic control.
Over the years the radio and navigation equipment has
been upgraded or replaced with more sophisticated
equipment, which has resulted in extra aerials and antennae being fitted to these aircraft for communicating with
units of the Defence Forces on the ground. Three Rockets (nos. 205, 208 and 243) also had special radio equipment installed for communicating with the Garda national
communications network.
The eight Rockets were deployed to Air Corps
Station, Gormanston, in 1973, four in January and four
in October, entering service with the Basic Flying
Training School. A new training syllabus was also
introduced for pilots to fly army co-operation missions,
which included “type rating standard” on the Rocket,
followed by instrument, night and formation flying
training. The Rockets replaced the de Havilland
Chipmunk T.20s, which were deployed to Casement
Aerodrome to enter service with the Advanced Flying
Training School.
Operating from Air Corps Station, Gormanston,
the Rockets were engaged on reconnaissance missions
and “border patrols” along the boundary with Northern
Ireland from 1973 onwards. These aircraft also provided
air support for the Gardai during the transportation of
prisoners or explosives throughout the State and during
the delivery of cash consignments to the commercial
banks. Other missions and duties have also been
undertaken by the Rockets over the years, including
Page 6
(Continued on page 7)
November 2008
Kit Reviews
Walk
Around
Four Provinces News Letter
aerial photography, A.T.C. training (military and
civil), air ambulance flights, in-shore maritime
surveillance patrols, parachute training, S.A.R.,
target towing, formation flying displays at
airshows and transporting Government Ministers, officials
or other prominent people. Assistance to Government
departments and agencies has also been provided by the
Rockets, which included aerial surveys carrying out bird,
seal and deer counts for the Forestry and Wildlife
Services. In 1975 and 1977 the Rockets were used for
air-to-ground firing exercises over the Air Firing Range,
Gormanston, which were later discontinued and the
rocket pods “withdrawn from use”. The Rockets have
accumulated an average of 2,000 flying hours annually
carrying out these missions and duties for the security
services and other Government departments.
The Rocket was used by the Air Corps for target
towing operations over the Air Firing Range,
Gormanston, during ground-to-air firing exercises by
army and naval anti-aircraft units of the Defence Forces,
which commenced in 1977. A drogue type target
attached to 1,500 metres of steel cable was extended
behind the aircraft, operated by a tow winch with a control
unit, installed in the rear of the Rocket’s cabin. A
electronically operated Missed Distance Indicator,
attached to the cable, indicated how close a round has
passed by the target drogue, which was then transmitted
to a receiver on the ground or on a naval ship. Four
Rockets (nos. 203, 205, 206 and 208) are known to have
been used for target towing operations.
The Rockets were used by the Defence Forces for
parachute training courses, initially from an airstrip at the
Curragh Military Camp, which had been re-activated for
this purpose. The parachute training courses were
temporarily suspended by the Air Corps following an
accident in the United Kingdom, when a parachutist
became entangled in the wheel of a Cessna 172. Two
Rockets (nos. 206 and 209) were modified for parachute
jumping by removing the right front seat, the right hand
control column and the two rear seats. A special front
seat, facing towards the rear, and two lightweight rear
seats were fitted to accommodate three parachutists and
the pilot in the cabin. The starboard door was also
removed and a small platform, mounted on the starboard
strut, covered the wheel during parachuting operations.
Operating the modified Rockets, parachute training
courses for the Defence Forces commenced again at Air
Corps Station, Gormanston in September 1979, and over
two hundred Defence Forces personnel had completed
parachute training courses from these aircraft by 1987.
Operating the Rockets, parachute training courses by the
Defence Forces continued from Clonbullogue airfield, Co.
Offaly from 2001 onwards.
IN 1979, during the visit of Pope Paul II to
Ireland, three Rockets were used for photographic
coverage and security surveillance missions. One of the
Rockets, on attachment to the Gardai, monitored road
traffic and checked the airfield perimeters and runway
approaches to Dublin and Shannon airports prior to the
arrival and departure of the Papal aircraft. Air-to-ground
photography, civil and military, was carried out from the
other two Rockets. These two aircraft were also used to
provide television coverage of the vast crowds that had
Issue 1
assembled at the various venues during the visit, which
was transmitted by Radio Telefis Eireann to other
countries worldwide.
In June 1980, following a re-organisation of the
structure of the Air Corps, the Rockets were allocated to
No. 2 Support Wing, which was re-designated the Army
Co-Operation Squadron in 1986, operating from Air
Corps Station, Gormanston.
Following a structural
re-organisation of the Air Corps in 2001, the Rockets
were operated by No. 104 Squadron, No. 1 Operations
Wing. In the same year the Rockets were deployed to
Casement Aerodrome when Air Corps Station,
Gormanston, was closed down. Operating from the Air
Corps Station, the Rockets had flown a total of 14,000
missions supporting security operations by the Gardai
and Defence Forces over the previous twenty eight
years.
On April 7, 1981 an FR.172K Rocket (c/n 0671)
was delivered to the Casement Aerodrome and (as no.
243) entered service with the Air Corps. This aircraft,
which was acquired as a replacement for the first Rocket
(no. 204) to be “written-off”, was fitted with wheel spats,
tinted glass and was equipped with “full instrumentation
for blind flying”, according to contemporary aviation
magazine reports. A more streamlined, pointed
propeller spinner was also fitted to this aircraft, which
was later fitted to the other Rockets in service with the Air
Corps. Underwing hardpoints for the Matra rocket pods
were apparently fitted to this aircraft after entering service
with the Air Corps.
Four Rockets were “written-off” in crashes or accidents between 1978 and 2004. The first of these aircraft (no. 204) crashed into the Shannon
Estuary during a wildlife survey on September 20, 1978,
but both occupants survived without serious injury. On
March 1, 1990, following engine failure, a Rocket (no.
207) force-landed in the sea off Air Corps Station,
Gormanston. The crew was uninjured but the aircraft had
to be “written-off” due to salt-water corrosion, following
immersion in the sea. Following storage in the Apprentice
School, this aircraft was delivered to Waterford Regional
Airport in August 1998 for fire drill training and evacuation
procedures, in exchange for the fuselage of a de
Havilland D.H.104 Dove 6 (c/n 04485, ex G-ASNG)
which had been used at the airport for this type of
training. A third Rocket (no. 209) was “written-off”
following damage to a wing, propeller and undercarriage
in a landing accident on November 10, 1993 at Air Corps
Station, Finner. In November 1989 this aircraft had been
damaged in a forced landing near Air Corps Station,
Gormanston, but was repaired and returned to service.
The fourth Rocket (no. 243) was “written-off” in a crash at
Clonbullogue, Co. Offaly, killing the pilot, on May 6, 2004.
In October 1977 the fuselage of a Cessna 172P
(ex G-ARLU, c/n 48502) was delivered to Casement
Aerodrome from the United Kingdom. This aircraft, which
had been “damaged beyond repair” in a gale in the
previous month, was acquired by the Air Corps for use as
an instructional airframe by the Apprentice School, but
was not allotted an Air Corps serial number.
The Rockets were the first aircraft in service with
the Air Corps to have an overall matt khaki-green finish.
Page 7
(Continued on page 8)
November 2008
Kit Reviews
Walk
Around
Four Provinces News Letter
The tri-coloured Celtic Boss is displayed on
both sides of the fuselage centre section and on
the upper and lower surfaces of both wings.
Each aircraft’s serial number, in white, is
displayed on both sides of the fuselage behind the Celtic
boss and on the undersides of the port wing. One of the
Rockets (no. 203) had the cartoon character “Mickey
Mouse” displayed on the port side of the tailfin for a short
period. In 1997, to celebrate the Rocket’s twenty-five
years of service with the Air Corps, this aircraft had the
upper section of the tailfin painted blue with the lower
section painted in green, white and orange stripes. The
number “25” was displayed on the blue section, “Cessna
FR 172H” on the green stripe, “Reims Rocket” on the
orange section, all in white, and “1972-1997”, in black,
was displayed on the white stripe.
REIMS-CESSNA FR.172K ROCKET.
243. (c/n 0671) Deld to Casement Aerodrome, 7.4.81.
To No. 2 Support Wing, 1980. To Army CoOperation Sqdn, 1986. To 104 Sqdn, No. 1 Operat i o n s
W i n g ,
2 0 0 1 .
“Written-off” in a crash at Clonbullogue, Co. Offaly,
6.5. 2004.
REIMS-CESSNA FR.172H ROCKET.
203. (c/n 0343) Deld to Casement Aerodrome, 4.10.72.
To A.F.T.S. To B.F.T.S., 1973. To No. 2 Support
W i n g ,
1 9 8 0 .
T o
A r m y
Co-Operation Sqdn, 1986. To 104 Sqdn, No. 1 Operations Wing, 2001.
204. (c/n 0344) Deld to Casement Aerodrome, 4.10.72.
To A.F.T.S. To B.F.T.S., 1973. “Written-off” in
crash in Shannon Estuary, 20.9.78.
205. (c/n 0345) Deld to Casement Aerodrome, 4.10.72.
To A.F.T.S. To B.F.T.S., 1973. To No. 2 Support
W i n g ,
1 9 8 0 .
T o
A r m y
Co-Operation Sqdn, 1986. To 104 Sqdn, No. 1 Operations Wing, 2001.
206. (c/n 0346) Deld to Casement Aerodrome, 4.10.72.
To A.F.T.S. To B.F.T.S., 1973. To No. 2 Support
W i n g ,
1 9 8 0 .
T o
A r m y
Co-Operation Sqdn, 1986. To 104 Sqdn, No. 1 Operations Wing, 2001.
207. (c/n 0347) Deld to Casement Aerodrome, 4.10.72.
To A.F.T.S. To B.F.T.S., 1973. To No. 2 Support
W i n g ,
1 9 8 0 .
T o
A r m y
Co-Operation Sqdn, 1986. “Written-off” after forcelanding in sea off Gormanston. Stored in Apprentice School. To Waterford Regional Airport for fire
drill and evacuation training, August 1998.
208. (c/n 0348) Deld to Casement Aerodrome, 4.10.72.
To A.F.T.S. To B.F.T.S., 1973. To No. 2 Support
W i n g ,
1 9 8 0 .
T o
A r m y
Co-Operation Sqdn, 1986. To 104 Sqdn, No. 1 Operations Wing, 2001.
209. (c/n 0349) Deld to Casement Aerodrome, 4.10.72.
To A.F.T.S. To B.F.T.S., 1973. To No. 2 Support
W i n g ,
1 9 8 0 .
T o
A r m y
Co-Operation Squadron, 1986. “Written-off” in landing accident, Air Corps Station, Finner, Co. Donegal, 10.11.93.
210. (c/n 0343) Deld to Casement Aerodrome, 4.10.72.
To A.F.T.S. To B.F.T.S., 1973. To No. 2 Support
W i n g ,
1 9 8 0 .
T o
A r m y
Co-Operation Sqdn, 1986. To 104 Sqdn, No. 1 Operations Wing, 2001.
Issue 1
Page 8
November 2008
Kit Reviews
Four Provinces News Letter
So you want to build a Nimitz-Class
…….in 1/720.. Which ship, which kit?
There follows a detailed description of what
you will find in each of the different boxes of
Italeri 1/720 aircraft carriers. This is not a build
article. Nor even really an inbox review as
much as a guide to what parts come in what
boxes. I’ve tried not to be too critical, as this
wasn’t the point, but if you have built one, and
want another but don’t know what’s in the box I
hope this is of use to you. I have also included
some information on the USS Reagan that may
not be well known, and is useful in building this
ship in particular, as she is so different from
her sisters. Most of the kits can be built as the
ships they are marketed as, but only as-built.
The common core plastic of the Nimitz and
Eisenhower original issues is there in all the
boxes, so you can build a nice model of Nimitz
or Eisenhower from ANY box. The most
important thing for me is that they are
available in Ireland, for the princely sum of
€13.99 in the only model shop in the south of
the country. So I will not compare them to
Trumpeter, Monogram, Fujimi or any other
carrier kits. The photos are my own, but for
references of the real things I strongly
recommend the US Navy official site, http://
www.navy.mil/view_gallery.asp?
Issue 1
By Roy McKay
category_id=10 and http://www.navsource.org/
archives/02/68.htm
The Italeri Nimitz-class is in my opinion the
best of the 3 types of kits of US carriers they
have out. Yes it has problems, accuracy issues
and basic detail in some places, but depending
on the ship it can turn out very nice indeed.
The Forrestal-class kits are something more of
a mish-mash. The Detail & Scale book
criticised them very badly, but was a little
unfair in my opinion, as I like the look of my
models and I think the island is more correctly
in proportion with the rest of the ship than the
Revell 1/540 scale kit, which Detail & Scale
was pretty positive about. If, like me, you have
a few (!) Italeri carrier kits knocking about, you
can change some of the fittings for spares from
the Nimitz class. The Sea Sparrow launchers
come to mind. I read a review somewhere that
said they thought Italeri was trying to represent
the ship prior to her receiving her SLEP
upgrade, and I would tend to agree with this, as
it appears similar to her 70’s/early 80’s fit. Or
another way, as she appeared after being re-
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November 2008
Kit Reviews
Four Provinces News Letter
built after her fire. Building any other of
the ships is another matter, as Ranger
carried her forward 5” gun sponsons
that she was built with all her life, and these are
not
included.
Also,
I
think
Independence has a different shape to the
flight deck aft of the number 4 catapult. These
last two kits only differ from the Forrestal and
Saratoga kits in that they have another part to
correctly enclose the fantail.
Both the Nimitz class and Forrestal class are
far better than the Kitty Hawk/Constellation kits,
which do not represent these ships at all really.
These are based on the America kit moulds
with a different island. These are not anything
like the Kitty or Connie in real life apart from
the island which is ok in side view but too narrow in front view. The sponsons are rounded
as the America, whereas Kitty’s and Connie’s
are angular like Forrestal’s. The America kit is
actually OK, but sand off the over scale and inaccurate deck markings, and substitute with
decals or paint!
The Revell Enterprise is without doubt the best
carrier kit in 1/720, the only let downs are the
catwalks around the flight deck are too
shallow, the walls around these are too thick,
the fit is a bit iffy in places, and the Terrier
missiles supplied were never fitted. I built my
first one on about 1986 when I was a spotty
teenager, I just bought another one to make a
decent job of it! I have a photo of her taken
with the first tomcat cruise and it seems that
every plane in the air wing is on the deck, I
would love to build it as this!
I might even convert the old one to the current
fit! Incidentally, the Italeri Nimitz, Carl Vinson,
Roosevelt, Lincoln, Stennis, Reagan and
Constellation kits have all appeared in Revell
boxes, usually at a higher price, but the plastic
inside is identical to the Italeri issues. These
and others have also appeared in Testors
boxes in the U.S., which can be found on Ebay
sometimes for small money.
Back to the Nimitz class. The Nimitz herself,
CVN-68 (Photos 1-9). This the latest issue of
the kit, I bought it about 2 years ago. The
centre of the waterline plate was solid on my
original kit bought around 1986. Other than the
Issue 1
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7
Photo 8
Photo 9
gap there now (photo 3), it is identical. If you
want to build the Nimitz as-built, the Nimitz kit
is perfectly ok for her, and has 4 nice F-4Bs as
an alternative to the F-14s (photo 5). Faults
include the no.3 cat being ever so slightly out
of
position,
and
the
JBD
behind no.4 cat is too big. I don’t worry about
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November 2008
Kit Reviews
Four Provinces News Letter
such things, others might. The bow cv
number decal will need to be changed
for a post -78 Nimitz, as they are the
earlier larger numbers. [Correct size decals for
this (and all American carriers in the Italeri
range) are available from Gold Medal Models].
The island numbers are ok though. See below
for more on this. The life rafts will be needed
from another boxing if you want a Nimitz from
anything other than the first few cruises. Put
another way, if you want to use Tomcats from
1978 onwards, get life rafts. Aircraft supplied
are 4 F-4Bs (or -Ns, you can make out the chin
pod, but only -Js were on the Nimitz!) 4 F-14, 4
A-7, 2 A-6, 1 E-2 and one SH-3. This kit is
recommended for the ship as built.
Photo 9
Photo 10
Photo 12
Photo 11
Photo 13
Photo 14
Photo 15
Photo 16
The CVN-69 kit (photos 9-16) has no
Phantoms but in their place has the life rafts
(photo 13-15); some extra antennae for around
the island and on the mainmast. The original
Nimitz ones are still there (photo 16, 42); and
a different correct radar lattice mast (photo
Issue 1
43,44). The only other external difference is
two of the 3 bridle catchers are not used and
sections of flight deck
Photo 42
edge netting are provided in their place.
Again this is a later issue, as the waterline
plate has the gap, but
mine seems also to
have suffered heat
shrink on the sprue (photo 11-12). The bow decal is still too big, and this is a problem for
every issue of the Nimitz class I have except
the CVN-76 kit. Other than that, it is recommended. It's the Ike as built.
The original CVN-70 kit (again photos 9-16) I
have built is exactly the same mould as the Ike,
so is missing some sponsons, Ciws and other
features that Vinson carried at commissioning.
Never mind the radar/satcom domes that have
sprouted on all the ships as they have got older
and refitted over the years. Even worse, my example was moulded in a bright blue
plastic that took ages to cover. The Nimitz
radar antenna is correct for as- commissioned
however. My kit was bought in or around 1988.
Decals consisted of the (again) oversize bow
CV number and island numbers, but added the
deck stripes. These silvered badly on the matt
paint and fell off after a short time. Avoid it
unless you really want the ‘70’ decals. I have
not seen the kit that is sold by Revell, but it is
an Italeri mould of some form, but nearly twice
the price. If you want to build Carl Vinson at
commissioning, you will be better off with the
CVN-73 kit, although still there are problems.
See below, and photo 36.
The original CVN-71 isPhoto 36
sue kit I built (1989ish)
is identical to the above
apart from being back
to grey plastic. It still
has all the original
Nimitz/Ike
sponsons
and missile launchers.
Avoid, unless you intend to cannibalise or want
to build Nimitz/Ike. I don’t have the box anymore but you can tell it by the artwork. The
original was a bow-on pose with an A-6
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November 2008
Kit Reviews
Four Provinces News Letter
launching. The newer issue has a stern
view and “new parts” printed on the top.
From a response on a modelling forum, I’m
informed the newer issue has extra parts for
the later sponsons, a new sprue of aircraft that
includes F-18s, 4 of which also replace the
A-7s on the main sprues, and Sh-60s (photos
28, 29, 30 & 33). The new missile sponsons,
radar mast and radar, Ciws, sea sparrow
Photo 28
Photo 29
Photo 30
Photo 33
Both CVN-74 and -75 are identical kits (photos
17, 45, 18-24) and contain most of the
requisite changes for these ships over the
earlier issues. The sponsons and such are far
better than the -73 kit (photos 18-24, 31) and
are contained on the waterline plate. Some
details are missing, but they are both far
superior to the CVN-73 kit. Satcom domes are
missing, the obvious ones are from the port
directors and other items are on the sprue that
was the waterline plate, but these are more
appropriate to CVN-70 as commissioned, and
are still not the best available ones (see below
for CVN-73 issue). Mine were used, and later
some were trashed and replaced with spare PE
bits, mainly the radar mast. The Sea Sparrow
directors are WAAAY over scale, see photos
46, 47 & 48, in comparison with the ones from
the later ships. On the other hand, the radar
antenna itself is really puny!
CVN-72 I have not seen. I have no idea what
comes in the box.
CVN-73 See again photos 46, 47 and 48 to
see the differences between this and the later
ships sea sparrow directors. Also, note the
different layout of the sprue in the waterline
Photo 47
Photo 46
reissued CVN-71 kit above. Once again, it has
all the extra parts for the later sponsons, and 4
F/A-18s which replace the A-7s on the main
sprues, (photo 30). The new missile sponsons,
a lattice radar mast and radar, later Sea
Sparrow launchers, Ciws, sea sparrow
directors and other items are on the sprue that
was the waterline plate, but again are more like
Vinsons’ as built configuration. The decals are
nice, apart from the bow number being still too
big, but at least it is the lo-vis type which is
correct and the island numbers are correctly
sized and correctly shaded. Although, if you
want a model anyway accurate for
Washington, you’ll also need one of the
following kits…..
Photo 48
Photo 17
side on the hull next to cat 4 and the one on
the port stern by the LSO platform (which is
also missing from ALL the kits). I could be
wrong, but I think John C. Stennis was the first
to be commissioned with the satcom domes
already on the roof of the island, doesn’t matter
anyway as they are not there. There is a ready
supply of these as sprue off cuts in the Dragon/
Revell HMS Invincible kit! The radar mast itself
is actually ok, and the radar antenna is more
realistic, but still anorexic looking. Again, F-18s
replace the A-7s. Decals are good except for
the bow numbers’ size again. The later Sea
Sparrow launchers are included. Recommended.
CVN-76; where do I start! This has all the
plate. Apparently, this is the basis of the
Issue 1
Photo 45
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November 2008
Kit Reviews
Four Provinces News Letter
original goodies of Nimitz/Ike; the
added sponsons etc from CVN-74 and
75 (photo 24); the extra aircraft sprue
from CVN-71 (photos 28, 29, 30 & 33);
and another (4th) sprue with all the Reagan
bits (photos 27, 32), including a brand new island and mast, bulged bow section for under
the waterline, and inserts for cut-outs under the
sponson beneath the island (photos 25 & 49
Photo 18
Photo 19
Photo 20
Photo 21
Photo 22
Photo 23
Photo 24
Photo 31
shows comparison with original hull to illustrate
the scored lines that define areas to be removed). The decals come with an amendment
with the CORRECT size CV numbers for both
flight deck and island (photo 26). Hooray! All
the original parts are there bar the Phantoms,
so you can use this kit to build any of the ships!
You will have a supply of spares too. See
photo 34 for all the shaded areas on the sprue
map! Highly recommended!…. But still you will
have work to do…..
“The revised island on the Reagan extends all
the way back to include the formerly separate
radar tower aft of the island. On flight deck
level, there are cut-outs to allow the tractors to
drive through to the outboard side of the
island, known as the bomb farm, since spare
ordnance is often stashed at the deck edge,
before being struck down below using an
ammunition elevator. The flight deck cut-out is
about where the island ends on previous ships
Photo 28
Photo 29
Photo 30
Photo 33
Photo 27
Photo 32
Photo 25
Photo 49
of the class. There is one fewer deck in the
revised island, although it is of the same
overall height as the other ships - there is more
headroom
on
each
of
the
remaining decks.”
“The design of the USS Ronald Reagan did
away with the #4 wire (and its arresting gear
room on the 03 level, below the flight deck).
The other three wires (and the barricade
stanchions) & sheaves to run wires below to
the arresting gear machinery rooms are
located as before. For the model, you'll just
(Continued on page 14)
Issue 1
Page 13
November 2008
Kit Reviews
Four Provinces News Letter
need to omit anything associated with
the #4 wire.”
Thanks to Bill Lee, a friend, modeller and
Nimitz class expert (he served on enough of
them) who really knows about these things for
the above info. Count the wires from the stern,
so no.4 wire is the most forward one. The
island info is related to my one concern with
the kit. I think the Island is too short in length.
The kit parts are the same length as the
original ones. See photos 35-41. Especially 36
Photo 35
Photo 36
Photo 37
Photo 38
Photo 39
Photo 40
all. For the price, they are worth it for the
aircraft alone. I actually prefer the shape of the
Italeri E-2s and A-6s over the Skywave ones.
Put on some of GMM’s PE set for these kits
and they become something a little more
special.
Trumpeter have released a family of 1/700
Nimitz-class ships based on the superb 1/350
kit, but as the price - depending where you
shop online- will be somewhere between
$40-$60, (some listings are nearer $80!)
I might buy ONE!.. I can get the Italeris for
€13.99 each!!!
Trumpeter have also released aircraft sets in
1/700 like they do in 1/350! EA-3Bs, EA-6Bs,
C-2s and S-3s would be useful to the Italeri
kits, as they do not include any of these.
and 37 which show the
comparison on the
same hull. The cut-outs
mentioned are there
but in the same space
Photo 41 as taken up by the
original islands. The island also looks too tall, but as you read above
it should be the same overall height as the
originals. I cannot be sure as I have not built it
yet! These photos are only test fittings, but it
doesn’t look right to me. I just can’t say why exactly! Still, I’m glad to have the kit, and plan on
using another one to build a post 2000 refit
Nimitz!
All in all, I am glad I have these kits, faults and
Issue 1
Page 14
November 2008
IPMS The Four Provinces
Handy Web Pages
I’m sorry if a lot of the web pages are civil airliners, As some of you know that is my area. I
would like you the members to send me some of your handy web pages. Send your list to
kmf2000@indigo.ie and put “IPMS – Handy Web Pages” in the subject line. Thank you.
Military Decals
Manufactures
http://www.authentic-airliners.de/
Civil decals and resin kits.
http://www.welshmodels.co.uk/
Manufactures of Civil and Military vac form Kits.
www.twosixdecals.co.uk
http://www.airfix.com/
Manufactures of Civil and Military injection Kits.
Civil Decals
http://www.hasegawa-model.co.jp/e-w/E-index.htm
Manufactures of Civil and Military injection Kits.
Reference
http://www.tamiya.com/
Manufactures of Military injection Kits.
http://www.airliners.net/
Many Airliner Reference site, but has got military aircraft
too.
http://www.revell.com/
Manufactures of Civil and Military injection Kits.
http://www.colorserver.net/
FS Colour Reference site
http://www.scaleworkshop.com/index.html
Manufactures of Military injection Kits. Has some good work
shop online videos and downloads/
Decal / After Market Parts
Shops
http://www.airline-hobby.com/
http://www.hannants.co.uk/
http://www.maxdecals.com/
Civil and Military Decals, Mainly Irish subjects
http://www.drawdecal.com/
Civil and Military Decals
http://www.thrustdecalsonline.com/
Decals, Resin Kits and Parts. WW II Racers
http://www.f-dcal.net/
Civil Decals
http://www.aviationmegastore.com/
Internet Groups
http://www.airlinercafe.com/
Model Airliner Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/airlinermodelling/
Model Airliner Web Group
http://www.nazca-decals.com/
Civil Decals
http://www.jbot.ca/
Civil Decals
http://www.brazmodels.com/
Resin Kits and Parts
http://www.f-rsin.com/
Resin Kits and Parts
http://www.mikegrantdecals.com/
Issue 1
Page 15
November 2008
IPMS The Four Provinces
Kit Review Form.
We would like to see you view on the kits your building .
Kit
Scale
Price
Email
Decals
Extra Parts
The build
Painting
Finishing
Comment
Please fill in as much information as you can. I would ask you to provide photos of the
unstarted kit, box and all decals and extra parts. It is also nice to have some photos of all the
stages of the build.
You can email this back to kmf2000@indigo.ie. Please enter “IPMS Kit Review” in the subject
line. You can type the review or scan this form. Photos can be sent as jpg.
Thank you for all you help
Issue 1
Page 16
November 2008
IPMS The Four Provinces
Membership Application Form.
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Address
News Letter Email Printed Email
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Payment : Paypal ipmsfourprovinces@hotmail.com or Postal/Money Order
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Modelling Interests (Tick all that apply)
Aircraft (military)
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Return To :
Roy McKay, 20 MillbrookCourt, Midleton, Co. Cork.
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