By Juan Romero
A couple of years ago, my friend Patricio, and I started to build which was by that time, the Tamiya’s new kit . He finished the model and published an article at Modelersite and mine was under mid construction waiting for better time, you understand what I’m saying. Now it’s the moment to finish it and here’s the article with some changes, regarding especially to the improvements made on the kit and the materials used for the weathering.
By Pablo Raggi
The Zil 157 is par excellence perhaps, a general purpose cargo truck and troops transport and for its performance it also served as the tractor for the SA-2 missiles. Although its production stopped many decades ago, still it can be seen in several countries. One of the users of this truck was Egypt and this is the version I decided to do.
By David Guardia
My dear friend, J.J Aos, who is himself an encyclopedia, gave me all the necessary information to place it in Pakistan. Although it is common to find pictures of Chaffles of late production, the early ones were also seen, included in the last Pakistan's 1971 conflict with India. Of course, exactly when I finished my model painting, Bronco Models offer the final release, Have you heard of Murphy’s law…?
By Alessandro Prini
Building a F50 GT starting from a regular Tamiya F50 was quite complex. The transkits that are available up to the moment I’m writing this article, do not convince me, they have thick parts and lack of detailing.
By Mario Covalski
The first motorcycle models I built, during the 70s, were in 1/6 scale from Tamiya. The parts were large, but the assembly sequence was simple, almost imitating that of a real vehicle. I was greatly surprised when I started building 1/12 models in the early 80s and discovered that, in many of them, both sub-frames of the chassis had to be painted first and then glued together, with the engine already painted inside. It is something similar to what happens to scale airplane builders, they have to prepare and paint the interior of the cockpit, and then place it between both parts of the fuselage, to finally paint the same, the difference is that in this case, the frame must already be painted.
By Laurent Rolleri
I spent several years waiting to build the Somua S35 from Heller #81134, for one reason or another I didn’t do it, probably due to the kit errors. I had to find a half built Tamiya Char B1 bis in a trash can around the corner from my house, perhaps thrown by a beginner scale modeler; that I finally started this mythical tank adopted by the French Army during the 30s.
By Claudio Kalicinski
The kit offers two versions: the Italian of the 78 Squadriglia and the other is the Belgian fighter piloted by Willy Coppens who scored 37 victories flying Hanriots, becoming not only the maximum Belgian ace but also developing an especial expertise in shooting down enemy observation balloons. I decided to represent the machine piloted by Coppens in mid 1918. It’s a Hanriot HD.1 that belonged to the 9me escadrille “Le Chardon”
By Juan Layos Pantoja
The Peugeot 307 is one of the Tamiya last releases of rally cars. It includes a diecast lower chassis that makes the product more expensive and at first this seems to offer no advantage, however, once the model is finished, we realize the importance of this diecast chassis that not only gives the model the necessary weight but also realism. So no extra weight will be needed....
By Gary Wickham
The infamous Dragon P-51D in 1/32. This model was started before Tamiya announced their kit, and I have to admit that during this build I did consider scrapping it more than once. In the end, I am very glad I did not. Despite the challenges and limitations of this kit, I am very happy (and proud) of the end result.
By Mario Covalski
For those who are motorcycles´ lovers, every Tamiya´s new release is full of expectations …and excitement. The Hayabusa Yoshimura couldn't be the exception, after the success, her "sister", the factory version, had. The goal of this article, is to make comments step by step with photos of the parts and assemblies about some modifications or additions which I'm sure, will be useful, specially for beginners.
By Roman Kepinski
Yoshimura designed and produced an "up grade" kit for the Suzuki Hayabusa. I am not going to tell the whole story about this incredible bike (everyone can read it on the Yoshimura web page) ...just how my experience went with assembly and detailing of this Tamiya model. Tamiya and quality are synonymous, you hear it everywhere...it is the same with this model. My first step was checking out the Yoshimura web site for ideas, reference, and suggestions on how I might want to build "MY" X1 - on one hand I was fascinating with the X1R, on the other I wanted a street bike...resulting in this custom, "MY" X1.
By Patricio Delfosse
The M115 is the not very attractive brother of the M59 Long Tom. It’s not a kit we see every day, perhaps we, modelers choose to build the M59 Long Tom with which it shares everything but the gun barrel. Anyway, I was interested in building it for two reasons: first, I had already built the Long Tom when I built the M40, that is not more than a Long Tom but self propelled, and second, because the AFV Club Long Tom kit has serious problems with gun’s size. But that’s a topic for another article. To improve several kit parts, I decided to add the old Eduard PE set 35792, the only option available today for this kit.
By Modeler Site
By Mario Covalski
Modeler Site’s editorials are in general very well received and read by modelers, but the one issued last month ( Go on buying... though…) seemed to bring a greater effect than the usual, because of the incredible number of emails sent by readers, making comments about it.
By Modeler Site
By Edwing E. Merlo Paredes
The Volkswagen Beetle is undoubtedly one of the most popular cars in all the history. The attractive and singular body’s shape has turned it into an icon in our recent history. At the end of the 60s, Disney Studios decide to immortalize the small car taking it to the cinema screen in Herbie, a movie in which this beetle played a central role and five sequences came later. The first movie The Love Bug which was known in Spain as Ahí va ese Bólido, was premiered in 1969.
By Patricio Delfosse
The arrival of the Tamiya kit to the market was a partial surprise. Although, it’s true that outside of Japan this was not a subject that modelers were crying out for, due to their history Tamiya felt that it was almost a must to manufacture the most recent Japanese MBT. In spite that it is not an interesting vehicle for the occidental modeling world, the new Tamiya kit is always welcome.
By Christian Franke
Doyusha offered both in the 90s and later only the Monte Carlo’s, making finally the San Remo Rally with the Pirelli team livery.
I’ve been trying to get this kit but it’s discontinued although still it’s possible to find it from some online stores/shops and on ebay. I bought one that had been partially built, which involves double work, missing parts, etc. This article aims at sharing with pictures the experience to rescue and old odd kit, improving it to the best of my skills.
By Erik Fontein
This typical Danish truck is used by FALCK in Denmark for transport of a range of vehicles. For not drivable cars, campervans, trucks, forklifts, 4x4, agricultural vehicles etc. But of origin is it intended for the transport of broken and stranded agricultural vehicles. Many farmers in Denmark are connected to the FALCK organization. So if there's an agriculture vehicle with technical problems or stuck, than FALCK will help. During a holiday in Denmark I have been given the opportunity to take photos of a similar vehicle and trailer. Also I could take the measures of both.
By Fabrice Marechal
It was in 1978 when I saw for the first time, the Tamiya Porsche 934 at a hobby shop. Though, the 1/12 model was built straight from the box and without paint, the details seemed to be surrealist and impossible to imagine up to that moment. It was my first approach to that Tamiya kit in 1/12 scale. Perhaps, with the aim of re releasing that success, several years ago Tamiya manufactured the same car, winner of so many championships, but in 1/24 (the most popular scale) which is the subject of this article that aims at helping the less experienced modeler to build the new Tamiya Porsche.
By Mario Covalski
By Mario Covalski
I have been building the 1/12 Caterham from Tamiya since 1994, right now I don’t remember how many of them I have built but think I did 14 of them. Some were sold other remains in my showcase. In fact I built more as I use to disassemble the old ones and with new techniques and / or inspiration I make new ones, always letting my imagination fly freely.
By Modeler Site
By Edwing E. Merlo Paredes
The aim of this article is to give the reader a detailed and comprehensive guide. Here you’ll have typical indications for the most experienced modelers but very useful for newcomers or for those about to take their first steps into scale model cars. In spite that this kit is simple, it’s very important to follow the instructions to avoid unexpected surprises. In spite that modelers use to skip or change the order in the instruction steps, I’ll build this kit as per instructions.
By Gennaro Zappa
Kawasaki had high expectations for 2006 Season. The new Ninja ZX-RR was a motorcycle that had nothing to do with its predecessor. New inline four cylinder engine, higher speed, and torque. New clutch re-designed as well as the gear box to provide more power.
By Patricio Delfosse
For those fans of modern Soviet hardware, there are not many opportunities to be pleased about. There are just a few releases of this kind of vehicle and in general they are from brands which offer low quality products. This Gainful is an exception, since it’s quite a good kit (though not superb, as we’ll see later on) from Trumpeter, a company that since several years ago, have been offering quality products for a very reasonable price.
By Modeler Site
By Edgardo Azzollini
Both MFH kits are very well done and well match the real cars. They could be mounted OOB, but some little changes could be done to improve these kits. There are few mistakes on painting scheme and, for D50 only, I had to make modification on the body-work to get the right GP version. Since kits are almost the same, mounting process is the same for both: any difference will be underlined on the article.
By Mario Covalski
This article aims at providing the beginner a complementary guideline, apart from the Tamiya instruction's manual, including photos of a detailed and quality enough model to encourage him/her in what we could call a hard and laborious work.... facing for the first time with a Tamiya's box.....with a 1/12th inside.
By Mario Covalski
The M36B1 was a mix of the M36 Jackson turret with its 90mm cannon, that would be used later in the Pershing, and a M4A3 Sherman chassis. This vehicle was in response to Americans to be able to face in better conditions the big German tanks during WWII. It was not a tank in the strict meaning of the word since it served as tank killer, however, in the pictures of that period, they can be seen as infantry support tanks. This article aims at sharing with you my experience building a 1/16 M36B1 R/C.
By Modeler Site
By Edwing E. Merlo Paredes
I built this model as per instructions except when I used the Hobby Design detail set and some extra part. This article is devoted to novices so as to help them to build, which is perhaps, their first F1 model.
By Laurent Rolleri
The new kit from Meng is a AMX-30B, and the variant used by the French army in the Gulf War was the AMX-30B2, with some add-ons. Some time ago, Heller had released a limited edition of their AMX-30B kit which included the parts to convert it into a Gulf War tank. In this article, I’ll share with the reader how I built my AMX30-B2.
By Mario Covalski
By Denis R.S.Bomfim
This kit is the AMT 34 Ford very modified. When I opened the kit box inmediuately I realized I wanted to make a different car, and using references of real cars, I got this result. The roof was lowered, the door windows were changed, for the nose I used the one from the 37 Ford Delivery. The front grille was scratchbuilt, I placed the exhausts on the side, the fuel fill cap on the fender, all the interior was remade. Many other details can be seen in the pictures. I hope you like it ...!
By Jose Angel García Martin
This Project took me one year of work. The entire scheme was entirely painted without using any decal, and as I’m not an artistic painter, I didn’t use the airbrush. Everything was achieved alternatively as you’ll see.
By Patricio Delfosse
Until this Tamiya release, other companies offered us the Hetzer in 1/35 scale. The oldest mold comes from Italeri and leaves much to be desired Later Dragon flooded the market with different early and late versions among them the flamethrower and command ones which though they were a step ahead of Italeri, they still had details to be corrected. A few years ago, Eduard offered us a kit with complete interiors, but excessively pricey considering its quality. Now, I can say without a doubt that this new Tamiya kit in the ever popular 1/35 scale, is far superior to them all, a fantastic kit which includes many additional parts and markings to make it quite special.
By Keiichi Aoki
Usually, when we build a scale model of a motorcycle with wheels with wire spokes, we spend much time in details and painting, however, all this work lose realism if we don’t represent the wheels in a realistic way that in general have plastic spokes. Besides, there are other important areas that catch our attention when we appreciate the model once finished.
By Olivier Gordat
Pescarolo 01 chassis used during the 2011 season was derived from the chassis used in 2009 and powered by Pescarolo Sport Judd GV V10 engine. So Simil'R provides us with a beautiful 1/24 kit under the reference 151105.
By Modeler Site
By Guy Golsteyn
As a tribute to this great man, who is still very much missed, I decided to build all the 1:20 Senna kits in my stash, which will end up in a complete Senna collection of all the cars he ever drove since 1984, when his F1-carreer started. Since Fujimi now released two karts which he drove in 1981 and 1993, they will complete the line-up of F1-cars perfectly.
By Martin Ulreich
This winter I tried to do a row of 3 RC211V bikes, one of them detailed with the corresponding top studio kit and some more stuff. There was some learning curve associated to all that detail, at least for me, but also a lots of fun. A big issue was the handling of Alclad treated parts, it is very easy to damage the metallic look of the paint. In the meantime Alclad offers a water based sealer that shows promising results and should help here.
By Gary Wickham
The glorious Tamiya P-51D in 1/32. This model was started immediately after I finished my battle with the Dragon P-51D. As you would expect there is no comparison between the two as this kit from Tamiya almost builds itself. Having said that, this is not a simple kit to build. It is overly complex in my opinion but I applaud Tamiya for giving us what will be for a long time to come the ultimate P-51 in any scale. The pilot figures are from Ultracast and Verlinden.
By Mario Covalski
During my modeling years, it happened that I read an article on a superb model that was impossible to reproduce since it was scratchbuilt one and the author was a genius. The good point about this article, is that I’m not a genius and just built with things I got to hand which can be easily found. Thus, you may reproduce this model and even improve it if you have more skill and/or patience.
By Henschelporsche
This is a highly detailed 1/6 Jagdtiger, based o n the Matorro R/C toy. Michael did a great job with all the added details plus the extensive and deep weathering. Have in account this baby is 60cm long!
By Giulio Marrucci
The only kit available on market of this valuable chopper in 48th scale is from Academy. Nice kit, well detailed even if to obtain an exact replica is necessary to add some improvement, most of them in the interiors. The box content allows 5 different options to build this kit, 3 dedicated to the Navy and 2 to the Marines.
By Modeler Site
By Mario Covalski
On 2005 Tamiya offered the Ferrari Enzo for their already built series. Although the models were offered like die-cast, just the motor, floor and other chassis parts were made of white metal, other parts were plastic and a gorgeous painted ABS body. I obtained the model on 2001 in an auction at eBay for a ridiculous low price. I wanted the red but the low price immediately made the yellow as my favorite color. My first impression, when I received the terrific packaging, was little disappointed. The engine and brakes were poor detailed and crude painted, although the carbon fiber texture, interior and fabric seat belts was well represented.
By Alessandro Prini
By Giulio Marrucci
The old ESCI kit reissued by Italeri. Good size and detail. The moulding quality is not so bad considering the age. You need a lot of sandpaper to correctly shape almost the entire model. Decals: good quality, poor choice. Painted with model master. Wash with Vallejo. Dry brushed with Tamiya Weathering Master and Mr. Hobby powder. Suggestion: pre assemble as much as you can according to the colours and paint/weather the remaining separately. The leather and wooden parts have been painted using Vallejo acrylic. The fabric has been reproduced with tissue paper hardened with diluted white glue.
By Mario Covalski
In April 2013 Modeler Site celebrate their 13th anniversary. Perhaps, this is not a special event for everybody, however, for those who, have been working very hard on this project for thirteen years to offer month after month high quality articles devoted to the construction of scale models… means an important accomplishment.
By Alvaro Bortoletto
This is one of those challenges that we keep us motived for make a model kit better. This a veteran T-40 Light Tank from STC Start from Russia probably from the long ago eighties............
By Modeler Site
By Edgardo Azzollini
In 1968 McLaren Team left aside the BMR engine and started to use FORD Cosworth DFV, building the M7A. This new car was designed by Robin Herd (who left the team to join Cosworth Engineering and later – 1970 – founded March) and completed by Gordon Coppuck (the future designer of winning M23). My choice is SPA since Bruce McLaren drove to his first victory in a Grand Prix at Spa driving a car with his own name.
By Jose Angel García Martin
When I started to think about this project, I knew it would be a problem since there’s not a kit available in the market for the Mirage III EE I intended to build. Thus, I began looking for kits to be able to accomplish it, I also looked for seats, cockpit and so. Finally, I decided to use the Eduard Mirage IIIC and a transkit from Aconcagua Models.
By Erik Fontein
For this model I have used the reissue of the Italeri MAN 26.321 Formul6 kit. For references taken from the internet I removed the sleeper from the cab. On the roof rack, which was intended for the spoiler, I have a headlight and beacons placed. From the bumper I have removed the under spoiler and behind the cab is a vertical exhaust and air filter installed.
By Giulio Marrucci
The “C” version of this glorious American medium bomber was the first to go into mass production with a number of modifications dictated by combat experience, following the “B”, famous for the Tokyo raid. The kit is the Accurate Miniature, dedicated to the B25 B’s belonging to the squadron of Doolittle Riders.
By Mark Jones
I started this original issue Monogram Camaro back in the ‘90s. I was swapping in a Big-Block 427 to replace the kit's Small Block 302 and putting a C4 Corvette front suspension under the front end....
By Jose Angel García Martin
This articles aims at sharing with the reader, the work accomplished to build a model of the F-5A on service of the Spanish army of the air, using the old kit from Classic Airframes.This is not a kit for novices, in fact, I had to make many modifications and scratch, the fit of resin parts provided is not good and needs a lot of work to get an acceptable result. As always when I finish a model based on certain kit, appears a better one, anyway, I’m satisfied with the final result.
By Daniele Limelli
By Patricio Delfosse
Up to the arrival of the Tamiya kit, the T-55 from Esci was the best we modelers had to hand to represent the tank most manufactured by Soviets after the WWII. I had one since time ago, but with the arrival of the Tamiya’s, it was condemned to obscurity until I got the Verlinden conversion for the Enigma’s. My doubts about the conversion turned my project in an experimentation platform and, so the T-55 Enigma was born, based on the Esci kit.
By Modeler Site
After more than six years displaying the same layout on our English and Spanish menus, we’ve tried a major change by offering you a new design which we consider more proper for the visitor requirements who nowadays browses around the Internet. This new layout has been developed in a more comprehensive way, showing you more information, and trying to please more of you more of the time, so all your comments and suggestions will be welcome.
By Modeler Site
By Patricio Delfosse
The aim of this article is to share with the reader the work accomplished some years ago to build a model of a Russian tank KV-220 of the WWII. The modeler psyche is at times, curious, being so many kits available, some day we say “this is the model I want to have!” either because we saw pictures or read something about it in a book, a message in a forum... etc. No matter how, the only way to have it, is to get down to work, and I did so.
By Modeler Site
The famous "fan car," introduced at the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix as a counter to the dominant ground effect Lotus 79. The BT46B generated an immense level of downforce by means of a fan, claimed to be for increased cooling, but which also extracted air from beneath the car. The car only raced once in this configuration in the Formula One World Championship, when Niki Lauda won the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp. The concept was declared illegal by the FIA before the car could race again. The BT46B therefore preserves a 100% winning record! This model represents the #1 car as driven by Niki Lauda at the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix.
By Claudio Kalicinski
This Gavia kit was manufactured by Eduard, and reaches the quality and design of recent releases from both companies. The kit comprises two sprues of parts, there aren't a lot of them, but that doesn't mean the kit isn't detailed. The decals are in excellent register and are some of the thinnest that I have yet seen. Two different early Scouts “C” versions are provided, one being No. 1611, flown by Captain Lanoe Hawker on his VC flights and the other No. 1250, a machine of the RNAS, during 1915. This plane has the red and white roundels on the wings and the Union Jack on the fuselage sides. This last version is the one I decided to replicate.
By Mario Covalski
My liking for the Sherman started 25 years ago when I built the first version of the Tamiya M4 RC kit. In 2007, I decided to build all the versions, at least the available kits. At that moment I realized that to speak about the Sherman, you have to know a lot about it, and that is almost impossible to build all the versions. On the other hand, I found that I didn’t feel comfortable building in 1/35 scale, so, I left the project aside. Anyway, I went on reading and learning about Shermans, mainly the Israeli versions, just to check the little I know and the great many variants that are nearly impossible to list.
By Fabrice Marechal
During a visit to my friend Philippe, I had the opportunity of driving a red S2000, the test was fantastic and I simply fell in love with the car. As soon as Tamiya released the S2000 kit, I bought one right away to build a scale model of that red car The only reproach I could make is, that I had to build it with the steering wheel on the right-hand side.
By Modeler Site
This is a 1/24 version of the kit that makes famous Tamiya in the 70-80, the super Porsche 1/12 from Tamiya I'm sure that the 1/24 lovers will be more than grateful for this one..
By Modeler Site
Another T-55 variant from Tamiya! This time it's the Israeli Tiran-5 tank, featuring parts and markings unique to the type. Includes two half-figures.
By Modeler Site
By David Chou
These ones are both of the Stryker ICV I built. My latest work is the M1126 Stryker.
The AFV kits were built almost out of the box, but I added some storage accessories made of resin from Blast Model/Legend.
By Alessandro Prini
1/24 scale Multi-media Kit of the Ferrari 512BB Le Mans '79. Model Factory Hiro's full kits include resin-cast bodies, rubber tires, aluminum wheels, white metal suspension, photo-etched detail parts and decals. Full engine detail makes for a more complicated kit. Markings are included for N.A.R.T.'s number 64 (Henn/Delaunay/Grandet).
By Edgardo Azzollini
MFH made two versions of the P83 (K306 - ’67 Dutch GP and K307 – ’67 Belgian GP) and one for the P115 (K308 – ’67 Italian GP). It is important to remember that both, Stewart and Spence drove P83, while Stewart only had P115. Hiro did a great job with these two kits, which could be mounted OOB, but some little mistakes are still present so it would be better to correct them. This article will be focused on: P83/03 #14 – Jackie Stewart – 1967 Belgian GP and P115/01 #34 – Jackie Stewart – 1967 Italian GP. So, all features and improvements are intended to well match the cars of those GPs.
By Juan Romero
The T-70 kit from MiniArt is a “Special Edition” called in this way by the manufacturer because it includes good quality PE to detail areas such as the grilles for the engine compartment. The kit is wholly plastic, without metal or resin parts and offers markings for nine tanks. Most of the options are overall Soviet Armor Green with a couple in white winter camo.
By Fabrice Marechal
Thanks our friend and contributor Fabrice we can have this nice walkaround of one of the F1's iconic car of the 70'
The link offers our PDF for the Tamiya kit.
By Alessandro Prini
Our magazine aimed since the beginning to have good content in the articles we proposed, explaining step by step the "how to" of each subject. However there was few cases where only the pictures were enough to understand how terrific a model was, and I sincerely believe this is one of them. I like very much the rally Subarus, mainly the coupes 98 and 99, and Alessandro did a good modelling work with both Tamiya 24199 kits, the Subaru Impreza WRC 1998.
By Denis R.S.Bomfim
It all started with a joke, I built a rusted Mustang GT 350 to make a gift to a friend who only builds Mustangs. It was at a modelers meeting when he received a homage and the joke consisted of letting him know the arduous remodeling and restoration work he would have with this rusted Mustang. I took advantage of my work and presented it in a contest that took place in Campinas city. Finally, the model was “best of the show” and they called me mad for giving a winning model. My answer was.... I will have to make another rusted model for me.
By Modeler Site
By Modeler Site
By Modeler Site
AFV Club's kit of the M109A2 Howitzer includes gun breech detail with a functioning suspension system. Includes photo-etched metal parts and a metal main gun barrel. Tracks are provided as one-piece flexible vinyl belts.
By Modeler Site
By Modeler Site