A Word from your Travelling President

Greetings from the Pres. This month is a special month for the ACT Scale Model Society. We have a guest speaker from the Australian War Memorial, and it's the last month to bring in models for the modeller of the year comp

as well.

We have our AGM coming up in August. This is the night when you get your say re the committee for the club, so it's important that you come along. As per the rules for the ACT, we need a quorum of 51% of members to vote on the night, otherwise we have to do it all over again, so we need you to come

along.

Once again, I encourage you all to put up your hand to run for a committee

position to steer your club. Hope to hear from you all soon.

Regards,

Ben Frohling

President

this issue

KM Ho-229 Review P.2 Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire Review P.3

WnW 1/32 Fe.2b Review P.5 Model Expo 2015 P.7

Editorial

Welcome again to the new and re-

vised ScaleAction, the now Quarterly

Newsletter of the ACTSMS.

Coming up in the next couple of

months will be the Annual General

Meeting of the ACTSMS, a great So-

ciety night with more terrific infor-

mation from the War memorial and

the preparations for this years Scale-

Act, the best damn competition and

Show in all the territories.

Inside this Edition we have an excel-

lent review of the extra big Spitfire

from Tamiya, brought to you by none

other than Chris Leeman, the man

who puts the Panzer back in Aircraft

modelling. Also we have a wrap up of

Model Expo from Brad Fallen who

also is to be congratulated for taking

best of Show in Melbourne, well

done.

After a year back in the saddle as

Editor, with Matt Jorgensen providing

valuable assistance, it is now time

again to hand over the keyboard to

someone else. I wish ScaleAction

and the Society Committee all the

best for the future.

Tony Martin. Editor

ScaleAction The Quarterly Newsletter of the ACT Scale Modellers Society

ISSUE 02 July 2015

Kit Review It has been a busy three months. From a general meeting perspective we con-tinue to have between 50 and 60 mem-bers at each meeting. We have been privileged to have Garth from the AWM provide a very informative presentation on the genesis of the Tank and its use in WW1. We also had our own ANZAC theme presentation. Thanks Phil, John and Peter. We also ran the mid year Swap and Sell in June. A rather orderly crowd went away with many bargains and lighter wallets.

From the committee. Inevitably, Scale-Act preparations take up most of our discussion. The year we will be looking to enhance our street side advertising with more signage and tear drop flags. We are also looking to increase our presence in the media, whether that is in school newsletters, community boards and on-line. Hopefully not too stressful for those building kits for 2015 Kittyhawk/Sentinel and the Grail, but the kits for the 2016 categories have been agreed upon and will be adver-tised soon - at the AGM.

The committee welcome Paul who is in a non-elected, but committee appoint-ed position to help with ScaleAct 15 organisation.

The club will have a revised static web-site soon to complement the Facebook page that has become very popular.

The committee continues to support the Model shipwrights show, however we have declined the invitation to at-tend Malkara this year since we believe we don't receive the exposure we would normally expect from such events. We will review/discuss every fu-ture invitation we receive from Malka-ra.

The committee has also put some thought into reviewing and revising the judging rules for Modeller of the Year. We hope to have these in place for the next evolution of Modeller of the Year.

The committee has also brainstormed some ideas for the 2016 calendar. If any club member is aware of any anniver-saries/events appropriate to 2016, we would be happy to take those on and develop the calendar. The calendar is always a work in progress and any sug-gestions/contacts are greatly appreciat-ed. This is one area that takes a lot of work and coordination to make it hap-pen.

Regards,

Tony Allocca

During my last stint at Sea up north, I was checking my emails in the Port Of

Broome and happened across an update from HLJ about the 229. Chris Leeman has

filled my with tales of how Zoukei Mura Aircraft Kits are Top-Shelf and since I al-

ready had a fine ZM Tank kit I thought why not……..so I got me one !!. I also fol-

lowed Chris’s sage advice and purchased all the goodies as well, PE Dash and Brake

lines, Metal Wheel Struts, PE and Cloth Seat-Belts and Turned brass guns. ZM also

do a series of soft-cover reference texts of their Aircraft Subjects which have an

abundance of colour and B&W pictures of the real thing or at least parts of it that

can be found in the Smithsonian Museum…. So yes, I got the book as well.

The ZM kit of the 229 is simply fantastic, its all finely crafted and detailed plastic ,

cast in either light grey or semi-clear for the wing coverings/skins. There are a doz-

en bags of Sprue goodness, markings for 3 different aircraft and a detailed, informa-

tive and well laid out colour instruction book (its huge).

As mentioned, the wings can be covered in a see-thru skin if you want to display all

the internal components of the wings (struts, frames, fuel-tanks etc) or you could

just paint over it, the choice is yours. There are two finely detailed Jet engines

which can also be displayed open or covered. Check online via Uschi for some ex-

cellent timber grain finish decals to provide that bare wood finish if you want some-

thing different. This looks like a comprehensive kit that shouldn't be too much of a

hurdle for a relative newbie like me. Highly recommended to all.

Tony Martin

Zoukei-Mura SWS 1/32 HO-229

Committee News

Kit Review Hi all welcome to the July meeting. To-

night is my last meeting as the Treasure of

the great society. My last job is to balance

the books and present the figures one

month prior to the AGM in August for

everyone to see. I have enjoyed my time as

Treasure of the ACTSMS very much and

looking forward to a break from the com-

mittee. Since returning back from the Unit-

ed States in Feb 2010 I have held two com-

mittee positions, and before the posting I

was both the newsletter editor and Presi-

dent for many years. So it’s time for a break.

The society is in a very strong financial

position, as it was when I took over from

MR Ray Bromwich four years ago. I have

continued down the same path, taking the

society from strength to strength. The com-

mittee has also taken advantage of a num-

ber of opportunities along the way that the

society has benefited from. These include

having the Hellenic club offer up the meet-

ing rooms rent free, helping out a number a

deceased estates, and running our annual

competition, ScaleAct, at a non-profit /

break even basis.

I have spoken with a member who is inter-

ested in taking on the roll as treasurer, and

if voted by the members I believe he will

continue the society down that same path

of financial responsibility. In saying that if

anyone would like to volunteer for that

position their interest would be taken very

seriously and a vote by the majority mem-

bers would decide who occupies that posi-

tion.

I would like to finish on a promotional note

if I can. I think we have a great long lasting

society because members like me put up

there hand and volunteer their time to

make sure this club is well supported and

the members well represented. This can

only continue if you step up to the plate

and shoulder some of that burden. I know

many members turn up each month, and

take advantage of what’s on offer, and that’s

fine but at the end of the day when the

committee is asking for volunteers to fill

important vacant positions then you have a

responsibility as a club member to help out.

We will have a monster Raffle for this

month:

I wish the incoming treasurer all the best in

the next chapter of the ACTSMS.

Dave White. The Money Man

Around October last year I was approached by a friend of mine from the US

asking if I would be interested in building a another model for him (I have built

a couple over the years). He told me he wanted me to do an Aussie Spitfire

using the above mentioned Tamiya kit. This quite excited me as I’ve never

built an Australian aircraft before or one of Tamiya’s new generation 1/32

scale kits. So after sorting out the details in November he sent me the kit and

a selection of aftermarket sets he wanted added. So I cleared the desk and

bogged in.

The first thing I have to say is

the Tamiya kit is beautiful. There

are no other words. Detail is

amazing and the kit just oozes

quality. It has photo-etched,

wire, window masks, soft rubber

wheels and brake lines, screws

and even a little screwdriver! It

really is a complete model.

Heck, there are even little mag-

nets to attach to the engine cowls

so they can be removed easily.

Clever people those Tamiya guys.

Tamiya 1/32 Scale Spitfire Mk VIII

Treasurer’s Blurb

Kit Review

I did add a few things to the kit (most resin items from Barracuda Models like cockpit

details, a seat and wheels). Sure they added a bit of extra detail and finesse but to be

honest an extremely good kit could be built from the box. As my client wanted this

details added they were put in during the built (he’s paying the bills). I did replace the

kit gun barrels with some magnificent turned brass items from Master Models. The only

real extra stuff I added was some extra wiring to the engine bay just to fill it out a bit

more. Building this model was a real pleasure. Part fit was excellent all round with al-

most no fit issues what’s so ever. Say what you like about Tamiya, but they know how

to engineer a model kit. The instructions are a just pure joy to read and follow

(especially after battling some of DML’s efforts that last few years) and assembly is sur-

prisingly quick for a large model. I know the tail is wrong for a Aussie Spit but the client

likes the rounded tail compared to the correct pointy tail for this version so hence

that’s what it got.

As you can probably gage by my above ramblings, I really enjoyed my experience

building this kit. So much so in fact that I have gone and bought a Tamiya 1/32 Zero

with a host of goodies. I plan to build in the not too distant future I hope. These Tamiya

1/32 kits are very good and can say worth every penny they cost and it is money well

spent.

Well here are some pictures of the build process and of the finished model itself. This

model now resides in Annapolis Maryland USA where I have been told the new owner

is very happy and is already lining me up for another project. Luckily this time it will be

a tank.

Build and Photos by Chris Leeman

Tamiya 1/32 Scale Spitfire Mk VIII Continued...

Kit Review

I started this model in late 2013 with the intention of entering it in the ‘Great War’ special category at ScaleACT 14. Unfortu-nately I’d bitten off more than I could chew because by the time ScaleACT rolled around I’d only just attached the top wing and was up to my eyeballs in rigging – and still had the tail boom to go. I pushed on and got it more or less finished in time for the Canberra Show this February, before tidying up the last bits and pieces ahead of

Model Expo in Melbourne last month.

Notwithstanding the time involved the Fee was a great kit to build. It’s only the second biplane I’ve touched since Airfix’s 1/72 Dr.1s and Sopwith Pups in the 1970s. Fit and construction were as smooth as you would expect from Wingnut Wings – the main challenge with the Fe.2b is the com-plexity of the airframe itself, which Wingnut’s designers have tackled in as logical and straightforward a fashion as possible. And while the rigging looks daunting it is not difficult to replicate, just time-consuming; it’s mostly EZ Line except for the tail boom where I needed the strength of fishing line to prevent the plastic sagging under the airframe’s weight. I used Bob’s Buckles eyelets and pre-

cut brass tube, along with extra thin super glue and accelerator, to anchor the rigging.

The end result is a model I’m really happy with that looks like a trickier build than it actually was. The same applies to Wingnuts Pfalz D.XII I built in 2012-13, and the Roland C.II I’m currently in the middle of. If you haven’t tried one of these kits you really should. I’ve learned lots of new skills like learning how to do rigging, and replicating a varnished wood fin-ish, but without any of the biplane terror I thought would accompany this. That said, I’m still summoning up the courage to tackle the Felixstowe – there was one of these sitting next to my Fee at Model Expo, and with nearly a metre wingspan

it’s one of the biggest plastic models I’ve ever seen!

Conclusion

Wingnut Wings’ 1/32 Fe.2b is a great kit in either its ‘Early’ or ‘Late’ boxings. As I said, it’s only the second biplane I’ve built since I was a kid, and while time consuming it was in no way daunting. I couldn’t be happier with the end result – it’s a big model that invariably attracts attention when displayed, and almost daily has me looking at it and

saying ‘did I really build that?’ Thank you Wingnut Wings!

References

1. The Fe.2b flies again!, Albatros Publications Ltd/The Vintage Aviator Ltd, 2009 (photocopy of front cover and p.32

provided).

2. Michael Moore, “A Fine ‘Fee’”, Model Airplane International, Issue 95, June 2013 (provided).

James Fahey’s extensive walkaround photos of the TVAL Fe.2b at www.wwimodeller.co.nz

Wingnut Wings 1/32 Fe.2b (Late)

By Brad Fallen

News From Ley Reynolds Trans-Canada Airlines, CF-CMS and the Lancaster VI

by Ley Reynolds

Historical Notes

In APMA 1/13 in

the article on the

Lancaster VI, it

was noted that one

Lancaster B.I was

converted to a B.VI

and used by Trans-

Canada Airlines.

More details have

come to light, cour-

tesy of Mr. Ray-

mond Muir and are

as follows. R5727

first entered TCA

service as CF-CMS

in March 1943 after

conversion to a

semi-civilian stand-

ard (probably by

Victory Aircraft

Ltd. in Toronto)

and was employed

on the Canadian

Government Trans-

Atlantic Air Ser-

vice from July

1943. Sometime,

most probably soon, thereafter it was allegedly converted to a Mark VI by Rolls-

Royce and returned to TCA. It crashed and was destroyed at Dorval on the 1st of

June 1945. A search of Air Canada archives has failed to reveal photographs of CF

-CMS after this last conversion but has produced some of the original work.

A Quasi-Lancastrian Conversion

Points to note in the accompanying photographs are the “turret shaped” fairing at

the tail and the glazed nose fairing, similar but not identical to the Lancastrian in

shape. Colours are most likely Dark Green/Dark Earth (or perhaps Canadian

equivalent) upper surfaces and natural metal undersurfaces, RAF fin flashes and

black registrations thinly outlined by natural metal and with red/white/blue under-

lining. Nothing in the archives suggests that this scheme was changed after conver-

sion to a Mark VI.

Also include here are 1/72 scale drawings of the B.VI conversion work from the

original article.

News From the Chief Judge

Chris Leeman

The Exhibitor and Modeller of

the year are hotting up, the year

is almost over and the front run-

ners are bringing their A Game.

Get along to a Society meeting

to see the action.

Brad’s Report From Model Expo 2015 This year I was lucky enough to get to Model Expo in Melbourne over the June long weekend. I was in town for a good friend's birthday celebration on Saturday 6 June, and it only required a little extra plan-ning to organise a full weekend road trip involving footy at the G, dodgy hotels, catching up with friends and the bonanza of Model Expo. And because I was driving I was able to bring a few models along for the comp as well, which is a bit trickier to do if you're flying.

I'd never been to Expo before and it was clear even when I dropped off my models on the Friday evening that this was a bigger event than the Canberra, Sydney and Queensland shows I've seen before. It's held at Sandown racecourse in Melbourne's east and occupies a large part of the course pavilion/convention centre. The layout was similar to ScaleACT in that trader tables were set up around the periphery with con-test tables in the centre of the floor.

The number of competition models entered was about twice that of recent ScaleACTs – 700 plus versus 350 – but the real differ-ence was in the number of traders (dozens, with really big stalls) and particularly club displays. Again there were dozens, bring-ing the total number of models on display to over 2,000 and giving Expo the 'feel' of a major event.

So did the large crowds that attended, par-ticularly on the Monday when a swap'n'sell was held in the next pavilion. I was staying with friends on the other side of Melbourne and didn't get there until the swap'n'sell (or 'swap'n'smell' as I heard it described on a forum) had been running for about an hour. But it was still jam packed when I arrived and I’m sorry to say I bailed after a couple of circuits – lots of interesting kits on offer, but too crowded and stuffy for my liking. The main competition venue was much more pleasant!

I spent the best part of two full days at Ex-po, and can safely say I didn’t get bored. I was fortunate enough to pick up a first, a third, and a commended for the models I entered, before to my amazement also win-

ning best of show for my Wingnuts Fe.2b. I had a long, cold but happy drive back to Canberra that night, finally arriving at 1:15 Tuesday morning.

Regardless of whether or not you enter any models, I can highly recommend a visit to Model Expo if you’re anywhere near Mel-bourne for the June long weekend. Even if you’re not, it’s worth thinking about getting a few buddies together and making the trip. Model Expo is an impressive and well-run show that offers a scale modelling experi-ence you won’t find anywhere else in Aus-tralia.

Brad Fallen

Notice To Members

In accordance with the ACTSMS constitution, the commit-

tee is required to provide notification of the AGM at least

one month prior.

The 2015 AGM will be held at the Hellenic Club, Woden, on

12 August 2015. The AGM will commence at 7:30pm.

Also, in accordance with the constitution, the minutes from

the previous AGM are hereby posted online and via email

to all connected members.

Please pass apologies to a committee member, or through

a fellow club member.

Upcoming Events

8 July

Theme: Dioramas - bring along any model diorama plus/or the Dambusters

Display Revisited.

Talk: A specialist from the AWM who was involved in the revamping of the

WWI display galleries will present on the task and

challenges of refurbishment of the historic WWI dio-

ramas.

12 August

Theme: TBD—model buildings

Talk: A presentation on scratch-building buildings.

9 September

Theme: Space and Sci-Fi models

Talk: TBD - a "how-to" workshop;

14 October

Theme: Cars, Trucks and Bikes - bring along any model in this category

Talk: Glossy Finishes workshop by Paul D'Orival and Peter Shum

11 November

Theme: Any maritime models

Talk: "Emden Beached and Done For" - the Sydney-Emden clash of 1914,

Presented by Mr John Perryman from the Navy Historical Section.

Sentinel Shield 2015 What is the Sentinel Shield?

The Sentinel Shield is a special Scale ACT judging category where all entrants must build a particular AFV model, strictly to "Out of the

Box" rules.

The model chosen as the subject for the ACTSMS Scale

ACT ’15 Sentinel Shield was the Tamiya 1/48 German 8-Wheeled Heavy Armoured Car Sd.Kfz.232 kit

Sentinel Shield 2015 eligible model

Tamiya 1/48 German 8-Wheeled Heavy Armoured Car Sd.Kfz.232 (#32574)

OUT OF THE BOX

The Rules are very simple:

- the only model eligible for entry in the 2015 Sentinel Shield is the Tamiya 1/48 German 8-Wheeled Heavy Armoured Car Sd.Kfz.232 kit

- all modellers, whether ACTSMS members or not, are eligible to enter the competition

- the model must be constructed strictly to ACTSMS 'Out of the Box' rules. No materials not found in the box may be used. No aftermarket

parts etc. The exception is decals (see below)

- in a departure from the “Out of the Box” rules, modellers may finish their models using aftermarket decals and/or paint

schemes

- Sentinel Shield entries will be judged as a stand-alone category, provided ACTSMS judging rules regarding number of category entries

and entrants are met.

Oh, and why call this special military vehicle competition the "Sentinel" Shield? This comes from the AC1 Sentinel, the Australi-

an-designed and manufactured tank produced during WWII.

KittyHawk Cup 2015

What is the Kittyhawk Cup?

The Kittyhawk Cup is a special Scale ACT judging category where all entrants must build a particular 1/72 aircraft model, strictly to "Out of the Box"

rules.

The model chosen as the subject for the ACTSMS Scale

ACT ’15 Kittyhawk Cup was the Airfix 1/72 Bristol Blenheim range of kits

As this kit is currently available in two boxing’s, we thought we'd open things up a little and allow Kittyhawk Cup entrants to build and enter ANY of the

kits (or all, if you're really keen!).

Kittyhawk Cup 2015 eligible models

Airfix 1/72 Bristol Blenheim Mk.I (#A04016)

Airfix 1/72 Bristol Blenheim Mk.IVF (#A04017)

OUT OF THE BOX

The Rules are very simple:

- the only model eligible for entry in the 2015 Kittyhawk Cup is the Airfix Bristol Blenheim range of kits

- all modellers, whether ACTSMS members or not, are eligible to enter the competition

- the model must be constructed strictly to ACTSMS 'Out of the Box' rules. No materials not found in the box may be used. No aftermarket parts etc.

No crosskitting (transferring parts between boxings) permitted. The exception is decals (see below)

- in a departure from the “Out of the Box” rules, modellers may finish their models using aftermarket decals and/or paint schemes

- Kittyhawk Cup entries will be judged as a stand-alone category, provided ACTSMS judging rules regarding number of category entries and entrants

are met.

Oh, and why call this special aircraft competition the "Kittyhawk Cup? This comes from a project undertaken by ACTSMS members to build

eight Academy 1/72 P-40E Kittyhawk models in RAAF markings for the Australian War Memorial.

Contacts

ACTSMS on the web……………….

The Society Website is at www.actsms.asn.au

Keep an eye open for the new look web-

site coming soon

Or look for us on Facebook……

……………...Search under ACTSMS and ask to join, someone

will review your access with 24 hours. Be quick to post your builds for

all to enjoy !!

President Ben Frohling bandmfrohling@bigpond.com

Vice - President Brad Fallen lynleybradley@aol.com

Secretary Tony Allocca tony.allocca1962@gmail.com

Treasurer Dave White

whitettd@hotmail.com

Editor Tony pincha4@iinet.net.au

Events Coordinator Len Partridge len_partridge@hotmail.com

Committee Members:

Chris Leeman Mike Grieve Dave Richardson Jerry Cashman

Post Box ACTSMS PO Box 600 Woden, ACT 2606

E: actsms@hotmail.com

W: www.actsms.asn.au

SA Model Expo