Mike – Page 3 – Mike's Models

French Battle Tank B1 bis. Tamiya 1/35.

Crew of 4, fully traversable turret with 47mm gun that was controlled by the commander, with radio operator acting as loader. The main gun was a 75mm howitzer with very limited traverse, so it was necessary often to move the whole tank to aim the gun. Used as an infantry support tank a role to which it was well suited. 388 B1 and B1 bis tanks were produced and from January 1940, the French army formed 4 armoured divisions, the Divisions Cuirassee de Reserve (DCR) in which B1 tanks played a major role.

Douglas A-1J Skyraider. Tamiya 1/48.

I used Ammo Mig Vietnam Ground Texture A.MIG-2109 to replicate the Vietnamese soil!

de Haviland Mosquito PR.XVI. Airfix 1/72 scale.

No. 60 Squadron South African Air Force, Foggia, Italy, January 1945.

This was the most effective photo reconnaissance aircraft of the time and because of their speed could not be challenged by the Luftwaffe until the introduction of rocket and jet-powered aircraft.

Soviet Attack Aircraft SU-25 “Frogfoot”. Zvezda 1/48.

I felt compelled to make this model in Czech rather than Soviet markings! This one belonged to the 30th Strike Regiment of the Czechoslovakian Air Force, Pardubice airbase, 1989. A very unusual and colourful scheme.

Grumman FM-1 Martlet (Wildcat) Tamiya 1/48.

Avro Anson 1/48 Airfix Mk. I

“Despite the fact that the RAF entered the Second World War with 26 squadrons equipped with Avro Ansons, they were basically obsolete as a fighting machine and were quickly withdrawn to secondary training roles, a task for which the ‘Faithful Annie was particularly well suited”.

Westland Wyvern S.4 Early Version. Trumpeter 1/48 scale. HMS Eagle 1955.

S.M. 79 Sparviero-Bomber Version. Italeri 1/72.

The S.M.79 Sparviero was created and manufactured in the 1930s by Italian company SIAI-Marchetti initially as a civilian aircraft, which went on to achieve world speed records. It has a wood, canvas and metal frame and 3-engine low wing configuration. It was widely used in WW2 by the Italian Regia Aeronautica, particularly as a bomber in the Mediterranean theatre and then as a torpedo bomber. Recognizable by the “hump” behind the cockpit.

REGIA AERONAUTICA, 258TH SQUADRIGLIA, 109TH GRUPPO, 36TH STORMO B.T. BOLOGNA 1940.

ICM 1/48 Bristol Beaufort Mk.1A. Torpedo version Mediterranean theatre.

RAF training unit, Bilbais, Egypt, 1944

Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II. Tamiya 1/72.

This is a little jewel of a kit and although I am not a great fan of modern jets, especially if they are all grey(!), I was quite taken by its stunning quality and felt I had to build it almost for it’s own sake.

This is the USMC B version and is slightly smaller than the Naval C version, but comes with extended undercarriage for take off from carrier decks. It is a 5th generation stealth fighter and comes in three variants, A (USAF), B (Marines) and C (US Navy).

The question is do the Americans have a “Kill Switch” for the F-35!? If you are reading this Donald Trump, please let us know!