Fw-190D - fast and deadly

Deadly both for bombers and enemy fighters, Fw-190D, the German answer to Mustang. This creepy looking fighter is rather non-phtogenic and is really hard to find good angle to (photo)shot.

I decided to order Doras from Armaments in Miniature range due to my dissapointment of metal range of Warlords metals. The models are really good with just few moldings on the sides of fuselge but under the camo and decals (by miscmini) they look good.

In the Blood Red Skies Dora inherited Robust from Anton, is less armed but much faster and have a great ability to dive .

P-38J Lighting - a storm announcer

Good planes for the current stormy weather. Lightings are newwest reinforcements of my USAAF collection for Blood Red Skies. 

This airsraft has a typical Late war fighter profile: 2-2-8 with reinforced armamment average agility and speed of 8 (about 400mph).

I expect to use my Lightings both in ETO i PTO. They were made to play history based scenario: Operation Vengence (attack for the transport of adm Yamamoto) based on the Transport Hunt generic scenario. In Europe P-38 will escort bomber missions over Germany.

The models are Armaments in Miniature resin kits and good enough. I've chosen rather hastily alluminium painting scheme which needs a perfect surface. I'm not fully satisfied with the effect.

 

 

Aichi E13 - back office worker

 

I would hazard a guess that reconnaissance aircrafts are the most underestimated aircraft category at war. Alhough very importand job they did on the battlefield they stayed forgotten. Responsible for  reconnaissance was critical and decided the outcome of the many struggles, especially on the Far East. 

During Operation C (Japaneese raid on Ceylon) missing radio transfer from Catalina saved the IJN fleet from counterattack of FAA planes. During Operation Mo (that is known as a battle of the Coral Sea) misidentification of Neosho as a carrier makes easy victory slipped out of the Japeneese hands. Radio damage on the reconnaissance plane made Japaneese blind in the crucial moment of the Midway battle.

Considering that I decided to create scout mission scenario  concentrated on the comlicated and not appreciated work of reconnaissance patrols. I belive in campaign games it could be expanded on misidentification model that makes games even more excited.

As we have quasi official stats for PBY Catalina flying boat it would be nice to have the similar numbers for the most popular Japannese reconnaissance aircrafts. The most popular one was Aichi E13 operated from seaplane carriers or cruisers. For now let me introduce E13 Jake.

 

G4M Betty - fast girl :)

 

Never planned to expand my Japaneese Navy Air Force more than carrier operated one. Unfortunately during COVID events I had plenty of time for reading and came across some books concerning early war struggles on the Far East. Social distance requirements led me into making some solo scenarios for Blood Red Skies. One of them was a Kuantan battle with G4M Betty as a main character. 

My new The Betty's models came from Armaments in Miniature range. They look really good, especially in full makeup :). Please meet Betty.

 

 

Betty card is included into Japaneese expansion pack from Warlord is quite fast (for a bomber) but - as the most Japaneese aircrafts - vulnerable airplane so she needs "bodyguard". 

 

Meet a Friedrich

Not as famous as older Emil, nor so popular as younger Gustav. Meet Friedrich, champion of the Western Desert.

Whether it is only faster Emil with the same trait cards I decided to have it in my collection as a part of DAK air force.

The model is from AiM with typical quality for this producer. Nice panel lines especially on the fuselage. This time I have used Tamiya paints in place of my favourite Hataka range, decals are - as usual - miscmini range from 2/JG27. Terrain substituted ;)

He111 - Luftwaffe work horse

Active since the very beginning of the Second World War (or even earlier)  until the last hour of the Third Reich, wrecker of the European cities, air supporter during Blitzkrieg period, destroyer of the enemy navy ... He 111 German medium bomber.

For me it was a "must have" element of early war Luftwaffe collection. The only model of this plane available on the market is - as far as I know - an Armament in Miniature one. Rather average quiality without many details. I belive it comes from the earlier series of this producer. Due to the presence of unter hull gondola the mount is shifted back what affect stability of the model.

Three bombers were painted with Hataka range paints (RLM70/71/65) using airbrush. I'm going to use them as a part of BoB scenarios or even in the role of torpedo bomber hunting down Allied convoys to Soviet Union.

B-17G - Let's start the bomber offensive

Why keep German late war fighters if there is no proper advisor to fight against? A proper mean, a good bunch of Allied heavy bombers visiting Ruhr area.

Having a squadron of Schwalbe's and Gustav's in my Airshed I decided to start a new project: a box of late war B17. The only available option is  "G" version by Armaments in Miniature. This model is quite new (haven't set up on the website yet) and - in my opinion - very well casted, with numerous details as a whole set of 0.5's, turrets, fine panel lines and so on.

Being two months in social distance to me (due to COVID19 lockdown) my models had succesfully landed. I decided to paint them in Olive Drab/Neutral Grey camo and marked with 100BS using decals from Miscmini.

Main colours were put with airbrush and only details with a regular brush. I'm quite happy with a result. I'm looking forward to meet Defenders of the Reich.

B17G AiM - First look

After two months of lockdown the transatlantic cargo transport has been restored. Luckyly new models from Armaments in Miniature including brand new B17G - even not published on producer's webpage yet - have come.

Until now I've treated AiM models as fair plane markers for Blood Red Skies not very spectacular in terms of quiality and number of details. I have to say that new B17G set a new standard.

Firstly: the mouldings are very limited, there are literally two places demanding sanding: in the rear part of fuselage and on the engine number 2.

Secondly: it is common within resin models - especially the bigger ones that cast is a bit distorted and require streightening with hot water. Nothing like this concern new B17G from AiM

Last but not least: There are a good portion of well casted details as MG turrets, and numerous panel lines.

Only area to improve - that concerns all AiM models with radial engines - is a detail level of cylinders.

Having B17G looked around and sanded there is a time for painting. I would definietly share with you the modeling process of this model because it is worth it. Stay tuned!