Pin-Wash Demonstration at the November Meeting

Vice-President Michael Tabone, presented a workshop on the art of pin-washing at the November meeting. Michael took us through all aspects of successfully applying washes from the available tools to the washes themselves and of course his preferred application method. He explained the various options regarding washes ranging from the more traditional oil based washes through to the more recent commercially prepared washes. These are becoming more popular to their more consistent nature but there’s still a place for some old school skills.

While a keen aircraft modeller, Michael’s background is in armour. Armour modellers have led the way in recent times in painting, washing and weathering in general. Seeing these skills first hand was a real bonus with Michael spending more time answering questions than pin-washing! Not a bad thing, we all walked away from the meeting better equipped for our next modelling adventure.

Workshops are a regular feature at Warbirds AMG meetings to offer up new, complimentary and alternative skills. The focus as always is about fun and enjoying the hobby rather than trying to turn everyone into a master modeller! 2015 Meeting Dates will soon be posted, keep an eye on the Meeting tab and join for an afternoon of modelling fun next year.

Claes Sundin’s Latest Profile Book No3 Released

Claes Sundin continues his series of Profile Books with Book No 3 dedicated to the fighters of the Luftwaffe. 124 profiles covers aircraft from 1938 Condor Legion mounts through to the late war machines that were too late to be truly effective.

After looking through the pages of the third book in the series, Claes has managed to not simply maintain his great standard that has seen his profiles grace many historical references over the years, but raise the bar. The great selection of profiles including a mix of Luftwaffe standards with some unusual variants and even the odd controversial subject will no doubt spark many conversations and debates with modellers and historians alike. By controversial, I refer to the old debates on JV44, the Luftwaffe jet fighter protection unit, and whether the underneath of their aircraft was red or black with white stripes. While red is generally accepted to be corrected there are still those who believe some aircraft may have been black. Also, the actual Werk Nr of Hartmann’s aircraft spark questions and of course the all-red Focke Wulf Ta152 is a fun topic of discussion.

Click on the book cover above to be taken to more info on the book and ordering information. Print and binding quality is perfect. Claes releases these through his own publishing efforts, Centura Publishing. Tell him Warbirds AMG sent you!

Welcome to AERO-TORQUE, the blog of Warbirds AMG. A lot of hard work has gone on in the background from our Vice-President and resident Webmaster Michael Tabone, a big thanks goes to Michael. Rather than trying to be yet another modelling website with all the bells and whistles, the aim is for AERO-TORQUE to be an online outlet to display the output of the groups’ members, supporters and special guests. We provide links to the great forums and other websites and resources that others do so well and are utilised by the members of Warbirds AMG.

Our current membership is made up of a mix of local members who attend our monthly meetings, also local and distant members with limited or no access to our meetings. It’s particularly for these members we’re trying to build AERO-TORQUE. There will no doubt be plenty of change and experimentation as we settle into a working formula for the site specifically and the group generally. Feedback is always welcome via email and at the meetings if you can attend.

Enjoy the flight and first batch of articles

Martin Reid

President / Secretary – Warbirds AMG

• We start with a build of the 1/48 Monogram kit cross-kitted with the Italeri Cobra helicopter. Cobra 546 by Laurence Farrugia also looks at making your own decals.
• The Fire Cross by Gunzars Zulias and Martin Reid looks at early Latvian military aviation with profiles from Ronny Bar.
• Last Ditch Effort by Alex Glass better known in the modelling world as Uschi and an early international member of Warbirds AMG presents his build of Tamiya’s 1/48 Heinkel He162
• Frank ‘n’ Hien – Japans Front Line Fights by Laurence Farrugia and Martin Reid looks at two of Japan’s premier front line fighters in model form with profiles by Richard Caruana and Claes Sundin.

WarbirdsAMG are now live with the launch of the official Club blog site.

Don’t forget to check out the Gallery page also with a look back at the IPMS Wings & Tracks competition in April this year.