Kne-Mida (In Scale) – IPMS Israel Magazine No. 44, 12/2006

Naor chose to model the Israeli F-16A model, named “Netz” (Hebrew for Falcon) in 1:48th  scale.
Naor selected the considerably detailed Hasegawa F-16A model.
Many photos, including detailed walk around, can be easily found on the net.
During its service with the IAF, chaff & flares system had been installed on the airplane.
In all, a set of four cassettes were added as follows:

1. Two cassettes on the under fuselage, between the two vertical stabilizers
2. Two cassettes on both sides of the vertical tail base.

Another task was to add the external reinforcement structure plates, characteristic of the A/B early models.
Naor used spare 1:48th F-4E type chaff & flares cassettes, trim according to the article’s drawings.
Evergreen pieces were used to create the reinforcement structure plates.
Naor also chose to trim the wing’s horizontal planes and position it in a lower position.
Painting was done with standard Humbrol colors 119, 120, 121, 126 & 127.

Arie chose to model maritime version of the Zero.
Arie selected the Trumpeter 1:24th scale model, with the wing and belly floats.
To balance the model, a 100 grams ballast before gluing the two halves of the belly float.
Painting the model was done in several phases of paint & file:

1. Applying primer coat of any color.
2. Aluminum painting of all leading edge surfaces, the engine cover and the lower surfaces of the belly float.
3. Final painting according to the selected pattern.

Arie describes his method for the color deterioration, due to the water streams effects.
For this, Arie firmly laid tape upon the fresh paint, about 10 minutes after the paint dried, and then pulled the tape, thus removing the upper layer and exposing the aluminum bottom layer.

With a brief history to the origin of the P-47, Jonathan surveys two of Tamiya’s models:

1. P-47D Razorback kit 61086, with three different propeller types
2. P-47D-25 Bubble-top kit 61090, with four different propeller types and two extra 150 gallon external fuel tanks.

The two kits also contain a large selection of equipment, such as rockets and many types of external fuel tanks.
Basically an easy to assemble kits, following the instruction booklet, with easy corrected minor misalignments.

Aviram chose to model Airfix 1:144th Iberia DC-9, following a journey to Spain.
The kit contains the rear steps, and separate cargo holds doors, so the modeler can finish the model with the stairs and doors in the open position.

The model does not contain the passenger’s compartment’s transparent window parts.
To represent the windows, Aviram did the following to each fuselage half:

1. Mask the window row from its outer side with tape.
2. Cast glue to the openings.
3. Let the glue dry.
4. Remove the tape and file the outer surface in order to get a smooth surface.

Another problem was during gluing the engines to the fuselage pylon, since there is minimal access to file the attachment area.
Small ballast was added inside the forward radom.

The kit contains decals for either KLM or Iberia models.
Window decals were taken from a DRAWDECAL MD-80 model.

TELFORD 2006 – by Ofer Zidon

Two photo pages, of selected models from the recent IPMS-UK annual contest, taken by Ofer Zidon.   

Immediately by the end of the Yom Kippur war, the IAF began restoring the Ayit fleet.
More than quarter of the aircraft had been lost during the war.
Since many aircraft were hit by heat seeking missiles, the exhaust pipe was extended thus shifting the heat source aft of the tail, instead of under the tail.
During 1974, 14 new double seat aircraft were supplied.

The whole fleet had gone through a standardization process, so by 1976, all single seat aircraft carried the 30 mm guns, leaving some training E models with the original 20 mm guns.
During the second period of the 70s, the Ayit had taken a substantial portion of the attack missions in Lebanon.

During the 1982 Lebanon war, the Ayit executed hundreds of attack and close support missions.
One Ayit was lost to AA fire, its pilot, Aharon Ahiaz, being released after 3 months.
From that time, the Ayit fleet was assigned less quality targets, in favor of the advances Kfir, F-4 and F-16 models.
It continued performing attack missions throughout 1996, when it performed its final attack missions during operation “Grapes of Wrath” in Lebanon.
Eventually, since the year 2000, its primary mission is training and night illumination.
During the 90s, 12 single seat and 3 double seat airplanes were sold to an American “Red squadron”.
Some of these airplanes were finished in a new two tone, F-15 style, grey scheme, while the rest retained the original IAF camouflage pattern.

The “Advanced Ayit” modernization project was performed during the year 2004 in the “Flying Tiger” squadron, upgrading the airplanes with updated avionics, new advanced HUD, advanced mission computer and a mission debriefing system.
In its peak, the fleet was composed of eight different squadrons, and all together, nine squadrons had operated the aircraft.

Armament
During its early years, the Ayit had limited air to ground capability, mostly due to American restrictions on selling advanced bombing systems.

Actually, the Ayit can carry a very large selection of stores, attached to five pylons, centerline and four wing pylons.
Most typical stores carried by IAF Ayit are as follows:

1. General purpose (iron) bombs such as MK82, MK83, MK84 and M117 carried directly or under TER and MER.
2. SUU-30 cluster bombs.
3. Guided weapons such as AGM-45, AGM-65, GBU-8 (centerline only).
4. Laser guided bombs, 250 and 500 kg.
5. Unguided Zuni rockets, 2.75” and 5”.
6. Illuminating flares, 5”.
7. SUU-25 flares dispensers.
8. Aerial refuel pos.
9. Aerial debriefing pod.
10. Sidewinder Air to Air missiles of the subtype B, D & J.
11. Shafrir 2 Air to Air missile.

Painting
From its origin in the IAF, the aircraft were painted in a four tone camouflage scheme as follows:

1. Three upper tones: Brown, FS30219, Sand FS33531 and Green FS34258.
2. Duck egg blue undersurfaces FS35622.

Soon afterwards, the Green color was changed to that of the F-4, FS34227.

This has lasted till the late 90s when remaining “Flying Tiger” squadron aircraft, emerging from Depot level maintenance, were painted standard IAF light grey FS36375.
Yet, one can still find active airplanes with the Duck egg blue undersurfaces color.

Unique squadron vertical tail paintings became popular during mid 70s.

1. The “Flying Tiger” squadron painted its vertical tail moveable surface in a blue tone, as well as the forward tips of the external fuel tanks.
2. During 1990, this squadron was assigned advanced training mission of the air force flight academy, resulting in painting the vertical tail moveable surface in and the nose cone in Orange color, FS12197.
3. In 1997, a large Brown flying tiger logo was applied over the Sand colored area of the vertical tale, by IPMS member Ra’anan Weiss.
4. The “Dragon” squadron painted its vertical tail moveable surface in a combination of red and white colors.
5. The “Knights of the North” squadron painted its vertical tail moveable surface in a combination of yellow and red colors.
6. The “Golden Eagle” squadron painted its vertical tail moveable surface in a combination of yellow and green colors.
7. The “Goring Ram” squadron painted its vertical tail moveable surface in yellow color.
8. Air force flight academy painted nose cone in Orange color and in some cases also the vertical tail moveable surface.

Tail numbers
The first airplanes, arriving to Israel were given two-digit tail numbers.
When the number of Ayit airplanes in IAF inventory exceeded 100, each squadron has added a prefix digit to the existing tail numbers.

1. The “Valley” squadron has added the prefix 1.
2. The “Knights of the North” and the ”Flying Wing” squadrons have added the prefix 2.
3. The “Flying Dragon” squadron has added the prefix 3.
4. The “Flying Tiger” squadron and the Air force flight academy squadrons have added the prefix 7.
5. Aircraft which had been airlifted during 1973 had been allocated the prefix 6.

By the end of 1973, the fleet had been re serialed as follows:

1. H models were allocated 200 series tail numbers.
2. N models were allocated 300 and 400 series tail numbers.
3. TA-4H double seat airplanes were allocated 500 series tail numbers.
4. TA-4F double seat airplanes, of the 1973 airlift origin, were allocated 600 series tail numbers.
5. TA-4J double seat airplanes were allocated 700 series tail numbers.
6. All veteran E models were allocated 800 series tail numbers.
   

Modeling IAF Ayit
There is a wide selection of A-4 kits, allowing for all sub variants in IAF service.
The only gap is the non existence of a 1:32nd A-4N kit.

In 1:72 scale exist the following kits:

1. Fujimi A-4M, externally identical to the IAF A-4N.
2. Fujimi TA-4F.

Both kits are perfect for an Israeli Ayit, save for the extended exhaust pipe and the 30 mm guns of the single seat models.
There are also old Hasegawa double seat kits, which are difficult for purchase.

In 1:48th scale exist the following kits:

1. Hasegawa’s high quality Israel single seat kits, whit the N model kit containing a pair of metal cast 30 mm Defa guns.

However, all these kits lack the extended exhaust pipe

1. Hobby craft kits, albeit less accurate than the Hasegawa kit, but containing the extended       exhaust pipe and the 30 mm guns.

As for the conversion and detailing kits, the selection is also very wide, most of it made by Cutting Edge and Aires, the latter offers a very detailed cockpit and landing gear wells conversion kits.

There exist the old Monogram OA-4M model, which by the old Missing Link conversion kit can be converted into a TA-4F model.

In 1:32nd scale exist Hasegawa kit, which lacks the extended exhaust pipe.
As for the single seat kits, exist Hasegawa E/F kit.
This kit is extremely difficult fro conversion into an N model, since this conversion requires scratch building the entire forward section and the unique canopy.

As for decals, there are excellent sheets of SKY DECAL and ISRADECALS, in every scale.

It is highly recommended to buy the A-4 SKYHAWK book of ISRADECAL.

Modeling the TA-4 in IAF service – by Avshi Sagi

Since there is no TA-4 kit of the IAF Ayit model, the solution is to create one from two separate models:

1. Hasegawa’s excellent single seat A-4 kit.
2. Monogram’s OA-4M double seat model.

The double seat aircraft is 72 cm longer than the single seat.
Engine inlets position, with respect to the cockpit is different between the two types.
The solution is to cut the single seat model, along the inlet line and implant the supplementary forward section of the double seat model, in a manner shown by the photos.
It is essential that the added forward section shall maintain the same angle, along the cutting line.

The exhaust extension pipe was taken from the Cutting Edge kit.
The aerodynamic extension, behind the cockpit was shaped with MILLIPUT.

Decals were taken from ISRADECAL’s IAF A-4 sheet.
Avshi finished the model with a BDU-32 practice bomb carrier and a pair of AIM-9J missiles, all taken from Hasegawa’s stores kit.

Successfully used by the US Marines during the war, Alon chose to model this tank “Beirut Payback” which is comprehensively detailed in Vrelinden’s WARMECHINES armor book #13.
After some deliberations, Alon chose to model both Tamiya and Academy models, which gives us some comparison between the two.
Eventually, Alon had to put some effort in order to correctly assemble the reactive armor plate on both kits.
In some places Alon preferred to replace Tamiya’s parts with more accurate Academy parts.

For more detailing, Alon used Eduard’s M-60 detailing kit.
The model was finished with EXTRACOLOR X812 sand color.

The challenging phase was creating the unique decals.
Fort that, Alon scanned the photos straight from the book and by using WINDOWS painter, Alon had created a black and white printing.
Printing the decals was done using XTRADECAL sheets, which once the ink had dried could be used like any other decals.

A widely used item in many dioramas, wire detailing can be naturally added to any scenario, and easily enriching the diorama.
Many sets exist in the market, albeit at a price of 10$ per set.

Uri describes a very simple, detailed and cheap method for creating your own wires.
Required materials, most widely used by modelers are:

1. Ordinary wood skewer.
2. Flexible metal wire, not thicker than 0.5 mm.
3. A player or a cutter.
4. Super glue.
5. A revolving tool, such as electrical driller, electrical screwdriver, Proxon or Dremmel.

The principal is to secure the wire on one side, with the skewer for example, than the other side is attached to the revolving tool.
Next step is turning the tool, in a slow speed, so one can control the shape of wire spins.
The method is easily explained by close-up photos.
For finishing the wire, Uri recommend using Humbrol 113 Rust color, Burnt Sienna oil color and other pigments.

The model is based on Revell F-16B 1:72nd kit #4355 and ISRACAST conversion kit #72002.
In order to better model the kit, especially while assembling the engine inlet area, Yoav used some parts out of a Hasegawa kit, such as the air inlet and landing gear doors.
The chaff and flares holed were filled and later replaced by decals.

AMRAAM wing tip pylons were taken from Hasegawa’s F-16CJ model.

LANTIRN pod was taken from Hasegawa’s X-72-12 stores kit.
Since in IAF service, the “Sufa” carries the RAFAEL LIGHTNING II targeting pod, Yoav converted the AN/AAQ-14 pod, from the stores kit, to the LIGHTNING pod, by trimming 5.5 mm in the pod center, to the required, shorter overall length of 29 mm.
The pod’s inlet was also remodeled to an overall length of 7.5 mm.
Two GBU-10 bombs were taken from Hasegawa’s X-72-11 stores kit.
Python 4 missiles were taken from the Paragon kit.

External painting was done with the following colors:

1. Humbrol 127 (FS-36375) for the grey under surfaces.
2. Model  Master RAF 2049 (FS-34424) green color
3. Xtracolor X-105 (FS-33531) sand color.
4. Humbrol 119, brightened with red brown shade, for the brown color.
5. Humbrol 140 (FS-36270) for the radom.
6. LANTIRN and LIGHTNING II pods were painted Model Master Gunship Grey FS-36118.
7. All three fuel tanks were painted Humbrol 127.
8. Bomb fuselage was painted Humbrol 117 (FS-34102)
9. Bomb wings were painted Humbrol olive drab 155.
10. Python missiles were painted Humbrol 128 (FS-36320) for the fuselage, Humbrol 140 (FS-16473) for the mid wings and Humbrol 224 olive green and Xtracolor X-502 natural steel for the fwd and aft wings.
11. All telescopic parts and sections were painted Humbrol 11 silver color.

For decaling, Yoav used ISRADECAL sheet IAF-55.
Decals for the fuel tanks were taken from the Revell sheet.

Of note is the exact location of the Star of David decals as follows:

1. 50.92 mm from the wing tip pylon rail and the edge of the star.
2. 26.11 mm from the leading edge sluts to the edge of the star.

In all the following items were used:

1. Revell F-16B 1:72nd kit #4355.
2. ISRACAST conversion kit #72002.
3. ISRADECAL decal sheet IAF-55.
4. ISRADECAL F-16I book.
5. Hasegawa F-16CJ 1:72nd kit #D18/00448: main wheels, parts B4, B14, B15 & F9
6. Hasegawa X-72-12 stores kit, for the AN/AAQ-14 pod.
7. Hasegawa X-72-11 stores kit for the GBU-10 bombs.

IPMS gathering, 2005 – by Ilan Warshai

IPMS bi-annual meeting was held on October 11, 2006, at the IAF air base of Nevatim.

The article surveys the following new conversion kits:

1. Cutting Edge F-4ES conversion kit for Tamiya 1:32nd F-4E kit.
2. Black Box Late Type RF-4E conversion kit for Tamiya 1:32nd F-4E kit.
3. Anigrand Craftswork IAI Lavi in 1:72nd scale.
4. RVHP Beechcraft B200 in 1:72nd scale.
5. ISRACAST F-16I conversion kit in 1:48th scale.
6. ISRACAST Delila decoy kit in 1:48th scale.

Decals:
1.  IAF first fighters, Avia S-199, Supermarine Spitfire & P-51 Mustang in 1:72nd and 1:48th scale.