Kne-Mida (In Scale) – IPMS Israel Magazine No. 45-46, 7/2007

Self propelled A.A Guns in IDF service - Guri Roth

With the evolution of the aerial platform as a weapon of war, and new threat from above, has led to a quick development of passive and active defense systems counter measure.
Yet, most of these systems were static.

Only during the Second World War, with the speed at which the third Reich had moved across Europe, the need for mobile systems, able to defend the advancing armies had evolved, and both sides had begun developing new mobile systems.
For this, the guns had been on various trucks and tracked vehicles.

The seeds of what would become the anti aircraft array of the IDF had been sawn during October 1940, at which time a Jewish  anti aircraft battalion had been formed, within the British army, for defending the than Palestine air space from aerial attacks
by the Nazi and Italian air forces
.
On May 2nd, 1948, the first anti aircraft battalion of the IDF had been reformed.
It had used Swiss Hispano-Suisse 20 mm static guns, which had been stationed around the power station and the airport of Tel-Aviv.
At this location, it had scored its first downing by the IDF, of an Egyptian Spitfire, which had been forced to make an emergency landing at the Herzliya coast.
Other units had been dispersed in the Jordan valley, the Galilee and the Negev.
Since the guns had been equipped with armor-piercing ammunition, they had been extensively, aboard various improvised tracked cars, used in the ground battles, during The War of Independence, inflicting heavy damage to enemy forces.

The 50's had been fairly quiet for this new force.
It had actually been dispersed during the war in 1956, but the towed system could not advance at same speed of the Israeli armor and were stuck in the Sinai sands.
During border skirmishes with the Syrian army, in the early 60's, the systems had been mostly used for direct ground firing due to its enhanced accuracy.

By 1962, the anti aircraft array had done a major technology leap, when the US Administration had agreed to sell Israel the new Hawk ground to air missiles.
To supplement the new missiles, 40 mm L-70 radar guided guns had been purchased.
At that point the force had become an entire array, and as such, it would have become, entirely, under the command of the Israeli AF, by 1971.

During the 1967 war, the anti aircraft defense actually remained action less, due to the decisive destruction of enemy airplane on the ground.
An Iraqi TU-16 was shot down by ground artillery over Ramat-David airbase.

During these years, dedicated M16 tracked carriers, with turrets equipped with four 0.5 inch guns had been purchased, but the turrets have been removed so that the carrier perform infantry tasks.

At the beginning of hostilities along the Suez Canal in March 1969, all L-70 batteries were positioned in a second line, far from the front.
Thus allowed Egyptian pilot to penetrate fast and low, drop its ordnance on frontline units and quickly evade the radar guided units before the later could lock on it.
Thus, the need for a small, high reaction, easy for use, defended, flexible in use and a high rate of fire weapon quickly arose.
This weapon was destined for engaging low flying jets, as well as ground forces.
The Israeli air force had many captured soviet BTR-40 wheeled APCs.
By the end of the 1960s, M55 turrets had been mounted of Soviet BTR-152 APCs.
Later on, IAI with air force personnel, had manufactured an improved turret, consisting of two Orlikon HS-404 20 mm guns.
These improved turrets had been mounted on the BTR-40 vehicles.
Many of these vehicles were positioned in the font line along the Canal.
On February 28, 1970, two Egyptian MIG-17s attacked the Israeli front line.
A pair of self propelled guns opened fire, shooting down one of them.
Later on, a 20 mm battery shot down a MIG-21, significantly reduced the amount of low level penetration attacks.
This had led the IDF to significantly increase the number of self propelled turrets, resulting in IAI installing the TCM-20 turrets on the original tracked carriers.

At the beginning of the 1973 war, self propelled units had often been the only defense against low level enemy airplanes.
In the Syrian front, 8 fighter airplanes and seven commando carrying helicopters, had been shot down.
In the Egyptian front, all together 21 fighter, 2 helicopters and 5 "Kelt" air to ground missiles had been shot down.
The success during the war led to extensive procurement of mobile units, including new Hawk missile batteries, M370 Chaparral missile carrying tracked vehicles and M163 Vulcan carriers.
The last shoot down of a Syrian MIG-21, by a 20 mm self propelled turret, operated by a reserve unit, was in June 1982, during operation Peace for Galilee.
By that time the, the self propelled turrets had been gradually withdrawn from use.

Modeling an Israeli self propelled turret

Anti aircraft BTR-152 carrier: the base is SKIF kit 209 of the basic BTR-152.
EDUARD had issued a PE detailing kit #35318.
As for the special turret, it can be obtained from Tamiya's M16 kit #35081.
Gury advices the modeler to replace the 0.5" guns of this kit with more detailed ones.

Anti aircraft BTR-40 carrier: a rare CAPITAN Russian  kit can serve as the base for this conversion. This specific carrier had used the two 20 mm gun turret.
One might try contacting http://www.smallafv.nn.ru/capitan/capitan3501.html.

20 mm gun tracked carrier: most numerous of all Israeli gun carriers.
The base is Tamiya M16 KIT #35081.
There are two  TCM-20 conversion kits: AEF Design kit #KI-82, and AZIMUT kit #35186.

All three versions were painted standard IDF color, Humbrol 84 with dry brushing Hunbrol 72.

To conclude the article, 4 pages of walk around photos are included.   

Internet resources for paper modelers - Alex Zimbalov

Alex guides the paper modeler to some dedicated paper modeling web sites for the ever increasing community, as follows:
The Israeli forum: http://come.to/israelmodeler
A German web site: www.kartonbau.de (highly recommended)
A Polish web site: www.kartonwork.pl.
An English web site: www.cardmodels.net
A Japanese web site: www.d1.dion.ne.jp/hamanaga/ThumbLink/Thumb00.html
A Russian web site: www.cardarmy.ru/forum/index.php     

HETZER - WWII tank destroyer (EDUARD) - Eyal Reinfeld

Based on the Czech (T)38 tank, with a 75 mm PAK 39/L48 gun, about 2500 tank destroyers had been manufactured by the Germans between April 1944 and May 1945.
Eyal modeled the EDUARD 1:35th scale model, with complete interior detailing including PE and the crew.
For add on, Eyal replaced the crew with a pair of German tank crew from the Russian TANK, with HORNET 1:35th  resin replaceable heads.
At about $2.5 per head model, tens of options exist in this line.
The base was made by a hollow Kappa box, with, a KANCALI latex cover which had been glued into a simple paint frame.
For detailing, Eyal relayed on Osprey's Modeling the Jagdpanzer 38(T) Hetzer book by Gary Edmundson.
For the interior, Eyal did the following:

1. Primer spraying, than dark brown FLOQUIL spraying, as a base for pre shading.
2. Mixing German Bestil Brown primer with Blood Red and Dark Flesh, than brush painting over the German primer.
3. Spraying ceramic Elfenbein color by mixing Tamiya white color with a drop of German Dunklegelb color.
4.  Applying Raw Umber wash, mixed with fine mineral sprit.
5. Filtering by Brunt Umber oil cooler over the red primer parts.

For the exterior, Eyal did the following:

1. Spraying German yellow color, by mixing four parts of Tamiya XF-60 with one part of XF-59.
2. Spraying German brown by mixing XF-46 with a touch of XF-1.
3. Additional spraying with Model Master 1943 Panzer green color.

Eyal wishes to advice washing all part trees with hot water and soap, in order to remove oil residues, left by the metal casting, and prior to masking.
For weathering, Eyal did the following:

1. Spraying Tamiya earth brown, mixed with Japanese brown.
2. Applying delicate Raw Umber and Brunt Umber oil color wash
3. Chipping Brunt Umber oil color, made of Humbrol 33 and 160.
4. Applying Europe Dust MIG pigment, mixed with Tamiya acrylic thinner.
5. All exposed areas were scratched by graphite pencil.
6. The soil was sprayed with dark brown FLOQUIL layer and later by some dust color layers.

For crew painting, Eyal did the following:

1. Oil colors for the face.
2. Mix of Humbrol 33 and 61 for the uniforms.
3. Shirts with Humbrol grey 27.
4. Boots  with Humbrol black 33
5. Overall detailing with Humbrol 33 and 110.

1:144 AH-64D SARAF (REVELL) - Gidi Vitkon

Gidi modeled the Israeli AF "Saraf" from Revel Apache Longbow kit 4046, a highly detailed, 79 pieces kit, with recessed mold lines.
For the conversion, Gidi used the following:

1. ISRACAST 1:48th conversion kit.
2. ISRADECAL 1:48th set # 53, with highly detailed drawings.
3. Dragon 1:144th UH-60L Blackhawk kit, for the Israeli decals and external fuel tanks.

All Israeli modifications were done by down scaling the parts from the Isracast 1:48th kit to the 1:144th scale.
Of importance is Isracast's advice to paint all engine parts prior to the engine assembly.
External painting consisted of preparing  a set of masters, made by fluorescent drawing paper.
This paper is easy to fold, yet retaining its stiffness.
All masters should be kept aside till the very end for any paint repairs.
For finish, Gidi sprayed the model with Future, than let it dry for three days.
All necessary decals were scanned from the 1:48th Isradecal sheet, than scale down to 1:144th scale.
The scaled down files were printed on a domestic decal printing sheet, left to dry and finally applied to the model.
Having completed the decaling, the model was sprayed again with Future, and left to dry.

ALOUETTE II in IAF service - Ilan Varshai & Noam Hartuch

On March 12th, 1955 a new helicopter appeared in the sky, soon to become a hit.
The SNCASE Alouette, having been manufactured in twenty years, with 1324 examples, of which 15 had arrived in Israel.
This was the world's first serial production, turbine powered helicopter.
Two major models existed:

1. A 360 hp Artouste powered SA-313B
2. A 480 hp Astazou powered SA-318C

After prolonged "lobbying" by Mr. Josef Shidlovsky, the owner of the engine manufacturer "Turbomeca", three Alouette II had arrived in Israel in the summer of 1959.
For this purpose, a new airline had been formed, the "Arkia-Elize".
The first two pilots who flew the new helicopters were IAF veterans Albert Atar and Amitai Hason.
By the end of 1960, after suffering heavy operation losses, the helicopters were handed to the IAF, joining a single example in use from 1957.
This example had been donated by a French lady, Mrs. Deutch-Lamare, which had insisted that the wording "Hashem yirae" (Hebrew for God shall be witnessed) will be painted on the fuselage and that it shall serve in humanitarian, non combat, missions only.
Serialed 03, it had made its maiden flight on July 15th, 1957, with major Uri Yarom at the controls.
A month later, it had performed the first sailor rescue from ship practice, by a cable ladder.
During 1960, firing tests of the newly purchased French SS-10 and SS-11 wire guided missiles had been conducted, albeit the idea was abandoned.
During 1959, it had also become the "personal" helicopter of the IAF CO Ezer Weizman.
In 1965, with the purchase of surplus French B-47s, A new helicopter training squadron had been formed at Tel-Nof air base and the two remaining Alouette II were transferred to this unit.
During the 1967 war, the unit served in scout and liaison missions of high commanding army officers.
By December 1967, a new Alouette II squadron had been formed at Sde-Dov base, and by the end of 1968 it had consisted of six SA-313B and threeSA-318C.
By 1970 the last examples had been purchased complementing a total of 13 helicopters.
By 1975, with the extensive use of the B-206 by the IAF, the helicopters had been withdrawn from use, although two examples had been retained for the personal use of  Ezer Weizman (the Minister of Defense) and David Ivri, the IAF CO.
Mr. Ivri was the last to fly Alouette 03 to the IAF museum at Hatzerim air base.

Alouette II kits
A large selection of kits exists in the following scales:
a. 1:72nd scale: MACH 2 detailed kit with provisions for skids, floats and wheels.
                        Heller SA-315 Lama kit.

3. 1:48th scale: Heller detailed kit.
4. 1:72nd scale: Revell scout version, kit #4401

Revell anti tank version, with four SS-11 anti tank missiles, kit       #4478.
                                 EDUARD PE detailing kit for the Revell models.

Modeling an Israeli Alouette II
In order to model the SA-313B, all four kits are sufficient.
As for the SA-318C, one would have to scratch build the Estazou engine, not an easy task, but may be done with numerous photos existing in the net.
Some new communications and navigations antennas have been added along the years.

Painting and decaling
All Israeli models had been apparently painted dark green FS34102, Humbrol 117 the closest shade.
The cockpit interior was matt black.
All dynamic systems were painted grey, Humbrol 27 the closest shade.
Rear rotor blades were painted yellow with three red strips.
Main rotor blades were painter in two patterns:

1. Black blades, with red-white-red strips at the tip
2. Dark green blades, same as fuselage shade, with yellow strips.

All 15 examples in IAF inventory had been none consecutively serialed 03-22.
After the Yom Kippur war the prefix 0 had been added to the tail number.
The IAF emblem had been applied on the under fuselage, below the cockpit, and on the left hand side of the fuel tank. It is unclear whether all examples had the under fuselage emblem.
The squadron emblem was painted in 1968, behind the fuel tank, adjacent to the tail number.
A table of where about of all 15 Israeli examples is included in this article.
The article contains three color side views of this model in service with the IAF.            

1:48 B-17G (MONOGRAM) - Daniel Shoch

Basically, a highly detailed model, with 148 parts, this model needs more detailing in the forward bomber compartment, rear guns compartment and the communications compartment.
Daniel chose to replace the thick and glossy Monogram decals with a set of After Market decals.
Daniel also included Verlinden PE kit which improves the forward bomber compartment. This kit also comprises PE parts for the bomb bay, allowing the bay doors installed in the open position.
Paragon Design issues a detail kit specifically for the bomb bay, but this was out of budget.
Daniel also used Squadron's two canopy sets, True Details wheels and Cutting Edge's mid-section gun stations and ammunition link chains.
Since the B-17 had numerous types, many sub-types existed.
For example: B-17-G-25-BO stands for a Block 25, G model, with a nose Bendix turret, which had been manufacture by Boeing by the end of 1943.
After a research Daniel arrived to the conclusion that the box represented either a late G model, or an early F model.
Eventually the decal selection was an Achtung Vermots 1,Eagle Strike sheet of a B-17-G-25-BO, named Little Patches and coded LL+L.
The model was internally painted Humbrol 80, with specific paintings of the various accessories.
For reference, Daniel used the following sources:

1. Squadron Signal publications no-63 B-17 in action.
2. Birdsall S., Fighting Colors, B-17 Flying Fortress In Color, Squadron Signal publications.
3. Ethell J. L., et al, The Great Book of WWII Airplanes, Bonanza books.
4. Verlinden Lock On #24 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

Operation MOKED (six day war) armament - Shlomo Aloni

Achieving air superiority by attacking enemy air forces bases, was initially envisaged by the IDF as long ago as 1948.
The idea was to concentrate sufficient force and attack the Egyptian fighter base at El-Arish.
In the years prior to "Kadesh" operation in 1956,
Many air base attack practices had been performed, with the highlight being a combined formation of 24 Mosquito aircrafts, divided into three formations, attacking Ramat-David air base from three different directions with intervals of 30 seconds between each formation.
In 1967, the IAF had six bomb types: 50 kg, 70 kg, 100 kg, 250 kg, 400 kg and 500 kg. A small quantity of runway piercing bombs also existed, plus Napalm, cluster bombs and rockets.
For simplicity, at each target air base, three or four major points had been marked for bombing, with the aim to de activate the air base.
Each formation was allocated 2 such points, when the first pair attacks one point, and the other pair attacks second point. After ward the formation will return and perform strafing paths within the available time frame, before the appearance of the next formation.
The complexity was with the bomb fuse selection.
Each bomb had a selection of two fuses, immediate or delayed.
The  immediate fuse was for runway bombing, where as the delayed fuse was for concentrations of parked airplanes.
Special fuses were used for concrete runway attacks, in order to extend the repair time needed during the night after the attack.
The spear head had been the Mirage III, which had been destined for long range attacks of quality targets, and air defense of the "lesser" attacking fighter formations.
Each squadron had allocated four aircraft for air superiority missions, in the interception configuration, which consisted of two jettisonable 1300 litter wing fuel tanks, "Yahalom" (Hebrew for diamond, Matra R530) in the centerline station, and "Shafrir" AA missiles under the outer wing stations (pending availability).
The long range arm was the Vaoutors of 110 squadron, divides into four formations and destined for attacking enemy air bases
The Vaoutour configuration was internal fuel, inside the bomb bay, two jettisonable wing fuel tanks under the wings and eight 70 kg bombs under the four outer wing stations.
The "Sambad" (Super Mystere B2) of 105 squadron, had two configurations, as follows:

1. Most common configuration was two jettisonable 1300 litter wing fuel tanks, plus four runway piercing bombs.
2. The more interesting configuration was two jettisonable 1300 litter wing fuel tanks, plus six runway piercing bombs.

This configuration required skill and speed in activating the armament switches through a certain sequence.
The path itself consisted of straight and level low flying, at 300 feet above ground level and at a speed of 400 knots.
However, this resulted in quiet a few bombs which had nor been released during this specific path.
The Mysteres also had two configurations, roughly divided equally between the inventory, as follows:

1. Two jettisonable 625 litter wing fuel tanks, plus two 250 kg bombs.
2. Two jettisonable 625 litter wing fuel tanks, plus six runway piercing bombs.

The Ouragans, the "most inferior" fighter in the inventory had the most versatile configurations, as follows:
a.107 squadron's four formations had been armed with two wing tip fuel tanks,
   two 250 kg bombs and eight delayed fused T-10 rockets.
b.113 squadron's eight formations had been armed with two wing tip fuel
tanks, two 250 kg bombs and eight delayed fused T-10 rockets.
   Five formations carried the 650 litter two wing tip fuel tanks, while the three
  formations carried the 425 litter two wing tip fuel tanks.

In all, the high preference of general purpose bomb, over the runway piercing bombs.
Eventually, on the first attack wave five types of ordnance were used, as follows:
70 kg, 250 kg and 500 kg bombs, runway piercing bombs and T-10 rockets.           

1:32 F-16C (ACADEMY) - Ofer Zidon

Ofer describes modeling an F-16C #519, of the first fighter squadron, armed with a pair of JDAM bombs.
The Academy kit has many options, as follows:

1. Two engine types, plus two types of the air intake, allowing modeling either a block 30 (300 series  F-16C) or a block40 (400 series F-16C).
2. Two types of vertical fin bases.
3. Two canopy types, fluorescent and golden.
4. Wide selection of ordnance, such as AIM-7, AIM-120, GBU-12, JDAM and AAQ-13 and AAQ-14 pods.

All together, the kit contains 355 parts, plus 26 fluorescent/golden parts.
For the Python 4 missiles, Ofer used Isracast kit 32004.
The additional antennas, and ECM, Ofer used parts from Isracast kit 32002.

Model painting
An important point: if you intend to model either a "Scorpion" or a "First fighter" squadron airplanes, you should correlate the brown and sand shades to these of the scorpion or skull decals shades.
For example, in Ofer's case the shade of the Humbrol 119 was a bit too red with respect to that of the skull decal.
Ofer had to add a bit of Humbrol 110 or 118 in order to adjust the overall brown paint.
Other sujestions Ofer has regarding the painting sequence:

1. Always proceed from the brightest color to the darkest one.
2. Use pencil for the full pattern (green and brown colors) in order to get an accurate pattern.
3. Paint the color intersection areas with low pressure, while the nozzle is as close as possible to the model's surface.
4. If an over spraying had occurred, there are three options for removing new color over the old cooler surface;

d1. Erase the excess color with flexible, soft white eraser
d2. Use ear cleaning stick, with a bit of thinner in order to remove the excess color.
d3. Apply a bit of the old color, with a regular brush, in order to over paint the excess color.
For decaling, Ofer used Isradecal sheet IAF-41 which represent every F-16C of the IAF.

IPMS Israel nationals

This year's contest had taken place at the Air Force House, at the city of Herzliya.
Enclosed selected photos from the event, plus a table of the winning models in each category.

Straight from the box

1. Hobby Boss Mirage III, 1:48th scale

Somewhat, equivalent to the Eduard model, but less the PE parts.
May also be purchased in an Israeli version, sub type CJ, depicting #778 of the " Bat" squadron.

2. Wolf pack Israeli aircraft 1:48th scale, conversion kits:

b1. Israeli F-16A detail/conversion kit, #WP48004, includes 10 parts such as a new radom, Pave Penny pod plus its pylon, chaff & flares cassettes plus housings, and 4 different antennas.
b2. RAAM conversion kit #WP48003, including all required parts
highly recommended
www.wolfpack-d.com

3. Czeckmaster Spitfire 9 kit #166, 1:72nd scale.

Suitable for modeling the sub type LF MK.IXE, equivalent for the first 50 Spitfires in IAF service.
Contains 66 resin parts, over 50 PE parts, two vacuum formed canopies plus a canopy masking kit.
Decals also include the famous Israeli black spitfire, #57.

4. Special hobby Lockheed C-60 Loadstar, 1:72nd scale

A plastic cast, including resin and PE parts, plus a plastic canopy.   

Passover 2006 IPMS gathering

This year's traditional Passover show was held at Haifa.
Enclosed selected photos from the event.

1:48 F-4E (HASEGAWA) tail number 238 - Yoav Efrati

This article is a translation to Hebrew, done by Dudi Gozlan, to an original article prepared by Yoav for the FSM magazine.
It took Yoav four months to complete this model.
The model had been on show at the IPMS-UK in 2005.

Background: the fight against the Syrian air to ground array
One of the lessons of the Yom Kippur war was to improve IAF airplanes survivability and to improve its standoff capabilities.
As a result, chaff and flare had been installed to all F-4 airplanes.
New systems, such as the AGM-78 and the GBU-15 missiles had been introduced into service.
The "Scorpion" squadron had been selected to implement and develop the tactics of these new stand off systems.
Five F-4Es had been upgraded for this task.
These airplanes had had the TISEO optical guidance system.
On July 9th, 1982, a wave of "Scorpion" F-4Es launched AGM-78 missiles against the radar system of the Syrian AA array, located at the Bekaa valley, in eastern Lebanon.
This array consisted of 15 self propelled SA-6 batteries, 2 SA-3 and 2 SA-2 batteries, as well as ZSU-23 AA guns and shoulder launched SA-7 missiles.
Upon eliminating the radar systems, the remaining aircraft launched GBU-15 in order to destroy the remaining batteries.
By night fall, 15 batteries had been destroyed, and the remaining four severely damaged.
In the ensuing air to air combats, 23 Syrian aircraft had been downed.

The "Kurnass" last air to air kill
Since the Syrian SAM threat had been eliminated, the F-4Es of the "Scorpion" squadron have been assigned interception missions, together with the F-15s.
The last kill, of a Syrian MIG-21, was achieved by the crew of Ben-Ami Perry (pilot) and David Oakman (navigator), after launching a Python 3 missile which had directly hit the MIG.
It had been Ben-ami's fifth kill.

Modeling "Kurnass" 238
Yoav chose to model the Kurnass in a post 1982 war configuration, consisting of two GBU-15 missiles, guidance pod under the starboard wing, centerline fuel tank, port wing 370 gallon fuel tank, ALQ-119 ECM pos under the port forward AIM-7  station and AIM-9D missile under the starboard forward AIM-7 station.
Yoav had done many improvements to the original Hasegawa kit PT8, as follows:

1. A set of Verliden ejection seats.
2. A set of Cutting Edge white inlets (set #CE48458).
3. A set of Aires exhaust pipes (set #4118).
4. A set of Eduard PE (set #48-231).
5. A set of Airdoc inner wing pylons (set #ADR-48003).
6. A set of Isracast outer wing pylons (set #48005)
7. A set of two GBU-15s, plus its guidance pod (set #48007).
8. A set of Airdoc AIM-9 pylon for the starboard forward AIM-7 station .

As for decaling, Yoav used Cutting Edge sheet 48004 and Isradecal sheet IAF-37.

References
In Scale #36
Osprey – IAF Kurnass.
Osprey – Modeling the F-4E.
Squadron/Signal - Modeling the F-4E.
50 Year of the "Scorpion" squadron.