FAMOUS RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT TUPOLEV 

Tu-95 & Tu-142 Code name 'Bear'

Book Review By Adie Roberts of In War and Peace 

History

The Tupolev Tu-95 (Russian: Туполев Ту-95; NATO reporting name: "Bear") is a large, four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform. First flown in 1952, the Tu-95 entered service with the Soviet Union in 1956 and is expected to serve the Russian Air Force until at least 2040. A development of the bomber for maritime patrol is designated Tu-142, while a passenger airliner derivative was called Tu-114.

The aircraft has four Kuznetsov NK-12 engines with contra-rotating propellers. It is the only propeller-powered strategic bomber still in operational use today. The Tu-95 is one of the loudest military aircraft, particularly because the tips of the propeller blades move faster than the speed of sound. Its distinctive swept-back wings are at a 35° angle. The Tu-95 is one of very few mass-produced propeller-driven aircraft with swept wings

The design bureau, led by Andrei Tupolev, designed the Soviet Union's first intercontinental bomber, the 1949 Tu-85, a scaled-up version of the Tu-4, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress copy.

A new requirement was issued to both Tupolev and Myasishchev design bureaus in 1950: the proposed bomber had to have an un-refuelled range of 8,000 km (4,970 mi)—far enough to threaten key targets in the United States. Other goals included the ability to carry an 11,000 kg (24,200 pounds) load over the target.

The big problem for Tupolev was the engine choice: the Tu-4 showed that piston engines were not powerful enough to fulfil that role, while the fuel-hungry AM-3 jet engines of the proposed T-4 intercontinental jet bomber did not provide adequate range. Turboprops offered more power than piston engines and better range than jets available for the new bomber's development at the time while offering a top speed between these two alternative choices.

Tupolev's proposal was selected and Tu-95 development was officially approved by the government on 11 July 1951. It featured four Kuznetsov coupled turboprops, each fitted with two contra-rotating propellers with four blades each, producing a nominal 8,948 kW (12,000 effective shaft horsepower [eshp]) power rating. The then-advanced engine was designed by a German team of ex-Junkers prisoner-engineers under Ferdinand Brandner. In contrast, the fuselage was conventional: a mid-wing cantilever monoplane with 35 degrees of sweep, an angle which ensured that the main wing spar passed through the fuselage in front of the bomb bay. Retractable tricycle landing gear was fitted, with all three gear strut units retracting rearwards, with the main gear units retracting rearwards into extensions of the inner engine nacelles.

The Tu-95/I, with 2TV-2F engines, first flew in November 1952 with test pilot Alexey Perelet at the controls. After six months of test flights, this aircraft suffered a propeller gearbox failure and crashed, killing Perelet. The second aircraft, Tu-95/II featured four of the 12,000 eshp Kuznetsov NK-12 turboprops which proved more reliable than the coupled 2TV-2F. After a successful flight testing phase, series production of the Tu-95 started in January 1956. 

Review

I was lucky enough to be able to review this book from Crecy Publishing while I was at Telford for the IPMS internationals, and the one week that I have had this huge book I have not been able to put it down.  

The book itself is some 560 pages and as I am sure you can imagine goes into depth about the whole program from its conception to its design and its service history.

Towards the end of the Second World War, it became clear that the Russians were starting to worry about the nuclear threat from the West and the need for a long distant bomber.

Before the end of World War 2 with the United States already fielding an intercontinental bomber and with Stalin’s distrust of his western allies, the fact that the bulk of the Russians heavy bomber fleet consisted mainly of IL4’s. It was decided that a plan for an intercontinental bomber should be of immediate priority, at the end of the World War 2 the Russians had some USAF B-17’s, B-24’s both part of the lend-lease program, a few B-29’s that had landed in Russia due to navigation error, power plant failures or enemy action which the Soviets troops had then gone out and secured the airworthy ones.

The Myasishchev OKB prepared two project studies designated DVB-202 and DVB-302 (dahl’niy Vysotnyy Bombardirovshchik -  Long- range – high - altitude – bomber)  One fact that I found very interesting was the reverse engineering of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress that had force-landed at a Russian airbase near Vladivostok on the 20^th of July 1944. It is clear to see that one of the first Russian long-range bombers the Tu-4 was in every way a copy of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress.

The Tu-4 was envisaged to be used as a standoff weapons platform with unmanned aerial vehicles launched by the Tu-4 would deliver nuclear warheads to there intended target. Several other designs came about including the Tu-80 which had very similar lines and characteristics to a certain Boeing B-17.

In 1946 the Myasishchev original design bureau OKB-482 was disbanded as they had failed to get any tangible results. However, in 1950 Myasishchev approached the Soviet government with an offer to create a strategic bomber having a maximum speed of 950 km/h and a range of 13,000 km.

In 1951 a new design bureau, OKB-23 was established in a borough of Moscow, for this purpose, with Vladamir M. Myasishchev as Chief Designer. “The Bear is born”

On the 12^th of November 1952 Aleksey D. Perelyot and his crew took the ‘95/1’prototype up on its first flight, this lasted for 50 minutes and reached an altitude of just over 1,150m.

Two more flights were made that year, the fourth flight took place on 13^th of January 1953, and by mid-April‘ 95/1’ had performed 16 flights logging some 21 hours of flight hours, with repairs and modifications being made as appropriate after each flight.

On the 16^th flight took place on the 17^th of April, nearly ended in disaster with the potential loss of the ‘95/1’ prototype and crew, if it had not been for Perelyot’s superb piloting saved the day. The automatic blade pitch control failed on all four engines and forced Perelyot to land at Zhukovskiy where it was promptly grounded for a month, while Tupolev OKB and TsAGI put the collective heads together to find the cause of the issue. It was found to be a material flaw which was rectified to allow further flight tests to be done.

On the 11^th of May 1953 disaster struck; the ‘95/1’crashed on its 17^th flight. Andrey N. Tupolev happened to be at Zhukovskiy on the day of the accident and had monitored the flight from the control tower at Zhukovskiy. Initially, the flight had proceeded normally. Suddenly speaking in a remarkably calm voice – almost to calm Aleksey Perelyot, ‘I am in the vicinity of Noginsk (a town in the Moscow region) we have a fire in the number 3 engine. Vacate the runway I will becoming straight in from approach. Two or three minutes later he radioed, ‘we are unable to put out the fire it is spreading the engine nacelle and landing gear fairing are burning too’ we are approximately 24 miles from the airfield. Another message was heard several minutes later saying the number 3 engine had fallen off. The wing and main gear fairing are on fire I have just ordered the crew to bail out watch for us. That was the last transmission from the crew.

This is just a very small insight into this fabulous book on the iconic Russian Bomber that is still today flying and is constantly testing Nato’s response times

This book from Crecy Publishing is a fascinating and comprehensive coverage of the Tu series ‘Nato’ code name Bear and covers just about everything you would want to know and find out about the Bear.

Other chapters covered in this book include

1.      The Forerunners

2.      The Bear is born: Design and testing

3.      First generation Air Force versions

4.      The Naval Versions

5.      Second-generation cruise missile carriers

6.      The bear in detail

7.      The Tu-95 in service: Air Force operations

8.      Bears over the oceans: Navy Versions in action

9.      Tu-95 and Tu-142 operators

Further reading via the large appendix sections continues with a full production list, accident attrition and lastly world records held by the Tu-95/Tu-142 

Conclusion

Crecy publishing have published a comprehensive guide on the Tu-95 and Tu-142 giving much more insight and detail into this huge Russian bomber, it is written in a fashion that it gives you a history lesson of facts and figures. So much I thought I knew about the Tu-95 could be placed on a postage stamp, to what I know now!

I do have a love of Russian planes and armour particularly the Cold War but I would still recommend this book to anyone for the modeller's reference contained in the book with the number of high-quality photos is invaluable. The aviation enthusiast especially Russian aircraft then this may not be the sort of book you carry with you to an air show but it will certainly be useful before and after. 

Summary 

HIGHS: So much information well written and superb high-quality photos make it a great form of reference for any modeller researching or building one of the Tu-95

LOWS: Not any that I could find

VERDICT: Excellent book on an excellent subject, one I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and I would recommend it

ICM

New in the best

Model T 1917Ambulance with US Medical Personnel 1/35^th scale

Inbox review by Adie Roberts In War and Peace

Introduction

Adie Roberts gives it a first look and inbox before going onto a build feature to see just how nice this kit is

History

From an automotive perspective, World War I was a major turning point; previously, in every war ever waged equipment and supplies were moved in and around the battle areas by some combination of horsepower or manpower.  World War I saw the first widespread use of motorized vehicles in various supporting roles.  Even during the first battles of the war in 1914, the Ford Model T was a major player as many privately owned Model T’s were commandeered for various military uses.

Knowing the tactical advantages provided by automobile use, both Great Britain and France approached the subject of acquiring Model T trucks for various military purposes early on in the war.  Henry Ford, very much a proponent of the isolationist movement prevalent in the United States prior to its war entrance in 1917, was not exactly cooperative with the request.  While Ford wanted nothing to do with the war effort during this time, he did authorize the sale of a modest number of Model T chassis to the British military strictly for ambulance use.

Upon the United States getting involved in the war, Henry Ford’s mood shifted to fully supporting the effort.  His change of heart prompted his selling the United States military thousands of chassis for various uses.  In an effort to fulfil orders, Ford even pulled units from routine stock out of circulation to more rapidly respond to the war effort.

It should also be noted the chassis most often supplied was the basic and ordinary Model T chassis (not the heavier duty Model TT) upon which any number of aftermarket bodies could be fitted.  It is even suspicious the first set of chassis sent to Europe were designed such that the shipping crate could be repurposed to construct the box body for the T.

Contents

The model kit from ICM comes in its usual solid cardboard carton with a thinner cardboard lift off lid on top. The carton provides very stable protection during posting or if placed in a pile of other models.

The artwork on the top of the box lid is colourful and very well done showing you pretty much everything you will find in the box.

Contents are as follows:

1.      Two light grey sprues which contain the model T Ford Ambulance

2.      One clear sprue for the side windows and window screen.

3.      One light brown sprue containing the figures and stretcher

4.      One decal sheet

5.      One large instruction booklet and one sheet for the figures

Review

The first glance at the spures got me thinking straight away such is the detail level, the engine looks good with the sump engine block and head all being needed to be built first. There are some quite small parts to it but nothing that looks like it is going to cause you any issues.

I have commented before in a previous review just how much I like the way they have gone about the detail on the radiator especially with the embossed Ford logo, well this time I am really impressed to see this again as this version in comparison with the last Model T Ford still has the same embossed Ford logo only. Only this time is somewhat smaller a 1/35^th scale version compared to the 1/24^th scale fire engine.

The wheels on this version are moulded plastic including tires which again on the larger version are rubber, there is no tread on the moulded version though this can be hidden with weathering, mud, dust or crushed grass. One thing I thought was very cleverly done was the air valve sticking out between the spokes with air cap on. The front suspension is of leaf spring type this attaches to the steering rack and axles, a decent amount of detail on these parts. The rear axle and suspension are basically the same as the front but without the radiator.

The drive shaft is nice; the steering rack is quite thin and would need a nice sharp blade to cut it off without causing it to break, I like the exhaust which comes in two parts with the main length and back box a nice moulded fuel tank. Some small injector pin marks are present but should not be visible once glued together.

Part of the chassis is moulded in one piece and includes the floor for the back of the ambulance also the front wings. One of the very interesting and great features of this kit is the interior it carries benches and stretcher, it also includes some nice moulded wooden panels and floorboards. I personally like the idea of a World War1 ambulance with an interior.

The whole body of the back of the ambulance is very well done and is very pleasing to the eye, in particular, the roof which is wooden ribbed with canvas top from underneath the wooden framework looks amazing and from the top, it is easy to see the stretched effect on the canvas.

Some wooden lock boxes are present around the ambulance as are some essential tools like shovels.

There are four figures provided which include a nurse, a medic and two injured one on a stretcher and one walking wounded. The female nurses face is feminine and clearly has her features like nose, eyes, and mouth there are no ears as her hair covers that part of the head and has a hat. Her arm is posed to be helping the walking wounded onto the back of the ambulance.

The medic is posed in a kneeling position with a pad in which he is taking down the medical notes of the second figure. The face of the medic has all his facial features with ears the outline and lower lobes no inner ear detail the eyes are well proportioned as is the mouth and nose, his hands are well formed and detailed with a pencil in one hand whilst holding his notepad in the other. His body shows all the detail you would expect from a person in this pose all the creases are looking where I believe they should be.

The walking wounded has a bandaged hand and wrist it does have a mould line down the centre of the bandage which will be difficult to rectify without losing the detail of the bandage. The legs are in a step up position and all the creases in the trousers are where I would expect them to be. The face has great details well-defined nose, eyes and ears the helmet has the tiniest flash around the brim.

The last figure is the injured soldier who is in a sit-up position on a stretcher with one of his boots off, he has an injury to his right leg where he has some kind of pressure bandage on it. The detail of the bandage is quite good for the size of it and even has a holding pin in it. The facial expression is good and looks like he is worrying he has the best facial features of the lot with eyes, eyebrows, mouth and nose. He has his helmet removed.

The instruction book is of the normal ICM type colourful for the front and the paint profiles for the different ambulances.

The instruction book is 16 pages the front page covers a bit of history of the model symbols for the for the build and the paint numbers for the kit, these are for Revell and Tamiya paints

Page 2 is plan of the sprues showing you what you get and where it is on the different sprues

Page 3-14 is of the build which breaks down into 59 build parts.

Pages 15and 16 are for the painting and placing of decals on the model kit

There is a separate page which is for the build of the figures and also painting guide to them it is colour profile which will help greatly in the painting of the figures

The decal sheet is quite small and has various numbers that were allocated to the different ambulances, some small pictures/ artwork some red crosses and lastly two French flags. The decals themselves are quite nice looking and look quite thin and no real issues looking at them.

Markings for

Model T 1917 Ambulance, USA, 1917

Model T 1917 Ambulance, 524 SSU A.E.F., France 1918

Model T 1917 Ambulance, 625 SSU A.E.F. France 1918

Model T 1917 Ambulance, 36 SS, French Army, France, 1918

Conclusion

Conclusion 

My grandfather used to tell me that in life you get what you pay for and in a lot of circumstances I would totally agree with this sentiment! But I have to disagree when it comes in the main part of ICM kits I remember some years back getting some early spitfires from them, but were disappointing. But you can no longer say this about the new kits that they are producing; everything has changed from the way in which they box their products to the level of detail in their kits and instruction booklets. This offering from ICM is no different the little model T Ford ambulance is very good with great detailing and the simplistic look of the build via the instruction book (I will be able to update you on that in the very near future as I am going to do a feature build on it) The added figures really makes it that bit special and almost Tamiya Esq. I wished more companies would do this not only as it saves the wallet from taking a hit, but stops the wife from going on when you tell her you have the figures as well and they are included! Though if she is anything like mine she still won’t believe you anyway!

Summary

Highs: For me, plenty the detail on most of it is very good and the dry fitting that I did go together really well, the figures were very good

Lows: For sure if you want to be finicky you could say about the tiny amount of flash or the injection pin marks! But you should be counting rivets

Verdict: For the value for money, the subject and fact that they have put figures with this kit you would have to go along way to better it totally recommend this kit

Wingnut Wings Volume 1. 

Book review by Adie Roberts of In War and Peace 

Introduction 

Adie Roberts love of World War One planes and the ever growing in popularity in Wingnut Wings model kits, Adie takes a look at the first volume modelling guide to see how good the book is.

 History

Wingnut Wings was started by a group of friends that all shared the passion for modelling and in particular, World War One planes, among these friends was a certain well-known movie director Peter Jackson. Who, when I say is the proud owner I truly mean proud.

A very happy looking Peter Jackson Owner of Wingnut Wings 

Review

This is the first in two volumes of books, dedicated to the building of Wingnut Wings kits, this said it is also a very good guide to the building of any World War One model planes. Volume 1 covers such subjects as the Hansa Brandenburg, SE.5 (RAF), Albatross D.Va, Sopwith Pup and the Gotha G.IV bomber. Each build goes into great detail with each author/reviewer giving you some insight into the plane they are going to build and there own thoughts on it.

Starting with the Hansa, well-known modeller Daniel Zamarbide Suarez starts explaining about the concept of this being not only a monoplane, far ahead of its time, but the fact that it was the first monoplane to be employed in a fighter's role within the German Army. When you start reading about the build itself and the pictures you very quickly realise just how useful this guide is. Not just for World War One planes but for any wooden built planes such as the Mosquito and some of the Supermarine Walrus and other wooden planes from World War Two.

The length in which they go to and the top quality photos of wood effects are just amazing and not as hard as you may think. From cockpit assemblies to the engine it is all covered. When looking at the frame of the cockpit it then becomes very easy to see where the control wires would run and of course make a superb edition for the authentic look. A step by step guide to achieving the authentic looking propeller truly gives you the knowledge and tools to be able to and make it look simply amazing. Each turn of the page that you turn is another part of the plane and how to achieve some fantastic results, like the painting and weathering of the engine the lozenge colours some of which were truly colourful.

The stunning RAF SE5 caught my eye and is the second of the build guides, there is something very robust and rugged about the look of the SE5 comes to life with each turn of the pages again with loads of high-quality photos showing you the complete process of the build.

The Roland D1.VA is another informative build with the reviewer admitting that first World War planes were not his sphere of modelling but when he saw the first pictures of the Wingnut Wings kit with the quality of the moulding of the kits it changed his opinion. When reading through his review I gleaned a new way of making the sawtooth join, used in the manufacturing process of building the main fuselage that can be used across the different scales of World War One aircraft.

The RE8 ‘Harry Tate’ a plane that was used across most theatres including Italy, Russia, Palestine, Mesopotamia and the Western Front. The reviewer goes onto to explain that he was looking forward to the complex English rigging and saw it as a great challenge, which he did perfectly. He decided that he would have the cockpit area open to show the incredible quality of the framework and cut away most of the main fuselage coverings to expose the engine as well as the cockpit. The results were just incredible and left me drooling at the pictures of this unique work.

The Albatros D.VA by the well-known modeller and editor David Parker, who went on to explain about his love of this particular aeroplane with its streamlined fuselage and tapered wings making it one of the finest looking aircraft of the era. David goes on to explain at length his build process sharing tips, displaying superb high-quality photos of the whole process. I particularly liked the section where David describes the plywood fuselage and how he achieves the desired effect.

Sopwith Pup one of the more commonly known of World War One fighters is the next subject and I had a particular interest in this one as the reviewer John Korellis decided to make an RNAS version of the Greek ace  Lt Commander Aristides Moraitinis. The kit itself looks so impressive with its crisp lines and the outstanding amount of detail. Just like the other reviewers, John gives plenty of useful tips that can be taken across to other World War One planes.

The last build of this first volume is David Parker and quite possibly one of my all-time favourite World War One planes the Gotha G.IV. This is the biggest model in the Wingnut Wings impressive catalogue of ever-expanding model kits.

The build starts with David giving a huge step by step guide to the wooden colour of the cockpit this includes weathering, using shadows and forming panels within the huge interior.

The work that David does is just sublime and really finishes off this fantastic modelling guide on Wingnut Wings kits with two final tips on wooden effects and hints and tips on rigging this is a great read.   

Conclusion

I have always been fascinated by the aircraft of World War One, a time when planes, to begin with, could not have been further from the minds of these early generals and thought of as purely a gimmick, toy that would not last long!

This book is dedicated to the Wingnut Wings kits and rightly so, the amount of detail that goes into the moulds is quite phenomenal and as for the finished result, I will let you judge for yourselves.

Although this is for Wingnut Wings the number of tips and hints in this book make it a worthwhile addition to any modellers collection whose interest is in these magnificent, historical planes. 

Nothing is left to your imagination other than the desire to own your own collection of Wingnut Wings kits!

Summary

Highs: Amazing book especially if you have a Wingnut wings kit and are worried about the challenge ahead this book really does make it seem a lot easier
Lows:  If you don’t already own a Wingnut Wings kit then you really will want too, after reading this book!
Verdict: For me a must have in the collection of modelling guides easy to follow plenty of tips and hints superb photography