Swanny's Models

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Swanny’s Models instructional video Volume #2 is now ready for distribution. This video covers advanced modeling skills required to assemble and paint resin cockpits as well as everything involved in building a photo etched cockpit. Acetate instrument details are discussed, how to anneal photo etch sheets is shown, basics of working with vacuformed canopies are covered and more. This is well over four hours of modeling bliss and you can get yours now right here. Advanced Modeling Skills; Resin and PE Cockpits.
8/27/07

Swanny’s Models is proud to announce the re-release of the first in a series of instructional modeling DVDs. This DVD will take the modeler from the first parts preparation steps all the way through decaling and basic weathering. The primary purpose of this video is to assist the new modeler in achieving good results early. You can follow this link for more information on the video and ordering information. Basic Model Building Skills & the P-40K.
8/27/07

Did you miss out on the first issue of Swanny’s Models Instructional Videos and are trying to catch-up? Here is your chance to pick up both DVDs and save a few bucks. This link will take you to the package deal location where you can get both Volume #1 “Basic Model Building Skills” and volume #2 “Advanced Modeling Skills”Two Volume Set.
8/27/07

Who am I:

I am 40+-year-old Industrial Engineer/Manager responsible for the development and implementation of chemical coating-removal systems aimed primarily at the automotive, medical and military industries. I am married with three children, two cats and live in Sandusky Ohio, the Roller Coaster Capitol of the World.

What this site is about:

       I remember the first model that I built. My father gave me a Revell submarine kit for my birthday in 1969. I clearly recall the two of us sitting at the dining room table with one of those orange tubes of Testors cement putting that thing together. It was an excellent bathtub toy for many years. Prior to that my older brother had entertained my sister and myself with aerial operas involving a 1/48 scale Monogram SBD Dauntless and a Monogram Corsair – I still have those two planes, dusty and worn but laden with memories that can never be replaced.
       Many times while shopping e-bay I’ve wondered what a particular kit consisted of or how good the detail of casting was or even if a particular kit had raised or recessed panel lines but could not answer these questions until I actually opened the box. While surfing various forums I would see common questions asked many times by modelers just beginning the polystyrene adventure, looking for clues to decaling, weathering and detailing. This site is dedicated to answering some of those questions. While I do not consider myself to be an exceptionally skilled modeler, I have picked up a few tricks over the last thirty years of modeling and will share them with you. Included here are full build reviews, in box kit reviews, construction tips and gallery photos of kits I have built. Most of these are 1/48th scale World War 2 aircraft. Also included here are a variety of links to on-line modeling forums, review sites, internet hobby shops, aviation art sites and real aircraft reference sites.

       This site is a work in progress. I hope that you find it as enjoyable as I have.

       Last updated 1/04/2009.

Contact Information:
Questions or comments about this page and the material covered here can be sent to Webmaster@SwannysModels.com

And now, for the good stuff,

The Scammell Pioneer was developed in the late 1920s for the Imperial Market as a logging and oilfield vehicle in areas where there were no developed roadways. The British military adopted the vehicle as an artillery tow vehicle and tank recovery unit with a crew of three that was used by Allied forces throughout the Second World War. Accurate Armour in Scotland has produced an amazing 1/48 scale rendition of this vehicle, here is their resin Scammell Pioneer SZ/2S Heavy Recovery Vehicle.
1/4/09 Construction completed 1/04/09

The 1500A series Steyr was produced in Austria between 1941 and 1945 and was used in several capacities by Axis forces. The primary vehicle version was produced as a large 4 wheel drive staff car but the basic chassis system had several different body styles bolted to it. The most commonly found types were the 6 person command car, the eight person infantry carrier and the light cargo truck. Here is the 1/48 Tamiya Steyr with the CMK conversion to create a Steyr 1500 Funkkraftwagen Field Radio Truck. Construction completed 1/01/09
12/27/08

The Horten Brothers claimed a spot in aviation history with the development of their flying wing interceptor the Ho.229. When this aircraft was being considered for full scale production by Gotha, designers proposed an alternative all-wing design that would allow for the external mounting of engines and the addition of extra crew and/or equipment. This design was the Go P.60 and had a couple variations. Two configurations were proposed with one engine mounted on top and one underneath the wing body and the other with both engines mounted ventrally. In reality only a paper project here we look at the Antares offering in 1/48 resin of the Gotha Go P.60 A-2. 3/25/07 Construction Update 12/20/08

When the Messerschmitt Me-262A first blew through Allied bomber formations aircrews were amazed and astonished at the performance levels they witnessed however the creator of this technology only saw it as an interim type of aircraft platform considered dead by 1945. Here is a resin conversion package from Antares Models designed to create a prototype high speed development of the Me-262 utilizing a donor 1/48 scale Me-262 kit. While the 262A was an incredible development this trans-sonic version would have been a real eye opener, here is the Me-262 HG.III Day Fighter project. 12/20/08

What was possibly the best Japanese fighter aircraft of the Second World War came about by a chance act of desperation. When Allied bombers wiped out the Akashi factory that was developing and manufacturing engines for the Ki-61 Tony engineers at Kawasaki found a way to graft a Mitsubishi Ha-40 engine onto the nose of the 275 Ki-61 fuselages that were gathering dust in the Kagamigahara factory. The resulting aircraft was a first class fighter, the Ki-100. Here are the Hasegawa offerings of two versions of this aircraft the Kawasaki Ki-100-Ia and Ib. 9/21/08 Construction Update 12/3/08

Parasite aircraft is a concept that has intrigued most countries at least once in the past. Most forays into the application of linking and unlinking aircraft in mid-air never leave the drawing board. The most comprehensive of these projects happened in 1930’s Russia, under the direction of Vladimir Vakhmistrov designated ‘Zveno’. Mike Glinski is here to take us through the construction of this esoteric subject using a combination of 1/72 ICM kits, the Zveno 7. 6/8/08 Construction Update 1/01/09

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