1/48 Scale 35 Sqdn Catalina Mk IVb

• a warped wing section had to be replaced (from Germany)
• this kit was the PBY/OA-104 variant while I wanted the RAF Mk IVb. Read Further...
  

An Hour with "The Legend"

Brigadier-General Dick Lord (SAAF Ret.) the author of several books on the SAAF including the acclaimed "Vlamgat" the story of the Dassault Mirage F1 in SAAF service passed away on Wednesday 26 October 2011. Early in September this year, whilst I was on R&R in South Africa, I was fortunate enough to get an hour with “The Legend” and this is what we talked about.

Waterkloof Airshow 2011

Midnite Flares

The Gripen as part of a fully integrated air defence network was declared fully operational with 2 Sqdn at AFB Makhado several months before the Soccer World Cup 2011. Fully operational also meant the IRIS-T medium range missile, internal canon on the C-model and the self protection chaff/flare unit were completely integrated. The first Gripen airshow displays were displayed by the test pilots from SAAB in Sweden. Read Further...

Basic engine assembly and detailing

This article covers basic assembly and finishing of a car engine as well as adding ignition leads. In this article I will be using the 383 Small Block Chevy motor in the AMT 66 Chevy Nova Pro Street. Read Further...

Artillery Open Day 2011 - Potchefstroom

Once a Gunner – always a Gunner

The South African Artillery Formation has been synonym with the city of Potchefstroom for many years.  It is part of the community and therefore partakes in many of the civilian activities hosted by the city of Potchefstroom. The Artillery exhibited a recent static display of Artillery equipment at the Potchefstroom Show.  In addition the SA Artillery Formation presents an annual Open Day to demonstrate the amazing firepower the “Gunners” of South Africa enjoy as an elite corps within the South African Armed Forces. And if you had served as a “Gunner” this will be the one event which will serve as your annual pilgrimage because “Once a Gunner – always a Gunner”. Read Further...

National Convention 2011: Gallery

The legacy of Dave Becker

South Africa’s walking aviation encyclopaedia passed away on the night of 16 June 2011. His extensive knowledge on aviation history of the Southern African region and the SAAF remained unequalled until his untimely death.  Interestingly his research was largely sparked by an interest in scale modelling.

IPMS were founded in South Africa during 1960. The acclaimed periodical of the era “Wings over Africa” featured a column by Dave Becker. This expanded into an “Aeromodelling Page” with the first feature column published in January 1969. The North American Harvard featured as the basis of the article. Dave Becker noted at the time: “Many people in all walks of life are taking to scale modelling, mainly through the medium of the plastic model kit”. “Many modellers not only build their kits straight out of the box, but modify and change them to represent many different versions of the same aircraft. It is the object of this column to provide information for the serious scale modeller and en...

1/35 Scale BaxMod Casspir 106

Producing your own range of models has the advantage of being the first person to also build the model.  The other reason for being the first person to build the model is simply to test all the parts and to ensure that the instructions are correct and somewhat understandable. Also, you need some photo’s during construction and a finished photo of the model. So as the first cast was demoulded, I started building the Casspir 106. I have to admit, I was looking forward to the build as I have been wanting to build this variant of the Casspir for a very long time. Read Further...

Passing of a good friend… Dave Cooke

SAAF Museum Swartkops Air Show 2010

Celebrating 90 Years of SAAF

During his address to the public at the 2009 Swartkop air show the Chief of the Air Force Lt. Gen. Gagiano indicated that due to the popularity he would endeavor to ensure that the SAAF Museum would continue to host an annual airshow at AFB Zwartkop. To the great delight of the Gauteng airshow enthusiasts the SAAF, in conjunction with the SAAF Museum this was achieved. It is fitting that the historic Zwartkop airbase, established in 1921 on the farm with the same name as possibly the oldest operational AFB in the world was host to the premier airshow for the SAAF’s 90th anniversary.  Read Further...