Leaderboard

-This another of Mr Paul COUDEYRETTE model, the Monogramm 1/48 old B 58 kit, He is spenting a few holidays in Spain but he have seen your comments about his F 100, he thanks gratfully everybody for their comments on his model . Now the Hustler...... -Enjoy...

Hi everyone! Here's my latest model, Hasegawa's excellent A-4M. I really love this kit and so felt it might be a cool subject for a little experimentation. A bit fed-up with constantly having to keep up with the latest product, idea or technique, I decided to turn the clock back and see if a model built in 2013 could still stand-up using techniques and products that I would have used in the eighties - this model is the result. I built it using exactly the same tools I would have used back then and painted it with the same enamels and weathered it with oil paints - again, exactly as I would have done at the end of the eighties, beginning of the nineties. There are no new products on this model - save for the new-formula Humbrol colours that I was testing - everything being totally 'old-school': no acrylics, no weathering solutions, no pigments - just enamels and oils. I have to say that I'm happy with the results..! The full feature on this model will appear in Military Illustrated Aircraft. I hope you like it! Spence

Hello Folks, Moving back onto some Fleet Air Arm subjects, here is a Hasegawa TBM-3 Avenger kit built as Avenger Mk.III KE461/066 of 703 NAS based at RNAS Ford using the Freightdog Brits at Sea decal sheet. Unlike the later AS.4/5/6 versions which were delivered Post War under the Mutual Aid Defence Budget, the Mk.III`s were ordered under wartime Lend Lease contracts and therefore retained the wartime bubble windows on the side of the fuselage. These came from an old Academy kit which betray this kits original lineage to Frog, who released their kit as a solely British boxing. Anyway enough waffle, here is the model; As usual the model was brush painted using Humbrols old, but good (and lamented) 181 Sea Blue Gloss enamel which was polished using an old rag with Humbrol enamel gloss varnish used to seal in the decals. As the real aircraft was well used and looked rather the worse for wear, I tried to streak the paintwork and gave it a watercolour wash to highlight the panel lines slightly, Hope you like it? All the best Tony O

Hundreds of people had travelled to Eyebrook Reservoir between Uppingham and Corby today. I assumed it would be easier to get to than Derwent as the roads around Derwent were likely to be closed due to the expected traffic. Cars were blocking the narrow lanes around the reservoir but I managed to squeeze into a gap between a gate and a ditch and walk down to the crowds beside the reservoir. Two Spitfires first, then three flypasts by the Lancaster followed by two Tornadoes of 617 Squadron with the special Dambusters tail art, (I hope someone releases decals of that). I got chatting to a chap whose father flew in Lancasters, then we were joined by a lady who showed us pictures of her father, who was a Lancaster pilot, in the cockpit and standing with his crew. Lots of people there had a personal connection with Bomber Command, some looking very excited to see and hear the Merlins in the air again, many people crying with emotion and wanting to share their family stories. I was filling up and I was just a spectator. The motor drive rattled through over 100 frames but these attached sort of show what it looked like. I shall watch The Dambusters DVD tonight, turned up very loud, and toast the chaps who flew in those things with a large single malt. Bless you gentlemen. We owe you.

Afternoon, Finally I can declare something 'ready for inspection'! Picked this one up just before Christmas as a 'simple' OOB break from my bigger projects; I've always liked the look of Zimmerit as well as the lines on the Tiger I The Dragon kit is superb - although the PE work and coiling the 'real-steel' ropes were quite stressful affairs! Next tank I get I'll be investing in some Magic tracks though, as it's much easier to achieve the correct sag. My only criticism of the kit (and it's a minor one) is that the painting guide doesn't show a top-down view, so some creative improvisation is necessary. I also wanted to have a stab at using weathering powder, and while they are definitely mucky they do give a pretty good effect! I'll make sure I have more than one powder in future though Comments and criticism welcome as always! Tim

Hi there, here are some pics of my recently finished Sunderland. Painted with tamiya acrylics and finished with Alclad flat, which the jury is still out on cant make my mind up if I prefer peobo which is more flat. the alclad is far easier too spray, but be warned it does react to white spirit, and i did get into a mess, and the thing still feels a bit sticky even with the final coat on. thanks to BM for helping me to sort out color issues with extra dark sea grey and dark slate grey, think i should have put the slate grey on first ??!!. Hope you like, thanks for looking.

Kit - Italeri rebox of Dragon DML kit, built OOB Decals - Kit, printed by Cartograph Paint = Gunze for RLM75/75/76 Camo, various other Gunze, Tamiya Citadel etc... Weathering - kept to a minimum Final Finish - Tamiya Flat Clear Nicely detailed and with a couple of PE Frets too, the kit is just let down by poorly fitting parts and the need to perform minor surgery to make an A-5. However put in a little effort and I think it builds into quite a nice FW-190. Thanks for looking

I finished this a few weeks ago and finally sorted the pictures out. This is the first Mig 15 I've ever made and being Airfix it was a nice and simple build. I brush painted with Humbrol polished steel metal cote. I managed to get a decent shine after buffing but when i sprayed new formula klear, it dulled a bit. Weathered with pro-modeller dark wash. Messed up the canopy that's why it looks cloudy, Still a lot to learn...... Here's the pics..............

Been doing some domestic negotiating in preparation for when it's out. Told her that she can move out of she doesn't like it !!!!!!

'Rivet Joint'? Might as well call it the 'Golden Rivet', seeing as the UK aerospace industry got screwed over again.

Hi all Sorry not been on for a while, have been working on some 1/1 modelling as I have been doing some bits on my Georgeous VW Beetle as I have to put her up for sale . Anyway finally finished this lovely little Kit. Have modelled a 26 Sqdn machine based at Gatwick in 1941. Kit goes together very well and I have used some PE in the cockpit and on the U/C bays and legs. The sliding section of the canopy is from a squadron Vacform however the rest is good old Airfix. The model is brushpainted as usual with an oil wash for the panel lines. I have used the Extradecal set to decal this kit. I do love these new Airfix models they are great especially for the price. Hope you enjoy Thanks for looking All the best Chris

Nice photos and drawings on pylons S-54-8812 and adapter AKU-58 is in a publication 4 + Here is the link http://www.scribd.com/doc/115123639/Ba%C5%A1n%C3%BD-J-et-al-1992-Su-22-M-4-UM-3K-4-Publications At the same pylons were also cannon pods SPPU-22.

Shouldn't it have been "the Society for Pedants"?

What a remarkable attitude. You sound as if you resent anyone releasing subjects that you don't personally find interesting. Hundreds of kits are released every year that I have no interest in building. But I have not found it necessary to regret the existence of a single one, if it is well-executed. Personally I have very little interest in Japanese stuff, or armour, for example. But it pleases me greatly if such kits do well for their makers. If they do well, they enrich my life because the profits from them support the manufacturers, the distributors, the shops, the aftermarket suppliers and every other part of the infrastructure that supports my hobby. If Tamiya couldn't make money doing high quality Japanese and American subjects, they would not be in a position to do high quality British ones. The only kits that are to be regretted are those which do not represent what they set out to represent, or which don't fit together properly, or which lose money for their makers and drag down their businesses.

No roundel? Julien

-This is at last finished the Beagle I've shown the building in WIP Aicraft. - As usual the scale is in 48;. The whole model is in resin ; It is a mixture of good things and others not exactly bad buT which could be bettered - The resin is thin but strong, the detail level is high and accurate.The thinly engraved panels and rivets are very realist . -A metallic spar is moulded inside the wings which prevent them from bending and the landing struts are reinforced with metal rods. - The clear parts are in very clear resin. - On the other end there are some parts which could have been bettered;That make the difference between a good model and and excellent one. - First , the notice is difficult to use, it has to be printed from a dvd ,the different steps are shown in photos not very neat and difficult to exploit mostly for the smallest parts; The intakes should have been much more easy to install and realist if they had been presented in a ring to be added at the front of the nacelle, the tyres are untreaded and the forward landing gear strut is too long. -The joint between the fuselage halves has to be reinforced from the inside and some putty is required.; But let's see the photos/ -Ive used Alclad dull aluminium for the darkest areas and rub'n buff for the brightest,ones, the weathering is made of Tamiya pastels together with Mig pigments

Hi, this is my first attempt at a post so please accept my appologies if all doesn't go to plan. It's also one of my first attempts at modelling from a nearly 20 year break. Anyway, here is my interpretation of an 81 Squadron Spitfire VIII flown by F/Lt. Alan Peart DFC. The kit is the ICM 1/48 Spitfire VIII with Ventura decals.... Thanks for looking.

Hi everyone As you may recall, a few months ago I built a Cent for my Dad who is a Vietnam Vet. Well, shortly after I started this second AFV Club 1/35 Centurion for myself, which I have been chipping away at for the past couple of months and finished last weekend. After market items included a vinyl mantlet cover (AFV Club), tracks (AFV Club), turret basket stowage (Firestorm), steel plate mudguards & stowage bin reinforcement (Mouse House), decals (Mouse House & Arms Corps Models) and water jerries (Mouse House). Some of the tools and the small spot light near the MG were from my spares box. Scratch-built items included search light cover (tissue paper), aerials (styrene rod) and tool box tie down straps, which I made from lead foil. Thanks for looking

Good morning, here is my Itelari 1/48 Avenger in the FAA service. W.I.P is here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234939034-avenger-mkii/ Thanks for looking.

Hi, I had this one on the limbo shelf for about one and half year, then I decided to finish the bloody thing. As you can see is far from an ambitious model, for some reason I like it without any weathering, fear to mess it up?, maybe. I really need two more lamps to get proper pictures, so be forgiving. On with the pics: Hope you like it

Ta Mekon. Made a bit of progress this evening - bent and glued the flap stiffeners in place. Clever way of doing this from Eduard - the tiny fillets remain attached to the main surface when you cut them from the frames. There is just enough material to pivot the fillets around and into place, so avoiding having to pick tiny individual parts up with tweezers: The flap parts now need a 0.6 dia plastic rod attaching to their rear edges, before brushing with a fibre glass pencil to remove any excess glue, and priming. Then it's more wing scraping to get them to fit. There won't be much left of the original wings at this rate.

Good Morning, It's a pleasure to announce that HI-DECAL's new website is now online. We will be happy if you visit us at: www.hi-decal.eu The site will be still developped, but most data are already in place and working, a .o. our entire decal listing, a gallery, etc. Any feedback is welcome Greatings Diego

A question like that from a man that's fixed HobbyBoss Tornado's and Trumpy Vampires? Surely anything's possible! Iain

Nice work HL-10, gonna be interesting watching this one. Have you got any coloured pastel chalk? Grind some of that onto the area you're scraping and sanding and it should help make the remaining detail visible.

Some good pics on HS. 1/32nd not my scale in any way, but this kit could swing it for me as the only one I'd do.....maybe!

The fix for the U/C is pretty simple. The locking and retracting arm is too short, so when you put it on it drags the gear leg into the wrong position. I generally cut off the locating hole, add in a few strips of plastic to the main part then glue the locating hole back on. It's done a little differently here, but the pics should give you a good idea. Looking good btw. http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/fw190landinggear_2.htm

They look tidy Bill! What version of Word are you using. I have Office 2010 on this machine & I can't for the life of me find how to do the reduction business with it! I used to have no problem with the older versions but with the new toolbar in 2010 I'm lost! And MS 'help' is anything but....!!

What with aerial refuelling and SAR contracted out, I'm just waiting for this jet to be privately run by Orange, with a suitable tangerine colour scheme. Tony T

Hello, we suppose to have this model ready this summer and there will be probably three different boxes, with Mk.V, Mk.VI and Mk.II versions. All of them in about the same time. Regards Petr

Taking shape Smudge

Interesting stuff...damn silly name, though (Airseeker...I ask you!). Still, welcome back 51 Sqn...hurry up and reform and then paint the aircraft in a "proper" (and suitably dull) overall grey scheme.

Nice one Mish! and nice to see a different marking scheme. Martin

Very nice build Paulo-lovely paintjob.

Hi all Further slow progress on the Whirlwind. U/C on, the tail wheel has no locating lugs so small holes drilled through ends and tailwheel and an old snapped .035 drill shaft put through to make a small axle. Main U/C legs I found a bit fiddly however this was most likely my fault, decals on also. They went on without the need for any settling solution and settled into the very fine panel lines a treat. Hope you enjoy All the best Chris

Not my decision, but personally I'd vote for both being eligible. The first one because it's unlikely that there will ever be a "Totally Hatstand" GB [i mean, pilot in a bucket on top of the rotor head... what could possibly go wrong?].

I'll bring one for you to look at!

the spit looks brill...but the carpet needs abit of a hoover

beautiful work so far ! look forward for the next steps. Olivier

Yes, I rather like that one. A tidy build and a smart finish. She looks a little dark, but since the ground does too, I reckon that's down to the available light for the photography?

Very nice build

Great job on the 109 !! especially nice paint job

A great way to display this awesomely built 109.

Very nice and well displayed

Just finished this wonderful model, there's no oars or sails because no matter what I always think the Sails you get are horribly inferior. It is a dream to build, it goes together with no fuss and the only bit of "flash" was on the supports for the mast. Although you're going to need massive amounts of patience with the shields. Enjoy. ignore what looks like loose thread, it's a bit of rubbish I didn't throw out.

Looks very, very good! I am a fan of the 200 and must confess that I also remember the Matchbox nose looking bit worse than what you've shown us here In the end I gave in and ordered the Neomega conversion set. It's waiting patiently for me to gather enough guts to tackle it...

The "odd" Eagle from "War Games", a two-dimenional cut out.

Hi Smudge, It's looking rather good, nice selection of subject, I remember building the rather old Airfix kit too many years ago. I'll watch with interest. Colin

Hi Smudge looks very interesting. Maybe someone had an idea to make a Twin Goose ala the Mustang!!!!! Looking forward to your build on this one. Colin

Looks like this could be a pretty one.. Cliff

The CV-16 USS Lexington began life at Bethlehem Steel in Quincy, MA., on July 15, 1941. This Essex class carrier, known as the “Blue Ghost”, was originally named the USS Cabot. It was renamed the Lexington after the loss of the first USS Lexington (CV-2) in the Battle of the Coral Sea. She was commissioned on February 17, 1943 under the command of Captain Felix Budwell Stump. The 'Lex', as she was affectionately called, played a significant role in World War II. She sailed to raid Kwajalein on December 4, 1943, destroying a cargo ship, 30 enemy aircraft, and damaging two cruisers. Later that night, Japanese parachute flares surrounded her, and she was hit by a torpedo on the starboard side, knocking out the steering gear. Damage control crews welded the damaged compartments shut, using heavy steel plates. An emergency hand-operated steering unit was used as she headed for Bremerton Washington on December 22 for full repairs. Japanese propaganda loved to rewrite the USS Lexington history. They said the Lex was sunk from that 1943 torpedo hit. She was reported sunk a second time in April of 1944, and a third time in June of 1944. Yet, the Blue Ghost remained afloat after fighting off a fierce attack by fighter planes based on Guam. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the USS Lexington saw a great victory with 300 enemy aircraft destroyed the first day. A carrier, a tanker, and a destroyer were destroyed on the second day. Japanese naval aviators were in such disarray, they tried to land on the Lexington only to be shot down by its gun crews. She endured a close call on November 5, 1944 when a flaming Japanese kamikaze plane crashed into her island, destroying most of the structure and spraying fire in all directions. The spot where the kamikaze hit is designated by the Japanese flag in the photo below. Within 20 minutes, the fire was under control and normal flight actions continued. Once again, Tokyo declared her destroyed even though casualties were light. As the war drew to a close, she continued to launch precautionary patrols over Japan, and dropped supplies to prisoner of war camps on Honshu. She left Tokyo Bay on December 3, 1945 and arrived in San Francisco on December 16. The USS Lexington was decommissioned at Bremerton, WA in April of 1947 and entered the Reserve Fleet there. She was designated attack carrier CVA-16 on October 1, 1952 and began conversion and modernization in September 1953, receiving the new angled flight deck. She was recommissioned on August 15, 1955 and was assigned San Diego as her home port. The Lex had a number of cruises with the 7th Fleet and underwent several overhauls before being ordered to replace the Antietam (CVS-36) as an aviation training carrier in 1962. Although her new designation was CVS-16, she resumed duty as an attack carrier during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Lexington operated out of her new home port, Pensacola, as well as Corpus Christi, and New Orleans well into the 1960s, qualifying student aviators and maintaining the high level of training for active duty and reserve officers. Her training became highly significant as she prepared men vital to the operations in Vietnam. She marked her 200,000th arrested landing on October 17, 1967, and was redesignated CVT-16 on January 1, 1969. She continued as a training carrier for the next 22 years until she was decommissioned on November 8, 1991. On June 15, 1992, the ship was donated as a museum. During the 1980′s the U.S. Navy came to realize that keeping in service its last remaining World War II Essex Class aircraft carrier was becoming increasingly expensive and that the USS Lexington would have to be replaced by a more modern ship. In August 1990, the Secretary of the Navy announced that the USS Forrestal would replace the USS Lexington as the U.S. Navy’s training carrier. Because of Corpus Christi Texas’ long and proud history with the US Navy and naval aviation in particular, the Corpus Christi Area Economic Development Commission formed a task force of prominent community leaders, known as Landing Force 16, to bring the “Blue Ghost” to the city. With an active fund-raising campaign in place and strong community support, the Corpus Christi City Council endorsed a $3 million dollar bond sale to finance the project. In August 1991, Landing Force 16 presented Corpus Christi’s proposal to Secretary of the Navy Lawrence Garrett, III. Although in stiff competition with several other communities, on the strength of community support, Lexington was awarded to the Corpus Christi team. On 29 January 1992, USS Lexington arrived at Naval Station Ingleside and became a permanent Texas resident. On 8 June 1992, the United States Navy officially signed over Lexington to city officials and on 17 June she was towed to her final berth on North Beach. The USS Lexington was opened to the public in October 1992. In the 20 years that the museum has been open to the public there has been some 5.5 million visitors to see the beautifully preserved aircraft carrier and its 20 aircraft exhibits on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation. I visited the carrier on 28 Oct this year where the following images were obtained. My only slight criticism is that the Naval historians have allowed some of the exhibits to be painted in unauthentic schemes and markings but that is a small gripe for what is an otherwise impressive display. On with the show. Guarding the entrance to the Lex is A-4B 142675/1 in Blue Angels scheme. On the lower deck are a number of WWII vintage aircraft and others being renovated. Seen here is SBD-3 Dauntless 06694 Rare surviving F-4A Phantom 143515/WH F-2H-2 Banshee 125052 F-9F-8T Cougar 147276/201 T-2C Buckeye 158898/A909 AH-1S 77-22754 in a very suspect US Army scheme! T-28B Trojan 138271/2S-314 TA-4J Skyhawk 158722/YU-61 F/A-18A Hornet 161942/1 SNJ-5 52020 KA-3B Skywarrior 138944 Thanks for looking. C&C always welcome. Mark