Tim Moff

Gloss Cote and Decals on just need to put on a suitable top cote and that will do!

Got em in the cabinet and started on the F-35B Lightning... basic Airfix starter kit in 1/72 - will do the job... Recent Pics of ZM153 show it to be the later paint job, RAM tape all similar in colour so kept the 2nd grey to basic areas... No slime light decals so used RAF Sky to paint on...

Will follow along - have the kit in my stash but decals shot...seems to be a limited amount of Camo options which I'd prefer, was even contemplating doing it as FAA airframe!

I've not been too active modelling wise the last 18 months given work commitments with the Ukraine/Russia and Israel/Gaza conflicts plus BAU - alos not many of the GBs matched my stash if I am honest... But I do have this below, no box, pics of sprues later - I am sure I bought it via this group! With the NATO 75th anniversary today, I think its fair to say the A-10s of the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge in Suffolk, UK, were front and centre of the NATO commitment against the Soviet hordes during the Cold War - serving in the UK Army myself from 1985 I too trained against this threat amongst other 'out of area' commitments which were my units primary role, plus I used to visit the bases being a Lakenheath child...the old Warthog also saved my bacon a time of 2 in Helmand later on in 2006 - so lots of good reasons to build this model... https://www.caracalmodels.com/cd48192.html I did build a Tamiya version back in 2020 for the 80s NATO v Warsaw Pact GB so hopefully painting will be ok...

So got there... Not my best work but a nice addition - need to get it in the cabinet and then finish off the Canberra and Tonka to go in there with the Lanc and the 1/144 Vulcan...

Some info on ED887 More done Decided to simulate the removal of the turret mount and put some simulated 'red oxide' paint in that area. Started on the decals...

Moved on a bit... The way the man gear fits I decided I needed to paint the lower wings first - combi of blacks Paint uppers dark green then used a masking set... on with the dark earth masked up various blacks AJ-A was pivotal in the raid but ended up being shot down on the way home, sadly with the loss of all then crew... Lots of ref pics show the 617 Lancs with the remover upper turret mount area with some sort of paint covering - I am going for a logical approach with red oxide primer, similar to reports and the captured Upkeep Mine... Masked off using the kit piece: Need to get the decals on then seal in - move onto some weathering...I have post shaded a bit as the Lancs were well thrashed from new before the raid The cable for arming the mine caused some 'scratching' of paint after of the cockpit on the Starboard side... Exhaust grey around exhausts

Have decided to build the 3rd 617 Sqn new tool Lanc, wheels down for my cabinet… Not posted for a bit, v busy with work, not many of the group builds have grabbed my attention or fit my current stash that I need to start converting to models as I get older ! Some of the parts are a bit warped so there’s some challenges on the main fuse etc … One of the spar ends broke but I think I’ve managed to effect a repair Decided to do the mine as a red oxide primer - used a WW1 red wood paint May add a drop of red to make it slightly ‘redder’ Who said pegs are for washing lines 🤣 starting to look like a Lanc - right battle with Seams due to the 2 halves being slightly warped - leaving a massive step to deal with…still a ghost seam or 2, I may try 1 more Surfacer 500 pass and sand then just accept it …

Great stuff. Is the first one from the Warren ? I need to get home and over for a day ! All the FB pages show some great flying - there was some Aviano F16s there a few weeks back ….

Different rumours -either a batch of contaminated paint, or a replacement as the SEA Brown was running low stock wise … there’s a few ref pics of some Lakenheath airframes around …

couple of ref pics

ref pics

Just completed in the STGB... Some ref pics

So I did the F-15E during the 50th anniversary F-15 STGB... ref pics Next - not sure, I have a couple of RAF Lightning II's, in `1/72 and 1/48...plus the Tamiya F-35A is out....with LN markings....

Thanks v much for helping run it - can't be a bit of a 'local' build given I am from Lakenheath originally!