dr_gn

Thanks very much! I did a lot of research to get the Mosquito right in terms of lay-up and materials. Some bits I thought were aluminium, but were in fact wood, and vice-versa. It was an interesting process. I also experimented a lot with base coats and filters for the wood decals. I assumed a light brown base was the way to go, but then it makes the wood look either dull and low contrast, or way too orange. White was the way to go.

Thanks, yes it's 1:72 scale.

Here you go:

Thanks Ran, I'll tell him. He was using some Uschi van der Rosten decals that I had spare from my Mosquito build several years ago. I know I bought a load of different types for this, but didn't use all of them. I can ask him which ones he used, I think he only used two types in the end.

Thanks very much Mike! I have to admit, filling the lines took two or three evenings - it's wasn't a crazy amount of work considering the improvement. The worst part was my current nemisis with kits - filling and re-scribing the wing root and fuselage-wing joints. Plus of course the now routine scrrew-ups with paint and decals (all of which are recorded in gruesome detail the build thread). Yes, I had a few glasses of Ginger Beer when it was finally complete.

They are both great models with or without washes; I do love that Crusader; as I mentioned, I still remember it after neary 10 years (which isn't bad going for me!). I use panel line washes, mainly becasue the're one of only three weathering techniques I'm able to do!

I heard about this. I’m really glad to hear that you’re OK. I hope the other person who was taken ill at the show is also recovering well. Further credit to the organisers that these unfortunate events were dealt with so well. Seems like we’re in safe hands!

Thanks Bill! I remember your Spitfire build very well. Must have been late 2000’s? Of course, it was beautifully built. IIRC there was some discussion about panel lines even back then? In fact I remember a lot of your specific builds, from back when I contributed more to BM, because they were all so sharply executed. An F-8 Crusader (Academy?) also sticks in my mind.

Thanks very much Dave. Since about 2020 I’ve had a bit of a motivation crisis, and despite starting at least four kits, I’ve only finished two, one of them being this rather challenging/experimental Spitfire. So to win a medal with it was especially nice. The IPMS Wakefield shows have always inspired me (and the boy) to get models finished, so I think not having them this past few years hasn’t helped with motivation. I hope I can finish a few more in the next 12 months ready for next time.

Thanks Alistair - I'll show him this. Much appreciated.

Very happy to get a Gold medal for this one at the Leeds (IPMS Wakefield) show yesterday: The competition is - as I understand it - now based on standard of modelling rather than 1st, 2nd or 3rd, so several models of the same standard (in the opinion of IPMS judges) could get the same medals. Also got meet FZ6 at the show, who, last year, donated his decals so I could finish this one. Thanks again FZ6!

Mission accomplished, despite the varnish still being a bit wet… Gold medal. This year the competition changed format to modelling standard rather than 1st, 2nd & 3rd), both other entries in the junior class also got Gold. Either way - great day and a nice reward for a monumental effort. Thanks all. I’ll put some RFI images in the completed models section when I get the camera out again.

We enjoyed it very much - glad to see it back on the calendar. Agree the lighting was a bit odd, but that’s just one of those things. Also got to look around the Royal Armouries too, which was great. As ever, thanks very much to the organisers!

I’ve also contacted them recently by FB Messenger and email (two addresses) and have had nothing but one automated response. Just wondering where the spare parts form is? Did you get your parts? Thanks!

So sure enough, at 21:20 I got a WhatsApp message with this attached: And at 22:00 on went the wings. 23:00 - satin varnish. Then added the windscreen - which doesn’t fit! (note he’s automatically adopted the modeller’s left-hand wrist brace pose for detail work ha ha): And canopy: Now in the airing cupboard until tomorrow. Hopefully the varnish will have dried enough to transport it. There are some refinements and corrections still needed, whether he’ll touch it again remains to be seen. If I’d put that much concentrated effort into it, my already minimal motivation would be used up. But mission accomplished, and he’s chuffed with it.