Duncan B

For a 1970's mould it actually had more detail in the cockpit than I was expecting and it did have some detail moulded into the wheel wells but could do with some detailing. I just wanted to build it OOB except for the rescribing but ended up doing a little more. Duncan B

Modeldecal sheet 100 for the Sqn markings but I used letters and numbers from set 36A. Modeldecal sheet 101 is also a Vampire decal sheet. Duncan B

Well I learned from the Master I'm disappointed with my photography though, this model has a lot of fading on it but the photos don't show it. I'll have to come back for a photography lesson. DB

Nice job, so you didn't use the kit supplied decals either! My one is just about finished too. Duncan B

Its probably all the filler on the underside of the nose keeping mine down! Duncan B

This is a kit I made a few years back and originally posted photos of it before I had actually converted it back to an F3 by way of the Heritage Aviation wingtips. One of my first attempts at rescribing so it is a bit rough in places but until I get my CMR resin Vampire built it'll have to do. 608 Sqn RAuxAF RAF Thornaby on detachment to RAF Leuchars 1951, decals from the Modeldecal sheet.

Well I've finished the model and I'm quite happy with the way it looks. I used Tamiya XF20 and did a bit of fading with a lighter mix although it doesn't show in the photos. It's over in the RFI section and I'd be happy to find out what you guys think. Here is the link: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234938149-heller-172-bf109b-3j88/ Duncan B

Michael The RLM02/63 ish colour was the other option I would have gone with but I chose to go with Tamiya's X20 instead. We had a great debate in the Interwar section and there are some great photos that I hadn't seen before so it's worth a look. Here's the link http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234935203-rlm-63-and-the-spanish-civil-war-bf109s/ Duncan B

That is one inspiring paint job, well done that man. Duncan B

This was my second entry for the Bf109 group build but I missed the deadline by only a few months! As the title says its the old Heller Bf109 B-D kit rescribed and painted up as 6-29 of 3/J88 during the Spanish Civil War. I added master gun barrels, a vacform canopy (which I didn't get the fit quite right), etched exhausts and some better wheels from the spares box. The decals came from the spares box too. Considering the kit's age it went together really well and IMO is still the best Jumo engined 109 in the Gentleman's scale although there are some inaccuracies with regards to vent positions on the cowls. Painted with Tamiya and Mr Hobby paints, I did fade the top colour but the photos don't really show it very well. What colour were those J88 machines, well I'll leave that debate for another day but thanks to everyone who contributed with photos and thoughts on the matter in the Interwar forum. I hope you like it. And a "period" black and white to keep the colour debate alive

I thouroughly enjoyed your WIP and they have both turned out very nicely but Ali's Vampire looks the best to me so that'll be where my pocket money goes when I get round to buying one. Duncan B

Great stuff and my favourite aircraft too, shame it's not an FG1 though. DB

Next time I'm at a show I'll check out a bottle to see if it looks the same as the one I've got. Duncan B

Hi Tim I did wonder if the Neo's 0.35 nozzle is too tight and have thought about trying a 0.5 nozzle on my older Aztek brush to see if that helps. I've recently bought some Vallejo colours and airbrush thinners and cleaner to try so could use that to clean up with but it dried so quickly in the brush: in the time it took to put the model down and open the water bottle! Horrible stuff in my opinion and I think I'll stick to using Gunze gloss in future as it is soul destroying to spend days painting something then have the gloss coat make it look like its been pebbledashed. I'm hoping I can get the surface smooth with some coats of Gunze gloss. Duncan B

It is a lot thicker than normal varnishes or Kleer, looks like full fat milk consistency.

Lovely little Gnat, Vitor. Duncan B

Now I see them and I've changed nothing! Very nice they are too. (worth the techno wait). Duncan B

I think the honest answer is your guess is as good as anybody else's although RLM 70/71 should really have been history by 1943. General consensus would go with the colours you have mentioned but other sources might suggest Russian colours for the greens. Your choice, who are we to dictate? Duncan B

Am I the only one who has had problems with Alclad Aqua Gloss? The instructions say to spray @15 - 40 PSI and not to thin it. I can't get it to spray unless my compressor (Iwata Smartjet pro and Iwata Neo) is cranked right up and then it spits and dries almost instantly on the tip. The finish was like pebbledash, thankfully it was only a cheap model (still 2 weeks work though). Luckily I didn't put it into my expensive airbrush as it made a right mess even though I immediately tried to rinse out with water as per the instructions. I won't be using it again but do wonder if I got a duff bottle as I've never heard any other complaints about it. Duncan B

Quite right got my internal colours mixed up, too early on a Sunday morning! Duncan B

The T4 has the rounded fin of the F1-F2 and shorter cable ducts along the fuselage of these marks too. T5 has the squared off fin and longer cable ducts of the F3-F6. Also noticeable IIRC the cockpit interior of the T4 would be grey and the T5 black but I'll let someone else confirm that. Duncan B

HI Bill Take it easy and get well soon, we need you back bashing those unbuildable kits. Duncan B

Are your little helpers going to be doing the rigging wires too? DB p.s. I am on a run of actually finishing kits at the moment Artur, 3 finished in 2 weeks with another 2 close to being finished and i've still got nearly 2 weeks before I go back to work!!

Some great stuff there. Do they still do the aerodynamic braking on landings with the S Etandards? First time I ever saw them at Leuchars they would hold the nose up as long as was physically possible and trundle along on the mains until the front end dropped onto the tarmac. Duncan B

Not normally into helicopters but that is something special, well done. Duncan B