Dr_Fester

Superb Len, keep us updated with the progress. Doc

With a little arm twisting and some available time I might step in with...............you guessed it.............another 1/48 Airfix Lightning. May try a BMF finish possibly foiled. Doc

Not a patch on your Tigger David!! Like you say this is from a restored aircraft and in fact the Tiger I flew in had a black compass surround so I guess whatever you choose will be good, and your right the blue look real purdy. So whats this about 'tact and diplomacy' do I detect a new attribute! Cheers Doc

...well blueish As for the first flight of the DH.82 Tiger Moth it took place October 26th 1931. Looking good David. Doc

Very nice work Darren, especially the panel wash. Cheers Doc

Coming along rather well David considering.........

Loverly models Darius Many people have tried to simulate a spinning prop using various methods (including me) and I have to say that nothing looks more like a real spinning propeller than ...... well...... a spinning propeller! Look forward to seeing your next. Doc

Someone mention my name.........?

No worries Mike, Both Len and that old geezer from Norfolk have supplied me with a plethora of material. I was mostly looking for cockpit and interior details along with specific Mk.IV stuff, most of which I have covered now thanks to David and Len. Cheers Doc

OK a little progress update of the 1/72 elephant. Thanks to Len and David for supplying some excellent reference material I have made a start with this daunting build. I would just like to say here that Len sent me some of his build pictures for his Stirling found earlier in this thread and the level of interior detail is awesome! The photos don't really do the model justice. Foolishly I had no idea the amount of work involved both updating the detail of the kit and then converting from a Mk.III Stirling to a Mk.IV. Changes include removal of dorsal turret, removal of nose turret and forming a new nose canopy glass. Also I have just noticed that a majority of the windows are omitted, this comes AFTER I have already thinned the inside of the fuselage of each window to a scale thickness. Also 2 of the forward windows have 'bubble' glass which will need to be made. Some scratchbuilt interior stuff around the nose area is also required. So to the build:- Some detailing of the cockpit (most of which will be covered up) and MUCH more to be added. As you can see this includes a solid bulkhead in the nose behind the dome, I have yet to detail this area with map table, instruments etc. I then thought I would have a try at canopy molding for the clear nose dome, a pretty easy shape, so to begin with I made a former from good old pine! In fact I had a few attempts at this as I wasn't happy with the shape of this original master. Then my first go at molding using a primative, dirty method of simply heating some clear acetate over a candle and plunging the master into it. After a few attempts and some scorched fingers I eventually got this:- Squadron "eat yer heart out! " So after some trimming the canopy looks like this:- which should look something like this: Thanks for looking more to follow soon.......... Doc

Very nice Jen, one of my most favorite aireyplanes. Doc

An awesome build Phil, I keep dropping in and following your mighty progress and blown away by the detail you are producing. Wings turned out great, just have to strengthen the main gear now..... Any news on the canopies? Doc

John, David & Len thanks for your thoughts. David if you have any more of those great shots stashed away anywhere they would be greatly appreciated. Len that is a fantastic build and I have already stored them away as valuable reference material. Some info I am still after on the Mk.IV version when the upper turret is removed do they just fit a square plate across the void or , like the dambuster Lancs, do they have a circular plate inserted? Also does the rear turret have the guns removed to save weight? I'm sure there will be many more questions and any help would be great. Thanks Doc

Well Mike did hint that he would be interested in a build article for the Stirling I'm about to start. First off I have previously requested info on ARC regarding the particular Stirling I am building for a friend. Take a peek HERE So with this build in the back of my mind I picked up an original Airfix kit at a show for £5 and also some numerals for the serials etc. Just had a quick look in the box today and pretty disappointed to find most of the parts with severe warp, to be expected I suppose with a kit of that age. So converting this to a Mk.IV I need to replace the front gun with a clear dome and remove the upper turret, plus a few extra bits and pieces. This one will take some time......... Cheers Doc

Got 2 Airfix Lightnings in the stash, got my vote for no other reason! Doc