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  1. I was initially going to treat this as a stretch goal, but with the new Airfix range imminent I decided the wisest course of action was to build it rather than risk returning it to the shed. I need that space for a couple of newly tooled 1/72 Javelins! I’d wanted an Axis twin to accompany the Mitchell, and this was an immediate draw when I saw it on the shelf. The box art looks fantastic and I was ready to build that one, but then read the blurb on the colour guide for the other scheme. I tend to search out ANZAC subjects whenever I can, and this one ended up in Canberra, after surrendering at Fassberg, in The Netherlands. There’s an excellent overview here, including photographs of the original paint it still displays. Werk Nummer 500200 was built as the Jabo fighter bomber, and served with JG51. I rather prefer that I can build the aircraft as it was when surrendered and in Allied hands, somewhat diminishing the association with the evil from whence it came. I won’t be trying anything too clever here, so it will be fully out-of-box.
  2. Back in 1964 Frog issued a kit of Alcock and Brown's record breaking civilian Vimy as part of their "Trailblazers" series. For some reason, in 1974 just prior to their collapse, they reissued a slightly modified RAF version, still as F.163 and that is the one I bought secondhand. Perhaps they were desperate enough to try wringing a bit more income out of the old mould? The plastic is a bit strange - quite thick but in some cases almost see-through so I hope it takes normal plastic cement! It seems remarkably free from flash though it may be that the previous owner had cleaned it up - certainly some parts were off the sprue and he sensibly put them in a separate bag.. I still need to check all the parts are there - I can probably cope with missing struts if needed but If anything too vital is not there when I check it will probably not get built - I will know by the time the GB starts. Like the DH 10 the Vimy did not quite enter service before WWI ended so orders were drastically reduced. A relatively small number served at home - most went to the Middle East, particularly Egypt. The first few were finished in the then standard PC 10 over natural linen or maybe overall NIVO, but from then on they were finished in one of two types of aluminium dope, the Middle East ones having a different more heat resistant variety according to Bruce's Windsock book. Frog provide both a PC 10 version used for experimental work at RAE Farnborough and a "silver" one from 70 Squadron based at Heliopolis in Egypt. The box describes the aircraft as a Vimy Mk IV though there is some debate about the nomenclature. Some sources say that planes fitted with Hispano Suiza engines were Mk I, with Sunbeam Maori engines Mk II, with Fiat engines Mk III and with R-R Eagles Mk IV, though other sources suggest this was not official and that this Eagle powered plane was a Mk II to the RAF. When Frog modified the moulding they added the front and rear guns, and the nose skid but left the large long range tank bulge behind the cockpit which service versions did not have. A conversion article I have also mentions that both the upper rear gun position opening and the fuselage side windows are in the wrong place and that various other modifications will be needed. This will in all probability be the most complicated of the 4 Frog biplane kits I have so if I do build it I will make a start on it early. Pete Later. Amazingly all the parts are in fact there as far as I can see though one or two will need replacing, particularly the "seats" and control wheel.
  3. Greetings, and welcome to part 2 of my contribution to this GB. [The GB is amazing. I just can't keep up with all the different threads. So much industry and good modelling going on. And how the guys looking after it all manage to encourage everyone is almost super-human. Well done chaps and thanks. ] Anyway, to reprise the initial photo in the first part and set the scene, I am doing 2 older Airfix twins; and doing both as the big gun variants sort of balances things out I think. I started the Hs 129 thinking it was a lot simpler and hence quicker build. It's not bad but my penchant for being a little ambitious compared to my skills led to a few pensive moments, shall we say. Anyway, it's almost finished but as I'm awaiting some paint to dry I thought I'd fire up this second thread. (First one here if you haven't seen it https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235134900-flying-artillery-part-1-hs-129/) Since I first saw this picture in a book (included here from the IWM collection (© IWM CH 14113)) I've wanted to build it. So when I saw a re-boxing of the Airfix Mk II/VI/XVIII in 1982, although I'd almost given up modelling by then due to career/family etc, I couldn't not buy it. But it's lain dormant in the loft for 40 yrs, so now's the time to do it. I believe it's the 1972 mould standard. I will be leaning very heavily upon the excellent restoration build by Charlie @Johnson which is here https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235131297-freemans-folly-mossie-restoration-2/ a Master-class in my opinion. Hope you don't mind Charlie, but I will be borrowing a heck of a lot from you on this. Unlike Charlie who built his 50 yrs ago then totally restored it very recently, I will be trying to to start the kit from original bits and then use his modern input as well and compress the build time down to a few weeks. Well that seemed to make sense when I was typing it .... I'm, starting here It doesn't seem bad in outline but there is a gaping void under the canopy behind some dodgy looking seats. At least there's an IP of sorts but I think I will cheat and make use of some of these bits I know the Eduard set is for the bomber variant but sure I can make the cockpit look a bit more busy than it would be OOB, if not entirely accurate. And it hopefully saves me printing too many of my own decals as Charlie did. Whilst I can do them I find them a challange, so I swapped the decal challenge for the PE challenge instead . I couldn't get the same set of wheels that Charlie used but taking a hint about the hub (spoked vs solid) issue I found this set from Brengun that gives the option of either, as well as having the block tread. I am in no way comparing my skills with Charlie's but I hope to get something that looks about right and if I do so I'll be well pleased. But the fun is in the trying. Will just go and give the sprues a bath. Thanks for looking. Rob
  4. New Polish company decided to release new tool plastic kits of PZL W-3 Sokół helicopter. Firstly in 1/48 and then later in 1/72. Company have normal site, but it is empty now.
  5. In the spirit of the era of pushing boundaries, I'll push my boundaries in this GB by building by far the largest model I've yet attempted - Airfix's 1/72 Handley Page Victor. Inside the box there is a LOT of plastic! Bottle of Mr Color for scale. Will really need to clear the bench to build this, both figuratively and literally. Plan is to build it out of the box, using the box art scheme - B.2 XL512 of 129 Squadron at RAF Wittering in the anti-flash white scheme circa 1963-64. So a late Boomer, but one that to me really encapsulates the bigger, faster further spirit of the early jet age. This kit would have been built dozens of times by Britmodellers, so all tips and pointers welcome. I've always loved the Victor's evocative shape and form, it really must have looked like the future when it first emerged in 1952. Hopefully I can build a decent representation of it, plus find a place to display it! Thanks for having this baby of baby boomers in this GB! Cheers, Gerard
  6. Hello everyone. 401th Tactical Airlift Squadron - Komaki Airbase 2020. With my other project progressing to the finishing line it’s time to start thinking about the next subject. Having come back from S.M.W. 2022 I now feel I’m in a better place, my head feeling more planted for the future modelling days. For a little while I’m going to juggling two models in a bid to maximise productivity. 💯 Thanks for looking. 😉
  7. Hello everyone, here is my work in progress A-Wing. Test fit in an hour. Trial build is almost done Surface details is really nice After that, unassembled the kit, and applied Finishers green putty to smoothen some surface area on the fuselage. Rest of the parts are washed, and prepare for paint shop. The pilot seat has a large connector to "click" in the pilot, since I am not doing the pilot (as usual, what's new), the connector is removed and sanded before proceeding further. Sand the surface again, and seem it is smooth enough. Black primer time Followed by a colorful pre-shading
  8. I have been struggling slightly with modelling mojo - due mainly to workloads and family commitments. I am determined to get building again and complete my first GB for 2024. My chosen kit is the Airfix 1/72 Mig-17F from: I pulled this out of the stash last night. Who knows I may even do the Skyhawk as well (I will obviously do another thread if I do). I seem to recall some issues with this kit shape wise but it looks fairly Mig like to me... I thought I had some other decals for this but now can't find them and the Xtradecal set I wanted appears to be out of stock. Ideally I would do a middle east based plane (fits with one of my collection themes) but the North Korean scheme shown above will do just fine 😉 A bit of history from Wikipedia... The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 (NATO reporting name: Fresco) is a high-subsonic fighter aircraft produced in the Soviet Union from 1952 and was operated by air forces internationally. The MiG-17 was license-built in China as the Shenyang J-5 and Poland as the PZL-Mielec Lim-6. The MiG-17 is still being used by the North Korean air force in the present day and has seen combat in the Middle East and Asia. The MiG-17 was an advanced modification of the MiG-15 aircraft produced by the Soviet Union during the Korean War. Production of the MiG-17 was too late for use in that conflict and was first used in the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958. While the MiG-17 was designed to shoot down slower American bombers, it showed surprising success when used by North Vietnamese pilots to combat American fighters and fighter-bombers during the Vietnam War, nearly a decade after its initial design. This was due to the MiG-17 being more agile and manoeuvrable than the American F-4 Phantom and F-105 Thunderchief, which were focused on speed and long range combat, as well as the fact that MiG-17 was armed with a gun, which initial models of the F-4 Phantom lacked. The obligatory sprue shot: As always all comments welcome. Dave
  9. I’ll be basing my build on the Airfix B-25C/D, to depict the Mitchell Mk II of No. 226 Sqn FW130 ‘MQ-A’. Because 2024 commemorates the 80th anniversary of D-Day, I’ll be painting the aircraft as it appeared in June 1944, with D-Day stripes. I’m not sure I’ll be able to commit to the D-Day GB based on the calendar, so it was important to me to choose a suitable subject here. The following two images are the property of The Imperial War Museum, and posted under their non-commercial licence for primarily information-led, research-oriented purposes. While I’m sure the sprues are well documented, I like to start my builds with a little inventory. I’ll use the kit decals for stencils and interior parts, and a Techmod sheet for the specific markings for FW130. Images show a ‘larger’ roundel on the port wing, which is actually the original US star and bar insignia, overpainted with olive drab, and covered again with the RAF roundel. Therefore I’ll use one of the US insignias from the original sheet there too. I’ve always quite liked the B-25 (particularly the later strafers with incredible parrot and bat heads!), but know very little about the type, so will spend some time researching the variant and interior details etc before the build kicks off. Looking forward to watching everyone’s builds take shape, there are some really interesting projects lined up. Cheers, Nick
  10. Having completed Hobbyboss and Academy’s 1/72 F-14As I thought that I probably knew enough about the aircraft layout to tackle one of the GWH kits that were sat leering at me from my stash. Just to recap – this was Tomcat No. 2 completed a couple of months ago Wichita 103 HIP killer by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr Familiarity would be useful given the borderline ambiguity in the instructions (lots of it but with wrong parts called up and add-in correction pages strewn loose in the box), and there are lots of bits to manage. So, armed with a little confidence, I thought I set about this with the belief that despite its complexity that there wasn’t too much wrong with the kit. Right? Well, perhaps that’s not quite right but those encountered so far have been addressed. Tomcat project no. 3 by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr On opening the box, one can’t fail to be surprised at the number of parts crammed into the box attached quite well onto 29 sprues.... that’s quite a lot for a 1/72 aircraft kit. The instructions are as vague and error strewn as expected but at least all parts are labelled with an alpha and numeric so you can find them easily on the right sprue... or can you? Why oh why are there 7 A sprues? Where’s the sense in that? Did they forget to change the alpha designator I wonder. As for subject, having completed a VF111 aircraft and a VF1, I thought I’d go for one of the other famous fighter squadrons and have opted for a VF84 aircraft; aircraft of other squadrons will follow... promise. However, as with my last model, I haven’t chosen one of the oft chosen schemes instead pluming for a 1988 rendition of the Squadron Commander’s aircraft BuNo 162702 which had the hi vis markings despite most other aircraft being quite plain at the time. The image that captured my attention is on page 226 of the kindle edition of Detail and Scale Colour and markings of U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcats Part 1 (Atlantic) by Bert Kinsey (may he get well soon). The photo (and I’ve found others since) shows the aircraft presumably returning from a gunnery training mission, with a training AIM-9 round, an ACMI pod and plenty of soot staining around the canon muzzle. So, other than a twin AIM-9 LAU-7 fit on the wing pylons, it should all be do-able. The tan colouring on the radome adds a nice splash of colour to the rather weary looking finish it exhibits. I’d acquired the kit about a year ago (or so)... it took a while to get to me from China... but that was in lockdown. It’s easier to come by now, but despite the time taken, the seller kept me informed with tracking info. I bought the Eduard sets (I’ll probably use some of the bits but probably far from all of them) and just before I started in earnest, the Quinta Studios 3D cockpit panel set. I’d been very impressed with how the transfers settled over the molded detail on the Academy kit but my friend Brian was experimenting with a few cockpit tubs from different manufacturers and found that the GWH transfers were not as refined as the Academy ones and didn’t settle as well... much thicker. So, the Quinta items were secured as a hopeful solution. On closer inspection of some of the main parts, the panel lines seem quite nice but there seems to be a molding issue (mold alignment?) on some parts. One easy to illustrate example is on the nose halves. Here the starboard side and you can see that I’ve started to try to clean it up with some 400 grit paper. More work was needed, progressing to finer and finer papers until it was polished smooth and just a little re-engraving needed. This is not so much of an issue on the other nose half as it lines up with the gun panels, but it’s also evident on the intake trunking and lower fuselage half – each was addressed as above. Some smaller parts (such as nose gear) also exhibited this and they needed cleaning up a little more carefully. A check of the other two I had in my stash showed one to be worse and one to be about the same. I’d expected a little better in the quality control – or alignment of molds. At least it’s fixable... but at the cost of this kit, I’d hoped for better. Molding lines. Hmmmmm by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr Before starting, I’d noticed another builder tackling the kit, or a D model version of the kit, presented by rymulus. This identified that the RIO’s instrument panel and coaming were too narrow. So, this was the first thing I looked at, not really wishing to take the approach that rymulus has done with a complete scratch build of the panel (and you should see the rest of the detailing being undertaken – quite mind numbing and something my fingers and eyesight just couldn’t master) I set about to examine this and consider alternative options. As you can see here, the coming is narrow – the instrument panels on the outer edge should overlap those of the panels that are in front of the cockpit side panels... evident here is that they don’t – the whole thing is far too narrow. I suspect that if you had the canopy closed, it’d not matter too much. I’m doing mine open, or I’d hoped to... so, problem. Narrow RIO coaming by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr Rymulus’s solution was to cut the coaming piece in half add 1mm in the middle and make a new IP. After some ferreting around I came up with an alternative approach. Some time ago I bought an Aires cockpit set for the Hasegawa kit (nope, not made that yet either), but it was damaged in transit, so the seller sent me another one. That was more damaged in transit and at that point we gave up. But, the RIO panel was fine (in each). I took a look to see if that would fit. The sills in the cockpit are a little narrower than the Hasegawa I guess, so some thinning of the edges was needed, but I did managed to see that this would fit. Will this work? Aires RIO coaming to the rescue. Pre fettling by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr One other item that I needed to resolve was that of the facia. Here the Aires item (right) and GWH item (left) are compared... with the Quinta 3D print (sized for the GWH kit) part 25. RIO panel comparison. Quinta 3D print behind by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr My solution was to file the face flush and cut up the Quinta part into three items, as I’ve shown here positioned on the Aires panel. With some paint and touching up. I hope it’ll work. It’s what I’ve decided upon at least. As the upper panel is larger (again), I’ll retain that and paint it carefully. 3D print cut up and positioned on fettled Aires item by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr With the Aires item added and the coaming side panels now all glued in place (tamiya thin) and sanded flush, the rear bulkheads looked decidedly sparse, so I decided to add some finesse with some stretched sprue, plasticard, microstrip and lead wire... some filler and some artistic license. The Aires coaming was actually a little damaged; it’s handle on the top was cracked and didn’t take to prising into position, so a new one from plasticard and stretched sprue was made and added... and some further lead wire details added. Cockpit tub detailed by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr I’d a pair of GWH detailed seats that I’d made for the Academy kit that I could use, as I fitted the Academy seats in the end, etched out a bit to take a pair of Reedoak figures, but I decided to keep them to go in the VF1 kit should I decide to display it sans crew at any point and went to use the Aires seats that had come in the Aires cockpit set (that was damaged)... seats were fine. Width wise these sit fine, although I added a plasticard spacer under each to rise them to the right height. Detailed tub with Aires seats by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr And shown here inside the nose section for a dry-test fit Tub trial fit by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr Two other items that need attention at this stage of the build are the nose gear bay, and the nose gear leg (which I put “mostly” together at the same time to check, check, check and recheck fit – to confirm that it will go in later in the build. It will. The gear bay has some detail, but as rymulus shows in that build, the nose gear bay is the wrong shape (!) and the detail is molded quite heavily and still relatively sparse. I thought I took more photos that I seem to have (at a time when time was limited due to other commitments so I just build some bits when I could) but I added some plasticard and microstrip and lead wire to the nose gear bay to fill it out a bit. I did the same to the nose leg, mainly to add pipework etc, but not too much. Important – the nose leg still fits in. Nose gear in bay test fit. Fettled and detailed (Eduard, microstrip and lead wire) by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr The nose leg is shown here after some primer and paint was added. It’ll be cleaned up and sorted before going further. I’ve left the two side actuators off at present (are they kneeling actuators?) so that I can paint the oleo easier. I’ll add them later in the build... they’re attachment is quite large to shouldn’t pose a problem. I’d had to add them in the Academy kit as they’re missing (as is the retraction jack)... again not shown here, but is best to fit into the bay, fit the leg, then attach the jack to the leg. I’ve tried several options. Detailed nose leg painted white by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr Right, so back to the build. RIO coaming – I’ve a plan. Good. Press-on. Fuselage halves and intakes are quite a complicated set of assemblies but go together quite well. Dry fit several times before committing to glue... noting that some parts are a little vague in placement in the instructions, that opened rear top of the intake rear behind the ramps, being one example. Oh, and the rear ramp too. Anyway, with some trial and error and patience, it can all be dry assembled, except the jack on the rear ramp, and test fitted. On inspection through all angles, it became evident that there is a gap that can just be seen through the intake where the fuselage upper half joins (or doesn’t quite) the lower half. Discovered intake gap by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr On looking at photos, a PE piece would be ideal for this to depict the framing of the item that sits here neatly, but I decided to make a couple of small, thin, plasticard inserts to attach to the fuselage lower half, big enough to cover the gap. And these are shown here Intake gap solution by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr Added bits, another view by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr When the two halves are now brought together, the gap is hidden. Not perfect, but it’ll do Gaps hidden by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr A little filler was added to hide the injection marks inside the intakes although I wasn’t sure these would be visible or not. The forward sparrow recesses have a large hole at the front of each, possibly to allow location of the phoenix pylons. Why these are fully molded as holes when all other holes need opening out, I don’t know... but I put a small piece of plasticard over the inside and filled these too. You may be able to see a little filler at the rear of the gun port cover. Hmmm another kit error to explain. Some filler needed by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr The kit comes with a choice of two gun port options, an early and later A model version. But both parts have vents at the rear that only appeared very late on in production; the rear panel may have an access hatch but no vents. Wrong gun cover by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr As filler would not take in the shallow cut outs and the overall panel was too recessed, I cut out the offending panel to a shallow depth and added a new thin piece of plasticard to replace it. Fixing the rear of the gun cover by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr The plastic was thin so I cut out the shape of the access cover Access cover hole cut out by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr And added a new part to fit within the hole. Not perfect, but it’ll do and it corrects another error ... hopefully I’ll not find (too m)any more. Panel complete by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr Today, I pressed on with some paint after primer and first cover coats had dried (Mig one-shot) ... intakes and bits, in white... along with nose gear bay etc., all with Mission Models acrylic; cockpit tub was painted in a 70/30 mix of mission models Light Ghost Grey and Light Gull Grey in an attempt to match the Quinta Studios parts; some black added to the outer parts of the coamings (MM paints 70/30 mix of tire black and black) and details were then highlighted some details and painted detail parts (coaming fabric, seats, tub details) with Humbrol enamels as is my preference on small parts. First proper paint session by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr So, in summary, at least I’ve started. At the moment, I have less time for modelling than at any point in the last few years so maybe I should have chosen a simpler kit. The kit complexities were known and I’d been advised of the need for plenty of test fits to ensure all is well before committing to glue. The parts’ fit is quite good... but a little vague in areas. The kit errors and quality of molding is a little annoying as I had expected a little more in terms of quality... but I will persevere with the hope that it will provide something that is worth the effort. Thanks for reading. Jon
  11. I'd like to enter with this please; Bought a few years ago, along with the Airfix Curtiss Tomahawk, each costing me the princely sum of £2.49! The Mustang is my all time favourite aircraft, and many moons ago I built the Matchbox and Academy 1/72 P-51Ds, so it will be interesting to see what this much newer kit is like. It certainly looks nice upon initial inspection; Mine actually came with two sets of decals; This RAF scheme is nice, but its not how this one will be finished. Back in 1995, when I built the previous two Mustang kits, I had just started to get interested in the Eighth Air Force, and, whilst on holiday in Suffolk, had recently visited my first old airfield, which happened to be Leiston. Ever since then, Leiston has been a bit of a special place for me. Ended up visiting Hannants, and buying some Repli-Scale "Yoxford Boys" decals. The Matchbox kit was finished as "Old Crow", and the Academy as "Glamorous Glen III", which leaves me with these options: I'm thinking of going for "Missouri Armada". The decal instructions show this as an early model D, but I consulted this; There is a photo of Missouri Armada showing it with the fin fillet. The serial number given on the decal sheet (414709) is not amongst those listed at the rear of the book, however 414789 is, which is only 1 digit different. Using other numbers on the sheet, I can cobble together the right number for the model. Time to saddle up and get started!
  12. I can't quite pin down when it started, but I think I may have developed a Spitfire acquisition problem. I think it happened when I bought a PR Mk.XI for the Recce and Scouting GB after joining the forum earlier this year, then followed it up with a build of an FR Mk.IXc in the same GB; I'd already restarted my modelling with a couple of Eduard Mk.XVIs before lockdown, followed by an Airfix Mk.I and an AZ Models Mk.IIa (LR) in 2020 when I paused the Eduard ones until after a house move (not wanting to knock off IFF aerials etc.). After finishing those, I acquired an Eduard Mk.IX and accidentally bought a Mk.22 in the local model shop, but didn't start either. It seemed like it was under control. Then I found and read @ModelingEdmontonian's Hawker Hurricanes Around The World thread, modelling more-or-less every non-RAF marking scheme of Hurricane. And I bought more Spitfires, and started thinking 'well, I've done one each in PRU blue, PRU pink, Temperate Land Scheme (with and without sky band), Day Fighter Scheme (with vestigial invasion stripes) and DFS (2TAF with C1 roundels on the upper wings) - what if I try and do something in each major RAF marking scheme?' So I bought an Eduard Mk.VIII, which still lies in the stash, thinking that I could add a SEAC colour scheme. Then I thought 'hmmm, I didn't make any Griffon-engined Spitfires when I was modelling in my youth, it'd be good to build a couple', and I started researching how to kit-bash a Mk.XII. Then I discovered Kingkit.co.uk. And then this happened. Ooops. The Admiral Spitfire Mk.24 probably has a prop that's too small (I've not measured it yet) so I'll make sure it's removable for if I ever find an aftermarket one. The Airfix Mk.22's prop will be replaced by a Freightdog one, and the original which will then find its way onto the Sword Mk.XIV (which will be converted to a Mk.XVIII - are you paying attention at the back?). One of the Seafire Mk.XVs (probably the Ventura, but maybe another Sword Mk.XV) will be turning into a Mk.XII, although I've just put a bid on fleabay for an Academy stumpy Mk.XIV and a Brigade Spitfire XII conversion kit which I might try on something. Griffon-wise, there are also Marks XIX, 45, 46 and 47 to consider at some point, although I'll probably draw the line at the Mk.IV/XX. Then there are the Merlin varieties to start thinking about... This will be a slow-burn, long-term project as I've been enjoying doing the GBs and have my eye on a couple which can't have a Spitfire or Seafire shoehorned into them, and will be used as a focus for my modelling rather than haring off to try different things. First thing is to finish the Mossie for the Airco & DeHavilland GB and the Mustang for the Southern Europe GB - then I'll probably start with the (hopefully) nice and simple Airfix Mk.22 to get the mojo going. Although, knowing me, it'll probably get started well before the other two are finished. Here's the current state of affairs, in poor lighting as the weather is currently dreadful. Here's looking forward to adding a few more before the year is out!
  13. The new BM 30 from Zvezda, I first built up the multi part chassis and weathered it, the part fit was good, although it looked a bit daunting at first and rife for mis alignment, it goes together quite easily with practically zero room for errors. the wheels are just put in place and not fixed. the cab and crew cab go together just as easy as do the rest of the body. whilst I was at it, I dragged the S 400 kit also from Zvezda that had been lounging round unfinished out. The missile tubes are a pain though, each part comes in two pieces with some of the rear parts having three. this is before cleaning seams and attachment points! getting the tubes to fit was problematic at best, although they do have positive location points getting them all aligned was fun! best part of an hour for one section! Everything is just placed on the chassis nothing is glued in place apart from the tubes, the next section went a bit quicker, possibly because I put one of the tubes in a safe place! and possibly because I only glued the rear portion and the front piece is just there for alignment. I also gloss coated the cabs and launch area so I could start weathering. whilst I was on a roll I thought I might as well get on with the Pantsyr
  14. Italeri’s 1/72 DUKW, with some scratch built additions and help from Haulers PE set, and limber from Italeri’s Quad/25pdr kit to add an interesting bit of cargo. Hope you like.
  15. The Wallace The Shark And the Wyvern. Wish me luck
  16. visited my (not so) local model shop and got this. I think I’ll stick with one thunderbirds scheme, as I quite like it and even better the kit was only €8.50. I did hedge over a rather nice 1/48 Tamiya kit but it was a whopping €49 and by that I’d already decided to buy a hobby boss VK4502 ( a steal at €35 😀) Work will commence tomorrow!!!
  17. My first builds for this GB. These are both based on the old 1967 tooling, updated in 1982 to cover the P-70 night fighter. As I wanted to build both, and they have 90% commonality, it makes sense to have just the one build thread. I bought both of these kits in 1996 a few weeks apart, probably in different cities. Combined cost: < 10 Irish Pounds (c. 12.70 Euro in today's money). The P-70 is in a Matchbox box, which in those days was just another way of selling any mold owned by Revell. Because I dislike painting black on black plastic, I have swapped around most of the parts. The basic tooling includes the drill-out holes for the P-70 ventral gun pack, and for the dipole aerials on the port wing. There is one missing main undercarriage door (easy to replace), and one missing tiny oval side window (Clearfix to the rescue). I have nothing fancy planned for either kit. The bomber kit has the option to build a USAAF A-20C, but the SAAF Boston III was always my first choice.
  18. It's been some time since I posted a build on here, even longer since I took part in a Group Build but this one has tickled my fancy so, I hope no-one minds me joining with this old kit. The sprues: Should be a simple build, even if I add some bits'n'bobs in the driver's compartment. I may rescribe the panel lines, or I may not. Scalemates tells me this is the 1986 boxing of a kit originally released in 1970. The last 37 years certainly haven't been kind to the stickers (even if they were in register and the tail stripes weren't wrong). No matter, I have plenty in the decals box. I've got some Hurricanes to finish but should start this one at the weekend.
  19. Here is my completed Sword 1/72 Vought RF-8A Crusader Crusader over Cuba boxing, what you get in the box is not a an RF-8A but a RF-8G so a bit of work is required to backdate the kit to the RF-8A mainly sanding the extra lumps and bumps on the kit I tried my best, but on checking references I have missed a couple but I know next time, the wheels as supplied in the kit are not correct for a RF-8A but there is no alternative to replace them with, I changed them for Reskit items anyway as i find them easier to paint. The instructions with the kit are confusing in places and the decals supplied do not match whats depicted on the box. So not perfect by any stretch but I present my Vought RF-8Aish. 1/72 Vought RF-8A Crusader by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr 1/72 Vought RF-8A Crusader by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr 1/72 Vought RF-8A Crusader by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr 1/72 Vought RF-8A Crusader by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr 1/72 Vought RF-8A Crusader by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr
  20. What, another ModelingEdmontonian project? Well, what can I say? As I "travel the world" from my modelling table I have three projects underway already: "Hawker Hurricanes around the World," "Last Legs Ponies," and "Minor Gustavs." Now, I want to introduce "Sexy American Singles in South American Service," which is a spin off of Last Legs Ponies. For Last Legs Ponies I am modeling American WWII fighters that ended their service lives in air forces around the Caribbean. This concept is similar, but I am picking one American WWII single-engine (not necessarily a fighter) to represent each South American nation, with the exception of Colombia and Venezuela, since they are being represented in Last Legs Ponies, and Guyana and Suriname, which I don't believe have operated any relevant aircraft. Oh, the other qualification I have is that they have to be sexy American singles ("sexy" helped with the alliteration I was going for), but that's a subjective criteria 😉 . Here is a map of the eight countries and a/c I plan to model: I have Brazil (Academy P-47D) underway already, but really why I am introducing this project now is that I intend to join the Salty Sea Dog GB with Argentina's F4U-5, so more action will occur in my thread over there for now than in this one. More to come!
  21. Continuing on with my Hasegawa Japanese planes, but this time a newer kit. My previous two builds were from the mid-70s but this (and the next one to come) is from 2008, one of the rare models I bought brand new. The quality of the plastic and fit were exactly as I had expected and this was a joy to build. I completed this in March of 2023. Painting the Shoki was also quite easy. At this time I had been painting many of my models with a silver primer (I no longer do this) and I just left the primer without a coat of paint. I would likely opt for silver lacquer now, but at the time this was quick and looked the part. The aotake wheel wells were painted in Vallejo Aotake; the anti-glare on the nose is AK Real Colors' SCC 14 Blue Black. The white and yellow parts are also using AK Real Colors, and the red on the tail is Tamiya. The spinner and propellers are AK's 3rd Generation Acrylic Mahogany Brown. I think at the time of making this, this was one of the best finished products I had made up to that point. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ki-44 Shoki, codenamed 'Tojo' by the Allies after the Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, was created as a high-speed interceptor aircraft. It was somewhat of a departure from earlier Japanese planes that favoured manoeuverability over all other aspects in that the Shoki stressed speed and rate of climb, as well as having heavier armaments. The Shoki took a mostly air defense role, defending their occupied territories and home islands from Allied bombing runs. Production on the aircraft didn't last long; the Japanese stopped making the Shoki in 1944 in favour of the Ki-84 "Frank". However, captured Shokis continued to be used by the Chinese in their Civil War, as well as the by the Indonesians during the Indonesian National Revolution. No Ki-44s survive today except for a single wing section at a museum in China.
  22. Another Hasegawa kit I completed around the same time as my last post. This kit was part of the same line as my Tony, using 70s plastic but released with a new box in 1980. Just like the Tony, this kit gave me no issues in assembly and it really cemented my opinion of Hasegawa. This was painted in AK Real Colors' IJN D1 Green Black on the upper surfaces and Hairyokushoku on the undersides. This kit actually didn't come with any decals so I had to use leftover ones from my Tony. The fuselage roundels should be slightly larger but I worked with what I had. This was long before I would have felt comfortable enough to try masking off and painting the correct size (something I still may be hesitant to do). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Raiden was designed by Jiro Hirikoshi, the same man who designed the more famous A6M Zero, the fighter that gave Japan aerial superiority in the early stages of the war. The Raiden was built as an Interceptor, and after a long delay in production beginning in 1942, it entered service at the end of '43 until the Japanese surrender. As an interceptor, the Raiden was used to defend Japanese territory against Allied B-29 Superfortress bombers, and was successful in doing so for a short time until the Allies began night bombing runs in March of 1945. This, combined with a lack of numbers in production, limited the Raiden's effectiveness.
  23. Here is my recently completed Fokker T-VIII Recon/ Torpedo Bomber using the MPM kit in 1/72. Completed as part of a GB, build log here: Finished in the neutrality markings of the Dutch Air Force and transferred to RAF Coastal Command 1940. Stuart
  24. Hello everybody, after some negotiations with the moderators I'm joining with one of the most primitive classic Airfix kits: I hope my sacrifice will instigate a retool appearing in next year Airfix announcements! This is a build I enthusiastically started a long time ago, certainly more than a quarter century. After discovering the many inaccuracies of the Airfix kit it stalled and never got to an end. Now it is just a matter of finishing what I started, because I always try to save my builds and the competition from the MPM kit is not really that strong. I know the builds seems quite advanced, having joined the fuselages and wings halves, though I actually postponed most of the work because I plan to do the following corrections: - correct the passenger door engraving - replace the engines with the Airwaves Wright resins - correct the bomb bay doors engraving - replace and adapt the transparencies with the Aeroclub acetate mouldings - modify the tailplane to make it a continuous surface with the cutout in the fuselage tail - change the exhaust arrangement - rework all the landing gear area: nacelles cut-outs are completely wrong. - rework the wing slots: position and shape are not correct. I planned to build a Photo Reconnaissance bird without turret, so I'm at least relieved from the hassle of correcting the abortion supplied in the kit: I even have an Almark decal sheet for this subject, though it seems to be a very obscure one and I couldn't find more than two very blurred images over the internet.
  25. I have several large projects on the go (Hawker Hurricanes around the world; Last Legs Ponies; Minor Gustavs; Sexy American Singles in South American Service), but this one has been in my head for some time and, in fact, already underway! I want to introduce it formally now. "Spitfires-by-the-Seas" will involve building a pair of Spitfires in the markings of countries bordering five seas (so ten Spitfires total): Baltic Sea North Sea Andaman Sea Ionian Sea Mediterranean Sea Two of these are already completed: a Swedish S 31 (PR XIX) half of the Baltic Sea pair. WIP here: And a Thai PR XIX, which is half of the Andaman Sea pair. WIP here: I'm going to be building a Syrian Mk F 22 as part of the "I Feel Deserted" GB, which is why I decided it was about time to introduce my project! Stay tuned for more to come!
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