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Hi all, My first "In Progress" post. Done a few completed posts before so take a look at those if you wish. This is the first of many many Hunters I have planned (20+ in 48th in the stash and more planned when Airfix release the FGA.9 in the Summer). This is the F.4/5 kit but I'm doing a "basic" back dating to an F.1. I say "Basic" as I could go the full nine-yards and go as deep as possible e.g. the various different vents and holes and blah blah blah, but honestly, I just want to do as much as is necessary. This basically comes down to no Sabrinas and Squared off link ejector ports. I will enhance the kit along the way as will be shown here in this first update about the cockpit, but also other small things like drilling out the gun ports and giving the front nose wheel gear it's second *arm attachment* (no idea what it's called but you'll see what I mean when we get there. Scheme to be decided but probably from the Fantasy Print Shop sheet when they re-release it soon-ish. If anyone wants to give any other ideas about what to add, then feel free, but I'll do as I please and see fit! Any way... Cockpit! The kit seat is replaced with a 3D printed one, printed for me by my mate Lee. He also printed off some side control panels too. All these are primed with Alclad Black Primer and then painted over with Tamiya NATO Black to give a grey black interior. I then came in with some dry brushing with a few shades of grey - starting darker and working lighter. All raised details were picked out with white and then using references, various other colours came in over the top. To tone it all down, a few washes of Mig Ammo Panel Line Washes were used. Deep Brown, Dark Grey and Light Grey were all used in differing areas. Eduard Etch belts were used on the seat and the seat was given the same treatment as the cockpit tub. The gun sight, or lack there of in the kit, was cut in half to allow for a small piece of clear plastic, cut into a square to be glued in place for the gun sight. The dial just below the gunsight was a left over piece of PE from an Eduard Spitfire kit. More to come soon!

Macchi C.202 "Folgore" in 1:48 completed in Commander 153o Gruppo camouflage. Model straight out of the box and camouflage painted freehand.

Kit - Hasegawa Paint - Lacquers & acrylics Decals - Superscale 48-1249 Extras - Eduard etch, Hasegawa Weapons Set A McDD AV-8B Harrier II Plus VMA-513 'Flying Nightmares' MCAS Yuma 2011 No it wasn't an easy build - the work required to get the underside of the LERX's to meet the fuselage was extensive and needed cutting, plastic card, lots of PSR and a fair helping of harsh language. Strangely I found it all to be challenging in a good way and actually enjoyed the whole process. Had the kit and the decals for years and years and was never any doubt which of the three options on the sheet that I was going to build. Paint is Mr Color lacquers (Extra Dark Sea Grey, Dark Compass Grey and Light Compass Grey for the drop-tanks.). The typical Harrier soot and staining is all done with W&N Oils. The loadout may be a little anachronistic, it's not too far beyond the realms of possibility for a shore-based aircraft on a live-training hop. Please feel free to ask any questions, make any comments or hurl any insults. All the best from NZ. Ian.

My first Hobbyboss kit, Me 262 B-1a/U1 1:48 - not one I've seen a lot of posts for... To start with this is a very detailed kit, a lot of fine details and internal parts you just wont see...this is a great kit for those who favour a high degree of accuracy. The moulding is nice and sharp with clear definition - the plastic however is quite inflexible to the point where its a little bit brittle, this may be just a kit that's been sat around for a while! The fitting however was a different matter, the parts seem to be oversized and required quite a bit of trimming and sanding to make them fit together, some gapping with filler needed as well, overall the whole fit just seemed awkward. In the end not a bad kit at all, just let down by the fitting, also the addition of a replacement metal part to add weight to the front was a excellent addition and worth a mention. The cockpit was finished using the usual Eduard etched kit and the engines were a resin kit i managed to procure my scouring the internet for hours, finally being able to find one in stock in a Japanese hobby shop...makes you wonder why these don't come as a standard option on the 262 - turns out there are two options for aftermarket resin engine kits for this model, both are actually for Tamiya, not difficult to find which ones they are using the Hannants search engine, but good luck finding stock! The kit I really wanted to use comes with the full engine casing and is apparently the better fit, the one i had to go with was just the engines and mounts which took some fettling to fit but I'm happy with the result overall and adds a whole lot of detail. First real attempt at free handing the mottled cammo with the airbrush, not the best finish and did end up repainting it a couple of times - but a good attempt in my opinion - just couldn't get the finest lines, i was using a 0.3m needle and 1 Bar of pressure but maybe it was just me not having the experience and practice yet. Tell me what you think, all feedback is appreciated - the light on my phone is really harsh and sorry for the busy background, I don't have a lot of room on my desk at the moment 😁

Hello everyone, I'm happy to show you my first ever P-47, the Tamiya Razorback in 1:48. I'll be making a start on it today. Scheme chosen will be "Little Chief," just because it has the bomber escort option with the three underside fuel tanks. It's also the more colourful option than "Spirit of Atlantic City."

I decided to improve my mood after painting smoke clouds with masks on MC.205 "Veltro". So I rummaged out of the closet the model MC.202 "Fogore" in 1:48 also from Hasegawa. A model known for years, it will also immediately workshop. From the extras it is only the pilot's belts from EDUARD.

It's some time that I joined a GB, but there is a kit in my stash that meets all the requirements to enter. Just to say it also meets my, self imposed, rule of only building models with a North Essex / South Suffolk theme. Picture, background and new title to follow. This will be a slow build.

Hi everyone, I'd like to introduce to you my latest release at Hypersonic Models. B-26K Coutner Invader wheels, in 1:48, for the ICM kit. The set is created in CAD to accurate dimensions and all components are delivered as 3D printed parts. Tyres and hubs are separate pieces, in order to facilitate the best printing result and make painting easier. Print supports are kept to a minimum, clean-up is roughly equal to a good resin cast item although each individual support is easier to clip away than a thick casting block. The detail includes very fine brake detail, valve stems, tyre sidewall detail (kept as small/faint as possible) and weighted/bulged tyres. The axle holes correspond to the ICM gear struts and also fix the off-centre issue of the kit hubs. Direct link: https://www.hypersonicmodels.com/product/b-26k-wheels I hope you'll like this set. Thanks for looking, Jeffrey

Hello all, A new year, so also many New Year wishes.... This year one of my wishes is; build a model and finish it! Last part is hard last years 🙃 My contribution to The Salty Sea Dog GB...... A helicopter >> HH-60H Sea Hawk from Italeri scale 1:48 Hereby the pictures; To everybody; Have Fun! Arno Cornelissen The Netherlands

On the workshop landed such a small and quick project Mc.205 "Veltro" from Hasegawa in 1:48. The model almost straight out of the box, the rest will come out during construction. As the model has its years this is the start of its construction. Another Italian but in JG77 camouflage.

After many years I finally managed to find all the parts and complete the model Fiat G.55 "Centauro" Sottoserie 0, MM 91064 "11", 1 Squadriglia "Gigi Tre Osei", 2 gruppo ANR, may 1944 in 1:48 scale published by Special Hobby, the machine is in experimental camouflage. Despite these several years of lying the model I do not remember that there were any problems with it in construction, the fit of parts very good. The only addition is montex-mask masks. Enjoy your viewing.

While doing some organizing in my modeling stash, I came across a model of a Fiat G.55 "Centauro" sottoserie 0 in 1:48 a published by Special Hobby. The construction of it began a good few years ago. But during some work in the workshop I lost some of the finished parts and couldn't find them, and the model flew to the shelf waiting for me to find the parts. Finally, I managed to complete all the parts and you can move with the end of its construction. In such a state he was waiting for the end of work on him. And here's a set of parts that I lost somewhere for several years.

The model has been finished for a long time and it is also high time to take photos for the gallery and post them on the forum. I treated it as a typical rest and straight out of the box. It's just a pity that the extras for it are not available from Eduard. That's the way I would have gone over it a bit and pootled it. The model itself was very pleasant to build, well-fitted, the very pluses. By the way Italeri has just reissued it in their range, only the decal is for other camouflages. Gallery below, enjoy. The workshop is here:

The model has been built for a long time and now it's time to put it in the gallery. This time is always too little for me, and the worst is when I put something on the shelf. Then the topic drags on and there is no end in sight. I trusted the additive manufacturers for it and a few mistakes are there and I don't correct them, maybe someday I will come back to this model to correct it. There was a bit of fun with it, but in the end it resulted in "Hurricane" Mk.IIc in camouflage from 309 squadron RAF (Poland), june 1944.

Its certainly been a while since I last posted on BM and the model building has taken a back seat due to work commitments however pushed through and finally managed to get this kit done, basically out of the box but the tail planes are from the Tamiya kit as they didn't sit as horizontal as the Kinetic ones. Moved from the shelf of doom and now hanging on the ceiling in the den Thanks for looking in... next kit, a 1:48 Gazelle in 705 sqdn colours :)

Here to chew up the last of my remaining display shelf space. I picked this up at a consignment store in Savannah, Georgia on a vacation in fall 2020. The time finally feels right to build it. Once this goes on the shelf, along with a few other larger types i have in progress, I'll actually be out of space. Something I've been stressing about for a few years now. What will happen afterwards? I'm not sure.

Kit - Tamiya Paint - All acrylics Decals - Kit & Aeromaster 48-149 Extras - Squadron vac-form rear canopy. Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat VGF-29 USS Santee Operation Torch, November 1942 Just over three weeks from opening the box until finish, not after a pat-on-the-head, it's simply that sometimes (often ?), it's just great to build a 'good' kit without the drama, bad language and high parts count. And I thoroughly enjoyed it ! So I'm not going into any detail about the process, there's so many folks who can do that far better than I can - some of them here on this very website - Suffice to say, the only additions are seat harnesses from masking tape and a Squadron vac-form (rear) canopy. What you see here is 98% from the box, including the decals. I carefully measured, sprayed and masked the yellow 'Torch' circle around the fuselage before any other painting was done. I used lightened Tamiya XF-18 & XF-19 as the main tones - there's a load of pre & post-shading that combined to give the final finish, followed by varying panel line washes & stains with oils, and some streaking and general dirtying with enamel washes. Not too much else to say, I took time away halfway through another more involved project 'just because...' and I'll go back to that build somewhat fresher and 'rejuvenated'. Feel free to make any comments, ask any questions or pass on any criticisms. All the best from Middle Earth. Ian.

Hobbyboss has updated 3 new models for November 1:72 15U175 TEL of RS-12M1 Topol-M ICBM complex ITEM No.: 82952 1:72 Russian BM-21 Grad Late Version ITEM No.: 82932 1:48 “HURRICANE” Mk.I ITEM No.: 81777 via: https://hobbyzero.com/new-arrivals/hobbyboss-has-updated-3-new-models-for-november-2022/

I'm posting my just completed Airfix Hawker Hunter 1:48 scale. Its quite a substantial kit, and the box art is A+. There are enough redundant parts to get started on a number of different versions. Three tail sections, different nose etc, but not the larger wing tanks or F6 onwards flaps, which is a pity. From extra parts included that aren't mentioned in the instructions, it's actually more straightforward to go off-piste, and NOT make the box F5 version (which obliges you to cut off the stepped leading-edge wing in the kit) 🤔 F6A XF382 So having read up a little (actually, a lot of) history of the type, I settled on building an F6A, XF382 from the 1976 Greenham Common air tattoo. There are static display photos from that event to help show the way. According to the excellent source Weebly.com XF382 was originally built as an F6 in 1956 at AWA's Baginton factory, as part of a licensed production batch for Hawker. There's a comprehensive history of this airframe's journey on the website. XF382 was paid for under the United States Military Aid Program. This funding method was news to me. She is displayed at the Midland Air Museum, Coventry. Apparently as a permanent loan from the USAF Museum, who are custodians of all such funded aircraft. The colour scheme I've based my model on was applied in January 1975, when XF382 joined 234 Squadron Tactical Weapons Unit at RAF Brawdy in South Wales. On the same day, major damage to the starboard intake occurred when the starter unit exploded. She resumed squadron flying in March 1976 after the repair, and conversion to F6A spec with tail parachute, which is included in the Airfix kit👍 XF382 F6A displayed at the 1976 Greenham Common Air Tatoo My model I attended the 1976 air tattoo as a teenager, so it's probable I did cast my eyes on XF382 back in the day, as I recall a long line of Hunters parked up. Some AM parts were added, including the 230 gallon drop tanks, and the tyres. Mixed results with AM, if I'm honest. I left off the tank steady straps as I didn't think I would avoid making a huge glue mess on the side of the tank. I was scratching my head with where Airfix represented the port canopy emergency release with scribing. Based on photos, I moved it a few mm's forward, and made it more of a feature by drilling a suitable hole which I then filled with glue n glaze. I also made holes for the gun pack winch attachment points both sides, and the engine bearing circular cooler outlets on the flanks behind the wings. Both features are often prominent on photos of active aircraft. I cut off the skid-protectors from the 2 spare tail sections provided in the kit to provide the upper-wing pylon explosive release units fitted to XF382, as they seem quite close enough in size and shape in 1/48 scale. The execution was probably an item best left off, like the tank straps 😜 I've mixed individual decals from 2 sets available from Hannants (FHP48223 & X48189). Overall I'm reasonably pleased with the final result, which represents a fair reflection on what I did ok, and equally reflective of parts of the process that didn't work so well for me. I trust the potted history was sufficiently intriguing. I'd be happy if the finished kit encourages more people to present their interpretations of this amazing aircraft. Shoreham airshow tragedy aside, I don't believe and hope wasn't due to a defect with the aircraft. Anyway, I'm definitely not done with Hunters yet and have more in my stash! Thanks for looking in. All critiques in good faith accepted in advance.

Greetings one and all... This is my first ICM kit, but it certainly won't be my last, that is for certain! Cracking build and thoroughly enjoyable. 💯 What a delight to build this kit was. Had to think out of the box for the outboard wings, as I needed to force the gap to be larger to get everything to align correctly. (See last picture, and look to the outboard of the engine nacelles... for some reason, the lower wing portions needed to be forced out to line up with the nacelle itself...) In retrospect, and it's not a particular failing to this kit... (ALL manufacturers have the problem with overscale radar antennae for night fighters IMHO.) Were I to build another one, I'd go for AM antennae to enhance the scale effect.

I built this a number of years ago... And for some reason I never got around to posting either the build log, or the reveal shots.... From what I can recall, the build presented few problems and was a fairly cathartic build... So - with no further preamble.... I present to you my take on the venerable Hawker Hurricane Mk.1(trop)

Kit Tamiya. Paint Tamiya & Mr Color lacquers, Xtracolour enamels. Decals Eagle Cal 48-173. Extras None. Fw190A-3 Stab IV / JG5 Herdla, Norway Late 1942. On another forum there is a group build in memory of Jerry Crandall (of Eagle Productions) who recently died of complications arising from Covid-19. This is my entry for that GB. This is the 1994 Tamiya kit, built without any modifications or AM other than the decals from Eagle-Cal sheet 48-173. Painted with Tamiya acrylics and Mr. Color lacquers (and Xtracolor enamels for the fabric control surfaces). My third ‘old’ Tamiya kit in three months and sixth WWII build in a row. The build is entirely predictable – in a good way – absolutely no surprises, what did surprise me was just how co-operative (if smelly) Mr Color and Tamiya lacquer paints are. I’m a recent convert and am finding them an absolute joy to work with. Lots of pre-shading, perhaps a little too much and careful weathering with W & N oils – no pre-mixed washes here. The decals behaved perfectly, but then Jerry Crandall prioritised accuracy & quality above all so not surprised by that. Please feel free to ask any questions or make any comments/criticism. All the best from a wet’n windy New Zealand. Ian.

Hello! I know I haven’t been in the forum for a long time, but that’s how it is with me. We started a little weekend project yesterday. My wife is happy because another box is disappearing on my closet. “Saetta” straight out of the box and without additives. Only these masks I make myself for the glazing. So far, only the contents of the box. It’s a pity there aren’t any extras. The studio isn’t finished yet, so the photos are completely finished. The glazing is beautiful and transparent. Painting is also chosen.

Kit - Airfix A05138 Paint - Acrylics (internals, checks, stripes, glare panel, etc). AK & SMS lacquers for NMF. Decals - Model Alliance & kit (stencils). Extras - None. NA P-51D Mustang / Mustang IV Assigned to Flt. Lt. A.S. Doley 19 Squadron RAF Acklington, Spring 1945 Been determined to build 'Dooleybird' for years simply because of 'that' box art from 1974. Had the MA sheet in the stash since the early 2000's and even had a set of resin 'gills' to fit the Hasegawa kit. BUT WAIT, Airfix announced they'd be doing a 1:48 British Mustang IV in 2019, so I ordered it locally and guess what... the 'finless' D-1 (A05138) turned up - b*gg*r !. Well I always wanted to do 'Frenesi' from the 357th FG anyways so why not, and that's when I discovered that all the parts for the Mustang IV except the Aeroproducts prop are in the box. OK, not an issue, let's just see if that the spare (Aeroproducts) prop in the Hasegawa kit fits ?... (spoiler alert) yes it does, and perfectly. So here t'is, 'Dooleybird' in 1:48 but not quite as Airfix intended and definitely not as the old Matchbox box-art showed. Kit builds nicely and any flaws in the finish are mine alone - and there are plenty of flaws. This is the third paint job that this build has worn, no idea how I 'effed-up' the previous two, but I did, spectacularly however both times I somehow managed to save the painted-on yellow stripe & checks. Please don't look too closely at the NMF, it's much rougher than I'd normally do, TBH after three tries I was just happy not to have a thumbprint in the paint ! As ever please feel free to ask a question, offer a comment or scream abuse, it's all fine. Next will be another Series 5 Airfix build, then on to a couple of Fw 190's. All the best from NZ. Ian.

First and last - Supermarine Spitfire -1:48 Eduard Mk. 1 & Airfix Mk. 22 Not my usual area of subjects but I just could not resist Eduards 'First of the Few' dual combo boxing of the Spitfire. It did not disappoint, being an absolute joy to build. Naturally this led to me wanting a late mark spitfire to compare it with, so the Airfix 22/24 was purchased to go with it. I'm not into excessive weathering, preferring a lighter and more subtle approach with 'less is more!' No more intro is really needed, so on with the photos. Spitfire Mk.1 19 Squadron RAF Duxford 1938 Spitfire F. Mk.22 No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron And because the Eduard kit is such a lovely model to build, I've started on a few more! 19 Squadron RAF Fowlmere 1940. F/Sgt George Unwin. Shades of the old Airfix 1:24 kit, 54 Squadron RAF Hornchurch May 1940. P/O Al Deere RNZAF. Now, time to get on with the Eduard Vb and IX in the stash! Thanks for looking, John