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FIAT G-91T 32 Stormo, Italian AF, 1994 This is the Aeroclub kit of many years ago, mated with wings and tailplane from the Revell G-91.This has been in the stash for longer than I can remember but finally I got around to building it. My inspiration was looking back at some photos taken at the 1994 Cottesmore open day – back in TTTE days. Two of these little trainers were there in the static. The Aeroclub fuselage is a basic vacform which needs lots of work. A nice bag of white metal bits is provided including undercarriage, airbrakes and seats, but the rest of the cockpit interior needs scratching. Injection moulded wings and tailplane are also provided but are very basic. I had an Revell kit in a state of disrepair so I used that, but the wings needed new much thinner fences and a pitot on each wingtip. Pylons are provided in white metal but they didn’t look quite right (I think they were copied from the Matchbox G-91Y kit?) so I made my own. The droptanks were reshaped from an Italeri Hawk kit. Decals for roundels, squadron codes and finbadge were from a Tauro sheet, and yes, the camo is matt while the orange bits are gloss!

The Short 184 is an iconic aircraft from the First World War, being the first to attack and sink a ship with a torpedo attack. As far as I know the only kit is this Aeroclub short run kit from many years ago. It's been in the stash for a long time and last year I decided to pull it out and have a go at it. The airframe and floats are injection moulded and struts, prop, seats, radiator and some other parts are in white metal. Overall it is a straightforward although intricate build, the fit is generally good though some scratchbuilding of parts from provided material and plastic rod is needed. It does build up well and despite the fragile look it is pretty robust. Finished as Number 842 from HMS Ben-my-Chree, this was the first aircraft to sink a ship with a torpedo attack. As outlined it's a mixed media kit mainly injection with white metal. The transfers although the original and therefore a few years old performed beautifully. Brush painted Citadel Bleached Bone for the overall clear doped linen, Akan Dark Admiralty Grey for the grey metalwork and Tamiya Clear Orange over Akan Aged Wood for the varnished wood. It is a bit of a beast in size. I appreciate a Bristol Scout is small but it was a contemporary.

Hello all. I have just completed this Aeroclub 1/72 scale vacform kit of the Felixstowe, and what a joy it was to do. It was for the 'Anything but Injection' Group Build on this very forum. I love to do kits that give me a 'challenge', and this one was no stranger to 'challenges'! I had a lot of help and advice, and the build log can be seen here if you would like to see how things went (both right and wrong!): I built an interior for it (more of an impression that reality), the model was brush-painted with Humbrol enamels, the white swirls were from an AIMS Decals sheet (72D004), and the rigging was InfiniModels rigging thread. Anyway, here is 'Felix': The swirls transfers did not settle down quite as well as I hoped as could be seen in one or two of the photographs, but it turned out a lot better than if I had tried to paint them! I would like to say a big thank you to @John Aero for producing this kit, it was fabulous! Thanks for looking, Ray

This Flycatcher has been sitting in a box for years as I had problems getting the upper wing on straight and staying straight. I got it out as part of my 'let's get these finished' drive this year and there was a lot of filing down of hard superglue, new cabane struts made and a lot of straightening out of the main interplanetary struts. I was worried the undercarriage would be weak and be a nightmare to assemble but it wasn't too bad, maybe I'm improving with my skills. It's not perfect but it's a decent resemblance of this iconic Fleet fighter. The kit, which dates from the 1980s, is a mixed media, short run kit with the main parts injection moulded and the detail in white metal. It comes complete with transfers, which I had put on years ago. So I had to work around them and touch them. Built as S1287 of 405 Flight Naval Air Service from HMS Glorious in the 1930s. Painted with Revell Aluminium.

This is probably @Martians fault. The vacform tutorial build got me thinking about challenging myself to do something other than an injection moulded kit. I stick to 1:48 and almost always the end-of-the-cold-war through to modern era aircraft that I've seen at shows since my childhood. So there really isn't tons of choice in vacform, as soon as I saw the Lightning I knew it was the right one for me. I don't normal go for the un-boxing type shots, but a lot of you might be as new as me to this form of modelling. the box Unfortunately no longer with the etch or the redtops that have been redacted from the front The fuselage Wings Spine stiffener, belly stiffener and an over wing tank Another tank White metal parts for the undercarriage, cockpit, exhausts and nose. injection moulded parts canopy Decals and sticks attached to the bottom of the box First job, as it says in the instructions is to read the instructions. I might have done this in excess of 30 times before I was brave enough to do anything. But eventually the time came. I bought a new cutting mat Outlined the fuselage halves with a fine pen and with my new #11, cut the fuselage out of the backing. Sanding and more sanding until they fit together and also the nose and the exhausts fit snugly at opposite ends. I have no idea how that ended up working so well. Until next time.

In 1950/51 the Royal Navy trialled the use of 3 Skeeters. The trials were not a success and the three aircraft WF112, WF113 and WF114 were returned to Saro and subsequently issued to the Army Air Corps. This is the Aeroclub mixed media model which I picked up at SMW about 5/6 years ago. It's a neat little kit with injection moulded main parts, white metal interior and details, and a vac form canopy. The shape looks right but lacks detail. I added some detail to the cockpit, and various sticky out bits from various sources. The WIP is here So here we have one of the Royal Navy's Saro Skeeters, WF113, finished primarily in Revell's Aqua Aluminium brush painted. Transfers partly (roundels and tail warnings) from the kit and the Royal Navy and serials from an Xtradecal sheet of serials and British st war markings. Enjoy these pictures of a little helicopter that was an important development and tucked away in the annals of history.

I'm hoping somebody can help with this as having Googled, and searched on this site as well as my own sources I can't find the answer. I'm currently making the Airfix 1/72 Defiant in the Night Fighter scheme. I'm about to start on the propeller when I discover, deep in the recesses of my man cave, an old Aeroclub propeller and spinner #AP056 marked (by me a long time ago) as appropriate for a Defiant. (Its a De Havilland 11' 6", 3 Blade). However comparing it to the Airfix version in the box its so different I wonder whether its actually only appropriate for the Defiant II with the upgraded Merlin. Can anyone help? Do I stick with the Airfix one or was it so badly wrong that the Aeroclub prop is essential? Thanks in advance guys

Another display build a very simple ( boring some may say ) Colour scheme. Think this was the first kit with etch struts. Rigged with stretch thread Finished with Extracolor RFC Green Side on with background And a couple with out colour Can't decide if I prefer B&W or sepia ? I have a very nice set of 48th figures mastered by Tim Perry which I must find to put with this

I’m dragging three reluctant shelf queens along with the XIV in a race for quadruple Griffon engined glory! They’re all at the same stage and will get similar treatment (although the 46 will be clean as a whistle and semi-glossy), namely seal coat, filter, oil dots etc, before I move on to an FR. Mk 47. I love this (1996) kit!! first up - Planet Models Seafire f.mk 45 This was a pricey kit when I bought it (£45-odd iirc!) Must have been ten years ago, too - I remember warping the wings to the right angle and heating up a baby bottle for number 2 son in the warmer gizmo -worked a treat! That canopy masking’s been on there for a decade though. May have to re-glaze this one - but I can do that sort of thing these days, right? Of similar vintage, and inspired by Desmojen’s one on this very site, you’ve seen it all before, Mk 46. Bit more optimistic about the canopy mask on this one! I can’t help thinking the LM on the tail of this should have the black outline too. The hook wasn’t fitted to this plane. Number 3 - Contra-Prop Mk. 45 Aeroclub Mk 21 fuselage, Airfix 46 wings and prop. This mark was the longest of all of the Spitfire line - a two stage Griffon, contra-prop, broad rudder and hook, meant it was too long for the deck lifts on the Pretoria Castle, where Eric Brown did the deck landing trials. It still needed more rudder area as was unstable - it had sacrificed some area for the sting hook. Even with the contra-prop it was a bit of a pig to fly, so for the mk.46 the tail grew in height instead, borrowing the spiteful/seafang tail unit. What an awesome machine, I love it -Joe Smith and his team really knew how to wring out the spitfire airframe. You’d be pleased as these two if one was parked on your lawn, wouldn’t you? TTFN, Matt

Aeroclub T7 1/72 with homemade decals. Converted from single-seater G-AIDC Steve

Aermacchi MB326 South African Air Force 'Silver Falcons' aerobatic team, 1970s This one had been in the attic for a long, long time and recently saw the light of day for a photo session. It was built around 1985 using the Aeroclub kit. This had a vac-form fuselage and canopy, white metal seats, undercarriage and interior detail, with the rest of the airframe in extremely basic short-run injected plastic. I had some nicely printed SAAF decals and wanted something to use them on . The colour scheme was done with some challenging hand painting, though I think the aluminium was airbrushed. While I was into things South African I also finished an old Matchbox Mirage IIICZ. Not my best, but it here it is anyway!

I have started a small project to build the old Aeroclub Gloster Gamecock, and I'm looking for some references/pictures especially the cockpit and I/P colours, but also some clearer details on the visible differences between the Mk I and Mk II. The only plans I have are some very old line drawings from Scale Models dated 1974, which if correct seem to imply the kit has Mk II wings. The drawings also suggest that the Mk I has the larger tail fin which I don't believe to be correct. The kit provides 2 types of tail fin, but only one type of wing. Any references of further info would be appreciated. Thanks Terry

I've spent the last year reacquiring lost modelling skills, and I think I'm ready for a BIG project... ...with a little help. And to be honest, I feel some trepidation. Me, an unwashed Yank building a Vulcan?!? I may as well be putting a TSR-2 in USAF livery😨. Anyway - If anyone has a photo of a Vulcan farther along rotation, I'd appreciate it - especially closeups of the gear. I'd like to model the photo below, but with the landing gear a bit more "up". I think I'll use acrylic rod (X4 with LEDs) to hold the aircraft over a base of blurred runway. This is going to be a slow build, because it's important to get this build right. image pulled from some site. I'll be happy to pull it down if necessary. Major parts marked, scored and removed from main sheet parts arranged, along with a few articles I've saved over the years. Let's do this!!! Items in the bottom right will be molded in resin, since weight-bearing is no longer an issue. Comments and advice are definitely welcomed.

The Gloster Gauntlet was the RAF's last open cockpit figter. This is Aeroclub's 1/48th Gloster Gauntlet offering, I believe that they had a 1/72nd version too. The box Parts I haven't tested them, but the decals look to be in good shape. The decals are for aircraft from 46 Sqn or from 74 Sqn. I haven't made a final decision on which I'll build yet: the 46 Sqn aircraft had squadron markings on the top wing, while the option is present in the kit for 74 Sqn wing markings, there is a question whether they got around to painting them. AM stuff The seat belts and instruments are left over from earlier projects, while the Vector engine was bought to replace the kit's white metal parts.

Aeroclub 1/144th Mosquito B35, built for a group build on Kampfgruppe 144. Represents B35 of 139 sqn RAF Hemswell. Kit has cockpit added, figures converted from Preiser groundcrew figures. Nacelles and wings have a few additions, main u/c doors are milliput. Base is temporary as I've run out of clear rod! Hand painted using Hataka (MSG) and Vallejo air ( NATO black) Weathered using watercolour pencils

During a sort out in the loft I have come across a kit of a 1/144th DC-3 in a snap-top polybag with no instructions nor decals. This polybag was tucked inside box containing a 1/72nd Italeri DC-3 I bought secondhand at a show a couple of years ago - that kit is complete with decals and instructions and I assume the previous owner had forgotten about the 1/144th kit in with it! The 1/144th DC-3 kit is injected moulded in the caramel-coloured plastic I have seen AeroClub use for their own kits in the past and has finely cast metal parts in a separate polybag. A Google search brings up no mention of an AeroClub 1/144th DC-3 but lots of mentions of Welsh Models 1/144th vacform kits - this definitely is not vacform!! Can anyone help identify this kit? Second question is ' is it accurate' - it looks like a DC-3 but ...... See JohnAero's reply below for the full story - many thanks for the info, John!!

This Meteor used to be at an Air Training Corps close to where I used to live and the colour scheme always interested me. I got an Aeroclub winch and an old Matchbox Meteor NF so that left no excuses. The decals are a combination of my own and those from the kit. The target towing gear under the rear fuselage is scratchbuilt. Steve

Well this really is my first RFI for ages, I've been battling with this mixed media kit for months and finally given in, definitely going to stick with injection kits now I've removed this from the loft lol! Ive had this kit for ages and finally decided to build it last Christmas to go with my Airfix F6 - to be fair the kit goes together ok, just my cack handed modelling that made it more difficult. The base kit was actually an F3 but I wanted to do an F1a as I had a spare Airfix F1 fin. So with that in mind its probably not 100% accurate, I shortened the ducting on the lower fuselage but theres probably more I should have done. The Eagle Eyes among you will probably notice the markings on the fin are not quite right for an F1 either, they are modified F3 decals kindly supplied by fellow Britmodeller Rob G (Cheers mate!). All OOB apart from the pitot tube. Paint used was Revell Aquacolour Aluminium & Silver and yellow and black for the spine and fin. Anyway, here is it, only managed to get a few passable photos :-)

I am still awaiting the arrival of my Welsh Models Albatross kit, so had another rummage around and came across this little fella. There are not a lot of parts but the masking for the paint should prove to be enough of a challenge to keep things interesting, I may even make an attempt at rigging it too.

HR686 of 502 Sqn took off on the night of the 3rd October 1944 from RAF Stornoway for another routine operation looking for targets of opportunity in the sea off Norway. The Germans were moving men and equipment from Norway to Europe to reinforce their defences following the allied invasion. A typical cold dark & wet night in that part of the world with a low cloud base, the 9 crew went about their duties routinely. The aircraft was loaded with depth charges and enough fuel for 12 hours meaning that the fuselage bomb bay was laden with fuel leaving the wing cells to carry the depth charges. Eventually a target was picked up on the ASV radar and the aircraft dropped down to investigate. Cloud cover was broken at just 800ft, where the contact appeared to be illuminated leading them to think it was a neutral vessel causing them to turn away and call off the attack. This was a tragic move as the illuminations were in fact gun fire from the ship Amisia. The inner port engine was hit along with other damage and there was no option for pilot F/O McManus but to prepare for a ditching. A successful ditching was made and its believed that all crew escaped alive, but the life raft that is located just behind the port inner was burned, hence useless. Fortunately, one of the inflated main wheels came to the rescue allowing them to stay afloat. Rescue was made at dawn break by the Amisia but unfortunately, only 5 of the crew had survived long enough. 3 of the crew were missing and were never recovered, the body of F/O La Palme was washed up on a beach in Norway. The 5 survivors became POW's and lived to tell the story, unlike many of their fellow squadron crews who simply went missing on these long and lonely missions, most of which became victims to their intended targets. Build HERE. The kit is the flawed Revell Mk.II. Fortunately, Aeroclub provide complete engine nacelle and propeller replacements. I'd wanted to do a Tollerton Z Nosed version for a while and was inspired by the reading of the Coastal Command missions in Merricks fantastic book 'Halifax - From Hell to Victory & Beyond'. This lead me to choosing HR686 as a basis using the Freightdog Z Nose and mid upper fairing. Whilst there is only one known photo of this aircraft, photo's of other aircraft in the white livery show them to be somewhat dirty with heavy oil streaks on the lower surfaces of the wings and engines. I wanted to replicate this effect, so it was a great excuse to get carried away with the pastels! On the whole, a pleasant build and the Aeroclub engines make a big difference to the look of the Revell kit. I also used a few bits from an Airfix Lanc that were left over from conversions; the main wheels (although Aeroclub provide these) and the Rebecca aerials due to being more refined. There were a few assumptions made, the first is that there is a gun protruding from the nose above which you would expect for anti ship & sub missions....I've just noticed I've located it too low, god knows how I made that mistake!! Also, I painted the fuel tanks in the bomb bay black, although there is a very good chance they were brick red. Anyway, enough blurb, here's the pics... Thanks for looking

Only the second build to cross the finish line this year, the Canberra is now done. Not one of my best builds, probably trying to rush to get it off the bench having stared at it for so long, but the paintwork is surprisingly complicated, not only with stripes, but with cut outs in the stripes for the codes, damn inconsiderate of the RAF to do this! At some point, I'd like to do a silver one as the Canberra has such graceful lines that are lost somewhat on this scheme. Built using the Airfix PR.9 (Edit: B(1).8!!!), CMK gear bay and flap sets, Aeroclub wheels and B.2 conversion and scratch built bomb bay with thanks to John (Canberra Kid) and his excellent website (http://ipmscanberrasig.webs.com/) for some great references. The decals were a mix of Airfix and Model decal for WH640. Despite my best efforts, there is still evidence of silvering on them.The intake FOD covers were Flightpath ones, although slightly too big they were filed down until they fitted in to the intakes as they should. You can see the build HERE The B.2 conversion comes with a resin canopy, but I used the Aeroclub vac form one instead. Despite sticking a ruddy great bolt up front, it is still a tail sitter, so had to use the supplied tail stand in the Airfix kit which I've photoshopped out of most of the photo's. Thanks for looking Cheers Neil

Started to play around with the Canberra this week, so I guess that means its started! Got some goodies, not included in the photo below are some seats kindly donated by John (Canberra Kid) that I need to dig out of the aftermarket box too. I've already chopped the nose off the Airfix kit and dry fitted the Aeroclub nose conversion, so far so good. I'd planned to build as WH640 in PR blue, MSG and DG with stripes, but fancy doing a silver scheme too that shows off the graceful lines of the Canberra better. I'll reserve the decision for now, but open to thoughts and suggestions. Here's the resin flaps, u/c bays and B.2 main wheels, some nice resin to bling the build up a bit Cheers Neil

Academy Hawker Hunter F.6 in 1:48 I've used Aeroclub correction set and FM details resin, check more of the build on http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234979788-148-iraqi-hawker-hunter-f6-academy-aeroclub-fm/ The decal are Iraqi fighters by Linden Hill. It was quite a complicated build, many needed corrections; the dog tooth, the exhaust, rounding the tip edges, moving the tail planes and the airbrake, etc. I could do more on the nose and the canopy - I have trimmed the back frame, which makes a bit short, no rails done which makes it a bit off... anyway, here it is... for more info and pics, please check http://militaryaviation148.blogspot.si/2016/01/hawker-hunter-iraqi-air-force-399.html Thanks for looking in.

Gannet AEW.3 XL479 849 Naval Air Squadron ‘A’ Flight, HMS Victorious, 1967 Aeroclub Gannet AEW.3 conversion kit + Frog Gannet AS4 When I saw Sword was doing the Gannet AEW.3 I knew I had to have one as I had flown in the beast way back in the 1970s. It would have to be finished as XL472 – the one I flew in. And it was so! I had had this old Aeroclub conversion in the stash for decades so it was time to throw it away. I thought I would have a good look first, though. Then I saw those beautifully moulded white metal parts and the crisp vac-form parts and quickly realised this was far too good to go in the bin. So I got on with it. There were a few difficult moments (for example when I found I had lost the nose wheel leg and had to fabricate a new one) but actually most of it went together really well, and I’m convinced the finished product looks more like an AEW.3 than the Sword one – but I’m biased! Having done XL472, this one had to be XL479 which I saw at the Coltishall Battle of Britain display in 1967 when I was merely 16 years old. These are the Aeroclub parts : The Frog wings with white metal leading edges , undercarriage bays, bulges for the flap hinges and panel scribing added : Airframe ready for priming : Wing top surface after priming :

K3129 No.7 Flying Training School, RAF Peterborough.