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Hi all. Here's my latest completion, their VERY nice 1/48th Tamiya P-48F Lightning. The model represents White 33 from the USAAF serving with the 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, 5th Airforce while operating in Port Moresby during 1944. The scheme is one of the options supplied in the box. I created paint masks for the insignia and White 33 on the nose and tail so I could paint them. I would liked to have made them for the shark mouths on the cowls but time was against me as I had to have it completed by last weekend (19/ 20 August) for our state competition. The stencils are from the kit. The embellishments are by way of a 3D Look panel, resin superchargers and etch seatbelts; all from Eduard. The wheels and tires are from DEF models. The top surface is rivetted so I could get some of the nice wear and tear around the rivet heads can be seen on P-38's and the colours are various darkened and lightened shades of OD/NG from Tamiya and Gunze acrylics. All of it over a silver base. I wet sanded the areas around the canopy to get the worn away silver look. I had applied hairspray but I wasn't getting the results I wanted so tried the wet sanding method. The final weathering once markings was applied was with a variety of oils and washes applied in small amounts but gradually layered to achieve the worn OD look. The underside received a similar treatment. The antennae wire is elastic thread. I'm really happy with the final result. I'd recommend getting yourself one, if only to enjoy the wonderful engineering and fit of the kit. Cheers, Mick

PM-M Built a couple of years ago. Made it so that Engines #1 & #2 had removable cowlings by making the Merlin exhaust stacks removable. Now that I am using Imgur with some success Links BCC. Thought i'd share these images:

Does anyone know of a mask set specifically for the new 1/72 Tamiya F-35A - RAM tapes? Or would I just paint it all one colour if I'm doing one of the Lakenheath aircraft? If anyone could point me in the right direction it would be most appreciated thanks. Martin

Not sure if any one has any tips. Second of two Tamiya kits that I have broken the front body pillar. Does any one has a way worked our of supporting this whilst cleaning and scribing before assembly?

Dear all I remember building this kit as a kid way back in the 60's. Can't remember the kit manufacturer though. I've looked on Tamiya's website (they are only listing Japanese aircraft carriers) and Scalemates, to find out what paints are required, but no luck. Cannot find it on here either. If anyone has built this particular kit, could they let me know the required paints as printed in the instructions. Thanks in advance.

Following advice from @Keeff and @Muchmirth I have decided on this kit from Tamiya for the group build. It looks a pretty straightforward build and should be a fun one. I'd like to do one a bit different to the one of the box but there aren't many different decal options out there so I will rummage around and see what I can come up with.

It was the local model expo last week, and I managed some interesting kits at the swap’n’sell. Varying degrees of complexity. None of them a quick build! I also picked this up for a paltry A$5. This very definitely has potential for a quick build, mostly to practice my painting and weathering. I’m going to complete it straight out of the box as a carrier from 1 Armoured Division in North Africa. Started work on Friday. It comes moulded in very dark green hard plastic, but other than some injector marks is pretty clean if flash. Not bad for a kit first released in the mid-70s. I realise early on that it was going to be easier to paint as I go. I used Tamiya acrylic NATO Brown as a primer, and used Vallejo Model Air British Light Stone as the main colour. I was moving along quickly without thinking to take photos, so here is where I am this evening. A quick dry fit: And that’s it for now.

Tamiya 1/48 M4A3E8 "Easy Eight". I use Tamiya, ICM, Mr.Hobby paints.

Saw a purple Carrera GT with black interior previously on my way to work. Absolutely stunning machine. I recreated its color based on my memory and swapped its interior with a terracotta/black/titanium one.

HI everyone!😀 this is my 1/48 Mitsubish Ki-46 "Dinah" It's not famous,but I realy like the shape of this airplane.. this kit is almost 30years old.. with some modification, I think it turns out well. hope you guys like it!

Hi @trickyrich Can I join the party this late? Using it as a tool to get my mojo back I'd like to resurrect this 1/32 Tamiya Spit that I have previously started (hopefully you regard it as less that 25% done) If so I would like to represent 'LOD' S/Lt Pierre Clostermann's mount in it's invasion striped guise. A great chance to do some tricky paint / weathering. See the LOD ref's below (together LOC in the same squadron). and here's the AM for your perusal. (theres also a resin door thats been given a base coat (in the first photo in this thread) I think the HGW belts look unusually rubbish: the print dots are so large they are almost unusable as they stand. (will have to paint them 🤷‍♂️)

Shadowing the Eduard Bf 109 F on the construction table was this Tamiya 109 G-14. This bird was surrendered at Neubiberg on May 8, 1945. It was apparently originally with JG 53 but taken over by JG 52 as evidenced by the painted over "Pik As" (Ace of Spades) emblem on the nose. The Tamiya kit holds pride of place for the G-6 variant in 1/72, at least for the moment. We will have to see what Eduard does with their effort in a few months. This is another of the Neubiberg 109s on my sheet. There was a variety of variants represented there, including G-14s, G-10s (including the Erla version) and K-4s in both German and Hungarian markings. I didn't take many photos during construction so these will have to suffice. Actually this is a minor conversion with the tall tail and additional small compressor bump on the starboard side. These were taken from an AZ 109 G-14 kit. Also added was the quad bomb rack from an ICM E-7 kit. I made two strips that were placed between the bombs for .005" card. The Erla Haube is a Rob Taurus vac item. This was a very enjoyable build, largely thanks to the excellent Tamiya kit. FC062D8B-2564-4FE3-841B-DAD0A26CD112_1_201_a by Barry Numerick, on Flickr IMG_9530 by Barry Numerick, on Flickr IMG_9630 by Barry Numerick, on Flickr IMG_9555 by Barry Numerick, on Flickr IMG_9552 by Barry Numerick, on Flickr IMG_9561 by Barry Numerick, on Flickr IMG_9563 by Barry Numerick, on Flickr IMG_9570 by Barry Numerick, on Flickr IMG_9608 by Barry Numerick, on Flickr IMG_9606 by Barry Numerick, on Flickr IMG_9634 by Barry Numerick, on Flickr IMG_9662 by Barry Numerick, on Flickr IMG_9660 by Barry Numerick, on Flickr IMG_9664 by Barry Numerick, on Flickr

Morning and welcome to my latest finished build. The Frog by Tamiya 1/10 I’ve had a blast building this and yes she will be a runner like all of my cars. I say all. Both. 🤣 Once again bringing me a huge sense of nostalgia from back in the 80s. Here’s the WIP Well here she is. No guts No glory. 🐸❤️ Hope you like her. All the best and Happy Modelling. Johnny.

Hi All, My latest completion is Tamiya's Brewster Buffalo. I've chosen to complete this as an RAAF example, A51-13 of 25 Sqn RAAF, based at RAAF Dunreath, Western Australia, 1942. 25 Sqn were tasked with the air defence of Perth, and this aircraft was flown by Flt Sgt J Bailey. Here's a couple of photos of the aircraft (and presumably the aforementioned pilot?): The build was OOB, with marking masks cut on a Silhouette Portrait. Here's a link to the WIP if anyone is interested: This was part of an informal group build with my esteemed companions @mark.au and @AliGauld - many thanks for the pleasure of your company along the journey gentlemen, it has been great fun. With that, here's the photos: Here's a couple of final shots with a homegrown fighter of similar stance and proportion: It's nice to have this unusual aircraft in RAAF colours, and it's a great addition to the collection. Thanks to all those who have provided kind words and encouragement along the way - it has been much appreciated! Thanks for looking, Roger

Since I was, at best, mediocre in my build of a 1/48 Tamiya Spitfire as I am trying to get back into this modeling thing, I was trying to decide which kit I could mangle next. I just happened to be on this bid site (addictions are a hard thing to oppress) and there was this 1/32 Hasegawa Zero for a ridiculously low price. So, I bid on it and ended up winning. Upon receiving the kit and opening it to see if it was complete or not, I found a Quinta Studio 3D cockpit set for a Tamiya Zero that retails for more than what I paid for the kit. Bonus, huh? I just happened to have a Tamiya Zero in the stash so why not build it and use the Quinta Studio set to enhance it. Then I got the brilliant idea of build both and if I am using the Quinta Studio on the Tamiya kit, use the Tamiya kit parts on the Hasegawa kit. Hence, this build took life. I am comparing the 1979 issue of the 1971 Hasegawa Zero kit with Tamiya’s 2000 new tool 1/32 A6M5 Zero. (I know the Hasegawa kit is old, but has it really been over 20 years since Tamiya came out with this first superkit?) First the obligatory box and sprue shots; Tamiya first: To go with the Tamiya kit I have the aforementioned Quinta Studio 3d set and Master metal gun barrels. Next is the Hasegawa kit The scheme right now for the Tamiya kit is the 204th bird. The scheme for the Hasegawa kit is the A6M5 C version. Before I can start, however, some attention has to be paid to the work bench as these kits will take a lot of space, so messes have to be cleaned! I decided if I do comparison builds with the idea I might start to make a dent in the stash. The 1/32 and 1/24 group The 1/32 and 1/48 group The 1/48 group And the 1/72 group I just need to live to be around 175 to complete all of these at my current snail pace rate of build. Now the issues I see with this build. I picked up a list of corrections for the Tamiya kit at this other site devoted to Large Planes (sneaky how I described that one huh?). I don’t know how many I will actually do based upon my laziness and skill level. In regards to the Quinta Studio set, it is for a different Zero version than I have so adjustments may have to be made. (Or I ignore it and blissfully know that 99% of the people that might ever look at my finished model won’t know the difference. As for the Hasegawa kit, there are 3 choices for markings but each marking is a different Zero version. I haven’t really closely examined the contents of the Hasegawa box and instructions, but I kinda doubt all options for the three versions are included and clearly delineated on how to do each one in the instructions. I am just guessing the kit is a mixture of different Zero versions. Anyway, that is where the start of this build is; the bare planning stages and get myself motivated to clean the work bench. I expect this to be done at my normal sloth like pace so maybe once a week updates. My work schedule is a bit intense right now, plus we have this drought thing going on in Texas and there is a bit more work involved making sure the cows and horses have plenty of food and water. Have to balance the hay needs, the lack of pasture grass, and how much they colic so nothing bad happens. Anyone who wants to see if I can muck this up is more than welcome to come along and all comments and suggestions on the progress (or lack of it) are more than welcome.

Hello, let me join this GB with this quite fresh kit from Tamiya. Nice looking warfare machine. Still thinking will it be panzer grey or other livery. Will decide during the build. This is the kit on my table:

Hello everyone It has been a while since my last post. This work I want to present to you, was finished during Shanghai lock down in 2022. Although the number of works completed in last year is only two, which is the lowest score in terms of quantity, I am now comforting myself with the two works that I am very satisfied with in terms of quality. One of them is this "Downed Bald Eagle" F-16CG Block 40 US Air Force 555th FS Commander's plane. The base kit is Tamiya's 1/48 F-16C/N "Aggressor", modified to Block 40 F-16CG. Aftermarket parts include Fabscale's F110 nozzle, Orange Hobby's metal and resin AIM-120B missile, Eduard's resin GBU-24 bomb, AN/ALQ-131, AN/AAQ-13 and AN/AAQ-14 pods, Master metal dischargers. The AIM-9L "Sidewinder" missile is by AMK parts. Well, the key feature of this work is the background and its history. -Reproduced the aircraft of Mr. David Goldfine, commander of the 555th Regiment of the US Air Force stationed at Aviano, Italy, which was shot down in "Operation Allied Force" on May 2, 1999. He was rescued immediately after being shot down, and after that he was able to rise to the rank of 4-star general. The mounted armament is the position at the time of the mission that was shot down(not quite sure since I did not find exact reference from Internet), and the painting is also based on the advice of a former 555th regiment official, recreating the moment of the last takeoff before being shot down. Another interesting thing was that a friend in Serbia sent me some of the wreckage of this plane, so I custom-ordered a wooden base and exhibited it together with the work. I am very grateful to him for his kindness. By the way, the wreckage of this shot down aircraft is still exhibited in the museum in Belgrade, the capital of the Republic of Serbia. For modelers, it was a great blessing to be able to make friends on both the American side and the Serbian side through modeling. That may be the true charm of scale models. Thank you for watching.

I’ve a lot on at the minute so I haven’t gotten round to my entropy builds all that much so far. However I really want to get started on some of the heavy weathering builds so I’m starting this one on the basis that I’ll build it fairly quickly and completely oob and then get into the paintwork which is going to be a lot of short bench sessions, so will fit into the gaps so to speak of my other stuff at the moment. The kit My muse ( not exactly the same model but close enough) The sprues. First step will be a coat of red oxide from a rattle can… The plan is assemble it then rust it, then camo which will be distressed back to the rust layer then dirt and weathering.

Hello all, Here is my recently completed 1/48 Tamiya F4U-1A Corsair, with the parts used for a 1D, in the markings of VMF-323 based on Okinawa in 1945. The build thread is below. Extras used included a Quinta cockpit set, HGW masks and HGW decals. Paint is MRP with the weathering added from a mixture of oils, dry brushing and Tamiya weathering sets. I'm not overly sure that land based USMC machines would have had their wings folded, but I wanted to display it as such. Weathering patterns were taken from various photos - I maybe went a bit heavy but I'm happy with it! With my FAA Corsair: Marine CAS 20 years apart: Thanks for looking Dave

Hi, I've been airbrushing for around seven months now, had one of those £40 amazon sets and then i changed the airbrush to a harder steenbeck ultra but kept the cheap compressor hoping that the air pressure is sufficient. Paint used to spray fine but over the last couple of times it has started to become very grainy or just not spraying any paint at all. I clean all the airbrush parts to the best of my ability. I have come to multiple conclusions: compressor not good enough, paint not thin enough, wrong thinner for the wrong brand or even something as simple as tip drying. I use vallejo 71.361 thinner on tamiya paints, sometimes I thin it so much it looks like water so I add some more paint and it goes all grainy and 30 seconds later it stops spraying. Please can you shed some light on the troublesome area. All the best, Magnus.

Hi All, Fresh from finishing my Anson, the RAAF camouflage set a spark off. Some quick research revealed that the Buffalo did serve in Earth Brown and Foliage Green over Sky Blue: Here's a photo of A51-13: I would say from the photo that the aircraft code is more likely Sky Blue than white, with the '310' more likely white than the yellow depicted in the scheme. Here's the box art: And here's the sprue shots: Here's the transparencies: No open cockpit without surgery! Here's the decals and canopy masks: This should be a straightforward, enjoyable build. Now everybody has one of these in the stash, right? If anyone's interested I think this is a great opportunity for an informal group build. I bet @mark.au would be up for this one?! Anyone else tag along for the ride! Thanks for looking, Roger

After much deliberation I have decided to model this tank, but probably a bit rustier. I’d like to say no Panzer IVs will be harmed in the making of this diorama, bit clearly I’d be lying as it’s going to have to get hacked to pieces ( should be fun) My intended victim The sprues. Next up some quality time with a sharpie and my razor saw

Hopefully no one will object to my joining with the Tamiya 1/48 Hetzer with a CMK resin conversion kit to make it a post war Swiss G13 variant? I’ve got other builds in progress so I’m hoping to build it pretty much out of the box (if the box is regarded as the base kit plus the conversion…) and I’ll just paint it in the single colour grey-green Swiss summer scheme (I’m aware that the precise shade is a matter for some debate) to keep painting as simple as possible. The History The bulk of the Swiss tank forces through the Second World War were 24 LTH, an early variant of what would become best known as the Panzer 38(t). After the war the Swiss were looking around to improve their armored capability and they were offered surplus Hetzers by Skoda. These were originally assembled from Skoda’s left over stock of parts from manufacturing for the Germans but the last batch were newly manufactured. The main difference (there were others, but less significant / noticeable, especially from the outside) from the originals was that owing to limited stocks of the original Hetzer main gun on the G13 this was replaced with the 7.5cm StuK 40 L/48. The Swiss Army eventually operated 158 G13s until 1973, at which point they were sold off. Many of them ended up in Museums masquerading as WW2 Hetzers. Why the Swiss variant? Well, my partner’s grandfather was Polish, and, by all accounts had a pretty bad time of it during the Second World war, including time in various camps. When my partner first found out I was a modeller she asked me not to model Nazi German subjects out of respect for his experience. Not a problem, I mostly build British kit and I was able to present her with an assurance on that one. However, some German equipment does appeal to me so if I really want to model it I look to other operators. A long time ago I did a Master’s in History and a chunk of that was spent on the Swiss and Austrian experiences of the Second World War. From this I learnt about the German kit (especially aircraft) the Swiss operated which means that they’re my first port of call. So if I fancy doing a Hetzer, not operated by Nazi Germany, I’ll turn first to Switzerland and their G13’s. In the natural way that modelling ideas expand to overfill the available space somehow this means I’ve now got a Centurion, Mustang and Vampire in the stash earmarked for Swiss schemes as well… Not much modelling time at the moment so my apologies in advance that progress will be slow!

Hi All, after coming across a request from Martin @RidgeRunner, decided to throw my hat into the ring with HMS Rodney, a battle ship from Force H using the Tamiya 1/700 kit. I'm in a little bit of a dilemma with this build as I would like to fit her with a wood effect deck and other AM stuff but that's going to be pricey. What I may do is get a railings PE set 'coz it's got to have railings... The box. Instructions. A waterline hull. Plastic to stick on. Never built a capital ship before but it will give me skills for when I get round to building my Renown and Courageous ships. Won't be starting this just yet as I need to complete my Type 42 destroyers first. Stuart

I think this is a popular kit and judging on first viewing it certainly a very nice one. A few of Tamiya's "legendary" ejector holes that will need filling but other than that, it looks to be a well detailed cracker. I'm not sure what colour choice, thick stripes, thin stripes and there's even photos of a Bet Lynch style Leopard print camo. Straight out of the box with this one by the looks of it. There is a Black Dog produced stowage set available but I'll see how I get on. Cheers all.👍