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Hi all, I’ve started this new project about a month ago and here is the work in progress so far. Here are a few pictures showing the Zil 157 SA truck build so far. It's an early Trumpeter kit, so I did expect a few issues along the way, but so far not too bad. The biggest issue has been the intermediate gearbox installation, the gearbox lower case fouled the chassis, I had to shave a few millimetres off to get it and the driveshaft’s to sort of line up. Once primed with Mr Surfacer 1500 grey primer, I used a 50/50 mix of MRP grey-green 165 with Aqueous H52 olive drab, thinned with Rapid thinners. This gave me a nice smooth finish that looked very close to the kit sprue colour. Also, to add fading and sun bleaching effect later, I mixed a 50/50 mix of MRP 10 brown green with H52 olive drab. The Eduard PE set is being used, but only about 50%. I have bent the engine bonnet hoods into shape, but I am not sure if I will use them yet, as the kit parts look good. Once I have completed the truck, I can move on to the Missile trailer.

Hi folks, I am calling this Algerian SU24 done. They seem to prefer in-flight refuelling, rather than strap the huge fuel tanks under these birds, so I just went with a light load out that my reference book showed. Also, stencil dated seemed to be rather sparse around the fuselage compared to the Russian flown versions. Overall, it was a great build, the Aires cockpit was slow going, but after that it went together pretty well. The nose cone was left open to display the radar equipment and I scratched built a few extras to fill the void in the nose, I call it recalibration test equipment, just some detailing to give a bit of visual interest to that area. The kit is known to have some inaccuracies, especially the rear engine exhausts are too wide apart, and hence the FOD covers mask this issue. Thanks in advance for all your comments and interest.

I will finish a GB, I will finish a GB, I will finish a GB.... Work has been manic and the mojo has been lacking. Covid in September didn't help either. I may still finish my French Fancy Mirage but will need to find some replacement parts after the carpet monster ate a few. Anyway didn't have anything in the stash for this one but a quick order to Hannants produced this: Looks very nice. A little flash but nothing serious and the engraving is very fine. Relatively low parts count (well it is 1/144) so hopefully will go together quickly. The above photos were taken at about 9am yesterday (Saturday). I decided to treat this a little like a blitzbuild and managed to set aside about 4 hours on Saturday and Sunday to do this. That's as far as I have got tonight. I have really enjoyed the build so far. Unfortunately I discovered on Saturday that I don't have quite the right paint colours to hand and so another order has been placed. As a result it will be a few days before the next update. As always all comments welcome. Cheers Dave

Hello all, Bit of a late entry but hoping I can get this done in time. Was inspired by @Bertie Psmith 1/35 build that he started.. Trumpeter_ Strv_103C_ (1) by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr I haven't built 1/72 armour in a long time so this will be interesting! Kit was a recent purchase from fellow modeller Glen Phelan. Trumpeter_ Strv_103C_ (2) by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr Four sprues, tracks, decals.. Trumpeter_ Strv_103C_ (3) by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr And what's this lurking in the corner of the box? Trumpeter_ Strv_103C_ (4) by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr Why it's a tiny S-tank! 🥰 Trumpeter_ Strv_103C_ (5) by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr Build will be OOB and I'm really drawn to this scheme... Trumpeter_ Strv_103C_ (6) by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr Thanks for looking and good luck with your builds. Cheers, Dermot

Quite a few of these on the go I see. I started these two in four tank parallel build as I needed a break from another couple of projects as they were doing my nut in. Both used the Trumpeter kits for the hulls. Everything else was binned. InAccuate Armour upgrades have been extensively used and the tracks are from HobbyBoss. Figures are Valkyrie and MiniArt with Hornet Heads. Both sets of figures are a huge disappointment as they are incorrectly dressed and will need to be corrected. The Berlin Chally is current from the Ajax Squadron who have been experimenting with urban cam schemes. The NATO Chally is circa 2002 and is still carrying Clansman kit and the old wheels, which were replaced in late 2002 around the time Bowman came in. Both Chally's are ready for gloss varnish then weathering, which I will post progress on in this thread. Here goes! Yes I know the viewing ports need completing.... NATO Chally 2 Not done armour for years, so weathering should be interesting! GPMG and viewing ports need sorting yet also.

Hallo This Sd.Kfz.8 from Trumpeter in scale 1/35 is straight from the box. It is my the last but one off all my half tracks. The Sd.Kfz.9 is waiting for getting started. With all this German half tracks I want to show the backbone of tank warfare. Maybe you like this model. Happy modelling

Some years ago I had an intensive period of building tanks. One of them was the red army's KV-1 (after general Kliment Voroshilov). I especially liked the tank-like looks of the version in which additional metal plates had been attached to the turret with big bolts. This KV-1 type had the Russian nickname "s ehranami" or "with screens" in English. The red army ordered the additional metal plates to be attached to the KV-1's to make the turrets thicker against the efficient German tank guns. The strongly sagging tracks were also typical of this tank giving it real badass looks. I built the KV-1 from a good quality Trumpeter kit. To enhance the model I also bought tracks that consisted of separate links and an Eduard photoetch set for the engine grilles, etc. The only thing that caused a bit of trouble in modelling was attaching the slogan decals to the uneven turret sides full of bolts and holes. After a bit of swearing and patching I finally made it in my opinion quite well.

Hallo This is my second Sd.Kfz.6. This time in the pioneer version, to show more the design and look of this half track. All the half track were the backbone of the fast army movements. All was straight from the box. For painting only Mr.Gunze C range. Well, hope you like it too. Happy modelling

Hallo This will be a WIP of a Sd.Kfz.6. I am posting a WIP of a halftrack, because I built some, the result was not satisfying. Many errors occurred. One major error, I have to fight with, is simple hurry, low patience, underestimating simple parts to fit. This sort of vehicle, I do now a second run, to improve my quality. For the German tanks, the half tracks and recovery tanks were the backbone of fast warfare. At every time and location. The first Sd.Kfz.6 had a Flak mounted. This one has just seats. To get a better impression of the design of this vehicle. My colors used are C40, C513, C514, C515. This three 5XX numbers are shades of the German grey. Many parts sprayed and already assembled. The parts you see are sprayed in a medium light shade and dry brushed. The get some shades more. After assembling some more parts, I will make the track chain. The decals for the dashboard and some detail painting is also waiting. I want to add rust a little, on all possibly positions. If this all is done, the other parts I will do. It takes some time. I want to prevent errors and flaws by a hurry. The kit from Trumpeter is to my opinion perfect. No complaints. Happy modelling

Hello All, I’m currently building the Trumpeter 1/200 Bismarck and I’m enjoying it very much. So much so that I’ve inadvertently bought the Hobbyboss (ex Merit I believe) 1/200 Imperial Japanese Navy pre WWI Mikasa Battleship! I promised myself I wouldn’t look at another model before I’d finished.. but I have a lack of moral fibre 🤔 I’ve also bought the Mk.I Designs detail pack - the full version - there’s a value pack but I don’t think they include the brass masts or armament barrels amongst other things. This isn’t obvious though as both sets are depicted online with a set of photos of the full set. I was umming and ahhing about buying it with so much of the Bismarck to go. I was looking for something to push me over the edge and it came with the discovery that Scaledecks have a deck for this in the making. The Mk.I set has its own deck but it’s the standard type which I’m not a big fan of. I had some pretty poor fitting issues with my Scaledecks Bismarck one, but they assure me this one should be fine. I’m not sure when it’ll be available but I’ve put my name down for one. Anyway, the kit’s in the post allegedly and I’ll post some pictures when she arrives. Any photos or points of reference for the Mikasa would be most welcome. Not a ship/ conflict I was much aware of. It will however, be on the back burner until Bismarck gets done, but you know how easily led I am… Thanks for looking in 🙂 Guy

The last of my three Luft ‘46 completions, and the only reason they all got completed at the same time was because they used the same paint colours and it was easy to just line them up in assembly line fashion, is the Trumpeter Messerschmitt Me 509. This is a very easy build, but it requires a lot of nose weight and there aren’t many places to put it ahead of the cockpit. As a result, the model is quite heavy. Also, Trumpeter don’t provide a positive location method for the retractable radiator if you want to install it in anything but the fully retracted configuration. I glued a piece of square plastic tube across the fuselage resting on the exhaust locators to give me something to glue the radiator to in a partially deployed configuration. I masked and painted the spinner spiral rather than using the included decal.

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Good evening, dears I would like to show you my model Trumpeter 1/32 EF-2000 eurofighter typhoon Royal Saudi Air Force 3 Squadron enjoy

Hello all, i hope you have been keeping safe. I decided to do another one of Trumpeters Me262 A-1a's knowing that some of the issues could be fixed. As many are probably aware the weapons hatches on the front are pretty poor in shape and form, so this was addressed and hopefully look pretty decent this time. EagelCal decals were used for this aircraft plus Quickboost seat and Brassin wheels. Paints used were C117, C121,C122 all from Gunze. As ever, please feel free to comment on the build even if you think there could be improvement's Thanks for looking, keep safe folks!

Hello all, Possibly a slightly premature post, as I haven’t got the said kit yet, but I have lots of questions! I’ve been rambling on about maybe getting a 1/200 kit for a project on my 1/700 Bismarck build thread, and thought I probably ought to give it its own topic as I nearly bought one last night, and may well later today 🥴 Bonkers really, as I’ve nowhere to put it, but once I get a bee in my bonnet, I can’t shake it loose! It didn’t have to be the Bismarck, but in terms of aftermarket and availability, it seems the obvious choice. I would have liked HMS Hood, but a couple of things held me back - no sea plane (I like having an aircraft to model)/ more expensive/ less aftermarket. The aftermarket options are slightly daunting, and here’s where I want some advice. Pontos do a ‘Super Detailed’ set and above that, an ‘Advanced’ set (15 sheets of PE compared to 11 on the SD). Mk.I Models do a deluxe set. Ka do a set, Trumpeter do their own set and the rather unfortunately named ‘I Love ♥️ Kit’ do a set! Not all are easy to source. I have tracked down the ‘I Love Kit’ set 66602 from a UK model shop which seems to be the Pontos set re boxed? (but under the Trumpeter label) But which set it is I don’t know. The above offerings come with wooden decks, but I am rather attracted to the Scaledecks one. I think I’d have to get one from the States if I go down this route. Any thoughts on decks? I know one Scaledeck version comes with swastikas and one plain. I haven’t decided on a scheme yet (if any!). I realise there’s a ton of 3D (expensive!) printed parts out there. Any essentials? As I have no patience at all, I may buy later, but I’d appreciate a quick heads up before I do? I’d be very grateful for any input/ advice/ derision… ASAP! Thanks in advance, Guy ps any links to stellar build threads of the aforementioned kit would be helpful too…

Hi all, sorry if I have not been too active on here as I was busy. However, I did make this T-72A from Trumpeter in Indian Army colours. Comments and critique welcome. Pre-weathering Post weathering:

After the Zvezda's kits, Trumpeter pulled a hind out of his hat! Trumpeter is to release in late July 2021 a 1/48th Mil Mi-24D "Hind-D" kit - ref. 05812 We can just hope it'll be a new tool kit and not just a Mini-Hobby kit variant/re-edition under the Trumpeter label. Wait and see : https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235019038-148-mi-24v-hind-coming-from-trumpeter/ Source: http://www.trumpeter-china.com/index.php?g=home&m=article&a=show&id=207&l=en Box art Mi-24V "Hind-E" - ref.0??? https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10798299 V.P.

My first kit built to order for a customer, and a few photos before I have to decide the safest way to post it! I enjoyed this build and haven’t made a Trumpeter kit before but it was a good fit and nice plastic to work with. A pretty straightforward build, and even included metal etch seat belts and nose aerials. Colours are extra dark sea grey (instructions say DSG), and Humbrol 90 ‘sky’ which was matt but I used gloss varnish after to shine it up a bit. All oob including the decals as this is how the client wanted it, although I did adjust the height of the tailplanes as they are too low in the kit. All comments welcome!

So I've been asked to do a custom build for a friend, he asked for a 1:144 Vulcan, thankfully I knew the LHS had one on the shelves so could pick that up straight away. I've got the Hataka cold war RAF set in the post. Excellent start. Checked which bomb bay he wanted (conventional) and if he wanted the undercarriage up or down (down). That meant it would need a base of some kind, so I showed him the V Bomber base from Coastal Kits, liked that. Then he suggests doing it taking off so I've got a blurred runway on order, a trumpeter display case arrived this evening. If I do it rotating I need to do surgery on the tiny undercarriage so my options are one acrylic rod under the centre of the aircraft having just lifted off, or 4x 5mm rods coming from the engines. I'm kind of loathed to drill a big hole in the underside. Any one got any other ideas? TIA Chris

This one has been on the go for quite a while now but I've managed to find the time over the last few weeks to bring her to completion. A Royal Australian Navy Sea Fury (VW 632) from HMAS Sydney circa 1950. The kit is from Trumpeter in 1/72 scale with a few corrections and modifications. The main decals are from Aussie Decals and the stencils come from the Airfix boxing of the Sea Fury. I did not post a work in progress thread but can say that the kit does go together quite nicely. I kept weathering light, only accenting some of the engine panels, moveable control surfaces and dirtying up the undercarriage and wing fold which I'm sure would accumulate grease and grime. I did however fail miserably when trying to replicate the distinctive exhaust patterns! The crude carrier deck was designed in Powerpoint and is printed with a background of Hobart Harbour.

First up, something a bit different. A Soviet Aerosan RF-8, basically a snowmobile mated with an airboat. Purchased from Amazon for £8.25 just before Christmas. The good news is that it has just started raining. Means I can't mow the lawn so I can make a start.

Hallo Here it is my MIG-23 M Flogger B in 1/48 in Russian service. With aftermarket parts from Aires (cockpit and nozzle), Eduard Brasin wheels, Upwind metal gear, New Ware masks. The build is tricky, because the instructions are not quite explicit. Very often you are mislead by indication arrows. They are shown in invisible areas, as visible indication. Not dashed. Especially the gear parts are unfortunate displayed and shown. Anyway, a nice challenge. Further MIGs to build ahead. 27 will be the first on. Happy modelling

Well having cleared some space on the shelves thought I would do something different while looking through the stash I wanted something as a straight build. So picked this one up and made a start had it a while and only paid 20 pound for the lot at a show a few years ago(remember those). So lets see how we get on and there will be no seagulls with this maybe some pink flamingos though. 🦩 Plenty of decals And payload base and skirt it is quite big for 1/72 and painting guide Yeah right Stay Safe beefy

Hallo Now a very different WIP. Different in many ways. I finished last week my RE.8 from WW1. Here I got to a climax in my ability, which satisfied me really. This was the impetus to change the subject, to jets again. And here to continue in my MIG series. After 15 , 17 and 19 and a batch of 21s. The challenge for me is to get the right touch on the external paint. This is a grey with a metallic shine. Like on so many MIGs. Ok, so I took this challenge and tried something. I knew, all I did in the past did not meet the subject in a satisfying way. Think over it and try step by step. Finally I ended up by doing a mixture of paint. The outer surface is mentioned as grey from Gunze in C308. Good, since I work on C color basis I added about one third of Aluminum in C8. This is in the C spectrum with extremely fine pigments. (not at all in H8!!!) The mixture looks for me excellent, since it makes the grey metallic looking. Anyway, you will decide, what you like or how you think about this idea. I use for this model an Aires cockpit and the nozzle. Both of them are in a certain way unfinished products as you may know. Unfinished that way, that the instruction invites to guess, instead of being a helpful & explanatory instruction. If using a PE part, you may guess where is the exact position to glue it at all. For me all Aires products are half finished. I was unsatisfied about the painting of my models at all. I think that it is unwise to use strict colors as mentioned in the instruction. I changed my arrangement of paints in the shelf. They were in line with the numbers. From C1 to up the highest number. Anyway I arranged them in shades. White shades, grey shades, green shades in my shelf. The basic color may be used, but not always. I get now much more shades during painting. An other thing was the details at the surface. Panel lines. Here I underwent now also a major change. By doing all panel lines first with Tamiya panel line fluid. After finishing the excess is cleaned away with cotton bud and airbrush cleaner. The spraying on this surface gives me a total new appearance. So far my new way. For me it is a new challenge to get the model more looking like the original. Good photos gave me the kick. Duke Hawkins is a master of this profession! All you see, now from the cockpit and nozzle is waiting for detail work. Happy modelling

The box has been sat on the floor of my office taunting me for a week or so now whilst I've worked on the Harrier, but as that's basically done I can now start contemplating this monster🥰 The decks have been cleared( or at least as clear as it's likely to get🙄) so tomorrow is a new day and a new build...