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Hello modellers!, I am adding another newcomer to my american WW2 fleet This time it is B-25J from 447th BS - Corsica 'Ave Maria' s/n: 43-27636/II Kit: B-25J Hasegawa Scale: 1/72 Used colors: XF-62 post-shaded with various tones of olive drab/dark green: H304 - FS34087 H078 H064 H423 Fuselage bottom is sprayed with Alclad II Polished Aluminium in combination w/ Dark Aluminium. After-Market decals: Kits-World Photo etched metals: Eduard BIG-ED Thanks for all useful comments Peter

Hi guys, though I'd share my latest completed model with you, took part on a group build over on another forum. Hope you like. Any comments or criticism welcome! It can only make me better for the next one! Kit : 1/48 Tamiya Aftermarket parts : Eduard zoom set Decals : OOB Paints : Tamiya Washes : Flory dark dirt and brown

Hi Everyone, just finished my latest French aircraft build to go with my Invader and Kingcobra, Hellers F4U-7 Corsair Went for the heavy weathered look on this one as photo`s of these aircraft from Indochina and Algeria show Built mostly as Mr Heller intended with just some seat straps, plastic sheet and wire embellishments here and there I don`t know what vintage this kit is but I was a bit surprised when I opened the box.. as the kit was very basic, in greasy lurid blue plastic and the largest location pins I`ve seen outside of a snap-together kit but I thought I`d build it, seeing as I`d paid for it, and see if I could hide it`s short comings Hope you enjoy looking at.. Cheers Russ

Hi This is my last kit from Special Hobby. This B-18 was quite easy to build except around the engine cowlings which are different depending of the chosen type. As a pre-war era aircraft this one is clean. She is from 7th Bombardment Group, Hamilton Field, California 1938. She should be published in Model Airplane International. Patrick

Here’s another of my collection of F-8 Crusaders, a 1/48 Hasegawa F-8E. I finished it in the markings of 'Superheat 210', a jet flown by VF-162 commanding officer CDR. Richard Bellinger from USS Oriskany, when he downed the Navy’s first MiG-21 of the Vietnam War in 1966. I used a mix of Eduard and kit decals, a Cutting Edge cockpit, and Aires resin gear wells and underwing bay. I scratch-built the boarding steps and ladder, and added brake and hydraulic lines to the gear. In the cockpit I added a flap handle and emergency canopy release to the insturment panel, a grab handle and standby compas on the windscreen bow, and added a canopy restraint strap and the canvas cover to the hole in front of the gunsight. As per my research, the jet carries a dissimilar weapons load of an AIM-9B and an AIM-9D, since there was a shortage of the newer sidewinders at that point in the war. While Hasegawa's F-8 is the best in 1:48 scale, I had numerous fit issues, most likely due to all the aftermarket parts I added and my own building errors. It’s no contest winner, but it’s finished, and on the shelf!

Just a few pics of my Whirlwind HAR10 converted from the Italeri H19B with a Heritage Aviation nose. Its painted using Xtracrylics, but the photos don't really show the colour at its best.

Hi, here is my latest finish model. El-Al Israeli airlines from the pre jet era. the kit is F-RSIN and the decal are from Classic-Airlines. top white is Revell 04 gloss, lower fuselage and wings used Alclad. I must say it wasn't easy kit, and it needed a lot of work. thanks for watching. Ofer

Second model finished this year which is considerably below my usual output level but new babies do take their toll! Not a bad kit, a bit fiddly in some areas and has brought to my attention my rather woeful window masking skills but we've all got room for improvement. Main colour is Xtracylix Faded Olive Drab & Neutral Grey, but weathering used Flory Dark Wash, Tamiya Kharki, Tamiya Smoke, Alclad Transparent smoke and Citidel silver of some kind for the chipping. Swapped the decals around as not being a rivet counter I preferred 'Sweatin Wally' over the other option. Sorry for the number of pictures, I went a bit snap happy. Hope you like it Al.

Hello all, Now for something completely different! Tamiya's 1/48 V1, purchased from Mr Models at Bearwood not three hours ago. Built, painted and decalled by my 9yo son, Bradley. Enjoy. Dave

OK guys, it is finished. Just two pictures until I will have the final images. Thanks S.

I don´t know if it is common knowledge but sweden bought and built 56 Junkers 86 K´s before the WWII, since we didnt have them shot down (not being invaded has its perks) they soldierd on in various roles long after 1945! the last one was taken out of military service as late as 1958 In SwAF service they were used as Bomber, Torpedo, Transport and SigInt As they were built and painted both in Germany and Sweden and then used during a period of great change they went trough a number of different marking regulations and cammo variants. well... here is an illustration:

Here's a couple of pictures of my recently completed tripod from War Of The Worlds.

This weekend I visited my brother and we went through an old suitcase that had some of my Dad's effects. He was an aircraft fitter in the RAF in WWII. First thing was my Dad's medals: which comprise the War Medal 1939–1945, 1939-45 Campaign Star, Africa Star, Burma Star and Italy Star. Next was a Christmas meal menu from 1943 which identified him as being part of 81 Squadron. Looking at the history of 81 Squadron puts them in Alipore, India at Christmas 1943 (not a bad menu - better than the folks back home I bet!) At this time, the squadron would have been equipped with Spitfire VIIIs. Prior to that the Squadron was in North Africa (Algiers) in 1942, then took part in the Invasion of Sicily in early 1943 and was then shipped out to India in December and took part in the Burma campaign until the end of the war. So my research has come up with the facts that they flew Spitfire V in North Africa and Italy, although there seems to be some evidence of IXs as well, Spitfire VIII in India & Burma. Squadron codes used are FL. The only image I've been able to find so afar is in the Osprey Spitfire Aces of Burma and the Pacific book, which shows FL-J JF698 in Burma March 1943 in SEAC marking with an "Ace of Spaces" emblem on the cowling. So do any of you wonderful Spitfire experts have any more details about other 81 Squadron planes? I don't think my Dad was involved in the 1941 Murmansk expedition with Hurricanes as he never mentioned anything about going to Russia, so its the African/Italian/Buma period of the squadron I'm interested in. Thanks in advance...

Had this one on the on and off for a couple of weeks, Only the second biplane I have ever rigged and the first 1:72 This was mainly a test run to see what pitfalls lay ahead when I tackle Airfix's new 1:72 Gladiator. I'm not entirely happy with this one but at least I know what to do on the next. And finally one for scale Thanks for looking

765 Sqn Fleet Air Arm, RNAS Sandbanks/Poole, July 1943 Airfix 1/72 with Aeromaster Decals The Kingfisher entered USN service as an observation scout aircraft in 1940,but also saw widespread service as a search and rescue aircraft. Over 100 were supplied to the Royal Navy from the summer of 1942 under lend-lease arrangements. Able to fly from either land (with a conventional fixed undercarriage) or from catapult equipped ships at sea (when fitted with floats), Fleet Air Arm Kingfishers were operated from British Merchant Cruisers in the South Atlantic and Eastern Fleet, as well as being used as trainers in the West Indies and at home. Powered by a P&W Wasp Junior radial engine which gave the seaplane a top speed of 150+ knots, the Kingfisher was capable of carrying 500lb of bombs in racks beneath each wing. The old Airfix Kingfisher kit was first released in 1967 and very highly thought of in its time. Mine is an early issue in a T3 box which means it is very crisply moulded in dark blue plastic with a very good fit across most of the parts and minimal flash. The kit builds easily and quickly, and whilst some parts (mainly the float assemblies) are a little fiddly, there is nothing that care can't address. I added a little scratch detail in the after cockpit which is very bare and fitted the two pilot figures to fill the gaps. The transparencies gave me a little grief since they do not fit particularly well and it is not immediately obvious in which order the rear set should be fitted. Airfix provide 3 options for the undercarriage; the fixed land based undercarriage, simple floats or floats with beaching gear attached. I chose the latter for this build in order to give the model something to sit on! Decals come from the Aeromaster Fleet Air Arm Part 1 sheet, for a training aircraft at Poole 70 years ago. Rather strangely, Aeromaster attribute it to 768 Sqn, but I am satisfied that this is wrong and it should be 765 Sqn. This kit has recently been re-released by Airfix with new transfers, including some for a land based aircraft of the British East Indies fleet. I don't know how well the mould has held up over the years, but if it is still as well fitting as the original then it comes highly recommended! FredT

Not wanting to do much today I decided to take a look at the Airfix club kits. While looking through the Hurricane bits started coming together and I ended up doing the whole thing in one sitting. It also gave me the chance to play with the new Humbrol weathering powders. I've put it on quite thick but I figured the Russians in 1942 didn't have much time to worry about cleaning their aircraft. The Kit went together with absolutely no problems and the powder is great to work with, although you may finish your model looking like you've spent a shift in a mine. Off to put the Spit and Tomahawk together and buy a pot of the white powder (um....)

The SB2A-3 Buccaneer was a contemporary of the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver but never achieved the latter's success. It served mostly as an training aircraft for the US Navy and also served in the RAF as the "Bermuda". This is the 1/72 Special Hobby built out of the box. It went together very well after the interior was trimmed a little to fit.

I've had these decals in my stash for about 5 years but I haven't seen the kit for the same amount of time. I know that Hobbyboss are releasing one soon but I picked this one up at the Parabellum stand at Milton Keynes for a good price. reading online reviews I expected all sorts of fit issues, but it was a very relaxing build, just what I needed after the Devon and before the Classic Airframes Seahawk for the FAA GB. I used a set of True Details wheels and Misawa tanks. the kit is a bit of a tail sitter, the resin tanks don't help so the tyres are a bit lflat to help the sit! This time my camera seems to have washes out the subtle panel shading ( in three colours of natural metal!!). This one shows the different shades a bit better, round the jet pipe, and the various panels on the fuselage. Thanks for looking

I finally finished this which was supposed to be part of a Matchbox trio, but so far I have only managed to finish this one.

Just finished this one and it's off to Canada. 1/48 RAF B-17C/D. Revell B-17F with Koster conversion kit. Hope you like.

Moving right along, the cockpit is done. Only used a few bits from the Eduard set, not looking to super-detail this cockpit, obviously, but just spruce it up here and there. Fuselage and wing halves are also glued together, so once I clean up those seams I'll install the cockpit tub and attach the wings

I'll be sad if the MZ shop on the corner of Deansgate and Bootle St in Manchester closes. Not because MZ would be going, but because that site has been a model shop for as long as I can remember. I even bought balsa wood models from there when I was a youth, and I'm now retired! They always sold flying and RC stuff and model railways, but seem to have become much more of a toy shop since MZ took over.

Hi Stuart. Hope you like the pics Did what we discussed and painted the wires [/url] [/url] [/url] [/url] [/url]

WNW Se5A just finished. Hope you like.

Now ready for the matt varnish

I've been working on this project for the last nine months, and have been able to apply the finishing touches today. A full build thread is here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234924637-132nd-scale-boeing-b-29-from-the-id-models-vacform-finished/ This started life as a basic vacform from the old ID Models range (now available from John 'Tigger' Wilkes: The 'small' fuselage in the above image is the 1/48th Monogram B-29 which I used to guide me throughout this build. There was absolutely no interior with this kit so it has all had to be made from scratch. The tools of the trade were simply Evergreen strip, plastic card and Milliput, plus plenty of good references. Here's the cockpit under construction: And when painted: The whole interior received this treatment, along with the bomb-bays and wheel bays. I chose to finish my model as "Kee Bird" which crash-landed in the Arctic after the crew became lost and she ran out of fuel in 1947. Laying undisturbed for nearly 50 years this aircraft was sadly lost during a recovery attempt in 1994. Due to her long range snooping over the former USSR, "Kee Bird" was fitted with four long-range auxiliary fuel tanks in the bomb-bays; these too had to be made from scratch: There were no engines or propellers in this kit so the engines were castings of the ZM Skyraider engine, and the props came from a Vintage Fighter Series P-47, which after a little re-profiling fitted perfectly: The cowl flaps were made from drinks can alloy to gain a scale thickness: The kit's transparencies were used for the observation/gunner blisters: The clear nose was also the kit's, but for the other windows I simply dropped clear acetate into the apertures I cut earlier in the build: (Part 2 to follow)

Hello everyone This was finished a few months back, its Revell's old little Fokker. Its built using the Prototype boxing. Its a really nice little kit, its falls together. The KLM Cityhopper decals are from the 2004 kit, the windows are from RichW, on here. The biggest flaw with this kit in my opinion are the engines, they don't have joining pins..... Ive actually flown on this aircraft, 4 times to be precise, with 3 different airlines. I first flew on it in 1997, with Air UK, i was only a baby, but my grandma got a photo of us departing, NWI - AMS, next i flew KLM UK in 2002, NWI - AMS, then i was on it to NWI - AMS and AMS- NWI in 2006 with KLM Cityhopper, then after a long history it was scrapped at Amsterdam in 2010 :-( Anyway, heres my model. All i have to do is add the two white TCAS antennas on the top, they were removed during sanding.... Thanks For looking Bradley 26/08/13 Model 100% finished Photos further down thanks

This is the Trumpeter 1/32 scale Swordfish & came joint First in the North West Region ATC modelling competition (17 - 20 age range). As a Saga age modeller it's really encouraging to see such levels of skill & enthusiasm across the whole age range & as an instructor it gives a warm & fuzzy feeling when someone you've mentored gets such a result. She came second last year & would have come first but the drop tanks on her 1/48 F-111 weren't straight! And now pride of place on her desk. Pete

This one I actually started 35 years ago (!) as a teen but I recently decided to restore it from the ground up. I added Eduard etch and placards from Archers. A few minor details are still up (eg the wipers). The paintwork is a bit overdone I think, looking at the close up. Comments and advice are very welcome. /Robert

Cool idea!

Mine's taken a bit of fettling too around the intakes. I had to finally hold the wing in place and run in the MEK,of course it doesn't help when you discover you've glued your thumb to the top of the intake and wing .........

Hello Gents, May I pick up the thread of your conversation (7th November 2011). My Granfather ( in law) has pointed out to me today that his name or signature "D.S.Hawkings" is written on the xmas menu in your post. He has just past 90yrs and is fit and healthy I can report to you all. In fact I have just last week taken him and his wife to RAF Coninsby to see the Spits - He loved it! He trained on Blenheims & Hurricanes in the UK (1941 training). After 6 mths he travelled (sailed vis cape horn) to Algiers and worked with Spits on Sqd 81 from Mk1v to mk10,s in North Afrika, Malta,Sicily,Italy,India/Burma (imphal) with Thunderbolts for a period in India (imphal). He also worked breifly with Sdq 145 (Polish) in N.Afrika. I would very much like to continue dialog and I have in boxed you all to this effect for any more info you may have and any info we have in return. I can tell you a story about Spit "FL D" He asked the pilot if he could put his then girlfriends name Doreen next to the cockpit to which the pilot agreed as the "D" is for his Doreen..they are both still together after 60yrs of marriage and of course they got married just after his return to the UK. PS...I have learnt as much about sqd 81 on this modelling forum as I have searching the internet in total....I think I will start to model all the aircraft he served on as part of our family heritage. It is a shame their is no desert Spits still flying, especially is they are in "FL" insignia..! Best regards Ian

Nice build! I also have this one in the stash and will build it at some point - no recourse to new issue kits for me!

As the French would say, "c'est magnifique"!!!!!!!!!!

Markings applied for the Cooper Trophy Race at Farnborough in July 1950. The Vampire was flown by Fg Off Brian Smith of 501 Squadron, who came second to a Meteor 4 of 600 Squadron flown by Fg Off Keith Haselwood. DW

Just wondering if anyone's posting on RC or diecast forums about the sad demise of MZ, and saying how it wouldn't have happened if the shops hadn't been cluttered up with all those plastic kits. It's funny how insular we modellers can be , surely there's room for everbody in our hobbies ?. Andrew

Nice job. As has been said looks like the old Monogram kit still wins in the accuracy dept. Julien

This is looking good. I'm definitely in for a set of EC-121 parts...!

That looks extremely cool! Martin

thanks Mark and Gary and FINISHED cheers, Ragnar

Thanks Gaz

Hello (F4 -2/6) Always model TAM with the modifications of use (the level of avoids breezeround side window panels, seats resin, frame work of the canopies to make, adjustment fuselage tail section on the level as of conduits,) painting humbrol 146 with the brush as this decoration which does not exist (at the time of the assembly)at the 1/32, therefore stencil key set and brush 00)…

Dave, the kit has been ordered and is on its way to me now. All I have to do in the mean time is decide on a pattern! Richard.

Me too! Guess what? We were right. It's a cool kit. Even more so these days.

If i'm at the Metro Centre I'll pop in but it has to be a waste of a shop, very little selection compared to Newcastle. The nearest one to me is Sunderland, if that goes I'm stuffed. It's handy when it's the weekend and I can get out and pop over for some paint and usually pick up a little kit to add to the stash. I can't see me doing as much if I'm having to jump on the Metro to Newcastle.

The cylinder head off is a lovely touch. But if I'm permitted to wear my anorak for a moment you'll need a couple more holes for the two additional head bolts (Not studs in these two cases) on a 1275 S head (If it's an AEG 163 casting) - If it's a 12G 940 head then it's fine as it is This is meant to be tongue in cheek considering everyone getting into a froth over 2mm on a Spitfire over on the Aircraft section. Keep at it - can't wait to see more. IanJ (Previous owner of 4 Minis)

Thats the Spit that I was describing and of interest it appears to retain its desert camouflage of Middle Stone and Dark Earth! Some of the squadrons Spits are known to have retained this as the Maintenance Unit that was re painting them in India worked on peacetime hours and it was taking so long to get the paintwork done that the unit departed for the front line with some Spits still in their original colours! All of the above mentioned books will provide good reading about 81 Sqn and I should add the Ventura book `Spitfire the ANZACS' or the very similar Ventura Classic Warbirds `ANZACS' which both have stories about 81 Sqn and are very good reading with excellent photos. All the best Tony O

The next batch of Sword 1/72 Spitfire Mk Vc's will have an option for one such ace of 81 Sqn. The markings information was supplied by correspondence (some years ago) with Larry Cronin, an Australian who served with 81 in North Africa and in the East. http://www.hyperscale.com/2011/reviews/kit...previewbg_6.htm There are profiles of his Spitfire VIII here, but, beware, they both may well be incorrect. This Spitfire may have remained in desert camouflage for some time. http://www.thescale.info/news/publish/larr...onin-raaf.shtml

Just found this photo in the Osprey Fighter Aces book depicting what you've just decribed!

I did a series of articles in the old MAM a few years ago along with my friend Steve Nichol entitled `Spitfires against the Japanese' and one of my models was an 81 Sqn Spit VIII. During my research I found that being an experienced unit from the Italian and N African campaigns they retained the red spinner theatre marking from these campaigns on their Spitfires even though the local regulations in India banned red from aircraft. It appears that 81 Sqn was regarded as being quite brash by the local units upon their arrival in India and regarded the theatre a bit of a back water compared to what they regarded as the `real' war which they had been taking part in, and to commemorate their part in this they had the `Pik A' insignia of JG 53 painted on their aircraft! There was of course a bit of jealosy from the units that had been fighting in Burma because 81 was the first to bring the latest Spitfire VIII to India whilst they still flew Spitfire Mk.V`s or Hurricanes. Aa the fighting in India/Burma grew in intensity all of the units knuckled down and got on with things and more Spitfire VIII`s arrived but it seems that there was still a bit of a `them and us' feeling between 81 Sqn and the other fighter squadrons during their Spitfire era in SEAC as 81 continued to regard themselves as an `elite' and a famous photo shows an 81 Sqn Spit that had been vandalised using chalk to put arms and legs onto the `Pik A' badge on the cowling to show it running away from a large 152 Sqn `Leaping Panther' which was chalked under the cockpit! Please don`t get me wrong, as an ex Paratrooper I should know that there is nothing wrong with a bit of elitism and it is good for morale! Here is a photo of my 81 Sqn Spit The original batch of Spits had their desert colours replaced by Green and Brown upon arriving in India and according to some squadron members "the Brown was darker than the usual colour (Dark Earth?) and more of a chocolate brown colour!" They also had the long `high altitude' wingtips but these were soon replaced by the normal style after combat experience against the nimble Jap `Oscars' when rivets in the centre section popped. The aircraft replicated by my model was one of those detached to the `Piccadily' landing site used to insert and resupply the Chindits during theur second expedition. Hope this is of some use, Cheers Tony