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Hi, Here are a few photos of my attempt at Revell's 1/72 scale Hawker Hunter painted and marked as an example from 65 Squadron circa 1957. The decals are from Xtradecal no. 72058 Thanks for looking. Russ

Hi, Here is the Airfix 1/72 Sabre, XB956/'T', Bruggen RAF Germany built OOB except for the decals which are from the modeldecal set no. 97. A really fun build! Thanks for looking, Russ

Latest model finished off the shelf of doom. No.738 Naval Air Sqn "Red Devils" Hawker Sea Hawk. Old 1.72 Airfix kit, Airfix should really be ashamed to still sell this. Not a great kit but finished off OK.

Hi folk's just a couple of pic's of my penultimate build for the Matchbox GB,not a bad little kit sadly the decal's were useless only just managed to save the titles to at leastput something on it!Many thank's for looking in.

After a bit of a self imposed exile due to frustration with viewing and posting images my problems have been solved and I've made a return. My last posts, as few as they were, were armour builds but now I am giving aircraft a try. This is my latest project built during my trip at sea for work in December. The weather wasn't very conducive to model building so some of the smaller PE pieces were left off for the sake of my sanity. I haven't done many of these so go easy but I'm open to constructive criticism.

Hi everybody This my last work, au Hawk 209 of Malasian Air Force. This is a mix of the Airfix Serie 100 ans a conversion set from Neomega and diverses accessories. Hugues

Hello, this is a model I finished last year around october. Hasegawa rebox, nice kit and good decals, tried not to overdo the weathering.

Hello folks, Introducing my first completed build of 2018, the 1/72 Nostalgic Plastic resin rendition of the Convair YF-102 prototype. It was a chore and a challenge, and had languished to become a shelf queen for a long while. In fact, the build thread for it is over in ARC's "Shelf Queens II" Group Build: YF-102 Build Thread Some of my problems with this kit, as well as crying and gnashing of teeth, may be found there. But, here are the pics: Now, if someone would come out with a good plastic version! Ed

Thanks Gents, very kind Going dotty this afternoon but another couple of dotty sessions and I hope we'll be there: Getting there by Ced Bufton, on Flickr

Thanks Benedikt Yes, both the wheels/tyres should be slightly proud of the wells but, as I fixed them in on a bed of Humbrol filler, they're going nowhere (just tried!) Two more worrying jobs done this morning. The serials were first. I hate making serials from single letters. Model held at 'the right angle': You can (just) see the individual serials on the paper there. I've learnt from bitter experience to check whether the transfers are separate or, like these, all joined by the carrier. I've also learned to try to have as little carrier as possible AND to make sure the edges that will butt the next transfer are straight(ish) to avoid one pushing the other out of alignment. For me, such preparation avoids Anglo-Saxon and wrecked nerves. I also had no idea how quickly the transfer would separate from the sheet so each was held under water in tweezers for a count of five and then placed on the decal tray. With all that care it just left the awful job of getting them lined up. I know Beard and others use tape guides but I'd rather do it by eye to be honest - I find the tape gets in the way. After some prodding and only a little cursing they were on: Phew! Worrying job number two was the pitot. It was too big. Gave me a chance to use the new needle files (they work): Pitot reduced by Ced Bufton, on Flickr I'll leave that to dry a bit. Camo and Wabbit touch ups next.

Definitely out of my comfort zone, since I build mostly WWI subjects: it`s Safonov`s number 10. The missing starboard decal was printed and designed by Melius Manu, thanks a lot Kajetan! The model was painted with Hataka Red Line colours (camo) and Gunze, Tamiya. I know it`s far from perfect but still a joy to build. I`m going to build another one in the future and hope to build it with more details and fewer mistakes. This is what I used for reference when it comes to the paint scheme: And the rest of the pictures:

Hi everyone, Had another go at some armor and completed this little guy a couple of weeks ago. I think I improved a little bit with the color this time if compared to my first attempt here. And yes, the one cage on the turret is intended to be a different colour, I was trying to imply that one of them was recently replaced. Tamiya 1:48 Sdkfz 222 - Tamiya Acrylics, Abtulung Oils, Flory Wash, Black Dog resin bags etc, Vallejo Pigments. Enjoy and please constructively critique away.

Hi Here is my new finished kit with this reconnaissance fighter Dassault Mirage F1 CR from Special Hobby. This one is N°603 #33-NR of Escadron de Reconnaissance ER02.033 in 1988 in Chad. The shark mouth was added before going back to Reims AB, France. The vanilla/chocolate camouflage is typical of the Chad operations during the 1980s. She was loaded with two 1200 L fuel tanks, two Magic air-to-air missiles, a Phimat chaff dispenser under the starboard wing and a Barracuda ECM pod under the port wing. Patrick

[Pedant mode on] Well, not by 1939, perhaps, but in 1935, the Blenheim was neither designed with an eye on cost, nor was it underpowered. When the first Blenheims were entering service, the Bf 110 was still undergoing trials, and it wasn't until 1939 that the Bf 110 had engines that enabled it to exceed 270 MPH and thus stand a reasonable chance of catching a Blenheim. The real problem is that the poor Blenheim was built too early at a time when front-line combat aeroplanes rarely, even with improvements, had useful lives at the sharp end of more than five years. [Pedant mode off]

I photographed http://scalemodels.ru/modules/forum/viewtopic_t_4453_start_1280.html these is NOVO/FROG models in our localhobby shop: ...and private house collection: all models made in late 80, mixed modellers and painting not modelers paint. B.R. Serge

Hello, here is my finished Tigercat, part of a GB with 4 finished kits that actually posed for a family photo!

At 7pm last night my daughter announced that she had to make a model of a World War One trench for her history homework and asked if I could help her. She’s known about it for weeks and it had to be handed in today. After a a bit of swearing we settled around the dining table to bash something out quick with whatever we had to hand. It’s unlikely to be coming back from school so there was no way I was using any expensive modelling stuff on it, therefore everything that we used could be found lying around in many households. The main landscape is polystyrene, melted a bit with a blowtorch, the sandbags are air dried clay, the duckboards and posts are kitchen matches and lollipop sticks, and the corrugated iron is paper. The wire is just fine beading wire; I didn’t have time to try any kind of barbed effect, and to be honest most model barbed wire just looks out of scale and unrealistic to me anyway. It was painted with some children’s craft paint, total build time was about 5 hours and it sits inside a shoe box.

Like many here, I've come back to kit-bashing after a fair old hiatus. IIRC I stopped building plastic kits back in 1993/4-ish when in my mid 20's. In late 2016, while visiting a local aviation museum I saw a little red Airfix box containing what was purported to be a Spitfire 22. Uh-oh... I should have known red stands for danger! It came home with me and by early 2017 had been joined by about half a dozen others... Okay. How to address this problem when all my Humbrol enamels are 20+ years old and my brushes and tools rather worse for wear? Also the missus (who didn't feature two and a half decades back either) probably wouldn't be too pleased with the smell of solvents in the house. Potential solution: Tamiya acrylics, Windsor & Newton varnishes and new tools & brushes. So with a plan in motion I actually extracted digit and got down to some building in 2017. Four kits were completed that year, the first was very much an experiment using an oldie from my 1990's stash, a 1/72 PM Models Fokker D.XXI which I shall not be posting images of here. It came out okay, but it was definitely a learning experience with respect to brush painting acrylics vs what I remembered of enamels! Anyway, to cut through the waffle (lest you be falling asleep) here are the three new purchases and builds that I finished in 2017: 1: 1/72 Airfix Tomahawk IIb , the starter kit and yes, I did use the paint stuff that came in the odd little pots provided... What an eye opener! Lovely engineering by Airfix. If this is modelling in the 21st Century I'm glad I rediscovered it! I tweaked the brightness on this image somewhat as the shadows being thrown by the sun were hiding the detail a bit. 2: 1/72 Airfix Spitfire 22, first new kit to be bought but the second to be built as I was a bit intimidated by attempting a NMF with hairy stick applied acrylics. Another lovely kit by Airfix, perhaps not as tidy to assemble as the Tomahawk, but no complaints for sure! I'm not sure what the odd rainbow patterning on the canopy is. I wonder if it is something to do with the polariser on the camera? The missus will know. It isn't apparent on the actual model. 3: 1/72 Airfix Typhoon 1b, I did this one with a sky spinner partly as both the previous builds had red spinners and this might therefore look a bit like a job lot. I imagine it is as issued before 'Stapme' Stapleton personalised it. Or something! Yet more impressive and ingenious engineering from Airfix. I really like how these models go together! Yet more weird rainbow patterning on the canopy. I've got to work out what is causing that on the photos. The canopy on the model looks crystal clear to the naked eye. The photos are a bit naff and I apologise for that. I have no real idea how to drive a camera, although advice from some of the esteemed members here and the missus should solve that. They were also taken in a bit of a hurry, outside on a 42C (106F) day to take advantage of the light, which would probably have wound up melting them if I hadn't kept the session short!

Hello, here is my recently finished Heller Mirage IIIC, 1:48 scale. An old kit, with tricky thick decals that only Tamiya extra thin glue was able to set. Regards.

One last addition of the storm last Thursday here. I guess the passengers have prayed and sweated at Amsterdam airport. The pilot had obviously not time for that. Just saw this on a friend's site at FB:

Hi folk's,Dave's rightly pointed out I'd forgot to post the Swordfish!

Hi all,just going to box up the majority of build's so took a last shot of them ten in total still may get the harrier finished if I can find the miising legs.

So I did do this! Can't say it worked much better, though it was done in haste. POSSIBLY, doing it veeeeery slowly might yield different results. If one proceeded with extreme care, for instance, rebuilding the parts on a subatomic level by sheer force of one's godlike will as one went, for instance, I feel confident they'd fit. But that solution may not work for everyone! 20180123_222106 by Edward IX, on Flickr They were surprisingly difficult to photograph and capture the results on (well, my fault, really, I was going for the faux-modelling magazine look), but here were my findings: this way is not appreciably better, I don't think. The engines of course act to brace the cowling from toeing inwards anywhere, though I do think I was able to get the gaps a little tighter. The gaps don't seem prominent on the real thing, so I think this is one of those things you gotta do to live with yourself outside a miasma of bourbon-laced breakfasts and rye-soaked nights. (Which actually sounds pretty good right about now.) Behold: En passant, it seems this Bisley has a rear-view mirror added above the windscreen, as well as a bulged window in the bomb-aimer's skylight. Oh well! I mostly spent my modelling time this evening puttering around with the cowls, smoothing out lumpy areas on the Bisley, and doing minor homework-type chores to get closer to primer.

Thanks Guys! Hey All, Today's report...still working on the cab. I have managed to finish the, under the dashboard details. The space is getting so tight that I have a hard time taking the photos I want, so you just have to go with what I have here. The small details took a bit of time, but turned out fine. The floor peddles are hard to make out here but I did build the fuel, brake, gear shifter, and E-brake. The steering column took a day by itself. Wrapping the Steering Wheel... And then a few shots of the cab interior... I have a few more items to do, mostly with ageing the interior and generally making things a mess. I'm just about to the point were I want to start on the closing of the cab. A bit more on my fitting issues, and then I start building the cab roof to close all this up. Thanks for watching........be back later

I have to say I have really enjoyed this GB. As a Seaplane / Flying Boat / Float Plane enthusiast I would never have believed the number of aircraft in this GB I had never even heard of, which were built to such an amazing standard. Without wishing to embarrass Xmaid but I have the feeling that if you were ever fortunate enough to see the model face to face as it were, that you would see something wonderful that you had missed, on all the previous occasions you had looked at it. I am really glad that this build won as the standard of craftsmanship and quality of construction is simply exceptional. Can I also thank the 2 people who were kind enough to give me a vote for my builds, I can't begin to describe what a wonderful surprise that was ! Finally Jaime, without whom this GB would never have reached to levels of participation, enthusiasm and encouragement that was so evident throughout. I know that Tonytiger66 was also to co-host but I haven't heard from him recently so hope he is OK as I know his health is not the best but he never ceases to encourage others even when he is too poorly to be building himself. Therefore Jaime for shouldering all the responsibility and pulled it off to perfection. Hip Hip Hooray ! Whoops this post has turned into a small novel ! Finally can I ask everyone to put the Maritime and Coastal Command GB in their diarys please, where my Blackburn Perth and Rosie's Arado 196 will be making a reappearance cheers Pat

Weeeeeeell it's been AGES but I'm back on this project, having built a mojo-restorative Chipmunk , eaten and drank my way through Christmas and New Year, and hacked away a bit further at the PhD. If you'll recall, I was slowly trudging my way aftwards through the Stranraer, compartment by component, scratchbuilding anything that could plausibly be seen through the windows, open access door, and open gun positions. Having mucked around with all the stoves and beds in the mid-upper gunner's compartment, it was time to add some spare magazines for the Lewis gun carried here. The AP which I examined at the National Archives reveals that five magazines were carried at each station. Unfortunately, it says nothing about where or how they were stowed, and none of my references was much help, so I sort of made it up. I hate making stuff up - I've only once done a completely fabricated interior (the Matchbox Seafox, years ago) but sometimes you just have to cut your losses and stick three magazines to starboard and two to port. Aft of the stove to port, you'll also notice I've added two large suitcases with wire handles which feature prominently in the "Big Plan", although the latter says nothing about what might be in them. I suspect it's tedious stuff like mechanic's tools, but I'd rather imagine it's bottles of vermouth and several changes of dinner/morning suit for all six crew That was just about it for that compartment, so on to the tail gun position. Mercifully not too much to do here, apart from the five magazines, again artfully and fancifully arranged. The vague blob to starboard is a fold-down chair for the gunner, while the lower, smaller blob to port is a parachute. I have precisely zero references for this compartment, and these two features are going to be almost invisible anyway, so I didn't faff around with support struts, seatbelts, and parachute pack tie straps. I present this to you as solid evidence that I am, in fact, quite sane. Nearly there! Just a few more odds and ends to attend to further forward. This is the kit instrument panel - surprisingly accurate as to the placement of basic instruments but rather of its time. I knocked up the replacement below from yet more plasticard stock. The very last thing was the bulkhead separating the pilot's cockpit with the bow - the one bit I chickened out of scratcbuilding! Apart from some tabs to hold the instrument panel on a good scale foot too far forward, there was no detail here and a clear view into the undetailed void ahead. My references suggest a corrugated sliding door, so it was out with the quadruple CD cases to cut the latter to fit: I then added a tiny pull handle for the door, plus some surrounding framework. The distribution of frames seems irrational until you see the bulkhead dry-fitted into the cockpit: And there we have it! One detailed Supermarine Stranraer interior! Easily the biggest scratchbuilding job I've ever attempted, but I'm pretty chuffed with the result. Somewhat astonishingly, it all still fits together! (more or less.) The only things missing here are the pilot's and wireless operator's seats and control column, which are staying out until after painting. The eagle-eyed will note one final, and vital, addition to the crew's comfort - the Elsan! That's it for now, once I've primed up I'm putting the Stranraer on the back burner and bringing the Heyford up to the same position. See you next time!

RAF Britannia C1 XM496 'Regulus' 26 Models kit, 1/144. The bus is an Oxford diecasts 'N' gauge model. Since seeing Ian Turbofan's and Dave Skoadriver's lovely Roden Britannias, I thought I must get one. Well here we are! This is from Ray at 26 decals, who sells several versions of the Roden kit with various option of his own decal sheets, all a bargain price. Rather than a civvy scheme I opted for this RAF version as I have happy memories of seeing them at Brize Norton in the 70's on several trips with the Air Cadets. As Ian and Dave pointed out, the kit is a real beauty, one of the best airliner kits available. I chose XM496 simply because it is the only genuine RAF Britannia still in existence. the only mods I made were to add a small teardrop blister on the underside between the wings. I struggled to find references, and just 'eyeballed' it from photos cutting up a 1/72 bomb to make the shape.. It meant that the underside 'towel rail' aerials were relocated to the top, again located according to photos. The underside 'teardrop'; I also opened up the cockpit area and scratched up some basic detail, as I was masking the cockpit glazing to leave it clear. The windows are so tiny, that I might not bother to do it again. So what next? I've got this lined up. Airfix VC10 with Braz Super VC10 conversion. Some guidance would be appreciated here, I think all I need is the leading edge extensions and engines/pylons, & some wing fences. The RAF VC10's were standard fuselages with these other 'Super' fittings right? Cheers John

For those who haven't seen the WIP thread (see here) this is my first model of 2018. I actually took a break from modelling for 7 months for personal matters, and this was my return. The kit is really simple, and it shows. But it was a great re-introduction to modelling and required barely any work. So, please see a few pictures below. You can read more on the article on my site here too.

Hi, Here is the Airfix Vampire T11 trainer, built straight out of the box but using the extradecal X72172 to build the 43 Squadron version. This was a really nice build with no issues and hugely enjoyable. I hope you like it, Russ

A kit that has been lurking in the stash for a while. Decent enough but I did have trouble lining up the engines and wings to the fuselage. And it needs huge amounts of weight in the nose. Finished in Vallejo Modelair silver and white. Quite a big aeroplane, almost the size of the Nimrod I finished a few weeks ago. 1. 2. 3. 4.

some pictures of my 1/72 choroszy caproni ca-3. already some time has passed since I built it . I myself see plenty of room for improvements and there will be another try in future.I liked the quite compilcated building process [especially that small tower with the machine gun on the backside of the pilots bos /appartment/whatever was drawn by the devil it seemed] but despite the room for improvements that I see , the result gives me a lot te be happy with. and and and despite all the problems I had when building ,I loved the built . the kit is from choroszy ,is a very nice kit, like all the other choroszy kits I built and are quite reasonably prized ,I think http://www.karaya.pl/en/-/0/caproni-ca-3-torpedo-version-c21.html?ref=%2Fen%2Fsearch.html.

Looking at the kit this morning, I suddenly realised that it is forty - yes four-zero - years this year since the Phantom left Royal Naval service. I idly wondered just how many of the team that developed this marvellous little model at Airfix, were born let alone alive, when the Phantom was around. I could only find a few things to comment upon, NOT complain - comment !!. A couple concern the plastic and one concerns the decals. Minor points that any self respecting BMer can correct, or not as he/she feel fit. Firstly the outer mainplanes. The large "slabs" under the outer mainplanes were not applicable to RN aircraft, these came in on 60 or 80FI mods and usually in conjunction with the RN/RAF xfer programme. Secondly the outer mainplanes. Airfix have given us plenty of choice with leading edge flaps up/down, outer wings up/down but we do not have an outer mainplane folded with the leading edge flaps deployed. - Happened - not often but it happened. Not a problem a bit of scoring, bending and glueing will fix. Thirdly the Decals. Beautifully printed and designed and when enlarged all the maint details can be read but why, as it is a Royal Navy aircraft and especially 892Sqdn version, are there none of the prominent names of the aircrew on the right side of the canopies and none of the ground crew on the right intake ramp. Producers of decals please note. Note the Red bit from the 892 fin marking grinning through also the lack of fuselage serial on this one (and quite a few others) Duncan dun this Note the RAF rank for the Observer. For the last two or more deployments aboard the Ark, up to a third possibly half of the aircrew with 892 were RAF. Dennis (more to come)

...and Sloegin57 contributed a few of his excellent photos to the books too. This thread is graced with Phantom Royalty as we also have seen comments from Tailspin Turtle who, if I remember correctly, worked at McDD on the F-4K/M project. With regards to the teeny window on the stbd side above the stab it was for checking the pressure gauge of the arrestor hook accumulator I think (I have to qualify every statement like that nowadays as my memory isn't something that it used to something!) Duncan B

Almost done... Tomorrow... No, already TODAY, I will make some cosmetic operations AND close this project. Wait a little bit for final photos during weekend...

The date is the 6th January 1945, according to the Admiralty documents I have. On 4th, the day of Operation Lentil, the only complete loss was a Firefly that ditched astern of Indefatigable (the crew being rescued by Kempenfelt). This was DT936:4S (S/Lt Tucker and S/L Miller). As an interesting aside, Indefatigable's Seafires were assigned CAP for Lentil, and from 0610 to 1230, 36 routine Seafire sorties were flown without incident. At 1635 4 F.III were scrambled to intercept a bogey detected by Type 281 radar at a distance of 38 miles. These failed to make an intercept having been vectored too low. Another 4 F.III were brought to readiness and scrambled at 1715 and vectored to 15,000 feet; again failing to make an intercept. The bogey was also briefly engaged by Indefatigable's 4.5". The aircraft dropped four bombs, which fell five miles to starboard. These 8 F.III Seafires were landed on between 1750 and 1815 (F.IIIs were referred to as "high chickens" in Indefatigable's report on flying operations). Flying concluded at 1819, when there was a Firefly barrier crash in the fading light (not repairable on board). I don't know the identity of this Firefly. 0n 5th, Seafires carried out ADDls. There was one Seafire incident, when S/Lt Hockley 887 landed on in LR809, but while taking off, Hockley swung the undercarriage up before becoming completely airborne (Cat. HX). The only other barrier crash involved a Firefly, S/Lt Stott DT978:4B (Cat. ZZ), which landed heavily due to the movement of the ship. On 6th, in mock battle practice between the carrier force, there were a number of incidents involving 894 Seafires: S/Lt Morgan in PP935 stalled into the round down, the starboard oleo collapsed and crashed into barrier (Cat. HT); S/Lt Morgan had another barrier crash in NN460:H6X; and S/Lt Gibson's long range tank struck the underside of the fuselage when jettisoned. I don't know the identity of Gibson's Seafire or how much damaged was caused. The only other incident that day was the loss of Cheeseman's Firefly, DT943:4A, which ditched while in the landing circuit due to shortage of fuel. So it is possible that PP935 is H6Z. I have 3 photographs of the landing incident involving H6Z, which fit the description given above, and in one of them I'm sure the serial would be readable on a decent print, but mine is a poor quality copy. However, I'll scan it and see if any part is clear.

Bell OH-58 Aeroscout

The cockpit is now completed. The Eduard PE has set it off nicely. The pilot is an excellent PJ Productions resin example, the observer is one of the kit figures. Not very good detail on the him (I've nicknamed him "Blob"!), but being he'll be virtually unseen, so I'm not too worried. Seats are the kit ones, and not badly detailed. The upper belts are made from thin yellow masking tape. Paints used were Hataka Blue Line for the tub, seats, and detailing on the pilots. Pilot flightsuits are Red Line RAF Blue/Grey, lightened with white. The pilots faces are various Vallejo flesh tones. DSC_0268 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_0268 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_0268 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_0268 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_0268 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_0268 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Paint by jongwinnett, on Flickr Paint by jongwinnett, on Flickr Love the smokiness of the Night, but also rather taken with the Azure blue, a wonderfully difficult shade to pin down.

Hello, My last model, the P-47D flown by Lt James R.Hopkins of the 9 th, Belgium, March 1945. Chosen for its superb decoration ! Best Regards, Michel

Thanks Stew - skid marks! Acrylic rod was my thought but I know nothing about it so I don't know what thickness will take the weight. The idea came from this RFI which I really liked. Thanks Johnny - with the right software and printer it's fairly easy Before bed I checked the dots and I think they're OK: Varnish in the morning!

I've found the little window thingy And another drawing that may be of interest? John

Hi all, Had a day off today, supposedly to re-do all the bathroom silicone seals.....I guess that'll have to wait 'til the weekend then, ooops! Any road up I did manage to get a fair bit done on the Beau interior I just hope you're all more impressed with my progress than the missus is.... General interior details painted and highlighted Cockpit panel, I really need to work on my photography! Cockpit from the right, I have reworked the fuel tank selector arrangement (back of left console) to be the right type for the TF.Mk.X Navigator/Observers seat. Seat belts made from rolled flat and knurled solder, Milliput cushions All ready now to give it all an oil wash tomorrow. Cheers, M.

here an example of rigging I did two months ago . I like those kits bytheway from eastern models .nice kits and very cheap if you buy them via ebay at a shop in lithuania ,ukrain or russiai [bought in all three countries] .vey cheap even! and the red is made with oil paint ,in those tubes ,like toothpaste ,what is the word for it? had to dry for three days at least .but I am happy with the result and use it now more often .also for imiitating wood I see nice possibillities is it a pfalz? no ,it isn't, isn't it? it is a schuckert von herr siemens!! things like this happen from to time with me.......than IO forgot the name of the aircraft I made .that is why ?I place them on a piece of cartboard lately ,with the name written on it .this one is still too new,I suppose . and I must also add the threads for the rudders and so,not my most favorite job I fear! and and and the difference with the caproni rigging is obvious,I masde progress .in my stash tthere is a staaken [1/72 ,yes ,that one!] ,but I lwill not touch it for a long time yet! there is also 2x gotha IV ,roden 1/72 and I can afford to mess up that kit without having to apply for bankruptiicy!fortunately there are also still some eastern model kits on the shelves!

Parade Ground Tank! Nearly there!

Today's labours... While the 8 Beaufort howls outside I decided to put together the cockpit of this little craft. I glued in the two seats, one forward, one not. The fuel tank, I think goes in the back where the observation man/gunner can rest his feet. That might be incorrect, but that's where I put it. There is no actual instructions to use it on this build but I am doing it anyway! I have added a few small bits...the throttle lever has cables; the aileron controls have cables; there is a compass. I have glued the spare Lewis drum magazines on the wall and built a rack. I have varnished the 'V' struts and the prop (sorry, no pic)...That's it until later tonight. I'll mask off the wings for the shading and airbrushing and also assemble the fuselage halves...putty, mask, etc...It goes quick. --John

I have to agree with both of you about the Azure Blue, it is a very difficult colour to photograph (though there are some close approximations in some of the pictures Ced took for his Wacky Wabbit build) and it is a special colour; Jamie took a great deal of time and trouble to match it to the MAP chips and I understand it was every bit as difficult to match as it is to photograph - fortunately Jamie is a perfectionist and made damn sure it did match the MAP chips With regard to the cowlings; I found them difficult and frustrating too; as I did with the cowlings on Airfix's Gladiator and Dornier Do17, something of a bête noire for me or perhaps a weak spot for Airfix though in fairness I can't think of another way they could be moulded. Anyway good work gentlemen Cheers, Stew

As usual, I did'nt put it all in one time But I managed to do this ! With this kit, we are milles away from the Walrus... Look Look mama!! there are 2 Blackburn niceties... Now making a pure S1 interior, That will help ! Ok Dears, now I will search my resin parts to find 2 look alike first stage compressors of Gyron junior Cannot let these air intake empty... Have a nice modelling time 8 Sincerely. CC

OK guys after ten days some new pictures of what has been done on the model. I changed the tail. In the kit is a very early version. It isn't totally correct, but it looks like the deal. Then there were also no sidewinder railes for the pylons. So I cutted up some from a hasegawa set. and fitted them. And then I started the painting. This was after I painted the white and grey. And today I did the black surrounding for the canopy and the silver edges. I Forgot to take some pictures of the rudders and the underside fins, but these are also painted as I will go for the VF-2 scheme out of the box. I will give it tomorrow a clear coat. That is it for now Cheers,

'Never stop building Spitfires' is great advice. Hope your second child arrives safely and I look forward to the PR Spitfire. My advice would be: buy (and build) more Spitfires. While the interior paint dries on the MkVbs, I've given the MkIX a goauch wash: I will start to assemble the MkVbs tomorrow (Friday) and might make a start on something else. Thanks for looking.

I’ve used Vaseline to good effect. ON THE AIRBRUSH! Tony