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It's been a long time since I last posted here. This is a model that I started as part of the campaign on Britmodeller, but I did not manage to finish it on time. I experimented with black basing for the first time, but using complementary colors for the marble effect. This gave me very satisfying effects in tonal variations on the surface. I notice that this effect is much more visible to do on such one-color camouflage, because I tried the same effect on the Tu-2 in parallel, where I was mostly successful in lighter fields, which are also larger areas. There is nothing to say about the model, it fits perfectly, the details are great. You can choose between the 4 versions of Marseille's machines, I prefer this one from the box-art, with the red rudder, all white spinner and high demarcation lines between the RLM 79 and 78, The paints are Gunze, the weathering was done in the following order: pin wash Tamiya fluid, then I applied matte varnish, and then smeared with artist oil paints and W&N mineral spirit.

What to say about the model: cheap with satisfactory details on all surfaces, but with non-existent details in the interior, so I was forced to cut openings in order to add only a few details inside to act as the interior. Machine guns look like broom handles, landing gears barely satisfying, with no wheel openings. It has ridiculously sized antenna mast over the cabin, so it has to be scratch built. Alternative to this is ICM model which has its difficulties too so it is a trade off. Pity there is no better model of TU-2 which is not insignificant in both its numbers and design with such nice lines. Also from modelling perspective there are bunch of interesting camouflages, so it all led to the point that for the fist time in over 25 years I am modelling a Soviet airplane. 😄 I also experimented with black basing on it, but using complementary colors for the marble effect. As I wrote in the topic about BF 109 that I worked in parallel, I note that this effect is much more successful to do on one-color camouflage, or like here on lighther and larger areas. The colors used ar AK Real that I used for the first time with Mr Leveling Thiner and everything went okay. They can be mixed with Gunze colors, and have a slightly fruit like smell compared to Gunze. Weathering was done in the following order: Tamiya fluid pin wash, then matt varnish and dirt with oil artistic paints using W&N mineral spirit. I tried it first with Humbrol Thinner which I used to use regularly in combination with oil paints but this mineral spirit is really much easier to work with and didn't damage the matte polish at all. I hope you will enjoy the pictures. Cheers!

Hello there! I am proud to introduce my newly completed project, an AMK MiG-31BS interceptor in 1/48 scale. The kit is AvantGarde Model Kits | No. 88008 | 1:48 and I created a building thread in the WIP sub-forum here: The fitting of the kit was fine and the building was straight forward except for my modification on landing gear struts. The MiG-31 nose gear is trailing link suspension type and main gear has staggered mounted wheels on a movable bogey on each gear. I managed to modify them as the aircraft was in the air right before pilots raise the gear retraction/extension handle. The painting was done with Mr.Color lacquer paints. To my astonishment, the R-33 and R-40TD missiles took more time to paint than the airframe itself. Subtle weathering was done with Winsor Newton Oil Colors thinned with Zippo lighter liquids. The final photos were shot with a Sony A7R3 digital camera with a 24-240mm lens, the lens were really awesome to provide extreme realilty! For more photos, and in case of 'space.png' problems, you can also visit my album on scalemates: https://www.scalemates.com/profiles/mate.php?id=67957&p=albums&album=77129 Regards, Kun

I built this in the current High Wing GB here on BM, WIP below This was inspired by a mate @jean who once flew in one. Despite being a vintage kit I'm really pleased with how it turned out, I hope you like it. Cheers Pat

As always model straight from the box AH-1G Cobra ICM 1:2

Hi, I am only new here. This is the first model I have ever built in 30 years. I had made a few mistakes (really struggled with the top engine cowling) that I was not happy with, but decided to press on and complete the build. I plan to build another Spitfire in RAAF markings with all the lessons learnt in the future. The second last image is preparing for transportation, using my vertigo aircraft gig (which I thought was a good idea) to my local hobby store, with the last image of the Eduard Spitfire on display in the local hobby store where it will remain. Also first time ever that I have attempted a diorama base. Aftermarket: -Eduard Look IP -Brassin Spitfire Mk.IX Drop Tank -Red Roo Decals -Quickboost Cockpit Door -Extra lead wire and goodies added to cockpit Hope you like it. Pete.

Good afternoon everyone! OK after the new Mosquito build, and a nice 1:48 Airfix Hurricane, I am back to Bomber Command with this lovely kit. I have the advantage of having built the base Mk. I A/C kit last year, which I really enjoyed, and this one I think will be similarly satisfying. The kit is mostly the Mk. I A/C kit (unsurprisingly) but features a new sprue for the Merlins, and has a modified set of tail planes; I think that was the only real difference from the radial powered planes, but I am sure someone will patiently correct me if I am wrong. I am not sure. The only thing I think is missing is any sort of bomb sight in the bomb aimers position; I'll check in the Haynes manual to see what's what, plus I am off to RAF Duxford on Sunday so may be able to see a real Wimpy there. Any pics or hints gratefully accepted here of course! EDIT: What was I thinking of? RAF Cosford has one of the two surviving Wimpies!!! Thank you Mr Beard! This is a kit which has a cracking level of interior detail, and although Airfix helpfully colour code the instructions to tell you which bits you can omit as they won't be easily seen once the fuselage is buttoned up, I went for the full fat build because... well because I could. It's all out of the box, and I haven't gone mad with dry brushing or shading as it'll mostly not be seen once I button the fuselage up. Apologies if the colour balance is a bit off, it was just quick pics with the phone:

This is my Finnair Super Caravelle in 1/144 scale. The model is a kitbashing build from F-RSIN and Welsh Models Caravelle kits plus numerous parts and decals from many other sources. It's maybe one of the most demanding and work intensive modelling projects that I have ever embarked upon. The elegant and sleek Caravelle is absolutely my favourite airliner and the Super Caravelle in Finnair's traditional scheme is the most elegant of all the Caravelle liveries used by the different airlines! I know that I might be biassed and looking through blue and white glasses but this is my honest opinion. Finnair was the first airline to receive the Sud S.E. Caravelle 10 B3 jets to their fleet in July 1964 and this plane type subsequently received the official name "Super Caravelle" The planes had among other features new and more powerful PW JT8D by-pass jet engines. Two of the clearest differences to the earlier Caravelles were the bigger new engines with oval or "pear" shaped air intakes and the lack of the long dorsal fin in front of the tailplane. Finnair operated a total of 10 Super Caravelles during 23 years and the last scheduled flight took place in April 1983. I had the possibility of taking some flights in these planes from Helsinki to London, Madrid and Eilat. I had bought the Welsh Models Super Caravelle kit with Finnair decals many years ago but I soon discovered too many flaws in the shape of the kit and I decided to put it to the shelf of forgotten kits. However, when I learnt some years ago that F-RSIN was going to launch the very same Super Caravelle in Finnair colours I decided to have another go. The F-RSIN kit was in fact surprisingly correct in shapes and measures in the larger parts like the fuselage, wings and stabs. As usual with limited run kits the smaller parts like the wheels and the landing gear were quite rugged. The Welsh Models kit on the other hand had good quality white metal wheels and landing gear. Thus, I decided to use the good parts, decals and other details of the two kits plus extra parts from various different sources so that the final outcome is really a mish-mash model. As to the decals, I used bits and pieces from the both kits. Morover, I had the light grey coloured brand names of Finnair, the door frames and the registration letters re-printed by a fellow modeller. They were erroneously blue in the F-RSIN decals. The cockpit and the cabin windows I ordered from Authentic Airliner decals. The plane that my model depicts is reg. OH-LSA named Helsinki (all the Finnair Super Caravelles had a name of a Finnish town). Assembling the kit wasn't overly difficult. The F-RSIN parts needed a lot of sanding, fixing and puttying but that was to be expected. Mating the Welsh Models parts with the F-RSIN ones was actually quite straightforward. I finished the model by painting it with Revell 04 gloss white and Xtreme Metal Aluminium. The pointed fairing of the rudder and the patches here and there were painted with Lifecolor matt dark blue LC10. Luckily enough the shade of the paint was exactly the same blue shade of the decals. In the end I coated the model with Humbrol gloss varnish. A post card of the newly inaugurated Helsinki Airport Terminal circa 1970. In the front Super Caravelle OH-LSB "Tampere" A picture of the cockpit of OH-LSE en route from Helsinki to Madrid in 1977 (sorry for the unclean picture)

Film Producer and Combat Pilot Merian C. Cooper once famously said, "I AM King Kong!" - and He Was Right! "Another of history's ironies - A German aircraft design, built by Austrians, in Polish service, flown by an American, against the Communist Russians." The Austro-Hungarian engineers at Oeffag took the Albatros D.III design and fixed the problematic lower wing, changed the engine to a more powerful 225hp Austro-Daimler and added some some aerodynamic improvements to the nose and propeller spinner. The result was the S.253 version of the Albatros D.III which was probably the ultimate version of this aircraft. At the end of the war, a number of Albatros D.III S.253s were supplied to the fledgling Polish Air Force to help counter Bolshevik Russian designs on their territory. Merian C. Cooper was the famed producer of the Film King Kong in 1933, and before that was famed as a "Jungle Photographer". (films "Grass" and "Chang".). The character of "Carl Denham" in King Kong was a thinly disguised Cooper. In the final scene of Kong, as the Vought aircraft shot Kong off the Empire State Building - the pilot that gives the Coupe de Grace is Cooper Himself, with his co-produced Ernest Schoedsack as the Observer! To say Merian C. Cooper was a Fascinating Man is the Understatement of the Year! Flying during WW1, afterwards he joined the Kosciuzko Squadron in Poland composed of mostly American fliers defending the new Nation. Cooper, who had completed 3 years at the Naval Academy, was from a military family that had ties to the War of Independence's Thaddeus Kosciuzko. Shot down by the Soviets, he was captured - and later killed a guard and escaped! Not content to direct Landmark American Films and perfect the CinemaScope Process (in the 1950s), in WW2 he returned to Active Duty as a Colonel, working with Claire Chennault in the China-Burma-India Theater. His Biography, "Living Dangerously" is Highly Recommended! I was delighted to find that there was a Encore Models/Squadron Edition of the Roden Albatros in Cooper's Colors....building this model was a tribute to this Great American. The kit is a bit fiddly, has some flash and imperfections that must be worked with, but I am pleased with the result. This Edition features Resin parts and metal wire wheels...the first time I have ever worked with them, but it greatly adds to the model. I enjoy photographing my models as much as building them!

Good evening, colleagues! Today I present to you the spirit of Great Britain. Red telephone booths, red mailboxes, red double-deckers, Her Majesty's red guards, and finally the red Spitfire! It is the duty of everyone who loves the UK 😘. \

There are no minis in this Italian job, just 4 Italian fighters from the second world war. I started one, then began another, ran two build simultaneously, discovered the third kit was a pig, concentrated on that, and then found the fourth kit was an even worse pig and almost chcked it but perservered. All kits are 1/72. Building these caused me no end of frustration, annoyance, even wonderment about the mind set of kit instruction drafters. All will be revealed. I had picked up on impulse a Fiat G55 at a show made by a firm I'd never heard of, Supermodels. I then picked up on impulse at another show, a Macchi c.205 by Supermodels. I then thought about building them, left them, and then saw an RS models Reggiane 2006, bought that, and finally a Special Hobby Reggiane 2000. Here are the four kits as made; From left to right; Supermodel Macchi c.205, Supermodel Fiat G.55, Special Hobby Reggiane 2000, and RS models Reggiane 2006. The two supermodel kits went together well.The new RS model was awful. WIngs to fuselage, fuselage together. Much putty, sanding, pimer, sanding, putty - and the canopy shape is completely wrong at the rear for the fuselage it butts onto. Similarly the Special Hobby. Fit was awful. And the same problem for the canopy as the RS model - the canopy shape is different at the back to the fuselage it butts onto. Painting; well these are my fault, not the kit or the paint. The Fiat G 55 is painted with Halfords rattle can Nissan leaf silver, control surfaces with Tamiya flat aluminium for a bit of contrast and looks decent enough. The Macchi 205 was brush painted Italian mottle. Never again. I will learn lessons. The Reggiane 2006; A Hycote yellow rattle can that didn't cover well in the first 2 coats, the third coat went on like a lake. I had so lost interest by then I just left it. The yellow scheme is used as the plane was a prototype. The Reggiane 2000; I probably shoudn't have used NATO green for the uppers, it looks to dark to me. All brush painted. All gun barrels and pitots with brass tube, and aerials with Uschi van der Rosten thread. Oh, if you are wondering about the lack of weathering, Pilots Carlo, Giovanni, Mario and Guiseppe took the planes to the local hand wash before returning to base. Can't fly over their Carissima's homes in a dirty plane, what? Onward and upward

Finally posting this on RFI, as I explained at the end of my WIP thread the build was cut a little short so there's no Blue Steel yet, but that kind of makes sense since it's in a configuration suitable for a parked up Vulcan. I made a number of corrections and adjustments to the kit as I built it, all of which is recorded in my WIP thread. This is everything from basics like missing details from the landing gear to getting the various blisters under the wing right for this airframe in 1966. Overall I'm quite happy with this, there are parts I could have done better but it all looks just about right. In hindsight I'd have gone for a different airframe, this one had an unusual green tail cap instead of black and i think that it would be nice to have that on this model. I won't bother writing up my opinions on this kit in full here, you can read them in the WIP, but in short it's a very good model in terms of shape and options, but the details are disappointing as many are missing or slightly wrong (presumably due to an over-reliance on LIDAR scans when museum examples aren't perfect representations of service aircraft). And of course they did the wrong variant, I'd like a B1 but that's down to personal taste 😂 Of course I had to take some pictures with a Valiant and a Victor The real XM594 is of course one of the nineteen surviving Vulcans, on outdoors display at Newark Air Museum A few WIP photos:

Hi Fellow Modelers Completed P51B Mustang. First of all I did not finish the Work in Progress on this. Modelling is my escape at the moment and I get so engrossed in the build I forget to take pics as I go along. I now have a sign right in front of me 'BUILD PICS' so hopefully that will work on the next project. This kit was given to me by a friend from another forum who I have only known for a short while, a very kind and generous person (he would like to remain anonymous, which I totally understand and respect). This is the first time I have really properly attempted a bare metal finish. Also the first time using Alclad II (which are brilliant). Enough waffle This hasn't quite turned out how I would like but I have thoroughly enjoyed every second of it which is the whole purpose of the hobby isn't it. Ive also learned huge amounts. In the not too distant future I have another part bare metal kit to do so I can use what Ive learnt, and hopefully improve. Next up is the Trumpeter 1/48 Wellington MkIII which again was also given to me by a friend Mr. Laurie Stewart, again a very kind and thoughtful person, thank you Laurie Thanks for looking Take care and safe Si

The highlight of my holiday was a trip to the zoo. Spent some time watching an antelope. - I'd never seen an insect get married before.

There’s a number of notable WW2 planes that went on to have careers into the Cold War era in various guises. You could easily do a collection of Mustangs and not go anywhere near the 1940’s. Plus many ended up looking very different to their wartime service like jungle camo’d Corsairs. I’m don’t really have a rational explanation as to why I chose this model , it just seemed like a good idea though a couple of recent in-box reviews on Hyperscale may well have got me thinking. Not a whole lot of experience with “limited run” kits, Sword or otherwise, but nothing in this really caused any major problems. I did build the wings and tailplanes first to check their fit in the fuselage halves, fortunate as there was a certain amount of work to get them half decent plus I built the cockpit in-situ as the instructions would have you do it separately which would have involved a bit of a balancing act getting them in the right place. Interior is pretty basic but once the canopy is on and painted surprisingly little to see. Enjoyed doing it which is, after all, the whole point and think I might try a couple more of their kits as they do some interesting subjects. Thanks Stu

Summoned my inner @perdu this morning in a covid haze. I tore off all the ribs bathed in ipa sanded painted. Who knows it was a bit of a blur but we are here. A hint of lace I’ll call it. Now.. onwards and upwards. Johnny.

Right,... another update,...... Some more work done,....... Starting with the Airfix bomber,...... I have highlighted the panel lines, added the propellers, undercarriage, bomb bay details and doors. As I had elected to leave off the exhausts to aid painting, to fit them from the outside I had to trim the lower part of the backing a bit to enable them to slip into place. The bombs have also been painted and will be added later after the decals have been put on them; Onto the Airfix kit converted to a PR.XVI,..... the same really,..... undercarriage, propellers,, PRU Blue painted drop tanks,..... ad the same with the exhausts; And the underside showing the Freightdog flat bomb bay doors in place; Last of all the Hasegawa kit as another PR.XVI, this time in RAAF markings,...... it has also had a watercolour wash, the propellers and undercarriage added etc. The resin drop tanks had to be tidied up a little due to a super glue accident so need a few more coats of PRU Blue. As I had some bomb bay items left over from the above Airfi kit I used them to dress the bomb bay of this model and included them, along with the kits bomb bay doors. So that is it for now,..... hopefully they will be finished by the weekend, Cheers Tony

What happened to the crew member wearing the red shirt? Cheers Colin

Hi everyone. Finished this a few months ago and only just got round to photographing it. It's the fairly new Zvezda release which I was very pleased about when it was announced. Living in the shadows of Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge for the last 50 odd years, I've grown up with the sound of the Allison T56 so have become quite fond of the Herc, particularly the older K's. The kit went together without any issues and is naturally far superior to it's older competitors (much older from Airfix). I added an Eduard photo etch set in the cockpit, a set of resin wheels and the decals came from 26 decals. MRP and Alclad paints were used followed by a light oil wash and finished with an Alclad gloss cote with a matt cote on the walkways. I also added the aerials found on the early models which are not provided in the kit. Thanks for looking gazza l

When I got to work at 05:00 this morning I found out that I had deliveries in Oulton Broad and Lowestoft. Try as I might I couldn't think of a single thing that I Needed from Hannants! So I had to drive past there. Oh the shame. Mea Culpa.

So having made the decision to continue with the build and after a bit of stretching and heating of the plastic i managed to get the shell ready for primer. It's not perfect and there may be issues later in the build but for now I'm happy with it The surface of the shell was also rough so I gave it a slight polish with 7000 wet and dry before the next stage. Now I know a lot of people like to scuff up the surface a little before primer to give the paint something to adhere to well imo at this scale it just isn't necessary. Anyway with a super smooth shell I applied the first coat of primer which in this case was the Tamiya primer i decanted the other day After using 5000 and 7000 paper which I always do I have to say there is no benefit imo to using the Tamiya primer infact it must be the smelliest paint I've ever come across 🙄. With the Tamiya experiment out of the way I switched back to my regular primer Mr Surfacer 1500 and applied a couple of light coats until I was happy with the results. Now I'm happy with the primer I will leave the shell overnight and then hit it with 7000 paper tomorrow ready for the basecoat. The basecoat will be here tomorrow from Hiroboy and its the correct paint for the car which is actually called Madas pearlescent blue metallic so hopefully I'll get that applied soon. Regardless of the final outcome the one thing I can say is its great to be back playing with the plastic again 😉. Thanks for looking back soon 🙂👍

Amazing what a bit of etch does to a build Look like the track guards will have to come off also. The glacial plate is not the best fitting on this, which is a little disappointing given how simple a model it is

Last shot. Everyone's seen etch put together.

Eduard is to release 1/48th Grumman F4F Wildcat kits: F4F-3 through F4F-4, FM-1 and FM-2 to Martlets. Sources: https://www.modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=95280&start=33705#p2449036 https://www.modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=95280&start=33720#p2449051 https://www.modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=95280&start=33765#p2449103 V.P.

#23/2021 My dad´s next 15th AF pony, after the Tuskegee one. Tamiya kit with Aeromaster decals. Did some minor filling and removing to get a D-5 model. Also filled the wing panel lines, like on the original. Painted with AK Xtreme Metal Color Aluminium. All the yellow trim is painted, the black stripes are decals. Added some fuel lines between drop tanks and wings with lead wire. Antenna wire done with EZ Line. Eduard seatbelts used. Build thread here https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235098060-airwar-over-austria148-north-american-p-51d-mustang-2ndfs52ndfg-yellow-tails-15th-af/ The model shows the P-51 of Korean-American Fred F. Ohr, serving with the 2nd FS 52nd FG, stationed in Italy 1944. He was credited with the destruction of 6 aircraft in the air and 17 on the ground. Ohr was born on July 15, 1919 in Oregon to Korean immigrants Wanda and Wan Ju, and grew up on a farm in the Boise, Idaho basin. Out of high school he joined the military in 1938 but was not on the path to becoming a pilot until inadvertently participating in a pilot examination in 1940. In fall 1942 he deployed with the 68th Material Service Squadron to Britain. He served as a ground crew member in Tunisia, seeing action as his airbase was overrun. Afterwards, Ohr flew until November 1944 with the 2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group, ending his tour as the squadron's commanding officer. He received numerous decorations including the Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal with 18 Oak Leaf Clusters. He received a citation for his escort action during Operation Tidal Wave in 1943, when he and his unit intercepted three enemy fighters preparing to attack Allied bombers over a target area. He shot down one aircraft during the mission. After the war, Ohr became a dental surgeon in Chicago. He practiced dentistry until his retirement in 2005. DSC_0001 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0002 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0003 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0004 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0005 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0006 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0007 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0010 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0011 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0012 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0013 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0014 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0015 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0016 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0017 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0018 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0019 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0020 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0021 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0022 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0023 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0024 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0026 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0027 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0028 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0029 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0030 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr

Tonight we tackle the ECM pod from Brassin. The Klu Vipers seem to carry these quite alot, some all grey and some green. We are going for a green one as the jet is grey so I used MRP RAF Green, looked to be a good match. First up after priming is painting the radome band a metallic colour. So again out came the MRP white aluminium over tamiya gloss black laquer. It was then masked up and the green applied. Then more masking And the radome covers were painted in MRP tyre black - masking removed Decals and then a varnish followed by a wash to make the details pop. Enjoy

I did say there was a lot of etch... This is just the start... The plastic toolboxes are actually pretty good, but no matter how hard I try and tell myself they are fine, you cant whack a good bit of etch..... and as ever, its fiddly, but always well worth the effort IMHO Thats the first one of six. Oh the joys. As you can see, the plastic is OK, but it doesnt come anywhere near the effect with etch. Its a shame there are no fenders as I'd bin the plastic ones completely. The fenders on the Cromwell and Centaur transformed the model. The only other pain is I will have to cut the old ones off. Bummer.

Or Flowery Twats, or any one of the other anagrams that appeared on the sign at the beginning of the show!

Annoyingly I seem to have forgotten to paint the anti-glare panel a dark grey, so I'd derailed tonight's decalling session before it got under way. All of the decals have gone on really nicely (thanks Xtradecal) except the long ones on the underside of the booms, which have stayed flat and only adhered in the middle. I'm thinking they'll need to be cut width-ways to reduce their rigidity before re-sticking them. Being Xtradecals they're quite thick but I reckon they'll conform nicely with a bit of help. Apart from the stencils there are only a few decals left to get on, so I'm happy with that. Oh, and I love the day-glo orange colour!

My build of the Airfix 1/144 SR.N4 (09171) This build has fought me all the way. Ill-fitting skirt parts, flexible decks and bulkheads, ill-fitting roof and wrongly printed decals all conspired to make this a build to forget - you would think. Having said all that, I am trying to get another one so that I can make it now that I am aware of all of it's pitfalls. Vehicles are Oxford Die-Casts and the figures came courtesy of eBay. Now that I have posted pictures all over the place, I have just noticed some orange paintwork that I meant to put right last night - but didn't! It is difficult but I'm trying to unsee it! That is all. Dave

F-14A 160696 of VF-111 "The Sundowners" out of NAS Miramar. Edwards AFB transient ramp, January 1982. Thanks for looking, Sven

Valentine Mk.IX, 50 RTR, 23rd Armoured Brigade, Tunisia 1943 The Mk.IX valentine was made in answer to the need of a more powerful gun than the 2pdr. To accommodate the 6pdr gun the turret needed to be redesigned. Vickers engineers freed up space for the new gun by reducing the turret crew to 2 men and the coaxial machinegun and smoke bomb launcher were removed. The removal of the machine gun meant that the tank couldn't defend itself against infantry and so was unpopular with its crews. The bomb launcher issue was partially resolved by mounting two grenade launchers externally. But in essence the Mk.IX had turned the Valentine into a tank destroyer. The Bronco kit itself is pretty comprehensive and the only aftermarket I used was the RB Models metal gun barrel and the front fenders were replaced with brass sheet to allow some damage to be added. The model was painted in the Desert Pink ZI / Dark Olive Green PFI scheme with MRP paints. The sand/dust weathering effects were created with a mix of pigments. The thumb print on the front fender in the above photo has since been removed. A few detail photos. And finally the photo I used as a reference. Overall I'm pretty pleased with the way this one has turned out but as always there are things that I felt that I could have done better. The urge to get this finished so that I can start a new project has meant that some additional stowage and crew will have to wait for another day. The work in progress for this build can be found here; Valentine Mk.IX work in progress. Thanks for taking the time to have a look and feel free to point out anything I may have missed or that could be improved upon. Wayne P.S. Some of the photos appear a little too warm on my screen but I haven't profiled this monitor and really don't want to edit them again.

Fresh off the bench Revell 1:72 “new” (2018) Catalina PBY-5A of patrol squadron 61 US Navy Umnak Island Alaska 1943. The kit although called new on the box is a 1993 academy mini craft kit. It looks pretty decent though with good external detail, the cockpit is terrible fortunately the cockpit windows are so small you can’t really see anything inside so not a big deal. If anybody has this in the stash two points of warning. 1- I took up every bit of space in the nose with lead for the required counterweight in odd small sizes due to hill shape and then had to disguise it from view through the nose turret. 2- The wing lift struts could do with being 1-2mm longer. I had to weight and stress rig the wing to get it to meet and glue even then one side popped and needed an insert piece. Hopefully this helps anybody with the build coming up. Now the pics.

One of my friends is passionate about airplanes, especially WWII warbirds, but unfortunately he is not a modeller, so he asked me to build for him a Mustang for him. We choose the nice Airfix 1/48 kit and I built it OOB with just few scratchbuilt details in the cockpit. I'm quite happy with result even if not perfect. Hope he will like it anyway.... Enjoy pictures and welcome to any comment. Cheers Andy

Is this Zero tolerance ????? Sorry... just had to ask Dick

I could see myself adding a Zero or two to my collection, especially as they're likely to be as good or better engineered as the P-51s. They'll practically build themselves All those that are disappointed, remember. You're not duty-bound to state your disappointment that it doesn't suit you. Just move along and let those that wanted a Zero have their day

No, that was my smaller 1/10 scale version, built between 1988 and 1993, with a wingspan around 10 feet. The one in the picture above is 1/6 scale and spans a little over 17 feet! Here's an in-flight shot of the 1/6 scale version.

Another one of my "box of rivets" builds, this time the Airfix 1/72 Douglas Boston III (04033) Apart from two-ton of depleted uranium in the bomb bay to keep the nose down, it is an OOB build painted with a hairy stick. Dave

Some wallets will be zeroed for sure.

Hi there everyone, I have now pretty much assembled everything that needs to be assembled and glued into place on this tank, this includes the hatches, tow cables, tools etc. A few pictures to show where I'm at... The only other additions that need to be made are the two antennae, the DShK gun, and spare tracks to be placed on the turret and on the front glacis plate. I now need to add more weathering, now that I have got everything together, with some more detail painting and adding some sand coloured pigments around the body and to the wheels and tracks etc Then I think that will be it, hopefully the finished article.. I'll be back when I've finished. as always thanks for looking in Ed

Borneo Boys is one of those "Ooh I didnt know THAT!" books. As a kid I grew up knowing about Sukharno and the Confrontation but it was never more than an over the horizon business, hardly even heard of in the general news of the day a kid might see and contend with. The book told me so much more than I'd realised, and fancy reading that RAF officers were off in the ulu with little oversight. Classy, they must have thought they'd joined the Regiment un-noticed. Anyway the book has me thinking in terms of modelling some of the Confrontation Air Force and this is it, number two. Belvedere done already see. Anyway, I digressed sorry, here is where I am. I have to get on with closing up the fuselage, so seats to be built. This is the start of the starboard seats that even a contortionist will not get inside. Silver frame with a paper seat strip, blue but in real life away from flash photography, darker. The cockpit centre console is begun but not yet finished. But the rear wall is close enough now Port wall fittings for possibly tomorrow but having had a biopsy today sitting still modelling is an issue too far for a day or so. When all is done I can close up and begin sticking other exciting stuff on...

To be honest 3 aircraft should be their priority All 1/48 Spey Phantom Jaguar Buccaneer That's just put them well and truly back in the black financially . Dick

Last few bits on and it’s finished. Happy that I was even able to successfully attach the little PE mudguard to the tail wheel without too much drama. An enjoyable, if testing at times build and an interesting and unusual addition to the collection. with its slightly over scale load: Gallery pics to follow, after my return from a weeks well deserved, and long overdue trip away to do some walking, bird watching and relaxing generally. It’s been a hectic year with a family wedding, house move and arrival of first grand child all against the backdrop of Covid uncertainty (although we have been lucky in South Australia and been spared the trouble experienced elsewhere). Thanks for looking and thanks to the hosts for an interesting group build. See you over in Ragnar’s Return in a weeks time! AW

Regarding the posted photo of the Ju 87R-1 of the III./StG 1, this unit was in Libya only very briefly, from 10.April 1941, when they made their longest-ever transfer flight (3 hours from Trapani, Sicily to Tripoli, then 4 hours, 46 minutes on to Derna) until 8.May 1941, which happened to coincide with Gruppenkommandeur Helmut Mahlke'a 100. Feindflug. In his memoir, Mahlke mentions their arrival had been preceded by two of the Ju 52s assigned to them hauling some of their key ground personnel, including Inspekteur Schiling, who purchased tropical clothing in the Tripoli bazaar. He "had even tracked down a clothing store where we were able to kit ourselves out in the most important items of tropical clothing: tropical helmets, lightweight khaki shirts, jackets and trousers -- not all matching, not necessarily all fitting, but at least suitable for the climate. Dressed in our new finery we didn't present a very military appearance on the ground. But our Ju 87s would more than make up for that in the air. That was where it mattered." Your subject, Walter Sigel's Ju 87D-1/Trop, is later, from 1942, by which time the Luftwaffe was supplying its own tropical clothing. Shorts were worn in hot weather, but long trousers were common -- it can get COLD in the desert at night (my father reported swings from well-over 100° F in the day, dropping into the 40s at night, and always, thousands of flies. He also learned to dump out his boots in the morning, a scorpion may have crawled in overnight, to keep warm). Nice work on that Fujimi 'Dora,' GRM

I never gave up on this project. Its just that the complexity and challenges I have encountered building this kit, lets me wander to finish other projects. When I stopped last, I had this challenge to get the shape of the grill at the front sorted out. The kit part is rounded. In every picture, the oblong frame of the intake is flat with grill underneath it. So I cut the frame from its inner joints. I tried the plastic mesh first. It would not shape properly. I tried Eduard part. It did not fit properly either. And it was so thick that it obscured the ribs of the frame which are slightly visible in real aircraft. I tried to cut the frame from plastic sheet. It did not work for me either. In frustration, I left the project to sit and gather dust. Then I found some months ago that Aber has photo etch mesh in different patterns. I got hold of one. I cut the mesh using Eduard part as a guide. Then I glued the cut out part to the ribs. I then used aluminum tape to cut out the outer frame of the inlet. The final results looks more realistic. Just the right shape in profile as well.

Morning All! Thought I’d share my latest project, its going to be a Hunter F.6A from 234 sqn/tactical weapons unit. I think they were based out of Chivenor but may have been Brawdy due to Chivenor’s runway being resurfaced at the time? Incidentally I have a tenuous link with Brawdy as I was based there in the 90’s with the Army when it was named Cawdor Barracks. I vaguely remember a Hunter gate guardian being there, I wish I’d taken a pic of it now. Anyway, I digress, back to the Hunter. I have both the Academy offering and of course this one from Airfix. I wish the Airfix kit had the same surface detail as the Academy as it’s panel engraving and rivet detail is much better than the Airfix kit, that said the overall shape is much better than Academy’s and that is why I using this kit. Here’s what I’m starting with… I’ve made a start with the cockpit, since I’m using Eduard’s P.E for the pit I’ve removed all the detail from the IP and consoles. I’ve also added a few bits and pieces to the side walls, bulkhead and IP to busy it up a bit I was going to use the kit’s control column but I decided it looked a bit skinny so I’ve pinched one from the Neomega set I’ve got for the Academy kit which has the chunky look of the real thing, much better! .I’ve also gone a bit further and fashioned a standby compass which sits on the coaming, this was a real test for my eyesight, it maybe a bit overscale so I may not use it, we’ll see once I’ve painted it. Seat is from CMK, which is nicely detailed, however i am managed to break off the knee guards and lose them to the dreaded carpet monster, luckily the kit seat is not bad so i transplanted the offending said parts over to the cmk seat. Next headache was the firing handles, these were so fine that in my haste to remove it from the casting block I destroyed it. So, after an hour of head scratching and 2 failed attempts trying to whittle a new one I managed to come up with this, not as nice as Mr CMK’s offering but it will pass muster methinks! I also decided to add an oxygen hose using twisted copper wire. Next up is painting and adding the PE. Being a black cockpit not sure how much of this will be seen but I know it’s there! Cheers

I picked this up from a friend on 30th September and finished it today. Great fun to build another full option tank. This is the fifth one i have owned since it was first released , and the third one i have done in the worn winter camo. Again the inspiration being the TMMI issue from the time. Nice to have a big tank again. The figure is a ready painted one from Torro. Im not too keen on it . When i have some time i may repaint him and re pose him a little. And just for fun.....

To go with my mk1 kits in Eduard's "The Few" boxing, this arrived for me today. I ordered it on Sunday from Germany and for the princely sum of £28 plus a tenner's postage and packing. Can't argue with that.

Good morning Yesterday I placed some weights in the nose and closed the 2 fuselage halves Patrice

Made qute a bit of progress on the Victor over the last couple of weks. Got the interior all together and ready to fit. And got that into the fuselage alogn with the forward landing gear. And then the fuselage closed up without to many issues. As you can see, i have added the cover over the bomb bay. This is sooner than the instructions indicate and may have been an error. I started on the intakes and it looks as though this has been designed in a way to ease cleaning up seams and painting. The opening in the sides has a panel that goes over it, and i did that after painting. I painted the veins before fitting, once everything was dry, they were fitted and the side panels added. Wiht that done i got to getting the wings together and fitted. There is a point in the Airfix instructions which confused me a bit. If you want the flaps raised, and as Victors always seem to have them raised on the ground thats what i am doing, you are told to cut off the outer fairing (the one on the left in this photo). But that did not make sense to me, i was looking in the instructions for a point where that part was re-attached. Fortunatly this was cleared up when i found another build thread on here. This seems to have been an error on the original bomber kit that Airfix have not corrected. The correct procedure is to sand down the ridge on the outer fairing and remove part of the inner one thats attached to the bottom wing section, so you are left with this. I think others have found this out the hard way, so i am grateful for it being passed on. With the wings on all all the panels and flaps fitted i also got the tail on, this beast is really coming together. You can see that quite a bit of filler was needed along the wing/fuselage join. I believe this was caused by me adding the doors to the bomb bay to early. I had not noticed at the time, but the door overlaps the bay along the middle, and this is where the gap is. Without the doors, the fuselage could have been pressed out to meet the wing and once in place the doors would have fitted better. By the time i realised it was to late. That wil teach me for thinking i know better and jumping through the instructions. Thats all for now. Still a bit more to do before she hits the spray booth (assuming she fits). But at least now i can meassure up the board and start getting that together.