Graham T

The Airfix Canberras are very well known for their clunky "agricultural nature" with sprue attachments thicker than many people's wrists! However to my mind they do build up into very pleasing replicas. This is my third build & thought I'd try something a bit different by trying to correct the cockpit (which is simply the same as the B(I)8 interdictor & nothing like the PR9!) & add the Eduard dropped flaps. For the former I used the very simple (3-part) CMK instrument panel & "messed about" with the instrument panels provided in the kit to make the arrangement a tad more "PR9ish". However while the pilot's instrument panel is worth it, nothing else can really be seen. The Eduard flaps were a disaster which is mainly my fault so please done expect any photos here. Knowing the tail sitting nature of these kits (AND the real thing if refuelled incorrectly I believe!), I filled the nose cone with Liquid Gravity pellets, adding an old nut & bolt within the fuselage - all to no avail as it STILL sits back. I also used the kit supplied wing tanks - not often seen but there you go. Apart from that OOB & painted with Xtracolour paints. Xtradecals for XH168 39 Squadron, RAF Luqa in 1967. While applying the serials, I suddenly realised I already HAD XH168 on the shelf in an earlier over all HSS finish! So a couple of pics of that too!

Dead handy thanks!

On the Airfix 1/48 PR9 & using the Eduard dropped flaps (a struggle!). Can anyone advise on the colours of the internals of the flaps & bays? Also I want to use the underwing tanks which I know were not commonly fitted, hence my difficultly in finding photos which leaves me with no clue of the colours of the tanks. One again, anyone know what they might have been on a DG/DSG over LAG machine from the 60s?

Lovely work, nicely weathered & great marking. I've only built ONE Academy F-4 & tbh I actually thought it was a BACKWARD step from the old Hasegawa ones! Especially the cockpit & wheel bays!

Following as I have one in the stash too!

That's a beautiful job! The kit looks good so I'll have to grab one! Must confess I thought the T- birds had ejector seats?

Just hopping over to this forum from my usual haunt of the aviation side of things. It's a long time since I built armour models but I used to love Accurate Armour however it seems that the owner is retiring & winding up the firm. Very sad for lovers of modern(ish) UK subjects.

As an ATC cadet, I fired the .303 round from the ancient Lee Enfield rifles we were given on the Purfleet range (wonder what's there now!) & remember thinking how puny it looked for a fighter a/c. The 8 x .303 gun armament was specified by the Air Ministry in the early 30s for all future British fighter aircraft so obs the Spitfire, Hurricane & Naval Fulmar. In those days such an armament would have been devastating against the fabric covered, unarmoured & non self sealing fuel tank equipped aircraft of any possible enemy. With the start of the war, early combat & examination of downed EA showed the vast number of hits required against the new armoured breed of a/c the RAF now faced so the 20mm cannon was favoured & introduced on the Spifire Ib & of course equipped virtually all British designs thereafter (either solely or with a .303 or .5 cal mix). Telling though that Douglas Bader preferred the 8 x .303 & flew the Spitfire Va whilst every other Spitfire in his wing was the cannon equipped Vb! Clearly it wasn't quite as cut & dried!

Good job on a ropey kit!

That F1A looks good, hope the F3 turns out as well! I must say though you're taking a chance with fitting that nose ring POST paint! It's always been a poor fit on the Lightnings I've built so I prefer to attach it "early doors", fill & sand "as required" then mask for paint!

Great result for brush painted! 👍

Absolute BEAUTY!!!

Noice!!

Lovely job, great use of different NM tones & like the gold lacquered gear legs. How did you do that?

That's a brilliant build there!