bull-nut

@stevehnz: Thanks for the tooling confirmation. RE the Pavla cockpit. you will need to remove some material from the bottom of the casting to enable the fuselage to close, I didn't quite remove enough, hence the wrestling needed to close up. I have managed to get the radome off, ready for weights and shimming, and started filling the sink holes in the fins with liquid sprue. I remember reading somewhere that the nose shim needed to be close to 1/8" (3mm), so cleaning up and shimming will be the main job for this week I think.

@Tomoshenko: Thanks. I'm not sure about the tooling, but knowing Revells propensity for re-boxing other manufacturers kits, it wouldn't surprise me. I've seen and read some good things about the Hobbyboss offering, if you can track it down. @zebra: Thanks, I have a fair few in the stash, including one or two under the old Matchbox branding, complete with panel trenches . They make a nice, nostalgic challenge over the newer "shake and bake" kits from the likes of Tamiya, new Airfix, etc. Helping to keep the skills up to scratch.

This week I have been mostly doing family stuff, however the Sea Vixen is coming along. Cockpit and seats have been painted and installed into the fuselage, observer fairing cut open, still needs final shaping though. And I was able to wrestle the rest of the airframe together. I haven't fitted stores, gear or exhausts yet, the kit exhaust nozzles are very shallow, so I'll be opening them up and extending them with some Plastruct round section tubing, and blanking the ends with sheet. Some very nasty seams to fill, mostly around the boom joints, and I'm still undecided whether to correct the nose profile or not, I need to remove the cone to weight the nose anyway, I'm just worried I'll ruin it. I am doing the box cover scheme, by the way. I was undecided, but my youngest (nearly 5) saw the box with the model sat on top while the glue dried on the fairing, and got so excited that Daddy was building a "Flying shark aeroplane",that I really couldn't do anything else. Shame he wasn't so excited about Airfix's Defiant NF scheme, never mind.

Meant for this build to go into the DH GB, but issues with the Moth and Vampire meant that I didn't have time. Box shot: Sprues: Decals sheet looks OK, not sure if I'll have to try sun bleaching it or not yet: And for added interest, the Pavla resin cockpit set for the Cyberhobby kit. I've heard that it fits the Revell with a little modification: . Construction began with the wings and empennage: Some rather nasty sink holes in the fin tips: Opened up the "CoalHole" in the fuselage upper still need to do likewise with the FAW2 fairing: And built up the cockpit assembly: More latter.

With both the Vampire and Tigermoth finished, I'll see if I can manage the Revell Sea Vixen next weekend as the family is away for a few days.

Kit: Airfix 1/72 Tigermoth Scheme: R5252, 501sqn RAuxAF, RAF Filton. Paint: Army painter, Tamiya and Citadel acrylics. Decals: Kit sheet for Roundels, instrument panels and stencils. Serials etc home printed. Build thread: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235018261-nil-time-a-501-sqn-double-build/ Not as many bumps with this one, and I'm happier with the result, even if I should have used Fine EZLine for the rigging rather than Heavy.

Kit: 1/72 AZ model Vampire F1 Scheme: VF/272 RAB-N 501sqn RAuxAF, RAF Filton. Paint: Hunbrol and Citadel acrylics Decals: Roundels, fin flashes and hatch markings form kit sheet, serials, codes, etc home printed. Build thread: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235018261-nil-time-a-501-sqn-double-build/ Not happy with the paint on this one, and I hit some bumps with the build, but it looks like a Vampire, and fits with the rest of the 501 collection, so it'll stay here. Plus I have the silicone mould for new nose sections if I build any more.

Added the early model kit canopy and formation lights to the Vampire, Canopy framing painted with hairy stick and the same Citadel acrylics as used for the vac form version. Formation lights were painted with the Citadel technical gem paints. Wing tips were tidied up with Citadel mithril silver, I also added some carbon staining around the gun ports with a little black weathering powder and a cotton bud. Next I filled the rigging holes in the wing surfaces and repainted with the original colours, hairy stick again, this time using Tamiya paint. Calling these done now, More pics in the GB Gallery

EZLine arrived this week, so I managed to get the moth all rigged up. just need to fill the rigging holes and touch up the paint work and I can call the Tigermoth complete. On the other hand, look what turned up on the lounge bookcase this week. . Yep, that's the clear sprues from the Vampire. both canopies and 4 nav lights. I'll see if I can get them on and painted this week, I want to get these two done before fathers day, since I have a niggling feeling that I'll be getting something relevant at the weekend. On the up side, a good day was had by all at the Cosford Airshow last weekend, Mrs bullnut was disappointed to miss R4118, but the BBMF brought along a Hurricane, so that was mitigated somewhat. We actually got to see the B52 this year, last year all we got was a low rumble as it flew over above the very low cloudbase. My oldest boy also got to chat with his RAF heroes without crowds of people vying for their attention as well. Not the heroes most people think off, but that is what he wants to do career wise, so what can I do except encourage him? Blue suit by Mrs Bull-nut, he's on his third now, having grown out of two red ones. I think we can safely say he'll hold onto this life goal.

That's a great looking Crusader @SimonL. Always has been one of my favourite looking tanks. Green is a colour I don't see them I very often, it almost makes me want to get another.

I think that, as the AV-8A looks pretty much the same as an RAF GR1, it would qualify. I think that the AV-8B with the larger, US designed wing may not. Happy to be corrected however.

Looking good there Tim. I have the SMER boxing near the top of the build stack, also lined up to represent a machine of No501 RAuxAF, so I'm watching with interest.

Thanks DAG, I was torn between that and XF77, I've used both in the past, but was wondering if you had used something different.

That's a beauty you have there @DAG058. As I have the Revell 72nd boxing in the stash, might I ask what grey you used on the uppers?

This GB seems to be a never ending list of problems for me. I sprayed a mix of Tamiya buff, flat clear and thinner randomly over the moth to give a little paint fading, and to tone down the roundels somewhat, then managed to snap one of the interplane struts . Some Tamiya Extrathin fixed that little issue, so I painted the windscreen frames with a fine hairy stick and some Citadel Mithril silver (there was no way I was going to try masking those tiny frames) and fixed them in place with Revell clearfix. Then I went to get the EZline to put the rigging wires in place, opened the drawer it should be in, and it isn't there. I spent nearly an hour looking for it and then gave it up as a bad lot and ordered another reel, shame because it was nearly full, but I'm sure it'll turn up when I'm not looking for it That will take a few days to arrive, so I'll see if I can get the rigging done before heading up to Cosford this weekend. I then turned my attention back to the Vampire. Painted the tyres off black, gave the gear legs and hubs a wash of Citadel Nuln Oil and sealed the decals with a coat of Clear, then fitted and painted the canopy using a hairy stick and Citadel acrylics.This is a Vac replacement from Pavla, since the kits clear sprue has done a runner. It doesn't look the best, but by this point I'm getting sick of this build and just want it off the bench. Need to put together some formation lights. I'll use some spare clear sprue for that hopefully this week. I may yet order another Mk1 and redo this piece, but for now I'm not keen on binning it just yet, and will look on it as a learning experience. At least I still have the mould for the nose if I build another.

Nice choice, got this one in the stash too. so

Nice choice 'stix. Got this one in the stash too, so. Any idea what you are going to do about the notorious SCC15 colour scheme?

As promised, I have pics, here is the state of play with the Tigermoth ATM: And the Vampire: I don't know what happened with the finish there, I only noticed it when I uploaded the pictures here, maybe I'll have a go with some polishing sticks and see if I can take them down somewhat, I'll have to be careful though, because: I gave the Vamp a quick glosscoat and applied decals after lunch today, resulting in this: Then remembered that I still have to paint tyres and so on. No matter, I can do that this evening when the kids are in bed. The moth still needs a light random overspray of Buff to represent weathering, and then some details need painting and the rigging needs doing. Lets see how much I can get done over the next 24 hours shall we?

Once again real life gets in the way, not finished yet. The Vamp got a coat of rattle-can Humbrol silver, and the upper main plane has been attached to the Moth. I'll try and get some pics up tomorrow. On the other hand I had a great break on the Normandy coast with the family. At one point climbing the dunes behind Omaha beach's Fox Green sector as The Last Post was carried across on the wind, no idea where the piece was being played, but I must confess to having take a moment just then.

No pics yet @DAG058, however some additional work has been carried out. The new Vampire nose piece overfilled slightly, so it needed reshaping a bit, and that resulted in some gaps around the join that needed filling. All done now though, another coat of primer to check the levels, and I can start on the painting. Tomorrow has been set aside for finishing these two once I get back from dropping the car off for it's pre-holiday service.

Progress resumed on the Vampire today, I pre-heated the mould and dusted with baby powder, then poured the metal which I sourced from casting tags from various models. the result was this: Not perfect, but close enough for now. The important thing is, is keeps the nose wheel on the floor. Need to do some filling and sanding, but it'll do the job. time to glue it in position, and get some filler on there. Back to the Moth, the fuselage decals started lifting for some reason, both printed and kit versions. Maybe there was some surface contamination I missed. I think I got them back down with a coat of Clear. Just waiting for it to dry properly and I can think about continuing.

Decal success! I used three light coats of Humbrol enamel gloss from a rattlecan to seal the decal, they are a little thick, but I'm happy with the results for a first attempt. I applied the first underwing registration, And then couldn't find the rest of the sheet for the Moth. after close to a half hour of looking, I gave up and printed another set. This obviously slowed down the decaling a lot, but I finally got them down, along with the rest of the roundels, and the result is this. spray a sealing coat over them on Thursday, then I can start the weathering.

Gloss coat down last night before bed. Stencils and upper Roundels down from the kit sheet this morning, going to leave the fuselage and lower roundels until I have printed the serial decals and know if they work. Then a sealing clear coat, weathering coat, and a final matt coat. With the family away at the inlaws, I'm off to my folks for slow cooked beef. First trial printing of the decals when I get back. It's my first go at printing my own, so what would people suggest to seal them on the sheet? Enamel or Acrylic? Gloss, Satin or Matt?

Army painter Demonic Yellow overall Masked, and uppers painted with my mixed RAF Dark Earth, lower main planes painted XF49 Khaki. I blew up the painting guide on the box rear to 150%, and cut out the earth sections for the horizontal surfaces, sticking them down with Maskol. more Maskol sealed any gaps, then I sprayed the green areas with XF81 and XF73. Current state of play. . On a related note, I took delivery of a Revell 1/72 Sea Vixen this week, so I may add that to the GB if I get these finished in time.

Is it really almost 3 weeks since I updated this thread? Well real life has to get a look in sometimes I suppose:) I have managed to finally get some silicone moulding compound and have poured a new mould for the nose weight: So while that set up, I have turned my attention to the Moth. Built up the cockpit and cowling, sprayed with Tamiya XF71, then other colours applied with a hairy stick, and some weathering and shading added with Citadel washes Before picking out the interior structure again using Citadel Nurgling Green, a little black on the control linkages, and adding seat belts from Tamiya tape. Fuselage closed up, and then off to work it was, took the clamps off this morning to give me this: Cowling attached, and I even managed to drill out that little air intake in the Port side, anyone know what it's for? Then it was on to the good bit. Lower main plane and tail surfaces attached And while that set up, I build up the Upper main plane and struts. Managed to snap one of the cabane struts while removing it from the sprue, but it wouldn't be a bi-plane build if at least one strut snapped, would it? This afternoon, hopefully, I can get the main gear legs on, and then I'll start checking the various seams. Fit looks fairly good at the moment, but that could all change once the first primer coat goes on.