Nickthebrief

I'm so glad to read your thoughts on the CA Sea Venom - I entirely agree! I loved building mine and it is MY favourite aircraft too! Quirky, uniquely British and, it seems, inaccurate but I honestly don't care. I don't disagree with anyone who says that kits should be accurate (and go together flawlessly) but ultimately, for me, this hobby is about switching off from work and creating something - even if that something is somewhere short of perfection (a long way short in my case...!) Now, I must go and dig out that CA T11... Cheers, Nick.

One of the nicest, best fitting and enjoyable kits I've ever built. I hope you enjoy putting it together as much as I did and thank you for sharing. Nick.

Oh wow! A Sea Fury. The most handsome piston engined aircraft ever made, IMHO. Which means your recreation will be the most handsome model of a piston engined aircraft ever made if your previous masterpieces are anything to go by. I will be following with much interest. Nick.

Surely that should be "in patient" of Mars - or are they letting you out for the odd day now?

Navy Bird is going large! Brilliant. Will follow along with much interest and looking forward to another of your immaculate builds. Bon chance, mon ami. Cheers, Nick.

Ahhh yes, Classic Airframes kits... There was a time when, if you wanted a 1:48 model of quite a wide variety of aircraft, they were the only option. As a Fleet Air Arm fan, I wrestled with their Seahawk, Gannet, Meteor T7 and more recently the Sea Venom and Defiant Target Tug. All of them challenged my modelling abilities, but ultimately resulted in models that I'm really pleased to have built. So I would say "persevere" and, as you are already demonstrating, you will end up with a Canberra to be proud of. I shall be keeping a close eye on progress, as I have the kit in the stash and will be following your lead one day! Cheers, Nick.

Lovely result there Mick - I look forward to seeing it for real on Tuesday. Cheers, Nick.

Looking really good Bill. Interesting to read about the decal solvent needed for the rudder - Skyhawk rudders are a decal-ist’s nightmare, I imagine. I have really enjoyed catching up with another of your immaculate and highly entertaining builds. Proceed! Nick.

Thank you - and great to hear from another Wiltshire modeller. I agree entirely with the bravery point - just to get in and fly one must have been a challenge - to actually go and use it in anger must have been terrifying. Ah the Gannet - another Fairey masterpiece! (Actually I think the Gannet was pretty successful, wasn't it? But again, no looker!) Having built the Classic Airframes one, I'm quite looking forward to seeing what the up-coming Airfix one will be like - and I might break my usual rule and build it with wings folded as the Gannet fold is so unusual... Thank you for the kind comments about the model too... Thank you David. The post war scheme does seem to suit the Barra. And of course any Buccaneer has to be in white, EDSG or a combo of the two to really look "right"....?! Many thanks for the kind comments, Andy. Much appreciated.

Love the Sturgeon. A classic Fleet Air Arm machine - not great looking (I'm being kind, it's ugly), not really doing the job it was intended for, and bags of character as a result! High on my "I wish someone would do one in 1:48 scale" wish list, but sadly I can't see Airfix (or anyone else for that matter) rushing to tool one up... I'm thoroughly enjoying following your progress with this one. I have built the (1:48) Magna Sea Balliol, and the experience was similar to the one you are describing - big lumps of resin, pretty good shapes but "some modelling skills required"... I shall look forward to the next instalment. Cheers, Nick.

Good luck with the rigging Johnny! The crossed wires immediately in front of the forward windscreen are particularly good fun... They are both looking fantastic and you must be very pleased with how they're turning out. Nearly there... Cheers, Nick.

Lovely Sea Venom Chris. I’m just tackling the Classic Airframes one in 1:48 and your finished example is a great inspiration. It’s such a cool aeroplane… There are some very lovely silver and dayglo orange FAA Tiggie schemes too if that floats your boat…? Cheers, Nick.

Nice progress Johnny. Belated Happy Birthday. The exhaust looks like it is in just the right place to me. The engine cowling side panels are, prototypically I think, not a tight fit to the fuselage, so there’s a nice gap where the exhaust pokes through… I’m loving the possibility that one of these might be a Fleet Air Arm machine after all. Keep up the good work! Nick.

Well if it was a struggle you've done an exceptional job of covering that up Dick - it looks absolutely immaculate - a beautiful build. Airfix kits are "enigmatic" - I think we all want to love them, but sometimes that love is not reciprocated...! Well done for persevering and I hope you feel the finished result is worth the effort - it looks it to me! Cheers, Nick.

I found it fiddly in 1:48; how anyone manages in 1:72 I don't know... Nick.