johnny akes

Blimey, that's either a very small table or a very big model! Great work there, I hope it gets the display space it deserves.

Nice one Rom, that's a superb NMF and I particularly like the subtly different shades on the wing panels. I must pluck up the courage to try a finish like that myself, yours is a great inspiration!

I hadn't to be honest mate, though I suppose I could stick it in the sink to see if it floats!

Not at all Doug; typical Tamiya really - not 'shake & bake' exactly but take your time and it will come out fine, I didn't have any problems. I've read elsewhere that the optional etched rigging can be a pain, but it might be worth getting the set for the other bits & pieces. Thanks all for the kind comments Regards JA

Hi folks As there's been a lull in the excellent Airfix camo versions I thought I'd offer up my Tamiya pre-war attempt. OOB with my own rigging rather than the etched set, which would have improved it. Thanks for looking Regards JA

I love that, superb paint job and weathering. Might 'sit' better on weighted wheels? Just my personal preference.

A superb body of work, but for me the stand-out is the F3F - I love those contrasting primary colours and the Natural metal fuselage is flawless.

New to the site but clearly not new to the hobby! Great build and weathering effects, look forward to seeing more of your work. Regards JA

Hi Goose, glad to oblige. I could have squeezed a few extra bombs on the empty body pylons, but that would have been overdoing it even for me! Regards JA

That's a fine effort in a very striking finish would brighten up any display shelf - at 1/72 those smoke generators must be no thicker than hairs! It's a shame Airfix continues to let itself down with the thickness of its panel lines in this scale - at full size you would be able to get your fist into them.

Hi mate, many thanks for the reply and I appreciate the feedback. To be honest the faults are mostly mine rather than the kit's, although the instructions do indicate an open door - I've noticed since though from photos that it should indeed be closed so I'll put that right. Alternative antennae are included but I somehow overlooked that! And the bare metal is of course my error. The war load is probably a bit OTT as well but I like the look of it that way! But thanks again for the response, I take it as a compliment that you should have taken the time to look at it that closely. And thanks too to everyone else for their positive comments, they are greatly appreciated. Regards JA

Hi folks Just finished this and although it has its mistakes (all mine) I'm quite pleased with the outcome. Bought in a Modelzone sale for £15 it's good value with a bit of p/e, Cartograf decals and lots of bits for the spares box. Regards JA

Fantastic work there Tony - you've taken a good kit and improved it to museum quality. Your scratch building is almost espionage! Regards J A

Hi folks This is the late-war V1 carrying version and although I'd have preferred to do an earlier model, Revell's 1/32 is too big for my display space and Monogram's is the only 1/48 around. The kit itself is ok with a well detailed cockpit and weighted wheels, although the engine nancelles are a poor fit and the decals were slightly out of register. This is completely OOB and I've kept the weathering down as I'm guessing that by this late stage of the war the type's survival could be measured in weeks or even days, rather than months. I decided to paint the V1 in a generic scheme rather than one matching the plane as suggested in the instructions - I can't believe they would have gone to that extent for a one-shot missile, but I might be wrong? Anyway, on with the pictures and as always, c & c very welcome. Regards J A

Just when you think you won't see better, something like this comes along. I think I'll take up knitting instead.

Congratulations, that is inspirational work.

Very nice work Ed and your philosophy is one I share. The He177 is one of my favourite Luftwaffe planes having built the Airfix version as a kid.

Great finishes on those Josef - did you use the Airfix kit decals? Mine were shockingly out of register.

That's a lovely collection, I especially like the Camel dio - great use of a picture frame!

Hi GL Very nice kit, straightforward build with no horrors at all. Regards JA

Paul - The 'A' is in the wrong place because I didn't leave enough space for it next to the stars & bars! You're right about the serial being for a bubble top as well - the kit can be configured as either a razorback or bubble top, and I used the wrong serial. Being a cheapie I wasn't really bothered though because it was really only for trying new techniques on. Regards JA

Hi Folks First up is Testor's P-47D Razorback, one of the most basic kits I've done in years - not even a joystick included! Only cost a fiver though so it was ideal for trying out scribing and oil washes: Next is Academy's P-47N: (shame about that weighted wheel...) And together: Thanks for looking, C & C welcome as always Regards JA

I had similar problems with decals so I tried painting Tamiya masking tape then cutting it to the appropriate widths. In fact I've just done the same Lanc canopy and although I thought it might look too thick I'm quite pleased with the result - just re-dip it in Klear afterwards to keep it firmly stuck down.

Hi folks Thought I'd show you two recent builds - firmly in the 'cheap & cheerful' category, which is fine as I really wanted to try out a few techniques that are new to me (thanks to this site for the inspiration!). First up is the A6M3 type 22 Zero from 21st Century Toys. Interesting kit this - I'm not sure whether they know what they are trying to achieve, as it contains too much detail to be a toy yet it's main sections can be screwed together, it's undercarriage is retractable and there is a dirty great logo on the lower surface of the elevator! Luckily it is moulded rather than stamped, so it could be sanded off. Anyway, I had a go at stencilling the main markings which I think came out ok: 2nd up is Hasegawa's Nakajima Ki43II Hayabusa (Oscar) which I've used to have a go at salt weathering. Results aren't very subtle, and I've read elsewhere since that the hinomarus were regularly 'touched up', but overall I'm happy with it - it's not as though it's being entered into a show or anything! Thanks for looking J A

Hi folks, thanks for the kind comments. The paint is sprayed Humbrol enamels, the main colours being dark olive green over light olive. I actually paid £30 for it from Kit Krazy in Bexleyheath - they give a 25% discount on all purchases over £50 whether buying in person or via the web (kit was marked up at £40 obviously). The build was pretty straightforward and the only real problems are due to the instructions being a bit vague, eg the locations of the fuel tank and shell case bins, but they are covered up anyway and completely hidden! No rigging references either (not that there is much rigging of course). Yeah, looks like Kempf thought he was a bit of a Billy Big b****cks although apparently he wasn't even in the top 10 kill-wise. Regards JA.