Rob G

Just paint onto the frames, don't worry about being particularly neat. Give it 2 coats if you need to, then use a sharpened toothpick/bamboo skewer/stick from the garden to scrape the excess off. The supplied paint doesn't stick all that well, and it'll come off pretty easily. And residue left, use the stick wet. That's how I've done my Vampire, and it looks OK. Not superb, but OK.

It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings, Phil. Jump in! (Not that I'm in charge, but I think I'm safe.)

Darn you to heck Rich... stop with the absurdly interesting GB ideas, wouldya? I've had an M113 Vietnam dio in mind for a decade or so. I guess it can wait another couple of years. Stick me in the next available slot, if you would.

Time flies by. This is probably not going to make the cut-off, I fear. Oh well.

Oh dear, days are running away and this isn't looking good... Canopies finally got masked last night, hopefully I can get first paint on today.

The Vampire has been rolling slowly along, at the expense of my much more urgent P-47 builds... First up, the pilots: Flt Lt Isaiah Kyte and an as-yet unnamed Cadet on a flight awarded for having the shiniest boots or somesuch. You'll notice that they both look a bit green... hard to get flesh tones with no red in the palette. And so, I said "Meh to rules" and dug out a bit of a mix I'd made for some anime stuff I'm working on. A quick drybrush, and much better. Not finished in these photos, obviously. If this makes me ruled ineligible, so be it. Next up, it's had a first coat of silver (actually, it's now had 3, but I don't got no pix of that yet). Doesn't look too bad here, but it got worse as the layers went on - my brushing skills are sadly deficient. I'm thinking of using this paint as the natural metal finish for one of my P-47s actually - it looks quite good, and should be boss when sprayed. And the nosewheel... I could go off and rant about how Airfix have no clue at all, but rather, here it is with a recess around the tyre, like it should have, instead of the raised bulge that Airfix supply it with. This, I am proud to say, is the only bit of the whole kit that I used files on. The rest was done with nowt but 400 grit sandpaper, just like it was way back when. (I know, the gap is too wide. Still better than Airfix's automatically skidding tyre design though.) Since these were taken, decals and wheels and mass balances and all sorts of fun things have been added, so it looks somewhat like an RNZAF Vampire trainer (if you turn out the lights, then squint from a long way away). Just waiting for canopy and pilots to be finished and installed, and that'll be that. Next update will be the final, I think (failing disasters). Now, on with the P-47s, in the forlorn hope that they'll get done in time.

Oh, bother. I'm falling rapidly behind on GBs, can we postpone this one until sometime in 2020?

Who says you can't take an Aztek apart? Mine's been apart a few times, mostly to find out why the #*@$%%* thing won't #*%&@#%% work the way it should. Pull it to bits, leave it in bits. That way, you won't be tempted to use it ever again. And I do love my Iwata whatever it is. Seriously high quality. Can't comment on H&S, as I've never seen one.

Ha! Thanks PR. I should be careful what I wish for, eh? Peter, superb work on the Fury.

Oh good, someone else who's cheated and used a bit of flesh paint. I did my best to mix something up, but the closest I could come was a sickly green...

Wow, he's got more colours than me, and he's still faster. I'd better extract the digit and get on with it. Looking good there Craig!

Just a heads up for anyone who might be interested in joining this one - it's getting closer!

I'm watching but comments will not be forthcoming, as drool stops my keyboard working. (When you stop playing with toy aeroplanes, how about doing a Sea Fury?)

What they ^ said, very nice indeed!

And they'll all be in your LHS on the next blue moon.

Ya big girl's blouse. Biting off too much is paralysing, isn't it? I have a situation where I have so much on the bench that I don't know what to work on first. As a consequence, none of it is progressing. Many parts in that EFA kit? (Just teasing.)

I'm not the boss here, but I would think that that is acceptable Craig. However... if that's Revell Aqua paint in those little plastic pots, you're doing ok, because I believe that the stuff is pretty good (never used it myself, have never even seen it in a shop. The received knowledge from the interknobs is that it'll need a spot of water to thin it). The glue is also a darn sight better than the 'orrible tube glug that we poor Airfix builders are saddled with. The brush could be nasty, but you can't have it all your own way! Wait for Dazdot if you like, but I'd say go for it!

Mine's an early 'Lifetime Warranty' one as well, pretty sure I've had it fixed once, mny years ago. When it worked, it worked well, when it didn't, there was nothing I could ever do to make it work except clean it and put it away, then try again months later. Currently using an Iwata and Paasche, and the Aztek sits in a box on the shelf, collecting dust.

Only 2? Beauty of the Starter is that it is totally OOB, if it ain't supplied, you can't use it. Including paint and brushes - get it done so you can fly it around the room after tea.

Live on the edge Craig, put the weights on. Looking good so far, keep it up.

Pretty little thing, great job on a sweet kit.

Looks really good, great work. You should talk to the airfield maintenance guys about the possibility of filling the expansion joints in that hardstand.

There's a myriad of decal options available for all sorts of places, so I'm sure that anyone who really wants to can find what they want, or do some old fashioned modelmaking and (gasp) mask and paint national markings. For the question about separatist states, simply list them as Libya (Govt) and Libya (Rebel), using whatever indicative is the best summary of the political situation. Or use the full name of the party involved if that's more appropriate. I take it that we'll be limited to forces operated by actual African nations, not those from outside who had interests there, so nothing from the colonial powers?

Come and join in with the Starter Kit GB then old chap, nowt but OOTB builds there. There's still a week or so to go.

Sounds good Mr Wood. I'd considered doing something from a not-Airfix company, but couldn't find anything I liked. Welcome to de fun!