TallBlondJohn

Thanks for the photo work, hope the build is still going

Me too - no Spitfire. Not even the classic Airfix mark IX though I coveted it greatly. I do have a Vb in the stash but its a seaplane so does it still count? Also never built a P-47 and I cant remember a 109 come to think of it. But built HMS Hood and Ark Royal at least 4 times each, and 3 Sopwith Camels. I'm probably the only person on the planet with two Airfix Boeing 314s.

Anybody else seeing just a string of numbers instead of pictures?

Just wondering - why use oil paint for the tail? Any special reason, or just a better white? Thanks John

Old Roden decals, always the same Having a decal breakdown... drives me insane! Ahem. Looks good!

Lovely - I have this in the stash. Any advice? Thanks

The infamous Airfix Panther, 1961 and wrong on so many levels. Even getting the tracks on deserves a gold star.

And any dust is just extra snow! Brilliant!

Well err yes - it would be. Interesting mental image...

Does look a bit dark - maybe a case of the paint colour is accurate, but scale effect, fading and weathering need to be simulated? When I get this sort of thing I carefully mist with very thinned light sea grey (10%ish) to reduce the contrast of everything. If you can see the result as you do it you've done too much - it should only show up as before/after

I echo all the above. Lovely kits (in superb boxes), but not for beginners. I have encountered fit issues, usually with interiors. For instance their 1/72 Camel comes with a lovely little cockpit assembly complete with framing - that doesnt even remotely fit in the fuselage. Its like its meant to be displayed separately. But all part of the fun. I've never had a Roden where the decals werent difficult, but my large unbuilt stash of them is least ten years old so I live in hope that's been fixed.

Always liked the Wimpy since building the old Matchbox one. And splendid job on the paintwork with the correct sharp edges - none of that airy-fairey soft stuff in the RAF thank you! Maybe its the light but just the right amount of fade as well.

I read a story of a V-Force crew who visited a SAC base on exercise. A USAF ground crewman asked them if their aircraft was a Valiant or a Victor - they told him it was a Vulcan. Their host said 'Gee, I wish we could afford three strategic bombers'. The RAF guys nodded, thinking yes, we wish Britain could afford them too...

Lol - I bet they enjoyed the change of pace - not!

Lovely camo job - I was going to 'humoursly' suggest it should be various shades of grey, but looks like it would work very well anywhere in the central belt. Clavework graphics has a few Scottish what-if profiles, funny how they are all for a republic as well.

I wouldnt worry about the two deck colours, it makes sense that the fresh planking added at the rebuild would look different from the old stuff. Given the period I'd have installed a spotter plane and hangar, very useful for convoy duty. Are you planning to update the funnels? They would make her look much more modern - and if the boilers have been replaced (very likely due due to the huge performance improvement) then new funnels would be required. Looking more like a QE or Revenge would also frighten off raiders.

Looks totally normal to me. Which way does it fly? 😉

Its even got a bit of a sharkmouth... Thinks - how about adding a Vulcan to the team...?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-50670743 Some good pictures too. Sounds like they are looking for other members of the German squadron (with the usual TV deal of course)

For those lines - techincally wires I guess - I use fishing line and get the built in curve to provide the sag. Having those lines tight never looks quite right to me

I confess I havent played in quite a while - practise is the main thing. Its not a simple arcade game for sure

It is possible to make a silk purse out of this but yeah just have fun. The cockpit is worth doing (OK bit late now) and there's not that much scribing to do. IIRC I widened the fuselage rather than sanding down the canopy, and my engine nacelles where short shot and had to be rebuilt with filler. It's worth adding the nose landing light, it just looks wrong without one.

They are odd, ugly ships - yet somehow look right. Can't put my finger on it - maybe its the proportions. Or its nobody does slanted funnels like the RN.

I see the pictures. Wow the erks must have been at the mushrooms that morning!

I originally thought that too, but your blue-tack mock up doesnt get the gun in the right position - in use it swings up and back, giving the operator room (or he can get under it to fire upwards). Here's a Rise of Flight video of a guy getting pranged by a Roland the same way I was. OK its a game but the models are done with care and are useful. Its long - he doesnt meet the Roland until 16 minutes in - but you can get an idea how the gun mount articulates (to his cost). 16:00 - begins intercept 16:20 "lets get underneath her, she cant use her guns" 16:30-16:45 Oh yes she can and you can see how! 17:15 lets try just approaching from behind... doesnt go well 17:25 "OK - they do seem to have a very manoeuvrable gun on the rear" 18:38 "bit dangerous" - good view of the mounting in action 19:12 long shot of the Roland 19:30 "Did I get him" - by sitting on his tail and just blasting away... 19:49 No you didn't - our gallant Brit (in a French plane) goes down to the dastardly Hun. Moral of the story: Don't understimate the Walfisch - its fast which makes you target practice for that rear gun!