Epimedium

Thanks guys, I’m glad you liked it 👍

Martlet complete, this was a lovely little kit with plenty of detail, no real fit issues and brilliant decals, it was really good as a Mojo booster and something different from my usual subjects. Airfix 1/72 Grumman Martlet Mk IV Tamiya XF 77 (EDSG), XF 73 (DSG), Mr Color 26 (Sky) Uschi Fine rigging thread for aerials Weathering with oils.

yes very interesting, it seems they were literally taken off the ship and put back into US service! Here’s the pics below gathered from various sites on the Internet. Hope they’re of interest

This one was built from an initial Eduard boxing (2000) so I added their etch set to it and CMK exhausts, the heavy weathering was guided from reference of the same aircraft, these things got real dirty over in the Guadalcanal.

This is my Hobby Boss 1/48 FW 190 D9, a nice kit and relatively trouble free build, I managed to keep the canopy moveable and the rigging wire drops down when opened which is a nice touch. Finished in MRP and Mr Color Lacquers and weathered with oils and pigments. Eduard belts and brass tubing for gun barrels were added.

Hopefully there are a few points I can help out with, as mentioned above the larger tanks were in their own battalions but from the point of view of continuing your stepsons interest you'd want to throw in some heavies! So.....: Panthers are the A late type with Zimmerit Tiger II B Porsche turret (very limited use and mostly in overall dark yellow), Henscel turret widely used, again with zimmerit Tiger 1 E late (with and without steel wheels) with zimmerit then there is a whole host of Panzer IV (Ausf G and H) with varying stages of side armour and zimmerit, Stug III G, Stug IV, Flakpanzer IV, armoured cars, sdkfz 251 D, sdkfz 250, anti tank guns 75mm & 88mm and a massive list of captured vehicles and oddities. If you are worried about accuracy then almost all tanks and fighting vehicles had zimmerit, no auxiliary or transport vehicles had zimmerit (including half tracks). If accuracy is not essential then leave the zimmerit off as it can suck the enthusiasm out of a project! hope that helps

Manufacturer: Avi Models Subject: D.H.83 Fox Moth Scale: 1/72 Paints Used: Tamiya XF83, XF24, XF85, MRP white, Mr Color 8 Details: Uschi Super Fine Rigging Thread, Albion Alloys 0.5 Tubing, Custom Masks. This is a new release of the D.H.83 Fox Moth and it is a typical short run kit. It was tricky in places but most of the issues came from me rushing the build a little, I messed up the decals on one side so had to cut a mask to fix that, I’ve filmed this build for my channel on YouTube so that is why there is a lack on in progress shots. I have depicted the aircraft as photographed during the Spanish Civil War and in use by the Nationalists, this aircraft was on the Republican side initially but after capture it was repainted as is seen, I had to modify a few things, most notably blanking off the exhaust outlet and putting in a few bits of meta tubing to simulate the modified exhaust of the actual aircraft. https://youtu.be/eWfsn31OGW4

Ha! I just googled these figures for a picture and was surprised to see this pop up, it’s mine! I can confirm those figures are great and available from Historex in the UK 👍

This is the reveal of my Eduard 1/32 Messerschmitt bf 109 D using the Alley Cat Conversion. A tricky build in places but overall very enjoyable. I have linked my full video build for this one below if you’d like a more detailed look at the build. I used Kora Decals for the Prop blades, not totally accurate as they should be slightly different but a good attempt, I also added an Eduard etch set and Quickboost gunsight as well as the Conversion kit.

Interesting that it made it on a postage stamp, it must have captured the imagination, the only info I have found is: These are the only ones I have been able to find that were in Spain in 1936, this picture is from Valiant Wings, The Spanish Civil War, Airframe extra no5. Apparently the only pilots capable of flying the thing were shot just after the war broke out. It certainly was used pre-war, most notably in Asturias during a rebellion in October 1934. So it was there, it probably didn't get used but looks very cool, I was happy just to go with the kit on this occasion.

What a bizarre looking aircraft!

Thanks Guys Yes it is much more attractive

Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.A Spanish Foreign Legion, Granadella 1938. This vehicle is ‘214’ from the Spanish Foreign Legion Tank Brigade, 2nd Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Platoon. This machine was based in Grandella in the province of Alicante in 1938. The Panzer 1 was a very light armoured and under gunned tank even for the 1930’s, it was best suited to a role of infantry support as it was inadequate against other tanks. Dragon’s Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.A is a great little kit, I found no fit issues and enjoyed the simplicity of the build, the etch exhaust shrouds are supplied in the box as well as the option to open all of the vision slits. Individual tracks are supplied in the form of Magic Tracks which are already cleaned and separated from the sprue. There is also a boxing with a full interior included. The three tone camouflage was mixed with Tamiya acrylics to eye as the references for these early colours are a little vague. I used decals from Star Decals and masked the air recognition markings on the roof with MR Paint black & white.

This is the 1/72 Azur short run release of the Cierva C.30 Autogiro. A curious looking aircraft which is unlikely to have seen use during the war, there were a few in the Spanish Air force before the war broke out but their fate is unknown. The kit is what you would expect from Azur and didn’t cause any problems, it is best to take your time around the under carriage at the front as its very delicate, I also had a slight issue with the rotor blades as the resin part in the middle was damaged, I replaced those parts with stiff wire. I finished the model in Mr Metal aluminium buff-able metallizer, with details painted in Tamiya acrylics. I used the kit decals but I think the markings are fictitious.

Hi all, would anyone have any reference material for the Opel Blitz being used in the SCW, would these have been painted in the early three tone camouflage or the generic field grey/green? Also the kit I'm planning on using would be: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/181439-icm-35401-typ-2-5-32-1-5to I know they were used quite widely by the Condor Legion but information is a little scarce

Hi JW yes I've looked at this one quite a bit and chose to employ some artistic license. The only real proof I could find (and that's iffy at the best!) is that it was in US colours with yellow wings and od fuselage. I've seen most people opt for the bare metal finish and appealing as it is I just can't see they would have either stripped the paint or painted it silver. I thought I'd have a bit of fun with the roundels and bands on the wings to mix it up a little but I would think it most likely had red wing tips instead of the bars. the serial and Boeing logo were a logical step from the demonstrator. I did find the record of the planes fate which I found fascinating: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=184290 all the best 👍

Thanks for all the kind comments guys! yes I think it is David, revells offering is not so good and quite old, Pavla have a release but it is curiously similar with the addition of some resin. The Az model is the best in my opinion and I found no issues with the fit at all

The Boeing 281 was the export version of the Boeing P26 Peashooter and was most notably used in China during the late 1930’s. Not so well known is the single aircraft that featured over the skies of Spain during the Civil War and although it was only one machine it did seem to strike a chord with the republican forces and this lead to the nickname “Boeing” being given to the more numerous Polikarpov I 16 due to its similar shape (from a distance) and it also being a monoplane which was a rare thing at the time. The Spanish Model 281 was bought after its demonstration at Barajas airfield on March 10, 1935 where it stayed until the war broke out. From there it flew to Cuatro Ventos airfield in the Summer of 1936. In October of 1936 it was operating from Getafe when it was shot down in a dogfight with three Fiat CR.32s. I decided to model my Peashooter with the olive drab fuselage and trainer yellow on the wings and tail. I added red banding to the wings and fuselage and printed my own decals for the roundels on the wings and the Boeing logo and serial number on the tail. I used an etch set from Brengun which improved the cockpit and a few parts from the Pavla set, a Yahu instrument panel was also used in this build. This has been a very enjoyable project and I’m very pleased with the result. I would highly recommend the kit and the after market parts used caused no problems either. To see the build log on my site please look here: Peashooter Build Log

This part mainly covers the construction of the cockpit ready for painting, I have also finished off the nose/engine cowling and re-scribed and re-riveted lost detail. I had a little trouble with re-scribing the panel lines, I was using the Tamiya scribe but it just seems to have a mind of its own, I have switched to the Trumpeter scribe and I find this gives much thinner lines and is more controllable. Once everything is together I will clean up the last few areas and smooth everything down, the nose part does look a bit rough in places but this will all come together before the paint goes on. The etch metal set is mainly concentrated on the cockpit and I have worked through the uncoloured fret ready for paint. The cockpit floor is a little sparse but what is there is enhanced by the photo etch, the rudder pedals in particular are nice. The racks for the machine gun ammo are replaced with etch metal and this improves them greatly, I may leave off a few ammo containers to show this a bit more. Side wall details are then added from the etch fret and plastic parts, I have also filed down the areas where the colour etch will sit after painting. Other parts are also prepared for paint with the rear of the seat and cockpit frame receiving some wiring in anticipation of the radios (the dials and front panel are on the colour sheet). The chair is impressive straight from the box and only improved by the harness. For a final touch before the painting stage I have added some wiring using a few shots from a reference book and a bit of artistic license… This will all now be primed with Tamiya XF53 neutral grey then MRP RLM 02 will be added with a little pre-shading to add some depth.

Hi All I have a build log currently running on my blog and I figured I may as well post it here for you to look at, its my first major 1/32 build and I'm really enjoying the bigger scale! In this build log I’ll be building the Trumpeter 1/32 Ju-87A-1 ‘Anton’ and I’ll be adding the Eduard Big Ed set BIG3351 along with Montex K32296 Mask set for 29-5 from the VJ/88 experimental group in Spain 1937. For reference I’m using Hikoki Publications Condor by Patrick Laureau and Military Illustrated Modeller 073 which has an in depth build of this kit by James Hatch. Work begins, unusually, with the engine front cowling and propeller. I opted to leave the propeller until later. Eduard provide the correct horizontal slats for the ‘A’ model, these simply stick over the top of the kit part. The engine and radiator are very well detailed and its a shame that so much will be hidden, the work needed to open up the hatches is far in excess of what I’d like to tackle so it will have to be closed up. There are various scoops and intakes which show a little of the engine so it is nice to have it there. Next its on to the cowling and front of the fuselage and straight off there are a few gaps showing themselves in the test fitting stage. Also a well documented problem is the amount to which the exhausts protrude from the the side of cowl. Without modification they are flush but reference shows that they should protrude quite a bit so I went about thinning the inside until I had the desired effect. Also at this point I fixed the scoops on the underside of the cowl so that they had the correct rounded gouge in the panel which they dont have straight from the box. In test fitting the engine, radiator and bomb cradle into the cowl I found that its quite a tight fit so you need to ensure that everything is aligned properly before gluing. The radiator attachment to the bottom of the engine is a little flimsy too so care needs to be taken throughout this stage. It is worth pointing out that I glued the exhausts onto the inside of cowl instead of to the engine. This meant for a more secure join and gave me the maximum protrusion. Now to get this lot together and then onto the cockpit.

Thanks! Well yes and no, I've found the best way is to man handle them and fix it with super glue. Then I bend the struts so that it all lines up with the landing gear, it's a bit heavy handed but as long as it looks right I'm not too worried. I do do sometimes tack them with super glue then use tamiya extra thin for a stronger bond. this one marks the end of the recent flurry for now but there are lots of builds on my site from the SIG members so do please have a look if it's of interest 👍

Well it was news to me also, I did stumble across a great thread on ww2aircraft.net where a chap has gone through most the aircraft from the conflict and found amazing pictures of them! I used his info for the source and he seems to know his stuff: There are two pictures of Spanish planes on ww2aircraft.net, links below (an account is needed to view the pictures): FW-56 FW-56 Camouflage the camouflage on the pictured vehicle is nothing like mine as I found afterwards and artistic license has been used

The Focke Wulf Fw 56 Stösser (Falcon) was used by the Republican air force as a trainer in the fighter school at Carmoli. Around six Fw-56’s were used here towards the end of 1937, being from a German manufacturer it is unusual to see them in Republican service. The planes were bought from the conflict in Ethiopia where the Stösser’s had been used against Italian troops during their invasion of Ethiopia. These were then transferred to the fighter school. These planes were painted with a disruptive camouflage pattern in a very rough manner, the republican markings were then added over this. The base colour could have been RLM 63 or 62 depending on the factory finish. Kit: Heller 1/72 Focke Wulf Fw 56 Stösser Built: OOB with Decals from spares Paints Used: MRP RLM 62, Russian AFV Tan, Tamiya XF 58, XF 23, XF 7, XF 3 Weathered: with MIG pigments

Thanks! Yes it's a nice kit, I do believe this is the super model kit with upgraded molds, whatever that means! Nice decals though, apart from the transparency of the white. Thanks for all the comments it means a lot

Not too long a couple hours I think, I just used it thinned quite a lot with leveling thinners and made sure I just put a blob instead of brushing it as it would melt the paint off! Then it dried and settled down nicely