MrB17

Great job Neil! A lot of inspiration for other owners of this nostalgic kit. Cheers Jeff

Airfix 1/72 B-24H Liberator. The one I intend to build from this is a B-24H-25-DT, so it will require some scratch building to get there. From what I’ve learned from all the chit chat on here, if you’re not doing either of the ones in the kit you might need some photos to pin things down. Fortunately for me I had wanted to do an H long before the kit was even announced, and I had planned on trying to convert a Minicraft kit. This will make things much easier with a nicer result. Also negates the need for nose weight. Also Preiser parachutes in extremely thin vacuform in white with all the panels and gores clearly defined, they should work ok. Cheers Jeff

I order a lot of supplies from Sunward, free shipping in Canada on orders of $60 or more, including paint is hard to beat. The sale is a good sign for those who want one. Maybe not so much for HB. Cheers Jeff

Nice to see someone else tuning up this kit. Engineering the kit to have removable cowling panels is something that Airfix should have done in the first place, I believe it was rushed to get it on the shelves in time, and it shows in a lot of places. There are a lot of variations depending on when the kit was produced. My first one was probably from an initial release and the other two are from a later batch. The later ones both have the windscreen lines, the first is fine. A lot of misaligned moulding on all three, with the latter two worse than the first. The two I am working on are buttoned up, so less work than yours and the third is destined to be removable cowling panels and gun bays. But I took a break and jumped in on some group builds. I don’t think I will tackle the third one until 2025, and hope to get back to it soon. Really nice work on yours, and it is looking to be a stunner. I’m happy to follow along. Cheers Jeff

My 72 Ford Capri Mk.I 2000 Maize Yellow, Satin Black Bonnet, Tan interior with console, front and rear spoilers. Later on stripped and repainted inside and out with Jaguar Damask Red, with Black and Tan 2 tone interior. The yellow was an easy target for the cops. I sold it in 77 when I joined the Airforce. When I was posted, I had a 74 Triumph Spitfire in Racing Green, but traded it for a 73 Capri Mk.I 2600 and then traded that for a 71 Capri Mk.I 2000. If I could have one again, I would have the Maize Yellow and Black. I had a 67 Mustang Coupe 289 Red on Red, in the 90’s, I wouldn’t mind that again either. Cheers Jeff

Hi Pat, here’s a link to IPMS Deutschland review of the newer release. The Saskatchewan government one is white with green and is pretty sharp and different from the Yellow and Red ones. If I was going to do one, it would be a Newfoundland government or Buffalo Airways, both the same scheme of Orange and White bands, with green trim. Probably the craziest scheme I’ve ever seen on a CL-215! Leading Edge did the decals for it. Also seen on the 415 as well as other aircraft like the PBY-5A. https://ipmsdeutschland.de/archiv/FirstLook/Heller/Heller_Canadair_CL-215/Heller_Canadair_CL-215.html The Newfoundland/Buffalo one: https://modelingmadness.com/scott/decals/led/le72077.htm Cheers Jeff

It’s been a treat watching your build Rob. Very nice result due to the work you put into it. Cheers Jeff

Looking forward to the grand light up! The BOAC trim on this looks incredible, If I ever build a VC-10, it’s going to be in BOAC livery, it just looks so good. The “fiber optics” are really cool considering the age of the kit, something like this might get approval to be displayed in the lounge room! One can dream about it anyway, I have a vintage chrome DC-3 ashtray that lights up, but pretty crude in comparison. Cheers Jeff

FROG 1/83 DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver. First time for me here. I did a few things extra, to enhance the overall look. Scratched basic interior and added a pilot figure, tail wheel gear, disc brakes, propeller detail, antenna mast, navigation lights, landing light port wing, filled the starboard wing, cut and moved control surfaces, aileron hinges and counterbalance, flap hinges, pitot tube, reworked cowling, exhaust, hollowed intakes, custom decals. Although this is a very rare kit, it deserved to be built and most importantly it was fun. I included a photo of an original out of the box (not my build) and my attempt along with the original box. This was actually my second build of this kit, 60 years later! Great fun! WIP here: Cheers Jeff

Well I think I am done with this one. This is my first completed GB, it’s been very enjoyable and adding a few extra things has made it worthwhile. This was my first attempt at inkjet decals, and the results were pleasing, especially the metallic finish of the blue. Here’s a last look before she goes up on the stand for the gallery. Gallery: Cheers Jeff

Looks magnificent Neil, a masterpiece in my books. Cheers Jeff

Getting very close to finished! Just need to clear coat and assemble and it’s off to the gallery. I decided to jazz up the stand a bit too. I painted the underside with my BOAC Blue custom mix, I thought it would make a nice background for the gold logo. Pretty easy to do, I just slopped in the gold and when dry, I wet sanded and polished the clear plastic. Has anyone else noticed that the FROG logo looks like a winged ice cream cone? I also had to make another custom mix of Tamiya clear blue and clear green, to match the inkjet printed decals, they were transparent and the aluminium base coat made them look metallic. I only needed to paint the cowling and the wheels, everything else is decals. I threw in a photo of my Humbrol HU15 tinted with black and for the benefit of @Ventora3300 the HU104 Oxford Blue for comparison, beside the FROG stand painted with the tinted HU15 underneath the clear plastic. The first photo, the colour is way off due to lighting, it’s much deeper. I hope to have this in the gallery by the weekend and continue with the FROG B-17E next week. Cheers Jeff

I think the 104 Oxford Blue is pretty darn close. I pulled out my BOAC custom mix and 104 Oxford and painted a swatch of both, wet they are very close, so I imagine if you were to clear coat the Oxford, it would work well. I posted a photo in my Beaver WIP for you. Cheers Jeff

Hi Charlie, I’m really interested in this STGB. You’re right, the Wooden Wonder deserves its own GB. It’s a good thing I am retired, but what else would I do . Something I have always wanted to do is the 4 different versions that Monogram offered in their kit. I have the kits waiting patiently for an opportunity like this. The movie 633 Squadron was a huge inspiration, with many favourite quotes, like other great movies from that era. Please add me to the list. Vesuvius! Vesuvius Sir! Cheers Jeff

I think you’re being a bit hard on yourself Rob. I have followed you through this build and have seen what you’ve been up against and I think you have managed to make a great and unique piece of FROG history. I hope to see it in the gallery soon. Cheers Jeff