RJ-WobblyHands

Certainly is (now I have found it lol) it’s a real gem and only a few miles away.. 😀

So rather than the Tamiya 1/72 Razorback I thought I would build when I signed up for this STGB , its morphed into a Tamyia P-47d Bubbletop after todays visit to my local LMS which also resulted in the purchase of 3 spitfire kits (Eduard 1/72 Longest day duo and Tamiya 1/72 Vb - I was very restrained , though I believe my wife has ordered something large and very nice for me as an anniversary present ,which could result in me signing up for the grumann STGB ) This build will add another 1st for me , I have ordered the Eduard PE 'Zoom' set and I will fight the Printscale Decals . This bird will be Col David Schilling's P-47D-25-RA , he was commander of 62nd FS , then Executive Officer of 56th Fighter Group part of the famous Zemke's Wolfpack , he flew 132 combat missions in two combat tours with the 56th , He received this aircraft in mid May 1944 . Photos uploaded soon

one word : Amazing That ball turret is a work of art

great job love the camo - just glad I did not have to do it .. even after reading the WiP thread on making the demarcation line

Or after some interweb reading I can use the kit decals and keep with my overall build theme (WW2 USAF based in Essex) . In the kit is 'Little Chief' 276179 flown by Lt Frank Klibbe 61st FS/ 56th FG - the markings show 5 victories , this was his 3rd and final P-47D , he received the plane whilst the 56th FG was based at Halesworth but he was still flying it when the unit moved to Boxted 18/19th April 1944 - his 6th and 7th victories coming in early May 1944 And an excuse to build a 2nd Jug 'Bubbletop' in 56th FG colour's either the obvious one Gabreski's or the Group Commander Zemke's. The planes were delivered to Boxted mid May 1944

Real Life got in the way - I missed the Radial Rocks GB so my Jug needs building , Tamiya 1/72 P-47D , currently deciding which squadron /pilot decals to source or make - bearing in mind for accuracy that Tamiya 1/72 razorback kit is block10 - block21 please count me in if space for a little one...

Add me to the list - I am planning a visit to the beaches next year for the 75th , This GB could be my first venture into Armor and figures (eek painting people) .. or Bridge building ( Pegasus Bridge ?)

This will be fun : 1968 is the year so choices a plenty , I can go with a favourite the Avro Shackleton or a Lightning ..... ooh I could build a 'Spad' as a 'Sandy' (another kit from memory lane) , I am sure I can find something interesting!

Very Nice Harrier ! 10/10 for intro. A plane of my youth I vividly remember the 'dancing' aircraft at 1974 Farnbourgh airshow.... and of course the SR-71

Update : The death of the Donut Gunner I have never been one for having active crew inside my models (probably because my painting of crew was horrible so - it was time to say farewell to the dorsal turrret gunner and time to get out the plasticard (I forgot to take pictures with out paint ) And when sitting in the fuselage Finally the cockpit, almost time to button up this little baby - I was surprised how much difference just adding tape seatbelts makes

A beauty..dressed up in her flying days with 397th BG 599th Squadron

Haha walking through a local town market with my good lady - I spotted a stall selling 'toys' - there was a medium size Red Box that I was drawn too ... after a little haggling I now have plans to build this wonderful workhorse ( the stash is growing !! )

I have also been working on making my own decals And the starboard side is a work in progress - the brown is the wrong colour but that is easy to change

Not sure whether this is an Obi Wan Kenobi ( I don't think I let my mind go and used the force to guide me ) or a Blackadder 4th update : Trench Warfare (commonly known as re-scribing) is much more 'entertaining' than I ever imagined !! Big hands - the continual requirement to remove my glasses for real close up work (sign of getting older) makes the process all the more fun!! Anyway here are the wings, I don't think they will look too bad after the full painting weathering process has been completed. To keep me sane I have done some more subassembly construction and painting , cockpit , engines (after looking around I decided to stay with the kit ones ) and bomb bay with black wash to make everything look dirty. Plenty of scraping & removing plastic to get Engine mounts to fit the wing without a large step - time for filler / sanding and scribing (yay more scribing)

I have a front row seat for this one ..'Hold until Relieved' . The 'pilots' of these were amazing - why anyone would willingly fly a 15,000lb glider that would be crash landed is beyond me ! The pilot of the 1st glider landed just a few yards from the bridge. I always thought of creating a Diorama depicting that 1st glider lander - not sure how big it would be in 1/72nd

Major surgery in the 1st post and a scribing tutorial thrown in for good measure on page one ( I am about to start Trench Warfare on my latest build soon) - I will sit at the back and take notes, this does look a cracking project.

Can I join the party - I also have a 1/72nd Jug that needs building

The grass needs cutting .... and the Catalina doesn't look bad either , she is big!

looks great still find it strange looking at a B-17 with British Camo pattern, watching B-17 builds gives me itchy fingers to start mine lol

very nice weathering looks good to me , 8-9hr sorties with those oil burning engines she would get quite dirty

Having looked at the canopy / nose parts - they are thick.. I will be getting the Squadron Vac Formed ones - and probably some Resin parts too , gun barrels and engines ( I wonder if the P-47D aires / quickboost ones will fit ? Both aircraft shared the P&W 2800 Double Wasp Powerplant ) if I can

a great trio , what is there not to like about British Naval Air Power - Buccaneer is my fav

That is one big BUFF , will you need reinforced ceiling mounts when you hang it from the ceiling ? - think I will stick to my 1/72nd models

Update 1: The build has commenced : Cockpit subassembly I have chosen not to add the crew members - Sorry Donut Boy !!! Well its a bit sparse if you don't add 'Bill and Ted' - 5 pieces including the control sticks and these are major pieces - central console and Airfix's 'Generic 1970's seats - I am sure my mum had ones like that in her Vauxhall Viva. Time to get out the scalpel , tweezers and attempt to scratch build something a little more interesting. After several attempts that created seats that looked even more like a toilet I have come up with the following , need to raid my sister-in-laws jewellery making stash for some small diameter brass wire then will add arm rests to the seats. Co-pilot seat is noticeable smaller since it was a folding seat to allow access to bombardier position in plexiglass nose. I have also added some side panels to the cockpit . Everything is dry fitted - the rear bulkhead is not leaning forward !!! Next update will be bomb bay which does have some nice detail in it , then painting time

The 'grand opening' took place last night ...and as expected the decals are more 'Snowball' than either 'Mild and Bitter' or 'Dark and Cloudy' , At the required time - photoshop (or equivalent) to the rescue and I will remake them , only using small images atm - everyone knows what a decal set and kit on sprues look like. Onto the kit itself, for a 1973 tooling that was made in early 80's is pretty good, my 1st impression that this kit is better than I remember Airfix models of that time (I never built a B-26 as a youngster ) There is some flash and a couple of sink holes on the fuselage - nothing a little time and effort cannot sort. The big decision I have to make is 'Panel Lines' - this kit seems a transition kit with a mixture of finely raised panel lines and engraved hatch , access port details. Having never re-scribed a model .... is this the perfect opportunity to start ? Finally what is it with the mid turret gunner - was he fan of giant donuts