Olmec Head

I am currently chopping it about with lots of filler and bodging after forgetting about the kit!

The very useful picture posted by @GrzeM and Dave Swindell seems to me to show a definite camouflage demarcation line at the nose and below the exhaust. I also see a similar, if less clear, demarcation aft of the cockpit. These 'lines' to me correspond with the temperate sea scheme patterns that Paul Lucas writes about in his Colour Connundrum series. So I would go with this aircraft not being in a uniform colour, but in a camouflage scheme.

Thanks Both I think the superglue and white glue idea has a possibility, the tubing would more than test my patience. It is interesting that there doesn't seem a best way method for the IFF wires.

Thanks makes sense as an option.

I am making an Airfix Spitfire Vb in 1/48 with the IIF wires from fuselage to tailplanes. I have the holes driilled in place and I am using nylon monfilament invisible thread. I have done this 'build' before but failed to do a good job on the fuselage terminals, by which I mean these: Does anyone have any advice or effective way of doing the small bakelite looking round terminal and getting the wire through it? I have looked online and in Britmodeller and I have not seen a foolproof (i.e me) method. Even in 1/48 the disc is very small, but noticeable. I was thinking about somehow getting a small red circle slid along the wire (already in the fuselage hole) and then glued in place over the roundel transfer. But how to cut and drill what is going to be a very small and thin circle. The picture by the way is from the Duxford gathering of Spitfires in 2022. Any help or ideas would be most appreciated. Richard

Thanks for the confirmation.

It's good that the QJ - J version has the correct 'The Wiltshire Moonraker I' script on the staboard side. There is an excellent tweet by @beaver-paul of a photo showing the aircraft W3312 almost brand new without any sqn codes. I am just making an Airfix Vb with some old decals that doesn't have the proper presentation script, so I may end up getting this kit for the script! The only issue is that I don't think there is firm photo evidence that W3312 (The Wiltshire Moonraker) was QJ-J as flown by Sqn Ldr Rankin. It appears to be an assumption albeit a strong one presumably. If someone has that proof that would be useful to see.

Thank you for sending these through, it's a positive review.

The internet has several promo pieces about the new Ultra and Evolution 2024 airbrushes being brought out. Has anyone seen them in the 'metal' please. They seem to have improvements, but with a increased price tag.

Thanks both for very useful information.

Yours is built and I am just still typing about mine. Good job. And as Frog intended...

The decals aren't very useable, but I have quite a lot of spare decals and squadron codes. The canopy 'blobs' are worse! Yes it has to be done with the stand, that is a given, that said, it means finding a better cockpit that fits and a pilot figure. Plus not having to scratch build a cockpit.

I remember a very useful series of posts on the Spitfire XIV that detailed the A/C serial numbers along with what wing types and high or low back models were associated with what production numbers 'blocks'. I have tried to find it, but to no avail, It may have been part of a long thread on the Airfix XIV or possibly the Sword release. I am afraid that I am not even sure what forum area it was in on Britmodeller. If anyone can provide any pointers, I would be most grateful.

I got this kit from the Newark and Lincs show back in the Autumn for £6. As you can see it was original only 99p, but bearing mind inflation, I probably paid about the same! I think my father built the original back in the 1970s. I remember the V1. The kit is 'pristine' (if a bit cloudy bagged and unopened: The now opened bag: It will have to AP-D, which I think is an e wing, which is what the kit has. I have had a look a @AdrianMF 's build a year or so ago for some ideas and inspiration. - definitely a silk purse out of a sow's ear. After my disastrous Christmas Blitz build hopefully this should go better.

End of Day 2 I am still plugging away at this, although keeness is is waning somewhat. The wings and tail parts are now on: And no nose weight, so as @AdrianMF says the access steps will be needed. The top and bottom seams are still hmm, but press on regardless. @psdavidsonMost of filler got sanded out. and the bottom seam is still step like.

It looks a bit interesting to me, at least the white metal prop blades won't snap off. Did you actually buy this? Or did you lose the bet?

Looks very good, the canopy framing might slow things down....

I think even @Ray_W would struggle to done this kit without filler.

Here is a good idea, you could use the sweets' foil wrapping for the aluminium skin, like cheap Bare Metal, what could go wrong?

This Kit is very annoying and a somewhat poor choice by me! I had thought that it would not have been as hard as it is getting. Nothing really fits and some bits don't fit at all. The nacelles needed a lot of filling! And the props have broken off the bosses. So that will need a re-think. The fuselage seams are interesting... Hmmh!

At least its not the usual FW 159 that everyone does for the quick build. Your off the piste build inspired me to do this one. Which I may be regreting, a simple Spitfire in PRU blue would have been easier.

No there is lots of annoying flash!!! Which I forgot to put in!

This kit is almost an heirloom, it was bought in the 1990s and has kicked about my parents' and then my attic since then. So I thought it the ideal time to get it out of the way. There have been many excellent builds of the DH Heron on Britmodeller. This will not be one of them. It is not the recent re-issue, so the decals/ transfers may be somewhat iffy, and the flash and the little people. After a couple of hours..... Some progress... And before you ask, I haven't even thought about the the windows!

Thanks I did download the ORB but it didn't have much detail.

Thank you firstly to @wmcgill the photograph establishes that there is a 54 Sqn DL-N with the spearhead tail marking. It's interesting that the photo shows it to have a 3 bladed prop and I would surmise that it would also have the new bulged hood rather than the flat one. So the Iliad Decals profile is off the mark. The Spitfire the History original profile at least has the correct canopy and prop. As gingerbob says, K9843 was with 41 Sqn for 1939, so it would not have been DL-N, (41 Sqn had the prewar codes of PN and no spearhead tail marking). Its interesting where the K9843 misidentification came from. It is listed as DL-N K9843 in Rawlings Fighter Sqns of the RAF and in Morgan and Schacklady, so the tie-up has history, if incorrect. I would again guess that K9843 went 54 Sqn in early 1940.