John Masters

I do love a Vampire and I seem to have a thing about the Swiss. So it's a win/win situation here. I'm not sure which one I will build yet. I'll think on it. Sprue shots and a bit more forthcoming... --John

This will be fun and I hope it fits the GB requirements. I know the ISAF was originally a UN force but then it was relegated to NATO, o so I have read. I would have liked to build the Austrian KFOR scheme but, alas, Austria is not a NATO member. So I will build the German ISAF vehicle instead. Fun camo work and weathering ahead! I'll start in sometime in the next few days with some sprue shots. --John

Here's one I have been wanting to build for a while. Neat looking aircraft and 1923 fits the era perfectly. The profile...the box art scheme looks very nice. I'll start in on it tomorrow evening I hope. --John

Here's my Soviet Tin Machine... Nice kit. Endless opportunities for upgrading or making more fancy. I pretty much stuck with OOB and I'm happy with the result. Thanks! I think a Junkers is next... --John

In the gallery...

Here's my 19 Sq Hawker Hunter...and here's the WiP... Many thanks! Off to get a Swiss Vampire out of the hanger... --John

Thanks Dennis. Here it is on the shelf with some other 19 Sq jets... I will have the rest in the gallery in a bit. On to the next one! -John

Thanks Adrian. It will be in the gallery today.

Btw...my next NATO contribution will be this... https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell-03277-lkw-gl-leicht-wolf--1181830 Too bad Austria isn't a NATO member. I could build the KFOR vehicle. I think I will build this one... Is that allowed? I think so...

I have a full night to myself this evening. Oh modelling heaven! I will make great inroads on this kit and wrap up two more in two other GB. And since I have nothing on the bench until the South of the Rio Grande GB in May, I will see what else I can do to fill the time. 😁 I have begun assembling the tail...Care needs to be taken to remove these delicate the pieces from the sprue. So far, so good. I gave all of these pieces, plus several still on the sprue, a nice layer of OD Green. The Italian chopper has some brown camo which I might do by hairy brush. I'll let that dry and begin assembling. --John

I’m in. I’ll build one of the 19 Squadron aircraft.

This is coming together well enough, albeit a bit slowly. There are lots of wee little parts to get right and not lose. The motor is all done...disregard that cracked gear box! 😆 The cockpit was a lot of little bits, but it looks good. Once it all done I will give it an OD Drab exterior. --John

I have attached the undercarriage and the canopy, removed all the masks. I am very pleased wit the paint job. It might be my best yet. The underside is looking good. I have a couple of painting touch-ups...nothing actually anyone but me would notice. Then it's decal time all around! I'll start with the stencils of course. --John

Yes...that is a good guess. Something along those lines.

I shot the moon and freehanded the RAF Green #2...I am very happy with it. I did go back with the EDSG and tighten up some lines...once again freehand airbrush. Now...As I continue on, I have come to the fun, nerve-racking and nail biting part of the kit...cutting up the underwing registration decals so they fit onto the lowered undercarriage doors, which are also split...Understand? I actually kind of love doing this. Using the Eyeball 3.0 2024 model, I get to use kittle scissors and steady nerves... Craziness...Obviously it makes sense to attach the remaining decals to the underside of the wings anyway while I'm at it. Can't have little bits of paper floating about with nowhere to go! I actually made quick work of it. No off-colour language. Well, almost none! 😁 Any discrepancies regarding perfection will be overlooked once the undercarriage is attached, etc, etc... Oh yes...we had out first brushfire of the season yesterday. Ok...it was damp, which was lucky. Unfortunately we were in the midst of a thunderous windstorm that raged for over 24 hours...Beaufort 7-8, gusting to 9 easily. Ferries were cancelled...All pretty normal here really. Even the fire. Frightening. It began around 17:00 and our brave firefighters had it out by 03:30 and earlier in the day they had help from this heroic soul. Imagine flying a water chopper in B8 winds and scooping water from the sea? That's some serious skill, my friends, serious flying. --John