Modelling Mushi

Hey guys, thanks for the +ves on the backstory and thought. I'll let you in on a little secret though - it was meant to look like a bit of a frankenstein's monster. The thought of shoehorning a RR Tyne into an airframe that could (at its peak) handle just on 1,800 hp out of a fully developed DamilerBenz piston engine fascinated and scared the willies out of me - I mean, nearly 3x the power??? . I'd seen a fair bit of the US Gee Bee racers with the 'minimum airframe, maximum engine' concept at its peak and wondered how it would go for an early Reno entry. Ciao

Hello everyone, I've finally got the Me109 Reno Racer done, its been about 2 years I think since I cracked the box! Based on the Airfix 1/48 release, plus a set of E2 after market props. Backstory Switzerland bought a number of Me109E-3 aircraft in the late 1930s from Germany, using them until around 1949 when they were retired from service. Airframe 2242, J-355 serial in Swiss service, was destined for the Swiss airforce museum however John Davies, a US citizen and flying enthusiast , managed to purchase the airframe and ship it to the States, arriving in 1950 and remaining crated up until 1952. Plans were drawn up to re-engine the airframe with a 1,800+ shaft horsepower Rolls Royce Dart 520 turboprop driving a 6 blade airscrew however difficulties with obtaining an export license for the engine, together with business difficulties, meant that no actual conversion has taken place by late 1959. At that stage the new 4,810 shaft horsepower Rolls Royce Tyne was available and, having dimensions close to that of the Dart a decision to go with the Tyne driving a contra-rotating 8 blade airscrew was made. Construction was finished by the end of 1962, with the first flight being made in February of 1963. Unfortunately Davies was placed into bankruptcy the next day and his assets, including the Me109, seized. By mid April 1963 the airframe was purchased by an expatriate German entrepreneur, Hans Jorgen, a resident of Utah. Jorgen was importing German goods into the US with some success, and saw the Me109 as a potential advertising boon. At this point he became aware of the air races to be held in Nevada in 1964 and strung together a group of German corporate sponsors who were trying to break into the lucrative US market. The main sponsors were (1) Robert Bosch GMbH, manufacturer of automotive components and 100% owners of Blaupunkt, car audio and radio specialists; (2) Hugh Boss AG, recently re-formed under the leadership of Eugen Holy, relative of the founder Hugo Boss who had been banned from business for being a Nazi sympathiser and supplying the SS with uniforms; and (3) Warsteiner beer, brewers from the Warstein area keen to differentiate themselves from Jaegermeister, who predominantly advertised in motor sport. Unfortunately upon arrival at the air races at Sky Ranch airfield, Spanish Springs Nevada Jorgen was informed that the Me109 would not meet the requirements of any race category. However public pressure on the day resulted in a new category, 'Airscrew Open', being created. Pics Plenty of them, turned out pretty good. Originally was going to cover it is purple aluminium cooking foil, you could say that experiment was a disaster so I fell back on Humbrol Gloss Purple. Thanks for looking. Ciao

Gorgeous. Always have liked the tweet, excellent finish to your model.

Hello everyone, bit of an update on the Bisley construction. I'm using the old Airfix Blenheim kit - what a dog - and have managed to make some progress. The 109 is nearly buttoned up so should be onto this one next week in a bigger way. Three photos of general arrangement of main components shows her held together with BluTac and sticky tape. Ciao

Really looking good. Some of the South American schemes are very cool indeed.

Thanks for the comments guys. Well, the 1/48 kit has been in the back of my mind for a while now ...

Another one in progress, coming along slowly. Backstory so far and a few pix. I have started this at another forum and, in my ignorance, forgot to post it here. My apologies. This brings it up to date . . . Backstory. Part One It is late 1935 and at Bristol Aircraft's headquarters. A meeting between Sir John Allingham (Bristol's chairman), Frank Barnwell (Bristol's Chief Designer) and David Godfrey of MI6 has been underway for an hour in the company boardroom. "... so that is the issue in a nutshell gentlemen," David emphasised, leaning forwards. "we have to be seen to support the Finns in their resistance to the Bolshies, however we believe, and believe quite strongly, that within a few years the Germans will enter a war against Russia making the Finns and the Germans allies by default. Public opinion now will not allow any other position than wholehearted support for Finland and, when we will find ourselves at war with Germany which is inevitable despite Mr Chamberlains assurances, public opinion will allow no other position than opposition to Germany and her allies." He leaned back, the furrow on his brow turning into a ditch. "The possible impact of placing an advanced aeroplane into the hands of our future enemy, together with the means of advanced production, are incalculable. Which means that your current negotiations leave us in some what of a pickle I'd say." Sir John shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Yes, well, we had Whitehalls approval so negotiations for Finland's license production of the Blenheim are about to start in earnest. It's no secret, in fact the opposite, it has been some what bandied about freely by the press. To pull out now ..." "... would be a diplomatic and public relations issue of the worst kind" continued David, "yet it is something that I fear cannot be avoided. I am sure some measure to address the lost revenue could be made, but the loss of public goodwill towards to your company may be considerable." Frank Barnwell had kept quiet throughout the whole conversation, but now taking the cigarette from his mouth gently cut in. "You know, I believe there is an alternative, a tricky one but a neater solution. What if we gave them a red herring, a bit of a spanner in their works?" "As in wrong specifications, mismatched tolerances perhaps?" "No," Frank continued, "the Finns are too smart for that, my experience is that they make the Swiss look positively slack in comparison, they'd find and fix the problem in a jiffy and think nothing of it. What we need is a complete dud dressed up as a winner, something that will soak up their resources and time. If the future goes as Mr Godfrey suggests they will have nothing but pain and trouble for the effort; if things don't, then we can simply stand back and beg a complete mix up here. I have an idea and in fact the perfect man and team to carry it out. Gentlemen, if I may elaborate, what I am suggesting is that we take the current Mk I plans and ..." Half an hour later he concluded " ... wasted at least 6 months in tooling up, not to mention parts and resources. Given a contract date of mid to late 1936 it should see them still with nothing to show by 1938 or 1939 for their trouble." Sir John, smiling now for the first time that day, turned to David "Well, we are agreed, are you ready to play your part? If so, let's have him Frank, if you are sure he is right." "Oh quite Sir John, quite sure. He is headstrong and single minded, filled with dreams of improbable machines and techniques. He's perfect alright, so perfect I've had to keep him designing toilet seats and heaters so he won't do too much damage. Waste of talent in fact, but so much the better for us." Ten minutes later, after a summons from Sir John's secretary, a very worried looking George Rutan stood the boardroom, gazing quietly at the three men already seated. He felt sure that this was it, his marching orders. Ah well he thought, I can fall back on my dentistry and emigrate to America with Irene and make a start on that family she has always wanted. Frank stood up and, to George's surprise, greeted him warmly, making the introductions. "This is Sir John Allingham as I am sure you are aware, and this" indicating David who stood to shake George's hand, "is Wing Commander Godfrey of the Royal Air Force Experimental Unit at Boscombe Down. I have asked you here as there is a special job that needs doing and we believe it will be right up your alley. Wing Commander Godfrey will explain." "Yes, well" David started, "as you know Europe is in a bit of a mess right now and we've been gearing up to meet whatever threat may emerge, ramping up military production, home defences and all that. All of which is grand but we don't have unlimited resources so we have had to make choices, picking out what to go on with, what to wait for, what to cast aside. Up until now alot of ideas from the bright boys and girls have had to be put aside, too risky to put all ones eggs in new baskets what, and go with what we know can work rather than what we hope could. Now as luck would have it my unit was formed recently specifically to go after the risky ideas, the ones that might never see the light of day, specifically ... " "... specifically" cut in Sir John, "those aircraft designs that are very advanced, riskily advanced perhaps, with new ideas, new techniques ..." " ... new approaches" continued David, "things that perhaps only might exist on paper or in someones mind. What we do is take those designs and build them ourselves, in my unit, to see what actually works and what doesn't. It saves the resources of the companies, like Bristol Aircraft, to concentrate on rearmament while we get on with the job at hand. The reason I am here today, now, is to have this company design the most advanced Blenheim possible and deliver those plans to me. Your superiors tell me that you may be the man for the job. What do you think?" An hour later a still nonplussed but elated George Rutan hurried out of the boardroom to start work. Four months was not long, but it was possible. Finally a chance to put his talents to the task he thought, to get it all out and done. If they want advanced, then advanced they would surely get. Once the door was closed, David turned to face Frank. "Do you think he bought it?" "Absolutely" he replied, "I expect he will be here all day seven days a week until it is done. You'll have your design, and we will have something quite other than expected to give our friends in Helsinki. Are you sure they will accept the change from the Blenheim to the new project?" "I have no doubts they will, in fact I think they will jump at the chance. They fancy themselves against the Russians but they know they will need every advantage, so I don't forsee any issues there." "Good, then it's all in motion and we can get on with the real effort" Sir John concluded. "And Frank, can you give this project an allocation number and a name, what are we up to now?" he mused, leafing through a thin bound volume, "ah, yes, I think Brickbat is somewhat too obvious, we will use the next one, 'Bisley'. The Bristol Bisley. Nice ring to it, shame to use it in this way. Make sure that once the plans are completed and delivered we shift young Mr Rutan away, and preferably out of the country. Now Frank, one last thing, you are positive that this will be a worthless design? There's no chance it could actually work?" Frank Barnwell smiled broadly. "Sir John, I wouldn't be surprised if the plans themselves crashed and burned. This will be the most expensive and troublesome plant pot holder the Finns have ever made." Part Two Part Three Early March 1937 and a chill remains in the air. Admiral Sir Hugh Sinclair, Chief of MI6, sits with his back to window that overlooks St James' Park as he moves towards the end of the morning intelligence briefing with his department heads. Today it's aviation and he has the usual small group before him. Thankfully, he muses, only one item left to go and then lunch at the club and the Times. "... so this is the final item" Sir Hugh intoned, addressing himself to David Godfrey "and of some interest to you David I would think. Our friends at the Air Ministry have given me two small pieces of information, one of which is purely a small tidbit, the other requiring some small effort on our part. So to the first." Sir Hugh placed a half dozen photographs, each the size of a small holiday snap, on the table in front of him and absent mindedly started to rearrange them. "It seems that one of the Ministry's men took his family on a trip to Norway the other month, a bit of hiking and hunting what, and they ended up on a rock, now what was it called ..." turning one photo over and reading from the back "... ah yes, Pulpit Rock, that's it, anyway he apparently climbed up a little higher to take a snap of the family when he got a jolly surprise indeed. Apparently an aeroplane flew around the rock, down into the fjord and away. Not too unusual you'd say but their man stated quite strongly that it was wearing swastikas, made only a whistling noise as it approached, was doing a speed he judged in excess of that of our Hurricanes and, if you can credit it, was flying backwards!" The last remark brough gentle laughter from everyone present, but even as he laughed David had a small knot forming in his stomach. After the room had quietened Sir Hugh continued. "Now the Ministry's man did actually get a photo of this aeroplane, hurriedly taken I'd say, and their boffins assure us that what we have here is a new model Dornier 17 in some very, very effective camouflage. They have been good enough to provide some copies of their man's photograph" he continued as he distributed the same, "so lets take it on notice and file it away. Now to the second item of business which is particularly in your area David ..." At this point David's knot had been replaced by a sinking feeling. Blurred, not really a great angle, but definitely identifiable. This was not good, not good at all. He looked up, ashen faced, and managed to catch the end of Sir John's second item. " ... so they have asked to fly one of their squadrons in this year's Hendon Air Pageant, an unusual request but one that the Ministry has granted, on my advice. You will all agree we need to keep our friends close and our potential adversaries closer? Yes, so, we need to do the usual checks on who's coming over, how long, who they are really working for, all that, prior to May 15. After all, they have bought our Bulldog and our engines are being made there so we have some ties. It's your ticket David, have Peter help you with the domestic arrangements and see young Trevor in the Air Ministry as liaison. The squadron will fly in from Tampere directly, apparently, about 1,120 miles if the briefing paper is right. Well that's all gentlemen, carry on." The department heads filed out, David at the rear still clutching the photograph hard, when Sir Hugh voiced up again. "I say, David, you will need to check out what they are really up to with this Hendon request ..." sliding over the briefing paper across his desk, "they don't actually ask for landing rights as far as I can see. I wonder where the blighters will be refuelling?" David took the briefing and, wrapping it around the photograph, headed out of Sir Hugh's office. He stopped and gave a slight backwards glance. "I'm afraid that they won't need to refuel". ... BACKSTORY TO BE CONTINUED Work in progress pic: Basis of model is the 1/72 Airfix Bristol Blenheim, an F89 tailplane from the box of doom, 4 * 1/72 Academy B-17F airscrews, styrene tube and sheet, gobs of Tamiya white putty and Milliput, plus (in the mail and not shown) some Finn decals. Thanks guys, more to come.

Thanks for the comments guys, I enjoyed this little build quite a bit. Finally got one finished!

11 November 1919, Saint-Inglevert Airfield Pas-De-Calais, 1130 hrs. Standing at the end of the flightline Baron von Richthofen takes a long draft from a bottle of Courvoisier Cognac, passing the near empty bottle to Herr Thelen who is seated on the ground, pulling furiously on a pipe. In the distance the surviving members of JGD1 can be seen cavorting with a variety of local farm animals, being led by a rather rotund figure dressed in a pair of rubber overalls and tiara. Von Richtofen sighs heavily moving his gaze away from the gigglling Goering, there apparently being some things even Sigmund Freud could not cure. " ... and again, Herr Thulen, I am grateful" he continued, "for the craft you gave me and of which I still understand too little. You see it still wears the old markings in which you had delivered it, plus some 'artwork' from my Russian mechanic. A wonderful piece of machinery, although it has been not without its disadvantage." "Being?" "It took away the sport, the joust. It changed my war from being a match of skill to, well, simply murder. No-one could touch me, no-one could stand. From 80 to 470 it has taken me, of which the last 390 did not put a single round in it, nor even a glance. Did you know" he grinned mirthlessly, "that in April this year the English placed a bounty on my head of £5,000? It is on your head that should have been placed, you turned the battle with your machine." "I disagree" Herr Thulen countered. "no-one would have seen the counter revlution in Russia and their alliance with us, nor of the withdrawal of the United States after Mexico re-took Texas, nor of our own political developments. Once we won Paris the French simply lost heart, and without the French the British had to sue. Ah, look" pointing at a truck and trailer slowly edging its way across the field, "they come to take your mount to the Victory Museum in Berlin." "Ja, but I wish they had let me at least give it a wash first." ***** Ok, the AklbaFalc is finished, last for the year. Pics following. Have a safe and festive New Year everyone.

A bit more progress, nearly ready to get it all together, here she is in semi-kit form. Finished photo (and part II of the backstory) to come. Ciao

Hello all A little progress but no pic as yet. So in the interim here is part one of the backstory. ***** 21 April, 1918 Harbonnieres 2130 hrs. Outside the mess hall the pilots of JGD1 gather in a quiet circle, huddled around a small table drinking schnapps through straws from a pair of red stilettos. Their leader, Baron von Richthofen, has failed to return from a patrol, the air is depressed and, to the rear, Herr Thelen from the Albatros Werke sits uncomfortably. 'A wasted trip' he thinks, not knowing to whom his prize will now be given with the Baron's loss. Suddenly through the gloom at the aerodrome gates an open topped Mercedes speeds, comes to halt outside the mess from which, covered in mud and chicken feathers and holding a half empty bottle of Moet, jumps the Red Baron himself. 'Ja mein schnitzel wafflers' he chortles, 'dead I am not yet! You are not too sorry to see me I hope? I trust you have not already stolen my bed and unit' he growls at a visibly darkening Udet. 'As if the girlie boy tommies could get to me' he grinned, taking a swig, lowering himself into a vacated chair (and watching Goering slide onto a bench between Leuts. von Dosteler and von Adam), 'the kangaroo types on the ground were too drunk to shoot straight and the Canadians in the air were too worried about translating their warnings into politically acceptable French! Ha! Two rounds into my machine, I was fortunate I had this on the seat at the time' he said, holding the March edition of Fliegende Festung der Jungfrauen above his head, the thick glossy being punctured by one small, neat hole. 'One through the crankcase which bought me down, and one in here that has disrupted my hemorrhoids again! I fell from low level into no man's land, crawled out and fell into a foxhole hiding a chicken coop. No injury, but my machine landed on a short ugly corporal with the most stupid moustache, dead as a door nail I would be making him. His commanding officer gave me a car and a case of this for the favour and here I am!' After the applause had died down, he leaned towards Udet. 'Here Ernst, you can use this better now' flipping the Fliegende Festung der Jungfrauen at him, 'The hole went straight through Fraulein March, it's only a .303 so maybe it's small enough for you.' Turning around, the Baron looked at the small, stooped, man cradling a mug of cocoa towards the rear of the crowd. 'Herr Thelen' he cried, arms open, 'how good to see you. Have you bought me a new machine to replace my Tripe?' 'Well, I have indeed, you see ... ' he began, to be cut off by Goering. 'Herr Rittmeister' he cried, 'it is a machine unlike any other, too dangerous, too strange, too ...' 'Too good probably' the Baron cut in, 'and you need to cut back on those damned pain killers Hermann, you're becoming rather erratic' he continued, taking the sabre and ping pong bat from Goering's hands and placing them, with the tutu and wooden life size penguin, on the ground at Goering's feet. 'And don't get any ideas Udet' he cried throwing the empty Moet bottle in a perfect parabola that landed just behind the cowering object of his derision, 'I wouldn't trust you to order the pretzels at Oktoberfest'. 'What' he asked a now more relaxed Herr Thelen, 'is my new machine like?' 'Why Herr Rittmeister' he replied with gleaming eyes and awed tone, 'it is RED!' 'Wunderbar' the Red Baron gushed, 'wunderbar' TO BE CONTINUED .... *****

Hello all This is the Convair B-58H, together with its ALCM-666 Hypersonic cruise missile. Just wanted to give the B-58A more range and a longer stance. Its in 1/144 scale from the Academy kit, I'm not a fan of this scale. I've an Italieri 1/48 in the stash, and maybe just maybe .... All said and done I'm pretty happy with it, quick final build to get back into the swing of things. Ciao

Hello Everyone While Im waiting for the decals to dry on B-58H and the racing decals for the 109 to arrive, this is what I have started on: Should be a different diversion, a quick one. Guess Im a bit cheesed I missed a few WWI GBs. Ciao

Didn't the RA5 Vigilante have a tall and folding fin? Should not be a problem I'd think.

Very nice indeed! Looks the part.

Looks like an interesting build. How you going with it?

Choice! Looks a natural. Love the base / stand too.

Thanks for the comments everyone! Charlie, it's all 1/72.

Hello Everyone I've been away and out of it for yonks, back now with a little progress as follows. I've finished the F16-Mig29 hybrid drone as below. Hand painted and in Danish markings. The two kits were part of the now infamous 'Toll house moving disaster" of 2011. Anyhow, back story is simply a cash strapped Danish govt wonders what to do with time expired F16s, meets with the Germans who have the same issue with Mig29s, and presto - a bit of bog filla and sandpaper and this is the result. Next up I'll have the B58H done (not far away) and then the 109 Reno racer. Ciao

Oh thats nice, 10/10 on that one sir! Did you re-engrave the panel lines with a circular saw to get that 'authentic Matchbox' feel

Hello everyone, I've been a bit neglectful by not posting here for a while, so here's my current SF build. It is a Mars Exploration Vehilce based on a 1/48 LAV Pirahna chassis. I'm getting close to the point where I can close her up. First block of photos shows the bare shell, undersides and then the shell with the legs (or at least 3 thereof) attached: Next block of photos shows where I'm up to now with the control cabin partly completed and some more interior detail on the way. As usual any comments, thoughts or suggestions more than welcomed. Thanks for looking, more posts as it progresses.

Its a hobby and should be fun, and after 36 years its good. I think my 10th or so model after my comeback I actually glued the wings on upside down and back to front. Yours looks like an F5 and thats all that matters, Looking forward to seeing more of you builds in the future!

Gorgeous! First shot had me fooled, could have sworn it was a reference photo.

Nice build, you should not have hesitated to post it!

Lovely build indeed, not many of these are done. Ciao