Spitfire31

Classy modelling indeed. Pure inspiration! Kind regards, Joachim

Absolutely stunning build and that rigging is the icing on the cake! That's two days well spent, and that is a massive understatement. Also, judging from the precision work of the rigging, I guess that you didn't translate the Russian 'winterising' method to the actual model building? ;-) Kind regards, Joachim

Impressive modelling of a beautiful prototype! In fact, it looks like a mid 'thirties racer and those underwing bombs look really out of place. Excellent job! Kind regards, Joachim

Very neat builds! IMHO, the panel lines are way over-emphasised with black wash, especially noticeable on the PR Mk XIX, which was a very clean a/c and usually kept very tidy. However, the stark effect may be partly due to the images being quite a bit under exposed. All in all, very creditable work! Kind regards, Joachim

Very neat builds, and I particularly like the Gladiator, wrong colours or not! Kind regards, Joachim

I just got a set (two sets, in fact) of Ultracast's beautiful resin five spoke Hurrican wheels, #48075. http://www.ultracast.ca/products/48/075/default.htm Recommended! Kind regards, Joachim

Very nice indeed! And I like that typical little detail of the drooped elevators. Top class finish as well. Kind regards, Joachim

Very nice looking indeed! And you've used invisible thread for the rigging, I see. Or rather, don't see… ;-) Kind regards, Joachim

I wonder if this also applies to the new AZ kit in 1/72nd… Kind regards, Joachim

Very nice build of the forerunner to the SAAB JAS 39. Of course that's stretching the pedigree of the Gripen a bit, but the fact is that the newly founded Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (SAAB) cut its teeth on aluminium monocoque construction license building the Northrop A-17/Douglas Model 8 (B 5 in the Sw AF, with B, not surprising, standing for 'bomber'). In fact, the B 5 turned out to be so sturdy that it was cleared for dive bombing – a task it was never designed for but managed with aplomb. I suppose that the winter camouflage of this excellent model indicates that it was stationed at the F 4 Wing in Ostersund. Good modelling! Kind regards, Joachim

Very nice builds indeed, and I had to check back that the scale is really 1:72. Impressive! Incidentally, how did you print the white '2' and the chevrons? Alps printer? Kind regards, Joachim

It doesn't look half bad! I think I need to revise my earlier impressions of AZ and stock up on Tigers… ;-) And the promise of high quality PEs is icing on the cake. Kind regards, Joachim

Really? A 1:48th Scottish Aviation Bulldog? That is most welcome news. I'll be looking forward to that one! Kind regards, Joachim

That's truly excellent modelling! As Enzo Matrix remarked, it could easily be mistaken for 1:48th. For me, though, the telltale spoiler is the prop blades, with not enough twist and fat tips where they should be wafer thin and razor sharp. In all, a very impressive model. Kind regards, Joachim

Beautiful model that looks just right. It has that hard to define 'real' feeling about it. Superb work, and not least on the rigging! The figure sets it off nicely, too. But it's a pity that the anatomic sculpting of of M. Navarre leaves something to be desired. You try to raise your right arm that high without also raising your shoulder, and you'll see what I mean… ;-) Fantastic modelling! Kind regards, Joachim

Very nice build! I have to get several of that kit… The blue of the crown insignia is uncharacteristically pale, otherwise the finish looks excellent. A minor niggle (directed at Airfix) concerns the mainwheel tyres, that should have a block thread pattern. But that's probably too difficult for plastic injection moulding. An accurate solution would be resin wheels from Ultracast: www.ultracast.ca/products/48/140/default.htm. Kind regards, Joachim

Thanks for the tip! A very useful walkaround for many aspects of the PR Mk XIX (including the shape of the underwing radiators). In fact, the photos are from the 'old' Swedish Air Force Museum, when the S 31 was still exhibited on its wheels. You couldn't get those pictures now… Kind regards, Joachim

While the PR Mk XIX/S 31 in the Swedish Air Force Museum is an extensively restored machine, the restoration was done by ex mechs from the F 11 wing where the S 31 served from 1948. As the photos show at http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/1998/08/stuff_eng_detail_spit19_03.htm, the head armour is fitted. I doubt that it would be, if it hadn't been originally in Swedish service. Unfortunately, the S 31 is now hanging suspended from the ceiling in the new AF Museum, so a peek into the cockpit would require some cat burglar skills. Kind regards, Joachim

Let me add a voice for the Revell Bf 109 G-10. It was the first accurate late 109 with the 'refined cowl'. There are no sepatare slats and moulding isn't quite on par with Hasegawa, of course, but neither is price. ;-) A modicum of modelling skills will produce an impressive model. There's no shortage of aftermarket detailing sets, I believe. If you're lucky, you might find Roy Sutherland's superlative Cooper Details resin cockpit set on Ebay. Kind regards, Joachim

Welcome to BM! Your models are certainly way better than my first efforts (and some of the later ones as well…). The paint brush work on the Mosquito looks very good indeed, and that monochrome scheme is a very good at showing up brush marks. As DG pointed out, there are several techniques for hiding decal film. One of the easiest is to use gloss colours for the basic paint layer, apply the decals and then spray a clear varnish on the whole model once the decals are thoroughly dry – the varnish being matt or semi-matt, depending on the final finish that you're looking for. Thick decals can be made to snuggle down with the help of various decal setting solutions, such as Micro Set and Micro Sol. There are many threads here that you can search for with different tricks for making the decals appear 'painted on'. Please show us more models as you get them done! Kind regards, Joachim

Excellent treatment of n/m finish and an interesting, unusual scheme! Kind regards, Joachim

Really nice Spitfire there! Excellent finish – all the more admirable since it's apparently brush painted. Takes some skill to get such a smooth result! A few minor niggles for next time: the cockpit hatch shouldn't hang straight down but stand out at a shallow angle, and the crowbar of WWII Spits was green or metal colour, not red… All in all, an impressive show of modelling artistry! Kind regards, Joachim

One tricky problem with the wheels, if you want to build the Swedish S 31 version, is the typical tyre block tread pattern. Luckily, there're resin replacements to be had from Ultracast: http://www.ultracast.ca/products/48/140/default.htm Four spoke hubs and the correct tyre pattern. Yay! Kind regards, Joachim

Truly beautiful Vamp! And the kit looks excellent – another must addition to the stash…;-) Kind regards, Joachim

Most excellent finishing – really convincing! Kind regards, Joachim