Stu

Quite taken with Airfix's Vampire,could easily be my "Desert Island" model. Give me a crate full and I'd be quite happy. Had done one with Xtradecal but used the Matterhorn Circle sheet for this attempt. To be honest didn't get on too well with them, probably me but this was the first time I'd used decals by Fantasy Printshop. Whatever the sheet has obviously been well researched. The Hunter is Revells and effectively OOB. Somewhat shocked by the Modelzone £7.99 reduced to £4.99 price tag. Prices like that have long disappeared into life's rear view mirror along with my hair and waistline.. :-( Swiss AF Hunters seem to have undergone some distinctive mods over their life so I used a couple of pics to try and get things right. It's a pity this kit isn't still widely available so hopefully Airfix will step up with one soon. Used Gunze paint for the first time on the Hunter, rather nice :-) Stu

Got one of these half done and now back on the shelf so appreciate the effort that went into this. Agree it's nice to see an early version. Well done. Stu

Thank you to all who have commented/tagged on my efforts. Luis, the colours are Tamiya Flat Earth/RAF Dk Green/Chrome silver. No idea if they're particularly accurate but they look right(ish). There an interesting discussion on here, which typically I can't now, find on Rhodesian Hunter colours. Worth a read if you haven't and making me consider one as a future project. Credit where it's due Jay :-) Stu

Not so much shelf of doom as fallen down the back of the stash this one. I was very taken with Jay's excellent rendition of a T11 in Rhodesian markings ( http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235001447-172-airfix-vampire-t11-rhodesian-air-force-circa-1973/) and rather co-incidentally just happened on a book on the Vampire in the local library. Well one thing led to another so I dug out my largely used Xtradecal Overseas Vampires sheet and went in search of the kit eventually found down the back of the stash box. As a kit it's largely vice free and goes together quickly though the cockpit repays any extra effort as Jay's build shows particularly if you open the canopy. My build is rather more pedestrian but I did do a bit of work on the interior. One reason for doing a RRAF one is that camouflaged trainers are a bit sparse and having done a Chilean one (and evidently not posted any photos) thought another would look good. Also the Rhodesian Assegai scheme looks a tad 40's and I think suits the plane. Enough waffle, here's the photos down to my usual standard. Stu

Excellent work Jay, puts my half done effort to shame. Can I ask if you used the kits seats ? Stu

Excellent work, that's come out exceptionally well. Will you do an ex Marineflieger 101 Seahawk to go with it ? Some pics of the T55 and Ka-28 would be nice. Stu

Can't find this anywhere else but Bachmann, more known for their model railway side, have taken over Pocketbond. Link - http://www.bachmann.co.uk/details.php?id=388 Pocketbond were distributors for quite a range http://www.pocketbond.co.uk/BrandMenu.aspx Being interesting to see where this goes. Stu

On a seperate note wonder if well see usaf forces return to Keflavik We've never completely gone away https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icelandic_Air_Policing At least this gap's now going to be (partially ?) plugged Stu

Hi, Thanks to all who have commented or "liked" my post. Martin I'm relieved it wasn't just me having problems with those windows. I did wonder if I'd had one too many medicinal Scotches. A easy build ? Yes, I would say so apart from the previously mentioned bits. I'm mildly surprised there haven't been more of them on here. Thanks again, Stu

Hi, My effort with the new Airfix He-111. Something of a bodge in a few areas such as the camouflage. There are places when I zigged when I should have zagged. My rather feeble excuse is that I built this whilst recovering from a bit of day surgery and a tad zonked at times. I found it a largely trouble free build. The wheel wells are multipart and need a bit of care as they determine how well the engines fit, some fettling needed there. The fuselage windows were a bit of a pain and seemed to fit badly requiring a deal of sanding and polishing. That might well have been me though if I was doing another Id fit these first before doing anything else. Having done my own masking on the Do-17 decided to get some masks and got a set of Pmasks. These are vinyl and fit pretty well. I did find that they stuck like the proverbial and needed care when removing. Biggest problem was the adhesive the left on the glazing which was a pain to get off. A couple of pics to my usual dodgy quality (Santa, are you listening?) but I enjoyed this and it kept me occupied when I couldnt do much else. Cheers Stu Edited to sort out Photobucket.....

Thought it was obvious, it's going to be a Perseid Meteor ! Stu Getting coat.......

Thanks to everyone for their comments and "likes", much appreciated. Now I've got to decide what to do next, Fortress or Sabre - decisions, decisions.....? Stu

Nice of Mr Airfix to do an AV-8A boxing of the Harrier complete with Spanish Navy option. Makes a change from the usual schemes. Not much I can add to what's already been said regarding the kit and build so a few pics Cheers Stu

Thank you for the comments. I think the last Lanc I built was probably back in the 60's but doing this one has got me thinking about other "heavies" I could do. Cheers Stu

Built OOB I did make it so the wings were built separately. I think it was someone on here who suggested removing the wheel well bulkheads from the spars. Worked fine and made the build and painting a good deal easier. Only gripe is the canopy side inserts which were a pain and my efforts don't really bear close inspection. Should have picked something with a bit more contrast to photo it on..... Stu

Well done Dick, very much worth the hassle and effort expended. (I've seen them, they do look good) Take the weekend off as reward........!!!! Stu

A Dakota was never very high on my wants list but some were going for a very modest price at the recent Hornby Visitor Centre sale and the inevitable happened. I installed the doors and windows before closing up the fuselage. Being able to get at the inside made these easier plus the cockpit side windows are a very tight fit. Never had any intention of doing much to the cabin bits other than a coat of paint but did some work on cockpit which is now largely hidden. Only other comment is if you do a ski fitted one, be careful, they fall off if you as much as look at them…… Kit decals used for the polar markings MATS one, they worked very well even they took some work to get settled. The scheme is pretty basic, personally think they should have done “Tropical Tilly”, the C-47 in “The Thing From Another World”, the original 1951 movie (and still the best IMHO) As usual apologies for the dodgy pics. Stu

bravo Stew, exemplary work. They're both looking very good. The Airfix instructions are evidently correct. Perhaps they'll do a special Dummies version for me Stu

You guys sit on the edge of your seats if you want to. I'm going to hide behind the sofa for this bit... Stu

Stew, little to say except the obvious, excellent and informative progress so far. Your pics will be far more use to anyone else doing one than my witterings were. Will keep tabs on progress and look forward to the result(s). To anyone inspired by your work this might be of interest - no connection - http://www.hobb-e-mail.com/airfix-50170-new.html Stu

Having an ongoing struggle with Revell's 72nd one what's the interior like ? Very nice, a build you should be pleased with. Stu

Having had a close look I can say it's beautifully done, impeccable finish and looks really impressive. Stu

Other than the cockpit issues you mentioned, I assume the fit of the kit is very good Apart from taking your time with the engines largely yes, no filler needed and I used the kit decals which worked well though the swastikas came out the spares box. My one bright (!) idea was regarding canopy masking. I doubt Airfix will go down the Eduard road and include it but a template on the instruction sheet could be useful, just a thought. Thanks again to all who have commented/liked. Now I’ve had a chance to live with it for a bit I’m now rather more positive about the outcome. I did build it for a reason other than I like the aircraft. The gent in the picture is my dad who sadly died last year. In 1940 he was a young railway fireman at Weymouth. He remembers watching the sinking of the Foylebank, described in one word – horrible. Anyhow the Portland branch is one of the routes he worked on and in autumn 1940 he was firing a goods train over to Portland when the air raid siren went off. In the early days of the war the procedure was for all trains to stop. As they were in a somewhat exposed bit of track his driver, a one legged WW1 veteran known as “ ‘ave it off” Watkins said stuff this for a game of soldiers (or at least something to that effect!) and they stormed back up the line to the relative safety of a cutting near Rodwell at an impressive 15 mph. When the all clear sounded they got permission to proceed and off they went toward Portland. Half way across the causeway they noticed a plane flying fast and low across Portland harbour and the AA starting up. Looking around and back down the train he saw another coming straight for them. A “Flying Pencil” came down the length of the train and to their surprise never fired a shot, keen to get home he reckoned. He did catch a brief glimpse of the ventral gunner and evidently gave him the vees up. It was only later they remembered that 6 wagons were loaded with ammo for the naval base. I’ll do an He111 when it comes out but that’s another story. Stu

Interesting comment Martin. Prior to this I'd been trying to wrangle Revell's 72nd Ju-88 into some sort of shape. Gather that model is a scaledown of their 32nd one. The similarities with the interior detail on both are plain. There you go Airfix, over to you......... Thanks to all who have commented/liked. Stu

Thank you to everyone who's commented or hit the like button. BerndM, I am a bit surprised mine is the first, assume they're taking their time and doing a quality job. Tried a few more shots, they might be a bit better. There's some touching up I need to do and will do the aerial wire black as it's a bit too obvious. Thanks Stu