Johnson

I’m a bit anxious about that Adrian. And I think I’ll need to restore some of the panels that I so carefully removed.

Hi Pat, Excellent! It looks like it was a good kit. I’ll be interested to see what you have. Cheers, Charlie

Not sure yet. If it looks good then I’ll want to make some improvements!

The hosts have kindly allowed me to restore my 50 year old FROG English Electric Lightning F.6 (built as an F.2A) recently rescued from the 'Box of Doom'. I wasn't sure whether it was a FROG till I stripped off the paint. The parts breakdown clearly shows it to be a FROG, also sold under the Hasegawa brand name, and of course later Novo. All the main parts are still there. The canopy needs a bit of work, grubby fingers covered in polystyrene cement have left their marks. I intend to rebuild it as an F.2A and this time in natural metal. Thanks for looking, Charlie

Thanks Jeff. I seem to be getting carried away with this build. As usual! But pleased with the work so far. Thanks Dave. I'll follow the 4+ plan for the HAS.1 until a definitive photo of an HAS.1 with a solid top front panel comes up. I can always paint it later. Cheers, Charlie

Hi folks, Progress from the weekend. Before painting (anything to put it off! ) I wanted to make the various bits of equipment that were attached to the outside of the Wessex. A winch above the door. A complicated little affair at 1/72. I used the 4+ plans as a template to make the frame; Held in place with blue tack at the moment just to see if it fits and if the pilot's door (window?) can still be opened. The winch gear is my best guess from the plans and photos. If I glue it on now it's bound to get knocked off so I'll leave it until the paint and decals are on, when it will get the winch hook and some cables. On the port side of the fuselage I've added some trunking and the EMRU light carrier (anyone know what ERMU means? Google didn't help) to hold the Mk.44 torpedo The EMRU cover was smash moulded; Lastly, a centre control panel for the cockpit roof. Does anyone know if both centre panels in the roof of a HAS.1 were solid? The 4+ plan shows just the rear one solid and the front panel clear. But in a photo of a HAS.3 they're both solid. Low res part plan and photo for discussion purposes. Will be removed if requested Cheers, Charlie

Hi Pat and Dave, Having stripped most of the paint from my wreck of a Lightning, I have no doubt that it's a FROG/Hasegawa/Novo Lightning F.6, kit number F266. I'm going to restore it, and I'd like to do it as part of the FROG GB. BUT! Is it eligible? Whether it's 25% built is a bit debatable. And do the hosts agree it is a FROG/Hasegawa/Novo Lightning F.6, F266. What do you think Pat and Dave? @JOCKNEY @Rabbit Leader Cheers, Charlie

Some excellent and innovative (to me anyway) scratch building work and plunge moulding. I'm taking notes! This is an interesting build for me as my great uncle flew Wapatis in the Middle East during one of our conflicts in the 1930s. They would fly over a village before they dropped bombs to give the inhabitants warning give them time to get out. Cheers, Charlie

So long ago Jeff I really can't remember. But the more I look at it the more convinced I am that it must have been FROG/Hasegawa F6. The cannon holes in front of the cockpit are fairly crude indicating a mod by me, and there are the outlines of filled holes in the tops of the wings for the F6 ferry tanks. I'm going to strip the paint off later which may reveal more detail. Cheers Charlie

That looks great Roger. The underside photo with the cookie is particularly striking. What an amazing aircraft to carry that load all the way to Berlin. And very nicely represented by your build. Cheers, Charlie

Hi Jeff, It could be, but the parts breakdown (wing construction and 2 piece canopy) are more Hasegawa/FROG. Cheers, Charlie

Impressive beast! Look at those props!!! Well done Simon, you won in the end! Charlie

Hi Froggers This may not be relevant to the FROG GB, but I'm hoping that the multitude (plague?) of assembled frogs here may be able to help identify this wreck extracted yesterday from the 'Box of Doom', that I'm planning to restore... An EE Lightning F.2A XN730 "J" 92 Sqn, Gutersloh, RAF Germany 1973. XN730. Assembled by yours truly in the 1970s with Modeldecal (set 23) decals. The parts breakdown is the same as the 1967 Hasegawa F6 reboxed in 1968 by FROG. But mine is clearly an F.2A. I suspect that if it is a FROG, it may not pass the GB 'less than 25%' rule, though by the time I've stripped the paint etc., it might qualify. But is it a FROG? Any help much appreciated! Charlie 🐸

Hi BOBO, I have this kit lurking in my stash for similar reasons. Looks pretty good from your build! Hope your leg recovers quickly. Cheers, Charlie

Looks very good Dave. I like the sticker idea, what did you use?

Excellent progress Simon. Nearly there! Cheers, Charlie

Glad it's worked out Simon. Looks great now she's finished! Life would be boring without a bit of drama (but one can have too much!) Charlie

Looks like some very good progress Rob, good work on the u/c and yes, it's a bit fiddly! Sorry you had problems with the port wing. Most odd and I can't help as I built mine 50 years ago! The dihedral is about right on mine (after I bent the ends of the wings up using hot water). I found similar problems checking the length and like you concluded it was probably OK. Everything I've read about this kit says it was pretty good, no complaints about the dimensions AFAIR. Just a bit basic, as one might expect for the age. Cheers, Charlie

Great work Simon! Nearly there. Cheers, Charlie

Great result Chris! She looks great. Charlie

Your Gloster jet looks superb! Great build! Looks very good, great view of the cockpit. I think I'd better get one. Cheers, Charlie

Hi Mossies, We're over the first hurdle (30 names) and now in the bun fight! There are some strong contenders for STGBs in 2025 and as of today 3 entries with 33 names! Keep watching (and put your name down if you haven't already), lots of time to go. Cheers, Charlie

Thanks Richard!

A marvellous build Adrian, absolutely lovely. Charlie

Thanks Pete. I think I built this kit many, many years ago staying with my Grandmother in Devon when on school holiday. Of course then it was built in a day (maybe 2, if we went to the seaside at Exmouth ). I thought it looked great with the big 4-bladed rotor. Cheers Chris. edging closer to some paint (and therefore getting nervous!). Charlie