Angell328

As AMB has said, for making up tail numbers not included in the box just use a RAF Numerals and Letters set. For the fleet I am building up I use Xtradecal sheet X72157. Just finishing No.10, only another 12 to go.......currently! 😂

Wow, Thank you all so much for your kind comments 😊 Yes this was most definitly a quick build, I was fortunate enough to have 2 weeks leave booked in when the Anson arrived on my doorstep, so I made the most of that. I averaged about 12 hours a day on the old girl with a small break on Thursday when I realised I have run out of matt varnish, doh! I have been chatting to a friend who is also building the Anson and he has reported back a similar issue with one side on each undercarriage nacelle not lining up properly and leaving a step that needs sanding back, so something to watch out for. Again thank you for your feedback, has made me a very happy chap! Matt

Thank you 🙂 I used GX100 for the gloss coats and GX114 for the flat coat. They are such nice varnishes to use. Matt

Hello Everybody, I have been eagerly awaiting Airfix's Anson and have been throughly rewarded for my wait. Just so happened that as the kit arrived I started a bit of leave, so all other kits have been put on standby and the Anson has had my full attention, hence going from box to finished in less than a week!! Built from the box and painted using Mr color, Tamiya and AK paints, Mr color GX range of varnishes and gently weathered with oils. An almost painless build, some serious thought has gone into the internal engineering of the framework which shows in the ease of build. I had some isues with the undercarriage nacelles aligning up square, but I think that was modeller induced error, I shall just have to build another to find out 😁 The glazing is some of the nicest I have come across for a long while, thin, clear, friction fit and flexible. Well onto the pictures, hope you enjoy those half as much as I did building her. Matt

Oh that is just amazing! 179 and some Tooms, thank you for sharing, put big smile on my face. Matt

1.72 scale you say?!!!! Ok, that's it.....I'm packing my tools away.....I have seen perfection in miniture! 😮 Amazing work and a fitting tribute. Matt

The dedication you have put into this build just shines through from every angle, stunning Sir, simply stunning. Matt

Very kind of you to say. I was on guard duty when we got the notification through about 179, soon had the gate ready for what seemed like every reporter in the world turning up! Miss the boys still. Matt

Thank you very much, yes the eduard parts are a game changer for the back end. Nice to see another herc vet building the old girls up, I look forward to seeing your fleet take shape. If the lads at work didn't know how much I enjoyed sticking plastic together I don't think I would have been inudated with build requests 🤣 a case of making a rod for my own back I feel! Yes I wonder what will happen in the future with TAC airlift, time will tell I am sure. Matt

Not moved a Helicopter yet, lots of armour, vehicles, random palleted loads, air dispatched boats and self loading freight 😁 They normally chuck the Heli's in the C17's, no complaints here! My build No.8 is going to be a full CDS fit, that is going to be a fun few days of scratch building 🥴 Thinking of having a landrover in my build, bring my two interests together. Matt

Sounds like you will have a fun build on your hands for the load not just the Herc! A load like that will help disguise the fact the interior walls are a little bit sparse in detail out of the box, looking forward to seeing your project progressing. Matt

Thank you kindly. Without getting too political I think the Herc will be missed in the short term due to how we operate. The A400 isn't a Herc replacement as such, it will be able to do a lot of what we can do, but not everything. So the way we operate tactical transport will have to change to reflect that. We have many A400's, I think 20 at last count, but they are having teething troubles which makes operating the entire fleet right now unfeasible. Personally I don't want the old girl to go, I still think there is a solid place for Hercules operation in the wider plan, plus on a selfish note I am a one trick pony and the RAF is taking my trick away!! 😆 Matt

Thank you, they really are a labour of love, much like the real ones! Unfortunatly the chaff and flare dispensers in the Zvezda kit are of the J type, so I had to scratch build the K dispensers from plasticard with a milliput skin sanded to shape. Yes we still have SKE which is used fairly often, just not in the big 12 ship formations of days past. Matt

Thanks Chap! Yes the Zvezda Hercules kits are wonderful, few little areas to concentrate on that I have found are common across them all. The fuselage halves seem to curl in along the mating edges, more noticable along the lower edge. My guess is the plastic constricts on removal from the mould. Gluing a few inches at a time with clamps seems to help, but I expect there will still be filler required on the underside. Talking filler, where the forward undercarriage blisters attach on the underside there is a sizeable step that will require filling and contour sanding. The forward individual cockpit windows are best fitted before the fuselage halves are joined together as you may need to remove the lip that is supposed to support the window glass, but actually stops them from sitting flush with the fuselage skin. I have found the best way is to remove the lip, sand the edges of the glass for a snug fit (if required) and then support from both sides as you glue. If you are having the ramp open then a strip of thick plasticard glued under the ramp floor to cargo bay floor is a wise choice to stop it parting company from the airframe from the slightest knock, the butt joint area is very small!! Enjoy the build, even with these little niggles it is still the best 72nd Herc out the box. Matt

Beautiful build! That rigging is top draw 😮 Matt

Cant rate the eduard cargo bay parts highly enough. Not sure you would see much of the flight deck set, but if you are having an open ramp then an essential! Matt

After 22 years working on the old girls they are in my blood now! You may have to join the queue, curently at 14 in the pile, not including my own!! 😮

I think it is some form of illness or addiction! 🤣 I have tried to do something a bit different on each build, so that helps break down the sameness a fair bit. There are some interesting interior builds coming up on the pile, some I am already regretting agreeing too, that will sure break the monotony🥴🤣 Many Thanks, have been having fun trying to perfect the faded patchwork effect Albert has. Matt

Many Thanks 🙂 I have an old airfix kit that I was thinking about doing as a chocolate bomber. I think the older kit will suit the classic scheme, especially with Land Rover and Bloodhound missile parked up next to her. Matt

Oh what an amazing line up! I have yet to find an aircraft that doesn't look good in Grey/Green wrap around, it is the 80's RAF in a nutshell. Superb! Matt

Hi All! Been a bit quiet of late as work has kept me from the desk for half the year so far. When I have been able to get some time at the desk I have been building up a fair few of Zvezda's C130J-30 and C130K for the lads and lasses at work. With the Herc's time drawing to a close in the RAF a lot of friends and colleagues have wanted a reminder of our time on the Fabulous Fighting Freighter or Carbon Fibre Cargo Provider! That may get a smile from a few Timmy's veterans 😉😆 Additions to the kits come from Eduard, their cargo floor and troop seats are wonderful and really lift the cargo bay with a small amount of effort. Painted using Tamiya, AK, Mr color paints with a few homebrew mixes to create the variety of patches you see on a RAF herc. Ok, onward to the pictures of the current completed builds. No.1 ZH874 Build No.2 was a split paint job as my friend couldn't decide on which tail art to go for, so he got both! ZH880/ZH883 The 3rd Build was of ZH872 closed up. The 4th build was also of ZH872 (a popular aircraft!) but this time open with an Eduard interior. Also a scratch built tool kit and headset bag. The 5th Build is a special aircraft for many of us who have been on Herc's for a while. XV179. For this build I had to scratch build the centre seat framework, forward flare dispensers and the Dircm heads. Bringing us upto date with completed builds is No.6 ZH868. Eduard interior again for this. Also the box becomes a nice hanger for transporting the completed kits in! Hope I haven't bored you too much with Herc after Herc! So far 6 completed 1 nearing completion and another 14 in the pile 😮 Good thing I love the old girl! Thanks for viewing Matt

There is an idea, 47AD's mascot in 1/72 scale...... hmmmmm now where is that spare Dak kit!

Yes there must be some form of madness involved! I have worked on both versions of the Herc since 2000, so maybe our paths crossed in the past? You all loaded up with your kit, me looking scruffy sitting around on the pan waiting to see you off?! 🤣 I have the old airfix 70's release of the Herc with the bloodhound missle and landrover, that will have to be in chocolate bomber colours. Oh yes there are a few decent Gulf War artworks to play with as well......oh dear I think I am going to run out of display space before ideas 🤦‍♂️😆 Looking forward to seeing what comes from your model desk in 2022, all the best! Matt

Yep, had to make sure this one was super spot on! Cheers chap, lets see what the next build will be! Matt

I had noticed the Pegasus 😉 Been helping you mad lot jump out of servicable aircraft for 20 plus years now, still can't understand your fascination with it!! I am playing around with a K model and a J at them moment, making a Mk3 and a Mk5 by mixing and matching fuselages. The 47 Sqn tail is a must build, together with probably XV303. So many favorite frames to make, if I am not careful I will end up with a bigger fleet than Brize!! Matt