TheyJammedKenny!

Jerzy-Wojtek: Wonderful story and great models, too! The D520 is really an elegant machine. I had no idea you and @KRK4m were related, or that your father had accomplished so much! Did you and your brother both end up working at the local museum? Best wishes to you this season! Alex

I love it! I'm surprised these guys were still wearing leather gloves at this late date, but the mannequin confirms this, and that's the way it was then. I like how even the mannequin is posed in a "real man" fashion, moments before it comes to life and tells you how he shot down his wristwatch during the last engagement!

Here's the global view: wing and stabilizer roots puttied and sanded, engine nacelles mated, forward fuselage reshaped, sanded, and re-scribed, and the navigator's astrodome cemented in place. I also carved recesses for some of the photo-etch metal antennas to anchor them into place, and used CA glue to hold them there. It's a bit risky to do it this way, but I've done it before, with the fussy metal vortex generators on BPK's 1/72 737-200. For others that are building this kit, I present you with a crude reference for how far forward the engine nacelle's leading edge should sit relative to the fuselage. After fussing with it a bit, and getting consistent results on both sides of the airframe, I concluded that six scale feet (1") relative to the rear frame of the second window makes the most sense. It's an even measure, and probably the one the engineers themselves were happy with, although weight/balance considerations would have prevailed here, rather than looks. And here's the new nose-on view:

That's a good way of doing it, too! I think there is some allowable variation in dihedral on all aircraft, proportional to the size of the machine. Thanks, Norman! More below.

Really first-rate finish! I especially love how you've displayed it, flying over water.

Very nice! Like everyone above, I'm looking forward to seeing how this takes shape. Also love your new profile pic, of the Whirlwind taking off from RAF Scarborough! Alex

Phabulous Phantoms, @billn53! Yes, please: include the crew on the second phantom. I was wondering how you'd install the pointy things on the Fujimi kit's fin, and now I know. Drill! Alex

Impressive build! I think this will look really nice, and I expect @Moa will be very excited to see another spirit from the Golden Age of Flight.

That is really an impressive video, and highly entertaining! The Varsity's cockpit closely resembles that of a Valetta, I think. Am I mistaken in thinking that the second pilot's unoccupied seat has a view down into the bomb-aimer's window? Thanks so much for sharing. Alex

I find it delightful, personally. I think you previously "broke the mold" with the Shorts Skyvan. I love your techniques for assessing the size of internal bulkheads on the landing gear bays. Expecting the usual outstanding results--but no pressure.

Happy post-Boxing Day! It appears to me you've applied the matte coat too thickly. I'm an airbrush user, and find myself confronted with this problem from time to time, which I polish out using Novus #2 plastic polish. I then mist on the matte coat more gradually. Here's what I would do: re-varnish with clear gloss in test areas and see if that removes the fogging. If it does, then great. I would also consider using a spray can of flat fixative, applied gradually, and from a 30cm distance (remember, it's cold where you are) so that it doesn't go on too wet.

Nicely done! Very effective presentation! The HH-3 driver is really 'pouring on the coals' to keep up with the Herc.

I'm with Antti on this one. You simply cannot beat the Revell kit for affordability, especially in comparison with Modelsvit's offering. The only squawks I've heard about it are 1) the intake at the nose is a little thick and clumsy, but it can be replaced by after-market parts of your choice, 2) the tires (ditto), and 3) the shape of the canopy, which some consider a little too bulbous. I enjoyed building mine from start to finish, and used all of the kit parts except for the intake and center-body, and the AA-2 ATOLL missiles, which I replaced with those from an old Soviet weapons set. If you pose it with the canopy closed, do take the extra step of sanding off the canopy "open" lever on the left side of the fuselage near the windshield and filling in the little recess where it sits in the closed position. This is the only (minor) flaw I see in others' builds.

50 Meteors? Do you expect it'll be enough for you? This work is a real feast for the eyes, and highly educational. I'm frankly surprised at the use of a Meteor to test such outsize engines. Were there no spare Lincolns available at the time?

Nice! Another unknown type (to me!) well-rendered. Alex

This is a gorgeous job, and really shows off the nice lines of the real machine. I love the fact that you painted the roundels and underwing codes!

Nice project! I can attest that the parts fit is quite good. Your biggest worry will be ensuring that the passenger and observers' windows remain clear. To achieve this, you may wish to cement the clear parts into the fuselage halves and then sand the inside of the clear parts and the surrounding fuselage to thin them. Sword does not give you any room for error here. I used mine as a parts mule for another project.

Beautiful job on this kit! I remember seeing these aircraft lined up on the ramp at ATL back in the early 90's. Those were the days, when there was such a surge in air travel, that United and Delta brought them out of storage and found it economic to re-engine them with the CFM-56. Alas, I never got to fly on them in this guise. I did, however, fly on a JT8D-powered DC-8-61 or -62 to the States from Germany back in 1979. It conveyed the impression of elderliness even then!

Tony: really nice! This Blenheim looks the part: "tough and bitty." I understand that they performed rather poorly during the BOB, unfortunately.

Hilarious! Czech is an extremely difficult language, and (according to an acquaintance that speaks the language) up to 25 percent of the Czech people themselves have difficulty with proper pronunciation. I can partly comprehend it only when it's spoken by non-native speakers, because then it more closely resembles Polish (another Western Slavic language). I cannot properly guide you on how to pronounce "Kovozávody Prostějov," but would advise that however you do it, say it at least ten times--fast. I am really liking this project! It's a really unusual plane, and I'm happy to see you do a subject from the 40's and 50's.

Wow! What a concept! I like the way you think, and seeing this in RAF camo is something I also thought about, albeit not in 1/32 scale. By the way, the pod was a TIALD, vice "TILAD."

Beautifully done! Did you already clear-coat it? If you dare, you might consider masking the green hull areas where you got a tiny bit of green seepage onto the white along the line of demarcation, and use a cotton rag and plastic polish to gentry remove the green paint. Or just leave it the way it is, as it's most striking! I especially enjoy the contrast between the flat, exhaust-stained areas, and the gloss white / green of the aircraft.

I echo the sentiments above, Merry Christmas to all, and here's hoping for a far better 2021!

Beautifully done! Yes, the Fortress is actually surprisingly small in 1/72, despite giving the impression of enormity. Display it in juxtaposition with a B-29 (in this case) or even a Lancaster, and you'll see what I mean. I love the creative use of black to get different panel shades. It's an old school approach that works well, and you've done a masterful job.

Merry Christmas! Nicely done makeover for the FROG kit. I had no idea these aircraft were employed for COD. How many passengers could they carry at a time when so configured?