Amo Aero

Nice Camels!!!

Very impressive to see an old school kitbash in this era of resin aftermarket "conversions". Nice work!

The Eduard Camel was the most challenging biplane I've built so far (the Roden D.VII was the most annoying, but that's another story!), but if I could build it, anyone can. The trick is to take your time, treat each step as its own little project, and above all maintain an optimistic attitude. If you start losing patience, walk away and come back to it later. Don't forget to breathe! You already have the cockpit and lower wing installed, so you have made some very good progress.

The cabane struts are slightly too long--even if you are careful to install the right struts in the right location. My solution was to install the interplane struts first, with the aid of jigs. Once the struts were set, I glued on the top wing, and let that set hard. I then inverted the model, and test fitted the cabane struts. A little careful trimming and they clicked right into place, leaving a perfectly flat top wing. Here is a pic of the jig--made from thin card stock, they are handed, so 2 are needed. Worked great, easy to make, and aligned the struts perfectly. Here is a pic of the finished model: Good luck! It's a nerve wracking kit, but if I could build it, anyone can!

I've had very good results using Floquil silvers--Old Silver, Bright Silver, Platinum Mist (your choice, they are quite similar). Spray everything silver, then when it has thoroughly cured, mask off all areas that are to be natural metal and spray the "fabric" areas with a light mist of matte clear coat. When the masking is removed there will be a very nice contrast between the duller "fabric" and the brighter "natural metal". I imagine any other type of silver paint would work as well. Karl

Great build and photography!

Beautiful Helldiver!! Hard to believe it's only 1/72--fantastic detail and finish!

Lovely Sea Vixen and Sea King!

My favorite would have to be the old Inpact 1/48 scale Bristol Bulldog (mine is actually the Lindberg reissue). I love the colors and markings and am VERY surprised at how well it turned out. Close runner up would have to be the Eduard 1/48 Sopwith Camel. This was my most difficult biplane build to date (my sixth biplane kit), and I was very relieved to finish without completely messing it up. Hope you like them! Karl

Love it!!! Beautiful work. I am so envious--I have about a half dozen 1/48 Canberras in the stash--and am afraid to build any of them--I have NO room anywhere to put the completed models. Must get a display cabinet so I can build some of these beauties!!

Very impressive! Your work perfectly captures the delicate, ungainly intricacy of the prototype. Thanks so much for posting your construction pix as well as those of the finished model. You may have inspired me to start working on my stalled scratch building project. Happy holidays! Karl

That is magnificent!!!! I love the Wellesley!

Nice work! Always good to see those older kits get built.

Very cool and colorful model!!!

Beautiful Gauntlet!

Well done! It is so nice to see the older, "obsolete" kits get built.

Thanks for the additional information! Karl

Thanks for your advice! Karl

I have the old, inaccurate, original issue of the Classic Airframes Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I day fighter. Knowing how bad it is, I don't have any interest in building it. A friend has offered me his Classic Airframes Defiant TT, which I understand is based on the revised, corrected CA Defiant kit. My question: is it feasible to backdate/convert the TT to the Mk.I day fighter, using the parts from both kits, or are there pitfalls that would make this more trouble than it is worth (ie--am I better off searching for a re-tooled CA Defiant Mk.I kit on the second hand market?)? Karl

Hi Richey, A very easy technique for achieving the metal/fabric contrast look is to shoot your model overall silver (I typically use something like Floquil Old Silver), mask off the metal panels, then shoot the exposed fabric areas with a clear matte coat--very easy, quick and effective. See my Bristol Bulldog a few threads down for examples. Have fun with your Fury! Karl

This will be a must buy for me!

The kit has been released over the years under the Inpact, Life-Like, Pyro, and Lindbergh labels. Lindbergh is the most recent reissue--it shouldn't be too hard to find. Even the older issues can be found with a little bit of searching in the second hand market.

Nice work!

What a sweet Pup!

Thank you all for your very generous remarks! It was a fun kit to build.