bootneck

Same problem here. I have, amongst others: Westland Wasp - 1:48 Fujimi Gazelle - 1:48 (ish) Heller Hughes MD500 - 1:48 Fujimi Sea King - 1:48 Hasegawa Dragonfly - 1:48 Fonderie Miniature Puma - 1:48 (ish) Heller Whirlwind - 1:48 Revell Sea King - 1:144 Sweet Wessex - 1:144 Anigrand Gazelle - 1:144 Anigrand Dragonfly 1:144 Anigrand (would need to convert from R5 prototype) Merlin - 1:144 Anigrand Whirlwind 1:144 FE-Resin Mi-8/17 Hip - 1:144 Eastern Express Mi-26 Halo - 1:144 Eastern Express plus the usual 1:48 Chinooks, Wessex and Sea Kings by Revell, Italeri and Airfix etc. I think my decision will become a last-minute panic choice! Mike

I saw a full-size replica of the Orion capsule at Kennedy Space Center recently. It is certainly a size! Yes, I would like to hear more about this, especially if there are images and/or diagrams etc. cheers Mike

Hi Don, never even seen one before. Any more info, images? Mike

Hi Don, still here! I've been a bit busy with 3 models for groupbuild but I keep diving into BM for any updates. Will be more active on the space stuff soon. cheers Mike

Hi Jerry, The Torquay kit would be better, as it is a Type 12 frigate. HMS Plymouth was a modified Type 12 but the hull is virtually identical in length and breadth. I think that most of the differences are in modifications to the bridge but it shouldn't take too much to adapt the Torquay to a Plymouth. Check out the drawings at Blueprint.com; there is one of HMS Plymouth and also of HMS Torquay Mike

Hi Joseph, I spoke to Densil of Welsh Models about the props and he recommended their ATR 42 set as they are just about right. The tips would need some slight fining down. I bought a pair and will be attempting those next. cheers Mike

I think I've reached the final stage of this build and, apart from adding a couple of fire extinguishers at the front of each vehicle, I am now ready to close this and put a couple of images in the Gallery section. The transporter version, all green, has had the little tower gantries added on the right hand side The windows have been painted with tank grey and given a coat of Tamiya smoke. View of the front - still need to add some red extinguishers in the square at the front between the cabs. The rear, showing the ladders and the two rear hydraulic vehicle lifting jacks stowed. The launcher version, camouflaged, has had the lifting ram installed in the raised position. The hydraulic jacks, to lift the vehicle off the ground, have been installed and the launcher is in the vertical position as if ready to fire. Front view, showing vehicle up on its jacks and the launch tube lifting ram (I'm sure there's a proper name for it!) in the raised position. The tower gantries are shown above the right cab and at the rear. Side view Similar view but in a diorama setting I have really enjoyed building these models as I have learned so much about scratchbuilding during the construction phases. Mistakes are inevitable; however, being a scratchbuild, it is easy to throw the bad item away and just build another piece. One aspect that I hadn't initially taken into consideration is the wheels - if all of them are virtually the same then there is an issue with the direction of the treads. One side will have them going the right way but the other side will have them reversed. I overcame this by making separate tyre and hub units. I was unable to find any actual plans for this vehicle so there will be inaccuracies; however, I referenced loads of images on the web and got my details from them. The models look right - just don't get a micrometer to them! Thanks for the kind words of support during this build session; I feel encouraged to have a go at something new now. cheers Mike

I've just checked the calendar and realised I need to get on with this! I've been distracted by my SS-25 Sickle transporter build. The fuselage has had a light dusting of Humbrol Beige Green, over Tamiya white primer. The upper sides of the wings and tailplanes have been sprayed with Humbrol Ocean Grey - I found that EDSG was too dark at this small scale so I used a slightly lighter grey. I plan to represent an aircraft of 849 'B' Flight attached to HMS Ark Royal during her seventh commission 1974-76. These aircraft had a nice flashy black/yellow tail; this means quite a bit of masking to get these colours on. Instead of masking the whole model, I stuck it in a bag and sealed it up with just the tail exposed. The model was then subjected to various sprays of Tamiya white, followed after selective masking by Tamiya yellow; and finally a spray of Halfords satin black. Removing the tape shows the flashes appear to coming out OK Well that seems to have come out OK. I need to make a small white circle with a little bee in it and then place that in the centre of the flash. Sorry about the odd colour of the photo's; the grey of the wings is really quite dark - taking the pictures in the evening gets all my settings wrong. The next stage is to populate the cockpit with a seat and head pad etc., and then I'll get to work on the dreaded contra-rotating props and spinner! cheers Mike

Two Gazelles just overflew, 13:50 Tues 16th, Burnham on Sea heading north towards Weston super Mare

Lovely model and setting Mr B! Borneo was my first active duty posting and you have the setting just as I remember it. I've just bought the book 'Borneo Boys' and your dio looks as real as some of the photos in the book. cheers Mike

Is he a Britmodeller?

Hi Jessica, that is a really good bit of advice. I would recommend you add this to the Tools and Tips section for others to learn from it? Mike

Hi Jeurgen, thank you very much for this information. I will send you a pm. cheers Mike

Hi Juergen, thank you very much for posting your drawings; I'm sure that they will be very helpful. I like to scratchbuild vehicles in 1:144 scale and I hope to use your plans to make a little diorama. Can I ask if you have any other drawings for this type of subject? Best Wishes Mike

Hi Bertie, great photos. Hopefully we can get them transferred to the Walkaround Forum; Julien? Mike

Hi Don, yep, I saw that as well. I've set the recorder and hope to watch it tonight. cheers Mike

I suspect you are referring to the Israeli Super Frelon?

Staples do Staples do it, just take the file in on a USB stick and they can print it for you. I don't know if they can do .png files, I've only taken in .jpg ones. Mike

Hi Smudge, yep it's a beast indeed. I've been using photos and videos like these to get the details. Hi Dazz, the Scud is quite a bit smaller. I've put together some of my other 1:144 Soviet/Russian stuff for size comparisons below: Comparison of the Scud with the SS-25 Sickle. The Scud is a kit from Matuo Kasuten. Here is a comparison of the SS-25 with a MAZ-537 tank transporter. The trailer part of the MAZ-537 is scratchbuild and not finished yet. All vehicles together for comparison. .

Hi Dazz, cheers, I've added a link to my last post of a video showing a Topol launch. There is plenty of detail of the vehicle a few minutes into the video. Also note the cone sat at the front of the vehicle. Mike

Hi Dazz, I would think it would be lifted off, by a support vehicle which travels with the TEL, while the launcher tube is still horizontal; however I have not seen any supporting images or information as the images I have seen just show the cone beside the front of the cab. Getting to the final stages now with the camouflage complete and the wheels added. The vehicle would be raised for launching and the hydraulic stands for this are shown beside the model The remaining elements are some small gantries that sit on the cab roof and also towards the back; the launcher raising hydraulics, plus some ladders for the rear. Here is an example of how the vehicle could look when deployed ready for launching And here with both vehicles, in mobile and launch modes. I'll get on with making and assembling the final components and post them here later. cheers Mike

Yes, I have the Eduard set and will be doing a review shortly cheers Mike

Hi Starfighter, I agree, it will be a daunting task and I'm sure I will want to give up on it a few times before it's completed; however I do intend to try with it. I've nearly finished my scratchbuild HMS Hermes in 1:350 and I've learned a lot about conversion work from that. Incidently, I'm a little confused over the likely price of the kit when it will be released. Boys Town Military Miniatures quote £49.99 (£39.99 pre-order) but Antics are quoting £99.99 which is quite a difference. Anyone know what the price should be? Mike

I'd like to get I am getting two of these when they are available - one to do as Belfast and the other to carve up to make my first ship, HMS Sheffield. It will be a real dockyard job but Belfast and Sheffield were only a sub-class different; in other words the main hull structure etc. is the same but the funnels and upperworks are different . Better get sharpening the old scythe and chisels and stocking up on plasticard! Mike

Thanks for the compliments everyone. It gives me that confidence to carry on, just as the eyes are straining and the old hands begin shaking etc! I'll try to do a bit more this evening. Thanks again Mike