Ray S

Nice to see this one back on the bench. All the best, Ray

Go on then, I will play! a) New tool 1/72 DHC Twin Otter b) Downsize the Gloster Javelin to 1/72 c) Vintage Classic SS Canberra 1/600 d) Surprise mid-year 1/72 Fairey Battle Ray

I have fairly niche subjects - basically if it is in a kit, I am happy to build it! I do prefer biplanes, EE Lightnings and ships though Ray

Thanks Loren! I am getting into the helicopter ideas just now, but I will try and keep at least two back for the GB, 'cos it WILL get through this time Ray

That is looking good Al! I keep all of my FOD guards from the Airfix kits especially for the Sword ones! Ray

Oh my word @Norman that is a beauty! Thanks for showing it! Thanks Andy for that comment. I had not heard of any other than the Magna kit shown beautifully above. I think AlleyCat were the only other to produce a Balliol, but that was 1/72, although my memory may be at fault there. Ray

Having (almost) stolen Airfix's thunder with the soon to be issued Fairey Battle, the new game will be to steal Airfix's thunder with a 1/48 Fairey Battle Ray (who has never won one of the games in his life)

That did not take long, getting into the bunflab Ray

Don't forget me please! Look forward to this one Ray

@Viking, I am currently building the Airfix vintage classic DH Heron, and next month start a King's Flight DH Gypsy Moth so it will have a few friends on the shelf. I certainly agree about that! Thanks for the comment Ray

@Epeeman, @Spitfire31 and @noelh, thank you very much indeed for the comments. I brush-painted the satin varnish, which was the Vallejo acrylic, thinned about three or four drops of varnish to one of water, two coats. It had been recommended (along with their matt varnish) by @Seahawk, and they are now my go-to finishing varnishes. The Peewit masks were brilliant, they also included some for the main wheel hubs which made things easier too. Thanks to all who dropped in for a shufty, All the best everyone, Ray

This should be interesting Jeff. I have one of these in my stash with photo-etch ready for a future build. I am looking forward to seeing how this one goes, it should look very different! All the best, Ray

Hello all. I have now finished this little kit of the Boulton Paul Balliol. It is the Special Hobby 1/72 'Civilian and Foreign User' boxing, and I have done it as the Boulton Paul demonstrator aircraft. I was a bit concerned about the fit of the canopy as I had read and heard that it was not the best, but I had no issues with it at all. I sprayed it with a Tamiya Maroon rattle can as my interpretation of 'Plum Red' that was mentioned in the instructions. I found Humbrol 20 Crimson was a pretty good match when I needed to re-touch some of the paint work. I used the Peewit masking set for it, and that behaved impeccably. I have taken one or two liberties with what etch (from the kit) and what aerials to add so I know it is not a truly authentic replica, but I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed building this one. One thing I did notice at the end of the build was that the layout of the parts on the etch that was supplied was quite different to the illustration in the instruction guide, despite having the same reference number etch into it. The transfers tested my skills, but I eventually found how they liked to be treated. They were very thin, very opaque (contrary to my first thoughts), but did crack slightly before I found the solution. I bedded them down into Klear. Anyway, here is the finished result: I think this will be my last completion for 2023, and I am looking forward to next year and the Group Builds, where I will start off with a couple of Frog kits in the 'Frog Squad', and (maybe) a more up-to-date kit in the 'WWII Twins GB'. Thanks for looking, Ray

I was just about to post the same question! I found the answer above... It is just another possibility - the Airfix HP42 is still my main option but you never know. Ray

I will re-join and hope this gets through this time! Ray

As I have paternal roots in East Anglia I will join in please. I know I have something suitable in the stash (probably something stick and string). My Dad used to plough a field in Hoxne where a gold hoard was later found just under the surface Ray

Count me in for this too please, I have plenty of civil subjects in my stash Ray

I am hooked @Mjwomack, add me to the list please. My first kit was a box-scale Revell Fokker F-27 Friendship. If we are going to be retro, I will need to use scissors and sellotape to build it. My second kit was the Airfix Bismarck, which was built (with my Dad's help) a bit more conventionally. I think the Friendship is still available through KingKit at times Ray

Congratulations Sam! Ray

I have just had an e-mail from Hannants to say they have these in stock now, £23-ish Ray

Yep, please count me in too. I thoroughly enjoyed the last one, and again I will do one from Oz and one from NZ for balance Ray

@CliffB, that is looking so good! Congrats on getting the struts and engines in. The colour scheme is fab too! It is difficult to believe it is 1/200 from this side of the screen Ray

I am pleased to say that the KingKit order has now been placed, and I have the Gipsy Moth and Hurricane IIc in transit to Chez Ray. The Gipsy Moth will be decorated with 26Decals 'King's Flight' colours, and the Hurri with some Xtradecal markings, which option it will be depends on what parts are actually in the box. The Javelin will have a cobble-stone effect of various brands of transfer, and that will be my main focus. Ray

What a wonderful result @Cklasse. It is a great idea, and brilliantly presented. I have the Skyvan in the stash, it may just have gone toward the top of the pile now! Ray

If it is a 'companion' it may be a pilot and ground crew. Just a thought! I reckon the most likely would be a Hurricane Ray