PWJ

This is something a little out of character for me as I generally plod along on a build before stopping and starting something else for no other reason than I have trouble finishing things. This is the relatively new 1/48 DH 94 Moth Minor from Red Roo (kit number RRK 48006) here in Australia. The kit comprises mostly resin and being a basic trainer, is a simple airframe. My build is pretty much OOB and due to the nature of this as a trainer, I also kept weathering to a minimum. The scheme I chose was an all-yellow bird which was based in Pearce/Cunderdin in Western Australia which has some significance to me as I grew up there. My father had a crop spraying business and I spent many hours wandering around the airport. Once assembled the airframe was primed and colour coated with SMS acrylic paints (Trainer Yellow) which I use almost exclusively now. . Thanks to all involved in bringing this kit to the market. I had already compiled drawings etc. and was going to scratch build a model. Thanks to RR that is no longer a to do thing. I think the kit captures nicely the lines of the Moth Minor and it fills another gap in an Australian Airforce collection. Cheers and regards, PWJ

Nice job Chris - well done. Cheers PWJ

Very nicely done - great job and great subject. Cheers PWJ

Congratulations Calum, very nice job on what is a bulky but interesting airframe. Cheers and regards PWJ

Thanks for the kind words gentlemen, most appreciated - Cheers and kind regards PWJ

Following on from my recently completed Sycamore, Wessex and Scout, I seem to have accelerated my collection of finished Aussie helos with more on the production line. This is the Italeri kit and I also used Rons Resins S60 B resin conversion, Eduards Interior/Exterior detail sets along with their pre-cut masks. Various scratch-built details were added according to references including the large port side long range fuel tank. There has been comment about the fit of this kit and to be honest I didn’t have any issues at all. Something that may have contributed to this was that during the construction (and considerable dry fitting) I did not cement any of the internal floor or ceiling pieces as they slotted into their various location points nicely. This allowed for adjustment when cementing both fuselage sides and the joins required very little filler. The airframe was coated with Tamiya grey primer straight from the rattle can. This was left to harden for a few days and the colour coats were done with the airbrush. An interesting aside to this, I was concerned at how little contrast there is between the various low vis markings and stencil data. Coincidentally, I was delivering a yacht from Fremantle to Rockingham and as we neared Garden Island, one of the navies Frigates was arriving along with an airborne SH – 60R. The crew flew very low over us and I was most pleased to see that the markings were very hard to see, almost non-existent. Also, the aircraft was very dirty. Decals were from an old Southern Sky Models/Ronin set and also Aussie decals which are very nice and went on with minimal fuss. Special mention to Graham Molinex –Grubby Fingers website for his invaluable reference section – most appreciated. So here is another addition to me ever growing Australian Military rotary wing collection. Cheers PWJ

Nice clean build Ben - great job. Cheers PWJ

Thanks for your response and input. indeed, I am sure there would have been a lot of noise and calamity associated with operations of these old birds. Also I imagine the Gannet would have also been a noisy beast. Cheers PWJ

Thanks for your response - Cheers PWJ

Thanks for the pic, that is one I have not seen before and I am sure Roger Lambert would also be interested! Cheers and kind regards, PWJ

Thanks for the kind words, appreciated. The reason for now finished underside shots is because the Delmar target assembly is very fragile. I have however taken a few underside pics during the build (following) Cheers and regards PWJ

1/48 Scale CLASSIC AIRFRAMES DH SEA VENOM – RAN FAW 21 Over the last few years I have managed to complete a number of RAN/RAAF Target Tugs and after a long time on the shelf off doom I have managed to complete my latest subject. The base kit is the now long OOP Classic Airframes DH Sea Venom FAW 21. As I mentioned this build has been dormant for many years and I had subsequently been squirreling away the components required to scratch build the Delmar winch/target and support frame assembly. Coincidentally I became aware that Mr Kit had recently released a 1/48 conversion kit that would suit this build only requiring some additional extension pieces and rod to the target bracket to better represent what was used by the RAN. Also the RAN Venoms have fitted a Vampire drop tank to counter the Delmar winch and target. I have used a drop tank from a Classic Airframes Mk 5 Vampire. Various scratch bits and pieces were added according to references. Along the way a long-time aficionado of all things Australian Target tug, Mr Roger Lambert provided some significant reference material along with various photos, drawings and articles – thank you sir!

Superb modelling Sir. Why has AIRFIX not done a 1/48 kit of this aircraft? Cheers PWJ

Nice work Harry - I especially like it that she is a little dirty!!! - great stuff!! Cheers and regards, PJ

Great job Russ - the setting also presents an appropriate atmosphere. Cheers PJ

Very nice job Bruce - looks perfect, well done mate. Cheers PJ

Hi CJP, Thanks for the kind comments - yes the standard kit does come with markings for a blue/white bird XD653 from HMAS Melbourne. Cheers and regards, PJ

Ha you are right Bruce - it was a bit of a dilemma deciding which airframe to do. As you say the Navy had some very striking schemes including some with extensive banding on the boom which I am sure would make an interesting model. Included in the kit are decals for the blue/white aussie navy bird which I may do at some point. I guess the reason I attacked a recent release with not much extra detailing was to overcome a phase of boredom. I have way too many kits on the go at various stages of completion so decided I needed to finish something and the little Sycamore did that nicely. Back into the shelf of doom now!!! - Cheers and regards, PJ

Thanks for the kind words gentlemen, appreciated. Cheers PJ

AMP 1/48 Bristol Sycamore RAAF This is the recently released AMP 1/48 Bristol Sycamore built as an early Australian bird during operations in Woomera. Well this is somewhat of a record for me – a relatively new kit, built almost OOB including kit decals and finished in less than 5 years! Generally the AMP kit is nicely detailed with options for various versions. The kit includes a small etched fret with finer details. A comment, the plastic is very brittle and some of the smaller parts were broken and subsequently replaced with wire and plastic card. AMP is to be commended for providing a nice rendition of an important subject and it makes an interesting addition to the collection. Overall an enjoyable build with my only comment being to take your time and dry fit and dry fit some more. The glazing nose structure requires careful assembly and I used 5 minute epoxy and tape to get a reasonable fit. Cheers and regards, PJ

Very nice build Mike - well done, cheers

Hi Terry, Unfortunately I didn't do a WIP for this build. cheers PWJ

Thank you gents for the kind words, appreciated. Cheers and regards PWJ

Very nice job Russ - great work. Regards, PWJ

This is another of those that have been lurking in the stash. It is from the Hasegawa SH-3H kit incorporating Eric Sujecki's Plane bits conversion which consists of resin short sponsons, six blade tail rotor, dome and blade antennae. I decided to model an early grey/white scheme bird. Decals are from Hawkeye and I also used Eduards exterior and cockpit set along with their canopy mask. Something I missed was moving the port side rear window which was discovered to late. Oh well such is life, it looks like an Aussie Seaking and it is interesting to compare the size against to the other helos in my steadily growing collection. Cheers PWJ