AndyC

Well we just got back and I've got sunburn today! Was only sunny for about 2-3 hrs but was hot when it did. I thought it was the best for a few years excellent displays from all sorts F-22A Raptor was awesome and did a moving heritage fly-by with the USAF F-35A Rafale display was insanely good on Friday and today Last weekend ever of the RAMEX Delta Mrage 2000N display team F-35B was impressive All the display teams were good Noisiest was the F/A-18 at the end - even outdid the Typhoon Love the OTT 'Frecce Tricolore' and 'SoloTurk' commentaries - some comedy gold there Had to buy a pop-up tent because the wife was cold this morning, but was allowed extra books from Aviation Bookshop as compensation

I enjoyed today - no heritage props because of the wind but some impressive displays by Typhoon (BAe and RAF), the Belgian lawn-dart, the Atlas, USAF F-22, Ad'A Rafale and the USMC/USAF/RAF F-35A/B's. Looking forward to tomorrow with the Gripen, 3 more lawn-darts and the MiG-29 - and maybe something a little more sedate if the wind drops.

I was highly impressed at RIAT today by both A and B models (USMC/USAF/RAF).

More progress As I'm modelling it in transit, I fitted the rails to the sides to reflect this Into the paint shop for Vallejo 4BO primer Wheels primed and the rims done in Rubber Black (God, I hate that job!). They can stay in 4BO as they will be heavily weathered anyway MiG AMMO Russian Green (Light) added Tracks primed with Vallejo Black Now to start the weathering. Still undecided which to do...Polish, Czech or Russian. Moving toward a 3-tone Czech actually but will decide over the weekend.

Some further progress on the little missile carrier Started looking at the rocket array and turret. Very, very confusing instructions which took a lot of working out and trying to study contemporary pictures (of mostly destroyed BM-8-24 vehicles). Finally plumped for this...there are separate pieces making up a fixed base arrangement. So I glued these and also glued the rocket array supports. The holes for the support needed reaming out as the moulds had closed them with flash. Filler applied. I then started on the array itself...very fiddly and complicated. It involves the supports, the rails (2 different types) and 14 separators all threaded onto 2 rods Once finished and glued, the front elevation support (which ash been glued separately) is then attached to make the whole The base was then sanded And a dry-fit to see how it looks. Seems OK And on the superstructure I've primed the link and length tracks tonight and hope to get some 4BO primer on tomorrow after Fairford...wheels can be dealt with then - I have the option of solid or spoked and I'm going for spoked and then it's on to the main painting

Off and running with this one. Had a good look through the sprues and the instructions...reminds me of a Mirage kit with a slightly textured surface to the plastic and some extraordinary sprue gates Cut off the hull and superstructure parts to make a start. You can see the finish and that the detail is quite soft. I don't have an issue with that but there is quite a lot of clean up to the mouldings as you can see from the front edge of the piece here This is based on the T-60 tank as can be seen from the outline. The body builds up quite quickly and once dry-fitted to test, it can be glued safely in the knowledge that its not going to collapse or fall apart. There are some neat bevelled finishes to the edges and everything is neat I took a sanding stick to the edge joints just to smoothe them but no filler is needed. Next on to the splash guards...again a dry-fit and then when happy run a seam of Extra Thin. You can see the sprue gate at the rear of this guard before removal! There are six neat guard hangers - I lost one and had to fashion anew one from spare rod. Storage boxes are added at the rear The wheels, sprockets and suspension arms can be left until the end as there is a lot of room under those guards. The fit of these is a little imprecise so, I want to see how they will look before glueing in place. I've now got a headache working out how the Katyusha launcher goes together - I may take a picture to show you what I mean! Great little kit though and thanks for looking

Then MFS will be getting my full attention!

In the last few years it's been much better. The nadir was about 2009 when it took 3-4hrs to get out of the car park - they've got their act together now. Last year it was 15mins to get out of the car park at 1800hrs. I see that MFS are going to be trading and I've tweeted to see if Wonderland are going again this year - no answer yet. Usually both have some great show bargains - credit card is warmed up...

Just one word Arnold - superb

Speechless! Fantastic work as ever Rich!

C-17 this morning presumably on its way to Yeovilton and mid-evening last night a Spitfire again on its way SW

Nice work Phil - looks great

Some more progress... Starting on the launch arms - not too fiddly but need some clamping to set in place and a little clean up of the sprue gates I've already decided to pose the AFV in transport mode rather than ready to fire as the finished model will be more compact. You have to decide this at this stage as you need to set the angle now when adding the launch base to the turret. The shortened missiles - with the fins added using Tamiya Extra Thin - they are pretty much butt-joined The hydraulic hoses on the rear are a pain. Trumpeter give you some fairly stiff tubing and some springs neither of which actually fit into each other. Also I think the tubing is over-size anyway. After a lot of head scratching I cut a length of flex off an old appliance heading for the recycling centre and took out the wires inside. An appropriate length was cut and bent to look like a hose and the CA'd in place - looks good to my eye and once painted should be OK The finished and sanded launch rails with the guides in place A partly finished and dry-fitted transport unit at the rear. The missiles are clamped in place using this during movement of the AFV The finished missiles Launch rails now in place and attached to the turret And dry-fit to the superstructure - all looks OK Anyway thanks for looking - aiming to get some primer on over the weekend

Thanks mate - those link and length tracks next

Good excuse now that England were so dire after losing to Bejam...I mean Iceland...can finally get on with some modelling! As usual with the bigger AFV's there is a multitude of things to add to the superstructure...I cut off a set of plastic handles and promptly lost them! So out with the copper wire and fashion some new ones Etch steps and what looks like a large saw(?) The etch exhaust guard - this was annealed with a lighter to make it easier to bend round a cocktail stick as it's semi-circular in x-section. You have to anneal it as the etch is quite thick Getting there... All 3 missiles were glued As Housesparrow pointed out above, they are a scale 5mm too long so i cut the first one to see what it turned out like and it was OK Work started on the turret and missile base Getting a move on with this now - the hull and superstructure are now glued together. Thanks for looking and all comments welcome

Thanks all for your comments! Much appreciated. Hmmm that's given me an idea for a WHIF using the junk status Spiteful kit...

That's a beast isn't it? Any reason you went for White as an undercoat, mate?

All over those like a cheap suit...I'm already thinking about the gear doors - once I've had a good look, I'll decide. Good info

Late to this one Arnold - all looking good and up to your usual standard, mate - great work

Well gents - if either want to start another, I'm probably going to do 'White 17' - however I had better make sure I finish this now I've started the thread!

Those would probably fit my TLC handle?

Think so! I've got an Eduard Yak-1b which I may still do yet but I noticed there are a few of these in different scales. The Eduard one is the old Accurate Miniatures kit with added ooomph! Typical Trumpeter to include an attractive scheme...that the aircraft never wore!

Thanks for the tip - I will!

1/35 Dragon SA-9 'Gaskin' Finished as a Russian Army mobile missile regiment machine, Eastern Border Vallejo and MigAMMO paints, Ultimate washes, pastilles and kit decals Build thread: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235000868-135-dragon-sa-9-gaskin-finished/

1/48 Trumpeter Supermarine Seafang F.32 Finished as VB895 using Lifecolor and Tamiya paints, Xtradecal and Ventura decals Build thread: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235000020-148-trumpeter-seafang-f32-finished/