Nik W

Evening all! For a very reasonable price on that well known internet auction site that we all love to hate, I managed to get hold of a Monogram boxing of their 1/48 Hustler kit. While the kit is lovely as it is, are there any after market decal sets out there for it? The boxing I've got is the one that only comes with the one marking option - the Bendix Trophy Winner option, and while it is nice I fancy doing something other than this aircraft. The only thing I've been able to turn up so far is the out of production Mike Grant decals sheet for the Hustler and not a heck of a lot else. I think I probably already know the answer to this, and I've no doubt this is a question that has been asked many times before, but I just thought I'd chance it and see if anybody knew of any other decal sheets that are available for this big beast! Cheers folks! Nik

This is absolutely stunning, no other word for it! The rivet detail and the weathering are superb! Quick question though - what do you use to create the oil streaks/staining and how do you achieve such a realistic look to them? I've tried hard with loads of different techniques but never seem to be able to recreate anything quite like that! Nik

Only just spotted this build! Not sure how I missed it when you first posted it though - its an absolute cracker! The paintjob and the weathering on this are absolutely superb! Regards, Nik

That is a truly stunning build, seeing this progress from the state you started it with to the end product has been an incredible transformation! Once upon a time I fancied building a couple of Trumpeter Lightnings, but seeing the amount of work you had to do to get an accurate Lightning has made me think twice! Haha! Still, a great build and one to be proud of! Regards, Nik

Hi guys, Thanks for all the kind words, this was an experiment in more ways than one for me - this being my first resin kit and also my first attempt at some really heavy weathering using Tamiya smoke through the airbrush, so to get feedback like that really is quite flattering. Hi Bob, with regards to your question, you needn't worry. The rudders are actually moulded in two parts, the non-moving part of the fin has a mould plug at the top (which I think may be what you're referring to) but this is as you say very thin and easy to differentiate between the excess resin and the fin itself. The rudder itself is a completely separate part, which is also very well defined from the rest of the casting block and is very easy to separate. I really can't recommend the kit highly enough to be honest, in my opinion for anyone who hasn't built a resin kit before but wants to, this is the perfect kit to wind yourself into the process. As soon as I can afford it I'll be getting myself a few more of these! Hope that helps clarify what you were after! Regards, Nik

Afternoon everybody! First finished model of the year and its the absolutely fantastic 1/48 Vampire from Alley Cat! This is the first resin kit I've built, and I have to be totally honest, it was a dream to build. Alistair at A2Zee has really done a truly incredible job on this kit, for a resin kit there were practically no fit issues at all. The most demanding thing I had to do was add a thin shim between the front fuselage halves to widen them in order to meet the rear fuselage/wing section nicely. It was built entirely from the box apart from the addition of some Airscale instrument decals for the cockpit (which despite my best efforts I couldn't photograph at all once the fuselage was together - should maybe have taken some pics before I closed it up). I decided to mark this one up in 603 (City of Edinburgh) Sq RAuxAF based at RAF Turnhouse back in the 1950s, wearing the high speed silver scheme. I've maybe over-weathered it a bit, but there is a bit of a lack of reference pics of 603 Sq Vampires in the silver finish, and personally I prefer the model to look like its been well used. The only problem I had with the model was one created by my own clumsiness, in the final stages of finishing the kit I knocked off the nose-wheel undercarriage door which then vanished without a trace! So I rather cunningly manufactured a replacement door out of the stiff metal that comes on the tops of wine bottles, which when bent to shape and painted up makes a fairly good replacement. Unfortunately I had already applied the 'D' code letter to the door prior to losing it and as Sods Law would dictate, the only letter I didn't have in my entire spare decal collection would be a D... So until I get myself another one of these kits, which I can't wait to do, it'll have to be without the code letter on the door for now. Anyway, without further ado... Kit: Alley Cat 1/48 Vampire FB Mk.5 Decals: OOB Paints: Alclad - Aluminium, Duraluminium, Tamiya Smoke Thanks for stopping by folks! Regards, Nik

Fantastic looking Tornado! Glad to see all is coming together well! Thanks for the tip on making ejection handles though! I've spent years fumbling around with tiny brushes trying to recreate decent looking black and yellow striped handles and failing miserably! It's one of those ideas that makes you sit and think "why didn't I think of that sooner?!" Regards, Nik

Great start to this, really looking forward to seeing how this progresses as its a conversion I've been thinking about doing for a while. Will be following this one closely! Regards, Nik

That really is very nice! Excellent job on the weathering - looks like its seen a few miles certainly! I always think that while the MiG 21 is far from the most aesthetically pleasing aircraft on the go, its a purposeful looking beast, and you really seem to have captured that here! Regards, Nik

That is absolutely stunning! Truly great work Regards, Nik

Guys, you're absolutely right. From looking at the very few reference pictures there available of the aircraft wearing these markings (which is a hell of a shame as I think it's a cracking set of markings) it was indeed a pretty well kept beast. The only real weathering I can see on it at all I around the tail end and in particular around what I think is the APU exhaust (Lightning buffs please correct me if I'm wrong there, I never claimed to be an expert!), so perhaps I'll have a little go at that. Agree with you about the fashion for washing panel lines, sometimes it is appropriate but at other times when you consider the scale of the aircraft and the relative size of the washed panel lines, once you scale it up to 1:1 the panel lines would be about 4-6 inches wide. So like you say, RBF tags, a few covers, drip trays, an earth lead and some checks it is! Now where did I put that Flightpath airfield diorama set? Regards, Nik

This is the first time I've come across this build (don't know how I missed it before though) but it is truly fantastic! You've captured everything about it perfectly - from the faded paintwork to the grimy appearance German Phantoms have developed in their advancing years! Regards, Nik

Guys, I really am flattered by all the very kind comments on the Lightning! I sure do appreciate it! I can't help but look at my pictures of it though and think I should run a wash through the panel lines... They seemed not too bad (the Alclad catching the light on the edge of each panel) prior to me taking, but the more I look at them, I feel a little more definition might be a good idea? Anybody any thoughts on the matter? Would certainly appreciate any and all advice! Regards, Nik

There's really not much I can say that hasn't already been said. That is truly spectacular, really fine work there. One day I hope my stuff turns out like that! Regards, Nik

Bloody hell! Lots of Sabres! They look absolutely awesome! Any chance of some pics of them individually? Regards, Nik

Thanks for all the kind words folks! Its really quite nice getting positive feedback like that! The building is actually an old hangar diorama I acquired from somewhere, its made out of corrugated plastic sheet and various plastic girders and box sections. It was in a pretty sorry state when I got it, but after a bit of refurbishment and the addition of a few scratch-built bits and pieces of my own (notice board, RAF style trestle table and folding canvas chairs and a few of the other little touches) it looks pretty good again I think! Thanks again for all the kind words guys, it really is appreciated! Regards, Nik

Evening All! This one has been lurking around in my pile of nearly finished models for the last few weeks now, sitting there teasing me because I hadn't got it finished. So after a couple of days of putting the final 5% of bits and pieces on, here it is in all its glory. There are a couple of aerials missing and one or two decals here or there, which I may get round to eventually. But for the time being and in order to finally get something finished rather than sitting there missing the last few bits and pieces, I'm calling this complete. Anyway, the markings I chose for this one were the scheme worn by XS895 of 23 Squadron/Leuchars TFF for the flight's disbandment in 1976 and for it's final flight out of Leuchars to Binbrook as 23 Sq transitioned from Lightnings to Phantoms. Sadly the markings were removed shortly after its arrival in Lincolnshire. I'm happy with this one as I think this is my most realistic looking NMF to date, its not too shiny to look toy-like, but at the same time, not overly dull as some of my other attempts have been. The biggest issue I had when I was building this was the Flightpath Etched pieces. They really are absolutely beautifully detailed, but I found quite a few of the parts to be a bit too big (in particular the replacement cockpit tub which no matter what I did I couldn't fit into the fuselage - which was a real shame as it is a really nice piece once it's all made up) so only a few parts here and there were added on, one day when I work up the courage I'll tackle the boarding ladder and the missile trolleys and park them next to the beast. Anyway, without further ado... Kit: Airfix 1/48 F.6 Decals: Model Alliance Sheet: BAC Lightning Part 2 Aftermarket parts used: Flightpath Lightning Detail Set (as much as my limited modelling skill allowed anyway) Eduard Resin Ejector Seat (Stolen from the F1/F2 rebox released not long ago) Eduard Photo-etch Seatbelts Paints: Alclad - Aluminium, Duralminium, Magnesium, Stainless steel, Chrome Looking at the pictures now, I realise its a little bit dusty... Woops! Oh well, comments and criticism always welcome folks, I'll never improve any other way! Regards, Nik

That really is a cracking idea! Certainly a heck of a lot easier than trying to get the CA tailbooms and all the various other bits and pieces to line up properly! Looking forward to seeing more of this! Regards, Nik

John, Smashing site! I've been on it before a few times, and I must admit I'm now feeling pretty sheepish for not having had the sense to check it out before I opened my mouth and posted this topic... Silly sod! Thanks for the link about the wing walkways as well, that was another issue which I was wondering about actually, but if they're just white as the pictures on that thread seem to show that takes care of that little headache! Many thanks! Regards, Nik

Andy, Many thanks for the help! I completely forgot to check out airliners.net to be totally honest! That airfighters.com is a website I've never seen before either, so you've been doubly helpful! Cheers mate, appreciate it! Regards, Nik

Evening all! On the bench at present is a Canberra T.17 and I've reached the decaling stage. The scheme is the hemp upper surfaces and light aircraft grey undersides with the bright red tail and lightning flash of 360 Sq for the squadron's 25th anniversary, however, I'm having difficulty finding any pictures at all which indicate what kind of stencilling was used on the aircraft. The decal sheet that comes with the Alley Cat conversion for the Airfix set, shows that the airframe has the pink and light blue low-vis roundels applied, but unfortunately I can't find any pictures which really show what type of stencilling the aircraft carried. So my question is, does anybody know if the stencilling was the same as that applied to the PR.9's (lemon and pink) or was it the full coloured versions worn when the Canberra's in the hemp scheme carried the full coloured roundels? If anybody has any pictures or could at least let me know which type of stencilling was applied to the aircraft that would be absolutely super! Many thanks! Regards, Nik

That cockpit and ejector seat are both absolutely stunning! Can't wait to see more of this! Regards, Nik

That really is an absolute cracker! Followed this throughout the WIP you did as well, should pick up a few tips for the one I've got in the stash! Regards, Nik

Absolutely outstanding work! Having watched the build thread, its great to see all that hard work coming together! Regards, Nik

Afternoon all, Little update on the T.5 this afternoon, not massive progress lately (despite my best efforts) as I've been busy with more important commitments for the past few weeks (who would have thought that there is a life outside of modelling?! ) and I've managed to distract myself with yet another build starting... Not a Lightning this time though thankfully, however I do have an F.1 which needs renovated lying around... Progress lately has involved the main decals for the aircraft such as roundels and the Akrotiri Station flight markings (from model alliance sheet: EE Lightning Part 3 MA-48171) and a set of Barracudecals Lightning stencils to replace the ones supplied in the Eduard boxing, which for a company like eduard are actually really disappointing - instead of text on some of the stencils eduard chose to replace the text with black lines... poor show. Anyway, I digress. The first shot is slightly out of focus, but it was the best I could manage as the light at my desk really isnt great. This flash on this photo makes the roundel bars look almost white, but I can assure you that in the flesh they are a good deal more pink! In this one you can see the effect the glue had on the canopy despite dipping it in klear, so I think I may have to manufacture a tarpaulin being pulled back by a couple of techs in order to hide this. Shouldn't be too hard, just a bit frustrating considering it was dipped in klear, so should've been all right. Like I said, I started another project (bad I know) but here are a couple of photos of what is distracting me right now... Airfix B.2 converted to a T.17 with the help of the simply outstanding Alleycat conversion set! Thanks for stopping by folks! Nik