Icarus

Thank you Craig - that is very generous of you. I have sent you a PM.

Hi everyone. This is the state of play today, with the autodestruct decals (almost) tamed using a combination of MicroSol, Future/Klear and repeated,, but sotto voce, swearing (kids and all that)... As you can see, there is still some work to be done on the starboard side, but this is a whole lot better than things looked late last night. I will have to do a bit of touching up where the decals shattered, and also have to replace the "7" I placed at the end of the fin registration with the correct number, when I can source it. Model making is meant to be relaxing, yes? Thanks for looking, Icarus

Thank you Modelling minion. I seem to have mostly muddled through, although the one decal I have not been able to resuscitate is the final white "4" on starboard fin unit marking. Unfortunately, as it is white, making a new decal for this is nigh on impossible. I have put on a "7" as a temporary measure, but if you had a spare I can pay you back. Icarus

So, after varnishing I started decaling this last night, but as I feared the decals fell apart. I managed to reconstruct these ones, but I fear for the large white tail unit markings that are next in line to be added. I have resprayed the decals with Future, so we shall see tonight. If this doesn't do the trick I may be heading for an alternate scheme (perhaps the a/c with 3 MiG-17 kills?). The joys of model making. Thanks for looking, Icarus

Indeed Dennis - I have been watching your masterful work with great interest! Icarus

Thank you Trickyrich. Interestingly, I used one of the cheap Chinese Iwata "clones" for this. It is a bit temperamental, but as long as you are very careful when cleaning it not to disrupt the O ring on the nozzle, early results seem to be promising. Looking to do a 1/48 Macchi C.202 Folgore with "smoke ring" colour scheme in the not too distant future, so that will be the real test! Thanks for looking, Icarus

Thanks. The nose cone fit was fine. You can see a bit of reflection from a slight rim of glue at the join in the above photo, but that disappeared with the varnish. Great kit to make, and I did Revell/Monogram a disservice - there is actually quite a lot of engraved detail there. Icarus

So, got the USAF SEA colour scheme down last night. Looking to do a couple of touch ups tonight, then varnish ready for the (old...) decals. Tailplanes are only blu-tacked on at the moment Thank you for looking, Icarus

Hey Antb. don't give up - the model looks brilliant! Maybe a coat of Johnsons' Klear to protect for the NMF, if you haven't done that yet? The fit challenges don't sound insurmountable, but of course I am speaking with the naivety of ignorance. I will be joining this GB with a 3 Sqn RAAF 1/48 Mustang IV (Italeri/Hasegawa base kit) as soon as I've finished the Thudmonster in the Vietnam GB - I will also be doing a NMF colour scheme... Keep up the good work, Icarus

Canopy attached (temporarily for the rear canopy) and masked, and base layer of primer down. Looks fine to proceed with colour scheme (apart from that seam aft of the tail, which I have just spotted!) Will touch that up with a swipe of putty later, then get started on the lower surface FS 36622. Thank you for looking, Icarus

Morning. A bit more construction on this last night. Unfortunately, despite my initial optimism the fuselage joins did need a bit of sanding - nothing too dramatic. Need to fill up the nose cone with liquid gravity attach it, paint up the cockpit coving then attach and mask the canopies, then I'm into priming already. Another fun build, to follow the great Italeri Wessex I've just finished. Thank you for looking, Icarus

OK, only a bit of work last night. Oil pin wash of the cockpit, then both fuselage halves were glued together, with the addition of the front u/c bay, gun port and wing spar (nice touch Monogram) Careful alignment, with multiple pieces of kabuki and clamps, means there is very little clean up of the seam to do - handy, as this model comes from the era of raised panel lines. Enjoying this oldie but goodie! Thanks for looking, Icarus

Thanks Pete - they're typical Monogram/Revell - pragmatic and clear. The build actually looks pretty simple (famous last words), so I decided to go to town a bit on the cockpit, as this will likely be the focus of the eventual build. Icarus

Thank you - very much my plan. Test fitting of the fuselage halves last night looked promising! Icarus

Morning folks. Having now finished the lovely Italeri 1/48 Wessex for the Helo GB, I now have time for this oldie but goodie. Had fun painting then building the cockpit last night, with a mixture of kit bits and Eduard extras scrounged from an old F-105G set (front room parts only!). Being an old Monogram kit I expect this to build up fast with accurate profiles. We shall see.. Thank you for looking! Icarus

Hurrah - mine turned up today. I didn't notice that the base colour scheme for this Revell boxing is my old squadron, so I have no choice but to go with this option - although the one I flew was definitely less flashy than this commemorative scheme. And thanks for the above comments about where the decals were tucked away - I was about to get very grumpy (unusually for me). Icarus

Model: Italeri 1/48 Westland Wessex HAS.1. Paint: Vallejo, MiG and Tamiya Acrylics with Alclad II "Jet Exhaust" and "Polished Aluminium" where relevant Decals: Kit supplied 814 NAS scheme. Weathering: Artists Oils Payne's Grey pin wash, powdered artist's pastels Varnish: base varnish of Johnson's Klear, with unifying Alcad Semi-Matt top coat. PE: Utilised kit PE for meshes, seat belts Masking: Home made window and wheel masks, from kabuki tape. Original build thread here: This was so much fun - a real joy to make! Thank you for looking, Icarus

So, I am now counting this as complete. A hugely enjoyable build - well done Italeri! Proper photos will be uploaded to the Gallery later. I have left the main rotor unglued for easy of transport. Thank you for looking - next project is the 1/48 Thud for the Vietnam GB... Icarus

Hi everyone. This looks like fun, so count me in. Although not sure how I'm going to fit this around the existing 1/48 Thud (Vietnam GB), 1/48 Maltese Hurricane (Mediterranean GB) and 1/72 retirement scheme Tornado F3 GB builds already planned for the rest of this year... Jadlam out of stock for the 1/72 Revell Hawk, but sounds like they're restocking. Icarus

Thank you for the kind comments. Nearly complete now - have added all the delicate bits (apart from the cabling on the sides), have weathered with oils and pastels - I went for a pretty well used machine, based on reference photos. Just need to add a unifying satin varnish, then unmask the transparencies, add the transparency to the sliding door, attach this and finally add the cabling using Lycra thread. Hopefully will be done tonight. As you can see, I finally came to a decision on the large black decal behind the PE grill on the upper fuselage. Thanks for looking, Icarus

So, after two evenings the decaling this is where we are: The instructions are remarkably vague about some decal placements, and I am not sure about some of the black markings that were meant to be on the roof and tail boom. I have left them off while I try and find some references. It also looks like these decals would actually obscure some of the lovely PE which seems a bit contrary, so unless I find convincing evidence otherwise I am tempted to leave be. Thank you for looking! Icarus

Morning. Initial unit-specific decals on. Will put on the common decals tonight, then start the weathering process. Thanks for looking, Icarus

Morning all. The Non-Spectacular Blue/Grey is now down, and I have just removed the masking. A few minor touch ups needed, but looking promising. Excuse the slightly out of alignment/focus photos - as evidenced on them, I hadn't yet had my initial resuscitative cup of tea this morning. I used good old Humbrol 157 for the the "Flat Non Spectacular Blue Gray (FS 35189)", which sprayed very well. It has been a long time since I used Humbrol paints, but this one was fine. I have then had to spray on Klear to enable me to start decaling this evening. Thanks for looking, Icarus

Thank you Andwil - noted. Water works fine. Icarus

So, priming went well - no remedial work necessary. The first layer of the upper yellow colour has been laid down, I must say I haven't really used Vallejo paints before, but they seem to be excellent. Good coverage, no unpleasant odours and easy cleaning of the airbrush afterwards. Will be building up the yellow today, before masking this up ready for the lower dark blue. Thanks for watching! Icarus