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I remember seeing this structure back in the early 1980s when we were visiting the Netherlands! We were staying with friends in Venhorst and one day our host took us out for a drive. When I saw it I asked if we could stop so I could take pictures. At that time I seem to remember the field between the road and the structure was all plowed up, like a farmer's field. I will see if I can find the photos but I have moved so many times in the last 40 years I've lost track of where things are 😕

One thing I noticed, most of the Italeri releases only include the extended exhausts typical of torpedo bombers. If you want to build a conventional bomber you might have to use the exhausts from the "I Serie" or an after market set (as they say, check your references).

I made the same kit in the same markings. The only thing I added was serial numbers under the wings. I think there was a picture in the Squadron/Signal in action book but I cannot find my copy at the moment I also seem to remember being uncertain at the time whether the background to the can opener should be a circle or a square but in the end I just used the kit decals. Ken

Very nice indeed!

"reshoring" (although that may be more wishful thinking than reality) (also in the IT industry and also looking forward to when the Beaufighters reach Canada )

Good job!

Low-viz camo with low-viz markings. Save the high-viz markings for a "special" scheme.

Got my two and I'm looking forward to building them. I was a bit discouraged by all the comments but I'm glad I got them.

Congratulations Nige!

RJM had his off days - think Supermarine Type 224 If it looks right then surely the McDonnell XP-67 should have been a winner (it wasn't) ditto Bugatti Model 100 The He 70, He 111, He 112, He 116 are all relatively attractive designs probably for much the same reason as the Spitfire thanks to their elliptical wing

Delighted to see the Red Cross markings!

I believe the Heller kit is generally accurate in outline but somewhat lacking in detail (typical of other Bobcat releases). The Revell kit, on the other hand, is an absolutely beautiful kit. I only wish they would release it in 1/144th scale. Is the Heller kit worth building? I think the Revell kit would be a better place to start but since you already have the Heller kit, if it looks good to you then by all means go ahead and build it. I'm not sure if anyone did after market specifically for the Heller kit. Most aftermarket seems to have been aimed at the Revell kit. If this really is the old Heller Bobcat kit then it probably isn't worth investing in a lot of after market. If you want to do an Air France Transall, Two Six does a decal sheet (available from Hannants). Recommended kit (wait for it) Revell (sorry, that's probably not a very satisfactory answer, but in the end only you can decide if a kit is worth building or not)

It's hard to tell but it looks to me as if the two Kora kits might have different floats.

Looks like a Crash Position Indicator (CPI).

I would have to say 109 Spitfire Hurricane not necessarily because they are the best but because they are the "classic" three (Airfix, fond memories, etc.)

I had a lot of trouble with silvering (could be I didn't have a smooth enough finish). I ended up using the decals as a template for a mask and spray painted the stripes. Bit of a pain but looked all right (as long as you don't look too close).

The spinner in the picture you posted above certainly does look yellow but the spinner in the picture you link to does not look the same colour at all.

very good read that

2011 sure was a great year for spotting in Malta! But as someone somewhere said... Too bad it's over, but thank God it's over. (or words to that effect)

There are a number of pictures of wartime and post war aircraft that appear to show upper wing roundels in pale shades while the fuselage roundels appear to be normal. See, for example, Spitfire II P7753 'QJ-X' on p.10 of Spitfire in Action or Wellington T.10 'FM-AA' on p.9 of Avro Lancaster Lincoln and York in Post War Service (Dalrymple & Verdun) Kind of makes me wonder about the whole pale roundel thing, even on the dark blue PR Spits...

My guess would be that the Spit uses the same colours as the Lanc: standard red, white and blue Ken

"I'm currently building Hobby Boss' Rafale M in 1/72" me too as far as ordnance is concerned: MICA IR on wing tips MICA RF on outboard pylons drop tanks on inboard pylons recce pod (?) on centre-line Rafale M 14 (as seen in Malta)

There's a picture of this same aircraft in Spitfire at War Vol. 3, p.91, taken from above and behind, which clearly shows it has a full span e wing with type c roundels on upper surface.

Locate and Cement

Saw one in the LHS so of course I had to buy it. It does look like a nice kit but... I wish they gave you the option of doing a non Blue Steel version (guess that will be a separate release) and the wheels look like they only have 4-spokes (should be 5) - kind of a nit in the scale, I know...