Alpha Delta 210

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm not sure if I'm ready for the "Phantom" yet! The PR19s go together well, don't they Daz?

Looking good, so far!

Hi Mark Is it too late for me to join? I have the current Airfix release and Modeldecal set 26 for a RAF Buccaneer S.2B XW526 of XV Squadron in Dark Sea Grey/Dark Green/Light Aircraft Grey based at Laarbruch in 1974.

Hi I bought the Airfix BBMF Fighter Collection Gift Set which normally retails at £34.99 for £15 from Tesco and enjoyed making the kits (except the Spitfire MkLIXe which has a very poor fit and is of dubious parentage!) The MkIIa is a MkI from an Airfix BBMF set with the Lanc and the Hurri. One of the Hurricanes is the old moulding from the same set and the other is the new moulding with the cannons removed, using the decals from another BBMF set. Once I had completed the fighters, I decided that I should build PA474, a Chipmunk (sourced from eBay for £4, with a 17p Woolworths price tag still attached!) and the Dakota. I found an Esci Dak on eBay for £5 and bought the Xtradecal sheet "History of ZA947" to complete it. The Chipmunk is not competely accurate, as it is devoid of the BBMF crests and the white edges to the roundels, but it was still a fun, quick build. The Dak was more of a handful, as the fuselage had warped over time and I was unhappy with the over-scale panel lines, which I reduced with Halfords Filler/Primer. I still need to make PA474 and need to decide whether to use the Airfix kit and decals or one of the Revell M&S Lancs picked up for silly money last Christmas and the Xtradecal RAF Ton Up Lancasters sheet, which includes the BBMF Phantom of the Ruhr/550 Squadron markings. I hope you like them. Feedback welcome.

Hi Calum Glad you like it. I used Xtracolor X32 "RAF Desert Pink Gulf War Jaguar, Tornado", which was then flattened with one coat of Winsor & Newton Galeria Satin Varnish after the weathering process.

Hi All I have recently completed an Airfix Hawk with Fujimi "Saudi Hawks" markings (Saudi Hawk) which received some very favourable comments due to the colour and unusual decals (not my modelling skills!) This got me thinking - why not have a Group Build dedicated to military aircraft (fixed and rotary wing) that are normally boring grey, but are transformed into the multi-coloured public relations tools that the public so adores? We could also extend it to Solo Teams, such as the Belgian Air Component or Dutch F-16s, as long as they are specially-marked. What do members and the Group Build Moderators think? Some ideas.... Turkish Stars Belgian Air Component F-16 Red Arrows Tucano Hawk RN Black Cats Thunderbirds Dutch F-16 Frecce Tricolori Blue Angels

You're right there, Pat but flying without thrust is guaranteed to end in tears!! I am tempted to start my Hasegawa Last Flight T.2 next.

Excellent!

Hi I would live to take part to represent the following: ZH809 The Admiral's Barge taking off in fine weather and landing in snow, RNAS Yeovilton February 2005. I will use the current 1/72 Airfix FA2 and Model Alliance decal sheet 72908.

Blast! Can I do XX301 FRADU Yeovilton "100 Years of Naval Aviation - Fly Navy 100" instead?

Thanks, Mark. The last minute crash landing took it's toll on the model and my sanity!!

Hi I've just scanned the list of entries and can't see my preferred choice - so may I participate with XX261 FRADU Yeovilton "100 Years of Naval Aviation - Fly Navy 100" using the 1/72 Airfix Red Arrows Hawk and Xtradecal sheet X72100?

Thanks guys. War weary it certainly is!! I hope to take some better pictures tomorrow if the snow clears from the conservatory roof! The link to my brief WIP is here: Jaguar WIP

Good idea, Mish. I'm up for it.

Dear All I am calling this bird finished! How does the saying go? "More haste, less speed" - or in my case, "more haste to take photos before the snow gets too heavy and the natural light disappears leads to disaster." The result is the model ends up on the floor, devoid of the fuel dump pipe, the right main gear, one of the aerials behind the cockpit and a bent pitot probe after I had spend some time gently caressing it to make it straight!! I have rectified all but the fuel dump pipe, which has disappeared off the face of the earth and needs to be fabricated. You can see my brief WIP thread here I am quite happy with the result (apart from the fit of the canopy). Despite clearing the snow from the conservatory roof and using Aperture Priority and the self-timer, the latest shots are still poor, but they will have to do! I hope you like it. Feedback welcome.

Excellent selection, but the Apache gets my vote.

That Wedgetail looks cool!

Thanks Jimbuna, hopefully it wll be RFI tomorrow!

Thanks Metallicus. I hope to finish it tomorrow.

As promised, here is the unfinished Jag after one coat of Winsor & Newton Galeria Acrylic Matt Varnish. I am really impressed with the varnish - it brushes well and dries without brush strokes. I have just bought the satin version to use on other models. Highly recommended.

Hi I have applied a coat of Winsor & Newton Galeria Matt Varnish, which is an extremely impressive product. I need to slightly weather the stores and then attach the fiddly bits, jet pipes, canopy and main gear doors (oh and straighten the drooping pitot probe!).

My Harrier is the old Airfix 1/72 GR5 in Humbrol Midnight Blue with Pegasus 11-61 testbed markings, with a drizzle of Raw Umber wash.

Hi I've just applied a thin coat of Winsor & Newton Galeria Acrylic Matt Varnish to my Gulf War Jag, and I have to say first impressions are very good. I used a wide, flat brush and can't see any brush strokes. It does not seem to have reacted to the Raw Umber oil wash and seems to be drying very quickly. I don't think that I will need to apply a second coat. Pictures to follow. Happy modelling.

Hi I have the same dilemma, so bought some Winsor & Newton matt acrylic varnish from Hobbycraft for £3.99 yesterday. I plan to trial it over the raw umber oil wash that I applied over a coat of Klear on my Gulf War Jag GR1A. I'll let you know how I get on.

Hi I decided to bite the bullet and try some paint chipping around access panels. I used a scouring pad, dipped in some dark green enamel in an affort to simulate the original green paint showing through the temporary ARTF. I removed the excess paint by dabbing the pad onto some kitchen paper. I tested the effect on my unfinished (and unloved) Fujimi Hawk. However, once I had applied some chipping to a small area of the Jag, I decided that I didn't like it, so removed it (and therefore, some of my weathering!) in the process. I applied another Raw Umber wash last night, but have left the chipping on the nose of the fuel tank, which I was happy with. Pictures to follow. Any suggestions for chipping of a temporary finish, i.e. not back to the metal?