zebra

It's yellow: It's also suffered a bit of a mishap that broke the tailplane, as you can see. I have no idea how this happened, I don't remember giving it even the slightest of knocks. A good reminder that the resin used in 3D printing can be quite brittle. It's a clean break and should be easy to fix, but I'll finish painting before I reattach it. more soon Julian

I think the original idea is a nice one but not the right time for the reasons Enzo gave, but I think the expanded suggestion is a great idea and I'd be keen to take part. I'd probably build something flown by a notable test pilot. Or perhaps the BA 747 famously captained by Eric Moody - or, along similar lines, the BA 1-11 that was captained by Timothy Lancaster, at least up to the point he found himself stuck in the open cockpit window. I'm sure more ideas will come to me - I have a feeling I'm going to be distracted by this all day!

I pretty much agree with all of this although maybe 24 hours is slightly too short. There will be members who aren't quite so tech-savvy or might be unable to vote within 24 hours, for whatever reason, but I don't think it needs to be longer than a few days. I also like the idea of disabling the show votes option, if that's possible, and revealing it when voting has closed. Get your votes in, hope for the best and see how it goes. Can't really get more democratic than that can you? 2026 doesn't seem to be a big year for significant anniversaries. There's the 90th birthday of the Spitfire, as Stefan has pointed out, also the 100th birthday of the Swedish Air Force which might be of interest to at least a few members. Mind you I'm sure there's someone (can't seem to remember who!) who's suggested a World Cup group build, it's not historical but it'll be current and topical in 2026 so there's always that!

Good on them, it's a great museum

Perhaps because it didn't see any military use here, and I don't think I've come across any other decals for an Aussie or Kiwi Chipmunk so that'll put people off the civvy ones as well

I was wrong about it not being a tail sitter! I've jammed as much lead foil through the prop hub as I can, and it's still resolutely tipping over. A little bit of blu tack helps: Time to mask the canopy and start painting. more soon Julian

Are you saying a Chipmunk wasn't the first thing that came to mind when you proposed this GB?! I don't think the RAAF ever used Chipmunks but there seem to have been quite a few imported by Australian flying clubs, particularly RAF surplus ones in the 1960s. There's a nice selection of photos of them here and an article about them here.

With the Plastic Parrot progressing pretty quickly, time to start another build. This will be the Airfix 1/48 Chipmunk, using decals from Dek'ls for either VH-RVK or VH-RVV of the Royal Victorian Aero Club (where I did my PPL, but not in a Chipmunk!) in the '60s. Here's what I have to work with: Could have sworn I also have a mask set for it, but can't find it. VH-RVV is now at the Queensland Air Museum in these colours: I'll probably build it as RVK in the race markings worn when it came second in the 1964 Ansett Air Race from Brisbane to Adelaide. more soon Julian

@trickyrich I've uploaded all my Neptune walkaround photos to a Flickr album here. Hope they help!

This looks like an amazing kit! It was the highlight of the show for me the last time it was at Avalon, even though it didn't fly that day - it made it onto the runway but went tech so just taxied along the runway and back - but a Neptune taxying down the runway is far better than no Neptune at all! Rich, I've got some photos of the wheel wells from the Neptune at the Queensland Air Museum, I can dig them out and post them if you want?

Very nice 748 John!

Looking good Ray. I saw the Kiwi 727s at Fairford a couple of times, although I don't recall seeing one in that scheme. I might have to get hold of some Oldmodels decals when the CRM 727-100 comes out later this year.

Now that I'm no longer distracted by Starfighters it's time to get back to the Plastic Parrot. I've got the wings and empennage on and more bits added to the cockpit, and I'm just about ready to fit the canopy. I don't think it's going to be a tail sitter, but it's going to be close! more soon Julian

This is SMS (Scale Modeller’s Supply) fluorescent orange. I’ve also used their international orange on other builds. Highly recommended if it’s available where you are.

Thanks, that makes 25. @Enzo the Magnificent can you move this to the bunfight please?

I've just noticed that one of the photos I've found of this particular airframe shows it kept this scheme for at least a short time (but with the dayglo looking pretty faded) after the upgrade of the seats and canopy so you don't even need to do the conversion

Thanks everyone! It was pretty straightforward. There's not much cutting involved, and where you do have to cut plastic there are very good templates in the form of vinyl masks so it's hard to get wrong. The injection moulded parts and 3D printed parts all fit very well.

Thanks everyone! I'm not sure either. But I'm so used to the later canopy - after all, it wasn't only the canopy used on the majority of two-seaters but the early ones (including this one) were fitted with it when they replaced the downward-firing seats with C-2 seats - that when I see the early one it's as if something looks a bit off.

Here's my 1/48 NF-104A - Kinetic kit, Hypersonic Models conversion and Caracal decals. Built in the F-104 single type group build - build thread is here. thanks for looking Julian

Here's my second build - the NF-104A. Kinetic 1/48 kit with Hypersonic Models conversion and Caracal decals

Finished: more in the gallery shortly thanks for looking Julian

Here's my early F-104D in 1/48 - Kinetic TF-104G backdated to an early 'D (with downward-firing ejection seats and early style canopy) using the Hypersonic Models conversion and Caracal decals. The Kinetic kit is nice to build and the Hypersonic conversion parts were lovely to work with. This was done in the F-104 single type group build, build thread is here. thanks for looking Julian

Here's my F-104D - Kinetic 1/48 kit with Hypersonic Models conversion to an early 'D and Caracal decals. Build thread is here. Thanks for looking Julian

Calling it done - more photos in the gallery shortly

Given my tendency to break them, the pitot will be the last thing to go on!