John Irwing

Fine models there Flash

I use the hobby to relax and don,t have a man cave as such, the kitchen table with everything put away each night has to suffice. My kits are 99% out of the box but I do normally add harnesses where required. Not touched the airbush this year so all the kits were brush painted, normally with enamels but started to use Aquacolor for some of the metalics as I don't find Humbrol pain as good as it used to be. b]AMT 1:420 USS Defiant (8398)[/b] 2015#1 Revell 1:48 Sikorski CH-53GA (04834) German Air Force. 2015#2 Airfix 1:48 English Electric Canberra B(I)8 (A10102) No. 16 Squadron, Laarbruch, Royal Air Force Germany 1972. 2015#3 Airfix 1:48 MiG17F (A05103) NVAF. 2015#4 Airfix 1:48 Dassault Entendard IVP (07102) 16F Ban Landivisiau –1989 2015#5 Monogram/Revell 1:48 Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star (5311) “Lid-Do-Bee” 49-610, Lt. Col. Oliver Cellini, 25th FIS, 51st FIW, October 1950. 2015#6 Revell (Monogram) 1:48 Republic F-84G Thunderjet (5481) 51-10651 9th Fighter Bomber Squadron, Tregu, Korea 1953. 2015#7 Monogram 1:48 Republic F-84F-40GK Thunderstreak, (5437) S/N 519524 Peoria Illoinis, Illonois National Guard 2015#8 Airfix 1:48 D.H.Mosquito PR XVI (07112) No 60 Squadron, South Africa Air Force, San Sevro, Italy, 1944 2015#9 Airfix 1:48 Martin B-57B Canberra (A10104) 52-1574, 71st Bomb Squadron, 38th Bomber Wing, Leon, France, 1957. 2015#10 Airfix 1:48 English Electric Lightning F1A(09179) XM174 “D” No. 56 Squadron “Firebrids”, Royal Air Force Wattisham, UK, 1963. 2015#11] Academy 1:48 North American F-86F-30 Sabre. (12276) Built to represent F-86E-10-NA 51-2834 “Jolley Roger” of the 335th FIS / 4 FIW flown by Capt. Cliff Jolley, Kimpo A.B. October 1952 2015#11 Revell 1:48 B-26B-45-MA Marauder (04525) 295808 “Idiot’s Delight” 391st Bomber Group, 575th Bomber Squadron, RAF Matching, England, August 1944. 2015#12 F-89C-30, 51-5777, 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Presque Isle, Maine, USA. [/b] 2015#13 Revell 1:32 F-4F Phantom II 38+13 “Test Flight” Manching, 30 July 2013. (04895) 2015#14 Airfix 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1a (A68101) X4278 ZD*D, flown by Flying Officer J.W.Cutts, 222 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, Essex, 4th September 1940 2015#15 Airfix 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1a (A68101) S/N unknown, LO*P, 602 Squadron, RAF, Westhampton, West Sussex, August 1940. 2015#16 Airfix 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1a (A68101) S/N Unknown, EB*L flown by Pilot Officer Ted Shipman, 41 Squadron, RAF Catterick, Yorkshire, July 1940. 2015#17 Airfix 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1a (A68101) S/N Unknown, EB*L flown by Pilot Officer Ted Shipman, 41 Squadron, RAF Catterick, Yorkshire, July 1940. 2015#18 Airfix 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1a (A68101) R6800 LZ*N, flown by Squadron Leader Rupert Leigh, 66 Squadron, RAF Gravesend, Kent, September 1940 2015#19 Airfix 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1a (A68101) K9953 ZP*A, flown by Flight Leuitenant Adolf “Sailor” Milan, 74 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, Essex 19th June 1940 2015#20 Airfix 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1a (A68101) N3093 QJ*W, flown by Flight Leuitenant Denys Gillam, 616 Squadron, RAF Leconfield, Yorkshire August 1940 2015#21 Airfix 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1a (A68101) P9398 KL*B, flown by Pilot Officer Alan Deere, 54 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, 9th July 1940 2015#22 Revell 1:48 Jeep and Howitzer Spare parts in CH-53G- not known if issued separately 2015#23 Airfix 1:48 English Electric Lightning F6 (A09178) finished as Lightning F.53 53-692/L of the Royal Saudi Air Force based at Tabuk AB 1977. 2015#24 Revell 1:72 Heinkel He 111 H-3 (4335) A1+DA Stab/KG 53, Luftwaffe, Lille Air Base, France. Summer 1940 2015#25

I started the 1:48 Lancer many many moons nay years ago, so long the white paint in the bay's had turned to magnolia. Refreshed the White with acrylic about 4 years ago but it defeated me again. With getting Lightning and the He111finished, I've pulled this leviathan off the shelf (again) to try and get it finished, after a good clean and some remedial repairs, got the old paint brush out and tidied up the paint and applied a few coats of Humbrol clear. Over the past few days managed to get most of the main decals on. Leaving them to dry until tonight and then I'll crack on with the stencels and try and get the second main U/C built up.

Like that a lot.

That looks great. If you don't already know, you may have to contact Revell about the LRMTS lens (part 173 on step 69a), they neglected to include one in the kit but are trying to sort it out. John

Revell 1:72 Heinkel He 111 H-3 (4335) A1+DA Stab/KG 53, Luftwaffe, Lille Air Base, France. Summer 1940 This is the final kit from the 2010 Icons of Aviation Battle of Britain Giftset (05711) which I started some 4 years ago and was a present from my eldest son. Its actually a re-boxing of the old FROG H-1/H-6 (F201) Brush painted with Humbrol enamels and a little remedial work was carried out, namely making some radiator blanks so you cant see through the fairing and reducing the oloe throw as it was moulded uncompressed. As an aside, all of the kits in this set are both well past their prime and are a product of their time (mainly early 1960s) so please bear this in mind if planning to buy it.

Another from me with several still to go. one of my favorite kits of one of my favorite planes. Airfix 1:48 English Electric Lightning F6 (A09178) finished as Lightning F.53 53-692/L of the Royal Saudi Air Force based at Tabuk AB 1977. Decals from Model Alliance sheet MA-48170, built mainly OOB except some Tamiya tape belts, brush painted with Humbrol Enamels mainly Hu84 and Hu29.

Now only use Hu11 as an undercoat for Aquacolor metallics.

It's a Victor B2, plus others. http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/news/workbench/exclusive-new-2016-announcement-airfix-at-ipms-telford/

I'm not going to count my chickens on this one, I'd love a new tool Victor and Vulcan and they come to fruition, however remember historically that Airfix Annual and Magazine had types on the cover which the Company did not produce.

Revell 1:32 F-4F Phantom II 38+13 “Test Flight” Manching, 30 July 2013. (04895) I bought this kit a few months back on a whim when it was half price at Wonderland Models (it still is at time or writing) and started it for the RevellAtions “In the Catalogue” GB as the majority of my other Revell kits are not in the current addition. Despite being a sizable piece of plastic the kit went together without much hassle at all, decals were a bit of a challenge though but with a little patience and Decalfix they worked very well. Brush painted the main colours with Hu82 and Hu85 enamels followed by Humbrol Clear and used Revell Aqua Color for the metalics and the white. Reasonable pleased with the result and whilst garish scheme’s are not to everyones taste I find the odd one or two brighten up the shelf.

They are really quite good apart from one annoying part. I found it was best to start at a good reference point and for me that was at the rear above exhaust heat shielding then use this to work forward, one mine the port upper fuselage was a few mm sorter than the starboard and I had used the port one to work out the painting demarcation is I needed to touch it up after application. The fly in the ointment was the wing figure, as the pattern comes in pieces and fits around it I started at the rear wing over the flaps and worked outward, then you get to the outer wing and discover that one has to go under the hat rim, the air turned blue, reliving that after I had applied setting solution was a right royal pain. They do need a little touching up here and there but weren't too difficult with care.

Been working on the Revell 1:32 F-4F Phamton. Decals on apart for a few around the cockpit that will be held over until the pit and canopies are finished, applying the main decals was more akin to paper hanging than model making. Brush painted with Hu82 & Hu85 followed by Humbrol Clear. Its a sizable beastie.

Thanks all :-)

Cheers, I found the F-86D to be a great kit.

Revell 1:48 Northrop F-89C Scorpion. (4825) F-89C-30, 51-5777, 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Presque Isle, Maine, USA. Just finished this gun armed version on the troubled F-89 Scorpion. The initial contract to Northrop was signed in May 1946 for two prototypes and a full scale mock-up of the XP-89 which was at that time to be powered by two TG-180-D1 engines and was at that time a swept wing design. With a gun turret as per Black Widow. As development progressed it became evident that both aerodynamically and to meet payload efficiencies a straight wing would be more suitable. Despite some in official circles wanting the entire project cancelled due to misgivings the project progressed and the first prototype XF-89 flew for the first time on 16th august 1948 with guns in the nose replacing the impractical turret arrangment, The F-89B which had improved avionics from the initial F-89A entered USAF service in June 1951 with the 84th FIS and 40 were built. The protracted development had resulted in the F-86D and F-94 being introduced as an interim measure. The B models experienced considerable problems with engines and other systems and soon gave way to the C version which is modelled here of which 164 were built and had engines of improved thrust. The most produced version was the D model of which 682 were built; these models had the cannon removed and the Hughes E-6 fire control system with AN/APG-40 radar and AN/APA-84 computer linked to an armament comprising of two pods of 52x2.75in (70mm) Folding Fin Aerial Rockets (FFARs) in large wingtip pods. Problems persisted, not least some fatal crashes caused by wing structural problems that grounded the entire fleet of all marques for improvements to strengthen their wings which had a tendency to separate from the fuselage during manoeuvring. The proposed E, F and G models did not come to fruition so the next version to enter production was the H that introduced wingtip pods each containing three Falcon AAM and 21 FFARs The final version was the J which were in fact re-engineered Ds with normal 600 gal wingtip tanks and under wing pylons for a single MB-1 Genie nuclear rocket sometimes supplemented with Falcon AAM.s. The Scorpion became the only aircraft to fire a live Genie on 19th July 1957. The aircraft was retired from Air National Guard squadrons in 1969. Although not my best by a long way, I enjoyed making it and was surprised by the size of the beast. Some of the fit is iffy underneath and the decals were possibly past their use by date. Whilst not what you would call and aesthetically pretty aircraft, I like its more purposeful looks and expands my American F jets collection

I don't see any indications that this is anything other than a prototype of what went into production. The cockpit walls aren't there but I don't see a car door version, certainly willing to be proved wrong as I'm no Typhoon expert.

Thanks, I believe it is the same kit with new decals.

Academy 1:48 North American F-86F-30 Sabre. (12276) Built to represent F-86E-10-NA 51-2834 Jolley Roger of the 335th FIS / 4 FIW flown by Capt. Cliff Jolley, Kimpo A.B. October 1952 2015#11 Started about 18 months ago and carrying on with my attempts to reduce the Shelf Of Doom. The kit went together without many problems except the decals which although they looked good were truly awful to apply, they were very thick and I doubt they would have reacted to sulphuric acid let alone decal solution. As a consequence I got Printscale set 48-065 and chose to use the markings already detailed. The purists will possibly put their head in their hands but the finished article looks close enough for me. It is no further aftermarket items were used and it is brush painted mainly with Humbrol Hu11 with a little Hu191 in places.

Airfix 1:48 English Electric Lightning F1A (09179) XM174 “D” No. 56 Squadron “Firebrids”, Royal Air Force Wattisham, UK, 1963. These remain one of my all time favourite Airfix kits, and I am looking forward to it’s re-release later this year when hopefully it will come with better decals. A straight forward OOB build using the supplied decals and brush painted with Revell Aqua 90 as I’ve given up on Hu11. Enjoyed every minute of making it and it will join the rest of my Lightning flight when I put some more shelving up.

Airfix 1:48 Martin B-57B Canberra (A10104) 52-1574, 71st Bomb Squadron, 38th Bomber Wing, Leon, France, 1957. Due to my experience with the decals on the B(I)8 I used Xtradecal set X048-77, no further aftermarket items were used and brush painted with Humbrol paints and clear, new formula Decalfix used which I found better than the old type. Did not encounter any of the fit issues on this one that I did on the B(I)8, and a most enjoyable build.

Airfix 1:48 D.H.Mosquito PR XVI (07112) No 60 Squadron, South Africa Air Force, San Sevro, Italy, 1944 Not too bad a kit,main issues I encountered were: Poor fit of the camera lens into the holes provided - filled with Humdrol Clearfix Fit of the wings to the fuselage. Poor colour saturation of the decals - tried to carefully freehand paint the white on the roundels. Lastly and not Airfix's fault, the carpet monster ate one of the A frames in the U/C. Scratch built a replacement with some bits from the spares box but if you look closely you can tell. last years re-release came with new decals so they should not have this issue. Overall quite happy with the outcome

Monogram 1:48 Republic F-84F-40GK Thunderstreak, (5437) S/N 519524 Peoria Illoinis, Illonois National Guard 2015#8 The next development of the straight winged Thunderjet was the swept wing version, originally designated YF-96A it actually entered development re-designated as XF-84F Thunderstreak for budgetary and other reasons. First flown on the 3rd of June 1950 with the first production version taking to the air on 22nd November 1952. The plane was conceived during a period of excessive frugality from the U.S. Government with regard to fighter development. Consequently the proposal to put swept wings on the existing Thunderjet and retain a 55% commonality with the airframes was accepted. As it turned out continuous redesign and refinement resulted in a plane with no commonality with the original and only a superficial family resemblance. The USAF accepted its first F-84 Fs on 3rd December 1952 but these presented numerous problems including inadequate high speed longitudinal and lateral control, this resulted on its initial operational deployment with the 506th SFW being delayed until January 1954 and even then its use was limited by engine and other deficiencies. The handling problems were alleviated by the introduction of an all flying tail (F-84F-25) in 1954. Improvements over the Thunderjet proved to be marginal despite of the aerodynamic changes mainly due to subsequent increases in weight, power increased from 4,900lb st (2,223 kgp) in the E to 7,800lb st (3,538 kgp) in the F but the empty weight had increase from 11,055lb (5,033kg) to 13,645lb (6,789kg), maximum take off weights being 23,525lb (10,670kg) and 27,000lb (12,247kg) respectively. Take off performance was always sluggish and rocket assisted take offs were frequently used. Maximum speed went from 622mph (1,001km/h) for the Thunderjet to 670mph (1,078km/h) for the Thunderstreak. Armament consisted of 6 internally mounted 0.5-in (12.7mm) machine guns and up to 6,000lb (2,722kg) of external ordinance including a tactical nuclear device. Despite its initial shortcomings, 2,348 were built with 852 going to NATO countries. In July 1964 the USAF Tactical Air Command transferred its remaining Thunderstreaks to the Air National Guard where it remained in active service until November 1971. The 170 Fighter Squadron, Illonois Air National Guard received its first F-84F in February, 1955. In November 1957, the squadron's mission was changed from that of a Tactical Fighter Squadron to a Special Delivery squadron, and the 170th began training on the tactical delivery of nuclear weapons. They continued to operated the type throughout the 60s until a fatal crash in 1971 was traced back to structural failure and an inspection of the fleet resulted in them being withdrawn from service. By that time the 170th had the distinction of flying the F-84F longer than any USAF/ANG unit. The Kit is made from Monograms 1985 release of the 1984 original. It is a product of its time with raised details, however I dont personally have an issue with these and are part of these kits charm IMHO. It goes together really well, the only issue was care was needed to make sure the wings go on level and the join between them and the fuselage needs a little attention. The kit was finished using AeroMaster set 48-728 as the ones in the kit had suffered through lack of care from its previous owner (an e-bay buy). The decals describe the trim as bronze, however Hu12 gold was a perfect match for touching up and I masked the wing tips and painted the rather than trying to get the decals to conform to the curves. Brush painted using Hu11 as is the F-86 Im working on at the moment but I am looking to change as Im finding the new formula more of a metallic grey than the silver it should be, Im quite impressed with Revell Aqua 90 so am trying this on a Lightning which is another WIP. I cant recommend these old 1:48 kits enough for modelling enjoyment.

It was this boxing.

Thanks. Made the Dog as well and think I agree with you with my experience of Revell kits so far. The Decals are one of the options supplied.