The Lazy Builder

That is a very nice build of what looks like a very tasty kit. I wish Airfix would stop bringing out such good 1/72 stuff, I've moved to 1/48 and it's just not fair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all the replies. Now I've had time to check them over I think I chuck them together and use them for practising my painting. Hey ho you win some you lose some.

Nicely finished model. I've bought one of those too and am looking forward to getting started, I think that it's a great looking little plane. Smallest aeroplane they could build behind the biggest engine they could find.

Speedy, Hope things have improved on and life is going in the right direction. As to the A-4, I bought a 2 seater a couple of weeks ago, some dodgy Korean make. I needed something to practise airbrushing and it was cheap for 1/48 but it needs some help. When I looked at it it was quite a nice kit not Tam or Hase standards but OK so I thought that the Fujimi u/c and some other bits might be better so I'll wait and see. Take care - Ian

Nigel, Thanks for the reply, sorry should have said it's 1/48 scale. Do you know if these are the same kits but scaled up? Apologies again Ian

Have won the 1/48 Fujimi Blue Angels A-4F on Ebay and knowing that Fujimi quality varies, does any have any views on this kit?

Hope they enlarge it and release it in 48th scale - that would be really tasty.

I've bought one and it's a real bargain tons of plastic for not much cash. Buy one you won't regret it.

I picked up an F model last autumn at a very good price, always wanted one so very excited. Got it home opened the box an just thought, 'this is too big'. Having seen your finished 17s I am now thinking seriously about reviewing my decision - they look so good and so big the thought of just getting one together is inspiring. Lovely to see.

Speedy, I agree the top one is a Armstrng Whitworth Siskin, either a III or a IIIA (added radio equipment) and I think the lower one is a Wallace. Pity you didn't bring them into the NVQ/CCF office before you left and we could have had a good look. How's things these days? Ian W

Got a couple of those insulating the loft. Your build has made me want to go and dig one out and get started. Very nice build - any problems with the kit?

Lovely build. You've captured the menace of the real thing.

I think that Rocs and Gladiators/Sea Gladiators scored a couple of kills over Norway and Gladiators achieved one or 2 kills over France in 1940. The Roc was part of a long line of 2 seat RN fighters that really weren't up to much, even the Firefly was not a proper fighter in comparison to single seat contemporaries. However, the Gladiator performed well in the North African Desert and the RAF's (alleged)highest scoring ace, Pat St John Pattle scored a high proportion of his kills flying the Gladiator.

I think a number of US Navy and Marine crews used the SBD to good effect as a fighter after they had bombed.

Never really thought about building 'whifs' but seeing you're pictures makes me think I might give one a try but what?

You've done a great job . It is a beast but yours is a beauty.

That looks like a 262 should - great build and finishing!

That is a really lovely model and the diorama makes it looks as though it could start up at any moment. Hope they sort out the FOD before it moves though! Ian

Your models show a one of the Golden Ages of aviation in all its glorious colour. Lovely models of lovely aircraft. Well done!

One of the issues I always find interesting about these colour threads is that the human aspect is often forgotten. As someone with a few decades of Service in the RAF stretching back quite a long way what modellers forget is that is that the 'Painters and Dopers', or latterly 'Painters and Finishers' regarded painting aircraft in much the same way as they painted, trucks, 'gennies' or pretty much anything else. The order from Command, the Air Ministry or elsewhere may dictate a colour but exigiencies of the Service would result in a different finish from that proscribed. The further back you go, particularly in times of emergency or war, the more pronounced this is likely to be. My Dad he was in the 'Mob' for twenty odd years before me, would often comment on colour on my completed models, especially if he had worked on the type. His favourite tale was a line up of Tempest IIs in the Canal Zone in 1946/7. All were painted in the same scheme but his remebrance was that every one of them looked a slightly different colour. He recalled a Beaufighter that had such damaged paint that it changed colour if you ran your hand across the skin or it got rained on. While I understand the desire of some people for absolute accuracy in completing models, my view (for what it's worth)is that unless you have a paint chips from the actual aircraft most colour is open to conjecture. However, I'd be happy to sit in a pub all day listening to you guys discussing your views. From a different perspective, is it just me or has anyone else felt that the people in the pictures were more 'real' because they are in colour?

VP Thanks for the tip I'll seek them out.

Very interesting thread and one that always raises a great 'discussion' but what about the worst fighter of the B of B? My contender would be the Fiat Cr42. However, although they took a real pasting on their, I think, only outing over the UK they were very pretty little fighters.

Could it be a re-issue of a Hasegawa Hurri? Too much to hope for I suppose.

Interesting cable knit jumper too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are the Academy 1/48 Hunters the only game in town? I thought someone else had brought one out, perhaps Lindberg. I'm looking to build an earlier version as part of a 112 Sqn build and really don't fancy hacking the wings leading edge about. Essentially, and somewhat strangely, I've got the decals but the kit doesn't exist!