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Hello Chaps, I've finally completed my first build of the New Year, 2016...now on with the next one! Firstly, I'd like to say that this isn't a kit that I would normally be interested in buying, because of its 36 yr age, poorly engineered and molded parts, a few parts at that, the lack of details, raised panel lines and rivet details, with some rivets being very large for this scale model, and, there was a lot of clean-up to do regarding flash and parting-line miss-match. The engine cowling was poor fitting and there were gaps present at the joints of mating parts. But, that said...I needed a plane that was suitable for a "Spanish Civil War" group Build that I wanted to participate in, on YouTube, and one that was 1/48 scale or larger. Well, that's where my problem arose...I could find 1/72 scale aircraft and after market decals for 1/72, but nothing larger. I therefore decided that I was going to paint all of the markings on myself. Despite my efforts to turn a "pigs ear" into a "silk purse", I felt that I was always trying to overcome the fact that the molded parts look so cheap and "toy-like". Ha well, I stuck with her and posted my best effort with what I had available. For the rigging, I used Heavy black EZ-Line- 1.015" thick, and for the antenna cables, I used Fine black EZ-Line - 1.010" thick. I drilled holes through the vertical and horizontal stabilzers as well as one each side of the fuselage for the elevator and rudder actuator cables and I scratch built the antenna cable hard point at the top of the vertical stabilizer. I'm disappointed with it myself, because I had gotten so comfortable building well engineered and molded 1/32 scale kits....I choose large scale because my eyesight has gotten terrible in the last couple of years as I get closer to my 60 years of age! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the fact that it is different with its Spanish Republican Air Force markings as opposed to the British markings that are normally applied to these models. Enough waffling, here's the photos... So there she is, be gentle...it is a poor kit and no after-market enhancements were used to try to help her out, if any exist? But, if they did, I wouldn't waste the money on AM parts for a kit this old and poorly engineered and molded. I didn't do a build log on here leading up to this "Final Revea", but I did create "Build Update" videos on my YouTube Channel, along with an introduction video and a final reveal video. If you'd like to see how I constructed, painted and weathered this kit, then here are the links to my "Build Series" videos for this model: "Introduction" video link: https://youtu.be/HRoT0Frosvs "Build Update #1" video link: https://youtu.be/jM1voNN10CM "Build Update #2" video link: https://youtu.be/m6A5j3TsEUA "Build Update #3" video link: https://youtu.be/ZcHffhZkBAE "Final Reveal" video link: https://youtu.be/Me-q2zLHqs0 Thanks in advance for taking a look at this posting, watching any of my videos and leaving any comments, greatly appreciated! In the mean-time, happy modeling and have fun! Cheers

Hello Chaps, I'm back to share with you my final build of 2015, that I completed the morning of New Years Eve. This was a gift from a fellow YouTube modeler, who sent it to me because he knew that I was enjoying building Luftwaffe aircraft during the last 8 months, but hadn't yet built a bomber, and that the Heinkel He 111 was a plane that I really wanted to get my hands on. This is a discontinued kit from 1994, but has been re-released under the Revell banner. For a 22 yr old kit, it has some reasonable details, including recessed panel lines on the exterior surfaces and three figures: a officer, pilot and bombardier/front gunner.. I did have a couple of fit issues though: one of the wing root to fuselage joints had a gap of around 1.0mm that I had to fill, and, the profile of the greenhouse canopy was wider than the profile of the fuselage body on both sides. I therefore had to carefully file the clear part down without damaging the window areas. Also, the original decal sheet was yellowed and the moment I put decals into water, they disintegrated. My friend who sent me the kit had suspected this might happen, so he included a more up to date set of decals, although they had markings for two H-6 version Heinkel's that carried two torpedoes and also didn't have the fully enclosed dorsal gun turret, but the open style with the windshield facing forward to protect the gunner from airflow. This newer decal sheet didn't include decals for the V1 rocket, of which there were 24 stencils intended to go onto the rocket on the original sheet. I therefore decided that this was going to be a non-existent, what if, fun build. I mixed some of the fuselage side markings from the decal sheet to spell 1H+AM, which was associated to a Junkers Ju 88 and which I thought appropriate at the time of building, as it was Christmas, and most people like a good Spiral Ham! With this being a large model at 1/48 scale, I thought that the two tone splinter camo was just too much green, and therefore broke the monotony of it up with a white tail band, which would have indicated that it operated in North Africa....again...accuracy isn't playing into this build...it's just for fun at this point in time. I have to say though, it was a good kit besides the outlined issues and I had a lot of fun building it! Enough waffling and onto the photos, I hope you like them Well there she is, I hope you like her as much as I enjoyed building her. Again, just like my Fw 190F-8 build, I haven't had the time to post my build on here, but I do have a introduction to the build video and 4 "Build Update" videos on my YouTube Channel, along with my "Final Reveal" video that are available to watch, should you be interested in all the stages from start until end of this build. Here are the links for the 5 videos associated to this build: Introduction Video Link- https://youtu.be/BRDvVv0aAS8 Build Update #1 Video Link- https://youtu.be/VCvq7-FxUxU Build Update #2 Video Link- https://youtu.be/wolvHNA4rZQ Build Update #3 Video Link- https://youtu.be/WPJQIszbQIs Build Update #4 Video Link- https://youtu.be/gSrM2QytLYc Final Reveal Video Link- https://youtu.be/l2BoXSWtHcE Thanks in advance for taking a look at this posting, for leaving comments and for watching any of the videos, should you do so, much appreciated! Until my next build thread begins, happy modeling, have fun and Happy New Year! Cheers Martin

Hy folks, this is my first 2016 finished model! I built my Revell's Strike Eagle strictly oob; no after were added, except for the Mk 82 bombs "stolen" from an Academy F-4 Phantom Painted with Guzne H305 (body) and RLM (nose) Great kit, had lot of fun in building! Hope you like it! ciao Ale

Hi All, This was actually my last build of 2014 and is part of my Yellow Wings collection. I've always thought there's a great charm to this stubby little aircraft so building a colourful USN version was always going to happen. The CA kit is, in general, an enjoyable thing to build but does have a few things to look out for with regard to fit. Nothing that a bit of time spent studying the instructions and dry fitting doesn't sort out though. The markings were done using a combination of kit decals - mainly for the Felix emblem - and Montex masks for national insignia. I hope you all enjoy the photos. Cheers all, Roger

Hi All, This is my rendition of the Hasegawa 1/48 F6-F5, using the Montex mask kit to recreate an aircraft from USS Santee, VF-24. The kit has been built by many Britmodellers so I won't go into the build but I chose to use the mask kit for a bit of fun and to have an extra colour to break up the Glossy Sea Blue. There's some limited pre and post shading to break it up even further but I kept it restrained as I couldn't find any reference shots of heavily weathered aircraft from this unit. I hope you all enjoy the photos. Cheers all, Roger

So another 74 Sqn what if based on `fact` completed. Within months of 74 Sqn disbanding at Tenagh in 1971 and handing in their EE Lightning F.6`s, word was soon spread around that the Tiger`s would reform in the shape of the new Sepecat Jaguar. Alas, it was not to be. But what if it had? Now some of you may be saying, `but wasn`t 74 sqn a fighter unit`? For the most part of it`s history, this is true. However 74 has also dipped it`s toe, (or should that be paw?), into the murky world of ground attack on more than a few occasions. Probably the most memorable being as part of the 2nd TAF in Europe during the last stages of the war when it was the only rocket projectile firing Spitfire sqn. Albeit not that effective and shallow dive bombing was the preferred attack strategy. So with that in mind, I opted for a scheme that I felt was realistic in that a ground attack aircraft/sqn would usually tone down any bright colours, markings and art work, but I also wanted to keep the usual `Tiger spirit` and pride that anyone who ever served on the unit so readily accepted and usually showed off on their aircraft. Hopefully I`ve pulled it off?

A year or two ago I got a cheap`ish old Monogram F-4J which probably dated back to the early Jurassic period. Once received, I opened the box to find a number of issues the main one being that it had more Warp than the Starship Enterprise and even Scotty couldn`t really save it. So it ended up in the spares box doomed to a lonely life with only a broken Meteor and half a Canberra for company. Moving on to the present and for a recent Phantom GB I had an idea for what I could do with that dodgy Phantom. I came up with this......., F-4J Phantom II 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) Now before you ask this is more an experimental build to find out how far with limited materials I could get to make it look run down in open storage. The markings are fictional with much of what you see scratch built. The water marks are a mix of dark enamels and watered down dark wash. The faded out markings have been lightly painted over, allowed to dry for a minute or two and then gently rubbed off to effect. The spraylat effect is quite simply PTFE thread seal tape which if done properly, (and much better than my effort), could give an excellent effect. Think that`s pretty much about it from memory and certainly an enjoyable way to reuse an old tired kit that wasn`t fit for purpose.

Based on the little known rumour in 1966 that 74 (Tiger) Sqn might be the first recipient of any British F-111 purchase after the cancellation of the TSR project. G/D TF-111A XV884/A 74 (Tiger) Sqn RAF Leuchars 1st June 1967

EE Lightning F.3 XP751/B 74 (Tiger) Sqn Meherebad Air Base Imperial Iranian Air Force Day 17th October 1965 .... and finally a picture of the 74 Lightning collection. Got the 3 types of single seater operated by the sqn as well as the 3 different types of makings and schemes. No black tail, black tail and spine and then just the black tail.

Hi All, The A Model DH.60G that I plan to finish as Amy Johnson's "Jason" is nearing the top of the stash and although most of the parts look pretty good on the sprues and I've read good reviews, the combined prop and boss really aren't fit for purpose. Does anybody know of a good resin aftermarket replacement? Googling has got me nowhere so far and I'm hoping one of you guys will be able to help. Thanks all, Roger

Hi all, A couple of Esci Phantoms @ 48th Scale. Building OOB with the exception of adding decals. Baremetal and Academy's F-4C decals. Xtracolor Paints.

Hi all, Just finished Kinetic's little "Freedom Fighter" in Canadian markings. Built it straight from the box and painted it with Humbrol Enamels.

Is this the first Academy Phantom finished on BM? Overview. This is one kick-bottom kit from Academy. Detailing is superb all round and there are bags of weapons to fit if so desired. That it has some inaccuracies is a given, what kit doesn't? However, they're nothing some filler and a re-scribe won't cure. Yes there were lots of aftermarket added, this is perhaps the second only Phantom I've ever built as it's not a favourite of mine, so I figured to detail it as the chances of building another are few and far between. I did see an illustration a few years ago of VF-51s CAG bird and have always wanted to build that example. Who could resist the multi-coloured eagle feathers? My advice to anyone contemplating building this kit is..........Go for it. It knocks spots of the Hasegawa kit on price alone. Do not use Aires' cockpit set unless you're a total masochist. It looks great but is a PITA to fit. Limit yourself to some nice bang seats and your good to go. The seamless intakes needed some fettling to fit, but that's expected. They're well worth the price. Eduards Jet pipes look fantastic and again, well worth the money. I'm 50/50 with the tailerons and perhaps would leave the kit ones on unless needing slatted ones. They do correct the incorrect panel lines on the kit ones though.The a/c intakes are a nice correction to have too. The Furball decals are top notch. I can't recommend them enough. Cartograf printed them and the kit decals which are just as good. Absolutely no problems with them at all. Anyway, here it is in all it's glory. And yes, I noticed the sponge in the intakes, it's gone now. W

Hi all, 74 Squadron. Brian

As the title asks, has anybody done this yet? I have a couple of Monogram 1/48th AV-8Bs in the stash, they were cheap as eff when I was over in the States. However, as I mostly build stuff with Blighty's markings I wonder how difficult it is to convert to the GR7 or 9. I'm aware there are a few resin conversions out there, Heritage do a GR5 conv. and a twin seater, for example, but I seem to find it impossible to find the correct nose. I have the Hasegawa boxing too with the GR7/9 nose so am I being forced to mold it's nose in resin, something I've never done (yet) or what? Any hints?

Can anyone point me in the direction of a generic or specific sheet of stencils for a 1/48 scale RN. phantom for a friend of mine, (no, really it is). He got the Model Alliance sheet for RN. phantoms but apparently it dosn't contain any stencil details. Thanks John