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  1. This build is of the Short Stirling MG-V W7445 based at RAF Oakington, that on Sunday 15th November 1941 eventually came to rest after just missing my Grandfather’s farm house at Westwick Farm, Westwick, with the wing then clipping another house close by leading to the Stirling crashing into the Orchard field on the opposite side of the road to the farm house. The two aircrew that my Grandfather rescued were Sgt A.J. Ansell R.A.F. and Sgt W.D. Topping and my Grandfather was awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil) for his heroic actions. My plan is to then create a Diorama with the Stirling backed by a LNER D16 locomotive and carriage that is captured in the photograph on the railway line between RAF Oakington and my Grandfathers farm. I'm 100% sure that W7445 was the first Stirling to be fitted with the Fraser Nash NN7A dorsal turret making it a Mk1 Series III. This isn't going to be Ia quick build😄👌 https://postimg.cc/CdpNHPSNI https://postimg.cc/T5QdSLZc https://postimg.cc/N2QGp7PM https://postimg.cc/YGKCmw6QII https://postimg.cc/nXmGv4XL https://postimg.cc/dD0RWPhp https://postimg.cc/kDD8QQZd
  2. Hello, I would like to share with you the short serie of captured Heinkel He111 in british markings (1/72 scale). My father has finished two models out of three. 1) 2) Cheers Santiago
  3. Following the 'comparison' thread - I have made a start on building the Trumpeter 1/72 scale Su-34..... I won't post pics of the sprues - they are available elsewhere and here - just progress photos of the build. The cockpit is quite comprehensive - with a separate door in the rear bulkhead..... but note those ejection pin marks in the structure behind the seats. Similarly, the nosewheel bay looks accurate - complete with two-parts for the sliding access hatch..... The K-36 ejection seats are quite simplified - I would replace them if the cockpit was open - but they are acceptable given the closed cockpit... Trumpeter even provide the rudder pedals and very nice control collums - decals are provided for the front and side instrument panels - although the starboard panel curled up on me and I couldn't get it straight... Note the rear door - which I have posed open. The nosewheel bay in place - although not mentioned in the instructions, the front access hatch can be clicked in place and made to slide open..... Open.... Closed.... View into the wheel bay.... note the sliding front hatch. Top and bottom fuselage halves glued together..... I have made an attempt at re-profiling the nose to make it sharper - with moderate success...... It isn't 100% - but it looks much better - I might shave a bit more off to make the 'beak' sharper - but without going through the plastic!!... Re-shaped Trumpeter nose compared to the Italeri nose.... More later... Ken
  4. After a very long break, I’m finally getting back to completing the Dragon 1/72 Jagdtiger. This was originally started as part of a group build back in 2019 but life got in the way. There’s a lot of photos documenting the build in the completed group builds section - I guess I’m going to be about four years late for the GB but perhaps another one will come along before I finish this little beast?! I restarted working on this a couple of weeks ago - I had problems with the Dragon tracks being too short, which looked unrealistic and they were so tight that they snapped the drive sprockets off. I made new axles from brass rod and spliced in some of the spare tracks from the kit. One side is complete apart from track painting. I also added the decals, gave it a coat of Matt varnish and started the weathering process. I’m going to go easy on this - from what I have read, most JTs saw very little action. Photos from 2019 - Dragon 1/72 kit plus PE from ET Model. And now in 2023, showing recent progress. The kit suffered a bit of minor damage in storage, so some repairs and touching up of previous work is required. The replacement front axle from brass rod. The grey area is the spliced in styrene spare track links. Some of these have been painted and hung on the hooks that I added. More updates to follow - thanks for looking, Andrew
  5. Here's the first completion of the year, the epic Airfix 1/72 Buccaneer, a kit I've been waiting for since I started modelling some 40 years ago! Painted in Xtracolour X032 RAF Desert Gulf War pink and then toned down with Revell matt clear, the additions to the kit are as follows: Armory resin wheels Kits-world decals Eduard ejection seat handles Coastal kits base Tamiya weatherine master soot for the engine stains Flory models wash I've also got the Flightpath RAF oxygen/nitrogen set, RAF diorama set and RAF ground power unit to add - but these are proper hardcore and will probably take longer to build than the model did! I'll post fresh pics when I eventually complete it. Bucc9 by tony_inkster, on Flickr Bucc8 by tony_inkster, on Flickr Bucc7 by tony_inkster, on Flickr Bucc6 by tony_inkster, on Flickr Bucc5 by tony_inkster, on Flickr Bucc2 by tony_inkster, on Flickr Bucc1 by tony_inkster, on Flickr
  6. Hello everyone Im doing an homage to one of the original F-5A prototypes. https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northrop_YF-5A_(SN_59-4987,_first_prototype_aircraft)_060905-F-1234S-001.jpg I was curious to know if anyone did the wing-tip coke bottle tanks in 1/72 as an aftermarket item. Or would the best route be to look for a set in someones spares ?
  7. So I decided to actually do something rather than sitting around not feeling very well due to a cold. Out with the disc cutter and I even assembled part of the replacement The black sort of vertical lines are references for where parts are to go. I could possibly get away with moving the engine pack slightly forward as the helicopter now has a bit more weight behind the gearbox than there was before but I will probably keep it where it was as everything else such as the stub wings would have to be moved as well which is too much. The nose from the 56 will get replaced with that from the AH-1 as well. Not much done but it's a start. Gondor
  8. The Fokker Super Universal was one of many entries in the CV of Anglo-Dutch aircraft designer Robert Noorduyn, who learned his craft in England during and just after WW1, before emigrating to America where he became variously the Chief Engineer of American Fokker, Pitcairn and Bellanca, finally moving north of the border to set up the enterprise bearing his own name and creating his most famous product, the Norseman. The Super Universal was an extrapolation of his earlier Universal with twice the power (420hp P & W Wasp) and seats for 6-8 passengers. Although primarily an airliner, it was designed with one eye on the bushplane market in Canada. One of its more unusual features was that it was designed for single man operation. Instead of seats in the cockpit was a simple plank (bring your own cushion...), which also served as a step on which the pilot could stand to crank the starter through the hinged panels in the top of the cockpit enclosure. This was not widely-practised however, as by all accounts it required a stomach muscle-busting effort... 80 examples were built for airlines and corporate users in the US, along with 15 slightly modified aircraft in Canada by Canadian Vickers and 50+ with Nakajima-built Bristol Jupiter engines in Japan/Manchuria, where it became the workhorse of the domestic airlines. It had the typical Fokker features of a thick plywood cantilever wing and fabric-covered steel tube fuselage and was effectively a baby brother to the Dutch-built F-VII. The first production aircraft was ordered for then-Commander Richard E. Byrd’s pioneering 1929 Antarctic Expedition, the first to explore the continent by air, where it served alongside the Fairchild FC2W-2 ‘Stars & Stripes’ and Ford Trimotor ‘Floyd Bennett’ (both surviving in museums). Named ‘The Virginia’ after Byrd’s home state, it became the first aircraft to take off from the continent, following unloading from the ship and re-assembly. It was a brief glory however, as it was destroyed in a 100+ mph blizzard which dragged the aircraft several hundred yards during a geological expedition, which required the 3 crew members to be rescued by the Fairchild. The engine and instruments were removed and the remnants of the wreckage are still there. An expedition to recover it was mooted about a decade ago, but came to nothing. It had a number of unique features, like a shorter nose for better cockpit heating, different cabin windows and extra fuel tanks in both the fuselage and centre of the wing which set it apart from the aircraft which followed. A couple of interesting films of it here: https://americanpolar.org/crash-of-byrds-fokker-in-antarctica-1929/ https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675020812_Byrd-Expedition_Blizzard-wrecks-airplane-and-radio-equipment_eat-and-drink_chocolate-bars The first US airline operator was National Parks Airways, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Like a number of early airlines, it was founded by a bus operator, Alfred Frank, who was the successful bidder on the Government contract to provide an air route serving Utah, Idaho and Montana. As the northern part of the route skirted Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, that gave the airline its distinctive name, which was really just a marketing gimmick. It took delivery of 4 of the Fokkers in 1928, which were the original equipment, along with Stearman mailplanes. 3 of the Fokkers served for over 5 years until replaced by Boeing 247s. NPA lasted until 1937, when it merged with Western Air Express and shortly after was renamed Western Airlines, which became a major US airline until it was taken over by Delta in 1987. Here are my 1/72 models, 100% scratchbuilt in plastic card. They were a very long, drawn-out project, so it was good to finally get over the finish line a few months ago. Fortunately I work on a number of models in rotation, which prevents it getting boring. Special thanks go to Clark Seaborn of Calgary, Canada, restorer of the sole-surviving aircraft, for creating some wonderful structural drawings of Canadian aircraft which were the starting point for the project and his insights which helped me to really understand the details . Byrd's 'Virginia', Fokker Super Universal first production aircraft, 1929 Antarctic Expedition : The distinctive Fokker 'cab' was assembled from 13 separate pieces : Fokker Super Universal (early production), National Parks Airways, Salt Lake City, 1928 : Replicating the triple external control cables to the tail surfaces is a major challenge in 1/72 scale: The real deal : Both together: A few WiPs to follow....
  9. Hi, Although it is not a large series, these are our Arado Ar234 B-2 models just done. 1) Arado Ar 234 Air MInister 24 2) Arado Ar234 VK877 Air Minister 26 3) Arado Ar234 AR234 Air Minister 226 Final group photos These are all our captured WWII German's aircrafts which include 132 models already done. There are aproximately 20 or 25 aircrafts to build some of them do not have any kits at all Manufacturer Aircraft Mark Sqn A/A. Pilots Year Place ARADO AR 96B Air Minister 120 435 DSRU --- "ECFS Empire Central Flying School" ARADO AR 196 A3 W Nr 1006 333 Norwegian Squadron RAF --- ARADO AR 196 A3 VM748 --- ARADO AR 232B-0 Air Minister 17 --- ARADO 234 B-2 Air Minister 24 --- ARADO 234 B-2 VK877 Air Minister 26 --- ARADO 234 B-2 AR234 Air Minister 226 --- BUCKER BU 131B --- 1941 RAF Christchurch BUCKER BU 181, C-1 Bestmann W Nr 4022 VM 215 --- BUCKER BU 181, C-1 Bestmann --- BGA 338 "Minimoa" --- DORNIER Do-17 ex Yugoslavian Dk 17 --- 1941 Heliopolis, Egypt DORNIER Do-22 306 No. 2 (Yugoslav) Squadron under the control of No. 230 Squadron --- 1941-1942 Egypt. DORNIER Do-335A-1 Pfeil --- DORNIER Do-335A-12 Anteater --- FIESELER Fi 156C-3 Storch Air Min 99 --- 1945 Farnborough FIESELER Fi 156C-3 Storch NM+ZS 3 sqdn RAAF --- FIESELER Fi 156C-3 Storch HB --- FIESELER Fi 156C-3 Storch Desert Air Force Communication Fligh, --- February 1943 FIESELER Fi 156C-3 Storch VP546 --- FOCKE ACHGELIS Fa 223E Drache --- --- --- FOCKE ACHGELIS Fa 330 --- --- --- FOCKE WULF FW 58C-2 Weihe TE+BK AM117 selected for study of its spraying system --- January 1946 Chemical Warfare Establishment at Porton Schleswig FOCKE WULF FW 189 A3 WNr 0173 --- August 1945. FOCKE WULF FW 190A D - MP499 (P) --- --- From July 1942 to January 1943 FOCKE WULF FW 190A EA/4 - PN999 --- --- FOCKE WULF FW 19F-8 U/1 Air Min 29 - - Sep-45 Farnborough FOCKE WULF FW 190A-5 W Nr 52596 White 6 --- FOCKE WULF FW 190 SAAF FOCKE WULF FW 190 XM-? 182 --- Schleswig FOCKE WULF FW 190 PE882 --- 1945 RAE FOCKE WULF FW 190F-8 / R15 AM111 FOCKE WULF FW 190 A8 YO 401 RCAF --- FOCKE WULF FW 190F-8 H FOCKE WULF TA 152 H Air Min 11 --- FOCKE WULF TA 152 H W Nr. 150003 --- May-45 Leck AB FOCKE WULF FW 200 C4 Condor G_AGAY --- --- 5/15/1940 Shoreham FOCKE WULF FW 200 Condor GC AE AM94 --- GOTHA GO 145C BV207 --- GOTHA GO 145C --- GOTHA GO 150 --- HEINKEL HE 111H --- HEINKEL HE 111H --- HEINKEL HE 111H AW177 --- HEINKEL HE 115C-1 BV186. --- HEINKEL HE 162 Salamander W.Nr, 120235. AIR MIN 68, --- 1945 Uk HEINKEL HE 162 Salamander W.Nr. 120076 Air Min 45 and then VH523 --- 1945 Uk HEINKEL HE 162 Salamander W.Nr. 120072 --- 1945 Uk HEINKEL HE 219 Uhu AIR MIN 20 --- HEINKEL HE 219 Uhu AIR MIN 22 --- HENSCHEL HS 126 OK --- HENSCHEL HS 129B-1 NF756 --- JUNKERS JU W 34 F/O john Foster y F/Lt Hughes Jun-45 JUNKERS JU 86P AM118 - DDGE --- JUNKERS JU 87 B-1 HK027 --- JUNKERS JU 87 D3 AK ? 213 --- Nov-42 JUNKERS JU 87 D8 VZ? 412 RAF JUNKERS JU 87 D5 DN+LT 212 --- May-43 Zuara JUNKERS JU 87 B-2 W.Nr. 5763,, 101, Autonomo Gruppo Bombardamento a Tuffo, Derna (Libya) summer of 1941 209 squadriglia --- Summer 1941 Derna (Libya) JUNKERS JU 87 D UF 601 RAF Sqdn --- JUNKERS JU 88 TS472 --- JUNKERS JU 88 PJ786 --- JUNKERS JU 88 TP190 JUNKERS JU 88 CV JUNKERS JU 88 622983 4R+RB --- JUNKERS JU 88 WNr 0660 Coded 1H+MN --- JUNKERS JU 88 HK959 JUNKERS JU 88 Air Min 16 JUNKERS JU 88 Air Min 48 --- JUNKERS JU 88 HM509 JUNKERS JU 88 EE205 coded EA 9 JUNKERS JU 88 AX919 JUNKERS JU 88 71+CV Air Min 41 - - 1945 RAE JUNKERS JU 188 280032 --- JUNKERS JU 188 327 --- JUNKERS JU 188 --- Italy JUNKERS JU 188 --- JUNKERS JU 290 A-5 Seeadler 9V+B --- August 1945 German Aircraft Exhibition. JUNKERS JU 388 Air Min 83 --- MESSERSCHMITT Bf108 B-1 DK280 (Wnr2039) --- --- 1941 Uk MESSERSCHMITT Bf108 D R2101 --- --- 1945 Uk MESSERSCHMITT Bf108 D --- 401 --- 1945 Germany MESSERSCHMITT BF 108B Taifun 124W 5 2TAF --- 1945 Tangmere MESSERSCHMITT BF 108B Taifun --- --- --- 1945 Fornebu MESSERSCHMITT BF 108B Taifun --- --- --- --- Midle East Desert MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 (E-3) 44 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 E 2 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 G-14 “Black 10” 2110 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 G-6 - U2 (White 16). TP814 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 F4 White 6 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 G14 AS “Black 4” --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 G 14/U4 VD358 Wk 415460, --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 G2 EY MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 G2 GL? --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 E-3/B "Black 12" W.Nr 4101 de la 2./JG 51 - --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 AE479 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 CV/V --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 E-3 White 1 WMr 1304 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 G-14 /U4 W.Nr. 415460 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 F2 W.Nr 12764.ES906 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 G2 W.Nr 10639, RN228 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 G6 VX101 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 F2 W.Nr 7232, white 11 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 F4 Black 6 W. Nr 10639 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 G4 B --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 G2 HS¡ --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 F4 AX ? --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 G4 AX JACK SAAF --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 F4 KJ ? --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 110 AM30 MESSERSCHMITT BF 110 D AX772 --- Jul-40 UK MESSERSCHMITT BF 110 D AX772 --- MESSERSCHMITT BF 110 D W Nr 4035 --- 1941 Mosul,during Iraq MESSERSCHMITT BF 110 G AM15 (W Nr 180560) 23 June 1945 MESSERSCHMITT BF 110 G-5/R1 W Nr 420031 (AM85) F/Lt Edwards. 28-Jul-45 Farnborough MESSERSCHMITT ME 163B --- MESSERSCHMITT ME 262B-1A/U1 W Nr 110305 --- May 18th, 1945 MESSERSCHMITT ME 262B-1A W Nr 110165 --- RAF in Schleswig MESSERSCHMITT ME 262B-1A White 5 W Nr 111690 417 RSU --- MESSERSCHMITT Me 262 A-2A "Black X" VP554 W Nr 500200 --- MESSERSCHMITT Me 262 A-2A "Yellow 17" W Nr 500210 616 --- MESSERSCHMITT ME 262B-1A Yellow 5 W Nr 500443 --- MESSERSCHMITT Me 262B-1a/U1 Red 12 W Nr 111980 --- MESSERSCHMITT ME 410B-6 W Nr410208 AM74 --- 1945 Vaerlose Denmark MESSERSCHMITT Me 410A Aug-43 Gerbini, Sicilia MESSERSCHMITT Me 410 A-3 W Nr 10259 F6+OK Nov-43 Monte Corvino MISTEL S3B (Ju 88H-1/Fw 190 A-8) Air Minister 75 --- MISTEL S3B (Ju 88H-1/Fw 190 A-8) Air Minister 77 --- RHOENBUSSARD Rhonbussard --- 26/10/1940 Congleton / North Rode Viaduct [ Off-Airport ] SIEBEL Si 204 D-1 WNr 322127 AM4 --- 1945 UK SIEBEL Si 204 D-1 VN112 --- Cheers Santiago
  10. Hello! I am going to attempt to build this kit as one of the early ragwings that arrived in Canada in Spring 1939. Here is a link to some questions I had and the answers I received: I have started by removing a few major components and cleaning/sanding edges. I have thinned down the insides of the wing trailing edges, hoping to avoid the thick edges that Airfix gives you. So far so good. It's been awhile since I last sat at the table and worked on styrene. Man, that can be hard on the back when you're old and out of shape. Anyhoos, here a picture to prove I am working on an actual real kit. A warning to any followers! My progress can be best described as glacial. I hope to do just this one kit in the next year. Chris
  11. Almost forgotten today, the 1927 Dole Race is one of the most infamous air races in history. An event which has come to symbolise the near-mania for risky over-water flights which followed in the wake of Lindbergh’s Atlantic flight. Hawaiian pineapple millionaire James Dole put up a $25000 prize for the first flight from Oakland, California to Honolulu, Hawaii. Expecting just a few, high-profile contenders, the organisers were surprised to receive multiple applications from pilots across the U.S., including some semi-amateurs keen to jump on the Lindbergh bandwagon. They decided the best response to this was to organise a ‘race’ between the various entrants. Now, Lindbergh’s flight from New York to Paris was one thing; he had a whole continent to aim at. But trying to find some small islands in the middle of the vast Pacific was something else entirely, calling for exceptional navigational skills that few aviators at the time possessed (even Earhart/Noonan couldn’t manage it, 10 years later...). It was the recipe for a disaster, which is precisely what ensued. The mayhem started well before the race start. The entrants in general were a motley collection of one-off, or small production aircraft from what was then only a fledgling civil aircraft industry in America and almost all were powered by the ubiquitous Wright J-5 engine. The Dole Race reminds me of the film ‘Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines’, transported to 1920s America. Three of the most outlandish entrants, a twin-engined triplane, a twin-engined, twin boom pusher/puller and something which can best be described as an orange crate with wings, all crashed on test flights, recording the first 3 fatalities of the proceedings. The field was further reduced as the scrutineers rejected other aircraft for having insufficient fuel capacity to reach Hawaii (!) and there were the inevitable drop-outs and ‘no shows’. One thing the organisers didn’t do, however, was thoroughly evaluate the competence of the navigators involved, although some basic tests were performed. Race day, 16th August 1927 arrived and 8 aircraft (reduced from the 30+ entrants) lined up for a sequential take off from Oakland's dirt runway, cheered on by 75-100,000 spectators. Two failed to become airborne and were wiped out, without casualties. Two more turned back with problems shortly after take off. Leaving just four to head out across the Pacific. Two of those were never seen again, as was one of the aircraft which had earlier turned back, but joined the extensive, but fruitless, search afterwards. It was not too much of a surprise that the only two aircraft which did make it to Hawaii, after a gruelling nearly 30 hours of flight, had the most experienced and best-known pilots. They were also directed by men who were both professional marine navigators and unusually, carried radios. A total of 10 deaths and 7 aircraft lost/destroyed was on the negative side of the balance sheet.... So here is my 1/72 , 100% scratchbuilt model of the winning plane, the Travel Air 5000 ‘Woolaroc’, built by one of America’s foremost 1920s aeronautical enterprises, the Travel Air Manufacturing Co of Wichita, Kansas and flown by Art Goebel with navigator Wm. V. Davis,USN. (The strange name was taken from sponsoring oil man Frank Phillips’ Oklahoma ranch, named after its ‘Woods, Lakes and Rocks’). I also built in parallel, the original commercial Travel Air 5000 from which it derived (in fact the Woolaroc was an extensive re-design by Horace Weihmiller and should more properly be considered a Travel Air 5000 ‘Special’, along with it’s sister plane ‘Oklahoma’, one of those which turned back during the race...). The Travel Air 5000 was the first aircraft designed to the specific requirements of a US airline, namely National Air Transport of Chicago (one of the four companies merged in 1930 to form today's United Airlines). It was mainly the work of US monoplane pioneer Clyde Cessna, an evolution in a long line of prototype monoplanes he had designed going back before WW1. 8 were built and flew mail and 4 passengers on the Chicago to Dallas portion of NAT’s network, until replaced by Ford Trimotors, whence they were relegated to charter service. The last survivor was restored around 2014 and is on display in Fort Worth, Texas ( I advised with some reference photos/notes, although disappointingly, it turned out less accurate in some respects than my model......) and ‘Woolaroc’ itself is preserved in the Woolaroc natural history museum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, although not in its exact Dole Race configuration. A few drawings have appeared down the years, but none are close to being accurate. So I was compelled to create my own. I took the ok parts from the 1971 Aeromodeller ‘Woolaroc’ plan as a starting point (rear fuselage and vertical tail) and scaled most of the rest from original 8 x 10 photos and dimensional data. I’m happy with how they turned out and the models were completed in 2011. (If anyone is interested, the Dole Race has been the subject of at least 3 books and numerous US magazine articles.) One of the better internet articles: http://www.kingairmagazine.com/article/walter-beech-and-the-pineapple-derby/ Both models: Travel Air 5000 Woolaroc : NAT Travel Air 5000 commercial aircraft: Some WiPs: Many of my engines are scratchbuilt from the dimensioned drawings in the original engine manuals, as here.
  12. Having finished the Hellcat, it’s time for my contribution to this group build. Honest! I’d already decided on the RAAF’s Lancaster G-George, when I saw it was my lucky day with a master builder such as @Mancunian airman was also building the same kit and I could ride his coattails for mine. It was, therefore, the least I could do when he asked about some details on the preserved G-George at the AWM to go take some photos. The light in the ANZAC Hall is shockingly difficult to photograph in, but I’m quite happy with how they came out. Here’s a selection of the details requested; I have more and will add to these if someone is looking for something specific. These are also mostly raw, full sized and unprocessed, I can make them better when I get home to the PC if it will help anyone. A couple of notes and a question; the wheels are different, the port wheel hub outboard side is black, the starboard outboard side is metal. Inboard both are the same. The swastikas on the props are tiny in real life, a red splotch will likely have to suffice in this scale. Are those strengthening ribs over the outboard engines standard? Hope some of that helps, it’ll help me anyway :j
  13. Good day, Here is my second completed kit for the year, the Special Hobby P-40K Warhawk. A brief overview of the kit and the processes I used............ 1. Paint ( Main colors ) A. Mission Models US Army Sand FS30277 B. Model Master Neutral Gray C. Model Master US Interior Green D. Secondary colors : Tamiya Metallic Gray, Chrome Silver, Titanium Silver, Flat Aluminum, Mission Models Tire Black, Model Master Gulf Armor Sand, Green Drab 2. Aftermarket items : Photo Etched US Seat Belts 3. Kit decals used 4. Weathered using washes ( three different colors ), paint, pencils, and chalk pastels ( three different colors ) A good friend suggested I build this kit with a strong endorsement. I would consider this kit on par with the Tamiya Zero and Eduard Spitfire family of kits. I had no significant issues putting this one together. The detail, fit, and kit decals are excellent. I enjoyed this Special Hobby P-40K and highly recommend it for all skill levels. THANK YOU in advance!!!!! With much respect, Mike
  14. Greetings! Just completed from the Airfix Starter Set. I used Tamiya paints and weathering sets along with a gentle wash. A very nice kit with the possible exception of the exaggerated panel lines. Many thanks for having a look, questions and comments are always welcome. Cheers, Bill
  15. My Mikro-Mir Kalinin K-7 has survived the current vagaries of the international postal services and has finally arrived into my eager hands.... Ordered on-line from the Ukraine from :- https://amarket-model.com/ the kit was packed inside a stout carboard box with the contents cocooned in bubble wrap and although it took a while, it arrived undamaged - excellent service The impressive box art shows what the finished model should look like.... The massive wing is made from hollow fibreglass-resin with a superb glass-like surface finish with a restrained fabric effect - it spans a staggering 74 cm (29inches).... Underside view - with an La-5FN for scale..... The rest of the kit is injection-moulded plastic with excelent engraved detail - these are the vertical rudders.... The corrugated external finish is particularly well done - being very restrained and true to scale ..... I won't show all the sprues here - you can see them on my website :- http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/model_kalinin_k-7.html This sprue has the extremely delicate mouldings of the Scarffe rings and machine guns for the numerous gun turrets.... At 26cm (10.5in) - the tailplane is bigger than a Spitfires wing.... The tires have legible raised lettering........ The cockpit glazing is thin and crystal clear.... Self-adhesive masks are inluded - as is an etched brass fret and simple decal sheet. The instructions are printed on six A4 sheets - folded in half to make a twelve-page 'booklet'....... The centre page is the simple painting and decal placement guide..... This is an excellent new kit from Mikro-Mir and must have cost them a small fortune to create - an expense reflected in the retail price. It is an interesting replica of a bonkers design - and I can't wait to get it started... Ken
  16. Inspired by a conversation on another discussion group about building a Su-37 - I thought I'd have a go.... The discussion suggested combining the back end of the 1/72 scale two-seat Zvezda Su-30SM with the front end of the Zvezda Su-33 to make the single seat Su-37. A new longer (and slightly fatter) nose is needed - along with taller, square-tipped fins - plus a few other minor changes - but the whole thing looks do-able. I have both kits in my stash, so I got both out for comparison - and liked what I saw.... so here goes.... As they are both from the same manufacturer, the panel lines match up - the Su-30SM is on the left - with the Su-33 on the right. The fuselages butchered / separated....... Note how the airbrakes differ. .... and swapped over (the left hand one will be the Su-37, the right-hand one will become a Chinese J-17/J-15D) Plastic card strips used the strengthen the joint. Now, I just need to work out how to do the fatter Su-37 radome. More later.. Ken
  17. Here's one I made earlier........... During a computer cleanout, I 're-discovered' my photos of a scratchbuilt A-90 Ekranoplan that I made some 20 years ago..... so I thought I'd share the build with you.... Excuse the quality of the photos - they are now quite old - and not the best I have ever taken. The build was inspired by the release of the Revell 1/44 scale A-90 - plus some drawings I found in the Russian magazine 'Aerohobby'.... The drawings are excellent - and most importantly - they have cross-sections, so they were scaled up to 1/72, on printed out in A4 and the sheets taped together. The main fuselage section is essentially a rectangular box - with a curved roof (like a railway carriage) and a vee-shaped planing bottom... Here's the inverted 'floor' with plastic card bulkeads attached as per the drawing to form the vee...... Now the right way up, the rectangulay starboard side panel is attached.... .... together with the port panel and rear bulkhead...... The fuselage inverted to show the planing vee... The centre keel of the rear fuselage is added and shaped bulkheads are attached on either side. The curved roof bulkheads are fitted to a centre keel to form the outline shape....... The planing bottom and flat rear side panels are attached........... The fin is made from a plastic card outline shape - with balsa wood stuck to both sides and sanded to aerofoil section....... Checking the fin for fit - and 'planking in' the lower rear fuselage with strips of narrow plastic card........ The port side lower rear fuselage is planked in.... The fin has the rudder separated and is skinned with thin plastic card... More later.... Ken
  18. It's finished - but I'm not happy with it..... It was a struggle all the way through - but I finally beat it into submission..... Sukhoi Su-17 Type R :- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-17_(1949) The whole front fuselage section could be detached in emergencies to act as an escape capsule..... As well as the undercarriage being ill-fitting and rather weak, the final indignity is that it's a tail sitter !! - so I had to make a prop from clear rod.... It is a welcome addition to my collection of Soviet/Russian types, so thanks A&A Models.... But it was hard work - and it 'Stole my Joy' in the end.... Ken
  19. The latest from A&A Models growing range of obscure Soviet aircraft - the 1949 Sukhoi Su-17 Type 'R' :- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-17_(1949) Box art.... Fuselage and port fin insert..... Wings, tailplanes and upper wing fences.... Engine, wheels, cockpit etc... Two decal sheets, open or closed canopy and etched fret. Not shown are the self-adhesive masks for the wheels and canopy. Painting guide - keyed to Humbrol enamels..... The plastic parts are well moulded in light grey plastic with fine engraved panel detail. This is a very comprehensive package which includes self-adhesive masks for the canopy and wheels plus etched-brass parts for the ejection seat belts and undercarriage struts. I already have a Type R in my collection - from Legato... But this new kit from A&A is in a totally different league..... and I can't wait to get it started... Ken
  20. Just finished - the excellent Trumpeter Su-34 kit in 1/72 scale........ Trumpeter missed a few things - the curved fillet between the wing L/E and the ESM pod (when fitted)..... ... the Blind Flying curtains inside the cockpit..... .... and the APU exhaust outlet on top of the tailboom... Ken
  21. Hi all. I’m on a bit of a roll with Phantoms at the moment so here’s my second one for 2020 and fourth completion for the year so far. This is the 1/72 Hasegawa F-4EJ Phantom built as 69-0307 while it served with 1 and 6 squadrons during its time with the RAAF. It was returned to US service in 1973 where it was converted into an F-4G and operated in the Wild Weasel role. It met its demise when it was shot down as a QF-4G in 1997 :(. There’s a photo of 07 in the Wilson book lined up as a four ship departing with full bags and 6 500 pounders. I also like this jet because it had received the strip lighting but hadn’t received the Midas 4 gun muzzle change yet. The build was straight forward with decals coming from various sources including Hawkeye Decals, Xtradecals for the roundels and Airfix for the stencils. The crew are from the Hasegawa and are both wearing yellow 1 squadron undershirts and their helmets have yellow stripes on them. The Mk.82’s are from the Hasegawa weapon sets. I’m pretty happy with the build but there is one thing that might prove to be difficult to fix. I’ll leave that for another time! I think the in flight pose certainly shows off the lines of the Phantom quite well, you also don’t see images of an armed RAAF Phantom hence the ordnance. Almost forgot to mention it's my second effort at a freehand camo scheme. Hope you like it . Mick
  22. By John Van Herreweghe Member of Model Club Eeklo Belgium Directly after the end of WW2 in Europe, Berlin had been divided in two halves, one side occupied by Stalin and the other side occupied by the US, Great Britain and France. On the first of April 1948, the Russians decided to block the corridors completely off from the West to Berlin. This restriction was for military and civilian means. In Berlin, 2.1 million Germans tried to survive the hardship in a bombed-out city. Besides that, the garrisons from the US, Great Britain and the France would be cut off from supplies. These circumstances would set off the world’s largest ever air supply operation in the world. It would last from 26 June 1948, until midnight 12th May 1949. It took 266.600 flights, carrying 2,223.000 tons of food, fuel and supplies to keep the city going. At one minute after midnight on 12 May 1949, the blockade was lifted. The recent publication of the book “The Berlin Airlift” by John Grehan (Pen&Sword Books) made me change my diorama setting. It would be dedicated in honor of the Armed Forces that took part in this airlift. The Diorama: Starting point would be the C-54 Skymaster from Revell. Cargo door open, ready to load/unload. Airfix delivered the Autocar Refueller, decorated with Arctic Decals. IBG delivered the Diamond general purpose truck. On the website from Video graphics, I found the Coleman Tow Truck, not quite in the right time frame, but a very powerful model that had to do the job. The figurines came from CMK. The perfectly fitting boarding ladder came from Dan Models, with a Brengun Models toolbox. My base plate was constructed from MDF, sandpaper from the local hardware store made the runway/tarmac. The firm Noch from Germany supplied the grass, to give it some more color. Construction was straight forward. Airbrushing the C-54 was complicated, because of the curves and the large orange frame pieces on the nose, fuselage and tail. The Autocar refueler and the Diamond truck were both a perfect fit. I did not want to go into (dull) olive military colors, but spruced it up with red, yellow (Refueller) and extreme light blue for the USAF Diamond truck. I did not feel qualified enough to paint the figurines, but my fellow club member, from Model Club Eeklo Belgium, Marc De Graeve, was willing to do it for me. So dear readers, you see how important it is, to belong to a model club. You can share your ideas and help each other out. Diorama finished. On the contest table, the base plate is combined with the large engraved text plate “Berlin Air Lift” accompanied by the “Berlin Airlift “ book by the author John Greham. Tags: C-54 Skymaster Revell 04877 New Wave 162 Mask Diamond T968 IBG 72019 Autocar refueller Airfix A6304 Arctic Decals Shell Aviation ARC72-V08 Boarding Ladder Dan Models 72511 Toolbox Brengun BRL 72002 Coleman Tow Truck Video Aviation Coleman MB4 + Tow Bar Xtra Color/Revell enamel paints Onto the next one. I think the HC-130 Hercules from the United States Coast Guard. Also, BIG and colorful. Good health to all of you, Regards, from Belgium John
  23. Friends, Here is my latest project, the Airfix Mig-17 Fresco. I was fortunate to receive this as a gift as the kit`s availability in the U.S. is very limited thus far. My thoughts and notes on this offering from Airfix............. 1. I used the following colors and brands to dress the Fresco : A. Tamiya Deep Green XF-26 B. Tamiya NATO Green. XF-67 C. Mission Models Aluminum D. Cockpit : Model Master Medium Gray E. Landing gear wells : Tamiya Titanium X-32 F. Landing gear struts : Tamiya Flat Aluminum XF-16 G. Wing Tanks : Model Master Metalizer Aluminum ( spray can ) 2. Master metal wing pitot tubes and gun barrels 3. Photo etched seat belts from a generic set. 4. Buffed wing tanks to give the appearance of new replacement tanks. 5. Detailed with washes ( Vallejo light rust, black, blue-gray, and Flory Dark Dirt ) 6. Perfect Plastic Putty for all seams. 7. Dirt streaks with pastels ( black and medium gray ). 8. Plumbers putty, lead fishing sinkers, and Delux “Liquid Gravity” for ballast. I discovered that this kit presents it`s own fair share of challenges. There are some gaps that require putty and the nose section can be tricky to add weight so that the kit is not the dreaded “tail dragger”. I had to apply the ballast inside the cavity of the intake splitter and around the splitter just inside between the cockpit and front section of the intake. The engineering for the landing gear was a bit problematic. There is a small stub on the gear for the wheel to align with. The entire assembly was a bit flimsy and after spending much time aligning the parts correctly, I inverted the Fresco and let sit for 24 hours using the strongest glue I have. Even the front gear strut can be a bit tricky getting aligned properly. I was disappointed with the Mission Models Aluminum paint. I have had nothing but a positive experience with MM brand paint so I decided to try the Aluminum. The paint did not react well when I inadvertently rubbed a cloth across it and it only became worse when I applied the National insignia decals. The paint, for the lack of a better term, “boiled” ( bubbled and changed color ) when I slid the decals off of the backing paper. Fortunately, the paint somewhat returned to normal but I did some touch ups around the affected area to lessen the potential disaster. My thoughts are that this is a kit for a more experienced modeler. One has to be careful when assembling the tricycle landing gear and mindful of the nose weight required to ensure a proper stance once complete. The decals were very good. If you choose a natural metal version, be prepared to put in plenty of effort into the finish before applying paint. Thank you in advance!!!!!! Respectfully submitted, Mike
  24. Just arrived - the latest kit from the Ukrainian enterprise of Modelsvit... the Myasischev M-55 'Geophysica' high-altitude observation aircraft. With each new release, Modelsvit are raising the bar for moulding quality - the crispness and engraved surface detail is simply stunning. Page 3 of the 12-page instruction booklet - note the 22-part K-36 ejection seat construction. Page 10 showing the painting and decal-placement guide. The superbly printed decal sheet - those sponsors logos are all perfectly readable! The parts are crisly moulded in light grey plastic - with stunning engraved surface detail. Modelsvit have captured the shape of the double-curvature laminar-flow long-span wing superbly. Open or closed canopy options are included - note the parts for the K-36 ejection seat. Self-adhesive masks for the canopy and wheel hubs are provided - as is this etched-brass sheet of parts. More photos of the rest of the sprues are here:- http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/model_m-55_modelsvit.html This close-up photo shows off the delicate engraved panel detail perfectly... Finally, to whet your appetite, here's the real thing I photographed at MAKS 2012.... I can't wait to get started on this kit - it will make an interesting companion to Modelsvit's previously released M-17 'Stratosphera'... Ken
  25. Hello friends, My apologies for the long period between postings. As you all are well aware of, life tends to get in the way of our hobby. Here is my latest project, the F-15I Ra`am from Great Wall Hobby in 72nd scale. Here are my thoughts of the kit......... 1. Built entirely out of the box. 2. Used acrylic paints for the airframe and weapons. 3. Used AK Interactive Extreme metal paints for the exhaust and natural metal sections. 4. Weapons ( GBU-31 JDAM, GBU-38 GPS guided, GBU-12 laser guided, AIM-120, & Python air-to-air missiles used from the kit ) 5. Tamiya tape for the seat belts. 6. Weathered using chalk pastels, washes, and paint. 7. The fit was very good apart from some serious issues with the front windscreen. Perfect Plastic Putty was used extensively to help correct the misaligned part. 8. The kit supplied decals were thick and I experienced some of the dreaded “silvering”. Much time was spent correcting the mishap. 9. Mold seam on the center of the both sections of the windscreen needed to be eliminated. 10. “F-15I Ra`am in IAF Service” ( IsraDecal Publications / Ra`anan Weiss ) used as reference. Hopefully my time between postings and visiting this excellent website will not be as long. Thank you in advance for all of your comments. Respectfully submitted, Mike
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