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I came into possession of two kits of the new-tool Tamiya Ki-61 due to a curious set of circumstances occurring as a result of the generosity of both my friend @Cookenbacher and a drunken version of past me who pre-ordered one from HobbyLink Japan one Saturday night then erased the memory of the deed until the kit arrived. Thanks to you both It's the 2018 release and I think the first time Tamiya have kitted this particular type in the proper scale, it will also be the first time I have built a Ki-61 so I hope we will be good company. I have no reason to expect otherwise as Tamiya do have a reputation for good engineering and fit of parts and the reviews I have seen suggest that this kit upholds that tradition. The box(es): ... and the sprues: As you can see the parts count is comparatively light. The surface detail is very nice indeed: A smaller secondary sprue implies possible further releases of other variants: The clear parts are very clear and don't show much distortion: Transfers in their own sealed bag, and instructions: I shall be building options A (a natural metal aircraft with a red tail and stripes) and C (finished in #7 Ohryoku nana go shoku, the Japanese version of Olive Drab, on the topsides and natural metal underneath): Option B is of a natural metal aircraft with green blotching over the topsides, it's a very attractive scheme but I feel I lack the masochistic tendencies that might be sated by giving myself a paint-job like that to do. Tamiya do provide the option to separately buy a set of transfers to replicate this scheme but while I wouldn't criticise someone else for going that route, I don't fancy it myself. There shouldn't be much need for aftermarket stuff as far as I can tell, I don't really like seatbelt decals though (which the kit does provide) so I will instead use some of these: ... which does include Kawasaki-style seatbelts: I also got the Eduard canopy mask set because masking. For the natural metal I will most likely use the Vallejo Metal Colour paints unless I can borrow the samples of the test versions of the experimental Colourcoats metallic colours *cough* @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies *cough* For the interiors, Colourcoats ACJ04 Interior Buff Green and for the camouflaged aircraft ACJ09 - IJA #7 variant: So I think that's me about ready to go. Cheers, Stew

Dear Fellow Modellers Greetings to all! Please find enclosed my Airfix 1/72 B-17G. It is loaded with the Eduard PE and Quickboost resin guns and turbochargers. I did my own representation of riveting. The decals are for the 306th BG based at Thurleigh in England in 1944-45 from Kits World. This recent Airfix kit shows a more restrained panel line representation than previous kits. The transparencies are absolutely outstanding and shape looks spot on. Regards Andrew

Made OOB except for the PJ Productions pilots and Tamiya masking tape seatbelts. Finished using mostly Tamiya acrylics. Vents on the intakes were sprayed on as they are missing from the Airfix kit. The only issues concerned the decals. The top and bottom intake louvres are wrongly numbered end up with the bottom louvres on top. Also the sharks teeth decal is missing the top row of teeth. I e-mailed Airfix about this and they are going to address it on the next run apparently. The lowe rwing roundels were changed for an earlier design set from the stash as most photos I have seen from this period seemed to retain the older design. Finished in 2 Sqn colours from the mid 1970's at Laarbruch. Mounted on a scrap piece of kitchen worktop that has been oiled and polished. Can be mounted on brass rod or on it's wheels using this method https://www.scalespot.com/reference/stands/stand.htm . Feel free to comment, criticise or generally pull to pieces

The latest in my FAAbulous model range is the AZ Model Supermarine Attacker FB.2. An "interesting" kit to build, certainly not for the faint hearted or beginners. The undercarriage doors had to be built from scratch due to the poor moulding. Decals had to be trimmed before application as the carrier film was excessive to say the least, and they folded on themselves very easily. With a little care and patience this does build into a nice model of the subject. Next in the series? Hmm. I fancy a Toom. Dave

Hi everyone ! After a very long time i present to you my latest project . At first i thought that this would be an easy and oob project . When i started assembling the cockpit , i decided to try and improve the whole model . I give you photos of my progress so far . Thank you!!! [url=https://flic.kr/p/nNW94V]P6010230

Here's another model finished within the last week: it's the (fairly) new tool Airfix Spitfire Mk.22. Built OOB with kit decals. Somehow I lost one of the outer gear doors and had to make a resin replacement using a part from a second kit to make a copy. That's why it's always helpful to have two copies of every kit if you lose parts as often as I seem to do. Now that it's on the model and painted, I don't think you can easily tell which is the plastic part and which is the resin copy.

This is my interpretation of my recently completed CA-27 Avon Sabre Mk.30. The Avon Sabre was based on the F-86E and shared many parts from it but was fitted with a Rolls Royce Avon engine causing the fuselage to become deeper, looking like an F-86H. My way of producing a Mk.30 was using the Tasman conversion kit that came with the fuselage, canopy and decals for later Mks, the Academy F-86 kit, some corrections and other work. Work done to Tasman Fuselage: Gun ports modified to reflect early type Air brake section and aft removed and replaced with Academy offering to present air brakes open. Internals greatly thinned to allow Academy cockpit to fit. The rest of the build: Wings backdated to pre 6-3 Flaps removed and refitted 'deployed' Tank pylon points moved inboard Brake lines added to main undercarriage Front wheel hub modified to reflect correct type. Build log here: Primed using Halfords rattle can grey primer and painted overall with Tamiya AS12. Finished with markings of the first production aircraft, A94-901, RAAF, 1954/55. Stencils were from Academy kit, roundels and flashes from Airfix Sabre kit, serials from spares box. Thanks for looking. Stuart

Next up is another 112 Sqn P-40 but this time a Kittyhawk III (P-40M) in 1/72 using the Academy kit. Academy supplied non-standard upper wing roundels, which I used even though I am not sure of their accuracy.

Here is the Airfix 1/72 P-40B Tomahawk I from the starter kit boxing, although I did not use the supplied paints. It's in 112 Sqn markings which complement another kit I just finished:

Just put the finishing touches on this one today: it is, of course, the Airfix 1/72 Rag-wing Hurricane Mk.I. This is a super little kit, which did not cause any trouble other than that of my own making. This is from the Series 2 boxing containing the alternate cockpit, prop, and keel parts. I used the 111 Sqn decals to finish my kit.

After building a number of Sabres, I thought it was about time I built myself an Avon Sabre. The Avon Sabre was based on the then current F-86F with the slatted wing but was fitted with the more powerful Rolls Royce powerplant and this required an extension change to the fuselage. This book came in handy for this and future builds. So to kick things off, I'll be using the Tasman Conversion set alongside the Academy F-86E Kit. I have been told that the Tasman conversion isn't the best route to go but as I have a number of them, I'll be using them. Tasman's fuselage halves and intake. Look at those sprue gates, I'll need to take my time and be careful or I'll be making work for myself. ...and Academy's fuselage sprue...not much difference eh. You may be wondering why I'm showing you this sprue if it isn't used. Well, Aussie Sabres are normally parked with the brakes open and as the Tasman's offering is molded closed, the plan is to swap the tail sections . Academy's wing sprue. Work to be on these will be to backdate the wing to pre 6-3 conversion and to remove the flaps as again, these were often deployed when on ground. Main sprue with everything else. Canopies. The Tasman kit comes with a Vac canopy and although it is lovely and clear, it's closed and I like my aircraft canopies open...unless they're hanging from the ceiling. The middle canopy is Hobbycraft and the top is Academy... we'll see. Decals will be sorted later, hopefully. So, that's it for now and I'll start proper when the Vampire is finished. Stuart

Well, it's really been a while since I posted anything here. It's also been a while since I finished a model, other than a 1/350 Riich Models Los Angeles Class submarine as SSN-722 USS Key West for a friend who's son serves aboard her. Anyway, first up is the Heller 1/72 P-39Q, finished with Eagle Strike decals for "Snooks 2nd." This was part of a Christmas club challenge to finish a kit by this past weekend for the ValleyCon show in Chicopee, Massachusetts this past weekend. And, I did get it done on time, barely! It's actually not a bad kit, and is more accurate, in many ways, than newer offerings from HobbyBoss and Academy. I might have to try one of the RS Models early P-39s. I've got a set of decals for a nice "D" model. Oh, and this was brush painted with Vallejo Air, though I did airbrush the gloss and flat coats. On to the pictures

Friends, This is the Italeri A-10 Warthog. I used decals from Twobobs to depict the Hog flown by then Captain ( now Colonel ) Kim Campbell. The kit itself was a bit tricky to assemble. The decals were flawless and I painted the Hog using Model Master acrylic paint. The weapons were a combination of what came with the kit and from the spares box. I also added a True Details resin ejection seat. Recommended.. Thank you in advance!!!!!!! Respectfully submitted, Mike

Built in parallel - an Airfix DH88 Comet and Mosquito mk2 Comet had cockpit, a pilot, canopy framing, nose light and pitot added. Mosquito was as it came. No going crazy fixing things, block colours, brush painted, kit decals, no weathering. Just simple old fashioned fun

Greetings to all, For a number of years, I`ve gazed upon the incredible works of art posted on this website. Now I`ve decided to “dip my toe” in the waters of Britmodeller. I`m beginning with the Airfix B-17G. I used AK Interactive Extreme paint and weathered the model by using a combination of paint, washes, and pastels. I found the kit to be excellent and enjoyed the entire process. Thank you in advance!!!! Mike PS : My apologies for my picture quality as my photography skills are very basic at best.

Dear Colleagues I recently finished a kit I had half finished several years ago. These were the days of nylon thread and I have now moved to the much more forgiving Uschi van der Rosten lycra. The markings are for the famous ace Georges Guynemer. I calmed down the look and markings with an overspray of the Gunze Israeli sand colour Shame people don't seem to do so much 1/72 WWI biplanes these days. Must try an Airfix BE2c though. Hope you like it? Andrew

Friends, Here is the Airfix P-40. I built this kit straight out of the box as it was part of Airfix`s “Dogfight Doubles” with the A6M2 Zero. I used a slightly different color for the fabric surfaces to provide a contrast. I used EZ-Line for the radio antenna wire before I discovered the Uschi and Infini brands for rigging. The EZ-Line is not to scale on the thicker side. I weathered the Warhawk with pencils, pastels, washes and paint. Like nearly all of Airfix`s modern tooled kits, I found it to be very enjoyable and had no issues whatsoever. Highly recommended. Thank you in advance!!!!!!! Respectfully submitted, Mike

Friends, Here is the Italeri Su-34 Fullback. I found the kit to be a straightforward and enjoyable build. I built it straight out of the box including using the decals and ordnance. I weathered the big bird using pastels, pencils, and washes. Recommended. Thank you in advance!!!!!!!! Respectfully submitted, Mike

The Thud over Germany – F-105s of USAFE 1961 to 1967 The Story Anyone who has stood in front of a Thunderchief can only wonder how young pilots could master such a massive beast with a huge engine and small wings, but during May 1961 the first F-105Ds were flown direct from the USA to Bitburg in Germany, where they replaced the F-100 Super Sabres of the 36th TFW. They were brand new aircraft. The 49th TFW at Spangdahlem also received its new aircraft from October 1961 onwards. This was at the height of the Cold War and their principal role was nuclear strike, a mission known as ‘Victor Alert’ in the USAF. This was a big, complex aeroplane and brought with it big, complex maintenance problems. So much so that all aircraft were upgraded from 1962 onwards to a nominally common standard in a programme named ‘Project Look Alike’. This included many system upgrades but also required improved sealing between panels and a painted aluminium finish. An airfield arrestor hook was also fitted. Centralised maintenance was also introduced which meant an end to individual squadron markings. By the mid 1960s the Vietnam war was taking a significant toll on F-105s and during 1966 and 1967 the F-105s were transferred back to the USA as attrition replacements. By then there were enough F-4D Phantoms for the USAFE wings to re-equip. The colour schemes Aircraft were delivered in natural metal finish with glossy black radomes and matt olive drab upper fuselage. Those returned from the ‘Look Alike’ upgrades had the aluminium paint finish which replaced the natural metal. Finally the Vietnam type camouflage was applied during 1965, which also removed all squadron markings. Squadron markings were applied as follows: 36th TFW had three squadrons which were the 22nd, 23rd and 53rd TFS. Initially, during the natural metal period, each squadron displayed it’s colour on the fin in the form of 3 coloured stripes on a white diagonal background. The colours were 22TFS red, 23TFS blue and 53TFS yellow. After centralised maintenance was introduced all three colours were carried on the white diagonal on the fin. The 49th TFW squadrons were the 7th, 8th and 9th TFS. (7TFS blue, 8TFS yellow, 9TFS red). All aircraft carried a fin flash consisting of the wing badge and the three squadron stripes. Individual squadron colours were carried on undercarriage doors and sometimes on the nosewheel leg radar reflector. After centralised maintenance a three-coloured lightning flash was carried on the nose in addition to the fin marking. When camouflage was introduced, no wing or squadron ident was carried. The Models F-105D 60-0466 36th TFW / 22nd TFS, Bitburg, 1961 illustrating the early natural metal scheme. This is the fairly rare 1/72 Revell kit (looking very much like a down sized Monogram 1/48 kit). The kit represents a late Vietnam war F-105D and needed back dating. This meant removal of RHAW antennas, strike camera, wing strengthening plates, engine cooling scoops and gun cooling vents. The fin leading edge cooling intake needed enlarging and the aft part of the spine in front of this intake needed removing. Since the kit has raised line surface detail, this was all removed and re-scribed. This was all quite a lot of work but this is the best shaped F-105D so it was worth it. Finish was Alclad and AK metallics over Tamiya primer. Decals were mainly from Wolfpack. F-105F 63-8300 49th TFW / 9th TFS, Spangdahlem, 1963 illustrating the aluminium painted finish. This the Airfix kit with replacement canopy. The nose shape is too bulbous on this kit but it was the only 2 seater I had at the time! The Revell F-105G would make a better basis for this if you can face all the back dating and re-scribing! This also illustrates the red squadron colour on the undercarriage doors. F-105D 60-0511 49th TFW, Spangdahlem, 1965 illustrating the Vietnam camo finish. This is from the old Hasegawa kit. This was used as it represents the right configuration – i.e. it doesn’t have RHAW antennas, cooling scoops and vents, etc. The nose and canopy are not quite right on this kit and the undercarriage legs are about 1 cm too long – if you built it from the box you will have a Thunderchief standing on tip toes. The wing pylons have been replaced (kit pylons are far too small) and the drop tank fins were ridiculously thick and have been reworked. If I wanted another F-105D I wouldn’t go for this one! Maybe the Trumpeter kit would be better if you don’t mind all those rivets.

20FG moved to England in Aug 1943 and became part of 8AF. James M. Morris of 55FS was flying Lockheed P-38H-5-LO Lightning 42-67034 on 15 November 1943 when it suffered damage when landing at Cheddington (Station 113). The aircraft was repaired. 20FG entered combat with P-38's late in Dec 1943 from King’s Cliffe and for several months was engaged primarily in escorting heavy and medium bombers to targets on the Continent. Frequently strafed targets of opportunity while on escort missions. 20FG retained escort duties as its primary function until the end of the war, but in Mar 1944 began to fly fighter-bomber missions, which became almost as frequent as escort operations. They strafed and dive-bombed airfields, trains, vehicles, barges, tugs, bridges, flak positions, gun emplacements, barracks, radio stations, and other targets in France, Belgium, and Germany. 20FG became known as the "Loco Group" because of its numerous and successful attacks on locomotives. It received a DUC for performance on 8 Apr 1944 when the group struck airfields in central Germany and then, after breaking up an attack by enemy interceptors, proceeded to hit railroad equipment, oil facilities, power plants, factories, and other targets. They flew patrols over the Channel during the invasion of Normandy in Jun 1944. Supported the invasion force later that month by escorting bombers that struck interdictory targets in France, Belgium, and Holland, and by attacking troops, transportation targets, and airfields. 42-67034 was transferred to 1FG and was lost in Italy. 20FG converted to P-51's in Jul 1944. Finished with Vallejo and Humbrol acrylics http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/8643

Friends, Here is the Tamiya F4U-1 Corsair with the “birdcage” canopy. I used a combination of Mission Models, Model Master, and an old Polly Scale paints. I added the Aires resin “dropped flaps” for added realism. Like most Tamiya kits, it was a trouble-free build process. I used the kit supplied decals. Highly recommended. Thank you in advance!!!!! Respectfully submitted, Mike

Harrier GR.1, 4 Squadron, RAF Germany 1970 This is the basic Airfix 1/72 Harrier GR.1 with 4 Squadron markings from Xtradecal

Project 192 – Last of the Airfix Lightnings As far as I can remember I’ve always had at least one Airfix Lightning F.1A in the stash. Now there are far better Lightning kits than this 1960s Airfix offering, but it’s like an old friend and I couldn’t help but feel a little sad that I’ve used up the last one. I felt it entirely appropriate to finish it as XM192 in Treble One markings in 1962 as per the original issue of the kit. Well almost, anyway. The original kit depicted XM192 in 1961 when it first joined 111 Squadron. This included the early type of mainwheel soon replaced by the later type, and the basic black-only form of the squadron badge on the fin. I updated wheels and markings. I took a bit of a liberty on the starboard side in representing XM192 later in its life during 1973 as a member of the Wattisham Target Facilities Flight. The old girl needs a bit of work to bring her up to scratch and in this case included: Rescribe of the whole airframe New fin (the original is a bit small – this one was fabricated from a Hasegawa F6 fin) Repositioned tailplanes (brought forward by a few mm) Aeroclub bang seat Aeroclub undercarriage and outer doors (I don’t know why Aeroclub never made those main doors that fit around the undercarriage legs – they had to be scratched) Aeroclub nose ring / radome (designed for the Matchbox kit and needed the forward fuselage widening) Firestreaks from the Trumpeter kit Replacement cable ducts (kit ducts are too thin) Filled in cannon ports (thankfully the real thing has covers fitted over the guns – see photos) Finish was Alclad polished aluminium over Tamiya grey primer with various panels in silver/grey paint Panel lines were highlighted using a pencil and thinned oil paint Coat of Klear before applying decals Decals were from Xtradecal, Aviation Workshop and Modeldecal. The Treble One fin badge came from a Fujimi Phantom sheet. Chris

Hi everyone, I have just started the Zvezda easy assembly kit of the Me Bf 109 F-2. I am actually quite impressed with this kit, as it is light years ahead of the HobyBoss Easy Assembly kits. I know, as I started quite a while back a Dewoitine D 520, and I lost my motivation while attempting to create a credible cockpit. No such problems with Zvezda, who delivers a rather exciting cockpit. Here is a photo after I sprayed a coat of aluminium paint to help with creating some scuffing/scratches after the RLM 66. I did add some PE rudder pedals, but I am wondering why , as nothing will ever be visible again. I guess I will sleep better knowing it is there. A set of PE seat harness is waiting in the aisle as well. The only problem to date is about the fit, which could be better under the wings and on the tail. Any puttying and sand papering has to be done painstakingly slowly in order not to destroy the delicate panel lines and rivets. Not sure everything will be left unscathed, but so far so good. Photos on the next post. Re the paint scheme, I think the kit's decal sheet is of very average quality, so I am doing a scheme from an Xtradecal sheet. It is the second from the top. Since I built the ancient Airfix Me Bf 109 G-6 as a kid, I have always wanted to do another JG 53 Messerschmitt, better built than the first one! Only problem: I cannot find a photo of that particular aircraft... So will extrapolate and do the same aircraft, earlier in its career, with most of the area forward of the cockpit painted yellow! It is suitably garish, and I can't wait! So if any of you has any tips concerning this build or my chosen paint scheme, please let me know! Cheers. JR

Here's some shots of the sprues for the brand new 1/72 Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib from Airfix, you can tell they've put a lot of thought into the construction of the kit. http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/airfix-172-hawker-typhoon-mkib/