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I'm unsure I should be starting a second build within the GB. Either stupid of fool hardy! Anyway, my Commando Sea King is progressing so well, I thought, why not! So a Whirlwind? One of the original batch delivered to the Fleet Air Arm in March of 1954. These were Sikorsky HO4S-3's being supplied under the MDAP scheme and designated HAS Mk22's The first unit to be supplied was 845 NAS and in those days it was and anti-submarine unit (later becoming a 'Junglie' Commando unit). The aircraft were delivered in overall Gloss Sea Blue, in 1957, this was changed to o/a RAF Blue Grey. I have half a dozen of the Italeri kits in the stash and was responsible for mastering the conversion sets that were available in the then ROTORcraft range. I also researched the various colour schemes on the accompanying decal sheets. The Italeri kit is quite good, with slightly heavy panel lines but the rest is well detailed. The very old Airfix kit is scheduled for re-release. Personally, I'd rather see a re-release f the Italeri kit with RN ad other operators decal options. We're in load shedding ie, no power. I'll come back to this later... So, there I was and then the lights went out!!! A gift from the government. Lets deny the population of continuous power! So, Time for a couple of images... The parts breakdown, sorry, I haven't one of the box art. The decal sheet and conversion kit instructions... I don't think the conversion set and decals are still available. We never put a release date on the instruction sheet. I'll have a look on Scale Mates, see if there is a lead there. I've painted and buttoned up the fuselage, so more pics soon... Colin

I have a 19 Sqn RFC SPAD VII over here... I'll let that one sit for a bit while I continue my 'Personal 19 Sq Build' and dovetail it with this GB. I'll start in a a bit, maybe this weekend. I hadn't seen that this GB had even begun! I hope there are not overwhelming airframe differences between the F Mk.8 and the Mk. 8...If there are, please suspend disbelief! Sprue shots coming... -John

I will be happy to build this one. It looks to be a very simple kit and so I will build it that way. Let's hope all the pieces fit together. Sprue... Profile from the Synart decal set... Should look good next the Belgian Hunter... --John

Afternoon all, Here's the latest model to take off from my bench - the new-tool Airfix 1/72nd Avro Vulcan BMk2. After grafting on some very long-term projects of late I decided I needed something relatively straightforward for a system reset and mojo reboot and this proved to be just the project. I found it an absolute delight to build - actual construction only took four evenings and the whole model was completed in just under two weeks. In fact, it's the first model I can remember in absolutely ages that I didn't put down for a few weeks and return to it later as I'd lost interest - I just wanted to keep going! As with most of Airfix new-tool kits, tolerances are very tight indeed and therefore I gave each surface to be glued a quick swipe with a sanding pad and this meant an almost perfect fit for all components. I was really impressed with how the intakes went together, and with a quick swipe of Milliput White they look seamless with the minimum of effort. I wanted to do a later version than is currently supplied in the box so bought an Xtradecal sheet to make a 101 Squadron machine based at RAF Waddington in the mid 1970s. Two type of jet pipes are provided in the kit, and I had no idea which were fitted to this aircraft so went with the same as the one currently preserved at Duxford as they seemed of the same vintage. The kit's bomb bay is beautifully rendered and with some careful painting comes up beautifully out of the box. If you build this kit, don't waste your time detailing the interior of the cockpit as next to nothing can be seen - I just did the absolute basics. Xtracolor enamels were used throughout and I gave it a satin varnish as these machines seemed very well maintained in service and other than a few streaks and stains here and there, I kept her reasonably clean as period photos suggest. I recommend this kit to anyone looking for a large and impressive model in their display cabinet but not requiring a huge amount of effort - it's a pleasure! Tom

This will be, out of necessity, another OOB kit. I have three weeks in which to build her. I think I can do it. Crossed fingers. Simple and clean looking Airfix sprue. Nothing too complex. Good for me. And the profile. If I can make a big dent in this today I'll be in good shape. --John

My second build in this GB will be the Trumpeter F-106B two seat Delta Dart. It's currently the only injection moulded 1/72nd twin stick F-106, Trumpeter also make one in 1/48th. It looks a nice kit, when it arrived I clipped the main parts off the sprues to check against a set of plans that I had, you never know with a Trumpy kit if you are getting a race horse or a donkey. While it is not as detailed as the Meng single seat Dart, the basics are there and it appears to fit together well. Here is the kit with the main parts loose, the rest are still in their plastic bags, I also have a Master brass pitot tube, this and a set of resin wheels from Reskit are the only AM available, not even a canopy masking set is listed to help make this kit. Decals will come from the same Caracal decal sheet that I'm using on my single seat Dart build, with extra codes, national markings and stencils from the Fundekals sheet. The 49th FIS markings are the stylised eagle seen on the tail of the lower image on the Caracal cover sheet. I started off by painting the cockpit parts and the exhaust components so that I can get the fuselage assembled, all straight forward, no problems so far, I just had to make some seat straps from Tamiya masking tape, I've just got to add the kit decals to the instrument panels and the office will be ready. I thought that building 1/72nd Darts instead of my normal scale of 1/48th would be quicker, I didn't anticipate keep having to get down and find the little parts that keep falling to the floor, it's the time to get up again that's taking the time! The wings are a simple assembly without any separate control surfaces and a one piece insert for the main undercarriage bay, so after painting the u/c bay interior green with a bit of dry brushing to highlight the details, the wing parts were assembled, again, everything fitted very well. The cockpit tub just clicks into the fuselage and with the exhaust pipe parts ready for assembly it will not be long before I can get the fuselage glued together and the wings fitted. Thanks for looking, any comments or questions are welcome.

Here's the box art... A profile... From above... Sprue...nice little bit of PE. Probably for the cockpit. Might skip it. I also have an old Airfix kit (light blue plastic) that, if I am able, I will make as the Croat bird. See you all in a bit! --John

At the start of the 1991 Gulf War, following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the RAF sent 60 Tornado GR.1s to Saudi Arabia carry out frontline service. The RAF called it Operation Granby. I plan to build the Eduard re-boxing of Revell's 1/72nd scale Tornado GR.1 in the configuration of the first nights raid against Iraq's airfields armed with JP233 airfield denial weapons. Here is a photo of the kit and the resin accessories that I have obtained to build ZA452 that was named 'Gulf Killer'. Perhaps some of the resin AM is over-kill but it's bought now so I will use it. Here are the kit parts still on their runners: There is also the S.B.S. resin nose to correct the kits known problem with the radome shape, the nose correction set also includes a Master brass pitot probe. Paint will be Xtracolour Gulf war desert pink with Tamiya acrylics for the detail painting. Any help or suggestions will be most welcome, especially from anyone that was 'there' on 20 Sqn or has experience in building this kit. Let the fun commence. Bob.

Evening all, A rather large package arrived from Hannants today - Mach 2's 1/72nd DC-8 has finally arrived! Having got my civvy-aviation mojo thoroughly going, I've dived right in this very evening... I've gone for the Iberia scheme as I love its retro look: Untitled by Thomas Probert, on Flickr The box is literally crammed with parts: Untitled by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Instructions are - how can we put it? - basic, but should do the job on a relatively simple kit such as this: Untitled by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Paint guide and decals, which seem to be nicely printed: Untitled by Thomas Probert, on Flickr A bit of flash to clean up here and here, but surface detail is nicely done: Untitled by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Untitled by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Untitled by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Transparencies are done as individual cabin windows, and the cockpit has the roof section moulded integrally: Untitled by Thomas Probert, on Flickr So... tonight I've made a start and I've begun by joining the rearmost section of fuselage containing the tail cone to the main fuselage parts. I like to work on fuselages in one piece and from experience it's easier to get a good, clean join this way. First of all I have cleaned the mating surfaces with a file to ensure they are perfectly true: Untitled by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Not really trusting butt-joints I have added a ring of plastic card around each section: by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Here the upper fuselage is glued and clamped, whilst the lower is just a dry-fit, which as you can see is a pretty good fit: Untitled by Thomas Probert, on Flickr And even better news is I've just offered up the fuselage halves and they are identical in length/depth - so far, so good! Updates are likely to be sporadic due to work and other projects on the go, so bear with me! Tom

Morning all, I was rummaging around in the loft earlier this week and stumbled upon this long-forgotten build from... 2015. Where has 5 years gone? To cut a long story short, I entered this as part of the non-injected group build and as usual ran of steam during the GB and never got it done. However, I've decided to give it some love and have since added the stabilisers and fins, added some resin engines (kindly donated by a fellow BM member years ago,) found some reasonably shaped air intakes for the top of the engines and given it a coat of primer: Untitled by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Untitled by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Lots of surface details to reinstate, but not too far off paint which is always good for the motivation. Tom

Good afternoon everyone, Here is my recently completed 1/72nd scale Canadair Argus, converted from the Mach 2 Bristol Britannia using the recently-released Aircraft in Miniature conversion set. It was quite a challenging build with the base kit not being the best starting point, but I'm pleased with the end result. Decals came from Belcher and were superb. Regards to all, Rob

It has finally happened....Eduard has released the DVII in 1.72nd scale...the first is the Library Edition post-war Czech air force and the second will be a profile pack from WW1. I am hoping that Hannants will have the Library Edition soon...I have pre-ordered the other. Good things do come to those who wait (and suffer with Roden) --John

A recent completion is Sava-M Models' 1/72nd scale Gulfstream 500 "J-Star" which is used by the USAF as a surveillance platform. Quite a nice kit, built straight from the box. Xtracolor enamels used throughout. Regards, Rob

Some designs just seem to embody the Golden Age Divine Proportion. I know we all have our favorites, I have many, but the Gamma is one I keep going back to. I have built it first a lot of years ago following the original boxing: But more recently I went for seconds and thirds, incapable of resisting the need to extract more flavorful modeling juice from it, building it in some of its more exciting incarnations: I have now the Arctic Decals/Dekno resin/decals set that was released after my build, to do the Conqueror Cochrane again (you need a particular Azur-FRROM kit for that), but once more I couldn't resist taking the awkwardest path, and decided instead to do the very long nose conversion withe the stripy cowl used by Jackie Cochran, powered by a Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp Jr. for the 1935 Bendix race. I got a number of photos of it, and the old and venerable Williams Bros kit. Again a lot of surgery will be needed to modify the fuselage top, the nose, and the details on the kit that are not just quite right (rudder, for starters, and cockpit). Since I have done this 2G conversion before, I know what I am in for (sigh...). I am still looking for a plan/drawing of the plane, but it will be very easy to extrapolate from photos to extend that nose and work out the details associated with it's Pinocchio characteristics (Pinocchio, now what that reminds me of? ah! a president!) I have pulled out the kit and started already to separate and clean the useful parts -many will have to be discarded-, but today I don't want to complicate my life with photos and posting them, so the graphic part of this will have to wait for a little while, meanwhile this station will continue with its regular programming (the pending two Ju-86s, Republic Seabee, Vultee V-1D, London Bus, and Supermarine Sea Lion, all the latter just needing decals that are in transit) Aiiiiiiiooooo Silver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Lone stRanger

Before the SAS and their modified Willys...before the LRDG and their Chevys...before László Almásy and his desert explorations...there were these guys. The Light Car Patrol. Model T Fords, driven by English, Australians, South Africans, Kiwis...from east to west across the roof of Africa, charting paths from one oasis to the next. This kit is the RPM US Marine Gunnery car, fixed up a little bit cooler than that. I used online sources (many to be had) as well as the excellent "Light Car Patrol 1916-19" book. Excellent pictures and better reading. These were the original Desert Rats. Lots of scratch building. The PE seat is from Eduard. Lewis gun from the soarer box. Almost everything else scavenged and scratched except the kit itself. The kit was alright. It has its faults. The axles are too wide for the body. No attachment points so it is "guess and glue". All the paints are Vallejo and Vallejo Air. The dirt is from outside in the carpark. The map in the background is one of two reproductions from the LCP book. The WiP is here... And something to show some scale... Now...László Almásy...that gives me an idea...I think I have a ZIS-AA in the stash somewhere...Hmmm...dare I? --John

Hi all I hope you’re all keeping well? I thought I’d show you the latest model that has been keeping me amused through lockdown. It’s the Anigrand Craftworks 1/72nd scale Martin 130 Flying Boat. As usual with Anigrand kits it was not an easy build. Paints were from Xtracolor. Best regards to all, Rob

Well, I was going to wait to the eleventh, but as so many of you have put up what you are doing, I might as well jump in. My contribution to this group build is the 1/72nd resin Spitfire prototype from CMR and a conversion using the Airfix Spitfire Ia and a conversion kit for the PRIF from Airkit. This is a resin conversion kit designed for the 1979 Airfix MKIa, but they look as if they will fit with some fettling The CMR kit represents the Spitfire prototype after it had been painted and the first set of changes made to the rudder and possibly the wings. It comes in a sturdy cardboard with the contents well packed and padded against breakage and loss. The resin parts appear to be well cast with only the odd air bubble. The parts, as can be seen from the photo are on moulding blocks that look to be straightforward to remove with care. Decals for the first prototype are printed on two sheets to give enough serials and are in register, I suspect they will be very thin and require careful handling. There is good detail on the resin parts with very neat surface detailing and a good interior that is enhanced by the inclusion of some coloured PE by Eduard for the seat belts, instrument panel and a couple of other parts. A choice of vacformed canopies is given with the later still of canopy seen on early MKIs fitted with the flat top canopy. Spares are given and the canopies look very clear. Separate rudder and elevators are provided. The kit looks like a good package and I look forward to starting on it, the one piece wing might make life a bit easier. I have a an old bottle of Compucolour Supermarine Grey that will form the basis of a match in acrylics for the airframe colour as there is still debate as to the actual colour, it does have a nice 30’s look to it. The Airkit conversion dates to the 1990’s and produced by a P Lucas. I wonder if that is the same Paul Lucas who writes in SAM? It consists of resin parts for the new deeper oil tank in the nose, a fuel tank behind the pilots seat, a pair of large underwing blisters and smaller ones for the top and a new part for the under fuselage where the cameras are. Not sure I will use that piece as cutting the bit of the undersides on the wing-rear fuselage fairing looks more trouble than it is worth. A quite thin vacformed canopy with side blisters is also supplied and will need careful handling. One of the big differences between the earlier and latest Airfix Ia’s is the way the canopies fit on to the fuselage. No decals are provided but I have an old Almarks and a Model Alliance sheet that have suitable markings. Clear instructions are given on a type written photocopied A4 sheet in the manner of pre home computer cottage industry days. Provided the replacement oil tank and canopy fit, should be an interesting build.

The Case of the Merlin Kit A Dark and Stormy Night Modeling Horror Story From the deepest, murkiest, most haunted black lagoons of modeling history comes this...I hesitate to call it "kit". It is as much as a kit as the Frankenstein Monster is an adorable young human being. Old are its years, obscure its origins, wrapped in shadows the unspeakable method used to create it. It wouldn't be out of place in a séance as an ectoplasmic apparition that would certainly make the hairs of your nape raise. How far should a modeler go to prove that his heart is stout, his hand firm, his will unquenchable? Oh, the humanity. It has been said that Merlin models were given that name because you have to be a wizard to be able to build them. I disagree. You have to be a mad wizard to even want to build one. But suffer one must, it seems, when friends kindly ask you to build their old kits. Sigh... Contents. For what I can see online the engine was lost in transit: "Vintage" decals: Instructions. The correct interpretation is "Mwahhhhaha....MWAHAHAHA....MWAHAHAHAH!!!" One and 4/5ths of a propeller: And those seats don't look that comfortable, if you ask me: The "clear" fuselage. Appropriately murky... A strange composite material, with reinforcement black particles embedded in the plastic (Igor's ashes?): And, just mentioning, there is nowadays the Planet Models Air Express resin kit that is, well, as Lady Galadriel is to an orc. To be continued?

Hello Folks, I made this one some time ago to represent a Halifax GR.II (Special) from 58 Sqn at St. Davids, Wales in 1943 but I can now share it with you, hope you like it; The Freightdog update set was fantastic and although not totally accurate for the rivet counters out there it certainly makes the Revell Halifax actually look like a Halifax and it is really easy to use. I added bracing inside the nose cone for the .5 Browning carried by Halifax`s of 58 & 502 Sqns and it came from an old USAAF bomber kit. This model appears in the latest issue of Airfix Modelworld magazine, All the best Tony O

Evening all, I'd been suffering from a serious case of modeller's block and had ground to a halt on all my projects and just couldn't get restarted. I'd actually built this kit on and off a while back, and all it needed was painting and decalling so in an effort to restart the mojo I splashed some Halfords and Tamiya paints on and just went for it. It's far from perfect but has got me back in the groove and keen to get going on some of the other kits I have on the go so its purpose was well-served. The decals actually represent a B-36B rather than the Mongram kit's RB-36H configuration, but all I did was fill the slots for the jets and round off the prop tips. A proper B-model would have a different bomb bay set up, different tail radar and various other slight differences but I didn't want to get bogged down making any further modifications so left it as is. Anyway, here it is: DSC_0261 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0255 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0288 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0263 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0266 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0284 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0279 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0276 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0274 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr I saw a real one of these in Datyon a few years back and it's MASSIVE - hence it's no surprise the 1/72nd version is also MASSIVE! Happy modelling, folks. Tom

This is the Tamiya Messerschmitt Bf109 G-6 in 1/72nd scale. Apart from the EZ-line antenna wire, the model was built straight out box. Vallejo Model Air paints were used for the main colours. Thanks for looking. Joe.

I had fun with this. I made a few scratch adjustments, but not much. Those I documented. The paints are all Vallejo Air and the rigging is monofilament. The kit decals went on alright, thankfully no cracking, but they aren't the greatest and I suggest anyone wanting to build this find some better quality transfers. They are a bit thin. I gave it a bit of black/brown oil wash for weathering. Happy modelling! John

(A model from more than a year ago, its posting prompted by a fellow modeler that requested some information) It is always a great joy to see a civil kit released. It is even better when it's good. Until now, the only option you had if you wanted a Delta (not this one, which is 1A/B/C, but the dual cockpit version, 1D), was to combine the Williams Bros. Northrop Gamma kit with a Body Job (Esoteric Models very old conversion) vacuum-formed fuselage that was not precisely a paradigm of perfection. I know, because I have built it (perhaps I should post it too as comparison, but it's not nearly a nice model as this is). The molds are crisp, the detail is good, the transparencies are clear, and the parts are sound. There are some extra parts that correspond to other versions, either released before or perhaps to be released. This boxing has decals for Sweden, US (TWA) and Mexico. Los Hermanos Mexicanos will surely be very pleased to see one of their machines built. And surely planes can fly above stupid walls. The kit comes in a normal, sturdy box that prevents the now customary pre-crushing, and the decals and transparencies are bagged separately, as well as the rest of the sprues. There are even masks to deal with a variation on the door area. Venturous modelers may adapt (through extensive surgery, though) this kit to portray other machines, since there were many civil users, but I would probably wait to see if Azur/FRROM/Special Hobby releases the 1D version, before nipping and cutting to heavily modify this kit for that purpose). The chubby, stubby, stocky, unmistakable and cute appearance of the Delta, together with several livery options should make of this a sought-after release. Meanwhile, I can recommend the reading of the very good and well-illustrated article on AIR MAGAZINE #24 (French publication). Many modifications and refinements were applied to this kit to improve what came in the box, which is good but missed some details. One of the iconic airliners of the 30's finally gets the place in the modeling universe it deserves.

(I am posting this build from 5 years ago because I will start another release from this Polish manufacturer, the RWD-5, soon to be posted as WIP here): Those nice little kits. Not long ago I received a mysterious package from Lübeck, Germany. The sender’s address read: “Zönke - Evil Empire, Sekret Lair Unter Ze Volkano”. Intrigued –as the reader may have guessed- I opened the box and found a certain number of kits, of varied fur, quality and degrees of unbuildness. Some have been already started, some were pristine, some were arcane, some were known. Many treasures laid amidst or inside the battered boxes, bread crumbs, sandwich leftovers, insects, portraits of a woman called Helga and plans for death rays. I selected one to start the pile, the object of this article. I love nice little kits, even if they require, as it is certainly the case with this one, a small dose of love and care. The “Plastyk” Polish brand of kits was not totally unknown to me, although I had only the vague reminiscence of having seen an ad or two. They also released an RWD-5 and an RWD-8, among other subjects. Opening the box revealed the contents, which for the original –and current- price are a total bargain. The images that illustrate the article convey the idea of the items included: a number of detailed and not-so-well-molded parts, thick, scratched but not bad transparencies, a comprehensive decal sheet, extensive instructions, and a free visa to Poland, stamped in blue. Or may be that could be the quality control tag, who knows, I don’t speak Polish although I love Polish food. As you can see in the close-up images some effort was put in representing surface detail. There is plenty of it and even the fuselage internal sides have some detail. The fabric texture is just a tad off, and some raised panel lines are not really very subtle. You could sand them, over-prime them, or leave them as they are. There is an aftermarket photoetched set made by PART (PART S72026 1/72 RWD-6) that could be used to complement the nice kit, I didn’t think it was a must for me. Browsing the net showed a high number of these kits completed - some to a nice level of quality and detail - and posted, which is always a good sign. The RWD-6, although in the right time-frame and mind frame, is not a subject that aligns with what I normally build (or should I say abnormally build), but it is a stress-free divertimento that I take as a relaxing vacation from the hardships of the life of the scratchbuilder. If you do an Internet search you will find plenty of background info and images. Perhaps its most famous appearance was in the Berlin Air Show of 1932. As you start the kit some cleaning, refining and adjusting are in order, and perhaps a few parts should be better replaced with card stock, airfoil stock, or in some cases scratched; that is not really a necessity, but more of a personal choice. The wing panels’ trailing edges are a tad thick, so I sanded the aileron down on the intrados and separated the flaps, which allowed me to thin them down too. Building notes: The model presents two options. Single wing struts for the "-6", or “V” wing struts for "-6bis". Choose accordingly. In photos I can see a bulkhead after the seats, closing the cockpit, absent in the model. There are two protuberances on each wing tip that some modelers have mistaken for nav lights. They are actually wrongly-depicted tie-down holes, surely misinterpreted from a plan, since the holes are visible in photos. The Engine shield has a cutout for some engine element. The kit part depicts the cutout but said element is not provided. The kit does not provide instrument decals, but does present a little panel that goes on top of the coaming. Photos show both panels as having a black or dark grey background, three instruments for that little top panel and several for the "normal" panel bellow it. The clear parts once glued showed to be a tad bigger than their fuselage contact surfaces in width, about half a millimeter each side. The decals in this very old release I got are bad for many reasons (they may be better in current releases): the images are not good quality; for example, the edges of the registrations are a bit wobbly. The carrier is excessive (way beyond the images), thick and not really transparent. The decals take a long time to be released from their backing sheet, so be patient. They do not conform well to relief on the model's surfaces, even with decal solution. Trim your decals to eliminate as much carrier as you can. The Stanavo logo on the decal sheet is the wrong color, it should have a red background.

Another pioneer that I scratchbuilt some time ago, for the collection or aeronautic relics and your (hopefully) pleasure: The dream of getting into the blue yonder wasn't born in a specific place. Almost every man through history longed for wings. By the end of the XIX century, Alexander Mozhaisky, a Russian national, built and tested a steam powered monoplane that basically had the right stuff. It is arguable that he achieved a great degree of success, although the machine made a promising hop. Bureaucracy, lack of support, lack of funds, his own death, the usual things, prevented what could have had the chance to really make history, a fate many other pioneers would share. I will humbly dispute the numbers almost universally given for the size of this plane, which, if made with the given span and length, would be almost ridiculous. Fortunately, and after a certain time spent researching, an unexpected text (The Naval Institute Guide to the Soviet Navy by Norman Polmar) provided with the much more credible span of 12.2 meters. Why the other sources state, for example, that the main propeller was 28.7' (almost 9 meters) the span 74' (more than 22 meters) and so forth, seems to escape common sense; perhaps the common mistake of confusing metric and imperial? some other contemporary Russian measure system? Time will tell. Or Won't. What can I say, give me a glass of vodka and a balalaika (or better an Xacto)