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And to complete my trio of FAA V-fighters we have a Sea Vampire, again from the CyberHobby stable.

My next contribution will be CyberHobby Sea Venom.

Hello all, Time to get started on my first entry for this Group Build. This is one I've had in my stash for a while now: an Airfix 1/72 Beaufighter T.F.X. As the kit omits or simplifies some of the cockpit details (e.g. the very prominent heating pipe on the starboard side), I also purchased a CMK resin cockpit, and as I often do I'll also use Eduard photo-etch and paint masks. The aircraft I'm planning to build is an early T.F.X of the North Coates Strike Wing in August 1943. A quick history of the North Coates Wing in 1942 - 1943 The North Coates Strike Wing was formed in late 1942 and consisted of three squadrons - 143 Sqn with Blenheims but converting to Beaufighters, and 236 and 254 Sqns with a mix of Beaufighters Mk.Ic and VIc. The Wing's role was coastal reconnaissance and shipping strikes against convoys usually off the Netherlands. These convoys transported materials vital to the German armaments industry, such as high grade Swedish iron ore, to Rotterdam, where they would be sent up the Rhine to factories in the Ruhr. The Wing's first strike on 20 November 1942 didn't go to plan. The Wing set course for the target without its fighter escort, the two formations failing to rendezvous, and several of the Beaus detailed for anti-Flak duties lost contact with the formation in poor weather. The aircraft tried to press home an attack on a convoy off Texel but the Flak defences and escorting Fw190s of II./JG1 were waiting for them. In the confusion some Beaufighters were hampered by other friendly aircraft which got in their way and did not bomb, while three Beaufighters were shot down (including 236 Squadron's C.O., Wg Cdr Fraser) and seven badly damaged, two of which were written off on return. This was a poor return for one tug sunk and several vessels damaged. 236 Squadron's new Boss, Wg Cdr Neil Wheeler, along with Wg Cdr R. E, X. Mack of 254 Sqn (replaced by Sqn Ldr G. D. Sise when Mack was killed) and Wg Cdr W. O. V. Bennett of 143 Sqn, energetically set about devising new tactics so that the earlier debacle would not happen again, and the Wing entered a period of intense training interspersed with search and coastal reconnaissance duties. In April 1943 the hard work paid off when the Wing attacked a heavily escorted convoy off the Dutch coast. As the Beaufighters attacked the Flak ships with bombs, machine guns and cannon, the "Torbeaus" swept in at low level and aimed their torpedoes at the largest merchant vessel, the 4,906 tonne Norwegian cargo vessel Hoegh Carrier. In an attack lasting just four minutes the Hoegh Carrier and her cargo of coal was sent to the bottom, two M-class minesweepers were set on fire and an armed trawler was damaged. Only two aircraft were hit. More successes followed throughout 1943 as the Wing continued to press home their attacks with cannon, torpedoes and for the first time rockets. The Germans soon started sending some convoys by night, rendering them more vulnerable to the Royal Navy's Nore Flotilla and to mines dropped by Bomber Command. The combined result forced the Germans route many more convoys to Emden not Rotterdam. This was a far less efficient journey to factories in the Ruhr due to canal locks and limitations of barge sizes on the Dortmund-Ems Canal, as opposed to the Rhine from Rotterdam where larger barges could move freely up the river. The first shipping strike using new Beaufighter T.F.Xs occurred on 2nd August 1943, and in a "copybook" attack the Wing's 24 aircraft targeted escort vessels with rockets before the Torbeaus struck the merchant vessel Fortuna, which reportedly sank in only 30 seconds along with her cargo of iron ore. It's an aircraft from this last raid I'm planning to build, and as an early T.F.X will be in the (very attractive in my opinion) Temperate Sea Scheme - not that I dislike the later scheme! Enough of my ramblings for now, I'll be back soon with more on the exact subject of this build and some progress! Matt Bibliography: RAF Operations Record Books AIR 27/1447 (236 Sqn), AIR 27/978 (143 Sqn), AIR 27/1515 (254 Sqn) The Strike Wings - Special Anti-Shipping Squadrons 1942-5; Nesbit, Roy Conyers; https://www.bcar.org.uk/north-coates-history.php

I’ll be joining in with this classic armoured car. I’ve already built one earlier this year so know the pitfalls.

In for a penny, in for a pound. I found this Xtrakit boxing of the Matchbox NF11/12/14 in the stash and thought I’ve got 3 on the go so why not a fourth. The TT22 was based on the NF11 so this is a reasonable starting point. The airframe is the same but the target towing appendages will need added. I’ll see if there’s any aftermarket available but if not it’s into the spares box to see what can be rustled up. I certainly have enough drop tanks to be able to sort something out. Anyway here’s the kit. Three grey plastic sprues with a number of optional parts for the various Marks. Although a more modern boxing the instructions scream Matchbox. Nice transfers which I’ll use the stencils and some of the roundels. And a commendably clear set of canopies, albeit a tad on the thick side. There’s a fair number of images on the web which I’ll use as a reference but I think they’re copyright so I’ll just give the links. https://www.facebook.com/aviationmt/photos/a.735829616779034/1685419015153418/?type=3 https://www.flickr.com/photos/158949556@N05/31814475477 https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/model/Gloster Meteor TT20 There’s a fair amount of work with the finish as well as the fabrication of new bits. Black and yellow striped undersides, High Speed Silver upperworks with yellow bands and serials, etc out of the stash. So it’s on we go.

A second build hopefully, another Alleycat conversion for the late mark of the Meteor converted to an unmanned target. However, I can’t find the MPM/Xtrakit F8 that I bought at the same time for it. I think it’s somewhere in this stash, I’ll have do a bit of mining. And probably tidy up as well. There’s a few days to go so I should be lucky. Maybe I might just buy the new Airfix one instead!

This will be my first contribution to the GB. I’ve had the Alleycat conversion for a while and bought an MPM kit to go with it. I can’t find the MPM kit in the stash, though I did find a Mark3, but I did come across this Revell Mk4 which is a rebox of the MPM kit.

I’m going to join in with a trio of British V-fighters that graced the decks of post war British Carriers. First up will be this CyberHobby Sea Vixen. I know there are some shape challenges, and ejector seats that only a child could fit in, so there’s a little bit of aftermarket. A new nose, which I’ve seen in a recent build here on BM is a bit better but not perfect, new ejector seats, I’ll probably use one as the observer’s position can’t really be seen. Also masks and some missiles.

A request from a Swiss friend. A Guppy kiosk conversion ( Porthmouth Sail version ) for a Gato Class submarine to represent the USS Torsk 423 with a 1:72 Gato Class Revell hull. I have to release the big sonar under the hull also. I found a lot of drawings on this excellent Gato Class website: http://www.gatosubs.com/mkptsail72draw.htm Unfortunately they are not very accurate, see picture, but they did help me a bit to start my 3D drawing. Luckily, you can find a lot of pictures of the USS Torsk in a dry dock during an interview and docked at the museum, especially on Flickr with HD pictures of individuals. This submarine kiosk looks simple in terms of shape, but it's quite the opposite. First sketchs:

Hi Guys, As probably some of you, I have some models build several years ago .. 15/ 20 years ? who remember ?? . So let me share with you my " Antiques" . Here is one of my fav planes, FW 190-D. In terms of Luftwaffe camouflages, last year of the war in Europe is a very interesting period for me. there were "regulations" and also , frequently the use of " whatever you have in stock" for painting aircrafts at that time, with many parts build by german " cottage industry". My 190-D is based on Japo Fw 190 D camouflage & markings Part 1 book description . Painted if I remember with Gunze paints. lacks the antenna wiring and I left the Tamiya wheel wells as they where ( which is not adequate for this model )What a lazy man I am I added an AB 250 dispenser bomb , Fw 190-D9 of JG 6 ( as many others) were frequently used for ground attack missions trying to stop Russian troops going forward into Germany . The pics Hope you'll like it Thanks for seeing !

Next off the shelf is the very old (maybe original?) boxing of the Hasegawa P-2H Neptune. I've washed the sprues and resin bits. Here they are drying amongst the Scout WIP. Soon to be joined by the Eduard bomb bay and general detail kits, the Aeroclub props and landing gear and PD Decals, amongst others. Not too many plastic parts but heaps of resin and etch. Lots of rescribing to do as everything is raised detail. I'll paint everything this week when the wife goes back to work as she hates the smell of enamel paint through the house!

Hi Gents, To follow on with my Reggiane family fighters , designed at the beginning by common American and Italian teams, this work leads to two lines of aircrafts on both countries , P-47 for the US and Reggiane fighters for Italy. RE 2002 was close to" end of war" P-47's used as fighter bomber . So I present you my little bird , I did it last year. I know that rear flaps should have been presented down, but , even if it's a little bit unfair , I saw some pictures of RE 2002 with these flaps .. raised, even if not the most common of them.. Anyway this avoid me to do some " after time surgery ".. Painted with MRP Paints, All the pictures I saw for these planes during fight against allied landings in sicily and south of Italy in 1943 show them in a rather dull finish due to their intensive use in dusty conditions. Ps: for the bomb, really I'm not sure for the colors.. I think it's more for 50 kg ones but anyway I saw that there is resin ones available at this scale, and will probably change it one of theses days Hope you 'll like the pics ; Best regards to you all and happy new year !!

Here's my entry, ticking the prototype, research & record breakers boxes Wasn't expecting to find resin in the box, so that's a bonus. Would have started sooner, but covid's really done a number on me. No Telford this year for me

this model has been on my to-do list for two years now, I finally got round to making it. It only took a week! It's a decent model, didn't have many problems with it. I'm pretty happy with the result, a good way to start 2023... Next up (probably): RA-5C Vigilante, should look good next to the crusader.

Here is another work in progress which will be most probably never completed and take its place in Hall of Shame on my workbench... This is an MHM/Hobbyboss Su-47 Berkut kit in 1/72 scale. My intention is to build this kit from OOB and place it in the display asap. In overall it seems not so bad but I am quite sure that I will have to deal with a lot of troubles during this build. Here are the kit sprues: At first glance this build shouldn't be so difficult and can be finished very quickly but we will see... Serkan

Someone I follow on Twitter started a 'just for fun 109' group build. I'm a sucker for this kind of thing, so retrieved the Airfix starter kit that's been sitting on my son's shelf for a couple of years and decided to take part. As seems to be standard with the 'simpler' kits I really struggled with several aspects. Mainly the painting this time. In advance of this group build I bought the AK 3rd Gen Early Luftwaffe paint set, thinking it would be ideal. It wasn't - I couldn't spray the stuff at all - either clogged up in the airbrush or was too thin. I was thinning with water rather than AK thinners, to be fair. Tried Mr Hobby thinner as well but it just turned to gloop. I eventually ended up with Tamiya for the blue and Humbrol enamels for the upper camo colours. First time spraying humbrol enamel, it went on OK but I was left with ridges when I took the tape off which was disappointing. I then got a misting effect when I put down a satin coat before weathering which I never quite got rid of At some point in the build I also convinced myself I needed swastikas for the tail. A very kind person on twitter sent me some, but the combination of the Christmas post and the strikes meant they got delayed (arrived yesterday!) so I decided to do my own instead. They look OK from a distance, but don't have the white outline that you normally see. This was my first time using Eduard canopy masks - what a game changer! No way I could have got such a good result using just tape and a knife. So, here we have my 4th completed build of the year. Happy New Year to all on BM, and thanks for the hints, tips and encouragement over the last year - here's to a fab 2023

Hello! Time for another lightning. As always I started with the interior. Seat always needs an upgrade. Pretty happy with this one. Going to be XS903 Any reference images would be greatly appreciated.

As seems to be my habit recently I came across this when looking for something else. and one of the options is for 826 Squadron of the RCN. The kit is an early Special Hobby kit (2003 according to Scalemates) and has a real 'limited release' look about it. There's a lot of flash on the three grey sprues and the surface is a little rough. But the transparencies look nice. There's a lot of resin, which is much more delicately and finely moulded than the Injection plastic. Good selection of transfers and some film for the IP. And a small bit of etch. Reasonable instructions and although they do suffer from the usual SH mode of 'stick this piece somewhere round here' there are some detail drawings. And decent colour call outs and transfer application guides.

I’m hopeful I can join in with this. It is however considerably more than 25% started though. Really just needing finished off. These are the parts still to go on, but the canopy isn’t in the box, though I think I know where it might be. IIf my reading of the rules is right I can complete it with a WIP in the GB but it shouldn’t go in the gallery but into the inspiration gallery instead. If I’m wrong let me know and I’ll stop. Though if permitted it will give me the impetus to finish it. If I can find the canopy of course.

Here is my 1:72 Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4, ZJ949 "H", No. 1435 Flight Royal Air Force, RAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands, 2015. Hasegawa kit, which is a bit disappointing for the "best 1:72 Typhoon kit on the market" - yes, it's nice molded and quite accurate, but have some annoying fit issues and only "in-flight" configuration of engine nozzles. Nothing that you expect from 2012 Hasegawa kit priced about 30 GBP. Small Eduard brass for the cockpit, Reskit exhaust nozzles and Pavla MB Mk.16A ejection seat have been added. Painted mostly with Gunze C334 "Barley Grey". Decals are mix of Hasegawa, Revell and self-printed (1435 Flight emblems). It's the third (and probably the last) model in my little project "Falklands Guardians", which was to include all 3 types of fighters used by the RAF on Falkland Islands after 1982. So here they are together: Phantom FGR.2 of 23 Squadron, RAF Stanley 1983 (Fujimi), Tornado F.3 of 1435 Flight, RAF Mt. Pleasant 1999 (Revell ex-Italeri) and Typhoon FGR.4 of 1435 Flight, RAF Mt. Pleasant 2015 (Hasegawa): Thanks for watching!

Kit - Hasegawa K25 Paint - All Lacquers Decals - Kit Extras - Loadout from spares. McDD F-15C Eagle 36th TFW Bitburg AB, Germany 1986 I know I cannot prove it, but this is the first-ever 1:72 F-15 kit I have built, and I've been nailing bits of plastic together since 1970 ! - Bought this for the massive sum of 10.00 GBP from Phils' Model Shop in Southport back in 1990, and it's sat in my stash ever since. Picked it up around three weeks ago and it's been an absolute joy ever since. We really did have it good back-in-the-day with Hasegawa issuing top-quality kits like this almost monthly. So what to say about the build ? - Apart from the thirty actuating rods for the exhaust petals which were/are a bl**dy nightmare, it's an easy, easy build. Virtually no putty or filler required anywhere, even the potentially disastrous wing/fuselage joint was a breeze. Cockpit area is beautifully detailed and mine is fully painted, however I snapped both the actuating struts when I was manipulating the (huge) canopy into place so reluctantly had to glue the 'glass' into place, shame really but that's down to my sausage fingers and general clumsiness, 'owt to do with the kit. The decals behaved impeccably even after all this time, I was fully prepared for them to shatter into a million atom-sized pieces when they hit the water and they simply didn't !. Paint is Mr Color lacquers and TBH appear a little too blue on the build, so I'll need to have that in mind if I use them on any other Low-Vis build in the future. So as ever thanks for taking the time to look and /or comment... next I'll finish my Tamiya Honda, then maybe a 'What If' project. All the best from Middle Earth. Ian.

Hello everyone. This is the last of a pair of Sea Vixen FAW.1s that I started building as a project in 1/72 scale back in 2019 in order to go beyond what was available in kit form in terms of quality and detail. The first of these aircraft - XJ481 - was completed last October in her Martel trials livery and can be seen here. The aircraft represented here - XN708 from 890 NAS - crashed into Lyme bay killing both crew on the night of 25th Nov, 1964. A fuller history of both aircraft, as well as the build log for designing and printing them, can be found here: Source materials used in developing the CAD designs comprised of the Sea Vixen maintenance manuals cross-referenced with photographic imagery, a combination I've come to rely on in terms indexing what you see against its actual function. Aside from printed resin, the build also required the use of vacforming for the pilot's canopy and the production of homebrew PE for a range of internal and external features. All markings are painted using custom mask sets. Walkaround: Wingfold: Radar and nose area. (Yes, the scanner dish moves...) Engines: I've a list of people already who want a copy of this to make a FAW.1 for themselves so I'm going to be producing it as a multimedia kit in resin, brass and vacform over the coming months, to include all the details shown here. If you like what you see and want to register an interest in having a a copy as well, please feel free to drop a PM. As ever I'd like to finish simply by thanking all those forum members who gave so generously of their time, humour and expertise in following along with this project: it's always chastening to realize that no matter how certifiable my ramblings, there are other equally disturbed individuals out there prepared to read them. All power to you, and of course, peace. Tony Ps. The pair of them together...

Century series fighters, gotta love them. Here is F-101B Voodoo - the two seater interceptor variant. Kit is the Revell 1991 tooled 1:72 kit which is slightly difficult to come by these days. I liked the kit no real issues with the construction and the details are mostly pretty decent. Might lack some of the finesse of brand new kits but does not look bad for it's age. Decals were beyond saving so I used Microscale decals instead. The sheet did not have national insignia so they were sourced from another sheet, Added some details with Reskit wheels, Pavla cockpit and Master pitot tube. Painted with Vallejo Model Air acrylics and weathered with Flory models wash and oil paints. Built for Century Series GB but missed the deadline. Build thread can be found here : Thanks for looking, feel free to comment!

I love Arma Hobby kits. They've been doing great kits of interesting subjects for years now, and each new release is better than the previous. I can see a day when they're going to be as synonymous with modeling and quality as Tamiya. The PZL P.11C is one of their earlier releases, and doesn't have the finesse of their latest, but is still a great little kit, and very easy to build. I finished this model in a week. This doesn't happen often, but this kit is just such a joy to build, and the painting is very easy too. I built my machine from no. 141 squadron flown on September 2nd, 1939 by Captain Florian Laskowski. Captain Laskowski was leading a strafing mission against Nazi motorized columns north of the city of Toruń (where Copernicus once lived) when his plane was hit by flak, and he was badly wounded. Laskowski crash landed in a field. But the Nazi marauders reached him first and blocked civilians who attempted to pull him from the wreckage to provide first aid. Captain Laskowski bled to death. Thanks Arma for kitting these markings, so we can remember what happened. Here is the P.11 with it's real life stablemate, the P.7 (also an Arma Hobby kit, I built about 5 or 6 years ago) And my collection of Arma Hobby kits built to date (I have several more in the works. I love what these guys are doing!).

Hello everyone! Here is my Revell 1:72 Fokker E.III, 340/16, flown by Joachim Buddecke with 5nci and 12nci Bölüks, Ottoman Air Force, in 1916-17. This was an old 1980s issue of the kit I found in a shop during the late 1990s and eventually built in 2004. It was painted by brush with only the varnish being airbrushed. The markings came from a Pegasus decal sheet and the serial number was hand-painted. Thanks for looking and all comments welcome Miguel