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Dear fellow Britmodellers, this is my 1/72 AZ Model Bf-109 G10/R2 in markings of Nahaufklärungsgruppe (short-range recce group) 14. Painted with Mr.Hobby acrylics. Photos by Wolfgang Rabel. "Black 12" was photographed by US Troops at Fürth airfield in May 1945. Color pictures of this aircraft are featured in the MMP book "Bf 109 Late Versions". I tried to replicate the complex camo scheme the best I could. The AZ Model kit (WNF factory) contains the decals, but not the camera housing on the lower fuselage. I used a resin part from AML (#72068). Photo-etch from Brengun, pitot tube and guns from Master. Vacu canopy from Rob Taurus, exhausts from Res-Im. Thank you for your interest! Best greetings from Vienna. Roman

AZ model is to release (in 2016 2019) a 1/72nd Vought OS2U Kingfisher kit (Pavla plastic). Source: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234931186-azmodellegatoadmiral-wwii-aircraft-comments-questions-and-wishes/?p=2147039 V.P.

I suppose just in order to annoy the soon to release Special Hobby kits, Legato is to release a serie of 1/72nd - Curtiss P-40E Warhawk / Kittyhawk Mk.Ia kits. These will be repop of the old AZmodel kit with new decals, masks etc.. Source: http://www.modelarovo.cz/velky-doprodej-info-z-kpaz/ V.P.

As my fourth instalment of my "Hawker Hurricanes around the world" project, and my first representative from Europe, here is a Polish Air Force Hawker Hurricane Mk. I. Poland's initial order of Hurricanes was shipped in summer of 1939, but were much too late to enter service. The only documented serial number I have seen for one of these Hurricanes is L2048, so I am assuming the L2045 on mine is an error and should have been L2048. But, I suppose it is also possible that one of the Polish Hurricanes was L2045 (in which case it later ended up in RAF service, because I have seen a photo of L2045 in France in 1940). Regardless, I am unaware of any photos of any of the Hurricanes in Polish Air Force markings--whether L2048, L2045, or otherwise--so mostly this is based on assumptions. @GrzeM was able to let me know the documents indicate a three-blade prop, which was helpful because I was going to use a Watts two-blade! This is the AZ model Mk. I early kit, which proved the most challenging kits of the four I have now built (Arma Mk. I; Airfix Mk. XII; AZ Mk. IV). It does have the Polish Air Force decals (and also Yugoslav and Italian which I am excited to use!), which was the main reason I bought it. Believe it or not I spent more on this kit (with shipping) than any of the other 20 Hawker Hurricane kits I've bought (even Arma's Expert sets!). In the end, I stole parts from Airfix (prop and spinner, windscreen, carburetor intake, UC doors, rear wheel, decals), Arma (canopy, 5-spoke wheels), Fly (exhaust stacks), and another AZ kit (the Mk IId's landing lights) to make this come together. Frankly, after all of that, I'm happy with how it turned out! Incidentally, while completing this I celebrated my one year anniversary of adulthood modeling! Here are photos of my first four Hurricanes altogether representing North America (USA - Airfix Mk XII [actually Royal Navy, but US markings for Operation Torch]); Europe (Poland); Australia (Arma Mk I); and South America (Argentina - AZ Mk IV). WIP for the project is here: And other RFIs:

This is instalment three in my "Hawker Hurricanes around the World" project, the lonely Hawker Hurricane Mk IV that was gifted to Argentina. Here is the WIP: This is the kit; AZ is the only 1/72 Hawker Hurricane Mk IV that I'm aware of, and certainly it has it's strengths. But, probably these are kits better tackled by more experienced modellers than myself, and I certainly struggled with it. Honestly, I probably wouldn't even bother doing an RFI except that I think the subject is so interesting! My biggest disappointment is the decals, and ultimately I painted out some of them because they settled so poorly. Anyway, certainly a fascinating subject and a necessary addition to the first phase of my project (which is to represent a Hurricane from every continent), as this is the only "entry" from South America! My understanding of the story in terms of the scheme and photographs below (I can't read the captions, so may have some of this wrong) is that it was shipped to Argentina [in 1945] and had begun a transition to Argentine scheme/markings, but was not completed before going on display in Buenos Aries [the photos below are from Cordoba in 1948, not Buenos Aires in 1945--my bad!]. So, she's Argentine "in the back," RAF "in the front." Given the fact that it was being displayed and was certainly to participating in any combat missions, I assume it would have been quite clean, so I didn't bother with much weathering (although I was tempted because it may have helped cover up some of the sloppiness and ugly decaling!). All hairy stick (medium sea grey and dark green acrylics and olive green and ocean grey enamels), although I did use Tamiya rattle cans to create a base coat of light grey underneath and dark green on top. It was my first attempt at painting yellow leading edge, and interestingly out of the 20+ Hurricanes I plan to build for this project, I think this is the only one that has that (I'm glad!). This was also my first time working with resin (some interiors which can't be seen anyway and the radiator) I borrowed some decals from an Arma kit for the walkway strips and machine gun covers, and an Airfix kit donated the wheels and undercarriage gear, but otherwise all OOB. Here are my pics attempting to mimic the angles above. And here she is in colour: Her companions so far are USA and Australia, and RFIs for those are linked here: And here are all three together. These will be the only representatives from Australia, North America, and South America of the whole project. Finally, for some reason I like this picture of them in a shoe box! Thanks for looking!

This is my entry for the Africa Group Build and my second 109 - the first being an E-7 for the Heller Group Build. Looking forward to reading up on pilot Franz Schwaiger and his unit 6/JG-3.

AZ model is to release a new tool family of 1/72nd de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito. Among others the NF.30 variant. Source: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235010228-kpaz-central-discussion-questions-answers/&do=findComment&comment=2686107 First announcement was made with a NF.19 picture V.P.

Two different 1/72nd families of Cobra kits in view by AZ Models and another one by Special Hobby. The Czech ennemy brothers! A 1/72nd Bell AH-1G Cobra kit (early & late versions) is to be released in July by AZ Model. Soon also AH-1Q and TH-1G. Source: https://modelweb.eu/2013/12/23/172-ah-1g-huey-cobra-az-model/ - ref. AZ7450 Another family of 1/72nd Cobras (G and Q/S) is also to be released this summer by Special Hobby. Source: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234939769-new-72nd-scale-ah-1-cobra-available-soon/)1/72 3D renders V.P.

Dear fellow Britmodellers, here's my first completed model of the year, the 1/72 AZ Model Bf-109 G-14AS "new tool 2020". No changes have been made to the external shape and dimensions, but the interior parts have been modified for a much better fit. Both the cockpit/fuselage and the wing/fuselage joints are much easier to assemble, literally 'klicking in place'. The boxing of the G-14AS is identical to the contents of a G-10 kit. That means it is not entirely correct, as the G-14AS had two filler caps relocated. Previous boxings of AZ's G-14AS included additional decals for these hatches. Unfortunately this has been omitted on the new release, and I had to plunder one of their older boxings to replace them. As usual three marking options are included, of which I chose "Black 3" of 5./JG27, flown by Lt. Schmitt, in Schwerin-Görres/Germany, April 1945. I slightly diverted from the paint instructions by spraying the underside of the wings in Aluminium, common with late-war Bf-109s. I also added the long-stroke tail wheel (shown on the box art, but not suggested in the instructions). To enhance the 'scale appearance' I replaced the plastic pilot headrest, cooling flaps, Morane mast and antenna with photo-etch parts. The pitot tube is a metal item from Master, DF loop is made from wire. The model was painted with Gunze/Mr.Hobby acrylics and weathered with artists oils. All photographs by Wolfgang Rabel. Thank you for your interest, best greetings from Vienna! Roman

AZ model is to release in November, at SMW Telford 2017 2018 2019 (?) 1/48th Fairey Delta 2 or FD-2 kit - ref. Source: https://www.facebook.com/azmodelkits/photos/pcb.1416733228351282/1416733088351296/?type=3&theater V.P.

Hello everyone! Here is my latest kit, completed this past weekend. It's AZ Model's 1:72 Messerschmitt P.1106T - the navalized carrier variant. I thought the concept so crazy and absurd that I couldn't resist getting it! I believe it's a first in Luft46 kits since I don't recall anyone releasing carrier-borne aircraft in this field. The instructions that came with the kit were for the B variants (the other two boxings), I'm not sure if by mistake or that's how they come with this kit. I had to refer to the boxart for the variant-specific parts (arrestor hook, underwing fuel tanks and gun pods. The build wasn't easy. The parts were a bit crude and with flash and needed plenty of cleaning up, reminding me of earlier Special Hobby and MPM kits. I built it mostly OOB only adding belts from Tamiya tape and replacing the wing pitot tube with one made from stretched sprue. I opened up the holes at the tip of the gunpod barrels. To get it to sit on its legs, I packed weight inside the engine and in the nose area above it. I made a forward u/c bay bulkhead to hold/hide the lead weights. I managed to get a reasonably good join of the wings to the fuselage but the other joins needed plenty of filling and sanding. The canopy was a poor fit and I only managed to get it in place after plenty of trimming and at the third attempt when I resorted to CA gel to hold it in place. The kit was fully painted and varnished with brush. I didn't like the options proposed by AZ Model so I made my own scheme. I used the decals from option 3 plus the anchors of option 2, all placed as I saw fit. The decals behaved well and reacted to Micro Set and Sol. Despite the difficult build, I enjoyed it and am glad I decided to build this "flying fish"! Thank you for looking and all comments are welcome as always Miguel

Hi all I would like to build this little beauty. I will be building an FAA machine and would like to build it pretty much OOB. I am still finishing my very much modified Blackburn Shark in the Frog Squad build, although it is very nearly finished so this will act as a place marker until I can start. Resin parts cut from their Moulding plugs. I damaged the back of one of the U/C bays and so have covered it with plasticard. The rear cabin seat frames got damaged during cutting off and so I have sanded all but one off (needed the reference an will replace with brass rod, so much for OOB !!! Thanks for looking and good luck to all doing builds All the best Chris

Dear fellow Britmodellers, here's my 1/72 AZ Model P-51C Mustang “Lucky Leaky II”, coded SX-M, of the 352nd Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group. She was one of the later production series with the 'dorsal fin' filet. Based in England, she crashed due to engine failure on May 2, 1945. I built straight from the box using AZ Model decals. These did not perform as good as usual, being brittle. Some pieces simply broke off the surface, most notably on the US Insignia on the right hand side of the fuselage. The model was painted in various shades of Alclad II over a gloss black basecoat. I found it pretty difficult to match the yellow spinner to the decal color; it took several attempts of mixing various yellow and orange paints to achieve the result. The black spinner stripes were masked with White Tamiya tape. Thank you for your interest in this topic. Best greetings from Vienna!

Dear fellow Britmodellers, here's another AZ Model Bf-109 (#17 in my collection) representing the aircraft of Lt. Wöffen of 6./JG 27 in March 1945 at Rheine-Hopsten airfield. The main differences of the Erla G-10s compared to those built at WNF or Regensburg plant consisted of a new engine cowling (“Type 110”), differently shaped gun throughs, a wider oil cooler, missing chin bulges and different rudder. AZ failed to replicate some of the small changes to this particular version, such as the position of filler caps, but only the 'experts' will detect them. More concerning is the shape of the front lower cowl, which seems not deep enough at the junction of the wing root and fuselage. The difference becomes evident when you compare the AZ Model Bf-109 to the Fine Molds offering. On the other hand the AZ kit is considerably cheaper than the FM kit, and readily available in many different versions - and it does look convincing enough to my eyes! The model was painted with Gunze/Mr.Hobby acrylics, for weathering I used Winsor & Newton artist's oils. All photographs by Wolfgang Rabel. I have not seen a photograph of this aircraft, and AZ Model instructions are a bit sketchy. For painting, I referred to a color profile in "Bf 109 Late Versions", MMP Books, p.75. This aircraft seems to carry an overpainted fuselage number which I replicated with a paper template cut from Post-Its. The DF loop is a piece of scrap photo etch rolled around a cocktail stick. The pitot tube is Albion Alloys 0.3mm steel wire. The morane mast under the wings is from a Brengun photo etch set. The very fine IFF antenna under the belly is 0.1mm Albion Alloys steel wire. Thanks for your interest, best greetings from Vienna! Roman

Hi everyone, Here's the latest model to be added to my collection - AZ Model's new 1/72 Bf 109G-10 (Erla) finished in the colours of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana. The model represents "Black 11" as flown by Sergente Maggiore Loris Baldi of 4ª Squadriglia, 2º Gruppo Caccia "Gigi Tre Osei" in early 1945. Paints are Humbrol and Xtracolor, the markings are from Skymodels' "German aircraft in Italian service" sheet with the kit providing the balkenkreuz and most of the stencils whilst the spinner spiral is by AZ Model themselves. I used "Camouflage and Markings of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana 1943-1945" by Ferdinando D'Amico and Gabriele Valentini as my primary reference with the instructions from Stormo Decals ITALIAN Bf.109 ACES - PART II as a secondary source. I went with Stormo's interpretation of the large wing bulges and broad tyres. It may have had the smaller bulges and narrow tyres but the only photo of this machine is from a bad angle so it's difficult to tell. The model itself isn't all that bad, but I'm afraid to say that it's another one of AZ's near misses as it has shape issues around about the nose which means it's not a good representation of an Erla built machine. The discussion over on the 72nd Scale Aircraft forum gives the lowdown: LINK. Now for the photos: Now that I've completed this model it means I now have a complete Schwarm of Small Axis 109G's! Comments welcome, Mike.

Dear fellow Britmodellers, here's my latest, another Erla Bf-109 G10 from AZ's new boxing. Photo etch from Brengun, pitot tube from Master, decals from Eagle Cals. Photographs by Wolfgang Rabel. Thanks for your interest. Best greetings from Vienna.

I purchased an AZ Model BF 109G-6A/S last week and decided to make a start on it based on the glowing reviews the AZ Model BF 109s have received so far. When I dry fitted the cockpit I found I couldn't close the fuselage halves. After chatting to a fellow modeller who had no trouble with the earlier kits I decided to try test fitting the cockpit into the fuselage halves of a G6 and it just clicked into place. The G6/AS kit is basically the earlier G Series kit with the early fuselage cut off and new parts for the G6/AS are supplied on a new sprue so it looks to me like there are fit issues between the original kit and the newly supplied parts. AZ BF109 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr AZ BF109 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr I think I'm going to try thinning the fuselage halves where the cockpit tub fits before I resort to sanding the sides cockpit tub but I was wondering if anyone else had encountered the same fit problem with the G6/AS fuselage and if so what's the best way to tackle it? Thanks in advance, Mark

I would like to add this AZ model kit as my second entry for the GB. I am not too sure about which scheme yet. I am wondering whether to choose one of the kit options, there is a nice Remembrance Day scheme of MJ627 emblazoned with small poppies, or maybe look around for an IAC example - MJ627 started life as an LFIX and was converted to a T.9 by Vickers to become IAC158. by John L, on Flickr by John L, on Flickr by John L, on Flickr

Dear fellow Britmodellers, here's my 1/72 AZ Model Potez 540 Transport, a re-box of the venerable Heller kit. The model was painted with Gunze/Mr.Hobby acrylics. All photographs by Wolfgang Rabel. I would like to thank fellow Britmodellers TonyTiger66, VG33, BS_w and Graham Boak for their help in research. Much appreciated! Thanks for your interest, best greetings from Vienna!

Before I head back into the land of Spitfires, I figure I will get a few more 109 kits under the belt. Nothing new to see about this one except for the plumage, really. It is an AZ Model kit which I have found to be a reliable 109 build. Good detail, decently fitted, nice decals...I have chosen the Hungarian Bf-109F-4, Uman airfield, spring 1943. I like it because of the mottled camo on the body, the splinter camo on the wings and the oddly painted olive drab/grey-green nose. The tri-colour tail feathers work for me too! There are yellow bits, red bits, white bits, green bits...a very colourful bird. The sprue is much the same as any of the other AZModel (or even KoPro) kist I have built so I won't bother showing it. I have primed a few smaller cockpit pieces and will get into it in a few.

Afternoon all. I realise I'm a bit late to the party but I'd like to conribute this...an AZ MiG 17F. I don't know a huge amount about the MiG 17 apart from the fact that it was a development from the MiG 15 (I think) and it caused the USAF a few problems in Vietnam. In Europe it was issued to a number of Warsaw Pact countries and was built under licence in Poland. The box has a really nice illustration on the front (I have no idea what the aircraft in the background is though)... It offers three schemes. I don't know which one to go for yet, it will all depend on how much time I have left!.. There are only two sprues. The wings and tailplanes are moulded in single pieces. I think there are a couple of detailed areas missing on the tail which don't show particularly well in this photo and there's a little bit of flash here and there, but nothing terrible.. The instructions are fully diagrammatic and the decals seem straightforward. Those East German ones appeal to me. I drove through part of the GDR back in the 70s on my way into West Berlin to do some work. I'll never forget arriving at the Marienborn crossing early in the morning (and before it was open), being questioned by a rather large and stern East German military lady and then again by a smooth talking Russian. I had to drop my passport onto a conveyor belt and drive alongside it for 100 yeards to pick it up again. I also remember seeing a whopping great Soviet T34 tank on a pedestal just as I exited the crossing after eventually being allowed in. Anyway, I digress... I don't think I'll be looking for any aftermarket addons apart perhaps from some more detailed decals and stencils (if I can find them) and a pilot. I'll be building it wheels up. The sprues are currently having a bath and I'll be making a start on it soon, but as I'm not the fastest of builders I hope I get it finished in time! It doesn't look particularly complicated, but I've not built an AZ kit before so I have no idea how it will go together, or how it will turn out. This is my first-ever Group Build too so wish me luck!

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

Dear fellow Britmodellers, may I present my latest work, AZ Model's Bf-109 K4, built with addition of Brengun photo etch and Master Model pitot tube. Decals from the box, representing an aircraft of 9./JG53, based in Reichenbach/Saxony, in May 1945. I painted according to kit instructions, using Gunze/Mr.Hobby acrylics. All photographs by Wolfgang Rabel (of IGM Cars & Bikes). The AZ Model Bf-109s have received some criticism regarding the shape of the nose. In case you are interested, please have a look here: I built without modifications, and in my humble opinion, the kit does look like a Bf-109. Here's the only orginal photograph of "White 16" that I found: Wing colors are speculative as they are missing on the original picture. I followed AZ Model's instructions and painted the upper sides RLM 75/83 and the lower sides natural metal. This is a scheme common to JG53 aircraft of that period. The cockpit section was painted RLM66. Fuel lines from stretched sprue added to the starboard console. All photo-etch pieces from brengun. The spinner spiral is not included on the kit's decal sheet. I bough an aftermarket add-on from AZ Model, containing various styles of spirals. It's a challenge to get them to conform to the curvature of the spinner. Brengun photo-etch flaps add a little realism to small scale, as does the photo-etch DF loop and morane mast. For weathering, I used Winsor & Newton artist oils. Thanks for your interest, best greetings from Vienna!

Dear fellow Britmodellers, this is AZ Model's Messerschmitt Bf-109 G6, built from the 'Joy Pack' boxing, with Brengun photo etch and pitot from Master Model added. Decals are a mix of USK (wing markings), Hasegawa (fuselage code number), AZ Model (Italian flags) and Sky Models (small '8'). The aircraft represented served with 3. Squadrilla, 2. Gruppo Caccia, based at Villafranca airfield in late 1944. This build would have not been possible without the valuable help of fellow Britmodeller Luis Alfonso, who not only tracked down the USK decal sheet, but also a vital reference ("Italian Air Forces 1943-1945" by R.Caruana). Thank you Luis... The model was painted with Gunze/Mr.Hobby acrylics, weathering with artists oils. All photographs by Wolfgang Rabel. I realized too late that USK got the upper wing markings wrong:. the outer arm of the fasces on the starboard side should face forward. Thanks for your interest, greetings from Vienna!

Alrighty, here's my latest completion for the year; the AZ Model 1/72 Bf 109G-4 kit built as Finnish Ace Eino Ilmari "Illu" Juutilainen's "Yellow 2", serial number MT-222. Juutilainen flew this aircraft after he transferred to LeLv 34, scoring 15 of his eventual tally of 94 kills. Werk-Nummer 13523 was delivered to Finland on the 16th of May 1943 and was a reconditioned aircraft - although it was officially a Bf 109G-2, it had a G-6 wing with the humps on the inner wing above the landing gear bay to accommodate the wider tyres of the latter variant. Re-serialed MT-222, it was written off on the 10th of March 1944 at Kannas with a total of 84.45 hours on the clock. Paints are Humbrol and Sovereign Hobbies and the decals are by InScale for the individual markings, Techmod for the roundels and the stencils are a mainly the kit items with a few from the InScale sheet. Re-used WIP Shot! All finished! With the other two Small Axis 109's I've already posted: Now that I have a few of these AZ kits under my belt all I can say is that they're not bad, but do need work. In particular the G-2 and G-6 certainly benefited from deepening the nose as shown by Barry Numerick over on the 72nd Scale Aircraft forum. I used the same method, although I only shimmed the wings by 0.5mm and sanded down the wing roots on the fuselage to match. Comments welcome! Mike.