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This kit is in the not very inspiring 1983 boxing of the classic 1959 kit. Apologies to the Roy Cross memorial I’ve been hoping to join this GB since I found out about it a while back. I have several candidates in the stash but can only really spare the time for one. So this is it. I built the extant version of this kit around 1965/66. It was the first time I ever tried painting the canopy framing, and much to my and my Dad’s surprise it turned out not too bad!! So I have good memories of this kit as such, but not of any other details. Of course, the big choice about this GB is whether to do the fuller nostalgia experience and just build it as it comes, or take the kit from years ago and treat it to some upgrade and embellishment to bring it more in line with newer standards. I like the nostalgia approach. But I think I might not be able to leave some things alone ………. So I’m aiming to do this OOB as much as possible, but I’m sure as I progress (there’s optimism for you) I’ll start “tweaking” things. However, I really haven’t got much knowledge about this aircraft other than what’s provided with the kit and what I can glean from Groogling. It has the reputation of being the best carrier-based fighter anywhere at the start of WWII (as alluded to in the thread title), so I think I should have at least one example in my collection (even if from a “vintage” kit). To start; the usual photo evidence that this is un-assembled It has been stored in the loft in relatively benign conditions since I bought it around 1984. So the box is in good nick and most of the parts, as can be seen, are still attached to the sprue. The decal sheet showed signs of yellowing so has been on the window ledge whilst we’ve been en France for 2 weeks. If they don’t work (they are almost 40 years old) I might just have a go at masking and painting ….. er…,maybe … Having done a quick dry-fit to check for likely problems I noted the following potential issues that I might address (or ignore …..) 1. Cowling – doesn’t “fit”! Will need work to make it do so. Noted that the gun troughs seem slightly wider apart than the guns on the fuselage. Hmm. Really? Check that again before doing anything drastic/foolish. Also, there is no panel or cooling flap detail on the cowling and no sign of where the combined exhaust outlets emerge on either side. The carburettor intake looks over-sized compared to photos and drawings I’ve managed to find online. 2. Cockpit – well, there’s a hole with some round pegs jutting from each side upon which the unfortunate pilot is supposed to be glued, not even a proper seat. No detail at all. I know that this aircraft was designed to rigorously keep down weight but …….. I don’t normally do crew. I have now done a few models and have learnt about checking what can be seen once the canopy is in place. I don’t want to get into detailing (although I do quite like that bit ….) if I can avoid it for this simple build. Despite its age the canopy is really clear and shiny so I may have to do a bit of something in there. But note to self : KISS and don’t get bogged down again!!! 3. External sink marks and moulding process holes – some visible externally and can’t be ignored. Main culprits on top of nose and tailplane undersides. But care with all those lovely raised rivets and panel lines!! 4. Tailwheel looks “of its age” (I was going to say laughable, but it was OK once upon a time …) so in the spirit of the GB I’ll see what I can do with paint and not replace it. But I might just have to replace the radio mast …… 5. Nice pale blue plastic but feels a little brittle, so note to self: care when tidying seams and removing sprue attachment tabs etc.. As I said earlier, I haven’t much idea about the A6M2 and its relatives because the Pacific part of WWII is way off my usual area of interest. The box doesn’t give any details about the example being modelled. I am happy to take it as a generic “Zero” but if anyone wants to point me at a bit more detailed info about what the markings represent, or can enlighten us here, then please do so. I’m now off to wash the kit and start removing bits from the sprue. Thanks for looking. Rob

Wasn't a formation of three called a vic? Let's look at what's in the foreground here: Three of Airfix's very good 1:72 scale P-51D kits! Two in the most recent boxing from 2023, the first of which I bought on a trip to Dublin, thus the 50 mission crush in the box, and the third in a classic Dogfight Double boxing with an Me 262. Abosulutely fantastic review of the former kit by Mike can be read here and the latter by Julien here. Thanks! The DD kit is molded in the older, lighter grey and somewhat softer plastic than the current production kit. The difference in colour is clear. The pic is here just to show you they are still unstarted kits, because the Britmodeller reviews have already told you ll you need to know about the sprues etc! There's the extra drop tank sprue on the right, leftover from a previous Airfix Mustang build. Having that and three pairs of tanks in the kits allows me to build two pairs of properly handed tanks! Build plans, eh? The E2*D "DETROIT Miss" will hopefully join E2*S by Tamiya in my model display. The decals and the scheme are just too nice to pass! EDIT: This one will later receive its own thread too: P-51D-5-NA 44-13532 SFX ex-358 FS 355 FG, 3/3 of the vic YF/*P, no name yet, later "Betty Joyce" The third one will be one of Experimental (scouting) Force or the later 1st Scouting Force known mounts of Capt. Dale McCrory, a former B-17 lead pilot from the 532nd BS, 381st BG. He was exactly the kind of a pilot Col. Peaslee wanted for to become his Scouts! Serving on his second tour, in the SFX he had a yet nameless Ex-355th FG 44-13532 YF*P. Nice coincidence, perhaps, that the serial number ended in his former bomb squadron number! No pics to link here, but this site is a treasure trove for all things "Little Friends" of the 8th AF. Just search for "McCrory" there. V-P

Started as part of a triple-build thread, now separated from this one. I have planned to model Lt. Bert Stiles's last mount since I read his "Serenade to the Big Bird" - highly recommended - and then learned of his death in combat flying a P-51D on his second combat tour, not much later than he had written the book. The new Airfix kit boxing makes it almost too easy to decal bash 6N*C Pauline to 6N*X Tar Heel, from the same fighter squadron, that Lt. Stiles flew when he was killed in action over Germany. The name in the nose will need to be printed by myself, close but probably not 100% accurate. See the original thread (link above) for boxing and sprue pics, and some more details of them. V-P

Welcome fellow modellers to my latest RFI post.. NOT HIM Again!!!! i hear you cry! Well... It's not often I make a jet model but I saw this kit online and I couldn't help myself. £21.00 ( saw it on that well known site A******* for £20 last week! ) for a new mould Airfix Royal Navy Blackburn Buccaneer? What's not to like? I must say i've always admired the 'Bucc. It looks mean and a friend who served in the RAF as ground crew worked on them and had nothing but praise for this beast of a weapons platform As a kid I do recall seeing them flying a couple of times. One of the toughest airframes of it's era! Flying at highspeed at low level through lots of dirty air..the unique rotating weapons bay all aspects that make me like it! A beautiful aircraft indeed! This new 1:72nd scale Airfix kit is.. quite superb. Airfix have excelled themselves with this one in my opinion. The crisp mouldings and lack of flash is welcomed. It went together like a dream and the surface detail and building sequence is good. The modular sections come together along natural panel lines.. The silver internal ring around the air intakes is separate and part of the front engine nacelle.. so you can paint it accurately and then spray the rest later with some masking.. Well designed by Airfix! Usually I would spray my models with grey primer. In this case thought i'd go for a spray on without primer. I washed the model before painting. It seems to have worked well and the paint has stuck ok. I hand painted the canopy, which was quite hard So i'm NOT entirely satisfied with my efforts here.. The decals are quite thin but went down without any need for softener. They worked well if you didn't 'worry' them too much ! Built OOB as XV 363 of No 800 Squadron - Royal Navy , June 1971 aboard HMS Eagle. I enjoyed building this very much! Hope you like it! i forgot to put the landing light on the front wheell! will rectify this.. but i'm reliable informed this was a RAF only feature. I put it on anyway

Completed this some weeks ago. The cracking Airfix kit... can't really praise it enough. Painted with Tamiya and Gunze Aqueous but didn't have the heart to add any weathering! Finished off with Xtradecals for a 801NAS machine. Thanks for looking! 🙂

Evening all. Another of the lockdown completions, the fantastic Airfix Swift. Great kit....goes together really well. Always loved the Swift, shame it didn't reach its full potential and was overshadowed by the Hunter. Built completely OOB with my usual paints of Tamiya and Mr Hobby for the camo, and the best match I've found of Vallejo Model Air for the PRU blue (camera flash has made it look a lot lighter than it actually is) Thanks for taking the time to look, comments and tips anyways appreciated. Cheers 👍

Around 15 years ago (give or take) I endeavoured to introduce my eldest son to the joys of plastic modelling. We managed to complete one buddy build (the old 1/72 Airfix Bf109-G6) and began a second (Hurricane MkII) before his interest waned. Below is the result. Assembled with care but not too much finesse, brush painted with enamels and a valiant effort to weather them, this brace of 109's have sat proudly on display in various locations around the house ever since. I was considering rebuilding yellow 3 as that was the one that I had built originally but then I recently obtained the 'new tool' Airfix kit which was added to the stash whilst I proceeded with the Tamiya Opel Blitz. Tonight I made the fatal error of opening the box and looking at the contents. Nice box art Instead of the cannon blisters being distinct bulges on either side of the cowl they were moulded like a saddle and were not an improvement over the vintage kit. Scalpel, needle files and sanding pads later produced this A bit squarish but an improvement. Those exhausts look a bit solid, 1mm drill and a bit of work with the scalpel Wingtip nav lights moulded solid? Not anymore and after shaping and polishing... Now to get back to the Opel Blitz, well, tomorro..er later today

Look what I just today bought, thanks to my lovely wife and her given me gift card to my LHS... Hohum, three and half weeks to go, and the DREAMBABY (resting on boxtop) needs to be finished too . V-P

My first entry for this GB will be Airfix's near little AV-8a (Harrier GR.1), which I'm building as a Spanish Navy machine flown from 1982. I needed something quick and simple, as I'm neck deep in a lot of complex model projects, and I'd really like to take something from start to finish in under a month! This kit seems to be just the ticket. The model is well engineered, and suitably detailed from the box. Panel lines are on the heavy side, but after the disappearing act with the panels on Zvezda's Mi-35, this may be a welcome trait. I started gluing and painting major sub-assemblies. Wings, fuselage belly, ejection seat, rocket pod. The plane will be piloted by a Fujimi Tomcat pilot, who fits pretty well in the cockpit after having his legs bent back a touch, and the lateral portions of his butt shaved down. Armaments will consist of one rocket pod, one sidewinder, gas bags, gun pods, and a free-fall bomb on the belly pylon. I think the bombs from the Airfix Canberra are the right kind. If not, I'll need to do some scrounging,

Yep, sorry guys but I've been badgered to build a Lancaster. It will be built out of the box, I am OK to build it as the Tiger Force B.I variant aren't I? Cheers Deacon

Hello everybody! Another of my recent efforts this time a Swordfish from the excellent new Airfix line. Went together quite well but I complicated things by the way i do rigging. In the end it came out quite nicely. Painted with my trusted Humbrols and hairy stick and done up as an 820 bird as it was an old squadron of mine (although a long time after the swordfish!!) Cheers now Bob