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hi all - for those of you building the new Airfix kit, or any P-51D - I found this guide rather useful in working out which canopy shape is which http://www.gaetanmarie.com/p-51dk-mustang-canopy-variations/ Jonners

Hi guys I'm right at the beginning of this build. Not even having two parts cemented together yet. I'm concentrating 100% on the parts prep and boy is there plenty of shaving, filling and sanding with this horror. My plan for this kit is to take my time and come away with a nice tight fitting and tidy build. I'm going to be hand painting and will generally be sticking to the listed paints...wether historically correct or not. This is my 2nd attempt at my 1st rigged warship if that makes sense...my last Victory was consigned to the rubbish tip in disgust some 10 yrs ago and I'm already regretting not having kept it for spares but I didn't so nothing I can do about it now. I'm currently filling and sanding the 72 gunport shutters as my 1st step...I will in due course be adding pics of my progress once there's something worth seeing. If anyone can let me know how to insert pics here I'd appreciate it....thanks in advance

After seeing how easily some people apply foil to their aircraft I decided it was time to join this Alumni and master this black art. So armed with a roil of cheap kitchen foil and some not-so-cheap Microscale metal foil adhesive I am embarking upon the Airfix P51-D Mustang (A01004A). I'm not added any aftermarket, so this will be built out of the box. I've started by painting the necessary areas with interior green. I'll let this dry off and then pick out some of the wall details before adding the instrument panel, seat and control stick.

P-51D Cockpit Set 1:48 Eduard Brassin - For Airfix Kit Cockpit Set (648346) Arriving in the usual black box is this new brassin set for the new Airfix P-51D. Inside are 22 resin parts, a coloured photo etched fret, a small film sheet, and a small decal sheet.The photo etch parts are for the multi part instrument panel, seatbelts, and the area to the rear of the cockpit under the canopy,as well as a few smaller parts. In resin we get a new cockpit floor with the instrument housing at the front, control column, pilots seat complete with head armour, two fully detailed side consoles, gunsight & coaming, main canopy frame, and the radio area behind the pilot. The decal sheet provides cockpit placards. Review sample courtesy of

Hi All, Its been a while.....PhD is done now (apart from the viva) and as I have no job currently, there's some time for some modelling. In my grand vision, I will eventually own a collection of detailed and accurate fleet of modern Soviet jets. First up is the Su-27 'Flanker B', and I am using the venerable 1/72 Airfix kit. I felt I owed this kit another go, as I had made a gluey mess of it when I was a kid! I also had the PART photo-etch set, a Pavla resin seat and a Pavla vac-form canopy (the Airfix one is too short). When I get some cash I might get some Aires nozzles for it too. The scale plans that I have from www.airwar.ru show that the Airfix kit is very good in terms of accuracy. It has engraved panel lines, but most of them are wrong so what I am doing at the moment is laboriously rescribing correct lines and adding rivet detail, using photos of Masa Narita's 1/32 Flanker online and photos in Model Airplane International. I have rescribed the main upper fuselage and am part-way through the vertical stablisers. I have also started to detail up the nose gear and the front cockpit coaming, and will get going on the main gear soon. Yes, I am a masochist, but I'm actually enjoying this stage! Here are some pics, not too exciting yet I'm afraid but it hopefully gives a flavour of what I'm up to. Any questions/comments welcome. Cheers James

Hi all, I finally got around to finishing this kit, I've had it built but unpainted in it's box for months now and I recently saved it from the shelf of doom. The kit was built and painted in my usual way using model air colours. Any criticism or comments highly welcome!

An old (part) set of Airfix 01745 Waterloo British Infantry, supplemented with 5 Esci (215) British Infantry figures

Recently finished this lovely little kit from Airfix, joy to build Build out of box, with aftermarked decals from DP Casper. Cheers Jes

Hi all For my next project I have decided to build an A-4B Skyhawk from Argentine Air Force during the Falklands conflict in 1982. Politics aside, the conflict proved that skilled pilots can make a difference even when using an outdated, or inferior material. In this case the old and still reliable Scooter (Douglas A-4B Skyhawk). This is a challenging subject, since the resources available are, quite often, not reliable or conflicting. I was fortunate to find an amazing tread in a scale modelling forum where the author (FAAMAN) made a comprehensive article (post) in regards to the Argentinian Skyhawks. This post will be my guide through this building, you can read it HERE. (Images used are in the public domain and used for educational purposes only) I have decided to built the A-4B C-242, as seen im late May 1982. It was flown by Primer Teniente (1st Lt) Guadagnini. Unfortunately he was killed on the the 23rd during the attack to HMS Antelope.  Primer Teniente Luciano Guadagnini Following is the accounting for that day: 23 MAY 1982: A flight of four Grupo 5 A-4B Skyhawks attack in two groups. The first attack is led by Capitan Carballo with Primer teniente Alferez Gomez flying his wing. They approach HMS Antelope fast and low over the water. The results of the attack are one 1000 lb. un-exploded bomb in the Antelope's stern. It is believed that the Skyhawk piloted by Alférez H. Gómez stroke Antelope with the 1000 lb. bomb that did not explode. (Later this bomb did explode while being defused, leading to further explosions that sunk the ship.) Capaitan Carballo's Skyhawk is severely damaged by AAA and an exploding SAM, and barely escapes a second SAM. Carvballo's damaged Skyhawk makes it back to base and post-flight inspection finds a damaged fin on one of his drop tanks. This may have been caused by striking the mast rigging of the Antelope.The second attack from this flight is flown by Primer Teniente Guadagnini and Teniente Rinke and results in another 1000 lb. unexploded bomb in the Antelope. Primer Teniente Guadagnini flying A-4B Skyhawk C-242 was killed when his Skyhawk was struck, mostly likely by a British Sea Wolf SAM from HMS Broadsword.Later,Argentine Navy Third Escuadrilla A-4Q Skyhawks, attack the British Frigate Antelope. The Navy flight consisted of Capitan de Corbeta Castro Fox and Zubizarreta, Benitez and Oliverira. Zuizarreta would die when his aircraft, laden with un-expended ordinance he could not discard, blew a tire causing his aircraft to veer of the runway upon landing. Zuizarreta ejected but did not have the needed speed to facilitate completion of the chute deployment and was killed. His aircraft, 3-A-309 ironically was not damaged. C-242 shot down by SAMs and AAA on the 23rd May 1982 whilst attacking HMS Antelope, the pilot Primer Teniente Guadagnini was killed, ‘B’ pattern camouflage with standard ‘official’ I.D. bands in six positions Photo Resource C-242 Before applying the yellow ID bands in 6 positions C-242 (forefront aircraft on the right) with yellow ID bands applied Here is the final model: Painted with Tamiya acrylic paints. That's all folks!

P-51D PE update sets & masks 1:48 Eduard - For Airfix Kit The new Airfix kit is a good one. Eduard are now along with a few update sets to detail the kit. Interior Set (49861) This set is for the interior, mainly the cockpit. There is one nickel platted coloured fret and one plain one. The colour fret is dominated buy the mulit part instrument panel. Also included here are side consoles additional cocpit parts and gunsight parts. The brass fret contains parts for the canopy framing, radio area, various access panels, seat parts and the armoured head reat. . If wanted the coloured fret is available as a Zoom set which contains just the coloured fret. Full Set Zoom Set Exterior (48930) This set provides parts for the radiator, inside rear of the radiator bay, insdie the gear wells, the rear wheel bay doors, vents on the engine cowling, parts for the gear legs and main gear doors and new fins (4 sets) for bombs to be carried. Seatbelts (FE854) This set provides a full sets of seatbelts. These are the newer Steel type. Masks (EX560) This set provides all the masks for the glazing and wheels in the yellow tape. Review samples courtesy of

Welcome to my latest completed ‘masterpiece’. I use the term very loosely as I’m still relatively new to all this – but I learn something new everyday – and usually from the good folks on here. It’s the Spitfire MKIA in 1/72 from good old Airfix. I built it OOB apart from the exhausts and decals – but more about that in a moment. I did a WIP thread – not because I can teach you anything – but so you guys and gals can look over my shoulder and teach me as I go along. So what did I learn on this build… This kit is really well detailed for the size and if you are looking to build one – it goes together really well too. Thus was a ‘mojo build’ by the way and this kit certainly ticks that box. As detailed as it is – it doesn’t have an ‘actuator’ – and I didn’t even know what one was – but I now know how to make one out of 0.5mm evergreen rod. I’m getting better at filling and sanding – I’ve learned patience. Gunport decals can be fiddly – but they are REALLY FIDDLY at 1/72. Don’t spend hours on your kit exhausts trying to make them look ‘real’ – unless you put them somewhere safe – I ‘lost’ mine along the way, but luckily had resin ones to substitute. They look great – to me – but so did the kit ones. I still need to work on my camo painting technique – as I went way too heavy on the dark green in an effort to avoid too much ‘blending’ between it and the dark earth – as it is such a small scale – for me. I used Hannants BoB decals and was able to find lots of pictures of the real aircraft – which was brilliant for reference. I had the usual ‘fingerprint’ problems – but got past them this time – so I’m pleased about that. I think I’m going off Montex masks – they are too stiff and leave too much residue behind – problem is I’ve got a box full. Aerial masts on Spitfires aren’t black – as I’ve always done them in the past. Not all Spitfires need an aerial wire from the tail to the mast – result (phew too). I still can’t do exhaust smoke stains for toffee – must practice some more on this one. My gun smoke isn’t much better – but I’ll get there. A cheap £25 airbrush is actually great for varnishing – result. I should use a bamboo skewer through the nose to stop me touching the model – no not ‘my nose’ – the nose of the model. Finally – when it comes to panel lines – ‘less is more’ – so I promise to be more restrained in the future. I DEFINITELY need a decent set up to photograph my ‘masterpieces’ – a camera phone and some black card inside the paint booth doesn’t really cut the mustard. Anyway – enough of the waffle – here she is – I hope you like her… If you are ‘really’ interested – you can find the WIP thread here… …as is usual for me there were a few ‘ups and downs’ along the way – but all good fun and it will definitely give you a laugh. Finally, if you like it – you can ‘like’ it – there are some buttons over there > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > As always – constructive comments or questions are most welcome. Thanks for looking – Steve

Hello fellow BM's. I thought I'd share another one of my recent builds with you if I may... here I present one IJN B5N2 'Kate' depicted ready for the attack on Pearl Harbour: This is Airfix's excellent and highly detailed kit which allows you to pose the aircraft in a variety of setups. I thought I'd show mine on the deck of Zuikaku loaded but wings folded and canopy closed ready for the second wave to take off and hit the US Pacific Fleet. I didn't have many problems building this one, the fit was good, the canopy nice and clear and paint scheme simple. I made some guesses on the colour of the aotake but decided to show it as a deep metallic blue as Tamiya suggest from their paint range. Weathering is minimal as I understand the airplanes were well maintained at this stage of the war, particularly before they saw much action. Decals were cut right to the detail to avoid silvering and I had to apply quite a bit of Microsol and set to get them to behave. Some minor riveting applied to the wings to make them a little more interesting. Hope you enjoy and feedback as ever welcomed. JB

The Royal Welsh Fusiliers 18 Airfix 01745 figures for the centre companies with 4 ESCI 215 figures for the grenadiers and light companies

Hi all. I am currently working on the Airfix new-ish Lancaster kit (dambuster version) and I am wondering what the little tabs on the leading edges of the lower wing parts are for. You can see them quite well in this review. You're not supposed to glue any other parts on them or anything, and they don't correspond with little notches in the top wing parts. I did some searching, and they seem to match those little things next to the nacelles on this Lancaster B.II, and also here. But I don't see them on many others. Anyone got an idea what they are for, and if I should keep them on or sand them off? Thanks.

This is Airfix's very nice 1/48th scale Hurricane kit, I really enjoyed this build. I added a few details to the cockpit and gun bay, improved the landing lights by open the structure around them, removed the cowling Dzus fasteners and replaced them with a beading tool, added Brassin wheels, used the Aires exhausts which had to be cut apart and glue back together in the correct place as it has the exhausts are too far apart. Painted with Humbrol enamels and decals from Xtradecal.

Here's my building of Airfix's 1/72 Spitfire. It's pretty much OOB, I added tape harnesses. The paint is Tamiya Medium Sea Grey with Xtracrylics PRU Blue. This photo Spit was built alongside the Dutch trainer version. This is the RFI thread for both. Cheers Will

My KUTA project to hopefully get finished by the end of the year, the excellent Airfix Handley Page Victor B.Mk.2 (BS) kit which I started I think just after last Christmas. In fact there isn't a huge amount left to do. I managed to keep working on it until May which is when the garden needs a lot of attention, then we went on summer hols, and I found masking the cockpit canopy just too fiddly! She is going to look fabulous when finished, I just need a gentle KUTA

Here is my latest completion: it's the new-ish tool Airfix 1/72 A6M2 Zero from the original release boxing. I took some liberties with the camo scheme, painting it like an A6M5; since this aircraft was from a training squadron later in the war, I figured that was reasonable. I am aware that the underside colour should probably be trainer orange yellow, but went with Gunze IJN Grey anyway. Paint chipping was accomplished with a silver pencil. It's the first time I've tried this and, while my technique still needs some work, I'm happy with this as my first attempt. It is easier than trying to dab random blobs of silver paint. Hope you like it! Airfix A6M2 Zero in 1/72 by Russell Taylor, on Flickr Airfix A6M2 Zero in 1/72 by Russell Taylor, on Flickr Airfix A6M2 Zero in 1/72 by Russell Taylor, on Flickr Airfix A6M2 Zero in 1/72 by Russell Taylor, on Flickr Airfix A6M2 Zero in 1/72 by Russell Taylor, on Flickr Airfix A6M2 Zero in 1/72 by Russell Taylor, on Flickr Airfix A6M2 Zero in 1/72 by Russell Taylor, on Flickr Airfix A6M2 Zero in 1/72 by Russell Taylor, on Flickr Airfix A6M2 Zero in 1/72 by Russell Taylor, on Flickr Airfix A6M2 Zero in 1/72 by Russell Taylor, on Flickr

Source: http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/news/workbench/exclusive-new-2016-announcement-airfix-at-ipms-telford/ V.P.

AL381 was with the 351st BG at Polebrook from May 1944 – 9 June 1945 where it was used as a target tug. It was transferred to the 55th FS, 20th FG, at Kingscliffe, from June – October 1945 and was used as a general hack and transport carrying the codes KI-E.

Well here she is. A labour of love, only additions are an Eduard cockpit, Yahu Instrument panel and HGW fabric seatbelt.

My latest completion the Airfix 1/72 Lightning F6, almost completely OOB the only addition being a Pavla seat to replace the kit item, the kit went together without any problems, finished as a Lightning from the Lightning Training Flight, I chose it as I have seen the real aircraft thundering down the runway at Bruntingthorpe a number of times always impressive and LOUD. anyway enjoy C and C welcome. IMGP7889 by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr IMGP7886 by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr IMGP7890 by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr IMGP7881 by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr IMGP7885 by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr

Hello BM's, May I present Airfix's P-40B in 1.72 from the Pearl Harbour 75th AGS... with a difference: I modelled this P-40B to represent Flt.Lt. Clive R. "Killer" Caldwell's mount in 1941. Caldwell was the leading Australian air ace of World War II. He is officially credited with shooting down 28.5 enemy aircraft in over 300 operational sorties, including an ace in a day. In addition to his official score, he has been ascribed six probables and 15 damaged. Caldwell flew Curtiss P-40 Tomahawks and Kittyhawks in the North African Campaign and Supermarine Spitfires in the South West Pacific Theatre. He was the highest-scoring P-40 pilot from any air force and the highest-scoring Allied pilot in North Africa (source Wikipedia). No new techniques on this one, but I thought I'd try and display the craft after a good few months in the field, sand blasted, dirty but well serviced and ready for action. Decals are from Xtradecal, courtesy of @murfv after a trade up. Hope you enjoy the pictures and as usual critique always welcome. Cheers, JB.

I have been a big Javelin fan for over 30 years. I guess you can easily imagine my enthusiasm when Airfix announced their new 1/48 scale kit a couple of years ago. Actually this will be my second "big" Javelin and fourth to my collection. This kit is one of the best Airfix has ever released. It's very accurate in detail. This project actually started some 20 years ago when my friend visited Hendon and brought me this. It's a post card originally painted by Dugald Cameron. It has been hanging on my wall ever since. The "Tiger Stripes" of 60 Squadron looks very good along with the black wing tanks with lightning flashes painted on them. So good that I built the Airfix 1/72 scale FAW.9 without further references. But did this paint scheme really exist? We have all heard about "artistic freedom"... Thanks for the Internet I have been able to collect a reference library about the Javelin. Couple of years ago I found a small photo on Key Publishing's aviation forum that showed eight Javelins on the ramp at RAF Tengah. Some aircraft carried these specially decorated wing tanks. Unfortunately the photo is so small that no details can be verified. I then contacted the gentleman who shared his photo but no better quality prints existed. I also contacted 60 Squadron and their archives have three more photos on the subject. It became clear that Dugald Cameron was right all the way when he stated that 60 Squadron Javelins carried these black tanks at 1967 and after. Finally this year a new book about Javelin was published by Michael Napier. There is one photo in the book where the Javelins are taxying at Tengah after a fly past. Now I had all the "evidence" I needed and it was time to choose a particular aircraft. So this build will be XH766 "E" of No. 60 Squadron some time between June 1967 and May 1968. I chose XH766 simply because I have enough good quality photos of her from every angle. This will be very much "straight forward" build as the kit is excellent. I will show you also some extra detailing that is missing from the kit. So wellcome aboard everyone I started the work with the front fuselage. There are two round holes on the nose gear well walls. Photos show that they were covered with round panels which I cut from thin styrene sheet and drilled holes around the edges (0,3 mm) to replicate the screws. Note also the two small "bumps" on the panel just forward of nose gear bay. These are the base plates for "Violet Picture" azimuth aerials and missing from the kit. I also used my Tamiya Pin Wise to drill holes around the AI bay hatch edges. The radome was filled with 9 mm pistol bullets. They are good for modelling purposes because you know their weight exactly. Mine are 10,4 grams each. Instruction booklet suggests that 25 grams is enough but I loaded the nose with some 40 grams; surely 25 wasn't enough. Eduard provides a PE set for Airfix Javelin. I used only the pilot's instrument panel. As you can see this is the last cockpit version (the extra ILS on the left corner). This goes well with kit's cockpit which has five large knobs for cockpit lightning under the starboard side wind screen panel. I decided to sand the instrument panel to bare metal and paint it with RLM 66 (a mixture of Humbrol 33 and 34) but leave the actual instruments as they are. An interesting detail is the yellow pipes running between the pedals. Something that is visible on preserved aircraft. Javelin's cockpit is a pretty black affair. Most of the knobs are either dark brown or satin black. So be careful with red and yellow... The cockpit was illuminated by UV lamps and all markings were painted with fluorescent paint. Because this is a FEAF Javelin I also removed the "Gee" indicator from the rear cockpit and replaced it with scratch build ADF set. Here are the starter "bullets". The compressor blades are pretty crude but they are only visible with a torch so I didn't replace them. However I added the starter's exhaust pipes from plastic rod. When viewed from front the starboard side pipe should point at "four o'clock" and port side at "eight o'clock". Or other words: they should point slightly down and towards the service bay below the rear cockpit. Thank You for reading so far and see You next time Antti