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V.P.

Sea Harrier FA.2 ZH813 Pics by Richard E

Royal Engineers Trojan Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers, Pics thanks to Greg Buckley.

Royal Engineers Titan Armoured Vehicle Launcher Bridge, Pics thanks to Greg Buckley.

A good evening to you all, despite the sad events of today, First of all, a bit about me: From a young age I was first introduced to the RAF Museum at Cosford, I have been there during the construction of the Cold War hangar and although I can't remember it, I presume that I must have been there before the Nimrod (XV249) arrived and I have since become well acquainted with it when they brought it in during 2012. Out of all the exhibits there, the Nimrod is still the one that catches my eye- perhaps it is because of its size or it might be due to the red goose emblem of 51.sqn on its nose! (Pictured) Having gone to Telford in 2015 and having seen an Airfix 1:72 Nimrod kit, I simply couldn't resist! So, without further ado, the following is a quick summary of the kit and modifications: 1:72 Airfix Nimrod kit A set of fabulous decals from RAM Models (more on this later) A really excellent Raven Scale Models lighting kit (again, more on this later) A few scratchbuilt bits and pieces, mainly the "forest" of antennae and pitot tubes. Finished with a combination of Vallejo "Air" paints and some AK Interactive washes. NOTE: THE MODEL I HAVE CREATED IS NOT 100% ACCURATE and the positions of the lights are certainly not accurate! Issues with the kit: The wing-fuselage join was horrendous (although this might be due to the wires of the lighting kit getting caught in the internal structure of the fuselage) and so vast quantities of liquid poly glue were utilised and subsequently sanded down to get a "decent" seam. The wing-tip pods were not suitable for the R.1, these were made from bits of sprue which were sanded down and hollowed out. -This isn't much of an issue with the kit, but an issue nevertheless: trying to get the wiring through the wing structure and into the wing-tip pods was a nightmare, this is not a fault of the Airfix kit or the lighting kit- just a problem with trying to integrate the two. Now, time for some pictures! The superb RAM Models decals for the 51 sqn goose on the nose. And another view of the nose..... You can tell that I love that decal Last one I promise!!! (Note the effective texturing of the goose decal). A nose-on view A view of the wing structure, intakes, wing fuel pods, antennae under the wing, try and ignore the light to the right of the intakes, the hole is to allow a strong beam of light through from the LED A view of the central fuselage section, note the "forest" of antennae The flaps and engine nozzles. And the left side... (The rigging from the fuselage to the tail needs re-tensioning) A close-up of the tail section Excellent decals once again from RAM Models I attempted a moderate level of weathering using an AK Interactive wash From a distance... And underneath... A selection of AK Interactive washes were used for the landing gear bays, also note the antennae just in front of the pylon and another one coming out from the rear of the wing-tip pod (this one somehow survived without breaking off!) One final shot before I demonstrate the lights. As mentioned previously, I used the lighting kit from Raven Scale Models, the image below shows the underside of the Nimrod- note the position of the bomb-bay panel. Now you see it... Now you don't! -The wiring was redirected into the bomb bay area, where the battery holder is located and where the switch (silver coloured thin tube) is activated from. It lives! (sort of) Demonstrating the landing lights- I haven't added lights to the nose or to the inner wing-mounted landing lights, purely due to the fact that using fibre optics would ultimately reduce the intensity of light coming from the lights that are currently present, I would prefer there to be two bright lights compared to 5 dim lights. They're quite bright! The placement is pure fiction, but there is one red flashing light (pictured) and two flashing strobe lights Furthermore, there is one light in each wing tip (red and green), again their placement is somewhat fictional; i've been told that they should be swapped over (I'll be damned if I'm changing their position now!) And that, alas, is that. Thanks for having a look, she'll now be fitted with wire and hung from the ceiling- flying alongside the Shackleton, the Nimrod MR2's predecessor and stablemate in the ASW role during the Cold War. Perhaps I'll get round to doing an MR2 one day.... But for now, thank you and have a good evening- my best wishes, especially to members in Belgium. ;( Sam

Hi. Here´s my lattest build, the new Sword U-125A. Here you can have a look at the build. Daniel

Anigrand is to release in December 2018 a 1/72nd BAE Tempest II resin kit - ref. AA-2138 Source: http://www.anigrand.com/future_releases.htm V.P.

HobbyBoss is to release a 1/48th family of BAe Hawk. - ref.81733 - BAe Hawk T.Mk.1A - ref.81734 - BAe Hawk T.Mk.67 - ref.81735 - BAe Hawk T.Mk.100/102 - ref.81736 - BAe Hawk T.Mk.127 - ref.81737 - BAe Hawk Mk.200/208/209 - ref.81738 - BAe Hawk T.Mk.1/1A Red Arrows Source: http://tieba.baidu.com/p/2804569608 V.P.

Morning all, I picked this kit up as a break from the Revell A400M that i've got on the bench. For the first time I am relatively pleased with this attempt, having built two SHARs, one GR3 and one GR9 over the course of the last 2 years. It is also the first time where I am content with the level of post-shading (although I did have to clean up the upper wing surface when i forgot to dilute the wash that I use for the postshading and my airbrush started spraying out this fountain of black- reducing the effectiveness of the finish somewhat! ) Kit: Airfix 1:72 BAe Harrier GR7A/GR9A (from LMS -Mike's Models) Paints: Vallejo Black, Light grey, Medium sea grey, White, Medium olive Alclad II Aluminium -And a variety of mixed Vallejo paints for smaller details Other: Alclad II Aqua gloss Vallejo "Model Wash" Dark grey -for panel lines and post-shading Thanks for looking Kind regards, Sam

Hello again everybody. Revell kit + Nazca decals. White automotive paint, Alclad for the engines. My father flew this one, LanChile only had three of them and one was lost in 1991 in a runway overrun accident in Puerto Williams, Chile (Patagonia). 20 passengers died. It was an aircraft definitely ahead of its time, bringing by then unkown low-noise levels to air travel down here in south america. It performed extremely well in short runways in spite of having no thrust reversers as well. Thanks for looking

AModel is to release a 1/72nd BAe Jetstream 31 kit - ref. AM72238 Sources: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10305830 http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/AMU72238 Box art V.P.

North wing Model Craft (NMC - http://nmc.amuse-net.biz/index_e.html) is to release a all new 1/48th BAe/McDonnell Douglas TAV.8B Harrier II & Harrier T.Mk.10/T.Mk.12 resin conversion set. V.P.

Having been brought up near Filton airfield, I have set myself the task of building as many aircraft associated with Filton over the years, to a greater or lesser extent. This will be done in 1/144 due to limited storage space. I have started with VC10 RB211 testbed G-AXLR, VFW614 D-BABC and DC-3 G-AMPO. If anyone has photos/slides ets of aircraft at Filton and would be willing to share tham with me, please let me know.

which is the best kit airfix 1/72 sea harrier fa2 from the airfix club box with a gr7 or the xtrakit harrier fa2 as i have just purchased both and was wondering which one will look better with the 800 nas special scheme many regards paul

Hawker Siddeley/British Aerospace First Generation Harrier In Worldwide Service Volume 1: 1960-2000 Book by AIRfile AIRfile AIRfile produces a very nice range of illustrated guides which should be very useful for anyone seeking detailed information and colour references, whether for a model build or for general aviation research, on specific aircraft types or theatres of operation. This book is the eighth in AIRfile's current series of colourful and beautifully illustrated aircraft and is primarily geared for the aircraft model builder. The combination of well researched written detail, accompanied with full colour profile and plan illustrations, with contributions by experts from a broad sphere in all subjects of aviation, make these guides an essential aspect in any modellers toolkit. The Book This is the first of a two volume set about the HS/BAe Harrier and details the history of the first generation version of the Harrier; from the Hawker P.1127 and Kestrel; progressing with the fist production aircraft in the form of the Harrier GR.1 and continues to the last of the type in the Harriers GR.3 and FRS.2. There are additional chapters on the two seat trainer versions plus export aircraft including the U.S. Harrier AV-8 series as well as Spanish, Indian and Thai air force aircraft. Volume two is in the planning stage and will detail the second generation Harriers when published. The author, Glenn Ashley, has provided a concise history, within the 72 pages of this book, of the first generation Harrier; and details the camouflage and markings carried on Harries of the various air arms which operated this iconic aircraft. Encompassing and complementing the Glenn's writing are the colourful and explicitly detailed illustrations, which are professionally produced by Jon Freeman. A second volume is in preparation which will cover the second generation aircraft of the Harrier family.. The format of the book is of A4 portrait layout with card covers front and back. Within the book there are no less than 166 images; covering 124 Harriers ( I didn't even realise so many first generation aircraft had been built.) of which 99 are profile views and a further 25 are full 4-view illustrations which show the top, underneath, left and right aspects of the aircraft depicted in full colour. These illustrations are interspersed with knowledgeable and well researched data and backed up with over 40 black/white and colour photographs of the respective aircraft. This book, along with it's future sister companion volume, will be a welcome addition for the Harrier enthusiast and should help modelling enthusiasts in their quest to build or improve their Harrier models. This volume starts with a short history of the design and development of the prototype, and includes some nice black and white photographs of the P.1127 and the subsequently named Kestrel as shown in the above image, The narrative itself gives historical information as to where and when these aircraft were built, including their progression requiring onward transfer to Dunsfold for final assembly and flight testing etc. The fully coloured illustrations are laid out either as a single profile image of a particular aircraft, formatted as four separate aircraft to a page as above; or as a 4-view profile and plan of a single aircraft as shown in the illustration below. Each illustration has a short heading beside it, providing additional detailed information relevant to the aircraft at a specific time in that aircraft's life. Details include type; serial; code; Squadron; location and date. This is followed by a narrative highlighting some interesting data which would be of interest to the modeller and aviation historian alike. Photographs are included at various sections of the book and help to confirm camouflage and markings as shown in the illustrations. The book is divided into sections, covering prototypes; operational Royal Air Force aircraft; Operational Fleet Air Arm aircraft; Trainer/Two seat versions and Export aircraft. An example of a Sea Harrier (SHAR) FRS.1 is shown below. Some particulars to note, as in the page highlighted below, that alongside the aircraft illustrations and narrative there are also additional images, in higher resolution, showing particular markings and aspects of the aircraft being illustrated The book moves on to provide details and examples of the two-seat, trainer, version; again the views can be either four to a page profiles or a single page giving a 4-view plan and profile set of illustrations and details. Glen and Jon have not just been researching and writing about the fairly commonplace camouflaged versions of these aircraft but also some of the more unusual, and interesting, colour schemes to be found on these aircraft. This 4-view depiction of a Harrier T.2A of No.1 Squadron, RAF Wittering would make quite an eye-catching model if built and displayed a model shows around the country. Following on from the UK built and operated aircraft sections, the book then moves on to cover export aircraft. As with the previous sections, there are some fine, unusual and very interesting colours and markings to be seen on these aircraft as can be seen in these U.S. Marine Corps types below. The accompanying photographs could also inspire some ideas for diorama layouts! Additional information, as with the aircraft motif's detailed below, has been included in a larger format allowing a more detailed and is presented alongside the specific aircraft that adorns it. Each narrative is accompanied, at the end, with reference data and shows where that particular piece of data has been sourced from. Conclusion This latest publication from AIRfile should be a real treasure for Harrier enthusiasts. The vast amount of information and colour markings of so many aircraft should mean that loads of different Harrier models can be built. This is yet another fine compilation from Neil Robinson and the team at AIRfile for the benefit of modellers and Harrier enthusiasts alike. This is yet another book which should become a handy guide for identifying specific colours and markings of particular aircraft for the modeller. I have already found some great ideas for future builds after reading this well detailed book on the first generation Harrier aircraft and I am already keenly looking forward to seeing volume 2 being produced for the second generation aircraft. I personally rate this book and highly recommend it for all builders of Harrier model kits. Review sample courtesy of Kindly mention Britmodeller.com to the supplier when making enquiries or placing orders

Hi All The red arrows have been at Norwich International Airport this week. They flew up from Weymouth for the Clacton Air Show. They arrived on Wednesday lunchtime and have been in and out every day till they left yesterday. Typically iv'e been working everyday this week, so i have missed all the flyby's. But i managed to see them leaving on Friday, although i managed to miss one or two of them...... Also we had one of the black ones in a few weeks back. :-) Enjoy! XX264 This one is actually still at Norwich, it had an Engine problem. XX323 XX325 XX266 XX310 XX263 XX321 XX321 That's all for now, i will upload some of my other photos of Norwich over the next couple weeks, there's only a couple hundred lol Thanks Bradley

Hawk T.1A 1:32 Revell Originally designed as a replacement to the Gnat advanced trainer by Hawker Siddeley, the Hawk first flew in 1974, and started life as a private venture, much like a number of other widely known and loved aircraft. It was designed from the beginning for the training arena with two seats, but the ability to carry offensive armament was also important both for weapons training, and for the improvement of export sales to developing nations that couldn't perhaps justify or afford a single-roled aircraft. It entered service with the RAF in 1976, only two years after its maiden flight, and has remained in service with many updates ever since. A number of variants have been developed since then, mostly for export, including single-seat light-weight fighter Mark 200, and the highly adapted T-45 Goshawk that is used by the US Navy for carrier training. The T1A is a modified version of the original Hawk that can carry weapons such as a gun-pod on the centreline, and a pair of Sidewinder Air-to-Air missiles. This type is also used by the Red arrows with some minor modifications to carry a smoke pod instead of the gun pod. The T.2 is currently in development for the RAF, with a glass cockpit and improved engine, based on the specification of the Mk.120 and 127 used by the South Africans and Australians respectively. The Kit This is a re-boxing of the initial Red Arrows boxing reviewed here. The plastic is almost identical apart from the colour, which is a much more eye-friendly light grey. In addition to the sprues included in the earlier kit, there are two additional identical sprues that contain the weapons absent from the Arrows boxing. In total, there are 12 sprues of light grey styrene in the end opening box, plus a clear sprue, instructions and decals. The first thing I noticed after the nicer sprue colour is that the instruction booklet seems to have been printed on a better quality of paper, rather than the recycled toilet-roll stuff of yore. The enhanced white of the paper makes everything easier to read, and the greyscale picture on the front of the booklet looks better as a result. Inside the booklet more changes are visible, and although still a little busy, the line-art seems better due to the nicer paper, and there is a CGI rendering of the ejector seat to aid in painting. Maybe they've been listening to me moaning? The cockpit is identical, with decals for the instrument panels that are laid over the raised detail on the panel, and decals for the seatbelts on the ejection seat, which look a bit simplistic and two-dimensional if I'm honest. The 'pit and nose-well frames install in the front to support the nose gear bay, a set of full-depth intakes and exhaust tube are slotted in, and the fuselage halves are mated. The intake lips are added to the front of the intake bulges on either side of the fuselage, and the integrated fin is given a rudder and tail "hump" underneath. Here there is an issue with the shape of the top of the fuselage under the tail, which can be addressed by adding a little height to the rear and sanding it to shape using your references. The wings are ostensively the same, having just the gear bay walls added before they are closed up, although you will need to drill out the flashed over holes for the wing pylons if you're mounting any of the supplier weapons. The flap actuators are installed in the slots in the wing, as are the wing-fences, and the ailerons can be posed offset if you should feel the need. The landing gear is identical, but with the review sample, the original issue of a short-shot nose gear leg hasn't resurfaced, although there is a fair amount of flash in that area for a new(ish) tooling. The bay doors are all supplied as a single part, which you cut up for the wheels-down option, and simply remove the tabs if you are modelling the kit wheels-up. The canopy and windscreen are supplied as separate parts, and are very clear out of the box, although mine had both come loose from their sprue during transit. It's not a massive issue, but as they are so large and clear, it's worth checking they aren't loose and protecting them if you're not planning on building the kit immediately. Now for the fun part. The weapons. The smoke pod is still in the box, so if you're minded and hate red styrene, you can still do an Arrows bird, providing you can pinch the decals off someone. The gun pod was also in the original boxing, but the new boxing has two identical sprues that carry a pair of rocket pods and drop tanks between them, plus the pylons on which they hang. The instructions show the rockets outboard and the tanks inboard, but your references will come in handy to pick a realistic load. It's a shame that no Sidewinders are supplied, but you can pick up a pair of AIM-9Ls if you fancy hanging a pair from your Hawk. Markings The decals are "printed in Italy", so probably not Cartograf as their name is usually used, but they appear to be well printed with good colour density, and good overall register. The pink and blue of the low-viz markings seems to be a fraction out, but it's only really evident on the fin flashes, which can be fixed by trimming the overhangs. As mentioned earlier, the seatbelts and instrument panels are supplied as decals, as are the det-cords that break the canopy just prior to ejection, but these have been proved to be a perfectly useable solution in practice, despite my reservations. There are two schemes on the sheet, one in black, and one in grey. From the box you can build one of the following: XX226 of 74 Squadron RAF Valley, participating in 1997 Tigermeet, RAF Wattisham - black with tiger motif on the tail and stylised tiger triangles on the intakes. XX284 of 151® Squadron/2 Tactical Weapons Unit, RAF Chivenor, 1992 - Barley Grey over Medium Sea Grey. The colours aren't named, but they are given as their correct BS381C codes, which is handy if you don't use or have access to Revell paints. Barley Grey is a mix of two Revell colours, which is never an ideal solution, especially when so many paint manufacturers have one readily available from the tin. Conclusion It has taken quite a while for this kit to hit the shelves, and I think that Revell may have missed a trick in not having it as the initial release, although you can't dismiss the pull of the Red Arrows artwork on any box. There are a few issues with the kit, as has been pointed out on most internet forums, but there are no real "deal breakers" that should put of any potential builder, and a huge proportion will doubtlessly be built out of the box without a care about the rear fuselage or the missing vortex generator. That might sound a little negative, but it's still a good kit, and builds up into a very convincing model of the Hawk. Heck, 1:32 builders have been waiting for an injection moulded Hawk for years, and now they have two boxings of the same good quality kit! Highly recommended. Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For further information visit

hi this is going to be my first real kit in 1/144 (my last, I did 4 years ago, when I was 13, so not very good) I read the great report from the other forum-user that did assembled the same kit. BAe ATP, from Welsh 1/144. however, some things have changed in the kit: gears are assembled, all wings (front, rear and rudder) are already cut out, as well as the props, which are even made of metal. those are all so great, that only need to be painted (and adjusted to the fuselage, where the wing/fuselage are coming together, the "well known problems" pictures will follow soon

Pics thanks to Graeme H