Search the Community

I completed this a while ago but didn't get around to taking any photos of the completed model until this past weekend. It's Tamiya's fairly new (it was released earlier this year) 1/48 Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf.E/F. I have to say this kit was a joy to make. The WIP for it can be found here. To what comes in the box I added an aerial and some stowage which was primarily from the Tamiya Jerry Can set. These photos are taken on my Spitfire display base: And finally one to show how small it actually is: Kind regards, Stix

Mk.Vb Supermarine Spitfire EN821 from No. 243 Squadron, Fighter Command Kit: 1/72 Tamiya (No.56) Extras: Eduard Photo-etch Zoom Set SS213 and EZ LIne Paints: Humbrol, Revell and Citadel acrylics all applied by brush WIP: Here This Spitfire was built as part of the Edgar Brooks Tribute - Single Type Group Build. It was a thoroughly enjoyable build in a great GB. This kit was superb to make and, although the PE was a lot more fiddly in this scale, it does really add to the overall look of the cockpit. The kit doesn't come with an open canopy section so I had to do some careful work with an Exacto Saw! Photographs taken, as usual, on my Spitfire display base: One from below: ......and one from above: A while back I built the 1/48 Tamiya version of this kit so I took a few photos of the two of the together: 23/05/16 - Some black and white versions: Comments and Suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix 'For Edgar'

As I'm writing this I'm lucky enough to be sat in our kitchen looking out at the back garden, watching the local squirrels industrially going about their business of acquiring nuts from the feeders and then digging holes in the lawn to bury them. There's the distant sound of the motorway we live near and occasionally the sound, overhead, of aeroplanes off to sunnier climes. It's drizzling with rain here. As has been mentioned by others on BM before, it's difficult for someone my age (55) to imagine what it must have actually been like at this time 75 years ago. When I was growing up in Derby, in the sixties, I remember being fascinated by the stories told by my relatives about the war. I'm pretty sure I was building kits by about the age of five or six and I know some of the earliest kits I built (badly) were British and German World War 2 fighters. I was 9 or 10 when I first saw the Battle of Britain film at the cinema and remember being absolutely obsessed with everything to do with the actual Battle of Britain after seeing it. I spent ages going through the booklet about the film, which was bought for me at the cinema (those were the days!) and any other reading matter on the subject I could get hold of. I know I built more aircraft from both sides in the months/years after. I remember I was was particularly impressed with the sound of the Spitfire's engine in the film. Then, a year or so after, I was lucky enough to go to some kind of event at Crich Tramway Museum, in Derbyshire, where they had aircraft doing displays, including at least one Spitfire. I remember I was so excited, not just to see one, but to hear one too! I took some photos of it/them in flight but when the prints came back from the chemist I seemed to have only taken photographs of the sky with the odd black speck in it. We're now lucky enough to live within a mile of a place which holds a two day air display every year, so I actually get to have Spitfires, Hurricanes, Lancasters, etc. flying over our house! So I now have some photos of the aircraft, not only in flight, but over my house! My younger self would never have believed it possible. If anyone has seen any of my previous builds here on BM they'll probably know that, since getting back into building kits, after a gap of too many years, the bulk of the few kits I have made have been Spitfires. So, when this Group Build was mentioned I knew I wanted to be a part of it and I knew which aircraft I would be building. At the time I signed up for the GB, the kit I chose to build was the slightly flawed 1/48 Tamiya Mk.I and I also picked up the Eduard PE set to go with it. Then Airfix released their new tooled version and, as I've not long finished two Mk.Vb Spitfires, I thought I'd do the same with these two Spitfires and build both alongside each other. Although I haven't, as yet, fully decided which actual aircraft I'm going to build these two kits as, I thought I would post a photo of the bits and pieces I'm going to use: I'm really looking forward to getting started next weekend and I know, while I'm making these, I will think about what it must have been like 75 years ago for The Few and, as a result of their efforts and sacrifice, how lucky I am to be sat in a peaceful location, building kits of my favourite aircraft and occasionally watching squirrels digging up our lawn. To The Few

The two Spitfires below were built for the Battle of Britain Group Build. The group build comes to an end on Saturday 31st October 2015, so, if you haven't popped in yet, then now's your chance: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/forum/523-battle-of-britain-group-build-iii/ Both of these Spitfires were built alongside each other, pretty much in the same way as I did with my two Mk.Vb Spitfires. They are not OOB but they are both painted with good old hairy sticks. The Work in Progress for both of these Mk.I Spitfires can be found here. Spitfire Scramble Kit: 1/48 Tamiya Mk.I Spitfire Extras: Eduard photo-etch set, EZ-line, Airfix figures and an Airfix propeller motor Paints: Humbrol and Revell acrylics all applied by paint brushes Aircraft: Spitfire X4593, UO-A, of 266 Rhodesian Squadron RAF, based at RAF Wittering, July 1940* Video: A video on YouTube demonstrating the prop working on this kit (sorry about the shaky video!!!) *This aircraft crashed on November 22nd 1940 near Holme Lode Farm, Holme, Cambridgeshire. More details about the aircraft, the pilot at the time of the crash and the aircrafts possible excavation in the near future, can be found here: http://www.greatfen.org.uk/pilot-and-crash Spitfire Re-Arming Kit: 1/48 Airfix Mk.I Spitfire (New Tool version) Extras: Eduard photo-etch set, EZ-line, Airfix and Revell RAF Ground Crew figures plus equipment Paints: Humbrol and Revell acrylics all applied by paint brushes Aircraft: X4382, LO-G, of 602 Squadron RAF, P/O Osgood Hanbury, RAF Westhampnett, September 1940 Edit - 24/05/16 - I recently purchased a cheap picture frame from Wilkos as it seemed to have deep enough sides so I could get a battery holder and wiring underneath so I could properly display my 'Spitfire Scramble' scene. Here are a few photos: Switch in the corner: .....which turns on the motor for the prop: Comments and suggestion welcome. Thank you for looking. Kind regards, Stix 1/72 Mk.Vb Spitfire

My original intention was to build two 1/48 Hurricanes for this GB but I've ended up up with three GBs on at the same time - 'Made in Britain', 'P-47 Thunderbolt' and this one. So I decided that, if I was to stand any chance completing some or all of the kits, I'd need to do them basically OOB or attempt something which is smaller in scale instead - hence these two in 1/72. I haven't made a Hurricane since I was a kid so it's perhaps better that I try something in 1/72nd anyway - I made three 1/72 Spitfires before attempting any in 1/48. The kits I'm using are these: They are basically the same kit but the bottom one of the two is the 'Starter set' boxing (from which I have removed the top bit of the packaging with the paints, glue and brush). I am currently planning a small diorama with one Hurricane on the ground (without a pilot on board) and the other in flight. For the one on the ground I felt I could add a little more detail so I managed to get this Eduard set (with two sprues of PE) really cheap of the big A. I probably won't be starting these for quite a while - I'll be working on the other two GB projects - but that's not a problem as I'll be able to follow and take notes from all the other builds happening here. I know next to nothing about Hurricanes so I'm going to be playing catch-up and doing some research before I start. I'll be making them as the schemes included in the boxes. Really looking forward to having a go at these. I know there's a few issues with this kit ( ) but I have seen it made up into superb models here on BM. Kind regards, Stix

Hi folks! Here is my newly completed Revell Mustang, straight out the box. Brush painted with Humbrol acrylics. Another nice easy kit which was looking good till i added the cockpit transparency, which is a poor fit and has very faint framework. This made painting the frames time consuming. I'm not best pleased with that part of the build but felt its the best i could do at the time. Decals were good, especially the sharkmouth which went on without too much effort. Its a 112 Squadron machine based in Italy at the end of the war, and i opted to go for a dusty weathered finish using humbrol weathering powders. Hope you like, thanks for watching Cheers Greg.

This build will include a number of firsts for me. In terms of aircraft this will be my first non-Spitfire build since getting back into making kits again. It's also going to be my first metal finish paint job. I'm planning, at the moment, to try brush painting it but I may end up using spray cans depending on how well some tests go when I get around to them. The version I'm planning to make this aircraft as also includes some very large decals.........and I don't get on well with decals at the best of times.....could be fun! It may be a couple of weeks before I properly get around to starting the build as I'm in the middle of making a 1/48 Tamiya Crusader tank in the Made in Britain GB. The kit I'm using: And this is the version I'm planning to do: As flown by Lt.Col. Benjamin Mayo, 84th FS, 78th FG, Duxford Air Base, 1944. The detail on the kit itself looks superb - I'll post some photos of the sprues soonish. Kind regards, Stix

The current plan is that I'm going to make this Cromwell during my lunch times at work. It's not quite a tray on my lap, in front of the TV, but it's going to be about the only time I get to make this with four builds going on in three other GBs. I have made one of these before and thoroughly enjoyed it and thought, at the time, I'd like to make another - and this GB seems as good an excuse as any to make one now. The kit arrived today: I will need to wait until Monday before making a start. I'll post a photo of the limited equipment I shall use once I've got it sorted out. On a side note; Mrs PlaStix has expressed an interest in taking part and she is planning on making Airfix's Mary Rose kit - she's hoping the kit will arrive before the weekend. We'll get a thread started for her once the kit arrives. She has made kits before and she thought this GB sounded like a great idea. Can't wait!! It should be fun trying to make a kit like in the old days!! Kind regards, Stix

Designed and manufactured by Nuffield Mechanisations and Aero Ltd. the Crusader tank was one of the main British cruiser tanks during World War 2. In total over 5,000 were built and mainly saw action in North Africa where they made important contributions to British victories in the North African Campaign. I'm going to be using this kit of the Mk.III Version and, because I've got quite a few GBs planned in the next few months, I'm going to make it OOB: The tank I'm going to make it as is T126799 from the 6th Armoured Division in Tunisa: As of me posting this, the start of my thread, it's currently the only tank in this GB - so it would be good if we could have a few more British AFVs to keep this company. I'll get some photos of the sprues, metal lower hull and other bits and pieces when I get chance over the next few days - I'm currently trying to get my Australian Centurion finished in the Vietnam GB. Kind regards, Stix

Back in March of this year I was in the middle of some practice builds to get my limited skills ready to build a 1/48 Eduard Mk.IXc, Spitfire. One of the practice kits I purchased was this 1/48 Mk.XVI from Revell - the first 1/48 kit I'd ever attempted. Before I'd started it Dreamcatcher began to build the very same kit and luckily he posted his build in the WIP section. This turned out to be brilliant because, once I'd started mine, it became like our own mini-group build with expert advice from numerous other Britmodellers. Miggers was especially helpful - he provided both Dreamcatcher and me with loads of information plus tips and tricks to help make this kit the best it could be. Thank you Miggers. I'd planned from the start that I'd build it with the engine on show so I purchased some Revell ground crew figures and made up a small base to display it on. The WIP for my Mk.XVI can be found here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234959827-another-revell-icm-148-mkxvi-spitfire-base-and-ground-crew-finished/ Dreamcatcher's excellent WIP can be found here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234959134-spitfire-mkxvi-revell-icm-molds-148/#entry1602360 Dreamcatcher's RFI for his brilliant Mk.XVI can be found here:http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234969551-revell-spitfire-mkxvi-icm-molds-148/ And here is my Mk.XVI: All comments and suggestions welcome. How my Eduard Mk.IXc turned out can be seen here:http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234967960-eduard-spitfire-lfmkixc-ml135-yod-no401-squadron-as-flown-by-jerry-billing-on-7th-june-1944-b-w-photos-added/ Kind regards, Stix

So for my next project I thought I would have a go at some armour - my second AFV build. I have chosen the Airfix 1/76 scale Matilda, with plan to be to finish it as a quick build of an Australian vehicle over the Australia Day long weekend. Box top and sprue shots: The decal sheet (so much smaller than the aircraft ones I am used to!): And here is the scheme I intend to build: So far I know I will need to adjust the hight of the cupola (thanks SleeperService), but my main concern is the colour. Darkish (jungle?) green seems to be the general consensus on the various websites I have looked at. I have checked http://www.mafva.net/other%20pages/starmer%20camo.htm and the suggestion is for SCC116 Very dark drab for the Far East however I cannot find a recipe for the Tamiya acrylics I use and I don't know whether this would also be suitable for Australian vehicles - any advice that could be given would be very welcome! I also have to mess with vinyl tracks, which I gather can be awkward, so any advice on how to deal with them would be very helpful.

Another kit from the shelf of doom finished for the current KUTA group build. This sad beastie has been hanging around for awhile. I made a start, but then managed to lose the canopy (Airfix kindly sent another but it took awhile to get here) and I felt like I made a bit of a botch with the intakes. Whatever, its languished on the shelf for over 2 years. When I took it out to have a look I realised it wasn't actually too far from being finished. Brush painted with Tamiya acrylics and finished as out of the box as WZ507 operated by the Vampire Preservation Group. Build thread can be found here. Thanks for looking.

Having thoroughly enjoyed my tank builds for the Achtung Panzer GB: I have decided to make this next: I think it will be a relatively quick build which I hope to finish before the Battle Of Britain GB starts. The 38(t)s used by the Germans were originally ordered by the Czechoslovak Army from a manufacturer called CKD, but the German occupation of Czechoslovakia prevented the order from being delivered. The German Army liked the design and eventually over 1,400 were made. These tanks were equipped with the 3.7cm KwK38(t)L47.8 gun and had 25mm thick armour on the turret, fighting compartment and glacis. The Ausf.E/F versions, of which there were 525 made between November 1940 and October 1941, had thicker armour of 50mm on the front of the turret, fighting compartment and glacis as well as 30mm on the turret sides and hull. They saw action in Poland, France and the invasion of Russia as well as in other areas and the chassis design would eventually be used for other AFVs including the Marder III. When I managed to find this on sale in a local model shop I hadn't realised it is a relatively new offering from Tamiya - released earlier this year (I think). It looks rather nice in the box and I will try and post some photos of what's actually in the box later today. Kind regards, Stix

Panzer II Pz.Kpfw.II Ausf.G Kit: Tamiya 1/35 Panzer Kampfwagen II Ausf. F/G This is my first 1/35 AFV kit and was my fifth and final kit for the Achtung Panzer GB. It's quite a nicely detailed kit for saying how old the moulds are and the fit is pretty good. And it was cheap! It is OOB including the tank crew figure and soldiers. Paints are all Humbrol and Revell acrylics applied with hairy sticks. The WIP can be found here: http://www.britmodel...-update-180515/ I figured I needed to post these here before dawkuk posts photos of his rather superb version of this kit!! And a few on a simple base I made for it with a couple of the soldiers: And an overall view - just showing how small it is: Finally one from above: Kind regards, Stix

If Spitfires are not your thing then it may be worth looking away now as I'm going to try to make two 1/48 versions simultaneously! A fair while back, when I decided I'd one day like to make the Eduard Mk.IX Spitfire, I didn't know at the time what I was starting. You can check out my finished version of the Mk.IX here. When I thought about such a lovely, quite expensive kit, I decided I ought to practice the skills I'd need to do it justice beforehand. So I practiced by making three 1/72 Spitfires and then moved onto a 1/48 Mk.XVI. Even before I'd started the Mk.IX I realised I was addicted to making Spitfires. A few months ago I'd already picked up the 1/48 Tamiya Mk.Vb and then when the Airfix version appeared (and was quite cheap on pre-order on the big A) I decided to get one of those too. I had originally planned to make the Tamiya kit before the Eduard one but I ended up making the latter for the D-Day Group Build first. So now it's time to expand my Spitfire collection by two. I'm quite excited by this project and thought it would be interesting to see what the comparisons are between the two kits - I have little pre-knowledge about them other than reading bits and pieces about them on the web. Some people seem to be positive about both and others the opposite. Versions of these that I have seen built look pretty good to me but I'm not an expert on the real thing or the kits. In my head I have this idea that I might be able to use each kit to be make the other a better version but this may not work out in practice. I don't intend to do any major surgery on either, but rather just enjoy the type of thing I feel comfortable with. Edit 21/08/15 - if anyone is interested there is a follow up thread to this one where I am currently making the Tamiya and Airfix (new tool) 1/48 Mk.I kits. I'm using a lot of the lessons I learned from this thread. If you are interested it can be found in the Battle of Britain Group Build section here. So box and sprue photos first - I like the artwork on both: In comparison the Airfix box seems a lot fuller of parts but I already know some of them won't get used: Tamiya box: As there did seem to be fewer parts with the Tamiya kit I decided to bolster it a bit with Eduard Zoom set: Tamiya sprues: Some cockpit details - I really like making up the cockpits and both kits seem to have nice details - Tamiya: Tamiya instructions: Versions included in the kit: Airfix sprues: Airfix cockpit detail: Airfix - new style instructions - not sure about these yet: Possible versions in the box: I have also got these bits left over from the cockpit of the Eduard Mk.IX and I might think about if they're better to use somewhere: I'm hoping to get some work started on these this weekend - all I've done so far is get all the parts washed in warm soapy water. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix

This was a really fun build. Initially I was a little dismayed when I opened the box for this kit - it is old and shows it's age - but, as it turned out, it made for a thoroughly enjoyable little upgrade project. I added some left over bits and pieces from Dragon and Revell projects, plus some styrene. There's also a couple of bits of a Red Bull can! The WIP can be found here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234971585-airfix-176-tiger-i-yeah-that-old-one-upgradeda-bit-update-050515-a-bit-of-a-baseboard/ The trees are from Woodland Scenics and the soldiers are Airfix's 1/72 Afrika Korps all on an MDF base covered with a product from TreeMendous - not sure what this stuff actually is though! The tufts are left over from previous projects. As with all my kits everything is brush painted using Humbrol and Revell acrylics. Comments and suggestions welcome. Also I made the base to measure 6 inches by 6 inches just to see how much space there is on the size of base that can be used in the possible Vignette Group Build - if it gets voted through the vote at the end of the year. If you think you'd like to take part in this GB and haven't signed up yet the thread can be found here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234975282-vignette-group-build/"]http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234975282-vignette-group-build/ I was surprised how much space I had on this base with only a small 1/76 tank on it. Kind regards, Stix

This started as a project to expand my collection of Spitfires but, at the time, I hadnt realised how long it was going to take me eight months in the end!! I am quite a slow builder but I also got a bit side-tracked making tanks in the Achtung Panzer GB. Anyway, over the weekend I managed to get quite a bit of time on these two and finally got them finished. Id purchased the Tamiya kit quite a while back and then, last year, Airfix released their version. I decided to build both Spitfires at the same time to try and make the most of both of them. To me, it meant if I needed to add or change something on one I could use the other for comparison or ideas. It also meant if both needed something adding or changing I could do them at the same time which, I think, makes it easier. Finally I thought that people may be interested to see what the two kits build up like side-by-side. They are not OOB and I thought it might be worth giving a brief overview of what I did extra to whats in the instructions for them: Airfix Vb Drilled out the holes (and added others) in the seat bulkhead frame and other areas in the cockpit using a variety of micro-drills. Added a variety of cables and wires in the cockpit. Cut out a slot for the seatbelt harness in the headrest armour. Added the missing slots in the sides and back of the seat. Replaced the kit instrument panel with the spare panel and decal left over from my Eduard Mk.IX build. Added Eduard photo-etch seatbelts. Drilled out the ends of the machine guns. Fabricated the oxygen hose from thin fuse wire wrapped around thicker fuse wire. Made the missing fasteners for the engine cowling parts using styrene rod with the central hole made using a sewing needle. Altered the joining method for the undercarriage legs by using wire. Added break-lines to the undercarriage legs using styrene rod. Fabricated the missing uplock lugs on the undercarriage legs using styrene drilled out with a micro-drill. Drilled and carved out the ends of the exhausts. Added the antenna wires using EZ Line. Tamiya Vb Drilled out the holes (and added others) in the seat bulkhead frame and other areas in the cockpit using a variety of micro-drills. Added a variety of cables and wires in the cockpit. Added the missing slots in the sides and back of the seat. Used the Eduard photo-etch set for this kit (FE256) to enhance the cockpit. Added the tube connecting the two bottles behind the seat using fuse wire. Used some sprue to make the missing oxygen bottle. Fabricated the oxygen hose from thin fuse wire wrapped around thicker fuse wire. Cut and scored along the elevators to enable them to droop. Drilled out the ends of the machine guns. Did some sanding along the trailing edge of the wings to try and improve their appearance (although probably not enough in real terms). Having broken the original rear cockpit canopy part I replaced it by altering and using one of the spares from the Airfix kit. Added the top brace to the seat, under the replacement canopy, using styrene strip. Added the break-lines to the undercarriage legs using styrene rod. Drilled and carved out the ends of the exhausts. Added the antenna wires using EZ Line. Full details of both builds can be found in the WIP section. Both kits are painted with Humbrol and Revell acrylics applied by hairy sticks. I would also like to thank everyone who stopped by and offered advice and support in my WIP thread, but I will especially mention Troy Smith and Tony Bell who suggested numerous ways to enhance both kits. I wasnt always able to do all the things suggested but hopefully other people will benefit from their words of wisdom in my thread. The Airfix kit has been done as BM597 (G-MKVB) restored in the colours of No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron for the Historic Aircraft Collection Ltd., Imperial War Museum, Duxford in 2013. The Tamia Version has been done as EN821 from No. 243 Squadron, Fighter Command. So finally to the photos. I have tried to take the photos in pairs so they show a similar view of each aircraft. Hopefully this will enable anyone who is interested to compare the two. I found it really difficult to get the above two close-up photos so to show a bit more detail of the cockpits: Side-by-side: And finally, the reason for the project, the expanded collection of 1/48 Spitfires: Ive also got three 1/72 Spitfires and one in 1/144 completed. So that was fun. Now I can't wait for the Battle of Britain GB. Kind regards, Stix

“Was vor uns liegt?” - Two Tigers – a chance meeting? (For details of each Tiger please see below) King Tiger No.333 PzKpfw SdKfz 182 Ausf.B S.Pz.Abt.501 - Ohrdruf Proving Ground, Germany 1944 Kit: 1/72 Dragon Armor Pro Series King Tiger - Henschel Turret w/Zimmerit This was the first kit I finished for the Achtung Panzer GB and it was completed back in March. However, I waited until I got a base made for it before putting it in the RFI section – and in fact I’ve decided to display it alongside the 1/72 Dragon Tiger 1 I also made for the GB. I’m going to post both builds in this one thread rather than clutter up too much of this area of BM! (I’ve still got three other APGB builds to post here at some point!) The only things I added to what comes in the box are the cable for the front light, the brackets that secure the front fenders to the side skirt armour and the aerial. Paints are all Humbrol and Revell applied by hairy sticks. WIP - http://www.britmodel...40315-finished/ And with a twenty pence piece to show the size: Tiger 1 No.112 Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.E Tiger 1 late 1./Pz.Abt.101 Normandy 1944 Kit: 1/72 Dragon Armor Pro Series Tiger 1 w/Zimmerit plus Tiger Aces figures This was the second kit I finished for the Achtung Panzer GB. To what's in the box I have added spare track links on the turret (links kindly donated by Sgt.Squarehead for my D-Day Tiger 1 build) tow cables (made from twisted wire) and the turret machine gun from the spares box. It's all brush painted with Humbrol and Revell acrylic paints applied with hairy sticks. The WIP thread can be found here: http://www.britmodel...0315/?p=1914060 And with a twenty pence piece just to show how small it is!: Kind regards, Stix

Right - I am now getting a bit carried away (or I ought to be!). Now that my 1/72 Dragon King Tiger is nearing completion it's back at home where I can do the remaining work on it, decals etc., but only at weekends. Having done a quick check through the list of builds in this GB I realised, if I'm not mistaken, that no-one is making a 1/72 Tiger 1. I'm making a Tiger 1 in 1/48 and DaveJL is building one in 1/35. Then, a couple of weeks ago, while in Birmingham, I was in the Ian Allen bookshop where I noticed this: .......and it was reduced! So this will be my next weekday build and this GB will have Tiger 1s in three scales. I'm thinking I might make it as part of a small diorama alongside the King Tiger. Not sure of the setting yet. I hope to get this started tomorrow. Kind regards, Stix

Jerry Billing was born in Canada in 1921 and in his late teens he was determined to become a fighter pilot. Initially joining the RCAF as an air-gunner in 1941, his persistence eventually saw him active as a Hurricane pilot and then, from 1942, a Spitfire pilot when he joined 19 Squadron. While with 19 Squadron he flew many different types of sorties in Mk.V Spitfires. Following action in Malta and some training of other pilots in the art of dog fighting, Jerry was sent to 401 Squadron in 1944, where he was assigned a Mk.IX Spitfire. On D-Day itself Jerry was on patrol over Gold Beach in ML135, but there wasn't any sign of the Luftwaffe. However, on the 7th June 1944, he was back in action again and downed a Ju88 and damaged two Fw190s. More information about Jerry Billing can be found here This is my first Eduard kit and it was built as part of the D-Day Group Build. Self indulgent bit - please skip ahead to the photos if easily bored! I've been working towards this kit for a while. A few years ago, when I got back into model kit building, I was mostly building bits and pieces including lunar landing modules, a space shuttle, a Batmobile and a big fire engine! Then, while searching online for possible next kits, I came across this Eduard Mk.IXc Spitfire kit. Wow! I was blown away by the detail and I loved the idea of the extra PE parts and paint masks. The only thing was; I hadn't ever built a 1/48 kit before and the last time I had built a plane kit (other than an Angel Interceptor) was when I was a kid. Also £28 for an aircraft kit seemed quite expensive! With my lack of experience I felt I would need to practice a bit first by building some smaller 1/72 Spitfires so that I didn't make a complete mess of the Eduard one. I built two Airfix and one Italeri 1/72 Spits and thoroughly enjoyed all of them. I then thought I ought to try my hand at a cheaper 1/48 Spitfire so I made the re-boxed ICM, Revell Mk.XVI, which turned out to be a fantastic project! And, as could be expected, even before building this kit, I was addicted to building Spitfires! So here we are! I used wanting to be part of the D-Day Group build as an excuse to finally buy the Eduard kit. I added a few scratch-built extras to the cockpit and it's all brush painted (hairy sticks!) with Humbrol and Revell paints. All-in-all a thoroughly enjoyable build. Mike's review of the kit itself can be found here The WIP for my build can be found here Finally (at last!) here are the photos - I'm afraid I took rather a lot and then couldn't decide which not to use! The next few were taken when it was almost finished but show some slightly different views to the ones above: Some photos of the cockpit before being buttoned up: I also learnt a lot from many people who contributed in the WIP and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who dropped by. Kind regards, Stix PS I think there's a couple more Spitfires calling out to be made! More soon...........

Im looking for a new model that is not too hard i have been looking at the airfix supermarine spitfire mkvb (new tooled) and thats my likely victim i want a model that doesnt need filler and i would like it to be above 165 cm long