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Hi all I'd like to claim and evidence my Britmodeller hattrick by posting my first ship to compliment my aircraft and armour models! Being from clan Kelly I thought it would be most suitable to choose Flyhawk's 1/700 H.M.S Kelly as my choice for first ship. I'd read that the detail in the Flyhawk's kits was superb and i wasn't disappointed, however I don't think I'd considered quite how small a 1/700 destroyer kit would be 🧐. I'm in my mid thirties and thankfully still have good vision but I think if I'm going to do more of these in the future I need to get myself one of those optimiser thingies!!! I definitely told my partner that if I ever talk about doing another ship please give me a good, sharp shake but now that its done and one its base I'm already wondering what my next ship will be... I need to be more careful on my superglue application and the riggings a bit of a mess (some due to the fact that I'd got it all done and then snapped off the rear flagpole and had to start all over again) but all things i'll try to improve on next time. I think I've also elevated the front guns further than they should go but i wanted them looking like they were at least trying to fend off the Stukas. What i really enjoyed doing was the seascape. Basic technique was make the wave shapes with clay, paint various shades of blue, gloss with acrylic gloss gel, add cotton wool, paint squiggles and then more gloss gel to finish. For the explosions i made a basic wire frame and then glued and smudged cotton wool with more gloss gel to the frame and then just touched the highlights with white paint. Right, let me see if I can transport you to 1941 off Crete: Thanks for looking and any tips for the next build more than welcome! Graeme

Hello all, I hope it is okay to show these photographs. I ordered this kit from dawngrocerystores (an E-Bay trader) from China on the 9th of February and it arrived on the 21st, so that was quick. I was pleased with the condition it arrived in, but as you can see, there was a small amount of damage, but the contents survived well. The hull was in two long halves, the sprue is really curved, frightening in the Airfix Illustrious, but just following the hull shape this time! The long thin sections at the top and bottom are moulded torpedo nets, so no need to raid bootlaces this time! The deck and base plates were good, the base had a small bend in it near one end (which was at the opposite end of the box damage, and there was quite a curve at one end of the deck, but that was for real. There is plenty of detail on the decking. Some of the parts are incredibly fine and small. The funnels are moulded complete, even to the framework over the top of the funnel, but I may replace it with wire when I build it. The kit has etch with it too, and it looks great to me, there does appear to be some relief detail too. This version of the Derfflinger has a bonus set with it. Brass main armament barrels to replace the plastic ones, and a sight for sore eyes (or an object to give you sore eyes), a Friedrichshafen FF-33 seaplane, complete with etch accessories and a very comprehensive transfer sheet. It even has open cockpits, and by the way, I will NOT be detailing them! Two transfer sheets, one for the plane, one for the ship, including the recognition circles on the turrets. The instructions look as though you will need to study them really well to understand what is going on. The paint callouts are for Mr Hobby, Tamiya and WEM Colourcoats, and finally the aircraft instructions Overall, a very comprehensive package. I have to say I am really impressed with the quality of this model. I know the proof of the pudding is in the building, so I will start her soon. This was the first time I had ordered anything from an E-Bay trader, they had been recommended by a number of posters on another forum. I found the process really easy, and fast too. The cost? Well, how does £29.99 sound to you? Factor in that it was delivered by Royal Mail, which meant that Parcel Force did not stick £8.00 or whatever onto the cost, and I also did not have to pay any VAT on it makes it a bargain in my eyes. If you are interested in WW1 ships, this just must be in your stash! It is also available from Freetime Hobbies from America (I think) too. Thanks for looking, and I hope you will be tempted too. Ray PS on the side of the box, it is showing SMS Lutzow 1916, and there are rumours of an Agincourt too.