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Dear fellow Britmodellers, here's my latest, the new Airfix B-25 C/D built in RAF colors with the addition Model Alliance Decals “2nd Tactical Air Force 1944-1945” (MA72204). I used Eduard pre-cut masks (CX507) and painted with Gunze/Mr.Hobby acrylics (H52 Olive Drab/H53 Grey). D-Day stripes are airbrushed. I added a small 'A' letter (individual aircraft code) to the tail fin, according to original photos. Period photographs also show different size of roundels on the upper wing, not mentioned on the Model Alliance sheet. I replaced the left RAF roundel for a slightly bigger size, covering the overpainted US insignia. All photographs by Wolfgang Rabel. Best greetings from Vienna, thanks for your interest.

Hi, I have decided not to talk to my Saudi Tornado for the time being. Then, one weekend, I went to a friend's and started another Tornado, this time an Italian IDS one. So after that weekend work, there it was; I didn't weigh the nose, which proved wise, as the model is nose heavy. I chose Gunze H404 to paint it, but it seems a bit not yellow enough for me... Tailplanes are painted, and the decals are started. A few wheels later... Let's start with the underwing stores: fuel tanks and Hasegawa Sidewinders (those in the Revell kit are awful). Now with all underwing stores displayed: Flaps are on (after some entertaining incidents involving a colossal brainfart): One matt coat later, and some soot added to the fin: Now, the slats are added; And now we add the Mk.83 bombs a friend was kind enough to provide: Tadaa! Done: The RFI is there: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234992396-tornado-ids-operazione-locusta/ Cheers, Sebastien

After having been active on this forum a couple of years, asking and answering questions, I thought it was about time I showed some of my work. Also my question in the Cold War forum about the Dominie generated some interest in what I have been doing. I had been tinkering on and off with this kit for a couple of years, not really knowing which finish I should choose. However some time ago I managed to get hold of the Model Alliance sheet 72129 with decals for the Dominie, and found the aircraft I want to build; XS728/E/470, 6 FTS, RAF Finningley in the late 70's. I have found two b/w photos of this aircraft on the net, taken at the Le Bourget Air Show in 1971 which leads me to believe that the big numbers 470 on the engines actually is the display number for the show. i seem to remember that the Swedish Viggens attending, also had similar big numbers on the fuselage just for the show. On to the kit. It is from an era when Airfix' kits definitly not were top of the line. Generally accurate but lacking in details and those that are included are rather simplified. Add to that raised panel lines, lots of sinkmarks, movable control surfaces, iffy fit and a few inaccuracies. But not to worry; this was just going to be a nice relaxinig OOB build just to use the beautiful decals. (Have we heard that before?) Nevertheless I have spent several hours comparing the kit with photos found on the net. There are lots of excellent photos of aircraft in the later black and white scheme, but not that many in the earlier red/white/LAG scheme. Unfortunately I don't have any drawings, but after a while I discovered that the Airfix drawings in the kit were not that bad at all. They certainly were more accurate than the kit! I enlarged them by 166% to get them to 1/72 and started planning my work. (Can you see where this is heading?) Since the kit would need a lot of filler in places, the raised lines would be lost. So I decided early on to rescribe the whole kit. I was lazy and just used the raised lines as guides. KInd of regret this as I think several lines, especially on the wings and the tailplanes, are far from correct. The cockit just recieved some paint and seatbelts from painted Tamiya tape. Nothing was done to the cabin, not even paint, since the door would be closed and nothing can be seen through the windows. Right now the wings and fuselage have been glued together, joints filled and sanded. So this is how it looks: Sorry for the bad photo, but I'm using a new camera and am not that familliar with it yet. Hopefully I will improve... The acorn fairing on the rear of the fin broke off (inevitable) but have been saved for later. The PC on top of the fin had to be added since the sanding of the tailplane to a better aerofoil section, made the tailplane much thinner. The black line on the wing is the correct position for the wing fence. More on that below. So, what to next? There are so many things that needs to be corrected and added, so I made a list of it. Partly for myself, but also for this thread hoping that someone else who wants to have a go at this kit, can benefit from it. Here it is: Decide on early or late (black/white) version. If late; blank off forth and fifth cabin windows from the front on the port side, and cut out two new windows on the starboard side forward of the existing four. Cut the clear parts to fit the revised window configuration. Cut tip of the tail cone. Rescribe the whole aircraft. Open up and detail the wheel wells. Note that the shape of the main wheel wells on the kit are incorrect. Make new and correctly shaped main wheel doors. Add a fairing to each door. Top wing fences are in the wrong position. Make new wing fences 12 mm (½") outboard of the old ones. Extend rear wing root fairings. Correct inboard aileron hinges. Add a length of stretched sprue just above the door. Add three flap actuator fairings on the top of each wing. Add landing lights and drill a 2 mm hole on the inner wall. Optional: Move the landing lights 3 mm towards the tip of the wings. Correct the wing tips. Correct the tailplane tips. Add a small wing fence under each wing tip. Add two small teardrop bulges under the belly, one on each side of the central strake. Ad IFF antenna (?) in front of the windscreen (just off to the port) and one on the fairing behind the nose gear. Add two NACA air intakes on each side on top of the nose. Scribe fan blades on the engine front inserts. Engines are too sleek. Add filler to make them slightly “fatter”. Undersides of the pods appear a bit more rounded. Refine the engine exhaust. Add details to the engine pods. Early aircraft had just one “towel rack” antenna (on the port side) on top of the fuselage. Late aircraft had none. Add (clear) anti-collision beacons on the top of the fin, on the fairing behind the nose gear and on the central strake under the belly. Check photos; all three not always fitted. Add windscreen wipers. Add trim tab actuator fairings on the rudder; on the port side for the lower half and on the starboard side for the top half. Add trim tab actuator fairings on the lower surface of the elevators. Replace antenna at the rear of the cockpit roof and move it forward about 2 mm. Notice early and late type of antennas. For a late aircraft add a square flat GPS(?)-antenna on top of the cockpit roof. Extend top of the fin about 2 mm. Detail gear legs (depending on finding good photos). Shorten main gear legs slightly to get a better sit. This is what I have come up with so far. The list will surely be added on. I have started withe the rear wingroot fairings. I first glued a small pice of PC on each side. Filler will later be added both on top and bottom, and then filed and sanded to shape. As you can see i haven't done anything to the wheel wells as this was going to be a simple OOB (Remember, huh?) I am a notoriously slow builder, so an update might take some time.

With the final retirement of the Cosford Jags a couple of weeks ago it seemed timely to finish off my build of Jaguar XX117 in her retirement colours. This picture of her got me started: I had been meaning to build a Jag for a while & a good priced GR3a came up on ebay, and Model Alliance did the tail decals. So here she is: The step ladder is a new scratch build addition - not a Jag ladder, but suitable for the scene. Nice Airfix kit to build & came together quite quickly. Hope you like it.

Hi all, In the process of building up a stash of FAA jets in 1:72 and noticed that Model Alliance have the ML48121 decal set for many of these types, for the Ark Royal air wing. It looks like an interesting project, but as it all hangs on these decals being correct, I just wanted to check that there were no errors with the set that anyone was aware of? Thanks for any advice, Tony

Anyone remember this one from the Lightning GB? http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234968483-early-airfix-48th-lightnings/ Poor thing has been lingering at one corner of the bench while other projects were completed but a determination to finish off various stalled models this year seen her get some attention lately. Been working on the seat that comes with the Cutting Edge cockpit set. Some base coats of Humbrol enamels got it to here; Then plenty dry brushing and detail painting, along with the addition of fuse wire handles got this; Once this is installed it'll be time to sort out the undercarriage legs.

Hello all This is my first completion in almost 6 months after a barren summer dominated by looking after the kids followed by a short-term loss of building mojo. Finally got my backside in gear to finish this Lightning as a Christmas present for my father in law, who used to paint Lightnings with 5 Squadron based at RAF Binbrook in the late 60s and early 70s. I wanted to do the model in a 5 squadron scheme like he would have worked on, so had to depart from my usual out of the box method. Did a bit of research online, and chose this pic to base mine on: Dipped into the aftermarket for the required 5 Squadron decals (thanks to Gary West for pointing me in the direction of the Model Alliance ones), and also pushed the boat out and went for a SAC undercarriage set, and a Montex mask for the canopy. Been wanting to try a natural metal finish for a while, so played around a bit with how to try and get some variation in the metal tones. I pre-shaded different bits of the airframe in white, grey and black to see if that would make any difference when a single shade of aluminium (Tamiya XF16) went on over the top. There are some subtle variations to the naked eye, but I'm not sure my photos really pick this up. I picked out selected panels and control surfaces in Tamiya XF56 to break it up some more. Kept the weathering light, with just an oil paint wash to lightly accent panel lines. I know there are some errors and omissions in it, but am hopeful it is a reasonable representation of an F6 from that era. Overall very happy with how it turned out (hope the old boy will be too). Thanks for looking Adam

as I wrote myself into trouble accepting 2 different group-builds at more or less the same time here the other one I am working on in parallel.....; http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234982350-s-75-dwina-sa-2-guideline-sam-egypt-148/ but as I liked the idea of a tribute Tornado build, breaking the gb calendar planing just as the reason for the gb came unplanned,,,, I will try to to my best keeping the deadlines... apart from that, the cause of the gb also help me in tackling this rather not up to date kit.... I will try to put in quite some Aftermarket designed for other, more modern kits... so lets see the newer, not necessarily better version of Airfix's F3 rendition: too good to be thrown away? lets see AM: AIres landing gear bays and SAC metal landing gears both for the Hobbyboss kit so they fit each other, I will hopefully get a nicely detailed and sturdy landing gear out of this combo! hope it will be fitable ! Aires ejection seats: should fit without mayor problems Paragon exhausts and wing seals: for the Italeri kit I think Eduard PE for the F3 from Hobbyboss: this should lead to a more or less detailed and correct cockpit (for the year 2000 also????) WILL FIT! Master pitot: obligatory Decals from better days of Model Alliance.... the red is a bit dark.... I think I will also need some new wheels... (are the ones from Eduard any good?, other suggestions?) upper and lower fuselage taped togther: in length they fit well, in width no so much... upper one with recessed panel lines, lower fuselage with thin raised ones.... for comparison see here; the older, more consistent upper fuselage jumps your eye hopefully http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234983159-tornado-f3-148-airfix-update-2-14-6-2015/ some nice inspiration for everybody: http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=43209&start=40 http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Panavia-Tornado-F3/0208205/L/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/corkspotter/16779793000/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/corkspotter/16781066619/ http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1261068/ http://s230.photobucket.com/user/harry_tranter/media/ZE339AV_.jpg.html thanks for watching and your opinions! let the fun begin! Cheers, Werner

Oh wise group build leader, I humbly prostrate my unworthy self and ask that I be allowed to mangle this old chestnut: Apart from the funky Prisoner type circles from the Model Alliance Wings of Stars sheet, I may also add some resin exhausts, a Squadron vac canopy and the Eduard etch. Seeing as I have never actually used any resin, vac or etch before should not present a problem, after all what could possibly go wrong? Anil The Optimist

Hi All! Tamiya's 1:48 Beaufighter Mk.X: Essentially an out of the box build but with Model Alliance decals. Made to represent NE429, a 489 (New Zealand) Squadron aircraft operating out of RAF Dallachy in 1944. As usual for a Tamiya kit, it was a dream to build with no filling required at all and minimal sanding. Paints were a mix of Xtracolor, Testors and Alcad II for the metally bits. The YAGI antenna was fabricated using aerial spares, provided by the kit, cut to shape and aligned with a guitar string. I hope you'z like it! I think it's my best build yet. Woof woof. ~M~

I'm intending to backdate an Xtrakit 1/72 Canberra PR.9 to a 39 Squadron example from the early 1980s in Dark Sea Grey/Dark Green/Light Aircraft Grey camouflage. It'll probably be XH175 using markings from the Model Alliance sheet and maintenance markings from Modeldecal sheet 85. So far, armed with the Aeroguide 34 and a helpful article in the Sep 2006 Air International I think I need to remove all signs of: - the port for the Zeiss RMK-A camera aft of the bomb bay - the IRLS doors on the bomb-bay doors - the underwing hardpoints for the BOZ and TADS pods - the flare dispenser squares outboard of the engine nacelles. What have I missed? Also, what colour would the undercarriage bays have been? Latterly they were apparently white but I'm wondering if that is a late feature to help detection of stress cracks. PS Pretty underwhelmed with the Model Alliance Canberra sheets: 2 sheets covering 13 subjects but not enough stencils to complete even one of them.

Right after much deliberation over the stash i have chosen this subject to be my primary entry to the gb. The scheme celebrates 20 years of hornets in the RAAF, I've not seen this scheme entered in the gb yet so thats why i chose it. I'll also be using the awesome Daco book uncovering the fa18 hornet as a reference along with various images sourced from the web of this aircraft.

I have started on my 1/48 Airfix Canberra B2 and am converting it to a PR7, I have fitted the Alley Cat conversion which lengthens the fuselage etc... There appears to be quite a few options for camera ports both fore and aft of the bomb bay. Does anyone know the typical layout of the camera bays of a mid 60's Canberra? I have googled numerous photographs but there arent many showing a clear view of the underside. Did the camera ports have retractable covers? as some of the photos show camera ports in slightly different positions. Finally if anyone knows where I can lay my hands on Model Alliance Decal sheet MA48127 or just the decals for 31 Squadron (Tail flash and squadron badge only) I'd be very grateful. Thanks Mark.