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This is my first ever Typhoon and it was built as part of a diorama for the D-Day Group Build. After the D-Day landings 198 Squadron, flying out from Thorney Island, Funtingdon and Hurn, were involved with ground attacks on tanks (suitable for my diorama) and enemy emplacements around Caen. In July 1944 they moved to Plumetot and then followed the advancing troops into the Netherlands. To commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D-Day Eurofighter Typhoon, ZK308, was painted to represent Hawker Typhoon MN526. It's a lovely kit with nice detail - in fact the 'in-flight' version doesn't make use of a lot of the detail included in the kit so, at some point, I'm planning on making a version of it on the ground. It's all brush painted with Humbrol and Revell acrylic paints applied with hairy sticks. I have used a Prop Blur (another first for me) to make it look like it's in flight. The Typhoon itself is mounted on a clear acrylic rod. The WIP can be found here More photos of the diorama can be found here And a few photos of it on the diorama: My other D-Day aircraft build can be found here. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix

Any news on the A320, IL-62 and IL-76 release dates? I've seen some CAD images, but no plastic yet? Thanks, Andrew

Well, I've finally managed to finish one! This is the excellent new-tool P-51D mustang from Airfix. I built the kit with a few scratchbuilt parts such as harnesses, wiring and gun barrels. The decals are by Kits-world with Stencil markings and insignias from the kit sheet. For less than the price of two pints this kit has provided me with hours of entertainment, and with so many decal options available I can't wait to build more! I hope you like it. Sean

Hi In 2008, my family bought me a flight in a Classic WingsTiger Moth from Duxford. I took control and flew the wonderful old girl towards Newmarket race course. I then turned back towards Audley End House near Saffron Walden. I had a wonderful time and would recommend the experience to all. My wife took these pictures (I'm in the front cockpit): When Airfix released the new Tiger Moth, I decided that I wanted to create a miniature version of R4922. Thanks to the generous gift from a friend (thanks mate!), I built and brush-painted her last Sunday afternoon and then applied a mix of kit and other decals one evening during the week (which aren't particularly accurate). I managed to break off two of the cabane struts while trying to remove the "jig" struts that are intended to ensure the correct alignment of the wings.. I applied a coat of W&N Galeria Satin Varnish and then almost lost the will to live applying the rigging and control cables due to my CA accelerator not working as I had hoped. I painted one of the wheels yellow, as in the above picture and attached the aerial cut from guitar string. I nearly didn't post pictures of the model, as I am not 100% happy with the result. The most obvious issue for me is the over-scale EZ-Line control cables. Anyway, here she is, warts and all! Here she is with the models I made following my more recent Classic WIngs experience:

Hi all! It's a while since I did my last WIP, but I've been itching to build this! It arrived at my parents' house just before Christmas, indeed the same day my girlfriend and I turned up! To say I've been excited for this is quite an understatement. I really should learn-I got similarly worked up about the Trumpeter kit back in 2008- and just look what a disappointment that turned out to be! Still, I just get the feeling Airfix have made the most significant kit of their revival to date- so on with the build! One slight disappointment upon opening the box is that they've not put nearly as much interior detail into this kit as some of their other recent efforts-thinking Harrier GR1/3 in particular. So out came the plasticard and fuse wire on the tub. I'm particularly chuffed with the throttle box-seems to have come out well. Sorry about the poor photography! The sidewalls, which are devoid of detail, got the same treatment. I've also beefed up the structural detail in the very nicely-done nosewheel bay, and added the mechanism which closes the undercarriage doors. I've also filled one of the two pairs of ejector pin marks. I decided to leave the other pair at the back ends of the wheelbay, as I really don't think I could clean them up well in such a confined space-and with the undercarriage leg in place they'll hardly show. In spite of the instructions telling me to leave them until later, I've also added the cannon inserts now, as it's easier to blend them in before closing up the fuselage. I found that if you fit them as the kit would have you do it, they stand proud: The trick is to slice off the tabs round the edge of the hole, and very lightly rub down the edges of each insert. One slight niggle I have with the moulding of this kit is that Airfix's occasional pebbly plastic finish makes an appearance with this kit. Not a problem on a camouflaged WW2 fighter, but with a polished NMF Lightning this will be really noticeable. So I've also spent ages rubbing down the fuselage, taking care to avoid the little vents and other protrusions. It's a bit irksome really-they've shown with the Typhoon, 109e, etc that they can mould absolutely smooth plastic- so why revert to pebbly finish for the Lightning and Hurricane I? Still, a small gripe. Otherwise I'm enjoying this kit immensely-until next time!

This is my finished Airfix 1/72 MkIa Spitfire - the new tool version. I really enjoyed building it. It's the first plane I've built in many, many years so it was a bit of a learning experience. It's all brush painted apart from the final application of matt varnish which was from a rattle can. I tried some pre-shading, which I think worked, and this is my first attempt at weathering. The build can be found here. The first photos are ones I took after deciding it was finished and in proper daylight rather than electric light: Next I decided to make a little display base for it on some scrap MDF I had: Which I then tried some close-ups of with the sun at quite a low angle: .....and a couple without the sun: Well that's it for this one. Comments and suggestions welcome. Next off I'm going to do another Spitfire for the 'Less than a tenner' group build. In fact I may even be making two. Kind regards, Stix

Hi all! Here's my latest completion-kit is the new tool Airfix T.11. I wanted to build a Flying Training Schools Vampire in the yellow bands scheme, and ideally with the big nose code letters to make the scheme a bit more exciting. The kit scheme for WZ507 as preserved 2012 was out, as the real preserved aircraft wears something of a "mish-mash" of T.11 schemes rather than its original service codes etc. So, casting about online I found this lovely colour photo of XE988, based at RAF Swinderby with 8 FTS in 1957: http://abpic.co.uk/photo/1199645/ Codes and serials are from Xtradecal and Modeldecal stock sets, the rest of the decals are kit. I added stencils to match period photos of T11s in this scheme where possible, although a few stencils are placed on a "best guess" basis! The model is brush-painted over Tamiya primer, using Xtracrylix Trainer yellow, and a High-Speed Silver mix of my own devising- about 80:20 Revell Aqua Aluminium : Vallejo white. The only other alterations to this lovely kit are a handful of wires in the pit, the radio aerials on the wings, removal of some non-period lumps around the nosewheel, cartridge ejector chutes, and some Pavla ejection seats (which do show up OK under the nice clear canopy!) Hope you like it! (The sharp-eyed will notice that the model required repairs after the photo above!)

Hi everyone, I found a few photos taken last year after completing the lovely Airfix GR9, in the Cottesmore special scheme. There's nothing to really report about this kit other than you can pour glue in the box, shake and get a lovely Harrier. Much has been said about the depth of panel lines on Airfix's 1/72 kits. To be honest my opinion is that we already accept so many compromises on such a small scale that the depth of panels lines is less important than accurate outlines. On this kit in particular the undercarriage legs and wheels etc. are very fine and in scale and it looks and 'sits' like a Harrier should. The engineering and design on this model are first class and make for an easy build. I do get a bit stalled when folk complain that (for example) 'those panel lines are a bit deep on the new Airfix spitfire' forgetting that the kit costs less than a fiver! Airfix have an unusual position, unlike most they are making kits aimed at a broad range of modellers and skills, to design highly detailed yet easy to construct kits that end up at pocket money prices is something to be marvelled at. Don't forget Hasegawa are regularly re-releasing 30 year old toolings and asking us to pay £30-£40 for a 1/72 kit. Any way rant over, hope these photos meet approval!

Things really are great from the Russian/Soviet armour modeller this year,Trumpeter have released some cracking kits from the cold war era and now Meng have released the box art for hopefully a more accurate version of one of the latest tanks from the old Soviet Union the T-90. Zevesda brought us a a very good new tool of the T-90 which is fairness is a good kit let down by it's ride height and suspension set up. This isn't a easy fix for us that strive for accuracy so hopefully Meng will have sorted this area out. From what I have seen of Meng kits they are highly regarded and generally accurate. Fingers crossed for this release, I'll certainly be investing in a kit or two ! http://www.meng-model.com/ http://www.meng-model.com/new.php?id=362 Cheers Dan

Hi What kits have Airfix retooled? I know the Zero. Mustang Typhoon ,Focke Wulf any more ?? Dave

Folks, Built for a GB on uamf, here are 2 attempts at the Airfix 1/72nd scale new tool P-51D. The first is "Anita", CV-W, a MkIVa from 3Sqn RAAF in 1945. Decals from Xtradecals (apart from wing roundels which were Almarks), and using the resin undernose insert from Freightdog (I didn't bother using the Freightdog Aeroproducts prop, just reshaped the kit part with sidecutters and sanding stick): The second is "LouIV / Athelene", E-2C, an early model P-51D without the fin fillet, from the 361st FG, 8th AF, USAAF in 1944. Decals from AeroMaster, otherwise oobL regards, Martin

Airfix Salute Dambusters 70th Anniversary Tuesday 14th May 2013: Airfix (owned by Hornby Hobbies Ltd) has successfully launched two brand new Dambusters products. The first, a classic Airfix Avro Lancaster 'Dambusters' 1:72 (Image 1; A09007 RRP £29.99) set has sold out across the UK within days of its launch. Image 1: Airfix Avro Lancaster B.III (Special) The Dambusters 1:72 NEW TOOL (A09007 RRP £29.99) The Airfix team based in Margate, Kent launched the new Airfix Dambusters range in April this year to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Dam Raid (Operation Chastise) on 17th May. The Dambusters range consists of two newly tooled products, one a gift set that comes complete with the correct Humbrol paints, adhesive and brushes to build a replica of Wing Commander Guy Gibson aircraft (Image 2; A50138 RRP £34.99). The classic Airfix set comes complete with two finish options; Fltl Joseph Charles McCarthy DFC and Fltl Robert Norman Barlow DFC – both aircraft and crews being part of the famous 617 Squadron Dambusters “Operation Chastise” (Image 2 A09007 RRP £34.99) Image 2: The Dambusters Avro Lancaster B.III (Special) 1:72 NEW TOOL (A50138 RRP £34.99) The Dambusters range has been a huge success, with Airfix manufacturing additional product to keep up with fierce demand from the modelling community. Retailers have seen a huge surge in demand for Dambusters products especially as key media titles have run with articles and front covers saluting the successful World War II attack. Marketing Manager for the Airfix brand said; “We’re extremely happy with this range. It’s always a pleasure to provide a product to our fans that marks such an important historical event. To see this range literally ‘fly’ of the shelves only highlights what a great product Airfix is. We continue to listen to our customers and research and product the products our modellers want.”

After making my first model in 15 years, I have caught the bug again! (see my related post for my first Spitfire build)... I always wanted to do an Me109, so I bought the new tool kit: I wanted to improve on my Spitfire, and try new tips from various model forums. This time, I brush-painted with Humbrol Enamel paint. I also used the new Humbrol Clear varnish, applied after painting to help with decals, which were also applied using Humbrol DecalFix. To finish off, I sprayed a light coat of Humbrol Acrylic Matt varnish from a spray-can, to take it back to a matt finish; I painted according to the given instructions, in the colours of Franz von Werra's machine from the Battle of Britain. A few of the small parts were damaged trying to remove them from the sprue. One of the elevator supports snapped when trying to remove it from the sprue, so I had to do a fix, which worked fine. The aerial pole over the canopy also snapped, and is a bit crooked; and I didn't even attempt to fit the tiny fixings under the wings - these just disintigrated trying to get them off the sprue! I also left off some of the small stencil decals. As it is only 1/72 scale, I didn't want to make the finish too 'crowded'. Anyway, my second model after gap of 15 years...here are the pics: And here it is together with my first build, the Spitfire Mk1a...once enemies in the Battle of Britain

I've recently decided to start modelling again, after a gap of about 15 years since my last models as a teenager... I went to my local hobby shops, and decided to try an Airfix Spitfire; I bought the starter set, a new tool kit with the small pots of acrylic paint, a brush and cement: I wanted to practice, and try some of the tips I had read on various model forums. So I completed it with the supplied acrylic paint, and I bought a few more pots of Humbrol Acrylic paint, such as yellow, silver, gunmetal and Cockpit Green, to make the end result more interesting. I also bought a range of brushes to make detailed work and larger surfaces easier to paint. I also bought some Tamiya masking tape, and used it for the canopy, the line between the blue underside and green/brown camoflage and also for the blue fuselage band (there is a decal supplied for this, but I decided to paint it). I also bought a tube of Humbrol Model Filler, which was applied to the wing roots, and places along the fuselage seam. So, I am fairly pleased with the end result; brush painted using the supplied pots of acrylic...not too bad for my first model in 15 years! I put the decals straight onto the painted surface, so there was a bit of silvering. Lots to improve and try for my next build. Here are the pics, enjoy!

Just found this on the net. http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM35329/Mil Regards Dan

Hasegawa have announced a new tooling of the Eurofighter Typhoon, which some of you may already have heard about, but we now know when it's coming, and that the initial production run will include a bonus display stand. No further details on that aspect of it, but it should prove handy, I'm sure. Decals include RAF No.3(F) SQuadron, coded QO-H, and Luftwaffe JG74, and there will be 195 parts in the box - quite a high part count for a 1:72, which bodes well. This looks to be the boxtop picture, culled straight from Hasegawa's website. I'll be interested to see how it compares to the Revell kit in the same scale, as I always thought it had room for improvement on the detail. It should be in the shops here around October time, allowing for the vagaries of the slow boat from Japan getting here on time, which gives you plenty of time to put one or more on your Christmas wish list. Modern jet fans rejoice While we're on the subject - on a related note, a new Dual-combo boxing of the Hasegawa Jaguar GR.1A/T.2A is being released at the same time, with parts for two kits, one of each mark in the box, and decals for a 1A of 16 Squadron, coded XX965 in 2010, and a T.2A of 6 Squadron, coded XX141 in 2009. A good month for RAF lovers