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Here for your viewing pleasure is my attempt at the Olimp Avro 707A. After trials in the UK, during which the original straight wing was modified to have a kinked leading edge, WD280 was shipped to Australia to undertake low speed airflow trials. To visualise the airflow, it appears she had her port wing painted black, and then a white coating was applied which would wash off with when a liquid was released at the leading edge. This is my second Olimp 707, the other being the B version. Both kits are quite nice in shape (to my eye) and the fit is not too bad. However, they have an incorrect main undercarriage leg shape which meant I had to fabricate my own, which I did using metal rod/tube. I also partially replaced the nose leg in the same way. To finish, I scratch-built some intake guards to disguise the rather shallow ducting provided. Thanks for looking! Mike

Continuing my series of ASW helicopters here is my Sikorsky MH-60R Strikehawk built with the Olimp conversion using the Hobby Boss SH-60B kit as the donor. I also used the Eduard SH-60B interior, which you can't really see much of. The Olimp parts are well cast resin that fit well, but they are not the smoothest of casting and can use some polishing. Here is the kit with all the conversion parts on. The conversion kit also came with decals. These were fairly complete complete, but the film was yellowed and sticking them on a sun facing window only partially cleared them up. I emailed Olimp asking about getting another set, but was totally ignored. I had a set of Hobby Boss decals for an HH-60 and ended using those for all the generic marking and only used the Olimp ones for the aircraft specific ones. So here it is Next up is the Fujimi SH-2F Seasprite. Enjoy

Hi mates, I started this model for the Prototypes, Experimental, World's First & Record Breakers Group Build, but life got in the way and I wasn't able to finish it in time. Eventually, it came together and here it is! The Curtiss-Wright XF15C-1 mixed-propulsion fighter was developed for the United States Navy at the end of WWII, first flying in February of 1945. Only three prototypes were built, as the US Navy moved their focus to pure jet propulsion. Only one of the prototypes survived. Similar to the Ryan FR Fireball, which entered service on a limited basis, the XF15C-1 had both a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine/Curtiss Electric propeller up front and an Allis-Chalmers J36 turbojet (license built de Havilland Goblin) under the tail. The mixed propulsion concept was devised to counter the slow acceleration of the early jets, a characteristic that limited their appeal for carrier use. Including the radial engine allowed for safe carrier launch and recovery, and the turbojet in the tail would contribute to higher cruise speed. Or so the theory went. The need for further development of the mixed propulsion concept for carrier fighters was negated by improvements in jet power, and the Curtiss-Wright XF15C was never ordered into production. It was the last Curtiss aircraft to be built for the US Navy, and the penultimate design for Curtiss itself. This kit, from Olimp and their Pro Resin brand, represents the T-tail design as incorporated into the second and third prototypes after the crash of the first, which had a more conventional tail. The casting of the resin parts is very nicely done, with lots of detail and no real fit problems. This was my first Pro Resin kit, and I wouldn't hesitate to build another. The only issue I had were the stickers, which refused to lay down without silvering no matter what I did. The spares box is meant for these occurrences. Project: Curtiss Wright XF15C-1 Kit: Pro Resin (Olimp) Kit No. R72-008 Scale: 1:72 (if you're not building in this scale, you've got a lot of 'splaining to do) Decals: Kit decals were unusable, all markings from the Island of Misfit Stickers Resin: Hey, the whole thing is resin! No need to buy any aftermarket... Photoetch: Supplied with the kit and included instrument panel, seat belts, landing gear torque links, cooling flaps, etc. The usual stuff. Paint: Testors Model Master Dark Sea Blue FS15042; Gunze Flat Black, Flat White, Interior Green, Tire Black; Tamiya XF-69 NATO Black; Alclad Aluminum, Magnesium, Steel; Floquil Flat Weathering: None. I'm starting to like my models clean and without tar in the panel lines. Besides, when the second prototype XF15C had these markings, it hadn't flown very much. Improvements/Corrections Scratch built the inner main landing gear door retraction mechanism All the splendid (?) details of the build (and a lot of off-topic stuff) can be found here (Part 1) and here (Part 2). Enjoy the pictures! All right, that's enough of that. On to the next project! Cheers, Bill

Hi mates, While I'm waiting for some paint to dry on my current Group Build project, I remembered that I never finished my last Group Build project! The was for the Prototypes, Experimentals, World Firsts & Record Breakers GB. Part 1 of this WIP can be found here. The Curtiss-Wright XF15C-1 was a mixed-propulsion fighter that was developed for the United States Navy at the end of WWII. Only three prototypes were built, as the US Navy moved their focus to pure jet propulsion. Only one of the prototypes has survived. Similar to the Ryan FR Fireball, which actually entered service on a limited basis, the XF15C-1 had both a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine/propeller up front and an Allis-Chalmers J36 turbojet (license built de Havilland Goblin) under the tail. The mixed propulsion concept was devised to counter the slow acceleration of the early jets, a characteristic that limited their appeal for carrier use. Including the radial engine allowed for safe carrier launch and recovery. Having the turbojet in the tail would contribute to higher cruise speed, or so the theory went. The need for further development of the mixed propulsion concept for carrier fighters was negated by improvements in jet power, and the Curtiss-Wright XF15C was never ordered into production. This kit represents the T-tail design as incorporated into the second and third prototypes after the crash of the first which had a more conventional tail design. A couple of photos to bring everyone up to date with the raw materials: Here is the cockpit before it was gobbled up upon closing the fuselage: At the end of Part 1 of this WIP, the airframe had been assembled, was up on her legs, and had been given a coat of Glossy Dark Sea Blue. As it turns out, the paint I used was rather old and wasn't very glossy. I bought a couple more bottles (Testors - ugh!) and re-sprayed her and I think I now have a much better base for the stickers. I'll be letting this cure for a bit, since it still smells like paint. Once that smell goes away, then I'll mask off the gear bays and turtle deck (these areas will be Interior Green) and also the panels immediately aft of the exhaust and underneath the empennage by the exhaust. These areas will be stainless steel. So far, this has been a nice little kit. The only real downside is the engine, but with that big spinner out front it won't be easy to see. One strange thing I've noticed is that my CA adhesive (which usually bites quite fast) seems to take a long time with this resin. It eventually works, and makes a strong bond, but it takes a while. Weird. Here's the real bird then: And now (I think she's been repainted since this photo): Cheers, Bill

My entry in this group build is the Curtiss-Wright XF15C-1 mixed-propulsion fighter that was developed for the United States Navy at the end of WWII. Only three prototypes were built, as the US Navy moved their focus to pure jet propulsion. One of the prototypes has survived, and is at the Quonset Air Museum in Rhode Island. Similar to the Ryan FR Fireball, which actually entered service on a limited basis, the XF15C-1 had both a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine/propeller up front and an Allis-Chalmers J36 turbojet (aka de Havilland Goblin) under the tail. The mixed propulsion concept was devised to counter the slow acceleration of the early jets, a characteristic that limited their appeal for carrier use. Including the radial engine allowed for safe carrier launch and recovery. Having the turbojet in the tail would contribute to higher cruise speed, or so the theory went. The need for further development of the mixed propulsion concept for carrier fighters was negated by improvements in jet power, and the Curtiss-Wright XF15C was never ordered into production. This kit represents the T-tail design as incorporated into the second and third prototypes after the crash of the first. The kit is made by Olimp Models in the Ukraine, and sold under their Pro Resin brand. I picked this up at a hobby shop in Germany for an incredible $13 USD. How can you pass up such a deal? This is a simple kit, and there are not that many parts. However, what is here is very nicely cast. Two schemes are provided, both from the Naval Air Test Center (NATC) in 1945. These represent the second and third prototype. The first prototype was lost in a crash, and featured a different tail design. That aircraft is provided by Olimp Pro Resin in a separate kit. The inclusion of a small photoetch fret provides some nice detail touches. You can have any colour you like, as long as it's Dark Sea Blue. This should be a fun project. Can't wait to start in a couple of days! I'm not entirely sure about the nickname "Stingaree" on the box. I haven't been able to find any references that allude to that particular name. In fact, everything I've seen so far simply refers to the aircraft as the XF15C. Most likely, it didn't get far enough along in development to actually get a name. But if someone knows different, I'd be curious to learn about it. Cheers, Bill

This is my latest build. Revell 1:48 Eurofighter Typhoon single seat RAF 29Sqn Display Aircraft from the 2014 season. I have had this in my stash for several years and wanted to build it using the xtradecal Typhoon display decals to depict the 2014 display aircraft which I have always thought was stunning. I purchased the Olimp resin seamless air intake and exhaust can set so I could build a clean aircraft along with with the BigEd PE set. The build went relatively smoothly with the resin sets only needing some slight filling and sanding. I was impressed with the fit and detail of the it, only adding some scratch building in the wheel wells to add interest and depth. The Eduard set in the cockpit is a must as it really sets it alive and cannot be beaten. As usual I painted the aircraft using Vallejo Air colours finished off in a satin coat with a light wash and weathering as these aircraft are usually presented as pristine. I wanted to show the versatility of the aircraft and to do this I thought adding an array of ordnance would do it nicely. This particular aircraft would not have been operational in 2104, but would have continued to fly training sorties so to add some colour and interest I have loaded it with a variety of training ordnance.This is a sort after, discontinued kit and hopefully the re - issue in Sept will bring some more great examples of this single seat aircraft.

Pro-Resin (Olimp) is to release a Curtiss P-1 Hawk resin kit - ref. R48-003 Source: http://www.olimpmodels.com/catalog_2.html V.P.

Olimp Models is to release a 1/72nd Douglas TBD-1 Devastator kit - ref.P72-007 Source: http://www.olimpmodelsgroup.com/ Box art + sprues CADs V.P.

Pro-Resin (Olimp) is to release a Short SC.1 resin kit - ref. R48-001 Source: http://www.olimpmodels.com/catalog_2.html V.P.

Pro-Resin (Olimp) is to release a Temco TT-1 Pinto resin kit - ref. R48-002 Source: http://www.olimpmodels.com/catalog_2.html V.P.

Well, I was in the process of producing my own updates, but I've abandoned my plans as Olimp have beaten me to it: Looking forwards to these.