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Good day dear friends, I have been interested for a long time in getting a Bristol F.2B Fighter in 1/48 scale and as far as I can see the options are Roden and Eduard. Both models look very good and detailed {but with great deal of reservation when it comes to Roden's decals}. I am interested in your opinion about these two models. Which manufacturer would you prefer and why? Greetings Bojan

I present you Roden's model of the OV-1A Mohawk. The plane represents a machine of the 23rd special warfare aviation detachment of the US Army from 1963 in Vietnam. The basic task of this unit was intelligence and reconnaissance. In its first variant (presented here), the Mohawk also had certain offensive (self-defense) capabilities, which in further use of exploitation was a stumbling rock in the bureaucratic circles of the Army and Air Force. How much this machine was valued and hated by members of the National Front for the Liberation of the South (better known as the NLF or VietCog) is also shown by the fact that a special financial stimulus was paid for its shootig down. I don't have much to say about the model except that it is already well known and the only one in this scale. The fit is very good and the detailing is at a very solid level! As a minor problem, I would mention the unpolished plastic surface as well as the shallow panel lines, which can be a significant problem if the plastic surface is polished. What is absolutely reprehensible are Roden's decals, which already have a bad reputation. Rigid, semi-transparent, poorly reacting to decal setting solutions, prone to cracking... In one word, BAAAD! I used the Eduad Zoom PE set (FE320), which is designed for the OV-1B, but with the modification of the control panel works just fine. I also used the Eeduard`s PE set for air brakes (from the second set for the OV-1D), which significantly enriches the area of the air brakes. The rest of the cockpit is self-built, which includes the floor of the cabin, the back wall of the cabin, as well as hoses, cables and other small things... The painting was done so that you can feel the level of employment of these machines! The model is Hi-Vis semi gloss painted and has a glossy finish. I played a little bit with the degree of brightness of certain zones/panels on the model, and hence the non-uniformity of the brightness. Little due is from some old monogram model and the base is halved Eduard`s PSP base. Gunza colors with weathering effects in painter's oils, tamiya washes, dry pygmies, wooden crayons... In the end, I must say that I am very satisfied with how the model turned out! All criticisms and suggestions (as well as contributions in money, plastic, meat and sweets...) are more than welcome! P.S. I would like to apologize for the large number of photos! And details:

Hallo This a/c was an experiment. The kit is from Roden. But I designed etched parts for Cooper State Models. And I used them. What was the idea: To achieve a perfect rigging on a 48 scale model. Together with strut support plates from etched parts. The thing which was the problem, was the gluing process. You need C/A for the etched parts. To keep the area clean before gluing the struts, this is very difficult. I also did the DH2 in 48 and 32 with this method. At the BE-12 finally I failed. So I gave up the project of the strut support plates from etched parts. Maybe anybody has a better idea? Happy modelling

Evening all, My first RFI for quite some time. It's the Roden 1/48 North American T-28B. Built for my model club's Covid-19 virtual group build and a lightning fast one for me - it only took just over three months (rather than my usual three years odd!) Not a particularly enjoyable build, some bits of the kit are great, others awful. Paint was Hycote Gloss White out of a rattle can and a mix of MR Paint British International Orange and Signal Red to get as close to the FS12197 U.S. International Orange that I could. Anyway; North American T-28B Trojan, BuAer 137652, U.S. Naval Test Pilots School, NAS Patuxent River, 1970's. Thanks for looking Keith

I am declaring this model complete. It is my interpretation of:- Gloster Sea Gladiator N5517/6*A 813(F) NAS, HMS Eagle Mediterranean Jul '40 Flown by Commander CL Keighly-Peach RN This aircraft was involved in the destruction of a number of enemy aircraft; 11.07.40 S79 Destroyed 13.07.40 SM79 & S79 Destroyed 17.07.40 S79 Destroyed 31.08.40 Z506B Destroyed. This model has had a long gestation period. It started well in August '16 but for some reason I just lost mojo with it and it went and sat on the shelf. Going back to the kit in July '17, after building a Seafire, I had a lot of trouble mounting the upper mainplane and managed to break several struts, back it went onto the shelf of doom awaiting its fate. Two weeks ago, having completed my Hellcat build for the Carriers Ahoy GB and not wanting to start my next aeroplane (Pacific War GB), I decided to have another crack. I replaced broken Cabane struts with brass tubing and steel pins and as they say Robert is you mothers brother. I am still happy to get this off the bench and some of the finishing could have been better but I think if a spend any longer on this model I'll break it again. In fact I was in such a hurry to get the pictures done that the PVE on the canopy hasn't dried completely clear yet... In reality it is a good kit and would reward someone with better skills than myself. At some point I will return to Biplanes, I want to build a Swordfish and Albacore for my collection but I have a number of fighter types to do first. Oh and a representation of the 64th (2nd London) Division in the Eleventh Hour GB - Me and figurines - gawd help us all.... Thank you to everyone I questioned as to codes, no codes, IFF Black/white etc for you advice and guidance. I have considered it all and have taken a path, and yes some of the details are debatable but as more research goes on - one day I will revisit my subject. Now for a couple of pictures.. Now for the arty, atmospheric shots, Thanks for stopping by..

Hi all, Just thought I`d share some pic`s I took today, now the weathers a bit nicer, of my latest completion: Rodens 1/48 Staggerwing, Finished as one of the options in the box, a UC-43 of the Eighth Air Force, somewhere in England, 1943 Mostly OOB, but I added a roof to the Wheel Wells, made a `A` frame and spar that was missing from the kit The build was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be, with only the transparencies giving any real trouble As you may have guessed, it`s another one of my Brother in Laws kits I`ve built for him.... ...hence it`s not South East Asia, Indochina or Pacific/CBI . Hope you enjoy, thanks for looking Cheers Russ