Search the Community

Another Sea Prince, this time the communications version. Should be an easier build as it is straight out of the box. Typical Valom, reasonably simple, nicely moulded but a lot of ejection pins that’ll need removing or indents to fill. Three sprues of a buff/brown plastic. There’s a little paint already on. There’s only an interior for the cockpit. I may be tempted to use some of the unwanted Pembroke parts to fashion something but that can wait. A clear sprue, although the canopy being split might be a challenge, nice transfers. And I invested in a mask set as that canopy looks really complex, as well as the windows needing masked. Fairly typical Valom instructions and two colour call outs. I’m tending towards the blue 781 NAS version. Partly as I like it but also the masking for the other version would be very challenging especially the cheat line. Anyway some tidying up of the ejection pins, etc. and some further painting next.

Valom is to release 1/144th Douglas A-20 Havoc/Boston kits https://www.valom.net/?page_id=1137 - ref. 14448 - Douglas A-20A Havoc - ref. 14449 - Douglas Boston Mk.III V.P.

I started this for a Twins GB on KG144 in December 2023. Embarrassingly. Reposting here as I’ve not seen any of these kits built up yet and I’ve added some comments on the build below for reference in case helpful for others. Anyway I decided to attack this in earnest earlier this year. Partly inspired by reading “Damned Good Show” by Derek Robinson, a truly brilliant novel about the early bombing campaign - painfully funny dialogue, very sobering at times and very authentic in its flying sequences. Highly recommended. The Hampden was a quirky looking thing, the “Flying Suitcase” as the aircrew dubbed it due to its slender boxy fuselage. The Valom kit does a basically decent job at capturing this shape I think. I’m not looking too closely. I don’t think I’ve seen one of these built up on here before though a few people have wondered what the kit is like. In lieu of a WIP thread, a few pointers... - the fit overall is basically fine (Valom grade fine anyway), except for in two areas: 1) the wing to fuselage join where there’s a step - I widened the locating holes to effectively lower the wing so that it was flush with the fairing in the fuselage. But even so a bit more work was needed to blend this in. 2) the transparencies didn’t fit brilliantly. I had to deepen the openings and the nose transparencies were a touch too wide for the fuselage so these had to be scraped back. Overall, quite a bit of filling, sanding and scraping to get these to sit nicely and blend into the fuselage. I think actually the main pilot canopy does stand prouder of the fuselage than I have made it but frankly when I noticed this my levels of care were largely depleted. - Undercarriage legs are too short if fitted OOB. The Hampden had a very perky snout high attitude on the ground. I found I needed to add about 1.5mm to get it to look right to my eyeball. - Canopies are nicely clear and it’s possible to see the passable interior. The mask set from peewit helps enormously but I found I had to adjust it to make the canopy frames the right sort of thicknesses and also add some framing that was missing. - One obvious thing missing is the tube fairing/ducting on the top and bottom of the rear fuselage. This is very easy to add from half round Evergreen strip. - Additional bits I added were replacing the guns with narrower gauge aluminium tubing, the DF loop with spare etch, the pitot under the nose from wire and plasticard, the T fuel gauges on the engine cowlings, the nose gun from brass rod filed to the fairing shape and the towel rail antenna under the rear from Shelf Oddity. I also replaced the antenna with plasticard. Finally there’s a guard rail for the rear upper gunner to stop him chomping through the Hampdens twin tail in his enthusiasm. I added this from wire. - Decals weren’t the best. I used the Valom tail flashes but replaced the wing and fuselage roundels with spares with less vivid colours. Valoms decals were quite brittle. The lettering was also a very very dark grey rather than medium sea grey so some Fantasy Printshop decals came to the rescue here. - Many bomber Hampdens carried underwing pylons to make up for the fuselage’s meagre bomb capacity. Valom doesn’t supply these (although they do appear on the paint guides). I have each of the Valom boxings of this kit but figured this was probably the only variant that would have carried them (even though in wartime photos it doesn’t have them fitted). So I figured something together with some ex-Shapeways 500lb bombs. - Cowl flaps seem to have been connected by some sort of black tape or something - definitely not something that a pin wash was really managing. So I bit the bullet and cut many 2mm strips of decal and spent a highly aggravating evening shuffling these around the cowling. It does look right I think. What else would I change? Well if you peer too closely the engines aren’t the best. But I didn’t have any Aeroclub white metal replacements to hand and I’ll try not to notice. I think I’d also refine my masking efforts further on the canopy on take two. Otherwise I’m pretty happy with this. I have no doubt that some wizards on here could improve the accuracy and of this kit in many respects. But I’ll settle. As I say, I went with a kit scheme, but swapped in different decals. P1333 served with 49 Squadron based at RAF Scampton in summer 1940. This aircraft was actually lost on a raid on Merseburg’s oil installations on the night of 16/17 August 1940. Perhaps typical of RAF bomber command’s efforts at the time, only one Squadron aircraft claimed to bomb the target, the rest bombed “targets of opportunity” (or jettisoned their payload). Sgt Stratton, flying P1333, made a forced landing at Breda in Holland, though quite why I do not know. He and his crew spent the next five years as prisoners of war in Silesia. I did some weathering as I thought that by August 1940 this would have looked pretty shopworn. I enjoyed myself but I probably overcooked things on this front again. Finally the figures are Armorys high altitude bomber crew. A beautifully cast set of resin figures. Conclusion Overall it’s a nice kit. Definitely short run and if you go into it with those expectations and eyes open, then it’s fine and a jolly kit to build. There were definitely no aspects which I found so tedious as to put me off building this. The length of time was due more to other factors, such as my singularly poor attention span. Here with another fork tailed bird recently off the bench. And here with Valoms next offering on the bench. Thanks very much for looking.

Newcomer from Poland SabreKits (link) has re-released the Valom 1/72nd Handley Page Hampden B.Mk.I with AZ Model clear parts - ref. SBK7004 Sources: https://shop.sabrekits.cz/10502,cz_hampden-b.mk.i--9-decal-options-!!.html https://www.facebook.com/Sabrekits.cz/posts/130948712089922 V.P.

Another Sea Prince, this time the communications version. Should be an easier build as it is straight out of the box. Typical Valom, reasonably simple, nicely moulded but a lot of ejection pins that’ll need removing or indents to fill. Three sprues of a buff/brown plastic. There’s a little paint already on. There’s only an interior for the cockpit. I may be tempted to use some of the unwanted Pembroke parts to fashion something but that can wait. A clear sprue, although the canopy being split might be a challenge, nice transfers. And I invested in a mask set as that canopy looks really complex, as well as the windows needing masked. Fairly typical Valom instructions and two colour call outs. I’m tending towards the blue 781 NAS version. Partly as I like it but also the masking for the other version would be very challenging especially the cheat line. Anyway some tidying up of the ejection pins, etc. and some further painting next.

All: Not enough post war Ansons on these pages! Inspired by another Britmodeller's build, I finished this in the colors of RAF Transport Command, circa 1968, the type's out-muster. It's a sweet little kit and presents few challenges for the modeler apart from the fit of the passenger windows and the upper wing-to-body join. Even the landing gear went on without difficulty, which was a big relief. I used XtraDecals dark blue stripes for the fuselage lightning motif, as well as roundels and Transport Command titles; Mark I supplied the bonding marks, which I used liberally--I'm unsure if they appeared on Light Aircraft Grey-painted aircraft. I used the kit's serials and few stencils, and they went on beautifully--nice and thin and well-behaved.

Here is a greatly abbreviated build log of my Anson. The hardest thing to fit were the cabin windows, each of which I needed to painstakingly sand and fit several times. Fit of the wings along the root was also a little iffy, but a little sanding helped. The paint scheme and configuration are not exact, by the way, but representative. TX160 served until 1968 and there's a photo of a derelict TX160 in what appears to be Light Aircraft Grey, rather than silver. The mast antenna had been removed, but I think the C.19 looks wrong without one, so even if it's not perfectly accurate for this exact airframe. Others might know whether the later disk-shaped ADF antenna made the HF antenna obsolete. I reinforced the horizontal stabilizers with wire. (above) Added a few details to the cockpit, including tubular frames and a fire extinguisher (above) The primer paint showed a few flaws. Note that I added little boxes near the windscreen for the wipers, as well as hinges for the nose opening (above).

Valom is to release 1/72th Avro Anson kits. I've a dream: 1/48th scale kits from these Annie variants. Sources: https://www.facebook.com/www.valom.net/posts/pfbid0SPStYqHcJADwndhbhhuWyde1msKW457YawkkqoukKvXMSnwGxE9kpnvdXFofYek5l https://www.valom.net/?page_id=1137 - ref. 72164 - Avro Anson C.19 - ref. 72165 - Avro Anson T.21 V.P.

Just a few weeks ago, some of us celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Vickers Viking's first flight. Vickers took the Wellington Bomber and basically added a new fuselage to it, complete with such refinements as noise insulation, and gave Britain its first postwar airliner. I actually like the way this airplane looks, and built the Valom kit using @26Decals livery and some extra Wellington parts sent to me by @theplasticsurgeon. The kit builds well, and I even added a full interior, but you can hardly see it. Getting the decals to sit along the window line, however, proved a struggle, and I'm unhappy with the results there. Ray's decals take a lot of getting used to, as they are thin and flexible. The fuel truck is a combination of kits, including the fuel/oil bowser from Airfix's Bomber Command Support Set, and the chassis is from a Ford G8T. I just relocated the steering wheel to the right side and assumed these would have been found along routes in East Africa frequented by Hunting Clan.

Hi All, Now that my Wellington Mk.Ic build is drawing to a close, I fancied a bit more geodetic action! This most unusual of aircraft has been on my mind for a while, and I decided I needed to give it a red hot go. I'm going to be using Valom's 1:72 kit, specifically this boxing: Here's the sprue shots: Interestingly there are 2 fuselages, the left hand version being specific to a long range version used for a successful endurance record flight from Egypt to Darwin. Whilst the fabric representation is not quite up to 'New Airfix Wellington' standards, I think it will pass muster under paint. Transparencies, which look pretty good: The decals and a small PE fret: The decals allow for two schemes: Whilst nice, I shall be modelling this scheme: L2712 was part of 47 Sqn based at RAF Kasfareet in Egypt, and was one of the 2 remaining Wellesleys on strength in 1943 after the squadron re-equipped with Beauforts. I dug up this old build by the great Tony O'Toole: His theory was that the scheme was a heavily faded TSS with lightened Azure Blue undersides, similar to Beauforts which were tasked with maritime patrol missions in the Mediterranean. I have no further evidence than this, but the scheme is most attractive and certainly plausible from the single photo I have (any further evidence for/against gratefully received). In terms of ordnance, the geodetic structure of the aircraft meant that a internal bomb bay could not be incorporated in the fuselage. Instead, ordnance was carried in a pair of underwing panniers, giving a maximum bomb (or depth charge in this case) load of 2000lb. I asked the hive mind for further information on the internal details of these panniers. Here's what I found: I'm planning to spice the build up with a few extra 3D printed extra, so it should be fun! Thanks for looking, Roger

Hi All, My latest completion is Valom's Wellesley, completed as L2712, which remained on the strength of 47 Sqn based at RAF Kasfareet in Egypt in 1943 after the squadron re-equipped with Beauforts tasked with maritime strike missions. Here's a photo of the aircraft: I have chosen to complete the aircraft in TSS over Azure Blue, which as can be seen is heavily faded. The build was OOB, with the addition of internal detail to the bomb panniers a mix of 3D printing and spare 250lb bombs from the spares box (the tropical filter was also printed. Here's the WIP if anyone is interested: Anyway, on to the photos: Here's a couple with a later Vickers stablemate: This has been a typical limited run build, with it's associated frustrations and niggles. However, I'm pleased to have this unusual aircraft in the collection, so it has been worth the effort. Thanks to all those who have added kind words and encouragement along the way - as ever it has been much appreciated! Thanks for looking, Roger

Valom is to release 1/144th Focke-Wulf Fw.189 Uhu kits. First: - ref. 14443 - Focke-Wulf Fw 189A-1 Uhu Box art V.P.

Aviation Art ZM Facebook shows since a few days a Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer artwork. Source: https://www.facebook.com/208070375871052/photos/a.208144655863624.54782.208070375871052/2035886113089460/?type=3&theater https://www.facebook.com/208070375871052/photos/a.208144655863624/2125116877499716/?type=3&theater Considering Zdenek Macháček (aka ZM) artworks usually illustrate Valom, Fly and AZmodel boxings it's reasonable to assume that one of these brands is to release a new tool 1/72nd kit of this British STOL transport aircraft. My guess: Valom..update And the winner is Valom To be followed V.P.

Valom is to rebox its 1/72nd Fokker F.VIIb.1 kit with Czech AF decals - ref. 72096 Source: https://www.facebook.com/208070375871052/photos/a.208144655863624/2137919979552739/?type=3&theater Box art V.P.

I think I've sorted the choice for another civil aeroplane. I've been searching for this Valom kit for a good while, after working my way through the little Airfix Islander kit. I was lucky enough to get a walk-around tour of the aprons and hangers at Lands End airport last year and grabbed a load of reference photos of their Twin Otters on the apron, and their Islanders in the maintenance hangers. I was thinking about finishing the Airfix kit in Skybus livery but in the end I opted for the kit decals for Aurigny airline and thinking I'd do the Scillies option for the Valom kit if I ever managed to find one. Well, here we are...😎 It's a simple enough looking build, and I'm planning on getting a sheet of Skybus livery from 26decals. I'm still working away on my Twin Otter Floatplane build so this'un might be a bit of a slow start, but then again you know what it's like when you open the box and the little kit fairy sprinkles that magic mojo dust in your face ✨️ 💃🧚‍♀️

After the 1/72nd kits (link), here are the 1/144th McDonnell F-101A & RF-101C Voodoo from Valom Source: https://www.valom.net/?page_id=1137 - ref. 14439 - McDonnell RF-101C Voodoo https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/VAL14439 - ref. 14440 - McDonnell F-101A Voodoo https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/VAL14440 V.P.

Valom is to release a 1/144th Handley Page Hampden B.Mk.I kit - ref. 14431. Source: http://www.valom.net/?page_id=1137 Box art V.P.

I'm just finishing up a de Havilland DH.60 Moth in the FROG GB and I've got a hankering to do another interwar de Havilland. To my mind the de Havilland DH.91 Albatross is one of the most beautiful aircraft ever built so I'd say for a Golden Age of Transport build it fits the bill? I don't think there's many options for the Albatross out there; Valom released this one in 1/72 about 5 or 6 years ago and it's been hanging around the stash since then. I've also got some extras; an interior set and some external steps that I may as well try to knock out at the same time; display her as if she's on the ground at Croydon awaiting passengers for Paris. There's a fair bit of plastic in there (she's a big bird), and it all looks rather nice, especially for a short run kit. Not sure about the Beige colour... And a load of Resin seats, some acetate, some etch, decals and the metal steps A Valom kit, with interior, in a month? I'm being ambitious here but I'm hoping the tight time limit will drive me on. Here's hoping Fortuna smiles on me! Cheers, Richard.

Hello all from the shed. Finished at the same time as my Chinook HC1 a few weeks ago, here is my rendition of Valoms Twin Pin. 39 Twin Pioneers were produced for the RAF in the mid 50’s by Scottish Aviation. It was a light transport aircraft capable of STOL operations, providing a larger carrying capability than the single engine Pioneer, also used by the RAF at that time. They were used in the Middle East and Far East, notably during the Malayan Emergency, and later became the first aircraft used in the newly formed Royal Malaysian Air Force. A Typical short run Valom kit, it took a bit of work to assemble but on the whole went together well. No interior is supplied so I put a few spare seats in the cabin so there is something to see through the windows. I added etch seat straps in the cockpit but other than that, apart from a few aerials, its straight from the box. A fun build. Its finished using Xtracolor enamels and varnishes, panel lines picked out with flory wash. Here are a few pictures. Hope you like it Thanks for looking Pete

Aviation Art ZM is famous for its Valom, Fly, RS Models, AVI Models, KP, Mark I, Sabrekits box art illustrations. In a recent Facebook message Aviation Art ZM has unveiled a Percival Sea Prince T.1 (WF118/569-CU - 750 Sqn) illustration looking like a future box art. Considering Valom has recently produced several twin-engined post WWII British aircraft types (Valetta, Viking, Twin Pioneer) in 1/72nd scale... To be followed. UPDATE: Valom 1/72nd new tool kit confirmed ! 👍 That said, in 1/48th please... 🙏 Source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=325811932868400&id=100063187870655 V.P.

Oh-kay. My Valom Anson arrived yesterday and this afternoon I dug out the Special Hobby and Airfix Ansons from my stash for some comparisons. This has left me in a conundrum regarding the best way to cross-kit the wing types and, more difficult to confirm, aileron types fitted to the Irish C.19s. Firstly, the Special Hobby Mk.1 Late (SH) lower wing overlaid on the Valom lower wing. You can see there is a noticeable difference in chord that will require some work to correct if you decided to do a complete wing-swap: SH lower over Valom Should you follow this route there is some challenging work to do on the upper wing sections, though the SH kit has the smooth nacelles as well as the resin nacelles with the cyliner head fairings. The chord at the root of the wings of the SH and Valom kits is very different, and the faired curve to the fuselage is therefore in a different place. The fit profile of the wing uppers to the fuselage halves at the two root sections is different too: SH upper over Valom The Airfix wing. Well, we know the Airfix wing is 'of its time' in terms of moulding and detail, but I would sacrifice an Airfix Anson before I would sacrifice a SH Anson. Joe (@maxdecal) notes the possibility of using the outer secions of the Airfix wings and mating them to the Valom wings. Yes, some work to do, but probably better than wasting a SH kit. Airfix lower over Valom Now to a thornier question that someone may be able to answer, please. Help! Ailerons... Ailerons Valom over SH The Valom wings have the short ailerons of the tapered wings, the SH and Airfix kits have the long ailerons, but I can't see from the limited photos I have found what length on ailerons were fitted to the Irish C.19s. Perhaps like this? https://www.flickr.com/photos/smon/8003973950/in/photostream/ Note: inserted as a link for copyright purposes.

New in the Aviation Art ZM (for Zdeňka Macháčka) facebook page is a Fairey Britten Norman BN-2 Islander illustration. Considering Zdeňka Macháčka is the designer from most of the Valom and Fly kits box art... Wait and see. Some persistent rumours say it'll be a 1/48th kit. Keep my fingers crossed for a 1/48th BN-2 Islander complete family (Islander, Turbo Islander, Defender & Trislander). Just think of the uncredible number of military and civil schemes as well as variants for such a kit! Source: https://www.facebook.com/208070375871052/photos/a.208144655863624.54782.208070375871052/1933958993282173/?type=3&theater V.P.

To go with the FH-1 Phantom I thought I would build another early USN jet. This is the 2014 new moulding - I have never built a Valom kit as far as I am aware, and I have seen mixed reports with some being rather difficult - time will tell! Some of the resin and PE looks like it could be tricky, particularly on the nose gear. As I mentioned in my FH-1 build thread in this GB, the USN were a bit wary of introducing jets on carriers, but having ordered the FH-1 in late 1943, by late 1944 they seem to have decided that the engines were getting better so they ordered another batch of designs from three manufacturers and with two types of engine - The F2H Banshee from McDonnell, the FJ-1 Fury from North American and the F6U Pirate from Vought. Of these 3 only the Banshee could be described as a success I guess, with the Pirate having too many problems to actually enter front line service, and the Fury only being bought in limited numbers, but although the latter was relatively insignificant in itself, its swept wing offspring the F-86 Sabre and the navalised F2J, F3J and F4J Furies were a different matter, The FH-1 can clearly be called the first generation of USN jets, but the FJ-1 seems to have entered service less than a year later in 1948 so maybe I should class it also as first generation not second? The Banshee and Pirate however did not arrive until 1949. The Banshee and the slightly later Grumman F9F Panther were I suppose the first really effective USN jets, but the Phantom I and FJ-1 have their place in the history of USN/USMC aircraft history. Pete

Valom is to release in 2024 a 1/144th Bristol Buckingham B.1/C.Mk.I kit - ref. 14434 Sources: https://www.valom.net/?page_id=1137 https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/VAL14434 V.P.

Valom is to release a 1/144th Bristol Brigand B.Mk.1 - RAF Overseas - kit - ref. 14433 Sources: https://www.aviationmegastore.com/en/modelling/bristol-brigand-b-mki-raf--overseas-valom-vaclav-lomitzk-val14433-199681.html https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/VAL14433 V.P.