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Hi all, Here is my latest completed model, its Airfix's excellent new 1/72 B-25 C/D built as an aircraft operated by the 13th Guards Long Range Aviation Regiment and sporting a temporary Winter camo scheme applied over the standard Olive Drab over Neutral Grey that the aircraft was delivered in. Not much to say about the build as it was a very smooth process and I didn't have any issues at all and can heartily recommend this kit to anyone who has an interest in this aircraft, and I usually build in 1/48 scale. Anyway here are the pics, sorry but there are rather a lot of them as I got carried away in the sunshine! Sorry for all the pics. Here's a link to the WIP which was done as part of the B-25 STGB which you really should check out as there are some excellent builds. Thanks for looking and all comments and criticisms are gratefully received. Craig.

This GB has crept up on me, I've been busy with other GBs when I should have been getting ready. Still, I have 7 or 8 builds planned; the first one is this: I'll be using the old Airfix kit, suitably modified, and Xtradecals transfers from their Fighters over Africa and the Mediterranean part 2 sheet. Here's the kit: It's bits: The extra/ replacement bits: The profile: I'll be making a start on Wednesday. Thanks for looking.

This is one that I've been wanting to build for a long time. I was born in Alaska, and aviation in that state has always fascinated me. A few years ago, I came across the "Sandbar Mitchell" project, the restoration and return to flight of a B-25J Firebomber that made a wheels-up landing on a sandbar near Farbanks, Alaska. The restoration is also a mentoring program for youth to learn technical skills, and it seemed like a good cause to me (and still does!). You can find their website here: https://www.warbirdsofglory.org/index.asp I made a donation, and was given a small piece of the actual aircraft in return. I'd show a picture but my phone doesn't want to upload it, going to have to fix that before the build starts! The aircraft is going to be restored to the colours of a wartime aircraft, but fire aviation has been an interest of mine for some time, so I've now been keen to build a model of it in the colours it wore on the day it came down in the bush. When Airfix announced their new-tool 1:72 Mitchell, I knew what I had to do. Intended colours for the real aircraft (rendering by Ron Cole) The Mitchell as it looked on fire-fighting duties. As you can see from the picture above, this shouldn't be too difficult of a conversion from the stock Mitchell. So that's the idea. Stay tuned!

XE599 was delivered to the RAF on 1st May 1956, serving with numbers 8 and 208 squadrons as well as 74 squadron, before being converted to an FR.74 (serial no. 535) for the Singapore AF. Her nose is now preserved in Australia in those markings. This model reflects her in the halcyon days of the RAF, high speed silver flashing over the East Anglian countryside, a glimpse of the famous tiger stripes that 'fear no man'. The Tigers received Hunters in March 1957, with the F.4 version replacing Meteor F.8s until the F.6s arrived in November of that year. They flew from RAF Horsham St Faith alongside 245 squadron until moving to Coltishall in June 1959, in preparation for receiving Lightnings in 1960. The old Airfix kit is over 50 years old, with little cockpit detail, and some parts seem a little thick, but I think it's a nicer shape than the Mistercraft one: Colours used were dark sea grey spray, Tamiya XF-81 and auto-spray silver. It needs quite a bit of nose weight and will still tail sit even now if tipped back. WIP here:

My next build is my Airfix 1:72 Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero, which was a mother's Day present from my son. Having built the Airfix Nakajima Kate in the past I'm looking forward to building this little starter kit. The box includes paint, brushes and glue (I will be putting the paint to one side as the pits are too small to use with the airbrush), a small sheet of decals and some nice detailed instructions. There are 3 small grey sprues, all very clean with loads of detailing and one clear sprue. I plan to build her with landing gear down and as an out of the box build, Let's hope I can do this formidable fighter aircraft justice.

Ready for inspection is my 1:72 Mitsubishi A6M2b 'Zero' by Airfix. This has to be one of the easiest and straightforward kits I have built, no flash on the sprues, fits nicely, and just enough detail. Paint was a slight issue, Humbrol being famously terrible to airbrush, but I overcame this by mixing my own off white/green for the top coat of the aircraft. All in all a nice little kit, I hope it does the aircraft which was declared the best carrier fighter aircraft in the world when it first flew justice. Thanks for looking.

Here's an old classic! And best of all, there were two complete Hunter kits in the one box, albeit with some parts off the sprues. As the Hornet didn't take that long, I thought I'd squeeze in one more model before we move! Despite its age it looks like a nice kit, and better than the Mistercraft Hunter. I'll be making her as a green/grey camo one with high speed silver undersides, probably either 56 sqn or 74 sqn, not decided yet. Any issues to watch out for?

Eduard Photo Etch Detail Sets for Airfix Fairey Swordfish Kit 1:72 Eduard Of all Airfix’s recent kits, the 1:72 Swordfish seems to be the one that has set the benchmark for future releases. Airfix really seem to have hit the mark with their Stringbag, as the kit features a perfect blend of fine detail, clever engineering and buildability. Now Eduard have released a brace of photo etch detail sets to build on the kit’s tremendous foundations. Swordfish (self adhesive) 1:72 Eduard The first set is a one-stop-shop for producing a super-detailed Swordfish. There are a multitude of parts for the kit’s already lovely cockpit. Starting from the bottom, the floor of the cockpit receives some additional details which help to add a realistic finish to the kit part. Belts are provided for the crew seats, as well as a new multi-part instrument panel and similar pre-painted parts for the radio kit. Details are provided for both the fixed, forward-firing Vickers Gun and the rear-firing .303 in Lewis Gun, including a tiny ring and bead gun sight. A whole host of smaller parts, such as throttle levers and cables for the control column, are provided as well. The overall effect will be a superbly detailed cockpit – no bad thing for a biplane with no canopy to get in the way! Eduard haven’t stopped there, however. The rest of the airframe benefits from a number of extra details too. There are quite a few surface panels provided which represent various access hatches. Having used a set of these on my recent Ju 88AA-4 build review, I can testify that they look excellent once in place. The Bristol Pegasus also receives some attention by way of ignition wiring and other details. As with the cockpit, there are literally dozens of small parts for detailing the undercarriage and inter-wing struts. Lovely as the Airfix kit is, the wing fold is one area that looks a little spartan. Happily, Eduard have this covered with some nice etch parts that capture the look of the real thing. Details are also provided for the ordnance supplied with the kit, including the torpedo. There are even details for the floats supplied with the brand new float plane version as well. Swordfish Zoom (self adhesive) 1:72 Eduard This ‘Zoom’ set is comprised of just the pre-painted self-adhesive fret from the set reviewed above. It is therefore cheaper and, presumably, zoomier. Conclusion How do you make an excellent kit even better? Add some fine photo etched details of course! If the Airfix Swordfish wasn’t brilliant enough already, Eduard have now enabled us to wring even more detail from the sprues. With the new floatplane version of the kit now available, it’s the perfect time to get stuck into what should be an absorbing build. Highly recommended. Review samples courtesy of

To save having to buy yet another Vulcan, I was wondering how far gone a model has to be before it can be resurrected, and what techniques are involved? I have an old model Vulcan still in my old bedroom at my Dad's house, which I made about 25 years ago! As such, it is terrible, and fit only for plastic recycling. Or is it? ... I'm sure I read somewhere if you put a model in the freezer it breaks the glue so you can take it apart again? Also, how do you remove ancient Humbrol enamel paint, is it even possible? Not sure I fancy soaking it in a bath of turps! Just sandpaper then respray? I was thinking of using it as the base for my B.1 conversion. Otherwise respraying as a wraparound camo Vulcan circa 1980. Any tips on how to restore kits this old?

My latest two completions, the Airfix Seafire FR.47 and the Special Hobby Seafire XV. The Airfix kit used the BarracudaCast propeller and seat, Squadron Canopy and Aeromaster decals for 800 Squadron in 1949. The Special Hobby kit was pretty much OOB with Aeromaster decals for 803 Squadron RCN in 1947. Vallejo paints used throughout. I've included shots of the Seafire 47 with the Spitfire I, the Seafire XV with its close relative the Spitfire XII and with its replacement in the RCN, the Sea Fury. As usual, please excuse the dust and the poor photography! Thanks for looking! Chris

On my recent trips to model shows I have picked up a tasty collection of bi-plane kits, so I thought it time to bite the bullet and attempt my first WW1 build. I've decided on the 1:72 Airfix Sopwith Camel that I purchased from a model shop in Cheltenham for £1. Im guessing it was reduced to £1 because some parts were off the sprue, and it's a bit of a tatty looking kit. Inside the bag are 2 small sprues, with free flash (lots of sanding practice here), and a minimal instruction booklet with colour sheet for the livery. There you have it, a tiny kit in a bag, and one I'm looking forward to practice on.

In my opinion the Harrier was one of the greatest aircraft of all time, with its revolutionary design and brilliant (British) engineering leading the way which has only now been followed by the costly, troubled and prohibitively expensive F-35. Not only did the Harrier serve with distinction for over 40 years, it helped ensure the freedom of UK citizens on the Falklands and fought for freedom in the middle east, before our short-sighted, penny-pinching and ignorant politicians prematurely retired what is still a vastly capable aircraft. One of the first batch of Harriers to enter service, XV748 was delivered to the RAF's Harrier OCU in May 1969, before transferring to number 1 squadron at Wittering. It was converted to a GR.3 in July 1974, and survives to this day at the Yorkshire air museum, Elvington. This new tool Airfix kit is absolutely superb, and highly recommended! Parts fit together really well and the attention to detail and accuracy is fantastic. The model is built OOB except for the slight serial change to represent a Harrier that still survives. (If anyone knows what tail code XV748 wore with 1 squadron please can you let me know?!)

Good afternoon fellow modellers! After a visit to a well known airshow last month and foolishly walking into the amazing pop-up model stalls that appear on those days, I made a bit of a mistake... Overcome by nostalgia, and with my Old Man edging me on, I picked up Airfix's He 177 'Greif', fully complete and in 1970's boxing for a reasonable twenty quid. Now... this is where the fun began (but honestly what more did I expect?!). I've spent hours upon hours on her so far from completely reworking the cockpit, with bulkheads, control panels, new seats with milliput padding, through to sanding the entire thing down removing all raised panel lines and rivets then re-scribing the whole bloody lot! There is still a ridiculous amount of work to do and I have some issues I hope you can help me resolve. First up, the clear glass in these ancient moulds are horrendous and also, through all the re-scribe work one of the 'windows' has popped through into the fuselage. PVA just didn't cut it this time does anyone have any genius ideas on how to, from the outside (!), replace the window? Secondly, does anyone know if there are replacement clear parts for these? I've looked online but haven't been able to find anything. Thanks as always, JB And for those of you interested, here she is so far:

Hello all, Here is my recently completed project for the Carriers Ahoy! Group Build Airfix's 1/72 Fairey Swordfish Mk.I. The model is completed out of the box and is brush painted, rigged with EZline and weathered with Tamiya weathering master powder. A thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding kit to build and heartily recommended. The build thread is here: Cheers, Mark

Someone said there were no 1/12 figures, well I'll put that right DSC_0008 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr There is a piece missing, the finial type piece on top of the helmet that holds the horsehair crest, so I'll have to scratch something

No.32 squadron received Hurricanes a year before World War Two broke out and was initially engaged on defensive patrols over France from British bases. The squadron were redeployed to Wittering in late May/early June to rest and regroup. They were only there for a week before going back to RAF Biggin Hill in time for the opening weeks of the Battle of Britain. P3522 was reputedly flown by Pilot Officer D. H. Grice 21 September 1932-3 January 1940: Biggin Hill 3 January-8 March 1940: Gravesend 8-22 March 1940: Manston 27 March-26 May 1940: Biggin Hill 26 May-4 June 1940: Wittering 4 June-28 August 1940: Biggin Hill However, the squadron moved north to Acklington in August 1940 and did not return to south until December. 28 August-15 December 1940: Acklington 15 December 1940-16 February 1941: Middle Wallop Douglas Hamilton Grice was born on 15th June 1919 in Wallasey Village, Cheshire. He was in the Artists Rifles (TA) before he joined the RAF on a short service commission. He began his initial flying training at 8 E&RFTS Woodley on 29th November 1937. He went to No. 1 RAF Depot Uxbridge for a short induction course on 19th February 1938. Grice was at 5 FTS Sealand for intermediate and advanced training on 3rd March 1938. Here he was given the nickname 'Grubby', the original reason now lost. With this training completed, he was posted to 32 Squadron at Biggin Hill on 17th September 1938. Grice was detached from 32 to RAF Northolt for an Air Fighting Instructors course on 23rd October 1939 rejoining 32 on 1st November. During the Battle of France the squadron used Abbeville as a forward base from 18th May 1940. On that day Grice probably destroyed a Me110, on the 19th he destroyed a Me109, probably another and damaged a third and on the 22nd he destroyed another. He was shot down by return fire from He111's on 8th June in Hurricane P3353. He glided 15 miles and landed near a small village, 10 miles from Rouen. Finding no one in the village, he returned to his aircraft and met some British soldiers, who drove him to Rouen. With another RAF pilot, he was given a car and driver and they drove from aerodrome to aerodrome until in a few days they had travelled 400 miles across France. At Dreux, HQ of the Expeditionary Air Force, they were put into a DH Rapide, which was going to Hendon. On reaching Le Havre the aircraft was diverted to Jersey, from where they flew on next day to Hendon. Grice rejoined his squadron on 11th June. Awarded the DFC (gazetted 25th June 1940), he was decorated by the King on 27th June at Biggin Hill. On 4th July Grice was shot down by Me109's and made a forced-landing not far from Sandwich golf course. To his astonishment Grice was greeted by an Army officer who had served with him as a private in the Artists Rifles. On the 8th he claimed a Me109 probably destroyed and on 12th August he damaged a Do17. On the afternoon of the 15th Grice was shot down east of Harwich in flames, having been attacked from behind as the squadron was about to engage hostile aircraft. Tracer bullets smashed the instrument panel and passed into the gravity tank. Grice was using oxygen which ignited, blowing off his goggles and burning his face and both wrists. The gravity tank exploded. He baled out, landed in the sea, had difficulty freeing himself and was almost drowned. He was rescued by an MTB, landed at Fexlixstowe and admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital at Shotley. Although Grice was unaware of it at the time, his prolonged dip in the sea was a boon, the salt water aided the healing process of the burns Grice had suffered to the face and the wrists. His Hurricane, N2459, crashed into the sea at Pye Sands, Pennyhole Bay, south of Harwich. On 14th October 1940 Grice reported to Biggin Hill for posting to 421 Flight. With 421 he flew a W/T test on the 14th, in Hurricane Z2327, and on the 15th he flew a spotting patrol in Hurricane Z2352. These were his only flights with 421 and he took up duty as a Controller at Biggin Hill very soon afterwards. Grice was a Controller at Northolt from June 1941 until February 1942, Senior Controller at North Weald until December 1943, Senior Controller at Tangmere until August 1945, a Controller at 11 Group until February 1946 and a Staff Officer at HQ Fighter Command until he retired in April 1947 as a Wing Commander. He was made an MBE (gazetted 1st January 1946). Grice served articles with the London firm of solicitors Gamlen, Bowerman & Forward. In 1951 he joined McKenna & Co, becoming a partner of the firm within a year. Grice specialised in work for the construction industry and counted Taylor Woodrow among his clients. He retired in 1982. Thereafter Grice devoted much time to his garden at Hunters Green, Chalfont St. Giles. He also bought an electric organ and taught himself to play it. Grice died on 24th March 1998.

Hello again folks, I'd like to share my newly finished Airfix P-40B in 112 Squadron markings. The kit was absolutely great to build and is on par engineering wise with Tamiya et al. A very enjoyable project, and i will be sorely tempted to get another. I didn't particularly want to do the kit finishing options of the Pearl Harbour or Flying Tigers markings so i rummaged around in my spare transfers box for the ones i eventually used. These are from an old Aeromaster set and depict the Tomahawk of Australian Ace Jack Bartle from Landing Ground 102 Egypt Oct 1941. This particular aircraft AN413 was personalised by Bartle with the name Nan below the cockpit. Unfortunately the set i have doesn't have the kangaroo he also added, and i'm not arty enough to go painting skippy on the nose! The decals themselves were a bit thick, and i knew i had no hope of getting the sharkmouth to conform to the contours of the nose so i painted my own. The whole model is brush painted in acrylics. I hope you like... IMG_2768 IMG_2767 by [url IMG_2766 IMG_2765 IMG_2763 IMG_2762 IMG_2737 IMG_2739 IMG_2746 IMG_2747 IMG_2748 Well thats plenty to be getting on with. Thanks for looking. Cheers Greg

Picked up this kit a few months ago, figured I'd use it to try out some new techniques and that kind of thing. Quite a nice kit for the scale, my only complaint would be the flashing that was rather extreme on certain sprues. And this is the photo I was basing it off.

Hi, here's my representation of a Canberra PR9. I say representation as I am sure there are some errors regarding the aerials etc for the airframe at the time the markings represent! Airfix kit with Pavla ej seat Model Alliance decals Painted with Xtracrylix (hemp) and gunze for the light a/c grey Thanks for looking Canberra PR9 by bryn robinson, on Flickr Canberra PR9 by bryn robinson, on Flickr Canberra PR9 by bryn robinson, on Flickr Canberra PR9 by bryn robinson, on Flickr Canberra PR9 by bryn robinson, on Flickr

Does anyone know how difficult it would be to convert an Airfix Vulcan into a B.1? I'll need to shorten the wings and find smaller intakes, and a smaller pointed tailcone, as well as a longer nosewheel oleo. Is there a kit for all this!? Or is it even possible?

With a few successful quick builds and a couple of shelf sitters sorted, I think my mojo has recovered sufficiently for me to make a start on my first serious build of the year. Just before Christmas I picked up the Airfix 1:48 Hurricane Mk 1 in its more recent outing in its Tropical form. I rather liked the silver doped machine, however while searching around on the internet I found an Australian example, a single Hurricane Mk 1 fitted with tropical equipment presented to Australia by the UK government in 1941. The aircraft officially had the serial A60-1, however flew with its RAF number of V7476 throughout its career, information about which can be found at the following website: http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a60.htm. I also found information on the markings from the review of an Aussie Decals sheet for this aircraft at the Aussiemodeller website: http://www.aussiemodeller.com.au/pages/Reviews/Decals/A48060Hurricane.html. My intention is to complete the aircraft in its final markings of overall silver with blue and white RAAF roundels and a red spinner. A quick rummage through my decal collection confirmed that I am able to put together the appropriate markings with what I have. Any advice or comments gratefully received!

Here is my 1/48 Airfix Hurricane finished the Hurricane Mk 1 fitted with tropical equipment presented to Australia by the UK government in 1941. The aircraft officially had the serial A60-1, however flew with its RAF number of V7476 throughout its career, information about which can be found at the following website: http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a60.htm I also found information on the markings from the review of an Aussie Decals sheet for this aircraft at the Aussiemodeller website: http://www.aussiemodeller.com.au/pages/Reviews/Decals/A48060Hurricane.html. Paints are a combination of Tamiya rattle cans and brush painted Tamiya and Italeri acrylics. Build thread can be found here; https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235031997-airfix-148-hurricane-mk-1-in-raaf-colours/& Apologies for the dodgy photos, weather outside just too bad to take photos outside as I normally do. And updated with some photos outside:

Morning all, latest one finished is the Airfix Messerschmitt Bf109E finished as an E3 flown by Udet Lt Hans Hahn, September 1939. Picked up the kit from the Works for the princely sum of £6. Nice and simple but I still managed to loose the gun sight and the main radio antenna post snapped when removing from sprue. Decals are Techmod sheet 72049, paints where Tamiya mostly but tried Humbrol acrylics for the RLM70/71, nice colours but horrible to spray. IMGA0193 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0195 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0197 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0198 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0200 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0201 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0206 by neil Connor, on Flickr