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Hello all! Right, to business, I'm here with a rather "classic" whiff: a second generation BAC TSR.2 GR.8. I will be using a 1:72 Airfix BAC-TSR.2, some plasticard/white styrene and bits and bobs from other kits. Until another kit crucial to the build arrives I won't be starting it, with slow progress until I get the what if III group build done and dusted. So here is the back story, feel free to skip it! Enjoy! The story... As many know the TSR was cancelled in 1965, with great effect to the British industry. Luckily, in 1966 a group of devout engineers and skilled workers in accordance with BAC voluntarily restarted the project. They toiled for many hours on top of their payed work. By 1967 these engineers had managed to eliminate about 90% of the shortcomings of the original, bringing the combat radius to 960 nautical miles, SNECMA Gironde turbofans producing 176 Kn of thrust economically and safely (no LP shaft problems), a brand new cockpit layout, larger windows for the crew, revised HUD, upgraded landing gear, mach 1.12 at 400 ft and mach 2.6 at 46000 ft. Many more classified modifications were included and rather suprisingly the new jet was 40% cheaper than than the original price estimate. The RAF payed little attention to this until the RAE flew a prototype, they were rather surprised, almost everything had been fixed or improved apart from the HUD ( it flickered at more than 3g). They filed a report and sent it to the air-staff, who, quite frankly couldn't believe their eyes. They ordered a fly-off in between an F-111 prototype and a BAC-TSR.2 prototype. They would take-off at Coningsby (sorry if it's wrong I don't know the exact spelling) with a full weapons load (6 iron bombs and 2 shrike missiles), would then fly low-level to Djibouti and hit 2 mobile radar installations and a command and control bunker before landing at the French base. No more than 2 in flight refuellings were allowed. The aircraft with the fastest time and battle performance would be accepted into RAF service. The TSR won by a blistering 43 minutes and hit all targets apart from one where a shrike lost radar lock. It was accepted into RAF service and flew until November 1968 in A&AEE colours before being handed over to 40 squadron in February 1969. A drawback did show up just months after being accepted in front line service. A 132 nautical mile deficit was highlighted during training while carrying 4 iron bombs on each wing using specially designed duel hardpoints. The solution was a 'big belly' fuel tank (see Melchie's TSR2 build) . Here is a brief history of different versions of the TSR2 used by the RAF: GR.1A (1969-1972): The original version, these were all upgraded to GR.1B standard by 1972. Never flew in combat. GR.1B (1972-1981): An upgraded version to counter a 132 nautical mile deficit under a "standardised weapon load", which came in the form of a belly tank. Affectionately called by crew as the 'Big belly'. This was used until a newer version with improved streamlining and no belly tank (GR.3) entered widespread service beginning in 1979. Never flew in combat. GR.3A/LR (1981-2002): The most common version used and exported by the RAF until fully replaced by GR.4's in 2002. The only version to have served in the Falklands war. This created a sub-variant of the GR.3: the LR (long range) which consisted of a fixed in flight refuelling probe, more economical engines ( at the price of reduced power) and extra bomb bay fuel tanks (weapons were carried externally). It served valiantly alongside the GR.4's in the first Gulf war and Kosovo in a limited PR role. Still in service with South Africa and Egypt. GR.4A: (1991-2016): Largely recognised as the most successful and prolific version of this iconic aircraft. A new nose was what set it apart (see http://www.britmodel...ion-telic-2003/). These were upgraded GR.3A variants with a brand new avionics system, new engines and a new radar set. And is responsible for blowing up Saddam Hussein in his Tikrit palace during Desert Storm. But this is an old aircraft (it's basically an upgraded GR.1A/B and is in the middle of being phased out by the RAF and replaced by new-build GR.4's. GR.6/EW.6 (1999-?): (see http://www.britmodel...?hl=+bae +eagle) Seen as a failure to upgrade GR.4A aircraft in the late nineties and early 00's. The new nose caused several handling issues at high-speed and were all converted to EW.6 (electronic warfare) by 2006. They now ply their trade jamming enemy radar and SAM sites. GR.4NB (2004-?) Seen by many as the ultimate successor of the successful GR.4 is the new GR.4NB (new build). Has the same distinct nose, but everything inside is state of the art, from AESA radar to advanced to new engines, this jet has it all. Used in highly-dangerous SEAD and tactical strike roles, this aircraft has a scare factor seconded only but the A10 and AC130 and is currently being used against ISIS and made short work of the 2008 'invasion' of the Falkland Islands by Argentina ending this battle in 2 weeks. GR.8 (2014-?) In late 2014 aviation enthusiasts spotted an all-black TSR2 sporting canards, new intakes, a new canopy and revised engine nozzles. The MOD was forced to reveal the existence of this aircraft at a press conference on the 28th March 2014. Very few photos of this aircraft exist and is believed to be the last TSR2 variant until it's replaced by the Black-Widow II GR.1 currently in service with the SOS (special operations squadron). And has apparently been involved in turning an ISIS training camp into a crater with a version of the famed tall-boy bomb. That's it! Photo updates to come soon and I will be starting this as soon as possible! chomp chomp -raptor

I just picked up my Christmas models from the LHS (They had a shipment of newer Airfix which was delayed until just after Christmas). I had ordered the Wildcat, Beaufighter, and the Heinkel. Which were all hard to find in Canada. Anyway I had to open the boxes and peek, even though I have about 10 models in stages of build. Has anyone reviewed the Wildcat... It looks neat, but a couple of things stuck me as odd. The Prop looks a wee bit short and too paddle bladed wide or at least wrong shaped? Also there is a large rectangular plate on the starboard side that looks just wrong or at least way to thick? But I don't have a lot of references on the wildcat. I got it because I built the original Wildcat from Airfix about a hundred years ago. Still wading through the other boxes... Nothing like the smell of new plastic lol....... Ray

Hi folk's, here's a couple of Bedford's from Airfix,s newish tooling's they are going to be part of a diorama as one came from the Ready for battle set with the nearly completed Albion re-fueler and figures,I am planning a post BoB scene possibly using Tamiya's Beaufighter in a night fighter scheme hence the later war finish on the first posted,be aware I have left off the lights that sit on the front mud guard's till the dio is complete as they've been Knocked off a dozen times! Thank's for looking and here,s how they came together.http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234991906-airfix-ready-for-battle-set-vehicle-build/

The latest new release from Airfix is now on the shelves at Wonderland Models. It is their new-tool A03087 1/72 Junkers Ju 87B-1 kit. The kit has optional markings for 2 machines 1. 9./Sturzkampfgeschwader 51 based in France in August 1940 2. Kampfgruppe 88 Condor Legion based in Spain in 1938

well here comes my next attempt..... one1/72 revell Mk Vb & one new tool 1/48 Mk Vb Both will be built wheels up, with clipped wings & the same camouflage colours. I'll be relying heavily on Styx' build from last year to try & get this one right. so here's my first question - it regards the clipped wings on A-EA. I took some pics of her a couple of years ago at Duxford & the wings appear to be full length, then I took some more of her at Goodwood this year & they're clipped. Has the aircraft been modified, or are the tips removable ?!!! here are a couple of pics: firstly with full wings notice how the '0' of EP120 is hidden behind the 'A' ? and then this year with clipped wings: I reckon these two should keep me going till xmas.

Morning all, Sneaking over the line just before new year are my final two completions, the Airfix Wildcat and Tamiya Corsair. Both in 1/72 and completely out of the box. Two very neat little kits. Thanks for looking, comments welcomed Happy new year Shaun

So the New Year; time for a new resolution - to finish something! With my 50:50 performance in last year's GBs, I thought I would start with a real challenge for the Made in GB GB - the old Airfix 1/48th HS Buccaneer. At this stage I'm undecided whether to finish the kit as a Fleet Air Arm jet or a South African Air Force jet. But to start off with the usual box and kit photos.

Hi Folks, although normally adversed to posting WIPs due to my general lack of haste or inability to finish anything in any sort of reasonable timescale, I've decided to post one for my next build. I've been dabbling with 1:48 scale on the odd occasion this year, mainly to get the pesky things out of my stash to make more room for Gentleman's scale kits, but also so that I could try out some new techniques and consumables on larger bits of plastic. The kit I'm going to make is the Airfix 1:48 Bf109E which has (shamefully) been sitting in my stash since this time last year (many thanks to Col for the Birthday present, I promise to make this year's one soon!). I'm going to break from my normal painting habits and will be trying Sovereign Hobbies' Colourcoat range of enamels and will be interested to see how they perform compared to my trusty Gunze acrylics. So on with the photos, firstly the subject The obligatory boxtop photo The main colours And they're under Starter's Orders. Some nasty injection marks in obvious places around the cockpit sidewalls that need dealing with... ...a quick scrape with the scalpel.... ... and a few passes with a fibreglass pencil and they are gone. Some clean up to do and assemble the cockpit then it'll be time to break out the RLM02. Duncan B

There I was happily sticking plastic together and thinking this is one of the best Airfix kits I have built yet (all those clever constructional wheezes that didn't quite come off on the Blenheims work brilliantly on the Whitley) and then... after i have assembled the engine nacelles (Stages 33 and 34) and waved a bit of wet and dry at the join lines, I discover that Airfix will have you insert the radiators through the radiator intakes after the nacelles are assembled (Stages 35 and 36). I am not saying this is impossible but it will certainly not be a picnic, trying to twiddle carefully painted parts through narrow gaps with tweezers, turning them through 90 degrees and then securing them with glue. There is a bulkhead at the rear of the engine bay so you cannot poke them in from behind. I have not heard this issue raised before, for which I see three explanations: a. no else has actually tried building an Airfix Whitley yet, no doubt not having progressed beyond plastic fondling before being seduced by the next temptations in the release schedule. b. BMers are all real men/women who would not be seen dead reading instructions. They therefore grasped instantly that the radiators are obviously best cemented in place before the nacelle halves are joined. c. it really isn't as difficult (impossible?) as I make out. Please tell me it is c. Even if it isn't, you may well wish to consider cementing your Whitley radiators in place before joining the nacelle halves.

Anyone remember this one from the Lightning GB? http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234968483-early-airfix-48th-lightnings/ Poor thing has been lingering at one corner of the bench while other projects were completed but a determination to finish off various stalled models this year seen her get some attention lately. Been working on the seat that comes with the Cutting Edge cockpit set. Some base coats of Humbrol enamels got it to here; Then plenty dry brushing and detail painting, along with the addition of fuse wire handles got this; Once this is installed it'll be time to sort out the undercarriage legs.

So, just a little place marker for my entry to this build. And a pic of the set being used :-)

When looking around the Britmodeller forums, I stumbled upon this Battle of Britain Group Build. As I started the new tool 1/48 Airfix Spitfire and Hurricane kits to commemorate this occasion, I thought why not enter this Group Build with these two builds, making it my first participation in such an event, also giving me some motivation to finish them within a reasonable time. I want to make the Spitfire in the markings with the underside roundels at the very end of the wing tip, and the choice was either X4474 GV-I from No 19 Squadron or X4382 LO-G from No 602 Squadron. After seeing the pictures from AndyL of this aircraft with a non standard leading edge camo in Col’s WIP http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234984685-were-in-with-a-chance-lass/ the choice was clear. Sorry Col, that I build the same aircraft. According to Spitfire Mark I/II Aces, this aircraft was flown by 11 kill ace Pilot Officer Hanbury, using it to destroy a Bf 110 near Beachy Head on 15 September 1940, half a Ju 88 over Tangmere on 21 September and a 2nd Ju 88 on 30 September near Selsey-Bembridge. In December, the aircraft was passed to No 610 Squadron for a few month before becoming an OTU aircraft. It was struck off charge in January 1945. I will use the new tool Airfix 1/48 Spitfire Mk.I kit together with a Yahu instrument panel and HGW Sutton harness with marking from Xtradecal X48143 and the kit. Unfortunately the squadron code on the kit decal and the Xtradecal set aren’t correct in shape as too wide. But it should be easy to correct this. The Airfix kit is a lovely kit and a huge improvement over the previous offering, coming close to the quality of the Eduard Spitfire Mk.IX. But I wanted to have a similar surface finish like on the Eduard kit. So out came Rosie the Riveter and it was all done over a few evenings. It was the first time I riveted a kit and I read about it that it is a bit of a chore to do. But I rather enjoyed doing it and I will certainly do it more often. And when comparing it to the Eduard kit, it looks not bad at all. Currently I am finishing off the cockpit with same scratch built additions before painting. Am I right in saying that the kit seat represents the none-metal seat and that in theory X4382 could have had a metal or none-metal seat in September 1940? And was the flair gun ammunition rail already introduced in September or is the seat correct without it? I hope my next pictures will show some paint on the model. I appreciate any comments, suggestions and productive criticism which assist my build. Many thanks for watching. Cheers, Peter

Hi All, Now that I finally have an example of the new tool 1/48 scale Airfix Hawker Hurricane Mk.I kit with one more on the way I will be building them as P3166 of 85 Squadron, during August 1940 and P2961 of 242 Squadron, during a date as yet undecided. At some point I also hope to build at least another example of this kit representing P3576 of 249 Squadron, during 16 August 1940 as well. Anyway since the Hawker Hurricane Mk.I is my favourite British single engined monoplane fighter aircraft from the Second World War and since I also have little access to primary source information on the Hawker Hurricane. I was hoping some of you fine gentlemen and gentlewomen might be able to help me with information relating to my builds, on the occasions when my 17 magazines and 22 books on the subject are sometimes found wanting. Cheers, Daniel.

Hello and Happy New Year to all! I've decided to start this modelling year with my first WIP thread on BM. I hope you will forgive my mistakes as I still try to improve my English (with very minor success in fact). I've got three 1/72 kits of Hawker Hurricane: two fabric wings Mk.I's from Airfix and one Mk.IIC Nightfighter from Legato/AZ Model. And I intend to build them OOB, except for some aftermarket items for the last one. So, what I have now: The last picture shows metal barrels from ABER, Pavla's vacuformed canopy and real little gem from Yahu Models - the instrument panel. They will be used for the Legato model. I want to build Mk.Is in two different versions: the early one and the later one. The Airfix kit allows this except for one odd thing - the kit contains decals only for the early fabric wings Hurricanes. So I have to do something with the markings of the later one. May be I'll buy a decal sheet or find some markings for it in my spare decals box. Please feel free to correct my language mistakes (for my own good) and I very welcome any advice on the building progress! To be continued...

Hi, here's a fun build of the excellent Airfix Vampire T.11. The photos actually make it looks a little rougher than she looks in real life (honest!) Xtradecals used for a a 43 Sqn a/c late 1950s. Used AK Extreme Metal paint and xtracrylic for the yellow (the bands on the wings are a little too wide - d'oh!) \Thanks for looking and Happy new Year Untitled by bryn robinson, on Flickr Untitled by bryn robinson, on Flickr Untitled by bryn robinson, on Flickr IMG_2442 by bryn robinson, on Flickr

Hi After making a few flying machines, I wanted a little break / something different. This little Bedford 4-tonne truck was just the ticket - basic, but fun to build. Oops - Some little tike has stolen her wing mirrors though! I have seen the made out of wire/staples etc, but I''l save that for next time. And some berk put the the markings on upside down......Or maybe it was after we'd won and they changed it to V for Victory (?)

Hello All, I've had a very productive year for me, mainly because I have (re)discovered the art of building some decent kits OOB! First up, the old and new Airfix Gladiators, the former of which received a lot of TLC to bring it up to a better standard: I started the ancient Airfix S6B (from Comet Miniatures, late of Lavender Hill) with absolutely no expectations at all, and ended up with a surprisingly nice result: Shorts Skyvan in Nepalese colours for the "Lesser-built air forces GB": And a departure, the Mary Rose, with cotton-and-PVA-glue rigging: The new Airfix Blenheim I, lightly converted to the fighter version with a Frog gun pack: I had a strange urge to do the Revell Sea Hurricane after seeing the kit in a toy shop in Keswick: I've had the Toko 1 1/2 Strutter kit since Modelzone was Beatties, but finally got around to it. My first attempt at double rigging lines: The Airfix Fw190D (not the old old one) was in a sale at Hobbycraft in Croydon. Good practice for mottling with a brush, and the white decals on the red underside performed flawlessly, much to my surprise! New Airfix Tiger Moth (my third) for the GB: I bought the Italeri SE5A/DIII combo on a whim in a model shop near Philadelphia, only to find that it's an old ESCI (and others before it) reboxing. Nice decal options though: And I had started a Modelcraft rebox of the Frog Blackburn Shark ages ago, but I messed up the wings and struttery. I realised that I could make it work as a folded example, so, rude not to: I dug up my Revell Albatros DIII (from a model shop in Atlanta) to compare to the Italeri one, and realised that the Revell DIII had been used as a pattern because it has the same wrong rear fuselage. Since I had it out, I corrected that and built the kit: I had generously been given an Airfix Vampire T.11 for being in a group build on another forum. Not my usual fare, but there was a Fast Jets group build on, so I put it together. Lovely kit: Airfix were selling off the Gnat cheaply at the time, and since I'd already bought some orange paint... The new Airfix Wildcat was a purchase from the model shop in Formby: Hobbyboss Mig-3 (from Parabellum in Birmingham) was built in a 48-hour Hobbyboss group build on another forum: And finally the Airfix Spitfire PRXIX, perhaps my favourite Spitfire of all: That's it! I have a shelf of shame that I hope to crack on with before the new year, including a Privateer, Frog Finnish Blenheim and a scratch built Fairey Long Range monoplane, none of which are OOB. Thanks for looking, and a Happy New Year to all of you! Adrian

Hi all,I,ve had a lack of mojo as far as aircraft are concerned recently so in an effort to restore it I looked for a nice vice free kit with a simple scheme I could build in two sessions.The Airfix PR Spitfire fitted the build,OOB built over two morning,s painted,glossed,decalled and matt coated and there you have it! Last one for the year so I hope everyone has a happy and Peaceful Christmas and new year and all those kit's you wanted come your way!

Hello all! Well, my Mk.A Whippet is all done so now it's time to move on to me' Blenheim. I'll be modelling this as L1145 from No. 57 Sqn, RAF Upper Hayford 1938. This is fully and completely in thanks to Chris (bigbadbadge) who very kindly donated the decals. Though this represents an aircraft of the pre-war 57 Sqn. they in fact continued to use them until 1940 where they were replaced by Blenheim IVs and then Wellingtons within the same year. Here's my starting point: And the kit contents: I'm not planning to do a huge amount to the kit, for one thing I lack the skill, so this will mostly be an OOB build. With maybe a bit of detail added to the wheel wells and cockpit/turret. Cheers, Paul

Hello All, My last completion of 2015 (unless I get very lucky indeed!), garnished with a figure from the Revell RAF aircrew set: It's a nice "not-quite-new-Airfix" kit, bought for pennies on Ebay and mostly finished in a weekend, with some final touches this morning. I closed up the undercarriage well, added some cameras (sprue), opened up exhausts and inlets, added wing tip lights, removed the fabric effect from the trim tabs, and made some new lower camera windows using a film of Clearfix. I also ran a wash of acrylic putty over all the panel lines except the engine covers just to tone them down a bit. Paint is brushed Humbrol 230 acrylic with some Hu64 to add some fading and patchiness. I wanted a wartime example with "B" type roundels and used generic Xtradecal roundels and a hand-painted serial number. The one I wanted to do originally didn't have a pressurised cabin, so I ended up doing a very late war Benson wing example from a photo in the Morgan and Shacklady tome. I used the smaller wheels from the kit (which are not mentioned in the instructions) too. I also ummed and ahhhed a lot over adding stencils, but decided in the end to keep it clean. Thanks for looking, Adrian

This is the Airfix new tool 109E-4 in 72nd scale. Exhaust are a resin product from Quickboost, along with machined brass guns from Master. No swastikas were provided on the decal sheet, so only stencils and wing crosses were used. Remainder of the markings were from other sources, plus some home made decals for the JG 26 emblem (gothic 'S' on white shield). regards, Jack

The final development of the ubiquitous Bf 109 was this K variant. It was fitted with a four-bladed propeller and with two underwing gun pods containing two 20 mm MG 151/20 each. It was undergoing tests when the US Forces captured this single aircraft, taking it back to Muroc Army Airfield (Edwards Air Force Base) for testing and analysis.

Attention all Fleet Air Arm modellers, the new Airfix 1/72 Sea King HC.4 has just arrived in stock and is available to order now. The kit has decal options for 2 aircraft, 1. ZA314/WT of 848 NAS in 2011 in the basic Olive Drab colour scheme 2. ZF115/WV/R of 848 NAS in 2009 with the white stripe winter camouflage

Hello All, Here's a new Airfix Wildcat with folded wings: Build thread here. Thanks for looking, Adrian

Originally Ha 141, designed by Dr. Ing Vogt in 1937 as a private venture, the prototype first flew on 25 February 1938. The A series flew well, but the five BV 141B-0’s were plagued with various troubles. The B series first flew on 9 January 1941. These problems were solved with the development of the Argus As 820 power plant giving a maximum speed of 345mph, a vast improvement on the previous BMW engine. Although originally designed for a reconnaissance role, it was transformed into a torpedo carrying Maritime Patrol aircraft designated Bv 141B-05 and assigned to Küstenfliegergruppe 906.