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Bristol 171 Sycamore MK.52 Though shown as XG 545 the is an ex German Example. Pics thanks to Mike Costello.

New year new project now that my contribution to the floatplanes GB is complete. My first GB and great fun it was, huge variety of flying boats and some excellent reults, so if you don't normally do GB's I can highly recommend them, I will certainly be doing more. Anyway decided to go right back to the beginning and have a go at a Bristol Boxkite, the choices are a micro photo etch one in 1/72 (quite expensive too) or the ancient Pyro/Lindberg one in 1/48, I've gone for the latter. The first problem is that picture on the box, the major wing ribs are underneath not on top, the model doesn't have any at all so this needs addressing. I think the first thing will be to sand the wings to remove all the ribs, I did consider replacing them entirely but the whole model would become very flimsy. So here's what you get. More soon. Considering using Bob's Buckles for the rigging, any one had experience of using them?

It's back to Bristol for this Bristol freighter. I wonder if Airfix will make a visit with the LIDAR kit? No, I thought not

Well it took longer than expected but enjoyable every minute. 16 years ago i built the airfix blenheim of the time. I was 10 years old, sat alongside my dad, using brushes and enamel paint. But today its all airbrushes and new tooled kits. This Airfix Bristol Blenheim MkIVf is the lastest tooling from airfix. It was a great kit with only a minor fit issue on the main fuselage join. Despite that every part was a great fit and had the resemblance of a Blenheim. The whole model was painted with vallejo model air which was a nerve racking task for me as this was my first camoflage aircraft painted using my airbrush. Ìt is a little rough round some of the edges but im more than happy with it. I learnt alot of new techniques along the way as well as some of the old tried and tested techniques. I used an enamal thinned paint for a panel line wash, and learning to preshade and create tonal variations in the paint. Finally the exhaust staining was done using chalk pastel shavings and also used some dry brushing to create chipping on the propelllors. Everything was then given a coat of matt varnish and finished off with removal of the masking tape. Overall i am happy with the Blenheim and cant wait for the 1/48 Mk1 from airfix. Thanks for looking in. On e again thanks for looking in.

I finally finished something, and it's not even vacation time yet! This model was started a long time ago, and back then it was the first short run kit that I've ever attempted. Due to reasons it stalled at 25% done, but after all work on a Beaufighter during the autumn I got the mojo back to do something about this one. I had a fun time with the gun throughs and the cooling fans, but in the end they do look quite nice! Not so much with the rocket rails though :-( Anyway, here are the pictures (yes I wil cut of the radiowires a little more. I just need to have a steady one first or time the cutting to my heartbeats) Onwards and upwards. One finished is worth two new on the bench and five in the stash right? Here is a link to the WIP: (pictures from photobucket are blocked, but I might put them over to flickr if need be)

Freighter finally finished using the old Airfix kit, Magna conversion and lots of filler. Main changes are the engines beefed up with new exhaust positions, the Airfix ones are too small and the Magna ones simply wrong. Decals home made. A few pics... Just noticed how silvered the wing decal is, may correct that. Next project Contrail Blackburn Botha and a Bristol Scout.

The new museum at Filton, the home of the Bristol Aircraft Company are repatriating a Freighter from NZ shortly, which in my world is great news. To celebrate I have taken my Superfreighter from the stashlet and decided to make it as a Mark 31 using the Magna resin conversion kit. So without further ado.....the boxes. A little surgery... Now here's where I need some help, what goes on behind the pilots seat in that big hole? The answer is not freight.. there are I think some racks with equipment on and possibly another seat? I have looked at previous builds, searched the internet, bought the Freighter book etc. but cannot find a nice clear guide. Any one know?

I recently returned from the IPMS Gloucester show with an addition to my ever growing collection of kits, and have decided that i need to get some model making mojo back. After placing my previous attempt at a short-run kit into a temporary (ahem, year long) hiatus i have decided to attack the stash. I will be using this thread to work through the largest contingent in the stash, aircraft produced by Bristol. Having grown up not far from Filton, two grandparents who worked for Bristol prior to, during and after WWII and involved in projects from Beaufort's, through Sycamore's and onto Concorde, i grew up with a passion for all thing made by Bristol. The Bristol contingent consists of: Tamiya Beaufighter TFX - 1/48 - completed! Airfix Beaufighter TFX - 1/72 Airfix Blenheim I (new) - 1/72 Airfix Blenheim I (new) 1/72 Airfix Blenheim I (old) - 1/72 Airfix Blenheim IVF - 1/72 HPM Beaufort - 1/72 Magna Models Buckmaster - 1/72 (WIP.....) Valom Brigand - 1/72 So, despite the number of Blenheim i own, l have decided to start my Bristol odyssey with the Valom Brigand, which after reading a few other build threads looks to be... challenging. Nothing i can't handle (famous last words) So, obligatory sprue shots: So, some nice photo etch, resin engines, no locating pins and vague instructions...... I will be building the kit as Brigand TF1 RH742, as seen here (which is the photo the box art is based on!) Okay, first things, assault the cockpit! Photo etch controls, film dials and not quite correct seating to start... The Brigand was a 'three seater', the pilot got his own seat, the others had to share a bench seat, the kit supplies three seats. Generally though, the rest of the cockpit looks about right. So i will build the cockpit as per instructions except i need to scratch together a bench seat. Control panel has raised detail that needs sanding flat prior to photo etch etc being place on top, so out with a file. Painted the panel and etch panel with Vallejo 'German Grey' which is a nice 'black' for this scale, then a quick drybrush over the photo etch panel with Vallejo 'Oily Steel'. Once that is done, the panel will go together and then i will look at the rest of the cockpit later!

Finished this a while ago but bad weather, DIY etc. prevented me from photographing it. The High Planes kits are made of very strange soft plastic but cover this interesting variant of the Beaufort used towards the end of WW2 for freight. This and other examples carried the message 'japan has surrendered' under the wings to inform renegade units of the Japanese Army. the model is airbrushed using Acrylics which I am not a fan of and will stick to enamels in future as they seem a lot more hard wearing. Some pictures...

Roden has just released a 1/144th Bristol 175 Britannia kit - ref.312 Source: http://www.roden.eu/HTML/312.htm Available here: http://rodenkits.com/catalogue/RODEN-312-Bristol-175-Britannia V.P.

New project and something a bit simpler than my vacform Sparrow. Decided on a High Planes DAP Beaufort transport version complete with 'Japan has surrendered' message on the underside of the wings, like this.. The kit came from ebay The plastic is odd and doesn't like poly cement much and comes in two shades of plastic with some spare flash. Oh and a few white metal bits too. The cockpit interior is basic but there is some detail on the inside of the fuselage. Started with the cockpit, mostly scratch and am close to sealing up. Couldn't resist the now compulsory navigators lamp!

Dear Fellow Modellers Some of you may know of a book entitled 6 weeks of a Blenheim summer recalling Alastair Panton's memoirs flying recce operations during the battle of France in 1940. I assume these reconnaissance Blenheims would have had a camera set up for their role? Was it set up in the bomb bay like with the Mosquito? Does anyone have any ideas or photos on how they might have been configured? Thanks Andrew

As an ageing Newbie I approach my next WIP with some trepidation but also with a group of BMers that I know will help me through. I've learned a lot since my first WIP on the Horsa and my second on the Frog Spitfire XIV and Flying Bomb 1:72 was very educational - certainly taught me a lesson (or four). So with my newly found skills (??), tips and techniques, tools and group of supporters I felt ready to tackle a Valom. I live in Bath and so Bristols have a special attraction (do NOT use THAT emoticon please boys). Chosen at random from the list of available models this Brigand will accompany my Beaufighter and Blenheim(s). Only now that I've done some research do I realise that this didn't really fly in WWII. Oops. Stretch the window then. Research shows that this "brute" was a challenge and the Boys of 84 Sqdn certainly had some experiences in Malaya, where the climate had detrimental effects on the aircraft including, but not limited to: - main undercarriage failing to lower - propellor blades 'departing', usually resulting in the engine going with it - air brakes not operating in the dive. More information here. Possibly the worse problem was that the Brigand tended to shoot itself down: "The losses of several aircraft during strafing runs and several more being damage led to the discovery of a deadly problem. The long cannon blast tubes that ran beneath the cockpit seemed to have the tendency of trapping propellant gases when the four cannons were fired. This gas would occasionally ignite when the aircraft used high explosive rounds, the resulting explosion would damage hydraulic lines and fire would severly damage the aircraft or cause it to crash." In a great example of British grit "At one point, the commanders of the units that operated the type began to have doubts over the wisdom of continuing operations." Obviously they escalated operational status to 'slightly miffed'. (New post for sprue shots)

I suppose the name is a give away but I do build other things too, such as my Contrail Sparrow in WIP. My interest in all things Bristol stems from living near Filton, although not these days; I recall summer holidays listening to Concorde engines being tested. It was hard not to listen to be honest! Anyway I thought it would be good to build up a collection of products from Bristol and started browsing; its surprising how many kits there are! Here are the build ones to date, apologies if they look familiar! Bristol M1C Bristol Tourer Seaplane (Airfix F2b) Sanger Bristol Bombay Valom Bristol Buckmaster Magna Bristol Type 148 Valom Bristol Buckingham Frog Beaufighter N1F Frog Blenheim 1 Still waiting in the stash; Valom Brigand Frog Beau 21 Matchbox Beau HP Beaufreigher Encore Beaufort Bristol racer (vac) Airfix Freighter MAC Scout Boxkite Magna Type 146 Wanted! Bristol Type 142 Britain First and a T188 I can highly recommend exploring and building the products of one factory, it could be Avro, HP, Blackburn etc as I enjoy the research as much as the modelling and it allows you to explore the obscure as well as popular subjects. Two Beauforts next I think..when the Sparrow finished. For anyone that does not have English as their first language the following might help; Bevy- a group of things or people that have something in common. Bevvy- An alcoholic drink, example 'Fancy a bevvy?' = 'Would you like to go to the pub?'

Some time ago Procopius sent me a couple of Bristols as a thank you for driving him around a bit during his trip to the UK. Generous man I've been building my skills for this one and I'm pleased I did when I researched my chosen scheme - N1016 as OAoX of 22 Sqn. Coastal Command, St. Eval, April 1941. The instructions mention the pilot as F/O Kenneth Campbell who attacked battle cruiser Gneisenau over Brest harbour April 6 1941. His Wiki entry says this: On 6 April 1941 over Brest Harbour, France, Flying Officer Campbell attacked the German battleship Gneisenau. He flew his Beaufort through the gauntlet of concentrated anti-aircraft fire from about 1000 weapons of all calibres and launched a torpedo at a height of 50 feet (15 m). The attack had to be made with absolute precision: the Gneisenau was moored only some 500 yards (460 m) away from a mole in Brest's inner harbour. For the attack to be effective, Campbell would have to time the release to drop the torpedo close to the side of the mole. That Campbell managed to launch his torpedo accurately is testament to his courage and determination. The ship was severely damaged below the waterline and was obliged to return to the dock whence she had come only the day before; she was put out of action for six months, lessening the threat to Allied shipping crossing the Atlantic. Generally, once a torpedo was dropped, an escape was made by low-level jinking at full throttle. Because of rising ground surrounding the harbour, Campbell was forced into a steep banking turn, revealing the Beafort's full silhouette to the gunners. The aircraft met a withering wall of flak and crashed into the harbour. The Germans buried Campbell and his three crew mates, Sergeants J. P. Scott DFM RCAF (navigator), R. W. Hillman (wireless operator) and W. C. Mulliss (air gunner), with full military honours. His valour was only recognised when the French Resistance managed to pass along news of his brave deeds to England. He was awarded a posthumous VC for this action. I hope I've done him and his crew justice. Untitled by Ced Bufton, on Flickr My longest WiP ever is here (although there's a lot about pies; don't ask)

Finally finished these two Valom models, Bristol Buckingham B1 and Buckmaster T1. The Buckingham was originally developed in response to the Air Ministry's request for a bomber version of the Beaufighter but by the time it had been developed the role had very adequately been filled by the Mosquito. 54 Buckingham B1's were built the rest of the order being converted to Buckmasters to be used as training and fast transport aircraft. Like all Valom kits the panel lines and rivet detail is very good but then they are let down by the fact that the parts don't fit too well, such as wings being thicker than the wing root. They also lack a few details because Valom always try to produce too many variants without changing the basic mould, so both kits have Brigand wings without the correct air intakes for the Buckingham or Buckmaster etc. Enough waffle, here's some pics.

Bristol F.2B Fighter "Brisfit" pics thanks to Mark Mills.

Finally completed my Pegasus Bristol M1C in 1/72, a lot more work than I was expecting. believe it or not it's harder to rig a mono plane than a bi-plane simply because there is no second wing to pass the cable through and tension it before gluing. consequently the rigging is stretched sprue. The kit propeller and hub were scrapped and replaced wit a spare from a Bristol Scout, the original was simply too big. Back to WW2 stuff for the next build.

Going through my photo's. I realized that I had some good photo's of the Blenheim (and Lysander) Mercury engine installation and cowl bracing. These might help anyone doing Airfix's or Classic Airframe's Blenheim kits. The engine is a Mercury XX on a stand, and it was photographed at the Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I apologise for the quality, but they were taken with a cell-phone camera. Hope they help someone, Colin

Just starting a new project after struggling through a Frogspawn Whitley! Decided on a Bristol M1C from Pegasus, no glazing and hardly any rigging, how hard can it be? To make life a little more difficult (and 'cos I like it) I'm going with the stripey colour scheme, lots of masking fun ahead. There's lots of debate about what colour the stripes are, any one interested can follow it here http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57379 I'm going for black and white. The kit is pretty basic so the first thing will be an interior, but restricted to the bit you can actually see through the small cockpit opening.

A link to the photo's I've posted elsewhere, Cheers, Colin http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234992580-bristol-blenheim-mercury-eng-cowl-bracing-close-ups-photo-heavy/

I'm currently in the middle of detailing the interior of a Mk.1 - L9878 MW-R to be precise. I have been approached by Peter Nesbitt nephew of Roy Conyers Nesbitt and I've been adding as much interior detail as possible with the aim of having some pilots in situ. The plan is to have the aircraft as if it has been stood down from a sortie. It will have the torpedo in place but the idea is to have as many hatches open ready for crew egress. I know about the port side fuselage hatch, but I'm also aware of the escape hatch in the nose underside. I haven't seen any b&w photos of this hatch being open, so would it be appropriate to have it open? Also what other hatches would be open while the aircraft is on ethe ground? Martin

Pics from Rich Ellis of the one at Duxford

Hey everyone, need some help please. I'm building Airfix's Beaufighter TF.X in the 144 Squadron colours (Coastal Command I think) which is armed with a torpedo. The wings have shell ejection chutes on the undersides but no gun muzzle holes in the leading edge. I have found out that the wing guns were omitted from some Mk.X's and probably had the muzzle holes blanked. But does anyone know if the shell ejection chutes were blanked as well? I have looked at period photos but it's very difficult to tell. Any guidance would be much appreciated. Thanks. Regards Andy