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A build from 2 years ago of a very elegant plane. And so I don't have to repeat here what is written somewhere else: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darmstadt_D-18 My luck dictates that many times fellow modelers gift me Dujin kits. I accept them with a sigh of resignation. Then I start having nightmares about building them. I think I finally end up building them as a sort of exorcism. But not all Dujin resin kits are created equal. And in this case, that is good! The 1/72nd Darmstadt D.18 I got is a better kit than the Breda 33 that I previously built. But whatever you could say about the (despicable) casting of the Dujin kits (and with good reason!) has to be balanced against the prolific output of this French manufacturer and the vast scope of his releases. You can see in the accompanying photos that the casting in this kit is better, if not at all impeccable either. The web is very thick in parts and there are some bubbles. A particular annoyance are the pouring channels at the rudder, in the form of two slabs of resin that you will have to remove. I kept wondering why the fin/rudder was not made as a whole part attached to one fuselage side, or even a separate part. The parts have detail and you can tell the original masters were good, but during casting some of the sharpness was lost, but nothing really bad. In any case, after about 40 minutes or so the parts were removed form the casting web and given a cursory clean-up and preliminary sanding (wear mask or do it under running water, resin dust is toxic). You get a brief historical note with color calls, a scaled 3-view, two sets of landing gear legs and two flattened metal wires that should serve as struts. It is very likely that I'll end up substituting the resin landing gear parts -including the tailskid- for sturdier and better home-made parts. Resin landing gears have very little mechanical strength. You don't get any decals or assembly guide/drawings. This is a good kit compared to bad resin kits, but so-so compared to the best examples of resin kits. The price is fair, though, and I deem it a good deal for what you get. The interior detail consists of a cockpit floor with two bucket seats, two instrument panels, and perhaps a joystick (not clear if a resin part is the joystick or some random accretion). Again, since there is no parts map, exploded view or similar device, it is hard to tell. Beware! The engine is incorrect for any version of this model: Now how screwed up is this: The new landing gear legs are fabricated. Photos show shock absorbers of different lengths, depending on the time in the life of the one plane built, so two sets were made. The kit's copper strut material (way too soft) was replaced by airfoiled brass (once again, thanks Andrew): Typical I will not fit interior: The signature eccentric (not concentric) wheels: Removing the abundance of blobs and excretions from the inner walls: The fuselage halves are glued together. This is not a good fit, and if you align the nose, the tail will be off, and vice-versa. The offset can reach up to 2mm, huge for such small scale and model. You may have some re-contouring to do. Do not sand too much either to obtain flat fuselage halves gluing area, or you may end up with a too narrow fuselage girth. Needless to say putty will be needed at the seams. Since I am building the later canopied version -as said before- the nose will have to be sawed-off and rotated 180 degrees to leave the single cylinder (now on top) at the bottom, and the seam thus created will need to be hidden too: Creation of a master and vac copy to make the wanted conversion of this kit: The nose as explained before has to the sawed-off and rotated 180 degrees. An alternate method would be to fill the five cylinder locating holes and drill new ones in the right positions. So this is clear, the no-canopy earlier version depicted by the kit does not need these changes: The superb decals from Mika Jernfors (Arctic Decals) arrived in the mail today. Bear in mind that, since these are Alps-printed decals, you have to cut and trim each subject separately (the carrier covers the whole sheet). You have to handle them properly too, if you do no problems will be encountered: A caveat: Some drawings depict the roof of the canopy as being solid, which is inaccurate. Photos show there were windows on the roof too, up to the second post (the back of the pilot). After that it was solid: Many parts had to replaced, being the ones in the kit terribly poor: New cylinders are needed: Completed model is here:

(A build from more than 3 years ago, related to the Azur Delta build that I previously posted. Before the release of the Azur kit, the only way to get a Delta was to grab the old and venerable William Bros Gamma kit and mate it to a vacuformed after-market set that left a lot to be desired. But when there is a will, there is a kit, so we had to make with it. The results of course are cruder than the model made with the Azur kit, but who can refuse a modeling challenge?): Northrop Delta used on the Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition I have been always fond of this Humpty-Dumpty plane. The Esoteric partial conversion kit depicts a Northrop Delta 1D, that is the version with the "roundish" top and not the one that looks more like a Lockheed Orion. As it is, I could go with The Richfield Eagle, the Honeywell Delta - but I'd have to modify a bit the windshield- or the Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition (modifying it to adapt the skis). The Esoteric Models conversion is very old, and it is after all something meant to help modelers to have a replica of the Delta, conspicuously absent from the market until the Azur release, so it is kind of unfair that one would criticize it. Let me, then, be unfair, and say that it is quite bad. It is very crude, the molding is indistinct, the wing karmans have a too prominent edge, the stab fairings are overdone, the cowl stretches the styrene into a thin film at it's front, the location for the stabilizer halves is a deformed blob, the fuselage nose again has a too prominent edge, and the instructions don't instruct and do not include a 1/72 drawing of the parts. Oh, forgot to mention that the windows and door are inaccurately located, by quite a bit. Any good news? well, the outline matches quite well the plans I have. It had decals for the Coast Guard, but I trashed them. The Esoteric "Body Job" conversion is very simple: one vacuformed styrene sheet with two fuselage sides, a -marred- cowl, and the fin/rudder also -and predictably- in two halves. I have nothing against the Coast Guard, but I rather build a civil plane. There is no interior whatsoever, no engine, no clear parts, no prop, etc. Depending on what you are building you may use components from the William Bros. Gamma, but consult references, since engines and props and other bits (not to mention interiors) were very variable. And since you are at it, check the windows and accesses, that also varied greatly from plane to plane and even at different times for the same plane. Now go and get a W. Bros Northrop Gamma if you have this conversion, if that's not the case...good luck. Alternatively you may want to wait until I finish this laborious conversion at which point a kit is very likely to hit the market* *(AND IT DID, with the Azur kit).

Aptly coded D-Dog for a Manchester, L7301 and one other aircraft were assigned to 50Sqn to support a maximum effort raid of 1046 aircraft on Cologne on the night of the 30th May 1942. That morning, Manser and another pilot collected their aircraft from 106Sqn at Coningsby. This aircraft was slightly unusual as it didn't have the mid upper turret that most Manchesters had but what wasn't unusual was the performance, particularly as loaned aircraft were often used for training. It was to carry a full compliment of incendiaries but in doing so, it wasn't able to climb above 7000ft which wasn't untypical of the aircraft being pulled along by the poorly developed Vulture engines. The crew hoped that being away from the main bomber stream up above, they would get left alone but unfortunately, their hopes were fruitless. Flak initially struck the fuselage damaging the bomb bay doors. A second burst hit the port engine setting it on fire. The fire then spread along most of the wing. Eventually, they managed to extinguish the fire and set for home. Unable to maintain height on a single Vulture and badly damaged aircraft, the crew discarded anything they could from the aircraft. Despite the efforts, the aircraft was still losing height, so Manser instructed his crew to bail out over Belgium just a few miles from the Dutch border to which they all did successfully. Manser stayed at the controls to ensure his crew got out OK but shortly after they exited, Manser lost control and the aircraft plummeted into the ground taking Manser with it. Five of the six crew made it back home with support from the resistance whilst F/O Barnes who was the navigator / bomb aimer was captured. As a result of the reports of the crew, Manser was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in giving his own life to save that of his crews. The VC read “In pressing home his attack in the face of strong opposition, in striving, against heavy odds, to bring back his aircraft and crew and, finally, when in extreme peril, thinking only of the safety of his comrades, Flying Officer Manser displayed determination and valour of the highest order.” Leslie Manser VC 1922-1942 I've been after a 48 scale Paragon Manchester kit for some time and considered it to be the holy grail of Bomber Command aircraft. Following a request on Britmodeller, Dennis aka @spitfire responded to say that he had one so I set off and over a cup of tea we put the world and exchanged money for resin (Big thanks Dennis ). Having a 48 scale Lincoln on the go already, that was a lot of resin and chopped up Lancaster that was going to be cluttering up the workbench. I can mess the bench up with a 72 scale Spitfire so you can imagine the chaos! Anyway, bit by bit, often 1 step forwards, two steps back, the Manchester came together as you can see HERE. There's still a few things to do including adding some bombs to the bay, but I'm posting as it is now as its 99% done. It's painted with Tamiya Rubber black / dark green and Mr Hobby Dark Earth with a variety of decals to complete the scheme. My next build was going to be OOB to have a rest, but now it will be a Classic Airframes Blenheim and a Sanger Short Stirling Anyway, hope you like... Thanks for looking, Neil

Hello all While reading up on the Tupolev I-4 series and planning future builds and conversion of them, I came across the AHT-13, prototype of the I-8. The aircraft was essentially a redesigned I-4 with an imported Curtiss Conqueror engine. The aicraft did not enter production because the USSR had no plans to import or produce the Conqueror engine and no local alternative was available. In spite of that, flight tests appear to suggest that the aircraft flew well, being the first Soviet design to pass 300 km/h in level flight. My question is, given my interest in modelling all the variants of the I-4, from AHT-5 Prototype, to Production I-4, Mid-Production I-4Z (smaller lower wing), and Late-Production I-4bis (with lower wing removed entirely), and now, the I-8, where could I find a suitable nose and set of landing gear to graft onto the I-4 fuselage? I-4 (AHT-5) I-8 Thanks, Tweener

Evening All, This is a blast from the past - a response to a question from a modeller on another site. I told him that I had made a model with a thistle insignia once - in my case it was an Hanriot HD 1 as flown by the Belgian ace Willi Coppens. I believe that the thistle was a personal marking on the fuselage. The model was converted from the Airfix Sopwith Camel following an article by G. Scarborough(?) in Airfix Magaine around 1970. This was my first or second completed biplane conversion and involved a bit of cutting and reshaping of the wings and fuselage, and a new tail. The markings are hand painted, (there were no transfers available at the time I made this in the mid-1970's), and it is rigged with stretched sprue. I know that there are good kits available for this type now (and in God's Own Scale), so this conversion is an anachronism which sits in one of my cabinets to remind me what I was doing in an earlier modelling incarnation. Please do not look too closely at the pictures or you will see all of the obvious deficiencies - just think of it as an example of how times and the availability of kits has changed.... it was what we had to do at the time if we wanted something a little different. Thanks for looking. P

I’ve been questing after a 1/16 Abrams since 1995 when I picked up the Jim Shirley Productions resin 120mm scale (remember when that was a thing?) kit...and botched it with expanding foam filler! Now I’m converting Tamiya’s 1/16 M1A2 into a M1A1 in Australian service. Thanks to one of the cavalry regiments being granted freedom of entry to Brisbane last year, I finally have a good collection of pics of a single tank: ARN 055, c/s 31B “Cersei” of C Sqn, 2/14 Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Rifles). Having been working on this for a while, here’s a selection of “in progress” pics. Replacement of the kit rails & bustle with Plastruct 1.25mm plastic-coated wire: Enhancement of the kit anti-slip with Tamiya textured sand paint: Replacement stowage bin handles: Scratch-built bustle rack extension progress: And some overall progress: Thanks for looking.

Hawker Siddeley Trident 1/144 1C to 1E conversion Northeast Airlines (UK) RESTORATION This is the Airfix 1/144 kit which I am converting from the 1C to the 1E in the colours of Northeast Airlines that was based in Newcastle Upon Tyne in the 1970s. I'm by no means an expert but I believe the major changes are wingtip extensions a more conventional leading edge slat arrangement a larger wing root fairing (especially on the starboard side as it extends further back than port side) extended tailcone (If these are wrong or there are additional changes please feel free to let me know!) My dad actually started the conversion but its remained abandoned for a couple of years. I decided to start again making some major changes. The clear plastic cockpit window became opaque and could not be rescued meaning I lost the beautiful interior cockpit that had been created. I decided to fill this along with all the windows and the undercarriage doors. since original paintwork has been stripped the plastic now looks worn out and lacking the original detail. I also cut a chunk out the fuselage to let me get into the model to make a gap for a stand. wingtip extensions added by adding flat plastic to the upper and lower portions of the wing and blending it into the existing wing. Originally these extensions were just plain milliput but were extremely fragile. I will have to look and measure the flap arrangement to see if they are the same length and size. You can see the portion of the fuselage that was removed in this picture. This side of the aircraft has the shorter fairing above the wing, this whole area is missing for the 1C and looks totally smooth. On the part above the tail engines jet exhaust (the tailcone??) needs to be extended. again made out of milliput it was too fragile and came off when i stripped the original paintjob. I've made a hole and using a piece of plastic sprew to build the tailcone from inside the model so it can't just snap off. eventually i've built around the sprew and made the shape. Still needs a bit of work to get the exact angle. This is the starboard side fairing, perhaps someone can tell me why this is significantly longer on this side and what purpose it serves? I'm thinking about using authentic airliners 3-D windows, they don't have them for this aircraft but i wonder if anyone can recommend which windows could be used instead??? would the windows differ much from narrow bodied airliners of the same era?? The cockpit windows I'm going to make myself from spares

Here we go again, another conversion to add to the overcrowded workbench. Having resisted the lure of Italeri's re-released Ford Transit Van for a while I finally succumbed, the delay mainly being that I wanted to build something other than a van. After much head-scratching and internet bashing research I cobbled together enough info to enable me to plan the LWB chassis along with all the other bits necessary for the twin wheel version. Below is a photo of the chassis which has been 3D printed, not by me but a company who are renowned for their excellent work and superfine detail. The plan is to utilise the under cab section of the kit floorpan to make mating with the cut-down body easier. Other chassis components are either being worked on or have been produced such as the axle, wheels and tyres and I'm presently drawing up the Tipper body too.

Hi, Aero A 101 was a light bomber-recce airplane. It was a kind of developmnet from Aero A-100. However only few parts remained unchanged. In general it was about 10% larger by wingspan, also chord of wings and by lenght of fuselage. Instead of V-engine, 12 cylinders Hispano-Suiza (case of A-100) the A 101 was powered by 1000 HP 18 cylinders licence build of Isotta Frascsini engine. There is a model of A-101 by Planete in 1/72 but I was thinking about doing this rather massive conversion since already 15 years and currently I have just did it! The whole build of two Aeros was subject of WIP Almost all produced (~50) Aero A-101 were sold by Czechoslovaks to Spanish Republican Government but about half of them (22 transported on Panama ship from Polish port Gdynia) were captured by I think German navy making blockade in Golf of Biskay and those went to Nationalists. Majority of them served in northern front in 5G17 groupe, but some were present in Andalus, in group 4 G 10 which has base in Grenada. My model of 17.12 represents machine from Grenada, 1937 The prop is rotating And just for comparison with A 100 (#20 this year, # 390 on shelvs)..... Comments welcome Regards Jerzy-Wojtek

Hi, I have just finished it. This is Aero A-100, Czechoslovak light bomber and recce plane from early 1930s. Some 40 of them were constructed and they served in Czechoslovak, then Slovak Airforces. This is airframe no. 9 (A100.09) It presented colours from Autumn 1939. During September campaign in Poland (in which some Slovak AF took part on Letov 328 and Avia 534) they introduced besides early style Slovak national insignias German crosses. This machine is said to be from Cvicna letka, Letecky Pluk 3, Piestany, Slovakia, September 1939. The WIP thread (along with massive scratch conversion of A-100 to A-101) is here: I added grill, navi lamps and decals (Slovak) by Blue Rider and German (by my drawer) This is my #18 this year Some details: Landing lamps (drilled and filled then with transparent epoxy glue Grill of cooler made of thin plastic cards And rotable propeller: The kit was of 1989 production Comments welcome Regards Jerzy-Wojtek

As I am building the latest iteration of the Sukhoi Su-34 - I thought I'd have a go at the earliest version - the T-10V1 Su-27IB. I originally thought of just grafting the original Su-27 tailboom onto the Italeri Su-34 kit - but the biggest problem I faced was filling in the mainwheel wells - they are huge on the Su-34 and cut into the intake sides - the whole area is totally different between the Su-27IB and production Su-34. So I have adopted the method that Sukhoi used - grafting the new side-by-side cockpit section front fuselage onto the rear of a tandem two-seat Su-27UB trainer...... Here's what I mean - the Italeri Su-34 is on the left, the Heller Su-27UB on the right - the blue tape shows where I am making the cuts.... Underside view showing the major difference in the main landing gear wells..... The Italeri Su-34 front end grafted onto the Heller Su-27UB rear end - note the discrepancy in the shape of the spines - fixable with generous applications of Milliput (I hope) Undersides ....... Now all I have to do is graft the Italeri wings onto the Heller fuselage (the Italeri wings are better), fix the intakes (the scallop for the well on the Heller intake is now correct for the Su-27IB - but the intake lower edges are too 'square' and lack the slot in the bottom)....... More later.. Ken

Hi Folks, I am looking for some assistance from the BM membership at large in identifying a set of resin parts that I found in an old Airfix 1/72 Hunter FGA9 kit that I rediscovered recently while doing some random stash diving/sorting. I can’t remember where I picked the kit and conversion set up but probably from a member on the forum. The parts are in a cast in resin and consist of two replacement wings(w/o dogtooth), a smaller bore jet pipe and what I take to be a fuselage insert plug(about 3mm in 1/72) I suspect the parts are for a pre Hunter F.6 (possibly a F.4 or F.5?) but I am hoping someone can confirm the producer of the conversion set, which version it so for and if anyone knows of any instructions for the set? Thanks in advance for any help. Cheers Vincent

I recently finished this off in the B-25 STGB and thought I'd share the results here. It's the new Airfix B-25C/D converted to a J and then converted again to a firebomber that crash-landed in Alaska, and is now being restored to flight. It was a lot of work to do the conversion (there's more differences between the D and the J than I thought!) but I thoroughly enjoyed it You can find the build here: Anyway, on with the pictures!! Some details: And finally, some more artistic shots with the piece of the real aircraft, and on a VFR sectional chart of Alaska: For reference, here's what the real thing looked like: Thanks for looking! Beggsy

Special Hobby models belong to that kit category that could be best described as "I am glad they kitted it, I am glad it does exists and I can buy it and build it, I only wish it would have been a little bit better". Hey, I am grateful for some of their releases, I have built a few. But they sometimes present some issues: - Instruction of the type of "This part goes somewhere in this area, you figure it out" (as in this kit's landing gear). - Sprue gates that are often located in places that compromise fine detail (as in this kit's props, for example). - Wishful thinking (as in this model, where drawings -more like sketches- of Earhart's plane are presented, but you have no alternate parts (fuel tanks for the interior, nose lights, antenna loop, different LG mechanism, for example), nor details or instructions good enough to serve as a guide for the adaptation. - Resin bits that, if welcome, present occasionally fit problems. - Oversize small parts (in this case the dorsal fuselage vents) - Vacuum-formed canopies difficult to trim and blend with the surroundings. - No masks whatsoever, even if this canopy needs it, nor templates to make yours. - Inaccurate color calls or details (Earhart plane had International Orange painted areas). - The fit is not the best on some parts. - No locating devices per se, but there are marks for some parts. - Ejector towers and the occasional sink marks are present. Not difficult to overcome, but annoying. Yes, I know, they are short run technology. But somehow they give you a long run. Now, this was released in 1999. Later kit releases from SH have showed improvements. In any case, the two other Electra kits that I know of (Execuform and Dekno's) would require quite a bit of effort themselves. The model came to me with no resin bits, so some cheeky monkey at some point sold it second hand -to the friend that finally got it for me- without them. Thanks very much, you despicable rat. Not terrible, since the engines are very common (P&W R985 Wasp Junior) and can be ordered from different manufacturers of your choice if need be. The best, by far, are the Small Stuff (72113) ones. White metal "Vintage" Aeroclub (E012) and resin Engines & Things (72021) are options too. The instrument panel can be made; the seats, control column, etc., can be sourced from the spares bin or manufactured. The Earhart particular bits (mainly long range fuel tanks, navigator station and miscellaneous details) will have to be fabricated. We'll see if this one has better luck than its full size homologous and manages to arrive to its more discrete destination, the boxes where I keep all completed models. So nothing you don't know about: The particular bits pertinent to Earhart's version are fashioned, plus the parts needed to replace the missing resin bits. Fuselage long range tanks, first console, parts to make the LG accurate: General view. Some parts fabricated, some from the spares bin, some adapted or made better (like the props) You can see I didn't use the kit's bulkheads, which are inaccurate at least for this version, or the kit's props, which are quite so-so. Lenses for the nose, navigator station accoutrements, miscellaneous bits:

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!

I have always liked the C-130 Hercules and have a few kits in the stash that need building, so one of these will be used in this WiP. This build will hopefully be a conversion to a civilian L-100-20 version, which is a short extension variant of the standard C-130. Extended sections need to be inserted in front of, and behind, the main wings; with measurements of 5 ft (1.52m) forward and 3ft 4in (1.02m) aft. These convert to 10.583mm and 7.056mm respectively in 1:144 scale. The L-100-20 is a shorter extension version than that of the later C-130J-30. I haven't decided on an airline or livery yet, mainly as I haven't been able to find much on Google except for a Delta Air Lines version. More to follow when I know more and am ready to cut plastic. Mike

Here's my recent conversion of the 1:72 Pegasus Airco DH.4 into the passenger carrying DH.4A from Instone Air Lines. The original gained fame for winning the very King's Cup. An article on the conversion will appear in one of the upcoming issues of SAMI. I hope you like it! Peter

Hello all...miss me? As many of you know, I managed to get my hands on the controls of a Spitfire T.9 in August 2017. I may have mentioned it. Once or twice. I've been beavering away since Christmas converting a 1/32 Revell MkIX into a two seater, as no such kit exists, and it'll be appearing in a copy of MAI at some point in the future. Just a couple of teasers for now, though... Hope you like it, Dean

Hi, I am looking forward here. I want to do a Mig killer from VF111, however this is an F-8C and I have the E variant with the Bullpup equipment in the dorsal hump. I am aware that this is a key difference, along with the profile of the nose. I am aware that Cobra and Cutting Edge did do a resin conversion kit, but are both out of production. Is it feasible to assume that the current conversion kits for RF variants would cure the hump and nose issue? Lastly, are there any other major exterior differences that I need to know? Your help will be appreciated.

After looking at a Canberra T11 photo and reading that they were modified from BMk 2 airframes, what would need to be done to convert a T11 back to a BMk 2? To my untrained eye, it looks like exchanging the T11 nose section for the BMk 2 nose would be the main physical difference. What else might I need to address? Same wheels as the B2? Same engine intakes, exhausts, and Coffman starter ports? Seeing an announcement for the 1/72 AMP Canberra T11 future release got me to thinking...if the kit is a decent one, that is. I do have two of the original Airfix B2's I have been hoarding, as well as an Aeroclub vac nose section and clear nosecap. Any thoughts? Of course, the Laws of Modeling being what they are, as soon as I attempt a conversion, two new-tool state of the art kits will be released! @canberra kid Mike

Hi All, Can we start yet? Raring to go with the Academy FGA9, PJ FR10 conversion set and Xtra Decals Shiny 2. This is my 5th shot at this kit having done the F3, an F6 (ETPS), T7 and GA11. With just a new nose and tail this will be the easiest of the conversions. I'll build one from the box one day, honest. This will be a demonstration build for all those building the new Airfix kit in 2020 which will come with the FG10 option and 2 Squadron markings. Tell the Rumourmongers. And it will use up one of the last 3 Academy Hunters in the Stash. Colin W

1/144 767-200 conversion Britannia Airways G-BYAB Kit - 1/144 Zvezda 767-300 Engines - Braz resin CF6-80 Decals - Britannia 757-200 by Flying Colors Extra Decals (inc emergency exits)- supplied by Alex1978 Cockpit Windows and Doors - Authentic Airliners Fuselage shortened Slats and Flaps removed then remodeled for extension New engines added Decals resized Indoor shots Outdoor shots Thanks for looking!

Well, one thing I've figured out about myself is that making a new WIP thread is what should help me get cracking with this... My studies are trying to keep me away from modelling, but I'm not ready to pause with it just yet... Let me quickly introduce you to this little Italeri's kit. Two A4-sized sprues, one with clear bits and a disappointingly small decal sheet... I'll also use that big left-over sheet from Bf-110 I made a short while ago... The idea for finished model right now is to make it quite asymmetrical, with port side having exposed DB-603 engine (to be scratch built, having done two DB-601 for Bf-110 should prove helpful), flap, aileron and slats in landing position, radiator cowling flaps opened fully as well, while starboard side should be clean, just to show this bird's (what I consider) beautiful lines. Of course, this being a conversion, one - two actually - obvious things that need to be taken care of are wings - outer halves of 'em need to be swept forward to begin with (I haven't a clue why 210 has swept back wings in the first place, I guess Germans decided to experiment a bit with aerodynamic effects of that, maybe they needed to regulate center of gravity). Luckily, studying a number of technical drawing revealed that I should be able to use those outer sections, just rotating them around a specific point should prove enough. Fuselage shouldn't require too many changes, 210 A-1 has elongated fuselage in the first place, so that doesn't require any work, just a bit of rescribing should do the trick... This kit isn't very detailed (if I got it right, this should be a rebox of an old kit, from the early nineties), not that it matters since I'll be glad to add a few of my own, but fit looks good for now... ... though a few places seem to require a bit of filler (left and middle picture). Italeri have got intake cross-section right (right picture), it's a circle as it should be, I think Revell got that wrong on all of their models of 210 and 410, both 72nd and 48th scale, with an elliptical cross-section. A bit of work down under as well, other than filling I'll also open up wheel wells, aforementioned radiator flaps, stuff like that... These two were developed at the same time, one was given a second chance, mostly in Africa if I got it right, the one I aim to change didn't, it just wasn't a good war-plane. A lot of similarities between them (length, wingspan, cockpit position, same engine family), obviously... This picture shows the major differences between 210 and 410, wings being the biggest on of course... ... and this paint scheme is the main reason why I chose to convert it... Hopefully, it should like a bit like this in the end... Love the way engines stick out of wings... I'll be using whatever pictures I can to get the details right, like this Aires wheel well... ... as well as number of impressive build stories, like this one... http://www.modelersalliance.com/forum/chukw/147807-me410-all-the-way ... and some reviews of bigger scale models... http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234949148-messerschmitt-me410a-1-hornisse-148/?hl=%2Bmesserschmitt+%2B210 Some of you may have noticed a cutting mat that wasn't there while Bf-110 was on the bench, got it today as well as Humbrol filler and a nice little model of Rogožarski IK-3 "Belgrade Defender", a bird that tried to keep the Luftwaffe busy once bombing of Belgrade started... Unfortunately, Royal Yugoslav Air Force only had 12 of them, 6 weren't operational as it was still tested, but still our pilots took down 11 Bf-109 in fights in April '41, 3 of which were taken by Sgt. Dušan Vujčić, whose IK-3 I'll be making once it gets its turn... For those interested in it, IK-3 was reported to be an overall improvement on Hawker Hurricane and more maneuverable than Bf-109 (pilots of 51st Fighter group were in charge of experimental work and RYAF had both Hurricane and 109 in its air fleet), but it had poorer rate of climb than 109 and it was slower as well (difference in engine power)... Got all my tools and paints on the mat once I got it, it's not a large set, though you can see that I got myself a good number of new stuff (all of that during Bf-110 build) on the right... During this build, I'll buy a wheel riveter (store was out of them today) and an airbrush for the final paint job and that should be enough for the next couple of builds as well... Back to Me-410, I hope to get some real work done during the weekend, however I expect this to be a slow-starter, since I'm a bit busy with some faculty stuff... Anyway, I hope this was enough for an intro post, I'm looking forward to this build as well as all of your comments... Cheers!

Hi guys I'm attempting to convert zvezdas 767 kit from a -300 to a -200. I think this model is the ER version which I think has the larger cargo door. The things I will have to do will be *cut out 2 pieces of the fuselage *remove the tail bumper -if theres anything else i need to change please feel free to tell me I wish to do this in a landing state, so I will be presenting it with *gear down *flaps and slats extended (ambitious....very ambitious for me) I haven't decided on the colours yet, I'm thinking either traditional Amercian Airlines or Britannia