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Special Hobby is to re-release in 2023 the old MPM DB-8 kit as - ref. SH72465 - Douglas DB 8A-3N Source: https://www.specialhobby.net/2022/11/novinky-ze-special-hobby-112022.html V.P.

http://www.mpmkits.net/2015/10/siebel-si-204-148-pripravujeme.html

A second build hopefully, another Alleycat conversion for the late mark of the Meteor converted to an unmanned target. However, I can’t find the MPM/Xtrakit F8 that I bought at the same time for it. I think it’s somewhere in this stash, I’ll have do a bit of mining. And probably tidy up as well. There’s a few days to go so I should be lucky. Maybe I might just buy the new Airfix one instead!

Here's my entry, ticking the prototype, research & record breakers boxes Wasn't expecting to find resin in the box, so that's a bonus. Would have started sooner, but covid's really done a number on me. No Telford this year for me

For the group build I will be building this in the markings of one of the RAAF 77 squadron aircraft that shot down MiG-15s during the Korean War. AW

I suppose I first started building Airfix plane kits in around 1957 and before long I had persuaded my parents to buy me a “big” kit for Christmas and my birthday, so in 1958 (I think) my Christmas present was the old Airfix Lancaster and the next year I got their Wellington BIII which was a Series 4 kit costing 6/- (30p). and that was followed by their Sunderland, Halifax, DC3, B-17, B-24 and lastly their Stirling in 1966 – after that I bought my own B-29 etc. By that time I had discovered that some Wellingtons and indeed Halifaxes had Merlin engines and I rather liked that idea, but I had to wait a long time before anybody released one, and here it is. At the start of WWII the RAF had 3 “modern” twin engined bombers – the Whitley which was originally classed as a “heavy” and the medium Hampden and Wellington. The Wellington aka “Wimpy” was far and away the best of the three and outlasted the other two by a considerable margin, being an important part of the night bomber force until perhaps 1943 and continuing in other roles such as anti submarine warfare, training and transport until the end of the war. In spite of that it was not well represented in plastic until early this century, with just the Airfix, Frog and Matchbox kits. Then both MPM and Trumpeter released a whole slew of them, followed more recently by Airfix. The original MPM release was the early Mk IA/C in I think 2002, but this was re-released in 2006 as a Mk III, 2008 as a Mk II, and later as a Mk IV, and possibly a Mk X. I bought this Mk II about 10 years ago. Airfix released a Mk IA/C “imported” from MPM in 2009, and more recently issued their own, later reboxing it as a GR VIII, and then again as a Mk II, as built by Enzo in the Bomber/Strike etc GB. That seems to be a very good kit though it costs rather more than my MPM kit, but more on that during the build. Here are the sprues. You may have noticed 4 sets of props and 2 of tailplanes - this is because it seems to include most if not all of the parts for the Mk IA/IC original kit and some of the parts for the Mk III - for example the twin row 14 cylinder Hercules engines. The single bank 9 cylinder Pegasus engines for the Mk I's are also there in the form of a hub and seperate cylinders - glad I am not building that one! The wider chord tailplanes are for the Mk II onwards, and the top left sprue in the last photo is for the Merlin powered Mk II as are the resin radiators in the first shot. There is also a revised glazing for the 4 gun rear turret fitted from the Mk III on. More once the GB actually starts. Pete

Gloster Meteor PR Mk.10 "High-Altitude Photo-Recce Version" 1:72 MPM / Special Hobby (72560) The twin-engined Gloster Meteor was jointly developed by Frank Whittle’s Power Jets Limited and the Gloster Aircraft Company. It was first flown in March 1943. When 616 Squadron commenced operations on the type in July 1944, it became the first jet fighter to enter operational service with the Royal Air Force. Forbidden to fly the Meteor over occupied territory, 616 Squadron used the new aircraft to combat the threat of V-1 flying bombs, eventually accounting for 14 of them. The design evolved considerably in the post-war period, spawning night fighters, reconnaissance aircraft and target tugs among other variants. The PR.10 was something of a hybrid aircraft. With the wings of the Mk.III, the tail of the Mk.IV, Fuselage of the Mk.8 and nose from the PR.9. The PR.10 was phased out in the early 1960s with the Canberra taking on the role. Special Hobby's Meteor is a tried and tested kit, having been released in multiple guises by Special Hobby themselves, Revell and (briefly) Airfix. The cockpit is well detailed for the scale, and there is a decal for the instrument panel. Nose weight is an absolute must, and there should be enough space for this in the area of the nose in front of the cockpit. The lower wing is moulded as a single span up to and including the engine nacelles, with separate outer wings, while the upper wing is split into four parts. For the Mark you will have to use the longer outer wing sections. The landing gear is nicely detailed, but joins to the landing gear bays by way of a simple butt joint, so watch out as it could be easily broken off once fitted. The canopy is pretty good, and Special Hobby have included masks for all of the different marking options provided on the decal sheet. An addition in this kit is a pair of rear wing root fairings in resin to replace the kit ones. Decals The decal sheet provides a nice 5 options covering 3 different schemes. From the box you can build; WB156/A-B No.541 Sqn RAF, RAF Buckesberg, Germany 1950 (Dark Green / Medium Sea Grey over PRU Blue) VS975/A-N No.541 Sqn RAF, RAF Buckesberg, Germany 1950 (Dark Green / Medium Sea Grey over PRU Blue) VS975/A-N No.541 Sqn RAF, RAF Buckesberg, Germany 1951-53 (Medium Sea Grey over PRU Blue) WB172/F No.13 Sqn RAF. RAF Kabrit (Egypt) 1951-53 (High Speed Silver overall) VA987 No.81 Sqn RAF, RAF Selter (Singapore) 1960 (High Speed Silver overall) Conclusion Special Hobby has the day 1/72 Meteor market pretty sewn up, but it's still good to see them using their tooling to release some of the lesser known types. The overall package is pretty complete, overall, this is a nice kit an can be highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

MPM 1:72 Boulton Paul Defiant TT MK.I Defiant with turret removed and target towing equipment installed instead. MK.I's were converted planes, Mk.III were built brand new - almost 300 were built/converted all together. Couple of plastic sprues. Clear parts, including specific vacuform part for this version. Plenty of resin and PE to add a nice amount of details. Also most/all of the TT variant parts seem to be resin. The scheme I'll be doing.

Boulton Paul Defiant TT Mk.I target tug, Middle-East 1945 Kit: MPM Boulton Paul Defiant TT Mk.I/III (#72552) Scale: 1/72 Paints: Vallejo Model Air, Vallejo Metal Colour, Hataka Red Line Aftermarket: Antenna wires (Ammo by Mig Rigging) Weathering: Flory Models wash, Tamiya weathering products, Ammo by Mig weathering products, Plastic parts of this kit - quite nice! No fit issues with them and nice details. Resin parts on the other hand - most notably the spine behind the cockpit, was way too small and required lot of modification to make it fit nicely. It certainly was fun to paint something else than camo - and I had lot's of fun with the weathering! I tried to concentrate on few chosen spots instead of being too much all over the place. Built for Unarmed GB: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/forum/727-unarmed-gb/ WIP thread for the build here:

Afternoon all I would like to join if I may. I wasn't planning to but I need a GB to get my mojo moving. Looking through the stash I didn't have much that qualified (and Mrs K has "encouraged" me not to buy more kits whilst I still have rather a lot in the shed. So here is what I propose to build: I have built a few of the MPM kits (as MPM, Xtrakit and Revell) and whilst fun they do have some fit issues....I also have a habit of forgetting to put enough nose weight in. This version has extra resin including some rather fiddly looking rockets. Anyway looking forward to this one. Cheers Dave

Edit 30.5.2021: I sold this kit! I had only assembled the six parts in the cockpit, and seriously disliked the somewhat limited run feel of the kit. Yes I know, but after just finishing the SWEET! Airfix B-25 and starting Revell Ju 88:s I was a spoiled brat and the MPM kit just didn't make it. End edit! Springtime is usually good model building time for me. That´s why I dare to start a third build thread! This MPM kit has been in my stash for a few years and waited for its turn. Well the Douglas GB went bust along the other US manufacturer specific GB proposals as they were unsuccessfully merged to a MEGA proposal. Here´s a pic of the essentials: MPM plastics that can be built as USAAF A-20B or Lend-lease Boston III. Maybe even some other variants, I don´t know. I have a MAV decals set for a SAAF Boston III in North Africa but they appear to have inaccurate type (C1) of roundels for the W8376, damaged in action and struck off charge 22.6.1942. They are correct type A1 in the instructions, but not on the decal sheet . V-P

I finished this a couple of months ago having started it back in May to fill in between projects! The kit is the Revell boxing of the MPM plastic. It has a certain reputation and this one certainly lived down to it. Quite pleased with how it came out but happier to get it off the bench. The WIP can be found here Thanks for looking

I’d restarted the MPM 1/72 Spitfire PR XIX that had been sitting, neglected with a few other stalled projects for a long, long time. As I’d already made a start on the kit, I thought this would be an opportunity to get my modelling mojo back after a bit of slump. Part of the inspiration to get this project going was finding Xtradecal set X72105 which other than a few RAF PRXIX schemes, it also contained an interesting option for a Turkish Air Force example. A lot has been said about the MPM PRXIX and, taking into account its age (it was first released in 1993) it was for many years the only kit of this version of the Spitfire. There are some issues with the shape, particularly when compared to the more recent kits of this type, but when complete I think it’s still recognisable. The MPM boxing came with the usual short-run low-pressure injection moulded components, a vac form canopy and a small etched brass fret. Two decal options are provided, one RAF aircraft in PRU Blue and Medium Sea Grey and a Swedish Air Force in overall PRU Blue. After a lot of trimming, sanding and filling I first applied some black pre-shading to panel lines etc. using Vallejo Model Air matt black. I allowed it to dry overnight and applied Hataka Red Line PRU Blue making sure I didn’t apply it too heavily to cover the pre-shading. I also painted the undercarriage doors, legs, wheels and spinner, after masking the prop blades. This was the first time I'd used these paints and I have to admit I was pretty satisfied with them. I had thought of applying some highlights to vary the overall blue but as this was intended to be a quick build I left the preshading to give a bit of interest. After a coat of Vallejo gloss varnish the Xtradecals went on without a hitch. I regret not applying a wash to bring out the details but I've got plenty of kits in the pipeline to go to town on! When dry I applied a coat of Winsor & Newton matt varnish. I retrospect I think a coat of satin would have worked better. And that's about it. I'm reasonably pleased with the build as it was mainly to get my mojo back after not having completed anything in far too long. The PRU Blue looks a bit bright in the photos but in reality it's a pretty good match. Cheers

MPM SH32049 boxart: http://www.modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=71717&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a translation: Main parts from short run and small details from metal mould.

Found this box while rummaging through the big box-o-boxes on the attic. It was awhile ago I built a Mustang, so it was about time. The kit has options for two USAAF and one RAF machine in desert livery. Since I was hoping to build a desert Kittyhawk I opted for an American plane here. Obligatory sprue shots: Quite some cleaning will be needed and detail is often a bit rough. The wheels are horrible (mouldibg gone bad or bad moulds?) but fortunately the box also contains a set of nice resin, including wheels: Unfortunately the resin cockpit is a tad doffocult to assemble, no obvious location marks and the instructions only have an exploded view. I assembled the plastic parts to get an idea of what goes where. The photo doesn’t gove enough credit to the details: especially the radios/ gear behind the seat are wonderful. I might have to find an open vac-form canopy to display this. I only have B/D canopies though. That is how far I’ve gotten. Also considering acquiring some aftermarket guns and exhausts (they are crude), but we’ll see how happy I am with the model at that point - that is, whether it deserves them or not.

I have just finished this one from MPM, build out of box, a flying tourchlight Cheers Jes

Hi all, here is my new 1/72 MPM Douglas A-20G Havoc "la france libre": Construction: MPM has created a superb kit in 1/72 for the Douglas Havoc / Boston variants. In 2008 i brought the D-Day Havocs kit variants with the solid gun nose. At first, I wanted to build OOB, but after a while, some details were added scratch: Cockpit: Life raft and details Nose: Brass MG barrels (accessory), fuselage reinforcement, MG ejectors Fuselage: Rudimentary fuselage installation, rear exit Turret: Entire tower structure, brass MG barrels (accessory) Engines: Cables, valve lifters, exhaust pipes, slightly opened cooling flaps Charger: Inlet details, open outlet Gear: Brake lines, resin wheels (accessory) With some creative breaks, I worked on the model for almost 6 months. Original aircraft: My model, the "la france libre" was the first Havoc in Europe with 100 successful mission missions and was called "Miss laid" for a long time. The plane was sent to Paris in the autumn of 1944 for the French liberation celebration as a part of an exhibition and renamed for this reason. Most of the Havocs were heavily weathered. Source: worldwarphotos.info Finish: I wanted to transfer the impression of the original photo above to my model. The paintjob was started as standard for me on an Alclad Airframe aluminum primer. After that preshading, three glazing layers per colour, painting scratches with a silver pin, masking and painting of the walk-ways, masking, painting and weathering of the invasion stripes, intermediate finish with future, decals, washing, painted exhaust gas traces, dust oil paints, chalks etc. etc. Walkaround: Bottom: Details: I hope you like my model. Criticism, notes, and comments are gladly welcome. Kai

Here's my recently completed build of MPM's Lockheed PBO-1 Hudson, complete with RAF Dk.Green/Dk.Earth/Sky finish in US Navy markings. I did this for the 'In the Navy' GB. Here's the build thread. It didn't go without it's problems and looking at it now I'm still not happy with the fit of the separate nose section. Also the port tailfin and main oleo leg are a bit scewed (heavy landing!). The decals were commendably thin but broke up just looking at them! Had to use bits of the spare decals for repairs. Used Vallejo ModelAir paints, Johnsons Klear gloss hand brushed on and Vallejo Matt Varnish, thinned and airbrushed. Davey.

Another build finally completed ... I started this as part of the D-Day GB last year ... then work , life etc took over !! , but now its complete, it joins my 1/72nd collection of USAF aircraft based in Essex during WW2 , As with every kit, its a learning curve and a relaxing hobby, constructive comments always welcome One day I will build a photo booth / base to make pictures more interesting !! Aircraft s/n 43-10208 5D-S : ‘ Es for Sugar’. 644th Bomb Squadron part of 410th Bomb Group based at RAF Gosfield (near Braintree) with secondary runway at RAF Birch

When I finally get my JU-87 finished over on that STGB I'll be starting a couple of builds on here. I just recently obtained this kit and really fancy building it right now, not that I haven't got dozens of other projects I want to do as well! It seems a nice kit, but obviously having had experience of Special Hobby/AZ Models/Sword kits, it will need some care. I'm going to do the most colourful of the two Navy machines covered by the nice looking decal sheet, all of the subjects are in RAF standard day scheme of Dark Green over Dark Earth over Sky, but around 200 bound for the UK were quickly 'commandeered' as the US needed to build up their forces in the Pacific and elsewhere, so US markings were applied and away they went! There is an error in the kit which baffled me a bit after looking at photos of this machine in question on the internet, that being the choice of exhaust and air intake/scoops. The box art is even correct! But the instructions would have you fit the small vents on the side of the nascelles, and very short air intakes above and below the cowl, but this is incorrect. Fortunately the long type tube exhausts and the longer air scoops are included in the kit, so all's good! See you soon, Davey.

Finishing two models in two days is something of a record, but that's what has happened so here's my MPM 1/48 Fulmar Mk I. Apart from wanting to build it, one reason it got to the top of the pile was the enormous box and the amount of space it was taking up in the stash! It's from the first release without any etch fret or other add-ons. It is one of the best limited run kits I've built with generally good fit, apart from slightly vague locations for some of the cockpit detail. The exceptions were the leading edge inserts for the gun ports, which needed shimming and filling; the landing light transparency, which I could have done much better; and the pilot's canopy. Short of blowing a new one, the solution was to separate the windscreen and canopy with a razor saw and much trepidation. It worked OK and although the sliding section sits a bit high I'm happy with the result. It's from the box apart from boxing in the landing light aperture, harnesses and a stretched sprue antenna, and is brushed with Humbrol enamels. The Fulmar was one of those endearingly inadequate aircraft which nevertheless played a vital role in the war and I'm pleased to have this one as a companion to my Grand Phoenix Firefly. Thanks for looking!

Having discarded the Airfix Sea Hawk I thought the MPM kit might be marginally better. It took a bit of prepping to get it reasonable, including blocking up the inside of the fuselage so you don't see through across the intakes. It's also very thick plastic with chunky joins between sprues and parts, but they file down ok. It needed quite a bit of nose weight, I just about squeezed in three small lead balls. Colours are EDSG upper and Humbrol 80 lower, both from spray cans. The tail bullet fairing is gloss black. Despite the photos there is an ejector seat, it just seems to sit really low in the cockpit! The decals included in the kit are pretty good, nice colours and well printed.

Special Hobby is to re-release the MPM 1/72nd Douglas Boston Mk.III Intruder kit - ref. 72398 Source: http://www.specialhobby.info/2018/11/sh72398-boston-mkiii-intruder-boxart.html Box art V.P.

Having read a couple of brief 'reviews' about the Airfix Sea Hawk on this forum I decided to sell both of mine and buy an MPM one instead! No doubt it's probably no better but there are limited options, and at least the decals look decent. I'll probably have to change the serial though as apparently WV863 was lost in a crash and I never build models of any aircraft lost. It just doesn't feel right to me somehow. I'll make this one with the playing card similar to the gate guard at Culdrose and FAA museum example, but representing an operational Sea Hawk. First question, anyone know of any visible differences between an FGA4 and FGA6 which with limited skill would be insurmountable?

My next build is going to be this nice kit from MPM. I didn't photograph the decals and PE, will fix that. I won't be building the kit with the decals supplied in the kit I will be doing a 77 Sqn RAAF Meteor "Darky Jones" flown by Sgt Ted Jones, which sadly crashed, ran out of petrol on landing. I have Red Roo decals and some rockets and bombs to go with the kit. They will also be photographed and added to the WIP. Some pics of the parts in the box. Resin parts. Thanks for stopping by for a look. Stephen