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Hi everyone - i've recently been on a bit of a 'nostalgia bent', and decided to pull this one out of the stash, with the aim of a relatively quick and easy build: This is the Monogram kit of the Bf-109G-10 variant, released by Monogram around 1991 and reboxed in the above boxing circa 1992/1993. This kit traces its origins back to the Revell release of 1978 (indeed you can still find this release available today; Revell has been releasing this kit on and off again, most recently in 2016). The kit still holds up well today; it has generally accurate lines, recessed panels, is an easy build, and passes quite nicely for a 109G-10. It is also far less complex and far cheaper than the contemporary Eduard kit. I picked this one up for somewhere around $5-10 at a swap and sell some years back. I picked this boxing because I have very vivid memories of buying this boxing as a kid, getting my hands on the dark green plastic, and building the kit in a hurry. Whilst I don't remember how I painted it, I do remember re-painting it a year or two later in a blotchy 'Africa' scheme, similar to that painted on 109Es (totally not accurate... but hey, I was maybe 13 years old, so accuracy wasn't a real focus back then). No idea what happened to it, but pretty sure it didn't survive the 'Cancian turkey shoot' in the backyard some time later... ahem. Anywhoo... in any case, this one is another nostalgia build for me. First up, one notices some elements that need addressing: The cockpit needed some attention. The kit canopy is surprisingly clear, so I decided to upgrade the kit cockpit, which is pretty light on. I had some old bits and bobs in the spares box from some 109 cockpit sets; one floor piece and sidewall from (I think) the Aires 109G-6 cockpit, and another from I think an old Hi-Tech resin set from again, I think, a G-6. Not going for accuracy, I decided that these would do; the sidewalls were quickly sanded back and the resin bits added. The kit has its control surfaces modelled in the neutral position. I decided to at least cut and reposition the rudder and elevators. I managed to find a spare resin rudder (no idea who produced it) which fit the kit and was a bit nicer than the kit rudder, so this will do also. And after a few etched additions and some paint (the shoulder harnesses will go on towards the end of the build): The fuselage is also now together and cleaned up, remembering to re-scribe the panel lines that run down the centreline of the aircraft. The fit here was quite good. I added a set of quickboost exhaust pipes which will look lovely once painted up. I've made a start on the wings, where I find another Revell advertisement The wings are moulded with the flaps and radiator cooling flaps moulded in the neutral position. A bit of time and patience with a razor saw sorted these out; I cut them and repositioned them to a more dynamic look (most photos of 109s on the ground show these flaps deployed / drooped). I won't be doing anything with the ailerons, or the slats (probably not correct for a 109 on the ground, but oh well). A dry fit suggests the wings will fit quite nicely to the fuselage, once I get there. Cheers! BC

Hi all – I’m on a bit of a ‘bent’ for older kits at the moment. As such, I present my first completion of 2022 - the 1/48 Monogram Bf-109G-10. This one was released by Monogram around 1991 and traces its origins back to the Revell release of 1978 (indeed you can still find this release available today; Revell has been releasing this kit on and off again, most recently in 2016). The kit still holds up well today; it has generally accurate lines, recessed panels, is an easy build. Sure it’s no Eduard super kit, but it sure passes quite nicely for a 109G-10 to my somewhat uneducated eye. I picked this one up for somewhere around $5-10 at a swap and sell some years back. I picked this boxing because I have very vivid memories of buying this boxing as a kid, getting my hands on the dark green plastic, and building the kit in a hurry. Whilst I don't remember how I painted it, I do remember re-painting it a year or two later in a blotchy 'Africa' scheme, similar to that painted on 109Es (totally not accurate... but hey, I was maybe 13 years old, so accuracy wasn't a real focus back then). No idea what happened to it, but pretty sure it didn't survive the 'Cancian turkey shoot' in the backyard some time later... ahem. Given the kit’s simplicity, I did make a few modifications. I replaced the cockpit with some random 109G cockpit bits and seat belts that I had in the spares box. I replaced the kit exhausts and wheels with resin aftermarket items, added mesh to the radiators and ribs to the radiator flaps, I added a new pitot from brass tube, and I cut and repositioned the flaps, elevators, and rudder. The rest was all stock kit. I painted this one up in fairly bland POA markings, based on one of the schemes from the Eduard kit. I had a set of Eduard decals for the tail shield, Wrk number and stencils, but all other markings were masked and sprayed. Some progress pics: All in all this was a fun build. Thanks for looking, and as always, comments, criticisms and tips for improvement are always welcome! Cheers, BC

Hello Since there is a bit of an IAT retrospective going on, here are my photos of some of the Herkybirds at the 1979 meeting. These are iPhone copies of colour prints, so no guarantee of fidelity! Original pics taken with a Fujica ST605N financed from one of my first pay days! It may be my memory, but I recall the Israeli and Saudi machines (at the beginning) being parked next to each other. I believe they were separated, even though on a personal level the crew were swapping arm patches etc! I remember it took ages to walk down that line. Judging by some of the photos, I must have got wet at one point. I may be conflating memories, but I recall taking refuge under the wing of a Nimrod and also having a stare into its bomb bay. Trevor

Just getting around to starting this build - and thanks to Bone Hammer who first mentioned a possible build of the He115 but has very kindly given me a green light to pick this kit as he may have trouble locating his during a house move. I've never built a Matchbox kit but the calibre of the modellers wanting to be involved in this GB certainly caught my interest and as has happened before, I'm now wondering what I have been missing! I had become aware that in their heyday, Matchbox had many kits in their range not covered by others and the He 115 seems to be one of those. Also, I was made aware that there was actually originally a Frog kit of the He 115 which was not released by Frog before they closed down and this was taken on by Revell, who also took on the Matchbox kit when they closed down - and I read up on a comparison previously posted on Britmodeller before I went a-buying. So, a very interesting background. When I went looking for a He 115 kit on ebay, I actually ended up with three of them - the first had been started (unbeknownst to the seller?), the second didn't have swastikas in the decals and was a different set of colours and the third was eventually as expected. Since a 3-colour kit seems to be a Matchbox 'differentiator', I propose to build one of these kits 'bare' as someone may have done way back then, to see how good the base level and quality of this kit was, as follows: 1. retain the 3-colours - no painting other than picking out some details upon completion. 2. build OOB - no after market bits 3. minimise any blemishes on the plastic finish such as gluey fingerprints or over enthusiastic trimming/sanding - the hard bit! 4. use any 'modeller hints' available in the Matchbox publications at the time the kit was available The second kit I will complete in one of the suggested colour schemes and deploy as many of the model enhancing techniques I have mastered as yet. The third 'started' kit will be used for spares and for testing any balance weighting required etc. So, looking forward to getting started - may take a little time so patience please!

I picked this kit up as part of a random bundle online, worked out it cost me about a quid, which in modern terms is probably about 50p more than it's worth. It's a reboxing of the old (old old OLD) Frog kit, with some fresh decals, no interior, and bits missing. And terrible fit, and terrible detail. But, it's a kit, therefore it can be built. I'll try my best to correct as much of the fit issue as I go, and add a rudimentary seat and instrument panel. And I'll need to scratch the radiator as that part is missing. So, let us see what can be done. I've put the wings together, cut off all the locator pegs on the fuselage as they were slightly off centre, and added a plastic disc to the rear of the spinner as there was a bit of a size difference between it and the nose. Now on to the seat. Maybe it's just me, but the red on the decals seems just a little too bright, or slightly the wrong shade, what do you guys reckon?

I picked this kit up as part of a random bundle online, worked out it cost me about a quid, which in modern terms is probably about 50p more than it's worth. It's a reboxing of the old (old old OLD) Frog kit, with some fresh decals, no interior, and bits missing. And terrible fit, and terrible detail. But, it's a kit, therefore it can be built. I'll try my best to correct as much of the fit issue as I go, and add a rudimentary seat and instrument panel. And I'll need to scratch the radiator as that part is missing. So, let us see what can be done. I've put the wings together, cut off all the locator pegs on the fuselage as they were slightly off centre, and added a plastic disc to the rear of the spinner as there was a bit of a size difference between it and the nose. Now on to the seat. Maybe it's just me, but the red on the decals seems just a little too bright, or slightly the wrong shade, what do you guys reckon?

HI,Thought you might fancy some more of revell,s brill nostalgia.though this kit,is futuristic in design,it was designed by one of werner von braun,s team[v2,apollo,saturn fame],after the war they were absorbed into American society under operation "paperclip"and Kraft A Ehricke joined the convair co,this and various other designs by von braun,wily ley,s were released in the late fifties and early sixtie,s as what they thought the future would be?..so this is a 1959 issue mould re rereleased in 96.a design by Kraft,as a shuttle for transport to the orbiting space stations,all these designer,s promised would be orbiting the earth by the70,s?...Looking at it ,its really not a million miles away from a shuttle...anyway bathe in nostalgia,and the horrribillllllll. turquoisy plastic.......cheers Don by the way,the spiel gives the height as 130 ft,but no scale? The box box images of it working contents,shade your eyes? whats included main shuttle body the shuttle tail end engines Base and ground/shuttle crew rough idea of size engines closer crew again underside of stand/base with 1959 mould date decals history instructions well enjoy your wallow in the fiftie,s cheers Don