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Hi all, Found this Spitfire half built in a tin... Seeing as the old tool is so naff I thought I'd have some fun with it. Would anyone like to guess what I'm doing? What I've done so far is sand off all the rubbish panel lines and fill in the the huge panel lines as well as the exhaust. The Rudder is being reshaped too. Ben.

I will be building this one... Not sure on the final scheme, the kit has decals for the number 2 & 3 prototypes. It will be built OOB.

Hello, I've been looking at the available decal sheets for Concorde and the F-DCAL sheet for the UK prototype caught my eye. Apart from the smaller visor windows on the first two prototypes, are there any other notable difference between these aircraft the production ones? Many thanks! Andrew

Just spotted this on Airliners.net... http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airbus-Industrie/Airbus-A350-941/2260853/L/ Looking pretty smart with it's clothes on. Andrew

Hello everyone, I'd like to have a play if that's all right. It's been the thick end of a year since I did any modelling at all, so am going for a relatively straightforward build of the first prototype Mosquito, which I've always loved since first visiting Salisbury Hall as a kid. My work probably won't trouble the judging too much, but it will be a valued addition to the collection so thank you for hosting this GB! I shall be using the Tamiya 1/72 kit of the B.Mk.IV twinned with the Paragon Designs conversion set with the short engine nacelles, early wingtips and different tail surfaces. I shall make my own decals for the serial code, and decide whether to go for the first registration of EO234 or her more enduring identity of W4050 during the build. The roundels and tail flash will be cobbled together from my various 1/72 leftovers - but any recommendations for the correct shade of yellow would be welcome - from a rattlecan if possible as I don't have an airbrush. I'm assuming that the props and spinners provided by Tamiya will be right for the job. I've heard tell that they're actually closer to those found on Lancaster kits, so this would be good to know. Sprue and box shots will follow as soon as Hannants have processed my order, so in the meantime here's a shot of the 1:1 aircraft back in late 1940. And belated New Year greetings to all - nice to be back!

My entry to this GB will be the Welsh Models Comet 1, finished as the first prototype. The Comet should need no introduction to a bunch of airliner enthusiasts, and I consider the Mk 1 to be one of the best looking aircraft ever! That wing planform is absolutely gorgeous Not only does the prototype fit in with my normal build theme, but it looks great in its natural metal finish. Internet pic: The Welsh kit has a vacform fuselage and outer wing panels, with the other large components in resin with white metal for the structural and smaller items. It was by no means cheap, probably the most expensive kit I'd bought in fact at the time, but it's the only game in town and a very nice quality kit too. Model box: Vacform parts: Other contents: This kit will be quite a challenge for me, being my first proper attempt at a vacform kit. Then there's that natural metal finish to look forward to... I will also need to make some modifications to back-date it to the prototype, something I need to research properly. So far I'm aware of: Single large wheel main undercarriage, with different doors Nose probe Different window layout No wing fences No doubt there will be other differences once I look into it in more detail (but feel free to point me in the right direction!). Looking forward to starting this weekend! Mike

One of my build themes is R&D and prototype aircraft. For this GB I will be modelling the first Vulcan prototype, VX770. This aircraft is, in my opinion, the best looking of the Vulcans, with its near pure delta shape and glossy white finish. Pics from t'internet: The first of two Avro 698 prototypes, VX770 made its first flight with Roly Falk at the controls on 30 August 1952 and the aircraft appeared at Farnborough just a few days later! It was joined by the second prototype, VX777, from September 1953, and the pair, along with the four extant Avro 707 research aircraft, made what must have been an awe inspiring appearance together at Farnborough just a few days after VX777 flew. Tragedy struck VX770 on 20 September 1958 at the Syerston air display when she broke apart in mid air, killing the crew. VX777 survived until 1963 when it became surplus to requirements and was scrapped. Probably unsurprisingly I'll be using the 1/72 Airfix kit as the basis for the model. This has been available in various incarnations, although I expect all have the same plastic content. Box contents: I'll also be using some of the Flightpath B1/B1A conversion set, in particular the smaller tailcone that was later greatly enlarged to house ECM equipment for the B1A and B2 versions. New undercarriage legs are also provided, which I'll either install or use as a pattern to modify the kit parts. (I plan to model a B1A at some point with the remainder of the conversion kit.) I also have the Mastercaster wheel set. Flightpath parts, with Mastercaster wheels to the right: I have numerous references on the Vulcan, so I feel I have a pretty good handle on what changes I need to make to depict the prototype (although if I have missed any please feel free to point them out, unless I've missed the chance to include them in which case ignorance is bliss!). One piece of info that I am lacking a definitive answer on is how much the nose was shorter by. On all Vulcans after VX770 the nose was extended aft of the cockpit to avoid the need for a telescoping leg to reduce during retraction into the bay. Despite all those references, most only mention the fact the nose was entended, but not by how much. Of those that do, one states 6" (plans in the latest issue of Model Aircraft) while another states 16". Please can anyone suggest which (if either!) is correct please? I'll be building the kit with the crew entry door shut so interior work will be the bare minimum given the small windows. I'll be spending enough time on the exterior! Looking forward to starting! Mike