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Hi all, and I'm pleased to say that I've finally finished a model - the 1/72 Seafire XV from the Sword kit. I made heavy weather of it unfortunately (well over two years from start to finish), and ran into a last-minute snag by applying Alclad Clear Cote as a near-final varnish, which then took four months to dry. Yesterday I reckoned it was dry enough to put something over the top, in this case Humbrol 135 satin enamel. It could do with being a bit more glossy to be honest, but I'm calling this one done now. I built the kit pretty much out of the box, although these Sword kits need a bit of fettling to get certain things to fit (e.g. canopy). After a false start on the paint-job, I settled on something a bit different, as I've always liked the look of SW847 in its (I think) black over sky with silver spinner. The real aircraft had been modified a bit, with guns, gunsight, catapult hooks and arrestor-wire guard for the tailwheel removed - all of which made this modeller's life easier. The whole sorry process is recorded in the WIP: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234998719-172-seafire-xv/. Any road up, here are some pics taken this afternoon: And here she is in the cabinet with her Mark III sister, also from the Sword kit but was somehow much easier to put together: Here are a couple of photos of the original: Thanks for looking, and comments very welcome as ever. In the meantime I'm not sure I can face another session with the Sword Mark XIV Spit. And conversion of a Sword Seafire XV to a Mark XII can definitely wait a while. Oh the horror...! Justin

Planning to build the Sword Kon Marine TBM3W Avenger. Sword show this in a dark and light grey scheme. Anyone know FS or other references for these colours and when they were used ?. Only photographs found show dark grey top and duck egg green below.

I've just finished two Spitfires! First off, I'm very pleased to have completed my Spitfire 21 in 1/72. It's an Airfix 22 kit with the spine and tail of the Airfix XIX grafted on. This is the second paint job on this model - the first attempt almost made it over the line back in 2016 but I made a mess of the varnishing and it went into some soapy water to get stripped. The unfortunate details are recorded in the wip: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234986779-spitfire-i-and-21-and-now-an-xviii/. Three years later it's finally done. Aside from the conversion its basically OOB with the exhausts drilled out and a set of Sword 4-spoke wheels. The sliding canopy is a Ventura vacform item and I'm slightly regretting not cutting open the door, but that would have given away that I haven't removed the Mark 22's canopy pulley system on the cockpit wall... On this second attempt I used Xtracrylix paints and opted for LA328 of 600 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force in about 1947, using the excellent Freightdog decals. Anyway, some pictures: Second, I've also completed a Spitfire 18 using the Sword XIV kit as the basis. This was more straightforward than the 21 though there was still a bit of work to do, e.g. redoing the outer wing panels and drilling the ventral camera windows, and I used a slightly reshaped Special Hobby rudder, with Z-type trim tab added. I used a spare Eduard bubble canopy as think it captures the shape better. It's in the 'Desert' scheme of 208 Squadron in 1949 Egypt, and I again used predominantly Xtracrylix paints, lightening the light slate grey even more with white. The dark Earth was Mr Hobby H72. Freightdog decals were again used, and here's what came out at the other end: And here they are together with my recently completed Sword XIV: The Sword XIVs are not the easiest of builds but they are the best we have so far in 1/72. I think I'll need to do a couple more... Hope you like these though - any comments welcome. Justin

Hi fellow modellers! This is the last model I completed. It´s Sword´s Spitfire Vc in 1/72. I have mixed feelings about this kit because it looks good but I ecountered several fit issues, mainly in the cockpit parts. Despite this it can be built into a nice model. I used Authentic Decals to represent a "presentation" aircraft, a plane donated to the RAF by a company from my country Uruguay. This very plane is restored and flying today in the same markings! I tried to follow the few historic photos I found because there are some differences with the restored one, like the wings. I hope you like it and all comments and critics are welcomed! Best regards. Ignacio

This will be my next build: I'll be using the Sword kit: (Wish me luck with the stripes.) Here are the sprues: The transfers: Thanks to some advice from @LDSModeller, I won't be using the upper surface colours suggested by Sword. I've made a start painting the interior but there won't be any photographs until I've stuck some bits together.

Hi peeps, Here are my last completions for the year - a trio of 1/72 Spitfire Vc's all depicting subjects used against the Japanese: First up we have the Sword kit depicting SEAC based MA292 KW-D "Verna June II"of 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron RAF as flown by Flying Officer "Lawrence" Weggery RNZAF during 1944. Mostly OOB although I used the Rotol prop and wheels from the Tamiya kit further down and the cannon barrels and stubs are by Master. Paints are Humbrol throughout: Next up we have Darwin based BS164 DL-K of 54 Squadron RAF as flown by Squadron Leader Eric Gibbs during 1943. The model is a heavily modified Tamiya Mk Vb; a 2mm extension rear of the wing took care of the kits short length aft of the cockpit and the wingtips were reshaped to a more accurate profile. The DH prop, cannon bulges and rearview mirror were from the Sword Vc whilst the vokes filter was spare from a Sword Seafire III. Cannon barrels and stubs are again by Master. Markings were from the Sword kit whilst the stencils are by Techmod. Paints are primarily Humbrol whilst the lighter green used to depict the reduction in size of the roundels was from Sovereign Hobbies: Finally we have the newish KP Vc kit built to depict BS236 QY-N of 452 Squadron RAAF as based at Strauss Airfield south of Darwin in 1943. This aircraft was flown by Flight Lieutenent John Bisley RAAF during the Imperial Japanese Army's 20th June Raid on Darwin during which he downed one bomber. The only alterations to the kit are the use of a DH Prop hub spare from the Sword Seafire III kit with Airfix Spitfire Mk I blades and a scratchbuilt rearview mirror as I lost the original to the carpet monster! Markings are from DK Decals and the stencils are again from Techmod. Paints are once again Humbrol throughout: A shot of the two Darwin based machines: Comments welcome! Mike.

Just now saw this! Be still my beating heart! Our prayers have been answered! @Sabrejet @Tailspin Turtleget your photo references out! I'm guessing the P-47N is a re-release? Mike http://www.hyperscale.com/2018/reviews/kits/swordpreviewbg_28.htm

Dear fellow Britmodellers, this is my 1/72 Sword Fiat G.55 of 2. Gruppo, 1. Squadriglia, flown by Ten. Drago at Cascina Vaga airfield, in May 1944. Built for the "Italian design special display" at the upcoming IPMS GoModelling show (March 9-10, 2019). I added photo-etch seatbelts from MPM and resin upgrades from AP Modely. Painted with Gunze/Mr.Hobby acrylics, representing the so-called "experimental splinter scheme". All photographs by Wolfgang Rabel. The round squadron batch on the nose has wrong color, it is too light. It should actually be dark green. Thank you very much for your interest in this topic. Best greetings from Vienna!

This is my 1/72 Sword FJ-2 Fury. This is a nice kit and it only took 9 days to complete, start to finish. The only fit issue was the upper wing to fuselage seam which had a large gap. The only other issue was rather thick wing trailing edges which I tried to thin down with limited success. The decals were very thin and showed no silvering (of course, how could I tell on a silver model ) with the film totally disappearing, but they had no body, one review called then squishy, and had a tendency to suddenly decide to stick where they were and hold on like glue. This was especially true for the decals that were mostly lettering. This lead to some distortion and only 2 of the No Steps survived I spent a lot of time on getting a good finish for the Alclad aluminum and I think it came out pretty good this time. So on to the pictures. This time the interior was remarkably free of dust, but I am not sure what is going on with the front. Transparencies are always my bane. Next up is the Skale Wings AD-5W Skyraider. Enjoy.

Here's my contribution, a Seafire MkIII operated by 894 Squadron in both the Indian and Pacific Ocean in 1944 and 45. The boxing gives 4 options including another 'Eastern' bird from HMS Hunter in the Andamans., as well as a home based aircraft and an Aeronavale option. Nice looking transfers, mind you there's a lot of tiny stencils. It's on three sprues. I think the original boxing was a MkV Spit, and the fuselage and wings have been replaced by Seafire mouldings and associated props and cannons. The moulding looks good if a little 'soft' and there are some ejection pins, most in places it doesn't matter but there is one in the middle of both undercarriage bays, which will be difficult to remove. There's a set of resin exhausts and injection moulded canopy, gunsight and mirror. Reasonably good and clear instructions Thats the scene set so let's get going!

I had the Airfix PR.XIX in the stash already, and could have just gone for the Swedish scheme straight from the box but I was browsing the big H and saw some interesting decals that had a story attached. They were a big investment for one kit, so to justify them, I got another one - modelling logic, got to love it First up, the Sword FR.XIVe box: And the Airfix PR.XIX: The decals. I'll be doing the Indian FR.XIV on the right and the Thai PR.XIX on the left. And a bit of background. It appears that as RAF India units disbanded or came home, they left their aircraft to the fledgling RIAF, who also kept the aircraft they'd been loaned towards the end of WW2 meaning they had quite a fleet of mixed marks of late war Spitfires: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Aircraft/History/919-Spitfire.html The Thai one is PS888. Yes, that PS888, the same airframe as in the Airfix box and this article: PS888 in Singapore Sprue shots will follow when I start building. Andy

This one came out of left field for me, I haven't heard anything about this. Apologies if this has already appeared. New Sword 1:72 Lightning T.4 (Kit SW72079): New Sword 1:72 Lightning T.5 (Kit SW72080): (pictures from www.ksmodel.pl) My heart is racing - how about yours? Cheers, Bill

Sword is to release in 2018Reggiane Re.2000 kits. - ref. 72111 - Reggiane Re.2000 Falco Source: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/1120821-sword-sw-72111-reggiane-re-2000-falco - ref. 72112 - Reggiane Re.2000GA Falco Source: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/1120825-sword-sw-72112-reggiane-re-2000ga-falco V.P.

Evening all. I'm late to the party, but will be trying my skills out on the Sword 1/72 Seamew kit. Here's the obligatory shot of the unstarted kit. First impression is that I had forgotten how small 1/72 is (where's that magnifying glass?). The detail looks well defined but there is a fair amount of cleaning up required. The resin parts are a nice touch too. The name of this particular subject seems apt considering the type's history. Off we go!

Hi All, Finally, I managed to complete the first model for this whole year. Somehow finding time for hobby was especially complex. Hopefully I will now gain some speed and would be up to my building plans next year And it looks like there has been a lack of T-birds recently on this forum so here is another one! This time it’s Canadair CT-133 Silver Star in its earliest version of RCAF markings. Model is built from Sword kit combined with excellent Leading Edge decals. Sword kit requires some effort to allow for clean assembly. The worst thing in Sword’s kit is the canopy. Front screen does not match in shape and width to the main part. So you can either model canopy open or look for a replacement. In my case, my brother helped me with vacuum pressed canopies that he did earlier for his Sword’s F-94 (it has same issue). Some extensive sanding and dry-fitting was required to make sure canopy sits right on the fuselage. Other changes: lower parts of intakes were cut from large lower wings/fuselage part and attached to each of fuselage sides for easier clean up of seams inside of intakes exhaust tube was replaced with a circular one added pitot tube in front of nose gear and fuel discharge tube on the aft starboard beneath the stabilizer sanded fuel tank fillers from outer sides and cut them through in inner sides of fuel tanks Also some mods were required to convert later service period T-33 into an earlier CT-133: equipment cooling vents in front of the canopy were sanded off as these were added later in T-33 life removed 4 of 6 gun port covers (Canadair CT-133’s had actually only two guns!) and drilled out 2 remaining gun ports drilled starter exhaust on the aft port side, removed US-version exhausts repainted some cockpit PE in black Otherwise Sword’s kit is pretty decent for a short run kit. As a benefit, Sword supplies resin gear bays, ejection seats and painted PE fret for cockpit and for some external bits. Resin wheels were the only purchased aftermarket. On to more photoes: And some family shots. First, with its British cousin that was also a very successful conversion of an early jet fighter into a T-bird: and second is my full collection of jets with centrifugal compressor engines - could not stand making a collective shot of fatty (or not that fatty) buddies Thanks for looking! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone! Dennis

Hi all! The latest in my series of types built in Latin colours. This time an F-80C Shooting Star operated by the 1st Grupo de Combate, Fuerza Aerea Colombiana (Colombian Air Force), and based at Palanquero Air Base. She is depicted as she appeared when participating in “Operación Solidaridad”, which was a joint US-Latin forces exercise in March 1961. At that time she operated with others from Howard AFB, Panama. Other countries that participated were Peru and the USA. This is how she was at that time: The model is the Sword F-80C and is reasonably straight forward to build. Contrary to some reports, it needed little filler but did need some trimming and sanding here and there to get her reasonable. The biggest change from the kit is a addition of Fletcher wing tanks. So, what did I do/use?: Sword F-80C kit Hasegawa T-33A wing tanks. These need a slight mod by bringing the fins forward. They are inaccurate as they come in the kit. Paints were Humbrol enamels – 27001 Aluminium metalcote overall, 209 Fluorescent Fire Orange, 21 Black, 226 Interior green, and others for small parts. Then Mattcote (for the dayglo) and Glosscote (the remainder) Decals were Armycast (for T-33 "Silver Star") plus the kit stencils and home printed serials and codes. The badge (home printed) on the port side was an exercise “zap”. I had no Spanish stencils so used the kit ones. Weathered with Flory Dirt Here she is: I hope you like her. Martin

Trying to play catch up with this GB, but with only a week to go, not making any promises. Sword kit in the stash looks to be a quick build, but opening up the box I found I have a Brengun PE set too, so might as well use some of it. Going for wheels up display, so that may or may not save some time. Have also cobbled a pilot from Airfix Spitfire. Will have some photos up soon... regards, Jack

T2V-1 on final.

Dear fellow Britmodellers, this is Sword's new 1/72 Fiat G.55, a kit presented at ModelBrno Show in June. I bought two boxes (each box containing two model kits) plus an aftermarket bag, containing resin seat, air intake, wheels and a vacu canopy. There's seven rather colorful marking options included. The model fits reasonably, but has shallow and washed-out details and soft panel lines in some areas. I found the assembly of the multi-part landing gear most challenging. I found an original photograph of this machine in "Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana Italian Air Forces 1943 - 1945" by Richard Caruana (Modelaid). It confirms the White fuselage band, but the nose is not visible. Therfore, I went with Sword's instructions and painted the cowl yellow, and the spinner black & white. Main colors are RLM74/75/76 from Gunze/Mr.Hobby acrylics range. Photographs by Wolfgang Rabel. Thanks for your interest! Best wishes from Vienna Roman

My latest completion the 1/72 Lightning F2A and Sword Lightning T4 completed as aircraft from 92 Sqn RAF, as I am no Lightning expert these were built virtually OOB with the exception of Xtradecal sheet X72155 used on the Airfix Ligntning so I could depict a 92 Sqn aircraft and a Pavla replacement seat, the Sword kit had a Master pitot probe added to replace the kit item that was like a tree trunk. Both kits went together pretty easily with no great problems all I would say is that some of the decals in the Sword boxing seem a tad overscale. As I have mentioned I am no Lightning expert and can't comment on the accuracy of either kit. Anyway enjoy, C + C welcome. Willy IMGP6755 by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr IMGP6762 by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr IMGP6760 by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr IMGP6751 by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr IMGP6757 by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr IMGP6758 by Phillip Wilmshurst, on Flickr

I often dream of Spitfires myself. Lately, that I've made a decent job of the Sword XIV. Having made two, one of which was reduced to spares after suffering Cat E damage, and making a half-decent stab at the other, I think it's time for another go. First of all, I have to locate one in the stash, which has recently been moved (for the sixth time in six months): (To the left is my extensive modelling area. To the right is my hiding place, if family or other unwelcome visitors arrive.) We're having some carpet laid today and I'm sorting-out my home studio, so I'll be making a start later this afternoon. Here's the start of the studio: I'll be installing a desk at some point.

Another fairly recent build, this is the Sword Seafire XV of 806 Sqn Fleet Air Arm based on HMS Glory. The Seafire XV was basically a strengthened Seafire III airframe with a Griffon VI engine. This was derived from the Griffon IIb used in the Spitfire XII and unlike the engine in the Spitfire XIV etc. had a single stage supercharger. Compared to the Seafire III, the Seafire XV had an improved performance, particularly at low altitude. The first squadrons received their aircraft in September 1945 and by mid-1946 had completely replaced the Seafire III in first line FAA service. 806 Squadron received their aircraft in October 1945 and became part of 16th Carrier Air Group embarked in HMS Glory in September 1946 and based in the Far East. The Squadron disbanded in October 1947, reforming briefly in 1948 and more permanently with Sea Hawks in 1953. The model is basically the Sword kit from the box with only the addition of seat belts and a whip aerial. The decals are from the kit and I chose this scheme as it was a little unusual in that it was the post war scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky but with British Pacific Fleet Roundels. There is a colour photo of the aircraft in Vol 16 of ‘Planes of Fame’. The kit itself posed few problems apart from the perennial problem I have with Spitfire kits of getting a good fit on the wing joints. The canopy could also have been a bit easier, but it was a short run kit and as they go I think it is one of the better ones and a much better kit than my previous effort of building a XV using a conversion kit (Brigade Models?) that used the Italeri IX as a basis. Hope you like it.

NF435 was built by Westland and delivered to 30 Maintenance Unit on 19/01/1944. She then flew with 899 squadron FAA before moving to 809 and flying from HMS Stalker (ex-USS Hamlin) in the Indian Ocean. Sadly, she collided with something (Spitfire The History doesn't say what) and was pushed overboard on 01/05/1945. Here's my attempt, using the Sword kit, brushed painted wth Humbrol enamels and a final coat of Windsor & Newton matt varnish. The WiP is here, should you care to look.

I recently moved my modelling into my new mancave and the first kit out of the stash is a Sword Seafire III. This will be a quick WiP because I just bash kits together. Anyway, here's the stash: Here's the box-top: And the back of the box: I'll need to get hold of some EDSG & DSG which means a trip to my local hobby shop or an order from Sovereign Hobbies. The kit is Sword's Spitfire MkVc, with extra bits for the fuselage and folding wings. Not the world's best photograph (I'm testing-out an old digital camera, rather than using my phone) but you'll notice the are several spare cannon on the sprue. Both boxings I have also include almost everything you need to make a Spitfire Vc. I have made a start. The seat & bits: The interior painted (Humbrol 33 and Sovereign Hobbies Interior Green): Some Tamiya Aluminum on the un-painted bits and a wash of poster piant black to make the detail stand out (not that it'll be seen once the fuselage halves are joined). The interior bits, with Tamiya tape seatbelts: The fuselage halves joined: Wings on: (note my mini Swiss Army Knife, with the tool for opening pots of paint, on the RHS of the photograph). More to follow in due course. Thanks for looking, Beard

Another from last year's KUTA. Needs the transfers finished, canopies added, masked and painted, and the undercart on. I've even got a set of masks for the canopy. Oh and the props as well. This should be straightforward. Well at the moment it seems straightforward.