Search the Community

For my first ever entry into a BM group build, my project will be the Douglas D-558-2 "Skyrocket" flown by Scott Crossfield on November 20, 1953. On that flight, Crossfield broke the Mach 2 "barrier", reaching Mach 2.005 in a shallow dive. It was the only Mach 2 flight the Skyrocket ever made. A few weeks later, I was born. The kit is very simple, consisting of one sprue plus a clear canopy, resin wheels, some PE, and decals: I'll be building this as an in-flight model, so won't need to worry about landing gear or cockpit details. That means, I only have about a dozen pieces to assemble. Which is good -- I might even finish before the group build deadline! Links to some great videos are here: And, here are some pics of the actual aircraft:

The Merlin engined Boulton Paul Balliol was an advanced two seat trainer which entered service with the Royal Air Force in 1952. The Balliol was originally intended to be powered by a turboprop engine which is why the fuselage is so deep as the jet pipe would have been routed under the cockpit. The first prototypes were powered by a Mamba turboprop and were three seaters but Air Ministry policy changed and a more conventional powered two seater trainer was decided on. A total of 162 Balliol T.2s were built for the RAF which was quite a reduction in the original order for 400 as the Air Ministry had again changed their minds and were now favouring a jet powered advanced trainer. Turboprop engined Balliol protoype Meanwhile the Royal Navy were also interested in the Balliol and so a navalised version was built which became the Sea Balliol T. Mk 21. A total of 30 Sea Balliols were built and these first entered service in 1953. The Sea Balliol which I have modelled taking off from HMS Triumph A feature of the Balliol was that all of them had folding wings, even the RAF ones, which I suppose would have made packing lots of them into the hangars at RAF Cottesmore easier. RAF Balliols waiting to be scrapped. The RAF ones had larger wing roundels than the Navy ones for some strange reason. The height of the roll-bar support is very apparent now that the canopy has been removed. I have always had a fascination for the Balliol and was excited when Special Hobby announced a 1/72 injection moulded kit. They produced both versions and I decided on the Sea Balliol as I love aeroplanes that operate in sea environments. Also I had seen the only surviving example of a Sea Balliol at the RAF Museum at Cosford and was very impressed with it. The only surviving Sea Balliol. As with previous topics of mine I took a few photos during the construction a few years ago but the majority of photos will be of the completed model which is why it is posted here. The presentation for the RAF T. Mk 2 version The impressive box art on the kit that I built. Special Hobby have a superb artist in residence. Note the substantial tail wheel and arrestor hook fitted to the Sea Balliol. Must leave it here for now as must get ready as my wife is taking me out for a birthday meal. Back soon.

Good evening Today I started a 2nd build the Special Hobby Mirage F1CR The Box art The sprues [/url ] Some books I will use some parts of the Eduard detailling set and the CMK seat I started by the engine I also started to work on the cockpit , I used the decals for the the Instrument panel and the Eduard PE side consoles Patrice

"Some day the sun won't shine for you" ........... sings Ian Anderson in one his Blues in 1968 , the old men like me will understand ! In this kit I haven't done with care , but I enjoyed it I did it for my own pleasure ............ and now you switch to another! ..................and now switch to another ! A nice weekend to all Ettore

Heinkel He113 Propaganda Jager (Heinkel He100D-0) 1/72 Special Hobby SH72115, included in box was PE parts. OOB, ModelMaster paint, swastikas from spare box (too large), EZ Line fine antenna wire. Fitting the Canopy was difficult, seemed too large, had also "a few" other problems