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Hello all. Here’s my latest from the shed, not my usual fare, but a change is as good as a rest they say. The SR.A/1 jet flying boat fighter concept was brought about because of the success of Japanese water borne aircraft during WW2. In 1943 the Air Ministry funded the development of three Saunders Roe designed aircraft which were completed after the war had finished. The first flight being in 1947. After evaluation the aircraft was not deemed capable of matching the performance of land based aircraft and was not ordered. Two of the aircraft crashed during testing and were lost. The pilot of one was rescued by the occupant of a support launch who dived into the water fully clothed after the aircraft suffered a landing accident. He pulled the pilot free from the cockpit of the sinking aircraft saving his life. That pilot was Eric ‘winkle’ Brown who became one of the most famous test pilots of the time. The kit was typical short run, taking a bit of work to get it together. I replaced the supplied flimsy PE nose grill with silver nickel rod, other than that it was built from the box. It was finished in a mixture of Humbrol 27001 and 27002 and sealed using Xtra color varnishes. The base is from coastalkits. A nice change from the norm I enjoyed the challenge of this build. Here are a few pics, hope you like it. Thanks for looking. Pete

I started this in the Gloster Meteor GB back in 2022. It is an ambitious conversion of the Xtrakit NF11/12//14, formerly Matchbox I think, into a target tug version. The airframe is pretty much the sam with the addition of a scratch built target towing pod and some other sticking out bits. Also the underside is challenging because of the yellow and black stripes. A real challenge to get over the ventral tank and nacelles. The build stalled not due to the paint scheme but the fact I lost one of the blue seat belts and then didn’t have any more. Then couldn’t find any online. I’ve now found one Eduard belts an ordered them. On time to get this one on the road again. Work to date is here

Rejoining you with this Xtrakit Scimitar. Bought at RIAT Fairford 2022 for £20. Decals, I'm building this option with the scimitar. Parts.

In for a penny, in for a pound. I found this Xtrakit boxing of the Matchbox NF11/12/14 in the stash and thought I’ve got 3 on the go so why not a fourth. The TT22 was based on the NF11 so this is a reasonable starting point. The airframe is the same but the target towing appendages will need added. I’ll see if there’s any aftermarket available but if not it’s into the spares box to see what can be rustled up. I certainly have enough drop tanks to be able to sort something out. Anyway here’s the kit. Three grey plastic sprues with a number of optional parts for the various Marks. Although a more modern boxing the instructions scream Matchbox. Nice transfers which I’ll use the stencils and some of the roundels. And a commendably clear set of canopies, albeit a tad on the thick side. There’s a fair number of images on the web which I’ll use as a reference but I think they’re copyright so I’ll just give the links. https://www.facebook.com/aviationmt/photos/a.735829616779034/1685419015153418/?type=3 https://www.flickr.com/photos/158949556@N05/31814475477 https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/model/Gloster Meteor TT20 There’s a fair amount of work with the finish as well as the fabrication of new bits. Black and yellow striped undersides, High Speed Silver upperworks with yellow bands and serials, etc out of the stash. So it’s on we go.

I’m hopeful I can join in with this. It is however considerably more than 25% started though. Really just needing finished off. These are the parts still to go on, but the canopy isn’t in the box, though I think I know where it might be. IIf my reading of the rules is right I can complete it with a WIP in the GB but it shouldn’t go in the gallery but into the inspiration gallery instead. If I’m wrong let me know and I’ll stop. Though if permitted it will give me the impetus to finish it. If I can find the canopy of course.

Yes, another one for this GB, but with a twist. I’ll be building this one as if it actually made it into service in the Pacific, in FAA dark slate grey & extra dark sea grey over sky camouflage (I ran it past Col to check it was ok to enter it in the GB). I’ll leave it up to you all to decide for yourselves if this is because Saunders-Roe got through the development quicker than they did in reality, or if the war dragged on a bit longer. I’m starting with the “what if” boxing of the kit, though I’ll actually be using some decals for a FAA Hellcat in 1945: I’ll not post sprue shots as those have already been covered, plus it can’t have been started before the GB as it wasn’t released yet I’ll be referring to @Jb65rams and @Sabrejet threads for build tips as I go. As they both point out, there’s some hefty ejector pin marks in some odd places. That includes these two that pretty much obliterate part of the alignment features for the intake: They were pretty easily dealt with though, with some semblance of the alignment features restored: I don’t want to bash this kit too hard, as it is the best option out there for the SR.A/1 (unless you really fancy wrestling the Planet Models resin kit). What I will say is you’ll have to deal with plenty of those ejector marks in some very oddly chosen locations, far more flash than you’d expect on a brand new tooling, and very few location features. Having said that, I’m enjoying this one and I suspect there may be more in my future. Moving on, a selection of interior parts got painted: Some detailing has happened, as well as the 3d printed decals applied: They’re not bad, but I think I’d be inclined to paint the IP and use instrument decals if I tackle this kit again. Canopy sections have had a nice dip in Aqua Gloss: The stick has been painted, with a red dot added for a firing button: The engine intakes have been added to the bulkhead. The bulkhead is painted in Alclad duraluminium and is in reality significantly darker than the intakes, which are painted in their aluminium and have had a wash of black to highlight the blades: The seat is in progress. I’ve attached the 3d printed pads and belts. The main lap belts didn’t want to stay stuck to the seat base, so I’ve left them stuck to the outsides while the glue dried and will get them to stick to the base next session: I’ve started assembling the undercarriage bays. Note for anyone else building this kit, don’t do what I did and just spray the inside of the wing panels because you have leftover paint in the airbrush, assemble the bays first as you’ll end up having to repaint them otherwise: As moulded, the nose panel has the gun ports blanked over. I’ve made a start on drilling these out, with a little more tidying to come: The float parts have been removed from the sprues and the panels for the legs to attach to glued in: They look far rougher there than I realised! I’m currently debating replacing the kit legs with brass tube, partly as I think it’ll look better generally, but also because it would give me an opportunity to mount the legs to the floats after painting, which isn’t an option with the kit legs. I’ve cleaned up the ejector pin marks inside the exhausts. I’ve not bothered making them perfect as the rear piece of the engines will sit between them and the end of the exhaust rendering them invisible, I just needed enough off to get that part in: Not a lot left on the sprue now! I’m not intending to use the beaching gear. I’ve got plans to make a water base for this in the future, just not within the time frame of this GB. I’ll probably just make a stand of some kind for it, as Jb65rams did with his build. James

My entry in the prototype category is Xtrakits Saunders-Roe SR.A/1. A jet propelled flying boat fighter. This was a surprise announcement/release last weekend. It is a subject that has always interested me so I. The postie just delivered and it is going straight on to the bench. Initial impression, it is a big aircraft. In addition to the plastic, the kit includes some etch, a mask set and some 3D printed decals for the cockpit. Looking forward to start this one.

A Meteor intended for ground attack only. This kit, from Jet Age historian - thanks. To build something like this: Kit parts, and spares that I've collected. The kit has minor cockpit work, and dryfitting - but well short of 25%. Decals, and leftovers. Markings for G-7-1 are red. It might not be finished perfectly. Story is that by time of the Korean War, even Gloster were admitting that the Meteor was outclassed for air-air confrontations. In order to maintain sales, a Meteor F8, was optimised as a ground attack fighter. The single aircraft was armed with bombs, or double row rockets, and wingtip fuel-tanks, for demonstration purposes. No further sales were forthcoming, and just the single prototype aircraft was built. Did I ever mention that I'm a volunteer at Jet Age? where there's an interest in the history of Gloster Aircraft . . . This aircraft was later fitted with the tandem cockpit of a T7, and called a T7 and 1/2, and used for company business, including photography. Later sold to the Swedish Air Force, by then it had a proper T7 tail fitted, and the fuel tanks were gone.

Meteor F.8 324 Sqn, Royal Netherlands Air Force, Leeuwarden 1954 Xtrakit 1/72 with Dutch Decals. Wing roundels were from the Revell Hunter F.6 kit Xtracolour High Speed Silver paint + Klear coats A companion to the Dutch F.4 which was finished years ago (Frog kit):

This isn't really my first build of 2021. It's been sitting completed since back in February but I have seriously procrastinated in taking its pictures and posting here. The build did take a fair amount of time as there's a fair amount of etch as well as some resin. I also was over zealous in sanding the nose joint and that needed rectifying. Finished as XF310 of FRADU at RNAS Yeovilton in July 1985. Its finished in overall Dark Sea Grey. The kit options are for some RAF aircraft and an Admiral's barge for an Navy option. I preferred a working Naval Hunter and found this relatively simply liveried FRADU example on a Fantasy Print Shop 'Royal Navy Hunters' sheet which has transfers for 19 single seat and 23 twin seat Navy Hunters.

Planning to build and paint this Sea Harrier, alongside my Airfix project. Bought at SMW2008 for £10.40 (probably from Hannants, probably IPMS discounted.) As this option. I've already build an 801NAS FA2, and am building Airfix Satan 1 - 800NAS. Decals and parts. I'll contact Phantome to ask to see his photos. It doesn't sound a great kit, so might shape my decisions.

As well as my Seafire 47, I will also try and get this one built. This was released about 8 years ago and was moulded by MPM - it looks like it may be related to the batch of SH kits I mentioned in my Seafire intro. It comes with decs for 2 of Jeffrey Quill's silver racers as shown on the box, and 2 service machines from around 1947 in standard camo. My past experience with Xtrakits has been quite varied, but the MPM moulded ones have not been too bad, though they have needed quite a bit of dry fitting and care to get them to line up. More as and when I find time - this is the 4th GB I am currently involved in with at least 2 more on the horizon so it could be a while. Cheers Pete

Trying to sneak another one in ahead of the deadline Since @PeterB already got the camo scheme covered I’ll try and do it in one of the high speed silver race finishes as per box art First things first, cockpit innards painted, addition of the circular headrest and fuselage halves sandwiched together. Bit of a sod trying to get the cockpit frame aligned neatly as the recesses where it was meant to sit don’t give a really positive seating. Sight still to be touched up but good to get something together A bit more work on sub assemblies and then I can attach the wings and get it on the path of looking Spitfire-like A pretty painless build up to this point... until I realise that in posting off spare transparent bits to another member I’ve gone and left myself without the wingtip lights. So I’ve glued on a couple of chunks of clear sprue that I’ll have to let set till tomorrow and then file and sand to shape. Silly move that really

This one was a gift from the Mighty (generous) @Procopius, a rare 1/72 Xtrakit Spitfire XII, and now is a good time to build it.

I've been wondering what to do as a bit of a change after three 1/144 airliners. I considered (briefly) a 1/72 Valiant, then 1/48 Jaguar, F-16 and Meteor F8, before deciding I need another shelf before making any more big ones, so I've settled on this; the 1/72 Xtrakit Meteor night fighter to complement my collection of 50s RAF jets (and take up less shelf space to placate the missus!) I like Meteors, and there's something fascinating about these basic jets flying out of their bases in eastern England during the Cold War era. The east Anglian skies must have been filled with jets in those days. Here's the box and sprues. I'm assuming it's based on the Matchbox kit? That bag of bits is left over from the Matchbox Meteor I built a couple of years ago! Might come in handy. I still like my NF14, just needs an aerial fixing, but I'll see if I can make a tidier job of this one now I'm a bit more experienced. I was rather underwhelmed by the Xtrakit decals, especially given the plethora of bright markings from this era, so I treated myself to a set from ebay as they were only a fiver! Xtrakit: Any advice welcome!

The de Havilland Vampire has always been my favourite early jet. First flown in September 1943 (5 months before the Soviet La-7, half a year before the Japanese Ki-102 and 15 months before the He 162) she should be called a wartime design. And if she wasn’t British she would be a true WW2 fighter – unfortunately the RAF had huge numbers of already proven „430+ mph” fighters to list just the Mustang, Tempest and Griffon-Spitfires, while development of another British jet – the Meteor – was six months ahead of the „crab”. Thus the plywood-clad twin-boom marvel became the Cold War era fighter. For many years the only 72nd scale kit of this most successful British - and West European - jet (some 4.500 built, or nearly 6.000 including the Venom, whose prototype was called Vampire FB.8) was the FROG F217F, that appeared in 1971 and since 1978 (after the FROG sad demise) was available under the Soviet NOVO label. Although in my youth I have built dozens of FROG/NOVO kits their F217F (later F431) is still unknown for my eyes and hands, so I can only believe it at least looked like the Vampire. Several pictures available do prove it does. Next Vampire kit in the gentleman’s scale was Heller 80283 that appeared in 1979. Although still featuring raised (and few engraved) panel lines it had ribbed undercarriage bays. The box contained 41 parts (FROG had 36) and for next 30 years this was „the kit” used by the modellers all over the world to represent the Vampire. In this period it has been also reboxed by several other manufacturers, including Revell (since 1991) and Airfix (since 1998) as the most important ones. In 2006 there appeared super-detailed resin-cast Vampires from Czech Master Resin. IIRC more than a dozen of boxes are available, including the Mk I, the Sea Vampire, the NF, the Trainer and the Venoms. Every one contains some 50-60 resin parts, a vac-formed canopy, a coloured PE fret of 30+ details and an Eduard pre-cut mask. Unfortunately their prices (some £ 27 in my country) make such high-tech kits unavailable for my wallet. And perhaps for most of us… And then the horn of plenty gave us three brand new Vampire kits in just five years. They were the Ukrainian Amodel (in 2010), the Chinese (Dragon) Cyber Hobby in 2013 and – finally – the Czech CMK (labelled as Azur, Xtrakit and Special Hobby) in 2014. All of them feature engraved detailing, plenty of parts (almost 50 in Dragon, 60 in Amodel and 70 in CMK box) and various inbox reviews call each of them beautiful (if not splendid). Really each of them look like a Vampire… until you place two of them side by side. So the problem appears: which Vampire kit in 72nd scale is the best dimensionally- and shape-wise, as the details of all “new tool” trio are at least acceptable and their prices (£9 for CMK and £10 for Amodel) are not very high when compared to £6 for the Airfix (£8 for Revell) boxing of the ancient Heller kit. At some £19 the Cyber Hobby kit is far more expensive, while not far better. Fortunately I have the opportunity to measure the real bird (a Swiss-built FB.6) at the Polish Aviation Museum where I’ve been working between 1987 and 2014. So I took 21 various dimensions of the original, scaled them down and then measured the kits. The results are very interesting, although one can even call them horrible. It’s incomprehensible – for me at least – why can’t the 21st century kit manufacturer replicate faithfully the real plane, using instead various drawings that are far from reality. Measuring the real craft and making new drawings is far cheaper than NCM-cutting the moulds. And then we – thousands of modellers worldwide – have to use our skills to make a Vampire look like the Vampire… Full size dimensions are given in centimeters, the rest - in milimeters. Abbreviations stand for: R - real FB.5, S - scaled to 1:72, A - Amodel, C - CMK, D - Dragon Cyber Hobby, H - Heller/Revell/Airfix (FB.5) Fuselage length overall (FB.5) R610 S84.7 A81.8 C83.8 D80.8 H81.4 Sliding canopy length R122 S16.9 A18.3 C18.5 D17.8 H17.0 End of canopy to the top of nose bulkhead R192 S26.7 A26.9 C27.6 D26.3 H25.2 End of canopy to the bottom of nose bulkhead R203 S28.2 A28.5 C29.0 D28.1 H27.0 End of canopy to the tip of nose R278 S38.6 A37.2 C38.5 D37.2 H35.0 End of canopy to fuselage joint frame R105 S14.6 A13.4 C12.3 D12.4 H14.1 End of canopy to tailpipe R332 S46.1 A44.6 C45.3 D43.6 H46.4 Half of wing span R579 S80.4 A79.0 C79.9 D77.8 H79.5 Fuselage centreline to aileron inner edge R324 S45.0 A42.8 C43.4 D41.9 H43.8 Fuselage centreline to main u/c bay outer edge R262 S36.4 A34.5 C35.6 D34.7 H36.7 Fuselage centreline to flap outer edge R250 S34.7 A33.0 C33.7 D32.9 H33.0 Fuselage centreline to tailboom centreline R149 S20.7 A20.0 C20.2 D19.6 H19.3 Wing chord at aileron outer edge R99 S13.7 A13.9 C14.0 D13.0 H13.5 Wing chord at aileron inner edge R194 S26.9 A29.0 C29.1 D26.8 H25.9 Wing chord at main u/c bay outer edge R231 S32.1 A33.0 C32.3 D30.6 H30.4 Wing chord at tailboom centreline R265 S36.8 A40.5 C39.6 D38.2 H37.0 Tailboom insert into wing R190 S26.4 A26.0 C26.8 D24.4 H24.8 Tailboom length aft of joint R412 S57.2 A55.0 C56.0 D54.5 H57.4 Tailplane span (between fairings) R282 S39.1 A38.6 C38.8 D37.8 H36.8 Horizontal stabilizer chord R77 S10.7 A10.5 C12.0 D10.0 H10.6 Elevator chord R41 S5.7 A5.5 C5.8 D5.4 H5.8 So the results are: every fuselage is too short (I know that Swiss FB.6 pointed nose is longer) with CMK being the only close. Every canopy is too long with Heller being the only close – but this is easy to correct. Fuselage panel lines are wrong in each case with differences reaching 3.5 mm in scale (10” on real bird). All the wings are too short with CMK being AGAIN the only close. Same applies to the gap between the tailbooms. Chordwise Heller and Dragon wings are too narrow, while Amodel and CMK are too wide (which is easier to correct). Shape-wise only the Heller wing outline is close to real thing with aspect ratio (span to mid-span chord ratio) of 5.97:1 (a bit too slim ) compared to 5.72 in Dragon, 5.56 in CMK and 5.44 in Amodel – the original features 5.88:1. The difference in tailplane chord “by Dragon” and “by CMK” is 15% - funny, isn’t it? Using just the main dimensions (wing span and overall length) all kits are undersized with CMK being the only close (1:72.7), followed by Heller (1:73.2), Amodel (1:73.9) and Dragon (1:74.9). I made several pictures of wings, tailplanes, tailbooms and fuselage nacelles scanned from the real moulds. However it's impossible to compare the fuselage nacelle, as the CMK and Dragon kits feature horizontal split, while in Amodel and Heller there are port and starboard halves. Being unable to measure the real bird fuselage maximum diameter I can only add, that in the kits featured it varies from 16.5 mm in Cyber Hobby through some 18 mm in Heller and CMK to 19.0 mm in Amodel. Though being very difficult to correct it remains an oddity here… Happy modelling!

Hope you're all well. One of the great things about our hobby is that it is the perfect past time when you're forced to stay indoors. I even manage to get some kits finished that were long overdue. Here's my Xtrakit (Matchbox) A.W. Meteor NF.11 in the markings of the Belgian Air Force, as it appeared in 1956. I also used the Airwaves set for the interior, although in hindsight I might have left it out. Decals are from Kits at War, from their long OOP Belgian Air Force sheet. Hope you like it. Peter

It's a nice little kit this, fits together well - just remember to add plenty of noseweight! WK803 was one of the Meteors that took part in the 1953 Queen's Coronation flypast. This is how she appeared around this time, with the metal on the rear canopy, high speed silver paint and smaller diameter intakes. Meteor F8s flew with 56 Sqn from Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire until being replaced by Swifts in 1955. Here's the WIP:

Straight onto another 50's classic, the glorious Meteor. I'm tempted to do this one all silver, with the solid rear canopy area and small intakes, though it depends how things go and references I can find. However, having found these decals which I'd forgotten about, I'm also tempted to do the 74 sqn jet. I think it'll be a toss up between that in camo or a silver 56 sqn jet. Let's see how it goes.

1968 Simon's Sircus In an attempt to control the size of the stash, I have a rule that my groupbuild entries must come from the existing stash. So while researching 1968 I came across the Sea Vixen's of Simon's Sircus. Simon's Sircus was an aerobatic display team comprising six Sea Vixen FAW.2 aircraft from 892 Squadron. The team operated for a single season during the summer of 1968 and was named after 892 Squadron’s commanding officer, Lt Cdr Simon Idiens. The team's airplanes were painted in standard FAA colours of dark gray and white with yellow and black wolf's head badge on the fins. Simon's Sircus pilots had a real lioness for a mascot. Need to find a 1/72 lioness. They were based at RNAS Yeovilton and displayed at numerous RAF Airshows and Royal Navy Air Station Air Days during the 1968 season culminating at the Farnborough Airshow in the September. Towards the end of the season, they flew coordinated displays with the Buccaneers from 809 squadron Phoenix Five This was not the first time the Sea Vixen had been used in a aerobatic team, 766 squadron formed a team of five Sea Vixen FAW.1. Fred's Five displayed during 1962 & 1963. I believe that Simon Idiens was a member of this team I will be using Xtrakit's 1/72 Sea Vixen FAW.2 for this build. Decals will be from the Model Alliance sheet "Royal Navy Aerobatic Teams" This sheet also includes decals for a Buccaneer from the Pheonix Five, waiting for Airfix's new Buccaneer.

Hello and long time no see is what the people say in this case I think. It sort of went like this. A 30 year modelling break, then 13 builds posted here, then a further 3 year break due to lifeTM stuff. But no fear, because some kind of luck was with me, as I recently suffered a mini-stroke which included, free of charge, temporary speech loss and paralysis. Even MORE luck was that I wasn't allowed to drive for a while so that killed off my self-employed photo work and it hasn't recovered yet. And then they found out I had a hole in my heart since birth which was the cause. Much fall out ensued! This MEANS that I had some time to make some models again! *Insert cowboy style yelling and much cheering* AND.. It would be seen as good use of my time for rest and rehabilation. *Insert more cheering* So, before I soon start back into the real world of work, I was trying to get a few kits done. This means they'll be a short period of spamming a few builds before disappearing again for a little while. I hate doing that so mucho apologies, but I'll do my best to have a good ole browse at everyone else's amazing work before life shifts again. Here it is, my first warm-up, and crikey, I was a bit rusty. It's the Xtrakit Vampire FB.5 (also MPM), with a pretty scheme pulled of the Xtradecal sheet, No. 112 Sqn, RAF Fassberg, Germany 1951. Out of the box, other than that scheme. I somehow managed to lose the counterweights from the rear control surfaces to the carpet monster, but I was just happy to be building and painting again so rolled my eyes and shrugged it off. Thanks for looking. VampireFB5_01 by Jonathan Macauley, on Flickr VampireFB5_02 by Jonathan Macauley, on Flickr VampireFB5_03 by Jonathan Macauley, on Flickr VampireFB5_04 by Jonathan Macauley, on Flickr VampireFB5_06 by Jonathan Macauley, on Flickr VampireFB5_08 by Jonathan Macauley, on Flickr VampireFB5_07 by Jonathan Macauley, on Flickr

Here is my contribution to this GB. The Scimitar had a short service life of about 10 years from 1956. Although limited by the 40/50s technology in its design it was an important aircraft for the Fleet Air Arm and a pioneer in many ways. It was the FAA's first true swept wing fighter, first to be truly trans-sonic and the first capable of delivering a nuclear weapon. It was also for a period in the 60s the FAA's first and only dedicated tanker aircraft, being used to allow underpowered Mk1 Buccaneers to get off Carrier decks with a full weapons load. Scimitars were deployed in the Med, North Sea and North Atlantic as well as in the Far and Near East (out of scope, I know but completes the story. I've made an Xtrakit SHAR and Meteor in the past (and I think there's a Sea Vixen sitting on the shelf of doom) and the former was a challenge and a half so I suspect this will take me to November to finish. However it will be worth it for this iconic British naval aircraft. sprue shot I'll be making this one from HMS Eagle's 800B Squadron

Build of the Xtrakit issue of the Matchbox kit, using the Matchbox decals Sort of started for the Matchbox GB of last November; finished late last week

With apologies for the lateness of my entry I would like to join the GB with a Meteor F8 in quite garish Belgium colours. I have a massive soft spot for the Meteor in all its guises and had half a mind to build an Airfix 1/48 Meteor for this GB but (a) there is already one in the group and (b) I am having a spectacular run of not finishing kits at the moment...so maybe something with a lower parts count. I am using the Xtrakit as the base which is I believe the MPM F8 reboxed. The decals are Xtradecal X72-071. All comments very welcome. Dave

I would like to throw my hat into the ring if I may. A quick review of the stash presented a number of options including these: The Airfix 1/48 Meteor was very tempting but as I am in the process of finishing of my Eduard Bf110 for the other anniversary build I fancied something ultra simple and OTB....which leads me to... This is obviously the old Matchbox kit and I am not sure I have built one of those for about 25 years. I know the fit is a little ropey but hopefully it will come together without too many issues (famous last words). Not sure which scheme to build it in but probably the one on the box. Cheers Dave