825's 2020 collection

[825]

This year has been a strange year as we all know. As a healthcare worker I have periods when I was busier than I have been for a while, albeit working part time. While at other times I have a lot of time on my hands; no rugby to watch, no holidays and no opportunity to go out for something to eat or drink. Even the last couple of weeks have been really busy as I'm involved with COVID vaccine administration, hence the last minute posting.  Overall it's been a productive year, partly because of the periods of extra time available and because I've been conservative in some of my choices as well as doing multiple versions of the same or similar kit. 

 

Everything is 1:72/76 unless otherwise stated. So we start off with a Falklands Harrier GR3 XZ997 as based on HMS Hermes. Old Airfix boxing. 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Harrier, this time T4N XW268 from 899 NAS based at RNAS Yeovilton in 1992 in the 50th Anniversary markings. Sword kit with Pavla resin intakes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a third Harrier this time a GR9 (ZD406) of the Royal Navy Naval Strike Wing in the 100th Anniversary of Navak Flight markings. Hasegawa limited edition kit this time. 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I did a bundle of kits for the In the Navy Group Build. First up is a Blackburn Firebrand TF5, EK747 of 703 NAS based at RNAS Lee on Solent. I'd always wanted to build a Firebrand as my father worked in them when he was in the FAA and this Valom kit was ideal. The Firebrand was a beast of a plane and the kit captures its looks really well. 

 

 

 

 

 

Next the GB was a Grumman Martlet MkI, one of the early Martlets in an unusual camouflage scheme. This AZ Models boxing is finished as AM963 which of 802 NAS On HMS Audacity and thought to be the aircraft that S/Lieutenant Jimmy Sleight was flying when he shot down a FW 200 Condor

 

 

 

 

 

I did a few different thing some in this GB and this was probably the most challenging modelling wise. This is a very old Airfix HMS Victory 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is a DFS Olympia Glider VS891 of the Royal Navy which is an AZ Models kit. Another from the 'In the Navy' GB. 

 

 

 

 

 

My final build for the 'In the Navy' GB was a resin F4 Models Vickers 4x4 deck tug 

 

 

 

 

 

And now acouple that have been sitting around waiting to be finished. First up was this Saro Skeeter WF113 which was trialled by the Royal Navy. This is an Aeroclub kit that I had been picking up and setting down for a few years. It's  small but it's a nice little chopper. 

 

 

 

 

 

This Fairey Fulmar NFII was waiting for some etch to finish it off and some other bits added. It's completed as BP791 of 784 NAS based a team RAF Drem in 1944. 

 

 

 

 

 

more to follow

[825]

A bundle of Seafires and a Spitfire built for the Spitfire/Seafire/Seafang/Spiteful GB. First a Seafire MkIb built as MB304 the personal mount of Lt/Commander Duncan Hamilton while based in Kenya in 1943. An Admiral boxing finished out of the box

 

 

 

 

 

Next was a Seafire LIII (FN547), of 885 NASas a D-Day spotter in June 1944. A different looking Seafire in the Day Fighter Scheme with D-Day stripes. A Sword kit. 

 

 

 

 

 

Then a Seafire FR46 built from an Airfix Spitfire F22 and a Freightdog conversion kit. Finished as LA545 of 1832 NAS based at RNAS Culham in 1948. 

 

 

 

 

 

A late mark Seafire in Sword's MkXVII finished as SX282 from 1833 NAS of the RNVR at RNAS Bramcote in 1949. 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought the only way to build a Seafire F45 was with this CMR resin kit which is a nice kit and not too challenging to build. Then I found a Sword boxing in the stash. Anyway here is the CMR kit finished as LA483 of 771 NAS at Lee on Solent in the late 1940's. 

 

 

 

 

 

and the solitary Spitfire, a Hobbyboss Easy Assembly Spitfire MkVc with some extra bits and a new prop from a Seafire MkIII kit. Finished a second BM144 of 303 Squadron RAF. 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's all the Seafires and the Spit. 

 

 

Although I've lots of fond memories of Saturday afternoon builds when a kid and a pile of elderly Airfix kits in the stash, I only got round to building one kit in the 'One I Built as a Kid' GB. I did pimping this old Airfix Westland Scout AH1 with Airwaves etch for the interior and some wire detailing for the engine and some resin wheels. 

 

 

 

 

[bigbadbadge]

Crikey what a cracking collection,  absolutely fantastic I couldn't pick a fave as they are all cracking . Love all the FAA stuff.

Great work.

Chris

[825]

And now a bundle of choppers for the Helicopters GB. First up is a new mould Airfix Westland Sea King HC4. Finished as ZA314 from 848 NAS at RNAS Yeovilton in 2011. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then a couple based on the older Airfix boxing, which dates from around 1969 or so and much more challenging builds. First a Sea King AEW2 which has some newer parts and I use daily the Airwaves deflated radome. Finished as XV714 of 849 NAS based on HMS Illustrious in 1988. 

 

 

 

 

 

And a Westland Sea King HU5 converted from a HAS3 with some scratchbuilt parts as well as parts scavenged from the other two Sea King builds. Finished as XZ578 of 771 NAS based at HMS Gannet, aka NAS Prestwick in 2009. Transfers came from a Model Art sheet. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then a couple of Hobbyboss Westland Lynxes, both in the Black Cats livery of 702 NAS's display team. Transfers OOB for the HAS3 and from a Model Alliance sheet for the HMA8.  First up is the HAS3 XZ250

 

 

 

 

 

and the HMA8

 

 

 

 

 

Display Team. 

 

 

Quick view of all the GB builds

 

 

 

 

[825]

A Sea Gladiator for the Battle of Britain 40th Anniversary GB. Pavla Se Gladiator kit completed as N5576 of 804 NAS based at RNAS Hatson in mid 1940. 

 

 

 

 

[gazza l]

Blimey, you did have a busy year, all very nicely made. I do like the little skeeter...you don't see those made very often.

 

gazza l

[AdrianMF]

Nice work for the year. I missed the HMS Victory, which looks like an amazing result from that old mould (I have a Curry Sark on my Shelf of Shame), and the Saro Skeeter does look very cute! I like your themed group builds too.

 

Regards,

Adrian

[Grey Beema]

A very productive year, both quality and quantity.  I don’t know how you do it..

[bigbadbadge]

Excellent Helicopter collection too and its wonderful to see tge Sea Gladiator,  again  great work. 

Chris

[825]

Apologies for the late posting of the remainder of my Yearbook. As usual left it all too late and didn't get home till late afternoon yesterday and ran out of time to post before we had our muted Hogmanay celebrations. So here's the rest of the work. 

 

I went a wee bit mad and went on an AFV stash clearance for the MTO 3 Group Build. Most were straightforward builds and no need for canopy masks or multiple paint colours. So here they are, along with one aircraft. 

 

First up an Italeri Autocannone 3RO with a 90/53 gun. An Italian Army example from Tunisia in 1941

 

 

 

 

 

And an Italeri 90/53 gun on its own with its 'servants'

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Italeri kit, this time a Camionetta AS42 Sahariana from the Raggruppamento Sahariana in Tunisia in 1943. 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up another Italeri kit this time a Carro Armato M13/40 Medium Tank finished a second an Australian captured vehicle in Libya in 1942. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then an Italeri Bishop MkI of the 8th Army in the El Alamein sector in October 1942. 

 

 

 

 

 

Yet another Italeri kit, an Autoblinda AB41 of the Polizia Africana Italiana in Tunisia in 1943. 

 

 

 

 

 

Then an Airfix (ex JB Models) Vickers Light Tank MkVIc from the Western Desert in 1940/41. 

 

 

 

 

 

A Revell Crusader MkIII of the 1st Armoured Division, 9th Queen's Lancers in the Western Desert in 1941. 

 

 

 

 

 

The last build is an ACE Models British 2 pounder Anti-tank gun. This was a lovely little kit but it is tiny and had loads of little parts. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Western Desert Collection 

 

 

Then a single aircraft in this GB, a Gloster Sea Gladiator from 813F NAS on HMS Eagle in 1940. An Airfix Gladiator with a scratch built dinghy housing and arrestor hook housing. Transfers from the stash and left overs from a Pavla build. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[825]

There's a few bits and pieces built or completed in 2020 to finish off the Yearbook. 

 

First an Airfix (nee Heller) DH89 Dragon Rapide built in the Heller GB. This was not an easy build and required a whole lot of work, mainly as a consequence of seriously warped fuselage sides. In the end Milliput was my friend. The build was also my first proper attempt at rigging with mixed results. It was finally finished as NR782 of 829 NAS's Station Flight at RNAS Culdrose in 1960. 

 

 

 

http://village.photos/images/user/c313ebc3-aec6-4f08-a7b5-adc9f4ef3d9b/resized_4c22c6c4-cdfd-4f1c-bc8c-51d0cdb6d96b.JPG

 

 

This Azur Sea Otter has been languishing not quite on the shelf of doom for several years so I decided to finish it as my contribution to this (last) year's KUTA. Completed as JN196 based on HMS Theseus during the Korean War in the early 1950's. It's a strange looking beast and would be incongruous as a biplane operating on a carrier alongside late piston engined and early jets. Though it isn't a rather attractive aircraft in its own way. 

 

 

 

 

 

This Naval Hunter was finally completed even before lockdown and has waited until now for its day in the limelight. But I will pop it in RFI soon. It's an Xtrakit model finished as Hawker Hunter T7, XF310 of FRADU based at RNAS Yeovilton in July 1985. The transfers came from a Fantasy Print Shop 'Royal Navy Hunters' sheet. 

 

 

 

 

 

When building my 2 pounder for the MTO GB I had a second kit which was beyond the 25% completed rule but I finished building it alongside. 

 

 

 

When I was having a bit of a time with my challenging biplanes I decided to drag a Plastic Soldier Company kit out for a relaxing build. The one I laid my hands on was a set of 4 Pak 37s so I now have a battery of Axis Anti-Tank guns. 

 

 

 

i finished this gun at the beginning of the year and it's probably the worst kit I've ever built. Thankfully it didn't have many parts but it was covered in flash, nothing fitted, pieces were misshapen and the instructions were worse than useless. 

 

 

 

 

And finally the one that got away, I will finish it but it won't be in time for the end of the MTO GB as intended. Magna' Fairey Albacore just takes time and it's stalled at this point waiting for the canopy to be masked. 

 

 

Happy New Year everyone and thanks for all the support and encouragement throughout the year. 

[AdrianMF]

The howitzer looks splendid (which kit?) and don’t let that Albacore beat you!

 

Regards,

Adrian

[desert falcon]

Indeed a productive year for you 825, with some very nice builds coming out of the final assembly line !!