What's your latest purchase?

[klr]

20 minutes ago, psdavidson said:

Have you checked to make sure it's the official version with the broken prop?

Is there some issue with the propeller blades? Both units look fine, as I peer through the plastic bag.

[MrB17]

54 minutes ago, klr said:

Got me the Airfix Rotodyne

Curious about the decals, some previous issues had light blue, rather than the darker blue ala the real thing and the Roy Cross box art. I can’t seem to find any photos of the newest rerelease.

 

Cheers

 

Jeff
 

 

[klr]

22 minutes ago, MrB17 said:

Curious about the decals, some previous issues had light blue, rather than the darker blue ala the real thing and the Roy Cross box art. I can’t seem to find any photos of the newest rerelease.

 

Cheers

 

Jeff
 

 

It depends on which photos of the real thing you look at. It's a bit lighter than on the box artwork, but definitely much, much darker than the decals provided with previous releases from Airfix, or Revell (based on a quick image search). However, in the paint and decal guide, Humbrol 14 Gloss French Blue is implied as being a match, as it is be applied on the nose, which the decals don't cover. But Humbrol 14 is much too light. I can't think off the top of my head what Humbrol or Revell colour might be a good match, although I suspect at least one of the Revell blues might be quite close.

Edited January 19, 2024 by klr

[MrB17]

It’s on the way! Hard to choose just one from what’s left out there, however I have always wanted to try a clear doped linen finish. The price was right and it’s in Canada, so I just couldn’t resist adding it to the cart.

Cheers

 

Jeff

[MrB17]

7 minutes ago, klr said:

It depends on which photos of the real thing you look at.

I can see some of the photos and videos look different depending on the lighting, film etc. However there are a few surviving parts in the Helicopter Museum in Weston, one of which is a good chunk of the fuselage, with the blue stripes in place. I don’t have access to the museum, but there are some good photos of it. It’s probably been repainted but it looks much like Roy Cross’ artwork. You’re right, Humbrol 14 is way off the mark, but probably matches the light blue on the decals of some previous releases. It’s a deal breaker for me if it’s too light, unless someone does aftermarket decals.

 

Thanks

 

Jeff

[klr]

2 minutes ago, MrB17 said:

I can see some of the photos and videos look different depending on the lighting, film etc. However there are a few surviving parts in the Helicopter Museum in Weston, one of which is a good chunk of the fuselage, with the blue stripes in place. I don’t have access to the museum, but there are some good photos of it. It’s probably been repainted but it looks much like Roy Cross’ artwork. You’re right, Humbrol 14 is way off the mark, but probably matches the light blue on the decals of some previous releases. It’s a deal breaker for me if it’s too light, unless someone does aftermarket decals.

 

Thanks

 

Jeff

Off the top of my head, I would say the decal blue is a bit lighter than Humbrol 104 Oxford Blue.

[psdavidson]

16 hours ago, klr said:

Is there some issue with the propeller blades?

 

I believe this is fairly common

 

[Des]

Via Ali Express (Resin Model Store)

2 x 4D Models 1/6 AK-47 Assault Rifle kits , from a range of 1/6 ‘click together’ plastic gun kits as a low cost source of 40mm’ish gun barrels for a 1/35 ‘what-if’ project.

 

From Hannants

Flying Leathernecks FL35-5009 1/35 XM158A1 Rocket Launchers 3D -Printed , 2 x packs of 2 , again for a future ‘what-if’ project.

[Mr T]

I think the propeller problem on the Rotodyne is partially down to the size of the box. Unlike most modern kits the Rotodyne runners do not protect the parts. Look at any kit of that era, not to mention those produced a lot later, and remember the days of bits rattling about boxes and bags. The blue might be fun to match, I have a load of blue paints, but they never seem to match anything I want them for!

The box art is interesting. If you look at the boats on the river, the scale between them, the Tower and Tower Bridge is hopelessly out. There is also the suggestion of a bus going over Tower Bridge. If so, Tower Bridge is getting on for Empire State Building height. I now cannot unsee it. 

[stevehnz]

A couple of Smer kits have slipped through the catch net the last couple of days, only one, the small one being detected, a F-4U, not one of their best but I was keen on the decals for a rebuilt silver painted Marine one from the Islands, they possibly won't be used on this kit. The other was a Leo 451, to satisfy as itch I needed to scratch, there're a couple on the WW2 twins GB already I think so this one would definitely be superfluous.

Steve.

[Whofan]

1 hour ago, stevehnz said:

A couple of Smer kits have slipped through the catch net the last couple of days, only one, the small one being detected, a F-4U, not one of their best but I was keen on the decals for a rebuilt silver painted Marine one from the Islands, they possibly won't be used on this kit. The other was a Leo 451, to satisfy as itch I needed to scratch, there're a couple on the WW2 twins GB already I think so this one would definitely be superfluous.

Steve.

Steve,

 

The F4U which has the silver painted Marine plane is the last build I did last year. 

 

I did it in the silver scheme because my daughter's name is Sally, which is also the name on the plane.

 

I found it to be a decent kit to build, it is one of the better models I did last year (my 2023 yearbook entry explains why); it had a few minor fit issues, and you'll find it in a brief RFI here;

 

 

[stevehnz]

1 hour ago, Whofan said:

The F4U which has the silver painted Marine plane is the last build I did last year. 

Oh, so you're the culprit, I know I got the idea from somewhere.   I've built the Smer (Heller) F-4U before, rather than using the kit Kiwi decals I used some Frog ones, it came out OK I think the engine was the weakest part possibly. I was surprised how well the wings went together for something that looked like it shouldn't fit to my eye.  

Steve. 

[593jones]

Picked up the Miniart 148 P-47D from Ebay for a good price.  I haven't built a P-47 since the Revell 1/72 kit back in the '60's, so it's about time I built another.  Looks very nice in the box 😁

[Whofan]

19 hours ago, stevehnz said:

Oh, so you're the culprit, I know I got the idea from somewhere.   I've built the Smer (Heller) F-4U before, rather than using the kit Kiwi decals I used some Frog ones, it came out OK I think the engine was the weakest part possibly. I was surprised how well the wings went together for something that looked like it shouldn't fit to my eye.  

Steve. 

I put my hands up on that!

 

Yes, the engine did look - shall we say, simplistic?

 

As I said in the RFI, I was surprised and rather pleased that the wings and fuselage of this  went together so well, especially after the torrid time I'd had with some other kits.

[Vince1159]

Secret Army DVD box set and worth every pound...

[Whofan]

A musical ish bent this week on a trip to Birmingham.

 

Starting with these, from HMV;

 

 

No Sound (left top) and  Pure Reason Revolution are both bands within the genre New Wave of British prog rock, and both of them have sizeable chunks of their catalogue on my CD shelves.

 

The Earth Wind and Fire box set was bought because it includes the album That's the way of the world, which is the subject of one of the 33 1/3 monographs om albums I often post up here.

 

I know little about it - not yet read the book, that's why - but according to the sleeve it's the soundtrack to a film of the same title, so it'll be interesting listening and reading. 

 

Then it was off to Waterstones to pick up these;

 

 

Staying with music, top left is the Abbey Road Studios story. As soon as I saw it I knew I had to have it, after all I have walked across the famous Albbey Road zebra crossing and I have the photos of me doing so to prove it ! I look forward to reading this book, possibly while listening to the Beatles.

 

Then there's Death Metal, a book in a sub set of the 33 1/3 monogrpahs on albums mentioned above, dealing with different genres of music, this one is about  ... errr ... death metal, which for those not in the know, is an extremely unpleasant variation on thrash metal which for those not in the know is a very fast version of heavy metal.

 

I don't particularly like death metal.  - .let's be honest, I find it somewhat unpleasant - but it is a fascinating variation which deserves, whether you like it or not, to be at least informed about.

 

For light releif I also bought Rev. Richard Coles' book Murder before Evensong, about a reverend who investigates murders in the parish.

 

Sounds a bit like Father Brown, doesn't it? Though I think the inspration might be more Rishard Osman's excellent series the Thursday Murder club.

 

Modelling purchases may well take a back seat until the East Midlands show in Hinkley on 7th April.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 22, 2024 by Whofan

[stevehnz]

A few tins of Revell enamels from a local supplier who still has some. 

Steve.

[marvinneko]

Got this at a pawn shop. I now have 2 Airfix, one MPM, and this Fairey Battle. What can I say, I'm a sucker for maligned planes. I've read some build reviews but I think I can cope with its issues. I expect to do training versions... this tug and the others gunnery training. Maybe a crash, too.

 

 

Parts bag sealed. Canopies seem a little yellow. Any fix for that?

 

[MrB17]

1 hour ago, marvinneko said:

Canopies seem a little yellow. Any fix for that?

They look “Falconish”, perhaps they are still available? Nice score there David,

 

Cheers

 

Jeff

[UberDaveToo]

On 1/6/2024 at 10:06 AM, Mr T said:

One of my Christmas presents was this gem.

Forget the Lea & Perrins and other Worcester sauces, this is the stuff. It used to be made in a small factory near the University of Sheffield, and I recall going past the place when I was a student back in the early 1970s. It is still a family run business in a newer factory, and in our local Morrisons is about a pound cheaper than Lea & Perrins. Likewise, it is also apparently suitable for vegetarians.

According to my understanding, that is pronounced "wassishere sauce?"

[noelh]

On 1/19/2024 at 8:34 PM, klr said:

Got me the Airfix Rotodyne, which I was going to pass on, but seeing that Roy Cross artwork ...

 

 

Well I fell into the same trap, an Airfix Boomerang in the LMS. I never built it back in the day although a friend had one. But the artwork got me. So it was sucked into my hands. Actually it went to the top of of the  build queue and it might end up as my first ever RFI. 

I haven' t come across a Rotodyne but it's another kit I missed. My gardener who's English grew up near where the Rotodyne was tested. He told me the noise it made was insane. The jets in the tips of the  rotors. 

 

Fascinating.

 

 

Edited January 23, 2024 by noelh

[Andy H]

More o' that fancy book learnin'...

 

That's the complete set acquired in preparation for my new career as a maritime modeller. ⚓

 

 

...and I've been meaning to pick this one up for a while to help with a delayed rather than abandoned project.

 

[Vince1159]

Two TWA t shirts...

[Bonhoff]

A copy of the epic Shacklady/Morgan tome on the Spitfire, which impressed the missus no end, as she isn't a fan of my habit of buying books and stashing them for reference - In my defence, it was a good price.

 

And an Airfix Brewster Buffalo, I was given one as a birthday present as a small child which I handed to my dad to build, as I didn't think I'd be able to do it.

 

I'm 57 now, hoping to manage it on my own this time.

 

IanJ

[Rob G]

I've had a bit of a spending spree in recent weeks, everything from a Dragon StuG III G that, while nice, isn't, on reflection, what I actually wanted, to a Bronco StuG III E (that was intended for the diorama that the Dragon Ausf G was bought for, but is much too nice for that fate, so now I'll need to find a cheap Dragon or Tamiya E or F), to one of those dinky little battery powered compressor / airbrush combination gadgets.

 

I don't need another airbrush (or compressor), but... shiny. Thus far, I've been quite impressed. The airbrush is OK, and the compressor happily runs my Iwata HP-C if I want to to. It will allow me to be mobile with my hobby, and take models out to work with me to spray while I'm away. 

 

There's been much else, as well, but these are the highlights.