Two: the Italeri (ex Accurate Miniatures) 1:48 Avenger and Heller's 1:72 Arado Ar 196 floatplane from 1979

[Mark Harmsworth]

The last air raid in Europe (4th May 1945) - the target was a U-boat base in the north of Norway. Avenger JZ217 of 846 Sqn was hit by flak and crashed. Sadly Lt. Francis John Gahan RNVR (aged 24), S/Lt. Alasdair Donald Hay Elder RNVR (20) and L/A Peter Bernard Mansfield, Royal Navy (22) were buried by the Germans, assisted by local Norwegians, in the churchyard in the village of Sørvik - where they remain.

 

My first for the year - this is the Italeri re-box of the Accurate Miniatures 1:48 Avenger

 

 

 

More here:

 

My second (and last for the year) was the Heller 1:72 Arado 196A floatplane with a little transport trolley from Kora

 

This kit is from 1979 so, along with the trolley, I got a few extras including a comprehensive p.e. set from Eduard.

 

 

 

I'm imagining this as just rolled out for its' pre-delivery test flight then to be sent to the Tirpitz as one of the on-board floatplanes.

 

There's a WIP build thread here:

 

all the best

Mark

 

 

 

 

 

[bigbadbadge]

Great work they look fantastic,  like the Avenger particularly.

Chris

[JeroenS]

I agree, that Avenger looks pretty darn sweet!

[Yg Models]

clean & nice Avenger.

[AliGauld]

A cracking pair.

Excellent stuff.

 

 

Cheers,

Alistair

[Bertie McBoatface]

Nice one! And then another nice one! Thanks for the Avenger's story. 

 

 

[AdrianMF]

If you're only going to build two a year, you certainly know how to build two good 'uns!

 

Loved the Arado build, and as an Airfix Arado owner it's also good for me to confirm that the canopy is meant to be that huge!

 

Hope you have a smashing 2024,

 

Regards,

Adrian

[Mark Harmsworth]

4 hours ago, AdrianMF said:

If you're only going to build two a year, you certainly know how to build two good 'uns!

 

Loved the Arado build, and as an Airfix Arado owner it's also good for me to confirm that the canopy is meant to be that huge!

 

Hope you have a smashing 2024,

Thanks Adrian - I used to be slow and took three months or so on each build but maybe I need to redefine my building speed - perhaps 'glacial'?

 

I built the Airfix Arado a few decades ago and I think it may well have been this boxing - which does look very familiar:

 

all the best - and a happy new year

Mark

[Dave Slowbuild]

Two builds to be very proud of there Mark!
(And incidentally, I only managed two builds this year, so you are not alone on build rate!)