geedubelyer

Smashing news Martin. I'm glad you got access via the NAM and equally glad that you found the staff helpful. I'm eager to see how the Gnat looks eventually. All three aircraft that you mentioned are delightful and would grace any display case. BTW, did you manage to get a looksee in the cockpit or did it remain closed? If they could n't open it, did the explain why? Cheers

Cool! thanks MARU

Hi Martin, Offering a single scheme should n't present a problem for anyone buying this kit. In all likelyhood, modellers who are tackling a vac-form kit might also decide to stray from what is offered anyway and go their own route. Is there any mileage in just offering generic roundels and codes? If enough letters and numbers were on the sheet the modeller could choose their own preffered serial number and source/create the airframe specific details themselves..... Does anyone know just how many airforces the Chippy served with?

Hi Martin, Good to hear you got the decal thing sorted. I wonder if the current all black scheme employed by the BBMF at RAF Coningsby would be popular? Surely the original silver and dayglo will appeal to many? For me, it will be the red/white/grey scheme similar to the one that you measured as that is the scheme on the ones that I flew in. Cheers.

This is the kind of modelling I love. Beautifully created detail parts. Your home made parts are a significant improvement over the kit parts. Keep it up.

Nice and busy in the cockpit now W.T.F Dwight. It looks like you got your rudder control cables all attached. Keep up the good work.

Hee-yewje.... (and awesome too )

You could fool me! The paintwork looks flawless on my monitor.

Kev, It's a conundrum and that's for sure. My £0.02, I'd fill the panel lines and risk a toy-like appearance. I know little of this aeroplane but I'd guess that it was pretty smooth if it was a racer? Given that panel lines on the full sized airframe would only be a matter of millimetres I've always thought that the panel lines that we as modellers insist on are massively overscale. Yes, I acknowledge that it is the preffered method of adding interest to large flat areas but that does n't necessarily make it accurate. I hope you find a satisfactory solution to your predicament. Cheers.

That is a superb price for a new 1/32nd scale Tamiya kit. Questions: Is the Corsair a small aeroplane? It looks to be a similar size to the Spitfire or Mustang and I'd guess the parts count will be similar so how can they offer such a blindingly good price? Whatever the answers it certainly represents excellent value for money at that price.

Tamiya, Revell and Hasegawa all produce a 1/32nd scale Catalina? Yes, I know you were just comparing general prices and I take your point Dek but if someone wants a 1/32nd scale Catalina then it's either vac or..........this. Price is always going to be an issue for some, less so for others. If the cost of the kit is too high then those on a budget will not buy it. For those modellers who are less constrained they may choose to buy what is unquestionably a state of the art resin model which is superbly detailled and beautifully crafted. I saw the pre-production article at Telford last year and if the Catalina was a favourite of mine I'd stump up the cash in a heartbeat. I've never seen a better looking model kit in any medium. I can't wait to see one of these puppies built up.

Superb craftsmanship Hercules. Such a realistic representation of the real aircraft. Bravo.

Thanks Andy. Just be wary of those decals when you build yours. Kev, please do, it's my honour.

lol Sure Kev, I'd be thrilled if you post this on the website, please go ahead.

That's great news and glad your day was so special Martin.

A lick of paint came next. I primed the resin in white then used Vallejo "Red" for the extinguisher and Citadel Miniatures Chaos Black for the nozzle. The decals are very thin and conform well to the model but I'd advise caution and copious use of water to help position them. They do like to fold in on themselves too so watch out for that because if it happens, there's next to no way to retrieve them. The tyres were hand painted in Vallejo "Black-grey" and the various brass components were again hand painted with various metallic shades from the stash. With a little bit of help this little kit builds up into a nice model. It is a great basis for a little extra detailling and will look neat next to an aircraft model. Cheers.

Having looked at various photos of fire buckets on the web (how sad am I?) I decided to model two different styles of handles. There are more styles of handle I could try with the remaining two buckets but these will do for now. I could also add a lid or fill them with something resembling sand but I'm satisfied at this point with how they turned out. The decals are commendably thin and stick immeadiately. With this in mind I recommend copious amounts of water to help position them. I found they also like to fold over on themselves and because they are so thin it is virtually impossible to redeem them once this has happened. My advice is to be very careful to avoid disappointment. As a small element on a larger diorama these fire buckets will add a little background interest.

Hi Martin, all of this talk about the Chipmunk is most encouraging. Just to take Kev's suggestion a stage further, Peter (he uses the member name airscale) also offers a range of etched bezels for use with his instrument decals. Perhaps if you contact him you might be able to collaborate on a decal/bezel set for the Chipmunk and offer it as part of the kit. As an alternative to decals you could consider offering masks I suppose. I'm not sure how he's doing at the moment but Ian at AdAstra (he has his own forum in the Sponsors section) was great when I needed some masks for my Mustang. I have read that he is experiencing some difficulties but other producers are available. Just a thought. Cheers.

Hi Bryan, Like Ron, I found no problems with gear alignment on my Mustang. The positioning was very positive, particularly when the screws were tightened fully. Just thinking outloud but have you just pushed the legs in place or have you used the screws to really tighten up the joints? As they are designed to be removable it might be that just pushing them in place does n't let the legs locate entirely without the screws?

Hi Richard, that's neat work on the gear legs that'll look great under paint. Good job. Regarding the front lens, I read that you were considering cutting the front off a missile or bomb? That sounds like a good place to start to me. In the past I've made the reflectors inside lights by using a circle of shiny metal foil (from around the neck of a wine bottle) I use a tube with sharpened edges as a "cookie cutter" and cut out a suitable disc of foil then create a dished shape by holding the disc in the palm of my hand and rolling the handle of a paint brush around it in circles. For the clear front element, use the tube again and cut out a clear disc of acetate (food packaging). Alternatively, have you considered MV lenses or similar? They are available in alot of diameters and are already chromed. Good luck and I'm sure you'll sort something out.

Crikey! That is one of the most realistic looking exhausts I think I have ever seen Wolf. Everything that I can see about this build smacks of quality. The fit of all parts looks to be square and true, the paintwork, smooth, crisp and flawless. Unless there are glaring errors hidden on the underside that you're not showing us, I can't find a single element that I'm not blown away by! Stellar work dude!

Hi folks, Here's another quick look at an Aerobonus resin airfield accessory. This time, their 50lb CO2 flightline wheeled fire extinguisher. The kit arrived in a plastic envelope with a stiff card insert for strength. Unfortunately this caused a problem as the "T" handle had been squashed and mishapen and needed to be dipped in hot water and twisted back into shape. The envelope contained an instruction and colour call-out sheet in typical Aerobonus style with parts list on one leaf, rudimentary instructions on the opposite leaf and colour call-out and decal placement advice on the rear. The resin comprises the smaller items, the main gas bottle, the framework, extinguisher nozzle and wheels all on seperate pour stubs. Aerobonus also supply a short length of silicon tube to use as the hose. There is a small decal sheet offering a number of white bands, a data plate and "Carbon Dioxide" stencils. Assembly is a little tricky with no locating tabs. The instructions are more suggestions than directions so some thought is necessary to get everything to line up squarely. Couple that with the twisted resin due to the poor packaging and getting a neat, realistic looking result is a challenge. Additionally, without reference images to refer to, some of the placement of parts amounts to guesswork. Aerobonus provide a shaped cap to cover the regulator on top of the gas cylinder but I used a slice of this to add as a holder for the extinguisher nozzle. I also fabricated a clip from metal foil to locate the top of the nozzle handle. Lastly, the bands that secure the cylinder to the framework look super but they do leave a gap which needs bridging to resemble bolt threads. Less experienced modellers might find this little kit a challenge but it does provide a neat background accessory for those larger scale jets. I'll post a couple of images of the finished item in due course. Cheers.

Very neat and tidy job so far.

Coming on in leaps and bounds Tom. Great stuff You'll be finished before you know it! I am staggered by the speed at which this mammoth model has come together. Respec' dude!

Hello Peter, I'd say you definitely achieved your goals. Lovely job on the Spit. The paintwork looks flawless and the weathering is commendably restrained. I like the depth you've created with the painting on the figure but he looks a little "glossy". Do you still have to matt coat him yet? Cheers.