Iain

Invader is the one I *really* want Iain

Fixed and finished Just finishing the article - thank you all for your input! Iain

Injection moulded plastic. Iain

Thanks Mike - not seen that one - helps hugely! I'll be cutting some masks to redo the wheels shortly... I think that's a slightly later version of the scheme I've done - with upper yellow cowl camouflaged over, additional side mottling and the rear fuselage markings modded.

Have been studying more pics - still undecided - but may be leaning towards re-doing them satin black... Thanks for input Doug! Iain

Hi Doug - indeedy - aware all painted gloss black at factory - but possible some were repainted 02 in field/unit workshops? I learned a long time ago that there are rules, and there can be variations to those rules... Have definitely seen an image of a captured a/c with very grey hubs - but of course that *could* have been post capture. Image I have doesn't look like reflection - but interested in thoughts! http://www.messerschmitt-bf109.de/display.php?lang=de&auth=e&name=ergebnis_suche&fotonummer=553 And not too late to change - obviously would rather not Iain

Thanks guys - hopefully a bit more progress this weekend - have had my head in Connie books last couple of days Iain

Thanks Phil Iain

I'd be tempted - already have a started ID Vac one though... <ponders> Keep us posted - I'm sure it will be a stunner like your other kits! Iain

Brilliant - just spotted this thread Guttorm - superb stuff - am building a 111 at the moment! Iain

Brilliant news Christian - looking forward to further progress! Iain

Hi Frederick, No simple answer I'm afraid - the insides of the leading edges will probably be solid polyeurethane casting resin, and some areas may get a foam fill - we'll see! Hi Peter, Won't be tip to tip: probably around 75% as there will be quite a bit of strength already in the wings and I'll fill tips with resin so I have something to drill and pin the tip tanks into position. Just need to get a fresh order in for some large plastic sheet in various thicknesses... OK - bit more this evening (I did say I was making progress) - but this time I wanted to start making something rather than ripping apart and sanding - so making a start on the nose gear bay: Here's a rough outline of the bay made by running a permanent maker around the opening. Foam cut out along suitable lines with a razor saw and bread knife! Here everything placed back in the starboard fuselage half to check size of cut-outs... Looks good... For those that have ever wondered why the grid on a cutting mat is so useful - how else do you square things off quickly? This is the rear bulkhead - in 30 thou sheet. A dummy ceiling has been made from 30 thou and aligned with a front bulkhead. All dry fitted at present... And rear bulkhead... Happy that the core shapes/position of bay is good and everything square - I can now go and pour over photos and start making up the details Back soon! Iain

OK - fast progress tonight courtesy of Heller, an iPhone, a 1 meter rule and Swann Morton's finest: So - flaps and ailerons out! Upper surfaces have bowed - so need to stabilise before bonding the halves together. NOTE: Yes - the wing tips aren't correctly shaped - but as they need to be clipped to fit the tip tanks that's a bit of a moot point! I have a positive vibe about this - would like to get some spars made up at the weekend... Iain

OK - with most of the day free today - and weather good enough to work outside I decided to bite the bullet and do the wing undersides - something I'd been putting off as I wasn't looking forward to it... Well - after about 7 hours work and multiple power tools: Reason I'd put these off - upper surfaces were hard to do - but the cut outs here are a lot larger. Here I've marked out areas to be cut out and filled. And the cut-outs, well, cut out I guess After filling with 60 thou polystyrene sheet, filling leading edges with casting resin over a plastic sheet form, and an hour, or so, on the bench sander, followed by the Mouse... Getting there... That's all for now - next stage is to add wing tips to the lower surfaces and mark up cut outs for ailerons and flaps so these can be cut out. Iain

Yup - caused some head-scratching at the beginning of the build - but found good photo of actual airframe - definitely circular! Iain

Crikey - from title I thought you'd been fighting the glazings on a couple of '111s!! 430? On a Spit? Sounds like utter madness to me! Iain

Cheers Doug! You sure on the wheels? Photo I found of this a/c show's hubs that look a lot lighter than black - hence choice of colour... Iain

That looks absolutely stunning! Looks like 1:200 is a good scale for ships? Been battling with my 1:350 Hood - so know much work is involved - I take my hat off to you Sir! Iain

Lovely Jamie! Iain

Hi all, Just to prove I do occasionally finish something After my disaster of last weekend she's finally there (will add aerial later once everything else dried). Build article should appear in a forthcoming issue of Military in Scale. Iain

Didn't know Grey Matter were going to release a conversion - brill news - that's on my shopping list for Telford! Iain

Thanks guys - so many 'positive waves' as Oddball would say! Have done some more work on wings - will try post an update at the weekend - in between Lightning stuff. Iain

Hi Bill, Same plastic - different decals I believe. We don't get to see much Hobbycraft stuff on this side of the pond! Iain

That Chipmunk looks great - may have to order one of those! Iain

Cheers Kev, Lets hope I can do some precision touch-ups with the airbrush! Iain