tomprobert

The skinning on the wing looks exceptional. And it’s great to see you back at it again. I’m looking forward to more… Tom

Modelling magic on a different level. This has been a pleasure to follow. Tom

Afternoon all, My modelling mojo has deserted me of late, but I have had the beginnings of a return the last couple of days, so fancied doing a bit more to the Stirling. A while ago I made all the framing for the bomb aimer’s windows from Evergreen, as the kit supplied parts are completely the wrong shape and the plan was/is to add my own glazing. Thankfully, and despite the incorrect shape, I have been able to use parts of the kit supplied clear parts, carefully measuring and cutting them one by one: They were then ‘dropped’ into the framing using Formula 560 canopy glue, with the edges neatened up and sealed with Milliput Black. The end result isn’t too bad and once the whole area has been blended in with a top coat of paint, it should pass muster from 50 yards! I’m leaving the centre panel right until the end as a means to remove any bits of dust or stray debris - plus I need to make the bomb sight mounts which will be very fragile. Another job ticked off… More when there’s more. Tom

That turret is an absolute masterpiece. It looked good in 1/32, but 1/24… WOW!

Cheers, gents. Sadly no further progress to report of late as the mojo has completely deserted me... I've looked hard but just can't seem to find it

Cheers, guys - camo it is then, with some dirtying up around the edges. That's what my gut was telling me, so thanks for confirming. Tom

Evening all, I’m slowly inching towards painting my 1/32 Stirling and I’ve a question regarding the colours of the flaps. In the image below, it looks as if the section of the flap hidden by the wing when retracted is a different colour - any ideas? I’m considering interior green primer, or is it just fresher paint protected by the wing? I can’t decide? I can’t find anything definitive from other pictures - Megas Tsonos’ mega 1/48 build he has done this area camo and I imagine he’s done his research - or did it vary between aircraft. Any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated… Tom

Outstanding. A fine tribute indeed. Tom

That's very kind, Carl, and thank you for the offer, but a fellow member here has already sent me a set for which I am very grateful! I just need to make a start on it now... the mojo has deserted me of late

Some good progress on the big Spitfire of late... Following others when building/improving this kit, I have added some plastic card laminate to the leading edges of the ailerons to improve the fit. Being designed to move, there were unsightly gaps where the ailerons join the wing - this improves things greatly and avoids the 'toy-like' look of the original: The original Airfix kit is well know for its retractable landing gear and hollow wheel bays - it's relatively simple to box these in using plastic card and improves the look immeasurably: With this done the rest of the airframe comes together very rapidly - there's some filler needed but it's very much a product of its time. I've painted the prop, too, and this is just a push-fit. I am not using the engine but the forward part of the Merlin is easy to attach to the forward part of the cowling to hold the prop in place: I now need to sort a few blemishes and install the clear parts. It's all coming together rather quickly! Until next time, Tom

Yeah… it looks like a bit of time and effort would be required to make a decent job of a MkV - I’ll gladly stick with a MkI for this build!

Howdy, folks. I haven’t got around to starting my Brigade TR9 conversion yet, but was rummaging in the loft the other day and found this - the classic Airfix 1/24 Spitfire MkV. Being inspired by @Erwin’s lovely rendition of his MkI, I thought why not..? Box art: All the parts are present to build the MkI which is my plan - I have ordered some decals to replicate N3200, which was famously shot down (after claiming a Stuka) during the evacuation of Dunkirk and buried on the sands over time at Sangatte, near Calais. Pilot Sqn Ldr Geoffrey Stevenson spent the remainder of the war as a POW. The remnants of the airframe were recovered in 1986 and in early 2007 restoration began to airworthy condition - it still resides at Duxford to this day wearing its 19 Squadron codes and has been restored to look exactly as it did when lost on 26th May 1940. So… this will be built largely OOB just as Airfix intended, although I have bought some Airscale instrument bezels to enhance the IP, some Eduard belts and I’ll box in the wheel bays using plastic card. There was lots of flash present - not surprising given its vintage - and the cockpit parts were quickly assembled. The rear fuselage got a spray of aluminium, as per references: The main cockpit was then sprayed up, a few bits and bobs such as Milliput seat cushions (modern pilots don’t like getting sore bottoms!) added so the fuselage is now ready to be buttoned up: I’m going to replicate the model as the modern day warbird so have kept everything absolutely immaculate like the real thing. I’m keeping the cowling buttoned up as the engine area is rather basic and lacking in detail and I want to actually get the build completed within the time frame of the GB - I don’t want to lose momentum or interest… More when there’s more… Tom

If it were me, I’d source two lengths of wood and sandwich the wing trailing edge between them with heavy duty clamps whilst it all dries. I’d use regular poly cement which will set nice and slowly to ensure you can get everything aligned. I would have thought the plastic is thick enough to negate the need for additional spars - I regularly use the above method with my big vacs with great success. HTH Tom

Outstanding! It’s going to really look the part when matted down and this continues to whet the appetite.

Very kind, Troy - I share builds like this for a couple of reasons: 1) I like to think that others will find builds like this of interest as you don’t see many as so many are put off by vacforms - my aim is to show what an average modeller can do and that they’re not that scary! 2) I’ve learnt so much from so many hugely talented builders on here over the years, and if I can share some of my techniques to help others with their builds then great - that’s what this great hobby is all about. I imagine the only way we’ll see more 1/32 Sunderlands or Stirlings will be if a mainstream manufacturer comes to the rescue. There aren’t many modellers who are willing to devote years to building a basic kit such as this and I totally get that. I always have a ‘shake and bake’ (or ten!) on the go as burnout is a real problem… There’s been some more progress with the cockpit - I’ve got the majority of the making and painting done now and am awaiting delivery of some etch seatbelts before I install it all. I’ve also added the wing tip lights from clear acrylic (old toothbrushes!) and have continued painting the wing roundels. Other bits and bobs such as the window chute, rear gear doors and some corrective rescribing have also been made and installed. I’m off on holiday on Monday to Holland and I doubt if the belts will arrive before I go so will hopefully dive back in when I return and get the cockpit finished off. Piccies then! Cheers, Tom