sillymodeler

Here is my Curtis’s Helldiver, out of box, except the PJ Production figures and HPH metal dive flaps…
 



 



 



 

 

Hey,
 
here is the A-10C Thunderbolt II from Trumpeter…
Vacu canopy, GT Resin and Olimp set, TwoBobs Decals and Master Gatling barrel and pitot and other bits and bobs….
In all pylons and external stuff are micro magnets, so everything can be taken off ore repositioned…
 
 



 



 



 

I've always loved the look of this huge Do335 with the US soldiers gazing at it and swarming around it like ants.
For the base I used a very high res US map from 1945 that I had printed on canvas and then... cut it up.

No decals were used. All masks. Lots of Eduard and Master upgrades and a Tamiya Jeep with Alpine figures.
I could have gone all out on the weathering, but I didn't.

 
 

Hi All
 
I completed this at the end of last year.
 
This was my first CSM kit, and I found it excellent. Compared to Wingnut Wings, I think the mold is a little less sharp, but the reproduction of the internal structure is better than WNW. The fitting is perfect, although assembly is somewhat difficult due to the delicacy of the parts. The instructions are also very clear.
 
The decals are based on the Italian top ace Francesco Baracca, which CSM sells separately. The horse is famous as it became the Ferrari emblem.
 
This is my first time building a Nieuport, and I found I like the lightweight look.
 
I hope you all enjoy it too.
 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

Great work!

Here are the finished model of the Wingnut Wings DH.9a Ninak.

I went with the boxart version. This would have me change a few things I haven't tried before - like moving the stitching and using the PE version + making the cutout for the observer.
This was also the first 2 seat biplane I have built.

Apart from a few mistakes, Im very happy with it   😄

Thank you all for the motivation along the way!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi all,
Here's the Wingnut Wings 1:32nd scale model of the Rumpler C.IV.
The figures and refuelling cart are from 'Aviattic', but are no longer available.
 
Rumpler C.IV, Serial No.8518/16 of Flieger-Abteilung (FA) 209 during 1917.
 
The forum build log is here:
 
https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/102743-132nd-scale-rumpler-civ/
 
 
My PDF build log can be downloaded from the Build Logs page on my web site:
 
https://mikesww1aircraftmodels.com/]https://mikesww1aircraftmodels.com/
 
Mike
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here are the pictures of the recently finished 1/32 Airscale Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.1 Test kit.
Thanks again to Peter for sending me the test kit and giving me the opportunity to build it. You can see the long story about the build process in the WIP link below
 
 




























 
 
 
 
 

Hi all. Just posted this for the website as part of an 'end of war' exhibition. As usual ZM has made an incredible kit that just needs paint. Comments welcome! 
 
https://www.largescaleplanes.com/articles/article.php?aid=3986
 
 

 

 

 

Here is my recently finished Nieuport XI, painted as Georges Pelletier d‘Oisy‘s N.552, spring 1916 on the Verdun front. Pelletier d‘Oisy was a friend of Charles Nugesser, also N69, who was also photographed sitting in this machine.
The kit went together perfectly. The figure is a Kellerkind resin figure.
 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 
The new Copper State Models kit from 2025 on the left, on the right the old Special Hobby kit that I built in 2018.
 
Best regards,
Andreas
 
 

I recently finished the very nice CSM Nieuport XVII (Late) kit and thought I would share some photos of the completed build.  I used Aviattic Linen Effect Decals which were very nice and do an excellent job replicating the look of the fabric areas under the aluminium dope color that I mixed.  I also used some 1/32 Gaspatch eyelet and 1/48 Gaspatch turnbuckles.  I did some very minor scratchbuilding on the engine, cockpit area and control lines.  The rigging and control lines are elastic thread.  The napping figure is also a CSM offering.  If you are interested in seeing shots of the build from start to finish there is a complete build thread in the "Works in Progress" section.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thank you for looking!
 
Ernest

Hello everyone
 
I reproduced the picture of Richthofen with his comrades and the Albatros D.II, which is one of my favorite pictures of Richthofen. I found the Model Cellar created a wonderful figure from the picture so I decided to build Albatros D.II (Encore models) as well.
 
According to the notes by his brother Lothar von Richthofen, it seems that the aircraft was painted brown during the period of this photo (November 1916), so I used oil paints to paint over the brown color.
 
Actually, this is my first post here. I hope you guys enjoy it.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hello, everyone.
 
Here is my latest build, Albatros D.III  “Le Petit Rouge”.
 

 
About the aircraft

Manfred von Richthofen, famously known as the "Red Baron," is one of the most renowned fighter aces of World War I. Before becoming a legend, he first painted his aircraft red—a machine known as Le Petit Rouge ("The Little Red").
This aircraft was an Albatros D.III, which Richthofen flew in early 1917. By this time, he had already distinguished himself as a top fighter ace, achieving his 16th aerial victory in January 1917. In recognition of his success, he was awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany’s highest military honor, on January 12, 1917.
Shortly after receiving this honor, Richthofen was given command of Jasta 11, a German fighter squadron. With Le Petit Rouge, he refined his aerial combat tactics and led his squadron to numerous victories, further cementing his reputation.
Le Petit Rouge played a crucial role in developing Richthofen’s legendary status, marking the beginning of an era where his red-painted aircraft became an unmistakable symbol of dominance in the skies known as “Bloody April”.
 


The build
 
I used Roden's Albatros D.III kit as the base and applied the bonus decals included in Wingnut Wings' limited edition kit, Albatros D.V "Manfred von Richthofen.". I also used the HGW seatbelt and PE parts of RODEN’s Mercedes D.III engine kit. The figure of von Richthofen and his dog Moritz is from the Model Celler. I first painted the fuselage in factory finish condition, then overpainted it with red oil paint to reproduce the “field-applied” effect of red color. Roden's kit can be a bit challenging to assemble in some areas, but if built carefully, it looks great when completed. 
 
I hope you all like it.
 
P.S. I built “non-red” von Richthofen’s Albatros D.II before, so if you'd like, feel free to take a look at that as well.
 
 
 













 
 


 
 

Hello, everyone
 
I recently finished building Frank Luke’s SPAD XIII.
 
Frank Luke was America's second highest ace in WW1. He shot down 14 balloons and 4 planes just in 10 sorties in 8 days. After making an emergency landing behind enemy lines, he refused to surrender, returned fire with a pistol, and was shot dead.
 
Roden's SPAD XIII is a little difficult to assemble in some aspects, but the proportions is good. One of the shortcomings of Roden's kit is the quality of the decals. The decals for the unit markings of the 27th aero squadron, to which Frank Luke belonged, were not similar to the real ones, so the decals were printed by tracing photos of the real marking. The checkered pattern on the wings was also corrected to four rows, although the kit has three rows. I used photo etching hexagon mesh for sides of the engine cowling and stealed Vickes guns from extra parts of Copper State Model’s Nieuport kits. 
 
The Frank Luke figure was sold on Amazon, and although I don't know the manufacturer, the quality is very good.
 
I also built a Hispano-Suiza 8Ab engine. This is an independent engine kit by RODEN. It is very finely crafted. I highly recommend this kit for everyone. I want more engine kits to be released!
 
 
 
 


 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Hello, everyone.
 
Here is my Nieuport 11 bebe. Copper State Models is developing on Nieuport 11, so I needed to build my Special Hobby one before CSM releases it. While CSM Nieuport 11 is promising, I found Special Hobby one is a good kit. Some parts, such as the wings, are challenging to assemble, but it looks good once finished.
 
Basically, It’s an OOB build, but I got a Luwis Gun and the gun mount from excess parts of CSM, and the tachometer is derived from the Eduard WWI instruments set. 
Fortunately, I also got Le Rhone 9C engine kit from Williams Brothers (1/8 scale), so I built it as well. 
 
I chose a French patriotic marking flown by Jean Navarre, an early French ace in WW1.
 
CSM kit will be fantastic with great details, but this one was fun to build.
 
I hope you all enjoy my build.
 


 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

Model: F-14B Tomcat, Jolly Rogers
Scale: 1/32
Manufacturer: Tamiya
Paints: Mission Models, AMMO, Vallejo, Tamiya
Weathering: AMMO Wash, AK Wash, AMMO Oilbrusher, Flory Models
Afermarket: Red Fox Cockpit, Quickboost GRU-7 Seats, F-14B/D Exhaust Nozzles Aires, Eduard Brassin AIM-54C Phoenix, Teknics F-14B/D Conversion Set, RBF Tags Eduard, wheels from Wheeliant.
 
This is a kit I have purchased some 15 years ago as a second hand. When we met with the seller (yes people used to meet face to face back then ) we both talked about how this kit was a dream of ours during our teens as students. I still remember in the early to mid 1990's eyeing the kit at our local hobby store and hoping one day I will own and build one. Well the previous owner changed hobbies (hence the sale to me) and despite me starting pretty much at the same time, the kit took more than a decade to get done with multiple years of inactivity and moving around the shelves and closets of doom. Finally it was time this year to bite the bullet and finish the big cat. 
 
The aircraft is a generic F-14B so for those that have the names of the crews and serial numbers memorized I apologize, the crew names are from an A version of the Jolly Rogers and do not correspond to this serial number. Considering the kit is early 1980's with the kit re-released in 1990's (this was the 1994 rebox)Tamiya did the front section with recessed panel lines and the rest of the fuselage with raised so this was re-scribed and rivet/fastener detail added. All in all the fit of the kit is solid to be honest for this old of a kit. All of the markings are painted using masks and stencils (yes the no step signs are painted) with exception of some stencils and the mentioned crew names. 
 
It was really a fun build although taking me so long and taking multi-year brakes,  the F-14 is one of my favorite aircraft. Now I have some more kits that started nearly a decade back to finish. I tried to replicate the Tomcat weathering as inspired by the various masters here at the forum especially chuck540z3 whose F-14 that was kicked up a notch back in the haydays of Aircraft Resource Center was a stellar example of salt weathering that I never had the guts to try. The weathering on this one is various washes and oils and airbrushed touch ups etc.
 
Apologies for the background clutter in the photos, the finished cat is so big it does not fit my usual photo setup. 
 
Wishing everyone wonderful time enjoying our great hobby. 
 
 
 

The Story:
 
Airplane No. 2337, bearing the registration number of the Yugoslav Air Force, was one of the first 24 aircraft in a hurriedly completed series at the Zemun factory, driven by the imminent approach of war.
On April 13 (or 14), Captain First Class Vojislav Rakić was sent in a "Bücker" aircraft from Nikšić to Butmir. His mission: retrieve and fly a Hurricane fighter to Nikšić for air defense. Despite technical challenges, such as the inability to retract the landing gear, Captain Rakić used the plane to patrol and protect the area. In one skirmish with Italian aircraft, the Hurricane sustained 17 hits but remained operational.
On April 15, at 7:00 a.m., three bombers from the 81st Independent Bomber Group launched an attack on Italian tanks near the Skadar-Yugoslav-Albanian border, accompanied by a lone Hurricane. Later that day, Air Force Commander General Borivoje Mirković ordered Captain Dragomir B. Nešović to patrol the Nikšić Valley and engage any enemy aircraft. The mission was executed successfully, though no enemy aircraft were encountered.
Captain Rakić later attempted to join other aircraft fleeing to Greece but was forced to return due to poor weather and inadequate navigation instruments. The Hurricane was eventually abandoned at Nikšić, where it was captured by Italian soldiers.
 
Italian forces seized various aircraft, including No. 2337, at Nikšić and other Yugoslav airfields. The Hurricane, found in relatively good condition, was among those inspected, repaired, and incorporated into Italian units. After technical modifications, including patching damaged areas with unpainted sheet metal, the plane was transferred to Tirana, Albania, and eventually to Italy. In September 1941, the Hurricane was showcased to Benito Mussolini at the Ciampino airfield near Rome.
Italian pilots used the aircraft for training and tactical studies until 1943. It was also used in a movie used as a British fighter plane in Italian movie “Un pilota ritorna” directed in 1942 by Roberto Rosellini.
After a belly-landing incident rendered it unserviceable, the lack of spare parts and technical expertise consigned it to ruin or destruction.
 
The Build:
 
The somewhat aged model produced by Pacific Coast Models is still the only Hurricane Mk.I model with fabric wings. Despite its age, it is still a very enjoyable model to build. I encountered no major problems during construction. It is a so-called short-run and requires careful fitting of parts - but if you do it carefully, you don't even have to use putty. For the first time in a long time I built a model practically out-of-the-box. The only modifications were: 
- removing the panel on the left side of the fuselage behind the cockpit - early Hurricanes did not have this 
- slightly reshaping "the hump"
- trim tabs were made from scratch using plasticard 
- I made a trim tab balance on the rudder 
- added some details inside the radiator under the fuselage 
- added handles inside the cockpit canopy plus one outside and two thin metal bars just behind the windscreen
 
The model has been painted with MRP paints, no decals have been used except Royal coat of arms on the rudder. For the first time I did some shading to the "fabric" with quite satisfactory result. Weathering is minimal because this airplane was not used operationally and had rather stort "Italian life".
 
Well - I hope you like this unusual "Hariken". A friend of mine said that it caused him an internal confusion - the attractiveness of the camouflage is in total contradiction with the well-known classic shape. And that's exactly what I wanted 😉
 



 






 

This was one of the most involved conversions I've done: taking the Laminar Flow Design Vc conversion, adding it to the Kotare Models Va fuselage, blending that with the Tamiya IXc wings and landing gear. You might be asking why: the Kotare fuselage has the raised rivets already, and the fit to both the conversion and the Tamiya kit is almost flawless. I just needed to sand the floor of the Kotare cockpit so the wing would fit. Otherwise I painted all markings and scratchbuilt the crowbar for the pilot's door. For more see my Work In Progress here: 

 





 

 



 
 

 

 
Cheers,  Tom

a very old kit(1969) that still makes a good impression:
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello,
I bought this old kit partly started for 7 EUR to build something which has not so many parts as today's komplex kits. I left raised panel lines and raised rivets (just in some aeras where they were too big were sanded down) ...in my opinion looks better with some raised rivets as empty surface. Airbrushed with Revell and Humbol enamels. I know we have more accurate models of P-47 on the market, but this kit from 1971 (rebox from 1988) still looks good to me and ofcourse great memories when I buit it as a teenager-happy to build so huge model with engine.
Few pictures from the garden
Martin

 

 

Hello, everyone.
 
Here is my latest build, Albatros D.III  “Le Petit Rouge”.
 

 
About the aircraft

Manfred von Richthofen, famously known as the "Red Baron," is one of the most renowned fighter aces of World War I. Before becoming a legend, he first painted his aircraft red—a machine known as Le Petit Rouge ("The Little Red").
This aircraft was an Albatros D.III, which Richthofen flew in early 1917. By this time, he had already distinguished himself as a top fighter ace, achieving his 16th aerial victory in January 1917. In recognition of his success, he was awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany’s highest military honor, on January 12, 1917.
Shortly after receiving this honor, Richthofen was given command of Jasta 11, a German fighter squadron. With Le Petit Rouge, he refined his aerial combat tactics and led his squadron to numerous victories, further cementing his reputation.
Le Petit Rouge played a crucial role in developing Richthofen’s legendary status, marking the beginning of an era where his red-painted aircraft became an unmistakable symbol of dominance in the skies known as “Bloody April”.
 


The build
 
I used Roden's Albatros D.III kit as the base and applied the bonus decals included in Wingnut Wings' limited edition kit, Albatros D.V "Manfred von Richthofen.". I also used the HGW seatbelt and PE parts of RODEN’s Mercedes D.III engine kit. The figure of von Richthofen and his dog Moritz is from the Model Celler. I first painted the fuselage in factory finish condition, then overpainted it with red oil paint to reproduce the “field-applied” effect of red color. Roden's kit can be a bit challenging to assemble in some areas, but if built carefully, it looks great when completed. 
 
I hope you all like it.
 
P.S. I built “non-red” von Richthofen’s Albatros D.II before, so if you'd like, feel free to take a look at that as well.
 
 
 













 
 


 
 

Hi all,
'KatModel' 1:32nd scale cast and 3D printed model. 
The Austro-Hungarian Phönix C.I, Serial No.121.57 of Flik 57/Rb, operating from San Godega di Urbano aerodrome (Italian Front) during October, 1918.
 
Mike
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello, everyone.
 
Here is my latest build, Albatros D.III  “Le Petit Rouge”.
 

 
About the aircraft

Manfred von Richthofen, famously known as the "Red Baron," is one of the most renowned fighter aces of World War I. Before becoming a legend, he first painted his aircraft red—a machine known as Le Petit Rouge ("The Little Red").
This aircraft was an Albatros D.III, which Richthofen flew in early 1917. By this time, he had already distinguished himself as a top fighter ace, achieving his 16th aerial victory in January 1917. In recognition of his success, he was awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany’s highest military honor, on January 12, 1917.
Shortly after receiving this honor, Richthofen was given command of Jasta 11, a German fighter squadron. With Le Petit Rouge, he refined his aerial combat tactics and led his squadron to numerous victories, further cementing his reputation.
Le Petit Rouge played a crucial role in developing Richthofen’s legendary status, marking the beginning of an era where his red-painted aircraft became an unmistakable symbol of dominance in the skies known as “Bloody April”.
 


The build
 
I used Roden's Albatros D.III kit as the base and applied the bonus decals included in Wingnut Wings' limited edition kit, Albatros D.V "Manfred von Richthofen.". I also used the HGW seatbelt and PE parts of RODEN’s Mercedes D.III engine kit. The figure of von Richthofen and his dog Moritz is from the Model Celler. I first painted the fuselage in factory finish condition, then overpainted it with red oil paint to reproduce the “field-applied” effect of red color. Roden's kit can be a bit challenging to assemble in some areas, but if built carefully, it looks great when completed. 
 
I hope you all like it.
 
P.S. I built “non-red” von Richthofen’s Albatros D.II before, so if you'd like, feel free to take a look at that as well.
 
 
 













 
 


 
 

Hello, everyone.
 
Here is my latest build, Albatros D.III  “Le Petit Rouge”.
 

 
About the aircraft

Manfred von Richthofen, famously known as the "Red Baron," is one of the most renowned fighter aces of World War I. Before becoming a legend, he first painted his aircraft red—a machine known as Le Petit Rouge ("The Little Red").
This aircraft was an Albatros D.III, which Richthofen flew in early 1917. By this time, he had already distinguished himself as a top fighter ace, achieving his 16th aerial victory in January 1917. In recognition of his success, he was awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany’s highest military honor, on January 12, 1917.
Shortly after receiving this honor, Richthofen was given command of Jasta 11, a German fighter squadron. With Le Petit Rouge, he refined his aerial combat tactics and led his squadron to numerous victories, further cementing his reputation.
Le Petit Rouge played a crucial role in developing Richthofen’s legendary status, marking the beginning of an era where his red-painted aircraft became an unmistakable symbol of dominance in the skies known as “Bloody April”.
 


The build
 
I used Roden's Albatros D.III kit as the base and applied the bonus decals included in Wingnut Wings' limited edition kit, Albatros D.V "Manfred von Richthofen.". I also used the HGW seatbelt and PE parts of RODEN’s Mercedes D.III engine kit. The figure of von Richthofen and his dog Moritz is from the Model Celler. I first painted the fuselage in factory finish condition, then overpainted it with red oil paint to reproduce the “field-applied” effect of red color. Roden's kit can be a bit challenging to assemble in some areas, but if built carefully, it looks great when completed. 
 
I hope you all like it.
 
P.S. I built “non-red” von Richthofen’s Albatros D.II before, so if you'd like, feel free to take a look at that as well.