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Hello All, Does anyone know of the availability of modern seated pilots in 1/12 scale please? (I have an ESCI 1/12 scale F-16A cockpit that I would like to install figure into). Many thanks Derek

Hello, I have decided that, with all the great builds emerging here, it's time to get on the wave... But I warn you - this is a long-term project and the progress here will be sloooow... My obsession with this Bristol's beast has started some 6 years ago (Thanks to HlavaXXII, a friend of mine...). It was few years after I had returned to modelling after many years of doing other things. First goal was to make a 1/33 paper model of this plane. But as I have started to look for the references, this happened to be a challenge in itself. And a lot fun too. So after years of researching, with many ups and downs over the time, I've got a lot of references, a couple of new friends, some computer 3D models and the persistent feeling that I need to do something with it, or it will end up in vain... Time flies, you know... Me inside TFC's Beau, July 2012: So, what to do? A detailed, full 1/32 or 1/24 scale model was an option... But then I saw a 1/12 F-104 cockpit on some modelling show. And that one has made me think... And when I bumped into Jack Constant's amazing cutaways, which are made also in 1/12 scale, the decision was made. Jack Constant's models are now in collection of Canada Aviation and Space Museum: https://ingeniumcanada.org/ingenium/collection-research/collection-item.php?id=1998.0075.001, https://ingeniumcanada.org/ingenium/collection-research/collection-item.php?id=1998.0076.001 https://ingeniumcanada.org/ingenium/collection-research/collection-item.php?id=1998.0077.001, https://ingeniumcanada.org/ingenium/collection-research/collection-item.php?id=1998.0226.001 https://ingeniumcanada.org/ingenium/collection-research/collection-item.php?id=1998.0227.001, https://ingeniumcanada.org/ingenium/collection-research/collection-item.php?id=1998.0228.001 I haven't found any quality pictures online. There's a great summary of his work in FineScale Modeler/May 1999, written by his son Alan Constant: https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/product/back-issue/fsm990501 My heap of "Beau" references: There's a lot more of it on my harddrive. So to finish my first WIP post, here are some real world and full scale examples of the subject: Beaufighter Nose Section by David North, on Flickr Bristol Beaufighter (A19-144) Photo 2 by Chris Young, on Flickr There's hope I'll be back soon. Juraj

I've really been bitten by the "Oh shiny!!!" bug lately. It sort of explains the lack of progress on a couple of my build threads. Between the F-4E, B-25 and Spitfire XIX ive got stated on here, I've pulled out of the stash and worked on a Zoids kit, a Fly Hurricane and now this. This is the original release of the Tamiya Caterham kit from 1994. At the time, it was supposedly the most expensive kit ever produced by Tamiya. I picked up my copy shortly after it came out and made a right mess of it. I tried to polish the aluminum body panels and only made it worse. I tried to cover the seats in leather and made them worse. So it went back into the box and has traveled with me for over 20 years. Earlier this year, Tamiya reissued the kit. I've naturally picked up a new copy to have another go at it. But I first decided to see if I could resurrect this one. To do so, I managed to secure new seats. The one panel that's really tarnished I'll just leave as there's not much else I can do. Here's what the inside of the box looked like after all this time. I had to brush off a nice layer of dust from a bunch of parts and them started in. The first thing I did was clean up the fenders and nose cone and spray them in a custom metallic purple I used a mix of Gunze purple and metallic black. The original paint had etched the plastic badly so it took a bit of sanding to get things smooth.

Hello All, I have one of these kits in my stash: I would like to have a 1/12 scale aircrew figure (in Americam AEA clothing) to put into it, but I have not seen anything suitable so far. This is the sort of thing that I would like to do with it: Does anyone know if there is anything that would fit the bill please? Many thanks Derek