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This is the first 1/144 scale kit I've built. Even so, the wingspan is about 12 inches. This was a test bed for working out a natural metal finish. I used AK Interactive aluminum, dark aluminum, and polished aluminum colors with no clear coat. Props done with a Molotow pen. I also see that polishing the surface would give best results. Has anyone tried clear coating the plastic to get a smooth surface without polishing before applying metallic colors? Comments welcome

Evening all. Airfix's venerable 1/24 Hurricane has show up my LHS. Anyone built one recently and if so what would be ended to bring it up to modern standards, Thanks in advance Tim

Time to move on from my last build, Airfix's 1/24 Me Bf 109 E-4 http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=69743&hl= to the next of my planes from childhood, the Airfix 1/24 Hurricane Mk1. Before I start, confession time. I never actually built this in my formative years. I did the Spit, 109, Ju87 but never the Hurri. I don't know why, perhaps other things got in the way as I would have been a teenager by then. So, this is a learn as I go along thing (nothing new there then ) I picked the kit up on eBay and it a good old example contemporary with my formative years. The box art on these kits still impresses me and the little book as opposed to a sheet of instructions all added to making it feel a bit better than a normal run of the mill kit As any of you who were kind enough to look at my log for my previous build, you'll realise that David Bailey I ain't but I've looked at some of the excellent posts and articles on LSP and hopefully I've improved a bit on the pictures here. Let me know As ever for me I've started with the engine. My old photo skills are (non) evident in these early shots but they just show the first couple of stages after gluing the mighty Merlin together I'm still unashamedly an enamels man so I started with a black base coat of Humbrol mixed with a little gunmetal to try and give a metallic effect These two are thankfully the last with my old camera and the auto setting. Next came the coat of satin varnish and a dry brush with Humbrols 27001 aluminium to give a little wear then an oil wash of burnt umber with a little lamp black added to try and simulate some oily grime in the nooks and crevices. I used some reference pics of various Merlins but you have to be really careful, I've realised to get the right ones or you end up putting all manner of bits and bobs on to enhance the look that really shouldn't be there. So a couple of the reference pics have various bits not evident on the Airfix engine, although I think it's a lovely but of plastic, so much better than the one on the Spitfire but there were quite a few years between those models. I added some extra wiring and cut off the spark plug connectors on the ignition harness as they looked awful. I used the 0.8mm resin connectors from Hobby Design painted silver, drilled into the engine body with my trusty microdrills and then hooked the lot up with 0.3 mm lead wire painted a suitable colour. Fiddly but I think it looks OK Looking at these pics I can see I need to redo the coiled pipe into the supercharger. It's thin brass wire wound around a core of thicker wire but I then slid it off the core and as I've bent it into shape is parted. The core needs to go back in to give it strength, I think. Very uncertain as to how much to do to the top section. I'm no Merlin expert but there are images with extra ignition wires etc going into the top but then others with nothing. I'm presuming they're different models of engine. I don't want to **** it up by adding stuff that shouldn't be there so any advice would be most welcome Hope the pics look better than my previous efforts. I'll post updated when I've fixed the coiled pipe and hopefully got some feedback on how far to go with the top section. Thanks for taking the trouble to have a look.

Here is my newly built Hawker Typhoon, in 1/24 scale from Airfix. This is a magnificent kit to build. It's a little challenging, but that's what it should be, and also very big. . I built it with an Eduard etch details for the cockpit, and also substituted Eduard steel seat belts for the kit parts. One other addition I now wish I'd made was metal undercarriage legs, as the kit pieces are a little wobbly. Clamping the doors to the legs for a firm attachment as the glue sets is a help, and it now appears to be quite steady. There are about 500 parts in this kit, and they assemble into a pretty impressive kit. But to further enhance the kit, I made both the pilot's door and top canopy hinges so they can open and close as I wish. I also made the lower cowlings fit to the model, which the instructions tell you can't be done if you want a fully detailed engine. Well detailed cockpits and engines are, for me, important parts of any large scale build. Alas, there is no way the top engine cowl will fit, so I'll have to get the duster out more often. There is a detailed build in the Works in Progress forum, so it is not my intention to reproduce much from that here. You can find it in this link: http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=67834 Instead, I would like to provide a little history of this plane, the tactics used and it's pilot. But first, a few more pictures of the plane. I have chosen to build a fighter bomber version, rather than the rocket firing aircraft, and my chosen subject represents a plane flown by Squadron Leader Denis Crowley-Milling, CO of 181 Squadron, RAF. Crowley Milling was originally a Rolls Royce apprentice when in 1937 he was mobilised with the RAF Volunteer Reserve, being posted to 615 Squadron. He served with this squadron in France in 1940, and showed pilots how to service their aircraft to help evacuate as many as possible in June, with the defeat of France. Shortly after this he was posted to 242 Squadron, where he flew as Douglas Bader's wingman. In August 1941, now serving as a Flight Commander with 610 Squadron, he was shot down while escorting Stirling bombers over France, but a few months later was repatriated to England having successfully evaded capture. In September 1942, he was promoted to Squadron Leader and given command of 181 Squadron, a new Typhoon squadron tasked with developing the plane in its ground attack role. Subsequently, he was promoted to acting Wing Commander of 121 wing, but four months into that job he was grounded after developing eye problems, probably as a result of all the dive bombing with 181. After the war, he was given a permanent commission, later commanding a Tempest squadron in Palestine in 1947. He left the RAF in 1975 with the rank of Air Marshall, and died in London in 1996. During his service with the RAF, he was awarded the DSO, DFC and bar during the war, a CBE in 1963, and then a knighthood in 1973. Below is a picture of Crowley-Milling in the plane, together with a shot of a Typhoon being run up, producing a lot of noise and smoke. Notice the man on the right with his hands over his ears!! Experience with Hurricanes had shown that dive bombing was the most accurate way to deploy a bomb from a fighter at that time, so on commencing training, 181 Squadron practised against derelict ships in the Wash (an area off the East Anglian coast of England). Operations then commenced against German fighter bases in France and the low countries. As Crowley Milling later told; “We used to time our approach to coincide with the return of the big American B-17 daylight raids, so that we arrived as the German fighters which had been up to intercept them were returning, short of fuel and ammunition, and landing back at their bases. The squadron would cross the channel at nought feet to get under the German radar, then climb up to 10,000ft at the French coast. We would then go straight to places like Caen, Abbeville, St Omer and Triqueville diving down from 10,000ft and let the bombs go at 5,000 to 6,000ft so keeping clear of the light flak. As you dived down, you could look behind and see the heavy flak bursting to the rear. We developed pretty good accuracy; on one occasion one of our bombs actually burst under an enemy aircraft as it was touching down. Once dropped, we didn't hang around and got out fast. If you were jumped, you jettisoned the bombs, but this seldom happened. On approach to a target the Typhoon, being such a splendid aircraft, could cruise at 300mph low down, with little ill effect on performance from the load hanging under its wings.†The squadron also attached industrial centres and shipping. When attacking shipping, the practice was to attack in pairs, with the leading plane firing guns to keep the flak down, and the number two aircraft carried the bombs. Bomb carrying Typhoons were dubbed “Bomphoons†in the press, but in 1943, rockets arrived. But that's another story, if ever I build the later Airfix Typhoon. Cheers, Michael

Evening all This is very likely to be my last completed model for 2017 - I've been working on it on and off since August and it crossed the finish line this week. I picked up this classic from Airfix at a model show for a mere £20, and set about building it for a bit of nostalgia and a love for one of WWII's unsung heroes (the Spitfire seems to get all the glory!) I built it more or less out of the box, but did use SAC metal undercarriage legs, an Eduard seatbelt set and aftermarket decals from Techmod. A bit of extra piping was added to the engine, but other than that it's as it comes. It fitted together pretty well - at least better than I was expecting for such an old kit. The wing roots were a little tricky and there was plenty of filler needed here - Archer rivets to the rescue to replace those lost in the filling and sanding process. The worst fitting parts were probably the landing light covers and these took a lot of careful trimming to get them flush with the leading edge. Some of the detail is a little clunky and not up to today's standards, but the surface detail is streets ahead of the Trumpeter offering, with beautiful raised rivets and lovely fabric effect on the rear of the fuselage. Paints were from the Xtracolour enamel range, with the flat cote from Humbrol. Hawker Hurricane MkIc, 306 (Polish) Squadron, RAF Ternhill, November 1940. For £20 it was certainly great value for money. Happy modelling! Tom

It's been a while since I've posted a build here, and the main reason for that is that I haven't built anything. Last July, I started a Trumpeter 1/32 Thunderbolt, went on holiday in August, and couldn't face it when I got back. My "issue" (read as excuse) was that I'd reached the bit where i needed to detail the engine, with all those fiddly ignition wires. A couple of attempts had me running, screaming, for the hills. I started trying to hunt down some lead wire, but I'm having difficulty with that. So to the Shelf Of Doom it went (hereinafter know as SOD it). Next to be removed from the stash was an SH Yak 3, but that progressed no further than removing the box lid. That was only a couple of weeks ago, and it didn't really float my boat. After this??? Knowing my birthday was coming up and what I was getting, I decided to wait. So here's my next build, something I see as a bit easier than the thrice accursed Thunderbolt. I've also bought an Eduard cockpit detail set and some seatbelts for it, but having seen the kit belts, I may put them aside for a 1/24 Hurricane I have in my stash. The lid was eagerly removed and a few hours spent studying the instructions. First issue: Where's the paint chart, Mr Airfix??? Numbers indicating Humbrol paints don't cut it for me. A search of the wide world of web found a suitable chart, so this is now taped up where it will be useful. My first session involved putting the wing spars, cockpit side frames and firewall together, which was then clamped to the wing centre section for alignment. Next day, the rear cockpit frames went on. As the side frames were a little bent, some careful clamping was needed, but to some degree, it pulls itself back into place. It just needs a little encouragement. The whole assembly was sprayed with Tamiya rattle can aluminium, then the firewall and cockpit frames were painted flat black. After that, the cockpit build began firstly with rudder pedal heel boards and rudder pedals, then adding more bits as per the instructions. I'm presently at the end of page 2. Don't ask how many more to go. I'll probably dull down the black frames with a little dry brushing. Next up is the more intricate cockpit detailing. I have to say this is a fantastic kit. It doesn't appear to be that difficult; it's just that there's a lot off it. My only criticisms so far are the lack of proper paint chart in the instructions and the slightly bent frames, although this is not difficult to correct. Forty parts down, another 480 to go!!! Cheers, Michael

This is a nice little kit. The Belgium markings offer a nice change of pace to RAF markings and the decals settle down nicely under some Mr Mark decal fluid. I had read of some issues fitting the fuselage to the wing, but some clamping solved any problem there and the fit is actually quite good. I've been buying quite a few of these new Airfix kits and I'm quite pleased with them.

Not a bad model from Airfix, I picked this up from one of the sales at Aldi here in Australia. I still think Airfix have some work to do with the depth of their panel lines, but I admit I've been buying quite a few of these new Airfix kits. Decals came from Blackbird Models in the UK.

This has been a nice fun cheap build. It is built straight from the box. The only things i added were basic belts cur from a brown envelope , Airscale instruments that i had laying around and a partial Aveaology sheet. I say partially as i was too heavy handed with them and ruined them. The only ones ledt were the "ZWEI" under the cockpit and the serials. The roundels are from the kit and the codes i masked and airbrushed on. Weathering has been kept to a bare minimum with only exhaust and gun stains airbrushed on. Took just over a week and the actual kit was only 25 quid , so its been a great build. So much less stress than adding extra detail. Mosquito and Spitfire next for the 1/24 collection!

Hey everyone! I thought you'd like to see what I'm working on at the moment, a 1:24 Harrier T.4. This is a conversion that I've wanted to complete for over 30 years and so now I've decided to have a go. In essence it's an almost complete reworking of the 40 year old Airfix Harrier GR.1 into the two seat T.4 and so I have to build a new nose, scratchbuild the cockpits and then build an entirely new tail section - as well as a complete redetail of the remaining airframe and features. I've given myself around 5 months to complete this model, so here's hoping I can! Though I'd love to detail it all on here, there's just too much information and too many pictures, so if you'd like to keep up with what's likely to be a very involved conversion, please follow the link and you'll find plenty more information! I'll also keep dropping some teasers onto here as well.. https://thekitbox.wordpress.com/2016/06/28/harrier-t-4-conversion-part-2/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfQeFAMdUVY

Hey Guys, I had to take a break from my 'winged' builds, to work on a project that has been lurking in the back of my mind for some time. Being frustrated about the absence of 1/32 vehicles to go with 1/32 aircraft models, I got this mad idea, using one of the few models available from the last century... Monty's Humber staff car from Airfix... Trying to get it to look something like this... Work began by cutting up the kit as it is only the front and bottom that are reused for this build.. After a lot of scratchbuilding, it looked like this... Time for painting... Paintjob started with coat of gunmetal/red brown/dark grey... Hairspray (not visible) British desert yellow, tamiya wooden deck tan with highlights of Lifecolor Light Stone... For the weathering I used different oil washes + pigments... Now all I need, is to decide how much to cover and some decals to go with it...

Ok, Ok, Ok, I caved.... Granted with all my other irons in the fire this may take a while, so I am grateful for the Dec 31 end date. ...It may take every bit of it. The box: The goodies inside: The conceptual drawing: I actually did a thumbnail sketch probably 2 years ago, then did the above colored rendering. I will be making the majority of this up as I go along, but at this point here is the basic concept and list of mods. Reno styled Unlimited Racer, based on the Spitfire. Rolls Royce Griffon engine with modified Shackleton Contra-rotating propellers Boil off system for engine cooling and oil cooling. Cockpit moved aft and modified bubble canopy and windscreen. Filled and smoothed wings and fuselage. Modified landing gear. I have been dying to build this, and this is the perfect excuse to do it.

Ladies and Gentlemen..................................................................................... the wait is OVER!!!! Fresh off the Airfix e-mail:- Coming in 2016, 1/24th Hawker 'Car Door' Typhoon, let the celebrations commence or not Paul

These were two of the finest kits i have ever built. They are beautiful kits. They are both built straight from the box with the exeption of belts in the hurricane. The undersides and earth were airbrushed but the green was brush painted. That was a pain. The Tamiya paints airbrush beautifully , but not so good on the brush painting side i n my experience. I wish i could take better photos , they really dont do the complete models justice. My only small bugbear was the undercarriage on the spitfire. They could have been mounted better. Cue the Battle of Britain music!

Hello boys and girls, perhaps you will permit me to share my latest offering here? This is another in the line of smaller scale builds that I've been busying myself with of late. I've found that time at the bench has been at a premium so I've tended toward small scale projects in an attempt to finish one or two projects. However, more recent builds have been getting steadily more and more involved. This is no exception. My intention is to detail the build here but if you frequent Britmodeller you may already have seen this so apologies to you guys for the repetition. The model is now complete and in my cabinet and a full build thread is posted on BM but I'd like to add it here too if that's ok? Anyone familiar with this tiny kit will know it's heritage. The original dates back to midway through the last century and the state of the molds are testament to this. There is alot of flash, many of the parts are mishapen and/or crude and the fit of most parts is rather "approximate". Since the Comet is such a graceful aeroplane (you can see that in Eric's 1/32nd scale build here on LSP:http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=53255&page=10 I decided to try to improve on what the manufacturer currently turns out and get something that resembles the real deal more closely. Back in the early Fifties Airfix released "Grosvenor House" and the kit remains the same today. In many builds we'd begin with the cockpit. For this kit, there is n't one. The crew compartment is a flat deck running along the edge of the fuselage with two raised pips suggesting the pilot's heads. Since the canopy is virtually a solid piece of transparent plastic that might have been acceptable. However, the canopy of the real Comet is a very open glass house. Something had to be done. So that is where I began. I cut out the flat area and added a semblance of cockpit detail to the fuselage walls using reference photos from the web and BM's walkaround page. I took the decision early on to try to replicate the renovated airframe as she's seen today. 2014 saw her return to flight for the first time in a few years so thankfully there are quite a few contemporary images around for reference. The modern aeroplane is predominantly black inside the cockpit so I did n't go overboard with the details. An IP, trim wheel and stick made do for the front cockpit, just an IP for the rear. I "borrowed" a pair of pilots from a 1/72nd scale Chipmunk, adjusted their dress and painted them in white and dark blue flight overalls. (In truth, I should have only put a pilot in as Grosvenor House does n't carry anyone else whilst displaying currently). Due to space restrictions I omitted any seats preferring instead to glue the little people straight to the floor. Well, the back seater is sitting on the floor, the pilot is sitting on the back seater's feet...... I have n't found any drawings of the dH-88 so the position of the aircrew is a guesstimate. With a large, open space to cover the kit canopy was discarded in favour of a new version. In order to create the glazing I carved some scrap resin pour stub and crash molded some clear food packaging. The canopy is quite a complex affair and it took a while to get the shape correct. I tried to follow the shape of the real aircraft but in doing so, I created more work for myself. The aft fuselage of the Airfix kit is quite triangular in cross section above the swage line. On the full sized airframe it is more rounded at the top. This left a mismatch behind the glazing. To remedy this I slopped on some green stuff two pack putty from Games Workshop and once cured, sanded it to shape. In turn, this illuminated another shape issue. This time it was the front fuselage above the swage line. That triangular section of the aft fuselage had been continued forward meaning that the front fuselage could also benefit from some re-shaping. Some gentle sanding of the kit plastic took care of the gently curving transition but did nothing for the emaciated upper fuselage. I turned to the two-pack again. The additional bulk was sanded to shape which helped give that delicate, swooping noseline of deHavilland's design. The next job was to fashion a light in the nose. In this ancient model Airfix would have the builder suggest the nose light by applying silver paint as no clear parts are included. The nose light of the Comet is one of it's most distinuishing features and just could not be taken lightly {~groan~} ignored. With no drawings to refer to I was forced to guess the diameter of the lens. I started by sawing off the tip of the fuselage and making sure that the resultant hole was circular. I made a reflector by punching out a disc of shiny foil and dishing it over the curved handle of a paint brush in time honoured fashion. The clear cover was smash molded out of thin, clear actetate (food packaging) and the lens was constructed from several circular pieces of acetate. Not completely perfect but better than nothing. In truth I suspect that I could have gone larger.

In my American mind I cannot for the life of me understand AIRFIX and 32nd Scale..?????????? There has to be a way to get the AIRFIX "Powers-that Be" to "See the LIGHT" !!!!!!!!!!!! Take the 48th , Lightning F.1 and F.6, Sea Vixen, Javelin, Canberra collection, make them 32nd Scale These kits are well engineered and fit very well...............Scale UP the moulds? I understand there is an investment to scale up the moulds, but you have the perfect patterns in 3D and steel I know these kits would SELL, the Lightning kit is a real easy build and I fell in LOVE with both the Airplane and the kit. Sea-Vixen......KILLER 32nd Scale Javelin.....Interesting silhouette RELEASE THE CANBERRA !!!!! 32nd Hey! AIRFIX! 32nd Scale!! WANTED EE F.1-F.3 Lightning BAC F.2A-F.6 Lightning Dh Sea Vixen Gl Javelin EE/ BAC/Martin CANBERRA Collection Inquiring Minds Want to Know? Jack