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Eduard 1/48 Tempest II on Verlinden Luftwaffe Swing Compass. I made the compass and base yesterday with the help of a picture frame and layers of picture frame card. The scene is only inspired by the photo of XC-D on the compass at the ex-Luftwaffe base at Zeltweg, Austria in July 1947. In real life MW416 did not carry the unit crest on the fin at this time as well as the fact that the Verlinden Luftwaffe swing compass is not the type seen at every Luftwaffe base but rather the type seen at factories and final assembly bases. I very much enjoyed doing this little scene and hope one day the other type of compass may become available in kit form in the same way that Eduard and others have released PSP plating and the like. Thanks for looking. Best wishes, John

It's a new year and a new project for me, but you could be excused for thinking that I'm just continuing on from last year if you remember my last build. Santa brought me a lovely Airfix Spitfire Mk.VIII. So it only seemed appropriate to make a start on it today. Santa was even generous enough to include a bunch of addons inside from Eduard for better exhausts and seatbelts, Barracuda for an improved control column, Art Scale Distribution masks and three sets from Airscale to improve the cockpit and undercarriage. Two of the Airscale sets relate to the cockpit and comprise a set to improve the cockpit in similar fashion to my Mk.IX build last year, as well as another set to correct the left side of the cockpit, updating it to correct Mk.VIII specification which Mr Airfix forgot to do. The Airscale set for the left of the cockpit comprises, from left to right, a new voltage regulator, Corrected electrical control box new on the Mk.VIII, and improved throttle quadrant, a reflector gunsight base and mount and lastly a new radio control box. So I started at step one with the pilot's seat which has etch embellishment from the Airscale set, and I've also added a piece from that set to the seat mounting frame. I've also added a bit of Green Stuff to the ribs on the back of the pilot's seat to try to "bulk up" the cushion a bit more. This may or may not work, but we'll see if it does work after paint. Since the kit supplied voltage regulator won't be used, I filled in the L shaped mount for that part with some stock plastic square rod and a little filler. Here's the seat built up. I've yet to add the armour plate behind it, and I may add the armour plate that goes under the seat base if that is appropriate. I'll probably make my own from sheet brass as I'll be using the Airscale etch piece for the head armour, so my own effort will match that. The plastic kit part looks bulky next to the etch head armour. I've prepped the floor ready for paint. Lastly, I've assembled the missing chunk of the rear fuselage that is appropriate to a Mk.VIII as well as start work on the changes to allow the fitment of the lower fuselage light for a Mk.VIII. Here's the left half with the jig in place to cut that hole for the light (at the bottom of the fuselage behind the wing cut out). The jig fits into the fuselage very precisely so you cam accurately place the light. Then all you have to do is hack/grind/file the hole to allow for the fitment of the light housing. Ingenious. Sorry to add to the seemingly never ending number of Spitfire builds here, lately. But I like them and I have a few more Spitfire projects at the top of my to do list for this year, as well as a Z-M Fw-190 build and a Macchi C.205 build and a couple others too if I can join any of this year's group builds. Can someone double the number of days in this year to 730 days, please? Cheers, Michael

I'm not sure what's got into me lately - perhaps a realisation that the stash isn't going to build itself - but I've finished another one , making two so far this year: that's almost unprecedented! This is another of Eduard's 1/48 Zlin series - the fifth I've built. They're relatively simple, but have little fiddly parts. I did this in an elapsed time of two weeks plus a day, and freely admit I cut a corner or two. That was also helped by the AK paint markers I bought at Telford, which do reduce time spent mixing small amounts of paint and brush-cleaning. This time it's a Z-526AFS Akrobat, in the markings of the Jicin Aero Club Czechoslovakia (as it was then) in 1975. This aircraft was frequently flown by Jiri Kobrle, a well-known aerobatic pilot of the time. But that's it - I think I'm a bit "Zlinned out" now, lovely kits though they are. I think the next project will be a bit more military "heavy metal" in 1/32 scale.

Inspired by Thunnus amazing 109G-6/AS build earlier this year I've taken a deep breath and started my first advanced conversion build. First cuts and all fits spot on. Reaver prop to go with the conversion = perfect match! Added the Aries radio set for the open hatch at the rear. Designed for the Hasegawa kit it fitted without issue. Cut out the hatch and replaced with the pe. Thinned the inside Aries pit next and a drop in fit. Like Thunnus removed the front bottom pour for the wing strut. Larger oil cooler from Barracuda tested, no problems! Quick dry fit of everything I'd done today. Aaron

I would like to present another completed model, and that is the F5-E Freedom Tiger in 1:48 scale from Eduard, along with the extras I added to it. The build went literally at an express pace, the model itself and the extras fit perfectly, a very enjoyable build. And this is how the model of the aircraft F5-E ‘Freedom Tiger’ 73-00878, 63rd Tactical Wing, RVNAF, Bien Hoa, South Vietnam, 1974 looks like.

My workshop doesn't like emptiness so an F5-E Freedom Tiger in 1:48 scale from Eduard has landed on it. It is not an Eduard release but a repackaged model. I have found some interesting extras for it which I will use in the model. The painting will be in Vietnam camouflage. So much introduction so I'm getting to work.

The next model to arrive on my workbench is Italeri's Macchi C-202. I've been wanting a good LSP model of the C-202 for a long time as some here may recall, so this is one item I can happily cross off my list of desired models. We won't mention the other LSP C-202 from PCM, as by the time I started frequenting model forums, they'd gone bust before I even knew about it. The last Macchi I built was in the 90's, being the old Tauro Models C-205 in 1/48 scale. Italeri's effort looks pretty good, though from all reports, it has a few issues. Some of these I'll be able to correct thanks to some after market additions to this build. The C-202 was one of the lesser known frontline fighters of WW2, but it was a very good fighter though mostly hobbled by a lack of firepower. There are many similarities with the Spitfire as both resulted from lessons learned by two brilliant designers who's companies were both also well known for their seaplanes. Both designers applied the lessons learned in pushing speed barriers during the Schneider Trophy races and although it was R.J. Mitchell's S6B design that won the 1931 race and became etched in aviation lore, Mario Castoldi's Macchi seaplane could have done much better (and did go on to set records) had Italy been able to better harness resources to compete at the time. It was a closer run competition than many might think in the last years, when it came down to both only Italy and Britain as the leading contenders. Castoldi's final fighter, the C-205, was in many ways the equal of the later Merlin Spitfires, so here's hoping that one day soon Italeri provide us with that model too. I'll be buying their upcoming C-200 for sure. Back to this model. Mine arrived about August/September last year, and I decided to put it away and see what the aftermarket came up with. Here's what came in the mail. The box is not the most sturdy I've seen, but it came all the way from England safely. It's a little large for what's inside, and could be a little slimmer. Italeri have provided 3d decals, etch and flexible pipe to add to the detail of the model, so it should be possible to build a nice rendition right out of the box. But as they did pack it in such a big box, it allowed plenty of extra space to store all the addon's I've bought. Very thoughtful . From Eduard, we have etch seatbelts and interior detail, as well as some better wheels. The one's in the box just look squashed rather than load bearing. I was planning on getting a 3D decals set as well to supplement this but that, in the same package along with a Kotare Spitfire and AM for it, disappeared into thin air (or a train wreck ) somewhere between Sydney and Perth. I also went mad with the credit card twice at the Aircraft in Pixels site, placing two orders for their bits, which I put in one box. Here's what I bought. The first order comprised the spinner and backplate, sand filter and control surfaces. The second order contained main landing gear legs, DB601 cylinder banks with separate ignition harnesses, and engine detail pack and a better set of exhaust stacks. Some of these will hopefully enhance the model, the control surfaces and spinner set will correct issues in those areas of the kit, and the undercarriage set will make the model a bit easier in that I don't have to build the model with the kit undercarriage legs in the way, especially when painting. I did a quick test fit of the main parts, and it looks good with no difficult gaps to fill. I've also had a look at the surface detail on the fuselage as previous builds have mentioned the horizontal panel lines indented into the fuselage halves. I don't think they're that bad, but I may soften them a little with a bit of Mr Surfacer painted along them followed by some primer to see how they look then. But the line should be visible, as period pictures seem to indicate so I'm not trying to obliterate that detail. I've made a small start with the engine, which means I'm into the printed parts already. On the left is the kit cylinder head, complete with cast in ignition harness, and on the right is the printed parts. Hopefully I don't make a hash of getting the ignition harness off it's support casting and it does look better than the left hand job. That will be for a future update, after I've got the basic engine together. Cheers, Michael

I actually don't like D Day stripes. They ruin the appearance of a nice model. But I have three of Pierre Clostermann's aircraft in my stash and since one of them has these stripes, this seems like a good time to get on with it. I read The Big Show when I was about 15 or 16, and a few more times since. My father was in the Royal Engineers during WW2 and he had previously told me of his days camped outside Caen with the Army trying to dislodge the German forces. He said it was mostly boring, but occassionally not. In his off duty moments, he and some mates would go on the scrounge for something to bolster the rations and they came across this field with and apparently unattended cow. So they milked it daily as fresh milk was rare, only to find one day it had already been milked. Next day, they got up earlier to beat their rivals who, it turned out, was the RAF. It became a race to see who could get to the cow first until Dad and his mates decided this was ridiculous so they took the cow with them. It eventually got left with one of the poorer farmers close to the town in Belgium where he seemed to stay for a while. Clostermann relates exactly the same story in The Big Show. Same place and time, so it's possible I have a slight and distant familial link to this man and subject of this GB. So on to this model. I'm building the Airfix Spitfire Mk.IX for this group build, with a few extras. I have the Xtradecal 1/24 set for this plane, Airscale's PE set for the cockpit, Eduard Brassin fishtail exhausts and a choice of Eduard steel seat belts or HGW cloth jobs. I'm not sure which of these two I'll use and I don't get on with HGW's stuff, but this being the size it is, I'll give them one last go. I made a small start on it today, but it may be slow going as it's very hot right now and it's hard to work on these things when your glasses are sliding down your face. The very first thing I did was to glue in the tail wheel area onto the fuselage. The parts fit quite well, but each has a small gap in different areas. The left half (upside down one in this pic) fits very well on the vertical join against the fuselage but has a gap that will need a dose of Mr Surfacer 500 beneath the tail plane fillet, whereas the right half fits well against the fillet but has a visible gap against the fuselage. But it's easily dealt with, again with some Mr Surfacer. From what I've seen, that about sums up this model. Next I added some parts to the cockpit floor so that I can paint this before too much longer. I'm also drilling out the lightening holes in the fuselage frames. You have to with this size model or it will really stand out. Next, I started assembling the pilot's seat and adding the first of the Airscale enhancements. The kit detail was removed before adding the PE parts., and the whole thing needs a little tidy up before paint. Lastly, I sprayed some Tamiya AS12 over the insides of the fuselage and cockpit sides and floor. If it looks a bit strange, that's because it probably dried to fast in the heat. I hope it will look better once I get the cockpit green sprayed, otherwise it will get done again if we get a cooler day soon. So that's five steps crossed off the instruction book. Only two hundred and thirty nine to go . Cheers, Michael

Hi everyone! Well, here it is. Finally completed! Hasegawa's 1/32 kit of the P-47D Thunderbolt, depicting Captain Neil Stanley's Daddy RABBIT. The majority of the details were scratch built with the only aftermarket additions being a resin seat from Avionix and wheels from Eduard. This was my first attempt at a natural metal finish and for this I applied a variation of the black basing technique where the black was substituted with silver and the mottling was done with grey instead of the camouflage colours. Weathering was quite extensive was done mostly with oils while inks were used for the exhaust stains. Quite happy with the final result and I can now feel more confident in tackling another natural metal finish!

Hello everyone! Back with another project and first for 2023. This time I will be tackling Hasegawa's 1/32 scale kit of the P-47D Thunderbolt, bubbletop version, and will depict Glenn T. Eagleston's aircraft. I will also be using the following aftermarket sets: Avionix resin cockpit Quickboost resin engine Eduard resin wheels I'm aware of the kit's misalignment issues around the cowling and Rick Kranias kindly pointed me to his detailed post on how to fix this. Quickboost provides a separate mounting for the engine which requires some surgery on the kit. Has anyone used this set and, if yes, did it it fix the issue? Hasegawa's kits are known for their good quality and accurately shaped moldings and are usually sold at a reasonable cost by keeping some details simple such as the surface details. So, that's how I decided to start the project. By riveting the whole airframe with the help of a Rosie the Riveter wheel. The riveting pattern is by no means an exact replica of the real thing but rather it follows the general plan with the aim to make the whole fuselage look more busy.

I'm back, and hopefully not with another kit that ends up on the shelf of doom. This is a bird that I've been interested in for a very long time, having read Termite Hill and Lucky's Bridge by Tom Wilson years ago, both of which focused on the Thud. I've also recently read Hunter Killers by Dan Hampton about the creation of the Wild Weasels, all of which I recommend for some background info on the F-105 and it's uses. So, after nothing was fitting on the T-28C/D Trojan I'd been working on, and the lack of interest in the plane as well, it's ended up boxed at this point, sitting on the shelf for (hopefully) another rematch someday. Now I've got the F-105G, and a bit of aftermarket, to make some winter time building. Now, the first thing.....this thing is HUGE compared to the other 1/32 kits I've built. It'll dwarf my Corsair and Dauntless, whenever it ends up in the display cabinet. I've picked up a few bits of aftermarket, with the Quintas Studio's cockpit the one I'm most interested in trying. I'm going to see what I can do to combine this with the Aires cockpit, Eduard PE and the kit parts. We'll see how well that works! I also have GT Resin's update set for the Wild Weasel, with a new nose, vertical stabilizer, engine, etc. New resin wheels/tires and also a nice turned metal nose probe to top things off. I'll also probably be needing to find some metal landing gear, as all of this is going to get heavy, plus adding additional weight to the nose to keep this from turning into a tail sitter. Special thanks to @Dragon for sending me some decals a while back that will get used in this build! And....finally, I also picked up something for later, Randy Coopers Blade Runner 2049 Spinner. This will be a challenge, as I've never tackled a full resin kit!

I've been a long time lurker (years). Now that I'm retired and things have settled and I have a modeling area again, so, I thought I would join in. I'm not going to get too carried away but there's a set of Aries Seats coming too. This thing is big! I've wanted to build one of these since Trumpeter released it, so now was the time.

Here is my recently completed 1/32 Hasegawa Fw 190D-9 build of the JV44 Dora flown by Heinz Sachsenberg known as "Red 1". In addition to the kit parts, I've added the following aftermarket items to the build: 1. Aires 190D-9 resin cockpit set 2. Eduard 190D-9 brass flaps 3. Quickboost 190A gun barrels 4. Eagle Editions 190A/190D-9 Early resin tail wheel 5. Henri Daehne VS111 resin prop 6. HGW 1/32 Luftwaffe seat belts 7. Montex Masks 8. Eagle Cal decals

This is my latest project, Tamiya's A6M5 Zero. The model represents an A6M5 of the 210th Fighter Group based at Meiji, Aichi Prefecture at the end of 1944 and into 1945. The model represents about 4 months of work, with the odd sanity recovery break, and is the only LSP WW2 Japanese plane on my shelves. I do hope to add another sometime in the next year, as this one is looking a bit lonely. It was not always the easiest of builds, mostly relating to the undercarriage issues, but you can read all about it if you are so inclined in my WIP, here. That said, it is a model I'm glad I've built and I'm happy with the end result. Whatever the challenges, I think it is a better and more detailed than the even older Hasegawa model, good though that is. No one has yet built a more detailed and better kit yet, in the twenty or so years since this was released. The model was embellished with the cannon barrels from a Master bars set, and a couple of Eduard etch sets covering interior, engine and instrument panel, though not all the parts in these were used. Some were just too small and fiddly for my aged eyes, and others, such as the ignition wires on the engine, I made from various diameter wire as I thought they had a better look than flat etch bits. The fuselage machine guns are the stock kit part, but I did drill out the cooling holes a little more and so a black wash over these for a better than stock look. Once built, the model was finished in Mr Color acrylic paints with a few other types for the details and the final coat were my own mix of Mr Color flat and gloss varnish to produce something of a satin finish, except for the control surfaces which are all fabric so were finished in flat varnish. Cockpit paint was also Mr Color, suitable for a Nakajima built plane as this was, with rattle can AS12 where appropriate, as well as Tamiya Aotake. The model was weathered using a mixture of Tamiya XF16 flat aluminium to represent paint scratches, as well as a good dusting with Tamiya weathering sets to improve the worn look. Here's some photos. Engine shots. One of the things I like about this kit is that it has the whole engine, bot just the part forward of the rear cylinders. It also has removable covers for the rear part so that you can see this. Cockpit shots. Again, nicely done by Tamiya, with detail provided behind the pilot's seat that can be seen once the model is finished. Undersides, here with the drop tank removed. I've touched this up a little more after looking at the picture I posted at the end of my WIP as I thought it looked a bit odd. It;s amazing that no matter how hard you look at something as you're building these models, you see a picture you've posted of that and you think . Cheers, Michael

After a few days mulling over my next project, I've decided to tackle Tamiya's A6M5 Zero. Mine will be a Nakjima built aircraft, and probably a carrier based plane too. This will also the only large scale Japanese aircraft I will have to go on the shelf of done. When I get there, that is. Just like Rome, my models are not built in a day. I bought this kit locally in September 2020 and immediately started to acquire some aftermarket bits from Hannants. Once I've bought a kit, I usually start looking for bits to enhance it as soon as possible after purchase, especially in kits like this which were released a while back. Here's what I bought for this one. This lot should slow the progress down nicely . I've also made a printable copy of the tweak list on this site, so between the kit instructions, the Eduard instructions and that tweak list, I'm not anticipating a quick build. Added to which is the fact that this kit is a little toy like in some of it's features, one part of which I've already assembled to satisfy my inner child. So after about three one hour sessions at the workbench, here's what I've got so far. The silver is Tamiya rattle can AS12, the aotake (did I get that right??) is daubed on with a brush and I've added my first etch pieces in the form of the green RDF tray and it's support brackets. I've also been drilling out lightening holes in the cockpit and two of the various bottles that seem to adorn this plane. My next step will be to paint all those parts in Nakajima interior green, then I can start on the cockpit. It seems I can put the fuselage together without the cockpit, which can be slid into place later. That should be interesting. Since this is a Tamiya kit, it should be a fun build. However, what I know about modelling Japanese planes would barely occupy a postage stamp, so please stand by for silly questions. All help/suggestions/criticism gratefully accepted. Cheers, Michael

A short while ago there was only one model available in 1/32 scale of a Tiger Moth, the venerable, rather basic and in many areas inaccurate Matchbox/Revell one. Like many kits of its era it could nonetheless be worked on, with a fair degree of skill required, to produce a good looking model of this famous and iconic aircraft. Enter Silver Wings, the well known Polish company whose kits are made from resin and photo-etch. The kits are always well researched, complex, faithful and intricate in the level of detail but require considerable experience and skill to put together, but it has to be said that resin is not everybody's choice of modelling medium. The new kid on the block Tiger Moth kit-wise is produced by ICM, the Ukrainian company which has really made a name for itself in the variety of models in their catalogue and the apparent research that has gone into ease of construction., epitomised in this kit with the one-piece lower wing which attempts to address the Achilles-heel of the lower wing dihedral which didn't quite tick the box in the other Tiger Moth kits. I produced a thread fairly recently which compared various aspects of these three kits but finally I have got round to actually starting to model the ICM one, and I'm looking forward to it! Since the ICM kit in particular came out there have been a few after-market additions, all are included here within this build, and I'm going to start by having a look at each to consider if I think they're worthwhile, if indeed they make much difference to the kit.

My next project will be ICM's Yak-9T. I've also bought some Eduard etch as well as their Brassin exhaust set. Here's a look at what's in the box. Firstly, the clear parts. Wings. Fuselage bits. Detail sprues. The kit includes a representation of the Klimov V12 engine and it must be built as this is how the propeller mounts. You have a choice as to how you build it; either detailed with the upper cowlings off, or bare basics with engine cowling closed. I always like to see what powers the plane, but I also like to have the option to close it up so this will make me put on my thinking cap as to how I could achieve this. The Yak-9 is slightly bigger than the Yak-3, and it may fit into a Trumpeter display case, so that may be an option too. Here's a picture of my SH Yak-3 against the wings on this kit. There are four options for markings provided OOB. I'd like to paint this in the mid war VVs camo scheme of green/black topsides, which is provided for in the kit. I'm going to look around for something different but unfortunately Begemot, who did the decals on my Yak-3 haven't yet done a set for the Yak-9. I may be able to use some of the markings left over from the Yak-3 build, so who knows what I'll do eventually. However, a quick internet search hasn't revealed anything so far. Nothing has yet happened on this build, but I'll probably start painting the inside bits tonight. I'm hoping that this will be another very enjoyable ICM kit, as all the others built so far have been. More soon, I hope. Cheers, Michael

'Morning ladies and gents, lads and lassies, Let me give it to you, straight. The Mustang was never one of my favorites. Something to do with the snobbish side of me, never wanting to love a plane everybody loves to love. It's sooo uncool to like a pretty face, right? That is until some months ago, when stranded in a foreign land and estranged from my trusty desk and rusty tools, all that was left for me to do was some virtual modelling on the internet. That is when I read about a new Revell release associated in some way with Radu Brinzan. I knew the name and respected the modeller. I was intrigued and read on, the previews, the reviews, the WIPs ... and soon before long I was hooked. I wrote to my friend in Belgium to buy a kit for me and in anticipation, I myself ordered an Eduard interior set. Thus, months later upon my return to my trusty desk, I was ready to join the fray. For my subject, I chose Art Fiedler's HELEN, a P-51D-5 of the 325 GR in Italy 1944. Seen here in static simulation And in simulated video The main reason for this choice is an opportunity to airbrush the famous yellow-and-black checkers and the various markings using Frisket film. I know it shows my age but what the heck? Secondly, this particular machine is retro-fitted with the dorsal fin fillet DFF found on later versions of the P-51D. So it will give me the chance to try my hand at the controversial 'swayback' fillet as these field-installed mods were known. Just what I needed to spice up an all-too conventional build... or so I thought at that time 'Nuff said. The ride is about to begin, ladies and gentlemen, all aboard. Cheers, Quang

AIMS 1/32 Spitfire PR 1G conversion for Revell MK II kit - with Barracuda & Eduard details - finished! Hi folks yes it is finished and what a journey - my first Spitfire in 20 plus years. I must acknowledge my debt to a Mr Thierry Laurant whose library and vast knowledge of the subject matter made the project possible - as did the SAM Datafile book on the Merlin Powered Spitfire's by Robert Humphreys . I will not bore you with a list of my woes and the parts of the model I wish i had spent more time on - I am just glad to have finished it. Upon getting the camera out I was delighted to remember one of my favorite albums from my teenage year 'A taste of Pink' by a British band called 'Prisoners.' If you like 60's bands like the Small Faces give them a try - anyway i thought the album was perfect for the Spitfire model haha. Ask any questions you like but for now here is a list of the products involved AIMS 1/32 Spitfire PV IV/IG conversion AIMS MK II upper cowl AIMS De Havilland spinner and props AIMS Monotone Spitfires decal sheet Barracuda Studios Cockpit interior Barracuda Studios Main wheels Barracuda Studios Deeper radiator Barracuda Studios Early ailerons Eduard MK II canopy mask set Eduard Sutton Harness seat belts Eduard Mk II Exterior Details Thanks John

Well, after a short break from modelling and as earlier threatened/promised (cross out whichever does not apply) elsewhere, I'll join in this GB with something to keep these Mustangs and Thunderbolts busy. Now I know the box says G-2, but I'm building this as a G-4 which was operational in 1943. The decals I want to use are on their way to me as I write this, so no pics just yet. I've had the kit in my stash for perhaps fifteen years, buying it at a time when we didn't know as much about Trumpy kits as we do today. I'm using the Royal "we" here, BTW. To help things along a bit, I'll be adding these bits: and As I mentioned earlier, I took a short break from modelling for a trip to the south west of this massive state to take in views like this. and while having to sample things like this: It's a hard life, but someone's got to do it, though it's a pity the clouds rolled in on that day. Still, it was warm and no rain at least. Then when I got back last week, I took a look at my modelling desk. It's 2 metres long by 850mm deep and so cluttered that I can maybe use a third of it. Not good when you're building stuff like Z-M's Dornier 335. So I looked around my stocks of scrap timber ( as you can see, I rarely throw anything out ) and have managed to about double my usable space after building a set of sheves to go in the corner. Even the paint was from my stocks, hence the non matching colour . It's also helped me get my paints better organised as I now know what I actually need to stock up on, which is none of the paints that I have five of . So these are now organised by nation, plus the stock whites, reds, silvers etc in another container. The desk is not yet perfect, more a work in progress. I'm probably not alone in that. Now to get on with some gluing of plastic. More soon. Cheers, Michael

Hi all! It's been a very long time since I last posted in the forum but have been working on a project following my botched attempt on Trumpeter's MiG-21UM. And I was finally able to complete it this week! I would like to present to you my build of Revell's 1/32nd kit of the Fw 190 F8. This is probably the most challenging project I've done to date due to the number of aftermarket resin sets I added as well as the research I did on the particular aircraft. It was also my first attempt at fully riveting a model. The aftermarket sets I used include Eduard's resin cockpit, engine, fuselage gun bay and propeller, ResKit wheel, HGW fabric seatbelts and a combination of Cutting Edge and EagleCal decals. The Cutting Edge decal set was the one that inspired me to start this project as I found the overpainted fuselage number feature quite attractive. However, the painting instructions were simply wrong. Eventually, I discovered that Montex Masks offer the same scheme with the correct paint guide which I cross-referenced with pictures of the real aircraft I found online. Painting was done almost exclusively with MRP paints and weathering with Abteilung 502 oils and MiG Ammo and AK Interactive pigments. This makes build #2 and most likely the last one for 2021! Hope you like it!

I've just taken a bit of a break from LSPs to do these two little trainers. The Zlin Z-x26 Trener (which I understand means "trainer", in the sense of tutor or instructor - a trainer as a training aircraft is cvičitel) series was developed as a two-seat trainer and has been developed and extensively used by the Czech military as the C-105 (C for cvičitel), the Svazarm, and numerous civil flying clubs, both during and after the Communist era. It has also been used by the air arms of a number of other countries, and is on many civil registers. It is slightly smaller than a Chipmunk (I happen to be also building Airfix's 1:48 example so have a direct comparison). Eduard have recently issued a series of boxings, initially covering the Z-126, Z-226 and Z-526AFS Akrobat. I picked the Z-126 Dual Combo as it gave me two for less than the price of two single kits, and one of the box options included MrsC's maiden-name initials. As a Czech subject these are clearly a labour of love for Eduard, and are exquisite little kits, with Tamiya-P-38-standard fit, crystal-clear canopies, and all the usual Eduard extras of etch, masks, etc. Sorry to ramble on a bit, without further ado here they are. The silver one in the pseudo-military scheme is a privately-owned Z-126, and the yellow one is a Z-126T from Kladno Aero Club. Both schemes are from the box, with the registrations painted using masks rather than the decals. The box Building two with differing configurations demanded good workbench discipline. Thanks for looking.

Finally, here's my Dragon 1/32 Bf110C-3 Night Fighter (modified from the C-7 kit). Build represents a/c 235-5, 235° Squadriglia, 60° Gruppo, 41° Stormo Intercettori at Lonate Pozzolo airbase, Spring 1943 Build thread can be found here Many thanks to all who helped along the way, but especially to John Vasco himself who guided me along the precarious tightrope regarding the subtleties in the variant differences of the Bf110. Quite a bit I would have been very unaware of and wouldn't have modded without his help. The C-3 is a very interesting beast to say the least. Thanks for looking...on to the next one! Iain

We take a look at another useful accessory for the ICM Tiger Moth - a detail set from Eduard in their new 'SPACE' range that provides etched details - along with a 3D printed decal sheet for the instrument panels, compasses and placards. Mags on! Iain

Here is my first RFI on the site, proof that I actually have built some models more to come at later stages as I get pics taken. This aircraft is a Bf109G-14/AS from 4./NJG11 (or 5./NJG11 depending on sources). SAM Publications Modellers Datafile "The Messerschmitt Bf109 Part 2 'F' to 'K' variants has an image of the aircraft found in a hangar at the end of the war on page 55 of that book as well as a colour side-view on page 93. Some would have this as possibly a G-6/AS variant, but in my research the presence of the larger Fo987 oil cooler which is quite evident on the image puts this as a G-14/AS, as the G-6's used the smaller Fo870 oil cooler. But hey, I might be totally off the mark! I used the AIMS Decals "Late war 109's" decal sheets as a basis to cut my masks for all the insignia. Parts List: Revell Bf109G-6 "Late and early version" A.M.U.R Reaver Resin cowling and spinner/prop blades Barracuda Studios resin wing inserts, large oil cooler, tall tail wheel, MLG wheels AIMS Late war 109 decals (basis for masks), exhaust stacks, hatches and latches(to modify the filler cap locations for this a/c) HGW Rivet/control surfaces set (for Hasegawa, bit of fettling to make it work on the Revell kit), seatbelts and Bf109 stencil set OWL Fug217 antenna and exhaust stack covers (all now sadly OOP). Some Fug 217 were SB to replace broken parts Master Brass barrels Eduard Instrument panel and Brassin U/C legs Quickboost Revi C/D gunsight MDC Drop tank and centreline mount/braces Noy's Miniatures Luftwaffe Hangar for the photo's All paint/markings/spirals - Gunze Laquers. RLM76 overall Might be a bit more small things I've forgotten about, but hope you all enjoy Thanks for looking Iain