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The build of the CMK Napier Sabre engine was originally going to be part of my Hawker Typhoon kitbash where I'm hoping to turn the MDC bubble-top Tiffy into an earlier car-door type using some sections, including the whole tail end, from the ancient Revell kit. However as "Archimedes Paul" noted last month, the CMK engine is a kit in itself so I thought it deserved a thread of its own....not a plane for sure, but an integral part of one! CMK are missing a trick here in boxing it as a Tempest V engine, yes it is of course but it's was initially also a Typhoon one where, as many of us are aware it caused too many accidents and deaths because of its shortcomings and, like the plane itself was rushed into service before it was fully ready for operational life. I must admit when I paid the not inconsiderable sum (£80.00) for the engine I didn't realise that it was as complex nor detailed a kit as it has proved to be! What's in the bags? I tried to count all the bits, just shy of 100 I think and many very tiny and of course very easy to lose. Sample pages of the instructions: And a few images for now of roughly what the beast should look like: I can't find any references which list production runs, dates and aircraft allocation for the IIA or IIB but it appears there are no obvious physical differences: More later.....

I’m at the start of a project to convert a 1/32 MDC Typhoon to a car-door type using an abandoned Revell kit as a donor of relevant parts: Ideally I’d like to create a “servicing dio” using this piece of deliciousness: which is the (expensive) CMK Sabre engine designed for a Tempest kit. I know the Tempest had the fuel tank betwixt engine and cockpit: unlike the Tiffie: but “ignoring” that fact, is it feasible to fit it in your knowledgeable opinions gentlemen? In my enthusiasm, am I being blind to any obvious pitfalls or clangers? Any thoughts or observations welcome

Having just looked at the ICM Tiger Moth kit, a review of a useful accessory that, in my opinion, will add to the overall look of the completed model: a resin DH.82A Tiger Moth Wing Tank Correction Set from CMK. Clear Prop! Iain

With the 109 on the home straight i spied the 262 from 2019 sitting on the shelf. Quick email to the guys and transferred over to the GB. Gives me the motivation to get it finished! had some fun getting the covers to fit. Lots of messing around and trimming etc. Ordered some pe rudder pedals, extra instrument panel and resin control stick for back seat area. Have a nice selection of images of this plane in various states of decay/scrap/souvenirs so need to decide what level to work to. May well make a little dio.

PR Spit is coming to the final stages, the 262B needs to come back to the bench and I desperately want to start on a late war fw190, but I have a club GB for June that goes under the theme Simply Red. Visiting the Peterborough Model Show here in the UK back in early March (Pretty sure that's going to be the only one for us this year), I purchased a set of Alleycat Drone decals and a cheap F6F from another vendor. Its all about the paintwork for this build/GB, but as normal the am call gets the better of me every time. The kit pit is very basic and Hannants just received CMK resin pits for this kit so in the basket! Set of Roy's wheels along the way as well and off we go. I mated the wings and fuselage as it was clear the pit would slot in from below, no problem. This allowed me to join the 2 parts very carefully to get a good, neat join with minimal sanding afterwards. I don't want to go down the sanding/re-scribing route with this one as like I said its all about a red themed model, and I quite like the shuttle rivets on the kit. A very knowledgeable member of our club provided a lot of photos showing the harnesses draped around the headrest of Hellcats prior to the pilots entering, so as a visual talking point that's what I did, especially after finding the Hellcat is not the most 'open' pit and very difficult to see the detail inside. The pit is now installed And the wings attached. Again the fit was very good and no filler required. Next up is the fuel cell. Again the parts are very clunky so I glued and sanded flush and will use some PE to replace the straps. Tall tail wheels on these planes so found the best photos to see the construction and set about recreating. Albion Alloy, and plasticard and rods and a few hours wrestling but happy with the outcome. Order sent for the red and orange paints, hopefully with me next week. Aaron

New little sideline project whilst waiting for paint to dry/things to arrive on the Liberator. Spent the afternoon assembling the railway gondola to check the He162 fitted!

Hello to you all I will enter the F-104G from italeri for this group build and will be build like the have flown in Belgium We have done two colors bare metal and SEA camo i will try to go for the baremetal i will put a practice bomb dispender on the central pylon I have the kit for a time in the stash it whas a hard desicion on what to build for this group build so much to fit in Now here is the box All the extras i have for this one Start will be slow because i also have my su-27 to finnish Mark

Good afternoon, I present my latest off the bench, Hasegawa's version of the Mitsubishi A6M2-N Rufe. The “N†denotes the aircraft was actually manufactured by Nakajima (as were all the Rufes). I added the CMK cockpit and used Montex masks for the markings except for four decals not included in the masks. I wanted the aircraft to be weathered but not overly so. The paints were primarily Sovereign Colourcoats with some AKI varnishes and the relatively new AKI panel liners for brown/green and black finishes. The trolley was weathered a bit as they took a beating. Regards,

Finished last year, just prior to Telford.