Here's that two squid I owe you....

With so many projects at different stages of completion, I thought it would be interesting to look at a few right here.

First is the new Nautilus from Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  The kit is from Pegasus and features photo etched parts and a giant squid cast in resin.  Extra features are the lights and sound on this collaborative build. At this stage it's hard to know whether there are more tentacles inside or out....   Fantastic!  More on it soon.

Next up is Airfix's new Lancaster, with its odd fuselage/wing assembly and warped fuselage.  I like it though. I decided to deviate from the hallowed path of brown/green/black camo and take the road less travelled, with this unusual but colorful Canadian scheme.  There is still plenty of work to do on it.  Ten minutes here, ten minutes there....

Third is Italeri's new Hurricane in 1/48.  Although it has plenty to commend it - it has an engine and some photo etched parts and it's cheaper than Hasegawa's -  the fit of the main parts is ponderous to say the least.  The wings will be anhedral if you don't lean on them a bit!  I'll finish it soon, and it will look like a Hurricane should.

Academy's awesome CH-53 in 1/48 scale is terrific.  It's a big complex piece that I've been working on (and off) for ages. It's slowly but surely coming together.  Eduard's finest cockpit is installed and an excellent set of decals is waiting in the wings as it were.  Next, exhaust stains.

Finally, the new Tupolev Tu-2 in 1/48 scale from the new Chinese company Xuntong Model.  Even at this early stage of construction you can tell it's a bit of quality.  Lovely interior, great engines - you get two.  Are those bombs or pontoons from a drilling platform?  Really unusual and certainly memorable.

More on these soon.

My Wife Calls Them Vanity Projects

In the last few weeks I completed these two pieces.  I'm really enjoying 1/72 scale in a way I never thought I would.  The detail seems much improved from what I remember, and it's been great fun.  It's meant that the kits have needed minimal aftermarket enhancements - always good.   Less has seemed like much more, although I have put in as much effort as a 1/48 model requires.  Very satisfying and highly recommended.