Philmodel

McDonnell's Demon

2012-01-25T19:57:00.005Z

My appetite for post-war jets has recently been fed by the prolific Chinese firm Hobby Boss. The Yak 38 'Forger' was certainly a superb little kit.

Now it's the turn of the F-3H Demon. This kit was released about the same time as the Yak, but is physically about twice the size and costs £13 more. Some nice detail as usual, with a reasonable ejector seat and decals for all the instruments. Fuel tanks and missiles are provided for each of the six pylons, and four very nice colour schemes are offered. Surface detail is excellent - engraved panel lines and rivet detail, and well-fitting parts.

A nice touch worth special mention - the small set of photo-etched parts. They are not especially fine, but that's ok because they're for the wings anyway, but the shape and fit was excellent.

There were few real problems. The nose section is quite involved and has needed a few trial fits - getting the windshield, instrument panel and nose section together was problematical, and needed some alterations and humouring.

The decals do require a good glassy surface in order to perform well. The colour density and register look pretty good. Very little stencilling is provided but the essentials are all there. Just final weathering and assembly, and that was the bulk of it.

So, was it a fun build? I'd have to say yes. More later.....

The Whole Hog

2012-01-13T20:38:00.005Z

Just finished is this A-10 N/AW Warthog (Night/All Weather) two seater. Usually the single seater gets all the limelight - not surprising since Fairchild-Republic only built one N/AW.

This kit by Hobby Boss has got everything the A-10A has, including not just an extra cockpit but also a full complement of weapons and both turbofans with removable cowlings. This makes the kit ideal for a 'what if' project. You get terrific surface, wheel well and cockpit detail, as well as stencils for weapons and model - it's all there.

While I'm on the subject of finished work, take a look at this Yak 38 in 1/48. Guess who issued the kit? Yep, Hobby Boss.....The build went as well as the previous two from HB. It's a brave model to issue, being an unusual part of Soviet Naval history, and what an interesting aircraft it is. It's good to have the hobby so broadly represented, is it not?

Coming up next - the F-3H Demon from .....Hobby Boss! And what a lovely kit it is......

Santa's Sack....

2011-12-31T12:12:00.005Z

Is now definitely empty. It was stuffed with great big boxes - sometimes only 'great big' is good enough. And what a diverse pair of kits they are. Boxes like these stand up to repeated explorations. For the moment, they are living on the coffee table in our living room, where I can inspect them at will. It may be some time before I get to build them but there's a lot of pleasure in the anticipation.

I also have the 1/48 F3H Demon and 1/72 A-10B N/AN, both from Hobby Boss, well on the way. I am also on with the Hasegawa A6M8 Zero, which requires the Big Ed set fitting - a long term project which I will report back on later.

I hope you've all had a good Christmas, and we wish you all the very best for 2012. Back to the bench for me.

More of the A-10

2011-12-14T11:52:00.004Z

Just an update on this build. As you can see, I'm well on with the paintwork now.

First I gave the model an undercoat, and then later on, some pre-shading. Then I added a stiff coat of grey/olive drab and set it aside for a good 24 hours to dry and harden. Using the overall colour as a base, I added about 30% mid-stone. I wanted to subtly lighten it a full tone and highlight the panels. To finish I added 10% bright lemon and applied this shade to the upper panels only. The photos show the model about half way through this process. A subtle difference that makes all the difference.

After a coat of glaze has been applied, it will be ready for its decals. Back soon with more details.

Yakking on...

2011-12-07T13:19:00.008Z

More then on the Yak 38 from Hobby Boss.

So how has it built up? Mostly very well. The only thing was a slight mis-alignment on the main air intakes. Thankfully I was able to get past this without major filling and rubbing down. Can't be losing all that lovely detail.

As you can see, the photos show the paintwork and decaling pretty well finished. Incidentally, the decals were nice quality with good register, clear enough to see that the stencilling was in Russian, and Russian is not one of my languages...I was looking everywhere for the anti-glare panel decal and it was only after many minutes of feverish searching that I realised I had to paint it on myself. With all the other decals now fitted it was too late for that. Trawling through my decal box I discovered a pair of heat shield decals for a 1/48 Sea King I built when Adam were a lad. After a spot of trimming I had a pretty close match. Check the photo, what do you think? Overall it's been a great build and great value at £22.

So far Christmas seems to be shaping up well, with some very nice looking festive items arriving in large boxes, but I'm not allowed to look at them. I'll share the details when I can.

Coming along nicely for the moment is the A-10B Warthog 2-seater - that will be an impressive build.

And shortly, more on a Mitsubishi A6M8 based on the Hasegawa kit. This has some lovely extras with it and promises to be a super build.

Up next.

2011-12-01T12:24:00.007Z

Earlier I was going on about what you might wish for. Well, look what arrived in the morning post. When everyone else was building the A-10A I wanted to build the two-seat version - there was always something a bit menacing about it.

On opening the box, I noticed that I was not the first to have a dip. Both cockpits - and they are quite lovely - had already been assembled. Everything else was present and correct and looking really good. Surface detail is superb, but the real bonus is a complete set of ordnance. There will certainly be more on this build later.

Coming along rather well is the Yak 38. As you can see, the nose section is almost complete. The only addition needed was a pair of lap straps to the ejector seat. Nice, isn't it?

Did I mention that both these kits are by Hobby Boss? Well, they are, and if you check the December issue of the SAMI mag, you'll see a more than two pages of previews. Hobby Boss seem to be using the economic downturn to release a big influx of top quality kits at very reasonable prices - this at a time when Hasegawa are pricing similar kits for £60 and upwards. It's good for Hobby Boss and it's very definitely good for the likes of me.

So I'm off to the model shop.

I wish for

2011-11-26T11:47:00.005Z

If you wanted to complete your Soviet or US Navy collection then the two new releases from Hobby Boss must be a wish come true.

Check out the Yak 38 'Forger', the poor copy of the Harrier, and the F3H Demon, the fighter everyone hated. Like them or not, they are none the less part of naval aviation history. Not too long ago, if you wanted either of these classics you would have to compromise with a nasty vac-from kit or something expensive in resin, and probably accept 1/72 scale. If I had given one of those a go it would have been three months on the workbench and then a short chuck into the naughty box. These days you only have to wish, and as long as you're prepared to pay, you can have what you want.

Not only are both these kits beautifully moulded with four decal options each, but they are also attractively priced. When I've got my references together I will be getting the builds underway. For the moment, can you guess what is in the photo? I'll be disappointed if you can't. It's a project close to finishing, so more photos of it soon.

This just in -

2011-10-31T11:46:00.005Z

An interesting project was this old Tornado from Revell. It came to me about 70% complete, but reduced almost to its earlier kit form in order to be posted. The owner had done a pretty good job considering it's such a problematical kit to begin with, but I think he had lost patience with it, and I know the feeling. Anyway, with a little extra work and another three weeks, the job was complete.

Also - a preview of two other projects recently completed. First, the EA-6B Prowler in 1/48 from Kinetic.

And second, the old Monogram P-61 (remember it from en earlier blog?) dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

More, as always, on these later.

Something old, something new....

2011-10-31T11:38:00.008Z

...nothing borrowed and mostly blue. A sort of mini-view of part of my current stock. And all will be forthcoming builds. It's only the FW 190 that I'll build right out of the box. All the rest require new decals and/or photo-etched parts.

The old Curtiss Helldiver, although it comes with its own set of photo etched they are mostly for dive flaps, so I've added a fine set of Eduard coloured bits.

Even though the new F-100F offers four aircraft to choose from in the box, including Thunderbirds , it's waiting for a new set of decals. The older P38J will definitely be updated. Have you seen how boring the thing is? Dick Bong's Down Beat?

Of course, the builds will all be on here, just as soon as I get to them...

There's always more

2011-10-05T11:59:00.005+01:00

When it comes to our hobby (and the source of my income) I am always grateful that we live in a time of plenty. The choice for the modeller is endless. So why do I have a forty year old kit sitting on my bench? This is my fourth P-61 kit in as many years. Of all the new toolings that are currently available, why am I still dealing with such ancient plastic? Perhaps it's just a case of bad timing. Flicking through the latest Scale Modeller magazine, I see Great Wall Hobby are just about to release a brand new P-61 in 1/48 scale. But I'm too far into this old Monogram kit now to suggest a change, and besides, it is now wired for light and sound, so no turning back, or even away. More of this build later...

For now, here is the Italeri/Kinetic EA-6B Prowler. Very expensive, but I've been waiting for this subject in a new tool for so long I felt I owed it to myself. Not quite forty years, of course.

And so far it's been a lovely project. All together now - more later....

Admiring Eduard

2011-09-25T19:56:00.008+01:00

I've had a few projects going simultaneously, and this one has been quite slow out of the gate.

When I first started building Eduard models, I felt that they weren't much above low pressure injection moulded kits. Since then, though, I've had reason to revise my estimate.

One of the reasons for this is Eduard's MiG 21 SMT Fishbed K Profipack, in which you get everything - a set of masks, a double photo etch set (one in colour), two pairs of UB multiple rocket launchers in resin, a superb decals sheet for five aircraft, and stencils for the model and weapons. And not forgetting a full complement of weapons and fuel tanks.

The kit itself is lovely. It's an exercise in finely detailed and precisely fitting parts, which should describe every kit, but doesn't. These days value for money is quite rare, so to get all of the above in the box with a new tooling for around £35 is a bonus worth blogging about.

Here's a photo of the decals. As you can see, they're pretty comprehensive:

And here's the aftermath of a stencilling session - looks like confetti, doesn't it?

And finally here are a few photos of the completed build. It was as much fun as it looks. I used Xtracolour enamels and airbrushed them freehand. I weathered in very much the same way, then added the stencils. It took all day! More, as they say, soon.

Big project, big model, big nose!

2011-09-18T11:23:00.007+01:00

The whole premise of building in 1/32 scale is that you get a lot of extra detail for your money. It's not the case with every model producer's kit - there are always exceptions - but the attraction, at least for me, is the promise of more to see than 1/48 can always offer.

Trumpeter's 1/32 Su-25 is no disappointment. This is exactly what modelling in this scale is about. Not only do you get a great cockpit, but also two detailed jet engines AND two sets of landing gear - one in metal. Also, left and right open nose panels with an electronics suite and optional lowered flaps. Then there are photo etched parts and an ordnance load that you wouldn't believe. The photos show less than two thirds of what's included. The decals are beautiful and offer a choice of four colour schemes. All in all almost 900 parts - it's not bad, is it?

And did I mention the superlative surface detail? Amongst the best I've seen - and I've seen plenty.

But how was the build, you ask? Well, mostly it went really well. There were a few minor glitches - usually down to discrepancies in the instructions. Did I use a lot of filler?I hardly had to touch the tube. The wing roots required a line of Krystal Kleer, and not much else.

What I enjoyed the most was the modular concept. I could build up the fuselage, cockpit, engines, landing gear and cabins, and then the wings with extended flaps. Then I could move on to the underwing stores. It was three weeks of building what seemed like several kits out of one box. Normally the painting is my favourite part, but with this model the construction was equally satisfying.

I couldn't finish this project and not consider a follow up. So, more soon on the new MiG 23 ML.

Almost a cliché..

2011-08-27T12:56:00.005+01:00

Do you know how many P-51Bs I've built since Tamiya released the kit? It's just so good and I love the 'B'. The 'D' is good too, but like Garfield and Nermal, one is older but more interesting, whilst the other is just so beautiful! Anyway, I had a 'B' burning a hole on my shelf, so what should I do with it?

Then I noticed that Hannants had a set of Eagle Strike decals on the 31st FG. I was drawn to a tiny picture on the pack cover of a Squadron Signal book showing a P-51B in olive drab - a look I prefer to the metal finish. And that was the set for me.

Suitably armed with new decals and a colour etch set from Eduard, I got started and it turned as I knew it would into a real fun build. A new cockpit, an extra patchy exterior and room to add a few extras of my own.

Just great.

More 'Stoof'..

2011-08-23T11:12:00.006+01:00

Finishing the S-2F was a demanding process. It threw up a number of challenges: the crankcase holes had to be opened to accept the propellers; the parts for fitting the folded wing need some guesswork because the instructions are vague, and with the landing gear, the struts must be at perfect right angles to the leg or they just won't fit. Overall though, not a bad build.

But the painting was such fun. I wanted the model to have a really worn look, so I under-coated in dark grey. This had the effect of darkening the top colours, i.e. the grey and the white. This allowed me to add a lighter, patchy effect on top of that. White was the difficult colour, since you can't get paler than white. So I pre-shaded and applied the white thinly, just enough to cover. Later I applied a black wash, darkening the white. I was free then to add patches in pure white - how does it look?

I decided, for the sake of the model, to fold one wing only. It not only looks more interesting, but it eases display problems for such a large model.

So I've finally got a tracker in my collection. I should've waited a bit longer to acquire a different set of decals, but I just wanted to build the thing. You know the feeling...

From Typhoon to Tornado

2011-08-09T20:28:00.009+01:00

It's easy to take mainstream kits for granted. You don't give too much thought to what goes into producing an accurate and high quality model.

Then earlier this year I was asked to build a Hawker Tornado based on the excellent Hasegawa Typhoon kit, by David Walker, a client and friend of long-standing and I felt quite honoured to be asked to be part of something which was very important to him. David had asked Ozturk Modelmakers to produce a modified fuselage which would be integrated with the Hasegawa kit to produce an authentic Tornado. I knew from experience that it would be a lot of work, but I've never let that put me off. I was anxious to produce a good job, so with David's resources and modified parts and some reading round, I did a lot of preparatory work and then set to.

And there was more to do than I had anticipated. The urethane compound used in the conversion parts was good, but very fibrous. This made it hard to rub down and get a smooth finish. The cockpit area needed to be cleared completely of the urethane to get the internal parts to fit. I then discovered that the cockpit was slightly too far forward and the panel lines wouldn't match up. I needed to do some significant alterations to get it to fit in the now larger area I had created - this without damaging the outer skin.

The propeller's spinner came with an extension, making this part bigger. My references showed that if anything, the spinner on the prototype was shorter, so I left this out.

Next came the double exhausts. The Typhoon exhaust slots had been nicely blanked, so after some careful measuring, I drilled into the nose and cleared out some new slots.

As work progressed, I cut off the moulded on cannon fairings and rubbed down the wing leading edge. The cannon bulges in the wings also had to go. All this was replaced by six machine gun ports and the corresponding chutes in the characteristic 'V' shape under the wing.

On test fitting the wings to the fuselage I noted a distinct lack of plastic at the wing roots. Also, with the 'chin' air intake removed, there were some large spaces to be filleted, filled and shaped. Of course, not only do these parts need to fit, they also had to resemble the Tornado prototype. The new air intake now fitted behind the landing gear and also had to be carefully shaped. The Tornado's own intake was surprisingly curvy and the model's urethane intake rubbed down alarmingly fast. But I managed to get it very close to the real thing. Wow, I thought, how arty am I? That thought lasted me about ten seconds and I ploughed on with the job.

The kit came with a replacement canopy which fitted perfectly but didn't look quite right. It was just too flat. I checked the photographic references and felt that the elevated view which presented it as slightly domed was the most authentic. The original kit canopy, once modified, made the perfect alternative. Cutting through the urethane replacement fuselage to fit the 'car door' seemed unnecessarily risky, especially since it was only representative. Could I add engraved panel detail? I had done this earlier to replace some panel lines lost through rubbing down. It was hard to avoid tears and gouges, but I used my artistic skills and was happy with the result. I find panel lines can be an area of contention due to their subjective nature. For me, if it looks right, it is right.

That's the bulk of the build. It was, as they like to say, a 'big ask'. No project like this is without problems. But the bottom line is that the final model looks the way it was intended to, so it's all good. Virtual hats off to Ozturk Models for their contribution, and to David Walker, whose research and references helped me to build him the aircraft he wanted.

'...211 in progress'

2011-07-25T18:58:00.005+01:00

Yes, it's the Kinetics S2E Tracker in 1/48, which has been malingering in my kit storage for some time, a crime I am about to set right.

It's not a kit which gives stunning detail, but it does have nice engraved panel lines and rivets, and the parts fit is not too disappointing. It mostly does what is says, and looks just like the photos say. Decals are by Fightertown, and go down real well, with good register.

Care above and beyond the usual to be taken when assembling the engine nacelles or you can end up with irritating gaps. The nose gear door needs its mounting bracket attaching first to ensure easy fitting to the gear leg, contrary to the instructions. Speaking of which....THEY ARE QUITE HARD to read, swapping as they do from UPPER CASE to lower case and back AGAIN. Test fitting more important than ever here then.

I'll be finishing the model soon, but already I think it will look pretty impressive. On the basis of size alone, it's quite a show-off. Just test-fitting it meant I had to stand in the hall.

So crime averted. Photos to follow. Next up for some caped crusading - the Hawker Tornado.

Where have you been?

2011-07-12T11:32:00.006+01:00

So much to do and so little time. Sound familiar? But in this case, it's really true. There's enough to fill your day with all the duties of family life, but then I need to get on with my real job...

The benches have been crowded lately. Some recent completed builds; first the Eduard BF 109E-4 in 1/32 scale. I'll let you guess whose markings it's in. This is a great kit but it's flawed by its own central theme. You can have everything open from the pilot's seat to the propeller, and the detail is superb, helped along by two frets of colour etched parts. All very well, but what if you want something closed - the engine compartment, or the weapons bay? Eduard give you extra parts for this, but you have to proceed carefully. The panels don't want to fit as you'd wish them to. See my earlier entries on Eduard's FW 190.

Next is Hasegawa's Henschel Hs 129 in 1/48 scale of course. A lovely representative of this interesting anti-tank aircraft, and with few vices. A very enjoyable build, and I was able to add some nice touches - brake pipes, seat belts, metal landing gear and resin tyres.

I'm still building this Grumman Tracker from Kinetic. Not a bad build, and it will look impressive when it's complete. More on this project later.

Finally, an update on the Hawker Tornado. A kit of mixed blessings. It's currently in its first coat of primer. This highlights any problems. Faults in the model's surface finish are easily spotted - and there are a few. These will be rectified without a problem. Hopefully. This model has thrown up some interesting problems, more later.

So that's my update. How about you?

Max

2011-06-11T20:03:00.004+01:00

I want to say a few words today about Max.

He was a big brown dog. No particular breed, just a big brindle boisterous dog. Back in 1995, some friends were moving away and couldn't take him. They offered him to us, and we couldn't say no to him. At eighteen months old he became an instant part of the family, and our three children spoiled him rotten. Whatever happened at home, Max was in the middle of it, with his lop-sided ears and always a big smile. He would do anything for you, especially if you had food. He thought teeth were purely for eating carrots and smiling with, and he was an object lesson for people - he never showed us a bad mood, just trust and a huge sense of fun.

It was hard the last couple of years to see him slow down and get grey around the chops. The children are in their twenties and have left home, but the first thing they did when they came back for a visit was lie on the floor and snoodle with Max. He became blind and deaf, but he still knew who was tickling his ears.

Yesterday, at the age of seventeen, he died. Anyone with a dog will tell you that he was much more than just an animal. He was a member of our family, and it was a privilege to have enjoyed his company for so long.

The Emperor's New Clothes?

2011-05-28T20:17:00.006+01:00

The last couple of months have seen Tamiya's 1/32 Spitfire coming to life on my workbench, thorugh intensive stages of construction and paintwork.

This kit has been hailed as the superlative Spitfire build. Such hyperbole merits further examination, I think, and a realistic response. It's certainly an accurate kit, which is really important to me as a kit basher. Parts fit is maybe eight out of ten - everything fits perfectly till you get to the fuselage, and then things start to come apart a little. For example, the wings have fillets, or inserts, that allow Tamiya to offer different marks. These inserts have to fit precisely - and they don't. You need to be particularly careful when you come to build and fit the wings - test fitting comes in to its own here. Engine installation is equally uncharitable; bulkhead, engine bearers, hoses and engine itself need to be fitted in the exact spot or the covers won't fit. There's no margin for error.

I've always been a big exponent of Tamiya. I think their kits live up to their hype, which doesn't go for every manufacturer. They break new ground with almost every release. However, this is not a £20 kit, it's a big serious high-end bit of tackle, and as such you want a kit that offers the builder some respect. The Spitfire is good, but it's not that good. I would say it is over engineered, and leaves the builder a lot of unnecessary work. Nevertheless I enjoyed building it, and given my time over would cheerfully build it again. Just don't believe the hype....

Dora

2011-05-17T20:19:00.007+01:00

A natural follow on to the recently completed FW 190 A8 is the D9, also from Eduard.

I happened to have Eduard's detail set, and a set of Kommandeur decals with an interesting colour scheme. All I needed was an appropriate kit. Then Eduard issued their D9 with perfect timing.

I posted recently on my Red 19 build, and this is essentially the same thing. This kit offers the open gun cowling and wing root guns. The engine is not included in this kit, but otherwise the overall build-up is the same.

There was an anomaly. On assembling the fuselage, the parts seemed banana-shaped, with one side looking longer than the other. To overcome this potential disaster, I attached the rear fuselage first, allowing twelve hours drying time. The forward half could then be secured relatively easily. Thus is the banana eliminated.

If you've built a few of these before and know where the pitfalls lie in advance, it helps. It's well worth a few scares for the results.

"Red 19'

2011-05-08T11:47:00.005+01:00

Instantly recognisable is Ernst Schroder's 'Kolle Alaaf' or ''Long Live Cologne'. This aircraft was lost while trying to evade several Mustangs during a bomber raid. Schroder luckily survived the war.

So much for the history lesson. This model was based on Eduard's FW 190 A8/R2 kit - a superbly detailed kit which is nevertheless a bit hung up on its BMW engine and weapons. It's designed to have everything on show via appropriate panels and an open cowling. I'd built it before, and it looks great displayed in this way as Eduard intended for the kit.

With this brief, I had been asked to keep the panels closed. It was not too problematic; I just needed to sand the detail off the wing root gun panels. But the fuselage gun cowling was different; The gun tray and bulkhead needed to be eliminated. The overwide fuselage then needed to be braced around the gun cover and carefully cyano'd into place. Finally, the instrument bezel had to be secured to something as the gun bulkhead was gone.

Once this little procedure had been performed, I was able to proceed with the rest of the build. It was a positive experience, and I was left with a model to be proud of and a feeling of accomplishment.

The base and accessories are from the VP product range, and I think they set off the model beautifully.

The first Tornado

2011-04-27T12:02:00.004+01:00

Not available from regular suppliers, or even irregular ones such as the cottage industry kit makers, this Tornado is a private venture. I was asked to build this kit some time ago when its creator, a real aviation enthusiast, initiated the design and build.

Using Hasegawa's 1/48 Typhoon kit, the cockpit area, propeller and radiator have been properly altered. The new parts have been carefully integrated into the fuselage. Compared with diagrams of the real aircraft, it looks seriously authentic.

I will have to add the slots for the double exhausts, remove the cannon fairings and fill in certain panel lines on the wings. There's a lot more work to do, and of course, there's be an account of it on here.

Just taking a break

2011-04-17T11:16:00.005+01:00

Look what I found under my workbench - it's been there since last year, and now seemed like a good time to make a start. Sometimes a straightforward build is as good as a holiday.

Eduard's F6F-5 Hellcat looked really good in the box, but after building their FW190 I was not so sure how it would go. As it turned out, I need not have worried. The parts went together very well. Engine detail was good, so I added some ignition wiring. The cockpit looked pretty good too, so I decided to add Eduard's own colour etch detail set, and I think this gave the model a nice lift. The landing gear is appropriately complex, as Eduard strives to achieve accuracy.

I had to be careful when attaching the wings; since the F6F has gull wings, they need to attach at the right angle. Unfortunately, wing- to- fuselage fit is not very positive.

These gripes aside, though, it is a lovely build.

As a point of interest, the base is actually injection moulded plastic, by Eduard. Guess where I found it? Under the bench...

Armed Reconnaissance

2011-03-13T12:13:00.005Z

I hope I was able to whet your appetite the other week, showing the inside of the Arado 196. If so, here are a few views of the completed model.

There are one or two kits of the Arado around in 1/48 scale, but built in 1/32 it really brings home to you the chunky, purposeful look of this very interesting model.

The build was straightforward, with attaching the wings the only hiccups. That was a problem soon overcome. Contrary to the instructions I found it a big help assembling the fuselage first and then installing the cockpit assembly.

I also found the transparencies a bit odd, flat-packed and in need of assembling. This had an advantage in that both the inside and the outside could be masked and painted.

Overall the build was very enjoyable. Well-fitting parts, nice standard of detail, highlighted by open panels and canopies.

It made a nice change from Spitfires and Bf109s. If you've built one, I'd love to see it.

Seeing Double

2011-03-13T11:50:00.005Z

There were not many twin tailed aircraft designs from WWII, but here are two from the US Air Force. Yes, one has French markings, but that's nit-picking..

These are two long term projects I've now finally finished. The P-61 is a big dark aircraft, destined for a diorama. The Lightning has gone to its new home in France.

You get what you pay for?

2011-02-27T11:41:00.003Z

In between other projects I've been tinkering this Arado 196 together. It has long been a favourite of mine; I was about to buy the Italeri offering in 1/48 when I saw Revell were releasing their 196 in 1/32 scale, and I couldn't say no to that.

But by the time I got to round to buying it, the £20 offer price had expired and I had to pay the full £25. I was a bit put out about the extra fiver, but then I got to thinking about the £30 Hasegawa are charging for the Curtiss P-40 and the P-38, and I remembered that not long ago I was paying only £18 for these kits. What had happened? Indeed, the model shop I visit regularly has stopped stocking Hasegawa altogether on the grounds that customers are refusing to pay these big new prices.

I have included some photos of the 196's interior detail so you can see how much £25 can buy today. Revell's prices are catching up, but they are not stratospheric and their kits represent good value for money. In my view, Hasegawa can't continue to charge such high prices on the basis of their good name. Customers will vote with their feet (and keyboards) and in my experience, modellers are sharp-witted consumers who want to indulge in their hobby and are very canny about what they pay for. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

Paint it Black

2011-02-15T12:34:00.007Z

The thing with the Monogram P-61 is that it's been around so long that it's become almost as big a classic as the one-to-one version. It's an excellent model that goes together really well, and has bags of detail.

What's not so good about it are the raised panel lines and the roughness around the edges, which mean a lot more work for the modeller.

During the build I incorporated the Eduard detail set. I had to be quite choosy here. Not everything Eduard gives you is an improvement on the kit offerings. You could end up throwing the baby out with the bath water. I believe I've made the right choices here and the model looks the better for it.

At this stage, I am halfway towards completing the model. More on this interesting project soon.

Coming up:

The Lockheed F-5 (P-38) from Italeri/Minicraft

The Henschel 129 from Hasegawa

Revell's new Arado 196A in 1/32 scale.

Something to look forward to.

My new year

2011-01-29T12:55:00.005Z

Building on commission has its frustrations - you really want to build something else, in another way! But I heed the brief and enjoy the process, grateful to be doing what I love for a living.

But now and then, someone comes along and wants something that I have been longing to build. And lately I've had not one of these but two! The Hasegawa P-40 and Tamiya's Fiesler Storch are two kits I've wanted to work on for some time. I'm not going to do a blow by blow account of these builds, because any modeller knows what to expect of such manufacturers. I needed to pay a little more attention to the Storch -- part fit was demanding -- but I kept a sharp eye out and was suitably rewarded.

Everyone builds the Storch in the tropical scheme, but this time I was reproducing the winter scheme, and I was very pleased with the results . There are also a few accessories that went with.

The P-40 just builds itself and weathering it was a dream - it's the perfect subject for this. And the decals are wonderful.

This is what I've been doing with 2011. How about you?

A Fine Pair

2011-01-16T12:49:00.004Z

Midget submarines have caught my attention recently - they have featured in the latest model mags and I got a couple of kits for Christmas. Santa brought me the ICM Type XXVVII Seehund (Sea lion) and the Biber fron Italeri.

The Sea Lion is a very straightforward injection moulded kit in 1/72 scale, and very easy to construct. I decided to weight the hull, because I feel this gives the finished piece a little more credibility. A project like this also depends on paintwork. I felt that painting it in the same way as I would an aircraft would be appropriate, but with modifications. A brown/black wash worked well, followed by some heavy duty dry brushing. This turned out well and I was pleased with the results.

The Biber was broadly similar, but in 1/35 scale. This kit offers a small photo etch fret with parts for the hull and inside the conning tower, and a very convincing instrument panel. I used a similar paint routine as on the Sea Lion, but with heavier shading.

I have included photos of both models with others in their corresponding scale - the Sea Lion poses with the 1/72 scale Gato Class sub, and the Biber with Italeri's own PT boat. I think these settings speak for themselves.

A 'Jack' on its own

2010-12-12T12:08:00.004Z

One of my recent projects is this J2M2 Raiden. The brief called for more than just what Eduard gives in their 'Zoom' set. I was also provided with two other frets, one of them for a George. This was almost enough to detail the cockpit in line with the many sketches and photos I had, and I scratch-built the remaining bits needed.

It's taken time to complete. If you check the photos you'll get some idea of the work involved. I've included additional electrical boxes and wiring, toned all the paintwork and added my own washes to bring out the final detail. The model is ready for overall painting to complement the cockpit. It's so cold in my paintroom at the moment that I feel like Captain Smith every time I go up there.

I've included this series of photographs so you can see the build sequence. For instance, the aperture in the fuselage was large enough for me to install the cockpit after assembly. This was very handy as it allowed me to rub down and prepare the surfaces without the risk of damage to the delicate parts in the cockpit.

More soon.

Subversive!

2010-12-02T13:21:00.007Z

My last blog saw me talking about ICM's new midget submarine. There has been progress - I'm feeling very pleased with myself as I've finished this cheeky little project in super-quick time and I'm delighted with the results.

The parts went together very well and after 5 0r 6 hours hard building it was constructed. Undercoat was followed naturally enough by overcoat. Weathering consisted of increasingly lighter shades in a cloud pattern. I post-shaded in a black grey and then subtly re-did the panels in a pale grey. I applied a protective gloss glaze and the next day I put on a brown-black wash.

The decals went down really well - there are only a few of them, but they really make a difference. I sealed everything with a matt varnish and carefully dry-brushed the raised detail, of which there is plenty. The torpedoes don't have a lot of detail though, so I did what I could with them and attached them to the brackets.

This was a lovely little project that slotted in nicely between bigger jobs, and gave me a lot of pleasure. Time now to get back to more serious work, after this very enjoyable bit of fun.

To show just how midget this sub is, I've photographed it on top of my 1/72 scale 'Gato' class US ocean-going sub. They're both in the same scale....

Propulsion compulsion

2010-11-28T12:49:00.005Z

Yes, it might seem I've suddenly veered off course, but as much as I love aircraft projects, I do harbour a love of all seagoing craft and armour, too. Recently I was thumbing through the new Airfix Model World magazine and there it was. The U-boat Type XXVIIB Seehund - an ICM minisub. It called out to me from the page - 'build me!' So imagine my surprise when my wife gave it to me as an early Christmas present. I must have been even louder in my enthusiasms than I thought.

When I was ten, I was given a small, tin-plate, clockwork midget submarine for my birthday. It was fitted with a downward angled bow plane. As it entered the water, it went straight down to the bottom, then promptly returned to the surface. It did this till the spring ran out and then you wound it up again. It made my birthday. I think fifty years on, it's partly this nostalgia that gives the ICM kit such appeal.
(Picture courtesy Vectis.co.uk)

I made a start last night. The parts are nicely rendered, especially the hull. It's only small, being 1/72 but so appealing.

If you want to see more, stay tuned. If subs are not your thing, the next aircraft project is right round the corner. More later.

Getting a Life

2010-11-14T21:11:00.008Z

I've often heard model-building described as a lifesaver, but I think in my case these days it's more true than ever.

Last April I was feeling a bit rough, and had to go into hospital for a few days for 'tests' - never a good word, is it? It took a while, but eventually I was diagnosed with cancer, in my upper gastric area and pancreas.

It sounds terrible, but I've been reassured that I'm in no imminent danger. It's a very rare form, called neuroendocrine cancer, and it's referred to as 'indolent' - which means it's very slow-growing, and I've probably had it for many years. It was still a shock though, to both of us, and naturally you turn to something for comfort and escape, and for me, that meant modeling. I'm having treatment, and don't always feel 100 percent, but nothing has kept me from the bench, and kit-bashing has been one of the two things that has saved my sanity and I do believe, has relieved some of the stress and actually improved my health.

The other thing is the friendship and support of my friends and clients on the internet. I haven't wanted to mention anything about my health, but I felt it was time to share this information. I have always felt a bond with my fellow modellers, and without exception I have met only enthusiastic, loyal and generous people in this internet incarnation of my career. I hope I haven't let anyone down over the last few months - I have slowed down a little, and treatment takes up a a chunk of my time now and then, but the escape into a gripping magazine article, a really engrossing kit and a chance to share the result on here has contributed no end to keeping my spirits high and giving me a goal to aim for when times are hard. I've got a full diary, and it would take a lot more than a few rogue cells to keep me from my job. Everybody has problems, health issues and in this climate, work stress. I hope you too have a way to escape your worries and lose yourself in something you love.

And, as always, more on this later.

Phil

Many a good tune......Monogram's P-61 Black Widow

2010-11-13T12:30:00.005Z

You may think it's an outdated kit from the seventies, but the old Monogram kit does have plenty to recommend it - plenty of open panels with detail and the cockpit/nacelle is superb. It has raised panel lines, yes, and the parts are heavy, but hey, they fit. And of course, it's the only game in town.

This particular build will feature Quickboost resin engines and cowlings, a wealth of Eduard colour etched parts, and if that isn't enough, how about powered props, interior landing gear and navigation lights, all working. And there will be sound! A sound box containing a recording of Pratt and Whitney engines will play at the start of the program. Some people prefer static models, others like the interactive sound and light that dioramas can provide.

Projects like this don't come along every day and it will be worth checking back to see how this one develops. The electronics for this diorama have been out together initially by Clyde Sasaki - if you're interested you can see more on his site at http://www.dynamicscalemodeling.com/

I can't see there being a new P-61 kit in this scale for some time, but I can't help wondering what it would look like in 1/32 scale.

More on this soon.

...Then they all come at once!

2010-11-01T12:32:00.003Z

Inspiration for me comes in several forms - seeing a model that someone has done a top job one, a detailed article in a magazine on something I fancy, or a really top-notch kit.

This year, though, I've not quite felt that buzz too often. Work seemed a bit routine for a while, but then suddenly in the space of ten days, there have been new arrivals and commissions that have provided new motivation and pleasure. Have a look at this fantastic selection:

One item in particular gives me special pleasure. The Eduard Royal Class set which includes a pair of FW 190's, an Iron Cross replica and a small fragment of a fighter that took part in the battle of the Ore Mountains. This was a present from an appreciative client in New York. Truckloads of inspiration! Now I just need some time to get to them.

How much?

2010-10-22T21:04:00.003+01:00

Is it me, or has the price of desire gradually escalated over the last year until kit prices have gone through the canopy? I can understand that the cost of new tooling in this period has gone up, but existing kits seem to have also almost doubled in price. For example, the Hasegawa BF 109G in 1/32 scale first hit the shelves of hobby shops six years ago at reasonable £25, but today the same kit costs in excess of £40!

And it's not just the kits. Accessories have also gone up; glue, tweezers, cutting boards, airbrushes - all the necessary bits and pieces the hobby (and professional) modeller relies on have crept up in cost, making this a very expensive pastime and perhaps pricing out the younger kit bashers. I started at nine or ten, and would need to be on some serious pocket money to afford even the most rudimentary aircraft kit and paint.

And yet we seem to have just accepted this without complaint. Some scales have faired better than others - there's better value for money if you work in one of the less commonly requested scales. In 1/32 you can get a lot of detail and extra features for your money, particularly with someone like Trumpeter, but pity the poor 1/48 struggler.

It seems to me that the hobby is growing more popular than ever - there are more magazines devoted to it, and the subject matter for kits seems to get more diverse all the time. Only a cynic would say our enthusiasm is being exploited, but it does seem as though we will be paying more for our pleasure in the future.

An odd mixture

2010-09-25T10:55:00.003+01:00

A while ago I was asked to build the A-7D Corsair in 1/48 scale. The kit would include the Aires wheel bays and cockpit set. Are they nice or what? Oh, did I mention the kit? It's the old Esci offering, going back to when Adam were a lad. Are you interested to see how it'll work out? Me too. I'll leave you with these photos for now.

I haven't built one of these since......

2010-09-25T10:43:00.004+01:00

One of my recent projects is the rather lovely FW 190 in 1/32 scale from Hasegawa. It builds up slowly but surely and offers some nice out-of-the-box detail. It has a convincing cockpit, a good BMW radial engine, landing gear, wheel wells and doors - even lowered flaps. All these increase the interest. At the same time though there's scope to add whatever you fancy. Take a look at the photos to see what I mean. More on this later, of course.

Timeless TBM

2010-09-22T11:55:00.005+01:00

A couple of months ago I was asked to build the rather lovely TBF-1c Avenger from Accurate Miniatures. For those of you who have built it before, you'll know what I mean by lovely - if you haven't, you need to find out! It is one of my favourite modelling subjects, just straight from the box.

The fuselage offers untold opportunities for greatness. It's in four stages: the engine compartment; the cockpit, electronics compartment and turret; then on the lower floor the bomb bay and the rear radio room and ventral gun position. All these have exquisite detail. The crowning glory to all this is not just the engraved panel detail or the satisfying shape and proportions, no. It's that the parts actually go together - well! In 2005 Italeri sold this kit in their box for wait for it, £12.99! I bought quite a few...It costs a bit more now but it's not extortionate (unlike a lot of other kit prices currently) and there is scope for a certain amount of conversion, so do your research.

To my build I added Moskit exhausts, resin weighted wheels and a resin pilot, and that was all.
Check out the photos to see what I mean.

I'd not long finished it when I was asked to build another one - this time the TBM-3 Avenger.
Ok then.

The Tojo has Mojo

2010-09-03T12:00:00.006+01:00

The Ki44 'Shoki' or Tojo is an unusual beast. It can look disproportionate and bulky, but those chunky wings and bulbous nose give it a unique look amongst aircraft.

This is the first one I have built, and I am just beginning to appreciate its unusual aspects. It's hard not to enjoy the excellent Hasegawa kit. By today's standards, the engine may seem a little basic, but you can do plenty with it. Careful attention with a paint brush and a good wiring job can give you a lovely and convincing unit to be proud of.

The cockpit looks better for the addition of some of Mr Eduard's parts. The seat, seat belts, instrument panel, rudder pedal straps, and assorted levers really make a difference, especially with some appropriate toning and washes. All these went on with the minimum of grief.

The fuselage was assembled ahead of the cockpit. This kept out the dust from rubbing down the fuselage. Next came the wings. Again, incident free-fitting here, but I was left with a sizable gap in the wing root, so the filler will have to come out, though it will be the first time. Not bad.

A head-on view of the model revealed that both mainplane and tailplane were symmetrically matched. None of that annoying twisted fuselage look.

And that's it for now. There'll be more on this promising build later.

The End and the Beginning

2010-08-17T12:02:00.004+01:00

Since I've been blathering about this Lancaster build all summer, it's only fair that I add some pictures of the completed model. This has been a project that seems to have had more to do at the end than the beginning - that odd modeling paradox. There was such a lot of tiny detail - the folding of the metal alone took days. Tiny lights, and aerials took more concentration and a steady hand.

Anyway, photos will explain better. It's a satisfying end to another project, and hopefully a happy new home with its new owner.

It's all in the resin.

2010-08-09T12:08:00.003+01:00

I always wanted to build an Arado Ar 240. It seemed like a compelling design. I considered the Revell offering in 1/72 scale, but does that scale do it justice?

Earlier this year, I received a box of builds from a client, and there inside was an Arado. In 1/48 scale. To be precise, it's the resin kit from MPM, and I was very excited.

I opened it up and saw a sea of pale yellow; everything, I mean everything, is resin. Apart from the vac-formed clear parts.

From the tiniest parts up to the larger fuselage and wing sections, all are contained in their own plastic compartments. There are sharp, subtle panel lines, a minimum of flash. The cockpit has reasonable detail, if not great. The decals from CMK look good, and the kit offers a choice of two aircraft - both from the Eastern Front in 1943.

One or two parts have to be very carefully separated from their sprues to avoid damage -see the photo for their layout.

Overall, it looks good, and certainly not a Tamiya kit you can knock off in a weekend. This kit needs attention to the fit, right down to the smallest detail. Such is resin. So, very-time intensive. More on this later.

Moving it along

2010-07-20T13:28:00.007+01:00

Having just finished the 'Frank', here are some photos. I've just realised what an attractive subject this is. It's not as if the Ki-84 is a stranger to me, but it's the first time I've built one with such an obvious camo scheme.

The build did include the Eduard colour etch and flap set and the Vector resin engine - all of which contributed no end to the completed model. The resin engine was not a perfect fit, but with some minor alterations to the cowling I was able to make it work.

The decals for this model are from a Superscale set of which I'm not usually a big fan. I used the defining decals from this set, and then employed the Hasegawa decals elsewhere because they were of better quality, to get the best ultimate result. Hasegawa decals are excellent - see these photos of how well they've gone down on the 'Pete' I'm building:

Whatever the decal origin, I always start with a nice smooth gloss surface, then moisten it with decal setting solution. I apply the decal directly from the backing paper where possible, position it carefully, then gently smooth it down with a wet brush. The decal usually wrinkles at first, but then it starts to conform to the surface. Sometimes it takes more setting solution, but I'm careful not to overdo this. The advantages speak for themselves.

Not all manufacturers include such high quality decals, and the cheaper ones require a different method of fitting, which I'll talk about further down the line.

More on the Lanc

2010-07-08T13:27:00.006+01:00

Just an update really. I got the model right up to its paint stage, and I think it's gone well. I had the sudden desire at this point to paint freehand, and thereby give that nice feathered edge. It would have been quicker too, but study of the actual aircraft revealed a slightly harder edge. So it was out with the blu-tac. After I removed the blu-tac masking, I found the resulting look very much like the real thing.

After the first stage of weathering, I glossed up and began applying the decals. These came from the Techmod set - 300 Squadron Polish at RAF Faldingworth. They're not bad, but need some persuasion to settle down.

I'm now at stage two of weathering, or will be, as soon as the new glaze dries.

Another birthday

2010-07-03T12:45:00.003+01:00

Having just had a birthday - my 57th - I am very conscious that 60 is just round the corner. Where do these big numbers come from? Only yesterday I was 23!

The thought of retirement and its planning might be starting to loom, although if this Government has its way, I'll be here for another decade. And anyway, retire to what? Knocking a few kits together in the spare room? I do that for a living. I must say it's tempting to think of the railway sets I've got stashed away, waiting for a big setup in the room earmarked for them, but I can't begin to think of leaving work behind. It's a way of life, and I've made so many friends. You can't just stop something you love after 45 years.

So what are the plans? I don't want to be struggling round the railway layout with a Zimmer... But I think it's the plastic fantastic for me for a while longer yet. There's too much going on on the bench for me to think about packing it in for a long time yet. I must have more than 25 kits in the growing queue, so that might take me somewhere close to my pension. Here's a photo of what's keeping me at my bench today.

The Long and the Short

2010-06-25T11:48:00.007+01:00

In my working itinerary I have two sorts of jobs. The long term project and the shorter ones. I'm currently working on the Tamiya Lancaster Bomber which includes the 'Big Ed' set. I've been working on this model for more than six weeks now and it's definitely falling under the heading of long term. Here's a few photos of the recently completed bomb bay to illustrate ten days' work.

I'm happy to say the model is now ready for undercoat. This is the first stepping stone to adding its camouflage and decals, and so on. There is still a long way to go since the balance of the considerable detail is yet to be fitted. More, of course, on this project later.

By way of complete contrast is a short term build, the Nakajima B6N2. This has taken around three weeks, and as with all Hasegawa kits, there's a lot of detail in the box, and some very nice features - folding wings, a ventral gun position and combat flaps. The 3-position cockpit is a beaut. I spent all one weekend just painting that! If you want to display the model with lowered wings, you may have a problem as they only want to fold. I had to modify the wing-fold facings to achieve any kind of a decent fit. But once that's been sorted, it's plain sailing. And I did have to razor-saw the canopy. This made so much difference to the look of the model, and the view of the cockpit is greatly improved.

More soon.

Lancaster details

2010-05-29T12:15:00.003+01:00

A couple of weeks ago I posted an article on the Lancs cockpit. I thought this was quite an intensive job, until I started on the wings. Ah, the wings.

Cutting out the trailing edges was fairly straightforward, then it came time to add the flaps. I am not going to describe this, since a picture is worth a thousand words, many of which would appear here. Suffice it to say, as long as flap openings are straight and clean and the metal is folded precisely and the cyano has had time to dry, there should be no problem. Common sense, really.

I assembled the landing gear entirely and allowed it to dry thoroughly before adding the etched parts. Earlier I had fitted the landing gear bay's interior. This is more work here than at first you might think - it needs to be well thought out in advance, and following the given instructions is not always the answer.

I also widened the gear nacelle so I could slot the be-metalled gear assembly through it after attaching it to the wing. I had to think at this point about what to add and leave off, with regard to painting.

Fitting the Belcher Bits resin engine cowlings was comparatively easy, particularly the outer cowlings - fit here is almost perfect. The inner cowlings took a lot more work, since the kit's engine nacelles were oversize. There is no doubt these parts add considerably to the overall look of the model; the panel lines, catches and radiators are beautifully rendered, and it was well worth a bit of extra trouble to fit them.

Check out the photos. They'll give you a good idea of what I've been on about. Much more to come on this long term project. Stay tuned!

Something blue

2010-05-17T20:46:00.004+01:00

It might seem a bit slow on here, but real life has been very hectic indeed. My workload has increased exponentially, and I have been putting in hours at all times of the day and night to keep on top. Here are a few photos, just to prove I don't sit drinking coffee and watching daytime TV.

First, this Aermacchi MB 339A in 1/48 scale, built from the Frems kit. It's a nice kit - the only addition I made was a pair of resin ejector seats. The decals were questionable though; if you are building the aerobatic team model, as I was, then the decals are crucial. The kit offerings were thick and brittle, and replacement sets are hard to find.

The Corsair F4U-7, is, of course, by Hasegawa. I built it from the box, only adding extra detail to the engine (wiring) and the cockpit (seat belts and gun sight). Other than that, it was a great build, and very satisfying.

As usual, more soon.

How does your workbench grow?

2010-05-10T11:49:00.004+01:00

Actually, very well since I run two benches. On bench No. 1 there is the Grumman Goose. This is the Signifer kit in 1/48 scale. I've posted a few photos below to show its progress over the last few weeks. Some highlight the difficulty involved in the build; I don't think I've ever seen so much resin in one kit. In fact, the only plastic parts are the wings and the fuselage. Most of the tail, ailerons, landing gear and interior are resin cast. As you can imagine, this adds a lot of extra weight to the model. I was a bit concerned that the resin gear struts would crack up under the strain, but then I noticed that the main struts are cast with a wire core - likewise the vulnerable floats. The quality of the tooling must ensure a detailed and interesting model. There'll be more on this unusual subject a little later.

Bench No. 2 is currently graced by Tamiya's veteran Lancaster in 1/48 scale, waiting for the addition of Eduard's Big Ed detail set. Although this is a time-consuming job, it does offer suitable rewards. Check out the photos.

The interior is as complete as it can be before I paint it. More on this later.
Back to the benches.

Taken at the flood......

2010-05-01T13:30:00.004+01:00

Up until quite recently, most of my building would be a matter of choice. I would usually build out of the box, and finish around 50 models a year. Now and then I would do a commission piece, and it felt like a novelty, building to someone else's specifications.

Last year however, all that started to change. My personal work (most of which was then sold on eBay and elsewhere) was almost entirely taken over by an influx of new clients with very particular builds and highly personalised ideas of what they wanted to see in a finished model. I'm always happy to have the work, but it took a little while to get used to the idea that for the foreseeable future, I would be constructing kits to suit the tastes of others. But then I began to see how these new builds were more demanding; I had to stretch my myself, learn new skills and widen my mind as to what was out there and how it could look through the eyes of another. Now, when I do get to please myself, I can see at once how my work has improved. This year has been my busiest to date, and the variety of work offered to me has been greater than ever. I'm pleased and grateful.

Here are some pictures of the just completed Shitei III Kai, the anti-bomber version of the 'Dinah', which I squeezed in between commissions. What do you think?

The Tools

2010-04-25T10:10:00.005+01:00

Just for once I felt it might be interesting to talk about the modeler's central tool - the airbrush.

Over the years, I've worked my way through any number of brushes and brands. Currently I run two airbrushes. I feel that no one airbrush can do everything, so I use a main one, with a secondary for specific jobs. The Iwata Eclipse is my main weapon of choice. Firstly, it costs less than £100 (you can really go to town on these things..) and secondly it sprays beautifully. If you know how to use an airbrush, you can do excellent work with pretty much any decent tool, but the Iwata is a forgiving and reliable piece of kit. It is very controllable, though the jet is .05 wide so it isn't so good with fine work.

At this point, the Aztec 240 takes over. For a cheap plastic airbrush it does very well. Using the fine nozzle (Aztec nozzles being disposable, in case you are unfamiliar with them) I can achieve some very fine detail work. But as with everything, it does have its pros and cons; it's a bit temperamental and prone to jamming and blocking. This makes it rather inconsistent and it requires constant attention - cleaning, adjusting and so on. Also, the cost of replacing the nozzles at nearly £10 a go makes it expensive to run in the long term.

Both of my airbrushes are worked hard. I don't have time to clean the outside, just the inside. The Iwata copes better with rough treatment and neglect, but it's not universal, and the Aztec is showing signs of wear and tear. It might be time to start searching for a new solution.

Outflanked, again!

2010-04-10T12:36:00.004+01:00

I had such enthusiasm for the Su 27 I started a few weeks ago. You may remember I had it secreted at the bottom of my kit stash, where I kept on eye on it with a view to building it one day.

Anyway, when the new parts I ordered for it arrived, I began with glee, and mostly it went very well. When the time came for the undercoat, I assembled the main camo colours, all from the Xtracolour range. But it wasn't until I got to the weathering stage it suddenly struck me. It was like a little voice and it said 'you've used all the wrong paint'. Unfortunately, the little voice was right.

Then it occurred to me. I was so anxious to get on with it, I had neglected the proper research and I was under-prepared - very unusual for me, as I am a serial researcher.

So until I sort out the colour codes, the Sukhoi is back to languishing in the paint room. Other projects have since beckoned, and progressed quickly, leaving the poor Sukhoi behind on its timetable. But one day, the saga of 'The Lost Flanker' will continue...

Just in....

2010-04-03T12:52:00.003+01:00

Among the new arrivals are these three items. The first two are instantly identifiable - or at least they are to me. They are two of my favourites and amongst the best. The 'Frank' and the 'Tojo both come with lots of extra bits and will produce eye-catching results.

The third item is the Frems Aermacchi MB 339, to be built in the scheme of Italy's premier aerobatic team. The surface detail is a little heavy, but it has a look of modern, well-produced tooling. The decals look great. In the markings of the Frecce Tricolori, this will be a stunning model.

More, of course, to come on these fascinating projects.

"You could clean up in here"

2010-03-13T12:58:00.007Z

As a sort of addendum to the Flanker posting, I felt compelled to add this article, a story which I'm sure is familiar to fellow modellers.

There are often times whilst in the grip of your latest project when the hours fly past, the trash level increases and cramp in your neck muscles from not looking up gets too much to ignore. I may even be a bit unshaven and red-eyed. It is usually at this point, whilst in full modelling flood (frenzy may not be too strong a word) that the door opens and in comes my wife. I know she's there, I can hear her thinking, and I know what she's going to say. 'You know, you could clean up in here'. A moment later, 'Shall I bring the Hoover in?' This well-meaning remark is never well received, usually being met with a growl and bared teeth. 'Is this a bad time?' With tweezers and cyano poised and an annoying itch on my nose, a grunt is all I can manage. 'I'll come back later'. She reverses from the room. Don't get me wrong, after a hard day at the office, my wife's company is the only kind I can stand. Let's put it down to timing.

The point is, enthusiasm takes many forms. When I began work on the 'Flanker' I was moved to give my work room the long awaited make-over it deserved, and a good clean up. Unfortunately, my wife won't get to see the new look until I'm up to my armpits in the usual modelling detritus. Life goes on.

How does your Falcon fly?

2010-03-13T12:55:00.007Z

On my 'Exciting year' posting, I was part way through building the early Hasegawa F-16. Well, I'm pleased to say that this project is now complete. Before it goes off to its new home, here are a few photos.

It was not the easiest build, but certainly a very reasonable one. A little rough around the edges, perhaps, but it did have the basics - parts were a fair fit, the detail was ok and the overall shape was good. If you've got those things, you have potential. And I'm happy to share the results.

Outflanked!

2010-03-13T12:47:00.006Z

A few postings ago - well quite a few, actually - I was going on about certain loft insulation in the form of kits. One of mine took the form of the Academy Su 27 in 1/48 scale. I think I mentioned that it was a shame to build it with some of the inferior parts that came with it - it deserved better.

Just to show you my desire to build this kit wasn't just an idle jest, here are some photos of parts I recently acquired. Namely, a set of Aires afterburner cans, an Eduard Colour Etch detail set and two sets of decals; 'Flankers on patrol' and a full stencil set.

So keen was I to make a start that I gave my to-do list a makeover and began it that very night. I was quite justified to wait for the extra parts; a quick look at the kit parts compared to the photo-etched parts show the enormous gulf between the two. To illustrate, here's a photo showing both the Academy and Eduard cockpit instructions. Need I say more?

I will have more on this project soon. Is it going well? Oh yes!

Great Goose

2010-03-13T12:35:00.005Z

This is something I've been getting to for a while now, and since I'm finally there it's time to share the photos.

As you can see, it's the Grumman Goose by Signifier in 1/48 scale. An unusual and interesting subject. But is it just like a Classic Airframe kit with a few extra resin bits? The answer to that is a definite no! There are a lot of resin parts, all beautifully rendered. The cockpit is possibly the best I've seen - and I've seen a lot of cockpits. I'll post more photos when that part is ready to be fitted. The surface detail is right up there with Tamiya and Hasegawa, and it has superb rivet detail and good texture.

The kit contains markings for four countries - the USA, UK, France and Japan. Work has already begun. The fuselage is fitted together as an aid to test-fitting the resin cockpit and cabin parts. So, painting is next. I predict a minimum of a week's work on that alone. I'll let you know.

An Exciting Year

2010-02-25T12:43:00.009Z

Actually, I think I said the same thing this time last year, but every year it gets better and better. Lately I mentioned about the Hasegawa F16 in 1/32 scale. This has come on in leaps and bounds - check the photo. It's going to be a stunner, a very imposing model, full of fuel tanks and and with a striking colour scheme.

Next up will be a very unusual subject - a what-if from the post-WW II era. This is a 1/700 scale waterline kit of HMS Invincible, classed as a fast battleship. However, Britain signed the Washington Treaty and the Invincible became HMS Rodney. In fact I'll be using some parts from the Tamiya Rodney to complete this resin kit. It promises to be quite a challenge.

Lastly, for now, is this old favourite. The Tamiya Lanc has been around since Adam were a lad, but it is till a terrific kit. This build will include the full Eduard Big Ed set, a set of Belcher resin engine cowlings , a set of bulged resin wheels and a set of Techmod decals. I'll be starting on this in a few weeks, so stand by for a mega build.

I have plenty of other big projects on the go for later this year. I'm normally a builder of static models, but I do occasionally do some special work with dioramas which feature light-and-sound - details of this on here later in the year.

A Desert Song

2010-02-21T12:18:00.005Z

Or how to build an IAF F-16 out of Hasegawa's really old 1/32 scale kit.

Quite recently I was asked to build an F-16A, and with it was a very nice IsraDecals set. Although the kit dates from way back (maybe the seventies?), it's possible to make an impressive, up to date job from one these older kits, especially with the quality decals.

On examining the kit you can't help but notice the good layout, and the full weapons set, and all those fuel tanks. It's been a long time since I had a look at a Hasegawa 1/32 scale jet, but I thought they only gave you the basics in their kit, and sold the ordnance separately. I know that Tamiya's F-16 in this scale is the bee's knees, but then it's a hundred quid, and usually you get what you pay for.

Below are some photos so you can see how it's going. On the box it says F-16A plus, which I assume is because they include a Metal Aces II seat - very nice, better than the plastic one.

Today's kits may be neater and tidier, with engraved panel lines and no flash, but the older kits still have a beautiful model concealed in their sprues, waiting to be brought out by the devoted modeller...

Nothing fits!

2010-02-08T11:55:00.005Z

You know what I'm talking about. There are a few producers whose products can elicit such a response. Classic Airframes is one of them. Late last year I was asked to build their Lockheed Hudson in 1/48 scale. I'd always wanted to build one of these but I was a little concerned in advance because I knew what it would involve..

I looked through the sprues and noticed the thick plastic parts with nicely engraved panel lines. There was a bagful of resin parts - alarmingly all bundled in one bag. The detail was very well rendered but packing them together leads to the inevitable breakages.

I set to with determination. The flight deck built up nicely and I painted it, along with its attendant parts. I'm all ready to assemble, but surprise surprise, nothing goes anywhere near the fuselage. It was the very acme of foolishness to suppose it would.... It was the usual Classic Airframe problem - overly-thick plastic fuselage and an over-wide resin flight deck. The only way round it was to assemble it Johnny Cash-style - one piece at a time. I dismantled the flight deck and started again, test fitting the fuselage at every stage. Of course, I had to fill and paint as I went. Painstaking? Time-consuming? Oh yes, but ultimately a job well worth doing. As a pal of mine used to say, 'there's only one winner'. And now to get the wings on.

Your 'local' model shop

2010-02-02T11:17:00.006Z

For me this is a bit of a contradiction in terms. My local model shop was closed down about five years ago after serving a community of modellers and hobbyists for sixty years. I even worked there from time to time, and it was always a pleasure.

The manager was gifted when it came to model railways - there was nothing a customer could ask him he didn't know the answer to, and I developed a side interest in railways as a result.

These days, my local model shop is ten miles away, and its real reason for being is radio controlled cars and bikes, with a little railways and kit stuff on the side. I can get my paint, brushes and airbrush cleaner there, so that's great.

But if I want to have a good look at the plastic itself, that's eighteen miles in the other direction. There's a sort of modeller's supermarket - enormous premises and a vast stock of pretty much everything, but because of my workload I only get to go every year or so! This leaves me with the modeller's main option - online. Plenty of choice here, and convenience too, no question.

But what you don't get at the end of your keyboard is a sense of atmosphere. There's no virtual substitute for an hour spent wandering around, talking to the staff who remember you from last time and know your interests. There's no chance of bumping into a fellow sufferer and sharing an experience. You can't root in the box or check the paint chart. Even handing over your goods and getting your wallet out could be a pleasure in the bricks-and-mortar shop. It was a place of rendezvous, a way of staying in touch, being part of the modelling community, and it gave this daft hobby some meaning. Without the hands-on aspect, many new modellers are being lost to the hobby right when their interest may be burgeoning. The internet has taken this from most of us - it made my own shop an expensive indulgence instead of a paying business - and the price of it is anonymity and building in a vacuum. I now rely on emails and photos from my clients and fellow builders for contact, and whilst I have made some good friends, it's not quite the same as a chat and a brew over the counter.

Epilogue:
Just last week I had to make a run for some airbrush cleaner and paint, so it was up the by-pass to the closest shop. Whilst in there I noticed the new Airfix Mosquito in 1/24 scale. I asked the chap behind the desk if he'd had much feedback on it. 'Nothing' he replied. and got on with his paperwork. 'Only been out since Christmas'. Had that been me in my shop, I'd be offering to get it down and give him a poke in the box, and we'd have had a chat about what was in the mags about it. I was the only customer in the shop, but seemingly not worth the time for a bit of back and forth. I left him to get on with his admin, and look forward to a life on line.

Well-earned break?

2010-01-28T10:22:00.004Z

When you work it home it's hard to make a break from work, and it brings whole new meaning to the term 'staycation'. The break turns into a spot of work here and there, but mostly on the things that you really enjoy doing. Here's what I've enjoyed doing over my 'break'.

I've just finished this Fine Molds A7M2 Reppu 'Sam', and very lovely it was too. It has the full cockpit and engine treatment, though the interior was a little patchy. It was a large and unusual model, and I think it's quite something.

Coming up behind the 'Sam' is the B5N2 'Kate'. There are some makes of model that if you merely built them from the box, you would be disappointed with the result. Hasegawa are not one of these, and give you a proper kit. The three-crew cockpit, for example, is so convincing it inspires the builder to do his very best to bring out all that lovely detail. More on this interesting project later.

Last, but by no means least is the Mystere IV from Fonderie. Having overcome the obstacles it presented this far, the model is now being prepared for its bare metal finish. The tactical masking will bring out the subtle metal 'tones'. This promises to be a very bright and eye catching model when complete. Aircraft from this era have always been of interest to me, partly for their bold colour schemes.
So it was a pretty good break, all in all.

It's a Mystere to Me

2010-01-15T12:54:00.006Z

If you were contemplating the Fonderie Miniatures Mystere IV for a forthcoming build, you might find the following of interest.

The kit features a number of photo-etched and resin parts. They are not all overflowing with detail, but what detail is present is quite sharp, and fits in place very well. The ejector seat is excellent. Getting the fuselage and wings together must be done with great care and you need a lot of patience. Check out my earlier blog on this regarding the Super Mystere.

With the main assembly complete, this is what the builder is faced with. Most joints are ragged, some have heavy flash. The jet intake and exhaust have big steps in them due to the mismatch of the fuselage halves. Nothing that can't be overcome though.

Although the kit features engraved panel lines, the fuselage is quite pitted and needs rubbing down - yes, the lot!

I've completed the rubbing down and replaced the panel lines lost in the process. It is now starting to resemble a Mystere IV. It still remains for me to thin out the thick plastic sited at the exhaust and intake areas.

I think it's great that an early Mystere is now available in 1/48 scale, but to build it successfully you must have plenty of modelling experience, and really want one!

Painting comes next - a natural metal finish will transform this model.

New Year's Resolution

2010-01-10T13:34:00.005Z

I don't smoke, so I can't give that up, and I don't drink enough to warrant stopping - so that doesn't leave a lot to resolve. I could diet, but the lure of chocolate would be too strong - there has to be SOME vice in life.

However, last week my wife found a stash of old stored photos on a couple of CDs at the back of the desk drawer. It turned out to be quite a trip down memory lane. Before I went onto aircraft full time, I used to be a regular builder of AFVs. Figures, dioramas, the lot. Here are some of the photos we came across. It's amazing how many builds you can amass. More to come at another time.

So my New Year's resolution? More armour, I think.

Tales from the North pole

2010-01-03T13:26:00.010Z

Well of course it isn't really the North Pole, it just feels like it. But the Arctic conditions on the outside have not interfered with the Christmas cheer on the inside. And I have enjoyed not just seasonal jollifications but also those of the plastic variety.

To illustrate this, here are some views of the North Pole (our street and back garden)

And here are some views of the inside fun. This is the recently completed A-7E Corsair in 1/32 scale.

An ongoing project is this 1/48 A6M7 Reppu 'Sam' from Fine Molds, currently drying after its coat of primer. More on this one later too.

Right now though, there are parts of me I must press against a warm radiator.

My New Year's Honours List

2009-12-31T12:19:00.004Z

With the customary lull between festive parties I am able to compile my own list of promising new items for the New Year, some of which are already being offered for sale on eBay by enterprising dealers.

There is the new Spitfire from Tamiya, which the media has battered us with for a few weeks now. Yes, it's a beautiful kit, I may build one some day. But it is yet another Spitfire.

And what about the new Fiat BR-20 from Classic Airframes, or the Ki-43 'Lily' from AtoZ Models? And the new Arado 196 Seaplane from Italeri and a new Sukhoi Su 24 from Trumpeter? That's quite a list and it's just for starters. Most of these are out, ready and waiting. There are also some old favourites returning to the list - Revell are giving us the Dornier 217 and the ancient 1/32 Hurricane is back too. Got to take the rough with the smooth.

I'm hoping to get a chance to build most of the above this year, and I'll be sharing the details right here with you, patient reader. It looks as though 2010 will be even better than 2009; new kits, new projects, dioramas, articles, lots of photos. Feel free to contribute if you have a special interest, or just want to join in.

To all my visitors, whether you are an enthusiast or just interested, thank you for your time, and maw we wish you a very happy and healthy New Year.

Philip and Kim Goodier

Turning Japanese II

2009-12-13T13:03:00.008Z

The Seiran Seaplane, with its clean lines and standard paint finish, calls for some special input to get a really eye-catching look. To start with, I sprayed the entire model in the underside grey.

I then sprayed the upper side dark green before I added some assorted shades of green and tan. This gave me the requisite patchy, sun-bleached finish - something rather more realistic than a flat colour offers. On the photo you can see the difference between the panels - two are different shades altogether.

I then fitted the decals. All the kit decals were crazed and broken up, so I had to find alternatives - there's another hour or two gone. The orange-yellow de-icing boots are painted on.

In this photo you can see the completed wing. I chipped and faded the paint for a authentic field look. The matt varnish, when it dries, brings all the odd shades together and the picture began to make sense.

Many Japanese wartime aircraft are shown in appalling states in photos, especially the fighters. They show heavy exhaust staining and large sections of flaked paint, demonstrating weeks of heavy fighting. Many aircraft would be lost before they had a chance to get battle-worn, but a reconnaissance seaplane, flying from some remote Pacific island, would survive intact having endured some very rough treatment. This was the look I was going for.

I've been through similar feats of endurance this week and here's what's come out of it. I'm very pleased. What do you think?

Recently completed

2009-12-05T13:42:00.005Z

The Classic Airframes Gloster Meteor NFII and the La-5FN from Zvezda - you coudn't find two more dissimilar aircraft, but here they are joined by a common theme - both are extremely labour-intensive.

Both kits have good detail, especially the Meteor. Both have problems with wing attachment and cockpit, though mostly just basic fit issues. Overcoming these problems can be a bit frustrating for sure, but in a good way, very rewarding. Even with the effort put into producing a huge variety of kits, with hi-tech modern methods, if you want to build something a little different you have to put in the commensurate amount of work. I've been building models since boyhood, and that much hasn't changed. But both models have turned out okay, so the work speaks for itself. I hope they both become their new owner's pride and joy.

Turning Japanese

2009-12-05T13:33:00.005Z

There are certain elements of my job that are determined by a metaphorical throw of the dice. I have just landed two Tamiya kits, both Japanese subjects, within a couple of days of each other.

The first is a Kawanishi N1K1 'George' and the other is the Aichi M6A1 Seiran Seaplane. Both are excellent kits and will build up into real head turners.

Japanese wartime aircraft have always been a big hit with me. The more of them I build, the more enthusiastic I become. To get to build two at once is an ususual pleasure and luck indeed. There will be more on here about these builds soon. For the moment, here are a few photos of their early stages. As you can see, the Seiran has its own trolley - almost a model in itself.

I will be delighted if anyone has a favourite that they'd like to discuss. If you are a big Jap fan like me, what pushes your buttons?

Taking Shape: the A-7E in 1/32

2009-12-01T12:01:00.006Z

One of the things I enjoy about working in this scale is its relaxed nature. With so many parts and options, the builder can slow down and gradually build the model up.

I still have the copy of SAMI magazine (Vol 12 Issue 7) in which builder David Francis illustrates a bang up job of the kit. He added resin parts but I don't think it's necessary. This build is straight out of the box - always a good test of the build when you don't feel you need after- market parts to make a lovely job. These days especially, new toolings are so well-detailed, it seems a shame to discard them.

All went smoothly. The only real difficulty I had was jockeying the fuselage halves together around the cockpit and the intake trunking. You have to get all the little tabs in all the right slots for a good line up.

The trunking has a large tab that slots into the nose cone. I did this last and used a little cyano.
Getting it all together was tricky, needing at least three hands. Once in position the fuselage fitted together very well, needing only a little filler. I added weight to the fuselage to ensure a three point sit. The wing section fits 'saddle' fashion and wanted a bit of maneuvering to achieve a flush fit. With that section fitted that was the main assembly sorted. Apart from some odds and ends, the build is now ready for undercoat.

The kit is no Tamiya, but it's by no means a poor relative. There are no real hitches, just challenges - the heart of the hobby. To paraphrase Bones McCoy, I'm a modeller not a kit assembler!

Size isn't everything Pt 2

2009-11-19T13:10:00.005Z

People say that until they actually see the size. Not that the Vought A-7 is a huge aircraft, even in 1/32 scale such as this one. But it certainly has a presence. Trumpeter issued the Vought A-7E Corsair back in 2005. Although it was a confirmed favourite of mine, I had not had a chance to build it until now.

When the box arrived ( a BIG box) it wasn't the scale of the parts I enjoyed so much as the sheer number of them. And the ordnance! It comprises a pair of fuel tanks, 2 GBU-8, 2 GBU-10, 2 AGM-6, 12 Mk 82 retarded, 12 MK 82 slicks, 6 M117 and a pair of side winders. Oh yes, and a FLIR pod. Here's a photo of the entire haul in case I missed anything.

It's gone very well so far. I've spent around ten hours to achieve what you see here. The painting process is about to begin. Of course, there'll be more photos of this through to its conclusion.

Arado 234 'Blitzed'

2009-11-18T12:11:00.005Z

This must be one of this year's most demanding projects. The AR 234 Nightfighter came in at just under seventy hours work for me - unusually intense for a 1/48 scale model. To build it straight from the box would have produced a nice very presentable result, but this one came to me with a number of lovely add-ons to bring it up several notches. The Aires cockpit and landing gear bay, a Verlinden detail set and an Eduard detail set gave me an excellent choice of beautiful parts in resin and metal. This means there are four sets of instructions to follow, and some very difficult style choices to be made! Jockeying four sets of parts together is not for the novice - I did go cross-eyed a few times, and I needed to leave the room on occasion....

The result of all that jockeying and cross-eyed concentration? Well, I was very satisfied. High points? Certainly the front cockpit (there is also one in the back) and the gear bay, for their quality of detail and fit inside the model. Also the little wing-mounted rocket motors, which only needed some Eduard parachute straps, so good was their detail. I did have a set of Airwave gear legs and wheels, but for once the kit parts were superior and I didn't use them.

The final build looks very impressive from a few feet away, but get up close and it's really rewarding. It's a combination of excellent detail, and hard work getting the best out of the component parts. Am I blowing my own trumpet? Maybe, but maybe it's more a case of enjoying the fruits of more than forty years experience. I hope you think it looks good too.

The stuff that dreams are made of

2009-11-18T11:34:00.004Z

Every old-hand modeller understands the obsession with building a certain kit. How long has a favourite kit been on your shelf ? You get it down, dust it reverentially and take a look inside. After ten minutes of fondling the parts and inspecting the decals you sigh a little and put it back, saving it a bit longer. Yes, I admit it, the Sukhoi Su 27 in 1/48 scale is a big favourite of mine. Ever since Academy announced it, I have wanted to build it. Then I read the review; with trembling hands I turned the page only to find 'disappointing cockpit' and 'decals need replacing'. I was crest-fallen. Like going to the cinema and finding there's no popcorn. What could be worse?

I bought the kit anyway. Eventually. And it's been sitting there in its slot since May 2007, flawed perfection waiting for me to sort it out. I was giving it its regular potential-next-build inspection when my wife came in and, perceptive woman that she is, said 'for goodness sake just get the parts and build the damn thing'.

So you know? I think I will.

Golden Oldies

2009-11-08T13:02:00.003Z

Do you recognise this one? The long vanished Esci produced this kit back in the seventies. In those days, Esci kits were quite well thought of. I daresay this 1/48 F8 Crusader was state of the art.

Today, this has been overtaken by the Hasegawa F8. It's a gem, but it is £30. I bought this kit last year, for old time's sake, I suppose. The cockpit is bare, the ejector seat is hopeless and of course it has raised panel lines. But the basic shape is good.

I have loads of references on the F8, so I decided on some surgery. This was centred entirely on the wings, to drop the flaps and slats and incline the wing incidence. Also, I found an old resin ejector seat and some photo etched cockpit parts. As you can see it has the makings of a real project.

Just Finished

2009-10-30T11:11:00.004Z

Too often I blog about projects that are stalled or in the middle stages of building. So here is something that's actually been finished in the last ten days or so. Both have been mentioned on here in their earlier stages so it seem only fair to display the completed models.

The Classic Airframes Martin Baltimore was first. It gave me the usual CA difficulties; a very dusty enclosed cockpit area, which I overcame by cutting out the pilot's canopy hatch to clean inside. The engines were a poor fit due to the over-thick plastic of the engine cowlings, and rather than alter them I reduced the thickness. Still, the results overall were lovely, because it's such a detailed kit and you can't go far wrong.

The other project, by complete contrast, is the MiG 19s from Trumpeter. Surprisingly this offered very few fit problems, and those were dealt with quite easily. Detail was excellent, the cockpit being particularly good.

I'd love to build their 1/32 scale version of this aircraft, but this scale doesn't seem to be popular amongst collectors.

Moving On

2009-10-23T11:48:00.006+01:00

With the destroyer project now in the closing stages of the build, I am able to move on with new projects.

One of them is the Meteor NFII in French markings, of which more on here later.

The other is the Arado 234 from Hasegawa. Most of the internal parts are being replaced with Aires and Eduard items. A couple of photos here will illustrate the current stage. As you can see, much of the paint is already up to top coat, and in some cases ready for weathering.

You can see how much detail the resin parts have to offer.

The nature of the canopy means than most of its detail will be easily seen, and the same goes for the cockpit and the landing gear. And me, I'm just a sucker for all that...

Back to the boat

2009-10-23T11:28:00.005+01:00

Yes, I weakened. With the destroyer showing such promise, I knew that one more big effort would see the hard work out of the way. So, with the Arado project just started and in its undercoat, it was 'all hands to the pumps'. Actually, the railings.

I realised that fitting the railings would be a long, tedious and frustrating job. I recently read a build article on this kit, wanting to see how someone else had resolved this one. The modeller had simply added stretched sprue to the stanchions. From a distance it looked very effective, but on closer inspection, the sprue looked heavy and unconvincing. So it's back to the fluffy twine from the kit. Is it awkward? Time-consuming? Fiddly? Damn right it is. But I did develop a system; after tying off a length of furry twine to the first stanchion, I ran it along the next four or five and then superglued it in place. The glue takes a minute to set so I attached a small bulldog clip to the loose end to keep it under tension. While that was drying, I started the process again, one tier up.

Did I hear someone say that sounds too easy? It's just easier. Later I'll have to varnish the twine to get rid of the fuzz and make the railings look finer. A bit monotonous but worth it for the final look.

Back to airplanes soon. Hmmm.

Destroyer Vs. Night Fighter

2009-10-19T12:27:00.006+01:00

If you've been looking at the last blog entry, then you know I've been working on a Revell 1/144 Fletcher Class destroyer. Yes, yes, it's a ship - I'm a heretic.

It's been a fortnight of really intensive work. I think knowing that time was finite, because of other work coming in, really drove me on. Whilst I've made a lot of progress, I'm happy now to leave it for a while to start something new.

Here are a few photos of the three-quarters-finished warship.

Also, I've included a few pictures of the new project just getting under way. As you can see, Hasegawa's Arado AR234 is beautifully accessorised with resin and photo-etched sets from Aires, Eduard and Aeroclub, and decals from Aeromaster.

This has all the makings of a terrific project and will be featured here during the next few weeks. Got to go and sort my references.

Fletcher Class DD 449 Re-started

2009-10-12T11:58:00.005+01:00

After completing a few pressing projects, I was able to steal a couple of hours to spend on my 1/144 scale destroyer. This is a project I began many months ago when I had a gap in my diary. You know how it is - you come home with your current favourite kit, go through the box, caress the parts lovingly, and after ten minutes you close the lid and put it on the shelf for when you have a few minutes together. Excellent room insulation when you do it a lot...
I was determined this was a fate that wouldn't befall this kit. It's been coming along so nicely.

Anyway, six months later I'm getting back to the varnishing, weathering and minor painting. The small parts such as railings and AA guns will be next.

Soon, other work will arrive and once again, this project will go to the back of the queue, so I'm making the most of the time. Will I be eating my meals in my workroom? Of course not. But it's worth thinking about.

More on the MiG

2009-10-10T12:18:00.006+01:00

On the previous posting I included a single photo of a MiG 19, from Trumpeter. Since then, the project has moved on to the assembly of the major parts. Before I say anything about that, a word or twenty on the cockpit; the detail here is some of the best I've seen. Even the ejector seat isn't bad - and that's the part people usually replace. The raised detail on the bulkheads and side panels responds beautifully to some careful hand painting. A film is provided for the clear instrument panel; this item, strangely, shows no raised detail at all. The gunsight is superb and the canopy has its own release levers. As a bonus, the fit of the parts is great.

The parts fit elsewhere in this kit is not consistent. The cockpit tub, nose gear bay and the intake ring end up as a single assembly. The entire thing has to have have the fuselage assembled around it. After many dry runs I left the intake ring off, which eased the fit.

Taking care to line up the air splitter, I eased the intake ring on to the assembled fuselage. Careful as I was to do this, it still needed plenty of rubbing down to achieve a flush fit.

The rest of the assembly still warranted careful fitting, and I rather enjoyed this. But adding the wings was something that really kept me on my toes. There is no tab or slot, but instead a raised fairing on the fuselage for the trailing edge of the wing to butt up against. So the angle of both wings must be handled with great care to get the right anhedral.

That's the end of my rambling before I put myself to sleep. I'll be doing the bare metal finish on this model next - always a love-hate thing for me.

Multiple MiGs

2009-10-02T13:44:00.006+01:00

I feel in the mood for a MiG. Actually, three MiGs. I've previously talked about a 1/32 MiG 21 I had rediscovered, but what really started this run of models was a Trumpeter MiG 3 I had found languishing in my room a while ago, half started. What a shame, a perfectly decent model just lying there, forgotten and neglected.

I decided right away to strip the existing paint off. It was pretty disgusting and mucky and I felt suitably ashamed, so I gave it a plonk in the wash and then into the Modelstrip. This is a highly corrosive medium that leaves the plastic beneath quite unscathed, very handy stuff. After a few hours it can simply be washed away (in the bathroom, when my wife is not looking...).

The camo scheme I had decided on was from an aircraft with the VVS during 'Barbarossa' in 1941. I did the requisite research and here are the results.

This leads me on to the aforementioned MiG 21. I described the paint scheme on an earlier blog, and here are some photos of the completed model.

That just leaves some bits in a box - MiG number three. This is one of the new MiG toolings from Trumpeter - the 19S 'Farmer' C is in 1/48 scale. It'll be making a few appearances in the next week or two.

Just as a footnote, I was very excited to find that Trumpeter will be releasing the Sukhoi Su 24 in 1/48 scale - excellent for those of us fascinated by Soviet aircraft from the Cold War.

Nice pyjamas

2009-09-29T12:48:00.005+01:00

A poke around under my bench recently revealed a MiG 21 in 1/32 scale. It was the Revell kit I'd bought last year. At the same time I picked up a set of Microscale decals. I had a very specific colour scheme in mind when I bought them.

What got me going in the first place was a copy of 'Fighting Colours' that I bought years ago. It was essentially a catalogue of camouflage schemes for military aircraft, but I was instantly taken with not just the imaginative paint jobs on display, but the dramatic look of this small Russian jet. I began to appreciate Russian aircraft design and became a regular builder of their aircraft models. But I am digressing in my enthusiasm...

I did some of the work on this model late last year but became too busy to continue with it. A momentary lull in work has given me the chance to pick it up again. I'd chosen the Indian Air Force scheme from the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971 - a really interesting scheme and something of a challenge.

With the build largely complete, the model was undercoated and then sprayed in US dark green. After 24 hours drying time I was able to mask up. To achieve the 'pyjamas' effect, I decided to use Blu Tac.

As you can imagine, I needed a great deal of it! It was very time consuming, but I felt that any other method would not produce the result I was after. I sat for hours rolling out long thin sausages of Blu Tac ( and then White Tac when the Blu ran out), carefully shaping them with the end of an old paint brush. Check the photo - the model in the grip of an alien face-hugger!

In spraying on the next colour I used a beige-green. This job had to be performed with great care. I needed to angle the airbrush to get in the corners - hundreds of corners - and apply it in layers to avoid rapid paint build up.

Later I carefully removed the Blu (and White) Tac. This revealed what you see in the last photo. It isn't perfect. Certain areas need a bit of attention, but it has the basics of a good job.
This MiG 21 now has its pyjamas on, I just need to sort out their fit.

Catching Up

2009-09-21T12:59:00.005+01:00

Eons ago, when building models was still just a hobby, I used to spend two or three hours a day in my model room (single men could do that...) Now it's a job, a structured day is very important. It's a good thing I don't enjoy daytime TV, and that I enjoy a degree of motivation that some people who work from home claim hard to find.

A busy day flies by, and before I know it the day is done. What have I achieved lately to show for all this time spent at the bench? Here's a few photos....

This Do 217K is of course the Revell tooling. The parts fit is very good and it has some lovely detail. The cockpit especially is worth spending your valuable time on - and I did.

This FW 190A-4 is reasonably well known. Can you name its pilot? He was a famous commander. I was a little disappointed with this Hasegawa kit - they are keen to get as many variants as possible out of the mould, with the result that fit is poor for the nose, and wing roots. Nothing that can't be overcome though. The Eduard cockpit made quite a difference to the overall finish.

Finally, who would have thought it - a 1/48 Super Mystere. A big model, very like an F-100, and for me, my first Fonderie kit. Not a bad kit, though not without problems, as mentioned on here before. But it has some very nice features too, and the completed model is a real eye-ful!

So all those hours locked away in my room really do produce something!

Inside and Outside

2009-09-11T11:39:00.005+01:00

A few postings ago I added some photos of a fuselage interior and asked the sharp eyed readers amongst you to guess which aircraft it is.

No-one is for saying, so here's a couple more shots - some more fuselage pictures and engine cowlings. I've chosen these particular photos because they show the problem areas I've been dealing with. Getting the engines into their cowlings (beautiful engines by the way) and the cockpit into the fuselage was a non starter.

I did not want to touch the engines, so thinning down the cowlings was the only option. With the cockpit, floors and bulkheads all had to be reduced in order to close the fuselage. To make matters more difficult, each fuselage half was a different thickness. This meant that blending the openings for the cockpit, turret and so on had to be carefully accomplished to eliminate the large step created by the mismatch.

Next up, a full rub down of all the parts and attaching all the flying surfaces.

Return of the '190

2009-08-29T12:44:00.004+01:00

I recently received these fabulous photos of an FW 190 from my friend at Duxford. To see this classic wartime fighter back in the air is really something, a wish come true.

I was also fortunate to receive a link from a friend in California, and it's too good to keep to myself. Take a look at this: http://home.comcast.net/~bzee1b/Chino/Chino.html The photos are from an airshow in Southern California. If wartime aircraft are your thing, don't miss this.

Many thanks to Bill Aitchison, Ray Williams and Bernard Zee.

The Recently Completed

2009-08-26T13:54:00.004+01:00

There are times when I'm so engrossed in the latest build that the days just fly by. Some kits require more inspiration than others though - you can't always get your fix building another man's model. There's always some reward, though, even if it has to wait till you see the final results.

Here are two recently completed models. The A-20 was a commission build, and the MC 202 was just a kit I had in my room and it was calling to me.

Over the years, I've built some kits at least five or six times, but I always find something in them to enjoy, surprising though that may be. I build between 45 and 60 aircraft models every year. It still comes as a pleasant revelation that I can get such a big buzz out of it. Does it do the same for you?

Explaining the Mystere

2009-08-20T11:43:00.005+01:00

Since this is my first Fonderie build, I thought it may be of interest to do as a 'progress in pictures' feature.

Before the undercoat went on, I noticed the odd undulations in the wings, mostly between the panel lines.

This is not the easiest plastic I have ever worked with. As I gently rubbed down these surfaces, I noticed that in a couple of spots it began to blister; discoloured patches of surface started to lift. Not wanting to remove these and use filler, I very carefully peeled them back and added a spot of glue. These could later be rubbed down. You can see here too the filler needed for the wing roots, top and bottom.

A two tone bare metal finish was favourite for this model, and would add nicely to its colourful red stripes and national insignia.
The model was almost entirely masked up after the undercoat had dried. The masking was cut out with a very sharp No 3 blade, using the panel lines as a guide.

Matt dark grey paint was then applied and the masking tape removed promptly, avoiding paint build up on its edges.

The model was then treated to a deep gloss finish - two coats minimum. As you can see, this gives the Alclad II a good base and an excellent finish is achieved.

I am currently fitting the decals and 101 other jobs. So, as usual, more later.

Mystery Interior

2009-08-20T11:38:00.002+01:00

The sudden appearance of this limited run kit has stirred a flurry of modelling activity. With the interior now complete, I can post a couple of photos here. Any guesses as to the aircraft? No prizes, I'm afraid, except the kudos of knowing your stuff.

Friends in High Places

2009-08-10T12:47:00.006+01:00

For some time now I have enjoyed an email friendship with a lucky man who does volunteer work at RAF Duxford, my favourite RAF station.

Every now and then he shares with me some photos of the projects they have underway. I've logged a huge file of photos over four different hard drives, so excuse me if they seem to be in a strange order - but like a jigsaw they will all add up in the end. I'm posting a few here of the early stages of the reconstruction of a Blenheim. This project began a few years ago and is still underway. The fund-raising organisation is www.blenheimsociety.org.uk if you would like to take a look at the site and found out more. Most of the members are ex-Blenheim crew, but anyone is welcome to join or contribute - this is the charity responsible for the reconstruction, and the airframe is owned by Blenheim Duxford Ltd. Enjoy! As usual, more to come.

Thanks to Bill Aitchison for his continued enthusiasm and commitment.

More Mystere, Less Mystery

2009-08-05T13:05:00.005+01:00

I decided to add my own chamfer to the wings. After studying photos of the actual Super Mystere it was ok to proceed. Dry fitting the wings revealed plenty of gaps.

Using regular plastic cement I attached the wings to the fuselage, set the angle and left it for a couple of hours.

On my return it was dry enough to be handled. Next, I masked up and filled. An hour later, I separated the fuselage halves and drilled the wing roots from inside. I Cyano'd 20 gauge wire into the holes which, when dry, would securely brace the wings.

Lunch time, I believe.

Let's Hear it for Pete

2009-08-03T11:47:00.004+01:00

As everyone has been putting up with me blathering on about the Pete build, I felt it only fair to show a few images of the completed model.

Adding the final parts was very enjoyable. The fit was tricky but positive and durable. The only other thing worth a mention was the rigging. It was regular biplane rigging but not as extensive as a WWI fighter for example and I used stretched sprue to do the job. This just left the wiring from tale to fuselage and wingstrut. The 1-1 scale aircraft shows how thick they were, so I decided that EZ-Line was the ideal solution - it looks good and it'll have longevity. And that was it. A super build. A great project of a terrific subject. And as Shakespeare (and I) said: "Here was a kit, when comes such another?" Actually, just give us a minute....

A little Mystere

2009-07-31T11:49:00.004+01:00

Every now and then I get a kit that offers a new challenge. Take Fonderie's Super Mystere - nice resin parts, lovely engraved panels, even the fuselage fit is not too bad. But which way up are these wings? Oh wait, the wheel wells give it away. There are no tabs, pins or lugs to locate them.
But the wing stubs are chamfered to give a distinct dihedral.
So, how to mount the wings correctly? That's next.

Less Fuss, more 'Pete'

2009-07-31T11:41:00.002+01:00

Pete is now resplendent in his decals and more weathering. Although the decals conformed beautifully to the surfaces, the 'slip' factor when applying them was very limited. So more water and less setting solution was needed to slide the decals into position.
More soon.

Big Beautiful Doll

2009-07-29T13:16:00.003+01:00

This project showed promise right from the start. With all its difficulties and problems, I feel the end result is worthwhile and I hope you agree.

I had often considered building 'Big Beautiful Doll', but it sometimes felt as though everyone was getting there before me! I really enjoyed the build, and felt it had a lot of distinct character.

Adding the finishing touches was a particular pleasure - the last panels, the doors and lights, a little extra stencilling. It was a very rewarding project, and I hope its new owner will feel the same way.

Mustang and Pete move on

2009-07-27T20:38:00.005+01:00

As you can see, tempus has really fugit for the '51. Since you last saw it, it has undergone Alclad, weathering, glossing, decals, some more glossing and a bit more weathering. I must sit down for a moment.

The only real problem was with Tamiya's decals. They are always a bit on the thick side, so getting the check pattern to line up around the curvature of the nose involved giving it a good telling and a lot of setting solution. More on this later.

Coming up fast behind the '51 is the 'Pete'. Here are a couple of photos. The first colour coat is now dry, though this means it looks a little flat at the moment.

In the second view, things have livened up a bit as 'Pete' has his first weathering stage. Getting your paint mix right and having complete airbrush control are essential components in getting this dead bang to rights.

'Pete' has more weathering to endure yet. Also, look out for the big finish on the P51. It's very nearly complete and it looks pretty good. Photos soon.

Coming soon: The Fonderie Super Mystere.

But I've just sat down....

2009-07-24T12:29:00.003+01:00

In my last entry I briefly mentioned five ongoing projects. I work on any two at a time, and right now it's the turn of the P-51 and the Pete.

I've just added the olive drab anti-glare panel and black trim on the tail of the former. When it's dry I'll reverse-mask these areas so it can receive its bare metal finish.

The Pete is now all masked up and ready for its undercoat. I felt it best to paint other components such as the upper wing and floats separately to ease the job of painting and masking as the build progresses.

The real fun is about to begin. More later.

What Lies Beneath

2009-07-19T11:59:00.005+01:00

Those of you who arrived here via eBay may do so having seen what looks like a few casually listed models. Indeed, we like to promote a relaxed but professional look as our public image. What lies beneath is actually a little different - certainly professional, but not so relaxed. Here's why:

Project One: This is the Super Mystere from Fonderie Miniatures. As you can see it's in the early stages of construction, but showing promise.

Project Two: This is the Tamiya P-51D with the Aires cockpit, gun/ammo tray and wheel well. It's been a long job getting it together -the wings were reluctant to join in - but worth it so far.

Project Three: Believe it or not this is the LA-5FN by Zvesda. A tricky kit to build, but when complete, it'll really look the part.

Project Four: Hasegawa's 'Pete'. It may look like a mess, but what a little gem.

Project Five: I've left this one till last because of its size. The Revell Fletcher Class destroyer has literally taken over half of my work room. Photographic and historical references are vital to this build. Every part fitted must look properly at home. Books and magazines cover every surface - in every room....

This is just a quick glimpse of the work currently under way. I'll be coming back to them individually later.

Can I stop now? I haven't sat down all day!

For 'Pete's' Sake

2009-07-14T12:44:00.003+01:00

The nice thing with a Hasegawa kit is that you can relax and just stick it together, tootling along with the exploded diagrams and half your mind elsewhere. It makes adding a little extra detail a breeze - some extra plumbing or wiring, or some seat belts.

I just made a start on Hasegawa's new F1M-2 Seaplane, and it's lovely. It has beautifully engraved panel lines, perfectly fitting parts, and great convex panelling on the 'fabric' wings. If there's any disappointment, it is restricted to the photo-etched parts. These are referred to throughout the instructions, as a replacement of parts in the cockpit, but comprising the rigging. Unfortunately, they don't come with the kit. Why not? Why don't Hasegawa include them with the kit and boast this on the box, and thereby polishing their reputation? Why spoil the model for a h'aporth of rigging? Instead the metal parts 'may be purchased separately' at extra expense. This is ok for the interior parts, but the plane needs the rigging. Fortunately, I am stubborn and experienced, so I can make my own.

Here are some photos of most of the main parts made up into sub-assemblies. The centre float calls for 20gms of weight, which I have duly added.

The transparencies are very nice indeed, seen here masked and ready for paint, as are the other interior parts. More on this project soon.

Trains and boats and planes

2009-07-10T11:06:00.005+01:00

Just before Christmas last year, the last of our three children left home, and his room slowly emptied of twenty years of ~~detritus~~ belongings. As happens with empty rooms, some stuff has migrated into it for 'storage', but the boy seems happy in his new home, so I can finally have a room for my ..........trains.

Here's a picture of the room as empty as we've managed to make it so far. There is work to be done...

If you are reading this blog, it is because you are interested in aircraft modelling, so talk of trains may not do it for you. If so, here are a few photos of an on-going P-51 project. Of course, it is the Tamiya kit in 1/48 scale, being beautified by the Aires detail set.

The internal parts are already compete, so I'm modifying the plastic to accept the resin. Most of the surgery has been done, with only a little alteration to the upper wings and the removal of the cockpit coming later.

Finally, a word on the stop/start destroyer. The hull camouflage has now all been applied. Soon I'll move on to its superstructure. But what about all that overspray I hear you asking? I usually apply hard edged camo like this with the aid of Blu Tac, an effective medium for providing a nice edge without the paint build-up that masking tape gives. The resulting overspray is lost during the first weathering stage. I'll demonstrate this later.

Busy Busy Busy.....

2009-06-30T12:30:00.000+01:00

There's nothing more boring than a blog that never updates. It can be a while between bloggings, but I do have mitigating cirucmstances, and here they are.

I have mostly been busy on the following:

The Hasegawa Ki 61 in 1/32 scale. I've been busy adding the MDC and Eduard detail sets to this.

The Eduard Hellcat. This is a lovely kit which has a colour etch fret to go with it. What a pearl.

The FM-2 Wild, Wild Cat from Hobby Boss. Not like the Eduard hellcat, of course, but a nice build and you can really put your own stamp on it.

Other ongoing projects - the B-25 in 1/48. Yes, it's the well-travelled Monogram kit, but with Aeromaster decals. Always fun.

The Fletcher Class Destroyer in its masked-up guise.

Kits coming up for build - the AMT/Revell A20J, and the Tamiya P-51D with an Aires detail set. More on these later.

So, as you can see, not a moment to spare for idle blogging. Ooh, and I just bought the Apollo Command/Service Module - that's going to take me down a different sort of path. Interested? More later.