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Slowly.
Got a Zero I finished a couple of months back that I haven’t taken pics of yet and a F4 Corsair that’s nearly done, but work has slowed to a crawl as I’m trying to do stuff one handed since I’ve bust my collarbone and hunching over the bench is not good.
I'm most productive when I'm injured, but I specialise in busted knees and hernias.
Now that the knee and hernia are fixed I've been doing all of the jobs that I dodged last year.
I'm considering breaking a toe around the second week of November to get a bit of "me time".
I've topped up the stash. I've a Eduard F190A8, the Airfix Chipmunk in 1/48 - Has every ex-air cadet built one do we think? and a couple of KP spittys/seafires to build (PR version and a vokes equippped seafire 1b)
I've a couple of those Meng/Zoukei- Muri F4's in various scales in a basket that I'm umming and ahhing about. They look amazing kits and really solid base for a great custom build, but if I cock it up...Lots of money.
I've a no-build policy from May through September, so unless it really does rain continually (as July as done so far) than it's research and lists currently
Finally summoned up the courage to breach the box and make slow progress on the Revell Lancaster I bought in lockdown 1.
The instructions are horrible but so far it's going together ok but am still on fuselage internals and wing sub assemblies (wheel carriers, engines etc).
What I do find a bit strange is you get to a choice or "?" instruction but it gives you no hint why you would choose engine exhausts 57 Vs 59. I usually choose whichever looks less likely to break/easier to paint but I'm not sure that's the proper method.
but it gives you no hint why you would choose engine exhausts 57 Vs 59.
[nerd] Because different version of the Lancaster had slightly different engines, which in turn had different shaped and numbers of exhaust stacks[/nerd]
You'd be unsurprised to learn that there are sections of the modelling community that will literally lose their minds over this sort of shit. One commenter on a well know British based modelling forum declared recently that a new mould from a manufacturer was "a worthless waste of my time" becasue on measuring it he found that it's wingspan was about 50mm (in full scale) to short. There's countless others who will file away and re-scribe panel lines becasue of the wrong shape or position.
Nick has already replied, but this is what I had written and not go round to posting...
I’ve done that kit. Probably subtle differences between the options that it builds. The exhausts for example could be exposed or be the covered type. If it is the 1/72 it is also the base for the Dambuster, which has different parts again.
From memory there are different options for the canopy and side windows too
Revell instructions are crap. I’d have a look at the painting diagram for the one that you are building and see which exhausts it has.
In my opinion life is too short. If it looks right and you are happy with it then you've won!
I’m building an Italeri Rafale M, and after looking at a lot of reference photos have come to the conclusion that it is a work of fiction.
The model appears to be the prototype with “M” version bits thrown at it. Panel lines are random and there are no location holes or marks for the “M” pylons, sensors or refuelling probe.
Whoever laid out the instruction did it without seeing the kit, and whoever did the decal placements did it without seeing the guy who did the instructions… or the kit.
Whatever. A cheap kit that looks like a Rafale and should turn out OK. A rivet counter would bin it but I’m quite pleased so far and it will go with my other jets to gather dust on a high up shelf that doesn’t bother the missus.
Yeah, I see your issue.
Italeri...right there. 🤣
To be fair to them, there's some kits in their range that are really decent, but they have this bizarre habit of re-boxing some old shite, and slapping it in a box with nice artwork and a set of decals. You really do have to check them on Scale-mates to check the provenance!
I know, but I wanted a Rafale and the price was right. Not complaining, but others would have binned this or not bought it in the first place.
I'm quite a fan of Italeri, but this has been the worst so far.
Kit went together very well BTW with virtually no need for filling or other such butchery.
Doing an Italeri CH53 next. What could possibly go worng!
Helicopters give me the fear.
a) I fancy the challenge
b) It looks cool
c) It was cheap
d) I have no idea where it will go once finished.
Linky. I'm doing the Japanese scheme.
Well the revival of this thread has given me a kick up the arse. Finsished teh Corsair last night, pics of that and the Zero this AM. Pissing it down out, so the light is a bit rubbish. The F4 is a lot bluer than the pics suggest.
Both Tamiya kits. Both shake'n'bake out the box. Bought a silver pencil to do some wear and tear on the Corsair, kinda wish I'd done the same on the Zero - it looks a bit museumy/toylike
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just started a 1/48th F6F-5 late production from Eduard ... normally a motorcyle modeller so this is a bit of a departure 🙂
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...and the pair together. Technically battlefield contemporaries (not these exact airframes). The Corsair is a monster compared to the Zero.
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Stunning, as ever.
I haven’t done anything for ages, but I have a Zvezda 1/35 modern Russian anti-aircraft truck in progress. Cab & engine are built, as is the ladder frame, but that is now in need of a coat of paint before I can make any further progress
I also have a 1/48 Hasegawa (?) F/A18E Hornet that I’ve started, got as far as building the cockpit tub
Lovely kits @JonEdwards. They look v nice. I did that Tamiya Corsair last year (in the triple scheme of 2 blues and white.) It's become a test bed since for weathering, so not as good as yous. It's a nice kit to put together, and you're right, next to other WW2 fighters, the early Bf109E for example, it's bloody massive!
Still got a stash of WW1 planes in various states of completion under the desk.
@JonEdwards - love the Corsair, in particular the weathering and paint wear around the panels, nicely done!
I’ve been given something that might be appreciated on here. My mate is a very keen modeller, mostly tanks, and fantasy rôle playing figures and machines, and he’s built a model of one of my favourite tanks for my birthday. It’s based around a distorted, cartoon kit of a Sherman Firefly, but it’s actually modelled on a genuine tank. This is the original kit:
The one he’s built is based on Tank 3, ‘C’ Squadron, 1St Coldstream Guards, and this is it:
Mods include cutting the muzzle brake off, extending the barrel from the point where the white ring beginning the camo starts using brass tube, and re-attaching the muzzle brake, building up the extra balance weight on the rear of the turret and putting in lead weight, and scratch-building the rocket rails and mounts from brass - the rockets are RP-3 60lb rockets from a Typhoon. There’s also lead weight in the bottom of the hull, to keep it balanced.
And yes, the rockets were fitted to tanks, and other armoured vehicles, some carrying four on each side with vertically stacked rails. They were used when approaching wooded or forested terrain where enemy troops could be dug in for ambush, so they’d fire the rockets into the tree-tops, bringing them down on any possible hostiles, and causing high-velocity splinters and shrapnel, very destructive to anyone dug into trenches and unarmoured. The wavy white line under the end of the barrel was designed to disguise the fact it was fitted with a 3in/76.2mm 17-pounder anti-tank gun, using countershade camo to look like the standard 75mm gun from a distance. It was the only British tank that could reliably take out Tiger and Panther tanks at the time.
I’m chuffed to bits with it, I could probably build up and paint the basic kit, and maybe modify the gun, but there’s no way I could build the rocket racks! He’s a goldsmith, he’s got l33t sk1lz; he’s even scratch-built some parts out of scrap silver, because it was cheaper than using copper.
Apparently they were called Firefly Tulips. Wonder why? 🤔
Eggtank! Love it.
I know, there’s a whole range of them, including the Tiger. When I saw a couple that Nick had built, including a Firefly, I said ‘now you know what I want for my birthday’, but I wasn’t expecting the Tulip, which is the rocket armed version - I didn’t even know they existed.
They look so damned cute, and they aren’t very big; mine is 8cm tall, and 17cm long, with the extended barrel and the larger box on the back of the turret. Great things to play around with if there isn’t much display space available.
You can find them on eBay:
Glad to see this thread still active.
What is the best way to sell ones stash? Worth selling individual kits or as a job lot?
4 month old baby = no free time and they are taking up space.
Tend to avoid eBay if I can help it.
Thanks
There's classifieds on Britmodeller, but you need to have posted a certain number of times before you have access .
Alternatively stick them in the loft for a decade then get back into it.
https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/airfix-model-kit-starter-set/p309947
Starter kits in lidl since last Thursday.
The starter set tanks are very basic, all the wheels and tracks are made as one part for example.
Airfix 1/72 Zero and Typhoon and the vintage classic Bond Bug.
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Popped into the Manx Aviation Museum yesterday. It has a model shop doing stuff at slightly less than RRP! Result!
Does anyone happen to have a good on line resources for Iawata airbrush parts?
I could do with a new needle for my Eclipse, but finding one (I normally go straight to Amazon, sorry) is proving harder than I expected.
Finally finished it!
Italeri Rafale M.
Not a great kit to be honest, but I'm happy with the outcome.
Starting a Hobby 2000 Saab Draken today as I seem to be on a roll.
Kit was selected purely on the grounds that it was the top box in the pile.
I've heard the Italeri Ralph isn't the best kit that ever there was, looks good. I did the old Italeri Jaguar...I mean it's recognisably Jag shaped...but that's all the nice things I'm going to say about it.
Because I was a good boy and did my Jag, I've now got a Eduard Fw190A-8. It looks lovely by comparison.
Tamiya 1/35 scale Chieftain Mk5. I'm not sure the Berlin scheme is appropriate for this particular tank but i fancied a challenge which it certainly was!
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I used to love making models as a kid and wouldn't mind doing some again but .... The thing that puts me off is the fact they'll look like they've been painted by a 3 year old.
@daviek Who cares? Get yourself down to Aldi and pick one up for a fiver.
@daviek Who cares? Get yourself down to Aldi and pick one up for a fiver.
This (as a returning and not massively skilled modeller).
Best things I can say as a returnee brush painter of modest ability (I may be overstating that) after (or before) you've done a starter kit or two.
- Get a couple of rolls of tamiya or revell masking tape it does help along with some household stuff for initial undercoat masking
- Buy a decent glue not the goop in the starter kits
- A small can of spray acrylic in some kind of light/medium grey makes an excellent beginner undercoat/basecoat for lots of basic colour schemes
- A sharp knife and some scraps of fine wet and dry will get rid of rough edges
Okay that made it £20-£30 but it will help you get to a quite nice basic kit that you could stand on a shelf and encourage trying another
If you are using the starter kit glue put a blob on a bit of board and apply it with a cocktail stick.
Draken.
Progress.
Blimey Harry, you're not hanging about! you better do the famous 4 colour scheme...
No chance!
@Rockhopper That Berlin Brigade scheme looks superb! If I was brave enough I'd do it on my RC Challenger 2.
I've been cracking on with a couple of cheap Airfix starter sets - 1:76 Cromwell and a 1:72 Spitfire. Really enjoyable way to unwind as the nights draw in.
Although I've got loads of Tamiya and Revell acrylics - I'm actually using the starter paints supplied which aren't too bad once thinned. Good enough for me anyway.