Welcome to the community

It’s done. Having reworked the Panzer IV side skirt fittings included in the kit, I then found an archive picture of an 17. SS- Pz.Gren.Div "Götz von Berlichingen Stug IV in Normandy wearing the same range of numbers as one of the sets of decals Airfix have provided for a totally different unit serving on the Eastern front. 


I’m not on this occasion - after my D-Day Tempest rebuff - going to look into nor comment any further on this other than to say “what a great result for my build !” 😁


I’m now thinking of what to build next. I’ve got quite a stash of D-Day related kits but while I have an Airfix DC3 it doesn’t seem long enough since building Italeri’s and the Sherman and P38 Lightning I’m keen to make a start on, are not Airfix. So, I may now have to go dark for a bit 🤷‍♂️  

A thing of beauty at a very good price when combining the Spring Offer and some accumulated Hobby Points.

I've recently returned from helping a family member move house and in the 'for disposal' pile what should I find but the little Airfix Starter Set of the Boulton Paul Defiant. This was one of the multitude of Airfix kits I gifted to all my family and friends one Christmas after settling on this as a theme for that year's festive gifts! I do love a theme. P.S. I also found the socks from the following year! 😂

So, my latest acquisition is now this Airfix Boulton Paul Defiant, the British aircraft with the most claimed kills per squadron at Dunkirk - 53 versus 28 for the Spitfire and 20 for the Hurricane. 



This was possibly the second model I built on my return to 'full time' scale modelling in June 2020 and which I still have gathering dust in my collection. Back then I used a brush and Humbrol enamel paints while sat at the dining room table. I'm just itching now to see what I can do with this lovely little kit from my purpose built loft workshop with acrylic pigments, clear canopy glue and an airbrush 😊

I visited the RAF Radar Defence Museum in Neatishead, Norfolk last week …


and couldn’t resist 😂

I've been going through my stash of late, sorting through the 120 or so kits I have and putting what I don't want on everyone's favourite online market place, with the intent of getting it back down to a more manageable 50-odd.  

Whilst I've been doing this I've noticed that basically everything I want to keep, with a few exceptions, is from WWII. Which I guess makes sense as it's been one of my preferred parts of history to read about, even though I don't generally build WWII aircraft, having mainly concentrated on jets.

I'm thinking that it might be nice to have an single era to concentrate on for a while. 

Just out of interest, what are your favourite eras - and what would you choose if you could only build from one?  

From e-bay, I was expecting these -


but these were included too



The Airfix 54mm pieces will be renovated or put into spares, The other two are about the same size, del Prado Italian Carabiniers 1812-15 and are metal - nice pieces if outside my normal sphere of interest,

The Boeing B-17 ‘Flying Fortress’ boasts a remarkable legacy, as both a strategic weapon and an enduring symbol of American air power during the Second World War. Designed as a large, multi-engine bomber with substantial defensive armament, the B-17 was introduced in 1938. First used in combat with the RAF in 1941, carrying out bombing raids in France, its poor performance suggested that improved defences and greater bombing accuracy were needed. Later variants like the B-17G were more effective and gradually became potent strategic weapons, capable of carrying out high-altitude, long-range attacks. Despite heavy defensive armament B-17s still suffered at the hands of enemy fighters.



In-box Review:



This is a re-issue of the 2016 original tooling, 2017 variant as A01018, 1/72 scale kit with new markings. Dimensions are 318 x 437mm. Parts count is 264 pieces. Skill Level is 3 and 3 Flying Hours are printed on the box.



 



Instructions are printed in a 24-page, A4 booklet with 148 assembly steps. Available here and here.



Moulded on eleven frames (ten grey and one clear), detail quality is crisp and nicely defined in the mouldings, 



A







 



B







 



C







 



D







 



E







 



F







 



G







 



H







 



J







 



K







 



L







 



Crew figures are not included, which is odd, as an undercarriage up – in flight configuration is an option. The rear gunner’s turret is the Cheyanne type. The standard turret is not an option. Waist gunner positions are staggered, which is incorrect for 42-31684 “Joker”.



The country of manufacture is India.



As usual, Airfix provides reference images for paint colours and decal placements.



The marking options are:

A) 774th Bomb Squadron, 463rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), Italy, July 1944.












B) No.214 (Federated Malay States) Squadron, No.100 (Bomber Support) Group, Royal Air Force Downham Market, Norfolk, England, 1944.











Decals are by Cartograf, with perfect registration, sharpness, density of colour, and unobtrusive carrier film.







Paints advised:



11 Metallic Silver



24 Matt Trainer Yellow



29 Matt Dark Earth



30 Matt Dark Green



33 Matt Black



53 Metallic Gunmetal



56 Metallic Aluminium



85 Satin Coal Black



110 Matt Natural Wood



125 Satin US Dark Grey



128 Satin US Compass Grey



155 Matt Olive Drab



226 Matt Interior Green



27001 Metalcote Matt Aluminium



These are not included in the kit.



RRP £41.99