Tour de Airfix

These look superb. I likewise have built most of Airfix’s offering, and in particular those involved in both the sinking of the Bismark and the 1982 Falklands conflict. I often feel I should revisit my collection as the colours I’ve used look far too dark and depressing, yours by contrast really pop. I love them 👍

Fuselage has joined together nicely. I’ve taken a little risk in not fitting the ball turret to aid painting, although I’ve had to install the bracket, so I hope this all lines up later. Next up are the wings, and what beautiful detail Airfix have crafted in to the wheel wells. I’ve a real issue with some kits which insist on providing five pieces where just one or two would have done but here, every piece adds value. I’m really loving this kit!

I love the idea you have of creating this scheme. Look forward to seeing how you get on 👍

I thought us mortels had to purchase the catalogue. You’re obviously special 😉. The other two I believe I received before my membership expired in January 😁

Great addition to the Airfix lineup and perfect for the 200th anniversary 👌 I do enjoy Michael Clegg’s Workbench blogs, do you two ever get to meet? If you get a chance, mention me to him - hoping he still remembers me 😉 Keep up the great work, Airfix is back and flying high 👍

@PaulDM I’ve recently found Dettol Liquid does an excellent job in stripping all forms of modelling paint from plastic. It also smells a lot healthier than other cleaners. 😁

Wow @Chris-548826 it looks like Airfix have messed up there as it’s obvious they’ve included a hole on the bottom but not side! I would go along with @Sailorman though and try painting the stripes. You’ll find the standard 6mm Tamiya masking tape is close to the perfect size for a 1:72 D-Day stripe. I also find applying such large decals more challenging than masking and painting, so give it a go 👍

The detailing of the interior is just superb and even if it’s very unlikely much of it will be visible once the fuselage is closed up, I’ve still very much enjoyed working on it, even down to adding wood grain to the desk and some of the flooring 😀

I’ve commented on a couple of threads today on one of my latest projects which involves me building a B-17 Flying Fortress and as I could not find any other postings on the subject (forgive me should this just be my inability to use the search function) I thought I would share my progress. This kit is Airfix’s 2016 moulding of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, kit no. A08017B re-released in 2021 with new decals and still available from the Airfix shop. On opening the box one is presented with an impressive array of detailed parts attached to 10 sprue with 22 pages of instructions and over 138 steps! Snipping off the first cockpit pieces and gluing them together you know you’re going to be in for a joyous build!

Oh I love what you’ve built there Andy … looks fantastic, and I agree it’s a superb kit that Airfix have created. I went for the UN Cyprus emergency colours having seen the same at the Bovington tank museum over so many years of visiting.

Fantastic Bud, I absolutely loved the kit. Here’s my effort for which I used the REME decals in memory of a family member who served with them.

Excellent 👌 I love the B-24 and found the old Airfix kit to be good enough example, especially considering how finicky us scale modellers have grown in recent times! 😂 Here’s my attempt from 2011. I’m not sure what happened to the white tail stripes, I can only guess the decals ended up in the floor 😉

Is anyone else inspired to build a B-17 Flying Fortress as seen in the recent Spielberg Hanks TV series “Masters of the Air”? I have to admit I’ve had an Eight Airforce project in plan since visiting the Thorpe Abbotts airfield museum in early 2023 and so I guess Masters of the Air has just accelerated me kicking this off. I’m using the Airfix B-17 G as my source kit. This is the one with the later front turret fitted. I was hoping the Airfix box would include undocumented parts for the earlier glass domed variant but it’s not one they obviously plan to issue, at least not without adding an additional sprue. Earlier releases included Thorpe Abbott decals, but not the latest, so I’ve gone a purchased a set from, you’ve guessed it, Hannants! Interestingly, I actually visited Hannants for the first time last year. Lowestoft is quite close to Thorpe Abbotts. As anticipated, it’s an amazing place! As for this earlier variant, the B-17F, I’ll probably now be on the lookout for this in the guise Revell’s Memphis Bell at one of the upcoming scale model shows to complete my collection.

Impressive building Ratch. By contrast, of the 200 Airfix kits I’ve built since Covid and retirement - yes I’m now able to devote almost full time to scale modelling - this would rank in my top 10 of worst kits, bringing Airfix’s contingent up to 3 of these. I’ve found the wing to fuselage fit to be quite poor, and it’s subjective as to whether one wants to blame the modeller or kit here, as the fit is still off 😂 The canopy arrangement, in my view, is an abomination. Too many close fitting sprue ends, and an unnecessary multi part affair reminding me of the old Airfix Storch kit! (Actually, I’d forgotten the Storch until now … so this actually makes the Me410 the 4th Airfix kit in my infamous top 10). 🤦‍♂️ I think it may just be a case of me not liking over engineered kits. MiniArt have a passion for using 4 parts where just one would have done and I can’t help feel that’s what’s going on here. I guess you can’t please everyone and for just 4 of 200 to have displeased this scale modeller isn’t that bad 😉

I know it’s a bit of theme at the moment, for obvious reasons, but I’ve had my purchase of a B-17 Flying Fortress in plan since visiting Thorpe Abbotts early last year … honest 😊 I’ve just constructed the interior and bomb bay, and so far the quality of this kit is fantastic. I can’t now wait for the release of the B-24 Liberator to complete my little Eighth Airforce Project!

Found some Prototype decals for mine .. what a lovely aircraft! I've got the last Concorde to build next :)

Something I've used recently are Photo Tiles. They are available via an App on your phone. Just provide the photo for the base, be it a runway, aircraft carrier or even an image as I have created below.