Pretty Mediocre Modeller

Yes to all those, Valiant just re-released no need for a new tool there.

All 1/72 Avro Manchester Avro Lincoln Junkers JU 88A-1

Finally finished. Had no problems adding the final bits and pieces. All painting was by hand, including frame lines, using mostly Humbrol Acrylics. /media/tinymce_upload/b201274a269f90caebddb9ae840a7aa5.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/caa9fb98cfa08a6293282222f51119d4.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/ed7ebbfb97bec2df207641e5112f3f60.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/f32f7392f3c733838a9c7f32bcbf1c91.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/5346867c4f7a951fb4e3aa7c20ce44d4.jpg In conclusion a really enjoyable build, and as long as you stick to the instructions and dry fit a few times you should have no problem with the construction. I needed very little filler, except for one of the under wing/ fuselage joins, which was probably my fault anyway. I now have an unusual addition to my Bomber Command collection, I need an Avro Manchester now, how about it Airfix? I also have a lot of spare parts, including a complete ball turret, seven nice 50 cal MG's and tyres, which are all set to glam up an old Hasegawa B-17F I have in the loft. Next up though will be my two Phantom FG 1's!

The decals have now been applied. I had no issues what so ever they all went on without problem. I did however not put on all the tiny stencils as they are hardly visible. /media/tinymce_upload/2061e391e27943fc39700510c49be407.jpg Just the small bits and pieces and a few transparencies to put on now and some weathering to finish off. /media/tinymce_upload/990156a9fce17033211f863cc6f12de7.jpg Nose art for 'Take it Easy' /media/tinymce_upload/50441922c367ddee2ed480361dc613c1.jpg Code placement on the port side. The centre of the 'B' and 'U' contained no carrier film which was good for silvering, but did mean that great care was need to prevent the letters deforming. /media/tinymce_upload/6b745ea673c8ba2a09fa8f3c91f31791.jpg Starboard side codes. Those in the know will see that I have cut them up and placed the squadron code letters together giving me 'E-BU' instead of the suggested 'B-UE'. If that's right or not I don't know.

Thanks Dominic, I did read that thread about the code placements and at the moment am in two minds about how to place the letters. If you do have any extra info it would be received with thanks. Cheers Jason

A quick update, finished the basic colour scheme and now ready to start adding decals after a couple of coats of Clear varnish. /media/tinymce_upload/cfe4d6a6da17bc27e3c5831ccc6fbdbe.jpg You may note the broken off tail wheel which needs fixing. Colours are Hu 33 matt black underside, Hu 29 dark earth and Mr Colour dark green topside, all hand painted. Most of the time was taken up with masking. Here is the painting guide and decals to start going on tomorrow. /media/tinymce_upload/ff24b04f75c4e3a87396a87f207672a1.jpg All the bits and pieces not used in this build, including seven nicely detailed 50 cal machine guns, diamond tread tyres, complete ball and chin turrets, US bomb load, cockpit canopy and retracted and extended H2S radar dome that fits into the ball turret opening. /media/tinymce_upload/cbb8eaa525d2b12e8b1241ac4ac6e8c7.jpg On the final straight now and will have more pictures when the decals are on.

Been slowly working on my fortress, attaching the tail turret and cheek panels, as well as finishing off the seems and attaching the undercarriage and bomb bay doors, plus other small bits and pieces and it is now ready for some paint. /media/tinymce_upload/91d2eee8316856421fab5f4e67fd14f0.jpg fixing the cowlings in place was fairly easy, and they came with a choice of open or closed cowl flaps, so I went with open on the inner engines and closed on the outer for a bit of variety. the props are mounted to the reduction gear boxes and can be push fitted to the engines at a later date. /media/tinymce_upload/f8ab40eb75a5a167204c449c09b7658d.jpg The cheek panel on the starboard side. This is made of clear plastic, which saves any tricky clean up or fitting of individual transparencies. There is structural detail moulded onto the inside of the part, which was painted aluminium to match the rest of the interior walls. /media/tinymce_upload/da47729fcb43f991d7d5e117a2acb3c7.jpg The tail turret. This is again made up of clear parts, three in this case. I first painted the parts aluminium then the camouflage colour of black. The top and bottom join was not great and some filler was needed. Inside, as well as the gun breaches, is a part that consists of two ammo boxes, ammo chutes and a bicycle type seat for the gunner. I painted and drybrushed this all carefully, but needless to say none of it can be seen once everything is closed up. /media/tinymce_upload/b3b9f4a4d6e405a0e872efb61c609cbe.jpg The mid section. This model of fortress did not have windows for the waist gunners for some reason, unusual as the B-17G on which it was based did? Must have been very drafty. There are two strange protrusions either side of each window though, maybe something to do with balancing the guns? underneath is a fairing which I think is a 'Window' (chaff) chute, there is another which lines up on the other side. The door is another clear part, which can be left open. /media/tinymce_upload/c98a0880a7719f10d1148806a663f7f9.jpg The undercarriage and bomb doors in place. No problems here, just a little care and time needed to line everything up. The bomb doors come as one piece and must be cut in two. The wheels were moulded weighted with separate hubs to ease painting. That's it for now, I will post again when the basic paint scheme of black, green and dark earth is applied. Thanks for looking Jason

I would still love to see the following all 1/72; Avro Manchester Avro Lincoln Avro Vulcan (New Tool) Junkers Ju 88A-1/5 Buccaneer S2 (new tool)

Work has slowly been progressing on my Fortress, and I now have the wings and tail feathers on, and the seems dealt with. The engines have also been fitted. /media/tinymce_upload/7029c63b8fe12232afcc00ac90a22823.jpg The fuselage went together well, with only a few hairline gaps on the underside to fill. The biggest problem was the ball turret blanking plate which needed two rounds of filler to get right. I think where I went wrong with this was gluing to one side and letting it set, then joining the halves, resulting with a miss match on the other side. If I was to do this kit again I would glue the blank to one side just before joining the halves, then I would have some more 'wiggle time' to get things right before the cement sets. The plate can be pushed down with a paint brush handle or similar from above, through the still open radio compartment. Before joining the wing halves the multi part and highly detailed undercarriage bays need assembly. If you are careful and follow the sequence this is not a problem. However I would suggest not painting it all aluminium until after it is all together, but before the wings are joined. The wings joined fine, trapping the separate aileron, which can be positioned slightly offset to add a little life. Remember with ailerons it's one up the other down, but with elevators both up or both down. With the help of the wing spars, one wing joined perfectly, but the other left a gap on the underside. This was probably down to me not fixing the halves together perfectly square, and a smear of filler, wiped away with a cotton bud dealt with this. /media/tinymce_upload/1a873741a02c0d4d794e859f81948b10.jpg Here the engine fitment and open nose area can be seen. The engines were fairly easy to assemble, and included parts for the rear for the exhaust manifold and fuel supply to each cylinder. Really painting this detail and the rear of the engine is a waste of time as none of it can be seen once the cowlings are on, even if the open cooling gills are used, as none of it can be seen. /media/tinymce_upload/de77aa42a7ea9f0c05afe9d1a17a4342.jpg Starting to look like a B-17 now. Since this photo was taken the cowlings have gone on, and Airfix enquiries have sent me my missing instrument panel. Unfortunately I had to crack open the nose joints to fit this, but it all came out well in the end. That's it for now, another update next week hopefully Jason

If you're interested Heather, Zvezda do a fairly decent Ju-88A-5, although an Airfix re-tool would be better of course. By the way, the A-5 airframe was almost identical to the A-1, but with the A-4 extended wingtips. Cheers Jason

What's a BAE cannbre? That's a new one on me.

Two 1/72 Airfix Phantom FG1's /media/tinymce_upload/022be572672915513917222e9b815a53.jpg

I've now completed the interior and got the fuselage halves together. /media/tinymce_upload/4eebaa27aa4e1adeea943860e796cc76.jpg All the separate sub-assemblies went together well, and I followed Airfix's painting guide, which was quite detailed, made a change from painting the inside of a WWII allied aircraft interior green and black! All clicked into the starboard fuselage half without problem. /media/tinymce_upload/e547b5a91c1146515377cee79df25645.jpg The fuselage halves went together cementing a section at a time. The edges lined up well with only hairline gaps to fill. The separate rudder is trapped and if wanted can be left free to move. I glued mine at a slight angle. /media/tinymce_upload/d82abd12717b3822510cdc195f63f3ea.jpg The only area that didn't line up so well was the ball turret plug, that will need some filling. however not to much as it needs to be seen as a cover and not an integral part of the machine. That's where I am at the moment, stage 42 of 127. More to come as progress is made.

Very nice build Heather. How do you achieve your paint chipping effect, it's very realistic? Thanks Jason

Hi All, Hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year, and didn't overindulge to much over the festivities. One of my prezzies this year was the recent release of the new tool Boeing B-17G as the RAF Bomber Command Fortress III Electronic Countermeasures aircraft. /media/tinymce_upload/c0d131b9b9ae3aeccc17ba329c1661c0.jpgThe kit contains all the parts from the B-17 boxing, plus one extra sprue with specific parts for the RAF aircraft. This means you have plenty for the spares box, including chin and ball turrets, 7 well moulded 50 cal MGs and 6 US 500 lb bombs. /media/tinymce_upload/ac45b53c98bfa5c2cae2afd9942fc080.jpg The extra Sprue, lettered L which includes H2S radar scanner, ABC (Air Borne Cigar) aerial mast, blanking plate for the ball turret opening, flame dampers for the exhausts and various small aerials and vents such as the 'Window' shoots. Finally you get two new main tyres with straight tread pattern to replace the diamond patterned originals. By the way the wheels are separate to the tyres which will aid painting around the rim. /media/tinymce_upload/25a4a49a07ede6241adaec868ccd2215.jpg The instructions, stencil and painting guides and decals, which give markings for two squadrons (take a look at the 'fortress markings' thread for more info on these). The instructions are in 127 steps, the first 40 deal with internal detail! I'm on step 34 at the moment. /media/tinymce_upload/a20aabfd0b0cdb59b275b11aca4b9761.jpg This is me completed up to step 26, with the flight deck and bomb bay completed, and radio compartment bulkhead started. There is plenty of internal detail in this kit, not all of it can be seen, but I think it's all the average modeller could want. Those more advanced can always get the Eduard photoetched and resin sets. /media/tinymce_upload/a4f42d10d3d77553518834ffaed7de83.jpg Unfortunately my kit was missing the instrument panel, but I have ordered this from the spares department and am awaiting it in the post. /media/tinymce_upload/a245a7002b759ee67c1626f9bfd9ec49.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/b5bb9155d68b6e0b7094094a59d16c21.jpg View of the completed bomb bay and detail on inner bomb bay doors. although US style bombs are included these would not be fitted to an RAF aircraft, and are not shown on the instructions. I suppose you could fit British bombs from the support set, though I'm not that sure a countermeasures aircraft would carry them? /media/tinymce_upload/32a334efb73a7920a72f5c0aa14cf8d3.jpg The internal detail painted aluminium. All very nice and I have found that everything has just clicked into place so far. Well that's it so far, I'll post again when I'm ready to join the fuselage. Thanks for looking Jason

Hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas day. Santa's only gone and brought me the 1/72 Boeing Fortress III. Look out for a build thread coming soon (I hope!). Now, how should I do those codes?

Not a bad job on a kit that is in serious need of a new tool.

Just got a Revell 1/72 MiG-21F-13 and a decal sheet for the North Vietnam Airforce to go with it.

Be careful with those decals Timmas, I've made a few Mistercraft kits and the decals have been very fragile.

Pre-ordered 2 Phantom FG1's 😀

Just picked up a 'Mister Craft' 1/72 Bell AH-1G Cobra helicopter gunship. Turned out to be the old Matchbox kit with the panel lines improved, but lots of flash. Still can't complain for £3.49! Just what I needed for my Vietnam collection.

Just got my latest acquisition in the post today. An Airfix 1/72 Whitley V, which I obtained with the Flying Hours I've been collecting for a couple of years 😀.Watch this space for a build in the not to distant future I hope.

Yes, 1/72 is the true 'Gentlemans'' scale! It didn't cost me to much as they were all either gifts (victor for Xmas), bought with Xmas/Birthday money (UH-60 and A-7), or partly paid for with the gift voucher I received when renewing my club membership (Ju-87, Martlet and JP).

My latest aquisistions since December include; Airfix Victor B2 1/72 (Built) Airfix Martlet IV 1/72 Airfix Jet Provost T3 1/72 (Built) Airfix Ju-87B-1 1/72 (Building now) Italeri UH-60 1/72 HobbyBoss A-7E Corsair II 1/72 (Built) Italeri RB-66B Destroyer 1/72 (Built) Tamiya (Italeri) F-100D Super Sabre 1/72

I built this one many years ago, with a few minor modifications, nothing to taxing though. /media/tinymce_upload/673974aa217d2032da5175c509f5d8c5.jpg The kit is very old, being early 60's or late 50's, but not to bad. There is a little detail in the cockpit, including a floor, couple of genetic seats and control columns, and lower down a nav table and seated navigator. /media/tinymce_upload/49c7d45a05e18475d7a3409228df34b4.jpg The undercarriage is very complicated, but that's understandable if you know the Stirling. The engines and props are okay, but all the transparencies are worn and frame lines are almost nonexistent. I didn't paint mine but used coloured strips of decal. /media/tinymce_upload/a3311eb9c88d870f4db3fae07d085cde.jpg The machine guns are held in place by the gunner figures, but I didn't like that, so built some rudimentary gun mounts inside the turrets with plastic card and rod. Surface detail is lines very fine rivets, which is better than the rivet detail on some of their other kits of around the same time. Fit was adequate, but the fuselage halves were very warped. The control surfaces are separate parts, and are designed to be movable. Unfortunately they are rather toy like, with grossly over scale hinges. I left these as is, but did glue the surfaces in place, and added so actuators on the ailerons. /media/tinymce_upload/5212890d19420db367f51656ed03c357.jpg The kit comes with a full bomb load and optional open closed doors, including for the wing cells. The last modifications included boxing in the tail wheel bay with plastic card and creating the towel rail aerial with rod. I weathered by dry brushing with light grey, but overdid it somewhat! The model also comes with a pretty decent bomb tractor and four bomb trolleys, for a ready made diorama, it even has a driver, unlike the new support set. Options include the B.I and B.III (different top turret and engine scoops) and two bomber command markings, both fairly similar, apart from code colours and roundels being type A1 or C1. You can build an okay replica from this kit with a lot of work, but it's now been surpassed by the much newer Italeri kit.