T2B

@ Heather You also mentioned you are waiting for a new tool Fairey Battle as the old Airfix kit has it's issues. If your interested I did a recent built post of the Battle as my first effort at spraying and I tackled 1 or 2 of the issues, in particular I lengthened the nose as the kit 1 is too short due to Airfix being given the wrong plans. I used a Hornby release of the kit and with some TLC can be made into a decent kit?

I don't know how you manage doing so many builds at once. I've just fallen into the trap of having 3 projects at once and I'm struggling. But I will follow your build closely as I also built this kit many years ago and love the Hampden. I also have a couple of Hampdens in my stash and was intending to get 1 onto the model table soon Although a new tool would be most welcome I'll be interested to see what extra detailing you do, to see if I could manage something similar on mine?

Would seem you have the 2015 release (for the 75th B o B Anniversary) serial A50173 which has the new tool kits. I was initially thinking of the 2010 release A50022 which has old tool aircraft, probably Airfix/Hornby boxing old stock kits together as a Gift Set to get them shifted.

@ Heather Is that the old tool He111 H.20 that Hornby put in the BoB set for the 70th Anniversary with the old tool fighters? I have that 1 deep in my stash in a Type 6 box in the original light blue sprue plastic. A nice kit but the new tool is lovely, I managed to get the He111 P.6 with some Flying Hours a few weeks ago, must have been 1 of the last 1s cos it's no longer shown in the on-line shop? I must get round to doing it soon as I do have a few B o B era aircraft in my stash. But it won't be as comprehensive as your collection!

My Latest model purchases are:- Airfix Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero, purchased on auction site /media/tinymce_upload/249e0cf2cc0e4b910faaa6e70f5f0564.JPG Vallejo Model Air IJA paint set for the Zero purchase and other planned Japanese aircraft. /media/tinymce_upload/76ad875793c3f80bd698b89a0c1260cd.JPG Airfix Supermarine Spitfire PR.XIX, purchased from LMS (Local Model Shop) /media/tinymce_upload/ebe263395b4873abd94d3558ead4943c.JPG Airfix Avro Shackleton AEW.2, purchased direct from Airfix on Pre-Order which was delivered on Monday. /media/tinymce_upload/9516a1b2f2a3ec968b67a590262329dd.JPG I have also added a tweezer set, scissors and a 'folding block/tool' for etched brass parts to my tool box.

A lovely kit and a good build description as always Heather. Not sure I could manage 3 builds simultaneously, would probably end up with 3 UFP's (unfinished projects)! I have this kit in my stash and have always had an interest in the Battle of Britain era, but think you have got me hooked again so I'll have to start doing a few more kits on that theme. Sadly I'm already committed to the 1941 'all black' scheme on my Whitley.

Hi all, Just an update on my Shackleton since I last posted. I have had my diorama base framed so it looks 'more professional' and have added an RAF Police Land Rover with 2 RAF Police figures to the scene to add more life. I did a separate short post on the Landie earlier this week when I'd finished it. My Shackleton will be on display at TELFORD this weekend and will be on the Coastal Command SIG table run by Guisborough IPMS if anyone is there and would like a closer look as I'm not sure my photo's are that good. Unfortunately I'll not be there so I have lent it out (fingers/toes everything is crossed). Now for a couple of additional photo's in case like me you can't get to Telford for the show! /media/tinymce_upload/0780fed5e8823e3f09f43b11e0090081.JPG /media/tinymce_upload/648949744aca5a34cc74a74d9e450b2c.JPG /media/tinymce_upload/bedf4fe338e6deb13fe009bef7004fae.JPG /media/tinymce_upload/ff6766fb1eb034fc03d10a0268cbe337.JPG /media/tinymce_upload/39b50b5027ee23fe293aab845cbd0183.JPG I'll have to try and remember to take my photo's at a slightly greater distance as for some reason I keep getting the error message says my photo is too large so when I edit and crop the photo I loose some of the detail around the sides. Oh well I hope you can still see enough and like my additions ............

The Lightning is a Series 3 kit so a Medium Starter Set probably RRP at about £15 but as PB said the paint brushes were missing so would be sold discounted as damaged stock

WoW that is a steal! And they are good kits too. I did the F.6 first, then the F.2A (basically the same kits). Finally I did another F.2A but converted it to an F.1A. I think another Lightning will be on the cards soon, possibly a F.3 conversion useless Airfix release 1 for me?? Not much in the way of model purchases for me the past couple of weeks but I did snap up a Revell 1:72nd NATO Ground Equipment Set that came up on a famous auction site at rather a reasonable price as they are as rare as hens teeth. If Airfix did this kit I wouldnt need to buy Revell lol

Forgot to mention I also acquired a 5 aircraft stand with my recent purchases to display my collection of Airfix new tool Spits of various Mks when they are all completed!

Took a little time off (from buying but not making lol) but my latest purchases are:- JB Models Landrover hardtop with trailer. 2 x Kingfisher Miniature 1:72nd RAF Vehicle decal sets. 2 x Airfix Emergency Vehicle set decals (decals only). 2 x Airfix Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1 decal sets (decals only) purchased direct from Airfix Spares department. Swann & Morton craft blade set HSS Twist Micro Drill Set with Pin Vices. Eduard 1:72nd Luftwaffe Seatbelt set. Set of aftermarket 1:72nd tail Swastika decal. Superglue. Not much in the way of models but lastly my Airfix 1:72nd Heinkel He111 P.6 has just arrived courtesy of my remaining horde of Flying Hours Tokens.

That's a daring purchase. I built the Halifax over 12 years ago and was in need of retooling then as it's a very old kit dating back to the 1960s. Probably even more so now. It included a flight engineer standing on the flight desk next to the pilot as there was no 2nd pilot position, which was a nice idea but the crew moulds were awful by today's standards. Hope you post some photos when you build it?

Wow that lot should keep you going for a while. And I thought on occasions I bought a lot. It's quite a variety of model manufactures and scales too.

Acquired the Re-supply set on a certain auction site, for a 3rd of RRP Ha that could have been the 1 that I was watching. But with so many other kits on my list decided not to dip my toe with a bid when it started going up! But well done on grabbing a bargain, it's 1 of the plus's of a certain auction site!!

Join the club! I pre-ordered 2 of the same kits last November on the day the Phantom was released to the public! Only about another 2 months to wait - can't wait ☺!!

WoW thats a lovely build and I think the extra cockpit detail works really well. I haven't grown up yet and discovered 1:48th scale kits but maybe 1 day soon. But you have made an excellent job of the Gnat and I look forward to seeing more of your builds!

My lastest acquisitions over the past month are:- 2 x sets of Bachmann N Gauge Figures 2 x Oxford N Gauge Die Cast Cars - these are for a planned future 1:144th scale project 1 x Airfix 1815 French Grenadier of the Imperial Guard 54mm Figure 1 x Airfix 1815 French Line Infantryman 54mm Figure - these are for a IPMS Model Club Show Build 1 x ACE 1:72nd Citroen Avant (WW2 era) with 3/4 acquired Caesar Resistance Fighters 1 x Airfix 1:72nd EE Canberra PR.9 2 x Airfix 1:72nd Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1a 1 x Eduard Zoom AW Whitley Mk.V detail Set for Airfix kit 1 x Eduard AW Whitley Mk.V Mask Set for Airfix kit and finally ...... 2 x Airfix 1:72nd Messerschmitt Me262A-1A (Pre-Order I was expecting in July) I don't know when I will get them done but they are all intended to be build and not add to my 'stash' of loft insulation!!

I'm no expert but as I said in my post when I was doing my build I was reading a book on the development of the Vulcan which is how I decided to do all my modifications. And it stated the Blue Steel Vulcans weren't authorised for in-flight refuelling due to the risks involved. But your build looks good so far and I'll look forward to seeing you post the finished build. But if you decided to redo your wing fit, try masking a lot of the surrounding area to reduce the amount of remedial work you'll have to do on your panel lines Nigel

@Timmas Thanks, I'm glad you liked my display. And yes it includes the Revell Victor K.2 Tanker in company with an Airfix Buccaneer. I also have the new tool Airfix Victor in my stash which I'll do as the Blue Steel option but I'm waiting for Airfix to release a K.2 Tanker so I can replace the Revell version. Of course it goes without saying that the Vulcan is probably my favourite so I'm waiting for Airfix to do a new tool of the graceful big delta and will certainly buy at least a couple when it's released. Cheers Nigel

@ JS Thanks John. Yes having started on my Battle I am enjoying it and can see how the airbrush will hopefully take my results, with some practice, to the next level. But I will be keeping my brushes and even my huge stock of Humbrol Enamels for my detailed work like painting pilots etc for a while yet. This masking is an art in itself that I haven't done before, such as canopies and disruptive pattern camouflage. But again thanks for your support and I will post my Battle in a few days once I get it finished Nigel

Oh and it's not a purchase but my 1:72nd scale Airfix AW Whitley arrived a couple of days ago courtesy of the Airfix Flying Hours Tokens 😀 It will be done soon after I've practised using my airbrush on some 'lesser' models from my stash!

Not much in the way of models bought this month as I have decided to move out of the dark ages and leave my Humbrol Enamels and brushes to 1 side except for detail work. Yes it's time to try airbrushing hence the following buys:- Compressor and Airbrush 4 sets of Vallejo Model Air paints Vallejo Primer, Thinner, Vanishes and Airbrush Cleaner Masking Tapes of Various sizes. Was an expensive month! And I have delved deep into my stash and found an old Airfix Fairey Battle to practice on before starting a proper new tool kit!!

Err meant wouldn't be too difficult!

No but I don't think the Lancaster was designed with the Grand Slam, Tallboy or even the Cookie in mind as part of the specifications, the Lancaster being a development of the earlier and doomed Manchester with 4 good engines rather than 2 rubbish 1s! The larger bombs were later developments. Not even sure the Halifax was even capable of taking the 4000lb Cookie bomb? So the 'what if' still seems valid, and therefore the later development of the large bunker busting bombs wouldn't have happened either?? But slightly off topic that would be another possible new tool, the Manchester!! And would be too difficult considering the new tool Lancaster is already available. But I'd rather have a new Hampden first!

Its a shame the specifications for the Stirling were restricted due to the hanger dimensions or the RAF could have had a proper Heavy Bomber long before the Halifax and Lancaster appeared. But if the Stirling had been as good as it could have been, would the Halifax and Lancaster ever have appeared. Another 'What if' !! But yes it would be nice if the Stirling was re-tooled upto Airfix's current high standards. But with the Wellington coming next year I think it will be another year or two before another RAF WW11 medium/heavy appears. Plus there is the HP Hamden and HP Halifax to consider new tools for aswell. And the old tool Halifax really is dire so I was surprised that kit was re-issued last year!! Nigel