Alas, the time has come where this blog's service life has come to an end.
I will keep it 'online' as a handy gallery of past projects, etc. However my main point of contact is now my dedicated Facebook Page.
Saturday 29 June 2019
Wednesday 13 March 2019
On the Workbench - Another Lancaster (Again)
March has mainly been building multi-engine types. First up is this Lancaster in 1/72 scale - slightly different to the usual build I do for this kit. As can be seen, it's been weathered. Quite a lot.
I have a constant internal debate as to whether to finish a model 'pristine' or 'used' - especially for models which will be purchased by someone for a collection, a display or diorama. I have had customers specifically request both finishes in equal measure. It is less clear cut when I build a model with no customer in mind - an educated guess is the result!
This example will be going on Ebay this week so it's a case of hoping for a buyer who is after the weathered look.
In all other respects - this is a standard Revell kit built out of the box. Putting to one side the issue with the wing dihedral it would be my recommended Lancaster kit for anyone wanting to build up one of these in 1/72 scale.
Next on the production line is this 1/72 EE Canberra B2. This is a commission build and specifically requested to depict a 617 Squadron machine using the S&M models kit. The kit is good and in this colour scheme - it looks very good!
I have a constant internal debate as to whether to finish a model 'pristine' or 'used' - especially for models which will be purchased by someone for a collection, a display or diorama. I have had customers specifically request both finishes in equal measure. It is less clear cut when I build a model with no customer in mind - an educated guess is the result!
This example will be going on Ebay this week so it's a case of hoping for a buyer who is after the weathered look.
In all other respects - this is a standard Revell kit built out of the box. Putting to one side the issue with the wing dihedral it would be my recommended Lancaster kit for anyone wanting to build up one of these in 1/72 scale.
Next on the production line is this 1/72 EE Canberra B2. This is a commission build and specifically requested to depict a 617 Squadron machine using the S&M models kit. The kit is good and in this colour scheme - it looks very good!
Also on the go (but not pictured) is a pair of Bristol Beaufighters and a Boulton Paul Defiant. More pictures on those to follow...
Thursday 14 February 2019
On the Workbench - January Roundup
Yes, I realise that this post entitled 'January Roundup' is being written in February...
The start to 2019 was an interesting one - plenty of new builds and a foray into some kits I wouldn't normally work with.
Matchbox Gloster Meteor NF 14
This is a commission build and the kit provided was the venerable Matchbox NF 11/12/14. Until something better comes along, this kit is one of the few ways you can built a 1/72 twin-seater Meteor. Other methods include doing some major surgery to a single-seater or by kit bashing a combination of kits to make one.
I won't pretend it was an easy build - no kit from the 80s is going to be utterly perfect in every way - but the finished result looks every bit like the aircraft it is supposed to. This photo was prior to weathering and finishing - so it looks very 'new'.
Airfix Messerschmitt Bf 110 E Tropical.
This has been lurking around on the display shelf for a while now, to make the model look a bit less 'toy-like' I decided to opt for some weathering. Out came the washes, pastels, chalk powders and paint chipping materials - below is the final result of some washing/chipping/splattering/any other thing you do when weathering a model.
Airfix Hawker Typhoon IB (Late)
Another single-seater that got weathered and battered. Probably my favourite fighter of WW2, the Typhoon really looks good in whatever scale you make it. The real thing was quite a big old thing and this translates even into smaller scales like 1/72. It makes a Spitfire or Bf 109 look a bit weedy by comparison when you stick them next to eachother!
The start to 2019 was an interesting one - plenty of new builds and a foray into some kits I wouldn't normally work with.
Matchbox Gloster Meteor NF 14
This is a commission build and the kit provided was the venerable Matchbox NF 11/12/14. Until something better comes along, this kit is one of the few ways you can built a 1/72 twin-seater Meteor. Other methods include doing some major surgery to a single-seater or by kit bashing a combination of kits to make one.
I won't pretend it was an easy build - no kit from the 80s is going to be utterly perfect in every way - but the finished result looks every bit like the aircraft it is supposed to. This photo was prior to weathering and finishing - so it looks very 'new'.
Airfix Messerschmitt Bf 110 E Tropical.
This has been lurking around on the display shelf for a while now, to make the model look a bit less 'toy-like' I decided to opt for some weathering. Out came the washes, pastels, chalk powders and paint chipping materials - below is the final result of some washing/chipping/splattering/any other thing you do when weathering a model.
Airfix Hawker Typhoon IB (Late)
Another single-seater that got weathered and battered. Probably my favourite fighter of WW2, the Typhoon really looks good in whatever scale you make it. The real thing was quite a big old thing and this translates even into smaller scales like 1/72. It makes a Spitfire or Bf 109 look a bit weedy by comparison when you stick them next to eachother!
The next update will likely be bigger than this one, simply due to having no less than 6 (!!!!) builds on the go at the moment.
Friday 18 January 2019
On the Workbench - Avro Shackleton AEW + Beaufighter TF 10
Just a quick update while waiting for the filler to cure. I finally started the Revell Shackleton AEW last weekend - since the thing has been sat in the stash for a few years. (I bought the thing when it first came out). It makes a nice sideways change from the usual favourite of Lancasters.
This pic shows how the Shackleton is quite a different beast from it's Lancaster cousin - a fair bit bigger in wingspan and length. The main drawback I foresee is the considerable number of aerials, antennae, radio arrays and all the other bits just waiting to be pinged off to the carpet monster.
The plan is to paint it in sub-assemblies - the fuselage, the wings + tail (dry-fitted without glue at the moment) and engine pods. The whole lot is Extra Dark Sea Grey so masking is limited to the clear parts - ironically the paintwork will take less time than the Lancaster.
Lurking in the background is a finished Airfix Beaufighter TF 10 - an excellent kit in every respect aside from needing five hands to put the engine nacelles together. It turned out well in the end (after some muttering and cussing). Below is a pic of it just prior to having it's props and main gear fitted - the offending engine pods offering no evidence of the pitched battle to assemble them!
This pic shows how the Shackleton is quite a different beast from it's Lancaster cousin - a fair bit bigger in wingspan and length. The main drawback I foresee is the considerable number of aerials, antennae, radio arrays and all the other bits just waiting to be pinged off to the carpet monster.
The plan is to paint it in sub-assemblies - the fuselage, the wings + tail (dry-fitted without glue at the moment) and engine pods. The whole lot is Extra Dark Sea Grey so masking is limited to the clear parts - ironically the paintwork will take less time than the Lancaster.
Lurking in the background is a finished Airfix Beaufighter TF 10 - an excellent kit in every respect aside from needing five hands to put the engine nacelles together. It turned out well in the end (after some muttering and cussing). Below is a pic of it just prior to having it's props and main gear fitted - the offending engine pods offering no evidence of the pitched battle to assemble them!
Monday 7 January 2019
On the Workbench - Jan 2018 - Lancasters
It seems to be the case that Avro Lancasters are my most in-demand build. No sooner than I put one together - it gets snapped up and I then (of course) need to build another one. Unlike some models (triplanes.... shudders) I don't mind this one bit - most modern Lancaster kits are nice to build.
First up is this Airfix example in Tiger Force colours. Any future Lancs in this livery will be done using automotive rattle cans for the white bits if nothing else - because airbrushing white primer was an absolute pig to get right. I now remember why I don't do it! This has since sold at the end of last year.
Next up was a tandem build - that is, putting together two similar kits at the same time.
Building a gaggle of single-engine types like Folland Gnats, Spitfires, etc. is one thing - but assembling, painting and finishing a pair of Lancaster simultaneously?
You can indeed build 2 big models together with some organisation and planning. The painting of both was completed in one go, as was the decaling, final assembly and finishing touches. Only a few specific modifications were needed for the Dambuster; mainly the deleted upper turret and unique bomb cradle underneath.
One is a Mk III and the other is a Mk I (Special) - both Revell 1/72 scale. The finished Special is immediately below - the Mk III was pictured lying in bits on the side while the decal solution dried off.
First up is this Airfix example in Tiger Force colours. Any future Lancs in this livery will be done using automotive rattle cans for the white bits if nothing else - because airbrushing white primer was an absolute pig to get right. I now remember why I don't do it! This has since sold at the end of last year.
Next up was a tandem build - that is, putting together two similar kits at the same time.
Building a gaggle of single-engine types like Folland Gnats, Spitfires, etc. is one thing - but assembling, painting and finishing a pair of Lancaster simultaneously?
You can indeed build 2 big models together with some organisation and planning. The painting of both was completed in one go, as was the decaling, final assembly and finishing touches. Only a few specific modifications were needed for the Dambuster; mainly the deleted upper turret and unique bomb cradle underneath.
One is a Mk III and the other is a Mk I (Special) - both Revell 1/72 scale. The finished Special is immediately below - the Mk III was pictured lying in bits on the side while the decal solution dried off.
One of the advantages of building the Revell tooling is that the wings can be built up as their own sub-assembly - then attached at quite a late stage in the build. It makes masking/painting so much easier.
Next up - perhaps the ultimate relative of the Lancaster - the Avro Shackleton.
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