Duxford-based 19 Squadron Spitfire Mk 1, Airfix Seafire XVII

Airfix Mk 1 Spitfire finished as a Duxford-based 19 Sqn machine (WZ-T) and featuring the tall radio mast, flat canopy, twin-bladed prop and black and white lower surfaces of the first production Spitfires which seem to have captured my interest of late.

KL-B (BELOW) also has black/white undersurfaces and is a 54 Sqn aircraft based at Hornchurch during early 1940. This Airfix Mk. 1 has been completed using the Southern Expo Hornchurch decal sheet to represent the first of Al Deere's KL-B's lost over Dunkirk during May 1940. These two Spits are joined by my third 1:72 scale Hurricane so far this year, the elderly Airfix Hurricane I. All three still have their canopies masked up as they move slowly across the bench, approaching a coat of matt varnish. The Hurricane builds easily into a neat enough replica. I think doing these three kits at the same time has taught me though that trying to complete multiple builds simultaneously is too much like hard work. I hate masking at the best of times, but masking up three models at the same time just to save getting the airbrush out is probably a job I could do without - I was even tempted to do a bit of brush painting on the Hurricane. I don't know how Kevin over at 72nd Land does it.

Another Academy P-51 completed as a captured example. The Academy P-51 B is probably one of my favourite 1:72 scale kits - aside from the ill-fitting canopy. Posed this one open just to avoid having to do anything about the gaps....I must admit to feeling a little uneasy about putting a Hakenkreuz (swastika) on a P-51 - I certainly wouldn't do it on a Spitfire..

A quick look at the new Airfix Seafire XVII in the box and some 'reference' shots of the Seafire XVII photographed at Flying Legends. See the previous two posts for examples of this model built and finished. Still undecided though as to whether I'm going to dive straight in with this one or start the (rather odd-looking) Trumpeter Me 109 E-3 (1:32) - just to get it out of the way- or even open up a Zvesda Friedrich (1:48).

'On Track' February 2012

 ..About time I posted some pictures from the recent 'On Track' show held at Folkestone's Leas Cliff Hall during February.

Airfix Morris Marina -1:32

no I'm not building it ..or even bidding, but this is so rare I'd thought I'd like to keep some record of having seen it on this blog. This is one of the hardest Airfix kits to find out there and certainly the rarest of the so called “modern” car series. According to the seller; " the kit is all complete although some parts are of the sprues. The instructions and complaint slip are there and this is a series 2 kit in the Type 4 box. There are some minor marks  on the front but overall this is still going to be a very desirable kit and I would rate it 8 out of 10 if I was perfectly honest due to the parts not all being on the sprues and the marking to the box.." .

Hornchurch Southern Expo Saturday 24 March 2012

As usual Peter Bagshaw and the team (IPMS Hornchurch) put on a great show. I dropped my partner and kids off at Lakeside and then spent another hour in the horrendous Hornchurch traffic and only slightly less time tying to find a parking spot at the Sports Centre which was absolutely packed. Once inside I didn't get the chance to say hello to everyone - including the BM-ers - that I wanted to, sorry about that.

I managed to pick up some nice bits and pieces including half-price Xtradecal sheets from Hannants, Freightdog models PR.XI resin conversion for the Airfix PR. XIX, some Red Star Soviet fighter kits and ICM Spitfires for a fiver. Here's a quick look at some of the models on the tables, with the best table display IMHO going to IPMS Hornchurch's own Pacific air war grouping ..as usual you can click on the pics for a larger image..

new tool Airfix Hurricane IIC / Heller Hurricane IIC/ Manston Hurricane IIC

With the new Revell Ju 88 already on the 'shelf of doom' and no sign of the Fly Henschel Hs 123 on the workbench, I've been building another pair of WWII 1:72 fighters, the new tool Airfix Hurricane IIC and its elderly counterpart from Heller. Aside from the fact that with a bit of surgery you can build a Sea Hurricane from the new Airfix kit, there is not a lot to choose between the two. Of course the Airfix kit has engraved panel lines and is readily available and I'm already planning a nice series.

You have to cut out the rear lower fuselage to fit the arrestor hook and there are no catapult spools provided so I've added my own using some coloured beads from a craft set, partially visible in the pics below, which show the Airfix kit on the left and the Heller IIC on the right. The Airfix kit looks a little short in the nose alongside the Heller kit but is fine when painted and photographed on its own. I'm pretty pleased with it. In many respects as nicely detailed as the Revell Hurricane, and gets my vote as it doesn't have that poorly done canopy that detracts from the Revell kit.

As usual my pre-shading was a waste of time, but post-shading the panel lines worked nicely, if only because with a single colour scheme it's possible to lightly mist some of the main colour back over the post-shading! The Heller IIC (bottom) is finished in Gleed's well-known scheme from the Aeromaster "Hurricanes at War" sheet.

Worth noting perhaps that one of the three decal options in the new tool Airfix Hurricane kit is the Hurricane IIC BN 230 flown by the first Belgian RAF Squadron Leader, "Danny" Le Roy du Vivier of 43 Squadron. Leading the Tangmere Wing, Le Roy was one of the first pilots over Dieppe during the ill-fated 'Jubilee' operation of 19 August 1942 according to the plaque at the 'Manston Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial'. I mention this because the Manston IIC  is my 'local' preserved Hurricane and is finished as Le Roy du Vivier's machine. Originally LF 751 and built at Hawker's Langley factory in early 1944, Manston's Hurricane was restored duing the 1980's using many original parts especially in the cockpit .