IPMS Scale Model World Telford 2011

Another gallery from Telford, featuring some models you may not have seen on other Telford galleries out there. There is a selection of Luftwaffe models from Telford on my Luftwaffe blog Pictures courtesy Rowan Gough and Radleigh Bushell. Click on the images to get a closer view

Fokker Dr. 1 Lothar von Richthofen Staffelführer Jasta 11 Revell 1:72

Revell 1:72 Fokker Dr. 1 in the markings of Lothar von Richthofen, Staffelführer Jasta 11 March 1918. This is a very neat little kit, possibly one of the hardest I've built for a while, since the parts are so small. Getting them off the sprue without snapping them was just the start of the difficulties. Here's some close-ups  - about twice actual size!

Lothar von Richthofen's 454/17 crashed on 13 March 1918 as Staffelführer Jasta 11. Lots of dispute about the colours especially the upper wing. In his bio, "Der Kampfflieger Lothar Freiherr von Richthofen" by D.Schweckendiek (Hanseatische Verlagsanstalt, Hamburg, 1938) the photo facing page 48, depicts, "Richthofen's crash on 13 March 1918". The photo very clearly shows the upper wing is in standard Fokker olive brown streaked camouflage and the cross fields are overpainted a solid olive brown.
 
 

Airfix Spitfire I (1:48)

K9795, the 9th production Spitfire Mk. I in the markings of No. 19 Squadron in Duxford photographed in the autumn of 1938. The aircraft is flown by Sqn/Ldr Henry Cozens. During that time squadron letters were not yet assigned for the camouflaged aircraft and the unit temporarily used white-painted number 19 on the fin as a distinctive marking. These numbers appear to have only been used for a short period during 1938 and were later removed.

Alright I can hear you saying it..another Airfix Spitfire. Sorry, no excuses, I just enjoy doing Spits at the moment although to be fair, this Mk I, the last of Airfix's 'old' tools, is a little tricky - the wing-fuselage join is poor and the canopy doesn't fit at all well and has been 'blended' in to the fuselage with putty. I still have a number of  decals to add. I have 'toned' down the very bright yellow of the roundels. I think it looks 'different' with its two-bladed prop and tall antenna mast. Aerial from GS hypo cement (Uhu glue) - just stretch between your two attachments points - quick and easy. And quick and easy to replace...pleased enough with the finished model, specially as I didn't come across the reference photos until I'd finished which would have undoubtedly helped me with the fuselage roundel placement. The windshield in the photos appears to be the early rounded type, although wasn't an option in the kit. Should have checked out the Spitfire site sooner than I did....

Nothing like a close-up to tell you where things need touching up!  I'm aware that Spitfires were rarely seen on the ground with flaps deployed since - as this view indicates - they masked the radiator which could quickly lead to an overheating engine..I've represented the radiator grille with champagne bottle foil just visible here..

and while the sun is shining - a couple of new pics of my Tamiya Fw 190 A-3 finished earlier this year in the markings of III./JG 26. I was quite pleased with the way the exhaust staining over the Adlerflügel turned out...thanks for looking...

Airfix Swordfish 1:72

Two views of the new Airfix Swordfish as seen at Telford for IPMS Scale Model World 2011 and photographed by Rowan Gough. All the usual chat in the usual places but the consensus seems very positive;

" ..The interior is excellent. Not only are there ribs on the inside of the fuselage you get the small windows too. The main interior is a floor then three main pieces that form a sort of cage. Other details that you either glue in or are part of the moldings are the throttles, radio, spare machine gun magazines. The rigging mounts on the wings are there and you just need to run a fine drill through them to make the holes. Airfix do not skimp on the stores either; in addition to the torpedo, there are 6 x 250lb bombs, a long-range fuel tank and flame floats. Downside is that it will be Series 4 kit.."

Rowan's new modelling blog is here

Airfix Spitfire Mk I

Well there has been some modelling going on here..although events on the Luftwaffe blog have taken priority somewhat recently; the 'run-in' with the author of 'Grey Wolf - The escape of Adolf Hitler', meeting Sir Max Hastings and spending time with his lastest 700-page WWII history blockbuster...

Another view of the recently completed Airfix Hawk

..and some progress on the 48th scale Spitfire I started back in July! Fit isn't brilliant, especially around the canopy and I must admit that I got a little discouraged. I then went and lost the tail wheel, so I've had to scratch a new one which actually turned out quite well in the end. Another Revell P-47 is also at the painting stage so I'm likely to get a couple of models finished this month. Here's a look at what I've been doing before I present a big gallery of some of the marvellous models on display at this year's IPMS Scale Model World in Telford. A selection of the best Luftwaffe models at the show is also on line on my Luftwaffe blog. See the link on the right hand side of the page in 'My blog list'...