2 x Revell Me 262 in 1:72 - 'striped' 'Green 1' flown by Maj. Rudolf Sinner of the Stab III./JG 7, March 1945

I had started an Academy and Revell dual Me 262 build but put them aside to focus on the Airfix Typhoon. Progress on the Academy Me 262 has been non-existent but I have picked up and started a second Revell Me 262 after encountering a problem with the canopy in the first one. I quite like the Revell 262 but somewhere along the line they've altered the mold, replacing the original three-part canopy and rear decking with a new plastic part and a single-part canopy - which is a terrible fit and on my example had a nasty crack in it, quite apart from being far from transparent. I've since decided to smash-mold a new 'clear' part using a candle and clear plastic food container lid and cut it into three to replicate the 'older' mold of this kit - and decided to finish the second Revell kit at the same time. In these pictures I have attached the windscreen and the rear of the canopy with some 'Glue n' glaze'. The model is painted overall Hellblau as seen on one of the early series production machines

The second kit is now well into the painting stage too - using Xtracolor and WEM Luftwaffe enamels in 82 and 83 this one is being finished as one of the 'striped' machines flown by Maj. Rudolf Sinner of the Stab III./JG 7 'Green 1' (note the German-language caption below states 'Red 1' )

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.
 
 

56th Fighter Group ace Robert Johnson

56th FG ace Robert Johnson scored his last victories on May 8th 1944 in LM-Q named -in homage to his crew chief - 'Penrod and Sam'. This was the only T'bolt he flew while serving with the 62nd FS and after beating Rickenbacker's victory record he was taken off combat ops.

Chuck McBath's 'Dottie Dee II' 63FS/56th FG Revell P-47 (72nd)

Chuck McBath's 'Dottie Dee II' 63FS/56th FG

56th FG P-47 Charles McBath's 'Dottie Dee'

..wasn't sure what I was going to do for the recent 8th Air Force campaign on aeroscale.co.uk and as I still hadn't started anything going into the final weeks, I grabbed this Revell 72nd P-47 from the pile..thought I'd try one of those neat looking 63 FS machines in blue. (just click on the pics for a larger image..)

Cockpit straight OOB with (champagne bottle) foil belts....





..think I've built this kit three or four times this year.....the only real 'problem' area with the Revell kit is the gear which sits perpendicular to the wing; looks much better raked forward a little as here - rather than pinning the legs, much easier to cobble together a new 'mount' using a prop 'disc'







started painting today ...note the 'scrap' plastic model which I use for getting the airbrush settings just so..freehand for a bit of a 'ragged' look ...(well, that's my excuse..) Colours are pretty approximate, some RLM 76 hellblau suitably doctored and some Flanker blue from Xtracolour - looks like this will be finished as Charles McBath's 'Dottie Dee' (right in lower pic)






..kit decals were a pain and only stayed on with a coat of white glue and plenty of Klear (!!).. but aside from some yellow prop tips and a flat coat this one is finished ...

Maj. Mike Jackson's 62nd Fighter Squadron 56 FG P-47M 56th FG - some recent model builds - all in 72nd scale

Gordon Graham - 355th FG. Academy 1:72nd kit


Airfix new tool 1:72nd Hawk

Eight victory ace Maj. Mike Jackson's 62nd Fighter Squadron 56 FG P-47M 44-21117 LM-J “Teddy”