Category: 1:72 scale
-
Henschel Hs 123A-1 – Part One – 15th Squadron

Well here we go again with the Airfix Classics. And this one is destined to be quite different from what Airfix envisaged. The plane is intriguing – one of the last of the serving biplanes…or this might even be considered a sesquiplane. It is deceptively fighter-like but in actuality is a dive bomber. When the…
-
The Weak Link

In every chain they say the weak link will break first. So with every scale model. It changes with each type that you build. Do a few and you’ll know what to expect. You can fortify yourself against the troubles if you get in first. a. Aircraft are weakest in three areas; landing gear, antennae,…
-
Canadair CT-116 – Part Three – Cold Lake Toy Fighter
All Good – after several false starts and a few execrable errors, the Cold Lake CT-116 is ready for the apron. I patterned the build after an internet image of a 116 over the Alberta tundra. The in-flight shot was perfectly exposed and opened all the markings up beautifully. The model could be measured and…
-
Canadair CT-116 – Part Two – Putty Queen

Every kit fits. Some do so in the same places as the prototype does – some do wherever the parts touch… This ex-Mastercraft PM model is one of the latter variety, albeit with a few good features. The fuselage halves are straight and can be clamped into being gap-less. The wing is another matter. You…
-
Canadair CT-116 – Part One – Turkey Shoot

Stopping at Perth Hobby Centre for a brief browse, I passed by the airplane kit rack and noticed this PM model of a Northrop T-38 Talon wedged in between several other Turkish oddities. I’ve built several of the PM models kits before and noted that they were value for money, but technically very low down…
-
The Old Siren Calls Again…

And it’s not an air-raid siren, either… My love of photographing scale models has returned, after a brief hiatus. I shall be using several new sets to capture views of a new model project. They will be shared on this weblog and sent wherever it is repeated. I shall push them onto appropriate Facebook pages.…
-
Grumman Guardian – Part …Well… The Only Part

I confess. I got greedy. I started building and just couldn’t stop. I didn’t even take build photos. But in the end, I fell back exhausted and satisfied. I had scored a definite win in the game of scale modelling. I had contemplated this model kit for a year at a local shop. The emotion…
-
Beaufighter TFX – Part Three – Lights, Camera, Ection Already

The Israeli Beaufighter you see here – D 171 – was part of a group of five planes that were purchased in the UK in the 40’s by Israeli agents. They were supposed to be used by a film company in Scotland to make a documentary on Coastal Command. They were given permission to fly…
-
Beaufighter TFX – Part Two – The 50’s Revisited

The quality of the Airfix Beaufighter is actually quite good when you get to the cut and glue stage. You must imagine the insides, but then you do that when you study anatomy as well and at least the kit doesn’t smell of formalin. All seams fit well, though I suspect the silver plastic used…
-
Beaufighter TFX – Part One – The Alternate Version

I built an Airfix Beaufighter model a year or so ago – the modern kit – and was extremely pleased with the result. It was completed as an RCAF model with a famous pilot in it. This Beau is a very much older version of the plane from Airfix. Scalemates tells me it is a…
