Category: Colour Schemes
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Curtiss Hawk II – Part Three – The Generalissimo’s Finest

Generalissimo Stein Kai Shek is very pleased with the new Curtiss fighter plane for the Swuping Air Army. The underlings may breath easier. The Generalissimo is relieved as well. The sight of the sprue trees with multiple struts is always a daunting prospect. These went together with absolutely no problems. Even the dreaded photo-etch brass…
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Curtiss Hawk II – Part Two – The Radial

I am always astounded at the enthusiasm of the Czech kit makers to produce ever-finer sheets of photo-etched brass. The Curtiss Goshawk has just such an offering, asking me to make throttle handles as fine as a hair. I have acceded to their demand to the extent of producing two fuel tank filler caps with…
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Aichi Val – Part Four – Pearl Harbour

As problematical as this model has been to build, it is still welcome into the collection as the final piece in the set for the USS ARIZONA diorama photo shoot. This is the reason it doesn’t have stationery propeller blades – it will be photographed diving on the battleship from the port quarter. Doing this…
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Airfix Vintage Val – Part Four – The Judgement

The judgement can finally be delivered on the relative merit of the Airfix Aichi Val vs the Fujimi example. The AIrfix model wins – despite being older and sporting the ancient raised rivets. The verdict is based upon the ease of assembly, the fit of the parts, and the quality of the decals. Admittedly, the…
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Aichi Val – Part Three – Stripe Tail

I have often remarked the stripes that appear on the horizontal stabilisers of WW2 Japanese aircraft. They are on the upper side and form a fan radiating outwards from the front of the vertical stabiliser – some tails have them in white – some in yellow. This Aichi Val tail has them in red. They…
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Airfix Vintage Val – Part Three – Well Wrap My Rice Roll

And call me sushi – the Airfix Aichi Val is looking pretty good. The top and bottom colours have gone on the AIrfix Val and I have taken the precaution of glossing them into place with Mr. Color No. 46. It is a cool day and there are travelling showers – I do not want…
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Aichi Val – Part Two – Not Quite Tamiya

I was a bit premature in my assessment of the Fujimi kit of the Aichi Type 11. It is closer to Monogram than Tamiya. The flash encountered was not too bad – nothing that knifing and sanding could not deal with. The location pins were in the right places. Yet the fuselage halves fit only…
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Fujimi Aichi Val – Part One – Oh Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy

I finally got to build a model of an airplane my uncle Jack shot at on Dec. 7, 1941. Fujimi kits are thin on the ground here in Western Australia at the best of times and these aren’t the best of times. But a shelf of them turned up at the local shop and I…
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CT-155 Hawk – Part Four – Wayne And Gordie

It looks as if our two favourite Canadian pilots – Wayne And Gordie – have a new mount. The BAE CT-155 Hawk is on the line at Moose Jaw and the new commemorative scheme is finally done. The stencilling and decaling took two weeks, though this is because it was a club build and we…
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CT-155 Hawk – Part Three – Commem

Or a tive. The colours of the Hawk are meant to echo those of an RCAF bomber squadron in WW2. As this is a NATO fighter trainer, I think it an odd choice, but I’m not the politicians or the paint shop. I just follow along. The top is a mix of a Mr. Color…
