Category: Model Airplane
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Bristol Beaufort Mk I – Part Six – OTU Queen

The receipt of Mk I Beauforts by the RCAF in the early 40’s must have been a sort of a mixed blessing. They had been used on North Sea and Norwegian strikes, and then later in the Mediterranean by specially-trained squadrons of the RAF…often with Canadian crew members aboard. They had their share of successes…
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Bristol Beaufort Mk I – Part Five – Engine Night

The hot weather returning compelled me to wait until after dark to do spray painting in my workshop, but this was no bad thing. It meant the previous day’s cementation had a good time to set and would not be breaking loose unexpectedly. Engine Night, and a lesson in careful attention to detail. Not that…
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Bristol Beaufort Mk I – Part Four – A Dirty, Dirty Business

But that was life at Doukhobor Bay in the old days. Baths once a month and toothbrushing every second week… The interior of the Bristol Beaufort is pretty well complete and has received a coat of filth. Fortunately it will be hard to see inside the fuselage once it’s closed up. Just as well, it’s…
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Bristol Beaufort Mk I – Part Three – Beaufitter

I used to think women were unnecessarily fussy about their shoes and clothes – everything had to be wrinkle-free or seamless. Men were not worried about that sort of thing. Then I took up scale model kit building and realised how much I had been fooling myself. I am hella fussy about the fit of…
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Bristol Beaufort Mk I – Part Two – A Colourless Evening

It wasn’t that bad – it was an evening spent at the workbench doing the first sub-assemblies for the the Beaufort. These were things that could be brigaded up for a spray coat of colour – fortunately the Bristol company turned out most of the interior of the plane in the British Cockpit Green. There…
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Bristol Beaufort Mk I – Part One – Douk Bay Beau

This Airfix kit was thin on the shelves when first released – it was scheduled to hit the world during the first of the Covid 19 shut-downs. A friend found the first four or so to arrive in Perth and secured one for me – and it sat quietly while I sorted out what treatment…
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Time To Ditch The Camouflage

Air warfare ain’t what it used to be. Gone are the days when you had to hide amongst the clouds by painting your machine light blue – or a multi-colour if it was to sit on the ground. Nowadays the electronics look past any colour you might spray on and see the true signature of…
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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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Curtiss Hawk II – Part One – The Evolution Of A Goshawk

With the recent announcement of new land division within the Republic Of China – the Generalissimo commanding Swuping province has mandated the formation of an air force. Generalissimo Stein Kai Shek is up to date with all the latest methods of defence, as seen by his formation of an Armoured Women’s Dance Corps, a Terrestrial…
