Category: Scale Models
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You Can Only Build What You Can Get

And if you can’t get something, you have to build it… The principle of the scratch-builder. Also of the realistic builder – a person who may not know their own limitations but can list those of the local hobby shops in detail. This is not just snarkiness – the realistic builder knows that not every…
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Seahawk HH-60H – Part Two – Crows Nest Pass

It’s about as close to the sea as Kalgoorlie… But when the military sell off their old aircraft, the local fire authorities get a chance to pick up some useful heavy lifters for the fire fighting role. Queensland has them – so to other states. Why not sell a few to Alberta and strip off…
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Can You Wait Too Long?

I suspect you can… And I am not writing about the 5 hr delay between when your family asks you whether you are ready…you standing at the door jiggling the car keys…and when they actually get in the vehicle. No, I mean between stages of a scale model build. Here are the reasons why I…
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CAC Winjeel – Part Four – FTS 1

Point Cook, Victoria. SOOTB rendition of this Winjeel and I don’t think I could be happier with the result. It will form the starting point of a number of RAAF training types – with the occasional side-excursion to an aerobatics team aircraft or the FAC service livery as used on ADF exercises. You have to…
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You Look At It

It looks at you. The scale model stand-off; you have bought a kit well beyond your comfort zone. It has 1468 parts plus a booklet and a decal sheet with 47 different options. Every track link has 18 parts and you need to make up 256 of them. This might be fine, except it is…
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It’s All So Simple, Even A Child Could Understand It

Quick, go out and find me a child… The new rules for the competition are up. Now there should be no confusion as to categories, criteria, or critiques. Simply follow the 126 steps outlined in the ” Scientific Guide To Artistic Paradigms Of The Existential Scale Model Collective “. Copies are available upon submission fo…
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Fairey Firefly Mk V – Part Four – Preserved Fly

According to Skaarup, these Firefly aircraft flew with the Royal Canadian Navy from 1946 to 1952 – roughly about the same time they served with the Royal Australian Navy. The carriers they flew from were Royal Navy donations to the Commonwealth countries – the MAJESTIC, BONAVENTURE, SYDNEY, AND MELBOURNE. The decks were perfectly suited to…
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Fairey Firefly Mk V – Part Two – Stub Wings

The first day of work on a new kit can be either basic cockpit or even more basic part sanding. Imagine my surprise when I got through a club meeting with the stub wings joined to the fuselage.The Airfix engineering has large mating surfaces for the wing roots onto the fuselage so you can proceed…
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The Half-Built Bargain

However you acquire a half-built – stash sale, donation, or legacy – you buy more than a box. You buy a dilemma. A fresh kit, with a sealed box or bagged sprue trees, is a clean field to play on. It may be old, with tatty decals and useless instructions, but at least when you…

