R.A.A.F. Bristol Beaufort MKVIII (Special Hobby 1/72)

R.A.A.F. BRISTOL BEAUFORT MK VIII

No. 6 Squadron, Goodenough Island, circa 1943/44

Flight Lieutenant William "Bill" McRae Wood, DFC

(Special Hobby 1/72)

Hi all!

I usually don't build models under commission, but in this case it was a especial request and a favor to a fellow member of my modelling club (SAPMA).

Dudley Hokings is a senior member of the club and due his age he no longer is able to build a model. It doesn't mean he is present in our meetings and he loves a good chat.

Anyway! One day he approached me and asked if Ifould do hem a favor. He was a very close friend with a veteran who used to fly the Beaufort during the world war 2. He has now passed away, but Dudley is still friend with his wife Trish. He said he had a kit and decals do make the exactly version flew by his friend Bill Wood. Of course I said Yes!

Here are some reference photos:

Dudley gave me some valuable information that he had been gathering along the years for this dreamed project. It has precious war photos from the pilot private collection and also the pilot's accounting regarding the correct serial number for his aircraft. The nose art consists of a representation of Diana "The Goddess of Hunt", some bombs representing the missions and "Trish" Bill Wood's wife name.

The kit

The kit he had available was not the RAAF version but another British original version of the Beaufort. However, it has most of the parts necessary to convert to Australian built Beaufort (Pratt Whitney engines, antennas etc), but not the essential part to convert the dorsal turret (I had to scratchbuilt it).

The kit was airbrushed using Gunze acrylics:

1. Sky Blue underside: H323
2. Light Green camouflage: (H302)
3. Light Earth camouflage: (10% H47 + 90% H72)

Weathered using a combination of techniques like oils, pigments and water colours.

A final coat of Gunze H20 Flat Clear was sprayed overall.

The antenna wire is made of EZLine.

The model:

Here we are Dudley and I when I did present him with the finished model during our last
SAPMA monthly meeting.

Grumman F6F-5 HELLCAT - French Naval Air Fleet (Heller 1/72)

GRUMMAN F6F-5 HELLCAT
Heller 1/72

Hi all

I had this very old Heller kit sitting in my stash for over 30 years. Due it's age it was not engraved panel lines, so I decided to use it as a practice for my first ever try to engrave panel lines in a kit. It was not perfect but I've learned a lot.

I had some issues with some seams that were hard do cover even after several re-dos with super glue.

I've used only acrylic paints, mostly Gunze Acqueous Paint.

The decals were another challenge, due it's age they broke apart once in the water. Luckly I had two set of the decals, so I sprayed a coat of Lacquer clear coat and applied as usual. However, the decals were very transparent so I decided to double up them using the other set of decals, it was not perfect but better than originally.

Weathering was made using Tamiya accent panel lines, watercolours pencils and pastels.

Overall it looked good but not standing a chance in a model show.

I've tried to represent an aircraft part of the Flottille 1F operating on the French Aircraft Carrier Arromanches in Indochina circa early 50's.

Reference photos:

The model

Cheers

P-40C 33rd Pursuit Squadron, U.S.A. 1941 (ACADEMY 1/72)

P-40C 33RD PURSUIT SQUADRON

USA, 1941

Model improved with full scratch built interior, add new wheels from my spare parts box.
Added new machine guns and new pitot from syringe needles.
Painted mostly using Tamiya and Gunze aqueous Hobby Colours acrylics.

Camouflage:
Undersurfaces Grey FS 36440 = Tamiya XF-80 overall plus added a few drops of white XF-2 for highlights.
Upper-surfaces US Olive Drab FS 34087 = Gunze H52 overall plus added a few drops of white H1 for highlights.

Decals:
FCM Decals 72-22 P-40 Galore plus spares for propeller's stencils. I had issues with the upper wing decals when trying to make them to conform to kit's surface, tried Gunze's Mr Marker Fit and it almost dissolved the decal completely. I had to try to fix as best as I could but didn't end perfect as I intended.

Conclusion:
Overall the kit is very basic and have some major mistakes. It's aimed for very beginner modellers. Serious modellers should by the Airfix new tool.

PS: After looking the photos I've noticed I've missed the rear windows, it's now been fixed.

Cheers!