Thanks a lot Damian for your kind words

cheers
nico

I didn't intend to join campaigns but this one fitted too well. The build will be OOB Airfix 1/72 Flying Suitcase or more officially the HP Hampden. I have been building my way through the HP bomber types over the last few years, 2 Halifaxes, a Heyford and a Victor (unfinished) with an O/400 in the stash. This is the one I need to complete the timeline (never seen a Hydrabad kit) apart from that I would build a HP42 if I could find a kit just because I like them. Kit pics to follow

Andrew, welcome aboard and thanks for joining us. I'm looking forward to watching your "Suitcase" come together. Certainly an uncommon type, great choice.

Joel is under way with his Doolittle B-25 Mitchell build, dedicated build log thread can be found HERE .

Roll Call/Build Status post on page 1 has been updated.

Cheers, D

Oops, forgot my pre-build photo here:



I have this week off so I've pitched into it. Pre-painted interior green, semi-gloss black, bare-metal silver, and flat aluminum. That took some time! But I've started on the cockpit now. Hopefully pics later today.

Michael

Well, since I started my B-25B build, much has happened. For starters my computer died, and there goes my pictures of the unstarted kit as it was still on my HD. So Damian, you'll forgive me for not having that picture available.

I've also started at full build blog in the World War II forum for those interested @

B-25B Build blog

So I'll be posting just highlights here instead of pasting the same posts in both places.

Work started with drilling out the clear IP, then painting it Nato Black, and gluing the Instrument decal with paper backing to the back of the IP. The rest of the cockpit was build as per instructions.





Karl corrected my earlier mistake of adding shoulder harnesses along with the seatbelts fashioned from masking tape, as they weren't used until the J version. I added some buckles from some scrap PE even though they're a little on the large side, but once the fuselage is closed up and the cockpit glass added, should look just fine as is.



Joel

Nice Joel! Those AM B-25s really are nice kits.

Well, I gotta tell you folks; a lot of people have complained about the price of the Tamiya Mosquito, and it IS expensive, but I've been working on mine for several hours a day since Sunday and here's where I've gotten:





There's just a ton of modeling to be had here, and it's all a pleasure to do! Detail: great, fit: excellent, bang for the buck: you betcha!

Michael

Michael,
That cockpit is just incredible. I've never seen detailing like that in a kit before. The IP looks as real as it can get in scale.

Joel

Joel,

The instrument decals are a little tricky to get positioned correctly (as you can probably tell) but look great if done right! I've gone right down the line using Tamiya paint call-outs and everything. The only think I did that they didn't call for was anneal the seat belts. That helped alot in positioning them. Typical Tamiya quality.

Michael

Wow, Michael...Superb!

Hi all,

As there is several B-25 in this campaign and as I received this kit at Christmas which i'm so eager to do ...



.... so am I allowed to change my B-25 for this Chinook ? It's a twin, isn't it ?

Cheers
nico

Hi Nico. Much as I would love to see that big bird built up, unfortunately it took off a little late to be counted as a World War II twin !

I have updated the Roll Call/Build Status list on Page 1, hopefully folks will be back from their holiday shenanigans soon and we will see some more builds commenced.

Cheers, D

Oh sorry, I completely forgot the "WW2" detail ! 😆..... Christmas holidays were undoubtly to tiring for me ! My brain did not wake up yet ! ..... so I put this pretty box aside, waiting for the good campaign 😉.... and i'm going to take back the B-25 one.

Cheers and happy new year ☺
nico

BUMP and random image time folks . . . . . . .




Cheers, D

Isn't that a French twin D?

Not quite Chris, a little farther south! 😉

Yes Damian, just a big "javelin throw" away, I guess.

Oliver

Some interesting builds. Love the Mitchell and can't wait to see it done.
I'm hoping to restart work on my Whitley this weekend.

I've made quite a lot of progress on the B-25B. For those interested in following along with my adventures, the full build blog is still quite active at:

B-25B Build Thread

And here's a few pictures to bring you up to speed as to where the build is currently at.

Navigator/Radio compartments


Cockpit & Navigator/Radio compartments dry fitted.


the highly kit detailed bomb bay sub-assembly dry fitted.


Joel

Oliver, you're right on to it! Nice reference too, spot on.

Chris, it's the short-lived Aussie design, CAC CA-4 Woomera.

Joel, I'm keeping tabs on your B-25 build, it's looking great.

Cheers, D

Ohhh it's an Aussie Ground attack/Strike/Dive-bomber aircraft! I can just make out the A serial. Woomera? Isn't that the spear thrower? Not the actual spear? I vaguely remember reading about it somewhere. The machine gun barbettes have always intrigued me.

@Joel: Excellent work my friend! As per usual!

Chris,
Thanks so much for your more then kind words, and support through the build.

Joel

Hi Guys some progress for you with my twin twin builds. The Encore kit is particularly nice. Yes it requires a little work but the resin details look really good. I've got most of the kits assembled and the support struts marked out and pinned with some fine brass rod. I'm also going to use the same brass rod as support for the back of the Me328 as it's fine but an infinitely better attachment than the kit supplied plastic part. Nothing is attached yet this is just to see that everything lines up and looks square. (Which it does)

There were some oddities with the Airfix kit namely the engine nacelles were all wrong. Airfix would have you orient the engines with the oil cooler bumps at roughly 12 and 6 o'clock. Where as the actual positions are more like 5 and 7 o'clock. So it's out with the razor saw and remove the lugs, fill the hole in the nacelle where the lug would have been and orient the engines correctly. Also the canopy mould is so worn that there is no discernible framing with which to mask around. For any of the clear parts! I've been looking online for a mask set but haven't managed to find one as yet. As I think that's the only way I'm going to mask the glazing correctly.

Any who here's some pics to show you how things are going.

Chris,
Now that's impressive to say the least. The pinning with the wire is a god send for me. Can't remember the last build I did that something wasn't pinned.

As for the canopy framing. Use small strips of Tamiya tape duplicate the framing the best you can. Then just fill in with scraps. That's how we did it with vac canopies in the old days.

Joel

Really sucks with the glazing, Chris. As Joel points out I would go with the tamiya tape, some pictures of the real thing, and then get as close as possible.

Hope it works out!

Good day fellow modellers,

Do you mind if I join with this little fellow ?



Cheers,
Radek