Hi guys, Just joined this excellent site and was wondering if any of you have built aircraft with battle damage and what methods you have used to get the best effects.
I have an idea that may or may not work and am going to try it out on a Spitfire kit I have lying around for that "one day I'll build it" time. I shall take plenty pics and post them as it progresses and keep my fingers crossed that it will give the effect I am looking for. I was going to try it on current B17 project but I have chickened out as a lot of work has gone into it.

Modelling and creativity, hand in hand
Cheers

Welcome aboard fightingcock. I've tried battle damage a couple of times. My best advice, have at it, use reference photos and think about what would happen to the aircraft. Good luck.
Here are a couple of my efforts:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/217

https://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/317

Hi fightingcock,

I'm sure it can be done effectively if as CRS says you check reference pics.

I may be wrong but I think in the dim and distant past one U.S. manufacturer used to produce kits of jet fighters that included extra parts with battle damage molded in and I've seen resin aftermarket parts for sale for a B17 that are molded with damaged areas.

I wonder if there would be a big enough market for the mainstream manufacurers to produce kits in this fashion?

Martin,
Yes I have to admit it was the distant past, when IMC / HAWK made a series of 1/72 "Vietnam Era" aircraft with optional molded in battle damage. Early 1970's, Wow. I've had two for quite some time and build the RF-4B a couple of months ago. I still have the Mig-21D in my stash.
They also produced:
F-100D Super Sabre
F-105D Thunderchief
A-1H Skyraider
A-4E Skyhawk

Here's a couple pics of my RF-4B




I haven't seen any real interest or effort by the manufactures to make this kind of kit option available for years. Maybe they just figure modelers have gotten better at it and they don't need to make such a thing. Personally I miss it.

Chuck, Martin,
Thanks for the advice and the references. I'll try my idea out and see what comes of it.
Can't say I have seen any kits with molded in damage but as you say we have got more inventive in the modifying stakes and as long as we get the base kits we will all strive to make them different one way or another.
Watch this space and thanks again.