Thank you Michael!

The Schwalbe is starting to look like a Schwalbe now:





Just not sure how to get the nose weighed down so it sits right once completed. Experimenting with some fishing weights I picked up, so we'll see.

Here are some in progress shots, tank built then with paint on it. Weathering and details are next.

Seeing as how our weather has warmed up a bit my workshop (garage) is more welcoming so I have spent a few hours in there tonight

First job, paint the visible parts of the engine so grey plastic is not obvious to the observer.

Second, begin the cockpit by liberating the instrument panel from the sprue and sanding down the back to a more realistic thickness. Airscale suggest one cuts a piece of plastic card to apply the decal to, not me, I've reversed the clear instrument insert, well, it's the right shape. I've 'primed' it by dipping in Future which provides a god surface for the decal.

Final job was to start on the wings. The sprue gates are very thick so I used a small razor saw to remove the wings, no problem. Next job was to remove the upper wing panels to fit the new doors for the cannons. Airfix have included a deep groove on the inside of the wing which made removal using a sharp knife easy.

This is a so far piccie

I am not a quick builder but I am making progress. The biggest problem so far is the age of the kit, this was originally a Mk1 and can still be built that way as all parts are there including all 8 Brownings. Extra parts are included for the MkV including both types of tropical filter and some bits I can't yet identify. There are also the cannons, YUK! they are some of the worst representations of weapons I have ever seen so I'm glad I'm going to 'button' it all up and use the Master barrels for the visible part.

Hopefully I shall do more this weekend and celebrate another win for Kettering Town, Northampton Saints and Green Bay Packers. Have a good weekend folks

Found it! I want to build this one for Airfix III:

Cool choice Mark!
I saw these at a RAF base in the UK when I was a kid.

OK so this little kit is taking longer than I had planned all built up now and painted now for the rigging wish me luck





Keith

And the real deal when on a visit to the capial

Keith

So I too will make a start on the Airfix kit I received as a Christmas present. In 1975 or 6.

Apparently the new release is identical, though I can't quite believe the tyres and tracks are still moulded from anything quite so squidgy, or is it that they have gone this squidgy after almost 40 years?



A few pieces have fallen off the sprues, Rommel has gone walkabout somewhere (probably a good thing) and I did a bit of pre-painting of the wheels and upper hull with my Badger 250, but otherwise no glue has been put to plastic, so I believe it can be considered unstarted.

So this is Steps 1 to 4, minus the driver figure...


and the seats:


I now need to start painting this before the sides and top can go on.

Forgot to enlist... now done.

So decided to go with this one. tried to build a Testors ex-hawk SBD a while ago but had to scrap it Airfix's SBD parts are almost the same but with better internal detail on the Airfix kit. although I think the Testors kit had better detail on the SBD's nose as the Airfix kit looks a little soft

Matthew I have not seen this model from Airfix before! Looking forward to the build.
Casey welcome to the campaign!

Ukrainian Scwalbe all but finished!

On with the Dornier.

The horizontal stabiliser and the elevators fitted, they can be set at any suitable angle, I have kept it neutral.



Fins and rudders added to complete the tail group.



getting ready for the next spraying session the flaps and nacelles assembled.



The engines, wheels and exhaust rings base coated black, and the engine mounts and ancillary equipment sprayed light gunmetal.



More soon.

Si

A small first progress report. I'm putting considerable effort into the models exterior finish, hoping it all works out.







There's a lot of interesting kits being worked on here, and with fine effort. Well done everyone.

@Casey. Hmm, thought I commented about building the Tester's SBD. I'm sure it's a mid 50's mold, the cockpit is two benches, with a 'praying' pilot and gunner. Both figures have their hands clasped in front of their faces. The wing is one piece with the landing gear etched in the retracted position. The engraved star and ball markings on the wings had been polished out, but not the ones on the side of the fuselage. the markings on my sample were for a Battle of Midway plane, but the fuselage was closer to a -5 than a -1 (has a cowling inlet, and no telescope) and the dual machine guns were rare for a BoM flavor.

I've got the Airfix one in the stash somewhere, I recall it being a lot better kit overall than the Tester's Hawk flavor.

Yep that is the one, The Hawk can still look adequate but you have to do a little extra work and deal with the engraved markings. Although from my understanding the Airfix SBD is no spring chicken ether, Mid-70's or so (someone who might know correct me if I'm wrong). The Airfix definitely has the Hawk beat in the cockpit department because like you said the Hawk is just two benches. also definitely a better rear gun. However the Hawk still has a better cowl then the Airfix

This is the Cowl on the Hawk SBD notice the exhaust pipe and machine gun port



Now here is the Airfix cowl. A lot softer detail on the machine gun port



and no exhaust pipe



but in the end, both both can turn out looking alright. would be nice to see a new tooled SBD in 1/72 though

Small update on the Dornier,

Engines given a drybrush and wash.



Rear section fitted and washed, the exhaust rings have had a coat of citadel "Tin Bitz".



More soon.

Si

More on the Dornier, I have to say I am really enjoying this build, the level of detail and the fit are superb.

The wheel and flap bays and engine mounts sprayed.



Engines completed and mounted.





And the cowlings on.



More soon.

Si

A bit further on. I have progressed with the wings and added the gun hatches

As expected there are some fit issues. The upper bulge sits proud of the wing at both ends so will need filling. The hatches do not fit very well, partly moulding and partly me, The inner (non bulged) hatch needs filling as it is not visible on a 'b' wing as does the corresponding exhaust port for which a piece of plastic card has been glued over on the inside so it can be filled, Next step is to sand the wing to remove some detail as Spit wings were pretty flush.

The instrument panel has been begun, the first layer of paint has been added and the back sanded thinner. The panel decal has been added to the reversed insert but truth be known, it is not sticking very well but as it will be sandwiched between the panel and insert I am not too concerned, Next step will be to add the instrument glass which will be with Glue-n-glaze.

I have used Humbrol for the Green and Revell for the Black.

Onwards and aownwards

Damn Si what a fantastic new mould kit from Airfix, the work you're doing that's just stunning .... adds Dornier to list of must have kits. Damn you Airfix my wallet is barely holding it's own!

The USAirfix Schwalbe is finished. Since the decals from the original kit were missing, I took it upon myself to make it a what if? Me-262. I based it on Russian Liberation Army aircraft listed on Wings Palette with an alternate history twist. So that's how I came to build an Me-262 of the Ukrainian Liberation Army, under German command.

Nice build Martyn!
Please post photos in campaign gallery.

I have thrown my hat into the ring. Last built a model 38 years ago and it was glued together with decals added and that was it. Always been interested but have a lot to learn. Just bought 1:72 Curtiss P-40B Warhawk and a Mitsubishi Zero dogfight double. Please be patient and happy to receive advice. Happy modelling!
Brian