A Little Refresh

I’d been wanting to tidy my space for a few months. It had gotten dirty and disorganized.

So here is my little clean-up.

Some new shelves, more paint racks,.

But mostly just rearranging. After 5 years I had some ideas on how to improve my work flow. Of course, now I’m likely to loose time trying to remember all my new ideas…

I may have to spend a few more years on this!
Posted in Administrative | 4 Comments

Theme Build 5 – Complete

Spitfire

That took a lot longer than expected! As I mentioned at the start, the Eduard kit all of these planes were built from, is an involved and sometimes tricky build. Combine that with a few busy months and this got dragged out way too long.

Big change in the markings the last year of the War. The RAF decided to return to its peacetime insignia, with the yellow, blue, white and red roundel. Basically the high visibility version of the marking. Even more than that, its a brighter blue and red than the drab wartime insignia.

But the good news is I’m pretty happy with the results. It also gives me two Mk II and two Mk XVI, sub-types I previously had none of. Neither is hugely important, I don’t expect I’ll build any more of either type. But here they are.

Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIa

Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIb

Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVIe

Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVIe (bubbletop)

I also like that this basically was two early and two late aircraft. So we see a lot of how the Spitfire and its markings developed.

I’ll admit the embarrassing fact I have enough Spitfire “Dual Combo” kits to revisit this theme three more times! But it will be a couple years.
For now, I’ll build a couple of armored cars. Look for a new theme later this Spring.
Coming Soon… Trainers

Posted in Theme Build | 8 Comments

Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVIe

A different look appeared for the last Merlin Engined Spitfire produced during the War.

Let’s take a brief look at the end of the line.

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Posted in Britain, Fighter, New Zealand | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Curtiss Tomahawk Mk IIb

Here’s a type we all know well. Right?

Let’s take a look at a familiar type, that gets more than a little confusing in knowing where it actually fits into the grand scheme of things!

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Posted in Britain, Fighter, USA | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Messerschmitt Bf 110C

The first major production of Messerschmitt’s famous “Zerstorer” was in extensive use from the start of the War.

Let’s look at an example that fell, along with the type’s reputation, during the Battle of Britain.

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Posted in Fighter, Germany | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

Mitsubishi A6M3a Model 22 Zero

The greater Solomons Campaign extended from the final securing of Guadalcanal in February 1943 until the major Japanese base at Rabaul was isolated and reduced to impotence in early 1944. Arguably even longer, fighting continued on several of the islands to the end of the War, after it no longer mattered to the outcome.

Let’s take a look at a combatant from Summer of 1943.

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Posted in Fighter, Japan | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

OptiVisor

I’m not normally big on product placement or advertising, but I did want to mention this new gadget. And no, it’s not really new! The product has been around for so many years it has number of copy-cats, some are better regarded than the original.

But this is new for me. Sort of a concession to getting older. I’ve found myself often just taking my glasses off when working on models, maybe I need a new prescription (!). But trying to find the sweet spot and actually see some of what I’m working has become problematic.

Not only a useful tool, but so stylish!

So my wife gave me the OptiVisor for Christmas, she got one with a light attachment. Talk about a difference maker! Holy Smokes this helps me see a lot more fine detail. It’s only 2x magnification which may sound minor. But it seriously lets me see small parts, seams, alignment issues that I’ve been blind to. And its so easy to use. The band is easily adjustable for the balance of comfort and security that works best for the user, and the visor part flips up and down so easily it barely warrants a thought.
I’ve even been a little surprised that the light attachment seems unnecessary, I’ve not attached it yet. Just that little bit of magnification makes all the difference for seeing what you need to.

Highly recommended for anyone over 30. Or seriously, 14 if you wear glasses.

Posted in Miscellaneous | 17 Comments

Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVIe

The final Merlin-engined Mark of Supermarine’s famous product entered service in October 1944 and remained in service until well into the post-War period.

Let’s look at a late War Spitfire.

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Posted in Britain, Canada, Fighter | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Vought F4U-1a Corsair

I imagine this type needs little introduction.

Let’s take a look at a Corsair flown by the type’s most famous pilot.

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Posted in Fighter, USA | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

Lockheed P-38J Lightning

Perhaps the single most famous P-38 of all time. Let’s take a look at a Lightning flown by the top US ace of all time.

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Posted in Fighter, USA | Tagged , , | 13 Comments