Completed B-1B, XB-70, IV-A, Vulcan & Hawk.

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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After a 25 year break from the hobby I have been back into it for about a year & a half now. Back in the day, I was always let down by the paint finish on my models (Humbrol enamels & whatever brush was available - I didn’t know such things as airbrushes existed), so this time round I decided to get an airbrush.

I am really enjoying being back to the hobby, the only downsides are that I am struggling with perfectly smooth filling, Future & the quality of the OOB Decals. Anywhows, here is what I have managed so far, all OOB with humbrol tube glue, Tamiya acrylics & Future.

Revell 1/72 B-1B

This was my 1st model in 25 years & my first use of an airbrush. With the exception of the rear fuse joins & the decals, it was really pretty good, although I do now regret not removing the forward camera housing & not going for aftermarket cans;

AMT 1/72 XB-70

A bit of a pig & pretty rudimentary, as is well documented & also took more coats of white paint than I care to remember. I forgot to mask the forward side windows & primed in Mr surfacer, so I decided to leave then covered white, I will at some point paint the windows in black possibly to make it look less obvious. The 2nd pic is with a BAE Red Arrows Hawk for comparison. It was kind of annoying that 6 months or so after paying GOOD money for this on Ebay that it was re-released - such is life;

Heller 1/72 Mirage IV-A

This was a complete french pig from start to finish, it was an oldie picked up on Ebay & was warped to the degree I doubted it would make a straightish kit, but it finished out OK;

Airfix 1/72 Avro Vulcan

The wing/fuse joint on this are a bit of a nightmare, as are the decals, otherwise no problems. It did take me four attempts to get the camo demarcation correct, but I know how now (what do you think).

Revell 1/72 BAE Hawk

This is one that my daughter (9) made with a little help;

I would like to take this oppertunity to thank all those who have either directly or indirectly assisted me with their advice over the last year or so. I would also like to thank my modeling companion (I only have the 1);

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Wow, what went wrong there, these all previewed OK?

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Wish I knew how to help with the photos, I really want to see them since most of them are on my “wish” list! Can you try posting them on another site (like a photo site) and link them?

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I seem to have the Photobucket thing sorted now, but can anyone advise how to get shot of the image icon & " border=“0” /> text?

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I got the majority of the photos and from what i can see youve banished your ‘dodgy paintjob’ demons. Thyre nearly all big subjects and theyve all come out fantastic. I especially like the Bone. Thaty is one monster of a kit. Looking at it the XB-70 looks equally as big and impressive.

Excellent work.

…Guy

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I see most of them now. Those are gorgeous! And you say you just got back into modeling? I wish my first few attempts would turn out that nice!

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Welcome back to model building. These are excellent models. You should be very proud of them. Thanks for posting the photographs.

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Welcome back, and I have to tell you that those are some impressive models you have built!

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I love the Hawk and and the Vulcan. The big Avro is a good addition to any collection. Based on your predeliction for biggies in 1/72 which is mine also, how about a Victor, a Valiant and TSR.2.

The Matchbox Victor is a really nice kit. Even though it’s a K, there’s easily room to make it a bomber.

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Milairjunkie,

It looks like you were able to overcome the problems that you encountered, they look great. [tup] I’m tempted to pull an Airfix B-1 or Vulcan out of the stash, but I don’t have anywhere to display one - they are huge.

When you copied the line from Photobucket to insert the pic, you selected the HTML Code line rather than the IMG Code line. Just copy the IMG Code line and paste it into your message text - you don’t have to add the IMG tahs manually, nor fo you have to use the “insert image” icon (the tree button) from the menu above.

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great looking builds! just 1 question, do you know when and where your avitar image was taken?

cheers, chris

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Great looking builds.

You did an amazing job on the Valkyrie, as I have heard nothing but bad things about that kit.

Karl

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Excellent builds. You’ve taken some very rough kits and turned them into something special. But if you keep building these huge kits you are going to need a big display case.[swg]

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Very nice Builds of some difficult kits. Thanks for sharing.

Regards, Rick

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Thank you for all your kind words.

bondoman

I have a Revell 1/72 Victor waiting to start, I plan to do the Black Buck version & may just have to do another Vulcan as Black Buck 607. I have previously looked on Ebay for a 1/72 TSR2, but the prices are a bit much at the moment - I also have a dilema in the fact that I also have a fetish for twins like the F-111, Vigi, IV-A…, which are a bit small in 1/72 -should I go 1/48??? Im sure you know what I mean.

With any luck Next weekend I will see the Red Arrows & Vulcan XH558 performing at Leuchars airshow - the Vulcan disn’t fly last year because of bad weather (its now civillian, so rules apply), so fingers crossed.

Phil-H

Thanks for that, I can now tidy the page up.

morefirejules08

That is Habu 17960 performing at Mildenhall airshow in 1986, the following year 17973 was overstressed beyond repair while putting on an equally over energetic display. 17960 now resides at Castle Air Museum in California, here is my avatar & another pic of the same from a different angle;

Thanks all again.

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Excelent work all around, especially that Valkyrie and Vulcan. Well done, you should be very proud of all of these builds. [^]

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i thought that was one of the mildenhall blackbirds, i was young when they left, 10 of 11 but remember when they “bent” one of them during an airshow, the story i was told is that they didnt realise the problem until they went on a mission at a silly mach number and experienced vibrations, your avitar brings it all back!! i really should build a mildenhall bird!!

cheers, chris

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I’m just building the 1/72 XB-70 myself, and after all I’ve heard about the poor fit and need for tubes and tubes of filler, I gotta say … it’s all true!

It looks like you’ve done a nice job on it. How about a few more pix?

Thanx
Pete

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Hi! and wellcome back to the hobby.

All the models looks great! more after 25 years! for me looks great!I like the Vulcan…

and don´t worry to much about perfect seams, perfects decals, perfect paint, etc etc… that comes with bench time…

best regards

Jeremias

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they look very nicce sometime(hopefully soon) im going to build Revell’s 1/48 B-1B