While accuracy and convincing scale appearances are always impressive, sometimes the hobby can be a little less serious.
Italeri BAe Hawk T.Mk.1
This stunning 1/48 Hawk was something of a milestone for nine-year-old Nye Lake, as it was his first quarter-scale build and his first fully independent modelling project. Inspired by seeing the type at Eastborne Airshow, the kit was purchased at Scale ModelWorld and built out-of-the-box. After ‘stressful’ internal work, Tamiya tape and Vallejo tones were used to decorate the model.
Airfix Austin A35 Van
A rare kit that’s been released just twice, Airfix’s Wallace & Gromit Austin A35 van is nonetheless a smile-inducing model wherever it is seen. This example of the 1/12 scale offering was completed by John Butler, who enjoyed the freedom from checking colour matches and shading, plus added aftermarket toolbox and working lamppost detailing to complete the amusing scene.
Airfix Douglas C-47 Skytrain
Constructed as part of a Waveney Modellers Group theme build, David Murton’s diorama features Airfix’s 1/72 C-47 with resin upgrades as its centrepiece plus KP’s Piper P4 Dragonfly with PE cockpit enhancements. Other elements are an IBG Diamond T lorry, two Pegasus Model trucks, an Airfix Willys Jeep and Trailer plus figures from the Margate firm and 3DJson.
Airfix Austin K2/Y Ambulance
Perhaps a popular subject due to its appearance in the classic war film Ice Cold in Alex, the Austin K2/Y in ambulance form has been a sage choice for Airfix’s 1/35 kit. James More is another to have enjoyed the offering, positioning his example on a base representing North Africa during 1942.
Academy Hughes 500D TOW
Fook Weng Ng converted Academy’s 1/48 Hughes 500D helicopter from a military airframe to an example operated by a civilian tour agency for sight-seeing trips – complete with a striking livery.
Academy Dassault Mirage IIIR
Another kit from the Korean firm that Fook Weng Ng constructed was Academy’s quarter-scale Mirage IIIR, wearing Swiss markings.
LTD Models Dewoitine D.520
American company LTD Models specialises in multi-media kits of unusual types in 1/48 scale, with the Dewoitine D.520 French World War Two fighter among its range of offerings. This example was built by Fook Weng Ng wearing typical three-tone camouflage.
Nichimo Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu
Known to Allied forces by its callsign ‘Nick’, the Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu was built by Fook Weng Ng using the Nichimo 1/48 offering – the Japanese kit-maker is now defunct.
Tamiya Eurofighter EF-2000
Fook Weng Ng down-scaled to 1/72 for his take on Tamiya’s Eurofighter – as depicted before the ‘Typhoon’ moniker was adopted – from the firm’s War Bird collection.
Hasegawa/Mania Kawasaki Ki-27 ‘Nate’
This stunning take on the Ki-27 Nate produced by Mania and re-boxed by Hasegawa was the result of John Swarbrick’s handiwork. No decals were applied, with all the camouflage and markings painted, plus oil weathering used to add visual interest.
Italeri Vought F-4U-5 Corsair
Despite issues with the fit – particularly around the overly wide cockpit – Lim Ewe Gen enjoyed constructing Italeri’s 1/72 F-4U-5 in Korean War guise so much that the kit is one of his favourites.
Hobby Boss LTV A-7 Corsair II
Moving from the World War Two-era Corsair to the Corsair II jet, Lim Ewe Gen constructed the Hobby Boss 1/72 offering as a high-visibility example. Wings were cut and folding mechanisms scratch-built, cockpit detail added (including canopy mirrors) plus covers produced for the kit-supplied Sidewinder missiles.
Revell F-16D Tigermeet
Built straight from the box, this is Revell’s 1/72 F-16D in the livery used for the Turkish airframe attending the NATO Tigermeet event in 2014. The only change was repairing damaged static dischargers – these were broken accidentally and illustrated the soft plastic.
Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress
Peter Crossman completed this superb example of Airfix’s recent boxing of the 1/72 B-17G, with striking yellow panels. The model was painted with SMS acrylic lacquer paints, with exhaust staining added with Tamiya weathering powders plus panel lines enhanced with Flory Models clay-based wash.
Airfix Consolidated B-24J Liberator
Working with vintage kits can be difficult but rewarding work, as proven by Si Wheeler’s build of Airfix’s B-24J Liberator – the plastic dates from 1963, though this boxing is a 1975 iteration. Plastic card was used to blank turrets, shapes were corrected, aerials added, and undercarriage enhanced with Eduard components. Painting involved Humbrol aerosols prior to gloss varnish and DK Decals markings for the 100 Gp RAF livery.
Airfix Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3
Despite being a starter set, this small-scale Bf 109 from Airfix caused Tom Wiernikowski issues during construction due to small parts that were easily damaged. The aircraft depicted was flown by Werner Pichon-Kalau von Hofe of III./JG 51, based in France during 1940, with Tamiya paints, Winsor & Newton oils plus Tamiya weathering powders used for decoration.
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