Airfix Model World | The builds
CHEERFUL ‘CHIPPIE’
See Chris Jones giving Airfix's brand-new 1/48 de Havilland Chipmunk a thorough examination with lots of useful images of the kit inside. Read more here.
ANYONE FOR COFFEE?
Kev Baxter tackles MikroMir’s 1/72 Canberra T.17 straight from the box and enjoys using AK Interactive’s lacquer-based paints.
TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE
Björn Kågner is delighted with the simple construction of Tamiya’s recent 1/35 Valentine infantry tank, finishing the model to represent one of the thousands supplied to the Soviet Union.
WOLF PACK WARRIOR
With a package brimming with photo-etched metal and resin extras, Eduard’s limited-edition ‘Jugs over Germany’ is a one-stop shop for creating a 1/48 Republic P-47D Thunderbolt, as Richard Spreckley reveals.
ARMOURED CAT
Cristian Lupu goes Dutch with his build of Revell’s 1/35 Leopard 2A6NL, cladding it in standard NATO camouflage.
THE FLYING BRICK
New contributor Oleg Makhortov is charged with NuNu’s 1/24 replica of the Volvo 240 Turbo – winner of the 1986 European Touring Car Championship race at Hockenheim, Germany.
EYE IN THE SAUDI SKY
What happens when modellers attempt to re-create aircraft that were never actually built? Mike Grant constructs a proposed AEW project from Airfix’s 1/144 de Havilland Comet 4B and S&M Models’ resin conversion set.
BASIC BUILD: Das Werk's experimental Junkers EF-126
Garry Tobiss ponders three kits in one for a large-scale experimental Luftwaffe fighter: the Junkers EF-126 ‘Elli’, in 1/32 scale by Das Werk.
Garry Tobiss
THE RAF’S CUTTING EDGE
Bringing supersonic capability to match Soviet MiG-15s, the Canadair Sabre was an important aircraft for the RAF in the early Cold War period. A 1/48 representation is the latest addition to Airfix’s fleet of early jet fighters, built here by Alan Price.
A LIGHT IN THE DARK
Polish firm IBG Models’ recent 1/700 ships are a splendid way of transitioning from basic styrene kits to the use of photo-etched brass enhancements, as evidenced in its HMS Glowworm - built here by AMW's Stu Fone.
COMMEMORATIVE VIPER ZERO
Duncan Cooke examines the extra refinement available in Hasegawa’s limited-edition 1/48 Mitsubishi F-2A ‘Detail Up Version’.
BASIC BUILD: Modelling a World Class Corvette C5-R racer
Dr James Whalen outlines carbon fibre decal techniques while building Revell’s 1/25 Corvette C5-R in the 2003 Compuware livery.
SPITTING IMAGE
EXTRA IMAGES INSIDE: A delighted Chris Jones gets stuck into Eduard’s hotly anticipated 1/48 Spitfire Mk.I, not once, but twice!
TITCHY TANKETTE
Joe Turner tackles Bronco Models’ diminutive 1/35 Carro Armato L35/c, as fitted with the Swiss-designed Solothurn gun for North African operations.
Return of the Fire God
After a wait of almost 38 years, Airfix has released a newly tooled 1/72 Avro Vulcan B.2. Andy Davies takes a close look at what is on offer.
ACHTUNG, PANZERKNACKER!
EXTRA IMAGES INSIDE: Garry Tobiss puts Zoukei-Mura’s superb new-tool 1/32 Henschel Hs 129 centre stage -and raises the curtain on a production fit for a Bard.
BIRTH OF THE RAVEN
Hasegawa’s ageing 1/72 EF-111A Raven still earns its stripes, as Massimo Santarossa discovers.
OLIVER'S ARMOUR
Airfix’s return to the large-scale military kit market has been marked by a delightful newly tooled 1/35 Cromwell tank offering, according to Nick Shuttleworth.
COLD WAR SWINGER
In his first build for AMW, Matthew Porter takes his time to add aftermarket detail to Revell’s hefty 1/32 Tornado GR.1
AVIATION LEGEND
Dean Large tackles Dora Wings' newly tooled 1/48 Lockheed Vega 5B, which represents the record-setting aircraft flown by Amelia Earhart.
BOMBER IN DISGUISE
Discover junior modeller Adam Haven adding detail to Tamiya's 1/48 Mosquito FB.VI. Model here. See the full list of pictures and the step by step guide.
TORPEDO TWIN
Stuart Fone takes a look at the 1/72 Bristol Beaufort Mk.I and assembles his very own model. See all the pictures and the step by step guide here.
PROP-POWERED PUPPY
What do Hobbits, Gnomes and puppies all have in common? Jay Blakemore finds out when he builds a 1/32 Sopwith Pup from New Zealand-based firm Wingnut Wings.
HORIKOSHI’S HOT ROD
Andy Davies enjoys a successful carrier ‘launch’ with Clear Prop Models’ superb late-version 1/72 Mitsubishi A5M2b Claude.
Weather beaten
If decals can be said to enliven a model, then weathering is the way in which builders add ‘character’ by varying the finish to represent the effects of climate and/or usage.
Marvellous Markings
Decals can supply the finishing touch to a project. Here we offer advice on how to get the best from kit markings.
Bring on the brush!
Painting can be one of the most rewarding aspects of a build, with the potential to transform a monotone model into a technicolour delight.
Smooth building
One of the first steps taken by a modeller when advancing from ‘building for fun’ to more complex projects is the elimination of joins/seams. Here we examine how to achieve this.
Let there be light!
This month we look at how to enhance the moulded detail on cockpit interiors via dry-brushing techniques and dark-toned washes, with the adage ‘less is more’ being a key rule of thumb.
Colour Dilemmas
One of the most common questions posed to Airfix Model World concerns when to start adding paint to a model. As this month’s Back to Basics reveals, there’s no simple answer.