Quite a big turnout this month. Crispen turned up with a pile of boxes but, strangely, John Rose only brought one work in progress (W.I.P.). I brought along my Tamiya M10 Achilles of which I am quite proud only to find that Jeff Adams brought along his M10 so mine will obviously have some serious competition - not that we have any competitions in the Clacton Club. Anyway, let's get on. First off is the usual video which this month is --- you guessed it - Jeff's M10!
OK so let's now have a look at what everybody brought along.
John Rose
John normally brings along some nice finished armour but this time all we had was a W.I.P. This is a Hobby Boss kit in 1/35th which models a Panzer IV Tauch (extra armour) sporting a very high snorkel tube. It seems that the idea of this was to aid an invasion of Britain. The tank is supposed to run under water but, as the English Channel is over 20 metres deep (66 feet) this was never going to work. Fun to look at though.
John Ovendon
John usually has a nice line in WWII armour but this time he presented us with a British (Afghanistan) FV510 Warrior. This is a Meng kit that was given to him by a relative so he felt duty bound to make it although he says that he doesn't't enjoy making modern armour. Amazingly, it is all plastic, including the grill. He found the blue glass a bit odd!
Jeff Adams
Jeff brought along two models. One is the M10 shown above.
This is an Academy 1/35th scale kit with the following extras: Blast Models storage; a Tamiya figure; a metal barrel and ammo from Armourscale/RB Models. All in all, a very nice rendition.
His second model was an amazing 54mm Historex mountedHussar from Napoleon's 6th Regiment in 1814. Amazingly, Jeff found that the horse (which comes in 2 halves) was too narrow so he widened it with some 40 thou plastic card. This, of course, meant that he had to widen everything else - a major rebuild. Then he had to use a pyrogravure to re-texture the fur on the jacket. Historex kits come with things like straps and webbing just as a length of material and it all has to be cut and glued in place. Personally, I have tried to make Historex kits ( going back to 1972) but have always failed!
Try right clicking on the image and see it in another tab or window in full size.
Crispen Block
I am a bit embarrassed here because, although I got a picture of Crispen's pile of kits, I didn't understand the explanation so if anyone can fill me in, I will correct this post. here is the picture. Crispen looks bit fierce and Andrew a bit bemused but there we are.
Bill Banks
Bill brought along a North American P-51D Mustang built from an Airfix kit in 1/72nd scale. Bill always gives me a script about his models as he always does some investigation into them. He said:
"A good kit for an attractive aircraft.It went together well. Any difficulties were of my making.
This aircraft was designed to a specification provided by a British Equipment Procurement Division. Based on RAF requirements.The result was an excellent aircraft almost straight from the drawing board. The major drawback was the Allison engine.The introduction of the RR Merlin transformed it into a world beating fighter. It had massive fuel capacity with drop tanks enabling bomber escort to the target and back.
The Merlin was made under license by Packard. The Mustang saw service in many forces until 1979. Many are in private hands now. It was credited with 4950 kills. 15586 were constructed with many post war variants as well as constructed in Australia post war."
Gordon Fisher
Gordon, at my request, brought along a little diorama that I missed photographing last meeting. It is of a Spitfire and a Merlin engine supposedly on display in amuseum. The kit is from Airfix in 1/72 and the people and OO model railway figures.
David Pennington
I showed my Tamiya 1/35th scale British M10 Achilles which differed from the one shown by Jeff by having the fabulous 17pounder gun which could knock out pretty much anything the the German's had. Again, unlike Jeff's model, the Tamiya kit comes with storage, ammo, etc. Unfortunately, the 50 cal. machine gun got broken in transit so that will have to be refitted. The base was made from some spare 5mm foam core and three green scrubbing squares. Put together with a coat of Sculptamold and some scenic accessories like Lichen, it is a fair representation of the Bocage in Normandy. I have written at article for the club web site so check that out.
We had a discussion about the brass plaques that both Jeff and I had (mine hadn't arrived when I took this picture). Mine came from eBay and cost £1.98 whilst Jeff's came from Argyll Engraving Gifts and cost 99p - both of these including postage! Mine was 50mm x 25mm. I don't know the size of Jeff's plate.
John Teagle
John showed us two nice Tamiya W.I.P. in 1/35th scale. The first was a nice little Universal Carrier (or Bren Gun Carrier as you wish).
The second was Tamiya's Quad tractor and 25pdr. A universally loved kit topic.
We look forward to seeing these when they are finished.
Peter Carlo
Peter was given this kit of a Revel Mandalorian Razor Crest in 1/72nd scale(?). It turned out to be a big beast and now has lights in the cockpit etc so it looks very impressive. The base is the lid to a box that his wife donated! Peter has written a short article about this build. I will e-mail everyone when it is available.
Peter Terry
Last of all, Peter had built an Italeri Hellcat in his usual 1/72nd scale. It was made out of the box but has been weathered to match that in a series on the Smithsonian TV channel. The weathering was done with pastels. The base was very cheap and purchased at the Milton Keynes or Ely show (can't remember which) from Basic Bases - unfortunately, I cant find a web site so keep your eyes peeled at the next show.
Finale
That's it. lots to see and talk about. A very good night. We did discuss having an Annual General Meeting as we have missed them since Arthur Banyard hasn't been able to make it to the meetings. Next time, maybe.
Lastly, don't forget that the comment against Jeff's Historex figure applies to any image: "Try right clicking on the image and see it in another tab or window in full size."
Well, it was a bank holiday so it wasn't the fullest meeting that we have had. However, there were some nice models on the table and a member with an interesting story to tell. I got so involved in discussions that I forgot to make a video so we will have to do without this month.
Models on the table
Bill Banks
Bill brought along a nicely finished 1/48th scale Airfix Hawker Fury. Bill thought that it was a recent kit but Peter tells us that it is an old kit with new decals. It was nicely finished with the radio aerials being made from Easyline (Bill wished he had a heavier version as they are difficult to see). He also did the rigging of the undercarriage using stretched sprue. Discretion became the better part of valour when it came to rigging the rest of the plane.
Bill sent me a description on the model and some details about its service.
"The prototype is the restored aircraft in Duxford.K5674 The colours are 43 Squadron based at Tangmere. There were two further Squadrons 1 and 25 .This was the first RAF aircraft to exceed 200 mph. FURY !! with merlin engine exceeded 220 mph. Many were sold around the world...even Jugoslavia...first time ever mentioned in Janes. By 1938, the Spitfire and Hurricane were on the scene. The days of biplanes and firing through the prop were over. However the Swordfish and the Gloster Gladiator went on through the war with effect.
The kit is dated 2012 but Peter assures me it is much older.Judging by the flash I believe him.
The kit intended the in line engine to be in the front behind the prop where else...mission impossible. I intended to rig it using John's stretched sprue..but there was scant info except on the box art. That involved drilling wings and fuselage plus some double wires between undercarriage and upper wing. Better luck next time. Overall an interesting kit."
David Pennington
David had a bf109-E3 from Airfix in 1/72nd scale. He was given this kit by Peter some months ago. He hasn't built a German WWII fighter since he was a boy so this was a bit of a step into the semi-unknown. Everything went very well until it came to the canopy. Having had other hobbies filling up his modelling desk, he looked for the little packet with the canopies within in vain so it is shown here without.
He was told that, if he asks Airfix nicely, they will send him a replacement in exchange for a few pieces of eight.
John Ovendon
John showed us a nice PzKfw IV in 1/35th from a Revell kit.He tells me that this kit was first boxed by Revell in 1974 so it is of a good age. However, it has been a nice model to make but is still work in progress. he said how nice it was to open a box and find just two sprues. He also was pleased not to have to make lots of decisions regarding the various changes for the differing types in the box.
Peter Carlo
Peter displayed two more of his, obviously, extensive collection of modern 1/48th scale jets.
The first one was a Kitty Hawk SEPCAT Jaguar GR3 in RAF Desert Storm colours. "Very nice; good fit but complex undercarriage". He is sad that Kitty Hawk are no more so their kits are becoming difficult to find.
Secondly, he showed us a Douglas A4M Skyhawk from Hasegawa. "Again, nice kit; needed filler round the intakes; typically no stories so a raid on the spares box was required". My comment - Peter, every Skyhawk kit, in my experience, needs filler round the intakes - a bit like Harriers as well!
Peter Terry
Peter once again showed solidarity with the Ukraine by showing an ICM 1/72nd scale MiG 29. To improve the look of the aircraft, he purchased a 3D ladder as an add-on. He did point out that the ladder's price was 50% of the price of the kit!
John Teagle
John didn't bring along a model but he did have an interesting story. He had not been well earlier in the day and we were all sympathising with him until we heard why. It seems that, through a relation, he was on the Battle of Britain Heritage flight Avro Lancaster when it did the flypast earlier that day over Buckingham Palace. He had a bad attack of the stomach wobblers when the Lanc. did a few tight turns over Lowestoft whilst waiting for the Spitfire, etc. to formate! Oh dear, how sad, never mind! to quote an old BBC army comedy. Still, what a lucky bloke. Wish we could all have been there. It made a great end to the Platinum Jubilee day!
That's all folks!
Don't forget that the next social meeting on 23rd June. Bring a work in progress for the evening and lots of inane chat.
David
P.S. Don't forget that you can double click on the images to see larger versions.
Well, it was a long way to go - a good 2 hours in the car and I was lucky that I wasn't involved in the set up as some of them were up at 5am! The stand looked very good. I have just got a new camera so the video I took could do with some adjustments. Hopefully, I will have it licked in time for the next club meeting.
Apologies for the video as it is a brand new camera and I am still getting to grips with it.
Anyway, it was a well attended show with innumerable club stands and more trade stands than you could mention. I managed to purchase one kit (Tamiya 35366 - M10 Achilles) at a good price. I was looking for some suitable paints when I came across my old friend Jon Paige on his Sphere stand. It seems that he isn't doing any more shows, which is a pity. However, he did me a great deal on some Vallejo British armour and some German tri-colour sets.
I took a few photos of the stand as well. Unfortunately, John Ovendon and John Teagle were off out enjoying themselves leaving Peter Terry and John Rose to attend the stand. I must say, they both look very busy! (I think that this is the first time since I have known John Rose (around 2005!) that I got a picture of him without him giving me a rude sign!). You can double click on all the images to see a bigger version.
A busy night tonight. There was lots to see and lots to say. I got a bit bogged down so missed making the "Featured model" video so once again you are getting mine as I could take it on the next day.
This is an Eduard 1/144th scale "Tante Ju" or Junkers Ju-52 as it is better know within the WWII German Army.
Ok so back to the table in alphabetical order:
Bill Banks
Bill, as usual, made a lot of work for himself by tackling an Airfix Fairey Swordfish. He thought that it was a re-pop of an old kit but Peter informed him that it dated from 2012 so Bill was quite surprised that it was a "difficult" kit. Mind you, he made it more difficult by deciding to fold the wings. This boy likes a challenge. When I can get it done, he has written up a short note about the build. It depicts an aircraft from 822 squadron H.M.S. Courageous c1939.
David Pennington
David's entry was a minute 1/144th scale model of a Junkers Ju52 (know as "Tante Ju" by the soldiers dependent upon it for supplies). This is from an Eduard kit. The only extra needed was the swastika.
Jeff Adams
Two of Jeff's usual astounded models. The first is an early Panther Ausf A from Dragon in 1/35th scale. Jeff says it was "mainly out of the box but with ATAK resin zimmerit anti-magnetic paste."
Jeff's second model harks back to my youth when I was a foolish enough to toy with a Historex Imperial Guardsman. I gave up as making all the belts and slings defeated me. Not so Jeff, though. If you don't know, all of the belts and horse rigging all come in wide sheets of fabric leaving it to you to cut them to width, length andd paint them. Full marks to Jeff for this example of a Waterloo campaign Light Dragoon, 1815.
Don't forget to double-click on these images to see them win their full size glory. From there, you can click on ctrl+ (or command+ on a Mac) to enlarge them even further!
John Ovendon
John is another one that does beautiful work with German armour. His two contributions for tonight were both in tri-coloured camouflage with a winter wash and heavily weathered. The zimmerit on the Panther is made up from wood filler and some Humbrol model putty! First up is a Meng 1/35th scale Panther (or PzKfw V) Ausf A (which, John says, has too many parts!).
The second model is a PzKfw IV Ausf G. which is an Airfix boxing of an Academy kit.
John Rose
I have to admit that I got confused with John's four contributions to the table so I will list them as he wrote them down and then put of the images so you can work them out for yourself.
Amusing Hobbies Panther II - he says "amusing is correct - parts are not too easy to put together."
Dragon Panther II - evidently this has a different turret from the one above (later, he says).
Dragon Panther 37mm anti-aircraft tank
Italeri BergePanther - this one may be obvious 😆😆.
Peter Carlo
Peter admitted, at the meeting, that his big interest is post-war jets. I would never have known - grin. Here, he a brought along two Israeli examples. First up is a Revell F15E Strike Eagle in 1/48th scale of which he says it was a nice kit and built from the box but with the usual Revell instructions.
The second model was a Kinetic F-16 - again a nice kit but with lots of spares left over!
You have seen nothing until you have seen the underside of these modern jets that Peter builds. Have a look at these two.
Peter Terry
This is an Airfix Sabre Dog, or more exactly an F-86D in 1/72nd scale built from, as Peter puts it, a "golden oldie" boxing. Peter mentioned that Airfix are to shortly release a new moulding but I didn't record the scale.
News
Peter tells us that Airfix are shortly to release the K2Y WWII ambulance in 1/35th scale which is eagerly awaited. Unfortunately, Airfix have not obtained the rights to "Ice Cold In Alex" so it will be left to 3rd party suppliers to meet the needs of the correct decals and figures!
