February 2023

 I am sorry but I missed last month's blog but am now back in harness. I still can't get to the meetings and it looks like a situation that will not change for the foreseeable future so I am reliant on Peter Terry for details of the meeting and, this month, to Andrew Stacey for the images - with his new camera!

First up is Peter Terry with two nice Airfix Royal Navy Phantoms on Ark Royal in his usual 1/72nd scale. 

Andrew Stacey returned after having a new knee fitted (I nearly spelled that as knew knee!), not only with a new camera but with a nice 1/56th scale Panther (no mention of a manufacturer unfortunately).

Gordon Fisher, who is still e-mail-less I guess, showed us an unusual 1/200th scale Tamiya A-7 Corsair which is quite an old kit.

John Teagle brought along a "work in progress" Kinetic 1/32nd scale F-86 Sabre.

Last up is Peter Carlo who showed us two models of disparate subjects. Firstly, was a 1/48th Airfix Royal Navy Blackburn Buccaneer which Peter said was an enjoyable build and that he is looking forward to the Royal Air Force version.

Peter's second model was  a 1/35th scale British Army Centurion AVRE in Gulf War markings. My information is that it was a Meng or a Takom kit.

Lastly, Crispin Block gave a short talk on making large scale figures for very large scale armour and 88mm gun crews. I am sorry that I missed it.

That's that for the meeting. Don't forget that you can see large versions of these images by clicking on them. Use the back button of the browser to get back to the main blog page.

December 2022

 This is traditionally the Christmas meeting where Peter hands out Xmas cards. Well, I missed all that as of problems at home meant that I couldn't make the meeting. Everyone was saved my edition of Jingle Bells on my concertina! Thank you to John Ovendon for taking the photos and making all the notes. My not being there means that this will be a bit of a bland entry as I am not aware of all the little bits of conversation that go on.

Still, there we are. Off we go.

Bill Banks

Bill brought along a W.I.P. Revell Bismarck. I didn't receive anything extra from Bill so that is all I know.

Gordon Fisher

 Gordon brought two items along this month. The first was a W.I.P. Tamiya 1/100 scale LTV Corsair II. 

The second kit was a Supermarine S6B in 1/72nd scale. Gordon noted that it was a very basic old Airfix kit.

John Ovendon

John had three kits on the table this month, all of which were work in progress. Number 1 was an Sd.Kfz 234 Puma armoured car. This is from an Italeri kit in 1/35th scale.

Number 2 was a Cruiser Mk.II  for the 80th anniversary of El Alamein. Again this was W.I.P.

The last of the three was a Tamiya Matilda - again W.I.P.

Peter Carlo

Like John, Peter brought along 3 models. The first was an Hobby Boss LTV A7D. Peter's comment: "very nice kit - no filler". 

His 2nd model was an Hobby Boss Centurion Mk. 5 AVRE. Comment - very nice kit but complex to assemble.

Lastly, he brought along one of the new Tamiya McDonnell F4B Phantoms. He thought that this was an amazing kit but it had weak main undercarriage legs!

Peter Terry

Peter's contribution was an Airfix 1/72nd scale Fairey Firefly. Comment - "Built for Golden Oldies!"

Conclusion

Well, that's it. Let us all look forward to a great 2023 from a modelling point of view. I hope to see you all again next month.

David

November 2022

 Getting ready for Telford and the big IPMS Model Show. I have never been and don't expect to ever go but for some of our club members it is the high spot of the year. Lots of chat and late nights no doubt.  

First up though is the usual video of a selected model. We don't have competitions so I just choose one at random. Note to Peter Carlo, there is a limit to the size that will fit on the turntable - smile. Now, here is Peter Terry's nice little Fiat G50 from Airfix.

Now let's have a look at the table.

Bill Banks

Bill always sends me the "script" for his models so here goes: 

"Airfix kit scale 1.600 HMS Fearless L10. Amphibious assault craft. Also known as LPD (Landing Platform Dock) 12,100 tons. Launched in 1965 with sister ship HMS Intrepid.These served until 2002. They were the last steam powered vessels in the RN. Designed to carry 400 troops and up to15 Challenger tanks or 700 troops if no tanks were carried.

The first of its type, refitted in1991, scrapped in Belgium in 2007.

Replaced by Albion and Bulwark in 2003 and 2005. She served throughout the world in every military event involving the UK. In particular, the Falklands conflict where she was involved in rescuing crew from HMS Antelope which was torpedoed.A landing craft was lost by bombing. The ship was featured in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.

The kit was engineered in 1968....So very much a golden oldie and it did show it.The box should carry a warning. However in spite of being 54 years old, the build was interesting and taught me a lot. Particularly the difference with aircraft kits. I  intend to find a modern ship kit, not necessarily Airfix, of a larger scale.Fortunately the box had two sets of decals. Very useful. I think  that retailing a 54 year old kit is a bit cheeky but provides a subject not normally available."

David Pennington

I brought along a Revell F4U-1A Corsair from the Solomon Islands in 1944. This was an old kit, if the flash is an indication, but it went together very well. Like the Mustang last month, I lost the canopy so had to buy another kit. A few things. The decals tended to collapse so I was just as well that I had a 2nd kit. I lost one of the letter 3 that goes on the undercarriage doors and forgot that I had another sheet, It did eventually come to me. I also forgot to put any seat belts in so that was a bit of a fiddle once the kit was nearly finished. Lastly, this is my first use of EZ Line for the aerial wire between the post and the tailplane. Nice stuff.

John Ovenden

John is in prep mode for Telford and has put together a wonderful diorama based on an incident in the film "Fury". This has three Sherman's moving along a road and depicts a rescue mission. Behind the hedgerow is a disabled German armoured car with crew. Very nice and a lot of work plus a lot of investigation before hand. I must watch the film!

Peter Carlo

I often wonder where Peter keeps all his models! This time we had a real variety of three models. The first is very unusual. It is a German "end of the war" might have been. A Focke Wolf TreibFlügel in 1/35th scale by MiniArt. There was some discussions as to how it might fly without spinning itself into the ground. As it never actually got built, we will never know how it went.

Next up was an Italeri 1/48th scale Panavia Tornado in some very tricky Luftwaffe test scheme. The aircraft was set up in a marine ship attack form and these markings were supposed to help in that role. The markings are NOT decals so Peter had to mask and paint the whole lot!

Lastly, Peter brought along a Tamiya kit of a Flak Panzer "Gepard". His comment is that it  was "a typical Tamiya kit where everything was a nice fit"

Peter Terry

Peter always pleases us with his unusual 1/72nd models. This one is an Airfix Fiat G50 in Italian colours usually referred to as the "poached egg" scheme.  The scheme needed to be hand painted so, again, we have someone going the extra mile.

Finally

Don't forget that you can see larger copies of these images. Just 'right click' on an image and select "Open image in new tab' - at least that is what you do on a Mac with Safari but it will be similar on Windows and other browsers.

October 2022

 Quite a sparse meeting this evening with just 5 models on the table. It was good to see Richard Pearce back again after quite a long time. It seems that he has his own figure sculpting company now - Mookies Miniatures, one of which was on the table tonight.

We had a bit of a knock about conversation and then got down to the serious bits. Telford looms and most of the members are saving their pennies for that - pennies? Ha - more like 20s if I know them all.

Now to the models on the table. 

Bill Banks

Bill always gives me a "scrip" for his models so I just cut and paste that.

"Airfix 1;48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk XV111.in the colours of Western Command HQ Indian Air Force Delhi 1947.

There cannot be much more to say about spitfires! My copy of Janes stops at Mk XV1. however mMk XV111 had significant improvements. Cockpit layout to benefit the pilot, strengthened wings to carry rockets and bombs plus increased fuel capacity.

It was last in active RAF service Malaya 1954.

The Indian air force was established in 1932. Until 1947 it had the title Royal until India became a republic in1950."

David Pennington

David brought along a "four foot" model, which means that it should be looked at from four feet away! He intended to bring a Revell 1/72nd scale Chance Vought Corsair but somehow he lost the cockpit canopy. Instead, he bought a Revell P-51D Mustang, not realising that it was a kit from about 30 years ago! Lots of flash and only one decal option. Well, one of the undercarriage wheels came off so that was fixed with a small length of brass rod.  It wasn't too bad at the end but a bit rushed. It wasn't until he was packing for the club that he realised that he hadn't put the yellow tips on the prop blades so it was a close call!

Richard Pearce

Richard was always known for remodelling existing figurines and here was a good example. The Arnhem Gliider Pilot was a gift but he changed it around giving it the ceramic shield.

His second figure was one that he modelled himself. Well, that is something that I will never understand how to start, let alone finish! His painting is superb as well.

Peter Terry

With so little planes on the table you would have thought that it was impossible to have two the same but Peter brought along, guess what, a P-51D mustang! This time, it was an Italeri kit in the guise of the South African Air Force. It made mine look a little shabby but there we are.

Sum Up

In spite of the low numbers, it was a good evening, even though John Ovendon took some ribbing from me for not bringing anything. John - we missed your armour.

September 2022

 Well, I am back in harness. First off, we had a very welcome return of Paul Flower to the club. Paul seems to concentrate on F1 cars. This is a subject dear to my heart but he does great things. He brought along a absolute gem. It was a ModelFactory Hiroboy 1/20th scale mixed media Mclaren M7A  as raced by Denny Hulme. These kits are available to order only from Hiroboy UK and cost a lot of money - Paul admitted to £150 when he bought it some years ago but they are currently around the £250 mark. It is a mixed media kit in that it has parts made of white metal, resin and plastic so it requires skill and an adept hand with super glue to get it together let alone into the finish that Paul has achieved.

The Table

Bill Banks

Bill always gives me a "script" so here is his for this month's model.

"Lublin R -X!!! TER Polish Mirage model 1:48 Scale...Vintage...superglue essential!

Named after town of manufacture. Developed between 1933 and 1938. 288 produced. The float version served as survey and patrol aircraft for the Polish Navy in the Baltic. This was a a small fleet of 4 Destroyers 5 Submarines and various small vessels. The fleet limited by the depression years.

  The Army version had double wheeled sprung undercarriage with leading wheel. All powered by Wright Whirlwind radial engines. 

   By 1938 were obsolete and replaced by more advanced fighters such as P11 but still no match for the German fighters. However they fought bravely with some success. Advent of the Russians made war on 2  fronts impossible.

  The useful squadrons were dispersed to the countryside leaving obsolete machines on the tarmac.

   The flying force fled to France England Finland and USA.

  The Naval Force of 4 Destroyers escaped to Scapa Flow. ! submarine escaped to England without charts...4 were interred in the Baltic.All pilots and ships made a major contribution to the war effort."

David Pennington

David (me) brought along a 54mm white metal figure from Beneito-Hidalgo. This was a British Infantry Sergeant in the Zulu wars of 1879.

 David told how difficult  it was to get the model together as there are no instructions.

Gordon Fisher

Gordon brought along an Airfix 1/72nd scale Hunting Percival Jet Provost T4 - C flight, 79 Squadron No. 1 Tactical Weapons Unit at RAF Chivenor in 1989.

John Ovendon

John showed us a huge (!) Heller PzKfw III L. Why would anyone make a 1/16th scale tank? (Joke). He had made a really nice diorama base for it. Evidently, he is waiting for Alpine to bring out some 1/16th figures but he is concerned about the likely cost!

John Rose

He brought along a few of his "work in progress" PzKfw IV models. They are all 1/35th scale Dragon kits.

Lastly, he showed us  a nice one, still Dragon, of course.

John Teagle

Well, John placed two models on the table and all he could tell us was the obvious. 1/48th scale F-16 and F-18. Manufacturer ?? Any more details ??? He says that he can't remember any details. Nice models, though.

Peter Carlo

Peter  brought along a nice 1/48th scale Italeri S-3A Viking. His comment was "nice kit - not much filler at all"

Paul Flower

We haven't seen Paul for some time so it was good to see him again. I have already mentioned his model earlier but here are some photos. Check out the extreme detail.

Peter Terry

Peter is on a bit of a roll with Japanese WWII/China aircraft in 1/72nd scale. This one is an AZ Model of a K130 "Ann" from the Japanese Air Force in China 1938.

Any Other Business

Not having had an AGM for a couple of year due to the pandemic and the member who ran them so efficiently (Arthur Banyard) being indisposed, we really had to have one. If you blinked, you would have missed it. No-one stood against the current place holders so Peter Terry and Peter Carlo were re-elected as Chairman and Treasurer. Peter Carlo gave us his Treasurer's report. The club has a good working cash balance of £1,551.23. The only real expenditure items are the rent of the hall which is paid annually and a payment of £50 to me, David Pennington, which I use towards my £600 p.a. broadband cost (due to the need to run a server 24/7).