Dan the Exile

These are the markings opyions, on the left (top in picture) is all over grey-green and right is green on top grey green underneath. Old style instructions in black and white!

Just finished this this evening. Built out of the box, brush painted with Humbrol enamels, the original decals disintegrated and were badly out of register anyway, so I used a Modeldecal set, which are actually for an FB.2 but I'm not that much of a rivet counter so it doesn't bother me.

I found it. Still in good condition, decals look in good condition form their age. Still in the plastic bag.

Hi all, I am feeling inspired and will build the age old Airfix Aichi D3A1 Val. If I can find it in the attic. Regards Dan

I don't know what's next I have a Revell EC145, Heller Jaguar A, Airfix F-5E, and Airfix B-26 in various stages of completion (all in 1:72). I think the next Matchbox may be the Royal Navy Phantom as I have some other Fleet Air Arm stuff completed. But I will try and post pictures as and when I get to it. Dan

It is finished, some not brilliant pictures below. I will try and do some better final pictures. Feel free to comment.

I've had success with cockpits by keeping lots of empty blister packs. They normally have lots of curved sections that can be fashioned into many glass cockpits, plus they tend to be quite clear. It's just a matter of finding the right one. Dan

There is one on ebay from the UK Matchbox 1:72 Me410 Regarding my panel method, I developed it because I am not willing to spend money on a kit and then spend even more buying parts for it that add to more than the cost of the original (I am also a cheapskate!) Dan

This is my build of an old Matchbox kit, so old it even has Swasticas on the decal sheet. But I have to admit I have a soft spot for Matchbox kits, for some reason they always bring a smile to my face. Cockpit was scratch built from plasticard and various small bits. Cockpit panels were printed on plain paper from photographs and glued on with PVA. Cockpit canopy was sawn open and replacement open windows were scratch built. Please feel free to comment. Dan

Really like the mud on the wheels, how did you do that?

Blimey, was just thinking about the museum earlier today, I also spent a lot of time there.. Although if you are Paul I am thinking of, I joined after you had left to get a real job at the airport. Anyway I was considering at some point building a diorama of the museum. The only major 1:72 item I don't have in my stash is the 7. Also use got to the end of the thread and saw the final product and wow.... Brings a lot of memories of the 7 back. Dan

Hi, Does anyone have the instructions for the Heller 1:72 Jagaur A that they could scan me a copy of? I am restoring/rebuilding a very old part build and I am missing the instructions. Dan

Wow, thank you for the comments, I have been away working all week, have come back tired and weary and these comments have definitely cheered me up. I will take on board the weathering comment and perhaps try something on a Heller Jaguar A that was partially built about 15 years ago that I am stripping and restoring. Dan.

Thanks for the feedback, I do prefer cleaner aircraft. I find a lot of weathering in 1:72 overdone for my taste. I have built about 10-15 kits over the last couple of months including finishing off some older stuff like this one. I'll get some others posted soon. Dan

I built a lot when I was younger and for various reasons stopped. I have attempted a number to times to restart my building. This model was originally started about 6 years ago and it is finally finished. Built OOB and hand painted with White Ensign Enamels. Please feel free to comment. Thanks for viewing Dan

I don't know of any in service shots of the Puma with the IAC. I would have thought as it was on lease for a year only, the interior would have been fairly standard for the type so if you can find any source for another operator it might be ok. According to IrishAirPics register it was used for evaluating troop carrying and transporting food during the snows of 81/2. There was another Puma used by the Garda for the Popes visit in 79, there is decals for this on the latest Max Decals sheet. I don't think it was assigned a IAC serial number. Did you get the Whirlybits resin kit? For the daup

I thought the whole point of selling glass jars was for storage! D'oh, even more reason for an efficient method of transferring paint. Thanks for the info though.

Thanks for the tip, I will try and contact them for more details. The important bits are the underside where there seems to be two different 'pods', plus there is a deck harpoon for ship operations. If I get some info I will post it for anyone who is interested. Dan

I have just invested in fairly basic Revell airbrush, and was looking for a little advice. What is the best way to get paint from a 14ml tinlet to the glass bottle without too much mess and waste? For the often used colours I will probably buy some spare jars and mix a full tinlet for the airbrush. Some stuff will be occasional use and will need to be moved from a tinlet to a bottle. I was thinking about making a small plastic spoon/ladel that I can grab an amount and drop into the bottle then wash it into the bottle with my thinner of choice. If anyone has some useful tips/hints it would be

Does anyone know of a resin kit to correct the Matchbox/Revell Dauphin. I think it needs a winch, radar altimeter and deck 'harpoon' for ship operations. I need then to convert the kit to the Dauphin operatated by the Irish Air Corps. There used to be a Duarte resin kit (from Brazil) but I cannot find it anywhere these days. I am even struggling to find decent plans. If I had plans I could at least scrathbuild the parts. Thanks in advance Dan

Ahah, A very good review of the Anigrand Yak, it actually looks a lot better kit than I expected. Hmmm, where's my credit card. Congrats to Ken for a fantastic scratchbuild, I am humbled in your presence. Thank you for answering most of the questions I have not actually asked yet on soviet a/c. Regards Dan

Thanks for the useful links, very impressive research. I have heard of White Ensign, but I don't know how good their products are. However. considering I have about 10-15 Soviet aircraft to build at the moment I think their entire Soviet set would be a good investment. I noticed on the Lindenhill, Hobby-Plus paints were mentioned, are these available in the UK anywhere, as I can't seem to find them. Dan

I am currently working on a Soviet Naval Aviation collection in 1:72 and one of the types I am missing is the Yak-141. The only one I can find in the UK or Ireland is the Anigrand Craftswork model from Hannants.co.uk. However, it is priced at £45.70 Sterling, which seems a lot (even Fujimi don't charge that much). I was wondering if anyone had built it or knew what it was like, is it worth the price. I guess if I want a Freestyle I will have to pay, but I would like to know if I am going to be happy with it feel rather cheated. The only other option is to scrathbuild (I have seen someone on

Hi everybody, (This is my first post here.....I hope they don't shout at me!!) I need some help. I am currently building the Airfix 1:72 Flanker and the Italeri 1:72 Sea Flanker (alleged Sea Flanker), and before I dive in to the Sea Flanker I was trying to find what paint schemes are needed as I don't trust the correctness of "Western" models of Soviet aircraft. For the Airfix Flanker-B I have the Xtracolor Flanker set for the three colour standard scheme. The Italeri Sea Flanker quotes a four grey scheme (all US colours also) FS36231 36320 36440 and 36375. I am little suspicious of this. A