BradG

Wow, cool.

What does that mean mike lol?

I can't understand the hate for Tamiya decals, I've never had a problem with them and infact, I find them to be some of the best decals to use. I lay them over a good amount of Mr Mark on the surface (gloss coated surface), let them soak a little then press them down. It's the Hasegawa decals I dislike, mostly because they yellow very quickly.

Picked up the old Hasegawa Spitfire Mk Vb in 1/32 second hand so I can take the De Havilland prop and spinner out along with the internally armoured windscreen for the Hobby Boss kit. I picked the HB kit up for 30% off, so I kept to my own rule of never paying retail for Hobby Boss or Trumpeter models again.

Yeh I agree, it's a great book and the decal sheet would have been perfect to include since it prompted me to go out and buy a Spitfire kit.

I've been buying aftermarket stuff lately. Griffon Models etch set for a schnellboot in 1/72 which I plan to use for U-flak 1, some 20mm cannons for a spitfire in 1/32 and 1/48, some 1/32 IJA seat belts, 1/35 decals for Finnish T-34's and some turned barrels for the Prinz Eugen in 1/350 to replace the pretty average ones in the Trumpeter box.

I have a couple of the old RSO tractors with the enclosed cab that I bought for about 20 bucks each before the new Dragon model was announced. The only aftermarket links I can get a hold of are the metal Fruil tracks and these would cost me about 5 bucks less than just buying the new Dragon kit! I really don't want to get these as I might as well throw these Italeri kits out then. So in the best traditions of being a tight wad, any ideas on how to make rubber band tracks look better with sagging etc? Also since they are molded in silver, what paint will stick the best, enamel or acrylic?

Ok these aren't mine, they are Keith's; or as I call him, dad. I pretty much got my interest in aviation, history, model kits and strange colour schemes from dad. First is his Buchon he built well before there was a resin conversion of them. The basis of the kit is the Matchbox 109E fuselage with the Revell 109G wings. The nose was made from balsa wood along with auto body filler. The prop was made from the kit prop, with a scratch built extra blade and spinner. I think this model was built when I was in either prep or kindergarden, making it 25 years old. Second is the captured Spitfire Mk Vb that had a DB engine fitted. The kit is the old Revell Spitfire Mk 1 with the engine, prop and spinner from the 109G used for the Buchon. This kit is about 33 years old, making it older than me! Dad doesn't build anymore, his interest is in the historical stuff these days.

This is the Dragon kit that I picked up from the LHS scratch and dent sale for half price. It's a good kit, with a lot of detail inside and out, but I chose not to build the drivers compartment and engine bay as they can't be seen when it's buttoned up. This machine was captured in Italy in 1943.

That's a good job, but I assume it doesn't live on the dining room table, so where do you keep such a beast of a model?

Cracking good save!

Damn, that's fantastic.

That's a nice lineup of warbirds.

Looks pretty sweet.

Looks fantastic.