1/72 RAF WW 2 Kit list

I enjoyed putting together the USAF kit list so I made up some more lists. First is the RAF WW2 kit list. I've selected the most important aircraft with four digit production figures (some early types less) and tried to find the best kit available in terms of accuracy and detail. I must say that I was a little surprised to see how little interest the big manufacturer shows for English ww2 aircraft’s These lists are work in progress and I will update them from time to time.

AW 38 Whitley - Fly, New kit 2011

Avro Lancaster - Revell, Hasegawa

Avro Anson - Special Hobby, Multimedia kit

Boulton Paul Defiant - MPM

Bristol Blenheim - MPM

Bristol Beaufort - Special Hobby, Multimedia kit.

Bristol Beaufighter - Hasegawa

DH Mosquito -Tamiya

Fairey Swordfish - Airfix, New kit 2011

Fairey Battle MPM, Multimedia kit.

Fairey Albacore - MPM, Multimedia kit

Fairey Fulmar - Airfix

Fairey Barracuda - Special Hobby, Multimedia kit

Fairey Firefly - Special Hobby, Multimedia kit

Gloster Gladiator - Sword, Multimedia kit

Gloster Meteor - Dragon

HP Hampden - Valom, Multimedia kit

HP Halifax - Revel New kit 2011

Hawker Hart - AZ-Models

Hawker Hurricane - Hasegawa, AZ-Models

Hawker Typhoon - Academy

Hawker Tempest - Academy

Short Sunderland - Italeri New kit 2011

Short Stirling - Corgi Die-cast New 2011

Supermarine Walrus - Valom, Multimedia kit

Supermarine Spitfire - Tamiya, AZ-Models

Vickers Wellington - Trumpeter

Westland Lysander - Pavla, Multimedia kit

Revell / Monogram 1 /48 Visible B-17G Flying Fortress

My B-17 has finally arrived from China. Unfortunately it got stuck in custom and I had to pay sales tax. I also ordered some decals and photo etch but these items seems to have been lost In the mail. I'm not going to put more money in the project so it's going to be a out of the box build.

I have decided not to use the clear fuselage gimmick due to the loss of my ordered photo etch set but the supplied detail in the kit is good enough for a conventional build.

The surface detail is composed of fine raised lines and some rivet but this is totally wrong and the surface should be riveted all over so I guess they should have hired the “Mad Riveter” from Airfix for this one ;-)

New purchase in August

My girlfriend and I flew to London for a couple of days vacation and I took the opportunity to do some shopping at Model Zone.

Airfix 1/48 Spitfire Mk XII

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Airfix 1/72 Harrier GR7/GR9

Airfix 1/48 Seafire F.XVII

1/72 USAF / USN

I made a list of all important fighters and bombers of the USAF and USN with the best, to my knowledge, corresponding kits in 1/72 scale . My intention is to build a collection of the most important types. However for the big bombers I will choose the 1/144 scale. Some models, like the F-102, are only available as old out dated kits and for these I may be using ready made die-cast models. I will not be building multiple sub types unless dramatacly different in shape like for example the F-84 Thunderjet and the F-84 Thunderstreak.



* = Raised panel lines ** = Recessed panel lines *** = Die-Cast model **** = Resin kit

Early Jet Fighters
F-80 Shooting Star - Sword**
F-84 Thunderjet - Tamiya**, Academy**, HobbyBoss**
F-84F Thunderstreak - PJ-Production****
F-86 Sabre - Fujimi**, Hobby Boss**, Airfix**
F- 89 Scorpion - Revell**
F-94 Starfire - Emhar**

Century Series
F-100 Super Sabre - Trumpeter**
F-101 Voodoo - Revell**
F-102 Delta Dagger - Hasegawa* , Hobby Master***
F-104 Starfighter - Hasegawa**, Revell**
F-105 Thunderchief - Trumpeter**
F-106 Delta Dart - Hasegawa* , Hobby Master***

Late Jet Fighters
F-15 Eagle - Hasegawa**
F-16 Falcon - Hasegawa**
F-22 Raptor - Fujimi**, Revell**, Hobby Boss**

Attack aircraft
F-111 Aardvark - Hasegawa**
F-117 Nighthawk - Hasegawa**
A-10 Thunderbolt II Italeri / Revell**

Bombers 1/144 Scale!
B-36 Peacemaker - Hobbycraft**
B-45 Tornado - Anigrand Craftswork**** (Bonus model with the Convair XB-46 kit)
B-47 Stratojet - Academy**
B-52 Stratofortress - Revell**, Minicraft**
B-57 Canberra - Amodel**
B-58 Hustler - Academy**
B-66 Destroyer - No 1/144 kit. I settle for the A-3 Skywarrior.
B-1 Lancer - Panda/Dragon**
B-2 Spirit - Revell*

USN

Fighters
F2H Banshee - Academy**

F3H Demon - Emhar**
F3D Skyknight - Matchbox*
FJ-4 Fury - Emhar**
F4D Skyray - Tamiya**
F7U Cutlass - Fujimi**
F8U Crusader - Academy**
F9F Panther - Hobby boss**
F9F Cougar - Hasegawa*
F11F Tiger - Hasegawa*
F-4 Phantom II - Hasegawa**, Fujimi**
F-14 Tomcat - Fujimi**, Hasegawa**
F/A -18 Hornet - Academy**

Attack Aircraft
A-3 Skywarrior - Hasegawa**
A-4 Skyhawk - Fujimi**
A-5 Vigilante - Trumpeter**
A-6 Intruder - Hasegawa**, Italeri**
A-7 Corsair II - Hobby Boss**, Fijimi**

US Marine Corps Aviation

AV-8 Harrier II - Hasegawa**

Airfix Sea Harrier FRS. 1

I've just finished construction of the major fuselage parts and wing on the Airfix new Sea Harrier FRS.1 and decided to share some first impressions. The plastic used in Airfix new kits are very soft and parts damages easily when removing them from the sprue. The trick is not to cut to close to the part and to trim of the last bit with a sharp blade. To get a good fit between the fuselage parts you need to trim and dry fit the cockpit assembly, parts 8b, 9b, 39b and the air duct assembly or use clamps and filler as I did. The Air intakes fits badly but the plastic is very soft and with some careful carving and sanding they blend nicely with the fuselage. I dry fitted the wing to the fuselage and the fit is good and the joint follows the natural panel lines so no filer is required.

To be continued...

I've just finished the model and the end result is ok. I think the panel lines are a bit heavy and the kit lacks in finesse but al the bits are there and It certainly looks right. The main landing gear was to long so I had to cut it of and shorten it and then there was the problem with the intakes otherwise I had no problem with the kit or the decals. I painted the plane with the new Humbrol Acrylic thinned with Tamiya thinner. I've heard that the new Airfix Harrier GR9 will be a more refined kit and I will certainly buy that one when it's available. See link: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=72925