Modeling Bug Bites..and a kit clean out

[Naki]

I have fiddled around with kits for years and made quite a few when I was younger but haven't made any in the last few years except for a 1/48th scale Tamiya Dauntless (RNZAF) which is still not finished.

I have been inspired by the many models here (especially Callums and Anthonys) and the bug has bit again although I now want to concentrate mainly on 1/48th scale RNZAF fighter and trainer aircraft of WW2 and the 1950s....... and 1940s to 60s warbirds/trainers I have seen at recent airshows.

With that in mind I have ordered a Tamiya 1/48th P-51D which I intend to do in RNZAF Wellington colours (Ventura), which I think is good starting kit and hopefully I will finally finish the Dauntless.

Thinking ahead (I need more hours in a day!) I have the following models in mind (after heaps of research):

Hasegawa P-40N with Aeromaster decals (luckily I picked up a copy of the P-40 decals a few years ago) - this will replace an AMT P-40N kit I already have.

Tamiya F4U1D Corsair with Ventura decals (I have heard the roundels are a bit light though - would that be the general opinion?) or Aeromaster decals if I can find them

Tamiya Spitfire MkV - in some ways I would prefer a MkIX or a XVI low back but the Tamiya Spitfire MkV would be appear to be the best Spitfire kit ..are there any NZ related decals (485 sqn - NZ aces) out there in 1/48th for Spitfires?

..and perhaps later a RNZAF DH Venom (whats the best model in 1/48th?), NA Harvard (best in 1/48th?), Bf-109G (Hasegawa), RAF Hawker Hunter (seems to only one out there and the outline is wrong from what I read) and something a bit different like a Aero L-39C (I know of one kit but it appears to unavailable in NZ).

I am also interested in light civilian aircraft in 1/48th and already have a Piper Cherokee 140 and intend to also get the Minicraft Cessna 172 and Piper Cub.

..my list seems to be getting long and this will be finished when I am 90 probably

To fund all this I going to sell most of my unmade 1/72nd aircraft collection on Trademe.

This includes:

1/72nd Flying Kiwis C-130H

1/72nd Flying Kiwis F-4U Corsair

1/72nd Flying Kiwis P-51D Mustang

1/72nd Flying Kiwis UH-1H

1/72nd Ancient Revell Kit of a Zero

1/72nd Flying Kiwis C-47/Dc-3 (actually not sure whether I will sell this yet)

1/72nd Matchbox Strikemaster (RNZAF)

1/72nd Matchbox Spitfire MK IX

1/72nd Airfix Dauntless (RNZAF)

1/72nd Tasman Models Rapide (RNZAF)

1/72nd Hasegawa P-40E (RNZAF)

1/48th AMT P-40N

I think thats it..

and some RNZAF 1/72nd Harvard decals ..when I locate them

I need to work out prices and I am not any rush to list them so they will be sold over time..but if anybody is interested let me know before I get a chance to put them on Trademe.

Cheers

Paul

[Naki]

oh and I forgot whats a good internet site to get useful (and friendly) modelling hints (other than this one of course).

[ZacYates]

Hey Paul! Nice to hear the "other" hobby has gained your interest again!
Regards some of your wishlist:
- MPM do a 1:48 Albatross.
- ICM's Mk.IX comes close to "the best" IX in 1:48, and is available in several boxings in NZ. The Mk.VIII is easily built as a IX. Not sure about low-back XVIs in 48th, but you never know.
- Classic Airframes do a very nice Vampire T.11 if you want to do either of the Kiwi machines. Classic Airframes also do Venoms, not cheap but judging by the Vampire they would be very, very nice kits. The FB.1 boxing even comes with an RNZAF decal option There is also an older Venom by Glencoe.
- The Italeri/Occidental Harvard looks very nice in the box and is likely your best bet. I think the only other option is the older - and rarer - Monogram kit.

Modeling Madness (www.modelingmadness.com) is a great site to inspire oneself, with in-depth build reviews. Aircraft Resource Centre (www.arcair.com) has a thriving forum where you can have almost any query answered no sweat

[Naki]

Thanks Zac for the pointers --that L-39 kit looks nice but cant see one here at any NZ shop..and I am reluctant about ordering one from overseas. The Venom Kit also looks real nice but wow the price --if some how I can get one at half price I would buy but at nearly $100 the wife would nt be happy!

I see that Airfix have a nice Canberra at 1/48th in RNZAF colours but once again the price is huge ..although I guess it will be a big model...I think I will stick to the Tamiya Mustang, Corsair & Spitfire and the Hasegawa Kittyhawk for now..and maybe the L-39 if the price is right.

Is the Italeri/Occidental Harvard the same kit from different manufacturers?

[Damon]

Naki, If your interested in selling the Strikemater I'd be keen on buying it from you.Can you PM me and we can go from there if you like.

Damon

[ZacYates]

I believe its the same kit but reboxed, ie originally produced by Occidental but currently out with Italeri.
PM inbound.

Regards kits from overseas, with reputable outfits like Great Models Webstore, Hannants etc the only issue is likely to be shipping - ie, it may take up to a month to arrive. But it sometimes the only way to get certain kits.

I can recommend Modelcrafts And Hobbies in Wellington for ordering kits in from overseas

[Naki]

Apr 22, 2009 6:48:49 GMT 12 Damon said:

Naki, If your interested in selling the Strikemater I'd be keen on buying it from you.Can you PM me and we can go from there if you like.

Damon

Yep sold! - PM on the way

PM also on the way too, Zac

[mstokes]

I have the MPM Albatros, I got it in the Czech Republic last year. I got some parts for it from Hannants, who I have found to be 100% brilliant on those hard to reach things. In the interest of job preservation and in helping the economy, I try and by local though, hence the couple of hundred bucks I spent in NZ recently sourcing models to park up in mum's cupboards ;D

The MPM Albatros is quite good, alhtough there are some vacform parts to it for the canopy, lights and stuff. It is however a pretty decent model. If I wasn't putting together a Czech collection I would probably pass it on to you.

Welcome back to the hobby!

[Naki]

Thanks for info on the Albatross..your Fletcher is looking fantastic by the way!

By the way I have decided to also sell my 1/48th Aeromaster RNZAF decals for the P-40N ..so if anybody is interested PM me before I flick them off on trademe.

[ZacYates]

What are the serial options?

I can highly recommend the Hasegawa 1:48 P-40M, comes with decals for Geoff Fisken's Wairarapa Wildcat, and has great detail out of the box.

[Naki]

Apr 22, 2009 17:04:40 GMT 12 ZacYates said:

What are the serial options?

I can highly recommend the Hasegawa 1:48 P-40M, comes with decals for Geoff Fisken's Wairarapa Wildcat, and has great detail out of the box.

Yes but where can you get one? Thats the kit I really want to do! I have found a Gloria Lyons decal set from a Czech company - Rising Decals - which would sit nicely on a Hasegawa P-40N

I have to get back to you on the serial options for the Aeromaster but they quite boring.

[ZacYates]

I got mine on TradeMe for $40 ;D

[Damon]

Naki, I have a Hasegawa 1/48 P-40M Wairarapa Wildcat kitset avaliable if that is any help to you.

[Naki]

Yes, yes please Damon! Please PM me with details.

Thats a good price Zac I found an unsold one on trademe for over $60..its past its listing time and didnt sell so I asked the seller to relist but if Damons got one it doesnt matter!

[kiwichappers]

Naki
Theres a lot to go at in 1/48th scale. Here's some top of the head ones for a start.
Decals;
Aeromaster 48-491 - Jimmy Sheddan's Tempest Mk V SA-M
Aeromaster 48-581 - Jack Clelands Spitfire Mk VII 'Isabel II'. ICM is the kit for this.
- Max Collett's Spitfire Mk IX 'Waipawa Special'.
- Johnnie Houlton's Spitfire MkIXe 'Butch III' OU-V
Aeromaster 48-663 - Cobber Kain's Hurricane Mk 1 [metal wing] Paddy III
Euro Decals 48103 - RNZAF Vampire NZ5776
Lifelike Decals 48-007 Murray Lind's Spitfire LF Mk XVIe Rongotea OU-V
Model Allaince MAS48-9014 RNZAF Kaman Seasprite
Ventura 4820 - Lawrence Weggery's Spitfire Mk Vc [Trop] 'Verna June II'
Ventura 4822 - Warren Schrader's Spifire Mk V SK-E
- Alan Peart's Spitfire Mk VIII FL-D

and then theres a newish kits from Eduard based on the Special Hobbies Mk Vc which is very nice!
Eduard 1137 Spitfire LF Mk Vc Johnnie Checkets JMC two options, pre and post D-Day.

I get a lot of my kits from Graham Endeacott who is Relish Models and his prices are generally the best I can find in the UK. He lives about twenty miles from me and is a good friend so if there was ever a need to chivie him along I would willing act on your behalf. Find him at www.relishmodels.co.uk/

regards
Francis

[ZacYates]

Just discovered one for you Paul! Another Italeri/Occidental kit, a Spitfire XVIe lowback! Check out a built example here: www.modelingmadness.com/scotts/allies/gb/spit16.htm . The spinner looks as though it needs replacing?

[Naki]

Apr 25, 2009 6:41:43 GMT 12 kiwichappers said:

Naki
Theres a lot to go at in 1/48th scale. Here's some top of the head ones for a start.
Decals;
Aeromaster 48-491 - Jimmy Sheddan's Tempest Mk V SA-M
Aeromaster 48-581 - Jack Clelands Spitfire Mk VII 'Isabel II'. ICM is the kit for this.
- Max Collett's Spitfire Mk IX 'Waipawa Special'.
- Johnnie Houlton's Spitfire MkIXe 'Butch III' OU-V
Aeromaster 48-663 - Cobber Kain's Hurricane Mk 1 [metal wing] Paddy III
Euro Decals 48103 - RNZAF Vampire NZ5776
Lifelike Decals 48-007 Murray Lind's Spitfire LF Mk XVIe Rongotea OU-V
Model Allaince MAS48-9014 RNZAF Kaman Seasprite
Ventura 4820 - Lawrence Weggery's Spitfire Mk Vc [Trop] 'Verna June II'
Ventura 4822 - Warren Schrader's Spifire Mk V SK-E
- Alan Peart's Spitfire Mk VIII FL-D

and then theres a newish kits from Eduard based on the Special Hobbies Mk Vc which is very nice!
Eduard 1137 Spitfire LF Mk Vc Johnnie Checkets JMC two options, pre and post D-Day.

I get a lot of my kits from Graham Endeacott who is Relish Models and his prices are generally the best I can find in the UK. He lives about twenty miles from me and is a good friend so if there was ever a need to chivie him along I would willing act on your behalf. Find him at www.relishmodels.co.uk/

regards
Francis

Thanks for the useful information Francis. I think I have my hands full with what I have now but some of those Spitfire decals look appealing - Ive met Jonny Houlton (and my dad has an autographed book from him) and I am friend of Alan Pearts nephew. Also Warren Scharders decals will look good on the Tamiya Spitfire MkV which I intend to get ..as well the 485 sqn decals for the MkXVI .. as per Zacs link above.

..and I found your thread on Warren Schraders aircarft - very nice..I just hope I can get somewhat close to your modelling standards some day

Cheers

Paul

[kiwichappers]

Naki thank you for the complimentry remarks on the Warren Schrader series. It is still a work in progress although most of my efforts at present are devoted to research on this one.

For me the key to a good model is good references and patience.

I look forward to seeing your models on the forum.

Regards
Francis

[agalbraith]

Thanks for the compliment Paul, sorry I havent responded sooner.

I actually reakon the new Ventura pacific roundels look very good.

Look forward to seeing your work here and if there is anything I can help with then dont hesitate to ask

Cheers
Anthony

[Naki]

Anthony, the problem now is find space and time to start construction and how to avoid prying little hands (I have 1, 3 and 8 year old boys)..I have read a lot on ARC, Hyperscale, Modellingmadness and ot up to date with the latest etc ..and I have some questions but will leave that for another day.

I have sold most of my 1/72nd kits and decals on Trademe but can't bring myself to part with my Tasman Rapide, 1/72nd Hasegawa Kittyhawk (RNZAF) and the Flying Kiwis Dakota..but may do so eventually..when I want to add more kits.

I have added to my stash a 1/48th Tamiya Mustang (and eventually Ventura decals to go with it), Eduard Yak-3 and my favourite the RNZAF Hasegawa P-40M (which Damon kindly sold to me in part exchange for the Matchbox Strikemaster). Future additions could be the Tamiya Spitfire and Corsair..and maybe another Kittyhawk (P-40N).

My plan is start with something simple (colour and construction) like the Yak-3 or the Mustang and eventually the Kittyhawk (dont want to make a mess of it).