Spitfire HF Mk VI

Finished a ‘simple build’ today of the 1:72 scale AZ Model Spitfire HF Mk VI which was one of the bargain kits I picked up at last Sunday’s show. I was in need of something simple to pass the time while I considered what after market bits, if any, to acquire for a Lancaster I also have on the workbench. 

This is the very unusual, long winged high altitude Spitfire, which I finished in the colours of P/O C.B.Brown’s aircraft of 616 Squadron, RAF Kingscliffe, May 1942. 

In building this kit, I made 3 frustrating mistakes … 

1. Attempting to hand paint acrylics in a heatwave!

2. Not researching a better kit to meet my ‘simple build’ criteria, as this was really quite painful!

3. Choosing to buy this kit in the first place!

Beaufighter TF.10

After a couple of whirlwind days modelling, my 1:72 scale Beaufighter TF.10 is just about ready for tomorrow’s Somerset show. 

This is the Beaufighter which flew with No.45 Squadron, RAF Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, during “Operation Firedog”, late May to early December 1949. 

Its role was to provide ground support to the British and Commonwealth forces engaged in a guerrilla war with the communist pro-independence fighters of the Malayan National Liberation Army. 

This Airfix kit is a dream to build, with every part fitting beautifully and being the new moulding, there was only minimal need for filling and sanding. My only complaint would be the tyres, which I should really have taken more time over to fill the rather obvious centre seams and add some tread, but I’m out of time now so may revisit them another time.