Mildly mangled Mitchell - part 2

 

Here is the completed B-25.  Well, as complete as it's going to get.  A fairly rough coat of silver was topped off by reasonably suitable markings from the Decal Box.

The 'shark mouth' was a good find and it more or less fitted the nose.  As £1 kits go I'm rather pleased with it!

Mildly mangled Mitchell - part 1

 

I'd already had one go at rescuing this lump of dust and plastic but somehow the dark blue paintwork wasn't doing it for me.  Mitchells should be bare metal, or at a push, green - right?

While scraping off the decals various bits of bomber inevitable came loose and I went over the thing adding glue to strengthen it's aged joints.  A rough brush of black covered any bare plastic.

Then it was on with the 'bare metal. as a heavy drybrush.  I know this works well over black - and the blue was very dark....

Dodgy Dauntless

 

As my thoughts for future games drift towards the Pacific, a review of suitable aircraft uncovered this Airfix Dauntless.  Built by its previous owner to a good standard and finished in Free French markings, I decided to repaint it as a US machine. The decals are a bit of a lash-up cobbled together from what I had in the decal box but I’m rather pleased with the outcome. Coming soon to a remote Japanese-held island near you. 

A double measure of Bells

 Hot on the heels of the US Spitfire come another two USAAF fighters - this time home-grown P-39 Aircobras.  These are again from the Partizan plane purchase so I neither built nor painted them.  As usual my role has been to effect a few repairs and apply a coat of varnish.  Amazingly both still have intact undercarriage - but I can’t see it lasting!  No idea what make the kits are, though I’m sure Airfix offered a P-39.  

Reverse Lend-Lease?

Five years on and the Partizan ‘plane purchase still has much to offer.  

Having dug out the box of US WW2 aircraft in search of something else, I decided to seize the opportunity to tidy up a few more models. First up is this Spitfire wearing US markings. I’m not sure what make the kit is. I slapped on a coat of Ronseal Clear Satin varnish to smarten it up and preserve the decals. I may revisit the canopy framing later. 

USAF F-4 Phantom

The latest escapee from the now notorious Partizan Plane Purchase Pile is this rather nice F-4.  It was in good shape and aside from some minor repairs all I've done is slap on a top coat of varnish.  I particularly like the USAF Vietnam-era 3-colour camouflage - I'm just glad I didn't have to paint it myself!

I'm not sure what make the kit is - moulded in white plastic so Airfix or Revell perhaps?

EE Lightning

The latest escapee from the Partizan 'plane purchase pile is this shabby Lightning.  Probably the Airfix kit, it is dustily resplendent in the markings of No.5 Squadron.  

5 Sqn used the Lightning from 1965 until 1987.

F-4D Skyray

Remember the Partizan plane purchase?  Thought you'd seen it all?  Alas, there is plenty still to come!
Introduced in 1956, this unusual looking beast served the USN and USMC until only 1964.

I think this is the old Airfix kit.  It's clean design means that there was very little to break - even the undercart is still intact!

dh Sea Vixen

Hot on the heels of the Canberra, next to emerge from the pile of dust and plastic is this rather fetching Sea Vixen.  It's respectable appearance is no doubt helped by the fact that I neither built nor painted the thing...

Such is it's completeness that it retains a full set of wheels!  I think this is probably the FROG kit.

If it looks pretty sleek and modern this is understandable - it was only replaced in 1972 by the F-4 Phantom.

A cracking Canberra

The latest survivor of the celebrated Partizan ‘plane purchase is this rather tidy looking Canberra. I think it’s the FROG kit. Under the dust it was resplendent in a grey over blue finish, so my work has been confined to encouraging the remains of the undercarriage to fall off and then replacing the flaky decals.

Dusty Dakota

Another survivor has emerged from the Partizan ‘Plane Purchase. Beneath this clump of dust is a rather useful Dakota. I do indeed have a (vague) game idea for this. And last week at this time I was in Arnhem....

BAC Strikemaster

The latest to shake off the dust of the Partizan ‘plane purchase (was it really two years ago?) is this BAC Strikemaster in RNZAF livery. Not sure what make it is but I know Matchbox made such a kit. Here in the UK this machine is more familiar as the RAF’s Jet Provost trainer so it’s unusual to see one looking so warlike. The Kiwis ordered Strikemasters in 1970 to replace Vampires. They remained in service until 1991.

Luftwaffe Phantom

This Phantom recently made its debut outing in my hands in the skies over Kakstadt Ost. But here it is a couple of years ago following its rescue from the Partizan plane purchase pile. In the photos I’ve just varnished over the decals and removed loose and broken bits of undercart. Is there a colour scheme in which a Phantom doesn’t look great?

dh Venom

This has just clawed its way out of the Partizan ‘plane purchase pile. Of a similar era to the Canberra and Sea Hawk seen here recently I think this is a Venom rather than the earlier Vampire. I’m not sure of the kit manufacturer, though for reasons unknown I want to say Frog. I might add to the markings later as looks a bit bare. Any thoughts?

Canberra in camo

This large lump of plastic has finally clawed it's way out of the Partizan 'plane purchase pile.  I've never previously owned a Canberra in anything other than 1/300 scale but a Canberra is a thing of beauty in any scale.Which is lucky as I have another one...

No idea what make the kit is - though I remember Frog made such a thing.  It does look a bit tatty but that rather adds to it's charm in my eyes.