Heller 1:72 E3 AWACS

 

You would think a kit like this would be easy, and with only about thirty or so major components, and a reasonably good tooling, it would be a quick job. But what it lack in complexity is makes up for in scale which makes it something of a painting and masking challenge. I used almost two rolls of masking tape.

Build wise it's a bit of a rotter as it's quite clunky and the wings didn't align very well. With an aircraft of this scale, age and brand I wasn't expecting much, particularly since it costs very little for such a big bird. I don't mind though. It's nothing a halfway competent builder can't overcome. In its favour the decals are superb and caused me no problems whatsoever. Beyond that there isn't much to say about this one. It does all the talking for me. It's glorious. 

Monogram Marauder

 

I think I was nineteen when I gave up model kits for other concerns. I was working on this precise kit, - Monogram B26 Marauder boxed as Revell in 1:48 when I concluded that without investing in an airbrush (which I didn't have the money for) I was not going to be able to do a worthwhile job of it and abandoned it mid-build. I don't know what happened to it - but there was unfinished business for twenty years. 

Happily I found one recently on Ebay for £25 in the original Monogram box and with extra decals so decided the settle the score. Surprisingly, for a kit as old as me, this is a really nice kit. It's almost as good as a Tamiya from the same era. Normally Revell/Monogram twin engine warbirds are clunky and require a lot of structural correction, but this one practically fell together with very little filler. Even the glassware is pretty good which is not usually the case for older Revograms. 

On this I've been quite sparing with the weathering. I haven't quite mastered paint modulation and I got to the point where I didn't want to risk ruining it. I may revisit it in the future but for the moment I have a perfectly nice and respectable 1:48 Marauder. I can lay that demon to rest.

This was my first attempt at invasion stripes which is actually a lot hard than it looks. But it is one of those modeller's milestones you just have to try. I'm glad it was this kit. Twice now has this kit been a marker in my development as a model maker. And isn't she lovely?  

Something a bit different

 

I stumbled upon a book featuring Tamiya's Pink Panther LWB Land Rover in BAOR colours and I just knew I had to have it. I'd never had the remotest interest in building the Pink Panther, but sometimes you just get that flash of inspiration. And at less than £20 from the excellent Tank Museum online shop, it would be rude not to.

Though mine isn't quite as good as the one featured in the book, it ain't bad at all. I traded the plump desert tyres for some resin European theatre wheels from Accurate Armour and it really does look the business. I added various stowage pieces recovered from the bottom of my bits box, which aren't as good as handmade accessories but I just don't care that much. 

And then on completion I figured one good Land Rover deserves another. I went for the Hobby Boss Defender Wolf WMIK - essentially the same vehicle for the same role in modern times. Also an excellent kit save for the virtually unusable PE parts and inaccurate headlamp cages.

The result is two lovely little trucks. Quite a rewarding little project. I'm glad the range of military Land Rovers is quite limited or I could very easily end up with a collection.