Got some resin 3-d printed wheels for the printed 1/35 Fox a/c I had gotten a while ago.
And some fidget spinners which will make great ducted props for something Nord 500-inspired.

Quote from: zenrat on January 31, 2024, 02:56:46 AM

Quote from: Weaver on January 30, 2024, 10:44:21 AMJust went into a charity shop to drop some of my late Aunt's stuff off, and came out with a new tool Airfix 1/72nd Willys Jeep starter set for the princely sum of £4...
The box is squashed, but the kit's all there.

The kit's interesting and has a lot of optional parts in it, some of which don't feature in the instructions, which makes me think they intend to reissue it in a different livery at some point.

You get: the Jeep, a 10cwt trailer, a 75mm pack howitzer and an air-drop platform (for the Jeep only). The Jeep's front wheels can be glued at an angle to show it steering. You can built the Jeep as British Airborne (no guns or canvas top, spare tire on front or back), or US Army (.30 cal or .50 cal MG on pedestal, Canvas top up or down, spare tire on back. You can build the Trailer with the cover on or off and when it's off there's a crate and four jerrycans to go in it.

Unused parts on the sprues include two Vickers K guns and an alternative bonnet (hood) with some kind of grid on it. These make me think that they intend to issue it as either LRDG or SAS at some point. If they do then the 75mm and the trailer are going to have to be included, even though they're destined for the spares box, because of the way the sprues are laid out.

Whiff-wise, it occures to me that you could use the air-drop platform to sling it under a helicopter, since Jeeps were in service for decades after the war.

It's a nice little kit.  I built one on the pallet as a load for the Logistics GB.  I was so impressed I immediately bought a second one.
It's been out for a while so you would have thought that if they were going to release other boxings they would have done so by now.

Savoia Marchetti SM-82 Libyan Clipper  - 21 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Nice one Fred. 

Something that I've been thinking about on and off for a while is "invisible" flying models, i.e. ones where the flying machine has no obviously contrived means of support, such as a wire or perspex rod. One way is to have a helicopter that's about to lift something on a cradle, but actually make the "cables" out of fine steel rod so that the load is actually supporting the helo.

Got this today from Superhobby...



And earlier today i ordered their 1/48 TA-152 C-11... in the same order is also a KV models mask set for the Heller/Airfix 1/72 Puma, a Kelik 3D cockpit detail set and a set of masks from ResKit for the Dream Model 1/72 AH-1Z Viper.
On route from Aero spezial in Germany is a DP Casper 1/72 "Portuguese in black Africa" decal sheet with markings for most planes  and choppers that the PoAF had in the African conflict areas and for some Nigerian Migs also.

Quote from: Weaver on January 31, 2024, 10:49:58 AMSomething that I've been thinking about on and off for a while is "invisible" flying models, i.e. ones where the flying machine has no obviously contrived means of support, such as a wire or perspex rod. One way is to have a helicopter that's about to lift something on a cradle, but actually make the "cables" out of fine steel rod so that the load is actually supporting the helo.

I've seen that done with a rescue helicopter in the hover while lifting a person out of the water.

Here's a Huey over Vietnam - it was just touching a palm tree which hid the support.
https://www.scale-model-exhibition.com/scale-models-dioramas/diorama-with-helicopter-bell-uh-1-vietnam-1970.php

eBay says I've won the Vami Breda kit I was bidding on. Twin radial engined, twin tailed heavy fighter that looked good but was a parcel of dog turds in service.  Spain, I think.

Quote from: Nick on January 31, 2024, 01:23:49 PM

Quote from: Weaver on January 31, 2024, 10:49:58 AMSomething that I've been thinking about on and off for a while is "invisible" flying models, i.e. ones where the flying machine has no obviously contrived means of support, such as a wire or perspex rod. One way is to have a helicopter that's about to lift something on a cradle, but actually make the "cables" out of fine steel rod so that the load is actually supporting the helo.

I've seen that done with a rescue helicopter in the hover while lifting a person out of the water.

Here's a Huey over Vietnam - it was just touching a palm tree which hid the support.
https://www.scale-model-exhibition.com/scale-models-dioramas/diorama-with-helicopter-bell-uh-1-vietnam-1970.php

Nicely done.

I have seen a pic of a Chinook lifting an M-113 out of a Rice Paddy - that would work, too.

Quote from: The Wooksta! on January 31, 2024, 03:22:04 PMeBay says I've won the Vami Breda kit I was bidding on. Twin radial engined, twin tailed heavy fighter that looked good but was a parcel of dog turds in service.  Spain, I think.

That the Ba-88 Lee ? It is a neat looker, I have the MPM kit somewhere.

Meanwhile my Airfix Club renewal package arrived yesterday. The kit is a dual D-Day boxing of a Typhoon and Spitfire PR XIX, both decent kits, so I'm happy.

Quote from: Nick on January 31, 2024, 01:23:49 PM

Quote from: Weaver on January 31, 2024, 10:49:58 AMSomething that I've been thinking about on and off for a while is "invisible" flying models, i.e. ones where the flying machine has no obviously contrived means of support, such as a wire or perspex rod. One way is to have a helicopter that's about to lift something on a cradle, but actually make the "cables" out of fine steel rod so that the load is actually supporting the helo.

I've seen that done with a rescue helicopter in the hover while lifting a person out of the water.

Here's a Huey over Vietnam - it was just touching a palm tree which hid the support.
https://www.scale-model-exhibition.com/scale-models-dioramas/diorama-with-helicopter-bell-uh-1-vietnam-1970.php

I had an idea to use clear sheet with sand glued on to represent rooster tails and support a Hot Wheels car.  Never fully followed it through but I did do a quick and dirty mock up test dio.
Dune Buggy Diorama 002 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Quote from: Nick on January 31, 2024, 01:23:49 PM

Quote from: Weaver on January 31, 2024, 10:49:58 AMSomething that I've been thinking about on and off for a while is "invisible" flying models, i.e. ones where the flying machine has no obviously contrived means of support, such as a wire or perspex rod. One way is to have a helicopter that's about to lift something on a cradle, but actually make the "cables" out of fine steel rod so that the load is actually supporting the helo.

I've seen that done with a rescue helicopter in the hover while lifting a person out of the water.

Here's a Huey over Vietnam - it was just touching a palm tree which hid the support.
https://www.scale-model-exhibition.com/scale-models-dioramas/diorama-with-helicopter-bell-uh-1-vietnam-1970.php

That's excellent: thanks! 

One of my ideas was to have a helo lifting a mini-sub out of the sea whilst divers fight off the tentacles trying to pull it down again  . The depth of the half mini-sub hull would let you have longer base tubes for the rods and the cradle would conceal the fact that they go right through the hull rather than just being hooked to the top of it.

Another semi-concealed way is to have a vertical backdrop to the diorama which conceals horizontal support rods on the "blind" side of the model.

That GINORMOUS 1/32 scale Dambusters Lancaster at SMW 2023 is a good example. The whole model was supported by its 'water splash', but can I find a pic of it?

NO!

As the splash of the bomb hitting the water almost drowned the rear gunners every time they were dropped, it's certainly a suitable means of concealing the support(s).

First new at my stash in 24

Just ordered the Dora Wings Fairey FD2 from Jadlam Toys & Models

A couple of Eduard SPACE sets for my Airfix Me 410's 

Collected the Eduard 190 from Uncle Frank and placed my next order. More Focke Wulf fun, although my wallet will disagree.