After slow start 2025 turned out to be a good modelling year for me with 7 kits moved from the stash to the cabinet.
No.1 for 2025 - 1/48 Airfix Lightning F.6
Depicted as an aircraft operated by No. 11 Squadron Royal Air Force from RAF Binbrook. I tried to model a tatty looking aircraft near the end of the types service life.
This is the third Airfix Lighting I've built and probably my last. They look great when built but the journey can be a bit of struggle. It's not the best kit but it is probably the best kit of this subject in any scale.
For more Lightning images go here.
No.2 for 2025 - 1/48 Eduard Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk
Eduard's 2025 P-40E is IMHO the best of their subjects (that I've built). Great detail and fit from the box. I bought the Royal Boxings and ended up building them both.
Depicted as aircraft 41-36402 flown by Lt. Dallas A. Clinger of the 16th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group, United States Army Air Force based in Kweilin China in January 1943.
The P-40 looks great with a shark mouth and the cool tail art on 16 FS. aircraft really attracted me to this option. And it seems it wasn't just me, this scheme appears to have been hugely popular with modellers as I have seen it done many times online already.
For more of this P-40E go here
No 3 for 2025 - 1/48 Eduard Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk
For more of this one go here
No. 4 for 2025 - 1/48 Tamiya / Flowfire Models M1A1 AIM SA Abrams
Depicted as Vehicle operated by A Sqn - 1st Armoured Regiment - Australian Army.
This was on my shelf of doom for a while sitting there mocking me. Eventually I got sick of this one doing that so decided to get it done.
For more Abrams go here
No 5 for 2025 - 1/48 ICM Bristol Beaufort Mk. IA
Depicted as aircraft DD959 operated by No. 217 Sqn Royal Air Force from Malta 1942.
The Beaufort is another of those funky looking early British bombers from World War II that really appeals to me, so I was happy to see ICM produce one. A first for me on this build was to fully rivet a model. It turned out OK in the end.
No. 6 For 2025 - 1/48 Hasegawa Nakajima B5N2 Carrier Attack Bomber (Kate) Model 3
Depicted as first attack wave commanders aircraft from the IJN Carrier Akagi Pearl harbour December 1941. Crew: Captain Matsuzaki Mitsuo (pilot) Commander Fuchida Mitsuo (observer) and Airman First Class Mizuki Morinobu (radio operator).
Japanese World War 2 subjects are not something that I usually build. In fact I have only ever built one other, that being a Tamiya Zero . I picked the Kate up at the local hobby shop as it was in the 50% off rack to build as a quick palate cleanser.
No 7 for 2025 - 1/48 Stuart MK I - Colorado
Depicted as 'Colorado', Tank No. T37385 operated by C Squadron, 2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry Regiment in 1941. Colorado was first operated by the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment before being captured by the Africa Korps. It was recaptured at Sidi Rezegh in Libya and allocated to the Kiwi's.
This fully 3D printed kit is a collaboration between Japanese modeller Jun Temma and Mark Kerr (Flowfire Models). From what I understand, Jun Temma originally did the core design focusing on the US vehicles and Mark did the parts for British/commonwealth versions.
All the files for this kit are freely available for download at Jun Temma's Wings of Pegasus Website. The page is in Japanese but translation software (like Google Translate) works well.
More of the Stuart see here.
The Ongoing Blunty Saga
- Pylons
- Drop tanks
- Cartridge / link chutes
- Engine cover vents
- Flap hinges
- Control Sticks
- Centre Windshield pillar
- G meter
- Stopwatch
- Ejection Seat upper handles
- Piece for the rear of the sliding canopy
- Nose Gear
- V/UHF Antenna
- Towel Rail (HF?) antenna
- Gunsights
- Glareshield Stowage box
Actually, probably only one of your mates. I can't see those two other procrastinators starting anytime soon!
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