All posts by MBIQModels

I am based in a quiet corner of the UK and worked for 20+ years in the aerospace industry in the research and development fields, both as a design engineer and project manager. However, a decade ago I reluctantly had to take medical retirement and my glittering career came to a shuddering halt. As a result of the retirement I suddenly found myself with more spare time than I was used to, combined with a limited physical ability to fill it. One of the things that now fills that time is model making. The activity isn't new to me though; I've been making models on and off since I was about 8 years old with varying degrees of fidelity, though hopefully the general trend is up. However, I now have the time and inclination to indulge myself fully. This site was set-up as a means of making pictures of my models and build threads available to friends who were interested in them rather than boring everyone to death on Facebook and elsewhere. If anyone else enjoys them then all the better.
1:8, Aircraft

SOPWITH CAMEL F1 – HASEGAWA 1:8 (PART 9) Tailplane

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The tailplane of the Hasegawa kit is known to not be its strongest point. The structure has been simplified, I assume because of manufacturing limitations, to the point where it is quite compromised when compared to the real aircraft. That combined with my substitution of metal parts where the kit uses wood has meant that very little of the original kit has made it into the model. In fact the main spar and leading edge are all that’s left. Continue reading SOPWITH CAMEL F1 – HASEGAWA 1:8 (PART 9) Tailplane →

1:8, Aircraft

SOPWITH CAMEL F1 – HASEGAWA 1:8 (PART 7) MAINPLANE ASSEMBLY

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Well, it’s been considerably longer since my last post than I’d hoped but I have made some progress on the Sopwith Camel in the interim, despite illness, and the model is looking good, even if I do say so myself.

As all of the rest of the wings are pretty much the same story as far as building them goes, I’ll cover them all under one post on here.

Next up was the lower port mainplane. The idea was that I could use it to prototype the changes I intended to make to the basic model, and if it didn’t go well they’d end up being covered up anyway as that is the side of the model which will be finished complete. Continue reading SOPWITH CAMEL F1 – HASEGAWA 1:8 (PART 7) MAINPLANE ASSEMBLY →

1:32, Aircraft

Tamiya McDonnell-Douglas F-4D Phantom II (Diorama Base)

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A bit of a departure this.  The Camel is still progressing but I’ve been taking some pictures of the Phantom F-4D this morning as it is due to be picked up tomorrow by my friend who actually flew the aircraft when he was in Vietnam.  It occurred to me that I haven’t actually updated this site to include the diorama base and case that I have made for the model so that it can be displayed safely. Continue reading Tamiya McDonnell-Douglas F-4D Phantom II (Diorama Base) →

1:8, Aircraft

SOPWITH CAMEL F1 – HASEGAWA 1:8 (PART 6): Port Upper Mainplane

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Now we are starting to get into the main parts of the build: The port upper main plane.  This is another part of the build which is being done out of sequence.  It’s also the last part that has already been commenced by the chap who originally bought the model. Continue reading SOPWITH CAMEL F1 – HASEGAWA 1:8 (PART 6): Port Upper Mainplane →

1:8, Aircraft

SOPWITH CAMEL F1 – HASEGAWA 1:8 (PART 4): Instrument Panel

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As a bit of light relief, and also to put off the time when I have to embark on the main structure of this camel, I decided to assemble the instrument panel.  (You will have noticed by now that any adherence to Hasegawa’s recommended build sequence is purely accidental). Continue reading SOPWITH CAMEL F1 – HASEGAWA 1:8 (PART 4): Instrument Panel →