Finnish Air Force de Havilland Vampire Mk.55 VT-6 Airfix 1/72

Size comparison of the old Finnish Air Force jets: clockwise from top left: MiG-21UM, de Havilland Vampire Mk.55, MiG-15UTI, Folland Gnat F.1

Airfix de Havilland Vampire T.11 1/72 A02058

Bought this new-tool Airfix kit from the Finnish Aviation Museum while taking reference photos of the original Finnish Air Force de Havilland Vampire Trainer Mk.55 (VT-9) on display there. Another nice modern Airfix kit that builds well and looks the part. 

Painted with Revell enamels, final clearcoat semi-gloss Johnson/Future floor wax. Aftermarket FAF decals from Harraste Shop (Tampere, Finland).

This model represents the Finnish Air Force Vampire Trainer VT-6 of the Hämeen Lennosto at summer in 1958. There is the original (badly damaged) cockpit fuselage part of the VT-6 on display at the Päijänne-Tavastia Aviation Museum, Finland.

USAF P-51 B/C Revell 1/72 #04182

Bought this kit at a flea market sale really cheap, something like less than 2 euros. OOB camouflage and markings are fine but wanted to make an aluminium D-style bird instead. This model represents a USAF 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron North American P-51 B/C Mustang in China 1944 or 1945, found a nice reference photo of the original

No other modifications than the fuselage camera opening and tail number decals from Hasegawa civil 1/200 airliner kit. Painted with Revell enamels, final clearcoat semigloss Johnson/Future floor wax. Nice kit, nice model.

Saab Draken 35S DK-207 Finnish Air Force reference photos

Check out my new reference photos of Finnish Air Force Saab 35S Draken DK-207, on display at the Päijänne-Tavastia Aviation Museum, Finland!

Finnish Air Force Museum Jet Reference photos

Check out my new reference photos of some Finnish Air Force Museum Jets at Flickr:

Folland Gnat Mk. 1 GN-112, photo-reconnaissance version

MiG-15 UTI MU-2 trainer

Fouga CM170 Magister FM-71 trainer

Revell Pearl Harbor Boeing P-26A Peashooter 1/72

1/72nd scale Airfix new tooling Zero and Revell old tool Peashooter

A snappy little Revell kit of the (in)famous Boeing P-26A Peashooter keeping with the Pearl Harbor theme, these planes were already obsolete at that time and used as training and hack aircraft. This model represents a U.S.Army P-26A of the 18th Pursuit Group at Hawaii in Dec. 1941, painted in olive drab (Revell matt #46) and light grey (Humbrol #127). Finished with Revell matt clearcoat #2.

Scratchbuilt windshield (just couldn't use the original) but otherwise out-of-the-box with rivets and all, rigging done with fine fishing line. This kit had a copyright marking from the 80's but wouldn't be surprised if it was way older. Still, while not exactly accurate by today's standards it does sit in quite nicely with my other Airfix Pearl Harbor models!

Airfix Akagi Pearl Harbor Trio: Zeke, Val and Kate

1:72 Scale Airfix Pearl Harbor Trio: A6M2b Zero 'Zeke' (new tooling), Aichi D3A1 'Val' (original), Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' (new kit).

Airfix Pearl Harbor Trio III: Kate

The new Airfix Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' is a very nice kit and a delight to build. Out-of-the-box with some little exceptions like tailcode letter "A" decal from a Hasegawa 1:200 DC-9-40 kit and steel wire pitot tube. 

My model represents the first wave Akagi torpedo bomber flown by a hikotaicho (overall torpedo plane leader) Lt. Cmdr. Shigeharu Murata. 

#16 - Pearl Harbor raid - Akagi's torpedo bombers

Pearl Harbor Kates

Nice engine, unfortunately nearly invisible in a finished model.

Only the wing roots needed some putty.

Hai-ryokushoku base ready for freehand airbrushing.

 Revell Matt 39 Dark Green topcoat.

Cockpit ready for glazing.

Airfix #04058 1:72 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' box top.