Tag Archives: World War II

Ralph Bagnold: Two Memoirs

In the following pages I shall try to trace the unpremeditated steps by which a few army officers, with no initial thirst for exploration, and no desire to do anything unusual except to see the country they were in came gradually to break away from this conventional city outlook towards things outside; and how, beginning … Continue reading Ralph Bagnold: Two Memoirs

Hobby Boss 1/48 Bv 141B: Part 3

At the end of my previous post, I’d finally managed to assemble the complicated crew gondola of my aircraft. After that, I finished off masking its many, many windows, and then set about airbrushing the underside in RLM 65 pale blue enamel, and the topside in a splinter pattern of RLM 70/71 greens, all from Sovereign Hobbies. … Continue reading Hobby Boss 1/48 Bv 141B: Part 3

Hobby Boss 1/48 Bv 141B: Part 2

In my last post, I finished detailing the interior of the crew compartment. This time, I’m moving on to some of the other details. I bought a white-metal undercarriage set from Scale Aircraft Conversions for this model, but I’m not sure if there was any point—the metal parts don’t really improve on the kit parts: … Continue reading Hobby Boss 1/48 Bv 141B: Part 2

Hobby Boss 1/48 Bv 141B: Part 1

This is the classic asymmetrical aircraft designed by Richard Vogt for the Blohm & Voss company. It was intended for short-range reconnaissance and ground support. Eight version “A” aircraft were built, followed by a run of the “B” version, probably around twenty in number, though records are hazy and the final disposition of many aircraft … Continue reading Hobby Boss 1/48 Bv 141B: Part 1

Supermodel 1/72 Blohm & Voss 138 “Flying Clog”: Part 2

I finished my previous post having painted the finicky yellow stripe on the rear of my aircraft. Having masked that off, I sprayed the RLM65 blue underside, and masked that, followed by a base layer of RLM72 dark green for the upper surfaces. Then there was a lot of tricky masking for the even darker … Continue reading Supermodel 1/72 Blohm & Voss 138 “Flying Clog”: Part 2

Supermodel 1/72 Blohm & Voss 138 “Flying Clog”: Part 1

This is an old kit I’ve had lying around in the attic for years. It has more recently been reissued by Revell—same parts, but a better set of instructions (available online from Scalemates) and decals. Blohm und Voss is a German shipbuilding company, which diversified into aircraft production during the Second World War. Under the … Continue reading Supermodel 1/72 Blohm & Voss 138 “Flying Clog”: Part 1

John Warwicker: Churchill’s Underground Army

In order to stay behind, we needed somewhere to stay: and by sucking up to the Sappers we had already brought into being what might very loosely be called a network of subterranean hide-outs in which not only the striking force—[myself] and about fifteen other idiots—but our far-flung, hand-picked collaborators in the Home Guard, would … Continue reading John Warwicker: Churchill’s Underground Army

Eduard 1/48 Westland Lysander (Special Duties In France): Part 4

By the end of my previous post in this build log, I’d managed to get the aeroplane mostly assembled and primed. The next task was an all-over coat of Tamiya gloss black (softened with a little white and blue), ready for decals and weathering. Once that was in place, I was able to add the … Continue reading Eduard 1/48 Westland Lysander (Special Duties In France): Part 4

Eduard 1/48 Westland Lysander (Special Duties In France): Part 3

By the end of my previous post, I’d adapted all the major bits and pieces that needed to be adapted. The next thing was to get the fuselage halves closed around the interior, which was less straightforward than usual because the Eduard kit doesn’t provide any sort of locating pins on the fuselage halves—you’ve got … Continue reading Eduard 1/48 Westland Lysander (Special Duties In France): Part 3

Eduard 1/48 Westland Lysander (Special Duties In France): Part 2

At the end of my previous post, I’d completed the assembly of the cockpit and rear compartment of this aircraft. Some more bits and pieces needed to be modified and detailed before I could begin assembly. First, wheels. The Lysander had a spatted fixed undercarriage, with landing lights recessed into the front of the spats. … Continue reading Eduard 1/48 Westland Lysander (Special Duties In France): Part 2