Max Stafford's Kennel

In the last year or so before my move home as I was packing most of my model stuff up and stashing it at a forward location in Scotland, it occurred to me that I still wanted something to do modelling wise. I ended up doing a couple of plastic kits, much as I did as a youngster and for a period in my twenties. I do a whole variety of kits from aircraft (mostly UK aircraft of the ’50s and Soviet/Russian types). Additionally, I do some military vehicles in 1/35, mostly Russian again and also 1/700 ships, focused on those involved in the Atlantic and Arctic convoys of WW2. In addition to this I also build resin kits of 1/72 buses from the 1930s-1980s. These also function as an extension of the railway modelling but are really a stand alone interest too. From time to time in the blog, you’ll see examples of these other facets of my modelling. I find that cross-discipline modelling gives you a broader access to techniques which will ultimately help to raise the standards of my primary interest. Railway modelling has for most of my life been tail chasing the likes of the military modellers in terms of scenic and weathering techniques. In terms of photo etching, resin etc, it has been a similar story – we have generally played catch up but nevertheless, etched, resin and genuine multimedia kits have now been part of the finescale scene for more than twenty years in the case of the later. Some of our masters, such as Gordon Gravett are right up there with the military guys.

So, to tonight’s offering which is a Sword Models 1/72 kit of a Douglas Skyraider AEW1 of the Royal Navy during the 1950s.

While the surface detail is good on these kits, the production method is quite basic and unlike a modern Tamiya kit for example, a lot more fettling, filling and sanding is required. No problem, I find this quite a satisfying and therapeutic task (that Jumbo made me ready for anything!)

Anyway, the bulk of the airframe is now complete and this model will be off to the paint shop soon .