Before I move onto the builds here's the background story. I was introduced to David Elshaw, who was sat beside me at the recent Club Meeting, at the Elvington Show. He approached the Club looking for someone to build some kits of Luftwaffe Nightfightersand was pointed in my direction. He explained that someone he knew had a collection of WW2 RAF Bomber models in a display on the Industrial Estate at Catfoss and David said wouldn't it be a good idea to show their opponents? So he did the research and sourced the models, dividing them into two sections i) minor involvement aircraft and ii) main ones. At the meeting David brought along a box containing 5 of the first and 8 of the second, two binders full of info, kit plans, decals and aftermarket accessories plus six models for me for my trouble and asked if I'd start with the minor section first. So let's begin......
The first aircraft in the folder is the Dragon kit of the Arado Ar 234B-2/Nachtigall (Nightingale) with etch from a Reheat set also provided. Raised detail from the kit parts was removed and the etch put in place after being prepainted, along with the plastic parts, RLM 66. The seat and part of the control column and the rudder pedals remain to be fitted. The main undercarriage bays were made up and fixed to the fuselage sides prior to closing up along with some weight to prevent tailsitting. Whilst other parts were drying/setting the engines were also built.

A good start Chris.

A really good looking jet in my opinion, great work Chris.

You like these Luft '46 beasts. You've made a great start on the cockpit.

Project on hold, major Boob!!!(Modified by Admin) The Dragon kit doesn't supply the clear part for the radar operator at the rear and as David wanted it I set about sourcing a suitable piece. In my haste(neglect) I cut up the kit cockpit top part and not one of the spare Frog model ones!!! Now deciding on the best way to rectify as there are no immediate replacements. Will move on to another build whilst mulling it over.

Oops, gremlin strikes again. I wonder how many of us can admit to a similar 'faux par'.
Shelf of Mulling, gets another customer.

You'll get there Chris.

Is that 'Mull of Chris is Dire'?

Crisis over, canopy sourced and fitted via the Hobby 2000 kit, which I'll turn into a 'C'at some point. That kit comes with masks so that's a bonus and these were used. The gun pack was fitted after sourcing a blanking plate for the ventral recess, the kit is for a B-2 bomber with some of the parts for a B-2N nightfighter. As supplied this sat too low so it was trimmed to fit better. The canopy frame was painted RLM 66 Schwarzgrau before the whole aircraft was primed and given a couple of thin coats of RLM 76 Lichtblau, which showed where further work is needed.
Whilst waiting for the Hobby 2000 kit I made a start on the Hasegawa kit of the Focke-Wulf Ta 154 A-0. As expected this has far more detail than the PM offering especially in the cockpit area. The decals for the instruments had to be trimmed to fit better. The instructions call for 5gms of weight in the very small area in the nose so I added a lot more into the engine nacelles but still ended up with a tail-sitter. I have a feeling the nose leg is too long but will check closer. Once the canopy had been masked, with again the frame painted the internal colour, primer was applied followed by an overall coat of RLM 76. I brush painted the RLM 75 Grauviolett areas first using Vallejo paint but this dried too dark and shiny so I applied a second coat using Humbrol paint. Once dry a coat of Klear gave a base for the decals some of which are from the kit, these had a tendency to wrap over if you're not careful, and some spares from a previous PM conversion. As TQ+XE is the 'go to' marking for the majority of A-0 builds I found markings for +XI online. As there are various interpretations of the camouflage of +XE I feel ok with mine for +XI as I only had a portside view to work from. There's still a few more decals to apply and paint to touch up/in fill.