DAP Beaufort Mk.VIII (Special Hobby)

Bill Gilman
Hi mates! I've started my next project, the DAP (Bristol) Beaufort Mk.VIII bomber in the markings of the RAAF. This is a bit different than what I normally model, so that makes it even more fun. I've posted a few photos to show you the very beginning of the build. I have some Beaufort experts from the Commonwealth guiding me on this one, so I shouldn't do anything really stupid! Enjoy!

Martyn Fox
Different. Looks nice🙂

Christian Lehmann
A real rear subject. I am keen to see what you do with this kit.

Christian Bruer
Interesting subject. I did not know that DAP produced the Beaufort as well. I'am leaning back and let me entertain.

Lionel Marco

I'm in too!

Philip De Keyser
Great choise Bill, looking forward to the next steps 👍

Christian Ristits
Great, i am in Bill!

Stefan Schacht
I'm in too 🙂

Augie
I'm in...

Roland Sachsenhofer
Great, I will follow this!

Bill Gilman
Thanks everyone! Great encouragement from my Scalemates! This project may be interrupted every now and then. I will post a separate message to let you know my situation.

Bill Gilman
Some new photos have been uploaded - the cockpit is slowly being worked on, but I think it's looking OK. Every now and then I have to stop work so I can ask some Aussie Beaufort experts what something is, what it does, what colour is it...I wish the Special Hobby instructions were more complete. They knew enough to mould something, surely they know enough to tell me what colour to paint it! 🙂

Lionel Marco
It will be great!

Choppa Nutta
This is shaping up very nicely 🙂

Bill Gilman
A bit more work done on the cockpit. The instrument panel has been added (love the axe!) along with the control panel on the starboard side of the seat. Special Hobby would have you install that one backwards - be careful if you're building this kit. Cheers!

Bill Gilman
The panel above the navigator's shelf is for radio gear. Special Hobby has molded this quite poorly, but we'll dress it up. It looks like I will also have to spread the fuselage just a wee bit in order to make the greenhouse fit properly. I was worried about that, it could have been a lot worse! 🙂

Aghis Barberopoulos
Very nice work on the interior.

Burkhard D
Oh, cool - I have that one in my stash, gonna follow!😎

Christian Bruer
clean and sharp as usual Bill! That comes out really nice. Looking forward to your progress. All the best, Christian

Bill Gilman
Hi mates, I painted the navigator's panel and added some decals from the spares box to dress it up a bit. I also found a nice map on-line which shows the Japanese campaigns against Australia, and I thought that would be a nice map for the crew of the Beaufort to have. Especially since it has all of the answers already filled in! I brought the image of the map into CorelDraw, and printed it out at a scale 18" in length (1/4" or 6mm in real life). Surprisingly enough, my printer's resolution was high enough that I can make out the shape of Australia, plus I can see the arrows representing the movements of the Japanese forces. Cool! Cheers for now, Bill

Roland Sachsenhofer
Stunning and adorable!

Peter Hawkins
lovely work Bill. Look forward to seeing more.
Interestingly enough I make the Beaufort in 1/144 and this (Scotty's Homin' Pidgin" ) is one of the planes on my decal sheet along with the" Barmer Waikerie" on too.

Bill Gilman
I've added some new photos of the Beaufort build. Progress is slow, but at least forward! The problem is that there is so much glass up front, I keep thinking of more details that must be added!

Bill Gilman
Some modelling therapy today! It was nice to work on the Beaufort a bit instead of thinking about my cancer treatment options!

I built a shelf to hold the radio boxes, which I made from some spare photoetch pieces. Now I think I'm ready to button up the fuselage. I also posted some photos of my test-fitting of the nacelle to the wing - excellent fit, especially for a short run kit. Great job, Special Hobby!

Cheers for now, Bill

Christian Keller
Hello Bill,
this looks absolutely great and i follow you until its finished and then next stop is the Spitfire.

Lionel Marco
That's the spirit!

Christian Bruer
Very nice progress. Makes fun to look at! Thx for sharing, Cheers, Christian

Bill Gilman
Some new photos added as my increasingly slow progress continues... 🙂

Vitor Costa
Good to have you back ;D

Bill Spargo
Hi Bill, re under size window. what about adding evergreen strip? It will be painted in the framework colour I assume. Great build.

Bill Gilman
Thanks, mates!

Good idea about adding an Evergreen strip, Bill. The one concern I have is strength, as once it's all together there will be some filling and sanding (maybe) and of course painting masks going on and off. I think I will have that problem no matter what I do!

Michael, the magic adhesive is air. The canopy is just sitting on the fuselage in that shot, it hasn't been attached yet. Soon though!

Es-haq Khosravi
Excellent!

Soeren R.
Nice work! I love the cockpit - it looks really great!

Roger Trewenack
Hi Bill, I have that kit, so I'm watching with interest. Love your profile shot, by the way - but detected no smell of elderberry! Also interesting to see someone other than an Aussie tackle an Aussie aircraft. Did you "Future" the cockpit? It looks superb!

Holger Kranich
Hey Bill, feels good to see you at the bench!
Exentric build, i havent expected anything else!😢

Bill Gilman
Hi Roger, the canopy has had its Future bath. I've been corresponding with a mate in Australia who is guiding me on this build. Special Hobby have mixed some things up. The resin fuselage insert is the one used with the late version VE turret. The clear parts for that turret are included, but unfortunately none of the decal options used that turret. They all used the intermediate version V, which S-H also provide the clear parts for. But, I will need to modify the resin insert to look quite different. Or, I change markings. Decisions, decisions...

Hi Holgar, it's good to be back at the bench. I try to find some time in-between all the medical stuff. And you're right, I tend to choose some obscure subjects.

Roger Trewenack
Must find out what the equivalent of "Future" is in Australia - I'll go trawling through the floor polish aisle....
From the little I know about DAF, GAF, CAC aircraft, it seems that they changes specification on the fly, and it would only be a regimented "rivet-counter" who would pick you up on that. During a recent trip to New Zealand (Warbirds over Wanaka) we chatted with a restoration guy in the NZ museum, and they may have even been more prone to changing specifications on the fly. Regardless of all that, I look forward to seeing your build progress, in the hope that it may wrench me out of my current episode of Modellers' Block.

Gerald
Well done Bill 👍

Christian Meyerhoff
Intersting subject and very nice start! This will be another beauty made by you!

Clifford Keesler
Nice job Bill.

Bill Gilman
My bottle of Future (US) is called "Pledge Floor Care Tile & Vinyl Floor Finish with Future Shine." There is also a version for wood floors, but don't get that one (bottles are almost identical). You want the one for tile and vinyl floors. They may have changed the name again to "Pledge Floor Care Finish." If you search for Future on their web site, that's what comes up.

In Australia, this was called "Pledge OneGo" but that was replaced by "Pledge Floor Care Multi-Surface Finish" which I've read is the same thing. Have you tried that Michael? Here is an Australian web site that sells it:
polish-up.com.au/pro..ml-free-postage.html
800 ml for $23, not cheap but probably less than what Sprue Brothers was charging.

Bill Gilman
Hey, it's got wings! Looking more like a proper aeroplane, methinks. 🙂

Es-haq Khosravi
Well done!

Roger Trewenack
Hi Bill, thanx for the tips on "Future" - I'll hunt around and see I can get! 🙂

Bill Gilman
More painfully slow progress - but at least she's up on her own feet now, and we're beginning to get the front greenhouse on and blended in. I've posted a few more pictures. I wish I would hurry up, I want to see some RAAF Foliage Green paint on this fuselage! 🙂

Soeren R.
Looks great😉

Łukasz Gliński
Nice looking build.
Btw.: what's this brownish putty you're using?

Es-haq Khosravi
Beautiful!

Bill Gilman
Thanks, folks!

Lukasz, the putty that I use is called Nitro-Stan Red Glazing & Spot Putty. Here is a link:

shopforpaint.com/Nit..category_id/209.html

It's an automotive body repair putty. I use it because it feathers to the most beautiful edge you've ever seen when sanding. It shrinks a bit as it cures, so I often have to do more than one application. It's worth it, though, the stuff is just so smooth. I'm not sure if this is sold outside of North America, but there must be something similar in Europe and Asia.

I can buy a 1 pound tube for about $15 locally. Trust me, that big of a tube lasts for decades! It can be "sanded" with Mr. Color Thinner, too. That helps when you're trying to sand a seam that is difficult to get at. Just dip an ear bud into Mr. Color Thinner, and rub it against the puttied seam. Mr. Color Thinner won't harm the plastic (don't use lacquer thinner!).

Nitro-Stan has been in use since the 1930s. I started using this putty way back when I was a kid in the 1960s. I told my Dad that I needed him to take me to the Hobby Shop to get some putty (this was the first time I learned about filling seams). He went into the garage and came back with a tube of Nitro-Stan. He'd do anything to keep me out of the Hobby Shop! 🙂 🙂

Christian Bruer
Nice to see you're moving forward with this one Bill! Very nice and clean as usual. Cheers, Christian

Guus
Nice !

Bill Gilman
Hi mates - some more progress. I painted up the resin engines, and added a wash. It's a pity they don't photograph so well, they look quite sharp with your naked eye. I added the navigator/bomb aimer's plotting device to the forward cockpit, and I drilled two holes in the canopy for the nose gun barrels to stick out of of. Engines and cowlings are going on next - then the canopy (after my mate in Oz answers a question for me).

Es-haq Khosravi
Well done!

Hanno Kleinecke
Absolutely amazing what you did to rhat cockpit and Navigators seat ! I love that little Lamp and the Map ,
brilliant work in this tiny scale, I figured it to be 1/48 at first sight !

Bill Gilman
Thanks folks! New pictures added - I used the two extra Vickers guns from the new Airfix Blenheim kit for the nose guns. Special Hobby give you two Brownings for the nose, but that is not right. I've mounted the engines, cowlings, and cooling air inlets too. She looks like an aeroplane now!

I built up the photoetch main gear doors, which I'll use instead of the plain plastic doors that come with the kit. The PE doors are nicely detailed, and include some extra pieces that look like brackets or guards. They look pretty cool, and you can see them on photos of some, but not all, Beauforts. I have no clue what they are for! Cheers!

Alan Rush
Looking nice Bill. Will keep watching.

Christian Meyerhoff
Hi Bill! I like Special Hobby Kits and I like the way You are building them. Perfect work mate!

Bill Gilman
A few new pictures have been added which document some changes I made so the model is more accurate. First, the entire wingtip on the Beaufort was Perspex, or Plexiglas, and featured very prominent lights. I used my razor saw to remove the areas where the lights should be. I need to add some clear plastic to represent the lights. I also cut a large notch into the leading edge of the port wing for the landing lights. Why SH didn't include these is a mystery.

I then added a strip of styrene to be used as a "lip" around the opening of the cowling. I did this because the opening is too large, and doesn't have a lip, which it should. Things will look much better now! Cheers!

Augie
Hehe looking good Bill, I think they miss things to keep us on our toes..

Es-haq Khosravi
Great job!

Bill Gilman
Hi mates, Today I spent some time making the lights for the wingtips, and the landing lights in the leading edge of the wing. I posted some pictures that show how I used some clear plastic silverware to make the wingtip lights. I'm sure you've done this yourself, or seen it done before. It's an effective little trick, especially in 1:72 scale. I boxed in the area in the leading edge of the wing for the landing lights, but I think that is as far as I can go right now. I saw some very nice PE from Marabu that is for 1:72 British landing lights, and it includes the arc holder.

British landing lights (Marabu M72002, 1:72)

Very cool, and I will have to order some. Cheers!

Alan Rush
The lights look great Bill.

Bill Gilman
More work done on the Beaufort - but at least she's finally got a coat of Foliage Green on her. More paint work to come, but I'm glad I've moved to that stage. I didn't think I was ever going to get there! I've posted several pictures to show the progress. Cheers, Bill

Roland Sachsenhofer
What a beauty! I am deeply impressed...

Es-haq Khosravi
Great job Bill!

Augie
Nice bill :0 very nice so far..

Christian Bruer
Hi Bill, good to see your progress on this! Looking forward to more paint work to bring some live to the the Foliage Green!

Clifford Keesler
Looking great Bill.

Bill Spargo
Wonderful to see it with paint Bill, great build. Hope you are in good spirit, thinking of you, all the best.

Chris Parsons
looks good, getting there.

Alan Rush
Nice to see you at it again. Looking forward to more. 🙂

Roger Trewenack
Haven't caught up on this in a while, but it's looking good, Bill.
Another modeller in my club used foliage green when doing some Beaufighters. It's a very "Solid" colour, isn't it?
Love your detail work under that green, and wonder about the black edging on the canopy. How did that come about?

Bill Gilman
Thanks, everyone. The Foliage Green is Gunze H302, and I'll be doing some post-shading on top of it. The black edge to the canopy was applied with a wide, flat permanent marker. You have to be careful to use white glue when you attach the canopy, as it won't cause the black ink to run. Superglue will. I only add the black edge if I'm concerned that you may be able to look through the canopy and see the bottom edge (which will "sparkle"😢. A little bit of black kills that effect.

Es-haq Khosravi
Great job!

Bill Gilman
Some more work on the Beaufort - I've added two scratchbuilt fuel vents, attached the D/F aerial base (takes the place of the typical football antenna - the actual deployed aerial will be added with photoetch) and I've done some post shading on the Foliage Green paint. It's coming along, I wish I could spend more time on it, but I am very fatigued from the chemotherapy and have to rest a lot. Enjoy the new photos that I've posted. Cheers!

Matthias Weiss
Very nice build so far!
Pretty funny, I always complain that I can't handle PE-parts on my 1/35 scale tanks because they are so tiny. Now I see you adding PE to 1/72 scale airplanes and it all looks so perfect. That makes me want to put the scale models aside and start a Lego-kit.... 🙂

Oh and: KEEPFIGHTINGBILL!!

Burkhard D
Such a pleasure watching your Beaufort coming alive step-by-step. 👍👍👍

Kerry COX
Time lapse is great to see, and what a pearl. You have bought an otherwise dull aircraft to life with all the most wonderful detail. Just great. 🙂 KC

Roland Sachsenhofer
Wonderful Bill, I love seeing that beauty come alive!

Bill Gilman
Thanks everyone! I appreciate the nice comments. Tyres are mounted, and I've done a bit of paint touch-up. The wheel wells and landing light area are now British Interior Grey-Green, and the clear gloss has gone on in preparation for the transfers. A couple of new photos have been uploaded.

I want to get the decals done and some matt varnish on so that I can take off the canopy masks. They've been on a long time, and I would like them off before round two of chemotherapy next week. After that, I'll be down for a week or so and probably won't get anything done.

Christian Bruer
Good to see you're making progress in both, modelmaking and fighting the cancer. All the best for your next therapy Bill. Cheers, Christian

Christian Meyerhoff
Excellent Bill! You know how to bring Special Hobby kits to life! Great work mate!

Roland Sachsenhofer
Great work and great pictures Bill! I am really looking forward to see the masking removed... I wish you all the best.

Es-haq Khosravi
Excellent job!

Marc Schimmler
I had to check a 2nd time. That's 1:72!!!
I shouldn't be amazed ... it's build by you.

Keith Gervasi
Very nice!

Bill Gilman
Now she's looking the part - decals on, flat varnish applied, some pastels on the panel lines. I've also removed the masks from the canopy, so Roland should be happy! I had to make some "kangaroo catchers" to add to the main landing gear. These are very prominent on the real aircraft, so they have to be there. Brengun provided part of them in their photoetch set, but not the whole thing. I think they are really meant to engage the gear doors and pull them shut when the gear retracts. Cheers!

Ray Seppala
Looking great Bill. Been following this one elsewhere as well. 👍

Es-haq Khosravi
Excellent job!

Christian Lehmann
Great!

Carlos Medrano
Gorgeous!

Guus
Superb finish Bill !

Holger Kranich
Simply brilliant what you make here, Uncle Bill!
Its really damn phucking good!😄

Erik Leijdens
Very impressive paintjob!

Rob van Dodewaard
woooow

Christian Bruer
very very nice. I like it if someone is able to bring a one tone scheme to life like you did on this bird!

Campbell Brand
Encore did an excellent RAAF Beaufort with etched brass antennae and decals for 4 machines

Marc Schimmler
Hey, looks like you are a true Euro Modeller 🙂
Beautiful plane!!!!!!!!

Bill Gilman
Thanks, everyone! Marc, what does it mean to be a true Euro Modeller? Is it because I use a Euro coin in some of my pictures? 🙂

Regarding the antennae, Special Hobby provide them all in photoetch brass as part of the kit. And they look super fiddly! Right now, I'm trying to determine the correct order to add the rest of the parts, in order to minimize the risk of breaking things off. I think it is inevitable, though, that some of these fiddly bits will be knocked off and have to be put back on. These things are so tiny!

Marc Schimmler
You got it ... 🙂
Couldn't resist it. Actually I appreciate it as I know the scale.

Glenn
That's looking real nice Bill 🙂

Kerry COX
Every time I see such fine work done on a difficult build, these words always come to mind. "The patience of a Saint and the touch of an Angel" and right now, they fit perfectly.

Beautifully done Mr Gilman. 🙂

Vitor Costa
Hey Bill that looks good! So good to see that you didn't lost the touch 😉

Matthias Weiss
She´s a real beauty, Bill! Well done!
All these nice little details... and the clean build... great!

Roger Trewenack
Love your touch on the "Single-colour" paintwork, Bill!
Keep the grand-kids away from her!!

Roland Sachsenhofer
Terrific work, Bill! What a beauty!

Martien Lourens
excellent work, Bill

Bill Gilman
I'm back at work following a week off due to chemo. I spent some time today finishing the landing lights in the leading edge of the port wing. It's amazing what you can do with some photoetch and a Tigercat canopy! New photos uploaded to document the silliness. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Chris Parsons
the silliness makes an amazingly good landing light lense hey...modelling in the true sense

Matthias Weiss
Amazing as always, Bill! Good job!
And my full respect for keeping on modeling even though you have a hard time with your chemo.

Roger Trewenack
Wow, Bill! What with the kidnapped canopy, the plastic cutlery, and your magic paintwork, your Beaufort looks beautiful! Nothing silly about it at all. Truly inventive! Keep it up, and your other battle too!

Marc Schimmler
I did a similar thing to an Airfix Beaufighter. I used a special clear heat formable plasticva wrapped around the wing at the light position. It fitted quite well. Nice work!

Es-haq Khosravi
Great job!

Bill Gilman
Thanks, everyone! Marc, tell me more about the clear heat formable plastic. I have the sheets for my vacuform machine, but they were too thick for this job. Something that is clear, thin, and can be formed with a hair dryer would be a great tool.

Christian Bruer
Great progress Bill!

soheil moghisi
Very nice&Amazing.

Marc Schimmler
The stuff is called Vivak and is from Bayer. 0.5mm sheet formable between 120 and 160 degrees Celsius. I heat a small piece over a small flame and wrap it around the position where it going to be placed.

Roland Sachsenhofer
Wonderful work Bill, quite stunning...

Bill Gilman
I'm feeling a bit better after the chemo side effects, and I managed to get quite a lot of work done on the Beaufort. First, all of the gear doors are now on. And, more importantly, I added all sixteen of the ASV antennae that are on the sides of the rear fuselage. I was dreading this, but it was much easier than I thought. Photos have been uploaded to show all the details! Cheers!

Es-haq Khosravi
That is great!!! 👍

Matthias Weiss
Beautiful, Bill! I can not even imagine to handle such small parts. Most likely all 16 would have just jumped out of my tweezers... 🙂

Alan Rush
Wow Bill! That would drain the energy out of you. I would be doing that with my shaky hands and they would be pointed in every direction. Glad that you are feeling better and great photos to watch as you progress along. 🙂

Hanno Kleinecke
Just perfect !

Christian Keller
Fantastic is all i can say :-D

Jens R.
Awesome! 👍

Murad ÖZER
Not enough antennas, nope!
Looking great Bill. 👍

Bill Gilman
Thanks, mates! 🙂
Murad, no worry - there are more antennae coming!

Bill Gilman
Hi mates - just a few new photos today. I've added the bomb racks, the bombs, and a variety of probes that are on the forward fuselage. The plan is to get all of the fiddly stuff added to the undersides and forward fuselage, and then finish her up with the fiddly stuff that is mounted on top. We're almost there! 🙂

Christian Bruer
Amazing work Bill!

Philip De Keyser
Impressive work Bill 👍

Aghis Barberopoulos
Lovely details

Matthias Weiss
Unbelievable that this is a 1:72 airplane. So many details.
Keep going Bill, great work!

Bill Gilman
Even more details are being added - there are two high voltage whisker antennae on the forward fuselage. Special Hobby provide tiny, circular grommets in photoetch that are added first. The whiskers come later. I also painted the frames on the top turret, and the Montex masks worked great. Then I realized that I forgot about the machine guns in the leading edge of the wings, so I had to carefully drill two holes where I can put the gun barrels. I think that hypo needles will work great for the barrels, so I need to go downtown into the city to see if I can get some used hypo needles from some addict in the gutter. Lastly, I added the bracket on the starboard fuselage for the drift sight. And there is still more fiddly stuff to come! Photos posted for all the additions. Cheers, Bill

Christian Ristits
Thats outstanding work Bill, great!

Roland Sachsenhofer
Indeed nearly unbelievable! I am completely stunned and enjoying the pictures!

Vitor Costa
Hey Bill, thank you for sharing your works, always very inspiring. I wish you a good 2015 🙂

Es-haq Khosravi
That's awesome Bill!

Kerry COX
Bill, what an amazing thing you have done with what most people would call a mundane subject. The detail and imagination that has gone into your build is just fantastic mate.🙂 I have really enjoyed watching the progress of you efforts. (Thumbs up). You have the "Patience of a saint" 🙂

Erik Houghton
Awesome work Bill

Christian Bruer
Breathtaking result Bill. All the very best and healthy 2015 mate.

Hanno Kleinecke
This is an extraordinary example of what can be achieved in this scale. It is a real joy to look at!

Kerry COX
You have a lot of fans out here Bill, and so you should mate as you really have got a nice touch. 🙂

Bill Gilman
Thanks, mates! I spent some time yesterday making the supports for the underwing Yagi antennae. I decided to use the resin support that came with the High Planes Models (HPM) set after all, but was surprised to see that they did not seem to be correct. Plus, I broke one of them earlier.

First, I repaired the break, and then modified them both to more accurately resemble the photos I have. (Plus, they have to match up to the photoetch antennae from Special Hobby, which may not be completely correct either.) Then I painted them. Hopefully, I'll have the supports and the antennae mounted tonight. Then the model will be really difficult to pick up! 🙂

Bill Gilman
Since the model doesn't have enough antennae, I added some more! Up front on the sides of the nose are two high-voltage transmitters (part of the ASV radar system) that look like whiskers. Then, on the underside of each wing, the Yagi antennae have been added. They're the ones that look like my old roof-mounted TV antenna. If I'm not mistaken, the term Yagi refers to the design of the antenna, in this case several parallel rods.

I believe this concludes everything that needs to be added on the bottom, so now I can finish the fiddly bits on top. The model should be complete this weekend! 🙂

Duncan Black
It's looking good Bill, I look forward to seeing the completed model.

Bill Gilman
Thanks, mates! I just realized that I have reposition the Yagi antennae on the supports. I have them too far forward. This should be fun! Maybe...

Roger Trewenack
Hmmm.... guess I can't use my favourite movie phrase.."What we have here....is a failure....to communicate!"

Excellent detail work, Bill. You must have a very steady hand!!

Kerry COX
'Cool' !!! Ha ha ha. 🙂

Bill Gilman
That's me, Steady Hand Luke! I fixed the Yagi aerials, so now they're in the right place. Working on the turret now...and I can use my favourite movie line: "That rug really tied the room together!" 🙂

Roger Trewenack
Paul Newman would be pleased!! 😉

Kerry COX
But Wait, there's more !!!!The video of this most wonderful venture will soon be released on.................................!!!, Yestube.! and as an added bonus, a visual tour of his most magnificent display case and all the other perfect replicas he has ever made,!!! WOW, what a treat folks. ! 🙂🙂 🙂

Dave Flitton
Nice looking bird!!

Edgars Bizūns
This is awesome!

Bill Gilman
Hi mates! The unthinkable has happened! No, I didn't drop the model - I finished it. Woo hoo! I uploaded a bunch of new pictures, probably straining Tim's servers in the process. Enjoy! Cheers, Bill

Alan Rush
Congratulations Bill! 👍 Don't even joke about dropping it! What a great result. I have really enjoyed watching your in-progress photos and I am sure that you are happy with the results. 🙂

Greco Otero
Another amazing model !!

Ulf Petersen
Hi Bill, the model looks phantastic! Amazing job, Congrats. 👍

Roland Sachsenhofer
She is an amazing beauty, I adore your skills and your steady hand! Now that´s a milestone in 1:72 scale modeling!

Christian Lehmann
Very convincing result! 👍

Roger Trewenack
I agree with all the compliments thrown your way, above, Bill. I think some one modelling this bird in 48th or even 32nd would be envious of your result and level of detail. Remind me never to put one of my models beside one of yours! Luckily we're very far apart, so that won't happen...😉 I look forward to your next project...

Mats Bengtsson
I can only agree with everyone else. Extremely inspiring.

Duncan Cook
Wow Bill, you did a marvelous job on this one. Looks wonderfull.

Christian Ristits
What an amazing piece of art! Congrats!

Glenn
Very nice job!

Philip De Keyser
Hi Bill, youve did again a wonderful job, she looks marveles. Just great.

Augie
bloody well done bill!

Albi Hitz
Bill, thats awesome!
I'm speechless!
1:72 .... How do you get patient for that kind of work?

Bill Spargo
Superb build Bill, congratulations in making a dull colour scheme come to life.

arne vd burg
What a beautiful bird you made Bill congrats.

Christian Bruer
Amazing work and finish! One of your best ones Bill!

Bill Gilman
Wow, thanks for all of the wonderful comments! I truly appreciate it. You guys are the best! Cheers, Bill 🙂 🙂 🙂

Choppa Nutta
awesome ! 🙂

Es-haq Khosravi
Great Job Bill! 🙂

ACHILLEAS TSOMPANAS
well done !!!

Christian Meyerhoff
Hi Bill! Sorry for this late post, but I have been offline for several days by spending my time putting on new wallpapers in my home.
This model is excellent and you can be proud of it! Show this one to the guys from Special Hobby as well and enter their Hall of Fame! (Website, Catalog) Outstanding work!

Marc Schimmler
Hi Bill, outstanding work. Overall green is definitely not on easy task. Well done. Cheers, Marc

Urban Gardini
Fantastic work, nothing short of just brilliant! Love it mate!

Bill Gilman
Thanks, mates! Christian, does Special Hobby have a web gallery where modellers can upload photos of their finished kits? I only know of the MPM/CMK eShop site.

Christian Meyerhoff

Hi Bill there is no web gallery, but if you sent some pics they will use them for their photo section of their catalog. I did the same with this one:
cmkkits.com/en/aircr..ner-trainer-version/
cmkkits.com/en/aircr..ow&imageID=90093

Maarten Kruizenga
awesome looking 'beast'

Pierre-Christian Baudru
Great job ! cheers

Christian Meyerhoff
Hi Bill !
Here is another link for posting pics of MPM Products:
mpmkits.eu/

Bill Gilman
Thanks Christian - I sent them a few pictures. It will be interesting to what they do.

"Petr, it's lunatic from America sending pictures in again - what should I do? Maybe I should give him email address for other Petr at AZ!"

Es-haq Khosravi
Great job Bill! Well done! 🙂

Edgars Bizūns
@Bill Sweet aviation models also have some modeller Hall of Fame 🙂 here are few mine -
sweetaviationmodels.com/14103FM2.html
sweetaviationmodels.com/14107zero.html

Bruce Campbell
Saw it on Britmodeller Bill and it blew me away there...loved seeing all the images here too... great stuff cheers Bruce aka Winenut

Bill Gilman
Thanks - and another nickname I can attach a real name too! I sent some photos to the MPM blog and they asked for permission to post them, which I immediately gave. Haven't seen them yet, though.

Christian Meyerhoff
They will post it for sure !

Marc Schimmler
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bill Spargo
Congratulations on all the publicity this magnificent build is getting Bill. All the very best.

Augie
Excellent Bill.. bloody nice 🙂

Thomas Bischoff
wonderful build and finish!

Jens
a really compelling model, absolutely first class 👍 👍 👍

Es-haq Khosravi
That's great!

John E
Sensational build 🙂

Cristian Bordina
Wonderful!!!!

Glenn
Great job Bill looks fantastic!

Vitor Costa
Hi Bill
This is the proof that its not the kit... that makes the artist!
Amazing work as usual.
Congratulations Bill 😄

Michel Huijghe
Enough said....👍

Bill Gilman
Thanks guys! 🙂

Ralf Schuster
Wonderful... Respect!

Soeren R.
Picked this kit up today. I hope mine will be half as good as yours 🙂

Bill Gilman
It's a nice kit, it goes together well. I hope you like photoetch! 🙂

Soeren R.
Never used it really till now the same with Resin. I will probably dont build it soon, but its nice to have the kit in the stash - even more after I saw your finished kit 🙂

Clifford Keesler
It looks great Bill.

Kerry COX
Bill, I am most impressed with everything you have done with your build. I am just wondering how many hours you have lavished on her ?

Many times I have been through the pics here and I always see something new/different. 🙂

Bill Gilman
Hmmm...I don't keep track of hours, but from start to finish was about five months. However, I was also going through chemotherapy for most of that time, and I was not able to do any modelling while I was recovering from the treatments. Only two more treatments to go! Next week and then the first week in April. Woo hoo! 🙂

John E
Bill, I am sorry to hear about that. Sending good thoughts your way. Again, awesome model.

Roland Sachsenhofer
Simply one of the -if not the- best work on a monochrome surface. Not overdone, not to less- you have awaken that model to live!

Bill Gilman
Thanks, Roland! I was concerned about over-doing it, then I thought maybe I had not done enough. It's good to know that you think it's just right! 🙂

Thanks for the nice wishes, John!

Edward MacKenzie
You really are more an artist than a modeller... Amazing, i am speechless...

Bill Gilman
Thanks Edward! Now Airfix is coming out with a new tool Beaufort Mk.I - it's about time! It will make a nice companion to the Australian version here.

Edward MacKenzie
Yer welcome mate! 🙂
Oh yeah, i know and i can't wait to have it :-D

wilky
I would like one of these kits

Lochsa River
Very, very clean and great finish....this one is fun to look at.

Roland Sachsenhofer
A really beautiful result, inspiring and pure joy! Congratulations on this masterpiece!

Neuling
I cannot tell otherwise than Lochsa and Roland. 👍

Erik Leijdens
Fantastic work 👍

Holger Kranich
I agree! Top work uncle Bill!

Kees Kleijwegt
Great looking Beaufort! 👍

Bill Gilman
Thanks mates! I tell you, after I finished with all those antennae I vowed to never touch a photoetch fret again in my life! Until the next kit, of course. Cheers, Bill

Anthony
Absolutely beautiful Bill. Well done. TonyTiger66 from BM.

Cuajete
Fantastic job. Congrats!

Clifford Keesler
Very nice Bill, a real beauty.

Olivier
Worthy efforts ! Bravo ! One question though, how come you use a 1 Euro coin as scale when you live in the States ?

Bill Gilman
Thanks guys! Another thread resurrection, I love it. As far as the euro coin goes, I use that because I spent all my Yankee money. 🙂