This is my second Aeromarine 75 build. It is the Balboa that flew between Miami and Havana. The kit is the Roden Curtiss flying boat with scratchbuilt fuselage modifications, wing extensions and rudder. Thinner rigging was used on this model than the previous.

I like out-of-the-ordinary aircraft to model so chose the Mitsubishi MC-20 for my entry, basically a transport version of the Ki-21 'Betty' bomber.It was used in some numbers, mostly in China, by the Japanese national airline pre-1939, despite being singularly inefficient - though having about the same power as a DC-3, it only carried ten passengers.

Only two kits of the MC-20 have been issued, both in resin from Czech manufacturers. I've never seen one on sale, but my friend Mika Jernfors offered me either. I chose the cheaper, made by AV models. I would describe this kit as treacherous - it looked lovely in the box, but was anything but to build. First, the windows had to be cut out and glazed. This went OK, but the wing section didn't match that of the fuselage fairing. This meant a lot of filing, and spoilt the definition of the dihedral. I managed get it right in the end, but it took time.The glazing of the pilots' cockpit was useless, so thin that it split and had to be re-made. The props were supposed to be stuck to the engines, but I made shafts for them, and they now spin freely. The metal casting for the main u/c legs was about 1 mm too wide, and had to be cut in half to get them into the well. Only decals for a military aircraft were given, so I had to make my own. I think it looks OK now, but getting there was difficult.

This is Estonian license built (1933-34) RWD-8. Mister kit 1/72.

What seemed like a simple build at first turned into quite a chore. This Williams Bros. kit had lots of flash and several misaligned parts. Biggest challenge was replacing hundreds of raised rivets with Archer rivet decal strips from where I had sanded seams and joints. Added photo etched brass supports for wheel mud covers. Fully detailed interior including seat belts and curtains in the windows (which can barely be seen). Kit is an older version, but with new Eastern Air Lines decal scheme borrowed from a friend's newer edition kit.

The Dujin resin kit, much re-worked, with after-market canopy, floats, engine and prop; scratch-built struts; mask- and brush painted markings.

The Khee-Kha Ellis Air Transport package, essentially straight-out-of-the-bag, with a few lightly scribed lines and enough scratchbuilt struts and things to hold it all together.

Airfix kit converted to Trimotor of Star Airlines of Alaska. Extra work done:modify exhaust manifold under fuselage by inserting thicker intermediate pipe with round ends,added 4 metal wire brackets to hold same pipe,circular manifold had another pipe intersection added to port side,removed wheel mudguards, added control links to ailerons and elevators,all pipe outlets drilled open,added rigging wire to tail fin and tailplane,flipped round all prop blades pitch to correct Airfix ones and added a new shaft to each. Completed in after market decals of Star Airlines of Alaska livery.

Ford \"Tri-Motor\" Transport (# NX-4542) Monogram 1:77 AT-5 Ford Trimotor with some modifications Fourth issue of the Ford Trimotor, but 2nd issue with TWA markings Dated 1966. Originally issued 1956 i think. Norfolk, Virginia, circa 1930. This plane served in Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd\'s 1928-30 Antarctic Expedition. Not a snap tite, but you can basicly snap this kit parts together without a glue. I glued them anyway . TWA decal sheet was destroyed so i have to make new one with computer + laser printer. Scale is 1:77 but here is only about a 7% difference between 1:72 and 1:77 scales.

Used Italian Kits resin conversion for Italeri kit. Had to extend canopy depth by vac-forming a new one, among other fit problems. Green mice decals custom made (still a bit dark) courtesy of Draw Decal. Machined cowling effect using custom decal (courtesy of friend(s) remaining anonymous until contest end).

Injection moulded Airfix kit, bought made up for £2 from the charity stand at our Nationals last October. All paint (a very heavy coat of matt white) stripped off. All riveting removed and rubbed down, new panel lines scribed in. Turret and astrodome removed, and their apertures faired in, also nose windows. Cowlings (not original) shortened and reshaped. Various repairs (flap guides, u/c leg) carried out. New props from spares box. TACA livery chosen for simplicity. Most decals home-made. TACA aircraft were highly polished, so the entire model was covered with foil. Propellers rotate, u/c retracts, control surfaces move.

Resin kit by Rug Rat Resins. Not an easy build, owing to the butt joints of the very thin wings - these were broken several times in the course of building. Propellers revolve freely, a feature not in the kit. Rigged with nylon thread.

New injection moulded kit by A-model. A nice easy build - the same couldn't be said of the colour scheme!