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Practical guides for scale modellers — kit comparisons, paint recipes, weathering tutorials, and historical deep-dives into the aircraft, squadrons and pilots of WW2.
Featured guide · Hurricane
Which Hurricane kit should you buy? The complete 2025 guide
Nine kits compared across three scales — from the definitive Airfix 1:48 to the extraordinary Arma Hobby Expert Set. We cover accuracy, cockpit detail, fit, decal quality and value for money.
Reference
Hurricane BoB camouflage — exact paint codes across four brands
Dark Earth, Dark Green and Sky — the three colours of every Battle of Britain Hurricane, matched across Humbrol, Tamiya, Vallejo and AK Interactive.
Build guide
Weathering a Hurricane Mk.I — airfield mud, exhaust staining and fabric texture
Step-by-step weathering guide using real airfield soil colours from the Hawkinge, Biggin Hill and Kenley sectors. Includes Tamiya pigment recipes.
History
The 22 Hurricane squadrons of the Battle of Britain — a guide for modellers
Which squadrons flew Hurricanes in 1940, where they were based, which markings they carried, and which decal sheets cover them.
Reference
Hurricane fabric wings vs metal wings — how to tell the difference and model it
All BoB Hurricanes had fabric-covered wings with a distinctive woven texture. How to represent this in 1:48 and 1:72 scale, and which kits get it right.
Build guide
Best aftermarket parts for the Airfix 1:48 Hurricane
CMK cockpit, Eduard PE, Quickboost exhausts, Master Model gun barrels — what's worth buying and what's overkill for a straight BoB build.
Featured guide · Spitfire
Which Spitfire Mk.I kit should you buy? The complete 2025 guide
Eight kits compared across three scales — Airfix, Eduard ProfiPACK, Arma Hobby Expert Set, Hasegawa 1:32 and more. We cover accuracy, cockpit detail, fit and value for a Battle of Britain build.
Reference
Spitfire BoB camouflage — exact paint codes across four brands
Dark Earth, Dark Green and Sky Type S — matched across Humbrol, Tamiya, Vallejo and AK. A and B scheme split line explained, spinner colour, roundel notes.
Build guide
Weathering the BoB Spitfire — station by station
Eight gun-port blast marks, port wing walkway chipping and mud colours for Hornchurch, Biggin Hill, Westhampnett and Middle Wallop. Tamiya mix recipes for each airfield.
History
Sailor Malan — ZP-K and 74 Tiger Squadron
Malan's Ten Rules of Air Fighting, 74 Sqn's Hornchurch operations, exact markings for ZP-K and the decal sheets that capture it correctly.
Reference
Spitfire pitot tube — left wing, not right
The single most common Spitfire modelling error. The pitot tube sits on the PORT outer wing leading edge. Photographic evidence, kit errors and how to correct them.
History
No. 92 Squadron at Biggin Hill — the highest-scoring Spitfire unit
Stanford Tuck, Wellum and Kingcome flew from Biggin Hill in September 1940. 127 claims — the highest of any BoB Spitfire unit. QJ markings, serial references and Biggin chalk dust weathering.
Build guide
Spitfire Mk.I cockpit — Interior Green, harness and instrument detail
Interior Grey-Green mixology, Sutton harness types by period, gunsight evolution through 1940, and which resin cockpit sets fit the Airfix and Eduard kits.
Reference
Spitfire Mk.I vs Mk.II — the nine visible differences
Cowling shape, exhaust stacks, spinner type, carburettor intake — identifying which mark you're building from photographs. Essential before choosing a kit.