Military Aircraft Models

The Ongoing Construction of a 1/48th Scale Airforce

Below you will find a listing of all the 1/48th scale model aircraft I have built over the years. I am also producing separate Weblogs featuring each individual model kit as well as my brief review of the build highlights and end result. Hopefully you will find the content informative, inspiring & entertaining. Feel free to post a note to me on social media featuring a model aircraft that you are working on or have constructed. There is a great community of model builders there who will support your projects long after your family gets bored of your obsession with aircraft. :) - Cheers

Shotgun Approach: 1/48th Airfix E.E. Lightning F.2A/F.6

@PlaneThought41

Apr 1, 20233 min read

Shotgun Approach: 1/48th Airfix E.E. Lightning F.2A/F.6

Airfix's EE Lightning kits make it possible to build an early or later version of this unique aircraft and overall, it is a well done effort

FAA Top Gun: 1/48th Otaki F4U-1A Corsair

@PlaneThought41

Mar 24, 20233 min read

FAA Top Gun: 1/48th Otaki F4U-1A Corsair

This is an old Corsair kit dating back to the 1970s. It has some good features for its time such as overall shape and fine panel lines but..

The Devil's Own: 1/48th Grand Phoenix FJ-4B Fury

@PlaneThought41

Mar 18, 20233 min read

The Devil's Own: 1/48th Grand Phoenix FJ-4B Fury

Released in 2003, the Grand Phoenix FJ-4B Fury was a short-run, multi-media kit of this later Fury aircraft series.

Spanish Civil Mosca: 1/48th Hobbycraft I-16 5/6

@PlaneThought41

Mar 11, 20233 min read

Spanish Civil Mosca: 1/48th Hobbycraft I-16 5/6

This 1990s Hobbycraft 1/48th I-16 kit was/is just a basic kit (which was true for a lot of this company's subject matter).

417 in the Desert: 1/48th ICM Spitfire Mk. VIII

@PlaneThought41

Mar 4, 20234 min read

417 in the Desert: 1/48th ICM Spitfire Mk. VIII

Back before 2000, it wasn't easy to find a nicely detailed, accurately shaped 1/48th scale Spitfire. Many attempts, few successes.

Dora the Explorer: 1/48th Eduard Fw 190D-13 Würger

@PlaneThought41

Feb 25, 20233 min read

Dora the Explorer: 1/48th Eduard Fw 190D-13 Würger

Released around 2010, Eduard's Fw 190D series included this not released before Junkers Jumo 213E engine "smooth cowl" D-13

Canberra Critic: 1/48th Airfix B-57B / B-57G / RB-57E

@PlaneThought41

Feb 18, 20234 min read

Canberra Critic: 1/48th Airfix B-57B / B-57G / RB-57E

There haven't been many manufacturers take on the Canberra in 1/48th scale to say the least. Airfix's releases from 2008-19 gave us several

Navy Griffon : 1/48th Hobbycraft Seafire XV

@PlaneThought41

Feb 11, 20232 min read

Navy Griffon : 1/48th Hobbycraft Seafire XV

In the early 90s Hobbycraft released their Seafire Mk. XV. Hobbycraft kits were known to be short on detail but very reasonably priced.

Phantom Blues: 1/48th Revell (Hasegawa) FGR.2 (F-4M)

@PlaneThought41

Feb 4, 20234 min read

Phantom Blues: 1/48th Revell (Hasegawa) FGR.2 (F-4M)

This is actually a reboxing of Hasegawa's kit from 1987, and to my knowledge is still the only 1/48 scale version of a British Phantom.

Fangs of the Cobra: 1/48th Eduard P-39 / P-400 Airacobra

@PlaneThought41

Jan 28, 20233 min read

Fangs of the Cobra: 1/48th Eduard P-39 / P-400 Airacobra

The P-39 releases from Eduard, starting in 2000, brought model makers an updated Airicobra with recessed panel lines and photo-etch details

Pushing Forty: 1/48th Mauve P-40N Warhawk

@PlaneThought41

Jan 21, 20235 min read

Pushing Forty: 1/48th Mauve P-40N Warhawk

I bought this 1/48th P-40 kit second had at a Hobby Show for next to nothing. It was partially started, without a box or instructions...

Whimpy Alouette: 1/48th Trumpeter Wellington Mk.III

@PlaneThought41

Jan 14, 20235 min read

Whimpy Alouette: 1/48th Trumpeter Wellington Mk.III

This was a great kit to see released as it had been overlooked for so long in 1/48th A very well detailed model right out of the box.

@PlaneThought41

Jan 7, 20233 min read

RN Tabby: 1/48th Hasegawa F6F Hellcat

Introduced in 1995 Hasegawa's F6F kit held a lot of promise for model makers looking for a better 1/48th scale Hellcat.

Italian Falcon: 1/48th Classic Airframes Re.2001 Falco II

@PlaneThought41

Dec 17, 20223 min read

Italian Falcon: 1/48th Classic Airframes Re.2001 Falco II

This was the first 1/48 scale injection kit of the Reggiane Re.2001, although it is a limited run, multi media kit with no locating tabs

Beware the Bones: 1/48th Revell F/A-18F Super Hornet

@PlaneThought41

Dec 10, 20223 min read

Beware the Bones: 1/48th Revell F/A-18F Super Hornet

First released in 2006, shortly after their "E" version, Revell's F/A-18F Super Hornet provides a good low-cost model

Fighter Going Nuclear: 1/48th Revell F-89D/J Scorpion

@PlaneThought41

Dec 3, 20222 min read

Fighter Going Nuclear: 1/48th Revell F-89D/J Scorpion

This Revell 1/48th scale kit was released in 1990 however you don't see too many of them built, possibly due to the slightly obscure subject

@PlaneThought41

Nov 26, 20223 min read

Flying Ford: 1/48th Tamiya F4D-1 Skyray

Here we have an early US Navy /Marines jet example produced by Tamiya in 1/48th scale. The Cold War produced a lot of interesting aircraft

Canadian Snowbird: 1/48th Hobbycraft CT-114 Tutor

@PlaneThought41

Nov 5, 20224 min read

Canadian Snowbird: 1/48th Hobbycraft CT-114 Tutor

This is Hobbycraft's CT-114 Tutor, an aircraft familiar to Canadians. If you have been to an airshow you may have seen this 9-plane team

EE Interdictor: 1/48th Airfix Canberra B(I).8

@PlaneThought41

Oct 22, 20223 min read

EE Interdictor: 1/48th Airfix Canberra B(I).8

While you have to give Airfix due credit for producing some British model aircraft types, their execution is a bit of a mixed bag

Night Veil: 1/48th Monogram P-61 Black Widow

@PlaneThought41

Oct 15, 20223 min read

Night Veil: 1/48th Monogram P-61 Black Widow

Here is another Monogram kit that reigned as pretty much the only available P-61 Black Widow kit in its scale for decades.

The Ongoing Construction of a 1/48th Scale Airforce

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