The first show of the decade got the 2020 show season off to a flying start (pardon the pun). Sat between the EE Lightning and Panavia Tornado SIG and alongside IPMS Cleveland we were amongst friends and great company. 

The SIG's display was a general theme, covering as we do all aspect of German military aviation. The highlight of the show for me was finding a Ju-52 tail wheel that got lost at SMW 2019!

​The Bolton show has cemented its position as one of my favourite shows. The day went by so quick that I didn't have a chance to catch up with everyone.  I did manage to pick up a few Airfix kits (Do-17, He-111 and BF110) that will be added to the display in time.

A huge thanks must go out to all the SIG members who add their builds to the display. Here are a few photographs:

We’ve yet to start on our 2020 theme, WW1 builds will start soon. The SIG has signed up to support the IPMS Battle of Britain SIG 'Big Display' at SMW 2020, so if you have a Battle of Britain build on the bench let me know.

As ever, German subjects prove to be popular on other displays; these are a few that caught my eye. That's all from Bolton. As a final note, the Scale Model Shed chaps have persuaded me that Southwell is a show that I should consider adding to the calendar. I shall make some enquiries.

One more thing: thanks to our host for putting on another great display. I hope the pictures below will give some sort of impression of the hard work that IPMS Bolton put into turning an empty room into a model show.

Issue 4 of the Eagle is ready!

Inside this bumper issues are articles on the Eurofighter, 1945 and SMW 2019,

Today I made a visit to the SIG's sponsor, PM Models on one of their monthly open days. You'll find a shop well stocked with paints models tools and kits and there were two demonstrations by Phil Flory which focused on weathering using oil paints. A visit is highly recommended, especially on the open day which usually takes place on the first Saturday of the month. 

You can keep up-to-date with new arrivals and announcements on their Facebook and Instagram pages.

On a Flory Models live show I was asked about markings for Zwilling (the latest Hasegawa release include what-if bomber markings). Researching 12 air frames should be easy: sadly that isn't the case. 

I looked at a couple of different sources and came away with a slightly different picture. I've included what I've found in a spreadsheet below. I've added details about the marking options included in the Italeri and earlier Hasegawa kits too.

Incidentally, the two sources of information were:

forum.12oclockhigh.net/archive/index.php?t-22225.html and 
Griehl, M. and Klein, A. (2012). Die späten Varianten H-6 bis H-20 und Z =. Erlangen: AirDOC.

Theres more work to do. I've included an editable Microsoft Excel file for anyone who might have more time or reference materials.

The third issue of The Eagle is ready.

The main feature is some reference materials on the Lockheed Starfighter. For people who don’t follow us on Facebook, there is also an series of photo galleries showing the SIGs displays since Bolton at the start of 2019.

Issue two focuses on the Luftwaffe's response to D-Day. It is not to diminish the efforts and ultimate sacrifices made by Allied force but I felt it appropriate to recognise the role and sacrifice that the men of the Luftwaffe made. On the 75th anniversary the SIG would like to give thanks to all the Allied forces that made the liberty that we enjoy today possible. Lest We Forget. 

I'd like to finish with a quote from The Right Honourable Theresa May MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who delivered a poignant speech this morning in France.

"Here in Normandy, the names of those British men and women who lost their lives will forever sit across The Channel from their homeland. We'll always remember their courage and conviction. And to the veterans that are here today - I want to say the only two words I can: Thank you."

Last weekend saw the SIG travel to the RAF Museum Cosford. We were lucky to be placed next to one of my favourite aircraft, the FW 190. A chance to collect a few more images for the walkaround page was taken.

we were in a busy spot opposite PM Models / Flory Models, who were themselves nestled under the wing of the Ju-88.

thanks to all the SIG members who contributed to the display ands thanks to the organisers who put on a splendid show.

With the Revell Ju-52 getting a welcome re-release in 1/48 scale I've been doing a bit or reading around on the subject. The aircraft really does deserve the moniker of workhorse.

Tante-Ju naturally played a central role in our transport special at SMW 2018, although I have to admit the the Gigants, quite rightly, stole the show.

There is neither the time or space in a blog post to do the Ju-52 justice, for now I've collected some archive images from Crete and Tunisia. There is quite an extensive collection of images in our walkaround gallery, with plenty of engine detail on display in the RAF Museum Cosford.

Operations in Crete were supposed to be the Zenith for the Ju-52 and the Fallschirmjäger but with 150 aircraft lost and the paraschute troops taking heavy losses and failing to capture any of their objective in the first day.

Despite severe losses operations in Crete were ultimately successful but no further en- masse airborne were undertaken by the Germans.

North Africa was another theatre where the Ju 52 performed vital work flying supplies across the Mediterranean. The slow Ju-52 was to suffer heavy losses to allied aircraft.

In the image above, RAF Regiment inspect wrecked Junkers Ju 52s and other German aircraft in a scrap heap on El Aouina airfield, North-east of Tunis. A collection of image below from the Library of Congress show a series of wrecked Ju-52s at El Aouiana airport in Tunis, Tunisia.

With the South Cheshire Militaire's Universal Model Show done, I thought it best be update on the shows that we are due to attend:

7th of April:Shropshire Model Show, RAF Museum, Cosford (confirmed)
28th of April: Modelkraft XXL, MK Arena, Milton Keynes (confirmed)
June: Northern Model Show (TBC)
1st of September: East Riding of Yorkshire Model Show, Driffield Showground (TBC)

Here are some photos and a quick video tour of the Universal Model Show to give you an idea of what this show is about...its a little bit different from other shows on the circuit.