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.

I've had several opportunities to photograph W/NR.10639 overall several years and across two locations. The walk around now features both cockpit and exposed engine details.  Black 6 of III./JG77 was captured at Gambut Main (east Libya) by Flt Lt Ken McRae, Engineer Officer of No.3 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force. 

Upon capture damage to the airframe was repaired by using parts from a 109F w/nr 9678 (tailwheel, tail plane, canopy and one propeller blade). Later on the port wing was replaced with parts from (possibly) another former JG 77 Bf109G-2/Trop, w/nr 10533.

All of this makes it one of the most authentic 109 survivors.

The 2019 show season got off to a flying start with the SIG picking up the award for best club/sig display.

A huge thanks must go to the members who contributed to the display and to our hosts IPMS Bolton.

Here are a few images from the main hall and mezzanine.

Scale Model World 2018 was our second display at the 'nationals'. A special thanks must go to our 'Oberleutnant' Rob Bedford who set up our display. 

This year's display was the year of the Gigant with two of them debuting at SMW 2018. It was an interesting display in terms of damage but the less said about that, the better. As well as the transport builds we had an eclectic mix of subjects and we are inching towards our ambition to tell the complete story of German military aviation. I've included many more images from SMW 2018 on this page, which shows German subjects on tables around SMW 2018.

Something of a more Luftwaffe related nature was the launch of Wingleader Magazine. A new magazine that will most likely will contain plenty of Luftwaffe articles.

Airfix's recent re-release of their 1/48 scale Bf 109 was accompanied by a diorama depicted the same scene of a crashed Bf 109. 

Airfix also brought along their soon to be released 1/72 scale two seat 262. ​

On the Zoukei Mura stand were a couple of Luftwaffe related subjects but there releases are some way off.

The Senior National Champion competition winner was almost German, an Austro-Hungarian Oeffag-Mickl G Series Flying Boat built by George Tenediotis. A few German military subjects were scattered throughout the classes.

September saw the SIG display at two shows, the East Ridings of Yorkshire Model Show in Driffield and IPMS Keighley Model Show 2018 ‘First Edition’.

​Here are some pictures from the first of the shows, Driffield. The show at Driffield was a first outing for Any Molyneaux's 1/32 Eduard 109 and an RAF interloper (to celebrate the RAF 100 centenary). I've also included a few images of German subjects on other tables. The SIG 144 display was a highlight.

The Keighley Model Show daw Rob Bedford organise another stunning display. a huge thanks to everyone who added models to the table.

The first issue of The Eagle is ready, download it in an ePub or pdf format.

Yesterday the SIG visited the Canberra Club at Bae Salmlesbury to attend a new show on the calendar run by IPMS Lancashire. The SIG members who attended had a really good time at the show and we look forward to attending again next year. Our ace builder, Rob Bedford managed to add another medal to the silverware cabinet.

I managed to get pictures of most of the models that were on display. Our next display is only a few weeks away at Driffield. Follow this link for our show calendar.

It could prove to be a very useful reference. The images below are proof that I've struggled in the past to get a decent set of walk around images.