B-25J Mitchell USAAF “Ave Maria”

The North American B-25J Mitchell “Ave Maria” represents the rugged, hard-working medium bombers that carried a huge load in the final stretch of WWII. The “J” model was the late-war refinement of the Mitchell family - still compact and tough, still able to operate from rough forward bases, and versatile enough for everything from classic medium-level bombing to aggressive low-level work depending on the mission. “Ave Maria” wears that unmistakable late-war USAAF look, with nose art that adds a personal, human touch to an otherwise all-business combat aircraft.

This build is the older Monogram/Revell 1/48 kit which has its origins from the new tool kit of 1977. An iconic subject, but definitely not a modern “shake-and-bake” experience. This kit became an on-again and off-again shelf queen for over a year. I finally finished it using acrylic paints and oil for weathering, Ammo Shaders and some VMS pigments, aiming to salvage a believable in-service look of an otherwise disaster of a model. Subtle fading and tonal variation across the olive drab, restrained grime and streaking where it naturally builds up, and scale exhaust staining were done in an attempt to tie everything together without overpowering the airframe, although the “real deal” personally I think looks even more battered and used than mine depicts! Stars and bars markings were airbrushed depicting some repaints throughout her life along with the upper fuselage fading, and antenna arrays added along with seatbelts for the interior and brake lines along the main gear. It fought me hard in spots and I must have used half a tube of plastic putty but in the end it still builds into a Mitchell with real presence - especially once the “Ave Maria” markings are on and locked in. 

No, this build can’t compete with the new tool builds by HK, so it is what it is - a nostalgic resurrection from the past and I wasn’t about to spend $60 worth of aftermarket stuff on a $14 model kit. As a note, about the only thing that didn’t fight me with this entire build were the aftermarket Kits World decal set. They went down beautifully.

J-10C “Vigorous Dragon” - China’s Frontline Workhorse

The Chengdu J-10C is the most modernized version of China’s J-10 “Vigorous Dragon,” a single-engine, lightweight multirole fighter that fills a similar mission space to other agile 4th-generation fighters. The “C” upgrade focuses on better sensors and avionics, improved electronic warfare capability, and the ability to employ newer beyond-visual-range missiles, giving the type a much stronger punch in modern air combat. In PLAAF service, the J-10C is widely seen as a key frontline workhorse - fast, maneuverable, and flexible enough for air defense, strike, and patrol duties. The J-10C variant presented here entered operational service in April of 2018.

This 1/48 J-10C was finished entirely with Tamiya acrylics and weathered with a restrained, operational look - just enough to tell the story without burying the finish. I went with a bold, modern “shard” style camouflage layout that keeps the jet looking believable while still giving it a unique, eye-catching personality on the shelf. Tires were weighted and static wicks added as well. The biggest fight on the whole build was the canopy: a floor-finish dip experiment turned into a full-on recovery mission, but with careful cleanup, polishing, and touch-ups it came back around and the final result looks clean in the display case.