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Hi, my name is Alex Aitken and I am 13 years old. I started modelling when I was 9, building a 1:72 Airfix Red Arrows Hawk. I have always liked planes — my Dad is a pilot and my Mum was a stewardess for many years!

It was my Dad who got me into modelling. I started building kits with him until I was more confident with the gluing and construction techniques. As I grew more confident I started building on my own but with my Dad supervising me and correcting me if I was about to do something wrong.

Gradually I got the hang of it, I have had many disasters whilst building kits — but I persevered and now can build a model with relatively few hiccups! I discovered Milton Keynes Model Club after going to their annual Modelkraft show at Bletchley and decided to become a member. I have never regretted it! They have encouraged me every step of the way, through my triumphs and tosses, and given me tips on how to improve my modelling.

Not all of my kits have been successful though. Many have been poorly constructed, or stupid errors have spoilt the kit. Part of modelling is the failures — so don’t be disappointed if your kit goes totally wrong — I have been there myself many times — but keep persevering and you will get better and better.

Many of the aircraft kits that I build are of the larger scales like 1:48, 1:32 and 1:24. They are generally easier to build as they are larger, but it is harder to conceal mistakes on the larger models —but beware if you build large models, they need a lot of space!

On this page are some of my models that I have built. One of them, the F5E Tiger 11 won a Gold medal at the Milton Keynes Modelkraft show last year!

Click on the pictures for a larger view

F14 Tomcat

This is my F14 Tomcat. It’s a Revell 1:32 kit and its 60cm long and nearly 60cm wide — so it’s a big model!! To achieve the panelling work I first sprayed all along the panels with Tamiya Black paint and then painted over it grey leaving the panel lines black. Its also weathered with Graphite (sanded down pencil), and rubn’buff to achieve a realistically weathered finish. it is finished in the Fightertown USA VF-124 scheme.

F-5-E Tiger II

This is my Gold medal winning aircraft, it is an F-5-E Tiger II finished in the livery of No:II Staffel der schweizerischen, Luftwaffe, Dübendorf, based in Switzerland. It is the Revell 1:48 kit and is finished again with Tamiya paints and weathered with graphite.

Bristol Beaufighter Mk1F

This is my Bristol Beaufighter MkIF. It is an old Revell Kit dating back to 1977. As it was such an old kit it needed a lot of filling, especially on the wings. The camouflage is airbrushed and it is finished with Enamel paints. It is again weathered with rubn’buff and graphite. The aircraft is based on an aircraft from No: 25 Sqn around March 1941.