My dad and I built the Airfix Sterling back in the sixties. Black plastic leviathan that hung from the ceiling in my bedroom. Dad was in the REME during WW2, at one stage seconded to USAF. We built B-17 "bit ol lace" and he regaled me with stories of the plane together with mustangs and Thunderbolts. Great kits and a wonderful Dad who I still miss. Loved this video.
My Grandfather flew the Stirling during the war. As I understand it, owing to it being designed and built before the outbreak of war, it’s wingspan was limited to allow it to fit into the hardened hangers that the RAF had built. This made the aircraft effectively obsolete due to it’s limited ceiling. As such my Grandfather mostly flew supply missions for the Dutch underground. Flying alone in the dead of night over occupied Europe. He was also involved in Operation Market Garden, towing gliders into Arnhem. An ill conceived plan in a terrible war that he and his crew made it through miraculously completely unscathed.
The thing about hangar doors is a myth. Much more complicated reason but essentially it was a weight issue. The Stirling had to requirements that the other heavies didn’t have to meet
It's just possible that your grandfather met my late parents as Dad was an engine mechanic and Mum a WRAF on Stirlings. They would talk about them setting off towing gliders for Operation Market Garden and the Dutch relief flights you mention. Dad converted to Merlin engines and was sent to the Japanese theatre.
That's glorious. My uncle died in a Stirling crash in July 1943 - 75 (NZ) Squadron RAF. I'd love to build one of these as a remembrance - but yours has put anything I could do to shame. Great stuff.
Don’t let that stop you building yours! My grandfather died in a Wellington crash. I made a model of it as tribute but it would never make it to RU-vid! 😅
My last kit was made 35 years ago using a tube of polystyrene cement and four little cans of Humbrol enamel. This vid was a revelation - all that detail, some of which you probably cannot see. Well done!
Building mine from scratch using thin cardboard sheet, but had no idea of what the interior looked like, now i do! Thank you, itll really help. Yes, i make every part myself. To be different, im making the mk2 that would have been Canadian built with American engines.
Just watched this again. I love the detail in the cockpit, such as the navigator's table. This aircraft must have been a real handful to land, with such tall undercarriage.
I built the Airfix Short Stirling, purely to get my hands on the tractor. That would have been in the mid 1970s. Sadly my Stirling has long since been lost to the sands of time, but I still have the tractor. I was delighted to see this Italeri build. A lovely trip down memory lane. Cheers Greg.
Lovely model! This brings back some distant memories for me too. In 1975 I started going to my local Methodist Church and discovered one of the stalwarts was the widow of a Stirling crew member and had been since 4th September 1943. She never remarried. Her late husband was Sgt. Robert Otley Lander, RAFVR. He was lost with his comrades in Stirling Mk III S/N BK774, markings LS-K of 15 Squadron The aircraft was lost close to the Danish coastline on a mine laying sortie. Sgt Lander and some of his comrades are buried in Frederikshavn Cemetery. What brave lads. And what pain Sgt Lander’s young wife must have gone through, like so many others. She talked to me about this just the once and, I think, only because she knew I was interested in WW2 history, particularly the RAF.
Every time you start your videos and you do that "hi" with you arm, it reminds me of driving in the rain and watching my windshield wipers go back and forth !!!
I was worried at first that this might be a re-boxing of the old Airfix kit, but was pleasantly surprised to see the better fit from the new mold, and improved decal sheet from the newer Aliteri effort. You did a really nice job.
Hey, Greg! Manuel here from Spain sharing the same feelings with that old Airfix Stirling kit. My father and I went to the models shop and it was love at first sight. We built it together, black plastic and huge wings! Still one of my favorite moments with plastic models, thank you for this wonderful video. Lots of good memories are back.
My uncle lived near a church where three airmen are buried. Their sterling crashed into the water close to the town he lived in. Beside their grave is a propeller from their plane. And it is in remarkable good shape considering that the plane crashed into the water. Last time I saw the graves the propeller hub had been removed, I think the entire prop will be going through some conservation this winter. And I think next year it will be the 80th anniversary of the crash
My great uncle was killed in a Stirling from 199 Squadron, Sept 15-16, 1944. I was always looking for a kit to build and now, especially with the 199 squadron aircraft shown in the decal sheet I have to find this one an build it. Thanks for posting. Cheers
Man, you have great memory. I don't have the guts to remove everything from a sprue and try to remember its adjacent number as I might get it confused. LOL! Man, o man, your kit looks very realistic as always! Great job Greg!🤠
Thank you so so much for this video Greg. So many tips and tricks I will use when building this, my first kit in about 20 years! I couldn't believe it when I (Tom) spotted this kit in a local model shop the other week, and the decal sets included, Goosebumps everywhere. EX-G - The Gremlin Teaser was my Grandads aircraft, so seeing it reproduced brings back a huge wave of emotions. And as an extra bit of nostalgic magic, he was also Squadron 199's artist, so painted the very distinct nose art, including the lady who my Gran was VERY much not a fan of! He also painted the Stirling mural housed in RAF Hendon. The squadron has a very interesting history, and was involved in operation Window during D-Day, dropping vast amounts of aluminium strips as a radar decoy. (so the bomb loadout might be incorrect) Currently researching all the kit and best paints I need to give this build my best shot, as a tribute to a talented artist and engineer, who I sadly never got to meet. Thanks again, excellent build.
I really enjoy your videos and especially your methodology, no nonsense, no pontificating on the best way of modeling. I like your choices in subjects as well. Keep these video’s coming!
One of your build videos dropping on a weekend is a real treat to watch with my morning coffee. Takes me back to Saturday morning TV as a kid. The video is exactly as long as it needs to be and packed with information and tips and a friendly, no-nonsense approach to each build. The builds are always outstanding, but I’m also impressed by the way in which you know what you want to build and you put in the work to do it that way. Thanks Greg - impressive stuff.
I have been entertained! I reckon Italeri owe you big time- a huge thank you and a hand signed card every xmas at the very least for sorting this one. Awesome work!
Hi Greg! I have to confess truly... most of your builds are not the object of my interest BUT each of your clips is really a pleasure to watch... keep on 👍🏽✌🏽
I had one oif the Airfix Stirlings you mentioned. The plane it'self is long gone, but the tractor now lives, battered and rusted besides a barn on my model railway.
Hi Greg - I have a way to deal with dimples (and other such problems with clear parts). They can be filled with clear two-part "five minute" epoxy glue. After applying to the part, make sure there are no air bubbles. Once hardened, this can be sanded and polished smooth.
Amazing work as ever Greg, and truly hypnotic watching your videos. What a great looking bomber. I was looking at this kit myself, but now I’m coming to the end of Italeri’s 1:48 Wessex Uh-5 coastguard, it’s put me Italeri for life 😩 Thanks for sharing as ever. Jase 🇬🇧
Fantastic job as always Greg. So glad you represented one of 199 Sqn’s, as it was my fiancée’s grandad’s squadron (he was a mid upper gunner in these beasts and his records show he flew in both R for Roger and G for George). I haven’t touched a model since my teen years, but when my son’s old enough, we’ll give this kit a go! 👍
OH dear Greg ! YES searched the last night between all that Boxes from moving to new home... AND YES right next to me now there is the airfix Box with that nice drawing on: the Short Stirling =)) AND YES i dream of a Dio with that tractor trolleys and arfix arifield vehicles and some "Männle" =) ) here goes so many wrong... you bring such a great smile on my face in this times ! Thank You !
Wow! another beautiful build Greg, a little bit of scratch build mixed with an impeccable paint job. Always look forward to your videos. I grab a coffee and I’m ready to go.
I’m looking at this having done the Airfix kit when I was an ill kid some 50 years ago. Then, the kit, crude by todays standard, was great because it had more parts than the others. I’ve bought this kit because me wife’s [first marriage] father-in-law died as a rear gunner in a 149 Sqn Stirling in 1943. I feel like a good Paint By Numbers hobbyist looking at a lecture by Turner or Stubbs . God, how inadequate I feel.
The "injector pin marks" are actually marks from *ejectors,* pins that should sit flush while a part is cast and then push outward to help release the parts from the mold. Unfortunately, they tend to stick to far in or out, leaving obvious marks.
Per ardua ad astra, Outstanding example of your skills and perseverance. Always a treat to watch your build progress. The series of photos are wonderful. 'Target for Tonight."
Every time i see a built model it always strikes me as something that belongs in a museum for many others to see and appreciate because of the craftsmanship and the history it represents, but also because it's such a thing of beauty.
Another fantastic job Greg. I really like your selection of models that you build. I always look forward to your next project. I wish you continued success not only with building kits but also in your personal life. Best regards. Aleš 🙂👍
