Warbirds in my Workshop

David Glen BSc (Hons) MSc, Model Maker, Journalist and Author

Formerly Spitfire in my Workshop

Links

An evolving list of relevant websites. I have found them all useful and some inspirational.


Drawings and three-views

Air Corps Library

On-line access for a very modest fee to 380,000 aircraft drawing and manuals, predominantly US fighters and bombers of WW2.

Albatross Productions Ltd.

Accessible and reliable drawings and reference material on WW1 subjects and an excellent magazine.

Arthur Bentley

Reliable drawings and three-views by a renowned aviation draftsman.

Fokker-Team-Schorndorf

Achim Engels' matchless Fokker Dr. 1 replica. Many drawings and photographs.

Monforton Press

Source of some of the most closely researched drawings of the Supermarine Spitfire (Mks IX and XVI) that I have ever seen.

For collectors

World Collector

Some very fine models, including cars and aircraft. World Collector are "specialists in sourcing and selling collectors items for the connoisseur".

General

Aircraft Engine Historical Society

The AEHS is heavily involved in the identification and cataloging of new source material on the history of aircraft engine development, manufacture and use. In addition to its own growing archive, it has developed on-line catalogs of historically significant documents at the US National Archives and of historically significant engines in museums and collections. A substantial section on propellers.

Brown & Brown Marketing

Web and digital marketing plus book design services.

Colin Essex

Custom made wooden airscrews for operational aircraft, models and ornamental use. Colin carved the walnut pattern for my Spitfire Mk IX's Rotol airscrew... a true craftsman!

Hyperscale

Excellent online modelling magazine crammed with news, reviews, how-to features and a stunning gallery of readers' work.

NotPlaneJane

This site claimes to show the world's biggest collection of vintage aircraft propellers, and I can well believe it. Hundreds of superb images make it a thing of beauty as well as reference archive.

The Wireless-Set-No 19 Group Royal Signals

Online museum of downloadable manuals for more military radio equipment than you ever thought existed

Tony Matteliano's Scale Model Index

Exhaustive listing of scale model websites that's well worth browsing

Hawker Hurricane reference material

Hangar 11 Collection

Some good images of the restored fuselsge frame and wing centre section of a Hurricane MkIIb

Hawker Restorations Ltd

Many superb images showing the resortation of two Mk1 Hurricanes and an SE5a resuced from the Australian outback.

Malta Aviation Museum

Online photo-journal recording the restoration of Hurricane MkIIa 23055. Numerous useful images.

Materials suppliers

4D modelshop

Extensive range of materials with the accent on the professional model maker. Services include custom resin and metal casting, acid etching and laser cutting.

Airscale cockpit enhancements

Superb range of WW2 warbird cockpit detail sets in 1:48, 1:32 and 1:24 scale. Perfect for kit builders and scratch builders alike.

Albion Alloys

Suppliers of precision metals for model makers

Alchemie

Suppliers of modelboards, epoxy and polyurethane resins, RTV silicone rubber and much else. A useful starting point for mould making and pattern making

Alclad II

Alclad II lacquers are the best spray applied metal finishes that I know. Information only website with list of supplier locations.

Coloursense

Custom made dry transfers in single or multiple colours.

Flightline Graphics

Specialist provider of paint masks, dry rubdowns, stencils and waterslide decals for the model maker and for full-size aircraft

Miracle Masks

High quality, self adhesive paint masks cut to order by Mal Mayfield. I used these masks for my 1/5th sacle P51D, but they are equally suited to scales as small as 1/72nd.

Noggin End Metals

Suppliers of non ferrous metal stock, cast iron and engineering plastics.

Percy Hawkins & Son Ltd.

Manufacturers of all types and diameters of non-ferrous wire, including aluminium.

Phoenix Precision Paints

Paint specialist for railway modellers, but with many other applications.

Pro Mark Graphics

US supplier of stock and customised dry transfers, vinyl lettering and paint masks for large scale model aircraft, including propeller manufacturers' logos.

Sapphire Products

One of the few sources for tiny alloy rivets.

Solartex

Heat applied fabric covering made specifically for model aircraft.

Sylmasta

Moulding materials, adhesives and many other essentials for the model maker.

Tubestore

Steel, brass, copper and chrome tube in many sizes and thicknesses.

wires.co.uk

Copper, brass and alluminium wire in a host of sizes and guages... Ideal starting point when plumbing a model cockpit or wheel bay.

Model Makers

Fine Art Models

Gallery for commercial model makers. Splendid 1:5 scale P51D.

From Brazil

Brazilian model maker's awe inspiring collection, including an amazing B17-G.

Large Model Association (LMA)

These guys build big and build to fly. Superb on-line forum is a mine of know-how, and worth the modest membership fee on its own.

Old Crow

Dana Muelot's truly remarkable quater-scale replica of fighter ace Bud Anderson's P51D 'Old Crow'.

Young C. Park

Beautiful alluminium aircraft models, including a P51D, built by a retired dentist from Hawaii.

Museums

Craftsmanship Museum

Gallery of the work of some fine craftsmen, including Young C. Park with his remarkable Corsair and P51D.

Imperial War Museum

Including Duxford in Cambridgeshire, one of Europe's foremost collections of millitary and civilian aircraft, vintage and modern.

Royal Air Force Museum

One of the UK's finest collections of millitary aircraft displated at two major sites, and home to my Spitfire model.

Shuttleworth Collection

Incomparable collection of vetran and vintage aircraft, most of which are maintained in flying condition. I am fortunate to live just 25 minutes away!

P51-D reference material

19 Group Royal Signals

Access to downloadable manuals for more military radio equipment than you ever thought existed(including the SCR-522VHF for the P-51D)!

American Aero Services

Beautiful collection of images of restoration of P51D 'Dixy Boy' and lots more

Crazy Horse Aviation Photography

Many of America's finest P-51 restorations recorded on this superb site. Numerous galleries containing superb images of work in progress.

Jack Parker

Manual, pictures and other data on the P51.

Kiwi Aircraft Images

Lots more Mustang pictures.

Mid West Aero

Many good pictures of P51s in various stages of construction.

MustangsMustangs

An encyclopaedia of a website with pictures and information about the P-51 from its service days to the present.

Pima Air

Fascinating photo diary of a P51D restoration.

Pioneer Aero Services

Mustang bits for sale: great reference source for placards and decals.

Red Tails

Restoration tribute to Tuskegee pilots

Reference Pictures

P51 facts, figures and some nice reference pictures.

Warbird Alley

Many links to US-based restorers and restoration organisations.

WWII Fighter Aircraft Foundation

Many pictures of work on the restoration of P51D 'Missy'.

WWII Fighter Aircraft Foundation

Stacks of detailed photographs showing the restoration of P-51D "Missy".

Spitfire reference material

Aero Legends

Many excellent pictures in web log of the restoration of Spitfire NH341

AVspecs Ltd

A progress report about the restoration of the Ardmore MkV Spitfire, with some of the best restoration images I have so far found on the net... a goldmine for model makers!

Friends of Mabel

Many excellent pictures of the restoration of a Mk VC

Paul Monforton

Researcher, author and publisher of easily the single best technical reference work on the Spitfire I have ever seen.

Simhardware Simulator Project

All we know is his name is Dave. But he's building the ultimate model of a Spitfire's cockpit in 1:1 scale! An amazing website about an amazing project.

Spitfire Mk1 restoration

Superb images of the restoration at Duxford based Historic Flying Ltd. of Spitfire Mk1a P9374.

Spitfire Society

A league of friends who variously flew, built studied or just simply loved the Spitfire.

Spitfire Spares

Treasure trove of aircraft parts on sale, all photographed in close-up. Mainy British types

The Spitfire Site

A wealth of useful material on this site for the model maker, notably a magnificent set of cockpit images of the Croser and Aitchison MkVB 'Marion'

Vintage Fabrics Ltd

Specialist in vintage aircraft fabric covering and painting. Numerous Spitfire and Hurricane projects are shown.

Vintage Wings

A fascinating site with some high quality images of warbird restorations, including a Spitfire Mk IX.

VMI Engineering Services Ltd

Some very nice restoration close ups from this Aldershot-based company, including MkV and MkIX airframes.

WW1 models and reference

World War 1 Aeroplanes, Inc.

Huge resource of veteran and vintage aircraft drawings and reference material.

World War I Modelling Page

Plethora of data and information about WW1 aircraft and many splendid models.

Mustang in my Workshop book cover

Mustang in my Workshop

A book to inspire, encourage and empower the enthusiastic model maker to scratch build a masterpiece.