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R U Ready !

About the 48 in 48 Challenge

Welcome to the 48 in 48 Challenge—a dynamic and inclusive group build event that combines the joy of scale modeling with the mission to support mental health and well-being through creativity. This annual challenge invites participants to build a 1/48 scale model kit within 48 hours, all in support of Models for Heroes, a UK-based charity providing scale model kits and creative outlets to improve the mental health of veterans, active service members, and first responders.The Origin of 48 in 48
This event started as a birthday challenge and has since evolved into a cherished tradition in the scale modeling community. With the spirit of friendly competition and the heart of a fundraiser, the 48 in 48 Challenge encourages modelers of all skill levels to join forces for a greater purpose. The initiative reflects the passion, creativity, and resilience of the modeling community, embodying the therapeutic benefits of this beloved hobby.Why Models for Heroes?
Models for Heroes uses scale modeling to provide a creative outlet for those struggling with PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. As a volunteer and advocate for this charity, our organizer has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of the hobby and its ability to foster focus, camaraderie, and personal achievement. Every donation helps provide model kits, tools, and guidance to those who need them most, making your support truly impactful.What to Expect
The 48 in 48 Challenge is a fully immersive experience:Live Streams and Community Engagement: Watch builders from around the world tackle their kits live on YouTube, share their progress, and cheer each other on.
Special Guests and Partners: Industry podcasters, professional modelers, and friends of Models for Heroes join in to elevate the event with tips, stories, and camaraderie.
Fundraising Milestones: Throughout the event, donations unlock fun surprises, challenges, and community shout-outs, keeping the energy high and the purpose clear.
Get Involved
Whether you're a seasoned builder or new to the hobby, there’s a place for you in the 48 in 48 Challenge:Participate: Build your own 1/48 scale model kit and share your progress with the community.
Donate: Every contribution helps Models for Heroes continue their vital work.
Spread the Word: Share the event on social media to bring more awareness to the cause.
Together, we’re proving that creativity, connection, and compassion can make a tangible difference. Let’s build for a brighter tomorrow—one model at a time.Learn more about the event, explore ways to get involved, and check out the live streams right here on our site. Your support ensures that the incredible work of Models for Heroes can continue to change lives.

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2025 Participants

Eligibility:
The event is open to all model makers regardless of skill level.Participants must register before the event starts.Kit Requirements:
Models kit can be any scale.
Any subject matter is acceptable (aircraft, vehicles, figures, etc.).The kit must be unstarted before the event begins. However, participants may open boxes and examine parts.2025 Kit of choice
1/48 Airfix Supermarine Spitfire
1/48 Tamiya Sherman TankTimeframe:
The event will run for exactly 48 hours.
Participants may start building once the event begins (as per the official time announced).Build Process:
All work must be completed within the 48-hour window, including assembly, painting, and finishing touches.Breaks, sleep, and other personal activities are encouraged but will count within the 48-hour period.Streaming:
Builders are encouraged to live stream or record their progress and share updates regularly on social media or designated platforms.Use the event hashtag (#48in48) for visibility and engagement.Supportive Environment:
This is a fun and inclusive event designed to promote creativity and camaraderie. Negative or unsportsmanlike behaviour will not be tolerated.Completion Submission:
Builders must share at least one photo of their completed model before the event ends.
Helpful Tips for SuccessPreparation:
Choose a kit you’re comfortable building within the time limit.
Have all your tools, paints, and accessories ready before the event.Pacing:
Plan your time wisely. Prioritize assembly early to leave ample time for painting and weathering.Engagement:
Share your progress with the community to stay motivated and connected.Enjoy the Process:
The aim is to challenge yourself and have fun while supporting a great cause!Disclaimer:
Participants are responsible for their own safety and workspace. The event organizers are not liable for any personal injuries, property damage, or issues arising during participation.

Your Australasia Hosts

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2026 brings you the chance to bid on some amazing and one off items. Here is the list in in no particular order.
Expect surprises… and maybe a few bidding bun fights along the way.

Breaking News —
The Story Unfolds

This page brings together the latest confirmed updates for the 48-48 event as they happen. From partner announcements and merchandise releases to auction highlights, schedule updates, and community milestones, everything shared here marks a moment in the ongoing story.
Rather than speculation or noise, this space is reserved for what’s real, what’s ready, and what moves the event forward. Each update reflects the collective effort behind 48-48 — the makers, supporters, partners, and volunteers who help turn intention into impact.
Check back regularly as new chapters are added.
Some stories unfold quietly. Others are shared the moment they’re ready.

Donors Finalised and Auction List Near Completion

Updated 13/3/26

By James Skiffins – Model Officer Event Founder
I’m delighted to announce that the donor list for this year’s 48-48 Event is now officially finalised, and the auction catalogue is almost complete.
Over the past few months we’ve been working behind the scenes to bring together an incredible group of supporters, and the response from across the modelling community and industry has been nothing short of outstanding.
This year we’re welcoming some fantastic new donors across all three areas of the event – the auction, prize support, and community contributions. Seeing new names step forward alongside some familiar and long-standing supporters is a powerful reminder of just how strong and generous this hobby community truly is.
What has really stood out during the final stages of preparation is the number of truly special items that have been donated. Among the lots are several amazing one-of-a-kind pieces that simply won’t be available anywhere else. These unique items are set to make the auction particularly exciting and we can’t wait to reveal the full list very soon.
The generosity of our donors is what makes the event possible. Every item contributed helps us create an experience that not only celebrates scale modelling but also brings the community together around something meaningful.
Over the coming days we’ll begin sharing previews of some of the auction highlights, giving everyone a chance to see the remarkable range of kits, accessories, collectibles, and exclusive items that will be up for bidding.
To everyone who has stepped forward to support the event this year – thank you. Your generosity and enthusiasm continue to make this community something truly special.
Stay tuned for the full auction list reveal very soon.
— James Skiffins
Model Officer
Event Founder

Nearly 100 Builders Already In!

Updated11/3/26

If you recently signed up to take part in the 48-48 Challenge, you should now have received your confirmation email.
Earlier this week we experienced a small issue with the event email account which delayed some of the automated responses. That problem has now been fully resolved, and all sign-up replies have now been sent or resent.
If you registered and didn’t receive a response previously, please check your inbox and spam folder. If there are still any issues, you can always get in touch through the community channels.
The Momentum Is Building
The response so far has been fantastic. The event website is already showing close to 100 participants signed up, with builders from across the community getting ready for the challenge.
The bench space is filling up quickly — but there is still time to join in.
Whether you're building along for the challenge, supporting the fundraising effort for Models for Heroes, or simply taking part in the community spirit of the weekend, we'd love to have you involved.
Join the 48-48 Challenge
The event begins:
Friday 20th March – 19:30
Sign up now and take part in the global 48-hour modelling challenge.
🌐 Register here:
www.48-48.org
Don’t wait — join the line-up and get your build ready.

Live Schedule Release

Updated10/3/26

We’re pleased to confirm that the full live stream schedule for 48-48 2026 will be released this Friday.The schedule will outline the broadcast times across the weekend, including when different regions will be taking the spotlight during the event.Keep an eye on the website for the announcement and get ready for 48 hours of community, building, and support for Models for Heroes.Stay tuned — the countdown continues.

Auction Lots Begin Releasing Today

Updated 8/3/26

Breaking News: Auction Lots Begin Releasing TodayToday marks an exciting milestone for 48-48 2026 as the auction lots begin to be revealed.Starting Sunday 8th March, lots will start appearing across our channels in no particular order as we showcase the incredible generosity of supporters and donors from around the world. With the final contributions still being confirmed, the complete running order for the auctions will not be published until next weekend.What we can say already is that a little friendly international rivalry is clearly underway. The USA and the UK are already going head-to-head, both keen to show just what they’ve brought to the table — and perhaps which side can help raise the most in support of Models for Heroes.The auction itself may unfold across the whole weekend, with different regions taking the spotlight at different times. In the UK, we’re hearing there may be opportunities to grab lots at almost any moment throughout the weekend, so keeping a close eye on the stream will be essential.Australasia is looking strong, with new donors continuing to come forward and add to the lineup. The US contingent has already shown impressive support, but we’re told there may still be a few surprises waiting in the wings.Meanwhile, the UK has assembled an astonishing 92 lots across the weekend, promising some truly unique opportunities, a few amazing one-off deals, and almost certainly the occasional bidding “bun fight” when two determined modellers decide they simply must have the same item.So, if you’re planning to take part, it might be wise to ensure your wallet has medical assistance on standby — purely as a precaution, of course.Keep watching as the lots are revealed over the coming days, and get ready for a weekend of building, community, and some fantastic auction action in support of Models for Heroes.

Sunday Service Live
Interesting Modelling

Updated 5/3/26

48-48 Appears on Sunday Service with Interesting Modelling
We’re pleased to announce that 48-48 will be appearing on the Sunday Service show hosted by Interesting Modelling.
The discussion will take place this Sunday at 19:30 on the Interesting Modelling YouTube channel, where we’ll be talking about the upcoming 48-48 Birthday Bash, what the event is all about, and how the community can get involved.
Sunday Service has become a regular gathering point for modellers across the community, and we’re looking forward to joining the conversation and sharing more about how 48 hours of building, auctions, and community support come together to raise funds for Models for Heroes.
If you’re curious about the event, want to know how to take part, or simply want to join the chat with fellow modellers, we’d love to see you there.
📺 Watch the show live at 19:30 on Sunday:
Interesting Modelling – YouTube
You can also learn more about the event and how to get involved by visiting:
🌐 www.48-48.org
We hope you can join us for the conversation.

48-48 2026 Community Patch – Limited Extras Available

Updated 3/3/26

The community voted. The decision was made. Version 2 is now officially in production as the 48-48 2026 patch.
Our main order has been placed with the manufacturer, and due to demand, we’ve added a small number of extra patches to the run.
If you missed the original order window, this is your opportunity — but numbers are strictly limited.
Once these additional patches are allocated, there will be no reprints.
Secure Yours Now
🔗 Order here: https://bit.ly/48Patch
Then complete payment via PayPal:
👉 paypal.me/48in48
£15 per patch (P&P included)
Please send payment via PayPal Friends & Family to avoid fees. If paying via Goods & Services, please add 10% to cover charges.
Whether you’re backing the mission, marking the moment, or just want one for your jacket, kit bag or display board — don’t miss out.
Let’s make this one count.
#ModelOfficer #4848 #Community #LimitedRun

🚨 Prime Time Shout out 🚨

Updated 24/02/26

The One Show tonight at 7pm on BBC One & iPlayer – treating PTSD through model-making with Models for Heroes.
Great tour from FlyaSpitfire.com too! You can book at flyaspitfire.com/tours
Have a watch!

🚨 The Darkness Is Lifting 🚨

Updated 20/02/26

The UK Auction at 48-48 is stepping out of the shadows.
Over the next weeks, our Breaking Through The Darkness campaign has offered carefully controlled glimpses of what’s to come — silhouettes, details, and hints of something significant. Now, anticipation is building as we move closer to full reveals.
The UK Auction forms part of our 48-hour global event supporting Models for Heroes, bringing the scale modelling community together for a shared purpose.
Three regions. Forty-eight hours. Exceptional donated items.
The countdown has begun.
The darkness is lifting.
Stay tuned for the first official reveals.

🚨 BREAKING NEWS: 48–48 PATCH ORDERS NOW LIVE 🚨

Updated 11/02/26

This isn’t just merchandise.
This is a marker in time.
The 48–48 Challenge 2026 Patch is officially open for orders — and the clock is ticking.
For 14 days only, you have the opportunity to secure your patch and stand shoulder to shoulder with the Model Officers Mess community as we take on the challenge together.
This patch represents:
⚔️ Commitment
🛠️ Craft
🤝 Community
🔥 The willingness to show up and finish what we start
When orders close, they close. There will be no second run.
Each patch is £15 — and every order helps drive the mission forward.
If you’re in, make it official.
Click the link.
Fill out the form.
Secure your place in the 48–48.
👉 https://bit.ly/48_Patch
Orders close in 14 days.
Stand up. Step forward. Be counted.

Breaking Through the Darkness

Updated 02/02/26

Across the 48-48 event, a series of curated auctions will take place across three regions — UK, Australasia, and North America — each revealing a carefully selected collection of donated items from across the modelling community and industry.
In the weeks leading up to the event, small details will begin to surface.
Hints. Silhouettes. Partial reveals.
Nothing all at once.
Each auction has been designed to unfold gradually, building towards the full 48-hour challenge, where all lots will be revealed and bidding will open in sequence across the regions.
This is not about volume or noise.
It’s about craftsmanship, generosity, and purpose.
More details will emerge soon.
Watch the shadows.

Airfix Steps Up in Support of 48-48

Updated 26/01/26

Airfix has officially launched a special 48-48 event bundle, created in direct support of the 48-48 challenge and Models for Heroes.
For every bundle purchased, 100 flying hours are donated per purchase, delivering a direct and tangible contribution to the charity and the people it supports. This collaboration with Airfix represents a significant show of industry backing for the 2026 event.
The bundle is available now via the buy now button below.

• Buy Now

48-48 Merchandise Official
Means Something

Updated 24/01/26

The official 48-48 merchandise range is designed to do more than mark an event. Each piece tells part of a story — one built around quiet progress, shared effort, and the belief that meaningful change often begins unseen.
Rooted in the narrative arc DARK → BEGIN → FORWARD → SEEN, the collection reflects the same journey at the heart of the 48-48 challenge itself. From the uncertainty of starting, through commitment and momentum, to openness and understanding, every design is intentional, understated, and built to last well beyond a single year.
Rather than bold slogans or time-limited graphics, the range uses refined, dictionary-style definitions as subtle messages — discovered rather than announced. These words are not instructions; they are reflections. Worn individually they stand alone, but together they form a quiet statement about resilience, growth, and choosing to move forward.
Importantly, this is not commercial merchandise in the traditional sense. Every item in the official range exists for one reason: to support Models for Heroes.
100% of all profits from the sale of official 48-48 merchandise go directly to Models for Heroes, helping veterans and emergency service personnel find connection, purpose, and support through creativity and community. Each purchase contributes directly to real-world impact — not overheads, not promotion, but people.
Whether worn at the bench, in the workshop, or away from the event entirely, these pieces act as quiet reminders: progress doesn’t need to be loud to be real, and support doesn’t need to be visible to matter.
This is merchandise with intent.
Defined by the journey.
Built to support something bigger than itself.

• Buy Now

More Than a Patch

Updated 21/01/26

The 48-48 patches have always been more than simple collectibles. They are markers — small, tangible reminders of participation, commitment, and shared purpose.
Each patch represents time given, effort shared, and a moment stood inside together. Whether earned through taking part, supporting from the sidelines, or contributing behind the scenes, the patch signifies belonging to something larger than any individual build or stream.
Designed to be worn, displayed, or kept quietly in a drawer, the patches reflect the same values as the wider 48-48 event: resilience, connection, and showing up when it matters. They don’t celebrate perfection or completion — they acknowledge presence, effort, and intent.
For many, the patch becomes a personal reference point. A reminder of long hours, tired hands, conversations had, and support offered or received. For others, it’s a first step into the community — a small symbol that opens the door to something meaningful.
As with all official 48-48 items, the patches exist to support Models for Heroes. They carry forward the core purpose of the event: using creativity and community to make a real difference for veterans and emergency service personnel.
Quietly worn or proudly displayed, the patch is not about recognition.
It’s about connection.
A shared mark of a journey taken together.

• Vote Now

Theme

2026

Land • Sea • Air — three domains, one challenge.

Updated 24/01/26

Land • Sea • Air brought together in a single scene — armour advancing on land, warships cutting through the sea, and aircraft dominating the sky. A visual reflection of the 48-48 2026 theme: three domains, one shared mission

2025

Spitfires & Shermans — 1/48 scale

Spitfires & Sherman Tanks (1/48 scale) — air and armour working together, capturing one of the most recognisable partnerships of the Second World War.

2024

Land — the machines that keep everything moving.

Land — tractors and utility vehicles that built, sustained, and supported life behind the lines. The quiet backbone of industry, recovery, and resilience.

2023

AT-ST Walker — armour reimagined beyond history.

AT-ST Walker (Star Wars) — sci-fi armour brought to life, blending cinematic storytelling with scale modelling creativity.

2022

Box Diorama — storytelling inside the frame.

Box Diorama — a complete story contained within a frame, where focus, mood, and narrative come first.

2021

Spitfires — grace under pressure.

Spitfires — an icon of air combat, capturing elegance, resilience, and precision in scale.

2020

‘Focker Foes’ - Whoof Whoof

Fockers’ Foes (1/48 scale) — the aircraft that faced the Fokkers in the skies of the First World War, capturing the variety and rivalry of early air combat.

2019

Little Fockers — big character in small scale.

Little Fockers (1/48 scale) — First World War fighters brought down to bench level, celebrating the fragile, hands-on nature of early air combat.

2018

Family Day — building memories, not just models.

Family Day — a celebration of sharing the hobby across generations, where curiosity, creativity, and time together matter more than the subject on the bench.

Tips and Tricks

Updated 24/01/26