Christmas Airfix!

spursn17 - Member

Halfords rattle can car paint primer, usually white or grey.

Might be worth trying hycote- it's cheaper and ime gives better coverage/thinner coats. Never used it for models though.

Bit of Sunday evening viewing whilst we're waiting for the Guy Martin thing...

I have built complete kits in the time it has taken me to sort the undercarriage and nose weight on this one.

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Please lie to me and pretend it's an easy build as there's one in my stash, and a Sword Gannet AEW.3 in there too!

You just need to be patient with it. The interior is bigger than the exterior, so lots of dry fitting and sanding are required.

Also, there are too very small hooks (for the catapult I assume) that go on either side of the aircraft between the wing and the bomb bay door. You can see them on the image below just behind the leading edge of the wing. Fit these before you put the wing on or you will go mad.

Wheels down it will need a lot of nose weight. I've had to fill every void under the forward cockpit floor with Liquid Gravity and stick a 5g wheel balance weight in the front undercarriage bay. You can't see it though as the bay doors close when the wheels are down. It is tipping the scales at 72g and only just avoids tail sitting.

It just needs a bit more filling and sanding then it is ready to paint.

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Is there a mechanism for the contra-rotating propellers?

I did both a Gannet and a Westland Wyvern by Trumpeter some time ago, both had such a mechanism that had to be built.... oh the fun I had with those

Both spin independently, but there is no fancy gearing.

That’s a blessing, I think

Just seen that the Sword one is available for £16ish. 😀

[url= https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/332423042379?chn=ps&dispctrl=1&adgroupid=43667893375&rlsatarget=pla-381570893263&abcId=1128926&adtype=pla&merchantid=10034574&poi=&googleloc=9046608&device=c&campaignid=857232711&crdt=0 ]Glutton for punishment[/url]

A wee PSA if you've a Homesense nearby (part of TK MAXX I think) - they've a few Airfix kits heavily reduced:
1/48Tropicalised Hurricane and "club" Specialised Spitfires @ 9.99
1/72 Nakajima Kate @ 12:99
1/72 Beaufighter @ 16.99
1/72 Shackleton and 1:48 Canberra and Lightning all between 19 and 24 (can't remember what was what)
1/24 P51@ 24.99
1/24 Typhoon 'car door' @ 49.99

I picked up the Spit and Hurricane, then grabbed a Typhoon, and was standing in the till queue when common sense got the best of me and I put the Typhoon back- I normally only build AFV's and have no real interest in putting the work in to build a plane of that size.

I resisted the 1/24 bubbletop Typhoon when I saw it at a similar price earlier in the year. It does look like a remarkable kit and a 1/72 Typhoon was the first kit I ever made myself but on the whole it'd mainly take up a lot of space and stay in its box for a very long time if I got a big one now.

RRP for a Beaufighter is £19 or £21 depending on the variant, so not all of these are heavily discounted, BTW.

Sorry to butt in but please help me find.....a 1/12 scale kit of a Yamaha RD500LC or it's US equivalent for my son who's just restored a real one! There's a Tamiya one on Amazon for about £50 delivered from Japan with Japanese instructions which isn't ideal and may not get here before Xmas. TIA

Found this again when I went to RCGroups for the first time in ages. Lots of pics at the end.

https://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Park.htm

Have just bought this for my grandad (he used to build the real thing), hopefully he can still do airfix
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I used to fly round the channel islands on Islanders.

Always an interesting experience in poor weather 🙂

I built a balsawood r/c electric powered Islander a few years back, 48in span iirc. I used the alternative colour scheme from that very Airfix kit - white fuselage & wings, dark blue belly, red wing tips

Still haven’t flown it

[i]Still haven’t flown it [/i]

the build process is the best bit, anyway 🙂 Like bikes 😉

Lived in Lossiemouth for a while when I was a wee boy and we used to amuse ourselves by sitting at the end of the runway (when you could do that sort of thing) and watch the various RAF and NATO aircraft landing and taking off. Of all of the planes the one that looked like it had no business whatsoever being in the air was the Gannet...and that was saying something as the RAF were still using Shackletons!!

My combined Birthday & Christmas haul.

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Is anyone into model cars? I'm getting an itch to buy a couple of kits - maybe a Lotus 72 and a Mk2 Escort. What scale is best for cars and is spray painting de riguer?

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Would prefer the CL-215-V though..

I think 1:24 is the standard scale for cars, although Airfix seem to do them in 1:32.
Spray / airbrush for that all over perfect showroom condition. Hairy stick for a jalopy

Here’s one I did earlier... [url= https://imgur.com/gallery/XDYwP ]Revell 1:24 VW T3 Campervan [/url]

[url= https://www.modelhobbies.co.uk/shop/ebbro-team-lotus-type-1970-p-41633.html ]lotus 72 you say?[/url]

Current work in progress: [url= https://imgur.com/gallery/swX5B ]Tamiya M113 ACAV in 1:35 with Eduard photoetch[/url]

Very nice HtS. What’s the compressor?

Oh and Is Britmodeller down at the moment?

Harry, did you get a model of an airbrush compressor?

Yes, Britmodeller is down 🙁 there’ll be a right flap n first thing tomorrow in their server farm

It’s back up now

I've just built this from 34 parts. Nice and relaxing.

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Very nice HtS. What’s the compressor?
Oh and Is Britmodeller down at the moment?

A Switzer with a tank.

Seems to be. It has been a bit unstable for a few days.

looks like the same compressor I got just before Xmas HtS, I've stuck an extra moisture trap on mine. Unfortunately I can only spray in the garage so need to stick the heater on for an hour beforehand.
I've found the Hasegawa 1/72 F3 Tornado, 1st issue, that I've had since about 300BC to be a right pain as far as fit goes, at least around the cockpit/front end area, this is where I'm at at the mo...

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*note to self, should've sourced some resin Mk10 ejector seats*

Nice job on the ‘pit.

Nice job on the ‘pit.

Ta, wouldv'e been better if I'd had the eyes & hands I had 30 years ago though.
It's the 1st new build I've started in 15 or so years, so I'm reasonably happy.

Of all of the planes the one that looked like it had no business whatsoever being in the air was the Gannet...

Here it is for £12 + p&p

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=22593264171&searchurl=sortby%3D17%26an%3DBrian%2BP.%2BFiddler&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title2

Merry Christmas!

Argh. Another thread that’s got me looking at spending money!

Some really ace finishes in here. I used to love building them when younger but was rubbish at painting them.

Nearly there. This hasn't been a particularly fun build TBH.

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HTS, what do you do with them all when they're completed? Your output rate is high so I can imagine a few walls of shelving and many plastic display cases!

They are in my lad's bedroom and I've got a couple at work.

Going to have to start storing them under the bed soon though.

HtS - nice work on the Fairey Gannet so far!

how are you getting on with your new airbrush?

Not used it yet. Going to finish the Gannet first, then have a practice on a Hawk that I've cannibalised for spares and a Jaguar that I got dirt cheap.

First time modeler here. Saw this in my local Oxfam for £5.99 unopened so I thought it worth a punt.

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As a raging ear infection has curbed my New Year's Eve riding plans for tomorrow I'm going to attempt my first build.

Careful now, it's a slippery slope.

Last one from me for 2017 - Tamiya 1/35 M113 ACAV Vietnam era. Built OOB with some Eduard photo etch detail.

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Airbrushed exterior with Tamiya XF62 Olive Drab, misted over with XF52 Flat Earth from below, together with their mud stick for the tracks. Just the commander to add but he’s not dry yet

Some WIP photos now:
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Looks good John! What are the mud sticks you mentioned? I've got a Tamiya Merkava that needs finishing & have little idea on how to make it look used, was wondering what to do with the tracks.

It’s like a really soft crayon, in mud colour. I’ll see if I can find a liink. But available at Hobbycraft if you have one nearby

https://www.modelhobbies.co.uk/shop/tamiya-weathering-stick-87081-p-8583.html

Hi Harry, only just got around to checking back on this thread, thanks for finding the Abebooks copies, I’ll put an order in, it’s the one book I did that I didn’t keep a copy of and regret, I did some others about aircraft, the Supermarine Scimitar was one, and I can’t find a copy of that among the ones I designed either, but it’s the Gannet I want.
Cheers again, and Happy New Year!

John - nice PE work there

The grab handles on the roof were a PITA. More in the carpet monster than on the model in the end. Other than that it wasn’t too bad

Got bored and frustrated with it towards then end so I rushed it a bit and messed up the clear cote. Whatever, it's finished.

Here's the [s]moaning[/s] build thread. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235029562-revell-1-72-fairey-gannet/&tab=comments#comment-2907627

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That M113 ACAV is a good build, my mate will be interested in that, I think, although he’s more int WW2-era, and the slightly more obscure stuff at that - rare Japanese, French and Italian tanks, for example.
I’ll send him the link to this page, he does lots of intricate detail work, adding extra Jerry cans, strapping, weathering and anything else, and spends ages researching correct paint colours as well, the construction photos I’m sure he’ll like to see.

and spends ages researching correct paint colours as well,

I (think I) read about 'scale colouring' some years ago, something to do with the size of an object (a scale model) reflecting different levels of light.
IE a 1/72nd scale aircraft painted in barley grey would reflect less light than a full size one, so the model would look darker than the full size one.

Please tell me I'm not talking bollox & that I imagined the whole thing. 😕

That kind of makes sense. But also how often do you look at your scale models in true daylight I.e. outside? And how often do you look at the full size object indoors (unless you happen to have access to your local hangar / tank museum)

Nice Gannet Harry

Nice Gannet Harry

Thanks, but I've had such a massive falling out with it that it was bundled off to my lad's bookcase before the varnish had dried. Hateful bloody thing.

I've jumped straight on to the next one as it will be my first air brush build. I've done the cockpit with a brush though.

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That kind of makes sense. But also how often do you look at your scale models in true daylight I.e. outside? And how often do you look at the full size object indoors (unless you happen to have access to your local hangar / tank museum)

Well I certainly wouldn't, & you certainly wouldn't, but there'll be some geek somewhere that would!

That Gannet turned out ok Harry but I know what you mean about hating a kit. You get to a point where your'e saying to yourself, 'get in the bin!' (not yourself obs) Or want to whack it with a hammer.

I've certainly seen information about lightening paint colours according to a model's scale, though I've never done it myself. I recall that while in practice paints generally get lightened, technically the idea is that scale colours tend towards a pale grey, rather than to white.

Progress.

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Spray painting this weekend if all goes to plan.

6 Sqn, The Flying Can Openers.

Don’t forget to mask off the canopy first. I use Tamiya masking tape. Palest colour first

Jaguar and Hawk "test pig" primed.

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I do like Jaguars.

Is there a missing step inbetween those photos where you masked the Hawk's canopy? Also for what is the Hawk a test mule?

I may actually have something to post on this thread in the next week... prepare to be underwhelmed!

Is there a missing step inbetween those photos where you masked the Hawk's canopy? Also for what is the Hawk a test mule?

A) Nah. Couldn't be arsed.

B) Testing my spraying before committing to the Jaguar.

The Hawk will be the test for all future painting until it becomes the size of a real Hawk.

Have you fitted the weapons pylons already? Are there any underwing decals to do?
I tend to leave off the hardpoints on fast jets until i’ve done the decals and clear top coat, whether Matt or gloss

I've an old 1/48 Airfix Lightning that I've dusted off for a refurb, I've successfully removed the paint and have reassembled but the underside of the leading edge of the wing is proving to be difficult. I've had to fill and sand so many times that the fine detail has been lost.

Does anyone have any tips for rescribing the panel lines and how I might go about replicating the rivet details?

Have you fitted the weapons pylons already? Are there any underwing decals to do?

Argh... I know what you mean.

From memory there isn't much in the way of markings, so I may have got away with it.

Just had a quick look. There are no decals that go under the pylons.

Spray painting this weekend if all goes to plan.

How did the spray painting go - have you done more than the primer? Hope you are getting on ok with the airbrush!

PJM1974 - Member
Does anyone have any tips for rescribing the panel lines and how I might go about replicating the rivet details?

Old style Dymo tape is flexible enough to conform to wings and the like but thick enough to act as a useful ruler for a scribing tool. I use a Tamiya scribing tool that is easier to use than a pin or other sharp point for rescribing panel lines, provided you don't have to use it in a constrained space.

Can't help you with the rivet details, though.

You can buy a rivet roller and a panel line tool.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trumpeter-TSM-9910-Rivet-Maker/dp/B001JJZ2FE

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamiya-74091-700-300074091-Plastic-Scriber/dp/B002KKBVTC

Does anyone have any tips for rescribing the panel lines and how I might go about replicating the rivet details?

Snap the tip off of a Swann Morton scalpel blade (wear goggles!) and then use the back of the blade to score the line, the square back where it's been snapped off leaves a nice groove.

As above use Dymo tape as a guide.

Rivets I don't worry about as any you recreate in 1/72 will be very oversized. You can use a dressmakers/tailors tool called a 'ponce wheel' which is similar to the model shop things but a lot cheaper.

First go with the airbrush. I think I was holding it too far away as the finish is very matt. Not a problem with this one as it will be "dirty", but I need to practise before I try anything "clean".

Panel lines done with a 2H pencil.

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Free Airfix Spitfire with the Mail today... (I'm desperately hoping it only comes with Polish markings).

I'll give that a miss.

I think what has happened here Harry, is the paint has dried before it’s hit the model. You can get inhibitors that slow the paint drying, or you can use a thinner paint, closer in, with less pressure. I run at 10psi from about 6in for flood coverage, 5psi for a ‘mud mist’ or for exhaust & gunfire stains. Mix of Tamiya & Revell acrylic paints thinned with Tamiya X20A thinners.

Sometimes I do camouflage free hand, but I’m just in the middle of a Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire MkI build where I’ve used a mix of paper masks and Tamiya masking tape cut to shape. I have tried masking camouflage patterns with Humbrol Maskol, but that tends to leave a ragged edge when you peel it off. Nearly all my aircraft builds are 1/48 unless it means a humongous finished article... military models I like in 1/48 & 1/35. I can’t be doing with 1/72 (or 1/76), the parts are too small for my sausage fingers

Done.

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Photo is crap though.

Nice

The shadow makes it look a bit fat.

I like Jaguars, ergo I like that. Nice work!

Ta. I need to get a better picture.

some constructive criticism?

I know it's an unfashionable view at the minute, (and I know that personal views are always subjective) but I'm not a fan of overly weathered 72nd scale kits. I think it's fine for some of the larger scales like 48th but it can look a bit overdone on smaller planes, especially panel lines.

look at this photo

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this is a MkIX in 1942, note how it is't that dirty..(ok, it has just rained 😆 ) and you can barely see some of the fainter panel lines. the exhaust and gun staining is barely visible.

I guess it depends what you're aiming for, and weathering is fun, but when I competed I was always marked down for it.