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Resurrecting an old kit

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  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sandusky Ohio, USA
Resurrecting an old kit
Posted by Swanny on Friday, February 16, 2007 10:20 PM
In 1980 Matchbox kitted the Kamen Sea Sprite in 1/48. Not long after that Revell picked it up on license. When it was released under the RoG label I picked up a copy and started construction -- this was way before the whole website thing and even before I was seriously building a stash. I think I only had about seven kits in boxes in those days.

I got the interior done and a little work on the exterior then lost interest in the kit. It became a stash queen. Last weekend I pulled the kit out and took a look at it -- was not impressed with what I saw but thought it might be salvagable. Went on-line and was looking for reference material when I found Cobra Company who makes two different resin detail sets for the Sea Sprite. Well, taxes had just come in so I said 'why not?'
Here is what the original kit interior looked like with all the instrument details done with decals.

Now I will be replacing nearly all the details with this new resin package.

Cobra Company also did an exterior set that replaces the nose section along with a variety of other details. I figured what good is money in the bank when I can buy more detail sets and picked that one up also.

So now in between the video shoot, the Mi-8 build and the C.202 21st Century group build and of course the mundane job I will be taking small steps towards recovering this old kit.
  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Bronze Squadron - Battlestar Cerberus
Posted by Lodni Kranazon on Saturday, February 17, 2007 1:36 AM

Good luck on your project, Swanny! Big Smile [:D] U  wouldn't happen to know if anyone makes a Sea Sprite in 1/72, do you??Question [?]

[Admiring Starbuck's space fighter] Cassiopeia: It's a perfect machine! Born to dance amongst the stars! Starbuck: Yeah, it's bumping into them that has me worried.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Southport, North West UK
Posted by richgb on Saturday, February 17, 2007 2:47 AM

I'm sure Airfix do one in 1/72.

Good luck with the build. Post some "after resurrection" pics.

Rich

...this is it folks...over the top!
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: phoenix
Posted by grandadjohn on Saturday, February 17, 2007 9:31 AM

Swanny, not a bad kit, built it in the late 80's.

Fujimi also does some 1/72nd Sea Sprite kits

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Baton Rouge, Snake Central
Posted by PatlaborUnit1 on Sunday, February 18, 2007 4:41 PM

I built the Fujimi Lamps III kit with markings from the box and it looked great!

The old Matchbox/Revell kit is a biotch to build, I got one half done before I passed it back to the owner, he wanted it built so he could paint it, and it was build-able but tome time and major sandapering.  I did not use the CC kit but I have that in my stash. I'll build mine rotors-folded, hopfeully with the nose split open (competely folded for minimum space used). 

Build to please yourself, and don't worry about what others think! TI 4019 Jolly Roger Squadron, 501st Legion
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sandusky Ohio, USA
Posted by Swanny on Monday, February 19, 2007 9:07 PM
I stripped the old cockpit floor today, got the new forward bulkhead fitted and have been fitting the side sponsons. No pics yet.
  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Bronze Squadron - Battlestar Cerberus
Posted by Lodni Kranazon on Monday, February 19, 2007 10:25 PM
Thankx for the info guys! Bow [bow] Best of luck w/ that 'chopper, Swanny!Big Smile [:D]

[Admiring Starbuck's space fighter] Cassiopeia: It's a perfect machine! Born to dance amongst the stars! Starbuck: Yeah, it's bumping into them that has me worried.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 12:06 AM
Swanny you are seriously the God of Models...  My oh my! 
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sandusky Ohio, USA
Posted by Swanny on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 7:47 PM

Okay now, keep that first image of the stock cockpit in your mind while you look at these next pictures. The seats are glued in place but everything else is just sitting there for a placement check. The single tray of electronics on the floor behind the electronics officer's seat is actually the bottom tray of what will be a four tray rack of equipment mounted back there. Other cool stuff that will end up inside are the primary instrument consol, the overhead consol and the secondary overhead consol. I've also started playing with some of the resin stuff that will go on the outside and it is just as exciting as the inside stuff. As I write this all the resin interior do-dads are mounted on toothpicks with paint drying.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sandusky Ohio, USA
Posted by Swanny on Sunday, February 25, 2007 2:12 PM
I finished the equipment rack and most of the other interior stuff today. Still have to do the pilots IP and overhead IP

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Modeling anything with "MARINES" on the side.
Posted by AH1Wsnake on Sunday, February 25, 2007 10:30 PM

Too freakin' cool, Swanny. Awesome job and keep up the good work. This makes me want to pick up the Seasprite model and CC sets!

 

Andy

 

"There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and those who have met them in battle. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion."
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Oklahoma
Posted by chopperfan on Friday, March 2, 2007 1:50 PM

You da' man, Matt!!  Can't wait to see the finished product.

I sure wish you would post more pictures of the CC sets.  That is the only complaint I have about their site.  Pictures don't do the products justice.

Randie [C):-)]Agape Models Without them? The men on the ground would have to work a lot harder. You can help. Please keep 'em flying! http://www.airtanker.com/
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: springfield
Posted by prowannab on Friday, March 2, 2007 4:58 PM
swanny that is looking AMAZING,that's the thing i love about the cobra kits the detail is just outstanding.i hope you keep us posted with plenty of pics
Patriae Fidus (FAITHFUL TO MY COUNTRY)
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sandusky Ohio, USA
Posted by Swanny on Saturday, March 3, 2007 6:51 PM
Thanks for the comments guys. Cockpit is in place now. The IP is still being worked on and will slid in later. Most of the exterior resin details have been added. Don't ask where that aweful green paint came from, it was put on many years ago and there may have been some mood altering substances involved -- can't really remember. Have not needed too much putty in general. One of the short sponsons needed a good bit of help but everything else is fitting together just fine. The lights combined with the light color of the resin has washed out some of the detail in the picture -- this should look better once there is some color to it.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Modeling anything with "MARINES" on the side.
Posted by AH1Wsnake on Saturday, March 3, 2007 11:17 PM

Thanks for keeping us updated, Swanny, great stuff.

Are there any more doors that can be opened to expose the electronic officer's position? I have the kit, and am contemplating the Cobra Company sets, but it seems like a shame to have that rear cabin full of electronics go hidden....

Also interesting to see the two IRCM devices mounted. I found a couple photos online that seem to verify this, but does anyone here know why the Seasprite would have two ALQ-144s installed?

 Andy

 

 

"There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and those who have met them in battle. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion."
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sandusky Ohio, USA
Posted by Swanny on Sunday, March 4, 2007 9:20 AM
I think I have everything open that I possibly can. Even so and without a pen light you can see the electronics bay fairly well through the side door and once the large window by the operator's seat is unmasked it will light things up a little better.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sandusky Ohio, USA
Posted by Swanny on Saturday, March 17, 2007 4:27 PM
Finally got some paint on this thing.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Modeling anything with "MARINES" on the side.
Posted by AH1Wsnake on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 1:12 PM

Nice! Thanks for the progress update; those CC parts really add to the detail.

 Andy

 

 

 

"There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and those who have met them in battle. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion."
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sandusky Ohio, USA
Posted by Swanny on Saturday, March 31, 2007 12:19 PM
Well, I'm calling this one done and setting it aside. The kit itself was not that bad once the interior was replaced with the Cobra stuff. The kit decals were the biggest problem -- these things were just plane nasty. If I had known what kind of crap these things were going to give me I would have looked for anything aftermarket. I had some serious wrinkling and silvering issues with the large Navy logos on the fuselage side and the black anti-glare panel on the nose. Other decals wanted to silver or not even bond. The model was twice sealed with Future before decals were started and problem decals were treated repeatedly with Micro-Sol then with Mr. Marker Soft and still they are not behaving. If you have any desire to build oneof these I strongly suggest at least the Cobra Company interior and without a doubt some other decal option than what comes in the box. I also used the Cobra Company exterior which was a good set but did have a few minor fit issues with one gear sponson.




  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Modeling anything with "MARINES" on the side.
Posted by AH1Wsnake on Saturday, March 31, 2007 3:22 PM

Looks awesome, Swanny. I'm loving it. I have this one in the stash now thanks to your updates, and I'm saving up for the CC updates as well.

It really does look like a nice little kit. I like the high-viz scheme you finished it in, but am very disheartened to hear what crap the kit decals are.

Andy

 

 

"There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and those who have met them in battle. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion."
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sandusky Ohio, USA
Posted by Swanny on Saturday, March 31, 2007 4:45 PM
Thanks Andy. I can't fully express how disappointed I was with the decals. This was coming along so nicely then *wham* those decals just shot my day.
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