Eric, Airfix are re-releaseing some of their older kits i.e. pre 2006, in the new boxes. So it does pay to check. Unfortunatly there numbering system is not as clear cut as Dragons or Tamiyas. And yes, the turn around begain when they were bought up by Hornby in 2006.

But a few years ago, Hornby did anounce it was having finacial problems, even at the end of last year things were still not setteled. I just hope they can ride things out.

Yes, but like most of the other model companies, Airfix has reboxed some of their older kits in the newest style boxings. The only thing new about them is the box, decals, and perhaps the instruction sheet as well. You have to research if it is an old or new tooling.

Bit of an update on my 1/48 Eduard Tiffy....

A page back Jack mentioned the belly not having been pure black, but more of a dark grey blue. I decided to do a bit of streaking over the black. I grabbed the first grey/blue I found, and it happened to be RLM 74. Close enough. I enhanced the shadows to enhance viewing. It's not this stark in reality, and the not-parallel streaks don't stand out much.

Thanks Jack. If I messed up the idea, it isn't your fault!

The topside is all slicked up after decals. And I think I am passing on the stencils on this model. I'm going to try a coat of semi-gloss prior to Flory wash this time, so maybe tomorrow is take off masks day!

Thanks for looking.

Greg, i reather like what you have done to that.

mawright20

Greg, what kind of foam is that your using for a mount?

 

It is a foam cradle made for working on model trains. I have a couple, bought mine ages ago from MicroMark. They seem to work great for 1/48 scale model planes as you have noticed.

Click here to take a look.

Bish, thanks for looking and for your comment.

It is always a treat to have no major disasters upon mask removal, isn't it?

This is neither my best nor worst, nothing bad enough to do over.

If there is anyone near here who knows as little about WWII aircraft as me (unlikely) the extra pieces are because this is to be the "car door" version of the Typhoon.

Edward provided masks for the closed door version, I had to cut some of the masks myself. Guess what, the Eduard masks worked better.

That looks great to me! 

Well, I’m a bit disappointed once again with the Airfix 1/48 Hurricane Mk. I. For a company that puts so much really nice detail into their molds, that doesn’t transfer over into engineering the fit very well.  I had already had problems previously with the Albion refueling truck, and was initially impressed that the Hurricane appeared to be a great improvement over that.  Then I had some issues with fitting the wings together (had to shave down the main wing spar in places to get it to fit), and in the otherwise very nice machine gun bays, the final parts to put in (the diagonally situated structural members) both had to have some cutting done to them to be able to get them to fit, but nothing that couldn’t be easily fixed.  Now, though, trying to fit the fuselage over the completed wings/cockpit assembly is a nightmare!  The fit is just not there at all.  I had to shave down the outer sides of the aluminum tubing that surrounds the cockpit (luckily this will not even be visible) just to get the fuselage to fit over it, and when I finally got it seated, the result is still crap.  Took a ton of glue to get it to hold, will require a ton of putty to fill the atrocious wing root gaps.  Compared to the Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire Mk. I I just completed, also for this diorama, it’s like racing a Yugo against a Ferrari F1 car!  Seriously, the Tamiya you practically just shake the box, dump the parts out and it falls together - presto, done!  The Airfix is like a theatre of pain.  

https://pin.it/veuvknll7oq3lg

https://pin.it/orq3zkcsdjqcby

Thats come out very nice Greg, should be pleased with that.

That does not sound very good AA. The only build review i could finmd was of the Sea Hurricane and that does not mention any issues. So i wounder if you have a dud or a kit from an early production run.

EBergerud

Greg The cradle is clever. What scale is it - you can get them in HO, O and N? Eric

 

Eric, far as I know it is available in one size which is said to be for HO and N. The larger trough is for HO, smaller for N. I've never seen one for O scale.

I have two, they come in handy for all sorts of things.

Greg: Looks great! The canopy looks perfect to me. 

AA: Oh wow that blows. Sounds like a bad kit but then again I've had a few good quality ones that just seemed jinxed. Nasty seam there on the wing root. Have you any putty that you can remove with solvent so you don't have to sand off all that detail?

I'm stuck now in stenciling hell. About half of them are applied so far.  

AA, sorry to hear of your fit troubles. I've yet to build an Airfix kit and your problems put a damper on my enthusiasm. You can handle those wing roots. They are not pretty, but I've seen worse and I'm sure you have too.

Bish and Stik, thank you for your encouraging words.

I subscribe to Phil Flory's site. He has a six part (about three hours) video build on the Airfix Hurricane I (new tool kit natch). He found some small errors but describes the fit as "fantastic" and found the build fun from start to finish. He did say to make sure the connecting pins are not too long. Of course Flory makes his living making models. I've got the Hurricane I (sold the Italeri/Tamiya version to get it) and I think I'll give it a try down the road. Flory's inbox review of the kit is available for view on YouTube. There are at least two video builds there too that I intend to check out.

Eric

Armor, sorry to hear that the Hurricane is giving you such a fight. A couple guys at IPMS have built that kit, and it sure looks great in the end...

Some minor progress today- 

just showing the clean up of the plugs on the original tail mounts

and I spent a little time airbrushing on some Gray Tamiya Liquid Surface Primer on the cockpit interior parts

I’ll let that dry over nite and start working on painting in there tomorrow...

Gamera

Greg: Looks great! The canopy looks perfect to me.

Thanks, G.

Stik,

I wondered how those plugs would end up. Thx for showing us. Look great.

Don'tcha just love how Tamiya pulls out detail?

Greg, this is my first time using their gray primer. And yes, it sure does help the detail pop out so far. I am looking forward to seeing how it looks with some paint on it tomorrow.

Those plugs cleaned up nicely Stik. Be nice to see the paint go on the pit.

Looks good to me SP, you're making solid progress. 

Curious, Stik, if you've tried Stynylrez primer yet?

I was stuck on Tamiya, an online friend here sent me a bottle of Stynylrez. Haven't turned back and haven't used Tamiya in a while now.

Not trying to say Stynylrez is better or push you towards it, I'm just curious.

stikpusher

Brandon and Steve, both of your builds are looking great so far!

 

And as for me, we are off and running! I have finished adding the PE for the cockpit interior aside from the seat harness, which is from a pre painted set and will add after painting. So far, so good...

 

 

here are the drilled out gun ports

 

 

And the birdshot added inside for nose weight.... hopefully this should be sufficient....

 

 

Tomorrow I will get it primed. I will likely work on other areas over the next few days such as the wings, tail booms, etc.

Thanks Stikpusher! Your build is coming along nicely - looking forward to the end result.

Greg

Brandon, your biplane looks very cool and it isn't even done yet. You are very brave, I'd be afraid to start one.

Steve, interior looking good!

Stik, good to see you under way.

And me, worms.........

Thanks Greg! Your Typhoon is looking much like mine will soon. I've found it the most effective (and easy) way to do camo. I cover the masked parts with wax paper, though, to protect it from the overspray I think I'm never going to get but always do. :)

Gamera

Steve: The cockpit work is impressive. Wouldn't worry too much about the decal being a little off, can't imagine there will be much to see with the cockpit closed up and I didn't even notice till you pointed it out. 

Thanks Gamera! The decal in the cockpit is the least of my worries right now. Wait until you see my seatbelts.

Armor_Aficionado

Well, I’m a bit disappointed once again with the Airfix 1/48 Hurricane Mk. I. For a company that puts so much really nice detail into their molds, that doesn’t transfer over into engineering the fit very well.  I had already had problems previously with the Albion refueling truck, and was initially impressed that the Hurricane appeared to be a great improvement over that.  Then I had some issues with fitting the wings together (had to shave down the main wing spar in places to get it to fit), and in the otherwise very nice machine gun bays, the final parts to put in (the diagonally situated structural members) both had to have some cutting done to them to be able to get them to fit, but nothing that couldn’t be easily fixed.  Now, though, trying to fit the fuselage over the completed wings/cockpit assembly is a nightmare!  The fit is just not there at all.  I had to shave down the outer sides of the aluminum tubing that surrounds the cockpit (luckily this will not even be visible) just to get the fuselage to fit over it, and when I finally got it seated, the result is still crap.  Took a ton of glue to get it to hold, will require a ton of putty to fill the atrocious wing root gaps.  Compared to the Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire Mk. I I just completed, also for this diorama, it’s like racing a Yugo against a Ferrari F1 car!  Seriously, the Tamiya you practically just shake the box, dump the parts out and it falls together - presto, done!  The Airfix is like a theatre of pain.  

https://pin.it/veuvknll7oq3lg

https://pin.it/orq3zkcsdjqcby

 

Wow, sorry to hear AA. I've built that kit and fit was the least of my worries, save for the lower engine cowl. Wings and cockpit went on easily with negligible gaps at the wing roots. I even bought another one because it was such a fun build. Hope that's the last of your fit problems.

Thanks guys. I can’t wait to get the cockpit done!

Greg

Curious, Stik, if you've tried Stynylrez primer yet?

I was stuck on Tamiya, an online friend here sent me a bottle of Stynylrez. Haven't turned back and haven't used Tamiya in a while now.

Not trying to say Stynylrez is better or push you towards it, I'm just curious.

 

No I have not tried that stuff. I don’t recall seeing it at any of the local shops, and I am more than satisfied with the primers that I already have onhand: Humbrol, Tamiya, and Gunze. I don’t use primer that much anyways. Usually just in situations like this where I have multi media as my base. If I am working in straight styrene, I don’t prime.

iSteve

Thanks Greg! Your Typhoon is looking much like mine will soon. I've found it the most effective (and easy) way to do camo. I cover the masked parts with wax paper, though, to protect it from the overspray I think I'm never going to get but always do. :)

Thanks Steve. I got both lazy and lucky with the camo. I should have masked it and wax paper is a great idea.

Stik, the primer (Stynylrez) is made by Badger and I've only seen it online. Reason I like it is it is not oil based. It has no odor and it clings as well at Tamiya far as I can tell. Ok, end of Badger advertisement.