80 Years of Airfix GB

The deadline closes in so I have to stop dilly-dallying and crack on with the Vampire!

The fit needs a little TLC, but nothing compared to what I have been working on recently.

The intakes just need some fine sandpaper and a wash to rid them of all that swarf.

The horizontal stabs have peculiar gaps, but again, not a big deal.

I sure am a sucker for a nice Vampire. 

Bish - I'm in for one more.  I'd like to build the 1/72 Folland Gnat "Yellowjacks".

Front office is done.  Time to close her up.  

Ernest, really nice looking trio there, lovely detail. Be looking forward to the paint going on.

TJ, got the front page updated with the Gnat, very nice loking build that, and the Bf 110 has been added..

Some nasty little gaps there G, those ones at the tail look like somone has been at them with a scalpel.

Bish, I think the gaps at the horizontal stabs are short shots.  No problemo - solution is in hand and will be posted when executed.  The rest is easy stuff.

Darn it, Mopar, you are leaving me behind.  I better hurry up!

Come on G, you can do it! 

Well I thought I was going to get away with something easy this time but this little Gnat is proving me wrong. Airfix does tend to have some issues when it comes to the fit and finish of small parts. Their thick molded plastic isn't condusive for quality tiny parts. This little lady is full of small parts which are causing some pretty nasty gaps.  The canopy is a wee bit short too. 

Looks like everyone is having fun with gaps. I just had to check on the Gnat to see if it was one of their older kits, but its not, that does surprise me.

Great work everybody.  Work has been slow on the He-111, my testors clear cement was no good so I had to wait for a new bottle.  The front canopy does not meet the fuselage smooth so I've been using Vallejo plastic putty to a smooth transition.  Next up is masking the front canopy then it's time for a base coat, Tamiya XF-19 Sky Grey.

IMG_9555 by Daniel Smith, on Flickr

IMG_9556 by Daniel Smith, on Flickr

IMG_9557 by Daniel Smith, on Flickr

Looks good Dan. I see you also needed some filler around the engines and underside of the outer wing sections. At least i know it wasn't just me.

I  couldn't figure out how to attach those engines nacelles without filler either. Looks good Dan!

Man, there's some great stuff going on! I've kinda been slackin' since I finished the Hellcat drone. Resting on laurels I don't have, so I need to get moving again. I know there's something laying around for this build that needs to be finished. Another Devastator. The P-39, which I still can't find. Something.

Well frank, i think you have more than earnt your GB badge. Between you and Chad alone you got 20 builds, and there is still a month to go.

This GB has been a lot more popular than i ever thought it was. And while this was an anniversary GB, i don't think i'll wait 10 years to run another one.

Here's another Aifix completion, Martin.  I started while away from home on a short vacation so there are no build photos.  Ignore the jeep and the two GMC 353's, the rest is the Airfix USAAF Bomber Resupply set in 1/72.  I built the C-53 before this GB started, it's the Airfix new kit.  This is a great set, builds up very well, great fit almost everywhere.

Well, I'll tell you, Bish, this has been just too much fun! I've built kits I never thought I would ever build. And in 1/72 scale. The true scale? Anyway, I found a vintage Meteor III kit in a friend's attic a few weeks ago.

It's on the bench now. I'd like to build a Meteor of 616 Squadron but finding decals has been a challenge.

John, those are really nice, thank you for posting that. I have that set, going to have to use it soon.

Are you planning on a base for those, will make a nice dio. I take it the GMC's and jeep are the Hasegawa kits. I have added the pic to the list.

Its been a real joy watching them all come together. Hope you can find the decals, got it on the roster.

I got the Belfast finished 2 weeks ago and today finally got some pics.This is how she looked before i added some very minimul rigging and atached to the base. The  final assembly had involved adding guns, liferafts cranes and other smaller bits painting off the ship.

I then added a small amount of rigging, just the 4 wires running between the 2 masts, i felt that was enough for this. And onto the base.

I know its not perfect, a close look will show a few flaws. But i am still really pleased with it. Its my first ship of this type, previously i have only done an old Airfix carrier and a few subs. And seeing as this has been in the stash for about 35 years and somehow survived all that time rattleing around lose in the box, i am just glad to get it done. And it certainly brought make some memories and pushed me to get down to London and visit the old girl again. It was interesting looking at the differences between the model and the real ship after her post war refit.

And one final pic, this time the real ship when me and my better half went to London in Oct.

I owe Steve a big thanks, without his British ships GB, this might have been laying in the stash for another couple of decades.

Glad to see you saved one from the stash!  So much here to look at and enjoy.  Well done my friend! 

Thanks mate.

I admire you guys who do ships. The last ship I built was Revell's Franklin D Roosevelt and that was when the kit was new.

Cheers frank. I do have a lot of admiration for those guys who do some lovely ships. Its something i have done very little of. I do have the Revell 350 Bismarck to do at some point, might be my retierment build

Martin, the Jeep and the dump truck are very old Hasegawa kits, the other GMC is the Academy kit.  More pictures are on my website, or will be later today, at this link.  Only have the index page done right now.

I need to build a WW II base of some kind, the only one I have now is a 50's type jet hardstand/ramp that a now departed modeling friend built for me.

http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/cars/usaafbrs/usaafbrs.html

Here's the one base I have:

Joh, i do like those old Hase kits, but i have not tried the Academy yet. I have built a couple of their German trucks and they were great kits, think i will have to grab one of their US ones. Always handy for an aircraft dio.

Been plodding away on the Meteor today. The interior is assembled and installed. Not sure what color to paint the cockpit. I have Tamiya Cockpit Green and RLM Grey. Also have MM Interior Green enamel. Glued the dive brakes closed and since I'm going to pose the airplane in flight, the gear doors are closed up too. Spent some time detailing the pilot. Sometimes I can't believe I take the time to paint a figure that's smaller than the tip of my pinkie finger.

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Most of the pictures of RAF WWII pilots online were BoB pilots so I had to kinda wing it detail-wise. The flotation device or May West looked like it was khaki colored rather than yellow. You can barely tell but the pilot is wearing a red ascot. The hood will be closed so I think he looks fine. More to come.

Well, I opted for Model Master Interior Green for the cockpit. May or may not be the proper choice but it looks nice and when the pilot is installed who will notice? As you can see, there's not a lot of detail anyway.

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This is a nice kit. The copyright is 1998. Most of the detail is raised except for the control surfaces. The fit is excellent. Dry fitting the various parts has shown no real gaps in the fit at all.

Just noticed this on the end of the box. Those were the days...

Nice start frank.

Blimey, now thats a nicxe price to see. I just looked it up and that kit is only 1 year younger than i am. I hope its aged better.