The Airfix Farewell GB from now until 1st Jan 2007

Hey DURR, those three Chipmunks look cool!  Why just 3?! It's one of those kits that's reasonable, but with no other choice.  I guess that's what kept Airfix going so long, that it had so many unique kits such as the Chipmunk, or Sunderland.

Hmmm, interesting Rudy, can't wait to see that, sounds cool!

jeff, it'll be facsinating to see just how the Sentry comes together.  I've never seen that kit, so, have no idea!  Airfix kits don't always need tons of filler, but unfortunately some do...

JWB - a Spitfire?  Just one, or the first of a line?  Funny, the name Spitfire is synonymous with Airfix.  Good luck!

Brews- the figure looks good.  They really take patience I believe?  Anyway, it's excellent!

Karl - How's the Dora coming on?  Seemed to be fairly advanced (and well done), at the last update.

My MiG has had the second of two fresh coats applied (after I sanded off the original 4), and it looks reasonable.  Now it needs to be masked, and some black sprayed on.  The interior will be black too (whatever interior there is).

Thinking of building the DH Comet racer.  It's another one of Airfix's earliest kits, and again, in production until recently.  This time it's kit number 13 (the MiG was no.22).  I also have a part-built Lancaster to complete, so that might come in too.

Wait, get rid of the Hawk/Sturmkadet. It's got lots of salvaging from the spares box, so OOB rules wont apply to it.If it's ok to use spares, then keep me in.

rudy_102 wrote:

Wait, get rid of the Hawk/Sturmkadet. It's got lots of salvaging from the spares box, so OOB rules wont apply to it.If it's ok to use spares, then keep me in.

Well, that would be a step too far, sorry.  OOB rules in England generally allow seat belts, and decals, well, Airfix were always sticking new ones in.  Outside the box parts is just a tad too far, sorry.

osher wrote:

Hey DURR, those three Chipmunks look cool!  Why just 3?! It's one of those kits that's reasonable, but with no other choice.  I guess that's what kept Airfix going so long, that it had so many unique kits such as the Chipmunk, or Sunderland.

 

the reason for the 3

1 is the kit offers 3 paint schemes, each very very different

2 i work on model 2-4 at a time in an assembly line fashion it is very fast and much more productive

Well, then I'll make my second entry their detail-free 1/72 F-111E Aardvark.

i am amazed at the fit of these chipmunks the fit is so tight almost no glue needed

and the detail is "reasonable"

i mean everyone complains about airfix.

 these are cute little planes

 

DURR wrote:

i am amazed at the fit of these chipmunks the fit is so tight almost no glue needed and the detail is "reasonable"  i mean everyone complains about airfix. these are cute little planes

cheap too!  However, the point is, that whilst Airfix generally went together well (although, sadly, not always), they had fallen way behind the times, in terms of details, rivets, and raised lines.  Still, I like them!  They are usually simple to construct, and give you a reasonable model quickly.  Also, in outline they were usually the most accurate, even beating Tamiya!

Osher, the Dora has top camo, all it needs now is for me to tidy up my somewhat woe freehanded edge to the fuselage camo, spent way too long doing hard masked camo schemes and lost my freehand AB mojo!

Once that's done I'll paint in the RLM 83 mottle followed by the black portion of the RV band. Then it's Future and decal time.

I'll try and post some pics tomorrow.

Durr, nice progress on the lil' 'munks.

I have to admit the fit of the Dora has been pretty good, with only a smidgen of filler required.

Like Osher says, though the rest of the detail just doesn't bear comparison with modern Tamigawa or even Revell kits.

Having said that, a cracking paint job goes a long way to hiding these deficiencies.

Karl

Well I've applied the mottle, not overly happy with the tail, so I'll probably revisit that tomorrow when I do the RV band.

The mottle was freehanded, something I've not done in about 2 years, all the other Luftwaffe subjects I've covered since then have been hard masked, with one exception. Highlights my need to practise my AB skills.

Anyway, here are the pics....







You can just see in the pics where I've lightened the centre of each panel to add a little texture and visual interest.

I've also started painting in the detail like the tail wheel, exhaust stubs etc.

At this rate I'll start the decaling next week. I'll use the Airfix decals for the numbers and unit markings, everything else will come from my stash of AM decals.

Karl

osher wrote:

JWB - a Spitfire?  Just one, or the first of a line?  Funny, the name Spitfire is synonymous with Airfix.  Good luck!

Yeah, I figured what better kit to do commemorating Airfix than a Spitfire. I ordered several kits, but I think for the GB I'll do the Mk Vc and the Mk IXc. I'll probably save the 5 plane 1/72 scale 70th Anniversary kit for later. I still want to pick up several more of Airfix's more recent Spits, just to have them in the stash.

I'd planned to have some work done by now, but I've had the flu for the last few days. You know you're sick when you take off a day from work and DON'T model!

JWB, hope you feel better soon.

Nothing worse than looking forward to getting some good modelling time, only to have is wiped out by being ill.

Karl

KJ200 wrote:

JWB, hope you feel better soon. Nothing worse than looking forward to getting some good modelling time, only to have is wiped out by being ill. Karl

Thanks so much!

Yeah, I took Friday off from work, and hoped I could spend some time modeling. I barely had enough energy to just sit on the recliner and work the remote. Ugh.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to get back to it.... I'm sick of being sick!

rudy_102 wrote:

Well, then I'll make my second entry their detail-free 1/72 F-111E Aardvark.

Again, this is what I have to do.

Sorry you're feeling rough jwb, hopefully you're as right as rain now!  I know that feeling, when you just want to model, but just can't find the energy, except to collapse in bed.

Anyway, the MiG is decaled.  Next going to apply a coat of Klear, mask and paint the black bits, then add the attachments, and that's it!

Osher, post some pics.

Progress Update

Toned down the mottle on the tail with a gentle overspray of a very dilute RLM 76 mix. I've also painted the black portion of the RV band, as well as painting the prop & spinner. My attempt at masking the spinner spiral didn't come out too well, but nothing that can't be fixed.







I'll leave everything to cure overnight, as I applied a coat of Future ready for decaling, then I'll kick off the decals tomorrow night.

Karl

kj nice going so far

i am putting the little guys in for a 8-11 day nap. got to do a few things around the house  like button up for the fall/winter and fall cleaning

That Dora looks fantastic!  Is it hard to mottle?  How do you do it?  I've got a double action Iwata, so I'm thinking that maybe to increase/deacrease paint to make the mottle?

Pictures of the MiG? er, yes, OK!

Guys, thanks for the encouragement.

Osher, mottling is fairly easy once you got the hang of it. The main consideration is getting the right paint mix to the right air pressure. This usually means a fairly dilute mix, sprayed at a low pressure, around 5-8 PSI.

It sounds simple, but takes a bit of practise and experimentation to achieve a decent result, as I rediscovered!

The last aircraft I did anything even approching a freehand mottle was on we this beast about 6 months ago.



It took forever.

Karl

Nice job KJ! That's looking great. That -177 looks great too.

I was surprised when I mottled my -262 how it went. I was really pretty intimidated by it. Once I got started, it went pretty well. The good thing about it is if you mess up a spot, just overspray the base coat, and give it another shot.

Hey, thanks everyone for ingnoring me. For the 3rd time, my second entry will be their 1/72 F-111E.

Osher, update the front page before Rudy blows a gasket!

Jon, you're right. The main thing is to take your time, that and mask every other surface of the airframe, so that if you do have to re-do the base coat, you don't end up base coating everything else. I learnt that the hard way!

Karl

Hey Karl, the Dora is looking pretty nice.

Rudy, trying to part the mists of time here, but I believe I built the 111 years ago.  The only thing I remember is that it wasn't easy!  Good luck, and keep us updated on how it goes.

KJ200 wrote:

Osher, update the front page before Rudy blows a gasket!Karl

Yikes!  Ooops, sorry Rudy!

OK, all updated, including DURR's 3 Chipmunks

I'm still doing the Chipmunk, FYI.

 

DO NOT IGNORE!!!!!!

rudy_102 wrote:

I'm still doing the Chipmunk, FYI.   DO NOT IGNORE!!!!!!

eh... what was that you said?

OK, here's the latest on the MiG.  I applied the black (nose and walkways), but botched the masking.  How?  I don't know!  Anyway, I've done some touching up, and looking better, but more touching up is needed.  The masking tape also lifted some of the decals, in this case, bits of the numbers.  A few dabs of lightened black, and they look OK from 2' away!.  Remember my damaged canopy?  Well sanding, and dunking in Klear (Future), and it looks fantastic!  Really pleased with that.

I have been trying to work on my Vulcan, first I botch up the painting on the air intakes, which means I have to start again!!!!!!! Also, the family keeps on interrupting me with all their requests to look after nephews, lawns etc!! I have no time to sit down and relax with a build. Even though I am single, and a shiftworker, I have never been so busy as I am now!!! I will be on annual leave in 2 weeks and 4 days time, so I hope Ican do a few kits then. I will be off to Melbourne for a show in late November, and I want to finish a Jaguar by then! I hope you guys are doing OK with your projects, as mine have stalled again.