The Airfix Welcome Back GB from Jan 07 to Dec 07

I finished my 1/72 IL-28 Beagle this morning and got my camera back this afternoon, so here's the results.  Model Master aluminum metalizer paint, early Egyptian markings from the spares box and pretty much OOB.  I added gun barrels to the lower nose gun troughs and the radio antenna wire, reamed out the jet exhausts and freehand painted the canopy framing.  The framing is way too thin, the cowl are too sharp of angle from the front to the bottom and the main landing gear is atrocious.  There is essentially no cockpit.  Just a blob for a seat and another for the navigator's postion.

Darwin, O.F.

Congratulations on getting it finished. I know what you mean about these old Airfix kits, they are missing a lot of accuracy and detail. My Belvedere is held together by filler, not glue. Your IL-28 looks nice though, well done.

Paul 

Progress so far:

I'm sure that most of what you see is held together by filler. There is a blue cheat line to go between the silver and white. It was supplied as a decal but it dinsintergrated on contact with water - too old I guess. I was always doubtful as to whether I had the break between the 2 colours right anyways! I will have to do some tedious masking and paint it on I guess. The canopy I will make a vacuform one later on - when the 'to do' list is a little smaller. This one is always going to go slowly as it is a tedious and frustrating build.

Paul 

hmmm....I'll have to dig through the stash, I think I have a Spit mk 22 in there somewhere, as well as  the Vulvan bomber (although I don't know where I'd put that one when finished).

Charlie 

Okay  Guys

I'm in . I'll be doing the venerable De Havilland Heron. ( Obtained from the the Classic Civil Set).

I'm combining with the civil aircraft GB, which starts early March , so I'll start then.

Cheers

Simon

Hi Guys,

No progress update from me as I've just got back from a 'sudden' business trip to Hyderabad. Not much modelling over there ! I'll try to get back to it soon.

Cheers

Tony 

Re my entry,

Im on the hunt for either of the Airfix Seafire kits. If any of you have either of them please contact me either by email or by privite message on here and we can work something out. In fact even if you dont have all of a Seafire please contact me as my currant project could use that to.

Best regards

Oliver

You're right Duke, I bought the set mainly for the Heron, I remember building it when I was 9 years old, and getting glue all over the transparencies ( of course). Amazingly, the molds are in pretty good condition, especially considering the kit was apparently first isssued in 1959 ! The general fit is very good.

In relation to the Beaver, I intend to us the British markings, but you are welcome to the US ones, or I could scan the decal sheet so you could reconstruct the markings ?

 Regards

Simon

Thank you for the offer. I already painted my Beaver in the pattern used by the British so I'll just see what I can come up with in the aftermarket range. You can see my Beaver in an earlier post
a couple of pages back in this Thread. I had to stop there because I have no decals for it. So the search continues while I also decide what other Airfix kit to build for this Group Build.

Looking forward to seeing your Heron. That is one kit I could never find or have ever built. This should be good. 

Duke, Paul, Darwin, great work on your kits.  Sorry for being away for so long, but work, trips, and other projects have limited my building time.  I actually started prepainting some parts on the Seafire, but then discovered the canopy is short-shot and basically unusable.  So, the Seafire goes back on the shelf until I can get or fabricate a replacement. 

I'm now going with my second string, Airfix's ancient 1/72nd scale EE Lightning.  I'll post a box pic soon.  Going out now to track down paint for the air superiority scheme.

Well, the Seafire is back on the shelf with a short-shot canopy, so as promised, I'm starting up on my 1/72nd E.E. Lightning.  Here's the box top:

The fuselage halves.  The instructions wisely call for the interior to be painted black.  The better to hide the empty cave that is the cockpit:

I've done a little more since these pics were taken.  The wing halves are glued together, and the L-shaped blob of styrene that passes for the ejection seat is painted and glued in.  This kit is definitely old-school Airfix, meant to be slapped together in an afternoon.  The shape looks correct, though, and I think with some seam work and a nice coat of paint, should turn out a nice addition to the collection.

Been kinda quiet here lately so I was wondering how it is going with you guy's. I have just got a little work done on my Seafire with the fuselage buttoned up and the wings together. Not much else done but hope to post some photos of it soon.

Steve

Here's a quick update on the Lightning.  Its a very simple kit, no cockpit to speak of.  Fit of the fuselage halves was not great, but after cutting off most of the locating pins, I was able to shift everything into relatively good shape.  Still had to use alot of filler on the spine and belly, though.  Wings fit pretty well, surprisingly.  A little sanding and trimming resulted in a great fit for the right wing, but the left will need a little filler.

Guys

The Heron is under way !

Here are some early pics. As stated the molds are in pretty good shape for a 40+ yr old !

The kit has large transparencies down either side of the fuselage, so departing from the rules of this group build, I scratchbuilt a floor and some passenger seats, to give an impression of an interior - you won't be able to see much through the fairly thick transparencies anyway. I have dipped all transparencies in 'klear', and they aren't too bad. Also  there is a solid bulkhead between the flight deck and the passenger cabin. References show an arched doorway , so I have carved that in as well.

The kit features movable ailerons and retractable undercarriage - with a nifty feature on the mains that 'clicks' the wheels in place when 'up' so they don't sag. However, I will be cementing them in the 'down and welded' position. Ailerons, whilst posed to indicate a slight roll, will be cemented. The kit also comes with an 'air stair' and some standing crew and passengers.

Box Art

Fuselage halves, festooned with rivets - ahhh memories.

Kit flight deck and scratchbuilt cabin floor seats.

Installed in fuselage halves

Fuselage persuaded to come together and wings assembled.

More progress pics to come !

Simon

Simon,

Nice job.  Really like the interior you built for it.  Well on your way to turning out a great model from a mediocre kit.

Thanks Jeff. Love your Lightning, one of my favourite jets. I've got one of these stashed away with the Aeroclub T5 conversion to get around to one day. Hmm - maybe a Military Trainer GB ?

The Heron continues apace - airframe finished and joint sanding proceeding. Main transparency is a very poor fit, especially around the rear, so I'll have to live with a 'step' there. Nacelle to wing joints are simple butt joints and leave a little to be desired - but hey it's an old airfix kit ! I should have the basic painting finished tomorrow. Propellors and undercarriage are painted, and there's not much more to it !

The Heron is now more or less complete. Missed out on a few progress pics as my wife was out with the kids and camera.

The wing/fuselage joint was surprisingly good.

Painting basic - silver all over, and a white fuselage top. I applied the kit decals which were good and include the curving cheatline on the nose, I then brush painted in Humbrol midnight blue in between the two decal lines.

 All it needs now are the doors ( undercarriage and cabin) installed and it's finished. More pics soon.

Jeff and Simon, very nice progress on the Lightening and Heron. They are really comming along great and cant wait to see them finished.

Steve

Some nice work coming along there !

Here is the Heron. Still without doors and exhausts, tranparency masking still in place as I haven't sprayed any varnish as yet.

Next to a 1/72 Mini van I found.

Here's my Tri motor. If anyone has any suggestions, it seems pretty straightforward.

I'll be building it to be this aircraft. Any historic knowledge is more than welcome!

Bondoman

Hi to all!! I have been busy with things, so I have not kept up with this build!!! I have almost finished my Super Etendard, all that is left is the canopy to paint and fit, plus the underwing stores and small bits. Decalling and final gloss comes next. I lost the pylon for the Exocet, so I had to scratchbuild a new one!!!!! Fun!!!!! Anyhow, as soon as I get my camera back frommy sister, I will post some photo's. Now it will be a Sea Harrier in 1/48 scale.