The Airfix Welcome Back GB from Jan 07 to Dec 07

Finished the Lightning F.3 yesterday.  This was definitely an "old-school" Airfix kit.  No cockpit or wheel well detail, raised panel lines, horribly overscale thick gear doors, out of register decals.  On the other hand, though, it went together reasonably well and seem pretty accurate in outline from  my references.  Best of all, it was cheap!  I decided to do the 3-tone grey air superiority scheme, but took a little liberty in painting the aircraft spine black.  I do have a picture of this actual aircraft (XR749) with the black spine, though the fin markings were completely different at the time the photo was taken.  Per the rules, the Lightning is totally built OOB, with the exception of the nose pitot tube, which I broke late in the build and replaced with stretched sprue.

That is a good looking machine. Nice work!!

After this I am die'n to build my 1:48 f.1/2/3.

Bondoman

On the bench:

Trimotor: 20% glued the bottom to the right side, like building a wooden boat- had to curve the bottom with clamps.

Yeah, I had to do that too when I built the Trimotor. Still, I was able to get it closed without any gaps. That is a fun kit to build, I can't wait to see your progress pics.

So far, here are my pics of the progress I've made on the Airfix 1/72 scale Harrier jet. This is going together pretty well, despite all the flash from old molds.

But first, the Box, to prove it is the Airfix kit:

Now, for the progress I've done so far.  I got the pilot painited and the 'cockpit' installed in the fuselage half. Now all I have to do is install the movable exhaust jets:

Okay, there it is. I'll post more pics as I make more progress. Thanks for looking in 

Hi,

Really nice looking Lightning, grat job. It's one of my favourite aircraft. The harrier is coming along nicely too Duke. 

I've finally gotten around to my 54mm British Granadier from the American War of Indpendance. THe undercoating is done, and the body and legs have been done with oil paints. Next I'll do the head and accessories, and a base whilst I wait for the oils to dry.

Cheers

Tony 

Thanks T! I managed to get more done on this Harrier. I have been working on two of them; one from Esci an the other from Airfix. I finally got them both to the same level of progress. Here are the pics:

Here it is sitting next to the Esci Harrier:

Thanks all for looking. I'll post more when I get some more progress done.  

Duke,

Coming along nicely on both kits!  Almost bought the Airfix Harrier myself the other day on evil-bay with several other kits I was bidding on.  Got too many on the build pile, though.  Look forward to seeing the Harriers complete.

The trimotor progresses. The wing is a inverted version of the typical deal, ie. three across on top;, two on the bottom: as opposedto a 2 over 3 like Heller Constellations, DC-6, etc....

But... if all are glued together first, there is a BIG dihedral. And all photos of all Trimotors show a wing dead straight across the top. I'm also building the FROG Southern Cross, which wing is in the foreground of my photos and has the same issue.

I did not read the instructions well, and the lower landing gear struts did not get included into the fuselage construct. But I've cut them off at the point where they join the body, and I will glue them in with the top vertical strut.

This is a tough kit, but not bad at all. The decals look sketchy... more to come.

Bondoman

Bondoman

DURR wrote:

may i join i cant start until on or about may 22 and i have about a dozen helos  i will pick two in about a week or so

i am backing out of modeling as well for a at least a few months

again sorry

Oh gosh, this is supposed to not be stressful for you. I'd love to see scans of the boxtops, even, that you have, I don't know a thing abt helos and even less abt airfix kits of same.

Bondoman

On the bench- Ford Trimotor 40% the original decals were shattered when I tested them. The new decals work fine but are seriously off-register!!

She also required a bunch of modeling tools I havent used in a long time- rubber bands. There simply wasnt any other way to glue the four sided box together.

Tgregory, try this site http://flightdecs.ca/

The sheet you are looking for is Techmod 72001 and they show it as in stock.

The Bf110c is ready for decals which BTW will be comming soon thanks to Razor. I modeled it with landing gear up because it looks so much cleaner this way. The canopy was painted in the fashion of static displays because the interior details were nonexistant.After the decals arrive and a little weathering I will be off to bigger things. (1/48 scale)

Fabulous!! I love 1/72. Really cockpits are overrated. Great stuff!!

The F-I-L did major damage to german aircraft at night, mostly on account of exhaust patterns. Got to put shields on that aircraft, otherwise there'll be a Beaufighter on its 6.

The trimotor progresses: blue paint.

I'm sorry about this image. The blue is going to take another coat and the 2 lb test glued into the double wide joints is coming up at one end. Will fix and post.

Bondoman

Hi Everyone,

I've been quietly painting my British Grenadier...it's all done save one minor touch up. Good to see some of the others are getting done too. Keep it going. Pics soon.

Cheers

Tony 

I have been working (struggling) on the Trimotor for a week. It is just a B**ch. The motor mounts are about 32 pieces, all of which seem to be only aimed at getting the magnetos on the engine fronts up, (or down). And all of this is w/parts the size of a front landing gear on a 1/72 Canberra. (more on which in a minute).

See what its done to me

The wings, corrugated, mate at joints where at least three ribs are missing. Fixed (?) w/ 2 lb fishing line layed along and soaked w/ superglu.

Oh Gawd. Any help much appreciated.

After, I'd like to build the B.1 Canberra.

Can't afford to buy all the books abt this, but is there a definitive date? Suez? Malaya?

Anyone, JEaton?

On the bench: Ford Trimotor 50%

I'm not sure of the question, but I am sure I'm no expert.  I suppose you are asking about the markings on the Canberra?  Perhaps the answer is in one of my books, should I be able to find that particular book in my disorder!

Those corrugations can be a bear.  I started over with a new kit on a Martin M-130 Clipper because I couldn't get them right, along with other problems.

Well, I'm still in this one as well. Since it's been so long since I posted last, here's a reminder of what I'm building: Airfix's 1/72 scale Harrier Gr. Mk III

Right now it is mostly assembled and the basic camo pattern is on it. That is the point I was at when this pic was taken:

Right now, I've added all the detail parts; all except the underwing ordinance. I just need to touchup paint those and then this will be ready for decals.

Thanks for looking and comments are welcome. 

Jeaton, I'm not sure what the question was either, since this build is OOB. The kit decals are for an England based RAF Squadron, or a RAAF aircraft. A Canberra in aftermarket decals ala Suez would be nice, though.

The trimotor is almost finished. I bought a second, reissue, because the decals in the original were no good. The ones in the newer kit are fine, but SERIOUSLY out of register. It looks like there was a second color strike in each color that missed the first by a 1/16" at least. Oh well.

The original kit had almost no part numbers: sort of sporadic on the sprues. The later kit has all of them. Which is strange- why would the original have numbers in the instructions but not on the trees? I'm just not that familiar w/Airfix.

Is your Martin the 1/144? I'd like to find a big 1/72 flying boat; the only one I know of since I can't afford the Mach 2 Mariner is the Airfix Sunderland. Hmmm...

Duke Maddog, the Harrier looks great. Check out Aeroplane magazines 25th anniv. issue on the Falkland war. http://www.aeroplanemonthly.com/

Also, re: my recent comment about cockpits are overated, only that most of my aircraft are airliners and pretty closed up. Otherwise I stand corrected.

Bondoman

On the bench:

Trimotor 75%

Canberra 0%

bondoman wrote:

...the only one I know of since I can't afford the Mach 2 Mariner is the Airfix Sunderland. Hmmm...

Having built the Sunderland make sure you order a couple tubes of putty to go with it.  That and a heap of patience is required.

Wow, I've always wanted to build the Sundeland too. Good thing I already have three tubes of putty!

Bondoman, thanks for the compliment and the link. They are great!

Here is another pic showing the progress I mentioned in the previous post:

Now all I have to do is paint the details and then she'll be ready for decals. 

Well, it's time to pick up my badge for this one. I'm calling her done!

My Airfix Harrier G.3:

Thanks all for looking and comments are welcome. 

It's a beauty. Photo it on a realistic background that tells a story. Outdoors is always best, and on the driveway or the roof of a silver car, or the blacktop at school.

What about underwing stores. Me, I like the Falkland war. These guys had AAM's.

Bondoman