Fleet Air Arm Group Build

Since I actualy have a few days off now I have started the 1/48 Grand Phoenix Firefly Mk 1. If this kit is classed as a limited run kit then there are heaps of companies out there that should take note of how to make a kit! Resin that fits, plastic that fits, instructions that are clear enough and it is pretty much complete in detail.

Here are some images of the cockpit in progress:

Frank, funny you should mention about another model for the GB. I have started the Grand Phoenix 1/48 Firefly Mk 1. The cockpit is almost done and the wings are not far off going together.

The Barracuda canopy should be on this afternoon followed by some more fairing in. Once it's on it will be masked and a few extra bits will be added. I was contemplating putting some extra detail under the canopy but i'm not sure of exactly whats there. Not long now and it should be painting time! I'm a bit dissapointed that I can't have an open canopy on the front two positions as this hides heaps of detail.

 I reckon if the article goes ahead there will be a great range of good looking aircraft to select from!

Frank,

Your corsair bits look excellent! I would say the masking time was well spent .

Leon

I am hoping to get a little time with my corsair this upcoming week... 

Dave, the Barracude looks really good. I think the need to build up the area that much would drive me crazy - so thumbs up to you!

Leon 

Dave, Frank,  Nice progress guys, in spite of all the rum consumed here lately .

Regards,  Rick

Frank,

your progress looks good, you have done the engine very nicely. The finish you have on the engine, prop and I/P is certainly worth the extra effort.

Dave,

thanks for the link, you are right the exterior set looks very good. I am also very tempted by the cockpit set too!  I may well invest in them both in the future.

As for your work on the Barracuda all I can say is Phew! You are putting in the hard work on this one and it shows! Looks like you are turning out a winner there.

Dave-

That Barracuda is really coming along!  Looks like you're gonna have time to build a couple more for this GB!

Darren-

Good score on the SeaFury!  I have wanted a good kit of that plane for years too.  I saw one up close a few years back at a local airshow, and got to talk to the pilot for awhile.  I was most impressed!

I figured I had better post a pic of my progress, less everyone think all I do is gobble up the rum rations!  The propeller is painted and clearcoated, waiting for it to dry before the decals go on.  The engine is done as well, clearcoated and all.  I masked off the IP and the consoles so I could airbrush the black.  In the past, I always hand painted them but decided the extra hours with a scalpel and tape masking would be worth the extra time.  I am very happy with them! 

I also spent a lot of time practicing today with a jewelers beading tool set.  I use it at work to set diamonds, and am thinking about using it to add some rivet detail to the Corsair.  Guess we'll see when the time comes if I want to spend countless hours riveting by hand!

Here's my progress so far:

Darren, I have the Exterior set for the Seafury and it is beautiful. I was contemplating the interior set but came to the realisation that you can spend heaps of money on a beautiful resin set and you will see bugger all when it's closed up. The exterior set on the other hand is well worth it. Here is a link to a review on Hyperscale of them:

http://www.kitreview.com/reviews/seafuryaccessoriesreviewbg_1.htm

 The Barracuda is getting closer to painting stage. I'm currently fairing in the area for the canopy to sit on as area's of the canopy don't fit and need some serious building up of the edge. I have done a bit of work on the flaps as you needed to build up the area where the actuators join the flaps. Now there is actualy something for the actuators to hang on to.

Thanks Lads.

Darren,

I'm not sure which way I will go at the moment, I have never seen this kit in the flesh before so when it arrives I will dry fit the bits and see if I'm happy. If not, then I may just spring for the resin stuff. At the minute, I'm happy just to have a starting point in 1/48. Like you, I very much want to see a new tooling of this superb fighter.

I was lucky enough to get up close to one a couple of years ago when I visited the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovil. It a an incredible place as the museum backs onto the airbase and they have a viewing area to watch the front line aircraft. Anyway, I fell in love with the Sea Fury and knew that one day I must build a model of one.

I have done a little bit to my Hellcat tonight, laid done the white paint for the invasion stripes after some cleanup of my earlier assembly efforts. I think this will be a quick build as I'm doing it OOB,provided I get some time back at the bench. Its in short supply this weekend! 

Congrats on the pickup of the Seafury Darren, nice one , especially if you got it at a reasonable price.  Are you going to put any of the Cutting Edge resin replacement bit in it, or build it OOB?

It is my eternal hope that one of these days a major manufacturer will release an up to date kit of the Seafury in 1/48 .

Cheers 

Good news chaps!

I just won a 1/48 Sea Fury in an auction! Got it for a nice price too!  I've wanted one of these for ages.......

OK, Frank.........step away from the rum. You've had a tad too much methinks!

darson wrote:

Daywalker wrote: Wow, thanks Darren!  I must admit, there are a lot of nice guys Down Under named Darren, both of you have jumped to help me out!  I really appreciate it. No problems at all Frank, but I think you'll find that our illustrious leader (the other Darren) is from England not Australia . Cheers

Do I feel like a moron. Guess all of those rum rations are going to my head.   Sorry for the mix up guys.

Daywalker wrote:

Wow, thanks Darren!  I must admit, there are a lot of nice guys Down Under named Darren, both of you have jumped to help me out!  I really appreciate it.

No problems at all Frank, but I think you'll find that our illustrious leader (the other Darren) is from England not Australia .

Cheers

darson wrote:

Frank, PM received and thanks for the offer but there is no way I'm taking money for something as small as this.

Wow, thanks Darren!  I must admit, there are a lot of nice guys Down Under named Darren, both of you have jumped to help me out!  I really appreciate it.

Frank, PM received and thanks for the offer but there is no way I'm taking money for something as small as this.

Roy, PM received and you have a 2MB PDF inbound to your home email addy.

Cheers

Darson-

Wow, thanks for that offer!  PM inbound.

Sorry I haven't been on line for a couple of days guys, but I hope you all enjoy your Easter break because I know I sure am!!!

Frank I have a spare set the small "Royal Navy" decals from an old Airfix Seafire if you are interested.  If you want them just send me a PM with your addy and I'll put them in the mail when I get back to work on Tuesday.  Sorry I can't help with the "KD xxx" that you need for the front of the tail.

Dave good to hear she's closed up and sorry about the extra details .  I'll be looking forward to some more photos when you get the chance.

Roy I have recently come across a set of scale plans for FAA Corsairs which shows exactly how much to "carve off", if you want a copy send me a PM with an email addy that I can send an attachment too.  Btw, if anybody else wants a copy of these plans just send me an email.

Cheers 

Hey Everyone,

may I take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Happy Easter! All the best you and yours and I hope you have a great weekend.

I've got a lot on over the next few days so I might not get much done on the modelling front, I have to see how it goes.

In the meantime................

Enjoy the weekend's rum ration!

Cheers!

Sounds like you know what you're doing, just remember to do small cuts leaving some material on as its easier to sand parts down when they are too big as opposed to adding material to parts with too much cut off.

I'm sure you know that already, but its always nice to have a friendly reminder.

It would seem that I will need to clip the wings 1.5 to 2 mm to give it the proper look.  My 1/72 Corsair's wingtip is one piece for at least 4mm.  I have never attempted and thing like this, but how hard can it be.  Just use a saw and cut at least 0.5mm from my mark and sand to shape.  Any helpful hints or encouragements would be welcomed. 

Roy

Yes, you would be correct to clip your Corsair's wings. If you go back a few pages in this thread you'll find some pics of the FAA Corsair wings.

Hope this helps.

TANGO 1 wrote:

Nice choice! I've used Techmod decals before and they went on fine. As it happens, I will be using them on my FAA Corsair too.

I was doing some research and was wondering if it would be correct not to clip the wings on my Corsair?