Group build that's not inspiration

[stona]

Graham it's too easy just to say it's rubbish or a bad kit,I absolutely refuse to go down that road. It isn't a bad kit,it's just showing its age a little. It's an old kit,the molds are a bit tired (hence the disparity in detail fuselage to wing) but I reckon anyone can build it into something looking pretty much like a Fairey Battle with a tiny bit of effort.

The accuracy issues that people were beating themselves up on the thread you mentioned are neither here nor there for me. I'm doing this for a bit of fun and there's no way I'm sawing the nose off to extend it by a couple of millimetres! I might pose mine in flight so I can have the rear canopy open along with the bomb doors so I really don't care if the propeller isn't up to some peoples standard as I'll leave it off lol!

Pictures?

Here's some of a rather grey looking Battle resplendent in its primer.

Cheers

Steve

 

[stona]

Here are my 1/72 pilot and gunner,works in progress so no laughing,I never said I could paint figures,particularly when I can barely see them.

I'll give Airfix credit for including the figures but they appear to be frozen in the same attitude,maybe by fear as they attack some armoured column. They don't appear to be flying the aircraft or manning a weapon,it's probably best not to ask what they are doing with their hands!

Cheers

Steve

Edit. I've just discovered that there are 44 "windows" on the canopy of a Fairey Battle....I've just masked the lot!

 

[Bunkerbarge]

I totally agree with you on the idea of older kits. They just need a bit more work in them to produce some really interesting models. I tend to think sometimes that the likes of Tamiya spoil us and we sometimes expect everything to be too easy.

I agree with all the value for money arguments but sometimes it is really satisfying to put together a really old kit and relive what we did when we were a lot younger. Well it works for old boys like me who can remember!

This is a great example of what you can do with an old kit and I'm sure it is going to look brilliant when it's finished.

 

[stona]

Thanks Richard. I probably first saw this kit when it was new so I'm definitely old enough to remember the old Airfix 1/72 kits. I had most of them hanging from mine and my brother's bedroom ceiling. When we needed more space we could hang a few from the bird table and take pot shots at them with the old .177 air rifle!

I've shoe horned the crew in. Initially they looked like Jeremy Clarkson in an MG Sprite and the canopy wouldn't fit over their heads. A rather indelicate operation was performed with a file and no anaesthetic to remove a couple of millimetres from each of arses!

Voila!

I'm relying on the Airfix paint call out but I balked at "Trainer Yellow" for the bombs. I thought British ordinance,including RAF bombs, was a buff colour at this time so that's what I've done. If someone knows better shout out and I'll change them.

Cheers

Steve

 

[yak face]

Hi steve. looking excllent now, just shows that a lot of these old airfix kits can still scrub up well after all these years!! Im getting the urge to go out and get one and maybe a hampden too (theyve just re-issued that as well) , If you fancy a real dose of plastic masochism get the dh88 comet theyve just re-issued , ive bit the bullet and started mine . To say this 1957 veteran is basic is a bit of an understatement (crews heads moulded in with the fuselage sides!!!!) but ill enjoy beating it into submission with a couple of tubes of filler ! Keep the pics coming ,its going to look great, cheers tony

 

[Fenlander]

It is looking good Steve, all Airfix pilots of a certain vintage are moulded in that unlikely pose. Sad thing is, I found myself sat like that the other night watching I'm a (so called cos I don't know any of them) Celebrity (for Gods sake) Get me out of here....... It only lasted ten minutes, it would have been five but I had to assure myself it really was such crap. However, in my mind numbed state, I went into that clenched hands on lap position. I assume it its the bodies defence mechanism putting people into a sat down foetal position to regress for safety.

Maybe we should have a 'Build a vintage 1:72 Airfix kit in a weekend' activity.

 

[tonyb6000]

Maybe a 1:72 "me watching tat on telly" dio?

 

[stona]

The bomb thing had me wondering about the rest of the paint call out. From the depths of my hard drive and with no idea why it's there,I found this.

10/10 for Airfix again as this is exactly what's on the instructions!

Painting tomorrow.

Cheers

Steve

 

[tr1ckey66]

Hi Steve

The Fairey Battle is looking good. The fit looks pretty good from where I'm sat, but like you say all it requires is a little investment in time. I'm certain this will build up in to a fantastic piece for the BOB fun non GB.

All the best

Paul

 

[stona]

Slapped the top camo on. Both colours (Xtracrylix) are lightened quite a bit. I'd usually do the lower surfaces first but they are "black" and that's a b**ger to cover.

I've had some difficulty spraying today. I can only think it is due to the temperature. I spray in a connection between the kitchen and utility room (ex outhouse) and it's very cold. The paints are at room temperature but the air.......let's just say I've lost the feeling in my toes lol.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Fenlander]

Starting to look the business now Steve. That is one long greenhouse over the cockpit isn't it?

Know what you mean about the cold. I store all my paints in the house and then put the heater on in the shed before I start, because it is so small, it comes up to temperature quite quickly. I was out there in a T shirt and shorts (please do not let that mental image form in your minds, I will not be held responsible) last night doing a bit of stock taking and the grass was white over with frost, I was as comfy as a comfy thing inappropriately dressed in a plastic shed that looks like a portaloo........

 

[stona]

That is one long greenhouse over the cockpit isn't it?

Yep,44 tiny 1/72 clear panels. Oh the fun I had...!

Cheers

Steve

 

[Fenlander]

You picked it :laughing:

 

[yak face]

Yep,44 tiny 1/72 clear panels. Oh the fun I had...!Cheers

Steve

Steve , im rapidly going off the idea of doing one of these!!!!!! (unless of course i could send you my canopy to mask up!!) :postman:

 

[tr1ckey66]

Steve

That's starting to look the part now! Can only agree about the canopy masking though that's a lot of work and in small scale.

Apparently we're set for 2 weeks of this cold snap! I'm lucky in that I can work in the house but you have my sympathy it is cold out there!

All the best

Paul

 

[stona]

Capt.Oates here,miraculously returned from the Antarctic. I've applied "scale black" to the underside. One misted coat 50/50 red/black and a second coat of 20/80 red/black. Very approximately guessed by counting the drops of paint. The coaster in the bottom of the box is really black (apart from the tea stains!).

Post shading to come with a couple of greys. Eventually I will also apply a light grey wash,the Pro-modeller one if I've got it.

Anyone know any good treatments for frost bite lol!

I have also discovered that the Battle's final European combat mission was on 15-16 Oct. 1940, a night bombing raid on German invasion barges in the French ports of Calais and Bologne. I reckon this means it was operational during what we call the Battle of Britain and therefore does fit the "GB that's not really a GB" criteria,not that anyone was bothered anyway!

Cheers

Steve

 

[Kressy13]

Hi mate,

Looking good. Sure is a lot of windows. Frostbite eh, can't say that i know a cure. Our minimum temp her at the moment is 20 Celsius with a top of about 28. Indeed a bit of a cold snap. LOL. Keep up the good work mate.

Cheers

Kresten

 

[stona]

Sounds very pleasant Kresten. We were minus a couple of degrees or so last night and got a light dusting of snow. It's hanging about as I don't think we'll get much above zero today.

Cheers

Steve

 

[stona]

I've stuck the decals on this morning. They are all over scale! Serial won't fit on the rudder but overlaps the fin,upper wing roundels have to be moved a few mil inboard to stop them overlapping the ailerons etc.

They are being beaten into submission with microsol, especially the huge white serial numbers that the RAF rather sportingly painted on the lower wing surfaces to help the German A.A. gunners.

I'll do some piccies later,hopefully.

Cheers

Steve

 

[stona]

Piccies as promised. The Airfix decals are okay,they submitted under a joint assault by Microsol and a hairdryer!

Top/Sides.

Underside.

Did they actually still have those huge white serials when they went to France? As if flying slowly,unescorted and bombing from 200' didn't give the enemy a good enough chance of killing them already!

Cheers

Steve