Again referring to RAF Radials by Spencer Pollard, I had a bash at the Airfix Beaufighter. Aside from the inexplicably fiddly three piece engine cowling, this is as close as you get to a perfect kit. Like all new release Airfix kits the panel lines are too deep and it lacks rivet detail but I have to give it top marks for sheer modelling pleasure. It really suits panel line accentuation and paint modulation and the decals are really nice. Lovely little kit for a pleasant little aeroplane.
I do like this kit. It's chunky, very easy to build, has plenty of options and the results are pleasing. This one, however, was not without problems. Someone had started the kit and glued the wrong halves of the ailerons together which made them almost impossible to salvage. They had to be filed down and reshaped with filler, and they're never going to look right.
A thing to note with this kit is it actually needs considerably more weight in the nose than the instructions say so that it will sit on its own wheels, Like the real thing, it has tendency to fall on its tail. The kit even includes a small plastic prop on the assumption that it will. This time I compensated and it does sit well, but the undercarriage is unlikely to take the whole weight of it for very long.
The photo here doesn't do it much justice but this is quite a nicely finished silver grey of my own creation. The instructions recommend an aluminium coat but but in my view it's a metallic grey and the aircraft itself does not appear in the bare metal.
I've been pondering why I like it so much and then it occurred to me that in the gloss white with the circular bubble canopy looking like an astronaut's helmet, along with the 1950's lines, there is something quite space age about this one that gives it a real presence.
If I had the space and the money I could easily do a dozen Canberra's because they always appear in interesting schemes, and though it's by no means a sexy aeroplane, or even an interesting form, there's just something about it. Though it was the first jet bomber, it was one of the last proper bombers in the conventional sense. It serves as a bridge between the ages where you can tell where bombers has been and where it's going next. You either get it or you don't. You really need to see one in the sky to fall in love with the Cannie.
Having done that, I now regret it because a paint malfunction caused it to dry in uneven tones and it actually looks brilliant. This kit is more than the sum of its parts and it's a cheap way to fill the gap for a large self propelled gun. This is not a small vehicle.
This is the first time I've tried oil paint weathering on a vehicle and it really has worked. There's nothing better for rain streaking than a mucky blend of black, brown and white. I will probably revisit this one because there's a masterpiece hiding in this somewhere. If someone else releases a version of the AS90 I will jump at it because it can't possibly be worse than Trumpeters effort. I am quite surprised to be saying this.
Notwithstanding a few finishing touches, I've just completed the Airfix Lancaster B2. I was inspired to build this having bought RAF Radials by Spencer Pollard featuring three masterclass builds in 1:72. I decided to use his build of the Lancaster as a visual template to see if I could get anywhere close to that quality.
Though Pollard's book is a great resource, there are some procedural omissions leaving you guessing how to proceed so it isn't a how-to guide, but it does give you a few clues. It's also a review of the kit which was nice to have if only to have my own impressions confirmed.
I'm a little less diplomatic than Pollard. This is a stinker of a kit. The fuselage was warped and putting it together was seriously hard work. The main landing gear assembly is just bizarre and no thought has been put into attaching the bomb bay doors which are only precariously attached by small sprigs. The engine mounts are also a bit of a problem. They don't really attach to anything save for the forward cowling ring and they don't stay in place.
For a new tooling this was a bit of a disappointment from Airfix. I don't much recall if its predecessor was any good but this release isn't a quantum leap in development. As it happens, I did build the 1960's Airfix Handley Page Halifax not so long back which is not without its problems, but the fuselage rivets make for a more detailed and enjoyable finish. I do recall that the transparent parts weren't up to much but I have to concur with Pollard's conclusion that the fuselage detail on this Lancaster isn't as good, and is too smooth and too even to be considered realistic.
One of the flaws with the latest batch of new Airfix releases is the panel lines. On this and the new Vulcan, they're too deep and wide, more resembling a diecast model, presumably done that way for amateur modeller satisfaction but they do nothing for accuracy. The fuselage looks more like one of Brunel's iron clad ships than an actual Lancaster.
That said, I don't think it matters all that much if you get everything else right. The flaws in the kit can be overcome by a competent experienced modeller. Modelling, in essence, is the process of correcting a succession of problems either with the kit or from your own mistakes.
Speaking of which, I was not pleased with Pollard's recommendation to paint the tail plane separately. I categorically do not recommend this approach. The stabilisers don't fit on to the fuselage particularly well and it took several dry fits before realising that the locator slugs had to be more or less completely trimmed off, and in the process of fitting them the aft fuselage started to split open. If I ever do this kit again I will add them even before joining the fuselage. I would also say that there isn't very much point in going overboard on the interior because most of it cannot be seen.
As to the the paintwork, I must have done three or four RAF black/green/brown bombers in my time so this ain't my first rodeo. I went with my own mix of Tamiya colours. I've developed a reasonable instinct for it. The weathering was the real fun. Having watched a video on oil paint weathering, I went to town on this one, being that with oils you can simply wipe off what you don't like. Here I was able to fade and modulate the finishes in ways I have never succeeded with an airbrush. I've managed rudimentary pre-shading before but it goes wrong more often than not. Oils appear to be the way to go for now.
What really makes the difference on this one is the Eduard canopy mask. There's no way it would look nearly as good as it does without it. I'm now having to bend to the expensive truth that one should never attempt a complex kit without the laser cut masks.
There are a few problems with the end result that I may address with some advanced surgery later down the line. I always revisit my kits eventually. A second look often makes the difference between an average build and an excellent one. I had some problems with primer peeling and chipping, suggesting a release agent on the kit so I probably need to get back into the habit of washing Airfix sprues before commencing. This has left some surface imperfections I couldn't correct since I never seem to have a fully functioning airbrush.
With the help of Spencer Pollard's book I think I've produced one of my all time best efforts, if not the best. I'm usually a bit timid with aircraft weathering as you can very easily do something to ruin it, but this time I had the confidence to go much further. As Pollard points out, Lancasters did get absolutely filthy.
To seal in the streaking and modulation I gave it a very thin coat of (the now obligatory) Pledge floor polish, which may warrant a matt overcoat. I was going to give varnishes a miss but there was slight decal silvering and the Pledge takes the edge of it. The demarcation markings on the wing were something of a headache and I still don't trust decal solutions not to melt the decal completely or ruin the paintwork. I used a heavily diluted Humbrol Decalfix which was just enough.
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| Airfix HP Halifax |
Metal effect is a bit of a dark art. I had done a P51 Mustang using only Tamiya flat aluminium and it just didn't look right even with panel liner and off shade panels. For metal you really need specialist paints. I've gone with Vallejo Metal Color (Chrome) for this B17 - and I think it's worked. For the off panels I've used Tamiya flat aluminium which works for the effect.
As to the darkened panel lines, I used Tamiya Smoke - which is a translucent dark varnish colour. Unlike pre-shading, this is an after effect applied to the base coat. It takes a little practice and it woks best if thinned a little with Tamiya thinners, and then a light mist overspray of the base colour. I've since tried it out on the Mustang (which is now a test mule) and I'm close to refining the technique.
The chrome paint is not what I was expecting. It's a slightly whiter shade of Vallejo's aluminium but a second coat at close range with the airbrush will give it more of that polished metal/chrome look. I did a test panel but in the end decided the full polished look wouldn't look right for the model. The only high polish B17's are modern day classic warbirds which isn't what I was going for.
When it comes to metal finish, surface preparation matters a lot. Olives and greens will hide a multitude of sins but metal finish will show up every defect and the chrome paint just doesn't look right if the priming is uneven. I learned this the hard way and had to clean off the wings and re-prime. In most instances I get away with a rough prime job but for metal surfaces you need a full and even coat - not least to even out some of the surface defects.
The kit itself is the old Monogram in a Revell box. It's essentially the same as the Memphis Belle B17F kit but I think this one is a little better. The dome on the top of the nose looks better than the flat windows. This would be a far superior kit if it wasn't let down so badly by the badly formed glassware. That said, the HK B17 in 1:48 is going to set you back easily three times as much money. With a little bit of extra time spend on filling gaps and sanding seams, this one scrubs up fine.
On that score, this kit takes a lot more work. It does mean scuffing off a lot of panel line detail being that it has raised panel lines, but it doesn't really matter. A smooth top looks fine and the underside isn't visible. I have built the Belle version of this and I tolerated bad seams to preserve the panel lines and it just looks poor next to this one. This one with the chin turret is the one to get.
The one thing I will say is this is one of the very few kits where "paint before assembly" applies. I painted much of the fuselage before joining to minimise the risk of getting paint on the windows. Even though they were masked off, it saved me some worry. What I do like about this kit is the wings slot on so well that you don't need to glue them on. I built the wings as separate models and completed them before attaching. This means I can disassemble it for storage without damaging it. It's a big kit!
The interior on this kit isn't great but then it doesn't need to be unless you're doing a documented build. If you're doing it in the dark olive then chances are you won't see very much but in the bare metal finish you can (for some reason), so it was worth going the extra mile on the cockpit and the forward compartment. As with all the old Monogram kits, they could be better but there's nothing much wrong with them if you're prepared to put the work in.
I think this is probably my first successful attempt at bare metal. The A26 Invader I built using the Vallejo Aluminium looks competent but the chrome on this B17 seems to work better. I might have done more fuselage panel tinting had I known what works beforehand but I'm inclined to think less is more. You can overdo it.
Considering silvers and and yellows are some of the hardest paints to work with, I picked a real challenge here. For the yellow I used Tamiya flat yellow, building it up in several thin coats with a gloss varnish. I've had problems with gloss yellow consistency. Four coats seems to be enough for a truly even coat. I'm not too worried about the imperfections since yellow paint is much the same on real aircraft.
One the whole it's a relatively inexpensive, high impact project with lots of learning potential. I probably will come back to it to add a bit more weathering but for now I'm just happy to bask in its presence. I would recommend it to any modeller. Even a badly done big B17 is still a big B17. What's not to like?
You would think a kit like this would be easy, and with only about thirty or so major components, and a reasonably good tooling, it would be a quick job. But what it lack in complexity is makes up for in scale which makes it something of a painting and masking challenge. I used almost two rolls of masking tape.
Build wise it's a bit of a rotter as it's quite clunky and the wings didn't align very well. With an aircraft of this scale, age and brand I wasn't expecting much, particularly since it costs very little for such a big bird. I don't mind though. It's nothing a halfway competent builder can't overcome. In its favour the decals are superb and caused me no problems whatsoever. Beyond that there isn't much to say about this one. It does all the talking for me. It's glorious.
I think I was nineteen when I gave up model kits for other concerns. I was working on this precise kit, - Monogram B26 Marauder boxed as Revell in 1:48 when I concluded that without investing in an airbrush (which I didn't have the money for) I was not going to be able to do a worthwhile job of it and abandoned it mid-build. I don't know what happened to it - but there was unfinished business for twenty years.
Happily I found one recently on Ebay for £25 in the original Monogram box and with extra decals so decided the settle the score. Surprisingly, for a kit as old as me, this is a really nice kit. It's almost as good as a Tamiya from the same era. Normally Revell/Monogram twin engine warbirds are clunky and require a lot of structural correction, but this one practically fell together with very little filler. Even the glassware is pretty good which is not usually the case for older Revograms.
On this I've been quite sparing with the weathering. I haven't quite mastered paint modulation and I got to the point where I didn't want to risk ruining it. I may revisit it in the future but for the moment I have a perfectly nice and respectable 1:48 Marauder. I can lay that demon to rest.
This was my first attempt at invasion stripes which is actually a lot hard than it looks. But it is one of those modeller's milestones you just have to try. I'm glad it was this kit. Twice now has this kit been a marker in my development as a model maker. And isn't she lovely?
Last seen in the two-tone Royal Navy scheme, I wasn't happy with this one, and having just completed a Desert Storm Buccaneer, I had the decals and spares to make good of it. I put the wings down and added the ECM wing pods and tanks. Now it looks proper.
I do love the colour on this. It's a middle blue/neutral grey blend, darkened with a little black. It looks like a dark grey but ocean grey comes out a rich sea blue in certain lights and the gloss finish really makes it shine. As it happens this is a pisspoor kit and a strip and refurb job so it was never going to be a showcase piece buy all the same, it's a nice thing to have. Meanwhile, I've been on with a little side project...
Since taking this pic at 4am I've added a few other subtle bits of weathering but you get the picture. I actually built this precise model about twenty years ago and it's been sitting on a shelf in Dad's office for years, painted in the wrong colour with amateurish weathering. I've been eyeing it up for a while now and so I kidnapped it to give it a BAOR makeover. I was intending on doing the Berlin Brigade scheme but I think you have to paint that scheme during assembly. I also chickened out. It looks like a lot of faff and I didn't have quite enough paint for it.
There's a lot be said for strip and repaint jobs. That way you get twice the value from a model and you don't have to take up room with new ones. This week's modelling has cost little but the paints.
On both these projects I've mixed my own colours. The green on this Chieftain is one of my own making and the black is a mix of black and dark green. I wanted authentic colours on this one. It's nice to have the confidence to mix your own blends. Prior to now I would usually look for the closest match in the Tamiya range but I now have sufficient empty jars to play around - and now have as many mixes as paints. It's a lot of fun. But also, you end up using quite a bit of thinner thus end up using thinned paints by default which has resulted in better finished. This tank had about three coats of extra thin paint and it really does make the difference.
Refurbing is a good palette cleanser between major builds. It's usually when I potter and experiment, catching up on odd repair jobs and marginal improvements to my whole collection. It's a cost effective way to experiment with new techniques and a nice way to pass the time.
I don't usually build 1:72 scale birds and certainly never this small. I wanted to build one for my dad who flew them in his brief air force career. It's basically the Vauxhall Chevette of the sky but a very likeable little bird. If somebody started making them new for private use they would certainly sell.
Here the camera doesn't quite do this one justice. I elected not to give it a dark wash or panel liner because at this scale it would spoil it. Airfix have latched on to the fact that modellers like to accentuate panels so they add them to absolutely all of their range now, and in my view the grooves are too many and too deep for 1:72. People rave abut the new Airfix 1:72 Buccaneer but I think it looks daft for that very reason and it's the reason I don't like the Corgi die casts very much - and certainly not now I can make better myself.
The kit, though, is lovely. You really get a sense you're looking at state of the art kit engineering when you open the box and if that is the standard of all new Airfix kits then their new releases are definitely worth a look. The updated V bombers could be very nice.
I like this one so much I built two of them. I did the silver-grey variant with the dayglow orange straps (though be warned the dayglow decals are useless). These little 1:72 birds work will as side projects and good for instant gratification. This one took just a single afternoon. An afternoon spent well, methinks.
It looks far better in this picture than it actually is. I did not do a good job of it. This was one of my first. I recently bought a second one so this could take its rightful place in the bin. My view is that if you're a serious modeller then the F14 is one to crack and anything less than perfect won't do so I'll keep going at it until I get it right.
I'm posting this one because I just want to rave about this particular kit. It's not particularly detailed and it doesn't have flaps or configuration options, but at £27, for a massive Tomcat, you can't really complain. The interior is very basic and the ejector seats could do with replacing with something better, but if you want an imposing "big fighter" then this will do. Any other brand of Tomcat will cost you substantially more.
The Tomcat is the one to crack largely because it does so wonderfully lend itself to advanced pre-shading techniques and marbling and there's a lot of scope for advanced weathering. It's an excellent canvass to get creative with. I plan to use the next one as a training experience with a view to doing one of the more advanced Tomcat kits in the future. As someone who generally prefers painting to the building, this is a nice kit because there are relatively few pieces and it's a fast build with no senseless interior ducting. It's basic and that's what I like about it. If you want convoluted builds, go for the Revell 1:32 Hornet.
For those considering it, be warned, it is not at all small. It takes up twice the shelf space as a Tornado. It's about the size of an Su-27 which isn't small either. As it happens, I think the Tomcat is a much overrated aircraft and is only pretty from certain angles, but in this particular USS Nimitz scheme it does look the business.
Trumpeter have established themselves as a leader in the field - and rightly so. This is a great kit with excellent detail and it's a nice subject matter. I took this one on particularly because of the painting challenge it represented and I think I did a pretty bang up job. I'd only been airbrushing a year. It looks like I skipped out on detailing the landing gear and I could probably go at it with a bit of panel liner, but I don't think I was that bothered because warbird generally bore me. I just wanted to see if I could crack the interesting camouflage scheme. As a painting challenge I absolutely recommend it and if you like your warbirds, there is nothing at all wrong with this kit.
This is very possibly the worst kit in the entire Airfix range. I'm not a master modeller but I'm not incompetent, and I simply couldn't make a good go of this. Many of the pieces are malformed and the fuselage join is awful There's quite a lot of filler on this one and it lacks detail and texture. As it happens I think 1:48 is far too small for biplanes and there wasn't any way this was going to end well. It was a fun little experiment, but it went straight in the bin. In its defence, the decals were good - but that's all one can say about it. I'm sure somebody has made a good go of this kit, but it's never going to be me.
This is a frustrating kit because it's almost good, but is actually terrible. There aren't many issues with the main body of the aircraft, but the landing gear is absolutely pathetic and the parts don't even fit. It really lets it down - as does the complete absence of cockpit detailing. If you want to do a halfway decent job of this you have to buy a resin ejector seat and scratch-build a better interior. You can get after market landing gear legs but they're not much better. Meanwhile, the canopy doesn't really fit, the missiles are poor, and if you bought it boxed as Heller then the decals are rubbish as well.
This one is my second attempt and it's not much better than the first. I hoped with more advanced skills I might be able to do justice to it but I have to resign myself to the fact that you have to be a master modeller and detailer to do justice to the subject matter.
I'm aware there is a Kitty Hawk production of the Jag in 1:48 and I may yet stretch to it and send this one to the aeroplane graveyard in the sky. I'm told it also has issues but it can't possibly be worse than this. Perhaps an amalgam of the two might yield results?
I don't know why I'm determined to have a decent Jaguar. It's not the fastest or the coolest, nor does it have an especially interesting combat record. It's not even nostalgia because it wasn't an airshow star particularly either - especially when they were displaying the Tornado. There's just something about it. It doesn't have to be pretty to be interesting.
