Building the new 1:48th Airfix Jaguar - back to the build (part 4)

Returning to the Jag, but not before I've watched this video - embedded here with youtube's 'embed' code -  a complete 'modellers guide' posted by Airfix. And added some more of my own pictures here. 'Walkaround' tour by ex-Jaguar mechanic and modeller Cpl. Jones who delivers an excellent commentary highlighting some of the areas of interest on the kit with advice on how to model/paint them...

Taking an Airfix Starter set on my hols - Airfix Land Rover Series 1 pick-up in 1:43

 

" this Starter Set 'Land Rover Series 1' from Airfix is a high-quality vehicle model kit specifically designed for beginners. With a scale of 1:43, this model offers a detailed replica of the classic Land Rover Series 1. The kit consists of 39 individual parts made from durable plastic. The unpainted version allows model builders to express their creativity and customise the vehicle according to their own ideas.." 

Something to build when on holiday. Just requires a minimum of tools, glue etc. This is the long wheel-base Land Rover - there is a neat conversion to the short wheel-base on youtube. I added some extra detail in the cab - a couple of levers and a gear stick. There is a decal for the instrument panel. Curiously the kit has no exhaust pipe which ordinarily would run along the underside of the vehicle of course - too long and fragile for the intended 'market' according to Luke (who is now ex-Airfix, having moved to Revell). Having said that I found the build a little tricky in places with fit being very tight. I added wing mirrors from sprue and wire and off-set the driving wheels. I painted my Land Rover with a Halfords Grey Primer rattle can and then spent a couple of hours applying various effects with oils - pin washes, filters and streaking. I also used some MiG pigments to represent 'dust' but was much less happy with these effects. You can buy this kit for less than tenner and can literally build it anywhere. Go for it!

Building the 1/72nd Dora Wings Fairey Delta 2 (finished)

 

Reasonably pleased with this one. Not often you get the chance to paint an aircraft purple (to paraphrase Cliff Clifford) - and pose it in 'droop-snoot' mode and flaps down. It did take a few attempts to mix a mauve shade -albeit a little pale perhaps -that came reasonably close to the photo of the real aircraft. I used Humbrol enamels in magenta and royal blue with some light grey. This is WG 774, the World record speed holder, as it was painted for a late 1950s Farnborough air Show ( 1958 IIRC). Much of the type's flight testing was done in the south of France and obviously 'inspired' the designers at Dassault!

A couple of  points to watch out for;

- don't bother cutting off the nose probe to avoid breaking it off...you'll just snap it right off again as soon as you stick it back on. Either that or drop the model on the floor. In the end I broke the nose probe three times! Take care. Needless to say I didn't bother with the etch vanes, but then they weren't always mounted. Check your refs.

-  the fit of the intakes is a little 'unclear' from the instructions (stages 7 and 8)  Note the 'vanes' on the inner face should be visible from the front. See the image (bottom) of the Cosford machine.  

- panel lines are so shallow they won't hold much of a 'wash'

- note the landing gear stance, especially the forward gear strut. It angles slightly backwards. It is possible to hold the gear leg in the aperture at this 'new' angle while it dries. Use super glue and fit the small strut (part E4, build stage 11) once the main leg is located solidly. Check reference photos here

This video screen grab (above) shows that I have failed to correctly mask the canopy! There is a small glazed panel above the pilot's head, also just visible in the view below. No, I've just forgotten to take the mask off before taking a few pics - one of the reasons why posting pics of your models is good! Helps you to spot your mistakes! The anti-glare decal for the nose as supplied in the kit is far too large for this machine, so here I've cut it down. Note the fuselage-mounted  air intakes are just about large enough to be opened up with a small pin-drill. I should also really replace the rather 'blade-like' antennae on the nose which were more like whip aerials..

The Fairey Delta 2 was a British supersonic research aircraft produced by the Fairey Aviation Company. It was not an RAF aircraft despite the roundels. On 6 October 1954, the Delta 2 flew its maiden flight with Fairey test pilot Peter Twiss at the controls.  Just two aircraft would be produced. The Fairey Delta 2 was the first jet aircraft to exceed 1000 mph in level flight, flying faster than the sun moves across the sky - the text on the nose of WG 774 reads " Fairey Delta 2 holder of World absolute speed record." The French largely copied the design when creating the Mirage series of fighter aircraft.

 

Building the Dora Wings Fairey Delta 2 (part 1)

 

It is nearly two years since the 72nd scale Dora wings Fairey Delta was released and here are a few pics of the build underway. It really is a straight forward kit and assembles easily and quickly. There is some work to do on tidying up the fuselage seams but nothing too onerous and I like the provision of a wing 'spar' to aid location and fit of the wings. There is some jet fan and cockpit detail - but almost none of it will be visible. In his build review for the Key 'Model World' site Chris Clifford attempts to fit an after-market Martin-Baker Mk 3 resin seat in the cockpit - which is not possible. He concludes that the cockpit looks 'undersized' on the model. Of course it was on the real aircraft too. The cockpit was very small and cramped and had been to some extent 'miniaturised' including ejection seat and instrumentation as explained by Barrie Hygate in his 'British Experimental Jet Aircraft' book! Click to expand the images..

new tool DBMK Model Kits RAF Hornet in 32nd scale - a first 'feel' - DBMK Sea Fury in 32nd

 

Second Tuesday of the month is club night at East Kent Scale Modellers. Will from DBMK was present with some of the Hornet sprues at our July club night a few weeks ago

".. DH.103 Hornet test shots in 1/32. It is coming - it is going to be very accurate - it is going to be big. We were overjoyed to receive the test shots for our Hornet last week. We are just finishing off the design of the decals, PE and 3-D printed parts. You will be able to make an F.1, PR.2 or F.3 from the kit. This will be a limited run kit. More news to follow - we hope to have it ready for Telford. Sprues will be on display at the Farnborough show..".

At one point Will (from DBMK) disappeared to get a cuppa. Before we could stop him, Dick suddenly ripped the parts off the sprues and started assembling them! I managed to get some pics. Note the £2 coin for scale...

Mr Bill Clark is also a member of East Kent Scale modellers - this is his build of one of the first 'test' shots of the 1/32nd DBMK Sea Fury - due soon along with a full build report in Scale Aircraft Modelling

Airfix new tool 1:48th Gannet COD 4

 

Dick from East Kent Scale Modellers has done a brilliant job on the new Airfix Gannet COD 'carrier delivery' aircraft. What a beast, looks magnificent in 48th!

Another view and a comparison with the Classic Airframes kit. This older kit has a noticeably smaller prop assembly and a rather 'pinched' forward fuselage..note my Land Rover and Dick's Heller Austin Allegro also on the table..