andyclaesens
Sprue Cutter
The grass is always greener in a minefield...
Posts: 377
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Post by andyclaesens on Nov 3, 2021 18:41:54 GMT
Good evening all, My formal return to blogging (of sorts)... i've been continuously busy on a number of Fb groups but it's not quite the same. Hope you enjoy this. This is the new tool Airfix Defiant, a much maligned aircraft that had limited success in it's early days but soon became a vulnerable aircraft in daylight due to its lack of forward firing armament. After some horrendous losses it was withdrawn from daylight Ops and continued as a nightfighter.  More very soon Andy |
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Post by dukemaddog on Nov 3, 2021 19:36:03 GMT
This will be fun to watch. I always wondered why they never added forward firing armament. Maybe it would have weighed down the aircraft too much? Seems a gross oversight to me.
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Post by Boots on Nov 3, 2021 20:36:12 GMT
Nice one Andy...........look forward to this one fella  |
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Post by The Kernel on Nov 3, 2021 20:52:51 GMT
I built the original bagged kit, thought it was more interesting than the usual Spitfires, Hurricanes. Didnt think it would get a retool.
bill
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Post by SteveM on Nov 3, 2021 20:57:46 GMT
I built the 1st edition too Bill
Andy, I'm sure this'll be good in your hands fella
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andyclaesens
Sprue Cutter
The grass is always greener in a minefield...
Posts: 377
|
Post by andyclaesens on Nov 3, 2021 21:05:23 GMT
Evening all, great to be back at it and thanks for the welcomes.  This build was prompted by my research for the Battle of Britain 80 Facebook commemorative thread I did last year. I'll tell this particular story at the end of the build. The inaccuracies of the original kit were well documented but modellers had to put up with them. This retooling is streets ahead and as you'll see, a joy to build. Diving in then, a good interior is included although as with most aircraft in this scale, very little can be seen once the canopy is closed up. Picture 1: Interior assembled and crew in primer ready for painting.  Pictures 2 and 3: Initial basecoat of interior green to act as a primer.   Picture 4: Black areas blocked in and crew block painted.  Picture 5: Instrument panel decal applied.  More soon Andy |
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Post by Boots on Nov 3, 2021 21:23:07 GMT
Thats some tidy office and figure work Andy..........top job so far |
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andyclaesens
Sprue Cutter
The grass is always greener in a minefield...
Posts: 377
|
Post by andyclaesens on Nov 3, 2021 21:25:53 GMT
Moving swiftly on, more work on the interior and further work on the crew. Pictures 1 and 2: Picking out colour details.   Picture 3: The crew are lovely mouldings even down to shirt collars and ties. The chunkier figure is the gunner kitted out in his 'Rhino Suit' which had his parachute built in to prevent snagging on anything during bailout. I did make a mistake with him painting him in blue like the pilot. It should have been khaki but I had finished before i realised.  Picture 4: Pilot figure in his seat.  Cheers for now. Andy |
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andyclaesens
Sprue Cutter
The grass is always greener in a minefield...
Posts: 377
|
Post by andyclaesens on Nov 3, 2021 21:26:53 GMT
Cheers Boots! |
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Post by Boots on Nov 3, 2021 21:39:52 GMT
I dunno how you guys manage to paint these tiny 1/72 figures  ...........great detail on them as you say Andy |
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andyclaesens
Sprue Cutter
The grass is always greener in a minefield...
Posts: 377
|
Post by andyclaesens on Nov 3, 2021 21:42:34 GMT
Thanks Boots,
The moulding helps but I picked up some methods from some wargaming chaps which have made a huge difference to my work.
Andy
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Post by Boots on Nov 3, 2021 21:57:56 GMT
Those wargaming chaps do have their uses  ............absolutely right regarding good mouldings tho  |
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andyclaesens
Sprue Cutter
The grass is always greener in a minefield...
Posts: 377
|
Post by andyclaesens on Nov 3, 2021 22:32:22 GMT
And now for something totally different... One of the FB groups I got involved with was started bya wonderful chap called David Batchelor who focused on motorising and lighting his aircraft and then doing some fabulous photo-shoots. sadly David died a few months ago but his help and support le me to start trying a few myself. So this will be motorised! Picture 1: Building the propeller assembly to then adapt to accept a small motor.  Picture 2: 3.7v motor encased in BluTac and hole drilled in bulkhead to accept wires.  Picture 3: Short length of brass tubing to be fixed into the fuselage. This will take wires and act as socket for aircraft stand.  Picture 4: Fuselage closed up  Picture 5: Socket clearly visible installed through the ventral radiator housing.  Picture 6: Fuselage utilizing lowered dorsal housing. This was dropped during turret rotation and firing.  Thanks for watching. |
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andyclaesens
Sprue Cutter
The grass is always greener in a minefield...
Posts: 377
|
Post by andyclaesens on Nov 3, 2021 22:41:36 GMT
With the main airframe assembly setting, attention turned to building the turret assembly. Pictures 1 and 2: Guns assembled and painted and Gunner in his place.   Picture 3: Turret glazing masked and painted.  Picture 4: Boulton Paul's initial bid for producing droids for the Empire!  More soon. |
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Post by Paul B on Nov 4, 2021 4:57:01 GMT
Following this one interest Andy . Looking darned good to date and the Drone prototype is really cool Happen to have this kit in the stash, and it keeps screaming at me to be built  |
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Post by Robbo on Nov 4, 2021 11:16:45 GMT
Straight in with a blog, well done
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Post by Marco on Nov 4, 2021 12:16:40 GMT
Wow, nice and fast work mate!
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Post by Boots on Nov 4, 2021 19:49:20 GMT
Holy moly.........not seen wires and working motors done before , make sure ta wearing ya safety goggles on first start up....just in case Stirling work indeed sir |
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Post by SteveM on Nov 4, 2021 20:33:36 GMT
Powered prop on a 1\72 will be fun, nicely done too.
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Post by Snipersmudge on Nov 4, 2021 21:14:42 GMT
rather splendid that |
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...........great detail on them as you say Andy 
............absolutely right regarding good mouldings tho 
