Decided to start my workbench after I completed my first model (since the '70s) so not got any pics of the Work in Progress so I will just make this first post in the workbench a pic of the completed kit.

Model #1 - Spitfire Mk 1 from the 90 Years of the RAF Gift Set

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David.
Airfix Club Member 599635
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2012:  Stash: + 66  Builds: + 20

2nd Model started is the EE Lightning from the Airfix 90th RAF Anniversary Gift Set.

This is another one which I for some reason never built before despite always having an affinity towards - mostly I think because when I was 10, my best friends Dad was a Squadron Leader in the RAF and flew these - now THAT would be a cool dad to have  8-)

Bit like the Spit, not got any real construction pics.  The Lightning is in the 'mostly built' stage and has had a couple of light coats of undercoat.



Just need a little bit of sanding of ridges and touch of filler and  another light undercoat and then I will shot the final topcoat on her and fit the final bits and - if I can find any (!) - some Klear to seal.

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David.
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2012:  Stash: + 66  Builds: + 20

Good work on the lightning. Try Asda for Klear . Mike

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Mike
IPMS12171/AMSIG/CBKSIG/ Beyound The Box SIG

The Spitfire looks good and that's nice work on the Lightning.

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IPMS, AMSIG and Airfix Club Member.

Thanks James  :)  Did some more work to the Lightning some filling and sanding ... Filler Applied


Filler Sanded


Then Dusted off, Reprimed and a little later on, some top coats.....

What has annoyed me somewhat is that it is only after the final finish coats I spotted a slight misalignment on the starboard wing halves  :roll:  Oh well, live and learn And now in the 'hanger' to harden dust-free before a fine glasspaper rub-down


Will try and get the main paint done and the final details added plus decals in next few days

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David.
Airfix Club Member 599635
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Nice work on a great little kit.

While the Filler and the Paint was hardening on the Lightning, I decided to start the first of the 4 Defiants in my stash. I know the kit is pretty pants by general consensus, but I have a reason for getting them.

1) They are cheap - I paid £2.73 each with free shipping from Amazon (price always moving so just keep an eye on it if interested)
2) They represent a bit of a challenge and the plan is to make 1 every few months and see how my modelling techniques have improved over time (hopefully!), so the Defiant will be my "Control Kit"

After putting the fuselage together, I decided to use the technique recommended here by a ATF guru (forgot the name  :oops: ) where you fit the top half of the wings first to the fuselage and then fit the lower halves.  I have to say that it gives a very nice tight fit and looks good.

Upper


Lower

Not sure if it is how I did it or is just the kit generally, but I found then that I have to trim a few mm off the central lower wings so they would fit but that was no great hassle

Trimmed and Filled


Also added some filler to the top to get round the ropey alignment

Overall, I was expecting worse given the general reviews of this kit and looking forward to completing and then finishing in a somewhat unusual - and possibly unique - paint job  :P

David.

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David.
Airfix Club Member 599635
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2012:  Stash: + 66  Builds: + 20

The Defiant Looks good. Mike

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Mike
IPMS12171/AMSIG/CBKSIG/ Beyound The Box SIG

Good job on the defiant
I solved the 'flintstone plane' problem by cutting a bit off a ruler and glueing it in there. Watch out for those decals, though. they can be pretty rough.

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Bow chicka bow wow!

Superb work on the Lightning and a great start to the defiant.

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IPMS, AMSIG and Airfix Club Member.

Interesting idea having a control kit to show how your modelling improves, and a good kit to choose as its small and quick but also requires several techniques to get right.

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This Sceptered Isle
Tonkarite, I will make it a word oneday... maybe.
2012 Bought:Built 8:23

Nice modelling  :D

Andy

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You'll not see nothing like the mighty Fin !!
111 Sqn "The Last Of The F3W"
Airfix Club Member 501279
IPMS Cleveland and UK Member
Tornado SIG Leader

Finished adding all the final bits to the Lightning now. Learnt quite a few things along the way to the stage I am at now ...

1) Decals do not adhere to Halfords spray paint (seemed ok initially, then when I went back to the model, the decals dropped off!   )
2) Used Tamiya Tape to mask up the Canopy before painting.  Never done that before and worked very well  :P
Only problem after that was used CA glue to secure the canopy and managed to get smudged finger on sides  :oops:

After ending up with no Decals, my Lightning has no identity, so decided to flick through my copy of 'Aviations Classics' for the Lightning and noticed that Red was a popular addition, so added a splash to the tailplane and radome  :)




Had a bit of hassle with the Red Top Missiles as well (White Acrylic  just does not seem to work well for me  :cry:  ) and after a touch of run on the red band just painted a large black band to cover up  :?  Need to make a final touch-up in a couple of places, find some Klear - or whatever the replacement is - and get the final coats on, then see what Decals I can dig out which would not be out of place and done  :Pilot:

David.

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David.
Airfix Club Member 599635
Mops Workbench      Mops Made Models      Mops Flygvapnet
2012:  Stash: + 66  Builds: + 20

You might find this thread informative  :idea:

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and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983
My Portfolio & Workbench

Despite the problems you've encountered that a fine looking Lightning David  :thumb: .

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IPMS, AMSIG and Airfix Club Member.

Thanks James  :)

Thanks for the Link, Ratch.  I have read that before but never had such an extreme reaction to decals as EVERY ONE just dropping off.

Ordered some MicroSol and Microset off eBay now so will be using that in future once it arrives.

and talking about 'Future', I have managed to purloin 1/4 of a bottle of original Klear lurking under a kitchen sink 70 miles away in Glasgow and was duely delivered yesterday  :P

So here is my Lightning with a couple of coats of Klear on and complete I think.
Just needs - once I find any -  some more decals which this time WILL stay on  :D

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David.
Airfix Club Member 599635
Mops Workbench      Mops Made Models      Mops Flygvapnet
2012:  Stash: + 66  Builds: + 20

Moving onto the Defiant,  finished building this one and found it quite fun despite the flaws such as the Flintstone Floor.

Finished in a kind of Desert Camo (Humbrol Brown & Light Grey upper, and Tamiya Sky Blue (chosen as I have it!)) for use in a Biggles Diorama, based on the book "Biggles defends the Desert" where the Defiant played a key part in defeating the Nazis .

Applied a coat of Klear and then the Decals and then another Klear coat.  Had the warnings about the decals- and actually, they went on fine and look good IMO (even if they are not 666 Squadron codes - I think Biggles wants to confuse Von Zoyton, you see  8-)  )





Just need to add the final ariel underneath and jobs done  :)

David.

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David.
Airfix Club Member 599635
Mops Workbench      Mops Made Models      Mops Flygvapnet
2012:  Stash: + 66  Builds: + 20

That Defiant looks great David.

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Defiant looks great. Mike

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Mike
IPMS12171/AMSIG/CBKSIG/ Beyound The Box SIG

Thanks chaps  :)  I was pleasantly surprised how well she turned out  


I have this model running now - started it a little bit before the Bv141 for the 5th Ann. GB and been running the two in parallel

This is the kit box  ....


And the kit itself


I have to admit that in terms of the kit quality, I am not overly impressed with the ways the parts go together and the virtual omission of locating pins/lugs compared to a comparable Airfix model of the same generation.

The Kit is an interesting subject however.  There are three options - a Luftwaffe version; There is a  Lufthansa version, replacing the rear gunner setup with a pair of bench seats and a solid roof (a glass roof with the gun position closed up would have been nice for the passengers I would think though  - lots to gaze at while flying along ; and the final version is for the Hungarian airforce and is actually a HE170 with a different engine to the German variants, but otherwise like the Luftwaffe type as far as I can tell.

I am making the Lufthansa variant and hoping to use the finished model as a centrepiece in a little mid-30's German Airport Diorama

There is a reasonable interior and I painted it in quite opulant colours of Green Leather seats and Red interior, mainly to help give a contrast if you peer through the small windows



When I fitted the wings, the gaps between wings and fuselage were pretty massive underneath.

Subsequently filled.

The top seemed pretty good however


Cabin top was on earlier (no photo) and just fitted the engine cowling and prop.
Final construction item will be the undercarriage, which looks like it will be a right pain going by the instructions  :roll:

David.

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David.
Airfix Club Member 599635
Mops Workbench      Mops Made Models      Mops Flygvapnet
2012:  Stash: + 66  Builds: + 20