rob Lyttle

OK Marvin, 👍, I was looking at the position of the prop discs relative to the fuselage nose and I keep thinking I'm seeing a difference.

Sure enough, I think I'm going for a light grey on the wings and tail. Here's what I'm considering.... In the picture in that link above, the nearest 2 Beagles are the 206S with the 3blade props etc. They have white wings. The 3rd one out however, is an original B206 and it has grey painted wings. Also of note is the tailfin flash, with white letters on a black band, as opposed to the other planes with black or coloured letters over white. I may be over-interpreting the picture but it gives me something to work with for decision making. So, Question for the Eagle eyed... Would you say the nacelles/cowlings are a little longer on the supercharged 206S planes? Or is it all in my head? Don't even mention the extra window on each side❗️ 🙄😇 Not going there, not this time anyway

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d8d_48oWdTs/TwSf0VM8thI/AAAAAAAAAcg/T_s9zf3LaCo/s1600/206S.jpg

I've been thinking about how this is going to be finished, some kind of livery, and there are some good looking options available. Bearing in mind my limited facility for production of homemade decals , I need to look at the situation and choices from a "doable" perspective. One scheme that pops up on various airframes is with a yellow lower half of fuselage and black stripes. Also featuring yellow nacelles with stripes and white areas. I thought I should make a start and see what I can make of it. I don't have an overall strategy worked out, just taking tentative steps... I've lost a tip of an elevator but I think that will be an easy fix. Cutting and chopping these thin pieces does put some extra stress and strain on the plastic. There's an extra little visual "joke", a pun if you like, at play with this scheme. Liquorice Allsorts are a popular UK confectionery-- may be globally known for all I know 😉-- and a long-standing product of the sweet manufacturer called Bassetts. I'll try to find a picture or two that will illustrate the Liquorice link. As usual I'm struggling to find good photos of wing tops or bottom views, always just the side portrait photos standing beside the plane. I think some Beagles may have grey or silver painted wing and tailplane surfaces . But I've found a couple of airborne pictures that show white wings, so my current thinking is to stick with white. But it all might change 😎

I just tracked down a build I completed in 2021 in the Heller Classics GB. The Caravelle airliner was France's pride and joy in the late 50s and Heller produced their very first plastic kit to ride the wave of national pride. It is in 1.100 scale. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a limited edition reissue, the box, decals,instructions and plastic being a facsimile of the original 1957 kit. All the problems and challenges carefully reproduced! I never had such an exotic foreign kit in my youth, but it was definitely a nostalgic kind of build that took me right back in time, both in aviation and in modelling terms. The box carries a barcode on the back which is a bit of a giveaway but that's the original box artwork. Finished as the second prototype airframe with Sud logos on the tail, as supplied on the decal sheet 😎

There's something wrong with this mindset, but I get the same. I had-- unusually-- the opportunity to put in a bid for a MFH car kit online... but I didn't do it and I think it's pretty much the same reasoning 🙄 You can always try to break the spell in the style of the Entropy Group Build. Try giving Tamiya a bit of this. (That's the remains of an Airfix Hudson which I know you like 😇. The rest of the kit is required for a Lodestar conversion)

Well, here's hoping, Chris I think this is my Happy Place, Adrian. Gotta be honest, I built a Tamiya F4U not long ago, and the finished plane looks just right. But I was kinda getting bored just assembling stuff 😇 Felt like I was working for Tamiya or something.....

This is what I've been up to with the nacelles..... My tendency with propellers is to fit a metal bearing tube in the engine and mount the propeller on a metal shaft of the right diameter to slide into the bearing. I usually have brass and aluminium tubes around for this. So first on the agenda is some brass tube for the engine position... The cowling front has been glued and the hole drilled to take the brass. The bearing needs to be kept straight vertically and horizontally. Then plasticene sausages alongside.... Next up is some 3mm solder wire, one each side.... There's room for a bit more plasticene to fill the cowling, I just need to make sure the propeller shaft isn't fouled as it emerges from the brass tube. So I'm hoping that with these two loaded plus the nose filling, she can stand on 3 legs in a dainty manner 😃

Some paint is applied and the overall look of things is improving. I had a chance to look at the wings and I have one flap cut free.... I've also been adding weight to the nacelle/ cowling, but I've forgotten to take pictures. I'll get some organised and explain what I've done. Like I said, maximum effort needs to be made to put the C of G ahead of the main legs on this

Sorted! I remember using stretched sprue to fill those lines, they are quite deep. And the files and abrasives. Your fix seems to have addressed the situation 😃

Thanks Marvin. I don't need to tell you how much modelling fun can be had from a cheap little box of plastic stuff❗️ 😃

Tailplanes are progressing, I've taken it upon myself to put some deflection on the elevators and the trim tabs while I'm at it. But the tailplanes fit into slots in the fuselage in the straight position so a slight workaround is required. The inboard ends of the elevators need trimming back and the corresponding rear parts of the slots need filling. Here's what I've got on the tailplanes, The port side got trimmed just a bit too much 😳 and that's a strip of skinny plastic attached onto the inner face to make up the difference. So only the fixed parts of the tailplanes will be glued but because they're inserted in slots they should be strong enough. I also had a run in with the top tip of the vertical fin, or more properly the rudder. The parts for the balance piece were too flimsy once I made cuts to free the rudder-- I'd say Airfix have made them too small. I cut the whole top off and made a new one. I'd say this one may be a bit too tall and I can hone it down a bit more if necessary..But it looks more like an aerodynamic balance now. The rudder trim tab has been given some definition too. The other thing I've been fiddling with is up front, I made 2 drive points for the wipers. I thought it would be easier before the windscreen is attached. Just a couple of small holes, probably around 0.5mm, and stretched sprue glued in. Clippers applied later I think I need to get the tailplanes attached and get some paint on this lot to see how things are looking when primed up 😎

There was me, happy in blissful ignorance for all these years thinking-- assuming-- that it was a handle, you know like the push bar fitted to a fire door.....🙄 So it's a crowbar, eh?! Who knew?? Everyone except ME, that's who 🤣🧚‍♀️ My G-IRTY bar is red as per the current state of regulations

Very challenging scenario, Nils, so tricky to achieve. A matt black plane at night, at speed. Well, you have done it and with style 😎

The front transparency is just having a test fit in the previous picture. And it does seem to be OK 👍 A little bit of tinkering around the overhead area and the corresponding roof bit on the fuselage. I'm hearing that Airfix have done a bit of a makeover on these transparencies, and the older original kits are bad. I know they've re-done the canopy part for the Auster Antarctic and it's transformed that little kit, so maybe the Beagle has had the same treatment. Bravo to Airfix then! The canopy has had a few things done while it's unfitted. The central glazing bar has been painted inside and out with the aid of masking strips, and 2 pieces of stretched sprue applied on the moulded wiper blades. They will get trimmed later. I'm starting to look at the tailplanes-- they really need some help.... The instructions have 3view drawings for the paint and decals placement and they are much better than that nonsense moulded on the plastic. What I did with the previous build was this.... So some remedial work required before they go on

Progress has been made (as the opportunity arises)... Interior fitted complete with 2 aircrew in the front seats, instrument panel in and plasticene filling the nose area in both halves. And finally committed to the glue.... Not a perfect fit-- I note that Chris removed the alignment pins and did the seams manually-- maybe I should have done the same. But it's joined 👋

Oh yeah...... little bit of shuffling around recommended for the main gears 💡 Are those resin engines? Silly question really 🤣......they ain't grey styrene, that's for sure

Precious little time available these days for modelling activities but I managed to get the 1st window fitted. The 2nd picture looks a bit iffy, doesn't it? But it's caught a reflection. There was a surface mark when I had a good look but it cleaned up and buffed away with metal polish on a cotton bud so that was a pleasing thing to sort. I shall persevere with this method, trying to avoid the masking 😷 I found time to have a read up on the Beagle. There is a "Mark 2" type with uprated engines and this may explain the 3blade props on some. It seems that Beagle were of the impression that they would supply 80 or so to the RAF but like many other UK companies they were stuffed by the powers that be. I think the MoD purchased 20 or so, leaving Beagle's costing and business plan in shreds. The 206 did OK in the civil world though. The Australian Flying Doctor service used them too. Turns out that the plane is known as the Beagle 206, and 206S for the uprated version. The name Bassett is the RAF name for the type in their service, so I'll update the title here I guess. Not much else to report on the build though

The crew members are looking a bit more like it. The large helmets have been filed to a more normal head size and then peaks for caps have been added. Some of the military harness details are removed and the rest can be done with paint. I want to try and do better this time with the windows. It's not a process I like.....🫢 but look, there's only 4 of them incl the one in the door plus the windscreen. How hard can that be?! It's the masking for painting thing that challenges me. To start with, I've removed the big internal flange from one of the transparencies.... That's it in the middle, and the other one on the left is as it comes in the box. The window can be pushed to the right depth to bring it flush with the fuselage surface. The fuselage sides have had some white applied inside and out and I'm hoping to get away with fitting the windows cleanly and no masking will be needed. That's plan A.

I dropped in to the Local yesterday as I have a DCH 2 Beaver on nonurgent order, to see if it's in yet. Well,the answer was No- Airfix time is measured in months ,apparently...... But as compensation I spotted this on the Vintage Classics shelf, just waiting for a new home. I've done one already and really enjoyed the project, and the little plane is a real Looker. Plus Chris @bigbadbadge has just finished a lovely example which has put the thought of another Bassett right up in my mind 😀 I popped the box open when I got home....... and the next thing you know I'm carving plastic 🧚‍♂️🧚‍♀️🧚 I have plans for this one. My 1st build was pretty straightforward and I learned a few things along the way. This wee plane is a serious tailsitter and maximum effort is required to get her to stand with her tail up and nose wheel on the ground. I made use of some of the RAF decals and printed some general civil decor. The whole airframe is finished in a half-shiny white. But there's an alternative type, in fact there may be a few alternatives- some aircraft are fitted with 3blade props and I'd guess upgraded engines. The main item I'm trying for is the different passenger door layout, and I got straight onto the change It's the port side fuselage that's getting carved, And the cabin floor is extended a little and a different seating area layout. The rear bulkhead will be omitted- there's cargo stowage behind the rear seats anyway .And any contribution to adding lightness to the tail end is welcome The door survived quite well and I think it'll do the job once the window has been added. Much of the raised riveting and surface detail has been removed already and I had a try to demilitarise one of the bone-dome helmeted aircrew. This little plane features a pair of flaps with slats and pylons much in the style of the Bae Hawk. I'm thinking I should have a go at deploying them 🤔 So I'm under way, everything else pushed to the side....the 2nd one is always easier, isn't it?😇

THAT'S the kinda girl I'm talking about....!😎😀👍 Village accessories included, should get interesting

I built the MG TC kit in 1.16 MANY years ago, I think I splashed out with my student Grant money one term. (In case any youngsters are wondering, they used to GIVE you money to go to uni, rather than charging a ransome.....sorry). It survived for decades in my Dad's house and then with me, loosing the odd bit. I dig it out occasionally and look and ponder some scratch repairs and a makeover. Did this recently and put it away again. And then I spotted this on a good auction site.... .....put in a bid and BOOM.....got it! Arrived earlier this week. I'm thinking I can clone some parts like a windscreen and hood, maybe copy some MG wingnuts? So,head full of ideas and schemes, no plastic bashing yet. May end up with 2 TCs. Looking at scalemates it seems my first effort was with one of the really early issues, but I can't remember the box art. Well, one more for old time's sake!😎👍

I always enjoy a bit of creative thinking on homemade decor 😀 I've had a few satisfying outcomes by thinking sideways. The issue with colour printing on clear is the lack of covering power, a uniform background is required and white is ideal as it reflects the light which then shines through the colour, almost like a stained glass window. Yellow is probably the weakest of all. Your plan for a white base paint job with clear over sounds good. And no, laser can't do white print, but laser printed (on laser grade decal paper) is waterproof straight from the printer, no need to seal the surface like inkjet print. As for the correct fonts etc, I've even resorted to hand-drawn letters on graph paper, drawn and painted. large about 40mm high, scanned and then reduced massively to the right size for the model. This process eliminates any wobbles or irregularity in the drawn graphics Good luck with the P80, I just finished a Saggin Dragon Airfix, just need the correct gloss blue to match the decals for finishing around the nose. 👍

That sounds arduous!! Well done 👏 Now, more importantly..........😄

OK, sorry about your Dad's situation, best wishes on that 👍 These toolings are quite Vintage in origin but there was a great range available at one time, of subjects that are unique in modelling. I took an interest when I got 2 Protar kits at a reasonable price. I've done the Gilera 500. Now that one had a rubber band supplied for the final drive chain ❗️ Can't see what you have got for the Triumph there, maybe the hoop on the "rubbery sprue??" So you might end up with a bit of scratch work 😇. But results are very rewarding especially in this size. Best of luck, with your Dad and the bike