SimonL Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 (edited) One way or another been in a bit of the modelling doldrums last month or so, so I was casting round for a quickish build to get my hand in again. I picked the Trumpeter Whirlwind in a fit of excitement, only to be somewhat disappointed when I opened the box. I am not a huge stickler for accuracy, but this was a bit of let down. The decal sheet is, as reported elsewhere, awful. The cannons are woeful and the cockpit looks a bit squashed (no gun sight either). I promptly dumped in the stash and tried to forget about it. However I was was reading through the September issue of AMW, which has a build of this model, and despite the issues it did sound like a relatively quick easy build, so possibly a good way to get the modelling juices flowing again. However I still just couldn't face those decals. I had a search on the web, and came across this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westland_Whirlwind_(fighter)#/media/File:Westland_whirlwind.jpg It appears that this aircraft, P7048, was used as a Westland "hack" and had no armament (so no gunsight as well?) as well as very simple markings which I could easily source from the spares box, so with that in mind I rolled up my sleeves and got going. I glued the weedy looking cannons into the nose cap, and then once the glue had cured I nipped them off with some sprue cutters, bit of work with a sanding stick and all done. Next, tdealing with the radiators - this just didn't look right: So a bit of knife work on the wings and fuselage, and I set the radiators back a little into the wings, and I think it looks much better: I took a similar approach to how I dealt with the nose to deal with the holes for the bomb shackles on the underside of the wing: Edited December 28, 2015 by SimonL 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted November 29, 2015 Author Share Posted November 29, 2015 Moving on I made a start on the cockpit. All the paints used are Tamiya acrylics. I ignored the woeful decal for the instrument panel and instead painted it black, some light dry brushing with medium grey and then a few dots of colour. I added clear gloss green acrylic to make the dials stand out a bit. I painted the cockpit parts cockpit grey-green, then washed with some raw umber artists acrylic diluted with the Australian equivalent of Klear floor polish. Some minor detail painting and a dry brush with medium grey. Some masking tape belts were added and painted buff. The whole assembly pretty much clicked together. Apologies for the lousy photos, not much light in the kitchen to take decent photos. I also completed the props while I was at it. Main landing gear wheels were completed by painting the hubs flat aluminium and the tyres Nato black. A light wash of the raw umber artists acrylic in floor polish and they look pretty good. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 5, 2015 Author Share Posted December 5, 2015 So started on the fuselage and engine nacelles this morning. Everything pretty much clicked together. Great fit. The instructions require the undercarriage legs to go in when gluing the nacelles. I was worried though if I did that they would get broken at a later stage. So I didn't glue them in, and they move quite nicely to be "retracted" so that should save any breakages. Bit off topic. Look what some very good friends got me as an early birthday present: Don't know where to start! So many choices. Think I better put it to one side until after Christmas. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubster72 Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Interested build Simon! I've often thought about getting the Whirlwind, so I'm watching yours come together Ooh 2 Spits! Nice! Cheers Patrick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 The modifications to the radiators alone make a huge difference in appearance! Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 13, 2015 Author Share Posted December 13, 2015 Thanks Martin. After a week away in Melbourne, time to add the wings. I first glued the bottom wing to the fuselage and then added the top halfs of each wing. Seemed to go ok, just some small areas where a smear of filler is needed, mostly on the underside and at the wing roots. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 Another great topic Simon, and your doing a great job of it. The spitfire box looks ace! That is some great friends you have Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 13, 2015 Author Share Posted December 13, 2015 (edited) Thanks Rob.Yes, they are great friends - and they know me so well! Edited December 13, 2015 by SimonL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 20, 2015 Author Share Posted December 20, 2015 Nacelles added and nose, bit of filler needed and some sanding before the airframe was ready for paint. Then a couple of coats of Tamiya XF-83 Medium Sea Gray (RAF) on the undersides. Couldn't resist dry fitting the tail planes and props to see how this were going. Close up on where I needed to engrave more heavily the rudder above the level of the tail planes. . 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonC Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Close up on where I needed to engrave more heavily the rudder above the level of the tail planes. Looking very nice so far! Nice to see that you're doing a few things to improve the small details; it should make a big difference. cheers, Jason 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oz rb fan Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 i did one earlier this year (in a WHIF RAAF scheme),with simple mods like yours it comes up pretty well(it got a few comments as it was entered in model expo this year......other than moving the radiators back i also dropped the cockpit floor about 2mm..next one will have better canjnons and a gun sight. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 21, 2015 Author Share Posted December 21, 2015 Thanks. RAAF whif? That's sounds rather nice - any photos? Thought about dropping the cockpit floor, but decided against it as I wanted a quick build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 21, 2015 Author Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) Couple of coats of Tamiya XF82 Ocean Gray (RAF), with a bit of fixing of some dodgy seams in between. May not get much more painting done today - 39 degrees Celsius predicted for Perth today! Edited December 21, 2015 by SimonL 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oz rb fan Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Hi Simon dropping the floor was pretty easy,i assembled the cockpit as per the instructions but i didn't glue the floor in place and when o put it in the fuselage i glued the floor to the bottom of the fuselage there is a gap there but you cant see it when the fuselage is closed here she is.....85 sqn Perth the silver is Alclad duraluminiun..the decals are redroo "boring silver" 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share Posted December 22, 2015 Oh very nice :-) I once did up by my old Classic Airframes DH Hornet with a silver finish and RAAF markings, love that look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oz rb fan Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 thank's,the little fix's really transform this kit,it's still not perfect but it looks ok in my mind,tossing up what to do with my second one...another RAAF one or maybe a battle of Britain one. btw i do love the interior work you have done,looking forward to seeing her finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 23, 2015 Author Share Posted December 23, 2015 Thanks :-) Finished the main camoflage using Tamiya XF81 Dark Green (RAF). Must be some kind of hoodoo, I managed to spill almost the whole container - the second time that's happened. I have enough to finish though. The fuselage band was painted with Tamiya XF 21 Sky and masked before painting all the other colours. Noticed on the top of the nose that it was a bit lumpy from the filler I had used, so out with some wet'n'dry. Just a few touch ups needed and then the gloss coat. Tried a "dry fit" of the wheels to sit what the sit of the aircraft is like. The tail wheel seems to allow the tail to be a bit low - what does the collective think? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oz rb fan Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 aahh ok mine has barracuda wheels...should have said that before..but the sit of your's...and P7048 should look really nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 26, 2015 Author Share Posted December 26, 2015 On the final lap now. Masked up the canopy and painted it. Gloss coat (floor polish) and then the main markings cobbled together from the spares box. The wing roundals are a little too big, but the best I can do, the kit supplied ones are just too garish. Now I have to try and find some serial numbers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 Nice vampire.... Whirlwind is looking good too, paint a transfers appear to have gone on without a hitch! Very nice Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 27, 2015 Author Share Posted December 27, 2015 Thanks Rob. Well found some assorted letters and numbers that should do the job with a bit of a touch of paint for the stencilled "0"s Then some making it grubby with watercolours, not intending to highlight the panel lines (they are too fine anyway under the paint), just to give that overall aura of used aircraft. Wiped off with a barely damp tissue and then a coat of Humbrol mattcote to seal it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 28, 2015 Author Share Posted December 28, 2015 Final little bits. Used one of the discarded cannons to make the diagonal part of the roll cage and also used a staple for the tail aerial which I managed to knock off earlier on. A final coat of Italeri Acryl Matt Coat and some dry brushed exhaust stains and the odd bit of dry brushed aluminium to show wear and tear and she is done! Photos of completed model in RFI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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