Revell Lockheed Hudson I/II 1/72

[CedB]

I've been having too nice a time of it recently building Spitfires for the Edgar Tribute GB so I've decided to try something a bit more challenging.

I like the look of the Hudson - there's something 'cute' about the oversized turret and the (to my eye) nice lines. Once again I had purchased the kit for the stash on a whim with (vague) memories of having built the Airfix version some time ago.

I later searched BM and read the great revue (with sprue shots) by Paul which concludes:

"This is a neat, well-detailed model which looks very good on the sprue. It has an unenviable reputation as being a tough kit to build, but it can be turned into a stunner with a little effort. Whilst I would recommend this kit (not least because it is streets ahead of the ancient Airfix offering), I would advise anyone considering it to familiarise themselves with some of the build logs on Britmodeller in order to avoid any of the potential pitfalls that lay in wait."

Oh no, not another one.

That revue also includes a post by Trevor (Max Headroom) and his WiP has filled me with trepidation - although he's promised to restart his build one day he has warned that Anglo-Saxon will be required. Oh dear.

It does look very good on the sprue - lots of well formed, detailed parts and very little flash. Perhaps that's indicative of the fact that the molds haven't had much wear? Also, step 19 includes an instruction to fill the 1mm gap in the front of the fuselage, unusual for German engineering surely?

Untitled by Ced Bufton, on Flickr

Oh dear oh dear.

​I'll do some more research later and post something - I need to decide which scheme to go for but that has no effect until the spinners go on (I think).

Edit: I've just re-read the revue and apparently this is an MPM re-boxed. Oh dear oh dear oh dear.

[John_W]

I am a fair way through building one of these and it can be challenging.

The fit of the nose needs a lot of finnese to get right. The tail needs filler and you might want to invest in the Eduard masks. Fit of the cowlings is ifffy and the exhaust needs refining. I left most of the internals out.

I like the Hudson and would love a new mould. I always hoped to se a 1/48 to go with the Revell Ventura.

[Beard]

I'm a little disappointed that you're not doing another Spitfire but, as I've got one of these in the stash, I'll be following.

[Max Headroom]

Oh dear indeed!

I've edited some of my comments in my thread to correct my stupidity.

Just because mine's in the hangar of doom doesn't mean I'm not thinking about it. I'll comment later.

In the meantime don't forget my pix in the Walkaround section.

Trevor

[stevehnz]

Bring it on Ced, I've got one of these too & I'll be watching out for the stumbles, as your exercise your skills. & looking for pointers. I admit when I bought mine, the box art did no harm in my decision making, dodgy upper wing roundel not with standing.

Steve.

[TonyTiger66]

No sooner is one finished than, he's off again!

Wonderful.

If this is the MPM, I have an antipodean derivative. I think it's rather commendable that Revell are honest about that 1mm gap. It reminds me of their reboxing of the Matchbox He-70, where a graphic showed a huge spatula of filler being applied to the wing roots. It was exactly what was needed.

Methodical and honest, these Germans.
Looking forward to this. Lovely box art!

Best regards
Tony

PS just started my very first WIP. I feel it may end in tears.

Edited April 14, 2016 by TonyTiger66

[Graham Boak]

I've one of these kits and kept a review by John McIlmurray in Model Airplane Internation 2007. He found it difficult too, but it looked great at the end. He had particular trouble getting the nacelles to fit onto the wing. Just follow the usual rules about short-run kits: take each step slowly and carefully, paying particular attention to whether the interior parts actually fit inside the shell, and all will work out well. One day I'll pluck up the courage to start mine - or at least the Lodestar, which has an entirely new fuselage which appears to lack most of the problems.

Other criticisms of John's: cockpit floor too narrow, forward floor too long, oil cooler too short, window openings too small, tailplane sits at an angle, propeller hub too small.

Edited to correct John's name, and add more about his comments.

Edited April 14, 2016 by Graham Boak

[JimmyZ]

I'll give this one a follow Ced. Don't know much about the kit, but I have always liked the aircraft, also known as the Boston I'm not mistaken?

[stevej60]

Good luck Ced,I love the Hudson but this kit did defeat me,I bought Revells re-boxing of their Boston at the same time and have not dared start it.

[bbudde]

Hello I'm in. Always liked this one. I built the Airfix one ages ago. Yes it's the Mpm kit like their Douglas Boston and Wellington. Don't know how they fit. Dryfitting seems to be a must. Cheers.

[AlexN]

I assume that the plastic in this re-pop is different from that injected by MPM originally - unless Revell are followng the original recipe, or using actual MPM mouldings. I have this kit's 1/48 Classic Airframes "cousin" (if that term is applicable) in my collection. With lots of resin bits.

out again and watching with my usual interest .

Cheers,

Alex.

[Leonl]

I'm in, I picked up this kit rather cheaply when my local Ian Allan store was closing. I do agree that she does have a good look about her...

[Graham Boak]

I've also got one of the Bostons - it also needs a slight fattening of the forward fuselage but otherwise looks to be a considerable improvement over the Hudson for fit. I don't have the Wellington, but it was fairly heavily criticised when it appeared, and that was some time before the others.

I've made several MPM subjects without finding them too difficult, and admit being tempted to buy the Hudson just to see if it really was that bad, or were people being over-critical of something that might require some modelling skill rather than just shaking the box. However John's review made that clear. I did buy one when they did the P&W version, but their cowlings are too large. Fortunately Red Roo still had some in stock, then. You can also get replacement engine/cowlings for the Cyclones from Flightpath, but they don't include the cooling intake (if that's what it is).

[rob85]

I feel ever so slightly responsible for the hard work that appears to be before you....

I also have this kit, bought for me as a leaving present from my old work (now I wonder weather they liked me or not! Maybe they saw the reviews and were secretly chuckling to themselves...)

I have also bought the Boston!! This has confirmed it for me, I will not be doing a set of twin engine bombers for the MTO GB....

Anyway ced, I look forward to this build and looking on the bright side.... It can't be as bad as the airacuda!

Rob

[Devilfish]

I started this kit for review elsewhere, and, well, a few years later, it still isn't finished. The only kit I have ever tackled and lost. Maybe one day I will feel brave enough to dust it off and finish it, but I don't see that day as being anytime soon!

Good luck!!

[Max Headroom]

Feel the love Ced. Feel the love..........

Trevor

[philp]

I built the Airfix kit as a kid. Seemed easy enough, how hard can this one be? Oh, reboxed MPM.

Well, good luck then.

[Work In Progress]

I assume that the plastic in this re-pop is different from that injected by MPM originally - unless Revell are followng the original recipe, or using actual MPM mouldings.

You mean the actual plastic material rather than the mouldings? Quite possibly, though I suspect it's more likely they have bought bagged shots from MPM and repackaged them with new instructions, box and decals.

[Max Headroom]

Ced seems deep in thought at the moment.

My first observation concerns the front bulkhead. Fit is best described as vague (see join with the floor.

.

I had drilled out the door and intend to depict it ajar. When I test fitted the floor/bulkhead it threw out the fuselage join, so it's 'off' somehow, I just don't know how yet.

Trevor

[CedB]

Crikey! I spend a day at (some) work and fiddling with the parts and we're up to 19 posts already! Obviously a 'popular' choice...

Thanks everyone for the comments and warnings and I shall be careful with this one - gulp! Answers to questions...

John_W I have bought the mask set and I hope yours progresses soon

rob85 yes it is all your fault and I blame you entirely (not really matey, welcome to the madness)

Trevor thanks for editing your WiP and I'll go and have a look soon.

Careful progress so far. Like Trevor I dry-fitted the fuselage to see what problems might ensue. Unlike my other MPM build this one has locating pins for the fuselage join

one of which needed a bit of drilling out to get it to fit but after that it looks fine except for the expected '1mm gap' mentioned in the instructions. You can see why this has to be filled when you try to fit the canopy (which is thin, comes in two halves and doesn't have locating pins):

Hmmm. Using various implements of destruction I've filled the ejector marks and unused windows in the fuselage, mainly because I'm planning to spend some time on the OOB interior and I don't want them to spoil any close up shots.

Filled with Humbrol filler (so you can what I think needs to be filled):

now sanded. I've also started separating the internal parts and sticking them to sticks ready for painting. The control column seriously pinged and I spent some time looking before I found it again - at least my workspace is now a bit tidier! More parts to separate and then I'll post when they're sprayed (unless something noteworthy happens!)

[Beard]

Hmmm.

Indeed.

[Work In Progress]

Eek. Maybe you;re going to need to go wider still with the fuselage gap. How does the windscreen look when you rest it in position?

[CedB]

Sorry chaps, didn't mean to scare you... so just for you I taped it more 'accurately' and dry fitted the windscreen too:

Untitled by Ced Bufton, on Flickr

Looks fine (famous last words).

[Beard]

That doesn't look nearly as bad.

[Wez]

Is the Italeri kit of the same heritage?

I've got one of those in the stash and was just wondering whether it was going to stay there for a while.