The Spadgent Posted July 15, 2016 Share Posted July 15, 2016 (edited) Hi Guys. I'd like to welcome you all to my latest build, hot on the heels of my 1/72 vampire I checked the stash for a likely candidate. I have a few choice Tamiya kits that I'm eager to build but having built a few lovely models of late I'm really looking for a bit of a challenge. Taking cues from some of my friends on here, (you know who you are) I was intrigued and fascinated by the way you guys revel in bringing older kits kicking and screaming into the most wonderful states of fruition. One kit I bought on E-bay a few months back for the princely sum of £10 I think was the "Grumman ea-6b Prowler" I knew nothing about this kit but I loved the plane, such an unusual and lovely shape, to be fair being a 1/48 I expected it to me medium sized, how wrong I was. This thing is mahoosive. it's also super old, I didn't realize how different older models can be from today's lovely kits, all the better for what I have in mind. Any way as this is my biggest build to date and possibly my most challenging I'm going to document it here warts and all, There aren't many builds of the Airfix kit as from what I have read it was a scaled up version of a 1/72 with not very much detail but a rather good shape. I'm not looking to keep super accurate here but I'm aiming to have a fun time digging around trying to bring out the inner charm of this wonderful kit. It was all bagged up when I got it, I believe its the mid 80s kit, staples in the instructions and everything. The decals look good but I worry that they might disintegrate as they look a little flaky on the star and bar, we shall see. Any road up, as I'm back from my good friends leaving do at work, one pint as I was driving , the kids are in bed and the wife's out I'm going to make a cuppa and get cracking. ( I do wish I had an airfix mug like Phil's ) Ladies and gentlemen I give you the "MASSIVE and OLD" It's only a ruddy GRUMMAN EA-6B Prowler 1/48 by Airfix. First off a very old and dented box, with a bit of a rubbishy picture on the front. Good start huh. next up the sprues, I cant fit them all in one picture as they are the size of a small football pitch so have a few. Ther are two options with the kit, I'm going to opt for this one. as it looks a bit like this, and this looks ace. Here we go first thing as I pick up the parts and notice all the panel lines are raised This is my first encounter with such phenomena but hey how difficult can it be? I had bought some tools to help me out a while ago as I have a Tamiya F14 in the stash and was aware of some of its pitfalls. so re-scribing here we come. first off a good sand with one of the wife's old nail files. I know this makes me look like a maverick but I'm not, I used the straight edge of a try tool to get the lines then free handed them later to get them hopefully right. Here we are with half of one wing, I't took me about an hour. this is going to be a long and dusty road. But i'm sure it'll be worth it. wont it? Right i'm going to put the kettle on. Wish me luck, and if you wanna tag along for the ride feel free. hopefully it'll be fun, educational and emotional. See you next time and thanks for taking the time to look over and see what I'm up to. All the best and as ever Happy modelling. John Edited August 31, 2017 by The Spadgent 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBaron Posted July 15, 2016 Share Posted July 15, 2016 Scribing already...>shudders< Good luck! T. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted July 15, 2016 Author Share Posted July 15, 2016 Scribing already...>shudders< Good luck! T. I know. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansReggelsen Posted July 15, 2016 Share Posted July 15, 2016 Keep up the good work, John. I hope you have more momentum in the scribing process than I had with my Mirage! But it could be worse - it could be a F-84F - it's like that plane was made of alle the smallest pieces of metalsheet Republic could find! I didn't know Airfix made a 1/48 Prowler - is it a reboxing? Cheers Hans J 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted July 15, 2016 Author Share Posted July 15, 2016 Keep up the good work, John. I hope you have more momentum in the scribing process than I had with my Mirage! But it could be worse - it could be a F-84F - it's like that plane was made of alle the smallest pieces of metalsheet Republic could find! I didn't know Airfix made a 1/48 Prowler - is it a reboxing? Cheers Hans J Thanks Hans. You looked like you were having fun with those wings. I'm feeling your pain. . I just checked the instructions and they say 1995 so it must be a re box, not quite as old as I originally thought. But old enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 I have one in the 'blueprint' box, which was past it, so it's keeping a Revell Intruder company, as it's a nice big box, and will form a double build at some point. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 (edited) Just a tip if you are going to re-scribe the kit, John..... Don't sand the original panel lines yet.....Use them as a guide, and "draw" them with a sharpie, the finer the better. Once all the panel lines are marked, use them a guide and just scribe them..take your time...scribe the horizontal lines first, then the crossing ones...When all the panels have been re-scribed, just sand the original raised ones. Finally, wash the kit parts with the aid of a toothbrush along the panel lines to wipa away any sanding residue.... You're now entering the amazing world of old, classic kits. Giving them a new life is both comforting and challenging...Congratulations for your new choice...!!!! Been there, done that...!!! Best regards... Edited July 16, 2016 by Artie 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amblypygid Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 This is one of the few kits I remember building as a kid. The MAtchbox Privateer is another, so size must have been a critical factor. As an adult, raised panel lines and white/grey schemes make size a lot less appealing! Thank goodness for Britmodeller, so that I can indulge in a vicarious build experience. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howlindawg Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Will be keeping an eye on this one.It certainly looks a tad more substantial than the wee vampire.Have fun! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted July 16, 2016 Author Share Posted July 16, 2016 Just a tip if you are going to re-scribe the kit, John..... Don't sand the original panel lines yet.....Use them as a guide, and "draw" them with a sharpie, the finer the better. Once all the panel lines are marked, use them a guide and just scribe them..take your time...scribe the horizontal lines first, then the crossing ones...When all the panels have been re-scribed, just sand the original raised ones. Finally, wash the kit parts with the aid of a toothbrush along the panel lines to wipa away any sanding residue.... You're now entering the amazing world of old, classic kits. Giving them a new life is both comforting and challenging...Congratulations for your new choice...!!!! Been there, done that...!!! Best regards... Thanks Artie. Thanks for the advice, it's a little late I'm afraid as I'm half way through. I'm taking my time and doing all the other things you mentioned but I sanded first. It seems ok though as I can still see the vague lines underneath. I'm on the fuselage now. Dymo tape tastic. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted July 16, 2016 Author Share Posted July 16, 2016 This is one of the few kits I remember building as a kid. The MAtchbox Privateer is another, so size must have been a critical factor. As an adult, raised panel lines and white/grey schemes make size a lot less appealing! Thank goodness for Britmodeller, so that I can indulge in a vicarious build experience. Glad to be at service. Matchbox Privateer you say? Hmmmmm. Will be keeping an eye on this one. It certainly looks a tad more substantial than the wee vampire. Have fun! It is that. glad to have you on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallBlondJohn Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 What we need is a laser scanner thingie that detects the raised lines, then zaps a neat recessed line in the right spot, dead straight every time. It wouldn't be dangerous at all obviously. If it can do all the filling, sanding and painting as well that would be great. Gluing the bits together I like to do myself - most of the time. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Nice scribing! I will be watching this one. IT looks like a nice kit (well, lots of parts anyway) and the decal sheet seems quite comprehensive. I didn't even know Airfix did such a beast. The sprues runners look very Airfix-like, but is it a re-pop of someone else's? I can't imagine Airfix in 1981/2 deciding to invest in this tool. Maybe that's why they hit the skids that time... Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 At the time the only other option was Monogram. It's an Airfix tooling. I bought my first one just as they went bust, and had trouble getting a replacement canopy. I sold that and bought another a couple of years ago from a club member. It is a monster all right. I do wish I could get Light Gull Gray in a Halfords rattle can though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Lewis Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 'sitting back, mug of tea and a bowl of popcorn' 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyTiger66 Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 Just sat down at the back near the slide projector John . Well you've certainly made a brave start, scribing is one of those things that scares the living daylights out of me ! I'm better at it after a glass of wine, the Dutch courage works wonders, until I see the mess I've actually made the next day. I can't even work out how to construct a 'Scribe-R' I just bought, it's just stuck in its bag . Keep up the good work, this is going to be big and awesome. Best regards TT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted July 18, 2016 Author Share Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) Hey guys, thanks for all the interest. keeps me going you know. Most of this weekend was spent on the Pew and the Vampire RFI which is up by the way. you can find it here. (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235005879-honey-i-shrunk-the-de-havilland-vampire-t11-172-the-gentlemans-scale-rfi/) I did manage to get some scribing done ducking into the cave for the odd few minutes here and there, I(ts actually going rather well, I don't know what I would do without DYMO tape. here are the two wing tops and And I dry fitted the fuselage together, Holy moly this looks so nice and massive. Here is a before ( hopefully you can pick up on that raised detail. ) and after. I forget who said it now but Scribing is indeed very therapeutic. Looking at where the build actually starts I kept looking at the tub which was....... Well I'll take some pics and you can make up your own mind, (it's a bit plain) so any way I looked for an after market pit but couldn't find one for an Airfix kit so ended up getting the Airies one for the Revell kit. £18 it looks brilliant and as the different model types of this pit looked the same I can squeeze it into my fuselage. If any of you know if I have made the wrong choice please let me know. Hopefully not, fingers crossed. Any way thanks for watching, I'll try and get this scribing done so I can move on with the build. Happy modelling. Johnny boy. Edited August 31, 2017 by The Spadgent 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawnguylander Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Many, many years ago I built this kit OOB... Warts and all, it was one of those kits that were amazingly satisfying to build even though it is quite primitive. Good luck on your build!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritag Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Wow - good progress on that re-scribe John. Shall enjoy keeping tabs on this 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomoshenko Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 Nice work on that scribing. An aircraft I've always liked....but it's the wrong scale mate..! Seriously though, it's big in 1/72, so unsurprisingly you've got a beast on the bench. Will follow with interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBaron Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 That scribing looks just dandy from here ! 'Tis a big beast and no mistake 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyTiger66 Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 Very neat scribing! The kit is being transformed already Looking forward to seeing your spangly new cockpit. Best regards Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted July 19, 2016 Author Share Posted July 19, 2016 (edited) Thanks you lot. While waiting for the pit to arrive the scribing saga continues. To be fair it seems endless. Not really a lot to show but trust me it's getting there. I did get to use my filler however. Not quite as bad as I thought. I did manage to dry fit a wing to show the pin marks and detail I'm going to have to fit in the wheel wells. But mostly it's been....... All scribing and no play makes john a dull boyAll scribing and no play makes john a dull boyAll scribing and no play makes john a dull boyAll scribing and no play makes john a dull boyAll scribing and no play makes john a dull boyAll scribing and no play makes john a dull boyAll scribing and no play makes john a dull boyAll scribing and no play makes john a dull boyAll scribing and no play makes john a dull boyAll scribing and no play makes john a dull boyAll scribing and no play makes john a dull boy.... The shiny pit should show up tomorrow so you can have a butchers. Thanks for taking an interest in my twists of plastic and dust, it must be the heat. Take care y'all. Johnny mad dogs and Englishmen. Edited August 31, 2017 by The Spadgent 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyTiger66 Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Now John. I know you said that the scribing was therapeutic at which point I started to be a little worried, but it seems things may be taking a turn. The attached movie clip may help clarify my concerns: Maybe it's time to have a lovely rest from the scribing and do some basket weaving or knitting ? So. Much. Scribing ! Tony 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritag Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 I don't mind scribing as a task too much. Gotta be in the right frame of mind cos rushing it is a recipe for disaster (mind you that applies to most aspects of this hobby) but if the patience levels are feeling high - I agree it can be (almost maybe) therapeutic - well - satisfying at least 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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