AdrianMF Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Hello All, I have been plodding along with the old Airfix Thunderbolt, vintage 1963. It's quite a decent kit for its day and it was fun to build, but there are plenty of better Thunderbolts out there now! Here it is: WIP is here. Thanks for looking, Adrian 30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 That looks really great. What did you use for the natural metal? It's very affective. Also, are those the kit supplied decals? They look good too. The model certainly seems accurate to me for such an old kit. Mind you, 1963 was obviously when Rosie the Riveter was at the height of her powers! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted November 22, 2016 Author Share Posted November 22, 2016 Thanks! The natural metal is brush-painted Revell acrylic silver, which I love! (although the AK True Metal pastes run it close). The blue in the kit stars and bars is very pale and the decals were yellowed, so I used aftermarket insignia. The code letters are cut right back to the black and the other kit decals are trimmed to get rid of the yellowed varnish. As a kit, it stacks up very closely against the Academy in terms of outline, but the "razorback" is very rounded in comparison. I upgraded the wheel wells, undercarriage doors, cockpit and cowl splitter, and I added some drop tank/bomb latches but that was it. The fit wasn't anything to write home about but I've had far worse! Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave N Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Ditto- this looks really great! Paintwork and finish are really convincing Adrian, very well done. -Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arbrownra Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Brush painted? - wow... Amazing metallic finish - well done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avereda Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 I might have to give Revell's acrylic silver a go - that looks fantastic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Superb Adrian. I love a well turned out oldie. Your P_47 looks the business. Cheers Greg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike romeo Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Adrian, You've obviously put a lot of work into that. I love seeing old kits having tlc lavished on them and turning out so well. Great job! Regards Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Very nice Adrian, your cowl mods are a great improvement. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisTheBear Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 There might be better Thunderbolt models around, but you've shown that with a skilled hand and eye they are still worth building! DennisTheBear 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Great work with this older kit, beautiful ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight_Flyer Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Very nice model. I have built a few Airfix P-47's back in the day and agree it does go together reasonably well and looks the part. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted November 22, 2016 Author Share Posted November 22, 2016 Thank you all for your kind comments! I had a lot of fun doing it - I think the problem with a lot of older Airfix and Frog kits is that the moulds have often seen better days. If you pick up an old example made when the moulds were new it will often often have much clearer canopies and fit a lot better than a modern/Frogspawn example. Next time I do one like this I think I would tone down the rivets a bit (I normally do) and scribe round the removable panels (eg the gun bay). But if I had wanted a smooth model with no rivets and panel lines, I'd have built my Academy one! Regards, Adrian 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Wow. The fact that it is brush painted just adds to what a good finish this is. I'm I have Revell Acrylic Silver but have only ever used it for details. Might try something a bit more ambitious with it now. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave N Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 13 minutes ago, Meatbox8 said: Wow. The fact that it is brush painted just adds to what a good finish this is. I'm I have Revell Acrylic Silver but have only ever used it for details. Might try something a bit more ambitious with it now. My thoughts exactly- I've only ever used it for detailing too, but this finish is a very convincing nmf! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 1 hour ago, AdrianMF said: Next time I do one like this I think I would tone down the rivets a bit (I normally do) and scribe round the removable panels (eg the gun bay). But if I had wanted a smooth model with no rivets and panel lines, I'd have built my Academy one! No Adrian,stick to building old Airfix gems, it's great to see what can be done with these kits that I happily stuck together as a kid in a couple of Hours, the more I see your builds the closer I get to finally having a go at the Sunderland! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 Here's your proof that building and painting skills can win out handsomely over the necessity to have the latest state-of-the-art kits. Thoroughly impressed with your work. It encourages me to try an old-tool Airfix kit - like their Devastator or Swordfish. They generally come cheap, so my wife can't complain about the $ either! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davecov Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 Adrian, like you I enjoy building the old Airfix and Frog "clunkers" and made a polybagged Airfix Thunderbolt earlier on this year. I didn't do anything more than remove the rivets whereas your improvements have taken it to a new level. Good job! Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippo the Zipdrive Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 On 2016-11-22 at 6:45 PM, AdrianMF said: ...It's quite a decent kit for its day and it was fun to build, but there are plenty of better Thunderbolts out there now! Here it is:... I guess the kit makers are deliberately making baby-steps improvements, just like any manufacturer. I am waiting for a recessed panel line with rivets protruding. Your model looks excellent though. I myself have one in my closet waiting for a rainy day. \\Dan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old thumper Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 It looks great, well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Beautiful result Adrian. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natter Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 There may be better Thunderbolt kits out there now, but not many are built and painted to that standard. Proof positive that there is plenty of life in the old Airfix dogs yet. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephLalor Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 On 11/23/2016 at 0:02 AM, Dave N said: My thoughts exactly- I've only ever used it for detailing too, but this finish is a very convincing nmf! Revell Aqua 90 is great stuff, by far my favourite silver straight from the pot. It's reasonably fine grained. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Builder Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Extremely well done Adrian. Great finish with a brush, superb job all round 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 Love it. Fantastic finish 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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