ProfSparks Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 Hi All Uh-Oh, here we go again... So, this one has five kits (two biplanes, a glossy one, a helicopter, and a jet), and LOADS of paint to play with! For those with a morbid curiosity, they are :- 11 Silver 15 Midnight Blue 24 Trainer Yellow 27 Sea Grey 29 Dark Earth 31 Slate Grey 33 Matt Black 90 Beige Green 103 Cream 116 US Dark Green 123 Extra Dark Sea Grey 130 White 155 Olive Drab 156 Dark Camoflage Grey 163 Dark Green 164 Dark Sea Grey 165 Medium Sea Grey 171 Antique Bronze No swaps, not even a Grey! However, this time I intend to spend a little more time and effort on the actual construction, and not just on messing around with the airbrush. To whit, onward. #1 Sopwith Pup This is the simplest of the collection, and is a well documented build. The main points of alteration I'm going to attempt are Removal of the control horns from the pertinent wing surfaces Adding cockpit detail Creating the ducting under the lower engine cowling Opening the void between the tail skid and the tailplane Mounting the machine gun on a tripod firing through an aperture in the upper wing Landing gear Rigging... I'm sure there are more, but these will be enough to start with. Engine ducting marked and cut This will be filled when the halves are joined (and the postman comes with plastic card) Tail opened up And the cockpit detail... Hmm. Seat locating holes filled, and parts cut for floor and internal framing with a coat of that 103 And with a thinned coat of Burnt Umber ready for clear orange I'd forgotten how nimble that enamel paint was, the slightest touch of the brush and it's away into every nook and cranny . Hopefully I'll be able to correct that blob and generally tidy up when it's dried. I know the wings have a "starving cow" look about them, but sanding them down (or any of the other exaggerated surface detail) can wait for another level of competence. Anyhoo, going to take my time, and hopefully do a bit more modelling with these. Comments, suggestions and general guidance welcome Cheers Steve 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 This looks like a fun project. I'm in! My advice would be to ditch those awful Humbrol acrylics. They are little more than coloured snot, they spray like it as well! Martian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amblypygid Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Seconded (on both counts)! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBaron Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Nice choice Steve. This is sure to be a pleasurable marathon to watch. I'd third the Martian's colourful turn of phrase regarding Humbrol's mucus-in-a-pot however... Tony 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon382 Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Nice choice of subject however that Pup looks awfully small to me, not sure my fat fingers and poor eyesight could manage that. Looking forward to watching these builds 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Ditto Pretty well describes it really Looks a fun project Airfix crapppinnnapot paints suck Whenever I've tried to use them they've been known to suck all creativity out of the room 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S5 modeller Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Looking good so far. Not wanting to start an argument, but I've had some success with the free paints. I found a couple of drops of washing up liquid, and a couple of drops of tap water made them brush pretty well. Only problem I found, was wiping the brush on the edge of the pot made the paint go rather grainy the next time I used it. Apart from that, they're ok. Obviously not up to the standard of better paints, but ideal for the target audience, ie someone starting out. Keep up the good work. Matt 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 Hi All Welcome gents, but please don't be offended when I side with Matt on this one ! I did flirt briefly with washing-up liquid in the mix, and it made a huge difference to the finish when using the hairy stick, haven't tried it airbrushed. Just have to watch out for the bubbles... I'm as yet uncertain of my modelling abilities, and would rather hang fire on the decent paints until I think I can produce something worthy of putting them on (odd how English has suddenly become my second language?) I've specifically targetted job lots of old kits on a well known internet auction site (some of them include those little plastic paint snots - thanks Martin!), but as none of them have cost me much, and I'm working through them as a step by step re-introduction back into this therapeutic hobby, if they don't make the grade, then nothing lost and no harm done. If my eyes, fingers and patience can sustain, then a longer term investment in a decent airbrush and associated media will be sought. Your suggestions will be canvassed at great length . Hope this hasn't put you off offering further (non paint related) advice Comments and suggestions welcome as always Cheers Steve 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Not at all, you have to go with what you feel comfortable with. Martian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 I will echo Martian here, this is your hobby and we will all be happy to offer advice as you go along We will also not mind at all if you take our comments with a pinch of snuff Go on and enjoy it 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amblypygid Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 If it's hairy brush action, then Humbrol acrylics can be fine; Humbrol 90 worked well for me until I shifted to an airbrush, except when I tried to use it during a cold snap, which seemed to cause it to grain quite noticeably. As an airbrush newbie, I use VMA as it works well out of the bottle and reduces the number of variables that I can stuff up. So if the Humbrol works for you, that's what matters most. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 Nearly missed this Steve - another Prof collection, I'm in! Judging by the results you achieved with the Humbrol paints on your VC set (pictures now sadly lost thanks to PB) and Sharkmouths I'm reserving any comments on the paints! I see you're also venturing away from OOB - I can't wait to see how you get on, great work so far 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted July 14, 2017 Author Share Posted July 14, 2017 Hi All Thanks for the on my dodgy life choices re:-paint! I shall try to avoid giving you reason to say "told you so". Anyhoo, while waiting for the burnt umber to dry, I had a go at the top wing. After making sure it was the correct wing, I marked, drilled and filed the hole for the machine gun. Bit of a question about his machine gun, which one? In this the well known photo of Dunning landing on HMS Furious is his gun a Vickers G.O. .303-inch, No. 1, Mk. I? Or, as in this photo would it have been a Lewis? This is what's in the kit, so either way it needs 'adjusting' (read 'remaking') Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdave22014 Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 20 hours ago, ProfSparks said: Your suggestions will be canvassed at great length . Comments and suggestions welcome as always Cheers Steve Oh dear boy, you'll get them whether you want them or not . crack on and enjoy yourself! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 Looking into the upper wing of the landing aircraft I think I can just make out the pistol grip of a Lewis against the upper strut frame Good luck. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 The gun provided in the kit is the air-cooled version of the Vickers belt-fed MG (not the K / GO which was a pan/magazine type like the Lewis, but not developed till the thirties). It does look like Dunning's aircraft has a Lewis, which I hadn't spotted before. cheers Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 I suspect that John at Aeroclub will be able to sort you out with a Lewis gun. Martian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted July 14, 2017 Author Share Posted July 14, 2017 4 hours ago, Martian Hale said: I suspect that John at Aeroclub will be able to sort you out with a Lewis gun. Martian I've had a look across at the Aeroclub forum, and John seems to be AWOL? Is there a secret entrance? In the mean time, I'll see if I can fashion a dummy that can be used for perspective, then replaced. A couple of lengths of rod and some thick card next to Edwin and next to the kit part it looks a bit over scale, but it's at the edge of what I can see/manipulate at the moment. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 John Adams hasn't run the Aeroclub website for several years now, not since his business partner and good friend died suddenly. John is well into retirement now but he comes along occasionally. He's only selling what he has in stock. He's not making or casting anything anymore. AFAIK he has no WW1 m/gs. I know as I asked for some a couple of years back Your best bet is to get a few Roden or Toko kits as they have loads of spares in them. One might supply a spare Lewis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 Nice gun there Steve... your skills are building very quickly Sir... nice job! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted July 15, 2017 Author Share Posted July 15, 2017 Hi All Not much done today. Got some clear orange on the wood bits (I made sure that errant burnt umber blob isn't noticeable when the halves are together ) and the start of a handle on the Lewis I must admit to beginning a modelling crush on those of you who regularly produce scratch built parts. At any scale. You know who you are. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted July 17, 2017 Author Share Posted July 17, 2017 Hi All Got those cockpit sides on. That oil paint sure takes a long time to dry! Even with a coat of orange and another one of Pledge to try to seal it in, it still felt slightly greasy. Very fiddly getting the wires to stick to it, and not to the pin I was using to drop contact adhesive. Can't see that much of it once the sides are closed up but that's probably due to inept photography. Anyhoo, completed the Lewis Not quite, but close enough, and should be ok with a coat of paint, from a distance, poking out through the top wing My First Scratch Build! Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul E Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 1 hour ago, ProfSparks said: My First Scratch Build! That's it modelling will never be the same again. Excellent work. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 Great stuff Steve - good work on the Lewis; it may be your first scratch build but I'm sure it won't be your last! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 1 hour ago, ProfSparks said: My First Scratch Build! Crampons Two ropes Double belays all along Be careful It's a slippery slope YOU KNOW how we know don't you? And well done that is a very nice Lewis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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