Popular Post Rabbit Leader Posted August 18, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted August 18, 2017 OK - Here's my next piece of bashed plastic that I'll expose to you all - please excuse the mirror dust and remind me to ask my wife to do a better job when dusting! This is the excellent Mojo reviving Airfix 1/72 Vampire T.11, built once again practically OOB with the help of some lovely 45 Squadron decals supplied by Xtradecals. The two white blobs on top of the windscreen are supposed to represent pilot helmets. In keeping within the true spirit of OOB, these are fashioned from the actual kit's pilots, chopped and hollowed to allow them to sit snug. I'll admit I 'borrowed' this helmet idea after viewing a beautiful Classic Airframes kit built by one of Australia's premier modellers - Ryan Hamilton. Base paint used is decanted Tamiya AS12 Airframe Silver and Mr.Color 329 Yellow (with a small drop of Fluoro Orange) to bring out a little richness. My phone camera has seemed to have slightly distorted the wingtip ADF Antennas!! I'll admit there not perfect, however I'm sure they don't look as bad as this (mmm.. perhaps I need my eyes tested?) The third last photo in the series shows the actual XH359 parked besides 45 Squadrons DH Venoms at Butterworth, Malaya on 12 June 1957. This is quite an evocative scene that I have always wanted to replicate in kit form.... hence the final photos, which are just a cheap plea in the hope that some kind modelling manufacturer can put me out of my misery. Cheers, happy modelling and all comments welcomed.... Dave 89 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Great build Rabbit Leader 👍 ... I admit i am becoming a bit more interested in the type and its progeny. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qn30jEkPz7 Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Nice to see a different interpretation of this kit - good work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Wow! Excellent work! Very inspirational and in my preferred scale! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaddad Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 tasty 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Nicely done Dave. I've with you on the need for a Venom kit, even though I do have an Aeroclub one put aside to do a 14 sqn example, I'd more than happily do it with a modern up to date kit. Steve. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 What a beauty Dave, Fantastic subject an well executed too,..... love the helmets as well. I`m with you all of the way on the Venom! Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Nice job Dave, she's a beauty Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 A really nice looking Vampire Dave and in my favourite trainer scheme too. I do like the finish you've achieved with the decanted Tamiya paint. That's something I've never tried before, so I may have to give it a go. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted August 18, 2017 Author Share Posted August 18, 2017 15 minutes ago, cngaero said: A really nice looking Vampire Dave and in my favourite trainer scheme too. I do like the finish you've achieved with the decanted Tamiya paint. That's something I've never tried before, so I may have to give it a go. Thanks for the great comments guys. Cngareo, the decanted AS12 does take a few coats to ensure a nice coverage however persist with it as it really does go on nicely. I thin it with Gunze Mr.Color Levelling thinner and I think I was happy after the 4th thin coat. On the other hand you could just spray this stuff straight out of the can as it seems to behave itself quite well. Cheers and thanks once again.. Dave 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FatFlyHalf Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Brilliant model - I wish mine turned out like this - but, I may be wrong on this ..... Given the dates of the Malysian Emergency, putting it mostly in the 1950's, my guess is that the pilots helmets would not have been white, but the silvery-grey of the MK1A bone dome. I'd have thought it was a time of blue 'electric hats' and silvery 'bone domes'. The white bone domes just "don't look right for the period". Happy if you'd prove me wrong. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Fabulous build and a wonderful high speed finish. Thank you for sharing, and another nod for a Venom. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted August 18, 2017 Author Share Posted August 18, 2017 1 hour ago, FatFlyHalf said: Given the dates of the Malysian Emergency, putting it mostly in the 1950's, my guess is that the pilots helmets would not have been white, but the silvery-grey of the MK1A bone dome. I'd have thought it was a time of blue 'electric hats' and silvery 'bone domes'. The white bone domes just "don't look right for the period". Thanks for pointing this out. I recall watching a few scenes from the 1957 film "High Flight" which has some great Vampire T.11 footage about half way through the movie. The Helmets on my kit were a late after thought and for some reason I'd always pictured these as white (for training purposes perhaps?). anyway - I'll pay more attention to the next one, should I decide to go this way. Come to think of it, I also recall seeing some nice old photo's of RNZAF Venoms with a kiwi emblem painted on their helmets, however cannot seem to find these images on the net. Cheers... Dave. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanC Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Neat and crisp and wonderful. Did you use a clear coat over the silver? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phat trev Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 A stunning looking Vampire and a definite nod for a new Venom in the same scale! Just starting a 1/72 Aeroclub Venom FB4 and considering using the Airfix Vampire for spares and upgrades to this kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 A terrific looking Vampire and a great finish. Perhaps you should put a couple of derelict Hornets in the background (sob) in lieu of Airfix coming to their senses and giving us a Venom. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Superb build and finish! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Wow, that looks great! Nice job 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Splendid build, love the clean and colorful paint job. Tempting to have a look in my box. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darby Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 (edited) Ruddy marvellous! I say, do you think I could exchange the Bentley for one? Edited August 18, 2017 by Darby grammar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tbolt Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Beautiful looking Vampire. Was it tempting to put two black dots on the helmets as they look like eyes? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 RL, I echo what ToT said regarding your Vampire- she's a beaut! I loved the helmets on the w/s...planning to do the same when I do my 8th FBG F-86F, as the Sabre pilots liked to perch theirs on top of the w/s, too! Nice touch, sir! Planning on a Jet Provost in the same scheme to park with it? Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted August 18, 2017 Author Share Posted August 18, 2017 9 hours ago, IanC said: Neat and crisp and wonderful. Did you use a clear coat over the silver? Thanks Tbolt. Although my initial desire was to finish this kit without a clear coat, in the end there was too much difference in sheen between the paint and the Airfix stencil decals. As the Xtradecals sheet had a nice semi gloss finish to them, they seemed to look ok, but in the end those large red traiiing edge no walk decals looked really dull in comparison to the rest of the kit. Here's a photo half way through the decal stage and with no clear coat. In the end I applied a number of coats of 'Pledge' and used what I would describe as a jewellers cloth to rub and buff the surface back to a nice sheen. I knew it was never going to look the same as the photo above, however I settled for the end result of a levelled finish. I believe that AK Interactive make a clear product that is purpose built to cover metallic finishes without dulling it, but have yet to buy and try it as yet. Anyway - thanks for the great feedback... Cheers.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted August 18, 2017 Author Share Posted August 18, 2017 6 hours ago, phat trev said: A stunning looking Vampire and a definite nod for a new Venom in the same scale! Just starting a 1/72 Aeroclub Venom FB4 and considering using the Airfix Vampire for spares and upgrades to this kit. Good luck with your Aeroclub Venom. I've never had the pleasure to own one, although if your going to source parts from a donor Vampire kit, then it does not sound like it wont be an easy build. I'm trying to figure out (besides the undercarriage) what else could you use? Cheers.. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted August 18, 2017 Author Share Posted August 18, 2017 5 hours ago, Meatbox8 said: A terrific looking Vampire and a great finish. Perhaps you should put a couple of derelict Hornets in the background (sob) in lieu of Airfix coming to their senses and giving us a Venom. I'll happily take either a DH Hornet or a Venom for 2018? I've got this wild idea to kit 'most' of 45 Squadrons aircraft (though cannot see myself rigging a Vimy or Vernon!!) I'm afraid. I've looked at the SH Hornet and although I could probably knock it out to look something like a Hornet, I'm not a great fan of resin or PE bits as yet. Cheers and fingers and toes crossed... Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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