CT Modeller Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 BLACKBURN NA39 Holme on Spalding Moor, 1959 Nostalgia or what? I think I was about 11 or 12 when I first build one of these, having saved my pocket money to find the substantial sum of 4/6 before going into the local Woolies to buy one after school with great excitement. This one was built about 7 or 8 years ago but recently came out for dusting and a photo session. I kept most of the original working features apart from the silly retractable nosewheel (with fixed doors and fixed main gear!) In fact the undercarriage on this one is from the later Airfix Buccaneer S.2 kit. I went a step further and added working airbrakes – Airfix chickened out on this in their kit, presumably because of the complexity. I based the working airbrakes on an article in an old Scale Models magazine which I had intended to scan and post here, but I couldn’t find it! The folding wings lasted a bit longer this time around – back in the early 60s they suffered from too many carrier landings on the HMS Dining Room Table and needed repair after a day or two. Anyway it was enjoyable to build something with a bit of artistic licence for a change rather than bothering about scale and accuracy. Chris 37 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 Excellent chunk of pure nostalgia Chris and a fine scheme too,can't wait for the new tool coming soon from Airfix(oops!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rizon Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 Giving me ideas with the air brake.... Well done! If you do find that article, please post? Will appreaciate it much. I am a bit of a sucker when it comes to moving parts on models R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polo1112 Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 Good job you made with this Buccaneer ! I think we are about the same age, because I can remember having built this kit with my Dad in the early sixties. I was ten or eleven years old. I can remember as it was yesterday that the nose cone had to be painted "gold". The blast of the past ...Nostalgia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 I don't remember working airbrakes on mine, then again it was when they first came out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 Very nice the NA-39 ? That was the Prototype of the Buccaneer if im correct ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 (edited) A super job on that Chris, it certainly took me back a decade or 4, this being an early one of mine too. Thanks to a loving Mum, I still have mine tucked away in my "to be restored" box. Steve. Edited April 2, 2020 by stevehnz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 Ah, that takes me back. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Really like how that's come out. I've got that kit in my stash ready for next Brick GB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Bunting Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Terrific! I too built that kit almost 50 yrs ago. Mine neve received paint. I love your reference to HMS Dining Room Table! What sweet memories! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huvut76g7gbbui7 Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 A true blast from the past! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Simplicity at it's best, great job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John R Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 Naaah! Should have been blue and white. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 Very nice. Airfix did try hard with their working features, and then forgot about blanking plates. I built a Mig 15 that you could see through end to end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT Modeller Posted October 5, 2017 Author Share Posted October 5, 2017 Just now, John R said: Naaah! Should have been blue and white. John Hello John - XK486 was blue and white but I reckon the rest of the prototypes were EDSG and white - at least I'm hoping XK491 was! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT Modeller Posted October 5, 2017 Author Share Posted October 5, 2017 On 03/10/2017 at 12:07 PM, Rizon said: Giving me ideas with the air brake.... Well done! If you do find that article, please post? Will appreaciate it much. I am a bit of a sucker when it comes to moving parts on models R Yes I intend to post up the article when (if?) I find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 That's a real blast from the past and a fine example of what can be done with an old kit. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John R Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 16 hours ago, CT Modeller said: Hello John - XK486 was blue and white but I reckon the rest of the prototypes were EDSG and white - at least I'm hoping XK491 was! I'm sure you are right. It was just that I always thought of the NA39 as the first one - the rest were Buccaneers to me. At what stage did it acquire that name? I love the story that when they were searching for a suitable name someone suggested 'ARNA' standing for 'A Royal Navy Aeroplane' which meant it would be the Blackburn ARNA. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT Modeller Posted October 6, 2017 Author Share Posted October 6, 2017 6 hours ago, John R said: I'm sure you are right. It was just that I always thought of the NA39 as the first one - the rest were Buccaneers to me. At what stage did it acquire that name? I love the story that when they were searching for a suitable name someone suggested 'ARNA' standing for 'A Royal Navy Aeroplane' which meant it would be the Blackburn ARNA. John And hence when the first production aircraft were painted they became white black burnarnas ! According to this excellent website the first two were painted roundel blue and white, the rest being EDSG and white. http://www.blackburn-buccaneer.co.uk/Buccaneer_Index.html XK489 (the 4th NA39) had 'Buccaneer' inscribed on it's nose at the Farnborough show so about then I guess. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 I like that a lot! Martian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 (edited) I like that really very much Put me on the "I'd like to see that airbrake article" list too, please Edited October 7, 2017 by perdu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horatio Gruntfuttock Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 That certainly is a memory-jogger. Great job on her and to keep all the working parts, just like the real thing! Problem these days is finding one of these ancient kits I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyW Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 A beautiful build of a real memory jerker. Buried somewhere in my loft I have one of these , built in a similar style. I went for a heretical Gloss Dark Blue and Copper nose, as a nod to how I would have built it as a kid. Thanks for the post. Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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