Thought Experiment no 2 - Quantity vs quality?

[silverburn]

As I have eluded to in previous posts, I mentioned a couple of experiments I wanted to conduct. This is the second.

Essentially, people have commented that I build quickly - for example my recent Stuka 1:32 only took 7 hours (excluding drying time), and even that was over the period of the birth of my first child. So I wondered....how quickly could I build without compromising quality?

Well, lets find out...

For this I intend to build the entire 9 Red Arrow hawks in 1:72. And do it in 9 hours (exc paint drying time) or less.

I've done a test sample (see below- 90% complete - only "sticky outy" bits to do) against the clock, and think I've got the method down which will make this work for all 9...I think the main time saver is configuring in a "flying" pose.

- Cut out pits + smooth

- Pits + dashboards painted interior grey

- Seats painted (black + leather)

- Cut out fuselage parts, exhausts + front wheel doors; smooth + spray interior grey

- Assemble fuselages + front bay door

- Cut out wings + wheel bay doors; smooth and assemble (in test, the bay doors were a pain). If puttying, leave to dry, and move onto...

- Cut out glasses, mask and glue to fuselages

- Cut out tail fins, and glue to fuselages

- Attack wings to fuselage, putty + smooth

- Prime all 9

- While waiting for that, cut out all "breakables" and smooth.

- Spray all 9

- Spray all breakables red (+ white for 2 parts per plane)

- Laquer all 9 + breakables

- Decals on all 9

- Laquer again all 9

- Remove masks + paint off-white bar

- Attach breakables

- Stop clock...have a pint.

Yes, I know I've missed a bit of sanding of the top fuselage panel just behind the glass.

Ok...who dropped it on the carpet before the laquer dried...c'mon - own up....

Edited December 22, 2009 by silverburn

[silverburn]

In case anyone is wondering...I recon it will take 1.5 hrs (exc paint dry time) to do my test hawk. I've never worked with hawks or in 1:72 before, which I've factored in to my calculation.

[ollieholmes]

Thats looking rather nice for such a quick build. Ive built two models in 24 hours for a blitzbau before and that was hard going (mind you they where 1:48 Spitfires with camoflage) so this should be interesting.

[silverburn]

Thats looking rather nice for such a quick build. Ive built two models in 24 hours for a blitzbau before and that was hard going (mind you they where 1:48 Spitfires with camoflage) so this should be interesting.

That *is* good going - especially for 1:48 spits! Well done! Thankfully these 1:72 hawks are pretty simple, but I recon it'll come down to how much putty & sanding is needed - that's where you lose tons of time, or lose quality...also the decals aren't simple - easy to rush and break one!

I'll kick this one off after Xmas I think, once I've ordered the kits.

[woody37]

I can't believe you only started modeling recent Silver. I love reading your threads and seeing the great quality you put together in such a short space of time. All that while changing nappies and suffering from sleep difficiencies !!!!!

Great stuff mate.

[Shaun]

I don't think I've ever seen someone build a "Diamond nine" of Red Arrow Hawks.

As a kid I allways though it would be cool to hang 9 hawks from the ceiling on fishing line.

Just a small tip- the nose band decal is too low on your first Hawk,it should be above the landing light and finish in line with the pitot probe.

Shaun.

Edited December 23, 2009 by Shaun

[silverburn]

And the "raw materials" have arrived...

Gonna check out the kits first, then will start the clock in the next week or so....

[hazza]

Christ.......

This is one of things that you dream of doing as a child......

[T-Tango]

Good luck mate.

[Basosz]

You've got to be kidding !! It took me a week to just build a 1:72 Hawk of admittedly unknown origin (it was a "rescue" from some water damage at the LMS) and another evening to paint it black (I did paint other things that evening), another evening for Decals (some of which I'm quite sure are way too big) and it's still waiting for the final layer of clear paint. How on Earth do you build this fast?

[Mark M]

good man!!

ok where do i start, i can do 2 in black scheems in 4 hours, i havent tried to do more than that, the only filler you need is around the intake seems and on the bottom on the wing fuserlage joint. big tip i lernt the hard way paint and decal before you put the ?alerons on the bottom cos the decals are a pain to go round them, also you dont need to but the tail pipe in until the end, so the hole is handy to stick a skewer in to paint them easier

and paint all the fiddley bits nad pits while on the sprues but the time youve done the nith the first one will be ready to build up

if you need any spare back up decals let me know i have several spare

good luck

HOLD ON IVE JUST SEEN THE DATE DID YOU GET THIS DONE?

Edited November 22, 2010 by markmarples

[mumbles]

And the "raw materials" have arrived...

Gonna check out the kits first, then will start the clock in the next week or so....

Doesn't look like you need to do much; they are already in box formation......

[eng]

Better stick a midget Airfix pilot in there too somewhere along the line if you're display flying!!

What a cracking project, watching with interest.

Eng

[silverburn]

Good lord, I'd forgotten I had to do this!

Ok, after the tornado...and the stringbag...I promise!

[Basosz]

Good lord, I'd forgotten I had to do this!

Ok, after the tornado...and the stringbag...I promise!

LOL ! How can you forget to do NINE !!! Hawks ?

[silverburn]

LOL ! How can you forget to do NINE !!! Hawks ?

I know, I know...

[Ed Russell]

I know, I know...

So, you have spent 11 months on this project!

You will still probably do it quicker than I could lol

[Jeenyus]

I am going to watch this with interest. I never had the problem of building too fast. Indeed, I am sure it took me nearly 9 years to finish a Halcyon Aliens dropship...