aceebee

Thanks Simon A mix of 1/72 and 1/100 scale airliners, most of which are restored former travel agent models, mostly solid resin or in some cases GRP. They are very often battered and tatty requiring significant rework structurally then the fun part of painting. Decals usually either home made or if I can get them after market. It's a bit of work and fun too. I do military stuff too. Anything that flys really but that makes the subject range daunting and the 'loft insulation' very thick. Cheers Alastair

Sorry for delay on the anigrand VC-10 update. https://www.flickr.com/photos/aceebee/14088504034/in/set-72157625314638271 https://www.flickr.com/photos/aceebee/13901449330/in/set-72157625314638271/ I don't know how to post photos directly on this website so only a couple I uploaded to Flickr. There are also a few on the IPMS Farnborough website here http://www.ipms-farnborough.co.uk/gallery/v/competitions/competitions_in_2014/may_2014/DSCF4035.JPG.html If you can help me work out how to upload or attach photos I can share some detail of build progress. The finish was never planned to be high detail but more aimed at display model on a stick quality. Scroll through this lot https://www.flickr.com/photos/aceebee/sets/72157625314638271 to see how it fits in with other large scale airliner types. Cheers Alastair

Hi Kev We met at Modelfest Farnborough where I you had this work in progress. I was immediatley impressed by the level of detail & work on what is a very basic starting platform. A very rare and special project. I'd love to have a go at this 1/72 Vanguard and although I've taken on complex vacform builds like this before I've no doubt this would be the ultimate test and can't imagine getting anywhere close to the level of finish & detail I anticipate you are aiming for. I'll get in touch with Gene Hooker and see if I can get me the vac kit, as primative as it is. Keep at it and will wait patiently for the end result. Great work so far. Cheers Alastair

Thanks Kirk ..and yes, the link with the engine diagram was very useful. I have found a solution. I created 4 intake ducts using rolled thin plasticard (o.3mm) and blended in with milliput. This is after the removal of the kit stator fan. This part is saved and used to create a subassembly consisting of a fan behind the stator, linked to a 1/100 B757 fan doubling as a bulkhead attached to the plasticard intake duct. The intake rim needs to be rounded as described above. The kit intake rim is very sharp and not realistic at all. The end result is not super accurate but gives the illussion of a busy engine. The fan behind the stator actually rotates, not that that matters much in the grand scheme of things. The end result looks adequate for the job though see photo here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aceebee/13941675373/ The engines have taken a lot of time and milliput to make half realistic. Everything else is assembled, filled, with a little sanding here and there. The engines are on and we're almost ready for paint. I'll post photos as soon as I get in primer.

Hi Kirk, well, I just read through the Paulo 1/48 C-17 and KC-10 thread. I'm kinda lost for words. Amazing doesn't quite cover it. And thos fan assemblies. If only I had the patience, time and competency. I'm not in the same league, but I think Paulo is in his own league anyway. Never seen anything like it. look forward to seeing them complete. Thanks Alastair

Hi Kirk, thanks for your input. Not seen Paulo's fan assembly. I'll do a search or if you have a link I'd welcome that. I'll also take a look the C-17 solution. The other problem with the engine is there is no intake duct and no where to hang a fan (if I had one). It's just a hollow shell. Whatever I do I will post here. Thanks again Alastair

No, I didn't see that kit. I did look on e-bay for a deal but gave up waiting. In the end got one from Hannants. Cost £114 delivered which was about right for the amount of kit you get. Construction is now well under way. Front section complete with modified nose, reworked the engine pylons, but also lowered the slot in the fuselage for the engine pylon to attach. In many photo's of the C.1 the leading edge root is about in line with the bottom of the windows and the trailing edge well below the centre line. The position is easier to spot on the early RAF Transport VC-10 C1's when you use the blue cheatline as a point of reference. The new slot is parallel to the original, lowered about 6mm. I just drew a line along the bottom of the windows with a pencil and ruler to find the correct position. Using a lot of milliput with this job. To be honest I wouldn't have bothered lowering the engine pylon if I was finishing in a tactical paint scheme where there is no point of reference. However since the cheatline along the window line on the kit intersects the pylon pretty much in the middle. I just thought it's gonna look wrong & I wouldn't pull of the illusion of it being any good. The other rework is with the bullet fairing on the T-tail. The kit part is over square as mentioned above. I followed Blackjet's instructions and numerous reference photo's on A-Net to getting it looking more like the real thing. Lots of sanding required and a bit of artistic flair (or bravery). The next thing I'm not looking forward to is the engines themselves. All that Blackjet mentioned above I concur. Just thing to myself how I can make them look good. The tail pipe is okay all things considered but the statot and fan just look aweful and don't thing I can bring myself to use any of it. I'm thinking of finding some sort of fan from any kit I have in the loft that I could make a cast of and donate 4 copies to the VC-10 replacing the daft looking thing that's meant to look like a 1/72 intake. I've got Heller B707 fans but they're not great looking either, or maybe some 1/48 kits like the F-104 with some mods could pass for a Conway. I don't know. Thinking cap time.

Yes, there is a second sheet. If you scroll along on the Flickr page you will see. The second sheet contains all the stencils and reg's etc. Cheers Alastair

Not sure how to upload photos but hopefully folks can access the flickr link below to take a look at the two sheets for the 1/72 RAF Transport VC-10 from F-DCAL. https://www.flickr.com/photos/aceebee/13741603975/in/photostream/ I've photocopied the sheet, cut out some decals and laid against the Anigrand model and it looks like a good fit. I don't think these were for or even tested on the Magna kit. From my knowledge of F-DCAL they were just upscaled versions of the 1/144 Standard VC-10 sheet that would have been intended for the Airfix kit. When I make progress with this kit I'll upload more photos on to Flickr for those interested. So far so good. Lots of filling and sanding. I'm going to shortcut the problem with windows and use the decal windows, and like many of my other large scale airliners it will be mounted on a stand with the gear up (well that's the plan. I might change my mind).

Hi Simon, I have received the RAF Transport Command VC-10 sheet from F-DCAL and they look pretty good in 1/72. I've used F-DCAL enlarged decals many times on airlines (1/100 to 1/72). Largest being a B747 in 1/72. I'm pretty confident that they will work but the larger you go the more likely errors in scale will be exagerated. There will always be a bit of give and take on things like cheat-line decals to match the length of the fuselage but no major drama. The decals were originally sold only in 1/144 until I asked the question. I explained that there will likely be a demand for 1/72 VC-10 decals. I also notice that 26decals.com have released a 1/72 BCAL VC-10 sheet. Now I'll have to get myself another VC-10 for that :-) I'll scan an image of the decal sheets soon for everyones reference. I just started the kit tonight following Blackjets lead and made the dramatic cut to restyle and correct the nose/windshield. It wasn't so bad. It's all filled and ready for the next step. I'll have a go at the tail tomorrow. Cheers

I'm also having trouble finding the correct eJ Orange, well strictly speaking, the correct orange to match the Draw Decals easyJet orange. I found the exact eJ pantone no. 21 and CMYK mix but it doesn't match the decal when placed on a white background. The decal is a couple of shades too dark. I did order RAL2008 Orange basecoat from Hirohobby.com which was the perfect colour for eJ, but not the damn decal. I've also looked at Halfords VW Brillant Orange and Peugeot Seville Orange but still not close enough. This is for an A319. Anything new on the eJ Orange front (other than xtracolor)?

Thanks Andy. I'll have a look in the paint box. Most likely have a tin of that somewhere. Cheers Alastair

Any suggestions where I can get a set of drawings from? I've just ordered the RAF Transport Command decals from F-Dcal and will commence soon on building the VC-10 C1 when it comes from Hannants. I didn't realize there was a discrepancy with the nose but that looks easily fixed (he says confidently). On the same subject, does anyone know what the underside grey is on those old RAF Transport VC-10's would be? Many thanks Alastair