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224 Peter

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  1. As Neilh said, the location holes are all a bit small, opened them all a tad and everything is about where it should be! This is the state today, the rockets and bombs to go and then a bit of weathering around the oily bits, I'm told that the vampires leaked hydraulic fluid from actuators and the wheel wells and flaps were "oily rag" cleaned on a very regular basis. The flaps dropped when the system powered down. Just the nose leg to do, the good news is that the aircraft sits nose down! Although I'll fit bombs and roacets this was an uncommon. load as without drop tanks the range would have been VERY short, so bombs were very rarely carried. On the home run now, it has worked out better than expected!
  2. I tried a stability test today and concluded that to be certain of a nose sitter a 5th lead disc, taking the total mass to 28gm made sense, I've also removed most of the jet pipe. The next stage is to fit the remarkably complex flap structure and install the main UK. Progress, of sorts. family issues mean my modelling time is still limited as I have to act as the groom for our horse every evening...but things are getting better!
  3. Getting rid of the jet pipe makes sense, I'll try that. I have bomb rack, not drop tanks, so. no way to weight them. White metal bombs would be good, or a white metal parachute pack on the seat... I will put some compressed air gun pellets in the nose and wing L/E behind the inlets. This is my last, ever, Vampire!!
  4. 2 Months Later.... COVID and injury resulted in a 2 month delay.... back on stream now. The Vampire os a tail sitter, AIRFIX calls for 17gm of nose weight: the challenge is where to put it, the nose is small weith virtually no free space. Under the cockpit floor would be better, but again, there is very little space. Based on previous builds I made a 22rm lead weight, from 4 pieces of builders lead flashing, as below..... Glued together with super glue the lump will stick to the back of the cockpit bulkhead. Once inplace I can carry on with build. More soon.....
  5. Given the starting material, that is impressive: Well Done! I have seen a full sized one at the Jet Age Museum near Gloucester: it is, compared to the HS Hunter, massive!
  6. Airfix research people make mistakes because they are young people who are not really interested in (or don't really care about) the subject from the perspective of historical accuracy. We older people have the interest and were around to see the subjects in their real world, back in the 60s and 70s. Museum specimens are a dangerous reference as they have all sorts of changes to make them suitable as exhibits. In my view only examples capable of flight should be used, and even then backed up by photographic evidence.
  7. It is good to hear that others suffered the plastic of the original release and it wasn't just me! Perhaps Airfix has changed contractor in India, specified a different plastic, introduced more QA, or perhaps the moulds have been cleaned and polished, whatever the reason it is a big improvement. From Richards comment my take is that the big, expensive kits may be moulded here, cheaper ones in India.
  8. I'd not planned to say much, BUT as I build out the inside I'm forced to ask "is this the same kit as the F3"? Yes, the sprue layout is the same, but the plastic is very different, harder, darker, and the surface detail is much finer and crisper. This is a photo of the top and bottom. On the F3 where the jet pipe fairs into the wing there were two large sink marks, on this release - NOTHING. Previously the jet pipe needed work to fit properly, this one is perfect! Building the F3 the wings were sufficiently warped so that the gap at the tip was 1cm +, here if I pull the two parts together it just snaps into place. My conclusion is that Airfix has had new moulds cut and the moulding is done more slowly with better quality plastic. Whatever the reason, the kit is a joy to work on: does anyone know what/why Airfix changed things? The next step is to spray the internal parts silver and finish the cockpit, it is under is under way but as it is something of a black hole there is not much detailing needed. Then it is put lead sheeting wherever possible before joining top and bottom.
  9. I still think the Komet is a bit Porky when compared with the Slinky Salamander. Both 1/32nd scale. Both were not really fighters, rather muggers, go in fast and hit hard. The Komet flew well, the Salamander had some serious aerodynamic flaws that caused it to flip into an inverted spin and shed its tail....in the hands of an experienced pilot like Brown it was a good performer, but the plan was to use 18 year old school kids who could fly a glider...Both aircraft had potential, the Me 263 with a tricycle U/C and more fuel could have been a real threat. But the German State just ran out of time and materials.
  10. This aircraft is c/n 120072, an A2 model captured at Leek, northern Germany in mid 1945. Transported to Farnborough and allocated Air Min number 61. It was flown a number of times by Lt Cmdr E M Brown at the RAE from 7 September 1945 fatally and crashed on 9 November by Flt Lt R A Marks attempting to emulate a display by Brown. The aircraft has been extensively photographed with a couple of colour images. The kit is a 1/32 scale model released by Revell in 2004 it is well moulded, finely detailed and a pleasure to build. The model is straight from the box, with no additions or aftermarket parts, other than the RAF Markings and a fair amount of lead in the nose for which there is, fortunately, plenty of room. The paint is Vallejo Airbrush ready acrylic and was my first all sprayed model. The paint was a delight to use and made a welcome change from Humbrol enamel, which isn’t what it was 50 years ago….! The full build report is here: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235129072-heinkel-he-162-salamander-in-raf-service/ It is a neat little thing, especially when next to the Me 163 which looks bloated in comparison!
  11. This aircraft is c/n 191060, captured in Germany in 1946 and flown to the UK in an Arado Ar 232 transport aircraft. It was partly repainted, including the underside in Trainer Yellow, the fin and upper wing root fairings in dark green, a prototype “P” and RAF serial VF241 applied. There is no record of the Air Ministry number. Some mystery surrounds this A/C: it is documented as having been flown as an unpowered glider from the Vickers airfield at Wisley in October 1946 by Lt - Cmdr. E M Brown, and others but Brown also flew an unspecified Me 163 in Germany in late 1945 as a glider and in some publications, he reports having made one powered flight possibly it may have been in this A/C. It was flown into late 1947 from both Wisley and RAF Wittering. It was damaged in a hard landing on 15 November 1947and is believed to have been repaired using parts from other, scrapped Me 163s and is believed to still exist, in store by the IWM. The aircraft was extensively photographed, some in colour. The kit is by MENG, issued in 2013 and was designed for display of the rocket motor. It was, by far, the worst model kit I’ve built since some of the 1970s Matchbox 1/32 scale kits. Online reviews confirm my experiences, fit is poor in places and made excessively complex by the facility to display the motor, especially wing to fuselage and the front and rear fuselage. There is a lack of positive location points for may parts and in my case much filling and sanding was needed which obliterated much surface detail. A photo etch sheet is included; it adds nothing to the build. The transfers are, however, good. The full build report is here, read it and weep. The photographs flatter the model…
  12. After building a Vampire F1 and F3 I couldn't resist the new FB9. Well, new transfers.... Much has been written here about the lack of real new parts, all the parts needed were already on the F3 Sprue..excluding the key Fighter/Bomber bits, Bombs and Rockets. The rockets were easy to find, they are included in the Airfix Sea Fury from a couple or 3 years ago. CMK provided bomb racks and bombs for the Tempest, but they are so very similar it matters not. I plan to use the. kit markings for FB.9 WR 128 of 502 (Ulster) Squadron based at RAF Sydenham in 1955: there is a sentimental attraction to this aircraft as my wife arrived into this world nearby in April 1955!! RAF Sydenham is now Belfast City Airport and I've flown there from Southampton many times before FlyBe failed. The colours are Dark Green and Dark Sea Grey over Silver, First things first: the bomb racks are easy as they fit exactly where the auxiliary tanks go. Fitting the rocket rails was harder, there are very few photographs, but one in the South African Airforce Museum has them and from the photos I had a stab at mounting them. This is the result: the rockets are only held in place with masking tape and will need a bit of alignment when glued in place. The Pilots Notes from the Rhodesian Airforce state clearly that 2 x 500lb bombs plus 8 x 60lb rockets can be carried, but on internal fuel range is a bit limited. There is a discussion on this topic on this Forum. It is interesting that the plastic used by Airfix is much harder and darker than the plastic used in the first release of the F3. It also has a better finish. The next stage is the interior, as this is the same as the F3 I don't plan to say much, you can read it here. .
  13. Cracking Job! The weathering is just about perfect. I'm lost in admiration.....
  14. Almost finished, but I'm stuck....Airframe 120072 was alocated the UK Reference "Air Min o 61", this is clearly shown in photos of the Left side. But I cannot find a photo of the RHS. Does the left side show, reading from tail to nose, "Air Min o 61", or "61 o Air Min"? Can anyone help?
  15. The evidence supports a silver, or brown/violet camouflage painted intake ring, not one in Flight Colour. I suspect that the use of a flight colour evolved from the lack of colour photos and the variable tone achieved using different B&W film stock under differing light conditions. It also looks more interesting, even if it compromises the camouflage effect! I'd painted it white, as can be seen below, but it was not too late to apply dull aluminium, which I'm doing today. U/c doors going on, too. The ME 163 is the Meng kit, also in 1/32 scale and also as flown at Farnborough by "Winkle" Brown, and others! My journey of suffering can be found here.... The Revell Heinkel is a delight to build, the Meng Kit not so.
  16. This thread details the paint colours used, or very probably used...
  17. The basic structure is complete, getting it to sit on all 3 wheels was the next challenge. The kit calls for a 45g weight in the nose, which is impossible....there isn't space. Fortunately there is. a large space behind the seat and in front of the main wheels and this can be accessed from under the engine....as long as the engine isn't in place. I used builders lead sheet and ended up with 50gm, all glued in place. The last bit of lead can be seen below. With this load the aircraft sits on 3 wheels, just as the motor covers add some weight behind the U/C legs, but the canopy balances that. Once the engine and covers are in place and the U/C doors fitted I can spray gloss varnish ready for transfer application. All in all an enjoyable kit, everything fits and only a little joint filling was needed where the fairing plate covering the main wheel well joins to the fuselage.
  18. Thanks Rob, yes, the way the acrylic paints cover is quite impressive. There will always be a place for enamels, and a hairy stick, but for much of my paintwork the airbrush will do nicely! Using a hairy stick with acrylic paint seems to work, and it is nice to be able to clean up with water or water/IPA!
  19. Here is my first Airbrush effort...the hairy stick used only on the U/C oleos and tyres.... On the home run now, some small corrections needed on the demarcation line between blue and green, then on with the engine and covers, gloss varnish before transfers, as previously explained, in RAF markings, Farnborough 1946. The colours, RLM 81 and RLM 82 do look remarkably like MAP Dark Green and Dark Earth!! Overall I'm quite pleased with both my build and use of airbrush and acrylic paints. Another couple of results like this and many of my old Humbrol paints will be consigned to the recycling place in town!
  20. Usefill, thanks, I'd not realised that the under wong launchers were so close to the wing root. As mentioned, the rails from the Airfix 1/48th Sea Fury look fine....
  21. Research Progress on the colours that were most probably employed...this reflects the way the production was split amongst subcontractor locations. Fuselage: Upper RLM 82, Lower RLM 76. The line between blue and green stated that the "Upper third" was green, but under the wing was blue. The demarcation was soft RLM 82 did not extend to the nose, but curved up round and over the nose just in front of the nose cone The early aircraft had a much higher demarcation, roughly in line with the lower edge of the cockpit. Later aircraft, built by Junkers, were essentially in primer, other than the wings and rear fuselage. Wings: Left wing upper: RLM 82,Lower RLM 76 but the leading edge was 74 for between 100 and 150mm (4 to 6 inches) Right wing: RLM 81, but aileron 82 with 76 as per left wing. There are reports that ailerons were overall 82 but this is not clearly supported by the few photos of aircraft in flight... Engine Cowls: RLM 81 The air intake is described in some sources as RLM 02, which is unlikely, more probably either 66, or the "Flight" colour, matching the aircraft number. As most of the aircraft photographed on the ground had engine covers over the intake it is impossible to be certain, but all photos show the intake in a colour that is markedly different from the 81 of the cowl panels. Tail plane: Left upper RLM 82, Lower 76 Right Upper RLM 81, Lower 76 Note similar leading edge extension of 76 on the upper surface. Elevators: the reverse of the tail. Fins/Rudders: Overall l RLM 76, but some photos suggest that the upper outside face matched the tail upper. Wkr Nr 120 072 had the outside faces of the fin/rudder in Right in 81 and Left in 82 Wrk Nr 120 098, as flown by Eric Brown. and others, is listed at Leck as "White 2", with a white air intake ring and a white nr 2 behind the cockpit. It may also have had a white band in front of the cockpit, just on the nose cone joint line. There was no visible number when in RAF markings, it was allocated the serial VH513 and it had post war style roundels. The way that the airframes were constructed by subcontractors makes painting easier as there is little need for masking, other than on the fuselage! Painting is underway, all in Vallejo Air Acrylics. Photos to follow....
  22. Progress.... the busy cockpit is finished and the complex but beautifully detailed main wheel bay finished. First, the cockpit area.... Everything airbrushed, other than the seat belts. A bit of dry brushing to highlight the front U/C springand bits of the seat. Note the lead sheet, all 45gm of it, thankfully the space behind the cockpit is forward of the c of g so it should be enough nd if not I can add air gun pellets before fixing the engine in place. Now that main wheel bay... Needs a bit of dry brush work and, of course, the legs added. Note the lead... I've started spraying the external parts and I'm learning how to control the flow of paint and the air supply. The finish of the paint reminds me of the glory days of The Humber Oil Company, when paint had covering density, a smooth finish and was a joy to use. The next report will be when the two halves have been joined up, wings and tail attached and spraying can be continued. The kit itself is a joy, not a spot of filler, no flash, everything fits!
  23. Painted, main transfers applied, other than the quality of the transfers this kit continues to disappoint. The paint finish is poor, thank you Meng, this kit is a travesty of modern moulding and thank you Humbrol, your paints, they are not what they used to be. The stencil transfers next, then cockpit glazing and a few other bits. I had high hopes for this, it isn't often that I'm that disappointed with the result of my modelling.
  24. Rob, an interesting and informative read, much appreciated. It seems we are on a similar journey of discovery!
  25. So the engine covers could have been finished in old stock 70, Black Green, that makes sense.
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