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Showing results for tags 'Skybirds 86'.
Found 3 results
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This kit is going to be built for this year's CBK SIG display at SMW where we are hoping to shine a light in all the different CBK manufacturers including the cottage industry that came after the big three's light had started to fade in the mid 80's. The kit come in their standard unassuming blue box, but given how large the Scimitar is, it's rammed full. Like many such manufacturer's Skybirds'86 was one-man-band operation but this guy had a multitude of engineering skills so we get plastic from Al moulds, PE, white metal, acetate IP, die-cut sheet, and a vacforum canopy. The model is based on plans drawn up using measurements from surviving airframes as he states that existing plans were unreliable. The instructions are largely written and much has been made of that these need to be follow to the letter due to the engineering of the kit. However I think is as much the overcome the limitations of the manufacturing of which he is more than forth coming about. The plastic parts are very thick, but with very fine surface detail, I will probably go over this so it's not lost. I believe the parts were mould individually so not sprue just some large stubs used to help manually pull them from the mould.
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I'm in the midst of a stash clearing exercise and came across an example of the Skybirds '86 Hornet F.3, a gift from my late brother. It's long past time I built this kit and I was wondering if there is anyone hereabouts who had ever done one and might have any pointers to share? I've done the usual googling and come up with a few ideas but there's little first hand knowledge online. The company ceased trading a long time ago, before this internet thingy really took off! Thanks in advance.
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I found this on ebay a couple of years ago, described as "started". On first inspection it looked like some of the hard work had been done, as the nacelles, nose and drop tanks had been assembled. A closer look showed some issues - for example, the wings need substantial thinning before assembly but our would-be Horneteer had attacked the outer surfaces rather than the mating surfaces! The drop tanks had taken on a rather blobby shape so I left them off but the nose and nacelles weren't too bad. The rest of it went together OK with a bit of test fitting, but no more than any other limited run kit. Sorting out the wings was the main issue. The white metal parts were nice. The canopy was a bit yellow and looked pretty brittle so I didn't cut too far and will live with the result. I hoped to use the kit decals but they cracked as soon as they saw water. I contacted SH and asked if I could buy a decal sheet from them, but they very kindly sent one gratis and they went on very well - many thanks, Michal! It's brush painted with Humbrol and Revell paints. Apart from the cockpit, which has the usual issue of an upswept windscreen base, I won't comment on accuracy, but the recent posts by John Aero here suggest it's not bad but not brilliant. It's the first Skybirds 86 kit that I have built and is a tribute to the late Mike Eacock.
