Fritag Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 (edited) Hi all,Lurked for a bit then introuduced myself, then posted a few times, and now I guess I should put my head above the parapet and post a WIP. Bit nervous actually.Like Rince I plan to focus on aeroplanes I've flown. In my case the Chipmunk, Jet Provost Mk 3 and 5, Hawk, Jaguar, F16 (all many year ago) and more recently Cessna 150, Slingsby Firefly, Robin 2160, Cap 10B and Pitts Special. I've got kits in the stash for most of them but not the Cessna, Slingsby, Robin or Pitts. Whether I get there or get distracted (bound to!) or simply give up only time will tell.I plan to do them in 1/48 but I'm well ring rusty when it come to modelling and so I thought I'd get back into it with the venerable Airfix Chippie. There's been some cracking builds of the Airfix kit on the forum recently for inspiration.I plan to do it in the markings of a Flying Selection Squadron Chipmunk at Swinderby in the early 1980's as that's when I flew it.I've got decals for the baisic markings but I'm not sure what I'll do about the FSS badge yet. I'll cross that bridge if and when I get to it.So: Obligatory box top piccy:Airfix have molded a vertical bar on the outside on the front and back of the canopy when in fact the bar is an internal structure. So I've scraped the bars off and polished the canopy up. I think these pictures just about show it:Before:And after:I plan to seperate the canopy and model it open so I'm playing with adding some bits and bobs to the cockpit. Here's the port side with some framing, instrument panel fronts and throttle/mixture levers. The prominent handbrake levers are yet to go in:Here's the starboard side with the some framing, flap levers, map case and seats with trim wheels.The seats are bucket types and so I built up the kit seats with plastic card. In reality they are somewhat rounded in internal profile but that was beyond me.Here's the cockpit floor with pedals. Bit more work on this area to go. You can see that I've started to sand off the rivet details and have a go (first time) at scribing panel lines.Of course I don't know how much of all this will be seen - but it's been good practice and more importantly - fun.As the canopy will be open I've built up the area behind the rear cockpit with plastic strips. The kit has a cut out or recessed area to seat the canopy - but the real thing is flush. You get more of an idea of the bucket seat arrangement in this photo as well:We'll that's as far as I've got so far.Any comments, hints and tips welcome. Edited August 4, 2014 by Fritag 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Well... that cockpit interior is a bit of a masterpiece. Who needs resin when you have skills like that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Well... that cockpit interior is a bit of a masterpiece. Who needs resin when you have skills like that? Quite agree. A lot of the time resin cockpit sets don't fit. At least not with major surgery and loads of sanding and grinding etc! Will watch the progress of this little 'un with interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
104 squadron Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Did you say you were rusty???? Did you by any chance bathe in WD40 before building because that is awesome!! What i would do to be able to scratch build like that! Keep up the good work. Marc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HL-10 Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Some very impressive modelling! Especially when you consider how small the model is 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Cockpit looks great, following with interest as I want to build the same at some point this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonR Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Fantastic work on the cockpit, echo the comments above on how small it is. Like many on here had several flights in a chippie as a cadet so very fond of the thing, look forward to seeing this one develop. cheers Si Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Given the fact that you're planning to leave the canopy in the open position...Wouldn't it be a good option vacuforming the original, thick canopy..??? Surely not a problem for you, after all the work and effort you're putting into this tiny kit. A really beautiful kit.....Following this thread for sure... Cheers.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
104 squadron Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 I would love to do the old UAS that was based at Cambridge airport but not sure how to go about the decals otherwise the project would be a go. Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 I would love to do the old UAS that was based at Cambridge airport but not sure how to go about the decals otherwise the project would be a go. Marc Need some bright spark to create a decal sheet of all the AEF / UAE markings and crests. . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 I would love to do the old UAS that was based at Cambridge airport but not sure how to go about the decals otherwise the project would be a go. Marc The old original Airfix issue had the CUAS blue trim lines down the side with the crest and yellow T bands. I think I have a spare set from that issue if you're interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Need some bright spark to create a decal sheet of all the AEF / UAE markings and crests. . . . Some UAS. AEF markings appaer on the S&M sheet at £17.00 plus with Provosts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
104 squadron Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 I need to find CUAS's aircraft history and serial numbers as I would be willing to do the fleet but its a bit difficult to search for such criteria on the net I am not coming up with a lot. I want to do the same with the Bulldog and Tutor but again the search comes up with very little. Sorry to hi-jack the thread. I shall continue the search and see if I can dig up a bit more info. carry on the superb work on the Chippie! Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Very nice! Neat work as well. I like it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Thats a nice piece of detailing, you have captured the look of the Chipmunk's bucket seats perfectly. Don't be nervous, nobody around here is going to be anything other than encouraging. Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritag Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 I've finished off the cockpit now save for the backs of the instrument panels and seatbelts. Added the control columns and the fuel cocks to the floor. The fuel cocks will be painted red so at least there'll be some colour in the cockpit.: And here are a couple of photos of the cockpit dry fitted in situ: I hope to get some paint on and maybe the fuselage closed up this weekend. Thanks for looking Steve 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Very nice indeed, Steve! Almost inevitably, although I prefer 1/48 scale, I have this kit in my stash so I'm watching with interest! Jonny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelvk Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 That's very impressive. One of my dad's favourite aircraft.. Those are some fairly industrial sized rivets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Hi Steve, good work on the Chippy, as Martin said, you'll only get encouragement here with the odd helping of assistance. Good to see you have take the plunge and shown us your work. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritag Posted January 12, 2013 Author Share Posted January 12, 2013 Given the fact that you're planning to leave the canopy in the open position...Wouldn't it be a good option vacuforming the original, thick canopy..???It would look better Artie - but I haven't vac formed a canopy before. I think I'll try and thin down the edges of the kit canopy first and if I mess it up or it looks bad then maybe it will prompt me to have a go.Could I use the use the kit parts as formers - even though they're plastic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 (edited) It would look better Artie - but I haven't vac formed a canopy before. I think I'll try and thin down the edges of the kit canopy first and if I mess it up or it looks bad then maybe it will prompt me to have a go. Could I use the use the kit parts as formers - even though they're plastic? I would advise against it. I tried that way once and distorted the original. Now I take an impression in polymer clay, [female], then an impression, again in polymerclay [new male], then mould over it. Ask John Aero[club]; he used to have a vac Chippy canopy in his range - although I'm not sure if this was the just the Canadian bubble type or both types. Your detail work is just great, and the scribing of the wings is 1st class. Shames me into getting on and building mine. Edited January 12, 2013 by Black Knight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spence Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Now that something else. Great job on a very basic kit! Spence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geedubelyer Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Wow! Having recently built one of these little blighters I can appreciate just what's going into this build. Super job on the extra detailing. I wish someone produced a Chippy in 1/32nd scale. I'd love a large scale version in my cabinet. Keep up the good work. Cheers, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Hi Great work The Chipmunk is a favorite of mine, looking forward to seeing this finished Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggers Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Just finishing my one off for a friends Birthday present. Loads of masking makes this soooo fiddly as the subject is so small. Just doing the red now, then complete for the spraying. The gloss coat, then decals, then matt coat. Should be done for him by tomorrow ready for Monday at work. ATB & good luck with yours........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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