Fritag Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 (edited) Here's my 1/72 Airfix Chipmunk. Built as WG479 'K' of the Flying Selection Squadron at RAF Swinderby in March 1982. It just happens to be the first aircraft I flew in the RAF. Here's what I did with the kit. And had a lot of fun along the way. - Sanded off all of the rivets for which the kit is famous (notorious?). - Scribed the major panel lines (possibly a little bit over done - I'll try and be more subtle in future). - Drilled out the large air vent at the front of the cowling and added a basic representation of the front of the engine. - Drilled out the small circular intake at the front and added a tiny crash moulded 'cup' fairing (pleased with that). - Added various flap, aileron and elevator hinges and actuators. - Drilled out the varous holes in the cowlings. - Crash moulded the various little cowling air intakes to replace and supplement the kit 'bumps'. - Replaced the kit engine exhaust with the later style cockpit heater exhaust. - Replaced the pitot tube with one of plastic rod and strip construction. - Added UHF aerials from plastic strip. - Drilled out and added the downward ident lights - ditto for the nav lights. - Added the anti spin strakes in font of the tailplane from plastic card. - Added the stall warning strips on the leading edge of the wings. - Added the fuel filler and fuel gauge assemblies on the top of the wings - Scratch built a cockpit - the kit doesn't have one - Seat belts a mixture of wine bottle foil and PE - Vacc'ed a replacement canopy - added some internal and external hardware. - Scratch built the undercarriage legs. - Used the kit mainwheels but added some hub detail. - Replaced the prop spinner with a more accurate home turned effort - used the kit blades with a good deal of refining - Decals a mixture of S&M, Airfix and homebrew for the FSS logo and stencils. - Painted with a combination of Tamiya, Revell and Humbrol acrylics. - I tried to emphasise and differentiate the canvas covered sections by lightening the base colour to represent fading, using Tamiya smoke to dirty the canvas and at the same time suggest the rib structure and then matt varnish to contrast with the sheen on the metal parts of the structure. - Mid-grey oil wash on the panel lines - darker grey at the junctions of the flaps etc - Oily belly courtesy of Tamiya weathering powder. I think that's everything. There's a WIP thread - here http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234932824-airfix-chipmunk-t10-finished/. Which is a bit long for such a little kit I'm afraid - but made very much more interesting than it might have been by a goodly number of very interesting contributions from BM members other than me! Also there is a wealth of umissable information on the Chipmunk kindly posted by Rod Blievers along with superb reference photos. This is must have stuff for anyone building a chippie - just try and ignore my interruptions. Anyways. Here's the photographs. Any criticisms hints and tips gratefully accepted. One with my logbook - Entry number one! The rest: Thanks for looking. Steve Edited July 29, 2013 by Fritag 61 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob P Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Fan-bloomin'-tastic! Takes me back to 6AEF at Abingdon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warris Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Absolutely stunning Steve well done mate What's next now you've got time on your hands now Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Excellent work, you should be very proud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardiff guy Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 masterful very well done Glenn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 I said it in the build thread Steve, but I think it bears repeating - absolutely, completely & utterly fantastic!! Without doubt the best Chipmunk model I have seen - in any scale!! The fact that it's in the one true scale is just the icing on the cake! Wonderful model!! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshiretaurus Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Fantastic skills, the effort has paid off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr B Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Outstanding work..... Really nice Rgds Mr B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Well thats fantastic. Bravo that man!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCinLA Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Really tremendous, the best Chipmunk model I have seen. Period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feifeitim Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 One of the best models I've ever seen - period! It's been a privilege to follow this build Steve. Loved the first picture here with the FSS page of your logbook - again fantastic to detail! You must murder them in the courtroom! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 There are no superlatives left after that build thread! You done well, sir! Anyone who hasn't read every post of the build thread, please do! It's a tour de force of modelling an old Airfix kit. I love seeing these old kits get turned into works of art, and none has impressed me more than this one. Bravo, man! Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Laidlaw Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Flamin' 'eck! Brilliant! Followed the build thread (a daily read), and am sort of sorry it's finished. But what an end result! Bravo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongMan2 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 G'day Fritag, Yep, it looks very very nice. Have to say it's the best DH Chipmunk I've seen in my tormented years of modeling. I know what it is like to play with this little !!*x!@#!! kit and its really tough as you know. Its neatly finished and I hope your very proud. I know I would be. And to think was an AIRFIX kit once........ Its all down to your skills; congratulations! You should post these pics at HS, I know the AIRFIX guys would like to see it there. PHIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HL-10 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 What an amazing model! It is truly amazing work, especially when you consider the size of the model and the age of the kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwitrogg Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Absolutely superb ! It's amazing to see what you've achieved with something so small ! Gaz (just off to throw mine out of the window now) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenko Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 That is probably the best build I have seen to date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VG 33 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Thank you for sharing this build which could win the "Best of Show" here this year. I have taken the opportunity to record the 32 pages of the work in progress. Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAMP man Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Guten Fritag, It seems that the road to the finish line on this build has touched a nerve with those that flew the Chippie and for those that wished they had. Many superlatives have been used, and re-used to describe your skill in bringing her home, and I am sure that I won't be the only one who is glum that the 'go-to' WIP has now concluded. I seem to recall that this model was your return to the hobby, so from one who would happily carry out major d.i.y. surgery to attain the level of finish you have on this one, I await your next foray with slight impatience and no small amount of envy. Even the RFI pictures are of top quality, and reference each added detail beautifully. Thank you for sharing, both the build and the back stories. Strickers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madaboutmodels Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Very nice result you have there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismac60 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Beautiful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crobinsonh Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Brilliant finish and WIP. What is next? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patjb Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Have been following the WIP, very nice model. Fond memories of a few Chippie flights in the ATC. I have a couple of the kits which one day will get built but to nowhere near the same standard as this work of art. Wish someone would sell replacement canopies for them instead of the Airfix armour plated ones, Terrific model though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagoneer Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 That's a stunningly crisp, well finished and photographed model. Perhaps you should see if there are any vacancies at Fabergé... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean1968 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Outstanding work, you've took the humble little aircraft and turned it into a work of art. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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