Bengalensis Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 (edited) OK, I'll do the pair of Bullfinches in 1/1 scale from Airfix. I have all their bird kits in my stash, being a little vary of the paint work, but then again, I'll have to begin somewhere. So I'm joining in, inspired by Alex Gordon's Kingfisher. I paid just under 5£ about a year ago. Here's what we have when opening the box. And all the parts spread out. I wonder how those flowers will be able to look... I think the birds themselves can be quite good, if I can make a descent paint job. I'm not too sure about that. I will have to start painting some insides black and sculpting something like a tongue at least for the female. Don't expect a quick progress... Edited May 9, 2014 by snapper_city 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Gordon Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 Good to see you on board Jorgen,looks like you're ahead of me already. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 Good to see something out of the ordinary but be prepaired to do plenty test fitting with the various parts to get good joins. There is no positive location for the birds upon the log either so it can take a lot of juggling with the legs and toes to gain a convincing perch for both birds. I backed both birds throats with plastic sheet and added a tongue to one from shaped sprue but didn't use the flowers or rock as they didn't look very realistic to my eye. Had a lot of fun with this kit and hope you do as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessica Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 Those turbine blade mouldings look good, but I don't see any nacelles for them to go into. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Ogilvie Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 Excellent! My wife has a set of the Airfix birds in the loft (many multiples) - but she's afraid of getting them wrong. I'll make sure she looks in on your thread Iain 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 Good to see you on board Jorgen. After seeing your figures I'm looking forward to what you can do with these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jockster Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Nice one Jörgen, I have a pair of the blue tits in the stash somewhere, I built the same ones as a kid and I remember the fit of parts being a bit rubbish. Never would have thought to add tongues. Good thinking! :-) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengalensis Posted February 3, 2014 Author Share Posted February 3, 2014 Thanks a lot guys, I've done just a little work and already enjoy the kit a lot. Thanks for the heads up on the legs/toes against the log. And yes, I also thought of turbines rather than flowers when I first opened the box... I started with thinning out the edges of the beaks, then I carved out two tongues from some sprue, or at least something that could represent tongues, and glued in place with a small wall behind them to stop seeing through. Then all this was painted black in case it would be hard to reach some areas later. The log halves were glued with ordinary glue and clamped together. They actually didn't fit that bad. I'm not so sure about the stone part, and even less about my ability to paint it even near to a stone look. We'll see. I then started playing with the main parts, doing some serious fitting trials. It looked much better than expected. The body halves were quickly joined, and once I got a feeling for the fit of the wings both birds were suddenly all together. The fit was much better than I expected and I was positively surprised. It's far from perfect but I think it will not be difficult to clean them up well with a small amount of filler here and there. I think they're starting to look rather cute. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengalensis Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 I've done a little more work tonight. Cleaned up most seams from yesterday, and so far no filler used! Only a knife, sand paper/dust and a little super glue. I'm really surprised. I also glued the two halves of branches for the log. And picked a neutral base from my stash that I think I can use, I actually think that it will still go just under 10£ when added to the kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natter Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 This is getting interesting. I love following your builds, they are always really interesting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengalensis Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 Thanks Natter, it's good to hear my builds can be a little inspirational and that I can give something back for the pleasure I get from yours. Those flower parts are a bit iffy, but I thought I would at least give them a try. Airfix wants you to simply bend them up, but I'm sure they will just break and not look any good. Once the first was cleaned up somewhat I decided to try using the hair dryer. When blown from the top it eventually curled upwards, and while a bit soft it could be formed a little more. That might be worth some paint I thought when I dry fitted them. Perhaps some rounded centre piece should be added. We'll see. Everything is cleaned up and assembled as far as I want before painting. I'm keeping the leg parts on their sprue for now to keep them easily numbered. I think I may not paint them until they are on the birds and tweaked to fit the log. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 This is really coming together Jorgen. Looking forward to seeing these with paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengalensis Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 Well that painting is feeling quite scary, but a challenge. I hope I will at least be able to make the viewers understand what it is I'm trying to make them see... I got a coat of white primer sprayed on the birds, mainly to see if I can get away with the joints as they are, and I'm happy as they look. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 They look good from here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depressed lemur Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Can't wait to see this progress. I built a Robin and the Blue Tits back in the 80's and painted them with a hairy stick and enamels. Even then I thought that they look horrific. Will you be using an airbrush for this? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengalensis Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 Thanks a lot guys. I'll use an airbrush for most of the bird painting, dry brushing with hairy sticks of course. The base parts will see more brush painting. I suspect there are limitations as to what can be done as much of surface on their bodys are quite coarse, but it will be interesting. I think I'll do my Robins too before the Blue tits, as I really want to make them to my very best abilities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengalensis Posted February 10, 2014 Author Share Posted February 10, 2014 I started to mess around with paint on the log. Not quite sure where it's going but when I arrived at this point I had enough for tonight. I'll look at it again tomorrow and decide if it's ready for a coat of clear and some oil washing or not. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Lovely work on the perch/twig Jorgen. Looks very authentic!! Look forward to seeing how the birds turn out!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Gordon Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Hmmm.Having just seen yours I think my bit of woodwork is going in for a repaint.This is looking quite splendid so far,you are inspiring me. Keep up the good work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu_davros Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 This is outstanding work, I can't believe how much life you have injected into this old kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkennerley Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 that is looking great I don't think you have to worry about how the birds looking at the job you have done on this 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengalensis Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 Thanks a lot guys, I get good inspiration. I was a bit wary of my work when I but it aside last night, but I was much more comfortable with it this morning when I looked at it. I will let it rest for a few days while trying to put some basic paint other parts of the base. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techniquest Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Looking excellent. I'm really interested in following this thread as I have the same kit in the the stash, and I'm something of a birder 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengalensis Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 A little more progress tonight as I put on the first paint coats on the rest of the base parts. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Vale Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Just catching up with this - it looks lovely thus far. Great colours on the wood - the red under the bark layer is very well-observed. I think the trick with the rock, and perhaps with the log-ette as well, will be getting some sharpness into the result. I can't quite tell from the pictures but the birds and flowers look really crisp, whereas the log and rock look a little bit rounded off? Maybe some careful drybrushing or sponge work would help? Just my 2p. I saw one of these bird kits in a second-hand shop last year and already regret not picking it up! Cheers, Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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