1/48 AZ models Fairey Firefly Mk1 DT934 4K 1770 Squadron HMS Indefatigable 1945

[graham121]

Here is the very detailed but tricky shortish run Multi media kit from AZ with a wing fold set from Airwaves, and number of correction sets - spinner and prop blades, cannon barrels and main wheel along with a Vac formed Canopy from Barracudacast. Decals were kindly donated to me and were spares from a Grand Phoenix Firefly, and rocket rails came from the spares box courtesy of a Tamiya Mosquito with the blast plates coming from the same place, this time ex Tamiya Beaufighter.

I fashioned the clear wingtip nav lights from Super Glue and the leading edge landing light was scratch built with the cover coming courtesy of a spare from a CA Fairey Battle. The wingfold tie rods are from stainless steel pins.

The decals came from an original Grand Phoenix boxing of the kit kindly donated to me by a fellow modeller.

As usual it is finished in Acrylics, using Xtracrylix for the Sky and Dark Slate Grey, with Gunze providing the Extra Dark Sea Grey. Flory models washes we used along with Tamiya Weathering pigments and Tamiya Smoke for the weathering. Tamiya Xf-86 Flat Clear sealed it all in.


And on to the pix, hope you enjoy them.



















































Thanks for looking.

Edited June 28, 2014 by graham121

[C&WR]

That is pretty special. I'm interested in exactly how you do the nave lights.

[tipper]

That's a beaut, no doubt about it! Congrats on the build!

Tipper

[batcode]

superb work looks fantastic, very nice job on the paint and finish

[Zigomar]

Very nice Firefly! And you save place on the shelves with the folding wings option! Cleaver move!

[garry]

Very nice finish on your firefly I would like to know how you did your lights if possilbe

[Martian]

One of the best Fireflies I have seen in a long while!

Martin

[Justin H]

Very very good I like that very much

Justin H

[mick b]

Excellent finish, probably the best Firefly seen, missing the yellow on the prop blades though?

Mick

[tonyot]

Very nice indeed, nice to see a folded Fiirefly. If you can manage it without spoiling the model the outer wings would look more accurate if they were tilted slightly more outwards at the top,..rather than being straight up and down.

Cheers

Tony

PS- Here is a photo of the real thing if it helps;

Edited June 27, 2014 by tonyot

[Leonl]

You've done a fantastic job. I don't normally like 'folded' wings as you lose the lines of the aircraft but I could be converted as this looks amazing!! Thanks for sharing.

[Vulcanicity]

That's easily one of the best Fireflies I've seen. Love the weird BPF roundels!

[graham121]

Thanks for all your comments, especially to Mick B for reminding me I had not added the yellow tips to the props and to Tony for putting me right with the angles of the wings...I had a feeling they were not quite right but could not put my finger on it.

I worked out that the wings tilt outwards both vertically and horizontally, so I managed to removed them, made some longer wing stays and refitted them with out to much ado. I also managed to get the prop blades off, paint their tips and re-install them.

Before I post new photos I will post a few showing how I made the clear wingtip nav lights.

First I drillled out small holes at roughly 45 degrees in the wing tips where I had cut out the sections for the Navigation lights.







A suitably sized piece of rod was painted red and blue/green to represent the globes.







And these were inserted into the holes.







The areas surrounding the lights were masked off, mainly to protect the panel lines in case any superglue spilled over.









Thick gap filling superglue was then used to form the lenses; let to go off for a few seconds then hit with kicker.







And with a very quick sand and polish we have two navigation lights. Here I have also added the Barracudacast Gun barrels...they are so much more accurate and detailed than the kit efforts.

Now back to the completed model

[tonyot]

Ah much better,......plus point is you can now see more of the fuselage too!!

Cheers

Tony

[C&WR]

Thanks for that, much appreciated. I'll keep an eye out for the stuff you used.

[Val]

Outstanding work! Top model

[Snitok1983]

Superb!!! And fantastic photosession!