Mach82 Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I have recently arrived back from a 5 week course in Toulouse and now can chill and get down to some modelling again. Before I left for France,I had completed a quick 3 day build of a couple of Impalas, but didn't get the opportunity to photograph and post them up here. Well here they are.... I hope you enjoy. The Impala (5 Sqn, AFB Durban, SAAF) was the first jet aircraft that I flew and as such I am particularly close to these individuals. Shortly I will be focusing on the larger 1/48 scale versions that these were the practice for. The Mk1 was painted using Alclad II and the Mk2 painted with Tamiya acrylics. They were a fun build and went together well with minimal filler and sanding. The only issue was re-scribing the raised panel lines but it was good practice and only time consuming. I found it far easier to scribe the panel lines before building the kit. Mark 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Very nice both models! If I had to choose my favourite is the nmf build. Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Baie lekker! A very nice pair, they look great together, can't wait to see your 1/48 versions. Nice to see some well modelled SAAF subjects. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ascoteer Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Very pretty. Love the crew steps! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Very respectable indeed, I do like the natural metal finish and the access steps of the two seater. Your base sets the pair of very well. Thanks for sharing your pics. Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAG058 Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 A very nice pair! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach82 Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 Thanks guys for the kind comments. To be honest the NMF one is my favourite too Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcode Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Great looking pair, nice work , great job on the nmf, they do look good together.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeW Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Magnificent builds both - and many memories of seeing these overhead. Which decals did you use? Is That "Loopvlag" I am seeing? Makes me want to rush right out and copy these. Cheers, Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snitok1983 Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 They are awesome! Excellent build esp for the 1/72 ( if you would tell us that is 1/48 I will believe you anyway!))))) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhizhou Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Two lovely models, very nicely finished and presented. Thanks for sharing them with us. Zhizhou 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 They are both absolute beauties,...love them both! Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach82 Posted January 24, 2015 Author Share Posted January 24, 2015 Magnificent builds both - and many memories of seeing these overhead. Which decals did you use? Is That "Loopvlag" I am seeing? Makes me want to rush right out and copy these. Cheers, Mike Thanks for the comments Mike. Yes it is 'loopvlag' ... I haven't seen that for ages now. The decals were part kit and part spares box from the Mk1 and a set that I ordered from MAVDECALS (mavdecals.co.za). I may have a few left over. Drop me a pm with specifics and I will have a look see what I have left. Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach82 Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 Once again, thanks for all the encouraging comments Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane39 Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Lovely work. This kit has been sitting in my local hobby shop for about a year now. Have never given the kit a second look. May have to pick it up the next time I am in. If it turns out half as good as your work I will be pleased as punch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchem Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Brilliant stuff Mark - well worth the wait ! You've nailed the nmf finish and the camo version looks pretty much spot-on too. Looking forward to seeing the 48th scale versions appearing here soon - they'll keep motivating me to try harder ! mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach82 Posted January 26, 2015 Author Share Posted January 26, 2015 Lovely work. This kit has been sitting in my local hobby shop for about a year now. Have never given the kit a second look. May have to pick it up the next time I am in. If it turns out half as good as your work I will be pleased as punch. Thanks for the comments. I say ..... Go for it! Its a great little quick build, tarts up well and gets you out of the rut when you get bogged down with some of the bigger builds Best yet it takes up little display space when finished Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach82 Posted January 26, 2015 Author Share Posted January 26, 2015 Brilliant stuff Mark - well worth the wait ! You've nailed the nmf finish and the camo version looks pretty much spot-on too. Looking forward to seeing the 48th scale versions appearing here soon - they'll keep motivating me to try harder ! mike Thanks for the encouragement Mike. I have been slowly getting my head around this nmf and feeling confident now .... so starting the larger one in the very near future ... (these two have definitely 'wet the appetite'). From the state of your DC-8's and the other silver birds in your fleet, I don't think you need much motivation at all. Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach82 Posted January 26, 2015 Author Share Posted January 26, 2015 A photo of the 'real one' too many years ago to remember (sometime in the 70's is all I will say ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Very nice, Mark; the Impala has been a favourite of mine since seeing them as a kid. While you have indeed obtained a very tidy natural metal finish on the Mk1, I hope you won't mind some constructive criticism: the Impala Mk1 was finished in silver paint that had a satin sheen with almost no variation in tone, as in the photo of the real thing. They certainly didn't look either metallic or reflective. Jon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach82 Posted January 26, 2015 Author Share Posted January 26, 2015 Very nice, Mark; the Impala has been a favourite of mine since seeing them as a kid. While you have indeed obtained a very tidy natural metal finish on the Mk1, I hope you won't mind some constructive criticism: the Impala Mk1 was finished in silver paint that had a satin sheen with almost no variation in tone, as in the photo of the real thing. They certainly didn't look either metallic or reflective. Jon I don't mind at all and thanks for the helpful comments Jon. I fully agree with you regarding the satin finish on the Imp Mk1 (I can remember that from when I flew them in the mid-late 70's in Durban). The actual model in the display cabinet looks far more toned down than the finish in the photographs-and it certainly will do once the dust starts to settle lol ... the flash and lighting exaggerates the sheen in the photographs. Still I am going to give it another coat to dull it down a little more and hopefully that should do the trick. Should have got it right by the time I get to the 1/48 scale. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 You flew them? Wow, I only ever gazed up at them, and pestered my dad to take me to Lanseria where we could watch Mk2s. Mind you, apart from wishing I could have flown F-4s (despite knowing now that my temperament doesn't suit the flying style!), I never wanted to be a jet boy anyway! There's a lot to be said for stopping before you land... I definitely bow to greater knowledge of the subject! I used MAV decals on my 1/48 Mk1 in the Training Types GB, though I did manage to write off some of the decals so the finished result isn't entirely accurate. Jon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somtec Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Hi Lovely looking Impalas, always liked the single seater Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeW Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Thanks for the comments Mike. Yes it is 'loopvlag' ... I haven't seen that for ages now. The decals were part kit and part spares box from the Mk1 and a set that I ordered from MAVDECALS (mavdecals.co.za). I may have a few left over. Drop me a pm with specifics and I will have a look see what I have left. Mark That is such an exceptionally generous offer Mark - I don't even have the kits yet though, so I won't raid your stash at this point. I do order from MavDecals - Zane is always very helpful. I'd be satisfied with mine ending up just half as great as yours. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAAF Modeller Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Excellent work on these tiny models Mark! They look really good. Must have been quite the experience piloting them! There are now only 1 Impala Mk.I (of the 151 aircraft operated by the SAAF for 39 years!) in flying condition in South Africa. Just FYI regarding the "Loopvlag" decals... The Italeri/ESCI decals actually reads "LOOPVLAC", which is wrong. It should read "LOOPVLAK" which is Afrikaans for walkway. I didn't know that the MAV decals are also wrong. Not that hard to correct though if you have a printer and decal paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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