Italeri Stirling MK1(& Guitars !), Will it make it to Telford !

[robvulcan]

Hi good folks of BM today sees me begin another build of insanity where you get to see me struggle to build this Beautiful kit hopefully in time for Telford.

I have many builds on the go at the moment and most of then them Vulcans so this is a refreshing change.
The Stirling being one of my all time favourite aircraft and despite what some people Say I think it's a Beautiful machine and a huge one being much bigger than the Lanc and Halifax.

Im hoping to get it ready for the Bomber Comand table for Telford so this is going to be an OOB build but im not sure white identity yet.

Ther has been many bemoaning the panel lines to be honest with you I think they are fine and look great the are not the finest but under primer paint Klear and varnish I think it will look good enough for me. Im not going to bother filling them. It is however true that on many real aircraft you just can't see them including the Stirling but nonetheless have their appeal and keep the eye interested.
I might not bother washing them even, we will see later

The box art is wonderful





The decals look fantastic and are by cartograph



Etch ! For me this is only my second kit with etch as im used to building mostly old kits like frogs and matchbox this is very wild for me !



The kit lots of parts !!










This think looks gorgeous and it will likely start what ive been resisting for ages building loads of WW2 Bombers that Airfix Whitley being the next one in my sights already we are so lucky to be getting all these nice new kits of late and this looks brilliant to me.

Now for step one Coffee !

Cheers Rob

Edited October 26, 2015 by robvulcan

[thepureness]

Got my interest here Rob, watching this one, as i've considered buying one of these.

[robvulcan]

Great nice to have you on board

[mcdonnell]

Go for it,Rob!! Get some Olympus Power into your Fine Fettling!! Good luck and all the very best,Paul.

[robvulcan]

Haha yes I think the Stirling could have benefited from some Olympus I hear that take off and landing was a bit scary for the pilots and she was a little under powered but once in the air a Pilots plane that was very Manoeuvrable.

[Stew Dapple]

Nice to see a build of the 'Queen of the Skies'; I've been tempted - repeatedly - by this kit but have so far I have resisted... you might tip me over the edge Rob

Cheers,

Stew

[robvulcan]

Stew it sure is a Queen of the Skies I really hope that in the future we may see a real Stirling again I have always wanted to see one since I was a Kid.

My Grandads friend Eric had been on a Stirling that got hit and he had to bail out but got caught and was a prisoner. They nearly starved him to death and lucky for him he got out and some how survived a walk across Europe and a swim across the Channel to Blighty !. It had an effect on Eric as whenever the family gatherings happened and we went out for a meal all his food would be eaten in the blink of an eye. While everyone else was still looking at their fresh served food and taking a sip of wine, Eric's whole plate would be clean ! , I have never known anyone eat so fast and that was the effects of being starved.

So for that reason the Stirling has always in foremost in my thoughts about Aircraft of WW2. I have always wanted to make one and never got around to it so this is great. Treat yourself Stew

[brianthemodeller]

Hi Rib - I've had my eye on this kit too so will be watching with interest...

[robvulcan]

Cheers Brian good to have you on board. It will be interesting seeing how mine looks OOB without any mods to the panel lines. Sadly I have not the time to do that but I want to just have fun with this and see what Italeri have given us as is. The only problems I can see is the need to cut the windows out but that's not too much bother and could be handy for other variants. The one thing I don't like is the need to fit the wheels before assembling the wings I hope to find a way around that.

The thing that surprised me is how much interior this kit has the whole fuselage has internal detail from nose to tail !

Rob

[CedB]

Great choice Rob - I'm in!

[robvulcan]

Cheers Ced mate.

Btw what do most of you use for Priming Etch. I would Guess standard Halfords primer but not being one to use etch very often I thought I'd ask ?

[stevej60]

Will be following Rob, I built the old Airfix one many moons ago but this one looks right up to date in Quality and detail.Good luck.

[Fritag]

So that'll be about 20 days then Rob. I seem to remember reading some robvulcan threads on the run up to previous Telford's involving epic all-night modelling sessions. I wonder of we're in for something similar as the days get short

Can't wait.

Nice one Rob.

[robvulcan]

Cheers Ced, Steve and Steve !, Yes it seems I often end up with builds that run close to a deadline that involve late nights Coffee and a bit of a Battle I think I must find some fun or motivation from working under pressure. Seems to be the case with me.

I Just hope this kit is easier than the Airfix Vulcan I did which I spent most of the days endlessly sanding... As this is a New tooling I am hoping for a mostly trouble free build and I am even thinking of being super lazy and buying my first Eduard Masking set

[Radleigh]

Good luck mate, wanted a kit done for the display but won't make it sadly.... Looking forward to the end result

[dadgaddad]

Been a big fan of the Stirling ever since I was a boy although I can't remember if I ever built one or not. Will be watching.

One bit of advice. Make sure you give it a really good wash down with plenty of white spirit just before you start painting!

[perdu]

muhahahahaha

notes to Rob

Take all dadgaddad's good advice

all of it

he he

Or maybe...

Hi Rob you lummox, is Telford really that soon? Wow I hadnt realised now I have nothing to enter for the competition

See you there of course and of course, my sadistic streak WILL keep me aboard ready to advise or even extract certain vital liquids at times of your greatest stress

(I know you know the Stirling was only the tallest of the Big Bombers, its wings were deliberately made short to fit the standard RAF hangars, then the RAF made the hangars bigger because the Hallibags and Lancs were wider)

italeri, hope you noticed that word

italeri

g'luck Rob

[robvulcan]

Cheers Radders shame you cant put one on the table this time I am sure if you did it would put ours to shame as your recent model shows paint work like I never imagined was possible. Then with you painting the real thing you must be darn good at it

Dadgaddad I will be avoiding the White Spirit like the plague ! ahahah

Perdu I have always taken your advice but now I will be a little skeptical ahaha. Yes I was watching some documentaries this morning and I was surprised it was 7 Feet off the wings ! It would have been interesting to see what Supermarines effort would have been like it looked rather ahead of its time.

Aye 3 and a bit weeks and I am still reading the instructions.

I was watching these earlier if you have not seen them they are particularly fascinating. The first one about the Stirling and the Second featuring some truly amazing footage.

Cheers Rob

[perdu]

Seven feet off the wings? dammit man you are impugning me old dad there

He's the poor s*d that fell off it

If tha looks at that fine picture of the Stirling you posted that can see the height is at least two off 'basic erk wartime issue' so at about five foot six average two on top o' each other

jobs a good un

Edited October 18, 2015 by perdu

[general melchett]

Good luck with this Rob...mine's been going for 5 months and I've only just got round to fixing all the issues and priming it !, (but then I just had to get shot of all the panel trenches and golf ball rivets that cover the blasted thing), but as you're not doing that it should be a breeze !

I know you'll do it...(though knowing you you'll probably be sat at the table Sat morning with a big hairy stick in one hand, ooh err, and an almost finished Stirling int' tother ! ).....

[Ace From Outer Space]

Hiya Rob,

Will be following this keenly! I absolutely love the Stirling, I think it is an awesome looking beast and is certainly my favourite WW2 British bomber. Good luck mate, and using etch too! I've just used my first etch on a kit and it was a bit scary!

Cheers, I will be looking forward to seeing this at Telford, although my visit will have to be superspeedy that day as I have double booked myself...

Cheers mate, this is going to be ace,

Viv

[prowler0000]

November 5, 1977.

It was my 10th birthday....

Somehow, I broke out of Gordonbrock School in Brockley, S.E London, at 15:30 & went on a great expedition to Beatties in Lewisham. My objective: Airfix's Short Stirling. Damn, I could TASTE that bloody thing! My nan had given me my birthday card a day early & i'd hit it the night before to nab the £5 inside.

I can still remember the black plastic in the box. It was one of the biggest kits i'd made up to that point, along with the Airfix Lancaster & B-17....

The following years brought forth Monograms B-36 & the B-29 in 1/48 scale, The HUGE airfix 1:24 Stuka & the Monogram 1:8 E-type & Doyusha 1:12 Lambo. Lately the kits have been even BIGGER.....

But the Stirling & her bomb trolly/tractor still make me smile.....

Go get 'er, Rob!!!!

Edited October 18, 2015 by prowler0000

[woody37]

You'll probably beat me to the finish line Rob, the rate I'm going, looking forwards to seeing your build

[bbudde]

Hello. I'm also in here. This seems to be a good kit apart of the panel lines. Normally Italeri kits have a good fit and imo the best clear canopies. Cheers

[robvulcan]

Good luck with this Rob...

I know you'll do it...(though knowing you you'll probably be sat at the table Sat morning with a big hairy stick in one hand, ooh err, and an almost finished Stirling int' tother ! ).....

Cheers mate and Happy Birthday to you. I hope I get her done keeping it simple I hope too. If I have not finished it I probably wont bring it but I am sure she will have just dry paint and smell of glue.

Hiya Rob,

Will be following this keenly! I absolutely love the Stirling, ,

Viv

Cheers Viv I love all RAF Subjects but the Stirling has always been a looker to me and a fascinating huge beast. Be good to see you at Telford

November 5, 1977.

It was my 10th birthday....

Go get 'er, Rob!!!!

I love stories like that, It reminds me of hunts for certain toys and models as a kid (and adult) but there are not many shops now sadly. Online Ordering is great but the thrill of the hunt when your full of the inspiration and desire to grab it is so much more fun than opening a box and thinking "Ah its here".

Cheers

You'll probably beat me to the finish line Rob, the rate I'm going, looking forwards to seeing your build

Not sure about that mate but hopefully we will both make it. I do intend to do OOB but If anyone makes turned brass gun barrels I could be tempted to use those. ?

Cheers

Hello. I'm also in here. This seems to be a good kit apart of the panel lines. Normally Italeri kits have a good fit and imo the best clear canopies. Cheers

Great stuff if it fits well I am happy the clear parts look wonderful and the panel lines to me are not that bad I have seen much much worse. Its not a problem to me at least but I do agree on the real deal far less prominent.

At least its easier to fill than scribe

So sorry for the slow start here I am glad to have everyone on board and will start soon. The last 2 days have been busy with band practice and sorting out my new rig for a Gig on Friday. I will start before then but it will really get going after then.

For anyone interested here is my new Rig last night. Now we just need to cover the Motorhead Song Bomber !

Edited October 20, 2015 by robvulcan