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airfix 1/72 handley page hampden


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Afternoon chaps.

Don't do many wips on here, but thought I might do one now, over the festive season whilst I'm off work.

Pulled this little kit out of the stash.

I've heard some bad things about the fit on the web, so we'll have to see how I get on.

Right, the obligatory sprue shots!

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As you can see in the last two pics, there's a lot of flash to contend with.

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More flash.

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The crew are a bit basic, mostly amorphous blobs. Think I might leave them out.

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Lots of bombs!

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The clear parts are rather thick, and the framing is a bit indistinct, might make masking a problem.

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Decals look ok to me.

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Think I'll be using these out of the three options, as I like the nose art.

The mad riviter must have had a field day with this kit. The rivets are rather pronounced, to say the least. Looking at photos of the real airframe, there are no rivets visible, that I could see, so I think they'll have to go.

Construction has started, as always, with the cockpit.

Will post some pics up soon.

Thanks for looking in.

Matt

Edited by S5 modeller
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Decided this is the version I will build.

Flown by roderick "babe" learoyd, 49 Squadron out of raf Scampton, 12 august 1940. Chose this version as it includes a nose art, which the other 2 don't.

Cockpit is underway, tried to fit the pilot, but he is way overscale to the seat and control column, so I'm leaving the whole crew out.

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It's rather sparse in there, but nowt will be visible when the fuselage is buttoned up.

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While the glue is drying, I've started on the tail section. Don't know how airfix hope you'll glue these sections together, the ejector marks are like towers.

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Got the tail assembled and clamped up. It has a movable flap, and hopefully when the glue dries it will still move.

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The fuselage halves have rather prominent ejector marks, some of which might be visible when assembled, so those had to be delt with too.

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The fuselage halves have rather large sprue gates. Didn't want to risk damage, so used a razor saw to remove them.

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You can see here how big the connection point was, got most of the excess plastic off, and will deal with what's left when filling and sanding the fuselage seams.

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Fuselage halves with an initial coat of interior green. Looks a bit patchy, but a second coat should sort it out.

That's about as far as I've got now, waiting for glue and paint to dry.

Thanks again.

Matt

Edited by S5 modeller
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I built one of these a long time ago when it was first released. Probably late 60's. Long, long time ago and all I recall was it was moulded I'm black plastic, like all Airfix British night bombers. I think it went together ok then. Probably done in a long afternoon. No need to paint interior and the black plastic meant only two colours on top. Ah those were the days before counting rivets. And the Airfix list of the 60's/70's had loads of them.

All the best with this build. I'm sure you will have it looking a cracker.

Edited by 825
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Welcome aboard chaps.

Hope I can live up to your expectations.

To be honest it does look like it will go together ok. Dry fitting the wings at the moment. Finding the wing tabs are way too thick to fit in the corresponding slots.

Also the small underside side windows are too small to sit nicely in their apertures.

Matt

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Yep, in too. Probably my favourite kit when I was a nipper, I built loads of them. Something about the shape of the old Hampden that looks good to me. I'm sure you'll do this one proud.

Steve

Edited by Airgunner
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I'll certainly try steve.

Progress has halted on the interior,as I've just ordered the airwaves etch set from hannants, so waiting on delivery.

Will just have to work on the wing and tail assemblies.

Off visiting family today, so won't be able to do anything till tonight.

Couple of questions, chaps.

Rivets or no rivets? All the pics I've seen show a smooth outer skin. The actual plastic rivets seem over large, almost like braille.

Does anyone know if resin engines are available? The kit ones are rather poor. I've seen a company called h.p hereford that used to do a set, but can't find anyone that stocks them.

Is it worth getting the falcon vac canopy set?

Edited by S5 modeller
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Couple of questions, chaps.

Rivets or no rivets? All the pics I've seen show a smooth outer skin. The actual plastic rivets seem over large, almost like braille.

Does anyone know if resin engines are available? The kit ones are rather poor. I've seen a company called h.p hereford that used to do a set, but can't find anyone that stocks them.

Is it worth getting the falcon vac canopy set?

I would lose the rivets as they are way over scale and the real aircraft is flush riveted.

As to the engines, any resin Pegasus would do the job although you may well need to trim the cylinder heads and/or the inside of the cowling to get them to fit. Your reference to the Hereford probably refers to resin conversion items for the Napier Dagger powered version of the Hampden, the Hereford (which shames me into remembering that I have a Hereford conversion on the shelf of doom that I have been plugging away at on and off for a few years now).

As you are going to the trouble of fitting extra detail parts to the interior, I would go with the Squadron replacements. They are much thinner and clearer than the kit items.

Hope that helps

Martin

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I would remove the rivets personally. It's such a boring and tedious job though, and once you commit you can't stop!

One down side to losing the raised detail is that it can become a flat and boring model. It's a tough choice!

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The rivets are heavy and should go.

Hannants have 2 or 3 resin Pegasus engines in their listings, one is a CMK so should be good quality.

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Back again with an update.

Whilst I'm waiting for the interior etch set to arrive, I've been working on the wings.

Plenty of flash to sort out, you can see how much in the two pics below.

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Here's the lower wing section,as airfix supply it, with no clean up. As you can see, there is flash galore.

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Here's the opposite wing after a major fettling session. There's still the odd bit of flash to remove. Just got the second lower and one upper to do. Airfix seem to have totally forgot about the wing tip lights, so might try replacing them.

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Got the tail section up to this point, just needs a touch of filler here and there.

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These are the kit pegasus engines, they are pretty crude representations of the real things. I might get some resin replacements, but it depends how much is visible inside the cowling.

Can anyone point me in the direction of some decent plans? I've found these...

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I've no idea how accurate they are. I'm thinking of sanding off the rivets, and trying my hand at some scribing.

Off to tackle those wings now.

Thanks for stopping by.

Matt

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Happy new year chaps.

Now Christmas is done and out the way, work can continue.

Look what the postman left for me this morning.....

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The awaited airwaves interior etch set.

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Two nice frets of dress up goodies. The quality look ok, much better than the interior at the moment.

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Not too sure on the instructions though, fairly basic and a bit vague in places, but I'm sure I'll manage.

One obvious part not catered for, and I don't know why, is the control column. There's an all etch pilot seat, and rudder pedals, but no column. Thought they could have done one.

Oh well, off to remove the interior green from the fuselage halves, and start with the biggest pieces of etch, the side walls.

Wish me luck.

Matt

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