Stew Dapple Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 I've just finished this: the Airfix 1/72 Defiant in the markings of L6957 of 264 Squadron as she may have appeared around February/March 1940 when the squadron begain their first operations in the new aircraft. The aircraft were issued to the squadron in December 1939 but mechanical problems and the need to develop new tactics meant that it was only in late February that the first combat missions - mainly convoy protection patrols - began. L6957 took part in patrols over the Dutch coast and the Channel, suffering some fairly severe damage over the French coast on the 29th May, but surviving both the French campaign and the Battle of Britain, being damaged again on 28th August and following repairs being transferred to a training unit. This is the very lovely Airfix kit, with the turret guns replaced with brass barrels from Master. I also replaced the navigation lights with clear sprue and the pitot tube with Albion Alloys Aluminium micro-tube; apart from that it is OOB although I did use the Eduard canopy mask set. I also used the Infini Model Fine (70 Denier) white lycra thread for the aerial wire. The topside colours are Phoenix Precision Paints Dark Green and Dark Earth, the underside is Vallejo Off-white and a near-black mix of Vallejo German Grey and Black (about half of each). The markings are mostly Xtradecal from their Defiant set, modified and mixed as appropriate for the period, with the kit markings for stencils etc. Anyway enough talk, here are the pics: Thanks for your attention gents Cheers, Stew 27 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimHead23 Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 Excellent Stew! That is one hell of a flat varnish you use. May I ask what it is? Terrific kit isn't it? Regards JIm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 An absolute delight stew! Nice work Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted July 8, 2016 Author Share Posted July 8, 2016 Thanks very much Jim, Rob Jim, it's Xtracolor XDFF flat coat, I forgot to note that in the blurb - I always use too much but it is flat as Lincolnshire as long as you shake it up properly... Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polo1112 Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 I really love it !!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 Nice one Stew,......good to see an earlier Defiant scheme, Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted July 9, 2016 Author Share Posted July 9, 2016 Thank you Polo Thank you Tony - it actually sort of surprised me how drab the scheme looks without that yellow ring around the fuselage roundel to brighten it up... but then you have the half-white underside to make up for it I suppose! Cheers, Stew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 That's really smart, Stew. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 Excellent Defiant Stew,colours look spot on must try and get some. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 Very smart! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnthedude Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 Looks amazing. Must get some of that matt varnish too. I love the Defiant, it really is an odd bird. Finnthedude. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Very nice Stew, another great model 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Very nice. Just picked up one of these from the hobby shop, after wanting if for ages. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73north Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 really nice model , the Air Master brass guns are really wonderful and well worth the effort of fitting ( I use them in all my model where I can ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted July 11, 2016 Author Share Posted July 11, 2016 Thanks very much gents 73north, yes the Master barrels do make quite a difference don't they? I have several packs of the .303s but I seemed to have some reluctance to actually use them - I kept waiting for my 'perfect model' to use them on... Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73north Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 I first ' discovered ' brass barrels when I came across by accident , Fukuya brass 1/48 cannon barrels for the preparations to build the N1K2-J ( George ) in Japan - ordered them , and was astounded the difference they made , and they are far better looking ( and hollow ends ) than the kit parts - I never turned back - and always use them where possible , along with MOSKIT Hollow exhausts , the one thing that can , for a small price transform the look of your model ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomBigStu Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Another marvel of plastic, paint, metal and who knows what else stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Somehow missed this one - wonderful Defiant Stew! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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