Christer A Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 I guess you guys starts to get tired about me starting WIP:s left and right and then just stall them...so here's another one! I've not forgotten about the Bf110 or the P-47N yet, they just got pushed to the back burner for a while. The Spitfire VIII will get finished soon, since a the C4 competition is getting closer by the minute. The first weekend in September my local IPMS chapter run it's yearly competition and I did my first stint as a judge there (don't laugh!) Very inspiring, and all though the 1/48 jet class was packed with excellent models I decided that I should enter one there next year. So that leaves me with just about a year to finish this: This box was definitely made to lure me in. It's Airfix red, it's got a big honking (very) british piece of metal, rockets and a sharkmouth. The only missing thing was probably a evocative nose-art of some sort, but that would probably be a bit too much. The Airfix kit looks great, but I couldn't help myself to some aftermarket candy: I was satisfied with this for a while but then I decided to just order a few more parts, but since Hannants doesn't do instant delivery to Sweden I'll just have to wait for a little while longer for the rest to arrive. It's quite a large beast this one? Meanwhile I was pondering why and where my builds stall. They usually proceed quite ok until after the decals are placed, and then I burn out on the subject. This leaves me with quite a few kits on the shelf of doom that are fully painted and decaled, just missing final weathering and all the small/loose bits. With that in mind, let's see how to tackle this one. Surely I must begin with the loose bits! That means all weapons, pylons, antennas, landing gear and maybe also the canopy must be finished before the fuselage is joined. It also seems that the air brake hangs loose, so let's start with that. Airfix in the year 2012 was using another inejction moulding company then their present ones, and those guys really liked thick ingates and hard plastic. As an extra bonus some sink marks and those pesky ejector pins must be dealt with. Razor saw is a must to get the parts out from the runners. I decided to enhance the air brake using some plastic strips and will start to add bundles of wires, pipes and hoses to the bay itself, while pondering how to paint the tanks and pylons. White yes, but maybe I should add some brown to it to be able to play with shading? Sounds like I'll need to do some testing... 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 This is a great kit, Airfixs' finest I reckon, but you are right about the sprues, they are huge and removing the smaller parts can be quite an operation and becomes a chore. Well worth the effort though. Will be watching your build with interest! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 I love Sea Vixens so I'm up for this one! A year to do this one? Its a fine kit and with the accessories you have lined up, it shouldn't give you too much trouble in that time scale. Martian 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAG058 Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 +1 fan of this kit! I built it earlier this year, it was great fun. Remember, plenty of nose weight! Here is my RFI 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share Posted September 13, 2017 Thanks for the cheers James, Martian and DAG! I'm still waiting for the resin wheel wells (unneeded really, since the main gear bay doors are closed), resin wheels and cockpit etch to arrive so there'll be some more stuff to fiddle with. Tanks and pylons got a first coat of white UMP primer to check for flaws Are the pylons handled? I marked the left ones just in case. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amblypygid Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Looking forward to what you make of this, Christer. Mine is at the same stalled stage (decals on, fiddly bits have been sitting in a box for a year). I really must get the canopies on, at the very least. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share Posted September 13, 2017 Thanks Chris! Shall we start a race to finish them? ;-) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amblypygid Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 We should! ;-) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 You won't, but please do. 😁 I need lots of knowledge for my own Sea Vixen, which shall not be converted to the early mark I'll just sit quietly offstage looking for prompts 😉 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 (edited) I've got two of these on the go at the moment, one a build for someone else and the other a what if, both out of the box but no race for me!🐭 I've not noticed the kit pylons being handed, though the originals are likely to be. Nice work so far. Edited September 13, 2017 by 71chally 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, 71chally said: I've got two of these on the go at the moment, one a build for someone else and the other a what if, both out of the box but no race for me!🐭 An OOB What-If? How does that work? You have to love a Vixen, even after being hit with the FAW2 ugly stick. And it's a great kit, so you should have lots of fun; I loved doing my FAW1. Edited September 13, 2017 by Ex-FAAWAFU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Because it's only a mild WIF, involving paint and one store. I leave the fantasy stuff for other people. FAW.2, a thing of brutal beauty! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted September 15, 2017 Author Share Posted September 15, 2017 On 2017-09-13 at 08:53, perdu said: You won't, but please do. 😁 I need lots of knowledge for my own Sea Vixen, which shall not be converted to the early mark I'll just sit quietly offstage looking for prompts 😉 :-) Well, look to me to see how to not do it I guess... On 2017-09-13 at 14:37, Ex-FAAWAFU said: You have to love a Vixen, even after being hit with the FAW2 ugly stick. And it's a great kit, so you should have lots of fun; I loved doing my FAW1. Thanks Crisp! I hade a fun couple of hours on the commute reading up on your magnificient FAW1. That was an epic build! A small update would you like? I got a package from der Sockelshop and Big H containing some much needed stuff. Or not... The only thing missing now is a turned refuelling probe, but I can't find that anymore. Too bad. I also bought a bottle of Ultimate Gloss black primer, so I decided to test that Works just as good as the normal stuff, but dries to a gloss finish, perfect for metal! Those air intakes will defenitely require lots of TLC though. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Nice work with that primer surface. I found the intakes were fairly easy to get smooth. Dunno if it helps, but the real intakes are a dull natural metal finish. The engine faces are really nice and fun to detail. The spokes are black, other than the 4 o'clock one (which should be a bit thicker, it's the HP air starter outlet) which is a silver, just slightly duller than the bright shiny starter bullet. Blades are typically a dull aluminum finish. I might not be seeing them properly, but I think the kit wheels look more realistic than the aftermarket ones 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted September 16, 2017 Author Share Posted September 16, 2017 Thanks James! So If I paint it like this, then it should be good enough I hope Work continues on the intakes The splitter plate on the inside was far from a sharp corner on the mating parts, leaving a very visible nasty wedge. My plan is to add some plastic strip and filler, and then sand it all smooth. Let's see how that turns out. Also, wet sand PPP is not a great idea, since PPP is almost eaten up by the water itself. Ooops. Here's a comparison shot between resin wheels and standard items. Not that much different on the nosewheel or the inner side of the main ones, but CMK adds all those lovely brakes. I can see quite clearly that the resin ones are more detaild, but if they're more correct than Airfix I can't say. Still, they look lovely and that counts in my book! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 If you sand PPP damp, not wet you can control it all nicely This is already giving me lots of idea's for mine, thank you ☺ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 You've just reminded me with the intakes area, I had to fit some plasticard plates to the intakes outer bodies (26 & 27), these start ahead of the intakes and lead down them slightly, this gets rid of a visible gap which allows you to see right through inside the kit when finally assembled. Basically they form the inner wall of the boundary layer intake (the narrow slot between the intake assembly and the fuselage). The assemblies that represent the vertical intake guides, these can fit well and look good, but require thinning down of the top and bottom parts, and rounding off the leadibg edges of the guides themselves. Constant trial fitting and fettling in this area does pay off. Cracking work on the engine faces, I would be happy with that. If you're really fussy, the centre bullet fairings are a very shiny (almost chrome) silver, back to level with the black spokes. The blades (Intake Guide Vanes) appear as a dull uniform alloy finish, and I think they may actually be coated/painted a very pale grey or off white on some Avons. This is being uber fussy though! The resin wheels do looks beautifully molded, but they look clunky or something - hard to say. They certainly add the brake detail which Airfix don't represent at all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 (edited) Nice start. Watching with interest, I intend to convert mine to a Mk1 with the help of an Alleycat conversion. Cheers John Edited September 16, 2017 by Biggles87 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 (edited) @Christer A this is great image of the engine fronts and other details, From the Navy Wings site, https://www.navywings.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Sea-Vixen-damage-004.jpg Note the observers hatch being clear is unique to XP924 since it was on the preservation scene (I guess the passenger wanted to see out!), and at least one of the Tarrant TT.2s, but not on service FAW.2s. This is the area where I inserted plasticard, roughly the yellow dashed area. The intake assembly inner edges need to be quite sharply finished to nicely represent the boundary flow intake, arrowed. Airfix Sea Vixen inlet by James Thomas, on Flickr Edited September 16, 2017 by 71chally added pic link 10 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Hello Christer, Someone who repeatedly starts WiP and kits ?? Really ?? Does it exist ?? Waow the Sea Vixen, really like the beast ! I got 2, the Airfix one and a Dynavector one, and No, will not start this project right now Congatulations too for @71chally for both the pics and the air intake ! great work ! Will follow this one too if you do'nt mind , Sincerely. Corsaircorp (just another serial starter) 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor K2 Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Hi Christer, when XP924 was at Llanbedr operating as a drone trainer (she never flew unmanned ) the observers hatch was opaque (black). We had 4 Sea Vixens on charge as drone trainers when I arrived in the mid 80's. 2 were in Naval colours and scrapped after a grand total of approximately 1 hours flying time after having been on a Major servicing. The remaining (in drone red and yellow scheme ) flew a limited number of times, then lay dormant save for engine inhibiting runs, until 924 was sold to Glyn from De Havilland Aviation. A rather difficult aircraft to maintain and if posed on the ground in a hangar you must include at least 24 drip trays underneath ( she leaked enough fuel over a weekend to warrant a refuel on the Monday ). Having said all this, as an engineer, I thoroughly enjoyed working on the Sea Vixen. More power to you on this fantastic build. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted September 22, 2017 Author Share Posted September 22, 2017 On 2017-09-16 at 15:38, 71chally said: Note the observers hatch being clear is unique to XP924 since it was on the preservation scene (I guess the passenger wanted to see out!), and at least one of the Tarrant TT.2s, but not on service FAW.2s. This is the area where I inserted plasticard, roughly the yellow dashed area. The intake assembly inner edges need to be quite sharply finished to nicely represent the boundary flow intake, arrowed. Airfix Sea Vixen inlet by James Thomas, on Flickr Great pictures @71chally! At first I thought the bottom one was from the actual aircraft but I realised later that it was not the case. I have the boundary inlet under control now, but the rest of the intake is far from smooth. More sanding required! Black painted hatch for the observer, check! On 2017-09-17 at 21:14, corsaircorp said: Hello Christer, Someone who repeatedly starts WiP and kits ?? Really ?? Does it exist ?? Waow the Sea Vixen, really like the beast ! I got 2, the Airfix one and a Dynavector one, and No, will not start this project right now Congatulations too for @71chally for both the pics and the air intake ! great work ! Will follow this one too if you do'nt mind , Sincerely. Corsaircorp (just another serial starter) Well @corsaircorp, you know me too well. Starting a new kit is great fun! Not so much to finish it, but it happens once in a while... Let's see if I can push through this time! On 2017-09-17 at 22:36, Victor K2 said: Hi Christer, when XP924 was at Llanbedr operating as a drone trainer (she never flew unmanned ) the observers hatch was opaque (black). We had 4 Sea Vixens on charge as drone trainers when I arrived in the mid 80's. 2 were in Naval colours and scrapped after a grand total of approximately 1 hours flying time after having been on a Major servicing. The remaining (in drone red and yellow scheme ) flew a limited number of times, then lay dormant save for engine inhibiting runs, until 924 was sold to Glyn from De Havilland Aviation. A rather difficult aircraft to maintain and if posed on the ground in a hangar you must include at least 24 drip trays underneath ( she leaked enough fuel over a weekend to warrant a refuel on the Monday ). Having said all this, as an engineer, I thoroughly enjoyed working on the Sea Vixen. More power to you on this fantastic build. @Victor K2 Thanks for the info. It sounds like a very leaky beast all right. Speaking of that, how much did everything droop in the morning? I understand that the Air brake drooped quite a bit, so I need to detail there, but how about the landing hook bay and the inner gear bay door? Any drooping there? During the week some progress have been made, even though the day job is taking a lot of time from me. I noticed something strange on the grooves for the outer win support brackets. It seems that the thin plastic had sagged somehow leaving a small indent on the top side. I might be hallucinationg but I thought it best to fill it with some Mr Surface and sand smooth. Fitting the Aires wheel bays was easy. So easy in fact that one didn't even have to thin them in any way, or even remuve the pour stubs! I double checked the Aires blisterpack to see if it was intended for the Dynavector kit or something but no, it says Airfix! Must be some mistake here, everyone knows that Aires stuff always require lots of scraping and sanding to fit Also started on the wheels. . Some tire black, creep marks and a wash or two should sort those out. But the wheels need something to attach to, and here I have two options. Either plastic or the Aires whitemetal. I've only used whitemetal once before for my 1/24 Typhoon, and those buggers were not that great. Here, they have more detail than the plastic parts, but still needs a lot of cleaning up. The brake lines would look better as actual lines and not cast into the leg. I think I'll go ahead with the plastic ones and see how they can be improved. Should be fun! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted September 22, 2017 Share Posted September 22, 2017 Its not my scale but I've enjoyed looking at your thread all the same, I'm a Sea Vixen fan in any scale. One thing puzzles me, Aires U/C bays, fitting. you're sure they're the ones for the Airfix kit? Steve. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 22, 2017 Share Posted September 22, 2017 (edited) Nice work Christer, personally I would detail the plastic legs. ... and you're not hallucinating, there are indentations in the wing surfaces where the wing joining parts go. Drooping, if you check out service pics of Vixens ranged on deck or shore based, then drooping did occur after being parked for a while. Airbrake and arrestor hook are the most obvious culprits. I tend to droop the main gear inner doors just a few mm, looks more natural, rare to see them fully open unless being worked on. Flaps didn't droop, due to the way they operate. I don't usually use museum aircraft as examples for service aircraft, but the FAAM Vixen seems quite typically posed de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 XS590 131-E 899 sqn by James Thomas, on Flickr Here's a main wheel if it helps de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 XS590 port main wheel by James Thomas, on Flickr Great to hear of @Victor K2 reminiscences, hope to hear more! Edited September 22, 2017 by 71chally 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted September 22, 2017 Author Share Posted September 22, 2017 Thank you James, those photos and the droop confirmation was just what I was after. What do you use for the light grey/blue shade in the wells? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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