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In the footsteps of 06/24 and Mr P. Finished.


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Hi everyone

 

I’ve been gripped by the modelling doldrums lately. I have zero enthusiasm for either my HK B25 or my FLY Hurricane so rather than half heartedly attempt to build them I’ve packed them up and put them to one side (for now). So what to do in the mean time? I’ve been following, as I’m sure many of you have “From Failure to Failure” a jolly good thread by messers 06/24 and Procopuis and it inspired me to think small. I have several of the Airfix Blenheim’s in the stash and after following the said thread I thought that I’d give mine ago and I’m glad I did coz I’m really enjoying it.

I started last night and from the off I’ve decided that its going to be a totally OOB build without any extras or do dads, in fact I’m not even going to get the Eduard masking set for it - I have tape and a knife so I’m sure I can mask it!

So far I’ve completed the cockpit tub with the only additions being some masking tape belts and I’ve mated it to the fuselage. To get a better fit than you otherwise would I removed quite a lot of plastic from the rear of the cockpit and I’m quite happy with the results, I still have some gaps to fill but compared to what they could’ve been they should be easy to address.

First up a photo of the amount of plastic I removed to try and get a semi decent fit..

Created with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editor

The results aren’t too bad..

Created with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editor

Excuse the dust I have since removed it (well most of it)

Created with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editor

I do however have a little work underneath the old girl to fill the gaps - I guess this is a trade off for getting a semi decent fit of the cockpit to the fuselage?

Created with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editorCreated with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editor

But overall she is starting to take shape (it’s only taken me about 6 hours work to get to this stage..

Created with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editor

Right I’m off to mask the cockpit.

 

Cheers all

 

Iain

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Blimey now I know why I buy masking sets!

Created with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editor

Created with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editor

Created with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editor

Created with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editor

looking at the pictures I need to tidy up some of the masks (especially the ones underneath the nose) but on the whole they look ok.

Next up after dinner is to apply some PPP.

 

Cheers all

 

Iain

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Hey

 

Well I’m lovin this little Blenheim. I’ve got some interior green onto the cockpit canopy and its has hightlighted some gaps that need filling, nothing too major but they do need adressing.

Created with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editor

Created with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editor

The rest of the joins don’t need too much work at all, the worst are where bomb bay doors atttach to the main fuselage - but I knew that anyway..

Created with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editor

Created with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editor

Created with Photo Editor- http://axiem.net/editor

So that’s me for tonight. I’ve done far more on this model in a day and a half that I have ever done, I’ve not cut any corners and I’ve loved every minute of it.

So here’s to tomorrow.

 

Cheers

 

Iain

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Wow! One weekend in and already yours looks like more of a Blenheim than mine! Glad you're enjoying it, and if my and Procopius' ramblings really gave you the inspiration then I/we are flattered!

 

 

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10 minutes ago, 06/24 said:

Wow! One weekend in and already yours looks like more of a Blenheim than mine! Glad you're enjoying it, and if my and Procopius' ramblings really gave you the inspiration then I/we are flattered!

 

 

Hey 06/24

Yep it's your thread that gave me the inspiration to start.

I'd been treading water for a while and not really enjoying what I was building (even though the B25 and Hurricane are both lovely kits in their own ways) and I saw your thread, enjoyed it immensely and the rest is history..

So thanks very much for pointing me in the direction of Airfix and their dinky little Blenhiem.

 

Later potaters.

 

Iain.

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Evening Mr P

 

When I first test fitted the cockpit assembly I had a gap of 0.5mm between the fuselage and the cockpit and I noticed that the rear bulk head of the cockpit was fouling where it met the fuselage so out came the sanders and 5 minutes later the fit was far more agreeable, the rest of the build has been pretty painless.

Tomorrow I'll finish off the gaps and I might make a start on the under carriage and or engines.

 

Cheers mate

 

Iain

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Morning all

 

Question: Has anyone tried mixing perfect plastic putty with Tamiya acrylic paints? I ask because I'm concerned that when I come to fill the gaps in the cockpit glass the white putty will be visible when you look into the cockpit and I figure that if I can change its colour that problem will disappear?

 

Ta

 

Now back to work for me :-(

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I’ve had the same fear (Vallejo filler in my case) but in the end decided to ignore and press on in hope. I would imagine though that any acrylic paint would tint the putty, but haven’t tried, sorry.

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2 minutes ago, 06/24 said:

I’ve had the same fear (Vallejo filler in my case) but in the end decided to ignore and press on in hope. I would imagine though that any acrylic paint would tint the putty, but haven’t tried, sorry.

Yeah I think that it should be ok as they are both water based and all I want is to take the starkness of the white away. I used PPP on my recent Mosquito build and I had some seepage and from certain angles its very noticeable. 

 

I'll give it a try tonight coz I plan to spend some quality time in the mancave after work, gym, life in general...

 

Laters

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6 hours ago, (ex)Sgtrafman said:

Morning all

 

Question: Has anyone tried mixing perfect plastic putty with Tamiya acrylic paints? I ask because I'm concerned that when I come to fill the gaps in the cockpit glass the white putty will be visible when you look into the cockpit and I figure that if I can change its colour that problem will disappear?

 

Ta

 

Now back to work for me :-(

I used Gator Glue (other white glues available) to first put something in the gaps, then the paint, and then PPP, if that helps any.

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23 minutes ago, Procopius said:

I used Gator Glue (other white glues available) to first put something in the gaps, then the paint, and then PPP, if that helps any.

Hi Mr P.

 

Now there's a thought I think I might try that. The gaps themselves aren't huge but if I can get away with not having PPP showing through, then Iain's a happy boy. Whilst your on how did you paint the cowlings (collector rings) on your Blenheim as they do look rather good?

 

Ta in advance

 

Iain

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5 minutes ago, (ex)Sgtrafman said:

Whilst your on how did you paint the cowlings (collector rings) on your Blenheim as they do look rather good?

Aw shucks. I used a flat black basecoat (Mr Surfacer 1500 thinned with Gunze self-levelling) with AK Extreme Metal (ludicrous name) White Aluminium (I think -- any metallic silver will do) over it. Then I used Alclad Pale Burnt Metal and Burnt Iron and Exhaust Manifold sprayed from an el cheapo 0.3mm airbrush freehand and to taste. I messed up slightly; Blenheims had a silver ring around the inside diameter of the collector ring, as you can kinda see here:

 

P1010748.jpg

 

It's not a perfect circle, so if you have a decent airbrush and some self confidence (I only have the former and I still managed it), you should be able to leave a silver strip bare to get the full effect.

 

5 minutes ago, RidgeRunner said:

Hi chaps, excuse my ignorance - PPP?

 

thanks, Martin

 

Perfect Plastic Putty.

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34 minutes ago, Procopius said:

Aw shucks. I used a flat black basecoat (Mr Surfacer 1500 thinned with Gunze self-levelling) with AK Extreme Metal (ludicrous name) White Aluminium (I think -- any metallic silver will do) over it. Then I used Alclad Pale Burnt Metal and Burnt Iron and Exhaust Manifold sprayed from an el cheapo 0.3mm airbrush freehand and to taste. I messed up slightly; Blenheims had a silver ring around the inside diameter of the collector ring, as you can kinda see here:

 

P1010748.jpg

 

It's not a perfect circle, so if you have a decent airbrush and some self confidence (I only have the former and I still managed it), you should be able to leave a silver strip bare to get the full effect.

 

Perfect Plastic Putty.

Thank you very much - if the weather doesn't get too frisky I might try that tonight.

 

Iain

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'It's not a perfect circle, so if you have a decent airbrush and some self confidence (I only have the former and I still managed it), you should be able to leave a silver strip bare to get the full effect.'

 

Iwata CRplus 0.5 mm and Hardeer and Steenbeck Evolution 0.3mm :P

 

Iain

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21 minutes ago, Beard said:

As PC said, congratulations on getting the clear bit to fit the rest of the fuselage. Your progress is tempting me to dig one out of the stash.

Thanks mate - it really wasn't too harder fix and its a really nice little kit.

 

Iain

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Hey everyone

Well it seems that you can mix Perfect Plastic Putty with acrylic paint and it doesn't seem to have any effect on it other than to change its colour. I used my new found filler on the cockpit canopy and for the rest of the model I used my home brew filler of Tamiya extra thin with scraps of plastic in it makes a nice strong join that once dries is very easy to sand and re scribe as it's basically melted plastic.

I've also made a start on the engines by spraying everything silver - not very exciting so I didn't take any pictures.

I know I said that this was going to be built out of the box but I saw the xtradecal sheet X72202 from hannants and I had to buy it and I'm going to build the same plane as 06/24 over on the 'from failure to failure' thread.

 

Well it's getting mighty windy out side so I'm gonna call it a night

 

Cheers

 

Iain

 

 

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Hope the Atlantic gales don't blow you away, we have an amber warning for (more) snow so will see what tomorrow brings. 

 

For those not following my and PC's builds, this is the mighty warrior which has inspired Iain and I:

 

large_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=photograph
ROYAL AIR FORCE: OPERATIONS OVER ALBANIA AND IN GREECE, 1940-1941.. © IWM (CM 288)IWM Non Commercial Licence

 

 

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Posting that reminds me that I wish I had followed Stew's advice and bought the Barracuda tropical filters. I gouged an inlet opening into the Airfix kits parts but they don't really do them justice.

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