More Silver Wings - AW Siskin 1/72

[shar1982]

I'm making my own RAF 100 collection of models and I thought it would be nice to join in this group build while filling some gaps in my collection.

 

So, here's the 1930's silver biplane. The old Matchbox AW Siskin. If the kit decals hold up, then I will build the 32 Squadron aircraft, otherwise I will use the Modeldecal sheet to make a 43 Squadron a/c.

 

 

 

[MarkSH]

This looks really interesting, love these interwar colourful biplanes.

[shar1982]

I love them too. I always loved the fact Matchbox made a Siskin, Glad and Fury and they are all very buildable kits. Include the Airfix Bristol Bulldog and you've got a lovely silver quartet!

 

[Stew Dapple]

Not wishing your build any misfortune whatsoever but I hope the kit decals are past their best, as the 43 Sqn markings would look amazing  

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

[shar1982]

How rude and impertinent, Sir!

I'm happy with either choice, I just felt I needed a plan B as the kit decals are a bit crispy. Best not rely on them!

[Robert Stuart]

Looks good.

One question, I had the impression that Siskin anti-glare panels were NIVO?

[shar1982]

I did too...got a pot of NIVO too. But is NIVO a bit like PC10 in terms of shade? IE a dark green?

[Robert Stuart]

1 hour ago, shar1982 said:

I did too...got a pot of NIVO too. But is NIVO a bit like PC10 in terms of shade? IE a dark green?

I'd go with your pot of NiVO.

Personally, I think of NIVO as a dark grey green, more consistent than the earlier PC colours.

[zebra]

Great choice, I’ve always loved the Siskin. I built this kit a couple of times, years ago now, and remember it as a nice little kit. Would love one in 1/48.

[shar1982]

I think I built three many years ago. I didn't paint the first one, so it was naked plastic dark green fuse and silver wings (impatient youth!), but i went together nicely and encouraged me to do the next two "properly".

Looking forward to getting stuck into my fourth attempt tonight!

[shar1982]

Plastic has been fettled! I've painted the inside of the cockpit area to try and represent the red oxide dope I've seen on full-size biplanes under restoration at Old Warden. Shoved a couple of masking tape seat belts in as a visual representation of something in the cockpit!

 

 

And that's it! Fuselage is now zipped up waiting for glue to dry...

[SoftScience]

And that's all you need. Not much to be seen through that wee opening, and with the wing almost on top of it.

 

I love the maychbox biplanes.

[shar1982]

Not much progress on the Siskin. I knew I had a scale drawing somewhere to help with the rigging, just wasn't sure where I'd put it. After much hunting (and some genuine progress on my other RAF 100 builds) I finally found it in the loft, so I can get going again with my little silver beauty!