Popular Post general melchett Posted June 6, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted June 6, 2018 (edited) Hi all, back again. This time it's a test shot of the soon to be released Airfix Wimpy Mk 1A/C which was finished for last months Airfix Model World magazine. It's a great little kit packed with detail allowing you to build either the Mk 1A or C versions. The interior is amazingly well-detailed and includes just about everything plus the proverbial kitchen sink, (well OK, Elsan), all bulkheads, flooring, nav table, radio equipment, packed bomb bay with open doors, well-appointed cockpit and superb FN gun turrets. The geodetic structures are also nicely rendered particularly on the wings and tail fin....nicely restrained and very convincing. Another great option is to have the cockpit side windows open to show off the lovely detail in there. You can also build the later Mk1C with the painted over long fuselage windows and waist gunners glazing plus guns though the instructions don't mention this with this particular release. As usual with pre-production kits, no decals or box was included so the editor kindly sent me the superb DK Decals No 311 Czechoslovak squadron, RAF set which was used to represent the second iteration of the well-known Broughton Wellington, R1516 after the original R1333 sadly crashed. Before anybody mentions it I'm aware I made a boo-boo with the fuselage codes in the magazine article.....blame Darling who was frantically distracting me with his fly collection at the time. I managed to reverse the codes on the right side so that they read XK-U instead of KX-U. In fact, it was David Hannant who let me know my unforgivable faux-pas, seemed to be a case of not seeing the wood for the trees. It was quickly corrected but not before the article was published...Darling suffered badly for this I can assure you. Actually, note to self...''Regarding codes, if you're going to cut them out individually to get rid of the carrier film...then kindly put them back in the right order!'' I've made a few other changes too including adding the black rings to the fuselage roundels, (used by 311 to black out the white portions of the roundel) and removal of the tail-wheel doors, a mod that was carried out from the late Mk 1A's on. A few quick notes on the build: Replaced the solid trim tab activator on the left side of the rudder with lead wire as I didn't much care for the solid moulding. The counter balances were also replaced using plastic rod. Seatbelts fabricated from lead foil, instrument panel, Aeroscale dials. Camo colours...Mr.Hobby H333 Dark Earth, H73 Dark Green, (mixed using a small amount of H304 Olive Drab to enliven the green) and undersides Mission Models MMP-305 NATO Black mixed with a small amount of MMP-040 Tire Black. Lots of light and dark grey pastel powders used on the exhaust staining and wing/fuselage undersides, (various panels lightened using base colours and Tamiya XF-2 Flat White). AMMO MIG Pastels and Abteilung oil washes to the upper surfaces. Uschi 'Fine' for the aerial wires. They must trust me with the kit as Airfix kindly sent me another to build for their trade stand at Telford this year. This time it'll be finished using the kit decals. Anyhoo you should all go out and buy one......at least! Thanks for looking and hope like it, Melchie Edited June 7, 2018 by general melchett 114 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted June 6, 2018 Share Posted June 6, 2018 Excellent! Regards J-W 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazza l Posted June 6, 2018 Share Posted June 6, 2018 Beautiful work, I'm really looking forward to this kit... thanks for giving us a sneak preview! gazza l 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted June 6, 2018 Share Posted June 6, 2018 Terrific build their Melchie. A beautiful paint job. I'm very excited about this kit. The missus even gave me a Big H gift voucher for my B day after I left various publications on the Wellington lying around. I just wish Airfix would get on and release it! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted June 6, 2018 Share Posted June 6, 2018 Top drawer! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted June 6, 2018 Share Posted June 6, 2018 Looking forward to getting one of these 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted June 6, 2018 Share Posted June 6, 2018 That looks great, General. Looks like I'll be chucking the Trumpeter kit, as soon as I acquire one of these. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted June 6, 2018 Share Posted June 6, 2018 Great looking “Wimpy” General 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted June 6, 2018 Share Posted June 6, 2018 Ooh that is beautiful I've got one of these pre-ordered at Airfix with my name on it, can't wait to get my mitts on it Very nice job Melchie and superb pictures too Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted June 6, 2018 Share Posted June 6, 2018 That really does look nice and it's beautifully finished. Note to self "Must Have". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangor Lad Posted June 6, 2018 Share Posted June 6, 2018 Wow. Excellent build of an aircraft present at the beginning of Bomber Command's long journey. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich G Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Beautiful work General, damn that Darling getting in the way with his fly collection, send him to the front!! Rich 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMA131Marine Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Very nice! Really lovely finish and restrained weathering. And Airfix give you the parts to open the bomb bay doors, unlike Trumpeter, who give you a fairly detailed bomb bay but a single large piece, representing all the doors closed, to cover it up. Are the ailerons movable? Just curious why both of them seem to be up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 I'll almost certainly buy one but I won't make as good a job as you have: it looks most splendid. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Keen to see thus come together, there is a Sgt Ward VC one in my future, good on Airfix for their markings choice. Steve. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntoineG Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Impressive job you've done here ! The paint is stunning. I love it ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted June 7, 2018 Author Share Posted June 7, 2018 Thanks everyone, very kind as ever. Can't sing this one's praises enough, being a Bomber Command type it was right up my alley. Very much looking forward to any future versions, especially a Mk II. The bomb bay is very well designed with the open doors being moulded onto the two bomb racks and slotted up into the bomb bay floor, infinitely preferable to many individual ones...a single piece closed bomb bay door is also included. There were no fit issues at all with this one. Quote damn that Darling getting in the way with his fly collection, send him to the front!! Oh, he's gone...forced package holiday to the Somme Front for a month...along with his blasted flies! Quote Are the ailerons movable? Just curious why both of them seem to be up. They are but only because they're such a good fit I decided not to glue them into place, same with the elevators and rudder. The right one is probably deflected up slightly due to handling during photography, just to prove it I've retaken and replaced a few shots with them in the correct attitude. Melchie 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinSK Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 That is fantastic and realistic looking Wellington...well done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 A stunning model! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Another stunner there mate,...... I bought the magazine just to read your article!!! Looking forward to meeting up next week! Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuro Nezumi Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Simply awesome! Great work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Stunning build as usual. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Lovely job. I've been waiting to get a hold of one of these. About 15 years ago our local museum was gifted the DFM of the gentleman in this well-known photo: and the plan since has been to recreate this scene in 1/72. I stated with an MPM Wellie and almost lost the will to live. I then got a Trumpeter kit that looked better in the box than it does partially built, so thank you Airfix! I can only hope that the Techmod decals I bought years ago still work... John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 A lovely Wimpy. She looks great in those toned down roundels Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 I had a passing glance at this in the Magazine, brilliant build as usual Andy, I'll probably will buy the kit as it would look nice next to my Vickers Varsity and the Vickers Valetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now