Jump to content

AIRFIX 1/72 SHORT SUNDERLAND Mk III


Recommended Posts

Aeroplanes that take off and land on water have always fascinated me and the Short Sunderland has always been one of my favourite seaplanes. The Airfix Sunderland model first appeared in 1960 and it is still available in the current Hornby Airfix range. I built an Airfix Sunderland for my younger brother when I was thirteen. I made sure that every working feature on the model worked as Airfix intended, guns and turrets, sliding bomb carriers, propellers, control surfaces, beaching gear and the retractable bow turret. I loved that model and was sure that one day I would have one of my own.

 

Well it took 42 years for me to finally build one for myself. Back in 2015 I started building my 1980s Humbrol Airfix boxing of the Sunderland. A friend had donated a Sunderland that he had been building but which he had lost interest in. I had a go at making something of it but unfortunately he had stuck solid every part that was supposed to move such as the turrets. But his model contained a White Ensign Models etched brass flight deck and bomb bay so I carefully dismantled his Sunderland and decided to use these in mine. I remember being dissappointed with the emptiness of my brother's Sunderland interior so I decided that I would scratchbuild a complete interior in mine around the White Ensign parts.

 

resized_f16e5f21-c9c1-4ac4-9b3b-afc7aa47

 

The bottom box is my favourite one from the 1960s with that stunning action artwork that wrapped around the sides of the box. This is the actual box that my brother's Sunderland came in back in 1973 ( I hope he doesn't want it back ). The middle boxing is the 1980s Humbrol Airfix one that I built. The top one is a Humbrol Airfix boxing from 2001 I think when their marketing department realised that exciting artwork sells kits ( and bad photos of made models do not ).

 

I will show a few photos I took of the interior during the build .................

 

resized_6f10c176-9f91-4f25-80b9-698d4972

 

The White Ensign flight deck with plastic card and parts from my spares added. The White Ensign bomb bay and plastic card bulkheads and decking have been installed in the fuselage.

 

resized_b44dedcc-d804-4984-b873-4675441d

 

The retractable bow turret housing has had a couple of thin layers of plastic card wrapped around it to reduce the gap in the nose opening. The dorsal turret and mounting is from an Airfix Stirling as it is a better size and shape than the kit's one. The anchor winch came from a Moldova Mil 4M helicopter ( amazing what you find in your spares, and what memories they bring back ).

 

resized_6309f710-81be-4b29-af9d-8bbc8dd5

 

The painted interior. I used a dorsal turret and mounting from an Airfix Stirling as it is a better size and shape to the kit's one. Upper deck front to rear we have the flight deck, then radio operator this side and navigator other side, then flight engineer and aircraft batteries, crawlway over the bomb bay and past the turret mounting to a ladder down into the rear fuselage where stowage and the master compass are located. Lower deck front to rear we have the bomb aimers position, mooring equipment ( boaty stuff ), stairs up to flight deck with toilet behind, dining and rest area, galley and drogues stowage, bomb bay with bunks and workbench, and crew rest area.

 

resized_0b9c9043-4251-43f6-83ad-932e8cc4

 

I opened up the roof hatch as it would be a pity not to be able to see any of the stuff behind the flight deck.

 

resized_ab39fd07-fb3a-4a3c-8ee0-96ee6043

 

In this view you can see the flushing toilet, basin and water tank next to the staircase.

 

resized_670bda74-71eb-401e-8455-32794ecd

 

resized_b94e84b4-57ef-49e3-ac61-f8128d91

 

And then it was time to populate the model. Okay guys look busy.

 

resized_863d228b-fe26-4d2d-9ab9-495ba805

 

I sprayed the model with Humbrol Acrylic matt white from a can. Then I brush painted Humbrol 156 Satin dark camouflage grey enamel over the upper surfaces. It just looks like one of those Scarborough sea gulls has landed on my desk.

 

resized_bd656875-8695-4e00-a85d-c02fd2ca

 

All the turrets are removeable and contain scratchbuilt internal fittings and Airfix gunners. The guns elevate too, but they don't fire ( no ammo ). The fuel cells panels on top of the wings are thin plastic card cut to shape and just glued onto the upper wing with liquid glue.

 

resized_376e71ee-4389-46c1-98bd-d8562aed

 

resized_4e122a2f-e606-40ec-9cf3-9bd352ad

 

The front and rear turrets are from the kit. I had to cut open a second gun slot with a saw in the front turret transparency as Airfix very strangely only put one gun in the front turret.

 

resized_541d134b-aae6-4898-9b4b-3e473691

 

I have gone for an aircraft which is quite new with minimal weathering. The factory applied white paint is just starting to burn off the exhausts and rings.

 

resized_a7083ab6-961c-47ea-a6fa-b8313044

 

I opened out a galley hatch to show off some more interior ( I think that is the pans and dishes rack I can see ). Drogues were stowed below these hatches and lowered into the water to help steer and slow down the aeroboat.

 

resized_31095fc1-18b0-41aa-b581-6bbd26b2

 

resized_d1235b26-d8e6-4048-8899-a765184a

 

Removeable mooring bollard and bomb aiming window and panel.

 

resized_7e064c20-1921-4b54-b1bb-44ee0c5b

 

Scratchbuilt detail inside the kit's rear turret. All window framing on the model is painted freehand with a fine quality brush.

 

resized_88cc09c1-df28-4b8a-b468-24a38a85

 

Stretched sprue bracing wires on the wing tip floats. Bomb carriers slide in and out of the bomb bay as Airfix intended. The landing light transparencies have had recesses drilled out from the back which are then filled with chrome silver paint. The propellers came from my spares but the spinners are from the kit. I sawed them off the kit's propellers.

 

resized_42299bd7-44c7-400b-b01c-1175b586

 

Okay, well that should have got the ball rolling, more still to come ...................

 

More photos have been added further on in this post

 

 

Edited by adey m
  • Like 67
  • Thanks 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's a very clean build.

It's nice to see a grey and white one as well. The way the white wraps over the wing tops is very flattering to the planes shape, it seems to slim it right down!

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another classic piece of plastic turned into a modern day marvel adey. Both the model and back story are always great to read and watch. This is truly a magnificent build and I hope you will consider joining some of us in the current Classic Airfix Group Build that still has until late September to run. 

 

I also built this kit as a 10-12 year old so do know all the working features you describe. After seeing you’re build I’m keen to add another “Porcupine” to my collection, however need to toss up the time and effort needed to get it looking somewhere close to yours. My concentration span is quite short I’m afraid.

 

Cheers and thanks for the great post.. Dave 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Outstanding, Adey.  We had this kit when I was a boy and I remember how 'hollow' it seemed.  Your superb interior building has seen to that.  A fantastic build.  I wonder if we are EVER going to see the MPM kit,

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Incredible work and a proof that old kit not only having "charme" but they can turned out into well detailed results with some care ( and photo etch ).

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Mk.I with the early FN.11 turrets only had one mg. fitted. I think that's where Airfix got that from.  I've been through 4 different  publications and still can't find a decent photo of the single-gun turret.

 

 

Chris

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 hours ago, TonyW said:

It's nice to see a grey and white one as well. The way the white wraps over the wing tops is very flattering to the planes shape, it seems to slim it right down!

Remind me to see if I can find a T-shirt in the same colours...I could do with looking slimmer!

 

Lovely build Adey! Always nice to see an Airfix classic built so nicely. Top job all round!

 

Steve

  • Thanks 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

resized_8bbe6615-e7eb-4fb2-82a8-8b9fe856

 

The kit has quite a draughty gap between the retractable turret housing and the fuselage. I reduced this by gluing a couple of layers of thin plastic card around the housing.

 

resized_f4f554ab-62a1-4ce9-8a28-380034a1

 

A view down into the mooring position with removed mooring bollard.

 

resized_62db9460-8655-414a-9689-13e886eb

 

resized_57523087-d7eb-4a2c-a521-00c7ceae

 

The dorsal turret which came from an Airfix Stirling. Do not worry about my Stirling as I intend to build it as an early Mk 1 without a dorsal turret, camouflage up the fuselage sides and those lovely tall rudder stripes.

 

resized_70b291b4-3f1c-4aa3-9fa2-efee9477

 

The kit's tail turret.

 

resized_e112d086-f926-4229-82ea-8841519c

 

The spinning circular clear vision panel in the cockpit window is made from fuse wire made into a circle around a paint brush handle and fixed to the inside of the canopy.

The pipe below the third porthole is from the toilet, now we know what some of the brown staining might be............

 

.resized_c1ee807b-c61c-47cb-a346-01f5df54

 

Spinning clear vision panel and windscreen wipers added to cockpit windows.

 

resized_c86567b2-dcfb-4f9a-8c4d-417f1500

 

Exhausts made from plastic rod.

 

resized_6362b3d2-7c48-4063-b9e7-6b76c867

 

Removeable bomb bay doors and the track for the sliding bomb carriers. Open galley hatch.

 

resized_772406ae-9347-48a2-9283-7417353f

 

resized_5bcadde8-e833-4a50-b7ed-0aebfa34

 

Downward identification lights below starboard wing.

 

resized_4117c2e1-2f11-415b-b637-6971be2b

 

The detachable beaching gear. The kit's wheels are too thin so I replaced them with wider ones from my spares. I drilled out the hubs and fitted the kit's hubs in place. I made the wheels steerable with the use of a brass pin pivot in each leg.

 

resized_a04a3c9e-a119-4653-89bd-2d7743b6

 

The beaching gear attachment holes.

 

resized_f3fa500a-8a9f-4d2d-83ca-a21a7395

 

resized_a2d0681f-2fe7-428c-ae4a-76a1ad16

 

The open galley hatch. Ladder up to flight deck visible.

 

resized_05216b58-adb1-4f55-9661-df399315

 

Lower deck from front showing crew dining and rest room, then the galley with drogue stowage, and then the bomb bay.

 

resized_23516382-ce0c-4144-bfcb-5501a5df

 

Galley with drogue stowage below the hatch, then the bomb bay with rest bunks and workbench and lowered bomb hatch, and then the rear rest area.

 

resized_dc3367bb-3e89-4b73-aa32-c3d39397

 

The galley, then the bomb bay and then the rear rest area.

 

resized_a1bf7f21-02ed-4f82-bff6-6a935fef

 

Close up of the side servicing door and flush handles.

 

resized_54cac6dc-4072-436a-b1f7-1a0c736b

 

Cabin heating vent with cloth gauze.

 

resized_35c18c88-3688-4232-af6a-4dc97c8e

 

Compass calibration on the compass swinging apron.

 

resized_977e8bb8-b1bf-41ee-b3aa-700857d6

 

resized_11eb39c6-0abd-4fac-94d9-35ca17de

 

resized_f4380a0e-b980-41c2-be9c-261c3e26

 

There are some servicing diorama photos farther on ...................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by adey m
  • Like 13
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, dogsbody said:

The Mk.I with the early FN.11 turrets only had one mg. fitted. I think that's where Airfix got that from.  I've been through 4 different  publications and still can't find a decent photo of the single-gun turret.

 

 

Chris

resized_d7d96d58-f93a-48dc-8c64-4e536b39

 

I found this photo in one of my books of an FN11 turret with its single gun on a 228 Squadron Sunderland at Alexandria in 1939.

 

regards,  adey

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You've done a splendid job with the old AIrfix Sunderland Adey. Both your detailing and finish are superb, especially in the very busy crew compartments.

I really love that late grey and white Coastal Command scheme, it makes the old girl look so elegant.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

These would have to be some of the nicest and cleanest photos of aircraft models I have come across of late. The detail and explanations are just terrific and what elevates these even more is that it all revolves around a model kit that’s been wonderfully built, with moulds that have been around for close to 60 years! 

 

Just goes to to show what one can achieve with any old bit of plastic. I’m in awe of this type of modelling talent. Very well done (yet again) Adey. 

 

Cheers.. Dave 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great work on an iconic Airfix kit.

Their early box art would have to be some of the best, and most inspiring, aviation art ever produced.

Your build proves that a lot of these older kits can still make excellent replicas.

:goodjob:

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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 account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...