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1/72 Chipmunk T.10 kits


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Due to summer 'distractions' this is not going to be a quick thread, but I'll try to keep you amused with occasional updates. 

The starting point is an Airfix 1/72 Chipmunk T.10 that I built way back in 1969, shortly after the kit was released;

29125724958_e350917cf7_o.jpgWK574, Cambridge UAS, c 1952 by Philip Pain, on Flickr
I have never been happy with the look or accuracy of this kit, but at the time my skill only ran to doing something to correct the canopy, substituting the 'canadian option' windscreen which doesn't have an external frame at the front (it is internal on the real aircraft).
42096349185_296d3fc201_o.jpgWK574, Cambridge UAS, c 1952 by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The model is showing its age and the transfers have yellowed. In this view it can be seen that I added the missing flap actuation hinges.
29125724098_34139fa38b_o.jpgWK574, Cambridge UAS, c 1952 by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The main problem with the 'look' of the Airfix Chipmunk is that it doesn't have enough 'chin' at the front, also the propellor spinner is too short and bulbous. The intakes on the sides of the engine also too bulbous.
29125723458_92aa8848c4_o.jpgWK574, Cambridge UAS, c 1952 by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The other big problem is the undercarraige legs which are far too slim, and the wheels don't look right either, being too 'square'.
42096347525_9211ee32a6_o.jpgWK574, Cambridge UAS, c 1952 by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The cockpit has two seats and nothing else, so I added scratch-built instrument panels.
42948285092_47c2289ea1_o.jpgWK574, Cambridge UAS, c 1952 by Philip Pain, on Flickr
All of the raised rivets were rubbed down, not that they shouldn't be there, but they were far too prominent. I made a mistake with painting the yellow 'T-bands', they don't go on to the flaps.

So I was delighted when AZ Models recently released a new 1/72 Chipmunk kit, and the box promises much;
29126020378_810a86f4e1_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (1) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

42948608392_4cfa904ac5_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (2) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

The contents were less inspiring, but seemed ok
42279741454_1cc226115e_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (4) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
It is a typical 'short-run' kit, a bit rough around the edges, and generally lacking mounting pins and tabs, making it hard to glue together at times.
29126086078_1191647d79_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (7) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
It has a full cockpit interior, but a familiar problem soon became apparent - once again the canopy is wrong! External frames front and rear, don't Chipmunk mould makers ever go and look at the real thing!? The AZ Models canopy is actually worse than the original Airfix one, because the windscreen is too long with the main frame set too far back. So I've tried to disguise this fault by extending the forward instrument coaming to fill the gap.
41188012200_c6cb711e4a_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (8) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
So here is the basic assembly, and there were big gaps to be filled with modelling putty.
29126084458_3f1d984fb9_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (9) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Also on the tail, and the spin-recovery strakes were a bitch to get right due to their small size, and vague fit. Also it should be completely flat from one tailplane to the other, but the AZ model has a raised rear fuselage in between. This took a lot of whittling down.

So I was starting to lose faith with this model, so I dug out one of my un-built original Airfix kits, to compare notes and check out the differences;
42998167271_afaacbe6c5_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (10) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
And then I couldn't help but start making the Airfix one as well! This time using the AZ model as a guide to correct the Airfix one.
41188010990_6654a27023_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (11) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Added a basic interior to the Airfix one, and scratch built a pair of spin-recovery strakes for the back end. The Airfix kit also has an annoying feature at the back end, with the tailplanes split where there isn't a split on the real thing. This takes careful filling and sanding to get the required flat finish from one side to the other. But basically the Airfix main parts go together well, with smaller and better aligned gaps.
42097046665_e663cda377_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (12) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Using the AZ kit as a guide, the incorrect Airfix nose, spinner, and undercarraige legs were then improved using modelling putty. In this photo they still need a bit of finishing off.

42280120844_2dfec86d11_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (13) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
So now there are two, roughly similar. The front instrument coaming on the Airfix Chipmunk (right) has also been extended, just to make it look better.
42998445091_ece74d2f5d_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (14) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

42998444471_007c06661a_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (15) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Here are the two canopies, AZ on the left. Both have had the front and rear external frames filed off and re-polished. Also being made are the two prominent internal frames to go in the rear of each canopy, both absent from the kits. I'm not looking forward to gluing them in place, as there is no room for error with glue and transparencies.

So that is the progress, so far.

Edited by Acklington
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  • 2 weeks later...

Made some progress with the two Chipmunks, despite the distractions of the World Cup;

43181678611_75250c562f_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (16) text w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Number '1' is the added missing air intake, on both kits
'2' is the eventual top coat colour scheme that has to be painted before the canopy goes on.
41371163600_fcaa1522eb_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (17) text w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Also missing on both models is the later position for the compass, on top of the coaming.
29310270148_47f8816372_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (20) text w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
'1' is solid interior on the inside of the rear canopy, on both kits
'2' is are the missing leading edge airflow strips, on both models.
41371162090_28b2ce43ae_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (21) text w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
'1' is the trim tab on the rudder, missing off both kits
'2' is the enlarged landing light, on both kits.
43181676161_bcca2d1b8b_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (24) text w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
'1' is the wing tip nav lights, these are cut-outs on the real aircraft, with the light sitting in the cut-out.
'2' is the external actuator for the starboard tail trim tab, missing off both kits.
'3' is the fixed trim tab on the starboard aileron only, missing off both kits
'4' is another view of the leading edge airflow strip.
41371160900_53f984e9ca_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (26) text w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
'1' shows the prominent flap hinges, missing off both kits.
29310268838_0c6890ffdd_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 text w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
'1' is the starboard only fixed trim tab
'2' is the enlarged landing light
'3' is the engine drain pipe, missing off both kits
'4' (x4) are the external brake cylinders on the back face of the wheel hubs, missing off both kits.

So both models are now more or less ready for painting, with all the filling and sanding completed. However, progress will be slow once again.

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Just found this great thread. Thanks for outlining all the bits and pieces that need correcting with both kits. I too was very happy to hear the news of new Chipmunk models, however once I saw a few photos and built kits I wasn’t as excited. 

 

I’ve got a stalled ‘corrected’ Airfix kit that thankfully fits back in its small box so it may get a re-look after seeing yours getting a good work over.

 

Cheers.. Dave 

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Acklington, wow, what a brilliant thread, thanks for these pointers, I've bought a AZ one but having seen this, there is a Airfix one to come sometime, maybe a couple, I'm impressed by how little wrong it is & how wrong in many of the same ways the AZ one is. Carry on. :)

Steve.

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Many thanks for the comments, much appreciated.

 

I've just come across some Chipmunk photos I took at Elstree in 1969, and I had a 'double take' when I looked at the windscreen on G-AKDN, seen here;
29382145288_3a1ef5b928_o.jpgG-AKDN, Elstree, 22 June 69 (1) fw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
This is the longer windscreen that AZ Models have produced on their Chipmunk kit. But compare the photo with this windsceen on G-APOE;
29382144608_428c9dfa80_o.jpgG-APOE (WP793), Elstree, 10 Nov 69 pfw by Philip Pain, on Flickr

G-AKDN is still flying and it is the oldest Chipmunk extant, actually built in Canada c/n 11. In contrast G-APOE was English built as an RAF T.10 WP973. G-AKDN also has a smaller rudder, and a longer pitot tube under the port wing. G-APOE is not quite a 'stock' T.10 as it has no spinner, and two underwing landing lights.

So when modelling an English built T.10, bin the AZ Models canopy and substitute the Airfix one which fits fairly well on to the AZ fuselage. As mentioned previously both canopies wrongly have external frames front and rear, and this common mistake can be traced back to original Canadian plans for the prototype, which did have external frames, later dispensed with.

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  • 1 month later...

I've finally got back into my modelling room, after our various summer visitors have flown!

43435786984_223dec5a18_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (28) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

And the worst job of all, painting the 'interior black' undercoat on the two canopies. I just couldn't find the best angle for the light to see what I was doing. Next time I'll paint them before gluing them onto the black cockpit interior.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Progressed to starting to add the markings;

43839685294_ea5cb5b109_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (32) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
42749031540_79b47bd174_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (31) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

Most of the markings so far have come from the AZ Models kit, which includes four options. The AZ decal sheet is rather too boldly and indistinctly printed, although the decals adhere very nicely. Therefore only the underwing serials have been used, re-arranged to make my two chosen Chipmunks. For the fuselage serials I have used Modeldecal decals, which are more fine and to scale.

More markings to be added tomorrow ................

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Xtradecal roundels added today;

 

30704790728_f6385df495_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (33) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

44525520302_afe6e28d94_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (34) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

 

The AZ Models Chippie is lagging behind a bit due to needing several white undercoats on the fin. Also, doing the underwing serials on the Airfix one , WD388, made me realise that the Airfix undercarraige legs are a bit too far back. Not much, but enough to compromise the position of the serials.

Edited by Acklington
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The two kits are now finished, but first a photo of some of the resulting detritus!

43979602144_50149be340_o.jpgChipmunk T.10 (35) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

 

Both kits finished today, appropriately 15th September which is "Battle of Britain Day". Such displays in the 1960s and 1970s were always graced with a colourful Chipmunk or two.

43788393575_d0ac1540c9_o.jpgWD388, WG474, RAF Ouston (7) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The Airfix 1/72 kit on the left, and the AZ Models newish release on the right
44696920671_21b87b19c0_o.jpgWD388, Durham UAS, Ouston, 1963 (4) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Airfix one completed as WD388 of Durham University Air Squadron at RAF Ouston in 1963. This was the Chipmunk in which I had a 30-minute Air Cadet air experience flight on 5th May 1963. WD388 was still wearing the Durham UAS badge on the nose, but in March of 1963 the UAS had been re-named Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron. To confuse matters further, the Air Experience flights were operated by 11 AEF at Ouston, but they used whatever Chipmunks were available.
44696921331_24e421caef_o.jpgWD388, Durham UAS, Ouston, 1963 (3) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
44696920291_286e1d0f54_o.jpgWD388, Durham UAS, Ouston, 1963 (6) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
44696917931_6ee7fe15e5_o.jpgWD388, WG474, RAF Ouston (10) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

We then move on nearly a decade to 31st August 1972, when WG474 of Northumbrian UAS was bashing the circuit at RAF Ouston, and I had a camera with a telephoto lens;
44696916781_ca3eb35e1f_o.jpgWG474, Northumbrian UAS, Ouston, 1972 (4) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
44648880222_3625a7ef59_o.jpgWG474, Northumbrian UAS, Ouston, 1972 (3) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
44696915861_f30800ab0b_o.jpgWG474, Northumbrian UAS, Ouston, 1972 (9) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The basic colour scheme had changed to light aircraft grey, still with the same day-glo strip. The fin and wing tips were very dark blue, and the NUAS badge was on the fin tip (still the same as the former DUAS badge). Each NUAS Chipmunk had a different colour spinner, and WG474 was yellow. UHF blade aerials had appeared on the rear fuselage.

WG474 was de-mobbed circa 1974 (when RAF Ouston closed and was transferred to the Army), and it became G-BCSL on the civil register, subsequently based at Liverpool Airport, now in an all red scheme.

30827233978_263930c554_o.jpgWG474, WD388, Ouston (3) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

44648877292_fc73d16475_o.jpgWG474, WD388, Ouston (1) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

43788394925_5ceb835f43_o.jpgWG474, WD388, Ouston (4) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

44648883412_a144665365_o.jpgWD388, WG474, RAF Ouston (5) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

 

And the reason for my unsavoury language was 51 individually shaped pieces of day-glo transfer for each model. I started off with the Xtradecal Meteor day-glo decal sheet, but the leading edge strips wouldn't bend around the edge, and just cracked and split. So I raided the new Airfix Vampire T.11 (day-glo) kit, and its transfers do bend without splitting. But I had to cut the Vampire day-glo into the right shapes, and there was barely enough for the Chipmunk wings. Also the various decal sheets have different shades of day-glo, so my Chipmunks have Airfix day-glo on the wings, and Xtradecal day-glo elsewhere. Real Chipmunks actually had 73 strips of day-glo each, but I cheated and divided some of mine with thin lines of paint to produce the required 73.

I now know why I put off doing these models for the past 40 years! One post-scrip to this saga is that I've just booked an eye test at Specsavers. I really couldn't focus clearly at times! Thanks for looking ('scuse the pun).

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A lovely pair of Chipmunks and following a theme that is very close to my heart, that of aircraft based at the airfields situated in the North East. 

You've added some very useful information for some of my future builds. 

Great work indeed and thanks for sharing your work here. 

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22 hours ago, cngaero said:

A lovely pair of Chipmunks and following a theme that is very close to my heart, that of aircraft based at the airfields situated in the North East. 

You've added some very useful information for some of my future builds. 

Great work indeed and thanks for sharing your work here. 

Many thanks for the comments guys, and 'cngaero' you might like a website I've created about RAF Ouston, which is my reason for building models of Ouston's aircraft. It can be found at https://sites.google.com/view/raf-ouston-research/home

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  • 5 months later...

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