Neil.C Posted August 2, 2018 Share Posted August 2, 2018 Just finished this Blenheim. I should really know what to expect with these old kits but this was a pretty ill fitting beast. That said my skill as a modeller (none) makes me baulk at some of the prices for the larger size jobs so Kingkit (or boot sales) get all my business. I guess it was a pretty old kit as it was the "blueprint" type box but it was a distraction for a few hours. I willingly admit I don't have the patience that is necessary for some of the fantastic stuff that is exhibited on here but I like to post up my jobs even though they are not up to the high standard we see here regularly. I don't usually bother with crew members but found the mid upper gun was attached to the gunner(?) so I thought I'd better paint up the pilot and other crew member. Can hardly see them but it had to be done. After all the moaning and having painted the model up I approached the transfers with trepidation, they looked old yellowed and curling 😲. I needn't have worried though, Airfix came up trumps, the transfers went on a treat and didn't look bad at all, so full marks for that. Anyway here are the pics of what I imagine is the worst example of a Blenheim shown on here but onward and upwards. I've got a Lockheed Hudson next! 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted August 2, 2018 Share Posted August 2, 2018 All those battleship rivets but the decals settled down nicely over them. Classic Airfix at it's best/worst. Your finish is not the worst, that was mine when I built it back in the seventies and in any case it's better than the blind Chimpanzee who built the model for the box art. What was Airfix thinking back then? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hepster Posted August 2, 2018 Share Posted August 2, 2018 I did end up with one of these in may stash as part of the 'Victoria Cross' set when it was going cheap. As I was only really after the Battle, Hurricane and Hampden, I may bin the Blenheim after your nice close-up pics... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adey m Posted August 2, 2018 Share Posted August 2, 2018 Neil, do not be so harsh on yourself, thank you for posting an Airfix classic and building it as Airfix intended. The Humbrol offering which you built would have appeared about 15-20 years after it was originally released back in the late 1960s and therefore the moulds would have been getting a bit worn which is why the fit of the parts may not have been that good. An example from the 1960s or early 1970s with the superb artwork on the box would have crisper moulded parts and probably gone together easier. Thanks again for showing us a bit of modelling history, adey 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FatFlyHalf Posted August 2, 2018 Share Posted August 2, 2018 I built one a while back. It was horrible. Covered in flash, slightly warped mouldings, parts that just did not fit, etc. And the raised rivet heads! A nightmare to fill, rub down and eventually get decals to seat properly. I treated it as an exercise in self control (temper tantrums, mild expletives, etc) as the build progressed. Any result is a good result. Well done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Law Posted August 2, 2018 Share Posted August 2, 2018 Good to see a not so perfect build. It tells people like me it is ok to show your end result even if it isn't perfect. Lets see more of them. This is a difficult kit. I have it, so had a look myself. Those rivets are a nightmare for sure and the and the moulding around the canopy is really bad. No wonder you had problems with it. The canopy framing is way out of scale so I doubt anyone would be able to make that look right. Your decals look great. I have major problems when it comes to decals. I find it very stressful. My first project I did when I got back to the hobby was a BOB Stuka. I went though four sets of decals before I was done. So well done. I look forward to seeing your next effort. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisTheBear Posted August 3, 2018 Share Posted August 3, 2018 Betterer than the 2 examples of this same kit I'm struggling to finish (more loss of enthusiasm than the kit itself). DennisTheBear 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted August 3, 2018 Share Posted August 3, 2018 Hi Neil. You have done well there as said previously above don't be so hard on yourself. I have one in the stash and I have looked at it several times and just put it back. Getting the decals on and settled is fantastic too. I do love building some of the old Airfix kits some are real gems. I look forward to seeing your Hudson build too as I have a bit of a soft spot for the Hudson. Keep up the good work. All the best Chris 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil.C Posted August 3, 2018 Author Share Posted August 3, 2018 Thanks everyone for your kind remarks. I know my stuff is not up to the standard of the majority on here but I do mostly enjoy it and it's a tangible link to happy times as a youngster. All the best, Neil. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisL Posted August 3, 2018 Share Posted August 3, 2018 When I started getting back into modelling one early attempt was an Airfix Typhoon that I'd bought but not built as a child. Lots of raised detail, as you'd expect. Weirdly, despite not having learnt to apply decals to a gloss surface its markings adhered and conformed amazingly well, probably just as well or better than those on any kit I've built since. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted August 3, 2018 Share Posted August 3, 2018 9 hours ago, Neil.C said: Thanks everyone for your kind remarks. I know my stuff is not up to the standard of the majority on here but I do mostly enjoy it and it's a tangible link to happy times as a youngster. All the best, Neil. Hi Neil Enjoying it is what it's all about fella along with learning about the subject and new techniques . I have been modelling quite a few years and I find every day a learning day and I am always in awe of the models that people turn out on here. This is a great medium for all of us modellers. Keep up the good work. All the best Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Law Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 (edited) You have made me get start work on my Blenheim mk.1. It is a frog/Russian kit. I started work on it when the new Airfix one came out, as I wanted to compare the two. Good idea, but got shelved. I rescribed the wings today. The first time I had tried scribing. You can see my learn progress from one wing to the next. The last wing turned out quite good. The first not so good. So you see there is always something to learn. A tip for you Neil. If you use a tooth pick. You can remove a lot of the excess paint on the canopy. I used did it on the Blenheim's turret because it is too small to mask. I did this before joining the fuselage together. Spent a bit of time making sure the turret would turn. Then I had one of those senior moments when I was gluing the fuselage. I forgot to put the turret in. Sometimes I wonder...... Edited August 4, 2018 by Greg Law 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unfinished project Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 Nice one Neil you’ve done this justice. it’s all about getting your builds to the point where you can stand back and with some pride say “ I built that and I’m happy with what I’ve done “. It would be great if we could all build to the outstanding quality we see displayed on BM day in and day out but we’re all at different levels. I have a shelf full off builds that I’m “happy” with and my youngest daughter thinks are “Amazing “ her words not mine. I just don’t have the bottle to post them on here. So again Neil well done on completing this Old,Old Airfix Classic it’s been built straight out of the box the way Mother Airfix intended 👏👏👏👏👏 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil.C Posted August 4, 2018 Author Share Posted August 4, 2018 1 hour ago, Unfinished project said: Nice one Neil you’ve done this justice. it’s all about getting your builds to the point where you can stand back and with some pride say “ I built that and I’m happy with what I’ve done “. It would be great if we could all build to the outstanding quality we see displayed on BM day in and day out but we’re all at different levels. I have a shelf full off builds that I’m “happy” with and my youngest daughter thinks are “Amazing “ her words not mine. I just don’t have the bottle to post them on here. So again Neil well done on completing this Old,Old Airfix Classic it’s been built straight out of the box the way Mother Airfix intended 👏👏👏👏👏 Don't let that worry you for a second, please post up your models. I know we would all love to see them. My efforts have been met with unfailing kindness and friendly critique with helpful tips that have come in very useful. It's a very friendly place. 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 23 hours ago, Neil.C said: I know my stuff is not up to the standard of the majority on here but I do mostly enjoy it and it's a tangible link to happy times as a youngster. & thats all the counts at the end of the day. There're a hell of a lot on here that are better modelers than I am, they also work harder at it than I do because that's what does it for them. For me I do it to a standard I'm happy with & I'm the only one that has to like it. Your Blenheim looks really good for its age, you've done a nice OOB build, about as good as can be done with an old kit like this without a LOT of additional work. Something that I tend to do with these rivet encrusted monsters is to take some worn fine wet & dry & buff the rivets back a bit, not so you loose them entirely but enough to make decaling easier & generally improve the look of them, imho anyway. Keep it up. Steve. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 The important thing is to enjoy yourself. A bonus - I got some enjoyment out of seeing someone else tackling this old kit. I did one a while ago https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234969089-bristol-blenheim-mk-iv-airfix-172-with-canopy-frame-tape-picture/ I have another one and you have inspired me to have a go with that one too - not right now though! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glatisant Posted August 5, 2018 Share Posted August 5, 2018 A venerable old kit of which I have fond memories of. the Keep up the good work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pandoa Posted August 5, 2018 Share Posted August 5, 2018 I dunno about you but I think this looks great! Thumbs up I love it 👍🏽😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adey m Posted August 5, 2018 Share Posted August 5, 2018 This is my 1960s issue. Note the crisp moulding of the parts. I am tempted to build this now. regards, adey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil.C Posted August 6, 2018 Author Share Posted August 6, 2018 That does look a really kit nice Adey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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