BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 Good morning one & all. Well it’s Christmas Eve and everything in the BIG X household is prepared for “the big day”. So with a bit of time on my hands - what could be more fun than an Airfix starter set to keep me entertained. In true childhood style I’m aiming to knock this together before teatime in what you might call a Christmas “Donner & Blitzen” build. I ‘acquired’ a few of these sets last year on the ALDI special offer and they have been residing at the back of the stash for 12 months now. With their distinctive ‘black / white’ underside I had intended to do them as 92SQN aircraft – in the Battle of France period. However – upon closer inspection the basic decal sheet doesn’t contain any stencils. It is a starter set after all… I was counting on using the white stencils on the black wing – but alas I needed to re-think things. So for an outlay of around a fiver as I remember I’ve decided to turn this particular Spitfire into an ‘ornament’. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 With a lovely clean Christmas bench it's time to get going if we are going to be finished before teatime. First job on - remove the 'freebies'... ...not forgetting the 'Flying hour'... I really have no idea why I keep these - I've looked into using them - but it all seems like a lot of fuss... The paints and glue are going in the bin - but I will keep the brush... ...and the decals can go in the spares box - I'm sure the roundels will come in useful at some point... 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 I don't know why, but this took me back to the days of the Airfix bagged kits, which was probably before your time. John 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 Great idea. Good luck with your build against the clock. Have a great time on the build and hope you have a wonderful Christmas too and all the BM ers as well All the best Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 9 minutes ago, Biggles87 said: I don't know why, but this took me back to the days of the Airfix bagged kits, which was probably before your time. John Oh I'm a little older than you think. I may act like a four year old most of the time - but you can add another fifty on to that. I loved the bagged kits - back in the late sixties & my dear old dad used to pick me one up from the local newsagents, on his way home from work, on a weekly basis. Happy Days & Merry Christmas to you John 🎅 7 minutes ago, bigbadbadge said: Great idea. Good luck with your build against the clock. Have a great time on the build and hope you have a wonderful Christmas too and all the BM ers as well All the best Chris Merry BIG X-mas to you too Chris. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 I'm pretty sure we are all familiar with this super little kit... ...and I did build one last year... I seem to remember I spent weeks on it and thoroughly enjoyed myself too. For this one I'm throwing the instructions in the bin and going 'old school'... ...my 'inner child' is itching to just stick everything together as fast as possible. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 The only disappointment in the kit is probably the pilot... ...the shot maybe a bit blurred - but the detail is very ropey to say the least and why he needs so many sprue gates is beyond me. Anyway - time to get chopping. Back in the day I seem to remember using tiny nail scissors and a nail file - I think that was the extent of my 'tool box' in the 1960's. I've fished out all the bits I don't need... I'm going wheels up with a spinning prop and an opaque canopy - so these can go into the spares box... ...all neatly bagged of course. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 So this is what I'm left with... ...and a bit of excess sprue of course... The glue is open and it's time for the first splash. This tiny light can go straight into underside... Normally I'd be VERY CAREFUL and use a tiny dab of PVA - but today it's liquid poly all the way... ...and so we're off!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 Have you got a stop watch running? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 5 minutes ago, neil5208 said: Have you got a stop watch running? No stop watch I'm afraid - I'm just counting on the BM massive to 'chivvy me along' if I start flagging Neil ⏰ I don't need to paint the bottom of the cockpit - but I momentarily considered blanking off the gun ports... ...but I decided against it. Still I won't have to put those pesky red gun patches on the front of the wings - that will save me a day at least I don't need to paint the wheel wells either - more time saved. But I do need to chop and clean these up... ...back shortly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antb Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 Good grief Steve a blitz build indeed! Tea time you say? I'll be watching and egging you on throughout the day in between wrapping the millions of presents we said we weren't buying this year 😂 Looking forward to what you do with her mate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 Just now, Antb said: Good grief Steve a blitz build indeed! Tea time you say? I'll be watching and egging you on throughout the day in between wrapping the millions of presents we said we weren't buying this year 😂 Looking forward to what you do with her mate. I know what you mean about the prezzies Ant - we don't have kids of our own - but we do have a nephew / niece and now four great nieces... ...Madame X finished work on Wednesday though and so she got busy on the wrapping front - saving me a job. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antb Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 6 minutes ago, BIG X said: I know what you mean about the prezzies Ant - we don't have kids of our own - but we do have a nephew / niece and now four great nieces... ...Madame X finished work on Wednesday though and so she got busy on the wrapping front - saving me a job. Allowing you time on the spit no less. She's a good one 😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 These are now all cleaned and ready to go... Now I need to fill the holes in the nose cone... ...as it is going to need a couple of fills and needs to set before I can polish it flat. The tops of the wings are on and the sunshine streaming in through the window has warmed the room up a treat - with things setting pretty quickly. The fuselage is together and the biggest time save is not having to do anything with the cockpit... Do you remember the old days when all you got was a seat which dropped onto a couple of locators and that was the cockpit done??? It's amazing how things have changed and how much time we spend on the cockpit area - which after 'buttoning up' is almost invisible. I've just noticed the central seam id going to need some filler... i hope that doesn't slow me down. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 The filler is on... But whilst this is setting I've got to work on the underside. Here are the some total of the remaining bits... ...I'm still hoping for a tea-time finish. Mustn't forget the nose cone though... This is going to need a second session. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 Undercarriage leg 1... ...and another... ...then the radiators... ...time for a spot of lunch - whilst the filler hardens up - catch you after a couple of dinky pork pies and a sausage roll - it must be Christmas. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 (edited) Really motoring now, and with acrylic paint you won't have to wait too long between coats, I use a hairdryer on mine to speed things up. Have a great Christmas. John Edited December 24, 2018 by Biggles87 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 This looks like a fun thing to do whilst one waits for Father Christmas... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 20 minutes ago, Biggles87 said: Really motoring now, and with acrylic paint you won't have to wait too long between coats, I use a hairdryer on mine to speed things up. Have a great Christmas. John Just now, John D.C. Masters said: This looks like a fun thing to do whilst one waits for Father Christmas... Hey John & John - I've just finished wiping up the crumbs - boy those sausage rolls are flaky... With no need for any masking and just a primer and final coat - both from rattle cans - the painting should take no time at all. Father Christmas will be well on his way now and our Antipodean members may already be cracking open their prezzies as we speak - so no time to waste. The filler has dried and after a quick sanding I think it looks good enough for my purposes... I've just got the rudder on and I'm thinking I may just add an actuator - as shown in blue... I must brush up that filler dust though. The tail wheel is on - normally I would have spent ages trying to paint the tyre black - but not today... Next up - the stabilizers... ...and the canopy of course... back very shortly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 With no gloss coat and no decals - more time saved - but anyway - here is the nose cone... ...it was still showing slight signs of 'sinking' - but I've just applied another smear of PPP... ...and I think it's nearly there. The wings are on BTW... The exhausts are on as well - so we are down to the finishing touches - the aerial... ...the pitot... ...heaven knows how long that will last 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 I bet you thought I'd forgotten that actuator - well I had It was a suggestion from @Stew Dapple as I remember in my previous Spitfire build. This takes the build from OOB to a 'scratchbuild' project Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it Here it is... ...'proper modelling' eh 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive_t Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 Great stuff, go for it! Erm... what time's tea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 Just now, clive_t said: Great stuff, go for it! Erm... what time's tea? Hi Clive - daylight is running out fast. It's only 3pm - but it's 'time to prime' - I reckon tea will be around 5pm - so no time to waste eh. I'm using the trusty Halfords Grey - which takes no time at all to dry - so I'll see you soon - I hope. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive_t Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 We need some soothing mood music here I think... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azureglo Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 Are we there yet? What about now? Now? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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