Popular Post woody37 Posted December 30, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2018 Just an old fashioned Stirling With old fashioned ways A fuselage tattered and torn. Four Hercules engines keep chugging away She's flying from midnight to dawn. Though she don't go so fast, No great height does she claim, Sure there's something that makes her divine When she flies there on high She's the Queen of the sky She's that old fashioned Stirling of mine Taken from Stirling Wings by Jonathan Falconer - song often sung in the sergeants mess at Lakenheath where 149 Sqn were based in 1943 After 10 months of slogging away the Stirling is finally done. By far, this has been my most challenging build to date, the first vac formed kit I've ever completed (first attempt ended up in the bin!), the first time I've vac formed my own canopies if crash moulding doesn't count and first time soldering parts! The overall shape of the Sanger kit is pretty good, however there are a few noticeable errors, the first being the wings formed upside down and the second being the squared off rear fuselage when it should match the profile of the FN20 turret. It's built as a dedication to Ron Middleton who was posthumously awarded a VC for his bravery on the night of 29th November 1942 when he sadly didn't return from his 29th mission to Turin. Hit by flak over the target, he lost his right eye but maintained control of the aircraft and managed to get it back to the coast of England. 5 members of the crew bailed out, two others remaining to help him fly the aircraft but it lost control and crashed in to the sea taking the three crew members with it. There are two build threads to this because it was started by @Mike way back in 2008. After several years of me pestering him to finish it, he sold it to me and I picked up the gauntlet to get it to Telford as part of the 1/48th Bomber Command SIG VC display this year. The build continued here. There's lots of people to thanks for their help in this build, John @12jaguar for his wealth of knowledge and reference photo's, Nick @SleeperService for sending me a Wellington nose turret of which was used for the basis on the front turret in the Stirling, Alain @corsaircorp for sending me some resin parts that got used in the cockpit including the instrument panel and Chris @stringbag for his 1-2-1 soldering lesson and incredible drawings that were critical to get the complicated wing and undercarriage structure aligned. I'd also like to thank Megas Tsonas for his truly amazing 1/48 Stirling build that you may of seen in air Modeller, however this also proved to be a demotivator because I could in no way achieve the results he did! My goal was to get it finished in 2018 (well actually it was to have it ready for Telford but didn't quite make that!!) and I've just about squeezed it in! It's by no means perfect Anyway, enough blurb, here's the piccies. Hope you like her. Thanks for looking Neil 163 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Superb 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Having spoken with Mike I know just how much of a "challenge" this model is. Its not just the engines on the Stirling that are Herculean but the work you put in to get that end result. You deserve a medal. Lovely result and you must be well proud of her 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkSH Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Great build and result. Thoroughly enjoyable to watch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackem01 Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 - that's all I have to say. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnie Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 That looks stunning, Woody.👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorby Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 That's about as fantastic as it gets! Amazing job! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbudde Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Great x great, as I would say. Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbofan Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Neil, what a fantastic tribute to Rob Middleton VC, I'm sure he would be so impressed. As with all your bombers, I love the subtle panel detail you achieve which, along with your interior detail, really brings it to life. I've been following your progress over the past year and must say I admire your tenacity and perseverance when faced with the many challenges you've had. I would have put it away for another day a long time ago! So is it a full scratch build bomber or a nice easy airliner next? Cheers, Ian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthemodeller Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 She has turned out to be a real beauty - hard to credit when you see what you started with. Thank you for sharing the build with us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitfire Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Fantastic result, the Stirling is one impressive looking aircraft and you have captured that look very well, I hope it spurs Tamiya on to produce one. Cheers Den 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Kay Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 😍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmerboy Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Brilliant, what’s more to say! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Just superb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 The fact that the finished model looks like it could have been produced by Tamiya speaks volumes for your achievements here. Bloomin’ marvellous! I know from experience the amount of effort it has taken to get to the finish line and I doff my hat. A beautiful model and a fine tribute to the brave airmen who died that night. Tom 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Simply wonderful, really superb modelling Neil! Great build thread too! Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airbus320 Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 What a masterpiece!!!!! Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForestFan Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Simply wonderful 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredag Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 (edited) Very nice on what was a challenging build, I'd say you conquered the beast. Beautiful paintwork too, those engine stains look like the real thing. Edited December 30, 2018 by Fredag 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Fantastic, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleeperService Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Thank You for the mention woody I'm so glad to be slightly associated with this wonderful build. I keep looking at my Sanger Blenheim and I think it may happen before too long (which should ensure a styrene kit). Your memorial has turned out beautifully and, as others have said, it looks superb and a million miles past where it started. What a way to finish 2018! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafalbert Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Absolutely fabulous 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 You took a big pile of mouldering bits, some super resin engines by @Neil of Paragon fame, plus some half-realised ideas and made it into a bit of a show-stopper Nelly. Bravo, congratulations and well done 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Outstanding build and finish Neil,great work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stéphane Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 Hello, À tremendous effort and achievement ! I just read the whole construction thread and this pure dedication.Excellent and superb! Stef (#6) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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