IrritableRabbit Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Hello and long time no see is what the people say in this case I think. It sort of went like this. A 30 year modelling break, then 13 builds posted here, then a further 3 year break due to lifeTM stuff. But no fear, because some kind of luck was with me, as I recently suffered a mini-stroke which included, free of charge, temporary speech loss and paralysis. Even MORE luck was that I wasn't allowed to drive for a while so that killed off my self-employed photo work and it hasn't recovered yet. And then they found out I had a hole in my heart since birth which was the cause. Much fall out ensued! This MEANS that I had some time to make some models again! *Insert cowboy style yelling and much cheering* AND.. It would be seen as good use of my time for rest and rehabilation. *Insert more cheering* So, before I soon start back into the real world of work, I was trying to get a few kits done. This means they'll be a short period of spamming a few builds before disappearing again for a little while. I hate doing that so mucho apologies, but I'll do my best to have a good ole browse at everyone else's amazing work before life shifts again. Here it is, my first warm-up, and crikey, I was a bit rusty. It's the Xtrakit Vampire FB.5 (also MPM), with a pretty scheme pulled of the Xtradecal sheet, No. 112 Sqn, RAF Fassberg, Germany 1951. Out of the box, other than that scheme. I somehow managed to lose the counterweights from the rear control surfaces to the carpet monster, but I was just happy to be building and painting again so rolled my eyes and shrugged it off. Thanks for looking. VampireFB5_01 by Jonathan Macauley, on Flickr VampireFB5_02 by Jonathan Macauley, on Flickr VampireFB5_03 by Jonathan Macauley, on Flickr VampireFB5_04 by Jonathan Macauley, on Flickr VampireFB5_06 by Jonathan Macauley, on Flickr VampireFB5_08 by Jonathan Macauley, on Flickr VampireFB5_07 by Jonathan Macauley, on Flickr 54 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 A very nice build Jonathan with a splash of colour thrown in. Welcome back, hope to see more of your builds. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedders Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Very nice. What did you use for the silver? Justin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djos Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Amazing finish, especially part of fuselage around engine, very convincing. Beautiful work Best regards Djordje 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisTheBear Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Oh, excellent build! Your photographer's eye really shows in the subtle change in the colour of the engine covers. DennisTheBear 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azureglo Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Good to have you back,* Jonathan and gorgeous model, i too had a "stroke" related disappearance for six odd months: The human body eh? Cheers * And not just 'cos i wanna ask you load sof questions about softboxes and gamma correction...👿 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitchen Modeller Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 That's a v nice Vampire - really like the scheme and the weathering, those green tail fins look great. Shark mouth is cool. Photography is first rate. If this is you being rusty, I can't wait to see the next few. Welcome back. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 That is a very nice Vampire, very well executed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Excellent Vampire and a really nice scheme - love the green fins. Cracking photos too. Glad you are back in the game. I wish my best efforts were as good as your 'a bit rusty'! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 That's a pretty convincing 'warm up'. Excellent Vamp and ditto photography! Good to hear that you're recovering. Many models waiting to be built and many photos still needing to be taken… Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Well done sir ! Well done ... I really do like the colors on your Vampire. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Outstanding! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Once, I would have said, yeeecchh, another silver aeroplane, but now, having seen the light, I look at this & think, oooh, I want one of them, especially if I can make it look as good as this one. Steve. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeaton01 Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Outstanding indeed! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Your FB.5 and my F.3 in a week. Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 (edited) Sublime little Vampire beautifully finished,welcolme back to the fold. Edited January 31, 2019 by stevej60 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tunguska Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Hurrah for your "...a bit rusty."!! That's an excellent Vampire. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrritableRabbit Posted January 31, 2019 Author Share Posted January 31, 2019 Hello and thank you everyone for your warm welcome and most complimentary comments regarding my latest build. I do read all of your comments, they are all noted and appreciated even if I don't quote reply directly. I do have to do other stuff with my day, else I'll get into trouble. I am also spraying copious amounts of WD40 on my 'Rusty'just so I can make less mistakes and keep things tidy... Metaphorically speaking of course. 😁 And it benefits me as some of the little mistakes cost me days of extra build time putting right. 😧 (I'm looking at you Phantom FGR.2 - soon to be appearing on this channel). As there were several comments about the nice colour scheme (thx @Head in the clouds. @Kitchen Modeller @Vultures1 @Corsairfoxfouruncle ) I thought I'd add some comments. As a warm-up build I wanted something with a splash of colour and the Xtradecal sheet for the Vampire FB.3/5 is chock full of nice choices, and the shark mouth one was an obvious first choice. I may do another at some point as well. Somehow the colour is good for the soul, or something. 😀 The green of tail and wingtips had to match the green lettering on the tail boom and by luck or design the Humbrol Gloss Emerald 2 was so close as to make no difference. I didn't see anything on the Xtradecal sheet that referred to this colour but the paint chip on the humbrol colour charts was an easy match. Thank you all for your time and attention. 😎 14 hours ago, Bedders said: Very nice. What did you use for the silver? Justin The build appears to have been a bit of a Hannants Xtrakit/Decal/Color project (accidentally) 🤔. The main body colour was the Xtracolor X038 that purports to be the mythical RAF High Speed Silver. I'm not sure if this is actually the case, and I may put a bit of grey in it for future builds to see how it looks. @djos and @DennisTheBear kindly commented on the engine covers and that was a very late addition after pouring through a bunch of Vampire pics on the net. It wasn't obvious but after seeing it on only one pic I thought I'd add it anyway, by spraying a light coat of Tamiya x-32 Titanium silver over the HSS, followed by a bit of discolouration during the weathering stage. 13 hours ago, azureglo said: Good to have you back,* Jonathan and gorgeous model, i too had a "stroke" related disappearance for six odd months: The human body eh? Cheers * And not just 'cos i wanna ask you load sof questions about softboxes and gamma correction...👿 Yes. The Human Body. Where is my dystopian cyberpunk future so I can have everything replaced with high tech mechanical parts? 😭 😁 I have been known to occasionally appear in the photography kit and techniques area, so I think we've got you covered. 😎 4 hours ago, stevehnz said: Once, I would have said, yeeecchh, another silver aeroplane, but now, having seen the light, I look at this & think, oooh, I want one of them, especially if I can make it look as good as this one. Steve. Yes.. Become one of usssssss... I'm not sure what we are or what we call ourselves who make too many silver and natural metal finish builds, but definitely be like us. 😏 I did go have have a head count of my silver/nm builds and they do make up 60% of my current finished output. Maybe it's partially the era they come from appeals, and partially that there are so many metallic products out there compared to when I first started and I don't just have to slap Humbrol silver 11 on everything. 😂 2 hours ago, Courageous said: Your FB.5 and my F.3 in a week. Stuart If I've being paying attention properly, yours may have been a flyer.. I may have to go and have another look. 🤔 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 (edited) Now that's a little beauty Martin Edited February 3, 2019 by RidgeRunner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmouredSprue Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 That's a really good one. Well done mate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opus999 Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 Welcome back! Beautiful Vampire! Glad to know this is "rusty" -- I look forward to your new builds. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natter Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 Being a cat person this would get my vote no matter what the rest of the model was like, but it really is quite lovely. Good photography would tend to highlight every tiny little fault, but there's nothing to fault there. I didn't even notice the engine covers until I read the commets; successful subtlety which is hard to achieve. Between this and your Phantom I'd say you have not lost your skills and I look forward to your future builds. Good luck getting your work photography back up and running too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickydicky210 Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 Lovely looking vampire thanks Rich 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrritableRabbit Posted February 6, 2019 Author Share Posted February 6, 2019 Thanks again everyone. 😎 On 2/5/2019 at 7:00 AM, Natter said: Being a cat person this would get my vote no matter what the rest of the model was like, but it really is quite lovely. Good photography would tend to highlight every tiny little fault, but there's nothing to fault there. I didn't even notice the engine covers until I read the commets; successful subtlety which is hard to achieve. Between this and your Phantom I'd say you have not lost your skills and I look forward to your future builds. Good luck getting your work photography back up and running too. *Looks for more cat markings to guarantee at least one positive on future builds.... Fails. 😑* Indeed thank you. I've managed to get another build nearly ready but then things are going to slow down 😭. I've also put the photography on the back burner for a while so I can go work in a medical laboratory. It takes up less time than chasing clients which I just don't have the energy for ATM!! Bloomin people not wanting my photography and handing money over for it unless I go find them! 😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomoshenko Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 Well Mr Rabbit, first up, sorry to hear about the health issues, hopefully this period of convalescence will sort you out. As for the build, beautiful Vampire and a cracking scheme, good tones on the fuselage. More builds please and some WIPs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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