Shelliecool Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 My next build is Airfix's 1:72 Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I. I have had this kit in my stash for a while now, and am excited to finally begin building it. I plan to build this one as it comes out of the box, in the night fighter scheme of N3328 as flown by F/Sgt John Leslie Goulter RAAF. I have done a little research already and there is lots of information about this aircraft available online, including footage of The Lancaster Aircraft Investigation Team's dig, to recover parts of the aircraft from its final resting place, I will attach some more info later. So now to the kit itself..... The box contains 3 detailed grey sprues with little to no flash and a small clear sprue. There is a detailed instruction booklet and small decal sheet with the choice of two colour schemes. The kit looks like it is going to be good to build, and I'm pretty excited about this one as I think it is a pretty aircraft. I just hope I can do the aircraft and it's pilot justice. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 I'll be watching this space for further developments. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patmaquette Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 Likewise, I have this and the 1/48th version in my stash and will be interested to see how you get on. Cheers, Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelliecool Posted March 16, 2019 Author Share Posted March 16, 2019 Keen to get to work on the build last night I set to work (Previously I gave the kit a quick bath in warm soapy water and then a coat of Vallejo primer). With the primer dry I began painting my aircrew. From online information about N3328's last flight, http://laituk.org/Defiant N3328.htm I have discovered only the pilot F/Sgt John Leslie Goulter was onboard, because of this I am only going to place one of the supplied aircrew in the aircraft. I have also begun work on the interior of the cockpit, building the cabin area. There are many photographs available depicting the Interior of Defiants, and I have used these to help me in my endeavour. These sections of the build are now drying ready for the next stage of the build. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 Love the Defiant I'll take a seat by the bar and follow along if I may. Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelliecool Posted March 16, 2019 Author Share Posted March 16, 2019 41 minutes ago, Hamden said: Love the Defiant I'll take a seat by the bar and follow along if I may. Roger Happy to have you onboard Roger! Thanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 I'm in too. I also have this in the stash, with some after market stuff, so am interested to see how it goes together! Ian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelliecool Posted March 17, 2019 Author Share Posted March 17, 2019 I have been busy constructing the cockpit interior, fixing the instruments into the fuselage and adding some detailing to the switches and dials. I then secured my pilot into his seat, added the instrument panel and fixed the cockpit to the fuselage. These have really nice locating pins which help ensure the cockpit is in the correct place. Leaving this to dry I attached the interior wheel wells to the wings and he'd them in place with tape. The build is moving along smoothly, so far it's a great kit. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweener Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 Having one of these nearing completion, I definitely agree it is a great kit. I'll need to see to picking up at least one more for the sake of building a night fighter as well. I'll be watching - Tweener 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyL Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 N3328 was being ferried to Walney Island to go on strength with 10 Air Gunnery School. I have a copy of the F1180 Accident Card for N3328 if you'd like a copy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelliecool Posted March 18, 2019 Author Share Posted March 18, 2019 1 hour ago, AndyL said: N3328 was being ferried to Walney Island to go on strength with 10 Air Gunnery School. I have a copy of the F1180 Accident Card for N3328 if you'd like a copy. Yes please that would be fantastic! Thanks, Michelle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelliecool Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 With the interior securely glued in place, the time came to join the fuselage halves. This is always a nail biting moment, and a dry fit revealed the halves fitted together well with the exception of a tiny gap down the nose. So I went for it, brushing some extra fine tamyia glue along the edges and placing the locating pins in the corresponding holes. I held them together with tape, putting extra emphasis on the nose section to coax it together. A spot of filling and sanding will be needed to hopefully eliminate any visible seams. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Coming together nicely,looking forward to seeing this in paint Roger 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairtrigger Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Looking very good, it's a lovely kit and a joy to build... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelliecool Posted March 23, 2019 Author Share Posted March 23, 2019 Happy with my sanding, I have masked up the canopy and secured it in place. Now this wasn't as easy as I have made it sound. The canopy wouldn't fit evenly over the head armour, which required quite a lot of sanding. Leaving this to dry, I then airbrushed the inside of the air intakes which will be difficult to paint once fitted. These are now drying ready to be fitted. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 Coming along very nicely. I've got this kit planned in this exact scheme so enjoying following this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelliecool Posted March 26, 2019 Author Share Posted March 26, 2019 With the air intakes fitted, I gave the aircraft several light coats of Vallejo primer and left it to dry for 24+ hours. I then began the task of preshading the panel lines. For this I have used thinned down Vallejo black, mostly because I plan to pain the aircraft in a very dark grey, almost black. A lot of modellers suggest using NATO black (which is a very dark grey) I don't own any, so am going to attempt mixing up a little of my own, using Panzer Dark Grey and Black whilst crossing my fingers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelliecool Posted March 27, 2019 Author Share Posted March 27, 2019 Just to make sure I had chosen the darkest grey I possess, I made a quick colour chart. I decided to go with Panzer grey as I first thought,mixed with black to make it even darker. Happy with my mix I began airbrushing the build, one light coat down I was happy with the shade I had created. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelliecool Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 Happy with my NATO black mix, I have given the build several light coats and am really pleased with the results. The colour is almost black (as planned), the preshading comes through a little on some panels, and I have tried to create varying levels of paint over the panels. Once it has dried, I will seal it in with a coat of Quick shine gloss varnish. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairtrigger Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Looking good.. I used Humbrol 27 - sea grey and Humbrol 33 black on mine, I brush paint and built the coats up between each coat used Cif floor cleaner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Harrison Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 Honestly had never heard of this plane before now. What an interesting thing - you aren't wrong, it is quite pretty Build is looking good so far! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitchen Modeller Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 Your seam lines all look good - paint colour looks good too...! Now the fun begins.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 Very nice! I'm thinking of doing the same for the black on my Mercedes build as the Tamiya is far too dark for the scale. Ian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 Looking great in black not far to the finish line now Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelliecool Posted March 30, 2019 Author Share Posted March 30, 2019 With several coats of quick shine dry, I began working on the decals. As the aircraft is so dark I was really worried about silvering. Because of this I decided to cut them all down as close to the colour as possible. They went on well (even though the instructions are poor for this), and have settled well. There is a little silvering but I may touch it up later. Only the underside left to do. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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