Enzo the Magnificent Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 Another heritage group build!!! For me, the biggest problem with these GBs is deciding how to build the kit. Do you build it OOB in the same way as you would have done back in the day? Do you build it OOB with all your current skills (in my case that can sometimes end up looking like the previous choice! ) Or do you improve the kit and build it to the highest standards you can achieve using aftermarket bits and pieces that were never even thought of when the kit was originally issued? For this one, I'm going to choose the latter - sort of. I always loved FROG's full colour painting instructions The kit is apparently very accurate, shapewise. However, the fuselage is an empty shell. You can see strainght through from the intakes to the exhausts. The open undercarriage bays provide a lot of light to aid the view. So I shall be using some Neomega resin sets to deal with that issue. They are designed for the now-obsolete Airfix kit but I see no reason why they shouldn't fit the FROG one. I will be building the box top scheme, complete with four Martels. However, I'll be using most of the markings from an Xtradecal sheet intended for the forthcoming Airfix kit. The FROG decal sheet will provide serials. Looking forward to this one! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 Hi Enzo Lovely choice, and it will be great to see what modern parts can do for this classic kit, good luck with the build. cheers Pat 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Welcome aboard Enzo and good to see you tackling another Classic kit challenge. You're right about these old kits, you can either build it as we all did way back when or mix it up a bit to achieve something that littler bit special. Either way, you'll be on a winner so I'll look forward to seeing this one take shape over the course of this GB period. Cheers and all the best.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 Hi Enzo Just to let you know the Frog Squad GB has started, so it's time to attack perfectly innocent plastic with sharp objects ! cheers Pat 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted June 30, 2019 Share Posted June 30, 2019 Hi Enzo I do hope you're ok, we are about to enter the second month of the Frog Squad GB and this poor Buccaneer is yet to make an appearance, unless of course you have finished it and we can expect to see it in the gallery ? Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted June 30, 2019 Author Share Posted June 30, 2019 I've never worked that fast! I have, however, been working on it this afternoon. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share Posted July 7, 2019 Okay, let's look at the sprues. Typical FROG fare. The plastic is very glossy and back in the day I sometimes had problems getting paint to adhere because if that. I don't think that will be a problem in 2019. And one of those wonderful FROG stands. As mentioned above, the interior of the kit is totally empty except for the cockpit. However, the cockpit is very sparse indeed. I will attempt to remedy that by using some Neomega resisn sets. These were intended for the old-ish Airfix kit, but I should be able to make 'em fit... Here is the cockpit set. I won't be using the upper nose section. Just the tub, panel and seats. Intakes and exhausts set. The intakes will make a big difference to this model. Some very nicely detailed main gear bays. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Mmmm - resiny goodness. Looking forward to seeing you squeeze that lot in. 😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share Posted July 7, 2019 First step was to remove all the protruding bits on the interior of the fuselage halves. The undercarriage bays were the sprayed Xtracrylix XA1015 Light Aircraft Grey, with some bits highlighted in aluminium. The resin cockpit was sprayed in Lifecolor UA033 Dark Gull Grey, which is a reasonable match to Dark Admiralty Grey. I also took the opportunity to remove the forward sections of the intakes. This leaves a huge gap. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share Posted July 7, 2019 3 minutes ago, Jinxman said: Mmmm - resiny goodness. Looking forward to seeing you squeeze that lot in. 😀 You don't have to wait long. Lo and behold, it all fits!!! Large amounts of Milliput fill the gaps where the intakes used to be. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Blimey. 😮 I daren't mention paint and decals..... What filler do you use please? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share Posted July 7, 2019 The large white areas are Milliput. The green bits are Squadron Green Putty. And then I tend to seal everything with Mr Surfacer. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Law Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Well done Enzo. When I saw the state of some of the resin I thought you would have difficulty using them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Wow! Using resin bits sure speeds up the detailing process! Looking forward to the next stage. Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Excellent work Enzo, this will look great with all those additional goodies and certainly a lot more business like than what Frog provide. On the other hand you might as well use all those resin bits before the Airfix kit deems them redundant. Cheers.. Dave 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted July 8, 2019 Author Share Posted July 8, 2019 3 hours ago, Rabbit Leader said: On the other hand you might as well use all those resin bits before the Airfix kit deems them redundant. My thoughts exactly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimrod54 Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Great start Enzo. I have those resin sets and seeing this has made me feel a whole lot better about fitting them to the old Airfix Bucc. when that STGB starts. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted July 8, 2019 Author Share Posted July 8, 2019 6 hours ago, nimrod54 said: I have those resin sets and seeing this has made me feel a whole lot better about fitting them to the old Airfix Bucc. when that STGB starts. I would recommend that you remove the moulded in tub from the Airfix kit. Don't just lop off the front fuselage to use the resin part. As you can see, mine is so warped as to be pretty much unusable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Well done Enzo i didn't want to administer the KUTA, it was Dave @Rabbit Leader that made me do it ! Cheers Pat 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 Every GB needs an enforcer! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted September 2, 2019 Author Share Posted September 2, 2019 It seems that I still needed a KUTA, as it's been quite a while since I updated this thread. I fitted the resin intakes and faired them in with Milliput. The intakes were designed fror the (veteran) Airfix kit which may or may not have had shape issues in the intake area. I believe that the FROG kit is quite accurate shapeways. That's probably the reason why I needed so much filler. Fin and outer wings attached. It's interesting to not that this kit can only be built as a Martel-capable aircraft as it has one of the vortex generatprs removed to allow access to fit the relevant Martel pylons. Airframe primed with grey auto primer from a rattle can. And the resin seats painted and fitted. The canopy was fitted and masked. And the the model was sprayed with Xtracrylix XA1004 Dark Sea Grey. After a thin coat of clear laquer, the disruptive camouflage was masked using my usual technique of Blutak worms, masking tape squares and Copydex. Looks like it's going on an arctic deployment! And here's where I really need to go and stand in the Naughty Corner! I got carried away and forgot to take further pictures. Given that I just applied the decals this afternoon, it's going to look very different when next you see it. For the record, the disruptive pattern was Xtracrylix XA1001 Dark Green and the undersurfaces were Xtracrylix XA1015 Light Sircraft Grey. 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 Looks lovely Enzo and with the adjustment of GB dates that you’ve just endorsed, it’ll certainly make the ‘new’ end date. Cheers and nice progress.. Dave 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 Have you got any photos to share yet, really looking forward to seeing this one. Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnson Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Blimey, not seen that masking technique before (learn something new every day on this GB!) It's looking very good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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