Dan Dare's nightfighter (Hurricane IIC)? ++ FINISHED++

[CliffB]

Evening all.

 

My fourth and final Specialist will be this 1/96 Eaglewall Hurricane (a Mk IIC I believe), which I'll be finishing as an all black nightfighter.

 

 

 

The kit dates from the 1950s.  I'm not sure what the link was between Eaglewall Plastics Ltd and the Eagle comic, but there presumably was one as they both use the same logo 

 

The plastic is 'interesting' (who needs a tail wheel anyway?).

 

 

Eaglewall were a British company, but my kit was made under licence in France by Sitaplex.  Hence the instructions are in French and maybe RP.II is French for Mk.II?

 

 

Cheers

 

Cliff

[trickyrich]

welcome along with another micro marvel...... (arrr no more, haven't had coffee yet), wee plane.

 

For some reason I though the Hurricanes had fabric rear sections and wings (on the earlier models)?? There appear to be a lot of rivets there!

 

Those decals are probably way past their use by date, though you have some nice lines to follow.

 

Another must follow build....and your completion of the 4 Horseman/Planes of the Apocalypse!

 

 

[Greg Law]

This is a model of it's time. Even the box picture doesn't match the model. Notice the tropical 

filter. Thank goodness it isn't in the model parts. 

[CliffB]

18 hours ago, trickyrich said:

For some reason I though the Hurricanes had fabric rear sections and wings (on the earlier models)?? There appear to be a lot of rivets there!

 

 

11 hours ago, Greg Law said:

This is a model of it's time. Even the box picture doesn't match the model. Notice the tropical 

filter. Thank goodness it isn't in the model parts. 

 

Without doubt, the sanding sticks will be out! 

I've also just realised that some Hurricanes were indeed designated 'RP' - namely those equipped with rocket projectiles (including some Mk.IIs).  Again though, no rockets in the kit, just 'les reservoirs'.

Having said all this, there's no mistaking that it's a Hurricane (which will do me nicely thanks ).

 

Cheers

Cliff

[CliffB]

I made a start on the wing this morning and oh dear!

 

 

I've sanded off all the raised detail (although the ghost images are still there in the silver plastic), and also rescribed the control surfaces.

Unfortunately though, the act of sanding causes the plastic to delaminate (just like your skin peeling after getting sunburnt).  I'd hoped that it might just be a surface effect but no, it goes much deeper.

 

I used the blue Dymo label tape as a guide for the rescribing and, as you can see, when I pulled it off the wing it took a layer of plastic with it!

 

The good news is that I don't think that the plastic is going to spontanteously self destruct, but I will need to treat it carefully.  I've since flashed it over with a coat of Extra Thin Cement and that seems to have stabilised the surface.  Hopefully a few coats of primer will then get everything smooth again.

 

I haven't tested the fuselage yet to see if it's got the same affliction - fingers crossed it hasn't!

 

Cheers

 

Cliff

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Hello Cliff, I'm no expert but saw your query over in the frog build. Can you take a bit of sprue and dip it in liquid C/A ? Let it dry and see how it reacts. If it holds up I'd paint the kit in liquid c/a and then sand that smooth. The c/a should also self level to a degree. It sounds strange but I have a friend who did auto body work for years. They used c/a in paint as a hardener, and I'm thinking it will keep your plastic together. It would think it might preserve it for the long term, as it should prevent air and other atmospherics from affecting the plastic. That or I'm speaking gibberish and ignore me. 

 

Dennis

[trickyrich]

hmmm maybe the plastic mix just wasn't quite right that day....or a wee bit too much wine for lunch! Hopefully the cement will help hold it all together. 

[CliffB]

Thanks for your thoughts Dennis.  I can see the sense in what you're saying about using CA.  For the moment the liquid poly cement seems to be holding the surface together OK, but let's see what happens when I start to paint.

 

Meanwhile I've been tidying up the smaller components.  From one side they look OK.

 

 

But from the other, they're as flat as a pancake (and the canopy looks wierd too)!

 

 

So I've sanded the prop to improve things a bit (no delamination on this piece thankfully), and circumvented the u/c issue by going wheels up.  I managed to find a spares box tail wheel too 

 

 

Going wheels up will also allow me to use the rather tasty Eagle stand 

 

 

Cheers

Cliff

[trickyrich]

you must have a awesome spares box to be able to find tail wheels for that scale!

[Col.]

This one's putting up a fight  A fight I'm glad to see you're winning though Cliff. That stand is rather nice and can't blame you for using it

[CliffB]

Thanks Rich and Col for your comments.

 

I've been looking at how I can provide new markings for this one.  The roundels haven't been a problem, as I've found some 1/72 scale that are pretty much the right size.  I haven't done the maths, but presumably the ratio between 1/72 and 1/96 corresponds to the ratio between some standard full-size RAF roundel diameters.

 

The squadron codes are more of a problem though.  The solution has been to choose an aircraft with 'straight' letters and the mask these onto the fuselage.

 

Step 1:

 

 

Stage 2:

 

 

I haven't got it quite right (maybe the aspect ratio is wrong or the letters are too thick?), but I'll take it .

I'm not sure if the colour is exactly right either, but masking directly onto the primer was just too tempting to resist!

 

Cheers

Cliff

 

[CliffB]

And so on to the job that I love to hate - masking canopies.  Made more difficult in this case, by not having any framework to follow.

 

 

All that's needed now is some black paint and some decals 

 

Cheers

Cliff

 

[trickyrich]

oh I love you ingenuity!!!!  ....and considering the scale your poor eyes!!

 

Can't wait to see the results 

[CliffB]

On 6/26/2019 at 12:25 AM, trickyrich said:

oh I love you ingenuity!!!!  ....and considering the scale your poor eyes!!

 

Can't wait to see the results 

Thanks Rich.  I've really enjoyed fiddling around with this one and I think it's turned out OK.....

 

 

This is my last Specialist build and probably the one that I'm most pleased with.  Two months ago I didn't even know that this kit existed and now, unexpectedly, I have a Hurricane in my 1/100ish collection .

 

Thanks as usual to all who have supported this build and to the Holy Trinity* for making it happen.

 

Cheers

Cliff

 

* Rich, Col and Enzo.

 

 

[trickyrich]

one word........AWESOME!  

 

She beautiful Cliff, it's hard to believe it's the same model you started with and of course how old it is and scale. You are the master in this scale.

 

I'm so glad you enjoyed yourself it was as always a real pleasure to have you along, plus an additional treat for us to see these unusual models being build.

[Greg Law]

You have given that horrible kit a very nice clean finish. Well done.

At first why just a brown coloured. Then I reread your earlier post.

It's the lighting changing the black. Well I suppose you can always say it's

 the reflected light from London burning.😎

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Well done Hurricane Cliff, considering the plastic issues you were having. 

[robvulcan]

Brilliant Cliff. Great result as always and a fascinating kit  

[CliffB]

On 6/30/2019 at 8:05 AM, trickyrich said:

one word........AWESOME!  

 

Thanks Rich (the cheque's in the post....)

 

12 hours ago, Greg Law said:

At first why just a brown coloured. Then I reread your earlier post.

It's the lighting changing the black. Well I suppose you can always say it's

 the reflected light from London burning.😎

I hadn't noticed that effect Greg, but I can see what you mean.  Maybe a new multi-purpose day/night camo colour? 

 

9 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Well done Hurricane Cliff, considering the plastic issues you were having. 

Thanks Dennis.  Yes, the re-surfacing works on the plastic worked OK.  I've two more Eaglwall's in the stash, so I must try to remember what I've done this time!

 

9 hours ago, robvulcan said:

Brilliant Cliff. Great result as always and a fascinating kit  

Thanks Rob, I glad you like it.

 

Cheers

Cliff

[Hockeyboy76]

Great build Cliff, just read the whole thing, you wouldn’t know the trials of the build just looking at the gallery photos. 

[Troy Smith]

On 11/06/2019 at 20:02, CliffB said:

The kit dates from the 1950s.  I'm not sure what the link was between Eaglewall Plastics Ltd and the Eagle comic, but there presumably was one as they both use the same logo

 

while sesrching about, I ran across this thread again, and this maybe of interest,

 

https://bearalley.blogspot.com/2015/03/eaglewall-plastic-kits-in-eagle-comic.html

"the company that began in the Surrey town of Dorking under the name Vulcan producing 1/96 scale kits of WWII planes before changing their name to Eaglewall and licensing the Eagle logo."

 

 

also  in a comment here

https://lonewarriorswa.com/eaglewall-ship-models-remembered

The models originated at Vulcan Foundry in Dorking, England, but became Eagle Models when they were backed by the Eagle comic. They then became Eaglewall when they were also subsidised by Wall’s ice cream! The advantage of this was that, apart from toy & model shops, the models were also sold in newsagents and confectionists!

 

Also worth a read https://uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=11991

in particular

From John Burns PAK-20 - https://www.scalemates.com/books/pak-20-john-w-burns--104147

The first 5 were originally issued by Vulcan, Eagle purchased the molds in 1957.
#1 Spitfire IX, 1/96
#2 Hurricane II, 1/97
#3 Bf-109G, 1/98
#4 Fw-190A/5, 1/96
#5 Ju-87B, 1/94

These next 4 were Eagle/Eaglewall
#6 Me-163B, 1/98
#7 Gloster E28/39, 1/96
#8 P-51C, 1/96
#9 Typhoon Ib, 1/93 (maybe same as TT below)

Unsure about these:
360 Design-a-Plane (ex-Pyro)
?? Anson, 1/96
?? Battle, 1/96
?? Blenheim, 1/96
?? Typhoon Ib, 1/93 (TT=Table Top Air Force kits, last before folding)
?? Ju-88

Bagged kits, with header card were re-issued by French company SITAP - confirmed are 2,4,5,8,9 but likely all 1-9.

 

 

Note the box just says "Eagle"  not Eaglewall

 

 

 

 

This is the Vulcan box for the Hurricane

 

 

 

 

Did you keep the Eagle issue box? 

[CliffB]

2 hours ago, Troy Smith said:

while sesrching about, I ran across this thread again, and this maybe of interest,

 

Thanks for this Troy - it's filled in some gaps in my knowledge.  I would never have guessed the link with Walls ice cream!

I no longer have the box, but it's gone to a good home - a friend who appreciates such things .

 

Cheers

[Troy Smith]

6 hours ago, CliffB said:

I would never have guessed the link with Walls ice cream

Can't guarantee it's right  but the commenter seemed knowledgeable.

 

I was surprised to find out Eaglewall ended up based in Brighton.

 

I refound this as I have just bought a Vulcan Hurricane kit, I'm now curious as to which came first, the Airfix Mk.IV or the Vulcan kit.

 

I also noted that the original price was 3 shillings,  which seems expensive compared to the bagged Airfix two bob bagged kits in Woolworths.

6 hours ago, CliffB said:

it's filled in some gaps in my knowledge. 

I find the formative years of the hobby fascinating myself.

 

I noticed that Brighton toy museum has an Eaglewall display,  there is mention on their site.

 

Cheers

T

 

[Graham Boak]

The best source for Eaglewall kits is the book by Donald D. Hood.  "Eaglewall's Table Top Navy" published by Chris Daley Publishing in 2011.  Clearly, from the title, mainly devoted (quite properly, I feel) to their warship kits in 1/1200, their history and the author's approach to collecting them.  He doesn't confirm the Walls link other than with the Eagle magazine, but if by confectioners you mean to include newsagents, that's where I got mine.

 

I had a Vulcan Spitfire, but its personal connection is uncertain. I think I got it made-up from a schoolfriend: I never saw any in the shops.  I did have the Eagle E.28/39, Me.163, Fw.190, and a small scale Bf.109 which I believe was Eagle (can't imagine what else it would have been).

[Troy Smith]

5 minutes ago, Graham Boak said:

The best source for Eaglewall kits is the book by Donald D. Hood.  "Eaglewall's Table Top Navy

Now into the unobtainium category, a quick search last night showed no copies available, even at a silly price.   Shame, sounds like an interesting book.