ProfSparks Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 (edited) Hi All Todays' Lab multiple choice:- watching paint dry, or fit Airwaves etch to an old Airfix kit..? Somehow I've ended up with these While in that big yellow website of temptation looking for Spitfire decals, I was lured into the re release of the cockpit etch set The other one has issues with the decals, so as I was buying decals anyway, I figured I might as well get these from DK Decals I've some of the other schemes on here lined up for stash queens. Anyhoo, the etch is neither coloured nor adhesive, so that's a good start. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve Edited June 16, 2019 by ProfSparks 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive_t Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 Looking forward to seeing how you get on. I don't have a whirlwind in my stash at the moment, but that could change 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 2 hours ago, clive_t said: I don't have a whirlwind in my stash at the moment, but that could change Snap. Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted June 16, 2019 Author Share Posted June 16, 2019 Hi All Step 1. Remove all interior sticky-out things that could interfere with the fit of the PE tub Step 2. Realise that Step 1 is EXACTLY NOT what I should have done, as the sticky-out bits are what locates the kit seat in the fuselage Never mind. Step 3. Let's do some folding! Just the external, to get an idea of how it fits. erm... You can just make out where I removed one of those locating pegs, the PE fits under it. However, when I say "fits"... Kit seat needs some TLC I'm sure it says on the label that this set is for the 1/72 Airfix Westland Whirlwind. Perhaps there is another 1/72 Airfix Westland Whirlwind that I may come across in the future. 3 hours ago, clive_t said: I don't have a whirlwind in my stash at the moment, but that could change 53 minutes ago, Courageous said: Snap. Stuart Hey @clive_t and @Courageous, I think I know where there's at least one of these kits about to become available at no extra cost... Comments, suggestions, and that other 1/72 Airfix Westland Whirlwind welcome Cheers Steve 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 After doing the post, I had a 'light bulb '. I do have the Airfix offering, it was in 'stash place 2/3' . Looking at that PE cockpit, I think I'd look at another option as it looks too flat...just me. Let's see how it scrubs up. Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted June 17, 2019 Share Posted June 17, 2019 That light blue plastic from the old Airfix box sure is nostalgic though! A part from fitting a proper sized seat I think you're almost done with the cockpit now. Good work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted June 18, 2019 Author Share Posted June 18, 2019 Hi All I've come to terms with the Airwaves Just needs a bit filling in round where it doesn't touch (the floor, the wall), and grinding out where it's too big (the IP. Who would have guessed...?) and perhaps the floor moving aft so the driver can reach the pedals. I'll crack open the canopy too given half a chance. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted June 27, 2019 Author Share Posted June 27, 2019 Hi All So I started by thinning out the sidealls where the etch was to sit It will get squished to the side and filled better than the Gannet That IP is still too wide, even after being filed down and quite a lot of side wall taken out round it I have a desperate cunning plan, and if it all goes South, at least I have a near-enough spare from the Spitfire Zoom calamity Thso, cut here Then here And Robert's that awkward relative you try to avoid at Christmas! There's a plate with six dials to go on the centre blue patch that should disguise the join admirably. Look, it fits better Now we're talking. Hmm, the Pilot still seems a long way from the controls I'll move the seat part forward to the canopy framing and extend the rear decking. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted June 27, 2019 Share Posted June 27, 2019 Hats of for you perseverance with the Airwaves set. Martian 👽 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted June 28, 2019 Share Posted June 28, 2019 Not surprised to see you having problems with the Airwaves etch, I had the set for a Ki-46 that seemed to have no relationship with the fuselage it was meant to fit in. Took much surgery to get it to fit. All to no avail in the end as the Dinah went in the bin for other reasons relating to decals. Now Airfix, how about a new tool Whirlwind? AW 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lasermonkey Posted June 28, 2019 Share Posted June 28, 2019 I've never encountered an Airwaves etch set that fitted or even came close to fitting! Every one I tried I ended up cutting into separate parts, much like you have done. I think I have the Whirlwind set lurking around somewhere, though the chances of it getting used are pretty slim! Anyway, it's always good to see a Whirlwind getting built. Cheers, Mark. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted June 28, 2019 Share Posted June 28, 2019 Crikey, that's a lot of work. As said by others it's great to see a Whirlwind bring built. I have one in the stash (and a 48th scale kit on the go ) and will watch with interest. Great work so far on the cockpit looking forward to seeing this develope. Keep up the good work All the best Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicarage Vee Posted June 28, 2019 Share Posted June 28, 2019 8 hours ago, lasermonkey said: I've never encountered an Airwaves etch set that fitted or even came close to fitting! Every one I tried I ended up cutting into separate parts, much like you have done. I think I have the Whirlwind set lurking around somewhere, though the chances of it getting used are pretty slim! Anyway, it's always good to see a Whirlwind getting built. Cheers, Mark. You may well have hit on a theme there Mark. I recall the one for the Airfix Mosquito was so far out that it sits in my spares to this day: it was easier to just scratch build it. I have the Whirlwind and the etch set to do.... Forewarned is forearmed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lasermonkey Posted June 28, 2019 Share Posted June 28, 2019 1 hour ago, Vicarage Vee said: You may well have hit on a theme there Mark. I recall the one for the Airfix Mosquito was so far out that it sits in my spares to this day: it was easier to just scratch build it. I have the Whirlwind and the etch set to do.... Forewarned is forearmed. Although it was a long time ago, I have vivid memories of the hassle of trying to get the Airwaves set for the Matchbox Beaufighter to fit. I ended up cutting the sides off the sidewall/floor assembly and treating every surface as a separate item, with lots of cutting and filing. It worked (and even looked fairly good once finished) but it's not something I'd want to repeat, though saying that, I subsequently went through exactly the same with their Defiant set! To this day I hate using etch of any kind! These days I tend to scratchbuild and cockpit detail I might want to add, as I find it far more relaxing than trying to get someone else's product to fit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted June 28, 2019 Author Share Posted June 28, 2019 Hi All Thanks for the confirmation that it's not just me having issues with Airwaves etch, makes me wonder why they've re-issued it as it was so badly fitting in the first place? Anyhoo, I moved the seat to a more comfortable position, and you'll note that the front of the windscreen actually goes under the forward cowling. Had me going there for a little while... Now just need a way of fixing the floor here Sides glued in and the IP mangled to fit The gap at the top is to let the windscreen slip in I put in a couple of spacers for the seat to sit on and the floor to locate up against And it's not looking too bad so far I'm pleased with that so far. I'll alter the seat support and rear decking, then there's a multitude of teeny greebles to scatter in there (there are Airwaves parts still on the etch sprue, but I'm not holding out any hope of any of them fitting where they should). Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted June 30, 2019 Author Share Posted June 30, 2019 Hi All I've started populating the interior, starting with a control column And some bits on the Port sidewall Once it's all painted and hidden it should look at least better than OOB. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted July 12, 2019 Author Share Posted July 12, 2019 Hi All A quick session with Airwaves finest... The floor And the four pieces to the left of the pilot are the seatbelts Can't help but think they would be better served elsewhere, perhaps as a couple of switches/ buttons on a centre console? The pedals also were raised to where he might be able to reach them The IP cut'n'shut needs to be disguised And with a flash over of black A bit of touch up, some dry brush and Krystal Klear for the dials, should be passable. The rest of the interior got a coat of Vallejo Air 71.305 Int Grey Green And not forgetting the OOB sidekick Will give them a final coat, add the bits where applicable, and hope to get them buttoned up next time. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted July 13, 2019 Share Posted July 13, 2019 On 6/16/2019 at 7:36 PM, ProfSparks said: Anyhoo, the etch is neither coloured nor adhesive, so that's a good start Ah, but it's Airwaves, and that's NOT a good start! Good luck! Ian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted July 13, 2019 Share Posted July 13, 2019 Wow that is a long title and a nice aircraft 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted July 15, 2019 Author Share Posted July 15, 2019 Hi All On 7/13/2019 at 4:19 PM, limeypilot said: Ah, but it's Airwaves, and that's NOT a good start! Gah, thanks Ian, if only I'd known Here's the IP with some dry brush and gloop in the dials. It looks kinda gnarley this close, those holes moved around when I tried to neatly fill them, but should hide well enough. The rest of the interior had a wash and masking tape seatbelts added (See, the IP looks better from here already!) Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicarage Vee Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 Looking really good now. I bet that etch set is feeling sorry it crossed you 😉 Only suggestion would be to try take-away tray foil or wine bottle foil or similar for the belts: IMO they end up looking so much better than tape as they can be made to drape realistically. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted July 25, 2019 Author Share Posted July 25, 2019 Hi All Nice and cool in The Lab, who wants to be outside anyway? Side walls assembled And closed up I've a feeling that the IP should be closer to the pilot and not out past the pedals, but oddly the front of the canopy locates under the top of the nose cowling and I'd have even more trouble getting anything to fit once that was on. Anyhoo, seams mostly sanded out But wait! What is this? That'll be The Curse Of The Etch pushing the sides out. At least it's not ton the top this time, I'll deal with it once the nose is on. Nose on Gaps to be filled and blended in, natch Does the tail look lopsided, or is it just me? While I pondered that, I did the wheel wells with Vallejo 71.305 Int. Grey Green And got the wings glued and set aside to set Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomthounaojam Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 That is quite impressive mate, I have built that kit sometime ago. It is little dated kit but fun to build for sure. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cees Broere Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 Very nice build. The funny thing with Airfix for me as a small boy at the time (late seventies/early eighties) that they taught me about aircraft types. Many of which I had never seen before such as the Whirlwind and the Halifax. Without Airfix the Halifax cockpit now at East Kirkby would never have materialized.😊 Cees 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted July 30, 2019 Author Share Posted July 30, 2019 Hi All On 7/26/2019 at 1:17 PM, Cees Broere said: Very nice build. The funny thing with Airfix for me as a small boy at the time (late seventies/early eighties) that they taught me about aircraft types. Many of which I had never seen before such as the Whirlwind and the Halifax. Hi Cees, that's happening to me even now, fifty or so years later, so many types still to discover too! I got some time to mount their legs for spraying Then turned my attention to the engine pods, before and after attention With the majority of the seams in remission, I glued the wings to the OOB Yes, I know it's missing the aerial thingie from atop its' tail, silly place to put it anyway. Anyhoo, back to the Scarewaves Etch, these parts are for the wing root radiator fronts I was quite prepared to cut, file, swear, bend and lose them before getting them to fit, but as it turns out they just go right in when the wings are attached! Even to the point of disguising the join between the wing and the body. Well done Airwaves! (there's a phrase I never thought I'd say...) So, they'll be painted separately and installed after the main painting. Wings on that one too Here we shall languish for a brief time whilst I go and work. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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