Deanflyer Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 Hi all, When I was eight, my Dad came home from work with an Airfix Kittyhawk in a blister pack, which we built together that evening. It was bare plastic, decals stuck on any old how, but it was fun. It started me on the model making hobby, and ten years later I built the same kit, but this time painted to the best of my ability at the time just to see how much I'd improved. I still have both of those builds, and the second one is nowhere near as good as I thought it was at the time! 34 years later I decided to try again, in 1/48th scale this time, and here's the result. I did make one absolute howler during construction, which was only discovered when it was too late to do anything about it...I'll keep quiet about it unless anybody spots it. Azure Blue and Mid Stone paints were mixed from Tamiya acrylics, and weathering was achieved with a mixture of washes, pastels, post shading and actual chipping. The roundels and markings were toned down by masking around them and fading them with heavily thinned Deck Tan. It's quite heavily weathered in real life, but it doesn't show up too well in photos. So, here's Neville Duke's Kittyhawk sitting in the African sun after seeing quite a bit of action: Evolution...aged eight, eighteen and fifty two: Hope you like it, Dean 25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyW Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 (edited) Love the progression shot, a very nice show to be able to put on. As far as mistakes go, hmmm... possibly one or two PSI out on the tyres? Edited June 21, 2019 by TonyW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 Very nice model. I claim the prize for spotting the “absolute howler “ - It’s a Tomahawk you’ve built this time, rather than a Kittyhawk! I’ll get me coat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanflyer Posted June 21, 2019 Author Share Posted June 21, 2019 13 minutes ago, TonyW said: Love the progression shot, a very nice show to be able to put on. As far as mistakes go, hmmm... possibly one or two PSI out on the tyres? Nope...I did have a set of resin bulged tyres actually, but they had spokes instead of the wheel hub covers, so I used the kit ones. 8 minutes ago, malpaso said: Very nice model. I claim the prize for spotting the “absolute howler “ - It’s a Tomahawk you’ve built this time, rather than a Kittyhawk! I’ll get me coat! Nah - it's not a Flying Tiger, either! That's just what my Dad called it when I was eight and it's stuck with me. It's the same squadron, same markings, same teeth, and only one letter difference on the aircraft codes, so it's close enough for me. 🙂 Being ingenious, I've arranged the build so that the howler is less obvious. It just irks me as I know what a mistake I made... Cheers, Dean 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Joyce Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 You know Dean, admitting your mistake is just asking for trouble! Now everyone is going to scrutinize your build with a microscope. Anyway, I believe I caught it; only because I am working on Neville Duke's Tomahawk currently. Regardless, it is a very nicely done build. The weathering looks fine. I know what you mean about it not showing up as well in photographs since that happens to me too. Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Dyck Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 That´s really great show. Love your photography very much. Very realistic!!! Indeed much better than model on the kitchen table. cheers Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanflyer Posted June 21, 2019 Author Share Posted June 21, 2019 1 hour ago, Mark Joyce said: You know Dean, admitting your mistake is just asking for trouble! Now everyone is going to scrutinize your build with a microscope. Anyway, I believe I caught it; only because I am working on Neville Duke's Tomahawk currently. Regardless, it is a very nicely done build. The weathering looks fine. I know what you mean about it not showing up as well in photographs since that happens to me too. Cheers, Mark I realised that as soon as I posted it! Actually, I've just looked at the instructions and the box lid, and I don't think I HAVE made the mistake I thought I had... 🙂 The rear glazing has a frame running vertically through it, and I thought that this should match the line of the centre frame on the canopy - the ones on mine match the rear frame, ie slanted rearwards and I THOUGHT that I'd transposed the left and right parts in error. I posed the canopy only slid far enough back to disguise this, but it turns out that's how the instructions show them. Photos online seem to show it both ways in different variants, so if it IS wrong, it's the kit's fault not mine! Phew, confidence restored... 🙂 Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanflyer Posted June 21, 2019 Author Share Posted June 21, 2019 39 minutes ago, Andy Dyck said: That´s really great show. Love your photography very much. Very realistic!!! Indeed much better than model on the kitchen table. cheers Andy Thanks Andy...my model was actually photographed on top of my wheelie bin! Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Dyck Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 😂😂 Ok but nevertheless. It looks amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 Very nice Desert Shark, looks great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Lutz Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 Nicely done. The major mistake that I see are the wing guns. They are installed backwards. Meaning the small portion of the barrel is supposed to go into the wing. Cheers Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanflyer Posted June 22, 2019 Author Share Posted June 22, 2019 4 hours ago, Randy Lutz said: Nicely done. The major mistake that I see are the wing guns. They are installed backwards. Meaning the small portion of the barrel is supposed to go into the wing. Cheers Randy 😵 That'll teach me to put the finishing touches onto a model at half past midnight when I'm dog tired! Mistake now rectified, by the way...other wise Neville might have shot himself down! Cheers. Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now