Lord Riot Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 So here we go; I've been looking forward to starting this although I know it's not exactly the most accurate representation of a Buccaneer. I think it'll need a bit of extra attention and some cutting and filing. On opening the box I may even be tempted to buy some aftermarket parts for the first time! Let's have a look at the evidence ... Some might say the best part of this kit is the beautiful box art. It certainly isn't the decals! I'll need to find some of those pink and pale blue ones like white V-bombers had. And a few more besides. I like how you can fold the wings and nose, but I'll need some plastic card to fill the airbrakes so I can have them open too, and probably some kind of radar dish if the nose is going to open? Look how thin the wheels are! They look like bike tyres. The canopy hasn't aged well. I fear it's unusable. And finally, a scary nuke! Not sure if I'll use it or leave the swivel bomb bay empty. So I have my work cut out, but let's see how it goes. When it's all done, I want it to look like this: 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 Watching Gotta luvvabucc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 @perdu did an excellent double build on Buccaneers recently, its well worth checking it out for ideas as well as some top class banter. Martian 👽 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 12, 2019 Author Share Posted September 12, 2019 First things first, I need to block up those hollow intakes. The trusty flat pack furniture sponges are ideal for the job! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 Wow, I think I remember this from my youth and paper round money, is there any indication of the year? I'm guessing mid 70's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicarage Vee Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 Swallow hard... initial release 1960! https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/airfixtributeforum/1960-blackburn-na39-buccaneer-1-72-t315.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 That was when I built my first one Came into F.W.Woolworth in a box for the first time and my mom said "OK just this time" and spent some of her meagre housekeeping so I could build the new kit I remember the little jar of Gold Airfix paint I used on the radome because it was on the instructions Blue top white bottom, takes me back a long way, this model. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 13, 2019 Author Share Posted September 13, 2019 Taking inspiration from @perdu's superb S1 conversions, I've fashioned some Gyron Junior engine pipes from garden canes. I'll paint them with Humbrol 56 and try and add a bit of detail once I can work out where to fit them so they don't cover the oleo fitting points. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicarage Vee Posted September 13, 2019 Share Posted September 13, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Lord Riot said: Taking inspiration from @perdu's superb S1 conversions, I've fashioned some Gyron Junior engine pipes from garden canes. 👍Proper modelling! Maybe we should rate conversion/modification builds with their own dedicated points scales. We could call them Ellis points or Scarborough points? Edited September 13, 2019 by Vicarage Vee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 13, 2019 Author Share Posted September 13, 2019 Here are the Gyron Junior jetpipes fitted, painted and with some external pipework added for (hopefully) increased realism. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andre B Posted September 13, 2019 Share Posted September 13, 2019 (edited) I've got that kit to. I used a pair of Evergreen plasticard tubes for the intakes and all the way back to the "nozzle's" making them to "engines" as well. But the biggest problem was the not so cymetrical shape of the fuselage and the much too long engine nozzle's. So it was put back in the box after hours of cutting, filling, fairing and sanding. But I didn't completely gave up and following your build with interest! Cheers / André Edited September 14, 2019 by Andre B 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 14, 2019 Author Share Posted September 14, 2019 (edited) A bit more work this morning, filing a bit of flat space behind the jetpipe and cut a couple of exhaust deflector plates. It's just a dry fit at this stage to check things out, the fuselage halves are still a way off being stuck together yet! Edited September 14, 2019 by Lord Riot 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 15, 2019 Author Share Posted September 15, 2019 A rather unlikely combination ... But once filed and cut, the tips of some random missiles make great RWR bullets! Just a bit of smoothing needed once the glue is dry and they should be reasonably ok. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 Nicely fielded old chap They look good 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 16, 2019 Author Share Posted September 16, 2019 On to the swivel bomb bay, and a great deal of artistic licence used here as I had no S1 bomb bay images. I relied on the S2 bomb bay photos then kind of followed a bit what I thought it looked like and utilised a few bits of wire and plastic for the interior. It'll hardly be seen as it's underneath, but I might display it open if it turns out ok. I used a Canberra bomb door as the main interior as the kit one was very basic. I'm guessing the interior is all light grey? I still haven't decided whether to put anything inside yet. What stores would be realistic for an S1 circa 1963? 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 Nice to see this old kit get some TLC. I think it's closer to the NA39 prototype than an operational S1. It's always nice to see the different styles in which BM members approach making over these old kits. You get extra points for "first use of garden cane"! Regards, Adrian 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 When I built its first concoction Airfix did market it as the NA39, ISTR and various later re-pops got named Buccaneer S1 Proper historical Airfix here 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andre B Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 Havn't found my half built kit in the stash yet. Wonder little how the bangseats looked like and if they could be "reengineered" to look like an F-106 ejector seat? Cheers / André Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted September 17, 2019 Share Posted September 17, 2019 16 hours ago, Lord Riot said: On to the swivel bomb bay I'm guessing the interior is all light grey? I believe it was the same light grey the underside was painted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 18, 2019 Author Share Posted September 18, 2019 Continuing with the Bucc, and a HUGE thank you to @Scimitar for a plethora of spares and decals for improving this kit. You're a gentleman sir, I hope the build does your generosity justice. Included in the box of goodies were some sets of wings, far superior to the fat Airfix ones in the old kit. I filed the tips as per the instructions for an S.1. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 19, 2019 Author Share Posted September 19, 2019 Lots of interior to build from various bits. I can't believe how hollow the original would look otherwise! I guess it was good for 1960, with the folding wings and nose. I've made a nosewheel bay and hole to fit the new oleo into. I'll need to make some cockpit interior stuff too. Lots done inside that'll hardly be seen except the swivel bomb bay interior. Need to plug all those gaps though. There'll be more paint on the inside than out! It looks a mess but once the fuselage is glued together it should hopefully just look dark inside. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 It always looks way messier than it will when it's done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gondor44 Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 Don't forget that the piolet and navigator were not directly in-line with each other when building your cockpit interior. Gondor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 19, 2019 Author Share Posted September 19, 2019 Thank you @Gondor44, I hadn't realised that. Which way were they offset? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicarage Vee Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 Pilot’s seat offset to port and navigator’s to starboard (each by about 2” to the centreline) I believe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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