Popular Post TheBaron Posted December 12, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 12, 2019 Dear all. I'd like to present my recent adventures with the character-full old Airfix kit of 'Faithful Annie'. I made a lot of changes - as you might have anticipated for a kit this old - but belly aside, I was impressed by how accurate Airfix caught the proportions and outline of both fuselage and wings. There was much scratch-building from brass & plastic, which I won't bore you by listing again as the cumulative list of tasks and rationales can be found over here: The aircraft is the one that famously discovered the Knickebein beams being used to guide the Luftwaffe to targets over Britain in 1940 - a list of historical refs. are given over on the build thread. Aside from the Hallicrafters set used to detect the beams and the need to alter the electricity supply of the aircraft in order to power it, any further detail regarding the installation of any different aerials &etc. seems now lost in historical mists. Not surprising given the jeopardy of that period in the war. I was lucky however to be in correspondence with the son of the pilot - Flight Lt. (as he then was) H. E. Bufton - who generously sent me copies of the pages from his father's log book for that night, confirming both the serial number of the aircraft and timings of the flight. Aside from log book entries, I was able to cross reference with a copy of BAT&DU (later 109 Sqn) Operations Record Book (AIR 27/852), obtained from the National Archives. I hope that Hal Bufton's son is pleased at how his father's aircraft has turned out. All camouflage and national marking are painted with Tamiya acrylics: detailed discussion over colour schemes and why there are no squadron codes on the fuselage are contained in the latter part of the WIP so I don't propose repeating these at length again here. Main technical reference for buildings and alterations (aside from contemporary IWM photographs) of the aircraft was the Anson parts & maintenance AP.1525A,D,E&F. A general walkaround first then: Some closer-ins.... The insides had a makeover too: I hope you like the results. It was a lovely kit to be working on and I was blessed - as always - with a kind and knowledgable bunch of companions on the 18 months it took. Tony 95 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Kay Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Only 18 months, and well worth the wait. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 A masterpiece, Tony! Following your WIP was entertaining and educational - but also intimidating at times, with all the sorcery needed for the amount of brass you put in it .... I'm sure you made FLT Bufton's son proud. Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Aye lad, that'll do. (translated from Yarkshirian' "Utterly fabulous model old man") A proper tour de force too, a journey of extreme pleasure for all we participants Yes mate that WILL DO thank you for the enjoyment 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Another fantastic build, a master class! The level of skill on this site is amazing. Wulfman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Absolutely bloomin' gorgeous that is. Superb job matey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Yery nice! A wonderful build thread too. Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbudde Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Really impressed Tony! Very realistic and state of a art. Looks more like a real aircraft. Did it make a take off for a first flight after the photo session? Cheers Benedikt 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry1954 Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 What a stunner! Having watched the WIP, and enjoyed seeing this marvel in creation along with the customary banter, seeing it in good light and totally complete from all angles is a pleasure well worth the wait. Well done that man! So now I'm doing some mental rythmatic. Annie takes 18 months and 100 pages, so two vixens could extrapolate to 3 years and 200 pages. Perhaps not quite that simple but we are certainly in for an entertaining next build, and ...... some serious potential competition here on the endurance stakes for @Fritag maybe? Terry 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Finally finished and well worth the wait. I followed the WIP with interest along with its numerous asides. Great photos too. Captured on a rare fine day in this part of world. It does look ready to fly. Great job. In other news Airfix just announced a brand new state of art Anson. 😣 Only joking. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Absolutely bloody gorgeous. Fantastic workmanship Tony, and an absolute gem of a model. Congrats on a job very well well done! Ian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Ah, the Baron's shrink ray does it again. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Law Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 One of the great builds of this forum. Good to see it done. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomoshenko Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Glorious Tony. Thoroughly enjoyable, cultural and educational thread too. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBaron Posted December 12, 2019 Author Share Posted December 12, 2019 4 hours ago, Heather Kay said: Only 18 months, and well worth the wait. Glad you think so Heather. 😁 4 hours ago, giemme said: Following your WIP was entertaining and educational - but also intimidating at times, with all the sorcery needed for the amount of brass you put in it .. It's the audience that makes it G! 4 hours ago, perdu said: Yes mate that WILL DO thank you for the enjoyment My pleasure to have done it in such estimable company Bill! 4 hours ago, Wulfman said: Another fantastic build, a master class! The level of skill on this site is amazing. Every day another wonder Wulfman. That's one of the things I love about this place too! 2 hours ago, CedB said: Absolutely bloomin' gorgeous that is. Superb job matey Most decent of you Ced! 👍 2 hours ago, AdrianMF said: Yery nice! A wonderful build thread too. Many thanks Adrian: would you believe I initially thought that maybe three months would have seen it done? 1 hour ago, bbudde said: Did it make a take off for a first flight after the photo session? If only Benedikt! 1 hour ago, Terry1954 said: Having watched the WIP, and enjoyed seeing this marvel in creation along with the customary banter, seeing it in good light and totally complete from all angles is a pleasure well worth the wait. Well done that man! It's been quite a ride Terry hasn't it? As to the length of time on the Vixens - three months should have them done. (I think that on every build btw...) 1 hour ago, noelh said: Captured on a rare fine day in this part of world. It does look ready to fly. Some cracking light today eh Noel? Rotten evening outside now though... 1 hour ago, limeypilot said: Fantastic workmanship Tony, and an absolute gem of a model. Deep thanks Ian. 43 minutes ago, Cookenbacher said: Ah, the Baron's shrink ray does it again. Now to try it on the mortgage for the house Cookie! 32 minutes ago, Greg Law said: One of the great builds of this forum. Good to see it done. Most kind Greg. 8 minutes ago, Tomoshenko said: Glorious Tony. Thoroughly enjoyable, cultural and educational thread too. Gosh thanks! Like an episode of 'How' then I guess Tomo... 😀 7 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomoshenko Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 7 minutes ago, TheBaron said: Gosh. Like an episode of 'How' then I guess Tomo... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 4 hours ago, TheBaron said: Dear all. I'd like to present my recent adventures with the character-full old Airfix kit of 'Faithful Annie'. I thought that you would try and improve the basic kit a bit Tony! ...only joking, I run out of superlatives with your work, just incredible modelling of the highest order, both in imagination and technical skill. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJP Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Fabulous piece of model engineering Tony - I'm settling in to watch you do your magic on those Sea vixens now CJP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanC Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 I'm new to this build, but that's a little work of art. Almost the real aircraft miniaturised. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Possibly the most wonderful 1/72 model aeroplane I've ever seen! Keith 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 My gob is well & truly smacked. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry1954 Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 2 hours ago, TheBaron said: As to the length of time on the Vixens - three months should have them done OK folks, now that we have all stopped laughing, shall we open the betting? Terry 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, TheBaron said: 5 hours ago, TheBaron said: Some cracking light today eh Noel? Rotten evening outside now though... There was. But it got bad later. The wind was whistling around the Da Robertas chipper in Salthill this evening. Dodgy door letting in the draft but the chips were delish. Edited December 13, 2019 by noelh 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 7 hours ago, TheBaron said: three months should have them done. Yeah, right.... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBaron Posted December 13, 2019 Author Share Posted December 13, 2019 15 hours ago, 71chally said: I thought that you would try and improve the basic kit a bit Tony! ...only joking, I run out of superlatives with your work, just incredible modelling of the highest order, both in imagination and technical skill. Hard not to try your best when you get such incredible support and knowledge on here James! 14 hours ago, CJP said: Fabulous piece of model engineering Tony - I'm settling in to watch you do your magic on those Sea vixens now Kind of you CJ: get some comfy cushions as it could take a while... 😁 14 hours ago, IanC said: I'm new to this build, but that's a little work of art. Almost the real aircraft miniaturised. That's kind of you Ian 13 hours ago, keefr22 said: Possibly the most wonderful 1/72 model aeroplane I've ever seen! *Makes note to send two Christmas cards this year. Keith, you are impossibly generous sir. 13 hours ago, Buzby061 said: My gob is well & truly smacked. I hope no teeth were damaged in the incident Pete! 13 hours ago, Terry1954 said: OK folks, now that we have all stopped laughing, shall we open the betting? Not sure you thought that through Terry: I'm bound to win on the account of insider knowledge.... 10 hours ago, noelh said: Dodgy door letting in the draft but the chips were delish Sounds like a culinary version of S&M... 7 hours ago, AdrianMF said: Yeah, right.... I sense a trace of skepticism creeping into proceedings... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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