Natter Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Hello All, my last for 2019 is the Airfix Vampire T.11 with the roundels and No.1 Fighter Squadron badge from the Max Decals 72001 sheet. The model has been built several times here so most of what could be said has been said. I found the fit good, but it did need a little filler (I'm fussy) but I still got a couple of phantom seams; rats. Halfords white primer was used and the orange sprayed and masked before the silver. The orange is my mix of Tamiya X-6 orange and Humbrol 60 red, about 3-1 but adjusted by eye. I normally use Tamiya X-7 red, but it had dried out. The silver is my first try with Vallejo's Metal Color Acrylic, in this case their Aluminium. The Metal Color is great, but the Airfix plastic is very slightly textured and I sprayed straight over the primer without micromeshing it first. The finish is not bad for the painted finish of the Vampire, but for BMF it will definitely need a perfect basecoat to go over. Please feel free to argue about the efficacy of highlighting panel lines in 1/72nd - this is my model and I highlighted them. Another first for me here, I used one of AK's Paneliners. The only addition to the model was some work on the seats; belts from foil, main buckle from a punched disc of thin polystyrene, ejection handles from fine wire and parachute pack covers from Perfct Plastic Putty. I felt it needed this to have the canopy open, though the rest is as Airfix intended including the instrument panel decal. The fin pitot is Albion alloys as the moulded on item didn't even make it off the sprue! I have used the Max Decals stuff before, including decals from this sheet on my earlier Irish Provost, but these were more difficlut for some reason. The first roundel broke up and despite using decal film I had real problems with the squadron badges and serial numbers. None of the decals wanted to free from the backing sheet despite usning warm water and a loooong soak. The underwing and starboard serial numbers have has significant hand painted touch ups and the black panther head of the starboard squadron badge just wouldn't come off the backing sheet and more or less disintegrated, This is mostly hand painted too. It looks like this: It now takes it place among the Mid Devon branch of the Irish Aer Corps: Happy New Year of modelling to you all. 30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luiz Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Beautiful job! Luiz 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Lovley 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 A smashing Vamp and a great collective. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 And a happy new year to you as well Dave. That's a lovely way to finish off 2019 and a great collection of IAC kits on display. The only problem I have with this kit is that there are two many cracking schemes to choose from. I've got these same decals, however now need to source a few more kits to replicate your great effort. Cheers and very well modelled.. Dave 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Very impressive and love the collection of Air Corps aeroplanes. I've tried and failed to match it. I have several Vampires in my stash and I well remember seeing them flying overhead. Yours is almost perfect. However, in a complete 'rivet counter' moment. Grovelling apologies. I must point out an error, not yours but Max Decals. The underwing serial is too big. I have every obscure book on the Air Corps and there's a picture of 185 from underneath and the serial is smaller than Max assumed. I only mention it for future reference. Agree with Rabbit Leader, the Vampire T11/T55 has endless colour schemes. What to choose? 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbay133 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Very nice. Clean and a superb scheme. Graeme 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobo Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Wow! I absolutely love your Irish Air Corps collection. Thank you for sharing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natter Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 'I must point out an error, not yours but Max Decals. The underwing serial is too big. I have every obscure book on the Air Corps and there's a picture of 185 from underneath and the serial is smaller than Max assumed.' I had a nasty feeling that might be the case, but couldn't find an underside photo anywhere except of '198' hanging in the museum, and as a restored scheme I wasn't sure that was correct. None of the photos I found showed the underwing serial on the undercarriage door, and the decal is awfully tight to the undercarriage bay on one side and the roundel on the other, and the roundel is only just in the right place. As you say, one for reference for others to avoid this error. Hey-ho. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Wonderful build and a great little squadron you have there. Happy New Year to you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Ooo.... That's a beauty, Dave. I love it! Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petetasker Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Beautifully done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandboof Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Awesome group Martin H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binbrook87 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Excellent work. Great collection you have there 👏 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 9 hours ago, Natter said: I had a nasty feeling that might be the case, but couldn't find an underside photo anywhere except of '198' hanging in the museum, and as a restored scheme I wasn't sure that was correct. None of the photos I found showed the underwing serial on the undercarriage door, and the decal is awfully tight to the undercarriage bay on one side and the roundel on the other, and the roundel is only just in the right place. As you say, one for reference for others to avoid this error. Hey-ho. Yes it's wrong size on '198' too. It's even more wrong on the real 185 now in a museum in France. But it doesn't matter really. It doesn't really spoil your Vampire. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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