stevej60 Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 Right folk's last one in the cue will be a big favourite of mine I last built way back when it had that superb box art in the early seventies.I know it's a much disliked kit due to the wrong drawing's being sent to Airfix but I remember building the Belgian version as I loved the decals,I picked up a bagged Bilek release for a tenner from KK.https://www.super-hobby.com/products/Fairey-Battle.html 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 Watching with interest, the road I live on is named after a VC winning rear gunner of one of these Sgt Thomas Gray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 Hi Steve, I have heard the story about the drawings and seem to remember that the tail is wrong - needs twisting off the centreline by a few degrees I believe, but other than that I cannot recall what else is inaccurate? Can't remember if Airfix moulded the bomb aiming panel underneath which was covered by a shutter when not in use I think, and the undercarriage is no doubt simplified but it is still a nice looking kit. Cheers Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 Another one that I seem to have missed building somehow Steve. I wasn't aware of any issues with the kit but then I never really looked into it, I look forward to seeing what you can do with it mate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 3 hours ago, modelling minion said: Another one that I seem to have missed building somehow Steve. I wasn't aware of any issues with the kit but then I never really looked into it, I look forward to seeing what you can do with it mate. The old Airfix Defiant and Battle always had a certain reputation regarding accuracy, or lack thereof. Of course, the Defiant has been re-tooled in recent years. Maybe there's hope yet for a new Battle tooling. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted May 23, 2020 Author Share Posted May 23, 2020 6 hours ago, PeterB said: Hi Steve, I have heard the story about the drawings and seem to remember that the tail is wrong - needs twisting off the centreline by a few degrees I believe, but other than that I cannot recall what else is inaccurate? Can't remember if Airfix moulded the bomb aiming panel underneath which was covered by a shutter when not in use I think, and the undercarriage is no doubt simplified but it is still a nice looking kit. Cheers Pete I believe the nose is a few mm short for the scale pete. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted May 29, 2020 Author Share Posted May 29, 2020 Morning folk's,last one for me is here,molded in a dark olive green it is actually nicely done.I was happily surprised at the clear part's nice and clear with good framing.this lot should see out the GB nicely. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 I built the Airfix one of these back in the day, it was huge. I remember it was a bit like a Hurricane that someone had made supersize ! Good luck with this one cheers Pat 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 Good to see your Battle has arrived Steve, actually does look to be nicely moulded and its great that the canopy is nice and clear. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 (edited) 20 hours ago, JOCKNEY said: I built the Airfix one of these back in the day, it was huge. I remember it was a bit like a Hurricane that someone had made supersize ! Good luck with this one cheers Pat Funny you should mention that Pat. As I understand it the Battle came about in response to an Air Ministry spec P.27/32 for a light bomber to replace the Hawker Hind. However a couple of years later they also issued spec P.4/34 for a "light bomber capable of tactical support" and Hawker submitted their Henley which was in effect an enlarged 2 seat Hurricane. For some reason, although the AM ordered the Henley, it was relegated to target towing, and there are a number of people who feel it should instead have replaced the Battle, being considerably faster although just as inadequately armed. Instead Battles were churned out in ridiculous numbers even though they were clearly obsolete, and the poor ruddy crews suffered many losses. One of the excuses I have seen was that it was considered appropriate to keep producing a plane of limited value until something better came along, as it would preserve the skilled workforce in the factories. Just a thought! Pete Edited May 30, 2020 by PeterB 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 The Battle was maintained in production after the Battle of France, when priorities were set, but can't have been responsible for the deaths of many crewmen after that. The main problem with placing the Henley into production was that it was Henleys or Hurricanes - under the circumstances I feel the better choice was made. The P4/34 became the Fulmar. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 Talking of the Fulmar I have the Vista/Airfix kit in the collection,I'd love to see Airfix do a new tool Battle. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 Years ago some visionary modeller made the P4/34 prototype from an Airfix Bf110 kit in an article in Airfix Magazine. Sadly I can't remember who it was but it was an impressive piece of work. Those were the days... John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 December 1978 issue John, with Alan Butler performing plastic alchemy. I have a copy I picked up in curiosity. That's where I stopped. Steve 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted June 14, 2020 Author Share Posted June 14, 2020 Hi folk's,been a big pleasant surprise this one,not a jot of filler to be seen apart from a massive hole under the fuselage where the good folks at Bilek must have just snapped the sides off the sprues.I notice a few folk priming as they go rather than when the kit is fully assembled so I'm giving it a go using the interior green,open bomb bay doors fitted after sanding tape belts and decal for the IP. And within a couple of half hour sessions today we're here,now to deal with that hole! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted June 14, 2020 Share Posted June 14, 2020 Blimey Steve that didn't take very long at all! I like the open bomb doors in the wings, a nice touch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted June 14, 2020 Author Share Posted June 14, 2020 12 minutes ago, modelling minion said: Blimey Steve that didn't take very long at all! I like the open bomb doors in the wings, a nice touch. Simply fell together Craig,can't wait to start the camo. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Nodding my head gently - that looks great. It always amazes me how some kits fall together and others fight you all the way, from the same manufacturer, same design office - who knows why? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted June 15, 2020 Author Share Posted June 15, 2020 Evening folk's here's the Battle after the hole repaired and sanded and two coats of black from the starter pack pot's as I'm totally out of black Tamiya. And two coats of Tamiya earth as with the undersides brushed on. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Your brush skills are impeccable steve 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted June 15, 2020 Author Share Posted June 15, 2020 1 hour ago, Dansk said: Your brush skills are impeccable steve Half inch flat brush Dansk,works wonder's! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 Excellent paint work Steve, looks like we have another Six in our midst! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 The machine marches on - lovely hairy stick skills on display. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted June 17, 2020 Author Share Posted June 17, 2020 Morning folk's,two coats of green yesterday and this morning then on with the gloss.Now it's problem time,the main u/c legs are fitted but Bileks instructions are useless as to how the rest fit and certainly don't make sense compared to real photos I need to search for Airfix's instruction's or better still a built model to progress. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ventora3300 Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 1 hour ago, stevej60 said: Morning folk's,two coats of green yesterday and this morning then on with the gloss.Now it's problem time,the main u/c legs are fitted but Bileks instructions are useless as to how the rest fit and certainly don't make sense compared to real photos I need to search for Airfix's instruction's or better still a built model to progress. Are these any good, Steve? From the Airfix Tribute Forum. If not, I'll need to go to the loft for the 'locate and cement' version..! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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