Airfix 1/72 triple build.

[Jabba]

Going through the stash the other week I came across an oddment of kits that I do not normally build, but I have acquired over the past year or so. First up is the Spitfire that was given away by the Daily Mail one week, second is a Hurricane that I bought for some reason or other and the last is a Defiant that was won by SWMBO at a show tombola. So I am going to try this as a triple build, but if required I will put them into separate entries. I do know that the Hurricane has the wrong markings for the BoB, so I have been looking at either a Czech or Polish one, but the only decal sheet I can find of these is rather expensive for many a version that I will not build. I am also looking at the BoB sheet by Xtradecal, but I am unsure of its accuracy. So here are the pictures of the kits.

 

The Spitfire.

 

 

 

The Hurricane.

 

 

 

The Defiant.

 

 

[Ozzy]

Nice trio.

[Cookenbacher]

Alright, a triple!

[Jabba]

Some progress on all three models. I have built up and painted the cockpits and there corresponding areas (some of the Defiants parts are still on the sprues). I have also put together the wings of the Hurricane and Defiant as this is following the instructions. There is still some sprucing up to do, but I thought I would show what I have done so far.

 

I have also ordered a decal sheet for a Polish Hurricane, but I think that this might not be correct for the kit that I am using. I think that I am right in saying that the Polish aircraft were metal wing ones, whilst this kit is for a fabric wing one. In the context of things does it really matter, (not being much of a rivet counter) but I do like things to be technically correct. The next question I have is did Airfix make a metal wing version of their newer kit and which one was this?  Also if they did not what would be a better replacement? Thanks in advance for any advice given.

 

Spitfire.

 

 

Hurricane.

 

Defiant.

[jean]

Great choice! Working on three different planes at the same time is an impressive way to do it! 

Keep on going!

 

JR

[Jabba]

The cockpits of all three have been glued into one fuselage half. I still have to add the Defiants instrument panel which I will do tonight and glue the fuselages together.

 

Spitfire.

 

Hurricane.

 

Defiant.

[Jabba]

All fuselages together and wings also added. The only one that I had a bit difficulty with was the spitfire, mainly I think because the others were already built up whilst the spits was built as I added it. I have also abandoned the idea of having a Polish Hurricane, and they flew metal wing aircraft and this a fabric one. I have seen some pictures in the Hurricane section of the WW2 aircraft section that has given me a few ideas. More to add tonight.

 

Spitfire.

 

 

Hurricane.

 

 

Defiant.

 

[OutcastJoel]

These are coming together really quickly, nice work.

 

I quite like these little airfix kits, they seem to have retooled a lot of them in the last 10 years or so into supprisingly good kits! 

[Stew Dapple]

That's good progress on all three Jabba  

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

[Jabba]

Thanks for our kind words.

 

A lot more added now, plus all filled and sanded. I have yet to add the canopies, which I will do over the next day or so, but I can start painting the lower surfaces on all of them. I have ordered some stuff mainly for the hurricane so that I can build the one flown by Sqn Ldr Peter Townsend of 85 Sqn during the battle. I have also started to build the turret for the Defiant and will take the advice given in the build of @Max Headroom. So it is onwards and upwards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Valkyrie]

It’s really great seeing these all in the one thread at the same stage. Nice neat frames 

[Max Headroom]

Three in one! No wonder I couldn’t find your Defiant thread before!

 

All three kits are nice straight from the box but each have their little ‘bear traps’ for the unwary. For the Spitfire, it’s the canopy. An impossibility right fit, if you sand the rearmost vertical surface a mm or so, it’ll slot into place without the need for glue. I’ve built several and all are the same. The Hurricane has a canopy* that’s too tall and a fabric area at the wing root that doesn’t exist and the Defiant is full of spindly bits that will snap off if you’re not careful and of course the turret......

 

All three builds are looking good and I look forward to your next update.

 

Trevor
 

 

 

* autocorrect suggests nappy........

[Jabba]

Yes I do try to keep out of the limelight, but thank you very much for the info that you have provided.

[Jabba]

Some goodies arrived today, most are for the Hurricane, but the masks are for the Defiant. I have realised why I do build many WW2 aircraft when I masked the glassware of the other two aircraft, what a pain they were and they were the easier ones. Anyhow the decal sheet shows the Hurricane that I am attempting to build, although Xtradecal have me confused with the Serial No as on the side views it is P3166, whilst on the top views it is P3854, with a glowing thanks for a certain website. Having looked earlier at the Hurricane question part in the WW2 section I am going with the latter. I have painted the undersides of all three aircraft, so will mask for the topside tonight. I have also done a trial fit of the Defiant turret glazing and do not tell @Max Headroom but it fitted very easily. I have not painted the guns and supports as yet so this may make a difference, so I will see.

 

The goodies.

 

Pictures showing confusing Serial No.

 

 

The Spitfire.

 

 

The Hurricane.

 

 

The Defiant.

 

 

[Max Headroom]

Good news about the turret🤣

 

that puzzles me is the lower part slotted in no problem, it’s just with the glasshouse on top that it refuses to fit. It looks like you used the lowered fairing? That may be why?

 

Good progress overall btw.

 

Trevor

 

 

[Cookenbacher]

All three perfectly in sync, wonderful builds.

[TonyW]

Nice looking builds. Three at a time is the stuff of champions.

[TEMPESTMK5]

Good afternoon Jabba

 As far as I know most of the Hurricanes used during the BOB had "metal wings'' and I think that the best option for a ''metal wing Hurricane'' is the Arma Hobby kit

https://www.armahobby.com/70019-hurricane-mk-i-expert-set.html

  I plan to build one when my current build will be finished ...

 

Best Regards

Patrice

[Jabba]

Thank you for your words of support.

 

@TEMPESTMK5 I did ask the question about fabric winged Hurricanes in the section about Hurricanes in the WW2 aircraft section, and I was told that about 50 of these type of Hurricanes did participate in the BoB. One of these was P3854, which is the one that I am now trying to make, but I have found out that both the kit is not quite correct and that the decals I have recently are again not quite right. So this one will be the best that I can make it, but not strictly totally accurate.

 

Anyhow Brown not applied to all 3, hopefully start applying the Green tonight.

 

Spitfire.

 

 

Hurricane.

 

 

Defiant.

 

 

[Jabba]

The upper camo has now been painted. I had a bit of a problem when it came to painting the Dk Green, in that when I came to paint the 2nd coat it looked a bit on the light side. So I had a proper look at the paint that I was using only to find that I had been using Interior Green, which would explain the lightness of the colour. I  have also got the turret of the Defiant build, with no issues whatsoever so far, maybe when I try to finally fit it. I am now going to fit the main U/C to the Hurricane and Defiant so that I can apply some Lear for the gloss varnish. I feel the Spitfire main U/C to be a bit too flimsy to do this so I will find something else to support it whilst the varnish dries.

 

Spitfire.

 

 

Hurricane.

 

 

Defiant.

 

 

Defiant Turret.

 

 

 

[Stew Dapple]

Nice work Jabs, they're all looking good  

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

[Max Headroom]

Good progress! These new Airfix kits go together well if you account for tolerances.

 

Hope your turret puts up less of a fight than mine 🤣

 

Trevor

[Jabba]

Thanks again or your words of encouragement.  I have applied the major decals, with the Spitfire being completed, the Hurricane still requiring the codes to be finished, the Ser No and the stencils to be applied and the Defiant still to have the stencils applied. I have also started to paint the props and will start on the wheels either tonight or tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jabba]

All decals now applied to Hurricane and Defiant.

 

Hurricane.

 

 

Defiant.

 

 

 

[Jabba]

Weathering done and the matt varnish applied. I have also started fitted the U/Cs and the props although have yet to paint the yellow tips (forgot until after I had fitted them).

 

Spitfire.

 

 

 

Hurricane.

 

 

 

Defiant.