2996 Victor Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Thread update #2, 26th November 2021 For anyone new to this thread, may I say welcome, and then I would add beware of what follows! You may wish to skip ahead to Page 21 where the re-boot begins. Having said that, the first few pages of my original Arma builds may prove instructive in the manner of "how to not do something". Once you reach the stage of the arrival of the fabric-winged Airfix Mk.Is, things really start to go wobbly. The (largely self-inflicted) problems I experienced with them halted progress and caused a huge slump in Hurricane mojo. However, the mere act of sweeping clean the workbench was most cathartic, while simply unboxing a shiny new Arma Mk.IIB/C Expert Set has elicited a revival of interest in Sydney Camm's marvellous hunchback Thread update #1, 26th April 2021 Originally, this thread started out as one for just the Arma kits in my stash, which miraculously seem to multiply all by themselves! But latterly one or two examples of Airfix's Mk.I fabric-wing Hurricane have crept in, and by some strange coincidence seem to be multiplying as well. The first two Arma models are about 3/4 completed, and unable to resist any longer I've finally dipped into my first Airfix ragwing, which first appears part-way down Page 7. No doubt the Arma and Airfix builds will become a confusing mish-mash, interspersed with photos of our cat, Daisy To return to the original thread start, September 4th 2020 Inspired by @CedB's multi-Hurricane build thread here, I thought I'd build two Arma kits in parallel. So taking up space on the bench where the Tomahawk really ought to be are a Mk.I and a Mk.IIc. I haven't entirely decided yet on the scheme and markings for the Mk.IIc - it could be CBI, it could be LF363 in the contentious scheme it wore while AVM Sir Stanley Vincent's toy, or it could be something else entirely. The Mk.I, however, will wear a Vokes air filter and be finished as one of 30 Sqn's all-black night-fighters: 30 Sqn, B Flight, Idku. A small start has been made, and here are a few photos of the Mk.IIc: http:// http:// http:// http:// And the Mk.I's sprues: http:// The kits are are OOB + Eduard, and going together very well so far. The Eduard sets are the pre-printed ones, and unfortunately the green looks completely wrong so these were masked with Maskol (yuk!) and lightly over-sprayed with my favoured shade, Vallejo 71.126 IDF/IAF Green. The aluminium bits were variously sprayed Vallejo Aluminium or Dull Aluminium, honestly I can't remember which was which: I tried to make sure that metal bits were the former and doped fabric bits were the latter, although I can't really tell the difference! The IPs for both are done and look very nice, held together with Micro Krystal Kleer, which hopefully doubles as the instrument glasses. Also, the cockpit sidewalls, newly de-Maskol'd, have been curved and glued to the previously-scraped fuselage sides. As mentioned, the parts fit is extremely good. As far as the Mk.IIc's wings are concerned, all I did was lightly sand the trailing edges so that they are hopefully a smidgeon sharper than they otherwise would have been. So far, I haven't removed the entirety of the moulding feeds, but have contented myself with ensuring they don't interfere with mating surfaces - the remaining bits will be sanded away when the major assemblies are together. I'll get some more photos before I go any further, but in the meantime cheers for now! Mark 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 Nice start Mark - I expect you'll finish before I do! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 5, 2020 Author Share Posted September 5, 2020 3 hours ago, CedB said: Nice start Mark - I expect you'll finish before I do! Thanks, Ced, that's very kind of you! As for finishing first, given my current rate of progress, I think I'll just about keep pace After your post a while back, I bought a couple of EBMA's storage contraptions which I assembled during the week. Very impressed! Rather than doing any modelling, I've spent this afternoon tidying up my work table and sorting my tools and paints etc. - so much better now that I actually have some space to work in. Hopefully, I'll get a bit done to the Hurris tomorrow..... Cheers, Mark 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 6, 2020 Author Share Posted September 6, 2020 Thanks to the good offices of EBMA Hobby & Craft (no connection other than as a very satisfied customer), I now have the room to swing the proverbial felis catus Before (eugh!): http:// After (wow!): http:// Et, voila: http:// Very, very pleased! So before I actually do any more modelling, here are a few more pics of current state of play. Firstly, a family photo with the Mk.I to the fore: http:// A few closer pics of the Mk.I: http:// http:// http:// And the Mk.IIc: http:// http:// http:// Looking at the two kits side-by-side, you can see how Arma's thought processes developed from the Mk.I to the Mk.IIc. The level of detail is consistent, although the latter's undercarriage bay is, IMHO, better and doesn't need the etched overlay. However, the parts break-down of the Mk.IIc is better and more cunningly thought out, making for a kit that should be easier to put together. Hopefully, there might be some actual modelling to report on soon! Kind regards, Mark 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 Nice progress Mark Pleased to see another fan of the EBMA stuff - certainly helps keeps things tidy doesn't it? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 6, 2020 Author Share Posted September 6, 2020 26 minutes ago, CedB said: Nice progress Mark Pleased to see another fan of the EBMA stuff - certainly helps keeps things tidy doesn't it? Certainly does! My better half, Jane, and I moved in 14 months ago, and in that time my work table has been getting steadily more and more cluttered up! The beauty of the EMBA storage units is that they all have the same footprint, and with the magnets aligning them, they stack perfectly. Advert over! (Any commission?) I was hoping to get some more modelling done today, but so far Jane and I have been tidying the garden. Hopefully, I'll get something done this afternoon 🤞 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 6, 2020 Author Share Posted September 6, 2020 Hello again, dear readers! Well, a couple or three hours of largely enjoyable modelling interspersed with some swearing were had this afternoon, mainly consisting of adding Eduard etched details to the Mk.I. I'm not entirely convinced of the necessity for this, although I think it does add a certain degree of realism providing, unlike me, you don't get glue all over the damn' place! Apologies for the photographs, they were taken after dark with the flash, and I've had to edit them a bit..... First up, everything after I'd tidied up: http:// And then some close-ups of the fuselage sides, the upper and lower wing parts with the wheel bays, footboards and rudder pedals, and the seat and bulkhead: http:// http:// http:// Luckily, I don't think the glue shows too badly..... I was having one of those days when the minuscule parts will happily stick to the tweezers/cutting mat/your fingers etc but flatly refuse to stick where you want them (hence the swearing alluded to above). The poor old Mk.IIc didn't get much of a look-in, with only the seat being fixed to the bulkhead: http:// as instead we decided to have a spell in the hot tub shame it rained...... Cheers for now, m'dears! Mark 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted September 8, 2020 Share Posted September 8, 2020 Great start Mark, they are nice kits . Test fitting is essential to make sure you can get the fuselage closed up around the cockpit details. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 8, 2020 Author Share Posted September 8, 2020 15 minutes ago, bigbadbadge said: Great start Mark, they are nice kits . Test fitting is essential to make sure you can get the fuselage closed up around the cockpit details. Chris Thanks, Chris! I'm certainly enjoying the builds so far, and it's quite surprising how Arma have cunningly redesigned the Mk.IIc details to make them a bit more user-friendly. I'll be sure to make sure I do a dry run on the fuselages, as you can guarantee that if difficulties are to be had, I'll find them! We've already got gremlins in the house..... Kind regards, Mark 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted September 8, 2020 Share Posted September 8, 2020 44 minutes ago, 2996 Victor said: We've already got gremlins in the house Just don't feed them after midnight or get them wet!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 8, 2020 Author Share Posted September 8, 2020 7 minutes ago, bigbadbadge said: Just don't feed them after midnight or get them wet!!! Drat! That's where we've been going wrong 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 9, 2020 Author Share Posted September 9, 2020 Last evening, I sprayed some Vallejo aluminium around the wing sections and wheel bay, and a little bit of stickery has occurred: http:// Rather than cement, I tend to use solvents to assemble plastic kits, something I started doing when I began railway modelling years ago, MEK for the most part, although I sometimes use PlasticWeld if the joint needs a bit more strength, although the latter is pretty vicious stuff. Usually, I manage to not get any on the external surfaces, but unfortunately a little MEK got onto the upper surface of the port wing. A little very gentle smoothing will be in order just to make sure there aren't any fingerprints..... 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 9, 2020 Author Share Posted September 9, 2020 Also, I meant to add that I've dibbed and dobbed a little bit of paint on the cockpit details where it got scraped off by the tweezers during assembly, throttle quadrants, levers etc. A few small details are left to add, seatbelts and the like, then a thin wash and a light waft of matt lacquer over the cockpit sides, and I might be ready to think about closing up the fuselage. And I need to bring the Mk.IIc up to speed as well! Cheers for now! Mark 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 20, 2020 Author Share Posted September 20, 2020 Hello, dear Reader(s?), I actually have some progress to report on both my Arma Hurricanes The pilots' seats are fitted with seatbelts, the IPs have their compasses (compii?), the cockpit sidewalls are fitted again and the seat assemblies are fitted to port fuselage sides. I've also added a thin wash of a mucky dark browny-black made from Humbrol weathering powders mixed into water with a dot of washing up liquid added - I'm not really sure that its been that successful, and may try again with a darker mix. I've also spread this around the wheel bays on both, and I'll waft a little matt lacquer over it to seal it before I button up the fuselages. Pics: Assembly line: http:// Mk.I cockpit: http:// http:// Mk.IIc cockpit: http:// http:// There are a couple of cock-ups, namely I've done the Mk.I's seatbelt arrangement the same as the Mk.IIc's, which according to Eduards's instructions it shouldn't be, and there's a nice blob of red paint on the Mk.IIc's cockpit sidewall behind the throttle quadrants Just don't tell anyone..... I'm also rather disappointed in how it all looks a bit duff in the cruel close-up of the photographs when in the flesh so-to-speak it all looks rather splendid. Ho hum! Anyways, after spending what seems like an age on the fiddly bits, I'm looking forward to buttoning these two together and having them actually look like miniature aeroplanes! Cheers for now, Mark 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 Looking good Mark. Be great to see them buttoned up Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 20, 2020 Author Share Posted September 20, 2020 Thanks, Chris that's really, really appreciated! Looking at the photos earlier, I had a real "Oh, dear" moment. I'm still not certain of which markings to go for on the Mk.IIc, I'm currently leaning toward a CBI aircraft, so I think it may go down to the wire! The Mk.I is going to be overall Night, 30 Squadron at Idku in 1941 for the defence of Alexandria. I read somewhere recently that RAF Night was a blue-black rather like Mitsubishi cowling blue-black. Onward and upward! Kind regards, Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treker_ed Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 (edited) On 9/6/2020 at 1:52 PM, CedB said: Nice progress Mark Pleased to see another fan of the EBMA stuff - certainly helps keeps things tidy doesn't it? Here's another fan! This is my arrangement of paint stands, drawers etc. They really do help to keep everything tidy (I do intend getting a couple more, but need to wait a few months for the funds....). ( @2996 Victor sorry for the slight hijack and thread drift) Edited November 17, 2020 by treker_ed 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 Super internals Mark with great detailing - impressive! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 21, 2020 Author Share Posted September 21, 2020 11 hours ago, treker_ed said: Here's another fan! This is my arrangement of paint stands, drawers etc. They really do help to keep everything tidy (I do intend getting a couple more, but need to wait a few months for the funds....). ( @2996 Victor sorry for the slight hijack and thread drift) Hi @treker_ed, No worries! Whenever I find anything that helps me, I like to broadcast it to my fellow modellers as it's always good to showcase products from manufacturers like EBMA. Looks like you've got a few more items - I think I need some alternative drawers for my Tamiya jars! Cheers, Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 21, 2020 Author Share Posted September 21, 2020 1 hour ago, CedB said: Super internals Mark with great detailing - impressive! Hi Ced, Many thanks, that's incredibly kind of you, and all the more so as your builds are so superbly finished. I have to say I was pretty chuffed with how they were looking, until I downloaded the photos, when I had a slightly deflationary moment! I'm not sure about the wash, think it needs to be a bit darker, but it'll be dark in the cockpits when the fuselage halves are joined, and I'm hoping the matt clear lacquer will tone it down a bit, too. Might get a bit more done tonight..... Cheers, Mark 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempestwulf Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 Your Arma 'Canes are coming along nicely Mark. Keep up the mojo, they're worth it. I just finished a Revell Sea Hurricane IIc and was tempted to buy a couple of these kits...then I remembered the 4 Hasegawa Hurrianes I still have to build QnQ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 21, 2020 Author Share Posted September 21, 2020 2 minutes ago, Tempestwulf said: Your Arma 'Canes are coming along nicely Mark. Keep up the mojo, they're worth it. I just finished a Revell Sea Hurricane IIc and was tempted to buy a couple of these kits...then I remembered the 4 Hasegawa Hurrianes I still have to build QnQ Hi @Tempestwulf, Many thanks for your kind words, encouragement is always gratefully received! I do tend to do my modelling in fits and starts, whereas I think things would go more smoothly if I could do a bit, however small, each day. The Arma kits are really good, although I'd say the Mk.IIc has a slight edge over the Mk.I, and I'd recommend them to everyone. It's amazing how stashes seem to accumulate, and how quickly! I've just pre-ordered the Arma Mk.IIb/c kit plus three sets of overtrees! What was I thinking??? Kind regards, Mark 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 22, 2020 Author Share Posted September 22, 2020 Both fuselages have been closed up. I used Tamiya Extra Thin cement for this, rather than my usual MEK, to try it out, and worked in stages from the rudder post forward along the fuselage spine and along the top of the cowling, then along the underside from nose to tail. The width of the bulkhead and IP seemed to be a factor in there being a slight gap along the upper joint, but with a little judicious filing of those parts it all seems to come together nicely. Here's a not-very-clear phone-photo of the fuselages taped up while the joints cure: http:// I keep meaning to get one of those joint scrapers, I can't remember the make, which I think would be good for these two. I also need to spend a little time on the cockpit edges so that the PE sidewall overlays aren't obvious. I did have it all sorted out until they popped off one by one..... "Percy, the devil farts in my face once more!" Until next time..... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treker_ed Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 On 9/21/2020 at 10:09 AM, 2996 Victor said: Hi @treker_ed, No worries! Whenever I find anything that helps me, I like to broadcast it to my fellow modellers as it's always good to showcase products from manufacturers like EBMA. Looks like you've got a few more items - I think I need some alternative drawers for my Tamiya jars! Cheers, Mark @2996 Victor Mark, the drawers under the paint stands are designed for the Tamiya 10ml bottles, The main paints I use are Tamiya, with some Humbrol, Revell, Vallejo (Model Air & Metallics) and K-Colour metals. I only keep the Tamiya out to hand as these are the ones that are used the most. Here's the link: https://www.ebmahobby.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=62_64&product_id=59 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marklo Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 (edited) Looking good. My bench, a mix of homemade( the paint and glue rack) and Lidl and Aldi, with miscellaneous bits off eBay. Edited September 22, 2020 by Marklo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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