CedB Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Trying for a 'straightforward build' I picked the new Airfix Swift from the stash. There are quite a few RFIs of this on the forum but few WiPs. I did find this partial one from Kiwikitbasher warning of the fit problems so I'll study that later. Some pics of the part trees as usual. Nice details with some flash and delicate parts (fnaar!) One thing I don't like about the new instructions is the option boxes. You can see that there is a choice of two parts but there's no explanation why you should choose one or the other. Like these seat bits: Maybe one is if you want to fit the pilot and the… wait, there's no pilot! WHAAAAAT! Airfix what's going on??? Clear parts: Transfers: Stencils. Lots of stencils. UGH. I know nothing about the Swift but I think I'll build the PRU Blue on the bottom version. Any pointers appreciated! 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 (edited) I'll be following, if that's okay, because I've got a bit of a yearning for a Swift. PS. This will be worth reading, if you want a primer on the Swift: https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/swift/history.php Edited February 5, 2021 by Beard to insert link. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 I'll follow along as well, if I may - like Simon, I've been thinking about snapping up one of these, even though it's a bit outside my usual fare. Looking forward to seeing your progress, but 43 minutes ago, CedB said: the PRU Blue on the bottom version ? Fnaar! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis95 Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Peanuts at the ready. Got one of these to build myself! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Well I'm getting plenty of lockdown exercise just sprinting between Ced builds! Looking forward to this. Funny (to me) that they did the Swift and not the Scimitar, although I guess the Xtrakit was a factor. We can't tempt you to do a shiny silver version? Although I guess that would be appropriate to an earlier mark... Regards, Adrian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 I'm in Ciao 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 OK if I pull up a pew? I'll be looking forward to this as I've got a couple of these on the go at the moment. Saying that, I mean that they've moved off the top of the pending pile. They have had the boxes opened and are currently being ogled at, or as I call it, the research stage😊. This latter stage bemuses the Mistress of the Blue Horizon, who blames this stage for nothing getting done. She can be so harsh! Good luck with your build. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Crikey, Ced, you are cracking on, It must be the unseasonably warm weather. You have my attention, Sir! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbudde Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 I'm also in Ced. I never saw a build of a Swift. Cheers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Properjob56 Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Before I had a problem with the final varnish coat, I'd virtually finished mine a month or so ago. The problem I had was that when it came to closing the fuselage up there were a number of sub assemblies that had to be carefully positioned and weight to be added to the nose area. I didn't manage it so made some compromises such as taking out the front light piece and using Krystal Kleer. YMMV. I've managed to sort the varnish issue so mine will be making a reappearance shortly. I too went with the PRU undersides. Its quite a beast when finished! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 2 hours ago, Beard said: I'll be following, if that's okay, because I've got a bit of a yearning for a Swift. PS. This will be worth reading, if you want a primer on the Swift: https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/swift/history.php Thanks Simon - great reference and background 2 hours ago, 2996 Victor said: I'll follow along as well, if I may - like Simon, I've been thinking about snapping up one of these, even though it's a bit outside my usual fare. Looking forward to seeing your progress, but ? Fnaar! I've extended my theme a bit to include 'early jets'… that's my excuse! Welcome Lewis, Giorgio, Pete, Chris and Ben - good to see you 1 hour ago, AdrianMF said: Well I'm getting plenty of lockdown exercise just sprinting between Ced builds! Looking forward to this. Funny (to me) that they did the Swift and not the Scimitar, although I guess the Xtrakit was a factor. We can't tempt you to do a shiny silver version? Although I guess that would be appropriate to an earlier mark... Regards, Adrian I'd like a Scimitar, sometime. I guess they've been taking their scanner around the museums… Yeovilton soon? Fingers crossed 8 minutes ago, Properjob56 said: Before I had a problem with the final varnish coat, I'd virtually finished mine a month or so ago. The problem I had was that when it came to closing the fuselage up there were a number of sub assemblies that had to be carefully positioned and weight to be added to the nose area. I didn't manage it so made some compromises such as taking out the front light piece and using Krystal Kleer. YMMV. I've managed to sort the varnish issue so mine will be making a reappearance shortly. I too went with the PRU undersides. Its quite a beast when finished! I saw that post - horrid! I've got the guidance from the post linked above so I'll be careful Soon. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marklo Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 As always I’m following. It has dawned on me that lately I’m either scratchbuilding or doing Airfix kits. Will have to diversify my stash usage ( I suppose the Me109 gob will do that for me as the kits I’ve organised so far are Heller, KP and Revell with only two Airfix ones) Still I do find latter Airfix stuff goes together well and usually makes for a bit of a modelling palate cleanser, so to speak. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Love the look of the Swift so I'll take a seat if I may? Stay safe Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 3 hours ago, Marklo said: As always I’m following. It has dawned on me that lately I’m either scratchbuilding or doing Airfix kits. Will have to diversify my stash usage ( I suppose the Me109 gob will do that for me as the kits I’ve organised so far are Heller, KP and Revell with only two Airfix ones) Still I do find latter Airfix stuff goes together well and usually makes for a bit of a modelling palate cleanser, so to speak. I could do with a palate cleanser - thanks Mark 3 hours ago, Hamden said: Love the look of the Swift so I'll take a seat if I may? Stay safe Roger Of course, welcome Roger Seat assembled and dry fitted to the floor for pilot selection: He'll do. He's had his helmet lumps sanded off (oooer) and a coat of Ratskin, drying along with some internal bits: 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Interesting choice Ced. Well outside my area of interest but you can't go wrong with an early jet. Sea Hawk next? Ian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-21 Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 I had issues joining the fuselage together seems the nosewheel bay is too wide or needs some shaving in the roof . Dry fit before glueing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmas Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 I’ll tag along too if I may as I have one in my stash so would like to see how it comes together. 🙂 Bit of a bugger about the pilot, or lack of, though but Airfix seem to be doing this recently. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 Page 1 yeah! I've always liked the Swift, it looks like it should have been better than it actually was. It seems to be well engineered, I do hope that Airfix scale it up to 1/48 sometime soon. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBaron Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 Swift? And this is news? All your builds are bloody swift Ced! When are you going to scratch build a Blackburn Leisurely or an Avro Prevaricator so that I can keep up with you? 😁 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gondor44 Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 Built a couple of these in the past but not properly OOB so far so will follow to see if I can pick up some tips Gondor 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 6, 2021 Author Share Posted February 6, 2021 23 hours ago, Brandy said: Interesting choice Ced. Well outside my area of interest but you can't go wrong with an early jet. Sea Hawk next? Ian On the edge of my interest too Ian (apart from 'specials'), although I seem to be drifting into the 50s… 23 hours ago, T-21 said: I had issues joining the fuselage together seems the nosewheel bay is too wide or needs some shaving in the roof . Dry fit before glueing. Thanks T-21. Unusually for new Airfix there seem to be numerous fit issues, some described in Kiwikitbasher's build but, see below, more to come! I'll be very careful I think. 5 hours ago, Timmas said: I’ll tag along too if I may as I have one in my stash so would like to see how it comes together. 🙂 Bit of a bugger about the pilot, or lack of, though but Airfix seem to be doing this recently. Welcome Timmas - I'll try to point out the pitfalls as I go. 2 hours ago, Biggles87 said: Page 1 yeah! I've always liked the Swift, it looks like it should have been better than it actually was. It seems to be well engineered, I do hope that Airfix scale it up to 1/48 sometime soon. John Welcome John - Supermarine looks it has, very clean lines. 2 hours ago, TheBaron said: Swift? And this is news? All your builds are bloody swift Ced! When are you going to scratch build a Blackburn Leisurely or an Avro Prevaricator so that I can keep up with you? 😁 Thanks Tony 2 hours ago, Gondor44 said: Built a couple of these in the past but not properly OOB so far so will follow to see if I can pick up some tips Gondor Welcome Gondor - do chip in with any problems you found and hopefully I can avoid them! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 6, 2021 Author Share Posted February 6, 2021 Things internals are ready to put together: The transfers for the sidewall instruments are a nightmare - either the transfer is too big or the shelf is too small. Not much will be seen anyway so ho hum. It looks like the sidewalls should be more bent - pegs required to get the shape: Can you see the gate vestige on the lower sidewall, just behind the pilot's shoulder? I've cleaned off the other side but that will have to come off too. A (probably final) view of the internals with the back of the wheel bay painted: The instructions don't tell you to paint the joystick or any part of the gunsight so the latter has been left clear. Probably wrong? While that's drying I cut off the fuselage halves to test the fit before the other bits go in. Hmmm. If you get the tailpipe and fin aligned: …the rest of the fuselage: Oh dear. I've found with other new Airfix that if you wiggle the bits (oooer) they sometimes click together perfectly. Not so with this one: Look at that gap along the spine! And that's after I carefully removed all the gate vestiges and excess plastic. I'll have another look. 10 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 6, 2021 Author Share Posted February 6, 2021 Oooh, look, see that extra plastic around the locating hole? Could that be it? Sanded it off and, er, no. I've now dry fitted the wing halves (nice fit), wiggled it into shape and I'll leave it like this: Hopefully the plastic fairies will sort it overnight. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 That pilot looks rather fabulous and thanks for the warning about the fit (I have a Swift on it's way to me, by 2nd class post - so not so swift). A question: do the side panels and instrument panel have raised details? (I can't make out if they have, or not, on my phone after five pints and an Espresso Martini). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinK Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 3 hours ago, Biggles87 said: I've always liked the Swift, it looks like it should have been better than it actually was. Well, it took the World airspeed record - so it was actually pretty good....🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now