‘Daphne C’ 1/32 “Birdcage” Corsair - completed

[Dansk]

 

Hi all, 

Hope you can take a comfortable seat and join me for this one. 

I currently have a 1/48 Tamiya Corsair in progress in group builds, but am awaiting a delivery of paint to continue,

So instead of twiddling my thumbs I thought I’d build her bigger sister the 1/32.  Really excited about this. 

 

I’ve built a 1/32 Tamiya Corsair before, albeit an alternative variant, and it’s just a magnificent kit: an utter joy to work on: I love it. 🥰 I’m not going to photograph all the sprues, it’s all out there on the interweb.

This time I’ll be building the early ‘Birdcage’, specifically James N. Cupp’s  VMF-213 unit mount ‘Daphne C’

wikipedia can quickly get you up to speed here if one is interested to save me reciting it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_N._Cupp

 

 

I plan to weather the hell out of this…

 

 

The scheme is OOB…

 

 

…although I intend to use (one of the rather considerable AM investments on this project:) a Montex Masks set.

This means I can create the kit’s scheme but with paint rather than using Tamiya’s rather thick decals which at 1/32 I don’t consider fair too well.

 

 

I’d also bought a set of wetransfers with alternative schemes somewhere along the line but I think I’ll save them for another future build.

 

 

 

…together here with a Quinta Studio cockpit set (which is awesome and I will use).

 

 

 

This little lot is gonna be really exciting to utilize; 🤗

 

 

HGW’s super fabric belts with etch;

 

 

A choice of AM wheels; 

 

here we have Eduard, Tamiya OOB and Def Model and their varying sizes;

 

 

Although Eduard’s have a little more finesse on the hub;

 

 

 

 

I’m opting for the Def Model option: I like that it utilizes the kit’s inner wheels to mount to the legs: I think that will be more stable. Def Model’s solution therefore doesnt require freeing those inner wheels from their respective casting blocks and also doesn’t require clean up on the outer hubs as well.

Being slightly sagged also looks cool.

 

The Brassin Cowl set is great. It really steps up where the kit lacks.

I intend to build it cowls open, but engine panels not removed, gear down, cockpit open, flaps down, no pilot.

 

 

as if all that wasn’t enough I have a spark plug solution…

 

 

and textured copper engine HT wiring on its way from Anyz.

 

 

Well today was a very effective day one: 

so here is an run down of the proceedings:

 

I started with labelling all the sprues, drives me crazy trying to find them on a big kit with lots

 

 

also went through the whole instruction booklet (which is considerable) and marked the areas I should ignore based on type choice and configuration; gear up / down etc etc

 

 

Then as the Quinta set requires a lot of detail removal, I jumped between the box instructions and Quintas, locating and modifying the appropriate pieces. Decisions of course had to be made on what will be painted when installed and what should be painted before insertion.

 

 

After this the rest of the day was spent making sub assemblies, and adding detail with wiring. I had to note where any wiring/plumbing would interfere with other cockpit parts to be installed after. there’s a lot of plumping in the corsair so I have attempted to just echo this rather than faithfully recreate it.

 

 

 

 

 

note that the montex mask set has masks for the gun sight too which is nicely consdered.

 

 

I managed to get a lot done, so I primed the lot with my surfacer 1500 and MLT 50/50 and threw some on some the resin bits too.

 

 

 

 

 

The aircraft has semi transparent dials so I might add some matt varnish to ‘frost’ these next maybe

 

 

 

I think thats’s it for now.

Sorry for the huge post 💤

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jackson Duvalier]

7 hours ago, Dansk said:

Sorry for the huge post

 

 

NOOOO!  POST MOAR!!1!  🤩

 

This beast is going to look fabulous when you get done.  Those Quinta decal/placard bits are amazing, wish somebody'd offer something similar in 1/72.

 

How do you plan to tackle the exterior paint chipping?  

[Col.]

Wow! What a start Paul

[mick]

look forward to your build

[modelling minion]

What a great choice of aircraft and markings Paul, and what a great start you have made on her too!

A serious amount of aftermarket bits you are throwing at her too, enough to keep even our @trickyrich happy, well maybe, and on top of that you are adding your own wiring very effectively too.

This is going to look fantastic.

[Dansk]

7 hours ago, Jackson Duvalier said:

 

 

NOOOO!  POST MOAR!!1!  🤩

 

This beast is going to look fabulous when you get done.  Those Quinta decal/placard bits are amazing, wish somebody'd offer something similar in 1/72.

 

How do you plan to tackle the exterior paint chipping?  

 

Thanks Jackson. I’ll probably lay down an ak or an alclad metallic, then chipping fluid/hairspray, then yellow zinc chromate, then chip it, then more chipping fluid/hairspray then top coat, then chip it again.

 

3 hours ago, modelling minion said:

What a great choice of aircraft and markings Paul, and what a great start you have made on her too!

A serious amount of aftermarket bits you are throwing at her too, enough to keep even our @trickyrich happy, well maybe, and on top of that you are adding your own wiring very effectively too.

This is going to look fantastic.

Thanks Craig. Our Jedi AM master @trickyrich has taught me well.

 

 

Although I am regretting the wheel choice.

Looking at these macro shots again I think although more awkward to clean up might be the slicker result.

[Dansk]

6 hours ago, Col. said:

Wow! What a start Paul

Thanks Col 😘

[trickyrich]

I am super impressed and quite jealous! 

 

That is one lovely model, I have built (and modified their 1/48th beauty, did an FAA aircraft) and probably used even more AM stuff. The AM stuff you've chosen is spot on. Masking and painting the national insignia is the only way to go in this scale, it just looks sooooo good. Even money on that you'll trash the HGW seat belts! I did just 2 in an hour (they wear 1/48th) and then I binned them, PE ones are bad these are far worse I think!

 

Good luck with her, again I am very jealous, I really want to build one of these awesome 1/32nd tamiya beasts! 

[Dansk]

7 hours ago, trickyrich said:

I am super impressed and quite jealous! 

 

That is one lovely model, I have built (and modified their 1/48th beauty, did an FAA aircraft) and probably used even more AM stuff. The AM stuff you've chosen is spot on. Masking and painting the national insignia is the only way to go in this scale, it just looks sooooo good. Even money on that you'll trash the HGW seat belts! I did just 2 in an hour (they wear 1/48th) and then I binned them, PE ones are bad these are far worse I think!

 

Good luck with her, again I am very jealous, I really want to build one of these awesome 1/32nd tamiya beasts! 

 

Thanks for the good vibes Rich. Hopefully we can convince you to get one of these for some upcoming relevant GB. They are beautiful.

I used the belts on another build and yeah they are tough. 32 is easier than 48 but still my eyes and hands struggle with them.

Let's see how I get on this time. My money's on the belts beating me 😄

 

 

Well, not so much progress today (being a workday) but a little development this evening;

 

as stated in the above post I regretted the DefModel wheel choice yesterday.

So I’ve opted to divert to using the Eduard resin wheels instead.

 

The hubs needed the edges cleaned up and once freed and the gaps between the spokes required hollowing out (which is a considerable pain) 

I drilled out corner points with a micro drill then proceeded to gradually release them with cutting, prodding, slicing, filing, sanding the edges and rear,... etc 

 

 

then we are here…

 

 

The office is to be painted as seen here...

 

 

....but to be much more used and weathered

So i coated yesterday's black primed work in this... (matte aluminium)...

 

 

with the intention of applying hairspray tomorrow and chipping away the green coat to reveal this metallic silver in parts.

 

 

 

I’m not so concerned about the cockpits subtle ejection pin marks as they are cleverly and discretely positioned and cant be seen once the fuse is joined anyway.

(same goes for that tail wheel bay’s oval inserts at the height of the horizontal stablilizers - it’s not necessary to clean up)

 

I gave the eduard wheels a coating while the paint was out (completely without primer = hope that doesn't cause issues later)

 

 

 

while everything was drying, i opted to put together the exhausts (chaotic build order I know but it was a boring bit to get out of the way)

 

and then i treated them to a primer layer of this...

 

 

it gives a good base to make rusty pipes this stuff i’ve found in the past.

again this all wont really be seen too clearly once everything's together even, some not at all, so one can afford to be a little relaxed again in finish and clean up.

I’ll coat these with black pigment and pastels later to give a dirty rusty feel.

 

 

thanks for reading along if you did 🙂

 

 

 

 

[trickyrich]

great start.

 

How do you like that AK Extreme metal? I have used it and I like it but I found out the unfortunate way it reacts with the glue on Kabuki tape and ends up a sticky mess! Found that out the hard way on my first F-4E!

 

That's a clever idea for the exhausts, I have some of that primer, will have to try it next time I'm building a piston engine flying thingy!

[modelling minion]

More nice work Paul.

Got to agree with Rich, that primer looks like it will work very well for creating the used/burnt look of engine exhausts.

[Hewy]

A big project paul, a fine collection of extras ,and a good start  👍

[Dana Bell]

Hi Dansk,

 

This is going to be fun to watch - you're off to a great start.

 

Please double check the rear vision tunnels.  I haven't built this model, but the photo you posted makes it look like the tunnels are reversed - the right tunnel on the left fuselage and such.  I hope I'm misreading that, or that the parts aren't glued down yet.

 

Cheers,

 

 

Dana

[Dansk]

24 minutes ago, Dana Bell said:

Hi Dansk,

 

This is going to be fun to watch - you're off to a great start.

 

Please double check the rear vision tunnels.  I haven't built this model, but the photo you posted makes it look like the tunnels are reversed - the right tunnel on the left fuselage and such.  I hope I'm misreading that, or that the parts aren't glued down yet.

 

Cheers,

 

 

Dana

Thanks Dana, how stupid of me. Damn I have to fix that. 

[Dansk]

16 hours ago, trickyrich said:

great start.

 

How do you like that AK Extreme metal? I have used it and I like it but I found out the unfortunate way it reacts with the glue on Kabuki tape and ends up a sticky mess! Found that out the hard way on my first F-4E!

 

That's a clever idea for the exhausts, I have some of that primer, will have to try it next time I'm building a piston engine flying thingy!

 

I found it more robust than alclad but both have really levels of fragility. Heavily De-tacking tape I guess is a must that I must remember here.

[Dansk]

1 hour ago, Dansk said:

Thanks Dana, how stupid of me. Damn I have to fix that. 

It was such a beautiful join. crazy how it can fit so perfectly the wrong way

 

Well it’s fixed now thanks to @Dana Bell’s eagle eyes. 

 

I’ll have to clean it up once the whole fuse is together, as this affects joins on multiple mating points.

 

at least the canopy open scenario covers it to a large degree.

[Dansk]

A bunch of cockpit stuff got a concoction of green these evening

 

 

 

 

 

 

followed by a spot of this

 

 

followed by a spot of this cheap stuff

 

 

then a spot of this

 

 

giving this…

 

 

 

 

its a very crude in places so for the exterior chipping i’ll be more delicate.

[modelling minion]

That worked very well Paul, very effective.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Nice save and a Thanks to @Dana Bell for the catch, I didn't even catch it and Im a certifiable Corsair nut. 

[trickyrich]

yes very nice indeed, the wear looks spot on! 

 

Arrr now we know the secret behind how @modelling minion manages to have that perfect looking hair all day!!!  

[modelling minion]

8 minutes ago, trickyrich said:

Arrr now we know the secret behind how @modelling minion manages to have that perfect looking hair all day!!!

Easy to do when its never more than half an inch long.😁

[trickyrich]

Gosh I just realised why everything is so strange here..... I'm in the WIP section!! 😱

 

What a strange and unusual place..... it feels a bit scary,  I may have to run back to the security of the GB section, less I start some sort of build here!  Uncle Rich spreading the love around!

 

Maybe I should stay and lure more por souls into the grips of the AM addiction! 

[Dansk]

1 minute ago, trickyrich said:

Gosh I just realised why everything is so strange here..... I'm in the WIP section!! 😱

 

What a strange and unusual place..... it feels a bit scary,  I may have to run back to the security of the GB section, less I start some sort of build here!  Uncle Rich spreading the love around!

 

I’m feeling the same. Like I’ve swum out beyond my depth here - but the bombless fighter 1/32 I couldn’t shoehorn into any GB. 🤷‍♂️

I’m glad you morons followed me out here though. 👍😘

 

[Dansk]

12 minutes ago, trickyrich said:

Uncle Rich spreading the love around!

this phrase just cracks me up 😂🤣

do it rich do it

[modelling minion]

51 minutes ago, trickyrich said:

What a strange and unusual place..... it feels a bit scary

 

46 minutes ago, Dansk said:

 

I’m feeling the same. Like I’ve swum out beyond my depth here

Don't worry lads, I'll keep you company and help to keep you safe.

47 minutes ago, Dansk said:

I’m glad you morons followed me out here though

Thats me!