1/48 Vampire T.35

[Bell209]

Here's my latest. Definitely not a shake'n'bake kit, there's been a bit of work at my usual glacial pace to get this to the finish line! WIP at: 

Additions include the Flightpath detail set, brass tube for the exhaust, scratchbuilt lights (nav and landing), antennae, custom decals (and the odd Roodecal/Aussie Decal and Tasman Decals replacements!), etched nose gear door and scratchbuilt speedbrakes. Painted with Humbrol Aluminium, Colourcoats Luftwaffe DayGlo Red (primed with Humbrol 81 as white made the DayGlo too vivid) and Model Master for the remainder. All are enamels. Clear coated in Future and a lightly applied, dark brown wash was used. Reasonably happy with the result (apart from the cracked rear canopy - see WIP for details on that), considering how difficult this was to wrangle into shape.

 

 

Finally, as a nod to how my skills have developed over the last 35 or so years, here she is with her successor, the Aermacchi MB326H. It's the old ESCI kit built from the box with my own take on the colours and brush painted - this one needs refurbishing!

 

 

Comments and critiques welcome.

[bigbadbadge]

Looks wonderful.  I have enjoyed your WIP and this one put up a bit of a fight in places, but you have triumphed and ended up with a splendid model. Great work. 

Chris

[Bell209]

Thanks. I probably need to work on my photography skills, too

[Harold55]

Wow, a Classic Airframe kit actually built.  I think there are a lot of these lurking in stashed intimidating builders.  This should encourage them to get built. - yours turned out great.  Like the pictures with you hand as you can see how really small these aircraft really were.

[Bell209]

Thanks Harold. Yeah, they're not a beginner's kit but they can be built. Determination, resourcefulness and references are the key. I had these two on hand to refer to regularly:

 

 

The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society have two. We're planning to fly A79-637 but A79-665 will be taxiable. Both are having their Airworthiness Directives completed to modify the engines. Maybe late this year...

 

I should've made my own 'Keep Off' markings, too in hindsight. The kit ones aren't really reflective of the actual style used by the RAAF.

[BKirwan]

Nice result on what is a nice but challenging kit. Mine is still looking at me from its shelf 

[Bell209]

Leave it there - I'm sure Airfix will produce a T.11 from their F.3 shortly!

[rodenlee]

Lovely work on a challenging and rare kit Rob.

 

I wondered what you'd been up to!

 

Cheers

Shaun

[Bell209]

Thanks, Shaun. You know I'm a slow builder - I need to fix that if I have any hope of completing the 80+ kits in he stash before I die! Hopefully I'll find more time after I retire.

[exdraken]

Great T Vampire!!

I built a CA Meteor once and can confirm you experience!

 

Wow, so you are working on both the 1:1 and 1:48 at the same time

 

[Bertie McBoatface]

Looking good. It's cool seeing your skills develop like that.

[Bell209]

22 hours ago, exdraken said:

Wow, so you are working on both the 1:1 and 1:48 at the same time

Well, I'm not but some of my teammates are! My projects are the AP-3C Orion and UH-1Bs (all flying) - they keep me busy enough without getting into the Vampires, too.

 

More about HARS at: HARS Aviation Museum - Albion Park - Home | Facebook and HARS Aviation Museum. The Hueys are part of the Navy Heritage Flight - links off the HARS website menu.