Lord Riot Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 Having been away from modelling for rather a long time, on opening the box of the Vulcan I must admit I was rather overwhelmed with the amount of parts and how much detail would be required. It doesn’t seem a suitable build to restart with, in short. I feel I need a simpler build to get me back into it, and this little Vampire kit seems ideal. From reading various reviews I believe the kit has the parts required to build an FB.5, so that’s what I’ll be trying to do. Specifically, I’m going to make it to represent a Vampire from what would have been my local unit, No. 613 (City of Manchester) Sqn, based at RAF Ringway, now Manchester airport of course. I reckon back in those halcyon days these Vampires would have been regularly buzzing around over the Prestbury/Macclesfield area and over the Peak District hills. I understand they did frequently train from Woodford too. Again, the now familiar box: And the decals I’ll be using. This is the aircraft I’ll be doing; VV632/E, circa 1955. The real thing! All comments, criticisms and ideas welcome! Paints. I’ll be using my usual aerosols as I can’t brush paint. Gloss dark green, gloss DSG top, with metallic silver undersides. 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winded Penguin Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 Vampires are cool. Looking forward to following your progress on this one 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 Some lovely squadron markings there, you could do with a couple more Vampires. John. 🇺🇦 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 I hope you're well your Lordship. Nice choice such a wonderful Aircraft design. I think the kit does include the extra parts and was going to do the same , but got an extra one with some Flying hours tokens and have now changed my mind and doing the F.3 and an FB.31 TT when the bits are available from Ben (Wellsprop models). Although could get another one day and do the FB.5 too!!! Good luck with your build Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 24, 2022 Author Share Posted September 24, 2022 A bit of progress as I get back into this modelling lark! Nice fit so far, looks like a good kit. I think I’ll need a lot of nose weight later! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 It certainly looks to be well engineered so far. John. 🇺🇦 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 24, 2022 Author Share Posted September 24, 2022 Close ups never do my brush painting any favours, but if you can look past that, I’m not sure about the right seat colours. The instructions call for ‘brick red’, that can’t be right can it? Surely the usual RAF post-war matt black? Photos seem hard to come by for the old FB.5, does anyone have any definitive info on what colour the seat and straps should be? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franky boy Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 I don’t have a definitive answer on the seat colour but I remember a thread on here a while back where it was put forward and discussed that the seats may have been Bakelite the same as in Spitfires. Nice work so so far by the way. James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 24, 2022 Author Share Posted September 24, 2022 After a look around BM I found the discussion on Vampire seats, thanks @franky boy. It looks like they were a sort of brown leather colour, so this is what I’ve repainted, with tan straps. Hopefully a bit more like it … 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 25, 2022 Author Share Posted September 25, 2022 Some progress today, it’s a nice little kit to build this, really enjoying it. Very good engineering by Airfix! I squeezed as much weight in the nose as I could, I’ll add some to the nose cone if I can fit some in there too. Both top and bottom fuselage halves done. I like how you fit so much into the lower half before sealing it up, very simple solution and fits nicely. The tail booms fit well too, no risk of getting them out of alignment as there are slots in the trailing edge bulkhead. Remember to fit the correct one to each side though, with the slot for the tailplanes inside. Luckily I noticed before the glue set! Top half, with a few cockpit details and I have to say very nice instrument panel decals in the kit, no need for aftermarket in my opinion. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 25, 2022 Author Share Posted September 25, 2022 I spoke too soon about how great the fit is! It may just be me cramming too much noseweight in of course, but I had to trim quite a bit off the rear cockpit bulkhead to get the nose section together. The wings fit fine, just the nose pod that was awkward. It still needs some filler along the join line. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 3 hours ago, Lord Riot said: I spoke too soon about how great the fit is! It may just be me cramming too much noseweight in of course, but I had to trim quite a bit off the rear cockpit bulkhead to get the nose section together. The wings fit fine, just the nose pod that was awkward. It still needs some filler along the join line. @Lord RiotI've had a similar situation with both of my first two Vampires. I scraped a bit of plastic from inside the fuselage upper section as well as taking some material from the edges of the bulkhead to ease the fit. On number 3 I’m going in properly prepared and doing that job before painting anything. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 26, 2022 Author Share Posted September 26, 2022 Been busy on this today and got quite a bit done. Main airframe fitted together although the nose area needed filler and sanding as well as the cockpit bulkhead sanding down. Silver undersides sprayed. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 27, 2022 Author Share Posted September 27, 2022 Undersides sealed up ready for the camo coats. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 27, 2022 Author Share Posted September 27, 2022 A rare moment of sunshine to spray the grey, and I must say I’m pleased with how smooth it’s turned out. I’ll leave it to dry overnight now before adding the blu-tack worms and making up ready for the dark green. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 27, 2022 Author Share Posted September 27, 2022 Something to consider regarding the underwing serials for later. I noticed in both these photos of 613 Sqn Vampires that it looks like the serial is presented as one inboard of the roundels, whereas the instructions and indeed most other photos show the serial split, with two digits on the undercarriage doors. I’m assuming, given the evidence, that although these are the only examples I’ve seen of it presented on the wing only, that this is how I should apply it, not on the undercarriage doors. Anyone have any more info/photos/thoughts? Instructions say to split the serial. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 28, 2022 Author Share Posted September 28, 2022 Bagged up ready for the green. Next up, the best bit (hopefully!) … the big reveal! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 On 9/26/2022 at 3:26 AM, Lord Riot said: It may just be me cramming too much noseweight in of course, but I had to trim quite a bit off the rear cockpit bulkhead to get the nose section together. I'm not sure about the law in the UK but here in Australia you can buy shotgun lead shot without a firearms licence. I use it for weight in most of my models and it's cheap and fills small spaces easily. A bit of PVA glue holds it all in place. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 Split serials was the norm I'd say ,to make way for the under wing tanks. But as proved by the photo, variations do occur. If your chosen subject had split one's, them go with it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 29, 2022 Author Share Posted September 29, 2022 The big reveal, at last, after a few bits of touching up where the green was too thick and had left a ridge between the camo patterns. I gently sanded the camo demarcation lines down and remasked and resprayed various areas, mostly on the left wing. I think I probably just sprayed it too thick. Perhaps a thinner coat then wait and spray another thin coat would work better than one full coat? Anyway, it’s pretty much sorted now. Quite happy with how straight the silver/camo line is on the nose. I washed over some flory dark dirt wash just to bring out some of the detail a bit. I think these RAuxAF Vampires were generally quite clean though. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russmeister 101 Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 What a marvellous little Vampire Loving the demarcation lines on the nose 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 It does look lovely great work and paintwork. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 Looks good! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 Excellent ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted September 30, 2022 Author Share Posted September 30, 2022 I’ve added the flaps underneath, looks better now it’s a bit busier under there. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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