Jump to content

Vampire FB.5, VV632/E, No. 613 (Manchester) Sqn, RAuxAF, RAF Ringway, 1955


Recommended Posts

I fancied what I thought would be a simple kit to get back into modelling after a bit of a break, and this new Airfix Vampire kit is great. Apart from a bit of filing needed to fit the fuselage around the cockpit area, and enough noseweight for a workout session, it’s a lovely kit to build and includes all the parts needed to make an FB.5 (and FB.9 I think).

 

All oob except for the aftermarket decals so I could do a City of Manchester aircraft. Based at what is now Manchester airport, these Vampires flew with 613 Sqn until all RAuxAF units disbanded in March 1957. The unit’s CO was also the chief test pilot for Avro at nearby Woodford.

 

All comments welcome!
 

F17-D00-F9-B871-42-E4-A896-2504-EF1-BFB4

 

808-D7517-575-F-4-A8-D-B51-C-9-AC729-FCF
 

EE330564-FDFA-485-A-B00-D-AD15855-E1-F0-

 

252-C27-F5-B4-BA-4-DCE-8777-CF63-EB29004

 

94-CAD5-EB-573-E-4181-A10-E-1-DB3-F8-C6-
 

419-DFE5-B-BBEE-4-C34-A587-623-D429-D8-C

 

092-C75-C1-452-B-4-CFA-8-C5-E-DA7-E1-BE4

 

C3964784-F1-E2-4-A78-B7-E9-3-CA115-A3-B3

 

63-B13-AAE-2395-474-B-922-B-A71-AA27-AB3

 

554-BF334-F8-F3-4-B98-98-FA-6-D0-CE8-C23

 

9-D242-B37-A313-4-F5-E-B97-F-8862-D79053

 

E9318-D8-A-0-D7-E-4-E03-9088-100-A597-B6

 

3-C7-B1977-AFE9-4212-ACCC-A9-F050857885.

 

11-E1-DDDB-359-E-44-B1-8-AEC-E17-D0-C76-

 

478310-A8-2-B33-47-AD-9398-9-B332-E2-CAB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 21
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Beautifully built and painted Vampire.

 

It looks as if the decals were a bit recalcitrant, with all that visible film. Perhaps they might have benefitted from some MicroSol or similar before a glosscoat, to be followed by a coat of semimatt varnish?

 

Kind regards,

 

Joachim

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks so much for the likes and comments! 
 

@canberraman, it was painted entirely with spray cans, I’m so bad at brush painting I only do that for small details like wheels, canopies, etc! 
 

@Spitfire31, I’ve often wondered about something to stop decals silvering, it’s an issue that I frequently encounter, but I’m not really sure what to use or how. I never want to risk damaging a completed model with some weird chemicals! Is there anything one can just lightly brush over the decals only, without having to do the whole kit? And that won’t instantly dissolve them or bubble the paint?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Microsol is good at reducing silvering and generally doesn't harm paint or varnish. Just dab a few drops over the decal as it's wet and bedding down. Don't worry if it initially bubbles or winkles as it will settle down when dry

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've tried Humbrol Decalfix and Microset / Microsol.

 

I wasn't happy with the Humbrol. It was hard on the decals and I had trouble with it lifting / dissolving Tamiya acrylic paint. You can water it down but I didn't trust it. It was smelly, too.

 

Microset has given me hassles as well. It is applied before the decal, to the area that the decal will be applied to. It can help get a loose decal stuck down but sometimes with large decals for me it has made it stick down quickly before I've finished getting it into place, and it sticks so hard I can't get it off without ruining the decal. It's never given me any hassle with the paintwork. I now only use it occasionally when a decal is reluctant to stick.

 

Microsol is applied after the decal is in place. It softens the decal and helps it settle into the contours of the model. If you use it too much it can soften the decal until it breaks up but it's easy to avoid that. I 've also never had any problems with it affecting the paintwork. I'd recommend Microsol as it is easy to use and very effective. It is very good for reducing silvering. I found it hard to get and had to import it, but a bottle lasts ages.

 

I have, on another forum, seen someone recommend putting a small drop of gloss varnish on the sticky side of a decal before applying it, also to help it set and to remove air from under it and reduce silvering. That might be worth trying.

 

 

 

 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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 account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...