Lord Riot Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 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! 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince1159 Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 Lovely build and photo's,love the last one... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 A terrific build and looks great parked up next to the Meteor. Was the Vamp brush painted? If so you have got a beautiful clean finish. Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keith in the uk Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 Wow , Wow and triple Wow , Now thats a fine looking Vampire 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiseca Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 Very nice looking, and I really liked the last photos paired up with its 1st generation jet fighter brother. The dawning of the jet age. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 Looks absolutely stunning, great work, the meteor looks wonderful too. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binbrook87 Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 Looks fantastic....and great next to the Meteor too 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 That looks awesome! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted October 3, 2022 Author Share Posted October 3, 2022 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 More sharing options...
binbrook87 Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackem01 Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 Great Vampire. Love the post-war colourful markings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiseca Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 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. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted October 4, 2022 Author Share Posted October 4, 2022 Thanks for the decal solution advice gents, just found some Microsol on eBay, so let’s see how that works on the Vampire decals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winded Penguin Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Very pretty Vampire. The two aircraft together was a lovely bonus 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 A truly beautiful Vampire. Congratulations! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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