Special Hobby 1:72 Avro Anson Mk I (late version) - can't quite believe I finished it. Now with improved photos!

[Mark Harmsworth]

I started this build way back in July and finished just before Christmas. That's a long time – even for me. Partly because of the challenges in the kit, then several mistakes that I managed to introduce and then, well just life really.

 

I posted a WIP thread which is a little like a diary of minor calamity followed by minor calamity but I got there in the end and I'm mostly pleased with the result. If I built one again there's a few things I'd do differently but life's too short for madness like that.

 

Here's that WIP thread for your entertainment:

 

The majority of the detail is provided by plenty of resin:

 and 

 

Some of that resin was lovely and some needed a lot of cleaning up – the internal cockpit framing in particular. The framing for the roof was warped and oversized (or it was the way I built it) so I replaced that with plastic rod:

 

After a fair amount of prevarication, about which scheme to model, I settled on a trainer - partly as my dad was an air gunner in Coastal Command and I'm fairly sure did some of his training in an Annie.

 

That's enough of the waffle. I've just taken delivery of a light box so here's some strangely lit photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's it then. Next up something that doesn't make my brain hurt.

all the best

Mark

[Bertie McBoatface]

Hat's off to you for persistence! I never would have made it. 

 

It looks good and I like the family connection. I guess that's what kept you going.

 

The light box photos are strangely lit on my screen. They are very blue shifted, both topsides colours appear to be dirty purples.

[TEXANTOMCAT]

Outstanding! I wussed out of one and ebayed it as I had a serious lack of talent! You’ve done a great job well done

 

TT

[Volant]

Great job. Really great!

 

I missed the WIP thread, and will take a look.
 

I have one in the stash - also with family connections in mind. I keep meaning to do it ‘next’

[Zoran Srb]

Very neat build, well done.

[dogsbody]

Looks great! Would look better if the photos were a bit larger.

 

 

 

 

Chris

[AdrianMF]

Well, let's separate a couple of things out...

 

Modelling: looks terrific, nice work on a difficult but rewarding kit.

 

Photography: I'm the worst photographer in the world so I'm saying nowt.

 

Regards,

Adrian

[Mark Harmsworth]

14 hours ago, Bertie McBoatface said:

The light box photos are strangely lit on my screen. They are very blue shifted, both topsides colours appear to be dirty purples.

My first attempt - and I definitely need to do some research on how to get the best out of it.

Mark

[Mark Harmsworth]

13 hours ago, Volant said:

I have one in the stash - also with family connections in mind. I keep meaning to do it ‘next’

Give it a go - as long as you don't expect perfection you'll be fine. Some of the fit is great and there's some lovely detail which sort of makes up for the challenges and those 'walk away, walk away' moments.

Mark

[Mark Harmsworth]

11 hours ago, dogsbody said:

Looks great! Would look better if the photos were a bit larger.

Thanks a lot - but are you sure about that??? 

[Mark Harmsworth]

11 hours ago, AdrianMF said:

I'm the worst photographer in the world so I'm saying nowt.

When I finish typing this I'm off to do some research - although better photos might not necessarily have been a good thing for this one!

Mark

[RichieW]

Beautiful, that really is lovely!

 

Richie

[Volant]

5 hours ago, Mark Harmsworth said:

Give it a go - as long as you don't expect perfection you'll be fine. Some of the fit is great and there's some lovely detail which sort of makes up for the challenges and those 'walk away, walk away' moments.

Mark

Thank you, I’ll be doing it soon I hope. If it looks half as good I’ll be happy!

 

What yellow did you use?

[Hopesdaddy]

Great result on an extremely challenging looking kit. Definitely worth the time in the end.

[Mark Harmsworth]

3 hours ago, Volant said:

What yellow did you use?

I paint in acrylics and the yellow is xtracrylics RAF Trainer Yellow which has a more orange tinge to it than shows in the pictures. I'm thinking it could have benefited from another coat or two. I always struggle a bit with yellows.

Mark

[Volant]

Yes, yellow never goes down well. I also use acrylics, usually Tamiya. I’ve got Mr Hobby Aqueous 329 to use, and while I have always been impressed with Mr Hobby Aqueous, this doesn’t appear great… I may get the xtracrylics and do some test sprays, see which I prefer.

 

I’ve just had a read through your WIP thread, and I’m even more intimidated than I was! It’s an important model for me though, in a project where all of the aircraft are being done in 1/72. So apart from the old Airfix, not much choice, and this seems to be the better kit. Albeit one that might put up a fight.

 

Again, congrats, looks fantastic.

Edited January 8 by Volant

[russ c]

Really nice Anson there Mark, really nice work

[Pete in a shed]

Clean, precise build. Perfect looking Anson Mark, your persiverence paid off.

Pete

[Mark Harmsworth]

15 hours ago, Volant said:

I’ve just had a read through your WIP thread, and I’m even more intimidated than I was! It’s an important model for me though, in a project where all of the aircraft are being done in 1/72. So apart from the old Airfix, not much choice, and this seems to be the better kit. Albeit one that might put up a fight.

I'd recommend having a look at the WIP thread by @Navy Bird which I found very helpful.

Mark

[Spitfire31]

Beautiful Anson.

 

In fact, I think it's the first Anson model I've seen, that manages to erase this visual memory that I have of my first Airfix Anson, which really looked like a 'model'.

 

Yours looks like a miniature aeroplane. Great finish and detail work!

 

Kind regards,

 

Joachim

[Warwolf]

Great work!

[Natter]

I have had one of these in the stash for several years, like you I felt a bit overwhelmed by it when I opened the box. You have done a fab job though, an impressive Anson.

[Mark Harmsworth]

I've had another go with my light box and (hopefully) have some better photos. I checked around here and (rather crazily) even read the manual for my camera. White balance changes seem to have helped.

 

Here we are then -  my second attempt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

all the best

Mark

[Pantherhawk27263]

Very nice work!! I love the Anson's lines. It just has a very appealing shape to me. Yours is a beauty. 

[stevehnz]

That has come up very well Mark, considering the battle your had with it. I'm with @dogsbody on this, your photos could definitely be bigger, the end result can well stand it, so something about 1/2 as big again would let us enjoy them better.

Steve.