theplasticsurgeon Posted April 23, 2023 Share Posted April 23, 2023 Rejoining with an aircraft. This Valom 1/72 Albermarle, that a Jet Age colleague has asked me to build. Albermarles were build at Hucclecote - so local interest. There is a road in Churchdown called Albermarle, which I can use on my drive to Jet Age. I've only ever seen this particular aircraft photoed. Some etch and instrument panel in there with the decals. Resin parts. And plastic. Itterior parts being painted Humbrol 80 green. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor L Posted April 23, 2023 Share Posted April 23, 2023 That's a new one on me. Is it related to the B25 Mitchell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted April 23, 2023 Share Posted April 23, 2023 This not very well known aircraft is one that has always interested me so I will be watching to see how it comes out. I have always thought that like the Vickers Warwick it was hampered by the design specification - with the Warwick it was 2 x R-R Vulture engines and with the Albemarle the insistence that it be built of wood and steel with production dispersed and each individual section being small enough to be transported for assembly on a standard RAF "Queen Mary". Designed as a medium bomber at a time when it was expected that there would be a shortage of strategic materials and the British aircraft industry would be severely damaged by the Luftwaffe, in fact that never happened but the end result was a medium bomber with less than impressive performance, and which arrived at a time in 1942 when the RAF was switching to four engined "heavies", so it was modified as a transport. Incidentally it started life as a Bristol design, and although A-W redesigned it the nose still looks like a big Blenheim Mk IV! Still, over 600 were built so I am pleased somebody eventually made an injection kit of it, unlike the Warwick though I believe Alley Cat were rumoured to be looking at one. A review I have seen suggests that the cockpit floor and the canopies can be a problem and that the tail endplates may be on the small size. https://www.hyperscale.com/2011/features/albermarle72rs_1.htm Pete 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted April 23, 2023 Share Posted April 23, 2023 All RAF bombers were designed to be broken down for transport on a Queen Mary, so that's no excuse for the Albemarle. In truth it was a predictably underperforming design from the requirements, and a general lack of interest in medium day bombers from the RAF. The Warwick's problem was less the Vultures than the production demand for the Wellington. Again, the RAF was never all that interested in bombers of this intermediate size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted April 23, 2023 Author Share Posted April 23, 2023 On 4/23/2023 at 10:38 AM, Trevor L said: That's a new one on me. Is it related to the B25 Mitchell? No - not in any way. Just has a similar configuration. @PeterB's post pretty much covers how the Albermarle came onto being - thanks. Local interest for me. My preferred route to Jet Age is currently blocked by a bridge repair over the M5. Leaving me with a choice between a route from the East of Jet Age - with a bit of roadworks for a cycle path, or a route from the west, via Albermarle and Churchdown - with a lot of roadworks for a new double-roundabout, and more of that cycle path. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 Not an aircraft we see much of on BritModeller Tim IIRC it was also used as a glider tug? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted April 24, 2023 Author Share Posted April 24, 2023 2 hours ago, CliffB said: IIRC it was also used as a glider tug? That's what this one is Cliff. There's something sticking out under the tail - presumably a guide to prevent the towing cable from fouling the tail surfaces. Also used for dropping airborne troops. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aeronut22 Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 4 hours ago, theplasticsurgeon said: That's what this one is Cliff. There's something sticking out under the tail - presumably a guide to prevent the towing cable from fouling the tail surfaces. Also used for dropping airborne troops. The tubular frame was to prevent the parachutist static line and deployment bag from fouling the gap between the elevator and tailplane. A similar arrangement can be seen to this day on the Skyvan used to train UK paratroops. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted April 25, 2023 Author Share Posted April 25, 2023 Thanks for all the added information. Now here's the cockpit. As with my previous Valom kit, this Bristol Bombay, I'm not really enjoying. Confused, and mis-numbered parts in the cockpit. The seats are highly fragile, so the nav and pilot's are replaced from my spares. Vague instructions with no real placement guidance, and huge potential for parts to obstruct a good fit of the fuselage - I've missed for bits out. And the nose wheel bay has gone missing. Scratching from plasticard is about to happen. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted April 25, 2023 Share Posted April 25, 2023 If it's of any help, I have this photo: Chris 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted April 30, 2023 Author Share Posted April 30, 2023 Fuselage joined together. The fit isn't great, and nothing to locate it all. AND I've just checked my photo of the resins - nosebay part is absent, so some scratching will be done. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted May 1, 2023 Author Share Posted May 1, 2023 Wings and tailplane fitted. Fit isn't great. And underside, showing my plasticard nose wheel bay, which is surrounded with lead. But not enough ballast yet. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted May 3, 2023 Author Share Posted May 3, 2023 Tail endplates fitted. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted May 6, 2023 Share Posted May 6, 2023 Great choice, I think you are going to need every bit of weight you can fit into this one, it's the very definition of tail heavy ! Best of luck Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted June 15, 2023 Author Share Posted June 15, 2023 The reason this build has stalled, is that the nose glazing doesn't fit. I've just stretched it over a boiling kettle, and think that it might be a better fit now. Also it requires loads of nose weight, and I'm reluctant to drill holes into cockpit and nose to install more. If more is required, it will have to go behind the engines. Resuming normal service again now. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjwomack Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 I did a Valom kit once, left me deeply traumatised! Think I'd rather take my chances with vac-form because they're meant to be that difficult 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted June 23, 2023 Author Share Posted June 23, 2023 Glazing fitted. Engines fitted. and airbrushed Humbrol 29 dark earth. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted June 29, 2023 Author Share Posted June 29, 2023 Masked. Airbrushed Humbrol 163 green. Then demasked to show off the camo. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeroenS Posted June 29, 2023 Share Posted June 29, 2023 Looking good Tim, is the end of the struggles in sight? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted June 29, 2023 Author Share Posted June 29, 2023 41 minutes ago, JeroenS said: Looking good Tim, is the end of the struggles in sight? Thanks for that thought Jeroen, I certainly hope so. I'm very aware of the deadline drawing in. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeroenS Posted June 30, 2023 Share Posted June 30, 2023 9 hours ago, theplasticsurgeon said: Thanks for that thought Jeroen, I certainly hope so. I'm very aware of the deadline drawing in. Nothing wrong with a nice little deadline 🙂 It would be great to see this one in the gallery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted July 2, 2023 Author Share Posted July 2, 2023 Airbrushed Humbrol 33 black. Decals. And some glazing framed. Those props are removable. The end is in sight. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted July 2, 2023 Share Posted July 2, 2023 Looking good Tim, I've long thought the Albemarle quite a handsome aircraft, yours sure brings that out. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted July 2, 2023 Author Share Posted July 2, 2023 Thanks for the compliment @stevehnz. I'm really looking forward to finishing this now. All the glazing and framing completed, top turret and engine exhaust rings. A view of that glazing in the rear fuselage. And from above. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted July 2, 2023 Share Posted July 2, 2023 I always smile when I see the outside of the exhaust collector ring painted a metallic colour, but the inside painted the interior colour. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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