Let me tell you a tale of the Shagbat... SMER 1/48 Supermarine Walrus

[LorenSharp]

  "I've just been to Supermarines. I've seen a small Amphibian.

       It looks handy, tough, and versatile... something the Navy needs.

       I want you to put its service trials. Off you go..."

 

             Rear Admiral Maitland W.S Boucher, D.S.O. Royal Navy

 

So while waiting for paint to finish  my other build how about I see what I can do with SMER's 1/48 Supermarine Walrus. Airfix it ain't , but it does appear ( I know appearances can be deceiving)to be much better than a Tauro debacle I waded through on another GB. So far, aside A LOT of flash, it looks doable. and hopefully enough room I can trick this out with some extra detail inside, naturally it will be hidden once all buttoned up. So lets see what I have to work with shall we?

 

I know I'll be scratch building and printing parts and so forth so this SHOULD prove interesting. So on orders from the Admiral.... Off I go!

[marvinneko]

For some reason I love the Walrus. Tried to pick up a used one on the weekend but lost out to a quicker person. Looking forward to your build.

[John Masters]

I think with a little love this will look very fine Loren.  

[heloman1]

Ooooh, a Walrus! I've wanted to build another ever since I purchased the SMER kit in it's first release but I didn't want o look in the box again!

The Airifx tooling might just fit the bill, finding time is another matter!

I was doing my trade training up at RNAS Arbroath, HMS Condor, Scotland where the artificers were restoring the one which is now in the FAA museum. We weren't allowed anywhere near it!

 

Colin

 

[bootneck]

I also have that kit and will be folllowing along for hints and tips, especially on any scratchbuilding and modifications needed.

 

cheers,

Mike

[LorenSharp]

One thing is for certain, This ain't no Airfix kit. First thing, give this some better interior detail with some ribbing.

I only did a partial for interior, Past the midsection you don't see anything. I started with a center brace and table for the radioman, then built up the pilots seat along with a wooden walkway from the radio to the nose gunner.

I did use the kits seats ,the bulkhead behind the pilot and the instrument panel.

Speaking of instrument panel, Matte black coat followed by a white gel pen to bring the dials to life nd a little bit of silver pencil to add to the relief.

[LorenSharp]

The instruction say to paint the interior a dark green or bronze green,. This didn't seem kosher, so I looked on line to see what the real thing may have had done. Of course most of the images I found the interior was Zinc chromate green, one was in RAF Cockpit green and looking at a set of Airfix instructions form Scalemates said to use RAF cockpit interior green so that's what used.

The wooden walkway I painted a light tan then used Tamiya Red Brown followed by Tamiya Clear Orange.

[LorenSharp]

Once the interior dried I added the side windows and glued the halves together and taped down the seams and used just about the last of my white filler. I have a brand new tube of Red filler I got by mistake, but its harder to cover with paint. 

Then I glued the main wing assemblies , engine housing and floats together then filled where necessary.

I'll let these dry overnight then begin the sanding and prep work for painting. At least I finally got it started. now if I can just do the same with that Karate Kid Gannet.....

[LorenSharp]

Now that I've got the prep work done time to do a little bit of painting.

First some pre-shading...

Then working in stages I layed down Slate Gray, then Dark Green for the upper camouflage, then Sky for the lower surfaces. then I added the horizontal tail, it's braces, wings, floats, and the engine mount frame.

[LorenSharp]

Next to add some detail to an otherwise blank slate, I used some .3mm silver beading wire to do the bracing wires. starting with the out riggers.

Then wired the engine mount and center wing

 

[LorenSharp]

Before finishing the wing I added some bits to the Bristol Pegasus engine. The biggest was to use some thin soldering wire for the exhaust pipes on the rear the engine.

As it is late now I'll finish up the upper wing and bracing tomorrow.

[Old Man]

Excellent work, Loren.

 

This beast is a long favorite of mine, ever since that highly improbable Airfix boxtop way back when....

 

 

Now there's a Shagbat with a tale, eh>

 

James

Edited September 28, 2023 by Old Man
to add box-top, it's priceless

[Geo1966]

Coming together nicely Loren, looks great with the extra details you are adding.

 

George

[Colin W]

Wow this went from "I'm about to start' to painted and rigged in 4 days.

I was going to comment on the flash around the engine, but it does't seem to have held you up much!

Looking forward to seeing the final model on Sunday!

[LorenSharp]

Thanks Colin, It's been a relatively straight forward and simple model. All things considered. And since I didn't get to post last yesterday, this will probably be the finish for this little jewel today.

[LorenSharp]

After the getting the engine sorted and the center spar area done, it was time to add the outer upper wings and wire bracing.

And believe me this went together a lot better than an old Stringbag I did years ago and in somewheres in the queue for restoration or the Fairey Albacore I did a few years back. I did the rigging in sections starting from the inner brace and working my way outwards.

Then got the engine and the forward and rear gunners rings attached .

The guns I used Alclad II Steel for the main body and Tamiya red brown  for the stocks.

[LorenSharp]

Now finally time to add the decals.

The big roundels went on pretty well. the rest, were very thing and wanted to tear easily. So I had to dip into the spares for a few bits. I let these dry over night.

[LorenSharp]

The next day Idid he weathering with a dark wash on the panel lines on the fuselage and the movable surfaces. I let these dry fro a bit the gave the whole shebang a couple of good coats of flat varnish.

Then added the last bits. The installed the  upper antenna, painted the marker lights , unmasked the canopy and gunners hatch,

And there you have it. One Shagbat for the collection. Someday I'll get the Airfix kit and see what can really be done for this subject. But until then Thanks for following along Guys and  especially with all the helpful comments and sugestions. I'll have the finals up in the Gallery momentarily. Until next time,, there's always a next time keep on modelling!