Returning 1st build - 1/72 Airfix Wildcat

[1275GT]

Hi all, returning to the fold after a too-long lay off. SWMBO enrolled me into the Airfix club a while ago, and as part of which I got the Fleet Air Arm set.

So spying the simple single colour scheme, I figured the Wildcat was the easiest option to start with.

For those not familiar, the kit is basic in the extreme, so I thought I'd have a go at tarting it up a little, my theory being I couldn't make it any worse and if it came to it, I'll stick the nice thick canopy on it so no one can see the mess inside!!

So, armed with the basic Eduard PE kit and a few odd bits of plastic, off I go...............

( I did have some earlier shots, but they don't seem to want to upload....sorry !)

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The seat is the basic bench thing that the kit provides, with the pilot used as a rough guide for width, sheet sides added. The stick is a peice of fuse wire inserted into a shaped peice of sprue, and the backing for the gauges and peice of sheet.

Comments more than welcome, enjoy !

Cheers, Neil

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[PJP]

Well, have yourself a Bourbon.

That looks good to me!

Peter

 

[Bunkerbarge]

I always think a 1/72nd aircraft is a good way to get back into modelling after a period of absence and you are proving exactly why. You are making a great job of the cockpit area and even adding more detail to make it that bit out of the ordinary. I'm sure you are very pleased with the resuklts, you certainly should be.

 

[1275GT]

MMMM....bourbon good !! Thank you for the comments.

Ok, added the side consoles and head rest and I think I'll call that finished. Not 100% about the colouring, but to be honest , I'm pretty happy with how it's turned out, so I'll leave it alone !!

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Started on the bodywork, thinned down the instrument cowling and also a little of the engine cowling where the exhaust exits. Next on the list, the wonders of that landing gear...........more bourbon I think!

Cheers, Neil

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[colin m]

Hello Neil. Your work looks brilliant, if you can do this to an Airfix model, I can't wait to see what you can do to a more 'detailed' model ! Now it is said that behind every good man, there's a good woman. Just think if she hadn't enrolled you in the Airfix club................!

Regards

Colin M......

 

[yak face]

Hi neil, great job on the cockpit, unrecognisable from the original!! I made the airfix martlet when i was a nipper ,cant remember quite what the level of detail was like (many moons ago Kimosabe!) but one thing i do remember is i really enjoyed making it and it looks mighty fine in the FAA colours especially if its got some invasion stripes on too. keep up the excellent work , cheers tony

 

[1275GT]

Hi all.... thank you for the kind words.

Colin, you're quite right about my better half, I just need to now persuade her to give me somewhere permanent to work !!

Tony, the level of detail is.........er........NIL !! I'm probably going to chicken out on the colouring and do the all over dark blue scheme. My weakest part of modeling has always been the finish, so I'm going to try and keep it simple, for the first few at least.

Anyway, started on the big bits. Made a couple of bulkheads from sheet, just to close the area in ( I know the front one dosen't exsist, I claim artistic license!). You can also just see the thinned down instrument cowl. I'll try and get a bit of detailing in there, before the real fun of that undercarrage........

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As you can see, I've done the wigs as well..........and made the school-boy error of not filling the rocket mounting points first !! You live and learn......

Cheers, Neil

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[1275GT]

Ok...progress.......slow, but progress. Is it me or does life sometimes seem intent on getting in the way !!

Anyway, got a bit of detailing done on the wheelbay. I love paper-clips !! It's a little overscale ( lol ), but it gives you something to look at .

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Next up, paint and get the body together, followed by the joy that is the undercarriage !! Not sure if I'll mod the kit parts ( such as they are !!) or have a go at some scratch-building...........I'll see you in about a month then !!!

Cheers, Neil

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[stona]

You obviously haven't lost your touch. It's looking very good indeed. Best of luck with the undercarriage,I shall look forward to seeing it.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Ferrets Bueller]

Looking good mate, will watch the progress of this with interest

 

[1275GT]

Hi all, sorry for the "slight" delay from my previous posts, usual pitches from life including the big bloke in the red suit that insists I buy presents for everyone........anyway, I thought I'd chuck up a few pic's of progress so far.......

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......most of it seems to have gone fairly well so far. I've guesstimated the white stripes just to add a bit more interest and am quite happy with the results.

You may have noticed I haven't tackled the prickly subject of that undercarriage. I am at the moment attempting to scratch build a set using some left-overs from the pe set. We'll see how that goes ( if I don't go blind first ! ).

One question I'd like to ask concerns the finish. I thought the gloss was a bit too much, but I'm wondering if the matt is too much the other way, does anyone have an idea what the actual finish on the aircraft in this theatre was?

Cheers, Neil

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[1275GT]

PS if any Mods see this, this thread seems to have ended up in the Reference section for some reason. Is there any chance of moving it to the Under Construction section at all..........I'm sure thats where I left it !!!

Cheers, Neil

 

[Lancasterb1]

Looking good there Neil, the masking and priming seems to have paid off with the build, look forward to seeing it nicely weathered and chipped especially as it is a Navy bird!

 

[1275GT]

Thanks Andy, it's only out of rattle cans so I'm quite happy with the finish.

Not sure about the weathering...........the rate this is going, if I get into that, the bloke in the red suit will be back pestering me again before it gets finished !!!

 

[Bunkerbarge]

Moved as requested

 

[Centurion3RTR]

Now that Neil is looking very nice, from what i've seen on the net they look matt. Someone will let you know better though matey.

Have fun, John

 

[1275GT]

Thanks, Richard.

Yeah, John, I would have guessed they'd be matt, but you never know with the navy !!! Time to bite the bullet and crack on with that undercarriage......

Cheers, Neil

 

[1275GT]

Ok, after a lot of fiddling and a few false starts, one of half of the undercarrage is made. It's nowhere near perfect, but I think it's a lot better than the kit parts, though tbh, that wouldn't be hard!! It should be a bit better once it's all painted up. I may have to leave it a while before I attempt the other side, just to let my eyesight return...

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Cheers, Neil

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[stona]

Well done with those undercarriage struts/supports,it's a hell of a fiddly assembly.

As far as the paint finish goes they left the factory gloss but quickly and progressively weathered to a matt finish. This means you can't go wrong lol!

Cheers

Steve

 

[1275GT]

Thanks Steve, fiddly is one word for it, but a few others were used !!!

And I'll take your comments on the finish as gospel if you don't mind, and just see how it turns out - I suspect it'll turn out newer rather than older, but we'll see.

Now for the other side..........

Cheers, Neil