Xtrakit & Airfix 1/72 Vampires - RAF Cold War Fighters part 3
- Thread starter Dave Ward
- Start date
Sprues & detail shots etc - The Airfix T.11
Airfix fuselage is split vertically.................
Two schemes, one a preserved aircraft, or this, from 1962, a good test of masking!
A few detail shots:
Parts look pretty clean & crisp, no sink marks or ejector pin towers. Some of the ingates look a big large, so careful removal - The Airfix model has two pilots.....................
Dave
Airfix fuselage is split vertically.................
Two schemes, one a preserved aircraft, or this, from 1962, a good test of masking!
A few detail shots:
Parts look pretty clean & crisp, no sink marks or ejector pin towers. Some of the ingates look a big large, so careful removal - The Airfix model has two pilots.....................
Dave
The Xtrakit FB.5 - The Special Hobby model reboxed..............
Two versions, one silver, the other, which I'm going for a camo version.
A few detail shots
A 
Front of the Goblin engine - I doubt if this will be visible!
The Xtrakit model has a horizontal split fuselage...................... ( no pilot ). The ingates look a little better placed than the Airfix
Detailing on both models is about the same, and assembly looks reasonably simple
Dave
Two versions, one silver, the other, which I'm going for a camo version.
A few detail shots
A Front of the Goblin engine - I doubt if this will be visible!
The Xtrakit model has a horizontal split fuselage...................... ( no pilot ). The ingates look a little better placed than the Airfix
Detailing on both models is about the same, and assembly looks reasonably simple
Dave
Mark1
SMF Supporter
They look very interesting Dave. I've also built the Arifix version and it was a nice little kit. Having said that, the Xtrakit seems to have the edge on detail here.
Colin,
I would agree with you, looking at the sprues - of course, how much will be visible with the model assembled remains to be seen!
Dave
boatman
SMF Supporter
WELL Dave nice little kits but i never could tell the difference between the vampire an the venom ?
chris
chris
Most Venoms carried wingtip tanks - but, swept back leading edge - 90 degree to fuselage trailing edge is the real visual spot - it also had a DH Ghost Engine, instead of the Goblin
Dave
boatman
SMF Supporter
oh cheers Dave well ive learnt something today then but which was the better of the two ?
chris
The Venom was a later development of the Vampire, with a more powerful engine. It only had a short service life, as there were better aircraft in the pipeline - the single engine & twin boom configuration had just about reached the limit of it's development for jets - the Sea Vixen was the last gasp of the De Havilland concept
Dave
boatman
SMF Supporter
WELL I NEVER knew that many thanks dave as they say you learn something every day an its right too cheers for the info
chris
Off and running - these two are so small, it's easy to do the initial assemblies at the same time.................
The Airfix T.11 - the vertical split fuselage & full span top wing half may give some seam problems, but the fit is good. Bottom left - the engine intake trunking - with a fan at the top end - which is not going to be visible - as the same with the Xtrakit model! Tailbooms join right into the wing.
Xtrakit FB5 - horizontal split fuselage - air trunking moulded into the bottom fuselage, with a fancy front of engine - which won't be seen! The tailbooms join the wing at the trailing edge - after market pilot he might have to be fitted before the fuselage is joined, the cockpit opening isn't that big ( the actual Vampire cockpit was really cramped ).
Interesting the parts breakdown, the next stages will see which is better.
I've decided the FB5 will be the camouflaged version, and I've dug a bottle of fluorescent orange out for the trainer ( I also found a bottle of fluorescent red as well - why I had these I don't know! ). One problem with the FB5 may be finding enough space for weights to prevent tailsitting.
Dave
The Airfix T.11 - the vertical split fuselage & full span top wing half may give some seam problems, but the fit is good. Bottom left - the engine intake trunking - with a fan at the top end - which is not going to be visible - as the same with the Xtrakit model! Tailbooms join right into the wing.
Xtrakit FB5 - horizontal split fuselage - air trunking moulded into the bottom fuselage, with a fancy front of engine - which won't be seen! The tailbooms join the wing at the trailing edge - after market pilot he might have to be fitted before the fuselage is joined, the cockpit opening isn't that big ( the actual Vampire cockpit was really cramped ).
Interesting the parts breakdown, the next stages will see which is better.
I've decided the FB5 will be the camouflaged version, and I've dug a bottle of fluorescent orange out for the trainer ( I also found a bottle of fluorescent red as well - why I had these I don't know! ). One problem with the FB5 may be finding enough space for weights to prevent tailsitting.
Dave
Jim R
SMF Supporter
Further progress..........................
No major pitfalls, yet, a lot of dry fitting, the intakes on the T.11 are very fiddly. I'll assemble the airframes & see to any seam problems all at the same time. The AM pilot in the FB5 had to have his legs removed below the knee to fit into the cockpit - whether the pilot is a bit big, or the cockpit a little small - who knows!
Dave
No major pitfalls, yet, a lot of dry fitting, the intakes on the T.11 are very fiddly. I'll assemble the airframes & see to any seam problems all at the same time. The AM pilot in the FB5 had to have his legs removed below the knee to fit into the cockpit - whether the pilot is a bit big, or the cockpit a little small - who knows!
Dave
Ohhhhhhhh - my OA has flared up again, so it looks like I won't be getting much bench time in, until it dies down - it's been frosty the last couple of days, don't know if that has any effect - just have to sit back & keep taking the tablets ( and rubbing the gel! )
Dave
Dave
It’s the cold and damp Dave. The quick changes in atmospheric pressures at this time of year don’t help either. My RA has been awful over the last few months despite tweaks to the med regime.
Pity, the build was coming along nicely. It’ll still be there when you’re up to it though
I might try out the left hand airbrush - I'm at the stage I can do a primercoat anyway - what could go wrong?It’s the cold and damp Dave. The quick changes in atmospheric pressures at this time of year don’t help either. My RA has been awful over the last few months despite tweaks to the med regime.
Pity, the build was coming along nicely. It’ll still be there when you’re up to it though
Dave
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2018
- Messages
- 10,797
- Points
- 113
- First Name
- Jakko
You could hold it the wrong way round and spray your face instead of the model?
A
.
Seriously, it's just as well I'm doing an all over primercoat - I can press down & draw back the airbrush control, but none of the delicacy I can manage with my right hand - just a matter of practice, but 60 odd years of using your strong hand is for precise work is not overcome easily!
Dave
Aha - that's why you use a left hand airbrush!You could hold it the wrong way round and spray your face instead of the model?
.Seriously, it's just as well I'm doing an all over primercoat - I can press down & draw back the airbrush control, but none of the delicacy I can manage with my right hand - just a matter of practice, but 60 odd years of using your strong hand is for precise work is not overcome easily!
Dave