Airfix

Too Tall · 22 Nov 2013 at 19:41

Well.... all the interesting stuff has left Leeming. Pretty sure the camp is still there though.

plasmahal · 22 Nov 2013 at 19:43

It's still an active base, albeit in a training role.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafleeming/

Too Tall · 22 Nov 2013 at 20:00

Yeah sorry mate I should have said I was there from 2003-2007.

Too Tall · 23 Nov 2013 at 01:14

Well, just bit the bullet. Bought an Eduard Spitfire MK.IXc.

Don't have an airbrush, will likely paint the small parts & cockpit and see how I feel about an airbrush afterwards.

plasmahal · 23 Nov 2013 at 09:30

Too Tall said:
Well, just bit the bullet. Bought an Eduard Spitfire MK.IXc.

Don't have an airbrush, will likely paint the small parts & cockpit and see how I feel about an airbrush afterwards.

I'd recommend something like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AS-186-Complete-Airbrush-Kit-Compressor-With-Tank-/200600974912?pt=UK_Crafts_DrawingSupplies_EH&hash=item2eb4bff640

It has a tank to stop pulsing and comes with 2 fairly decent airbrushes to start you off with, and it's very quiet.

Cosimo · 23 Nov 2013 at 10:44

pieman109 said:
Edit: Heres a coupla pics of a Bf-109K-4, 1/48 scale hasegawa done in a similar way to the FW190D-9

I added the rivet lines on this model as well as the previous FW190D using a homemade rivetting tool, quite pleased how well they turned out[/QUOTE]

That does look quite stunning. :) How long does it take you to make one?

philstanbridge · 23 Nov 2013 at 11:36

hehe that is the question. I built a 1:24 Hurricane (which is posted in this thread somewhere) and it took me the best part of a year on and off. But if you can spend a good few hours in one go on a build it shouldn't take you too long at all.

Edit: Have a look through this thread - there are some amazing builds. Pieman's Spit stands out to me.

Skii · 23 Nov 2013 at 14:54

Its often hard to put a build time on projects for many modellers - speaking from experience I'd often not pick up a paintbrush for weeks at a time. My B-2 Spirit took around 2 years to complete (mostly due to the amount of scratchbuilding involved) but I dread to think how many consecutive hours it took me.

Love that 109K4, really nice indeed.

pieman109 · 23 Nov 2013 at 15:24

Skii said:
Its often hard to put a build time on projects for many modellers - speaking from experience I'd often not pick up a paintbrush for weeks at a time. My B-2 Spirit took around 2 years to complete (mostly due to the amount of scratchbuilding involved) but I dread to think how many consecutive hours it took me.

Love that 109K4, really nice indeed.

I've seen that B-2 before I think at a show a while back (though it could have a similar build by someone else) really nice build.

pieman109 · 23 Nov 2013 at 15:26

Cosimo said:
That does look quite stunning. How long does it take you to make one?

It didn't take that long, about 7 consecutive evenings/ days. Its only a 1/48 scale jobbie with about a 7-8 inch wingspan.

pieman109 · 23 Nov 2013 at 15:33

Too Tall said:
Well, just bit the bullet. Bought an Eduard Spitfire MK.IXc.

Don't have an airbrush, will likely paint the small parts & cockpit and see how I feel about an airbrush afterwards.

I've built one of those Eduard Mk IX spitfires, beautiful surface detail, accurate shape and dimensions and fits together really well BUT watch out when attaching the wings to the fuselage as the wing root fillets tend to force the wings downwards due to lack of clearance resulting in almost flat wings with no dihedral at all. You can offset this quite easily by making sure the tha cockpit internals are slightly narrower than the inside of the fuselage, so allowing you to insert a couple of "stays" to pull the wing fillet areas together so allowing the wings to fit correctly.
Test/ dry fitting is the way forwards here.
Also that kit begs for an airbrush to be used on it both inside and out.

Too Tall · 23 Nov 2013 at 17:59

pieman109 said:
I've built one of those Eduard Mk IX spitfires, beautiful surface detail, accurate shape and dimensions and fits together really well BUT watch out when attaching the wings to the fuselage as the wing root fillets tend to force the wings downwards due to lack of clearance resulting in almost flat wings with no dihedral at all. You can offset this quite easily by making sure the tha cockpit internals are slightly narrower than the inside of the fuselage, so allowing you to insert a couple of "stays" to pull the wing fillet areas together so allowing the wings to fit correctly.
Test/ dry fitting is the way forwards here.
Also that kit begs for an airbrush to be used on it both inside and out.

Pieman - that's exactly what I wanted to hear. The mrs... not so much. she is going to be c chuffed next week to find an airbrush and compressor in the dining room

pieman109 · 5 Dec 2013 at 15:08

Thought I'd keep this thread going, currently building a Kittyhawk 1/48 scale Jaguar GR.3. Just about got the decals on and gave it a coat of matt varnish. Still needs a bit of a tidy up in certain areas especially round the windshield/ fuselage join, but other than that, I'm quite pleased with how its coming on.

I noticed how the colour changes purely by changing the angle of the model, one of the pics show a deffinite blue hue to it.

Edrof · 1 Jan 2014 at 18:45

So, partly inspired by Pieman's startling efforts, I'm about to rekindle my modelling career with a Tamiya Matilda tank (1/35 scale). I have nothing in the way of paints, so would any kind soul be able to tell me which brand to buy, please? Back in the day I used Humbrols.

Does one need an airbrush? I will be going for the roughed-up, combat-battered look. Pieman, do you paint each rivet?!

Kristoph · 1 Jan 2014 at 18:54

Quite fancy getting a couple of airfix sets. I spend all day testing parts going onto Wildcat/Merlin/Sea Kings/Apache, and would be fun to see some of these parts on the aircraft

Is the best place to buy them the airfix site itself?

pieman109 · 2 Jan 2014 at 13:01

Edrof said:
So, partly inspired by Pieman's startling efforts, I'm about to rekindle my modelling career with a Tamiya Matilda tank (1/35 scale). I have nothing in the way of paints, so would any kind soul be able to tell me which brand to buy, please? Back in the day I used Humbrols.

Does one need an airbrush? I will be going for the roughed-up, combat-battered look. Pieman, do you paint each rivet?!

Hi mate, you don't "need" an airbrush but it really is considered an essential tool to progress. The first thing I would recommend is this site:

www.florymodels.co.uk

The info on this site is invaluable and will provide you with all the info you'll ever need. I covers absolutely all aspects of modelling, aircraft, tanks, ships, cars, sci fi, figurines etc. You can also buy videos of builds as they progress (done by Phil flory) and he covers things like airbrushing, hand painting, washing (thats for the rivets and generally dirtyfying the model).
Well worth giving it a look see and joining the forum which gives access to other members info as well.

pieman109 · 2 Jan 2014 at 13:05

Kristoph said:
Quite fancy getting a couple of airfix sets. I spend all day testing parts going onto Wildcat/Merlin/Sea Kings/Apache, and would be fun to see some of these parts on the aircraft

Is the best place to buy them the airfix site itself?

Theres loadsa places to get kits, etc. I'd look at these sites:

Hannants, ModelsRgo, wonderland models. ModelsRgo is a really good site as he does paints, tools, washes, glues, fillers, detail sets, etc, as well as the kits themselves.
Hannants has a much larger selection of stuff but delivery can take a tad longer due to their size and customer base.

Malt_Vinegar · 6 Jan 2014 at 00:55

New to model making in adulthood, only made a few kits very badly as a child.

I am in the process of building the Fiujimi fw16 I bought at a car boot, trying to take my time!

I also built this for my 1 year old, to hang from his ceiling and also to practise so I don't screw up the f1 car too much!

Only got a few paints and naff brushes, but it's better than I used to make as a kid! Not a patch on any of you guys, but I have to start somewhere I suppose!

Too Tall · 10 Jan 2014 at 17:21

Built my first model for over 20 years over the last week or so.

Its the first time I've painted a model, previously I've just glued them together and that's it.. but I was only around 10.

Overall i'm happy, still a few little things to finish but its pretty much done.

Malt_Vinegar · 10 Jan 2014 at 17:38

Nice, how did you paint?