Thorvics'Blog

[Thorvic]

One thing that this years slow build rate has highlighted is that I shall really need to reduce the stash if I'm not building a lot so expect to see a stash reduction sale coming up  . This will probably happen after the HS-681 is completed so that I can clear off the workbench and sort out what I want to keep at hand, what can be stored and what can be disposed of.

Only problem is due to looking after my elderly father I am unable to do the full SMW weekend this year and can only do the Saturday, so the chance to make use of the Kitswap is lost to me, as would lose too much time checking it in and retrieving the fund/remainder of items.  .

[Thorvic]

Well managed to get the painting sorted on the HS-681 over the last week and finally got the aircraft on its undercarriage and its not tail sitting  .

Started decaling last night and got the national markings added using decals from a Victor Sheet as they looked sharper in colour than the Magna Belfast ones I had sourced. In hindsight its a pity I didn't try the Magna ones as I would have discovered the decals splinter once in contact with water as I discovered when I tried to do the blue lightning strip used on Transport Command aircraft  .

Now snookered as I either have to source and cut out eplacement from blue decal stripes or varnish the makings added so far mask up to paint a blue line on and pray I don't get any seepage !!!.

So apart from the lightning flash  it was looking ok as now looks the same as a Nimrod from the 70's

[Captain Canada]

That`s going to be so good ! Sorry about the decal woes tho. Hope that works out.

[Thorvic]

Typical, you order decals on a Sunday Night from Hannants and expect a delivery on Tuesday and of course no sign as yet. Don't want to do the rest of the decaling till I know they will work as will involve a bit of handling to get them correct.

Once that's sorted its on with the stencils and aircraft numbering, a bit of stencilling and then adding the doors and aerials, so nearly there, although time is running out  .

I also got the notification that my Airfix Pre-order for the Shackleton is being processed so hopefully I should get that by the Weekend(or the next !), so that will be a new kit to study once the 681 is done 

Rumour abound about a possible Airfix British Phantom following the shot of a LIDAR hardware set up in one of the Duxford Hangers, its possible as we have been making the suggestions for years at both SMW and on-line, and we know first hand that the Simon Owen and the other Airfix researchers we're rather interested in the British Phantom build they saw at SMW last year. So maybe something for 2016 in 72nd cold war jet range.

[Captain Canada]

That would be something ! Love British Phantoms. I really should do a RW build for the shelf. Looking forward to seeing the 681...so hopefully the decals arrive today !

http://www.arcair.com/awa01/001-100/awa095-UK-F-4/00b.shtm

[Thorvic]

Well the HS-681 has had its decals applied and sealed up, the masking removed and is now in the process of getting the detail bits like doors and aerials fitted, so hopefully that will be completed by next weekend.

Also received the Airfix Avro Shackleton MR2 that I had on pre-order with Airfix. I have a 2nd reserved with Hannants, but not sure as to when they will get their delivery so may come from this initial batch or it may be the 2nd at the end of the month. I also have the two Xtradecal sheets pre-ordered so maybe they will be ready in time for the 2nd batch.

Initial impressions are that its rather tasty, although I do think the box and thus its series price may be a little bigger than it could be, but that's Airfix making it pay for itself. A pity really as it does make me think twice about getting additional kits, as I know I would pick up the AEW2 if its done as a separate boxing and I would probably pick up the Revell kit for comparison so I don't think I can afford the space for too many boxes of this size in the stash  . The heart says 'Buy another, its great' but the head says ' where on earth will you put it an how many can you actually build', the catch 22 of a modeller.

Anyway whilst the Shackleton does bring about those questions, the other Cold War model from the 2015 range doesn't, I can see me with half a dozen of the Sea King Commando's when that comes out at the end of the year. Hopefully we may see some more 1/72nd Cold War aircraft announced in the coming months as rumours abound of what they have been researching, although it most be remembered the kit process from concept to release is a 3 year cycle, with nomination, approval, research, design, CAD, prototyping, manufacturing and release !. Factor in topical subjects and anniversaries and some models may just the schedule as they focus resources to market a specific event or subject.

[Captain Canada]

Good points regarding the Shak Geoff. I have all of those old riveters in the stash still, so no hurry to buy one. I would like to get at least 1 AEW version tho.

And I also agree regarding the Sea King. I can see myself getting more than a few.

[Thorvic]

Well I managed to resist I spotted the Shackleton's appear and sell like hot cakes on eBay this week, even from my LMS but I managed to resist temptation as I'm due to get another off Hannants along with their decal sets and if I want another after that I can always get one at SMW or later.

Good news on the Lightning VG conversion from Freightdog as it should make the Sea Lightning I have ready to go much easier, still have to do the full length conformal belly tank but with the wings sorted that process is a lot easier - Thank Colin  .

Well that's one of the post SMW builds sorted out, add to that a Shackleton and the Freightdog P177 I need to replace those should keep me going till he new year when the Sea King is set to appear.

I suppose a good sign is that a lot of the revised boxing's announced so far by Airfix, its only the post war beau that really appeals to me, i'll get the Martlet when its announced and the AEW Shack, but its what's new in the way on new 1/72nd cold war stuff that really going to interest me as expecting something new apart from the Jet Provost.

[Captain Canada]

Great set of builds coming our way then. Really looking forward to seeing some of these VG Lightning sets turn into built models...one of the coolest whiffs ever right there !

[Thorvic]

Well getting there, got all the doors on save for the rear ramp which was being a pain, but finally got that on yesterday, although I need to add the ramp jacks to give it the brace support it needs. Once that's secured I can add the aerials to the belly and then to the upper fuselage and I can call it as done.

However whilst the troublesome ramp was supposed to be curing I dug out my built P1121 for the display to go with Overscan's book, discovered its lost a Pylon so that will need to be replaced. I also dug out one of the S&M resin versions and did the clean up on that so that will be a quick OOB build for the display. The S&M kit is a resin version of the Maintrack/Whirlybird kit so has inherited some of the flaws of the vacform that Gondor encountered, except in resin. The fuselage is effectively the vacform version with a layer of putty in it to create the thickness required to give the resin strength, ok with a plastic kit but the vac fuselage distorts slightly which gives it a ropey line so had to do two lots of the hot water treatment to bring it into line for assembly  .

[Gondor]

However whilst the troublesome ramp was supposed to be curing I dug out my built P1121 for the display to go with Overscan's book, discovered its lost a Pylon so that will need to be replaced. I also dug out one of the S&M resin versions and did the clean up on that so that will be a quick OOB build for the display. The S&M kit is a resin version of the Maintrack/Whirlybird kit so has inherited some of the flaws of the vacform that Gondor encountered, except in resin. The fuselage is effectively the vacform version with a layer of putty in it to create the thickness required to give the resin strength, ok with a plastic kit but the vac fuselage distorts slightly which gives it a ropey line so had to do two lots of the hot water treatment to bring it into line for assembly  .

Best of luck with that build Geoff

Gondor

[Thorvic]

Cheers Alastair, although it shouldn't be too bad once I get assembly going as the Wing and tail joins have been cleaned up in the resin version so once the fuselage is together, the seams fixed and the intake fitted the rest shouldn't be too bad....

Would have liked to have tried the naval version but blending in the two seater cockpit from a Hunter into the resin fuselage would probably take too long and I would miss the deadline 

[Gondor]

I am not sure that the wings lined up on my build Geoff, the spine behind the cockpit was different on each side so it appeared offset, but then you can pour over my build for all the problems I had. One I didn't mention was that the placement of the tail surfaces is wrong. I attempted to place them as per the fuselage frames but the surface for them to join against is suspect in it's location 
I would be interested in what the undercarriage and wheels look like due to the problems I had with the nose leg and the main wheels being about the correct size for a transport aircraft in width 

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

Yes, would definitely be interesting to watch this build and compare it with that of Alastair.

[Thorvic]

Well I had the week off work before SMW so I was able to assemble and paint the S&M P1121 kit to tie in with the launch of Overscans book on the type. The build wasn't to bad after dealing with the warpage earlier, and managed to complete the kit on the Friday before the show in the RAFG overall Dark Green scheme and LAG undersides with adapted 92 sqdn markings.

Please don't ask for photos as I didn't get chance during the build and during the show I decided to gift the P1121 model to Paul to go with his new book as a Thank You, I knew he always wanted a model but he's not a modeller anymore so thought he would appreciate it, plus it helps show in 3D his friends and family what his book is all about (Of course he still has to carefully ship it back to New Zealand, but with decent packing to protect it he should be OK  )