Avro Type 690 Leeds - the true story

PR19_Kit · August 08, 2020, 08:00:32 AM

Must be a duff tube then.

I'll bin it I think.

loupgarou · August 08, 2020, 08:50:41 AM

Must be an old tube,already partly dried.
BTW, Kit, even if I haven't commented yet, I am following with much interest and respect your build.
I still remember an early Sutcliffe vacform York I had build in the early seventies (shudder)

PR19_Kit · August 08, 2020, 09:01:31 AM

Quote from: loupgarou on August 08, 2020, 08:50:41 AM

Must be an old tube,already partly dried.
BTW, Kit, even if I haven't commented yet, I am following with much interest and respect your build.
I still remember an early Sutcliffe vacform York I had build in the early seventies (shudder)

I think the AIM York kit had its roots in the Sutcliffe one. It has a lot of similarities to my Sutcliffe Vickers Windsor vacform.

The Wooksta! · August 08, 2020, 01:12:10 PM

The AIM York is the later Contrail kit, which is one of his later ones with injection parts and decals. I did have a Contrail one but passed it on as I knew I'd never build it, largely as I've a CMR conversion which is vastly superior.

IIRC, the wings in the Contrail kit look to have Matchbox heritage.

Neil Gaunt bought quite a few vacform tools from elsewhere - the Contrail Warwick, Valiant B.1 and B.2 and the Formaplane Hastings, Nimrod and Comet are the ones I know originated from other people.

PR19_Kit · August 08, 2020, 02:33:42 PM

Ah right, did Contrail do the Windsor as well? Mine maybe one of them, perhaps.

MUCH better PSR with the Presto putty, the engines are acceptable (to me anyway...) now and the cockpit area's almost OK, a little more PSR and it'll be ready for the colour coats.

The Wooksta! · August 08, 2020, 02:57:03 PM

The Windsor was done by Gerald Elliot, now under the Sangar label, but its a bit rough and could do with replacement resin engines.

loupgarou · August 08, 2020, 03:03:17 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 08, 2020, 09:01:31 AM
Quote from: loupgarou on August 08, 2020, 08:50:41 AM

Must be an old tube,already partly dried.
BTW, Kit, even if I haven't commented yet, I am following with much interest and respect your build.
I still remember an early Sutcliffe vacform York I had build in the early seventies (shudder)

I think the AIM York kit had its roots in the Sutcliffe one. It has a lot of similarities to my Sutcliffe Vickers Windsor vacform.

Very long roots, if any. I remember mine was very crude, no raised panel lines, with very thin plastic.And anyway included the fuselage only.
One had to use the wings from the venerable Airfix Lanc.
Injection parts, decals ? What are those things? No such luxury in the good old times.

PR19_Kit · August 08, 2020, 03:06:12 PM

Quote from: The Wooksta! on August 08, 2020, 02:57:03 PM

The Windsor was done by Gerald Elliot, now under the Sangar label, but its a bit rough and could do with replacement resin engines.

A BIT rough?

More like ruddy awful, and all crammed into the tiniest possible box. Trying to get it back after taking it out is almost impossible. Luckily some kind soul sent me a set of engines that should do well for it, assuming I EVER get round to building it, that is.

chrisonord · August 08, 2020, 04:16:48 PM

I too have been quietly watching this build kit as I have a fascination for transport aircraft of this era that are in military service. If I thought I could do a vac form kit any justice I would attempt one. Not that I would have anywhere to put it of course .

Keep up the marvelous work kit

Chris

buzzbomb · August 08, 2020, 04:42:40 PM

All this talk of old Vacforms and their makers has been a hoot.. I am doing a roof space clean out and on the hobby room floor is a Contrail Vickers Valiant, Contrail Nimrod and Airmodel Gotha 242. Probably end up moving to under the house, with the other 20 odd Vacforms that will probably never see the light of day again. But a bin would probably be more practical

Ohh.. the work on the Leeds is good, I am loving how you have got this melded together.

zenrat · August 08, 2020, 05:31:42 PM

Kit, why not post your tube of PPP back to the UK distributers or the manufacturers along with a note recording your comments and where you got it from?

PR19_Kit · August 09, 2020, 04:52:10 AM

Quote from: zenrat on August 08, 2020, 05:31:42 PM

Kit, why not post your tube of PPP back to the UK distributers or the manufacturers along with a note recording your comments and where you got it from?

A good idea Fred, and I'd take it up if I hadn't binned the dead tube already.

I'll mention it to Deluxe at the next show where we co-incide.

Meanwhile the area of putty on the Leeds is getting smaller, down to about a square inch now, so I'm hopeful today will see an end to it. So far I've used a WHOLE can of Halford Grey Primer on this build!

The Wooksta! · August 09, 2020, 05:59:53 AM

Think I've gone through similar with the Valiant.

PR19_Kit · August 09, 2020, 11:58:46 AM

The PSR and priming is DONE!

There's only so much you can do before you think 'The hell with this!'

I've started the colour coats and the upper side of one wing and the tail are done, but then I ran out.

So tomorrow it's off to Halfords for some more paint and then I can carry on. Pics then maybe.

PR19_Kit · August 10, 2020, 07:34:11 AM

So off I went to Halfords for some more paint, only to get 'Halfords Excuse #1', 'No sorry mate, we've never stocked that shade'.

I pointed out that my empty can, which I had in my hand, had their name printed on it, so they HAD stocked it not more than a month ago, but they were not moved. I then had to spend some time trying to find something near it, which I have, but not an exact match of course.

Now I've got to re-spray the ENTIRE airframe!