Freightdog Models at Telford 2024

[Freightdog862]

The only things wrong with the MB5 was the rather basic cockpit interior and the weight of the white metal in the nose making the undercarriage sag.  And you only got one canopy, which has yellowed.  I've a built one to salvage.

Might also be worth looking at the Hornets too, particularly the Navy ones, as AZ didn't do them, so there's no competition (the Special Hobby one was full of errors and omissions, whilst Magna only did the NF21 with the wing hinge, and even then, he'd used a warmed over Frog Hornet as a master.) If you do go down that route, consult with either John Adams or David Collins.  What they don't know about the Hornets isn't worth knowing.  AZ's Hornets had some nice detail but the engines lacked the streamlined chunkiness of the real thing. I was rather disappointed by them.

The single seat resin Hunters aren't worth repopping, but the T-bird certainly is.  Could do with more surface detail but that's about it.

Thanks Wooksta!, The MB.5 will come with a new interior, and improved vacform canopies in PETG (two copies), so yellowing won't be an issue. For the Prentice its likely all the previously metal parts will come in resin, probably the same for the MB.5 with maybe the exception of the u/c legs, as they are too fine to cast in resin, and probably too extravagant to cast in brass.

There is potential to do a Hornet improvement set, and perhaps a conversion for the naval variants, although discussions with AZ when they released the Hornet suggested the Sea Hornet would follow. John Adams has provided new drawings, but I doubt many would be in the market for super accurate resin Hornet family, as the AZ kit is overall not too bad. I did thing to at least cast up some white metal u/c and props as a generic improvement for any Hornet kit so far released. Maybe also do some beefed up engines for the AZ kits.

The Hunter masters are quite different to the other kits, being carved from polyurethane model board. this seems to be the reason for the lack of surface detail, as it's difficult to scribe into. The early injection moulded kit masters are machined mostly from perspex, all the detail parts are brass. The WWI kits are mainly built up from plastic card like a scratch build, with a fair amount of brass added. The Hunter T.7 might make a good donor for a two seat conversion for the Revell kit, although there is no shortage of competition. The Xtrakit nose just looks odd.     

Colin
       

[The Rat]

Same goes for real world stuff. I will have the Westland Wasp complete resin 1/72 kit (for those who can't be bothered with fixing the LF one)

Any idea of the price on that? Couldn't find it on your web site.

The Wasp is looking like £33.00, it won't be on the website until after Telford.

Colin

 

[PR19_Kit]

The Skybirds MB5 need some fettling around that belly intake, and a stock one would need a radiator shutter too, as Alastair did on his recent build. The Skybirds kit has no sing of that flap.

I got that TOTALLY wrong. 

Having checked my Monsoon PR3 build of the original Skybirds86 kt, it DOES have a radiator shutter, than can be positioned closed or opened, and a part that blocks off the view inside when it's open.

The white metal tailwheel is far too soft as it was, so a resin one may be better, but one thing that needs some work is the belly intake. It's the wrong shape, being oval instead of square edged, and I ended up scratching up a new one after vainly trying to modify the existing one.

There's a weird chunk of white metal that goes inside the nose to act as a bearing for the prop and to position the exhaust stubs into their slots in the cowling, but it's not wide enough as it's cast, so the exhaust stubs actually DON'T go through the slots. I slotted mine at the back and bent it outwards so they did.

Oh yes Colin, will there be a special limited edition in marbled plastic or resin to reproduce the true 1986 build experience? 

[The Wooksta!]

The only things wrong with the MB5 was the rather basic cockpit interior and the weight of the white metal in the nose making the undercarriage sag.  And you only got one canopy, which has yellowed.  I've a built one to salvage.

Might also be worth looking at the Hornets too, particularly the Navy ones, as AZ didn't do them, so there's no competition (the Special Hobby one was full of errors and omissions, whilst Magna only did the NF21 with the wing hinge, and even then, he'd used a warmed over Frog Hornet as a master.) If you do go down that route, consult with either John Adams or David Collins.  What they don't know about the Hornets isn't worth knowing.  AZ's Hornets had some nice detail but the engines lacked the streamlined chunkiness of the real thing. I was rather disappointed by them.

The single seat resin Hunters aren't worth repopping, but the T-bird certainly is.  Could do with more surface detail but that's about it.

Thanks Wooksta!, The MB.5 will come with a new interior, and improved vacform canopies in PETG (two copies), so yellowing won't be an issue. For the Prentice its likely all the previously metal parts will come in resin, probably the same for the MB.5 with maybe the exception of the u/c legs, as they are too fine to cast in resin, and probably too extravagant to cast in brass.

There is potential to do a Hornet improvement set, and perhaps a conversion for the naval variants, although discussions with AZ when they released the Hornet suggested the Sea Hornet would follow. John Adams has provided new drawings, but I doubt many would be in the market for super accurate resin Hornet family, as the AZ kit is overall not too bad. I did thing to at least cast up some white metal u/c and props as a generic improvement for any Hornet kit so far released. Maybe also do some beefed up engines for the AZ kits.

The Hunter masters are quite different to the other kits, being carved from polyurethane model board. this seems to be the reason for the lack of surface detail, as it's difficult to scribe into. The early injection moulded kit masters are machined mostly from perspex, all the detail parts are brass. The WWI kits are mainly built up from plastic card like a scratch build, with a fair amount of brass added. The Hunter T.7 might make a good donor for a two seat conversion for the Revell kit, although there is no shortage of competition. The Xtrakit nose just looks odd.     

Colin
       

All the Skybirds Hornets (and I have them all) came with the naval attachments moulded in ie the wing folds/hinges and hook attachment points are all there, the modeller was told to take them off and fill them in for the F1/3/4.

[Freightdog862]

I would like a set of the A-4 C noses please Colin. The Hawker Siddley HS.125 COD conversion and a Hunter F.4 conversion set. Any or all of those would make me happy Colin.

Gondor

Hi Gondor, I will have Hunter F.4 sets, and hopefully some HS.125 COD sets cast up in time.

Colin

[The Wooksta!]

One thing Hornet that could be another revenue stream - canopies, using the Skybirds ones as a basis.  The solitary example in those kits would have gone a wonderful shade of gold now - many of mine have. Ditto the Magna ones and the Special Hobby ones were the wrong shape.

That sodding great casting in the MB5 that Kit refers to is one of the causes of the undercarriage sagging with time as it's so heavy.

[PR19_Kit]

That sodding great casting in the MB5 that Kit refers to is one of the causes of the undercarriage sagging with time as it's so heavy.

You're NOT kidding! 

[scautomoton]

@Freightdog862 - will you be producing any of the 72-006 Anti-flash roundels and codes in time for Telford? I've spoken to at least one other person who's hunting for some.

[Leading Observer]

@Freightdog862 - will you be producing any of the 72-006 Anti-flash roundels and codes in time for Telford? I've spoken to at least one other person who's hunting for some.

[The Wooksta!]

Try the Fantasy Printshop website.  They had some. As that's where I got mine a few years back.

[Freightdog862]

@Freightdog862 - will you be producing any of the 72-006 Anti-flash roundels and codes in time for Telford? I've spoken to at least one other person who's hunting for some.

Sadly not, that was one of my earlier sheets but a few minor errors crept in. Nothing important, but I want to fix them before reprinting, maybe next year. The only new decal be my FAA Brits at Sea Pt.3 sheet, which just arrived from the Fantasy Printshop. Real world FAA post-war subjects, but feel free to use them on whatever you want to.     
 

[Freightdog862]

This year at Telford I will again be sponsoring a small competition on the What-If stand. This will be slightly different than in previous years. Firstly it will be open to all models on the table, not just those with Freightdog parts on them. Secondly, the Elder Statesman of the SIG, PR19_Kit has graciously agreed to judge, along with Dominic McEvoy.

As per last year, two prizes will be given, one for technical build, and one for originality, meaning you don't have to have the model on the table to win one of the prizes. The prize will be a selection of goodies, to be given on the Sunday afternoon.

My thanks to our Glorious Leader for giving his approval.

Colin           

[Gondor]

I will have with me a part started/finished model and will have the backstory, which is complete, in printed form. Would that be eligible considering that the backstory has links to web pages in it to the various equipment used in the aircraft?

Gondor

[scautomoton]

Try the Fantasy Printshop website.  They had some. As that's where I got mine a few years back.

All out of stock unfortunately.

[Pellson]

This year at Telford I will again be sponsoring a small competition on the What-If stand. This will be slightly different than in previous years. Firstly it will be open to all models on the table, not just those with Freightdog parts on them. Secondly, the Elder Statesman of the SIG, PR19_Kit has graciously agreed to judge, along with Dominic McEvoy.

As per last year, two prizes will be given, one for technical build, and one for originality, meaning you don't have to have the model on the table to win one of the prizes. The prize will be a selection of goodies, to be given on the Sunday afternoon.

My thanks to our Glorious Leader for giving his approval.

Colin           

In particular, I do like the second category. Very well thought, and very much in line with what makes me so comfortable in this whiffing environment! 
It's a shame I won't be able to travel this year either(!), but I am most eagerly looking forward to loads of photos and stories on this site after the event.