Pistonheads build off???

[Eric Mc]

Much as I am a bit of an Airfix fan I would steer well away from the Airfix Starter Sets. Although some of the models contained within are OK, Airfix do tend to put some of their oldest, tiredest kits in these sets and I would not touch them. Also, the paints supplied are poor and are not worth using, apart from from maybe painting small components like undercarriage legs, control columns - not that many starter set kits contain control columns.

The newer Airfix kits are much better - and the cheap Revell models are, by and large, very good little models, Be aware, however, that Revell, like Airfix, have a very old back catalogue of models so you do need to be aware of a Revell model's provenance if you do not want to be caught out by an old clunker. For example, Revells 1/72 P-51D Mustang dates from around 1963, so is definitely not state of the aet, whereas their P-651B is a nice, modern kit. Both retail at around the same price.

[dr_gn]

What might be good to level the playing field a bit would be to ban airbrushes for the first build.

[DavidY]

I think we have lot of good ideas here:-

1) Intro Revell Kit
2) No Commercial PE
3) No Airbrushing (thats good for me as I haven't got one!)
4) Greater than one month build

So what we need is the first kit and an ongoing thread of participants

[Eric Mc]

All sounds good to me. Now, which of the myriad cheap Revell kits in my stash should I suggest?

[Zaxxon]

No airbrushing puts me out, why would I cock up a model by just using brushes?

Edited by Zaxxon on Thursday 6th January 11:09

[Eric Mc]

Zaxxon said:

No airbrushing puts me out, why would I cock up a model by just using brushes?

Edited by Zaxxon on Thursday 6th January 11:09

Surely you can handle the old hairy stick? If you are working on a basic sub £7-£8 kit, then, in the interest of PH togetherness, I expect you could risk sacrificing your normal standards.

I've been getting into airbrushing over the past three/four years but returning to old style basics is always worthwhile now and then.

[dr_gn]

Zaxxon said:

No airbrushing puts me out, why would I cock up a model by just using brushes?

Edited by Zaxxon on Thursday 6th January 11:09

If airbrushing is allowed, and it does remain a 'competition', then anyone without an airbrush won't stand a chance.

ETA: Freehand brush painted splinter camo...and it's not a cock-up:

http://gregers.7.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?p=95837...

If you can paint...you can paint.

Edited by dr_gn on Thursday 6th January 11:17

[Yertis]

Eric Mc said:

I've been getting into airbrushing over the past three/four years but returning to old style basics is always worthwhile now and then.

Years and years ago there was a feature to this effect in one of the old defunct plastic aircraft magazines. It is possible to get an excellent effect without using an airbrush, but obviously aircraft are usually spray painted in real life and the feathered effect difficult/impossible to get with a brush.

Fortunately I have in my small stash a Revell 1/72nd Spitfire, so I'm in!

[DieselGriff]

Could I suggest that those with Revell 1:72 aircraft kits in the stash post up which ones they would be interested in doing and then we run a poll of say the first\most popular (if duplicates) 5 to see what would be most popular?

People can then be given say 10-14 days to get kit and the build begins.

I only have one, the Junkers F.13 so can start with that.

[Eric Mc]

I might go with the old 1963 vintage 1/72 Revell Messerschmitt Bf109E.

[Yertis]

DieselGriff said:

Could I suggest that those with Revell 1:72 aircraft kits in the stash post up which ones they would be interested in doing and then we run a poll of say the first\most popular (if duplicates) 5 to see what would be most popular?

People can then be given say 10-14 days to get kit and the build begins.

I only have one, the Junkers F.13 so can start with that.

I think we should just build whatever Revell 1/72 plane comes to hand, it will make it more interesting.

[dr_gn]

DieselGriff said:

Could I suggest that those with Revell 1:72 aircraft kits in the stash post up which ones they would be interested in doing and then we run a poll of say the first\most popular (if duplicates) 5 to see what would be most popular?

People can then be given say 10-14 days to get kit and the build begins.

I only have one, the Junkers F.13 so can start with that.

I've got:

Fokker DVII
SE.5a
PZL PIIc
Nieuport 28
Boeing Kaydett

They are old 1960's originals, and I didn't really want to build them, (plus I recently built duplicates of the SE5a and Kaydett). I think I'd rather have a go at a new model for the sake of £4.50.

And Eric: there's no way I'd do another Bf.109 just yet, it's just...too soon

[DieselGriff]

dr_gn said:

They are old 1960's originals, and I didn't really want to build them, (plus I recently built duplicates of the SE5a and Kaydett). I think I'd rather have a go at a new model for the sake of £4.50.

And Eric: there's no way I'd do another Bf.109 just yet, it's just...too soon

That's why I said they should list those they would be interested in doing - if none then that's fine as well - It was just a way of moving the conversation on.

[Eric Mc]

dr_gn said:

DieselGriff said:

Could I suggest that those with Revell 1:72 aircraft kits in the stash post up which ones they would be interested in doing and then we run a poll of say the first\most popular (if duplicates) 5 to see what would be most popular?

People can then be given say 10-14 days to get kit and the build begins.

I only have one, the Junkers F.13 so can start with that.

I've got:

Fokker DVII
SE.5a
PZL PIIc
Nieuport 28
Boeing Kaydett

They are old 1960's originals, and I didn't really want to build them, (plus I recently built duplicates of the SE5a and Kaydett). I think I'd rather have a go at a new model for the sake of £4.50.

And Eric: there's no way I'd do another Bf.109 just yet, it's just...too soon

I understand.

I bought one of the recent Kaydett re-pops a few weeks ago.
I have a Revell Harvard as well (although that COULD be a Heller Harvard in disguise).

[DieselGriff]

Yertis said:

I think we should just build whatever Revell 1/72 plane comes to hand, it will make it more interesting.

Whilst I don't mind this either I got the impression that we had sort of agreed that doing the same kit would make comparison easier.

[dr_gn]

Yertis said:

DieselGriff said:

Could I suggest that those with Revell 1:72 aircraft kits in the stash post up which ones they would be interested in doing and then we run a poll of say the first\most popular (if duplicates) 5 to see what would be most popular?

People can then be given say 10-14 days to get kit and the build begins.

I only have one, the Junkers F.13 so can start with that.

I think we should just build whatever Revell 1/72 plane comes to hand, it will make it more interesting.

I vote Eric builds the B-17, and I'll build the De Havilland D.H.2

[Eric Mc]

The only B-17 in my stash is the Academy B-17C.

[Zad]

So long as there isn't a prize for "best" does it really matter whether people use brush/airbrush, or choose to use PE/resin? If you are going to get that picky, do we use filler, scratch built parts? For my money, just build it how you build it, enjoy the journey.

Maybe if there are enough people interested we could get free p&p deal from an online store?

[Eric Mc]

I would suggest that it is kept to close "out of the box" condition with limited scratchbuiling (such as cockpit seats, contol panel etc) but no after market resin, photo etch, white metal etc.

Decals could be an issue. By and large, current Revell issue kits have excellent decal sheets - even if kit itself is a bit ropey.

[dr_gn]

Zad said:

So long as there isn't a prize for "best" does it really matter whether people use brush/airbrush, or choose to use PE/resin? If you are going to get that picky, do we use filler, scratch built parts? For my money, just build it how you build it, enjoy the journey.

Maybe if there are enough people interested we could get free p&p deal from an online store?

If it's not a comp, then no, it doesn't matter at all. I'm all for a group build of a specific model, with constructive criticism of the resulting models. I thought that if airbrushing and aftermarket parts were eliminated, then the best features of any particular model would be easily identified and we could learn how it was done. That's not to say that subsequent builds couldn't be different.