A couple of models finished

[SlipStream77]

Here's the Revell 1/72 Supermarine Walrus. I started it around the time of the first PH GB as the Tempest didn't quite inspire me enough.









It was a relatively simple build, although there is quite a lot of rigging, I completed it using 5amp fuse wire attached with PVA.

Thanks to several PHers for advice with varnishing with Klear, it turns out that brushing it over an unmasked canopy isn't a problem. However the whole airframe required several coats as the first few had an inconsistent satin/gloss finish and I still couldn't get it to self level very well.

The Walrus will be put into a diorama (hence the wheels are up) so the gloss finish represents the water on the surface.

ETA The Walrus also has custom made roundels and fin flashes.

This is Airfix's 1/48 Jaguar GR3.











The Jaguar took a long time to complete as I had the paintwork complete and some decals on when I decided that the grey was too dark. I then decided I wasn't happy with some panel gaps and the wings were removed and refitted.

Having repainted the whole airframe I also decided to create my own decals for the roundels, fin flashes, registration and squadron insignia. They were created using a vector program called Inkscape and I used Expert's Choice decal paper.

The paper is quite thin so some colours such as yellow show up too dark when place on dark paintwork so I placed white decals underneath. These have to be cut to exactly the right size and are the reason for very slight white edges on some of the roundels. I may print some others to go over the top to tidy them up.

I'm quite pleased with the models overall, I now have a Revell 1/48 Foxbat on my desk, it's taking up a lot of space.

[perdu]

Well done with making the decals yourself, hmm, I have Inkscape too

Both of these are high on my "to-do" list, I have to say they look fabulous

That looks like a very well done Shagbat, brilliant.



edit for spelling

Edited by perdu on Saturday 21st May 09:24

[Eric Mc]

Lovely stuff. The old Shagbat is one of my "must do" models. Matchbox exelled with their 1930s biplanes and it was great to se Revell re-issue this one.

[dr_gn]

Great looking models! I think the Walrus would look even better in overall matt, but that's personal preference.

I bought a Walrus too, in anticipation of the Group Build, but went for the Tempest instead.

[SlipStream77]

Thanks for the compliments, when the diorama is complete I will post some more photos of the Walrus.

I agree it does look better in matt but the diorama is to show it having just landed on a roughish sea, I think most of the aircraft would have been pretty wet.

I'm still working through the 'British camo jets', Tornado, Harrier and Jaguar done, I have a Lightning and a Canberra in my stash. Thats leaves Hawk, Buccaneer, Hunter, Meteor, Vampire, Javelin...

I need to buy some shelves.

[Eric Mc]

SlipStream77 said:

Thanks for the compliments, when the diorama is complete I will post some more photos of the Walrus.

I agree it does look better in matt but the diorama is to show it having just landed on a roughish sea, I think most of the aircraft would have been pretty wet.

I'm still working through the 'British camo jets', Tornado, Harrier and Jaguar done, I have a Lightning and a Canberra in my stash. Thats leaves Hawk, Buccaneer, Hunter, Meteor, Vampire, Javelin...

I need to buy some shelves.

Have a search for some shots of Walruses sitting on the sea. There are plenty about. I think you will find that they don't look particularly glossy.


There aircraft were worked very hard in very tough conditions so their colours were very battered and worn looking.

[perdu]

Eric Mc said:

SlipStream77 said:

Thanks for the compliments, when the diorama is complete I will post some more photos of the Walrus.

I agree it does look better in matt but the diorama is to show it having just landed on a roughish sea, I think most of the aircraft would have been pretty wet.

I'm still working through the 'British camo jets', Tornado, Harrier and Jaguar done, I have a Lightning and a Canberra in my stash. Thats leaves Hawk, Buccaneer, Hunter, Meteor, Vampire, Javelin...

I need to buy some shelves.

Have a search for some shots of Walruses sitting on the sea. There are plenty about. I think you will find that they don't look particularly glossy.


There aircraft were worked very hard in very tough conditions so their colours were very battered and worn looking.

Great Shagbat as I said but for the glossy look I am in agreement with Eric. Seaplanes rarely LOOK wet

There're lots of pictures of all kinds of seaplanes on water

I would enhance this fine model with a light spray of Hmbrol Matt 49 varnish on its uppersides to tone down the "wetlook" myself

None of which takes away how well you have made it though

I wish I'd done mine first...

[dr_gn]

perdu said:

Eric Mc said:

SlipStream77 said:

Thanks for the compliments, when the diorama is complete I will post some more photos of the Walrus.

I agree it does look better in matt but the diorama is to show it having just landed on a roughish sea, I think most of the aircraft would have been pretty wet.

I'm still working through the 'British camo jets', Tornado, Harrier and Jaguar done, I have a Lightning and a Canberra in my stash. Thats leaves Hawk, Buccaneer, Hunter, Meteor, Vampire, Javelin...

I need to buy some shelves.

Have a search for some shots of Walruses sitting on the sea. There are plenty about. I think you will find that they don't look particularly glossy.


There aircraft were worked very hard in very tough conditions so their colours were very battered and worn looking.

I would enhance this fine model with a light spray of Hmbrol Matt 49 varnish on its uppersides to tone down the "wetlook" myself

None of which takes away how well you have made it though

Same here. If they really did get that uniformly wet, then I'd call a matt finish modeller's license.

I'd have compromised with satin if it really was that important to have a wet finish, or patches of gloss in strategic areas. I think when it's in the diorama it will still look like a gloss coated model rather than a wet model.

[SlipStream77]

I think you may be right, after watching some videos, the top wing doesn't appear to get much spray, I will give some thought to a light satin or matt coat on the upper surfaces.

One thing I should mention for those thinking about building it is that the struts that join the engine cowling to the wing are very fragile, so care needs to be taken at the filling/sanding stage.

Thanks for the advice.

[Meoricin]

I must admit, I had similar thoughts to the others when I saw the first plane. Couldn't it be raining, though? The diorama I have pictured in my head for that would be it just touching down on a very dark and choppy sea, with a rather large bow wave in white.

Then again, I'm not really a fan of realism when it comes to these sorts of things, my imagined image would probably be closer to a crash than a landing if it were to be attempted in real life.

Either way, kits both look excellent.

[SlipStream77]

Meoricin said:

I must admit, I had similar thoughts to the others when I saw the first plane. Couldn't it be raining, though? The diorama I have pictured in my head for that would be it just touching down on a very dark and choppy sea, with a rather large bow wave in white.

Then again, I'm not really a fan of realism when it comes to these sorts of things, my imagined image would probably be closer to a crash than a landing if it were to be attempted in real life.

Either way, kits both look excellent.

Thanks, yes I did consider it could be raining.
The Walrus could land in pretty rough seas (for a seaplane), but on a calm sea the top wing appears to stay reasonably dry.

If you search on Youtube for "Royal Navy Walrus", there are a couple of clips that show landings.

I think I may compromise and make the surface of the diorama quite rough but also tone down the glossiness of the model in a few areas.

[Eric Mc]

Often the recovering ship would steam in a circle to create a section of calmer water for the seaplane to alight.