GB Airfix Tempest: EMcL

GB Airfix Tempest: EMcL

Author
Discussion

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,227 posts

267 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
Academy have been accused in the past of copying other manufacturers moulds - including the errors older mouldings may have contained.
At the end of the day, I don't suppose any model company can put any sort of restriction on this approach to manufacturing - after all - if anyone holds a copyright on the shape of a particular aircraft, it would be the original airframe manufacturer - who may not even exist anymore. Indeed, the original model manufacturer may not exist anymore either.
The position of copyrighting and royalties on models and decal sheets is quite complex and messy and you can see how some manufacturers sometimes try and get around these issues by not mentioning the original manufacturer of the original aircraft. Trumpeter's Gannet comes to mind.

As for Mr Surfacer, I used No.1200.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,227 posts

267 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
The fuselage has been given a primer coat of Tamiya Grey Primer and lightly rubbed down.

Next step is to start spraying those parts of the fuselage that will need to be white i.e. the white areas for the D-Day stripes and undercoat for the yellow leading edge ID markings, the propellor spinner and the propellor tips.

I have Blue Tacked the undercariage doors into place as they can act as mask when spraying the white (and black areas).

I managed to snap off the moulded on aerial mast (which was always likely) - most pre-moulded bits like this hardly ever survive the sanding and general handling involved in building a kit.


MilnerR

8,273 posts

260 months

Monday 7th February 2011
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
I managed to snap off the moulded on aerial mast (which was always likely) - most pre-moulded bits like this hardly ever survive the sanding and general handling involved in building a kit.
Coming along nicely Eric, glad it's not just me that managed to snap the aerial off!

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,227 posts

267 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
Progress report - no pictures due to camera batteries being flat.

Areas to be white (D-Day stripes, wing leading edge - undercoat for yellow) sprayed.
Wing leading edge ID strip painted yellow.
Undercarriage components and wheels painted aluminium and a dark wash applied.

Vacform canopy cut out (a nerve-racking process), masked and interior green framing sprayed.

And er... that's it since last weekend.

I might go back to one of my earlier projects and try and finish it off (a "simple" Hobbyboss P-40)

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,227 posts

267 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
Camera still out of action.

D-Day stripes masked and painted. Camouflage scheme up next.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,227 posts

267 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2011
quotequote all
Finally got some batteries in the camera.

This is the current state of my Airfix Tempest.




dr_gn

16,196 posts

186 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2011
quotequote all
How come you've done the stripes first?

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,227 posts

267 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2011
quotequote all
It's the way I do it. Because of the white, I like to get white down first. I know that's not how it was done in most cases in WW2 but it worked when I did my Mossie a while ago so I thought I'd try the same technique.

In fact, Beamont had his stripes applied at the Hawker factory at Langley - it was delivered new to his squadron fresh from the factory with the stripes already applied - so they may have done them that way for real.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,227 posts

267 months

Saturday 26th February 2011
quotequote all
Progress so far.

Next up will be to spray with some Johnson's and then paint the exhaust ports followed by decalling.



Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,227 posts

267 months

Sunday 27th February 2011
quotequote all
No piccies today but decalling now completed.

Will give the model another coat of Klear to blend in the decals followed by a coat of Xtracrylic matt varnish.

I left the propellor assembly off to the end as I am not concerned about whether my props spin or not so it is more convenient to leave them off until final assembly.

dr_gn

16,196 posts

186 months

Sunday 27th February 2011
quotequote all
Looking nearly finished. Amazing how much difference a few small decals make to the end result.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,227 posts

267 months

Sunday 27th February 2011
quotequote all
I'm actually very pleased with the progress so far. The Airfix decals were NOT the best with some of them being out of register. I ended up using a mixture of the kit sheet and some generic RAF WW2 decals that I have as a standby.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,227 posts

267 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
Finito - as far as I'm concerned.

I've really enjoyed this GB and will be up for another one.






Red Firecracker

5,279 posts

229 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
Cracking job, Eric.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,227 posts

267 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
Thank you.

Shar2

2,222 posts

215 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
She looks smashing Eric, nice work.

dr_gn

16,196 posts

186 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
Agreed, it's a lovely model. Well done Eric.

perdu

4,884 posts

201 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
Eric this is lovely

It is obvious that the model far surpasses the old Frog Typhoon in quality and your handling of the subject is great.

Definite

HIT

thumbup

SlipStream77

2,153 posts

193 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
Excellent work.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,227 posts

267 months

Thursday 24th March 2011
quotequote all
Many thanks for the compliments gents.

I'm already mulling over what my next project will be. I've been looking at my ex-FROG A W Whitley bomber which would be a bit of a challenge to turn into something half respectable.