Latest Model Production

[Eric Mc]

Although PH has a dedicated Scale Model section, these days it seems to be mainly [populated by fans of RC and die-cast cars and RC helicopters. So, for the aviation fans, here's some of my latest models.


I've been threatening to post up some pics of my models for a while - so here are few of my most recent builds. They are all to 1/72 scale.

FROG/Novo English Electric Canberra B(I)8







Airfix Hawker P1127



[url]

Airfix Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR3






Hobbyboss Hawker Hurricane II




Hobbyboss Focke Wulf Fw190D



PM Focke Wulf Ta183

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

Although PH has a dedicated Scale Model section, these days it seems to be mainly [populated by fans of RC and die-cast cars and RC helicopters. So, for the aviation fans, here's some of my latest models.


I've been threatening to post up some pics of my models for a while - so here are few of my most recent builds. They are all to 1/72 scale.

FROG/Novo English Electric Canberra B(I)8

Great effort Eric, particularly the Canberra and Harrier. Airfix and Novo are not the easiest models to build, but yours look very nicely finished. I am currently building the Airfix HMS Victory (long story). It's driving me mad!

Might post a few of my efforts too.

Keep up the good work,

Cheers,

Edited by dr_gn on Saturday 20th June 21:52

[Eric Mc]

Thanks for the comments.

I particularly enjoyed building the Canberra.

I had originally built this model back in 1972 when it was first released by FROG. FROG kits went together quite well although they nearly always lacked any meaningful internal detail - but that was the norm back then.

FROG went bust in 1976 and the moulds ended up in the Soviet Union. Initially, the Soviet produced kits were marketed in the UK as Novo kits. They weren't that different to the original FROG moulding but the plastic used was softer and less crisp in detail.

After about 1980, the supply of Novo models dried up. Occasionally, you could lay your hands on these ex-FROG/Novo models in their Soviet market boxings. These versions were much poorer - the artwork on the box was crude, the decals unuseable and the instruction sheets on really poor quality paper. In addition, the plastic used was really brittle and liable to crack and split.

The Canberra in these pictures is one of these 1980s Soviet versions. I had to be really careful putting it together.

The decals are not from the kit but good quality transfers produced by Model Alliance.

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

Thanks for the comments.

I particularly enjoyed building the Canberra.

I had originally built this model back in 1972 when it was first released by FROG. FROG kits went together quite well although they nearly always lacked any meaningful internal detail - but that was the norm back then.

FROG went bust in 1976 and the moulds ended up in the Soviet Union. Initially, the Soviet produced kits were marketed in the UK as Novo kits. They weren't that different to the original FROG moulding but the plastic used was softer and less crisp in detail.

After about 1980, the supply of Novo models dried up. Occasionally, you could lay your hands on these ex-FROG/Novo models in their Soviet market boxings. These versions were much poorer - the artwork on the box was crude, the decals unuseable and the instruction sheets on really poor quality paper. In addition, the plastic used was really brittle and liable to crack and split.

The Canberra in these pictures is one of these 1980s Soviet versions. I had to be really careful putting it together.

The decals are not from the kit but good quality transfers produced by Model Alliance.

Eric,

Agreed. I have a soft spot for Frog models. My Dad used to get me them and they were always a bit special. These days I like Revell and Tamiya. The first couple of models I ever built (with help!) were a Revell Stearman and an SE5a, when I was about 4. I recently managed to get hold of the original '60's kits off EBay and built them again. Here are a few of my best efforts:

SE5a



Stearman



Boeing X32A



Lama



A380



Honda



Leyton House



And something you might appreciate more: over the years I collected a lot of old 'Dinky Toys' Aircraft and refurbished them (made my own decals too where necessary). I made some dispaly cases and hung them in my office. The 1930's flying boats in the left case look the best I think. The models date from 1934 (DH Leopard Moth) to 1965 (Javelin, Caravelle etc). Not worth a great deal because I have refurbished most of them.



Cheers.

Edited by dr_gn on Saturday 20th June 23:05

[Eric Mc]

Very nice.

The latest Revell Germany kits are pretty good - amongst the best out there.

Some of theor old stuff is worth digging out even today. I made their old SE5A as well back in the 70s I suppose.

[Nicholas Blair]

Is that a Tamiya 1/20 Leyton House - built it back in the aerly 90's - great model, as are all of them.

[speedchick]

We have 2 A380s hanging from our ceiling at the moment, one in the Airbus fleet (Guppy, 330, 340 and 380) that one is in the original Airbus colours, the one on the other side of the room (next to the 1.72 Concorde) is in Emirates scheme.

We seem to have a collection of ships on the go at the moment, all of them Queens! (and a TSR2)

[dr_gn]

Nicholas Blair said:

Is that a Tamiya 1/20 Leyton House - built it back in the aerly 90's - great model, as are all of them.

Yes it is, I have most of them and a 1:12 scale McLaren. They were from back when I was dead keen on F1. They are good models.

Cheers,

[Evangelion]

Still have that 1/20 scale Leyton House in the loft. One day I'll dig it out and build it. Plus the rest of the several dozen other kits up there.

Edited by Evangelion on Sunday 28th June 15:15

[dr_gn]

Evangelion said:

Still have that 1/20 scale Leyton House in the loft. One day I'll dig it out and build it. Plus the rest of the several dozen other kits up there.

Edited by Evangelion on Sunday 28th June 15:15

It's a good model. Mine is the wrong colour though: far too pale. I picked a piece of correctly coloured Leyton House duct tape up from an F1 test session just in case Tamiya made a model of it. They did of course, but by then I'd lost the tape, so I guessed the colour. When I found the sample months later it was a completely different shade! Unless you saw them side by side you wouldn't know unless you were an expert though.

Cheers,

[jr@]

fantastic eric, would you ever build a model for someone else at cost, as there is a canberra that has a certain historic/sentlemental value for a member of out family, but i would never be able to do it justice, if there is indeed a kit out there to recreat it in the first place ?

[Eric Mc]

Sorry lads - there is a Scale Model Forum for displaying models. I just posted up a couple of my aircraft models here because this is the "Plane" forum and I thought that the aircarft enthusiast contingent on PH might be interested - especially if they don't visit the Scale Model forum on a regular basis.
If you all start posting up your F1 and other non-aircraft stuff on this thread then it will get transferred over to the Scale Model forum which was precisely what I DIDN'T want to happen.

The problem with the Scale Model forun is that at least 60% to 70% of the items discussed over there aren't actually Scale Models but rather Tamiya buggies and RC helicopters.

I know, I know, I find all this Sub-Fora stuff very exasperating too.

[Eric Mc]

jr@ said:

fantastic eric, would you ever build a model for someone else at cost, as there is a canberra that has a certain historic/sentlemental value for a member of out family, but i would never be able to do it justice, if there is indeed a kit out there to recreat it in the first place ?

I don't really want to go down the route of making models for other people -


i) I don't think I'm that good really

ii) it would become too much like work

Up until a few years ago, Canberra models were fairly rare and rather ancient.

There was a Canberra PR3 made by FROG in the late 1950s
FROG released their much better B(I)8 in 1972 (the model depicted)
Airfix did a B6 in 1974 but got the nose shape all wrong
Airfix redid the B6 as a Martin B-57 around 1980 which was much better
Matchbox did a nice but basic PR9 around 1979
Italeri have done a nice B-57 as well

Since the early 2000s High Planes in Australia have produced a whole slew of limited run injection moulded Canberras which are nice - but difficult to build.

Xtrakit (Hannants) released a lovely PR9 about two years ago.
Airfix are running through new production 1/48 scale Canberras at the moment and they are gorgeous.
They are releasing a new mould 1/72 B(I)8 and PR9 very soon. That was one of the reasons why I was keen to build the old FROG kit before it was superseded by the new Airfix B(I)8.

I can't wait for Airfix to release early Canberras from their new 1/72 toolings (B2/B6/T4/PR3/PR7)

Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 28th June 16:04

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

Sorry lads - there is a Scale Model Forum for displaying models. I just posted up a couple of my aircraft models here because this is the "Plane" forum and I thought that the aircarft enthusiast contingent on PH might be interested - especially if they don't visit the Scale Model forum on a regular basis.
If you all start posting up your F1 and other non-aircraft stuff on this thread then it will get transferred over to the Scale Model forum which was precisely what I DIDN'T want to happen.

The problem with the Scale Model forun is that at least 60% to 70% of the items discussed over there aren't actually Scale Models but rather Tamiya buggies and RC helicopters.

I know, I know, I find all this Sub-Fora stuff very exasperating too.

OK Understood, I've moved the last ones to the Scale Models Forum,

Cheers,

[dr_gn]

jr@ said:

fantastic eric, would you ever build a model for someone else at cost, as there is a canberra that has a certain historic/sentlemental value for a member of out family, but i would never be able to do it justice, if there is indeed a kit out there to recreat it in the first place ?

I don't suppose, by pure luck, it would be one of the Corgi diecast ones?











There are others, do a Google search for 'Corgi Canberra'. Pictures don't really do these models justice. If you don't want to build a kit, IMHO for the money, you can't beat them. I'd be very happy to receive one as a present.

Hope this helps.

Edited by dr_gn on Sunday 28th June 20:59

Edited by dr_gn on Sunday 28th June 21:03

[deviant]

How does one paint very fine things like the lines on the canopy of an aircraft?

[Xenocide]

deviant said:

How does one paint very fine things like the lines on the canopy of an aircraft?

With a small brush and a steady hand!

[deviant]

Lol...Thought as much. I was just hoping that there is an easier way or a special trick to it.

[Eric Mc]

deviant said:

How does one paint very fine things like the lines on the canopy of an aircraft?

There are a few techniques.

As mentioned, a small brush and a steady hand is one method - but it is very difficult to get clean, sharp lines using that method.
If the canopy has well defined frame lines, then freehand painting MIGHT give a reasonable result. However, many kits have very faint frame outline marks and freehand painting will not really work on canopies like this.

Some people use strips of painted decal film to frame their canopies.and this technique can work quite well, but I personally find it fiddly and not terribly satisfactory.
An alternative technique is to use painted Sellotape/Scotch Tape. This also works but tends to leave unrealistic lines where frame sections overlap.

The best method is to properly mask up the clear parts of the canopy using Tamiya tape, leaving only the framed areas exposed. The canopy is then glued to the body of the aircraft using a strong PVA glue. Once set, I then paint some Johnson Klear (Future in the US) over the canopy. This helps ensure a proper seal between the edge of the tape and prevents bleeding of paint under the tape. After the Klear has dried, the canopy area is sprayed with the interior cockpit colour. Once THAT has dried, the entire aircraft is spray painted in the normal way. Finally, the masking can be removed CAREFULLY from the canopy and, hopefully, nice clean frames will emerge.

To be honest, canopy painting has been the bane of my modelling life for years but the discovery of the latter method very recently (thanks to Aussie modeller, Brett Green)) hasd revolutionised the look of my canopies.
If you go to his website (Hyperscale) you will see plenty of examples of how he does canopies.

The main drawback of this technique is the tedious task of masking up the canopy - especially on heavilly framed canopies which feature lots of panes. One has to be very careful in cutting and placing the tape. You really need to make sure you use an absolutely brand new modelling knife blade. My favourite is a No.11 Swann Morton blade.
The model I am working on at the moment is just such a multi cockpit panel aircraft - a 1/72 scale Fairey Fulmar. But I have to say, the technique worked a treat.

Life has been made somewhat easier in recent years by the introduction of precut canopy masks by manufacturers such as Eduard. I have a few of these waiting in the wings to be used but so far I haven't had the opportunity to use a set yet. By all accounts, they work very well.

Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 2nd July 08:34

[mrmaggit]

Pave to say I agree with Eric. There is so much on Scale Models which would be better served in its own "Radio Control Toys" section, and leave the Scale Model to stuff that really is Scale Modelling, be it cars, trains, planes, boats or dioramas.