1:72 Airfix Bristol Bulldog

1:72 Airfix Bristol Bulldog

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dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
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I’m currently struggling with an atrocious Cyber Hobby Helldiver, so I decided to start this Classsic Airfix kit (1969) as some light relief. I picked it up at Telford last year for a few quid. Still a great moulding, particularly the engine and fuselage, it’s going to be re-released soon I believe:



Decals are probably dead, so I got some new ones:





Also got an instrument panel:



Plan is to add a few small refinements, maybe bare metal foil for the forward fuselage, but keep it pretty much standard. Last time I built one of these was in the late ‘70’s, and I still remember it looked pretty good even unpainted.

Halmyre

11,148 posts

138 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
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Out of curiosity, how many projects do you have on the go at any one time? It must be in double figures.

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
quotequote all
Halmyre said:
Out of curiosity, how many projects do you have on the go at any one time? It must be in double figures.
Nearly double figures:

Plastic kits - 4
Paper kits - 1
Model engines - 2
Classic cars - 1
General engineering stuff - 1

Just won a Wilesco steam road roller off EBay to restore too

They all get done eventually.

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
quotequote all
Proper old school instructions (perfectly good):







Of course, there’s a stand (which I might use, although the pilot is a bit of a blob):



The engine is a highlight of the kit:



Builds into something easily comparable with modern kits:



Fuselage also looks good, it features different textures for the aluminium and fabric, fine raised panel lines, stitching and rivets:



Most of the work will be improving the cockpit I think. Everything else is there, just needs a bit of refinement in places.

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Monday 21st October 2019
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One of my favourite Airfix "classics".

Yertis

18,016 posts

265 months

Monday 21st October 2019
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I think I'll not bother trying to complete any models of my own, I'll just follow the dr's threads on here... frown

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
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Experimented a bit with BMF this evening. This is Matte Aluminium, I think the Chrome I’ve got on order might be better:


dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Thursday 31st October 2019
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Now to scratch build the cockpit from the spares box..

.

generationx

6,645 posts

104 months

Thursday 31st October 2019
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Another lovely little project - are you going to "rig" it? This is the bit that always scares me away from "string-bags".

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Thursday 31st October 2019
quotequote all
generationx said:
Another lovely little project - are you going to "rig" it? This is the bit that always scares me away from "string-bags".
Yes, I’ve got a method that makes it really easy.

lufbramatt

5,318 posts

133 months

Thursday 31st October 2019
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Rigging isn't too difficult, I managed to rig a 1/144 Dragon Rapide. Various ways of doing it, either with stretchy thread or drill through the wing completely, glue one end of the thread and "sew" the line through the model to keep it tight. Once the glue has set cut/sand off the excess and touch in the paint. I'm sure there's many other techniques too but as long as you're methodical it's perfectly manageable.

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Thursday 31st October 2019
quotequote all
The key for me is to use elastic thread (ez-line or similar), then:

1) pre-drill shallow holes for the thread.

2) put a dot of cyano in the hole

3) dip the end of the thread in accelerator.

4) put the thread in the hole.

That way it sticks instantly so you’re not left holding a piece of stretched elastic thread for 10 minutes.

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Friday 1st November 2019
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Made a start on the cockpit spaceframe, at least the bits that will be visible from the outside:


dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Sunday 3rd November 2019
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Bit more work on the cockpit - spaceframe just needs detailing with scrap p/e and bits from the spares box:



The upper wing is unusual in that it’s in three overlapping pieces. Seemed to fit ok so hopefully there will be no issues later:

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It needs thinning a bit, and I’ll probably split the ailerons to add a bit of interest.

Edited by dr_gn on Sunday 3rd November 22:05

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Sunday 10th November 2019
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Bit more work on the cockpit - scratchbuilt some rudder pedals, and found a trim wheel, control column and throttle quadrant from the spares box. The belts look ok even though they are for WW2 Luftwaffe aircraft. Also added some stiffeners to the cockpit sides:


dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Friday 15th November 2019
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Decided to remove the raised panel lines on the forward fuselage (top image). I’ll replace them with scribed lines which will ultimately make a panel line wash much easier.


Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Saturday 16th November 2019
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Lovely work as usual.

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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Removed the ailerons, and flatted the fabric detail a bit off the upper wing. Plenty of filler required in that 3-piece assembly...




dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
quotequote all
The lower wing doesnt need much work - it has a very thin trailing edge. Just some bomb rack holes to fill. Made a start on re-scribing the fuselage. Also separated the elevators and dropped them a bit:


72twink

963 posts

241 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
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I see the Bulldog lives on as it’s down for December re-release - good news for all those inspired by your build!