Constanza 1:72 Scale Slingsby T67M firefly

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The last thing I built (twice) was a Tamiya Tiger II 1:16 Tank, with lots of nice scale bits on it (sadly the demise of photo bucket has killed the thread) and a Revel 1:25 2006 Mustang GT (again thread killed by Photo Bucket).

I mentioned on robemcdonald's thread about his Revell Corvette C7.R build that I fancied making something again to be told "go for it", but what to build. Then I had a brainwave, I wonder if somebody makes a scale kit of the Slingsby T67M Firefly and after a bit of googling I found this:

T67M kit

So i ordered it. The bonus is I regularly fly a real T67M (Mk.1) so I have access to the real aircraft and this kit comes with Mk.1 and Mk.2 parts so I will build a scale version of G-BKTZ:

Refuelling the Firefly by Matt Moxon, on Flickr

IMG_3018 by Matt Moxon, on Flickr

WP_20170513_15_05_56_Pro__highres by Matt Moxon, on Flickr

It is a resin kit which is not (other than a few detail bits on the Tiger II) something I have modelled with before.

As soon as it arrives I will post some pictures of the unboxing and look at getting the required primer, paints and some inkjet decal sheets to make the custom decals - watch this space.

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I got the kit today and had a look in the box; not a lot and quite small but then its a 1:72 scale model of a GA aircraft so it isn't going to be huge.



I misread the description, so I have ordered the detail kit with the right cowl and one piece canopy so I can put the right version together.

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Yes its pretty small, I would have preferred a 1:48 but this was the only one I could find.

I remember building a 1:72 Sopwith Camel in my teens; not sure what happened to the model, but yes it was tiny.

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I removed all of the parts I will need for the build and filed off the moulding flash and did a bit of sanding.

The initial fit is no worse than any airfix kit than I have encountered. I need to stop by that the model shop for some epoxy, fresh filler and some super glue as well as the paints I will need.

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kurt535 said:

Hi...was looking at your panel; where does the 8.33 fit? busy place!

There is a fair bit going on! The 8.33 will replace COMM1 when it is fitted in the not so distant future.

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I have finally made a start on this model. Its still early days yet, fuselage has been filed sanded and glued together. So far I have only fitted the rear bulkhead and the instrument panel to it (they would have been a nightmare to do after the fact) and filed off some of the excess epoxy holding it together.



And an SD card for scale:


once the glue has dried there will be more sanding, some filling and some more sanding before the inside of the cockpit is painted (satin black to reflect the real aircraft) then the wings can go on and I can build the interior).

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Just so you know, this project hasn't died, its still alive and well. I can only paint in the garage and as it is unheated its way too cold to be messing with an airbrush at the moment, some final fettling to do with fine sandpaper here and there.

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Eric Mc said:

Keep at it.

I'm interested in how this turns out.

I will be, it is my first ever totally resin kit, it has been an education so far as I have only built one other small scale model in the past 15 years and that was the 1:24 Mustang to represent my current (outgoing) car). No pins to locate anything, lots of sanding and cleaning up to do.

The moulded lines for the control surfaces etc are nice and sharp from the factory and as long as I don't get overzealous with the airbrush should remain so.

it might be a few months before any real progress is made, the temperature might come up eventually

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dr_gn said:

Canopy looks badly frosted - if it’s vacformed, you can polish it, and dip it in Klear. Canopies can make or break a model like that, since so much detail can be seen through them in real life.

Unfortunately it is. It appears to be clear resin as it came on a moulded sprue, rather than being vac formed.

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dr_gn said:

You could probably still polish it. Clear resin cast canopies are usually much more transparent than that.

Sadly it is already glued in place so I could give it a go on the outside but the inside is now permanently foggy.

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dr_gn said:

What glue did you use on the canopy?

Epoxy

El stovey said:

3 months and this is it?

The mosquito build thread was much better. Just stop sanding it till it’s all gone and get on with it.

Forgot to update the thread