Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Rhubarb! The RAF Fighter Command takes the offensive 1941-1944.
Runs 1-30 June.
Tommy
The Bug Has Well And Truly Bitten
Posts: 220
Joined: May 1st, 2011, 3:54 pm

Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by Tommy »

I will jump in with a Revell 1/72 Scale Bell Airacobra Mk.I (P-39) of No 601 Squadron. This aircraft was a short "timer" with 601.

The aircraft I am doing is UF-O Serial AH585.

I have actually started this kit, but only to the stage of cleaning flash off all of the parts and painting some of the small parts. Nothing has actually been assembled yet. I think this is a good opportunity to get going again on this model.

Tommy
Chris

Re: Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by Chris »

Excellent, look forward to seeing it Tommy, and welcome aboard.
Tommy
The Bug Has Well And Truly Bitten
Posts: 220
Joined: May 1st, 2011, 3:54 pm

Re: Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by Tommy »

Thank you Chris!

Here are the initial pictures:
Image

Image

Not shown is the sheet styrene I'll use to hide the lead weights in the nose and the lead weights.

Tommy
Chris

Re: Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by Chris »

I remember that Airacobra kit, one of the better old ones from revell.
User avatar
Softscience
Staring out the window
Posts: 7380
Joined: April 5th, 2011, 4:34 pm
Location: Maryland, near Washington DC

Re: Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by Softscience »

Good choice Tommy. I'm anxious to see more.
User avatar
jssel
Still crazy after all these years
Posts: 11976
Joined: April 5th, 2011, 3:42 pm

Re: Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by jssel »

I always thought that the box art was really cool.
Besting 60 years of mediocre building of average kits in the stand off scale
User avatar
Dirkpitt289
NUMA's Auto Mechanic
Posts: 8722
Joined: May 2nd, 2011, 1:55 am
Location: New jersey USA
Contact:

Re: Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

Nice choice Tommy, Welcome to the Rhubarb Group Build.

I recently built the old Airfix Airacobra into a Russian lend lease bird. I look forward to seeing how the Revell kit compares
.... Dirk

Beware of the DOG's of WAR

My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
Tommy
The Bug Has Well And Truly Bitten
Posts: 220
Joined: May 1st, 2011, 3:54 pm

Re: Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by Tommy »

Thank you guys for the encouragement! :)

The last progress is below:

Image

Image

Image

The last photo shows the fuselage sitting on a "fulcrum" (Xacto Knife) showing the positive effect of the nose weights. There is .5 oz of lead in there which should be enough.

The RAF version had two guns in each wing rather than the gun pods that came with the kit. I made gun barrels from Contrail rod stock.

My version will have the side panel off so the "engine" can be seen. I plan to mount the engine cover panel on a display base so it won't get lost.

I am glad this kit is a CBK and I concur that the box art for this one (No 66) is a classic.

Tommy
User avatar
Dirkpitt289
NUMA's Auto Mechanic
Posts: 8722
Joined: May 2nd, 2011, 1:55 am
Location: New jersey USA
Contact:

Re: Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

Aside from the engine and some other small bits this looks a lot like the Airfix kit. Seeing how you're NOT going to use the under wing guns you're lucky that this kit doesn't have large trenches cut into it that you would have to fill like these. It's not that they are difficult to fill its just time consuming.

Image

One big similarity is the big block of plastic in the wheel bays. AUGH!!!

Image
.... Dirk

Beware of the DOG's of WAR

My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
User avatar
dknights
The Bug Has Well And Truly Bitten
Posts: 212
Joined: May 4th, 2011, 2:41 am

Re: Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by dknights »

I'll be interested to know what you think of the decals. I like those markings.
Tommy
The Bug Has Well And Truly Bitten
Posts: 220
Joined: May 1st, 2011, 3:54 pm

Re: Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by Tommy »

Hi Dirk,

Wow! :shock: I did not know the Airfix kit has those trenches. I am glad I chose the Revell one this time around, however, I'll have to face the Airfix one someday as I have a few in the stash.

On the wheel wells, I'll have to percolate some ideas on that one. Main thing is I'll need to at least make it neat and tidy.

Tommy
Tommy
The Bug Has Well And Truly Bitten
Posts: 220
Joined: May 1st, 2011, 3:54 pm

Re: Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by Tommy »

dknights wrote:I'll be interested to know what you think of the decals. I like those markings.
Hi Dknights,

I love to model RAF aircraft in schemes with the A1 roundels (1940-1942, and late 1930s) so I am really happy to be able to do a 601 Sqn Airacobra. I think these decals will be good as they are Eagle Strike and I have had results with that brand before.

Tommy
User avatar
Dirkpitt289
NUMA's Auto Mechanic
Posts: 8722
Joined: May 2nd, 2011, 1:55 am
Location: New jersey USA
Contact:

Re: Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

Tommy wrote:Hi Dirk,

Wow! :shock: I did not know the Airfix kit has those trenches. I am glad I chose the Revell one this time around, however, I'll have to face the Airfix one someday as I have a few in the stash.

On the wheel wells, I'll have to percolate some ideas on that one. Main thing is I'll need to at least make it neat and tidy.

Tommy
Don't get me wrong Tommy, I thoroughly enjoyed building the Airfix Airacobra. So much that I went out and bought the Heller Airacobra which to my novice eyes seems to be the same kit. The trenches are only a problem if you aren't going to use the under wing guns otherwise they are great as it allows an almost perfect fit of the guns. ;-)
.... Dirk

Beware of the DOG's of WAR

My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
User avatar
Dirkpitt289
NUMA's Auto Mechanic
Posts: 8722
Joined: May 2nd, 2011, 1:55 am
Location: New jersey USA
Contact:

Re: Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

Here is how mine cleaned up.

Image
.... Dirk

Beware of the DOG's of WAR

My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
User avatar
Softscience
Staring out the window
Posts: 7380
Joined: April 5th, 2011, 4:34 pm
Location: Maryland, near Washington DC

Re: Tommy's UFO Bell Airacobra Mk.I No 601 Squadron

Post by Softscience »

Tommy,

I sometimes find the easiest means of getting neat and tidy landing gear on kits without nice parts is to build them wheels up.

You did put effort into the engine already though, so that might not be an option. Perhaps you can cannibalize one of the Airfix cobras in your stash?
Locked

Return to “The 'Rhubarb' GB”