Jeff's Lend Lease with a Vengeance***Finished***

[jssel]

Looking over the builds and seeing the usual suspects I decided on something a little different. A real CBK'er.

FROG's Vultee Vengence Mk II. It says right on the box "made in Great Britain by Rovex Tri-ang Ltd."



What I find interesting with the boxing is the notations. The kit includes FROG's "special features." A hand stamped "Larry's Hobby Shop 126 S Northwest Highway Palatine, IL 60067 312-368-6793" Also the price of $1.19USD. I paid that much at a show last year for this kit. You gotta love it.

The innards:

Poly bag still sealed.

A notes that every model builder should know.



Unfolding the instruction sheet was like discovering ancient parchment.

I will do 84Sqn, RAF (SEAC) Maharajpur, 1944

Did they use RAAF colors such as the Boomerang or Wirraway?

[bobblelink]

love the box art

[lancfan]

Did they use RAAF colors such as the Boomerang or Wirraway?

They did yes, there is one preserved examples in Australia to work against here
http://aussiemodeller.com.au/pages/Hist ... eance.html; but the paint is quite faded.


David.

[AndrewR]

It's nice to see a Vengeance being built. They're often overlooked.

Cheers

Andrew

[jssel]

We are off to the races.

Having spent a little time cleaning parts, assembly has started. Overall the kit is simple enough but far better than some I have built.



The landing gear has a rather simple box construction. This plugs into the space on the lower wing. FROG gives the option of extended gear or pieces sliced in half for "gear up" configuration.



The cockpit, well, could use a little TLC. But looking through the glass I probably will not do much due to clarity.



The twin .50's for the gunner will get some treatment however. Barrel reduction from the scale 37mm is in order.

And so it goes. Personnally I would not desire to go to war with this machine.

[AndrewR]

That looks like one of Frog's better cockpit offerings!
I get two pegs and a seat. Oh, and a huge "2" on the sidewall right next to the pilot. You'd think they could put the part number somewhere a bit more discrete!

Cheers

Andrew

[lancfan]

I remember this kit well, must get one next year.

David.

[ShaunW]

Nice one Jeff, this is indeed a proper CBK. The cockpit detail is good for the vintage as at least there is an attempt rather than the usual pegs for the seat to attach to etc as in Andrew's kit. Painted up, with some tape seat straps and under the standard issue CBK thick transparencies, it'll look good enough I dare say. You could of course go to town with plastic card etc.........

[jssel]

Morning update.

Basic airframe is together now. Not much done to the cockpit area. A headrest for the pilot and belts all around. Buying time to determine what to do about the twin .50's for the gunner. Of course I will need to do a little scratch building, right?






I have to say, I would not want to go into battle in this airplane.

[jssel]

Another update this afternoon.

Cowling mounted with appropriate cooling gills sawed open. Also added brass tubing for exhaust pipes as it is far better than the kit pieces.





Started work on the canopy and have noticed that there is a sizable step along the canopy ledge. Must file that down as it will ruin an otherwise nice fitting model.

[MerlinJones]

This is the sort of build-up that inspires others to get their own kit out!

Ace.

Regards,
Bruce

[Martin R]

Jeff,

Nice looking build!

The one thing I am not certain about on this kit (as I'm not an expert on the Vengeance) is that the cowling front looks a little 'blunt' to me. by this, I mean that the cowling tapers down towards the engine opening for most of it's length but then just seems to stop flat at the front (looked at from the side). It always looks to me as if a little judicious sanding to blend in a curve would improve the look no end, but for all I know it's exactly correct 'as is'.

regards,

Martin

[AndrewR]

Jeff,

Nice looking build!

The one thing I am not certain about on this kit (as I'm not an expert on the Vengeance) is that the cowling front looks a little 'blunt' to me. by this, I mean that the cowling tapers down towards the engine opening for most of it's length but then just seems to stop flat at the front (looked at from the side). It always looks to me as if a little judicious sanding to blend in a curve would improve the look no end, but for all I know it's exactly correct 'as is'.

regards,

Martin

I agree Martin, on the real thing the cowling does curve over noticeably.

[ShaunW]

Well I don't have a clue as to the correct amount of cowling curvature, or not, that should be present on a Vengeance but I am liking the work you've done thus far Jeff.

[jssel]

Duly noted, guys. Line drawings I have seen on the 'net are dubious in nature so I am letting it go this time around. There are better kits no doubt so this is what you would get from the FROG offering. The whole aircraft states "slug" to me.



Seems to me I would need to build up the cowl area to eliminate the curve. It appears to be a Grumman Avenger nose.



So far today I have completed the task of masking the glass. Now the kit glass is rather rough with odd bits of plastic (lumps) on the inside of the glass. Out with the sanding film of various grits and the lumps went away. A dip in Future and the whole part cleared right up. As you can see the masking is done with Tamiya tape. I like everything about this tape but the price.

Masking clear parts is very tedious to me. And I know that a good job here pays very well at the finish. If I were to cheat in the build process, it would be painting the frames by hand and of course that really shows in my work.

So here we are with the landing gear and prop dry fit. A little more masking to do and over to the paint hanger we go.