Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

For either boxing of the new-tool Airfix Swordfish.
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MDT
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Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by MDT »

I'm in with the pre-war scheme (on wheels!) as it will go nicely next to my MB Walrus - Like John I a can't decide wings out or folded...However, my rapidly diminishing display space may be stating the obvious!
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MDT
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Re: Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by MDT »

Made a start last night and the basic cockpit structure is there -

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Majority of the cockpit is just painted Hu.78, Revell Aqua for the black and a mix from a water colour set for the the canvas cover on the rear deck.

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The internal parts of the fuselage were initially painted Hu.61 and then I dry-brushed some colours from the same water colour set ( burnt umber and a red) over this...not sure if its too messy but as other people have noticed very little will be seen.

For the engine I've used Humbrol Metalcote polished steel and just not polished it. Its one of my favourite colours for radial cylinders -
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So as a recap -
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MDT
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Re: Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by MDT »

Little more work tonight -
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Had a similar problem to Paul with the floor not quite flush and stopping the lower fuselage fitting well -
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Engine parts age going together shortly -
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The part clean-up is fairly awkward on the exhaust ring due to the shear (bemusing!) number of sprue gates...
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Re: Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by Saxon »

a good start!
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splash
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Re: Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by splash »

It's looking good. Once you get past the cockpit the rest is plane sailing.

Regards Splash
My work bench is starting to look like Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
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MDT
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Re: Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by MDT »

Cheers Splash.
After using a bit of filler on my poorly fitted fuselage I've finally got some external paint on in the form of some Hu.129 -
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My engine is nearly finished, I just need to paint the exhaust ring again (Games Workshop Bolt-Gun Metal)
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splash
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Re: Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by splash »

I used the Games Workshop Bolt-Gun Metal with a coat of Tamiya clear orange and it works a treat.

I'm not convinced the nose of the Swordfish was copper I thing steel that was tarnished due to oil and heat.

Regards Splash
My work bench is starting to look like Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
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MDT
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Re: Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by MDT »

I'd agree the exhaust colour to aim for is a burnished steel but always seem to look a little copper-coloured in photos...
On my one day off I got the wings built and masked the rest for painting...
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Just visible is a selective application of Hu.11 to see how it looked and decided I will go the airbrush route.
So tonight I have a coat of Hu.11 on all major surfaces -
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The engine and prop are nearly finished -
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I still find plenty to praise this lovely kit for, and tonight I found more surface detail I'd missed until it had been painted. I love the fine rib detail thats immensely subtle -
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MDT
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Re: Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by MDT »

Events started not to badly today with majority of decals going on without too much of a fight -
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I decalled the fuselage and then fitted the undercarriage struts...
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during which I found a short strut - it had snapped and was my first bit of snappage of the evening -
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Fitting the wing started well and then one of the main central struts snapped. While trying to get this fixed that whole central support has warped out of its socket and looks a real mess -
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Then one of the two wing struts decided to snap too so is now setting -
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This is turning into a bit of mess which nearly got scrapped already...there is plenty of time left!
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TomW
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Re: Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by TomW »

Ouch! Keep at it though as the plane looks great in that scheme.

Regards

Tom
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jssel
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Re: Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by jssel »

Keep at it. Think we have all had this issue.
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MDT
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Re: Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by MDT »

I was close to giving up until I realised I was best just cutting out the main wing support frame and just making a replacement from some stretched sprue - Amazingly it actually worked. Added to this I didn't want to loose momentum so I've got most of the rigging done -
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Just forced myself to put everything away before I do any more damage!
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Re: Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by JamesPerrin »

Looks like the struts are a weak point of this kits literally, as PaulB gave up on his due to breakages.

Despite the issue looks like you've brought this one back from the brink and nearly have it done.
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jssel
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Re: Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by jssel »

Exact same issues with my build. I used sprue to repair mine also. When I consider the niggles I have had in this build, that one ranks top of the list.

Smashing great build you have here.
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MDT
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Re: Matt's wheeled OOB Stringbag

Post by MDT »

Cheers for the kind words! I'm a little disappointed with how things are turning out but the great thing about a group build like this I know not all of of the problems are my own doing.
I've found this a build a mixture of highs (nice interior, engine and other details) and lows with so many parts snapping. Tonight I thought I'd build the torpedo and as I cut the fin/prop part and it basically broke into four pieces. I'm not exactly the most careful of people but I don't often break parts at this rate. There seems to be a brittleness to this plastic combined with poorly placed and heavy sprue gates that makes this kit a real challenge...I may have been torpedoed tonight but I hope to have a completed Swordfish soon.
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