The Unofficial Airfix Modellers' Forum

Thank you for enlightening me bout Merlin kits, ....I better stay away from them :-O

From what I've seen in this thread they were called Merlin kits because you need Merlin's magical powers to get a decent result from one.

Ok. Cockpit interior (just an aftermarket decal IP and an old spare seat!) done, canopy glued on and masked and now waiting for filler to dry where windscreen is faired into the nose.



Painting soon. I have to pick a scheme for it.

David

That looks like a painful build, Dwomby. I hope you have plenty of aspirin on hand.

I've decided this one will be finished as WK275. For those who don't know, WK275 is a very (in)famous Swift.

WK275 is actually a Swift F4, the only one surviving, but has elements of the FR5 - canopy, fin and wings with dog-tooth extensions. She was used for various tests until mid 60s and has a small fairing on the top of the nosecone that dates from then. I have found pics of here in those days looking really tatty in 1968 like this:



Then she got repainted and mounted outdoors at a building surplus store for 46 years going from this



to this



and finally rescued and restored and is on display with XH558. There's a whole book out about her - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wk275- ... 1125792023

Here she is in her restored glory which is probably the paint scheme I will put on her as the others are too undignified (and beyond my weathering abilities).



David

Just added the fairing to the top of the nose.



David

Glad she finally found a good home.

First colour coat. Testors Acrylic silver over rattlecan primer.



I never can decide which order to do upper and lower colours. Hope the masking doesn't damage the silver.

David

You continue to amaze with the progress you're making on the Swift!

The Great Auk

Probably stalled for a few days as we have house guests. I airbrushed the silver and the grey but brushed on the green as I couldn't face the masking. Not brilliant but good enough. Still needs a few touchups, decals (already printed) and undercart.



David

You certainly are beating this into shape very nicely.

This is in danger of turning into an acceptable model!

Just shows what you can do with perseverance. I thought it looked unbuildable.

Thanks, guys.

David

I think I will buy lots of these kits, because once people see your finished build there’s bound to be a rush to buy them.