Magna Models 1/72 Short Belfast

[bluesteel]

I picked up this kit at Telford and thought I'd post a picture of the parts of this big beast. I've placed the fuselage halves of the Airfix Hercules as a size indicator.

I prefer picking up such huge resin models in person if I can, as I can open the box and check for any warps or bubbles in the resin. I'm happy to say this one is very good indeed, no flaws that I've found so far and the level of detail is excellent. I just have to decide, once I get round to building it, if I should risk it and try to open the rear loading doors....

[MerlinJones]

OOOooooOOOOooooOOOOoooooh!

[JamesPerrin]

I don't know how but I missed you buying that one!

[Jagewa]

Cor what a whopper!

I don't know how but I missed you buying that one!

He was probably hiding in the box....

Is it bigger than the flak ship?

Cheers
jim

[MerlinJones]

Not very short, is it?

Regards,
Bruce

[Stupot]

Can't wait to see this build!

Stu

[bluesteel]

I don't know how but I missed you buying that one!

The box was a bit big to keep under the display table, kept getting accidentally kicked, so I took it back to my hotel room early on, which was probably why you missed it...

[Flute]

Looks like the same resin formulation they used on the Argosy, which I built a couple of years ago. Have a care, if it works the same way you may need more joint reinforcement than you expect - there were many large air bubbles that weren't at all apparant when I started the kit, and the resin was a bit unstable. It was rather chalky in texture, and tended to compress under it's own weight at the wing joints, which meant they kept opening at the top for weeks. The good news is that it all settled down eventually and has remained stable in the years (3 or 4, I think) since I finished it.

I'd love to see this one built, at any rate.


Paul.

[DamienB]

I knew they were bigger than Hercs but not that much!!

[JamesPerrin]

Be realistic, Airfix wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. They're more likely to do a Sperrin to complete the V bomber force. There were hints, rumours that a new Victor could happen.

[Dirkpitt289]

OUTSTANDING!!! I love the Herc. I look forward to seeing this one built

[SJPONeill]

...and Revell is just about to release its A400M which would be a similar size...

[Barry]

Well Julian... "opening the rear loading doors" is a cross between Pandora's box and a can of worms because, if you do it, it will take you twice as long to convincingly fill that big hole as it will to complete the rest of the entire airplane. It'll be fun, and it'll look great, but bring your lunch 'cause you're gonna be there a while.

[splash]

The Belfast was a big a/c, back in the early 70's I was on 890 Sea Vixen Squadron and we had a detachment to Denmark, the whole detachment with ground equipment, flew out in a Belfast but it took two Hercules to bring them back, unfortunately I was not one of the detachment but I did get to help load the Belfast.