Quiddy Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 48 scale Classic Airframes Vampire Mk III done up as a 442 Squadron Vampire circa 1949. From what I have seen so far from test fitting it is going to be a hell of a kit to put together. A Tamiya kit...no! It will definitely be a challenge. Wayne Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quiddy Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 (edited) The CA kit had resin for the cockpit detail, air inlets, and landing gear bays. The kit I have was bought from a friend who got it from his father-in-law's stash after he passed away. Some of the detail was missing so I have had to scratch build a few things. The control stick was broken so that had to be glued together, and the mechanism for moving the control stick had to be replaced (that is the white plastic in the picture. All comments are welcome. Wayne Edited December 2, 2010 by Quiddy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Great choice of subject! The Vampire has always been a sentimental favourite of mine - it definitely was cool, especially back in its hey-day. 442 Sqn is near and dear to me as well. My father was a reservist with 442 back in the 50s; he was an instrument tech working on Mustangs, and... Vampires! Here he is with one of the sqn jets: I think these Mustangs are 442 as well, but I'm not certain. Looking forward to this build. Good work on the scratch building! ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quiddy Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 That's cool. Thanks for posting the picture of the Vampire. Wayne Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCAFFAN Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Are you going to put in the clear panel (above the eye) as shown in ALF's photo? it took me years to find pictures of what is in there but it is basically boxed off along the lines of the clear area (sort of a half a pie shape) and in there is a light mounted in the center that can move around the clear area, sort of the forerunner to the side lights on the 18s now...If not then hopefuully you can find a photo of one before the mod or one not modified as what the clear area was had me stumped for years...Good luck on your build.... Cheers Bruce Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Cheetah Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 The very first "In Progress" pictures, your off to a good start Wayne! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quiddy Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 The very first "In Progress" pictures, your off to a good start Wayne! So do I win a prize for that? Wayne Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Cheetah Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 So do I win a prize for that? Wayne You've won the pleasure of our company next Saturday evening. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tilt Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 You've won the pleasure of our company next Saturday evening. It's the BOO-BEE prize!!! LOL Sorry, couldn't resist!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quiddy Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 It's the BOO-BEE prize!!! LOLSorry, couldn't resist!! So are you calling our grand leader for life (of the GB) a boob? He is a tall one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quiddy Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 I am moving along fast on this build as I have other builds to try to finish by April and May. So, I have most of the cockpit painted and I am struggling to put all the pieces together. I think I need a couple of more hands. I couldn't test fit all the resin untill I glued some pieces together. Then Once the piant was on I found some pieces didn't fit, so I had to scrape the paint off and remove some resin from the side panels. I also removed some of the side of the IP to make that fit. There is now a acceptable seam in the nose. All comments are welcome. Wayne Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Cheetah Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Looks good Wayne! So are you calling our grand leader for life (of the GB) a boob? He is a tall one. I've been called worse... lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RescueDiver Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Hey looking real good so far. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 Nice work,,That is neat work Sir, HOLMES Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quiddy Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 Well I can really say the fit sucks! The resin piece for the guns on the underside of the nose doesn't fit well. There is going to be a large gap at the back end of it. I am still trying to get the back of the fuselage by the exhaust to come together. I got it to fit once then when I put it down to get the glue it wouldn't get back together again! I continue to work on it and learn or make up new words as go along. All together now pudgeftafa!!! More pictures to follow when I get the fuselage together. I also have the wing assembled,and the booms. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quiddy Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 (edited) I have the fuselage together. Here are a few pics with some plastic wedges to fill some gaps and I added a little bit of weight to try to keep it nose down. There also a piece of lead inside the nose. I hope the landing gear will hold. Wayne Edited December 8, 2010 by Quiddy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Congrats on getting it to fit that much together. Sounds like you've been fighting with it all along - that's no fun. At least you did a clean job of it - there are no glue smears or divots where you chopped too much off. Well done. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sean Bratton Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Great job so far, Wayne! Everything I've read about this kit makes it out to be a real bear to get together - looks like you're up to the challenge! Cheers, Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Emvar Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 You have more patience than I do. Great work so far Wayne. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quiddy Posted December 9, 2010 Author Share Posted December 9, 2010 (edited) The fun part is that with all this sanding that I have to do, I am going to paint it in aluminum, so I have to get all the scratches out. How many months do I have to get this done? Thanks for the comments guys. Wayne Edited December 9, 2010 by Quiddy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Wayne Sounds like you have it all organized... aluminium is gonna looks the BIZ!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quiddy Posted December 12, 2010 Author Share Posted December 12, 2010 After all the shims were trimmed away I noticed that some of the panel lines didn't line up. There was enough of a difference that I decided to fill them in with super glue, sand it smooth, then try to re-scribe the panel lines in. As I am doing the plane to enter in 2 contests I thought it should look better. No pic unless you want to see sanding marks. When I get the lines scribed I will post some pictures. Thanks Wayne Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quiddy Posted December 21, 2010 Author Share Posted December 21, 2010 Been trying to re-scribe some panel lines I lost while sanding. I actually filled some lines in with superglue to correct an alignment problem. Trying to scribe on a compound curve to get a straight line is fun! All comments are welcome. Wayne Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr B Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Nice Brings back memories of my CA venom........the colour is the same.............blue........... Got a Vampire too........maybe soon Rgds mr B Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Cheetah Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Great progress Wayne. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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