Author Topic: Kit's Kandidates  (Read 23333 times)

Offline PR19_Kit

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Kit's Kandidates
« on: November 15, 2013, 08:09:13 AM »
After trawling through the approx. 60 un-finished models I have :( I picked a couple that have a good chance of being completed by the end of the year as I'm not the World's fastest builder.

The first is a BEA 727-100 built from the original Airfix 727-100, which they later stretched into the -200 version. In the RW BEA actually wanted to buy the 727 after spending years giving de Havilland the run-around with the Trident, but the Government wouldn't make the dollars available for the purchase. My choice of colour scheme is the 'High Speed Jack' version, named after the swept Union Jack on the fin, and to my mind  it's the definitive BEA scheme.

As you can see below I've already got quite a way with the build, but something in the paint went screwy, I can't remember quite what now, but hopefully it shouldn't be too tough to finish it off.



The second kandidate  is a different kettle of fish entirely as it's a VP Models vacform/resin Douglas XB-43 Jetmaster. As you can see below I've got a long way through the build, all the vacform parts have been assembled, as well as the main resin add-ons, and I've even done the interior paintwork as well. Quite why I stopped work on it I've no idea, but there's a good chance it'll get done at last.

The backstory for this one has it that the small production batch of B-43As produced for the USAF was cancelled as soon as the much more capable B-45 was trialled and the B-43s were all put into store. When the RAF's first Canberras were delivered to the Bomber Command squadrons the demand was so high that the planned PR3 versions were delayed and the B-43s were bought from the US and converted into PR aircraft by Avro, and went on to serve with 13 and 58 Squadrons for quite some time.

Yeah, right....  ;)

Regards
Kit

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Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings

Offline finsrin

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2013, 08:19:12 AM »
Unusual couple of kandidates.  :)
Looking forward to seeing in final form.

Offline Tophe

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #2 on: November 15, 2013, 11:06:55 AM »
60 un-finished models? that explains why your asymmetric Bv-138 is not progressing fast...
But for these 2 on the top: go, Kit, go! ;)

Online Frank3k

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2013, 11:54:59 AM »
Kit - I have the same VP XB-43 vac, although you're much further along. I think mine stalled when I gave up trying to fit the cockpit bulkheads. Are you making it an all prop version or mixed powerplant?

It looks like you're going with the bug-eye cockpit. Good choice! Although to make it a truly British aircraft, you would have to blank out one of the cockpits and end up with an offset cockpit layout, like the Canberra.

Offline PR19_Kit

  • Likes to brag about how long his...wings are.
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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2013, 06:20:21 PM »
Tophe, I PROMISE I will make some progress on the Bv138 prototype this coming year!

I was going with the all jet config Frank as that bit's already built. I have the XB-42 Mixmaster kit as well but have yet to start it, and what superb pieces of work they are, wonderfully sharp vacforming and very precise resin too, what's not to like?

I like the idea of an offset canopy like the B(I)8s and PR9s but that'd mean filling in one cockpit hole on the B-43 so I think I'll stick with the dual bug-eyes.
Regards
Kit

--------------------------
Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings

Offline father ennis

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #5 on: November 15, 2013, 07:59:05 PM »
That vacuform kit is one featured in a Kalamback book I have  on building vac-kits. I really want to see what you do with this. It is a very strange but interesting aircraft.
I may be old but I'm not dead ... yet anyway ... !!!    And NO I did not know Richard III !!!!!!

Offline taiidantomcat

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2013, 02:25:19 AM »
That vacuform kit is one featured in a Kalamback book I have  on building vac-kits. I really want to see what you do with this. It is a very strange but interesting aircraft.


I second this!
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Offline PR19_Kit

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2013, 03:39:03 AM »
I started work on both of them today, and the B-43's fin and tailplanes both fell off!  :icon_sueno:
They're re-jigged and superglued in place now so should make some progress tomorrow.

The 727 just needs paint, one wing's almost OK but I bet I can't match the shades so I'll re-do both of them. The other wing is DIABOLICAL! It looks like it's been pebble dashed but I sanded it all down again and I'll re-prime them both later tonight.
Regards
Kit

--------------------------
Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings

Offline mrvr6

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2013, 05:33:36 AM »
thread should be called kits kits


Offline PR19_Kit

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #9 on: November 17, 2013, 05:56:49 AM »
It's 'Kandidates' because they're part of the Group Build......
Regards
Kit

--------------------------
Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings

Offline mrvr6

  • Accidentally created a Tejas….
Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #10 on: November 18, 2013, 02:09:00 AM »
It's 'Kandidates' because they're part of the Group Build......

fair enough :) kits kits still works though

Offline PR19_Kit

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #11 on: November 21, 2013, 04:41:12 AM »
While grovelling through The Loft I found another one that's 'almost there'.  ;)

As with the Jetmaster I think I stopped work on this one because of my inability to do NM finishes, but now I have a cunning plan........  ;)

Regards
Kit

--------------------------
Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #12 on: November 21, 2013, 07:15:52 AM »
Lovely kit that XB-35 is, got one built and another in the stash (which is going to be a 617 Grand Slam bomber)

Offline Tophe

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #13 on: November 21, 2013, 10:23:31 AM »
I like this photograph of XB-35 kit, Kit, while I don't understand it: are there 4 propellers (black) or 12 (including grey ones)? I would prefer 12 on the same aircraft, but I don't see a mounting place for them ???

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Offline taiidantomcat

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #15 on: November 21, 2013, 11:50:49 AM »
Quote
I started work on both of them today, and the B-43's fin and tailplanes both fell off!  :icon_sueno:
They're re-jigged and superglued in place now so should make some progress tomorrow.

The 727 just needs paint, one wing's almost OK but I bet I can't match the shades so I'll re-do both of them. The other wing is DIABOLICAL! It looks like it's been pebble dashed but I sanded it all down again and I'll re-prime them both later tonight.

Good recovery there  :)


As with the Jetmaster I think I stopped work on this one because of my inability to do NM finishes, but now I have a cunning plan........  ;)

Well I'm intrigued  :D

"They know you can do anything, So the question is, what don't you do?"

-David Fincher

Offline Tophe

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #16 on: November 21, 2013, 12:43:16 PM »
Thanks Jeffry!
So they are either contra-prop (grey parts) or else: simple propellers (black painted)? I wish Kit will use them all, either as triple-propellers or on other kits... ;)

Besides, all your links present a Natural Metal finish for the YB-35, which is painful for Kit, but as a whif-plane, it could receive a camo, no? with RAF markings or else...

Offline arkon

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #17 on: November 21, 2013, 02:18:34 PM »
dang, you are making the clear your bench into vote for which one Kit finishes, I vote xb-35, in big black n grays digital camo

with contra-contra-propellers! :)
« Last Edit: November 21, 2013, 02:20:39 PM by arkon »
the paper gods demand sacrifice

Offline finsrin

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #18 on: November 21, 2013, 02:36:49 PM »
Here at BTS any finish you like is a go :)

Arkon - I like that too.
« Last Edit: November 21, 2013, 03:09:42 PM by finsrin »

Offline PR19_Kit

  • Likes to brag about how long his...wings are.
  • Made it at last!
Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #19 on: November 21, 2013, 07:23:42 PM »
The XB-35 had contra-props but they ran into all sorts of gearbox resonance problems and eventually gave up the idea and put the simpler props on the YB-35. You get both options in the kit, thus the myriad propellers.

Naturally I'm thinking of having contra-props on the inboard engines and simple ones on the outboards.  :)

And no, I'm NOT going to make the wings longer. I'll have the devil's own job finding somewhere to display it anyway!
Regards
Kit

--------------------------
Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings

Offline deathjester

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #20 on: November 21, 2013, 09:01:54 PM »
Hiya Kit!
How's about a carrier version, with folding LONGER wings, to operate from the Habbakuk style mega carriers?
...
...
Go on, you know you want to!!

Offline PR19_Kit

  • Likes to brag about how long his...wings are.
  • Made it at last!
Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #21 on: November 21, 2013, 10:15:14 PM »
Not when one wingtip keeps on sweeping all the stuff off my workbench when I'm turning it round to mask off panels at the other end.... >:D

I have an ideal name for it already, It's going to be a Northrop Boomerang!
Regards
Kit

--------------------------
Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings

Offline PR19_Kit

  • Likes to brag about how long his...wings are.
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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #22 on: November 23, 2013, 08:45:41 AM »
I've spent a few days painting the underside of the B-35 and it's given me much more confidence in producing a reasonable NMF. I gave the whole thing a coat of Halford's Gloss Silver and then masked off some panels and painted them with one of Games Workshops metallic acrylics. Then I did the same with some other panels with a darker shade and lastly did the exhausts with a MUCH darker shade.

And no, the upper surface ISN'T going to be NMF. ;)

Regards
Kit

--------------------------
Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings

Offline taiidantomcat

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #23 on: November 27, 2013, 11:57:10 PM »
Oh this is getting exciting!  :) Gotta be nice seeing some paint on, Kit.
"They know you can do anything, So the question is, what don't you do?"

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Offline Tophe

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Re: Kit's Kandidates
« Reply #24 on: November 28, 2013, 01:11:25 AM »
The runway seems very confortable, doesn't it? ;)