International Scale Modeller

This Airfix 1/72nd Beaufighter was started in 2006 as my return to the hobby.

I fell into the trap of running with an idea and then getting bogged down.
I'm hoping participation in this GB (my first) will help me past the finishing line.
I still haven't decided what the colour scheme will be, am erring toward Coastal Command with torpedo.

So here is the retrospective progress so far (its a long story, apologies):

A diabetes needle...

Just happened to make me think of the Hercules engine.
And so the madness began.
Back of needle assembly was filled with Milliput then sawn and filed to a seven-sided prism.
Then cut the prism in half (see the black line) and offset for the rear set of cylinders.
Also used razor saw teeth to create cylinder head grooves on sprue.
Did this by putting sprue in a mini drill on slow speed and offering up the razor saw teeth.

Finally the cylinder heads were attached

Then needed to remove the moulded cylinders in the cowlings and thin and reshape to accommodate the engines.
Here is a comparison with the scale drawings and a 5p piece

And, with the kit prop temporarily attached, looked like this

At this stage I should have been happy and maybe should have stopped, but oh no...
What about the exhaust system?
Out comes wire and soldering iron


Exhausts stuck in cylinder heads and bent to shape

Then some attempt to add some details and paint

Not spectacular but better than what was there, and a learning experience.
I had bought an Airwaves etch set for this, but didn't read the bit that said 'for Matchbox'
So I could only use some of it.
Or choose not to, as was the case for the myriad of individual cooling flaps for the rear of the cowlings.
My superglue skills were not up to that and so it was time for...Wine Foil!
..a medium that I am keen to ensure I have a regular supply of and you will see used frequently in my builds

Note that I now had to fill and reshape the front collector ring to line up with the foil.
The second is still a work in progress

So that's the engine status.
Cockpit and fuselage interior are a combination of scratch build and etch.
Main tub is mainly the Airwaves etch


as is the main instrument panel

But the radio operators panel is scratch built. A punch and wine foil being used to create the dials

The crew entry area is sprue and card

and the rear compartment is etch (seat and stand) and card (floor and ammo boxes)

The interior walls are a combination of etch, plastic strip and wire



A bit overscale in places, but I was having fun.
Note that I've removed the area where the rear cupola will sit.
I decided (as an afterthought) to display with this open.
..but I'm not sure how to do that bit yet
Eventually this wire will form the prominent hose that ran from the cockpit through to the rear

and this fire extinguisher will find a home

Sanded down all the raised detail on fuselage exterior and marked out panel lines.
Tried to rescribe but found it difficult and made a mess of it.
Will live with it for now..

Started to work on the landing lights

..made from wine foil..

and carved out the navigation lights and fitted with clear sprue filed to shape.

Again, one is done the other is awaiting attention
Undercarriage bays have received some attention

as have the bay doors

I was hoping to make the wheels

a bit more accurate by adding some hub detail (again with wine foil)

I also had bought some Falcon vacform canopies.
But soon discovered how difficult it is to cut them to a decent shape.
So both were rendered useless. Which meant I had to plunge mould from the original.
I had not done this before (and I will edit this thread later with pictures when I find them)
Example of some attempts before and after trimming are below


So thanks for bearing with me thus far.
There will now be a break of two weeks or so whilst I have to get on with other non-modelling stuff.
I'm hoping that putting this up here will embarrass me into getting stuck in on my return.

Your off to a good start. I too struggle with getting bogged down. My advice to you is, buckle down and build when you can, make it fun, no need to get overwhelmed! Take your time and produce something you're proud of, that's all that matters.

Thanks for looking Jermaine. A major step forward for me will be to get the fuselage buttoned up. I seem to have an irrational fear of doing this!

Your doing a great job there Sean. That's an old kit, I remember building it when I was a youngster many moons ago. Look forward to seeing the progress.

Looks like it's going to be a cracker Sean. The details you've added are amazing work.

SteveW wrote:.. I remember building it when I was a youngster many moons ago.

Indeed it was my own (rose-tinted) memory that prompted me to buy it!

Willem wrote:Looks like it's going to be a cracker...

You're very kind sir, plenty of hurdles to go yet.

Thanks both for your interest, a real boost to get on with it...

Ahhhhh... The Beaufighter Sir, good choice. Great work so far mate and will be keeping an eye on this one building up.

Shelf of Doom... What to do? Will be joining in on this one shortly as I think I have a worthy subject.


Martin

Well, that didn't work out. A two week break became three months and now we're into crazy time. The workbench is covered with wrapping paper and Sellotape and a dull panic is in the air. Not much chance of modelling activity until the new year. Well and truly doomed. So much for my first ISM Group build. Hrrrmph
Hopefully I'll crack on at some point, though I do wonder if I bit off more than I could chew here, starting of with lots enthusiasm and then getting caught out by insufficient skill. A bit like a novice engineer who gleefully takes an engine apart and then, realising that its not so straightforward putting it back together again, abandons it.