Xtrakit & Airfix 1/72 Vampires - RAF Cold War Fighters part 3

[Dave Ward]

The next build(s) in this project will be a double billing...........................

It isn't until you open the boxes that you realise how small the Vampires were!
The Xtrakit Vampire is the reboxing of the 2014 Special Hobby model, the Airfix T.11 tooling dating from 2012
Dave

[Dave Ward]

Sprues & detail shots etc - The Airfix T.11

Airfix fuselage is split vertically.................
Two schemes, one a preserved aircraft, or this, from 1962, a good test of masking!

A few detail shots:
Parts look pretty clean & crisp, no sink marks or ejector pin towers. Some of the ingates look a big large, so careful removal - The Airfix model has two pilots.....................
Dave

[Dave Ward]

The Xtrakit FB.5 - The Special Hobby model reboxed..............

Two versions, one silver, the other, which I'm going for a camo version.

A few detail shots
A


Front of the Goblin engine - I doubt if this will be visible!

The Xtrakit model has a horizontal split fuselage...................... ( no pilot ). The ingates look a little better placed than the Airfix

Detailing on both models is about the same, and assembly looks reasonably simple
Dave

[Mark1]

I've just built the airfix one, Its awaiting decals, nice little kit.

[colin m]

They look very interesting Dave. I've also built the Arifix version and it was a nice little kit. Having said that, the Xtrakit seems to have the edge on detail here.

[Dave Ward]

They look very interesting Dave. I've also built the Arifix version and it was a nice little kit. Having said that, the Xtrakit seems to have the edge on detail here.

Colin,
I would agree with you, looking at the sprues - of course, how much will be visible with the model assembled remains to be seen!
Dave

[boatman]

WELL Dave nice little kits but i never could tell the difference between the vampire an the venom ?
chris

[Dave Ward]

WELL Dave nice little kits but i never could tell the difference between the vampire an the venom ?
chris

Most Venoms carried wingtip tanks - but, swept back leading edge - 90 degree to fuselage trailing edge is the real visual spot - it also had a DH Ghost Engine, instead of the Goblin
Dave

[boatman]

Most Venoms carried wingtip tanks - but, swept back leading edge - 90 degree to fuselage trailing edge is the real visual spot - it also had a DH Ghost Engine, instead of the Goblin
Dave

oh cheers Dave well ive learnt something today then but which was the better of the two ?
chris

[Dave Ward]

oh cheers Dave well ive learnt something today then but which was the better of the two ?
chris

The Venom was a later development of the Vampire, with a more powerful engine. It only had a short service life, as there were better aircraft in the pipeline - the single engine & twin boom configuration had just about reached the limit of it's development for jets - the Sea Vixen was the last gasp of the De Havilland concept
Dave

[boatman]

The Venom was a later development of the Vampire, with a more powerful engine. It only had a short service life, as there were better aircraft in the pipeline - the single engine & twin boom configuration had just about reached the limit of it's development for jets - the Sea Vixen was the last gasp of the De Havilland concept
Dave

WELL I NEVER knew that many thanks dave as they say you learn something every day an its right too cheers for the info
chris

[Dave Ward]

Off and running - these two are so small, it's easy to do the initial assemblies at the same time.................

The Airfix T.11 - the vertical split fuselage & full span top wing half may give some seam problems, but the fit is good. Bottom left - the engine intake trunking - with a fan at the top end - which is not going to be visible - as the same with the Xtrakit model! Tailbooms join right into the wing.

Xtrakit FB5 - horizontal split fuselage - air trunking moulded into the bottom fuselage, with a fancy front of engine - which won't be seen! The tailbooms join the wing at the trailing edge - after market pilot he might have to be fitted before the fuselage is joined, the cockpit opening isn't that big ( the actual Vampire cockpit was really cramped ).
Interesting the parts breakdown, the next stages will see which is better.
I've decided the FB5 will be the camouflaged version, and I've dug a bottle of fluorescent orange out for the trainer ( I also found a bottle of fluorescent red as well - why I had these I don't know! ). One problem with the FB5 may be finding enough space for weights to prevent tailsitting.
Dave

[Jim R]

Hi Dave
Always thought it was a great looking aircraft. I built the Airfix one twice for the Starter Kit GB a couple of years ago and it is a nice kit.
Jim

[Dave Ward]

Further progress..........................

No major pitfalls, yet, a lot of dry fitting, the intakes on the T.11 are very fiddly. I'll assemble the airframes & see to any seam problems all at the same time. The AM pilot in the FB5 had to have his legs removed below the knee to fit into the cockpit - whether the pilot is a bit big, or the cockpit a little small - who knows!
Dave

[Dave Ward]

Ohhhhhhhh - my OA has flared up again, so it looks like I won't be getting much bench time in, until it dies down - it's been frosty the last couple of days, don't know if that has any effect - just have to sit back & keep taking the tablets ( and rubbing the gel! )
Dave