String Bag A Swordfish

[Guest]

Yes that was Richard on the "string thing " my thoughts until I read a number of accounts including from one who flew this strange aircraft.

In constructing it it is far from a string bag the construction is more like JCB standard big & strong. The cockpit frame is enormously well built & it's resilience to enemy fire was rather like the Mosquito & Wellington, also both frame built, robust. They could all lose part of their frame but still fly home.

Laurie

[Vaughan]

Nice work on the Radial engine Laurie and the internal frame work is very detailed. I presume you got the camera sorted out?

Vaughan

[Guest]

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A bit further. Pictures to show how good the joints are by Tamiya. Superb fits.

Second photo shows a large piece (shown in photo1) The fit is near perfect for such a large piece.

The tail plane & rudder fitted perfectly. It had a rebated area it slotted into without any glueing needed externally great work by Tamiya. They have used natural joints of panels to good advantage. The fuselage except for one small area fitted like a glove. Hardly any filling needed & no reshaping needed. Hope the skill is up to the job by the model maker.

Yes thanks Vaughan despite Currys the camera is repaired. Amazing they informed me a cheque would be issued but wait 28 days.

Laurie

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[Vaughan]

Looks like a really well engineered kit Laurie. I'm sure the model makers up to it!!

Vaughan

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Little slow going & also just got the camera back from repair.[ATTACH=CONFIG]51969[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]51966[/ATTACH]

The figures. The faces need more work on them but they have great detail. Bought Edward stuff but as the figures are going to be used the Edward seat belts are redundant. Very enjoyable to paint. They looked weathered. Accidental in fact. I did not prime & with all the handling they “weatherd “ so thought thy looked OK & I am leaving them as portrayed here.

Not a great lot to say so far except the detailing is superb. If you look at the floor of the cockpit for instance it is very well detailed. Think I will weather but not fully decided yet. The red bits represent the doped linen.

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The engine is well detailed. Shots of parts non existent due to camera. Tamiya photo parts are all there but like others difficult to show on camera. But they look very good.

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All parts except the very small pieces have been airbrushed. The figures hand painted. Observation how about being a part of the crew in a single engined aircraft with all of your body open to the elements, cold, rain snow & definetley wind in the North Atlantic including Iceland. These blokes deserved a special recognition.

All in all so far a very nice model to build. The instructions are good & a lot of care has been taken in the design & production of the parts. First Tamiya & impressed.

Laurie

PS colours of the fuselage construction is pale green. Here it has turned out for some reason fawn.

Very nice work, love all the detail that engine is superb, just one thing, are those the same figures as in a Lancaster they look identical to the ones I have done for mine?

[Guest]

Thanks Adrian. Do not know about the figures. I believe from memory that they had heating in the Lancaster. The rear gunners had a heat system of sorts so would imagine they must have had in the cockpit. Which case they would not be so heavily clothed.

In A Swordfish it must have been cold enough to deep freeze the goolies for a week a bad state of affairs. So would have been surprised if the figures were the same. But I really do not know. The pilot may be but the other two are in poses to fit navigator & half standing rear gunner so I would not have thought so.

Is yours a Tamiya Lancaster Adrian ? I am really impressed with the figures they are the best I have seen & it is sad that all manufacturers can not do the same.

Laurie

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Yeah, mines the same as Ian id building, though it wont be anywhere near as good

There are 3 figures with the Lanc, two I have started, one is almost identical I think.

Cheers

Adrian

[Guest]

Not quite the same Adrian but they are nicely detailed & well painted.

These do not seem to have the "Biggles" type goggles. If they have I used silver paint for the glass. I did not fill all the glass area just a portion. Tried to achieve a glint on the glass effect.

Laurie

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Good idea with the goggles, my one guy is missing his other arm for now, my Lanc is on hold whilst I do the Mosquito, probabily start it back up after IPMS show

[Guest]

Progress has been slow with other events not as welcome as model making hindering progress. But now back on track in all ways.

All the armaments which are slung under the bottom wing show how versatile this aircraft was. The yellow is the result of the Gritcolin process.

Used Mr Surfacer on the fuselage joins. The joints were goof Tamiya stuff & the Mr Surfacer 500 finished joins which are not visible.

Decided to more or less finish the fuselage & wings separately as I feel so much damage will be collected connecting them at an early stage.

Laurie

Edit Apologies for the pictures. Just do not know what happened as they are not the same quality as the originals

SO RUBBISH I HAVE DITCHED THEM

see next post TRYING HARDER.

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[Guest]

some really beautiful detail in the tamiya model,and you are doing great Laurie awesome infact

mobear

[Guest]

More like it apologies.

Progress has been slow with other events not as welcome as model making hindering progress. But now back on track in all ways.

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All the armaments which are slung under the bottom wing show how versatile this aircraft was. The yellow is the result of the Gritcolin process.

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Used Mr Surfacer on the fuselage joins. The joints were goof Tamiya stuff & the Mr Surfacer 500 finished joins which are not visible.

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Decided to more or less finish the fuselage & wings separately as I feel so much damage will be collected connecting them at an early stage.

Laurie

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[Vaughan]

I'm glad your back on the case Laurie all's looking good. Some nice masking to boot.

Vaughan

[stona]

Looking good Laurie,also looking a b*gger to mask.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Thanks Ole Vaughan & Steve.

Tad difficult Steve on the masking but fear putting these wings together will need a lot of resolute concentration.

One thing I am still having difficulty with & any help appreciated.

The divison between the top colour & bottom colour of the wings when they meet on the front & rear. Still not perfected this despite lots of attention to the masking. Had on the Catalina I built no problems on stripes etc on the flat surfaces. In this case the Swordfish had to do a lot of remedial work. Looks relatively OK unless you look close. But frankly not the standard I want. But then is anything. Tut pessimism creeps through the back door.

Laurie