Boulton Paul Balliol

[Guest]

Some times you have to be careful for what you wish for....

Just picked up a Pegasus Balliol in 1/72.

Boy, this WILL be fun. Typical of early limited run kit maybe?

Well, heres some pictures to give you some idea:

Whats in the bag:

Not too big a size difference between the two sides:

Now, which hole is the correct size?!

Spot the missing bit?

I think the Spit MKIX may have a similar prop and spinner and maybe the wheels (Very over scale me thinks?)will come from something else, not sure what mind you. The tail wheel is very wrong too. I'll dig out the book to check aircraft shape etc later.

I maybe looking for some suggestions during this build! Anyone got an old prop?!

I must say, my expectations of the kit were quite low, and was surpised that its nowhere near as bad as I expected. It has some nice recessed panel lines and details. There's no detail at all for the cockpit apart from 2 very odd looking seats, I have heard that there was a panel in the kit but I didn't find it in the bag. I don't think it would have been very good anyway! Bring out the plasti-card......

Maybe I should have broken myself in with the Revell 1/32 Spit MK22 first?!

Just a quick note, I'm actually building this for my 80 year Farther-in-Law, he worked on the A/C during his time with BP. Its kind of a surprise.

Rick,

"bring out the Whisky"

UK

[stona]

You've got yourself a bit of a challenge there! I don't think there is another kit in any scale of the Balliol so you've really got the only game in town. I'm sure you will beat it into shape with a bit of perseverance. What a nice surprise for your father in law.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

The one thing I have in my favour is that it is a surprise. At least if I make a hash of it I don't have to let him have the surprise!

There was a vacform job years ago too, never seen one though.

I wont be rushing things, I have a few other models on the go at the mo, but I'll be at Crewe tomorrow and hope to pick up a cheep Spit mkIX for its prop and wheels. I may have to get new decals too, there a bit damaged.

By the time I've finished it it will have cost as much as a really good Tamiya Spit!

[yak face]

Hi rick , It looks a bit of a challenging build, but its great to see something unusual. Im sure once youve got a replacement prop and wheels it should be fine, although you ought to get another tube of filler on standby!!!LOL Really looking forward to seeing this one go together, are you going to do a step by step build for us? cheers tony

[Guest]

Another old kit being given a new lease of life and all credit to you for taking it on. I wouldn't have the patience anymore!

You do get some interesting and slightly different models this way though.

[Guest]

Blimey, a step by step! Is there a space limit on the forum? I hope to, I may not start it for a couple of weeks as I have a few other things to do first.

I've just grabbed a Italeri MKIX Spit from the loft (I know, I have to hide the stash somewhere, the wife wont go up there alone!) and the spinner, prop and wheels look like a good match. The tail wheel will have to be scratch built. It seems a shame to butcher a nice Spit kit though. The Italeri kit doesn't have a wheels up option and no spare prop/spinner! I may have more luck with an Airfix one, they normally have a wheels up option and I can get an after market prop from elsewhere. Problems, problems..

I would never have heard of a Balliol if it wasn't for my F-i-L, let alone thought of building one, and I must say, its butt ugly!

I'm lucky in the fact that I can get limited access to the PB Ass' rebuild at times and have already got a few pictures. It wont be a "Rivet counters" model this, it will be a good "representation", that's all I'm after.

Better get loadsa Single Malt in stock, I may need it!

Rick

[Guest]

And I love the short run models, and this is the soul made for hand made supplements. Certainly I must get myself one, is superb.

Go ahead, follow the project.

Cheers

Ivica

[Ian M]

Yikes! got your work cut out there!

I don't know about the loads of Single Malt, I would think loads of filler and sanding sticks!

I will be very interested to see the outcome of this.

Ian M

[Guest]

What you like you lot?! You've started me off now.

Okay, I'll try to keep this up to date as I build / reconstruct this darn thing.

Found a doner at Crewe, Airfix Spit MKIX A02065. Seems a nice kit, pity to nick bits out of it.

Here we go:

As you can see I've stocked up on filler and sanding sticks!

The props a bit better

As for the wheels!

I've started to clean up the fuselage and found that its very soft plastic and cleans up quite easily. It was at this stage I realised that the model is about 2' longer than the origional, I really need to check my drawing for scale.

Thats it for tonight, hope to carry on tomorrow.

[Guest]

Bit more done, filling the inside of the radiator area. Zap-A-Gap seems to work well.

The plastic is easy to work with. I'll put some basic cockpit detail in place. The canopy is very foggy so you wont see much in there.