npb748r Posted May 10, 2023 Share Posted May 10, 2023 OK I'm in and hope I'll be alright timing wise as I am away for two and a half weeks between now and the end of June. Sorry it's another 1/32 KittyHawk Kingfisher. So far every 1/32 KH kit I've built has been enjoyable and the end results, particularly the Trojan built as a Fennec have been amongst my best. I'm hoping this will be similar. I am planning on building a RAAF aircraft in bare metal finish. To help I also managed this week to find on line an OOP book by Red Roo Models on Kingfishers in the Antipodes in a UK aviation bookshop so snapped that up. I'll be building A48-5 JE F from 107 Squadron RAAF based in SW Australia and used on anti submarine patrols. I'll need to tweak the kit in a few areas - extra strakes on the rear of the float to reduce spray, different rudder mechanism and braces added to the bomb racks to enable 250lbs depth charges to be carried in place of 100lbs. I'll need to source some decals but there's not a lot on them, no upper wing roundels were applied so just need underside, side and rudder standard RAAF markings and codes on this aircraft were all black. The history of these aircraft in RAAF and the war they fought is all new to me so I'm learning history as I build which is one of my favourite parts of the hobby for me. neil 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted May 10, 2023 Share Posted May 10, 2023 Excellent choice Neil, I will follow with interest. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HubertB Posted May 10, 2023 Share Posted May 10, 2023 Me 2 Hubert 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npb748r Posted May 10, 2023 Author Share Posted May 10, 2023 I thought I'd start with the float as this has 2 out of three areas that I need to change (rudder connection and extra strakes on the lower back area of the float. I was hopping that to do some building however I never got that far ! I love KH kits as whilst they are modern they still provide the modeller with the opportunity to do some proper old fashion modelling. Given the main float consists of a small number of parts, I'm hoping this area contain all of KH's peculiarities for the entire kit. The connector pins are larger than their corresponding holes so a bit of widening needed and the flash on parts needs trimming back like on this wheel half where it sticks out beyond the wheel. The instructions call for PE parts that aren't included in the kit - PE21, there is a PE 16 but no 21 - luckily these aren't needed as the rudder needs to be amended for RAAF aircraft. Finally, the bottom of the float has 2 prongs sticking out for the catapult launch mechanism, the front one is there albeit not numbered on the spur so that took some working out however the back one is just not mentioned in the instructions even though the slot for it is present and the illustrations of the built up float in the instructions shows both. So far I can't find the part on the spur so that might need scratch building, again not an issue. It's modelling fun, hoping to actually stick some plastic together tomorrow ! neil 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazzaS Posted May 11, 2023 Share Posted May 11, 2023 Nice start. But talk about crunch time... Didn't the FAA use silver paint? I know some of their other weird looking planes got silver paint. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottsGT Posted May 11, 2023 Share Posted May 11, 2023 Holy time crunch! I’ll be watching too. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npb748r Posted May 11, 2023 Author Share Posted May 11, 2023 5 hours ago, GazzaS said: Didn't the FAA use silver paint? I'm not sure, I think there were either DSG/EDSG over sky or the original USN blue over grey in British service. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npb748r Posted May 13, 2023 Author Share Posted May 13, 2023 it's moving forward, this is one of those builds where I'm finding I have to study the instructions a lot at the same time as test fitting. I've added the extra float strakes, amended the rudder device to represent that used by the RAAF and added the missing springs on the side of the pilot's seat that KH didn't include. I also saw in another build review that the pilots bulkhead had a round window in it which I've now added (not yet glazed). Interestingly KH marked the circular window on the pack side of the bulkhead. Just getting everything ready for a coat of interior green paint. I picked up the Eduard interior set as my painting of the IP and radio's wont be up to the task. Paint next, yippeee. neil 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomber_County Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Looking good Neil, is the Mossie after this?……….. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npb748r Posted May 14, 2023 Author Share Posted May 14, 2023 2 hours ago, Bomber_County said: Looking good Neil, is the Mossie after this?……….. I think it will be and I'm planning on it being a longish build that might need some quick shake and bake builds during the duration. I can't decide on aircraft scheme at the moment 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npb748r Posted May 17, 2023 Author Share Posted May 17, 2023 I keep forgetting to take pictures as I progress ! This kit has loads of small parts, I've given up on some of them ! I seem to have spent hours working on the interior, really enjoying the build. Anyway, this is as far as I've managed to get.... 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npb748r Posted May 17, 2023 Author Share Posted May 17, 2023 still have some more of the interior to do however I just did a test fitting closing the two halves up. Despite the massive greenhouse and large open cockpits, there is surprisingly little to be seen of all the hard work detailing the interior. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted May 18, 2023 Share Posted May 18, 2023 You're making fast work of the Kingfisher Neil. Great work too. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npb748r Posted May 23, 2023 Author Share Posted May 23, 2023 bit more progress, starting to get paint on and weathering underway. According to my book on the these RAAF aircraft, they were washed down after each flight but having never built a 1/32 float plane before I wanted to weather it a bit so I'm on the world of make believe where my planes crew chief would rather sit back and have a beer than wash the aircraft that frequently ! Anyway, as with most of my builds, I have made a few mistakes along the way (over eager with the file and squared off a few rounded edges is the biggest one, you will most likely spot where !) but really enjoying this one. thanks for looking neil 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted May 23, 2023 Share Posted May 23, 2023 Damn, that's nice ! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted May 23, 2023 Share Posted May 23, 2023 What Martin said! Carl 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HubertB Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 What Carl said that Martin said ! Hubert 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belugawhaleman Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 Love the Kingfisher.....yours, ...coming along nicely! BTW.....some time ago, at another residence....with a pond..saw an actual King fisher diving for food....pretty cool...living there for almost 35 years, witnessed this only once...a pretty cool, early morning Saturday.. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npb748r Posted May 24, 2023 Author Share Posted May 24, 2023 These Australian Kingfishers went hunting with depth charges so I wanted to add that to my build. I found these 3d printed ones from Flying Start Models. This is the first 3d printed aftermarket I've bought and I think they are great. What's more the owner, Tim, is a really decent chap based on my very limited dealings with him, highly recommend him and his products. Looking at the one close up photo I could find of these kingfishers carrying depth charges it looks like it was carrying the earlier Mk VIII however I bought a set of each just in case. Next I need to make the field installed braces enabling them to carry these 250lb DC's. neil 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npb748r Posted May 28, 2023 Author Share Posted May 28, 2023 not much progress due to covid (again, my 5th time !). Anyway, she's on her main float and decals are going on. Just the wing floats and some small details to add. I went with A48-11 (JE M) as this aircraft never had the braces added for the bomb racks. Saved me time and stress building them from scratch so I was being lazy really. As well as finishing the bits that came in the box, I need to scratch the braces to the main float, will probably do that before adding the wing floats to give me room for my ham-fists ! neil 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HubertB Posted May 28, 2023 Share Posted May 28, 2023 Coming along nicely, Neil 👍 Hubert 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npb748r Posted May 29, 2023 Author Share Posted May 29, 2023 she's finished. Posted in ready for inspection. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomber_County Posted May 29, 2023 Share Posted May 29, 2023 Neil, looks amazingly and so fast…..off to look at the reveal…. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinM Posted May 30, 2023 Share Posted May 30, 2023 On 5/17/2023 at 11:21 AM, npb748r said: I keep forgetting to take pictures as I progress ! I get the same way Neil get all involved in the build. On 5/23/2023 at 9:49 AM, Martinnfb said: Damn, that's nice ! Was my exact thought Martin.Now over to the RFI. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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