Matchbox Armstrong Whitworth Siskin IIIA
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/8/2/1/1512821-56165-79-720.jpg)
I picked this up quite cheap on eBay, having made it first way back in the late '70's. There were no instructions in the box. Those in the photo are from my first build. I have the old Airfix Space Shuttle kit box full of instructions and spare decals.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/6/9/0/1516690-56165-53-720.jpg)
Painting the pilot & what little cockpit there is, is proceeding gradually.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/6/9/1/1516691-56165-78-720.jpg)
I'm drilling holes for the rigging.
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/6/9/2/1516692-56165-46-720.jpg)
I'm using the Silver Wings instructions for the rigging plan.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/6/9/3/1516693-56165-38-720.jpg)
So far I've broken five 0.4mm drills. It's currently a race to see if I can drill all the holes before I run out of drills!
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/2/2/7/1517227-56165-17-720.jpg)
The engine was done with a black base and Alclad steel. Then a silver pencil was used to highlight the cylinders. It will need a bit of tweaking after being handled for a while.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/2/2/8/1517228-56165-39-720.jpg)
More work on the pilot. Nearly there.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/7/9/6/1517796-56165-70-720.jpg)
The pilot is now seated and ready to be fitted into the fuselage.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/7/9/7/1517797-56165-85-720.jpg)
I've had a go at the propeller wood grain effect.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/9/6/7/1518967-56165-81-720.jpg)
The engine & prop, still under construction. At least this shot shows the woodgrain effect a bit better.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/9/6/8/1518968-56165-41-720.jpg)
The fuselage halves are together and the seams & sink marks (mostly on the underside) are being dealt with. The instructions show a windshield part, but it is not numbered and no part is in the kit. Drilling all the rigging holes cost me 5 broken 0.4mm drills.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/9/8/1/1518981-56165-34-720.jpg)
The windshield is clearly visible in this picture.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/8/7/4/1519874-56165-15-720.jpg)
The lower wing is stuck on. The tail & upper wing are dry fitted. Starting to look like a biplane now.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/9/8/7/1519987-56165-58-720.jpg)
You can see how much filling was needed on the underside. I think it was three applications of Mr Surfacer in total.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/1/3/4/1522134-56165-76-720.jpg)
There are a couple of points where the Mr Surfacer had formed bubbles rather than fill the gap. I've scraped a bit more filler out than needed and that should reduce the chances of forming a bubble, I hope!
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/3/6/5/1524365-56165-69-720.jpg)
After several attempts to fill the joint on the lower wing using Mr Surfacer and Levelling Thinners, I abandoned the thinners and sanded instead. The thinners was taking too much thinner out of the joint.
Comentarios
13 21 July 2023, 19:02
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Well you might get a good laugh out of this one, Robert, as it's my first ever attempt at rigging a biplane. I suspect it's more like knitting than model building!
1 August 2023, 19:40
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I am sure you will manage to do the perfect rigging (have you seen my first attempt at rigging...? 😉 )
2 August 2023, 05:43
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Pulling up a chair too John.
I love these vintage matchbox kits, good memories of my youth 🙂
2 August 2023, 06:02
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I've stripped the red paint off the prop spinner as it had dried with a very grainy finish. After adding a dose of Acrylic Doctor to the paint, I've done a very thin new coat and will repeat until done.
2 August 2023, 18:53