Quite a Luqa
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/3/9/5/1272395-36121-10-720.jpg)
This one, all the blues. Tropical filters will need to be scratch built. Kit does have a transparent loop aerial housing.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/3/9/4/1272394-36121-81-720.jpg)
The alternative use of a clothes line- spurs drying after their soapy immersion!
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/4/3/9/1273439-36121-72-720.jpg)
Surprisingly quick to get the interior partially done
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/4/4/0/1273440-36121-90-720.jpg)
Ingenious construction- I’m going to build as is, with some seatbelts from Airwaves or scratch
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/4/4/1/1273441-36121-12-720.jpg)
After detergent wash and dry I have tried a Halfords’ Matt black spray as it’s a little less complicated than Vallejo’s black primer. We’ll go with Vallejo 71.126 interior green for most and some pick-out black etc…
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/4/4/2/1273442-36121-61-720.jpg)
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/4/4/3/1273443-36121-62-720.jpg)
A quick dry run gets you here. The fit is tight and no real vices yet seen in the build.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/9/3/3/1274933-36121-21-720.jpg)
Some great details. I’ve only added Airwaves’ WWII RAF harnesses. Nothing else scratched.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/9/3/0/1274930-36121-18-720.jpg)
Cockpit all ready after about 1.5h
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/9/3/4/1274934-36121-71-720.jpg)
Good details at this scale
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/9/3/1/1274931-36121-34-720.jpg)
Side walls starboard
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/9/3/2/1274932-36121-56-720.jpg)
Side walls port side
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/9/8/9/1274989-36121-29-720.jpg)
Halves closed- real tight and very little required to be done
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/9/9/0/1274990-36121-95-720.jpg)
The quality of this kit is up there with Tamiya for overall fit
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/9/9/1/1274991-36121-92-720.jpg)
we got to this position in a few hours.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/0/7/9/1275079-36121-91-720.jpg)
Reference pic for torpedo
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/0/7/8/1275078-36121-40-720.jpg)
Another reference for torpedo
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/0/7/7/1275077-36121-12-720.jpg)
Not sure I’ll put 2 x Vickers guns in the front. If I do here’s the reference
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/0/8/0/1275080-36121-81-720.jpg)
The D/F loop aerial (provided in kit but not used on Mk.I option) position reference.
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/4/4/6/1275446-36121-38-720.jpg)
The front transparency F15 was a little too splayed out to conform to the pieces around. I believe this may be the moulding rather than my model making. So I have gingerly glued in sequences using the useless clamps I bought a few years ago. They have caused some stress marks within, but I couldn’t see how else to do it other than the risky option of heat and reform.
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/4/4/7/1275447-36121-77-720.jpg)
Also, watch pieces E1 and E7 the exhaust fans at the back. I misread the instructions and glued them incorrectly- dry fit first as they look obvious where they align to, but in actual fact aren’t !!
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/5/1/0/1275510-36121-46-720.jpg)
Curses! Nearly got away with it.....but the excellent Tamiya Extra Thin managed to run over the base of the transparency. Not sure how to remedy this, other than pretend it was on the aircraft. The upshot, though, I've got a smoother fit to the 4 transparencies that make up the front.
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/6/2/1/1275621-36121-88-720.jpg)
Damn the torpedoes!
First attempt at airbrushing AK Extreme Metallics. H&S infinity CR at 1.5 bar. Seems to have worked?
First attempt at airbrushing AK Extreme Metallics. H&S infinity CR at 1.5 bar. Seems to have worked?
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/9/4/3/1275943-36121-11-720.jpg)
Damn the torpedos #2: AK Extreme Metallics’ aluminium/dark aluminium and duraluminium for the torpedo- slight cock up on the dur-al but I’ll live with it. As a side project I’m going to revisit my old Matchbox MiG-21 for a play with these techniques
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/9/3/5/1278935-36121-47-720.jpg)
The reason for the hiatus on this project. The Royal Mail....these masks should have been with me last week. A week later, they arrive. And duly put in situ. Nothing outstanding to report about their use, other than a perfect fit around the transparencies. Next: interior green base coat, black over the top of that, and then some white pre-shading.
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/5/8/4/1279584-36121-99-720.jpg)
Everything looks ok under the black - the canopies took a shot of 71.126 (Vallejo). Those are my definitions of tropical filters above the cowels.
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/4/6/1/1280461-36121-64-720.jpg)
pre-shading to (hopefully) recreate those faded Mediterranean hues out of Malta…..
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/7/7/7/1280777-36121-18-720.jpg)
Quite blue, really. I’ve really tried at this first pass to emulate the fading that no doubt would be present on Maltese-based aircraft- the darker blue needs a shot of ghost white to tone it down in places.
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/7/7/6/1280776-36121-80-720.jpg)
Even on the underside.
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/8/6/3/1280863-36121-64-720.jpg)
Piece D2 went missing somewhere down the line. A quick email to Airfix’s customer relations and a piece emerged a few days later! Cracking service!!!
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/9/9/3/1280993-36121-58-720.jpg)
Shiny Beau, ahead of decals a few coats of Pledge
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/9/9/4/1280994-36121-76-720.jpg)
Torpedo cradle installed and all readied for the decals. NB the underside roundels were overpainted according to the painting profile, so I used Azur with a drop of black to emulate the obliteration.
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/0/6/1/1281061-36121-85-720.jpg)
Xtradecals were thin and in good register. Not many on this version. The Airfix stencils took up most of this evening's work. Tropical oil filters were scratch built, and I didn't have any good photo references on their mounting to the cowells. I have given them a coat of gunmetal, and again will dirty them with some oils. The exhaust collectors had Xtreme metallics burnt metal with a dry brushing of gunmetal to add some variation.
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/0/6/2/1281062-36121-54-720.jpg)
Awaiting panel washes. I'll build on lessons learned from the double Lancaster build from last month, and use oils and brushes. I feel I'm in control rather than an air brush. I will first fade the panels some more.
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/4/4/4/1281444-36121-96-720.jpg)
On short finals- upper camo faded and pin washed befitting the Maltese climate. Those wings aren’t glued, they’re pushed in. No hint of gaps between fuselage and their roots
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/4/4/5/1281445-36121-56-720.jpg)
Bottoms similarly faded and washed with oils and some enamels on the tyres. The fit of the wings means you don’t need to cement them- they’re that good. In fact the whole kit was so tight- especially around the main landing gear doors. This could theoretically help in transit/display.
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/8/9/1/1281891-36121-49-720.jpg)
L9965 “T”
Unknown Squadron.
Somewhere in the Mediterranean. 1942.
Unknown Squadron.
Somewhere in the Mediterranean. 1942.
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/8/9/2/1281892-36121-25-720.jpg)
I’d like to think this operated out of Malta.
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/8/8/6/1281886-36121-42-720.jpg)
The wings aren’t glued in, this does not affect the look of the plane & will aid any need to store it.
![Album image #40 Album image #40](/albums/img/8/8/7/1281887-36121-59-720.jpg)
![Album image #41 Album image #41](/albums/img/8/8/8/1281888-36121-34-720.jpg)
![Album image #42 Album image #42](/albums/img/8/8/9/1281889-36121-87-720.jpg)
A great accompaniment to Airfix’s Blenheim- I’ve built the Mk.I and this one is better engineered and shows some of the changes Airfix’s made in their mouldings and the architecture in the build process
![Album image #43 Album image #43](/albums/img/8/9/0/1281890-36121-29-720.jpg)
![Album image #44 Album image #44](/albums/img/8/9/3/1281893-36121-33-720.jpg)
![Album image #45 Album image #45](/albums/img/8/9/4/1281894-36121-18-720.jpg)
Commentaires
121 28 July 2022, 14:23
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Hi Guy, nice to have you along!
(I'm focused on one build now! No more over-reaching!)
28 July 2022, 18:42
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Thanks for checking it out Rui and Daniel. I'll post some build shots soon.
29 July 2022, 16:12
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Hi Mirko, I'd say I'm only 2 hours in, so you're all invited to a staggered start!
29 July 2022, 21:06
![](/profiles/img/42610-971-s.jpg)
Time for me for the daily staggered landing now 😉 Good luck, you've chosen a very attractive camo scheme!
29 July 2022, 21:10
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
@Mirko, we're taxi-ing out to runway 090R so grab yourself a Maltese beer….
29 July 2022, 21:31
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
@Gary: I'll stick you in charge of torpedo launch?….and what exactly is a 'full swing'
29 July 2022, 21:32
![](/profiles/img/69735-368-s.jpg)
😄 not sure.. especially as you're reigning in and concentrating on single builds. Guess I could do with doing the same, so many kits on the bench in various stages I'm a bit overwhelmed and end up with little progress. Going to finish up the little Sioux and then clear the remaining to the shelf and focus on one single build just weighing up whether it's a Short 827 or the Sunderland MkV so many choices.
30 July 2022, 06:50
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Agree, if you narrow the number of builds I think you're more productive - I thought doing 2 Lancasters would save on painting etc. but they never quite went at the same pace. Your next one will be a "Shorts" though! (I'm reading a great book on the Golden Age of Flying Boats- terrific historical perspective)
30 July 2022, 10:12
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Thanks Cuajete- when you have good materials to work with, and a bit of down time it helps to get the project done more efficiently
1 August 2022, 15:06
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
I think I've spent about 6 hours so far David. Hope you get some shots of your kits soon?
1 August 2022, 15:06
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Yes Cuajete- this could be an "air-speed record" for me!, unless I lose the mojo!
1 August 2022, 19:16
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Thanks for the comment István, I think all the Bristol twins were nicely proportioned in WWII
3 August 2022, 11:46
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Ł: I'd overlook this model too - but it is spectacular in fit and clever in engineering- plus a nice Mediterranean scheme will give it some prominence in the collection
3 August 2022, 11:54
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
In my Xtradecal stash, there's a Mk.Ia LR906 '42' let me know if want the decals if you start it.
3 August 2022, 15:13
![](/profiles/img/46361-416-s.jpg)
Totally agree Andy,well proportioned as both the Beau and Beaufort were developed from the venerable Blenheim.
3 August 2022, 16:10
![](/profiles/img/27826-126-s.jpg)
Well done so far despite the inconvenience caused, Andy. Looks so good! 👍
3 August 2022, 19:12
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
@Cuajete: all of my builds have those foibles- it'll be hidden with some weathering I hope!
3 August 2022, 21:26
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Thanks folks! The blue camo really stands out in the collection, and I'm hoping to unveil the completion today/tomorrow. If you're in any doubt, BUY THIS KIT. It is Airfix at their modern best. I'm not a spokesperson for them, but this has gone together as good as any offering from Tamiya, etc.
10 August 2022, 08:46
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Finals, landed Luqa, moved to dispersal point.
This was the most enjoyable kit I have made in a long while. This is 1/72nd at its best. Bravo Airfix!
10 August 2022, 15:18
![](/profiles/img/37273-426-s.jpg)
A cracking result Andy, particularly like the Med camo. I'll definitely be referring to your notes when I eventually get around to building mine. Congrats! 👍
10 August 2022, 15:28
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Hi Guy, thanks as ever- please check me out when you start, there were a few niggles in the build (mainly me not reading instructions fully), and as with all kits- a few idiosyncrasies.
10 August 2022, 17:55
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Cheers David, Vincent, and Jan. A good kit certainly helps your project- and also just getting on with it without pauses/hiatuses!
10 August 2022, 17:57
![](/profiles/img/27826-126-s.jpg)
Wow... Fantastic painting job, Andy. Great result... "Beautyfort!!"
I like the Airfix engineering to allow the wings to be disassembled and assembled without the seams of the wings with the fuselage being noticeable 👍
Congrats!
10 August 2022, 18:37
![](/profiles/img/33854-496-s.jpg)
Excellent! 👍
The Beaufort is not a subject I have ever been oarticularly interested but after seeing this build and the end result I find myself looking for one online 🙂
13 August 2022, 02:28
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
To Łukasz, Michael, Erik, Finn, rmoe701, Cuajete, Agustin, Rui S, Mirko, Dietmar, Neil and Alec K thank-you for the endorsements on this build. It was a pleasure to grace your eyeballs!
23 August 2022, 16:18
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
To Rui Da Silva: I hope you find one, it wasn't my choice of the Bristol twins as an interest either, but believe me, this kit is a step-up from usual Airfix (disclaimer, it must have been one of the first batches, maybe the freshest of moulds?)
23 August 2022, 16:20
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
To John Bollig: I have never had any of my builds considered 'contest quality', so I am gladdened by your remark. Thank-you.
23 August 2022, 16:22
![](/profiles/img/76342-836-s.jpg)
Oh, I ithink I'm very late. But it's never too late to congratulate you on this beautiful aircraft. Cheers Andy.👍
20 January 2023, 08:07
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Thanks Bernd and Neuling...one from a hot summer last year, apt really as it's flying out of Luqa.
20 January 2023, 13:52
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Oh, cheers Marius!- it's all in the eye of the beholder!?😂
Thanks Ricardo too
28 February 2023, 22:36
![](/profiles/img/78736-860-s.jpg)
Very nice Andy. Made my eyes water seeing the clamping of the transparencies. Looks like you got away with it though.!Looks super all done. 🙂
29 May, 09:25