SAAF Canberra

Patryk S.
That brings a lot of memories! Was one of bigger ZTS kits back in the days. Also made that one. Thanks for sharing!

Łukasz Gliński
You're welcome 🙂 Currently I'm rescribing it and started equipping the cockpit as it's completely empty and you can see right through it 🙂

Cuajete
Hi Łukasz! Is this a finished model or a restoration job?

Łukasz Gliński
It's the restoration, currently working on the nosejob😉

Cuajete
It will be a pleasure to attend a master class again😉

Łukasz Gliński
Well, not intended as a high-end build, but to look nice on the shelf😉

Cuajete
No matter Łukasz... It will a great build. I'm sure... so it must be! 😛

Stephen van niekerk
Just read about an ex-pupil from the school where I teach who was shot down in a SAAF Canberra over Angola in 1979. Never found. RIP

Patryk S.
Looking good so far. Very good rescribing effort!

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks, actually I still have to correct some of the lines, I'm not that great in rescribing. In the meantime I found some old F-16 parts and started scratching engine inlets with fans inside.

Cuajete
Good solution 👍

Dave Flitton
Nice, watching! I hope you have replacement decals because the present "Springbok" looks like "Springing Rabbits"

Daniel Klink
ZTS AKA Novo formely known as frog
Respect sir and i will follow... 👍 Great start

Łukasz Gliński
Yeah the ZTS decals are ridiculous indeed 😄
Luckily I managed to buy online the Frog decal set, which looks way better 🙂
I'm not going to build highly detailed kit anyway, but as Airfix and Xtrakits are hardly available, I decided to refurbish this one, by filling the holes and painting it nicely 🙂

Bernd Korte
Following!

Bart Goesaert
Splendid work so far.... Started simple, went ... Where do I recognize this from

Skyhiker
Looking good

Maciej Bellos
Following!

Łukasz Gliński
Welcome everyone. It's bit on hold lately, but I hope to go back to it soon 🙂

HSC1932
How did you remove the paint and decals?

Łukasz Gliński
That wasn't easy, the old Humbrols are really strong beasts 😄 My usual way is to sink the kit in the warm water with granulated pipe cleaner. Works perfectly for acrylics and lacquers, however old enamels need usually some airbrush cleaner or paint remover (Wamod) and sometimes even sanding (ZTS rabbit roundels didn't react to anything else). My Thunderjet and Mirage underwent exactly the same process.

Gary Kitchen
Looking good Lukasz. What a transformation. 👍

Alec K
Coming in late, but… Looking really good mate. A lot of tlc going into this one 👍

Łukasz Gliński
Thank you mates, I really enjoy it and that colour is simply lovely 🙂

Cuajete
Nice color, Łukasz! Your hard job looking good 👍

Mirko Römer
Absolutely agree with Cuajete, this turned out really nice!

Robert Podkoński
Brave man! Fantastic results as far. Following!

Maciej Bellos
A lot of work there! Looking forward to it.

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks a lot mates for your comments. I just arrived back from holidays, waiting for the heat to ease a bit to continue 🙂

Cuajete
Łukasz, you are used to working hard... Keep going 😛

Robert Podkoński
Looks really fantastic (but the ZTS Plastyk springbok was sooo cute...rabbit? 😉)

Mark K
Astounding transformation!

Alec K
The shading looks super 👍

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks a lot. Yeah, the rabbit was sweet, wasn't it? 😛
Currently adding all the antennas under the tail. Reference is scarce, so I'm following this guy:
imodeler.com/2014/10..c-bi-mk-12-canberra/

Cuajete
Nice shading 👍

Łukasz Gliński
Gracias, I have found finally a good photo of '453' example, probably in PRU blue. It seems to have basic aerial setup and only the round fairing added under the tail comparing to delivery config. I'm going to follow it then.
I know it's got the gun pack, but I don't intend to scratchbuild it and I don't know the place to source it from 🙂

Łukasz Gliński
Need to hear your honest say regarding the wash. I used the grey Tamiya, but it seems too dark for me. What do you think mates?

Bernd Korte
Washing is really often a balancing act. I would also say that a slightly lighter wash would probably have sufficed. But that would still be too strong compared to the original image. On the other hand - at least in my eyes - the model would look boring if you applied almost no wash at all. However, that would correspond best to the original.

Alec K
I am 100% with Bernd. The panel lines looked perfect in pic 32 IMHO, with addition of dark wash next to control surfaces. That said, panel washing is an artistic license and it's really up to you if you are happy with it or not. I know, NOT helpful… 😄

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks guys. Pic #32 was taken before the washing though 😄 I tried to brighten it up a bit, but failed. Most probably I'm going to leave it as it is to be honest, I'm afraid to break sth down 😄

Cuajete
Łukasz, it's okay as it is 😉 👍

Łukasz Gliński
Finished, I think. Will take some nice pics tomorrow, sunny weather is expected, perfect for SAAF plane.

Erik Leijdens
Fantastic resurrection Łukas 👍

Daniel Klink
👍👍👍

Bernd Korte
I'm looking forward to the extra pictures! I started a Canberra build myself now - probably yours has been part of the inspiration!

Gary Kitchen
Great work Lukasz. Looking forward to the final pics.

Łukasz Gliński
Thank you mates. The sun was so bright in the morning, that my camera had problems focusing on target 🙂 Let me know in case you'd like to see it in more detail.
@Bernd: I'm jealous, still hunting for that Xtrakit. Is it any good? Will follow for sure, planning to build hemp PR.9 one day as well.
@Roland: I had to, I lost the original papers ages ago 😄

Daniel Klink
Just beautiful Lukasz! Wow!
Mission Resurrectiob succesfully accomplished👍👍👍
Congrats!
And what a nice background😉

Maciej Bellos
Well done Łukasz! I didn't know that the cockpit was located eccentrically and not inline with the fuselage.

Bruce Huxtable
Looking fantastic in natural lighting 👍👍👍

Erik De Smet
Well done rebuild. I didn't know the South Africans had these hangars too....

Łukasz Gliński
Thx a lot! Can you imagine Erik, they are virtually everywhere? 😉

Alec K
Very nice reno Lukasz. It brought that model back 👍

Cuajete
Very nice restoration job, Łukasz!
And an original painting scheme 👍.
Congrats!

Bernd Korte
I like the Xtrakit up to now. It's in fact made by Sword for Xtrakit. I got it a few years ago at the official uses-model sale at Telford.

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks, much appreciated.
@Cuajete: I love that SAAF PRU blue schemes on their Canberras, Buccaneers, Piaggios and Shackletons.
@Bernd: Pity the Sword doesn't re-issue that kit 🙁 Wish I could go to Telford one day.

Cuajete
Is the Xtrakit's model better than the latest Airfix?

Łukasz Gliński
Airfix has couple of errors (described lovely in detail by Bill Gilman), which Xtrakit apparently lacks (for the price of the fit some say). Both being extremely hard to fetch.

Cuajete
Thx, Łukasz 👍