Well here's the starting point of my next GB entry.
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi10.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa134%2FNARSES2%2FModel%2520Pics%2520002_45.jpg&hash=b213fe5998c6d684f27ab0833195628bb512753a) (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/NARSES2/media/Model%20Pics%20002_45.jpg.html)
I've already started her engine replacement and the Spitfire V's Merlin cowl is almost a perfect fit. Indeed if I could saw anything like a straight line (I can't even slice bread :banghead:) it would almost be a "slot in".
Only ONE Spitfire? :o
OK, just saw the sticker on the box. Existential crisis averted! ;)
Quote from: Old Wombat on July 28, 2018, 03:13:42 AM
Only ONE Spitfire? :o
Exactly! :o
Or will it be a 'Tophe Special' with an engine on one side and the cockpit offset to the other, like a more belligerent Bv-141?
Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 28, 2018, 03:15:58 AM
Quote from: Old Wombat on July 28, 2018, 03:13:42 AM
Only ONE Spitfire? :o
Exactly! :o
Or will it be a 'Tophe Special' with an engine on one side and the cockpit offset to the other, like a more belligerent Bv-141?
Nope, I also, for some reason, have two more Italeri kits ? :unsure:
Quote from: NARSES2 on July 28, 2018, 03:21:08 AM
Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 28, 2018, 03:15:58 AM
Quote from: Old Wombat on July 28, 2018, 03:13:42 AM
Only ONE Spitfire? :o
Exactly! :o
Or will it be a 'Tophe Special' with an engine on one side and the cockpit offset to the other, like a more belligerent Bv-141?
Nope, I also, for some reason, have two more Italeri kits ? :unsure:
Ahah, THREE engines then? ;D ;)
Looking forward to this one, the Whirlwind is another favourite
The engine transplant was going well until :banghead: There is quite a difference in thickness between the Airfix and Italeri and I managed to sand through the Italeri cowling where she meets the Airfix root :o Had a small hole with egg shell thin surrounds.
Not to serious, and I would appear to have sorted it. I've also learnt to be a bit more careful with the other wing/engine join. Both wing/engine assemblies are now in primer and will get their next p.s.r. session tomorrow.
Meanwhile I tarted up the cockpit a little. Seat from the Italeri Spitfire is the cut down instrument panel. Stick from sprue, belts from tape and then some paint work and she's done. I've also found a pair of wheels/tyres which are about the right size and look far better then the originals. Mind you when I test fitted the wings to fuselage I was :o Lovely fit. Sure will need a little bit of very thin strip on one root and some filler on both, but otherwise :thumbsup:
I'm enjoying this. It's the most serious modelling I've done in a very, very long time. Normally I'm out of the box with a new paint scheme. Could be tempted farther down the path that leads to .................... ;)
Just need to finalise the scheme now. She will be Far East as a replacement for the Hurri-Bombers, but not sure if it will be late 44 early 45 or post February 45. The difference ? Pre February no white ID stripes, post February, white ID stripes.
Cockpit insert is in place and fuselage joined. Needs a little p.s.r. but not that much :thumbsup:
Stripes make it faster...! Looking forward to this one; I did some Whirlwind conversions, too, incl. transplants of Mosquito engines, which are quite bulky for the slender aircraft. I am curious how the Spitfire noses look on the kit - should result in a very sleek aircraft? Great idea. :thumbsup:
Thanks Dizzy.
Hopefully this might start seeing paint at the end of the week. I'll post some in progress shots tomorrow all being well.
Quote from: NARSES2 on July 31, 2018, 06:58:57 AM
Hopefully this might start seeing paint at the end of the week. I'll post some in progress shots tomorrow all being well.
Probably a tad optimistic. One of the main challenges for me, especially given my skill set is to try and get the engine nacelles symmetrical (sorry Tophe) or at least as symmetrical as I can and that's taking time.
Still here's some progress shots.
Peregrin and Merlin before surgery
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Post surgery
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PSR on the underside
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PSR on the upper surface
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Cockpit work
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Hmm, makes you realise how beefy the Merlin was compared to a Peregrine.
Yup. But I really like the look - the Spitfire front end is pretty slim and seems to fit well onto the Whirlwind's nacelles. IIRC, the Mossie engines I used in one of my conversions were more massive, and called for serious body work.
Will there be dust filters, for tropical use?
Love a Whirlwind whiff Chris. Planning any changes to the armament?
Quote from: Dizzyfugu on August 01, 2018, 08:15:48 AM
Yup. But I really like the look - the Spitfire front end is pretty slim and seems to fit well onto the Whirlwind's nacelles. IIRC, the Mossie engines I used in one of my conversions were more massive, and called for serious body work.
Will there be dust filters, for tropical use?
Maybe Hornet nacelles would be perfect?
Quote from: Dizzyfugu on August 01, 2018, 08:15:48 AM
Will there be dust filters, for tropical use?
I thought about it, but decided against it. Hurricanes used in the Burma campaign seem to have been a mixture of some with and some without and it was easier to use the standard intakes if I'm honest. Although not as easy as I thought because of some plastic melting on me because of a mixture of solvent glue and over zealous clamping :banghead:
Anyway work continues and after another p.s.r. session I think one nacelle will be o.k. after a shot of primer whilst the other probably needs another p.s.r. session. Meantime the fuselage needed very little sanding of the seams,nor did the separate nose :thumbsup:
The Whirlwind is a very attractive aircraft to my eye, however it must be said that a test fit of the wings to the fuselage shows that the new engines give her a much more pugnacious look, especially from head on.
I've got another 2 Airfix kits and 3 Special Hobby ones, including the 37mm cannon armed version so I may well be tackling a couple more in the near future. SH will be out of the box/paint whiff's, whilst the Airfix ones might be having an appointment with a razor saw and Greenstuff :angel:
You could add one of the engines you have removed from this one to the nose of another Airfix to give you a Whirlwind trimotor.
A Whirplewind?
Quote from: zenrat on August 03, 2018, 04:32:07 AM
You could add one of the engines you have removed froths one to the nose of another Airfix to give you a Whirlwind trimotor.
A Whirplewind?
Sounds a bit like Vorpalwind.
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
She's not Italian :angel:
Anyway to my surprise the nacelles just need a little Mr Surfacer 500 and that will be it, hopefully :rolleyes: I can then attach the wings and I'll have an airframe :thumbsup:
Not as surprising as some might think, the length (& weight) of the engines is the biggest difference.
Specifications (Peregrine I)
General characteristics
(Data from Lumsden)
Length: 73.6 in (1,869 mm)
Width: 27.1 in (688 mm)
Height: 41.0 in (1,041 mm)
Dry weight: 1,140 lb (517 kg)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Peregrine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Peregrine)
Specifications (Merlin 61)
General characteristics
(Data from Jane's)
Length: 88.7 in (225 cm)
Width: 30.8 in (78 cm)
Height: 40 in (102 cm)
Dry weight: 1,640 lb (744 kg)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Merlin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Merlin)
Quote from: Old Wombat on August 03, 2018, 06:17:09 AM
Quote from: zenrat on August 03, 2018, 04:32:07 AM
You could add one of the engines you have removed froths one to the nose of another Airfix to give you a Whirlwind trimotor.
A Whirplewind?
Sounds a bit like Vorpalwind.
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
Brillig! :rolleyes:
Quote from: JayBee on August 03, 2018, 12:46:32 PM
Quote from: Old Wombat on August 03, 2018, 06:17:09 AM
Quote from: zenrat on August 03, 2018, 04:32:07 AM
You could add one of the engines you have removed froths one to the nose of another Airfix to give you a Whirlwind trimotor.
A Whirplewind?
Sounds a bit like Vorpalwind.
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
Brillig! :rolleyes:
Someone will have to build a Jabberwock to use as a target aircraft........ or possibly a Jubjub bird......... or even a Frumious Bandersnatch. Come to think of it, didn't Valom once do a Ground Attack Bandersnatch? Kit may be able to find it in the great book of words.
Had a moment of truth yesterday. This is the first piece of major plastic surgery I've done since I was a teenager I think and it's been a steep but, on the whole, an enjoyable learning curve.
However after I'd assembled the wings yesterday and was admiring how well they fit, credit Airfix back in the day, I noticed that the port engine nacelle was out of kilter. It was angled upwards at probably somewhere between 5 and 10 degrees :banghead: Looked even worse with the prop test fit to it. The starboard one was fine and whilst the problem wasn't obvious from head on, from an angled side view it was :banghead:
First instinct was to fret about it and then ignore it. Get it finished, put it down to a lesson learned and then park it in a box after completion rather than take it to Telford.
Half hour and a mug of tea latter I thought "NO", bit the bullet, got the razor saw out and cut the offending nacelle off. It will go back on with a plastic card shim to bring it into line.
This problem was basically caused by my inability to cut a decent 90 degree line :banghead:
So project delayed, but still ongoing and I'm actually quite proud of myself for doing the "right" thing. You lot are corrupting me ;)
You are not alone.
With the wonky cutting that is.
I was corrupted years before I found this place.
;)
Looking forwards to seeing more progress pics in due course, Chris. This has really caught my imagination. Love the Whirlwind and had a really pleasant experience building the Airfix kit.
Quote from: kitbasher on August 05, 2018, 03:44:03 AM
Looking forwards to seeing more progress pics in due course, Chris. This has really caught my imagination. Love the Whirlwind and had a really pleasant experience building the Airfix kit.
Yup the Airfix kit has been a very pleasant surprise and I have a couple of other ideas. Perhaps a navalised one, but with radials (I've asked the question on the dedicated Whirlwind thread http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,6954.msg817458.html#new (http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,6954.msg817458.html#new)) and even a two-seater nightfighter ?
I must crack open one of my Special Hobby ones to see how it builds.
The reset nacelle has had its first psr session and after some priming it's not as bad as I thought :thumbsup: Might just need 1 or possibly 2 more psr sessions before paint :thumbsup:
Have found I have the remains of an old Frog Hornet. So I'm seeing a late production Merlin engine'd Whirlwind used in the low level pr role looking all pretty in pink.
Quote from: NARSES2 on August 08, 2018, 06:42:22 AM
Might just need 1 or possibly 2 more psr sessions before paint :thumbsup:
Why do I tempt fate so ? :banghead:
The p.s.r. was looking good and then I noticed something. The nacelle that I'd reattached was looking slightly longer then the other one. I put it on a nice clean cutting mat and sure enough it was :-\ Only by 2mm or so, but I now know it's to long and as I seem to be breaking, or at least attempting to break, all of my bad habits on this build I decided I needed to fix it. So I've dug up an old spinner back plate from "the box" and it's the correct diameter, obviously ex Spitfire, and just about the right thickness. So it's been attached to the other, shorter one and filler applied. One step forward and ...............
Anyway it is the RAF 100 GB so Per ardua ad astra as some would say ;)
I fear I'm letting this build get to me a bit so as there's time a plenty (famous last words) I'm going to park it for a day or so and work on something more straightforward. Then clear the bench and my mind so I can tackle this cowling and get it sorted.
P.S.R. ; P.S.R. ; P.S.R. :rolleyes:
Painting has started
:thumbsup:
Undersides painted, start on uppers tomorrow.
First of the upper colour's done, start on t'other tomorrow.
Major painting done and masking tape is off. Not to much touching up to be done so hopefully start on the transfers this weekend. Then it's the undercarriage and fiddly bits.
I wasn't particularly happy with the wheels for some reason so I've found some better looking wheels of the right size in the spares box marked "wheels and undercarriage :angel:" and they were already painted, so bonus :thumbsup: I'm also planning on opening the canopy as I've spent a bit of time on the cockpit.
She should be finished by the G.B. end date and then on to Telford.
No progress, but I did spend an age combing through a load of books to find a picture of a Whirlwind with an open cockpit. Could I find one ? Like heck I could :banghead:
In the end I trawled the net and even that took a while, but eventually found a decent photo of one. Found a load of pics. of model ones but wanted a real one. In the end it opened exactly as I thought, but I just wanted to be sure.
I had a bit more to do in the way of paint touch ups then I thought I had. For some reason I masked the demarcation line on each nacelle differently :banghead:
However she can now get her transfers and then undercarriage.
No progress as I've been away and then once back I have to get settled into things again.
However whilst away I spent ages thinking about where I've put the upper/lower camouflage demarcation on the nacelles. I've placed it quite high up (on a line with the exhausts) now whilst this does indeed mean it aligns with the lower line of the fuselage it just looks wrong to me. It might pass on a post War two colour scheme, but not a three colour one for some reason ?. Anyway I have finally decided to bite the bullet and will re-mask the nacelles tomorrow and repaint them. Then transfers can commence.
Every time I think I'm getting somewhere with this kit then it decides to stick two fingers up at me :banghead:
I've sorted the nacelle camouflage out and thought, "nearly there" and went to fit the canopy. Lets just say it didn't really want to fit :-\ Basically this was because of the "improvements" I've made to the cockpit. Anyway after a cup of tea I went back and had another try. I could just about get it on as long as I applied a lot of downward pressure. So out came the clamps and I glued it, clamped it and left it overnight. Took the clamp off this morning and the fit is o.k. but the clamp's left a mark on the canopy. Basically I can live with that, so onwards and upwards, perhaps transfers and canopy framing can start tomorrow ?
So canopy framing is done and I've started to put the transfers on. The national markings I'm using are from the spares box and all I can say is that you can almost make a cup of tea in the time it takes them to come off the backing paper :banghead: Complete contrast to the RS ones I'm using on my other current build. Not sure who's they are, thought at first they were Revell, but not so sure now. Whoever's once they are off the sheet they are fine, but the wait :-X
Well she's done, just needs her photos taken and a short explanation written and that's it.
She's got more problems then the current Crystal Palace forward line :banghead:, but strangely I like her if only because I've managed to prove to myself that despite my current (and they are not going to get better) hand/eye co-ordination problems I can still tackle a project like this and most importantly still enjoy it :thumbsup: So she will be going to Telford, probably have to hide away at the back, but she will go to the Ball. :angel:
I'm thinking of doing another one in the New Year, but incorporating the lessons I've learned whilst doing this one. That will be the final development of the Whirlwind line which was used on anti-shipping strikes in the Aegean.
Nice one. Looking forward to seeing more of her !
Westland Whirlwind Mk V of 137 Squadron, Burma, 1945.
No backstory for this one yet. I've the framework of one in my mind, but I've got a little to much on at the moment which means I can't sit down and work through it. Also I know Martin H did a Whirlwind development time chart with details of the various marks etc on it and it would be nice to tie mine in with that. Also I want to get the backstory sorted for an article in the UK SIG's Newsletter. I'll probably do it when I get the second one done that I have planned. So there are my excuses and here are the finished pictures.
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Looks very good in this scheme!
TomZ
Very smart indeed Chris. :thumbsup:
Looks good with those roundels too. There's something essentially RIGHT about a Merlin engine Whirlwind.
The Merlins don't look out of place there Chris, nicely done :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Love that scheme too --
In a book called Westland Aircraft and mostly to do with Harald Penrose's experiences as a test pilot, it says the rear fuselage of the Whirlwind from just forward of the trailing edge of the wing to (and including) the fin was made out of magnesium (a non-strategic material back then), substitute all that for aluminum and a counter weight near the fin and it would work very well I think
Looks good Chris, glad you're done after all theb :banghead: it's given you.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Quote from: Rheged on August 03, 2018, 02:06:25 PMSomeone will have to build a Jabberwock to use as a target aircraft
YES WOW WHIZ BANG! What a fantastic name for an aircraft, can't believe nobody has used that yet, at least not to my knowledge. It MUST be done.
She's a beauty, a beauty I tells ya! :thumbsup: :drink:
Really, really nice and in that scheme too :thumbsup:
That came out well, problems not withstanding - nice one! :thumbsup:
Westland were adamant that the Whirlwind couldn't be redesigned to take different engines, but when you see how well they fit..... Mind you, this is Teddy Petter we're talking about....
That looks very good, the slender Spitfire cowlings look very good! Very balanced. :thumbsup:
Fabtastic.
:thumbsup:
Thank you gentlemen :thumbsup: I must admit the 1945 SEAC scheme is one of, if not my actual, favourite schemes. The late War Italian 3 colour upper surface splinter scheme pushes it, but I think SEAC just wins on the line ;D
Quote from: Weaver on October 08, 2018, 06:12:23 PM
Westland were adamant that the Whirlwind couldn't be redesigned to take different engines, but when you see how well they fit..... Mind you, this is Teddy Petter we're talking about....
Yup I've assumed Petter had gone off in a huff in the backstory I'm working on.
There's a thread on Secret Projects showing a letter that shows they were quite keen on the idea. :thumbsup:
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,5734.90.html
It'd be interesting to see how a Whirlwind would look with the 'slim-line' DH Hornet engines too.
Quote from: PR19_Kit on October 09, 2018, 10:33:24 AM
It'd be interesting to see how a Whirlwind would look with the 'slim-line' DH Hornet engines too.
Well now --- I've always considered this as the "ultimate" Whirlwind, if you look at the wings they're more like the Whirlwind's than the Hornet's
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The shot on the ground certainly looks like something Westland may have come up with. A kind of half way house between the Whirlwind and the Welkin.
:mellow: just as spitfire engine were design to whirlwind :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
It does look right.
... Every time I see a Whirlwind photo, I think it looks really sleek - except for the cockpit canopy. I wonder how a late Spitfire or Seafire canopy would fit.
Thank you Manuel
Quote from: perttime on November 22, 2018, 10:44:05 PM
It does look right.
... Every time I see a Whirlwind photo, I think it looks really sleek - except for the cockpit canopy. I wonder how a late Spitfire or Seafire canopy would fit.
I know what you mean, but at the time it was designed the canopy was quite an innovation. I did pose a spare Tempest V canopy on it during building and was tempted ;) Maybe next time ? ;D