What if

Picture Post => Current and Finished Projects => Aircraft => Topic started by: AeroplaneDriver on December 06, 2022, 04:10:24 PM

Title: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: AeroplaneDriver on December 06, 2022, 04:10:24 PM
No prizes for guessing what my next build(s) will be. Planning an inflight build in formation over a foggy base. 

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/1401/wRVtCj.jpg)
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: Nick on December 07, 2022, 08:38:47 AM
Just needs a Jowett Javelin to complete the line up.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: scooter on December 07, 2022, 08:54:20 AM
Holiday bloodsuckers?
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: DogfighterZen on December 07, 2022, 10:16:38 AM
I've recently watched a short video on Youtube about this... Excellent choice! :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: Rheged on December 07, 2022, 10:46:37 AM
Frederick Forsythe will be proud of you!
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: Captain Canada on December 07, 2022, 06:17:00 PM
I'm over here like "what " ?
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: The Rat on December 07, 2022, 06:18:10 PM
Excellent choice.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: AeroplaneDriver on December 07, 2022, 07:43:56 PM
Quote from: Captain Canada on December 07, 2022, 06:17:00 PMI'm over here like "what " ?

This book. Short story written by Frederick Forsythe in 1975 as a Christmas present to his wife. The best Christmas-aviation-ghost story ever written.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/2919/9fPlnd.jpg)
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: Flyer on December 07, 2022, 09:25:26 PM
I have read that book, a long time ago, don't remember it that well, what I do remember of it is good though. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: Leading Observer on December 08, 2022, 10:37:47 PM
Quote from: Captain Canada on December 07, 2022, 06:17:00 PMI'm over here like "what " ?

This might help
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: AeroplaneDriver on December 12, 2022, 03:12:17 PM
Both kits are mostly together.  It's rare that I build concurrent models, so a little different for me. 

Neither kit is bad by any means, but not perfect by a long shot either.  The Revell Vampire is a rebox of the Special Hobby Vampire F.3, also sold by Xtrakit and Azur.  It's got a nice level of detail but a few areas had some fit issues, so it's taking a little work to get a surface suitable for a metallic finish.  The Mosquito is nice enough and goes together quickly for an in-flight build since a large percentage of the parts are for the gear and bomb bays.  Detail is nice, though I wouldn't put it in the same class as far as details and fit as the other Airfix 1/72 kit I built this year, the new tool A-4B Skyhawk.  It's not the exact correct mark to represent the Mossie depicted in the artwork in The Shepherd, but also there were no Vampires based at RAF Celle in 1957 so I'm claiming artistic license as Forsythe apparently did too.  (In fact Celle apparently ceased to be an RAF station and was handed over to West Germany about a month before the story takes place in November '57).

Anyhoo, enough rivet counting.  Here they are getting close to paint stage. (Mossie nacelles added since pic was taken.)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/4452/os6Bch.jpg)
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: AeroplaneDriver on December 15, 2022, 01:16:41 AM
A very rainy, chilly day off here in North Carolina so some good progress on this build this evening.

Vampire is mostly done.  Decals on tonight. I'm trying to match the markings in the book illustrations so no squadron markings to worry about.  The serial in the book pics is VV612, which was actually a Venom, but I'm building to match the story so an Xtradecal generic RAF set kindly obliged.

Hopefully on to painting the Mossie tomorrow and if work leaves me alone on my Friday and Saturday "on call" days I hope for it to be completed over the weekend.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/3816/FqL1PC.jpg)
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: NARSES2 on December 16, 2022, 05:26:26 AM
Good looking MN finish  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: Pellson on December 16, 2022, 05:56:04 AM
Quote from: Leading Observer on December 08, 2022, 10:37:47 PM
Quote from: Captain Canada on December 07, 2022, 06:17:00 PMI'm over here like "what " ?

This might help

I need to take the time to watch that, actually.. It's been on my radar since forever, but..  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: Rheged on December 16, 2022, 10:03:19 AM
Seeing your work has made me find my copy of the book.
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: AeroplaneDriver on December 19, 2022, 04:53:18 PM
Almost done with Mr Johnny's Skeeter.  Lots or artistic license with the markings.  The illustrator of the book never gives a clear view.  The best pic in the book seems to show a serial in larger than normal font that starts "DZ...".  It SEEMS to be DZ3131 in the best illustration but that is too many numbers.  I had a 1/48 Mossie sheet in the spares box with DZ383 and another that had a 7 in it so some cutting made up DZ373 because that is not too dissimilar from the book pictures.  No squadron codes appear so I left them off and added the "JK" initials for Johnny Kavenaugh on the right nose. 

I thinks its as close as can be expected from the illustrations.  Still to go are the spinners.  Since the book pics are B&W I may add a splash of color and make them red.

Hoping to have them ready on the base flying over solid fog by Wednesday at the latest. 

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/1414/d2IL1S.jpg)

Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: AeroplaneDriver on December 21, 2022, 09:38:23 PM
All done.  Not the best pic, hoping to get some better ones over the next few days if the holiday schedule allows. 

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/8901/Gy70A0.jpg)
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: Rheged on December 22, 2022, 03:16:06 AM
Quote from: Rheged on December 07, 2022, 10:46:37 AMFrederick Forsythe will be proud of you!

I said this a fortnight ago, and I see no reason to change my mind.    It's a good one!!!
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: DogfighterZen on December 22, 2022, 03:17:21 AM
Very good indeed!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: Pellson on December 22, 2022, 05:38:20 AM
Quote from: Rheged on December 22, 2022, 03:16:06 AM
Quote from: Rheged on December 07, 2022, 10:46:37 AMFrederick Forsythe will be proud of you!

I said this a fortnight ago, and I see no reason to change my mind.    It's a good one!!!

2nd that. Great job
(and I still need to watch the film.. )
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: Old Wombat on December 22, 2022, 06:28:01 AM
Quote from: Pellson on December 22, 2022, 05:38:20 AM
Quote from: Rheged on December 22, 2022, 03:16:06 AM
Quote from: Rheged on December 07, 2022, 10:46:37 AMFrederick Forsythe will be proud of you!

I said this a fortnight ago, and I see no reason to change my mind.    It's a good one!!!

2nd that. Great job

3rd-ed! :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: Rick Lowe on December 22, 2022, 07:26:42 PM
Cool!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: Wardukw on December 22, 2022, 08:15:34 PM
Fiftheded ??? That's not even a word but that's what I is  :wacko:
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: Captain Canada on December 23, 2022, 03:41:58 AM
Thanks for letting me in on the secret, guys ! I'll watch that one today. The models looks great ! Lovely birds, the pair of them. Great job of building a pair of kits that fast ! I guess we could call it Merry Quick Nick  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A Little Christmas Theme…
Post by: kerick on December 23, 2022, 07:47:25 AM
I read that story ages ago. Very nice job on the builds.