Why don’t we get some bread?

[The Wooksta!]

"Well, where's breakfast, then?"

As the jet Wyvern is now at the primer stage, this is traditionally where I start looking for another project.  In the case of this thread, several.  To start with.

This, jellymen, is my Martin Baker thread.  I'll likely be adding a few more, but these there are the first to hand.

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The Magna MB-2.  It's a bit rough and ready, really typical Magna. I have a few more tucked away, as I'd like to do the one with the proposed retractable u/c which is in the more recent editions of the Morgan/Shacklady Spitfire: The History.  All I've done so far is clean off the curing lugs and trim down the cockpit module.  I'll get some primer on the interior tomorrow.

Not entirely sure where this one will be going, but one of the training OTUs is likely.  Who does training units for whiffs?  No one but me, so there.  I also like the idea of one as an alternate to the Miles M.20 panic fighter and graft a Merlin XX power egg onto it.  Having offered one up, it does fit.  Depending on how the revised u/c version comes out, that's another possibility.  Having checked, I know there are three more in the loft plus a Merlin one.  Yes, Merlin.  You may well scoff, but the MB-2 was one of his less bad kits (you cannot use a positive with Merlin kits, they were all differing shades of awful) and I quite enjoyed the one I did years back, so grabbed a second when I saw one reasonably cheap.

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The MB-3.  This is going to be the bubble top and it's been on and mainly off for the best part of twenty years. From what I remember, it was a simple enough build, for a Magna kit.  I'll be adding some wing guns after it gets some primer tomorrow, a set of Hispanos stolen from an Eduard Spitfire mk IXc after looking at the set up on the Aerocraft MB-4 (which will join the thread at some point, but not just yet) as well as some better wheels from the Airfix Tempest and a new four blade prop.  It'll likely end up in 2TAF colours as an FR machine, with a camera fitted slipper tank on the centreline and oblique cameras in the fuselage sides aft of the cockpit.  I've been considering this one for a while.

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Whilst it may look like it, this isn't an MB-4, it's a Centaurus MB-5 of similar vintage to the MB-3.  Based on the Pegasus MB-5 with a Matchbox Tempest F.II front end and some plastic card wing root intakes.  It's been various shades of crap over the years but I've decided it's going to get an overall coat of Aluminium. Once I've cleaned the dust off first, obvs. Not sure yet, but if the rockets from the Firedog Beaufighter fit the wings, it's going Malaya with some spare Tempest markings.

Not photographed but there's a "stock" MB-5, based on the Pegasus kit that's painted and recalled, but in need of some varnish before I can go any further with it.

Perhaps we can have a Martin Baker mini-theme at Telford? Both Gondor and Kit can drag their MB-3, MB-4 and MB-5s along and I think OGL did the MB tank buster from the Unicrap atrocity.

[NARSES2]

I've a couple of MB types both in the stash and finished kits sections of the model room, so could provide a couple. (If I can find them  )

[The Wooksta!]

"I still tend to think that the whole outfit is somethat on the snug side."

Not got as much done today as I'd have liked, but I did get a bit further with other things, so it's all good.

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The MB-3 has had a coat of primer and various areas filled and sanded back.  Then I fitted the guns.  Few false starts as the smaller ones were being eaten by the carpet monster, but I got there in the end.

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Resin slipper tank with integrally mounted forward facing camera.  It did need a few tweaks to get it to fit properly.

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So another coat of primer and I can maybe think of getting some paint on proper.

Theres a few things about it that are bothering me.  The engine is perhaps somewhat undernourished, especially considering that it's supposed to be a Sabre under that cowling (Martin had wanted a Griffon for the MB-3, but was fobbed off with a Sabre, which ultimately killed Valentine Baker).  As I'm giving it a 4 blade prop (this being a late MB-3 with the cut down fuselage and the bubble hood), I'm concerned that the tailplanes are too small.  Typhoon had vibration issues when fitted with a 4 blade prop, cured once fitted with Tempest tailplanes.  I did look at retrofitting some MB-5 tailplanes, but they were massive by comparison.  Let's be kind and say that the MB-3 didn't have the same vibration issues.
Does anyone do PRU Mauve in acrylic paint?  An FR unit makes me automatically think of 2 sqn, but 4 sqn was a PR unit until disbanded, so that's an alternate.  I am leaning towards 13 sqn, replacing their pink Spitfire IXcs.

The MB-2 has had the interior assembled and painted.

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This is a nude sot of the cockpit module, with the white metal crash pole.

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And by magic, we get to here.  There's a few more things I'll have to do, but it's not far from closing up.

As for the Centaurus MB-5...  It's had the dust cleaned off, but the test fit of Firedog Beaufighter rockets ended in dismal failure.  They're too long and foul the control surfaces, but if pulled inboard to clear them, they foul the u/c.  Hmmm.  I shall go to my back up plan of bombs and a centreline drop tank.

Having had cause to drag my box of MB-5s from the loft, I'm actually itching to start one, although I don't have anything in mind except replacing one of the Mustang units in Italy.  I shall park it for now, but I'll ether fight the Pegasus or Magna kits.  I'm tempted with the latter, because I really enjoyed the last one I did.

[PR19_Kit]

I thin k your UN-fave Xtracolor do, or did that PR Mauve, but I've not seen any others yet.

Looks like we could have a LARGE Martin baker sub-section at Telford this year. 

[kitbasher]

1.  Best I get started on my MB5.5 then!

2.  I've got unopened enamel Xtracolor PRU Mauve and I'm never quite sure whether it's too dark.  Their PRU Pink is way too pink.

3.  Cracking builds on the go, Lee.  Bags of inspiration for us all.

[NARSES2]

Right Hataka's RAF PR Units paint set has both a PR Blue and a colour they call "Royal Blue".

The description for this Royal Blue is " Overall colour of PR aircraft in North Africa and the Far East inc. Spitfire PR Mk IV and Hurricane PR Mk II. It does look a little on the "purpleish" side as well.

[PR19_Kit]

I think that's the very darkish blue they used on the famous 'Grannie II' PR Hurricane, I don't think it's all that mauve though.

[kitbasher]

That 'Royal Blue' is cited in numerous references and decal sheets.  Not related to PRU Mauve as far as I'm aware.

[NARSES2]

That 'Royal Blue' is cited in numerous references and decal sheets.  Not related to PRU Mauve as far as I'm aware.

 

[The Wooksta!]

"Ha ha ha ha! Yeah! Nice day."


The weather is rather nice, so that means I can get outside with a rattle can.

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The Centaurus MB5 is now resplendent in silver.  I now have to look out some suitable decals, probably Tempest.  Although I just remembered it's going 33 Sqn in Malaya and I didn't fit the bomb racks.  Oops.

While we're on with Centaurus engines...

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It had to happen sooner or later and I was silly enough to bring it down from the loft.  You've seen Gondor's take, but this is mine before the cockpit sides went on.  Since then, the armament is fitted to the wings and they should be the next bits to go on.  I have yet to select an end user, but I may go for a naval option as I knacked part of the rudder when taking it off the scaffolding.  Possibly a Sea Fury RNVR unit?

I also did a Hornet at the same time, one that's been lurking in a box for nigh on twenty years.  I think it was going to be a target tug, but now it's got an overall coat of Aluminium for a Hornet PR.5.

Whilst this wasn't a trouble free build - the cockpit sides fought me somewhat, it's nowhere near as much of a fight as the Magna MB2 is putting up.

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The starboard half is shorter than the port by at least a mm, so I sawed the back end off down a panel line in front of the tailplane mount and glued it where it should be.  Some plastic card was then glued into place and then cut to shape.

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It's not ideal and I'll need to do some sanding so it matches the rest of the fuselage, but it's a lot better than it was.

The Magna MB3 now has it's underside Med Sea Grey sprayed on, so I'll get that masked off over the weekend to get the upper colours on.

[The Wooksta!]

"Why can't we have some decent food?"

Again, drifting slower than a glacier, progress on the Martin-Bakers is moving ahead.

The MB3 is currently sitting in the shed, having had the Ocean Grey resprayed and is awaiting masking to do the upper surface green.

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The MB2 now has the wings on and the gaping chasms that are the roots filled with superglue and baking soda.  Not looking forward to sanding this off as I've left it for a few days, so it's likely to be rock hard.

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Two shots of the MB4.  The engine cowling is still unfitted as I need to give the engine a wash with thinned black.  It's been shot with some cheapskate generic aluminium from a rattle can from one of the Pound shops.  If only to save my decent Hicote stuff.  I've yet to clean up the elevators and I may have to go with the navalised option as I'd snapped off the top of the rudder when removing it from the scaffolding.  I've asked a mate who actually did it as a Navy version if he has the spare rudder.  If not, I already have a scheme in mind, possibly early Sea Fury on HMS Ocean with the EDSG low demarcation.  A five blade prop is possible if I go down that route.  If it ends up RAF?  Thinking stealing the spare post war markings from the Airfix Tempest.

[The Wooksta!]

"Yeah, where's the bloody vindaloo, hippie?"

With a major show coming up, I really need to finish a few things and this is high on the priority list.  The MB.3.  It got masked this afternoon.

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The port side was easy enough, using the Magna painting guide, but for starboard, I had to try and find a photo of the real thing.  As it is, it's a bit guesstimated, but it's late/extended war and some 2TAF stuff wasn't really set in stone.  End user is likely to be 4 Sqn, although the marking is likely to go on the engine cowling rather than the fin, because I think there might not be quite enough space for it above the fin flash.  Should look good next to the Hornet PR2 that's going in their colours too.

[kitbasher]

Ooer!  Now I can see either one of them finished in that low-level PR scheme worn by Spit PR.XIIIs, the one with PRU Mauve undersides.

[The Wooksta!]

"You got any witnesses?"

I do have another pair tucked away and a mate has promised his part started one should he find it, so a second with PRU Mauve undersides is a possibility.  Although that could be an FR MB5?

Apparently Dujin did one, but I can't remember seeing any on sale.  Bit like most Dujin kits, they seemed to be very blink and you miss them, so you grabbed any that you were interested in when you saw them.

[kitbasher]

2 Sqn FR MB5 👍👍