Tamiya 1:48 Swordfish Mk 1 float plane

[Guest]

Looking forward to seeing the next update Colin

[papa 695]

Just caught up on this one Colin, and some great work so far.

[colin m]

Thanks again gentlemen for stopping by.

Well, I seem to have been working for a while now on this build, but without really sticking anything substantial together. However, I've finally done something.
The lower deck of the cockpit, nearly complete.
[ATTACH]288027[/ATTACH]

Now with pilot seat and belts in place. Nice radio provided by Tamiya, no PE there.
[ATTACH]288028[/ATTACH]

I knew I bought these clamps for a reason.
[ATTACH]288029[/ATTACH]

And the top deck loosely fitted. The other two seats also have belts. But the top deck has one seat attached to it, and forms part of the other seat, this is going to be fun trying to fit the belts inside this 'cage'.
[ATTACH]288030[/ATTACH]

Oops. I've just realised, that pilot's seat looks brand new. It clearly escaped my dry brushing phase.

Colin M..

[Guest]

Looking really good Colin!

[yak face]

Grreat stuff colin , beautifully done and luckily very visible in the finished kit , cheers tony

[Guest]

And more. The cockpit machine gun is already quite nice. But Eduard want me to cut the barrel off and replace it with theirs. Except theirs is flat. Time to invent the DIY PE rolling machine. Ok, it's a drill bit and two cotton buds (with the buds removed) but it worked.
[ATTACH]287650[/ATTACH]

Ending up looking like this.
[ATTACH]287651[/ATTACH]

If you are a bit familiar with the swordfish, you might remember this is the gun that sticks out from the cockpit then sits in a recess of the fuselage. This can make painting the fuselage a bit difficult, do by adding the new barrel later on in the build, I can avoid all that trouble - we'll see.

Tamiya tolerances can be quite tight with even a layer of paint upsetting things. So, as I prepare for priming, I've masked the cockpit mating surfaces to avoid having to scrape paint of later. It might help, it might not, again, we'll see later.
[ATTACH]287652[/ATTACH]

And finally, all primed. With a bit of luck (and after three fish tanks, two lawns and a bit of dead heading) I might get some colour on and maybe even a bit of building.
[ATTACH]287653[/ATTACH]

Right, next job, lawn mower.

Liking the look of this one, a lot!

[papa 695]

Great work on the pit Colin

[colin m]

Great work on the pit Colin

And the pit is finished.
[ATTACH]288098[/ATTACH]

As is the engine. The engine is meant to be black, that's unfortunate as I do like my radials to be a natural metal colour, then give them a dark wash to bring them to life. However, not here, black means black.
[ATTACH]288099[/ATTACH]

[Snowman]

Looking good!!

[Dave W]

Nice work Colin. Ive had the wheeled version in my stash for years. Ive got the Tamiya photo etch rigging set for it as well. Lawrie had a lot of trouble fitting the etch, which put me off a bit. Might use fishing line instead

[colin m]

Nice work Colin. Ive had the wheeled version in my stash for years. Ive got the Tamiya photo etch rigging set for it as well. Lawrie had a lot of trouble fitting the etch, which put me off a bit. Might use fishing line instead

Thanks Dave. Regards the rigging, I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I wasn't sure if the Tamiya 'bars' might be too big, or if fishing line etc would look just wrong. So, I've gone for the Tamiya PE. Although I couldn't get the float plane version, so I will still be using some home made rigging on the floats.

[colin m]

Well that's the cockpit bird cage assembly thing finished and mounted into the stbd fuselage.
[ATTACH]288135[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]288136[/ATTACH]

I know Theuns, the dope should have been darker. I did use a dark red/leather, but I guess I went a bit too much fading it out.

This the pre-war instrument panel ready for fitting.
[ATTACH]288137[/ATTACH]

And finally, a good place to stop work for tonight.
[ATTACH]288138[/ATTACH]

The fit is tight, I suspect a tiny bit of filler will be needed in places, but it certainly isn't bad.

[colin m]

I've been a bit busy so work on this build has slowed. However, the wife's BIG birthday is now done, normal service will resume. But I have managed to do a bit once in a while. Look carefully in the following pic, and you will see many bits of Swordfish scattered around my bench. It's a sort of 'spot the swordfish' type pic.
[ATTACH]288560[/ATTACH]

[Guest]

And more. The cockpit machine gun is already quite nice. But Eduard want me to cut the barrel off and replace it with theirs. Except theirs is flat. Time to invent the DIY PE rolling machine. Ok, it's a drill bit and two cotton buds (with the buds removed) but it worked.
[ATTACH]287650[/ATTACH]

Ending up looking like this.
[ATTACH]287651[/ATTACH]

If you are a bit familiar with the swordfish, you might remember this is the gun that sticks out from the cockpit then sits in a recess of the fuselage. This can make painting the fuselage a bit difficult, do by adding the new barrel later on in the build, I can avoid all that trouble - we'll see.

Tamiya tolerances can be quite tight with even a layer of paint upsetting things. So, as I prepare for priming, I've masked the cockpit mating surfaces to avoid having to scrape paint of later. It might help, it might not, again, we'll see later.
[ATTACH]287652[/ATTACH]

And finally, all primed. With a bit of luck (and after three fish tanks, two lawns and a bit of dead heading) I might get some colour on and maybe even a bit of building.
[ATTACH]287653[/ATTACH]

Right, next job, lawn mower.

I think that must be the very first time i have seen a flatey eduard gun barrel made up. I always used to think they added them to their frets just to "annoy" the model maker. You have proved they can be formed into shape.

It looks very good as well.

[papa 695]

Nice work so far Colin, and that's how I like to see a work desk, a place for everything and everything in its place.