Dave Ward's B-P Defiant - Airfix 1/48

[Dave Ward]

This will be my choice

Looking in the box, I have the Eduard Instrument Panel set, and A Montex Mask & Decal set ( I remember buying the masks, but not the panel! )
Roll on July 10th.
Dave

[papa 695]

It’s a very nice kit Dave

[Neil Merryweather]

looking forward to this,Dave

[Tim Marlow]

Always liked this bird, despite it being a bit of a failure in it’s designed role....

[Dave Ward]

Before taking up scalpel sprue shots......................


After market parts


Montex masks - black for the canopy, grey for the squadron codes, roundels, although I'll use the kit decals for the roundels/tail flash.

The serial numbers are decals, thankfully. The cockpit masking is for both inside & outside, I'll have to see how that goes...........
Dave

[Dave Ward]

Off and running! A lot of progress, but only a few parts:

Just the ingates to clean up, & the wings went together very well, very quickly.

Pilots throne & front cockpit bulkhead.
There's a fair amount of PE to fit on the cockpit sidewalls, so I'll have to be removing the original detail - then prime & basecoat, before adding the pre-painted PE bits......................
Dave

[KarlW]

Nice looking kit, the extras should make it pop. Are you doing the NF scheme?

[Dave Ward]

Karl,
no, I'm doing the day fighter scheme
Dave

[stona]

Nice start!

Why is there a question mark after 'Sky' in the painting instructions?

That's just weird. The official name of the colour was Sky. 'Duck egg green' or any variation thereof is just a description of the colour.

The confusion seems to arise because some squadrons interpreted Sky as an already existing colour (Sky Blue) or attempted to make their own, but these were few and far between. Fighter Command must have got wind of this, because among various clarifications it sent a signal shortly after the introduction of the new Sky colour to make it clear that due to a shortage aircraft could retain the earlier Night/White undersides until stocks became available.

Just sayin'.

[Guest]

Why is there a question mark after 'Sky' in the painting instructions?

I noticed that too. The only explanation I can think of is that all the confusion there has been over this paint, also got the people who researched those painting instructions. But at the same time, I’d expect someone who does that kind of research to quickly figure out what was really going on, and then to use the correct names …? (But hey, at least there’s no “Type ’S’” after it, as if that’s part of the colour designation.)

[stona]

I noticed that too. The only explanation I can think of is that all the confusion there has been over this paint, also got the people who researched those painting instructions. But at the same time, I’d expect someone who does that kind of research to quickly figure out what was really going on, and then to use the correct names …? (But hey, at least there’s no “Type ’S’” after it, as if that’s part of the colour designation.)

Sky was simply a re-named version of 'Camotint' developed by Cotton at Heston. There was a shortage after it was introduced (in June '40) but the idea that everyone was painting the undersides of their aircraft Sky Blue or in their own versions of Sky (how would they know what it looked like anyway?) is ridiculous. Fighter Command was told in no uncertain terms that until stocks of Sky could be provided they were to leave the undersides of their aircraft in the previous scheme (Night/White undersides). Other Commands and organisations, like the Observer Corps, to which the appearance of friendly aircraft was important, were similarly informed.

I think it was the late Edgar Brooks who established that there was typically not even one spray gun per squadron at Fighter Command airfields, so aircraft already in service did not change over night!

[Dave Ward]

Whatever the reasoning, I have several bottles of 'Sky' paint, one of which I will use for the underside of the Defiant!
Dave

[stona]

That will be spot on Dave!

[Dave Ward]

On with he PE - or not!
Eduard would have you replace the throttle assembly with a fiendish folded part (r)

OK, I haven't cleaned up the PE, but I'd already decided not to use it - not a great advance over the moulded bit.

Anyway, side wall frames added to cockpit area, and the whole cockpit area sprayed with interior grey-green. I will add some of the PE bits,but only those that seem to enhance detail ( I'll probably end up using the instrument panels & seatbelts! ).

Hataka grey-green used - it looks a little light, but with a wash & varnish, it'll darken up.
Dave

[SteveH]

Before taking up scalpel sprue shots......................

The serial numbers are decals, thankfully. The cockpit masking is for both inside & outside, I'll have to see how that goes...........
Dave

Hi Dave ,

I have read somewhere here on the forum, just use the exterior mask and paint it first with the interior colour then the external colour, saves all the faffing about trying to stick masks on the inside.

HTH's?

Regards

Steve H