discussion Tamiya 1:48 Swordfish Mk 1 float plane

[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.
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Ending up looking like this.
View attachment 287651

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.
View attachment 287652

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.
View attachment 287653

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.
View attachment 288098

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.
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[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.
View attachment 288135
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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.
View attachment 288137

And finally, a good place to stop work for tonight.
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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.
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[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.
View attachment 287650

Ending up looking like this.
View attachment 287651

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.
View attachment 287652

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.
View attachment 287653

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.

 

[Guest]

No I think the red of the linnen/dope you got there is just abouth right if one remembers that the fuselage will be dark on the inside, I think you nailed the rest of the cockpit wery nicely aswell
Remember that the "darkness" of the dope on the inside would be directly proportional to how much they brushed on over the outside and let it seap through the fabric, if they applied it a tad "lightly" on the outside it would look exactly like that ...

Theuns

 

[colin m]

A small step in the right direction.
I've started work on the torpedo. Which meant cutting off the 8 blades of the propellers to add 8 photo etch blades. Fiddly work, was it worth it ? Anyway, it's done now.
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Speaking of propellers, the big one is done. OK, not much to look at really. I might just add a few little paint chips later.
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But wait. Proper work. Not only have I painted the fuselage, it also stands on its floats.

View attachment 288704

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No camouflage here, this is the pre war version.

 

[papa 695]

Coming along a treat Colin

 

[yak face]

Excellent work colin , like most of the new airfix kits this looks like a pain free enjoyable build so far, cheers tony

 

[Snowman]

Beautiful!

 

[colin m]

Well this seems to be a bit of a slow build, but here is a bit of an update. I've started work using the Tamiya PE rigging. This stuff is tough. So in the below picture I tried to attach the upper and lower wings together and glue in the first pieces of rigging. Don't do this. Connect the top and bottom wings via the struts and when all set, carefully bend the rigging into place. It will bend a long way without danger of permanently deforming. Some pieces of rigging seemed to be too long and needed shortening a tiny bit. Lots of trial fitting is the order of the day here. Also, don't try gluing both ends of the rigging at the same time. Attach one end, let it set, then glue the other end, carefully bending the rigging into place.
View attachment 289144

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And finally, one wing complete.
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The fuselage has had a bit of work to. I haven't built many Tamiya kits before, but these decals lived 'down' to Tamiya's reputation for thick decals. They were a bit of a pig. To be fair, the large blue decal does have to conform to quite a rough surface. I'll either touch this blue bit up, or call it wear and tear !
View attachment 289147

 

[Guest]

That looks very smart.

I think that tamiya etch is steel rather than brass very similar to what Dragon used to add to some of their kits.

I found it more difficult to work with but yours has turned out really well.

 

[colin m]

I found it more difficult to work with but yours has turned out really well

Ah well Tony, no you are quite right, it is difficult to work with. But maybe being steel (which I hadn't realised) is why it bends so well without deforming.

 

[Snowman]

Very nice with the rigging!!

 

[Guest]

That looks really good, Colin. Which acrylics do you use?