airscale

I still say he's a wizard, and his primary modelling tool is not an X-acto knife, but a magic wand shaped like one.
 
On a serious note, I have been building models on and off for most of my 71 years, and in my opinion this model certainly ranks with those of such "greats" as Harry Woodman, Tony Woollett, George Lee, and John Alcorn. Younger modelers may not recognize these names, but those of us in the "senior division" will certainly know who I'm talking about. I just wish I could make it to Telford this year to see it in person.

Well this Spitfire should walk the Edgar Brooks Memorial competition at Telford. What it would take to beat this build, sorry, work of art, is actually quite scary. I've often wondered if Mr Airscale is a Robot and was tempted to kick him in the genital area at Telford last year to see if there was a human like reaction or not. Luckily for the both of us he'd gone for a wander from his stand.

Superb!
My hat is well and truly doffed towards you sir.

Only one more update? Now, that's sooo sad!
 
Great show, Peter. I'm really looking forward to your next NMF project, whatever it will be.
 
 
Cheers
Rainer

Peter
 
Skill, tenacity, creativity and a bit of voodoo, have brought a work of art, the likes of which, will likely never be duplicated...unless you do it...pure magic.
 
Best
Geoff

So. Good.

That wash just makes it pop! Wow!

Red Bull P-38? 
 
I think those rocker covers have got to be one of the crowning achievements of this build.
 
Craig

Im out of superlatives, but this must be the finest model I've ever seen crafted

Amazing to see this nearing completion. Just amazing.     
So you aren't going to go back to the Tigercat after this?

Holes in the rivets.  Nice eye. Top Shelf, Peter.  A true Masterpiece.  Bravo!  Many thanks.  Only 1600 images?
 
Sincerely,
Mark

Peter,
 
Such beautiful work! Very enjoyable to watch.
 
For the next one, I'm guessing aerobatic, low-wing, civilian, & Russian origin?

This has to go down as the most incredible build that I have ever seen on here. It looks like you could open up that filler port, pour in some fuel, and it would fly around the pylons at Reno.  Almost sad to see it finished, but I know the next project will be just as amazing Peter.  *cough,cough,Sea Hornet,cough,cough*
 
 
 
 
 
Matt 

Peter! I don't know whether to cheer or cry! I'm cheering because this is simply the most stunning model that I've ever seen and all your hard work has truly paid off. Not only that, it's my favourite type bar none! I mean it when I say that the only reason I'm coming to Telford this year is to see this beauty. I'm too skint to go for any other reason! 
 
I want to cry because your updates have been my highlight for visiting here. I'm really going to miss the journey we've all been on with you during this build. 
The next NMF build? I think I know what it is....I may have seen the real one at Duxford.....Nice plane, bl**dy awful drink! 
 
Best regards;
Steve

Simply beautiful 🤗

Hi all,
 
So after 18 months she is finished...
 
Spitfire MkXIV Race #80 Tinnerman Air Race 1949 flown to third position by Flt Lt James McArthur RCAF..
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
#
 

 

 

 

 

 
Thanks for all the support and contributions to my thread on the build - I started it in tribute to Edgar Brooks - Mr Spitfire, and a small part of me like to think he would like what he sees. I must say it has been a really enjoyable build, a few dodgy moments, but with the help of the Monforton book it is like building from a kit, you just have drawings not parts
 
Not sure what comes next, but if you want to see this one then it will be on the competition table at Telford this year
 
tahnks again all & back soon
 
Peter
 
 
 

jeesh Mark - they look so real
 
the texture & appearance is just perfect
 
very nice job indeed
 
peter

thanks folks - you are too kind..
 
I must admit i do love this part - I have been tempted in the past just to build cockpits from everything I like in 1/24 scale and just forget about the aeroplane!
 
anyways, got a bit more done..
 
first up I made the Blind Flying Panel - just a card blank with punched out holes and more of our bezels - I drilled tiny holes and threaded sprue for the tiny screws...
 

 
..and once finished...
 

 
..also made the engine instruments found in a binnacle where the gunsight is on a Sea Hornet - these will be in blue & yellow to bring a bit of colour...
 

 
..finished detailing the surrounding panel and sanded down the back so I can put a backplate on it with the instruments...
 

 

 
..soon had the final panel ready for paint...
 

 
..I started to lay out the instruments for the Blind Flying Panel from our airscale 1/32 RAF instrument set - these are individually printed so it is just a matter of lining them up on a dark bit of card. Once laid out I wash them in future to secure them...
 

 
..they still need glazing and the bezels finishing in a different black, but you get the idea...
 

 
..and I have something to work with...
 

 
..haven't even looked at the kit parts - sorry - I always build my own!
 
TTFN

Peter

thank you chaps for dropping in
 
been fiddling about making the instrument panel for the Hornet - I had made a start but afeter some guidance from David Collins, I found the Sea Hornet IP is slightly different to the one I modelled - he also sent 2 pics of TT202's cockpit which is incredible as now I can build it exactly as it was
 
..this is the cockpit section David is restoring - quite amazing... thanks and full credit to his website for the image and for all his help - this would all be guesswork otherwise..
 

 
..having scaled a diagram of the Sea Hornet panel, I started the same process as before, punching out the dial apertures.. the duff one is on the right..
 

 
..I detailed the new one with airscale bezels and PE details - I have some seconds that were bent in production or damaged in some way so I use those..
 

 
...built up the structures as best as I could  from the photo's I have..
 

 

 
..still more to do on this, then it's the Blind Flying Panel and then I will glaze and put our instruments in
 
..love this bit!
 
TTFN
Peter

evening folks
 
..little bit more done and my favourite part - getting the cockpit together...
 
..started by scaling and printing an image of the panel to 1/32 dimensions and using paper adhesive to stick it to some card..
 

 
...punched out the appropriate apertures and carefully scored the outline...
 

 
...broke away the waste...
 

 
...and after peeling off the printout, cleaned up the part..
 

 
..started adding details - so far only the engine start buttons and a couple of those brilliant airscale bezels
 

 
...also started to make the armoured seat back - I stuck an old bit of a pen into a drill to shape the headrest...
 

 
..thats all for now
 
TTFN
Peter
 
...

thanks chaps - back again...
 
..a few more mods are needed at the rear of the cockpit opening - the fuselage cut-out is further forward than in the kit and shaped differently to the real one..
 
the kit has a sloped, radiused shape that needs fairing in with the fuselage as the opening follows it's lines.. I cut a clear template to show what I mean..
 

 
..I used simple 'wands' on a bit of thick card held over the cooker and draped over the fuselage shape..
 

 
..cut, fitted, smothered in CA and sanded...
 

 
..after careful measurement I cut it to shape..
 

 
..getting the basic shapes so I am happy before cutting the fuselage in half again to fit out the cockpit..
 

 
...speaking of measurements - thanks to David Collins and John Adams I managed to dimesion the cockpit elements I needed - hopefully of help if anyone is as barmy as me
 
..they are just my 1/32 version of the info I now have so don't sue me   but then the info is first hand
 

 
..thats it for today..
 
TTFN
Peter

hello folks
 
thanks for chiming in on the nose mods - actually I feel a bit bad chopping around and appearing to besmirch what is a brilliant kit - it's just I have to fiddle and as the nose is one of the most important features, in this case I fiddled quite a lot..
 
..each to their own I suppose
 
so, today I finished and primed the shape around the nose, and built another mock windshield - this one scaled straight from measurements from David Collins real cockpit section - poor guy, I think I have been driving him mad
 
..once I was happy it was time to separate the halves with one of Radu's brilliant micro saws - you can see the resin chunks I put in to allow the fuselage to be rounded and nipped in a bit at the windshield..
 

 
..and gone.... a bit of careful dremel action and the walls are thinned and nearly smooth enough to fit out the cockpit - it was important I got all the chopping out of the way early so the detail work won't get damaged later on..(and I know the internal dimensions to work from..)..
 

 
..glad thats over - I mocked it up with some of the kit cockpit parts and the new windshield - shame really as I will make all my own cockpit parts, but there is nothing wrong with the kit bits..
 

 
..also got back into familiar micro territory and started detailing the Merlin cylinder heads - lots to go yet and the bit I have been wasting lots of time fiddling about with is trying to make the spark plug heads - hopefully more of that next time...
 

 

 

 
..until next time my friends
 
TTFN
Peter

thanks chaps
 
..had a go at sorting the nose out - it's not too bad in the kit, but part of my illness is to mess with stuff..
 
..made up a new mock-up windshield and as you can see if the measurements off the real aircraft are used the kit is a bit broad at the nose to fair it all in...
 

 
..nothing for it but to use some bits of resin casting block to give some body to the area as I would likely go right through the fuselage walls sanding the shape..
 
I want to get this area roughly sorted out so I can take the fuselage halves apart again and build up the cockpit - I can dremel out any excess from the interior...
 

 
..and after a sanding session...
 

 
..and a shot of mr surfacer to see how it looks - still very rough and ready but it's a start and is nearer the true shape..
 

 

 

 
..until next time
 
TTFN
Peter

evening ladies...
 
 
 
 
Hi Peter, thanks for asking - the Sea Fury is waiting in the background as I am going to get a little more airbrush time under my belt before risking all my work with an amateur paint job. just want to build a little confidence and get more experience with Alclads
 
 
Hi Matt - thanks for the offer of pics - if I get stuck I will reach out to you. The hoses are some heat shrink car stuff I got from a US site (can't remember who) and the lead wire is from Telford - I also use albion alloys nickel tube for the fittings or to slide into the hoses and mount in drilled holes
 
 
Hi John - these are all from Scale Hardware - I swear by them and have spent rather more than I should have with them..
 
 
right - anyone who has waited a long time as I have for a 1/32 Hornet, who has sat there and dreamt how fantastic it would be to have one kitted - it's modelling porn time...
 
..I started on the kit...
 
..here are one set of nacelle halves...
 

 
..taped up with the spinner...
 

 

 
..there is a slight step between the spinner and the nacelle - it won't matter on this one as all this will be cut away to expose the engine, but something to bear in mind for the other side..
 

 
..checking how the merlin fits - all seems ok - it's too tight with the cylinder heads attatched but thats just the thickness of the resin casting..
 

 

 
..I also roughly cut out the lower wing half and glad I did as I was going to finish the nacelle with the engine in it and fit it to the wing but I think there is too much working and fettling to be done so I am going to fit the nacelle and then mount the engine to it..
 

 
..one issue is the u/c gear well is too shallow - you can see here the lower wing is solid - in fact in the real aircraft the top of the gear bay is the top surface of the wing - one to sort out later
 

 
..I soon learnt one new thing about resin kits - it's a messy business - lots of grinding and dust and I have only cut out a few parts!
 
until next time my friends..
 
TTFN
Peter

evening all & thanks for stopping by
 
 
 
 
Thanks Ollie - it was great to meet you too - what a show, I just wish I could have seen more of it!
 
 
 
Thanks Richard - I should have looked it up as I have an excellent book on the Merlin 100 series engines from the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust which has many superb engineering drawings - I expect I will post a few on the way under fair use policy. I tend to photograph the drawings and photo's in books so I can have them on my laptop and zoom in on bits I am interested in. I connected the hoses to these parts today - some pics below...
 
 
 
 
Thanks Jens - I haven't even started the kit yet! - this is all work on a Tamiya merlin from their P51 as I want one cowling open on the finished model showing the engine - I better crack on with the kit soon eh..
 
..anyways, only had a little bit of time today so got some of the pipes & hoses connected - I must spend more time in the manual as most of the time I don't know what I am connecting to what - I just build what I see..
 
..this lot for example - pipes made from car heat shrink tubing, fittings from albion alloys and bits of tape, PE or brass...
 

 

 
...these are the connections Richard refered to - now all hooked up with lead wire and fittings...
 

 

 
..and the bottom of the engine..
 

 
..trouble with this sort of thing is knowing when to stop - there are so many hoses, wires, pipes and leads all over the place and thats just in the manuals where the engines are not connected to the aeroplane or many of the ancilliaries - I need to start getting the nacelle & bearers together next to try & work it all out..
 
TTFN
Peter