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toboldlygo

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Blog Entries posted by toboldlygo

  1. toboldlygo
    As I was feeling Loco'd out, a client brought me something else to build - a Timber Tracks GWR Coaling Stage.
     

     
    Initial impressions, it's a big kit - in fact Mum when she saw the box assumed it was 3 kits!
     
    First up the instructions guide you in easily, with the relatively simple task of building the tank - in fact this shows the way the whole construction of the kit will go (layers)..
     

     

     

     
    Next up is starting to build up the main part of the building...
     
    First up the carcass:
     

     
    Next up, the inner ground wall veneers (the vee block was made by me, nearly 30 years ago).
     

     
    Then it's the first floor.
     

     
    Next it's the inner first floor veneers (pegs and clamps come in handy here).
     
     
     
    Outer walls next - these align quite easily.
     

     
    Due to not being a "Gold" Member I've reach my 10 MB limit for this part - part 2 will follow shortly.
     
    TBG
  2. toboldlygo
    Back last October, I started construction of an Academy Boeing B-29A Superfortress - however due to railway commission work I didn't get very far (and it was proving a challenging kit)
     
    A big box of parts..
     

     
    Start of the cockpit..
     

     
    Test fitting in the fuselage
     

     
    Cockpit, tunnel & rear crew area test fitted together.
     

     
    Crew area's painted.
     

     
    Fuselage nearly ready to close up, along with a few other bits..
     

     
    After an awful lot of coins in the swear jar (and insulating tape)- the fuselage is together..
     

     
    In order to create the A version - there's a lot of filing & sanding involved.
     

     
    Dry fit of the wings (tail empernage is fitted)
     

     
    Also a lot of ballast is needed to get the center of gravity right!
     

     
    Even more filling and sanding needed..
     

     
    And imagine the swearing when I saw where they'd put the ejector pins on the nose wheels!!
     

     
    Aftermarket to the rescue there - courtesy of Hannants..
     

     
    Somehow the main canopy needs a 20 thou styrene packer on the port side to fit properly!
     

     
    And on that disappointment - that's all for now..
     
    .. till next time
     
    TBG
  3. toboldlygo
    After a little over a month away from the build (and feeling slightly demoralized by the B-29A build - blog entry to come), I felt it was time to complete the Sea Hornet..
     
    Assemblies were given a wash in soapy water and allowed to dry. I then masked up the canopies and used foam to mask up the undercarriage bays..
     

     
    Then painting could begin...
     
    First up the Sky underside
     

     
    Then I hand painted the undercarriage bays silver (as per the instructions) and once that dried masked up the assemblies that needed a top coat of Dark Sea Grey (this varies from era to era for the correct shade)
     

     
    With masking removed, not much touching was needed (tail empernage fitted).
     

     
    Inner wing sections added
     

     
    Outer wings and assorted parts painted.
     

     
    3 quarters of the transfers/decals added..
     

     
    Just awaiting the handed props..
     

     
    Props fitted and certain baby sister making a cameo of sorts...
     

     
    Posing in the late afternoon sun..
     

     

     

     

     

     
    Usually at this point I'd say 'that's it for now' But this time it isn't, as there'll be another blog entry coming later today
     
    TBG
     
     
  4. toboldlygo
    I decided to have a short break from railway commissions, but instead of going back to the Sea Vixen, I opted to start something new..
     
    .. so I dug this kit out of my stash - the Trumpeter 1/48th Scale DH Sea Hornet NF.21.
     
    I'm glad I did to, this kit has gone together beautifully and quickly, with the minimum of flash and only a few minor bits of filling needed (bit like the Wyvern).
     
    Typical of me, I built things out of instruction order!
     
    I started with the wings, engines and tail empernage...
     

     

     
    Then I built the pilot's and navigator (and/or radar operator's) cockpits.
     

     
    I built these up before painting
     

     
    Installing in fuselage and buttoning up..
     

     

     
    Dry fitting the wings, tail and fuselage together...
     

     
    Test fitting the wing fold brackets and the left and right handed props..
     

     
    Fitting the arrestor hook (the only part that had a serious amount of flash)
     

     
    Canopies glued on (I'm doing this one canopy closed)..
     

     
    A little bit of rubbing down and she'll be ready for paint (Sky first obviously) - hopefully I'll get this one done before I have get back to Railway stuff.
     
    Till next time
     
    TBG
  5. toboldlygo
    As sneak peaked in the last part of my Shack build, the mighty Sea Vixen was my next build from Airfix.
     
    I have history with the real Sea Vixen, I worked on one during my time at Dunsfold - speaking of which here she is..
     

     
    The kit itself is very well molded, the fit is very good - though there's been a few issues, more on those later in the blog entry..
     

     
    Cockpit assembly, I replaced the ejector seat loops.
     

     

     

     

     
    Cockpit fully painted
     

     
    Fuselage buttoned up
     

     

     
    Flaps on the the underside need some fettling (and will need some filling later)
     

     
    Over 40 grams of ballast have been added forward of the nose wheel
     

     
    Alas more railway commissions beckon, so that's it for now..
     
    TBG
  6. toboldlygo
    After nearly four months off the workbench, due to Railway Commissions - the Shack is back to be finished.
     
    To be honest there wasn't a much to do - main undercarriage, wheels, props, a few aerials/pitot tubes, some painting and an awful lot of transfers!
     
    Prop assembly - 3 parts to each prop, 8 props and once painted 9 decals per prop!
     

     
    Painting the main under carriage wheel bays - while I was doing this, the wheels & undercarriage struts & doors where in paint.
     

     
    Adding the transfers - there's a lot!
     

     
    Once the wings where decaled up underneath, I fitted the undercarriage. Props test fitted at this point and rear props had the shaft hole opened up to ensure they rotate (no innuendo please)!
     

     

     

     
    Both wings done and glued on.
     

     

     
    72 decals later the props where added.
     

     
    Finished Shackleton and a cameo...
     

     

     

     

     

     
    And a Christmas treat - The Three Wise Avro's..
     

     

     
    Till next time
     
    TBG
  7. toboldlygo
    A slightly different format for this blog entry, I've decided to group several builds together - as they were quite simple builds.
     
    Higgins LCVP
     
    The Higgins is quite a new tooling and went together very quickly - however progress was slowed somewhat due to the large amount of Loco/Rolling Stock Commissions I have..
     

     

     

     
    It took just over a month to get back to work on her, painting didn't take too long - even with the camouflage scheme..
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    LCM Mk.III & Sherman
     
    Both kits in the box are quite old toolings, however once all the flashing is clean up they went together very well - though some filling was required.
     
    I started off with the Sherman - a Tank kit is a first for me.
     
    Lots of little sub-assemblies for the wheels, it went together quickly the only issue was welding the tracks together!
     

     

     

     
    The LCM needed quite a lot of fettling, but went together quite quickly and the paint scheme was straight forward.
     

     

     

     

     
    With both the LCM & Sherman painted it was time to add the transfers
     

     

     
    The completed Sherman
     

     

     

     

     

     
    The completed LCM & Sherman & a guest - plus a cameo..
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    Till next time TBG
  8. toboldlygo
    Time for another Shackleton AEW.2 Blog entry and it's rather large..
     
    Brief recap, I was in the final stages of prep and installation, before closing up the fuselage in the last entry and parts were missing (more on that later)
     

    Final parts added to the interior
     

     
    Fifty Shades of Shack (the fuselage halves glued together)
     

     
    As this is the AEW version - I decided to model the shorter weapons/bomb bay with the doors closed
     

     

     
    Sometimes a bit of gentle persuasion is needed to get a good fit!
     

     
    All the main assemblies built & dry fitted together.
     

     
    Then the problem's started, on opening the glazing bag it was apparent that some glazing parts were missing (along with a few other parts), after a number of emails (and complaints by me) the spares turned up - a few weeks later.
     

     
    I was busy with various projects, so the Shack would have to wait..
     
    ..about a week ago I restarted work on her (till the next batch of loco's and rolling stock)
     
    Glazing being added.
     

     
    The replacement tail wheel structure (original was 3 bits)
     

     
    Glazing all masked up and ready for paint (I used Vallejo Model Air 71.048 Sea Grey - more or less an exact match for Humbrol 164 Dark Sea Grey)
     

     
    Back from the paintshop briefly for the nose to be masked up.
     

     
    Masking removed (no paint touch ups needed on the glazing - a first)
     

     
    I decided that I wanted a different member of 8 Squadron to the two decal schemes offered by Airfix, so I acquired a markings set for the entire squadron...
     

     
    With a little bit of help WL795 Zebedee was chosen - after my experiences with the MR.2 build, I added the the decals to the tail fins before assembly.
     

     
    A few more bits will be done, before she has to be put to one-side for a short while - as a lot more loco commissions are waiting to be started.
     
    Till next time
     
    TBG
     
    P.S
     
    In true Empire Strikes Back fashion - No, there is another..
     

  10. toboldlygo
    Finally after a few weeks away from the Wimpy due to Loco commission work (& brief venture venture back to WW1 with the Eindecker) & number of exchanges between myself and Airfix (more on that later) - it's been full steam ahead on the with build...
     
    Test fit of the bomb bay partitions.
     

     
    Making sure all the main assemblies fit together.
     

     
    And so the fun with Airfix Customer care began..
     
    I noticed that a part was malformed (E2 main under carriage support strut), so I reported to Airfix and requested a replacement. It got very long winded, I had a very rude email from one of their customer care team and I ended up putting a formal complaint in, but in the end it got high enough up the food chain at Airfix for them to start investigating the tooling issue and Airfix supplied me with a replacement part (along with parts for the Shackleton that were missing)
     
    The photo below shows the issue E1 & E2 should be identical - Airfix Supplied me with a spare E1 & E2
     

     
    Back on with the build..
     
    ..time for some black paint
     

     

     

     
    After masking up for the initial top coat of Dark Earth and airbrushing that on, I masked up for the camouflage scheme..
     

     

     
    Painting done and masking removed - some touch up painting was needed due to bleed-through, it was time to put those major assemblies together and add a few more parts..
     

     

     

     
    Bombs away (or not)
     

     
    Sat on her undercarriage (main wheels not painted) for the first time...
     

     
    Till next time
     
    TBG
  11. toboldlygo
    While I was waiting for Airfix to sort themselves out with some parts for both the Wellington & Shackleton (I will cover those issues in the next blog entries for them), I decided it was high time to start the smallest kit in my model stash - the diminutive Fokker Eindecker E.III.
     
    The kit is very straight forward to build and goes together really well, however for the insane amongst us (namely me) - the kit comes rigging diagrams!
     
    It only took me a few hours in total to build and paint the little plane and there are a great number of decals for such a small kit.
     

     

     
    To give you a sense of scale the Eindecker fuselage fits in the bomb bay of the Wimpy.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    However it took me most a day to do the rigging - after I'd sourced a fine nylon jewelers thread to use (0.1mm to be precise)
     
    I missed a few bits of rigging out due to how fiddly they would be. Overall I pleased with the result and it has been well over 30 years since I've done a full rigged bi-plane.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    Till next time
     
    TBG
  12. toboldlygo
    When this kit arrived direct from Airfix (courtesy of my regular DPD Courier Boran), on opening the box I knew the Shack would be put on hold temporarily will this kit was started.
     
    The Aircraft division of the Hornby/Airfix of the design/research team have done an amazing job of this kit - they've captured the Geodetic structure perfectly.
     

     

     
    The fuselage and it's interior is incredibly detailed and takes a while to build (though a number of parts can be left out if you wish)
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    30 odd parts later the fuselage was closed up
     

     
    Tail & Rudder assembly installed - I'm doing the Loch Ness version R for Robert - as an apprentice at British Aerospace Kingston, I helped in the rebuild of the rudder.
     

     
    The Wimpy looks small next to the Shack..
     

     
    Building the wings and tail planes was next. These have been dry fitted to ensure there are no gaps, as they won't be fitted till after painting - the fit is superb straight from the box (Airfix even handed the tail planes to ensure they go on the right way up!)
     

     

     

     
    More Loco's beckon, so that's it for now.
     
    TBG
  13. toboldlygo
    I promised the Shack would return in 2018 and she has albeit as a different version - the AEW.2.
     
    The build so far, is pretty much the same as the MR.2 version I built last year and so far easier the second time around (I guess).
     
    The photo's are pretty self explainatory, so I won't go into to much detail - unless I have to.
     
    Basic cockpit assembled
     

     
    Using the fuselage halves as a jig to ensure fit and alignment
     

     
    Seats painted & fitted, along with the base of the main console assembly.
     

     
    Console assembly painted & installed along with the various partitions (frames) - I used the fuselage to ensure everything was in the right place.
     

     
    Next three photo's show the painting and assembly process, prior to close up*
     

     

     

     
    *However I managed to hit a snag, the seat base for the front observer/ bomb aimer went missing - so I had scratch build a new one.
     

     
    That's all for now
     
    TBG
  14. toboldlygo
    The Messerschmitt BF 109E-3 is finished at last (after a big break due to GWR locos)...
     
    Ready for transfers.
     

     
    For such a small fighter there's a lot of Decals!
     

     
    Decals done and final details being added.
     

     
    Finished and the obligatory next build cameo (I did promise Shack Attack Part 4 would be coming!)
     

     
    Posing in the late Longest day Sun..
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    Until the next build or another Loco oriented entry..
     
    TBG
  15. toboldlygo
    After a brief interlude (okay a month), due to GWR Loco's - I finally resumed work on the Bf 109...
     

    Before I masked up the underside, I painted the wheel wells and radiators.
     


     

    I masked up the underside and parts of the cockpit canopy - which had I pre-painted prior to fitting and masking up (next three photo's show that sequence)
     


     

     

     

    Once the topside of the fuselage had been given a few coats of BS Dark Earth and allowed to dry. I used the blu-tak & masking tape (or MORPH) method to layout the camouflage.
     


     

    Once painted the masking was removed and too my surprise it had worked very well, with only a small amount of touching up needed.
     


     

    Touching up done and the guns & exhausts added.
     


     

    Today I busied myself painting and assembling the undercarriage, along with a few more parts. However to my dismay I discovered a short on the sprue and a missing part, so I've got to scratch build a Pitot tube assembly.
     


     


     

    That's all for now
     
    TBG
  16. toboldlygo
    Okay, so I've been busy renaming/renumbering/repainting Bachmann Halls over the last few months (eek) - I'll let the pictures do the talking..
     
    First up 5998 Trevor Hall (Mk. 1)
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    5998 Trevor Hall (Mk.2)
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    4943 Marrington Hall
     
    This loco had been been renumbered & weathered before..
     
    From 4936 Kinlet Hall to 4948 Northwick Hall and now to 4943 Marrington Hall (in Post War GWR unlined Green)
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    Till next time TBG
  17. toboldlygo
    ...Or Should that be Repainted?
     
    A client requested I rename his 4013 Knight of St Patrick to 4012 Knight of the Thistle and repaint/rework to GWR post war unlined green - with a few tweaks (more on those later)
     
    I started tender first and began the tedious task of removing the lining and branding from the tender top. Once this was done the tender top was washed down and allowed to dry. Then masked up and airbrushed a nicer shade of green (Railmatch GWR Post 1928 Locomotive Green), after a few coats of this - the tender top was given a couple of coats of gloss varnish, so the new branding would adhere properly. The masking was removed and the tender was re-assembled.
     

     
    While the tender was in paint, I removed as much lining as I could from the loco body and cleaned it all up in soapy water. I then removed the wings/shelves from the cab sides and replaced them with wire handrails. Also I removed the whistles, as the client had supplied a Modelu set with the whistle shield - this was test fitted and put aside (as it would be painted separately). I then started the lengthy task of masking up everything I didn't want green!
     

     
    While the loco body was in paint, I applied the G coat of arms W branding to the tender.
     

     
    Fresh from paint an unlined green loco.
     

     
    Masking removed, various bits added and loco body reattached to the chassis (correct spoked bogie wheels as well). Also cabside number-plates & various decals added
     

     

     
    Masking partially applied prior to her return trip to the paintshop, I sent the photo's to my client - he'd originally wanted her quite heavily weathered, but we both agreed that I should weather her like a previous loco I'd done for him.
     

     

     
    All done and ready to return to her owner..
     


     


  18. toboldlygo
    After she made a cameo in my last build and with loco's out of the way it was time to make a start on the 1/48th Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3.
     
    Being a Collectors Club Model it gives two very different schemes to do one is the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Evaluation version (Bf 109E-7) and the other is a captured RAF version (Bf 109E-3) - I chose the latter.
     
    Compared to my last build, this one has gone together very quickly.. so far.
     
    Cockpit and aircraft interior painted and detailed.
     

     
    Fuselage button up.
     

     
    Wings assembled.
     

     
    Fuselage cleaned up & wings fitted.
     

     
    Flaps and tail planes added (some filling is required).
     

     
    Ailerons fitted, along with other bits.
     

     
    Rudder, elevator and cannon fairings fitted - plus a lot of filler and rubbing down!
     

     
    Underside painted and yes it is yellow!
     

     
    That's all for now
     
    TBG
  19. toboldlygo
    Moving swiftly towards completion..
     
    Test fit of the wings..
     

     
    For a bit of fun - a size comparison between the Wyvern & Sea Fury..
     

     
    Decals being added..
     

     

     
    Final assembly - Fuselage & center wing section complete..
     

     
    Outer wing sections fitted..
     

     
    A cameo..
     

     
    Posing in the early evening air..
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    Till the next build TBG..
  20. toboldlygo
    Part two of this epic build, this kit is more like a 1/24th scale kit due to the number of parts..
     
    Aerial torpedo assembled and test fitted.
     

     
    RATOG's (Rocket Assisted Take Off Gear) assembled and test fitted.
     

     
    So many assemblies, so much to paint.
     

     
    Sitting on her wheels (temporarily) .
     

     
    Lots of Sky Type S!!
     

     
    Lots of parts painted.
     

     
    Masking up the fuselage for top coat.
     

     
    Painting done and masking removed, very little touching up needed.
     

     
    More painting and flaps installed.
     

     
    Undercarriage & doors installed.
     

     
    Fitting the Tail-plane(s).
     

     
    Nearly there, but still so much to do..
     

     
    That's all for now
     
    TBG.
  21. toboldlygo
    Several moons ago a certain member (@46444) suggested I should check out Trumpeter's Westland Wyvern..
     
    I did and little does he know, what a can of rivets it opened....
     
    I acquired the kit on a certain auction sight, it arrived just before I finished the Sea Fury. I also ordered the Eduard Photo-Etch set for it...
     

     
    The kit is amazing and the instructions are sometimes baffling. However for someone who built Leaping Heaps for a living - not a problem.
     

     

     
    Due to the gearbox, the prop must be painted prior to assembly - the props rotate in opposite direction once assembled.
     

     
    With the props painted, the fuselage was closed up (F.Y.I the Reccy Camera is 8 parts)
     

     

     
    Center section of the wings were a dream to assemble and fitted beautifully to the fuselage (little or no filling will be required)
     
    I have numerous locos on the go at the moment, so progress will be slow.
     
    That's all for now TBG
  23. toboldlygo
    Once upon at time there was a Castle Class on a Layout thread, far, far, away - ANTB (A Nod to Brent to be precise)
     
    An evil and cruel Weathering and renumbering outfit tried to turn her to the Darkside (well stripey brown if I'm totally honest)
     
    Her owner sent out a distress call to the Malachite Green & Sunshine Yellow Hospital for Sick Bulleids, in the hope that she could be saved from the Darkside...
     
    .. this is 5071 Spitfire's story of redemption and resurrection...
     
    A before picture courtesy of gwrrob.
     

     
    On receipt Spitfire was in need of intensive care and needed a clean to remove the weathering.
     

     
    Unfortunately the Darkside had not followed the owners instructions or used the Jackson Evans plates he'd supplied and used poorly printed tampo ones instead.
     

     
    Once as much of the weathering that could be removed was, I repaired and re-assembled Spitfire and re-applied the G cofa W to both sides of the tender.
     

     

     

     
    Unfortunately due to the damage to the name plate plinths some thought was required into how to fix them.
     

     
    In the meantime I sealed the newly applied tender lettering with satin varnish (after a sufficient drying time - 24 hours+ )
     

     
    A new set of nameplates arrived from Fox Transfers and I proceeded to repair the plinths and fit the new nameplates.
     

     

     

     
    Reborn Spitfire awaits return to the paintshop.
     

     

     
    All re-weathered and waiting her return to ANTB
     

     

     

     

     
    Till next time TBG
  24. toboldlygo
    Many moon's ago (last year to be precise) I built the 1/24th Scale Typhoon, now it's time for her 'Grandchild' the Sea Fury - also by Airfix, but in 1/48th Scale.
     
    The Sea Fury entered service too late to see action in WW2, she was herself a development from the 'Tempest and the Typhoon' and with the coming of the Jet's - the fastest production piston-engined fighter that was built (482 mph).
     
    She saw action in the Korean War and became known as the 'MIG Killer' for the first 'confirmed' shooting down of Jet by a prop (that version can be made from this kit - Airfix listened to me).
     
    However I've chosen to do the Royal Naval Historic Flight version - as I actually had the chance to sit in her during a visit to Yeovilton in 2000, shortly before I got made redundant from British Aerospace (now BAE Systems).
     

     
    All the bits
     

     

     
    The cockpit assembly
     

     

     
    Assembling the fuselage
     

     

     

     

     
    Wings, engine and tail ( I will be doing the wings folded)
     


     

     

     
    Filling, final test fit and now ready for masking and paint (when it's warmer)
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