Airfix De Haviland Sea Vixen

[RossiM1]

Have'nt taken part in a GB here before but this theme was just too good to miss, I was given this kit as a birthday present a few years ago now and it's sat in the stash ever since, now is the ideal time and just the excuse I needed to start it, and hopefully finish it. Will be using the Eduard interior set as well, and painting using Gunze MR Hobby paints.
Here are the obligatory box and sprue shots, hope to make a start on it this weekend.










Looking forward to taking part here.
Thanks

[arilo76]

Look like you are set up for a great build

[RossiM1]

Managed to get some work on the Vixen in today, prepared the cockpit parts by spraying with Tamiya XF69 NATO Black applied to the various consoles the rudder pedals and the fuselage interior, and the seats, then the raised detail was sanded off in readiness for the Eduard p/e details, which although it is self adhesive I use PVA glue for added security, the small control levers are a real pain in the butt, trying to locate them into the slots on the control panels is nigh on impossible, and managed to lose 2 of them so replaced with .25 ultra fine stainless wire, then painted as per the Eduard ones. Still some more etch to go on so hopefully get a few hours in again tomorrow.
Here's todays photos.














Thanks

[TommyKillander]

Wow!

That looks amazing - that's some serious PE going on there


Tommy

[RossiM1]

Wow!

That looks amazing - that's some serious PE going on there


Tommy

Thanks Tommy I must admit to liking the Eduard stuff, but some of the things they say to fold I need to be the size of a "Borrower" with the eyesight of a Falcon, neither of which I am similar too, well maybe the "Borrower" being only as tall as one of Snow Whites mates
Now for todays efforts, made some belts well to be more specific modified some Tameo 1/43rd F1 seatbelts, then assembled the rest of the cockpit, which all credit to Airfix, goes together without any issue at all next stages will be the start of the fuselage assembly, so that's my Easter Sunday taken care of.








Thanks for stopping by see you soon

[arilo76]

Some really good progress,i like the details in the Cockpit.

[Avgas]

Brilliant cockpit. I feel your pain with the PE, I'm just doing my Seafire cockpit with it. I wouldn't be able to do any of it without my Optivisor which I have on my bonce all the time when working with PE.

[RossiM1]

Some really good progress,i like the details in the Cockpit.

Thanks Antonio enjoying this build a lot, some great details just out of the box

Brilliant cockpit. I feel your pain with the PE, I'm just doing my Seafire cockpit with it. I wouldn't be able to do any of it without my Optivisor which I have on my bonce all the time when working with PE.

if the etch stuff gets much smaller I think I will need to call on the services of a Labrador and a White stick will definitely send me blind or barmy or quiet possibly both

[martin57]

Well that's some great work so far.
I no what you mean about some of the P E .
Good luck with the rest

[Joesdad]

Looks awesome Gary, that's some work

[RossiM1]

Thanks guys managed to get some time in today, have got the fuselage together and the twin booms, some awkward seams that needed to be sorted, so given an allover spray of Alclad black primer, just to get an idea of how much the seams needed filling, the two seams on the front fuselage join were a pain in the proverbial, had four attempts at getting rid of them finally resorted to using my home made plastic filler concoction of extra thin cement and melted sprue, then re primed, attached the nose, remembering to add the weight, I use self adhesive wheel balance weights borrowed from work .


Above are the assembled intakes and the airbrake unit




Cockpit fixed into fuselage top


First coats of primer




Showing the seam issues





The fist base coat now going on , on the undersides, using Tamiya X2 Gloss white heavily thinned with Mr Hobby self levelling thinner.
Will leave this for a few days now to dry thoroughly, then mask for the upper surface Extra Dark Sea Grey.
Thanks for looking all the best to everyone in the GB

[arilo76]

you got your build back on track

[jnbattleship]

The Beauty and the Beast in one!

[DarrenCo]

Defo on my to do list, looks great!

[RossiM1]

Hi again all, the Vixen continues, with the undersides now completed, masked off and airbrushed with Mr Hobby 333 Extra Dark Sea Grey, heavily thinned about 70% levelling thinners to 30% paint, which has allowed the black base to add some tone to the grey, have also airbrushed in the wheel wells and the undercarriage legs and door inners for this used Humbrol 87 thinned with cellulose. Next will be a couple of light coats of Alclad Aqua gloss clear to seal before the decals and some weathering, and then to add the glazing , undercarriage, and all the wing fold bits.
Here are the photos of where it's at the moment.
Until next time, all the best to everyone in this GB there are some amazing builds going on, some fantastic build threads.
















ATB

[pourquoi61]

Built this kit a few years ago, but seeing the PE makes me want to do it again, will you fold the wings?

[RossiM1]

Built this kit a few years ago, but seeing the PE makes me want to do it again, will you fold the wings?

Hi thanks for looking, yes the wings are going to be folded, mainly due to display space , or lack of, and thinking of doing a base with a few figures, if and when I get to finishing it.

[arilo76]

looking really nice!!

[RossiM1]

Thanks Antonio,
Have got a few hours in today, I re masked and re sprayed the tail booms I realised that I had got the white coming too far up the sides and this would have caused a problem with the decals on the sides of the tail booms themselves, glad I realised before the decaling started, then onto the undercarriage, it's now standing on it's wheels, and it isn't dragging it's ass, so enough weight in the nose phew, the undercarriage legs have really positive location points which makes them very sturdy, the only fit issue was with the large wheel bay doors they needed a few quick swipes with a sanding stick to get them to sit flush, as the wheel bay doors are closed once the wheels are down. Next will be a few light coats of clear, before decaling starts, then the wing folds, and the canopy. So looking good for a finish fairly soon.
Here is where we are at for now.










Thanks for looking and all the best to fellow GB builders.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Fantastic cockpit
She is a gorgeous little vixen all 'round

[1975GinjaNinja]

Looks great so far. I have this lurking in my meager stash and am very tempted to give it a go add I need something a bit different and have never done a jet before. Can I ask, is the interior set the only aftermarket your using on this?
Only ask as the cockpit looks amazing and may have to purchase that as well.

Cheers

Nige

[RossiM1]

Hi Nige, it's a great kit, builds pretty easily, the Eduard p/e interior set was all that I have used, but to be fair out of the box the interior detail is pretty damn good, I bought the set just in case some time ago and just decided to use it.

[RossiM1]

Thanks Scott, as they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, she was certainly different but then I think that's the appeal.

[RossiM1]

Small update today, canopy surround and glazing sorted out, had to polish out an evil scratch in the bubble canopy do wish Airfix would take a bit more care with packaging their stuff, any how polished and dipped and secured to the separate canopy frame, dipped masked and painted the front screen, fixed the gun sight and made the sight glass from a piece of thin clear acetate more in scale than the glass brick provided.
Painted some 2mm fine line tape in Yellow to go around the canopy edge easier than trying to mask and paint it. Added all the small antennae and the last few bits in the cockpit, next up test fit the wing fold, then clear coat ready to decal and weather. On the home straight now.

[exmoor]

Looking great gary

[RossiM1]

Thanks Paul good to hear from

[arilo76]

Gary, That is looking really nice.

[Avgas]

Looking great Gary, be interesting to hear how the wing fold pans out.

[RossiM1]

[/quote]

Gary, That is looking really nice.

Thanks Antonio pleased with the results so far still time to screw it up though

[RossiM1]

Looking great Gary, be interesting to hear how the wing fold pans out.

Cheers Dave that's the part that I probably dread the most, done a few dry fits, and the fit has been different every time the hinges are not that strong, thinking of putting the larger heavier duty hinges and brackets on first then the flimsier smaller ones

[Avgas]

I had the same problem with the Seafire, there were no attachement points as such, just a couple of flat bit to balance the wing on while the glue dried.

[RossiM1]

Wonder if I could get away calling it a wings off maintenance scene

[RossiM1]

With just over a week left thought I'd better get my finger out and get this a bit nearer to completion, got the main decals on and some of the stencils still a boat load of stencils to go on and the wing fold to assemble here are todays results










Will try and get a bit done each night should be in with a chance of finishing that way.
all the best

[Twokidsnosleep]

She is looking great man, decals always make aircraft come to life
You are farther ahead than me...TIME TO PANIC!!!!!

[RossiM1]

Well the decal marathon continues stencil after bloody stencil five and hours today and all the topside stencils are done, just the underside to go now, trial fitted the wings and fortunately they fit perfectly, just the fuel tanks the wing pitot tubes to go a varnish and some light weathering, all things being equal should get done in time.











Good luck to everyone in the GB some great work being shown off.

[RossiM1]

Well it's pretty well complete, all the stencils on, the wings securely attached, and a final satin coat applied, it is now in the completed thread.

















Thanks to all those who followed along been a great experience and amazed at the quality of all the builds that have been shown well done to everyone