Friday 7 January 2011

Running Repairs to the RAAF Brewster Buffalo

A little accident with the Brewster Buffalo's long aerial and a red dot in the middle of a roundel disappearing gives me the opportunity to show him off again. I am also grateful that Airfix sent me some replacement decals to cater for such circumstances.

Here he is trundling along watching out for Japanese Zero fighters and other Pacific perils.


Showing his belly (see below) to the world climbing away (also note the Blue Tack sticking the plane to the stand).


It also shows the most curious feature of this stubby little aircraft to my mind at least. Underneath the pilot there is a strange viewing canopy. To observe or spot danger coming from below? It seems rather a strange ask of a pilot to keep looking at his feet, as well as behind, front, left and right!

10 comments:

Paul´s Bods said...

A window in the floor! To see how high he is? :-)
Good idea with the bluetack...at least it doesn´t damage the plane.
Cheers
Paul

Tim Gow said...

Watch out for that box of paints on his tail! I too have always been intrigued by the 'window' on the floor.

Paul said...

See, bluetac will show us the way!

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

I am also thinking of using your Marmite technique, but somehow I cannot bring myself to buy a jar when I pass it in the supermarket

Paul said...

Try one of those small satchels like you get at hotels etc...I am sure that you could pick one up at a supermarket mate.

Tim Gow said...

I'm sure that appropriate protective clothing is required when handling Marmite - not all of us are blessed with Paul's disregard for personal safety. The hotel tip is a good idea though - I'll look out for some when I'm in London later this month.

west1871 said...

Cute little plane.I think my effort will go to my son to finsh.

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Good luck West1871, the only fiddly bit I remember was painting the canopy

A recent discovery of mine is ClearFix from Humbrol. When I normally glue canopies the glue always reacts chemically with the "see through" plastic and fogs it (no matter how neat I try to be)

This stuff is great

In fact my current build (as I am still waiting for my Fairey Battle) the Westland Lysander would be "impossible" without it!

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

ClearFix

Apply with a matchstick not a brush is another tip, the stuff is like treacle and doesn't paint on but blobs on

Al said...

Super, great model Geordie, and next the Battle?