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dale travis
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1/48 Airfix Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I

November 4, 2019 · in Aviation · · 14 · 2.1K

Model depicts an aircraft operating with 255 Squadron RAF, Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, 1941. Note this plane has six stack exhausts for which I used Ultracast parts. Other aftermarket parts are cockpit set and Master gun barrels. Decals are from the Extradecal sheet 48157. Overall black finish was done by using various shades of black and dark gray. landing light bezels replaced the kit parts and clear cello tape was used for the landing light covers. This is a great kit and anyone with a few kits completed should be able to have a winner with this.

Reader reactions:
4  Awesome

16 additional images. Click to enlarge.


14 responses

  1. Nice one here Dale ! I built one of these and it's a very nice kit. The only addition (going from memory here) I did was to replace the kit supplied tires. You additions make it even better. Those are the bee's knees !

    Well done buddy !

    "liked"

  2. Dale that is the perfect way to get a black finish not to look so black. I used a similar technique while building the F-7F Tigercat as it may have had appeared in the harsh Korean environment in the early 50's. Your technique is very well done. The Defiant has been a pleasant surprise kit from Airfix, and will pick one of them up in the near future, so many too choose these days, Lightnings, Invaders and He-111's oh my! Thanks for sharing.

    • Thanks Chuck. Yes overall black does present a challenge as not to make the model look too toy like. Different shades of black and dark gray seem to be the way to go. I've heard of mixing small amounts or red to black giving another variation to over all black schemes.

  3. I've shied away from doing a Defiant in all black because it was a color and a paint that really didn't seem (to me at least) to do the airplane a lot of good in the looks department. You've done a good job of proving me wrong. This looks great, and you have worked some real magic here painting-wise.

  4. looks terrific as usual dale

  5. One of my favourites from Airfix, the painting looks good and the details even better. I also built one (NF) and presented it here sometime ago, and it’s visible the different approaches to the same model and camouflage. That’s what makes the social side of this hobby so interesting. Thanks for posting Dale!

  6. I'm gonna ditto those who remarked on the black paint job - an excellent job making it really come alive with visual interest. A great-looking Defiant.

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