A Novo (Frog) Canberra

Hi All!

We all have a shelf of doom. How long has the oldest member of your shelf of doom been there? Well, this Novo re-pop of a Frog Canberra B(I).8 sat on mine for at least 23 years ( you need to “age” kits for a while!). Frustrated with the inferior fit and massive amounts of flash and filler, I just could not continue on with it. As I am trying to get my hobby room back together after a move, and decided to clean out my shelf of doom. This kit is the first one.

When taken down, I quickly looked it over, and it looked all there. I had assembled the fuselage, wings, and tail, sanded some seams, and filled a LOT of others. So the first stop was the kitchen sink to wet sand the kit to keep the dust down. I sanded, and sanded, and sanded. Finally, the seams were all to my liking, well, somewhat. I fitted the bomb bay the best I could. I then wiped the model down with Isopropyl Alcohol to clean it. As I was going through my decal stash, I came across a Modeldecal sheet (No. 25) with a Canberra B(I).8 with a shark mouth and a "Saint" figure. This is the scheme I chose. The Dark Sea Grey, Dark Green, and Light Aircraft Grey scheme was applied with Vallejo and Hataka paints. When cured, a coat of Future was applied, and when dry, I started to apply the decals. The Frog Canberra is a product of when it was produced (1973), and it is a Novo re-pop, so detailing was lacking. In this situation, the decals make the model, and these do. All were applied, including the 40 "no step" decals. The Modeldecal sheet worked well with the Micro System. The National Insignia was taken from a Freightdog sheet. When dry, a second coat of Future was applied and allowed to dry. A coat of semi-gloss clear was then applied on the model.

I started to apply the final bits when I noticed I was missing the main wheels. $$##!$!%!$#!#@!@! The purple clouds filled the room. I advertised on two sites for wheels, and was offered resin wheels for $25 plus postage. I am sorry, but I am not going to pay for wheels that are 25 times the cost of the kit. From the box of spares, I found a pair of Hobbycraft wheels, which are close enough. The remainder of the windows, landing gear, and such were glued on. Well, I either did not put enough weight in the nose 23 years ago, or some weight has fallen out, as it is now a tail-sitter. I will need to remove the glass and add more weight.

The model represents an English Electric Canberra B(I).8 serial XM277 of No. 16 Sqn., based at Laarbruch, West Germany in 1972.

Well, 23 years is not too long to finish a model. I must say that if you wish to do a Canberra B(I).8, use the Frog mold or a newer mold kit (if available), and avoid the Novo re-pop. It was warped (from the spacers I used when I assembled the fuselage), full of flash and surface detail, which comes and goes as they please, and decals that are not worth the paper they are printed on. The Modeldecals sheet came to the rescue. The subject was easy to choose as the Canberra had both the shark mouth and the "Saint" emblem on it, both of which are themes in my collection of completed kits. The decals make this kit, and though all of those tiny stencils were a pain, they liven up the model. If you can use a Modeldecal sheet for your kit, do so. It will be worth it.

Bruce

3 additional images. Click to enlarge.