Westland Wyvern – 1/48 Classic Airframes - FINISHED!

Started by Eric Berg · 112 · 3 years ago
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    George Henderson said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    Just found this thread and looking forward to it. Love the cockpit. Far better than the Trumpeter version I built. Which decal option are you going to do?

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    Eric Berg said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    I thought the kit cockpit is beyond basic so thanks for the compliment. Since I'm trying to build this strictly out of the box, I will use the Classic Airframes kit decals which were printed by MicroScale about 25 years ago and are in fine shape. Since everyone has used the more colorful striped Operation Musketeer/Suez Canal decals, I'm going with the Plain Jane look so I better not mess up the final paint job. Markings of RNAS Stretton, HMS Blackcap circa 1957.

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    Tom Cleaver said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    Having done both kits, George, the only thing the Trumpeter kit "needs" for the cockpit is a resin Mk.2 Martin-Baker seat. And since everything is black, if you don't have one or don't want to spring for one, the seat that's there is OK if you close the canopy.

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    Eric Berg said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    George & Tom: As I mentioned earlier, the resin Mk.2 MB seat in this kit is equally bad. I should have popped for a replacement but I want to finish this without any extras that aren't in the box.

    The props have now been attached to the spinners. I used Alclad II primer, acrylics MM Insignia Red and Vallejo Metal Aluminum for the spinners and Tamiya gloss black and MM insignia yellow for the blades finished with Alclad flat Klear Kote.

    I don’t think these props are accurate , but there is no way to really fix them without total replacement. They seem too narrow especially at the tips. Pardon the resin dust on the blades.

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    Tom Cleaver said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    @eb801 - you're in luck, those prop blades actually are right - or close enough to be no never-mind.

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    Eric Berg said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    Well that's good to hear. Thanks Tom.
    There are three tiny circles molded on the rear bottom of the fuselage. Are those supposed to be identification/navigation lights?

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    George Henderson said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    Correct you are Eric...

    I'll see if I can find a photo

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    Props look fine, my friend @eb801!
    In fact, the look gorgeous!

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    Erik Gjørup said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    Eric @eb801, yep those are the id lights. (not formation lights as they are now and then referred to).

    The prop looks like a real winner - great job you did there, and with a tiny bit of touch-up the missing decal will not be noticeable.

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    Eric Berg said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    Thanks George for that diagram. Much appreciated. Any idea what order are the color of the lights are? Also wondering what those circular covers marked E are for? Access to the tail hook mechanisms?

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    Eric Berg said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    Erik and Spiros - yes, a little touch up on that one prop and all will be good. Thanks for dropping by.

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    David Mills said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    Great work Eric!

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    Morne Meyer said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    Eric I am looking forward to the next installment of your build. I love the Wyvern. I built the Trumpeter kit in 1/48 and it's great to see how your kit goes together!

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    Eric Berg said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    Thanks David and Morne.

    Hey all, I figured out the order of the downward identification lights. Leading single light is red, left side light is green and the right side light is yellow.

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    Eric Berg said 3 years, 8 months ago:

    STABILIZERS
    The tail is almost ready for priming but I still have to attach the stabilizers. There is nothing to grab on to at the attachment points as is typical of CA kits. Believe me, I've knocked them off before. This time I drilled a couple of holes there and added two pieces of cut paper clip drilled into the ends of the stabilizers. This will add extra strength plus I can bend them to achieve the necessary 10 degree angle of the stabilizer.