Avro Anson of the Rhodesian Air Training Group

Started by Max Williams · 55 · 1 year ago · 1/48th scale, Airfix, RATG
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    Tom Cleaver said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    Very nice work on this interior - good inspiration for those of us to follow when we lay hands on this kit.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    Amazing job so far, my friend @maxw!

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    Really great work, Max @maxw
    Especially the way you created those masks, may I ask how you got that done.

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    Max Williams said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    I use a Silhouette machine @johnb to draw and cut all my masks and also plastic when needed as on the Gauntlet windshield. For the Anson canopy it was a matter of careful measuring followed by some precise drawing using the Silhouette designer software. I had to tweak it a couple of times after trial fits, but all’s good now. The mask is freely available for download here: https://www.scalemodelpaintmasks.com/index.php?/topic/2256-avro-anson-windscreen-late-mask/#comment-3688

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    George R Blair Jr said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    Interior is looking really nice, Max (@maxw). I would also be interested in finding out how you design and make your masks. It looks like they fit perfectly.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    @maxw, thanks for sharing, Max. Sounds like a very interesting Christmas gift.

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    Max Williams said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    @gblair, George, if you look at this link https://www.scalemodelpaintmasks.com/index.php?/topic/71-working-efficiently/#comment-199

    it will describe pretty much how to use the important elements of designing masks, there are a couple of other threads on the site where I talk about the way that I use the masks, the sequence that works for me with the least amount of effort/risk. Hope it helps but come back to me if you have further questions.

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    Max Williams said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    Thanks Tom @tcinla. If we share our knowledge and experiences we all learn and benefit. I was a school master before retirement so I guess I have a broad streak of the need to educate in my psyche!

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    Max Williams said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    Indeed John @johnb, the Silhouette is worth every penny that I spent on it 8 years ago. I rarely, if ever, model out of the box, so there’s always a need to make unique markings and insignia so that’s become part of the building process for me.

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    Max Williams said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    This arrived in the post yesterday:


    It’s so much more accurate than the Airfix decal and will I think be quite visible through all that glasswork. I can move on with the cockpit now, but in the meantime I’ve been doing a bit with the wings and engine nacelles:

    As can be seen in the last picture the fit of the engine nacelle isn’t great at one point but shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    These instruments look spectacular, my friend @maxw! Will make a clear difference from the kit decals through the glasshouse. Fit is not great, indeed (possibly due to warping?). Will not be much of an issue, though.

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    Max Williams said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    They’re not cheap Spiros @fiveten, but worth it! No warpage in the nacelle, just a bit too big!

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    Max Williams said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    It has only just occurred to me that I haven't explained why this Anson model represents one of the Rhodesian Air Training Group (RATG).

    The role that Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) played in the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) is often underplayed, if at all known, being a poor relation primarily to Australia and Canada. But S Rhodesia was the first country to start training Allied aircrew and during the war years 8235 aircrew were trained there, including Sgt W Williams 1587098, my father

    and his friend Max Venton. My website, which is still under construction, explains a lot more, see http://www.rhodesianairtraininggroup.com and http://www.ordinarycrew.co.uk for more about Max and his demise.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    Both websites look amazing, my friend @maxw!
    Congratulations!
    Will have an in depth reading maybe later this evening.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 year, 11 months ago:

    3D decals do look great and will be clearly visible with all the glass, Max @maxw
    Both websites are very interesting, will defintely create some spare time to go through them.