gaps between wings and fuselage - Vampire T 11

[typhoonfanatic]

I've just been given the Vampire T-11 kit (not Starter set) and got to the stage of attaching wings the fit appears to be less than perfect as I seem to have quite a gap between wing root and fuselage, dont think its down poor building ! just wondering if anyone else experienced the same problems

[Pogo1]

Hi Typhoonfanatic

i have built three of the Vampire T11s and all the builds went smoothly, with no gaps between the wing root and fueslage. In fact , there was no problems at all with the actual builds. This is a superb kit to make and look s like a Vampire Should . Good luck with the rest of the model . 

Cheers Col

[typhoonfanatic]

Hi Typhoonfanatic

i have built three of the Vampire T11s and all the builds went smoothly, with no gaps between the wing root and fueslage. In fact , there was no problems at all with the actual builds. This is a superb kit to make and look s like a Vampire Should . Good luck with the rest of the model . 

Cheers Col

 

[T2B]

Hi Typhoonfanatic,

I can only repeat Pogo1's sentiments, that I have completed 2 new tool Vampire T.11 builds and they are lovely kits with no build or fit issues, and no panel gaps between the fuselage/wing roots. My first kit I actually converted to the FB.5 version and even after cutting up and remodelling the fuselage section into the single seat cockpit of the fighter, the wings were still a neat fit.

Good luck in sorting it out but if you posted a few pictures it might help to see what. if anything has gone wrong?

[typhoonfanatic]

Thanks to you all for responding about my wings issue with my Vampire - I am putting it down to making the kit whilst heavily laden with man flu ! And not following the excellent instructions. Being a modeller for many a year I should have known better. Moral of my woeful tale: read the instructions they are there for a reason and don't attempt making a kit whilst heavily dosed up with paracetamol and not feeling 100%. However I deconstructed my assembly cleaned up the parts reassembled and low and behold I now have a good looking Vampire T.11. I may post some pics but having seen the quality of some your works posted here I am not too sure, thought I made some nice looking kits but now feel totally humbled and some of the stuff I see posted here. I have been modelling for many years but feel totally inadequate !! (Lol). thanks again for all the help

[Sailorman]

Come on ..... lets see those pics!

[T2B]

Patrick is right! Lets see the Vampire.

But Yes you are right too, there are some excellent modellers out there (and Patrick is 1 of them) but modelling is always subjective and we all see different aspects. And if you are happy with what you produce and you enjoy the hobby, that is all that counts. And compared to some of the builds out there I am probably only about average, but I use this forum and other modellers as inspiration and to push my boundaries.

[typhoonfanatic]

After all the helpful comments about tolerences in the Airfix New Releases I de-constructed my vampire and made some alterations and a few insicions with a sharp scalpel and as I have said before ended up with a reasonable and acceptable Vampire at this stage I decided to paint it Aluminium all over - my second attempt (yes there will be one) will be the day glow version (any tips on painting this scheme, pit falls to look out for ?) currently building the Harrier GR3 taking care with assembly and plenty of dry fitting. I've attached some pics of Vampires plus  few more. Enjoy and thanks for the help and encouragement./media/tinymce_upload/c685deaad570098d4ab1b9fe1d32c57f.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/02450bf728f0aef34b9fdaff0473bd62.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/f8f2e159b17cafe2f340c7a905d3871b.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/dd16721f2671330975742893505f11af.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/40d5a4da2cb0314e45cd866e86749c5e.jpg

[Sailorman]

Hi Typhoonfanatic .....  those are great looking builds ... what were you moaning about!!  Keep 'em coming!

[Kenneth ONeill]

@typhoonfanatic

Nice builds, and yes Vampires are very definitely "high speed silver" and not "natural metal" (partly because the forward fuselage is actually plywood, not metal).

Based on my silver and orange Gnat and Gannet, I'd say paint the silver, leave to dry for a week, coat with Kleer if you have it and if not then use liquir, not aerosol Pledge. Another couple of days drying, then mask and apply the dayglo orange, and get the "loose" tape back almost parallel to the structure when pulling it off. (BTW I used Tamiya tape, and am not aware of Hornby group making masking tape)

[Pogo2]

Hi All . Here are a few shots of my finished Vampires. Two have been finished in Royal Navy schemes from ModelArt decals, the other is from the Airfix kit and is on display at IWM Duxford. Cheers Col/media/tinymce_upload/1319812eb74db2fb7cd9881643fc2a1d.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/f9f7dc1f9f829331e86db5d09238a53e.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/0802798b002ba68b590fc908a8f7982b.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/8fc790a96885998b06b51d95029cbcf6.JPG

[Dad Paul B]

Great builds. I have also built the Vampire T11 and got excellent results. With the Dayglo FTS version the only thing to watch out for is if you use the 'Fluorescent Fire Orange'. Its opacity is not great so getting good coverage can be tricky. That said the photos I have seen of aircraft in these scemes the orange sections look pretty patchy so our models might end up too perfect.

Best of luck with the Harrier I have built several of these (GR1, GR9, Sea Harrier FRS1 and FA2) and they have all been good - though watch out for the fit of the nozzles as they sometimes need a little work with a scalpel to drop in fully.

[Kenneth ONeill]

@dad Paul B - That's true; "international orange" is tricky to apply even full-size, and wears quickly, to the extent that there are worn patches even on preserved machines such as the Gannet T5 on the US register, and the Vampire trainers actually used "sticky back plastic" back in the day so conforming the decals for a "painted on look" is less of an issue than usual!

[Pogo2]

Hi all. Regarding the day glo scheme on the Vampire, i opted to paint the aircraft as if it had just come out of the paint shop. The day glo paint was applied over a base coat of matt yellow, to help bring out the vivid orange. I used the humbrol gloss 209 Fluorescent Fire Orange, which i found i had to thin with cellulose thinners to get it to spray. It took two coats to get the right finish i was looking for . 

I have seen real aircraft that had a similar finish where  the colours have faded to almost yellow. Thats the effect of UV light and erosion caused by slipstream over the aircrafts surface, over a period of time.I have made several models with day glo markings including a Royal Navy Tiger Moth, a DHC Chipmunk and the beautiful Jet Provost. The Tiger Moth and Chipmunk had the day glo stripes applied by cutting up small strips of day glo decal sheet and using Klear to bed them down . It does work well . 

Cheers Col