T2B Posted March 20, 2018 Author Share Posted March 20, 2018 Anyway, over the weekend the build continued ........./media/tinymce_upload/341ddbf31295e496e99ced5f35077092.JPG The main airframe was completed and ready for some paint./media/tinymce_upload/36333ff9be094d9a70605f84361f7ae8.JPGIt always looks such a mess at this stage and you always wonder if it'll be okay under all that masking?/media/tinymce_upload/04e02107f82ee9aeac1834a4844d2efa.JPGAnd between coats whilst waiting for the paint to cure properly, I started building up the engines and turret assembly./media/tinymce_upload/0c33e042560c9c91dcd15efeb08b608a.JPG /media/tinymce_upload/1e3928d3fce6ad7b1b0cdba27d368f88.JPGAnd all is revealed. Despite 1 or 2 small areas that need a little touching up (and I'll try and do better next time) the results aren't too bad and a coat of Klear was applied ready for the decals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenneth ONeill Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I'm not suggesting changing file type no idea where you got that from.... the images in this thread are JPEG 😉You have a camera that defaults to Jpeg!? The ones I use all default to raw, so you'd have to open then in a photo editor and do Save As to get Jpegs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenneth ONeill Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 @T2B - Sorry if the technical discussion isn't helping; I suspect the problem is that everyone else knows enough to not know what/why you're not understanding in sufficient detail to explain further. What I can say is that your revised images top of page are looking a bit soft on my monitor, which suggests that something is trying to force them up to a default image size and I'm getting interpolation effects. As justification of my comments about "it's complicated" etc, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicubic_interpolation . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2B Posted March 20, 2018 Author Share Posted March 20, 2018 @ P4T It happens on my monitor a little too, all I can suggest that when a cropped image is viewed in the same frame size the pixels are stretched a bit (especially on larger devices like a computer monitor) so the image becomes softer or a little blurred which is why I'm careful not to crop them too much. And sorry but I kinda get too engrossed in my model building rather than devote time to improving my computer skills cos generally I manage to get by. Though I do think my camera is due an upgrade soon? So I will continue with the build! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I’m glad to see the story of the build project has resumed. I think you have chosen a good project to showcase two examples of the latest standard from Airfix, and the finish on the Blenheim looks very good indeed. The photo of the underside shows the open bomb bay which I always regretted not having in the ‘old’ Blenheim IV from years ago. On the subject of the bomb bay, did you notice the gap between the bulkhead [rear I think] & the fuselage as reported elsewhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2B Posted March 20, 2018 Author Share Posted March 20, 2018 @ DT Thanks for your comments Dominic and yes it's good to get comments about the build again as it did suffer from some thread creep! And yes there were small panel/joint gaps in the bomb bay where the rear fuselage and cockpit both slot onto the center fuselage/wing section but being held in place with quick setting liquid cement largely eliminated the gaps. I'll try and upload a close up photo tonight. As I mentioned earlier in a post, so far the only issues I've had was with the fit of the canopy halves which resulted in gaps where the canopy attached to the cockpit sides so some filler had to be used! And many old tool kits especially smaller series kits were lacking detail like bomb bays but it was the era they were made and I was generally happy it the time with the kits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Oh, don’t get me wrong about the old Blenheim IV. I was very happy it was released when it was. But now we have updated versions of both main Blenheim versions, and I am looking forward to making them. Meanwhile, I am enjoying seeing how you are tackling this project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironsides Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 @ P4T It happens on my monitor a little too, all I can suggest that when a cropped image is viewed in the same frame size the pixels are stretched a bit (especially on larger devices like a computer monitor) so the image becomes softer or a little blurred which is why I'm careful not to crop them too much. And sorry but I kinda get too engrossed in my model building rather than devote time to improving my computer skills cos generally I manage to get by. Though I do think my camera is due an upgrade soon? So I will continue with the build!I think its a bit more mundane then that, in some of images the object being photgraphed is out of focus(could also be a bit of camera shake) look closely at the image of the cockpit on the newpaper, the newsprint and undercarraige is in focus the cockpit isnt, so the focus is slightly beyond the cockpit... P4T, yes my camera defaults to jpeg 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2B Posted March 20, 2018 Author Share Posted March 20, 2018 @ DT Hi Dominic, trying to keep the build on track I took a couple of extra photo's tonight while doing some more of the decals./media/tinymce_upload/263e4a6c148200dfb618bdadcf5977c5.JPGYou can see the join of the fuselage/cockpit sections to the central wing section but they are fairly tight and I don't think they require filling. As I mentioned the only gaps I got were around the cockpit canopy./media/tinymce_upload/6f02cf5ef491bb9f5a18c634c8d6d92b.JPG The gaps were still small and I didn't really think they were an issue until after the paint was added, and then the gaps suddenly looked massive, so a little filler was required. /media/tinymce_upload/5f6e8ae83268e46aef7b80ae79b10294.JPG Only a couple of extra decals have been added, this working for a living plays havoc with my modelling 🤔/media/tinymce_upload/7e3db5e5718b1d5110ffaa380e18ac47.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenneth ONeill Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 @ironsides - OK, spike most of the techie stuff on the basis that not all hardware acts the same then? Beyond that I agree, and it's possible to get a "table tripod" for under £10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I like the finish you have achieved. It’s coming along well. The gap at the end of the bomb bay doesn’t look excessive in your pictures, and I suppose in the heat of battle, it won’t be noticed!The wing walkway is really crisp. How did you achieve that? Masking? I see you have masked the canopy for painting. Was this a tailored mask set? I tried making my own masking on a Fulmar recently and it was a disaster - resorted to painting the frames freehand. I’ll try to post some pics one of these days as a lesson in how not to do it.Keep up the good work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2B Posted March 21, 2018 Author Share Posted March 21, 2018 Thanks again for your praise. And I'm happy with the bomb bay and overall fit of the panels etc other than the canopy which I've already mentioned. The finish still needs the matt coat and weathering when the build is finished. And cheating on both counts, the wing walkway is part of the kit decal sheet and yes I used an Edward Mask Set for the canopies. I used to occasioally hand paint the frames when I was still brush painting my models, and my first attempts at spraying on my Battle & Lysander masks (separate build threads on this forum) were done freehand with tape n modelling knife. But on more complicated canopies and turrets I'm taking the easy route and using tailored mask sets where possible! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenneth ONeill Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 I like the finish you have achieved. It’s coming along well. The gap at the end of the bomb bay doesn’t look excessive in your pictures, and I suppose in the heat of battle, it won’t be noticed!The wing walkway is really crisp. How did you achieve that? Masking? I see you have masked the canopy for painting. Was this a tailored mask set? I tried making my own masking on a Fulmar recently and it was a disaster - resorted to painting the frames freehand. I’ll try to post some pics one of these days as a lesson in how not to do it.Keep up the good work.Also @T2B - I was getting a ~1mm air gap between the wing centre section and rear fuselage when test fitting, until I saw a suggestion that you also need to press the front edge of the rear fuselage down so the "hooks" engage over the leading edge of the wing (clearer with the subassemblies in front of you). I'll suggest that detail consideration of exactly how you assemble these parts is important then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin M Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 And cheating on both counts, the wing walkway is part of the kit decal sheet and yes I used an Edward Mask Set for the canopies. Using pre-cut masks is a cheat I fully condone. I onced masked the canopy and nose of a B36 with Tamiya tape. Never again. When I built my 1:32 He111, I used Eduard's mask set and loved every individual little mask (and some not so little ones, it was 1:32) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 Personally, I do not consider mask sets to be a cheat. In my mind, they are just another tool of the trade. The quality of canopies on many of the posts on this blog stand for themselves. In my case, having been modelling since William the Conqueror made his Battle in Hastings, I am stuck in a time warp with cocktail sticks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2B Posted March 23, 2018 Author Share Posted March 23, 2018 @ P4T I didn't notice the 'hooks' when doing my dry fitting (though they may be there and engaged without me realising) but as I say with some positive pressure I believe I got a pretty good fit, less than 1mm gap and the wing root alignment was good aswell so it must be OK because with the tight tolerances if 1 section is out it'll cause a gap or miss alignment further along the build process. But I've got another 3 Blenheims to do in the fullness of time so I try and remember your little hint. @ Colin M Yes the pre-cut mask sets are worth it and do save a lot of time and frustration on the more complicated canopies/turrets, especially as I'm still in the 1:72nd scale world. But on smaller canopies like the Spitfire collection I've just done I do cut my own as I can't justify the expense for just 5 little pre-cut shapes!! @ DT Like you I've been modelling for a long time, since 1970 and was very stuck in my ways. Apart from my AFVs everything was Airfix, all my aircraft and all my products (well Humbrol but its the same) and I brush painted using enamels. But about a year ago I joined a local Model Club and was introduced to airbrushing and a whole host of different products and methods. Although I've still got a lot to learn I think I have progressed more in the past year in terms of better and more realistic finishes than I had in the previous 15-20 years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabhand Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 I too selected to build this pair in as a 'dogfight double'. Starting with the Blenheim, I found the forward cockpit a bit of a handfull. I wasn't aware [then] of the extent to which pre-painting coud affect the ease of assembly given the precise fit of the parts [before painting] was as pronounced as I found it to be. I didn't achieve the best of fit. Having said that, the kit does assemble very well, the only other 'take great care' area being the engine cowlings.The lesson for me was that its essential to progress builds on the 'new' Airfix as far as possible then paint. This should ensure that this potential difficulty is avoided. Anyhow, your efforts have prompted me to continue with my own 'dogfight double' from these two kits! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2B Posted March 25, 2018 Author Share Posted March 25, 2018 Well the Blenheim is almost complete. I will post some photo's for moderating later of the progress made over the weekend. But almost had a mini-disaster this afternoon, when touching up the turret assembly I dropped it and it fell straight in the 14ml tinlet of gunmetal paint without touching the sides. If Itried it another 100 times I doubt it would happen, but fortunately I managed to rescue the turret and it cleaned up pretty well. @ dabhand ....... Yes as I have mentioned I found the cockpit the trickyest part, and yes care had to be taken with the engine cowlings but the detail is superb. I'm glad I'm not the only 1 who likes to copy the Airfix artwork with my modelling and hope you do make progress and get yours finished. Maybe you could post some photo's of your work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2B Posted March 26, 2018 Author Share Posted March 26, 2018 The progress so far .......... 
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