Airfix Sea Vixen build - part two

Martin Baker ejector seats

As I have mentioned I purchased the True Details Martin Baker seats from Squadron. These resin parts have terrific detail and are both represented with different arrangements of straps to add to the authenticity.

I used this resource Nick Park photographs on Flickr for the paint scheme following it as best I could. I ended up using Calthan Brown, Commando Khaki, Bleached bone, Grey blue, Black Green, Golden Yellow, Flat read and Chainmail to get the look. Its a shame most of the detail will be hidden in the cockpit but I was really please that the green control box on the right hand side is visible from the navigator position.

The next picturs I post will show these seats in position in the cockpit.

Comments, suggestions always welcome.

Airfix Sea Vixen build - part one

Before starting on the project I did some research around the net looking for other people's builds and recommendations.

One of the first things I struggled with was how to do the cockpit. On the airfixtributeforum I found a very nice build by DH764 that used only the kit provided parts. Then on the Military Modelling site I found Keith Christie's lovely build in which he used the early allied jets decals from AirScale .

Pavla have a resin version of the cockpit which include seats as does Aires

Finally Eduard have an etch package that includes two etches, one of which is colored cockpit components.

As some of you may know there are a number of other secondary market items out there for this kit including wheel wells, air brake, undercarriage legs, wing fold mechanisms and cockpit seats.

In the end I decided to go for the Eduard Etch for a couple of reasons. Firstly I had seen the True Detail resin ejector seats for this model and they are outstanding. Secondly I wanted to give my cockpit a little more than a straight out of the box build, finally the full Eduard etch pack includes items for the air brake, undercarriage and other assorted items on the aircraft so I knew if I felt brave enough I could add a few other elements to the model.

So off to Squadron I went to order the etch along with the True Detail seats some new undercarriage legs and an Eduard mask for the cockpit glazing.

For those of you that have built kits using an etch before this is probably old hat but I'm an etch virgin so it took a deal of courage to start filing off the original kit detail in order to fit the etch parts. And aren't they tiny!!

In my mind you have to prepare yourself to do this kind of work. Its a real challenge and worth the effort but preparation is key. The Eduard instructions are very good so I followed their sequence and took it one part at a time. Some parts could be handled with fingers and tweezers, others needed trusty cocktail sticks and a bit of spit to pick them up. By planning each move how I was going to cut, move fit and (if necessary) glue a part I built up what I think is a special looking cockpit.

Painting was straightorwardf, lots of black! However, I tried out a technique I had read about to create the impression of worn metal. I ffirst sprayed gunmetal then when dry I brushed warm water where I wanted to represent the worn metal and then sprinkled salt on to the water. Once the water had dried off I oversprayed with black. Once dried I could wash off the salt with warm water and I was left with worn looking parts. Some of it is very subtle other parts less so, it really depends on how haevy you go with the salt. It worked for me anyway.

Next up the Martin Baker ejection seats from True Detail.

Clearing the decks part two

The other project that got finished off to make way for the Sea Vixen was a large piece of gaming terrain.

This is the Ruined Tower made from the Hirst Arts mold number 65.

I'm not going in to the construction here because Bruce does a fantastic job of this on his web site. I will however mention the "landscaping". I have been looking in to making modular terrain for my war games table (to be built this winter .... after the Vixen!). I found an ideal material at my local Home Depot. It's DuPont's insulating board. Its a dense foam that comes in many thicknesses. I picked 1". The pieces come in 8 foot lengths so I was able to cut four, two foot square terrain bases from it.

The ruined tower sits on the first completed terrain base. The raised portion is another piece of foam board cut to shape with a bread knife and then sculpted with a modelling knife. The exposed rock was base coated with grey primer. The rest of the piece is coated with a sandy color I picked up in the odds and ends bin at my local paint store.

All the subsequent materials used were Woodland scenic products. I washed the base coat with a dark earth and dark green washes. I then sprinkled four different flocks to get the changes in vegetation color I was looking for. The pool and stream were made using realistic water (great stuff if you read the directions and ONLY pour 1/8th of an inch at a time).

Some large pieces of flock were added and then Army Painter tufts finished the look. Everything was "locked" in place with Woodlands Scenic Glue. Wonderful stuff.

Check it out. the perfect place for the Amon Sul scenario!

Clearing the decks part one

Building model plastic construction kits was something I got in to at a very early age, probably like most people. I started out building the Series One Airfix kits in little bags that my dad bought me at the weekends. As I got into my teens I built larger projects (Saturn V Rocket springs to mind) until I discovered other more interesting things to do with my free time.

Fast forward to recent times. The quality of kits available has improved enormously, my skills are a little better now and with the masses of available resources from model making masters out there it is easier to make a real eye catching model to be proud of.

So when I received an Airfix 1/48 scale Sea Vixen kit for Christmas from my very bright sister I had to change my approach to my hobby time.

I usually have two or three projects on the go at any one time and for the past couple of years they have all been miniatures or in a couple of cases some model specifically for the miniatures. But this Sea Vixen will demand a great deal of attention if I am to do the kit justice.

As most people will know the Sea Vixen from Airfix is a part of that companies resurgence. Having been saved  from the scrap heap the company is now reinvigorated as a significant model making company again. Just like the 1/24 scale Mosquito (which I have waiting in the closet) this is a completely new model of an intriguing subject. The quality of the kit is up there with the best of them.

In order to give this kit the attention it deserves I finished up all my projects, totally cleared off my work area, cleaned all the surfaces, repositioned the lights and only brought back in to the work area those tools I know I will need for the project.

The first item to be finished off was two DBA armies I had been working on. After having watched the movie Centurion I determined to fight some Pict versus Roman battles of my own. I bought my miniatures from Essex Miniatures and painted them up using the Osprey Reference Warrior 50 and pictures of similar models I found on the internet.

The Romans benefited from some shield transfers from Little Big Men Studios but I still need a few more so I have some transfers in the mail from Veni Vidi Vici to complete the auxilliaries.

Roman Generals view of the field

Cataphracts

The Legion arriving

Pict army waiting to pounce

The Picts

Pictish hardmen

Roman Legion

The General

Ballista

Not to be messed with.