Airfix Vosper MTB

[Explorer1959]

Here’s some work to date on the Airfix Vosper. I last made one of these when I was wearing short trousers and I must have been small because at the time the model seemed big. Fifty years later and it’s actually quite tiny. Without magnifying glasses I would have given up. The mould quality is at best average. Parts fit where they touch and some are incorrectly located, so, wherever I felt it necessary they were either rebuilt or replaced with scratch built. There are surprisingly few photographic references of this particular type of MTB online and the majority are quite blurred. So, being too tight to spend another thirty quid on a reference books, between said blurry images and looking at other builds on Britmodeller I opted for scale accuracy and a generic design and paint scheme.

Rebuild the deck cabin from scratch. Only the buttresses, still to fit canvas roll, flag locker, cable trunk and wind deflector - all modified - are original kit parts.



Fill the many gaps and remove the inaccurate torpedo rests.



Replace torpedo rests with scratch built.



Rebuild the gun. I was determined not to use any after-market parts but relented with these superb barrels. Not sure if the ammo magazines faced left or right as references suggest either way possible.



New boat hooks.

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First pass paint and weathering. Still to do mast, rigging, stanchions, windshield, props, rudders.

Edited by Explorer1959 on Saturday 8th July 16:27

Edited by Explorer1959 on Monday 28th August 22:58

[Yertis]

That’s lovely. Tamiya’s Vosper ‘Perkasa’ next?

[Explorer1959]

Many thanks. Airfix Golden Hind next in the queue….needs work.

[and31]

That looks great

[Eric Mc]

Excellent.

[Simpo Two]

It is an unusual Vosper as most of them have cutouts for the torpedo, as per the Italeri kit.

Explorer1959 said:

There are surprisingly few photographic references of this particular type of MTB online and the majority are quite blurred. So, being too tight to spend another twenty quid on a reference book

You may mean this one: https://www.diandsaulbooks.co.uk/vosper-motor-torp... Even if you're not making a model, it's a very detailed and interesting book. It seems to be out of print so grab it while you can.

The other one worth getting is https://ospreypublishing.com/uk/british-motor-torp...

Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 9th July 09:09

[Explorer1959]

Yes - that’s the twenty quid one I was referring to. I missed the Osprey reference book completely.

[AlfaCool]

Very nice.
My Dad was on MTBs during the war, so i always have a soft spot for them.

[Simpo Two]

Explorer1959 said:

Yes - that’s the twenty quid one I was referring to. I missed the Osprey reference book completely.

Anything by John Lambert will be worth it, he's the coastal craft god.

I had to buy them for reference as I didn't have a kit at all...! This is my Thornycroft:

[Explorer1959]

That’s terrific

[and31]

Explorer1959 said:

That’s terrific

It is!!

[Explorer1959]

Into the home straight. Stanchions, windscreen, mast scratch built from brass rod, rigging, propellors all added. I’ve taken a bit of artistic license with the aerial above the cabin. My soldering skills don’t extend to making the original design in miniature. Two lifebelts, anchor ropes, and rudders to finish.

Edited by Explorer1959 on Saturday 22 July 11:06

Edited by Explorer1959 on Saturday 22 July 11:14

[Explorer1959]

[Explorer1959]

[Explorer1959]

[Fallingup]

Excellent.

[Super Sonic]

Explorer1959 said:

Many thanks. Airfix Golden Hind next in the queue….needs work.

The little series one kit James May had the school kids build?

[Explorer1959]

The 1:72 scale one. Could just build it out of the box but want to make it more interesting…

[Eric Mc]

That turned out really well.

[Simpo Two]

Explorer1959 said:

The 1:72 scale one. Could just build it out of the box but want to make it more interesting…

If you look at the Facebook group 'Spitfires of the Seas' there's a super diorama based around the 1/35 Italeri Vosper that might give you some ideas. Three posts down at https://www.facebook.com/groups/562609010767534