Airfix 1:48 Avro Anson Mk.1

Airfix 1:48 Avro Anson Mk.1

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Discussion

robemcdonald

Original Poster:

9,133 posts

203 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
It’s been a while so I thought I’d do a proper build thread.

I bought this kit yesterday at hobbycraft. They currently have a sale on Airfix kits and this was reduced from about £50 to a much more reasonable £35.
As we have an Airfix competition at my club in a couple of months I thought I’d give it a go.

So far I have opened the box and had a look at the sprues.











[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/FHFKAP7Q[/url]


It looks like a pretty nice kit. Another step up from Airfix. I have ordered a mask set because quite frankly it would be madness to attempt it without one.

Eric Mc

122,855 posts

272 months

Tuesday 9th April
quotequote all
I've seen a few of them built up and they do look lovely.

I only wish Airfix had the wherewithal to do a new tool 1/72 version as well.

robemcdonald

Original Poster:

9,133 posts

203 months

Wednesday 10th April
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
I've seen a few of them built up and they do look lovely.

I only wish Airfix had the wherewithal to do a new tool 1/72 version as well.
So far I have high hopes for the build.

I managed to do the first couple of steps so far.

There are lots of flat, large areas so I decided to try and add a bit of tonal variety by using a lighter shade of cockpit green and a wash to make some of the detail pop.

I also used some weathering powders to make the seats look a bit worn too.

I’m going to make some belts for the seats after work.


Eric Mc

122,855 posts

272 months

Wednesday 10th April
quotequote all
Looking good.

I did crumble and buy one, even though I don't normally do 1/48.

robemcdonald

Original Poster:

9,133 posts

203 months

Wednesday 10th April
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Looking good.

I did crumble and buy one, even though I don't normally do 1/48.
A good move I would say. It’s quite a nice kit.

The detail is very good and it goes together well.



The mask set arrived today, so nothing to prevent progress…. Apart from work…. And family….. and all the other stuff.

Eric Mc

122,855 posts

272 months

Thursday 11th April
quotequote all
That looks lovely.

Some of these recent Airfix kits have such good internal detail that it is a real shame to cover it all up.

I saw one chap who had built the Wellington as two open fuselage halves so he could display all the interior of both sides and then mounted the two halves in a picture frame. It was a great idea.

robemcdonald

Original Poster:

9,133 posts

203 months

Saturday 13th April
quotequote all
I made some progress, but for whatever reason the pictures didn’t save to my iPad.

So this is where I currently am with the build.




I had a few issues. This is mainly because the fit was too good. I know that sounds bonkers, but anyone who has built a wingnut wings kit will know what I’m talking about. A thin layer of paint on mating surfaces is enough to throw things out of alignment several steps down the line.

Hopefully it’s all sorted out now.

dr_gn

16,407 posts

191 months

Saturday 13th April
quotequote all
Looks a nice kit, and of course a very nice build. Is it the new dark grey plastic? I’ve got a 1:72 Meteor new-tool with the latest plastic and it seems much nicer to work with than the softer stuff. Maybe better surface detail tool, but difficult to say. Have you noticed a difference?

robemcdonald

Original Poster:

9,133 posts

203 months

Saturday 13th April
quotequote all
dr_gn said:
Looks a nice kit, and of course a very nice build. Is it the new dark grey plastic? I’ve got a 1:72 Meteor new-tool with the latest plastic and it seems much nicer to work with than the softer stuff. Maybe better surface detail tool, but difficult to say. Have you noticed a difference?
Absolutely. It’s much harder than the other recent stuff (possibly moulded in the UK?)

The decals too are exceptional.

I’m really looking forward to the bulldog later this year.

robemcdonald

Original Poster:

9,133 posts

203 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Some more progress starting with the engine nacelles and wings





I’ve obviously got something a bit wrong as there was a bit of a gap on the trailing edge of both wing roots, so I had to do a bit of filling.
Then onto the engines, which are quite nicely detailed.

Finally assembling the three part engine covers.


I’ll paint this little lot later tonight.

Eric Mc

122,855 posts

272 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
That looks lovely.

robemcdonald

Original Poster:

9,133 posts

203 months

Tuesday 16th April
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
That looks lovely.
Thanks Eric.

I painted the engines and assembled the covers before I started work.

Looks like a bit of filling needed (my own fault)




I managed to steal a few of my daughters loom bands to hold everything together while it sets up.

robemcdonald

Original Poster:

9,133 posts

203 months

Friday 19th April
quotequote all
It’s been a quiet week for the Anson. Mrs McDonald celebrated a milestone birthday and work has been all consuming.

I did manage to get the window masks on though.


And then some cockpit green for the framing on the inside.


I knew there was a fit issue on the main screen, but it turned out to be worse than I thought and definitely needed filling.

This was made more difficult as I didn’t want to damage the mask set that was in place.







It’s not perfect, but it is much improved.


Eric Mc

122,855 posts

272 months

Friday 19th April
quotequote all
Are you using a dedicated mask set?

robemcdonald

Original Poster:

9,133 posts

203 months

Friday 19th April
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Are you using a dedicated mask set?
Yes. It’s the Eduard one. I wouldn’t have the patience to mask it the “old fashioned way”

Eric Mc

122,855 posts

272 months

Friday 19th April
quotequote all
The MkI Anson "greenhouse" would be a nightmare to mask using standard tape.

I wish Airfix did a new tool 1/72 version of the Anson. Their old tool is hopelessly outdated (and incorrect).

robemcdonald

Original Poster:

9,133 posts

203 months

Saturday 20th April
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
The MkI Anson "greenhouse" would be a nightmare to mask using standard tape.

I wish Airfix did a new tool 1/72 version of the Anson. Their old tool is hopelessly outdated (and incorrect).
Probably not enough money in a 1/72 to justify it. That said they have done the hard work. It probably wouldn’t take much to re design the kit for 1/72.

Anyway. I put on a quick coat of Tamiya As12 from a rattle can. This is the underside colour any way and will serve as a primer on the top.


robemcdonald

Original Poster:

9,133 posts

203 months

Sunday 21st April
quotequote all
I masked the underside did a little preshading and a flat earth base coat.



dr_gn

16,407 posts

191 months

Sunday 21st April
quotequote all
Nice work. What brown are you using?

robemcdonald

Original Poster:

9,133 posts

203 months

Monday 22nd April
quotequote all
dr_gn said:
Nice work. What brown are you using?
Tamiya flat earth. It does actually look brown unlike the photo.

I’ll take another one when I get to my desk.