Phew! Finally, I managed to finish a kit. But - for once - I haven't any complaints about this build whatsoever. It's been an absolute pleasure, if all kits were of this quality I would have three times as many kits built as I have.
All credit to Airfix, it's a beautifully designed little model - everything fits exactly as one would expect. So, without further ado, here's the final slideshow of the construction...
And in case you missed them, here are parts one and two...
I decided I would do the final slideshow when I finish this kit altogether. So here's the latest progress, a gnat's hair away from finishing...
I only put the bloody doors on! ;)
I went with semi-open doors as this kit will eventually be part of an RAF diorama along with my Airfix Tomahawk.
I actually feel I have made some progress with my modelling techniques with this one (sorry to sound so self-congratulatory), but for once good effects seemed to be by design rather than luck as I felt that some were with my previous models.
Really want to get back on with my Finnish trucks again now as I want to keep the momentum going now I have made some progress!
While I would much rather continue the updates of this model by means of the video format I started the particular technique I have been involved with has been so taxing for me that I can't resist putting up another mini-update...
To re-cap: I was having problems getting the 'Tilly's' canvas roof cover right. I had over-weathered it - with pastel pigments - and it eventually just looked over-the-top.
After canvasing for tips to resolve this the most favoured technique seemed to be a light airbrushing to 'smooth out' and tone down the over contrasty highlighting I had done. So I tried it and here's the result...
I am very pleased indeed. You can still make out the underlying weathering and highlighting but it is much more subtle now. All I did was to airbrush Vallejo Matt Black very lightly over the top.
The trick seems to be to stop airbrushing while you think it is just not quite as dark as you think you want it and leave it to dry. When you check it again when dry it probably is exactly the shade you were actually going for! (Does that make sense?)
Anyway, that major hurdle (for me) overcome I can now continue to finish off the model and produce the final movie slideshow.
As the current work on the Tilly is somewhat involved - for a someone of my meagre experience - I don't yet have a full set of photos to make the latest slideshow. But I did want to show that I have made some progress, so here's a snap of the latest state of play...
The canvas tilt cover looks a little messy, but this is because I have just applied the oil paint weathering - which gives it it's patchy look. The next job is to smooth this out and tone it down, though I'm not sure about the best way to achieve this (subtle airbrushed layer or maybe charcoal powder or a wash maybe).
Well, despite the wife's unrelenting DIY regime I did find a little time over the weekend to make a tiny bit of progress on the 'Tilly'! As before I have documented this build by means of a video slideshow (but I have added some text commentary this time)...
It's all going fairly well, but I have hit on one small snag. To include this vehicle in the RAF 'Tomahawk' diorama I have planned I will want some RAF personnel. But, unfortunately, the Airfix Vehicle Set that the Tilly comes in doesn't include any figures at all (no drivers or ground crew).
I blatantly realised that this was because they want you to buy their own 1/72 'RAF Ground Crew' plastic figure set (naturally enough). More expense!
Still, the set does include a selection of very nicely posed ground crew and pilots (including one female WAAF). I bought the set from Amazon and have been sorting through the poses and have picked out a group I would like to include. My one qualm is that they are soft plastic figures and so have a little flash and some seams which I will have to try and get rid of.
Hope you enjoy the slideshow. As said before, I'm experimenting with this format so please feel free to make any constructive criticisms
Im trying out something different today. As the Airfix Tilly is so straight forward it actually bearly needs any commentary about the building (yes, it is that well behaved) so I have decided to do a bit of a slideshow of the stages in construction and post it up as a movie...
I decided to stop at this half-way stage as I now have to do some prep work to do prior to painting the interior (masking and what-not). But this build is a breeze and it's nice to get back onto vehicles again - aircraft just ain't my thing I don't think.
Let me know what you think of me doing the construction journals in this way - as movie slideshows - and any constructive criticism or suggestions would be gratefully received.
The Standard Utility Vehicle, or 'Tilly'. Photo source: Wikipedia
I have been wondering what to do with my Airfix Tomahawk IIAnow that it's nearing completion. I have constructed it with the landing gear down so mounting it on some sort of small diorama seemed on the cards. But I didn't just want to mount the aircraft with - say - a single pilot figure, I fancied having a go at something a little more involved and interesting.
As it happened, while looking around my local model shop I came across Airfix's WWII RAF Vehicle Set. This seemed to be the ideal basis for my diorama...
I decided to go for the utility car as the partner for my RAF Tomahawk. It was a vehicle made by the Standard company based on a civilian car design, the common nickname for which was the 'Tilly'.
In my head I had an idea for a little story - unfortunately I now realise that I should have planned the idea for a diorama BEFORE making the Tomahawk as I missed an obvious opportunity for a lovely little scene using Airfix's 1/72 RAF Ground Crew figure set...
Some examples from Airfix's R.A.F. Personnel (set 01747). Source: Plastic Soldier Review
My Tomahawk is a 'Army Cooperation' machine from RAF 26 Squadron the primary duty of which was tactical photo reconnaissance. As you can see the Airfix figures has an RAF crewman working with one of the photo-recon cameras (far right in picture) and this would have been ideal for my diorama IF I had discovered this first and then opened up the little side hatch in the fuselage (which I didn't). Du-Oh!
It's just one of those things. I didn't know what I was going to do with my Tomahawk when I started it, I was just doing it for a change of scene (as a break from all the trucks I had been doing). Ah well!
...And on that note, back to my truck! (Well, car really!)
I got a really good idea how this model was going to go together from this YouTube build video...
It does look a very nice little kit (Airfix are really on a roll these days it seems) and this impression was reinforced when I cracked open the box. Once again - just like the Tomahawk kit - the Airfix RAF vehicles are lovely and crisp mouldings with plenty of nice detail. The Tilly itself is a lovely little van and the instructions for it's construction are easy to understand and idiot proof (bearing in mind the last truck I was working on was the horrible Zebrano YaG-6 the AIrfix Tilly is s breath of fresh air)!
So, onwards and upwards, as I begin construction. It will be interesting to see how long this kit takes to put together.
