Airfix B-Wing Conversion

Archive&Future

Sr Member

• Apr 26, 2014

• #1

(This is a commissioned piece)

Well yup I've got another model to be working on now, the 1985 Airfix B-Wing. I must say that I was expecting something absolutely awful, instead this is actually a very workable kit to anyone with moderate modelling skills. The kit was built when it arrived, in perfect condition too; thankfully it's a snap fit kit and i could pry the parts away from each other.

The guns, as you'd expect, are kinda lame. I was never going to keep them anyway though

The first thing I did was to cut and file away the guns on the cockpit jaw, the plastic is so soft on the kit that this was easy peasy

I also scrapped the smoke tinted canopy and went for a more studio look. At least you'll can see the cockpit now

I also started scratching the wing mounted guns from brass rod, heatshrink and....cotton buds

I then filled the terribly misaligned cockpit seams and enhanced the angled end

Before I could glue the fuselage together, I had to scratch build new guns for the wing pod

And then a ton of clamps!

I've not seen many build ups of this kit, it's tiny but respectable. Comments are always appreciated!

 

A

Albertese

Well-Known Member

• Apr 27, 2014

• #2

Lovely start there. You have a talent for knocking out neat looking guns out of cheap materials.

--Alex

 

mikoyan99

Active Member

• Apr 27, 2014

• #3

Indeed, looks good. Good luck with the build, I may have another pop at this kit myself now.
-Matt

 

Archive&Future

Sr Member

• Apr 27, 2014

• #4

Thanks guys!

Wing guns mounted

Then an attempt to cover up those huge holes without putty. I bent these over later on

Needed a new front vent system to replace the chunky kit part

All assembled and ready for paint! This has been a lovely build, no hassle and very dainty

Can't wait to give this a killer paintjob hehe

 

jake88

Sr Member

• Apr 27, 2014

• #5

Looks very promising Haystack. Its very crisp and with some decent panel lines. Should come out pretty nice. Looking forward!

 

laellee

Master Member

RPF PREMIUM MEMBER

• Apr 28, 2014

• #6

You know, you're making this look a lot easier than I think it really is. :lol

 

Archive&Future

Sr Member

• Apr 28, 2014

• #7

laellee said:

You know, you're making this look a lot easier than I think it really is. :lol

Click to expand...

You give me too much credit, it really IS an easy build

 

Archive&Future

Sr Member

• May 1, 2014

• #8

I gave the whole model a coat of gloss black, which is unusual for me because I normally go for flat grey primer but in this instance I felt given the size of the model, it could do with a little extra 'pop'. I then mixed an appropriate shade of grey for the basecoat

Looks prettty cooool if I do say so myself
Then I gave it a thoroughly grimy wash of brown and blue

I used a hairdryer to set the wash, but I will wait until at least tomorrow before doing anything further to it

 

Jaitea

Master Member

• May 1, 2014

• #9

Looking great HH, the new guns & scratched vents are a definate improvement!!

I used to have this kit,...A long time ago, in a.............

J

 

H

holtaa

Active Member

• May 1, 2014

• #10

Oh man! Now you are making me want to get my salvaged kit out and get working on it. From what I remember, most of the detail isn't too bad. There is a fantastic plastic resin kit on EBay right now, and other than it being closer to the correct scale (1/72), it is not really much of an improvement. I am definitely looking forward to seeing this one finished.
Arrin

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk

 

Archive&Future

Sr Member

• May 1, 2014

• #11

Jaitea said:

Looking great HH, the new guns & scratched vents are a definate improvement!!

I used to have this kit,...A long time ago, in a.............

J

Click to expand...

Thanks J! I'd love to see what you could do with it hehe

holtaa said:

Oh man! Now you are making me want to get my salvaged kit out and get working on it. From what I remember, most of the detail isn't too bad. There is a fantastic plastic resin kit on EBay right now, and other than it being closer to the correct scale (1/72), it is not really much of an improvement. I am definitely looking forward to seeing this one finished.
Arrin

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Yeah to be honest this is a very nice little kit, once you've swapped out the guns and vents it's a respectable model. The panel lines are crisp and accurate to boot, it's just a shame that you can't get hold of it for less than £25, £30 or so. I was considering scratching a 1/72 B-wing, i'd not realised there was a kit floating around about

 

TK7713Gra30

Active Member

• May 2, 2014

• #12

Looks really great
Makes me want to dig our some of my vintage kits but after finemolds I look on them in a different light, which I shouldn't.
The guns looks great, the only thing that let's it down in my eyes are the joins behind the cockpit and halfway down the fuselage, it seems a shame to leave them after all the improvements you have done.
Will follow with interest
All the best

 

Archive&Future

Sr Member

• May 2, 2014

• #13

TK7713Gra30 said:

Looks really great
Makes me want to dig our some of my vintage kits but after finemolds I look on them in a different light, which I shouldn't.
The guns looks great, the only thing that let's it down in my eyes are the joins behind the cockpit and halfway down the fuselage, it seems a shame to leave them after all the improvements you have done.
Will follow with interest
All the best

Click to expand...

No I agree with you, but I couldn't manage to get the really big seams filled or flush, the fit of the kit is generally acceptable apart from those areas. In fairness I could have tried a little harder...

 

TK7713Gra30

Active Member

• May 2, 2014

• #14

Still looks great mate. Don't get me wrong it wasn't anything against your skill. I will be following this and the guns are great, he joins jumped out at me a little that's all. The weathering should tone them down anyhow. Best wishes

 

Last edited: May 2, 2014

Archive&Future

Sr Member

• May 6, 2014

• #15

I made a base from mahogany, varnished it and used polished steel rod for the support (seen alongside a gift for my design teacher!)

Then today I added two more layers of modulation and shading over the grime wash, then masked off areas for different shades

I rly love masking fluid....

Anyway here's where I'm at. Next stop is orange dots, details then....weathering