Here’s my full build of Airfix’s Vampire T.11/J28-C jet trainer, 1/72 scale model kit, ref: A02058A.
I picked the kit up as an impulse buy when in a hobby shop. I’m always drawn to modelling aircraft with a bare metal finish – though it’s a technique I’ve not managed to master, but is improving with each build. The idea of the bare metal and the bright day-glow orange/red would definitely catch the eye on the shelf, and therefore inspired me to model the Vampire in flight.
You can of course watch the full build video, but I have also taken photographs and discussed some things in further detail on this article. This is one of those builds that part of me would like to do again – just because things started so well, but the issue with the decals meant that I didn’t get the finish I was really wanting to achieve. However, the using different primers under different panels did work and is a technique I’ll explore in the future, and overall the model did turn out better than I was expecting at one point!
As ever it starts with building the cockpit. As pilots would be in the model as it will be displayed in flight I didn’t do too much detailing or weathering.
The build was quick and simple with the only main issue being the locating mounts for the booms seemed to be a little thick and wouldn’t let the wings properly come together so required some filing.
Once gaps had been filled and joins sanded the model was primed with Mr Surfacer 1200. A few panels were masked and layer of Mr Paint Black was put down giving a smooth (though more satin than gloss) finish – and masking removed from the selected panels.
The model was then painted in AK Interactive Polished Aluminum. As the black wasn’t gloss it gave a good metallic finish, and the panels without the black primer had a more dull appearance as hoped. This was then sealed with a coat of Pledge.
I used Humbrol Decalfix for the decals. Unfortunately the decals cracked and split beyond rescue so had to be removed, another coat of Polished Aluminum was required to fix areas damaged, then re-sealed.
On further tests it appears that the decals were fine, but it was the Humbrol Decalfix that caused the decals to break down.
I mixed some Vallejo Yellow and Red paint to make a vivid orange colour, then masked the marking and sprayed. The result was actually better than hoped! Another coat of Pledge was given to seal, and the remainder of the decals applied. The Vampire was then given a wash with Flory Models black, which was removed from panel surfaces to give a mildly weathered look, but show panel lines.
A base was then made so display the Vampire in flight.
The kit has some great details, and this was really highlighted with a panel wash – despite the 8 or 9 layers sprayed on. If the decals had of worked as hoped the build would have been quicker, and no doubt more detail would have also come through.
You can purchase that kit from Amazon (UK).