forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

Modelers Lounge => The World of Scale Models => Topic started by: Gisbod on April 07, 2021, 10:11:07 PM

Title: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: Gisbod on April 07, 2021, 10:11:07 PM
Afternoon all,

I seem to be blocking up the off topic builds at the moment! But this is at least, a biplane and from the 20’s.

Not the 1/32 Silverwings I’m afraid, but the 1970’s pocket money 1/72 Matchbox version. That said it's a little gem of a kit. I saw one built at Telford a couple of years back and it went straight into my mental stash!



Guy


Ps as it comes in 2 colour plastic I obviously won’t have to paint it  8)



(https://i.postimg.cc/BQm5b5D9/8562-E414-02-D2-4018-A8-CD-86-EAECD63-D2-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BX1PwKMM)


(https://i.postimg.cc/t473x1t1/2-D455037-C073-481-A-AD29-3-FF2198-E82-F9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fVnS4RPZ)


(https://i.postimg.cc/pTKYLgQq/AA8-AF4-E3-5-AA3-4870-9-BE7-8-D717-F375-D9-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9RFqxgn7)


(https://i.postimg.cc/RVSQvpWL/DBAFF0-EE-C6-F9-4-E7-C-AA55-8731-A561-C688.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/F16JZZgY)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin
Post by: Gisbod on April 07, 2021, 10:15:25 PM
Ps the decals are past it, so hopefully will be masks  :)

Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin
Post by: Alexis on April 07, 2021, 11:39:02 PM
I remember those matchbox kits form my youth , looking for to this . Since you aren't painting this ...this should be done in a few hours ???? ;)


Alexis
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin
Post by: DaveB on April 08, 2021, 03:34:49 AM
Great choice, Guy -

These Matchbox kits were the pocket money buy of choice when I was a kid - great memories!   I also built this one a few years ago funny enough.

Look forward to seeing you on when done.

Regards

Dave
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin
Post by: Monty on April 08, 2021, 06:13:30 AM
Lovely project, Guy! How well I remember that two colour lurid plastic! But enjoy, a great little model! ATB, Marc.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin
Post by: Gisbod on April 08, 2021, 03:40:35 PM
Thanks all for humouring me and following along with this blast from the past  ;)

Parts prepped:


(https://i.postimg.cc/L4B3KF8s/1011-FB8-A-7-CDA-45-E5-8-CAA-53-A02-B8-D6-AB1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jC27P9NV)



... and I’ve done the cockpit, which means I’ve stuck the seat to the floor! It has a very small aperture looking in so nothing added other than some notional belts.


(https://i.postimg.cc/Xq3KGQQ3/314-A042-F-C9-AE-4855-A6-C5-1-CF0-B7-A7-C12-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/62j4FVk1)


It’s interesting to see the development of kits over the years - comparing a 1/72 Tamiya cockpit:


(https://i.postimg.cc/9X6WnNVN/02993-F5-E-651-C-4930-979-F-22-A3934-C90-D5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/s1JdBmMp)


I’ve also added some support to the fixings...


(https://i.postimg.cc/C5NGjkQ8/878-C98-C3-53-D7-453-A-8-E10-FA83-DAC110-B7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/tnsnbZyR)


(https://i.postimg.cc/g25vqYNg/49-DAB0-CB-B4-B5-464-D-929-C-1255-E8422401.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZW8BJhkN)


(https://i.postimg.cc/d0yG5zfw/31-D28643-2889-4-BF7-8-F13-15-B31-AA50524.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cKdKH5Zb)




Good fun though, these really do take me back to a wet Saturday afternoon in my childhood!



Guy
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Progress
Post by: pepperman42 on April 08, 2021, 09:53:00 PM
Nice work!! Its nice to see all these new kits being built....whah? Where'd 1974 go!!??

Steve
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Progress
Post by: Gisbod on April 11, 2021, 05:55:12 AM
Where’d my life go Steve!


As per usual, I managed to break a strut - and she nearly went in the bin, but she’s such a cutie of a kit that I bought another one for spare parts  :D this one was a proper 1974 boxing (the first was 1986). Slightly lurid colours!


(https://i.postimg.cc/gkyYj7Rr/AB8218-B4-B269-4543-9841-F8-CD237-B0-BBB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/rKm6YQfL)


Here she is in her ‘Frankenstein’ dress:


(https://i.postimg.cc/mkCTQX5X/2-C0-F1177-FA94-4-D3-B-9-C1-C-D225-BF05-B57-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/H8WGm2HX)



The engine on this kit is a little gem! No seams at all along the cooling fins, and from a ‘74, 1/72 kit, quite remarkable!



(https://i.postimg.cc/5tK91Fz3/EABE24-A2-DB4-A-4-BAC-9-A44-AA3-F650-E417-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R3fxLhX6)



And with a coat of primer...



(https://i.postimg.cc/NfvsgtKW/1-CFC4-A4-B-BFFF-42-B0-B1-FC-E24-FCF11-F7-CA.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bdLcTKHT)



(https://i.postimg.cc/1RqRhX3G/2-EC647-F6-F578-42-FC-AF62-6-F3918-AB51-C6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5jfW8xvy)


While I was waiting for the spare kit to come, I started the Airfix Gladiator and this is how they stand...


(https://i.postimg.cc/k4knR3fR/5-AEDACA0-3174-413-B-B80-B-0-D94-D763-CA1-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WFwRxKRs)



Guy
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Primer
Post by: lcarroll on April 11, 2021, 11:45:27 AM
    Wow Guy, a trip down memory lane and then some! The colors on the older Kit are really a "flash from the past"! Those were the days alright!
Cheers,
Lance
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Primer
Post by: pepperman42 on April 11, 2021, 01:14:01 PM
They look great!!

Steve
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Primer
Post by: William Adair on April 11, 2021, 03:38:21 PM
Lovely!  I adored this kit when I was young.   :D
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Primer
Post by: Alexis on April 11, 2021, 09:24:08 PM
So you think you can " sneak " in  another one do you ! ;)


Alexis
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Primer
Post by: RAGIII on April 12, 2021, 02:07:28 AM
Awesome work on this "Vintage" kit! I May need to look for one of these sometime in the future  8) I picked up an Ardpol Fury a while back for $6.00 for a 43 squadron bird so your builds are Very inspiring!!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Primer
Post by: Gisbod on April 12, 2021, 02:11:22 AM

Thanks Lance, Steve, Rick & William  ;)


So you think you can " sneak " in  another one do you ! ;)


Alexis


Ah you noticed Alexis... Damn! thought I'd gotten away with it  ;D



I’ve slapped some paint on both - the Gladiator is a surprisingly complex paint scheme - 6 colours! (Black & white undersides/ 4 camouflage colours). These are both super kits and I’m enjoying them very much.



 (https://i.postimg.cc/PfWvV5pN/9771-FBC2-6-A11-49-ED-9-B3-F-6-E60-ADE5-C5-C0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bdvvs8Rj)


(https://i.postimg.cc/Nfb9YCxc/ABAA7-EA6-6-CB1-46-AE-9520-6335-ECD61-C76.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/2Vb87wJc)


(https://i.postimg.cc/BQJLrfHp/1-B519-E2-C-7-E8-C-4944-A7-BC-76-B070646-CFE.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/3WbxG6L0)



Guy
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Paint
Post by: RAGIII on April 12, 2021, 02:27:36 AM
Your paining on both looks Fantastic!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Paint
Post by: DaveB on April 12, 2021, 02:35:03 AM
Great work so far, Guy!

Looking forward to what you can do with your Siskin as I built this one a few years ago too.

And yes, I definately agree about the camo painting on the Gladiator - took me about two to brush paint this scheme.

Regards

Dave
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Paint
Post by: lone modeller on April 12, 2021, 03:35:45 AM
I miss a couple of days and not one but TWO models appear nearly finished in your thread....

The old Matchbox kits were very goof for their day - indeed they still are! I too remember building some of these - although I was a bit older than some members here. Both models are shaping up well - and glad you did not throw the Siskin in the bn.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Paint
Post by: Alexis on April 12, 2021, 08:08:56 AM
Both are looking good Guy and nice smooth metal finish ! ;) :)


Alexis
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Paint
Post by: Dave Brewer on April 12, 2021, 09:03:24 AM
Delightful work Guy, lovely clean builds.
Cheers,
Dave.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Paint
Post by: kensar on April 12, 2021, 11:57:29 PM
Yes, awesome painting and overall modeling.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Paint
Post by: gbrivio on April 13, 2021, 01:04:26 AM
Awsome builds, looking forward to see both your models completed.
Ciao
Giuseppe
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Paint
Post by: Gisbod on April 18, 2021, 04:07:22 AM
Thank you!

The Gladiator got finished and had its own completed model topic  ;)

The attention is back to the Siskin as my masks have arrived!  ;D Thanks Fredrik. Little bit more background detail painting applied before I make a start on the markings. They will be a bit of a challenge as they’re complex and small!

Guy


(https://i.postimg.cc/W3DrY0BZ/C42-A6364-01-C3-4-D3-B-A222-56828111-B992.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/HcgVV8sW)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Paint
Post by: FAf on April 18, 2021, 03:31:01 PM
Looks great and the 'sharpness' of the kit detail is amazing in such an old kit. It'll be fantastic!
/Fredrik
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Paint
Post by: Alexis on April 19, 2021, 01:25:08 AM
Nice paint work Guy  :) She should look good once the markings are applied



Alexis
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Paint
Post by: Gisbod on April 19, 2021, 04:18:10 AM
Thanks Fredrik & Alexis  ;)

I’ve been beavering away with masks today. Quite tricky - just because of the scale really and some very fine lines involved on the squadron markings and the serial number inserts - the inside of the ‘8’s & ‘9’s are microscopic!  ???

But, despite that, they’ve turned out very nicely indeed! Certainly better than expected. Many thanks Fredrik.


Guy



(https://i.postimg.cc/hP9TfHHQ/33175547-87-F5-448-F-A8-AC-F8745-E83-BA6-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/3dxdqbr3)


(https://i.postimg.cc/dV6C9GQq/62-AAC2-AE-790-E-48-F4-AF71-EA23-D34-D45-CF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fV3kzt0F)


(https://i.postimg.cc/GpSsWrsV/F4-E73-FD8-F19-F-46-BB-89-BC-6131-F2-B62-DE0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jWP5fpc4)


(https://i.postimg.cc/VNNCZ55X/BF180-AC7-AE11-4442-BD1-B-8-D8-BD89-BEAF5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/SnwRJS6K)


Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Markings
Post by: lone modeller on April 19, 2021, 04:49:18 AM
Those inter-war squadron markings really make the aircraft very attractive subjects to model. Judging by the photos you have managed to reproduce the markings on this one really well - as good as any transfers.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Markings
Post by: gedmundson on April 19, 2021, 06:27:39 AM
Fantastic work (on both models!) Guy. Those markings turned out fabulous indeed.
Cheers,
Gary
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Markings
Post by: Gisbod on April 19, 2021, 08:26:51 PM
Thanks Stephen and Gary,

I’ve got to that nervous stage of fixing wings and rigging! Although, again, the kit is rather delightful. Quite clever engineering makes this simpler than others I’ve seen. The four fuselage struts (can’t remember the name and I’m a pilot!  :o ) in particular. I recently bought a new Roden SE5a in 1/72 and these struts are just individual bits of plastic with no obvious mating point! Will be a nightmare... Good ‘ol 70’s engineering!  ;D


Guy


(https://i.postimg.cc/7Zw77Kks/A8-AEA30-E-6-FE5-43-A3-9230-5118-D2-CEC8-EB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/rKZK2Czx)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Rigging
Post by: Alexis on April 19, 2021, 10:28:18 PM
Never a good thing having a plane on it's back  ;) It just don't fly very well  :D

The fuselage struts are called cabane struts  ;)


Alexis
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Rigging
Post by: Gisbod on April 20, 2021, 01:40:29 AM
Thanks Alexis,

Ah yes, of course, I did know that, just I have a memory like an old goldfish!  ???

On the home straight, next post will be finished I hope  :)


Guy
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Rigging
Post by: Gisbod on April 20, 2021, 04:49:36 PM
Right, calling this one done  ;)

Super, super little gem of a kit. If you want modelling nostalgia and therapy at the bench - get one! Its such a solid little model which I found to be really helpful with all the handling required. I’ve just realised I haven’t added a windshield but will amend that later.

I haven’t really added anything, just a little brass for the machine guns, basic seatbelts and that’s about it. I’ve already bought the Matchbox Hawker Fury and have an Airfix Bulldog to add to this mini inter war collection.

This one will get pride of place in my cabinet  ;D



Anyway, without further ado - here she is - 29 Sqn, North Weald, 1928.


Thanks for looking, following along and commenting in this backwater section of the forum!



Guy




(https://i.postimg.cc/vBw6C843/1-C316-AD0-2859-4-EF6-90-AD-7-CB53806-FB71.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xkgCz2yz)



(https://i.postimg.cc/g2wXJLRg/259132-DE-0212-4776-B270-20-CBAE09295-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZWSKsRwN)



(https://i.postimg.cc/ZRPymk3Z/093-FB78-F-63-E4-41-C9-9-A87-B300-B0-E8-B4-D5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZBRqPMVD)



(https://i.postimg.cc/x1Wkbj3n/3-B63-E1-E7-1-E88-43-BB-9621-37-DECBA12014.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Js57fLF2)



(https://i.postimg.cc/vHZxJNmF/593-D1-C6-F-A8-D5-4-A77-8-D51-10-ED0-D6-F0-E88.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5jDtvpvn)



(https://i.postimg.cc/7hmGCgmW/7-D7-F681-B-7-E62-4752-B4-E0-0-CAE2-AF34-E7-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fSSTp04c)



(https://i.postimg.cc/L4TZ0p23/8-A730-F0-C-9461-48-F7-80-E7-91-AF6810-B760.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LhJXnGqJ)



(https://i.postimg.cc/BQ7P4B88/C6-CFDBDE-4188-433-A-9-DEA-2-A55-E0-B71029.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/yk98T9yB)




Along with the venerable Airfix Hawker Demon:




(https://i.postimg.cc/fb99HSRV/DD4-A325-D-E8-E3-4-C82-AB5-F-C1292-FBD686-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xk988CHQ)



(https://i.postimg.cc/VNnJ9yKM/E79-BC22-D-88-EB-40-BB-BB34-459164-D48-C83.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/v188MKFH)



(https://i.postimg.cc/4dGmB800/F1-A10571-DDD4-4-B63-8-B92-4-C8-D857-FE342.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5HP4tmb5)



(https://i.postimg.cc/1X9V5WcF/F2461889-FD03-4-C59-82-FD-7230-F865-F8-F5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BLVnmBzZ)




 :)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: Alexis on April 20, 2021, 10:08:45 PM
Hi Guy ,

Super job on a classic kit !


Alexis
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: rhallinger on April 20, 2021, 10:52:31 PM
Looks fabulous Guy!  Thanks for sharing.

Best regards,

Bob
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: FAf on April 20, 2021, 11:54:11 PM
🙌🙌🙌
Great job! Fantastic result with the serial numbers!
/Fredrik
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: kensar on April 21, 2021, 01:46:56 AM
The start of a great collection!
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: DaveB on April 21, 2021, 02:03:49 AM
Wonderful Siskin, Guy!

Great finish and nicely rigged too.

You seem to be working on models faster than me!

Regards

Dave
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: lone modeller on April 21, 2021, 05:00:49 AM
That is super. What a fantastic model from an old kit. Who said that he was having problems with biplanes?

Stephen.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: lcarroll on April 21, 2021, 06:43:48 AM
Lovely model Guy, and a beautiful finish and details for such a small one. That Demon is a fine piece of modelling as well, your "Mini Collection" of between the wars aircraft will be spectacular!
Cheers,
Lance
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: RAGIII on April 21, 2021, 08:04:08 AM
Lovely model Guy, and a beautiful finish and details for such a small one. That Demon is a fine piece of modelling as well, your "Mini Collection" of between the wars aircraft will be spectacular!
Cheers,
Lance

I agree totally with Lance! Such a beautiful model from what I know is a Basic kit at best! Simply Gorgeous!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: Gisbod on April 21, 2021, 08:29:08 AM
Thank you all for the kind comments,

Much appreciated indeed  :)  Oddly, I had no issues with the biplane aspect of this model, mainly due to the great kit.

Guy
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: Bughunter on April 22, 2021, 07:14:20 AM
Wow, what a nice biplane!
And you have your own style of modeling. I like the fact and the style!

This one will get pride of place in my cabinet  ;D
For sure! You can proud of it!

Cheers,
Frank
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: gbrivio on April 22, 2021, 02:43:29 PM
Very nice, along with the Demon makes an eyecatching pair.
Ciao
Giuseppe
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: William Adair on April 25, 2021, 08:12:27 PM
Outstanding work.  That was one of my favourites as a child, and it makes me very happy to see it again and so beautifully done.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: pepperman42 on April 26, 2021, 11:45:54 PM
Just back!! Beautiful and so neat and tidy for the scale!!

Steve
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: PrzemoL on May 05, 2021, 09:33:48 PM
Late to the party, but wanted to leave my warm congratulations too. You have done a great job on that venerable Matchbox kit. Fantastic!
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: Manni on May 05, 2021, 10:29:24 PM
Great work. So you can see that the kit doesn't matter, when the modeler is highly skilled.
Bye Manni
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: Gisbod on May 06, 2021, 07:09:33 PM
Ah thanks all,

It’s heart warming to get such a nice reaction. I think this kind of old kit is one that stirs our nostalgia for the hobby!

Guy
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin
Post by: 2996 Victor on November 05, 2021, 01:10:35 AM
Good fun though, these really do take me back to a wet Saturday afternoon in my childhood!

Guy

Hi Guy,

apologies for this bit of thread resurrection but as a newbie to the Forum I'm still discovering the hidden gems! I just wanted to add my two penn'orth and say that this is a fantastic build.

As for wet Saturday afternoons, that's exactly my memory - walking to the corner shop from my Nan's bungalow, all of five minutes away, to buy a Siskin in that lovely yellow and blue plastic, and then building it sat at the table while dinner cooked. Happy memories! I'm slowly collecting nice examples of some of the more meaningful/memorable kits from my childhood, and this kit is one of them.

I've recently bought another Siskin, but the box is a bit knocked about (as most are, of course) and some of the parts are off the sprues, so I'm going to build it :) :) :) Not sure what to do about the markings as the kit decals haven't aged well. Hannants have Siskin-correct roundels in their Xtradecal range, and there are also correct-pattern serials available from Ventura and Modeldecal so a simple squadron marking that I can mask and spray is most likely.

Thanks for sharing your build, it's truly excellent.

Cheers,

Mark
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: Ernie on November 05, 2021, 01:33:04 PM
I'm also a bit late to the party but wanted to say what a super
job on an old model...very well done, Guy!

Cheers,
Ernie :)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: Dave W on November 05, 2021, 03:31:46 PM
Outstanding work Guy! I made that kit when it was first released in 1974 and loved it, one of Matchbox's best kits in my view.

The Siskin is one of the few aircraft kits that would tempt me back to 1/72 scale and your model is a true showstopper.

I'm really hoping Airfix will do it in 1/48 scale, along with a Gloster Grebe too. Those interwar fighters are sadly under represented by the model industry.

Many thanks for sharing your Siskin with us.

cheers

Dave Wilson
Gold Coast
Australia
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: Gisbod on November 06, 2021, 05:07:29 AM
Ah thanks  :)

Yep, it really is a great kit. Go for it Mark, it’s what’s modelling is all about  ;D

Guy
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin *Finished!
Post by: 2996 Victor on November 06, 2021, 08:12:42 AM
Ah thanks  :)

Yep, it really is a great kit. Go for it Mark, it’s what’s modelling is all about  ;D

Guy

Well, I've managed to find a copy of Alfred Granger's Dataplan 3, plus a couple of magazine articles, so I should be well set for info!

I've actually made a little start and drooped the elevators, plus started scraping down the fuselage sides to thin them in readiness for a bit of interior detail.

I've been trying to find  NIVO for the antiglare paint found on some Siskins in my preferred acrylic, or failing that a mixing formula. AKAN list a ready made NIVO, but tracking down a supplier is proving interesting!

Cheers,
Made