Vickers Vimy (Eastern Express 1:72)

[Squiffy]

Yes, I am led to believe that it was originally a Frog kit.

Here's where I'm up to.

[Nigel Jackson]

Very impressive Squiffy. All the hard work you are putting into this is really paying off.

Best wishes
Nigel

[RAGIII]

Looking quite nice Squiffy! You are making this build seem easy and I know it isn't!
RAGIII

[lone modeller]

The original kit was a Frog Trailbalzer kit from the early 1960's - cannot remember the year but I do have a photo of the original box art somewhere - will try to post later.

With reference to the exhausts: on RAF machines they were outboard of the struts and the nacelles were a different shape too. However you have gone too far to correct this - but who will notice?

With reference to the engine struts I think that they were metal, so a metallic colour would be correct, unless you are intending to use NIVO as the finish, in which case they would be the same as everything else. However I do not know if any Vimy's were finished in NIVO at lead I have not seen any photos of them in that finsih but others on this forum may know otherwise.

You are making an excellent job of this.

[Squiffy]

Hi LM, I found a colour drawing online. It's from Windsock Worldwide, Vol.28 No.2 and it shows a Westland-built Vimy in NIVO. But as I'm doing mine as F9569, in PC10 and grey (shown in the same publication), it's not really much help.

I've painted them as wood for now because in the book that I showed earlier there is a photo of F9569 and although it is in black and white, the engine struts all appear to be the same shade, even if they aren't the same colour. Perhaps they should be grey?


The cabane struts provided were too short, especially the rear ones since the fuselage hump has been removed, so I used aluminium tube to make new struts. I squashed it flat and filed it as required.

All the rigging is done and it's down to adding the smaller details.

[lone modeller]

That is looking very impressive. You have built it in a remarkably short time too. Waiting to see the photos of the finished model which promise to be very good.

[RAGIII]

That is looking very impressive. You have built it in a remarkably short time too. Waiting to see the photos of the finished model which promise to be very good.

I agree completely!
RAGIII

[mgunns]

Hello Squiffy:

You sure knocked this out in record time.  It is coming along nicely and I am looking forward to seeing how it all will come together.  Looks like you got the hard stuff out of the way.

Best

Mark

[xmald]

Wow what an interesting build to follow! It looks great so far!

[Squiffy]

I've just finished putting the decals on, including the serial number that I made up in Photoshop and printed onto decal paper.

The bombs are attached, including two larger bombs on racks under the fuselage (parts not included in the kit) and one Lewis gun fitted. Unfortunately it will have to wait until I have another spare Lewis. The reason being that the guns that came with it look nothing like Lewis guns. Whatever they are they have no detail and the ammo drum is way over scale diameter and looks awful.

I've taken a spare gun and drum from a Roden Sopwith Comic in my stash. No pics, I'm afraid (camera batteries flat) but I will endevour to get some tomorrow, work permitting. 

[Des]

You have achieved remarkable results with this kit Squiffy, and the modifications you did have really made the model special.

Des.

[Epeeman]

Amazing transformation, Squiffy -

Looking superb

Regards

Dave

[Squiffy]

Thanks for the kind words, chaps. It needs a little tidying up of the paint on the leading edges of the wings and the aforementioned Lews gun for the dorsal gunner but, apart from that, I'm calling it finished.

As soon as I got in from work today I managed to take a few snaps whilst the sun was out. I'll post them in my topic in 'Completed Models'.