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Airfix 1/72 Shorts Sunderland - with a twist...

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 4:42 am
by Stuart
Okay Gents,

So a few weeks back I found out that my recently passed Grandfather, who for various reasons I hadn't seen in 20 years, was in his later years a keen modeller - this was news to me as I didn't know he had an interest in aircraft or modelling.

So as a mark of respect, I thought I'd do a tribute build, which I originally intended to be a Spitfire, but has morphed into something rather larger - my first four engine aircraft and my first flying boat all rolled into one.

Airfix's old Shorts Sunderland mk.III

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This isn't actually my kit - I'm still waiting for it to turn up. but it's the same plastic.

However this build doesn't stop there - As I'm also building it as part of a Flying Boat GB on another forum, I thought I'd try and build something different than the other two Sunderlands in the build, and do something other than the green/grey camo over white that is the most common scheme these were operated in...

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So I ordered a set of these...Can you spot my mistake? :headslap:

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Did you spot it? For those that didn't these are for a Sunderland mk.I, not a mk.III. :bag:

''No problem says I, I'll just build it and slap in in the earlier markings'', but alas no - as it turns out the mk.III had some pretty significant changes to the earlier models. Asides from having bigger engines (which I'm not going to do anything about as it shouldn't cause me any issues) it also had a top turret added, and a completely redesigned step hull. Apparently the early models had an issue unsticking from the surface when the sea was rough, so to improve this they completely changed the step...

Ah...

...looks like I'll be doing a white/green/grey mk.III then :whiteflag:

But then - a fellow modeller who is building a Special Hobby mk.III, realised that the parts needed for a mk.I - namely the earlier step and the upper dorsal openings - were included in his kit. Not needing them he's gifted them to me!

So this is the challenge - using the Special Hobby inserts, converting an old Airfix mk.III into something that resembles a mk.I - I think that's a pretty fitting tribute build.

What could possibly go wrong! :wow:

Cheers!

Re: Airfix 1/72 Shorts Sunderland - with a twist...

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 4:50 am
by Stuart
This is what a mk.I looks like - note the dorsal opening on the top, rather than the later turret. I'll be going for this type of look - Green/Brown camo over black lower surfaces.

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As opposed to a mk.III

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As you can see on this one - the step is also much less sharp.

Re: Airfix 1/72 Shorts Sunderland - with a twist...

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 4:56 am
by Stuart
As an additional aside - my Mother-in-Law's first job in the late 1940's, was working for Aquilla Airways in Portsmouth and Southampton. They operated converted Sunderlands and Solents.

(and no that's not her in the foreground... I think).

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She was quite the beauty growing up apparently, and the crews, being quite keen on her, used to bring her back orchids from all over the world - it used to surprise people that visited my in-laws house, how someone so poorly off (My Father-in-Law was only a bank clerk back then) could afford such a splendid collection.

Cheers!

Re: Airfix 1/72 Shorts Sunderland - with a twist...

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 8:19 am
by Floki
I'll be watching this! I really find flying boats interesting

Re: Airfix 1/72 Shorts Sunderland - with a twist...

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 8:26 am
by Stuart
Thanks Clint!

Me too, I'm surprised it's taken me this long to get to one.

I've just picked up a Tamiya Razor saw to help with the cutting.

Re: Airfix 1/72 Shorts Sunderland - with a twist...

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 1:06 pm
by Medicman71
Very cool! I've always wanted to do a British Coastal Command aircraft.

Re: Airfix 1/72 Shorts Sunderland - with a twist...

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 2:14 pm
by Stikpusher
Medicman71 wrote:Very cool! I've always wanted to do a British Coastal Command aircraft.
Well there are lots of subject choices available in that area… :hmm:

Re: Airfix 1/72 Shorts Sunderland - with a twist...

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 3:42 pm
by jkim
Very cool! I don't if you follow him but (coincidentally) Chris Wauchop's most recent blog entry is his build of the Airfix Sunderland Mk I...

https://chriswauchop.com/

He's got some in-progress pics that might be helpful and as always, his painting and weathering are top-notch.

Re: Airfix 1/72 Shorts Sunderland - with a twist...

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 8:00 pm
by Gary Brantley
Good luck with your model Stuart! It should be quite striking when done. :grin: Are you a member at Britmodeller by chance?

Re: Airfix 1/72 Shorts Sunderland - with a twist...

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 2:11 am
by KSaarni
That will be a massive plane when ready!
How on earth will you be able to build it on your, sort of portable bench ?? :hmm:

- Kark