1/72 Chipmunk T.10 kits

[acklington]

Due to summer 'distractions' this is not going to be a quick thread, but I'll try to keep you amused with occasional updates.

The starting point is an Airfix 1/72 Chipmunk T.10 that I built way back in 1969, shortly after the kit was released;

WK574, Cambridge UAS, c 1952 by Philip Pain, on Flickr
I have never been happy with the look or accuracy of this kit, but at the time my skill only ran to doing something to correct the canopy, substituting the 'canadian option' windscreen which doesn't have an external frame at the front (it is internal on the real aircraft).
WK574, Cambridge UAS, c 1952 by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The model is showing its age and the transfers have yellowed. In this view it can be seen that I added the missing flap actuation hinges.
WK574, Cambridge UAS, c 1952 by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The main problem with the 'look' of the Airfix Chipmunk is that it doesn't have enough 'chin' at the front, also the propellor spinner is too short and bulbous. The intakes on the sides of the engine also too bulbous.
WK574, Cambridge UAS, c 1952 by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The other big problem is the undercarraige legs which are far too slim, and the wheels don't look right either, being too 'square'.
WK574, Cambridge UAS, c 1952 by Philip Pain, on Flickr
WK574, Cambridge UAS, c 1952 by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The cockpit has two seats and nothing else, so I added scratch-built instrument panels.
WK574, Cambridge UAS, c 1952 by Philip Pain, on Flickr
All of the raised rivets were rubbed down, not that they shouldn't be there, but they were far too prominent. I made a mistake with painting the yellow 'T-bands', they don't go on to the flaps.

So I was delighted when AZ Models recently released a new 1/72 Chipmunk kit, and the box promises much;
Chipmunk T.10 (1) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Chipmunk T.10 (2) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

The contents were less inspiring, but seemed ok
Chipmunk T.10 (4) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
It is a typical 'short-run' kit, a bit rough around the edges, and generally lacking mounting pins and tabs, making it hard to glue together at times.
Chipmunk T.10 (7) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
It has a full cockpit interior, but a familiar problem soon became apparent - once again the canopy is wrong! External frames front and rear, don't Chipmunk mould makers ever go and look at the real thing!? The AZ Models canopy is actually worse than the original Airfix one, because the windscreen is too long with the main frame set too far back. So I've tried to disguise this fault by extending the forward instrument coaming to fill the gap.
Chipmunk T.10 (8) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
So here is the basic assembly, and there were big gaps to be filled with modelling putty.
Chipmunk T.10 (9) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Also on the tail, and the spin-recovery strakes were a bitch to get right due to their small size, and vague fit. Also it should be completely flat from one tailplane to the other, but the AZ model has a raised rear fuselage in between. This took a lot of whittling down.

So I was starting to lose faith with this model, so I dug out one of my un-built original Airfix kits, to compare notes and check out the differences;
Chipmunk T.10 (10) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
And then I couldn't help but start making the Airfix one as well! This time using the AZ model as a guide to correct the Airfix one.
Chipmunk T.10 (11) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Added a basic interior to the Airfix one, and scratch built a pair of spin-recovery strakes for the back end. The Airfix kit also has an annoying feature at the back end, with the tailplanes split where there isn't a split on the real thing. This takes careful filling and sanding to get the required flat finish from one side to the other. But basically the Airfix main parts go together well, with smaller and better aligned gaps.
Chipmunk T.10 (12) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Using the AZ kit as a guide, the incorrect Airfix nose, spinner, and undercarraige legs were then improved using modelling putty. In this photo they still need a bit of finishing off.

Chipmunk T.10 (13) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
So now there are two, roughly similar. The front instrument coaming on the Airfix Chipmunk (right) has also been extended, just to make it look better.
Chipmunk T.10 (14) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

Chipmunk T.10 (15) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Here are the two canopies, AZ on the left. Both have had the front and rear external frames filed off and re-polished. Also being made are the two prominent internal frames to go in the rear of each canopy, both absent from the kits. I'm not looking forward to gluing them in place, as there is no room for error with glue and transparencies.

So that is the progress, so far.

[acklington]

Made some progress with the two Chipmunks, despite the distractions of the World Cup;

Chipmunk T.10 (16) text w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Number '1' is the added missing air intake, on both kits
'2' is the eventual top coat colour scheme that has to be painted before the canopy goes on.
Chipmunk T.10 (17) text w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Also missing on both models is the later position for the compass, on top of the coaming.
Chipmunk T.10 (20) text w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
'1' is solid interior on the inside of the rear canopy, on both kits
'2' is are the missing leading edge airflow strips, on both models.
Chipmunk T.10 (21) text w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
'1' is the trim tab on the rudder, missing off both kits
'2' is the enlarged landing light, on both kits.
Chipmunk T.10 (24) text w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
'1' is the wing tip nav lights, these are cut-outs on the real aircraft, with the light sitting in the cut-out.
'2' is the external actuator for the starboard tail trim tab, missing off both kits.
'3' is the fixed trim tab on the starboard aileron only, missing off both kits
'4' is another view of the leading edge airflow strip.
Chipmunk T.10 (26) text w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
'1' shows the prominent flap hinges, missing off both kits.
Chipmunk T.10 text w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
'1' is the starboard only fixed trim tab
'2' is the enlarged landing light
'3' is the engine drain pipe, missing off both kits
'4' (x4) are the external brake cylinders on the back face of the wheel hubs, missing off both kits.

So both models are now more or less ready for painting, with all the filling and sanding completed. However, progress will be slow once again.

[woody66]

That's a heck of a lot of additional work you have had to carry out but it look really good and 100% better than the basic kits. I'm looking forward to seeing it in all its glory.

Colin

[acklington]

I've just come across some Chipmunk photos I took at Elstree in 1969, and I had a 'double take' when I looked at the windscreen on G-AKDN, seen here;
G-AKDN, Elstree, 22 June 69 (1) fw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
This is the longer windscreen that AZ Models have produced on their Chipmunk kit. But compare the photo with this windsceen on G-APOE;
G-APOE (WP793), Elstree, 10 Nov 69 pfw by Philip Pain, on Flickr

G-AKDN is still flying and it is the oldest Chipmunk extant, actually built in Canada c/n 11. In contrast G-APOE was English built as an RAF T.10 WP973. G-AKDN also has a smaller rudder, and a longer pitot tube under the port wing. G-APOE is not quite a 'stock' T.10 as it has no spinner, and two underwing landing lights.

So when modelling an English built T.10, bin the AZ Models canopy and substitute the Airfix one which fits fairly well on to the AZ fuselage. As mentioned previously both canopies wrongly have external frames front and rear, and this common mistake can be traced back to original Canadian plans for the prototype, which did have external frames, later dispensed with.

[acklington]

Finally got back into my modelling room now that our various summer visitors have flown!

Chipmunk T.10 (28) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

Worst job of all, doing the 'interior black' undercoat on the two canopies. Just couldn't find a best angle for the light to see what I was doing, so in future I'll do it before gluing them onto the black interior.

[acklington]

Progress continues at a glacial pace;

Chipmunk T.10 (29) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

Both canopies are now painted, the Airfix Chippie has its final coat of airframe silver, and the AZ Chippie has its first coat of light aircraft grey.

[acklington]

Progressed to starting to add the markings;

Chipmunk T.10 (32) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Chipmunk T.10 (31) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

Most of the markings so far have come from the AZ Models kit, which includes four options. The AZ decal sheet is rather too boldly and indistinctly printed, although the decals adhere very nicely. Therefore only the underwing serials have been used, re-arranged to make my two chosen Chipmunks. For the fuselage serials I have used Modeldecal decals, which are more fine and to scale.

More markings to be added tomorrow ................

[acklington]

Xtradecal roundels now added;

Chipmunk T.10 (33) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Chipmunk T.10 (34) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

The AZ Models Chippie is lagging behind a bit, due to painting white undercoats on the fin. More to follow ........

[viscount]

No yellow T-bands or day-glo sections on your Chipmunks?

Good work. Interesting to see the extra details added and the project progressing.

[acklington]

Sept 9, 2018 18:04:43 GMT 1 viscount said:

No yellow T-bands or day-glo sections on your Chipmunks?

Wondered when someone would notice

[acklington]

Final work-in-progress picture;

Chipmunk T.10 (35) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

Just some of the debris from two days of hard graft, and language that turned very 'blue' for many of those hours!

I'm going to start a new thread for the finished pictures, otherwise viewers will have to plough through all the pictures above. So please go to "Chipmunk T.10 completed kits".