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Firebrand from Rareplanes
Topic Started: Mar 23 2012, 09:42 AM (877 Views)
gioca
Member Avatar
Beast
[ * ]
After reading this post from Michael/ca15
http://z15.invisionfree.com/72nd_Aircraft/...?showtopic=1781
I said: "why not, let's try a vacu-experience". Several years ago I had my fist contact with a vacuformed kit and It was a real mess, I was too young in terms of age and also experience for a similar kit, anyway this form of modelling may be still remained as a kind of dark side in my mind :ph43r: . That article was a kind of match.
There is a subject always interested me, it is trated only in resin or vacuformed , the Firebrand TF 5 !
The AKI resin kit is spectacular, anyway out of my wallet and may be also my ethic :D , the CMR, always a resin kit, at the moments seems to be out of stock and anyway it shoud be quite expensive ( half of an AKI may be ), so I say, let's try with a vacu ... the Rareplanes exists ... I found on Evilbay a good offer and with 10€ in some days I had my own Firebrand from Rareplanes including Aeroclub wheels and prop.

Posted Image

I've cut the main pieces, the only one usable from the vacu, cured the metal pieces and now ... now I'm looking for an help from you.
I 've found several pictures about the aircraft from web, an article on SAM with profiles and history but I'm lacking cockpt information at all. Where is it possible to find pictures about the cockpit, seat, etc ... also main wheels wells ?


I think a torpedo will be under my machine. I will take the one on Valom set for Hampden, assuming there is no difference from torpedo to torpedo in FAA planes. Is it true ?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Ciao
Giovanni
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Graham Boak
Hero
[ * ]
The best Firebrand source is Eric Brown's Firebrand: From The Cockpit published by Ad Hoc publications. It has a photo of the Mk.I cockpit and describes the later ones as being more cluttered. I think that the PIlots Notes for the Firebrand should contain a photo of the cockpit, but I don't have them. Perhaps the FAA Museum will have a stock?

There are several good views of the torpedo which looks to be the same as that carried by the Hampden. This does lead to doubts about what Valom provided - does it have the attached tail?
Lancashire, UK
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gioca
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Beast
[ * ]
Thank you for the informations. I hoped to find some cockpit pictures on web to start as soon as I can the work on cockpit ... I will see those publications, anyway I need to be sure to find there cockpitpictures / info before to spend some Pounds/€ !

About Torpedo, I've found this:
http://www.modelimex.com/1-72-conversion-s...-b-mk-i-tb-mk-i
it seems having also the bigger stabilaiser in photoeched parts.
Ciao
Giovanni
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gioca
Member Avatar
Beast
[ * ]
I 've checked on that shop site and the "conversion", separatley sold, it is included ( no extra ) also in one of the Hampden box by Valom, only one anyway, for the proper T version.
http://www.modelimex.com/1-72-handley-page...i-2x-raf-russia

Ciao
Giovanni
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veltro-uk
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Pete Morrison
[ * ]
I built the Rareplanes vacform a few years back, and with some TLC it goes together quite well. I made a mess of the paintwork though - spilled thinners on one wing, so it got consigned to the 'shelf of doom', where it languishes. Perhaps your build will encourage me to resurrect this beast! :blink:
Pete Morrison
Gloucester, UK
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Graham Boak
Hero
[ * ]
Beware that the Valom Hampden torpedo bomber is just the standard bomber. It does not have the correct reduced depth gunner's position, and the bombbay was identical to that of the bomber.

Confusion on this matter has been rampant for many years, but I have seen both the trials installation drawings and the real gunner's position.
Lancashire, UK
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gioca
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Beast
[ * ]
the canopy also need a proper replacement, the original it is now a caramel color. I suspect a Spitfire tear drop canopy could work ... suggestions ?

Thank you
Ciao
Giovanni
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Chuck1945
Hero
[ * ]
Nice reminder. Years ago when I was stationed briefly in the UK a friend was scratchbuilding the Firebrand (this was before the Rareplanes kit) and it (the Firebrand) impressed me with the brute visual impact this aircraft had. After time, this recollection faded away so when eventually Valom did a Firebrand, I had my LHS order me one. Once it arrived, something seemed odd as I remembered a radial engine and the Valom kit had an inline one.

Your project reminded me that there really was a radial engine version and this is what my friend Bryan was making. Good luck with it.
Chuck
Eastern WA, USA
Finished 2018:
Eduard Spitfire IXc, VIII, Monogram/Starfighter BFC-2
On the active bench:
Eduard Bf 110C, Hasegawa B-24D, SH P-40E
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Mark Schynert
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Yeast
[ * ]
Good for you--I should get up the nerve to build mine. Like you, I think the Aki kit is a bit too rich for my blood, and anyway, I find I enjoy vacuforms more than all-resin kits. Resin kits are quite unforgiving. But any vacuform requires a certain resolve, and I don't have that at the moment.
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Graham Boak
Hero
[ * ]
A Spitfire canopy would certainly do better than a caramel one, but the windscreens are very different. The Spitfire's tapers in as it rises, and ends in an arch before the frame. The Firebrand's tapers outwards, and ends at the frame. Perhaps a Typhoon - but I don't have one to check immediately.
Lancashire, UK
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keefr22
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Who, me?
[ * ]
I've built the Aki kit - I'd rank it within the best three kits I've ever made. The parts came on sprues like an injection kit, but the fit surpassed all but the very best of the latter! It's a fantastic kit! Unfortunately it suffered cat.4 damage in a landing accident on the way to the 2010 IPMS UK Nats so is awaiting repair....

Good luck with your build Giovanni!

Keef
Keith Ryder
Swansea UK

'A plan is vital, but is never more than a basis for change'
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Seahawk
Beast
[ * ]
keefr22,Mar 23 2012
11:10 PM
I've built the Aki kit - I'd rank it within the best three kits I've ever made.

Out of interest, what were the other two?
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keefr22
Member Avatar
Who, me?
[ * ]
Seahawk,Mar 23 2012
11:25 PM
Out of interest, what were the other two?

Sorry Seahawk, didn't get an e-mail notification (again!) so have just seen your post.

My favourite kit I've built is the xtrakit Sea Vixen.....just kidding!! :D Actually, it's the Fujimi Phantom FG1/FGR2 kits. I really enjoy building them, they fit nicely, look good & build into a very nice model of my all time favourite aeroplane! I have another 8 or 9 to get to....

I'm afraid my second favourite is in (cough) 1/48th - the Airfix EE Lightning F6. Which is why I keep banging on at Airfix to downsize them to the one true scale!

Keef
Keith Ryder
Swansea UK

'A plan is vital, but is never more than a basis for change'
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llordlloyd
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Peter Lloyd
[ * ]
The Valom kit has an excellent torpedo with PE disposable tail.
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