Airfix Supermarine Walrus - 2010 boxing

[John]

My son got me the recently reissued Airfix Walrus and a set of the new Humbrol Palpo sable brushes as a Father's Day present a couple of weeks ago and, since I have an unexpected gap in the building schedule, it will be the next one up!

The first thing you notice is the superb box art, showing a FAA Walrus getting down low over the water to dodge a couple of Japanese fighters. The painting guide tells you that this is an actual event involving a rescue within yards of Japanese forces:

The alternative set of markings is for a colourful example from the Argentinian Navy - now that's imaginative! The decal sheet looks excellent:

and the parts are securely bagged:

All in all, this is a welcome release of a kit that's 3 years older than me!

The last time I built a Walrus it came in this type of box:

and the parts were moulded in the iconic Airfix light blue plastic:

Notice the prices:

I'll be building this one pretty much OOB, but there are a few areas where a bit of care will be needed. More on those as we get to them.

John

[Killingholme]

I got bought one a couple of months ago. Forgot that it is the ex-matchbox kit that was half-decent, not the airfix one! Took a look at the plastic and went straight on the internet an ordered a valom Walrus instead... on offer at the moment, it is exactly twice the price of the airfix kit... oh well.

I will be using the Argentine markings on mine- they look very cool. The modern airfix trend to add an esoteric decal option to old kits is good and certainly adding a bit of variation to things.

I don't suppose anyone could anyone confirm whether the Argentine Walrus' had yellow upper wings (as per airfix colour notes) or orange (as per 'Warpaint' volume on the Walrus)?

There's some nice (b&w!) pictures of Argentine Walruses here http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showthread...llery-1930-2000.

good luck with the build.

Edited July 3, 2010 by Killingholme

[Seahawk]

  John said:

My son got me the recently reissued Airfix Walrus and a set of the new Humbrol Palpo sable brushes as a Father's Day present a couple of weeks ago and, since I have an unexpected gap in the building schedule, it will be the next one up!

The first thing you notice is the superb box art, showing a FAA Walrus getting down low over the water to dodge a couple of Japanese fighters. The painting guide tells you that this is an actual event involving a rescue within yards of Japanese forces:

The alternative set of markings is for a colourful example from the Argentinian Navy - now that's imaginative! The decal sheet looks excellent:

and the parts are securely bagged:

All in all, this is a welcome release of a kit that's 3 years older than me!

The last time I built a Walrus it came in this type of box:

and the parts were moulded in the iconic Airfix light blue plastic:

Notice the prices:

I'll be building this one pretty much OOB, but there are a few areas where a bit of care will be needed. More on those as we get to them.

John

Blue plastic? Pah! In my day real kits came in hard silver grey plastic.

Hmm: East Indies Fleet markings. And a set of stencil markings. Not for the first time I find myself tempted towards buying an unutterably crap, oops, "sadly outdated" Airfix kit for the transfers - which is a bit of a turnround from a few years ago. However did that for the F4U Corsair and regretted it. Am I going to let myself be had again?

Nick

[thx6667]

  Killingholme said:

I don't suppose anyone could anyone confirm whether the Argentine Walrus' had yellow upper wings (as per airfix colour notes) or orange (as per 'Warpaint' volume on the Walrus)?

Yellow according to some guys from IPMS Argentina.

[Prop Duster]

  John said:

My son got me the recently reissued Airfix Walrus and a set of the new Humbrol Palpo sable brushes as a Father's Day present a couple of weeks ago and, since I have an unexpected gap in the building schedule, it will be the next one up!

The first thing you notice is the superb box art, showing a FAA Walrus getting down low over the water to dodge a couple of Japanese fighters. The painting guide tells you that this is an actual event involving a rescue within yards of Japanese forces:

Looks like you have a good son there, treats his dad right

  Quote

All in all, this is a welcome release of a kit that's 3 years older than me!

The last time I built a Walrus it came in this type of box:

you were building kits at 3 !??

  Quote

Notice the prices:

Wow havent seen the Woolworth name, or prices like those, in a long time

Good Luck on the build it looks to be a good one

[f4h1phantom]

  Killingholme said:

I don't suppose anyone could anyone confirm whether the Argentine Walrus' had yellow upper wings (as per airfix colour notes) or orange (as per 'Warpaint' volume on the Walrus)?

As Jonathan says, yellow is the correct colour.

At that time, argentine navy aircraft were using both the code system and colours used by the United States Navy. I would recommend "chrome yellow" then, but there is no guarantee that every different type in service had exactly the same shade as applied to aircraft directly delivered from the United States.

HTH,

Jorge.

[Killingholme]

  f4h1phantom said:

As Jonathan says, yellow is the correct colour.

At that time, argentine navy aircraft were using both the code system and colours used by the United States Navy. I would recommend "chrome yellow" then, but there is no guarantee that every different type in service had exactly the same shade as applied to aircraft directly delivered from the United States.

HTH,

Jorge.

That's great Jorge, Many thanks. Quite looking forward to building my Argentinian Walrus!

Will

Edited July 4, 2010 by Killingholme

[John]

I've been pottering away slowly on the Walrus. First thing I noticed on debagging the sprues is that the canopy is in a bag of its own - nice one Airfix:

The other point that strikes you very quickly is that some of the sprue attachments are a bit "limited run":

The ones on the leading edge of the upper wing halves need particular care, and I separated them by running the tip of a knife blade between the sprue and the part to get a reasonably clean cut. Take your time and there's only a minimum of clean-up needed.

I've decided to do the Argentinian version.

John

[FalkeEins]

..had that problem on the new Airfix 109 E - very difficult to cut the small parts off the sprues without damaging them.

Fancy an Argie Walrus myself - w atching with interest

cheers

Edited July 7, 2010 by FalkeEins

[f4h1phantom]

Here's a couple of links that may prove useful:

http://www.histarmar.org/Armada%20Argentin...HIDR-Walrus.htm

http://modelismolatino.creatuforo.com/walr...o-tema5439.html

Both in spanish, but pics have no language.

I'll be buying one as soon as I can and, being from Argentina, one would think I am planning to build that version too. I must confess however I feel very tempted to build the one on the box cover. Guess I'll have to buy two!

Cheers to all,

Jorge.

PS: John, please stop teasing us and commit yourself to glue!

[Prop Duster]

  f4h1phantom said:

Here's a couple of links that may prove useful:

http://www.histarmar.org/Armada%20Argentin...HIDR-Walrus.htm

http://modelismolatino.creatuforo.com/walr...o-tema5439.html

Both in spanish, but pics have no language.

I'll be buying one as soon as I can and, being from Argentina, one would think I am planning to build that version too. I must confess however I feel very tempted to build the one on the box cover. Guess I'll have to buy two!

Cheers to all,

Jorge.

PS: John, please stop teasing us and commit yourself to glue!

Jorge

Good pictures on the links and you are correct I could understand them just fine

Ortavio did a nice job on his - I liked his comparison photos between his model and the historic photo.

SO John, like Jorge said, where's the glue?

[John]

Progress is being made, honest!

The top wing has been thinned down a bit, had some of the rib detail reduced and sprayed with Humbrol 69 from a spray can:

The new Humbrol sprays are very good, but there's no way this yellow is a gloss finish!

The fuselage has been tidied up and joined. It didn't need any filler but it will require a considerable amount of fettling:

The only place that will need a touch of filler, so far, are these sink marks:

More soon.

John

[Deon]

looks like an interesting build

[thx6667]

Good work John, I'll parcel up your other one next week before it gets "incorporated" into the stash!

[miduppergunner]

Pretty nice thought by your son - well done. There are some pictures on the Seawings site - http://www.seawings.co.uk/ by the way.

Our resident one is a little quiet is he not??

[CliffB]

Great thread. Jorge's links were good too. A Walrus on Deception Island - it doesn't get much better than that for me

I feel an Antarctic Walrus coming on.

Cliff

[John]

  Jonathan Mock said:

Good work John, I'll parcel up your other one next week before it gets "incorporated" into the stash!

Hey, no rush! I can't see me volunteering to build another of these in a while.

John

  miduppergunner said:

Pretty nice thought by your son - well done. There are some pictures on the Seawings site - http://www.seawings.co.uk/ by the way.

Our resident one is a little quiet is he not??

I should, perhaps, point out that his 11th birthday fell the day after Father's Day so his motives may not have been entirely altruistic!

John

[f4h1phantom]

Great progress John!

Seems that, unlike me, you are a fast builder.

Wow! Didn't remember some of the "details" the Airfix kit had. I mean, look at that tail fin! I think I better get ready with the sandpaper when I get mine.

It will be very interesting to see your build.

All the best,

Jorge.

[John]

  f4h1phantom said:

Great progress John!

Seems that, unlike me, you are a fast builder.

Wow! Didn't remember some of the "details" the Airfix kit had. I mean, look at that tail fin! I think I better get ready with the sandpaper when I get mine.

It will be very interesting to see your build.

All the best,

Jorge.

Hi Jorge. Actually, looking at the kit again I think I may have been at fault for the misalignment of the tail. That will teach me to try building kits while I'm watching the football!

If I was building another one, I'd probably line up the mounting holes on the fin for the tailplanes first, then work forwards. I'd also trim off the locating pegs as I think they may be throwing the alignment out rather than lining things up. I gave the fuselage mating edges a light sanding and the fit was not bad at all.

John

[John]

A bit more progress:

A lot of fettling to get everything together, but very little filler needed. Finish is the first coat of Humbrol MetalCote Matt Aluminium.

John