scale modeling database | stash manager
Navy Bird
Bill Gilman (Navy Bird)
US

Avro Anson Mk.I (Special Hobby)

Comments

23 19 March 2018, 23:48
Bill Gilman
And away we go with another project. This time it's the Special Hobby 1:72 kit of the Avro Anson. The kit is miles ahead of the old Airfix offering, but it has its challenges. Especially with the resin framework inside the fuselage (the Anson was mostly wood and canvas). But I think we beat it, have a look at the photos. Cheers, Bill
20 March 2018, 00:11
Dave Flitton
Watching!!!!
20 March 2018, 00:34
Stefan Schneider
Following!
20 March 2018, 10:18
Bart Goesaert
me too, nice start, what one should call start...
20 March 2018, 10:33
Alec K
Great project Bill! The cockpit looks fantastic, and I love the detailing. What are the maps made out of?
20 March 2018, 11:22
Bill Gilman
Thanks mates. The maps were purloined from an Internet search, reduced in CorelDraw and printed out on a Canon inkjet printer on regular old plain paper.
20 March 2018, 14:11
Cuajete
Well done so far. Watching.
20 March 2018, 19:52
Bill Gilman
I've uploaded a few more photos. The progress is a bit slow right now, as we've had a lot of family time, especially for my 63rd birthday. One thing I can say about making it to 63, it sure beats not making it to 63 when you look at my medical history! 🙂
31 March 2018, 22:26
Alec K
Happy belated b-day Bill. Hope you are doing well. Nice progress on the Anson 👍
1 April 2018, 01:50
Patrick Hagelstein
Happy birthday Bill and may your life be long and prosporous!
1 April 2018, 03:39
Bart Goesaert
Happy belated birthday, and I hope many more to come in good health
1 April 2018, 08:27
Guy Rump
Superb detailing Bill and I looked in awe at your frame build.
1 April 2018, 09:33
Christian Keller
very nice. Im watching your progress because i have the same in my stash 😉
1 April 2018, 11:23
Bill Gilman
Sometimes I do the stupidest things. Like that time I built up an entire model with a dorsal turret, only to suddenly discover the markings I wanted to use were for an aircraft with no turret. No, wait, that was this build! What a dolt! Anyway, some quick work with a razor saw and I think we'll be OK. And all this after I left the model where my 2 year old grandson could have a go at it, seeing if it could fly. I fixed all of that damage only to goof up the turret...remind me again why I like modelling. Oh, right, it helps me relax. 🙂
6 May 2018, 23:05
Alec K
Good to know I am not the only one who makes mistakes modeling. In this case, I think I would take the easy way out and switch to a different camo... 😄
7 May 2018, 00:32
Patrick Hagelstein
Dodged that bullit there Bill....
7 May 2018, 04:27
Bart Goesaert
Nice sheme.. and luckily you've seen this now, and not after painting the stripes... would be a double bummer...
7 May 2018, 10:00
Bill Gilman
Well, the stripes are on. A bit of a chore to do all that masking, but nothing too difficult. It turns out the width of the stripes scaled quite close to the 6mm Tamiya tape, so I just used that. I hope no one notices that they are 0.3mm too wide. I have quite a it of touch up to do, especially around the nacelles and other assorted lumps and bumps. But I think it looks kind of cool, as long as you don't look at it too long - otherwise your eyes go crossed.
3 June 2018, 23:25
Spanjaard
excellent Bill. i love your "quick attempt at the framework"... it would have taken me forever 😄 . really excellent job all around
4 June 2018, 07:31
Bart Goesaert
excellent work so far...
4 June 2018, 08:40
Bill Gilman
Thanks, mates. I finally got around to adding the stickers. The roundels from Xtradecal were not opaque enough, and the black stripes were visible through the white section. I ended up stacking two sets of roundels - luckily I had some spares that were the same size and style. I added the rudder balance, blending it in with some filler and then painting. Annie then got a overall flat varnish. The landing gear and tyres went on next, and today I will be removing the canopy masks that have been on for a very long time. I hope they don't give me any trouble.

There is not a lot left to do - add the engines, cowlings, exhausts, props, loop antenna, aerial wire, etc. I don't plan on doing a lot of weathering, as this plane in 1941 (which the markings depict) was relatively new and had most likely just been painted in the training scheme when it was turned over to the Canadians. I'll use pastels, and perhaps some Gunze H95 Smoke Grey for any weathering I do. I have to say, she looks rather smart just the way she is. 🙂
13 June 2018, 13:10
Spanjaard
looking forward final reveal 🙂
13 June 2018, 17:16
Hanno Kleinecke
What an outstanding paintjob Bill ! Masking these stripes to this perfect symmetry must have been quite a
challenge !
13 June 2018, 20:15
Bill Gilman
Thanks mates! The masking for the stripes wasn't as bad as it looks. The stripes (and the spaces in-between) are 6mm wide, exactly the same as Tamiya tape. I was able to keep the width between the stripes consistent by using small pieces of tape as a "spacer." For symmetry, the first stripe on each side was put down with the help of a template I made that had the correct angle. I knew I kept that protractor around for something!

I took off the canopy masks, and fortunately everything came off easily and the edges look pretty good. I don't think I need to touch up any. I was a little worried because the masks had been on for quite some time, but no problems. More importantly, you can still see the detail that I added to the cabin, along with the scratch built framework. After the masks were removed I could see that the forward jump seat has come off, and it's making the rattle. Oddly though, I can't see it - I can only hear it. So I guess that's OK then? I've simply modelled the aircraft as it appeared while the jump seat was out for restitching in the maintenance shed.

Engines are next - one of the engine supports needed to have a bit of resin removed in order to slip into the nacelles. The propellers are pretty weak - maybe the weakest part of the entire kit. I'm going to look through my stash, but I don't think I have anything else that I could use. The props are moulded almost flat, with no pitch at all, and there is no twist to the blades either. They look quite odd actually, and not at all like my reference photos. Those photos are from restored aircraft or museum pieces and I don't know if they're the original props. Research hat on...
14 June 2018, 19:55
Jens
WOW just fascinating work, just great 👍 👍 👍
14 June 2018, 20:13
Patrick Hagelstein
Maybe that's why it's called a jump seat?...
14 June 2018, 22:32
Mike Grant
That is really sharp masking/paintwork. 👍
17 June 2018, 01:40
Łukasz Gliński
Fabulous! How come I missed it till now?
17 June 2018, 09:07
Gordon Sørensen
Great masking job, Bill! It came out looking fantastic!
17 June 2018, 12:29
Cuajete
Fantastic result, Bill!!
17 June 2018, 18:44
Bill Gilman
Creeping ever so closely to the finish line - I never thought I'd see this day after the time that my grandson put the model through its test flight. And, of course, when the bone-headed modeller (me) built the fuselage with provision for a turret. And breaking the canopy off, etc. I thought I was going to have to admit defeat, but somehow everything looks OK. Should have it finished up in a day or so. Cheers, Bill
27 June 2018, 20:03
Patrick Hagelstein
It looks more than OK! Not knowing all the horrors you've had to go through, I would have thought this was one of Bill's meticulously planned and flawlessly executed builds.
27 June 2018, 21:22
Spanjaard
it certainly looks impressive. and seeing all the history behind, even more 🙂
28 June 2018, 06:41
Roland Sachsenhofer
Wow, most beauttiful work, looks adorable clean and neat!
28 June 2018, 07:08
Wilfried Bogaerts
Persevere Uncle, it's going to become a beauty! 👍
28 June 2018, 07:31
Hanno Kleinecke
Your grandson obviously either is a good pilot, or his mechanic is very skilled, no sign of a crashlanding !
Beautiful result Bill !
28 June 2018, 10:15
Bill Gilman
OK, she's finished for sure now! Perseverance is a wonderful thing. I've added several photos of the finished model - the only unfortunate thing at this point is that the only space for it in my display case is on the bottom shelf. I have to get down on my knees to look at it. At my age, that is no fun at all! Cheers, Bill
1 July 2018, 23:39
Glenn
Looks great Bill, But it sure sends you cross eyed!
2 July 2018, 00:22
Spanjaard
she is certainly gorgeous 🙂
2 July 2018, 05:40
Łukasz Gliński
Looking great, you should definitely put it upwards in the display case 👍
2 July 2018, 06:09
Cuajete
Beautiful "wasp". Fantastic finish. Congratulations!

Have a stool next to the display case so you can admire your model on the bottom shelf 😉
2 July 2018, 10:38
Dave Flitton
Looks AWESOME!!
2 July 2018, 18:43
Roland Sachsenhofer
Such a beauty!
2 July 2018, 19:16
Gordon Sørensen
Looks great, Bill! Definately deserves to be higher up in the dispay case!
3 July 2018, 10:11
Hans-Jürgen Haag
Good job looks great!
3 July 2018, 10:17
B. M.
This is outstanding...upper level masking job 🙂
4 July 2018, 14:32
Bill Gilman
Thanks everyone! Now it's off to the next project...
9 July 2018, 23:27
SJ Elrod
Looks like a great kit...well done on the build...it turned out very nice
10 July 2018, 04:08
Clement
Fantastic work!
10 February, 18:45
Bernhard Schrock
How could I overlook this build? As usual a great work especially the very difficult painting job. Chapeau!
10 February, 18:49
Bill Gilman
Thanks mates. I love it when these old threads get resurrected. Cheers, Bill
10 February, 19:07
Mark
Exquisite.
10 February, 19:10
Zbynek Honzik
Beautiful work, unusual livery and perfect paintwork. Bravo! 👍 It's very pleasing to the eye.
10 February, 19:24
Cuajete
Wow... Fantastic job and very nice colors.
Congrats!
10 February, 20:31

Album info

You think I would have learned by now...

74 images
1:72
Completed
1:72 Avro Anson Mk.I (Special Hobby SH72074)1:72 Avro Anson Mk.I (Eduard CX189)1:72 Commonwealth Trainers (Xtradecal X72143)

All albums

View all albums »