**** DONE: GB-51 1/48 Vampire FB.MK.9 - No Propellers

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Ralph Haus

Tech Sergeant
1,918
2,192
Jul 24, 2016
Leander Texas
User Name: Ralph Haus
Name: Ralph
Category: Intermediate
Kit: Trumpeter 02875 - Vampire FB.MK.9
Scale: 1/48

I will be finishing in the (kit) 'A' version; WRI28: 502 (County of Ulster) Squadron.

I either had to yield to my aversion to non-prop kits or not participate in the GB? Well the fun of competition won out. I found this at my local HS on, yes, their consignment shelf. An early reject by someone, but one that filled the GB-51 build requirement. A toss up between this and an ME 262 .Needing a Luftwaffe break this one won out.

The box was still factory shrink wrapped so it should have all the pieces, right? It does, but I will be having some fun recovering the errors on the decal sheet. No obvious flash issues, excellent panel line and rivet details. It should show well if I do the build justice.








 
rochie said:
nice.

had no real problems when i built mine
Click to expand...
As has been my bain lately, the kit does not address the interior, etc. colors? Apply common RAF cockpit colors of the period?

Also, this kit eludes to a 'weight'. Did you have to use any to keep it from tail dragging? If so about how much? I have plenty of shot gun pellets left from a previous build needing them.
 
fubar57 said:
Nifty looking aircraft Ralph. Other than not being in RCAF markings, what are the decal errors?
Click to expand...
My incorrect assumption that the under wing numbers WRI 28 were all out of whack. If one reads the directions then it becomes obvious, the numbers are divided to allow for proper application to the open wheel covers. At first it looked to be a miss-print!. This is testimony, I guess, to the thought that went into designing this kit. I'll have to keep my eyes out for more Trumpeter kits if this is an indication of what they put out.

As for RCAF markings. Did Canada have an FB.MK.9 (or older)? If so, and I can easily find the markings, I would gladly change as appreciation for your past assistance. I'll have to do some research before I break out the paints. Hopefully the RCAF version is not a 'dull' all silver with no highlights
 

I did find a 3 and a 5. Seriously plain though. Then I remember my visits to CA and drinking Molson and Labatt. Should not be to hard to scrounge up a maple leaf and a number or two? I'll have to see of I can find some decal sheets (reasonable$)?


 
Ralph Haus said:
As for RCAF markings. Did Canada have an FB.MK.9 (or older)?
Click to expand...

Ralph Haus said:
I did find a 3 and a 5. Seriously plain though....
Click to expand...
RCAF had Mk.3 only + 1 Mk.I for testing. As per the above mentioned page by Harold Scarup:
....de Havilland DH.100 Vampire Mk. I (1), (Serial No. TG372), Mk. III (85), (Serial Nos. 17001-17042, 17044-17086), for a total of 86 aircraft.
Mk.5 (correct designation is FB.5) were loaned by RAF to the 421 (F) Squadron in England. They were never used in Canada.
AA-P on one of your photos is a Swiss Mk.6 and even in Canadian markings was never used by the RCAF.
The Vampire below was also never flown in Canada, but represents one of the most interesting Vampires in the RCAF - "bat face" from the 442 Squadron, City of Vancouver.

Profile of the real one:

And a restored Mk.3:

I might try the new Airfix-model if it comes out as promised.
I don't quite understand why was your Vampire FB.9 put in any connection with RCAF in the first place? AFAIK FB.9 was a tropicalized version of FB.5 and had clipped wings.
I have an old article how to make a F.3 from FB.9 - if you really want to do it, see attached.
Cheers!
 

Attachments

  • RCAF DH. Vampire - from FB.9 to F.3.pdf
    6.6 MB · Views: 49
Last edited:
cockpit was black.

yes i added weight to the front where i could, didnt count how much , but its needed to keep the nose down !
 
Catch - The CA discussion started with Fubar's lament that it would have been nicer if my selection were to have had RACF markings (post #4). Sorry I started this confusion, back to being pure RAF....
 
Ralph Haus said:
Catch - The CA discussion started with Fubar's lament that it would have been nicer if my selection were to have had RACF markings (post #4). Sorry I started this confusion, back to being pure RAF....
Click to expand...
O-o-o-ps! I didn't see his post - I started reading by post #7....
Bad George!
Now he must buy a Mk.3 and build it as a "Bat-face" - Vampire!

 
Progress in the cockpit areas. My research indicates that almost all of these Vampires had black interior. Not the best color to do highlighting. I tried with a bit of silver weathering/dry brushing. That and a few bits receiving some color. There must have been an evolution in the molds for this model since the builds that I found online had more detail in the cockpit. Either that or there were not mentioned add-ons? In any case, most will be invisible once closed up.



 
rochie said:
looks great.


also i have lots of spare decals for that kit if you want any of them ?
only one i used was the second last one on second pic !

View attachment 637360View attachment 637361W
Click to expand...



What? No Canadian??? Seriously, I do appreciate the offer, very generous of you. I MAY need one of them in that the decals that are with the kit may not be as viable as I hope. We will see when I get to applying them; in a week or two. Although the WX207/F scheme does look mighty tempting (4th in the line), having blue as opposed to the silver. This 'blue' is what is applied to your WA419/E (?). I would be interested to see how it looks as a painted model. Any pics??
 
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