1/48 Magna Models Blackburn Firebrand TF5 |
Gallery Article by Darius Aibara
on
Dec 22 2003
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Magna Models have produced an
extensive series of 1:72 resin kits of mainly Royal Navy and RAF aircraft and
have in recent years ventured into 1:48 scale with four kits of RN subjects.
I had always liked the look of the Firebrand and ordered the TF5 kit direct from
Magna Models. The kit is packaged in a stout box and comprises solid one
piece resin wing, tailplane and fin, with a solid resin fuselage (hollowed out
at the cockpit). A single price resin nose is provided (with the
"fan" at the front of the
engine moulded integrally) together with a separate resin spinner. Prop
blades, undercarriage, cockpit console and other detail parts were provided in
white metal along with two vac-formed canopies. Decals are provided for
several Royal Navy Firebrands.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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This was the first
resin kit that I had attempted so I carefully followed Magna Models instructions
in using this media. I washed all the parts using detergent and an old
toothbrush to remove any mould release agents and sanded away any remnants of
pouring stubs (these were not too extensive). There were very few surface
pinholes (caused by small air bubbles trapped against the mould) and these were
filled with cyano glue and sanded flush. Some of the underwing flap panel
lines were not well defined so I re-scribed them. The remaining engraved
panel lines were very well moulded. With so few parts assembly was quite
rapid using cyano glue. Humbrol grey filler was used to blend in the joins
- this works quite well with the resin. Once the model was sanded, and
re-scribed where necessary, it was sprayed with Halfords grey primer and the Sky
underside colour with the upper extra dark sea grey brush applied using Humbrol
enamel.