problems, save for the optional
open canopy. I had deliberately
left this item off to necessitate
the scratch-building of a pilot
figure (to appear soon as a resin
accessory, along with two other
crew figures, if all goes well). It
proved to be a poor fit, however,
requiring superglue, cement, and
brute force to get it to stay in place.
Brute force is always a bad idea
where modelling is concerned, as
we know, and once the maskingwas removed it revealed a nasty
spider web of cracks covering
the sliding canopy section.
Superglue had also seeped
behind the sliding side window,
causing it to fog. There was nothing
for it but to remove the complete
canopy and replace it with the
closed option. Having drilled out
the side window to facilitate a
view of the cockpit, and painting
the frames, I glued it temporarily
in place with the intention of
ordering a replacement open
canopy from Airfix and eventually
replacing it. Unfortunately, Airfix
had no replacements, so the
canopy has been left temporarily
attached and will be removed
and secured properly once my
pilot figure is complete.
There is an adequate rigging
guide included with the kit
instructions; for this process,
I used Uschi van der Rosten
elastic thread, and turnbuckles
from Bob’s Buckles to secure the
thread, to finish my model.CONCLUSION
This new quarter scale offering
from Airfix is a joy to build, with
exceptional detail, both internally
and externally. It has been
masterfully engineered and those
few fit problems I had were doubtless
due to excessive paint buildup, or
the slight misalignment of parts, and
not, I believe, to inherent faults.
A hatch cover for the circular
forward hatch, an anchor, and Bren
guns for both gunners’ stations are
provided in the kit, but have been
omitted from this build as they
are being used as props around
which to sculpt the crew figures.
This is an impressive model
once finished, and because the
Supermarine Walrus served in alltheatres of war and with many
commonwealth and international
air forces and naval air arms, Airfix’s
new flying boat will make a stunning
centrepiece in a variety of collections.
I recommend that you buy one before
they are all gone. (Just announced
is a new boxing of the Walrus,
which will include some attractive
silver wings schemes. Options will
include examples from the Royal
Air Force, France and Ireland.)
My thanks to Eduard for
supplying the accessory sets.
Further details on my upcoming
resin crew figures and future and
current build projects can be found on
my website: http://www.jaysmodelart.co.ukWWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM • MARCH 2018 • 81
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