Earlier this year I was asked if my IPMS branch (our own IPMS Kitmaker, click on my banner or Bulldog badge) would be willing to take on the refurbishment of a number of large scale models for the Heritage centre at Brough (BAE Systems). I, of course, said yes, but with a few reservations. Building your own model you have the choice as to whether or not you finish it, building for a museum requires a high standard. Refurbishing models for a museum is a whole new ball game, especially if, like these models, they were built many years ago. There is, for me anyway a need to respect the original builder and do the absolute best job possible.
The models, in the main are to 1/24 scale, have been built in wood, and are in verying degrees of repair.
Although our own Derek Bradshaw (widow61) (he works at Brough) had sent me pictures of the models I felt that I need to see them for myself before agreeing to take on the task of refurbishment. So yesterday I took the day off work and went to have a look. I came away with this beast, a Blackburn Botha. It is to 1/24 Scale and has a wingspan of some 740mm and a fuselage length of about 660mm. Far to big to fit in my photo booth, as you will see.
More pictures here
























As you will see the model will require a total strip of the paint and I will try and remove the filler which looks like it is "Polyfiller" (wall crack filler in the UK) as it is cracking itself. The canopy needs removing, cleaning up and replacing and the port nav light cover will have to be made as will a new Pito tube. The biggest problem will be the propeller blades but it will raise my skill bar to produce them. I am still trying to source a suitable primer, what I mean by that is that I'm looking for a donation of primer in rattle cans as the cost of buying Hannants primer is prohibitive. I will be asking Hannants if they would like to donate some, or I have been told of a source of cheap primer.

The very good news, on the paint front, is that White Ensign Models (WEM) have agreed to supply paint, from their Colourcoats range for this project. Thank you very much John Snyder for this because without this generous donation I would not have been able to take on the project.


I haven't a clue how long the Botha will take to complete, but I'm hoping to have it done by Scale Modelworld in November. It can then be displayed on the branch stand for our "Made in Britain" theme, plus it will give WEM some deserved publicity as well as the Heritage Centre at Brough.

Next up will likely be this monster which, as you can see, is half again as big as the Botha. Anyone know what it is? The hull is retracted.




Mal

This is very cool Mal. It would make an excellent feature article once the project (or projects) are complete.

Cheers,
Jim

Yes Jim, I intend to do a feature but I think, because of the time scale involved, that I will do one on each model as it is completed. It's gonna take a few years, if I continue to build kits as well, particularly as I have just moved up to 1/32 scale and have a number of 1/24 scale kits which I intend to detail, if not super detail.

Mal

Hi Mal!

Looks like a fantastic project! I'm looking forward to see how this will turn out. i hope you will post your progress here on Aeroscale regularly...

Jean-Luc

Hi Mal

It's a really exciting project - and, before you go diving straight in and stripping the models... check when they were made. There was a Scale Models magazine article back in the early 1970s (I'll sort it out for you) about restoring 1950s vintage wooden museum models written by the modeller who built the originals. Among the interesting points mentioned was that the models were painted with stocks of original RAF WW2 paints - so you could have a valuable colour reference there!




It's the wonderful Blackburn B.20 - click HERE for a detailed look at this extraordinary aircraft.

All the best

Rowan

Some of the models go back to 1947 and maybe before. As you can see the Botha is in a bit of a state and I reckon that removing the polyfiller will be the worst part. The models were painted in cellulose paints, which is why the paint is cracked, it has shrunk over time. The markings have probably been ruined by having masking tape, of the painters veriety, stuck on to mask them. It has obviously been on for a while and, if it doesn't take the markings off it will alsmost certainly have damaged them. I will have to see about painting them on.

The B-20 can have it's float extended, which is why it also is wrapped in masking tape. Lukily it has already been stripped of paint so there will just be the tape residue to remove.

Derek also gave me 2 1/72 CMK Buccaneers, 1 is to be completed as the gate gardian which is at Brough and I plan on doing the other in Desert storm markings. These are excellent kits and I will attempt a review. I say attempt because there is a hell of a lot of kit in the box.

Yes Jean-Luc I will post my progress, at the moment that consists of looking at the model and trying to decide where to start

Mal

Hi Mal

Then they could very possibly be original WW2 RAF paints. Keep the flakes!

Someone has done a dreadful job with those Polyfilla "repairs"...

All the best

Rowan

Good luck on the repairs.

How can a museum let this happen to their exhibits?

The models have been in storage for a long time and some of them had suffered. Someone obviously tried to bring them back to life but without a knowledge of the sort of reactions that can take place. Of course the fact that wood actually moves, depending on the abient temperature and humidity, makes pollyfiller the wrong choice. Wood filler will be required at the joints to prevent cracking. The masking tape is also a bad choice but again it was done with good intentions. None of this is beyond repair, it will just take more time because of the need to remove the filler and tape. I'm pleased to have been given the oppertunity and I'm guessing that this is a test, which is only fair as they don't really know me from Adam.

Mal