Roden Felixstowe F2A (early) build

[jamo]

I’m nearly ready to do the white swirl decals over the fuselage so I have been reviewing the various references. The first thing I noticed is contradictory instructions about how far back the natural wood finish extends on the hull bottom. The kit instructions show the second step being red with a swirl, as does the bottom view on the AIMs decal instructions – however the side view shows the second step in natural wood. The only photo I have seen of this aircraft is in the Datafile and it appears to show at least part of the second step with a swirl on it.

Placement of some of the swirls differs, particularly for the swirl #s 8, 9, 22 & 23. I think I will start at one end and just try to make it look like the photo.

Judging from the Datafile photo there doesn’t appear to be any swirls on the floats so they will be plain red. I’m using Misterkit British Roundel Red over a Humbrol gloss red undercoat to improve opacity. It’s quite a vermilion colour not scarlet.

I will post some photos once all the decals are on.

[jamo]

This picture compares the top view from the decal sheet and kit instruction

[jamo]

Two long nights later and all the swirls are now on. After building Roden's Staaken kit I thought no other decal job would ever be so challenging. I was wrong. On the plus side, the AIMS decals are very opaque (white over red!)and respond extremely well to Micro Set & Sol. However, due to the various angles on the model they are very difficult to position and don't slide around much at all. I lifted and re-placed some decals many times before I was happy and ended up cutting some of the larger decals into smaller sections to handle them more easily. Some of the swirls had to be shortened considerably to fit them in. Definitely better than hand painting though . . .

I started with the swirl immediately under the cockpit, which didn't seem to be long enough to meet in the centre as per the decal instructions, and then did the nose and moved progressively rearwards. In some places the end result doesn't follow the instructions very closely but I think the appearance of the Datafile photo is captured. The pictures probably speak best for themselves. Some touching up with paint is still needed around some joins.

I wonder if the second step of the hull should be part natural wood and part red? The swirl takes up less than half the available space. The hull in the Datafile photo is very dark and could be interpreted either way. It won't be very visible when the model is mounted on the water so maybe I'll just leave it as it is.

Happy modelling to all!

[MerlinV]

Hey Jamo,
that is looking very special! It should make for a spectacular diorama.

Did you find that the decals were a pig to place? You certainly don't look to have had too much trouble with them.

I'm afraid my next felixstowe is so far down my build list as to be irrelevant, but it's really nice to see somone else building one.

Cheers,

Hugh

[curtisswright]

Jamo,
Really nice job. Thanks for posting. Made me take another look at my Supermarine Walrus that has been sitting on my shelf for a while. Thanks again.

[Zabu]

Well done Jamo. It will be a very eye catching model and diorama for sure. Can’t note anything wrong on the decals there, superb job that you made with them. Thank you for those photos. Cheers.

[PrzemoL]

Very, very nice! I am watching this thread with great interest, Felixstowe is dear to me, it was the beginning of my adventure with 1WW aircraft modelling, though I modelled H.16.

[jamo]

There's nothing like a deadline to build motivation - my model club's annual competition was this afternoon. Here are some pics of the finished model. I will post more comments on the build soon.

[Ross_Moorhouse]

Love it. Love the water affect. Very well done. I hate you....

[MerlinV]

Um,

WOW!

That looks Bl00dy sensational Jamo. You have truly lifted the bar this time.

Cheers,

Hugh