Airfix 1/72 RE-8 "Harry Tate"

Aaronw · 22 February 2010, 02:05 PM

This is Airfix's RE-8 kit, the RE-8 gained the nickname Harry Tate after an english entertainer of the period, if you say Harry Tate with an english accent it sounds a lot like RE-8.

I picked this old kit up last month and it is such an odd looking thing I couldn't wait to build it (plus the 26 year old box had seen better days). I found 1958 stamped inside the fuselage so this kit has been around awhile. A few minor fit isues, no cockpit detail and as Albatros mentioned in another post the struts would be 2x6s but overall not bad compared to other 1/72 kits.
I used the guitar string suggested here for the rigging glued in place with 5 min epoxy. My only real complaint would be the decals, the wing roundels and tail flash are too big and required some trimming.
The wing roundels really should be quite a bit smaller, but I'll just assume the crew just survived a friendly fire incident and really want to make sure it is clear which side they are on.

I am curious about the finish though, gloss seems too too shiny but flat is too dull, what is an appropriate finish for doped fabric? I've never seen a bottle of satin finish.

PrzemoL · 22 February 2010, 02:13 PM

It is a very nice looking oldie!
As for the finish for linen covered surface, glossy is truly too glossy. So why not try mixing clear gloss with clear matt and experiment on the proportion to get somethiing that satisfies you?

MarkydeSade · 22 February 2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaronw

This is Airfix's RE-8 kit, the RE-8 gained the nickname Harry Tate after an english entertainer of the period, if you say Harry Tate with an english accent it sounds a lot like RE-8.

Harry Tate was Scottish and his name was used as rhyming slang for the RE-8; Harry Tate/RE-8 in the same way as, for example Barnet Fair = Hair.

Two interesting things about HT; his most popular catch-phrase was "Goodbye-eee", which was the inspiration for the WW1 song of the same name and he died in the Blitz.

Old Man · 22 February 2010, 04:06 PM

Good job of a classic kit, Sir!

I can remember building one of these pretty close to the 1956 stamped in the fuselage of your's....

Satin finish makes a good replication of a new, glossy machine in 1/72. Once a machine was in service for more than a few weeks things went pretty matte.

Aaronw · 22 February 2010, 04:17 PM

I never thought of mixing clear finishes, as long as they don't blow up I guess that would let me fine tune the finish to my liking, thanks.

I don't know anything about Harry Tate, the online bit that I read said english. One of those kind of neat things you get with the internet, you learn new stuff you didn't even know you didn't know which helps to balance out the stuff you learn that is wrong.

I generally build my aircraft new and shiny. Its not so much that I don't like weathering as I'm always afraid I'll screw up my work so far. Still learning a lot about these things, eventually I'll probably get comfortable enough to make them looked lived in.

modelhound · 22 February 2010, 04:23 PM

Nice job on this golden oldie. Ah, I remember the time when these crude kits were all that was. We are truly in the golden age od WW-1 modeling, eh?.

mIKE

Old Man · 22 February 2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaronw

I don't know anything about Harry Tate, the online bit that I read said english.

Over there, Sir, you need to be a little careful who you call English. My first trip to Great Britain, I made the mistake of addressing a Welshman as English, and got quite an earful....

albatros1234 · 22 February 2010, 06:23 PM

aaron if you have access to "micro" products ie micro sol, micro set. they make a " flat" finish that really is a semi gloss. its water based and can be brushed on with a soft flat brush. thats what i use when i want a semi gloss finish. I think humbrol makes a semi gloss clear too but that will have to be airbrushed. one other sugestion i used to use regular varnish from the hardware store, but get the water based kind not the oldschool varnish i think it might eat the paint, or even the plastic its usually called satin finish at a hardware store and it works fine.you can get a quart size for like $5.

Kaiser Bill · 23 February 2010, 08:16 AM

Congratulations on a fine looking model. I agree with your replacing the struts with something more to scale. I've built two of these one in PC10 one in PC12 like the box art.
Not sure what scheme I'll do with the third kit I have in the stash.

Keep up the great work...and good luck with you finish what ever you decide to do.

Kaiser Bill

Aaronw · 23 February 2010, 10:05 PM

Yes I can get Micro products, I use Microset / sol all the time, I might even have a bottle of the flat, Thanks.