Check's back with a Canberra B.2 in 1/72 *Finished*

[Chuck Finley]

With the closure of 2018, I thought I would end the year with a mixture of pleasure and pain, hopefully more pleasure than pain, with a pair of unique subjects by S & M Models. I wonder if the people behind the company thought of the quips that inevitably come from such a name. It's like the owner's of "Sky-high Jewelry" wondered why nobody shopped there. In any case, my first subject for 2018 is a English Electric Canberra B.2 in 1/72 scale. The aircraft will be built out of the box with markings for WD999 of 9 Squadron, based at RAF Binbrook, that flew as a member of the Queen's Coronation Flypast, July 1953. It will be a nice addition to my earlier Airfix Canberra B.6 that I had picked up from a collection.

[DavidWomby]

I'll watch this with interest. Great choice of markings.

David

[ShaunW]

And another one from you as well, Chuck, great stuff. Hopefully this kit won't live up to the manufacturer's initials too closely - personally I would have given more thought to naming the company but that could be down to my often rather warped perspective

[Stuart]

And another one from you as well, Chuck, great stuff. Hopefully this kit won't live up to the manufacturer's initials too closely - personally I would have given more thought to naming the company but that could be down to my often rather warped perspective

lololololol!!

[Chuck Finley]

Basic build is about done. I have this urge to start chanting "Thank you sir, may I have another". S&M Models is living up to the jokes. Building the kit reminds me of building a AZ Model, A-Model, Valom, or Toko kit. There is a LOT of sanding and dry fit. The kit does not have a bomb-bay. That is one plus as it allows the placement of nose weight. With the canopy beining part of a large bit of upper fuselage means that I can add more weight if necessary and I do not have to fill the nose gear well with weight like the Airfix B(i)6. There are gaps and putty is a must.











To be honest, while building these last two kits, I feel like Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction.

[DavidWomby]

Nice looking cockpit but the fit looks ghastly in places. Will you habe to lose surface detail at the roots and nacelles?

David

[ShaunW]

Indeed the fit of this kit looks challenging to put it mildly, Chuck! Hopefully you won't lose too much detail to the sanding as the engraving doesn't look too bad at all from here.

[iggie]

I'm kinda glad S & M (of the model manufacturing variety, or any other for that matter!) does not figure large in my stash!

[Chuck Finley]

I finished with the putty and have applied the white and medium sea grey. Tomorrow, the Light Slate Grey camo will be applied. The battery to my camera has been losing it's charge and will be replaced tomorrow. I'll upload picture later this week. All in all, it's coming together. Of course, Airfix will announce a B.2 for 2019 in response to this build.

[Stuart]

That's looking great so far!

[Chuck Finley]

Build and initial paint scheme finished. Now, on to touch-up and gloss coat in preparation for decals. Upon completion of this build, Airfix will announce a new tooled Canverra B.2 for 2019. Mark my words.








Should that prediction come to pass, I still have at least five other decal options on my Xtradecal sheet. I am thinking about a 617 Squadron bird in MSG and black.

[Stuart]

I love that scheme - Very nice indeed Chuck!

[ShaunW]

Looking good, Chuck, that is a great bit of paintwork.

[Chuck Finley]

Ladies and Gentlemen, earlier this year, I brought fourth the Canadair Argonaut that flew Princess Elizabeth to Africa and Queen Elizabeth II back to England for her coronation. Today, I present English Electric Canberra B.2, WD999 of 9 Squadron, based at RAF Binbrook that took part in the Queen's Coronation Flypast in July 1953.











And here is the S&M Canberra with the Airfix Canberra B.6. The S&M kit actually sits on it's nose wheel without any problems

[philp]

Looks great in that scheme.