I was given the Sanger 1/48 Handley Page Hampden vacuform kit and am at a bit of a loss.
I found some videos on youtube in regard to cutting out the parts which was fairly straighforward. However I have no idea what bits need to be cut from the fuselage in order to insert the cockpit and other areas and also how to place them.
I have built many Tamiya, Eduard etc kits which have detailed instructions but the ones that came with this kit seem more like a blueprint which is hard to follow.
This is my first vacuform kit
Has anyone any experience with this? I would be grateful for any help given.
As you probably noticed you are essentially scratchbuilding that Hampden - I mean you’re starting from almost zero. That needs a different approach than a “normal” plastic kit. In case of a “normal” kit you focus on what’s in the box. In case of that Hampden you need to focus on what is NOT in your box - things like engines, landing gear, guns and so on would probably have to be “organized” from somewhere. And you need to know your subject to know how it should look like - for example at what angle the wings and stabilizers should be mounted. It’s a lot of work and it may be that all the work isn’t worth it for you - you have to decide that as your first thing.
Then again the only non-vacu kit of the Hampden in 1:48 is a Fonderie Miniatures short run and a 1:48 Hampden could turn out looking good. Vacu kits are believed to lend themselves better to things like opening up doors and showing the interior if that’s your thing.
One thing for sure - if you decide to build it you will need a lot of creativity and you will need to make a lot of parts from zero. And after that your model buildning will never be the same again.
So - I hope you will post some photos of that and I wish you luck whatever you decide to do
The kit actually came with a bag of white metal parts which include pilot seat, landing gear, props, engines and guns as well as canopies etc.
It will indeed be a challenge but looking forward to it now.
I will post pictures regardless of what the finished product looks like but may take a while. Cutting out and sanding down each part sure takes a lot of time.
Back in the Modeling Dark Ages, detail parts were hard to come by. But today, we are spoiled for choice for wheels, engines, guns, and cockpit details. That does not make doing a vac-form easy, but it sure helps! I look forward to seeing your kit take shape!