Airfix 1/72 Hampden - Change tack

After seeing some cool Whatif's in the UAMF Airfix Angel Interceptor group build and stumbling across this thread on Whatifmodelers..
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php?topic=24619.0
I have thought to do a Whatif, night fighter version, slimmed down and packing some big frontal armament.

So have cut the bomb bay off the fuselage halves, sliced the nose glazing and added a section of bomb to fit, so gives this nose shape..

I've found a replacement pilot, and am leaning toward no rear guns, as the rear chap will be the radar operator.

Some fun Fill'n Sanding ahead.

Airfix Devastator - Vac Canopy

Well I have been battling with the canopy, and a overwhelming lack of interest due to having to make a replacement canopy, but I have pushed through it and come out the otherside, or some such bumf...

Started with this ...

a big gap at the rear, so I cemented all the pieces together added some plasticard sections to the rear fo the canopy, then sanded all the frame lines off. Reattached the front windscreen and rear section which came adrift... cemented a section of plastic card across the bottom, and a section of drop tank to support the windscreen, a squirt of primer and a sand, then vac formed some plastic this afternoon..

Not bad, a few speaks of dust in it, and a stray hair, good enough for me.. a trim with some nail scissors, and she's a good un..

I'll lay a few strips of stretched sprue to give a lip for the canopy to rest against, then cement it on.

Airfix 1/72 Hampden - Fondling the plastic..

Well I've decided to take part in a Airfix Hampden single kit group build on UAMF. Everybody has to build the Airfix Hampden kit, and can do it anyway they want. out of the box, addtions, what ifs, anything goes as long as its the Airfix Hampden kit, and you share your progress and join in the banter. Lots of Coastal Command schemes being done, looks like most of 489 Squadron.

So I dug out my Hampden from 'The Stash', I've got the Flacon vac canopies for it, and the Airwaves photo etch set for it. I don't know if I'll use much of the photo etch as I'm suspicious not much will be seen. I've not used photo etch before either so a bit nervous about it.

So here is the box art, an old boxing..

The extra bits and kit decals, whcih look like they have passed their 'use by'

The good old black plastic, lots of rivets, but they look good, nice crisp and good detail.

Canopies are very thick, so I can see why people suggest the Falcon vac set, I'm a little buit suspicious of the fit of the vac canopies though, the nose seems a bit wide, but I havn't cut it out of the back yet.

I'm not sure of which scheme yet, I was going to do a 489 RNZAF Squadron one, but there about four being done, so it'll be a bomber command one, I'm leaning towards an early scheme, with the big A1 roundals on the wings, but I'll decide later.

Airfix Devastator - Canopy short?

The canopy has been worrying me, I thought it could be a problem: three sections and heavy framing, good prospect for a vac replacement. I cemented all three sections together and then laid it on the fuselage..

rightio, it's a bit short then....
My plan is to add to the rear section with plasticard, sand off the framing and then vac a replacement.