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Completed George Washington 1776, Airfix Collectors Series, 54mm plastic kit.

Discussion in 'vBench (Works in Progress)' started by KenBoyle, Feb 22, 2020.

  1. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States
    Well, I'm back to the oldies with Airfix's 1974 release of their George Washington mounted kit. And, drum roll please, just in time for Washington's birthday. (02/22/1732)

    I haven't done a plastic kit in a while, to say the least. The Washington casting had somewhat squinty eyes so, using an exacto knife, I slightly modified the lower eyelid to open up the eyes to make painting easier.

    I employed a hot-knife, actually a combination of a wood burning tool capable of holding an exacto blade and an old Dremel speed control (Rheostat) to control the heat level, to roughen up the shoulder epaulets. They were a little too stiff looking.

    I also used the hot-knife on the horse's mane and tail as well as the holster covers. I may have over done it a bit. It's been a while since my Historex period. :)

    The painting was all done in acrylics.

    A fun figure bringing back lots of memories.

    Thanks for looking,
    Ken

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    Perseas, aknific, Chazman and 24 others like this.
  2. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States
    Also, When I bought the kit the box was slightly mashed and on sale. :) Can't beat the price...


    [IMG]
  3. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Hi Ken

    That's a blast from the past and thanks for sharing your artwork ....certainly looks really good and nice work on the epaulettes

    Hope we see more from this time and your hot knife ( I remember heating up a needle in a cork on my psrents gas stove ...they were not impressed ..lol )

    Happy benchtime

    Nap
    Oda, Blind Pew and KenBoyle like this.
  4. Viking Bob PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    I never did do this one, preferring the foot figure's.
    Good job on the painting and the little extra work with the heated needle.
    Oda, captnenglish and KenBoyle like this.
  5. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States

    Thanks guys! Working with plastic again was Verrrry interesting.

    Cheers,
    Ken
    Nap likes this.
  6. Chris Oldfield A Fixture

    Country:
    England
    Nice work, Ken - I recently bought an Airfix 10th Hussar on eBay, & seeing your superb interpretation of George Washington has given me some inspiration.
    What did you use for the reins? Bet it wasn’t the sheet of plasticard supplied with the kit!
    KenBoyle likes this.
  7. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States

    Thanks Chris,
    I used some lead foil left over from other kits for the reins. :)

    Cheers,
    Ken
    Chris Oldfield likes this.
  8. Ben-nl A Fixture

    Country:
    Netherlands
    well done!
    KenBoyle likes this.
  9. Cannonball A Fixture

    Lovely job Ken. These Airfix kits were some of the first figures I ever had and the quality for the time was really very good. I’m looking at this whilst watching an episode from Season 2 of TURN-Washington’s Spies.Spooky!!

    Neal
    KenBoyle likes this.
  10. Warren SMITH A Fixture

    Country:
    Australia
    Fantastic work Ken, Love these kits, but you painting skills really bring the best out of the figure... Hope you can take the time to do more... (y)
    Smithy
    KenBoyle likes this.
  11. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States

    Thanks Ben!

    Cheers,
    Ken
  12. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States

    Thanks Neal! I understand spooky. I was finishing the kit last night when I realized Washington's birthday was today. You would almost think I planned it that way. :)

    Cheers,
    Ken
  13. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States

    Thanks Smithy! It was fun and I definitely have more planned. ;)

    Cheers,
    Ken
  14. Gary_81 Active Member

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Great work on giving such a old kit new life.

    Gary
    KenBoyle likes this.
  15. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States

    Thanks Gary! I do love the old kits. At least some of them. ;)

    Cheers,
    Ken
  16. misfit151 A Fixture

    Blimey Ken you have rolled back the years....great job....you'll be posting the Scots Grey next...lol....Mike. (y)
    KenBoyle likes this.
  17. Blind Pew A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom

    We've all done it mate! ;)
    KenBoyle and Nap like this.
  18. MoboSchreuder A Fixture

    Great work and very nice painting

    Mobo
    KenBoyle likes this.
  19. Babelfish A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Great work Ken and a nice bit of nostalgia.

    A lot of us cut our figure modelling teeth on these Airfix figures back in the '70s - and they were "state of the art" back then - although this is one of the few from that range that I never painted.

    - Steve
    Oda and KenBoyle like this.
  20. NeilW A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Nice work (y)

    Hot knife.... ah the heady intoxication of smouldering polystyrene (even better when mixed with the poly-glue) :wacky:

    I now regret giving away my old Pyrogravure many years ago when in a fit of 'grownupedness' I gave all my kit (plus a half dozen or so Airfix figs) to the son of some friends :(
    theBaron, Oda and KenBoyle like this.

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