DeAGOSTINI THUNDERBIRD 1 BUILD

Here’s my completed 1/144 scale Thunderbird 1 build to compliment the DeAgostini Thunderbird 2.

As I’ve previously pointed out, this model kit was originally produced by Aoshima, and has been repackaged by DeAgostini, with a pre-coloured nose cone and atomic pile covers for anyone who prefers not to paint it.

The kit is fairly simple, although I found it easier to assemble and paint each section – the main fuselage and wings; the atomic pile drum; and the engine section – prior to putting everything together.

Once everything was primed, the main body and engines were sprayed silver, while the atomic pile drum was sprayed Tamiya TS-23 light blue. I left the rear stabiliser fins off at this stage.  I primed them and sprayed them light blue. Once they were dry, I masked off the blue areas, re-primed them and finally sprayed them silver.

I decided to fit the wheeled landing gear, which is seen in the earlier episodes. The long landing struts are nearer the fuselage which, to my mind gives a less fragile look, and as the main strut is in the middle of the wing I reckon it gives a little more support, and balance.  If I build another with the ski landing gear I imagine the model will need weighting.

I then painted on some black detailing – the exhausts and the ram jet intakes on the engine section, and the landing wheels.

Before I put everything together I applied a very thin wash of black, just to give some light weathering. 

Then I applied the decals. I found the black and the blue stripes slightly long so they needed to be carefully trimmed in situ. Everything else was fairly straight forward.

Finally, everything is glued together and left to dry.