'The Airspeed Oxford was an important and widely used trainer of the RAF and other commonwealth airforces. There are a few preserved aircraft, including one at the RAF Museum, Hendon and IWM Duxford.

This model is, I think, the only 1:48 scale kit of the Airspeed Oxford, although Frog released a 1:72 scale model a few years ago. As such it is a opportunity to make a good representation of an important RAF trainer aircraft. Its a Vacform model, which poses unique challenges of its own, not to mention to chance to do some scratchbuilding. A good introductory feature on Vacform modeling, by Brett Green from Hyperscale can be found by clicking here. A more recent article, by John Adams of Aeroclub, can be found by clicking here. 

Some details of the Oxfords preserved at RAF Museum Hendon and IWM Duxford can be found in the Features section of this site. One site very useful as the project progresses is Kiwi Aircraft Images. Click here for a link to the Oxford I page on this site. Another highly recommended site is the Aircraft Walkaround Center - click here to link to the Oxford photographs.

Click on the smaller images to see the full image. 

Fuselage Assembly

The initial step in any vacform model - scribe the major pieces and snap away from the styrene sheet. Its a good idea to mark the join between the piece and the backing sheet, so make it easy to see the excess that needs to be sanded away later.

All the pieces are now separated from the backing sheet, small sections bagged separately.
Preparing the fuselage - sanding away the excess over a sheet of sanding paper. This needs to be done with great care - the plastic is soft and easy to distort by oversanding.
Beginning to scratchbuild the aircraft interior - good references are essential. In this case I used an old Aeroplane cutaway drawing.

Interior Details

The Sanger Airspeed Oxford 

More detail is now included - note the use of items from the spares box.
The interior painted using RAF interior green, applied over a base coat of black. Spraying was done at an angle to allow the illusion of shadows from the undercoat
Two fuselage halves are now painted. Individual details will be picked up and the whole area dry brushed. Note the square section through the fuselage to act as a support for the wings. This lies under the scratchbuilt main wing spar in the fuselage.
Fuselage shells glued together with superglue to ensure a tight bond. Squadron green filler is applied and sanded smooth. Note the amount needed to obtain a good fit.

Wings and Main Assemblies

Work begins on the wings. These have been sanded down to profile and assembled. The aileron has been cut free to be re-positioned in the 'down' position.

Wings, tailplanes and engine nacelles are now on. Extensive amounts of filler were needed as shown by the green areas on the model.
Uppersurface of the model, showing the use of filler to correct the nacelle profile, as well as the nose area of the fuselage.
Major subassemblies are complete with control surfaces actuated. Rods and hinges will be added next. The whole model has been sanded smooth using a progression of grades and eventually a wax polish.
Model has engines mounted and nacelles completed. The filling of the seams is checked by painting with thin Testors aluminium to highlight any errors. This will be polished smooth before application of the final finishing paintwork.
General view of the model showing the seams filled and metal paint polished.
Detail of the engine nacelle. The picture is below is used as a reference, from a visit to the Oxford at RAF Museum, Hendon, UK"
Undersurface of the model. The undercart bay has been opened up and detailing begun.
General view of the underside. Here, the exhausts have been scratchbuilt from plastic rod; checked with the reference photos. Richard

See more of Richard's models at his web site.....Aircraft Scale Modeling