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

[KenBoyle]

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

 

[KenBoyle]

Also, When I bought the kit the box was slightly mashed and on sale. Can't beat the price...

 

[Nap]

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

 

[Viking Bob]

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.

 

[KenBoyle]

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

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.

Thanks guys! Working with plastic again was Verrrry interesting.

Cheers,
Ken

 

[Chris Oldfield]

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]

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!

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

Cheers,
Ken

 

[Ben-nl]

well done!

 

[Cannonball]

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

 

[Warren SMITH]

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...
Smithy

 

[KenBoyle]

well done!

Thanks Ben!

Cheers,
Ken

 

[KenBoyle]

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

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

 

[KenBoyle]

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...
Smithy

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

Cheers,
Ken

 

[Gary_81]

Great work on giving such a old kit new life.

Gary

 

[KenBoyle]

Great work on giving such a old kit new life.

Gary

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

Cheers,
Ken

 

[misfit151]

Blimey Ken you have rolled back the years....great job....you'll be posting the Scots Grey next...lol....Mike.

 

[Blind Pew]

( I remember heating up a needle in a cork on my parents' gas stove ...they were not impressed ..lol )

Happy benchtime

Nap

We've all done it mate!

 

[MoboSchreuder]

Great work and very nice painting​

​

Mobo​

 

[Babelfish]

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

 

[NeilW]

Nice work

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

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