Scale Plastic & Rail

Camett Ltd Miss Demeanour

CAMMETT LTD - "MISS DEMEANOUR"

A brief history and restoration of an FGA9 Hawker Hunter in private hands, with two sheets of decals and paint masks for the 1/32 Revell kit.

CAMMETT LTD - "MISS DEMEANOUR" - BESPOKE ENAMEL PAINT PACKAGE

Set of 8 x 30ml enamel paints specifically made to faithfully reproduce the colour scheme of Miss Demeanour.

This is yet another World's 'First'! Another 'Scoop' for www.scaleplasticandrail - how do we do it? Manufacturers and publishers are now beginning to realize that we get things moving pretty quickly here!

Robin Carpenter, as many modellers will know, sprayed full sized aircraft for a living before becoming the proprietor of Cammett Ltd., a name invariably linked with quality resin products and modelling goodies. His resin accessories for the Schnellboot, for one, are indeed mouth watering as the burgeoning competition tables will bear witness.

Another of Mr Carpenter's talents is to teach people like me how to airbrush, and I have often waxed lyrical on his tutorial skills after I attended one of his classes nearly three years ago. It was during this class that Robin mentioned his involvement in spraying the full sized, privately owned, FGA9 Hawker Hunter, called "Miss Demeanour". The students, and me in particular, drooled over a photograph of the aircraft and Robin then told us that he was hoping to reproduce this in model form in the near future.

Fast Forward to August 2010: Robin has now produced a package deal for Hunter lovers who wish to recreate "Miss Demeanour" using Revell's kit no. 04703 - the 1/32 FGA9 Hawker Hunter. The Cammett package can be purchased as a whole or individually. Let me explain:

There is a 16 paged A4 sized full colour booklet which contains two A4 decal sheets and a pair of paint masks for the 'flying fist' emblem on the fin. The booklet is crammed with photographs and information regarding the history of "Miss Demeanour", Paint Schemes leading to the final choice, Spraying the full sized aircraft, Decal Sheet references, Painting the Model and Applying the decals.

I was particularly interested in the 'Painting the Model' section as I have promised Robin that I will be attempting this in the near future! A challenge indeed.

The decal sheets are A4 in size and at first glance they look like mainly blank sheets. They aren't, of course, because they contain all of the white stars that are used in the final stages of the finishing process. Robin has provided a very useful two page 'full' colour spread showing the location of the stars and flashes on a blue background for clarity and also their respective locations. There are a few stencils and those are perfectly clear and in register. Attention to detail would appear to be the watchword for Cammett Ltd as the booklet comes in a protective, purpose made, clear plastic click closing pack. A nice touch as are the paint masks for the flying fist emblem on the fin.

As an aside, the full sized aircraft will be performing at some of the airshows in the UK this year and I know that it will be at this year's RAFA Shoreham Airshow on August 21 and 22. Well worth a visit.

Now to the paint! Robin has commissioned specifically formulated enamel paints packaged for modellers to faithfully recreate the original colours of "Miss Demeanour". The paints can be thinned with Humbrol Enamel Thinners or good quality white spirits. Those who already use enamel paints and thin them with cellulose thinners can also be brave with this product if they so wish. The paint formulation should enable the enamels to dry faster than others currently on the market. A couple of drops of cellulose thinners would not go amiss though!

There are 8 paints in the boxed set and they are in large 30ml bottles so there is plenty to be going on with and the colours look absolutely gorgeous, even to one who has colourblind problems.

A word of warning to anyone who is interested (and who wouldn't be, to produce this beautiful looking model) - Robin tells me that this is a limited production run so I would suggest getting in quickly with your orders.

How do these package deals affect your hard earned then?

Package 1 (my definition) of the booklet, the decal sheets and the paint masks retails at £29-95.

Package 2 (my definition) as above plus the enamel paint boxed set of 8 x 30ml jars, retails at £44-95.

That works out at £15 for the 8 x 30ml jars of paint and that is good value for money in my book when you consider what you paid last time for normal sized paint tins (15ml). Lovers of "Miss Demeanor" and Hawker Hunter fans will surely want to go for the whole package. I know I would.

Well done to Robin and all at Cammett Ltd for chasing the dream! I can almost hear the Hunter fans cheering.

SO WHAT DO WE THINK?

This is a unique modelling opportunity. There can be nothing better than to have someone of Robin's modelling experience, someone who actually sprayed the original full sized aircraft, putting together an informative and instructional booklet. The step by step coloured photographs and text leave the reader in doubt about the airbrushing techniques to achieve the individual "Miss Demeanor" look.

RATING: 10/10

These items are available now from Cammett Ltd. Unit 1, Whitney-on-Wye, Hereford, HR3 6ER

e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.cammett.co.uk

Our thanks to Robin Carpenter for the review sample.

Peter Buckingham