Wee Beastie

I have thanks. Trying to work out the relevance though. 🤔

I’m now a Phoenix convert. The magazine quality is the best I’ve seen in a magazine for a number of years, and the content varied. My local WH Smith’s had 6 copies of SAMI’s May issue in (you know, the one with "FREE" book!). I popped in the same branch, over the weekend, and the same 6 copies are on the shelf. I have heard that the owner of SAM Publications has gotten into to trouble with their distributors, and Smith’s, over false sales figure claims. He actually sent me a "copy" of the sales spreadsheet, trying to persuade me to contribute to SAMI, because all was good.

Overdue. March’s issue would have hit the shelves at the end of February.

This is a further post from Andy Saunders, posting again last night. Clearly he’s had some unsavoury contact from MA Publications owner. 76697011-AACD-4FE0-A8E0-9D08C10AA08E by ian gaskell, on Flickr

As a former MA contributor, who is still owed, I have enough email evidence of the outright lies, and false promises I was given, when chasing outstanding payments. They even implicated a major kit manufacturer, who supposedly bounced a cheque, as a reason for not paying me. Tell me how that’s speculating?

There will be out of date product news, which will look bad, plus what about publicity for shows, which obviously dates the magazine? It’ll make them look even worse. My money is on January 2022’s issue being a reprint of July 2021’s. .

Thanks John. I use a 0.4mm for the general work, and 0.2mm for the finer work.

Apologies for the long gap between updates. My new job, and subsequent change in working hours, means I am maximising my bench time, rather than spending a loads of time on updates. So, after applying the black primer, I painted the white spine panel, and the pink tail. I mad my own pink mix, to match the pink in the decals. These were masked off, and the main metal colour airbrushed on. This is Vallejo Metal Colours acrylic Dark Aluminium. Then a lot of time masking, and spraying, random panels and hatches, with various shades of Metal Colours. Decals went on well. This was followed by a light, very thinned, Gunmetal Grey post shading carried out. Now I am up to starting a panel-line wash. DSC_4217 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4219 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4219 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4223 by ian gaskell, on Flickr EE9ABEC8-6FE3-45D7-936A-F2C53918AACF by ian gaskell, on Flickr E5C28A91-A517-4E1B-82F4-6970C41730FC by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_5179 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_5184 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Cockpit successfully installed, into the fuselage. Just a bit of sanding to get a good fit, then a small amount of filler to finish off. Also started to add some rivet detail too. 730BA785-8382-4725-99D4-21838870A07F by ian gaskell, on Flickr EC297098-7CBE-4E6D-81B0-19EBFC6EE693 by ian gaskell, on Flickr 623E1789-9F94-4045-8C1C-AE6616954A32 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Thank you Alan. The Hataka paints are very good. Best to use their own lacquer thinners. Mix to 50:50, and spray in light coats, building up the colour. Gives a good hard finish. They are not as smelly as some other lacquer/enamel paints.

Thanks Unc. Yes, original request was to use the NeOmega pit. The chap I’m building for then contacted me, and asked if minded using the QMT one instead, which he then supplied. Have to say, I’m pleasantly surprised at the level of detail.

Latest WIP update. Due to a new job, with different hours (made redundant from my last job), I've less time at the bench now. Cockpit and seats finished. This is QMT’s lovely resin set. Finished in Hataka Orange Line lacquer, and Blue Line acrylic paints. 063F2B54-C7B7-4D82-A745-6B93980FF23B by ian gaskell, on Flickr 13CA70D8-010F-4D27-A504-A29C2F7F41C1 by ian gaskell, on Flickr 97C5B4CB-564E-4AE5-9D98-205605316A2F by ian gaskell, on Flickr 45918B25-5CF4-4EA5-B815-7FCE5D016F4F by ian gaskell, on Flickr 5EA04440-47DD-4A3D-A537-1C8431CEBA33 by ian gaskell, on Flickr 1E120F40-2DB4-4C6D-A22C-257393828BC5 by ian gaskell, on Flickr 105CA8BF-8826-4FE9-B002-25DE55C939E9 by ian gaskell, on Flickr 8E9C29A2-93A5-4228-86ED-F5598839D2DD by ian gaskell, on Flickr E2CF526C-F846-4D67-9341-11AA1337BE93 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

1/48 Sword EE/BAC Lightning T.5 A bit of scratch building inside the canopy. Then masking, and painting, including the canopy glass seals on the main canopy. Detail highlighted with some dry-brushing. Nosecone also done. Black based, with some pre-shading, then painted Olive green. Light green Aquarelle watercolour pencil used to add scratches. DSC_4155 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4156 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4157 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4160 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4161 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

There will definitely be some work needed. The resin set is really designed to fit in NeOmega’s resin T.5 conversion set, for the Airfix kit. A test fit shows that the inside of the fuselage halves, where the cockpit fits, will need the locating points removing. There are also bits for the conversion sets vac-form canopy, which are redundant for he kit.

I am going to do this for my next build, Sword's 1/48 Lightning T.5. This is a commission build, and I have been asked to build XS452 "Pink Flamingo", based at RAF Akrotiri in 1975 The aftermarket supplied is as follows:- NeOmega resin cockpit set QMT canopy mask QMT resin FOD cover Master Models metal pitot Xtradecal set X48152 I'll also be using the Daco Publications Uncovering the Lightning book, for reference. F887D36B-E1FD-4014-9D03-2197EE6A09CD by ian gaskell, on Flickr 447D2224-91E9-43A7-8B7E-DD7C523FE28D by ian gaskell, on Flickr 2BF6BEEF-92EF-4AE4-8212-17452BA67745 by ian gaskell, on Flickr IMG_0415 by ian gaskell, on Flickr IMG_0416 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

A sad sight indeed.

Believe it or not, it’s only just bigger than an Flanker.

As mine is depicting the Yorkshire Air Museum’s exhibit, I have noticed that it is showing signs of being out in our wonderful British weather for the last 18 months, or so. There can’t be many Mirage IV’s that have bird droppings streaked down the tail either.

All completed. Some French sexiness! Ian G-4083 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

I have now completed my Heller 1/48 Mirage IV A, depicting the exhibit seen at the Yorkshire Air Museum. Quite a testing build, a real fighter, and my first attempt at a complete re-scribe (and depicting bird droppings!) A bit annoyed with some silvering, on some of the decals. It didn't come to light, until after they were dry. More a case of operator error, than the decals themselves, I think. Resin cockpit set, and wheels. Metal refuelling probe, and decals from 3 different decals sets, to get the correct markings. Painted with Hataka Orange Line lacquer paints. Ian G-4078 by ian gaskell, on Flickr Ian G-4083 by ian gaskell, on Flickr Ian G-4085 by ian gaskell, on Flickr Ian G-4087 by ian gaskell, on Flickr Ian G-4089 by ian gaskell, on Flickr Ian G-4090 by ian gaskell, on Flickr Ian G-4092 by ian gaskell, on Flickr Ian G-4094 by ian gaskell, on Flickr Ian G-4095 by ian gaskell, on Flickr Ian G-4097 by ian gaskell, on Flickr Ian G-4100 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

After a matt coat, pastels have been used to carry out the weathering. Also the undercarriage is now attached. DSC_4063 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4064 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4065 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4067 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4072 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4075 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

I had some trouble locating the correct sized badge for the starboard side of the the tail fin, a CIFAS 328 badge. Eventually found one, but printed detail was very sparse. Photo 2 shows the difference between the 1/48 version, on the left, and the acquired 1/72 versions. So with a fine brush, I painted in the extra detailing. Then I did a panel line wash. Ammo by Mig washes were used, Blue Black for the grey, and Dark Green Grey for the green. The last photo shows the streaks left by bird droppings, done with a thinned acrylic white, and a very fine brush. DSC_4049 by ian gaskell, on Flickr fullsizeoutput_e2a by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4054 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4053 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_4056 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Blu-tac sausages to mark out where the green will be sprayed (Hataka Orange Line Olive Green). As with the grey, once the initial coats were airbrushed, a little white was added, and some post-shading done. Then glossed ready for the decals. DSC_3725 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_3727 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_3728 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_3730 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Yes, try them, especially the Orange Line lacquer. You won’t be disappointed.

Seats for the Mirage are done. These are the seats that come with the NeOmega resin cockpit set. Some very nice detail on them. Painted with Hataka Blue Line acrylics. UMP black primer applied to the the fuselage. Then the underside, and the grey part of the camouflage sprayed. This is Hataka Orange Line Extra Dk Sea Grey. Then lightened the ExDSG, with white, and did a little post shading. DSC_3717 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_3713 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_3721 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_3722 by ian gaskell, on Flickr DSC_3724 by ian gaskell, on Flickr