Lawzer

So after an extended hiatus I’m doing an old monogram p47 and have gone for an nmf machine. I’ve foiled a p51 before (after getting some great advice on here) but the self adhesive tape I have is pretty thick so can be a bit awkward to work with so does anyone have any recommendations for “thin” stuff? There seems to be a fair selection online but thought I’d ask here first…….

i was wondering if the original would still be there. I did have grand plans to do something fancy with the nose probe but due my thinning patience with this pos I’ll just stick a bit of plasticard to represent the probe.

God how I wish I'd listened to your advice. Fit is utterly terrible. Parts warped. Sink marks like craters. So bad in fact that I've had to resort to white gluing parts just so I can see where the parts that get fitted BEFORE that go.....it's got 4 internal supports to try and line the fuselage halves up and let's just say not a lot of tamiya extra thin has been used compared to the tubes of superglue.....oh and the bucket of filler.......

Folks, any hacks I can use to shape photo etch? Previously I’ve used a steel ruler but results haven’t been great. I was going to buy a specific pe tool until I saw the cost of them?! also I’ve read about people essentially soldering parts together- any other process as that has holes burnt through fingers and house fires written all over it if I’m involved……..😬

What is it you need? I used to work for Bristow helicopters (we operated the 61 sar’s) so *might* be able to get you drawings from the Sikorsky manuals……

I seem to remember @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies did an S61N - can’t remember if that was a conversion though…..

Considering some of the junk airfix have released as “classics” I still think the mosquito would stand up to today’s standard (if you squinted your eyes 😬). On another note I see they are re-issuing the excellent 1/24 ju87…..

One of my all time favourite kits! I've got 3 of them built and one (stalled) current build. A tip - it's possible to join the nacelle halves (they need a fair bit of fettling) THEN slot the MLG in from the top. Interesting fact - in real life the MLG assemblies weren't "handed" so airfix got his wrong (as did Tamiya I believe)...... This makes cleaning up the nacelles a LOT easier. You can also leave the completed nacelle/MLG assemblies off till the very end - again aiding painting etc......the MLG doors are a right PITA though. ad MASSIVLEY too (scale) thick. The canopy fit on some of these leaves a lot to be desired. Nice work so far!

So after seeing a scheme - 12 squadron, XV945 (hypothetical I know) described as “wrap around” (dg/dsg) and having acquired some Martel’s I’ve got another couple of more general questions… the wrap around - is this as it sounds in that the undersides are also dg/dsg? and number 2. Since the underside of the wings would at most times having a load of stuff hanging off then would the serial be on the tail planes? I will need to source some roundels, fin flashes and suitable serials (in addition to the squadron motif) so what size should these be for circa 1979?

I had to buy 2 issues when I got the "part started" thing I bought - they were 8 quid each so that's not a bad deal.......

Sorry - I didn't know there was one...... Thank you all for the replies. So, I'm now wondering if it may be better for my sanity to just do an F111A RAF whif demo aircraft!!!!!! If I decide to proceed with this (either way) what would likely weapon load out be?

All, I’ve purchased this from @jhutchi : https://www.scalemates.com/kits/zhengdefu-df-327-general-dynamics-fb-111a--966719 I quite fancy doing it as an RAF whif “K”. a quick look on Wikipedia would suggest the kit is a good staring point (seemingly the strengthened MLG). Now I’m not really bothered at 100% accuracy as the K never actually flew but for the F111 aficionados is there anything else I would need to do? Also any suggestions on colour scheme and also period correct rounders etc (I have little enough idea about ww2 rounders let alone more modern ones 😬)? cheers Ian

Good to know! I’ve done 3 of the airfix kits (2 Banff strike wing machines and “black rufe”) and twitch those you could leave the nacelles /mlg off till the end but still a pita……

One other thing - I seem to remember reading that the mlg is “handed” in the tamiya and airfix (not sure about the 1/24 one though) kit:whereas in reality they were the same so could be installed either side with no modification……

I can’t remember which rocket rails the tamiya kit has but the airfix one certainly has the correct ones as shown here: (Photo credit etienne du plessis - admins please remove if not allowed). if you need said rails let me know - I have a set you can have. Also, flying out of the north east of Scotland in the weather we get up here, any Banff airframe is not going to be an oil painting…..😁

there's another book available that's pretty good... http://www.rafbanfftrust.org/shop/banffstrikewingatwar.html I live "sort of" near by and took a trip up there a few years back. Some of the original (all be it ruins pretty much now) building are still there. Pretty atmospheric to say the least. Then there's the strike wing memorial not far away : https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/217416/ ( @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies has this been fixed after the bam ran into it?)

Would any invasion stripes still be applied? Think it was September 44 when 235 moved to Banff?

OK so here's where we are: The literally 10's of parts (including some bits from the hasegawa kit - 3 blade prop, wheels u/c legs): Looks like I have a fair bit of choice for what to build it as (I know some of those are Tempest decals): So my plan is to whip off the tops of the mlg bays and try and do something a bit more realistic, scrape off the details from the cockpit walls for the airwaves set (all though to be honest next to nowt is seen even with an open canopy which this won't be) and if I can stop being lazy rescribe the panel lines and add the light under the fuselage. From memory I think this has the smaller tail but a 4 blade prop which I don't think was a correct combination? I've got the 3 blade prop so the world is my oyster so to speak......

Cheers! I’ll need to look the kit out but from memory it’s a vac form canopy (yikes) and mlg from the hasegawa kit which WAS going to be used on the last monogram typhoon but were too short because of the different engineering. Think I’ve filled in the holes for the rocket rails as I’ve got some spare bomb racks (again from the hasegawa kit) so we’ll see…..

How did I miss this GB?! Lost my modelling mojo of late (6 months ish) so maybe this'll kick it back into life. Got 1 of these left in the stash (after building the other 3!) so not sure what bits and pieces / decals I have left...

I've just bought a part started one for a steal (30 quid inc. all issues). Did you make any further progress on this?

Interior green I believe (or at least that's what I've done with all the mosquito's I've built).

you're a braver man than me - twice I've had this kit and both times chickened out. Original kit (same tooling as your kit) is 1964. I gave up very quickly as in all turrets etc have to be installed when fitting the fuselage halves together. Mind you - that's probably me just being lazy. Seen some great builds of this kit. Good luck!

Personally I really like the old Monogram kit but nowadays there are better (and a cheaper!!) alternatives. Hobbyboss do a fairly wide range of 262's (which can be had for well under 20 quid) which are pretty nice. Tamiya do one (possibly more) but they are more expensive.......and as you'd expect the usual Tamiya quality.... Both Tamiya (I think) and Hobbyboss come with a metal nose gear bay which avoids the need for any additional nose weight. I'm not overly bothered by COMPLETE accuracy so someone more knowledgeable will able to advise better than me

I see Lidl's have the revell 1/700 1/1200 set for 20 quid. Might go for that.....