Jump to content

Airfix Gloster Javelin FAW9 XH898


Recommended Posts

Hi Folks here is another of my occasional forays into 1/48, the Airfix Gloster Javelin FAW9. I have been wanting to do this particular aircraft for quite some time as it was the only operational Javelin to have a natural metal finish (for the last few years of it's career at any rate) and a Javelin was the first ever aircraft I can remember seeing flying over Brechin when I was a nipper. XH898 was the personal mount of 228 OCU's CO, Sqn Ldr George Beaton, when based at RAF Leuchars in the mid 1960's.

The kit is without a doubt the best Airfix kit I've ever made, it almost fell together and the engineering of the kit is quite amazing. It does have some areas that are tricky to assemble, I had a bit of trouble getting the front fuselage to line up properly with the aft section so ended up with a step and I would liked to have left the exhaust cans off until after the painting was completed to save a bit of masking.

I added some seatbelts made out of foil and a pair of Master pitot probes as I broke the kit ones but other than that it's OOB. I was going to add the aerials that Airfix didn't provide but couldn't confirm which ones were fitted so left them off for now.

Paint is AK Interactive's Extreme Metal paints and the roundels are from an Xtradecal sheet as the Airfix ones were very thick and wouldn't play nicely. Airfix got the colour of the canopy framing wrong on the instructions as they say it should be black when the colour photos of XH898 show it to be Dark Green with the same colour band around the rear of the radome.

This is by far the biggest kit I've built since returning to the hobby (how the guys that build 1/32 B17s etc do it I don't know!) and found it quite a handful during the build as the space I have for modelling is really geared up for building 1/72 Bf109s and suchlike. I also found taking the photos a challenge and Mrs B is suitably unimpressed with it taking up a lot of room in the display cabinet too.

I hope you like her.

IMG_2011_zpsp5d71vac-L.jpg

IMG_2010_zpsxicagvfp-L.jpg

IMG_2009_zpsrcigjoqe-L.jpg

IMG_1993_zpsswfrk7mk-L.jpg

IMG_2013_zpstxhjveex-L.jpg

IMG_2015_zpsmpcj4qvr-L.jpg

And one for the Lineys, there's always one joker!

IMG_2016_zpsphskingr-L.jpg

 

Duncan B

  • Like 46
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That is a lovely bit of work and I'd be very interested to know how you got on with the AK stuff - I've seen it but have no idea how its supposd to be used!

Simon, the AK Extreme Metal paint was great to use, it's pre-thinned so stick it in the airbrush, set pressure to 21 psi and away you go. Surface preparation obviously has to be good beforehand but the paint is really nice and I'm a big fan already.

Here's a link to the Aberdeen Modeller's Website where I did a sort of WIP : http://ams.myfreeforum.org/The_dreaded_NMF_about381.html

Duncan B

Link to comment
Share on other sites

you definitely should do more 1/48 :winkgrin:

looks good, especially with the different coloured panels

:thumbsup:

I really enjoyed this one so there will be more sometime but it's back to my 1/72 Hawker Hunter for the Hunter GB tomorrow.

Duncan B

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Stunning build! Great work.

I concur that it's possibly Airfix finest kit (well from the ones I have built and hat are in the stash)! As you may recall I had similar decal issues with my recent build. Hopefully Airfix will continue to release kits like this in the future.

Is that you a 1/48 scale convert? I think I might be.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Best Javelin seen on here by a military mile. :analintruder:

If that does not get you a few trophies for the cabinet I don't know what will.

Modelling at it's best. :)

Dick

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That looks superb I do like the different shades of the panels exceptional work.

Guy

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A truly superb piece of work Duncan, especially those varied panels.

Like you, I remember the Javelins, and that particular one, from Leuchars in the early Sixties. What a glorious noise all that drag made - and how up to date the 23Sqn Lightnings later looked in comparison! The only caveat I have is those panels are maybe just a little too shiny. My recollection is of the beast being quite dull, mostly a satin finish, possibly because of the effort required to get her back to bare metal. Maybe that is my memory fading, of course.

You really tempt me; I've steered clear of the 1/48th version on the grounds of space, but...

John B

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Simon, the AK Extreme Metal paint was great to use, it's pre-thinned so stick it in the airbrush, set pressure to 21 psi and away you go. Surface preparation obviously has to be good beforehand but the paint is really nice and I'm a big fan already.

Here's a link to the Aberdeen Modeller's Website where I did a sort of WIP : http://ams.myfreeforum.org/The_dreaded_NMF_about381.html

Duncan B

Thanks for the link Duncan, that was certainly very interesting reading and shows that you also have shares in a masking tape manufacturer!! It was definitely worth it though!

Simon

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites


A truly superb piece of work Duncan, especially those varied panels.

Like you, I remember the Javelins, and that particular one, from Leuchars in the early Sixties. What a glorious noise all that drag made - and how up to date the 23Sqn Lightnings later looked in comparison! The only caveat I have is those panels are maybe just a little too shiny. My recollection is of the beast being quite dull, mostly a satin finish, possibly because of the effort required to get her back to bare metal. Maybe that is my memory fading, of course.

You really tempt me; I've steered clear of the 1/48th version on the grounds of space, but...

John B

Thanks John, the noise is unforgettable.

With regards to XH898 I think she started out well polished and gradually dulled down according to the photos I've seen. The main photo I used when painting was a colour one that showed a quite glossy finish. There is a nice photo of her in 23 Sqn's hangar beside some Lightnings (She has the 11 Sqn badge on the fin so it must be late on in the OCU's existence) and she is very dull.

Duncan B

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A couple of photos of the bits that disappeared when the canopy was closed up.

5EF4CE10-0318-49AF-AF17-D19C0202E952_zps

18BB180C-7950-47D8-BFA7-C9D0A1508C1E_zps

The cockpit is well detailed right out of the box and with careful painting would look stunning. I'm not much of a painter but even I managed a reasonable job of it.

Duncan B

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Top marks from me.

Want to build the Javelin & Sea Vixen in the near future. Great kits of great aircraft.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...