Airfix Javelin in 1/72

[Lord Riot]

Looking for more info/advice for another kit I have lined up, if anyone could be so kind? Apologies for so many questions, I haven't made models since I was a kid.

 

For the Airfix Javelin FAW.9/9R, with the right decals is it possible to make it as either from 41 sqn at Coltishall or 85 sqn at West Raynham? I have a family link to North Norfolk so wanted to do one of their 'local' Javelins.

 

Is there a decal sheet for these in 1/72?

Did either/both fly FAW.9s?

 

[Wez]

26 minutes ago, Lord Riot said:

Looking for more info/advice for another kit I have lined up, if anyone could be so kind? Apologies for so many questions, I haven't made models since I was a kid.

 

For the Airfix Javelin FAW.9/9R, with the right decals is it possible to make it as either from 41 sqn at Coltishall or 85 sqn at West Raynham? I have a family link to North Norfolk so wanted to do one of their 'local' Javelins.

 

Is there a decal sheet for these in 1/72?

Did either/both fly FAW.9s?

 

There's an old Modeldecal sheet (Modeldecal 30), this covered both 41 and 85 Sqns however, both of these units used the FAW.8 and not the FAW.9, the difference is in the radar which resulted in a visibly different radome shape, the radome appears shorter on one side and longer on the other compared to a FAW.9, when viewed in plan, the radome as an oblique rather than perpendicular line to the centreline.

The FAW.9 is basically a FAW.7 upgraded to FAW.8 standard.

 

The conversion isn't difficult, some rescribing and filling.

 

Ignoring the faults of the Airfix 1/72nd FAW.9 which was converted from the Heller T.3 mould, you could make a FAW.8 from the Airfix kit.

[rayprit]

To be honest, the difference between the two is negligable, so, if I was you, I would just apply your choice of transfers/decals to the kit, theirs little chance of anyone turning up with a scale rule to measure your completed Javelin............Just dont put the lance/refuelling probe on.

[Wez]

1 minute ago, rayprit said:

To be honest, the difference between the two is negligable, so, if I was you, I would just apply your choice of transfers/decals to the kit, theirs little chance of anyone turning up with a scale rule to measure your completed Javelin............Just dont put the lance/refuelling probe on.

The first thing I would look for is that radome

[rayprit]

No offence meant Wez, but, if it was me, I dont need the aggro of fiddling around trying to make the radome just fractionally off centre...........Javelin has long gone and your average enthusiast will not remember that the Mk8 was a bit off with its radome, rescribing and filling just to make it look wonky I dont need......I still have the 1/48 in my stash to build........I possibly may go along with you if I was using a bigger scale, but to me, in 1/72, its not worth the hassle

[Wez]

28 minutes ago, rayprit said:

No offence meant Wez, but, if it was me, I dont need the aggro of fiddling around trying to make the radome just fractionally off centre...........Javelin has long gone and your average enthusiast will not remember that the Mk8 was a bit off with its radome, rescribing and filling just to make it look wonky I dont need......I still have the 1/48 in my stash to build........I possibly may go along with you if I was using a bigger scale, but to me, in 1/72, its not worth the hassle

Fair enough, each to their own and no offence taken.

 

I'm a bit obsessive about these things, it's the aircraft engineer in me and the OCD that comes with it.

 

I was only trying to illustrate to the OP that there were differences between the two marks, you could possibly get away with a judicious bit of masking and painting...

Edited December 3, 2017 by Wez

[Uncle Pete]

There's a specialist decal site... Can't remember the name offhand but it showed up when I googled "decals" and added the squadron.  They seem to have everything right down to the pilot's name on his tea mug.  As far as mega-detail is concerned, I'm with Ray... If it looks decent and it's "near enough for rock n roll" it works for me.  Probably upsetting to the purist but as John The Pom points out in his tagline on the Airfix site (or is it this one.... building is not the only thing I'm a bit hazy on!), "Remember, we do this for fun."  There's room in the hobby for rivet counters with infinite patience and rock n roll bodgers like myself.  I only ask that you don't look at my planes from closer than 1.5 metres unless the prescription of your glasses is out of date by a couple of years.  (That's a reason I like 1/72 instead of the bigger scales.... Hiding the bodge is so much easier when one can't actually focus sufficiently on the details!)

[Lord Riot]

This is all good info chaps, thanks! 

 

I never knew the FAW8 had a wonky radome, did that affect flying charcteristics? Am I understanding correctly, the point of the radome was off-centre!? Fascinating. Which side does it point? Would it be noticeable in 1/72nd? 

 

It's a shame the Airfix kit doesn't come with a separate radome, as I'm not sure I have the skill or inclination to cut the nose off the kit.

 

I've ordered 'Gloster Javelin - An operational history' by Michael Napier so I may get some info on serials, etc from that book.

 

So am I correct to say no FAW.9s were ever based in Norfolk?

 

 

[Selwyn]

21 minutes ago, Lord Riot said:

This is all good info chaps, thanks! 

 

I never knew the FAW8 had a wonky radome, did that affect flying charcteristics? Am I understanding correctly, the point of the radome was off-centre!? Fascinating. Which side does it point? Would it be noticeable in 1/72nd? 

 

It's a shame the Airfix kit doesn't come with a separate radome, as I'm not sure I have the skill or inclination to cut the nose off the kit.

 

I've ordered 'Gloster Javelin - An operational history' by Michael Napier so I may get some info on serials, etc from that book.

 

So am I correct to say no FAW.9s were ever based in Norfolk?

 

 

The FAW 8 radome isn't "Wonky"   the mounting isn't perpendicular as on the FAW9  The Radomes on a FAW 8 are a totally different shape  and length to the mk 9, and the difference is a major visual change

 

FAW 8

 

FAW 9

 

Selwyn

Edited December 3, 2017 by Selwyn

[Lord Riot]

Thanks Selwyn. 

So the FAW.9 has a longer radome?

 

Looks like I'll have to go with the FAW. 9 then.

 

Did they ever fly with 41 or 85?

[72modeler]

Is this helpful? I'm not in Selwyn's league when it comes to Javelin knowledge, but it has always been a favorite of mine...still hoping we will get a new, state-of-the-art 1/72 kit- don't even care what version it is, as long as it's not another T3! It looks like in the written references that the length of the FAW9 at 56' 9" was 6" longer than the FAW8. I'm guessing this was associated with  the radome differences  between the two marques that Selwyn described?

Mike

 

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/javelin/history.php

 

https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2014/11/09/gloster-javelin/

Edited December 3, 2017 by 72modeler
corrected spelling

[Wez]

8 minutes ago, 72modeler said:

still hoping we will get a new, state-of-the-art 1/72 kit- don't even care what version it ism, as long as it's not another T3!

 

I'm with you on this except for the T.3!  Careful breakdown of the moulds could yield all versions.

 

Heller's T.3 was much maligned because it wasn't a fighter variant but if you think about it, it was a considered move as pretty much all of the Sqn's operated a T.3 so the range of markings that could've been used was quite wide.

[stever219]

30 minutes ago, Lord Riot said:

Thanks Selwyn. 

So the FAW.9 has a longer radome?

 

Looks like I'll have to go with the FAW. 9 then.

 

Did they ever fly with 41 or 85?

Neither 41 nor 85 flew the Mk. 9.  Sorry, more later, erecting Christmas tree, not fun, rather be at work......

[71chally]

The radome / front fuselage profile & planform between the FAW.8 & 9 is similar enough, the only thing you need to do mask the radome colour at a slight angle when looking in plan view.

However the FAW.9 is longer which I would say is between the radome mounting and cockpit.

 

I don't believe that either 41 or 85 operated the Mk.9, if you're desperate for an East Anglian based FAW.9 23 Squadron briefly operated them from Horsham St Faith before moving to Coltishall

 

[71chally]

41 and 85 sqn's did fly T.3s though, so if you wish to cover those squadrons you could build the Heller T.3 kit.

I found it a nice little build, but many would probably scribe in the panel lines.

[Duncan B]

As others have pointed out the FAW8 has a shorter nose than the FAW9 and the hinge ling of the FAW8 radome is not perpendicular to the centreline as we would normally expect. That could be corrected with a razor saw and a scriber however the back end of the Airfix 1/72 scale kit is way too small and very noticeable. Unfortunately the conversion of a Heller T.3 (which give you the correct rear end and wing for and earlier FAW4 for 41 Sqn) is even more difficult as the complete cockpit and nose area would need to be altered and the Heller kit is becoming increasingly more difficult to find.

The Novo (ex Frog) FAW9 is still easy enough to find and makes into a decent FAW9, I'd go with that one for either the 8 or the 9. All said and done it depends on what you are after, I'm a big fan of the Javelin so would do the mods but there is no reason to do any mods at all if you don't want to.

 

Duncan B

[Lord Riot]

Well this is all great info, thanks guys. Given my limited ability, I'll have to stick with the FAW.9, I don't think I can change the nose length.

 

I might just go with the 64 Sqn decals but cut up the serials to make XH873. This was also coded Q as in the kit. I wanted to do a UK-based one, but not 887 as apparently that crashed, so a strange choice by Airfix. 

 

I might look for a Hunter to do as a West Raynham jet instead, and an early Lightning for Coltishall.

[Wez]

Good luck with the early Lighting, your best bet is the Alley Cat conversion to the recent Airfix kit, try and find Modeldecal 78 for the markings.

 

As for your Billy Bunter, follow this link for inspiration

[GordonM]

25, 60 & 64 flew FAW9’s from Duxford and 64 also flew from Waterbeach. Both are Cambridgeshire, but give you East Anglian bases.

[Lord Riot]

1 hour ago, GordonM said:

25, 60 & 64 flew FAW9’s from Duxford and 64 also flew from Waterbeach. Both are Cambridgeshire, but give you East Anglian bases.

Perfect that Gordon, yes I think I'll do the 64 sqn FAW.9 and change the serial no.

 

I didn't know 60 also flew from Duxford, I'd assumed they were always at Tengah.

[GordonM]

12 minutes ago, Lord Riot said:

Perfect that Gordon, yes I think I'll do the 64 sqn FAW.9 and change the serial no.

 

I didn't know 60 also flew from Duxford, I'd assumed they were always at Tengah.

Apologies I looked in a hurry. According to Action Stations Revisited 60 Squadron flew crew training from Waterbeach not Duxford from Jan 61 - June 61 - presumably using 25 Squadrons aircraft. I need to update my database of Cambridge airfields!

Edited December 3, 2017 by GordonM