Graham T

I've used Humbrol steel metalcoat mixed with a bit of rust colour, comes up nice & gives a good metallic appearance.

Looking good. Lovely work on the camo scheme!!

Cracking on. Had hoped to get some paint on this weekend but was frustrated by the canopy fit. The fixed centre section was about 1mm too wide so it had to be attached, rubbed down & buffed back. In addition, the windscreen won't fit over the etched HUD so a little surgery was required here too. In the first pic you can see the AUF2 dual GBU launcher pylon, from the Skyraider resin range - a must see site for modellers interested in the modern FAF. Actually, I regret adding this at this stage as it will make masking for the wrap around camo scheme a bit of a bugger! Still, never mind eh! The foward canards, tail mounted ILS(?) antennae & some of the other aerials have been added from plasticard as the kit items are way to thick.

Hopefully to match his shirt?

That looks very, very nice. I hadn't thought about buying one until now!

Never had a problem with Alclad's black primer. By the way, I'd go easy on the chrome with a Lightning as they weather & rarely look all "bright'n'shiney". I've used white & dark aluminium on both of mine.

That's a nice job It's the incorrect blades that have so far made me refrain from buying this kit.

I have a regular order with WH Smith for SAM & SAMI. The other mags - MAM & MAI, I'll buy if they contain an article of interest. Must confess though that I'm going off SAM lately - too many civvy a/c articles for me; no offence for those for whom this is an area of interest but as it's generally the thinnest of the current selection I sometimes find I'm not getting "value for money".

Busy trying to cram some aftermarket goodies on to M2000. I have the Skyraider PDL-CT pod which is very nice, but the instructions for mounting comprise a photo & are basically, useless! Does anyone have a three view that might show this item mounted on the starboard inner wing/shoulder pylon?

Been there, done that! http://www.s205409446.onlinehome.us/Fea2/1..._Tarran/00.shtm

I've used the Cutting Edge 'pit.

Should have added that I used the clear parts for the nose sensors from the sprue that came with the AV8B which was nice of Hasegawa to include! Decals are from the MA RAF Twin stick trainers sheet for 4 Squadron. The HA set contained decals for 20 squadron but I prefer these.

DON'T START ME OFF!!!! The conversion contains the outrigger pylons but they are totally wrong & seem to comprise just the front sections. I thought mine were "short shot" or broken but seeing a parts layout of the HA set elsewhere it looks like they were designed like this. The base kit as I said was the USMC AV8B so no pylons in there & I didn't want to rob them out of my boxed GR7 so I simply left them off.

No., that looks like a Mk 3 with a tank to me - good job i DIDN'T bet the house on it. Did Lord Lucan have the photo on him!?

Well it's finished but I can't say that I'm that happy with it! Hasegawa AV8B with the Heritage Aviation conversion. I made a few posts in the In progress section which detailed some of the problems. I had to cut the one piece vacform canopy into sections due to a poor fit, thinking this would avoid all the problems but, no; imagine closing those canopies on the real thing, they would simple crash into the windscreen & centre section arches! Seat were replaced with AMRAAM's rather nice MB12's (Had to shave the bases to get a fit!). The front windscreen & front cockpit instrument coaming & HUD are from the kit.

Deja vu, or did you post this elsewhere too? I have lots of Meteor refs & in none of them is there a pic of an F3 with the ventral tank. Bear in mind tht the F3 was a slightly modified Mk1 which couldn't carry a centre tank. Wouldn't bet my house on it but I'd say no, leave it off.

Nice work so far. You've made a more detailed job of modifying the ventral strake for the TIALD pad, what references did you use?

Looks like someone else wants to try their luck! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lindberg-SAAB-DRAKEN...1QQcmdZViewItem

He just emailed me....48031 & 48002 won't be available until July as both Skyraider & their casters are moving. Rats, but I'll order a set of their decals now.

Giorgio, I've got Richard Ward's book "Lightning Squadrons of the Royal Air Force" & I'd say it's pretty good. Soft back, 80 pages, full colour, quite authorative text, covers all front line squadrons plus second line/test units etc. Foreword is by ex Lightning pilot Tony Paxton. Can't say I recall how much it cost but I'd say, yes, if you're into Lightnings, buy it. HTH Graham

Thanks Stephen. I actually bought the kit in Hannants today! Very nice too & I've emailed Skyraider asking when they expect this set to be available again & I'll also pick up a set of their decals.

Look, I'm sorry about this but I seem to be on a bit of a Francophilic kick at the moment! The Mirage 2000D is coming along with a C, an N, various Etendards & Super Etendards rising to the top of the "to do" pile. I'm even seriously considering a crack at that FM Alize . In MZ the other day, I picked up the Hobby Boss Rafale B, I didn't open the box but I was a bit put off by the box art which appears to show a pre-production example judging from the markings. Does it contain parts & markings for an operational machine?

Yep I'll keep an eye! The wing joints have dried & after some rubbing down (which has caused the loss of some detail), Im optimistic I'll get away with just a smear of pva to fill the gaps.

The AMRAAM seat I mentioned above is very nice. The only problem is that the casting block is attached to the spine of the seat meaning that you loose all detail in removing it. Doesn't matter in most cases because the rear of the seat would be hidden but annoying none the less! http://amraamline.50megs.com/line.htm

Firstly, yes the Revell GR7/9 is a repop of the Hasegawa kit. Decals are different though. They build up quite nicely but the insides of the intakes have gaping gaps which are hard (read "impossible") to fill. Also, the seat is wrong for a British machine being the Stencil (?) seat rather than the MB; the only suppliers of the correct seat in resin AFAIK are AMRAAM.