kiwitrogg

Hi there Here's my tweenie. No, not the quick vodka between pints.....It's the monster I'd spend a week or two progressing between other builds. I'd also have a crack at it when a seemingly simple build would get a bit off course.......it would make me appreciate the simplicity of the other build. Planning my 1/48 WWII subjects I obviously needed a British heavy, but I was torn. Everyone's got a Lancaster and they're not cheap. The Halifax is ugly and there's only one very criticised kit available, so not an option I thought until one popped up for a good price on Trademe (local Ebay). I was up for the challenge........ So here she is, my interpretation of Friday the 13th, 2 years or so in the making. It's not perfect, and It's not as heavily weathered as I'd like but I'm scared to touch it again in case I stuff something up. I might dull it down a bit one day but for now, it's finished. Ice cream tub plastic to 1/48 Halifax.......what a journey. And now I quite like the Halibag. I hope you like it. Cheers Gaz Here it is with the recipient of it's spare tail turret.

That's just unbelievably gorgeous. You're an artist Sir ! Gaz

That's very nice. For an ugly plane that doesn't look like it should fly, it has home appeal to it. I want one ! Gaz

Nice work. I like those a lot. Gaz

And I think you've done a fantastic job. I generally lack the courage to go that dirty. Gaz

Really nice work. I like that a lot.

That's really nice........well done ! Time well spent on the exhausts I must say.

Thanks for your comments everyone Now there's a can of worms and possibly the beginnings of a long thread, I think I've seen at least one thread somewhere. I'm sure someone out there has a comprehensive answer, but I can start the ball rolling with the fact that the fuselage from the intakes to the exhaust is much wider on the British F-4s to accommodate the bigger RR Spey engines. Then there are detail differences between the 2 British versions, the F-4K (RN FG.1) and the F-4M (RAF FGR.2) the hori stabs, noselegs........my head spins.......... Gaz

Hello again. Here I am sticking my head above the trenches again. I was about 6 or 7 when my old man gave me a B-17 and an F-4 for Christmas. He'd already built them of course.......probably a good thing ! Those 2 models were the catalyst to the rest of my life and led me to where I am today. I've also loved the Phantom ever since. So of course I had to build a couple didn't I........it's the law. Here are my first 3. The first one was the 1/48 Italeri Marines one. It was the 3rd build after getting back into this hobby and I was still mucking around with the airbrush and stuff. Next came the 1/48 Hasegawa 74 Sqn aircraft. This one had my first Aires cockpit fit which worked out ok, so I bought another one for my 43 Sqn one when I get to it. I only had access to Tamiya acrylics at this stage so mixing the strange greeny tinge to the gray was a bit of an experiment. Lastly it's the 1/48 Revell Shifty Fix Sqn aircraft which I completed earlier this year. Hope you like them. Cheers Gaz

Ooh very nice. Must get a couple of those. First obvious mistake (correct me if I'm wrong) but they've moulded a hydraulic hand pump stowed in both port and stbd rear undercarriage doors.....should only be on the port. A quick and easy fix, but it looks like they've gone to a lot of trouble to research the detail just to get a bit wobbly somewhere so easy to see compared to the rest of it.. Thank you Aires !

That's just amazing ! Congratulations..........I'm jealous as well. Gaz

That's just brilliant, and very busy, I love it ! Well done. Gaz

That's the only RIAT I ever went to. Our course at Halton got free tickets for some modification bits the boys made for a disabled pilot's aircraft (not me ......I was in remedial class !! ). Doesn't that F1 look mean and purposefull, I've always like them ! and .....+ for Senator. The back lights go all the way across the back whereas the Carlton just has the corner ones. IIRC. Got any more pics ?

Very nice pig indeed. You've given another thumbs up for the grey scheme which is growing on me. I've got the same kit but still haven't decided which scheme to do as yet. I was at RAAF Base Amberley for 4 months last year where the ones waiting to go to museums were still parked up, so I might do one of those if I can get the retirement scheme decals. Pappy's correction notes are also saved for future reference, thanks. Good work that man ! I like ! Gaz

Hey everyone. Well thanks again for your comments, I wasn't expecting quite such enthusiasm ........ obviously a few Hawk fans out there. I've got at least 3 more planned for the future. With only flap end colours and a bit of forgotten text, I think I did ok for a newbie Cheers Gaz

I asked a mate on the 90s earlier about those. Apparently we have the heavy stores carriers (big square tapering thingy above), but we don't actually have any tanks yet, possibly in the next few months. And they've not actually flown with the carriers yet either. All a work in progress. Cheers Gaz

Greetings and salutations everyone, and thanks again for your comments. Speedy........come back.........you're right about the colour of the ends of the flaps..... sort of, I think. From factory, yes. http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Hawker-Siddeley-Hawk/0763896/L/&sid=9e308ce0c171254612dd608369021a13 On the Reds, no. http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/British-Aerospace-Hawk/1127646/L/&sid=2e1ca0348f1cdd8af462172e6ba9bdec After an in-service repair, or repaint, no. http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/British-Aerospace-Hawk/1167634/L/&sid=9e308ce0c171254612dd608369021a13 One of our jobs to do before taking the jet to the paintshop was to mask up the data plates on the flap ends to stop them from being painted over......along with all the bearings and hinges. Flaps ailerons and rudder were removed for repaint. So........I think you're right in this case. Well spotted, thanks Guillaume320............I don't know how I managed to miss that one completely. I mean, considering I bought the Airfix kit to donor that very writing How's this ! And you girls say we don't listen ! Cheers Gaz

Hi fellas, and thanks. The intake and exhaust blanks were home-made. A bit of foam about 4mm thick trimmed to fit snugly into the intake/exhaust then glued onto a piece of thin plasticard. Sprayed red, handles and flags fitted. They slip in and out quite easily but i like the colour interest they add. The red on the Valley 233 is Humbrol acrylic 174 Signal Red, but............the Red on the Red Arrows 233 is Tamiya acrylic X-7 over a white undercoat to lighten it up. I think it's still a bit dark but it won't take a 4th respray trying to get it right. I worked on a paint preparation team at Saints when 233 went is for it's respray, hence why I chose to do it the way it came in.....and the way it went out.

Hey Ho ! So I borrowed a camera from work over the weekend and tried to have a better crack at taking pics of my builds.......still getting to grips with it all. Here are my first 2 (or 3 !) Hawks. XX188 and XX233 (pre and post the respray to mostly red). 188 has the Eduard photo etch treatment while both 233s are mostly OOB except for a couple of minor correctional modifications and Xtradecal bits. I had to buy 2 red arrow kits so that I could cobble the white stripe decals together so as to make the line solid on the side of the fuse like they were in the good old days. I had a wee attempt at doing the canopy MDC on the first one and wasn't happy with the result so I left it.....and of course the others have followed suit. I've got an Airfix one as well, but to be honest I prefer the crisper detail of the Italeri version. Comments welcome, good or bad.......enjoy. Cheers Gaz

Mine doesn't have anything except the Black Mike decals in the box. Gaz

That scheme messes with my head...........which I guess is the whole point of it ! Very nice work, well done.

Looks like doing jets agrees with you ! Fantastic job.......keep it up.

Nice work there. A proper old school un-grey Lynx. I built the matchbox one when I was a kid and mental images of Navy Lynxes (Lynxi ?) have always been in this scheme. I've got the Rotorcraft conversion for the Airfix kit to be built like this, and if it comes out half as good as yours I'll be happy. Thanks for the inspiration.

Wow............just, wow ! That's gorgeous. !

Wow, now that's a stunner ! Lovely work and great presentation. Cheers (note to self ..... must build an Argie A4 in this scheme, after a Kiwi one)