daryl_five_zero

That paint on the AV-8B is looking great. The 2+ has always been my favourite of the septic harriers, you're going a cracking job of it!

I was lucky to pick this up at a model show for relatively cheap (~£30) but you're so right, they fetch silly money when you can find them now. I've always found that bargain models always show up when you least expect them (usually the wrong side of payday!) so never stop looking! I'm glad I'm not the only one! Sadly there are kits in the cupboard that have been there for twice as long as the Harrier... I've found a couple of hours to start this evening; while I 'umm' and 'ahh' about the cockpit, I've started on the bangseat. I've used a few of Eduard's resin seats, and have been impressed at the quality and accuracy every time. No exception here. I'll apologise for my photography skills now; hopefully my macro shots will improve as the WIP goes on! The seat frame was sprayed in Tamiya NATO Black, with smaller details and rails picked out in darker Black, with Aluminium rods here and there. Headrest is German Grey... I may still darken this. The frame was given a light drybrush of dark Grey to accentuate the frame details, then a drybrush of Steel in areas prone to wear. Sealed in with a matt varnish. I was a little unsure how to depict the backpiece, which is a nasty OD carbon fibre colour. To try and replicate this, I sprayed it Tamiya Olive Drab, then gave it a light misting of the same OD, with a few drops of Gunmetal to give it a slight sheen. This was then given a thick ol' coat of Gloss to replicate the smooth finish on the real thing. The rest of the components are drying now, ready for a light wash in the morning, and then I can start adding the PE belts and handles etc. once those are in situ. That's it for tonite; I'll try and get some more done tomorrow and report back! Take care, folks. Daryl

I've had Hasegawa's 1/48 Harrier GR.7 in the stash for a good few years now, just looking at me and wondering when it will get started. For an aircraft that I - as well as a lot of us on here I'm sure - have such an affection for, I feel bad that I haven't gotten around to it sooner. I feel one of the reasons I haven't started this kit sooner is that I had plans to throw lots of goodies at it in an attempt to get it looking as good as I can manage. I've been collecting AM bits and bobs for a while now, and feel that I have everything now that I need to build an a/c that I will be happy with. I saw a picture of ZG511 in-theater with lots of bits hanging off her pylons, and figured that I'd like to do a fully kitted out Harrier. So the plan is to try and depict her as she was during her last det. to Kandahar in 2009 - loaded with EPW IV, LAU-5003/CRV-7, and with TERMA/DJRP/SNIPER pods underneath. I've been collecting reference materials for longer than I've had the kit, so hopefully I will have half a clue as to what it's supposed to look like at the end... Although part of the reasoning behind doing a WIP was to feed off the wealth of knowledge on here and hopefully identify mistakes and issues before they can't be fixed! Any any recommendations for impulse purchases - ahem - vital reference materials are greatly appreciated! I'll be kicking off with the cockpit to start. I have the Aires GR.7 cockpit - one question before I do start though; I know the Aires cockpit has a couple of issues, especially with the bangseat rails and the actual seat being undersized. I plan to use the Eduard Brassin MB Mk.12 which I prefer the look of over the Aires seat. However the rear bulkhead doesn't much resemble pictures of the real thing at all (minimum effort on the visible bits such as the ground power panel/omission of cabin pressurisation valve etc.), and to be honest, compared to other resin cockpits of theirs that I've used, it does leave a lot to be desired. Has anybody used/compared the CMK offering? Is it any better than the Aires kit, or is the Aires cockpit as good as it gets, and a bit of scratchbuilding here and there will get me through? Cheers, Daryl.

Is it 1/72 you're working in? If so I have the Xtradecal set that contains the 6" & 8" serials. I can see if I have what you need if the scale is right.

Not the wanted area & thats closed ATM

Interesting read, thanks for sharing.

They both require a mountain of work to get them where they need to be, but I'd take the Revell offering anyday. The shape is better. The fit is (slightly) better. They both have their issues and are sorely lacking in detail, but the Revell one takes it for me. Luckily they're not toooo difficult to come across at a decent price. Unfortunately if you want a Longbow model, the Kangnam/Hapdong/etc. kit is the only large scale offering. I've been tempted to buy one of Revell's 1/32 -A kit with the intention of scratch building a conversion, but it's a mammoth task. I'd rather not have a 1/32-35 Longbow Apache in my collection than try to make the Kangnam kit look good. Mine didn't make it to painting, it was in the bin.

Cracking build! Can't beat a Nimrod, and yours is a stunner.

Flawless finish, as per! I've only recently been made aware of the BDU splinter camo on some F-16's - I'll definitely be having a go at one myself at some point. Here's to hoping it's half as good as yours! Top job.

Those Alclad paints have really done the trick there, absolutely fantastic end result!

Afternoon, all. I hope everybody is safe and well. I imagine that a lot of Britmodellers will be - like me - using the lockdown as an excuse to thin out the stash a little bit. I picked up Kitty Hawk's UH-1Y at Cosford model show just after it's release, and it's been one of those kits that has stared at me from the stash ever since. I figured that seeing as I have a little extra spare time on my hands of late, I'd pop the box open and have a peek. One thing led to another, and, well here we are! Everything is OOB, a few details added here and there. This was my first KH kit. I have very mixed feelings on the build overall. I feel the kit is very well designed, some clever design work. However, what works in CAD on a screen doesn't always translate well on the modelling desk, and the fit of this kit fought me throughout. Dryfit dryfit dryfit was my mantra throughout the build. The flash was something else entirely. I'm still considering replaying the doormounted M134 with an aftermarket offering because the moulding of the kit supplied one was so warped and flashed over. The plastic was so brittle, most small parts had to be repaired straight from the sprue. And let's not mention having to pay to get replacement parts for the chin mounted optics mailed over because they were strangely not present in the kit. I used Vallejo model air paints to finish it. I like the colour match for the FS numbers in their range. However, be careful if building this kit, as the colour callouts are incorrect, so as well as having to do a little homework, you'll have to live with the kit decals getting lost in the paint scheme, as they are printed in the wrong colours. However, the end result was... just about worth the hardship. I already have my eyes on their UH-1N, and I'm still undecided as to whether I'll add the Venom's stablemate, or if I'll stretch to Academy's 1/35 offering of the AH-1Z. Regardless, if the UH-1Y is a kit you feel you need in your cabinet, I'd definitely recommend it, on the proviso that you may spend more time banging your head against the wall than you'd like! C&C welcome as always, and I hope you enjoy! Take care, and stay safe folks. Daryl

Beautiful. I battled through their HU.5 in the same scale, converted to a HC.2 - it nearly went out the window a couple of times! You've managed to coax more out of the kit than I ever could.

Beautiful result. I love the fade you've achieved on the upper surface camo. Call me old fashioned, but I still don't think you can beat Tamiya acrylic varnishes for a nice smooth finish. Saying that, I have recently tried Windsor & Newton Artist's acrylic varnishes through an airbrush at the recommendation of a friend, and I can't recommend them enough.

Just a point about the video there; that's a US Apache doing the belly flop. I've read/listened to more than one or 2 anecdotes regarding US Apache pilots being a little more... Cowboy-ish than AAC pilots. I think differences in SOP allow for it more over there.

Fantastic, this is exactly what I needed. Sourced and ordered! Thanks. Thanks for the help, gents. Both really appreciated! Daryl.

Hi all. Im planning on starting a 1/48 Harrier GR9 soon, and was planning on modelling a certain aircraft (ZG511/82) After a quick search, I haven't been able to find a decal sheet that covers this particular Harrier, so I figured I'd make the serials and tail no. off of other sheets. I've gotten by with previous builds in 1/72 with the Xtradecal Letters/Numerals etc. sheets, but for the life of me, I can't find anything in their range that covers what I need! Does anybody know of a sheet either by Xtradecal or another company that offers the right size letters in 1/48 scale? If I'm wrong, please somebody step in and let me know, but I believe it's 6" letters and numerals in Black for the fuselage serials, and 8" numerals in White for the tail number. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Daryl

Looks like the old Kangnam kit by the look of the sprues. Shame. I'd take the 1/32 Revell/Monogram kit over the Kangnam kit. Both are a bit sparse and long in the tooth. The Kangnam AH-64A and D look off from half a mile away. With ROK flying the AH-64E, and the unmitigated success of their 1/35 Zulu Cobra (not to mention their excellent new tool 1/72 AH-64D/Apache AH.1), I certainly believe that a new tool 1/35 AH-64E would be a big seller for Academy. It's territory they'd have no competition in. A man can dream...

Count me in! Can't think of a better gb to join for my first, if you'll have me. Finished the Tamiya -D tail end of last year, and I've just started the AMK kit. Hopefully by the time the gb rolls around, there'll be a -B offering from Tamiya (hint hint.) Can never have too many Tomcats.

+1 for Grumman's big 'Cat here. I blame Top Gun. It makes me sad that I'll never get chance to see one in the air. Close second for the Apache. Managed to see lots and I still grin like a Cheshire Cat and get butterflies whenever I see one.

Fantastic result! Do you mind me asking how you achieved such a realistic looking tint to the cockpit glass?

Many thanks, all. The kind words are very much appreciated! It was with a heavy heart I removed the Phoenix. But, I have an -A and -B model to add to the flightline that I'm sure I can find space for more AIM-54's on! And I couldn't agree more r.e. the carrier deck. I've been trying to convince myself that I have the room to invest in the 1/48 carrier deck section that Skunkmodels released a while back! I must admit, I had the same issue. I tried to sit them down with multiple coats of microsol/set. I eventually managed to get them sat uniformly, but I have to be honest, I thought the effect detracted from the overall look of the model so I removed them. I opted for a mixture of NATO Black/Metallic Grey and used that instead. It looks better to my eyes when compared to reference pics, especially taking scale effect into consideration (that's what I told myself, anyway!) I promise I'm not affiliated with Tamiya/The Hobby Company in any way, but I absolutely think that it would be unfair to see it as a sign of weakness were you to treat yourself to one. Tamiya have really outdone themselves with this kit, and I honestly worry that I will never enjoy a build as much I have this one. Every step was a real delight, and any stress or hardship that crept into the build was entirely of my own doing. I think the only way I could have appreciated this kit more is if I had opted to build the Hasegawa 1/48 Tomcat in my stash beforehand! Boy did I do that the wrong way around 😅

Hi folks. Been away from the modelling desk for a while (insert 'work getting in the way' joke here) but had the itch to get something built by the end of the year. Cue Tamiya's superlative new 1/48 F-14D. I'm one of those Aircraft enthusiasts who was taken away with Top Gun as a young child, so the big 'Cat has always had a dear place in my heart; it's such a good feeling to have a kit as astounding as this to do the Tomcat justice. I'm sure everything that can be said about this kit has been said already, so I'll move on to my attempt at it! The plan was to see how good it built out of the box. That went out of the window as soon as I got the kit in my hands. I firmly believe that as good as the OOB offering is, a kit like this deserves everything you can give it. So I did. So in terms of aftermarket, I have thrown everything I can at it. Additions are as follows: Eduard Big Ed PE set Brassin cockpit Brassin GBU-38's Wolfpack afterburner cans Wheeliant weighted wheels Master Pitot/AoA spike Aerobonus AIM-9 Seeker head covers/RBF tags Fightertown decals The Brassin cockpit was a kit in itself; adds so much to the kit, especially with that big canopy to see all that detail through. I wanted to do as dull a scheme as possible, as not to detract from the weathering that the Tomcat underwent. I know some loathe the TPS scheme, but I think the big 'Cat looks best in lo-viz grey! The kit was finished with Vallejo model air paints and Windsor & Newton Oils. I have the AMK F-14D on order, so I'm excited to see how it stacks up against the Tamiya offering. Needless to say, the bar is set very high with this kit! I'll wrap up my essay now and move on to the pictures! C&C welcome as always, and I hope you enjoy! Daryl. *n.b: Since I took the pics, I have removed the AIM-54C. I overlooked the fact that they were retired in 2004, hence wouldn't have been present in 2006! Just pretend it isn't there!

Ah, thanks for the reply. You've just saved me a bit of cash though, so cheers! Daryl.

Hi folks, just a quick one. Can anybody confirm or refute whether Model Alliance 729025 (Black Squared Codes and Serials for BAC/EE Canberras) include 18" codes/serials? Specifically 2x 18" 'D's? I need to salvage some for a non-Canberra project, but don't want to hit 'buy now' only to be disappointed. Thanks in advance, Daryl.

Ah poop! Yeah, you're totally right on that one. Big thanks for the heads up, though. Appreciated. I think that's what they call 'bad research' on my part! They do look like they are the 18" titles, although the 'O' looks a little less rounded than the 'D' would be. It's definitely at least something to experiment with. This is a massive help, thanks! I don't have either, but it's definitely something I might have to look into putting the feelers out for. At least now I can narrow the search to an 18" letter 'D' It's things like this that make me love this site at times! Daryl.