Tim Moff

Thanks @Zack and @Corsairfoxfouruncle for the advice - I am getting a circle template from Hobby Craft hopefully either spray through or trace and cut out... @Zack good luck with your build hope you fill the gaps and joins better than me!! https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/helix-circle-template/5669361000.html

just tape at the moment - not sure if there’s a masking set available - will check. Great idea - will need to check and see if something has the same circumference…

Masked off the lights area and sprayed Happy enough Canopy done … w some advice - how do you mask off the hub part of the wheel assembly - I want to spray the tyres but I’m struggling to mask ? I did try to hand paint but failed dismally 🤣 - top tips appreciated!

Getting some momentum so started the decals for the tail fins Onwards Reminds me - need to clear the bench now I’m getting close to the gloss cote and decals - need to get the nav lights painted then gloss …. Can see the last l couple of laps ahead … meanwhile I’ve gripped my Merlin and got some decals on! My F-5E is till in the build stage and needs some care …

Light grey area sprayed in to aid the decal More paint Maybe a bit of weathering?! Painting done - just some corrections and touch ups!

pressing on close up of the check nose getting it all lined up and I thought it best to paint the area below the decal light grey in case the white decal struggles against the Gunship Grey Bit of marbling to give some tonal variation Thought I’d paint on the drill round blue stripes Cut out a photo copy of the checker board to line all up Started the main Gunship Grey

Managed to push on just been bad at updating here …. Some real build challenges and I’ve ploughed on and left some seams and filling and sanding is not my strong point 🤣….. with time pressing on I had to make some compromises - maybe next time I buy a GWH or Tamiya kit 😜 Build ongoing, stripes on and masked … Started work on some of the odds and ends Some references for the pod Matching the olive drab for the anti glare area Decided to do the metal first then mask Then time to prime

great stories - STI nurse 🤣😜 not having it !! Got started on the decals eventually… Mixture of Airfix and Aftermarket decals - seem ok at the moment…. Lots of stencils to sort as well !

Great stuff - can I ask what guise ? Was it used for the trials ? Loved to Merlin and it’s versatility, speed and capability.

had to wait for some after market decals as some of the kit ones are not in great shape. It is a bit of a fiddly build but time and patience are key and I’m sure you can get it done … smsll world - I served in 3 PARA for 26 years so it maybe I’ve been in the back with you in the past ! Cool stuff

Busy at work plus the first family holiday for 3 years means I have been away from the bench a bit - some catching up to do as this is no shake and bake! CFTs on - fit not great so some filling to be done. Hopefully the wings go on next and nearing the end of the build phase - that said test fit shows a some gaps to be filled!

Bit more work... masking the gun area will be a challenge! starting to look at some of the tanks etc... Exhausts started with iron/burnt metal... Now I have started building wheels down...enough weight in the nose?? some interesting weathering - so I may model towards the end of the airframe wearing the scheme... Also need to change the intake ramps to the FS36118 Gunship Gray...

Some more done and paint/gloss on...

Have come down with Covid so excommunicated to the conservatory - meaning in between bits of work I have got some building done... Started on the intakes and pylons - some injection in marks to sort before I primed... got the red on the tail fins...then masked up Working on the office interestingly some ref pics show gun area fully red, others just outer metal area? Something I need to sort... Getting there on the main body...just need to decide wether to do the metal areas before the wings/CFTs etc...net bit is the butt join of the main body and nose - once I have built it! Need to put some weight into the nose, may just use some old nuts/bolts...

Started on some bits, looking back at my 2017. C build this kit has some challenges so thought I’d go for a quick win ….invasion stripes 🤣 Have primed some other parts …anyone know how much weight in grammes I’d need in the nose for the gear ?

Some more done and paint paint on... masking the black walkways Ready to go with the main colour - plan to use the NATO IR Green, but lightened to try to get the faded effect - then a few 'new' panels using the full colour....eventually the sand weather kit should help...then its some detail painting around the engines, DAS systems etc... getting there!

I'm in with this kit from my stash...gotta love invasion stripes! Based outa my home village of Lakenheath. May need some bits like a AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Pod and an AAQ-13 LANTIRN pod as I may have robbed those in the kit for my last build...need to check! The airframe was 1 of 3 that was painted in a heritage scheme in 2019 to honour the wings involvement in the D-Day operation at the75 years commemoration. 97-0219 was built to reflect a P-47 Thunderbolt, 'Nelli B'.... https://www.lakenheath.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1744647/liberty-wing-unveils-heritage-jet/ Looks like it carried some CATM units for AIM-9M and AIM-120C so will probably create something along those lines as well... I got the decals via a swap, the C model had been used and I have the Red paint in the collection so decision made... Ive a couple of other things on the go and really want to get my Merlin off the bench, but want to get going early on this...if I find some ref pics showing it a little more worn paint job wise I will try to reflect that, but likely kept nice and shiny...best go look at the box and see what's missing!

Moving forward - some gaps to fill and sand.... Some crew ref Need to detail paint the 2 front crew and get the glass in....a few more fits and some filling and sanding and I am getting close to paint...need to tape up the open gaps/doors etc!

I thought I'd join in the fun as I have an Airfix kit on the shelf - I think I messed the last one up so bad it got binned....hey-ho, can but try! Nothing aftermarket, just out of the box..it comes with the Humbrol Acrylic paints that I will not use... Any of you Aggressor experts know of the FS paint numbers of the 2 tone browns? I have used paint matcher at it mentions Hum 148 Radome Tan citing Mr Color C318 97% match and Mr Paint MRP-324 (not so sure!) 96% match as close matches? Most of the pics I can find are of a 3 colour scheme.... For the darker brown 186 Brown, is says MRP-166 at 98%.... Box and Sprue pics... VMFT-04 website - 'hoo - ah'.... https://www.marforres.marines.mil/Major-Subordinate-Commands/4th-Marine-Aircraft-Wing/Marine-Aircraft-Group-41/Marine-Fighter-Training-Squadron-401/ First bits of work...fill in the pylon holes.. Quite a bit of flash to sort with a stanley blade...

Looks great - was tempted by the GWH kit but have an Academy on the shelf so couldn't really justify it!....But I may still! I build '00-3003' for the last STGB but as per 2006...those Caracal decals are hard to get now! Will watch along.

Did a C and E in the last STGB back in 2017... I may go with a wheels down (now I have a cabinet!) Academy 1/48 F15E in a special Lakenheath scheme... WIP Link:

Got going again… quite complex. Starting building up some sub assemblies and got the main fuselage halves together - one was warped slightly so not a prefect fuse but will do the job… Used the masking kit which helps ! Crew primed some areas to fill due to the slight Miss-alignment due to the warped side (probably my limited building skilz as well!!) plus some bits and pieces to add on… helicopters are hard ! some more references Some debate on colours but I’m going with the MRP NATO green, but will lighten it slightly and then mask out some panels to spray with pure colour, may throw in a door or panel in RAF DG …with some Tamiya sand brushed on it should break it all up…

And the 2 Lancs off the bench

I need to get this out of its box and crack it...