Silverstone 2

For clarification, the adjusted landing gear is what might give the 747-8 the impression of increased height. Very much the same as the new taller stance on the 737ng. Phil

I'm a 747 pilot from GSS (BA CARGO) the only 747-8 Freighter operator in the UK! The vertical tail is exactly the same dimensions as the 747-400 Freighters, Just has a split lower rudder section. The main differences are the wings( Larger box section), slotted flaps, Fusealge extensions, landing gear has large footprint tyres and of coures the GeNX Engines For you info the larger size tyres are to manage the increase PCN (pavement correction Number) Basic operating weight is almost 30t heavier than the 400F. Phil

definitley looking forward to this build as i've got this in my stash of Tamiya kits to build this year. I'm planning to build mine OOTB so it will be interesting to see what difference the BIG-ED mods make. Good luck with the progress, looks very impressive so far! Phil

Ridial engine detail is very impressive. Nice work! Does this 1/48 F-4 have folding wings like the Trumpeter 1/32? Or is it simply an option for folded or unfolded. It was such a shame the mechanism on the Trumpeter version didn't work that well Phil

How did you find the cured finish with the humbrol spray? Was it tacky at all after curing? Finish looks good.

That pen part you've used for the prop-hub is ingenious! 10/10 for the idea looking forward to the finshed article. Phil

Looks very good indeed. Makes the Revell/Hasegawa version look very basic! I like your attention to detail, especially the seat belts. Phil

The real only way forward for complete accuracy and detail in spades, is the Tamiya 1/32 version. I might tempt my Spitfire enthusiast down the root of "Tamiya 60319 1/32 RAF Spitfire Mk.IXc" according to critics it's the best rendition in any scale? Shame that the Trumpeter 1/24 version isn't much better than the Airfix offering. I've built both and they have different mistakes in different areas, although pleasing scale and size. Phil

Quite right indeed! I did present this option to the Owner's build. But the illustration on both the artist's "box art" and per the instructional briefing was the required end result

This was the owner's choice of build, I agree the Vb or later is a much more attractive version IMO

I see your point regarding the clear lense for the Beacon light. The red filter will have to be removed. Clear does look better and more modern also. I'm very use to seeing red beacons on prop aircraft, where as clear seem to be more common on modern jet aircraft. Easy fix, Undercarriage are also more of a shiny silver than I realised too. Mods to be considered!

More of the front and underside: Must get those decals modified on the roundals

Here is the finished item: Build be me was covered in the "Work in progress thread" This model has been built on request from a friend of mine, hoping he is as pleased with this as I am. Turned out much better than i expected, especially with the chipping effect, which was my first attempt. However, I've got some editing to do on the walkway lines which will be easy to fix before mattcote application.

Prop, Aerial, spinner and beacon including cocpit now all completed: With canopy on: The finished product: Hope you enjoyed this thread and build? Regards Phil I've realised that the walkway lines shouldn't go over the roundals so some editing on the decals must be made!

Next Landing gear attachment + doors: I was a bit concerned with the strength of these gear legs and their shallow attachment points but CA did the trick nicely and dried quickly Already the Spit can take it's own "weight on wheels" Next, prop & spinner.

Washes in progress, 1/2 done! Port underside after application really brings out the detail and realism.

The chipping technique was actually quite simple, with better results than expected. It was my first attempt and this is how i did it: Use Humbrol #27002 which is a metalcote colour. Mix it up well and simply put a thinned blob, mix on a piece of paper and then use a cocktail stick. Remove excess by pricking lightly on the paper before hand. With light aplication on the model surface lightly gentleman's parts the small amounts of paint from the tip. Any excess I removed with the dry end of the stick, therefor removing any raised excess which would look un realistic. I simply chipped panel edges that would frequently be removed for access and the pilot walkway. No references were strictly adheared to. Trial and error, that looked relatively convincing. hope this helps? Phil

I've now finished the paint chips, hopefully not too overdone? Decal application: I found the Revell/Hasegawa decals to be of very good quality, easy to apply too. Lots of Microset & Microsol used on the roundals, to soften over the panel lines and detail. seems to have worked.... once all of the silvering is gone and the decals properly set, it's time for Mattcote. thanks for looking. Phil

Rear empenage band has been sprayed on and also the 3-blade prop & Spinner finished. Yellow tips still required! No chipping to be applied to the blades as they were made of wood at the time. But chipping about to comence on the panels. This is my first attempt on paint chipping so hopefully it goes well!? Decided that the gun access panels are the most obvious areas plus the pilot's walk way on the Port wing. more of a close up:

Undercarriage next: Painted matt at first but when finished looks to dull for rubber. I decided to buff the matt paint and found the results to be very pleasing. (top): Amazing what a light rubbing with a rag can do + a bit of Wash:

Now the camo has cured, time for a gloss coat for Decals and washes: I'm using Humbrol Glosscote, works wonders and is very thin. Mixing thoroughly, is essential! Just a light dusting is needed from a few inches: Takes only a few hours to be touch dry, although overnight for cured.

That's an impressive build to say the least! Very realistic weathering and staining on the tail from APU & Grease! I'm a current 747-400 pilot and I can tell you that's just the way it looks on the walkround. Your 743 is the most accurate version of any scale i've seen so far. I'm partially interested in doing one myself one day, maybe the Anigrand resin version but i think it's a mamoth task to get right. well done phil

Very impressive! Want to build one of these myself in the future, how did the build go, was it free from trouble? (apart from the intake) How did you manage the thin yellow tape on the cockpit? Phil

Masks removed: I'm happy with the masking and also I'm happy with the camo boundaries. The camo lines are not too difuse to look un-realistic on this scale. Results were good considering no elevated mask used. A bit of a short cut IMO but i didn't want to spend all that time masking camo. It takes forever and a day, never mind re-scaling the plans and then cutting them out Hope you like the results: Now it's time for Gloss clearcote, prep for weathering and Decals. Phil

I've decided to be brave and do the camo without a mask Freehand has worked for me before but it's dificult to get a bold enough edge without too much blending. Here is the result: I acheived this with my Iwata Eclipse, only 1-2" away from the surface outlining and then moving away to 3-4" for the filling of the boundries. closer pic: