Colin W

No much Bigger! 😁

Your work bench has a somewhat cylindrical look about it! Apart from the tank thingy which is square.

This is a great kit. I built mine a few years ago but well worth finishing.

Here I am at the start of the KUTA 23. I've joined the fuselage halves and cut away the top of the fuselage to take the Kinetic wing. This wing has many advantages over the Tamiya ones but I notice its a lot more raised over the engine (4mm). I've filled the wing with milliput so I can reduce it on the belt sander to give the flat upper profile of the Kestrel. It makes sense that the engine covers were lifted as the engines became more powerful but the airframe was still the same size.

I've got something special planned for this GB so vote it through to know.

I had a great holiday in East Virginia a few years ago. We spent a week in Washington DC in the Smithsonians etc then the Udvar Hazey Center before going down to Williamburg, Yorktown and Norfolk. More air museums, carriers and battleships than the average holiday. We planned to see the 'Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia' on the way back to DC but never managed it. Beautiful part of the world.

Whats the worst thing about Australia? It's above sea level Whats the difference between the phone book and an Australian? The phone book is only this thick. How do you know an Australian is on the level? He is dribbling from both sides of his mouth What do you call 144 Australians? Gross stupidly. How many Australians at the world cup? None. Go ABs

When @trickyrich runs out of jokes

I filled the fuselage with milliput then sanded it down on a belt sander.

Not really a KUTA but I got over ambitious in the Prototypes, Racers, Research, Record breakers, Special schemes megaGB (who wouldn't) and started this as a 4th build after completing a Pogo, Skystreak and SR53. This is the Tamiya 1/48 Harrier GR1 being backdated to a Kestrel. The inspiration was Nick Hoopers Gold winning build in the 2022 IPMS UK Nats at SMW. It's been sitting while I finished a Buccaneer for the 'Here comes the FAA' so this seams a good place to resume while we await the Bunfight for 2024. Here's where the previous thread ended. Starting thread And here's where it is now just clipped together. The intakes have been added and the fuselage sides cut back to the original shape. The white stuff is Milliput. I might progress a bit more this week ready for Saturdays start.

I've just posted in the Gallery but a few more pics here Cheers Colin

Blackburn Buccaneer Airfix 1/48 This is the original 1996 Airfix kit, modelled folded for below deck stowage on HMS Ark Royal with the starboard engine exposed for maintenance. The nose cut and exposed radar detail was scratch built, as were the open power connection and avionics bays in the lower fuselage. The crude kit wing fold was replaced by an Airwaves Photo Etched wing fold set plus additional brass reinforcing. The starboard engine intake and covers were removed from the kit with the inner structure built to close the fuselage and wing. A basic resin engine was installed and detailed with pipe work and wiring. Cockpit detailed with additional PE detail and resin seats from Pavla. Airbrake modified from the kit and detailed with Airwaves PE. Pitot on port wing replaced with wire. Intake and exhaust covers scratch built. Decals from various sources, finished in Mr Color lacquer and weathered with oils. Thanks to @LorenSharp for the GB idea, to @Enzo the Magnificent for all his work and all those who commented along the way. For those going to Telford this should be on the IPMS Salisbury stand. More pictures and build log Buccaneer Build log here

First update for a wee while Nose fitted Wings added Engine lower cover fitted Reaar avionics bay door fitted Only minor touch ups required now

The Javein is a great kit but the cockpit is more like 1/72. The sides of the tub need building up and some larger / better seats fitting otherwise its great. I converted mine to a Mk5 with a pen nib fairing between the engines. Memories of fitting all those PE vortex generators still keep me awake at night! We'd better let you get on with your Gannet now..

Only 2 things wrong with Dynavector. First their kits were upstaged; Javelin, Sea Vixen and TSR2 by Airfix and most of the others (Hornet and Wyvern) by Classic Airframes. Secondly they never did a Swift. The only 1/48 Swift is from Falcon and it's a lot of work.

Excellent . Great to see another vacform and some proper modelling. I built this about 20 years ago and it still looks good. My wings are a bit flat so pay plenty of attention to getting the right dihedral on the outer panels. Im not sure if mine have drooped or whether I got them too low when I built it. I always put a good solid spar in mine so either might be the issue. You're right about the nose weight, unless you use a white metal replacement rudder!

I'm targeting Telford so happy with the current timeline.

Maybe we could have had Carriers and TSR2, then the RAF would have had to paint the TSR2 grey and Green! Well cracking on with this build now. Stickers all added, FR probe and hinge added to nose. Cockpit windscreen added and a couple of coats of satin varnish to bring it all together. I've knocked up a couple of brass supports to hold the wing as the PE is weak at the best of time and keeps pinging off even without the weight of the wings so this will make it a bit more practical. Seats to finish and install then final assembly....

Great job there Loren. I can't see whether you managed to get the decals under the rocket rails but an easy mistake to make. The Dynavector kits are great. I built all except the skyshark and really liked the scale thickness of the fuselage halves leaving more room for the interior. They can be challenging so glad to see you enjoyed this one.

Your cockpit looks great. I have this kit in my stash so would be keen to know what you think of the kit cowl vs the resin upgrade? When the kit came out the perfectionists were moaning about the undersize of the cowl. Now you have the 2 is there much difference and is it worth replacing? Thanks

I'm very unimpressed by the wing fold. It looked good in the packet but now its asswmbled there is very little strength in it. In fact each wing is held by 2 tiny PE tabs of which I broke one off during assembly of the parts. It needs a bit more brass rod me thinks.

Wow only 5 weeks! I was pressing on to hit SMW but yes the GB closes on SMW weekend.

I thought I'd done all the decals then I turned a wing over for the picture and found I'd missed a red dot. Easy fixed but then I'll have to face fitting the wings....

Not quite ready for final assembly but nearly ready for decals p

Wow this went from "I'm about to start' to painted and rigged in 4 days. I was going to comment on the flash around the engine, but it does't seem to have held you up much! Looking forward to seeing the final model on Sunday!