Paulaero

I have to admit the 3D printing is something I would like to have a go at but the programming would be a challenge as my computer studies was BBC B vintage !!

What a cracking build, but it looks like most of the Kit will be 3d printed....you might find some more 'orders' coming inbound

They are great period photos, but not a highlighted panel line in sight........

Very nice Matt, not tempting you into another rating with all those 380's to build...... ??

Have you thought of using the metal grills as scribing templates and then remove them..... Can only echo the comments about the fujimi kit much prefer it to the Airfix one.....

Hold it as you would a pencil and try just practising spraying thinner out of it ...

That's a great start for a first attempt, don't be put off by setbacks , its not scary !!! Practice , practise and then more practice..... Having been using airbrushes for over 40 years the only main issues will be paint too thick, or the airbrush isn't' clean. as in not cleaned after the last use. I often paint in batches, starting with a lighter colour, then flushing the brush out then working through to the darkest colour last. Then give it a good clean. It doesn't' matter how expensive the equipment is ( you didn't say what you're using) I've used many from very expensive to cheep and my current one that gets most use is the cheaper variety !! If its not clean it wont' work ! Practise on a sheet of plastic card, differing paint mixes, how close to the surface for finer lines and varying the air pressure and you will find what works for you, I couldn't tell you any exact ratio of paint to thinner other than the consistency of milk is often quoted but start thinner, its easier to clean out...... I still have a stash of film tubs and if am thinning a light colour I use a black one and if a dark colour I use one of the opaque ones as its gives and idea of how thick the paint is. Free hand camo is very rewarding you'll soon get it like this Best of luck with it.

Multiple builds, .... is there any other way to go ??? Thanks to @Back in the Saddle we have devised a 95% rule which allows you to start another kit !! Personally I always have multiple builds on the go, many many of them. For example I have five FAA jets needing minor details so I can give them all a coat of satin varnish at the same time. I blame the manufactures for turning out so much temptation......

Not only that but in the latest release they got the 92 Sqn checks wrong, they have produced Blue and Yellow checks..... It's not like they haven't done them before

Both very useful, just have to remember to resist the temptation to touch the decal when it wrinkles up....

Cheers Matt, it's back to the Vulcan after this.....

My favourite part of any build I always find the decals bring it to life and they certainly do in this case. These are cartograph printed and have brilliant colour density although I think Academy were a bit over ambitious to print the orange and black nose bars with the orange flash which wraps under then fuselage as one piece. I couldn't get it to settle with all the compound curves. I cut it into three and with the help of microsol they bedded down. The rest were absolutely no problem but now leaving well alone to let this lot set. I am determined that this will not get the 95% treatment @Back in the Saddle Matt I am going to finish this before I start anything else !!! 😄

Getting to the interesting stage now, the colour scheme calls for khaki green, so I mixed up in a good old fashioned way to match photo's and the box art, starting off with Middle stone as the base and adding some medium green and a touch of white. Followed after an overnight drying session with Dk green, a mix of white tac masking and free hand

Masking under way for the invasion stripes On with the medium grey Made a start on the upgrades, Kit wheels with replacements

Jumped ahead on this one, the kit is a bit of a mix, some really nice areas but some areas needing a fair bit of filling especially in the nose area Intake joint took some filling but first colour on, Extracolour white

Thanks Adam It's a mix of Extracolour RAF Dk Green with some Dk Earth mixed in to match some pictures of the last of the wrap round A/C Paul

Industrial supply of masking at the ready then.... I foolishly thought that wrap round would be better !! For the first time I used Tamiya flexible tape which is a very thin vinyl and its excellent, still had to fill in the gaps It did take an age but Apparently we are a patient lot ....

Although I can't find any pictures of this jet carrying tanks I thought I would get them prepared with the weapons

Quick build up, some nice surface detail but would have been better if the nose section was separate and split vertically

Intakes completed and painted, these sit over the undercarriage bays and needed a little trimming to fit. As you can see the cockpit is basic, to say the least. The kit provides decals only for the details. Although as I am intending to build it crewed in and a rummage through the stash turned up an Eduard set for the Hasegawa kit it will be close enough for government work !! Turbine blades painted, Humbrol polished aluminium and Tamiya smoke Very little of these will be seen again as the kit gives the option to have the intakes lowered.

I don.t think this is in the same league as the GWH kit, it is quite basic in places but good for the quick build for the colour scheme...

Some big chunks of plastic

Ha ha, it's not so much Blame matt as an excuse !! Difficult to resist the build given this decal sheet.....

That is very nice work, if I could I would highly recommend one of the 3d printed ladders it would really set it off......

Inspired by @Back in the Saddle with a new unofficial 95% rule allowance to start a new project, given that it's the height of modelling season and despite having far too many that in fairness are more like 98% finished this one has unashamedly jumped up. I had this on the watch list at the big H and as soon as it arrived it was out of the box, it's defiantly a argument for the , "I don't do jets as there're all grey and boaring.... crew. I had forgotten how big the F-15 is , I haven't built one since about 1992, the flying tennis court as one of it's nick names. As I have unashamedly bought this for the colour scheme so it will only have a couple of embellishments..