OutcastJoel

The fact I didn't bother starting to thin the intake surrounds until it was all assembled did make this a lot harder but with some attacking with a scalpel it actually looked pretty nice, especially with a layer of paint! I decided (for some insane reason) to paint all of the markings. PXL_20240225_204109969 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr However laziness and the realisation that the decals are pretty well perfect means I ended up just using them 🙂 PXL_20240228_192406754 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr

I managed to snap the nose of number 2 off. PXL_20240222_181758796 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr Fortunately I am an engineer with a 3D printer so: PXL_20240222_183916993 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr

Yep! Actually quite a neat solution, the panel behind the cockpit reverses to change between up and drooped.

Well it took a week and a half to get decals on and the last few bits added (thanks real life) but the first of these is done! PXL_20240210_205448958 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr I think this may have replaced the Arma Hurricane as my happy-place kit. It absolutely isn't Tamiya, but it is closer to that than it is to traditional short run kits. If you have any interest in the subject, get one before I buy them all! With that, back to the next one; Prompted by actually pinning back my enthusiasm long enough to look at some reference photos I have had to do as advised and start to thin the leading edge of the air intakes. because I made the mistake of only noticing this after I assembled the inner lips, it is very tricky but I think the first intake is pretty close to "good enough". PXL_20240210_205009935 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr

the first kit was basically perfect but I had a bit of flash around one of the fuselage openings on the second kit and found them a very tight fit on the wings too. The flash cleaned up nicely with a quick scrape from a scalpel and as with @David H I found some sanding cured the fit between the spar and wings. Oddly I didn't have the problem with the getting the instrument panel to fit (isn't this comparing of notes turning out to be a fun exercise in manufacturing tolerances kids!) but I do have to agree that the design means there is a lot of guesswork around the location of the glare shield.

I would love to know if anyone can answer! I wonder if it was as a result of concerns about how ailerons would perform at very high speed if they were shielded by the wing leading edge?

The proctor is quite a nice kit, every thing fits pretty well and the detail is nice. That said I wouldn't give one to a beginner, (it doesn't fall together like Tamiya or a modern Airfix starter kit) but for someone with a few kits under the belt and willing to just be a bit careful it is fine. (What I would have described as being at the top end of short run). This on the other hand has great location features and is really well designed. There are a few bits where care is needed (the seat springs to mind) but it really is starting to approach the ease of assembly you would get from a good quality recent mass market kit.

This is utterly incredible! Absolutely beautiful work. Thank you so much for sharing all of the details. I don't have the skill or patience to attempt to copy you but it is nice to know I have the option 😁

Hopefully in the post! 😁 *At least I hope you have one in the post 😀

This certainly isn't my best work, but the kit is so cool I might actually finish an aircraft for the first time in ages! Canopy masks off: PXL_20240130_193445307 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr Stickers on: PXL_20240130_203534732 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr

As luck would have it, the bit I have circled in red below is a separate part so thinning both lips would be fairly easy (if you don't assemble it all before you know it needs to be sorted like I did)! Screenshot_20240129-184257 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr

The rest of the kit has gone together really nicely, I have to admit this is a lovely kit by any standard, a far cry of DoraWings from even a few years ago (Percival Proctor I am looking at you 😉) PXL_20240126_202849251 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr PXL_20240128_185505858 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr PXL_20240128_211330467 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr *The Percival Proctor is actually a good kit if you go in knowing it is a short run kit. But this is much much better.

That is good to know! To ask the dim question, could you expand on the topic so I can sort this on my next kit?

The plastic on the side panels isn't bad by 1/72 standards. It isn't Eduard or ClearProp quality but is probably is as good as recent Tamiya/Hasegawa releases. However it would really benefit from decals for the side panels because my painting has really not done it justice 😁 I don't really like the seat but I have struggled to find any photos of the seat so it is very hard to work out how different it is from the real thing. On the other hand it is so well hidden with the canopy closed that I can't get very bothered about it. The fit has been generally very good, I struggled to get the canopy on nicely and the seat doesn't have the best location features. Other than that it has been really good.

If I can avoid starting this until September then I have a plan! PXL_20240103_212423859 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr

Two cockpits buttoned up: PXL_20240119_213124976 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr The intakes are very nice, the difference from the old FROG kit is vast! PXL_20240119_213150615 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr The grey plastic fits pretty much perfectly but I had to fettle the canopy a little (which is something I am rubbish at). PXL_20240122_215342720 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr I really should have cleaned up the seam in the jet pipe but I don't suppose anyone else will notice in real life! The back of the engine is lovely though! PXL_20240123_202054248.MP by OutcastJoel[/u rl], on Flickr

If the 1/72 example sells well enough I wouldn't be surprised to see it upscaled 😁

This is my favourite aeroplane so when I came back into modelling and noticed Dora'a announcement, I kept my eye on it. A few years later I finally have one of the first examples on my table! I was too excited to wait so swept everything else off the table and cracked it open. PXL_20240115_185500747 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr PXL_20240115_191947618 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr You didn't think I would be able to make just one did you? 😉 PXL_20240115_193921524 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr

Lovely work and a fantastic idea! My grandpa was on PQ17 and I would love to do something similar for that convoy.

Wow that's pretty cool!

Beautiful work!

Up for pre-order at a discount for those, who like me who have no intention of waiting for it the arrive at big H 😁 https://dorawings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=61&product_id=128

I am actually hoping to make another Valiant model so that is really useful to know! (Is there a good supplier of Draught markings) I have the lovely Sovereign hobbies set but they are all in Roman numerals which from photos I don't think are right for submarines?

Thank you! My decision to follow that route was prompted by the same thing you mentioned; I found all of my previous attempts at all black (and all white) subjects looked rather boring.

This is made from the MikroMir HMS Conqueror kit but made as Valiant. I think the lump on the back of the conning tower is probably not right for Valiant but I only noticed that after finishing. The figures are from Starling Models and are really lovely. The painting was all done in Arcus Hobby Color enamels including washes. All without any use of black paint, which was quite a fun exercise. PXL_20231114_120416344.MP by OutcastJoel, on Flickr PXL_20231114_120449976 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr PXL_20231114_120457233 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr PXL_20231114_120509911 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr PXL_20231114_120543694 by OutcastJoel, on Flickr