Jake Wilson

Hi Pat, Progress has been slow and and times in the wrong direction but still aiming for the next fortnight to have done before I go abroad the last week in May/Early June.. Wish I’d chosen another kit! 🕵️‍♂️

So as I'm away from home for the next week and a half, I was keen to at least make a start on the model, with my attempt at the Revell/Matchbox Victor 98% finished To try and lessen the depth of the panel lines, I have tried Halfords high build primer on the exterior parts, using Tamiya primer on the more delicate interior components. The high build is a tan colour - fear not I'm not going to claim an Op Granby finish for an F3! How it will work in the long term, we'll see. As I'm yet to get the hang of filling, the prospect of doing that then trying to re-scribe the lines are, for me at least at this stage, bound to end badly. The instructions are clear once I'd trained myself to go down and not across the page! Focussing on the cockpit section. I had toyed venturing into the world of upgraded components, but decided to save that for when i tackle the Italeri Granby and Revell Kits in the stash. I'm aiming to stick true to the box, decal quality depending. The pilot's panel decal not going too well (don't laugh!) I am currently using Humbrol decalfix, but these decals don't seem to like it. I have some bottles of Vallejo decal softner to try next. After mumbling to myself about my own ineptitude I decided to tackle the rest of the cockpit. I'll check tomorrow during a work break to see how the decals have settled, if at all. I may then look to order an aftermarket set. Hopefully try and update tomorrow 🙂

The kit arrived nicely wrapped in the post, along with a card advising that he's selling off his stash - could be dangerous! Unlike the Meteor kit I have, which is still in sealed cellophane, the box isn't the best, so I don't feel bad building it. As can be expected, the are three different coloured frames. Overall the moulds look nice, with not a great deal of flash. I can see what people mean with the panel lines now though. I was quite surprised at some of the detail. I've also been provided with two decal sheets. Both, understandbly look quite old, so I may (if rules of GB allow) use some aftermarket decals. I am away for a few days now, but planning to make a start on Saturday evening, once i've got some lacquer on my now-decalled Revell Victor.

Thanks Dave 🙂 Considering the vast majority of models here look just like the real thing, it can sometimes be daunting to post up, but I think looking at what I have built over the last 18 months I'm learning and keen for feedback and advice! I grew up in York and Monk Bar models was always an occasion - their window displays are legendary. I am trying to determine if the Revell/Italeri kit is a descendent of the Matchbox. I have a GR1 on the shelf of doom after I lost one of the elevators to the garage floor. When the kit arrives I shall compare. 🙂

Ooh heck, filling is something I'm yet to properly master, especially hiding joints! Be prepared for some trial and error pictures! 🙂 I've currently got Vallejo and Humbrol fillers that I've experimented with, with limited success. There's another 2 part in a box I've yet to try that I bought from a local model shop.

Thank you for the warm welcome chaps. I've got another day or so on the much delayed Victor (Revell/Matchbox) from the Gulf War GB by then I hope to make a start 🙂

Matchbox PK-130 Tornado F3 Having missed the Gulf War GB due to work and a house move, I am determined to complete this one. An E-Bay search presented this Tornado F3 Kit in 1/72. I can't work out how to centralise the picture, apologies! I sold what I believe to be the Revell version of this kit when I cleared my stash, so looking forward to giving this one a go. My skills are nowhere near the level of everyone on here, so thanks for the patience in advance!

If not too late, I'd like to join in. I have a Falklands release Vulcan kit, which think would be fitting.

Thanks Pappy for the guidance once again! 🙂 I'd ordered the kit just after my last post - curiosity and excitement (and a couple beers! 😁) got the better of me I guess, that combined with over-estimation of my abilities I dare say! Thank you for the guidance on how to handle them. I don't have any friends who model, nor know anyone local who model, so this is my sole platform for asking for advice. 🙂 As the kit-supplied cockpit section also has raised 'hubs' for the back seaters, I think i'll need to find a way of removing these for the PE kit floor. Re the styrene, as it happens I have just had a replacement credit card sent through, so I'll give that a try. I think I'm quite a way off using sheets of it just yet. I think I've misinterpreted earlier pictures that I'd found and penned the whole intake in khaki, but upon reading your message, I looked at pictures of Lusty Lindy and Lone behold, they're white. I'll need to experiment with maskol/tape to then paint the rear sections in white at the same time I'll also paint the wheel wells. If I was more skilled, I'd try to make some of the red intake covers, which would also address the intake challenges you mention!

Sorry for the lack of updates, I've finally finished my B-58 Hustler, which took longer than I anticipated and didn't come out as well as planned either, but lessons learned it's time to get my teeth into the victor. The photo etch set has arrived, and looks incredible, but terrifying at the same time! I've realised that all my pliers have teeth, so if I go ahead, will need to add them to the shopping list. Sorry if GBs aren't the right place to ask questions about PE parts, but couldn't see the right section. - A number of elements have the metal 'front' with a film to sit behind with the dials. With the victor, most instrument panels appear grey, so should I paint these before removing from the frames? I wouldn't think to paint in situ as it'll cover the dials behind the film. I also need to source some plasticard according to the instructions for the upper panel. Are there any recommended alternatives or do I need to order the proper stuff? As work on the cabin has stalled, I continued prepping other components, including the wings, priming and painting the intakes in the first instance. Once dried, I'll mask up and paint the wheel wells. I've also started to build the other main sections in anticipation of sorting the cockpit section Sections by Jake Wilson, on Flickr Next job is to research the correct uniform colouring for the aircrew, and a glass of red to steady the hand!

Thanks Pappy, the etch kit has yet to arrive, but will assess when it does. 🙂

Thanks Peter, really grateful for the tips! 🙂 I've been talking to the folks via e-mail at White Ensign and have ordered their cockpit enhancements. If I don't make too much of a mess of it, I plan to keep the canopy loose so as to be able to remove it and see inside. I think the kits come from the US, so imagine it won't be here any time soon. I've managed to find, from many years ago, a magnifying stand which I imagine is going to come in useful! I've also decided to build the model to represent XL231 aka Lusty Lindy which was the first Victor I saw running at Elvington, the local airshows that I attended as child with my father. The extra decal set I've ordered also covers Teasin' Tina (XM715) at Bruntingthorpe, given the sad events that have happened there over the last year and how I don't envisage we'll see her taxi again.

So as my Hustler is assembled and in the paint stage, I've now room to start the Victor build. (My desk is used for the day job, so until I get a work bench in the garage, I am restricted to how much I can 'tidy away' at the end of each modelling session. First job was to check over the kit. It was a cheap ebay auction, which mentioned the instructions were missing, so wanted to make sure that nothing else was. Despite the reviews I've read of this kit and the issues of raised panel lines, in comparison to some of the other kits I've built, the parts are well formed with only minimal flashing. Thanks to some kind souls on facebook, I was able to find the Revell 'archive' for instructions to print off, as it's nice to tick-off parts as I go through. The Revell kit gives the build option of the entrance door open, with access steps. Given the family connection to these aircraft (albeit much earlier versions) I'm going to use this kit as a first run at improving cabin detail. My grandfather was an AEO on these aircraft so it will be nice if I can try and introduce some detail to the back-seat positions. Searching on the interweb, it appears like this may be the kit needed: https://www.whiteensignmodels.com/uploads/file/PE7256A.pdf Their website lists the parts as suitable for the Airfix Version, not Revell, so will be dropping them a message to confirm and hopefully order if they ship to the UK. It'll be my first attempt at photo-etch parts, so any tips or guides would be most welcome! Back to the kit, the decals come for XH672, which is at Cosford. I need to read-up to see if her contribution to service fits with the timeline for the GB. If not, I believe there are other decal sets available. Whilst waiting for the metlcote on the hustler to dry (seems very grey to me!) I took the pilots, seats and cockpit section from the kit off their frames and gave a dusting of Halfords primer. Looking at videos on youtube, the rear of the cockpit appears to be predominantly black, with the pilot and co-pilot areas light grey, which if correct I'll follow-up with once the primer is dry. it appears as if the cockpit section will allow enough space for the 40g's of ballast indicated in the instructions, which I'm going to try to tackle with liquid gravity that I purchased. In the meantime I have been practicing masking and painting with aerosols on the now 'what if' Op Granby lightning 'mule' so as to make any mistakes on that before it comes to painting the Victor.

Sorry for the lack of updates. Work's been a challenge of late and I really want to get the B-58 Hustler I'm building nearer to finish before starting and the more I try to improve it, the worse I make it, it feels at the minute! Anyway, onto some paint sampling. My Revell Lighting F.6 continues as a handy paint dummy. I painted one side in Humbrol 237, the other in Halfords Khaki. The difference is, to me, marginal but evident with 237 being a shade lighter. I've also tried the 64 light grey underneath. My usual sources of humbrol aerosol, the model centre, don't have any 166 in, so may try racking grey when next at Halfrauds.

Thanks all, I couldn't find hemp in aerosol format so picked up 237 from this thread: I did also pick up Halfords Khaki a few weeks back, as that's mentioned. Despite having two Rover 75's I didn't think to pick up the champagne beige that was mentioned!. I have a badly built lightning F6 that's become my practice paint mule. I may try a sample of the khaki and 237 on a wing and see what they dry like.