goon

Thanks for the critique Mike. Yes, the yellow is a little too dirty, but taking any more off was pulling the wash out of the panel lines, which were a bit too shallow due to my clumsy spray technique. I might revisit that, but probably write it off to experience. I also agree with the comments about the demarcation lines. I need to work on thinning paint correctly for spraying. You are spot on, I sprayed toward the tape, and also cut tape in place (making a very small line in the base coat). Next is the FGA.9 version of the same kit. All the better to apply what I learnt to! Then it's the Revell Gannet, before the Tamiya Skyray. After that, who knows? I'm afraid I'm jumping ship to 1:48 as although I love the delicacy of the 1:72 stuff, the undercarriage of the Hunter gave me the screaming ab-dabs earlier, and I always preferred quarter scale when I was a youngster. (Actually, I fell in love with 1:20 when I took a fancy to the Tamiya F1 series, but that's another topic!) Thanks again for your comments / advice, Gareth

Well. it's finished. Thank you to every one who helped me in this thread, and got me going again. Results are in the RFI bit.

Well, thanks to all the people who gave advice in other threads, I've just finished my first build in 15 years. I learned / relearned a lot doing it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the first model I ever masked and sprayed a canopy on (always hand painted before) the first I've used Promodellers washes on, and the first Hunter I've ever built! (It's also the first model I've ever painted the drop tanks the wrong colour on, so they are waiting till the next time I spray the grey!!) I'm aware of several errors (there may be more!) one point for each one you can spot! Here are some quick shots of it plonked on the old square of carpet in the cellar my workshop. Be kind! (Photographing models is a new skill I'll have to learn too, evidently!)

No Probs Walrus, there is a weapon set up there, just says it's designed to work with the weapon bay they also supply. I'm guessing there might be problem getting them in to the Revel bay. Thanks again, Gareth

Ooh ta. Don't see why they couldn't be made to fit.

Thanks for the pointer, but nothing specifically for the Revell kit except for the wing folds. (Too advanced for me at the moment.) The FAA weapons seem to be designed specifically for the Trumpeter bay. Does anyone know if the sets for the Trumpeter kit will fit the Revell mouldings? I'm not wanting to get too far in to modding / scratch building stuff as this is only my third model since returning to the hobby. Thanks, Gareth

Hi all, The Revell Gannet is coming to the head of the queue now, and I'm wondering about some details. Does anyone know of any aftermarket seats for it, as they are a little sparse in the kit. I could also do with some references for the ordnance it carried, and perhaps a source for those items. Thanks for any help. Gareth

Same here Martin, it's a beautiful crisp clear morning here. Just been out playing in the snow with the hound, and about to head off down the cellar to my work table. It's not great down there, but it's warm and dry and Sarah doesn't complain when the smelly stuff comes out. (I am soooo jealous of that shed further up the thread though. Must get ours waterproofed, insulated and, er, 'electrified' over the summer.)

Excellent. Pin sharp work.

As someone returning after a 15 year break (and not all that good in the first place) struggling along with the Revel 1:72 Hunter, this thread has blown my mind! Amazing work.

For the record, and completeness, the paint in question thinned and sprayed perfectly with a little Tamiya thinners. Thanks again everyone.

Thanks Dave. I'll bear that in mind.

OK, so don't thin with water or cellulose thinners then! I've got some Tamiya thinners at home, so will give it a squirt with that. Thanks for the replies everyone. Gareth

Hi, A long time ago I used to thin my Tamyia acrylics with cellulose thinners, with great success. Last night I had my first encounter with a Humbrol acrylic, and employed the same method. The two would not mix, so I tried with water, and it thinned beautifully. However, on spraying the were lots of little puddles of very thin paint / water in the finish. If I mixed thicker, it didn't happen so much, but was too thick to spray. I couldn't reach a happy medium, so I've replaced the pot with some enamel. I was spraying on to satin Humbrol enamels if that makes any difference. The paint seemed the same even when sprayed on to newspaper. Cheers, Gareth

That's a generous offer Ian, thanks. I'm just going to build out of the box for a little while though. Just a little frustrated with Hannants, when others can get an order to my door in three days. Found a little shop in town for my paint this afternoon, so I guess the Hannants parcel will turn up tomorrow!

Well, I'm enjoying this immensely so far, just frustrated that the stuff I ordered from Hannants, which includes the green and grey has yet to turn up over a week later, and I'm stuck waiting. In fact, I'm enjoying it so much the package also includes the FGA Mk.9 so I can do it all again. I have been reacquainted with the carpet monster, losing the 'cap' to the ejection seat, so I've done my first bit of scratch building to replace that I also ruined a pair of trousers shaking an old tin of Humbrol on which the lid wasn't sealed correctly. Ah, how the memories come flooding back! Hope to have a result to show soon!

Blimey, that takes me back. I built that probably around 1990, then did it again as a 'what if' just after the first Gulf War. The premise of the build was a long range recon. version deployed to Tatooine. I did it RAF desert pink, with low viz markings, drop tanks and extra weapons on diagonal strakes. I mocked up a sensor suite mounted in between control vanes at the front a la AH-64, and added blade and whip aerials in likely places. Also turned a brass sand filter for what I imagined was the air intake underneath on the right hand side. I thoroughly enjoyed building it and I had totally forgotten I'd done it until I saw your pics! Thanks for taking me back. Nice build by the way!!

Sourced a replacement for £1.30. Certainly beats sending off or a service or buying a replacement airbrush! Thanks again for the help.

Thanks everyone. Got it dismantled while you were posting I think Rich. The allen fitting is rounded off on mine. I can't remember ever trying to get in there, and it was bought brand new, so a bit of a mystery! That's why I couldn't see how to get in, despite an exploded view on my laptop screen. Anyway, the little seal is split and quite brittle. Off to search for spares. Thanks again, Gareth

Ah, I see! Probably nackered it then. Can you get in to a 200 series? I can't see how to dismantle it.

Over the weekend I've got my old Badger airbrush out of retirement. It's a 200 series (I think, single action anyway) bottom fed. I guess it must be 20 years old. So far as I know put it away clean (about 12 years ago!) but I've been having trouble getting air through it. After most of the weekend in a cellulose thinners bath and blowing through with the air hose it's up to full flow, it seems. However I have a problem with the trigger. Without the air turned on it's smooth and free. With the air on it will 'click' to almost full on when pressed. When releasing, the trigger stays down a little, and you can hear a little air coming out. After a second or two, the trigger will 'pop' up and the air flow stops. I don't see how I can get in to the trigger mechanism to check it further. Anyone else experienced this? I'd like to try and save it before springing for a new one as I'm only just getting back in to the hobby. Thanks for any replies or pointers. Gareth

More great suggestions, thanks for taking the time to type it all out, I'm grateful. Got an order on the way. I wish I could have gone and picked it all off a shelf in Bagnalls (You'll remember that one Paul!) or City Centre Models in S-o-T. I'd have been working away by now, but both shops are sadly defunct.

Looks like it's got to be the Hunter then doesn't it? No point asking for recomendations then ploughing my own furrow! It does look a quality kit, and I'm really looking forward to getting going when my parcel of kit and tools and various bits arrives. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, I'll bear the others in mind as I progress throught he Hunter. Gareth

Yeah, I found them, but the impression I got was it was websales only, or collect if you have ordered. Not a good old browse around and a 'rummage'! Thanks for the info though.

Loads more good info, thanks! Any recommendations for decal solution?