Jeff S

And the undercarriage - what do you think guys? Should I use it? OK, maybe not........ Hey Paul, didn't Aires make a replacement gear set for that?

Well, a couple of group builds have kept me away from this project long enough. I have done some early painting and test fitting. There are no real fit ises with this kit but a little checking now cn prevent a bigger problem later. The panel was painted based on photos from of Google search. Mostly of restored cars but i think they are accurate. The gloss coat is still a little tacky so all for now. Cheers everyone

This project is something new and strange for me. I have never built a car before. Deep in the deepest, darkest recesses of my stash was this MPC (Airfix) MG-K3 Magnette. Most of us in the States got their Airfix kicks via MPC way back when. What was cool about MPC was that on the side corner of the box was tokens. Save enough tokens and get a free kit. That is how I got my 1/24 Spit. I don't necessarily agree with the color callouts by MPC so Google is coming into play here. Even then, I am just trying to get it together. So far everything seems very nice, except for the flash on everything. I am missing a part. One of the sides to the "fuel tank" on the rear is missing so out will come the sheet styrene. So wish me luck as I'm off and running at the 1933 Ulster T.T. at 78.65 mph Overall the construction is going very well. Looking closely at the parts it is amazing how much detail Airfix put in this kit. The hood shows a mold date of 1976. Even the tires have the lettering "Dunlop Reinforced" on them. Here are the seats mounted in the cockpit. I used overall Tamiya flat brown with a coat of gloss to simulate leather. One of the things that has amazed me about this kit is the fine detail of the molds. The late 70's in the States, due to truth in advertising, had pictures of the model in place of boxart. It failed to show what the Airfix sculpters really accomplished in some cases. This is the driver. Complete with bow tie. I can still detect a seam line on his neck after the primer coat. Now somehow I just have to use him. Can I say Zoom Zoom with a MG product? Cheers everyone. Jeff S

Hi Mass. No there were no isses with the kit. Everything fit nicely. A little gap in the upper wing root but easily fixed. No headaches Jeff

Well the JAS39 Gripen is completed and added to the RFI thread.

Well the JAS39 Gripen by Italeri/Airfix is complete. This was one sweet build. Overall it looks like a Gripen when assigned early on to F7 Wing Swedish AF. I did not notice this until attaching the speed brakes but the starboard side piece is smaller and does not match the port side very well. I'll try to post a picture later showing that. Thanks for looking and cheers everyone. _________________ Jeff S

On the bench at Jeff's Heavy Industries is the Airfix JAS38 Gripen. A very nice kit which shows some Italian workmanship on the sprues. Maybe an Italeri/Airfix collaberation. At any rate a wonderful build so far. This morning I decalled the weaponry. The cockpit is made up of decals for the instrument and side panels and overall very convincing. I added painted tape to the seat for the extra harnesses observed in pictures. Overall finish will be in the greys with a black radome. Kit decals (in full color) will be used for F7 Wing SAF Thanks for looking everyone and cheers. _________________ Jeff S Just build it!

That Paulo, makes me want to give up. Very nice work.

Wonderful build Mish.

Well, here she is. Sea King AEW of D flight, 824 NAS 1982-83. The project started on Jan 31st and finished this evening. And as advertised, the radome rotates. I found this to be a real interesting build. One that I stayed pretty well "geeked up" for through the whole project. It forced me to think outside normal scale modeling styles. Alan W Hall showed the way long before resin aftermarket. In some cases the build involved "best guess" thinking as even with so much reference there were gaps. I must thank gengiz (Fred) and thomasweir (Tom) for providing me with pictures and comments that were really needed. One last item. I caught myself having to remember to stick to task (article) and stop wandering. Most of all to know when to say "enough on this one. Move on." I met Mr Hall in 1985 at the IPMS Nats in Indianapolis. A right joyful old cuss and my collection of Airfix and SAM magazines are real treasures that get revisited often. Recently my daughter, raids my pants pockets for change drops a quarter (25 cents) into a vending machine at the local grocery store to buy candy or jewerly. Look at the packaging that it comes in. And you know what? It is the perfect size for the Searchwater radar. Jokes on me. Thanks for looking and cheers everyone. _________________ Jeff S

A few things were accomplished over the weekend. The RAF Blue/Grey (at least my rendition) was put on. The door with the searchwater radar is temporarily attached with a stripe of blue painters tape. Gloss coat applied, and if the day does not close in on me, decalling should be done. This underside shot shows the antennas and some things supplied by ED Models C scale set. Only after the picture was taken did I see the nasty seam showing. Oh well, once in the display case...... Two deviations made from the A W Hall article: Engine exhaust covers and holes drilled in the hull for landing lights by MV products number LS25. Even with all the references out there, some "Best Guess' technology is used. Thanks for looking everyone and cheers. _________________ Jeff S

Here is what mine look like. The cover paper did not move over the decal. IT'S STUCK THERE. Looks like an email to Hornby's is in order. This is the issue. Maybe that is why Squadron USA was letting them go so cheaply Cheers Jeff

You are correct Ted. I have learned that when powered down the bag is deflated. The build article by Mr Hall has it inflated with the blades folded. Must suffer with inaccuracy for the sake of an interesting subject and to show just what it looks like. A limp bag, well, just doesn't serve it's purpose Ha Ha Cheers Jeff

Now that is looking sweet.

In this update I have completed the assembly of the radome, mounted it on the door and painted it. I had an idea on how to make the radome rotate up and down. This was eluded to in the Alan Hall article. I drilled a hole thru the door and one more hole in the retraction arm. Adding a piece of rod to the arm, the part was slid thru the door and capped on the inside with a button of sheet styrene. IT WORKS! Now for what ever reason I can demonstrate how the radar works. Also today, the rotor blades were painted. This shot is of the inside of the door showing the mounting button and what is left of the rod. That will be trimmed off eventually. Thanks for looking and cheers everybody. _________________ Jeff