silverburn

<crackle>...yeah, we're all ok...Douglas Bader's had a skinful and fallen off the bench, Joe's so high he's complaining about his fingers being cold, and frankly, I'm more worried about our May Wests which look like they've been painted on with a brush...<crackle>

Ok, plane definitely done now! Wheels and leaning post done: Cabin leather hand holds & gun done: Ok, definitely done now!: Insert funny caption here: When these guys are tidied, washed, brushed & fitted, it'll be RFI time!

Hi all, Ok, I think I'm just about done on the plane. Will consider a bit of weathering, but stuck as to what. Might just leave it. *Edit - just noticed I need to do the cockpit sills too.* I will be running with the crew, so that's still to do, as are the rear gun and sled wheels & rest. And then it's off to RFI! Oh, and yes, I know about the torps/bombs thing...truth is I think it looks great with them both, so that's how I ran with it. Gotta say...I might be catching the Stringbag bug...

One thing I was wonder about guys...what's the best way to weather stringbags? I've got the usual tamiya "make-up" pastels and promodeller washes...but any suggestions welcome.

Ok, more progress today...some of it BAD! And it was going so well too... Firstly....which muppet forgot to glue and fill this bit (the rear gun "cover") in *before* painting ??? And after reading some other poster who built the wings, only to come to installation time and end up with etch pinging off, I decided to cut my losses (I'd started the rigging) and install the wings and finish the rigging insitu... ....except the port lower wing was way off! (apologies for the photo). A bit of brute force, and it was soon in place...though with a significant panel gap. But annoying the rigging ping off, on *both* sides! Anyway...some effort and patience expended...and this is the end of day progress pics. Looking ok for my first attempt at rigging! And it was a bloody trial, I can tell you. I recon I'll finish off the engine and other details (inc my wing edges...they need a tidy) tomorrow, with a RFI on Monday?

Another night of progress... Thankfully I've done the bit I was quite worried about - the fuselage cammo! After some serious masking... ...it came out alright! Note: the green is glossier due to it being Montana gold, and the grey being humbrol. Once Matt lacquered down, they're identical, don't worry (the floats are a good example). I fitted the lower "arms" after doing the fuselage, to ensure I got an even finish. ..and with the top wing centre... And some dry fitted top wings. Port wing is in beautifully...the starrboard involves a bit of pull together top and bottom wings. But not much. Still can't believe how well this is all slotting together. And look what else I got!

Ok, a wee bit of progress... I've decided to try and work out the best way of painting this, and have decided to do the main body, then do the wings separately. This will make cammo easy to do without breaking anything or getting paint everywhere! I'm not worried about the join of the wings showing because in the 1:1 these would be visible anyway. Having said that the joins might not even be visible anyway, the fit on the kit is incredible; absolutely zero flash, and evert piece is millimetre perfect. Some were so perfect, they barely need glue to stay in place! I did have a wee bit of filling to do on the port wing stub rear - it was sitting proud. But it's a tiny imperfection - the filler and sand-paper manufacturers must fear for their business if Tamiya produce more models of this quality! Anyway - to the priming! If you notice the machine is missing..it's cos I removed it (ie broke it off). Figured it was easier just to reglue later on. How Tamiya expected the gun to stay pristine I don't know - sure the kit could have allowed the gun barrel to be fitted at the end, instead of right at the beginning?

New bits arrived! Only the 8 1000lb'ers going on; the LGB's will go in the stash, or onto a GR4 (a future project, maybe). Still waiting on some metal legs...it could be 3 weeks yet! Still, nothing like some pointy boom sticks to pass the time... Also got to lacquer down the decals and get on with some weathering.

Hi all, Just wondering...does anyone do such a thing? Had a rummage in the interweb thingy, but to no avail. I obviously don't know all the good modelling corners to go to!

Ok, Just a small bit of progress tonight...basically started on the crew, and got the tub together! Crew are still only half-done, but already I've hit a snag - the pilot simply won't fit post-tub-joining! Well, I managed to get him in, but now he's called "Douglas Bader".. Still a way to go - he's still way too high and forward. Also, the tub was a tight fit - no shaving or anything needed, but some serious clamping and superglue was required on the belly, with some resulting sanding. Small bit of filler and sanding on the nose too. I've left out the glass, as I always too. I *always* hash it up, so I just leave it off, and "pretend" it's there! Oh, and the photo-etch from Tamiya is coming...

I know, I know...

Yep, got one in The Stash...Consider this one a dry run! I'd still like to do the floaty edition in 1:32, but not done any research yet TBH - will worry about that nearer the time.

Pretty much done the pit tonight: Snag is, the laquer has reacted badly to the Humbrol enamel "spitfire" green and "leather"! Not a happy bunny, but it's not too bad. Also get a view of the radio in this one, which I'm quite happy about, for once. I usually bodge these. Wee bit of a dry brush tomorrow to pop some detail on the rear gun, and a wee bit of a wash, but that'll be about it. Don't want to go too overboard on weathering. Well, for now at least!

Definitely! As mentioned, my "off" wash is actually going to be perfect for this now! However, I need to do a little bit of chipping, and fading as well, to make it a bit more plausible. Oooh, yes please! Will PM you later.

Good lord, I'd forgotten I had to do this! Ok, after the tornado...and the stringbag...I promise!

Just freakin' insane...you've even got a chain and everything for the fuel stopper cap...that's it - I quit now. We are simply not worthy

Hi all, Received a Tamiya 1:48 floating stringbag, so thought I'd kick it off with some pics while I wait for parts for my Tornado. And here they are! it's going to be totally OOB, but I may run with torps and bombs at the same time. I know that's sacrilege, but this will be a quick (ish) build, before I start on Trumpets 1:32 (from the stash)...and it just looks so good with torps and bombs at the same time... Progress as of tonight: - pit green painted and drying (yes, it's my crap camera...this is genuine "spitfire" green, and looks spot on in real life). - bombs done - torpedo needs to dry before assembling, and then done - Floats are completely done - decals, lacquer, the lot. And they look the bee's knees! Revving up to be a good kit this - the quality of the sprues are excellent, and the detail is fantastic. I might spring for the etch set for this. My only concern is the wires - are they on a sprue? That could prove problematic for my blunt blades and sausage fingers.

OK, some photo's at last! Also fixed and weathered the pod... Fitted up the weathered tanks & sidewinders to the pylons. You'll note a flaw here...I've checked the reference pic, and the lower left bomb count should find right to the edge of the gun plating. However...you can't do that with these decals, because Nikky's knee hits the "thingy"! Not sure where the fault here is - did flightpath miss this, or did Revell change the mould? I tried cutting the decal, but it just looked worse, so I left it as is.

Another one that I promise I've not forgotten about - I've been doing stuff honest! Cammo is going on, but gahd...what a job. More photo's on that once I get my camera fixed.

Hi guys, Just to let you know, I've not forgotten about this one - my camera's merely on the blink! So in short, the progress is: - Main body all completed, primed and sprayed Montana Gold Salmon. Pinker than true desert pink(only just), but... - a solid dark wash with my "broken" wash is paying dividends and bring the correct colour back. It's gonna be *really* dirty, just like the real things! It's a bit "one dimensional" just now with just a wash, but I'm working on chipping and fading individual panels as well. - Still no news on the Skyshadow pod - will probably have to run without one, unless I get another proper GR1. There's one on ebay, but it's £50! Tempted to get it, and build out a traditional grey GR4 will the bits left from this one. - Metal legs are all here, and waiting completion. I'm going to need thicker lead, as the stuff I've got is too thin for the hydraulic lines. - Decals from Gulf war are going on tonight, before I start the ageing/dirtying process (see above) on the main body. So far pylons and tanks are done, as are pointy boom sticks on the inner side pylons. - There's been a wee change of plan re: load out. Have decided to go with 8x dumb 1000lb'ers instead of the Paveways; probably not strictly accurate for the Gulf War, but the idea appeals to me for some reason. Maybe because my 1:32 eurofighter had 6 of them, so I fancy something different.

Cheers guys! Been a while since I did this one, and was surprised to see this back on the front page! Cheers for all the comments - Tempted to do another in a flying pose, but right now I've got a Gulf war tornado to finish...it's been after-marketed to death with details kits, resin pits, 8 x 1000lb bombs, metal legs all round. Pity my camera's busted, and you can't see it...yet!

Looks spot on to me! Got one of these myself, in the to-do pile... Good show.

Learn something new every day Ok, I'll ponder this tonight - will extend & darker the steel, and probably go with pink TBH. I knew making a Tornado would keep me on my toes..

I'm actually copying a pic from the reference pics here on BM, so I know the colour combo was "live". Re: the collar, I'll check the pics again - I just painted within the lines, assuming the were correct - didn't think to check if they were too thin! re: silver - it's actually humbrol steel, which is a fair bit duller than humbrol aluminium or silver - I think it's just the pic. The black appears glossy in the pic too, when it's not.

Not really had a load of time tonight, so a few bits and bobs. However, there's good news and bad news... BAD NEWS: My wash has gone off! Even after a generous mixing, look what it did...went on like sludge! Note to self: test first! However, all was not lost - it turned out better than expected, and I almost got the really dirty tanks I was after. Normally, you'd wash after lacquer etc, but I wanted *really* dirty, not just to highlight the seams - so I applied it straight to the paint, and it's come out well? I might try and chip some paint on these to finish them off. I'll take off the excess round the fin, don't worry. GOOD NEWS: Purely by accident, I think I've got the right desert pink! This is actually Montana Gold "Salmon". It needs a bit more "sand" in it by the looks in the photos, but it's actually really, really close. So I got fired into the Bozz Pod and the pylons. And I think they've come up a treat! Just got to find some "danger" decals for the boz pod, and then dirty it up. And them all together (this is better shot of the colour btw).