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ChocksAway

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Everything posted by ChocksAway

  1. Thanks Selwyn, much appreciated.
  2. In this photo of G-HAWK, can anyone confirm the bomb types being carried. They look to me to be 500lb / 1000lb sizes and that's generally confirmed in captions, but are they UK or US type weapons? They look to long and thin for UK, but slightly too fat for US - to me anyway. The tail fin shapes are new to me too. Thanks for your help. Photo from BAE Systems
  3. Christmas is a time when yawning seems to be a popular past-time. Here’s an opportunity to practise whilst looking at what I managed to cobble together in 2019 from the loft-insulation. All are brush-painted in acrylics, out-of-the-box builds and 1/48th scale unless otherwise noted. Here we go then ... First of the year was another Rafale was added to the small but growing collection. This is a French Air Force Dassault Rafale B from Escadrille SPA 79 (Tête de loup), Escadron de chasse 1/4 Gascogne on Operation Serval in 2013. This is the Revell Rafale B (with bomb rack) kit … Next is a very striking Boeing CF-188A Hornet of the RCAF from the 425th Tactical Fighter Squadron in the specially designed scheme celebrating Canada’s 150 years of confederation. This is the Kinetic kit and very nice it is too. I added a PJ Productions Rafale pilot for interest – the French connection! … An impulse purchase of a “started” (some paint on the cockpit fuselage walls) 1/72nd scale kit at a model show is the next subject, a BAE Systems Hawk Mk.128, ZK010, in its demonstration scheme colours. I decided to stage this in flight. Not one of Airfix’s greatest kits, but not too bad a result in the end. Those of you who know me (probably only a few now) may have begun to wonder when you’d see the first Harrier, well wait no longer. This is a Harrier II TAV-8B with GRUPAER of the Italian Navy, using the Nick Greenall-mastered T10/T12 conversion kit and a Hasegawa Harrier II AV-8B NA kit with 65% LERX. Decals are a mixture of kit, spares and home-made. Continuing the Harrier theme as I would, here’s another Kinetic T-bird build, this time a T.8 with the RN SFDO (Royal Navy School of Flight Deck Operations). I’ve actually sat in this aircraft, so it was nice to have the opportunity to model it. I avoided the idea of a selfie figure sat in the rear seat! I used a mix of kit and home-made decals for the SFDO markings and vinyl-cut MDCs. Another modern BAE Systems Hawk is next, this is the Airfix Hawk Mk.127 in RAAF markings of 76 Squadron. Not a particularly detailed kit, but I liked the scheme! The MDC is cut from vinyl. For my second Saab Gripen build I chose to do it as 39-2, the second prototype in its all-black scheme and performing air-to-air missile weapons release trials. This is the Italeri kit. I couldn’t find many photos as reference, but I believe it was the scheme version prior to the one in which it is now preserved in a museum. Missiles from the spares box. I returned to the Harrier collection with another Kinetic build. This is a T.4N with 899 Naval Air Squadron, sporting an unusual medium sea grey scheme (usually dark sea grey) and an even more odd not-yet-repainted replacement wing from a Harrier GR.3 fitted. Aside from the winged-fist emblems from an Airfix Sea Harrier FA.2 kit, this is all from the kit. The MDCs are cut from vinyl. It’s been a while, but here’s my latest Hasegawa Eggplane build, this time a Mistubishi F-2 masquerading as a F-15C Block 50 with the 85th TES (Test & Evaluation Squadron) of the USAF in the latest “Dark Viper” scheme. It is a mix of kit and home-made decals and I used Hataka’s Have Glass Grey acrylic paint. Oh dear, sorry, another Kinetic twin-seater Harrier. Here we have an Indian Navy T.4(I) which was originally a T.4 with the Royal Air Force (ZB600). Just to be different, I thought I’d pose it in flying configuration, complete with two SHAR pilot figures, I used a mix of kit and after-market sheet decals. The MDCs are cut from vinyl. Continuing the Kinetic theme, this is their gold standard boxing of the Alenia (Leonardo) M-346 Master. Sticking with the Commonwealth air force specials theme I seem to be inadvertently loosely following this year, I chose the Republic of Singapore Air Force and a jet which celebrated 20 years of joint training with the French Air Force. This jet is based at Cazaux in France and painted up in 2018. I used a Yahu cockpit set and home-made decals for the tail scheme. A lovely kit and one that folks really ought to build. Thanks to Tim for help with the tail art. In support of the Harrier SIG’s Scale Model World display I built a Harrier II AV-8B Plus serving with the VX-31 “Dust Devils”. This particular jet, 164129 / 88, was the first of this variant to be built and also the first to fly with a 50:50 mix of jet fuel and bio-fuel, hence the tail markings. It’s also heavily weathered now which added to the appeal, not that you see many clean Harriers in service. Kit, after-market and home-made decals used. The MDC is cut from vinyl. One of my fellow club members gave me this next kit as his grandson did not want to build it. Although not my normal scale, who could possibly turn down building a Red Arrows Hawk? (Okay, form an orderly queue please.) This is the Revell 1/32nd scale version and I chose to make-up decals of the 50th Anniversary special tail from 2014. I decided on an in-flight staging with one of the engineers in the back doing photos on his iPhone. The MDCs are cut from vinyl. Time for another Harrier, this time an AV-8B from VMA-311 “Tomcats”. The aircraft depicted, 163664 / WL06, was one of the first Harriers (4 in the flight) to deliver bombs in Operation Desert Storm, when they attacked an Iraqi artillery position. 16 Mk.83s were dropped and 1000 rounds of 25mm cannon were expended. Although it’s two greys again, at least they’re in a different pattern! The MDC is cut from vinyl. And the last of the year is a return to the first of the year with the Rafale. This is my first Rafale M (Marine) build. I chose Flotille 12’s 70th anniversary display jet from 2018, serial number 5, which some folks in the UK may have seen at Yeovilton and RIAT. Many thanks to Tranquil on the MAIW forum for the generation of the art work which I then printed. The remainder of the decals are from the “& bomb rack” kit, but the kit is the original release boxing. Weathering may be a bit OTT and I may change it. That’s all folks and my last yearbook. Comments welcome as always. Merry Xmas and Happy New Year.
  4. Here is a build of the Kinetic M-346 Master in the colours of the Republic of Singapore Air Force, albeit with a special scheme tail celebrating 20 years of training partnership with the French Air Force. In addition to the home-made decals for the tail, I also included the Yahu cockpit set. Aside from that, it's entirely from the box contents. Some of you will know that this is the first kit from the new "Gold Standard" in the Kinetic range and thus sets expectations for better quality. I think it meets mine and there really are no dramas putting the kit together, except the ones of your own making (e.g. trying to figure out the main undercarriage arrangements, just like the Rafale. You shouldn't need any filler and there's more than enough reference photos around for detailing beyond the kit. It's brush-painted with Hataka and Vallejo acrylics and finished with a Winsor & Newton matt varnish. Minimal weathering applied. My thanks to Tim for help with the tail decals. A delightful little kit of an interesting aircraft and I recommend you have a go at building one. As ever comments are welcome.
  5. UPDATED with very late entry (see end of thread) Here's this year's shelf fillers that were reconstructed from bits of plastic insulating the loft and are now collecting harmful dust and pollutants on the display shelf. Not a particularly productive year, let's say quality over quantity - I wish! No whales or cute cuddly animals have been known to be directly harmed in the making of these kits. Panel lines have generally been left alone too! 😉 All models are 1/48th unless otherwise stated and are brush painted. On with the show ... First build of the year was a Harrier (now, there's a surprise, eh?) representing VMA-214, "Black Sheep" of the USMC. This particular model represents the jet when it participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom ... Next up, sunglasses at the ready, is a BAE Systems Hawk Mk.120 with the 85th Combat Flying School in the South African Air Force. Unsurprisingly, it's known as the "Vlaggie" (the flag) jet. It's the Kinetic 1/32nd scale version of the Hawk but with home made decals for the squadron markings ... Keeping with the special schemes, the next one is a Dassault Rafale B, 118-HT / #323 of ECE 1/30 Côte d'Argent in its 2013 Tiger Meet scheme. This is the Revell kit with home-made decals for the tiger markings ... And yet another special scheme, this time a Saab Gripen JAS39C (but using the Italeri JAS39A kit unmodified!) with the Czech Air Force. This is 9238 in its "Picasso" scheme, which was also at the 2013 Tiger Meet. Once again, home made decals for the markings and serials ... For those of you who lose the will to live looking at Harriers, you can depart now as you'll regard it as all downhill (vertically) from here. Whereas Harrier fans may find something of interest or difference? A return to the Harrier project now with a Harrier GR.7 of the Air Warfare Centre. It's the Hasegawa kit with home-made decals for the AWC markings ... Continuing the STOVL theme, I then had a go at a Harrier T.12 using the conversion resin mastered by Nick Greenall (ng899) of the Harrier SIG. This is ZH661 of 20(R) Squadron ... And here's the Harrier T.10 using the same conversion resin, this time as ZH656 with 3(F) Squadron in the two greens scheme ... A point of modelling order here - the MDCs for the 3 Harriers above were made by cutting glossy white self-adhesive vinyl using a Silhouette Portrait Cutter and are not water-based decals. And finally a switch to first generation Harriers and a Sea Harrier FA.2 with 899 NAS OEU in a trial Dark Sea Grey scheme before the widespread adoption of Medium Sea Grey. This is the Kinetic kit and mixes their decals with spares ... There's an Indian Navy Harrier T.60 nearing completion, so if I get it done in the next week or so I'll add to this thread, else it will go into next year. Because you can never have enough Harriers. UPDATE - And here it is, better late than never ... That's all folks, Thanks for looking and Happy New Year to you.
  6. At club night, the first remark I heard about this model was ... "You do know it's not a Harrier, don't you?" ... which explains why my usual instructions and build notes didn't match the parts I was working on. And then I heard "It's a bit big for you, isn't it? ... which also explains why none of the items in my spares box were any use at all and the paint was disappearing faster than usual. Sadly the next remark was not "Do you want a beer?" but "Have you had enough of Harriers then?" And the answer to that is, "No, of course not!" Now it's true to say that this model was a freebie and perhaps not my first choice, but that's due to the scale and not the subject. After all, it is in the Hawker family. I would build more, but there's too many Harriers to get through. As it's a dull and dreary day before Easter, I thought I'd add some colour to a grey day ... look away now as the rest of the thread contains images you may find disturbing on a military fast jet in active service ... For the record it's the Kinetic 1/32nd scale Hawk 100 Series kit in the airshow display team colours of the 85th Combat Flying School, South African Air Force. Except for the addition of the rear chaff / flare dispenser it uses the parts straight from the kit. SAAF decals are home made and used alongside kit stencils. The paint scheme is brushed (Vallejo / Xtracrylix acrylics) with the exception of the yellow which is from a rattle can. Any resemblance to a Mk.120, particularly the cockpit, is coincidental, as the Hawk experts among you will already have noticed.
  7. Here's a photo of said model from my club's website ... I used LifeColor's acrylic Light Compass Ghost Grey (FS36375) for the main scheme and Light Gull Grey for the radome.
  8. Correct - my apologies. Got carried away. POST ABOVE REVISED. Time to hang up my keyboard and retire from BM.
  9. Dennis Here's what I have or know about AV-8B colours - feel free to research more and draw your own conclusions using this material to kick start ... I believe the AV-8B scheme entered service with a RAF-mimic of dark grey / gark green / light aircraft grey using FS36099 / FS34079 / FS36440 respectively- the "AV-8B land camouflage scheme" and which is documented in MIL-STD-2161A. The under-side colour was then removed again as per the RAF and became a "wraparound" with FS36099 ad FS34079. The first HTPS (Harrier Tactical Paint Scheme) "AV-8B tactical" was officially FS36118 Gunship Grey on the "saddle", FS36320 Dark Compass Grey on the upper fuselage and FS36375 Light Compass Ghost Grey on the undersides. This was then modified subsequently to FS36118 / Dark Gull Grey FS36231 and FS36320 and became the prevailing standard for many years. (MIL-STD-2161B). The current HTPS scheme applied to the majority of Harriers now is FS36118 over FS35237 French Blue Grey. (MIL-STS-2161C). There will be official time periods for the introduction of these (not to hand), but re-painting would have followed to coincide with maintenance tasks and other delayers, so you can't necessarily see a photo and date it based on the scheme. As we all know, what's official and what gets done is not always the same thing - and the local paint shop guys didn't always follow the official pattern markings. Best to find photos of the jet you want to model and use that as evidence if you want to avoid the Rivet Police getting on your case and making your life hell. Note there are variations in the colour names - and spelling of course - but the FS numbers should be your guide. Gulf War paint schemes are and Spanish and Italian Harriers make for another discussion!
  10. Sadly the photobucket changes have removed a lot of the photos, but pressing on regardless, here are the rest of my 2017 Harrier builds for those that are interested and didn't see my 2017 Yearbook entry ... Following on from the Art Nalls FA2, I decided to have a go at one of the AV-8B II FSD (Full Scale Development) aircraft and chose 161397 ("Ship 2") for its striking colour scheme. It's the 1/48th Monogram kit ... Next up, and long over-due, was a build of the Kinetic Sea Harrier FRS.1. Typically, I chose an aircraft not in the kit, XZ452 when at the IFTU (700A NAS) and in the much loved EDSG / White scheme ... Following on, another rarity, this time a GR.5 in the Rolls-Royce 11-61 engine trials scheme designed by test pilot Heinz Frick. The aircraft was used to set four time-to-height records for VTOL aircraft. One of my favourite schemes, but difficult to know if I got the scheme colour correct ... The last build completed is the new Kinetic "T-Harrier" which allows gives you the basis for building any first generation two-seater. Long-awaited, it was a privilege to get an early example to build to show at SMW. You may ask why I did get one ... well a few of us in the Harrier SIG helped Kinetic with its production. Again I chose a scheme I've wanted to do for ages, but is not in the box, the shark-mouthed TAV-8S of the Spanish Navy Air Arm. It also carries the 25,000 flight hours celebration markings of Escuadrilla 8 which operated the Matador. A lovely kit, expect to see more next year ... Note I've since added more details to the ejection seat and tidied up the cockpit and canopy, but have yet to do the photos! You get the idea I'm sure Thanks for taking the time to look.
  11. Here are my plastic shelf fillers for 2017 ... BUT, before we get there, I have to give you the following politically-correct, cover-my-back warnings before we proceed. If you take offence by looking at aircraft that are … · without pre- and post-shading of panel lines with 50 shades of black and grey · lacking 57 varieties of weathering powder · minus photo-etch and cockpit resin that costs three times the price of the kit · missing corrected and re-scribed panel lines and individual rivets then please leave immediately as this posting will be detrimental to your health and welfare, in much the same way as excessive consumption of pizza, fizzy drinks and reality TV. So here are my 2017 dust gatherers in their order of construction and built to my usual inimitable standard #1 - Prepare for a shock to start the year … I built a target! Yes, New Year and new beginnings, I ventured into 1/72nd scale tanks with this effort, a Tiger I Ausf.E from Revell. I went with a representation of a Tiger in winter camouflage on the Eastern Front in January-February 1944. The markings are actually for “221” with Schwere Panzer Abteilung 501 during this time, though I very much doubt I have the configuration of the tank correct. (Let’s call it Hollywood “Braveheart” historical accuracy, shall we?). Oops, it’s got some weathering on it, where did that come from? … #2 - In another moment of madness I then built a Revell 1/100th scale Apache and built it as a Boeing AH-64A Peten. I chose “967” with the “Magic Touch” squadron of the Israeli Air Force after reading a web article suggesting this was the first Apache to shoot down a civilian light aircraft. That taught them not to squawk their ID I guess … #3 - Back to normality with this next one - the first of a pair – with a build of the 1/48th scale Airfix Hawker Fury Mk.I. Just to be different, I chose a trainer scheme, in this instance that of K5670/3 of 5 Flying Training School. Fans of the Fury will just have to tut and hold their head in their hands as it’s not in the much-admired all-metal finish … #4 - Having built a Tiger I, I felt obliged to build a Tiger II, especially after being nagged by my model club chairman (Panzer Vor!, so say no more). For this one I chose “11” from Pz.Kp.(FKL) 316 (attached to Pz.Lehr Div.) which had 5 Porsche turreted King Tigers numbered 02, 11, 13, 10 and 12 so the 100% accurate web tells me. I chose "11" for its seemingly unusual paint scheme, added to the fact there were some reference photos available. Experts will probably think I didn’t look at them. I’ve now done my duty and built some targets, sorry tanks – never again is what I say … #5 and #6 - Before returning to normal model making, I stayed on the ground with the next two models - Royal Navy Tow Tractors. They are from Skunkmodels Workshop in 1/48th scale. The first represents a tow tractor from the early 1980s when deployed aboard HMS Hermes and HMS Illustrious in Operation Corporate and the second in the dark green scheme that was used in the late 1980s I believe. Something to sit alongside the Harrier collection, which is where they originated from … #7 - Next up is the Eggplane mimic from Meng Models – the Avro Lancaster “Bomber” as they describe it. To avoid an OOB build, I went with markings for "Dagwood", ND619 / CF.D of 525 Squadron, RAF. This aircraft was one of the survivors of the Nuremberg raid of 30/31 March, 1944, where the RAF lost just over 100 aircraft out of 700 on the raid. A lovely, simple little snap-together kit, I might have to do another one someday … #8 - The second Hawker Fury Mk.I, this time using the LifeLike 1/48th scale kit, represents K8262/3 from the 8 Flying Training School at Montrose in the late 1930s. It makes for an interesting comparison with the Airfix kit. Again I chose to model a training scheme which as you can see was modified in the run-up to WW2 to make the aircraft a tad less conspicuous … #9 - Those of you who know me know I still had an eggplane to do, and here it is, the final one of the set - the NASA Space Shuttle and its 747 launcher. I thought I'd end with another dream … that one day British Airways / OFFworld will offer a flight in space, courtesy of some reconditioned NASA Space Shuttles converted to take some Executive Class passengers in the former cargo bay hold. To pay tribute to what many regard as Britain's greatest explorer, the shuttle is named "Capt. James Cook" and the 747 is "Bounty" (serial G-COOK). The old speedbird logo has been resurrected from the logo archives to celebrate this new service … #10 - For the first WW1 build of the year I chose a Roland D.VIb, 7502/18 "P132". This aircraft was flown from McCook Field, Dayton Ohio USA in the spring of 1920 where it was used for evaluation trials of the aircraft’s performance and a new experimental camouflage scheme. It’s the Fly Models 1/48th scale kit. #11 - It’s been a long while since I’ve built a Harrier, so build number 27 was long overdue. Just to keep to the theme of being different this year, I decided to model Art Nall’s Sea Harrier FA.2 in its 2017 display season scheme. Currently the world’s only civilian-operated Harrier and still going strong after 10 years of display flying. This uses up the last of my old Airfix 1/48th scale kits before I embark on building Sea Harriers using Kinetic kits made in the 21st Century! … #12 - Continuing the all-sorts mixture, I wanted to do the old Heller 1/48th scale Dassault Rafale A, or Technology Demonstrator, in the Dassault in-house colour scheme. The model represents the aircraft at the Paris Airshow in June 1989 when the fin was updated on a daily basis to represent the number of completed flights. The white finish was rattle-can sprayed … #13 - Loosely keeping with the French theme, the next build is that of a SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1A, XZ398/A, in the 41 Squadron 75th Anniversary (1916-1991) scheme. This is the Revell 1/48th scale boxing with Xtradecal decals and was built to go in the Special Schemes SIG’s SMW 2017 display… #14 - A return now to the Hawker theme with a couple of 1/72nd scale builds. The first is the latest moulding of the Airfix Typhoon Mk.IB done in the all-metal finish of MN666 “The Silver Bullet” which flew at the Flight Leader School, RAF Milfield in late 1944. A lovely little kit and a very enjoyable build … #15 - This is the Hasegawa kit made up as a Hurricane Mk.IIC Night Fighter, QO.A / BN185 from 3 Squadron, RAF Hunsdon, circa September 1942 … #16 - A few more hours browsing the web for interesting subjects led me to this build of an Ansaldo SVA.5 seen in the colours of the Polish Air Force, flown sometime in the 1920s it is believed. Whilst a photo exists, not much else is known about it and is thus somewhat problematic in accuracy – yet more Braveheart, Hollywood style! … #17 – Back on firmer ground, here’s my take on PZ865 / G-AMAU using the 1/48th scale Revell kit. Probably more recognisable as “The Last of the Many”, this was the last new build Hurricane made by Hawker Aircraft Limited. This scheme and configuration is hopefully close to how PZ865 looked when it was used as a chase plane in the early transition flight trials of the Hawker P.1127 in 1961 … #18 – And talking of Harrier connections, this is a model of the second full scale development Harrier AV-8B II, 161397, seen here in the in-house company colour scheme of McDonnell Douglas. I used a Monogram 1/48th scale kit for this. The aircraft had several configurations during its development and for expediency mine might be a bit of a hybrid. Harrier fans will appreciate what I mean and I’ll not bore the rest of you explaining. Unfortunately additional photos turned up on BM after I’d done the painting and decals. It’s certainly an interesting scheme – a model maker who documented the scheme described it as “ugly”. Judge for yourself … #19 – A much more traditional scheme can be seen on this Kinetic 1/48th scale Sea Harrier FRS.1 in the colours of 700A Naval Air Squadron, otherwise known as the Sea Harrier Intensive Flying Trials Unit (IFTU) which was destined to become 899 NAS. My first experience of what I’m sure will be many builds of Kinetic’s Sea Harriers and Harriers. And no, it’s not a bad build as some folks make out … #20 – The Harrier rolling take-off continues with this Revell GR7/9 1/48th scale kit converted to the Pegasus 11-61 engine trials record-breaker GR.5, ZD402. Another striking scheme which I hope I’ve got close to replicating. Interestingly, both pilots who flew it on the day it broke the records have a different recollection of the configuration it flew in. I tossed a coin and chose this one. I used the markings from the Vingtor decals set (highly recommended) … #21 – I was fortunate to get an early copy of the new Kinetic “T-Harrier” kit shortly before SMW 2017, well 11 days to be precise, and decided to build a TAV-8S and in particular 01-808 / 8 in its “Shark” and “25.000 Horas” scheme of 1995. So with a pioneering spirit and reference books to hand, I rushed through the build. Not a bad effort I think considering. I plan to build another 7 or 8 over the next few years for my Harrier – One of a Kind project… Harrier #32 is underway, but is not likely to be finished, so that’s the end of my modelling yearbook. Thanks for staying the distance if you’ve come this far and I wish you a very happy Christmas and a wonderful panel-line-wash-free New Year.
  12. The fan blade C3 should have been included in Section 7. I added it to the back of K8 - which I did not split - before fitting. White is the default - but there was some variation due to the scheme in the single seaters so worth checking reference photos for your chosen scheme or wait for someone with the knowledge to pop up on here with the answer! There are a few other instruction errors: Seats supplied are not relevant to TAV-8A/TAV-8S. L24 should be labelled L21 in section 2 K31 is applicable to all fins in Section 12 and PE6 is only applicable to a T52 (not in kit - G-VTOL/ZA250) Be sure to validate the use of the various aerials for your chosen scheme. Likewise use of 190 gallon tanks - at best only T4Ns and T8s, and then not the standard I believe. E49 - refuelling probe as provided is for the single seater. There are some stencils missing from the decal instructions but easier enough to figure out. See NG899's post for some other observations and corrections.
  13. Chris Fantastic. It was an inspired idea and reminds us all that we are supposed to enjoy ourselves in this hobby and have some fun. If I have one criticism, it is that you forgot to put thick black panel lines on all the aircraft. I put this down to your inexperience with aircraft modelling. I shall let you borrow my black Sharpie pen so you can make suitable alterations. 😙
  14. Folks Here's my example, not-quite-finished, build that was on display at SMW ...
  15. APOLOGIES. I had hoped to have my "information sheets" as Nick (NG899) described them ready for SM, but work on the building of the kit has meant I have not had enough time to finish them. Sorry. I will get them done as soon as I can. Meantime you can read Rick G's review in the magazine and his photo shows what a great addition this model will be to your Harrier collection. Very nice build Rick - I'd like to compare notes! Show visitors will be able to see my build on the Harrier SIG table and I'll be happy to talk about my experience with it if you ask nicely. 😁 I built it as the Spanish Navy TAV-8S 01-808 wearing a shark mouth scheme and 25.000 horas markings of early 1995 (these decals are not in kit). I've still a few bits to finish (ejection seats, canopy, weathering). We also plan to have the kit contents available for browsing. Refer to Nick's previous post on this and other items. You can also speak to Kinetic! See you there.
  16. Thanks all for your responses .... I shall pursue some lines of enquiry as it is said. Meantime, I've found a fix with a syringe and a piece of rubber tubing (don't ask!) that seems to do the same job. Fortunately it means my Harrier build can return to production and hopefully meet the SMW deadline.
  17. Thanks for replies. In response ... Glues are horses for courses. I've used Tamiya Extra Thin and sometimes find it not strong enough in the bond. Yes PlasticWeld can be aggressive if not used carefully, so I like the option to use both as required. Here's a link Here to the product and description of use.
  18. Chaps Anyone found a replacement for the filler bottle that comes with the Touch 'n' Flow applicator? I don't mean the branded one, the cheapest of which I can find is about £8.50 with postage (strike a light, they're taking the mickey!), but an equivalent plastic bottle on FleaBay etc., with the right size top that doesn't require a mortgage to purchase? Thanks in advance.
  19. As Nick (NG899) has said, there are a few things to correct - plastic-wise as well as instructions-wise. Certainly nothing that will stop you in your tracks. As an example, it says T2N as a variant on the box cover, but you wouldn't stop buying it just because it says that, would you? Okay, I've seen a hand go up at the back. There's always one! Some of us have to make mistakes in order that the perfect folks stand out from the crowd, else we'd not notice you. With the kit, FRS.1 kit, Model Alliance decal sheet MA48153 and/or Vingtor decal sheets 48109 and/or 48118, you can pretty much do any Harrier I trainer that flew from a markings and schemes perspective. And with a little home effort and an inkjet printer, even the T8s at the SFDO. So if you're into one of a kind, you'll probably need 10 kits or so - like I will!
  20. Sven Thanks for swift reply and additional information - I shall keep searching. Chers
  21. Cracking set of shots and thanks for posting - these are very useful and very timely and interesting. Have you got any images you could share where it carries "Radar" on the nose and trialling AIM-120s? I've only seen one image and have no documented evidence that it did them, so maybe it's fake? Alpha Delta 210 - I believe the jet is at the Carolinas Aviation Museum in the grounds of Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina. No longer in this scheme though.
  22. Finally got around to building a Harrier after a long sabbatical ... this is #27 and it is the old Airfix 1/48th scale Sea Harrier FA.2 build as a homage to Art Nalls and XZ439 ... it's a close approximation I hope to his 2017 scheme ... Better get on an do a few more!
  23. James In response to your question "Does anyone know if they'd ever sit with the Terma and SNIPER, plus fuel tanks and then empty rails for the rest?" I'm saying I've seen a photo of ZG501 in that configuration taxying whilst with 41(R) Squadron in the UK. It was not on Operation Herrick at the time. It's a possible scenario for Herrick if the jet had been carrying 4 Paveways IVs and dropped all four on a mission. Given two Paveway and two CRV-7 was the standard, four Paveway must have been for a specific mission rather than CAS. Folks who were out on Herrick are best placed to answer this, not me I'm afraid. CRV-7 pods are brought back rather than jettisoned I believe - but you need a Harrier armourer to give you chapter and verse on this subject. If you've not already done so, I suggest you download this document before completing the rest of the build.
  24. James Look at this file for what's available for 1/48th scale Harriers - it's only a few months out of date, but I will be updating it later this year after the Kinetic T-bird is released ... http://www.harriersig.org.uk/models/kits48.pdf L'Arsenal do Paveway IVs (re AC 4833 5.95 Euros for a pair), but you're right, I've only seen Belcher Bits for CRV-7s. You could probably scratch build the CRV-7s if necessary - I'm sure we can get you the dimensions and a few photos for you to do so. I've not seen photos of the configuration you suggest for Herrick, but ZG501 when with 41(R) Sqdn was testing out this configuration in the UK! I have seen a jet with 4X Paveway IV, TERMA, DJRP, Sniper, Fuel tanks and BOLs if that helps (serial not known). Does it matter though? It's your model. Sure someone will criticise, but remember criticism says as much about the critic as it does the criticised. HTH
  25. James Shameless plug from me for some of my Harrier reference / walkaround photos and also examples of how not to build the Hasegawa/Revell Harrier can be found here ... http://p1127.co.uk/Harrier/index.html Good luck with the rest of the build.
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