robw_uk

and now.... 2 possible schemes..... anyone have a preference... it will be (probably) Argentine navy but need to check what decals for the kit I have available.... aermacchi-mb326ew-scheme by rob_william_worth, on Flickr aermacchi-mb326ew-scheme1 by rob_william_worth, on Flickr

love the electronics bay.... really adds something.... am also building a recce bird so looking around for recce pods type things... think mine will be half drop-tanks from a very old vigilante mounted either side of the lower fuselage (MB326 dont have much ground clearance when on the ground so cant really hang things underneath.....

not heard of marmite as a mask before!!! different.... must say thats a great build... like the masking for he wings. Looking forward to seeing the end result

and for your delectation - a rough idea what I will do.... am 99% sure it will not look like this..... red bits are my main areas of work aermacchi-mb326ew by rob_william_worth, on Flickr

aiming to start work on this tonight.... no cockpit as the canpoy is well and truley knackered so straight on with building the fuselage..... pics to come so you can see what I am battling with!!!!!!!

thanks for that - only need a small amount so will have a look at what alternatives I have in the UK... my usual filler (revell crap stuff) is probably not up to such a large fill job - maybe for sculpting a different shape to the nose it would be ok (something else I have to work out... may start on it later today)

oh wow - VERY neat masking on this.... not a civil avaiation fan (unless I am on one flying somewwhere warm of course) .... noticed you added quite a length to this , what did you use as tthe filler? I need to add ~2.5cm to the nose of my next build, understand using plasticard to add the structure but was considering also using plasticard bent to bit the shape of the nose, not sure if that would work tho......

that red really does jump out - clean aircraft and very clean paint...... looking forward to seeing the rest of the build and how you display it

am sure you could find a willing home for the aged/unwanted model kit somwehre ;-) lol..... but hey - great builds coming on here... like the concept too and looking forward to seeing the finsihed articles

great start... I love cockpits - wish I could get mine to look half as good..... my WHIF has a covered cockpit (damaged canpoy well beyond repair) so that should speed my build up no end ;-)

my eyes dont work well enough to do 1/144 I am sure.... its bad enough in 1/72!!!!! excellent work - looking forward top seeing the paint......

oh wow that just grabs you when you look at it - great reference for anyone building a Stuka......

neat finish and (personally) superb photography........

Russ, wasnt critisizing the finish.... mine is bad and I "good" hands...... lol... I will probably paint mine white then mask and paint the re d- just more comfortable with it..... will keep watching

looking good..... is it easier to [paint the red edging with the gear doors off? I have an F-18 waiting to be done and it has the same effect so looking for tips (will be back to check out your paint & weathering too.....)

thats a stunning finish, all over excellence..... my only comment - where the heck do you keep it - the rotor-span must be HUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE

great progress so far..... quick question on the "light grey/white" scheme. Is that white underside and light grey upper? Am building a WHIF MB-326 (electronic Warfare version) and wanted a slightly different scheme. Have the Argentine ARMADA decals from the original scheme so am after something different thatn brown/green

watching this... great start here Mish... must get round to starting my WHIFFER.......

intetresting & Well executed concept... how about hitting this form the other direction.... lightning front half and only 1 tail-boom out the back (guess it wouldnt be strong enough really so would need to be beefed up)

I have a set - am sure they came pre-made.... has 6 draws in total, 3 small, 2 medium ,1 large... great for KEEPING MY STUDY (WHICH DOUBLES AS MY MODELLING) DEsk clear

do you mind if I nick the camo scheme on this... building a WHIF MB-326 converted to electronic warfare (Argentine Navy) and like the dual-tone gray...... of course if you could see your way to profiling an MB-326 in Grey that would be even better ;-)

neat finish on this..... and love the open door into the cockpit... am sure I built one of these many (and I mean 25+) years ago. Painted yellow & white I do believe......

dont think there is enough clearance below the aircraft to add much underneath - was going to add some sort of "pod" underneath anyway... any "extra window" would have to go in the nose as the engine is directly behind the cockpit.... but guess I could do this.... as to being ready on time - good question - but you guys wont kick me out if I am late (I hope) so will build it anyway using the GB as a foundation EDIT ok... done some more research an dfound the RF-4B reconnaissance Phantom of circa the same era as the MB-326... this tells me a number of things 1) the nose was 4ft longer (2.5cm in 1/48 scale) 2) it did NOT have a 3rd crew member. The rear seat had flight controls removed 3) cameras in the nose (should be able to do something) basically then I will add this lot to the MB-326 An AN/APQ-102 reconnaissance SLAR was fitted, with antenna faired into the lower fuselage sides, just ahead of the intakes. This SLAR was capable of tracking both fixed and moving targets. An AN/AAD-4 infrared reconnaissance system was fitted in the fuselage belly just behind the SLAR. AN APR-25/27 radar homing and warning system was used, an ASW-25B one-way datalink was installed. An ALQ-126 deceptive electronic countermeasures package was installed, which obviated the need to carry external jammer pods. An ARC-105 communication transceiver was fitted, which required that large fin-skin shunt antennae be faired into both sides of the vertical fin. A Litton ASN-48 inertial navigation system was carried. data courtsey of http://www.mcara.us/RF-4B.html

OK, so I was originally going to do some dodgy World Cup related plane but have thought, hey, what if the MB-326 was converted for Electronic Surveliance/Warfare... . sort of like the Intruder/Prowler.... so I am thinking extending the nose (afterall it would need a better radar platform) and adding a 3rd seat... problem with that is that it would be a bizarre 3rd position - behind the 2nd.... not sure how that would work/look to have 3 in a line rather than 2 + 1..... so thoughts 1) extend nose from infront of the cockpit 2) insert spacer into cockpit areea (clear part is knackered anyway so that will be covered as for storage) but that got me thinking surely if I increase the length & weight, the engine (single on the 326)O wont cope - perhaps it needs 2 engines.... and the wings - would I get enough lift with the originalwing configuration..... well first things first - will start with the nose as I "think" that is the simplest. in terms of markings.... then thought Argentinian... but up to date so maybe US Grey config or perhaps something "interesting" - will have to see what paint I have in and see (maybe dark gery on dark grey cammo anyway.... will be hacking this at the same time as the Dragonfly but WIP will be up soon as I start.....

great work on this... have a 1/72 Hornet sitting in my stash (well it IS my stash really),thinging of getting some wing-folds for it and maybe better nozzles. When they are "parked" do you know the conifugarion on the nozzles?