SaintsPhil

This is going to be a great build judging by current progress! I've got a couple of these and I'm dreading scribing them, far from my favorite job. You've made a great neat job though keep it up! Are those Pavla bits still available do you know?

It's a very nice kit, got one pretty much built waiting for me to be a bit braver with weathering and using my airbrush! You'll be a busy chap I was just looking at you entries for the phantom GB too! There was mr thinking one kit in each was going to be pushing it....

Hi All, I'm after a spare nose cone from and ESCI kit, or other kit with a sperate nose, to replace the one from my Matchbox FGR2/FG1 kit. Any help much appreciated! If anyone is interested I have a range of spare decals I was given by the decal bank for British Phantoms in 1/72. There are all what I would call special or display schemes. If anyone is sturggling for inspiration for a finish drop me a PM and I might be able to help! Phil I should have said that's a 1/72 nose!

Thanks, I will put a post in there too, just thought I'd ask while I remember! Phil

More progress today. Not had the best day today! I decided that the lack of detail in the cockpit would bother me even if you can't see anything in there with the seat in! So added some spare bits of PE to the instrument panel, taken from an Airwaves Jag set. Here's the cockpit together I'm not 100% happy with the seat, I might add some PE belts from the same Jag PE set. I used the tub from the Airfix GR5 again as the kit one is tiny and the white metal seat doesn't fit! The seat also didn't fit the airfix tub as it turned out, so I cut the sides off, as you won't see much once that seat is squeezed in the cockpit. I'm starting to think the kit cockpit is under scale. The seat fits (just), but with the tub mounted on it's locating shelf the seat fouls the canopy, it was a good job I checked as normally this is sort of thing I forget until the end. I cut off all the locating points and persuaded the tub into the forward section. I'd had a thought earlier that to make life easier for my self I would glue the front have of the forward setion only together and glue the 2 rear halves to the main fueslage sides, thus leaving only a small gap top and bottom to fill rather than a step all the way round! I'm not claiming this to be my genious idea, I've seen people do similar in WIP threads on here before. I'm just chuffed I thought of it before I'd glued it all together! The result is this Which I'm pretty happy with. One side has slight step where it relaxed while it was setting, I blame the dog for distracting me! I also fitted the tail and cleaned up a rather nasty seam there When you put it down like this it doesn't seem much for a days work.... I also got an email from Hannants today to tell me the decals are out of stock due to an error with stock levels so I have no idea when I'll get them! I've had it confirmed that XV787 wore the sharks mouth for 3 days! Anyway tonight I have to look forward to sand, sanding and more sanding! Phil

Afternoon all, Well the week off work must be sending me loopy as I have enterd the Harrier GB and now I'm going to enter this one! I picked up a Matchbox FGR2/FG1 kit recently, as I used to love the matchbox kits as a kid and it was alot cheaper than the Fujimi offerings, I can see why though! I have a few phantoms to build but I figured this would ease me in! Sprues Dissapointing grey scale compared to some I remember! Some extras I've taken one of the closed canopies from one of my Fujimi kits to use and got the Aeroclub set, mainly for the seats, but I think the exhust nozzles will be useful too! Not sure if its the correct nose leg in that set but I can use the main gear I think.... Going to finish it as Black Mike which I believe is an FG1... The detail on the kit isn't anywhere near as good as the Fujimi kts, but finished in all black it should look pretty good, especially next to the Black Tornado, Black Jag and future Black RAF jets I have planned! As I said I'm mid way through a Harrier for that GB so I might not get going straight away but having said that I never only have one kit on the go at once! One last thing, I've read that the kit nose is no where near the right shape and that it can be substituted with a part from an ESCI kit (I guess others with seperate noses) does anyone have a spare? Looking forward to getting going! Phil

Thanks Mark, Glad it's not just me that thought they were a bit off! Nearly as bit as the fuel tanks! Phil

Thanks! Glad to know I got one thing right! Phil

Ok update on work so far. Firstly the plan worked! After being warned about the fit of the kit I decided to do some dry fitting first Not as bad as I expected the join between the front section and main fuselage looks to be the worst. I decided I din't like the way the main gear has to be fitted as the main fuselage is closed up....so I raided an old Airfix GR5 I had and used the main bay part from this to create an inside for the gear bay. The airfix part has some detail for the bay and the airbrake all in one so I chopped off the bit I needed. You can also see the large gap between the airbrake bay and the fuselage side. I've since filled this with some scrap plastic card. Here's the finshed result, plus Mr Surfacer 500 dabbed on the seams! Whilst raiding the GR5 I had the idea I could use the airfix intake front ends, with dropped doors. Side by side with kit parts In fairness to the kit parts the fit is no where near as bad as the photo shows! I've since shaped the airfix parts to a pretty good fit. I've not attached them yet as I'm waiting for someone to say 'you can't do that the GR5 intakes are different because....' They look close to me but I'm no expert! I also built the fuel tanks, rocket pods and engine nozzels. It's these bits that let the kit down. Rocket pods are massive to my eyes and don't fit together so will never be round! I since gave up and raided the spares for some. The engine nozzels don't fit together very well, but at least the join is in a sensible place so I can work with these I think! I've also started the white metal MK9 seat I've got too, but I'm not convined that's the right seat for the GR1....any one care to comment! I have a couple of questions some one could help me with maybe. What colour are the gear legs? The Instructions call out light Gull Grey, but the instructions are for the AV8A. I mentioned stores but I have no idea what they would have carried while in Belize, anyone care to comment? I was thinking about one Dumb bomb and one rocket pod, with 2 fuel tanks, or maybe 2 rocket pods with a dumb bomb on the center line. I think it's walkies time again now but hope to do more later! Thanks for looking in and thanks to everyone who has already helped me out! Phil

Right I've started! First thing third I've dipped the canopy in my Kleer subtitute Quick Shine! That's locked away from dust drying nicely! I usually use Vallejo paints so I'll do some experimenting to get something close to dk admiralty. Cheers for the heads up on the kit I was unsure of it's pedigree fit wise! I think the FOD covers may be a good call. Any got a good pic of one? Maybe here and the wider web will be my best source of info! Thanks Phil

Looking good! You're right there isn't much room in the cockpit for a pilot! Phil

Jon, That'll be great PM on way! Phil

That's the one! Thanks for finding it! I'll order the decals and hope someone confirms what I found rather than telling me I'm wrong! Hope to make some progress today! As I said I've got the week off but I'm dog sitting a six month old Labrador so I think long walks are on the cards so hopefully he'll sleep rather than trying to 'help'. Phil

I found the pic via google in an old thread on here! Should have book marked it as can't find it again now typical! It's a Fujimi AV8A, picked it up for £7.50 at IPMS show in Birmingham the other week. There were 2 on the stall wish I bought both!! It's got real nice crisp detail. I can't comment on the shape accuracy as I'm no expert but it look like a harrier! Next question, is the interior of the GR1 admiralty Grey as per other harriers? Thanks Phil

Oh they'll be plenty of dumb questions don't you worry! Incidently I forgot to mention the scheme I'm going for! I was thinking of doing XV787 when it was stationed in Belize. The decals are availbe for it. I've seen a picture of a GR1 sporting a sharks mouth apparently from Belize as well and apparently the same aircraft, but you can't see the serial in the pic to confirm. Anyone help me out on that front? The decals don't cone with a sharks mouth but they do have one for a Spanish AV8A which I could use... Phil

Hi all, I hope it's still ok to join in? I'm going with this: As a GR1, Which is lucky as the kit decals look like this: Guess they got wet at some point... Sprue Shots White metal seat Not the best photo! I've also got a resin one so I'll see which looks best. Hopefullt these will be useful! I hope to make good progress as I have the week off work now and my girlfirend doesn't! This is my first group build so be gentle, plus I expect I'll have lots of questions!! Phil

Sounds like the starter kit I got, or very similar. One piece of advice, go for a compressor with a tank. Not much more expensive but I regret not getting one! The airbrushes aren't the best, I knackered both of mine after a few weeks, combination of no instructions and not having a clue what to do with them! I since watched loads of videos on you tube and know where I went wrong!

I've got a pilot from a hasegawa jag that would probably do the job. He has one arm posable. Drop me a PM Phil

Alun, Unless you've used them the LGB on the RAF spru from the tornado I sent you should be the ones you want! Phil

It comes in rattle cans, which I recently for the first time. I think they are fantastic, but it's not cheap and mine came from far east and being a spray can had to be shipped by sea!

Very nice! Got a couple to make my self hope they come out even half that good!

The part you've got in the kit is the (name completely escapes me at this time in AM!) which is fitted to the GR1 as standard. The FLIR is part of the upgrade to a GR4 fit and you would need one as well. The linescan is only fitted to the recce versions. Incidently the Hindenburg tanks were carried by GR1s noteably during the first gulf war so that could be an option. I have some reference material I could send you if you like? Drop me PM Phil

I use micro sol to soften them, then I tend just to spray varnish over the whole kit after to finish. There is an alternative to clear which I use call quickshine, it's available from lakelands. You can get micro sol from eBay to avoid buying a kit from hannants, that is assuming you want to avoid buying one! Phil

Yeah that's a great tip! I always kick my self after I read these things! Incidently I found electrical insulation tape was good for a straight edge

I'll second Quick shine I've used it recently to de-fog a couple of canopies, not as bad as yours but not very clear, and it worked a treat!