SimonR

Excellent work Mark, i'm doing the same kit and its lovely but got a few small bits to patch up. That filler sounds great, I really struggle with usual fillers getting a smooth finish, excuse me for being dumb but when you say 'extra thin' what is that exactly? Cheers Simon

Welcome Bill, been wondering when you'd join in! Looking forward to this. Cheers Simon

Hi Colin, Yes, wings were tricky but they're on the Revell kit, will be fine with a small amount of filler, rest of that kit is all ok. I need the u/c & wheels for the Echelon kit i've also started, the kit was missing the white metal parts when I bought it, i've managed to source some of the bits such as front u/c but still need main legs and wheels. SAC do some white metal legs but the wheels are going to be tricky to source. https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/SAC32014 How close are a Lightnings main wheels to a Hunters guys? https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/MST32039 Cheers Simon

Afternoon chaps, Quick progress update, had limited modelling time lately, but have managed to get the wings on the FGA9 and, I know, must be mad, I've made a start on the Echelon kit, quite enjoying it actually!! Plan is to get them both to the constructed stage and then paint them in tandem. Not sure if i'm going to do a F4 or F5 yet, might stick with the Chivenor theme and do a 145 Squadron F4 maybe - George cross marking should be easy enough to mask up. Hopefully post some close up photos of the Echelon kit later in the week.

Hi all, I dont suppose anybody has spare main undercarriage and wheels knocking round from the 1/32 Revell kit have they?? Thanks in advance Simon

Great work so far! On either thing worth noting (sorry should have mentioned before but forgot) is the inner tanks will not fit with the legs down, they pylon is too close to the u/c! Cheers Simon

Thats stunning Colin, beautifully done! cheers Simon

Lucky you Rodders, I've got issues on both lol!! Theres a very thin ridge on the wing root that I assume shout slot into the fuselage, but will it go in, will it heck!! Cheers Simon

Quick question, has anybody else built this kit and if so did you have any issues with the wing to fuselage fit, seems really difficult getting it to slot into the fuselage properly

Afternoon all, Very slow progress on this one i'm afraid, the result of having three sporty boys aged 12 and under that seem to consume most of my time! I've constructed the kits wings and decided that an F4/5 conversion is beyond me at the moment, I just don't think i'm going to get the Echelon wing to fit over the intakes, so i'm going to go with a Chivenor 79 Squadron FGA9. I may, time permitting have a go at the Echelon kit alongside this now the football season is almost over!! Current state of play:

Is it worth seeing if a resin pit will fit? Cheers Simon

Looks stunning Colin!! Cheers Simon

MSG lol no Tim, more of a Ghost Grey I reckon!! Its actually a very pale blue, tried to match the colour as close as I could to the original!

Heres the F6 I did Colin, its the Academy kit with the Heritage correction set, one of my favourite models I've done I think!

Lovely paintwork Colin, I did an F6 in that scheme and its not an easy one to get right, yours looks fantastic! cheers Simon

I've just realised that during my last Group Build, the FAA one in 2013, I built a 1/32 Matchbox Sea Venom, I was also in the mid stages of restoring my 1961 Vespa 125. So for anyone who contributed to that build thread, here she is, I finished her last summer and got it on the road before the engine blew up so I've just finished rebuilding it again, the joys of scooters lol

Thanks Duncan, to be fair the detail on the kits instrument panel is very nice, not so happy with the side consoles on the tub, not not too bad now i've added a few splashes of colour since I took these pics as well! Need to get back to it, not done any modelling since Sunday cheers Simon

Cockpit looks great Duncan, better than my efforts on the 1/32 scale kit!! Cheers Simon

Yes, can echo what Hardtarget said about the tub, I sanded and sanded the sides of the tub until I got the bloody thing to fit in

Cheers Col, I was surprised how well the instrument panel came out - its a lovely kit - shame Revell have never scaled it down to 48th!

Looking very good Colin! Cheers Simon

Well after a lull (its been a mad week), I got some time in this weekend, made a start on the seat & cockpit, tidied them up a bit since I took these photos this morning. Done the usual dry brushing on the instrument panel, think it should all look ok once buttoned up! I added so plasticard covered on tape for the cushions and some Verlinden etch seat belts and loosely placed the seat in the cockpit to see how its going to look! Cheers Simon

Seen these before but its an incredible collection Woody, they really are works of art! cheers Simon

Wow, thats amazing Cheers Simon

Love it, looks great to me, i've done some old Airfix bombers recently and they are bit of a challenge, you've done the old kit justice! And you have a pretty good taste in music as well Cheers Simon