Wafu

My final build from my Covid internment, not a full build but a build finish, a long story about a cracked canopy and a part build. Anyway, here it is with only an Eduard mask set and a set of Flying Leatherneck decals added. the kit is a massive leap ahead of the previous offering of a prototype aircraft. Now I have an empty work bench, what's next??

Still clinging to hopes of taking them😂😂😂 Not on my watch..

Thanks for all the kind words. Sturmovik, it’s in a varied grey scheme, as Two Bob’s calls for and with a delve into Google for further reference.

Hi, me again. With an NHS track and trace internment enforced, its into the shed for 10 days of merriment. What better way to cleanse the modelling palette after the pig's ear of an Airfix kit than a modern day, bang up to date release of this iconic ground attack aircraft. The kit has to be the easiest build I've had in a good long while. Its not Tamiya F-14 but it comes a close run contender for my kit of the year. I only added the Eduard seat belt set (ZOOM), the Eduard Canopy set (cos i'm lazy) and the utterly brilliant Two Bobs decals in a bright scheme. I'd highly recommend this kit and especially after seeing Spencer Pollards build and Ric Greenwoods Youtube build, I was keen as. A mixture of Hataka and Tamiya paints used, with Galaria Satin coat giving the final finish i was looking for. Now on to the Hobby boss MH-22B...

Here's my long term love/hate and hate a bit more Airfix 1/24 scale, Sea Harrier FRS1 of 801 Naval Air Squadron, embarked on HMS Invincible 1984. I have to say I'm not a great Airfix fan at the best of times but needs must when you love the FRS1 and building big planes. This has taken the best part of 6 years and has languished beyond the shelf of doom, in the dark depths beneath my work bench. Overtime I went to spray at my spray booth, it would tap me on my knees, just to say it was still there. The basic kit looks like a FRS1 and so that's good for me, I did add a plethora of Heritage bits and the Flightpath Aftermarket set (lots of this I still have as I'm not totally taken with it) that said its the only one so I picked what I wanted and the rest stays in the box. the kit fought me all the way and without Nick G I would have probably binned it, so thanks Nick and the IPMS UK Harrier SIG, for inspiration at every SMW to get on with it. It isn't my best but its finished...

Got mine today and I’m not disappointed. Sea Dart and Sea Wolf next on the list.

I’d suggest you look at Phil Flory’s build on YouTube.

Steer clear of the windscreen Flightpath addition, I fitted it to my 1/24 Sea Harrier. I was so unimpressed I took it off and have spent hours removing the damage to the kit part. My opinion, just saying.

Not the same shape, XV107’s photo shows a more pointed front and rear profile. The CV pod has a blunted rear.

Thats the one.

One for all the Harrier buffs out there. Can anyone tell me what the pod, carried under the second from the wingtip pylon, is? And more importantly, does anyone do this in 1/48? I can’t see that the T12 carried much in the way of dangly bits, so I wanted to fill as much as possible on my T12. Thanks in advance, especially to Nick who will set me right I’m sure😉 Cheers The Woo.

Is anyone else building this kit, or have already built it? I built the problematic Italeri kit of the prototype Osprey back in the day, not long enough to leave me with nightmares of a kit I’d never build again, even if it was the last one on earth. Then Hobbyboss released a new tooled, up to date 22, nice panel lines and reviews that said it was a massive leap forward. This for me has not materialised, so much so that I’m on the verge of shelving this pile of plastic. My issues consist of a miss-fitting cabin core, massive ‘scale’ gaps on the rear ramps and a design that is stripped bare by the old fashioned centre seam from the wing back to the tail sections. Im not a ‘professional’ modeller, what ever that means, and I’m not a plastic ‘artist’, I’m just a person who chooses to build subjects that I have a personal collection with or an interest in. I do have ‘off’ kits but this is a new kit, commanding a hefty price, in a scale that requires detail to be retained, it’s not a 1970’s Matchbox kit so why do I feel absolutely at my wits end struggling to build a subject that I like, for all that’s heavenly in plastic, I bought an aftermarket decal set for it, I can’t hate it that much, can I, or can I? And to top it off my canopy is scratched, Creative models here I come.

I found the weapons ‘soft’ in detail compared with the rest of the kit. In addition the seats suffers the same conclusion in my humble opinion. The wheels were a luxury and although I didn’t change them on this kit, I will on my next Tornado. At the end of the day, it’s personal and financial choices.

I’d been inspired by Spencer Pollards book and a friend posting the markings of 617 on his fb page. The extras did make up for the short comings of this kit and I’d advise anyone to go the extra mile to add them. Glad you like.

I worked and lived in the Seychelles for a few years, awesome place and all the family came along. Always hear and see the Twin Otters busy ferrying around the Islands from Mahe. Great model, I’ve only just came across this as I’m building my own, it’s not as good as yours though.

The kit went together fairly well, I used Spencer Pollards book as a build guild as well as the instructions. I would advise filling the nose with fishing weights and resin glue though, she’s a big lump to tail sit. I used the Master Casters seats, Master pitot set is also a given. The intakes are a fiddle to sit right and need injector pin marks filling and painting before assembling. The weapons are a bit crude in detail, hence why I opted for Eduard Brassin GBU (need slight modifications to make US bombs to ones used by the U.K.) Boz pod and AIM’s. The FLIR pod is from Tim Perry, it’s 3D printed and a gem, not seen anyone else do a Tornado pod in this scale. You may want to hand on if you’d like to add Brimstone missiles, Eduard are releasing these very soon (May time I think?) Kit decals are good but I wanted to model the Dambusters 70th scheme, so use the Fantasy Decals for the Revell kit, they fit ok I think. I will buy another kit and incorporate the same basic details but add different weapons and decals.

Hi, Please find my Italeri 1/32 Tonka in 617 Squadron 70th markings. A massive thank you to Jack Ruskin, without him and his Fuel tanks, I would have had to fitted the larger Italeri tanks, Thanks JR.. Thanks for looking.

Hi Pappy35, I’ve built three of these, two J’s and a B converted with GT resin conversion. I would add a set of seats at least, maybe then Aires cockpit set and if you want a set of exhaust cans. The perfect cherry on the cake is the Master pitot probes. I would also ditch the decals, use Cam decals for basic stencils and the squadron of your choice. At the end of the day, it’s primarily down to budget for me but I wish you well in your build.

Thanks for the information. I didn’t know that there was a difference in naming the aft section of a USN ship to a RN ship, everyday is a school day.

Hi all, General question, what USN ship has the Phalanx installed on the quarter deck OR on the aft of the ship. Oh by the way, the ship needs to have a flightdeck😉 Cheers...

Alex, congratulations on your stunning build, I never served on Shar’s but worked very close to them during my time on the RN carriers. In my humble opinion you have been able to get the best from the kit. I’m interested in your comments about the kit, I have one of these and the FR2 I hope to build. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the kits. Wafu.

Well what a year, with a global pandemic and the massive change in life as we've all become accustomed too. I count myself lucky to have been in work for the whole year and being able to continue modelling. My year kicked off with a step away from the normal, a impulse buy from SMW 2019, 1/56 Rubicon Firefly and Bedford. I enjoyed the builds, small scale figures and ground works. Trumpeter 1/32 Intruder converted to the KA-6D with Steel Beach conversion, AOA decals used. Two Royal Navy Lynx from the Revell range in 1/32. Mk3 and Mk8 of the Royal Nay display team, the Blackcats. Trumpeter F/A-18F Super Hornet in 1/32. Tamiya F-14A Tomcat in 1/32. With angry AIM's. 1/48 Hasegawa F-4 of the Royal Navy. Built as a commission for a guy at work. One of my two shelf of doom rescues, Revell 1/48 CH-53G converted to a MH-53 Pave Low. Trumpeter Gaz-66 with AA gun in 1/35. MiniArt and Master barrel bits added. Final build completed of this year, Tamiya F-4J Phantom converted with GT resin to the F-4B. Fear the Bones;) Happy New Year, fingers crossed is a better one than 2020.

Guys, this is all starting to slot into place. There is a photo of Quentin Aanenson in a painting stood in from of an all metal bubble top P-47, maybe just maybe a replacement Rebel Jack? I’ll also throw this out for educational thought, was Topsy and Turvey in the same font do you think? With regards to Rebel Jack, I’m just now missing the nose art for the starboard side, Orphan Annie, any takers for solving that? Thanks again for all the input and help, I do plan to collate this and present a case to decal manufacturers for a sheet with both aircraft in, a common link of Cptn Quentin Aanenson would be a very nice tribute to all who flew and maintained these beasts. Keep the info coming.

Thanks for all the positive responses, the only other photos I could find were from the Ken Burns DVD ‘War”. I might have to do more scratching around and then get some pictures together. My plan would be to approach decal manufacturers to see if they would extend their range to include this subject. Seeing as it’s featured in a DVD they might be more willing? Thanks for all your input.

Hi all, A quick question for all the P-47 experts out there, I’d like to build either a 1/48 or 1/32 P-47 flown by Cptn Quentin Aanenson, USAF in Northern France, 1944. Does or did any of the decal manufacturers print the decals for his machine, I think it’s Topsy, or at least this one was the one he crashed. Thanks in advance.