Jb65rams

With my two builds in the Century Series GB breasting the finishing line, it was time to make a start. Not much of a start, but it is a start.

Yes there is a sleeve fitted into the fuselage. I use tube from an Albion alloys slide fit pack.

Thanks. I hadn’t noticed the silvering. Think the photo makes it look worse. Will go back and try to fix it before I take the photos for the gallery.

Had fun with the decals, they proved fragile and I had a number fragment on me. Don’t remember this problem when I used them on an earlier project. The majority of the stencilling was taken from the kit sheet. I had a spare pitot from my Voodoo build, not an exact match but thought it looked better that the pastiche part so used it. The foam was added to stop me repeatedly stabbing myself whilst decalling. I am now calling this one done.

I am slowly building up a collection of kits of ships my Grandfather served on during his time in the Royal Marines (1912-1934) To complete the set I need in 1/700 HMS London (1899) following her conversion to a mine layer. HMS Eagle. During Sea Trials/Flight trials in 1920. HMS Revenge HMS Furious (pre installation of the island)

Been plodding away with the decals. Followed by some light weathering and a light coat of satin varnish, I am calling this finished. Technically still need to add the cockpit seals but can’t find my sheet of thin decal stripes. Will look to order some.

These GBs keep coming thick and fast. Still to start my entries in the Revell-Monogram and Canadian GBs. Hopefully my two Century Series builds will be finished this week. My entry for this GB will be Trumpeter’s 1/48 T-38C Talon wearing the colours of NASA. Looks like it should be a nice quick & simple build.

Out of the paint shop and made a start on decalling. Always enjoy this stage as it is when the model starts to come to life.

Out of the paint shop. Just a little bit of tidying up before a gloss coat and decals.

Finally decided on my entry, I will be building Airfx’s 1/48 Vampire in the kit suppled scheme for No. 442 ‘City of Vancouver’ Squadron. Not sure when I will start as I have two ongoing builds in the Century Series GB, a build still to start in the Revell-Monogram GB and the F-5 STGB starting soon.

This brings back memories. I remember building this on holiday many years ago. Didn’t paint it as I recall but do remember playing with the working bomb. Will be following with interest, good luck with the build.

Primed and main wings painted white, use Humbrol gloss white.

Seats painted and installed. In primer, hope to get some paint on this weekend.

@raafif I have this in the stash, a quick measurement suggests the diameter of the tank is about 9cm. jb

My entry for this GB is Revell-Monograms Grumman F3F, first produced as the civilian Gulfhawk in 1960. So the moulds are older than me, just! First surprise was discovering two kits in the box when I opened it, I don’t remember buying a second copy. One (loose) in silver plastic and one (bagged) in grey. Looks like the original decals have had it, so will be using the Yellow Wings aftermarket decals which I also don’t recall purchasing. As I said the kit was originally released as the Gulfhawk, from reading around now the internet it appears Monogram did update the the cowling to depict the F3F-3 but didn’t update the upper wing. The F3F had a 32’ wingspan compared to the Gulfhawk’s 28’7” wingspan. Lone Star Models did make a wing correction but doesn’t seem to be available any more. A change to the cockpit is also required as the as kit retains the DF loop behind the pilot's head as fitted to the Gulfhawk but the F3F-3 has a headrest there instead. Got some thinking to do, do I use the second kits to extend the wings or do I except them as is and build them both (easier to fit into the cabinet). Decisions, decisions. I do like the instructions from the older boxing.

Reporting for duty. Only one kit in the stash qualifies, so I am in with Tamiya’s He 162.

With my Voodoo waiting for paint, I made a start on this, the plan being to paint them together as both are in air defence grey. Will be using a pilot from PJ Productions 1960 NATO set. The cockpit as supplied is simple. The kit has few parts and is a simple build, got carried away and before I knew it I had this. Pilots painted.

Add me to the list please,I have a F-89 Scorpion in the stash.

Major construction complete. A little tidying up and then I should be ready for paint.

Good call on the metal pin. I’m building the same kit, a metal pin a couple of mm longer at each would be an improvement on the plastic pins. Not convinced mine is going to survive many rotations. Actually thinking of fixing it in position displaying the falcon missiles.

Interestingly the parts breakdown looks very similar to the 1/72 version.

Made some progress today, fuselage halves joined and cockpit tub installed. Instructions have you install this from underneath after the fuselage halves have been join. I found this a bit of a faff, knocked both the instrument panels off doing this. Wings attached, joins nicely, might just need a smidge of filler. Finally for this day I installed the rotating weapons bay. Bit of a tight fit and doesn’t rotate smoothly. Tempted to fix it in position, will make painting easier, with the Falcons missiles showing as they are the more colourful of the options.

Started by tidying the workbench in preparation. Transferred the Voodoo parts from Revells end open box to something more user friendly. And with England doing there best to lose the Cricket, made a start on a few sub assemblies. The instructions have you assembling the nose wheel and bay first, not convinced it will survive construction unscathed.

Count me in for this one.

@modelling minion Agree starfighters look there best inflight. @Dansk I won’t be using acrylic rod. Will be using something similar to the stand in the photo below.