TOPGUN-ROB

Have a couple of quick questions as I'm thinking I'd like to do one of these. 1) Were the Tornadoes in Desert Storm the GR.1 type? Where there any GR.4s? 2) If I were to purchase the 1/48 Revell IDS Tornado, can I make it a GR.1? If so, what would I need to change/add/delete/etc to make it a GR.1? Thanks very much! Rob

I'm looking for the picture right now. if I find it, I'll post it. I'll be buying a vac-formed canopy for mine. According to a thread I read here about some of the issues with the Academy kit's canopy, there are more issues than just the back frame. The vac-form one I found seems to have the correct contour. Rob

Makes sense. To be honest, there's a picture I saw a while back of a Hunter parked on the ramp with the canopy opened. It did look like the are two walls on the back. So, I guess the way you positioned yours is most likely correct. Wish I could find the picture. Thanks again! Rob

Thank you very much! I'll go ahead and do what you did with yours then, Rob

Wow, thank you very much, Solo. Your IP shot helps a lot. About the rear wall, is the Aires wall supposed to "float" above the kit's rear wall or does it need to be flushed? Do I need remove the kit's wall? (see red circle) I can't find a picture of that rear area on the real jet so that's why I'm asking. Thanks again! Rob

My main areas of concern regarding the Aires set is the instrument panel and the cockpit's rear bulkhead. Regarding the IP, where exactly do I cut the kit coaming? Regarding the rear bulkhead, do I need to completely remove the kit's back wall? Test fitting shows that as long as one removes the from resin block from the cockpit, the front wheel well fits without issue. Thanks! Rob

Hello all, I need some help. I'm using an Aires cockpit set for my 1/48 Academy (Italeri) Hunter but I can't tell exactly how it supposed to fit inside the front end of the kit. Aires' "instructions" are complete garbage in this regard. I would really appreciate if someone who has used this set on a Hunter can help me with some pics or the such. Thanks! Rob

Thank you very much, Andy and Jeffrey. Excellent info! Rob

Just wanted to confirm here. I've been reading/hearing people (in the UK mainly) say that Alclad Aqua Gloss is nothing more than the milky Klear re-bottled. Is this accurate? I live in the states but I'd like to make sure I'm not paying premium dollar for Aqua Gloss when I have at least 10 bottles of Future (Klear) in the cupboard. Thanks! Rob

Thanks very much, all. Yep, the SAC set was a total disappointment! I don't think I'll ever get another. I guess scratchbuilding the nose wheel is one way to go. Rob

They don't look like the wheels I see on earlier Hunters so I skipped these on purpose. Thanks though... Rob

The nose wheel offered in the Italeri/Academy kit is small and just not that good. I ordered the SAC set to see if things would be better but, sadly, the SAC set is absolute garbage! So, are there any other jets that may share a similar nose wheel with the Hunter? Thanks! Rob

Thank you VERY much for the information, Selwyn. I just looked at the markings I'll use and they're actually markings from 1972-73. So, the question is, were the green pods available then? I've seen Hunters from the same squadron (No. 63 Squadron, RAF Chivenor) carry the natural metal pod but, if I can make mine a little different, why not. Rob

Thank you very much for the feedback. Dave. The markings I chose for mine (whenever it is I get to the decaling stage) are definitely earlier than mid-70s so I guess the silver one it is then. Thank you as well, George. That's an interesting tidbit about the pods. Now that you mention it, in a few of the pics I've been able to find of the green ones, they do look very clean - almost brand new. Perhaps, as you state, these were for single use only. Rob

Hello all, I'm working on the Italeri (Academy) Hunter F6 and I'll be adding the rocket launcher pods that comes with the kit. I've done extensive modifications to the pod for a better look but I'm still deciding which color I'll use to pain them. Most pictures I've been able to find of these pods show them in a natural metal (almost chrome) color. However, I just stumbled on to this photograph (link below) showing what looks like an overall dark green/olive drab color. Can anyone confirm the color of these pods on this Hunter? It would be great to show them off in a overall green color if they did indeed carried them. http://www.flickr.com/photos/toteavbods-pictures/2904599356/ Thanks very much! Rob