DaveJL

Thanks all!

A little more done. I was able to fit the cockpit and close up the fuselage, which required the wings to be fitted. I like the way Meng has designed the wings - the outer parts clip into the lower halves, pop on the inner wing portions then on with the upper fuselage. Once that was dry, I added the slats and vertical stabiliser. The fit of the rear part of the fuselage is very good indeed, simply clicks into place, but the front end wasn't the best, with some gaps appearing. Nothing major, as part is covered by the intakes and the rest can be sorted with sprue gloop. Like the ZM kit, some fictional panel lines will need seeing to as well. The front left side was made worse by the random panel (part B19) that Meng have you attach to a random interior section (part J11). Not quite sure why this was given as separate part, as the instructions just simply show you closing the panel, but I'm no model designer so I'm sure there was some reason for it. As for the vertical stab, nice detail here but I would have preferred if the fin tip was a separate piece, like ZM offer, to allow different versions to be fitted. Other than that, I added some wire from a wine bottle to the rear of the WSO's IP: Pylons assembled: From my reference books, it looks like the locating tabs for the AAM launchers are present, even with the launchers removed. The TERs required the tabs on the tops to be removed to ensure a good fit. So far then, I'm in two minds about this kit. Some lovely detail and fit, yet some omissions/simplifications. I think at this stage of my recent ZM build, I was enjoying that one a bit more. Next jobs will be to tidy the front end and fit the intakes. More soon. Dave

Cheers Craig! You must be watching James Martin's Spanish Adventure, like I am coincidentally !

Back on track with this one. Firstly, the cockpit was prepped for the Quinta set. Compared to the ZM offering, it's a little basic. Still, the Quinta set just brings it to life. I set that aside and worked on the lower fuselage. Firstly the exhaust trunking was painted, weathered and assembled. Didn't go mad as none of it is seen! Popped those in, along with the intakes, undercarriage wells and aux intakes (which were given a quick squirt of Interior Green.) Some modification was needed to the underside - as I'm fitting the centre line pylon, the rear most slot for the fuel tank had to be filled in with some sprue gloop. The Hypersonic pylon needed just a little trimming to fit, as it is designed for the ZM kit: Another area that I needed to look at was the stabilators. From my research, IAF F-4s around this time period did not have the triangular strengthening plates on then stabilators. The Meng kit, however, comes with them moulded in, unlike the ZM kit which has a slight outline to allow you either to have them fitted or not. ZM top, Meng bottom: So I decided it would be easier just to use the ZM offerings. Firstly, I removed the plate outline: I then tackled the other issue -the stubs were a little thick and wide for the slots on the Meng fuselage, so I sanded them down a touch. Will just need a little care to get them both at the correct angle when they're fitted at the end but all's well that ends well! The Meng stabs will work perfectly on my ZM -EJ Kai when I get around to it. Next, the one piece upper fuselage, very nice indeed! Two things needed corrected however; for some reason, Meng has moulded the GPS dome just aft of the cockpit. Which is great if you're building a Hellenic F-4AUP or Turkish 2020, but I'm not quite sure why they moulded it to the fuselage and not as a separate piece, as I'm fairly sure the USAF decal options from the '80s didn't have the GPS! Perhaps the Korean option does, and that's why. Anyway, it needs lobbed off for an IAF jet. I also had to open a new locating hole for the IAF specific antenna. I had initially made an opening as per the instructions, but careful studying of my references shows the below is the correct location. Sprue gloop tided up the other one. So far, pretty good! A few things I'd have liked to see that the ZM kit has but nothing major. Hoping to get the fuselage buttoned up tomorrow. Dave

Thanks all!

1/48 AZ Models Fairey Firefly MK.1 1770 Naval Air Squadron HMS Indefatigable, Operation Meridian, 1945. Build thread Cheers Dave

Hello all, Here us my recently completed AZ models 1/48 Fairey Firefly MK.1, in the markings of 1770 Naval Air Squadron, flying from HMS Indefatigable, as part of the British Pacific Fleet during Operation Meridian, in January 1945. The build thread is below: Extras used included Barracuda propellor and Barracuda cannon barrels. The kit came with lovely resin undercarriage wells, wheels and cockpit. Paints are from MRP and the weathering is a mixture of Flory panel wash, Abteiluing oils, dry brushing, AK pencils and Tamiya weathering sets. Was a bit of a sod of a kit to put together, particularly the front end and the Observer's canopy - the rearmost windows on either side had to be painted to hide blemishes that I could not remove. The rockets are from a Tamiya Mosquito with the blast plates coming from a Tamiya Beaufighter kit. With my other BPF aircraft thus far - 1844 NAS Hellcat MK.II and 1836 NAS Corsair II. I've an Avenger to add to that trio, along with another Hellcat and Corsair. Thanks for looking, Dave

Last bits finished, so calling this one done. More photos in RFI: Enjoyed this kit, despite it being a bit of a bugger to put together! It's a nice addition to my BPF collection. Avenger will be next, then I'll keep my fingers crossed that Eduard will release a nice Seafire at some stage 🤞 As always, thanks to all who commented/followed the build. Dave

Thanks mate! It’s a bit rough in one or two areas but overall I’m pretty pleased with it!

Swift progress this past week. Firstly, after gloss, the decals went on. Generally, they behaved pretty well, with only one roundel splitting. Not bad given that they looked a bit rough on the paper! Once dry and sealed in, I added a Flory panel wash: Flat coat and oils soon followed and, once set, I was able to install the undercarriage, add the rearview mirror on the windscreen, remove the canopy masking, attach the cable running to the vertical stabiliser with EZ line and fit the rockets. I had to remove the small tabs on the rocket rails and sand back the braces ever so slightly to get the them all to sit in the correct line. Not a major job but took a little time to get right. A few small bits to tidy up then I just need to pop on the front canopy and propeller. Quite pleased with how it's looking, given that it's a bit of a sod of a kit to put together! More soon Dave

Hopefully it is, as it's a gem to use! Much easier than Blu-Tack in my opinion! A little more done and we're just about ready for gloss. I tidied up a few areas of the camouflage before painting the exhausts, lights and a few other details. Some rough 'chipping' added to the leading edges of the wings, wing roots and ammunition access panels. I also found the below website which helped me with one or two details: https://www.asisbiz.com//rn/HMS-Implacable.html This image in particular of DT934, showing rectangular patches of 'new' sky with the fleet roundels added: Also looks like there's no 'whip' antenna aft of the observer's station, which is shown on the box art. I added the paint patches with some Tamiya XF-21 'Sky'. All looks rather clean but a panel wash and some weathering will see to that. Another website which I have found quite helpful: https://www.armouredcarriers.com/operation-meridian-the-palembang-strike Will get the gloss and decals on this week. Dave

Nice work Alan and that's some load of kablooey stuff! Interesting comparisons with the camouflage, I'll have to keep those in mind when I get around to my Tamiya kits!

More progress over the last couple of days. Firstly, the model was primed and polished before a rough pre-shade was added: Once dry, I sprayed Sky on the lower surfaces before masking up for the camouflage colours. I used this stuff for the first time, and boy, it's a revelation! Started with the EDSG then on with the Slate Grey: And now we have this: A few areas need a bit of a tidy but it came out pretty well in the end, given that I had no painting instructions I'm off to Madrid for a few days so will get the tidy up done and exhausts etc painted next weekend. More soon. Dave

Will have a bit of that!

Thanks chaps, very informative. At least I got the green bodies right 😂. I will probably just leave them as they are!

Thanks chaps! Getting there!

Here's hoping for new Barak and Sufa kits 🤞

Thanks mate, it's sitting in a coat of primer now so hoping to have a pre shade on by the end of the week.

Perfect, cheers.

More done over the last couple of days. Canopy areas were sprayed interior green and I re-scribed a few lost panel lines. A bit of etch was added to the lower fuselage below the observer's office, some sort of boarding step or the like. We're now ready for primer. Undercarriage parts painted and given a light wash: Painted the prop with some light chipping to the edges. I ended up just painting the rockets Olive Drab with aluminium heads, I couldn't find any concise information as to their actual colour. Rails sprayed in MRP Sky: Hoping to get a lick of primer on and a pre-shade done over the next couple of days. More soon Dave

Another question for those in the know; what colour are the undercarriage wells? Would they be the same as the underside colour as per the Corsair and Hellcat or would they have been interior green? Thanks in advance!

A challenge indeed! That being said, we're getting there 😃. Firstly, the majority of the seams were cleaned up, which allowed me to fit the rear canopy and front windscreen. The former was a bit tricky to get to fit, requiring some careful sanding once it was in place. Unfortunately, the two rear most windows 'fogged' up with something or other so i'll just have to cheat and paint those . The mask set wasn't a great fit, being designed for the Special Hobby kit. Liquid mask for the windscreen. The Barracuda prop was assembled next. You can see the difference in the blades when compared to the kit part: Finally, all the rockets assembled: I removed the mounting stubs so they'll sit neatly on the blast plates. On that note, could anyone tell me the colour of the rockets? A few more seams to clean up then it should be ready for a lick of primer. More soon Dave

Cheers!

Cheers mate! It's certainly not the easiest kit to put together

Thanks Steve! I managed an hour at the bench today. Fitted the arrestor hook, two small bumps to the lower fuselage (no idea what they are), the tail wheel bracket and the intakes either side of the radiator inlet. The latter were a horrendous fit, with a lot of clean up still needed - indeed that whole front end wasn't exactly an easy bit to bring together! Once set, I added the stabilisers, which required some patience to line up and set. I'll try and get a little clean up done over the next few days and will have a look at assembling the Barracuda prop. There's a very thing casting block that needs removed; not my favourite job More soon. Dave