Col. Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 Having pretty much given up wrestling with the Airfix Firefly for the time being I thought it best to tackle something a little less, how shall we put this...demanding, frustrating and just downright pish. So without further ado I cracked open Revell's 144th Hunter and got started. Here's what you get in the box. The parts are nicely moulded and contain an amazing amount of detail for such a small kit but I just couldn't help myself. A rear bulkhead and sidewall ribs will help add a bit of interest to a cockpit which should remain visable through the clear and reasonably thin canopy. I've ordered some of Aeroclub's 144th pilots as I want to build this one in-flight but they're taking a while to come. As of now I have the fuselge halves together with the Brake parachute housing sanded off and the exhaust packed with some filler to allow modification to the small bore of the earlier Avon engines. Only a little filler was needed on the seams and to cover the positioning holes for the link collectors. I've also got the two wing halves together in preperation for modifying the leading edge tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 Coming along nicely mate, that must be tiny! ps: where's the firefly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted June 8, 2007 Author Share Posted June 8, 2007 Coming along nicely mate, that must be tiny!ps: where's the firefly? Thanks mate, and yes it is! As for the Firefly, she languishes in a corner of the wooden chest I use as a modelling bench and storage area taunting me every time I open it. The Hunter should help me get back the enthusiasm to finishing her. Very neat - but you won't be able to see the detail you've added.... Don't forget that it needs a lot of nose-weight.Cheers, Chris. Don't worry mate, I've got good eyesight! Also, I'm building this one in-flight with a clear rod up her backside so no need to try and pack weight into that tiny nose area. I couldn't sleep last night after the race because the adrenaline (well, did get second place!) was still high so worked on a bit longer. Mainly to remove the dog-tooth from the wings and re-shape the jet pipe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted June 12, 2007 Author Share Posted June 12, 2007 The Aeroclub pilots arrived on Friday along with all the other goodies I ordered. These guys are tiny! The pose is similar to the bods you used to find in some Airfix 72nd kits, you know the ones who could fly anything from a C-47 to a Puma with their legs crossed and one hand on their lap. Needless to say I'm half way through modifying one to fit with a razor saw and microscopic blobs of Milliput. I'll post a photo once I get him finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted June 18, 2007 Author Share Posted June 18, 2007 Here's the modified pilot next to his untouched brother. Because I want to build one of the first production Mk. 1 aircraft I though it would be different to finish him in the white flying suits usually worn by test-pilots, hence the initial coat of Humbrol matt white enamel. Should add a bit of interest to an otherwise black 'pit. Also started to detail the bang-seat but the work will be restricted to the headbox since the rest will be virtually invisible once installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dylan the rabbit Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 F..k me, those pilots are sitting on a clothes peg... I thought I was doing watchmaker scale work building a cockpit for a 1/72nd Sopwith Pup and rigging the fecker. Good work fella! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted June 18, 2007 Author Share Posted June 18, 2007 Cheers Dylan, ain't it funny how you think it looks great until you see the photo on the 'net and catch sight of all the rough bits. Got to do something with that right shoulder, looks as if he's got some sort of body armour or a Joan-Collins-out-of-Dynasty type shoulder-pad under his flying suit. That blob of Superglue masquerading as an oxygen mask ain't looking too clever either. Oh well, guess what I'll be doing tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 Cheers Dylan, ain't it funny how you think it looks great until you see the photo on the 'net and catch sight of all the rough bits. Got to do something with that right shoulder, looks as if he's got some sort of body armour or a Joan-Collins-out-of-Dynasty type shoulder-pad under his flying suit. That blob of Superglue masquerading as an oxygen mask ain't looking too clever either. Oh well, guess what I'll be doing tomorrow I'm very disappointed you've not moulded the individual fingers there Col! You can imagine the headlines "Prototype Hunter crashes due to pilot wearing mittens" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 I'm very disappointed you've not moulded the individual fingers there Col! You can imagine the headlines "Prototype Hunter crashes due to pilot wearing mittens" You mean like the two fingers I'm holding up to you right now? Actually smart boy, it looks as if Neville Duke wore large thick gloves while test-flying the Hunter prototype so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it Since last night's time-trial was cancelled at the last minute due to a fog rolling in off the coast I came home and built up some detail on the bang-seat. With any luck this will still be visible inside the 'pit after a light dry-brushing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 After a bit of painting and dry-brushing with Humbrol enamels our man and his bang-seat are almost ready to fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 Fits like a glove! Next task will be painting the intakes and fitting the wings. Then I can do circuits of the living room making jet noises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dswoofie Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 F...ing 'ell! That's mighty impressive for 1/144. Those pilots are brilliant for the size, and the detailing on the seat must be soooo small to work with... I'm impressed. I'd thought of possibly doing a few of these in a display as the Black Arrows or Blue Diamonds... don't know if you can get the decals though... Karl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 F...ing 'ell! That's mighty impressive for 1/144. Those pilots are brilliant for the size, and the detailing on the seat must be soooo small to work with... I'm impressed. I'd thought of possibly doing a few of these in a display as the Black Arrows or Blue Diamonds... don't know if you can get the decals though... Karl. Thanks Karl, there was quite a few bits that didn't quite make it on the the seat because I was ham-fisted with the tweezers or scalpel. Nice idea about the display flight, perhaps one of our resident decal producers will come to the rescue Did think I'd seen a sheet in 144th somewhere but can't find where now. I'll have another look later and let you know. Thought I might as well get the wings on while I'm on a roll. There's a slight gap on the under-surface that'll need a little filler but it's the only fit issue I've come across so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dswoofie Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Nice idea about the display flight, perhaps one of our resident decal producers will come to the rescue Did think I'd seen a sheet in 144th somewhere but can't find where now. I'll have another look later and let you know. I know there's an Xtradecal sheet that's got lots of options on it, but nothing for Black Arrows or Blue Diamonds... It still might tempt me to do a few in this scale... Karl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 I can highly recommend it mate, really nice with lovely crisp detail. I think there was a set of decals for the GA-11 released by Modelart in 144th but I'm hoping to convert the 72nd kit instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miroslav Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Bravo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted June 22, 2007 Author Share Posted June 22, 2007 Cheers Miroslav, all that needs to be done now is the fuel vent pipe and a couple of engine-related cooling inlets on the mid-fuselage. After that's done I'll need to learn how to spray Alclad! All I can do is hope I don't bugger up the finish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted December 28, 2007 Author Share Posted December 28, 2007 Time to resurect this one with a wee bit of progress. Added the pitot probe to the left wing from a cut down sewing needle and added the extra mid-fuselage cooling vents found on early mark Hunters. Bit of masking and a quick rub down brings her up to the painting stage. Now, where's the Alclad?..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexwh773 Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 bloody ell Col, I wouldnt dream of doing anything that small Bex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 I ahve a 1:72 Sabre Dog and MiG 21F on the bench just now, and I'm stuggling with them in terms of size, how you and others who build in smaller scale than 1:72 achieve such results, I find truly astonishing ! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigReg Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 I am a new member and build exclusively 1/144 British aircraft. The Black Arrows and Blue Diamonds decals were available from Mike Grant decals. There is a picture of my Hunters on his site. I really admire the mods to the aeroclub figures! Perhaps next time try the OzMods resin figures they are far superior. Looking forward to the end result. Regards BigReg I ahve a 1:72 Sabre Dog and MiG 21F on the bench just now, and I'm stuggling with them in terms of size, how you and others who build in smaller scale than 1:72 achieve such results, I find truly astonishing !Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted December 28, 2007 Author Share Posted December 28, 2007 Thanks guys. Bex, Ian, it started as a simple OOB box build but I got carried away Give the Revell 144th range a try, every one I've seen so far has been really nice. BigReg, thanks for the heads-up on the figures and decals. Think I may need some of each for a few more of these Hunters in the future. Any chance you could post a photo of your Hunters, they sound interesting! In the meantime I fired some Alclad at the wee bugger. Oh dear. Let's just say it revealed a few self-inflicted 'problem areas'. So without further ado, out came the filler. The underside looks worst, mainly where the gear doors (don't) fit and the wing halves meet along the flaps and ailerons. There's also a shallow sink-mark on the upper wing at the thickest point of the moulding. All told nothing too drastic that more care and attention in the prepaint prep could have avoided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
periklis_sale Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 mate Col this is micro-engineering!!!!!!!!!!!! Amazing!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigReg Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 Col, I am a complete novice here! How do I attach a picture? Regards BigReg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted December 28, 2007 Author Share Posted December 28, 2007 Col,I am a complete novice here! How do I attach a picture? Regards BigReg Do you have a PhotoBucket or similar file sharing account mate? There's no facility to post up straight from a computer hard-drive due to the possibility of hackers setting a virus loose. There's a good explination in the FAQ section or follow this link Hope that helps mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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