andy wood Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 (edited) It was Speeder's Fighter Pilot topic (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234938966-fighter-pilot-collection-the-80s-bbc-series/page-2?hl=+fighter +pilot +bbc) that galvanised me to do this build. As already stated on that thread, it caused mixed emotions for me, so I decided to make this model in memory of my father. In October 1980 my dad joined the Red Arrows ground crew (Iater to become one of their Cheifys), and left in September 1983 to go on the Hunter MU at Abingdon. During that time I became a veritable hangar rat. I climbed over the Hawks more times than I care to remember. I remember with great affection the Families days and the children's Christmas parties, where my dad ensured that Father Christmas (aka the Wing Co) always gave me a model aircraft as a present. When we would walk through the hangars on out way home we would tie party balloons to the pitot tubes. Now this is not a true WIP, for there are better ones already on this forum, which I used to help me, namely: Geedubelyer's http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/65566-revell-bae-hawk-t1-red-arrows/page-1?hl=+hawk +work +progress and Markmarples http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/63278-my-132-hawk/page-1?hl= hawk work progress What this build is for is to show you what needs to be done to correctly model a Red Arrow Hawk when they were at Kemble, so here it goes: First off the control columns. The one on the left is unmodified whilst the one on the right has been altered to more accurately depeict the stick. I cut the column upper portion off and restuck it leaning slightly to to left, which is how I remember they appeared to me. It also matches what I have seen in various pictures. The next thing I did was the first modification to backdate the model. The Hawks were not fitted with the smoke indicator lights on the comings until mid 1983. I cannot recall ever seeing them fitted. I suspect they appeared to just before they went on their US tour, which was when they were at Scampton. So off they came. I used the CMK set and the scalpel points to where the indicators were (now removed) The next thing to tackle, and one of the biggest changes, was to change the ejector seats to the earlier Mk 10s with the wider headbox. I first drew them on plasticard and chose the ones I though looked the best. Edited January 18, 2015 by andy wood 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy wood Posted January 13, 2014 Author Share Posted January 13, 2014 (edited) I glued the 'ears' to the headboxes and filled them with scrap plastic. The early Mk 10s had bigger recesses for the pilots head so, these were made with more plasticard. At the moment the seats do not look that hot, but P38 filler will sort that out. I have to say the standard bang seats as supplied in the kit are very good. Apart from adding seatbelts, and the canvas covering the drogue chute on top, there is nothing else that need to be done to them. I honestly think that you would be wasting your money getting resin replacements, where all that would be required is some basic modelling skills. More to follow soon... Edited January 13, 2014 by andy wood 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xffw45343tg Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 I know it's more fun to make them, but are you aware that Heritage Aviation do an early Mk.10 seat (which was mastered by BM's very own "Scratcher" and is therefore very good)? Linky Kirk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy wood Posted January 13, 2014 Author Share Posted January 13, 2014 Kirk I made the seats some months back, before Heritage Aviation brought theirs out . This is what mine look like now. The backpads were made out of milliput and the belts were from wine bottle foil. I counted each seat had 68 parts per seat belt set. Which leads me on to the next modification. Nowadays you will see Hawks have a blue apron over the rears seat belts when not in use, but I never saw those at Kemble. They just attached them to the quick release box, as I have depicted. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 I remember sitting in the garden of my Grandmother's house in Chalford watching the Arrows practicing over the other side of the Golden Valley so I am particularly interested in this build. Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritag Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 Nice work on the seats/cockpit Andy. I'll be watching this with interest as I want (eventually ) to make one or two of these as 1983/84 vintage Valley/Chivenor examples so the backdating info is perfect. I have an idea that the windscreen was beefed up for bird strike protection - sometime after this era - so that the profile of the kit screen is wring for an early Hawk. Am I right? and is it something correctable do you think? Cheers Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 Good work Andy Please keep posting progress pics Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatalbert Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 Love what you have done so far,one question ,when did the ejection seat change on the Hawk. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy wood Posted January 14, 2014 Author Share Posted January 14, 2014 (edited) Nice work on the seats/cockpit Andy. I'll be watching this with interest as I want (eventually ) to make one or two of these as 1983/84 vintage Valley/Chivenor examples so the backdating info is perfect. I have an idea that the windscreen was beefed up for bird strike protection - sometime after this era - so that the profile of the kit screen is wring for an early Hawk. Am I right? and is it something correctable do you think? Cheers Steve Steve You are absolutley correct about the windscreen. I remember seeing it covered on the forum here. If I find it I will pin it to this build. If any one else can find it let me know. IIRC it was the lower front edge that changed. Nothing some micro mesh and milliput wouldn't sort. Love what you have done so far,one question ,when did the ejection seat change on the Hawk. I think it was about 1987 Edited January 14, 2014 by andy wood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNoAF Aerobatic Team Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 This looks amazing. I have to follow this myself! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy wood Posted January 14, 2014 Author Share Posted January 14, 2014 (edited) Found the article on the windscreen. It was in 32(SIG)s WIP http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/62962-revell-132-hawk/page-9?hl=%2Bhawk+%2Bwindscreen but the relevant photos have now gone. If anyone out there can help please give me and Fritag a shout Edited January 14, 2014 by andy wood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dambuster Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 Slight hijack - does anyone know if the early seats are available in 1/48 scale? A quick check on the big H site came up blank. Thanks Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanflyer Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 Slight hijack - does anyone know if the early seats are available in 1/48 scale? A quick check on the big H site came up blank. Thanks Peter I bought the Neomega cockpit set for the 1/48 Hawk a while back, and they said it was available with either the early or the late seats, you just had to specify. I went for the early seats as I've got a red/white/grey airframe in mind. Don't know if it's still the case, but Neomega might be able to help. Andy, nice work on the seats and the belts...looking good. Thread hijack over, Dean 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy wood Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Thanks for the kind words guys. A small update. I drilled a number of holes in the fuselage to represent things such as hydraulic filter sighting windows and the like. A few bits and bobs were added the cockpit tub to represent such things as cabin pressure valves, piping, Map/AP pocket, etc The cockpit sides had additions such as the anti g valves and LP fuel cock And this is what it looks like painted 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 That's some rather nice work there! Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngtiger1 Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Andy, nice work on the cockpit. The extra detail to that area sure paid off Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smeds Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I was at Brawdy until about mid 1984. The head boxes were in the process of being changed while I was there, I would say from 83 0nwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatalbert Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Thanks smeds,i plan on doing a camouflaged twu machine so i take it the large head boxes would be the ones to go for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy wood Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share Posted January 16, 2014 I had a quick check of my references. It looks like the Reds did not change the seats until after the end of the '88 season. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geedubelyer Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Jeepers Andy, that is some stonking work. Your cockpit bits already look groovy so I can't wait to see how they all look together. Outstanding work. Oh, and thanks for the nod. Glad you liked it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 (edited) Stupendous work Edited January 16, 2014 by HOUSTON 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spookytooth Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Nice job there Andy, I will follow with interest, so will the wife, she has one in her stash to build at some stage. Simon and Rose. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy wood Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 I was going to show you all photos of my progress but photobucket is playing up. It won't let me log in. Anyone else having a problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy wood Posted January 23, 2014 Author Share Posted January 23, 2014 Photobucket is working again, so a small update for you. Look what has come off in my hands! Better fill the hole More bits for the hole A quick glance at the u/c bay Those yellow things are the APs (T.O.s; AFMs, AMs to you Americans). Once I put the canvas cover over them they will most likely be invisible to the naked eye. The blue tapes are the leg restraints. In the early days of the Hawk, they would be wrapped around the control column (as depicted). It was not until later years that the ends of these cords were hooked either side of the HUD (which was removed, of course, from the Red Arrow aircraft). Have a look at the walkaround on this site to see what I mean. The tiny red thing below the firing handle in the seat pan is the safety pin 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xffw45343tg Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 With every post I'm loving this more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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