Tornado 1/32 build

[taffallan]

Hi

New to the forum, I have not built models for some time and I need some advice please.

I am looking at detailing accessories and it is a bit confusing there are three different cockpit kits out there and a number of ejection seats. There are three flap and slat kits also a number of wheel and undercarriage kits.

I am looking at the Flightpath UK FHP32007 detail kit which looks very comprehensive, but I am a little apprehensive as never worked with PE before.

Paragon make a nice looking ejector seat kit also Aires make a good looking cockpit Aires AIRE2130. Eduard also do a cockpit detail kit. I think CAM also produce a cockpit. What do you guys recommend?

I have a similar issue with slats/flaps, paragon do a resin set and there is the flightpath UK FHP3206B which again looks very complicated and I am not confident in doing justice to it, also CAM I think does a set, same question what would you guys recommend? Are these still available?

Cheers

Edited December 12, 2015 by taffallan

[At Sea]

Thats brave! Good luck with it.

I returned to modelling after a few years off and was amazed at how good some of the new kits are. It may be worth having a go at a newer kit straight out of the box to get your eye in so to speak.

Having said that, a fully detailed 1/32 Tornado sounds a great project!

Have a look at the 31 squadron goldstars Tornado on ready for inspection to see the complexity of the the etch flaps.

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234991944-raf-tornado-gr4-31-sqn-goldstars-2015/

Edited December 12, 2015 by At Sea

[DJPFlightpath]

Hi

New to the forum, I have not built models for some time and I need some advice please.

I am looking at detailing accessories and it is a bit confusing there are three different cockpit kits out there and a number of ejection seats. There are three flap and slat kits also a number of wheel and undercarriage kits.

I am looking at the Flightpath UK FHP32007 detail kit which looks very comprehensive, but I am a little apprehensive as never worked with PE before.

Paragon make a nice looking ejector seat kit also Aires make a good looking cockpit Aires AIRE2130. Eduard also do a cockpit detail kit. I think CAM also produce a cockpit. What do you guys recommend?

I have a similar issue with slats/flaps, paragon do a resin set and there is the flightpath UK FHP3206B which again looks very complicated and I am not confident in doing justice to it, also CAM I think does a set, same question what would you guys recommend? Are these still available?

Cheers

There is only one Flightpath Flaps Set - its just that Hannants have their own code number for the set - either way its the same set.

You need to hold parts under pressure whilst you secure them in place with this set - so its hard to avoid soldering as the preferred option for some of the sub-assemblies. Just a pre-warning if you do not solder!

David Parkins

Flightpath

Edited December 13, 2015 by DJPFlightpath

[Mike]

aboard Allan. Good luck with the Tornado

With PE, you need to get yourself a few tools, such as a hard surface for cutting the parts from the fret, needle files or sanding sticks to remove the sharp "sprue gates", and a folding jig (bending brake), of which there are a few types available. Radu Brinzan does one in PE, Trumpeter and The Small Shop and others do the flat jigs with "fingers" that hold down the PE while you bend them with razor blades, and Tamiya do a flat-bladed pair of pliers that are marketed as a PE bending tool. Any flat bladed pliers would do the job, but these ones have extra length to the blades, so you can bend 2" at a time. There are also rolling devices that are very handy for, well... rolling PE up

Hope that helps a bit

[Muzz]

I have the same kit and Flightpath detail set in the stash, I bought a solder set specifically for it but havent used it yet. I used the Flightpath set on a 1/48 build using CA and although it works, it's difficult to get a quality tidy finish.

I would consider myself experienced in using PE but I'll be having a few practise goes before I put solder to the Flightpath set for the 1/32 build. I know you will want to get stuck in but I would get a few builds under you're belt using PE before tackling it.

Muzz

[Mike]

Solder is great for parts that need structural strength, but a bit overkill for other bits. You also run into problems with heat melting other joints if you're working in a small area. Getting a couple of different solders with lower melting points is a good idea, so you can do the initial stuff with high-melt solder, then work down to low-melt temperatures if there's a danger of re-melting.

[DJPFlightpath]

Solder is great for parts that need structural strength, but a bit overkill for other bits. .

Its not so much that the flaps set need structural strength but that parts need to be held under pressure all the way along their edges or they wil spring back. Soldering does this immediately, with no risk of the joint coming undone later. It is certainly not overkill for things like our ground support equipment kits. Once accomplished in soldering, assembly of a metal kit speeds along much more so than with adesives. Once experienced you can use a soldering iron almost like a paint brush and filler on soldered assemblies is no longer needed. Its all down to practice and it is most certainly NOT a 'black art'.

Here is a good link to some soldering tips. They were written mainly for railway modellers but are still applicable -

http://www.7mmlocomotives.co.uk//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=45

A temperature controlled is to be preferred, as you say - and also in your ealier post you recommend rolling devices which are often overlooked but very useful indeed.

Regards,

DJP/Flightpath

www.djparkins.com

Edited December 13, 2015 by DJPFlightpath

[taffallan]

Thanks very much to all of you for the interesting points and the links. I will keep you in touch and hope to get some pics as the build goes on.

Taffallan

[Av8fan]

Here is a nice video by Mr. Paul Budzik.

Nice cup of tea and a few minutes to give you a few tips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBji-Oz3J7E

[Finn]

Here is a belly view so you know how to weather it:

Jari

[taffallan]

Thanks agin everyone for your help.

Taffallan

Edited December 18, 2015 by taffallan

[chacer]

I am currently doing the flap set & soldering is the only way to go in my opinion. I use a soldering torch with a flame & solder paste. It's just a case of wafting the flame over the joint & the jobs a good un! I found the torch quicker than an iron which I couldn't get enough heat into the joint quickly enough. I still use an iron for the very small parts though.

[crusaders1435]

Hi and welcome matey....... Jeez, your brave!!

I too am a newbie coming back to modelling after eons away from it and am keen to start a 1/32 Tornado GR1, 14 Squadron RAFG (as an ex bomb'ead, my old and much loved stomping ground!) but...........

am I biting off more than I can chew!!!!????

Having read your posts I'm in exactly the same place as you matey.....itching to make something big and bold but having been away from this game and having never dealt with conversions, soldering, add-on flaps, slats etc am I mad!!! Should I start off smaller (1/48 me thinks..... I always used to find 1/72 just too small! ) to get my head back in the game as it were...

Thing is, I have this idea that something big would actually be easier to make as I love adding detail etc so the bigger the model the less "fiddly"..... Am I wrong?

Anyway, I hope you put up regular updates. It would be good to see the progress made as well as some good newbie tips!!!!!!

Good luck........ I shall defo watch with interest......

[Breaker]

I've picked one of these up recently - I know you mentioned the Aries set, I've been struggling to find someone who actually has it in stock!

[Tomjw]

I'm still building mine with the Aires cockpit and Flightpath Flaps set. The only other advice I can give over and above what's already been said is to use solder paste, not normal solder. That way you can apply the solder with a cocktail stick directly to the parts to be joined and then you have a hand free to hold the parts together.

Good luck with the build.

Tom.

[taffallan]

Thanks again everyone lots of useful info, breaker I have got most of the accessories including cockpit from Hannants link below, good prices and very quick delivery. I am putting up a pic soon of all the stuff I have got for the GR1 so far and the kit I have bought to build it with.

https://www.hannants.co.uk

[taffallan]

Hi All

I have realised that there is a lot of stuff out there for the 1/32 tornado and I have had difficulty understanding what is in each accessory pack so for all the newbies out there I have photographed the stuff I have bought and will try to explain what is in the kit. I have also found out that the Paragon seat and flap set do not exist anymore. The Eduard stuff is also unavailable as far as I can see, if anyone knows differently please let me know. I have seen a electronic bay kit but I cannot remember who done it and if it was 1/32, I have definitely seen a lot of detail stuff for the 1/48 scale. I will go through the stuff I have bought in the following order. The supplier for all these parts is Hannants.

Flightpath detail & conversion set.

Aires Cockpit set

Aires ejection seat set

SAC U/C set

Flightpath flap & slat set

Photos follow

Edited December 26, 2015 by taffallan

[taffallan]

Flightpath detail set sheet 1

Ejector seats, tailpipes, various panels for airframe including wing sweep seal and top of intakes.

Flightpath detail set sheet 2

Access ladder and cockpit detailing.

Flightpath detail set sheet 3

Boz, air brake bay and front U/C bay

Cockpit dials overlay.

As well as the PE sheets above there are a number of other items in this set as follows.

Wheels and pylons including option of two shoulder rails

Front nose wheel metal

Seat metal parts to add to kit seats

Refuel probe detail

Not too sure what this is I think it is a GR4 piece. Anyone advise please.

[taffallan]

The next set of pics are of the Aires cockpit set.

Cockpit tub

Cockpit details and seats

PE straps for seats and overlay for cockpit dials, this is different from the overlay in the detail set not sure if either is better or more accurate than the other, will let you know.

[taffallan]

The next set is the Aires ejection seat set, the eagle eyed among you have noticed that the seats are included in the cockpit set and details for the seat are in the detail set so definitely overkill with this set it is not required. i am planning a 1/32 Hawk so will have these for that model.

Nice detail in the seats but exactly the same as the cockpit set.

[taffallan]

This is the U/C set from SAC.

Useful because with all the add on's this model will be heavy!

[taffallan]

The last set is the Flightpath flap and slat set very scary lots of work I have not soldered for years so this will be fun!

These are the worm drives to be used with above

[Richard E]

Not too sure what this is I think it is a GR4 piece. Anyone advise please.[/quote/]

Not from a GR4 as such, it's the under fuselage IRLS (Infra Red Line Scan) camera fairing for the Tornado GR1A/GR4A reconnaissance variants which were mainly operated by 2 and 13 Squadrons. I haven't seen the Flightpath set but you'll probably find two photoetch windows which also need to be fitted the forward fuselage if you plan to build this version.

The only aftermarket Tornado electronics bay I can think of if the one included in Verlinden's 1/72nd scale detail set together an open cannon bay.

Edited December 26, 2015 by Richard E

[taffallan]

On top of the above this is the base kit which I had to get from Poland as there seems to be a shortage of these kits in the UK.

I bought a compressor and air brush from Rutland's (link at bottom) for £49.00 on offer it seems to run OK and the brush is a two stage with a .3 needle. Not had chance to use them will update soon.

Also bought a load of tools and paints, still waiting for some stuff such as acrylic paints and thinners but most of the stuff shown here.

Got the stencil from china arrived in 8 days! Really impressed.

I thought I would add all this up, (do not tell the wife)

Base kit £54

All Detail kits about £145

Paints glue thinners etc. £105

Tools and stuff about £45

Compressor and airbrush £49

All together about £400 that was a shock for me!! Had not counted it all up before, keep in mind much of this is for ever and will be used on other kits. So after all this I really need to do this properly. I expect it to take some time and I am going to have to learn some techniques from scratch, such as airbrushing and soldering. I will keep you all up to date. If any other newbies want further info please ask and I will help all I can.

http://www.rutlands.co.uk/

[spruecutter96]

This is a very interesting thread, my friend! I will be following it very closely.

I can see why adding adding up all your elements would produce a big shock, but - as you stated - most of it will be useful for future projects, I've never tried to add up what all my modelling equipment has cost me, as I won't like the answer very much at all.

Best of luck with the build, Sir.

Happy New Year to everyone on BM. Here's to a great 2016!

Chris.