Borneo Escort - 60 Squadron Javelin FAW.9R

[crobinsonh]

Great work continues. I have a long stalled Javelin that is planned for the same markings using the Dynavector decals which have the yellow walkways etc (although I actually plan to mask and paint these). Love the brutish looks and the extra details you are adding make all the difference.

The only problem for my build is I actually need to strip the paint as the main coat keeps lifting off from the silver undercoat.

One day...

[T-21]

Moderators, Could this excellent build article and tips be pinned please ?

[Duncan B]

Excellent results with the crayon weathering, i have used a similar technique but with chalks in the past but it never looked as good as yours.

I second the idea of having this thread pinned, if only there was enough demand for the forgotten fighter!

Duncan B

[Antti_K]

Thank You All

It's nice to have You around.

I have started with the decals. As this kit has been waiting it's turn for two years I was a little nervous about the decals. The longer you wait to more trouble they will give to you. I was very pleased when I noticed that these decals actually behave nicely. My first Javelin back in 2014 required lots and lots of Microset and Microsol so this time I decided to start with Tamiya's "Mark Fit Strong". I also noticed that far more better results can be achieved if you firstly soak the model's surface with Mark Fit and then leave the decal to dry in the right position. Let's see how it goes...

In the mean while here are some photos of the progress so far.

More to come, stay tuned

BR,

Antti

[bigbadbadge]

Brilliant, just Brilliant, am liking this very much, thanks for sharing the weathering techniques that is very handy. I do use for chipping but had not thought to do that too.

Looking great. Keep up the good work.

All the best
Chris

[Antti_K]

Thank You Chris

As so many times in modelling this weathering technique was born by accident not because some new technique had to be invented. And it works fine.

Best Regards,

Antti

[Leonl]

Great tip on weathering....

[Antti_K]

Thank You Leonl

"Turning to Finals".

All decals are now on and I'm ready for the final matt coat. I believe that some Javelins were re-painted by 64 Squadron before they were transferred to 60 Squadron. I found a photo of XH766 taken in May 1964. It carries the 60 Squadron stripes and letter "T". What makes this photo interesting is the fact that the "wrap around" paint work on the wing leading edge is clearly visible. Also the colour demarcation lines look the same as in photos taken in the summer of 1967. So my theory is that XH766 was re-painted only once during it's service in the Far East and it remained in that camouflage until it was SOC in 1968. This seems probable also with some other 60 Squadron FAW.9Rs (XH893 "V" and XH793 "J").

When you compare photos of these Javelins with others you note that they had "a Dead Matt" finish; not satin but true matt. I will create this with Hu 49 and a 14 mm Leonard brush.

So here we are. The Wing Roundels were weathered using crayons using photos as a guide. The Roundels received at first a matt cote and then crayon. In this case I used the crayon as a pencil and also in powder form to get an uneven weathered look.

When FAW.9Rs were transferred to 60 Squadron in June 1967 they were quickly re-painted with 60 Squadron markings. The paints gave a glossy finish. I wanted to show this on my model and the tail stripes received a coat of Hu 135. I'm not 100% sure but it looks like "E" had it's radome painted with Dark Green after it was transferred to 60 Squadron (it was brown in June 1967). So also the nose received a coat of Hu 135.

The pink masking tape is great for jobs like this. It is just like Tamiya tape but it's glue is much weaker. So it won't peal off the top layer. And it is also much cheaper than Tamiya tape

Next time I will show some noteworthy details about the decals and also some final details.

BR,

Antti

[Antti_K]

Hello All

Here is some more details before my Javelin is "Ready for Inspection".

Airfix provides the boarding ladder and FOD covers. I "sharpened" their details a little.

I added small wheels to the ladder as they are visible in almost every photo. I also scratch built the Service Bay cover plate which was usually stowed between the ladder support rods. It was kept open until both engines were running smoothly (there was a great risk of fire in the Service Bay during engine start up) and only then the "See Off" crew closed the hatch. I also made those yellow warning signs using photos as a guide. It looks like the upper one says: "Danger, ERUs loaded" but then again the photo wasn't that good. I couldn't find any clue about ERUs in the Pilot's Notes or in the Maintenance Manual. Any ideas?

Looking at the photos also made me think that the intake covers were made out of plywood. I made new handles from thin wire and painted them with Humbrol 94. Then I used red crayon to weather them (in colour photos they look very weathered). The jet pipe covers were metal so I just painted them with Humbrol Signal Red.

I am pleased with the camouflage pattern. Here is a "close" comparison between the model and the actual aircraft. Luckily I was able to use several photos for the paint work. That is something we modellers enjoy only now and then.

Here is the navigator's cockpit which you haven't seen yet. The Eduard PE set was wrong about the radar scopes so I didn't use it at all in here.

The instructions give a hint that originally Airfix thought movable hood but changed their mind at some point. It is quite easy to build the hood assembly in a way that you can open and close it. Javelin's hood is "a one piece affair"; normally both hoods move together. I inserted pieces of steel wire some 20 mm in length inside the lower frame to make it more stiff. After that it was pretty easy to attach the clear parts on a flat surface and using MEK.

I used footage from Youtube to find out how to weather the surface around the cockpit. After all, four men walked over this small area before and after each flight.

The rivet lines received a wash with thinned Humbrol 56 and they look nice. Photos also showed that there was a "WALKWAY" marking in many Javelins. Mine came from a surplus Spitfire decals as Airfix doesn't provide these.

Here is some more details around the cockpit area.

Let's have a look under the nose then.

In Javelins from FAW.7 onward there was a black triangle under the port intake. It was clearly painted on because the location varied quite much between individual aircraft. Some Javelin FAW.9Rs carried this marking still at 1968. XH961 had it and XH766 didn't. Is there someone who can tell the meaning of this triangle?

Here is a comparison between two 60 Squadron Javelins. Both aircraft date back to late 1967/ early 1968. Note how much the location of the Markhor Head insignia and code letter varied between aircraft although these markings were painted possibly during the same day.

Prepare yourselves for "Ready for Inspection"

BR,

Antti

[Biggles87]

This build will provide all the reference that I need when I eventually build my Javelin so I've bookmarked it in case it doesn't get pinned by the mods. Really excellent stuff.

John

[Col.]

Amazing and inspirational attention to detail. You clearly know the subject. I'm in full agreement with the call for this thread to be pinned as a reference for any future Javelin models.

[Howlindawg]

So many great tips in this WIP.
​For a novice like me this is an inspirational and intructive build.

Thanks for sharing the journey Antti.

[71chally]

Superb quality build, doing the mighty Javelin justice there! Weathering looks nice and subtle.

Really good of you to show us all the additions.

A black triangle is usually a NATO stencil for (from memory) top up point for the air-conditioning or screen fluid system. I wondered if it was that, but it is much larger on Javs, maybe because of the locations varying slightly? Javelin servicing notes should confirm what it is, if they are about!

[Antti_K]

Thank You All

I'm glad that I could give You something and that You find this useful and interesting.

BR,

Antti

[CJP]

Very impressive and informative modelling - like the photo detail explanation

CJP

[Antti_K]

Thank You CJP

Here are the harness pictures as promised. I share them in the original size.

At first print them out in "Full Page" mode (one picture per sheet) and then measure the kit parts. Calculate the correct reduction percent required.

When you have the scaled down belts printed out cover both sides with Scotch Magic tape to protect the harness, to ease up cutting and to give a better surface for CA glue. Cut with small scissors and a knife. Touch up the edges with paint or oil based crayon. Then prepare the kit parts G33 and H21. Open the recess below parachute pack (the horse shoe shaped part) on part G33, otherwise you won't be able to pull the shoulder harness through this opening. Check photos from a previous post. As the fit is pretty tight you should also carve a "slot" for the lap belt on part G33 (port lower edge). Also sand down the sides of the seat pack to get room for the crotch belts. Then proceed as follows:

- Attach the parachute harness belts (number 1) to the part G33. Use photos as guide

- Pull the upper ends of shoulder straps through the opening in part G33 and attach it to the back side with CA

- Attach shoulder straps to the parachute straps using CA on the front side

- Attach the head rest cushion and belts to part G33; do not glue the straps at this point

- Attach the lap belt to part G33; it protrudes from lower port side

- Attach the crotch belts (blue ones) to the kit part H21

- Paint the parachute pack and seat pack using a small brush

- Paint the seat frame and attach parts G33 and H21; touch up paint work if required

I hope You find these useful and that the instructions are clear enough; if not do not hesitate to ask I also hope that the picture quality is also high enough. If not then I must find out a better way to share the harness pictures.

Have fun

Antti

[andy wood]

If future WIPs of yours are of a similar informative standard I shall look forward to them immensely

[Leonl]

If I ever build a Javelin I will shamelessly refer to this... Excellent thanks fir sharing.

[Antti_K]

Photos of the finished model can bee seen here:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235007111-borneo-escort-60-squadron-javelin-faw9r/

BR,

Antti

[Chris G 29]

Beautiful build.

Very impressive work and very generous to share information, clearly explained, that will help others.

Regards

Chris g

[Paramedic]

*bump*

 

Hi Antii, sorry, forgot to find your thread immidiatley but I did now. Many thanks! Such a fantastic build, I took a big cup of coffee and just enjoyed it. Fantastic work.

 

And I agree, the kit seems to have nice detail. Sweet when Airfix delivers like that!

[Duncan B]

Coincidentally, I've just finished reading Michael Napier's book on the operational history of the Javelin. It mentions the intercept of an Indonesian C130 but only goes to say that the Herc turned away. It has often been claimed that a C130 crashed trying to evade the Javelin but he makes no mention of this happening. In the appendix you can find the details of my classmate's Dad's ejection in Singapore too.

 

Duncan B

[Paramedic]

Ah cool! Do you by any chance have the serial on that C-13= - guess it is not mentioned?

 

Must have been nasty for the back to punch out twice, back in the days...

[CJP]

Good to see this build pop up again and that we can still see the photos!

CJP

[Antti_K]

Hey Guys,

 

You found my Javelin. Thank you for your kind comments

 

The story about the "crashed" Indonesian C-130 remains a mystery. It is told in every book about Javelins although a slightly different version each time. I'm not sure was it Napier who wrote that this never happened. At least one Javelin returned to Tengah after a night time scramble without it's missiles and missile shoes. no explanation was given...

 

Kind Regards,

Antti