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Space:1999 - 1/48 Mk.IX Hawk - Scratch Build


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  • 2 weeks later...

Time for another update; I've made quite a bit of progress, however it takes me a while to post the updates!

 

I've being tackling some of the more difficult areas that require complex shapes or castings to be made.

 

First up are the engine bells for the side boosters. Using the plans I have I made up a tool in the shape of the engine, I then used this to ream out a hole in in the plasticine I used as a mould. It took a couple of goes to get it right but I got there in the end. I inserted a plastic rod in to the centre of the cavity and then mixed up my resin and P38 mixture and poured this in to the mould. This gave me a solid engine bell that was almost the perfect shape.

 

26652300628_5ed7a3b92d_o.jpg

 

I then used my rotor tool to grind out the excess filler from the inside of the engine bell (a messy process!!) until I was happy with the shape. Finally using a circle cutter, I made a ring from sheet styrene and glue this to the open end of the bell. This then gave me a nice neat finish, any imperfections were filled and sanded back by hand.

 

39813073134_44dbcfc471_o.jpg

 

Next area - the part I'm calling the main reactor. This is the part between the main centre engine bell and the aft part of the fuselage that looks like it came out of Sellafied. I needed to make two large but shallow domes for each end and a short tube for the middle.

 

The domes were made using my usual technique of roughing out the shape from plastic sheet and P38 filler, again being cast in plasticine from resin and P38 mixture. I did only make one cast of this part as I used the original for the second dome. Using an off cut from the cardboard tube utilised in the side boosters I made the interface between the reactor and the rear fuselage. This was plated in plastic sheet and any cavities filled with resin. All joints were smoothed over with filler.

 

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Casting..

 

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The off centre hole in the interface is to accommodate the main steel spinal tube.

 

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The short centre tube was made from two styrene discs cut using the circle cutter and another length of cardboard tube. This was then packed out to make it solid and then a styrene outer layer was added to make everything neat. The original studio miniature part was probably made from some Airfix Saturn V part as it has the distinctive 'stringers' on the surface so I replicated this with thin lengths of styrene.

 

25652990167_b245ff7f03_o.jpg

 

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The whole thing was then drilled through to accept a brass rod to strengthen everything up and to allow me to have somewhere to attach the main engine bell that was to come next.

 

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The next major area is the main engine bell. This was originally made from some parts off a now long obsolete Caddy-Matic Tea Dispenser - not much use to me even if I could find one as it would be the wrong scale but there you go. Consequently, I had to make one up as best I could.

 

Cleaning my teeth one morning I realised that the top of the mouth wash bottle was just about perfect... so that went missing and to the cause!

 

The top was somewhat too long and had ridges down its length, however it was about the right cone shape and had a superb engine shape moulded to the inside - I just couldn't miss it off. I cut the length of the cone down slightly and I covered the outside of the cone with very thin sheet styrene. As the mouth wash bottle top was a strange type of plastic that glue would not bond to I screwed the whole thing to a backing disk of styrene.

 

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A shallower conical shape was required next; this was made from some a tubular part I had discarded during the Eagle build, screwed and glued on to the cap and then built up with P38 filler in to a cone shape using a styrene ring to follow the shape and make a stop for the cone top. There is a fairly distinctive groove between the two cone shapes; I replicated this by filing an under cut in to the filler once it had cured.

 

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One of the more distinctive areas of the engine is what would have been the turbine exhaust manifold on the Saturn V F1 rocket motor, part way done the engine cone. To make this I added a plastic ring to the top of the wide part of the engine cone and then built up the actual manifold using white Milliput.

 

25652989557_44cdfc57a4_o.jpg

 

This was mixed and rolled in to a thin sausage and wrapped around the plastic ring. Using a little water I smoothed and shaped it in to position. Not easy as I had never used Milliput for such things before - I only used it previously to secure lead shot into the nose section of tail sitting model aircraft!! Finally the end section was made from a spare engine can from a 1/48 Tornado F3 with the outer detail cut off.

 

I am quite happy with the results of this.

 

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The cut off detail from the Tornado engine can was added to the open end of the engine cone after the screw head had been covered in a puddle of resin. This matches the detail of the mouth-wash top quite well.

 

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Finally, a picture of the progress so far, with parts lined up to their relative (but not final) positions.

 

26652299978_6cb7e5d190_o.jpg

 

Karl

 

 

Edited by Karl
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On 2/27/2018 at 10:14 PM, Karl said:

Finally, a picture of the progress so far, with parts lined up to their relative (but not final) positions.

 

26652299978_6cb7e5d190_o.jpg

Yeah, that's looking like a Hawk all right... :yes: Lots more to do, but it should turn out an awesome model if you can keep up the standard of your work so far -- and why shouldn't you? :wink:

 

I particularly liked the main engine bell with the Tornado parts -- looks very good.

 

Bravo! Looking forward to more.

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20 minutes ago, MarkSH said:

Brilliant inventiveness. A really enjoyable scratch build.

 

3 hours ago, Tarkas said:

Yeah, that's looking like a Hawk all right... :yes: Lots more to do, but it should turn out an awesome model if you can keep up the standard of your work so far -- and why shouldn't you? :wink:

 

I particularly liked the main engine bell with the Tornado parts -- looks very good.

 

Bravo! Looking forward to more.

 

On 01/03/2018 at 8:04 PM, Pete in Lincs said:

Coming along very nicely. 

I must check the bathroom for spares though.

 

On 01/03/2018 at 2:11 PM, Gimme Shelter said:

looks brilliant - can't beat a scratch build

 

good luck with the remainder of the creation and build assembly - nice and unique ...

 

On 01/03/2018 at 9:29 AM, rockpopandchips said:

WOW!

 

On 28/02/2018 at 5:36 AM, Bandsaw Steve said:

Excellent!

 

Thank you all very much for your support chaps; glad you are enjoying it so far!!

 

Karl

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  • 1 month later...

It been a little while since I posted an update (I had a bad cold for a couple of weeks and have been tired out for a couple more weeks after that...) but here I am again with another update on the Hawk.

 

The next major component to build are the wing-lets and weapons pods. the wing-lets are a simple construction made from plasticard sheet, with multiple layers making up the structure and the detailing.

 

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Brass rods are used to support the wing-lets when they attach to the fuselage.

 

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The main structure of the weapons pods are made up from some spare 1/24 scale Airfix Harrier components (not sure what bit)

 

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There are also some components from a 1/48 Buccaneer; the jet pipe makes the ring around the nose tip and an unspecified part from a 1/72 Meteor was used to make a mould for the rear cone (in red resin) along with styrene sheet and tube for various parts.

 

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The actual nose of the pod was made from car body filler filed and shaped.

 

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After marking up their positions, a motor tool was used to drill out the holes around the perimeter of the nose cone (this was probably a SNEB rocket pod from the 1/24 Harrier on the studio model, however I had nothing in the spares of the appropriate size)

 

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40658768274_5ab1bb4490_o.jpg

 

Karl

Edited by Karl
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On 10/04/2018 at 9:17 PM, Karl said:

The main structure of the weapons pods are made up from some spare 1/24 scale Airfix Harrier components (not sure what bit)

 

27501092008_e90f867ed5_o.jpg

 

Looks like 68mm SNEB rocket pods, a common weapon for ae early RAF Harrier (GR.1 or GR.3).

 

Regardless, the Hawk pods look the business. More excellent work as part of this entertaining build.

Edited by Tarkas
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  • 3 weeks later...

My latest Hawk update:

 

The fuselage detail being added using various thicknesses of styrene sheet built up in layers.

 

26500887207_5ec2f350fe_o.jpg

 

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The distinctive stringers (as moulded onto the Airfix Saturn rocket kit part) are made up from numerous strips of plastic.

 

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The VTOL landing thrusters (mattress vents in the original model) are approximated using styrene rod cut in to lengths and glued to a styrene disk. These are then added to the underside of the fuselage.

 

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Some small detail part that belong to the underside being made up from various styrene parts

 

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Next - install the side booster pods. These are glued to the 'running boards' on the fuselage and supported on the side of the fuselage with a small (non standard!!) block to help support them and add a little bit of strength.

 

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The booster pods in the process of being detailed.

 

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This part was a right pain to make even though it looks simple - originally I think it was part of the inside skirt of the SRN-4 hovercraft kit from Airfix

this part is placed on the running board next to the front of the booster pods. you can hardly see it...

 

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And the booster pod nose cones.

 

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Karl

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Some more updates to my Hawk build.

 

The 'Solar Panel' on the upper surface of the main fuselage is constructed by layering up various thicknesses of sheets of styrene. There is quite a lot do detail on the under surface that isn't seen much. Apparently on the original studio model this was because this part was original a landing foot for another model, but was re-used for this.

 

41687486574_6f8b98e5a0_o.jpgh100 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

41508179745_4fa8fff981_o.jpgh101 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

41687486434_ffbd61c677_o.jpgh102 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

Small domes were required for the underside of the main fuselage; these were made by gluing some metal drawing pin domes after removing the pin part. Just the right size!

 

41687486294_6bba0ff373_o.jpgh103 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

Another detail; various parts of the ship have small half-cone shaped parts - about forty of them - in various locations. I think they are the engine bells from the Saturn 1B kits, but not sure, but i had to make my own to scale.

Using an old aircraft fuel tank , I cut the tip off to about the right size and then shaped and filled it to make a mould I could press in to plasticine. I cast about fifty or so, so i had some spares and for ones that did not come out right. These all required cleaning up after they had set.

 

40602734680_b033edf4a4_o.jpgh105 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

41508179465_4feb84446a_o.jpgh106 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

I'll post another update soon.

 

Karl

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Another quick update.

 

The small half-cone shapes are attached around the perimeter of the main fuselage joint to the rest of the long section. They, more or less, go all the way around. There are others in various places on the wing-lets and cockpit top.

 

42415685471_0eac86fc3f_o.jpgh110 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

There is an amount of tubing in various shapes on the underside of the fuselage, this was made up of styrene rod with some of the angles reinforced with brass rods.

 

41508179275_fb36dcd5b2_o.jpgh107 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

I have also added some of the other details such as the underside tanks and the rear VTOL engine cluster.

 

41513070005_649bd276bf_o.jpgh108 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

The rear of the fuselage is now also mostly detailed using some spare parts from my Eagle build; again I cast some extras knowing I would probably need them for this project.

 

40607519090_4af16dd2b7_o.jpgh109 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

The main engine has also had it's 'Saturn V - turbo exhaust manifold' connection pipe installed.

 

27545220117_d4a9a74738_o.jpgh111 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking!

 

Karl

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  • 4 weeks later...

A bit more progress with my Hawk build.

 

The command module or 'Beak' surface was detailed with thin plastic sheet. The nose cone was made from the end of a 1/48 Tornado fuel tank that was cut down and the pointed end re-profiled.

 

Installing the beak; This was fixed with glue for the plastic to plastic areas and P38 pushed in to the beak's cavity. Window frames were also added at this time.

 

29069217098_c7887ca9d7_o.jpgh112 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

29069217068_21f7f7b62a_o.jpgh113 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

The beak and forward fuselage joint was then blended together using some more P38 car body filler. A mounting area was also installed for the tiny rectangles that fudge the joint between the beak and the fuselage on the studio model.

 

41131391010_65bfaec227_o.jpgh117 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

The Hawk has some quite distinctive slotted strips in the corners of the anti-glare panels and under the cockpit windows. These were made from plastic strip cut to size and then glued together. when dry, they were installed in place.

 

29069216628_8b56fa774a_o.jpgh121 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

41131391140_f019410e97_o.jpgh122 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

29069216468_d7d29f6f2c_o.jpgh123 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

You will also notice that the wing-lets have been installed and the leading edge detailed. (This picture was taken before I blended the fuselage to the beak)

 

29069216958_d589d86f80_o.jpgh116 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

The rectangular weapons pods have also been made. The main part was simply two strips of sheet styrene stuck together and detailed. The pylons are (again) made from some left over tornado parts that have been modified.

 

41131391170_e7f3bc7492_o.jpgh120 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Karl

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

The majority of the construction work for the Hawk is now complete. All that's left is to attach the main sub assemblies and I'll probably do that after the painting stage as it will be easier to paint the weapons pods and solar/sensor array and booster engine bells off the Hawk. The RCS thrusters will also be added at this point

 

I think I am going with the white and orange scheme with the white ant-glare panels on the cockpit. I need to decide on what orange to use; I think that the Humbrol 18 is a bit too orange/red and I need something a bit more orange/yellow.

 

This is where I am up to now with construction.

 

28531310527_0e172e6b0e_o.jpg20180714_121429 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

43352782432_aa9a02e31a_o.jpg20180714_121436 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

43352811692_305f910615_o.jpg20180714_121400 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

28531318197_5a1109bf15_o.jpg20180714_121545 by karl wb, on Flickr

 

28531317827_5b9ab7d378_o.jpg20180714_121551(0) by karl wb, on Flickr

 

Next stage is to spray with grey primer and fix any blemishes. Then over spray with white primer and then detail with the orange.

 

Thanks for looking.

 

Karl

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  • 4 weeks later...

With construction complete, it's time for a bit of paint. First up is the usual coat of Halfords Grey primer to show up any surface defects.

 

I spent quite a bit of time fettling the surfaces to get as good a finish as I could and this appears to have paid off as there is very little in the way of blemishes that need re-filling.

 

I actually like the grey primer finish, looks very combat ready and mean...

 

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Karl

 

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