Bell209 Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 (edited) As previously mentioned, I bought the IDS version of the Tornado before the GR4 was released. I stupidly bought the Airfix kit several years ago, so anything the IDS boxing is missing I'll steal from the Airfix kit. I don't think I'll need much other than tanks and pods? I'm following General Melchett's build closely ut have started conventionally with the seats and cockpit using the Eduard detail sets. I'll be using the CMK wheel bays, too. Not sure how much butchery is required for that... Edited August 17, 2018 by Bell209 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano353 Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Good luck with this will be good to see another GR4 on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Great choice! Any specific loadout or timeframe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted August 18, 2018 Author Share Posted August 18, 2018 Loadout will be as per the picture below: I have the Sky Shadow pods and 2250 litre tanks, as well as the BOS pylons but still need to find the designator pod on the left fuselage pylon - any ideas where to get one, anybody? This will be a model of ZD844, as it was in the above picture when I flew in it in February 2003. Sadly, if you go to this link you'll see she ended up in a very sad state. Timeframe? When I'm finished! Probably not before the end of 2018 at the speed I build! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAG058 Posted August 18, 2018 Share Posted August 18, 2018 That link makes for some depressing viewing! Whenever I see a piece of kit in that state it always makes me sad to think of the man hours spent carefully maintaining and repairing it, just to have its guts ripped out. I suppose they can't all be kept though. I'm sure there will be a lot more Tornados in this state over the next year or so. Good luck with your build, the Revell GR4 is creeping it way to the top of my build list so I'll be watching with interest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 Thanks. Can anyone tell me the name of the laser designator pod? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 (edited) I assume it is a Litening 3 pod. https://www.freightdogmodels.co.uk/freightdog-1-48-tornado-gr-4-litening-iii-pod.html If som there are may available in kits and resin..... the Tornado needs one with the intake on the starboard side afaik! https://www.google.at/search?ie=UTF-8&client=ms-android-tmobile-at&source=android-browser&q=tornado+elamy+targeting+pod#imgrc=SrMoLAk59kuc7M: Need to check though if apt for 2003! Edited August 19, 2018 by exdraken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 Excellent! Thanks, mate. If I can't get the Freightdog one, Eduard make one, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggu Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 I'm lurking in the back ground here too ,Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted August 20, 2018 Author Share Posted August 20, 2018 Managed to get an Eduard version of the pod through my LMS. Still working my way through the cockpit atm. I'll be adding some map holders to both cockpits, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowlevelraf Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Was the Litening III in service by 2003? Would it be a TIALD pod? Thought it was in later on during Op Telic, the Litening III came in part of UoR? I might be wrong mind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 Hmm, you could be right. Better get one of them instead. 🙄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesthegringo Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Having used both the CMK resin u/c bays and the Eduard photo etched set for the bays, I would go for the latter. The fit of the resin parts is pretty horrible unfortunately in my opinion. That I detest photo etch shows how much hassle it was that I recommend the PE stuff Once you've got it to fit ok it looks good, but expect to have to use filler and thinning techniques Cheers Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted August 25, 2018 Author Share Posted August 25, 2018 Been making a bit more progress on the cockpit bits. Don't panic: the leg restraints won't stay like that! They'll be draped over pedestal and control column in the cockpits. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted September 14, 2018 Author Share Posted September 14, 2018 More work on the cockpit tonight: Coming along quite well. Still need to add the throttle quadrant on the pilots tub side. Been working on the fuselage with General Melchett's tips very handy to date. The CMK wheel wells look great (I tried out coloured pencils and washes for the first time) but needed a bit of fettling to get them to fit. Tomorrow I'll nip out to my local pusher model shop to pick up the TIALD pod and the serial and squadron code decal sheets for the Lancaster. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feifeitim Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 (edited) Many years ago I flew ZD844 when it was DE with the mighty Goldstars! Also mourned 844 when I saw the scrap pictures - totally gutted that such a fine machine should end up like that, but looking forward to the phoenix that arises from your workbench! Fine start to the cockpit! Good job! Edited September 14, 2018 by feifeitim 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted October 20, 2018 Author Share Posted October 20, 2018 (edited) So, with the Lancaster on hold, the Tornado starts anew! Thanks to General Melchett's tips, the forward fuselage is still not completely glued to the centre barrel but the fit's not great. More filling required yet but I'll wait until the rest of the fuselage is assembled before doing much else. I'm pretty happy with the way the wheel wells have turned out. I used the coloured pencil wash method for the first time and it seems about right to my eyes. Putting the wings together at the moment. Again, the General's posts are very helpful with this! Hope to have them assembled this weekend but the air show in Jamestown tomorrow may take up some of my time... Edited October 20, 2018 by Bell209 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted October 25, 2018 Author Share Posted October 25, 2018 OMG; this thing really doesn't go together well! Constant dry-fitting, sanding and more fitting still doesn't make it go together. The intakes are ever-so-slightly misaligned after assembly and that means the intake ramps and lips just don't go into place properly. On top of that, the inside of the intake lips is slightly too short at the top. The detail is great but its tight fits make for a difficult fuselage assembly, even after following General Melchett's recommendations. I'll post more pictures once I get the intakes assembled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Filler Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 I know you haven't finished this yet, but yours is one of several builds of this kit that I've read that has been far from impressed with it. It seems to me that Airfix, Italeri, HobbyBoss and now Revell have all failed miserably to produce a kit that is acceptable in terms of accuracy, assembly and detail. Would it be fair to say that the Italeri kit is still the best when you consider the three elements I mentioned plus price and availability? Having said that, accuracy of shape aside, I've seen absolutely stunning builds from all of those kits. I guess a lot comes down to aftermarket investments and skill. Anyway, despite the shortcomings of the kit, you look like you're on your way to another impressive build of a Tornado. I'll definitely be following your progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 It's looking good, keep going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 22 hours ago, Filler said: Would it be fair to say that the Italeri kit is still the best when you consider the three elements I mentioned plus price and availability? I'm not an expert on the Tonka; my only contact with it was 3.5 months working alongside 617 and 31SQNs in the Middle East where they were operating them but it looks pretty good to me. The fit's very ordinary but I think that's because of the tight tolerances. Some stuff is brilliant - the wing gloves and wings fit together beautifully, as did the cockpit. It's the fuselage that's proving difficult. I wonder how much that is due to the CMK wheel wells I fitted? I have the Airfix GR.4/4A and it's rubbish - don't buy it. I'll be using a couple of things from it for my build (decals, tanks and BOL rails) but that's about it. Not sure about the Italeri kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Filler Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Thanks for the reply Rob. So it is still the best then I guess, just not perfect. I'm certain you know this, but isn't there an issue with the wings if you want them swept forward? I thought they don't go far enough and that the internal mechanism needs some surgery and that the flaps(?) then need some material adding to fill the gap to the fuselage? I only mention it as you mention how good the wing gloves and wings fit together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csnewton2701 Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 That cockpit looks real. It's taking shape nicely Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 (edited) . Edited October 26, 2018 by Bell209 Double post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 23 minutes ago, Filler said: So it is still the best then I guess, just not perfect. I'm certain you know this, but isn't there an issue with the wings if you want them swept forward? I thought they don't go far enough and that the internal mechanism needs some surgery and that the flaps(?) then need some material adding to fill the gap to the fuselage? I only mention it as you mention how good the wing gloves and wings fit together. Yeah, there is that issue, too. I got the protractor out after reading the General's comments and had to pare away a bit of the ridge on the forward part of the mechanism. That does mean you need to add a small extension to the inboard part of the wings (you could get away with not doing it but I reckon I'd notice it forever after). I used Shaun's very nice glove seals in lieu of the kit parts and these hide that a bit more, too. The actual fit of the wing sections overall though is pretty good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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