zebra Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 (edited) My second build in this GB will be a Skyhawk. What's a Skyhawk doing in the trainers group build I hear you ask? Well it qualifies if it's a target tug! This will be an ex-Israeli A-4N now operated by BAE Systems Flight Systems at Wittmund on a target towing contract for the Luftwaffe. I bought a Two Bobs sheet for these Skyhawks in 1/48 ages ago and have been looking out for a suitable kit ever since. The 1/48 Hasegawa A-4N popped up online from time to time but always at silly prices. Then last week I found the Brazilian A-4KU boxing - which contains identical plastic, except it doesn't have the extended tailpipe of the A-4N - at a reasonable price and snapped it up. Itching to build it, I looked at my modelling plans which this year are based on the group build schedule. The only one it might have fit in was the year I was born - there was a chance these airframes were built in 1973 - but no luck, I'm a year out! Then it dawned on me - they're target tugs, so they fit the trainers GB! I've ordered some Eduard PE for the interior and to dress up the ejection seat, and a Quickboost tailpipe to convert it to the A-4N, so this is just a placeholder for now. But once all that stuff turns up I'll get cracking. Edited May 4, 2019 by zebra finished 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 This one does sound unusual and interesting. I look forward to seeing you model it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin W Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Certainly a complicated way to decide what to build but it's always good to see you in a Group build. Next year we will have the "Year my sister was born " Group build to cover off these issues. Colin 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted April 6, 2019 Author Share Posted April 6, 2019 Eduard and Quickboost bits haven't turned up yet, but the Spitfires are done and I've started painting the Hunter so time to make a start on this. First up, the box shot: Since I'm waiting for the interior PE, I'll just do a few sub-assemblies for now, but first: What use is a target tug without target towing equipment? In this case, the target towing equipment is a thing called an RM-30, carried on the centre line pylon. Of course there isn't one available in 1/48 - it's going to have to be scratch built. But it's largely cylindrical so it shouldn't be too hard. Here's a photo (from the QinetiQ website): A bit of googling turned up the manufacturer's data sheet, which includes a couple of drawings and information on the dimensions. So I just needed to source some parts. There's a turbine in the intake and whilst I didn't have one that looks exactly right, I figured a compressor from a 1/144 airliner might do the trick. I have a Minicraft DC-8 in the stash which includes the JT-3D engines, which I won't use on the DC-8 and which are fairly cylindrical in shape, so I measured these up - the diameter turned out to be close to the diameter of the RM-30 in 1/48, so I made the front end of the RM-30 by cutting the JT-3D nacelle off the pylon, and reshaping it a little with a sanding stick to get the curvature of the intake to look closer to the photo. The rest of the body of the RM-30 is a slightly smaller diameter and tapers at the rear. A spare fuel tank from the Eduard 1/48 MiG-21 turned out to be about the right size, so I chopped one of those up and reshaped the back end a bit with a sanding stick. So here's how it looks so far, alongside the drawing from the Meggitt data sheet: Whilst some filler was drying on this, I got on with a couple of subassemblies from the Hasegawa kit. Nothing worth showing photos of yet, but one massive gripe: The kit was described as complete on evilbay, but a previous owner has clearly taken the A-4N avionics hump off the sprues! The kit includes the A-4F hump, and I can't tell the difference, so I'm going to use that. But one part that's common to both is missing - it's not a major part, and looks easy enough to scratch build, but I shouldn't have to! Grrrrr... 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted April 14, 2019 Author Share Posted April 14, 2019 The aftermarket bits turned up this week so I've made a start. Here's the cockpit with most of the Eduard pre-painted PE, and the Quickboost ejection seat (which I forgot I'd ordered!). Looks like I need to stick the back end of one of the side panels down again! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 Interesting subject, and nice start... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted April 19, 2019 Author Share Posted April 19, 2019 Made some good progress today. Cockpit completed, fuselage together, at this rate I'll be painting soon 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted April 21, 2019 Author Share Posted April 21, 2019 Airframe nearly complete. I really like this kit - there are a few minor fit issues but it goes together nicely and I've always loved the look of the Skyhawk. Will be painting soon, and I'd better get back to the RM-30 as I'll be wanting to attach it before I know it. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted April 24, 2019 Author Share Posted April 24, 2019 Nearly ready for paint. A couple of last minor mods needed first - the aerials added to the fin from plastic card, and I've removed the fins from the tanks. The RM-30 is progressing - I'm pretty happy with the shape now, and have scribed a few panel lines on it, and I'll give it a coat of primer to check over before I get on with the pylon and target. thanks for looking Z 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted April 24, 2019 Author Share Posted April 24, 2019 Big step forward on the RM-30 - pylon attached. Much easier than I thought this would be - I built this simple jig from lego and held it in place with blu-tak, then cutting the styrene strips and gluing them was pretty straightforward. Now I need to make the bits that hold the target in place and then the RM-30 is pretty much ready to paint. I've also made the target - this started out as a missile from the same Eduard MiG-21 kit that donated the fuel tank for the body of the RM-30. cheers Julian 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted April 25, 2019 Share Posted April 25, 2019 Tidy work and inventive scratch-building 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted April 26, 2019 Author Share Posted April 26, 2019 16 hours ago, Col. said: Tidy work and inventive scratch-building Thanks Col. Quite enjoyed the scratch-building - easier than I thought it was going to be. Won't be the last time! Finished the scratch-building and got some white paint on the Skyhawk today. Might get some decals on before the end of the weekend. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted April 27, 2019 Author Share Posted April 27, 2019 Today's focus has mostly been on detail painting and finishing the RM-30. Nearly at the decal stage - I think that'll happen tomorrow. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted April 28, 2019 Share Posted April 28, 2019 Rapid progress Z,interesting aircraft look forward to seeing the scheme. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted April 28, 2019 Author Share Posted April 28, 2019 2 hours ago, stevej60 said: look forward to seeing the scheme Here you go then! Nearly there. Today I've given it a little weathering - just a grey wash, these Skyhawks seem to be a little dirty but not filthy - added decals and assembled undercarriage doors, stores etc. Just need to give it a satin coat and add a few final small parts then it's done. thanks for looking Z 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted May 4, 2019 Author Share Posted May 4, 2019 Finished. Really enjoyed this one. Haven't built a Hasegawa kit in years, I have a few in the stash, going to have to dig them out. And might need to get hold of a few more Skyhawks. Better get back to the Hunter! More photos in the gallery. thanks for looking Julian 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimrod54 Posted May 4, 2019 Share Posted May 4, 2019 Fantastic job Julian, and nice to see one in a more unusual scheme. Well done bud. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 4, 2019 Share Posted May 4, 2019 Very well done on your civvy scooter. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted May 5, 2019 Share Posted May 5, 2019 Well that's rather nice! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandboof Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Nice one . A very different scooter Martin H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 Lovely job You've captured a slightly dirty worn white look perfectly in my opinion. Impressive stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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