First of the Few - Buccaneer S.2

[wadeocu]

Some things to update everyone on.  First I neglected to explain how I did the canopy frames.  First I masked the inside:

 

 

 

After painting the inside frame color, I used an Eduard set to mask the windscreen and the off-white main canopy frames.

 

 

 

Then I masked over the off-white frames and painted the remainder in Extra Dark Sea Grey.

 

The rest of the paint work is described above.  Now on to the decals. - Jack

[wadeocu]

First a nice gloss coat.  After years of spending a lot of time airbrushing Future, I learned that a nice broad brush works well and gives it a nice thick coat with no brush marks; it is a very forgiving medium.

 

 

I used the kit sheet for the standard markings (roundels etc.). I also used the most visible stencil markings for the top side, but the white portions actually had some different color stencils - blue and red instead of the white and yellow found on overall EDSG Buccs.  Also pictures on Air-britain of XN976 from the period indicate that it lacked stencil markings that later grey over white Buccs had so I decided to leave off the stencils for the white portions and will use this photos as my rationale! 😉

 

One thing that I did want to do that required some finagling was to do the under-wing serials in blue rather than black as the restored XN974 sports.  The Kitsworld sheet (which is useless and a waste of money) has them in black as well; it also has the wrong size side serial, the Royal Navy lettering is too big, the squadron badge is not the right colors and the Rolls Royce badge (the main reason I got the sheet) is too big. 😔  

 

Here is a picture of XN974 (circa 1971) that I think confirms that the serials were blue and not black:

 

 

So, to get blue under-wing serials, I turned to the decal sheet from a CMR FAA kit.  It has XN982 and XT276 in blue on it.  I thought great I just need to make a 4 then ....

 

 

I let that dry overnight and then - oh drat I got something terribly wrong didn't I ......

 

 

After sanding off the 8 I cut out the 7 and replaced it.  Then it was down to making a 4.  This proved to be a challenge.  I used the only 4 on the sheet which was a light blue serial and pieced together bits cut from the leftover X and T to make it roundel blue.

 

 

 

 

I used the CMR decals for the white serials on the side as well.  Piecing together a 4 from bits of a 1 and a 7 was fun!  I also cocked up the Royal Navy from the CMR sheet and ended up using one from Modeldecal No.57.

 

 

I have to say, Modeldecal sheets are from a past era and a bit thick, but they are spot on accurate and the right color.  At least as far as the Buccaneer sheets went; they really were well researched.  Current Xtradecal and Kitsworld sheets are riddled with errors.  I sure wish we could get nice thin modern decals accurately depicted as the esteemed Dick Ward managed decades ago!

 

Here are a few shots of where I am now with it. Getting close to the finish line!

 

 

 

Cheers - Jack 

[exdraken]

Looking actually slim and slender in these markings and dress!

 

Verx nice model, nearly finished! 

[wadeocu]

Pics posted in the gallery.  As I explained there, I have to call this one done now as I will have no more time to work on it this weekend.  No nav lights yet as my clear red was all dried up when I opened it up.  I will also be making a stand that (hopefully) will resemble the roof at Brough per the picture at the begging of the thread.  Here are a couple of more pics of the current state of things; sorry for the lousy quality, I won't have time to do any better before the whistle blows so these will have to do. Many thanks to our hosts and organizers! - Jack

 

 

 

 

 

     &   

[Jabba]

Nice finish, and great patience with those number decals.

[David H]

Beautifully presented, and a great inspiration for my current Buccaneer S.2 project as well.

 

david