John Masters Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 I am sure this will be a popular build and that's ok. @stevej60 is building it too, I think, so I am in good company! I have already built one of these Airfix birds, so I know it'll come together well enough. I am also only building one kit for this GB...anyway, I already have an American Scooter. So Argentinian it will be... The box art... The sprue... the markings... And the profile. Looks snazzy. I'll see you all later this week! --John 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 Great to have you aboard John. This kit and decal choice may well be popular, and I understand why as it is a scheme I want to do myself at some point, but as far as I am concerned the more the merrier. Looking forward to seeing you work your magic on this one mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 9, 2021 Author Share Posted March 9, 2021 Having built one of these Skyhawks already in the Vietnam GB, I am pleased to be back. This is a very nice kit and, as I recall, had zero issues. I begin here...1-6... ...and I end up with this very neat little office: Airfix' decals really do the trick. More later. --John 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 9, 2021 Author Share Posted March 9, 2021 Don't forget the lead in the nose... I remember. There are some issues. Enormous knobbly Sprue gates that look like poorly moulded casts...and pieces like this...looks like its made of old chewing gum. Luckily it is inside and actually not so essential. And these pieces...15/16...should be reversed. They don't fit the way the instructions say. But it works out. Don't forget to drill the holes for the radar on the spine and the underwing pylons. It's all in the instructions but it can be easy to miss. --John 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 Good spot, these are the booby traps of this kit.....I forget them too, only built 6 Looking forward to seeing this one come to life 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 9, 2021 Author Share Posted March 9, 2021 Just now, Valkyrie said: Looking forward to seeing this one come to life Thanks Valkyrie! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 Very nice looking cockpit John. And thanks for pointing out the pitfalls associated with this kit, info like this is going to be extremely useful to the rest of our team who are building this kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 9, 2021 Author Share Posted March 9, 2021 4 minutes ago, modelling minion said: info like this is going to be extremely useful to the rest of our team who are building this kit. Thanks Craig. I think there are numerous alerts to these issues with this specific kit throughput the forum, especially the sprue gates. Ghastly. It just takes a lot of care snipping pieces off. The plastic is quite soft. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 3 minutes ago, John Masters said: Thanks Craig. I think there are numerous alerts to these issues with this specific kit throughput the forum, especially the sprue gates. Ghastly. It just takes a lot of care snipping pieces off. The plastic is quite soft. Yes but having them in the appropriate GB is very handy indeed, saves people having to go searching. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 10, 2021 Author Share Posted March 10, 2021 11 hours ago, modelling minion said: having them in the appropriate GB is very handy indeed I agree! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 10, 2021 Author Share Posted March 10, 2021 I assembled the two fuselage halves--a very nice fit that will require online the smallest amount of putty around the nose. While that set up I also assembled the wing pieces and some of the smaller, underwing, items... The last time I built this aircraft I had the leading edge slats snug against the wing. This time, as this is ore of a display model, I will have the LES deployed. According to the instructions, the area beneath the slats and on the wing are painted red (Humbrol #19)--for safety, I imagine. Also in red are the edges of all the doors, etc...This will make for a colourful display! With these two large components ready to assemble, I looked ahead and decided to attach the radome to the top of the spine as well. Note that on the US aircraft, the circled area, a red light, is there. To attache the radome (which has its own light already) it is necessary to cut this piece off of the fuselage. I am not sure if the instructions tell us this. Looking very much the part...The fit for the wing, stabilizers and radome were clean and without incident. I used a bit of PPP just to get rid of some seams. --John 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almac Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 Nice progress there John. Tidy work too, mine looks a bet messy at the moment. Cheers Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 10, 2021 Author Share Posted March 10, 2021 34 minutes ago, almac said: mine looks a bet messy at the moment. I think I walk a tightrope between decent modelling and the 'Oh egads...I have to pull it all apart!" Thanks Allan. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 Really nice work John, you're motoring along with this one mate. You have achieved really nice joins on all the major parts and by the looks of things she will be off to the paint shop very soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 10, 2021 Author Share Posted March 10, 2021 1 hour ago, modelling minion said: You have achieved really nice joins on all the major parts and by the looks of things she will be off to the paint shop very soon. Thanks! Some fettling required...a bit of sanding here and there. I think this would be an excellent kit for the next generation beginner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 10, 2021 Author Share Posted March 10, 2021 1 hour ago, modelling minion said: you're motoring along with this one mate. I'm trying to figure out the payload. I will use the drop tanks and the big bomb in the middle. the outer two pylons which were almost exclusively used by the Argentinian forces...Hmmm...Snake Eyes? There is evidence of Sidewinders having been loaded until May of that year. I've got some of those... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 Snake eyes were certainly carried in combat but I don't think any Skyhawks carried Sidewinders when attacking the Task Force, though they may well have done if left defending the carrier. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 11, 2021 Author Share Posted March 11, 2021 7 hours ago, modelling minion said: Snake eyes were certainly carried in combat Thanks! I think with the bomb in the middle, the two fuel pods and the Mark 82 my pylons will be full... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 12, 2021 Share Posted March 12, 2021 I think 2 were kept on alert on the deck as interceptors with pilots in the cockpit armed with sidewinder 9s? I think the task force was sighted and they couldn’t take off as they couldn’t get enough wind speed...I’ll check that in Wings of the Malvinas book, the same author has a Skyhawk only book which I’d like... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 12, 2021 Author Share Posted March 12, 2021 Just now, Valkyrie said: I’ll check that in Wings of the Malvinas book Thanks Valkyrie. I have about 4-5 days before I get to that stage. Although I am perfectly happy with the Snake Eyes. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almac Posted March 12, 2021 Share Posted March 12, 2021 John I’ve just mentioned on my build thread I found a picture of this plane being loaded with Snakeyes so that’s the way to go. Cheers Allan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 12, 2021 Author Share Posted March 12, 2021 3 hours ago, almac said: that’s the way to go. Thanks Allan. That's my direction too. I had just read about the Sidewinders on some other forum... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 12, 2021 Author Share Posted March 12, 2021 So...there's always something....I went to attach the two gun mounts for the wing cannons and for some reason part 6A is gone. That would be on the starboard side. So I searched. I interrogated the Carpet Monster for a good 30 minutes...I emptied out the hobby bench rubbish bin and sorted through that...I went through every conceivable current build box or take-away lid...In the end I had a very clean bench and surrounding floor and a meter idea of how many cotton buds I use...but , alas, not part 6A. Milliput to the rescue! I will let this harden overnight and clean up the shape tomorrow. If all goes well you wont be able to tell. --John 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted March 12, 2021 Share Posted March 12, 2021 Nice bit of sculpting with the Milliput John, that should shape up a treat. Guarantee you that part 6A will turn up when you have finished the kit. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 13, 2021 Author Share Posted March 13, 2021 8 hours ago, modelling minion said: Guarantee you that part 6A will turn up when you have finished the kit. Thanks Craig. My thinking as well. I'll find it next September/October when I move house. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now