Terry1954 Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 So I'm contemplating a second 1/48 build (after my Meteor for a mate, RFI elsewhere) which will therefore be my second 1/48 build, in probably almost 48 years! This is not a "soon" build, but a near future lets say. I have built many 1/72 aircraft and have many of those on the go. I'd love to build an RAF Jaguar, as I worked with these aircraft wayback, in the MOD Jaguar project office in the early 70's. Yep, I'm that old! A beautiful aircraft, Trouble is, I am not a seasoned 48th modeller, and i hear the Airfix kii is perhaps OK, and the Kittyhawk kit is very scarce, and maybe not that good. This build won't be quick, but I want it to be good. I'm prepared to use much aftermarket if necessary. So the question is, am I better starting with the Airfix 1/48 jobby, or finding a Kittyhawk release and starting from that? All ideas, opinions and such like very welcome, Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calum Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 My opinion is that the Kittyhawk kit, despite it's issues is better than the Airfix one. The surface detail is nicer. I did use pylons from the Airfix kits as the ones in the Kittyhawk kit are wrong for the RAF A/C. My BM build is here All the finished photos are here 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 I haven’t built the Kittyhawk one, but with a bit of aftermarket and some cutting this is my Airfix 1/48 Jag … https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235096476-jaguar-gr1a-xx970eh-no-6-sqn-raf-coltishall-1987/&tab=comments#comment-4138794 WIP here: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235094383-coltishall-jag/ It can be built into a reasonable looking Jaguar. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 The Kittyhawk offering needs to be built 'panels open' or you will have problems. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 both can be build to a very presentable standard. KH needs more research (weapons, pylons, etc...) Airfix could be build out of the box, but needs aftermarket cockpit, nozzles, wheels, for improved detail. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry1954 Posted October 27, 2021 Author Share Posted October 27, 2021 Thanks for all your comments and input. It would seem both need work, each in their own way, which is what we do I guess. Choice may be taken out of my hands given that the KH kit seems as rare as the proverbial Hen's teeth! Thanks again Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 7 minutes ago, Terry1954 said: Thanks for all your comments and input. It would seem both need work, each in their own way, which is what we do I guess. Choice may be taken out of my hands given that the KH kit seems as rare as the proverbial Hen's teeth! Thanks again Terry KH's availabillity was always difficult. But since they kind of stopped producing kits earlier this year, there is not too much KH left in the ordinary channels! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spruecutter96 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 As Exdraken has implied in the previous post, Kittyhawk have ceased their operations fairly frecently. Will the moulds be taken up by another manufacturer? I have no idea, unfortunately. I dfidn't think that the ex-Wingnuts Wing's Lancaster would ever see the light-of-day and I was very wrong about that one. Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scimitar F1 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 I have a KH T2 and an Airfix GR1. The Airfix panel lines are variable - it may have been the first kit that they did with recessed panel lines. Fill and rescribe the widest. Use the Neomega cockpit, get an ALQ-101 from somewhere else. Reskit do wheels and burners (not sure that they will fit the AX as they are for the KH one) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calum Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 There is certainly an opportunity for a decent Jaguar. Apart from Airfix it's hard to see anyone else taking on the subject 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Brown Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 (edited) 17 hours ago, Scimitar F1 said: I have a KH T2 and an Airfix GR1. The Airfix panel lines are variable - it may have been the first kit that they did with recessed panel lines. Fill and rescribe the widest. Use the Neomega cockpit, get an ALQ-101 from somewhere else. Reskit do wheels and burners (not sure that they will fit the AX as they are for the KH one) If the Reskit burners are meant for the KH kit, they might be be too large for the Airfix. I once checked the Paragon T.2 nose, flaps, and afterburners for the Airfix kit to see if I could use them to improve the KH T.2, but they were too small. After battling the KH T.2, I'm still kicking myself for selling my Airfix kit + Paragon resin. Ben Edited October 28, 2021 by Ben Brown 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scimitar F1 Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 I will check later and see. The Reskit sets look great Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 The Airfix Jaguar is also available in Heller and Revell boxings. The latter may well have the least worst decals. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crobinsonh Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 (edited) IMO both kits have their issues - KH fatter in places that it should be, issue on the wing shape on the leading edge, if you want it closed up needs work. Airfix shape much better but softer in places and panel lines in the wrong places. There is a great thread on BM when someone corrected these mistakes. Both with issues but IMO Airfix win with a better shape. Edited October 28, 2021 by crobinsonh 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 (edited) Not built the Airfix version but have the Kitty Hawk one on a very slow build. The wing issue has been mentioned - I have ideas for that involving slicing away the offending area and scratching with plastic sheet and filler (not a time soon). Ordnance is a problem. First off, the pylons are totally different and the deathly stuff hanging from them is also French spec. Underwing tanks are too small. I obtained a Flightpath update set for these bits (not the pylons though). The Brit single seater has no overwing fences, only the Sidewinder/Matra missile carriers. Curiously the two seater has them on the etched fret! If I were starting again, I’d do a FrankenJag mixing both kits and binning what’s left. Finally, the stickies are awful and incomplete - no wing walkway markings. One curious feature is that the pylons all have markings only found on the Cosford training examples like this Trevor Edited October 30, 2021 by Max Headroom Mixing up my missiles 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 28 minutes ago, Max Headroom said: The Brit single seater has no overwing fences, only the Sparrow missile carriers. Has the Jaguar got the radar for these missiles? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 21 minutes ago, Jabba said: Has the Jaguar got the radar for these missiles? I meant Sidewinders btw! The only CSF Agave radar equipped kitties were the maritime versions built by HAL for the Sea Eagle toting maritime strike aircraft. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/indian-air-force-jaguar-darin-iii-standards-hindustan-aeronautics-limited-192413-2014-05-11 Trevor 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12jaguar Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 Have built both and like the OP I worked hands on with the aircraft and in the MOD Engineering Authority. KH has better detail, but it's hard work and if I made another I'd get the Airfix kit with a resin cockpit etc. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMP2 Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 Just to add - the later Revell boxing has really nice decals, the KH however are appalling and have important ones missing too. For the least drama I would go with the later Revell 04996 box. The KH isnt unbuildable, but it is a bit.... taxing shall we say (I still have a T2/4 and French "A" to complement my finished GR1. Yea. Great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 On 10/28/2021 at 10:42 PM, Max Headroom said: I meant Sidewinders btw! The only CSF Agave radar equipped kitties were the maritime versions built by HAL for the Sea Eagle toting maritime strike aircraft. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/indian-air-force-jaguar-darin-iii-standards-hindustan-aeronautics-limited-192413-2014-05-11 Trevor You don't necessarliy need a radar for a heat seeking missile, e.g A-10s have used AIM-9s, you just need something hot to point them at. If you have a radar however, you can 'slave' the missile seeker to look at what the radar is pointing at and this may allow the seeker to lock on faster. Without a search radar, the pilot can manually point the missile seeker directly at the target which is more work as the seeker will have a more limited view when caged in boresight mode and the pilot would rely on an aural tone changing from a 'growl' to a higher pitched 'whine' to indicate aquisition Pappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boman Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 If your jet has a HUD, you can aim the Sidewinder just fine. Most jets, including A-10, Jaguar and more have/had HUD's. So modern jets can target Sidewinders just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BushBrit66 Posted November 6, 2021 Share Posted November 6, 2021 (edited) I have built the Airfix and had the KH. The kitty hawk surface detail was nice but there were some shape issues. Airfix is one of the two kits tooled by Occidental for them, the other being the Bucc. Shape is very sound and with some aftermarket in the cockpit the kit is lifted a level or two especially with it's comprehensive warload as included. In the end, I sold the KH and will stick with the other Afix GR1 and Heller Jag A I still have to build. Basically KH on paper the nicer kit but Afix can produce a nicer model in my view. Edited November 6, 2021 by BushBrit66 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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