gingerbob Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 16 hours ago, Alan P said: re the scale I think it's worth trying 1/32 at least once just to see what you can do with it! I don't find that it is really that different- just a bit more expensive usually, and takes up more cubic space in my stash... p.s. For a long time I had the "I do 1/48" mindset- which was mostly true- then I made exceptions for certain things I'm particularly enthusiastic about... but that's where I draw the line. Now I look around my stash and think, "How did I end up with all these 32nd scale kits?" (I've also got a few 72nd, either "bigger subjects" or again things I'm fond of, or some other explanation, and a couple of 1/144, and one (?) larger scale car (Hey, it's a Jaguar, who would turn that down?). There are probably some other flukes lurking in there somewhere, too... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 8, 2022 Author Share Posted February 8, 2022 8 hours ago, gingerbob said: For a long time I had the "I do 1/48" mindset- which was mostly true- then I made exceptions for certain things I'm particularly enthusiastic about... but that's where I draw the line. Now I look around my stash and think, "How did I end up with all these 32nd scale kits?" (I've also got a few 72nd, either "bigger subjects" or again things I'm fond of, or some other explanation, and a couple of 1/144, and one (?) larger scale car (Hey, it's a Jaguar, who would turn that down?). There are probably some other flukes lurking in there somewhere, too... Yeah, I've also got some rogue 1/72 aircraft, loads of ships in 1/350, 1/400, 1/700 and obscure box scale and even a couple of cars (1/24 and 1/25) which I know I'm probably never going to make! You never know, just waiting for the right groupbuild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 14, 2022 Author Share Posted February 14, 2022 Been neglecting this build and the GB in general, sorry 😔 every time I get any time to do anything, it's blinking freezing in my shed 😡 Anyway, did a quick bit of work at lunchtime: Front end on...this really wasn't straightforward, the fit isn't great. Looking at some of the other builds here, in forty years, nobody's managed to make a Hornet kit that really fits properly yet 🤔 This rear turtledeck piece is particularly bad...the curvature of the 'shoulders' doesn't match the rest of the fuselage and there's some impressive gaps down each side. Will need some remedial work! The front to rear fuselage joint looks okay but I had to remove some material from the front edges of the LERXs to make it fit. The inner joints along the LERXs also feature some big gaps. The fwd fuselage also needed a sprue spreader to attach to both sides. This part seems to be more problematic than the equivalent E model, and still had the issues of the cockpit bulkheads needing about 1mm of height removed to fit. The glareshield and fwd canopy also need a bit of work to get everything to fit. Hard work but getting there! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 She might be putting up a fight Alan but you are doing a great job on getting her together. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 15, 2022 Author Share Posted February 15, 2022 50 minutes ago, modelling minion said: She might be putting up a fight Alan but you are doing a great job on getting her together. Thanks Craig, you and me both 😂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 Despite the issues it all looks very clean from here. Great job! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted February 16, 2022 Share Posted February 16, 2022 you sure that isn't a secretly released Hasegawa model??? It looks to have all the same issues as their 1/48th beasties! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 16, 2022 Author Share Posted February 16, 2022 15 hours ago, trickyrich said: you sure that isn't a secretly released Hasegawa model??? It looks to have all the same issues as their 1/48th beasties! 😂😂😂 If there were no other identifying marks I'd have guessed it was Kitty Hawk. Overly complicated, parts that only fit by coincidence, and a general feeling of it being a contest with the manufacturer rather than a hobby 😉 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 As above, despite the challenges I think you’re winning. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 18, 2022 Author Share Posted February 18, 2022 12 hours ago, Biggles87 said: As above, despite the challenges I think you’re winning. Thanks John, I'll have a proper crack at it tomorrow 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 Finally! Your beards have grown longer, the seasons have changed, and I returned to building this kit! Main assembly is now complete. Surprisingly little putty used so far, but the nose section will need some! It seems to have gone together well from the photos, but there are lots of small gaps and seams that need treatment. Polished up the canopy and test fitted. The previous problem of the glareshield interference with the nose canopy on the E version seems to have been improved in this follow-up kit, so it appears Revell have taken notice of the generally poor reception of the predecessor. The rear canopy is a huge clear part, one of the biggest I've used before. It was quite an anxious half-hour spent polishing it 😬 but managed not to crack it. I've donated the spare one to @Ali62 so this the last-chance saloon! And in case anyone had any lingering doubts about the size of this monster: Looks impressive though! Alan 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Very nice Alan, you have done a great job on getting this beast together. Really is a big bugger isn't she. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 Thanks Craig, I have a couple of days off now so I'll brave the freezing wastes of my shed to try to get this to the painting stage soon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 That’s one big bug! You must go through the cement too?! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 25, 2022 Author Share Posted February 25, 2022 29 minutes ago, Wings unlevel said: That’s one big bug! You must go through the cement too?! I use liquid Mr Cement S so it's not like you need much. Primer though 😱🤯 seem to need a new rattle can every month 🤔 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 25, 2022 Author Share Posted February 25, 2022 More or less finished the cockpit (seats and pilots are washed and drying upstairs!) Sidewalls are a bit bland, as they were in the E kit - but with the canopy closed it shouldn't be that visible anyway. Most of the details have been added, just the HUD left for the forward cockpit. The canopy hinge looks nice in this shot, one of the better features of the kit. It's a real mixed bag in terms of detail, needs a proper aftermarket cockpit really. Anyway, I have an unbelievable second day off in a row to do some modelling (long time since that happened!) so hopefully will work well to finish off the cockpit and seal it up for painting tomorrow. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arfa1983 Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 Very nice cockpit! You use rattle can primer? For 1/32 scale models? No wonder you don't get two days off in a row often. You must work 3 jobs to support that habit! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 25, 2022 Author Share Posted February 25, 2022 26 minutes ago, arfa1983 said: No wonder you don't get two days off in a row often. You must work 3 jobs to support that habit! That's me! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 Looks a smashing job on not an easy kit to build alan, you made it look easyish😋 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 Eeeekkk she is huge! that cockpit does look really nice.... you should have kept the 2nd canopy and used it as a "glasshouse"! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 Very nice work on the cockpit Alan, looks great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 The cockpit is something else. Reminds of those full scale mock-ups manufacturers built to show off to customers while the real thing was in development. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 27, 2022 Author Share Posted February 27, 2022 Thanks very much @trickyrich @modelling minion @Hewy and @Wings unlevel I'm chipping away at this each time I get some time to work at it: Today I managed the HUD and the pilots. The HUD has a homemade AOA indexer attached to the left side. The optics are made from a 3.5mm little-lens from modellingtools.co.uk tinted with thinned Tamiya Clear green. The reflective surface is a polarised film made by Hasegawa. I got a sheet of it a million years ago in Japan and still have most of it left. I like how it changes colour under different light. I hope I never run out of it because it's basically the one standout feature of my jet models Pilots are finished except for a flat coat and some patches, if I can make any...need a Navy jack for the left shoulder and a triangular VFA-154 for the right. No problem Close-up photography is never kind but these look great from a distance! Don't look too hard at the 'Black Knight' badge on the back of the helmets, but it's good enough for inside the cockpit. Anyway - got the front canopy fitted and the rear one is proving a major pain to fit properly. I may yet lose enthusiasm for this build, but at lease there's still a couple of months to go! Cheers, Alan 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted February 27, 2022 Share Posted February 27, 2022 That is excellent work Alan. The cockpit is great and the polarised film you have used works very well. The pilots are fantastic mate, especially the unit markings on the helmets. 🇺🇦 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 The pilots look fine close up👍 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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