Tim's 1/72 Scimitar - COMPLETED

[theplasticsurgeon]

Rejoining you with this Xtrakit Scimitar.

Bought at RIAT Fairford 2022 for £20.  

Decals,   I'm building this option with the scimitar.

Parts.

 

 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Slow start, but pulling the cockpit together.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Moving forwards, here are the insides of the intakes.  The outer edges of spliter-plates needing  lots of trimming to fit properly.

I've trimmed the rear port plate, I just can't see the parts of this jigsaw ever fitting properly.

And the exhausts, all pre-painted.  Those massive circular blocking plates - another mystery of this kit.

 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Fuselage sides, just before joining.  I've added some sheet plastic to aid alignment.

Then clamped it all together.  Thinking the cockpit would slot in afterwards.

No such luck! But able to be crammed in with very localised spitting and spreading.

At's all very vague and unmeasured, but the seat look right under dryfitted canopy.

 

[PeterB]

Hi Tim,

 

This kit was produced by Sword exclusively for Hannants and there was only one batch made so you were quite lucky to find one I suspect.

 

I built it towards the end of 2019 and had a few problems with it both in terms of fit and also accuracy, but it still built up into a decent model. A few things to look out for - according to the limited info I could find, the shape of the lower part of the tail under the rudder was not quite right, the "stabilizers" were too long and not quite the right shape, and the "bay" for the arrestor hook is both too shallow and perhaps in the wrong position slightly. Also, whilst struggling to get the wings on, I ended up with not quite enough anhedral, though I could not establish exactly what the angle should be anyway. Finally, if you are modelling it wheels down the inboard wing pylons will probably need moving out a little to clear the wheel doors if using the drop tanks, and beware the decs - mine broke up. Incidentally the underwing serials are probably too large  and the "Royal Navy" on the rear fuselage may be too small!

 

This is a link to my build and I can re-instate the photos if needed.

 

Pete

Edited September 25, 2023 by PeterB

[LorenSharp]

A Scimitar. That's one you don't see all that often. This is the one Aircraft I wish I had in my stash. Nice progress so far.

[heloman1]

I was at Lee-on-Solent late 1960's, when they were cutting them up. Petty Officer on the unit said, he was at Farnborough when they were doing cold weather testing. They had drip trays laid out in the pattern of the aircraft, the fuel leaks were that bad!

Still a great looking aircraft for it's time, just a pity it couldn't live up to it's design requirements of being a supersonic nuclear bomber!

 

Colin

[Andwil]

On 9/25/2023 at 9:12 PM, PeterB said:

I built it towards the end of 2019 and had a few problems with it both in terms of fit and also accuracy, but it still built up into a decent model. A few things to look out for - according to the limited info I could find, the shape of the lower part of the tail under the rudder was not quite right, the "stabilizers" were too long and not quite the right shape, and the "bay" for the arrestor hook is both too shallow and perhaps in the wrong position slightly. Also, whilst struggling to get the wings on, I ended up with not quite enough anhedral, though I could not establish exactly what the angle should be anyway. Finally, if you are modelling it wheels down the inboard wing pylons will probably need moving out a little to clear the wheel doors if using the drop tanks, and beware the decs - mine broke up. Incidentally the underwing serials are probably too large  and the "Royal Navy" on the rear fuselage may be too small!

 

18 hours ago, LorenSharp said:

A Scimitar. That's one you don't see all that often.

It would seem that these two paragraphs may be related!

 

AW

[theplasticsurgeon]

On Wednesday Jet Age ran a coach tour to Boscombe Down Aircraft Collection, where they have the nose section of a Scimitar,

which I was able to climb into,

To photograph the cockpit interior.  All black.

No control column.

[PeterB]

Hi Tim,

 

You have probably seen this before but I found it helpful.

https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/scimitar/index.php

 

Pete

[bentwaters81tfw]

Built one of these a few years back, I split the engine bulkhead down the middle as it's a poor fit as one piece.

The underwing serials are too big - no question.

Makes a nice, if basic kit. I sold the second one, and I still have a Skybirds 86 edition in the stash - a true masterpiece of engineering.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Last meaningful update almost a month ago.  As you may have guessed, I've fallen out of love with this project.

However, 3 Thunderbolts later, it's time to crack on

Wings fitted, with a dreadful joint to dress on port side.  Tailplanes have been reduced in size, and that trailing edge under the rudder is now vertical.

[theplasticsurgeon]

My holding and balance rig - hoping to paint tomorrow.

 

Lead ballast inserted into the nose, before adding the coaming area. 

Lengths of sprue, added close - but not compromising the undercarriage locations. 
 

 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Canopy fitted, and masked up ready

to airbrush the lowers with Humbrol 22 gloss white.

 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Masked, ready to airbrush upper colour.

Which extends around the leading edges.

Airbrushed Humbrol 123 extra dark sea grey.

Then demasked.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Decals

This is XD321 of 807 NAS, HMS Centaur, 1961,  according to a profile on Thunder&Lightnings website.  

But disaster stuck, and I wrecked the nose number on this side.

[Pete in Lincs]

Drat and double drat!

[stevehnz]

Bummer, maybe worth a shout out in wanted to see if anyone has these decals spare, looks really good otherwise.

Steve.

[PeterB]

Hi Tim,

 

Unfortunately I built mine as the same version so any spare decs I have will be no help, but I do have a jpeg file of the scan I took of the decal sheet as a precaution, knowing what Xtrakit decs could be like. If you fancy trying to print replacements drop me a PM with your email address. 

 

Pete

Edited October 24, 2023 by PeterB

[theplasticsurgeon]

1 hour ago, PeterB said:

Hi Tim,

 

Unfortunately I built mine as the same version so any spare decs I have will be no help, but I do have a jpeg file of the scan I took of the decal sheet as a precaution, knowing what Xtrakit decs could be like. If you fancy trying to print replacements drop me a PM with your email address. 

 

Pete

Thanks for that offer Pete,  but I don't have facilities (or know anyone who does) for decals manufacturing.

I'll ask on Wanted section.

[PeterB]

These are tricky to print - in the absence of an ALPS printer ( I recent read a post from one of our European fellow modellers who mentioned he had one but I can't remember who it was) the best bet might be to use masks but then you would need a cutter like @Heather Kay has. The white outline is indistinct on the backing paper in my jpeg and my basic printer is not very good at blues but if you get desperate I could perhaps have a try.

 

Pete

Edited October 24, 2023 by PeterB

[theplasticsurgeon]

Undercarriage

and payload.

 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Final addition today, the seals around those sidescreens.

and, as you can see, I've replaced this side number with black digits from spares.

Which draws this build to completion.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Completed photos,   807 NAS, HMS Centaur, 1961

[LorenSharp]

In spite of the issues along the way, you managed to sort everything out and finished up with an outstanding Scimitar. Thanks for letting us tag along.