1435 Flight 'Desperation' 1/72

[Ralph]

Hallo all,

I've had this in the stash for a long time since picking it up cheap at an airshow probably  15 years ago😬! I've also got the old Modeldecal sheet with all the 1435 Flt Phantoms on from 1991, not long before they retired, and I will do the white tailed ' D for Desperation'- always thought was a particularly good example of wry RAF humour! I've recently built a Hasegawa Typhoon in 1435 flt marks, and have long standing hybrid build of an Italeri/Revell reissue Tornado F3 (with some bits pinched from a Hasegawa F3) to be done in the same marks, so it will eventually be in good company!

The plan is to build this in flight (as per my Typhoon project) mainly because I am going back to my childhood modelling the older I get, but also because doing the undercarriage and doors is a pet hate of mine... I've some aftermarket to add, mainly in the form of a RWR fintop meant for the Airfix kit but ideally for this boxing of the FGR2 which depicts an earlier airframe. I've also got a vinyl belly strap which were added to airframes in late RAF service, as well as brass fin pilots and the obligatory masks.

Given my basic interest in modelling is squadron markings and camo schemes- particularly for RAF units- this should be good fun! The Fujimi kit is less complicated than it looks in the box, and generally -despite it being issued in what, 1988 or so- looks rather more refined than the new Airfix kit. I will make a stand from spare wood and brass rod as well. Ought to be fun!

 

Edited September 7 by Ralph

[Ralph]

A bit of creative destruction to start with...thought I would sort out the fintop RWR situation. A little fettling required, but it's gone well.

A smidgen of filler and that should be good.

[Jabba]

welcome along and a good start with the fin top, just the job.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Looks great welcome aboard to the build

[Ralph]

Quick update...main wing assembled and undercarriage doors installed. I also closed up the APU doors (I thinks that's what they are?) on the undersides as these are not open in high speed flight...anything above 210 knots I think. That was more tricky than anticipated...I scribed the inside and placed them closed, but they didn't fit in so a little sanding was required along with some plastic card shims. I'll let that dry and sand smooth later. All the other doors and inserts ,(including the fuselage inserts) fitted very well indeed. I placed the fuselage as a dry fit...beginning to look very Phantom like now!

I've also added the ailerons and made a start on the seats. I've got some Airfix pilots to settle into shape...somewhere in the stash,!

Edited September 14 by Ralph

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

47 minutes ago, Ralph said:

I also closed up the APU doors (I thinks that's what they are?) on the undersides as these are not open in high speed flight...anything above 210 knots I think.

Auxiliary intakes, yes they close up. The Auxiliary power unit is in the port spine. I’ve circled the area in red. 
 

https://imgur.com/a/5Lr2sHN#U0pzBOB

Edited September 14 by Corsairfoxfouruncle

[Ralph]

Just now, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Auxiliary intakes, yes they close up. The Auxiliary power unit is in the port spine. 
 

https://imgur.com/a/5Lr2sHN#U0pzBOB

Ah...auxiliary intakes it is!👍

[Jabba]

    Nice work in getting the Aux Air doors close and fitting the wings to the fuselage.

 

21 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Auxiliary intakes, yes they close up. The Auxiliary power unit is in the port spine. I’ve circled the area in red. 
 

https://imgur.com/a/5Lr2sHN#U0pzBOB

 

British Phantoms did not have an APU. What you have circled in the RAT (Ram Air Turbine), which pops up when all power is lost in flight.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

6 hours ago, Jabba said:

    Nice work in getting the Aux Air doors close and fitting the wings to the fuselage.

 

 

British Phantoms did not have an APU. What you have circled in the RAT (Ram Air Turbine), which pops up when all power is lost in flight.

Yes you are correct, I used a poor choice of words. 

[Ralph]

Evening all, given that this model is in flight, it seemed a good idea to get this sorted prior to buttoning up the fuselage. Some plastic rod, brass rod and and a 50p fence post sanded down and stained- and done!

It had to be placed right add the back because I am fitting the gunpod.

Then I reinforced the inside of the wing section and drilled out the plastic strip to take the brass rod. I've used two bits to stop it from swivelling around.

I dry fitted the fuselage just to make sure it all worked-which it did! I also added a Falklands Maltese cross decal to the stand.

 

 

Finally, a coat of white in the intakes so I can get these on tomorrow. That's it's for tonight!

 

 

[Jabba]

Very good work on getting that stand to fit.

[Ralph]

4 hours ago, Jabba said:

Very good work on getting that stand to fit.

More luck than judgement!🤣

[Ralph]

Working on the cockpit tub...tub is painted and just waiting for a good dry brush. Spent a pleasant half hour carving a couple of generic Airfix jet pilots to fit the ejection seats...I took the arms off the pilot and replaced them with spare arms from a spare Hasegawa typhoon pilot. I'll probably use the third arm supplied to give the navigator a little more animation.

 

[Ralph]

Tiny update as my compressors broken, and have just got its replacement up and going,! Here are the Flying Leatherneck vinyl belly straps applied to the underside...late FGR2s had these installed as I understand it, so these would have been applicable to the Falkland Phantoms of the very early 90s.

By the by, from what I've read the Falkland Phantoms had Ale 40 chaff and flare dispensers applied to the Sidewinder pylons. Would anyone have any clear pictures of this installation, or could direct me to some? I think I can piece them together from some Desert Shield Tornado resin accessories, but I think they were mounted on some sort of plate that overhung the pylon by a little. Was the installation the same as for late US phantoms, as I have found some pictures online? Any guidance appreciated!

Ralph

Edited October 5 by Ralph

[Jabba]

Air Graphics do a set for the chaff dispensers and show how one side looks on a picture of the product.

[heloman1]

Looking good. I like the idea of a flying Toom. Incidentally I knew Mike from Modeldecals and used to frequent Modeltoys in Portsmouth, run by the late Mike Silk, a true gentlemen. I purchased many Modeldecals sheets including sheet number One, which I still have in my decals collection.

 

Colin FLY NAVY

[Ralph]

14 hours ago, Jabba said:

Air Graphics do a set for the chaff dispensers and show how one side looks on a picture of the product.

Thanks. To be honest Airgraphics stuff is somewhat hit and miss in my experience. Casting is rough and often out of scale. Their 1/72 seated pilots are more like 1/69 (no way they are fitting in any 1/72 cockpit I know of, and thinner parts are generally warped. Shame because the range of their stuff in terms of modern RAF is excellent. Will check out the pic tho! 👍

[Ralph]

V.quick update...assembled the excellent Reskit Skyflash missiles!

 

[Ralph]

Update now I've had some time on the old modelling bench...finished the cockpit, of which I am really pleased. Remodelled a couple of Airfix figured to provide some animation and added a scratchbuilt HUD and Eduard ejection handles. I've painted the drop tanks, gunpod tailplanes and afterburners ready for fitting later. The main fuselage and rings are now together...fit,-even around the dreaded intakes,- had been perfect. Who ever was doing the tooling for these and similar vintage Hasegawa kits at the time (nearly 50 years ago!😬) was a genius! Oh, and I've also added the metal fin pitots and AOA pitot near the nose.

 

[Jabba]

Coming together very well. Really like the growbags in the cockpit.

[Ray S]

Yes @Ralph, this is coming along nicely. I liked your idea for the in-flight support, and a great way of ensuring it stays straight.

 

Ray