Col. Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 After thinking about this project for ages the amount of Hunter talk here has finally pushed this to the front of the queue. Many years ago I found a photo of my father standing in front of a T.8 Hunter he occasionaly flew at RNAS Lossiemouth back in the day when it was still called HMS Fulmar. I've wanted to model this aircraft since then and now I have a couple Matchbox 72nd scale Hunters along with a sheet of decals to suit. Later this evening I'll order the Aeroclub vac-formed canopy and white metal seats (Martin Baker Mk.4s if I recall correctly?) so I can make a start to building a cockpit. Having read various posts here I've come to realise the nose, spine and tail-pipe of the Matchbox kit need modifying to better represent the gracefull lines of the T series. The nose is too wide and blunt, the spine too square behind the canopy - which is itself badly shaped but should be cured by the replacements - and the tailpipe too wide, being more representative of the F 6 and FGA 9 types. A piece of plastic tube turned down to around 7.5 mm diamater should help with reshaping the latter. There is also the various vents located on the fuselage around the wing trailing edge that will need to be represented. Question is, is there anything else I've missed? I know the kit is quite basic and PJ have a conversion set to modify the superior Revell single-seaters but I quite enjoy working on something like this. Also, if anyone has links or photos to the cockpit or nose-wheel bay of these birds they could share I'd be very grateful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Dykas Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) Hi..build as you wish, but you might consider the wonderful Revell Hunter with the new PJ Productions conversion to the trainer version. You will get a better model. The PJ offerings includes resin seats, a better interior and a nice vacuform canopy. Just a thought...have fun no matter what model you do!! Sorry!! I didnt see your reference to the Revell'PJ combo already in your post. Edited January 20, 2009 by Charles Dykas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) The T8s usually had an airfield arrestor hook as well. http://www.fradu-hunters.co.uk/mmorley/images/xf358mjma.jpg http://www.fradu-hunters.co.uk/fraduhnt/ There is some picturesof the one fitted to the GA11s (which should be the same) at Damien's site http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/hu.../walkaround.php for the Matchbox nose, best advice I was ever given was to sand the sides down until the panel lines disappeared! Takes away a lot of the 'bulbous' appearance of the nose. Edited January 20, 2009 by Dave Fleming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 Viasistina; No worries, much as I'd love to tackle that option I have two of the Matchbox kits in the stash and no money in my wallet, hence I'll have to make best use with lots of plastic-card and filler Dave; Cheers for the links, haven't visited Damien's site for a while so always good the refresh the memory as to just how much is there. Think the FRADU site will keep me quiet for a while tonight My LMS had some plastic tube that should do for the tailpipe so that's one more item on the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousFO98 Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 order the Aeroclub vac-formed canopy and white metal seats (Martin Baker Mk.4s if I recall correctly?) so I can make a start to building a cockpit. are Aeroclub making them again then? pretty please?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The wooksta V2.0 Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Hunters used the MB Mk 3 bang seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 order the Aeroclub vac-formed canopy and white metal seats (Martin Baker Mk.4s if I recall correctly?) so I can make a start to building a cockpit.are Aeroclub making them again then? pretty please?? Em, I hope so. Didn't realise they had stopped making them Hunters used the MB Mk 3 bang seats. The single seaters did but the two-seaters used a different seat, sure it was the Mk 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenMG Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) The single seaters did but the two-seaters used a different seat, sure it was the Mk 4. Quite correct - Mk2H or 3H in the single seaters but Mk.4H in the T-birds which is completely different looking seat - horseshoe pack, combined chute and seat harness etc., etc.. Edited January 20, 2009 by StephenMG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The wooksta V2.0 Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Quite correct - Mk2H or 3H in the single seaters but Mk.4H in the T-birds which is completely different looking seat - horseshoe pack, combined chute and seat harness etc., etc.. Bugger! All mine (admittedly what if Hunter T12 TSR2 trainers) have Mk 3s! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 Bugger! All mine (admittedly what if Hunter T12 TSR2 trainers) have Mk 3s! Oh, that sounds interesting. Care to share a photo or two? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The wooksta V2.0 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Try these threads over on the What If site for one or two of them: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/to...hunter+t12.html http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/to...hunter+t12.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousFO98 Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Em, I hope so. Didn't realise they had stopped making them Hi Col tried to get some 1/72 Revell conversions from Aeroclub at the Huddersfield show last Feb as they were newly released. Was told the mould had split so that was that asked for a 1/48 and that was discontinued. Pj productions set is great but with the value of the pound against the Euro is a tad expensive (and comes with too much stuff in my opinion) but in fairness, it does look the business . Hannents are sold out, and given they are charging less than pj prods can't see them getting any more in a hurry. hope i'm wrong. so unless things are different now i am still waiting a conversion set and then some Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 22, 2009 Author Share Posted January 22, 2009 Quite correct - Mk2H or 3H in the single seaters but Mk.4H in the T-birds which is completely different looking seat - horseshoe pack, combined chute and seat harness etc., etc.. Thanks for the confirmation Stephen, allowed me to order some Pavla seats from Hannants Try these threads over on the What If site for one or two of them:http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/to...hunter+t12.html http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/to...hunter+t12.html Got to love those two, the black bird looks so right Walrus, bad news on all fronts there Hadn't heard of the Aeroclub 72nd scale conversion before. Keep with it though, someone's bound to anounce a new-tool Hunter T7/8 as I'm about half-way through this On the subject of which, I've ordered a set of Aeroclub canopies along with 4 Pavla Mk.4 and a Mk.3 seat from Hannants. Once that lot arrives I dare say the Firefly will get pushed aside again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 The seats and canopy arrived from Hannants a few weeks back and I finally took the oportunity to have a good look at them. The seats are ideal with a nice level of detail and will allow me to go ahead and start the 'pit. The canopy on the other hand seems a good bit narrower than the Matchbox hole so back to the drawing-board on that front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Just a couple of points. The 1:48 Hunter T.7 mould is the damaged one. I am working on an all new T.7 conversion in 1:72 for the Revell kit. My Vacform 1:72 correction kit for the Matchbox is out of production and that is what the canopy was for. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share Posted February 19, 2009 Thanks for the clarification on the canopy John. Ah well, one for the spares box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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