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What with all the Hawk topics recently...


Skii

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...this particular project has been on the 'started but abandoned' pile for many moons, but here is the Airfix /148 Hawk with a bit of drilling an pinning...

I couldn't decide how to build this aircraft as I love the lines and shape of the Hawk T1, but with the clumsy great canopy posed open it spoils the look of the aircraft to my eye - so here is the best of both worlds.

Drill a .5mm hole at each end of the canopy, drill pilot holes in the front plexiglass frame and rear fuselage section, use a small length of 15 amp fuse wire as the hinge at each end ( both of these areas re-inforced with a thin shim of plastic card)

and the result is a very rugged and most importantly discrete hinging canopy ..

(please excuse the rubbish photography on this occasion)

Hawk1.jpg

Hawk2.jpg

Hawk3.jpg

:)

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I couldn't decide how to build this aircraft as I love the lines and shape of the Hawk T1, but with the clumsy great canopy posed open it spoils the look of the aircraft to my eye - so here is the best of both worlds.

Drill a .5mm hole at each end of the canopy, drill pilot holes in the front plexiglass frame and rear fuselage section, use a small length of 15 amp fuse wire as the hinge at each end ( both of these areas re-inforced with a thin shim of plastic card)

and the result is a very rugged and most importantly discrete hinging canopy ..

So simple! So brilliant! :speak_cool:

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Neat work John, I have "one in the stash" so will have t start thinking about that soon. The Airfix canopy is okay - sanded down - to remove most traces of the centre section and polishes up it looks very presentable - especially given the MDC "treatment" which looks like you've done - nice! Whose colours is she going to be finished in?

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Neat work John, I have "one in the stash" so will have t start thinking about that soon. The Airfix canopy is okay - sanded down - to remove most traces of the centre section and polishes up it looks very presentable - especially given the MDC "treatment" which looks like you've done - nice! Whose colours is she going to be finished in?

Hi Bill, yeah the canopy is still a tad clumsy, but as you say I've sanded away the external framing around the centre section and micromeshed it back to clear - its passable ! Scheme will be an RN FRADU jet with lots of glossy black loveliness :D

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The Airfix canopy is okay - sanded down - to remove most traces of the centre section and polishes up it looks very presentable - especially given the MDC "treatment".

Hi Bill,

What has been removed from the centre section and what is the MDC treatment? Is it by any chance polishing off a centre section moulding seam?

Cheers,

Dave.

Edited by Dave Gibson
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Nice touch, started mine this afternoon but had to put it away after I found I have two fuselage halves the same..I've emailled Airfix as I've normally had good spares service from them.

Needless to say I'll be copying the hinge idea as that is utter class and I feel the same about the canopy too.

Cheers

Col'

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Hi Bill,

What has been removed from the centre section and what is the MDC treatment? Is it by any chance polishing off a centre section moulding seam?

Cheers,

Dave.

Hi Dave, Yes removing all and polishing the raised plastic really brings everything back into perspective. Also the MDC (miniature detonating cord) treatment refers to thin grey paint being "washed" into the recessed internal MDC. Airfix's canopy looks very bulky OOB.

Edited by Bill Clark
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Hi Dave, Yes removing all and polishing the raised plastic really brings everything back into perspective. Also the MDC (miniature detonating cord) treatment refers to thin grey paint being "washed" into the recessed internal MDC. Airfix's canopy looks very bulky OOB.

Thanks Bill,

I'm going to have to cost that build. It looks good and I do like the Hawk, even though I'm not a jet man as you would guess from the MDC question. I thought Bob had some new abraisives. :)

I've felt much the same as you about the Airfix Hawk - a much maligned kit and a hell of a good blank canvas.

Cheers,

Dave.

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