SaintsPhil Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 (edited) Evening everyone, I started a thread about converting the new tool airfix GR7/9 to an AV8B. So after asking questions and getting all the help I needed to get me going I thought it rude not to post a WIP! This is my first WIP (outside a GB) so be patient with me! I was kindly donated some decals by Mark aka Harry Lime, which are on the way postie obliging! I have cannibalised bits from the old tool GR7 kit, which comes with all the parts required to make an AV8B and night attack version. These are: New nose New tail tip Gun pods I also need to remove the underside wedge flare launcher from behind the air brake, remove lumps and bumps from the rear and wing tips. I've made a start: Removed the GR7 nose and replaced with the AV8B nose, I've not used the night attack version as its too long! I'll have to scratch build the FLIR fairing later This is all just taped together now, need a new nozzle for the AB before any paint can go on the pit! Fuselage halves joined, I've removed the wedge and all the bumps from the rear end Also removed tail boom tip and added the AV8B style Needs sanding to match once fully set I thought I'd make things really tough for myself and try modelling this in a hovering pose! I've got a couple of PJ productions modern RAf pilots, I figure in this scale there's not much difference!! It'll also cover the lack of correct seat. This does leave one complication, I need to drop all the aux intake doors. I plan to sand down the remaining doors on the kit insert to replicate this, I'll see how this goes... Hopefully more updates later in the week! Phil Edited December 22, 2011 by SaintsPhil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 im watching you phil!! looging good so far mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 (edited) I'm watching too as I have a plan to take one back even further!! Oh, and PM inbound once I clear my inbox!) Edited October 31, 2011 by Dave Fleming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted November 1, 2011 Author Share Posted November 1, 2011 Thanks for pics Dave, tried to PM back but your inbox is full again!! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Should be empty now! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted November 1, 2011 Author Share Posted November 1, 2011 Only to say thanks, which I think I emailed back anyway....and said here...thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 No bother! No bother! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 Good evening everyone! More progress, still waiting for postie to deliver my new nozzle for my airbrush so I'm working on all the bits and bobs. I might take this approach more often! It's making me think a bit more before jumping in!! I've had a go at the dropped aux intakes for the hover pose They worked ok I think! Thanks to Mark, I have an extended intake at the base of the fin. For those interested this stops ingestion of the flares from the packs either side of the fuselage. On the subject of the flare packs Davd has kindly donated some! I'm Extremely greatful as I spent a good hour last night trying to drill 60 0.3mm holes in a near grid pattern....it wasn't going well!! Ive also cut all the bits from the sprues ready for painting, such as pit, intakes, engine fan and nozzles and the horizontal stabs. This time I managed to get that part off the sprue without breaking the central bar! Lastly I've added the winder rails to the outer pylons And the TER to the inner pylons I've been thinking about weapons load, I was going to go with tanks, and TER with dummy mk82 on them. I have found what I think are practice rocket pods, similar to the RAF ones. I need to do some trawling of the net for more info. If they are any good I'll drop the tanks and go with them! Any pointers appreciated! Hopefully another update over the weekend Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 I've been thinking about weapons load, I was going to go with tanks, and TER with dummy mk82 on them. I have found what I think are practice rocket pods, similar to the RAF ones. I need to do some trawling of the net for more info. If they are any good I'll drop the tanks and go with them!Any pointers appreciated! email inbound tomorrow!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Lime Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Phil, Glad to help, after all you've bailed me out with some replacement decals so it's only fair to return the favour! I'm looking forward to seeing this one finished now, it's certainly going to be something a little different. Mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xffw45343tg Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 I've had a go at the dropped aux intakes for the hover pose Noooooooooo! Great idea but alas you've got them pivoting from the wrong end. The hinge is on the leading edge and so when the doors are sucked open you can see through to the fan. Think you've somehow got the parts on back to front. Another think I spotted (but may well be wrong on) is that I don't think the early NAs had the strengthening plate & domed rivets just aft of the heat sheilds. I thought they were a later mod. If so (and I'm afraid you'll have to check references and not just take my word on it), it's just a case of smoothing off the domed rivet detail. Keep up the good work though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted November 4, 2011 Author Share Posted November 4, 2011 Argh!!! Oh bother! That's twice now I've mucked up the intakes in a Harrier, tried to use new style intakes on an old harrier In the GB! Hopefully I can remove the parts and reverse them, otherwise it's out with the razor saw and I'll have to make some! I wasn't sure about the strengthening plate, I've got a couple of walk arounds that show it, but Dave has sent me a pic of this aircraft from an angle that should show it! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 Ok so I've calmed down after my latest error! I've sent an email to the nice people at airfix begging for some new intakes! Fingers crossed. In the mean time I've got my airbrush working again, thanks to a new nozzle and some pointers from paul at Little Cars! I've painted all the sub assemblies needed to let me close up the front end. Heres the cockpit plus pilot, I'm quite pleased with how hes come out, shame my camera doesn't go any closer without struggling to focus! I was planning to leave him and the seat out until the end, but I don't think I would have ever go him back in so hes there now. Front section is now glued up and nose add, jut waiting for the filler to dry. I've painted up a bunch os subassemblies, undercarridge, nozzles fan, and intake bell. Just got to weather them all a bit with washes etc. I've jumped in and removed the strengthening detail from behind the hot nozzle. This wasn't added until after this aircraft entered service so, although it would have had it at some point I'm going to remove it for 'interest'. Thanks to Dave for confirming that with some pics! I haven't done it yet but I think I need to remove the small bar and small fin(?) from the underside as well. I can't see them on any AV8B walkarounds: http://data3.primeportal.net/hangar/bill_s...66_23_of_40.jpg Any one hazzard a guess as to what they are? Something RAF specific I guess.... Thanks Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted November 6, 2011 Author Share Posted November 6, 2011 More progress, Sunday night update! Rear section together. And the front Bit of sanding to tidy up filler on nose join. Just need to paint the intake section at rear before I join the front and rear sections. The fan and intake on the rear half painted I took the plunge and sanded off the small strip and fin behind the rear nozzle. Still can't find these on any pics AV8B or GR9... Will hit a bit of a stop until the new intakes arrive, fingers crossed airfix are up to their usual standard of customer service! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob P Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Looking good Phil! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 I took the plunge and sanded off the small strip and fin behind the rear nozzle. Still can't find these on any pics AV8B or GR9... I think that's a strengthening plate fitted after the acoustic cracking was discovered. (The big 'plate' above it is an access panel to the bay behind the engine) - I think you can see the back end of it here http://data.primeportal.net/hangar/luc_col...er_GR.7_034.jpg From memory, it's not fitted to all aircraft as the ones manufactured after the problem was identified have internal strengthening (It doesn't seem to be on AV-8B+ for example) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 Thanks Dave, looks like I made the right choice then! Any idea what the fin was? Good news, just got email from Hornby to say the intakes are on route! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Thanks Dave, looks like I made the right choice then! Any idea what the fin was? PM inbound! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moofles Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 blimey that looks rather good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piero Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Hi Phil, some "pointers" on your nice WIP: AV-8B Night Attack has 100% LERX... only very few early grey-green Night Attack were fitted with original 65% LERX; You have to add a chaff launcher on each side of ventral fin; Your TER is attached upside down on inner pylons. Good work! CIAO! Piero More progress, Sunday night update!Rear section together. And the front Bit of sanding to tidy up filler on nose join. Just need to paint the intake section at rear before I join the front and rear sections. The fan and intake on the rear half painted I took the plunge and sanded off the small strip and fin behind the rear nozzle. Still can't find these on any pics AV8B or GR9... Will hit a bit of a stop until the new intakes arrive, fingers crossed airfix are up to their usual standard of customer service! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 Thanks for the comments guys, Piero, the decals I have been given are for an early grey green wraparound, hence the 65% LERX! As you're about to see the chaff launchers are now fitted, thanks for those Dave! Hmmm I'll double check the TERs.... Anyway here's the all important pics! It's pretty much all together now, minus the intakes, which have arrived thanks to Airfix! Great service again!! I've formed the FLIR bulge from a piece of sprue blended with filler, I'm pretty happy with it. Finally here are the kindly donated flare packs I have to admit I guessed which way up they went, all the picks Ive looked at show the fairing being equal on either side but one side appears to be smaller than the other! They fitted better this way so I went with that! Thanks for looking in! I'm enjoying this build, cockups aside! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 Just checked and of course Piero you're right!! The TER are upside down!! Not sure how I managed that as Dave sent me plenty of pics!! Oh well easy to fix! I meant to ask a question too, does anyone know the intake colour for the Cammo AV8B? The pics I have seem to show the cammo colour but I can't see well inside so I assume the bell at the rear is white? Thanks Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob P Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Hi Phil, just checking, if it's an early NA in green and grey, would it have the "frog eye" intakes fitted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xffw45343tg Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 FLIR sensor is pretty much vertical (i.e perpendicular to the horizontal fuselage datum). Coming on nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 Apparently they did have the frog eyes, and the pic of this Aircaft I've got seems to show them! I thought they were related to the engine fitted rather than the LERX size but there's time to chop them off before paint!! Thanks, I was pretty happy with the fairing vs the side on pic I've got but I'll double check thr profile and sand flat if necessary, might just be the odd angle of my pic. I'll try and take a comparison at some point! Thanks guys Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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