Airfix BAe Hawk MkI in 1/48

[grover]

This is my first project getting back into the Hobby so don't expect miracles. I don't I wasn't very good as a kid and lacked patience, and I don't know if that's changed much.
This WIP post is more for me to log my progress, and to be able to get feedback, ideas and help as I need it.

Of course the first thing is pulling the model out and having a good look. I have Paul's tutorials running on my tablet in the background.

IMG_20140824_150523.jpg

I started on the Ejector Seats since I wont be adding the pilots to this build. The instructions aren't that clear and the seats have big seams/gaps where the 2 sides come together. I can see why people get after-market parts. I thought about it but I think I will continue with that I have. This is a learning model and so weathering the instruments at this stage is more important than worrying about bad seats.

IMG_20140824_154900.jpg

This will be a long build. I have to slowly buy the things I need and will take my time on things while I'm learning.

[Willem]

Best of luck with your build mate.

[grover]

Thanks Willem

[vyper1]

Good luck with your first build Grover Get yourself some Deluxe perfect plastic putty to fill the gaps. It's easy to use for us newbies

[grover]

Thanks Vyper. Found a place to get it in Godzone but its still shipped from the UK.

Slow progress, but that's OK. Get paid monthly so have to wait to get more equipment, and work has me travelling too so just taking it easy. I've made the (poor) seats and have them and the cockpit ready to prime. I'll do that this weekend.

IMG_20140903_195023.jpg

Tonight I played around and removed the wings from the sprue. Im going to need to do some work to get these looking proper.

IMG_20140903_195052.jpg

[Scottwba]

Ah gotta love Airfix, good luck with the build, plenty of help on this forum if you need it.

[grover]

Thanks Scott. Yeah im going to need it.

[UKguyInUSA]

Eeewwww.....those wings look pretty bowed and distorted, hope you can get them to glue okay? Good old Airfix!

Good luck with the build mate

[Paul]

Good luck buddy

[Nige201980]

Good luck mate. Is this a new tool hawk or a rebox?

[grover]

Hey Nige. I'm not too sure. It wasn't an expensive kit but was on special too. 25 GBP / 40 USD but we pay a bit more for stuff in New Zealand generally.

Anyone have ideas about how to fix the bow in the wing? Ive had it between a couple of cocktail sticks, heated it a little in water and clamped it with clothes pegs but its still as warped. Show I glue it and then clamp it?

[grover]

Finally getting on to some painting. Primed the cockpit and interior of the fuselage halves with tamiya rattle can primer. Seems to work ok, but it's all new to me so what would I know.
I converted what I could from the Humbrol listings for the kit to Tamiya paints, which is all I have. The others I'll have to guestimate.

IMG_20140913_164922 (1).jpg

So painted the cockpit in a mid grey. The thinner I have was sold to me by the store instead of me getting the Tamiya thinner. Will need to save to get Ultimate thinner but if it's as good as it's supposed to be it will be worth it as this stuff didn't work brilliantly with streaks in the paint. The paint wasn't great either to be honest.
I mixed up a tiny bit of Nato Black and thinner to brush onto the control surfaces. Remember this is a learning kit so I'm not too worried about real world accuracy.

IMG_20140913_183949.jpg

I think I'll go over this again with a deep grey and then try my hand at dry-brush weathering. These results are so-so but I'm learning. Just as important is I'm enjoying it. I'm not worried about the bad lines. I've realised that I want the cockpit in a single colour and will look at using the wash to add the detail.

IMG_20140913_184627.jpg

Some things I need to learn:
- Brush care and cleaning. Am currently using stuff you put in your car's window water bottle (undiluted) but dont know if this is the best thing. Do I leave bushes in it? How long will it last or should I only use a little bit for brush cleaning or are there better options.
- Best paint consistency for brushing large areas. This is something i just need to experiment with and find my personal preferences.
- Gluing painted surfaces (using Tamiya extra thin). Do I scrape away the paint? Will it ruin the paint if i let it dry on it?

[grover]

Slow progress, doing little bits and pieces but I can see a bunch getting done this weekend. Apart from sanding down some parts and realising how rough some of the parts are (I'm going to have to invest in some files now), I decided to look at working on the warped wing by going the 2 halves together and gluing them. Lets hope the straight section is the stronger of the 2.

IMG_20140919_201653.jpg

IMG_20140919_201631.jpg

[grover]

So work has eased a little and I have gotten some of the tools that have helped fix some of my mistakes, namely my filling.


This is not going to win any competitions, but it's a learning model. Im learning that sanding is both a pain in the arse and at the same time somewhat therapeutic.


Around the bottom where the intakes attach is pretty ugly.


I used my new spray booth and just some Tamiya Grey to prime the model and parts


Using a trick I saw on Flory's youtube channel, I grabbed an artist stencil for doing the hubs on the wheels


It worked really well


I filled in the wheel wells with some foam. I had to sand back the primer as it ended up going on pretty roughly, but it's ready for some preshading.


And just while everything dried properly I decided to brush the tail. This was before I realised that I had to pre-shade. I used Tamiya Nato Black but it doesnt seem dark enough so I'll give it a sand and then paint it again when I do the pre-shading.


Learning a lot and decided to change my plans for the next build to work on specific areas I need to improve. Hopefully this will be finished next weekend.

[UKguyInUSA]

She's looking good mate, you'll soon be putting some paint on her

[grover]

Thanks mate. I'm learning a lot from you and a lot of others here.

Just done the preshading and repainted the tail in Tamiya XF1. A bit thick but im still getting used to the airbrush. I think I buggered the Evolution airbrush when I dropped it so have been using the Ultra that I bought originally for Alclads. Its a bloody nice airbrush for a beginner.


Now I'll wait a good amount of time before putting in the main coat of paint. I want to give the tail a good amount of time to cure before I mask it.

[grover]

I don't know why but my paint is splattering and the resulting finish of the model is very rough. I'm going to have to play around with it a lot more.

I manage to get the top coat on. Even though it's a rough finish, im not going to sand it back and paint it again. I'm pushing to get this off the desk and on to something else.


It's not hard to see the rough surface


But i have pushed on and laid down a coat of Micro Flat. It's a really flat finish anyway. Wondering if I should have done a satin finish.


Back at the main desk im happy with the masking of the tail surface,


Despite it's roughness, the Hawk is a pretty bird