1/48 Airfix DE Havilland Sea Vixen FAW 2 - No. 893, Naval Air Squadron, HMS Victorious, 1966.

[plasmahal]

My next build is the 1/48 Airfix DE Havilland Sea Vixen FAW 2.

I have 3 of these kits in my stash and I will be doing this one OOB. I have opted from the instructions to represent the airframe from No. 893, Naval Air Squadron, HMS Victorious, 1966.

I have some Mr Hobby Aqueous color H333 - Extra Dark Sea Grey for the top colour.

And now for some pictures.

[chief5437]

Nice choice!

[UKguyInUSA]

Nice choice of kit and it looks good when built up. I have a friend that has just completed one and it looks awesome! Good luck and have fun building her!

[Joesdad]

Agreed, great choice I'd like see your technique for the undersides...I can't stand spraying white..

[Puj]

I've got one of these on my 'to do' list... mine will be the display aircraft version (132)

There are plenty of bits for detailing over at Hannants

[plasmahal]

**Update** - Cockpit Part One.

I have made a start on the cockpit.

The kit seats are not too bad but they lacked any seat belt detail, so I had to scratch from tamiya tape and lead wire some seatbelts.

On the left is the kit seat as is, on the right with my first attempt at scratch seat belts.

[galileo1]

Excellent progress! I really like the looks of this aircraft. Might have to get me one and build it after I finish the Hunter I'm working on.

[shortCummins]

those seat belts are first class!

[plasmahal]

Thanks for the comments guys....

[LudvigN]

Very nice job with the scratch built stuff there!

[martin57]

Nice work on the seat, good luck with the rest .

[Joesdad]

Oh man! What a great opening, a high standard indeed

[rwsmith14]

Ejection seats look outstanding !!!!

[plasmahal]

**Update** - Cockpit Part Two.

I got the second bang seat sorted with scratch built seat belts.

Seats installed into the cockpit and I did some dry fitting of the cockpit into the upper fuselage.

[FabianAUT]

Great start!

[Andreas]

Great looking cockpit there m8

[DBMiller]

That cockpit is the best! This will be good!

[Hawkins6685]

That's an incredible cockpit build mate. And them seat belts there's no way you'd know they were scratch built absolutely awesome build following with interest.

[qeialto]

It's an incredible cockpit, how did you manage to assemble the ejector stuff?
Thanks
Antonio

[Nev]

That's some amazing work I love the two side by side seats was such a novel idea.

Not sure if already seen this site but very good ref if you need it:

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk ... around.php

[plasmahal]

It's an incredible cockpit, how did you manage to assemble the ejector stuff?
Thanks
Antonio

Antonio, do you mean the seats or seat belts or both?

[UKguyInUSA]

Fabulous work on that tub mate!

Cheers

Martin

[qeialto]

It's an incredible cockpit, how did you manage to assemble the ejector stuff?
Thanks
Antonio

Antonio, do you mean the seats or seat belts or both?

Don't know the english word, but I meant the black/yellow stuff to be pulled when the ejector seat has to be activated

[plasmahal]

It's an incredible cockpit, how did you manage to assemble the ejector stuff?
Thanks
Antonio

Antonio, do you mean the seats or seat belts or both?

Don't know the english word, but I meant the black/yellow stuff to be pulled when the ejector seat has to be activated

OK, the ejector seat handles were painted the same as the seats but i used some slightly thinned tamiya yellow paint and a very fine brush to paint the yellow stripes.

[T3hGuppy]

Great progress on this.

I love the scratch built additions to the seats.

Might have to start mine at some point been sat in the stash for over a year now

[plasmahal]

**Update** - Intakes and Exhausts Part One.

I did some searching as the airfix instructions don't do colour call outs for the intakes.

I naturally assumed like many aircraft of this era that they were gloss white.

Several photos of surviving aircraft in a non restored state show a natural metal intake.

With that in mind i primed with XF-19 then base coated with X-1.



Then once dry, I sprayed with Mr Metal color stainless.



As for the exhausts, they too were primed with XF-19 then sprayed with XF-84. Then they were dry brushed with Mr Metal color stainless.

[plasmahal]

**Update** Main Assembly, Priming and Pre-shading.


So a long overdue update now that other builds have finished.

I have completed the main assembly and moved onto priming and pre-shading.

[plasmahal]

**Update** Primary Painting Part One.

Using Mr Hobby Aqueous H1 White, I have painted the underside and parts that need to be white.

With the pre-shading, i get a nice semi grimey effect I'm happy with.

[plasmahal]

**Update** Primary Painting Part Two.

Got the underside masked off.



Then a couple of thinned layers of mr hobby aqueous H333 extra dark sea grey applied so the pre-shading was just visible.

[plasmahal]

**Update** Primary Painting Part Three.

The top side has now had panels bleached and weathered with Mr Hobby aqueous H333 and H1.

Just enough to give that tonal effect and weathered look.

[plasmahal]

**Update** Decals Completed.

After several long sessions, all the decals are done now.

[rwsmith14]

Paintwork is excellent. the preshading shows through just the right amount. well done.

[plasmahal]

**Update** Weathering Part One.

Gone over the Vixen with a Dark dirt clay wash.

[plasmahal]

**Update** Weathering Part Two.

The dark dirt wash has been cleaned up.





Made a start on the aerials, refuelling probe and pitot tubes. I also did the white around the canopy framing.

[Avgas]

Looking super.

[plasmahal]

**Update** Sea Vixen Complete.

She's all done now. Not perfect but I'm very happy with the end result and a proud owner of one the best looking FAA aircraft ever designed.

Just letting the last bits dry and then will take final reveal photos and post the reveal thread later.

Thanks for watching.