1/48 Kittyhawk SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1

[IanG]

With less than 7 weeks left, I'm a bit late to the Group Build, so no pressure then.
For my sins, my build will be Kittyhawk's Jaguar GR.1.
It has it's issues, so there's nothing like a challenge. What's the worst that could happen?!
I am going to build a "wheels-up" example of a 41 Sqn aircraft, in a winter camouflage. This scheme was used when on Arctic Warfare exercise in Norway.
Extra's include Aires resin cockpit set, Kits World decals, Master Models pitot, and a PJ Production resin RAF pilot.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[Smiffy]

I do like a good Jaguar, and that one in the ref. pics looks very good indeed

[arilo76]

IanG looks like you are set for a really nice project, good look and keep posting.

[Always48]

nice to see another jag in the making

only advice i can offer is play with that cockpit fit long before doing anything with joining fuselage to the front end. My mistake was buying the cockpit late in the build progress and by that point i had already decided to join front to rear then glued the whole fuselage together later on.

get ready for sanding the guts out of it lol

[IanG]

Made a start on the cockpit.
The Aires resin set is very good, with nice detailing, PE instrument panel, and seat. I haven't fitted the belts to the seat, as I will be installing a pilot figure.
Regarding the fuselage. The instructions show assembling the front and rear sections separately, then joining them at a later stage of the build. I've decided to join the front and rear sections together now, so there just the 2 halves to assemble in the "normal" manner.
Lastly, on a spare fuselage piece, I've experimented with the painting of the winter camo scheme. I've done this using a narrow flat brush, and hand painted the white on. Best result was with Akan Faded White, onto a matt varnished surface. It will take a while to paint the whole fuselage, but I think it reflects the haphazard way in which the camo was originally hand painted onto the airframes.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

PJ Productions resin pilot settled in the "office". Nowhere to put the tea and biscuits though!
Once the build is nearly finished, I'll complete the belts, from the pilots shoulders, to the seat back.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

As you can see, the fuselage is doing its best to look like a bunch of Fyffes bananas!
So, starting from the rear, I've glued it in stages, and "teased" it all together.
Cockpit tub needed a fair bit of sanding, in order to get a reasonable fit, but it's in there!
Now it's all held in place with lots of Tamiya tape and clamps.......and I have stood well back!!

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[MagpieII]

Nice one, my Harrier was getting lonely over here in the fjords !

[IanG]

Nice one, my Harrier was getting lonely over here in the fjords !

Thank you.
Hopefully I'll be done in time.

[IanG]

Fuselage has held together, and most gaps filled.
This kit is clearly meant to be build with all panels, gun bays, undercarriage bays, engine bays, and airbrakes open. None of these panels fit properly, and not by a small amount, I mean a massive amount. The last photo shows some of this...notice the gap in front wheel bay doors, and the airbrakes at the rear.
The wings are assembled and fitted to the fuselage. Again, they are designed to have all flaps and leading edge control surfaces extended. You cannot make the wings with surfaces positioned for level flight, without a lot of cutting, and removing of locating points. The separate leading edge is too thick, so has had the upper surface sanded back to lessen the "step". You can see a before and after from photos 2 & 3.
Tail fin is 4 pieces. Why? A single piece, or 2 pieces, would've have been sufficient.
The pilot is now sat in his office, and the canopy is fitted (without issue too!)
Progress is being made, and that's a good thing.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[ElCapitan]

You're doing a fine job of it.

As much grief as it will give you, I'm sure it will be rewarding when it's finished! (That's what I'm telling myself ahead of the Feline Fever GB!)

[IanG]

You're doing a fine job of it.

As much grief as it will give you, I'm sure it will be rewarding when it's finished! (That's what I'm telling myself ahead of the Feline Fever GB!)

Thank you Rob.

[Zen]

You're doing a fine job of it.

Second that! The cockpit and pilot look great, can't wait to see more.

[IanG]

You're doing a fine job of it.

Second that! The cockpit and pilot look great, can't wait to see more.

Cheers Zen.

[IanG]

You're doing a fine job of it.

Second that! The cockpit and pilot look great, can't wait to see more.

Cheers Zen.

[Tomcat64]

Absolutely beautiful work on the pilot figure - that's just stunning.

Hope you persuade the rest of it to bend to your will - it's coming along really nicely!

[IanG]

Absolutely beautiful work on the pilot figure - that's just stunning.

Hope you persuade the rest of it to bend to your will - it's coming along really nicely!

Thank you Neil.
I've been taking lessons from Uri Geller!

[IanG]

Few more of the antenna and other "lumps'n'bumps" added.
Now starting to look like a Jaguar, and despite all the agro, I think it's looking pretty good. Also managed to get lucky, and source some RAF underwing drop tanks, and pylons.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[Willem]

Oh wow. I know it's fought you but that's really looking the part now. The pilot is outstanding.

[IanG]

Oh wow. I know it's fought you but that's really looking the part now. The pilot is outstanding.

Thank you Willem.

[IanG]

Now we're getting somewhere!
However......the KH kit has the wrong pylons for the RAF versions. Only the French ones provided!! So a bit trimming, and sanding, and they are now more representative of the RAF pylons.
Another issue, I've discovered, is that there's no provision for the upper wing-fences, should you decide not to attach the over-wing sidewinders and pylons. With a little bit of scratch building, using some sprue tab/labels, I now have wing-fences.
ANOTHER issue!....KH only provides the fuselage drop-tank, and not the wing drop-tanks too. Managed to source a pair (from the Revell GR.1 kit I think).
Last couple of photos show everything dry fitted.
Now we REALLY are getting somewhere! Smile -

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

That's the camo on. Used Ammo Mig paints, from their Modern RAF camouflage set.
However, the green looks too light, so I'm not convinced they've got that colour right.
I shall either add some black to the Ammo green, or I'll look and see else what I've go that's a better match.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

I wasn't happy with the Ammo green, it's a bit lighter than I thought.
So I've resprayed it with Vallejo Model Air 71.019 Dark Green, which seems closer to the RAF green.
I have also started the winter camo, on parts that aren't going to have decals on them.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

Made a start on the decals this evening.
I have also masked-off, and sprayed the exhaust nozzles and underside of the rear fuselage.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[ElCapitan]

The camo looks awesome!

[IanG]

The camo looks awesome!

Thank you Rob. It's going to be time consuming, but yes, I think it'll be worth it. Looks better in the flesh.

[Tomcat64]

Looking really good Ian - nice work

[IanG]

Looking really good Ian - nice work

Thank you Neil.

[IanG]

Well that's the winter camouflage applied. I think it's turned out okay, certainly has that "hand-painted" look of the real thing.
I'll let that dry completely, then apply some Alclad Aqua Gloss, then get cracking with the washes and weathering.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr


A REMINDER:-

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[Zen]

Wow... that Jag is looking so good, great work!!

[IanG]

Wow... that Jag is looking so good, great work!!

Thank you Zen.

[arilo76]

it looks really Nice, great work.

[IanG]

it looks really Nice, great work.

Thank you.

[IanG]

That's it, I'm done!
Not then best of builds, just needed some TLC, and lots of dry fitting.
If I were to do this scheme again, I'd use a wider brush for the winter camo, the brush I used was the widest I had, and the result is what it is, but I think it's turned out okay.

Gallery photo's here
viewtopic.php?f=583&t=22117

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[Les]

Congratulations on your finished project!

[IanG]

Congratulations on your finished project!

Thank you Les.

[Zen]

Beautiful! I love a good "in-flight" model, excellent display!

[IanG]

Beautiful! I love a good "in-flight" model, excellent display!

Cheers Zen.