Airfix 1/72 TSR 2

[StuartClark]

Next build is the Airfix TSR-2 in 1/72.

Similiar to the Avro Arrow, the TSR 2 was years ahead of its time. It was a dark day in British aviation history when the Labor government of the day shut the project down.


Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Aftermarket includes some PE for the cockpit, mask set and decals from several Tornadoes from the 80's and 90's. The plan is to make a 'what if' aircraft as if the TSR-2 did enter operational service with the RAF.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

[StuartClark]

Here are the pics of the sprues and decals etc.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Decals
Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

[StuartClark]

Getting things started.

First up is the cockpit area. I separate and clean up the cockpit tub, seats and instrument panels. There is some unpainted photoetch to be attached in cockpit tub and on the interior walls. Once this is done these parts are primed in preparation for a coat of Tamiya XF-82 Ocean Gray 2 (RAF)

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

[StuartClark]

Starting on the photoetch for the cockpit. The older I get the smaller it seems to get. I was using 3x magnifiers and I think next time I'll move up to 4x.
Showing all the bits and pieces I use to work on photoetch.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Futher detail, to give an idea on size, this is the tip of a toothpick.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Had to take a break before I go cross-eyed .

[chief5437]

Nice work so far. Great subject!

[DrSprue]

Oo. this looks like a fun build! Count me in.

[mick]

good progress

[schweinhund227]

Great subject and nice work thus far... keep it up !

have a look at XtraDecals they make a slew of what if schemes for it.

http://www.ipmsusa.org/Reviews/Kits/Fir ... 2_TSR2.htm

[StuartClark]

I managed to get one of the 1/48 set for that kit in the stash, my usual supplier did not have the 1/72 set, so I went with the next best thing.

[StuartClark]

Updates may be not as frequent as I'm back on the job search, I was hoping my contract would be extended, but we have caught up on the backlog and I think they want to try without one person

Took a break from the photo etch and started working on the engine intakes. I have to say I'm not sure what the logic was in making the parts the way they did. I'm sure another way could have been designed. Once I got them together, the fit issues are quite clear.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

So time to break out the putty.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

After some time and some more putty a good start to this. It still needs a bit more work and some rescribing in spots.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Also, I did a quick test fit of the 2 fuselage halves, one set of pins had to go as they were much too long.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

[StuartClark]

A bit more work done today.

The fuselage has been glued together, to say there were some minor fit issues would be an understatement. Some filler and sanding will solve it in short order.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

While that was setting, I set to work on the back end of the beast. Engine exhausts will be primed in black followed by Vallejo's Metal Color Jet Exhaust 77.713 with a bit of Tamiya XF-6 Copper.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

How it looks after primer.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

[StuartClark]

Exhausts complete. I was very impressed on how way the Vallejo Metal color airbrushed on.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Now onto the wing assembly. There are 3 parts that go across the top of the fuselage. Test fitting here is a must as I found some sanding is going to be required.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

After a little while with the sanding sticks, a good fit is achieved.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

One more round of test fitting before I put glue to it.

[StuartClark]

A bit more work on the wings. in this case, I decided to put the main wing assembly on before the front section. The fit seemed to be better this way.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Then once that set, put on the front section. Still took a bit more sanding and filing to get a decent fit. Once it drys there will be some more sanding to get everything right. I also added the tail and rear stabilizers at this point. Starting to look like the TSR-2 now.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

[StuartClark]

The weather this weekend gave me some time to get a bit more done.

Wheels assembled and primer coat put on.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr


Rest of main body assembly completed. Canopies were masked using the Eduard set and glued onto the fuselage in preparation for final sanding and priming.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

This is a seriously big kit, I have the 1/48th scale as well. Where am I going to put that?

[schweinhund227]

Encountered similar fit issues on their 1/48th issue of that kit... I would suggest to test for the top wing assembly fit to the fuselage...before you glue anything....

by gluing the top of the wing first to the fuselage... and joining the 2 lower parts afterward... I avoided a lot of extra sanding!

Good luck with the project.

[StuartClark]

Pretty well exactly the same issues with the wings on the 1/72, in this case, I did the back part 1st, then the main wing, then the front. Still a bit of sanding and filling towards the front. At least the plastic sands down quite well.

Getting close to the painting, which is my favorite part of the build.

Thanks

[StuartClark]

Ready for priming with Badgers's Stynylrez grey primer. Sprays straight from the bottle without any thinning. Well recommended.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Next day I was looking at using a Gunze Aqueous color, but I was not happy with the color and the upon opening the jar there was a lot of lumps.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Settled on a mix of Tamiya XF-59 and X-17 Pink to try and get the RAF 'desert pink' scheme. 80/20 ratio. Painted the top side with this mix.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

[StuartClark]

The next morning I took a look at the results and I still wasn't happy with the color as it turned out.

I dropped by my local hobby shop, Broughdale Hobby to see what I can find among the other colors available. I bought a bottle of Vallejo Model Air 026 US Flat Brown. From what I see it has a slightly red/pink color which is a feature of the RAF desert pink color.

I've sprayed Vallejo Model Air before. They say it can be sprayed straight from the bottle, but I prefer to add Vallejo airbrush thinner and airbrush flow improver. I tend to use 3:2 ratio for thinner, and 5:1 ratio for the flow improver. Like anything else, your mileage may vary.

This was taken 10 min after I painted the underside. So far I like this color better.
Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Also found some time to get the masks of the wheels. I had never used wheel masks before and I'm quite impressed. Not perfect, but not bad for a first time. A few touch ups and they will look even better.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

[aur0ra145]

Wow, looking good! Very interesting subject.

[StuartClark]

Quite happy with the Model Air so I repainted the top as well. I did a very light coat so it actually looks slightly lighter on the top surfaces which duplicate the weathering effects of the desert sun.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Gloss coat is next and then decals.

[StuartClark]

Gloss coat is on, now onto decals.

Using a set of Model Alliance Tornado decals. I'm going to do it up as an aircraft of 617 Sqm, based at Incirlik AB, Turkey as part of Operation Jural in 1992.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

[StuartClark]

Decided just before I put decals on, the color was still a bit too dark. Put a light mist coat of 80% thinner and 20% XF-59 Desert Yellow on.
Looks much better.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Gloss coat tomorrow then decals.

[StuartClark]

Decalling has commenced. So fare the Model Alliance and Airfix are going on well.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

[StuartClark]

Landing gear is now on. Landing gear doors are proving a bit troublesome which means one or two are placed then wait for it to set.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

I have to admit I'm looking forward to this one being done.

[StuartClark]

A coat of Vallejo satin and I'm calling it done. I have to admit I found the tail end of the project very challenging. The landing gear doors were the most troublesome I have encountered. The overall fit is less than ideal and you can tell it was an older Airfix molding.

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

Untitled by Stuart Clark, on Flickr

If I was to do this one again, I would have put several more mist coats to lighten the brown color. A fun build but glad it's over. The aircraft barely fit into the display case I had planned to put it in. I have this kit in 1/48, I now have to decide If I will build it due to the size.