Calling this done now!!
Had lots of issues with photobucket, hence the lack of updates. I'm going to try and do it all now while it's working!
So to start, as I wasn't keen on the kit scheme I'm doing a sort of what if. It's a real scheme from 111 Sqn (the tremblers), and I'm using decals from 'black mike', which is a 111 aircraft, so it's not too far off.
This is the scheme I'm going for.
I also like the under slung gun pod, and the lopsided load of just one small drop tank.
However, rather than that nice clean pic, I'm aiming for something a bit dirtier. Like this.
So, after building the cockpit (no pics
) I got the fuselage together. No probs apart from around the canopy. I'll be having this closed, so a fair bit of filler was required.
A small section of the upper wing was missing, so I filled it with plasticard, then sanded to shape once set.
I also added some detail to the belly aux doors, just to avoid having open holes.
Wings fitted, no filler needed at the roots, although there was a bit of a step underneath. Cut, fill, sand, repeat!
Got the base colour down, Ultimate primer, ammo colour, tamiya yellow.
Had a few problems with the decals, the micro sol marks would not go away!
After some sanding and gloss, this is as good as I could get.
After a Ultimate wash for the panel lines, I put a Matt coat on then started to dirty her up with oils. Also chipped some decals to add some ageing.
Then, DISASTER!!! I somehow managed to smack it into my desk lamp
I could hear a loud rattle inside. No option but to prise the canopy off to check. Fortunately I use future to stick my clear parts, so it wasn't too hard to get off.
Inside, I found that the metal parts of the rear ejection seat had come loose. After a while fishing and shaking, I got them out, and reattached. The rear canopy is a 'snap fit' now!
Added bonus, the inside of the canopy was covered in dust, must've got in there through one of the many openings on the kit. This gave me a chance to clean/blow it all out. Silver linings
The kit comes with drop tanks moulded on the pylons, but not the same pylon as in my pic. They're also bigger than in the pic.
So I found a suitable donor in the spares box.
I cut the fins off, and chopped off the back end to a more acceptable size.
I filled the panel lines with melted sprue/cement, then sanded and added a couple of panels. I also filled the gaps in the pylon with plasticard, and added detail and a rack .
I took two of the sparrow (I forget the Brit variant name, skyflash?) and chopped of the fins, then painted blue and gave a few coats of gloss. Unless carrying a full load, these concrete filled missiles were carried, at least on the front port station. This was to help maintain the centre of gravity. In wartime the front port missile would be the last to be fired, as once gone the cog was affected, particularly with fuel in the aft tanks.
I managed to lose the barrel for the gun pod, so made one from a couple of bits of brass tube.
Worked out ok, I think?
Finally, as the intakes just open up into an empty fuselage, I made some FOD guards. I'd previously traced the intake shape before assembly for this reason. Once cut to shape, I primed in Ultimate black, then masked off with that thin tamiya tape. It's not very sticky, and quite thick, but served a purpose here.
After spraying with tamiya yellow, I added some handles from copper wire, painted red. Done.
So that's it all done! I'll post more in the reveal section, fingers crossed photobucket keeps working!
Thanks for looking fellas,
