- The Airfix Tribute Forum -

I look forward to seing some photos of the Harrier.

Here are a few photos of various bits:

First up, the GR.3 - the old build thread for this is here if anyone is interested - I never got very far with it, it was probably not the best large scale kit to start off with. My main criticism of it at the moment would be the parts numbering - there is no logic to it and it makes finding parts on the sprues very hard!

I thought I had lost it, but it showed up again - the instrument panel. I've given this a bit more detail - I would've used the Resin Heritage one but I put all the decals on this before buying the heritage set.

This is the cockpit so far, with Heritage cockpit tub, sides and seat. It is a marked improvement and I think I'll get the Heritage Air Intakes and u/c gear replacements as it does make a lot of difference. I've drybrushed everything to try and pick out some of the detail.

And with a lot of tape to hold it together (particularly the nose where the resin tub is slightly too big for the space provided (mainly due to the fit of the resin cockpit sides) I'll need a bit of filler on the underside of the nose.

I forgot quite how huge the whole thing is - its a shave short of 2'!

Also on the go is the Swordfish. I sprayed it up in H130 White yesterday (with a drop of blue in the mix to try and make it a little less transparent - the drop in shade isn't noticeable).

And for the first time in months I've started brush painting camo! The upper wings & tailplanes are in H224 and the lower wings are in, and I quote:

The Harrier looks very nice. Keep up the good work.

Cheers Ollie

I have been cracking on with the Swordfish. All camo has been applied (with that interesting 80% - 10% mix

) and the decals have been applied. Cartograph decals are top notch - just the right thickness, very good printing and they stick to the model well. No need for any Micro Set to get them to stick down at all.

The long and arduous task of rigging was much more enjoyable than the Gladiator too as I learn't a lot from the previous experience.

It just needs a sealing in Klear then I'll spray it up in Flat Base to dull everything down

It looks quite good with the Gladiator too!

Unfortunately though, I'll need to glue the mounts for the stand into the bottom of the Swordfish as the torpedo is in the way to drill holes at the centre of gravity.

Ayup Owen...

Nice job. They sure make a lovely pair...

Nice job on the both of them Owen

I must pluck up the courage to have a go at some bi-planes

Cheers

Stu

Cheers Stu

Both are now finished and photographed!

(More photos here and here!)

Now, to crack on with the next build!

I've made a start on the Bf110 this evening - the wings are together, along with the tailplane construction. I've cleaned up the props and jousted the pilots with cocktail sticks before painting.

I'm slowly working my way through the Me110-D Rich kindly sent me - it's a nice, basic kit - on the same par as all the other 1950's tools that I've done so far - a good bit of fun none the less

The instructions are a little vague on colour callouts. H65 for the undersides springs to mind, but what about the uppersurfaces and mottling? Any ideas chaps

Cheers

Owen

IIRC the instructions go for a grey / green splinter camo on one (the C

) and a sand / grey mottle on the other 3K+

I've been slack as of late when it comes to building kits for SMW - I've got a fair bit of free time between now and November, so hopefully I'll manage to get a lot done.

Which scheme are you going with on the 110 Owen?

I've decided to try and get three models finished for SMW - the 1/72 Bf110 Rich sent me, the 1950's 1/72 Mosquito and the 1/24 Harrier GR.3 that I started many, many moons ago - I suspect I'll only finish the 1/72 kits but I'll give the biggun my best shot. I was planning to spend a lot of time over half term on these kits, but I've got to go and travel oop'north now, so I might only be able to do to the two 1/72 kits.

The Bf110 has had all undersides brush painted H65:

And the Mosquito FB.VI has had undersides sprayed H90. As I didn't use any primer (I've run out of Halford's spray at the moment), I'll probably have to do a bit more work sanding down the filler. As the fit of the u/c doors was so poor, I've done the same as I did on the Bf.110 and have just bunged a load of filler on top of the doors and sanded it down - it looks convincing enough to my eyes at least!

Work on the 1/24 Harrier GR.3 has been fast paced today - I've picked up where I left off which was the same as the photo at the top of the page of this build. Today the wing has been built and fixed into place, along with the thrusters, fin and I've fitted the nose which required a bit of butchery. Air intakes have been fitted too. To give a scale to the thing, that's a 1/72 Willys Jeep perched on the top!

Cheers,
Owen

They are coming along nicely.

I've sprayed up the Bf110 in H145 and Mosquito in H106 this evening and have made a start on making boxes to put all of my built kits in. Fingers crossed, all will be ready for the weekend although I'm not going to get the 1/24 Harrier finished.

D-Day certainly feels like its approaching fast! I've got all my kits packed up in some makeshift boxes, bar a couple. Fingers crossed I'll have the Bf110 and Mosquito ready in time - I've just finished the paint job this evening.

I've painted the uppersurfaces of the Mosquito in H116 and H106 for the Green/Grey scheme, I'm not sure how correct this is though? It looks a little odd, maybe its because it hasn't dried out yet?

Phew! Speed building over, both the Bf.110 and Mosquito are now finished, abiet not to my best standard but I'm satisfied.

The Bf110:

And the Mosquito Fb.VI:

They're all packed up now, along with everything else