So I was swithering whether to start this build now or wait for three weeks for the 60's Group Build. Its Fairey obvious that I have decided to start it now as I intend to have this finished by mid to late April in time for the Scottish Nationals and with my build rate, the sooner I start the higher the posibility of finishing in time.

So what is this Project 75, which by itself sounds like something from a cheap sci-fi novel of the 1950's. The answer is the first kit in 1/72 by Aerocraft, the Fairey Project 75 to GOR. 339 which ultimately led to the TSR.2.



The model is a nice and clean high resolution, 3D printed hollow model in multiple parts with lots of printing supports as you would expect from a kit in this medium. The fuselage parts look like this when removed from their supports.



Here they lack any interior or the nose and tail cones which are cleverly designed only to fit into the relevant part due to a key printed into their ends. The above picture was taken on an A3 cutting mat to show the scale which is comperable to a 1/72 scale TSR.2.

The undercarriage, seen below, is well designed, allowing the tyres to be painted separately from the rest of the bicycle style main undercarriage. The face that there are outrigger wheels in each engine naseles reminds me somewhat of the Sud Aviation Vautour.



The Print Supports I have kept as they may be useful for any sci-fi project I may undertake in the future, we shall see.



More later as it's too cold outside right now to prime the nose section prior to painting.

Gondor

Veeeeeeery interesting! 

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 11, 2024, 02:08:48 PMVeeeeeeery interesting! 

  

Damn!  Now I want one of those as well 😎.  617 Sqn with Red Beard is the first thing that springs to mind....

Quote from: Accidental Loggie on February 12, 2024, 10:04:38 AMDamn!  Now I want one of those as well 😎.  617 Sqn with Red Beard is the first thing that springs to mind....

The kit comes with two buckets of instans sunshine for the bomb bay which certainly look like Red Beard.

Gondor

Found a slight problem with the part that is both the bomb bay roof, front wall and rear wall, it is also a locating plug for the forward fuselage.

The problem was that the front wall/fuselage plug did not have a recess at the top to allow it to be slightly recessed into the center fuselage which made the front and rear walls of the bomb bay too far forward. The solution to the problem is to cut a step at the top on the wall/fuselage plug to allow it to fit into the centre fuselage, like this....



which allows the bomb bay to look like this



Side view,



Front and



rear. Admittedly the rear wall is a little out of place but it is just a dry test fit in the picture.

Aerocraft have told me that the part will be modified as well as letting all other existing customers will be notified of the problem and the solution.

Work is ongoing to tidy up the parts, once the majority have had this done I will give them a wash then deals with any problems which will have been caused mainly by me. Then primer and some gluing of parts possibly.

Gondor

I'd forget about Red Beard and cut straight to WE177.  And 617 is too obvious a user, see also 16 Sqn.  One of the more obscure Cranberry units - 6 or 15.

Quote from: The Wooksta! on February 12, 2024, 03:43:12 PMAnd 617 is too obvious a user, see also 16 Sqn. 

Ah yes, but I already have a 15Sqn TSR2 but nothing from Six Foot.  And there is of course the amended 617 Sqn motto option: "Apres moi le champignon"

The kit comes with several markings for different squadrongs, 12, 13, 40 and 237 OCU.



Not your normal kit decals, more home printed variety where the whole sheet is one decal and you have to cut out the individual item you want and trim the decal back.

Gondor

No real hardship, although a quick brush full of Microscale Liquid Decal Film over the top of the bit you're going to use and out with the scalpel. 

Try using current Kora decals. Very similar. We had to back in the old days with Almark sheets.

Managed to get the canopy removed from it's pouring block as unlike the rest of the aircraft the canopy is clear cast resin rather than 3D printed resin.





I will need to do a bit of blending in I think..





.... and some sanding back of the fuselage.

Got a way to go befor I get to that part though

Gondor

Prepping of the parts before their first coat of primer has almost reached its end. The smaller wheels and ejection seats still need removing from their supports. I have found that the designer missed one item that can easily be scratch-built, the scissors link for the main undercarriage. This should go on the front of the leg from the center of the axle to just above the rim of the wheel, not the tyre.

View of the front of the main undercarriage leg.



Gondor

I also have one of these and Alistair has emailed me instructions on the modification needed for the weapons bay

Quote from: Leading Observer on February 15, 2024, 02:01:09 PMI also have one of these and Alistair has emailed me instructions on the modification needed for the weapons bay

You now have a heads-up for the main undercarriage leg as well then.

Gondor