Gloster What-If, Baby!

[John Howling Mouse]

Then, believe it or not, it was finally time for PAINT:



The nosegear wheel well has been filled with a layer of masking tape covered with modeling clay (quick and easy).



The canopy was fun to mask.



I think I forgot to take any pics of the initial primer paintjob.  This is the RAF sky applied.  





Then the dumbest thing on my part: adding the pylons before painting made masking the underside a very big chore.







Eventually, I was able to hand-paint the camo pattern:





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You can see the finished build at: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,24526.0.html

[John Howling Mouse]

I think I missed photographing a bunch of steps in the glosscoating and decalling stages too.  Oh well.  Once the bird was all painted up, my attention turned to making some sort of sense out of the complex underside.  I modified some landing gear and scratchbuilt the nosegear doors.











Scratchbuilt experimental nose probe/pitot tube:


RATO cans and arrestor hook:


Forest of ordnance for painting:


_____________________________________________________________________________
You can see the finished build at: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,24526.0.html

[John Howling Mouse]

Some more progress underneath as ordnance is added:






I had a heckuva time with the decals.  As stated elsewhere on this forum, the new Pledge With Future is no substitute for the prior, straight "Future" and I had fogging problems, decal tearing, decals that would not move-----you name it.  My wife came in at one point just as I yanked a Tamiya British roundel off the model in frustration.  I don't think I've ever used Tamiya decals before; these were more fragile than my own, home-printed decals.  I pulled out some Airfix decals.  Now, in my fuzzy memory, I always thought that the one really good thing about Airfix kits were their decals.  Maybe that used to be the case or maybe I'm remembering it wrong but these brand-new Airfix decals literally fell apart.  While my wife watched me impatiently, I scavenged the stash for some British decals---ANY British subject would do. I ended up using good old Monogram and Revell decals from various kits and it all worked out okay.  Next time I go to use Tamiya decals, I will clear coat them first.

So, this is what it looked like close to the end: glossed up, still masked off, but the decals in place.







_____________________________________________________________________________
You can see the finished build at: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,24526.0.html

[ChernayaAkula]

  We're not worthy! We're not worthy! 

[comrade harps]

So cute!

[PR19_Kit]

JHM,

Those build instructions are so good Glosters could build a REAL one from them! I'll just nip down to Hucclecote and see if they'll re-open the Meatbox production line.