Iraqi Backfire

[Radish]

This looks like an absolute belter.
Superb.

[John Howling Mouse]

Still think this is one gutsy subject for a speed-build.  And you're doing such an excellent job of it, too.
Can't wait to see you hit it with paint.

[McGreig]

Why did I start this???!!! My original thought process was: "Simple kit - not may parts for its size - just like a big fighter - ideal for a one week build."

Hah!!! Not only did I seriously underestimate the PSR required, I also forgot that a large aircraft would have a much larger surface area and that using my Badger airbrush to cover several acres of plastic was not going to be fun. And it wasn't, especially as it required several coats to cover up the variation in tone caused by the PSR. And the connector fixing my airline to the compressor broke and I'm running out of sand coloured paint and - - - OK, so that's not the fault of the Backfire, but even so - - -

Anyway, I've now painted the underside and applied the base sand coat to the top, but some light sanding and touch up is still required. Then it will be on to the rest of the camouflage and the final details (like the fourteen wheel undercarriage  - - -)

[Brian da Basher]

You've made some wonderful progress, McG! The top coat looks great! We're all pulling for ya!

Brian da Basher

[McGreig]

Camouflage now basically completed - just the details, touch up and undercarriage to do now before I can varnish it and apply the decals. And on experience to date, this will probably take twice as long as planned  - - -

[John Howling Mouse]

Camouflage now basically completed - just the details, touch up and undercarriage to do now before I can varnish it and apply the decals. And on experience to date, this will probably take twice as long as planned  - - -

I hear that.  Still, you're the only one pulling off an entire Backfire on a one-week build----I salute you!

[cthulhu77]

Whoa!  Striking camo, and nice seams !  You are insane.

[nev]

Excellent camo - suitable Soviet *and* Arabian 

[Brian da Basher]

You totally nailed the camo McG! Outstanding!

Brian da Basher

[Captain Canada]

Oh yeah.....sweetness for sure ! Love that camo ! My LHS guy built a Tu-16 in Iranian colours, I should really get a pic of it someday, it's a frigging masterpiece !

[Shasper]

*jaw hits the floor* DAAAAAAMMM! I think I'm gonna need a shot just to sober up, thats hot!

Shas

[McGreig]

You are insane.

A conclusion echoed by my Partner, although I suspect that she didn't mean it in any complimentary way - - - )

Anyway, we're almost there. Construction and painting are now complete and the model has had its first coat of Klear. Since the photos were taken I've added the Iraqi decals (from a Revell Blinder) and all that I have to do now is add the aerials etc and apply a coat of matt varnish.

The kit has been built pretty much out of the box and there are a couple of things that I should have changed but didn't notice in time - for example, the wing weapon pylons are too far forward as moulded, the Backfire doesn't have an under-fuselage entrance hatch and the weapons look vaguely like KAB-500 TV-guided bombs but, if so, they should be a bit shorter and have small forward fins.

The good thing about this GB is that it forced me to make a decision on how to build this kit, which is seriously inaccurate. There is a whole series of inaccuracies but the main outline problems are that the wings need to be moved back 10mm, the fuselage needs a 10mm plug and a 4mm reduction in height and the nose and intakes need to be reshaped for the C version. I could do this but I don't think that I'd feel like doing it more than once and I have about a dozen of these in the stash. The GB has convinced me that, regardless of the problems, it still looks like a Backfire and that, if I'm to have any hope of getting any more done, I should probably forget about extensive modifications and build them as supplied. I'm hoping to take this to Southern Expo next weekend, so it'll be interesting to see if it generates any comment.

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Stunning camo..... might steal that sometime soon !

Ian

[Captain Canada]

Have to agree with you on that one....looks like a Backfire to me !

[cthulhu77]

Absolutely beautiful...a sleek bomber in a cool colour.