The Wooksta: Not a Spitfire Blog

[The Wooksta!]

"You can't clean the toilet, Neil. It'll lose all its character."

Not done much, although a pair of VEB Su-7's have had a hard sanding to remove the wing roots, along with any and all protrusions.  I'm starting them off as a pair of Olympus engined late mark P6 Lightnings.  Oddly, despite the fact that they're the same kit, the assembled one that was given is a good centimeter shorter than the other.  Earlier export model?  I'm still wanting to do an Indian one in black with a shark mouth as a Thunderbirds aircraft. I've stripped the spine from a Novo Lightning, as well as assembled and filled the wing.  Not a lot, but it's a start.  I've a cast belly conformal tank to clean up and a choice of fins too.  This one could well confuse a lot of people.

The nose section of the BAC 1121 got a lot more filling and sanding with the trusted superglue and baking soda combo and it looks a lot better than it did.  Coat of primer to tie it all together and I can have a look at tarting up the cockpit a bit.  I'm not entire sure that the Aeroclub bang seats I have tucked away will fit - that Matchbopx canopy is somewhat thick - so may have to nick a few Revell Hunter seats instead.  Not as nice or weighty as the Aeroclub examples but more adaptable.

I'd like to get the internals sorted before I fix the nose section on, as it means that the fuselage is largely together.  The u/c module will go in last as I know there's a great deal of filling and sanding to get the nose faired in properly and I'd rather no snap the main gears off in the process.  That section itself will need considerable filler over plastic card, but nowhere near as much as the nose.

Future scratchbodges look a bit better with the addition of a pair of "fit the box scale" Revell B57B Canberras.  These are about 80th scale and decidedly smaller than your normal Canberra, so they could be ideal for the larger Sabre DH 102 Mosquito project, but I want them more for an Avro 729, which was designed to Spec. F.155 along with the P.8 and Saro's massive SR187.  I think I can source some of the other bits from elsewhere, but the wing may need to be scratched from plastic card.  Can't think of anything that is adaptable and cheap.  Possibly an F4?
I blame Dave for this entirely, as we were discussing it at Milton Keynes a few weeks back. It definitely doesn't fit the EE P6D, sadly, so back to the drawing board with that one.  I had though a pair of V-2s, but that didn't quite fit either.

I doubt it's worth it, given the lack of replies, but comments for those still remotely and vaguely interested, and can also be arsed to reply, go here:
https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=35118

[kitbasher]

It's all my fault 🤦🏻‍♂️

[PR19_Kit]

It's all my fault 🤦🏻‍♂️

Makes a change from it being mine. 

[The Wooksta!]

Keep it in t'other thread, please dudes?

[The Wooksta!]

"Oh, God! There's nothing left to wipe my nose on. Even SPG's all covered in snot."

Not done much, but the BAC 1121 is coming on - I'm toying with the name Vengeance.  The splitter plate was glued in, then after much fettling, tweaking and manouvering, so was the nose section.  Few small bits of plastic card superglued into place and then slathered with a thick layer of filler.

Before the nose went on, I gave it a coat of primer to try and find any flaws.  Naturally, there were several, so they got filled too.  Also  took out a chunk of the top of the fuselage to move the wing back by about 5mm.  It's looking better, but still not quite right.

I also found a part assembled Matchbox Hunter fuselage with a P.1101 tandem two seat nose.  The latter wasn't affixed but the tailpipe had been cut off.  Seems I was looking at trying to turn it into something better.  May have another think about that one at some point.

Final thing done today was to give an Airmodel Su-7 a coat of primer before I take it from the backing sheet.  Yes, another P.6, but I'm thinking an early prototype with this, so F3 wing and the small P.1A fin.

Comments elsewhere about Dizzy's Swedish Hunter project have given me an idea for a more aggressive Navy GA11 - but as it keeps the ADENs - or at least two of them - it'll be the FGA11.  Straight Revell kit but with the small bore F4 tailpipe, small tanks inboard and Navy 3 row SNEBs outboard.  Real scheme, markings and serials, then sit back with the popcorn.   

I doubt it's worth it, given the lack of replies, but comments for those still remotely and vaguely interested, and can also be arsed to reply, go here:
https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=35118

[The Wooksta!]

"I could if it was tied down properly!"

Been thinking a bit more about the Vengeance and what it's loadout is going to be, should I add a belly tank or just a refueling probe?  Where do the self defence Firestreaks go.  Whilst some would say 'winders are better, I'm going with Firestreaks because 1. MFM!, 2. AI.23 was developed into Blue Parrot, so the radar is compatible, 3. Firestreaks are UK made so better for the UK economy than spending foreign currency reserves, and finally 4. because I can.  So there.

I'm going with wingtip launchers, as it seems to be a good spot and unusual.  I can explain away the TSR2 wing in the backstory - later GR3 variants having the same wing for commonality reasons.  Sounds good enough to me.  The mk2 would be a conversion trainer.

Given the plan is a two tone 80s wraparound scheme (I dare not use a 3 tone scheme as the tape could lift all the filler), it's likely RAF  Germany and one of the Jaguar or Phantom strike squadrons.  I'm minded for the latter as I have plenty of RAF Phantom markings from when I was mass producing TSR2s, and the serials would fit too.  14 Sqn is a nice fit as I like their markings and they flew Mosquitos, so that's a possible slam dunk.  I'll have to look for some kind of anniversary scheme, as I'd like a bright fin.

So, loadout.  No need for external tanks in Germany - the Bricks didn't, although they did carry the IFR probes.  I'm tempted with four Paveways under the wings and another pair under the fuselage.  Alternatively, a load of cluster bombs under the wings - two per pylon on dual carriers (stripped from the Tornado bits box) and iron bombs under the fuselage on the same dual carriers.  The the RAF look at the BFO launcher the Germans carried under Tornado?

The first load of filler got sanded off the nose and a chunk of plastic card has gone in as hardcore before more filler.  It didn't look quite right before so this should help.  I think.

Having had a few more thoughts about the Navy FGA11s, I'm toying with a later overall EDSG scheme like the late Buccaneers wore with Type D roundels, so it'd look more like a FRADU Hunter.  I just don't like spraying white really.

Final thoughts for the afternoon.  Luftwaffe Lightnings.  The Germans did try to buy them but the clueless nerks at the Air Ministry steered them towards the Saro 177 instead.  In addition, the French were apparently very unhappy about it too.  I have some markings from a Sabre that would be ideal - the tulips around the intake could look spot on.  Would have to be an F1A, so an Airfix one with a few upgrades.  Scheme?  I'd like to go Aluminium but that's too easy, so RAF Lightning camo instead.  And a 607 Sqn zap for Acklington Air Day.  The dark scheme could be helpful if the Germans get a T4 too.  I have several Final Touch ones to use up.


I doubt it's worth it, given the lack of replies, but comments for those still remotely and vaguely interested, and can also be arsed to reply, go here:
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[The Wooksta!]

"Okay, I'll change it, then! Hello, Cliff Richard!"

Another entry?  You are spoiling us Ambassador Wooksta!

This is Dogfighter Zen's fault.  He's planning a Portuguese Hunter, which is cool, but it's set me off thinking about Hunters again.  I've a slew waiting for paint for 607 Sqn and I got thinking about one of theirs in Desert Storm.  Having had a look, none are really suitable, but that's okay as I have quite a stash of Revell Hunters in various boxings.

I'm thinking of an FGA9 with the inboard 'winder pylons from the Dutch F6 release, the longer Sabrinas with the integral chaff dispensers, the long tanks on the inboard pylons and three row SNEBs on the outers.  Possibly a fin mounted RWR too.  Overall Gulf Pink and toned down roundels with some odd nose art - a Blue Star with "The Brown Bottle" perhaps?  A 607 Sqn shield on the fin definitely.  Sharkmouth with Viz Pathetic Sharks, flown by a trawlerman from Shields?

The Brown Bottle for the unknowing:
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7BYZQqILCKI/VyLAJGir7KI/AAAAAAAATdI/_rNrT6bOLegatoxKMR_iPO2ZIES3QcJKgCLcB/s1600/BrownBottle3.jpg

I've had a look again at the new tool Brick that I assembled with a view for toting WE177s over the DDR or Poland in 84, only to find that I couldn't as it was a Navy rather than RAF.  Well, I'm rethinking it as the one that sank the Cinco De Mayo in my Eagle in the Falklands scenario.  I just need some really good Sea Eagles or Martels, affix the correct pylons and source the larger bomb bay.  Latter is easy - strip it from the RAF kit that's be getting the nukes.  Naval colours and equipment should hide my faux pas.  I hope.

I doubt it's worth it, given the lack of replies, but comments for those still remotely and vaguely interested, and can also be arsed to reply, go here:
https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=35118

[The Wooksta!]

"Well! That just leaves Neil then."

It's been an interesting afternoon digging in the loft.  Three boxes full of stuff that I thought belonged to me Dad turned out to be mine. And naturally, they were an absolute goldmine.

There was a lot of wreckage, a lot of half started and incomplete projects, many Luftwaffe things that will never see light of day again - which in some cases is a real pity.  Various things I'd forgotten about and others I have no recollection of at all, such as an Avro Arrow in antiflash white with the toned down roundels. 

There was a full box of TSR2 bits, enough for about five airframes, and several resin add on bits, such as a Pavla cockpit that looks nice but I doubt will fit and two sets of the long range tanks.  One set may go with the WE177 weapon bay fit that I got at Telford last year.  I can just about remember buying them, I knew I had them somewhere, but didn't know where.  Do I really want to down the TSR2 rabbit hole again?  Maybe, but there's a lot in the queue first.

Close by were 2.5 fuselages from an abortive attempt at cloning the Maintrack Hawker P.1121.  The fuselage mould never worked properly and various attempts were made to get something out and what's left of the results is...very rough, to be fair, but they could be salvaged, I think, with a lot of work.  There was a set of wings for one, along with the tail surfaces and the intake.  I'd have to find the rest - the cockpits have to be bodged as the forward ends are just too crap to use, but I have managed to work some magic with worse resin in the past.  I have more experience now and other techniques, so at least one may make it to Telford in some shape or form.  If - and it's a BIG if - one front end IS salvageable, I may be able to use it for that P1125 I've been considering.

In another box were the Resitech bits I'd used masters for the TSR2 bits, along with severa Airkit Hunter conversions for the Airfix FGA9.  Again, I knew I had them but they'd vanished.  There was the Airfix Hunter I'd backdated and got so far with as a T-Tail F1, but the paint went all micey and it got canned.  I stripped the fin off for something else and left it to  gather dust.  I'd lik to resurrect it and I have a fin to mould.  Needs some considerable sanding, but it looks workable.

And then the prize that I'd been searching for all along, one that's been eluding me for several months now.  A Hawker P.1129, their answer to TSR2.  I have some of the bits for another but I *knew* it was about somewhere.  It was mastered by Thorvic, moulded and cast by TsrJoe and several copies were passed around before the moulds fell to bits.  It got rushed together and shown at Telford in 2004, but then fell apart and ended up in a box. I've been wanting to revisit it for some time and now I can.  Out with the Mr Muscle later.

So happy to have finally found it after all the searching.  And there was a load of painted ordnance that come in very useful elsewhere.

In other news, the BAC 1121 is now in the PSR stage with the spine in place.  The wing/spine area is proving to be troublesome.  I'm going to leave it harden for another day before tackling it.  Probably with the drill and the hedgetrimmers.

I doubt it's worth it, given the lack of replies, but comments for those still remotely and vaguely interested, and can also be arsed to reply, go here:
https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=35118

[The Wooksta!]

"But it says here, Michael look, "Ensure machine is clean, and free from dust"!"

I've looked again at both the T-Tail Hunter and the P.1129 to see how much work is going to be involved in getting them up to scratch.

Apart from cleaning off all the dust, the Hunter just needs a new fin, the airbrake section refilled, probably with some thin plastic sheet but superglue and baking soda if need bet.  There's an area underneath the tailplane that will need similar treatment.  I'll be moulding the fin anyway for the P.1067 Demon - the rudder needs defining, but I'd rather cock up a copy than the master, if that makes any sense.  The fuselage and wings will be getting similar treatment as soon as I can get some catalyst.

P.1129 needs much more work.  There's a dirty great line around the rear fuselage where the exhaust section fits the fuselage and it would appear that the Sandmaster was having an off day, or the filler has shrunk in the intervening 18 years since it was built.  My money is on the latter and I'm sticking to it.  The wings look to have warped too, so some hot water to sort them out, strip the paint and the dirt, give it a coat of primer and go from there.  I'm not going with the Desert Storm scheme again - that's for a P.1121 at some point and definitely a 607 Sqn Hunter FGA9 - but an 80s wraparound toting a quartet of Paveways and a pair of Red Tops would look good. 

TBH, on reflection, I hadn't done too bad a job of it, but it was rushed.  I want to do a better job this time.

Also for stripping is the DH110 I received a few days back.  Still undecided which squadron to go with, but the DSG/DG over MSG scheme is likely.  There's an FAW2 going RAF as a "compare and contrast" which should be interesting.

I've dug out a pair of Revell Hunters for two projects mentioned recently.  Looking forward to those, and the stalled two seat 1083.

I doubt it's worth it, given the lack of replies, but comments for those still remotely and vaguely interested, and can also be arsed to reply, go here:
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[The Wooksta!]

"I must be hallucinating. What's good for a hangover?"

Not done a lot today, the lure of alcoholism got in the way.

What I have done is take some "before" pictures of the P.1129 before it got hit with a can of Mr Muscle.  It's on the third blast, but most of the Xtracolour Desert Pink is gone, as is some of the Halfords primer.  I'll leave it overnight before I go wild with a nail brush.

For some reason I'd added some Hunter Sabrinas and gun ports.  They have got to go, but the conformal tank and laser designator is staying.    I'd gone with three plons on it, so they might stay, with 'winders or Firestreaks on the outers and either cluster bombs or Paveways on the inner four.  Or possibly SNEBS (three row, 'natch - IF I have enough!) and CLBS instead for a jolly outing at Otterburn just before Acklington Air Day.  Might go with 15 Sqn as their markings are very bland.  Definitely wraparound camo as it's nice and dark to hide any flaws.
Filler is going to have to go on the rear fuselage, but I may just steal some of me Dad's UV cure resin to do it that bit quicker.  It's harder too and doesn't shrink.  I'd planned on using it for the P.1121 but that seems to have stalled a bit.  Really need to find my quilting pencil.

Mention of 1121 brings me to the resin copies.  One forward fuselage may just be salvageable, so that goes toward the P.1125.  Hopefully the weather will be nice so I can do some sanding in the garden tomorrow, even if I don't have any Pepsi to go with the limes and the rum.

The other thing helps a few other projects, in that the tailfins for the DH116 Super Venom, Hawker P.1067 Demon and P.1129 are in a mould that's now curing.  The 1067 fin will help me get that T Tail Hunter nearer the finish line, the 1129 fin looks to be bang on for 1125 and the DH116 fin?  Well, I'd rather play with resin copies than masters - you can destroy a copy, but destroy a master and you have to start all over again.

The same reasoning is why the P.1067 hasn't got any further forward since march, mainly because I want to cast the wings and fuselage before I go any further. That should be done by the end of the month, even if it kills me.  I already have a wing mould, but it doesn't have any wheel bays on it.  I have carved them out on another set of wings, but again, I'd rather have a mould than go much further.  Someone did say that if anyone was going to come up with something for the LHC group build  that didn't use any bits from any of the three aircraft involved, then it would be me.  The P.1067 that I've been working with has very few Hunter bits in it, and certainly won't if it's all resin bar the u/c legs, so may well just count.

I doubt it's worth it, given the lack of replies, but comments for those still remotely and vaguely interested, and can also be arsed to reply, go here:
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[The Wooksta!]

"Is this some sort of sick joke? Why isn't supper ready? You haven't done a bloody thing, have you, Neil?!"

Well, I have.  So there.

Last thing I did last night was to make a mould box for several fins - Hawker P.1067 Demon, P.1129 (on the offchance I may need it) and DH116.  They got demoulded today and the first castings are in the moulds curing.  I need the P.1067 one for the T-Tail Hunter, and I'll add the DH116 fin to the small pile of bits for Dave.

Mention of Dave brings me to the Avro 729.  Following a tip off, I looked at using the B57 wing outer panels for the Avro 729 and as Dave had said, rotate them a bit and they fall over the plan.  He was referring to the Frog ones, but the Revell one is better as the ailerons are split with the wing, instead of integral with the Frog kit.  Still, the solid pylons had to be removed and the Revell plastic is hard and nasty.  Also cut off the tailplanes off that section to allow for the rocket engine in the tail.  Alistair is hopefully printing a set of engines that may or may not fit.  If they're wrong for this, I have a cunning plan to use them elsewhere, but again, need to check them against the plans.  The plans are here and the engines I have are on t'other side of the city. Pah!

The Vengeance got some sanding done, before the weather turned windy and cold, so I gave it a coat of primer and left it to harden.  I'll add another coat of primer before I go to bed.  Ideally, I wanted the maingears on today, so I could get the last of the filling done underneath.  Still, no hurry.  It'll be done when it's done.

P1129 is almost pink free and all the bits are off the main fuselage so I can start with the filler.  I'll be going with the superglue and baking soda trick as it doesn't shrink and the nasty gap should be hidden.  Few other flaws to find, but that's what the primer is for.  The fin came out of the mould, leaving the leading edge RWR in the mould.  Really don't like that rubber as it's very inflexible, but it's okay to do relatively simple moulds like fins.  Anyway, once the resultant cast comes out, I'll use it on a second.  I'm minded to do the wings, but haven't got enough rubber to do it.

One set of fuselage halves for the twin seat P.1121 have been cleaned up.  I went with the set where the nose section is short shot, as I can use part of it underneath where the cloned Matchbox Hunter T-bird nose goes in, as the plans in Paul Martel Mead (aka Overscan) look as thought the cockpit section is raised on the twin to allow for a bigger radar.  The fuselage is in some ways the better of the two, but there are some - actually loads - of moulding flaws, but nothing that lot of filler, sanding, superglue/baking soda, more sanding, primer, more sanding and swearing a lot cannot cure.   It'll eventually go in an overall EDSG scheme, like the Buccaneers, but with one of the fighter units.  I'm thinking of the Golden Eagle marking, but not the Mailed Fist, and certainly not the sodding Omega as it's sooooooooooooooo overdone to death for far too seriously long enough by half, okay?  Not sure where I've left the resin wings for it, but the one set that was there hadn't cast properly at the wing root, so would need fome rebuilding.  May use that UV cure resin me Dad has.

Both fuselage halves are a bit warped, but nothing some hot water, elastic bands and swearing won't fix.  More swearing?  Yes, scratchbodges have a disturbing tendency to bring on my Tourettes.  ARSE!

I doubt it's worth it, given the lack of replies, but comments for those still remotely and vaguely interested, and can also be arsed to reply, go here:
https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=35118

[The Wooksta!]

"Stay right where you are! I've got a crucifix and I'm not afraid to use it!"

Well, It's started.  Probably not the right idea to start cleaning up the Vickers Swallow outside on the hottest day of the year (so far) and it's in black resin.  Anyway, that aside, the clean up is going well so far, with the first third of the fuselage together as well as one of the wings.  I still think Swallow is a stupid name, especially as it looks like a sword, so Broadsword is what I'll be calling it (cue Where Eagles Dare injokes).

It's got some issues in places, but nothing that a lot of filling, wire and sanding can't cure

Not done anything more with either P.1121 - one of the wings has gone walkabout, so can't do much with the Maintrack one and I need the nose sorted before I can go any further with the Blackbeard one.  Not done anything with BAC's answer either, and I really should but it's too sodding hot.


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[The Wooksta!]

"It's a thought, I suppose. Make a great play!"

Not updated this for a while as the weather kind of stopped play - too bloody hot - and other issues.

For some reason, I have a set of DB Merlin engines for the Wellington and as with that RAF Germany Buccaneer set, I haven't got a clue where they came from and I have no recollection of buying them.  It's possible they came as part of one of the job lots of bits bought off ebay, but even so.  They look like they'll fit a Matchbox Wellington, of which I have two part started.  There are some transport conversion parts in there too, so a Merlin transport is possible.  Then I went looking for a Vulture engine I know I have lying around and they fit too.  I always did fancy one with Vultures as a testbed for the Warwick, but I sold off most of my surplus Wellingtons, so I doubt that will ever be done.

I still have a hankering to do a Merlin Blenheim, I just can't quite figure out a few things.  I have all the bits, it's just some of the cut out and fill bits I can't quite get me head round.

That two seat Tempest II trainer that's kicking about is also bothering me, as part of me wants it finished, but I don't want to do the masking for yellow T bands.  I have some Indian markings, so that's an alternate (their T bands are black, hahaha!), but I'd really prefer RAF and a contraprop too.  Unless I use it as an FAC in Malaya?  That is appealing to me more and more.

Does this signal a shift backwards?  No, not really.  They're just plans for the future and I'd rather have them down on paper as it were so I don't lose them.  The real problem is that I'm a serial starter and I have so many that the shelf of doom has spilled over and become the room of doom instead.  Dramatic?  Actually, no, it's an understatement...

Really should finish that 23 Sqn Lightning T5A.  Only need to glue in the seats and on with the canopy and a pitot...

I doubt it's worth it, given the lack of replies, but comments for those still remotely and vaguely interested, and can also be arsed to reply, go here:
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[The Wooksta!]

"No. Blame whoever rang the front doorbell, 'cause they obviously triggered off the bomb I set up."

There was something else that's been kicking around in my head for a while, after a conversation with Dave a while back. this being a twin engined Hunter.  I know he's got some madcap scheme utilising two Hunters, but I'd decided on an Su-15 as a basis, as the fuselage can clearly take a pair of Avons and needs a bit of rounding off and it's about right.

But the wings were the problem, I was thinking 1083 ones would be better, although I have some blank P.1067 early Hunter ones that would do the trick.  Anyway, whilst tidying yesterday, I found the lower half of a PM Horten 229 that's been everyone's "go to" for ersatz P.1083 wings ever since Gary thought of it about twenty years ago.  Quick check with the Hygate plans for the intakeless root, and it looks possible.   Bit of surgery at the tips, and I'm tempted to add a dogtooth too, but it's all very plausible.

Replace the exhasuts with something a tad more British - Javelin ones will do - plus I have a resin Hunter fin or can cut up a ZTS one for all the accuracy it entails, I don't think.  The ZTS tailplanes are too wide in chord, so are ideal.  Revell Hunter for the fuselage, with a resin radar nose and I think we have something possible.  Intakes?  Chopped up Frog Attacker?  I have a lot of those, so I'm sure I could spare one.  Besides, I still have a hankering to do the Attacker trainer, so something part chopped may help there.

The thing is, it's running the P.1125 a good five years early, although that was a twin Avon P.1121 just a bit more repackaged.

Having a bit more of a think about the FAC Tempest T-bird.  Found some underwing tanks for it , so may well do it.  There's also a Sea Fury denavalised which may well end up as an RAF one in Malaya, although I think I was planning SEAC colours for it.

Lightnings.  There's a Hasegawa (early one sans belly guns) that I'd earmarked as an Italian one at some point, but I'm now rethinking it as a 60 Sqn one, once I get some decent decals (and they have been promised).  Overall Aluminium with possibly a black fin.  Not entirely sure.  Why change from the planned Italian one?  Simple ease of painting.  One less in the paint queue.  Simple pass with Stardust silver to fix any final flaws and then Aluminium and off for decalling.  I'd really like to finish something and soon.

The FGA one.  I'm thinking something really anonymous, like the Hunters at Valley with just a number on the fin.  In addition, I'm thinking of either a T5 or T5A (T55) in standard 80s trainer colours.  I also rather like the idea of a Swift in those colours too.

Final thought are with the Swallow.  It does have some fit issues, but nothing that wire, P38 and a lot of swearing can't fix.  I've seen photos of the only other 72nd one actually assembled and it has the same issues, so I know it can be fixed.  Think I'll need some luck with that one.

I doubt it's worth it, given the lack of replies, but comments for those still remotely and vaguely interested, and can also be arsed to reply, go here:
https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=35118

[The Wooksta!]

"Then what are you looking in the cellar for?"

Been doing some tidying, basically so I can actually get to the bench and then see it AND have enough space to do some spraying or moulding, the latter once I get some rubber.  The P.1067 Demon parts have high priority, but I've several other sets of wings I need to do.

Spraying what?  Well, there's the P.1083 that was going Blue Diamonds, although I need to sort out the bang seat - I'll just tart up an Airfix kit seat.  And then the DH117 that's been languishing for far too seriously long enough by half, and maybe a Lightning project or three.  And then there's the 607 Sqn Huntsman, although that'll go camo.  I did cast the fuselages for another pair, but the mould is somewhat long in the tooth and I expect it to go with every casting, so they do need some considerable cleanup.  I did find an assembled one in the loft a while back, so some tidying up and then possibly the Grey/Night scheme worn by the late Dominies.

Conversations with Dave vis a vis Swifts made me try and discover just how many I have.  The answer, unsurprisingly, was a lot.  Especially as I've never thought of the Swift as really an afterthought, or an Epilogue for The Plan.
So how many were there?
4 Airfix, plus another 1 assembled
2 Xtrakit, plus another that needs decalling
4 assembled Hawk/Testors plus one still as components
1 assembled Magna FR5 that's going to be an FB4
1 original CMK, plus the fuselage of a second
1 Pegasus FR5
2 CMR
and one each of the Magna kits - F1, F2, FR5 and F7, although I have another one of those tucked away.

For what was intended to be an afterthought, that's a fair few.  The two CMR ones will end up as real ones, although I paid less than the cost of the Airfix for both of them.  The Testors ones.  Two have the PR nose, so two possible schemes for them.  One may end up as a Navy one, whilst the other could well be an F3 used as a decoy at Acklington.  There's a really nice Meteor sheet that has the markings for an F8 with a target banner marking on the fuselage.  A low level target then a decoy later?  Could turn a few heads.
The CMK fuselage will possibly be a VG one - I've a drawing somewhere and it came as part of the Vickers 588 studies.

I still have a hankering for an FB4/FGA8 in the red/white and grey scheme, plus there's the PR6, but done properly with an FR5.  Airfix or Xtrakit for those.

And this is before I start thinking about what I want to do with the three Type 545s I have stashed away...



I doubt it's worth it, given the lack of replies, but comments for those still remotely and vaguely interested, and can also be arsed to reply, go here:
https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=35118