Thorvics'Blog

[Captain Canada]

A thing of beauty ! Love the tail markings. What's the deal with the kit decals ? Too thick ?

[Thorvic]

The 893 markings come from the Airfix 1/48th Sea Vixen, as the 1/72nd versions didn't give enough impact.

As to the Fujimi decals the colours are slightly off for both the Red and the Roundel Blue, plus the stencilling really does leave silver decal film regardless of finish and setting solutions, unfortunately when Fujimi re-issued the kits and the end of the naughties, they provided new Cartograf decals for the 2 last use RAF grey boxings they did but put the same old crap ones in the Silver Jubilee boxings. The matter is made worse as the only decent comprehensive RN Phantom set is the one provided by Hobbydecal which is a dry transfer sheet and the guy is now focused on ship model decks so is not restocking his overseas distributors or dealing with direct orders  .
I did pester both AirDoc and Hannants to do RN Phantom sheets as they are sorely missing from the aftermarket range at the moment

[The Wooksta!]

Silvering?  Try sliding the decal onto wet cloth then into a bath of Johnson's Kleer.  Apply to model and pushdown with a cotton bud.  Got that tip from one of the guys on Britmodeller who gets into Uncle Frank's and I haven't had a problem with silvering since.

[Mossie]

Like the Argyle pullover markings from 893 NAS, looking forward to more.

[NARSES2]

Nice one mate

[Thorvic]

Cheers guys, the next one will an Eagle based one that got nicked (allocated) to the RAF to create 43 sqdn.

Currently working through the stenciling on the new Airfix Lightning, just doing a section at a time so they can cure before handling again so possibly taking longer to decal than build !!. Not in a rush as waiting for Hannants delivery with the alternative decals as yes it will be a subtle whiff 

[Thorvic]

Possibly more a library post than Modelling post but its my blog and and the subject matter is a study of the issues that drive alot of my Project Cancelled builds.

Spent the last couple of days weighing up the pro & cons of purchasing a rather expensive case study off Amazon for reading on my Kindle and last night i decided to take the plunge.

The case study is 'Land Based Air Power or Aircraft Carriers' which studies the issues for the British Defence Policy during the 60's, the battle between the Royal Navy to replace its Carriers and the RAF to use Island bastions as the core of defending our interests and exerting influence East of Suez as the Empire became independent. It also follows the withdrawal from EoS and the 70s focus on the Nato northern flank and the knock on effects of both. Should prove an interesting read and establish the context of much of my Project Cancelled focus.

[NARSES2]

Sounds a weighty tomb Geoff, if a Kindle work can be called such.

I find these inter service/departmental wrangles far more bloody then most soaps and unfortunately they have a large effect on us poor tax payers  Sometimes if you wrote them as fiction no one would believe it

[rickshaw]

Sounds a weighty tomb Geoff, if a Kindle work can be called such.

I find these inter service/departmental wrangles far more bloody then most soaps and unfortunately they have a large effect on us poor tax payers   Sometimes if you wrote them as fiction no one would believe it

But they do make the stuff of excellent comedy (cue - "Yes, Minister" and "Yes, Prime Minister" and "In the Thick of It" )

[Captain Canada]

When I saw it on your FB link I thought it was awful pricey....but if you're into it and you can learn and enjoy it, what does it really cost ? I find myself asking questions like that too often.....$30 dollars is a lot to spend on a kit, but I have no problem spending $40 on beer......crazy

[Thorvic]

When I saw it on your FB link I thought it was awful pricey....but if you're into it and you can learn and enjoy it, what does it really cost ? I find myself asking questions like that too often.....$30 dollars is a lot to spend on a kit, but I have no problem spending $40 on beer......crazy

Yeap i was weighing up the pro's & con's but decided i needed a better understanding of the plans and events to set Project Cancelled builds within their context as whilst i will always side on the Royal Navy and Carriers you can see the benefits of the Island bases and suitable aircraft.

[Thorvic]

Finally finished decalling the new Airfix Lightning last night so i can get on with final assembly  .

Was nice to see Spinners go down a similar thought process to me for his CGI version although mines not 43 sqdn.

Its a rather nice kit to build so far, needs some test fitting and a tad of filler in places generally where the optional parts go, but its rather novel to be able to build a decent lightning with the right shapes and proper interior detail for intakes, cockpit and undercarriage bays 

[Thorvic]

Managed to get the Lighning finished today, took some photos and noticed that at some stage the port side roundel and bars had disappeared so can't do a full photo shoot. Have ordered some replacement decals so will finish it next week once they have been delivered  .

Anyway is an RAF Lightning F-2A of 28 Sqdn RAF Kai Tak in Hong kong in the mid 70s, the Lightning unit having replaced the Hunters previously used in 1967.

The aircraft is serialled XN798 which is one of the cancelled F2s, and easily adapted from the kit options, most od the decals from the kit plus some aftermarket Hunter decals to get the suitable unit.

[Martin H]

ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh  nice!

[kitnut617]

ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh  nice!

definitely  ----