Thorvics'Blog

[Thorvic]

Well I did as I planned yesterday and eventually got the wing mirrors fitted on the Merlin, so its now ready to photograph and whilst tidying up the workbench I did indeed find my Camera, although the thing died as soon as I powered it up so have to recharge the battery!!!. Will try to get some shots tonight now.

In tidying the bench I found I had actually started two Puma's when I did the Junglie one so that sort of decided what else to build alongside another Airfix Phantom FG1. Both are straight forward builds so looking to get them out of the way by Easter so I can try something different for a change  . Had a few ideas but will see where the mojo takes us first before committing to which idea just yet.

[Old Wombat]

Wow, a lost camera & 2 lost kits found in a bench clean?

Sounds even worse than my workspace!

[Thorvic]

http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,44995.new.html#new

Got the camera working !!



Wombat i had only obscured one puma, i had started two and pushed forward with the other one to create the Junglie one in Sand & Spinach scheme leaving the other left in it box

[JayBee]

Oh WOW! 

That is superb Geof, before they disappeared I used to have the Ace of Clubs Sea King come over the house regularly from HMS Gannet/Prestwick.

Jim

[Mossie]

I'm enjoying these Merlin builds that you and OGL have going.

[NARSES2]

That does look fantastic mate, great build 

[Thorvic]

There are a few real Merlin's yet to build for my one collection being the HM2 updated RN pinger, the Crowsnest baggie and the HC4. Ironically the HC4 was always on my todo list as the Merlin HC4 was supposed to be Sea King replacement in the late 90s but Labour canned it and went with just the RAF replacing their Wessex with them instead I had the HC3 and HMA1 kits ready and then they went and announced that the RAF ones would be Transferred to the FAA to replace the Commando Sea Kings !

Well last night I put the Puma to one side and dug out the 2nd Airfix Phantom and de-modified the outer wing lower panels to remove the extra strengthening panels, I then realised I had robbed an ejector seat from it for the 767 build as I had originally looked at adding aircrew. With this new build being in launch mode as per the Eagle trials I will add the aircrew so instead I will rob a Fujimi Phantom for the seats (and replace those with resin) and then see if the PJ pilots fit any better in those seats.

[DogfighterZen]

Very good indeed!

[Thorvic]

Not got anywhere build wise these last few nights, I did sort out the Ejector Seats and aircrew for the next Phantom FG1 build as doing it in ready to launch configuration so need pilots in the seats to look the part as its the A&AEE C flight from Boscombe Down doing the Sea Trials aboard HMS Eagle, using the RAM Decals and the Aerocraft intakes. I have the parts sorted now so I will set up the extractor fan and do some priming and painting tonight on interiors so assembly can kick off over the weekend.

Will do the same with the Puma so that I have both in assembly for the rest of the month.

Have got the new Modelsvit Mirage 4000 en-route and have the Hasegawa F-35B pre-ordered, so these are a couple of builds for subsequent builds later in the year which should be good.

I had BSP2: Bombers 2nd edition delivered yesterday so spent half of last night having a browse through, lost of new pictures and the drawings are better but not so much new projects for the bombers buts that's a period that was well covered in the first edition, however the new edition covers a lot more of the later cold war Strike Aircraft projects which is quite enjoyable.

[Thorvic]

Not a bad weekend modelling, managed to make progress on three builds which is really good for me 

The Next Airfix Phantom, got the new resin replacement splitter plates fitted in place of the kit parts and have assembled the cockpit, i'm probably just at the point of joining the fuselage as the cockpit is in and its taped together. I think I will get the lower wing assembled first so I can use it to help the alignment and fit when I do the fuselage join. I managed to dig out my RAM decals and caught the Pathe films both the full B&W news piece and the extra colour footage of the HMS Eagle sea trials so I have a decent reference to work from.

The other Puma is moving along, I sorted out and painted the interior, fitted the cabin interior for the version I'm doing and glazed the windows, so just need to fit the interior in place before I can join its fuselage. This is another Naval SA330D version with the flotation sponson's  but with a different scheme again 

Finally whilst looking for parts for the Puma interior I came across another part built that's been a shelf queen for a number of years, so have cleaned it up, dug out its original box and finished the cockpit so I could add the glazing. Its now masked and primed and will await painting once the other two are at the paint stage so defiantly a good feeling to get another long delayed project moving again  .

I also ordered a 2nd copy of BSP2 for use as a working copy and a Hobbyboss Jaguar E (closest to the T2) as it looks to be a better kit than the Italeri two seater and possibly the Hasegawa two. This will be a Jaguar although with a slight PC twist  , where as I can use my other Jaguar kits for project work (just wish HobbyBoss would do the British GR1 version with the laser nose and British weapons    ).

No sign of the Mirage 4000 as yet so will have to see if it arrives this week.

[Thorvic]

Well I got the Mirage 4000 kit and it looks quite tasty although not sure what I will do with it. One thing I won't be doing is adding the kits 6 matra magic missiles as they are plastic bodies with etched fins yes all 12 fins per missile !!! - Plastic versions from the spares box will do me fine.

Managed to get the fuselage of the Phantom and the Puma together so it will be on with those when I get back in the model room tomorrow night, however whilst looking at the next stage of the build to represent the Phantom at launch I suddenly realised that the outer lower wings I had backdated were in fact the standard unfolded wings rather than the set with the slats dropped so that's the next job to do (again !)

The Puma I just need to add the new larger resin sponsons before cleaning up the cockpit post assembly and getting the canopy & doors to fit 

[Thorvic]

The next Phantom is assembled and at the painting stage, the white belly is done and ready for masking so hopefully work will continue apace this week. Just realised I haven't painted the Pylons yet so will need to do a bit more white spraying tonight  .

Also got the Naval Puma assembled too with is larger resin sponson's but I need to start on masking the windows (oh joy !!) along with the cabin window and undercarriage bays. Although I need to chase up Hannant's as the decals I ordered for this have failed to arrive as yet which is annoying  (although I do have sheets in stock I can use).

I also started the next build which will be cross kitting a Fujimi Sea King with a CyberHobby one as looking to do a real world HAS1 using the Model Art Decals and folded rotors with closed doors.

So still on a navy Egg Beater kick 

[Weaver]

Well I got the Mirage 4000 kit and it looks quite tasty although not sure what I will do with it. One thing I won't be doing is adding the kits 6 matra magic missiles as they are plastic bodies with etched fins yes all 12 fins per missile !!! - Plastic versions from the spares box will do me fine.

Sure I've seem somebody (High Planes?) doing nice 3D printed clear Magics.

EDIT: yep: https://www.freightdogmodels.co.uk/military-products/military-aircraft-conversions/1-72-scale/high-planes/high-planes-1-72-matra-r-550k-missiles-pair-3d-printed.html

[Thorvic]

Hmmn I forgot about those and Model Art do the Matra 530Fs too !!!, well at least I can pose a 4000 with a 2000 to show Le'Difference 

Finally managed to get the HSS-1 SeaBat, previously it had been an Italeri Italian special which was also re-boxed by Tamiya and thus neither were readily available. Whats special about the kit over the standard UH-34 is that as well as the A frame landing gear option it also includes Depth Charges and pylons for the side of the fuselage. Now these are the standard Mk11 depth charges and would be ideal in the Wessex HAS3 kit to arm 'Humphrey' !!!. So these will end up on a Wessex or something similar at some stage  . Just need to do something creative with the UH-34 as it offers potential  .

Got nowhere with the Phantom last night as should have started masking it, but I did manage to get the masking done on the Puma which was one goal achieved, considering it was still rather chilly last night it was probably a good idea not to be spraying anyway (And like Gondor I was distracted a bit by masterchef although I did miss the start of it  - I really don't like the programme schedule with an hour show on the Monday, another at a different time on a Thursday and a half hour one on the Friday as another different time - talk about crappy scheduling !!)

The Decal restock was quite fortuitous as I ordered them over a week about and was about to query Hantan's as to where they had gone, I'll need some of them for the Puma and Vampire T22 was to give me an idea of the 60s FAA trainer schemes to play with. Speaking of decals the recent Italeri decals appear to have stepped up a notch with bright clear gloss decals for the SeaBat and Mirage, just a pity the ones in the A-Model Jetstream are not as good as they appear to be off in colours and clarity 

[Thorvic]

Still haven't masked up the belly of the Phantom, but that's because I noticed the white hadn't got a deep enough coat on the lower fuselage sides aft of the wing so had to re-spray those areas last night I did however manage to get the Puma into an initial coat of primer and then snookered myself  as I had the Puma and Phantom drying and it was really too late in the evening to consider starting something else so called it a night. Tonight I will prime the belly of the Puma and get cracking on masking the phantom - honest !!! 

I did receive the new Hasegawa 1/72nd F-35B from Japan yesterday which I noticed specifically said US Marines version which makes me wonder if we can expect an RAF boxing and/or Italian Navy edition to follow in the next 6-12 months. We might see the BF-01 prototype as one of the most active versions and you can pretty much count on a JMSDF version as they are supposed to be considering it according to some sources (along with fitting Ski Jump to the larger DDH).