TSR......, Two

[tc2324]

I know why they've put on wait, their both permanently holding a can of lager.

Or they are just very happy to see me.... 

[Captain Canada]

lol. They're happy, but the original, skinny guys are over in the spares box plotting their revenge.....

[NARSES2]

They do look as though they were first in the queue at meal times 

[tc2324]

So work is progressing fast on this now as I`ve made some choices and changes as to where I`m going with this. I`ve now opted for the low level high speed pose instead of the landing/take off pose. I`ve ordered to custom electronics, (more on that at a later date), and planned how what I`m using for a stand.

You could say I`ve also figured out why the supplied figures were looking a bit `under fed` as well .......



The pilot has had his legs amputated and as you can see the navigator needs a short sharp trip to Specsavers.

Now due to the way I`m building this as an `inflight` example with the small windows for the rear seater, I can live with this.

But then I put on the front instrument panel cover......., 



The pilot will certainly be flying this bird on instruments....! 

I have two points to make. First, lets hope the rumoured re-release of the Airfix TSR2 is 1/48 scale and it`s a new tool.

Second, if not, then it`s probably best to go grab yourself one of those aftermarket cockpit sets if you are building this kit to sit on it`s feet with the canopies open.

And so after a quick mod or two the cockpit area now looks like this, which is not perfect, but far better than before.



Followed by a quick overview of the decided pose.




More, no doubt, soon.

[NARSES2]

Some nice work on the crew and innards

[Captain Canada]

Yes, definitely some nice work. You have cleaned it up really well and made it look believable. I guess you really wont see much but enough to make it worthwhile. Plus that's half the fun.

[tc2324]

Just a quick update on this for those wondering where it went?

It is often said that life can sometimes imitate art.

In this case it`s the other way round and art has imitated life.

With two other projects on the go, I`ve blown my `disposable income` budgets out the water, so have to wait till payday to pay a third party `contractor` for electronic parts I need to test fit before moving forward.

However, unlike the government back in the day with the real deal, this project is not getting cancelled or scrapped.

[tc2324]

Still waiting for the custom electronics to come through, (but to be fair, I did say there was no rush), so haven`t really done much to the kit as I need to see if the whole package can be fitted on through the rear end. Until then, I`m not going to `button up` the fuselage just in case.

However I have been playing around with some clear tubing to see how it might look.



So if you can imagine that there will be an orange LED fitted inside inside each tube buried in the inside of the exhaust cans. A white LED that flashes at a high speed will add to the after burner effect and I`m hoping that the light will be strong enough to travel through the tube and dissipate the further out it goes.

That`s the idea anyway.

Obviously no way of knowing how effective it will look until the lighting kit arrives and I play around with it.

In other news I`ve chosen the squadron markings. I know some of you think I like to stick Tiger stripes over everything, but in this case I`m going for a `real world` option for this `what if`. If I remember correctly, but happy to be corrected, it is my understanding that 40 Sqn was earmarked as the first unit to be equipped with the TSR2.



I will not be using this scheme however and will opt for the much more familiar green/grey topsides and light grey undersides.

Hopefully more soon.

[PR19_Kit]

If I remember correctly, but happy to be corrected, it is my understanding that 40 Sqn was earmarked as the first unit to be equipped with the TSR2.

The TSR2's squadron allocations is MIND bogglingly complex and it seems that much of the paperwork concerning this has been 'lost'. (yeah, right.......)

Referring to Paul Lucas' 'Lost Tomorrows of an Eagle', he says that under the 'Spotiswood Scenario', where the TSR2 fleet would have been based in the UK rather than in Germany under the original 'Plan P', the most senior squadron at the time was 6 Sqdn. and the aircraft were to have been allocated in order of squadron seniority.After that came 14, 12 3, 45, 9 and 32 Sqdns. in that order of seniority.

Those were the planned strike squadrons, but the initial strike/recce squadron was intended to be 81 Sqdn.

The reference to 40 Sqdn. was that was to be the 'shadow number' of the ODS, the Operational Development Squadron, which was to have worked up the aircraft, initially based at Boscombe Down and then at RAF Coninsgby.

[tc2324]

Perfect Kit,   

...... thanks for the confirmation and now to check the decal spares......

[Captain Canada]

I like the camo and markings combo...That's going to look great !

[Rick Lowe]

Coming along really nicely.

The base/diorama is a great idea.
I like the idea of the afterburner effects, hope it comes out as you want.

One thought, it seems to me that the Backseater's instrument panel might be located too far back? Maybe further forward, just behind the pilot's seat bulkhead might be better?
Possibly move the pilot's forward also??
I don't have any knowledge of the type, but that's the way it looks to me.  

FWIW

Cheers

[PR19_Kit]

The Nav's panel would have needed considerable depth to accommodate the three CRT displays that were mounted in it though, no flat screens in those days. There don't seem to be any pics of it in either of the two most recent books about the aircraft though.

The pilot's instrument shroud is way too high, but tc2324 mentioned that in an earlier post. I sat in the forward cockpit of XR222 when it was at Cranfield in the 60s, but without the ejector seat fitted. Even so the forward view was exceptional, and the shroud didn't impede my vision at all.

Mind you, the shroud, the panel itself and the windscreen bow were the ONLY parts of the aircraft that were visible, so quite how the pilot was supposed to taxi safely is beyond me!

[zenrat]

... I sat in the forward cockpit of XR222 when it was at Cranfield in the 60s, but without the ejector seat fitted. Even so the forward view was exceptional, and the shroud didn't impede my vision at all..

But you are 18' tall, and given it was the 60's you would have had on flared tartan underdaks adding another foot (when seated)...

[PR19_Kit]

... I sat in the forward cockpit of XR222 when it was at Cranfield in the 60s, but without the ejector seat fitted. Even so the forward view was exceptional, and the shroud didn't impede my vision at all..

But you are 18' tall, and given it was the 60's you would have had on flared tartan underdaks adding another foot (when seated)...

Hehehe, almost. The fact that I was the tallest in the class was the reason I got in there as I was the ONLY one who could reach the bottom of the rudimentary access steps the College had for the aircraft. 

It was quite roomy too, very UN-like a Tornado GR4 that I was lucky enough to access many years later. They must recruit midgets to fly them!