SIG Mini theme

[JayBee]

Well this is my one and only entry for the SIG's Mini-theme at SMW.
First the box art for the Airfix kit.






But with some help from this :






So as you may have guessed it is going to be an Aussie Vampire trainer but upgraded to a Nene engine.

As far as the build is concerned the Airfix kit is superb but it does need the extra bits from the High Planes Bonus bits in the kit.
It is very interesting that the instruction sheet in the High Planes kit lets you know that this is the second kit they produced and it is from 1991/2.


These are the Bonus bits that they mention :








So the build begins, the first part is the cockpit area which is OOB apart f rom the fact that the right hand gunsight is omitted, but more of that later.
Then the faring for the radio compass is added to the top of the nose.








The next bit is the enlarged tail pipe.
High Planes advise that the rear of the fuselage pod should be shortened until it is 3mm from the rear of the wing and that a new tail pipe of 8mm diameter should be fitted.
Fortunately I had some 8mm OD brass tubing to hand and I used that.
The photos make it look more like copper.








After that it is a matter of cutting down the tailcone and sanding it so that the new tail pipe will fit.

[Gondor]

Looks great Jim, bound to confuse the JMN's

Gondor

[The Wooksta!]

Jim, if you've a pair of Airfix Spitfire IXcs, nick the larger air filter from both.  They'll be better than the intakes you have there.

A Heller Mistral is a reasonable basis for a single seat RAAF Nene Vampire too.

My two for this theme are decalled and look rather spiffing.  One may look out of place, but logical, whilst the other will have people asking what's whiff about it.

[PR19_Kit]

For a short while I was wondering JUST how you were going to fit that big radial and the MONSTER prop in a Vampire T11........ 

[JayBee]

Thanks for the tip Lee, however and you had better sit down before reading this, I do not have any Spitfires in my stash at all.

The High Planes intakes are not too bad despite how they look on the sprue.

[Nick]

After a long search I have found the Irish Gnat I did back in April for the One-Week GB. The trouble is that now I need the box-art to stand it on which means opening up another Gnat which means I'll have to start it.... tragic 

http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,40445.0.html

[NARSES2]

Well as I'm bringing a pair of Hurricanes I only need one box top 

[kitbasher]

Comet racer box top and some Comet whifs.  Chris why don't you bring your PR Comet?

[kitbasher]

Thanks for the tip Lee, however and you had better sit down before reading this, I do not have any Spitfires in my stash at all.

What about Tempests and Hornets?

[JayBee]

Thanks for the tip Lee, however and you had better sit down before reading this, I do not have any Spitfires in my stash at all.

What about Tempests and Hornets?

No Tempests, one Sea Hornet in build but then it has been in that state for about two years now.

[kitbasher]

Thanks for the tip Lee, however and you had better sit down before reading this, I do not have any Spitfires in my stash at all.

What about Tempests and Hornets?

No Tempests, one Sea Hornet in build but then it has been in that state for about two years now.

OMG Lee look away now!

[NARSES2]

Comet racer box top and some Comet whifs.  Chris why don't you bring your PR Comet?

I'll see if it fits in the transport box. It's quite small as I like it to snuggle in the bottom of the bag whilst travelling on the train

[JayBee]

Here is the Vampire read to get her warpaint on.
The only PSR that has been needed was on the Elephant Ear intakes and even that was not a lot.

[zenrat]

It was this thread that caused me to buy one of these when I saw how nice a kit they were.
Good job so far 

[JayBee]

Well the first of the home made transfers have gone on.





Some of our Australian brethren may have an idea just where I am going with this.

Jim