New Bloke - Airfix 1/72 RAF/RN Skyhawk.

[stuart]

Hi All,

As I've just joined the forum (long time lurker) I thought I'd better post something up. I'm Stuart and I hail from Bucks in England. I've been modelling properly for nearly 8 years now (started in my 30's), mainly building aircraft in 1/72. I enjoy building RAF aircraft mainly (love me some green/grey camo), along with USN, IAF, and European subjects coming a close second.

I've never realy built any what-if models, other than a few old MB kits that I built for my son to play with - all in RAF colours of course. So this'll be my proper first stab at something for my shelf.

I'm building the new tool Airfix 1/72 Skyhawk in either an FAA or RAF scheme - just not sure which yet. Nothing too exciting but we'll see how I get on. I did toy with the idea of a Gulf War pink bird but we'll see.

Here's a first pic - just doing a test fit. I have built the cockpit and done the decals and what not.



I can see a few gap issues so I'll have to do a bit of fettling me thinks.

Anyway - nice to meet you and I look forward to chatting to you all 

Cheers

Stuart

[zenrat]

Welcome.
I'd argue you have only just begun to model properly...

[PR19_Kit]

Good to see you here Stuart, good work on the Skyhawk so far. 

You're not that far from Milton Keynes, so why not come up to their show on Sunday the 23rd and have a look at some of the other 'derivative' stuff on the SIG stand?

[Weaver]

Welcome Ian, that looks like a fine project to kick off with.

Suggestion: you could easily make it more 'British' by using RAF weapons: BL755s, Matra pods, AIM-9L/ASRAAMs etc..

There were also at least two different ways of fitting 30mm ADEN/DEFA cannons to the Skyhawk. The Israelis used a rather bulky conversion involving long farings under the wings, but the Singaporeans had a batch with ADENs just slotted in in place of the Mk.12s. The only visible difference in the latter case is that the barrels are shorter, slightly fatter and have plain muzzles: dead easy to do with bit of fine alloy tube.

[comrade harps]

Welcome aboard the good ship Whiffy McWhiffyface! 

A desert pink scooter does sound nice, but it's entirely whatever floats your boat!

[NARSES2]

Wellcome aboard and as Kit says if you can get to the MK show pop in and see us 

[stuart]

Thanks for the warm welcome all 

Welcome.
I'd argue you have only just begun to model properly...

Thanks! That's an interesting point! 

Good to see you here Stuart, good work on the Skyhawk so far. 

You're not that far from Milton Keynes, so why not come up to their show on Sunday the 23rd and have a look at some of the other 'derivative' stuff on the SIG stand?

Hi Kit - Thanks!

Alas I was planning on attending, but I'm not going to be able to make it this year - I hope you guys have a good show though!

Welcome Ian, that looks like a fine project to kick off with.

Suggestion: you could easily make it more 'British' by using RAF weapons: BL755s, Matra pods, AIM-9L/ASRAAMs etc..

There were also at least two different ways of fitting 30mm ADEN/DEFA cannons to the Skyhawk. The Israelis used a rather bulky conversion involving long farings under the wings, but the Singaporeans had a batch with ADENs just slotted in in place of the Mk.12s. The only visible difference in the latter case is that the barrels are shorter, slightly fatter and have plain muzzles: dead easy to do with bit of fine alloy tube.

Thanks, I thought I should start with something simple. The ADEN idea is a really good one - I'll do that.

I'd love to use more British weapons but... where do you get them?! It seems to me we're well served for US kit but less so for us, unless you want to shell out £30 for an old Airfix Nato weapons set.

Welcome aboard the good ship Whiffy McWhiffyface! 

A desert pink scooter does sound nice, but it's entirely whatever floats your boat!

Thanks 

The more I think about, the more I like that idea. Maybe with a Pave Spike pod a'la Buccaneer.

Wellcome aboard and as Kit says if you can get to the MK show pop in and see us 

Thanks  Alas as I said - I can't make it this year I do hope you guys have a good show though.

Cheers All!

Stuart (who's Ian?  )

[sandiego89]

I'd love to use more British weapons but... where do you get them?!

[/quote]

Rob them from a Harrier/Hawk/Hunter etc. kit.  We all do that here.  Welcome!

-Dave

[stuart]

I'd love to use more British weapons but... where do you get them?!

Rob them from a Harrier/Hawk/Hunter etc. kit.  We all do that here.  Welcome!

-Dave
[/quote]

Thanks for the tip Dave - Probably still cheaper to do that than a buy a Hasegawa weapons set anyway 

[PR19_Kit]

I'd love to use more British weapons but... where do you get them?! It seems to me we're well served for US kit but less so for us, unless you want to shell out £30 for an old Airfix Nato weapons set.

IIRC the recent Revell Typhoon kit is effectively an RAF weapons set with an aircraft kit thrown in for good measure. 

It may be the Revell Tornado on second thoughts, but it's one of them for sure.

[Gondor]

I'd love to use more British weapons but... where do you get them?! It seems to me we're well served for US kit but less so for us, unless you want to shell out £30 for an old Airfix Nato weapons set.

IIRC the recent Revell Typhoon kit is effectively an RAF weapons set with an aircraft kit thrown in for good measure. 

It may be the Revell Tornado on second thoughts, but it's one of them for sure.

For really up to date UK and German weapons get the Revell Typhoon, that's the modern Jet as opposed to the WWII propeller aircraft that Revell also have one of.

For slightly earlier 70's/80's/90's weapons the older Airfix Harrier GR 5 or GR 7 kits, mine is an Airfix Club set GR7 boxed with a Sea Harrier FA 2, that has quite a lot of weapon options in it.

Alternatively you can ask your fellow modellers here for a particular weapons load.

Gondor

[stuart]

I'd love to use more British weapons but... where do you get them?! It seems to me we're well served for US kit but less so for us, unless you want to shell out £30 for an old Airfix Nato weapons set.

IIRC the recent Revell Typhoon kit is effectively an RAF weapons set with an aircraft kit thrown in for good measure. 

It may be the Revell Tornado on second thoughts, but it's one of them for sure.

I'd love to use more British weapons but... where do you get them?! It seems to me we're well served for US kit but less so for us, unless you want to shell out £30 for an old Airfix Nato weapons set.

IIRC the recent Revell Typhoon kit is effectively an RAF weapons set with an aircraft kit thrown in for good measure. 

It may be the Revell Tornado on second thoughts, but it's one of them for sure.

For really up to date UK and German weapons get the Revell Typhoon, that's the modern Jet as opposed to the WWII propeller aircraft that Revell also have one of.

For slightly earlier 70's/80's/90's weapons the older Airfix Harrier GR 5 or GR 7 kits, mine is an Airfix Club set GR7 boxed with a Sea Harrier FA 2, that has quite a lot of weapon options in it.

Alternatively you can ask your fellow modellers here for a particular weapons load.

Gondor

Thanks for the steer Gents - I have both the Tornado and the Eurotiffy in the stash as it happens 

Did Airfix stick any Gulf war era weapons in their Buccaneer re-box a few years back?

Cheers

Stuart

[Charlie_c67]

Hasegawa's European Weapons set is good if you're doing anything modern as it has ASRAAMs (1998-), Meteor's (2016-), ALARM's (1990-2013), Storm Shadow's (2002-), Brimstone's (2005-) and AiM-120 (1998-).  Sadly, other older ordnance is a lot harder to find. Airwaves do British 1000 lbers, Freightdog do Red Tops, 18 round Matra pods, TiALDs, RAPTOR pods and British Nukes, while Firestreaks, Blue Dolphins (Made by modifying Red Tops), Skyflash, Sidewinders, BL 755's and other rocket pods have to be pinched from other kits if not already included.

Don't think I've missed too many!

[Weaver]

Hasegawa's European Weapons set is good if you're doing anything modern as it has ASRAAMs (1998-), Meteor's (2016-), ALARM's (1990-2013), Storm Shadow's (2002-), Brimstone's (2005-) and AiM-120 (1998-).  Sadly, other older ordnance is a lot harder to find. Airwaves do British 1000 lbers, Freightdog do Red Tops, 18 round Matra pods, TiALDs, RAPTOR pods and British Nukes, while Firestreaks, Blue Dolphins (Made by modifying Red Tops), Skyflash, Sidewinders, BL 755's and other rocket pods have to be pinched from other kits if not already included.

Don't think I've missed too many!

Freightdog have also done the RN style 2" rocket pod that looks like a MATRA pod but has three rings of tubes. They're not listed at the moment but he's re-popped them before so he may well do so again. His Lightning FGA kit also includes a couple of N1 supersonic 1000lb bombs (similar to Mk.83) that were never put into production. £11's a lot to spend just to get the bombs, but if you've any interest in using the Lightning conversion then you can always stick Bullpups or AS.30s on it instead since both were projected weapons.

Link: http://www.freightdogmodels.co.uk/index.php?cPath=27_29&osCsid=78dbf62a52886686020234c3cb0c75de

Alley Cat have taken over the old Odd'n'Odnance range and there's some tasties in there, including British 1000lb GP bombs, MATRA JL-100 fuel+rocket pods (projected for the export Lightning and relevent to any pylon-limited aircraft), AS.30s, FRADU pods & Red Tops.

Link: http://www.alleycatmodels.co.uk/aircraft-sets-172-scale-354-c.asp

[Old Wombat]

A RN Scooter is quite logical in many ways.

Be interesting to see which direction yours goes in, stuart.