Prone Pilot Hunter

perttime · October 15, 2021, 11:03:33 AM

I recall an article from last millenium, about a Hunter being used for early experiments on FBW. There was an image that I interpreted as the pilot's two fingers on a button that was working as the control stick.That might be convenient for a prone pilot.

PR19_Kit · October 15, 2021, 01:20:59 PM

It certainly would, and now that you've mentioned it I can recall something like that too.

I looked it up and amazingly it was the REAL Hunter T12, the singular 2-seater withthe Big Bore engine and the nice green and white colour scheme!

perttime · October 15, 2021, 09:07:18 PM

A google image search for Hunter T12 FBV gives me a couple of thumbnails of the green and white Hunter, and also a black and white picture of the "fingers on button" photo. There's also a rotary knob near the thumb of the pilot. No idea what it does. Unfortunately the proper images are embedded in an article that I cannot open without paying.

PR19_Kit · October 16, 2021, 06:20:52 AM

I've an SAC white metal gear set for the Hunter, but the kit parts look fine to me.

Anyone know any advantages of the SAC set over the kit stuff? Nose weight isn't a problem with this model.

PR19_Kit · October 16, 2021, 10:18:50 AM

I've done all the PSR on the PP Hunter now, and re-primed it.

I also added two ventral strakes as it would have needed some extra fin area with that humongous nose, and couldn't bring myself to desecrate the Hunter's beautiful fin.

The well OTT decal sheet arrived and it looks perfect for what I had in mind too. As usual I scanned it, and tried out various chunks of it on a 1/72 scale Hunter plan and it should work pretty well.

The sheet's from Xtradecal and it's for some target tug Meteors actually.

Tophe · October 16, 2021, 10:21:02 AM

Good! Go on!

PR19_Kit · October 16, 2021, 02:02:30 PM

Whatever possessed the RAF to put the lower wing serials right across the landing gear doors of its aircraft during the 50 and 60s???

Trying to draw up the (fictional...) serial for the PP Hunter tonight has been a veritable nightmare, but luckily Revell actually print the cutting marks on their decal sheets so my scans of them have been a good guide. Mind you, the marks on their F6 sheets and FGA9 sheets are different, and it's the same plastic............ :-(

Oh yes, it's XF371 by the way.

No, it was never used, but it was slap in the middle of a Hunter F6 batch.

PR19_Kit · October 21, 2021, 12:58:30 PM

I'm putting the decals on the PP Hunter this evening, and what a contrast there is between the different sheets!

The box stock Revell decals go on superbly, fit nicely, are quite thin and stick where they should, and the ones I printed myself are perfect of course.

The third lot, the hi-vis dayglo stripes from Xtradecal are RUBBISH!

They don't stick worth a light, and when I trimmed them they broke up into smaller parts, as well. The sheet (1/48 ones for Meteor target tugs...) bears the 'Microscale' icon as well, so where they come into the equation I don't know.

Pics later, with luck, if the dayglo ones don't fall off anyway.

Martin H · October 21, 2021, 02:43:04 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on October 21, 2021, 12:58:30 PM
The sheet (1/48 ones for Meteor target tugs...) bears the 'Microscale' icon as well, so where they come into the equation I don't know.

Microscale are the sub contractor who prints a fair chunk of the xtradecal output.
Their own website makes mention of their availability for contract work.

PR19_Kit · October 21, 2021, 03:37:05 PM

I'm damned if I'd use them after the rubbish I've been working with this evening!

Here it is at the moment, but I had to use maybe twice as many chunks of dayglo as are on the model so far, the rest just broke up or refused to stay attached.

Gondor · October 21, 2021, 10:02:39 PM

You should be able to use dayglow from a Victor tanker kit Kit although the shade might not be the same.

Gondor

Dizzyfugu · October 21, 2021, 11:43:24 PM

TL Modellbau from Germany also does Dayglo Orange as decals, either as a continuous sheet or stripes of various widths (Leuchtorange RAL 2005).

https://tl-modellbau.de/Flaeche-Leuchtorange

I have made very good experience with this stuff on various occasions.

PR19_Kit · October 22, 2021, 07:55:19 AM

Both good ideas, and thanks, but I'd then have to re-do all the work that I've already done as the colours would undoubtedly be different.

I'll wait till I'm home on Wed and spray the Xtradecal sheet with the acrylic varnish I use for my own decals, and hopefully that will stop them breaking up. I'll also put the rest on over a thin layer of Klear.

I've written a fairly rude email to Hannants about it, it's not the sort of 'quality' I expect from them.

frank2056 · October 22, 2021, 08:13:56 AM

The decal issue sounds very annoying, but the prone Hunter looks amazing - like a rocketship. It wouldn't look out of place in a Dan Dare comic book.

Gondor · October 22, 2021, 09:49:54 AM

Quote from: frank2056 on October 22, 2021, 08:13:56 AM
The decal issue sounds very annoying, but the prone Hunter looks amazing - like a rocketship. It wouldn't look out of place in a Dan Dare comic book.

That's an idea, have a look through various Dan Dare stories to find the name of some of the more prominent other pilots and put one of their names on her.

Gondor