A Tiger Force Hornet

kitbasher · January 22, 2023, 02:50:38 PM

Quote from: The Wooksta! on January 22, 2023, 02:34:00 PMTiger Force roundels will depend on where the aircraft is based. Iwo Jima with the US forces means BPF markings, elsewhere standard SEAC.

Why?

The Wooksta! · January 22, 2023, 02:56:42 PM

Because Tiger Force was too big to be accommodated on Iwo Jima along with the US forces, so it was to have been split. Those on Iwo Jima would have had the BPF style markings as they'd ostensibly be under US control and the markings are close enough to US ones so gunners would be less likely to shoot them down. Elsewhere, they could carry standard SEAC roundels as they'd be wholly under RAf control.

Pellson · January 23, 2023, 06:49:10 AM

Quote from: The Wooksta! on January 22, 2023, 02:56:42 PMBecause Tiger Force was too big to be accommodated on Iwo Jima along with the US forces, so it was to have been split. Those on Iwo Jima would have had the BPF style markings as they'd ostensibly be under US control and the markings are close enough to US ones so gunners would be less likely to shoot them down. Elsewhere, they could carry standard SEAC roundels as they'd be wholly under RAf control.

Thanks, Lee. I was also curious about this.

NARSES2 · January 24, 2023, 07:47:33 AM

Quote from: The Wooksta! on January 22, 2023, 02:34:00 PMTiger Force roundels will depend on where the aircraft is based. Iwo Jima with the US forces means BPF markings, elsewhere standard SEAC.

Yup, and she will be Iwo Jima, the Tempest Mk II will be Burma based if I ever get around to finishing it. $:-\$

kitbasher · January 24, 2023, 09:37:41 AM

Tiger Force was to be based on Okinawa, not Iwo Jima. If the force was to be split because it was too big for Okinawa (approx 40% the size of Norfolk) then it's not going to be as far away as Burma, a totally different theatre of war/campaign.

An Okinawa/Iwo Jima split would require the same theatre markings.

Anything in Burma would still be SEAC not Tiger Force.

NARSES2 · February 13, 2023, 06:20:27 AM

Well all the sub-assemblies are complete and some are painted. The major parts have all had their first session of psr and their second putty session. I'll not be able to make any progress for a few days therefore they will get their next sanding session and any subsequent psr (and there will be) in a week or so. One thing I've realised after assembling various bits and pieces is that the undercarriage could be interesting to say the least. I had a quick look at one of the SH kits I have of the Hornet and they don't even include some of the struts that AZ do. Looking at photos of Hornets you can't see the struts SH exclude in any of them, they are hidden by the doors. Therefore I'm going to go down the road of least resistance when it comes to fitting them. If they want to fit, fair enough. If not, fair enough as no one is going to turn the finished build over and peer in the bays. The undercarriage will be assembled on the basis of enabling a nice strong structure in a way that doesn't give me nightmares.

NARSES2 · February 26, 2023, 06:10:19 AM

After my sojourn up North I got the sanding done this morning and gave her a good bath. Hopefully spot prime the seams tomorrow to see which sections require a third session of psr.

buzzbomb · February 26, 2023, 02:31:07 PM

Sounds to have had a very thorough preparation

NARSES2 · February 27, 2023, 05:58:40 AM

Quote from: NARSES2 on February 26, 2023, 06:10:19 AMto see which sections require a third session of psr.

More than I was expecting I'm afraid. Still psr is therapeutic, right ?

Rick Lowe · February 27, 2023, 08:42:06 PM

Quote from: NARSES2 on February 27, 2023, 05:58:40 AM
Quote from: NARSES2 on February 26, 2023, 06:10:19 AMto see which sections require a third session of psr.

More than I was expecting I'm afraid. Still psr is therapeutic, right ?

So they keep telling us... I remain to be convinced...

NARSES2 · February 28, 2023, 06:17:09 AM

Started to attach the wings to the fuselage this morning and they're not a bad fit at all after a little fettling, the tabs and slots line up nicely

As an explanation, so far I've been working on the psr on the wing/nacelle joints and fuselage seams with them as separate sub-assemblies as that made it easier to get to bits, especially on the nacelles. Now I'm looking to assemble the airframe.

NARSES2 · March 01, 2023, 06:33:58 AM

I now have an airframe

Wardukw · March 01, 2023, 06:25:30 PM

Nice

NARSES2 · March 04, 2023, 05:56:59 AM

Got some ppp on the wing and tail plane joints, so next step is some more spot priming.

NARSES2 · April 27, 2023, 12:09:18 AM

Shock horror but this has finally moved forward and is now fully primed. Therefore it might start to see some paint next week, along with one of the Tempest II's which I didn't realise I'd primed. They'll both be in similar schemes, so while the pots are out for one I might as well do the other.