tc`s 74 Sqn `upgrade to 1/48` Project

[paddyboy]

Hi TC

To use the vernacular, or 'Narfik speak'......

She's lookin' boo'iful booy

She looks great already, mate

Can't wait to see the finished article

Best regards

Patrick

[tc2324]

Tonight`s update.

Pretty much everything is complete, even got the ballast CoG right this time. Just the main u/c doors and various fiddly bits to add. Hopefully finished pictures will be Tuesday and another `tiger` will be added to the collection.

[kjshaw01]

Wonderful build of a wonderful aircraft from a wonderful era

less wonderfuls required do you think?

Kev

[paddyboy]

Hi TC

Sorry, I have to disagree with Kev

Not enough 'wonderfuls'

Super work as always, buddy

Best regards

Patrick

[tc2324]

Thanks guys, just about to post the finished article.

[tc2324]

Next on the Tiger list and the last Meteor in the stash, (well.., until a F.3 arrives anyway), is the CA T.7



Other than the modified fuselage half`s, it`s pretty much the same kit as the F.4 and F.8 versions which should be no surprise.



There is of course plenty more resin to cock up..., er..., I mean play with, as it`s a two seater....,



One thing that struck me straight away was the nacelle decals are incomplete with the yellow/black dicing missing.



And while I`m not a great fan of resin cockpits, this will be the least of my problems.
It`s hard enough to fit 60g of ballast in the single seater, let alone a two seater........!!



Now I was in two minds as to which scheme to go for?

All over silver or the rare day fighter camo version?

[paddyboy]

Hi TC

Sure she will turn out a belter

Cheers

Patrick

[tc2324]

Thanks Paddy.

Cockpit progress.

[paddyboy]

Hi TC

See, I was right

Cheers

Patrick

[steve149c]

Great work all through TC - sorry Ive been so busy with work and family that modelling is very slow at this end,

Steve

[tc2324]

Now the half term family holiday to Euro Disney is over and I`ve come back with the feeling I`ve been legally mugged of a large sum of money, it`s time to crack on with the modelling.

Here`s the state of the Meteor T.7 and when I say state, that`s exactly what it is. Plenty of gaps need attention which as you can see I`ve already started to correct.



Now I knew after building the last two CA single seater Meteors that the cockpit sections are hard work to fit correctly. But after spending about 4 days on and off with the T.7, they were actually pretty easy when compared. The main issue as suspected was finding enough space at the front end to add ballast. Hopefully I`ve achieved this but I`ll only know for sure once the main u/c is fitted.

Moving on....,

The 74 Tiger collection will be on show at the upcoming Cockpit Fest at Newark on the Saturday. Around 16 types in 1/48 will be on show.

With this in mind I wanted to get one more example made so I have just under two weeks to complete it.

EE Lighting F.1 anybody?



This will be an all silver example prior to the black fin and spine being added.

More soon.

[steve149c]

Very nice TC - and I like the fact you are displaying them too!

Steve

[paddyboy]

Hi TC

Sure the 'Meatbox' will turn out to your usual standard

Another 'Frightning'

Seems like a good idea to me

Very best regards as always

Patrick

[tc2324]

As I`m awaiting some supplies to start painting the Meteor T.7, I`ve been cracking on with the Lightning F.1.

I have to say the Airfix kit is a delight to build and I really enjoy making them whether it be the old issue F.1 version like this or the newer F.6 release.

Hopefully my new super duper desk top will arrive in the next day or so, but for now I`m afraid I can only offer this rather poor iPhone pic.



Looks weird to me without the black fin, but I also think it will be a refreshing change to my Tiger Lightning line up.

[tc2324]

A little more done and should be ready for Newark.

[paddyboy]

Hi TC

Great to see one of 'my' old boys (Colt' 1960's era F1)

If I had a quid for every hour stood at Scottow crash gate...............

If your new desktop is Windows 'grate' (NOT 'great'), best of luck

Best regards

Patrick

[tc2324]

Hi TC

Great to see one of 'my' old boys (Colt' 1960's era F1)

If I had a quid for every hour stood at Scottow crash gate...............

If your new desktop is Windows 'grate' (NOT 'great'), best of luck

Best regards

Patrick

Well when you sort out that Tardis, give me a shout.

[tc2324]

Well, with all the praise for the Lightning, it had to go a tad wrong somewhere.....,



Overall not too bad but will need a few touches here and there.

The main issue was once I`d masked the canopy, stuck it on and given the model it`s first coat of spray paint, I noticed a slight gap which I plugged and then re-sprayed praying that none of the paint has got inside.

Unfortunately after I peeled of the masking tape some of the paint has made it inside. It`s not major and if I display this model `at the back`, I`ll get away with it.

One I will have to revisit in the future so I`d better start saving now.....!

[paddyboy]

Hi TC

T7/NF11 canopies must be a total swine to get right, so don't beat yourself up too much

Sure she will turn out to your usual standard eventually

Best regards

Patrick

[tc2324]

So after a self imposed plastic break, I`m back!

Now over the last week I`ve actually been working on a EE Lightning F.3 to finish off the Lightning part of the collection. However the plastic gods of doom seem to of had other ideas and the spray paints I had used did not bond to the plastic and peeled away. I can only assume that I should of cleaned the surfaces of the kit for any mold residue.

So here she is in the process of being stripped back down to the plastic and is now on the back burner as another `project` has entered the 74 arena.



That`s one frightning Lightning....!

Now as most of you regulars who view my work will know, I am a bit partial to the odd whif or two. During this years 74 Sqn reunion dinner a few members wanted to know if I was bringing the 74 whif collection, as this has proved quite popular in the 74 association newsletters. Well, the answer was no as I hadn`t started them yet, but I think it`s time to start rectifying that issue ready for the 2015 reunion dinner.

There have been a number of types that have been rumoured to enter service with 74 sqn over the years. The Supermarine Swift and Sepecat Jaguar to name a couple.

However, I thought I`d start with this..............,



The Sqn history states that...,

`in 1966 the British government was understood to be on the verge of ordering the GE F-111 in the wake of the cancellation of the TSR-2 with 74 Sqn supposedly being the first recipients of the big, trouble torn, American jet....`

We can only surmise that as 74 had successfully integrated the EE Lightning into front line service, 74`s reputation preceded them when introducing new aircraft into operational service and they were viewed as the obvious choice.

Of course none of this happened...... but what if?

This next picture shows the scale of the F-111 compared to the Lightning.



It`s a biggy!