So this is my latest foray into the world of lockdown modelling. Will be OOTB with the exception of a Yaho IP to replace the kit one. Paints will be mostly Tamiya with only the exterior being MRP.
Going with ‘Scheme D’ for no other reason than the unit was based in Hampshire which is where I’m from! Seems as good a reason as any [;)]
Over the past 4 or 5 days I have managed to finish the office area, boy is it fiddly!!
Think this is going to take me a while as there are LOADS of steps…!!!
Sharp! I’m gonna sit back, take my mask off and watch you build this [8-|]
Nice cockpit work. Is it just me, or do the pilot’s eyes look like he’s just seen some 20mm whistling past? And I will be the first to say I have no idea how to paint eyes!
A little update. Engine and plumbing almost complete, just finished step 65 of 232! Getting the plumbing in is rather fiddly and have to dry fit may times to work out where some of it went as it wasn’t clear to me where some things went, I don’t feel that the instructions are the clearest at times…or maybe it’s just me being dumb [;)]
nice work so far. be careful with fit issues when you come to put the fuselage together around this lot. My first Tiffy attempt ended up in the recycle bin because of this and although I have both Tiffy’s in my stash I am well aware, thanks to the Hellcats that great design and cheap manufacturing and materials just do not go together to make a stunning product. Dry fit the surround now to see if anything is out!
When I do mine I will be dry fitting from the very first section!
Thanks Snapdragon. I was actually looking at your build the other day and noted it ended up in the bin!! I getting to the bit where you had that “how do I get it in there” moment[:S]
I’m fixing on leaving the engine mostly exposed so am hoping that a lot of fit issues might not be there (or maybe thats just wishful thinking!)
Thanks Mongoose, though the speed I go I fear you will be sitting a long time and fall asleep [;)]
More by luck than judgement on my part! They (pilots) usually don’t turn out so good for me and usually do not go in the office. I did the pilot first to see how he turned out. I was quite prepared to leave him out and just fit the belts if it was to my ‘normal’ poor standard, but seeing as he turned out so good I put him in! WRT the eyes, just a dab with a cocktail stick and hope to get lucky…this time I did [:D]
Not a great deal of progress to show…but slow but steady progress over the last week or so. Home life and work are beginning to impinge on my shed time as things slowely return to ‘normal’.No major fit issue (so far [:P]) so still pretty happy with things.
Cockpit assy fitted to wing spar thingy and the guns added.
Also, now got the top skins on the wings
And finally, this is how she now sits awaiting my return to the bench.
That’s looking good! You seem to be having pretty good luck with these large scale Airfix kits. Maybe when I decide to build one of these I’ll get you to order it and then I’ll buy it from you. 
lol I’m still struggling with the Hellcat…
Thanks Wingman [:D]
So you think that by me ordering it some of my ‘luck’ may rub off on you eh!
I think I have done most of the Airfix 1:24 models since my ‘return’ to modelling a couple of years ago. Thinking I might go back and do them again as when I look at them I think, ‘yeah…could have done so much better’ [:S]
What I’ve seen of your work looks pretty darn good. So I don’t know if you’re just getting lucky and getting the “good” examples of these kits or if it boils down to skills. But either way, yes, if you handle the transaction then maybe a little of that will rub off on me.
Another small update. It’s been a few weeks of bits and bobs as home life reared it’s ugly head (due to +ve Covid test for my wife [nurse] so we got 2 weeks proper isolation and lucky me got to relay/extend patio and build new retaining wall [something I’ve never done before and am quite proud of the results!], thankfully the wife is now -ve as is the rest of the household of 5, and almost back to full health).
Tinkered here and there with getting the flaps and stuff built up, the majority of the plane is now built and have had a few spray sessions over the last couple of evenings and got the invasion stripes on and the underside painted. Bought some masks from Top Notch for the cammo (first time I will have tried masks so could be fun!).
So here is how it currenty stands:
Thanks for looking in, comments and critique welcome.
I’m glad you and your family are ok. Scary times. Man, with all the other work you’ve done you’re rolling right along with this build. It looks good.
Great to hear positive recovery stories like yours, something the media won’t do.
Your Tiffy is looking fantabulous, lots of details, great job. [Y]
Did you avoid preshading under the invasion stripes? Looks like it but thought I’d ask as i like the way it turned out and i have one to do inmy future:-)
@ Wingman and PJ…Thanks for the kind words WRT the wife. Luckily she just had a ‘mild’ case of covid, like a tightness in the chest, little cough, weird throaty voice and no energy. Still has little energy but everything else is almost back to ‘normal’.
Think the model is coming along nicely despie my amatuer attempts so far.
@TheMongoose, I have preshaded under the stripes, just that I went rather heavy with the white and although it is not apparent in the photos, the preshade is there, just VERY faint to the eye.
This is the way things stand now after a few spray sessions. Most all of the actual plane is now sprayed and just needs a bit more for final assembly…just have to do the armourment/loadout.
Enjoy…[:D]
I like that a lot! Looks good. You definitely got the hang of these large scale kits. Makes me want to go paint invasion stripes on something. lol
Thankyou Wingman!
I much prefer the larger scale models as I find them easier to work with. Those smaller 1/72 ones are, for me, just too much like hard work to handle and build. Makes displaying them a challenge, only have room enough for maybe 8/10 so I’m gonna have to start rotating them out soon! Luckily the missus doesn’t mind a few of them in the house in out utility area…not in the living room!!!
Next up is going to be a bit smaller, a 1/32 Red Arrows Hawk. Got a hankering for the Red Arrows a couple of weeks ago as they flew over the house. Never done one before and absolutely adore those little red devils!