Next up in the Royal Navy aircraft on HMS Eagle lineage is the Hawker Se Hawk. I built the original Airfix release when it first came out but this HobbyBoss release is far, far better. Lots of detail on the three grey sprues, a clear sprue and markings for FGA 6s from HMS Albion or an Indian a/c. As the FGA 6 is the new build version of upengined versions of earlier aircraft I can, as intended, use the decals for an a/c on HMS Eagle
A squadron of Fleet Aim Arm aircraft now Chris?
Yes Chris there's also a Scimitar and a Sea Vixen in the pipeline all with markings for when flying off HMS Eagle. The cockpit tub parts were painted using Tamiya and Vallejo colours and once dry put together before fitting into the upper fuselage half, I've left off the gunsight glass at the moment to ensure it doesn't get damaged/lost. The nosewheel bulkhead was also painted and added. The main wheelwell parts were painted Vallejo Steel then put into place with the exhausts made up and painted Vallejo Smoke to represent Burnt Iron. Once the cockpit tub was in place weight was added behind it to hopefully prevent tail-sitting and once the CA for this had cured the two halves of the fuselage were joined together and clamped. During building/painting the parts above the tail section and arrestor hook was made as were the fuel tanks.
It looks like a bit of work involved in this one.
Yes the clamps were needed and still didn't fully close up parts in places so more glue, clamps then filler required. The tail section was fitted and when the fuselage was inline at the top there was a marked step at the bottom so sanding followed once the glue had set. Whilst waiting for this I made up the 60lb rockets which come in two halves then a start was made on painting them. The drop tanks were fittied to their pylons which had already been painted as had the u/c doors both inside and out. From memory I painted the intakes white before I'd closed the wing halves but the model painting instrucyions show them to be Extra Dark Sea Grey so I'll check photos on this. With everything masked Tamiya Sky Type'S' was sprayed on the fuselage and onto the drop tanks, the latter being tidird up by hand after.
That is beginning to look very nice Chris.
Were the rockets in Sky too? or are you just using the Sky as a basecoat for the final colour?
The brackets are Sky, the rails steel and the rockets Olive Drab with a white point, yet to be added.
Looking good Chris.
The undercarriage was fitted followed by painting the uppersurfaces Tamiya Extra Dark Sea Grey and once cured Klear was applied for the decals which were a mix of kit and the source in the photo. The drop tanks and missiles were then fixed in place along with the pitot before another coat of Klear and finally the opening part of the canopy. The kit parts for the aerials towards the rear of the fuselage look wrong so I will replace with something thinner.
Looks nice.
Nice work Chris.
I'd use some thin stretched sprue for those aerials.
Very nice Chris. Is that a penguin on the nose?
It's a species of Tern Chris.