D.H. Sea Vixen FAW 2

[cph64]

This is the 2019 Revell boxing of the Cyber Hobby kit and as such has raised panel lines, shallow undercarriage bays,sink holes and knock out points. The upper fuselage has the door markings for the Mk.1's navigator position with the 'bulged' door of the Mk.2 on one of the sprues. Interestingly (?) this is not shown in the instructions and there are no locating holes. The etch brass one in the after market set I have does not allow for the bulge so isn't being used. Also of note is that the navigators side window doesn't fit so this has been left off with Kristal Klear to be used later. Lots of weight has been put in the forward body to hopefully prevent tail-sitting. With the nose cone and tail booms then attached a lot of sanding/filling/sanding was done before a coat of primer showed where more work was needed. I've fitted the nosewheel and main legs to try and keep the body off the workbench as best as.

[Bigkev]

Looks like it's going to be a beast!

[chriswil42]

Looks like a good start Chris.

[cph64]

The booms have taken a lot of work to get something like, more work should be done on the profile but if I do then I'll lose the raised panel lines in the area so it's a trade-off. They don't looktoo bad from certain angles thankfully. I've also spent time on the wingfold etch, initially putting some of the smaller parts to one piece and then I used the kit plastic parts to try and set the angle after which the etch was superglued to the outer wing panels.

[Bigkev]

Did you manage to enough ballast in the nose?
Nice work on those wings folds.

[cph64]

I've put some in the nose and forward fuselage Kev. A roll test over a pencil seemed to show there's enough but I'll know better once I put the main wheels on.
Once again the Tamiya gloss white didn't want to adhere to the primer so it was oversprayed with Halfords.

[Bigkev]

Looks nice and even though.

[chriswil42]

Looking good.

[cph64]

Undercarriage fitted and painted followed by masking the white and spraying Tamiya Extra Dark Sea Grey on the uppersurfaces plus the underwing wrap over. Touchups done where required. The seal around the Navigators hatch window has been masked and painted, this will then be masked again for the gloss black representing the overpainted clear of the real aircraft. Also in the photo is the side window which had to be opened up further as the kit one is the smaller version of the FAW Mk.1. A start has been made decalling and they come off the backing paper easy enough and slide into position well but they do have a bit of yellowing. To be expected I suppose as they date from 1996.

[chriswil42]

Looking nice.

[cph64]

Decalling completed, the 'No Step' areas on the upper fuselage silvered a little even when solution had been applied so they were nicked and more put on which seemed to do the trick. The 'sharkmouth' isn't big enough to fit where the instructions say so that was positioned as best as. The drop tanks were fitted and then it was time to take on the wing fold. Some of the smaller etch parts were fitted to the fold on one side and this was then positioned using Extra Tacky PVA glue,later reinforced with superglue. Much nautical language later the other wing was put in place. One part on each wing had to taken off and bent by hand as they wouldn't bend in situ. I gave up on some of the parts which then had to be fitted as the instructions weren't clear for how to bend the part or where to fit. The wing stays were made from spare metal rod as the kit doesn't supply anything. Those and the etch FODs were painted red and fitted. The missiles were put in place after painting but pushed against the undercarriage doors and didn't sit properly so these have since been removed, though they were on at the Wakefield  Show. The etch pilot's entrance ladder has since been fitted.
It's a Sea Vixen kit which can't make up it's mind if it's an FAW 1 or 2 and the same can be said for the Airwaves etch sets. This is definitely a kit that I wouldn't recommend but it's done and is now part of the HMS Eagle collection.

[Bigkev]

You have made a good job with your Sea Vixen. It looked very nice at Wakefield Show.
I know that it fought you, but you triumphed in the end.
A nice model to add to your HMS Eagle collection.

[cph64]

Thanks Kev, I'm now lying down in a darkened room!!

[zak]

You need HMS Eagle in 1/700 scale now!
Nice job.

[MSea]

Love the folded wings - another great model