After the disaster that was my hamfisted paintwork SNAFU, we are now at the point where we were two weeks ago. Well, I tell a lie, we're slightly further along since I've started putting decals on.

Anyway, I printed another set of fuselage & wing bits after playing with print orientation a bit, and after the tedious repetition of work already done once before, ended up with this:



Now, the pictures do not do justice to the amount of dust, fingerprints, scratches and other imperfections present. I'll be honest here, this isn't one of my better efforts in the flesh. But, better finished than perfect (apparently), so I've soldiered on....

This time I went with Alclad Polished Aluminium over the obligatory black base, and used some Magnesium, High Speed Silver, Dull Aluminium, and High Shine Plus Aluminium to give a tiny bit of panel variation. I painted the bays in Dull Aluminium, and around the rocket motors with Stainless Steel (which didn't come out with the contrast I expected but I'll sort it with some weathering later. I was also much more rigorous in my approach to cleanliness in the paint booth (i.e. I gave it a much needed clean!) So its better than last time, but still only a 7/10. Also, since I had to reprint the compressor I decided to simplify my paintwork and just airbrush it with Molotov Liquid Chrome. Literally, just that... no primer or gloss or anything (no one can really see it anyway). And it looks pretty good! I love this stuff, its got to be the best chrome paint available, surely?



So onto where it currently stands. Roundels and airframe numbers are done, as is the squadron insignia and a couple bits around the cockpit. I've also, as mentioned previously, gone with 66 Squadron markings. I decided on the striped tail look from the Meteor F.8 in the end, it'll really stand out amongst all the others on the shelf. There was a bit of bleed from the blue, but mainly in panel lines, so should be hidden when I give it a wash.





Pretty much everything apart from the landing bay doors is painted. Oh, the canopy needs doing still, but I think I'll leave that till last. Decalwise, its the tedium of putting feasible stencils and walkways on, then glossing and weathering. Not much weathering though, just the odd oil streak and heat effect I think. While I think about it I also need to paint a pair of Red Tops too. Er, and seats, must not forget the seats....

The aim is to have it done by next weekend so I can put it on the SIG stand at Midlands Air Museum on Sunday.

Very shiny 

Gondor

That's going to look great at Coventry. 

Nice that you've squeezed the serial into a blank patch amongst a load of Saro Skeeters. 

Quote from: PR19_Kit on June 15, 2025, 02:40:57 PMThat's going to look great at Coventry. 

Nice that you've squeezed the serial into a blank patch amongst a load of Saro Skeeters. 

Skeeters? rafcommands.com shows its between Britannias and Vulcans.

Anyway, the serial numbers I'm using for the F.155T candidates came about because the Fantastic Plastic Vickers 559 decals have XM548 on them. And since that finished in 3rd place and I did the AW169 next which finished in 2nd place it got XM547. The big FD3 was obviously the prime candidate, but on the assumption the Ministry may have chosen the small offering, that's getting XM546, meaning when I finally do the bigger variant it will be XM545. I know the logic isn't entirely watertight but its what I'm working to. When I do the other birds they will get XM549>>>. Except the CF-105 and the Thin Wing Javelin, they'll get something appropriate for the timeframe.

I always search here for serials https://www.ukserials.com/

and it has wall to wall Saro Skeeters from XM524 to XM565 with a few random gaps. The Britannias end at XM520 and Vulcans start at XM569.

It's a bit un-nerving if different web sites show different serials.

that would explain it, the rafcommands site has no mention of the Skeeters.

It's whif-world anyway, and who is going to know those serial numbers when at a show anyway?

That is looking good   

Quote from: Gondor on June 16, 2025, 01:57:48 AMIt's whif-world anyway, and who is going to know those serial numbers when at a show anyway?

Yes, it IS WhiffWorld but you can bet some JMN will come along and say 'Í know all the serials in the XM series, and the one you 've used for that  model was  really on a Skeeter'. 
 
And with a smirk on his face and said VERY loudly so everyone can hear. 

Quote from: scautomoton on June 16, 2025, 12:43:47 AMthat would explain it, the rafcommands site has no mention of the Skeeters.

Thats only listing RAF serials, UK serials has the AAC and FAA serials too.

Suitable gaps can be hard to find, although some projects were assigned serials and can be found such as the TSR2, F-111K, AW681, yet P1154 not so

Quote from: scautomoton on June 15, 2025, 11:30:36 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on June 15, 2025, 02:40:57 PMThat's going to look great at Coventry. 

Nice that you've squeezed the serial into a blank patch amongst a load of Saro Skeeters. 

Skeeters? rafcommands.com shows its between Britannias and Vulcans.

Anyway, the serial numbers I'm using for the F.155T candidates came about because the Fantastic Plastic Vickers 559 decals have XM548 on them. And since that finished in 3rd place and I did the AW169 next which finished in 2nd place it got XM547. The big FD3 was obviously the prime candidate, but on the assumption the Ministry may have chosen the small offering, that's getting XM546, meaning when I finally do the bigger variant it will be XM545. I know the logic isn't entirely watertight but its what I'm working to. When I do the other birds they will get XM549>>>. Except the CF-105 and the Thin Wing Javelin, they'll get something appropriate for the timeframe.

In the range XM531 to XM552 are free as unassigned in the Saro Skeeter batch.

One to bare in mind is that the person doing the 559 decals for Fantastic plastic did the same as us lot and looked for a gap in the range, be it the web sites or the books.

However they didnt consider that the project was cancelled as part of the 1957 defense review so actual orders and thus serials would be a later date possibly closer to Buccaner and Sea Vixen serials.

The FD3 artwork actually had ZA436, ZA437 & ZA438 which happen to be free serials in the Tornado GR1 sequence from the mid 70 !!!,  so that artist was really looking to the future 

And here we are; I'm calling it done. I was going to give it an all over misting of satin but, quite frankly, it looks OK as it is and I really can't be bothered to expose myself to another SNAFU. Leave well enough alone etc.











And as a cheeky bonus, here it is with some of its competitors....



If anyone wants an FD3 Small then get in touch. £40 + £3.50p&p within UK. I just need to finish writing the instructions and they're good to go.

Next up, I need to finish some non-whifs. After that, I've obviously made a start on the Hawker family, but I think I may go across The Pond for the first time in my modelling career. I fancy the MDD 265-1. I also intend to do some non-NMFs for a while.

And it looked every bit as good in the "flesh", as it were, on Sunday as it looks here.

One of your customers should do a late-service one, in grey/green cammo with modern missiles and 1435 Flight (Falklands defence flight) markings (pinch them from an Airfix F-4M).

Re serials, an alternative to looking for gaps in the real-world sequence is to work out what aircraft your what-if would have been procured instead of, and then use a serial from one of those. For instance, if the ER.103Cs were bought instead of F-4Ms, then use an F-4M serial.

I wouldn't worry about discrepancies in serial numbers.  A cunningly constructed backstory explaining deliberate obfuscation and creative disinformation on the part of "Their Airships"  should sort the matter out.     Any JMN inclined to take the matter further should be hit with a hard stare exercising the full force of  your disdain.................and if that fails, you and your colleagues just point at him and laugh at  his "lack of understanding"

I like very much what you have created here!

A much better looker than the FD3 Large to my mind.   

The big looked just TOO big.