Thorvics'Blog

[Thorvic]

Well with the start of a New Year i thought i might as well join this blogging trend, especially as i have some specific ideas on what i want to build this year and the reasons behind it. Some will be Project Cancelled related some will be what-if and i may even do a bit of kit bashing in between as some of my previous builds could do with a new attempt following more detailed information becoming available since i built them as i did with the Vickers/Supermarine Type 583 last year. Another driving force is the excellent new kits appearing from Airfix which scream at you to build them and of course we should really consider Whiffing them as everybody will be going OOB with them  .
 

[Thorvic]

OK down to business, i have currently just finished a Sea Harrier Sidetrack AEW, based on the Airfix SHAR F/A-2 kit and the Lonewulf Models Sidetrack conversion set  released at SMW2013 and inspired by Chris Gibsons book on 'The Admiralty and AEW' which was one of the prime motivators for last years Projects Cancelled AEW theme. Lovely Conversion to build, straightforward cutting of the kit and the resin fitted it well, just be very cautious with the wing tip as they include the Sidetrack pods and need to be butt jointed to the trimmed down wing.

[NARSES2]

That looks quite mean in that colour scheme 

[Thorvic]

One of my themes i'm building is inspired by the Patrick Martin book on the British Phantom vol1 so as well as doing real Royal Navy Phantom F-4K and FG1's i will also be doing the Phantoms ordered for HMS Eagle along with some of the others origianlly planned for the CVA-01 fleet before it was cancelled. First up being a a CVA-01 aircraft from the late 70s thats almost finished. Followed by an Early 70s one on Eagle. This is why i was picking up Fujimi FG1/F4k kits last year but it would be nice to get decent decals as the kit ones do not apply nicely and all the aftermarket stuff available is for the RAF version  .

Also nearing completion is a new Airfix Lightning OOB, this will be Whiff as have selected a different unit but more on that once i source the decals. Its a lovely build BTW and looks a treat when assembled so looking foward to the F-6 next summer.

[kitnut617]

That Sidetrack Harrier looks very good Geoff, think I'll buy one (or two) of those conversions myself ---

[Thorvic]

For those interested the conversion set is available from Lonewulf Models here :-

http://www.lonewulfmodels.co.uk/sub_category.php?c_id=21&sc_id=51#

LW027 and retgains for £18 in the UK

[Captain Canada]

That's a real beauty Geoff ! What did you use for the underwing tanks ?

 

[Thorvic]

That's a real beauty Geoff ! What did you use for the underwing tanks ?

 

Kept it simple and used the kits tanks although the set does include replacement pylons and tanks

[Captain Canada]

They just look bigger. I looked at the Lonewulf site and their build has the smaller ones.

 

[The Wooksta!]

Also nearing completion is a new Airfix Lightning OOB, this will be Whiff as have selected a different unit but more on that once i source the decals. Its a lovely build BTW and looks a treat when assembled so looking foward to the F-6 next summer.

The F6 would be worth doing in 74 Sqn markings in the 80s ADV greys. They found that they had enough airframes in the early 80s to form another squadron but two things put the block on it - not enough fast jet pilots coming through Cranwell and the Treasury wouldn't fund it.  74 was the squadron allegedly slated for it.  So you could have either F3s, T5s or F6s.  ADV greys with a black spine and fin with that big tiger badge?  Or even a T5A (that's the T55 in the real world).

Bill Clark is doing a fine conversion of the new Airfix kit back to a small tank version over on Britmodeller.

[Thorvic]

They just look bigger. I looked at the Lonewulf site and their build has the smaller ones.

 

The Airfix FA2 kit has bigger tanks than the FRS1

[Captain Canada]

The Airfix FA2 kit has bigger tanks than the FRS1

OK thanks. I have several of both...but ended up so mired down by my usual 'all at once' method that I have boxes of half built kits and no idea what is what !

 

[Mossie]

Sidetrack Harrier looks great Geoff.  Looking forward to the Phantoms, guess there's a lot of scope for squadrons had things turned out differently.

[Captain Canada]

Looking forward to the Phantoms as well. Probably my favourite ac/markings combo ever. Just looks right !

 

[Thorvic]

OK Here's the first Phantom FG1 XT860 893 Squadron HMS Queen Elizabeth R-01 (CVA-01). The Phantom is fully armed for the CAP role as operating from CVA-01 the aircraft would not be under the strict safety limitations imposed on Phantom operations from the Ark Royal





Fujimi FG1 kit with mix of decals as the kit ones are crap !.

In the background are some of the Phantom kits amassed so far.