TinySHAR - LANDED!

PR19_Kit · January 15, 2026, 02:27:05 PM

Having at long last got some proper Barley Grey paint, my fave Hataka brand, I can now see the difference between the upper and lower colours on the Tinyshar, and very pleasing it is too.

Some more proper upper colour, Medium Sea Grey, will go on tomorrow and with luck I may get some decals on soon too.

PR19_Kit · January 17, 2026, 09:05:28 AM

I'm amazed no-one shouted at me over my #26 post when I said 809's SHARs were painted Light Aircraft Grey on top and Barley Grey underneath!

I said then I couldn't see the difference between the colours, which may have been because I had to mix the Barley Grey, but having got some proper Barley Grey now, which has quite a blue tinge to it, I found the upper colour should have been MEDIUM Sea Grey, and now the colour difference is all too obvious.

At least I've got it all right now, even if it is totally non-Whiffie, but my reasoning for that will become obvious later on.

Gondor · January 17, 2026, 10:02:01 AM

I'm guessing that the Shar will end up on your Warwick.

PR19_Kit · January 17, 2026, 10:22:05 AM

I have NO idea what makes you think that Alastair................ $:-\$

PR19_Kit · January 25, 2026, 07:18:19 AM

Looks like the TinaySHAR is fully painted now, Barley Grey undersides and Sea Grey Medium uppers, with very white 'winders on the pylons and a black radome even.

It needs some all over gloss before I can get the lo-viz decals on, and then a coat of satin and it'll be done.

Hopefully.

PR19_Kit · February 04, 2026, 07:08:54 AM

Trying to put the decals on this tiddly little aeroplane is driving me to drink! They're so small that trying to trim round circles that are less than 3.5 mm in diameter is well nigh impossible!

So far I've had to re-print the sheet three times!

Steel Penguin · February 04, 2026, 07:14:30 AM

would using a hole punch set be easyer Kit? centre and pop! $:-\$

PR19_Kit · February 04, 2026, 08:07:37 AM

It would if I had one here, but I haven't. I'm not quite sure how I'd centre the punch on the decal either.

Gondor · February 04, 2026, 10:20:57 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 04, 2026, 08:07:37 AMIt would if I had one here, but I haven't. I'm not quite sure how I'd centre the punch on the decal either.

If you have one of the twin punch document type punches, it can be quite easy. First, you empty the tray of waste. Second, hold the punch upside down. Third, slide the decal sheet between the punch and the collecting tray so that the decal is facing upwards. Four, align the decal so you can see it through the hole. Five, manipulate the punch so it punches out the decal. Six, hunt around to find where the small disc of decal went.

Easy

PR19_Kit · February 04, 2026, 12:37:11 PM

Except I don't have one...................

Charlie_c67 · February 04, 2026, 12:54:10 PM

I took a simpler route and used decals from a set I had meant for 1/144 Vulcans! Not even contemplating doing the yellow rings on the Sidewinders

Captain Canada · February 04, 2026, 02:23:32 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 04, 2026, 07:08:54 AMTrying to put the decals on this tiddly little aeroplane is driving me to drink!

Hmmm, maybe I'll go try and decal a tiny aeroplane !

NARSES2 · February 05, 2026, 01:46:16 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 04, 2026, 12:37:11 PMExcept I don't have one...................

And they cost an arm and a leg

and we're only poor pensioners

I looked at getting one a couple of years ago and stepped back when I saw the price

Once I factored cost against probable use it wasn't a sensible use of resources

PR19_Kit · February 05, 2026, 02:28:11 AM

Quote from: Charlie_c67 on February 04, 2026, 12:54:10 PMI took a simpler route and used decals from a set I had meant for 1/144 Vulcans! Not even contemplating doing the yellow rings on the Sidewinders

I printed some tiny lo-viz ones, the Vulcan sized ones would have been too large for the 809 NAS scheme.

But luckily I found that the coloured roundels I'd printed on clear, intending to place them on top of the white discs, worked a treat anyway on the MSG upper colour! RESULT!

And I even did some 4" serials for it, which in 1/144 are less than 1 mm high!

So it's waiting for its varnish coat now and it'll be done.

PR19_Kit · February 05, 2026, 11:17:44 AM

And at last it's finished, but it's still fragile. SO little glue area on many of the parts, I can't see it surviving long on the show circuit, but who knows.

So here's the Tiny SHAR, from 809 NAS as carried south in 1982 aboard the ill-fated 'Atlantic Conveyor'.

You can JUST see the minute serial decal on the underfin here.

Here's the underside, showing the two 'winders, but I couldn't find any sensibly sized drop tanks for the inboard pylons, and the pylons looked silly there all on their own.

And just to show how STUPIDLY small it is again, here it's shown with a Scale Reference Glue Pot. No Scale Reference Cats were available.